Oct 22, 2004

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2004

Volume 48, Issue 1

Castro Valley, CA 94546

Castro Valley man arrested for burglary

By Melissa Love Staff Writer

Stephan Howell of Castro Valley was arrested for burglary and possession of burglary tools at Creekside Middle School on Sept.

13. Sheriff’s deputies recovered stolen property from CVHS and other schools at his home.

“Deputies went down to Creekside Middle School when an alarm sounded. They saw a man trying to run from the school on a bicycle, and the police chased him down for a while and arrested him for burglary and possession of burglary tools,” said Officer Landeros.

Up to $15,000 of equipment,

such as cartridges, computer monitors, and computers, were reported stolen from several district schools, including CVHS. Only some of them have been recovered. The other equipment still is missing and has yet to be found.

Howell had a police radio scanner and property from Creekside in his possession when deputies arrested him.

The deputies took him to Santa Rita Jail. Howell pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of burglary tools.

This burglary has made the administration more aware of security and theft at school.

Three alumni died in the past three months First dance cut short due to crowd surfing Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Junior Jessica Schmidt and senior Lorenze Lagaspi observe the displayed piles of waste the school produced in the courtyard.

By Kawaianiani Malandish Sports Editor

The tragic deaths of three CVHS alumni in the past three months have shocked all the people who knew and loved them. Mike Gomez, Lindsay McDonald, and Anthony Kraut, each perished in separate accidents.

Mike Gomez, just 19 years old when he died on August 27, graduated from CVHS in 2003.

His friends described him as a very helpful and loving person.

He was said to drop everything at the call of a friend in need. Many people sorely miss him.

Gomez was pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident on U.S. Highway 101 on August 27, 2004. He was on his way back home from visiting his biological father in Oregon.

Lindsay McDonald, age 21, was

the type of person whom everyone liked, according to Kristina Reid, a family friend of the McDonalds and a junior at CVHS. McDonald graduated from CVHS in 2001.

On September 2, 2004, McDonald was at her boyfriend’s house, Clayton Wiedemanm, 22, riding a horse. According to Scott McDonald, brother to Lindsay, Wiedemanm went inside to get something, and when he came back out, she was on the ground, bleeding profusely. Wiedemanm called 911 and McDonald was taken from his San Ramon house to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Scott McDonald said that there was hope that Lindsay might have survived, “but when they scanned her for brain activity, there was none.” Her family was forced to take her off life support and donated her organs.

DEATHS: Page 8

By Arianna Spratley Staff Writer

CVHS’s first dance ended with a disturbance and a car stomping.

The dance started out just as any other dance, until it halted fifteen minutes before the scheduled end at 11:00 p.m. When students threw water bottles and began “crowd surfing,” the school’s administrators stopped the dance.

The administration warned the student body three times to quit “crowd surfing” and throwing water bottles. When students refused to listen, the administrators shut down the dance. Students began chanting.

“Refund, refund!” shouted junior Tanya D’Silva with the rest of the crowd. Despite the chanting, the dance still ended and the administrators told everyone to go home.

“I left the dance, headed for my car and began driving out of the parking lot with my car bumping “Fantasy” by Ludacris. As I was waiting to exit the parking lot, about 60 people began to rush my car. My car was surrounded by people so I couldn’t drive out of the parking lot,” said junior Tina Williams. Her windows were rolled down and people began using them to climb on to the roof of her car. They also climbed onto the hood of her car, jumping up and down on the car with full force.

Enraged by these events, Williams got out of her car and began screaming at the crowd to get off of her car. However, the crowd continued to jump and the crowd surrounding her car refused to leave.

Through yelling and pulling people off her car one by one, Williams was able to get back in her vehicle and drive slowly away.

Two proposals for constitution passed

By Katie Parr Staff Writer

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Michael Sene takes students' votes at the House of Representatives meeting.

“It was crazy, I was trying to get out of the parking lot and suddenly I’ve got people jumping on my car,” said Williams.

Assistant Principal, Lisa Garcia was one school administrator at the dance.

“The punishment for students caught throwing water bottles or crowd surfing at school dances will be suspension for anywhere from one to five days. Anyone punished may also lose the privilege of attending school dances,” said Garcia.

The administration likes providing the student body with dances but warns that if students cannot follow school rules and policies at dances, they will be shutdown early again.

Even though Garcia does not think this behavior will continue, if it does the privilege of school dances may be taken away.

Two proposed changes to the CVHS Constitution went into effect Thursday Oct. 7, after the House of Representatives passed both propositions by a substantial majority. Seniors Amanda Gelender and Nikolitsa Paranomos sponsored the adjustments, which involve anti-sexism and the removal of an amendment that limits students’ right to protest.

“I’m glad to see that the student body is aware of some clear problems within the school. People are taking action,” said ASB president Tim Cole. “Amanda knows what

she’s talking about.”

The anti-sexism amendment will revise any gender-specific statements in the Constitution to read “his/herself” and “he/she” instead of simply “himself” and “he.” A new section stating that any potential amendments to the Constitution “must be gender neutral when referring to a position that may be filled by either a female or a male” will also be added.

“The anti-sexism amendment is beneficial to the Constitution because offices held within the student body should be in no way regarded as male positions,” stated

PROPOSALS: Page 7

2

OPINION

Friday, October 22, 2004

Freedom not to Assemble

Rock the casbah

Editorial:

The horrific waste of time known as the "Welcome Back Assembly" is simply more evidence that the ASB and Leadership Class need to get their priorities straight.

Great gobs of cash were poured into insuring that the entirety of the student body was subjected to torturous heat while "fun" events were paraded in front of them.

Rather than inflicting this atrocity on hordes of unwilling students, why not make it optional?

Though "spirit" assemblies are counted towards the state-set quota of minutes in school, we at the Olympian feel that a student who is actually in class, whether

By Rada Feldman Editor-in-Chief

Hail to the Chick

working or sleeping, is far more productive than one watching the ASB officers cruise around the football field on ATVs. To make matters worse, the

$2,500 operating budget for the pointless events known as assemblies is more than some programs, such as the school play, are given during the entire year by the ASB.

Perhaps by making "spirit events" optional, the student body can be spared and money can be spent on things that actually do some good for everyone.

to make cruel, mean and vicious attacks on it.

Just because my faith is different from someone who is Jewish or Buddhist, does that give me the right to make fun of their beliefs and the way they worship? Definitely not. I respect their beliefs and their way of worshiping, why don’t they return the favor?

I embrace the fact that we’re all different and unique individuals. We are so lucky to live in a country where it’s okay to choose what you believe in for yourself.

Look at some of these other coun-

tries, where innocent people get killed and persecuted for simply believing in something different than that of their ruler. Living in America, we get the right to what others don’t have. Here we don’t have to have the same religion of our president in order to vote and speak your mind.

Throughout the various centuries of this world, people have fought against religious intolerance. Hating and misunderstanding those who are different than you tear us apart as humans and as a nation.

It’s simply a waste of breath and time to make fun of something you don’t understand. Stereotypes of people that have a certain faith hurt those people that are being made fun of.

