Oct 6, 2006

Bands get their rock on

8 Pg.

6 Pg.

Football team dominates

Trojans are off to a good start

High school bands show their flair

Cell phone policy causes conflict City Editor

Chris Qian and Terry Xiao / Staff Writer

Parking spaces, where art thou? feature

Editor

Within the first month of school at least seven cars have been towed from CVHS parking lots, costing the owners a fee of at least $250 each. Parking spots have decreased for seniors and are nonexistent for juniors, due to the school construction.

The junior lot will be closed for the remainder of this school year due to construction. Permits for each semester are $20, up $15 from the mere $5 dollars they cost last year. Those had also

4

Travel back to CVHS 50 years ago

By Trini McGeogh

By Kamry Zhang

Pg.

CVHS: A Blast from the Past

last a whole year. Although the junior lot will be available again next year, the parking permits will still be priced at 20 bucks a pop.

The administration will not issue tickets as a warning but will tow any car that is parked in no parking zones, staff spots and handicap places or does not have a permit.

Instead of around 300 parking spaces like last year, only 80 spots are for seniors this year.

One hundred permits were issued out which means the lucky lottery seniors still have to fight for their spots early in the morning.

“The earliest I came to school

for parking was 6:20 a.m. I usually get to school that time unless it’s a Tuesday,” said senior Christina Chao.

According to Chao, she has seen people arrive at seven on Tuesday mornings on the rare occasions she got to school early that day. If someone is only a few minutes later than 6:20 a.m., it is hard to find a place because spots fill up fast.

The lucky winners’ ID numbers were chosen by AP Sue Goldman by using the old-fashioned picking random numbers out of a box method.

Recently the students at CVHS have been angered by the new cell phone policy which states that cell phones are banned from campus until the final bell rings, including break and lunch.

The reason for the new policy is that cell phones are disruptive in class, students were cheating using text messages.

Students were using phones to set up fights and were late to class because of their need to use cell phones.

The administration has been enforcing the new policy with full force and has no intention of easing up.

When asked if the new cell phone policy will continue, Assistant Principal Sue Goldman responded, “Yes!” Students, however, feel differently.

“I hate it because a lot of the time, I need my cell phone not just for personal reasons, but for convenient reasons like calling my carpool. My friend who goes to a private school is allowed to use her phone and we’re a public school and we’re not allowed to use our cell phones even at lunch.

That’s not fair,” said junior Jillian Eversole.

“ I need my

cell phone... for convenient reasons like calling my carpool.

JILLIAN EVERSOLE Junior

”

The cell phone policy has been a positive change for teachers at CVHS. For English teacher Deborah Groody the cell phone issue has improved immensely from last year.

“I haven’t taken any cell phones away, unlike last year. Only one or two cell phones have rung in class and the student’s cell phones were in the backpack and the students just obviously forgot to turn them off. I told them to turn it off and that was that,” said Groody.

The cell phone policy is improved since last year and the new policy will continue to be strictly enforced.

Finals no longer before break Jamba Juice and

By Candace Wong Business Manager

The schedule last year, with finals before the holidays, was a pilot schedule. This year, however, the finals schedule will revert back to the end of January, the way it was before the 2005-2006 school year.

“Now Hanukah Harry and Santa Claus won’t show up,” exclaimed English teacher, K.C. Wachs, in her reaction to the returning semester system. “I really enjoyed winter break without having to deal with finals and grades.”

According to Assistant Principal, Jesse Woodward, the economics and social study classes (which are both semester long classes) would have to cut short their schedule.

Perhaps they would even lose some time on the usual activities

“I really en-

joyed winter break without having to deal with finals and grades.

K.C. WACHS English Teacher

”

and events they do during that time.

On top of that, the semester long classes would have uneven semesters, one semester would be shorter and the other longer. The staff vote was actually to keep the pilot program in use for the school year, but the decision was then overruled by the school district.

The social studies department was upset that the first semester was going to be about 17 days shorter than the second semester.

Special activities, crucial assignments and information was left out “I like the idea of ending the semester before Christmas, but not if it takes two weeks off the [second] semester and hurts the social studies department,” said social studies teacher Ross Williams.

SEMESTER: Page 8

fruits are coming

By Flora Tsang Editor-In-Chief

Students who go off campus for lunch every day may have a new alternative that will save them both time and money. The cafeteria is in the process of adding more choices for them by featuring a new deli counter, farmer’s produce and the popular drink, Jamba Juice.

“We will have the deli counter

by October. The produce and Jamba Juice will come in some time this year,” said cafeteria manager Denise Music.

Some students are currently dissatisfied with the state of the cafeteria and hope for better alternatives in place.

