Nov 1, 2013

homecoming Edition

SENIORS GRAB THE GOLD!

Volume 57, Issue 2

November 1, 2013

Castro Valley High School

www.cvhsolympian.com

Castro Valley teachers, staff rally for a raise Nothing pulls Trojans

together like tearing apart floats

By Robbie Brandt Staff Writer

Brittany Roberts / Staff Writer

CVHS staff members Lisa Wasserman, Nicholas Whitaker, Yvonne Garcia, and Ian Rodriquez (from left to right) campaign on Castro Valley Boulevard.

By Brittany Roberts Staff Writer

Teachers and classified staff members have been in negotiation with the Castro Valley Unified School District for six months about receiving a pay raise. The district has offered a three percent raise so far and the teachers are hoping for more.

The teachers are frustrated, stating that they feel three percent isn’t enough and they want the district to raise it to five percent.

On Oct. 23, the unions held a rally on Santa Maria Avenue with at least 100 staff members and talked about reasons why they want better pay.

“The biggest problem is the salary and medical benefits.

There has been little progress made with negotiations,” said Arlene Cristobal, president of the local California School Employees Association, which represents classified employees like secretaries and custodians.

Other changes they would like to be made are improved services for special education students, guaranteed student access to school nurses, and established elementary counseling programs, said John Green, president of the Castro Valley Teachers Association.

“Asking for a five percent

Two days before homecoming at CVHS, the students of the freshman and sophomore classes experienced an unfortunate attack. During the night vandals broke into the school, splattered paint on the freshman float and graffitied “Class of 2015” on the front of the sophomore float.

Some students believe juniors committed these terrible acts of vandalism but other students don’t know what to think.

“I don’t know who did this but it’s important that we fix the float and move on, we will help the freshmen with their float when ours is done being fixed,” said sophomore President Konnor Callilan.

Not only did the sophomores help with the freshmen float but the juniors, seniors, and other students who weren’t originally part of the float building pitched in to make sure the other floats were put back together.

“I think that out of the senseless act, we had sophomores and juniors helping everyone out. I’ve seen seniors hugging

freshmen. The most important thing that came out of this is unity between the classes,” said Assistant Principal Jason Whiteman.

Leadership teacher Nicholas Whitaker also agreed that unity is key.

“It’s great to see that tonight we have a lot more students helping out. That’s very inspiring and it’s great to see all grade levels helping each other and I hope that the students don’t take this personally and we all move on,” said Whitaker.

However, even with all the other students helping each other out, some students were still upset by what happened like freshman Treasurer Candace Ko. “I’m taken aback that someone would do this to our float and try to wreck our first homecoming,” said Ko. Eventually everyone’s floats were put back together and they all looked as magnificent as they did before the vandalism.

“It’s sad about what happened but great to see everyone work together and the unity at our school is adorable,” said junior Jenna Sparks.

Brittany Roberts / Staff Writer

Castro Valley educators call for contract improvements. raise instead of three percent isn’t asking for too much. Every year, we’re losing money working for the district. The medical benefits have only raised one percent since 2007,” said Cristobal.

Medical benefits and pay are the two issues teachers and other workers are the most focused on. Castro Valley teachers make between $44,000 and $87,000 in base salary, depending on length of service. The costs for health benefits have consistently gone up from five to 12 percent every year,

Editorial: Government shutdown angers students and teachers Page 4: Come on, compromise!

according to the unions.

CVUSD holds a reserve of $13.5 million, which is six times more than what they need by law, the unions said.

In addition to pay and health benefits, the district and unions are negotiating hours of employment and leaves, said Assistant Superintendent Sherri Beetz.

“We’ve made a lot of headway with both unions around contract language. The main sticking points right now are financial,” said Beetz.

Robbie Brandt / Staff Writer

Students from all classes helped repair the damaged freshman and sophomore floats.

Day of the Dead starts celebration at CVHS Page 9: Students remember ancestors

Trojans Slay O’Dowd Dragons, 43-14 Page 11: Homecoming victory

The Olympian Nov. 1, 2013

3

Teens skipping driving class, waiting to get licenses

experience before going on to university,” said sophomore Stephanie Zeng.

But with the high demands of high school, many teens cannot find the time to go through the process. They often wait until they turn 18 to bypass driver’s

education, and more easily obtain a license. The Journal of American Medical Association reports that only about 13 percent of 16-year olds have gone through the proper training.

“I’m not planning on starting in high school, because I don’t

feel like I would be ready,” said freshman Shirley Phuong.

Yet, missing out on training proves to be extremely dangerous to older drivers. Between 1988 and 2007, there was a 12 percent increase in accidents involving 18- and 19- year old drivers.

“Students who skip DE are missing out on learning the basics before getting behindthe-wheel. I feel that all new drivers will benefit from taking a driver's education course before getting a learner's permit,” said Vieyra.

State lawmakers continue to address this problem, proposing new regulations that would increase the restrictions on young drivers. Among them, Assemblyman Jim Frazier’ bill, AB1113, calls for adjustments in teen drivers’ curfews, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends increasing the age requirement for GDL. “It has been argued that driving is one of the most important skills that a person can possess in his or her lifetime,” Vieyra said. “With excellent driver education and driver training, teens will be better prepared for the responsibilities of having a driving license.”

By Robbie Brandt

should be allowed to have a choice about whether or not they want to have health insurance, while Democrats believe that Obamacare will help the nation by making health care available to millions of more people.

“I think the government shutdown was stupid because it shouldn’t have been allowed to do this and employees working for the government weren’t being paid, and parks and museums were being closed,” said sophomore Peter Altoff.

Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents Castro Valley, supports Obamacare, opposed the shutdown and refused to accept his pay while it lasted.

“The shutdown was affecting people not just inside the government but outside as well inside the government,” said Swallwell.

National parks like the Yosemite were closed, museums such as the Smithsonian were shut down, and national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty

were closed. Since the shutdown ended, however, all previously closed facilities have been reopened to the public.

“I don’t like Obamacare but it was essential that the government came to a compromise and came back,” said sophomore Chris Carruth. “I think a new health care system should have been put into place.”

The last time America faced a shutdown like this was in 1996, and it lasted 21 days. A budget conflict between a Republican Congress and President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, caused it.