Don’t call people that have a certain faith fanatics, when you have nothing to back it up but simply a closed mind and hate in your heart.

This is the year 2004, and we have come a long way from the days when your religious beliefs were something that could be used against us. Or have we?

Editorial:

the tuxedo).

Unfortunately, the term used to describe whether students are worthy of breaking tradition is highly subjective. The decision is based on whether they are "serious," a word relying completely on an opinion, rather than a more specific, set standard.

Though the method of judgement is not perfect, we at the Olympian still find this decision to be a step forward towards free expression in the CVHS yearbook.

Majority Rights

By Trini McGeogh Staff Writer

We live in America, where supposedly all religions and ways of worshiping are tolerated. Then why is it that people continue to bash and make fun of other religions just because they are different from their own beliefs?

I’m a Christian. People have recently made fun of me for my religion and the way I choose to worship, calling it cult-like. They don’t understand what they're criticizing; they see it and choose

The Olympian is a publication of the Journalism Class, Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546.

Editor-In-Chief............................................................Rada Feldman City Editors........................................................................Erin Gaab Athena Gianopoulos Ben Topkins News Editor..........................................................Yelena Teplitskaya Opinion Editor.........................................................Randy Eisenberg Feature Editor.............................................Marie Antoniette Manuel Sports Editor.................................................Kawaianiani Malandish Copy Editors.............................................................Samantha Basto Divya Gopakumar Photo Editor.......................................................................Sean Ryan Systems Manager..............................................................Fabian Ma Business Managers................................................Moryah Schindler Analisa Harangozo Staff Writers: Krissy Bussell, Quincy Hilburn, Alexia Laines, Kara Lawrence, Eric Lee, Melissa Love, Trini McGeogh, Katie Parr, Haseeb Sadat, Stephanie Spitzer, Arianna Spratley, Flora Tsang, Brett Volz, Denise Wong Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Burn the boas!

Allowing girls to wear tuxedos in their senior pictures is a welcome change in CVHS policy.

This change gives students more options to express themselves in a depressingly uniform section of the yearbook. If a senior picture is supposed to represent the student, then why do all guys wear tuxedos and all girls (until now) wear boas or drapes (which bear no traditional association with

With the conclusion of the debates, the presidential election is quickly approaching. Voters are stuck with a difficult decision to make. Exactly which of the two major (idiotic) candidates do we elect as the leader of our mighty, oil-hungry country? Do we elect the incoherent drunk who favors the rich and makes up words as he whines over his opponent’s inconsistency? Or do we elect Mr. Flip Flopper who attacks the actions of others while offering no direct alternative? We sure have dug ourselves into a dark hole.

What happened to when presidents were intelligent and concerned with moving the nation forward without sending little kids to die for the possibility of black gold? Wait, when were those days? From Andrew Jackson forcing thousands of Cherokee to take a journey to their deaths for a little free land to Lyndon B. Johnson sending boys to die in Vietnam.

America (like John Kerry) has been tragically inconsistent with electing presidents that can utilize their brains while in office.

How long can this country survive if we keep electing people like Bush, who accidentally miscalculated how many Hussein loyalists would be left and placed many in grave danger? Are great leaders allowed to miscalculate when it comes to something like a war that involves a lot of innocent lives? Bush retorts that everyone makes mistakes and Kerry has never been president, therefore, his opinion on everything doesn’t count. Of course, Bush announces that the biggest disaster that could occur in Iraq, as if disasters haven’t taken place already, would be that we don’t succeed in Iraq. Yet, he assures us that we will succeed, because he has a “plan.” How many plans can you pull out of your ass, Mr. Bush, before the whole country is dead?

Then there’s Kerry who tries to get by through his attempts at contradicting the inane comments W. Bush makes (as if that was necessary). When Kerry stated, “I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?” he merely stated the obvious. That’s great, Kerry, but when you are in office, when are you going to find the time to change your mind? Can you bomb a few Iraqi civilians and say, “My bad, it wasn’t Hussein after all but that damn Osama bin Laden instead?"

Maybe one day, average Americans could take a break from their fast food addicted, cell phone dependent, brand name fixated lifestyle and perhaps elect a president that actually knows what the hell she is doing.

RS or

OPINION

69 crosses the line A charade for col ege

Friday, October 22, 2004

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

Coming up soon on the Nov. 2 California ballot is an appalling proposition that blatantly threatens our freedom to privacy—Proposition 69. Prop. 69 expands the California criminal database to include innocent people.

Currently, every person convicted of a serious or violent felony in California has to give his or her DNA to be input into a criminal database. Prop. 69 expands this DNA database to every person arrested for any felony, including minors. This means that if you get arrested for shoplifting but released without charges ever being filed, your DNA will be taken and put in a criminal database, along with rapists’ and murderers’ for the rest of your life.

Felony arrests include writing bad checks, trespassing, and blocking the sidewalk while protesting. Mistakenly arrested victims of identity theft, will have their DNA taken before they can prove their true identity. If you are innocent of the crime and you want your DNA back, Prop. 69 states that you can hire your own attorney (none will be provided for you) and petition the court, but the judge can refuse to give the DNA sample back for any reason, and you are not allowed to appeal the decision.

Innocent people shouldn’t have to wage a legal battle to get their DNA out of a criminal database.

Prop. 69 equates arrest with guilt

reasons that innocent people should be concerned about having their DNA in a criminal database: medical privacy and human error.

Your DNA sample reveals more of your personal information than a fingerprint: it exposes your (and your family’s) predisposition to and history of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Hundreds of cases are filed by people who have lost their jobs and health insurance based on genetic predictions. Since Prop. 69 allows outsourcing of DNA testing to private labs, insurance companies will gain access to people’s medical histories, and people can be denied health insurance.

Secondly, a recent Stanford University study documents at least a 3 percent rate of error in DNA testing, attributable to human error in testing and interpretation. People spend years in jail because their DNA mistakenly matched DNA found at the scene of a crime.

Mistakes include mislabeling DNA samples and lab technicians misinterpreting DNA data.

The chances of your DNA getting mistaken for someone else’s DNA increases the more DNA entered into the database. Louisiana is currently the only state that goes to this extreme point of government intrusion. Innocent people do not belong trapped in a DNA database intended for violent criminals.

You may be wondering, “What’s If you’re of voting age, vote no the big deal about having my DNA on Prop. 69, and if you’re not, enin a database? I’ve got nothing to courage your parents and friends to hide.” Well, there are two major vote no and protect your privacy. and puts the burden on innocent people to get their DNA back.

According to the CA Public Defenders Association, CA Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the American Civil Liberties Union, Prop. 69 will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement— far beyond the amount of money allotted for the DNA gathering, testing, and storing in the proposition. The conservative cost estimate results in a shortfall of $25 million every year in addition to the construction of an $80 million testing plant. The extra money required to fund Prop.

69 may be taken from education, public safety and other government programs.

“Prop. 69 extends

this [criminal] database to every person.

Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

”

By Eric Lee Staff Writer

Is school hard for you? That’s too bad because it’s only going to get more complicated. Students day in and day out sweat it, trying to study for tomorrow’s test or trying to decipher the messy handwriting that is their notes. All this in the name of getting good grades for college. Unfortunately, good grades simply don’t cut it in this day and age, because of the ridiculously high standards set by colleges.

