December 2013 combined

Winter fundraisers B1

Holiday gift guide G8-9

Soccer section title

C1

Charities plan to donate to the needy

Don’t buy, give DIY gifts

Reflecting on a successful season

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 17 wISSUE 4 w THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

45-0!

Special to the Gazette/BRETT PINKNEY

Taylor Nelson, No. 5, and her teammates celebrate being the newly crowned state Div. 1 champions after a 3-1 victory against Los Alamitos.

Volleyball claims California Div. 1 championship

BY MAKENZIE BRITO

Gazette photo illustration / CAITLYN HURLEY

Despite a $1,000 reward offered by the administration, no arrests have been made in a pair of bomb threats at Granite Bay High last month.

Bomb threats unsettle GBHS campus Parents, students worry about school’s response

mbrito.gazette@gmail.com

The Granite Bay High girls’ volleyball team ended its perfect season with a state Div. 1 championship Dec. 7 against Los Alamitos in Southern California.

Before the season began, the players all had the same goal in mind.

“Falling short by just one game last year,” senior and captain Nicolette Pinkney said, “we wanted to make it one game further to the state championship game.”

The Grizzlies successfully met their goal while overall exceeding their expectations.

“From the beginning we had the state game in mind but I don’t think any of us expected to have a perfect season,” junior Brooke Hershberger said. “Having a 45-0 season would’ve been an unrealistic

BY THE goal to set.”

NUMBERS The girls’ undefeated Varsity volleyball season can statistics be attributed to the team’s Overall tight bond. wKills: 1,556 “Our team wAces: 355 chemistry is wBlocks: 190 amazing,” sewDigs: 1,000 nior and captain Taylor wServes Received: 1,692 Nelson said. wSets Played: 120 “We’re a fam(lost 6) ily and we really have State Match each other’s wKills: 55 backs.” wAces: 5 Coach Tricia wBlocks: 3 Plummer atwDigs: 54 tributes much wServes Received: 76 of their sucwSets Played: 4 cess to their trust in each SOURCE/MaxPreps other and ability to adapt to For more coverage of the different situ- girls’ volleyball state chamations on the pionship, see sports pages court.

C1 and C6.

Also, being a well-rounded team and skilled in numerous different areas of the court led to much of their success.

“We had a lot of players that we could utilize in multiple positions and were effective in all of them,” Hershberger said.

Throughout the season, the Grizzlies continuously improved with their goals in mind at all times.

“We definitely improved along the way,” Pinkney said. “Especially near the end when we were playing more difficult teams, we needed to up our game as the season progressed.”

Hershberger agrees that the team had to enhance its performance as the season went on.

“As we got to playoffs, the goal of going to state became more and more realistic and it definitely motivated all of us to put all we had out on the court,” Hershberger See CHAMPS, page A6

BY JENNA MCCARTHY

jmccarthy.gazette@gmail.com

“A bomb will go off sometime in the next week. All glory to the Illuminati.”

Sound familiar?

During the last month, Granite Bay High School was plagued with two bomb threats – the first on Nov. 7 and the second on Nov. 22. The quote above is from the first threat.

Although severe in nature, both bomb threats were consid-

ered low-level.

Sybil Healy, the GBHS assistant principal in charge of school safety, provided clarification.

“The first (bomb threat had) about five different typed notes found in the bathroom,” Healy said. “That’s still a low-level threat. A higher-level threat would mean that you saw an object – maybe some wires, or a suspicious bag … a note isn’t (a higher-level threat), but a phone call is.”

Soon after the notes were found

Is Big Brother watching?

Freedom of speech does not always apply to social media

BY ALEXA ZOGOPOULOS

azogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com

With every recent decade comes a new form of communication. In the ’90s it was pagers, in the early 2000s it was cell phones, and now it’s Twitter.

As of 2012, more than 81 percent of teen Internet users utilize social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Insta-

on Nov. 7, the students were put in shelter-in-place so the campus could be searched.

Healy explained that shelter-in-place is standard protocol when there is a lowlevel threat.

“When you have a lowerlevel threat, you use shelterin-place, which is useful, because (students) stay in the classrooms,” Healy said.

“Now, at that time, we were able to sweep the campus.”

Placer County Sheriff’s deputies were also called in to help search. Nothing was found.

The second bomb threat was considered by the ad-

Brian McNulty McNulty warns students at the begining of every year that they can get in trouble for cyber harassment

gram and Tumblr, according to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project.

But what many teen users don’t realize is that their perceived “freedom of speech” doesn’t always apply when it comes to online.

“We tell all the students at the class meetSee ONLINE, page A6

We have multiple access points. We have Feist Park, which I’m ready to shut down … but we have to have an exit and an entrance for emergencies.

– Sybil Healy, assistant principal ministration to be more serious.

In response, the students were moved to the secondary location,

I

inside the Gazette news Santa’s helpers recap GBHS students gave gifts to elementary school students.

A2

the stadium,” Healy said. “It is considered more serious … and the threat said ‘today’.”

However serious, Healy looked at the bomb threats from a highly logical perspective.

“Most people don’t realize it takes a lot of ammunition or firepower to blow up (a large area),” Healy said. “If

See THREAT, page A6

‘Limited open forum’ means outside groups can come in

Policy intended to avoid subjectivity of selection

BY MAKENZIE BRITO

mbrito.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School fosters a “limited open forum” policy which allows for “non-curriculum related student groups” to meet on school premises with certain restrictions to those groups.

“A school has to declare whether they are an open or closed forum,” GBHS principal Mike McGuire said. “If a school is open, they’re open to all; if a school is closed, they’re closed to all.”

This choice of policy avoids subjective selections about who is allowed access to a school campus and who isn’t.

“You aren’t going to be able to allow one organization on campus and then not allow another (organization) just because you are intolerant of them,” government teacher Jarrod Westberg said. “That’s going to be a serious issue at a public institution.”

With the “take one, take all” policy, any

You mean, there are consequences in life?

n the last few months, administration officials have been cracking down on students and facing widespread outrage from impassioned teens.

They enforced the ignored dress code and the hated senior conduct, implemented a new detention policy and are now adding those same senior-conduct rules to all grade levels.

Yet, I support the administration in all of these moves.

Yes, fellow students, feel free to kick and scream about these policies, but it is about time we had them.

We all think we are grown-ups, but sometimes we don’t act like it. So teenagers, put on your big-kid pants and take some accountability for your actions. If you don’t want the school to squelch your rights, don’t abuse them in the first place.

Clothes that aren’t work-appropriate aren’t school appropriate. If you are late for the 10th time because you just don’t care, maybe you’ll care while you waste an

the football stadium – a different protocol from the first threat.

“The second time … because it was duplicated … we checked the stadium first and then sent the kids out to

hour of your life in detention.

The admins might not always dress code the most egregious offender, and some of their rules are unfair or outdated. But that’s life.

In college and beyond, we will face harsher consequences than a wasted hour after school or wearing P.E. shorts for a few hours.

We will not be accepted to a university if we submit our application late, we will be locked out of a classroom and given a zero if we are late for a lab or test, and we will be fired for not meeting the standards of decency at our workplaces.

These policies are meant to prepare us for our future, just like the in-class essay, math test and history lecture.

Every hard lesson we learn now will prevent us from making the same mistakes in the future.

If my test score is a little lower than it should be, that’s my fault – I was watching Hallmark Channel movies all

Reflecting on the dance show This year’s dance show theme was “the Evolution of Dance.”

A4

See GROUPS, page A6

Commentary

weekend when I should have been studying.

We are still young, we are still learning, even though we think we know what we’re doing all the time.

So while the dress code, senior conduct and detention are all inconvenient, they aren’t as skahmann.gazette@gmail.com horrific as they seem.

When someone is older and wiser than us, maybe we should hear them out before immediately getting stubborn and rebellious. *** Sydney Kahmann, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-inchief.

sydney kahmann

voices On tolerance and Christianity

Religious beliefs don’t justify hate or discrimination.

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News

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Granite Bay Gazette

Thursday w December 19, 2013

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Santa’s Helpers spreads holiday cheer

laurel teague lteague.gazette@gmail.com

Epic raises and shenanigans abound

B

REAKING NEWS: New Roseville Joint Union High School District superintendent-in-waiting Ron Severson will make more than the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the governor of California when his recent raise kicks in.

So, if you see an old white guy driving a new convertible, it’s probably him. Only in Granite Bay, folks. *** WOOOOHOOOO WINTER BREAK!!!!! No more government class! *** For everyone who was bored questioning the authenticity of our second bomb threat last month, senior Michael Geraghty provided some muchneeded comic relief with his impressive 45-yard walking handstand on the football field.

On that note, assistant principal Sybil Healy said the district is buying emergency bathroom kits consisting of a bucket, kitty litter and a shower curtain for our next lockdown.

How considerate!

Meow. Hiss. *** I’ve always thought that Bailey Earhart would make the perfect Shrek.

Drama also cast Brittany Jensen as Princess Fiona and Sierra Putman as Ogress Fiona for the spring musical, Shrek.

To Sierra – I’m green with envy. *** Art teacher Amelie Rider is founding a yoga club. Email her if you’re interested in a reason to wear yoga pants. *** Senior Courtney Nash spent a total of six hours doing eight girls’ hair for Winter Ball last Saturday.

I hope that counted toward her community service requirement. *** Loco Ocho domination!

Seniors Owen McNiff, CJ Stone, Andy Moudakis, Austin Allegra, Matt Iwahiro, Spencer Palmer, Weston Holt, and Jacob Smith won Lip Sync.

Third time’s the charm, guys. *** After an 18-year career here, nurse Linda Warfield is retiring. We all wish you a happy retirement. *** Laurel Teague, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Gazette photos /KIANA OHKOVAT

Children play with gifts from seniors Alec Ladrech and Jeff Howard, left, and sophomore Maya Murphy-Cook spent time bonding over schoolwork with peers above. A child opens fuzzy slippers and Christmas Kidz Bop from her Santa’s Helper, below.

Students bring gifts to underprivileged schoolchildren

BY KIANA OHKOVAT

kohkovat.gazette@gmail.com

It’s Tuesday morning. Roughly 380 students arrive at Granite Bay High School with black garbage bags filled with gifts.

After all eight buses arrive at Lichen K-8 School, the high school students are directed to their individual classrooms to meet their buddies for the first time. *** Santa’s Helpers is an annual event organized by the GBHS Community Outreach Club, the same club that organizes the annual Mr. Grizzly event.

Santa’s Helpers began in 2000, under current assistant principal Sybil Healy, who was then teaching the Peer Helping class. One of her students had heard Oakmont High doing Santa’s Helpers, where it originated in the late 1980s under their activities director at the time, Larry Brubaker. Healy put the idea into action at GBHS. The Santa’s Helpers event gives students the opportunity to sign up to become a buddy at an underpriviledged school.

The GBHS students received an “All About Me” form that was filled out by their assigned buddy, which gave them a brief snapshot as to who their buddy is, and their holiday wish list.

With a spending range of $25-50, Santa’s Helpers try to the best of their ability to purchase gifts that their buddies want.

“The buddies usually bring them a present, but it’s not about the present, it’s more about giving them a positive holiday experience and being a good role model to the kids and just trying to have a nice day with them,” said Savannah Self, the Community

Accuracy is perhaps the most important fundamental of good journalism. It's the policy of the Gazette to correct all factual errors that are brought to our attention. Email us at: gbgazette@yahoo.com Identification Statement Granite Bay Gazette Published eight times per academic year c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

See SANTA’S HELPERS, page A5

Haiyan typhoon inspires volunteers Various clubs unite to raise money to support victims

BY GARBHITA SHAH gshah.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photos /LAUREL TEAGUE

 Members of The Water Project show, top, colored donation envelopes, and recycled donation boxes are shown, bottom.

Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippine Islands early last month.

According to media reports, 5,209 people were either dead or missing.

More than two million people were left homeless after the typhoon.

The Filipino Appreciation Club and the Water Project Club at Granite Bay High School collaborated to support relief efforts for Haiyan. Senior Anna Lim is president of the Water Project.

“Normally, the Water Project focuses on providing water around the world,” Lim said. “But a humane cause, such as (supporting the Philippines), was also a call to action for us to do something.”

Through a donation booth and sending out donation envelopes to classes for one week, the clubs collected more than $1,000.

The money was sent to the Salvation Army to help supply clothing, food,water, shelter and medicine.

“Something important to realize is that just because this happened a month ago, it doesn’t mean it’s old news,” Lim said. “People are still suffering

there, and $1,000 is just a small portion of what we can donate.”

Junior Angelica Ramos, president of the Create Club at GBHS, supports the fundraisers.

“I feel like students aren’t willing to contribute unless there is an incentive for them,” Ramos said. “That mindset needs to change, because this really affected a lot of people.”

Some individuals at Granite Bay High School have been directly affected by the natural disaster, like senior Perry Vargas, who spent the last summer in Taclaban, the main city that was affected. He went there as a member of the organization Volunteer Go Abroad, more specifically, Volunteer for Bisayans.

“When the typhoon hit, I was in disbelief that the city I was in just a few months ago was now nothing,” Vargas said.

It had been difficult to contact the people that he was connected with, but Vargas learned that the host family that he lived with lost the roof of their house, and many students that he tutored have become homeless.

“It’s going to take them a really long time to rebuild, and the funding process

needs to keep going,” Vargas said.

“People in the Philippines have told me that the U.S. has been really helpful to provide supplies, (and) I’m really excited about our efforts as a school.”

Freshman Miracle Cariaga is another student who supports the fund raisers.

She and her family spent Thanksgiving break visiting the Philippines in the aftermath of the typhoon.

“My family and I went and donated clothing and medical supplies,” Cariaga said. “After the typhoon, the conditions are really bad, and I just want more people to be aware of that.”

Although Cariago said she was proud of the efforts made and the total money collected by GBHS, the Water Project and the Filipino Appreciation Clubs are determined to continue fundraisers.

Junior Ashley Alunan, president of the Filipino Appreciation Club, said club members are hoping students will do their best to contribute.

“Even if we are not personally related to them, as Filipinos, we are really close and are concerned about their lives there in general,” Alunan said.

“We are just hoping that people will do everything they can to help them have a good Christmas now.”

‘Ask your lady’ Winter Ball ads cause controversy among students Activists persuade student government to change signs

BY TREASA HAYES

CORRECTIONS

Outreach Club’s president. “Because most of them aren’t going to get a good holiday experience…, the holidays are really hard for some kids, especially ones that come from broken homes.”

Planning the Santa’s Helpers event was time consuming, because Self and two others went to Lichen K-8 School months in advance to plan the large-scale event, organizing hundreds of elementary students with their respective GBHS buddies.

“We have to plan a lot before we even announce it ... but it’s all worth it in the end,” Self said.

The Community Outreach Club did multiple fundraisers, and received many donations for extra gifts.

Although many sign up, a handful don’t show up.

Since this is the case, the club purchases spare gifts so all students can be included.

The Community Outreach Club and Lichen also go through all the “All about Me” sheets and try to make accommodations for students who don’t celebrate Christmas.

Those students instead receive a similar “buddy” gift, and the interaction with a high school student, but do not attend the Holiday-Sing-a-Long assembly.

Third grade teacher Dave Holzkanecht has had great experiences with Santa’s Helpers, noting the positive difference it makes for the elementary students, giving them a good outlook on the holiday and something to look forward to.

“A lot of these (students’) parents don’t have the resources to give them presents, and there are some kids that don’t get any presents at all.” Holzkanecht said. “It make kids feel good about school, makes them feel successful and positive about school.”

thayes.gazette@gmail.com

+Heteronormativity: “lifestyle norms in which people fall into distinct or complementary genders, man and woman, with natural roles in life.”

Winter Ball at Granite Bay High School has always revolved around the tradition of boys asking girls, with no other alternatives.

However, there are several students at GBHS who consider themselves members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer community who said they have been taken aback by some of the Winter Ball signs and media bulletins created by students to advertise last week’s event.

“There are more than two genders,” said a transgenered senior who asked to remain anonymous, “just like there is more than two sexualities. We’re individual and different people, not easily categorized things.”

However, some students see the privileges being given to those who are part of the LGBTQ community as unfair rather than inclusive.

“To be honest, the LGBT community was not on my mind when I saw the ads,” senior Sierra Alejandrez said. “I think that the ads are directed at everyone in the school, because that’s obviously the goal student government had in mind when they put them up.”

Although student government strives to please the entire population of GBHS, some say minorities struggle with Winter Ball and its relation to gender roles.

Advertisements that promote “Guys! You are running out of time! Ask your girl to Winter Ball!” place full responsibility on boys to ask girls and have proved to be offensive to some students, according to senior IB Film producer and GBHS Gay Straight Alliance blog cowriter Alex Rocca.

“I approached ... a few people in student gov-

ernment to ask them if they could make their signs be more inclusive this year to include all students,” Rocca said, “because not only does that imply that gay students can’t go to Winter Ball, but it also implies that girls can’t ask anyone.”

Many others noticed the signs’s bias.

“We don’t even suddenly have to seem like we’re just making allowances for some group,” English teacher Jenny Padgett said, “that we’re just beginning to use vocabulary that’s more inclusive and doesn’t have a premise of assigning outdated gender roles.”

Recently, involved students have been combating the issue by creating signs and bulletins with slogans like, “It’s about time to ask that special someone to Winter Ball!”

“I don’t really participate in the events to begin with,” the anonymous senior said, “but it does feel like they’re overlooking the ideas of breaking the mold.”

The advertising has stimulated discussion centered around rights of the LGBTQ at

GBHS. “I think (these are) conversations that happen all the time,” Padgett said. “I don’t know that we’re ever (going to) have 100 percent full agreement on issues of gender, but more often than not, I think the conversation isn’t an angry, judgmental one – it’s one of interest and philosophy and changing attitudes. I think there’s an excitement underneath it.”

After the concern to support all students on campus, announcements for the event were disconnected from traditional gender roles.

Although Winter Ball ads have produced mixed responses from students, the event’s original purpose has remained unchanged.

“When students are struggling with something as serious as their sexuality,” Rocca said, “they need support. And when they feel like their school ... isn’t inclusive of how they are and who they are, it leads to an environment that’s not conducive to being safe for LGBT students or just maybe a girl who wants to ask a guy to Winter Ball.”

Thursday, December 19, 2013

News

w The Granite Bay Gazette

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‘Battle of the Sexes’ or battle of the sexists?

Event featuring gender stereotypes provokes outrage and protest from students and staff

BY HALEY BYAM

hbyam.gazette@gmail.com

Student Government’s theme for this school year, “Everyone is an essential piece,” fell under scrutiny when a controversial spirit week alienated some who felt it was inappropriate.

The “Battle of the Sexes,” a Granite Bay High School weeklong event with daily competitions, was meant to determine the “superior gender,” a notion that many students found unsettling.

“Aside from it just being wrong in general,” senior Sydney Schneider said, “I feel like it’s a really weird thing to have in a school setting. It’s bringing out a lot of negative stereotypes about both of those genders.”

The contest coincided with the days of the school week, with competitions entitled “Makeup Monday” or “Tug-o-War Thursday” leading up to Friday’s finale.

Student government’s intention was to put on a new, exciting event for the student body to participate in.

“We try to cater our events to the majority of the school,” student government’s Alexandra Karalash said. “Student government tries to put on events that the student body will enjoy.”

An attempt to unite the campus in fun games, however, split GBHS into two distinct sides, with arguments breaking out on social networking sites and in the classroom.

“I had two students who emailed me to tell me that they may not be on campus the next day,” GayStraight Alliance club advisor Jenny Padgett said.

“They were fearful of coming to school because of things that had been happening on Twitter.”

Most of the debates revolved around whether or not a Battle of the Sexes was unfair to gender minorities.

Transgender students and others do not conform to stereotypes established by the gender binary, a socially constructed separation of sex and gender into categories of masculine and feminine.

“I think (Battle of the Sexes) supported binary gender ideals,” senior Nikki Chang said, “which isn’t good, because at this point, we need to accept that it isn’t just boys and girls.”

The contest focused on the traditional views of each sex, associating the male team with sports and the females with makeup and clothes. Many felt that those who attempted to step outside of those gender roles were further marginalized.

“It’s kind of like, ‘Oh, you’re a boy and you don’t know what a halfback is? You’re not a good male,’” Chang said. “‘I’m making my team lose because I

Gazette photo illustration / LUKE CHIRBAS

 Battle of the Sexes was accused of solidifying masculine and feminine gender stereotypes.

don’t know how to cook a pie or sew an apron.’

This is telling people that they aren’t ‘good’ enough to be what they identify as.”

According to bullying.org, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students are most likely to be bullied for the refusal or inability to assume established gender roles.

Battle of the Sexes used the stereotypes that some students see as oppressive in their daily games, something that critics said could be intimidating for those who don’t “fit in.”

“As a person who advocates for human rights,” Padgett said, “and as someone who’s a part of the GSA on campus, I think what that weeklong competition establishes are some really hurtful and exclusionary activities for students whose gender identities don’t fit the norm.”

Student government leaders said that the reason they chose to present these archetypal ideas was to help students challenge them.

“The week was about breaking the stereotypes of the genders,” Karalash said, “to see if girls could, in fact, throw a football better than boys, or if boys knew more about makeup than girls – both of which did happen.”

Karalash also ensured that neither gender “had”

to wear pink or blue – they were actually encouraged to wear the color of whatever gender they supported or identified with.

Other students argued participation in school activities is never mandatory and that students can avoid the competition if it offends them.

“Of course this is uncomfortable for some students who are still trying to find themselves,” Karalash said. “Nobody is forced to participate in the event.”

Student government’s intentions were only to create an enjoyable event to entertain the student body, said senior Nick Krisa.

However, many said that whatever the motives, a competition like Battle of the Sexes was tactless.

Students who protested the event thought the contest drudged up ancient and sexist ideals.

“Battle of the Sexes is 100 years of women’s rights movements down the drain,” sophomore Rose Ellis said. “There’s no such thing as equality during that week.”

As in any debate with a controversial subject, those involved passionately defended their opinions, sometimes straying from the core issue.

“The reactions on both sides of the argument were quite extreme,” senior Aidan Naughton said,

“to the point where the whole aspect of anti-sexism wasn’t being presented in a constructive way. It was like watching extreme rights battle it out with extreme lefts – it was just unappealing.”

GBHS has held a Battle of the Sexes competition in the past, something that most students – and even some student government members – were unaware of.

“I have rather unfond memories of the event,” 2013 GBHS graduate Chris Pei.said. “Each gender was given sheets of paper with sexist, degrading things to yell at the game contestants while they played. They were things like ‘Make me dinner!’ for the guys. It was one of the most uncomfortable rallies I ever went to in my high school career, and I wasn’t too fond of rallies in the first place.”

Student government leaders said they are highly doubtful that there will be another repeat of Battle of the Sexes because of the negative reactions they received.

“All genders are equal, which doesn’t mean just boys and girls,” junior Michael Zuniga said, “which is all student government addresses. (Gender minorities) exist, and even if Battle of the Sexes only excludes a small portion of the student population, out in the real world, that’s an issue.”

Chain of burglaries affects students and community members Despite its safe image, Granite Bay is vulnerable to violation of properties

BY MEREDITH DECHERT mdechert.gazette@gmail.com

Living in an affluent suburb like Granite Bay and surrounding areas can give residents a sense that they and their possessions are safe and sound at all times, but a recent string of burglaries has prompted some locals to begin locking their doors.

“They stole my mom’s purse, all of her credit cards … and my mom’s bike at the time – one of those super-expensive racing bikes,” said CJ Stone, Granite Bay High school senior and ASB president.

On Sept. 26, Stone says, several burglars spent about an hour and a half in Stone’s neighborhood, Ebony Oaks Place in Granite Bay, checking parked cars for unlocked doors, using garage-door openers found in the cars and stealing valuables stored in the cars and garages.

“My dad’s car was unlocked,” Stone said.

“Then they saw our garage door opener was there … that’s how they got into our garage where my car and my mom’s car was. They sliced up my mom’s rag top (of her convertible) … My car was just unlocked because it was in the garage.”

According to Stone, the burglars hit 22 cars in the area that day, about 10 cars the next weekend in Sheldon in Elk Grove and attempted to burglarize Los Lagos in Granite Bay the next weekend, where a jogger reported seeing suspicious men to 911 dispatchers. The Sacramento Bee reported the men were Felipe Castro, 49, and Joshua Michael Lowe, 31, who were detained by police for possession of methamphetamines and stolen property.

“Our neighborhood’s so trusting that we leave everything unlocked,” said Jennifer Jacobs, a GBHS senior who also lives on Ebony Oaks and was affected by the burglaries. “My brother’s car was unlocked, and he had his speakers stolen, which were

really expensive.”

Stone said the burglars used his father’s power drill, stolen from his garage, to dismantle Jacobs’ brother’s sound system.

Jacobs said she was more angered than frightened by the incident.

“I was pretty (upset) that they had the audacity to do that,” she said.

Colleen Stone, CJ’s mother, said she was shaken up to find out that the door within the garage connected to the house was also unlocked during the burglary, especially after finding out the men were in possession of drugs.

“I think the hardest part – what has humbled me, I guess – is to appreciate every night, you’ve got decisions to make about making sure your house is secure,” she said. “You start to really think about what other things could potentially have happened. I don’t know that I slept very well for a couple weeks.”

GBHS dance teacher and Ebony Oaks resident Deserie Milburn also said the burglaries have increased her family’s awareness of the need to stay cautious even in a relatively low-crime area.

“It’s kind of funny, because living in

ASB UPDATE ASB makes plans for spring events The Gazette talked to senior CJ Stone and student government teacher Tamara Givens to learn about the events planned for the next semester.

Gazette: What are the upcoming ASB events for Spring semester in January?

Givens: We are doing an event called “Breaking Down the Walls” at the end of January. It is two days long, on Jan. 30-31.

It’s a lot like Point Break, but it’s a little bit different. Hopefully we’ll get about 150 students to participate each day. It will be in the gym. They will do teambuilding activities and the idea is to break down walls between social groups, cliques, boys and girls, and age groups.

Stone: We are thinking about a video game tournament, which we haven’t done in a couple of years.

Gazette: What are some upcoming ASB events for spring

Q A

NEWS briefs

that they’re going to go where they can get quality stuff. I also think we’re a bit naïve in our community.”

Sometimes, though, keeping doors locked doesn’t protect against burglary.