“I’m not a fan of the lunch ticket offerings. I feel guilty ingesting it.

I have to apologize to my gastrointestinal system every time I swallow a fry. I wish somebody would have as much pity for my metabolism as I do. America is overweight as it is,” said senior Daniel Wong.

Luckily for them, the cafeteria’s plans of the fresh fruit produce and Jamba Juice will help out with that.

For example, apples, bananas and other fruits such as peaches will be sold a la carte, not with a lunch ticket, but for those who want them.

The Jamba Juice fruit smoothies will be sold at a higher price, but only because the company sells CVHS the drinks at an expensive price as well.

LUNCH: Page 8

CVHS needs to compromise on cell phone policy The Flora Factor

Editorial:

We believe the new cell phone policy was enacted for a reason: to stop crimes such as cheating, drug meet-ups, and plain hooliganism. This is commendable, but the idea to ban cell phone use has dampened the student body’s few break and lunch liberties.

It is truly understandable that incentives needed to be upped since the plain old policy of “No cell phone use in class” was clearly not deterring students. But even now, when the stakes of using cell phones during class time are high, students still continue to send text messages to fellow classmates. We can come to the conclusion that such a brash strategy to rid the school of cell phone use is unyielding to the desired outcome.

High school students are consistently reminded by teachers that they are mature young adults, but in reality, we are just children with adult responsibilities. We may need to call our parents to ask for permission to stay to complete a group assign-

Vegging is for "Dummies"

By Flora Tsang Editor-In-Chief

ment, or confirm the dentist appointment our mommies made for us, or even make sure we have a ride lined up. Without lunchtime cell phone use, we are forced to break the rules or ask to use the bathroom while really making a call. Either way the rules are broken. Should students be forced to be involved in the black market of cell phone use?

On the flip side, as students, we should understand that the school administration had to make some improvement on the rules to stop cell phone

use, since it was undoubtedly a distraction to students as well as to teachers. Everyone at school should be given a fair chance to achieve, and if a student is texting a friend for answers, that equality is no longer present. This is not fair to those that put effort into their studies.

Before the current cell phone policy was enacted, teachers were forced to take up the roles of baby-sitters, to keep in check our inappropriate tendency to break school rules. This is not what teachers should be spend-

ing their time on. Teachers should be teaching without distractions, and as students we should be learning without distractions too.

As responsible and mature young people, we should prove to the administration that the policy is not working and instead give way to the former policy by being productive in class and only using our phones on our own time (during break and lunch). By doing so we can only hope the administration will see the light and throw out the new policy.

PHOTOpinions COMPILED BY KAMRY ZHANG

The Olympian is a student publication of the Journalism Class, Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2006 Editor-In-Chief................................................................Flora Tsang City Editors................................................................Trini McGeogh Mari Robinson News Editor.........................................................................Gray Bae Opinion Editor....................................................................Ellen Yau Feature Editor...............................................................Kamry Zhang Sports Editor................................................................Jasmine Nand Copy Editors...............................................................Kyle Friedrich Dawn Berden Photo Editor....................................................Saritha Kosarussavadi Systems Manager................................................................Gray Bae Business Managers...................................................Michelle Matsui Candace Wong Staff Writers: Malena Bell, Tim Buhlig, Julianne Burnette, Sophiana Carrell, Becky Chao, Christina Cross, Hayden Folks, Kevin Hanley, Hillary Johnson, Amber Kury, Gary Lambiase, Esther Lee, Stephanie Lombardo, Laura Mitchell, Ariel Navarro, Chris Qian, Sholeh Salimi, Alexandra Shiluk, Ingrid Wong, Terry Xiao Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Finals are going to take place after Winter Break again. Do you like this new change?

“I like last year's schedule because we spent time with our families instead of studying.” – Amanda Chouinard, freshman

“I dislike the new schedule because now we are forced to study for the finals during a break” – Chet Wehe, sophomore

“Although not having the anxiety of finals during break is a want, having the luxury of two weeks to study is key to the attainment of a good score.”

– Hamed Noorulhuda, senior

“Last year's schedule meant no homework, projects or essays were assigned. It was a real vacation. But this year we're going to get [all those assignments]. It's horrible.”

– Cynthia Ashton, junior

Vegetarianism sounds like a fad to me. The idea of not eating meat has become twisted over the years.

Nowadays, we have people who are “kind of” vegetarians.

They won’t eat any meat - except chicken. Or maybe they’ll say that all they’ll eat is fish. But seriously, if someone continues to eat any type of animal, they’re not vegetarians.

Except for religious regulations or strict health diets, I don’t see any point to eating only veggies.

Don’t get me wrong - I love my broccoli and carrots but we’ve been blessed with so much good food in this life.

Why shouldn’t we enjoy it?

