May 2, 2007

VOLUME 50, ISSUE 10

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2007

CASTRO VALLEY, CA 94546

Drug dog digs around campus

Delirious over dodgeball

Volleyball aims for success

Pg. 2

Pg. 5

Pg. 8

CVHS MAD about minutes Students rise and fight for their rights

9

3 6

Schedule changes underway next year

By Julianne Burnette Staff Writer

More than 100 students walked out of class in the middle of third period on Friday, April 6 in protest of the schedule changes planned for next year. They walked around the school, carrying signs and yelling.

The participants were then given three options by the administration. The students could either return to class, meet with administrators to discuss the issues in the cafeteria, or call their parents and go home.

According to Principal Lisa Garcia, about 20 of those who walked out agreed to attend a meeting with staff members to talk about their concerns. Those students who participated in talks with the administration were exempted from their attendance cuts.

“They walked in [to the discussion] frustrated and walked out shaking hands and thanking [us],” Garcia said. “It went

12

By Laura Mitchell Staff Writer

Stephanie Lombardo / Staff Writer

Junior Arianna Lampkins protests the proposed schedule changes for next year. as well as it could have.”

Many students are upset about the impending changes, but some also feel that the walkout was not the best way of dealing with the situation.

“It’s really stupid to formulate an opinion without knowing the whole story,” said Sara Sandfort, a senior. Others commented that it was a premature action, as nothing has officially been de-

cided, excepting the necessity for a change.

While some say that the walkout accomplished nothing, others point out that the administration has changed its attitude since the event. “[They] finally agreed to meet with students,” commented junior Michael Gitlin. “[Now] there are staff members meeting with students to figure out a so-

lution for a more student-friendly schedule.”

With talks and meetings progressing between students and staff, the walkout appears to be in the past.

“The administration handled it well,” said sophomore Alana Shannon. “They stopped it before it even really started and there weren’t any fights, which I expected.”

Change is on the way for CVHS. Earlier starting times, the elimination of block days, no tutorials, a shorter lunch, and slightly longer classes are all possibilities for the school schedule next year.

And while the exact schedule is yet to be determined, (staff members are voting on their choice of the several proposed new schedules this week) the fact is that the schedule in place next year will probably be new and different.

The reason for all of these changes, said Principal Lisa Garcia, is that “basically, we need more minutes.” The current CVHS schedule provides 59,310 instructional minutes

SCHEDULE: Page 2

Revival of tardy sweeps reels students into class

By Amber Kury Staff Writer

“Teachers, please shut and lock your doors, this is a tardy sweep.

I repeat, this is a tardy sweep,” loudly rang the intercoms of the CVHS campus.

With more than 255 students tardy more than 50 times since the first day of school, the administration is reattempting a way to keep kids from missing class. The administration has started up tardy sweeps again, and according to Assistant Principal Jesse Woodward, the tardy sweeps are going to continue onto next year.

“We have already tried to tie tardies into grades, dances and homework,” said Woodward.

“We have even had class competitions, where the class with the least amount of tardies got a prize... but the only thing that really seems to work are the tardy sweeps. When I walk into the halls with my clipboard full of referrals, I literally see kids sprinting to class.”

There are many mixed feelings

about the tardy sweep around campus. Many students and teachers love it, because they are tired of students disturbing

Jill Beytin. “Anyways, I don’t really care because I am always on time to class.”

Other kids are very upset;

sweep for period five, because my class in on the opposite side of school, and I can never get there on time,” said freshman Gaton

Tardy count over last two years Week after Tardy Sweep

2165 2473

Week of Tardy Sweep

2266 2437

Week before Tardy Sweep

2159 2248

Random week in October

2006-07 2005-06

1618 1638

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Data compiled by Assistant Principal Jesse Woodward

Overall, tardies have decreased 12.5% compared from last year to this year. class when they arrive late.

“Half of my class was gone the day of the tardy sweep, and they deserve [getting a referral] if they are late,” said sophomore

for it if difficult for them to get to class on time because their classes are on the opposite sides of campus.

“I hope they don’t have a tardy

Gilham.

According to Woodward, the administration has taken into consideration the difficulty for some kids to walk across campus

and get to class on time, so next year, there will be an extra minute added to passing periods.

According to Woodward, the tardy sweep is the best method of keeping kids on time.

“From the first day of school up to April 4, about 36,000 minutes were lost from school simply because of tardies and it has got to change,” said Woodward.

Although many staff members believe this is the only solution, junior Jake Roselius believes there is another way to stop tardies without the harsh tardy sweeps.

“I think tardy sweeps are bull.

Some people, who are usually on time, can mess up one day, and be late to class and they will end up with a referral.

That doesn’t seem very fair,” said Roselius. “I think if teachers were stricter in their classes, having penalties on homework and such, kids will start to come to class on time. There is no reason to punish the whole school for a small majority of tardy students.”

Searching for suspect substances around campus

By Kamry Zhang & Ellen Yau

For some, April 20 is a day synonymous with marijuana use. For others at CVHS this year, it meant a drug-detecting dog named Mutly sniffing

from class.

“I had no idea they did things like that. They didn’t find anything in my car. I don’t keep anything in it,” commented Lonsdale.

For nearly a decade, CVHS has contracted for drug-sniffing

Kamry Zhang / Feature Editor

Drug-detecting dog Mutly sniffs around for suspicious materials lying around the CVHS campus. their cars and lockers.

“Initially I thought it was a parking violation. Then the campus patroller asked for our IDs, licenses and keys. It was then that I could tell something was wrong,” said senior Jodi Tam. “They searched my car and told me to vacuum it. It turns out there was a Tylenol pill under the mat.”

Tam was annoyed when a campus patroller pulled her out of class. “I mean, do I look like a druggie?” she asked.

Mutly also sniffed the car of senior Elia Lonsdale, leading school officials to pull her

dogs to visit the campus three times per school year. The dogs search for illegal drugs, alcohol, gunpowder, and some over-thecounter and prescription drugs.

Sometimes the dogs find something not on the list of items.

“About a few years ago, we found small amounts of marijuana stems in a vehicle first.

Then I found $5,000 in counterfeit cash,” commented Debra DeShon, Mutly’s trainer. “Generally we find evidence like beer caps, marijuana seeds and stems.”

The timing of the drug dog visit was purely coincidental, DeShon said.

Four schedule possibilities for next year SCHEDULE: Page 1 – including class time, passing periods, and tutorial – but a California Educational Code requires 64,800 of these minutes, meaning that CVHS is 5,490 minutes short for 2006-07.

The discrepancy seems to be due to a previous assumption that, according to a packet of information given to the teachers about the new schedule, “(CVHS) could be under the minimum minutes as long as students had access to a schedule that would give them their minutes.”

This assumption proved to be incorrect, as it turns out that all students need to meet the minute requirements, not just have those minutes available to them.

This is why next year’s school day will be anywhere from two to 14 minutes longer and why lunch will be shortened to 30 minutes- the 64,800 required instructional minutes need to be met within 6 classes.

