The Gazette, Granite Bay High School, March 2018

Flourishing feminism Women’s roles throughout history

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Spring break travels

Charlie Tooley inspires Scholarship and award for hard work

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From volunteering to leisure

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 21 w ISSUE 6 w FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

COMMENTARY

Students often tormented by sexual harassment Prevalence of sexual assault revealed in students’ lives in daily situations

BY NOELANI NICHOLS nnichols.gazette@gmail.com

steph kang

skang.gazette@gmail.com

Buying into fantasies

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he very premise of my job is to perpetrate an idealized version of reality. As @steph.kang on Instagram, I promote wigs, contacts, editing apps, things that promise you can run away from being yourself and magically transform into somebody prettier, somebody better.

It’s vapid. It’s childish. But people love it. Because who hasn’t had dreamed about bouncing back and becoming pretty and successful and proving everybody wrong? And this is a high you can achieve every day, over and over and over again, with just a few magical sweeps of a brush.

But the thing is, this fantasy shouldn’t appear anywhere else outside of a bad Wattpad fic or a cheesy ’90s movie. It shouldn’t be empowering – it should be frightening when this hollow facade tries to take on a life of its own.

While I was conducting research for my extended essay, I studied advertisements in women’s magazines in the ’50s. I was struck by the frenetic ambition seething from every line, even at that seemingly regressive stage.

A clothing advertisement comes from Mademoiselle, a women’s magazine that pitched itself as a “quality magazine for smart young women.”

“She’s the food editor on a wellknown home magazines...the food expert of a happy family in Chappaqua, New York.

How is She’s an it even expert on Chinese possible for art with a curator’s her to excel job at the in all these musedifferent um...an expert on areas at the American same time? fashion who looks to L’Aiglon for smart clothes like this coat dress of Lorette.”

How is it even possible for her to excel in all these different areas at the same time?

Answer – it isn’t. With these towering expectations, this advertisement was setting up a lifestyle at which anybody attempting it was destined to fail.

For the entirety of my high school career, I was driven by these over-the-top expectations dating back to the ’50s. Freshman year, I set out goals for myself in a million different areas, and today, I’ve achieved a significant portion of those ambitions. And I regret absolutely everything.

Because the only reason I ever set those goals to begin with was because I thought it’d resolve the disconcerting sense of unease in my gut and make me more content. But it didn’t, and I’m not.

If anything, it’s made it worse.

Because who am I, without these external trimmings? These things, they aren’t actually me – the brief burst of triumph at achievement all-too-quickly dissipates, to leave the question would anything you achieved even matter if “everybody” didn’t exist?

It doesn’t matter how many accolades or compliments you receive -- if you don’t genuinely internalize any of them, it doesn’t matter. *** Steph Kang, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of Gazette stories about sexual harassment. *** High school is challenging enough as is – but imagine having to deal with its stressors in addition to the atrocious memories of your harassment or assault or rape. You can’t – not unless you’ve been there.

Olivia, a pseudonym, was a former Granite Bay High female student who fatally mistook what was supposed to be a “fun Fourth of July summer trip” for what would actually turn out to be a lifelong nightmare – and a memory she couldn’t erase.

“A lot of different stuff led up to him actually sexually assaulting me,” Olivia said.

“He groped my breasts, pulled me on his lap, kept fixing my bathing suit and (gave) me a ton of red flags.”

Things escalated, and the experience proved to be so scarring that it would eventually make its way to the criminal court.

But Olivia’s case was only one of many.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old.

In a series of Twitter polls conducted by the Gazette, 37 percent of students responded “yes” when asked if they’d ever been a target of unwanted, sexual remarks made by other students on campus. 22 percent responded “yes” when asked if they’d ever

felt physically violated by another student on campus; 44 percent responded “yes” when asked if they’d ever been made to feel uncomfortable by another student on Gazette Twitter poll results campus. w37 percent studentsevery haveday Students endure of harassment had unwanted, sexual remarks – not all cases are necessarily egregious enough to all be splashed national made about them byacross students newspaper headlines, yet all cases certainly on campus deserve w22attention. percent were physically Discussing harassment and/or a violated sexual by students on campus

FAST FACTS

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See HARASSMENT, page A7

w44 percent have felt uncomfortable due to students on campus

SOURCE: Feb. 28 Twitter poll of a total of 250 students

Sheriffs’ cars were parked in the back lot, far left, during the Feb. 27 lockdown. A Placer County Deputy Sherrif, left, moves into position during the GBHS incident.

Gazette photos/ KATIE COLOGNA

Tensions escalate around gun presence on campus Recent lockdown imbued with additional meaning in light of Parkland shooting

BY KATIE COLOGNA

I

kcologna.gazette@gmail.com

n light of the recent school shooting that took place at Parkland High School in Florida, teachers, students, parents, brothers and sisters, whether affected directly or not, are all mourning the tragedy – trying to bring awareness to the issue.

Activism at Granite Bay High School has taken a turn – making students even more involved in the purpose. This is because the issue hit too close too home when, on Tuesday, Feb 27 at 2 p.m., GBHS went into a lockdown after a note was found by senior Jesse Altof in the boys’ bathroom. This note was a threat to “shoot up” the school.

What was a minor possibility at GBHS when the news broke of the Florida shootings turned into a reality, leaving students unsure about their safety.

“My experience at the lockdown was quite unexpected,” said senior Vyas Srinivasan. “I was feeling a little miserable, but as time went on it got even more frustrating and more frustrating. I went in tears.”

Principal Jennifer Leighton shared some insight on the details of the threat.

“The note was brought to us by two junior boys around 1:50,” Leighton said. “We went into lockdown between then and 2 p.m. The (sheriff’s deputy) had arrived by then, and then started the searching of the classrooms within 30 minutes. The rest was just them going from room to room while I was doing my best to communicate with teachers and with general emails out to parents, and also getting updates from officers and my assistant principals as they went along.”

Weeks before the GBHS lockdown, Oakmont High School, which is also part of the Roseville Joint Union High

School District, encountered a lockdown incident because of a gun on campus.

A student came onto the Oakmont campus with a loaded gun intending to sell it to a classmate. “(My first thoughts were a) sense of urgency to get to the weapon and try and decrease any possibility of any incident happening with the weapon,” said Oakmont principal Robert Hasty. “At the same time I’m thinking about the safety of the students and my staff and everybody on this campus.”

At GBHS, many students wanted to talk about the Parkland shootings.

“I knew that my students wanted to talk (about the Parkland shooting), so we did,” said Advanced Placement Human Geography teacher Kathleen Angelone. “I asked them questions and they were responsive. We talked about See SHOOTINGS, page A6

Robotics shutting down Prestigious club to close in favor of new class

BY MCKENNA ARAM

maram.gazette@gmail.com

After nearly 20 years of avid robot-making, Granite Bay High School’s Robotics Club is shutting down.

It was originally established by science teacher Steve Miller – who has continued to advise the club – in 1999 along with five students. The club has grown to include 76 registered members today.

“The leadership team has known that we were getting shut down since the beginning of this year,” senior and three-year club member Sam Khieu said.

“That was the contributing factor to me (quitting the club).”

According to various Robotics Club members, one of the chief reasons for closing the club include the fact that it has become too great of a liability.

Dissolving the club and offering alternate opportunities, such as creating a new mechanical engineering class, is the route the school is choosing to take in its stead.

“Granite Bay High School has never truly encouraged the growth of Robotics,” Khieu said. “Every request I’ve made has been pushed aside as a liability or some other district policy will appear that forces us out of work.”

The other factor for closing down the club is that GBHS will receive a sizable $100,000 grant from the state department of education if the school fills a proposed engineering class, known as Engineering Design and Development.

By shutting down the Robotics Club, school officials are hoping those tech-savvy students might funnel into the new engineering class. “(The school is) attempting to choke the opportunities students have so there is only one pathway for engineering,” sophomore and two-year Robotics member Kyle Miller said.

See ROBOTICS, page A7

inside This Section news

Gazette photo /SABINA MAHAVNI

Nests being taken down in project “Bye Bye Birdie” to discourage nesting in the future.

Nests removed from roof

900 building no longer has swallows’ homes

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

P

smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

arents of high school graduates aren’t the only ones who experience “empty nest syndrome.”

Last month, the district hired a pest control firm to take down the hundreds of swallows’ nests from the 900 building to discourage the birds from nesting there again.

By late winter, cliff swallows have already migrated south, leaving their nests empty of

St. Baldrick’s comes back around

A look back at the blood drive

Students recognize and raise funds for different types of cancer

Positive repercussions of donations and why students donate

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voices

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any eggs or chicks. Roseville Joint Union High School District officials saw February as the perfect time to initiate project “Bye Bye Birdie.” “(The swallows) should not have been there in the first place because the birds have become problematic,” said Granite Bay High assistant principal Brian McNulty. “According to the letter of the law, the nests can be taken down as long as there’s not eggs in them, so outside See BIRDS, page A6

Taking a stand against gun violence Recent events have called into question the efficiency of pre-existing laws

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News

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Granite Bay Gazette

Funding research one follicle at a time Friday w March 9, 2018

NAMES IN THE NEWS

will anderson wanderson.gazette@gmail.com

Goldfish find a way onto campus – and we aren’t talking the snack that smiles back

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here’s been something fishy going on around the GBHS campus, but know that we are all in good hands thanks to the guiding reconnaissance of assistant principal Jennifer Buschmann.

All targets and unwanted domesticated goldfish have been removed from the school, and 1 Grizzly Way is once again clean as a whistle.

*** I am here to publicly broadcast that Sherie Labedis, a teacher of 30 years in the Roseville School District, will have her new project “We’ll Meet Again – Freedom Summer,” shown on PBS. It is produced and reported by Ann Curry of the Today Show – yes, that Ann Curry. *** Alyssa Sewell, Carlie Mallo, Georgia Seagraves, and Joe Moss were all awarded $50 and a certificate of recognition after being named Elks Lodge Student of the Month. And remember, if you continue representing GBHS well, and being the best Grizzly you can be, even you can win Student of the Month – woohoo!

Gazette file photos, 2017/HANNAH XU

*** Pennies for Patients was a success. A huge thanks to Lily Norris who headed the event here at GBHS. And to all of you who donated your spare change, it went to a great cause.

*** Stop by room 507 to see Tamara Givens and get an application for student government. Forms are due on March 23. Think about it, maybe you could come up with a fantastic campaign slogan and make Granite Bay High School great again!