Some people say that it’s to protest the horrid conditions of the animals being killed. If you stop eating beef, do you think the meat companies will decide to give better conditions to the cows?

Sorry, you’re not that important.

By the way, your body doesn’t like vegetarianism very much either. Unless you’re careful with your diet (and it’s very easy not to be careful), being a vegetarian can be quite dangerous.

Without meat, your body doesn’t get vitamin B12, which is necessary. Protein is also another concern. Tofu and lots of beans are good, but unless you eat a lot of it, your body still needs more.

Most vegetarian experts recommend that you eat an avocado a day. Do you?

To be blunt, don’t be a vegetarian unless you are incredibly dedicated to it.

Personally, I wonder - why would anyone want to put their own bodies at risk like that?

No matter what, in the end, humans are more important than animals. Period. I'd rather have a healthy life than campaign for a cause that most likely won't even change as a result of my campaigning.

Don’t be a vegetarian just because it’s a cool thing to do. And if you still insist on only eating vegetables, make sure that you do your research. I’ll even recommend you a book: Being Vegetarian for Dummies.

Sex gets too much attention

By Kevin Hanley Staff Writer

On Feb. 1, 2004, Americans everywhere were shocked, outraged and appalled. Was it because of the casualties of the war in Iraq? Was it because the murder rate in America is one of the highest in Western civilization? No. It was because of a nipple.

During the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake shocked America when Timberlake accidentally revealed Jackson’s nipple for a few seconds.

Immediately a cry for decency was heard around the country.

Politicians and watchdog groups were up in arms. Censorship increased in media and everybody was extremely careful not to offend anyone.

I could not believe how backward America’s priorities are.

Violent murders, torture, brutality, and gore galore are rampant in TV, movies, video games, and every other form of media, and people were outraged over a woman’s nipple being exposed for a few seconds.

How could people be so shocked about the slightest thing involving the human body and be so lackadaisical about violence?

Sex is a necessary part of reproduction; almost every adult in the world has or will have sex at some time in his or her life.

That means that they have seen a nipple. But if a person commits a murder, he or she is hunted by the police and punished for the crime.

Ask anybody which is worse, having sex or killing someone, and he or she will almost always say murder. So why are people so worried about sex in the media?

Here’s another example: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

A game that has attracted contro-

versy for allowing and encouraging the player to murder innocent people, participate in gang wars, steal cars, solicit prostitutes, and generally engage in immoral and illegal activities.

While many people protested the game, soon there would come a straw that would break the camels back: a sexual mini-game discov-

“First degree

murder, aok...doing a drive-by, fine and dandy, consensual sex between two adults, call the National Guard!

”

ered within the game. Controversy exploded. The game’s ESRB rating was changed from “mature” to “adults only” and pulled from the shelves of many stores.

So let me get this straight. First degree murder, a-ok, soliciting a prostitute, then slitting her throat, no problem, doing a drive by, fine and dandy, but consensual sex between two consenting adults, call the National Guard! What a joke.

America’s priorities on censorship are definitely backward. Ask yourself this: If you were a parent, would you rather find out that your child has been having sex or committing murders?

I rest my case.

Demeaning shirts disobey dress code

By Malena Bell Staff Writer

“Things to do: 1.)Your sister.

2.)Your mom,” I read on a boy’s shirt as I headed for my seat at the start of third period.

Sitting down, I saw the boy proudly display his shirt to the boy sitting next to him. Both of them seemed to find the derogatory message highly amusing.

I find the message highly offensive. Not only is this shirt immature and insulting, but it is also against the dress code.

The school dress code states, “Wearing offensive, suggestive clothing is prohibited on campus.

These items include sexually explicit/suggestive clothing.”

The shirt this boy was wearing clearly broke this rule.

As I thought about it, I wondered why his second period teacher had not disciplined him. Then, as time

began to pass, I wondered why my third period teacher was not disciplining him.

The lack of punishment for breaking this rule angered, but did not surprise me.

Nearly every day, I see students on campus wearing clothing that breaks this rule. Students seem to find this crude sense of humor amusing.

In a time when the school is strictly enforcing the dress code rules that prohibit girls from displaying too much skin, I would expect them to also enforce the rules that prohibit students from displaying these vulgar messages.

However, every day students get away with wearing derogatory clothing.

If I choose to wear a tank top with spaghetti straps, I will most likely be sent to the office to change. However, if the boy next

to me chooses to wear a Hooters shirt and a Playboy necklace, he will probably not be reprimanded.

Which one is more offensive?

Clothing that bares an inch more of shoulder skin or clothing advertising businesses that use scantily clad, large breasted women to sell their products?

I find it disturbing not only that students wear things like this, but that the school is not making a serious attempt to stop them.