However, an extended school day may not be the only change students and staff will face next year. The modified block schedule currently used may be eliminated mainly because, with the increase in minutes necessary, block periods would become 15 minutes longer, some days would start as early as 7: 15, and staff would have to stay after school until 4:45 for their meetings on Tuesdays. Instead,

Modified Block with Advisory Monday/Thursday/Friday 9th graders 10-12th graders Period 1 7:20 8:18 Period 1 7:20 8:18 Period 2 8:24 9:26 Period 2 8:24 9:26 Period 3 9:32 10:30 Period 3 9:32 10:30 Break 10:30 10:40 Break 10:30 10:40 Period 4 10:46 11:44 Period 4 10:46 11:44 Period 5 11:50 12:48 Lunch 11:44 12:24 Lunch 12:48 1:28 Period 6 12:30 1:28 Period 7 1:34 2:32 Period 7 1:34 2:32 Period 8 2:38 3:36 Period 8 2:38 3:36

Collab Period 2 Break Period 4 Lunch Period 7

Tuesday 9th-12th graders 7:30 8:30 8:40 10:23 10:23 10:33 10:39 12:22 12:22 1:02 1:08 2:51

Wednesday 9th-12th graders Period 1 7:20 9:03 Break 9:03 9:13 Period 3 9:19 11:02 Advisory 11:02 11:32 Period 5/6 11:38 1:21 Lunch 1:21 2:01 Period 8 2:07 3:50

Traditional Schedule without Advisory Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 9th graders 10-12th graders Period 1 7:20 8:19 Period 1 7:20 8:19 Period 2 8:25 9:24 Period 2 8:25 9:24 Period 3 9:30 10:29 Period 3 9:30 10:29 Break 10:29 10:39 Break 10:29 10:39 Period 4 10:45 11:44 Period 4 10:45 11:44 Period 5 11:50 12:49 Lunch 11:44 12:19 Lunch 12:49 1:24 Period 6 12:25 1:24 Period 7 1:30 2:29 Period 7 1:30 2:29 Period 8 2:35 3:34 Period 8 2:35 3:34 Tuesday 9th graders 10-12th graders Collab 7:45 8:15 Collab 7:45 8:15 Period 1 / Collab 8:25 9:10 Period 1 / Collab 8:25 9:10 Period 2 9:16 10:01 Period 2 9:16 10:01 Period 3 10:07 10:52 Period 3 10:07 10:52 Break 10:52 11:02 Break 10:52 11:02 Period 4 11:08 11:53 Period 4 11:08 11:53 Period 5/6 11:53 12:38 Period 5/6 11:53 12:38 Lunch 12:38 1:18 Lunch 12:38 1:18 Period 7 1:24 2:09 Period 7 1:24 2:09 Period 8 / Collab 2:15 3:00 Period 8 / Collab 2:15 3:00

CVHS may have a traditional schedule meaning instruction in every class, every day.

But, this lack of block periods will mean problems for classes like Foods, which cooks on block days, and any of the science classes, which use block days to complete labs.

“I haven’t even started trying to figure out how to rework our labs for next year. Of course we’ll figure it out and make it work because labs are an important part of science education, but I don’t think that there is a science teacher on campus that is happy to lose the block,” said science teacher Melissa Kindelspire.

“The ability to set up, run, and analyze a lab in a single period will be greatly missed.”

An additional change possibly coming is the elimination of tutorial. The administration believes that not enough students are properly using tutorial, and so has instead proposed a required advisory period for next year.

Many staff and students will not be happy to see tutorial go.

“I will miss tutorial as it has been a valuable part of my interaction with students. It has provided students with opportunities to get extra help, collect make-up work, and make-up tests and quizzes,” said social studies teacher Jennifer Sitkin.

However, Principal Lisa Garcia believes that an advisory period will still be a helpful time for both staff and students. “The advisory

Modified without Advisory Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Break Period 4 Period 5 Lunch Period 7

Collab Period 2 Break Period 4 Lunch Period 7

9th graders 7:15 8:21 9:27 10:27 10:43 11:49 12:49 1:30

Monday/Thursday/Friday

8:15 9:21 10:27 10:37 11:43 12:49 1:24 2:30

Tuesday 9 -12th graders 7:30 8:30 8:40 10:25 10:25 10:35 10:41 12:26 12:26 1:06 1:12 2:57 th

would still be a 30 minute time attached to a period, but would be more structured than tutorial is,” she said. “Students would be able to get passes to visit teachers and go take tests during this time, too.”

If voted into place by the staff, advisory will consist of any of the following: silent reading, time to watch the student video production, character education, presentations by a counselor, or study hall time.

Naturally, with so many changes coming to next year’s schedule, many on campus are unhappy.

“I think a lot of the possible changes seem really unnecessary and kind of insignificant.

For example, do we really need to increase classes by 3 minutes?” said junior Florence Crary.

“I can live with anything they change, except for the 30 minute lunches. That’s just crazy,” said fellow junior Monica Zhang.

“I understand why the changes have to be made and (I) will adjust but that doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it,” said Kindelspire, summing up the opinions of many, staff and students alike.

Garcia hopes that everyone will give the new schedule a chance.

“Change is always difficult,” she wrote in a memo to the staff. “It can be scary, but the opportunities it offers students and staff are positive and exciting. The door is open, not closed.”

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Break Period 4 Lunch Period 6 Period 7

10-12th graders 7:15 8:15 8:21 9:21 9:27 10:27 10:27 10:37 10:43 11:43 11:43 12:18 12:24 1:24 1:30 2:30

Wednesday 9 -12th graders Period 1 7:15 9:00 Period 3 9:06 10:51 Break 10:51 11:01 Period 5/6 11:07 12:52 Lunch 12:52 1:32 Period 8 1:38 3:23 th

Monday Advisory Traditional Schedule Monday 9th graders 10-12th graders Period 1 7:20 8:13 Period 1 7:20 8:13 Period 2 8:19 9:12 Period 2 8:19 9:12 Per 3 Advisory 9:18 9:48 Per 3 Advisory 9:18 9:48 Period 3 9:48 10:41 Period 3 9:48 10:41 Break 10:41 10:51 Break 10:41 10:51 Period 4 10:57 11:50 Period 4 10:57 11:50 Period 5 11:56 12:49 Lunch 11:50 12:25 Lunch 12:49 1:24 Period 6 12:31 1:24 Period 7 1:30 2:23 Period 7 1:30 2:23 Period 8 2:29 3:22 Period 8 2:29 3:22 Tuesday 9th graders 10-12th graders Collab 7:45 8:15 Collab 7:45 8:15 Period 1/ Collab 8:25 9:09 Period 1/ Collab 8:25 9:09 Period 2 9:15 9:59 Period 2 9:15 9:59 Period 3 10:05 10:49 Period 3 10:05 10:49 Break 10:49 10:59 Break 10:49 10:59 Period 4 11:05 11:49 Period 4 11:05 11:49 Period 5/6 11:55 12:39 Period 5/6 11:55 12:39 Lunch 12:39 1:19 Lunch 12:39 1:19 Period 7 1:25 2:09 Period 7 1:25 2:09 Period 8/ Collab 2:15 2:59 Period 8/ Collab 2:15 2:59 Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 9th graders 10-12th graders Period 1 7:20 8:19 Period 1 7:20 8:19 Period 2 8:25 9:24 Period 2 8:25 9:24 Period 3 9:30 10:29 Period 3 9:30 10:29 Break 10:29 10:39 Break 10:29 10:39 Period 4 10:45 11:44 Period 4 10:45 11:44 Period 5 11:50 12:49 Lunch 11:44 12:19 Lunch 12:49 1:24 Period 6 12:25 1:24 Period 7 1:30 2:29 Period 7 1:30 2:29 Period 8 2:35 3:34 Period 8 2:35 3:34

Walkout wails administration Editorial: Two separate parties have made poor decisions that have only added more problems to our school.