*** Midterms are next week, people. Make sure to shape up and get to studying so you can do well on all your exams.

And if you don’t, you might be an absolute failure and have no hope in life – take your pick.

*** Junior Prom is coming up quick, so juniors, make sure to get yourself a hot date and polish up all of your sub-par dance moves.

*** Will Anderson, a senior, is the Gazette news editor.

CORRECTIONS 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: staff.granitebaytoday@gmail. 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

Kabe Teague, upper left, a GBHS junior this year, is halfway through the haircut process. St. Baldrick’s Day volunteers, left, help clean up the station after the last participant finishes his haircut.

Andrew Phillips, above, a GBHS science teacher, spreads the joy as he participates in the St. Baldrick’s event.

GBHS partakes in annual St. Baldrick’s Day event to raise awareness for cancer

BY KEYURI PILLAY

T

kpillay.gazette@gmail.com

he month of March is a time where different types of cancer are recognized. It is also the month when the annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser takes place at Granite Bay High School.

Every year in the late winter or early spring, St. Baldrick’s takes place at GBHS, and it is a time where everyone can reflect on their fortunes and give something – their hair.

Many students and staff volunteer to have their heads shaved in an effort to bring in donations to fund childhood cancer research.

The Gold Ribbon Club at GBHS has taken on the planning and organization of this event.

The volunteers have worked extensively to make sure the event goes smoothly and that there is a sufficient number of shavees.

Candice Leung, a volunteer at St. Baldrick’s

and an active member of the Gold Ribbon Club, has worked hard alongside other club members to organize St. Baldricks.

“Our goal is to reduce the horrible impact of childhood cancer, something that affects hundreds of thousands of children each year,” Leung said. “It fills me with indescribable joy to see people giving so compassionately.”

It is a great statement for volunteers to shave their head, and it takes a lot of courage to do. Not everyone is willing to shave their head, but others are willing to contribute by donating money to the organization.

“I would not be willing to shave my head at this time, but I am doing my best to contribute to this great cause by organizing the St. Baldrick’s event (at GBHS) and raising as much money as possible,” said Mackenzie Hall, another club volunteer who has also had many positive experiences with this event.

“It’s a cool event for a good cause, and they always need volunteers so I’m happy to help where I can,” Hall said.

Some of the shavees and volunteers are very dedicated to the cause, and Hall as well as many others admire them for their commitment to the cause.

There has been a lot of hard work put into having this event go on, and Hall thinks that it is amazing to be part of something that promotes awareness of childhood cancer and is working to end it.

Over the years there have been many students and staff who return to participate in St. Baldrick’s – one of them is science teacher Andrew Phillips. “ The reason I do St. Baldrick’s at all is to contribute something, however small, to help those who need it,” Phillips said.

There are many emotions and experiences to take away as a shavee. For Phillips, he walks away with a tremendous appreciation

for how great he has it in life.

“I have extra money that I can spare to donate,” Phillips said. “I can choose to lose my hair instead of losing it as a result of treatment. And I always appreciate all of the positive, caring people around me that support St. Baldrick’s and me in the process.”

Phillips said donating money is one way to help the cause, but he believes the impact of shaving his head has a far greater impact.

Also, people would be more likely to donate, he said, if they have something they’re getting back. Phillips hopes his participation inspires more people to participate in fundraisers.

“There is no hesitancy (to shave my head) because it’s just plain easy,” Phillips said.

“Hair grows back. Kids are losing their lives to cancer every day. This is about as easy a choice as they come.”

Choosing the right college fit Many factors are taken into account as seniors choose their home for the next four years

BY MACKENZIE BROWN

L

mbrown.gazette@gmail.com

ocation, cost, majors, prestige, population, housing – these are all significant factors that are considered when students decide on what college to attend – not to mention the other numerous variables.

But the real question is, which one is the most important?

Carly Wallace, a senior at Granite Bay High School who is committed to the University of Oregon to play beach volleyball, had her own set criteria when making her final decision.

“I chose Oregon because I have always wanted to go to a big school with a football team,” Wallace said. “And my brother goes to Oregon State, and I wanted to be close to family. That was a big factor in my decision.”

Wallace was searching for a school strong in athletics, prompting her to choice to go to Oregon instead of Long Beach State. “(Oregon) is known for recruiting great athletes and bettering their abilities to become professionals,” Wallace said.

Although athletics was a large factor in Wallace’s selection process, motivators vary on an individual basis David Song, a senior at GBHS, was accepted to Stanford in November 2017 and instantly made his decision to attend.

“After Stanford, there was no debate,” Song said. “Even with (other) scholarship possibilities.”

Stanford offers everything Song is looking for, making it his ideal school.

Location, weather, student-culture, the professors and the alumni network are all aspects of Stanford that are highly valuable to Song.

“The (biggest) part of my criteria was to go to a college with entrepreneurial and extremely gifted (students) to learn from and build relationships with,” Song said.

These two seniors are rare cases however, as most 2018 graduates are awaiting the arrival of their acceptance letters this month and in April.

Senior Tori Ahmad said she believes a college’s academics will be the biggest factor in her decision.

“My main criteria is a school’s From a professional’s standacademic prestige, and I looked point, there are a few top criteria at social life, location, and (cost) that every student should consider after that,” Ahmad said. “But, I important and relevant when makdon’t want to go to a school that ing their final decision.

Megan Pritchett, a counselor at isn’t mainly focused on academthe College Planning Center in ics.”

Ahmad has also taken advice Granite Bay, offers a few key tips from family, teachers and peers on how to decide.

“My general advice for stuabout how to finalize her decision.

“Go where you’re the most com- dents and families when picking a college is to be fortable … and open-minded and go wherever is to have healthy cheapest,” Ahmad expectations. said, in response When you get to what she com- Go where you’re brochures in the monly hears from the most mail, actually others.

In contrast to comfortable … and take a look at the college online just academics, to go wherever is to see if it might Brennan Holt, the cheapest. be a good fit, you most important never know,” factor in his deciPritchett said. sion is something – Tori Ahmad, “Healthy expecmore unconvenGBHS senior tional. tations are also “I personally very important think that the most because schools important factor in like Berkeley, choosing a college UCLA, Stanford is picking a school where I will and Cal Poly SLO are much more be happy and where I could see competitive than they were 20 to myself for the next four years,” 30 years ago – UCLA got over Holt said. “Several people have 113,000 applications this year, and reminded me that in the end, a col- 108,000 at Berkeley. Just because lege degree is valuable regardless a college isn’t as competitive at of where it is from, so the most im- these prestigious doesn’t mean portant aspect of college decisions that you won’t get a good educais finding a place where I will be tion. This should be a time of exhappy.” ploration – you always have the

Carly Wallace GBHS senior has played competitve beach volleyball for more than five years.

freedom to change your mind.”

When discussing as a family, Pritchett said it’s important to let students make the choice.

“My advice for parents is to let their student drive as much of the process as possible,” Pritchett said. “Although college is definitely a family decision, they’re ultimately the one who has to put in the work and make that school their home. I would also recommend having conversations with your child about what you can realistically afford for college, or if they’ll have to take on student loans. When students are told their whole life that they can go anywhere if they work hard enough and then don’t end up having the financial resources to do so, that can be a very difficult realization.”

Although the process seems long and daunting, the end result will make all of the effort worth it for both the student and their family. “ If you’re willing to put in some work, you can find even more schools that might be a good fit for you,” Pritchett said. “Or, even better.”

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Delving into mandated reporting at GB Teachers, school resource officer discuss law’s implications

BY LAUREN STARGARDTER lstargardter.gazette@gmail.com

Every teacher at Granite Bay High School is required to report any suspicious activity that they notice during the course of a school day. But what does suspicious activity involve? Do we truly know how it applies to the staff and student body on campus?

Given the recent incidents of gun violence on school campuses, more emphasis is being placed on everyone “seeing something, saying something.” This responsibility falls especially on teachers, administrators and professional staff.

A mandated reporter is a person who, because of his or her position, is legally required to report any suspicious activity, or incidents of child abuse or neglect to the relevant authorities.

“Since we are working with students, we are all obligated to report by the school district and law enforcement,” school resource officer Greg Hopping said.

Teachers are required to report any kind of suspicious activity on campus, but the main scenarios are child abuse, harm to self and harm to others.

Although this is the law, “on a personal ethics level it’s all about keeping everyone safe,” peer counseling teacher Natalie Elkin said.

There is a chain of command that GBHS staff have to report to handle the situation in a compassionate, professional and confidential manner. Once the situation is reported, it’s out of the teacher’s hands and into that chain of command, eventually moving into Child Protective Services (CPS).

“For instance, if it’s child abuse, I have to contact CPS directly and they take it from there,” Elkin said.

While safety is a priority, there might be controversy surrounding the concept of whether mandated reporting is an invasion of privacy or not.

“It is not my job to investigate – I don’t ... probe or ask a bunch of questions, like did (a physical blow) leave a mark? How badly did it hurt? Or do you have any bruis-

es?” Elkin said.

In reality, teachers are not supposed to further investigate beyond what they originally hear from the student.

Whenever mandated reporting comes into play, it’s a sensitive situation for everyone involved, but despite any emotion toward the situation, the individual’s safety is always the first priority.

“I had to report someone my second year of teaching,” Elkin said. “I overheard a student talking to her friends about a recent time when she got in a fight with her dad.

Allegedly, he hit her, laid hands on her, and I knew in that moment that I had to report the situation to make sure she’s safe. I notified (the) campus officer because he is my connection and/or the student’s counselor.”

Depending on the situation, CPS and designated government officials are obligated and dedicated to ensure a minor’s safety by any means necessary.

“I have had to remove students from a home (who were) students at Granite Bay High School and other schools in the (district) have had to remove students as well,” Hopping said.

Extreme measures like these might seem alarmingly tough initially, but action must be taken.

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“It was hard to see her upset, but the law is going to have to be involved now,” Elkin said of the student who she had to report.

Hopefully, their lives will ultimately improve because of the initial concern and compassion from law enforcement.

“Most of the time the students or individuals are living in such bad environments that they appreciate the care and concern that law enforcement and CPS have for them,” Hopping said. “That removal gives them time to recover safely – it is a hard thing to remove a child, but ultimately it’s a good thing.”

It’s a touchy subject for the victims and everyone involved, but law enforcement and the staff member who report the child have good intentions – and legally, they don’t have a choice.

“I explained to her that I’m legally required to report any kind of act or suspicion of child abuse and this is why I did it and so on and so forth,” Elkin said. “She understood and we got back on track – everything worked out fine.”