The administration should make a committed effort to reprimand students who wear offensive clothing to school.

However, many students believe that I should just ignore these obscene clothes and be quiet about this issue. Perhaps they are right.

Maybe I should obey the shirt I saw a boy wearing in the hall the other day.

It read, “You’re cute. Just don’t open your mouth.”

Students still segregated

By Hillary Johnson Staff Writer

It has finally happened. Our society is ethnically diverse and we live together as one.

That’s what we’ve always wanted, and now it exists at last... or perhaps not.

There are so many ways in which our society today is segregated. Small, subtle ways that not very many people are aware of.

Everyday at lunch I go and sit with my friends, who, in majority, are of the same race as I am. I look over 50 feet away and I see a mirror image of myself and my friends, except for the tiny fact that they have different color of skin than us.

“Why is this?” I wonder to myself. Is there something in our subconscious that wants to keep

the world in little compartments according to race?

I know personally that I am not racist, I love the unity that is today, but something tells me we have not yet overcome the fear of difference.

A while ago I was on a bus with my friend. It was a boring ride so I took a look around at the other people traveling with me. I saw a man with a baby, a woman with a cane, and a variety of other people.

But something stood out to me.

My friend and I were the only white people on the bus. And for some reason all the details about the people I was looking at, the baby, the cane, it faded away, and all I saw was color.

Yes, our society has come so far from where we’ve been. But is that really enough?

We have the Black Student

Union, Asian Student Union, and many other clubs at our school promoting pride for one’s ethnicity, but are these perhaps counter-productive? If we are so focused on unity, then why are we so divided? There’s nothing wrong with being proud of who you are, but why should your race define who you are?

There are too many questions to be answered, too many thoughts to be completed.

We must keep in mind that we will never fully achieve unity in our culture unless we first look at the people, and not the shell they lay within.

We must make an effort to become one, no matter what we may look like.

If we can accomplish this, we will have achieved the most beautiful thing of all: friendship.

The Thumb-o-Meter

Senior Sunrise It was the first get-together for the class of 2007 at 6:45 AM, and the only bright side was the free donuts. But it was far from bright as there was no sunshine to be seen.

Although this event is a senior activity meant to bring the seniors together on the first day of their last year together, there was nothing to unite the senior class.

*~ * ~*

Link Crew Freshmen Orientation Starting high school can definitely be a traumatic experience, but not to fear, Link Crew was

here. Link Crew members dedicated four days to help the freshmen get acquainted to the start of high school life by initiating fun activities and doling out tips to the Trojan path of success.

*~ * ~*

Celebration Cupcakes Passing out cupcakes does not seem to relate to the 50th anniversary of our school, but who doesn’t like free food?

The scrumptious cupcakes leadership students spent all night

baking brought smiles to even the grouchiest of all. Some lucky students even got a free cake. The only thing better would have been seconds, but students were grateful for the one they ate.

*~ * ~*

Club Day Club Day was a lot more organized this year than last year. Every club received its own table. Leadership advisor Linda Little stopped the event a few minutes before lunch ended, giving enough time for club members to clean up and leaving no one late to class. It would have been better if Club Day was held

on a Tuesday instead, so students who did not have an eighth period could have participated.

*~ * ~*

Welcome Back Assembly Although the assembly was not a smash hit, The Olympian thinks that it was a huge improvement from last year’s assembly. ASB President Garrett Gerstenberger and Vice President Michael Elias did not have cars to drive down the track, but their comical and entertaining dance number greatly impressed the audience. The “get hyphy” activity was not a success

in that most students might have been too embarrassed to dance in front of everyone, but it was all in good cheer.

*~ * ~*

Welcome Back Dance The annual Welcome Back Dance was a success with fun, good music, and no fights. There were a few people who got into verbal conflicts but fortunately refrained from using violence. The music was an improvement from last year’s and the dance provided a cheap form of entertainment for students to let loose a little after the initial backto-school hangover.

CVHS celebrates bicentennial birthday

By Ellen Yau Opinion Editor

Among significant news is the new smoking area for students on Mabel Ave., the upcoming Slave Days and the new Megaphone Club’s first meeting.

Now you may be drawing a blank on the latter three and wondering if you fainted or skipped school that day and missed out on recent announcements, but you didn’t miss anything unless you attended CVHS 50 years ago.

Yes, our dear school has reached the golden years. This year is our school’s big five-oh birthday.

In celebration of CVHS’ 50th Anniversary, the Leadership class presented cupcakes to students throughout both periods of lunch Sept. 8, decorated the cafeteria with enlargements of past yearbook images for the Welcome Back dance.

They also have plans in the making to invite former Homecoming kings and queens to the Homecoming dance of 2006.