Gone are those carefree days when the phrase “Advance Placement” never existed. And what about those days when nobody studied for the SATs and only took them once? That’s laughable to many students nowadays. Yes, it’s not your imagination; students today are being overworked far more than students 20 years ago.

When I look around at my peers, I see a bunch of people who keep on heaping loads and loads of work upon themselves. This is not to say people should not have extracurricular activities. It’s always good to push people into doing different things, but when it gets to the point where it pretty much dominates their lives, that’s too much.

When one of my friends tells me that they’ve joined five different community service clubs, I can’t help but cringe and be reminded of that scene from “Better Luck To-

3

morrow” where the main character reminds the audience that “lunch time is also known as club time.”

Why do people feel a need to test their limits? So we can look really good on our college applications?

This makes high school feel too much like a song and dance routine that we have to stage for the benefit of the college boards. Exactly when is it too much?

If somebody has to be a 4.5 student, in all AP and Honors classes while moonlighting as a club officer for five different clubs and playing multiple sports, that might be too much. I’m not saying don’t do anything in high school. Because if you do nothing, it’s like you wasted a good chunk of your life. What I’m getting at is that you shouldn’t feel a need to rack up 1,000 community service hours in an attempt to get into UC Berkeley.

Your top priority, as a person, should be your well-being. But, that’s not going to happen if you keep pushing yourself. There are self-obligations that you are entitled to have and value. As a student you’re going to have to find a balance between your educational future and self-fulfillment.

Don’t try to put on a show for anyone for their benefit, even a college board, because that’s a tremendous disservice to yourself.

Simply put, don’t be anything else other than what you want yourself to be.

Hide your butt, slut Unionize for racism

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

I was flabbergasted. How could it be? No, I wasn’t looking at my terrible grades or wondering how a dead bee ended up in my soda.

Instead, I was just walking around during break, taking in my surroundings, and what I took in was not making me very happy.

Girls all around me were wearing revealing bottoms. Big butts practically spilled over the skimpy short skirts. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Jiggling un-tanned thighs were exposed, making me glad I had worn long jeans.

Looking over everyone, I realized that I had found our school’s true diversity; there must have been hundreds of different types of short skirts around me. There were so many varieties from denim to polka dotted to striped to flowery.

Of course there had to be a million colors to match as well. There was the daring bright orange, to the reserved light blue. And those short shorts? They were just as bad. It all made me want to barf.

Modesty is like an old friend,

something you once cherished but is now forgotten. All the values of being a young lady seemed to have been washed away once we entered high school, or even middle school for a few of us.

I understand, though. Some people come to school for one reason only: to look like a slut and hopefully get members of the opposite sex interested. They really enjoy guys ogling them. But really now, unless you’re different from the rest, the guys won’t pay attention to you.

When all the girls are wearing short skirts, what’s the difference between them? Wearing short skirts has become the norm. If that is what’s normal, why don’t we just all come to school only wearing underwear so the guys will notice us? Um, no?

School is a place of learning, a place for us to prepare for the rest of our future, and I, for one, do not want to be distracted during a final by jello-like thighs.

Student or slut? It’s your body and it’s your choice, but it’s the observer’s call to what you are, according to what you are wearing.

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

Most students would like to believe that they attend a racism-free campus, and this is mainly true.

But racism is still here, wrapped nicely and handed to us with a bow on top.

Although very different, the Asian Student Union (ASU), and the Black Student Union (BSU) have one major thing in common: they are very racist. A club can not get any more racist than, in effect, excluding every other race from it. Note that this is not the student unions’ fault. It is in their nature to separate themselves from other races.

By giving minorities a specially chosen area to hang out with other members of their race, they are separated from the rest of the school. If they do not socialize with any members of another race, then they will never be accepted by other races in the school, thus alienating them more efficiently than if they were at least seen around at lunch. Skin color will never become less important if we

continue to differentiate between them.

Some might say that the student unions are not racist, as anyone can sign up for them, but would you enjoy being stared at for 40 minutes of lunch, because you stand out like a sore thumb?

maybe it would turn into a white power organization, which is about as likely as the Asian Student Union becoming the Asian Power Union.

So, in light of this, why do the student unions continue to exist on campus if all they do is promote the same exclusion they are designed to avoid? Many people would tell you an area for minorities is a good idea, that they need a way to make contact with people they find it easiest to get along with. But wait, what makes it so easy for people to get along with others that share their skin color? Just because someone has the same skin color as you, does not automatically make you best friends. This is another generalization about races that is obviously very common. All blacks like the same stuff right? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.

Why don’t we see the student Also, why are the Caucasians unions for what they really are, not allowed to have their own not black or Asian, but racist? student union, if other races have Let there be an end to these racthem? Oh yeah, that would be ist student unions, and with it the racist, to give one race exactly pervasive racism that has been the same privileges as another. Or invading our campus for so long.

“The [unions] have

one thing in common: they are very racist.

Brett Volz Staff Writer

”

4

FEATURE

Friday, October 22, 2004

Yearbook pleads guilty of errors

By Marie Manuel Feature Editor

Courtesy of Sarah Davini

Sarah Davini wears a tuxedo for her senior photo as a way to “feel comfortable” with herself in the yearbook.

Two girls wear tuxes to “feel comfortable”

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

For the first time in a decade and the second time in CVHS history, two senior girls will wear tuxedos instead of the traditional boa or drape in the yearbook.

Sarah Davini and Elizabeth Hamilton, both openly gay seniors, received permission to wear the tuxedos from Principal Debbie Coco in September.

“I didn’t do it for the attention, I didn‘t do it to make a statement,” said Davini, who “outed herself” her sophomore year. “I was just doing it to feel comfortable with myself in the yearbook ... it’s just who I am.”

Hamilton was not taking a senior picture at all until Coco said she could wear a tuxedo. She agrees with Davini that the boa isn’t for her.

“I’ve never been really a girlygirl and people know me here as Liz or Leo,” said Hamilton.

“I’m one of the guys; that‘s just how I‘m known. I just don’t feel comfortable having to put a false front on for a yearbook.”

Coco had no apprehension in granting the girls’ wishes to wear tuxedos in the yearbook because she recognized the sincerity of their requests. “It was a thoughtful, conscientious request and I listened to it and it made sense to me,“ Coco said. “[Davini] is a very thoughtful person and is not making an abnormal request of what she feels comfortable with.”

Although the editors of the yearbook, seniors Michelle Dianda and Becky Crump, had no say in the matter, and are very supportive of the decisions made by Coco and Yearbook Advisor Colleen Cowl.

“It‘s a great way to break through

how we’ve been conforming to girls having to wear the dresses and guys having to wear the tuxes. I think it’s really great,” said Crump.

“The time is changing, and I think it’s awesome that they’re able to put what they believe in there,” said Dianda. However, not all students are happy about the change.

“I think that we should stay traditional when taking the photographs for the yearbook because it makes things a lot easier,” said senior Noah Cowart.

