MEET THE NEW INTERIM PRINCIPAL SEPTEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 1
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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM
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CLASSES CUT AND TEACHERS MOVED
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MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL | 21801 44TH AVE. W MOUNTLAKE TERRACE WA 98043
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REMINDER: Directions for the Hawkeye Handbook are on page 2 of this issue – your guide to MTHS.
2 | SEPTEMBER 2017
Directions for the Hawkeye Handbook on pages 7 through 14
Hawkeye
1. Take out the middle two pages and lay them opened flat (so you see pages 10 and 11) 2. Fold (from left to right) and touch the star to the star. 3. Fold the square over to touch the other square (left to right) 4. Be sure that the pages are all aligned, then cut down the dotted line leaving some space at the edge of the page. (Cut from the right to left, as shown, leaving space at the edge of the left side.) 5. Now fold the bottom heart to the top heart. 6. Align the page edges once more and cut down the dotted line. 7. Staple the left side and you have your book!
Hawkeye
Contents September
2017
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 3 HAWKEYE LEADERSHIP ‘17-’18
15
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Sierra Clark Vivian Nowka-Keane Editorial News Editor Nolan Degarlais Sports Editor Kennedy Cooper and Sarah Davis Op/Ed Editor Marianne Nacanaynay Lifestyle Editor Annika Prom Business General Manager Ben Eyman Distribution Manager Open
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Visual Graphics Editor Tessa King Photo Editor Harper Thomas and Jacob Allard Design Editor Open VIVIAN NOWKA-KEANE | HAWKEYE
TESSA KING | HAWKEYE
COURTESY OF MARK BURBANK
6 TSA goes to Orlando 15 Courtesy meals are canceled 16 Life Skills curriculum implemented 18 Classroom student minimum 19 Overcrowded classes at MTHS
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19 TESSA KING | HAWKEYE
Name in bold indicates the staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board. ....................................................... Advisers Vince DeMiero and Mike McLaughlin FANs Coordinators Sandra Merten & Cathy Fiorillo Printing Pacific Publishing Member
TESSA KING | HAWKEYE
Letter from the Editor
Pursue your true passions D
o you feel stuck in something you don’t enjoy? Well, you’ve come to the right place because I have some advice to give. To you, and myself. Quit. If what you’re doing is causing more harm than good, quit. Quit Sierra Clark unapologetiCO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF cally. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it, just simply talk to a boss, advisor, editor, manager or whoever and quit. There is literally no reason to sit doing something you hate every single day and dream of doing something else. Don’t do something you hate for the money, not for the reputation, not for your parents; do whatever you want for you. If you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else, then there really isn’t an excuse.
If you want to be a cosmetologist, do it. Watch videos, read articles, do hair and makeup on yourself and friends. Take classes, talk to professionals and work towards it. You want to do be a musician? Pick up your instrument, warm up your vocals and practice. Perform at school, local events, even go an do karaoke. Post videos on social media, get your name and talent out there. One of my teachers, Angelo Comeaux, told me to never put my art on the side, that it should always be my main priority if it’s something I want to pursue and I’ve been thinking about that a lot. (Also, quick shoutout to Erin Grambush, my sophomore year AP European History teacher, for always looking at my art and listening to me. You’re the real MVP. I also want to take a second to appreciate my Algebra 2 teacher from last year, David Assink, for helping me out when I
MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, Student Press Law Center, Tao of Journalism
needed it throughout the day. There are always teachers hiding behind class titles that are truly there to help you.) Even more socially acceptable jobs are reasonably attainable if you work towards them, such as a doctor, an engineer or a teacher. But, if you’re not planning on going to a four year university, I’ll be honest and say you are going to have to put in a little more effort in planning your future without the help of the school, but it’s completely possible. As my dad would put it, “don’t stress out about things you can’t control and just focus on yourself.” This means that not everyone will enjoy or support what you want to do, but it’s not something you can control. So, just work on getting better at what you want to do and pursue it with determination and a goal in mind. H
Contact Us Email editor@thehawkeye.org Phone 425.431.5058 Website www.thehawkeye.org Mail Hawkeye Room 130 c/o Mountlake Terrace High School 21801 44th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
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Online Online Manager Open Data Manager Sam Johnson Audio/Video Manager Open .................................................... 2017-2018 Hawkeye Staff Alice Sampson, Annabeth Woodard, Cameron Suraci, Charlotte King, Christen Spadavecchia, Ciara Laney, Derek Nguyen, Emma Holbrook, Erin Martino, Ethan Dunne, Flynn Thomas, Gavin Norley, Hank Belanger, Ian Dortsch, Jenny Tran, Jonathan Kwong, Josh Setala, Josh Talley, Kennedy Cooper, Lexi Dellinger, Maria Hernandez, Matthew Hipolito, Meghan Park, Memphis Ramerman, Nhung Lam, Praditha Halstad, Praise Jingjit, Robert Krieger, Samantha Svikel, Semira Beraki, Teresa Bonilla, Trinity Alber, Victoria Henry, Vito Sparapano and Yannie Tran
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Mission Statement The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. In policy and in practice since 1960, the Hawkeye is a designated open forum publication.
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The Hawkeye has established several open public forums for the exchange of information, opinions and artistic expression dedicated to those in the MTHS community. Since 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as an open, public forum where student editors make all decisions. Editorials The editorial section of the Hawkeye serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Hawkeye Editorial Board. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. The Hawkeye will print submitted guest editorials as space allows and requests that all contributors include their name, signature and position relative to the editorial. The Hawkeye will edit all submissions for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any submission. Letters to the Editor Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section, a public forum for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Hawkeye will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Hawkeye will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter. Editorial Cartoons Submissions represent the view of the artist. Editorial cartoons accompanying editorials and editorial columns represent the view of the author. Cartoons are selected based on appropriateness and clarity of message. Advertising The Hawkeye will not accept any advertising that the Editorial Board deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teens to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Hawkeye reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. Revised 9/2013
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OP/ED
4 | SEPTEMBER 2017
HERE TO SERVE YOU I
’m Eugene Seubert, your new ASB Big 6 Treasurer. I was appointed by the Executive ASB (better known as Big 6) since nobody ran last year. Since I didn’t campaign, I would like to tell you a little about myself and what I want to do for the school. I’m an MTHS senior in the biotech pathway STEM student. I try to use the knowledge I gain from school, lessons in life, work, activities, and more, to help as much as I can. That’s the reason why ASB Eugene Seubert ASB TREASURER even knew me; I’ve helped with the sound and technology for past assemblies. Although I have had an official position with ASB, I have been a member of STEM leadership and am currently Vice President of the Robotics club here at Terrace. You may also see me at the Lynnwood pool giving lessons on how not to drown (harder than it sounds), or just lifeguarding. I’m a pretty friendly guy and always open to hear what you have to say about our school, ASB, or anything that’s on your mind. These are your high school years and it’s important to me that they are something that you remember for the better. Expanding on that earlier point, my number one priority is to serve you. Not only is that a priority of mine, but it should be and is ASB’s. ASB is an organization by the students for
the students, and our goal as an ASB is to create a positive experience and climate in the school for you. I want to make sure we’re also accessible and available to you students, this way we can actually know what we need to do as an ASB, what we’re doing great, and what we’re doing terribly. Sure, there are things that we can’t do, but there are definitely things that is our duty to get done. Whether the problem is that there is a student lonely at lunch or an entire club or sport feeling like they don’t get enough recognition, we need to make sure we’re addressing it. I want to make sure that we are focusing on your concerns and not just ours or what we think might be your concerns. Now some of you may be asking why I took this position, considering already how involved I am in the school. Other than just having the privilege to work with an awesome team and amazing organization of students who really care, I want to contribute to problem solving an already difficult year. With the transition of an interim principal, different teachers leaving, even classes or clubs being cut or losing funding, ASB struggling sometimes to even have enough funds for certain activities, and some students feeling disconnected from the school, I believe I can help our outstanding team of six bring a sense of a security to this quite possibly hectic year. That being said, we can’t loose the energy and momentum of accomplishments we’ve made last year: there are just too many to even list! I’ve never been more proud to call