Although we are still located at Santa Maria Avenue, many other things have changed over the short course of 50 years.

Besides the queen of the Homecoming court, we used to have another queen called the Sports Queen. Candidates for the title would be nominated by male athletes.

In this day and age, we see lots of people sporting the varsity jacket, but in the fifties only the highlydeserved athletes had the privilege of wearing a varsity jacket with an image of an unanimated Trojan.

Actually, back then the school’s mascot was not the Trojan. During the past half a century the school went through a mascot change: from a Spartan to the Trojan we use now.

Something we are very familiar with is the difference of style.

We may whine and banter about the dress code policy, but in the fifties the school administration would have a heart attack if their students were wearing what we wear these days.

Girls almost never wore pants to school and instead turned to dresses or skirts. Popular skirts were reversible and pleated. Since girls weren’t allowed to show bare legs, girls wore nylons. Skirts and dresses above the knee or even

Danity Kane Review

photos provided by past cvhs yearbooks

Clockwise from top left: Walkway between 200 and 300 halls, students cheer on football field, walkway between 100 and 200 halls, students congregate in the patio or courtyard. mid-knee were considered radical outfits. Guys wore a lot of Ivy League sweaters.

Through the changes of good and bad and through the differences and similarities we share

with the pioneer students of CVHS we share the most important thing with past students.

We have gone through high school, the best four years of our lives at this beloved school, which

will forever and for always be our school.

May we, as students and administration, thrive alongside CVHS. Happy 50th Anniversary Castro Valley High!

abilities.

This new band, named Danity Kane after the anime heroine created by Dawn, also shot the third season of “Making the Band,” in which the members showed the hard work and drama surrounding the music industry.

their strong vocal talent and passion for music.

With Diddy as the creator of their band, Danity Kane was able to partner up with various performers and producers getting opportunities that new bands only dream of.

This band is made up of five strong lead singers, unlike other bands, making it an unusual band. In certain songs, different individuals seem to take the lead over others, which in this band would seem unjust.

However, the band mates find a way to harmonize nicely and come together in the 16 tracks of their new CD. Each song is written and produced by a different famous music producer, which helps to give the CD a wide range of sounds that appeal to every mood.

Some songs are catchy and make you want to get up and dance such as “One Shot” or “Press Pause.”

Others you can’t help but sing along to unconsciously, like “Hold Me Down” and “Show Stopper,” while some are nicely mellowed for when you feel more like relaxing, such as “Ride For You.” The CD is reminiscent of the famous girl band Destiny’s Child but steers clear from cliché songs like those from the Spice Girls.

All in all, this is one of the rare CDs that you might consider actually buying rather than getting a copy from your friend or off the computer.

Plummer plans Danity Kane’s first album to polish school

By Michelle Matsu Business Manager

pressed by the amount of dedication from the students and staff.”

Copy Editor and Staff Writer “I was looking for a school that Marcie Plummer is the new As- had an energetic student body. I sistant Principal of the freshman was looking for an environment that was different from the one house this year.

She will also be working with I had been working in for many years,” Plummer said.

PE students and athletes.

Plummer has an exciting new Plummer has a long history of plan for teaching a reEnglish. vamped Besides athletic teaching program English, a n d Plummer hopes has been that evplaying eryone the piano will betsince she ter unwas seven derstand years old. athletic H e r and acachildhood demic dream was s t a n to become Ellen Yau / Opinion Editor dards. a Motown Assistant Principal Marcie Plummer takes time off from S h e singer.

By Kyle Friedrich & Kevin Hanley

her busy schedule to smile for the camera.

She has worked at Windsor Locks Middle School, Diablo Valley College, and San Ramon Valley High.

Additionally, Plummer was the newspaper advisor at San Ramon Valley.

Plummer was one of the WASC representatives that came to the school last year, and she was “im-

also would like to implement an online math program for students who are struggling.

“I hope by the time WASC comes back that we will see a movement toward technological advancement, so students and parents can access grades online, and teachers can access attendance online,” she said.

Anyone who’s ever watched MTV should know the show “Making the Band” by now and the “super band,” Danity Kane, which was created through the show.

Danity Kane has recently released their remarkable first selftitled CD, which has topped charts and sold out in stores nationwide.

“Making the Band,” hosted and produced by Sean Combs, a.k.a. P. Diddy, was made for aspiring female singers to compete for a place in Diddy’s “super band.” The first season ended in controversy after no band was made. The girls then had to return for a second season, joined by another group of girls, to compete once again for a spot in the band.

In the second season, Diddy chose his band after making them work through a series of challenges including running five miles to test their endurance, learning a series of dance routines, performing them for him flawlessly, and splitting the girls into two separate bands to compete at a Backstreet Boys concert.

