Nov 17, 2011

Pg. 4

Singing, dancing, riffing

Battle of the Bands blasts off

VOLUME 55, ISSUE 3

ID card rule, book shortage spell double trouble

Pg. 6

Trojans slay Jaguars

CV beats Newark Memorial 27-7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Meet the 99 percent Teachers argue

PE class sizes push limits

Staff Writer

TEXT: Page 8

Energy plan brightens CVUSD

CASTRO VALLEY, CA 94546 WWW.CVHSOLYMPIAN.COM

By Matt Talajkowski A large number of CVHS students are being forced to share books after forgetting to bring their ID cards to school, making them unable to pick up their own textbooks.

The recent problems with book distributions at CVHS are being blamed on the large number of students attending the school, and the low amount of funding the school has to work with. But Susan Hale, the book distributor on campus, explained that the problem lies with distribution, and not that actual number of books.

“All the books we need are being ordered, but since I’m only getting paid for a part time job, students can’t get to me because I’m not around,” she said.

Some students have to share their book with three or more people, and that can frustrate teachers.

“Sometimes I am sharing my book with my friends because they can’t do their homework [because they don’t have a book],” said freshman Amy McCormick. “The teachers have a hard time completing the lesson when not everybody has books.”

Teachers all around the country, including at CVHS, have had their pay cut, but Hale feels that all students need textbooks.

As of now, textbooks needed by students are not yet at the

Flicking the lights off

Pg. 7

By Lily Carrell Staff Writer

Michael Castillo / Online Editor

An Occupy activist protests at the Oakland encampment. The movement has both importance and problems, writes an Olympian reporter. See story on Page 3.

Class sizes up to 57 students in physical education classes have teachers concerned about student safety and learning. Currently, the average PE class size at CVHS is 43 students.

While the contract for most classes states that the class limit is 35 students, this contract does not apply to physical education classes which tend to be larger.

For example, teacher Shari Rodriguez’s zero period class has had as many as 59 students.

John Green, a teacher and president of the Castro Valley Teachers Association, said that despite the district’s poor financial shape, it would not be impossible to employ more PE teachers.

He believes that this would help solve many of the problems PE teachers are facing as a result of the class increase.

Assistant Superintendent Sherri Beetz believes that the PE class sizes are reasonable and within contract guidelines.

“You can look at this from two different angles,” explained Beetz. “One would be to reallocate the existing staff as long as there are appropriately credentialed teachers to fill in the new sections. Additional staff could be added but it would be an additional expense. Personally, I feel the class sizes in PE are reasonable and in compliance with

the CVTA contract. It would be nice to hire more staff and lower class sizes in PE as well as every other subject area.”

PE teacher John Edwards described the many downfalls of a large class. First, there is a lack of supervision, as it is difficult for the teacher to watch and assess fifty students at a time. There is also limited field space and equipment, and the class increase has already affected the amount of sports that can be played throughout the year.

PE teachers fear that parents as well as others will blame the administration for lack of supervision or injuries.

“We’re just concerned for the liability of the teachers,” said Green. “We don’t want anyone to get sued.”

Edwards believes that there are solutions to this predicament. He thinks that having one more female PE teacher would solve most or all of the problems caused by the large class sizes, such as locker room supervision.

“Our department consists of very knowledgeable and capable individuals who are passionate about what we do. Smaller class sizes would not only provide us a safer environment to share our passion, it would allow us to get to know our students on a personal level, the way other departments do,” Edwards explained.

CVHS students, teachers remember Leneasha Northington

By Jane Hong Staff Writer

Leneasha Northington, a former student of CVHS, has been well remembered this past month after she was murdered in a shooting on Sunday, Oct. 2 in San Leandro.

As a freshman last school year, Northington transferred to the CVUSD. She stayed for a total of one semester and transferred to San Leandro High School.

She was a friendly and likable individual and her teachers and peers were immediately impressed by her outgoing personality.

“For someone who was new to the district, she seemed comfort-

able with herself. Students really got along with her,” said English teacher Colleen Mullany. “She had tremendous potential and we would have seen more of that if she stayed.”

According to police, two others were killed and three were injured in the shooting that occurred outside of a warehouse party. Police received a call at around 1:20 a.m. that Sunday morning. Once police had arrived, they discovered that six individuals had been shot by two gunmen shortly after the party had ended.

Medical attention was given to the injured victims; three individuals, including Northington, were pronounced dead at the

scene.

CVHS administrators received word about Northington’s death the day after and informed teachers and guidance counselors.

Health teacher Sue Anderson was among the several on campus who was overwhelmed once receiving the news.

“The main individual who brought energy and life to class was Leneasha,” stated Anderson.

“She had this enthusiasm that not many people have.”

Northington did indeed possess a jovial personality and incredible spirit that her teachers and peers admired.

“I’ll always remember how she was always smiling, no matter what,” said sophomore Megan

Wallace, a classmate. “It’s hard to believe that that smile’s not around anymore.”

Behind those big smiles, however, was a teenager enduring personal tribulation.

“I knew that underneath, she had a lot of stuff going on. But she was at that point of making her life count more,” explained Anderson. “That’s where my sadness sits: that lost opportunity.”

Despite whatever personal issues she may have been enduring at the time, Northington made a lasting impression on teachers and classmates as an optimistic individual with drive.

“She was someone who could have made a difference in the

Leneasha Northington world and she doesn’t have the opportunity to now. It’s a tragedy she’s gone,” said Mullany.

P.E. classes too big for comfort Andie Smith / Opinion Editor

Smaller sizes would benefit students, staff Editorial: This school year physical education classes are large, an issue that has worsened the safety conditions of classes as well as limited the quality of sports education in our school.

Students receive little individual attention, and playing time is limited. The Olympian believes steps should be taken to address this problem.

“ Unfortunately, the budget crisis makes it difficult to solve the issue. ”

Under the contract between CVUSD and the teachers’ union, PE class sizes must be “reasonable,” though there is no actual limit on the number of students who can be enrolled.

Sherri Beetz, assistant superintendent and director of human resources, feels that “the class sizes in PE are reasonable, within contract guidelines, and much better than some of our neighboring

By Melody Moteabbed Staff Writer

districts.”

Although the class sizes are legal, sections average 43 students and one has 57. Teachers have expressed concern for the safety of both teachers and students in the locker rooms and have found the larger classes more difficult to supervise.

Some students ditch class after roll is taken because they know it is unlikely that the teacher will notice that they are gone.