Why student journalism? I
f you’ve ever met me, you know I am a writer. On any given day, I’m using five to ten different notebooks, each with their own purpose to help organize my thoughts. Then there are the various untitled documents in my Google Drive with stories and plans for podcast episodes, articles and more. I’m obsessive, but of course, there are worse things to be obsessed with and I could always be more obsessive. With that, journalism’s a pretty good place to put myself to use. And over the years I’ve learned that I’m in a fantastically unique position. We’re living in a politically charged time with news every second, but also in an era where we can reach millions of people with a single word. Marianne Nacanaynay I remember one of Hawkeye’s advisers, Vince DeMiero, saying, OP/ED EDITOR “You’re not a student journalist. You’re a journalist who just happens to be a student,” or something like that. But the label of being a student journalist has been both my friend and my enemy. For example, when I’m requesting interviews from people all over the social ladder, I’ve noticed many of them tend to be more inclined to respond when I tell them I’m a reporter for a high school student publication. They probably see it as me being this kid who wants to pursue some dream of hers, and who’s going to turn down a kid? Many of them like helping students and are sometimes taken aback by the questions I and others have asked because they don’t sound like questions a kid would ask — they sound like questions a journalist working in mainstream media would ask. And when I was able to cover the Trump rally in Everett in August last year, I met a freelance photographer and a reporter for a local paper who were surprised to see someone my age covering an event that big. I noted the double takes from mainstream journalists when I took a seat in the back of the media pit, and yes, I did smirk when the Secret Service agent asked the mainstream journalist behind me to pull out a press pass like the one I had hanging around my neck. So in those moments, being a student journalist was my friend. It’s my shelter, and it’s my advantage. It’s an advantage I use because it has gotten me places, stories and perspectives I otherwise might not have gotten were I five years older. But in a sense, it has also been my demise. Most events won’t let student journalists in because their press policy is 18 and older, which I understand but wish weren’t used for events like the Sounders landing in Boeing Field after winning the MLS Cup.
Hawkeye myself a Hawk now, and you should be too. Now, Hawks, that’s enough about me. I need your help though. With all these goals and the year slated out how it is, ASB needs your input now more than ever. Email us, drop a suggestion in the suggestion box, or stop on by the Big Six office and tell us how we’re doing. I want to know what we can do better to make this year phenomenal. I also have a huge challenge to you all. Too often do we see ourselves as divided or a part of a certain club ,or sport, or just a student that shows up to class. Sometimes we also forget that we are all human, whom are experiencing or have experienced hardships in life. Some kids have enough problems to face at home and need some kind of sanctuary. My challenge to you, Hawks, is to make a place where you all belong. Where nobody is afraid to call themselves a Mountlake Terrace Hawk, that we are all proud of the school we come from and take pride in the community we live in. Whether it be holding the door open for someone with a smile, helping a fellow student out of a tough situation, saying “Hi” to as many other people as you can, inviting that one kid that sits alone to sit at your table for lunch, something little or big, I want you to not only make this the best year for yourself, but the best year for everyone else too. Thank you Hawks for this wonderful privilege to serve as your ASB Treasurer and as always: Go Hawks. H NOTE: The Hawkeye provides the ASB space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum.
Regardless, I’m taking and using the benefits of being a student who happens to be a journalist, along with many of my peers and students I’ve met from across the country. The work we do is important, and the work adults do to help foster our passions is just as important. Student journalists have always been proof that students have a voice; social media and the internet has just helped in making our voices louder. There’s no silencing us. But there have been tries to, and many of them have been successful in a school setting. Across the United States, several student publications are under prior review and/or restraint. Prior review gives administration at a school the right to read material before it gets published and approve or disapprove it. Even more restrictive, prior restraint gives administration the authority to completely pull articles and issues from publication at all. These actions can cause publications to lose an audience and revenue. Only a handful of states, both red and blue, have legislation in place to protect both high school and college journalists. Washington state is not one of those. Last school year, Washington was working to get Senate Bill 5064 passed, which would’ve worked to extend protection of student journalists both at a high school and college level, as well as protecting their advisers and schools/districts. The bill didn’t pass, but it got farther through the government process than it has in years before — and if someone else doesn’t push for a better bill, then I will. At its core, this column is a plea. It’s a plea to you to support student journalists like myself and those who produce content for the Hawk Student Media Program (HSMP) so we can keep producing great content. We’re not competing with any other publication like mainstream corporations do. We’re the ones covering the news at MTHS and its surrounding community, and we’re the ones who aren’t just spouting opinions on stories without getting facts and verifying our information to the best of our ability. (To clarify, this is a column — an opinion piece. If you want to read the news, go to our website or keep reading this issue in other sections.) The HSMP is not currently under prior review or restraint. We intend to keep it that way. But we’re well aware of our friends at other schools and in other districts who are under extensive prior review and restraint. They need your support just as much as we do in hopes of passing legislation that enables student publications to exercise free speech. So here’s to a new school year, hopefully a new piece of legislation and another year of great journalism. Whatever you decide to label us as, we’ll be busy doing our job. Enjoy the September issue of the Hawkeye. H EDITOR’S NOTE: The full version of this story can be found online at www.thehawkeye.org
Hawkeye
FEATURE
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 5
Schellenberg takes on Terrace
By Marianne Nacanaynay OP/ED EDITOR
Greg Schellenberg’s 30-seconds or so introduction is straightforward enough — a reprise of his resume. Schellenberg was hired over the summer as the interim principal for Mountlake Terrace, a position that means Schellenberg is taking on principal duties for the school year while the district looks for other candidates to permanently fill the position after Greg Schwab’s departure to fill a district superintendent position after a 13-year run. Schellenberg’s first impression of the school was, “It was empty. My very first day here was July 24, and there was really, honestly, nobody here.” He met and toured the vacant school with Schwab. “It was on that tour that [Schwab’s] pointing at a room and saying all the great things that happen in the room… so that was an impressive introduction to the school,” Schellenberg said. While Schellenberg lives in the area now, much of his experience as principal comes from international schools. “It started [in] 2000, 2001, my wife and I before kids; we taught at some American schools, and one of them was in China, and another was in Saudi Arabia,” Schellenberg said. One of Schellenberg’s favorite memories of teaching abroad comes from Saudi Arabia, his first principal job. He was living in a remote part of the desert and had to return to school. On his way, he saw people from all backgrounds — “there were kids, there were gardeners, there were Muslims, Schellenberg stepped in over the summer, filling in the shoes of former prinicpal, also named Greg and 6’8”. JACOB ALLARD | HAWKEYE there were Christians” — playing a game of soccer on a field of dust. “We enjoyed our experience, but we returned back [to With a reputation of having strong programs such as music “They were just… playing this fun, little game of soccer Washington] to have our own kids and to start a family.” and STEM, Schellenberg hopes to help those groups conthat was competitive, but there were high-fives and some His return was short-lived; soon after, his family made tinue to progress and improve, “but also to be a taker, and to hugs,” Schellenberg said. “And it really struck me, you know, the move overseas where his sons received their education learn and observe and marvel in what’s really good about this ‘Wow, governments could learn from this.’ The dust with the through international schools from kindergarten to fifth school.” H sunset and the competition and the camaraderie was — it grade. “Oftentimes, they were the only native English speakreally stood out to me.” ers in the classroom, and when we were living in Thailand, Schellenberg also noted the diversity of a Shanghai high they were participating in Buddhist ceremonies that were school he was principal of with students of almost 80 differpart of the school,” Schellenberg said. ent nationalities. For now, Schellenberg and his family are back in “There was one boy from Madagascar, and one girl from Washington. Having just celebrated his Belgium, but they’re coming in almost like [the] United 18 year anniversary with his wife and Nations representing their country,” Schellenberg said. his twin sons completing a year of midBut being in education abroad comes with its own challeng- dle school in Lake Washington, they’ve es. “You can do anything. There’s not state mandates. There’s started to settle. “[My sons are] just lovHello Hawks. I am grateful for the warm not external assessments that you have to pass, and so you ing life here,” Schellenberg said. welcome I’ve received coming in as interim get to create your own,” Schellenberg said. “And while that is Schellenberg had worked in middle principal this year at MTHS. The high level fun, and that sounds fantastic, it’s also a lot of work and a lot schools for thirteen years before moving of student to student care and support I’ve of hard decisions [to make].” to the high school scene in 2003. observed for 9th graders and new students has With working abroad also comes experience with differAs for his own high school experiimpressed me. The ’17-’18 school year is off to a positive beginning. ent cultures. “Things don’t work in China or in Thailand as ence, Schellenberg filled his time with This school year is my 27th year in education and my 17th as a school adminthey do here, and they shouldn’t, but it’s different, and it’s not extracurriculars, doing band for a year, a istrator. Prior to Mountlake Terrace, I have been a principal in Gig Harbor and right or wrong,” Schellenberg said. few AP classes, student government and Sammamish, Wash. Additionally, I have been a school administrator abroad in But with his international excursions comes lessons of basketball. American-style schools in China, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. I encourage every empathy and compassion; Schellenberg said he felt that “I was 6’ 8” and built like a pencil,” student to pursue an activity at school and find a connection to develop your working in another country makes it easier for him to put Schellenberg said. “I was really active in interests. Here’s to a great year! H NOTE: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Administration space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our himself in the shoes of immigrants coming to the United my school and really enjoyed the high mission as a designated open public forum. States. school experience.”
A word from the interim principal
6 | SEPTEMBER 2017
LIFESTYLE
Hawkeye
FIRST NATIONAL WIN FOR TSA By Nolan Degarlais
The Structural Design and Engineering team was tasked with building a model Members of the MTHS Technology bridge that could hold the most mass in proStudent Association (TSA) attended the portion to its weight and the Animatronics 2017 National TSA Conference at the team was tasked with constructing an aniRosen Shingle Creek hotel in Orlando, matronic device that could fulfill a specific Florida from June 21-25. Eight sophomores function, a task task involved both programand three freshmen during the 2016-17 ming and design. The Animatronics team school year, accompanied by advisors James built an animatronic alligator, which can be Wilson and Mark Burbank, competed in viewed on display at MTHS TSA events. 14 different events against more than 6,000 Other events that members of the other students from across the United MTHS TSA chapter competed in included States, Germany, Turkey and Japan. Biotechnology Design, Coding, Debating Two MTHS teams placed in the top 10 for Technological Issues, Dragster Design, their events and got onto the finalist stage, Essays on Technology, Engineering where they received their awards from the Design, On Demand Video, Photographic national TSA in front of all of the students Technology, Prepared Presentation, and advisers in attenScientific Visualization, dance. Software Development and “The most important part of attending Sophomores Reiden Technology Bowl. the conference, in Chea and Sophie Though the members of my opinion, was the Burbank achieved first MTHS TSA placed in opportunity to work as a place in the nation many of their events, they team and family.” in Structural Design not only gained the physiReiden Chea and Engineering while cal rewards that came with TSA TREASURER Reiden Chea and felplacing nationally, but they low sophomores Dior gained useful personal Nazarov, Matthew Khajehpour, Robert experiences from the competitions that they Krieger and Reece Newhouse achieved ninth feel they can apply during the coming school place in the nation in Animatronics. All year to further improve their events. team members who placed were awarded “As with other people on this trip, I national finalist pins and the first place team learned a lot about the competition,” said in Structural Design and Engineering took former MTHS TSA president and curhome the national championship trophy for rent Treasurer Reiden Chea. “For one, our MTHS. chapter as a whole learned that age and
experience are not definitive barriers; our Chea said. Structures team blew away the competition, This was the second year in a row memyet both team members are sophomores. bers of MTHS TSA attended a national Our Animatronics team, completely made TSA conference, with Chea and Trevor up of inexperienced first year sophomores, Doan attending the 2016 National TSA took ninth place on stage. We learned that Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Both as long as we put in our students attended this “For one, our chapter as best work, effort, creyear’s national conference a whole learned that age ativity and more, there as well, with some students’ and experience are not are no barriers to stop motivation for attending definitive barriers.” us from succeeding.” the conference, such as Reiden Chea Some, such as MTHS Chea, being to improve TSA TREASURER TSA secretary Dylan upon their performance Breuer, believed comfrom last year’s conference peting with their events nationally has made and hopefully place in the top three in their them better prepared to compete in those events. events in the future, at all levels of competi“To be honest, last year’s loss was definitely tion. Students such as Breuer have analyzed the driving factor for attending the national their events and identified ways in which conference, for me,” Chea said. “At the previthey can do better in the future, in the hopes ous national conference, my partner and I of becoming a national finalist. received fourth place, only losing third place “I plan to use the scores from the event by three-tenths of a point… However, this and focus on [the] weak spots. I know past year, my partner and I built over ten Biotechnology Design’s weak spot was the unique structures and tested each one to display board, so I’m gonna see if I can get improve upon the next iteration in preparahelp [from a teacher with the display board’s tion for the national conference. As a result, design]... For the portfolio, it was a matter we received first place with more than a ten of [needing] more editing, so we will have to point lead over second place; a considerable start [editing] immediately after [the state amount [for a TSA competition].” conference] to improve our projects,” Breuer Besides their competitions, TSA members said. had many other things to do at the conMTHS TSA members also gained team ference, including general sessions which experience and bonding through working featured news and information about the with each other to complete their projects national TSA as well as other presentations and staying in a hotel with each other for the national TSA leadership felt was relevant nearly a week. TSA student to the theme of the conference, “Defining leaders believe they can bring Your Future.” the chapter closer together The first general session featured an interwith this experience from the view between the national TSA president, conference and work more Jack Crawford, and the founder of Rosen closely with each other over Hotels and Resorts, Harris Rosen. Rosen the coming school year so told the story of how he worked his way up they can improve their events through the world of business to found his through the feedback of other own hotel company and achieve great succhapter members. cess. “The most important part of TSA members could also attend various attending the conference, in seminars hosted by the national TSA, which my opinion, was the opporfocused on student leadership and the new tunity to work as a team and TSA leadership program, LEAP. family. We worked hard to The day after the end of the conference, ensure everybody met their MTHS TSA members got to have a day for deadlines, made any [necesthemselves at Universal Studios Orlando, sary] last minute changes to where they split up into groups and got to their projects and so forth. have free range of two out of the three theme We will be sure to carry on parks: Islands of Adventure and Hollywood what we have learned [from Studios. After this, the MTHS TSA memthe conference] into our bers flew back into Washington on June 27. Back row: Matthew Khajehpour, Delaney Harrell, Nolan DeGarlais, Dylan Breuer, Robert Krieger, Reece Newhouse. chapter next year to further H Front row: Sophie Burbank, Reiden Chea, Trevor Doan, Dylan Costinett, Michael Malysh. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK improve the leadership capaBURBANK bilities of our members,” NEWS EDITOR
Gym Locker Combo
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Teacher Policies
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Printing in the library
The school library has a solution for students who have forgotten to print their essays or don’t have access to a printer at home. With a small fee of 5 cents a page, students can print in the library using their Chromebooks or one of the many desktops that are available. Each year, students start out with a dollar in their account, but it’s important to keep track of the account, because it can run out pretty quickly. If students run out of money on their account, a check or cash can be taken to the fines office, across from the main office. Sandy Merten, the fines manager, will put add the funds to your account and you will get a receipt. Showing this receipt to one of our librarians will get the money loaded onto the account. When students need to print a document, they just need to download it as a pdf and go to the https://papercut.edmonds.wednet.edu:9192/app login and upload it. Then, make sure the printer selected is “Mountlake Terrace High Library.” Next, submit and go to the library to pick up what was printed.
