May 2, 2006

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2006

Volume 49, Issue 10

5 Pg.

Every 15 Minutes affects upperclassmen

6 Pg.

Students delve into drinking issue

Teacher Baby boom chooses strikes retirement CVHS

Courtesy of Jo Sutton

Seniors Germaine Lau and Hee-Young Jung re-beautify the school murals tainted by the grafitti.

City Editor

CVHS has recently been the target of countless vandalisms on various places around the school.

These places that were targeted are the 100, 400, 500, 800 and 900 halls. The bathrooms near the football field, the portables behind the gym, the 300 hall snack bar, and the courtyard stage are other places that were tagged.

The most recent vandalisms were on the gym, the cafeteria and the 800 hall.

Many of the murals around the school were also defaced by the graffiti. This caused an upset for many students, especially for those who put in a lot of time and effort into making them.

“It is very upsetting to be a victim of hate crime,” said senior Laura Fink, who is in Art1-2.

“I was angry at the fact that the artwork was disrespected in such a way. I hope that it [the graffiti] stops now!”

Many other art students feel

similarly to the damages.

“I’m not sure what the school administrators are going to do, but a big group of students along with Ms. (Jo) Sutton, are trying to restore the paintings,” said senior Nick Montiero, who is in Art 3-4.

“I’m helping cover up the graffiti and trying to do my best to help restore the murals. The paintings may not be the same as the originals, but they’ll still be here,” explained Montiero.

“It’s become a source of strength and pride for my students and I. We will not give up and we will repair them every time,” explained art teacher Jo Sutton.

Sutton’s fourth period class is planning to paint a logo of a fist holding a paintbrush above each mural, as well as its own individual mural. Next to the logo will read “You can’t move me,” as well as a tick mark for every time the mural has been restored.

Custodian Oliver Preston believes that society is getting too tolerant to such crimes.

GRAFITTI: Page 8

6

ASB candidates face off City Editor

By Samantha Basto

Pg.

Wolcott's CVHS days are over Springtime babies soon to be born

By Divya Gopakumar

Vandals deface school murals

Castro Valley, CA 94546

Hopefuls for ASB positions for the 2006-2007 school year voiced their goals and ambitions to the student body at the ASB forum on April 20.

During periods one through eight, each of the eight candidates gave a short speech, followed by a question from current ASB officers. The forum finished off with questions from the audience.

ASB presidential candidate Garrett Gerstenberger is running unopposed and took the opportunity to poke fun at the idea by bringing out an extra podium.

“I feel more qualified than nobody,” said Gerstenberger in regards to his “invisible”opponent.

Gerstenberger ended his speech with a burger in hand, “This isn’t just any burger. You guys need to vote for Gerstenberger for ASB president.”

Gerstenberger was asked which aspect of his personality that he considered to be negative.

“I get nervous in front of large groups. I need to work on my tone and the ability to speak more comfortably,” he answered.

Vice Presidential candidate Michael Elias is also unopposed. He demonstrated his ability to handle tough situations with a “surprise” attack from Gerstenberger, whom Elias quickly defeated.

“If you liked the junior male skit, then there’s more where that

came from,” said Elias.

The competition heats up for the position of ASB secretary.

David Lee opened his speech with an urgent message: “You might not have me for ASB Secretary. We can beat this together.”

He confessed that he didn’t have any campaign tricks to mislead the student body and finished off with, “A vote for me is a vote for you.”

Lindsay Forte, the second candidate, wants the school to be “more organized, more welcoming, and more likeable.” Forte says she has the dedication, organization and leadership to take up the position. “Next year will be your year,” she said. “Vote for me and take charge.”

Alex Iwanicki closed off the secretarial race. “I’m friendly and outgoing,” said Iwanicki. “I also like long walks on the beach.”

Iwanicki wanted to have a big influence on the school and hoped that students would take “just five minutes of your life” to make a huge impact on the school.

The three candidates were asked about their most embarrassing moment. After a long pause, Lee replied, “Probably this.”

Iwanicki recalled getting caught eating pumpkin pie by his grandmother when he was five.

“I can put up the picture on Myspace if you want to see it,” he added.

ASB Treasurer candidate Mike DeGroot is the third candidate without a challenger.

“I hope it’s a very easy choice for you,” DeGroot said. DeGroot is currently taking AP Calculus as a junior and enjoys the “nerdy world of numbers.”

He feels that he has the experience in leadership necessary for a treasurer. DeGroot concluded with an enthusiastic “Go Red Sox.” DeGroot was asked which sole school activity he would fund. “I think it’s up to the student body,” he said, “but I’m sure you guys like the dances. So I would probably keep that.”

Moti Phillips and Tim Mok are running head-to-head for the position of ASB school board member.

“My parents were hippies.

That’s why my name is so weird,” joked Phillips. She went to reveal that she lived near a nude club and thus, had no problem in “telling the naked truth.”

“I am very politically aware and I am open to new ideas,” said Phillips.

The flip-flop wearing Tim Mok is also vying for the school board member position. Mok disclosed his ambitions to become a superhero.

“When I was six, I really wanted to be a Power Ranger,” he said, though Mok later decided that becoming an ambassador was a more realistic goal.

With a variety of personalities in this year’s ASB race, the voters of CVHS have their work cut out for them.

Divya Gopakumar / City Editor

Junior Garrett Gerstenberger (left) and senior Ryan Holman (right) battle each other during the ASB forum. See page 4 for election candidates' information.

2

OPINION

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Precious Points for paper is pathetic pearl called life is priceless

Editorial: We here at The Olympian praise The Every 15 Minutes program, funded jointly by the CHP and Eden Medical Center, as an invaluable program well worth the money and effort.

Over the short course of only two days, upperclassmen of CVHS were given the opportunity to witness a staged car accident and the harrowing after-ordeal of a drunk driving accident.