Students who stay in class have complained that equipment and field space do not accommodate the larger classes,

Remember to appreciate friends

By Natalie Chin News Editor

It is a fact: high school students are busy people. We have sports, musicals, clubs, jobs, volunteer activities, music lessons, homework, college applications, standardized tests, and more to do at the end of the day.

Our busy days make it difficult to really appreciate the people around us, those who support us, love us, and make an imprint on our lives. All the time we do not realize that during the next day, someone could be missing from our lives.

It is a cold, frightening idea that someone we know could be gone, but it is the truth. Most of us do

IQ test scores aren’t set in stone

not want to confront the idea and instead ignore it, but whether we choose to think about it or not, it is still there.

I pass the memorial for Clark Wright and Sarah Streicher by 100 hall and remember that each person was someone’s classmate, someone’s friend.

I think of Jonathan Johnson, a recent CVHS graduate who died in a car crash in 2010, or Leneasha Northington who was fatally shot this year. Their friends and teachers never imagined that life would have ended so shortly for them.

When was the last time we took a moment to just think of all of our old elementary school or middle school friends that we lost touch with? How would we feel if the person we grew up with was here one day and gone the next?

Time is precious to us in our hectic lives, but taking a moment to say thanks for our friends and to remember the people that have a place in our hearts is more important than a moment on the go.

which means that many of them are frequently unable to participate for the full length of the class.

Unfortunately, the budget crisis makes it difficult to solve this issue, and adding another P.E. class would mean taking money away from somewhere else. Despite this, we at The Olympian believe that it would not be impossible to get another P.E. teacher to help lower the student to teacher ratio.

Ideally we would like to see this done without making cuts to other classes or programs.

A new English study has discovered that a person’s IQ – or “intelligence quotient,” which can been calculated by a standardized test of intelligence – may either become greater or smaller in adolescence. It was previously believed that IQ could only change, either for better or for worse, during the early childhood years.

However, this new finding doesn’t surprise me at all.

Teenagers are under so much stress and are learning so much that it’s almost impossible for us not to increase our intelligence in some way, whether it be from personal experience or academics. The fact that previous studies actually had confirmed that our intelligence didn’t expand at all baffles me. Just the idea of not being able to become a smarter person was a disheartening fact, so I have to say, I’m glad it’s been proven otherwise, and I’m hoping that I’m increasing my value of intelligence.

I must add, however, that IQ tests are very vague on exactly what kind of intelligence they measure; scientists today still debate over what the assessment actually measures, but only know that it can affect our ability to learn, perform certain tasks, and can possibly, to some degree, predict our future careers and social standing.

Because of those proven results, particularly the last one, I was previously a little unhappy knowing that I was practically set for the future, and that I couldn’t do anything about it, due to the fact that studies have shown a correlation between genetics and IQ. While neuroscientists at University College London do not know exactly why these fluctuations of intelligence during teenage years occur, I truly believe that experiences in life and daily problems (and how well we handle them), along with increasing education, are the major factors behind them.

In fact, I might have to add that IQ could even grow slightly when we are adults, as more life experience comes into play, and hopefully we can grow to see things in different perspectives. Maybe, however, I’m just saying that to make me feel better about myself, because I definitely want to become smarter in my adult years compared to my teenage ones.

PHOTOpinions pinions By: Kate Pellegrini

What do you think about big P.E. class sizes?

“Most of my friends are in it and we get to meet a lot of new people.”

-Sarah Kim, freshman

“I get to meet more people, but because there are so many people, it limits our sport options.”

-Grant Tominaga, sophomore

“They’re more fun for the students, but harder for the teachers.”

-Victor HernandezVega, junior

“I think that it’s a good thing, because the more people, the more you learn about teamwork and sharing.”

-Jasmine Mangabay, senior

Olympian

The November 17, 2011

3

Analyze This

Let immigrants dream too

By Anna Balassone Editor-in-Chief

Michael Castillo / Online Editor

Occupy lacks unity, not enthusiasm

By Michael Castillo Online Editor

At the Nov. 2 Occupy Oakland protest after the first day of a general strike, and just hours before the next police crackdown, the voice of a lone singer rose up above the crowd.

“We came to incite insight.”

“We came to hang and to bang the drums of justice.”

“Move past the capitalist disaster.”

“Our communities need us; we are all leaders.”

“How can we ask for anything less than the future?”

Similar sentiments were reflected throughout the encampment.

Just a hundred feet away, a massive banner reading “Death to Capitalism” stretched the length of the street. The protesters there hailed from all walks of life; senior citizens in wheelchairs stood alongside high school students and young adults.

Yet, something was missing.

Everywhere, a wide array of grievances were put forth on posters for the world to see, or shouted through megaphones on makeshift stages. All varied, all demanding different things.

The protest lacked unity.

Herein lies the problem, not only with Occupy Oakland, but with the Occupy movement in general; it needs coherency.

Although the discord among the protesters does not diminish

their legitimacy, it does diminish their political and social impact.

Joan Berezin, an Oakland schoolteacher and former civil rights activist, put it this way: “An occupation with a few hundred people in tents is not going to bring capitalism to its knees or change budget cuts. But I think a real mass movement of people that’s really deep and really well organized all over has the possibility to cause change.”

Among the various problems with the movement, the few that have turned to violence have harmed it more than all. All the people I met while traversing the encampment were remarkably peaceful, not only respectful among themselves but to the myriad of journalists and other visitors to the protest as well. In this diplomatic, albeit disorganized atmosphere, no evidence was seen of the portrait of violence and chaos painted by the mass media.

Yet the police crackdown six hours later, and the rubber bullets that came with it, would dominate most of the news coverage the following morning. The downfall of many a protest comes when its critical mass reaches a point that it begins to attract the kind of people who break in windows and throw rocks at police instead of hold signs and sing songs. And though the latter group comprises the vast majority of Oakland’s Occupy movement, the former are the ones getting the coverage.

Such as it is in our society, the ones who shout the loudest get the most proverbial grease, so to speak. Or in other words, the violent renegades are distracting the rest of the world from the fact that most of Oakland’s protesters

don’t have any interest in fighting the police. Most of them just want to see change in the horrendous economic inequalities that have become evident in America in the last few decades.

Teacher John Green visited the protests with his family that same Wednesday night.

“I think the Oakland stuff isn’t going away until some basic demands are met,” he said. “I don’t think the protesters are going away. People are beginning to understand that it’s not that America is broke, it’s that America is broken. We’re beginning to realize that we’re not all in this together, that some people are doing just fine.”