The school administration decided to implement drastic changes in the schedule for the next school year: eliminating block periods, switching freshman lunches with the upperclassmen lunches, removing tutorial and possibly introducing an advisory for students instead.

Perhaps this would not have been much of a problem, except for the fact that few outside the administration knew about the changes before they were announced.

Staff members were not initially notified of the situation, given a chance to vote, or even asked for their opinions about the matters at hand. Does the administration not trust the faculty to give quality input about such significant changes as these?

As a reaction to the decisions the administration made, the students at CVHS who chose to participate in the walkout made their own rash decision to interrupt classes and march into

Editor-In-Chief Flora Tsang City Editor Mari Robinson News Editor Gray Bae

Staff Writers Tim Buhlig

Julianne Burnette

Sophiana Carrell*

Opinion Editor Ellen Yau

Becky Chao Hayden

Feature Editor Kamry Zhang

Amber Kury

Sports Editor Malena Bell Copy Editors Dawn Berden Kyle Friedrich Photo Editor Saritha Kosarussavadi Systems Manager Gray Bae Business Managers Michelle Matsui Candace Wong

the courtyard, supposedly for a cause.

This would have been honorable, had the majority of the students known the facts at hand; however, they didn’t.

We at The Olympian note that the majority of students did not have their facts straight.

Instead of meeting school officials to discuss the situation, many students – not all – simply left class for the fun of it and wandered around on and off campus.

Instructional minutes are extremely important to the school and if CVHS does not have enough of them, the state could levy fines, which means that this change is inevitable.

Both parties have made a grave mistake – they leapt before they looked.

T h a n k f u l l y, t h e administration later opened a dialogue with the faculty about the scheduling issues. Students can correct their error, too, by learning the facts and considering all options before protesting a school decision or policy.

This would save a lot of worry and trouble for everyone.

Folks Kevin Hanley Esther Lee

Stephanie Lombardo Laura Mitchell Ariel Navarro

Chris (Hongzhe) Qian Sholeh Salimi

Alexandra Shiluk Advisor Matt Johanson

The Olympian is a student publication of the Journalism Class.

Castro Valley High School 19400 Santa Maria Ave. Castro Valley, CA 94546 The Olympian welcomes letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit letters for libel, spelling, grammar, length and style. Please limit letters to 200 words.

All letters to the editor must be signed. Submit letters to cvhsolympian@yahoo.com or The Olympian office in room 113.

Little sleep leads to small grades

By Sophiana Carrell Staff Writer

My friend joked with me during second period as my eyes began to close, “You are such narcoleptic.”

The previous night, I had looked at the clock. 12:15.

“Great!” I thought, “Another night without sleep.” Slaving away on my four hours of homework, I wondered if other students were in the same situation night after night.

Studies conducted at Brown University Medical School found that adolescents need 9.2 hours of sleep on average, compared to the 7.5 hours adults require for a full night’s sleep.

This is because adolescents experience something called a “phase shift” during puberty, until their early 20s, and fall asleep at a later time than children or adults.

Though studies do suggest at least 9 hours of sleep for young people, 26 percent of high school students receive less than 6 hours on school nights and only 15 percent receive 8 hours, which is still one hour less than the recommended amount.

As my yawning persisted throughout second period, I tried to target the source of my lack of sleep.

I absolutely despise waking up in the morning. I have tried every kind of alarm clock possible; I once bought one of those calming alarm clocks that wake you up with the gentle sounds of the ocean.

But I found out that because the sounds were so calming, they actually put me to sleep again, defeating their main purpose.

Then I got one of those loud, annoying ones with the obnoxious beeping noises that continue to get louder the longer you sleep.

I would wake up with such a rousing jolt that my mother decided it was probably not healthy for my nervous system.

So now, my mother comes into my bedroom every morning at 6:30 and attempts to wake me.

I mumble, and occasionally scream at her, to allow me just five more minutes. But she always replies, “Five minutes won’t make you any less tired than you already are.”

However, studies show that those five minutes more could make all the difference in the world.

Mary A. Carskadon, Ph.D. of Brown University Medical School conducted a teenage sleep study and found that students receiving Cs, Ds, and Fs in school obtained only 20 minutes less sleep than students getting As and Bs. In another laboratory study of 40 high school students,

scientists studied the effect of changing school starting times from 8:25 to 7:20. Half the students who started school at 7: 20 were already what scientists call “pathologically sleepy” by 8: 30. They fell directly into REM sleep in an average of only 3.4

“ Then I got

one of those loud, annoying ones with the obnoxious beeping noises that continue to get louder the longer you sleep.

”

minutes. This pattern is astonishingly similar to what is seen in narcolepsy patients.

Thinking about it, I believe that a lack of sufficient sleep directly relates to the competitive college admission process. Students are constantly thinking about adding to their applications and therefore sign up for the most challenging classes and partici-

pate in endless extracurricular activities. But these tough classes give loads of homework and after-school activities require time, and though students may claim that they maintain a balance in their busy lives, they are paying the price through sleep deprivation.

I constantly find myself making the decision of whether school trumps sleep or the reverse. I stand on the lower level of the 700 hall and stare up at the impossible number of stairs I have to drag my sleepy body up to reach the next floor. Walking up a single flight of stairs should not be such a taxing journey for a young girl of 16.

If I dropped my many extracurriculars and let up on the class load, I would easily receive two to three more hours of rest, but is it worth that price?

I can see myself in two years, sitting in a room with a college interviewer and can imagine my blank expression as they ask, “What happened in your sophomore year that made you stop everything you were doing?” And then I would simply reply, “Sleep.”

That would be mortifying, but I don’t want to put myself in danger of developing any permanent problems due to lack of sleep.

Meanwhile, the rampant problem of students choosing school over sleep persists and is putting the oblivious youth at risk for cognitive, emotional, and psychological difficulties, feeding the long-term consequences of chronic sleep deprivation.