“It keeps women and men in their proper display for all the students and it doesn’t leave room for discretion or for people to accuse or persecute others for choosing a different style of clothing for the pictures.”

CVHS has a short history of yearbook cross dressing. The first girl to ever wear a tuxedo in the yearbook was Erika Canales in the 1995 Palladium.

Last year Chris Reid appeared on the parent pages in a feather boa. This raised an important question: for girls, what is the criteria to wear a tuxedo, and for boys, what is the criteria to wear a boa?

Crump and Dianda believe that the student has to be doing it for the “right reasons” and Coco agrees. Reasons include: being serious about it, having it be part of the student‘s identity, the way the student handles his/herself, and the sincerity of the request. “If kids are just going to do it for attention, I don’t really like that,“ said Davini.

“But if that’s who they are, if that’s what they want to do whether it’s a joke or not, then go for it.”

Davini however is bothered by someone who would try to cross dress in the yearbook as a joke.

Yearbooks are worth a thousand memories. They follow people around throughout their lifetime and reveal personalities people carried while at school.

Castro Valley High publishes a yearbook capturing that same spirit, but the 2003-2004 yearbook captured mistakes as well as memories.

Repeated pages and spelling errors proved apparent in the lime green “Just 4 You” yearbook.

“Even the classes had no titles,” said junior Jessie Payne. “There was no ‘Sophomores’ on the sophomore section and so forth; no labels to start off the different grades.”

“The amount of misspellings and ruining people’s names was astounding,” junior Jordan Murphy said. “Their captions need a little work; it looks like they just wrote them for the heck of it.”

Different people are assigned to the various sections incorporated in the yearbook. Some assemble

the sports section, others the current events, for example.

After the assembly of the yearbook pages, they are then sent to a yearbook publishing plant.

“I think we had some errors because of the plant that published it, but it was also our fault,” senior Tiffany Koo said.

“I don’t think anyone’s really to blame,” said senior Mimi Pak. “It’s not us that made all the errors; the yearbook plant put it all together. It wasn’t a student-based thing.”

Pages 78 and 82 were duplicated, and there were spelling errors on page 49 and others.

“I was labeled as Julie Franson!” exclaimed junior Angela Strauss, referring to page 37.

Koo justified that people tend to overlook the little things that went right, therefore blowing the errors out of proportion.

“People don’t seem to understand how there’s so much work that goes into it,” Koo said.

Returning staff members learned from their mistakes and now vow to keep the upcoming yearbook more free of errors.

Both Koo and Pak rejoined the yearbook class this year and both deem this year’s staff as calmer and smaller than last year’s. “[We plan to] stay more on track,” Koo said. “It’s hard to get everyone focused.” “[We need to] proofread, proofcheck, proof-everything,” said Pak. “The more we revise, the more times we look over it, the better it will be.”

Hopefully, as students look back on the yearbook of 20042005, they’ll be talking about the memories instilled in it, rather than ranting about mistaken names.

results.

“A lot of students of mine and staff agreed that it seemed as if for that month the seagulls were gone,” Schneck said.

However, it has not yet been proven that it truly works. In the future, if the Seagull Chaser proves successful, it may have the chance to get sold to other schools.

“I would absolutely encourage it,” Schneck said.

This year students from Schneck’s chemistry classes plan to recreate the project.

“The reason I wanted to redo the project was for the 50 extra credit points, plus I’m doing this to hopefully end the seagull problem,” said junior Kara Lawrence, member of one of the few promising groups who plan on remaking the bird-repellent devices.

“

Even the classes had no titles.

JESSIE PAYNE Junior

”

Schneck’s class threatens birds with repellent

By Analisa Harangozo Business Manager

The disgusting seagull droppings that hit students crossing the courtyard may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Rich Schneck and his chemistry class from last year.

The creation started when Schneck assigned his students the endof-the-year science project.

A few students approached him, clueless to what they should do their project on. Schneck then suggested a device to ward off the scavenging seagulls.

After five hours of research and five hours of assembling the device, a group of students created the Seagull Chaser. It used high frequency sound generation to irritate any creature (such as rats, cats and seagulls) with small ear canals.

However, it does not harm them.

Humans, which have longer ear canals, are unable to hear the sound. The high frequency sound waves are similar to the ones used in airport hangers.

The students used this useful bit of information to do research for their project. They went to a web site and then made a tape consisting of various bird sounds.

“I think it’s an interesting way to not harm the birds while staying poop-free,” said junior Melissa Love, a current chemistry student of Schneck.

Schneck and his class placed the device, which was a set of giant speakers, on the school’s roof with a timer that went off five minutes before lunch and break.

Many were astonished at the

FEATURE

Friday, October 22, 2004

ElizaBanks

Spotlight features the new teachers

As the new school year begins CVHS has many teachers joining the staff, including new English teacher Eliza “Ellie” Banks.

Banks teaches freshman and sophomore English.

During summer vacation, Banks got to enjoy her hobby of rock-climbing. In addition, she enjoys yoga, camping, attending concerts of her favorite bands and musicians and reading as much as her schedule allows her to.

Banks previously taught ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade English at Grant High School in Sacramento. She appreciates the fact that students here take their work very seriously. Banks also loves how CVHS has lots and lots of Redwood trees and thinks the campus is very pretty.

She does not like the lack of air conditioning in her classroom for those hot days at school. “My students will second that!”

Banks attended Onalaska High School in Wisconsin and went to college at the University of Minnesota.

Dawn Hatch

Dawn Hatch is a new teacher at CVHS who is enjoying working in the math department.

Something interesting about Hatch is that she loves cows.

“They’re cute and simple,” she commented.

All around her room are posters of cows and other cow oriented objects.

Hatch went to Carmel High and then continued her education at Humboldt State.

Hatch’s husband is in the army, so she took off from teaching to travel with him to Africa.

She started at CVHS because it was the only school willing to interview her over the phone.

She put an application online and CVHS responded.

Hatch said that she enjoys CVHS because all the students are nice to her and they are treating her well.

The only thing she doesn’t like about CVHS is the size because it is hard for her to get to know all her students.

Brett Hudson

If English class floats your boat, then new teacher Brett Hudson certainly won’t sink your ship.

He may even show you how to paddle through the bay.

The former kayaking instructor started out teaching in rivers

and lakes. Now Hudson teaches freshman and sophomore English in room 310.

Hudson decided to become a high school teacher because he enjoyed working with teens through the outdoor kayaking programs.

“I came to Castro Valley because I heard of its good reputation as a school, and it felt like a pretty good community,” said Hudson.

“Castro Valley High is a good place to be. The students are great.

They’re intelligent and they bring such diverse personalities to the class. That makes it interesting,” he stated.

Hudson is well-liked among his students. “He’s a cool teacher,” said sophomore Matt Riley. “The way he talks is different from other teachers. I’ve learned a lot from him. He takes us through the steps to write essays, which is really helpful.”

Hudson said Castro Valley reminds him of Orinda, where he grew up.

He attended Colby College in Maine, and spent some time teaching at Alameda High before coming to CVHS.

Scott Mahon

Jennifer Leighton

Gabrielle Mitchell

Jennifer Leighton is CVHS’s newest fine arts teacher.