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One of the best ways to spend your after-school hours is in a club. Whether you enjoy building, community service, business, design or art, there’s a club where you can dedicate your time and develop useful skills. A full list of clubs that MTHS currently offers and each clubs advisor is available through the school website. Most clubs are open to join any time of the year, just ask the advisor. If you’re interested or just curious about a club, find someone who’s in the leadership of that club, or even a member and ask about Examples of skills that can be learned: Organization Time management Leadership Compassion Teamwork The design process Photography Writing Engineering Art
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A = 4.0 A- = 3.7 B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B = 2.7 C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7 D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 F = 0, NO CREDIT “I” = INCOMPLETE WD = WITHDRAWN NO CREDIT
Some students will struggle to remember their locker combination or class schedule for weeks until it all comes together, which is normal because of the new environment. For the students who have yet to remember, there is hope. Customize a phone background with a personals schedule and locker combination. Some students will simply keep a list with their schedule and locker combination in the front of their binder.
Locker Combination
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PERIOD 1: 7:20-8:14 PERIOD 2: 8:19-9:13 PERIOD 3: 9:18-10:18 PERIOD 4A: 10:23-11:17 PERIOD 4B: 10:58-11:52 PERIOD 5: 11:57-12:51 PERIOD 6: 12:56-1:50
• You don’t have to hike down to the bathrooms in the main hallways. The closest bathroom to you might just be up or down the stairs in a side hallway. • The Naturescape was developed as an outdoor classroom in the early ’90s and is intended to house species native to the area. The dirt excavated from the old MTHS was dumped onto the Naturescape. • Biology teacher Jonathan Tong reported seeing frogs and salamanders there before, albeit rarely. The stream there drains into Scriber Creek. However, students are not permitted to enter the Naturescape during school hours unless they have permission. • The greenhouse that is connected to rooms 122 and 123 grows plants used in biology classes, such as elodea and geranium. • The towel dispenser in the boys’ bathroom by Ellinger’s room is often broken. • The science closet in the science hallway is restricted to teachers only. Inside are various dissected species and one might see a dissected kitten in a jar, which Tong claims wasn’t his doing. • Connecting the music and STEM hallway is a stair case that is restricted to students. If you’re rushing to get from band to Introduction to Engineering Design, go around! • The storage closet located next to room 115 and the studio used to house Seattle’s Best Coffee when MTHS used to sell it.
PERIOD 1: 7:20-8:08 PERIOD 2: 8:13-9:01 PASS: 9:06-9:43 PERIOD 3: 9:48-10:36 PERIOD 4A: 10:41-11:29 PERIOD 4B: 11:16-12:04 PERIOD 5: 12:09-12:57 PERIOD 6: 1:02-1:50
PASS
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Locker Decorating
There’s are very few technical rules when it comes to decorating and personalizing a locker. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to decorate their lockers, but it’s nice to be able to catch a glimpse of something to enjoy when stopping by on a tough day. There’s the obvious: No swearing, nudity, gore, etc. If it follows the school rules, it should be fine. As long as the decoration can be removed, it’s acceptable. Then, it’s really free terrain: Stickers: Put stickers on the inside of the door. If you’re willing to put in the effort of taking them off, complaints are rare. Stickers are removable with nail polish remover as well! Shelves: locker shelves are great for books and binders that can’t all fit in one section, or the locker can be divided based on when a student visits their locker to switch out items. Whiteboard: While not for everybody, whiteboards can be used for reminders on homework, a quick note-to-self, daily planner and more. It’s all up to the student and their preference. Posters: Bands, artists, TV shows, art and more. Even printing off photos and taping them onto a locker door can be something nice to see between classes Magnets: The easier to remove sticker option. Mirrors: Just to check on hair, makeup or anything else.
Cross Country Varsity District Championship @SWHS 10:00 AM
SATURDAY OCTOBER 28TH
Football Varsity vs. Shorecrest Away @SHRINSTD 8:00 PM
FRIDAY OCTOBER 27TH
Women’s Swim Varsity JV Last Chance Invite Away
THURSDAY OCTOBER 26TH
Football Frosh vs. Mariner Away @GODDARD 5:30 PM
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25TH
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Affordable school supplies LESS EXPENSIVE SUPPLIES THAT ARE OF HIGHER QUALITY Muji Daiso Aliexpress Amazon Paper source Look for the sales University Bookstore Mill Creek Town Center Sale
LESS EXPENSIVE BASIC SUPPLIES Staples Walmart
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PERIOD 1: 7:20-8:04 PERIOD 2: 8:09-8:53 ASSEMBLY: 8:58-9:58 PERIOD 3: 10:03-10:47 PERIOD 4A: 10:52-11:36 PERIOD 4B: 11:27-12:11 PERIOD 5: 12:16-1:00 PERIOD 6: 1:05-1:50
Assembly Schedule
Football Frosh vs. Mariner Away @GODDARD 5:30 PM
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25TH
Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Oak Harbor Away @OHHS 7:30 PM Girl Volleyball Varsity vs. Marysville Getchell Away @MGHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Marysville Getchell Away @MGHS 5:15 PM C vs. Marysville Getchell Away @MGHS 5:15 PM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 24TH
Women’s Swim Varsity District Dive Qualifier @KHS 10:00 AM Varsity Edmonds District Meet @LYNNPOOL 2:45 PM Women’s Volleyball JV Bothell JV Tournament @BOTHELL Cross Country Varsity Wesco Divisional Meet @LWHS 10:00AM
SATURDAY OCTOBER 21ST
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21 Quiet places to do homework, study or do projects
Barnes and Noble Bookstore The cafe can get loud depending on if an event is taking place, or the day and time. Libraries Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace are the closest to the school. Urban City Can get crowded pretty quickly due to a small, but comfortable building. Starbucks in Cedar Plaza There tend to be smaller crowds, and it includes all the classic coffee shop study sounds.