Totally trippy tardy traps terrify teens

Editorial:

Ta rd y s w e e p s h a v e started up once again at CVHS, snatching up unsuspecting students arriving late to class, and receiving a referral in return. We at The Olympian support the idea of punishing students who are late to class, but believe it can be handled in another manner.

Although it is understandable to penalize tardy students, the method also hurts those who rarely miss class. Perhaps

one student had a rough day and could not arrive to class on time, the one period where the tardy sweep happened to occur.

Because of that one mistake, the student now re-

The Flora Factor Violent mindset of teens affirmed by Virginia Tech shooting

By Flora Tsang Editor-In-Chief

After the shooting that led to the most atrocious school massacre ever at Virgina Tech, with 32 innocent victims now dead, reality finally hits - violence kills.

Just a few weeks ago in Florida, a 17-year old and two 10year old boys were faced with charges of aggravated battery after they beat up a homeless person on the street. According to the police, the boys started by throwing rocks at the man, and then proceeded to punch and hit him with pieces of a nearby concrete wall.

Right here in our own school, fights have been shamefully popular for the past two years.

Every few weeks, something happens. People say, “Did you see that fight?” when someone else immediately jumps in, noting: “Yeah! Dude, I was like five feet away.” Sometimes, while standing or walking in the courtyard, one might hear, “FIGHT!” and then all of a sudden see swarms of students running towards one common area.

I blame the violence on each and every individual who reads this column. We give the high ratings to those shows, and we buy the tickets for those movies.

We are the guilty ones who storm towards the fight and silently support the brutal fa-

cial adjustments of our fellow peers.

It’s been said that you are what you eat; I also believe in the idea that you are what you watch. The stuff we watch is so violent that we don’t even realize how violent it actually is.

The perfect example of this is the movie 300. The weekend after the movie was released, I heard how good the movie was about five times. When asked why the movie was worth watching, everyone responded along the lines of “lots of blood” and “hot six-packs.” Apparently, it now takes excessive amounts of blood and severed limbs to make us flinch.

The problem with supporting violence is that the results aren’t obvious right away. After playing the video game Doom, one isn’t going to walk down the street and shoot someone; however, studies show that there is an effect.

The American Psychological Association had a 15-year study of young children who watched violent shows, including shows like the oh-so-bloody Roadrunner cartoons. It revealed that those who watched more aggressive shows were significantly more likely to aggressively interact with their spouse; both men and women punched, choked, threw things and shoved them.

These women were four times more likely to respond in this manner than those who didn’t watch the violent content.

Violence has to be limited before the next generation soaks in more violence, which in turn, will continue to hurt society in the future. It may take legislation, parental protests or even personal blockades, but something needs to be done. The only question now is: who will?

ceives a referral in return.

Does the administration see justice behind this decision? Is it truly fair that victims of the feared tardy sweeps earn such harsh punishments for a single transgression?

If tardy sweeps truly re-

restrict students from going to dances because of an excessive number of tardies. That way, students with one tardy have another opportunity, while those who already used up all their chances receive their just reward.

And instead of giving every student a referral on tardy sweep day, the adstarted this year primarily ministration should give because of students who punishments relative to accumulated more than 50 the number of tardies the tardies since the beginning student has. Students who of the school year, then the made just one slip should administration should just get a detention while target those students. The those who have an excesOlympian concurs with sive number of tardies the school’s decision to deserve the referral.

Pointless purpose of protestors

By Kyle Friedrich Copy Editor

There has been a ton of drama and complaining about the new schedule, and students who participated in the walkout really need to know how pathetic the protest was. I think that the administration has handled this issue the wrong way, but this column really goes out to the students.

The walkout before spring break was a completely disorganized mess, and it is no surprise that nothing got accomplished. If students want to engage in civil disobedience, they should do it in an organized manner, and the walkout certainly was not.

I’m not saying that the horrible new schedule wasn’t a cause worthy of protest, because it was. But students also handled

the issue in the wrong way.

The new schedule is a terrible idea, and of course the administration claims that it is not under

“If students want to engage in civil disobedience, they should do it in an organized manner...

”

its control. Starting school at 7:15 a.m. is ridiculous and losing the block schedule is disappointing, too. But if the decision is really with the state government, then what does protesting at the school do?

Most students used the walkout as an excuse to get out of class, which is completely the wrong reason. I know most people care about the schedule next year, but with a little more planning, it could have been a lot more effective. There were a distinct lack of signs, chanting, and overall energy. Most people were just standing and doing nothing, showing their support for the cause by socializing with their friends. When I left my class hoping to see an assembly of students constructively voicing their opinions, and I was thoroughly disappointed.

If you honestly care about what happens to you next year, talk with the administrators or write to you state politicians.

But don’t just fool around in the courtyard, because that gets nothing done.

PHOTOpinions COMPILED BY ALEX SHILUK

QUESTION OF THE ISSUE:

What do you think of the tardy sweeps?

“It’s all bad. If I were

“I think it’s stupid because

to get caught, I’d just cut class.”

now I can’t be late to class.” – Jake Lassallette,

– Jackson Phillips, junior

sophomore

“I think it’s a dumb idea and

“I’d cry myself to sleep

there’s no point in having tardy sweeps because a lot of people are tardy anyways.”

every night if I got caught, knowing that I would not be able to attend prom.”

– Nathalie Ruiz, freshman

– Inna Nosenko, senior

Dance team dances to first

“It was really good that we got first place in nationals again Staff Writer because it ended the year on a The CVHS dance team re- good note,” said senior and head ceived first place in their pom captain Kristen Meadows.

Next year there will be sevendance routine for the third year in a row at the teen girls on the USA National dance teen with Dance Competiother slight modition in Anaheim, fications as well.

California on The team next March 23-24. year will consist Having acof a varsity and JV complished so team, with seven much this year, it girls on varsity is no surprise the and ten on JV. girls continue to Junior and head captain next year, take first place Kelsey Aper said, for their routine.

“This year was The dance team successful and I was awarded can’t wait for next first place in state year.” competition, suKelsey Aper The dance team perior squad Junior continues to pracaward, and were asked to perform at halftime for tice mornings and afternoons a Warriors game along with the with choreographer and coach CVHS cheerleaders in January.

Rob Perry.

The majority of the ten graduThe girls will be having a reating seniors on the dance team cital on June 2 in the Center for plan to pursue dancing by going the Arts where they will perform into dance teams or majoring in their many different routines and dance while in college. literally dance the night away.

By Sholeh Salimi

“

Saritha Kosarussavadi / Photo Editor

Junior David Broome, a member of the Average Joes, prepares to catapult the ball towards the opposing team.

If you can dodge a wrench...

By Alexandra Shiluk Staff Writer

Is scent really the strongest sense tied to memory, or is it pain? After all, nothing says nostalgia like a rubber ball pummeling you in the gut.

The Castro Valley Leadership class aimed to resolve this question with some good, clean fun by sponsoring a weeklong dodgeball tournament in April.