Despite its disunity, the Occupy movement’s call to action does in fact have a legitimate foundation, one that has been making Americans furious since the stock market crash of 2008, and arguably long before that as well. The fact that most protests, including the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, often don’t get their footing until years after their local beginnings seems to have been lost on many. Protests derive their power from the bottom up, not the other way around.

For the meantime, the Occupy movement continues to expand globally and locally. Its leaders are attempting to keep the protests peaceful while still sending the powerful message that something must change. And yet amidst all the austerity, hope and even a bit of humor abound.

The next line from the performer on stage elicited laughter from the crowd.

“These cops are paid to go crazy, yo. But we’re peaceful.

Don’t taze me, bro.”

code is appropriate.

The so called “outrage” among students concerning the “strict” dress code is unjustifiable; this is simply a tantrum thrown by students who are not getting what they want. It is more than reasonable to prohibit shorts that practically show your butt, tops that let your boobs hang out, and pants that sit at the knees.

The fact of the matter is there is a thing called modesty, and it would be wise for everyone to

have it to some degree.

Just because the school is telling us that certain styles of clothing can’t be worn doesn’t mean that our rights as students are being taken. The dress code is simply trying to keep every student looking respectable.

If it means that some people have to go through the laborious task of wearing a belt or putting on a camisole, so be it.

“There is a thing called modesty” LETTERS

To the Editor Your article, “New Dress Code Infringes on Students’ Rights,” was about the strictness of the dress code at CVHS and how it is no one but the wearer’s responsibility to wear appropriate clothing to school.

While I agree with your statement that clothing is a personal choice, I believe that the dress

Kristen Jensen, junior

The United States is often called the “land of opportunity.” With a strong emphasis on freedom and a firm belief in the American Dream, our country has attracted immigrants from all throughout the world, creating what some describe as “The Great American Melting Pot.” Nearly two and a half centuries after the birth of our nation, this nickname has become more of a stigma than a commendation. Controversy regarding immigration pervades our society more than it ever has in our lifetime.

One piece of legislation that has received scrutiny is the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, a bill that would provide an easier path to citizenship for illegal immigrant students.

Under the stipulations of the bill, undocumented minors who immigrated before the age of 16 would be able to earn citizenship if they complete two years of college or two years of the armed forces.

In early October, California Jerry Brown signed a California DREAM Act, allowing these undocumented students to also be eligible for receiving financial aid

and scholarships from the state.

The DREAM acts have received much opposition from those who believe that people who immigrate illegally should not receive the same benefits as citizens.

Most of the time, I do agree that people should not be rewarded for breaking the law. In this circumstance, however, I fully support the DREAM Acts.

Children who have no say in their method of immigration should not be punished for the actions of their parents. For instance, it is completely unfair that a child who was illegally brought to the United States without his consent at the age of two should be prohibited from obtaining the necessary means to pursue an education.

As a middle class citizen, I would probably not receive much financial aid from the state to attend a university.

Some would argue that I would not want the money I could be receiving to go to someone coming from an undocumented family.

On the contrary, if students work as hard as they can to do well in school and are not able to afford college, they should be able to receive appropriate aid regardless of citizenship.

Preventing undocumented immigrants from receiving necessary funds to attend college goes directly against the American Dream.

We should encourage the education of undocumented youth so that they may contribute to our society as able citizens. These children did not ask for the fate they were given; they should not be punished for it either.

The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2011 Editor-in-Chief.............................................................Anna Balassone Copy Editor.........................................................Holden Parks City Editor...................................................................Dana Lin News Editor...........................................................Natalie Chin Opinion Editor.............................................................Andie Smith Feature Editor............................................................Amber Yang Sports Editor.............................................................Reyna Garcia Arts and Entertainment Editor........................................SangEun Choi Photo Editors..............................................................Rebecca Fong Tim Pak Business Manager......................................................Matt Barney Online Editor......................................................Michael Castillo

Staff Writers: Lily Carrell, Suzanna Chak, Betty Chen, Eva Chen, Emily Courchaine, Rachel Crary, Cheyenne Donatello, Natalie Fazeli, Alex Gao, Ryan Gray, Jane Hong, Anya Keller, Joyce Liang, Victoria Liang, Melody Moteabbed, Kate Pellegrini, Camilo Riveros, Matt Talajkowski, Lillian Xie, Christina Yee Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Battle of the Bands blows the crowd away

By Natalie Fazeli

Staff Writer Walking into the room, you can feel the floor vibrating beneath your feet. The people are flailing their arms and legs around crazily and rocking to the beat. The volume is so high that you think your neighbor must be lip syncing when speaking to you.

This was the scene at CVHS’s Battle of the Bands on Friday,

Nov. 4. Seven bands competed in the contest to win not only $100 but also glory.

“This battle demonstrated a variety of rock talent. Generally these bands demonstrate a bunch of noise; however this show proved to be awesome,” said history teacher Jason Marlis, one of the three judges, along with Student Activities Director Nicholas Whitaker and visual arts teacher

Natalie Fazeli / Staff Writer

Chasen Lorge passionately sings his heart out with the backup of a rocking guitarist.

Let there be light: LifeBeam shines

By Suzanna Chak Staff Writer

Interested in learning more about computer programming?

Join the LifeBeam Technology Club.

Dominick Lee, president and founder of LifeBeam Technology Club, began the club just this year.

Meetings are every Tuesday at lunch in Room 513.

“I started this club to encourage and motivate people to be involved in the high-tech world. Only one in ten high school students know HTML,” Lee said.

Lee plans to teach members HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Visual Basic (VB), two computer languages. HTML is used in creating websites while Visual Basic is used in creating programs.

During club meetings, students get to make their own computer programs, make apps for the iPhone, design games, and create their own websites and online chat systems.

Chuck Chung is the vice president of this club. His role in the club includes teaching HTML and taking over Lee’s duties when he is not available.

“I became a part of this club because it’s fun. There are computers everywhere,” said Chung.

LifeBeam Technology Club has monthly expos. With these events, club members hope to catch the attention of students who are not yet in the club.

At the last expo on Nov. 1, members got to do activities that earned them slices of pizza. The activities included watching a video, trying Lee’s programs, making a computer program using Microsoft VB 2008, using Dreamweaver, and typing the alphabet as fast as possible.

“ I started

this club to encourage and motivate people to be involved in the high-tech world.”

Dominick Lee LifeBeam Technology Club president The next expo for Life Beam Technology Club will be on Dec. 6. Lee plans to teach HTML 5 and VB, feature the programs he has created, and provide pizza.

Adrian Lopez.

After the first band, Teddy Bear Firestorm, the judges were amazed and said, “Talk about setting the bar high for the next bands.”

Wreck Department came on next and vocalized some deep feelings they felt.