This shutdown lasted almost as long as the last shutdown and it’s a good thing it didn’t last any longer.

“Even though the shutdown was not affecting me directly it was affecting members who are employed by our government and also our community members that rely on our government for services. In that way it affects us all,” said Mladinich.

By Anna Nguyen Staff Writer

Driving has long been a huge part of high school culture. Getting a license introduces a new sense of freedom and responsibility for teens, but with California’s current policies, many young adults have been waiting to learn how to drive.

“There has been a tremendous decrease in teen licensing,” said Erika Vieyra, manager of Bay Area Driving School. “Some teens have told me that they don't think that they need a license to get around. Others say that they don't want to pay the extra expense of insurance.”

California’s graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program was adopted in 1998, with the intention of protecting young drivers. The program requires that minors complete a written test, 30 hours of driver’s education, six hours of in-car training, 50 hours of practice, and a DMV test after six months of holding a permit. These drivers are then subjected to restrictions and higher insurance rates.

Many view these rules as radical and unnecessary, but the GDL has made a significant difference in the safety of 16- and 17- year old drivers. According

Lauren Jelks / Staff Writer

Michelle Ly and Emme Coupe practice safe driving in the senior parking lot. to data released by the Centers Of Disease Control and Prevention, accidents in this age group have dropped 36 percent and fatal accidents have dropped 31 percent.

“I think it’s good to start early, to have practice and gain

Key Club doubles size Shutdown ends, but anger continues and opportunities Staff Writer

By Daniel Witte

Staff Writer Doubling in size, CVHS Key Club has stepped it up this year, as the meetings are now held in the main gym instead of teacher Patricia Parker’s health classroom.

Key Club is an international community service club and has been at CVHS for 40 years.

The club has several different activities, ranging from fundraisers to helping the Pediatric Trauma Program, which deals with children suffering of cancer.

“To be able to attend every single service event and be able to see smiling key clubbers willing to make a difference in our community,” said president Kevin Moyung.

“I love spending time with them because it relieves my stress about school and other things.”

“The reason we moved to the gym is to accommodate the growing population of members willing to make a

difference in this community,” said Moyung On Oct. 7, Key Club hosted a Division Wide Service (DWS) Event, a swim event and many people seemed to

“Key Club is an

international community service club and has been at CVHS for 40 years. ”

enjoy it.

“We got to meet a lot of new people,” said newsletter editor Francisco Aguilera.

“We also got to meet cancer survivors which was really amazing.”

America: the land of the free, the home of the brave, and formerly the home of a shutdown federal government. On Oct. 1, the federal government partially shut down for 16 days as Republicans refused to pass a budget without scaling back the Affordable Care Act and Democrats refused to pass a budget that did so.

But on Oct. 16 the government reopened its doors, as Republicans gave in for now on the law known as “Obamacare.”

Many people disliked the fact that the government had shut down.

“I think it’s embarrassing and it shows where Congress is, and it’s not reflective of what the general American citizen feels,” said teacher Mark Mladinich. “Over 75 percent of Americans are opposed to the shutdown and I fall into that 75 percent.”

Republicans claim people

I don’t pledge allegiance to the flag

By Callie Ross-Smith Staff Writer

Does anyone remember last year when we did the pledge of allegiance every Monday morning? Most people would agree that it was definitely present.

However this year, this timeless, well-known verse has been completely absent from the school announcements.

Sophomore Chloe Little believed that this may be for the best. “The pledge to be a nation under God is monotonous and repetitive,” she said. “It’s been

drilled in our minds for years, and nobody feels any real connection to it, mainly because we were taught to say it on cue, not to understand it or relate to it.”

However, freshman Peyton Fore has a different belief.

“We should honor what our founding fathers set for us in this country,” said Fore.

Leadership advisor Nicholas Whitaker said the students mainly choose what goes in the announcements and the pledge just got left out this year. However, if a student thought that the pledge should be included

in the announcements, then they would have no troubles adding it back in.

Though every school in California is required by law to show some sort of patriotic gesture to America, a memorized pledge that not many people truly understand is not always the best way to show just that, said history teacher John Green.

“Educators at the very least can all agree that they want students to think for themselves, and the pledge seems to undermine students for success,” said Green.

Both parties are to blame for shutdown Increase awareness Editorial: The government was shut down on Tuesday, Oct. 1 due to the two parties being unable to agree upon a budget. The Republicans wanted to get rid of Obamacare; however, the Democrats insisted on keeping it. Because of their conflict, our federal government was shut down for 16 days, and we all had to deal with the fallout. Is our government helping us with our problems as a country? Or is it creating more?

We at The Olympian believe that we need assistance and guidance from the government, but so far, they've resorted to shutting down the government instead of resolving a conflict that could've ended in compromise. People are blaming each party specifically, but is there really just one party to blame?

Republicans and Democrats both led us into this issue because of their inability to solve a problem among themselves and within a time limit. That is simply not acceptable. We need our government to run smoothly. We rely on the fact that our government will be there when

of mental illness

By Anna Nguyen Staff Writer

Grace Moon/ Staff Writer

we need it most, and in this case it wasn’t.

We need change and we need it now. We need strong forward thinking leaders who can lead a country effectively. JSA is helping us all with that by training adolescents and young adults how to properly debate and compromise. We need these people to work up to government jobs and help save us from our own government. We need hope that things can get better

for us through our government’s actions.

During a recent speech given

by President Obama, a reporter shouted out the question, "Are you going to do this all over again in a few months?" as he was walking out. He was undoubtedly referring to the the next budget and debt agreement. President Obama answered with a simple, straightforward "no." We hope he’s right.

dom called Swaziland. Just recently Swaziland has placed a ban on mini-skirts and low-rise jeans, because authorities say it promotes rape. "The act of the rapist is made easy, because it would be easy to remove the half-cloth worn by the women," police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta was quoted as saying.

She added that women dressing provocatively "will be arrested."

My thought is how can you even place promote and rape in the same sentence? Here we go again with women promoting rape upon themselves.

There are even Bible verses of girls being stoned to death for being raped. “If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. -- Deuteronomy 22:2324” In this verse, it is said the woman should die alongside her assaulter because she did not scream loud enough for help. How are we supposed to help victims heal or even speak of their assault when society blames them for it?