She has years of experience relating to art.

The most intriguing was an art show called the “Under Heaven Experience,” located on the state capital’s lawn.

“It was cool because we had music, poetry, and other forms of art,” Leighton explained.

Leighton interned for Jo Sutton, the studio art teacher, two years ago at CVHS. She enjoyed her experience so much that when she was given the opportunity to teach here, she tackled the offer.

Before teaching here, Leighton taught at Moreau Catholic High School for one year last year.

So far, Leighton’s students have been welcoming her with open arms and minds.

“They’re working really hard for me,” said Leighton. She has been enjoying her time spent at CVHS. However, she dislikes her crowded classes.

Leighton’s past art education comes from a variety of different colleges. She attended the University of the Pacific, where she received her art and education degree.

Leighton also attended classes at Cal State Hayward, San Jose State and Stanford.

Besides art, Leighton’s other passions include traveling the globe.

In addition, she claims that sign language is her first language due to the fact of growing up with deaf parents. “Kids can practice their ASL with me,” Leighton said.

Scott Mahon, one of CVHS’s newest teachers, has lived abroad, been a roadie for a rock band and worked on a Fox animation show.

He had led a pretty exciting life.

His newest adventure is teaching at CVHS. “I heard it was a good school with a supportive administration, and [it] has a lot of diversity,” said Mahon.

Mahon went to college at Willamette University in Oregon. He has been teaching for four years.

He taught drama, film, and now currently teaches ESL ( English as a Second Language) students.

Mahon loves snowboarding at Sugarbowl, sailing, and deep sea fishing. Prague and Bejing are two of the exciting places he has been to.

“My door is always open, so come by.You can crash on the couch or listen to music,” said Mahon.

Most kids can’t prove that teachers are not entirely human, but students in Gabrielle Mitchell’s freshman and sophomore English classes actually have her confession: their teacher is a banana slug.

She used to be, anyway. New English teacher Mitchell attended UC Santa Cruz, home of the banana slugs, before delving into a journalism career.

However, Mitchell was not entirely satisfied as a reporter.

“It was time for a big change,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell spent some time teaching at James Logan High before she met two CVHS English teachers, both of whom loved their jobs.

Their enthusiasm encouraged Mitchell to transfer.

“I decided to teach at Castro Valley because it has a good reputation in the English department and overall,” stated Mitchell. “So far I’ve been really happy with my decision. The kids are excited about coming to class, and the teachers are excited about teaching.”

Mitchell prefers CVHS to James Logan because the student body is smaller and the atmosphere more tranquil.

She runs and hikes to stay active and enjoys knitting, watching movies and cooking in her spare time.

Matt Shore

Sit up and spit out your gum; you are going to have to pay attention in order to keep up with new teacher Matt Shore who’s keeping it real in room 202.

If you think teachers who rock

climb are extreme, you haven’t heard of Shore.

Shore joined his freshman class of Oregon State to bungee jump off the tallest bridge in Vancouver.

“It was crazy,” said Shore.

“Mr. Shore? I heard he’s awesome,” said freshman Sean Welch.

Not only does Shore teach study skills and next semester health, he is also a part of the Tr a n s i t i o n a l Opportunity Program for Success (TOPS).

Before coming to CVHS, Shore went to the University of San Francisco and the University of Oregon to earn his numerous degrees, one of which is in Journalism.

He chose CVHS because of its great opportunities to work with kids and the diverse campus as well as its many possibilities for student participation out of class.

Even though this fresh face to CVHS is all about the teaching, Shore is currently working on getting a master’s degree in the spring, and is eager to increase his own education.

5

Scott Simon

Scott Simon is new at CVHS, and he likes it here. “Everything here is generally better; and the girls don’t cuss you out,” admits Simon, who was pleased with the general politeness of CVHS students.

Simon started teaching in Los Angeles way back in 1984 and continued for 14 years before ditching LA for the Bay Area.

Simon taught at a small Oakland high school until he moved to Castro Valley. Living in Castro Valley is what he considers a big plus.

“One of the best positives is I only live three miles from work,” said Simon.

Simon, who teaches Algebra I and Geometry, is also an aspiring musician.

However, to him, teaching has been a distraction from his being able to practice the trumpet regularly.

Whatever happens next, he promised to stick around CVHS for as long as possible.

Compiled By: Krissy Bussell, Analisa Harangozo, Alexia Laines, Eric Lee, Trini McGeogh, Katie Parr, and Arianna Spratley

New drama teacher arrives at CVHS Judson replaces soon-to-be mom Daily temporarily

By Moryah Schindler Business Manager

David Judson, Bay Area celebrity in the theater world, is among the newest members of the CVHS staff.

“The faculty is exceptionally friendly,” commented Judson.

He wanted to be a teacher at CVHS so that he could work with his long time college friend and mentor Tiffany Daily.

Judson was hired at the end of last year. He will share Daily’s responsibilities while Daily is on maternity leave.

This includes teaching beginning, intermediate and advanced drama as well as technical theater; directing the musical and play and advising the improv and drama club.

Judson is more than qualified. He earned a bachelor of arts in rhetoric communications from UC Davis.

He went to graduate school at St. Mary’s where he earned his teaching credential. He returned once more to Davis to get a masters degree in fine arts.

“Teaching is my number

one. Acting is just something I do,” said Judson.

Despite this, Judson is most widely known as a professional actor.

A few of the productions he has participated in include “The Wizard of Oz,” “Grease,” “Music Man,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and the longest running play in US history, “Shear Madness.”

“Acting is just something I do, DAVID JUDSON Drama Teacher

”

When Daily returns after winter break, Judson and Daily will teach together or job share. They will trade off, each teaching half the week. “[I’m looking forward to] planning lessons and implementing activities together,” said Judson.

6 coach to retire Girls take second at CV Invite Tennis after 17 years

SPORTS

By Kawaianiani Malandish and Trini McGeogh

In the largest ever Castro Valley Invitational, which included 1157 runners, the girls’ Varsity cross country team took second, while the boys’ Varsity came in at seventh. On Oct. 9, with 67 points, the girls’ Varsity team came up just over College Park’s 56 points.

The girls’ team was very happy with the outcome of the Invite hosted by Castro Valley, due to many members on their team being injured at the time of the race. “Five out of seven girls we’re injured. My friend was on crutches; she twisted her ankle,” said Jessica LaPonte, a junior on the girls’ Varsity team.

Karlina Beringer, a talented freshman on the girls’ Varsity team, said of the race, “Our team was pretty strong and we’re all really improving. A lot of

Friday, October 24, 2003

people bounced back even with injuries.”

Because so many people were injured, some Junior Varsity and Frosh runners got a surprise promotion to the Varsity race.Andrea Chow singled out Karen Chan, who came in at number 16. “Karen Chan from the Frosh team ran and she did absolutely fantastic.”

Chow herself was unable to finish the race. When asked about her performance at the race, she replied, “I was doing really well, until I stepped in a pothole and sprained my ankle, then I didn’t get to finish.”

The CV team was led by Karlina Beringer, who finished fifth with a personal record of 21:03 minutes, and Amy Sweetnam who finished seventh with a time of 21:43 minutes. The girls’ Varsity race had 92 finishers.