In November, GBHS graduate Kelsey Lynn’s car – with doors locked – was stolen from her driveway of her family’s Granite Bay home.

“We think it might have been because my grandparents took it to a smog place two weeks prior,” she said, “and we think they might have made a copy of the key or something, because they obviously knew where I lived, and they had a key.”

Lynn’s car was found several weeks later after an accident that totaled the car.

And on Dec. 12, senior Jenn Treleaven’s car was broken into outside her home on Dover Drive in Granite Bay, about half a mile from Ebony Oaks.

“It was early (in the) morning,” Treleaven said. “I got into my driver’s seat and there was glass that I was sitting on … I realized there was a rock in my passenger seat and all my cards were missing, my license was See CHAIN, page A5

Teacher runs 100 miles; superintendent to retire

&

semester later in the year?

Stone: We will have an event called Grizzly Pride week in February. It will be like Ripple Effect week, but it will focus on things that our school does really well. Each day of the week will highlight a different aspect of the school – like Day of Athletics, Day of Academics, Day of Extracurriculars, etc. There will also be a talent show and Sports-A-Rama, later on.

Granite Bay sometimes people think, ‘Oh we’re safe, because we’re in this little bubble,’” she said. “I was telling my husband, who has this big fancy guy-truck, ‘You need to lock your truck,’ and he said, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal.’”

Milburn’s husband’s truck, unlocked, was burglarized that day. She said the only things of value taken, though, were credit cards, which the couple immediately canceled.

“I think it’s a good lesson for my husband,” she said.

Colleen Stone said the Placer County Sheriff’s Department was responsive and compassionate in its response to the burglaries and communications with those victimized. “(The police officers) were so cute,” she said, “because they said, ‘We will catch these guys, Colleen.’ And a few weeks later they did.”

Despite the detention of the men, burglaries have continued to happen in Granite Bay. Colleen Stone said she believes thieves see the areas a prime target.

“I think that we all live in a very affluent community,” she said. “It makes sense

Gazette photo /LAUREL TEAGUE

Student government teacher Tamara Givens plans for the several spirit rallies for the coming year.

Gazette: How successful has your theme been this semesabout the theme again. Part of ter? what we do at the retreat is talk about where we are now and what Givens: It’s been good. I think we want to do next term. We’ll people know the theme. We see how we’ll rejuvenate things haven’t really kept going with and what we do for spring at that the Ripple Effect reminders as point. we wanted to, but we have a plan for next year. At the (ASB –Compiled by Kate Petterson winter) retreat, we will talk

On Nov. 11 Granite Bay High School physical education teacher Angie Pozzi crossed the finish line of the 100-mile Rio Del Lago race. Pozzi’s time of 23 hours, 40 minutes and 18 seconds earned her a second place finish among all female competitors amongst many from the western United States. The race began at Beal’s Point in Folsom and followed the North Fork of the American river, crossing the American River Canyon to reach Cool and coming all the way back to Horseshoe Bar in Loomis. “(Running) is what I do for fun,” Pozzi said. “I get to run with people who are my friends and see a lot of beautiful scenery.” *** Last month, Roseville Joint Union High School District superintendent Tony Monetti announced he will retire at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. He has occupied the position for 14 years. *** The Gazette won its fifth national Pacemaker award at the fall national high school journalism convention in Boston in November.

The Gazette was one of 31 winners from across the United States recognized for scholastic journalism excellence by the National Scholastic Press Association, including seven from California and three from the greater Sacramento/Stockton region. Since its founding in 1998, the Gazette has been a Pacemaker finalist nine times.

The Gazette finished in second place in the Best of Show contest at the Boston convention, and four students – seniors Parker Burman, Jonah Poczobutt, Kevin Best and Thomas Taylor – received individual awards in the

Gazette photo / GRACE MOORE

 Physical education teacher Angie Pozzi ran a new 100-mile race, earning a second place title.

national write-off contests.

Earlier in the fall, the Gazette received its fifth George H. Gallup Award for scholastic journalism excellence from the national Quill and Scroll Society, and it was named the first-place Best of the West publication at the state high school journalism convention in October in Sacramento. Seniors Caitlyn Hurley, Kenzie Brito and Sydney Kahmann won individual awards in the state write-off competition.

“These awards are a testament to the tremendous efforts of students in the journalism program at Granite Bay High,” adviser Karl Grubaugh said. “It really has been a remarkable run for the students, and for the newspaper.”

Compiled by Jonah Poczobutt

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GBHS student government pulls switch-a-rama Near-collision of Homecoming, Mr. Grizzly leads to Sports-ARama and Lip Sync swapping

BY MARISA THIAS

mthias.gazette@gmail.com

Many Granite Bay High students who like to get involved in schoolwide activities have noticed a change in the calendar of events this year.

Sports-A-Rama is an after-school rally-style event held once a year featuring games and competitions Gazette photo /LUKE CHIRBAS between the four classes for spirit points. Loco Ocho, made up of seniors CJ Stone, Spencer As opposed to in past years, Sports-APalmer, Weston Holt, Austin Allegra, Will Greenwood, Rama is scheduled in early March in the spring term and Lip Sync, which is a Matt Iwahiro, Andy Moudakis and Owen McNiff took competition between groups of students first place in this years’ Lip Sync, even though they did not have as much time to prepare as in previous where they dance and lip sync songs for a cash prize, happened in the fall. years because of Lip Sync being moved to the fall

Tamara Givens, the Student Government teacher at GBHS said that due to homecoming being so late in the football season, it would have been difficult to make Sports-A-Rama as good as it has been in the past.

With these two events in the fall, Sports-A-Rama would have been only a few weeks after Homecoming, which would not have made for a good event or turn out since many students would be exhausted from the previous weeks of events and would not have as much time as they usually need to plan a large, time-consuming event such as Sports-A-Rama.

ASB President CJ Stone’s Lip Sync group, Loco Ocho, took first place.

Winter dance show hits big with new theme about ‘The Evolution of Dance’

However, Stone said they were a little rushed preparing this year because of its placement in the fall.

“The previous two years we got into a habit of when we were training and practicing for lip sync but this year it came up a little too fast,” said Andy Moudakis, Loco Ocho member.

The group also had to practice outside like it had in previous years, but since Lip Sync was in the fall this year, weather was a negative factor.

“It affected practicing because not a lot of people have an indoor space that is as big as the stage,” said Austin Allegra, a member of Loco Ocho. “We had to go outside and the weather ended up being an issue sometimes and we even had to cancel a few practices because of the poor weather certain days.”

However, many of the GBHS students are looking forward to having Sports-A-Rama in the spring this year, as it was a few years ago.

“Sports-A-Rama was always in the

spring and homecoming was always in the fall because those were the two main ways to earn spirit points,” Givens said.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that Sports-A-Rama was moved to the fall term and although it being in the fall is normal for current GBHS students who don’t know otherwise, Givens is glad to put it back to the spring.

“I like it because when you do homecoming and Sports-A-Rama in the fall, since they’re both worth 1,500 spirit points, spirit points are decided

by December which doesn’t make for a very exciting spring term,” Givens said.

Moudakis hopes that by Sports-A-Rama, students will be more comfortable with their class since they will have already been in school for more than half a year.

“I am really looking forward to see how Sports-A-Rama goes this year,” Givens said. “Floats is a great class competition and now we will have something like that in the spring as well.”

Performances showcase classes’ talents

BY GARBHITA SHAH gshah.gazette@gmail.com

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the week of Dec.2, the dance program at Granite Bay High presented its winter dance show, entitled “The Evolution of Dance.”

The theme of the show portrayed the differences in dance styles through past decades, traveling from the 1920s to modern day.

The first and second nights had about threefourths of a full audience, and the last night was a sold-out show.

The production included students from the beginning and advanced classes. Both are instructed by teacher Deserie Milburn.

The dance curriculum at GBHS focuses on a variety of dance styles – ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical, contemporary, partner dancing and musical theater.

Following its theme, the winter dance show incorporated all styles.

“The show had a really good mix of styles to follow its theme,” said Molly Graves, a junior and advanced dance student.

Graves performed in various lyrical, contemporary and hip-hop sequences. She said the highlight of the show for her was the opportunity she was given to express herself.

“As a dancer, I love having people find out I’m a dancer after seeing me in the show,” Graves said.

Also bringing in its talents to the stage was the Dance and Hip-Hop Culture Club, which was invited to perform by Milburn.

Senior David Jin, a member of the club, performed in a break -dance sequence.

“Individually, as a club, our performance had higher expectations since we are not a part of the dance class,” Jin said. “We were really expected to contribute to the hip-hop portion of the show.”

Like the dance classes, the club started preparing from the beginning of the school year.

Throughout the semester, the classes and the club separately trained to altogether compile about 40 dance pieces for the show.

Sophomore Mathew Smith is a beginning dance student and enjoyed his first dance show experience.

“As a team, we put in a lot of effort,” Smith said. “We really want to entertain the audience and make the show look nice.”

The class faced certain expected challenges as students trained for the show. One was the minor injury of sophomore Kendall Lilley.

Just three weeks before the show, Lilley was practicing a turn on a mat without shoes on. Her toe got caught between a set of mats and broke.

“I wasn’t able to practice for a whole week,” Lilley said. “I had less time to learn my dance and get ready for the performance.”

Lilley said that a dancer’s commitment to perform is as important, as the show’s success

As a team, we put in a lot of effort ... We really want to entertain the audience and make the show look nice – Matthew Smith, beginning dance student

depends on it.

From Milburn’s perspective, another difficulty is working with individual students that struggle with certain styles.

“For beginning dance, having your body move to a different style is hard,” Milburn said. “Many (students) become overwhelmed with having to remember the count, the beat and the sequence altogether.”

In the end, Milburn loves seeing the dances perfected and the show becomes the platform where excellence is showcased.

“I’ve learned so much over the years,” said Milburn, who has taught dance classes at GBHS Gazette photos /LUKE CHIRBAS for 15 years now. “As an educator, I love seeing the growth and am always looking for what I can Juniors Cameron Dayton and Sophie Evans performed improve in my following shows.” together in a very well-received partner dance

All three dance classes took part in this semester’s dance show, which featured dance styles from many different decades of the 20th century, including ‘20s-style dances with full flapper gear.

Bringing a guest to Winter Ball can add plenty of extra stress Between planning groups, meeting guest-bid requirements, students face challenges

BY MARISA THIAS

mthias.gazette@gmail.com

Winter Ball is a stressful time for many Granite Bay High School students. In particular, making plans and getting a group can be especially difficult for those students who are planning on taking someone who does not attend GBHS. Not only does the usual tradition of guys asking girls no longer apply some times, but asking someone from another school requires getting a guest bid, which can be a difficult process.

Senior Courtney Nash is in a relationship with GBHS graduate Matt Fisher. Nash likes the tradition that guys ask the girls to dances because she enjoyed getting asked in the past, but since her boyfriend no longer attends GBHS, she had to be the one to ask him this year if she wanted to attend.

“Since my boyfriend is older, he was expecting me to want him to go with him, but he was not expecting me to ask him, especially in such an outgoing way,” Nash said.

Nash surprisingly enjoyed using her creativity and thought it was fun to take on the role of asking her boyfriend.

Although Nash had fun asking Fisher, it was stressful for her to make plans and get Fisher involved in the planning without him attending school.

Because of the requirements for getting a guest bid and its additional cost of $5, Nash and Fisher ended up deciding to not attend the actual dance.

“The guest bids are a hassle and they cost more money, which was actually a deciding factor that me and my boyfriend would skip the dance this year,” Nash said.

Senior Lauren Bonham also brought a date to Winter Ball who does not attend the school. Unlike Nash,

however, Bonham never got a chance since he no longer attends the school. to ask graduate Jason Sandretti VanWalleghem looked forward to because he beat her to it. bringing her boyfriend and was not as Bonham was planning on asking The guest bids are stressed out about the guest bid and Sandretti when she visited him in his ticket since he offered to pay a hassle and they getting Santa Barbara, but once she arrived, for the tickets. he asked her, so she never got to go cost money, which “The only thing I had to worry through with her plan. about was getting us in a good group was a deciding “It’s fun bringing someone who with all of my friends, and once that doesn’t go to GBHS and he’s factor that me and happened, everything just fell into definitely someone I (was) excited my boyfriend would place,” VanWalleghem said. to go with, of course,” Bonham said.

Hubbard was also excited to come back “The hassle is that although I have skip the dance this for a night and see some of his younger activities and I get to purchase my friends again and spend one more year year ticket for $12, I have to buy his for at Winter Ball.

– Courtney Nash, the full $15 and pay $5 for a guest “I was just looking forward to senior bid, which is unfortunate.” being able to be there with her for Alex VanWalleghem, a senior who her last Winter Ball,” Hubbard said. is in a relationship with graduate “I think Winter Ball is a really fun part Chet Hubbard, asked him to Winter of the year and it shouldn’t matter who Ball as well. Although it was known by each of them you ask or what you do that night,” VanWalleghem said. that they would be going together, VanWalleghem “As long as you have fun with whoever you take, none wanted to surprise her boyfriend and ask him herself of that stressful stuff should be that important”

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SANTA’S HELPERS: Students spend time with underprivileged children Continued from page A2

the high school and elementary students.

“We don’t want kids comparing gifts,” Legarda said. “We’re really trying to teach grace, especially like if maybe their buddy didn’t come.”

And for those who did have a buddy and did receive

a gift, to be appreciative of their buddies’ effort, especially if the gift wasn’t exactly what they were hoping for. Lichen stresses this to their students, to also be aware of the high schoolers’ point of view.

“You don’t want (them) to hurt their feelings,” Legarda said.

Healy agrees, emphasizing that the focus of Santa’s

CHAIN: Numerous local thefts occur

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Continued from page A3 missing, my debit card was missing and then my backpack was also missing.”

Treleaven said the first thing she did after finding her car broken into was call her friend, Jacobs. She couldn’t believe that another burglary could happen in the area after the series that affected Jacobs.

“Jenn and CJ’s houses are literally right around the corner from me … so obviously it’s that area being targeted,” Treleaven said.

Treleaven said she wants to get an alarm system for her car and is looking into different ways to protect herself and her property. “(The break-in) makes me feel really unsafe even in a safe neighborhood and that anything can happen,” she said. “We’re not actually shielded from the outside world even though we’re in Granite Bay.” Those whose property was burglarized seem to agree that increasing precautions is important.

“I think ... as citizens,” Colleen Stone said, “if we all kind of do our part and make sure doors are locked and light up your front yard, make sure everything’s locked, make it inconvenient for them to hit your house, we can protect ourselves.”

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Helper’s shouldn’t be materialistic, but more about the bonding that occurs between the buddies.

Oakmont High School has gotten rid of the gifts altogether.

“I think now, because it’s so difficult, the century, the types of things going on, the economy, the best thing is not so much the focus on gifts, but spending time

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with the younger people,” Healy said. “Maybe just bringing, doing crafts in the classroom, that’s what Oakmont does that now, (they) don’t gifts (they) do crafts, activities for the students, ” Healy said. *** After many hugs, pictures and good-byes, Santa’s Helpers reload buses and return to GBHS for lunch.

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THREAT: Bomb scares bring up safety concerns for students, parents, staff Continued from page A1

you watch what goes on in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, etc., they take truckloads. It is serious, but that’s the difference.”

Fortunately, both bomb threats were hoaxes. They were possibly pranks, dares, or malicious schemes – but, nevertheless, they had far-reaching repercussions.

Many students, parents and faculty members were taken aback.

Shelley Plank, mother of sophomore Megan Plank, was flustered by both bomb threats.

Plank said she thought the students should have been evacuated.

“It seemed odd that in the first threat they were in the classroom – there was no evacuation plan,” Plank said. “That (shelter-in-

place) piece was puzzling to me. That part was (most) unsettling.”

In addition, Plank said she feels a bit of uncertainty after the bomb threats.

“It takes your breath away because you’re hoping for the best,” Plank said. “You hear (bomb threats are) so common and you know the odds are that a kid is playing a prank, but you always go to the bad place.

You just never want it to be the one that’s not a hoax.”

Lori Carson, mother of freshman Katie Carson, was unsettled as well.

“I think this was a situation that they were ill-prepared for...” Carson said. “I think this was a learning curve.”

Like Plank, Carson said the students should have been evacuated from the GBHS campus.

“I didn’t understand if there was a bomb on the campus why they would not get them off the campus,” Carson said.

Junior Sona Jeswani admitted she was “frustrated” with the bomb threats and how they were handled.

“I thought the (shelter-in-place) was kind of unorganized,” Jeswani said.

In response, the GBHS administration is making several changes to increase campus safety.

Healy has attended multiple trainings and seminars on school safety and hopes to bring that knowledge to GBHS, and on Dec. 2, a two-hour safety training was held for all GBHS teachers.

“We have a lot of work to do on our side,” Healy said.

Healy has also been looking into GBHS

“access points” – places where anyone can come onto campus.

“We have multiple access points,” Healy said. “We have Feist Park, which I’m ready to shut down … but we have to have an exit and an entrance for emergencies.”

Healy is also in the process of creating in-class bathrooms.

“A true lockdown means you can’t go anywhere,” Healy said. “There are actually kits you can get ... with a shower curtain ... and a paint barrel (that) you fill with kitty litter. I need to get kits in the classrooms.”

Furthermore, campus monitors Yolanda Gliko and Jason Ott have been given more responsibilities in the weeks following the bomb threats.

“We check the restrooms more,” Ott said.

“We’re more detailed when we’re walking

GROUPS: Organizations must get OK to visit campus Continued from page A1

organization is allowed on the GBHS campus if it goes through the process of getting approved by administration, is not recruiting for a cause and is not causing school disruptions.

“If you work with a group of kids in a positive outside organization, and you want to come on campus … and fellowship with your own kids and you’re not proselytizing,” McGuire said, “we see that as very positive support, and we’re comfortable with that.”

Although GBHS has a fairly liberal policy regarding groups on campus, there have only been three organizations with a regular presence at the school.

“There’s Campus Life, (another) group affiliated with the Catholic Church and occasionally, maybe once or twice a year, the military will come,” McGuire said.

The military rarely comes on campus partly because of the administration’s reluctance to allow access with the increased inclination to recruit students.

“There are a lot of schools that go the route of being a closed system because they don’t want to deal with the recruiters on their campus,” Westberg said. “Military recruiters get a lot of grief because the belief is that kids are being convinced to join the military on a high school campus.”

The idea of recruiting on campus raises the issue of parents not being present to monitor their children in those situations, Westberg said.

With the exception of the military, the only groups present are faith-based organizations.

“I don’t know who else would come other than faith-based groups, to be honest,” McGuire said.

The most consistent organization on the GBHS campus is Campus Life, a Christian-based group not affiliated with a specific church.

This organization is here on Mondays during lunch

through … basically, just being more active.”

Gliko said she primarily focuses on who leaves and comes on campus.

Regardless of precautions taken after the bomb threats, junior Jacqueline Gordon was still unsettled.

She said being on the brink of an unsafe situation safety gave her a harsh dose of reality.

“I think we get really caught up in the fact that this is Granite Bay,” Gordon said.

“We forget that bad things can happen anywhere including here in the bubble.

“While I never truly thought the threat was legit, it’s still really eye-opening and a little freaky that someone would do something like that, even as a joke.”

and hosts breakfast on campus at 7:30 a.m. on collaboration days.

“When we’re on campus, we try to walk around and find students that we know to check in on how they’re doing, remind them of upcoming events and hang out,” said local director of Campus Life, Rob Maxey.

Campus Life has around 200 to 250 students who take part in the program throughout the different events and activities, Maxey said.

“We make sure that we’re connecting with the faculty so they know that we support them first and foremost,” said Paul Scholz, Granite Bay High School’s Campus Life director.

Gazette photo illustration /CAITLYN HURLEY In addition to staff and school wGBHS has a “limited open forum” policy that allows groups that have been vetted and approved to come on campus. support, Campus Life aims to Padgett said. the “limited open forum” policy at GBHS, but Mctend to the students as well.

Padgett said organizations like PFLAG would bring Guire said the policy is firmly in place.

“We try to be a resource and create an environment different views to GBHS, benefitting many students Padgett, however, said a variety of on-campus perwhere everyone feels welcome,” Maxey said. and faculty. spectives is vital.

In part because of Campus Life’s presence at GBHS, Padgett said she was once going to have a profes“It’s important to have varying views and different there has been some desire for additional groups, and sor from Sierra College, who was also a member of group platforms within a campus, so it’s pretty disapmore of a variety groups, on the campus.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesgians and Gays the Rainbow Alliance, Sierra College’s equivalent to pointing that we currently, and have never, had, that is a national organization, that also has local represen- Granite Bay’s GSA, come on campus to speak, but here,” Padgett said.

History teacher Brandon Dell’Orto agreed that vatation, that strives to “advance equality and societal the administration didn’t allow it because they had riety and differing opinions are key. acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender not vetted him.

Regarding this incident Padgett said: “There’s no “One of our jobs is to provide students the possibilpeople through ... support, education and advocacy,” great conspiracy going on, there’s just some sloppiity of seeing the world beyond the bubble that they’re according to its website. ness (in the policy) and there’s enough that makes us raised in,” Dell’Orto said. “We have to be able to give “As one of the advisers of the Gay Straight Alliance equal opportunity in the political realm.” (club, I wanted to get a stronger representation of remember that we have to be vigilant.”

For some, incidents like this raise questions about (PFLAG) around our campus,” Englis teacher Jenny

ONLINE: Your parents may not see what you post, but the NSA does.

Continued from page A1

ings at the beginning of the year, and it’s in the student handbook … that what you post online is available forever, and if something is serious and (the school) is needed, we will get involved,” said Brian McNulty, Granite Bay High School assistant principal.

Public school students can face serious consequences – including expulsion – for issues such as online harassment or cyber terrorism, even if what was posted was not meant to be taken seriously.

The Roseville Joint Union High School District does not have a specific policy of what students in the district can and cannot be punished for posting, nor does it currently have a department devoted to tracking cyber actions of district students, unlike some other districts.

“We (RJUHSD) don’t have cyber police on the district … But the other people that are watching is Placer County itself,” McNulty said.

Junior Dominic Barrecco is one of many students who learned that a private account does not guarantee

freedom to say what you wish – the hard way.

“I decided to tweet about a bomb threat (on campus), which was probably not the smartest decision,” Barrecco said. “I was not involved, but by tweeting about it, I got directly involved … (the school and police) took it very seriously and took all precautions, like going through my phone.”

For Barrecco, an innocent tweet designed to be a joke turned into an interrogation.

While Barrecco knew beforehand that the school can legally punish students for what they say online, not all students realize that even what is posted on a private account is public in the eyes of the law.

“There’s a point in when you walk onto this campus, you lose certain rights,” said Jill McKinney, who teaches social psychology and International Baccalaureate History of the Americas at GBHS. But even after the walk across the stage to grab that high school diploma, there are still people looking through your social media accounts.

Within the last five years, businesses ranging from major corporations to small businesses have used so-

cial media searching as a way to deem whether or not a job applicant is desirable.

Though not every employer engages in cyber searching, the number of those who do is growing, and even non-businesses are doing it.

“I have a good friend who is highly ranked in the Fire Department, and he and the department absolutely screen everyone who wants to join the team,” McKinney said. “They will mention photos of you going clubbing that they found on your Facebook in the interview.”

For John Adair, who is a community manager at Network Community Management in Roseville, using social media as a means of reviewing applicants is seen as a huge benefit.

“As an employer, I feel obligated to look at someone’s social media profiles if they applied for a job,” Adair said. “It’s a fantastic way to make sure that they truly are up to your standards.”

When looking at Facebook or Twitter profiles of applicants, Adair looks to see if the person has photos of them partying, made negative posts about any past job

CHAMPS: Girls’ volleyball brings home another state championship title for GBHS Continued from page A1

said.

Once they had secured a spot in the state championship match against Los Alamitos, everyone was extremely calm and relaxed according to Plummer.

The team as a whole was very cool and collected, with only a select few players anxious during warmups, their nerves settling before the game began.

The game had a thrilling atmosphere and was filled with excitement.

“They had about 500 fans, while we only had about 30 in the Tribe, but we matched them pretty well when we were cheering,” said Maggie Bell, a sophomore who at-

tended the game. “It was a super-intense environment.”

The Grizzlies ended up on the winning end of a 25-22, 14-25, 25-19, 25-17 match to claim their first-ever state title.

The players were amazed with their accomplishment.

“Honestly, its indescribable,” Pinkney said. “It’s amazing that we completely fulfilled our main goal and totally exceeded all our expectations.”

Many members of the team didn’t fully realize their achievement until it completely sank in.

“At first it was surreal that we won and to be totally honest it didn’t hit me until the next day,” Nelson said. “I woke up the next

and if they are well-spoken, even in 140 characters or less.

“You look for a certain level of maturity,” Adair said. “If I’m hiring an office worker and I see poor grammar in a tweet they made, like using the wrong form of ‘their,’ that is concerning.”

Because new technology means new means of communication, it also means new ways of validating an applicant’s legitimacy rather than relying only on listed references, Adair said.

“We used to only learn about you on paper, so now it’s just another way we can see what kind of person we might be hiring,” he said.

While teenagers are often singled-out for being the only people who make inappropriate posts online, it’s often the adults who are new to the technology as well.

“I don’t think it’s just limited to teenagers and college students,” McKinney said. “I think even adults are putting way too much out there for others to see.”

Happy Holidays, from The Gazette

morning and said, ‘Holy s---, we’re state champions.’ ” With five seniors on the team, there will be a considerable number of players who will not be returning next year.

“Having a perfect season and winning state was an unbelievable way to end my volleyball career with GBHS,” said Nelson, who was named the state Gatorade Player of the Year last week.

As for next season, the volleyball team is up for the challenge.

“I know we will face different challenges with a new group of girls,” Plummer said, “It is hard to say what to expect until we get them together on the court.”

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Editors-in-Chief: Caitlyn Hurley Sydney Kahmann Kiana Okhovat Alexa Zogopoulos News Editors: Savitri Asokan Grace Moore Voices Editors: Haley Byam Austin Pink Lifestyle Editors: Meredith Dechert Neha Kompella Willow Wood Green Screen Editors: Austin Alcaine Tamren Johnk Jonah Poczobutt Myles Slattery Colleen Vivaldi Sports Editors: Parker Burman Kevin Burns Zack Zolmer Social Media Editor: Kiana Okhovat Online Editors: Caitlyn Hurley Akash Khosla Illustrators: Austin Alcaine Thomas Taylor Brian Zhuang Photographers: Kennedy Bell Luke Chirbas Laurel Teague Marisa Thias Staff Writers: Makenzie Brito Mary-Frances Hansen Treasa Hayes Jenna McCarthy Steven Nielsen Troy Pawlak Katherine Petterson Garbhita Shah Epsa Sharma Paul Zeiss

Adviser: Karl Grubaugh

The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School.

Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Granite Bay High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body.

Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Education Code 48907.

Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer.

Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a case-by-case basis.

The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

Send Letters to the Editor to: gbgazette@yahoo.com Identification Statement Granite Bay Gazette Published eight times per academic year c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

December 19, 2013

Just because I am a Christian...

GAZETTE The Granite Bay

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746

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Religion doesn’t always precede prejudice despite modern stereotypes

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’ve been called a “Jesus Commentary freak,” and I’m OK with it.

I’ve been called “annoyingly religious” and “excessively dedicated” and I’m fine with it.

However, there is one thing that I’m not OK with – the student body of Granite Bay High School and the population in general assuming that I am close-minded and ignorant just because that I am a Christian.

In social pyschology class a couple weeks ago, the topic of my mom being remarried thayes.gazette@gmail.com came up in a conversation with someone I was talking with, and before I said anything, their response was: “Well, your mom can’t be remarried community. because you’re a Christian.”

Although I might not agree with their lifestyle I didn’t show any emotion, and I just accepted their completely, I am still called to love. I am not going to response. Inside, I was so frustrated that what people thought of Christianity was based solely on do’s and don’ts judge a human being solely based on their religious views, sexual preferences or political opinions. rather than what I actually believe.

Christians in modern society are considered to be haters Because I’m a Christian? Just because of this label, I’m of sin and judgmental of those around them because they condemned to judgment of how I act and schemas of how don’t carry the same morals or beliefs.

I think?

However, I consider myself an open-minded person.

Contrary to popular belief. I am in control of my Being “excessively dedicated” to what I believe doesn’t own mind, and I can decide for myself my opinion on have anything to do with my ability to rationalize societal controversial issues of the day, issues and agree or disagree with others.

The rights of the LGBTQ community is an issue that, I am tired of being associated with Christians who are because of my faith, I have been strongly questioned creating a negative reputation for the religion they practice. on. I believe that gays, lesbians and the like should have The LGBTQ community should be able to live their lives individual rights to marry those whom they love. in whatever way they choose -- who am I to say that their I am a strong advocate of the separation of church and lifestyle is wrong? state, as well, and my religion doesn’t cloud my ability I’ve been told by some friends and occasionally family to make a rational decision on what I believe despite that choosing to allow the lesbians, gays, transgenders and pre-conceived and poorly developed ideas of what the the like to have equal rights is immoral – that the Bible stereotypical Christian supports. determines our beliefs in terms of state laws.

Of course, there are several Christians that fit into such While the Bible may govern my personal life, I am an artificial label at GBHS. But, I don’t want to be linked not in the position to decide for every other citizen how with them. I want to be recognized as my own person. they should be living. As a Christian, I believe I am here Being labeled because of my religion allows other to love to all people, regardless of who they are or their people to think that I have specific viewpoints on certain stereotypical label. issues, especially the rights and privileges of the LGBTQ

treasa hayes

Gazette illustration/CAITLYN HURLEY

To the Christians reading this, some of you probably disagree with me. Some of you might say that I should protest against the LGBTQ community’s rights in regards to my faith, because that’s what Christianity has been pegged for doing.

However, I disagree. I want to stand apart from Christians who are close-minded and stand to the side, condemning others’ beliefs and never once stepping out in love.

Just as my Christianity doesn’t make me close-minded and ignorant, another person’s sexuality doesn’t make them evil or promiscuous.

The categorization of Christians as uninformed and biased is challenging to branch away from when so many students at this school preach to love Jesus and yet judge their peers for simply having different lifestyles than their own.

Instead of shaming other students for their beliefs, I’d rather accept them for who they are and love them. I might get criticized by other religious students and considered liberal, but this is what I have confidence in.

I hope that I’m working toward becoming my own person – separated from the classic stereotypes of Christianity and rooted in individual perspective. *** Treasa Hayes, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer

American pride remains overbearing my car when I live Why students in a country where minorities are unfairly LGBTQ shouldn’t subscribe targeted, people can’t even in most states, to blind patriotism marry women and men are

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xcuse me, but why do you hate America?”

Never did I think someone would ever ask me this question in my life.

But when I attended a political action youth conference during the summer before my senior year, this was a question someone asked me after I explained why I don’t believe that America is the greatest nation on earth.

Now, I know some of you die-hard patriots might have gasped after reading that last sentence and are already dismissing me as a leftist radical who wants to destroy the nation–but I assure you, that’s not true. (OK, maybe the “leftist radical” part is, but that’s it.)

The age-old statement about knowing that you truly love someone only once you’re willing to admit their flaws describes my feelings toward the nation.

I’m not going to have a “Proud to be an American” bumper sticker on

Commentary

for all, when that’s so obviously false?

I do realize that just the fact that I’m writing this without fear of being exiled shows that we do have a lot more freedom than many still paid unequally, other nations. I don’t deny CEOs make more than that the First Amendment 350 times as much as should be a major source of their underpaid workers, pride for all Americans. millions of citizens However, it would be don’t have healtho care ignorant to say that we and we ignore our drone are the only country with azogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com killings of innocent freedom. Perhaps that was foreign civilians by the case in the 1780s, but excusing them as being “a necessary now, in the 21st century, the World Press evil.”

Freedom Index, which measures freedom I hate to rain on anyone’s blind, of speech, ranks the United States as No. nationalistic parade, but these facts are 32. not worthy of pride. Rather, they are We are the 32nd freest country in the shameful. world–yay?

We live in a country where instead of Speaking of rankings, according to innovating and admitting that our laws, other world rankings, we’re not looking political system and culture need fixing, so hot. we hide behind “WE’RE NO.1!” buttons As of 2013, our rankings are as follows: and put our hands to our hearts as we No. 26 in math, No. 20 in science, No. 17 pledge allegiance to a nation with liberty in reading, No. 26 in literacy, No. 49 in and justice for “all.” life expectancy, No. 30 in infant mortality To me, that is the dictionary-definition and No. 34 in percentage of citizens of hypocrisy. How can anyone say that living in poverty. this is the land of freedom and equality Yes, we’re a lot better off than most

alexa zogopoulos

other nations, but compared to the other “leading” nations, I think it’s safe to say that we’re not that great, either.

But instead of booking my flight to Finland and going to the place that really is No.1 (or at least cracks the top 10), I’m planning on studying national politics in the U.S. and hopefully landing a career in a federal government department.

Because, although I’m not always proud to be an American, I have hope. I have hope for improvement–but we will only get better if people start to acknowledge our problems. As Americans, we need to free our minds of the “perfect nation” mentality that was ingrained in us as children and accept that we are simply not the best country in the world (and perhaps no country is, for that matter).

I love this country enough to know that it needs to make some drastic changes, because no nation has ever stayed on top forever.

So, go ahead. Call me a zealot or call me an extremist. Because I’ve heard both, and neither will convince me that I should wave an American flag with pride.

Because if you are a true American, you should not settle for mediocrity. *** Alexa Zogopoulos, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief

High schools shouldn’t monitor social media

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n the digital age, when A suburban Los we’re increasingly Angles school judged as much by our district has taken offline actions as by our that very initiaThe voice of the online profiles, privacy has tive and is now Granite Bay become a source of concern looking at the Gazette for many citizens. public postings on With the controversy over social media by the National Security Admiddle and high ministration’s ubiquitous online monischool students, searching for possible toring and with government proposals violence, bullying, truancy and other like the “Stop Online Piracy Act”, “areas of concern.” many have likened the new policies to The district in Glendale is paying a form of unjust governmental stalking. $40,500 to a firm to monitor and report But the NSA is only one of many on 14,000 middle and high school stugroups that might pose a risk to Ameri- dents’ posts on Twitter, Facebook and can citizens’ digital freedom, particuother social media for one year. larly students. Students who care about We, at the Granite Bay Gazette, their online freedom and confidentiality disapprove of any public school policy should also be asking tough questions that seeks to monitor and report on its about new monitoring initiatives that student’s online activity. schools might begin taking.

Some proponents of school-organized

EDITORIAL

surveillance claim that this policy ensures that “safety of the students” is the sole motive involved.

Although it is possible that some illegal activity could be reported and even prevented, we must ask ourselves at what cost is marginal safety worth?

If we are willing to trade our liberty to merely calm our growing neurosis about adolescent crime, then what does that say about how we value freedom?

But even in light of the faltering protection of privacy, companies, the government and now school administrators have shown no resistance to the breach of their customers, their students, or their citizens’ well being. Rather, they have taken part in the assault.

And despite supporters of online monitoring making claims that social media posts are considered public and “free for any to see,” let us clear the

confusion.

The post was public to the chosen friends and followers of that person’s page. If school’s want to actively search for behavior they find unsavory, then in our opinion they are invading the personal lives of their students and thus breaching their privacy.

Actively playing big brother is an unncecessary measure that schools should not be taking. Do students sometimes post inappopriate content?

Of course. Do they sometimes post material that’s offensive to the school?

Perhaps.

But one thing should be clear. Even though these posts and conversations can sometimes be considered public, and although we live in a world where our personal information is shared more freely, we must reject the idea that privacy is an outmoded value.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Voices A10

The Granite Bay Gazette

Heard on the BAY What’s the NO. 1 thing on your christmas list and why?

“Money, definitely money so I can buy lemon soda in the club.”

freshman

g in f o s s r e r a d c s aus s o

Cr

e

birth and then assigned specific “roles” and stereotypes in these two categories, they are given limits and put in boxes.

These boxes limit us, because now it is considered “abnormal” to deviate from this box, to explore facets of your being that exist beyond predetermined societal fences, and if someone is abnormal, well, that’s just weird.

If someone won’t stay in their place, why should wo weeks ago, I wore makeup and feminine they be treated the same as everyone else? Why do attire to school. Many of you saw me, because they deserve equal rights and equal pay, why should I was watching your faces and they were priceless. they be exempt from ridicule if they’re weird?

Many of you looked like you’d just been told When someone refuses to conform to these boxes, your significant other was pregnant, only instead punishment ensues. There’s tauntof pregnancy, it was some queer guest Commentary ing, ridiculing, labeling, simple boy walking around campus with grade school stuff, and then there’s lipstick on. beating, denial of civil rights and So why did I do it? I have a few lower pay, all because someone hopes for the future of this school dared to explore beyond their and society as a whole, seeing as sphere. This is the problem of steyou will be creating both of these. reotypes and roles.

As many of you likely figured Power structures stand on pillars out, my little gender-bending stunt of conformity. If the majority of coincided with Battle of the Sexes the people will stay in their boxes, week, and specifically “Pink and perform their duties in their sphere Blue Day.” This was, in fact, comand turn a blind eye to the rampant pletely intentional. oppression all around them, nothI became a transvestite for a day ing changes and the status quo is brycerossf@gmail.com to protest the ideas perpetuated maintained. by such a thing as “Battle of the Cures for diseases go undiscovSexes.” On a larger scale, I had a message to convey ered because science is no place for a woman, great to everyone who felt put in a box. art is never created because pain isn’t masculine The problems with Battle of the Sexes are the enough, and equality and justice are never achieved same ones that would come up in Battle of the because everyone was too afraid to raise their voice Races: ugly stereotypes surface, prejudice increases, above the cacophony of prejudice. one group of people are left feeling superior and the My statement was more than just gender roles – I other inferior. wanted to say that no one should be put in a box I want to clearly state that I know student governfrom birth and told what they can and cannot do. ment had everyone’s best interests in mind, however Self-expression should not be censored by a purithis was not a good way to foster friendly competitanical moral code; students should not be held by tion. the rusty chains of the past.

When students are segregated into two distinct catI was afraid – very afraid – to take this stance, egories, separating them by something determined at

T

bryce ross-flanagan

Derek Byam “A Canon Rebel T3 because cameras are nifty.”

sophomore

believe me.

This was no whim.

I thought about this for days, I thought Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR about it every day since I saw that poster for Battle of the Sexes.

Even after I planned it all out and set it all up, I still laid awake in bed the night before, my thoughts restless anxieties in the dark. I tried to come up with every excuse I could to get out of this, but none made the cut.

I saw my face cut and bruised, makeup and blood dripping from my cheek. Then let my face be a canvas for their hate for all to see. I imagined the comments I’d receive, the mockery. What they say speaks volumes about themselves, not me. I tried to tell myself school is not the place for cross -dressing. Well school isn’t the place for sexism either.

Deep inside me, past all my surface fears and excuses, I knew this was the right thing to do. And I knew from a verse I memorized years ago that anyone who knows the good they ought to do and does not do it, sins. Though I’m mostly agnostic, this verse gave me comfort enough to rest for the night.

The next day surpassed all my expectations.

Thank you to everyone who gave me their support, and to everyone who refrained from causing me some sort of injury. Your responses gave me hope that I am not alone in this feeling that people do not belong in boxes, they belong together, living in full equality with each other to achieve a better world.

I hope that you all will realize the good you ought to do, and go forth into the world to fulfill it, smashing every single box along the way into a million little pieces. *** Bryce Ross-Flanagan is a senior.

Atheism is the new black

Jacob Calton “A typewriter, because I’m tired of writing all my poems in pen.”

junior

Natalie Hahn “I want a new pair of Uggs because they are so comfy.”

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Self-proclaimed atheists find their opinions and beliefs invalidated

am a practicing atheist. I don’t believe in a higher power and I don’t believe in god. No, I do not worship Satan, and no, I do not sacrifice small animals or perform séances in my family room.

I believe in the idea of coincidence, and that the idea that “everything happens for a reason” is pure insanity.

To me, the paths of our lives are determined by the choices we make and actions we take, not by someone testing us or playing with us like a puppet trying to teach us a lesson.

In the conservative culture that I am currently living in, my beliefs are not accepted in the slightest.

My neighbors go to a church comparable to Disneyland and my peers think it’s perfectly appropriate to preach their beliefs to anyone, even those who really don’t give a damn.

In school, we learn that it’s not OK to preach your religion for everyone to hear. We learn a wide variety of topics like evolution in science class or references to the Bible in works of literature.

We aren’t supposed to talk about

Commentary

caitlyn hurley churley.gazette@gmail.com

religion, but for some reason it always comes up.

When I am in class and students bring up their beliefs on religion, I bring up mine as well just to offer different points of view on a similar topic. But that doesn’t always go over too smoothly.

Sometimes when I talk about atheism in class, I fear that my teachers are going to flip over their desk and transform into some sort of Hulk character because of the enraged faces and remarks I typically receive.

Being forced to sit in a class and listen to people preach about their beliefs on divorce and gay marriage because of their religious beliefs seems unfair because everyone will listen to them, but as soon as I talk about my beliefs, people disregard what I say due to my lack of religion.

No matter what the religion, I don’t think it should be prevalent in schools at all.

This is a public school, and even though Granite Bay is a conservative community, I want to be able to go to school and express my views without getting death stares from my classmates.

Even though I go to public school, my views and beliefs cannot be publicly voiced because of preconceived ideas about the type of person that I am.

Just because I do not have the same beliefs as a majority of my community, it doesn’t mean that my views and opinions aren’t valid.

Being an Atheist doesn’t change the fact that I know what I am talking about.

I’ve been called the devil, and I’ve

been called ignorant for my beliefs, but as far as I know, I am neither.

I was raised in an incredibly religious family with an Irish Catholic father, an Episcopalian mother and grandparents who have worked at a local church since the day I was born.

I am not ignorant to the concept of religion. I can recite passages of the Bible like a professional.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be educated on the concept of religion, and I have been able to develop my own personal beliefs due to the knowledge that I have gained over the years.

When my peers bring up Exodus 20 and John 3:16, I know what they are talking about. I know what they are preaching and I understand where they are coming from because I have been there too.

So for those Jesus freaks out there that think I’m going to perish in Hell for “sins” that I have committed in my life, let’s just agree to disagree. *** Caitlyn Hurley, a senior, is a coeditor-in-chief

Comic Relief: THE GREAT PEE CRISIS Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR

–Created by

Jenna McCarthy

Gazette photo /jenna mccarthy

Gazette photo /jenna mccarthy

STUDENTS ARE KEPT IN CLASSROOMS IN CASE OF AN EXPLOSION.

MEANWHILE BLADDERS REACH MAXIMUM CAPACITY.

senior

Rachel Will Gazette photos/LAUREL TEAGUE

“A cure for cancer, because both of my parents are battling cancer again.”

staff

BOMB THREAT FOUND. APPARENTLY THE ILLUMINATI IS NOW A TERRORIST GROUP. Gazette photo /jenna mccarthy

Gazette photo /jenna mccarthy

Special to the Gazette/STEFANY GEORGIEV

Gazette photo /FIRST LAST

Damien Lawrence –Compiled by Treasa Hayes

TOO BAD THE HUMAN LITTER BOXES HADN’T BEEN INSTALLED IN CLASSES YET.

2 WEEKS LATER - SECOND BOMB THREAT FOUND.

STUDENTS KEPT TOGETHER IN STADIUM - BOMBER LIKELY AMONG THEM.

Voices A11

Thursday, December 19, 2013 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Commentary

akash khosla

Learning on your own? akhosla.gazette@gmail.com

Schools have difficulty approving alternative methods

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ost of us high school students don’t really know much beyond the normal school environment for education.

The reason is because the other opportunities for education are not nearly as glorified or advertised as the ones most high school students are enrolled in. I’m talking about none other than outside private organizations that provide academic courses of similar or better quality.

It’s speculated that the school bureaucracies aren’t approving of these other opportunities as much as the ones already provided. Maybe it’s to protect the jobs of teachers?

To avoid privatizing the education of the school in any way?

Enrolling online has its benefits, but at some schools, it’s

Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR

supported blindly without evaluating the actual benefit of taking the course and in others, it’s the backbone for the school’s success. In fact, some faculty of schools consider it unfair to enroll in an online course due to social class difference when there are free opportunities online at schools such as K12 and UC Scout.

Online courses specifically have been gaining notoriety for their ease, especially at Sierra College for Granite Bay High School students.

I’ve heard people completing courses like these in a week or less. Little do most students know, taking community college courses are sometimes inferior to Advanced Placement, especially when applying to private universities.

In a strong way, I support the

accessibility of online courses.

From personal experience, I’ve always benefited from the world of online education.

Several people would prefer to learn based on their own preferences – who wouldn’t want to learn in the comfort of their own home at their own pace taking only the time they need?

Many times though, the classroom setting proves to be more adaptive toward the student habitat. But because it is so adaptive, it adapts in such a way that some will like the style of teaching and others will not.

Online learning fixes this problem by providing a wide selection of resources that can accommodate any type of learner, whether visual or hands-on. But the pamper-

ing this gives to students that allows them to have their own way, isn’t very helpful for developing life skills, as students are far more likely to benefit from the discipline of adapting to other learning styles.

At the same time, students enrolled in online curriculums along with being involved with another public school have to face the disciplinary task of giving up time each day to continue their other education.

We only need a classroom setting until junior high school. Once high school approaches, online high schools are impressive options for children to choose.

There is a beauty that exists in online education – it is the freedom for expansion of knowledge. The classroom setting reaches out to do the same

Food fights in the cafeteria Wasting food is irresponsible when the underprivileged are starving

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side from the ceived by Commentary idiotic bomb GBHS students. threats recently Chick flicks and corny experienced at Granite high school dramas Bay High School, our portray them as massive, school is truly fortunate fun-filled, food flinging to be geographically spectacles that result in positioned in a finanthe perpetrators attending cially prosperous and a couple hours of detensafe community, where tion. administrators deal with But, in reality, the smaller, less threatening aftermath of food-fights ordeals. Ordeals that are means more than a messy much less severe than cafeteria and a few stupzeiss.gazette@gmail.com those seen in schools of dents getting in trouble. less-privileged students.

Indeed, it is a message One of these smaller, less-threatening of discourtesy sent to the administrators, issues is food fights, which although is the janitors and the rest of the GBHS far less significant than a bomb threat, staff. does more harm than is generally perI understand that students are not

paul zeiss

intentionally or directly dishonoring their school. Nevertheless, this sense of unawareness of their actions lies at the core of the issue.

Throughout my high school career, I have witnessed three food fights. And all three, as mysteriously fun and chaotic as they might be, left me with a guilty feeling inside.

I thought about the school custodians who tirelessly work to help make our school look more like a school, and less of a garbage dump.

It is an extremely offensive gesture to the custodians to throw food everywhere while they are in the process of throwing it away.

It is equivalent to intruding upon someone’s job, screwing it up and then walking away without saying an apology.

I have come to realize that it is the unawareness of the impact of students’ actions that makes the decision of initiating and participating in a food fight so

thing, but the lack of freedom may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Sometimes people don’t have the patience or capability of keeping up with the class. And other times, people find that the class is perfect, but the work is not meaningful to them.

Even free courses are available for no credit on sites like edX and Coursera. But it takes a lot of free time to complete even one of those university courses.

Codeacademy, which is one of my favorite sites, provides the most interactive courses I’ve seen, and that’s because they’re all computer scienceoriented programming courses.

With all these free options available, it makes me wonder why we don’t approve things like these to be taken for credit.

easy.

It is also easier to take part in one because of the staff’s difficulty to search and identify the participants. Thus, students asks themselves “Heck, if I’m going to get away with it, then YOLO.” Food fights are also insensitive to the impoverished and hungry people in the world.

I remember when my dad always told me at the dinner table, “Eat your food, there are people starving in Africa.” And as cliche as it may sound, his words are true.

According to the World Food Programme, 842 million people in the world do not have enough to eat. Poor nutrition causes 45 percent of deaths in children under 5, which totals 3.1 million children each year.

It is pure ignorance that causes privileged people to carelessly waist food in the midst of world hunger.

Imagine how awful a scene it would be for the starving victims of war-torn Syria and the anarchy of Ethiopia to see people insensitively wasting precious nourishment.

In Ethiopia alone, 47 percent of its

Maybe it’s the scare that too many people would take the course and take advantage with easier accessibility of cheating.

It all comes down to really the bureaucracy and their excuses because their lives are busy enough, and change would only make their lives harder.

Online courses are the future of education, but until the bureaucracy approves of them, the quality of resources increase and misapproved courses continue to give full credit, they need a bit more time to develop.

But if a student doesn’t get their desired class, there should be no reason why they could not enroll in an online course they desire for credit. *** Akash Khosla, a junior, is a Gazette online editor.

children 5 years old or younger are moderately to severely underweight. Often depleted of food due to major droughts and famines, many impoverished Ethiopian people consider a loaf of bread and glass of water to be blessings.

Now, of course food fights do not harm any hungry people. That is not the problem. The problem is the insensitive and spoiled demeanor of the actions of GBHS students and the great privilege of food that is constantly taken for granted.

And I totally get it, food fights are flatout fun. The sheer disorder during the chaotic, yet slow-motioned moments of waves of food flying through the air is a relieving feeling and a nice break from the seemingly never-ending hours in the classroom.

But the students of GBHS must realize that those few short moments of a food fight are not worth the insensitive waste of food when others suffer from the lack of it and the message of discourtesy it sends to others. *** Paul Zeiss, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.

It’s never pretentious to talk about vegetarianism cultures.

Animals are friends, not food other While my experience is one-sided, it has taught

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lmost six years ago, I decided to become vegetarian. By that time I had watched too many animal cruelty documentaries to turn back and I saw the meat on my plate not as food, but as a living, breathing creature.

Too afraid to tell my parents, I casually began slipping meat to the dog when they weren’t looking. Of course, being parents they did notice eventually.

It was a bit rocky at first – suddenly they had to make two separate meals and make sure the meat absolutely did not touch my plate.

I was lucky that my parents did accept it as something I truly believed in, and we now eat all veggie three to four nights a week. We’ve made an adventure out of exploring vegetarian entrees from

me plenty of fruitful (and veggieful) lessons.

Unconventional life choices intrigue everyone, and I have been faced by plenty of questions, the most common of which is simply “why?”

I suppose this question is unique to personal choices, as it would be rather insensitive to ask something along the lines of “why are you black” (said in an obnoxious valley girl voice). Technically, I along with my brethren of ethnicity don’t owe anyone an explanation, but that doesn’t stop me from giving my well-rehearsed spiel of “Well, I feel responsible for unnecessary violence against animals, but it is also a lot healthier for myself and the environment.”

Just this, however well thought-out and rehearsed is rarely enough of an explanation for the inquirers.

At times I wish I could say this and people would

end it with a simple “alright, cool,” as though I had just told them my favorite season is spring.

I have learned to be grateful for those who respect for my beliefs and in turn I try to respect others whose beliefs differ from my own. It can be extremely challenging, people’s beliefs can seem ignorant, ill-founded and at times just plain stupid.

I might not agree with their beliefs, but I admire their passion. So long as they have some knowledge or reason behind their beliefs, I can respect them.

Often, people won’t understand your reasoning and will challenge your principles to the very core.

A couple of snide remarks can make you doubt your beliefs.

Don’t be afraid to defend yourself, and do not apologize, but remember aggressive tendencies rarely change someone’s mind set. Likewise, people don’t want to be “converted” or preached

to. Choices are personal, not universal.

I am a vegetarian in the way that I am an older sister, daughter and student. It is part of who I am, but it does not dictate my definition. Instead it has taught me the beauty of acceptance, tolerance and respect. *** Laurel Teague, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Want your voice to be heard?

Submit a guest commentary to gbgazette@yahoo.com!

Commentary

laurel teague lteague.gazette@gmail.com

A12 Second Look

Second look

Lip-Sync

Thursday, December 19, 2013 w The Granite Bay Gazette

A night filled with Miley Cyrus, Queen and even Weird Al wGazette photosw Luke Chirbas  Junior Garrett Walker is hoisted up by fellow junior Dominic Musolino, Left, imitating Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball. Senior Brooke De Los Santos, performing their take on White and Nerdy. Performing Country music senior Chandler Dale, Far left, rocks the guitar. Senior Sam Kim, Bottom right, sings his soul out at lip sync. Performing as the ’80s senior CJ Stone.

Bottom center right, entertains the crowd. Seniors Austin Allegra and Spencer Palmer. Bottom right, reenact Bohemian Rhapsody.