Students experienced how drunk driving effects not only the driver, but also their family, friends, and the larger community.

The cost of the program is roughly the same amount as a single DUI. If the program prevented even one drunk driving accident, it was well worth it.

Currently, the rate of drunk driving deaths has been lowered to every 47 minutes, and we can only hope that this program will help our generation continue in this progressive direction.

The Olympian thanks the CHP and Eden Medical Center for giving CVHS students the opportunity to pause and examine our behavior, with the priceless payoff of possibly saving lives.

Editorial: We at The Olympian can't understand how the school could've run out of paper in the middle of the school year.

In a school, paper is one of the most important supplies to keep in stock, along with pencils and erasers.

So if paper is such a vitalstaple in school life, how could the administration allow teachers to make superfluous amounts of copies and exceed the average amount of copies made by others?

Why didn’t the administra-

By Kamry Zhang Staff Writer

The Olympian is a publication of the Journalism Class, Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. ©2006 Editor-In-Chief...............................................................Ben Topkins City Editors...............................................................Samantha Basto Divya Gopakumar Yelena Teplitskaya News Editor................................................Marie Antoniette Manuel Opinion Editor....................................................................Ellen Yau Feature Editor..................................................................Flora Tsang Sports Editor..................................................................Spencer Stitt Copy Editors......................................................................Katie Parr Mari Robinson Photo Editor....................................................Saritha Kosarussavadi Head Graphics Designer......................................................Aya Tang Systems Manager............................................................Rufus Jones Business Managers..............................................Analisa Harangozo Michelle Matsui Candace Wong Staff Writers: Adam Andrie, Gray Bae, Michael Chen, Kyle Friedrich, Eric Kim, Tommy Korycinski, Sandra Lane, Justin Lee, Trini McGeogh, Danny McHugh, Jasmine Nand, Kamry Zhang

tion stop them sooner?

Now, the school is so short on paper that teachers are forced to skimp on their copies so much that students get little quarter sheets of paper.

Other teachers rely on students to bring in paper, offering extra credit to those who bring in paper .

Paper is essential to a functioning school atmosphere, but asking students to supply paper is going too far.

Here at The Olympian, we ask: how hard is it for the administration to just go down to OfficeMax and buy a few boxes of paper?

Cease the complaining Have you ever noticed the network mothers all over the world have developed?

It’s ironic, too, because typically networks are good; networks of websites on the Internet, an expansive wireless cell phone network (no, I don’t advertise for Verizon)—all good things.

However, mothers have banded together internationally to create a support network, so to speak, when they need someone to complain about the insufficient accomplishments of their kids.

Yes, it’s a whining network.

Whenever I have a fight with my mom about taking out the garbage or coming home late, it’s become no surprise to me that the next time I see her friends in the passing, they will give me a knowing look because they’d been informed about my disobedience.

Even worse, my mom’s friends tell their kids—their daughters, because it is a woman’s gossiping network—and my problems are no longer between me and my mother, but between me and my mother’s phonebook of friends.

My mom’s favorite thing to divulge, however, is my progress in school and the delicious topic of my grades.

She can not help but report that B- to her friend over tea and cookies so that they can both philosophize about the hopelessness of today’s youth.

Of course, this gossip would not be a support network without reciprocation from its members.

Many a time I have been the unsuspecting ear into which my mother would conspiratorially reveal that her friend’s daughter had gotten a tattoo—“a travesty,” apparently— or that she’s failing Physics.

I drew the line at the girl’s mother complaining to me, herself, about her daughter being too fat!

One thing the mother’s gossip network isn’t privy to appears to be that their daughters are all friends—or at least not evil trolls.

I don’t want to hear anyone declaring to me that my friend is fat, let alone the friend’s mother.

While there is no known cure for this network of mothers endlessly picking at their kids under a thinly veiled visage of tea time, the victims of the phenomenon have developed a defense mechanism, the effectiveness of which is still in its early stages.

My friend and I now joke about the things we hear about each other from our mothers, always citing “word on the street” as the information source.

I suppose we have learned to grow thicker skin to combat our mothers’ words.

Which we know are not meant to be hurtful or for our ears at all, but they suck.

In the end, it has made me less sensitive to criticism, which is always a spiffy life skill.

On a final note, I would like to add that my mother is not a conniving “Mommie Dearest” kind of woman, nor is she crazy.

Like I have said before, she is not the only one doing all this, and all the complaining parents of the world do so without harmful intent.

However, if parents would just ease up on their chidren about their every little flaw and failure, perhaps the children would be more encouraged to be more accomplished.

Picking kids apart and comparing them to friends’ kids is not the equivalent to an inspiration speech or words of encouragement.

Family lives everywhere would be infinitely better off if mothers would just pick up their little tea cups and replace, “You wouldn’t believe what my daughter said to me yesterday…” with, “So how about that Brangelina baby?”

our beautiful state of California.

With an abundance of the Indian casinos claiming old tribal land, and constructing on top of it casinos, more and more people are flocking to these huge dazzling money-pits, hoping to strike it big.

Little do they know that 90 percent of them will almost immediately lose all or the majority of their money.

The other ten percent will lose their money shortly afterwards.

Being in AP Statistics, I know all about probability and odds.

The way the casino is set up is clearly to hustle people of their every dime and cent.

It is said that “the house always wins,” and that is as right as Michael Jackson is white.

People may win every once in a while, but in the long run they will lose their money.

The clever ones (such as myself) would win a little then immediately leave.

However the greed and lust that

lies inside of every, yes every, human being prevents that from happening.

You know all those people that “supposedly” won a million dollars on slots?

They are fake people.

When is the last time you heard of someone wheel-barrowing away a million dollars worth of quarters?

That’s what I thought.

Having seen the adverse problems of gambling, I didn’t gamble a cent of my money at that casino.