All this hard work paid off when, at the end of the season, a band was finally made. This band consisted of Aubrey, Aundrea, Wanita a.k.a.

D. Woods, Shannon, and Dawn, who all were considered the best all around performers with exceptional singing and dancing

“ The CD is

reminiscent of the famous girl band Destiny’s Child but steers clear from cliche songs...

”

They came out with their selftitled CD in early August and their album has been one of the top selling CDs since. Their first single “Show Stopper” has become an instant hit on the radio and on television through their first music video.

The CD is filled with a wide variety of songs, blending hip-hop, pop, and R&B, all showcasing

Spanish teacher Jessica WrightCrichlow is a TV-holic. She has five tattoos and wants to learn Italian, French, German, Chinese, Swahili before she dies. She wants to spend a summer traveling to every country in Asia.

Spanish teacher Gigi McLeod loves sports. She likes watching women’s soccer on television and is a huge fan of the Minnesota Vikings.

English teacher Amanda Staab came to CVHS from Oakland Technical High School. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, reading, knitting and going hiking.

Math teacher John Lovato enjoys playing tennis. A friend introduced him to the game after college. His friend, injured at the time, still beat Lavato.

Since then, he has continued to practice and enjoy tennis.

Matt Rainwater does more than just teach U.S. History; he represents it by being part Cherokee Indian. His favorite thing to do is runthrough the Redwood Forest in the Oakland Hills.

Social studies teacher John Green enjoys going out to dinner with his wife in his spare time and going to the library to see all the cool new books that are on the shelves,.

P.E. teacher Terry Felix has been dancing since she was three years old. She also dances in a professional tap dance company.

Felix is fulfilling one of her life’s dreams by being a teacher.

Counselor Ninah Asuncion has a degree from UCSD in political science and communications, but then decided her true passion was in education. As a result, she went to Cal State East Bay and got her Master’s in Educational Psychology.

This year is Ed Blom’s first year teaching math at CVHS; however, it is not his first year with the school. He’s been the girls golf team coach for seven years and boys golf team coach for five years.

Ashley Green teaches environment science and biology.

She would love to travel the world someday. For Halloween, she participated in her school’s dress-up week as a nerd and a

In Susan Sutkus’ spare time, she likes both sew and bead.

Sutkus has made a variety of pieces of jewelry, including but not limited to necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Barry Bonds lover and extreme Giants fan Gary Tsoon is new to the scheduling office. Tsoon grew up in Hawaii and went to a private school.

Jully Yi, chemistry teacher, is a big extremist in tastes. She loves the color red but she dislikes consuming red things - especially red Gatorade. One dream of hers is to buy a motorcycle and ride it Suzuki-styled.

Stephan Babuljak, photography teacher, enjoys traveling and has been to almost every country in the world except those in Europe.

His guilty pleasure is eating JellO pudding snack packs without a spoon.

STARRING THE NEW STAFF

Compiled by: Flora Tsang, Gray Bae, Ellen Yau, Kamry Zhang, Malena Bell, Tim Buhlig, Julianne Burnette, Sophiana Carrell, Becky Chao, Christina Cross, Hayden Folks, Kevin Hanley, Hillary Johnson, Amber Kury, Gary Lambiase, Esther Lee, Stephanie Lombardo, Laura Mitchell, Ariel Navarro, Chris Qian, Sholeh Salimi, Alexandra Shiluk, Ingrid Wong and Terry Xiao

New math teacher, Sharaf Musa, is dedicated to his students. His love for teaching emanates as he confides his one wish: for every one of his students to graduate high school and college. His impressive talents range from Arabic calligraphy

Science teacher Elaine Gardner may seem gentle in the classroom but in her spare time, she enjoys playing rugby. She first started playing in college; she graduated from U.C. Davis and then went on to U.C. Berkeley.

Sharon Travers is an English teacher. In her free time, she likes to travel. Travers has been to Thailand, France, Italy, Australia and Norway and will be going to Italy for her next trip.

When not teaching math, Susan MacReynolds enjoys sea kayaking. One of 700 Bay Area Sea Kayaker members, MacReynolds does most of her kayaking in the San Francisco Bay or at Point Reyes.

Shannon Stice is the new vision-impaired teacher here at CVHS; part of his job is to learn Braille. He grew up in Kansas and later attended San Francisco State University

Science teacher Jana Kleczek is a dedicated mother who enjoys spending time with her child. One day, she’d like to go whitewater rafting.

Social studies teacher Don SarLori MacDonald says she loves gent has traveled around, but one showing students that math is fun. day, he hopes to go to Italy and She was got married this summer fight in the coliseum. As a teacher, and inherited a rat named Chotchi his funniest experience was when a who has become fast friends with summer school student attempted her cat, Chad. to escape through a window.