“I don’t want to be classified.

I don’t want to be stereotyped,” shouted Trinidad, the vocalist of Wreck Department.

The crowd was shocked when the drummer of Cast Iron Crow threw off his shirt from the heat in the room, especially since this was not a high school band.

Gutter Shark was a very wellknown band, gathering the attention of the majority of the crowd.

The crowd might have started a mosh pit if the administration didn’t keep calming it down.

Appearances were made by Jasmine Mangabay, Johnny Maxwell, and Erik “T-Young” Tucker. When the host asked Maxwell what inspired him to sing and dance, he replied, “The girls.”

The overall best performance by far was done by Anchor. The songs were very emotional for the lead singer Patrick Sposeto.

“If you have lost anyone to

Natalie Fazeli / Staff Writer

A guitarist strums with intensity, making the crowd go wild. cancer, then this next song is for you,” said Sposeto. He then told the crowd that he had lost both his wife and his aunt to cancer recently which led him to write the song “Daggers.” People were so riled up by the music that some crowd surfed.

The judges decided that this was definitely the most energetic and rhythmic band, so they pronounced Anchor the winner.

“I felt unsinkable,” joked Sposeto about winning. “Unsinkable” is the name of one of the many songs “Anchor” played. The leader, Cody Fuentes, a senior attending CVHS, explained that the money would go to future recordings and CDs. Although only one band won, all of the guys showed us some really rocking moves and tempos.

Hands down, Hager helps everyone

By Joyce Liang Staff Writer

Math teacher Mindy Hager was not in advanced math when she was younger but she enjoyed math and did well in the class. Hager figured out she wanted to teach math as soon as she tried it out.

“I wasn’t always really good in math. In high school, I was not in advanced. I didn’t know I wanted to teach it until I tried it,” said Hager.

Hager graduated from UC Davis and transferred to University of Oregon afterwards. She started teaching in January 2000 at Alameda High School. She came to CVHS in September that year and enjoys teaching calculus, AP statistics and precalculus here on campus.

“Ms. Hager does examples and it’s really easy to understand,” said sophomore Beatrice Zhu. Besides from being known as a math teacher at school, Hager is also known for having a lot of mind-game puzzles on her desk.

She purchased most of her puzzles when she was in junior high from a puzzle man at a street art fair in Walnut Creek. The main objective of one of her puzzles is to detach a metal piece from the whole puzzle.

Putting the metal piece back on is also part of the puzzle.

“It’s fun to watch kids solve them. They don’t need to be a good math student to be able to solve it,” explained Hager.

Students love solving the puzzles in class and are always determined to successfully solve them

once they have started. Many of them think the puzzles are fun and very challenging.

“They [the puzzles] are good because they help you practice strategy,” said sophomore Gina Zhao.

In Hager’s spare time, she loves to spend time with her rescued poodle that she recently got from the SPCA, who only has three legs.

Other hobbies include running and reading (nonfiction and fiction).

She admits that she doesn’t like to cook very much, so she likes to go out and eat often. Hager enjoys being a teacher and explained that her main mission is to expose kids to the excitement of math. If one is struggling with math, Hager gives out great advice.

She tells her students to always remember to “take it step by step.

“Ms. Hager

does examples and it’s really easy to understand.”

Beatrice Zhu Sophomore

There’s going to be subjects that you’re good with and others you aren’t. Just stick with it.”

Joyce Liang / Staff Writer

Math teacher Mindy Hager teaches math with a huge smile on her face.

There is Paranormal America’s favorite serial killer is Dexter Activity in your room!

By Betty Chen Staff Writer

If you are looking for a horror film with a dash of humor, then Paranormal Activity 3 is the movie for you. Paranormal Activity 3 is the third installment of the horror film franchise Paranormal Activity. It is also the prequel to both Paranormal Activity 1 and 2.

One downside of the movie is that if you haven’t seen Paranormal Activity 1 or 2, then it will be difficult for you to follow and understand certain parts of the movie. The movie explains why the sisters Katie and Kristi act the way they do in the previous movies. It also explains some of the reasons for the supernatural presence that takes place later in the sisters’ lives.

The movie also incorporates a few new characters, including a coworker friend, a teenage babysitter, and Katie and Kristi's grandmother.

The movie takes place in 1988 and shows the events that occur during Kristi’s and Katie's childhoods. The two main characters are Kristi, played by Jessica Tyler Brown, and Katie, played by Chloe Csengery.

After a brief scene of Katie and Kristi discovering and looking

through video tapes taken of them back in their childhood, the rest of the film moves to 1988.

Katie and Kristi were little girls living with their mother Julie and her boyfriend Dennis, who happens to be a videographer.

Dennis is extremely interested in videotaping and sets up numerous video cameras in their home. During a scene of videotaping himself, a sudden and mysterious earthquake occurrs leaving Dennis and Julie puzzled.

As time goes on, Dennis encounters more and more strange incidents while videotaping, which leads him to believe that supernatural occurrences are taking place in their home.

Kristi, the younger sister of the two, also has an imaginary demon friend named Toby. Kristi often talks to Toby and is firmly convinced that Toby actually exists. At the beginning, Julie tells Dennis that Kristi is just going through a phase with her imaginary friend. They become more and more suspicious of Toby’s existence, especially when they discover footage of Kristi talking to Toby at night in her bedroom.

This movie will make you hold on tight to the person next to you and the ending will definitely leave you baffled and petrified.

The realistic effect and atmosphere of the movie will really grab you in and make you feel like a part of all the action.

Wattpad.com helps connect teens

By Victoria Liang Staff Writer

Are you running out of interesting books to read? Are you trying to find a place to share your passion for writing? Well, Wattpad.com is the place for you.

Many authors are teenagers trying to express their feelings.

Others are just trying to show the world the art of words.

For teenagers that enjoy writing, Wattpad is a website where you can create an account and write your own original stories or poems. Not only can you post your creations online, you can create your own book cover and add images that capture the reader's attention. You can also add your own little summary off to the side to give the readers something to look forward to.

If you aren't the type to write, but you love to read, Wattpad is very convenient for you. You wouldn't need to create an account, and would still have access to all the stories. It has a wide variety of genres to read

that range from adventure to romance, and historical fiction to science fiction.

The main page is the “What's Hot” page, which lists the various genres and different stories from that genre.

If none of these stories are what you're looking for, then the “Discover” page will help you a lot. The “Discover” page is where you type in key words or click on a genre, and Wattpad will give you more recommendations for you to read.

Wattpad also has clubs. Some of the clubs help promote the stories you're writing, while others help you edit your story or create a cover for your book.