The boys’ Varsity race didn’t go quite as well. The first CV

runner in was junior Matt Riley in 19th with a time of 17:58 minutes.

The next CV runner to finish was Marc Lassale, grade 11, who came in 54th at 18:37. There were 175 finishers.

Junior Matt Rossillon, a JV runner with a surprise promotion to the Varsity race, said, “ We’re getting better. We have a really strong team this year. A lot of people came back from the SAT.” Both the boys and girls cross country teams are set to run in the crucial HAAL meet this week. They are hoping to beat six time HAAL champions, Bishop O’Dowd.

The girls’ Varsity team seemed very optimistic about how this race is going to turn out. Chow said she believed they have what it takes to beat Bishop O’Dowd. “I mean we would have better chances if some of our team-mates weren’t injured.

But I think we’ll still do ok.”

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

After playing tennis for 54 years, coaching tennis for 20 years, and coaching the CVHS tennis team for 17 years, Floyd Barnes has decided to retire following the girls’ season this year.

From boys jumping over 12foot cement walls to awards dinners full of tears, Barnes has made countless memories with the CVHS tennis teams.

Throughout the years, Barnes has coached 25 out of 34 teams to be HAAL champions.

In fact, the boys’ teams have never won anything less than second place. Barnes himself has been named “HAAL Coach of the Year” four times, and NCS Honor Coach, a very high award that has only been given to HAAL coaches twice. “[Coaching tennis at CVHS] has been my life. I’ve totally enjoyed every one of the boys’ and girls’ teams,” Barnes said.

However, Barnes isn’t going to go to a retirement home to spend the rest of his days. In fact, he isn’t doing anything remotely close.

“I plan to do a lot of traveling.

I’ll probably go to the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open, and things like that. I also have my own place in Hawaii, so I’ll

definitely be spending a lot of time there. But I’m definitely going to keep on playing tennis,” Barnes said.

Barnes wasn’t always a tennis coach, though. Before ever coming to CVHS, Barnes was a truck driver for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of California.

By the time he retired from the company, he had been moved up to being the cold drink manager.

After he retired from Coca-Cola he started coaching tennis.

“I have coached some wonderful players here at Castro Valley,” Barnes said. “But for the future teams, I just want them to keep winning, hustling, and representing CVHS as best as they can for the new coach.”

The members of the tennis team are extremely sad to see him go.

“Coach has inspired us to work as a team. It just won’t be the same without him,” sophomore Johanna Oh said.

“He’s been an awesome coach.

He is our humor, our leader, and a big part of our team that keeps us together..like a family,” said sophomore Jodi Tam, number two player for the girls’ tennis team.

After all the memories and good times, Barnes is sad to be saying goodbye to the school.

“I’ll miss everything about tennis at CVHS,” Barnes said.

Phillips’ winning streak ends

By Stephanie Spitzer Staff Writer

Melissa Love / Staff Writer

Andrea Chow and Karen Chan of the girls’ Varsity cross country team run up second level at Canyon Middle School during the Castro Valley Invitational.

Athletes subjected to drug speech

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

CVHS fall and winter athletes were required to attend a drug assembly in the gymnasium on Oct. 4. The presentation, given

by Ralph Cantor from the Alameda County Office of Education, taught the students facts about drugs at CVHS. Sport athletes ranging from football, cross-country, soccer and golf to wrestling all gathered that evening to hear about drugs.

The coaches of all the sport teams were present as well, while parents met in the school cafeteria for a separate presentation.

Cantor lectured about the effects of marijuana on the brain and used interesting ways to get the students’ reaction. Giggles

were heard across the bleachers as he yelled the word “sex” emphatically across the gym, and taught the students how to get "more high" while taking drugs. However, he

“ didn’t teach It us much about why we shouldn’t use drugs.

Jessica Shin Sophomore

”

did get their full attention, as he continued to teach about the different parts of the brain.

The reactions to the assembly were quite negative.

"I think the speech was unnecessary because it didn’t teach us much about why we shouldn’t use drugs," said sophomore Jessica Shin, a golf team member.

“It was boring and a waste of time,” said sophomore Andrew Wu. However, the speech was mandatory and if students were not present at the meeting, they were required to watch a video of the presentation.

If the students didn’t watch the video of the assembly then they would not be allowed to participate in any of their matches and games.

Please do not forget to recycle this newspaper

Andrea Phillips, a CVHS senior, had 75 straight wins in the Hayward Area Athletic League until her first loss to freshman Ariel Ellis from Hayward High School on Sept. 23.

“Ariel had nothing to lose and wasn’t carrying any baggage.

Andrea had her streak to protect,” said the girls’ tennis team coach Floyd Barnes.

“I don’t plan on losing again, but there’s only so much I can do,” said Phillips.

Phillips is ranked sixth in North California in the United States Tennis Association (USTA), according to Phillips.

“It was a great tennis game, though. I’d recommend anyone to watch another game between them,” said Barnes. They may play each other again in the HAAL tournament on Nov. 5 or 6.

“It’s unknown right now who is the better player,” said Barnes.

“We have to wait until they play each other again in the HAAL tournaments… People should watch this. The last game between the two was the best girls’ match in HAAL in 20 years.”

“ I’d recom-

mend anyone to watch another game between them.

Floyd Barnes Tennis Coach

”

Phillips and Ellis are both good players, but, “I’d put my bet on Andrea,” said Barnes.

NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2004

7

Amnesty raised money for books and toys in India

By Ben Topkins City Editor

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Junior Daria Garina and sophomore Alex Feldman help at the Amnesty yard sale.

ASB budget decreases

Money given to programs that need it

By Denise Wong Staff Writer

As always, the school must have a set yearly budget limit to finance the school programs.

However, this year's budget will be slightly different due to recent state budget cuts.

The set budget for this 20042005 year is approximately $160,000. Programs, like the Student Store and the Athletic Department, get increases in the budget this year.

The budget is decided by the principal, vice-principals, ASB president, ASB treasurer, financial secretary and student activities director.

"We base the budget on last year's," said ASB Treasurer Chang Chi. "Because there was less profit

last year, we had to look at [which] programs used more money than given and we give that program more money."

There were recent thefts of equipment, costing the school several thousands of dollars. Chi claimed that the thefts would not have a major effect on the school budget. "[The school] has a general funds account, where our excess money goes. We use that money in case of accidents," Chi stated.

There is currently $50,000 in the general funds account.

The funding for programs varies, such as large amounts of money for the athletic department and small amounts for banking fees. Of course, during the budget setting process, some programs had financial cuts.

"Sorry to say this but we cut a lot of money from [the Olympian].

There wasn't any spending because [of] all the subscriptions and ads," Chi added.

To prevent more cuts, students can help by helping the school make more profit. Some suggestions of how to help CVHS include buying ASB activity stickers, going to dances or sports games and even just buying food.

The more student participation there is, the more profit the school will get, meaning more funds for the large variety of school programs.

Chi believes students will affect the school budget, as long as they stay involved with school activities. "I think the budget will increase because we're selling more [things]."