The class took a temporary hiatus from its usual class competition pie eating contests and instead organized a pre-spring break dodgeball competition in the gymnasium at lunch.

Around 200 students came out for the event; some participants’ fondness and memory of the childhood game of rivalry superseded their fears of playing in front of hundreds of students that sacrificed their lunches in the name of free entertainment.

Shielded by thin t-shirts and occasionally spandex shorts, with exposed palms beseeching mercy, the players unleashed and dodged a flurry of red rubber balls at the blow of the referee’s whistle.

The only things that were at stake in this tournament – and awarded to the winning team – were an energy drink, t-shirt, candy bar, first-place medal, and bragging rights.

“It was cool. This dodgeball tournament was really all out,” said junior Ashley Guzman. “Just kidding, but not really,” she finishes, quoting the namesake film.

Twenty-four teams saw students and staff from across the campus battle it out in immediate elimination fashion (in which the victor of the match advances). Some participants took the event more seriously than others, as they dressed up like characters from the movie Dodgeball.

“...the play-

ers unleashed and dodged a flurry of red rubber balls...

This year was really successful and I can’t wait for next year. ”

Interact Club hosts night for all cultures

”

After all 12 matches had been played, the top two teams, the Soporros and the Average Joes, went through to the finals where they played each other in a best-of-three finale. After some serious display of athletic ability and prowess, which included an exciting comeback by the Soporros, the Average Joes proved to be champions with a 2-1 victory. “[The tournament] was fun because you can have fun with it, but still be serious,” said senior Michael Proulx, captain of the Average Joes.

However, unlike grade school, where many students celebrated the more violent aspects of the game, players expressed a heightened level of dedication and interest.

Many high school students still recall the thrill of dodging deadly, high-speed strikes that left imprints that can be seen to this day. Subsequently, dodgeball as a spectator sport also appealed to the hundreds of students that were present throughout the tournament.

“It was totally rad,” exclaimed junior Lauryn Hart of the tournament’s championship match.

Saritha Kosarussavadi / Photo Editor

Sisters Sonali and Somia Mohanty perform a Mixed Masala at International Night.

By Kamry Zhang Feature Editor

Members of the audience ate pasta and sushi as they watched a breakdancing routine by senior Michael Elias in the San Leandro Marina Community Center on April 1.

This was the opening of Interact Club’s International Night.

International Night is a show featuring multicultural acts to raise money for Interact’s annual international project.

About 120 people showed up for a great event filled with a variety of food, entertaining acts and a good time.

Interact collaborated with several other Interact clubs from around the Bay Area to make this event possible to raise money

for Action Against Hunger ’s “Campaign to End Starvation in the Congo.”

There were a total of 13 acts including Taiko drumming, a South Asian dance from CVHS’s South Asian Student Association, and a Chinese moon guitar performance.

The Eden Aoba Taiko Drummers, the same group that participated during Days of Diversity, started off the evening with rhythmic drum sequences.

Between drumming acts, the leader informed the audience about the significance behind the acts.

The evening ended after Interact officers thanked the audience in a variety of languages including Chinese, Russian and Korean.

H

ere are the ASB and class candidates for the year of 20072008. At The Olympian, we strive to bring you news about your future leaders. This year every candidate was given a trivia quiz consisting of ten questions regarding news around the campus.

Yukichi Kawada

V.P.

7/10

8/10

“I care about what other students want changed. They want a dose of Chich + Mando in the morning. A vote for me is a vote for you!”

I Travis Northup

“I am making the students’ dreams and wants my first priority and hopefully allowing them more freedom to experience the things that they have a passion for.”

H

V.P. s wa re able u t l Pic avai un

“ It takes no thought, vote Enseñat.”

Erika Solanki

s s a l C I s n o i t c e l E I President

7/10

P

“I am a hard worker, good at math, organized and I really enjoy this school. Also I would like to serve you.”

Brian Hanson:

President

7.5/10

8/10

5/10

“Pros: you will feel a sense of accomplishment, no threat of a civil war and a feeling of hilarity. Also I am incredibly good looking.”

I

Ryden Ishida

“I’m willing to step out of my comfort zone and test my inner limits.”

I

8/10

Vice President

Secretary

9.5/10

Vice President

10/10

Take the the Quiz!

Quiz!

Take How well will you do compared to your future leaders?

1. Who replaced Debbie Coco as principal?

2. Which school counselor recently became a father?

3. What decade did the junior class represent for Homecoming this year?

4. For which sport did the head coach and all other coaches resign this year?

9/10

Courtney Byrd:

8/10

“I really want to be your secretary and I really would enjoy making your senior year a year to remember.”

CLASS of 2010

CLASS of 2009 Alicia Ceniceros: “I’d love to

I

Jessica Lindsay Jacobsen: Sasada: “I want our “I believe I am “I’ve been in leadership for last year to be memorable responsible and deterthe past three years. I have mined. I complete all tasks and successful for all of us. the experience and I underand most importantly listen With an honest heartfelt stand how the events and approach, I can accomplish to the students for planning work.” that.” suggestions.”

Jessica James: “With “I have ensured the knowledge the promise see the ideas I that I have of motivating have to improve CVHS be set gained from being sophomore and encouraging students the into motion. I’m a hard worker vice president, I am confident past two years as freshman and and you can count on me to be that I can do a great job as sophomore president and will a great representative of the junior vice president.” continue to do so.” student body.”

Julia Joung:

Eric Wang

CLASS of 2008H

P

H

“I’m enthusiastic and charismatic and I care about the students. I also fight communism.”

Cheryl Krake

as e w le tur ilab c i P ava un

P

H

Treasurer 8/10 6/10

Armando Enseñat

School Board Member

McKenzie Finn

“I am outgoing and really laid back. I would be able to relate to a lot of different students. I am also smart! So vote for McKenzie!”

Alex Iwanicki

10/10

Secretary P

Secretary Lauren Hebert: “I’m a very outgoing, creative, enthusiastic person and I’m up for anything. My motto is “live life to the fullest” and being secretary adds to that motto.”

9/10

5. Which two minority clubs on campus have recently held meetings together to improve unity at CVHS? 6. Which act won the DECA variety show this year?

7. What two plays have been put on this year?

8. Who was the senior boy named Mr. CV this year?

9. Which boys sports team won their third consecutive HAAL title this year?

10. Name two new changes CVHS will experience next year.

President

H

Shelby Gerstenberger: “I have had experience with this position from last year. I am an organized person and I can’t start a job without finishing it.”

9.5/10

P ANSWERS 

CHECK YOUR

President

1. Lisa Garcia 2. Duane Magno 3. 1970s 4. Football 5. BSU and Alhaja Club 6. CV Flava- step team 7. Romeo and Juliet and The Laramie Project 8. Alex Feldman 9. The boys Varsity wrestling team 10. New schedule, new principal, new stadium, etc.