There are also clubs where you can share your love for a genre and recommend stories.

In addition to it all, there are contests. Some contests help promote your story and might even give you a chance at real life publishing.

Wattpad is a great place for readers and writers to connect. If you create an account, you will be able to comment on stories and talk to the authors. I think it's perfect for anyone who loves to read or write.

By Cheynne Donatello Staff Writer

ShowTime’s four-time Emmynominated TV series Dexter is exciting, twisted, and dramafilled, and captures the demented minds of American people. Fivetime Golden Globe-nominee Michael C. Hall plays Dexter Morgan, a bloodstain pattern analyst who works for the Miami Metro Police Department, but at the same time secretly kills serial killers.

The show debuted Oct. 6, 2006 and it is currently in its sixth season. There are rumors that there will be a seventh season.

What separates Dexter from normal serial killers is that Dexter only kills people who have committed murders and were never convicted. In the eyes of Dexter, he is serving justice to those who hid from the law.

To society, Dexter appears to be a humble quiet man, which aids him in getting close to the

killers he has targeted to kill. Yet at the same time Dexter is also trying to raise his young son, Harrison, as a single father. His wife was murdered by Trinity,

“

...captures the demented minds of American people.

”

a serial killer Dexter has since eliminated. At all costs he tries to keep his serial killing away from his son.

With Dexter ’s sister, Deb, working at the police department as well, it’s difficult to keep the line drawn between his two lives.

He goes through more disputes and has close encounters with his secret life being revealed.

In a past season, Dexter’s ac-

complice, Lumin, was the sole survivor of the Barrel-girls killer, and together she and Dexter give him what he deserves. As they believe it was another successful kill, Dexter’s sister shows up on the scene to investigate. Dexter and Lumin are trapped, only thinking that this is the end.

With just a plastic sheet hanging from the ceiling concealing their identities, Deb enters the room, gun barred. Tension is swarming the air as she sees the dead body and as all hope is lost, she leaves understanding that the girl was getting revenge on the man who ruined her life. Both Dexter and Lumin’s identities are safe for now.

In the current season, the police are trying to solve the case of the Doomsday Killer, but if the police fail in capturing the murderer, Dexter will take matters into his own hands.

We get a look inside the mind of Dexter as we hear his contorted thoughts. This show appeals to the dark side of humanity that is seeking vengeance and awaiting karma upon others. Dexter is easily America’s favorite serial killer.

You can’t stop the Canon S100

By Tim Pak Photo Editor

For those of you who are looking for a great gift to give a loved one this Christmas, Canon has released a new digital camera that may interest you.

Canon’s popular PowerShot has been in use since 1996 and it has slowly seen upgrades throughout the years. Now, Canon has dropped the PowerShot S100 onto store shelves. It is Canon’s most powerful pointand-shoot camera and it allows the user to be comfortable and creative while taking a picture. It was released in September 2011, and prices at about $429. Serious photographers, amateurs, and

newcomers will be delighted to have this camera in their hands.

The S100 packs a punch when taking pictures because of the upgrades, specifications, and technology. It has the new DIGIC 5 image processor, which provides stunning image quality. Canon has also allowed the camera to produce images at a whopping 12.1 megapixels. Sharp and crisp detailed pictures are ensured with this camera.

However, the image quality and processor are not the only great things about this camera.

Canon has made it possible for the S100 to shoot HD videos in 1080p. Not only can one take stunning pictures, but can also shoot HD videos with a click of a button. It is simple to switch from video to camera mode and allows the photographer to always be ready for the shot.

This camera is extremely user friendly, and newcomers will be grateful for its easy usability. There are only six buttons (including the shutter button), which is fewer compared to the previous S95. There are also more features to aid the photographer, such as the blink detection and red eye correction. For those who would like to get more creative, there are color filters, which allow the user to obtain different color effects in their pictures.

Effects such as Toy camera and Tilt-shift allow users to be very creative and also have fun with their shots.

The S100 truly goes beyond the standards of today’s digital cameras. It is durable, effective and always reliable. This camera is truly a great product to be given as a gift to a new user and also to an experienced photographer.

no other choice, he decides to start chemotherapy and fight for his life.

As time goes on and his vitality and health slowly fade, Adam comes to terms with his life and illness. While fighting the cancer he begins to appreciate what he has in life, especially the things he took for granted before his battle.

Normally, I wouldn't care to watch a movie like this, being not too fond of sad or emotional movies, but this one caught my eye. Not only was it a movie about a man's life with cancer, but it incorporated some comedy as well.

Most people would believe that adding humor into a movie

with such a serious theme may result in a total disaster. To those people, I say, “I agree with you.”

The addition of humor to a movie about a man's battle with cancer does seem completely outlandish and inappropriate, but the makers of 50/50 did it so well that never once did I feel like the humor was misplaced.

Watching this movie was a whole new experience for me.

Never had I felt like simultaneously laughing and crying in the same movie before.

Though this movie may seem wholly inappropriate with a crude mix of humor and a serious topic, it is an extremely good movie; I recommend it to anyone who can watch it.

This movie is a 50/50

By Alex Gao Staff Writer

50/50 is a touching movie about a man who discovers that he has a rare form of cancer.

In 50/50, 25-year-old Adam Lerner leads a simple life working as a radio talk show host.

However, little does he know that his life is about to be completely turned upside down. He is soon diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Considering his young age and healthy lifestyle, Adam has a hard time believing this is happening to him. With

Trojans beat Cougars, 27-7

Girls golfers reach the end of an era

By Anya Keller Staff Writer

Reyna Garcia / Sports Editor

Nick Lima (running back) leaps to catch the ball and helps the Trojans to defeat the Newark Memorial Cougars in a continuation of a game cut short due to lightning.

They will go onto an NCS game against San Ramon Valley on Nov. 18.

Varsity volleyballers cream Arroyo

By Eva Chen Staff Writer

A crowd roared its approval of the girls varsity volleyball team as it creamed Arroyo three games to none on Nov. 1.

During the game, the team was led by junior Allie Redmond, the outside hitter, with 17 amazing kills, but this couldn’t have happened without the help of senior Heidi Harrison, with 16 digs and junior defense specialist Brooke Costello with 15 digs. Setters Jessica Magdallanes and Sydney Kralj set the ball each time with precision and accuracy to the middle of the court setting off a powerful play. The dominance and dedication of the middle hit-

ters Annalise Herren and Bianca Higuera combined to make this an extraordinary match.

Continuing to the final game of the regular season against Bishop O’Dowd, the team played a “highly competitive” set and gave it their all in a loss.