Bathroom or locker between classes?
With just five minutes to pack up, walk across the school and sit down in your next class, it can be stressful. To take one more weight off underclassmen’s shoulders, either take the time to go to the bathroom or your locker. It is possible to do neither, one or the other, but never both. To make it a bit easier, plan locker trips throughout the day. Go to your locker on the way to lunch. This will provide plenty of time to grab books or supplies for the last two or three periods of the day and keep organized. Stop by before and after school If these are the only time a student stops by their locker, their bag may get heavy, but cycling through papers in binders and/or notebooks can lighten things up.
10
PERIOD 1: 7:20-7:45 PERIOD 2: 7:50-8:15 PERIOD 3: 8:20-8:45 PERIOD 4: 8:50-9:15 PERIOD 5: 9:20-9:45 PERIOD 6: 9:50-10:15
Early Dismissal
29 4
Attendance Policies
Students should make sure to show up to classes everyday, unless they are sick, on vacation or just really can’t make it. Too many unexcused absences can add up to progressive consequences of being summoned to juvenile court. This is due to the Becca Bill, a law in Washington that works to reduce student’s unexcused absences. The Becca Bill is supposed ensure that students from age 6 to age 17 attend school everyday, outside of any excused absences like trips and illness.
Football Varsity vs. Snohomish Away @VETMEMST 7:00 PM
FRIDAY OCTOBER 20TH
Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Edmonds Woodway Home @LHS 7:30 PM
THURSDAY OCTOBER 19TH
Women’s Volleyball Varsity vs. Shorecrest Home @MTHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Shorecrest Home @MTHS 5:15 PM C vs. Shorecrest Home @MTHS 5:15 PM Football Frosh vs. Edmonds Woodway Home @EDSTAD 6:30 PM Men’s Tennis Varsity 2A District Tennis Tournament @SVC 9:00 AM
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18TH
Women’s Volleyball Varsity vs. Marysville Pilchuck Away @MPHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Marysville Pilchuck Away @MPHS 5:15 PM C vs. Marysville Pilchuck Away @MPHS 5:15 PM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 17TH
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Loud places to do work, if you need that noise to concentrate
3rd Pace Books in Lake Forest Park Spotted cow at the Mill Creek Town Center The outside area at the Whole Foods in Lynnwood Pochis in Lynnwood Rila Bakery & Cafe in Lynnwood Espresso Buono in Lynnwood Seattle Meowtropolitan And if all else fails just going outside and getting some fresh air can provide students with renewed focus. Though this can get tricky since most of the year it’s pretty cold outside.
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Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Arlington Away @AHS 7:00 PM Women’s Swim Varsity vs. Glacier Peak Home @LYNNPOOL 2:45 PM Men’s Tennis Varsity 2A District Tennis Tournament @SVC 9:00 AM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 17TH
Men’s Tennis Varsity 2A District Tennis Tournament @SVC 9:00 AM
MONDAY OCTOBER 16TH
Men’s Tennis Varsity 2A District Tennis Tournament @SVC 9:00 AM Women’s Swim Varsity District Dive Qualifier @MPHS 10:00 AM
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14TH
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19 Freshman “rules”
Mountlake Terrace has many traditions when it comes to senior year that have developed over time. Even though they are not strict rules, they are just something to keep in mind. There are three main times when these traditions can be seen – at football games, lunch and assemblies. At football games, the seniors, along with the Rowdy Rooters, will sit in the front two or three rows of seats in the senior section. Once again, this isn’t a rule, but since it has been that way in the past, incoming senior classes look forward to it. Everyone will have a chance to sit there, you just have to endure three years of high school first. Lunch is a similar scenario, the row of tables closest to the stage tends to be where the seniors sit. Often however, they don’t fill up every table, so just be mindful. If they’re sitting there everyday, don’t just suddenly take over. Another special treat for seniors comes at the end of the performance of the National Anthem at assemblies. It has been a tradition in the past for the seniors to yell “fight” during the lyrics “…through the perilous fight.” Of course no one can stop you from sitting in certain places or yelling a word, but just keep in mind that these are traditions that come with a certain level of respect the seniors have earned.
Handbook information
The student handbook is 21 pages and if a student were to read it, they would probably find that most of the information in it is the same thing parents and teachers have been saying since day one. However, underneath the rules, there are a few important tidbits of information. The first few pages of the handbook tell you the different Associated Student Body (ASB) positions and who the different class representatives are. Following the information on ASB, you will find details on events, such as spirit days or homecoming. Most of this section is a reminder to keep these special events respectful and responsible so they can be enjoyed by all students. There is also information on school sports eligibility, so students interested in participating in can look at that. Sports aren’t the only after school activity featured. A list of the school clubs and information on transportation can be found. If a student were to stay after school on Wednesday or Friday, at 4:00 p.m. they can ride the activities bus home. The student Handbook also includes information on who to contact for help at school. Nurse Julie Hill: She’s the one you would have to tell to carry asthma medicine, insulin injectors or anything needed. If the medicine must be administered by a staff member then she’s the one who would train them. Financial Aid and Insurance information can also be found in the handbook. Financial aid and Insurance forms, as the handbook points out, can be found in the counseling office.