This year, the CVHS chapter of Amnesty International has set a gargantuan goal for itself— to raise $8,000. After attending a conference on youth involvement in global issues, Amnesty International’s officers were inspired to help raise money for a mobile book and toy library in Orissa, India.

“We decided to take on this project for a number of reasons: our first goal is to educate the Castro Valley community about world issues and how much we have and should appreciate in America. Secondly we’re doing this to inspire others to help out and contribute to the betterment of the world,” said senior Nicole Marcotte, co-president of the Amnesty International chapter at CVHS. At the conference, the members of Amnesty met a young woman who had recently gone to India and witnessed the poverty there first hand.

She was raising money to fund the mobile library and had already found an organization willing to match other contributions up to $8,000. The entire library is estimated to cost around $16,000 and Amnesty is planning to raise the remaining $8,000.

“I feel an obligation to help people, because human rights are mandatory in order for us to live in a free and equal world,” said sophomore Alex Feldman, considering

his motivation for participating in the fundraising for the library.

One professional photographer found the project so intriguing that she is documenting Amnesty’s progress and will then go to India in April to document the effect the library has there.

“I had already arranged to photograph the kids on the train platform, and I said I would love to photograph the other side, the United States side,” said Paola Gianturco, a professional photographer and author of two photographic books.

“I was very interested in the project as well as what these kids are doing here,” Gianturco said at an Amnesty fundraiser.

Because Gianturco already has plans to go to India in April, Amnesty’s goal is to complete the fundraising by that time.

Amnesty has a number of fundraisers planned to raise this incredible amount. On Saturday Sept. 18, 2004 a number of members of Amnesty participated in a garage sale of donated goods, to raise money for the project.

The club is also planning an Adopt-a-Family type fundraiser at CVHS and they hope to collaborate with other student organizations, such as the Indian Student Union and Interact.

“We’re open to other people who want to help out,” said Marcotte, although they haven’t yet found any other organizations interested in the project.

UC GPA STAR test performance Seniors’ proposals requirement drops nine points

By Divya Gopakumar increased change constitution

By Eric Lee Copy Editor

Staff Writer

The University of California’s minimum GPA requirement for admission recently rose from 2.8 to 3.0. The UC College Board voted to increase the GPA requirement on Sept. 23.

“The reason they’re doing this is because they’re getting so many applicants that they have to raise the bar,” explained CVHS counselor Susan Elliot.

According to the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, the UCs are limited to only accept the top one-eighth (about 12.5 percent) of students in California.

However, the UCs are having a harder time admitting students, even if they are eligible to enter UCs. Last year alone had about 14.4 percent of high school students eligible.

This past July, the UC board flirted with different ways to toughen up admission standards, including tightening up SATs and ACTs scores or raising the GPA requirement to 3.1.

“I think it’s preposterous.

Already we see such extreme

GPA: Page 8

STAR testing is a part of every student’s educational life up until their junior year. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that CVHS improves every time.

For some students, the STAR test doesn’t mean too much.

“It’s not that important to me, because colleges don’t weigh the scores as much as our SAT scores and G.P.A.,” said junior Hyunja Chung. “But I take it because it helps out the school and I get to get out of class.”

The STAR test results for the 2003-2004 school year were at a particular low. According to the Academic Performance Index (API), CVHS decreased in performance, dropping nine points from last year’s score of 769 to 760. The state’s target number for all schools was 800 or above.

“The drop in the scores has a lot to do with last year’s juniors skipping the test,” said Assistant Principal Lisa Garcia. “About 80% of them actually took it.”

Despite the school’s lack of test-takers, Castro Valley Unified as a whole managed to jump from an API score of 811 to 813.

An even more impressive result

was the entire state of California, gaining a ten point growth from 683 to 693.

“I am happy with the overall upward trend of the scores for Language Arts,” said Patricia Magda, head of the English department.

There was an increase in scores at the “advanced” level in Language Arts among freshmen and sophomores. The freshman class jumped from 14% in 2001 to 21% in 2004, while the sophomores made the leap from 22% to 28%.

Unfortunately, the juniors were not as successful, dropping from 18% to 16% over the course of four years. This in part had a lot to do with lack of juniors participating in the test taking.

“Students of all grades should realize that when they don’t take the test seriously, it negatively impacts the entire school,” said Magda.

The math portion of the test did not fair as well with students, with all three of the classes performing around the 2% to 3% range at the advanced level. However, the majority of the students met the required standards and fell into the “proficient” category.

“Our school does well compared to other schools,” said Nancy

STAR: Page 8

PROPOSALS: From Page 1

Cole. “Actually, most students in Leadership are females. No one should assume Leadership positions to be male.”

The second change, sponsored solely by Gelender, will repeal Section 13: Right to Assemble.

As written in Statue Laws, Article I of the school Constitution, the Section 13 amendment outlines strict guidelines and procedures for students who want to protest or demonstrate.

Gelender felt the two-year-old amendment to be too restrictive.

“By repealing the amendment put in two years ago, it removes a lot of the road blocks to allow students to protest and assemble,” stated Gelender.

CVHS senior Robert Pagan, who proposed Section 13 two years ago, did not seem to mind the ousting of his amendment from the Constitution.

“I have complete faith that Amanda Gelender is working towards the betterment of Castro Valley High School by repealing the amendment,” Pagan said.

In order to amend the CVHS constitution, the proposed amendment must be submitted to the Leadership class.

Two-thirds majority of the Senate, which consists of all class officers, must pass the amendment before it is passed to the House of Representatives.

Once it is passed by a majority vote in the House, the amendment becomes official.

“Both amendments passed by a large majority. They won’t be written into the actual Constitution until next year, but they are in effect now,” said Michael Sene, ASB vice-president and speaker of the house. “We’re trying to get a copy on the school Web site that includes the changes.”

Although the Constitution plays a large role in the CVHS Leadership, most typical students are not aware of its purpose.

“I didn’t even know we had a school Constitution,” said junior Bennett Francoeur. Many others agreed with his statement.

Anyone who wants to see the CVHS Constitution can pick up a copy from Linda Little in room 607.

8

DISTRACTIONS

Friday, October 22, 2004

Mandarin may replace German program

By Samantha Basto Copy Editor

There is a possibility that the CVHS German program will be replaced with a Mandarin program, but uncertainty lingers of when this could and if will take place.

The school planned to phase out German after teacher Kathy Failing decided to retire last year.

“The time was right. Ms. Klews came on the scene ready, willing and very able to continue the German program. Also, last December my mother had a heart attack, from which she has fortunately recovered, but I need to be more available to her,” said Failing.

After Failing’s retirement, Principal Deborah Coco and Superintendent Jim Fitzpatrick discussed replacing the program, and felt it would be a good opportunity to start teaching Mandarin.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that in a school this size being in California, dealing with the economy, dealing with the large diversity of our campus, that we don’t offer a Pacific Rim language program,” said Coco.

Coco said that her and Fitzpatrick didn’t expect the frustrated responses they received from people. Therefore, the school will not phase out German yet; instead it will look at the enrollment and see if enough students sign up.

Failing was caught off guard

STAR test attendance decreased

STAR: From Page 7

Cavalieri, the head of the math department.