However, I did use five dollars given to me by the casino for free for signing up for a membership, but I quickly lost it a minute later.

Lucky for me, I was not as unfortunate as my three friends who lost around $150 each.

Aside from losing your money, your time, and possibly your family, casinos are pretty fun.

Just keep that in mind next time you consider going to a casino.

By Yelena Teplitskaya City Editor

A penny saved is a penny lost at casinos

By Eric Kim Staff Writer

As I step into the Jackson Rancheria Casino, all I see is the dazzling lights of the slot machines and the cancerous smell of cigarettes.

A wall of new-millionaires are plastered on the wall.

I simply turn my head to the casino’s dirty tricks that can only trick foolish mortals.

Out of the blue, a waitress approaches me and asks me if I care for some coffee or soda.

I cleverly and stoutly reply, “No,” knowing the casino’s evil and mischievous plan of keeping me awake for even longer so I can lose more of my money.

However, after discovering that they were also selling chocolate frappuccinos, I couldn’t resist and indulged myself in three of them and watched my friends lose all their money.

Gambling is one of the most rampart problems that’s a weed to

OPINION

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

3

A diet to die for Friendships for foreve r

By Michelle Matsui Business Manager

When you first hear the words “diet soda,” you probably think, “all the taste, but none of the calories!”

Many people wrongly think that diet sodas are healthier for you than regular sodas.

However, the truth is that diet soda contains many unhealthy chemicals and if you knew what was in them, you would probably never drink one again.

Most diet sodas are made with an artificial sweetener known as either Equal or NutraSweet, both made with the dangerous chemical aspartame.

Aspartame is 200 times as sweet as sugar and is calorie free, which is why it is so handy in the making of diet soda. It may sound like a very useful chemical to have around, but there are some major downfalls to prolonged exposure to aspartame.

The chemical breaks down into three different types of substances once digested: phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid can both cause brain damage and methanol is a toxic substance. Knowing these things, do you still want to drink diet sodas?

But wait. There’s more.

Not only are these substances in your body, but they can also cause someone to develop spasms, seizures, dizziness, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, heart disease and memory loss, to name a few symptoms. Overexposure to aspartame can even result in death.

There’s a reason the U.S. Air Force warns its pilots against drinking aspartame sweetened drinks.

So if the government is afraid of their pilots consuming this product, why is it still available in markets and in most diet sodas?

If you are still addicted to diet sodas, you can avoid aspartame by drinking diet sodas sweetened by Splenda, an artificial sweetener that is okay for your body.

But if you’re drinking diet sodas thinking that it will help you lose weight, don’t be fooled by the word “diet” on the can.

We have all heard the famous question “Why do people order a double cheeseburger, large fries and a large diet soda?” Well this is because people think that they can splurge on other calorie-filled

“

Why do people order a double cheeseburger ... and a diet soda?

”

foods because they aren’t getting any calories from the soda.

But drinking diet soda alone won’t help either.

Researchers found that diet soda drinkers actually had a higher risk of obesity than others who drink regular soda. It was found that when you offer your body something that tastes like it would contain a lot of calories, it gets ready to begin to digest them all. But when your body doesn’t receive these calories, it craves more food, which will eventually make anybody gain weight.

So with all of these dangers associated to diet soda, why do people still continue to drink them?

Personally, I can’t stand the taste of diet sodas. They taste weird and leave an odd aftertaste on your tongue.

If you’re going to splurge by drinking soda in the first place, you might as well actually drink real soda that tastes good.

At least it won’t actually kill you.

By Justin Lee Staff Writer

It’s hard to find the perfect set of friends in your high-school life.

All of us have gone through tumultuous times with constant fighting, crying, etc. Fortunately for me, I’m one of those few people that have found the perfect group of friends that’ll probably come to my wedding.

The following names, places, and incidents are fictional and any coincidences of real events whatsoever are false.

Like any typical teenager, I’ve made friends and lost friends.

It’s natural, nothing to be dumbfounded about, but it does feel a bit depressing when you lose a friend you thought you were really cool with.

I’ve made a bunch of friends, more or less whether it was some-

Staff Writer

Today music has become a major part in teenagers’ lives and alot of teens are judging one another by the type of music they listen to.

Many people think that one dresses with the type of music they enjoy. However personally I think that clothing is just another outlet for creativity.

A lot of people say that if you listen to rap you are considered “ghetto.” But do they know the correct meaning of the word “ghetto?” The word was coined by the Nazis during World War II and actually represents a section of a city occupied by a minority group who lived there, especially because of social, economic or legal status.

People can dress and act totally different than their type of music.

For instance, a teenager who is a total bookworm can like rap and you wouldn’t even know it.

They could even dress and talk completely different from what you would normally associate with being “ghetto.”

If a person wears baggy clothes or the latest trend from the brand Ecko, it doesn’t have to relate to the music they listen to, it’s just their style and what they enjoy wearing.

If a guy has long hair, wears pretty much one dark color and paints their nails one dark color what does that tell you? That would probably tell you that the person likes hard core rock. But you never know that person could just like to dress like that maybe

single day with each other, and it gets to the point where it’s all a big joke to us. We’re not tactless, we know the limit, but seriously, I can see myself growing old with these guys.

All throughout high school, I slacked off all the time and I can safely say it’s because of these guys, these friends. We had some crazy times together; every day is a “whacky” Looney Tunes adventure-esque thing. The only thing I looked forward to in school was lunch, so one of us can do something stupid and be laughed at.

Yeah, we sound horrible, not the typical set of friends but they‘re friends that I’d die for.

As a senior, I don’t find high school to be regrettable. I didn’t get into the best colleges nor did I do anything to be proud of, but I had an awesome time in high school, because of these friends.

plaud you and say go for it. But realize that just because other people aren’t doing that, it does not make them a loser.