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

B Section

Thursday w December 19, 2013

Commentary

neha kompella

The most charitable time of the year The Spirit of Giving: Selfish?

nkompella.gazette@gmail.com

Enough sleep is non-negotiable

W

e hear it in health class, on the radio and on TV. We read it in newspapers and health magazines.

But, for some reason, society has decided to ignore the fact that teenagers aren’t getting nearly as much sleep as they should be.

Studies show that the average teenager needs at least eight hours of sleep per night and, optimally, around nine and a half .

Sounds good, but many of students at Granite Bay High School – myself included – seem to get an average of five to six hours each night.

Of course, there’s always the simple solution: Go to sleep earlier. Then, lo and behold, you get your eight hours of sleep a night and are good to go the next morning, right?

In theory, maybe.

The reality – which, by the way, we learn in health class here at GBHS – is that many teenagers are simply unable to fall asleep until 11 p.m. or so.

Our circadian rhythm, due to the irregular hormone patterns of adolescence, have advanced about three hours.

Conclusion: We can’t just jump into bed around eight p.m. and instantly fall asleep. It simply doesn’t work that way.

So, then, let’s find the difference between the average bedtime for teenagers and the time we get up to arrive at school on time looking at least semi-presentable and speaking almost-coherently.

Let me give you a clue: It’s not an ideal number. It’s not even close.

Let’s take a look at the time that I go to sleep on a good day – about 11:30 p.m. Keep in mind, this is after doing as much homework as I can struggle through.

And the next morning I will invariably wake up exhausted to the point of numbness at about 6:00 a.m.

That puts my sleep total at six and a half hours – on a good day.

And, sadly enough, I think I’m getting more sleep than teens’ average.

In my case, the cause is academics it’s academics. For others, it’s athletics, music, drama, volunteering or just spending time with family and friends.

Whatever the case, sleep is important. Teenagers need sleep.

Our bodies are growing, our hormones constantly going haywire and our minds making new neuron connections every second of the day.

Sleep-deprivation defeats the purpose of all of these rigorous activities: Attempting to educate students whose brains are demanding rest and not performing at anywhere near full capacity is a losing battle.

We’ve got to find some way to accomodate the teenagers’ need for sleep. Whether it’s making every day start at “collaboration day” time or cutting back on time-consuming assignments and activities, something’s got to give. *** Neha Kompella, a junior, is a Lifestyle co-editor.

Gazette illustration/AKASH KHOSLA

Many food banks and charitabe organizations provide relief during the winter months and holidays in the Roseville and Sacramento area, mapped above.

Kaiser and Tommy Apostolos collaborate to fundraise for children in need

C

BY SAVITRI ASOKAN

sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

ome winter break, many local residents will anxiously await the appearance of gifts under the tree or other winter fun. But those who cannot afford gifts, or even necessities, may be left out of traditional holiday experiences.

The efforts of volunteers during the holiday season support these individuals.

The “Shop with a Doc” event, held on Saturday, Dec. 14, connects underprivileged children with physicians from the Kaiser Permanente hospital to shop for clothing. “(The children) are in need of clothes, shoes and coats during the holiday season,” said Dr. Chris Palkowski, the program organizer. (They) get to decide what clothes and shoes they would like as they shop with the Kaiser Permanente volunteers.”

The physicians donate the money that

and non-profit organizations, including allows each child to have $100 to spend at Salvation Army, KidsFirst, Placer County Kohl’s department store, Palkowski says.

Foster Care and the Boys and Girls Club.

The event was created in conjunction It feels great to give back to our comwith the Tommy Apostolos Fund, a nonmunity. The children get to decide what profit organization focusing on hosting clothes and shoes they would like as they shopping events for underprivileged chilshop with the Kaiser Permanente dren. volunteer. In addition to shopping Last year, with the children, the physicians around 100 also donate the money so that the children particiIt feels like really children have $100 to spend inside pated, and this connecting with Kohl’s department store.” year, the proThe Granite Bay High School gram expanded people. community is home to some freto include more quent volunteers. children and an – Andrew Phillips, Biology and physics teacher additional locaGBHS teacher and Andrew Phillip says he voluntion. teers often, especially during the Palkowski frequent volunteer holidays. said the children “In recent years, we’ve celare pre-selected ebrated holidays in advance so the from schools

day of the holiday itself is not stressful,” he said. “On Thanksgiving Day … I’ve gone down to San Francisco to this homeless shelter and served food.”

Phillips says he enjoys the experience of doing something different than the norm that also helps others.

“It’s really cool ... to have that feeling of connection with the less fortunate, to do something productive on that day,” he said.

“It feels like really connecting with other people.”

The holidays are known to be the time of year when charitable action is at its apex.

However, opinions differ as to whether this upward trend in volunteer activities during the holiday is, in the grand scheme, beneficial.

Some feel volunteering almost exclusively over the holidays can be selfish.

See GIVING, page B6

Winter brings increase in teen depression Seasonal affective disorder can be addressed with professional aid

BY LAUREL TEAGUE

lteague.gazette@gmail.com

With winter comes colder weather, hotter drinks and a season full of family and holidays. But, for some, winter also brings a wave of depression – often in the form of seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that reoccurs during the winter months.

“There is a huge increase in wintertime depression,” said Amanda McClintock, licensed marriage and family therapist of the Kaiser Mental Health center in Roseville.

“Between January and March or April ... (the weather) is just all dark and gloomy.”

In addition to the potential effect of the weather on mood, the holiday season can accentuate and amplify loneliness, McClintock says.

“There is a desire to have everything be perfect and wonderful during the holidays,”

she said, “which is really tough to do.”

Depression affects about 6.7 percent of American adults and 10 percent of teens, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website, yet many feel the general population has yet to truly understand all that depression entails.

“I just felt like there was nothing left to continue for,” Crystal, a local high school junior who preferred not to have her last name published. “It is still hard to talk with people, because I can’t really connect.”

Symptoms of depression include decreased energy, hopelessness, changes in eating or sleep habits, isolation and risky behaviors. In teens it commonly manifests as irritablility or anger as opposed to overt sadness, which can make it harder to identify, McClintock says.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, published by

the American Psychiatric Association, symptoms have to be consistent for at least two weeks to be recognized as indicative of a depressive disorder.

“If you’re seeing some of those symptoms of depression (in yourself or others) for an extended time and they’re not going away or they’re getting worse, it is time to have an intervention,” said Deborah Campbell, licensed marriage and family therapist of Sierra Mental Wellness in Roseville.

Campbell says, if depression is not addressed, recovery can become difficult.

“The brain can start to function and thrive off the chemicals and neurotransmitters associated with depression,” she said. “It can turn into a really hard cycle to break.”

Crystal said having depression can also be a turbulent experience with periods of emotional downturn.

Deborah Campbell Campbell is a licensed marriage and family therapist at Sierra Mental Wellness center in Roseville.

“Something can trigger (the downturn) and from there it turns into a nightmare,” Crystal said. “You’ll hear about the snow ball effect, and it’s crazy how true that actually is.”

Suicidal behaviors, talk of self harm and extreme risk-taking behaviors are more immediate signs that help is needed.

The first step to recovery is telling someone, both McClintock and Campbell agree.

Once begun, therapy does not provide

inside lifestyle How to

B2

Top Ten

B2

Student spotlight

B5

Random facts

B6

Random student

B6

TCID:BW

Finals Which classes’ finals are most difficult?

B2

Holiday Church Services Various religions provide activities during the break.

B5

Year Wrap-up Students reflect on memorable moments in 2013 at school and nationwide.

B8

See DEPRESSION page B6

B2 Lifestyle

Thursday, December 19, 2013

 The Granite Bay Gazette

How the secret of Santa was revealed

TOP

New Year’s Resolutions

How GBHS students found out the truth about Santa

BY NEHA KOMPELLA

nkompella.gazette@gmail.com

Incorporate a healthy meal plan to try and eat less processed food

Smile more! You’ll start to notice a difference in your mood

Spend more time doing charitable things, or even just one thing

Keep yourself organized, an organized person is in control

Make new friends; keep the old ones.

Spend more time away from technology. Go on an adventure!

A

s Christmas slowly draws nearer and nearer, millions of children throughout the world wait in anticipation for one of the most iconic figures of all time: Santa Claus. But for every child who steadfastly believes in the magic of Santa Claus, there is another who is quick to point out, in the most determined manner possible, that “of course Santa isn’t real!”

While there are some students who have never really believed in Santa, others didn’t know that he wasn’t real until the 5th grade.

“I never really believed in Santa Claus,” said Aditi Ganapathi, a junior at Granite Bay High School. “So for me, it was really surprising that other kids would get upset when they found out he wasn’t real.”

But for every student who never believed in a Santa Claus, there is another who has a story about how they found out that he was a figment of imagination.

“I think I was in the second grade... and I had this P.E. teacher who just yelled it in my face, ‘Santa’s not real!’ I broke down in tears in school because of it,” said Yasmin Gul, GBHS junior. “And then I went home and asked my mom, is it true? And she was like ‘Yeah, it’s true’, she didn’t try to tell me a lie or anything to make up for it.”

Although Gul was directly told that Santa wasn’t real, other students were able to piece together clues to prove that he didn’t exist.

“So when my mom wrote ‘from Santa’ on gift boxes, I would recognize her handwriting, once I was old enough to read it, of course,” said Sonia Garcha, GBHS sophomore.

“So as soon as I was able to do that, I would just act like ‘Oh my god, it’s Santa!’ just for the sake of it, because I was a kid.

But I was never (as a child) able to figure out how she got the gift!”

Another GBHS student had a similar story to Garcha’s, although her observations were made when she was much younger.

“We used to have these little elves (figurines), and I was told that when Santa came they would move,” said Nathalia Sainz, a junior at GBHS. “I totally believed this, so I bought 4 of them.

One day I woke up and I saw my mom moving them! So then, it clicked, and I was like ‘Santa Claus wasn’t real!’... and they’ve lied to me all this time!”

While students have found out about Santa in many different ways, one student found out he wasn’t real because of culture shock.

“I was about seven years old, and I was spending my vacation (December break) in India. It was Christmas Eve, and I went to bed ... and when I woke up the next morning, I was quite saddened to find out that Christmas hadn’t come,” junior Sumana Kaluvai said.

“I guess Santa didn’t come to India.”

Not just GBHS students, but even GBHS faculty members can remember instances of Santa Claus pervading their childhood.

“I myself do not quite re-

younger sister.

“She was at school, and some kids tried to tell her that there was no such thing as Santa Claus ... and she assured them that of course there was a Santa Claus, because he came to our house every year,” Lawrence said. “And when she finally found out that there was no Santa Claus, she felt that her parents had betrayed

Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR

her trust and lied to her about this vital part of her life. To this day, she threatens to tell her nieces and nephews that there’s no such thing as Santa Claus.”

Other students can relate to having a sibling be a part of his “Santa” experience.

See SANTA, page B6

GBHS toughest finals are made public

Tough teachers reveal what makes their finals test

TRY to get enough sleep.

Key word: try.

BY TROY PAWLAK

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

Take small steps towards exercising, start with 20 minutes a day

Get straight A’s

Single-handedly demolish the patriarchy and start a feminist revolution.

- Compiled by Willow Wood

HOW TO...

member (how I found out about Santa), because that was quite a long time ago,” said Biology teacher Damien Lawrence. “But I think at some point I learned from my (elder) brother and his friends.”

While Lawrence may not be able to remember how finding out that Santa didn’t exist affected himself, he does remember how it affected, his

Gazette photo illustration /LAUREL TEAGUE

Tests are an integral part of high school and a major source of stress. But it turns out preparing for some final exams at Granite Bay High School may be harder than for others.

Some students complain about the AP United States History December final, which covers material from the Jamestown time period, around 1607, to the American Civil War. “Its designed to get kids ready and practiced for the AP test they take in May,” said Brandon Dell’Orto, the class’s teacher.

The AP test has a pass rate of only 50 percent, which means that the final has to be challenging in order to prepare students, Dell’Orto says.

“The more you practice something, the better you get at it,” Dell’Orto said. “So if they have the chance to see how something is ... they do better.”

“The second reason that test is hard is because it is a cumulative final,” Dell’Orto said. “They have to prove that they learned everything, not just the last unit.”

The last part that makes the test especially difficult, according to Dell’Orto, is the time limitations put into place.

“They’re not given unlimited time and there’s a whole lot of questions, and they usually have to write an essay,” Dell’Orto said.

All of these factors combine to make the AP U.S. History final a difficult exam for students every year.

“We’ve got a study guide that is pretty comprehensive ... and practice stuff online,” Dell’Orto said.

Dell’Orto believes that if students work hard, they will be fine on the exam.

Another final that troubles students in Honors Physics.

“I think I would have to agree (that the final is hard),” teacher Steve Miller said.

Miller said he believes that if the students think it is a hard final, then it must be a hard final.

“I do what I can to help alleviate some of (the stress),” Miller said.

Miller tries to tell them what questions are on the test so that they can prepare and has let the students know that there is going to be ten free-response questions on the final which they can look up on Blackboard.

“I tell them the concept of the questions that will come up and then I give them a title to the question,” Miller said.

All the questions are difficult, but the students have also seen every question before.

The questions may come from homework or quizzes, but they have all been seen before.

“Once they see the concept and the title of the question, they should immediately ring a bell,” Miller said.

From there, they can look back at their previous work to find the problem.

“I try to give them as many resources as possible to help them out,” Miller said.

Though these finals may seem to be hard or even impossible, hard work and dedication will pay off for those students who are willing to put in the effort.

“It’s difficult with finals to say how students will do,” Miller said.

make a Coneiferous Advent Calendar

Cut out cones from green paper. Run a glue stick along one straight edge of a paper shape, then roll it into a cone. Clamp the glued edge with a clothespin until the glue dries. Make the other 23 trees.

Cut or punch out 24 (1-inch) paper circles and write the numbers one through 24 on them. Glue the circles to the trees. Add a star made of silver paper to the top of the 24 tree.

Wrap small gifts, such as candies, erasers, tiny figures, rubber bracelets and toy balls in tissue paper and place them underneath the cones.

Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

-Compiled by Tamren Johnk

 GBHS student, Ciara Heland studies for multiple classes for the upcoming finals week

Gazette photo illlustrationLAUREL

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Lifestyle B3

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBHS students share holiday religious traditions Different religions celebrate diverse winter customs ily celebrates,” Jeswani said.

Divali, always practiced on a Sunday in November, is a tradition from erry Christmas won’t be India. the only holiday greeting “It’s a huge celebration in India,” passed around this season. Jeswani said. “It’s … a tradition where During the holiday months of we pray and light fireworks at the end November and December, many of the day.” people’s lives become centered Jeswani explained that her family around Thanksgiving, Christmas, goes to a temple on Divali to pray, and New Years. but worshipping at a temple is not Stress levels often shoot through required. the roof.

In addition, Jeswani said some DiBut in the midst of this, it’s often vali traditions are similar to American forgotten that some people don’t traditions. actually celebrate these holidays.

“People go out and ask for sweets,” On the Granite Bay High School Jeswani said. “People … spend time campus, students have dramatically together and eat Indian sweets … and different religious beliefs, yielding there are lots of fireworks.” equally different holiday celebraAnd although Jeswani’s family tions. doesn’t celebrate American holidays, GBHS junior Kristen Goldman, a they still practice some traditions.

Buddhist, doesn’t celebrate tradi“My family doesn’t celebrate Christtional holidays. mas, but we still exchange gifts with “Vesak is the only (Buddhist holi- no religious affiliation, just for fun,” day I celebrate),” Goldman said. “It’s Jeswani said. a celebration on the first full moon of In contrast, sophomore Rawan May in honor of Buddha’s death.”

Khalili, celebrates only official Islamic Goldman is the only Buddhist in holidays: Eid al- Fitr and Eid al-Adha. her family. She said she celebrates “We have Eid al-Fitr, which comes Vesak privately, without her family. after the month of Ramadan, which is Goldman’s parents were raised fasting for 30 days,” Khalili said. “We Catholic and Lutheran, respectively. fast and then … when the fasting is “Since I’m the only (Buddhist) in (over), we celebrate. It’s kind of like my family, I just light candles and a feast.” read the Dharma, the teachings of In addition, Khalili explained the Buddha,” Goldman said. significance of this fasting.

Goldman said she would go to a “God does it so we can experience temple to celebrate, but the closest how the poor feel,” Khalili said. “A lot one is in San Francisco. of people around the world don’t have Like Goldman, junior Sona food, so he wants us to feel how they Jeswani, a Hindu, doesn’t celebrate feel. We fast from food and water … traditional holidays. from dusk until sunset.”

“Few of the many Hindu holidays Khalili also described the other are Holi and Divali, which my fam- Islamic holiday she celebrates, Eid

BY JENNA McCARTHY

jmccarthy.gazette@gmail.com

M

al-Adha.

“We have Eid al-Adha … where we go to the mosque and we pray, hang out, and see our friends,” Khalili said. “There’s a lot of history involved in it with prophets.”

Amanda Gordon, a junior, is a Presbyterian who attends Valley Springs Presbyterian Church.

Gordon explained that during the holidays, her church has more services to accommodate a larger congregation.

“We get a lot more people during the holidays,” Gordon said. “More than average.”

Gordon and her family celebrate traditional American holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“During the holidays, I go to church just as much as I normally do,” Gordon said. “But our church has special services with a choir (during the holidays). That’s really fun.”  This church is a representation of the type of place some students celebrate their holiday traditions

Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE

Teacher recounts his adventures visiting Finland

Damien Lawrence moved abroad to experience a new teaching environment

BY JONAH POCZOBUTT

jpoczobutt.gazette@gmail.com

For some teens, the traditional routine of spending some seven hours per day at a brick-and-mortar high school is not ideal or simply unmanageable.

Many of these students choose alternative routes – namely “independent study,” in which students work on coursework independently or semiindependently, with progress monitored by their school.

Independence High School and Adelante High School are the two campuses in the Roseville Joint Union High School District that offer independent study, according to Granite Bay High School assistant principal Brent Mattix, and public charter schools like Horizon Charter School at Roseville provide similar services.

Deborah Landis, the counselor at Independence High School, said that independent study allows students to have a more flexible schedule than does traditional high school. “(Students) meet one-on-one with (their) teacher for about an hour and a half per week,” she said. “(They) can get more help if (they) need it, but generally that’s all the students will come in.”

Landis said that each week a student is assigned an amount of homework that will take about 30 hours, on average, in order to complete about two

credits per week – the pace needed Western Association of Schools to graduate within four years. and Colleges accreditation as “It’s way more homework than the other schools in the district, you would get as an average high according to Landis, and offers school student,” Landis said, “but the same college preparatory … instead of being in class for sevclasses – though only a handful of en hours a day, you’re at home doAdvanced Placement classes and ing your homework … That’s how no International Baccalaureate we keep attendance – not physical program. Students may, however, seat time, but (whether) you do your supplement their IHS courses by homework.” taking classes at the local commuTeachers track students’ pronity colleges. gressed with an assignment sheet Landis says the filled in at the weekly meeting, school, currently Landis says, and the with about 250 school administers students and 16 Damien Lawrence during his trip with he Finland flag blowing behind him progress reports teachers, draws periodically. teens for a wide variety of reasons.

Landis says Some choose students may IHS because they adjust their pace are involved in a by working more time-consuming or less each week, activity, she said, and the time that or because they they check in with are academically teachers is flexible. advanced and “It gives students want to work at an opportunity to an accelerated create their own pace. learning structure,” “We had a Landis said. “(If) student who you have a hard was in a dance time getting up in company,” she the morning, then said. “Eventuyou can come later ally he went on in the day.” to graduate IHS has the same

from Juilliard.”

However, Landis said that many students come because of personal problems that interfere with attending traditional school.

“We’ll have students who come for health reasons,” she said. “Sometimes students have to work full time … (or) have children.”

Zara Bixby attended GBHS from her freshman to junior year before switching to IHS and graduating in 2013.

“I chose (IHS) because I was too weak to attend school because of my health,” Bixby said. “(Independent study) allowed me to do my work at home and at my own pace.”

Bixby said that she did not miss the social aspect of traditional high school, since she was able to keep in touch with friends, and preferred independent study.

“I felt the teachers there were more invested in my needs and what (was) going on in my life,” she said. “I liked that at (IHS) the teachers kept me motivated but were also understanding.”

Darian Kane, a Lincoln senior with a heavy ballet schedule who studies at Horizon Charter School Lincoln, agrees that independent study can be beneficial to students.

“I got on a regular sleeping schedule and I was able to get eight or nine hours of sleep,” she said, “which is really necessary when you have such an active activity like dance or any type of sport ... so it helped me a lot.”

Courtesy to the Gazette /Damien LawRence

un-official SAT tip Test prep book:

If you really knew me,

you would know...

I use the College Board SAT Prep book.

I think that’s a really good (prep book) because they make the test.

Studying advice: Don’t wait until the last minute. And make sure you take a full practice test because you can get a feel for the test and can see exactly how you’re doing on it.

Also, coffee is beautiful. ”

What not to do: Gazette photo /KENNEDY BELL

Jacqueline Gordon is a junior at Granite Bay High School

Don’t procrastinate. This isn’t a test that you can get going on the night before.

Start on it early because it will creep up on you.

- Compiled by Jenna McCarthy

Wyatt Coplen

If you really knew me, you would know that I’m infatuated with Miley Cyrus

Alex Stamas

If you really knew me, you would know that I haven’t been grounded since the sixth grade.

Kylie Shimada

If you really knew me, you would know that I love musicals and my favorite is Les Misérables or Wicked.

- Compiled by Mary-Frances Hansen

B4 Lifestyle

Thursday, December 19, 2013

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBHS students share plans for winter break Teenagers decide to spend time at home, travel and study

BY PAUL ZEISS

pzeiss.gazette@gmail.com

T

he classic holiday has long been portrayed as a time in which the family celebrates at home.

But now, in today’s day and age, not everyone is buying into the “there’s no place like home for the holiday’s” mentality.

There no longer exists just one way to celebrate the holidays. Instead, many students at Granite Bay High School have their own, unique preference of how to spend their time during the two week long Winter Break.

Still, some people prefer to stick with the classic holiday tradition of staying put at home.

Such is the case of GBHS senior Lauren Crandall, who will be spending her winter break enjoying her time with family and friends in town.

Crandall also looks forward to attending the annual Christmas service held at Bayside Church.

“I love being able to go to the Christmas service at Bayside with my family,” Crandall said. “We have so many traditions.”

A new plan has also become common for juniors during break, that revolves around something usually intended to be dismissed during long breaks from school; studying.

Junior Kayji Arai plans to celebrate the holidays at home, but will also prepare for what is widely considered the most important test of the year, the SAT and ACT. “I’ll be mostly hanging out with my family, but I will be using the time off from school to study for the SAT so that I can improve my test-taking skills,” Arai said.

Although he would rather spend the holiday at Lake Tahoe with friends and family, junior Maahdav Shah will also be devoting much of his time during Winter Break studying for the SAT scheduled for January, 2014.

“For the majority of the time, I’m going to be studying for the SAT,” Shah said. “Since school is not in session, I think it is important to take advantage of the extra time.”

Others, however, favor a more adventurous Winter Break.

This break, away from both home and school, appeals to many people at GBHS There are some, however, that have found a way to experience both the classic Christmas holiday at home as well as to travel.

Math teacher Darrin Pagel plans to spend the first half of his break at home for Christmas and the second in Windsor, Sonoma County with his family.

Pagel’s solution, while incorporating both the classic and adventurous aspects of Winter Break, proves to be financially wise as well.

Instead of spending money on costly plane tickets and hotels, Pagel plans to enjoy his vacation in a way that doesn’t amount to an enormous, holiday bill. “(Our family) camps, and when we camp it is much more cheaper than say flying to Hawaii,” Pagel said. “It’s also kind of nice not spend to spend more money that was already spent for Christmas gifts.”

Senior Esha Lal plans on a holiday spent traveling during the entrire Winter Break.

Lal will be vacationing with her family in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Lal also said the majority of her time spent in Jamaica will consist of exploring and escaping from the stress of school.

“I would much rather be traveling dur ing Winter Break because I am free to enjoy the vacation as opposed to stressing about my responsibilities (at school),” Lal said. “I want to see the world before I die.”

Regardless of their plans for Winter Break, GBHS students appreciate the well deserved break from school.

“Even though I’m not planning on doing much,”

 Over winter break, students travel to exciting destinations, spend time with their families and study to get ahead for the spring term.

Gazette photo/SYDNEY KAHMANN

Low Sadie’s attendance resulted in cancellation Student Government discusses potential future activities or events to replace the dance

BY KENNEDY BELL

O

kbell.gazette@gmail.com

n Nov. 15, 1937, a comic strip was published telling the story of unmarried women being given the chance to physically catch and marry bachelors on the annual Sadie Hawkins Day. Little did cartoonist Al Capp know that in less than one year, an American tradition had been formed.

Granite Bay High School being no exception, the Sadie Hawkins dance has become an annual event in the spring term. For years, the dance occurred directly after the Powder Puff football game.

“Originally, GBHS students loved having Spirit Week, Powder Puff and Sadies all combined into one big fun week,” GBHS student government adviser Tamara Givens said.

Although Sadies was considered a tradition, the low attendance numbers and mixed responses ultimately led to its cancellation.

Once attendance started to decline, Student Senate asked for campus imput.

“The two main responses were that it was too close to Junior Prom and they were tired after Powder Puff,” Givens said. “Students kept telling us in numerous ways that they didn’t want to have a Sadie’s dance, so we listened.”

The year of the final Sadie Hawkins dance had the lowest attendance out of the school dances.

“At the time, kids had really lost interest in it,” said Audrey Tate, senior class president.

“Personally, I hate not having Sadie’s,” Givens said. “I am hoping it’s a trend that will find its way back to tradition.”

Tradition has become the topic emphasizing opposition within the campus’s response towards the Sadie’s cancellation.

“While ideas of getting students together to dance and enjoy music are good, it shouldn’t have to be couched in this traditional way,” English teacher Jenny Padgett said.

Granite Bay High School senior Christi Trovato sees the dance being canceled as a chance for

College of the Month: Who: 30,541 students Where: San Diego, California Tuition and Fee Cost: $20,578

- Compiled by Marisa Thias

Academics:

• Their nickname is the Aztecs.

• SDSU is consistently ranked as one of America’s best research universities.

• SDSU is unique because they have an underground train station on campus.