An article of clothing cannot be consent for sex. A low cut blouse does not speak for me. Being a young girl in high school I am fully aware of the choice in clothing teenage girls, and even I, make every day. We choose these styles because it’s our way of expressing ourselves, and it’s our way of being accepted. The shirts and shorts

you call “skanky” are the clothes they sell at the mall. These are the clothes being advertised in commercials, music videos, and television shows that say this style is okay to wear. Then a girl is raped for no justified reason and we think it’s okay to say it was “her fault for wearing a skirt and heavy eyeliner.” How’s that for hypocritical?

I think the real problem is not the rapists themselves, but the people who make it possible for them. The people who make sure we all remember that the girl is blamed. A girl can go through lifelong depression from a rape, and a rapist gets off with a slap on the wrist. The number one cause of rape is a rapist--it’s as simple as that.

There are no strings attached, and no “two sides to the story.”

To prevent a rape from happening in the first place, we need to go back to the source.

This means instead of telling our daughters to be afraid of the darkness, to cover up, to carry pepper spray, and always travel in a group, we need to turn the tables. We need to look at our sons, and teach them how to respect women! We need to teach our young high school boys that a girl is not an object, and should never be treated as one. We need to promote that sex should be a form of love, and that “no” ALWAYS means “no.”

Maybe if our views of the opposite gender weren’t so demoralizing, then maybe I would be able to walk the streets of Castro Valley alone without my keychain pepper spray and rape whistle, and still feel safe.

The victim is not to blame for rape

By Alison Dhont Staff Writer

Recently a CVHS student was going out for a late afternoon run in just a sports bra and track shorts when her dad stopped her from walking out the door.

He told her to put on a shirt and cover up, in fear that she might be in danger of sexual abuse while alone on her run.

Doesn’t this remark seem odd to you? That to prevent rape and sexual abuse it’s not the perverts we are trying to fix, but rather the potential victims themselves? Teenage girls’ clothing is a big issue in our society nowadays. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to wear whatever you wanted and not be treated differently?

We live with the stereotype all the time. Girls wearing shorts that might be considered “too short” are called “slutty” or “askin’ for it,” but by falling victim to these stereotypes you are only helping justify the issue at hand. The blame on woman for being the rape victim. In southern Africa, there is a king-

Mental health has become a rising concern in midst of the stress of our world. Depression, anxiety, and bulimia have become an epidemic among teenagers, with as much as 20 percent of American adolescents suffering from a diagnosable psychiatric disorder.

Yet, the general public still remains uneducated on the topic of mental health. Cases remain undiagnosed, leaving victims feeling confused and discouraged.

These people’s wellbeing lays in our hands. As their peers, it is our responsibility to recognize their symptoms and help them receive treatment.

In our society, mental illness has been treated in a very light manner. Some consider these diseases illegitimate, as they don’t make a person appear physically sick. They suggest that these patients are mere attention seekers, selfish individuals who fabricate an illness for personal gain.

But the absence of a fever or vomit does not make someone

completely healthy. In many ways, a mental disorder is just as harmful as any other high-risk disease. Many mental illnesses are inevitable, and only worsen if left neglected. They often result in the victim distancing themselves from their surroundings, viewing the world with a sense of distrust, and ultimately increasing their chances of suicide.

Psychiatric disease has obviously become a significant issue, but why aren’t we doing more to help the affected? It has become common knowledge to detect the signs of a heart attack or cancer, but a majority of the population would not be able to name a single characteristic of anxiety. There has been a social taboo placed on the subject of mental illness; we have avoided the unpleasant, and have failed to address the growing problem.

By ignoring the indications, we are denying the sick of a cure. We wouldn’t take away chemotherapy away from a cancer patient, but by disregarding the mentally ill, the same concept carries over.

Of the millions of Americans that have experienced a psychiatric disorder, only about 30 percent have received professional help.

Nearly two thirds of the sick are left because public misconceptions and fears of becoming isolated.

It is not until the public is educated that mental illness will be “fixed.” We must raise awareness for the cause to even begin making a difference. Ridding the world of ignorance towards mental health is not a self dependent task, and will take the collaboration of many. It is only then that we will live in a world with one less worry.

piin niio on nss PHOTO p What do you think about the By: Tyler Macias

government shutdown?

“I feel that the government should make up their minds and the Republicans are just destroying the country.”

Will Fite, freshman ”The government should try to work it out, if they can’t, then that sucks not only for the government, but for the citizens.”

Jaime Massey, sophomore

”I think it’s immature to have a government with its congress mad at each other.”

Winley Schooler, junior

”The government shutdown is something I really don’t care about.”

Stephanie Hill, senior

The Olympian Nov. 1, 2013

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Lessons From Gallo Pinto and Coffee Ice Cream

I was still unhappy with myself because I felt like I didn’t learn anything new, which made me feel selfish.

On the last day, however, it dawned on me that while everyone else in my group went to Nicaragua to discover more about the outside world, I went there to discover something about myself.

I learned that my life has always been focused on the future, and although I strive to fulfill all my goals, my efforts sometimes lose their luster in the midst of trying to get everything done. I have spent

so much time zooming past everything and not enough time looking at what was right in front of me.

My problem is, I don’t wait. I want to do as much as possible without wasting as much time as possible, because I love to accomplish and experience as much as I can. However, Nicaragua highlighted that slowing down moments, taking in every last bit of detail, and savoring the experience can offer me more perspective, and a moment to catch my breath, rather than just zooming through life.

So in the midst of drudgingly eating rice and beans every day, excitedly going out for my mouthwatering coffee ice cream in the shop around the corner, sliding down a daunting volcano, working hands-on to repair a deserving child shelter, exploring lush forests and breathtaking mangrove reserves, and tutoring English to passionate students, I had gained a sense of stillness. It was a stillness that opened my eyes to the idea of waiting. I learned that waiting is not necessarily bad, but is peaceful, and is a time to be observant.

Nicaragua, thank you for teaching me that savoring life and slowing down makes me happier and healthier. Thank you for pointing out that waiting and eating my gallo pinto will always be worth it no matter how hard it may be to enjoy the plain flavors of its content, as I know that waiting just around the corner will always be my delicious coffee ice cream.

family’s information. Of course, they remembered all of this when you only told them once.