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Men’s Tennis Varsity 2A District Tennis Tournamnent @SVC 9:00 AM
FRIDAY OCTOBER 13TH
Women’s Swim Varsity vs. Jackson Home @LYNNPOOL 2:45 PM Volleyball Varsity vs. Oak Harbor Away @OHHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Oak Harbor Away @OHHS 5:15 PM “C” vs. Oak Harbor Away @OHHS 5:15 PM 215
Football Varsity vs. Edmonds Woodway Home @EDSTAD 7:00 PM
THURSDAY OCTOBER 12TH
Cross Country Varsity Edmonds District Meet @BLLNGRP 3:15 PM Football Frosh vs. Lynnwood Home @LHS 6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11TH
15
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31 THIS HAWKEYE STUDENT HANDBOOK BELONGS TO:
October sports schedule MONDAY OCTOBER 2ND
Volleyball Varsity vs. Lynnwood Home @MTHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Lynnwood Home @MTHS 5:15 PM “C” vs. Lynnwood Home @MTHS 5:15 PM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 3RD
Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Shorecrest Home @LHSl 7:30 PM Women’s Swim Varsity vs. Mariner Away @KHS 3:15 PM Men’s Tennis Varsity vs. Shorewood Home @MTHS 3:30 PM JV vs. Shorewood Away @SWHS 3:30 PM Wednesday October 4th Cross Country Varsity vs. Marysville Pilchuck Away @MPHS 3:45 PM Women’s Volleyball Varsity vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 5:15 PM C vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 5:15 PM
13
14 Football Varsity vs. Lynnwood Home @EDSTAD 8:00 PM
FRIDAY OCTOBER 6TH
Men’s Tennis Varsity vs. Edmonds Woodway Home @MTHS 3:30 PM JV vs. Edmonds Woodway Away @EWHS 3:30 PM Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Marysville Pilchuck Home @EDSTAD 7:30 PM Football Frosh vs. Meadowdale Away @MHS 6:00 PM
THURSDAY OCTOBER 5TH
Women’s Volleyball Varsity vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 5:15 PM C vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 5:15 PM Cross Country Varsity vs. Marysville Pilchuck Away @MPHS 3:45 PM
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4TH
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Special thanks to Hawkeye Handbook Contributors! Annika Prom Robert Krieger Sierra Clark Teresa Bonilla Tessa King Vivian Nowka-Keane Yannie Tran
17 MONDAY OCTOBER 9TH
Men’s Tennis Varsity vs. Meadowdale Away @MHS 3:30 PM JV vs. Meadowdale Home @MTHS 3:30 PM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 10TH
Women’s Volleyball Varsity vs. Stanwood Home @MTHS 7:00 PM JV vs. Stanwood Home @MTHS 5:15 C vs. Stanwood Home @MTHS 5:15 Women’s Soccer Varsity vs. Lynnwood Away @LHS 7:30 PM Women’s Swim Varsity vs. Snohomish Home @LYNNPOOL 2:45 PM Men’s Tennis Varsity vs. Shorecrest Away @KMS 3:30 PM JV vs. Shorecrest Home @MTHS 3:30 PM
NEWS
Hawkeye
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 15
AN UPDATE FROM THE LUNCH LINE
New policy, better food By Annika Prom LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The Edmonds School District (ESD) has elected to stop giving out courtesy meals for the 2017-2018 school year. Instead, a student with a meal account debt can continue purchasing full meals. As of Sept. 6, no student in the ESD will have a negative meal account balance due to debts being covered with donations from the community. The biggest factor in removing courtesy meals was to combat the stigma around getting one. A courtesy meal, also called an alternative meal, was given to a student when they attempted to purchase a school meal but did not have the money for it. The ESD began producing them in 2008 to both manage debt and feed more students. With this change, a student with insufficient money in their meal account will still be able to eat the hot lunches served in the cafeteria. They will not be given a courtesy meal if their meal balance is in the deficit. However, this policy only applies to full meals and will not be effective for purchasing a la carte items, such as chips or cookies, if a student is in debt. The breakfast courtesy meal consisted of Cheerios with milk while the lunch meal included a cheese sandwich, raisins and juice. Contrary to these, schools have rotating lunch options that change from day to day. The school meal debt of students in the ESD racked up to $6,936.13 from the 2016-2017 school year, but was erased through donations from the public. 60 graduating seniors of the class of 2017 were prevented from graduating due to having a meal debt, but the donations paid it off, allowing them to graduate on time. Although courtesy meals were given out for free, the ESD was at a disadvantage because they produced no revenue. The meals were not reimbursed by the government and were accounted as costs to the Food and Nutrition Services Program. Each breakfast courtesy meal costed the district $0.41 while a lunch cost $0.54. Altogether, the cost of just these alternative meals added up to $4,200 in the 2016-2017 school year. It is still unsure how the removal of courtesy meals will affect the meal debt this school year. When a student’s meal balance goes into the negatives, their debt will not automatically be paid off by the money earned through donations. It has not yet been specified or determined how the donations received during the 2017-2018 school year will be used to pay off the district meal debt; the Food
and Nutrition Services and Business Services will determine how the funds are used on a case-by-case basis. The ESD meal system has changed many times in the past to accommodate both students and the district itself. Leading up to 2005, the ESD allowed students to go into debt up to $15 before refusing them a meal entirely. However, from 2005-2008, in an effort to feed all students, the ESD decided to let every student eat the same meal, regardless of their debt. By 2008, the ESD had reached a $200,000 meal debt they could not support financially. For the 2008-2010 school years, they reinstated the $15 debt policy but chose to give courtesy meals instead of letting students go hungry. The ESD took further action in the 2010-2011 school year to reduce the $140,000 meal debt they accumulated the prior school year, believing they should fund education rather than focus their efforts into paying off the debt. Once a student’s meal balance reached $0, they would then be given a courtesy meal. For each regular meal sold, 38 percent of it pays for the contents, 52 percent pays for the labor, 9 percent pays for overhead such as food supplies and 1 percent pays for capital improvements to act as a “break even operation.” The district will continue to monitor lunch balances and send out personal emails or phone calls to students who develop meal debts this school year. ESD Food Service Program Director Barbara Lloyd hopes this decision will erase the stigma of getting a courtesy meal and help better feed more students. “The overwhelming message [school] districts across the country are getting from parents and from the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) who regulates us is that there is a stigma attached to getting a courtesy meal,” Lloyd said. She believes the stigma at hand caused students to be embarrassed when they were offered a courtesy meal because it implied that the student lacked the money to purchase it.
Lloyd said some students who refused the courtesy meals found it “emotionally damaging” because of the stigma or they didn’t like the contents. They often had trouble focusing in school later in the day due to hunger and lack of nutrition, Lloyd said. During the 2016-2017 school year, 1,500 breakfast and 6,500 lunch courtesy meals were handed out in the ESD. However, 250 courtesy breakfast and 600 courtesy lunches were rejected and not taken. “It got to the point that the stigma around courtesy meals was interfering with some students. Either they didn’t take the courtesy meal and were starving in the afternoon, and you can’t learn at your best if you’re hungry or they took the meal and felt embarrassed somehow,” she said. “You can’t learn at your best if you’re hungry or felt embarrassed somehow,” she said. Lloyd noticed the stigma of alternative meals become a popular conversation due to social media, spreading the word in the spring and attracting donors to pay off the meal debt. “Hopefully the community will continue to pay that debt,” Lloyd said. She plans to encourage donations throughout the year. Lloyd hopes the decision to eliminate courtesy meals will allow for students to buy the meals they want and help increase academic performance. “The biggest emphasis from the school board and all of us who work in education [is that we] want students to be successful and want students to be a part of the education process,” Lloyd said. “Anything we can do to remove barriers is a positive thing.” Along with the right tools and environment, Lloyd views nutrition as a major key to success to fuel students to work their hardest. “All of us in what we call support services are keenly interested in wanting every student to succeed. And you can only succeed when you’re well nourished, when there’s clean facilities where the equipment in the building works, where you have the technology to do the work you need to do as a student,” Lloyd said. She hopes giving students proper meals will alleviate stress and allow them to focus on their futures. “Not every child will be an astronaut. We need plumbers, car repairmen, we need doctors, we need teachers, we need everybody. We want every student to be as successful as they want to be,” Lloyd said. “My belief in removing the stigma from alternate meals will help that. The world needs everybody to be their best.” Lloyd hopes the district tackles the stigma around eligibility for meal benefits next, also known as FLYNN THOMAS | HAWKEYE free and reduced meals. H
16 | SEPTEMBER 2017
LIFESTYLE
Hawkeye
LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM MOVES TO TERRACE