• SDSU has over 80 majors to choose from with seven different colleges on campus.

Acceptance Rate: 30% U.S. News Ranking: #152

Sports:

Mascot: Monty Montezuma

San Diego State University

Fun Facts:

•President John F. Kennedy gave the graduation commencement speach at San Diego State on June 6, 1963 and he was assassinated less than six months later.

School Colors: Black, Scarlet and Gold

Since the dance’s cancelation, Student Government has attempted to replace Sadie’s with multiple activities with little success.

“Those in Student Government are very creative,” Padgett said. “I would encourage them to challenge themselves and come up with a new spring idea.”

The replacement activities’ potential was perceived differently from Gazette illustration/AUSTIN ALCAINE some of those in Student Government, however. growth in gender equality.

“We felt like the student body was telling us “The concept of heteronormativity has become they didn’t really want a dance in the spring,” said really outdated,” Trovato said, “and basing a school Givens. activity around those ideals was counterproductive In the upcoming spring semester, Sadie’s will be to Student Government’s attempts at promoting replaced with a non-dance event in hopes to be more gender equality.” inclusive. Student Government is planning to put on “It is unnecessary and insulting to promote alGranite Bay High School’s first talent show. lowing girls one chance to ask a boy to a dance,” “We simply took the low attendance as a sign Trovato said. “It only furthers the gender role expectation that we are trying to break.” to make a change and try to innovate the event to Padgett says that tradition loses its purpose and make it something the student body would be more benefit once it fails to serve the community and interested in,” said Student Government member begins to work against it.

Audrey Tate.

“When that happens, it gets harmful and exclu“I hope the concept of Sadie’s can become apsive,” she said. “Somebody is going to be left out plicable for all of the dances,” Trovato said. “Asking and marginalized, and you can’t do that in a public someone to a dance shouldn’t have to be discriminaschool.” tory.”

• The SDSU Sport Club Program consists of 18 highly -competitive sport club teams.

• The SDSU football team plays in Qualcomm, the Chargers stadium.

Gazette illustration/AUSTIN ALCAINE

Thursday, December 19, 2013

w

Lifestyle

The Granite Bay Gazette

B5

Student

Spotlight

Colin McHale

Gazette illustration/AKASH KHOSLA

 Within a few minutes of shops opening on Thanksgiving night, clothes and other products already litter the floors near the cash registers.

Student employees work on Black Friday

Thanksgiving loses precedence to shopping

BY BRIAN ZHUANG

A

bzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

s Xochitl Olson turned around she saw a disturbing scene – grown adults and their kids trying to cut others in line in a frenzied dash for discounted merchandise.

Black Friday has been an anticipated “holiday” for a majority of the population throughout the years.

And while many students look forward to this day, some have the unfortunate duty of having to work instead.

Granite Bay High School senior Xochitl Olson worked at Aerie by American Eagle on Black Friday, and though she was not a consumer, she still experienced the chaotic environment.

Olson however, was able to see the situation from a completely different perspective than the shoppers themselves.

“It was almost like an experience I would’ve checked off on a bucket list,” Olson said. “My experience wasn’t a bad one but it was more of a really great learning experience.”

With all the drama happening in her work place, she learned a great deal of customer service skills.

“It gave me a broader view on what it means to actually satisfy a customer,” Olson said.

In addition to Olson, GBHS senior Kerri O’Brien got the call to work on this eventful day for long and stuffy hours.

O’Brien was a greeter for Hollister and at as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, a huge line had already found it’s way into the shop.

During the waiting period, O’Brien was privy to many situations that may have been nonexistent on any other night.

Along with her, another worker was helping to greet customers – and he happened to be shirtless.

The reactions were varied.

“I was pretty shocked about the amount of people, mostly girls, that were groping and harassing him,” O’Brien said.

Despite the formidable length of the line, more and more people continued adding to it, causing the employees to have to help keep it under control.

“We actually had workers outside whose specific job was to keep people out of the store in order to follow safety regulations,” O’Brien said.

The lines in most of the stores were crazy and embodied a sort of chaotic feeling.

There were all types of customers, some dying to go home, and some ready to stay all night.

“Some were happy and excited to be shopping,” senior Amanda Miller said. “Others were tired and frustrated because they’d been out for a while and dealing with too many people.”

Miller had been working on Black Friday instead of shopping, and during her shift, she made an observation about the mindset of shoppers.

“I realized how much more people will buy, even though it’s only a little larger discount than normal,” Miller said.

Not all employees however, found Black Friday to be a learning experience. Others found it to be just another tiring day and work.

Senior Danielle Scribner was let down by Black Friday. She had expected an experience that would be much more noteworthy than the one that she had.

“The most memorable moment was how hard it was to find a parking spot,” Scribner said.

O’Brien had even longer hours. She worked from 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. and then from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Black Friday has caused an outburst and struggle for many students and families every year will continue to do so for years to come.

O’Brien believes that the anticipation and time invested into this “holiday” really takes away the meaning and value of Thanksgiving.

“The whole concept of Thanksgiving is to be thankful,” O’Brien said. “Yet people are missing out on that when they spend their Thanksgiving night competing for sales on material objects.”

With many stores opening before midnight, in order to inrease sales and anticipation for cheaper products, people are starting to end their “Thanksgiving” incredibly early, in order to get the best deals possible.

“Our store reached full capacity and the line outside was incredibly long,” O’Brien said. “Happy holidays, I guess.”

Junior describes positive experiences involving basketball Gazette: How are you guys adjusting to the loss of the seniors from the GBHS basketball team?

McHale: We lost a lot of talent and experience in last year’s seniors, but we have a good amount of returning players leading the way with new faces that bring something new to our team.

Gazette: How is the team looking this year?

McHale: The team is definitely looking very promising this year.

Gazette: What position do you play?

McHale: I play point guard.

Gazette: For how many years have you played basketball?

McHale: I’ve played basketball since I was six years old, so probably about ten years.

Gazette: What is your favorite basketball team in the NBA? McHale: The Sacramento Kings.

-Compiled by Mary-Frances Hansen

As the cold creeps in, students adapt their clothing Comfort becomes a necessity during chilly winter

BY MARY-FRANCES HANSEN mfhansen.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photos/ LAUREL TEAGUE

 As the colder seasons begin, GBHS female students begin to dress in more comfortable and warm clothes - like warm sweaters and leggings.

As the season of fall slowly fades away and winter approaches, shorts and t-shirts are slowly fading away to be replaced by clothes more suited to protect female students against the chilly December winds These girls at Grantie Bay High School have a variety of clothing options to wear in the colder months that could either be comfy or cute.

However, many students believe girls give up on their appearance in the winter because it is too cold outside.

“I usually try less in the winter,” said junior Kristen Hilburn. “A lot of days, sweatshirts are my jam and I decide to go with that.”

Other students agree with Hilburn and say that it is less time-consuming and easier to wear a sweatshirt and leggings to school.

“It’s colder now, so I’ll usually just throw a sweatshirt on and go to school,” Junior Shelby McPhail said.

There are other students however, who disagree with Hilburn and McPhail. They find that they actually spend more time on their appearance during the winter seasons than they do during any other seasons.

“I would say I try less in the summer because in the summer you can put in so little effort with a tank top and shorts,” junior Kaitlyn Prather said. “In the winter there are so many more possibilities with the varieties of layers, scarves and boots.”

According to junior Rylie Christian, many girls take advantage of the cold weather to bundle up and show off their cute and cozy sweaters, while others use the opportunity to dress comfy in a sweatshirt and leggings.

“I prefer winter clothes because you can layer and wear scarves and boots and what not,” Hilburn said.“Throughout the week, I think many students decide on what days they want to try to look nice or when to dress comfy.”

Other students also emulate this same strategy of planning outifts before the week starts - thus saving them valuable

time later.

“I try to look decent three or four days a week,” Prather said. “But (on) one of those days, (I wear) yoga pants and a big sweater.”

While certain students do claim to put more effort into their appearance, others find that they have other things to do that may prevent them from spending as much time getting ready for school.

“Winter is my favorite season because I love sweatshirts and hot cocoa and I don’t have to see girl’s butt cheeks falling out of their shorts,” Hilburn said.

For some students, winter is not a time when fashion is stilted, but when they are able to try out a variety of clothing options that are suitable for the colder weather.

“I like weather when I can wear a skirt or jeans with a jacket and not over-heat or freeze,” Prather said.

Many girls say that on days when they oversleep or when it’s raining, they are less motivated to spend a lot of time on their appearance.

“I love winter because I like the rain and being able to wear my yellow rain boots to school,” Christian said.

While some students enjoy the cold weather in, other students do not enjoy it as much.

“I usually only like cold weather when I’m at home in bed,” McPhail said. “I don’t like cold weather because I’m a swimmer and when it’s cold, practice is usually miserable.”

Although some girls dislike the cold weather, they compensante for it by finding styles that they can wear that will both withstand the cold weather and that they like. The shops at which these girls shop varies widely.

“I get my clothes mainly at Nordstroms and ... Urban Outfitters,” McPhail said.

Some male students say that girls tend to “try less” in the winter because it is too cold outside or because they just don’t care.

“I think it just looks like they are (trying less) because long sleeves give off a lazy appearance,” said sophomore Kyle Giannini. “I could see why some people think they’re trying less, but I don’t notice it that much.”

Your Name. Your Face. The Gazette.

Lifestyle B6

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Thursday, December 19, 2013

This issue’s random ...

facts

Giraffes and humans have the same amount of vertebrae in their necks.

A dog’s shoulder blades are unatThe typical porcupine’s body is covtached to the rest of the skeleton ered in 30,000 razor sharp quills. to allow for g greater flexibility for running.

1 acre of wheat can produce enough bread to feed a famA group of monkeys is ily of 4 for about 10 years. called a “troop.”

There were real trained In Kentucky, it is against squirrels in the movie Charthe law to remarry the lie and the Chocolate Factory. same man four times.

Every time you type a text message you increase your chances of arthritis.

A person’s sense of smell is better at night.

Only 3 percent of the Earth’s population is immune to the effects of pepper spray.

Source: allrandomfacts.com

- Compiled by Willow Wood

club

student What’s your favorite food?

I love everything, but my favorite food is anything Mexican.

What’s your most favorite thing about Christmas?

I love everything about Christmas, including the movies, the shopping and the food. I also love spending quality time with my family and friends.

What’s your favorite Christmas album?

I love the Michael Bublé Christmas album.

If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?

about and hour and a half and we run through practice questions.

Club Name: Science Bowl Club President: Aditi Ganapati

How long has Science Bowl been at school?

This is our second year.

At this point it is ... too late to join, but next year will definitely have open spots for students.

What is Science Bowl?

Basically, it’s a buzzer competition with all categories of science, including astronomy, earth science, physics, chemistry, biology and math.

What is the competition experience like?

How does the club prepare for competition?

Once a week, we hold practices for

The experience is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. It gives you the opputunity to show off what you have been doing all year. It’s also a great way to meet people from other schools.

Well, first off, I would wish for more wishes, and, second, I would wish for no animal or child abuse, and, lastly, I would wish for everyone to always be happy.

If you were granted a one-way ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would go to Japan to visit my other family members.

What is do you love most about high school?

I love meeting new people and making new friends.

- Compiled by Epsa Sharma

- Compiled by Garbhita Shah

Gazette photo /LUKE CHIRBAS

Chisay Arai, sophomore

GIVING: Community comes together to fundraise during the cold months Continued from page B1

“Doing the exact same thing mid-June, versus at Thanksgiving or Christmastime ... (during the holidays) I’d feel better about it,” Phillips said. “I think that’s one of the downsides – that food banks, food kitchens get all this stuff around the holidays, because that’s when people tend to feel the most giving. But that’s not because people need it more during that time.”

However, charity during the holidays can also be an especially rewarding experience to

those who choose to volunteer as well as those who the volunteers support.

“For somebody who doesn’t necessarily have people around during the holidays,” Phillips said, “it feels good to provide that – to be able to make somebody smile on a day when otherwise they might feel really excluded from something.”

Phillips said volunteering can’t always be a completely unselfish act.

“I always try to make a point to do selfless things,” Phillips said, “but I’m not

always successful.”

Physician Tony Cantelmi, who participated in the Shop with a Doc event, agreed.

Al-

All it takes is a willingness to serve and ask where you are needed. That type of spirit is good at the holidays and every day.

– Dr. Chris Palkowski, Kaiser charitable event organizer

though, like Phillips, his volunteering activity is limited – in his case, to churchrelated activities.

Palkowski notes, however, that those in need do

not stop being in need when the holidays are over.

“The need is year-round, and we (at Kaiser Permanente) are involved year-round,” he said.

He encourages others to get involved in volunteering activities in whatever way they can..

“There are so many opportunities for people to be involved in their community,” Palkowski said. “All they have to do is look around at their schools, community centers, churches, food banks or other non-profit organizations. Maybe it’s helping to clean up a local park, donate

meals to a food bank or sort items at a community clothes closet. All it takes is a willingness to serve and ask where you are needed. That type of spirit is good at the holidays and every day.” *** For those looking to spend the holidays serving the community, The St. Vincent de Paul Food Kitchen will be open on Christmas Day, providing food for the homeless, and the Sacramento Loaves & Fishes will be hosting a Christmas feast.

DEPRESSION: Teens should not be afraid to ask for counsel Continued from page B1

stuff that’s going on in your life.” immediate relief, they say, Campbell said therapy and, as such, the process works in tandem with medican seem long, daunting and cation and that medication is clumsy. not a cure. Anti-depressants “You want to find (a theralift the pist) who worst of is a good the depresOffer guidance and fit, so sion so the you’re counseling, but try to re- individual shopping can start to ally emphasize to them function, she for a service just that things may be more said. From like you they complicated than they there, would can work to may be able to handle change negaany other,” tive thoughts alone. and behavCampiors. bell – Amanda McClintock, With the said. “It licensed counselor support should of others, feel like depression a safe and SAD are place completely (where curable, McClintock said: you are) open to talking Those affected just have to about and processing the

reach out.

McClintock recommends talking with friends and family members that may be suffering from depression or seasonal affective disorder.

“Be supportive and be helpful,” she said. “Offer guidance and counseling, but try to really emphasize to them that things may be more complicated than they may be able to handle alone.”

Sufferers of depression should not be afraid to talk with friends, family or professionals about what they are experiencing, McClintock says.

“It’s completely okay to let a friend know, to let your teacher, your parent or an adult know,” she said.

“Teenagers have enough to handle as it is on their own – let alone having to deal with depression.”

SANTA: Students share how they found out about the truth

Continued from page B2

“It was around 5th grade and everyone was saying that Santa Clause didn’t exist but I was sure... I wanted to conduct an experiment to see if Santa really existed,” said Calvin Peter, a junior at GBHS, “So during Christmas, I got a gift, and I slyly asked my mom where she got the gift (hoping that she would forget that it was

Santa who bought it and not her),” Peter said. “So I asked her and she said the name of the street and everything, and I was like ‘aha! Gotcha’.

But she said, ‘no, I mean I talked with Santa and I told him to get the gift there.’

And I kind of did and didn’t believe her ... One day my younger sister told me that Santa didn’t exist. I was extremely upset.”

While the ways in which

children have found out about Santa Claus differ, the timeless memories and childhood feelings about him will always stay with them.

“For kids that do believe in Santa, it is pretty sad when you find out he doesn’t exist, kind of like some of the magic in the world is gone,” Gul said. “But I guess, if nothing else, how you find out certainly makes for an entertaining story.”

Your names.

Your faces.

The Gazette.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B7

The “It’s Only Another Beer” Black and Tan 8 oz. pilsner lager 8 oz. stout lager 1 frosty mug 1 icy road 1 pick-up truck 1 10-hour day 1 tired worker A few rounds with the guys Mix ingredients.

Add 1 totalled vehicle.

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’

Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Wrapping up lucky ’13 at GBHS

B8 Lifestyle

Students recall memorable 2013 events

BY WILLOW WOOD

A

wwood.gazette@gmail.com

s 2013 comes to a close, many are soon going to be making their resolutions and looking to the New Year, but some Granite Bay High School students are currently taking a moment to reflect on the past 12 months.

“When I think of the past year in terms of pop culture I think of Miley Cyrus at the VMA’s and when The Harlem Shake was big,” sophomore Madison Dosh said.

For those unaware, this year at the Video Music Awards, pop artist Miley Cyrus was on stage “twerking” with Robin Thicke in a performance that many found inappropriate or offensive.

At the same time, some students say the celebrity world was struck by tragedy this summer.

“Cory Montieth’s death was pretty big, and I used to watch the show so it was really sad,” sophomore Madison Marr said.

July 13 of this year, Cory Montieth, lead star of the popular TV show Glee, died after ingesting a

combination of alcohol and heroin.

“The death of Cory can really show you how someone can be here so happy, and then the next day they’re gone,” Marr said.

Fashion this year also took a noticeable turn for many students.

“I think the biggest trend for most people was highwaisted shorts and ombre hair,” Dosh said.

Ombre hair refers to hair color fading from dark to light fro, or vice versa. Instead of the color starting from the roots, it gradually becomes lighter at the bottom of the hair.

“Things like wearing glasses have apparently become cool again, and Uggs seem to be back in style, which is exciting since they’re warm and cozy,” said freshman Holly Jackson.

Most national events that students were able to remember were from the past few months. Several students were unable to recall events from earlier in the year.

Owen McNiff, Holly Jackson and Dosh all agreed that the institution of the Affordable Care Act, oth-

Gazette Photos/LUKE CHIRBAS and GRACE MOORE

erwise known as ‘Obamacare’, was one of the top national events of the year. “(Obamacare was) so impactful because (it) affected people on a personal level,” McNiff said.

“Some felt they had their rights violated, others were disappointed and sad.”

The election of the Pope Francis VI was mentioned by both Dosh and Jackson as a significant event.

Pope Francis VI, or Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was inaugurated into the papacy March 19, 2013. He is the first Pope from Latin America.

This year, Marr was a participant in the bulletins during Ripple Effect week, an event dedicated to stopping social injustice on campus.

“I think this was so important for me because I shared my story to everyone,” Marr said. “People came up to me and told me how great I am and how brave I was.”

Ripple Effect 2013 was facilitated by Student Government and Media, who had students come on the daily bulletins to share their stories, which were taken to heart by several students, including Jackson.

 Senior Garrett Walker, upper left, pretends to ride on a wrecking ball. Felipe Zegarra, top middle, partipates on the GBHS soccer team, which competed in section championships and received the champion title.

Santa’s helpers, top right, connects GBHS students to less fortunate grade school students with homework help and surprise gifting. In the center, Homecoming royalty winners, left to right above, Madeline Williams, Ryan MacIntosh, Claire Briare and Drew Briare watch the crowd on stage during the homecoming GBHS football game. Girls volleyball champions Kate Hurley and Brooke Hershberger, bottom left, react after achieving a victory at the CIF Division I state championships. The Emerald Brigade, bottom right, recieved an invitation to Carnegie Hall with a successful year behind them.

“The Ripple Effect is something that pretty much every high-schooler ever can relate to,” Jackson said. “It focuses on topics that are a little painful to talk about but (are) some serious and important issues that need more acknowledgement.”

Another popular school event students recalled was Santa’s Helpers.

“Knowing that kids were excited to go and help out another school,” Jackson said, “even if they themselves might not have been in a particularly sound environment themselves, is incredibly exciting.”

GBHS this year also had a few events that were not considered proud moments.

“Bomb threats and bear paints affected our school because we didn’t react to them very well,” McNiff said. “It kind of showed how immature our school can be.”

One of the most recent events that brought out GBHS spirit was the girls volleyball team winning CIF Division I state championships.

“All the sports helped Granite Bay,” Dosh said.

“It proved our athletic ability and showed off our grizzly pride.”

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

C1 Section

Thursday w December 19, 2013

Girls’ volleyball takes home state title

Commentary

The Girls Volleyball team celebrates their teams recent California championship game win, left. The team only lost three sets on the season and was undefeated in all of their matches for the year. Below, junior Brook Hershberger and senior Kate Hurley pose with their new trophy.

parker burman pburman.gazette@gmail.com

A most painful feeling in the world of sports

W

hen one first thinks of disappointment in sports, a playoff defeat or a close loss to a rival might be the first things that come to mind.

However, the true mood killer in all of sports is an injury.

An injury can impact fans of every level.

Superstar point guard Derrick Rose’s knee injury and subsequent rehabbing launched a nationwide ad campaign dubbed “The Return”.

Michael Crabtree’s torn achilles tendon caused early season turmoil for the local favorite 49ers team that is only one year removed from a Superbowl appearance.

And even locally, a torn Anterior cruciate ligament for Granite Bay High School’s star flyback, Tony Ellison, may have prevented the Grizzlies from making the long postseason run they had hoped for.

Nothing is worse than seeing one of your favorite players injured while playing. The agony of not knowing how serious the injury is and how it will affect the team moving forward is one of the greatest inducers of anxiety.

Anyone can bounce back from a loss, but a hurt key player can wash an entire season down the drain.

The list goes on and on. The Oklahoma City Thunder had their championship aspirations annihilated with an injury to point guard Russell Westbrook. The Washington Redskins were sunk in the playoffs last year after their rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III was sidelined with a torn ACL. It’s gotten so bad that the National Football League is constantly changing the rules and fining players to improve safety and reduce injuries.

Many complain about these new regulations, claiming that they’re changing the game, making it less entertaining and “softer”, but these changes are helping the overall quality of the game, with less injuries and longer careers for the top players.

After all, nobody wants to see a once talented player retire due to recurring injuries.

On the other hand, injuries can provide some of the most enjoyable and heart-warming redemption stories can come from injuries.

One year removed from a season-ending injury, running back Adrian Peterson won the National Football League most valuable player award , and in the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Louisville rallied around the loss of teammate Kevin Ware and ended up winning the championship.

There’s something about overcoming adversity that fans love, and yet, one would think that it’d be better if there were no injuries to overcome in the first place.

Injuries have the ability to negatively influence the game, season and even one’s career. So next time your team loses a game to their rivals, just remember the big picture and keep in mind that it could be worse.

Parker Burman, a senior, is a Gazette sports editor

inside sports Grizz Quiz

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Fan of the Month Athlete of the Month

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Special to the Gazette / Brett pinkney

Team caps off undefeated season with victory in California Div. 1 match Hard work doesn’t make an undefeated team with a record of 45-0. Hard work doesn’t create a team with a 95 percent winning rate in sets (119-5). And hard work doesn’t make a team state champions.

Love does.

We don’t lose. We don’t know what it feels like to lose. We haven’t lost a match in our home gym in two years.

For a team to have such an outstanding season, it is expected that they would train hard and devote their lives to the sport.

But my team never did that; we refused to run when our coach told us to and threw fits any time there was any conditioning at all. Yet somehow, we are still undefeated state champions.

Our practices consisted of us messing around with each other and encouraging each other to become better players in our own way.

Excessive amounts of cursing and name calling were common on the court, along with ballthrowing at fellow teammates and occasional wrestling.

“I wouldn’t call it bullying,” junior Brooke Hershberger said, “but we definitely joke harshly with each other.”

Not only do we not work hard in practices and taunt each other a little too extremely, but we aren’t very healthy athletes either.

Our pregame meals consisted of Rice- Krispy treats, Chipotle,

Commentary

caitlyn hurley churley.gazette@gmail.com

McDonalds and excessive amounts of candy. Starting setter and Gatorade Play of the Year Taylor Nelson said she believes that the more she eats before a game, the better she will play.

“Before our NorCal game I probably had nine Rice-Krispy treats,” Nelson said.

So how is it that this slacking team has triumphed over all competitors this entire season – is it due to our undeniable natural athleticism? No. It’s our pure love for one another that has allowed us to be so successful.

Our starting lineup has been playing volleyball together since we were children. Because of our lifelong experience of playing together, friendships have been made between teammates that could never be torn apart.

“A majority of my best friends are my teammates,” Hershberger

Fall sports teams wrap up their years

Players reflect on their athletic programs’ respective seasons and accomplishments

BY TROY PAWLAK

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School’s sports teams have a history of dominant, and this winter season, the Grizzlies have up held these expectations.

The winter sports at Granite Bay include girls’ volleyball, girls’ golf, cross country, football, boys’ soccer, boys’ water polo and girls’ water polo.

The girls’ volleyball team went undefeated in the normal season.

Their closest match was against Rocklin high School, which was one of the few matches that went to four games.

“The closeness of our team really helped us play better as a team,” junior Ariana Simpson said.

The girls’ golf team made it to masters, but was unable to move on to the northern California tournament.

The team had two difficult matches, one against Rocklin High School and one against Whitney High School.

According to player Chisay Aria, the Rocklin team was very strong and the Whitney Oaks course was very challenging to the players who had never played there.

Sacramento Republic Local soccer club receives funding to build stadium for their new team

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said. “We do everything together and we tell each other everything.

I don’t know what I would do without them.”

The entire team is like a family, and we are all really best friends.

The chemistry that we had on the team was rare, as was the pure athleticism and talent that was shown on the court.

Our team expected every member of the team to excel in their own jobs. Whether you were a starter and were expected to perform to the best of your abilities or you spent the season cheering from left bench, there were certain things that were Ariana Simpson Junior volleyball player helped her team en route to the California championships

Aria believes that if they practiced more on the course before the Whitney match that they may have been victorious.

Cross country, which contains both boys’ and girls’ varsity and frosh–soph teams, had varied success in their season.

The frosh–soph boys were eliminated at sub–sectionals, while the other teams moved on to sectionals.

The girl’s varsity team went on to state while varsity runner and captain Paul Zeiss was the sole See RECAP, page C5

expected of you. And when it came time to execute, you better get the job done.

“Every member of the team was crucial to our success,” senior outside hitter Maddy Deters said.

“We all had our own jobs, and we all got them done when we needed to. We get it done.”

Now I don’t want to get all corny, and I hate to say it, but this state championship title was my teams destiny. Our entire volleyball careers at Granite Bay had been like a long and drawn out Hallmark movie.

As freshmen we were the underdogs in the entire league and

Boys’ soccer wins section Grizzly squad looks back on its league title and Div. 1 section championship

BY PARKER BURMAN

pburman.gazette@gmail.com

Coming into the season, the Granite Bay High School boys’ soccer team knew that it wouldn’t be easy to make a run in the postseason.

With many talented players graduating and a team with few stars, the squad was forced to make a shift to a more teamoriented playing style, not focused on any one of the players, but the team as a whole.