“We played with strong effort and skill, but most importantly with outstanding sportsmanship and team unity,” praised coach Frank Largusa. Even though the Trojans lost the match, the team keeps striving to improve and play for the love of the sport not the score on the board.

This season success is thanks to every player who attended each competition and practice.

The CVHS volleyball program

received many post season award for their effort and hard work.

Coaches Katie Moxley and Largusa were selected as co- HAAL Varsity Coaches of the year. Harrison, Magdallanes and Redmond were all selected to be the All HAAL first team, and Jenny Brochu and Kralj received honorable mention recognition.

Aside from that, they also have created something the previous team didn’t, a volleyball community. Throughout the freshman, JV, and varsity season, the program captains Harrison and Herren encouraged and disciplined each player into giving their best. This has brought spirit and unity making this volleyball season a fun and educational one.

The CVHS girls golf team placed seventh out of the 20 teams that competed at the NCS Championship at the Las Positas golf course in Livermore.

While the Trojans did not qualify to move on to the next game, they certainly put on a good show.

The team has a league record of eight wins and no losses. This is the fourth year the girls golf team has gone undefeated in league golf competition.

All six girls on the team, Betty Chen, Melissa Hosman, Kendra

Morris, Lauren Quan, Danielle Diaz, and Emily Lassalle were placed as league golfers.

The girls were all seniors, and coach Ed Blom is sad to see them go. “We’re sorry to see them graduate and move on,” he commented. “It’s kind of an end to an era.”

Blom continued to say he looks forward to the coming years in, and hopes to find incoming freshmen next year to carry on the great tradition at CVHS. He is thrilled with the work the team has done, saying, “I’m very proud of each and every one of the six girls who played this year.”

College bound

Reyna Garcia / Sports Editor

Kayla Bufardeci (San Diego State softball) and Colby Wright (University of Kansas baseball) sign their letters of intent to compete in college sports.

J u bi l a nt l y J oy f u l J o c ks

Camilo Riveros / Staff Writer

Caroline Yu, Freshman Caroline Yu has been enjoying her first season on the Trojans’ tennis team and has made quite an impact after playing with the varsity team for a few matches. Yu has only been playing tennis for two years but it’s apparent that her talent will take her a long way for the next four.

One thing she enjoys about playing tennis for CVHS is the fact that the team is very welcoming to all players and feels more like a family than a team. “The tennis team is really spirited. I see upper classmen around school, and they always help me feel more like a part of the school,” Yu said. She will surely be an athlete to keep our eyes on for years to come.

Nima Edalatjavid, Sophomore Nima Edalatjavid is preparing to begin his second season on the CVHS wrestling team and his sixth overall. Edalatjavid began his wrestling career in the sixth grade, a career he wishes to take into college.

The 145-pound wrestler is still not sure whether he will be on the varsity team, but is willing to fight his way for that spot. Role models are not hard to come by on the wrestling team. “I look up to my coaches, because they’re great people both inside and outside the mat room,” Edalatjavid said.

With the wrestling season beginning in November, it will be interesting to see what this young man can do on the mat.

Patrick Cheek, Junior Patrick Cheek is quickly making an impact in his first year playing running back on varsity for the Trojan football team. Having played the sport since he could practically walk, Cheek had a breakout game with the Trojans in the 42-7 win against Tennyson, in which he scored four touchdowns.

Cheek is more than motivated to pursue a career playing football and his 3.5 GPA should facilitate his efforts in getting to play college football.

He loves playing for the Trojans because they have fun at practice.

He’s also a strong believer in the hard work it will take him to get to the next level.

Heidi Harrison, Senior Entering her final year of high school volleyball, Heidi Harrison has been serving it up on the court for the Trojans.

Having played nine years of volleyball, three of those on varsity for Castro Valley, Harrison is considered a veteran and key player for her team.

Harrison plays as libero, also known as a defensive specialist, and her job is simple: to dig and distribute the ball to her teammates.

Harrison has also plays for her club team, Xceleration, but decided that after this season she will be finished with the sport.

7 Class ’11 officers “pimp out” annex Olympian

The November 17, 2011

$10,000 used for redecorations

By Camilo Riveros Staff Writer

Lillian Xie/ Staff Writer

Energy specialist Dustin Gacherieu explains the new CVUSD energy-saving plan.

CVUSD saves energy, money

By Lillian Xie Staff Writer

CVUSD saved $110,281 in energy costs from March to August of this year due to the recent partnership of the Board of Education with Energy Education.

That dollar amount translates to 18.48 percent in savings.

The goal of this partnership is to reduce energy usage throughout CVUSD. The Board of Education’s decision to partner with Energy Education was heavily based on California’s budget cuts to education. By reducing energy consumption, and in turn reducing the utility budget, the district will have more funds to allocate for educational purposes.

Energy Education has worked nationwide with many school districts to reduce energy consumption. The firm was named the United States Environmental

Protection Agency’s Energy Star Partner of the Year in both 2009 and 2010.

The new energy plan does not require an increase in the utility budget because the program is self-funding. In order for the program to be successful, habits regarding energy usage will have to be altered. These small changes will lead to savings in the long run.

Dustin Gacherieu, a fifth grade teacher at Chabot Elementary School, was selected as an energy specialist to execute the new energy program and has been trained with Energy Education.

“Our target goal is to reduce energy usage by 30 percent across the district,” said Gacherieu. “Our goal is twofold. One is to reduce the impact that we have on the environment, to reduce our carbon foot print. Our

secondary goal is to save money on our energy bill so that we can redirect it and use that money to spend on the students instead of sending it off to PG&E.” Gacherieu pointed out that one way to save energy at school is to unplug electronics, such as refrigerators, when they are not in use. At CVHS alone, there are over 60 mini refrigerators in teachers’ rooms; there are hundreds of refrigerators across the district.

“One of our energy reduction strategies is to ask teachers to empty out and unplug their refrigerators when they go on a break of a week or longer,” Gacherieu said. “We can actually save $20 per refrigerator a year by unplugging them during breaks such as Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and summer break.”

“Free Jerry” campaign follows suspension

By Holden Parks Copy Editor

It began with a suspension, but it became much more than that.

During Homecoming week, the phrase “Free Jerry” was featured on posters and Facebook posts made by seniors and even chanted during the seniors’ rallies.

“Free Jerry” refers to a senior named Jerry, who was suspended from school for three days for coming to school, as he said, “under the influence of Jack Daniels.” A teacher smelled alcohol on his breath and reported him to security. Jerry initially decided to drink because he wanted to celebrate both his birthday and Homecoming week, he said.