P

300 thrills with Mute Math anything but mute: great action scenes second album another hit

By Kevin Hanley Staff Writer

If you go to see 300 expecting a historically accurate depiction of the Battle of Thermopylae, you will be disappointed. If you go to see 300 expecting to see a lot of awesome fight scenes and a bunch of people being killed in slow motion, then you chose the right movie.

300, based on a graphic novel

by Frank Miller, is a loose depiction of the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. However, the filmmakers took a few liberties with the historical source material, which is obvious when you see the 300 Spartans taking on a monstrous deformed giant.

Still, if you wanted accuracy you would have watched the History channel documentary of the Battle of Thermopylae aired to coincide with the release of 300.

If you’ve seen the previews for this film, chances are you came

looking for some kick butt battle scenes. Well you’re in luck. This movie has plenty.

The battle scenes in 300 are phenomenal. The fighting is incredibly stylized and brutal.

Spears get shoved into people’s guts, limbs get severed, and people get decapitated. The filmmakers make liberal use of slow motion during battle, resulting in some really cool scenes in which one of the 300 Spartans kills around ten Persians in a row, all in slow motion.

This may sound gruesome, and it is, however, the violence is stylized and over the top enough that it really isn’t that bad, and I think most high schoolers are desensitized enough to not be psychologically scared by this movie.

Most of the movie was shot in front of a blue screen, so almost all the background is CGI, which gives the film a very stylish, heightened reality kind of look to it. The acting is good, though there is nothing Oscar worthy.

The plot starts off a little slow until they get to the battle, but once it does it really picks up.

There is also a subplot added by the filmmakers involving the queen of Sparta. Without spoiling it, I’ll just say it’s nice to have a plotline about a woman to balance out the testosteronecharged fight scenes.

All in all, this movie is one long awesome fight scene. It’s not for everyone, but I encourage you to check it out if you’re into action.

By Saritha Kosarussavdi Photo Editor

With their second album of a unique blend of sounds from electro-industrial rock to reggaeish new wave, Mute Math finally released its much-anticipated self-titled record Mute Math in 2006, bursting out its full-length masterpiece of 14 tracks that were anything but mute.

After its successful debut Reset EP back in 2004 (Teleprompt Record), this potential next-bigthing American band from New Orleans has grown more well known with an increasing fan

Staff Writer

Finneas pulled her out of the sea on the night of the worst storm in memory. Pearl has always been different, an outcast.

With her abnormally long legs, pale hair, and skin, Pearl doesn’t belong. She is haunted by fears and plagued by dreams, voices calling her to the sea.

Pearl has secretly met the Prince since they were young and he has become her only true friend. As unusual things begin to occur, and two strangers appear in her village, Pearl’s life of obscurity ends and she is thrust into a maelstrom of activity, and lives are at stake.

Thus begins her journey of self-discovery, adventure, love and hope. It is an inspiring story of dreams coming to life in true fairy tale style. If you love fairy

tales, then you will love this book; and even if you don’t normally, these retold stories offer the variety and originality often lacking in the fables that everyone seems to have memorized.

In Midnight Pearls, Debbie Viguié puts a new and refreshing spin on the beloved fairy tale the Little Mermaid. It is part of a series of retold fairy tales and fables; a modern twist on the stories everyone knows, and multitudes love. Among these are retellings of tales such as Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and Sleeping Beauty.

I enthusiastically recommend this book, especially for young adult readers. The story is the epitome of the trials and triumphs of growing-up, making choices and finding one’s true self. Midnight Pearls is also a well-written and thought out piece of literature.

If not a classic by its own right, this is a wonderful rendition of one; a pearl not to be missed.

from Switchfoot and Sting.

One of my favorite Mute Math songs is “Stare at the Sun,” which is an incredible mixture of atmospheric jazz and stroking guitars.

And the longest but the most infectious track of the album, “Break the Same,” offers loads or guitar, bass, and drum hooks with a hint of Incubus-like tune here and there. Besides their spiritually influenced lyrics for songs like “Typical,” which goes: “I know there’s got to be another level/Somewhere closer to the other side/And I’m feeling like it’s now or never/ Can I break the spell of the typical?” the album also has some straightforward love tracks such as “Noticed” and “Picture.” Mute Math cools down with “Stall Out,” and slowly finishes off with a full five-minute and a half of instrumental conclusion.

Though the whole sound of Mute Math may seem a little unpolished, in a positive and interesting effect, it gives a “live” feel to the record.

Mute Math can be found in local music stores, online, and at the band’s concerts for $12.99.

as Ally, is our protagonist and narrator. As an incoming freshman to Syracuse College, she is eligible to be part of the reality show In the House which is doing a special season called In the

not be an Ally Cavanaugh, reality star.

The book is set up with chapters titled “Then,” referring to her time as a cast member of the show and “Now” for, well, now.

Ally’s best friend is Grant, who is gay. At least having a gay best friend eliminates the possibility of huge cliché overkill where a romantic relationship could arise between the close friends.

As the reader, I had to trudge through “normal” teen shenanigans, though none of my friends are remotely like the characters, the use of “like” incorrectly, the constant reminder of illiteracy in our generation and continuous sexual references and cuss words thrown around like confetti on New Years.

Besides the aforementioned flaws, the biggest weakness of the novel is that after reading the book you really just don’t know Ally. Barnholdt doesn’t shy away from the crude way teenagers express their selves which brings out some authenticity hidden behind the reality show scenario but the truth does hurt. Parents should stay away from this book if their young one is leaving the nest for higher education.

Now books are a girl’s best friends (in my world) and there are definitely bright sides to the hilariously idiotic expenditures Barnholdt creates for the characters like Ally’s low level of alcohol tolerance.

Personally, I did enjoy it myself despite the lack of substance.

But I was in my mood for corny books.

Reality Chick reflects real teens

By Ellen Yau Opinion Editor

Pearls pleases with a new spin to favorite fairy tales

By Julianne Burnette

base from concerts and their Internet fan site on MySpace.

As for their background, the group was formed in 2001 with four longtime friends Paul Meany (vocals/keys), Darren Kings (drums), Greg Hill (guitar), and Roy Mitchell-Cardenas (bass).

Much like Mae, U2, Switchfoot, and Sixpence None the Richer, Mute Math’s Christian-driven lyrics receive lots of attention from other non-Christian mainstream listeners.

The album opens with the mellow, non-vocal drum rhythm, “Collapse,” mnemonic of Radiohead - one of those haunting intros that creeps down your ears.

Then, the album suddenly kicks off with its second track, “Typical,” a high-energy rock melody that it reminiscent of classic U2 and Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live.” Mute Math’s fourth track, “Chaos,” is one of the album’s gems, burnished with instrumental goodness from swirling storms of guitars and sharp drums to the echoic electronic keyboard, fused with Meany’s rapid-fire vocal that seems to be a cross between Jon Foreman

“ I had to

There are no necessary skills for reading this book. It does not require any type of school curriculum-like interpretation or analysis in order to comprehend the plot and its underlying messages, but an understanding of a modern day valley girl’s media wouldn’t hurt because within the 270 pages, there is reference to at least 50 movies, TV shows, magazines and prominent figures in tinseltown and the media industry.