An innovative education program, held in a converted computer lab, caters to disabled students and helps them develop vocational skills in an environment where they may interact with their peers. Story by Matthew Hippolito Photos by Vivian Nowka-Keane HAWKEYE STAFF
With a new year comes new teachers, students, plans, facilities — and this year, a new program. The room adjacent to the library is no longer the “LibLab” (computer lab), but is instead a classroom for students with physical, cognitive, and communicative disabilities. The room formerly known as the LibLab now houses the Life Skills program, which is a program providing educational opportunities to students with disabilities that would otherwise inhibit their ability, according to Title IB (614) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to be “educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children”. The program used to be housed at the purposebuilt Maplewood Center building, which has for several years co-housed the Maplewood Co-op K-8, and will continue to house the K-8 Life Skills program alongside conventional K-8 classes. The teenaged students were moved to MTHS in order to place them among peers their own age. In charge of this space and program is Life Skills teacher Sarah Strand, who is new to Terrace, but not to the Life Skills program. Teaching these students, Strand said, is her passion. Despite the presence of dedicated facilities, teachers and opportunities, Strand believes the most important component of these students’ educations is the way they interact with other students. “I think awareness is the biggest thing,” she said. “Our population is so small within this world. You do not see so many people with these types of disabilities.” The new room is hardly reminiscent of the old LibLab. The rows of computers have been removed, as have the small metal wire enclosures. Much of the wall space has been
Students enjoy lunch in room 229 with their everyday educators and peers. Strand said lunch is one of the best times to stop by and meet students in the program. Pictured left to right: Kai Rudnick, Mary Bolger, Joseph Quintanilla, Betel Alemu, Tracy Castillo, Setti Habtai. covered up by cabinets. In the cabinets are devices, such as switches. “There’s all different types of switches,” Strand explained. “There’s a voice recording one, so whenever the button is pushed, there’s a voice output that comes out. For example, a student may really like a song or a sound, and so when we hit it, it makes the sound and they think it’s hilarious.” These switches can also be synchronized to toys, such as a remote control school bus. The switches come in various
“I think awareness is the biggest thing. Our population is so small within this world. You do not see so many people with these types of disabilities.” Sarah Strand
LIFE SKILLS EDUCATOR
sizes, from the 5 inch BIGmack™, to the 2.5 inch LITTLEmack™, and also in various styles. Another small section of the wall is devot-
ed to cubbies for students. A divider denotes a section of the room that houses Strand’s desk, as well as a small portion of the room that houses several “study corrals.” A fridge stands in one of the corners. The bathroom has been renovated to accommodate students in wheelchairs and other students with physical disabilities. The computer tables have been removed, save for three, which are arranged in a cluster in one corner. The lights, which were previously white
Hawkeye
LIFESTYLE
like the lights in other classrooms, are now with a job coach, worked stacking gum on partially filtered red to cater to students who the store’s shelves. are sensitive to bright lights. Study corrals, The move from a building which was which are plain white desks with walls on purpose-built to house Life Skills students the side, have been established to provide a was not one without hiccups. According to workspace with minimal distractions. The Strand, there are some changes that could room has been filled with adaptive furniture, still stand to be made. like supportive chairs and mattress tables, “I would lower the ceilings so we can hang which is furniture designed to aid people our artwork from there and make it less with disabilities, such as quadriplegia. In the like a warehouse. There are students on corner are stacks of foam wedges and cylintheir beds, and they look up all the time ders to comfortably position students who and last year we had a lot of things hanging cannot position themselves. from the walls that are just fun to look at. The new space doesn’t look like a tradiNow it’s like they’re looking at Costco ceiltional classroom. There are no textbooks, ings,” Strand said. Also on her wish-list is no tests, no Chromebooks. The whiteboard increased wall space — something that was doesn’t have key dates in history or mathin abundant supply at the old building due to ematical formulas. the odd shape of the Instead of notes, “I know it’s going to be off-putting to room. According to see these students because of their the desks are filled her, it is also difficult physical disabilities, or because their with small objects to transport students verbal skills are different, but they and toys. But the in the morning due want to be your friend. The biggest Life Skills room is to the earlier schedthing is that we want to be included. definitely a place for ule at Terrace. At And that’s why we’re here.” learning. The curMaplewood, being Sarah Strand riculum during the a K-8 meant that LIFE SKILLS EDUCATOR school day, which the students started runs from 7:00 around 8 a.m. Now, a.m. to 1:20 p.m, involves vocational tasks, some students have to get up around 4 a.m. which are designed to improve a student’s in order to get ready for school at 7 a.m, fine motor skills. These tasks include sortaccording to Strand. ing forks, spoons and knives, and matching Additionally, Terrace lacks some of the number tiles, for example. amenities that were present at Maplewood. The goal, says Strand, is to ensure that For example, Maplewood had a therapy pool students’ fine motor skills are at a sufficient for physical therapy, which Terrace doesn’t level to be able to do simple tasks at a job have. Terrace also does not have an automat— such as doing dishes at a restaurant. She ic front door, which adds difficulty in trying recalls working at a grocery store in college to arrange transport for the wheelchairwith a disabled co-worker, who, together bound students who need them the most.
Students who have functional disabilities use various chairs to help them with comfort and some have wheels for easy mobility and more independence.
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 17
Justo Mendoza, 20 years old, rests on a mattress table with wedge pillows for structural support. Despite this, Strand said that so far, her Strand said that despite disabilities that time at Terrace has been pleasant. make them appear different, these students “It’s hard to say [whether the space here is only want to be part of the Terrace combetter than the space at Maplewood], but I munity. don’t dislike it,” Strand said. “We’ve made it “I know it’s going to be off-putting to see work. As the year goes on, and as the years these students because of their physical disgo on, it’s going to be a great space.” abilities, or because their verbal skills are Of the room itself, different, but they want she said “it’s more to be your friend. The “All of these things you don’t see open. The room that biggest thing is that we when you’re going to the mall or we were in [at the want to be included. going to the movies or anywhere. co-op] — this [room And that’s why we’re It’s very rare you see students at Terrace] is basihere.” like ours. It’s very important for cally just a rectangle, According to Strand, people to know all different types of people. Disabilities do not whereas in the other the presence of the peer discriminate.” room we had more mentors has made a wall space and it very positive impact on Sarah Strand LIFE SKILLS EDUCATOR was angled differthe students. ent ways. Think of “They’re already makTetris.” ing friends with everyone. [The students For students who want to help Life Skills here] are different from everyone. It’s getting students, Mrs. Weaver in room (229) runs to learn how awesome they really are, that a peer mentoring program during second just because they have a severe disability period. Among the things a student in the doesn’t mean they’re not fun. At first, they peer mentoring program might do would be were very hesitant, but now, they just jump to go on a walk with the students. The peer right in. We read or we do tasks together.” mentors also read children’s books such as She says that students like hers are few “The Little Mermaid” and “101 Dalmatians” and far between in the world. According to students in groups of up to four. Students to Strand, it’s not every day you see a blind can also come in during PASS and lunch. person, or someone with physical disability “We’re a revolving door,” said Strand. But, unable to look towards you or unable to she says, the best way to help these students move their wheelchair, even with the aid of is to be their friend. an electronic joystick. “Yeah, we’re different. We look different. “All of these things you don’t see when We act different. We talk different. But you’re going to the mall or going to the we’re still people, and we still have emotions. movies or anywhere. It’s very rare you see The personalities are just phenomenal when students like ours. It’s very important for you get to know us.” people to know all different types of people. Just because these students have disabiliDisabilities do not discriminate.” ties, Strand said, doesn’t mean they don’t “My favorite quote is from Temple know anything. She talked about a nonverbal Grandin,” Strand said. “And she says, ‘We’re student who, bursts out laughing upon heardifferent, not less.’ And that’s exactly how I ing a dirty joke. “You know she has street feel.” H smarts,” Strand said.