Too often I see students smirk when someone says they are going to a junior college or doing something other than going to a four-year-university.

When people smirk and roll their eyes, I feel like telling them that not everyone is dead sure on what they want to do, and that community colleges give students more time to decide what they want to do as a career, because they can take a variety of classes for a smaller amount of money.

I once heard someone say that it’s even harder to get into a

university after going to a junior college because many students are doing that. For those of you that think that, let me tell you one thing, college is hard no-matter what route you take with it.

Some people might go to beauty school for a year or two to become a beautician, others might go to a culinary school to become a chef, and others might choose to go to community college and then transfer to go to a four-year university. All of these plans have their difficulties and are not “easy ways out”.

Schooling of all kinds requires dedication, determination, and you must work hard to truly succeed in any line of work you choose.

College is not one size fit all

By Trini McGeogh Staff Writer

There are so many different types of people with different talents and interests in the world.

Some people are good with their hands, some people are good listeners, and others are articulate and can get a whole crowd excited.

Then, it should be no surprise that some people don’t fit into what has become the cookie cutter plan for life after high school.

The song and dance is that you go to high school, take classes and try to do well in them, and then you apply to go a four-year college.

If this isn’t the plan for you, then shame on you, you’re a loser and you’ll never make it in life. This is the impression that I get from some people and what I want to tell them is that this is really not the case.

Everybody is different, and our country has made it so there are other options for people that do not fit into the-go-straight-to-afour-year-university plan.

I’m not saying that’s a bad plan, and if that’s the plan for you, I ap-

Music makes for listening not judging

By Jasmine Nand

thing to benefit me in the short or long run, or to find the perfect set of friends that complimented me.

It’s funny how things work out in the end, whether it’s for better or worse, I was bestowed with friends that I’d be willing to fight for, and likewise them for me.

I’ve known these guys beforehand, but we weren’t exactly comfortable with each other or at least we were doing our own thing before.

Until the end of junior year, all of us were hanging out one evening and like a snap of fingers the friendship has lasted up to this day. I know you guys might be thinking, “hell you’ve been lucky up till now, sooner or later one of you’re going to fight and just break up.”

First off, we’ve always believed that friends have nothing to be sorry about. Also, we fight every

because he or she likes it or maybe because he or she wants to fit in with a particular group of friends.

I mean, that person could like rap or country.

Another thing; if you hear someone point out that they like horses or the outdoors what do you think of? Of course you think that the person likes country. Again, you can be wrong.

It isn’t a good idea to judge people based on the music they listen to.

Music is only music. There are so many different kinds of music.

It is an insult to judge a person by the type of music they listen to like calling them “ghetto,” if they listen to rap.

It’s always best to listen to all different kinds of music, including rap.

PHOTOpinions COMPILED BY MICHAEL CHEN

How effective do you think the Every 15 Minutes program was?

“It personally didn't affect me because I don't drive, but I know my friends have stopped drinking and driving.” – Chang

“It made a huge impact on many people, and hopefully people will think twice about drinking and driving.” – Marrissa

“It had a really big impact on everyone. At a party the next day I saw people stopping their friends from drinking and driving.” – Mike Elias,

“It was the best program I have seen in my four years here because I personally knew the students involved in the crash.”

Chi, senior

junior

DeHerrera, junior

– Kelsey Hayes, senior

CVHS Election 2006 Meet the Candidates

President

Vice-President

ASB Candidates Secretary

Garrett Gerstenberger

Treasurer

Michael Elias

Did not take test ASB presidential candidate Garrett Gerstenberger feels that his past experiences will help him accomplish his main goal for next year’s leadership class: to improve the spirit and involvement in the student body.

Gerstenberger states that his hard work ethic, ambition and persistence will keep him determined to redefine the school as a closer community.

His past experiences include being class president during his freshman and sophomore years, and as a swim coach for two years. Outside of school, he is on the Varsity swimming and soccer team.

His outgoing personality can be summed up with his presidential campaign slogan: “Don’t get a hamburger. Don’t get a cheeseburger. Get a Gerstenberger.”

School Board Member

Timothy Mok

Moti Phillips

Current events: 8/10

Current events: 8/10

Running for ASB School Board Member this year is junior Tim Mok. His qualifications for this position include that he’s really sociable and he loves to talk.

Mok has received many suggestions from peers for the school and he’s willing to share them with the school board.

He considers himself to be a determined and motivated student, shown by his planned schedule for next year, which includes four AP/Honors classes, three of which are in the science department.

Mok loves to deal with stress and works well under pressure.

“I’m random (I love my dim sum), but I get the job done.”

One of two people running for ASB school board member is junior Moti Phillips.

Her past experiences include being freshman class secretary, business manager in the leadership class, CJSF secretary, and Canyon Middle School student citizen of the year.

Phillips is passionate about student representation in regards to the school district, particularly about what types of programs funding from the district goes to out school.

“There is a lot of politics in Castro Valley and I don’t want students as a whole to get pushed aside, but to have an equal part as an adult representative,” said Phillips.

Current events: 9/10 This year, the only one running for the position of ASB vice president is junior Michael Elias.

Elias says he has a close relationship with a wide variety of students on campus, which will help him as he runs for the postion of vice president of the junior class.

He has had previous experience in this position as he is currently the junior class vice president as well as the Alhaja Club president this year.

He has also attended a variety of Leadership conferences.

Elias hopes “to promote the acceptance of all social groups in hopes of unifying the school.”

“I believe that life should be lived with a balance of fun and work,” said Elias.

Class of ‘07 PRESIDENT

Ashley Lee: “I’m currently the junior class president and very involved in school activities. If you vote for me, expect an unforgettable and amazing senior year.”

Jessica Dhaliwal: “I promise to make our senior year the best it can be.