No matter what people think about how mandated reporting of a minor is handled, “the goal is to have a healthy home environment and children living with their siblings and biological parents if that’s possible,” Hopping said.

EFFECTS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON GRADE-POINT AVERAGE

Special to the Gazette /ANGIKAAR CHANA

GBHS student Angikaar Chana’s IB math research analyzes the relationship between academic success and income: the more income, the better the student will do academically.

Possible relationship observed in student math project Are family income, academics related?

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

I

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

ncome Achievement Gap. This title describes the trend of students from high-income families attaining greater success than those from low-income families.

Applied to high school, students from the upper-class have more access to tutoring, academic resources and overall have a higher family focus on education.

Due to these factors, high school students from well-to-do families across the country tend to get higher GPA’s and test scores than those from impoverished families.

Granite Bay High has a reputation of consisting of only rich kids, but the school does have students in need.

At GBHS there’s no specific threshold

for what an economically disadvantaged student is according to Assistant Principal Jessup McGregor.

“The decision on whether a student needs aid is done by a case-by-case basis,” McGregor said.

GBHS works hard to provide resources to equal the inherent gap in help that low-income students receive.

“The school provides everything from a backpack and school supplies, food, access to peer tutors, mental health services, and AP and IB test costs,” McGregor said.

“Even reduced school costs for participation in extracurricular activities like sports games because involvement increases academic performance.”

Despite this help, there still is a local and national trend of higher income students performing better in school.

“We have some kids that make essentially no money that do really amazing, so there’s no guarantees,” McGregor said.

“I would encourage students reading this who have financial needs to speak up. We

may not be able to help but we certainly won’t be able to help if we don’t know.”

Adam McLearan has been teaching english at GBHS for years and values the role of communication in student-teacher relationships.

“Economics doesn’t affect how I treat students, but an awareness of that can help me to understand the challenges a student is going through,” McLearan said. “The more we know about our students the more we can meet their needs and minimize the amount of assumptions we are making.”

McLearan supported the creation of “Grizz Time” from the beginning as a source of equity for student time.

“Having an intervention period within the day equalizes a lot of things,” McLearan said. “It makes help available in the school day for students who otherwise couldn’t get it. I think it’s one of the best things we’ve done in a long time.”

“Knowing a student’s economic background improves the dynamic between us,” McLearan continued. “With home-

New business, tech classes Alternate courses now offered at Granite Bay High for juniors, seniors

BY LAUREN STARGARDTER lstargardter.gazette@gmail.com

New classes offer new opportunities.

A new semester at Granite Bay High School is coming around the corner, and students will now have more opportunities to delve deeper into new or more intricate subjects that weren’t offered before.

From technology innovation, to an empowering entrepreneurial class, students can expand their horizons and delve deeply into meaningful and impactful topics.

Many of the new classes that are going to be offered are going to be capstone classes offered to juniors and seniors.

“Since I’m working with juniors and seniors that have taken the prerequisite business courses as freshmen and sophomores, the discussion will go deeper when it comes to business,” said business teacher Bill Patterson of his new capstone business course coming on line next fall.

Capstone courses are offered to upperclassmen who have already taken the prerequisite classes required to take the pathway of study classes.

“The students will have had to take either my computer science or advanced placement computer science class called AP computer science principles, so they will have some pro-

gramming experience,” said Marc Imrie of his new computer course.

These new classes will foster discussions in ways that haven’t been offered in the past in traditional classroom settings.

“This class is designed so the student builds on previous skills to be able to apply them in the Empowering Entrepreneurs class,” Patterson said.

Each class will be designed to enhance students understanding of a topic.

“I’m here to help you make money the rest of your life. I lay the foundation so that when you go to college ... you’re going to know the business terms,” Patterson said. “Because of this class, they’ll learn how to start a business, what types of business there are, and what the differences are.”

Students will learn how to apply what they’ve learned from the topics in real-life scenarios such as selling cars at a car dealerships in the Empowering Entrepreneurs class or selling a computer programmed robot using 3D printing in the Technology Innovation class.

“At the end of the year, students will be put in a Shark Tank scenario – they will present their product they’ve been tinkering with all semester to a panel of industry experts and sell their product idea to them,” Patterson said.

These new classes will have added benefits that weren’t always offered in classes before.

“All three business classes are (Uni-

versity of California/California State University) G approved, and we are also working with Sierra College to see if we can get dual enrollment so that when they leave the class that they’ll have credit at not only Granite Bay High School but they’ll have a transcript at Sierra College (where) they can use those credits to transfer to colleges such as Sacramento State,” Patterson said.

These new capstone course structures are going to divert from the patterns in conventional classroom.

“It’s not a traditional course with a specific curriculum or specific due dates or quizzes and tests, they won’t have a final project because of the time limit, but it’s more about the process, the ideas and the progress toward that goal,” Imrie said.

These new classes will allow students to be well-equipped for their future in the workforce.

“We try to get our kids ready for college, possibly jobs or wherever they go after high school,” Patterson said.

Students hope to excel in the field that they choose.

“I’m looking forward to giving students the freedom to be creative and to use two hours to develop something unique (that) they’re interested, engaged in and have control over,” Imrie said.

The capstone classes will cultivate not just knowledge, but life long relationships that the teacher and students can remember forever.

“Our business classes are very unique,” Patterson said. “Because by the end of it we’re kind of like a family.”

work, for instance, if I know a student doesn’t have a support system or is working after school, I will be more lenient with them on deadlines.”

Angikaar Chana is a senior IB Diploma student at GBHS. For his IB math internal assessment, he decided to study the correlation between household income and academic success.

After gathering data from 30-35 students in several different classes, Chana compiled his data and graphed it to measure the trend.

“Though there isn’t a strong direct correlation, there is some kind of weak correlation between family income and academic success,” Chana said. “It did seem like the richer you were, the better chance you had of getting a higher GPA or test scores.”

“The strongest correlation was between wealth and test scores rather than wealth and GPA,” Chana said. “Probably because those students had more access to professional tutors.”

Additionally, lower-class students may have different priorities than school.

“Parents who have gotten a college degree and thus earned more money probably have instilled the value of education more in their children than in households of parents who didn’t attend college,” Chana said.

“In families with very low income, students often have to work to contribute to the family which uses up time,” Chana added. “In others, they sometimes lack the materials or access to out of school tutoring.”

“We have a lot of resources on campus for low-income students – like the excellent peer tutoring program,” Chana said.

“The problem is that they can’t be extended throughout the whole day.”

“I think research into this topic should be done at a greater level by the school and district,” Chana said. “I think more help could be given to disadvantaged students if this research was done more unanimously.”

ASB UPDATE

ASB plans Blood Drive, Powderpuff The Gazette talked Student Government’s Lauren Angelo about what to expect this

Gazette: What are some upcoming ASB events?

Angelo: Some upcoming events are the Blood Drive, Powder Puff and Junior Prom.

Gazette: What can we expect to see at Powder Puff?

Angelo: Juniors and seniors will battle playing flag football on April 6 with many cheerleaders and fans cheering them on.

Q

&

A

Gazette: Why should students get involved with Powder Puff?

Angelo: People should come to Powder Puff because they can pick a side or go with their class and cheer on the girls. It’s really fun to get involved in a little class competition.

Lauren Angelo, a senior, discusses preparations for Powder Puff.

Gazette photo / MCKENNA ARAM

Gazette: What else is going on?

Angelo: There is a spirit week the same week of Powder Puff where we are doing a “versus week”... like blue versus yellow.

–Compiled by McKenna Aram

Friday, March 9, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Students save lives by donating at Blood Drive

GBHS youth have the opportunity to contribute to those in need

BY KAVANA GONUR

kgonur.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School students contributed in saving many lives on March 1 by donating thousands of ounces of blood throughout the day.

The Blood Drive conducted at GBHS ended as a success with more than 100 people arriving to donate their blood, including 10-20 walk-ins.

“I think our main blood source guy, Ian, said there were about 84 pints donated,” said senior Shianne Dingeman, who is the blood drive coordinator for Student Government.

Sponsored by BloodSource, the Blood Drive has been hosted by GBHS for nearly its entire history.

It happens twice a year on campus – once in the fall term and once in the spring.

This gives more students a chance to participate if they didn’t have the chance to do so in the fall.

Students signed up to donate their blood all day from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. after multiple flyers were posted around the school.

Some students signed up for the drive for the experience, which was one of the reasons sophomore Alex Nash signed up.

“I signed up to get a new experience and to save lives,” Nash said.

After the Blood Drive, many students said they had a positive experience.

Sophomore Emily Gusen registered because she was inspired by her grandfather who registered for many blood drives.

“My grandpa was part of the Gallon Club, which means he gives a gallon of blood every year,” Gusen said. “He always talks about how it helps other people. He told me to just do it ‘because you believe in saving lives. ’” Dingeman, the Student Government coordinator, has donated blood multiple times. Although she was unable to do so this year, she showed her passion by coordinating the Blood Drive.

“I’m not allowed to donate anymore, because I’m iron deficient,” Dingeman said. “That’s why I wanted to run the event, because I can’t donate.”

Students go through a long process to have their blood donated.

First, they enter the 900 building and are checked to ensure they are able to donate blood.

In order for the blood to be usable, it must be free of any contaminants.

Mark McGanally, the driver of the truck who is also a phlebotomist, said the process checks the blood for any physiological problems.

“We do what’s called a mini-physical,” McGanally said. “We look at your pulse, your temperature, your blood pressure. Then you’re handed a tablet and you’ll be asked a series of questions. We review those questions and follow up on them if necessary.”

After this, donors are escorted to chairs to wait for their turn. A volunteer escorts the student to the van where a nurse draws their blood.

According to McGanally, drawing blood involves little if any pain for the donor.

“There’s the normal feeling of apprehension when first coming to the blood drive … but you’re in a very controlled environment,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of professionally trained people taking care of you. Everything’s sterile, nothing will harm you. Most people say the finger poke at the beginning is the worst part.”

The blood is drawn into vials, which will then be used to aid people suffering from car accidents, anemia and other blood-related issues that require a transfusion.

Usually around one pint of blood is donated per person.

After having their blood drawn, donors are escorted back to the waiting room where they are given a T-shirt and can sign a poster signifying that they donated blood.

They are also given snacks to replenish the nutrients that are lost during the transfusion.

All types of blood are necessary, which is why nearly every healthy person is encouraged to donate regardless of age.