The phrase’s origin can be traced back to a senior male skit rehearsal. When an announcement was made about the recyclable bottles and cans drive, several seniors at the rehearsal responded with cries of “Drink one for Jerry!”

“After that everyone yelled ‘Free Jerry!’ and it spread to the

rally the next day,” said senior Robert Martinez.

“I felt proud that people were yelling my name,” said Jerry. “It somehow made Homecoming into something bigger. ” Several students, however, disagreed with the phrase’s widespread use.

“ It somehow

made Homecoming into something bigger.

Jerry Senior

”

“Homecoming is really the opposite of rallying around a single person, especially when that person wasn’t really even ‘wronged’ or cruelly punished anyway,”

said senior Tiffany Keller.

Despite rumors, the senior class was not, according to Leadership student Brenda Liu, deducted any points for the use of the phrase. As Keller alluded to, the prison-like connotations of the phrase “Free Jerry” also have no merit, as Jerry spent no time in juvenile hall or prison.

“I know it’s foolish to drink before coming to school,” Jerry said, but he believes that his actions had some positive effects.

“People had something to cheer for; they cheered for me and the class of 2012,” he said.

“When I look back at high school, I’m going to remember my senior year and how we won Homecoming, and I’m going to remember ‘Free Jerry.’”

Assistant Principal Lorrie Barrera warned students about the consequences of using alcohol, especially on campus.

“I would absolutely discourage it,” said Barrera. “It’s illegal for people under 21 to drink, and doing so could lead to suspension, arrest, or expulsion.”

Although they graduated last year and moved on with their adult lives, last year ’s senior class presented CVHS with around $10,000 worth of renovations for the student union as its class gift. Planned out by the current senior class officers, and with the help of CVHS graduates, this year’s class gift may surprise students and make the student union the place to be during the school year.

“We chose to renovate the student union because it became a popular place where students hang out,” said former Senior Class President Jasmine Fong.

“We want students to come here and relax, kick it and enjoy themselves with new materials that we hope can last for future classes that enter the school.”

After four years of fundraising with dances and homecomings, the class of 2011 had quite a struggle deciding on what to spend all its “left over” money on. At first, the class officers wanted to help the Donors Choose program, which allows teachers to receive funds that they can use in order to purchase classroom materials, but that option was quickly shut down due to the school district’s legal policies .

The class officers then turned to asking teachers and staff for opinions on where the money could be spent. It wasn’t until a teacher suggested looking into revamping the student union

that a plan began to form. Susan Ermitano, who runs the student union, suggested they totally remodel the place with new furniture and whatever else they could afford to buy.

“Thinking it was a great idea, the class officers decided to ‘pimp out’ the annex,” said Leadership teacher Nicholas Whitaker Jasmine Fong proceeded to hire CVHS alumni and current San Jose State University student Megan Panighetti to help remodel the annex. Panighetti, who is majoring in interior design at SJSU, was given a list of items Ermitano had suggested for the annex. Among the items bought were leather sofas, new tables, two plasma TVs, two Xboxes, a storage locker for board games, rugs and a new desk for Ermitano to use.

The student union is known by students as “the ping pong room,” but these new installments to the annex are sure to attract a larger crowd of people and create a space where students can relax and have a good time with their friends during lunch or before school.

This isn’t the first time senior classes have given back to the school; in 2009 the departing seniors hired an artist to paint the large Trojan mural on the top of the gym. A previous class was also responsible for installing the PA system that the school uses for announcements.

With such an amazing present, the class of 2011 surely set the standard very high for all future class gifts, and CVHS can only benefit from this.

“We wanted to make our gift something that would last so many future classes can enjoy it. We hope that future students of CVHS remember our legacy whenever they hang out in the student union,” said Fong.

New tutoring program offers math, English help

By Ryan Gray Staff Writer

Drop-in tutoring began Nov. 7 for all students needing help in English, algebra, and geometry. The tutoring takes place in the Learning Center (portables between the gym and 700 hall) every Monday and Thursday from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. The program was started to enable a support system for students who are struggling in either math or English.

“It is our goal to increase every student's chance at achieving success in their classes,” said Assistant Principal Erica Ehmann. The tutoring program is scheduled to last until around the end of the school year. This will provide students the time needed to study for

major tests such class finals, as well as complete all homework for classes they struggle in.

CVHS staff members, community educators and peer tutors and others will be present to aid students in a variety of academic needs. These community educators include college students and college graduates who are paid to help students requiring assistance.

For those that attend, the sessions will promote excellent study habits that may follow students well into their college careers. The whole idea of the “drop-in” aspect was a way to lure students into the idea that studying isn’t a menacing process, and is just as easy as picking a seat and beginning work.

8

Olympian

The November 17, 2011

WASC coming to evaluate curriculum

By Christina Yee Staff Writer

A Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) committee will be visiting CVHS from Feb. 27-29 of 2012 to evaluate the curriculum taught on campus and decide if it should continue to receive accreditation.

WASC may be an unfamiliar term to most students, but this program helps add value to their high school diplomas as well as their learning environment during their high school years. “[WASC] is valuable for our school to examine its educational program regularly and to identify areas of strength and need. It is a goal of the WASC process,” expressed Jennifer Sitkin, the WASC coordinator of CVHS.

“[WASC] is

valuable for our school...

Jennifer Sitkin WASC coordinator of CVHS

”

Along with collected data about the programs and courses that are offered at the school, surveys taken by students, parents and staff, and collaborative input by the school community, an 18-month report written by Sitkin will be sent to WASC for review before the official visit.

“At times, it is stressful, because there is so much information to gather about such a large school, but as I mentioned before, it does give the school and all its stakeholders a chance to really evaluate how CVHS is serving its students and helping them to achieve,” Sitkin said of the long process.

Principal Mary Ann Valles also believes that WASC is essential.

“Having an accreditation is very important because it is like a stamp of approval indicating that our school meets a quality

standard,” explained Valles.

WASC is vital to the school in that it helps provide students with a place they are able to strive and accomplish expectations set by themselves, parents, and teachers.

It also adds value to their diploma upon graduation as it shows colleges and universities that CVHS is supplying, as Sitkin said, “a rigorous and relevant curriculum to support students in meeting academic standards and preparing them for all types of post-high school options.”

The WASC committee praises the strengths of the professional and compassionate staff, the successful performances of the students on academic tests, and the extracurricular activities that consist of clubs, athletics, and music.

However, there are some areas of improvement to be made, namely providing help to those who have not yet met state standards. Because CVHS houses over 3,000 students, communication is also a big concern that needs to be addressed.