Remember to vote yes on Jess!”

SECRETARY

Kaira Karnad: “I want the class of 2007 to have a great senior year.”

Class of ‘09 PRESIDENT

Rebecca Ayala: “I want to change

and make the school a better environment.

Elect me; I’ll make sure you’re heard.”

Julia Joung: “I have served as the class president for the freshman this year and through that I gained valuable lessons to help our class grow stronger.”

Jocelyn Mapp: “You should vote for me because I will bring something special

Alex Iwanicki

Lindsay Forte

Did not take test

Spelling test: 10/10

Sophomore Alex Iwanicki is a third year Leadership student, Iwanicki states that he cares about what happens at school and the people who influence it.

His qualifications for the position include being an active and enthusiastic participant in Leadership for three years and that his observant nature will help him fulfill the duties of the position if elected.

In eighth grade he won the leadership student of the year which made him realize that he had a future in being an effective student leader.

“If people vote for me I can guarantee that I’ll do the best job I can,” said Iwanicki.

Michael DeGroot Math test: 8/10

Being one of the three candidates initially running for the position of ASB secretary, junior Lindsay Forte hopes to bring her many past experiences in the leadership class to the office of junior secretary if elected to it.

As historian, CEO and business manager as well as junior class secretary in her three respective years of leadership, she states that she knows how the class works most efficiently.

“I’d like to see the leadership class run smoothly next year so everyone will have a great high school experience on this campus.”

VICE-PRESIDENT

Marissa DeHerrera: “You should vote for me because I am willing to put in a lot of time and effort to support our class. I am responsible and hardworking and want the class of ‘07 to have an awesome senior year.”

TREASURER

Ashley Hebert: “I want my class to vote

for me because I want to help the class of 2007 have the best year ever!”

VICE-PRESIDENT

Ismael Castillo: “Vote for me be-

cause I have experience from being freshman class vice-president and I also have some talent like creativity and imagination!”

Jessica James: “I feel I would make a great sophomore vice-president because I am involved in leadership and have been around class officers all year.”

As the only candidate running for ASB treasurer, junior Mike DeGroot aspires to do the job to the best of his ability next year.

D e G r o o t ’s p a s t experiences include being the German club treasurer for two years, Varsity baseball captain, class vice-president his freshman and sophomore years and being elected class vice-president for junior year. As a returning leadership student he plans to bring fresh new ideas and his leadership experiences to next years class.

Speaking about Leadership class, he said, “a unified group can accomplish more than a disorganized one.”

Class of ‘08 PRESIDENT

VICE-PRESIDENT

Kaitlin Jones: “I was freshman treasurLaura Gottardi: “I have experience and I am involved in many activities. er and have been in Leadership for two years.

I know what we need to improve on and I can I never give up either. Don’t be tardy, make our junior year rule!” vote Laura Gottardi!”

Melissa Hayes: “I’m dedicated, I Cristina Resendiz: “I’m passionate get the job done and I want to make next and motivated to be a great leader. I don’t run away from challenges and want to work year fun!” to make our class united and strong.”

SECRETARY

Zion Mengesha: “I will work to

make our class even better. I am hardworking and dedicated so vote for me!”

TREASURER

Erika Solanki: “Leadership

is not a position, it’s an action.”

SECRETARY

TREASURER

should vote for me because I have experience in leadership and student council, will work hard and make sure that the sophomore class is heard.”

Lauren Hebert: “I think I should be the sophomore secretary because I’m a hardworking, organized and responsible person.”

No Comment

Alicia Ceniceros: “My class

Leonard Bobbitt:

McKenzie Finn: “I’m a really friendly and trustworthy person.

I also love getting involved in school activities.”

many people know the secret in 5 hours? (Hint: include Math test: Jen and Courtney).

1. Which of the following is less than 7/9?

6. If 2x + 3 = 64, what is the value of x Secretary test- Find all ten spelling errors: As a secratary of Castro Valley High, your a.3/3 b.5/6 c.7/8 d.12/23 7. What are the factors of x if x2 + 11x + 0 = 0? responsibilities would include taking ecstensive amounts of notes and working simulta2. Matt works at a pizza parlor for 5 hours each day on 8. Evaluate 2b ( 4ac – c2 ) if a = 5, b = 2, and c = - 2. neusly with the other school officers. You will have to work hard at being as orgonized Monday, Friday, and Saturday, and 8 hours on Sunday. If he 9. Find the value of seventy-two minus thirty-six divided as possible in order to pressent your thoughts clearly to the other school officers as well earns $276 per week, how much does he earn per hour? by three squared, times two plus two. (Hint: write it out as to your peers. You will be delagating to other students and helping with what you can.

3. If y3 + 1 = 126, then y2 – 10 = ? numerically and then follow the order of operations).

Also, as a reprasentation of the school’s leadership, you must set an ecsample to all of the 4. Sally cooks 5 hamburgers in 10 minutes. If she stays at 10.Solve for x and y, if 3x = 3y + 3, x = - 4y + 21. younger students who may become the secretary after you. It is a very important job and this rate, how many burgers can she cook in 8 hours? we hope that you take it seriously and try your hardest to fufill the job requirments that 5. Courtney tells Jen a secret. An hour later, Jen tells are entrusted to you while you hold the position of secretary. Good luck next year and we Cynthia and Sara. Suppose every person who hears the sehope that you make us proud to be students at CVHS. cret tells it to two other people 1 hour after hearing it. How Current Event Test 1) What was the homecoming theme this year?

6) Which club has these initials: ACS 2) What was the school musical and where was it performed?

7) Which Assistant Principal used to be a history teacher?

3) Name two teachers that are retiring this year.

8) Which CVHS sports team finished first at their national competition?

4) Name three counselors.

9) What are academies and what ones are they offering next year?