“We are looking for blood from anyone who is willing to donate,” McGanally said. “There’s all different blood types, which are all needed. It’s random - we don’t know who will be in a car accident.”

In addition, any amount of blood matters. According to Dingeman, around three teaspoons of blood can save a baby’s life, and a single donation has the potential to save three lives.

Those who are unable to donate blood after finding out they are ineligible are still given a T-shirt and snacks for the effort.

In the end, coming to the Blood Drive is simply one of the many things Granite Bay students can do to make a difference in the community.

News A5

Language classes compete

Students debate between taking French and Spanish

BY JACK KEHOE

jkehoe.gazette@gmail.com

Learning a foreign language has always been a requirement to graduate from Granite Bay High School, and some students choose to further their language skills by taking Advanced Placement-level classes.

At GBHS, there are two languages taught, Spanish and French. Both languages have classes at levels 1, 2 and 3, and both go to more and more sophisticated levels as students advance.

After taking the third year of a language, students can choose to continue on to Honors Spanish or Honors French and eventually the AP level, which will earn a student the biliteracy seal upon graduation.

While both languages offered are respected for what they are and impact different students in numerous ways, the Spanish program has always been the more popular language on the GBHS campus.

“So much of the English language is based off of Spanish that learning vocabulary and being able to pronounce the words is easier,” said Laura Berthelsen, an AP Spanish student. “I do know some students who take AP French, though, and enjoy it.”

The numerical difference in enrollment in AP Spanish and AP French classes shows how many more students choose the path of Spanish.

“The classes are vastly different,” said Jennifer Hill, who teaches AP Spanish. “The one AP French class (has) around 15 students versus the 80 students enrolled in AP Spanish.”

However, a simple number does not portray how much a language can impact students. Those Gazette illustration /MCKENNA ARAM involved in the French classes at GBHS often enter Due to misconceptions about French classes at GBHS, more feeling nervous, but come students lean towards taking Spanish classes. out with positive results.

A moral monopoly is the antithesis of a marketplace of ideas. One sign of this sense of moral monopoly among the left intelligentsia is that the institutions most under their control — the schools, colleges and universities — have far less freedom of speech than the rest of American society.

– Dr. Thomas Sowell, The Hoover Institute, Stanford University

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“A lot of students believe that French is the harder of the two languages at GBHS, and that’s a myth that we’ve been trying to stop for a long time now,” French teacher Celine Geneve-Brown said.

The French department has been attempting to squash this myth for numerous years, because according to teachers and students, in reality French is not significantly harder than Spanish.

“The course materials are presented roughly the same way for all levels of both classes,” Hill said.

“What it mainly comes down to for differences in the languages is the topics such as pronunciation and accent marks.”

When it comes down to facts, students have their free choice of what language they wish to learn, but the myth of one being easier than the other isn’t accurate. “(French) really isn’t that bad,” Geneve-Brown said. “And people understanding that would possibly get more students into the program.”

Friday, March 9, 2018

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SHOOTINGS: A look into the unfortunate school shooting issue

Continued from page A1

‘our plan’ for our class.”

“The shocking thing was after many students said the cause of these mass shootings is access, I asked them, ‘How many of you know of someone who has a gun to which you feel you could gain access?’

About 80-90 percent raised their hands.”

At Oakmont, the student who brought the weapon on campus was trying to sell his grandfather’s gun. “(The OHS lockdown) was a reminder that there could be students on even this campus with guns on any given day, and that disturbs me greatly,” Leighton said.

In order to challenge the government to re-evaluate laws, honor the lives lost in the Parkland shooting and vouch for their own safety, students across the country are uniting by conducting a walkout at 10 a.m. on March 14 for 17 minutes.

“No matter what the issue is, when there’s activism with young people that

makes me happy because that says that prospective voter is going to pay attention in the future – and that’s a great thing,” AP Government teacher Jarrod Westberg said.

“Obviously it’s terrible because it’s a tragedy, but that’s why you have activism after a tragedy – because it hits home.”

In the aftermath of the shooting, there has been a call to arm teachers to help protect students.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 424 in October. The new law states that the legislation would “delete the authority of a school district superintendent, his or her designee, or equivalent school authority to provide written permission for a person to possess a firearm within a school zone.”

But that didn’t stop politicians and the public from debating the issue.

“I’ve come down that there are two essential questions to this topic,” social science teacher Dale Mortensen said.

“No. 1 is – can that option possibly save somebody’s child’s life? And the second essential question I found for this issue is – if there’s an active shooter outside the door of your child’s classroom, do you hope that teachers armed?

“It’s that simple for me. Not everybody will come up with the same answer as me for a variety of reasons. I personally, if there’s an active shooter outside their classroom, I would hope that their teacher would be armed.”

Social science teacher Jillyan McKinney has a different point of view.

“I do not think that this should be implemented,” McKinney said of arming teachers. “There are so many social factors that come into play and need to be addressed. I am also very concerned that many people believe that this is our only option.”

Health teacher John MacLeane said the issue is complex, so the response to the

BIRDS: District removes swallows’ nests

Continued from page A1

of breeding season, it’s fine to take down mud swallows’ nests.”

What might seem like blemishes on the face of the campus’ aesthetic appeal to some fascinate Scott Braly, who teaches biology and Fish and Wildlife teacher.

“How (sparrows) build (nests) is pretty amazing,” Braly said. “They go out to the muddy areas and take one little beak at a time of mud and they fly out there and spit it out to build that amazing nest. One little mouthful at a time. And it sticks there. The saliva combined with the mud produces a pretty strong nest.”

What many people do not know is that the birds occupying the 900 building are not all native to this area.

“You also have English sparrows – house sparrows which are not a native to this country or continent,” Braly said. “When the swallows are nesting, you will also see a bunch of sparrows nesting … they don’t usually take over one (swallow’s nest) that’s being built, but they will hop in and take over one that was already there. So it’s a mixed colony of cliff swallows and English sparrows.”

The swallows might be native to this area but certainly not to the school facilities.

“The GBHS campus is not a native nesting area for the birds,” said Kris Knapp, the director of maintenance and operations for the district. “They did not arrive until after the 900 building was erected in 2004.”

McNulty said there has been talk about providing an alternate nesting place for the birds to further discourage their nest-building on campus, but district

officials have made no firm decisions yet.

“At this time we do not plan to build an alternative nesting location on the campus,” Knapp said.

“The birds would be better served establishing a new location in a natural environment of their choosing.

Building a nesting location could also have negative impacts on surrounding neighbors depending on where it was located.”

McNulty said the birds also pose a health hazard to students and faculty on campus.

“The problem with the birds is that they breed all sorts of viruses – all sort of sickness with their waste materials, and just by their living in the mud with the waste materials – combine that over the years … it’s a health and safety thing,” McNulty said.

Over the years, GBHS administration has received numerous complaints about the birds’ waste – and not just that of the swallows.

“Even (assistant principal Greg) Sloan got pooped on (Feb. 16) by one of the seagulls,” McNulty said.

“We get complaints every day. Seagulls, geese – because the geese defecate in the grass around the sidewalk – it’s slippery. (All the birds) are just inconvenient, and people don’t like it – they think it’s gross.”

However, not everybody finds the birds a nuisance.

Braly, who was a wildlife management major and natural resources major in college, has always had a deep passion for ornithology.

“I find them very fascinating,” Braly said. “They are incredibly awesome creatures.”

But even Braly acknowledged the district’s efforts are useful.

“The birds weren’t nesting there until we built that building,” Braly said. “If we had a cliff structure that they were nesting in on campus, then that would not

debate is also complicated.

“Maybe,” he said of arming teachers, “but only under certain conditions. And those conditions would be that that teacher is psychologically screened. No. 2, that teacher gets extensive training. If it was done that way, then I’m probably OK with it.”

There are a number of issues and contributors to the issue of gun violence in schools – access to guns, mental health and family upbringing.

“We’re dealing with young men,” Advanced Placement psychology teacher and licensed therapist Natalie Elkin said.

“The frontal lobe is not fully developed yet, which is impulse control. So if we have someone who is depressed and has a symptom of anger as a symptom of depression, they’re feeling like nothing, they hate going to school because of the social environment for them, they have access to guns right there, they’re playing violent

be OK if we prevented them from using that. But they have been using that building for about 10 to 12 years now. It’s not great – it’s nice to see them, it’s fun, but it’s a health hazard, (and) it’s a mess.”

Senior Katie Kantola finds the birds’ presence of tremendous value to the school and its inhabitants.

“I was appalled that our school would do such a thing,” Kantola said. “Being surrounded by nature, I thought (the district) would jump at the opportunity for students to learn from them. They are very interesting birds. I know what it takes to build those nests and how long the process is. And that is their home.

That is where they raise their (chicks). They want to live their lives just like we do, but we just made a lot of lives harder by removing the nests.”

Not only did workers scrape down the swallows’ nests, but the plan is to put in place a net that would prevent the birds from nesting underneath the eaves of the 900 building.

According to Knapp, the district has been thinking about taking down the nests for the past 10 years or so. In fact, this is not the first attempt to discourage the bird population on campus.

“Years ago when we complained that all the baseball patrons were getting ‘bird-defecated’ on, the district came out and put up some netting, but it really didn’t do the job,” McNulty said. “It wasn’t in a big enough area, and the birds just worked around it.”

The new netting will supposedly be placed farther down and cover a greater area of the wall, but McNulty said this won’t stop the birds from trying to build their nests right up against the bottom of the net. Therefore, the district has further plans to continually deter the swallows.

“I was told that our maintenance and operations have been directed that when the birds start to build to knock the nests down before they can move into it,” McNulty said. “So it’s going to be kind of an ongoing

READ THE GAZETTE.

News A6 video games and they have no impulse control — you tell me isn’t that the perfect recipe?”

Often, Elkin said, the media are quick to label the shooter as a “psychopath,” without actual knowledge of mental and personality disorders.

“The moment (we label them) then we refuse to see that there is actually a human being in there,” Elkin said. “They’re not a monster. We can’t apply that label of evil because it’s such a black and white label. You’re either evil or you’re good.The moment we do that, we label them and put them in a separate category, separate from (ourselves).”

But in the end, this cocktail of contributions to school shootings is extremely complex. Complexity that is sad, in light of lives lost, but sadness that might bring progress.

“It breaks my heart that this is part of our culture,” Angelone said. “I’m also hopeful, since many young people are protesting and demanding change.”

job this spring.”

So if the swallows are discouraged from nesting in the 900s building, where will they go instead?