That shift paid off, leading the boys to an undefeated season from the start of league play, capped off with a win in the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game

The End of Football Senior players reminisce on their four years of football competition

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barely won any games, we didn’t even go to playoffs. Sophomore year we made it to playoffs, but lost the game before the section championship. Junior year we did even better, but we lost the game that decided whether or not we were to go to state. And our senior year, we exceeded all expectations and became the best team in the state.

Each year we one-upped ourselves, growing better and stronger with age and experience, and the underdogs became the champions. It’s what we were made to do, and state champions are who we were made to be.

against long time rival Jesuit High School.

Senior midfielder Zach Boyle agreed that teamwork was what ultimately led to their success.

“Individually, I wasn’t the most outstanding player in any aspect,” Boyle said, “but playing as a team is what really built our entire season and won us the section title.”

“We really worked well together and we always pushed each other harder and harder each practice and game,” added senior Ash Gunn, center back for the team.

With the change in philosophy, the Grizzlies saw no drop off in play from years past.

See SOCCER page C5

Hazing The Gazette looks into the darker side of team sports play

C4

Students signing off Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Sports C2

GBHS athletes from volleyball, baseball, water polo and diving sign letters of intent to play collegiate sports for their respective schools

Compiled by Zack Zolmer

Taylor Nelson California Polytechnic State University Taylor Nelson “I chose Cal Poly because I fell in love with the campus and the entire atmosphere of the school and town. They have amazing coaches, great academics, and a top coaching staff.”

Vinny Esposito

Maddy Deters Concordia University Irvine Maddy Deters “I chose Concordia because I love Irvine and the campus is beautiful. Their coaching staff is great and it’s the perfect place for me.”

Devin Lehman

California State University, Sacramento

California State University, Sacramento

Vinny Esposito “I signed with Sac State because I think they are building a great program and I think they have a great coaching staff.”

Devin Lehman “I chose Sac State because of the comfort level I developed with the coaching staff and also the other incoming freshmen having played with some of them over the past several years. I also believe that Sac State is headed in the right direction and believe we will be a very good team the next couple of years.”

Mitch Hart

Connor Briare University of Southern California Mitch Hart “I chose USC because they are projected to be one of the top 25 teams in the country this year and for many years to come. The education and alumni association was also a huge deciding factor.”

Grace Reego

Loyola Marymount University Connor Briare “Well when I got on the campus it was really cool and I felt like it was a good fit for me. Also I liked the baseball program and the pitching coach.”

Karrisa Conner University of California, Los Angeles Grace Reego “My first weekend experience at UCLA was a water polo camp, and I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want to leave! I am so lucky to get to work with the two amazing coaches Brandon and Molly for the next four years! And I get top-of-the-line academic opportunities in a beautiful, spacious and sunny campus.

Ohio University Karrisa Conner “I chose Ohio for a number of reasons. First of all, I have family members in Ohio! Second, I was looking for cold weather. Lastly, the main reason why I chose Ohio University was for the diving! They have an amazing diving team and when I went on my recruit trip there I was blown away! All in all, I love the campus, school, and athletic programs they offer at Ohio University.”

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Sports C3

Sac Republic: Sacramento’s very own soccer team Proposed 8,000 seat stadium to be built at Cal Expo grounds

BY THOMAS TAYLOR ttaylor.gazette@gmail.com

If Sacramento Republic builds it, they will come.

Sac Republic, Sacramento’s newest sports team, is gearing up to start its inaugural season. The first item on the agenda? A brand new stadium.

Located on the California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) grounds, this recentlyproposed 8,000-seat arena could be built in time for the Republic’s first game during the final week of April.

The stadium will be built and owned by Ovations, a food services company; Sac Republic will merely lease the multi-use facility for its match day purposes.

“This is fantastic news for excited soccer fans,” senior Reed Klaeser said. “It’s really cool we’re going to have a soccer team near us. MLS teams like the Galaxy and Earthquakes are hard to get excited for because they’re so far away.”

The stadium’s proximity to Sacramento, just 2 miles outside of the capital city, raises concerns for congestion on the city’s streets.

Fortunately, Cal Expo is located near a light rail stop that extends all the way to Folsom.

“Finally we will have an incentive to ride the light rail down to some Sac Republic games,” Klaeser said.

Sacramento sports fans have cause to rejoice. The added team will help satiate the hunger that Sacramento area residents have for sports.

Warren Smith, president of the Sacramento Republic, said that this area was one of the most underserved areas in sports despite our beloved Kings and Rivercats.

“I think the stadium could be good for the city,” Granite Bay High School senior Chase Cooper said. “It may bring in more revenue for local business. It will be good for the soccer fans.”

Alongside Cooper, the community is warming up to the idea of having a full-fledged soccer team in the area. Fans are starting to get behind the new team—especially after Sac Republic made their first signing earlier this month in midfielder Rodrigo Lopez.

“I think the overall community is excited because its going to bring a lot of jobs and a lot of money to the surrounding area,” varsity soccer player Ash Gunn said. “A lot of players are excited because they have the opportunity to tryout for a new team. It will bring out lots of emotions on how the game is supposed to be played.”

Soccer momentum is high after the boys Granite Bay varsity soccer team won their section title. Late addition to the roster, Dominic Scotti, is totally in favor of the Republic, hailing it as a “genius idea.”

“Everyone around the area loves soccer.

It’s a good area to have (a team) because it’s a good supporting fan base and we need a soccer team,” Scotti said. “(Not including Sac Republic) We have two baseball teams, two basketball teams and a football team in our area and we’ve only got one soccer team.”

The announcement was made with Sac Republics normal panache. Following the stadium announcement, the club rolled out its sponsorship plans for the future.

The sponsor that will appear on the front of the club’s jerseys is UC Davis Children’s Hospital, and Lotto will be the club’s side arm sponsor.

With all of these announcements coming thick and fast, and mainly over social media, it was also impressive that the sac team had time to swing by Mikuni Kaizen and partner with a local radio station to give away jerseys and other Sac Republic gear inside the Fountains shopping center.

Said Klaeser, “This sort of public outreach is really encouraging for the team and its impact on the community.”

Gazette photo /LUKE CHIRBAS

Grizz Quiz Compiled by Brian Zhuang

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

What do you want for Christmas?

Who is your favorite music artist?

What is your preferred athletic brand?

Who is your favorite athlete?

Konner Christie Track and Field

Carson Hubred Swim

Colin McHale Boys’ Basketball

Steven Ponzo

Katarina Rowe

Wrestling

Girls’ Basketball

Watching Elf

Hanging out with my cousins

Decorating the tree and the outside of my house

Getting pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve

The Christmas meal

A coat and athletic shoes

Kate Spade wallet

Clothes and money

Dre Beats Pros and some new shoes

A horse

Maroon 5

Lorde

Wale

E40 or Wiz Khalifa

Blink-182

Nike

Nike

Nike

Nike

Puma

Lebron James

Ryan Lochte

Isaiah Thomas

Bo Jackson

Sydney Leroux

Your school. Your teams. The Gazette.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Hazing in sports: Are GBHS students subject to bullying?

Sports C4

Focus on harassment in the national spotlight leads to questions

BY LUKE CHIRBAS

lchirbas.gazette@gmail.com

Hazing – pranks that have been known to occur within the sports world both on and off the field – has been in existence since the 19th century. Prior to this year, however, hazing had never been recognized to the extreme that the national news has recently covered it.

This was all until Jonathan Martin broke silence.

Martin, a former left tackle of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, found himself the victim of death threats and racial slurs from his fellow teammate, guard Richie Incognito.

Martin elected not to continue out the 2013-2014 season due to the uncomfortable position he was put in with his teammate. “(Incognito) went a little out of hand” Granite Bay High School senior Jared Liang said. “It’s possible Incognito was taken out of context, but it went too far.”

Regardless of Incognito’s intent, the case brought about increased speculation of the so-called sport culture, but more specifically, hazing.

Hazing is defined as the act of humiliating one in order to fulfill a predetermined initiation. “(Those who haze) do it to feel good about themselves,” GBHS senior Luke Rogers said. “They think they are the veterans so they can pick on the small guys.”

GBHS is well known for excelling in its athletic programs.

From grabbing the state title in football last year to recently winning state in girls’ volleyball, the success of Granite Bay’s athletics is not what has come under examination. The question lies in whether or not hazing is happening at GBHS. “For track we will make the freshmen put away the equipment, but that’s as far as it goes,” Liang said. “We will not call them names nor will we make them feel uncomfortable.”

For the most part, hazing does not seem to be very popular among Granite Bay athletes.

However, there are still some cases that exist.

“Sometimes we call someone on my team a redneck, but he knows that we are just kidding and doesn’t take it in the wrong

way,” said a GBHS student who wishes to remain anonymous.

It’s evident that some students simply view hazing in another way of light—a way in which comments are not viewed as offensive when in the best of intentions.

“It has to (do) with your relationship with the person,” senior Gavin Smith said. “If you are really good friends and you joke about racism I think its perfectly fine.

“If you don’t know the person but are openly racist, it sounds like a threat. That’s when it could be offensive,” Smith said.

Smith is a member of the Granite Bay Grizzly varsity football team—a sport that is considered to be under the most scrutiny in terms of hazing.

“The team is pretty mellow, but there is always people giving crap to each other, but that just comes with the sport,” Smith said.

These funny games may not initially be seen on the same level as was Jonathan Martin’s situation, but students do consider carefully what lines they must not cross when hazing another athlete.

“It can be a problem if it is over

used or you do it too much to the same guy,” Rogers said.

The lack of hazing could also be a direct result from the strict sportsmanship rule.

Granite Bay High’s student handbook states that “As studentathletes, we must practice fair, demonstrate self-discipline, and show respect to authority.”

As evidenced it is fair to say that the school has brought attention to the subject of hazing, stating clearly in many documents that it is not to be tolerated.

The aforementioned handbook also states that “A pupil may be suspended from school, removed from a team, or recommended for expulsion if that pupil at any time commits an act of hazing, engages in hazing or attempts to engage in hazing.”

The true problem lies in drawing the line between what is hazing, and what is just jocking around.

“In most cases when it’s just joking around, people shouldn’t make it that big of a deal,” Liang said. “You’re teammates together.”

Gazette photo /STEVEN NIELSEN

A Granite Bay High School athlete is seen as a victim of hazing, an activity that involves harassment and, at times, abuse.

Sophomore makes commitment to volleyball Bridgid Bell continues to improve

BY TROY PAWLAK

tpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

The athletics program at Granite Bay High School is known for its strength and history of turning out successful athletes, but some of these players prove to be more successful to others.

One of these athletes is sophomore Bridgid Bell, who began playing volleyball in when she was 12-years-old.

Previously, Bell played tennis and soccer for 10 years. She then turned her focus to, volleyball and has pursued that love ever since She joined the GBHS volleyball team with hopes of further pursuing the sport, and the team won the state competition this year and finished with a record of 45–0.

As an outside hitter on the team, Bell has played 118 sets and has had 258 kills.

“My teammates really motivate me, because if I’m not doing it for myself I have a group depending on me to do my job,”Bell said.

Bell has always been supported by her family and friends in her decision to play volleyball.

“As a competitive athlete I don’t have a lot of time to spend with my friends so it’s nice to always be included,” Bell said.

Bell is usually the most frustrated with her decision to play when she is having a

hard time, but she has always returned to her normal level of playing and then continues to improve further.

“When I’m frustrated, I try to keep my mind set of ‘This is the hard time before you improve,’” Bell said.

Bell is also grateful for her injury–free career thus far, which has allowed her to focus on improving and not having to worry about recovering.

“I know people who have been out for six months, but I have been very fortunate to not be injured at all while playing,” Bell said.

Bell considers her biggest success to be winning the state championship with the Granite Bay High School team.

Bell’s first major competition in volleyball was the Junior Olympics in 2012.

“It was my first national competition where you had to qualify to get into it,” Bell said. “It really put things into perspective for me.”

This feeling of accomplishment has allowed Bell to push through her issues and remain true to her team and her love of the sport.

Bell still has two years of Granite Bay volleyball ahead of her.

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Sports C5

SOCCER: Team celebrates section title

RECAP: Fall sports

teams establish Granite Bay High School dominance

games.

“The most important thing is that they sacrificed their own individual glory... runner for varsity boys. for the team,” Fisher said.

The girls were unable to win state Boys’ water polo had a good year while Zeiss fell sick with the flu and according to coach John Macleane. performed poorly.

“I think the team did well, considering Macleane believes the team won league undefeated by working that we lost Maggie well together as a team.

Bell,” Zeiss said.

The boys’ hardest “The freshmen really game was the section stepped up to fill the semi-finals against open spots.”

The most Davis, which they lost.

The football team “We’ve got to work on began the season important thing getting more of a scoring under new coaching is that presence,” Macleane and with almost all said. new offensive and (the boys) The girls’ water polo defensive lines. sacrificed their team lost only one match “Our biggest own individual during the season. Their problem was one loss, which was injuries,” coach Mike glory for the against Rocklin, was Valentine said. “As team. devastating for the team. we were developing “It was a heart– guys, we were losing breaker, we really them just as fast.”

– Steve Fisher, boys shouldn’t have lost Valentine also said soccer coach that game,” Macayla that their worst injury Thomas, a player on the was that of Tony varsity water polo team, Ellison. said.

The Varsity boys’ The team was soccer team won the disappointed after falling state championship short of a sections title, and Thomas for only the second time in school believes that if they had worked a little history this year. harder they may have won.

“The boys bought in pretty well and With all of these successes under their were willing to be a team pretty early belts, the Granite Bay High School on,” coach Steve Fisher said. winter athletic teams can relax as the Fisher also believes that the Capital spring teams step up to the plate.

Christian game was one of their hardest Continued from page C1

Junior Zachary Vane sizes up his opponent during a league soccer game Continued from page C1 “Our biggest strength was that we played 100 percent the whole game,” senior back Armin Anderson said. “We didn’t have any superstars, so we could use anyone to win. Guys like Tommy (Thompson) are great players,but a whole team shouldn’t depend on one person.”

“In years past we could give the ball to Tommy or Tanner (Thompson) and have them take over the game” Boyle said, “This year we all bought into what we were taught and we ended up pulling out a big result.”

With this new perspective, every player was important to the team.

“Every single person had their own role, even the last person on the bench was huge and influential in all sorts of ways for us.” added Boyle.

While the team was confident in their ability to win league, winning sections was no easy task, nor was it a guarantee.

“I knew we had a good team,” Anderson said, “but I definitely didn’t expect to win sections.”

Boyle agreed with this sentiment.

“We expected to win out league,” Boyle said, “but our intent was to win sections.”

With many talented teams in the way of the section title, going undefeated in the Sierra Foothills League was a great way for the team to build momentum heading into playoffs.

“It felt great,” Gunn said. “We had a lot of confidence so that was very helpful to us.”

The players admitted that their mindset changes when they don’t have any losses.

“Generally when we’re going through league we are focusing on playoffs but when wear going on undefeated we are focusing on remaining undefeated,” Boyle said.

But most importantly, the Grizzlies beat Jesuit, an opponent that they had trouble beating for the last few years.

“It felt amazing,” Gunn said. “It was the

Gazette photo /LUKE CHIRBAS

best feeling in the world and will probably never be topped until we all have kids.”

Many teammates agreed with this sentiment.

“That was the greatest moment of my soccer career,” Boyle said. “There’s no better way to win a division 1 section title than to beat the Jesuit kids who beat us consistently, year after year.

They think they’re entitled to winning.”

Over the course of the year, one could really tell that the squad’s teamwork and motivation was elevated from years past and that the players were better prepared for adversity.

The team was able to finish the season ranked second in California and fifteenth in the nation, proving that they could overcome the loss of a few star players.

But in the end the most important goal was winning, and the boys did just that, with a lasting year where they defeated Jesuit and took the Sac-Joaquin Section title.

The balancing of sports and school Students work hard to keep schoolwork high quality, coaches happy

BY PAUL ZEISS pzeiss.gazette@gmail.com

The daily agenda for a high school athlete is fairly predictable: go to school, practice, hit the books and repeat.

Managing both an academic and athletic career in high school proves to be a challenge for many Granite Bay High School students as well as some nationwide.

Junior Corban Anderson, a member of this years’ section-winning soccer team as well as the Placer United club soccer club, has experienced this challenge.

Anderson is enrolled in a rigorous class schedule consisting of three AP classes and two honors classes this year. Thus, his commitment to both soccer and school prompts focus and dedication.

“For me, it is just that I get so tired from practice and weights that I just lack the urge and motivation to stay up and do schoolwork like others who don’t play sports,” Anderson said. “I just have to manage my time.”

Anderson also seeks a soccer career beyond high

“Playing a sport can sometimes be stressful so it school at a Division 1 level. helps me learn to calm down and not “I do face a lot of stress but I worry about a test because I’ve learned just always have to focus on the to balance the stress,” Hershberger prize at the end,” Anderson said. said. “If I’m stressed out about a test “Playing college soccer at a big I would going into practice then I’ll be able to time school has always been my back home Ill be able to study goal of mine and I will do what it much rather be come and focus.” takes to achieve it.” going to GBHS senior Weston Holt, a member Although it may be a of the cross country and track team challenge to some, others believe practice than thinks that being a student athletes active participation in a sport can doing provides him with balanced life. have a positive impact.

“I don’t really think that athletics Another GBHS student athlete homework. affect much of my academic life.” Holt junior Brook Hershberger, a – Ben Lewis, senior said. “If anything I believe it is positive member of the girls volleyball cross country runner because of staying fit and keeping a state championship team and balanced life that can keep you focus.” a club volleyball team, has GBHS Athletic Director Tim Healy contrasting views on her also believes that sports serves as an relationship with her sport and advantageous to students. school, and considers her sport a “Statistically kids who are involved positive involvement. in sports perform better academically than kids who Hershberger said that playing on the varsity are not,” Healy said. “It does require more time but volleyball team is beneficial to her academic the structure and characteristics that are inherent in a pursuits.

Your names.

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Corban Anderson

The junior soccer player has been playing on the varsity team since sophomore year and hopes to play in college.

good athlete bleed over to academics and other parts of their lives as well.”

GBHS senior Ben Lewis, who has participated on the cross country and track team since his freshman year as believes that being involved in a sport can have a positive impact on not only his academics but also his overall life.

Lewis is part of the rigorous IB program. A program, that has very few students who compete in two sport seasons in the year.

“I wouldn’t necessarily have more time for homework if I wasn’t in a sport,” Lewis said. “I think it has increased my ability to manage my time because I am more constrictive with time and I think that is a useful quality [for] life in general.”

Whether it is helpful or disadvantageous to student athletes, many would agree that sports present a more enjoyable alternative to homework.

“In the end, it works out,” Lewis said. “Because I would much rather be going to practice than doing homework.”

C6 Sports

Season comes to an end for GBHS football seniors lower expectations this year, he and the rest of the seniors on the football team played every game like it was their last.

“I played with everything I had left in the tank,” Brown said, “so I have no regrets about the (last) game.”

Brown has no regrets about how his high school football career ended, but not everyone on the team feels the same way.

“We had higher goals and our and last.”

Senior Christian Brown agreed season was cut short,” senior linebacker Grant Teunissen said. with Bussey and noted the “It’ll probably haunt me for the adversity the team went through rest of my life.” to get as far as Teunissen, they did in his who will try to last season on walk on to the the team. football team of “It was differWe had higher whichever colent for me due goals and our lege he decides to many situations the team season was cut to go to, knows he can only had faced, from short. It’ll succeed if he changing positions to many probably haunt works as hard as he did on the starters (getting) me for the rest of road to the state injured,” Brown championship my life. said. game last year Brown, who against Long – Grant Teunissen, had been playBeach Poly. ing football senior linebacker “I plan to just since freshman start training for year, played on the future by the State Chamgetting a gym pionship team membership from the 2012 and eating right,” Teunissen said. season, along with many other Teunissen, along with Bussey seniors this year. and Brown, hopes to continue Brown said that despite their

After third-place finish in tough Sierra Foothill League, Grizzlies win one, lose one in playoffs

BY KEVIN BURNS

kburns.gazette@gmail.com

The scoreboard ticked down to zero. It was over. The game was over. The playoff run was over. The season was over. Most of all, the high school careers of many Granite Bay High football players were over.

For some, four years of work had come to a disappointing close. Some athletes who had been playing football for over seven years watched the clock count down to the end of a sport that had dominated their time for much of their young lives.

Senior Luke Bussey, the starting cornerback for the Grizzlies in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, saw the last game against Oak Ridge High School as an end to four years of practice and pain.

“It was definitely sad knowing that’s the last time I’d play with the guys,” Bussey said. “But at the same time, I’m proud of what we did together this year

Thursday, December 19, 2013

playing football at every level he can.

Bussey is confident that he can play in college – he attended college recruiting combines during the season and summer to put his name on the college football map and has garnered interest from many schools.

Brown hasn’t become a name in the news like Bussey but is just as confident.

“I am currently looking at University of Nevada Reno,” Brown said. “I’m also thinking about walking-on.”

Walking-on to collegiate sports teams has become a new and popular development for high school athletes who hope to focus on both academics and athletics while in college.

GBHS seniors have much to look forward to for the future - yet as the clock in their last game hit zero, they remembered the years they had with the Grizzlies.

“Every game I think of how thankful I am to have the opportunity to play football,” Bussey said. “Wherever I am when I am done, I’ll look back and think of all the great memories I had with all of my teammates and all of our accomplishments, from simply winning league to winning the state championship, and I’ll remember all of the great friendships I made and the bonds that will never be broken.”

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Gazette photo /Grace Moore

Xavier Hunter (left) and Grant Teunissen (right) take a breather between plays in their game against Folsom

Athletics commissioner rallies behind school spirit Junior Alex Baldonado leads students to support every team

BY PAUL ZEISS

pzeiss.gazette@gmail.com

Another fall season of sports at Granite Bay High School has once again shown the success of its athletics program. GBHS has been known throughout the Greater Sacramento Area as having some of the finest sports programs, and athletics commissioner Alex Baldonado hopes that it has also proved to be one of the most spirited.

Baldonado said he is very proud of the student turnout at all of the sports games.

“The turnout, overall, has been awesome.” Baldonado said. “Especially at the (soccer) section championship which was nuts.”

Baldonado believes that this massive support from the Tribe and other spirited fans has helped the success of these sports.

“I believe that most students love playing in front of a big student section that supports and propels them to do their best,” Baldonado said.

However, Baldonado believes that much can be improved in the new, upcoming semester.

“We always need more people, so I’d love it if more people came to games,”Baldonado said.

Baldonado wants students to attend the duration of the games and not leave until the last whistle sounds.

He also said that more active participation in the cheers and chants will create a more positive environment for the athletes instead of students playing on their phones or talking to their friends.

During the games, Baldonado cheers for the Grizzlies by yelling through a cheer cone in order to spark more energy

and enthusiasm from the Alex Baldonado crowd.

He looks forward to GBHS junior asthe next season of GBHS sumes his job as sports - winter athletics. leader of the fan “Obviously, basketball section for every season is the most anticisport. pated and energetic winter sport,” he said. “We should really give our basketball team home court advantage at every home game.”

Advertising is something Baldonado Baldonado believes that looks to improve for future sports advertising is vital for seasons. student participation at the “Our athletics here are amazing and sports games.

I tell people how good our teams are “Every student needs to know about and why we should support them,” big, upcoming games.” he said. “We can’t Baldonado said. “I’m really passionate afford having people not attending the about our athletics program and I love games because they were never informed my position here to improve school about them.” spirit in sports.”

Teaching is preferred for Granite Bay High head coach candidates

Athletes at GBHS find that coaches who also serve as teachers provide well balanced relationships with their teams

with what to do,” Healy said.

Albano led the team through it’s adversity starting from the Granite Bay High has had beginning of the season to the end, immense success in its athletic ultimately leading them to the programs. It has proven to produce second round of playoffs. Alover three state championships in bano brought the Grizzlies to the the last two years. playoffs even with key players on Last year the GBHS football the team injured for the majority team played much better than their of the season. expectations and won the CaliDespite GBHS’s athletic adversifornia Interscholastic Federation ties, they still seem to find success State Championship. However, the in athletics. Many accredit its following year success to the long time GBHS leadership on the head field and court. football coach “We need We need Ernie Cooper coaches to treat retired from his as students coaches to treat kids position. and young peokids as students ple first and ath“Cooper announced that he letes second, off and young was retiring from campus coaches people first and that come from his position as head coach two athletes second club ranks don’t days before the necessarily need football team to worry about – Tim Healy, athletic was supposed that stuff,” Healy to go to their said. “Generally director camp,” Tim speaking much Healy, Athof [club coaches] letic Director at reputations is GBHS said. based on wins Cooper left a legacy with the and losses.” football team which was a masGBHS has hired almost all head sive hole in the program which coaches to be on campus as teachneeded to be filled just before the ers as well as coaches. In order, to 2013 football season was about to avoid club coaches who just want kick-off. the wins and are not focused on “Coach Skip Albano has 27 building the students character as years of experience with football, well. and has been with the team pretty The decision to pick the coaches much the whole way through and at GBHS ultimately comes down knew how the program worked, to Principal Mike McGuire to so there really was not a question make - however the decision is

BY AUSTIN ALCAINE

aalcaine.gazette@gmail.com

heavily influenced by the athletic department and administrators.

“We assemble an interview committee depending on what the position is for will decide who will be on the committee,” said Brian McNulty, assistant principal.

With the precedent of success in GBHS sports on campus, the process to select a new head coach must be scrutinized in order to select the most qualified coach that will lead to the most success in student academic and athletic lives.

Along with the coach being able to make successful athletes, when a coach is being hired, the decision is heavily dependent on their teaching abilities in the classroom as well.

“I have been with the program since the school opened up, and have been coaching here for about six years now,” said Jason Sitterud, English teacher and varsity basketball coach.

Because Sitterud is a teacher as well as a coach, he can be there for his athletes in the classroom and on the court creating a more dynamic coach to team relationship.

Cooper, who led the Grizzlies to a winning football season since his first year here, has been a weight training teacher in the past. He has recently shifted his focus to being a math teacher on campus.

“We need our coaches to have the background to be able to promote growth in our athletes,” McNulty said, “We will also look first for them to be an campus teacher as well.”