Could we ever hate a 16-yearold, who can’t hold a typical conversation, but somehow manages to remember your birthday and sings to you with a voice that can break your heart? That’s more considerate and thoughtful than what some of your closest friends would ever do.

I am more than fortunate to be friends with and more than fortunate to be family with someone

who has a mental disability. They are so wonderful and divine. Every single one of them puts more thought into the important things that count instead.

“Retard” should never be a word that connotes into something so dreadful and hateful.

Rather, it should be a word that shows something picturesque and blossoming. After all, the mentally retarded are sentimental and are able to see pass skin and bone all the way to the content of the heart and soul.

By Reema Kakaday Editor-in-Chief

As we stepped out of the airport, droplets of water clung to our skin, honking cars zoomed by us, and street vendors tempted our taste buds with fresh mangoes and fried plantains. We boarded the bus and watched the foreign bustling streets buzz around us. Everyone gasped. They had never seen such dirty conditions, felt such humid weather, and witnessed such poverty. Ironic, since the moment I stepped out into the damp air, I was impressed with the nation. Wow, I thought, it just looks like a cleaner, less populated India.

The rest of my time in Nicaragua was filled with countless thoughts of oh, I’ve seen this before. In many ways, I was disappointed with my trip. I thought I’d be exposed to a whole new world of people and culture.

Turns out, I just saw the easy version of the conditions I’ve

A group of students stands on the top of the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua. experienced in India when I visit.

I’ve taken cold bucket showers, seen miles of slums, turned away countless children begging for food and money, heard incessant honking from the wild traffic raging on the streets, and smelled the trash spilled all over the city. I was used to such an extraordinarily different lifestyle in a third-world country; and even then, India’s living standards were still significantly lower than the one I lived in for three weeks this past summer with a group of students from around the U.S.

The endless battle with obesity

By Olivia Wallace Staff Writer

I used to be a year-round swimmer, which meant my diet consisted mostly of carbohydrates, but I could’ve basically eaten whatever I wanted without worrying about it, and that’s exactly what happened. Then I stopped swimming year round, but kept up the diet. I wasn’t exercising, and I was still eating like I had been before. I was hooked.

Once weight gain started I knew I had to make a change, so I started to go on runs and ate some healthier foods. However I couldn’t seem to cut the other food out of my diet. Once school started, I stopped running. I ate while doing homework which just led to eating more. When I went to the doctor, I was told that I wasn’t overweight, but on the high end of “okay” and “need to do something about it.”

I’m not alone. Our entire country is battling weight. But not everyone is as lucky as I am to be in a safer category. About 17 percent of Americans ages 2-19 are classified as obese. This means they are at risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, psychological issues, and many

others. We’re taking note of this issue and acting in some ways, but we’re not doing enough.

We need to address the root of the problem. The adolescents of our society are pulled into terroristic culture in which they are taught to damage their own bodies on a daily basis. They grow up thinking it’s normal to eat food that’s going to afflict your body. Yet when they go to school as obese unhealthy children they are tormented by the other children for being overweight.

We need to make a change in a society, and the time is now.

We can make a difference in our adolescents lives if we just talk to them, inform them about what the right decisions are and how they can make them, even on a tight budget. We’ve had programs such as “Too Good for Drugs” and “Pep” to explain to us at a young age to not use drugs, but why don’t we have a program to explain to our youth about the most common drugs in our lives? Food is a drug that we can’t seem to get enough of, and it’s affecting us a whole. Attempting to eat less of unhealthy food or lose weight is something that is nearly impossible to do on your on.

I believe we can fix this in all schools for all of our youth, or at least reach the majority and work to get to everyone. Rather than attempting to get a special counselor for each and every school, we can hold a class about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and how to safely lose weight, and teach all the counselors from the schools how to help their students with their problems properly. We can fix this epidemic, but it’s nationwide so we need to work together to do it.

As we spent one day living on a dollar, worked in the local market, accomplished our community service projects, and more, I never felt the “aha” moment which I expected out of my trip. As each day passed, I felt the same. Disappointed. Frustrated. Ashamed.

I dreaded eating the gallo pinto, or rice and beans. I loathed that the only spices that existed there were salt and ketchup (which by the way, was torture to my Indian palate).

In fact, the only thing I looked forward to was eating coffee ice cream in the shop around the corner!

Through these eyes we see

By Callie Ross-Smith Staff Writer

The word “retard” is constantly used on a day to day basis to describe something that people hate, find boring, stupid, or annoying.

The uses of “retard” are highly inaccurate, describing something that doesn’t even come close to being at par with the personality and aspects of a mentally disabled person.

When I was seven, I was introduced to my three-year-old mentally disabled brother that I would unquestionably love, according to my parents. This very special child would craft me a looking glass that would let me see two very separate but similar worlds.

People with mental disabilities explore everything, not because they have to, but because it fascinates them. They follow their passions, not caring what other people think. This unique category of people rarely describe anything as boring.

For example, I know a boy who lives in Castro Valley who supposedly has a low I.Q. Yet, he is able to recall anyone’s birthday within seconds. I’ve met countless kids who can remember all of your family’s birthdays and full names, even your extended

The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2013

Editors-in-Chief.....................................................................Lily Carrell Reema Kakaday City Editor......................................................................Joyce Liang News Editor..............................................................Matt Talajkowski Opinion Editor............................................................Suzanna Chak Feature Editors.....................................................................Eva Chen Stephanie Huerta Sports Editor..................................................................Amanat Riar Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Leia Saelee Photo Editor........................................................Felicianna Marquez Business Manager......................................................Anna Talajkowski Online Editors........................................................................Kelly Chan Evan Kwong Staff Writers: Cameron Beresini, Robbie Brandt, Alison Dhont, Rachel Du, Lauren Jelks, Jamie Logan, Sally Liang, Tyler Macias, Grace Moon, Anna Nguyen, Amelia Ortiz, Tyler Quan, Brittany Roberts, Calllie Ross-Smith, Audrey Vandiver, Olivia Wallace, Daniel Witte Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Jivin’ Juniors Swing to the 50s

Sophomores Rockin’ the 80s

8

Dogs at dusty paws bark for help from community Charlie, a black basenji mix, needs funds for a vital operation

By Grace Moon & Lauren Jelks Staff Writers

Grace Moon / Staff Writer

Paulette Murillo smiles while petting the adorable basenji mix Charlie.