By Meghan Park HAWKEYE STAFF
NEWS H CLASSES FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR MUST HAVE AT LEAST 26 STUDENTS SIGNED UP, CAUSING SOME CLASSES TO BE CANCELED AND LEAVING TEACHERS CAUGHT OFF GUARD
Class student minimum
18 | SEPTEMBER 2017
As returning students may realize, many classes and programs taught last year are not appearing this year, including some languages, yearbook, Hawk Broadcasting Network, SLSN and more. Not only that, but there is also a considerable shift in the faculty with about 10 staff leaving and approximately 17 joining. The reasoning behind all of this change is rooted in a simple numbers rule enforced by previous principal Greg Schwab: there must be a minimum of 26 students enrolled to make up a class. As examples of this rule, Spanish teachers Robin Cogburn and Tamara Reilly are teaching both a greater variety and higher number of classes than they have in the past. Cogburn has qualifications to teach Spanish levels one through four and Reilly has qualifications to teach Spanish one and two. But because there weren’t as many students who signed up for Spanish three or four, Cogburn was required to teach more Spanish two classes than before, due to her Edmonds School District teaching contract requiring her to work full time with five classes and one planning period. This lead to Reilly having to teach fewer Spanish classes and needing more classes to fulfill her contract. “The real problem is fewer kids are signing up for languages and it means we (the Spanish teachers) don’t have enough students,” Reilly said. Since Reilly has qualifications to teach history as well as Spanish, she is teaching World History 9, alongside Spanish one. Another example is French teacher Heidi Monrad. She will be teaching here at MTHS as well as at Brier Terrace Middle School to fulfill her contract. However, without Monrad here full time, fewer students may sign up for French in the future. Spanish, French and World History aren’t the only classes being affected. Hawk Broadcasting Network (HBN) and yearbook have been cancelled because of the 26 student minimum requirement. However, yearbook has been brought back under Hawkeye, which will be producing the Tempo for the 2017-2018 school year. In some World History 10 classes, the teacher is listed as Greg Schellenberg, the interim principal. However, this is just a placeholder and the class will be taught by a series of substitute teachers until a permanent teacher is found. With different teachers, such as Reilly and Cogburn, teaching classes they aren’t used to, the question does arise: Will the teachers who are fulfilling their contracts teach at the
standard of high school classes? It’s been around 13 years since Reilly last taught a history class. Although she is a capable teacher, it may take a while to establish the daily curriculum. Some have asked why the emphasis on the 26 student minimum. A study done about the achievement gap in schools by Bruce D. Baker, Danielle Farrie, and David G. Sciarra states: “Children in smaller classes achieve better outcomes, both academic and otherwise, and that class size reduction can be
awkeye
an effective strategy for closing racially or socioeconomically based achievement gaps.” Additionally, Initiative 1351 which was certified to be in 2014, would have reduced class size averages for grades 9-12 to be around 25 students, one student less than the 26 student minimum requirement at Mountlake Terrace. The initiative was passed, however about a year later Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation that delayed its implementation for four years. Still, the initiative is planned to be set in motion in 2018, affecting the 2018 - 2019 school year. H
ISABEAU ROSEN | HAWKEYE CONTRIBUTOR
NEWS
Hawkeye
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 19
OVERCROWDED CLASSES By Nolan Degarlais NEWS EDITOR
As the new school year begins, those who are returning to MTHS may find some of their classes are overcrowded, with some classes having more than 36 students to one teacher. This drastic increase in class sizes was unprecedented by the school; several actions have been taken by the administration in an attempt to bring down some of the more overwhelming class sizes. Every year, before the school year begins, the Edmonds School District (ESD) employs demographers who predict how many new students will show up at each ESD school, which helps the ESD know how many resources they need to dedicate to each school. Though the demographers employed by the ESD predicted that MTHS would be getting a small increase in students for this school year, many more new students came to MTHS than were predicted. A large cause of this inaccurate prediction was the fact that many more students decided to transfer to MTHS this year rather than attend the high school of their local area, a number of students who the demographers were unable to predict accurately. These inaccurate predictions are the source of the school’s current overcrowding problem, according to Assistant Principal Peter Schurke. “We are staffed for a certain number of kids and if more kids than that show up, then we get overcrowding,” Schurke said. The funding the school district provides to MTHS to build its staff is directly related to the projections provided by the demographers and if those predictions turn out to be inaccurate, funding for individual schools can be adjusted by the school district based on an official count of student numbers on the fourth day of school. Funding can be increased or decreased based on this official count of students at the school. However, an increase in funding would not by itself solve the problems of overcrowded classes. “Even if [the ESD] was to give us a full teacher’s worth of time… it breaks up in such a way that there are no teachers out there endorsed to teach everything, so we would be hiring a lot of part time teachers, and that’s really hard to find,” Schurke said. “It is also possible that the district may say that ‘we’re out of money, you’re
they have to learn in an environment where us teachers can’t gonna have to make do with what you’ve got,’ and we have to give them as much help individually as they might need. I make do with what we’ve got.” would much rather have all my classes be below the ‘trigger’ The administration has been working since the start of the than get the small amounts of money that come with having school year to make classes as balanced as possible so teachclasses that are over the ‘trigger.’” ers can share the overload as equally as they can. However, In the first few days of school, the administration was able there are some cases where all of the periods for a certain to fix what Schurke referred to as the “most ridiculous” situclass are over crowded, with some classes having all periods filled with 36 students, which limits the ability of the admin- ation of classroom overcrowding. For example, one period of AP Calculus had 39 students for the first day of school istration to decrease the overload in those classes. before that number was brought down due to the work of the The maximum number of students a teacher can have in a administration. As of now, the highest specific class is 31 before they reach class size in MTHS is 36. the “trigger” of 32 students or more. “There are no teachers out there In order to lower the number of stuAfter this “trigger” is passed, teachers endorsed to teach everything, so we dents in overcrowded classes, Schurke must be paid more by the district for would be hiring a lot of part time first looks at the schedules of individual all of the classes they have that are teachers, and that’s really hard to find.” students and tries to see if they can move past the “trigger.” A current priority Peter Shurke of the school administration is to try to another, less crowded, period of the ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL and get as many classes below this same class. “trigger number” as possible. “If they can move, we bring them in and A teacher must also be paid more by the school if they have ask for volunteers, because I think it’s more respectful to the more than 155 students in total in all of their periods, which students to ask them to voluntarily move than to just do it to them,” Schurke said. is referred to as the “super trigger.” In some situations, however, the administration is forced Some teachers, such as biology teacher Adam Welman have passed this “super trigger,” as four of the five classes Welman to move students around, even if the students may not want to. If there is a situation where students can move to a less teaches are past the “trigger,” creating a combined total for overcrowded class period due to flexibility in their schedule, him of 158 students. “It’s never good when we have classes that are over the ‘trig- the administration has an obligation to move those students, according to Schurke. H ger,’” Welman said. “It’s just unfair to the students when
TESSA KING | HAWKEYE
20 | SEPTEMBER 2017
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Get your senior portrait for the yearbook taken for FREE! There are still a few openings for photo sessions here at school, but you must sign up. Check your email for the invitation or see Jacob Allard or Harper Thomas in room 130 after school.
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The TEMPO. Your student yearbook. Reserve a copy today.
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