“It could be into another one of the school buildings like the theater on the other side,” McNulty said. “But if we knock them down continually during their build season this year, they probably won’t come back next year.”

Even though Knapp confirmed that all actions taken by the school complied with the birds’ protected status, Kantola said she finds this ongoing project extremely unethical and destructive to the swallows.

Like Braly, she appreciates the skill and time it takes for the birds to build their nests. “(The school district) will kill the flock,” Kantola said. “Some will move on, but others won’t. They stick together. It takes weeks to build a nest. On top of that, they have to fly to get the mud. They fly within a mile radius of the spot. This is animal cruelty. They are forcing animals out of their homes – to move on – making birds homeless.”

Kantola considers herself a nature lover and sees the birds not as pests but as sentient beings.

“I find birds very appealing, just because that is how I am,” Kantola said. “But a health issue I don’t get – birds poop on the ground all over the quad, does that mean we should get rid of the gulls? No – the birds probably thought we were a nuisance as well. Does that mean they are going to kick us out? They are equal to us, and we to them.”

Whether students and faculty like or dislike the presence of swallows on campus, the nest removal project will continue to push on.

“We want to try to keep this school as safe and as clean as possible for safety purposes, for the community’s health and welfare,” Braly said. “That’s what the school district’s bound to do.”

Friday, March 9, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

HARASSMENT: Incidents of sexual assault surface

absolutely turning my head and trying to get away. being able to sexually assault the other person.

He would not stop until I literally pulled his hands He continued when I said no multiple times. We ended up breaking up about four months into us off of me and pushed myself off of him. It’s posbeen made to feel uncomfortable by another studating because I refused to have sex with him.” sible he thought it wasn’t harassing behavior, but dent on campus.

According to the National Coalition Against there is no way he thought I actually wanted any Students endure harassment every day – not Domestic Violence, almost part of it – he just wanted to see all cases are necessarily egregious, but all cases half of female (46.7 how hard he could push it.” certainly deserve attention. percent) and male (44.9 Because of her own experiDiscussing sexual harassment and/or assault percent) victims of rape ences, Emma said she knows the in a public arena almost guarantees at least one I didn’t realize at the in the United States were importance of remaining aware person will claim the issue is political. But sexual raped by an acquaintance. of one’s surroundings and taking time it was abusive or harassment and rape isn’t political – it’s real, and Of these, 45.4 percent of precautionary measures, but she it’s happening on campus and in the community. unhealthy – I just kept female rape victims and also knows that safety is never 29 percent of male rape 100 percent ensured in any given convincing myself it At a party victims were raped by an circumstance.

Perhaps the most notorious setting for sexual was normal or OK intimate partner.

“Now looking back, it still harassment and assault is the party scene.

Assault victims have a makes me feel uneasy, but ultiRachel, a pseudonym for a GBHS senior girl, because I liked him. higher risk of developing mately I think I’m just thankful was leaving a party the same way she always did drug or alcohol addictions, that I was still coherent enough – by hugging her friends goodbye. However, this to get myself out of the situation. – Abigail, an anonymous senior girl mental and neurological time, a friend of hers perceived the gesture as a disorders and chronic I think it’s a good lesson for girls sexual invitation. pain, among other health “After I left the party later that night, I get a text – but really everyone – on why problems. it’s impossible to be proactive in from the same guy asking if I wanted to come Abigail’s experience still protecting yourself.” over,” she said. “This guy has a girlfriend, who triggers painful memories and emotions for her, also happens to be one of my good friends, so I and she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder In a relationship politely declined and asked him why he would because of it – even though the assault happened Abigail, a pseudonym for a GBHS senior, was ever ask me that. He then replied, ‘Well the way more than two years ago. first under the impression that she couldn’t be you hugged me at the party seemed pretty sexual a sexual harassment or assault victim by her and inviting. It was like you slid your hand down Seeking justice significant other. With time, she grew wary of the my back. I’ve always liked you and wanted to Olivia was in the criminal court for two weeks red flags, and, eventually, hook up with you maybe realized the severity of the and described her time there as one of the hardest tonight.’ experiences of her life. situation.

“At this point, I was furious “I sat across from the monster who wrecked me “My sophomore year, I and went off on him, conwas first very good friends and stole so much from me. I sat there as my indemning everything he just tegrity was questioned, was made out to be a liar, said. Yet, even though I made I really want to stress that with, and eventually datand was re-traumatized about the whole incident,” ing, a boy who on mulit blatantly clear I would I was not complacent at Olivia said. tiple occasions sexually never want to come over, let all – I was very out of it But Olivia refused to let herself be a victim harassed me and sexually alone do anything (sexual), again, if she could help it. assaulted me,” Abigail he kept insisting I was the because I was drinking.

“Although (my experience in court) was really said. “Our entire relationone that made a move on awful, it made me realize how many amazing ship was unhealthy, toxic, him and was in the wrong for – Emma, an anonymous student people I had around me helping me be strong,” emotionally abusive and, implying that.” she said. “Although the criminal court didn’t end at times, not consensual.

Unfortunately, a signifiup going in my favor, I still won. I spoke up and We started out as friends cant part of rape culture is did everything I could. That monster still gets to casually talking, began victim-blaming: the act of walk around Roseville like nothing happened, but to hang out more, and criticizing a victim’s role in I know what he did and so does everyone else – become closer. a crime or violating encounter and, essentially, “(It) eventually led to us being a ‘thing’ and then and that’s all that matters.” taking the perpetrator’s side.

Even for the victims of the most tragic and officially dating. When we were ‘just friends,’ he “Eventually, after great volumes of argument, terrifying events, there is hope – hope and a great would continually send me messages that made he apologized for making me upset, although he deal of strength. me uncomfortable. He sent me inappropriate never admitted he did anything wrong,” Rachel Olivia spoke about the impact of movements said. “It still makes me mad looking back on it – I pictures without asking me if I wanted them. like “Me Too” and “Time’s Up.” He would pressure me to send him pictures, and really can’t believe how some people register or “Movements like ‘Me Too’ and ‘Time’s Up’ I would continuously say ‘no’ and change the overanalyze things.” make me feel like I’m not alone,” Olivia said. subject.

“I’ve met so many incredible, strong people “This went on for months, and I convinced myIn a pool Emma, a pseudonym for a GBHS female student self that it was normal or because we were friends because of what I went through. People speaking up and bringing awareness to sexual assault and or dating that it was OK. I kept saying ‘no’ to who also asked that her grade in school not be things like sending (explicit) pictures, and he kept abuse is so important. Speaking up prevents more revealed, wound up in an uncomfortable situation victims.” demanding them. Every time I would reject him, at a friend’s house where she was intoxicated.

Olivia came out of her experiences choosing to he’d get mad, insult me or threaten me, and then “It was sophomore year,” Emma said. “Not actively spread awareness of the realities of sexual hours later say he was kidding and he loved me.” very many people were left, and we went skinny Throughout the relationship, Abigail excused his assault and harassment through her story and dipping. Everyone had been drinking all night behavior, thinking it was standard to be treated the through encouraging others to speak up.

– including myself. After we were out there for “My advice to anyone going through being sexway she was being treated in an intimate relationa while, I didn’t really notice (at first), but next ship. ually assaulted is really simple but important, but thing I knew I was out there by myself with one “I didn’t realize at the time it was abusive or un- it is to stay strong. People will doubt you, call you other guy. We were both in the pool and, all of a healthy – I just kept convincing myself it was nor- a liar, not stand up for you, but you have to stay sudden, he was pulling me on my back over to mal or OK because I liked him,” she said. “Things true to yourself and know that you did absolutely the side of the pool to a ledge, and immediately I escalated a few months into our relationship when nothing wrong. For me, (the rape) was about 2 ½ knew I was in a bad situation.” years ago and I still think about it almost every he would continuously (make) sexual advances Even with clear signs of disinterest, the perpesingle day. (after) I very obviously voiced my dissent. I told trator continued.

“Constantly I’m reminded of the horrific incihim no multiple times, saying it kindly, jokingly “He started trying to kiss me and tell me how and then seriously when he didn’t stop. I tried dent, but I also remember how strong it made me. pretty I was, and I kept turning my head, but then everything I could think of to get out of situations It changed me as a person and made me who I am he pulled me on top of him and was trying to take with us being alone because I was afraid of what today. Also, it’s really important to tell someone if off my bra. In that moment, I snapped out of it he would do. something has happened to you. Trying to forget and pushed myself off of him and hurried inside,” “Multiple times in the relationship he sexually what happened to you and avoiding dealing with Emma said. assaulted me. I thought that because we were the situation will only make it worse. Standing up Emma said, even though she was under the also prevents the next person from being in your influence, she knows her primary desire was obvi- dating it wasn’t assault. I considered it him being ‘mean’ or ‘not understanding’ or him not respectposition.” ous – that she wanted him to stop.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway advice from vic“I really want to stress that I was not complacent ing my boundaries or him trying to pressure me.

“It was all of those things, but I know now that tims – there is a brighter day ahead, even for those at all – I was very out of it because I was drinking. being in a relationship doesn’t stop someone from who have endured the darkest.

And I wouldn’t say I was fighting back, but I was Continued from page A1

News A7

ROBOTICS: Valued program to shut down Continued from page A1

Miller has also been directly involved in meetings with administration regarding the discontinuation of the club.

“Being in a club allows us to do many things that we couldn’t do in (the new engineering class),” Miller said.

“Something pretty huge is that our technical skills span way past just mechanical engineering. We have a business team that works on social media to publicize us, (offer) outreach to students, and (they) collaborate with businesses for corporate sponsorships.”

The Robotics Club itself utilizes various types of engineering including electrical engineering, technical engineering, programming and mechanical engineering.

However, the new engineering course will focus on mechanical engineering.

Building season is a six-week designated period for Robotics members to build their robot for the FIRST Robotics Competition, also known as FRC. During building season, the club typically meets from 6-9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

“What the students get through FRC is really the premier robotics competition in the world,” Miller said.

“There is nothing close to it.”

Members are expected to meet at least three days a week during this period, while the individual team leaders, also known as “leads,” typically meet every day.

Jeffrey Romeo is the overall team captain for Robotics, Margaret Grivette is the lead for the electrical team, Aryan Suri is the lead for the technical team as well as the programming lead, and Noah Lutz is the mechanical lead.

Leads must apply for the position and are then interviewed for selection.

“Those who have the most experience are our leaders, which are our juniors and seniors,” Miller said.