Homecoming at CVHS has only gotten better through the years

By Rachel Du Staff Writer

CVHS Trojans know exactly what Homecoming includes: glitter, tutus, golden tights, and a whole lot of green and gold dashing across campus. The school bursts with screams and shouts, and the chorus marches through the quad and down the halls, accompanied by horns and noisemakers.

Whether it’s working on floats, participating in song girls or male skit, or showing off clothing that aligns with themes, students find ways to support our school.

Surprisingly, Homecoming wasn’t always such a colorful week.

“There’s even more people involved now – though it was a big deal when I went here – and it’s way less about picking on freshmen. It does a much better job of creating unity than when I was here,” said CVHS alumnus and social studies teacher Ian Rodriguez.

He recalled attending the dances and winning Homecoming his junior and senior years.

“We won, which is kind of funny because our class had the worst school spirit freshman and sophomore year. It was terrible.

We usually got disqualified for most things because we couldn’t

find anyone to participate,” Rodriguez said.

Students mostly participated during their freshman and senior years, due to the excitement and novelty of the experience in the first year and the nostalgic pride in their final year.

The number of students has also increased in recent years, going from around 2,000 to 3,000 students since alumna and math teacher Melissa Smith attended CVHS. She also acknowledged that participation in Homecoming has increased.

“People are really decked out now. It’s on a much higher scale now than it was back then,” she said.

Smith worked on the float and dressed up. “I remember wearing some green, some gold, putting on that glitter.”

Despite the differences in Homecoming from when these teachers were students here, the quirky themes still remain.

Alumnus and social studies teacher Jason Marlis said our current theme of epochs reminded him of his senior year theme of decades.

Smith recalled a Disney theme during her senior year, and Rodriguez remembered his freshmen class theme as the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and the overarching theme during his senior year of board games.

An adorable black basenji dog mix was on the green grass amidst the busy activity at Lake Chabot on a Sunday evening.

With a broad white smile stretching across his face, he was in over his head eager and was jumping up and down to catch everyone’s attention.

Charlie was found near Los Banos. He is just one of the many animals that have been rescued

by Dusty Paws, a non-profit organization that rescues cats and dogs and tries to find homes for these deserving furry creatures.

Paulette Murillo, Dusty Paws’ devoted volunteer, explained how Charlie was found with a broken leg that had some metal inside. Charlie is now waiting for surgery. However, it’ll be

an expensive operation costing several thousand dollars and will require fundraising.

Dusty Paws has never said no to any expenses, whatever the circumstances being.

“Dusty Paws was first founded in 2007 in Castro Valley and has saved 400 dogs and cats since,” said Murillo.

Dusty Paws’ mission is to rescue animals from shelters and to take in strays. Also, the organization is a non-profit and is consisted only of volunteers. They communicate through emails and phone calls they receive.

Six years later, Dusty Paws has grown to a full organization with different volunteers, who foster the animals and participate in fundraisers. This year alone, the group has sheltered 70 dogs and eight cats.

The process to find and rescue these lucky animals can vary, but it always involves the dedication of more than 20 volunteers in the organization. Some animals have been rescued from shelters days before they were scheduled to be killed. Others are strays.

Through a network created by volunteers, every animal is able to find a foster or a permanent residence.

Not only do the volunteers actively take care of the animals, but they are also responsible for the endless fundraising and adoption events to engage in.

Bake sales and dog washes are just two of the ways Dusty Paws raises money for animals like Charlie. Dusty Paws also operates several adoption events a year, where people can come and meet the animals Dusty Paws strives to save.

Charlie was as sweet as affectionate as could be, even with a badly-set leg. He jumped on the table to give kisses, enjoyed romping around as much as possible, and desired a lot of love.

After hearing about Charlie’s tragic story, it’s inconceivable that, only a short time after being found as a stray, he is now his way to a surgery that would alleviate the pain in his leg.

The great thing about Dusty Paws is that there are many animals, just like Charlie, who have been nurtured from the worst circumstances. They are now in the hands of those who want to help them find the right home.

To find event dates or to support Dusty Paws, visit the group’s web site at www.dustypawsrescue.net.

CVHS New Staff Members

Kathryn Clarke Kathryn Clarke, the new librarian at CVHS, is an old friend to the library career. Previously working as a district librarian for 13 years in Deer Valley, Clarke is the definition of a “book worm.”

“I’ve always loved the library!” said Clarke. “I even remember the first library book I ever checked out!”

Amy Brody

Amy Brody is a visual impairment specialist and works hard to teach students with visual imparities how to safely and effectively move through their environment.

Brody has been working with the blind and visually impaired for years and is very enthusiastic about her profession.

“It’s important to me that my work has a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Brody. “I am motivated every day by students.”

Tighe Herren Tighe Herren is the motorcycling, traveling, and Warriorsloving new teacher at CVHS. Previously working on computers in technical support, Herren says his main love is working and teaching people.

“I didn’t enjoy working with computers and I was much happier working with people every day,” said Herren.

Lesia Whitehurst

After teaching for 14 years alongside Cherisse Payne, Lesia Whitehurst entered CVHS as a new chemistry teacher, eager to affect her students’ growth.

“I want to cultivate my students’ curiosity about the things in the physical world and our tangible society,” said Whitehurst. “I want to make sure the future knows what to do with all of this plastic that we’ve left behind!”

Alejandra Oseguera Alejandra Oseguera, one of CVHS’s new counselor, has lots of new plans for her students to “get very much involved” in the community. Field trips and community service are things she hopes will help her students learn.

Oseguera previously worked as an art teacher at Contra Costa College and loves to paint about her heritage in her free time.

Ivery NcKnight

CVHS is happy to add Ivery McKnight to the school’s counseling staff. Working as a counselor at Livermore and Berkeley for more than 12 years, McKnight is more than qualified for the job.