In order to read Reality Chick without flinching, think of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath writing style without the intense details and the historical connections. Actually, author Lauren Barndholdt’s writing style is nothing like Steinbeck’s. The only thing remotely connecting the unknown name with Steinbeck is her use of intercalary chapters titled “Now” and “Then.”

Alexandra Cavanaugh, known

trudge through ‘normal’ teen shenanigans, though none of my friends are remotely like the characters

”

House: Freshman Year. She auditions to be part of the cast and she gets accepted, even after making a sexual remark and pissing off a fellow Reality Show Hopeful (sexual remark was not the cause of pissing off RSH). The obvious plot ensues where her parents are wishy-washy on the idea but then they end up agreeing and no, I’m not giving up too much of the storyline because without parental approval or at least submission there would

Super Savvy Sports Stars Gray Bae/ News Editor

Chanele Darosa, Freshman Currently in her first year in high school, Chanele Darosa scored a spot in badminton as the third best player in Varsity singles. She is aiming for A-rank in badminton and joined the team after seeing her brother play competitively and wanted to try it out as well. One striking memory Darosa had of badminton was when her partner had the perfect chance to smash the birdie, but happened to slap Darosa’s butt instead.

Anthony Wong, Sophmore

Anthony Wong, sophomore, plays as one part of the second best Badminton pair in Varsity doubles. He plans to challenge and become the best doubles pair in CVHS. Wong plays for the thrill, the fun, the adrenaline, and vividly remembers the times when, “My friend was always cheering for me” during games. His partner Clinton however, was inspired by seeing a hot girl in badminton. Regardless, he ended up loving the game.

Paula Brown, Junior

Paula Brown has been in track throughout her entire high school career, and plans to continue track in order to stay active. She currently participates in the high jump, triple jump and the 200 meter to practice and hone her speed. A fond memory Brown recalled was when she high jumped for the first time in high school and cleared five feet, setting the school’s frosh-soph record. In the future, she hopes to earn the Herculean award.

Max Martinez, Senior

When asked why senior Max Martinez joined the team, he said, “It was something I was good at and enjoyed.” Martinez is well-experienced in the sport, having been a CVHS Varsity swimmer all four years of high school. He competes in the 50 and 100-yard free-style events.

Because of the competitiveness of swimming professionally, he does not plan on swimming as a career.

Regardless, Martinez would like to continue swimming in college.

Volleyball team scores first win of season

By Stephanie Lombardo Staff Writer

Stephanie lombardo / Staff Writer

Senior Josh Kim and Junior Even Green leap for the ball in their recent game against Livermoore.

After a rough start to its season and six straight losses, the CVHS boys volleyball team had its first big win against Livermore High School, ending the games 25-11, 25-13, and 25-21.

“I couldn’t think of one person that did bad. It was a milestone for us,” said head coach Ron Smith.

“It was great to get our first win.

We played as a team and came out on top,” said senior Justin Hertlein.

This season has really been a test for the players and how well they can work together to win.

Starting out the season late, finding a coach, and losing players to grades have only been a few of the problems they have faced.

“The hardest part was getting them to trust me,” said Smith.

Smith has been a club volleyball coach for years but this is his first time coaching a high school team.

He first experienced a team for volleyball at the local Alameda High School and then moved far away to play at Newman University in Kansas.

He later returned and began coaching in the area. When he was offered the job at CVHS, he was excited for

GO GREEN! Please help us recycle this issue of The Olympian!

the opportunity to help the program excel.changes, they are planning to work hard for more wins.

Smith plans to return next year and continue coaching at CVHS to keep the program going.

“The new coach is really tight.

He knows a lot about volleyball,” said senior Steven Holland.

He also has lofty goals for the entire team in the future years for them to strive for.

“I want to build the program. It will be tough, but I think it will be worth it,” said Smith.

Girls lose struggle Boys blow away opponents against O’Dowd

By Tim Buhlig Staff Writer

By Tim Buhlig Staff Writer

After a long hard day of stinky sweat, short shorts and screams of success, the frosh/soph girls track team ran their way to victory, but alas, the girls Varsity team was not able to win their meet. against Bishop O’Dowd.

Since Bishop O’Dowd is the CVHS track team’s biggest rival, the frosh/soph girls track team was elated as it won overall at the meet on April 23.

The girls frosh/soph team did especially well in the 400 meter race (one lap around the track).

The winner of that event was sophomore Sam Owyang. According to her, in track there is “no pain, no gain.”

Though the Varsity girls gave a

good effort and did great in some events, but it just wasn’t enough to beat the competitive Bishop O’Dowd girls.

The girls came in first, second and third for many events. For the 100-meter, junior Kandice Douglas came in second with a time of 12.5 seconds. Douglas also came in second for the 200-meter with a time of 26.5 seconds. In the 800-meter, Castro Valley girls took first, second and third with times of 2:22, 2: 23 and 2:27.

The girls field events went really well for Castro Valley. In the long jump, CVHS took first and second place. For the triple jump the girls once again came in first and second place.

In throwing events Castro Valley girls took second and third for shot put, and third for discus.

“It’s not about how far you throw, it is about technique,” said junior Grace Hopfenbeck.

The overall score for the Varsity girls was Bishop O’Dowd 75, Castro Valley 52.

Both the boys frosh/soph team and the boys Varsity track and field teams defeated Bishop O’Dowd at the meet on April 23.

The boys Varsity team captured first, second and third places for almost all of the events they competed in.

In the 100-meter dash, Dash Oliver sprinted into first place with a time of an impressive 11.1 seconds. In the 200, Oliver and Frederick Rice took first and second respectively. For the 400, Rice came in first with a time of 52 seconds.

In the boys 800 meters, the Trojans took first, second and third place with times of 2: 02, 2:05 and 2:08 with Andrew Cheshire, Josh Fong, James Fazzio and Jack Leng respectively. In the 1,600-meter run the boys took first and second, and

Tim Buhlig / Staff Writer

Sophomores Marcelo Sanchez and Chris So soar over hurdles against O’Dowd. in the 3,200-meter, Castro Valley boys took first and third.

The boys field events also performed very well. In the high jump the boys took first, second and third. For the long jump Castro Valley took third.

For throwing events, the boys excelled above what they

thought. In the shot put event they took second and third, and in the discus event they also took second and third.

The overall score in the Varsity contest was Castro Valley 84, Bishop O’Dowd 43 which gave CVHS yet another win for the track team.

Tennis team suffers first defeat of season

By Esther Lee Staff Writer

The boys tennis season so far has been successful, but Moreau got the upper hand as the team lost its first game of the season after many heated matches.

The neon green ball jetted back and forth on the tennis court as two talented tennis players rallied for the next point. Junior Jake Pawid, who is ranked number one in boys Varsity, against Moreau’s number one singles player in this intense game.

Even though Pawid lost, it didn’t deter him from believing that the game was his best one all season.