In the EDD class, because it solely relates to mechanical engineering, there wouldn’t be an electrical team, a scouting team, a business team or a programming team, which are essential for building the robots.

“As far as Project Lead The Way and the engineering courses, (administration) is trying to incorporate as much engineering into the pathway of study (as possible),” Miller said. “That’s just their vision.”

The club has competed in various competitions besides FRC such as the Sacramento Regionals, Las Vegas Regionals, Davis Invitationals and more.

They were also invited to the World Championships for Robotics in 2015 and in 2016 after placing in the top eight teams in regional competitions two years in a row.

The robot built by the club during the building season is used for every competition.

“This year we are competing at UC Davis and in the Central Valley regional in Fresno,” junior and Robotics electrical team lead Margaret Grivette said. “Davis will have 66 teams this year, and Fresno will have 47 teams competing.”

But because building season would not line up with the new engineering course, those students would not be able to participate in competitions as they have done in the past.

“I will not be doing the EDD class,” junior and Robotics mechanical team lead Noah Lutz said. “I do not have room to (take that academic class) … and I do not have an interest in doing the class. The school (incorrectly) thinks that Robotics kids will change their entire schedule and plan to do the engineering classes.”

Because Robotics is a club and not a class, it had the ability to expand its offerings, whereas the EDD class might not have as much leeway.

Over the past couple of years, the club has reached out to the community by hosting Robotics lessons that entail teaching design skills, programming skills and mechanical skills.

“During the summer we visit the junior highs and elementary schools, show the kids what we do as a team and advertise the summer classes we teach,” Grivette said.

“This past summer the classes were Vex robotics, Art and Design and Java Programming.”

However, with the club shutting down, the future of those classes taught by Robotics students is unknown.

“I’m not done, I’m taking a little break,” Miller said.

“This has never been about me, it’s always been about the students … (and) I hope to continue to see that happen.”

Voices

Granite Bay Gazette

A8

Friday w March 9, 2018

GAZETTE The Granite Bay

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

Editors-in-Chief: McKenna Aram Katie Cologna Brayden Johnk Steph Kang Sabina Mahavni News Editor: Will Anderson Voices Editor: Samreen Siddiqui Lifestyle Editors: Noelani Nichols Reese Richmond Emily Talmi Sidney Zabell Green Screen Editors: Mackenzie Brown Logan Embree Jack Kehoe Ashley Yung Sports Editors: Spencer Cova Jake Criscione Abbie Gould Max Schwartz Social Media Editors: Milan French Kennedy Healy Online Editor: Bruce Russell Illustrators: Katie Cologna Sabina Mahavni Samreen Siddiqui Staff Writers/ Photographers: Jordan Blair Kavana Gonur Bella Hamilton Emily Hansen Elliott Hyman Angelina Kolosey Ashley Lucia Keyuri Pillay Dylan Rowe Akhil Shah Lauren Stargardter

Take action–don’t accept school shootings F

ire alarm drills have taken on an ominous meaning.

Many students hesitated before evacuating for the recent drill, hearts in their throats as they envisioned bullets ricocheting through the halls, a mysterious figure wielding guns as they sought their own personal form of revenge and glory, bodies in pools of blood on the ground.

Because we were there when Stoneman Douglas High School was shot up, weren’t we? We saw bullet holes in Chromebooks, bodies listless on the ground, people being carried out of classrooms by officials, students raising their hands in the air as SWAT teams entered rooms, guns in front of them, in the form of a Snapchat interface that, at a casual glance, looked like any other streak we’ve been sent.

Yet why did we only care until the fire alarm, until the lockdown occurred? Why didn’t teachers talk about Parkland more after its occurrence?

Why wasn’t Parkland a bigger thing immediately after it happened?

Why does it take immediate personal relevance in our daily lives in order for us to recognize that something terrible is being allowed to happen in America and that

we have to do something to stop it?

Collectively, we have never not been alive The voice of the in a time when school Granite Bay shootings weren’t Gazette prevalent. Columbine happened April 20, 1999, many months before even the oldest of the seniors were born, and it’s ingrained in our heads to run, to hide, to fight – we know as naturally as the Pythagorean theorem the different techniques to survive in a school shooting, and we have all seen the threads and suggestions that have gone viral to attempt to reduce these violent happenings.

And even as teachers try to reassure their students that these instances of ghastly violence are infinitesimally rare, we can still see the fear in their eyes, can still see the devices being ordered to make hiding in the event of an active shooter more effective, the paranoia in the air all around us.

We have witnessed teachers breaking down because they think we are too young to die.

We need to end this. We need to never allow another

EDITORIAL

The reason I am worried: gun violence Our generation is too acustomed to tragedies

T

he day after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a friend came to me worried and anxious with the surefire feeling that a student at Granite Bay High would be inspired by the tragedy.

He was scared that because the community of Granite Bay is so similar to that of Parkland, it will happen here in a matter of time.

In response, I assured him that the likelihood of such an event happening is exceptionally low,

and there is no reason to worry.

The next afternoon, the fire alarm sounded. Along with nearly every one of the school’s 2,000plus students, I was struck with fear and was listening for gunshots.

On that Tuesday afternoon, it became real. A note was found in the boys bathroom reading “I am going to shoot up the school.” The school went into lockdown and every student on campus had to be released individually by an armed officer.

Now, I would be a hypocrite to tell my friend not to worry.

Only in America does this horrible epidemic exist, school shooting after school shooting after school shooting. It’s not a coincidence and it’s not because of bad luck. These atrocities happen because of our inaction. It is normalized.

Only in America are students scared to go to school in fear of a shooting. There have been very few class periods that have passed by since the lockdown that I

have not thought of the possibility of a shooter walking on campus. It is a tragedy.

Only in America would I have a teacher tell me, with tears

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COMMENTARY

spencer cova scova.gazette@gmail.com

in his eyes and pride in his voice, that he will take as many bullets as he can to save my life.

It is heartbreaking.

And only in America can the youth have such a strong and immediate impact on government. If the blood of defenseless children flooding school hallways does not speak loud enough for lawmakers and politicians, we the youth will. That is hopeful.

Most of generation Z does not remember, or has not lived, in a peaceful America. We have grown up in the

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 caseby-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.

school shooting to occur, never allow this sense of fear for our own lives to permeate a school setting. We should be worrying about the next test, discussing plans for upcoming dances, falling in love and breaking up and going to parties.

Not huddled under desks, praying that this is just a drill and we’ll still be alive when the day ends. And then pretend like we’re still OK afterwards, try to study for tests and do homework and go to club meetings when just a few hours ago, we faced death itself.

Thankfully, there are peaceful protests being planned to signal that Granite Bay High students are over all this.

These protests aren’t attempting to be exclusive to political parties – they are open to all students of all political orientations, striving to only push forward the belief that something horrific is going on in America, and that there is something we can do to end it for good.

We support the right of students to peacefully protest the carnage happening in American classrooms. So march, Granite Bay High students. Walk out. Show the community it’s time for a change.

Because as the students of Parkland are reminding us on social media every day, this kind of terror should happen … never again.

Immorality versus politics

post 9/11 era and we now go to school in an age of anxiety.

It has been a struggle for me lately to pursue my passion for learning within school when any pop or crash I hear outside my classroom alarms me. My mind begins to race, my palms start to sweat and my body remains motionless as I contemplate a dozen different scenarios of what I would do if there was a shooter.

I know that the pop heard outside the door was really just a student crashing, and the crash was a metal chair falling, and I know that even after the Parkland shooting and the school lockdown, the chances of there being a school shooting at GBHS are relatively low. But the threat is still just as real.

It is wrong that high school students share the same worries I do in a school environment. And it is because of that, that we will not stand for this issue to remain dormant.

GBHS students will participate on the nationwide school walkout on March 14 to advocate for stricter gun laws. Students will rally out front of Congressman Tom McClintock’s office, and our students will continue to let our voices be heard until we are assured that we will need to worry no more.

Our youth will be heard – because only in America is dissent the purest form of patriotism. *** Spencer Cova, a junior, is a Gazette sports editor.

Gazette illustration/SAMREEN SIDDIQUI

People need to come together in order to prevent school shootings

T

he only thing guaranteed in life is death.

How it happens, when it happens, even why it happens are all indeterminate – but none of us can evade it under our own power.

Seventeen human beings were murdered in Parkland, Florida.

Never again will they see the ones who loved them so dearly as they took their last breaths on this earth.

By the time you read this, the nation will be through its weeklong infatuation phase with tragedy and my words will lack some significance.

I feel hypocritical when I write this, because I really am doing the same as everyone else – I give my two cents and then move on with my life just as it was before.

Yeah it sounded nice, it was endearing, it sure seemed like I cared, but it doesn’t lead to any real solution.

And I don’t know there ever will be a solution – there is an inherent evil in this world that doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon.

If you disagree with me, so be it.

But when I look at every individual, and then retract my lens to look at humanity as a whole, there are obvious faults. There is no perfection.

One of the spillovers from that

is what our nation experiences too regularly – murder.

This is a moral issue to me more than it is political. I react to this and am saddened that our earth would be seething with such an evil that the byproduct would be so heartless and ruthless.

It becomes a theological and philosophical question, yet I think we try to bow-wrap the entire situation with “policy change this” and “policy change that!”

Once we feel our voice has been heard, we often shut up.

To a certain extent, it becomes the job of our government to protect its people.

That, however, appears to be too daunting of a task. And for the time being, until a conclusion of sorts is reached in our system, we are left in an odd state of limbo.

There was a note left in a bathroom on our campus with threats to shoot up this high school about a week after the horrors in Parkland, Florida.

A joke perhaps – not much of a knee-slapper, might I add.

Possibly there was true intent to harm.

Or even a mental state that the individual reached such that a violent outlash became the only reasonable thing left in his mind to do – I don’t know the details

behind his motives.

I was off campus that day, recovering from an allergic reaction I had earlier in the week, so the only information I received was from our administrative staff at school via an email stating Granite Bay High was in a lockdown.

It was not a drill, as the school had conducted earlier the same day. And although there was no immediate harm, as communicated by the administrators, my heart still sank to the bottom of my stomach.

My brother, girlfriend, teammates, close friends and teachers that I shared personal relationships with were all on campus – my entire lifeline, really.

I sent out texts to the ones I loved, asking and making sure they were all OK. My brother took the longest of them all to respond – thanks a lot, Josh – but the messages from those I had reached out to earlier all replied saying that everything was OK and as under control as the situation could be considering the circumstances.