With a passion for gardening and two kids of her own, McKnight is going to work hard and excited to get to know all her students.

By Alison Dhont

The Olympian Nov. 1, 2013

Día de los Muertos Revives Culture

9

By Stephanie Huerta Feature Editor

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican celebration, translated to “Day of the Dead,” which is on Nov. 2.

Day of the Dead isn’t a day where people go out and scare others as it is for Halloween, but it is more of a celebration of life and reminiscing of those who have passed.

“I do this every year to celebrate cultural diversity that students can relate to. I think exploring cultures through arts and crafts is very valuable way of learning,” says Jennifer Jervis, ceramics teacher.

There is a lot of work that goes into Day of the Dead. It’s not simply about remembering those who have passed, it’s about honoring them. To honor the dead, people make altars at home and decorate them with numerous items.

The signature decoration of Day of the Dead is the sugar skull. The skulls are decorated with bright colors and names to be placed on the altars. In addition to the sugar skulls, a traditional Day of the Dead food is the pan de los muertos meaning the bread of the dead. Everyone is to have some of the bread of simply take a bite out of it to symbolize the biting into death and recognizing that it is present and showing they don’t have fear of death.

The altars are often decorated with bright orange cempazuchitl, also known as marigold flowers.

The Aztecs saw these flowers in their color of yellow and gold as a symbol for the season in which nature begins to die and prepare for winter. The alters vary in their content depending on the family.

Many believe in putting things like salt, ash crosses, religious figures, pictures of those who have passed, water, and coins.

It is believed that on Nov. 2, the spirits of the dead come back to their homes as they are lured

Lauren Jelks / Staff Writier

Clare LePell stands proudly in front of the board and smiles to her students.

Stephanie Huerta / Feature Editor

Spanish teacher Laurel Orduña sets up for the Day of the Dead ofrenda or altar for her Spanish students to admire. back home by the smell of the food they miss and by the sweet smell of the marigolds. There are often paths made out of marigold petals placed by the family leading into houses, to guide the spirits on their way.

The Day of the Dead celebrations usually end at a cemetery where families feast on food, place fresh flowers on graves, and pray for their loved ones.

Jervis’ ceramics students are doing their own celebrations of Day of the Dead. In the class, it’s an annual tradition. The ceramics students are asked to make a skull honoring someone who has passed such as a friend, family member, or a celebrity. The decorations on the skulls are meant to represent the people who have passed and honor their lives.

Jervis isn’t the only one celebrating Day of the Dead. Spanish teacher Becky Maciel’s classes are also celebrating.

“I believe it is important, especially for people in the United States, to start looking at death as more of a celebration of life,” says Maciel.

The Mexican culture shows us through their tradition of Day of the Dead to not view death as such a sad thing, instead they celebrate the lives of those who have passed.

To the culture, it is important to always know that death can come but while it doesn’t we must celebrate life and the fact that we were lucky enough to have those who have passed, be part of our lives at one point or another. This culture strongly believes in not grieving death but more of celebrating life.

On Nov. 2, everyone should take a minute out of their busy lives and remember those who have passed, to learn from the Mexican culture celebrating and appreciating a person’s life instead of mourning their passing.

Take off in the CVHS flight simulator

By Sally Liang Staff Writer

You’ve probably heard astonishing news about the flight simulator at CVHS. Ever since it is displayed three weeks ago, it flickers the interests of many students. Senior Dominick Lee, an experienced programmer and inventor, recently created the “LifeBeam Flight Simulator” in Dr. Bertram Pinsky’s room.

Everyone has a dream, but not every single person makes it a reality. Receiving cooperation from Pinsky and essential part donations from generous collaborators including Karl Anderson, Lee has successfully planned, run, and tested the flight simulator, as well as utilized his software and hardware skills in a few months of diligent work. In fact, Lee was among the few to accomplish this particular project in history of California high schools.

"I plan to use the Flight Simulator to demonstrate skills that I have gained, proving that anything is possible through perseverance and good leadership," said Lee. The LifeBeam Flight Simulator is a motion platform that is capable to make full rotations tilting at about 40-degrees. It also comprises a full setup of equipment that runs simultaneously and collaboratively. This Arduino-Pneumatic

Sally Liang / Staff Writer

Dominick Lee proudly shows off his flight simulator. simulator is equivalent to the traditional “Steward Platform” simulator, except it runs on two pneumatic cylinders while Stewart Platform requires six.

As a result to Lee’s accomplishment, his simulator invention is awarded on websites such as Instructables, Arduino Blog, Atmel Corporation, and freetronics.

In addition to his recent innovation, Lee has designed the SmartRover, LifeBeam Maltens (a near-space weather balloon), and ACPAFI Smartphone app for Alameda County citizens.

Truly dedicated and passionate in the field of physics, Lee goes

above and beyond. As a founder and president of LifeBeam Technology Club, Lee spends time to find innovative methods to help inspire and teach students about the world of mechatronics and computer programming.

The LifeBeam Flight Simulator is the most innovation-driven project Lee has done at CVHS. He constantly contributes to the club by sharing the new things he learned while doing programming and other robotic projects.

“I want to take my skills to the highest potential. I feel that innovation plays an important role in education,” said Lee.

Outstanding English teacher LePell rewarded

By Lauren Jelks

Staff Writer After teaching for 26 years as an English teacher at CVHS and twice winning the coveted Teacher of the Year Award, Clare LePell knows what it takes to help students academically excel. Lepell started teaching in 1989, instructing a myriad of English courses including Sophomore English, Honors American Literature, and Multicultural Literature.

LePell gained an interest in teaching English after helping students in an impromptu essay clinic while working in the Hayward School District.

During her time helping seniors with their college essay applications, Lepell had her “aha” moment.

“I didn’t want to just be helping students with writing,” she said. “I wanted to actually teach them how to write.”

She then began the process of getting her teaching credential, which involved a year and a half of graduate work at Cal State East Bay. Once a credentialed teacher, LePell spent one year teaching at Hayward High, and then began teaching at CVHS the following year.

When talking about the uniqueness of CVHS, LePell had plenty to say. “Well, I think one of the things I love about this particular place is how cooperative the teachers are with one another.” Lepell also went on to talk about her

fondness of her students, past and present.