“I played pretty good,” said Pawid.

He has played tennis for ten years and he enjoys playing for several reasons.

“I like it because I like the competition and it’s a good way to get exercise,” said Pawid.

He climbed to the top of the tennis ladder by training for three weeks in “tortuous settings.” He prepares himself for a match by

getting a good night’s sleep and eating a good breakfast. Pawid keeps an optimistic outlook and has a good warm up before the match as well. During matches, Pawid outhits his opponent to claim victory. He favors his forehand.

Senior Charlie Thompson is another skilled player on the tennis team. He has been ranked number three singles in boys Varsity since sophomore year.

Thompson has played tennis for seven to eight years and enjoys watching other players improve their game. His favorite tennis shot is his overhead smash.

“I can nail it from anywhere on the court,” said Thompson. He plans to play tennis at Chabot College.

As for the tennis season so far, assistant coach Steven Argyres is positive.

“It’s been very good. We have not lost a league match until today [versus Moreau],” said Argyres.

Argyres also commented that the team is relatively easy to coach. He remains upbeat about the rest of the season.

“It’s a good season no matter what happens,” said Argyres.

The strengths of the tennis team are that it consists of numerous good players throughout the ladder. However, Argyres admits that the team does have one weakness, which is “that we lost today.”

S up e r S a v v y Sp o r ts St a rs

Compiled by Becky Chao and Kevin Hanley

Summer Harris, freshman

Samantha Owyang, sophomore

“I really believe in no pain, no gain – what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” said freshman Summer Harris, who plays both track and soccer here at CVHS. Harris has a long history of being involved in sports; she started to play soccer after being convinced by a friend in first grade. In addition, she currently runs track and is about to break her record of 6: 02 in the mile. Harris was also female athlete of the year back in Canyon. “I love [sports] and that’s what I look for,” she said.

Running track is a great passion for sophomore Samantha Owyang, who has been running track at CVHS for the past two years. Her best time on the 400-meter dash is 64 seconds, something she is very proud of.

One of her favorite parts of track is getting to meet new people from other teams. She also enjoys how competitive track is. She is inspired to train hard because “there is always someone better than you.” According to Samantha, some of her best memories are from track.

Karlina Beringer, junior It is easy to see why junior Karlina Beringer is a real cornerstone to the cross-country and track teams: she seems to run miles easily and her fastest mile yet is 5:38.

She started running after a teacher watched Beringer run the Creekside Mile in the seventh grade and told her she should consider joining cross-country. “I like the people on the team and traveling around,” said Beringer. The fact that she’s on Varsity guarantees her place in every race and every travel opportunity.

Tracy Wang, senior Badminton is one of the more underappreciated sports on our campus, but senior Tracy Wang, badminton player at CVHS, deserves some recognition. Wang has been playing badminton for all four years she has attended CVHS, and has been captain of her team for two of those years.

“You don’t usually think of badminton as fast-paced, but it actually is a very fast, tiring game,” said Wang. “It is also requires really good technical skills, and involves a lot of footwork. It gets me really pumped.”

Top 5 ways Former CVHS AP returns as principal

to tackle the tardy sweep

Skip out on being swept up with The Olympian

By Laura Mitchell Staff Writer

The passing period bell resounds through the hall, followed by the crackling of the loudspeaker: “This is a tardy sweep. Teachers, please lock your doors…”

Whether you’ve been trying to navigate the crowded courtyard or just been chatting with friends, if you’re not in class yet, this announcement means trouble. Lucky for you, The Olympian comes to the rescue with some tips for evading the tardy sweep – and the subsequent detention.* Got class on the bottom floor of the 900 wing? You could always try sneaking around the back of the building and attempting to climb through a window.

Of course, your teacher probably won’t be any more inclined to let you pop into class that way than they will be to unlock the door for you during the tardy sweep, but it might be worth a shot, especially if you’re friends with the kid who sits next to the window.

1

Check to see if you’re near a bathroom; that might just be your tardy sweep detention salvation.

Standing on top of a toilet seat hidden in a stall may not be glam-

2

orous, but if you’re desperate to flee a dreaded detention slip, then you can’t be too picky.

Try ducking into a janitor’s supply storage room.

Hey, if you get caught, you’ll probably be kicked out, but it’s a good spot - if you don’t mind sharing space with mops and floor cleaner.

3

We all know that sometimes sweep. It’s definitely possible the things best hidden are right to spend hours sitting in the office without anyone ever asking under our own noses, you what you’re doing there, so why which is why not test your luck and it out the tardy the 800 hall sweep in relative comfort (hey, block of offices might make a those cushioned office chairs are good place to dodge the tardy better than a cramped closet).

4

For those of you who like to be prepared for those surprise tardy sweeps, this one is for you.

It does require a bit of preparation, but would be worth a little work to pull off. Buy yourself a yellow windbreaker, and presto! You can blend right in as a campus patroller (bonus points if you carry a walkie-talkie and paint “Security” on the back of the jacket).

5

So good luck with the next tardy sweep, and if you find yourself on the wrong side of that locked classroom door, just recall these helpful ideas. Of course, you could always just make sure to get to class early…but that would be too easy.

*Disclaimer: attempt at your own risk, of course - don’t blame The Olympian for any trouble you get into while trying out any of these suggestions.

divide up reports, for example. I have to do it all.”

Opinion Editor On the other hand, Alvarez is The academic school year of looking forward to working with 2007-2008 should go down in a larger administration. history as the year of changes.

“One thing I look forward is Besides the several schedule modifications that may take place, Principal Lisa Garcia will leave CVHS’s hormonally charged teenagers for Proctor’s smiley gradeschool children, and in her place will be Redwood Alternative High School’s current principal, Pete Alvarez, former CVHS assistant principal.

Although their job titles will not change, the changes will be significant enough that both Garcia and Alvarez will have to get not being the only administraused to them. tor on campus. I didn’t have an “As the principal [here], I can AP [at Redwood],” commented divide and conquer and get sup- Alvarez. port from the APs and staff.”

The difference in the environsaid Garcia. “At Proctor, I can’t ment may bring along a load of

By Ellen Yau

work but Garcia is familiar with Proctor parents and has filled in as a principal at the elementary level.

“The past two years, when Mrs. [Arline] Lillak was out [at Proctor] I would sub. It’ll be fun,” said Garcia.

Despite such a difference in students, Garcia is optimistic about working with kids at the beginning of their public education, even more so after being at the end of the public education path.

“I want to be there for them at the beginning steps,” said Garcia. “Kids who have problems in high school may have missed some steps at the beginning.

Now I can tell them why they are learning this and how they’ll need it in the future.”

Alvarez is slipping into the leadership position at CVHS at a time of tumultuous alterations to the structure of the school, but he is ready to face the challenges ahead.

“I’m expecting a lot of challenges, positive things. This is really an exciting time. I hope I don’t disappoint,” said Alvarez.

“I hope that when [students] see me on campus, they’ll come up and introduce themselves.”