5) When is Cesar Chavez day and did CVHS get the day off for it? 10) What is the best paper at CVHS called?

TEST YOURSELF!

Answer Key -Spelling errors: secretary, extensive, simultaneously, organized, present, delegating, representation, example, fulfill, requirements Math answers: D, $12, 15, 240, 16, 3, 0 and -1, -176, 16, -39 Current event answers: Disney movies, The Music Man,/ Performing Arts Center, Mr. Wolcott/Dr. Bill, example: Elliot Magno, etc., March 31/No, Ms. Goldman, dance team, small learning communities/business/art/biotech, The Olympian!

Every

FIFTEEN

Minutes Parents’ sorrow brought message home The images looked chillingly similar to snapshots of my own childhood and high school years.

Watching the mother look at the slides with an eerie, sorrowful and regretful look on her face was unbearable. Suddenly it hit that I never, at all costs, want to put my

By Sandra Lane Staff Writer

Aya Tang / Staff Writer

Students and emergency personel simulate the aftermath of a drunk driving accident. .

Program’s effectiveness pleasantly surprises all involved

By Ben Topkins Editor-In-Chief

Sirens rang out from across Castro Valley, while more than 1,000 students watched in awe.

Junior Megan Quan raced between two wrecked cars, tears streaming down her face. Ten minutes later, the CVHS track was crowded with emergency personal from fire department paramedics to CHP officers, coroner officials and air lift specialists.

CVHS was hit with the simulated aftermath of a drunk driving accident that claimed the lives of two teens on Thursday, April 6.

Every 15 minutes on that day, a buzzer sounded throughout the school and another class was confronted with the loss of one of their peers.

“Put your heads down!” yelled California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Morse as he entered classrooms to remove the Every 15 Minutes program’s “Living Dead.”

A total of 20 juniors and seniors were pulled from class for the program. Each time a student was removed, a CHP officer and a chaplain would face the class, inform the students that their classmate had been killed in a drunk-driving related accident, and proceed to read their eulogy, leaving a white rose on the desk that the student no longer occupied.

The Living Dead went to the Center for the Arts where they were made up to look like corpses, and awaited the crash assembly. Four students were given heavy make-up for the assembly, to appear as if they had just been in a wreck.

“None of what we did was for show. That was the real deal.

We acted out on the field just as we would at a real scene,” said Morse.

The 20 participants were whisked away to a retreat in Danville for the night where they heard the stories of relatives of drunk driving victims and discussed how the program had changed their perspectives on drinking and driving. Students wrote letters to parents and friends about how the day’s events had affected them; some students were asked to read their letters at the assembly the following day.

“I wasn’t expecting to be so overwhelmed by the stories we heard,” said senior Matt Sung, one of the Living Dead. “It makes you want to do more to prevent others from being stupid.”

“I was crying the whole night,” said junior Lindsay Forte, one of the event’s planners.

Upon entering the Center for the Arts on Friday, students were met with their own faces on a mirror looking out from a coffin. The assembly opened with a mock memorial slide show of the 20 students, with pictures ranging from infancy to high school.

A teary Officer Tyler Hahn recalled being called to the scene of a fatal drunk driving accident, and introduced a video of the events of the previous day, and the repercussions of those involved faced.

The assembly also featured two mothers of young men who had died as passengers in a car driven by an intoxicated friend.

By the time the second mother spoke of her son’s plans for marriage, many on the stage and in the audience alike were in tears.

The final portion of the assembly was comprised of parents and

students reading letters to each other that they had written the night before.

“I kept imagining what it would be like when I went up there,” Sung said. “I wasn’t ready at all.” Sung read his letter to his parents, and his mother tearfully read her letter to him. “I don’t like to see her cry, that was rough for me,” he said.

The program was jointly funded by Eden Medical Center, which contributed $5,000 from its community outreach program, and the CHP which contributed $10,000.

“I had pretty low expectations for it,” said junior Michael Elias, one of the Living Dead. But he said the event entirely changed his perspective on drinking and driving and thought it “essential” that they rerun the program in two years, as planned. “Before I thought … that (after) one or two beers, you could drive, after you cooled down a little bit. But now I don’t think you should drive if you’ve been drinking at all.”

“Even kids in my classes said they were making fun of it beforehand, but afterwards they were really impressed,” said event organizer Forte.

“I hope it has a lasting impact,” said Linda Little, student activities director. Little also stressed that she hoped the program opened up a dialogue for parents. “Hopefully they won’t be afraid to say, ‘I saw your son and he was drunk.’”

Little hopes to bring the program back to CVHS in two years for this year’s freshman and sophomore classes. Since the community has seen the effect this year’s program had on students, Little hopes some local businesses will offer to help fund the next CVHS program.

Watching a six-foot tall police officer’s eyes swell up with tears and hearing his ordinarily confident voice crack while recounting the story of his first encounter with a drunk driving fatality is something that nothing can brace you for. Officer Tyler Hahn’s personal account was just one of many that about 20 of us experienced after being proclaimed “dead” and whisked away to a retreat and forever changed.

We heard and saw many reality checks on driving under the influence. The largest wake-up call, however, was listening to a small, but strong older mother recount the loss of her son, killed by a drunk driver. We heard her voice shake even though the story had been told countless times. We heard of her son’s bright future, stolen away forever. We heard the regret in her voice when she told the tragic details of the accident. But most of all, what we saw tugged the heart and opened the eyes. The way her hands shook when she said “nothing ever prepares you to plan your own son’s funeral,” the desperation in her eyes when she pleaded for us to never drink and drive, and, of course, the endless show of slides. Slides of her son growing up: laughing, joking, smiling and living life to the fullest.

“I never want to be the cause of a life lived in sorrow.

”

own family or friends in the position of this heartbroken mom.