With all of the statistics and results out in the open, what changes are going to be made to improve test results?

“The tests are linked to certain standards and the math teachers are trying to incorporate them into the school year,” said Cavalieri. “We are also trying to rearrange the sequence of the material so that students have the proper knowledge before taking the test.”

English teachers are also taking action to assist students with their scores.

“More work is being done by the department to help students that are below the proficient line,” said Magda. “We are looking into the breakdown of the scores to decide what we need to focus on in the classroom.”

Despite having the teachers’ dedication to help their students, the students themselves must make the ultimate decision to be involved in the test and do their best.

“If students really wanted to do better, they can study for it and practice,” said Cavalieri. “Even though our school is doing well, there is always room for improvement.”

when the administration talked about replacing German.

“I was shocked and very dismayed when I found out. Fortunately, there was a lot of support for keeping German, and in the end the superintendent reversed the decision and allowed German 1-2 to be offered this year,” commented Failing.

The possible replacement stirred up protests from teachers, students, and parents. A lot of complaints came from parents with incoming freshmen that wanted to take German this year.

Many students that have been taking German and those currently taking it feel that replacing German would be a mistake.

“I wish that the German classes didn’t have to be replaced,” said sophomore Kenny Robertson, who is currently enrolled in German 34. “Most people I know don’t want to learn Mandarin.”

Robertson is hopeful to eventually become fluent in German and plans to take it next year.

“I think that we should have a Mandarin language program, but I don’t think they should replace German to get it,” commented junior Nathan Halsey, currently enrolled in German 5-6.

Jeanette Collard, parent of freshman Sarah Collard and junior Andrew Collard, also believes the school should not replace the German program.

Collard found out about this

from her son last year, who was in German 3-4.

Collard called the school to find out about the possible replacement, but no one on the staff was aware of the situation.

“I felt very brushed off,” commented Collard regarding the fact that no one had any answers for her.

Failing, although retired, currently teaches German 5-6, 7-8, and AP all combined into one class.

“I am retired right now. However, I wanted to teach the 5-6, 7-8, and AP students this year because I know what they need to know and I’ve had them for two to three years already. The district is allowing me to do this under a special temporary contract, which will end at the end of this school year. I expect this to be my last year,” explained Failing.

Barbara Klews also teaches German classes, and hopes to see both languages at CVHS. A Mandarin program may be added next year, as well as retaining the German program. The German program’s future depends on the enrollment of students who take the various levels.

Klews and Failing want to get the word out that German is a fun and valuable language to learn.

“I hope that a lot of students sign up for German and stay in German for next year,” said Failing.

DEATHS: From Page 1

to his brother, Alan Kraut, he got into the fatal car crash that ended his life.

Alan, when asked to describe Tony, said, “He never really went along with really silly hypothesis.

I mean, he could have the sort of fun, wacky, intellectual conversations you’d expect from a Kraut, but it couldn’t be totally out there.

Also, he was really good with people; incredibly loving guy.”

All memorials for these three deceased have already taken place with their respective friends and family.

Alumni die tragically

Anthony Kraut, more commonly known as Tony, graduated from CVHS in 1995. After high school he moved to a city near Seattle, Washington. Kraut worked in a few different garages, and also volunteered in the National Association for the Mentally Ill. In late June, Kraut, 27 years old, was coming down from Seattle to visit his family in Castro Valley.

On July 1, 2004, just north of Sacramento on the I-5, according

UC GPA policy changes

GPA: From Page 7

competition for the UC system, and raising this would increase the competition,” voiced CVHS junior, Jesse Sabharwal. “With so many things to worry about, like the new SATs, why not just throw more requirements at us?”

CVHS counselors are concerned with the turn of events as well.

“I feel bad for the students who can’t reach the 3.0 GPA; they can’t even apply for the universities,” said Elliot.

“On one hand, I understand where they’re coming from,” said CVHS counselor Duane Magno, referring to the UCs’ increasing budget cuts. “But on the other hand, every student has the right to a good education.”

Most worried are minority advocates who see the changes

in the admissions policy as an educational roadblock for minorities who are already underrepresented in the general UC student populace.

While the UC board regrets the decision, they also defended the policy change. A recent UC board report stated that the choice to bump up the GPA requirement, in 2007, was the one with the least negative impact on students.

The report also stated that while the choice was designed to cut back on student admission, only a small percentage of the students will be cut. The 1.6 percent of students that will be cut roughly translates into about 750 high school students each year, which in the big picture is not that many.

“I’m not too worried about CVHS students though, most of them who go to UCs are well beyond the minimum requirement,”

No snacks sold at tutorial due to tardies

By Alexia Laines Staff Writer

The familiar sound of change jingling in pockets and the tantalizing aroma of fresh baked cookies has partially come to a stop for hungry CVHS students of all grades. The school administration has seen a growing trend in student tardies after the ten minute break and tutorial, and has decided to crack down on shutting the snack bars down when the bell rings.

Administrators have also shut the kitchen down altogether during tutorial.

“Tutorial is for student-toteacher collaboration. The kids are thinking it’s just a break. We need to enforce the culture that tutorial is not a break and pulling the food will help that,” said Assistant Principal Mark Autrey.

“I think that’s stupid. The school is just going to lose money,” said

sophomore Anna Davie.

Oct. 5 was the start of school staff monitoring the snack bars to make sure that no food is served after the bell.

“That’s weak sauce,” said sophomore Nicole Manley. “Just because some people are late to class, everyone gets attacked?”

The cafeteria workers have agreed to the new plan, but are not thrilled.

“I just can’t close the door on someone who’s been waiting in line the whole time. I don’t think that’s really fair,” said Denise Music, the cafeteria manager.

According to assistant principals and other staff, this is a temporary solution to the tardy and “break instead of tutorial” problem. The food might come back to tutorial for those who simply do not need to attend tutorial, but for now the administration thinks this will be an effective experiment.

Courtyard not open for students during seventh

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

Students doing homework in the courtyard is common after seventh period, but this is about to change.

Due to a new set of rules, students will be strongly discouraged from staying in the courtyard after their school day.

“We are not the neighborhood park,” said Assistant Principal Jim Maxwell. The campus patrollers will now be leaving campus at four p.m., rather than waiting for all the kids in the courtyard to leave.

This is in response to several conflicts between our students and students from other schools after school hours, when the campus patrollers have gone home.

Although the campus patrollers will not lock the gates, any students engaged in after hours activity that occurs while the staff is not present will not be the responsibility of the school and its management.

This means that the police will deal with any of the students, probably more harshly than the school would deal with them itself.

If the students resist the police and their judgment, a follow up punishment will occur at school in the form of suspension.

Damage to property will not be left to the police.

The perpetrators will be identified and punished severely.

Those most likely to be affected are athletes.

They are the most likely to be at school after the four o’clock supervision cut off point.

This lack of supervision will undoubtedly make parents nervous while leaving their kids at school.

This is an understandable move from the school, when money is as hard to find as it is.

As other school districts end their sports programs and extracurricular activities, perhaps it is better that we only have to put some faith in our students to act like the young adults that they are.