Math teacher Eric Wing rides a motorcycle and attended to three colleges. Wing’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve.

First year math teacher Donna Hensen is an artist. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, sculpting and movie editing. She taught for many in Curacao, in the Caribbean Islands.

Tammy Zalewski teaches Chemistry, Biology and Freshman Science. She attended college at San Jose State University, majoring in chemistry. She enjoys water-skiing and is incredibly dedicated to her three children.

Lauretta Guerin teaches English and is a returning member to the CVHS faculty. After 18 years spent in industry, she decided to combine her love of teaching with her love for literature. Guerin is also an avid fan of both swimming and tennis.

Chelsea Jourdenais is an Economics and Comparative Cultures & Geography teacher. She likes to ride horses. One day, she would like to see the world and learn how to speak Arabic.

P.E. teacher John Edwards graduated from CVHS in 1997.

Even then, he dreamed of being a teacher at CVHS. According to Edwards, he is “the happiest person you will ever meet in your life.” Edwards is now living his dreams out.

New home doesn’t faze Trojans Football games taking place at Chabot

By Gray Bae News Editor

Stripped from its former training grounds, the CVHS football team persevered through the adversities it faced so far this year.

“We’re adapting to the environment and even though it’s different, we’re making it the best we can be,” replied Varsity player Steven Holland.

The team currently practices on the baseball field while the football field is renovated for a new stadium.

As for the football games, they

were moved to the Chabot College football field.

Although it becomes more difficult for avid fans to watch the football games, they still support the CVHS Trojans football team.

“It’s a little inconvenient, but

“We’re adapt-

ing to the environment ...even though it’s different.

STEVEN HOLLAND Senior

”

I’ll still probably go to the games,” said senior Sam Stanwyck, who watched several of the football

games since his freshman year.

Stanwyck in fact, attended the game at Chabot between the CVHS Trojans versus the Hillsdale Knights.

In a crushing defeat, the Trojans massacred the Knights 34-0 on the first non-league season game.

Having to relocate its practices did not hinder the Trojans at all.

As the fans give their support to the Trojans, CVHS sells refreshments at the food stand provided by Chabot.

As for the ticket booth, campus patroller Sue Peppler explained that, “All the funds raised here are going to ASB.” In another non-league season game, the Trojans totally shut out the Silvercreek Raiders at the game in San Jose on Sept. 9.

The Raiders could not even touch the Trojans Friday night, with a final score of 20-0.

“We have a promising group of guys this year,” said Varsity player, senior Mitchell Levi.

Gray Bae / News Editor

Varsity Football Players huddle around Coach Nieves during the very first game of the season against the Hillsdale Knights.

Stadium construction moves graduation, homecoming

By Michelle Matsui Business Manager With the football field and track currently under construction and predicted to be complete by Aug. 15, 2007, sports teams and other important school events will now be moved to different locations around the area.

“The remodeling cost around $11 million from the Measure Bond. This money will go toards building a new allweather track with an additional lane and steeple jump, a field-turf (like Astroturf but better) football field, wood bleachers with plastic coverings that will be able to seat five thousand, new snack bars, press booth, team rooms, and parking lot and a ticket booth, all of which will be extending the architectural theme of the Performing Arts Center,” explained head cross country coach Peter Brewer.

“The idea is to have a top notch facility.”

These repairs will help improve the aesthetics of the campus after, according to Brewer, the district was embarrassed into creating funds to repair the stadium after pictures were posted of the condition of our track.

The repairs will even improve the performance of the athletes.

Football players, for example, will have a more level and consistent playing field.

Runners on track will also see an improvement in their race times thanks to the new all-weather track.

All-weather tracks help to shave a few crucial seconds off race times compared to the times they would receive off a dirt track.

They would also stay clean dur-

“The idea is

to have a top notch facility.

”

PETER BREWER Cross Country Coach

ing the rainy season. The old dirt track was inconvenient because it would soak up water and became slippery and muddy, making it nearly impossible to run without falling flat on your face.

The only drawback to these improvements is the fact that the school is unable to use the stadium for any events this school year.

“Football practice is now being held in the soccer fields. Varsity and Junior Varsity games are down at the Chabot field while freshmen games are now at Canyon,” said Assistant Principal Marcie Plummer.

STADIUM: Page 8

Senior ball vs. Badminton S e r v i n ’ i t u p One player’s opinion on the system

By Ingrid Wong Staff Writer

Senior players on the CVHS badminton team found out that their NCS tournament was scheduled on the same day as the senior prom again this year.

Both the tournament and senior prom are important events in their lives.