“I have great optimism about the future when I look at my students. I believe the future is here, and I look at my students every day and believe the future is possible,” she stated.

LePell has won the Teacher of the Year award once before,

“I didn’t want to

just be helping students with writing, I wanted to actually teach them how to write.

”

Clare LePell English teacher

in 1990. The students, sophomores at the time, were “global thinkers” and the class is and was her favorite for many reasons, including the fact that one of her students was the famed Rachel Maddow. Now, 25 years later, LePell has once again won Teacher of the Year.

“I feel honored and humbled,” she said. “I think this profession is incredibly demanding and I know there’s so many people who work incredibly hard day in and day out and so it’s a little tough to be recognized outside of one’s peers because I know I wouldn’t be the same teacher without them.”

10

Thicke confuses with "Blurred Lines" Wo r l d W a r Z w i l l

zombify the world

By Lauren Jelks Staff Writer

One song dominates the summer charts every year and leaves vacationing teens and adults bopping along to the song wherever they are.

This summer, “Blurred Lines,” sung by up-and-coming artist Robin Thicke, was that song.

You know, the one you hear and can’t not hum along to (even though you’ve heard it hundreds upon hundreds of times on the radio).

“Blurred Lines,” while catchy, creative, and fun, is irksome. I guess you could say the reviews for this song are ‘blurred.’ The problem with the song isn’t the tune or the acoustics, but it’s the lyrics.

Thicke sings phrases like “I know you want it” 18 times.

He croons “must wanna get nasty,” “but you’re a good girl,” and, “you the hottest b**** in the place” multiple times throughout the song.

Hundreds of feminists from all over the world have expressed outrage, confusion, and disgust with the phrases in the songs. Some describe it

By Audrey Vandiver Staff Writer

Leia Saelee/A&E Editor

Robin Thicke was surrounded by women in his controversial music video for the song “Blurred Lines.” as encouraging rape.

“The issue is that the song seems to undermine the importance of consent in sexual relationships,’ said blogger Elly Brinkley. “The very title of the song draws from the rhetoric of rape apologists who believe that date rape isn’t real rape and that sexual assault is often a ‘gray area.’”

Thicke has defended the song by saying that it illustrates the taboos of sex and the singer empathizes with ‘the good girl’

who wants to express her desires, but can’t.

However, even with the controversy surrounding the song, it has reached number one on iTunes and Robin Thicke has gained international attention for his first number one single.

As for me, I give this song two and a half stars out of five.

Even though the misogyny is abundant in this song, I still find myself jumping up to dance every time I hear that beginning first lyric “Everybody get up!”

Fuddruckers, a fantastic find

By Tyler Macias Staff Writer

People are always looking for satisfying meals that will fill them up. As I entered Fuddruckers, I knew that they would do just that and meet every one of my requirements.

Fuddruckers is a burger chain that has meat that weighs one-third of a pound to just one pound. It also had an ice cream shop that looks similar to Baskin Robbins. The hamburgers range from $11 to $12 each. This warm and welcoming, beachthemed restaurant had me feeling like I was at home.

It was a place that I would definitely go back to and recommend to others.

When I was with my grandma and mom, we were on a trip to the vitamin shop as we soon realized it was lunch time and we were

craving for some big burgers.

At first, I suggested In-N-Out because I love their Animal Fries and hamburgers. However, my mom wanted to go to Fuddruckers. Since it was a place I’ve never been to before, I wasn’t really happy about the decision.

But then, as we walked up to place an order, there was a window showing the weight of the meat they had. I’ve never seen at a restaurant, so I thought the options were pretty cool. That was only the beginning. The soda machines at Fuddruckers were touch screen with 10 to 15 different sodas options. Once a particular drink like Coca Cola or Sprite is chosen, there will be five or so different types of Coke and Sprite for customers to choose from.

Overall, I would recommend Fuddruckers for its nice theme, great tasting food, and ultimately because the soda machine at least 100 different flavors. So bring that special someone you really love, bring that hard earned money, and enjoy Fuddruckers.

Twelve seconds before the transformation of a lifetime, literally. What would you do if the world you lived in was overrun with “zombies” who spread their infection with every bite and turn people into one of them in 12 short seconds? This is reality for everyone in the movie World War Z, centered around Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) and his family.

Gerry is an ex-United Nations investigator who must help to find the source and hopefully the cure to this terrible plague thrown upon them. With the team members and friends he makes along the way, he travels to many countries around the world, trying to find the source with crazy interactions and terrible incidents.

Every part of the movie is significant and is thought-

fully put together leaving viewers wondering and curious until the last minutes.

The humans who are plagued are merely slowed down by body shots and aren’t fazed by broken or missing limbs; they will do anything possible and more to infect everything and everyone. To stop these “zombies,” individuals must shoot their heads or burn their entire bodies. The zombies are mainly attracted to noise; however, they are able to see and smell just not as well as their sense of hearing.

This is a movie that doesn’t start slowly. In less than four minutes into the movie, audiences are already intrigued, curious, and their blood is starts to boil. This is an intense thriller and horror that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seat eyes plastered to the television screen from beginning to finish. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a mystery movie with huge twists and wonderful film work, you will believe that you’re the one running for your life.

A p p l a u s e f o r A p p l e ’s i O S 7

By Grace Moon Staff Writer

With a press of the home button, the screen slowly illuminates, displaying a new simplistic design of the lock screen which in turn, leads to the home screen, showing sleek icons and

“

Basically designed to let nothing get in your way.

”

gorgeous graphics. Just as Apple recalls, simplicity is often equated with minimalism. This popular update, iOS 7, has revolutionized Apple

products. Apple seems to have created this update with the motive within the service of the experience. Not only can you multitask with an easy swipe of a button, but you can also enjoy the new zooming animations when opening and closing apps.

On Safari, there less inconveniences and more web tabs, allowing browsing to be easier and better with a smart search field, which stays hidden until the user scrolls to reveal it.

With another swipe, users can go back or forward a page. It’s basically designed to let nothing get in your way.

Apple has added filters on the camera, making it easier for the user, lessening the pain of editing their photos later, and

giving the camera a more retro feel. iOS also has the new option of sending a photo or document to a friend who’s by your side. It’s called the AirDrop for iOS. Connected through Wi-fi and Bluetooth, the AirDrop allows you to simply tap the Share button and send a photo, video, or contact to anyone sitting right next to you.