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C7 Sports

Thursday, December 19, 2013 w The Granite Bay Gazette

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C8 Sports

w The Granite Bay Gazette

AT A GLANCE

For the Record

Football Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs w Nov. 15 – Granite Bay 58, Tokay-Lodi 12 wNov. 22 – Granite Bay 17, Oak Ridge 28

Stats at a Glance

Girls’ Water Polo Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament wNov. 13 – Granite Bay 6, St. Francis 5 Boys’ Water Polo Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament wNov. 13 – Granite Bay 5, Davis 15 Boys’ Soccer Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament wNov. 13 – Granite Bay 2, Pitman-Turlock 1 wNov. 16 – Granite Bay 2, Jesuit 1

League finish: First in the SFL Girls’ Volleyball Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament wNov. 12 – Granite Bay 3,Today-Lodi 0 wNov. 14 – Granite Bay 3, Pleasant Grove 0 wNov. 19 – Granite Bay 3, Pitman 0 wNov. 21 – Granite Bay 3, St. Francis 0 wNov. 26 – Granite Bay 3, Skyline 0 wNov. 30 – Granite Bay 3, Palo Alto 0 wDec. 3 – Granite Bay 3, St. Francis 0 wDec. 7 – Granite Bay 3, Los Alamitos 1 League finish: First in the SFL and State Boys’ Basketball wDec. 27 – Granite Bay vs.

Cedar Park Christian, at Cedar Park Christian wJan. 3 – Granite Bay vs.

Jesuit, at Jesuit wJan. 7 – Granite Bay vs.

Franklin, at Franklin wJan. 8 – Granite Bay vs.

Oakmont, at Oakmont Girls’ Basketball wJan. 2 – Granite Bay vs. Rio Linda, at Rio Linda wJan. 6 – Granite Bay vs. River Valley, at River Valley wJan. 8 – Granite Bay vs.

Whitney, at Whitney wJan. 10 – Granite Bay vs.

Roseville, at Roseville Boy’s Wrestling wJan. 2 – Granite Bay vs. Rio Linda, at Rio Linda wJan. 6 – Granite Bay vs. River Valley, at River Valley wJan. 8 – Granite Bay vs.

Whitney, at Whitney wJan. 10 – Granite Bay vs.

Roseville, at Roseville

wSpecial to the Gazettew Brett Pickney  The Granite Bay Girls’ Volleyball team hoists the State Championship trophy, Top, after defeating Los Alamitos in the State Championship on Dec. 7.

The Girls’ Volleyball team, center, poses for pictures with the State Championship trophy. Sophomore Libby Ditters, left, serves to Los Alamito. The Tribe takes a picture, far left, with newly State Champs.

CoachTricia Plummer and GBHS Athletic Director Tim Healy, bottom, take pictures with the State Championship trophy.

green screen.

December 2013 The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide

Holiday movie guide Page 5

Do it yourself gifts.

Pages 8 and 9

Vintage shopping Page 13

Page 2

December 2013

sneak peek.

GUY WALKS INTO A BAR PRODUCTIONS

Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE

wSee pages 8&9 with DIY Christmas gift ideas to make at ease for little to no cost.

wSee page 5 for Christmas movies to watch over the holiday season.

Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE

wSee page 12 for a guide to last minute shopping and cookies for Christmas.

Creativity is Dead and Gone Hollywood ceases to amaze seekers of orginality

the h*** Hollywood executives are paid tens of millions a year to come up with ideas that were thought of decades ago. aalcaine.gazette@gmail.com Perhaps a man who has lived under a rock his whole life could reativity seems to be the new taboo thing to do in Holcome up with more originality than what I have seen recently. lywood.

I mean how many reboots of cop dramas have their been on Countless new movies that have been coming out, lack TV? original ideas and unique, new takes on old ideas.

The fact that Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) still has new Hollywood appears to be tired of coming up with episodes is beyond me. innovative ideas for films and has decided that Or even worse than all of that was a few recycling old ideas over and over is enough. months ago with the releases of Olympus If you were to go on Fandango and check out all has Fallen and White House Down, which the movies that are to be released soon, you would were almost identical plots and were both notice that almost all of the big name movies on equally cringe worthy. their way to a theater near you have most likely I guess we can only hope however, that already been in theater five years ago. one day, the big wigs in Hollywood will Currently the most popular movie out right now, decide that new ideas are good and someCatching Fire, happens to be a sequel to it’s predetimes even make people think, and will cessor, The Hunger Games, which makes Catching go back to the days where they strove for Fire the sequel to an adapted screenplay. originality in films.

So, the studio did not have to worry about coming At the end of the day the movie up with fresh ideas for the movie they just took business is a multi-billion dollar industry them straight from the book. that supplies entertainment for millions of It appears as if studio executives are selling themmoviegoers, and spews money back into aalcaine.gazette@gmail.com selves short and giving up on the idea of unique the economy. new ideas in the works.

However, like all businesses once they Taking a look at the line up for big box office lose their innovation, they begin to lose profit. hits lined up for 2014, I noticed all but about three of the movies If studio executives want to continue to enjoy their beach side were sequels, reboots, remakes or adapted screenplays — and homes and luxuries, they need to go back to making groundeven taking the idea of a popular video game and making it a breaking films that don’t just have expensive special effects for feature film.

Maybe I am just bitter because the last three movies I have seen a wow factor, but can make people leave the theater trying to have all been sub-par remakes, which makes me question how in interpret what the director was trying to convey in their film.

BY AUSTIN ALCAINE

C

Commentary

Austin Alcaine

Guide to Green Screen

Page 3

Page 5

Page 10

Page 12

Upcoming GBHS Events for December & January Dec. 19-20 Finals

Jan. 3

Boys basketball vs. Jesuit 7:00 PM @ Sleep Train First day of 2nd semester

Drama and Last Laramie minute gifts Page 6/7 Food reviews preview Page 13 Page 11 Page 8/9 Vintage Page 4 Top tweets shopping X-mas poles DIY gifts X-mas and New Years traditions

X-mas films

Jan. 7

Page 14

Top hiring

Page 15

Film reviews

Page 16

Light guide

December 2013

Page 3

fresh start.

Students look forward to yearly traditions The holiday season is kept fresh with unique family rituals

BY TREASA HAYES

thayes.gazette@gmail.com

D

uring the months of November, December and even January in Granite Bay, several families celebrate the holidays through classic traditions such as decorating the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, or opening one present on Christmas Eve and saving the rest for the next morning.

However, certain students at Granite Bay High School carry on family traditions that differ from the norm.

A senior, who wishes to remain anonymous, participates in an annual beer pong tournament with her family in which they make T-shirts and take it more serious than most.

“We go to our family friend’s house after Thanksgiving and there are about 30 of us in their garage,” this senior said. “We have a flip cup tournament and those who aren’t of age don’t drink.”

Once the winner is determined, they receive a legitimate trophy that says, ‘The Super Cup,’ a traditional soccer trophy with gold Solo cups added.

“We’ve done it for like seven years now,” she said.

“It’s always really fun because my family and my family friends get really into it. It’s one of my favorite traditions; I love it.”

While not as official, another family competition tradition comes from freshman Taylor and junior Drew Tonda – racing to jump in the pool on Christmas morning.

Whichever family member runs to the pool and dives in before anyone else gets to open the first present.

“We’ve been doing it since I was in third grade,” Drew said. “(My) favorite part is getting out of the water and opening (the) presents.”

Some GBHS family holiday traditions don’t necessarily have to do with competitions, but contemporary spins on common Christmas ideals.

Senior Christi and junior Erica Trovato participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition with their family in which a toy elf is placed somewhere around the house and is said to be watching the family before Santa decides whether they’re naughty or nice.

“We started the tradition about 10 years ago,” Christi said. “My cousins introduced it to us and my parents loved the idea.”

Although Trovato enjoyed the tradition as a child, growing older has definitely decreased her liking towards it.

“Now, I think it’s very creepy but I used to love it,” Trovato said. “We have to keep it around for when my younger cousins visit.”

However weird the Elf on the Shelf seems to Trovato, she says she doesn’t mind it too much because her family loves it.

Other traditions from Granite Bay families involve going out to eat at a certain restaurant on a particular day every year, as with freshman Derek and senior Haley Byam.

“Every New Year’s Eve, we go (out) to Granite Bay Chinese,” Derek said. “We’ve been doing it for six years now and I love being with family and friends and

eating.”

Carrying on the tradition from their grandparents, Derek and Haley anticipate it every year.

“My favorite part is reading our fortunes for the next year and cheering to good luck,” Derek said. “(My grandparents) say it’s good luck to start out the year that way.”

Senior Ciera Jeter and her family go to different exotic restaurants every year on Christmas Eve night and come home to watch A Christmas Story.

“One time, we went to a Moroccan food place and we all danced with a belly dancer,” Jeter said.

“Another year, we went to a really small Japanese restaurant. We always try new restaurants and typically go for (ones) that won’t be crowded and that are…out of Gazette photo /KATE Hurley the ordinary.”

While most of the student body doesn’t participate in these specific traditions, these particular students wouldn’t experience the holiday season the same if they weren’t there.

“My holidays would definitely feel different without our tradition,” Jeter said. “It has just been a part of our family during Christmas time for a while now, and my whole family looks forward to it every year.”

Students will ring in 2014 with hopes to fulfill their resolutions

BY KATE PETTERSON

A

kepetterson.gazette@gmail.com

fter the festive December holidays and the ball drops in New York, many students will be creating a list of New Year’s Resolutions.

These students pledge to improve their lives for next year by changing their lifestyles or breaking bad habits. One type of New Year’s Resolution that is popular is a promise to help out around the house or clean more often, as is the case with sophomore Shelby Khatami.

“I have never really bothered to keep my room clean,” Khatami said. “And since I have a cat with a litter box in my room, it generally smells pretty bad.”

However, Khatami said, most students and other people in general rarely complete their Resolutions.

“I know that I want to clean my room for an hour every week, but realistically, that isn’t going to happen.

There are always obstacles and unforseen events that can change a resolution,” said Khatami.

Sophomore Abby Murer, however, plans to take a fit-

ness oriented approach to her New Year’s Resolution.

“I want to be a better equestrian, or horse rider,” Murer said.

Murer has been horesback riding for two years.

“I used to ride, when I was younger, but I stopped. I am interested in improving my equitation from then,” Murer said.

Her long term goal is both to improve and to start competing at official shows. Murer is planning to compete in English style competitions.

“I ride English,” Murer said. “It includes elements like jumping, dressage, and cross country – basically like the equestrian work you see in the Olympics.”

Murer hopes that with practice, she will achieve her goals this year.

Another student with a resolution is sophomore Jeffery Harley.

“This year, I’m going to keep a jar in my room. At the beginning of the year, it will be empty. As the year passes, whenever something good happens to me, I’ll write it down on a sheet of paper and put it in the jar,” Harley said.

Each of the papers will have the date and the good experience on it. The idea is to read all of the sheets of paper at the end of the year and revisit all of the funny or joyful events of the year.

“I have never tried anything like this before,” Harley said, “but I think this is a different kind of (New Year’s Resolution) than what most people would do.”

Harley said his main goal is to look back and not forget all of the achievements he has.

Harley has never attempted a New Year’s Resolution before because he has never understood why people make them.

“Most people just focus on one or two goals over the course of a year,” Harley said, “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

In this way, Harley said, his resolution serves a better focus.

“Instead of wanting to achieve one thing and discarding all of my other, random achievements,” Harley said, “I get to look back at the end of the year and tell myself that, yes, I was able to achieve something and grow from where I started.”

December 2013

Page 4

what’s cool.

Coolest Cars in GB

The freshest whips owned by Granite Bay High School students.

Car: Subaru WRX STI Owner: Colton Moore

BY STEVEN NIELSEN

snielsen.gazette@gmail.com

The North Polls

BY MYLES SLATTERY

mslattery.gazette@gmail.com

What percent of Granite Bay High School students celebrate Christmas?

Why did you get this car?

I have a F150 and my friend was selling his car (the WRX) so I bought it.

What things do you like about your car?

I like that it is a stick shift and it’s really fast.

What makes your car special?

It’s special because it’s my first new car.

Does your car get attention?

Yeah, I just got it and all my friends like it.

Colton Moore posing in front of his brand newSubaru WRX STI.

Do you like the attention your car gets?

Sometimes my friends give me a hard time about having two cars but its fun.

Do Granite Bay High School students have family over during the hollidays?

iPhone App of the Month: Clumsy Ninja

BY GARBHITA SHAH

gshah.gazette@gmail.com

Recently, Natural Motion, a technology company with a branch based in London, presented their creation of the Clumsy Ninja application.

This kid – friendly app presents you with avirtually clumsy ninja that you have to train.

The idea is that the player plays the role of a sensei, or a master, that helps undergo the transformation of a ninja.

The player has to raise the Ninja through approximately 95 levels. At each one it performs tasks that progressively get harder so that eventually it masters them.

The player is supplied with over 70 items to help aid the training process. Some of these include: punching bags, trampolines, assorted sports balls and climbing platforms.

The game also has specific time limits. If certain supplies are used up too fast, then the player has to wait for them to replenish before reusing them.

Natural Motion was able to produce this after ten years of research. The game virtually creates an adaptation of the human nervous system as the Ninja can perform tasks that involve mobility.

According to Tech News, Clumsy Ninja was rated the top free downloaded app at the beginning of December after recording over ten million downloads in one week.

The app store received four and a half stars out of five for the game.

Sophomore Arthi Bobbala enjoys playing Clumsy Ninja and exploring the features of the app.

“I really enjoy playing Clumsy Ninja and I recommend it to all because of the entertainment it provides,” Bobbala said. An in-game snapshot of the popular iPhone app, Clumsy Ninja.

You can get this game in the in the app store for free.

Do Granite Bay High School students prefer real Christmas trees of fake trees?

poppin’ popcorn.

Page 5

December 2013

Guide to Holiday Films Classics

A must-see list of movies to watch over this winter break

BY AUSTIN PINK

apink.gazette@gmail.com

A Christmas Story Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift.

A Christmas Story blends classic Americana with the Christmas setting. For the die hard fans, you can catch it multiple times during Turner Broadcasting System’s 24 hour marathon on Christmas Eve. metro-goldwryn-mayor

MGM television

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas No Jim Carrey remakes here, I’m talking about the animated original from 1966. This wonderful, awful tale of the famous green miser is arguably the most recognizable of any Christmas special. It’s Dr. Seuss charm and catchy songs have been engaging audiences for over 40 years. Don’t be a Grinch and be sure to watch this seasonal animated tale.

Home Alone The first film of the series is still the best, and still deserves a viewing during the winter holidays. Though not quite a “Chirstmas classic,” this comedy is always memorable because of the torturous stunts of young Macaulay Culkin and the fantasy of being home alone that we have all dreamed of. Save yourself time and don’t watch any of the four abysmal remakes.

hughes entertainment

Guy Walks into a Bar productions

Warner bros. television

Corny

BY SYDNEY KAHMANN skahmann.gazette@gmail.

The March Sisters at Christmas Loosely based on the characters of Little Women, the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth – renovate Orchard House to stop their mother from selling it after their father’s war injury. In the process of renovation, the four sisters embark on career paths, rekindle old relationships and start new ones. This cheesy movie is hilarious in its attempts to make Little Women modern.

LIFETIME

The Twelve Trees of Christmas Cherie must win a Christmas tree decorating contest to save her local library. But developer Tony hires Cordelia, played by Melanie Brown aka Scary Spice from the Spice Girls, a professional decorator to win the competition for him. Cherie and Tony must decide between each other or their plans for the library.

LIFETIME

Hitched for the Holidays Just your typical Christmas movie where a Catholic man and a Jewish woman fake date each other. To appease both a dying grandmother and a critical family, Rob and Julie pose as a couple at their family gatherings during Christmas and Hanukkah. Complications arise when both try to fit into the other’s family and religious traditions, realizing their fake relationship means more to both of them than they had anticipated.

Elf A recent entrant onto the Christmas chart, but one that went straight to the top of everyone’s affections and deserves to be there. I realize that this Will Ferrell comedy is only 10 years old, but its just too funny to leave off this list. 6’3” Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf in the Christmas movie that was probably the most popular in the past 20 years. You’d have to be a cottonheaded ninnymuggins not to love this one.

Hats Off to Christmas!

Haylie Duff plays single mom, Mia, who has to train her boss’ son, Nick, a big-shot from New York, for the job she hoped to get. She hates the man, until he helps her son, Scotty, who can’t walk after being in a car accident.

After breaking a commitment to her son, Mia hates Nick again. Nick then must choose whether he should return to NYC or stay for Mia and Scotty.

A Charlie Brown Christmas This Peanuts classic is a must watch every year at my house. Although its running time is a mere 25 minutes, it manages to pack a lot of humor and conscience. Charlie Brown’s legendary pessimism is relatable to many of us this time of year: but Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. Of course, if you just watch it for Snoopy’s antics, that’s cool too.

The Christmas Ornament A widow who hates celebrating Christmas after her husband’s death must decide what to do with the failing business he had started.

Along the way, she meets her local Christmas tree seller and has to decide whether or not she is ready to move on and start a relationship with him. This movie has above average actors (for low-budget Christmas movies), so I would recommend watching.

Gazette illustration/COLLEEN VIVALDI

hallmark

hallmark

hallmark

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December 2013

frosting.

Let them eat cake

The Gazette staff is on the hunt for cupcakes

Smallcakes

BY HALEY BYAM

hbyam.gazette@gmail.com

Located in the Rocky Ridge Town Center, Smallcakes is one of many “cupcakeries” in the Roseville area.

Like other specialty shops, Smallcakes promises a warm environment with freshly-baked goods to match, all in the comfort of a cozy, boutique-like store.

The owners are strong advocates for the healing powers of great food, clear in their slogan, “Maybe a Cupcake Will Help?”

I didn’t expect a difference between this shop and the handful of others I had tried, but the employees proved me wrong almost as soon as I’d entered the store.

They greeted me with clear enthusiasm, and their always-in-use ovens filled the store with the smell of baking cupcakes, achieving the “home-style” feeling that many bakeries strive for.

Smallcakes offers over 50 types of cupcakes that rotate on a weekly schedule available on their website

or upon request. The flavors range from “Campfire S’mores” and “Stuffed Cinnamon Toast” to odd delicacies like the “Grasshopper.”

The staff was incredibly helpful in informing me of the daily choices and helping me to pick the “perfect cupcake.” Because I’d come in on a day when they didn’t have “Café Latte,” the flavor I’d chosen, an employee gladly made a special trip to the kitchen to prepare it for me.

Even with the added baking time, the service was incredibly quick, and I decided to eat my treat in-store to further enjoy the warm atmosphere.

I’ve never been much of a sweets person, but that cupcake definitely made me a believer. It was one of the richest, most flavorful things I have ever tasted – and you’re talking to an avid lover of Kraft mac ‘n’ cheese, the master of rich and flavorful.

Along with being listed on USA Today as one of the Top Ten Cupcake Places to try in the country, the company was founded by a former Food Network star, Jeff Martin, who founded Smallcakes in the recent explosion of cupcake popularity.

Martin’s love of quality food made with care and

Cupcake A La Mode

BY MAKENZIE BRITO mbrito.gazette@gmail.com

I will shamelessly admit that I am a dessert person, I crave sweets 24/7, and I am a frequent customer at Cupcake A La Mode.

I was thrilled when I first discovered this little cupcake shop a couple months ago just a few stores down from Blue Nami on Eureka Rd. Upon walking in, I was greeted by bright pink walls, a boutique kind of atmosphere and an overwhelming selection of delicious cupcakes.

I had an extremely difficult time choosing which cupcake I wanted – so I bought three.

Taking a seat at one of the many tables within the shop, I took a bite into one of the cupcakes and instantly knew that I would become a regular customer.

After having the first one, I thought there was no way the others could be just as good – I was proven wrong.

I was incredibly pleased with all of them.

Offering a vast array of flavors, flavor combinations and a monthly specialty flavor, there is a cupcake for everyone at Cupcake A La Mode.

They provide the usual flavors such as red velvet, typical vanilla and chocolate combinations.

In addition to the basics, they have unique flavors such as Stuffed French

Toast, PB&J, Nutella and Raspberry Lemonade.

My personal favorite flavors are Salty Carmella-a vanilla cupcake with caramel frosting, caramel sauce filling, and sea salt and ChocoLatte-a chocolate cupcake with mocha and vanilla frosting and topped with an expresso bean.

In addition to cupcakes, they offer “naked” cupcakes which are cupcakes without frosting, spoonfuls of frosting reffered to as “frosting shots” and gluten free options.

Cupcake sandwiches, kids cupcakes, cakes, coffee and tea are available as well.

The cupcakes themselves are huge, have just the right amount of frosting, and depending on which flavor you choose, filling.

Having tried numerous flavors, I can say with confidence that regardless of the flavor, this cupcake shop will deliver a quality product.

I’ve visited numerous cupcake shops and I would say, without a doubt, that Cupcake A La Mode has the best cupcakes in the area.

Also, every Monday, all cupcakes are just two dollars – making a Monday cupcake fix almost half the price.

With this deal, Monday trips to this shop are a must – I can’t pass up a chance to enjoy an amazing cupcake for just two dollars.

For anyone craving sweets, I strongly recommend Cupcake A La Mode.

expertise was evident in everything from the cupcakes to the decorations. The local owners, Dan and Maria, also place a strong emphasis on making customers feel “at home” in their store, and they select their employees carefully to ensure that everyone has a great experience.

I hope to visit Smallcakes again in the future and try more of their delicious flavors, and I strongly suggest it to cupcake connoisseurs everywhere who haven’t found their “perfect cupcake.”

Gazette photo/Haley Byam

Smallcakes Bakery is located on Rocky Ridge Rd in Roseville.

Icing on the Cupcake

BY KENNEDY BELL

kbell.gazette@gmail.com

With America’s newest food fad being gourmet cupcakes, Icing on the Cupcake has become a largely successful business.

Despite its vast popularity, Icing on the Cupcake disappointed me with its quality.

Watching employees unload cases from a truck covered in the bakery logo made me question the freshness of the cupcakes.

Pre-made cupcakes defeat the purpose of a bakery, as does the lack of a kitchen.

Having a cupcake taste like a mixture of artificiality and unpleasantly extreme sweetener is not worth it’s relatively high price.

Personally having an extreme sweet tooth, I can handle an impressive amount of sugar. Icing on the Cupcake’s dessert however, put my skill to a nauseated shame.

A stomachache worthy amount of sweetener is packed into a single cupcake, making it almost inedible.

As if the copious amount of frosting on the cupcakes wasn’t already enough, Icing on the Cupcake sells prepackaged frosting tubs with a spoon attached.

On top of the sub-par taste, the atmosphere screamed “buy something and get out.”

The only worker in the establishment seemed hostile despite the pastel and

frilly surroundings.

She put more effort into maintaining a sneer that she did when helping a customer.

When questioned, she muttered prices and the ongoing list of cupcakes that had sold out.

Icing on the Cupcake’s website features an extensive list of flavors, miniature cupcakes called “babybites,” cookie sandwiches and bars.

Throughout the year, the cupcakes are updated with holiday and seasonal themes. In the fall and winter, Icing on the Cupcake introduces miniature pies in classic flavors such as pumpkin and pecan.

In stores however, there are only remnants of less popular flavors such as maple bacon, orange, and peanut butter and jelly.

The scarce stock would be understandable on a weekend, but 2 p.m. on a Tuesday is questionable.

To assure that certain products are available, they offer delivery with a $25 spending minimum.

Icing on the Cupcake has a twitter account specifically for Northern California. The account gives updates on features such as monthly flavors and special events.

The company’s attempts at positive customer service are notable, yet the individual bakery fails to represent those ideals. Decent business management does not excuse poor taste and surroundings.

December 2013

Page 7

tune in.

Noveller No Dreams

BY SAVITRI ASOKAN

C

sasokan.gazette@gmail.com

omposer Sarah Lipstate’s latest foray as the ambient band Noveller has resulted in the vivid, highly cinematic album No Dreams.

Opener “Fighting Sleep” functions as an introduction for the reoccurring elements of the album: low, sparse guitar, buzzing synthesizers, and, most prominently, the silence that accentuates every note As the electronic embellishments flare up and dissolve, the everpresent guitar - the backbone of the songs - squalls unceasingly.

The next track, “Manahatta,” exemplifies Noveller’s style. The airy synths create a heavy atmosphere which continues throughout the album.

Ambient music, by nature, is hard to pin down and evaluate - without lyrics to provide a general framework, all we can rely on to help us understand it is the instruments themselves.

However, this ambiguity necessitates, at least for the amateur listener,

a certain feeling of being at odds with the music.

How do we know if what we’re listening to was especially important, or just another pause among the rest? How much importance can we ascribe, really, to music that has limitations in itself?

Maybe I’m just not as attuned to the nuances of instrumental music as Lipstate expects listeners to be - but then again, I doubt most people are.

“No Dreams” is probably as close to to pop as the entire album gets; while definitely not the stereotypically catchy song, there’s something graspable, something able to be understood.

For this reason, the track is the high point of the album for new listeners, accessible and unwilling to compromise its full beauty and the same time.

The same cannot be said of the rest of the album, which progressively grows alternately more paranoid and more mournful.

While it is still skilled songwriting, the music closes itself off, and the number of prospective listeners steadily decreases.

For those with time and an open mind, No Dreams is worthy of a listen.

Sonically Sublime

Bad Blood was revealed on Oct. 22.

B+

Skip to: No Dreams

Childish Gambino Because the Internet

BY BRIAN ZHUANG

C Glassnote Ent. Group

Because the Internet hit the market Dec. 9.

A-

Skip to: Pink Toes

bzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

hildish Gambino, a relatively new artist in the rap industry, has stunned the rap audience with his new album, Because the Internet that incorporates into a masterpiece.

After listening to this album, I could really tell that each and every song had not been rushed and was quality work.

Every song has exemplary production, perfectly accompanying Gambino’s style of rap. Some songs like “Worldstar” even integrate some outside references adding more detail and complexity that is greatly appreciated.

The album’s format resembles a little bit of older Kanye West album like Late Registration in which he utilizes small skits between every three or four songs.

All of the songs are unique, embodying electronic mixed with hiphop and R&B type beats.

His seventh song “Telegraph Ave” uses a sample from Lloyd’s song “Oakland” which evokes a calm and soothing feel that is perfect for a nice night drive home. Lloyd’s sample adds an extra flare to the overall tune, enhancing the instrumental.

However, Gambino switches sides in his next song “Sweatpants”

displaying his darker, more electric, side.