That began to ease my worried mind.

Still, I said my prayers even though that has become a laughable statement because of our current political climate. Yes I know, if there is an almighty creator, why didn’t that creator just come down and stop the shooter?

By no means do I try to get political by saying the phrase “thoughts and prayers.”

But when you do COMMENTARY feelings toward the truly believe in a events that have God above, sometaken place in our thing else dictating country. and controlling what Reactions to is going on, those extremely emoprayers are a whole tional situations are lot more than a feelusually molded by good statement in the experiences an my own mind – it is individual has had, a profession of my there is no going realization that life around that. too often reminds us I just don’t want we have no definite to be a part of anycontrol of what is wanderson.gazette@gmail.com more conversations happening around us. that objectify life That’s when I was able to get and death so heartlessly. just the slightest glimpse of what I’m not claiming I know what the people in Parkland, Sandy to change, or how to change it. I Hook, Columbine – a majority of just want a sense of awareness and the United States, really – have realness in people. had to deal with.

If there is understanding, there What truly sickens me, though, will be change. If there is comprois the way these tragedies are mise there will be progress. And politicized. if there is a respect for the people There are a bunch of people pretending they know every detail, around us, the entire environment we hold our egotistical political that they know why it happened agendas in will facilitate, at the or even how to create a change to bare minimum – something. prevent it entirely.

Nobody knows everything, but That’s great, but we all have everybody knows and at least has 20/20 hindsight in America, so something to offer. let’s get rid of our pride for a There is no blueprint that cures second. the confusion, but we all need just If I had grown up around somea little bit of something to grab one with a severe mental illness ahold of. that overwhelmingly alters the And once our flawed approach very person they once were – yes, to gun violence begins to shift, I I would probably feel differently about the political actions that take believe the outlook for our future as a nation might actually start to place.

And if I had seen the life of move in the right direction. someone I truly love taken away *** by a bullet from a gun – yes, I Will Anderson, a senior, is the Gazette news editor. would most likely have different

will anderson

Friday, March 9, 2018 w

Voices A9

The Granite Bay Gazette

HEARD We are relying too much on technology on the BAY COMMENTARY

Do you believe in leprechauns?

No, because I don’t know much about them.

abbie gould agould.gazette@gmail.com

freshman

Aiden Marr No. It’s a myth.

sophomore

Scaasi Guldera Yes, because everyone needs wishful thinking in their life.

junior

Take time to live in reality

W

hile people have always given in to the desires of instant gratification, the advances of the 21st century make it more accessible.

Nowadays, technology is everywhere – in our houses, stores, schools, churches … everywhere.

This use of a computer or phone helps supply us with that quick desire of instant gratification that we seek.

Whether technology is used for social media, contacting friends and family, or other reasons, it is addicting.

Everywhere I go, people are always on their phones or tablets.

Whether they are driving a car, waiting in line or while eating a meal.

We have become so inclined to our phones that we have lost our sense of empathy for each other.

It’s a common occurence to see children too interested in what’s going on online than talking to their parents while they are driving them to their extracurricular activities.

Because of our constant use of technology, people have lost the ability to communicate with each other.

We are so used to having a conversation through a screen that when it comes to real life, talking face to face becomes an awkward situation.

When problems occur with others, they are mostly resolved through an email or text.

People try to avoid face-to-face confrontation because they are more confident when they are behind a screen – there is process time.

When my dad recently had to “let someone go” from his work team, or in other words, fire them, and this

Gazette illustration/STEPH KANG

employee was furious.

He confronted his ex-boss, my father, through text and said some pretty nasty comments.

He has a confidence boost from saying this by text instead of face-to-face, where his opinion would have most likely been more politely stated.

Our society has become too involved in technology to recognize how to treat those around us.

My parents did not allow me to have social media until this year, and for that I am grateful.

I was able to recognize how inclined people have become to their phones, tablets and computers.

Now that I have social media, I too, have become

I’m done with expections from others COMMENTARY

I need to live authentically

I

Praise Chaney Yes, because it would be nice to see Irish midgets.

senior

Megan Finch I believe that there are all sorts of small magical beings in this world, and we should appreciate them all.

staff

Bernadette Cranmer Compiled by Samreen Siddiqui

engulfed in the technology that surrounds me.

I am fortunate for those years that I was able to spend admiring the world around me and all the memories I made with those I care about.

Now I am guilty of being on my phone while my parents drive me to a soccer game, because it is “more important” to be on my phone than talking with those who love me.

We all need to take a break from the technology that is surrounding us, and just live in the moment and appreciate this beautiful world we live in. *** Abbie Gould, a junior, is a Gazette sports editor.

t took me a while to understand what authenticity really means. Because the first 17 years of my life, believe it or not, have been dedicated to what others expect from me.

I consider myself independent and headstrong, but even the most stubborn people can be influenced by others.

Some people tell me to stay quiet, while others tell me I don’t speak up enough.

I get scrutinized for appearing to be “too promiscuous,” but at the same time I get made fun of for being a prude.

I feel proud about my artistic endeavors until I’m told they apparently make me look unacademic and unpractical.

I am asked to pursue a certain life for my success, my health, my happiness, but what if that certain life isn’t what I really want?

I came to a realization recently that I wasn’t actually living my life, I was embodying the lives of others based on what others wanted me to do and how

Because no they wanted matter how hard me to poryou try, if you tray myself. aren’t being honI recognized this through est with yourself, many different situations, you can’t be honincluding correcting my beest with others. havior based on what others Imagine if you were doing. were asked to If someone was respected work as an acfor how they acted, I would countant, but you try to act like that too. really wanted to If someone got good grades run a risky but using a particular method, I rewarding nonwould try to do that too, only profit organizato realize that I would fail ssiddiqui.gazette@gmail.com tion. every time.

The expectaI need time to figure out what I want for myself before I follow a tions from others are holding you back in that case, and you aren’t able to put path blindly.

I will make mistakes, I will fail, I will your energy into something you are pasfeel stupid for choosing my own path sionate about.

In my case, my career path is blurry, sometimes – but it will be all worth it.

Because if I’m living an authentic life, but I do have some idea of where I want I will be able to leave negative emotions to end up.

But all people ever mention to me is behind and be able to work to influence that I have to pursue a career that pays the lives of others for the better.

samreen siddiqui

well and is easier to get a job.

Money is nice, and it obviously doesn’t help if you have none of it, but I don’t want it to run my life.

I want to wake up every day excited for my job and happy to be alive – not waiting for the weekend.

I have always been optimistic and hopeful about life, and while my views seem naive to some, I’m willing to accept your opinion on that.

Living authentically for me means that I don’t apologize for who I am, but I instead I work every day to become the best person I can be.

I’m still willing to listen to advice, but I can’t let people run my life for me anymore.

I’m my own person, with my own ideas, thoughts and passions. I have always been self-reliant – but now it’s time for me to own it. *** Samreen Siddiqui, a senior, is the Gazette voices editor.

Moderation is essential in everything I

respect passion. I respect strong opinions, and I respect people who argue for what they believe in. What I cannot respect is those who believe so strongly in their views that they become blind to all other perspectives.

Truthfully, there will always be some disadvantages to political outcomes, and it’s a sign of maturity to acknowledge that fact.

One of the main information sources in this era of technology is Twitter.

Social media is used as a platform for expressing opinions, which I encourage, but when people accept anything as fact, it results in a misled and misinformed society.

In addition, those who use social media to only follow accounts of the same opinion as their own contribute to further ignorance and bias.

The only way to come to an informed conclusion is to view both sides of an argument, which social media discourages.

It is not typical for people to seek out opinions that oppose their own, unless the purpose is to refute them.

Even those who are properly informed still need to have humility in recognizing the fact that each side of the political spectrum. As with anything on earth, political party views are sometimes flawed.

COMMENTARY

I think humans have the into it? tendency to cling to their I have occasionally discussed poliparties so tightly that any tics with my friends, who range from insult against the Demofar left to far right on the political speccratic or Republican party becomes a pertrum. Our conversations are enlightensonal attack against them. ing for me. Often, my friends who have This prevents people from being able opposing views will bring up points I to acknowledge faults within the realm of haven’t even thought to consider. their party’s views, instead seeing it as a At the end of our discussions, we norpersonal criticism. mally hold the same opinion as when I tend to keep my political views to mywe began, but I believe the experience self, not for fear of being ridiculed, but is extremely beneficial. because I simply haven’t done enough In other situations, however, I’ve witresearch of both sides to reach my own opinion. nessed many people disregard facts or I would rather admit I know nothing on evidence purely because it doesn’t supehansen.gazette@gmail.com a topic than make a statement for which I port their personal bias. have no factual support.

I don’t believe that one extreme side of politics can On those issues which I have explored, I do make an always be right. There needs to be a healthy balance effort to always listen with an open mind to the oppos- of Liberal and Conservative in order to reach realistic ing views. solutions.

In many controversial issues, I’ve found I can’t agree Moderation is essential in everything, especially powith a Democratic or Republican opinion. I think that litical issues. Radicalism, as shown in history, can be in many cases, a compromise will result in the best outdetrimental to a country’s entire foundation. I believe come.

Listening to others and respecting their opinions is a it’s balance that will make our government strong. Polibasic human skill. If we teach children to respect other tics aren’t black and white. *** opinions, why do we find it OK to forget this rule of simple human kindness as soon as politics are brought Emily Hansen, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Politics are too radical for society

emily hansen

Friday, March 9, 2018 w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Second look

News A10

Saving lives one pint at a time Students and staff donate blood at the semi-annual BloodSource blood drive hosted by GBHS

Gazette photos by Logan Embree

 At the BloodSource blood drive, students and staff donated their blood to save lives through future blood transfusions. Top right, sophomore Calvin Frey smiles and gives the camera a thumbs up as the nurses draw his blood. Top left, a student relaxes his arm on an armrest while getting his blood drawn. Middle right, the BloodSource buses are parked in the basketball courts, ready for students to enter and donate. Bottom right, junior Stephanie Samson holds a sticker saying “Life Saver” after donating her blood. Bottom left, junior Manvi Bhapkar checks in with a blood drive volunteer.

Granite Bay Gazette COMMENTARY

emily talmi

F

Lifestyle

B Section

MOVEMENT

Friday w March 9, 2018

lourishing eminist

A look back into women’s role in history and how it has shaped people’s perspective

etalmi.gazette@gmail.com

Seizing your opportunites

BY SIDNEY ZABELL

szabell.gazette@gmail.com

F

riday finally rears its beautiful face and students are left with the opportunity to do whatever they want for the rest of the evening – and as the phrase goes, the world really is their oyster.

