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15
perspectives
Temporary locker rooms plagued with problems
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entertainment
sports
centerspread
Swordid affairs: Sharp students practice swordplay
Fabulous fashions from Monta Vista’s trendiest club
Homecoming vol
october 200521
New site consolidates teachers’ websites by Anagha Vaidhyanathan, staff writer
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t’s 4:30 pm. After a long walk home from school, junior Jina Wang collapsed into the black swivel chair beside her computer and contemplated a long day’s journey through homework. Like many other students at MVHS, Wang immediately logged into her School Loop account to see what new work was in store for her that day. Two years ago, it was MyGradeBook.com. Last year, A+ Board. Now School Loop? After the burst of the dotcom bubble in the early 21st century, many high schools have strived to make grades and homework assignments easily accessible on the web. School Loop, as MVHS’ newest test program, was installed in last August to encourage parents and students to use the internet to access grades, important announcements, and links in the comfort of their home. In the past, teachers have found it difficult to communicate with over 300 parents a year in order to answer various comments and concerns. School Loop was specifically designed to assist in this cause. “Both Cupertino and Fremont High School were already using School Loop and agreed that it made a significant difference in their grading system,” said AP Biology teacher and Leadership Director Tim Krieger. “The School Loop board and Fremont Union High School District approached Monta Vista in efforts to maintain a consistent system throughout the District.” Krieger added that the new system allowed him to post all links, grades, and homework assignments on an individual medium which significantly reduced wasting time. So far, School Loop has seemed to have served its intended purpose. Teachers find it easy to use and convenient. Students receive updated homework calendars daily via e-mail and are also informed about upcoming projects, quizzes, and tests which allow them to prepare well ahead of time. “Although the e-mails are annoying, the homework calendar is quite helpful,” said Wang. “It allows me to see the homework assignments from all my teachers who use School Loop for the entire month.”
see LOOP on page 20
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Alumnus loses life in accident by Suzie Smelyansky, staff writer
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n Friday, Oct. 14, MVHS alumnus Manuel Stahl, a graduate of the class of 2002, tragically died in a motorcycle accident on Highway 101 as he was en route to UCLA. Survived by his parents and younger brother Roman, an MVHS senior, Manuel was greatly loved by many at MVHS. “I looked at him like an older brother,” said senior Nicole Cooper, whose sister Manuel dated. Cooper explained that he became integrated into her family. “He was a really inspirational person. He was an intellect, and he was adventurous. He was always willing to try new things. He touched so many peoples’ hearts, and everyone’s just heartbroken about it.” “He treated everyone with such respect,” said Cooper recalling that even when he stopped dating her sister, he’d still come over to their house for dinner or to take her out to lunch. “He just had this charisma
when he walked in the room, very down to earth.” Manuel had a passion for sports, and was an outstanding soccer player. He participated on swim team and coach Ron Freeman remembered that he always “gave it everything he had.” Since the accident, the Stahl family has been showered with support. “I just appreciate that people are helping us, and that’s what we can be thankful for,” said Roman. Yesterday, a funeral was held in Manuel’s honor. French teacher Lise Gabet had the privilege of teaching Manuel for all four years of his high school career. She recalled a time when Manuel brought her a bouquet of flowers after he felt that he had been particularly rowdy during a class period. He continued to visit her twice a year while he was in college. “He was full of life,” said Gabet. Manuel died young at age 21, but he never regretted the way he lived his life, and this principle is something that will continue to inspire those who knew him.
State law bans soda at school
Governor Schwarzenegger committed to raising health standards by Sarah Bennett, staff writer
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egislation to ban carbonated soda from all public high school campuses was signed Sept. 15 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who claimed that it will be a step towards curing the “obesity epidemic” in California. The ban was coupled with another act putting regulations on food and one that will contribute $18 million in fresh fruit and vegetables for school breakfast programs. “We are going to terminate obesity in California once and for all,” said Schwarzenegger at Cal Expo prior to signing the bills, “health problems cost $28 billion a year. One of three children, or one of four teens overweight are at risk. This leads to major medical problems like diabetes, heart disease, sleep disorders, depression and robs our kids of a healthy childhood. It is unacceptable [and] we need to turn this ship around.” The legislations, which will start being phased in on Jul. 1, 2007, will allow only drinks with at least
Symrin Chawla | staff photographer
CARBONATED BLISS Monday Oct. 17 Senior Brian Anderson, Sophomores Kendall Lewis and Amar Chatterjee enjoyed their school-bought sodas during lunch.
50 percent fruit or vegetable juice, milk, and drinking water with little or no sweetener to be sold. There will also be regulations set on the
Symrin Chawla and Austin Cheng| Staff Photographers Such bubbly offerings will be impossible to buy in the coming years as the cafeteria will be banned by the California government from selling soda.
calorie, sugar and fat contents of all non-cafeteria food, including club and athletics fundraisers that take place while school is
in session. Its regulations will be completely mandatory by July 1,
see SODA on page 3
Graduate mastermind behind redesign Architect Erwin Lee designed updated library and locker rooms by Steffi Lau, staff writer
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hirty years ago, Erwin Lee walked the hallways of Monta Vista’s buildings as, in his own words, “average student.” Now Lee, a graduate of the class of 1975, is now making his mark on the school he once attended by designing its new buildings. Lee, architect for the library and auditorium, said, “I did all the same things that everyone else did in high school.” But when asked about his high school memories, he recalled, of all things, admiring the architecture. “One of the things I always liked about this school was the two-story buildings…how during passing
period you could see people walking around on the different levels.” The Fremont Union High School District began modernizing its five high schools’ facilities in 1998—the reason for MVHS’ new D-building, library and auditorium as well as the continuing reconstruction of the locker rooms and, in the near future, the gym, main office, ASB and cafeteria building. Lee said, “When we went to the interview for the job, it was exciting for me because it was the same high school district… I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get MV right off the bat. Another architectural team got that and we were assigned Homestead. But I guess
as fate would have it...we ended up here finishing up the rest of the projects at MV.” Lee’s company, Deems Lewis McKinley, initially designed the new library and an addition to the music building for Homestead High, before transferring their efforts to designing MVHS’ library and auditorium. Asked if any of his experiences as a student affected how he built the library, Lee laughed, “The irony is, I didn’t remember the library that well. I guess I didn’t go there that much, but coming back into it, all of a sudden, it came back to me…you know, it was always kind of
see ARCHITECT on page 20