My friends and family revel in the new design and color, and the way it can make multitasking easier. It has transformed all Apple devices from new to even newer, allowing us to realize that Apple has no limits when it comes to imagination and technology.

11

Trojans Slay Dragons at Homecoming Game

By Tyler Macias Staff Writer

The Trojans knew that they couldn’t let their fans walk away without a hard-hitting victory on Oct. 18, and they really did give fans a homecoming to remember by beating rival Bishop O’Dowd, 43-14.

The game ended with a fireworks show to symbolize the hard effort and teamwork of the Trojans.

After the Trojans kicked off, the Dragons weren’t able to score, giving the Trojans a chance to score first and take the lead. That’s exactly what they did, scoring a touchdown

with 9:12 left in the first quarter.

Unfortunately O’Dowd got serious and once the Dragons got the ball back, they did score.

Trying to catch the Trojans by surprise, they attempted an onside kick, but were not able to recover. After that, the Trojans went on a tear, ending first half 29-7.

With the Dragons realizing they needed to step up, their defense was able to hold off the Trojans until the fourth quarter when CVHS ran the football in for another touchdown, making the score 36-7.

A Dragon ran the kick back for a touchdown, but that didn’t stop the Trojans from

making a final touchdown once they got the ball.

The varsity football team delivered a big homecoming victory to remember, improving to 1-1 in the league and 2-5 overall.

“I think I could’ve done better and I owe the game to the linemen,” said Trojans quarterback Kevin Galvan.

Running back Demareyeh Lane rushed for 73 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a recovered fumble. Nadine Modise also ran for 60 yards and a touchdown.

“We played with a lot of energy and home field advantage,” said head coach Nic McMaster.

Felicianna Marquez / Photo Editor

Members of the CVHS Dance Team perform at halftime.

Cross Country hangs tough at invitational Dragons set Trojans

By Jamie Logan ablaze in volleyball Staff Writer

The Castro Valley Invitational on Oct. 12 at Canyon Middle School was a tough one for the Trojans who hosted the meet. The varsity girls took sixth in the three mile event while the varsity boys took

“Everyone is at

that level. It is just who wants it most.

”

Erik Silverness Senior Jamie Logan/ Staff Writer

Carter Mackey powers through the race.

eighth.

Junior Carter Mackey came in seventh place for the Trojans cruising in with a time of 16:42. Junior Chris Cervi came in at 17:38 and

Vincent Friesen followed in 18:17.

The boys pulled together for a total of 261 points and an average time of 18:07.

The top runner for the girls varsity team was junior Emma Armstrong who ran three miles with a total time of 20:32. Junior Alexandria Embody ran 21:36 followed by Katherine Embody in 22:39. As a team, the girls varsity runners came in sixth place with 160 points and an average time of 22:29.

When asked how the team could improve, senior Erik Silverness said, “Everyone is at that level. It is just who wants it the most.”

Senior Jacob Boisse agreed and added, “It’s also how you run the race, it’s not so much how fast you’re going. It only lasts for so long.”

Despite struggling to place at the invitational, the Trojans worked hard to do their best and outran many other schools such as San Leandro.

By Rachel Du Staff Writer

The Trojans were roasted by the O’Dowd Dragons 0-3 in the girls varsity volleyball match on Oct. 10.

Although the Trojans started off well, the Dragons eventually overpowered them. By the end of the first half, the Dragons were leading 1-0 and already ahead in the current set. The two teams were at each other’s necks throughout the match, but O’Dowd won the final set 25-20.

“I think we could have been more tough mentally, but we played well. I think we came together really well,” said senior Bianca Higuera, one of the captains of the varsity team.

Players Jenni Brochu, Amber Picchi, and Higuera were situated

firmly in the front row, blocking numerous attacks.

The Dragons and the Trojans battled it out and played off each other, landing kills on the other side.

As the game intensified and the Trojans needed a boost of encouragement, a woman rocking a baby stroller yelled out, “Come on Trojans, fight!” Unfortunately, the Trojans were soon defeated.

Though the team has been doing well this season, their chances of competing in the WACC may have been impacted by this match.

“We still have a chance of making it, but it kind of doubts it a little,” said senior and captain of the varsity team, Jenni Brochu.

“They’re just beginning to scratch their potential,” said head coach Frank Largusa.

aw e s o m e a m a z i n g at h l e t e s Cameron Beresini/ Staff Writer

k

.

.

Nikita Khurna, sophomore

In her first year of playing tennis, freshman Nikita Khurana is enjoying her time learning different strokes and techniques on the CVHS girls tennis team.

Khurana is currently on the junior varsity and plays doubles.

She strives to improve and advance to the varsity team within the next year or two.

“I really enjoy tennis because even though it is usually just a sport where you play one-on-one matches against other people, the rest of your team is always rooting you on, which always helps when you are feeling nervous during matches,” said Khurana.

Louie Tran, sophomore Sophomore Louie Tran is on the CVHS cross country junior varsity team. This is his first year, and he is still adjusting to the rigorous training.

Running is a hobby for Tran.

However, adding in the competition makes it all the more fun.

He generally places in the early to late twenties in his races, and enjoys running as a whole.

“My favorite part of cross country is running in general. I prefer to run trails, other paths, but running is running, and I enjoy it,” said Tran.

Mitch Avery, junior

Elvira Sabanovic, senior

Junior Mitch Avery has been playing for the CVHS football team all three years of his high school career. This is his first year on the varsity team and he plays running back as well as safety.

“A favorite memory of mine is being captain on the JV team last year and scoring in the homecoming game against Hayward,” said Avery. “I love improving as both a player and a person on and off the field.”

Senior Elvira Sabanovic has enjoyed her two years on the girls volleyball team. She currently is on the varsity team and played on the junior varsity team last year.

Sabanovic enjoys playing outside and opposite hitter, which are both positions on the left side of the court.

“My favorite part about playing on the team is that I get to be surrounded by people who love to play volleyball. I know my teammates will never let me down,” said Sabanovic.

The Roarin’ Freshmen

Class of 2017