Despite a few weaknesses, CVHS has been granted a sixyear accreditation for the past three WASC visits, the highest level a school can receive.

“It’s a cycle of school improvement,” stated Sitkin. There is always room for growth, and WASC provides that avenue to higher learning.

TEXT: from Page 1

campus, but “they have been ordered and they are coming,” said Hale.

CVHS students have been asking to change the current policy that does not allow students to check out textbooks without an ID card.

“We need to be able to change the system so everyone can get books they need,” said McCormick.

Hopefully in the future of CVHS, students will be able to check out textbooks without ID cards, and everyone will be able to have their own textbooks.

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To Wi-Fi, or not to Wi-Fi?

By Betty Chen Staff Writer

Many students often wonder why CVHS doesn’t have any Wi-Fi available. In fact, not only students but teachers are also often irritated with the absence of Wi-Fi on the campus.

One of the biggest reasons CVHS does not have Wi-Fi available on campus is its expense.

Although Wi-Fi would be a great asset for CVHS to have, it also comes with a tremendous cost.

According to Bruce Gidlund, the Director of Technology for the CVUSD, budget cuts have been the main reason keeping CVHS from obtaining Wi-Fi access.

“With budget limitations during the last few years, there has not been adequate funding to begin large projects such as Wi-Fi coverage for CVHS,” said

Gidlund.

The price tag for installing WiFi coverage on the CVHS campus would certainly be a hefty one, especially considering how large the CVHS campus is.

“I would love to have Wi-Fi! However with all the budget cuts that are happening right now, I think it might be hard,” said senior Kayla Ferrell.

“The cost of installing Wi-Fi for one single hallway could easily cost hundreds of dollars,” said LAN Administrator Chris Burns.

As of now with all the budget cuts in the CVUSD, attaining Wi-Fi seems to be an unreachable goal.

However Burns believes that having Wi-Fi access would be a wonderfully remarkable tool for students.

“The advantage of wireless Internet access is that it is more

convenient, while a hard-wired LAN is faster and more secure,” he said.

Gidlund also stated that “the advantages of Wi-Fi include the opportunity to use a variety of hand-held devices, the flexibility of placing equipment without having to worry about data ports and cables, and the ability to move from one place to another without losing network connectivity.”

“I think we should have WiFi,” said Ross Williams, a social studies teacher at CVHS. “Not every computer has a physical Internet connection.”

Certainly with how rapidly the technology is growing today, welcoming Wi-Fi access to the CVHS campus seems inevitable.

“We would love to see this happen,” Gidlund said.

ence department is also excited for her students to finally “have them in their hands.” She plans on using them to “enhance certain aspects of the curriculum,” such as current events, the analysis of data in labs, and public service announcements.

iPads are also going to be a great addition to the English Language Learners class, with the help of fantastic translating apps that will make learning English much easier.

The iPads in question are the newest version of the original Apple iPads and are as standard as possible. They are all 16 GB, have no 3G, and require a source

of Wi-Fi currently lacking in our classrooms.

But as basic as they seem, they still hold an abundance of convenient and resourceful apps that will take high school education to the next level and into the 21st century.

“This will happen,” assured Goldstein optimistically as he described how CVHS’s longterm goal is to eventually have iPads, or other electronic devices like them, in every classroom in school.

But as anxious as he is to start working with them, Goldstein is still able to look at the bigger picture.

“I think it’s easy to look at technology as a solution for society’s problems. But it’s not. It’s just a tool,” he said.

Needless to say, social media sites will be off limits when using the devices, and students will not be allowed to take them home.

But the iPads will hopefully provide a great opportunity for the students to better grasp classroom concepts in exciting ways.

students were invited during lunch to the courtyard where a tent decorated with a variety of colorful college banners was set up. There, they asked Leadership students questions concerning college, browsed through tables lined with take-home brochures and got additional information about what College Awareness Week had to offer.

“College Awareness Week is a good way for students to become aware of post-high school plans and options,” said ASB Secretary Brenda Liu about the event.

Sophomore class Treasurer Erin Cheung added, “We answer questions students might have about college and the process of applying.”

The Leadership students were also joined by teachers in their college alumni paraphernalia as they reminisced to interested students about their college experiences and memories. The students got a better glimpse of what college life is all about and how different it really is compared to CVHS.

The week-long event was beneficial and it showed how valuable college is to a student’s life after high school.

“This event really helps students plan out their future,” Cheung said.

Even though many students are considering going to college upon graduation, they feel they have plenty of time to plan before their senior year rolls around.

The time comes quicker than they think, though, so it’s never really too early to start thinking about the future.

College Awareness Week is the first layer of wrapping paper that prepares you for a successful transition from high school to college. Don’t wait until a few months before the deadline to start unraveling the ribbon and unwrapping the present when you are able to start years in advance. Get a head start and maybe you can see that college isn’t as bad as you imagined it would be. It’s coming in a small package, so you know it ought to be good.

iPads to invade CVHS classrooms

By Kate Pellegrini Staff Writer

Yes, the rumors are true: CVHS is going to have its very own set of iPads to use in a variety of fun, inventive, and educational ways.

A few selected classrooms will receive a class set of 33 iPad 2s to use for three weeks, starting within the next couple of months.

The purpose of issuing them for a test run is to see how they can be effectively incorporated into classroom curricula.

From science to history to vocational classes all across campus, these mini machines are sure to make a huge difference in the way students are able to interact with their world.

“I’d like to use them for projects, to help history come alive for the kids,” said social studies teacher Jeffrey Goldstein.

Goldstein hopes to take advantage of such “slick” apps like iMovie, iPhoto, and even GarageBand for ads and historical re-enactments.

Melissa Kindelspire of the sci-

“...help history come alive for the kids

”

Jeffrey Goldstein Social Studies Teacher

College Awareness Week arrives

By Christina Yee Staff Writer

Ever heard the saying “good things come in small packages”?

Well, when you’re talking about college, a small seven-lettered word, some don’t believe it’s a package worth opening. College may be a word that tends to cause both stress and nervous breakdowns for teenagers, but it will deeply impact, if not change, how you live the rest of your life.

So you better get out those scissors and start unwrapping.

With seniors cramming to get their last minute applications submitted to the colleges of their choice, the rest of the students at CVHS wanted to know what they could do to better prepare themselves for what lies beyond high school. Well, students didn’t have to wonder any longer when CVHS held its annual College Awareness Week with the help of Student Activities Director Nicholas Whitaker and the Leadership class.

From Nov. 7 through Nov. 11,