Gambino does a fantastic job in making sure that he doesn’t overdo certain aspects in his songs.

His distinct style of rapping is so different from everyone in the rap industry in this era. His lyrics are not like the stereotypical rap lyrics regarding money, cars and girls, but rather about his life and issues prevalent in today’s society.

Another dark song “Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)” echoes a Drake style combined with a Kendrick Lamar instrumental and J. Cole story.

The song cuts to many skits making the “song” more like a tale of an experience.

Gambino’s explicit style exhibits his classic yet original interpretation of hip-hop.

Though he only has been rapping for eight years, after first gaining publicity through his writing of comedic skits for 30 Rock and breakthrough acting for NBC’s Community, Gambino makes music that would come from a polished rap veteran.

He ends his sophomore album with “Life the Biggest Troll (Andrew Auernheimer),” an up-tempo and rhythmic piece that sums up his overall persona.

One Direction Midnight Memories

BY EPSA SHARMA

T

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

he boys of One Direction have taken the world by storm.

They released a movie, perfume and now they have annouced dates to their first stadium tour.

They’re ending the year with a bang by releasing their third album “Midnight Memories.” The album has an edgier vibe than their previous bubble-gum pop albums.

The edgiest song on the album “Little Black Dress” incorporates electric guitar work in the chorus. It’s a feel good song that makes the listener get up dance.

One of the most emotional songs on the album “Story of My Life” will leave you in tears. The song is the album’s softer acoustic-based single.

The song isn’t about your typical boy-girl love story. The song is dedicated to their closest friends and family. It talks about appreciating the time spent with your family, because family is forever.

The song that corresponds with “Story of My Life” is “Don’t Forget Where You Belong.”

It’s a mid-tempo, soft rock song that leaves the listener wanting more.

The song is about remembering your roots and where you came from and to never let cercumstances change your perspectve on life.

One of the main tracks on the album “ Happily” has more of a Mumford and Sons vibe.

The song incorportaes a banjo in the chorus, and as odd as that sounds it works. It’s definitly one of the catchiest songs on the album.

My personal favorite song on the album is “Little White Lies.” The song has a consistent, electric-guitar-driven tune, along with an exuberant percussion melody.

The style of the lyrics are somewhat similar to their previous album “Take Me Home.” But the music is definitly more edgy, showing they’ve outgrown their cheap-pop days.

The lyrics of the chorus are incredibly catchy and the listener will contantly find themseles singing along.

The next song on the album “ You and I” is one of those sappy feel good songs that everyone can’t help but enjoy “You and I” is a soft ballad that allows the boys of One Direction to showcase their vocals.

In my opinion, One Direction did an incredible job executing their album. Its strays away from the typical “produced boy-band” sound and is so much better than their previous albums.

Sony Music Ent. UK Limited

Midnight Memories became public on Nov. 25

A+

Skip to: You & I

Pages 8 and 9

December 2013

happy holidays.

CHRISTMAS DIY: a how-to guide Make your friends the perfect personalized gift for the holidays

Mason Jar Snow Globe

BY COLLEEN VIVALDI

cvivaldi.gazette@gmail.com

Personalized Glass Ornaments

Step 1: Wipe out the inside of your jars to make sure you have a clean surface to pour your candle wax into.

You'll need: plain glass ornaments, and acrylic paint of the colors of your choice.

Step 2: Next, take your stickum and apply it to the metal base of your wick – this then sticks to the bottom of your jar to firmly hold your wick in place.

Step 1: Pop the top off and put the paint inside drop by drop, swirling, and tapping the sides to encourage the streaking affect.

Step 2: Let the ornaments rest for almost an hour just to make sure the paint settles.

Step 3: Then put the top back on and grab your favorite ribbon, burlap, or even yarn to hang your ornaments.

Step 3: Then drop your wick into your jar and center it as best you can. Use the end of the spoon to push the stickum down firm on the bottom of my jar.

Christmas Candles SUPPLIES: 1 lb bag of soy wax flakes (very easy to work with!) wax colorant; beads, bars or in liquid form candle pouring pot wicks and wick stickums wick holder sticks a wooden spoon scent oil of your choice (optional) pint sized mason jar cute material or card to finish off your candle

Step 4: Pinch your wick and hold it taut in the center of your jar while you pour in your candle wax and while it is setting.

Items Needed: Spray Paint Glitter Decorations Waterproof Glue Glycerin Baby food or mason jars Mini trees from craft stores Other decorations from craft stores Step 1: use a waterproof glue and put a drop of glue on the inside of the jar cap.

Step 2: Attach decorations to the inside of top cap.

Step 3: Let dry for however long the glue needs.

Step 5: Melt wax with heat. Stir until all your wax melts down.

Step 4: Add about a teaspoon of glitter to empty jar.

Step 6: If you are using color bricks or liquid color to color your candles, follow the instructions on the coloring packaging ~ or experiment.

Step 6: Screw on cap.

Step 7: Next, you can add your choice of scent.

Almost every major scent is now made for candle making oil.

Items Needed: Porcelain Plates Paint Sharpies

Step 8: Wait until your wax is the consistency of a Slurpie before you pour it into your jar – which normally takes about 20-30 minutes to cool to that desired texture. step 9: Pour the wax into the jar.

Step 5: Add appropriate amount of water to the jar.

Christmas Plates

Step 1: Clean plates.

Step 2: Draw or paint on plates.

Step 3: Bake in oven for 90 minutes on 160 degrees.

Gazette photo /LUKE CHIRBAS

Page 10

thespian.

December 2013

Question and answer with drama students

BY GRACE MOORE

gmoore.gazette@gmail.com

The Gazette had a conversation with three new members of the drama program at Granite Bay High School. Below is some of what they had to say. For the full interview, see GraniteBayToday.org.

Jonah Detzel, senior Gazette: Why drama?

Jonah: When I was younger, my mom used to call me a drama queen because I’d over-exaggerate everything. When I’d fall down I’d make a huge scene of it, like Steven Spielberg, I fall over and everything explodes around me.

As I got into middle school, I didn’t like any of the drama acting programs and at my old high school it wasn’t a very good program so when I got here I looked into it and I really liked it, so I immediately wanted to jump into the class.

When did you transfer here?

I transferred here in March.

Gazette: What roles have you played?

Jonah: I have been in Romeo and Juliet, and I am more than likely going to be one of the backstage managers for the next play, The Laramie Project.

Gazette: What’s the best part about being in drama?

Jonah: The best part about being in drama so far would probably have to be how quickly you can become friends with people. How quickly you can be made to feel like you fit in regardless of where you come from or how you act or your personal preferences on things or how you view things, it doesn’t matter, you make friends almost immediately.

Gazette: How have you seen that happen?

Jonah: At first when I came to this school I was expecting to not make any friends the rest of high school because I’m kind of quiet at first and I transferred here in the middle of junior year and by junior year most kids have their set group of friends and aren’t going to accept any outsiders...Within my first two weeks, I had already made some friends and I was already staying after school with them and hanging out outside of school. When Romeo and Juliet came around it was really cool ... People didn’t know it, but during the play backstage when some of us weren’t onstage we were back there being friends, playing guitar, singing, playing games, eating candy and being really rambunctious teenagers and having a good time. I liked it. I still love it.

Gazette: Do you think you’ll ever try for a lead part?

Jonah: Maybe someday I’ll step up and

be a part of it. Maybe one day I’ll join the circle of people who have been leads.

But until that day comes, I’ll stick with minor roles and offhand stuff.

Jessica Williams, freshman Gazette: Why drama?

Jessica: Because I have a lot of attitude, I’ve been told, and my siblings and friends told me I would be really good at putting my attitude into acting and singing.

Gazette: What was it like playing as a homeless child?

Jessica: It was super fun, because I didn’t have any lines so I would just sit on the stage and I had my other homeless child, Ali and we just talk onstage really quietly and people always asked me, “Are you having a real conversation or is it fake?” and I’m like, “It’s a real conversation.” It’s super fun.

Gazette: What’s the best part about being in drama?

Jessica: It’s so fun. You can just do whatever you want and be yourself and you can’t do that anywhere else in high school, because people will judge you.

Gazette: What have you done in class so far that you’ve liked?

Jessica: We play these improv games to help in situations when you don’t know what to do if someone messes up onstage and they are so fun, people say the

Jonah Detzel Jonah is a long time drama veteran, and is enjoying his final year in the program.

Jessica Williams Jessica is beginning her career in drama as a freshman.

weirdest things.

Gazette: What are your planning for the future?

Jessica: I’m going to try and do drama all four years, this is my first semester I’m doing it both semesters this year. I want to get through advanced drama and finish that. I want to be in a lot of the plays, and not just a background act.

The Laramie Project stirs controversy Production helps students think about treating others humanely

BY AKASH KHOSLA

akhosla.gazette@gmail.com

Jonah Detzel and Brittany Armstrong look on at their deceased friends in the Noir styled take on Romeo and Juliet. The play was a new take on an old classic.

Every winter, the Granite Bay High School drama program seizes the opportunity for students to direct the theater production for the season.

Three seniors, Alexa Zogopoulos, Perry Vargas and Robert De Leon, are in charge of directing the production which will be The Laramie Project: a play infamous for its spiked controversy in other parts of the states.

The story behind the play is about Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming student who was murdered for allegedly homophobic reasons. Contrarily, the theater version takes a more documented approach with coverage of the reactions of the citizens of Laramie, Wyoming.

There is a divide between several communities whenever the play is performed at a local high school or college. Often, the play is performed in areas in desperate need of a message for tolerance.

In order to pursue social justice, many schools attempt to support the play and its messages.

In certain cases, the play has been passed off as pro-gay or irrelevant to the interests to the community on other campuses. However, the drama program at GBHS has high ambitions and hopes for the production.

“I think it will mainly affect the audience in a positive way and most people will take it to heart,” Zogopoulos said.

“Especially on a high school campus when things are more controversial, it makes it even more interesting.”

Kyle Holmes, Sybil Healy and others of the community in a panel went through an evaluation process for the proposal of the winter production.

Student productions require a rigorous evaluation by the panel members. The drama students had to submit a proposal containing a plan such as budgeting and marketing strategies.

“There’s a lot of sensitive material in the show, and I don’t think it is a negative thing,” student director De Leon said. “Some people are going to have an issue anyways.”

Despite the controversy, the directors strongly emphasize the play will succeed in conveying a purposeful message.

“I’m hoping people go away from the

show with a greater understanding of how hate doesn’t just affect the victim, but the attacker and everyone around as well,” director Vargas said.

Since the play is centered on the reactions rather than the actual murder, it ultimately sets out to show the harsh reality many teenagers face today in making decisions about display their sexuality.

In attempt to create more tension and realism, the drama group will be performing the play in a total three quarters thrust. During the play, the audience will be sitting on the stage and the acting space for the drama group will be significantly smaller.

“The dynamics of the play are rather complicated,” De Leon said. “We’re working really hard to bring out everything to make it more interesting and keep the audience immersed.”

By reaching out to the community with The Laramie Project, the directors want the play to have a meaningful impact on the community.

“It’s a story about tolerance, acceptance and more so than that, anti-hate,” Kyle Holmes, the director of the Theatre Arts program, said. “Every community can benefit from a powerful piece of art that promote: a message of acceptance and anti-hate.”

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Page 11

Holiday Music Roll down your windows and cruise to these catchy tunes

December 2013

Top Tweets

The funniest tweets byGranite Bay High School students

BY MARISA THIAS

mthias.gazette@gmail.com

1. All I want for Christmas is you- Mariah Carey This catchy song is great to sing along to and makes for a great addition to your holiday playlist this winter.

2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!- Frank Sinatra This song is a classic that everyone can enjoy as the weather is getting colder.

3. White Christmas- Michael Bublé (feat. Shania Twain) This is a great song to listen to while you make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and bundle up by the fire to keep warm this year.

4.It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams A must for your winter playlist. Whether you listen to it in your car while shopping for Christmas gifts or at a holiday pary with friends, this song will really get you in the holiday spirit.

1. Arrested Development – 2003-2013

BY ZACK ZOLMER

Creator Mitchell Hurwitz’s genius comedy stars famed actors Jason Bateman and Michael Cera as two members of a hilariously dysfunctional family.

zzolmer.gazette@gmail.com

2. The League – 2009-present This crude-humored FX comedy follows the somewhat deranged and off-putting lives of members of an ultra-competitive fantasy football league.

3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 2005-present ns (III)

Brownstone Productio

This raucous comedy based in the city of Philadelphia revolves around the lives and pursuits of five socially impaired bar owners.

4. 30 Rock – 2006-2013 Actress Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the head writer of an underappreciated and underwhelming sketch comedy show.

Page 12

December 2013

’tis the season.

Gazette Photos /TAMREN JOHNK

Sugar Cookies Ingredients: - 2/3 cup butter, softened - 3/4 cup granulated sugar - 1 tsp. baking powder - 1/4 tsp. salt - 1 egg - 1 tbsp. milk

- 1 tsp. vanilla - 2 cups allpurpose flour - 1 recipe - Powdered Sugar Icing (optional) - 1 recipe Royal Icing (optional)

Red Velvet Cookies Ingredients: - 1 box red velvet cake mix - 6 tablespoons butter - 2 large eggs - 1 cup white

chocolate chips (optional) - 1 cup powdered sugar - 1 tsp cornstarch

Peppermint

Ginger Bread

Cookies

Cookies

Ingredients:

Bark Baking Bars, 3.5 oz.

- 8 oz.

- 4 tbsps.

Ghirardelli butter - 60% Cacao - 2 eggs Bittersweet - 3/4 cups Chocolate sugar Baking Chips - 1/2 cup flour - 2 Ghirardelli - 1/2 tsps.

Peppermint baking powder

&

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup molasses -1/3 cup packed brown sugar - 1/3 cup water - 1/8 cup butter, softened - 3 1/4 cups flour

- 1 tsp. baking soda - 1/2 tsp. ground allspice - 1 tsp. ground ginger - 1/2 tsp. ground cloves - 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Presents Christmas Cookies

&

Recipe Research /TAMREN JOHNK

Oh My!

Gazette illustration /Thomas Taylor

Gazette Photos /COLLEEN VIVALDI

Starbucks Tumbler

BY EPSA SHARMA

Marvel Studios

Favorite DVDs

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

A Starbucks Tumbler is a great gift for those coffee lovers.

It costs $30 and is perfect for those who constantly have a caffeinated drink in their hand.

Also with the coffee tumbler you can get free coffee during the month of January 2014, so it’s a win-win situation.

The tumblers are available in many sizes including 12 ounces, 16 ounces, 20 ounces and 24 ounces.

Target has an abundance of movies and tv-series available for only $5.

Dig through the pile of DVD’s and pick out a few of their favorites.

Everyone loves owning their favorite tv-series or movie on DVD to rewatch multiple times.

Top-grossing movies like Iron 3, Dispicable Me 2 are great options.

So getting them that would be a gift they would treasure forever.

Gift Cards One of the easiest last minute gifts to get others are gift-cards.

Find out their favorite restaurant or favorite store and go out and pick a gift-card from there.

Around $15-$30 is a suitable range for giftcard prices.

To sweeten up the gift pick out their favorite candy and add it to the gift.

The most popular places to get gift cars include Starbucks, Jamba Juice and Baskin Robbins.

Picture Frames Instead of rushing around to find a gift, spend some time searching for a quality picture of you and the person you’re buying a gift for.

Take the picture and blow it up to poster size and get a frame to put your photo in.

At Wal-Mart it costs $15 for a 20x30 photo.

The thought behind a gift like this is more important than the price.

This is thoughtful, yet does not have a numerical value behind it.

throwback.

Page 13

December 2013

Vintage Shopping Gazette illustration/TROY PAWLAK

Gazette photos /Laurel Teague

Gazette illustration/BRIAN ZHUANG

GBHS students actively look for thrifty, trendy deals locally

BY EPSA SHARMA

B

esharma.gazette@gmail.com

uying vintage clothing is a growing trend amongst many teens. The many benefits of vintage shopping include thrifty deals and unique clothing.

There are a handful of students at Granite Bay High School that are vintage shopping experts.

GBHS junior Natalie Hahn was inspired by the character of Nancy in the book series Nancy Drew, to dress vintage.

“When I was just a wee one, I read the series and fell in love with the cover photos of her in her plaid skirts, collared shorts and mid-calf dresses,” Hahn said.

GBHS junior Molly Graves was inspired by her dad because he had some cool clothes from the 70’s.

“When you go thrift shopping you can get true vintage clothes actually from the past, not imitations of the old styles,” Graves said. “Vintage shopping at thrift stores is so fun because it’s like hunting for those rare gems.”

There are many aspects of vintage shopping that differ from normal mall-shopping.

“I prefer shopping vintage over the mall because

the mall is so hectic and I can’t stand the commercialism and materialism,” Hahn said.

Sophomore Kylie Shimada was introduced to vintage shopping by her older sister. She got into vintage shopping once she realized how great the deals were.

“I started a couple years ago when I realized you don’t always have to shop at the mall,” Shimada said. “It depends what store you go to but usually the things I buy are around 5-15 dollars which is a lot better than stuff at the mall.”

The deals you get while thrifting are a hit or a miss, it usually depends on what you’re looking for.

“The places that sell top notch vintage like “your-cool-grandmas-closet” are really expensive,” Hahn said.

However the second hand stores have super inexpensive deals and sometimes the deals are just as good even on vintage items.

“I love goodwill, especially the goodwill outlet in Sacramento where you buy things by the pound,” Graves said. “I’ve got some awesome sweaters from the 90s there for a dollar and one time I found a super nice prom dress at the goodwill outlet for a dollar as well.”

One of the best places to find vintage clothing is

Thunder Horse vintage in downtown Sacramento.

There are also online vintage shopping sites.

The most popular one is Modcloth.com.

Vintage shopping is starting to get more popular.

Since vintage items are unique and cant be found at any store in the mall.

“The coolest thing I’ve bought from a thrift store has to be this electric blue crewneck fleece that has the phrase “localmotion” written in neon with neon palm trees,” said Shimada.

The one negative side to vintage shopping is that most of the time purchases are non-returnable.

Along with the non-returnable aspect, sometimes the smell of the object tens to be not as great as clothes you could get from the mall, either.

Vintage shopping is similar to a treasure hunt.

To make the most of a vintage shopping experience it’s recommended to dedicate a whole day to it. The key to success in vintage shopping is to have patience.

“At vintage shops, customers really take time to enjoy the luxury of shopping and appreciate the quality of such antiques or diamonds in the rough,” Hahn said. “Some of the coolest people I’ve ever met, I met at antique shops and costume suppliers.”

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Page 14

December 2013

Upcoming Concerts

BY MACKENZIE BRITO mbrito.gazette@gmail.com

Jeremih Saturday, December 21 The Warfield, San Francisco

Rebelution Friday, December 27 The Catalyst, Santa Cruz

Who’s Hiring

BY KEVIN BURNS

Tribal Seeds Wednesday, January 15 Ace of Spades, Sacramento

Justin Timberlake Sunday, January 19 SAP Center, San Jose

Zion I Thursday, January 30 The Assembly, Sacra-

kburns.gazette@gmail.com

CVS/Pharmacy Sales Clerk/Cashier 9280 Sierra College Blvd.

916-772-5313 PetSmart Cashier 318 N Sunrise Ave. 916-786-5512 Big 5 Cashier 1909 Douglas Blvd.

916-773-4773

Gazette photo /AUSTIN ALcaine

Recipe of the Month: 3 Step Nutella Hot Chocolate

BY KENNEDY BELL

kbell.gazette@gmail.com

Ingredients: Milk (Whole milk for best consistency) 2-3 tbsp Nutella Whipped cream Chocolate bar

Directions: 1. Heat milk on the stove in a small sauce pan until boiling.

2. Put Nutella into an empty mug. Pour in the boiling milk.

3. Add whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate chunks, and chocolate shavings.

Gazette photo /KENNEDY BELL

Eccosse films

Rated: PG-13 By: Thomas Taylor ttaylor.gazette@gmail.com

the hunger games catching fire: A

ast years extremely popular movie, The Hunger Games, received a fiery sequel in The Hunger Games: Catching fire.

The movie ignited a lot of interest from lovers of Suzanne Collin’s writings and from those who were exposed to the first story, The Hunger Games, witnessed the full-fledged action of the dystopian universe.

Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role as the tough and secluded Katniss Everdeen. In the last movie, she fought for her own survival to protect her family.

This time, director Francis Lawrence, was able to portray Katniss as a woman for the first time, as opposed to a violent ticking time bomb.

Lawrence’s acting skills have improved drastically since she last strung Katniss’s bow. Her acting conveyed more believable feelings and I was able to connect with her on more levels because her character faced more difficulties at the hands of the devious capital.

The rest of the cast was there to support Katniss in every sense-Haymitch and Effie provided needed levity, while Peeta’s performance was rather lackluster.

Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, was a one dimensional love puppy lusting after Katniss despite her evident disdain for him.

This disdain did not last as Katniss began to realize her complicated love triangle with the handsome and trustworthy Gale.

Towards the end of the movie, Katniss settled for Peeta, but sadly he was cruelly torn from her in a classic cliffhanger ending.

The classic adage, “the book is always better than the movie,” may have been burned by this movie. The movie fearlessly dived into the excess and loss of control in the empire, and just like the movie preceding it, portrayed the cole miners of District 12 as lifeless slaves of the empire’s frivolity. The last time a movie showed coal miners in such a cold light was the fantastic Jake Gyllenhaal movie October sky.

With such an explosive ending, I’m curious to see if this movie series goes out in flames or burns out just like the books. Either way, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a fantastic portrayal of our dystopian future.

T

NEW LINE CINEMA

he Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is possibly the worst movie I have ever seen: The plot is virtually nonexistent, characters don’t just lack depth but even basic characterization, and cheese, bad costumes and bad cinematography abound.

First scene, Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins, in strikingly Halloween-ish costumes, sit down in a pub to discuss their plans. I never found out what exactly those were, though, since the conversion was completely incoherent.

What follows is a completely forgettable series of fantastical misadventures of a gang of even more forgettable characters. They run into a bear-man, giant spiders, an eerie, magical-looking forest and more.

Maybe part of Smaug’s ineffectiveness is that its costumes aren’t the only thing that look totally fake. The terrifying Orks of Lord of the Rings have become cartoon characters, and each elaborate set looks like it’s from a video game.

There’s not really a purpose for anything in this movie.

In one scene in the midst of the violent ones, Baggins sticks out his head from the treetops and marvels at the beauty of a nearby lake. Pretty leaves swirl around him, seeming blatantly to be a, “Look, 3D!” moment for those of whom actually spent the extra dollars – a prime example of 3D at the expense of quality.

I general, Smaug tries to get a reaction without putting in the work.

In fact, it seems like they tried to make a movie without putting in any of the work.

Not to mention its cheap attempts at copying any successful techniques from Lord of the Rings – its music, sweeping shots of nature, sub-plots.

I don’t know whether Smaug the egotistical talking dragon was actually part of the original The Hobbit’s plot, but he doesn’t help.

The cliffhanger ending after two hours and fourty minutes of torture made me want to scream.

Rated: PG-13 By: Meredith Dechert mdechert.gazette@gmail.com

the hobbit the desolation of smaug: F

L

Page 15

film.

T

chartoff productions

he Book Thief is one of the most artistic films I’ve seen in my movie-going experience. It’s extremely original, there is nothing like it in the film market.

Now, it wouldn’t have been this superb on its own. It was adapted from a stellar novel.

The film is based off Markus Zusak’s thrilling novel. Having read it several years ago, I was quite pleased when I heard that a film was going to be made of it, and at the same time I was interested to see how the producers and screenwriters would go about it, for the book is an incredibly dense piece of work.

Fortunately, the film does not disappoint. As always, reader-viewers have a tentative fear that the film will not do the book justice. Well, I shall ease your anxieties now, have no fear.

While the film is not perfect, it’s close to perfect to the readers’ imagination, as you can get in novel adaptations, especially for a novel as convoluted as The Book Thief.

Not a detail (even the ones the reader themselves forgot) was overlooked. The casting of actors was sublime, the German accents were spot-on. The length of the film sometimes stretched, but it was never an issue.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death, who tells the tale of our young heroine, Liesel Meminger.

The film is set in Germany WWII, in a little town called Molching. Liesel arrives in Molching to meet her new foster parents, and we follow her as she adapts to her new life. However, she is faced with a dilemma. At ten years old, she can’t read, and it’s something she desperately wants to do.

Upon realizing it, her foster father, Hans Hubermann (Geoffrey Rush) takes it upon himself to teach her how to read and soon becomes one of the most important people in Liesel’s life.

Gradually, Liesel becomes fascinated with words; they are something wondrous for her, and she can’t get enough of books. She often steals books to read, since due to tough war times, her family can’t afford to buy any. Hence, her nickname, The Book Thief.

The literary world helps Liesel through times of strife and suffering; they are like magic to her.

The film is a gem, and should be seen on the big screen. Oscars, for your consideration, please.

Rated: PG-13 By: Kiana Okhovat kokhovat.gazette@gmail.com

the book thief: A+

December 2013

Page 16

shining bright.

December 2013

Light Up the Night

BY MARY FRANCES HANSEN mfhansen.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE

Every house in Dovewood Court in Orangevale is decorated with a huge amount of bright lights and decorations, which could be spotted from a couple miles away. Many adults and children choose to walk through the court to look at the lights, but to also buy knick-knacks and treats. Many houses in the court also collect canned foods from their visitors to donate to charity.

Almost every house on Pebble Creek Drive in Rocklin is decorated in a different Disney or cartoon theme. These houses portray their theme through their lights, handmade decorations, and music. Some of the houses in this neighborhood hand out hot chocolate to everyone walking through, which makes for an enjoyable experience.

The entrance of Hidden Lakes Estates in Granite Bay is decorated with various types of lights and ribbons. Many of these houses also decorate their trees and bushes making it exciting to walk around to see all of the lights. On Christmas Eve, every house participates by lining their driveway and sidewalk with candles called Luminaries. Many people choose to walk around the neighborhood to enjoy looking at the Luminaries and lights.

Similar to Hidden Lakes Estates, Folsom Lakes Estates in Granite Bay sits on top of a hill, which makes it easy to drive around to see all the decorated houses. Not only are you able to see all the lights, but the skyline of Sacramento is also visible from this neighborhood.

Gazette photos /COLLEEN VIVALDI