Last year, I was playing on the Varsity badminton team, the team had great success in HAAL, and was able to represent the league and play in the NCS badminton tournament.

Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed, but not because we had lost. In fact, it was that we won the first few games but then

had to withdraw in the middle of the tournament because several seniors had to go back to school to take pictures and attend the senior prom.

The fact was that there were seven students from our school who went to NCS but five players ended up leaving in the middle of the tournament.

The outcome resulted in a tragedy as they withdrew from the tournament. They were late having their photos taken at the school too.

Unfortunately, when I checked in the school calendar of this year, I found out that the senior prom and NCS tournament were scheduled for the same day again.

There is an obvious disregard

Golf team not allowed to drive themselves to practice

By Jasmine Nand Sports Editor

The girls golf team is forced to carpool this year after a new law was passed restricting students from driving to their sports practices.

“I don’t think it’ll affect the team but it’ll be tough to get the kids to practice. The parents will have to drive,” said coach Ed Blom.

Most of the time, the girls on the team go to the Metropolitan Golf Course in Oakland to practice, which is about a 20 minutes drive.

“Although the parents complain, they’ve been very supportive,”

said Blom.

However most of the time they practice at Willow Park here in Castro Valley on Redwood, which is 5 minutes away. Even though carpooling makes things more difficult, the girls get to practice on time. If the girls drive to practice themselves then it is possible they won’t make it on time.

“A lot of girls have been complaining on the team, since I can’t drive it can’t affect me although I think it’s dumb that we can’t drive ourselves,” explained sophomore Lisa Kim. The school, however, is not providing any type of help, in terms of rides, for the situation.

“If we have a school team we should be able to get transportation,” said Blom.

This causing the team a few hardships, however, the team thanks the parents for their help and support throughjo “We will just have to work with it,” said Blom.

for the players on the badminton team on the part of CVHS. There is an alternative and solution to the problem: the school should change the date of senior prom so that senior prom would not be on the same day as the NCS badminton tournament.

Although it might be a bit difficult for the school to change the arrangement for this year, they might want to have this new arrangement starting next year.

They could bring honor to the school by finishing the entire tournament with good sportsmanship and be able to attend the prom.

On the flip side, players should have a strong commitment to the badminton team, as it is actually part of sportsmanship. If players know that they are going to leave for senior prom, they should not go to the NCS and give chances to other players to participate in the NCS. If this conflict is going to repeat in future, imagine how many times the school‘s seniors will lose their chance to bring victory to the school in the NCS badminton tournament.

Candace Wong / Business Manager

Senior Jodi Tam serves up the tennis ball as she gets herself ready for yet another powerful serve.

Bands bust it out

Healthier alternatives, deli sandwiches are coming to cafeteria LUNCH: Page 1 The deli sandwiches sold in the cafeteria this school year are a new addition to the menu.

The cafeteria hopes that the students will stay on campus and purchase food at school.

“The delis around Castro Valley sell sandwiches for $5.50 and the one at school is cheap, and saves them gas and time,” said Music.

The school’s food program is en-

tirely cost effective, meaning that it doesn’t try and make profit off of the students. The little profit they do gain goes straight to a fund that keeps the appliances running.

Soda prices, too, seem as if they have rocketed, but the school actually has nothing to do with that.

The Pepsi Company decides the prices of the soda machine drinks.

“We just try to make everyone happy,” said Music.

Old winter break and semester schedule prevail for over pilot schedule Ariel Navarro / Staff Writer

MCP blows away the audience, while rocking it out at the DECA’s annual Battle of the Bands event which took place on Sept. 27.

SEMESTER: Page 1 The biggest effect of this change back to the regular semester schedule would probably be on teachers.

“I thought it reflected reality in many different ways because most kids come back from vacation brain-dead and most teachers do, too. So, I can’t assign anything over Christmas break because it never gets done,” said track and cross country coach and English teacher Peter Brewer.

Brewer pointed out that the school semester has eighteen or nineteen weeks and if it were to work, the way to go about the situation would have been to move the start of school up to the beginning of August and then have a break at Christmas, and then have school end in late May. But that would have meant

that the high schools in the other districts would have different schedules.

The administration was afraid that it would have caused too many problems for parents with children attending different schools having different schedules from CVHS’s.

To avoid having to deal with that kind of conflict the administration decided to go back to the original schedule.

It would have also bothered a lot of teachers who didn’t want to come back early August.

“It wouldn’t have bothered me because I never leave I’m here in the afternoon during the summer anyways because of summer running…it’s something that we tried and we liked it but teachers got overruled. Teachers frequently get overruled. Teachers don’t have a whole lot of say in the workings of how things go around school,” said Brewer.