I never want to be the cause of a life lived in sorrow. It suddenly became so clear that any obstacle one would have to go through to avoid driving drunk could not be even a fraction of the burden that defines the existence of the parent of a victim.

Imagining my parents or those of my friends standing before a group of teenagers, explaining how I made one bad decision that led to unthinkable consequences, is too much to bear. And yet at times, luck was the defining factor that kept some of my friends from being a statistic.

Every 15 Minutes put a face on the pain that drunk driving can cause. We can only hope that, at the very least, it will give students pause the next time they are in that difficult situation.

Kamry Zhang / Staff Writer

Junior Brad Delariva feigns death on the hood of the car driven by the drunk driver.

6

FEATURE

Friday, January 2006 Tuesday, May 2,27, 2006

Math teacher leaves school with memories

ing experience, have to leave before the end of the school year?

Staff Writer “I was given an offer I couldn’t After teaching for 33 years at refuse,” he explained. “Retirement the Castro Valley Unified School provides me with an opportunity to District, mathematics teacher improve my health by swimming Kent Wolcott officially retired on and to breathe with awareness.”

April 7.

The offer though, remains a During his stay at CVHS, Wol- mystery. cott taught every mathematics Wolcott further explained his course here, save for AP Calculus. reason for retirement, stating, “I’m He also graded many of the AP retiring so I can find the time to tests, started become more the AP Comactive, move puter Sciwith grace, ence course and improve at CVHS my health.” and even Te a c h e r s achieved primarily third place from the math with his department class, with have been the grand substituting in prize being for Wolcott’s a supercomclasses. puter.

Although E v e r y he left, there teacher has a will always unique teachbe one activing style, and Kamry Zhang / Staff Writer ity Wolcott as for Wolcott, his was that “I often revealed to his students that will ask students to think in an indirect stay dear to his heart.

“I will miss being able to show manner.”

But why did Wolcott, a teacher students how math makes the inwith such a vast amount of teach- visible visible.”

By Gray Bae

Kamry Zhang / Staff Writer

Teacher Laura O’Brien is pregnant; her baby is expected to arrive in May.

Teachers soon to need babysitters

By Kamry Zhang Staff Writer

In addition to holding red pens for grading papers, eight teachers are or will be also holding diapers.

This year shall be labeled as the baby boom year at CVHS. Math teacher Glenn Mitchell expects his first kids in late May. His wife Tina is carrying a set of twins, a boy and a girl. Possible names are Joshua David for the boy and Allison June for the girl.

The Mitchells decided on Joshua for its “strong biblical name with deep roots” and David after Mitchell’s stepfather. June is for his wife’s friend.

“We have been going to classes at the hospital in preparation for the kids,” said Mitchell. “I’m very excited.”

In the science department, physics teacher Sean Fottrell and his wife Penny have a baby boy on the way.

This will be their second child.

Their three year-old daughter

Tenaya wants to give “Dado” as a middle name for her future brother due earlier this week.

“Sometimes she talks about holding her little brother in her arms and rocking him to sleep and singing songs to him,” said Fottrell.

It is number three for Laura O’Brien, freshman Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), chemistry and biotechnology teacher.

“My family and I are excited to meet the new little one,” commented O’Brien.

The baby girl is due to arrive on May 24. Megan, her five-yearold liked the name Samantha so much that she started referring to O’Brien’s belly as “Sammy.”

“I feel good, I feel fat,” said Samantha Lamarre, Algebra 1 and Prep. Geometry teacher. Her first child who is supposed to be a girl is due May 21. A likely name for the baby is Alyssa Mae. “The nursery is all done in green and yellow,” said Lamarre.

She is keeping the colors neutral just in case. May 5 will be

Lamarre’s last day and she will return next year part time.

Physical education and girls tennis coach Emerson Salonga became a first time father on Jan. 27 when his daughter Katherine Nicole was born.

Salonga said that kids usually “take the personality of the name” and Katherine Nicole “had some free meditation to it.”

“It’s a lot easier now because she is giving things back now, like smiling and moving around.

Before she used to just lie there and cry,” said Salonga.

Teacher of the visually impaired, Stefanie Herlich left in February after her second daughter was born.

Freshman Counselor Louise Brewster is three months pregnant.

Jennifer Sitkin, world civilizations and psychology teacher, left after the first semester when her daughter Alexandra was born on Dec. 19.

“Being a mom is the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life,” said Sitkin.

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Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Girls compete at nationals

Girls wrestling fails to place

By Jasmine Nand

Staff Writer The CVHS girls wrestling team wrestled their way to Detroit, Michigan for the United States

Girls Wrestling Association National Championship.

They did not place in the competition, but the girls felt a sense of accomplishment in completing another season of wrestling.

“I felt I did pretty well about completing another season of wrestling and I didn’t come in first place but I wrestled the best I could and I made weight when I was way over so I am happy,” said junior Chelsea Grasseschi.

The nationals took place April 1 - April 2.

“I like wrestling because it is

Trojans drown Farmers

not all about just sports. You make some of your closest friends during wrestling and you get so close with the girls. Your together everyday through blood, sweat, and tears,” said Grasseschi.

According to Grasseschi, wrestling is about setting a goal and achieving it. She explains that it is very hard to keep in shape if you

“It’s definitely

a very hard sport. ” CHELSEA GRASSESCHI Junior

just do all the drills and running.

“The practices are way harder than our matches, but the toughest part about wrestling is loosing weight,” explained Grasseschi.

“When you are exercising so much and watching what you have to eat, you get grumpy because you don’t get enough to eat. It is menTommy Korycinski / Staff Writer tally hard too,” said Grasseschi.

This season the girls wrestling Senior Matt Oldenhage swam the breast stroke in the meet really did their best. which took place on April 19.

“It is definitely a very hard sport and us girls work so hard to do the best we can, I just wish we get the respect we deserve,” said Grasseschi.

Buy a drink and get a regular burrito or taco free!

20859 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546 Ph: (510) 727-1177 Fax: (510) 690-0711

SPORTS

7

Track star goes All-American

By Tommy Korycinski

Staff Writter Senior Kirk Marciel placed fifth at the National Scholastic Indoor Track Championships in New York on March 11. Marciel competed in the multi-event competition and is officially considered an All-American.

“The top six finishers earn AllAmerican status, so that was my goal for the competition,” said Marciel.

The five-event competition included the 60-meter hurdles, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump and the 1,000-meter run.

After the first four events, Marciel was in eighth place with only the 1,000 meter run left.

“I was a little worried after the first few events, but luckily I did good in the 1,000 meters,” he said.

Marciel recorded a time of 2:51 in the 1,000 meters to bump him up from eighth to fifth.

“My best event is the high jump, but the 1,000 meter scored best for me,” said Marciel.

Marciel was the HAAL high jump champion his junior year and hopes to defend his crown successfully this year.

Marciel started considering competing in a multi-event competition just recently. This is Marciel’s first year competing in the shot put, hurdles, and the long jump. He fared well recording scores of 9.24 in the 60-meter hurdles, 19’ 4” in the long jump and 38’ 4” in the shot put.

“Marciel worked hard all winter long and it was easy to see he was getting a lot better. He did all the preliminary work and it’s great having him on the team,” said track coach Pete Brewer.

“I’m happy with my score in the hurdles, long jump and shot put considering those are new events to me,” said Marciel.

He looks forward to competing more in the future.

“I want to qualify for state in the high jump and the hurdles and also get All-American in the decathlon later this year at outdoor nationals in Indianapolis,” responded Marciel when asked about his goals.

He plans to compete at the outdoor national competition in Indianapolis in June.

“I’m still looking at colleges, but I’m talking to a few (NCAA) Division I schools and I plan to attend one and compete in track,” said Marciel.

8

NEWS

Students to take STAR testing seriously

By Mari Robinson Copy Editor

To encourage students to participate in STAR testing, CVHS will restrict attendance to the dance after the upcoming Powder Puff football game. Only students with perfect attendance during the week of testing, and seniors who attend both senior assemblies, may attend the dance on June 2.

Castro Valley’s test scores have declined for the past few years because students have not taken STAR testing seriously. Many often take advantage of the fact that the tests do not affect their grades and either make designs on their scantron, or do not attend the tests at all.

This year CVHS is under Program Improvement (P.I.). If the scores do not improve this year “the state can actually come in and take control,” said Assistant Principal Lisa Garcia.

That would mean the school board would lose its power to make choices, and the decisions about how the school’s federal funding would be spent would be made by the state. Likely, the school’s sports and arts programs would be cut and the focus would be shifted even more on following the state standards for education.

Some teachers, such as English teacher Anne Parris, are giving five extra credit points to students who attend STAR testing, and the usual Leadership events are taking place, giving students even more incentive to take the tests seriously.

Especially for juniors, STAR testing is important because state universities are considering scores for class placements.

Art students work to erase graffiti GRAFITTI: From Page 1 “In my era, we wouldn’t think of doing this kind of thing,” said Preston. “Some articles say we can do graffiti, but that’s not true.”

Every time people vandalize the school with graffiti, a group of people who work for the school district come out and paint over it. There is currently thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the administration is resolute in finding the perpetrators.

“We are determined to catch the people who defaced our school,” said Deputy Tim Vales.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Plummeting paper population provides problems

By Katie Parr Copy Editor

New concerns are rising at CVHS this year, along with the number of enrolled students. The increase of 200 students from the 2004-2005 school year has resulted in a tighter budget for supplies, and some teachers have had to re-examine their classroom paper usage.

The recent paper shortage is a problem that the school has never faced before.

“This is the first time we’ve had this issue,” said Principal Debbie Coco. “It is due to many things. There are more teachers who have more students, as the population has increased, as well as more printing of information for programs.”

“Evidently the usage accelerated this year,” said English teacher and track and cross country coach Pe-

ter Brewer. “Some teachers really did make excessive copies—I was on the high end.”

With the school’s “severe budget short fall for purchasing more paper,” according to Coco, she went through each teacher’s code

“I’ve always

used a lot of paper...

PETER BREWER Teacher

”

to see who regularly used more paper than the average 3,500 sheets per person each month. Coco sent each of these teachers a memo that listed his or her number of copies made from Jan. 24 to Feb. 27. The memo requested that the teachers

Cecilia Richardson

explain to Coco what prompted them to use so much paper, and affirmed that the administration is “now developing criteria that everyone must follow to prevent this from happening again.”

Brewer, who has three separate paper accounts for his classes and each of his teams, was one of the teachers who received a memo.

There are no textbooks for his Science Fiction classes, so he has to rely heavily on handouts.

“I’ve always used a lot of paper, and I knew I was using a lot,” he said. “There are more people in Sci-Fi than ever before. I have 135 seniors.”

According to custodian Ray Thomas, the tight budget for supplies is not only impacting students in the classroom, but also in the bathroom. Paper towels are also on the supply budget, and the school has also had to cut back on paper towel purchases.

Many teachers have coped with this problem by purchasing their own paper or, like Brewer, by receiving paper donations from students.

“I’ve had individual volunteers step forward to help with the paper gap,” said Brewer. “Someone bought a case—ten reams—of paper for my class, and one of the track parents donated another case.”

Brewer suggested that students can help by getting “parents to arrange donations from their workplace to the high school.”

“This is one of those collateral issues of suddenly being a large school,” he added. “We’re belttightening all the way around, so we should have no problem accommodating ourselves in the future years. The shortage makes first of all, sensitive to paper usage, and secondly, cognizant of student needs.”