However, as many of my weekend nights have been spent with my friends, I have noticed an unsettling trend – one that has began to bother me due to its unusual stupidity.

It was the night of Sadies, and my group and I had just hopped out of the car to go enjoy ourselves at the dance. An hour passed and the consensus was to leave and do something else: EDM music wasn’t their cup of tea and I’d have to agree.

Though I was enjoying myself, I chose to go with the group, and disappointedly found myself sitting in the parking lot for the next hour trying to decide what to do. I kept myself busy by throwing a baseball around with my date, while the others were left in the car making numerous phone calls to others to figure out plans for the rest of the evening.

And that is what amazed me.

The amount of stress they laid upon themselves because they didn’t have a set agenda – nor one up to their standards.

It was as if the opportunity to do whatever they wanted, actually hindered their ability to do anything.

They were so caught up with doing the next thing, I questioned whether or not they even enjoyed what they were doing in the first place.

Needless to say, this isn’t a judgment of their character nor is it just my friends who share this trait– it’s seemingly just a part of the human condition.

Our need for instant gratification is where the issue lies. And all of it is dependent on our own mental state.

That freeness and liberty can be intimidating to our future oriented mindsets, so in turn we subconsciously build mental walls that inhibit the very freedom we have.

By focusing on so many different little things, we are never able to actually accomplish any one thing at all – we get stuck.

As a person who loves to plan, and cannot go a day without a personal planner, I understand the matter at hand.

It wasn’t until last year, that I realized there is a difference between being prepared and being paranoid.

Some people find themselves in a position where they have no idea what to do, and act as if doomsday is upon them.

Even though they have the ability to do something simple and achievable, they force themselves into thinking up unattainable, grandiose ideas.

By spending so much energy on planning what to do next, they are actually doing less than what they previously could have done.

This is where I believe the idea of having no set plan at all gets distorted.

Ultimately, by limiting one’s own freedom, the window of opportunity is left unopened.

***

Emily Talmi, a senior, is a Lifestyle editor.

98

years ago, women were granted the right to vote.

And in those 98 years – just 98 years, women have become an unstoppable force, pushing for reform and gender equality.

“I would define feminism as a movement to gain equality for genders and races,” senior Tori Ahmad said in a text message. “I think the change is happening now because women everywhere are finally recognizing that unfair treatment is unacceptable. We also have more resources than ever before to spread a movement.”

Jan. 20, 2018 marked the second annual Women’s March, serving as a day to advocate for women’s rights and equality for all throughout the United States.

“I went to the Women’s March for the first time this year and it was incredible,” senior Kasey Yean said in a text message.

“From the speakers to the participants, male and female, we were all one voice. It was a very inspiring day for me.”

Ahmad attended the march as well, and said the movement has opened her eyes to gender and racial injustices in daily life.

“I think women are gaining a lot of power in society that wasn’t offered to women before in both everyday life and politics,” Ahmad said. “I think the movement has made me a lot more tolerant.”

In the past, women were generally expected to live as stay-at-home mothers, given the role of raising children and working in the house.

This drastically changed in the past few decades, with women now making up 55% of students on college campuses according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“It’s been gradually changing and drastically changed for the better in the 1980s when women were getting highly educated,” senior Megan Finch said in a text message. “…

(Women) started working as lawyers and stock brokers which inspired this current era of working women. The working women is what changed their roles drastically and provided opportunities for roles to be not just about raising children and house chores.”

Yean said feminism was an overall fight for equality between men and women.

“Feminism to me is supporting other women, empowering them to be their very best selves and to rise above stereotypes such as not being able to handle a “man’s” job, and being weak or too emotional to make rational decisions,” Yean said. “I think this change is happening way more often than it did in the past because women didn’t feel like they had a voice, but now we have one of the loudest voices on the planet.”

Finch defines feminism in a similar way to Yean.

“Feminism is the belief in equality between all genders and races.

The change happening is equality for all genders and races in the workplace and beyond,” Finch said. “Change pertaining to the work place would be equal respect for workers and equal pay, (like) the wage gap between men and women (or) not hiring people for the color of their skin. These are changing because more people are becoming not afraid to speak up to hate crimes or to unequal pay.”

“The impact this has had on me is the constant reminder that women can do anything they want,” Yean said. “Girl power – we can do anything just as well as men or better, and we deserve the same credibility.”

Gazette illustration/ EMILY TALMI Gazette photo /CREATIVE COMMONS

Comparing past and present spring breaks High school and college students share similar vacation plans

BY REESE RICHMOND

O

rrichmond.gazette@gmail.com

ne may assume that the way students in college spend their spring break is vastly different than the way high school students spend their spring breaks.

With the way movies and media portray college spring break, it’s easy to assume that this is what college spring break is always like, and while yes, it sometimes is, it’s often not like that at all.

In fact, Granite Bay High School alum Carlin Isaacson’s first spring break in college was spent playing lacrosse, just like her spring breaks in high school were spent.

“Last year over spring break I’m pretty sure we traveled to Florida to play University of Florida and then just spent the rest of the break on campus practicing,” Isaacson said.

During her spring breaks in high school, Isaacson also spent her time participating in lacrosse tournaments.

“The Lacrosse team at GB would go to Laguna for the week and travel around playing teams down there,” Isaacson said.

GBHS alum Natalie Hatch has plans to

go to Washington, D.C. with her family this upcoming spring break .

This will also be her first Special to the Gazette /NATALIE HATCH spring break as a college  Volunteers help build houses for families in need and also play with the kids while in Mexicali. student at Ohio State.

“My family’s going to for being different than high school spring Washington, D.C. I’m related to a senator While Isaacson thinks a spring break trip breaks. who’s retiring so we’re going to meet him “I know a lot of people in high school tend with her friends would be fun, she also and go on some tours before he’s out of to go on family trips or just chill over spring wants to spend more time with her family. office,” Hatch said.

“Now that I’m at school I definitely want break,” Hatch said. “But in Hatch spent her spring college you obviously have the to spend more time with my mom and breaks in high school freedom to go elsewhere. sister when I get the chance,” Isaacson said. attending the mission Ohio State (where Hatch “(Spending time with them is) even more trip to Mexicali run by All four years of attends college) closes its fun and special now.”

Bayside church. dorms over break, so we kind high school I went GBHS seniors Adam Fong and Blake She says that if she of have to go somewhere, and D’Souza are planning on spending their last didn’t already have plans on the Bayside that really encourages college spring break in high school touring colleges this upcoming spring mission trip to students to go somewhere, in Southern California: Santa Clara, Unibreak, that the Bayside planned or spontaneously,” trip would be her go-to Mexico. versity of California Los Angeles, University Hatch said. choice of spring break of California Santa Barbara, California With this new opportunity, plans.

Polytechnic University, and University of – Natalie Hatch, GBHS Hatch says that she would “All four years (of high California San Diego. love to take a trip with her alum school) I went on the “Usually I go to the beach (during spring college friends during a Bayside mission trip break) so this will be a good change,” D’Souspring break. to Mexico. It was my za said.

“We’ve actually talked about favorite trip ever and I’m D’Souza and Fong are ironically spendhaving them all come out so bummed I’m missing ing their last high school spring break at to California one year since it. If my spring break colleges. most haven’t been and I think it would be wasn’t lined up that’s where I would be,” “I have friends that go to the colleges we’re fun to show them where I’m from since Hatch said. going to so we’re going to spend time with I’ve gotten to see where they’ve grown up However, Hatch does recognize that college spring breaks have the potential around Ohio,” Hatch said. them and stay with them,” D’Souza said.

inside lifestyle Wacky Scholarship

B2

Random holiday

B4

Top Ten

B5

The great backyard bird count The fish and wildlife class goes bird counting.

B2

Selective hearing

Vaping health risks

Teachers choose to refrain from listening to student’s conversations.

Revealing the health risks of vaping.

B4

B6

B2 Lifestyle

Friday, March 9, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place at GBHS Students take part in birdwatching event

BY BRAYDEN JOHNK

I

bjohnk.gazette@gmail.com

t’s a plane, its superman, no, it’s a bird! But what type of bird? Scrub jay, American goldfinch, European starling or Canada goose?

These are the types of questions the Granite Bay High School Fish and Wildlife class answered while participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Feb. 16, a three day event where birdwatchers around the world count various birds to give large-scale insight on bird populations.

“The GBBC is really the epitome of a citizen scientist project,” GBHS Fish and Wildlife teacher Scott Braly said. “It’s sponsored by Cornell University in New York which is one of the best ornithology schools in the world.”

The GBBC – which started in the United States, expanded to North America and is now a worldwide event – is always on the third weekend in February and sees millions of people participate.

Braly, who has participated in the GBBC since 2000, incorporates this activity into his Fish and Wildlife class because of his interest in the flying wildlife.

“I really, really enjoy birds professionally and personally,” Braly said. “I’ve been fascinated with them for a long time.”

This year, the class counted 37 species and 1040 birds, mostly Red-winged blackbirds, during their watch.

According to Braly, common birds seen in this

area include Scrub jays, Red-winged blackbirds, Ring-billed gulls, House finches, White sparrows and Red-shouldered hawks. The class saw several of each of these species during their bird walk.

Senior Adrian Lada, who is in the class and took part in the GBBC, enjoyed the day because of the knowledge he took away.

“I got to identify different flight patterns and mating seasons,” Lada said. “We even got to see some Red-shouldered hawks mate right in front of our eyes, which was absolutely magnificent.”

Lada enjoyed the experience so much that Braly may see him back in his class in the future.

“I might just come by when I’m in college just to spend the day with Mr. Braly counting these magnificent specimens,” Lada said.

Alyssa Sewell, a senior, also took pleasure in the GBBC, but for a different reason.

“I guess birds are underappreciated, especially in the Granite Bay community,” Sewell said. “So for me, personally, it was a great day to go out and appreciate what the birds give to us.”

She was amazed at the great number of birds in the Granite Bay region.

“I didn’t know that there were so many different species,” Sewell said. “I just thought there were song birds.”

Senior Connor Halloran, like Lada and Sewell, didn’t know what the GBBC was before participating in it with Braly in Fish and Wildlife.

“Mr. Braly introduced me to the idea and I thought it was a fantastic way to view our environment around the school,” Halloran said. “It shows us the success story of our conservation in the California area.”

Though there were a myriad of bird species spotted during the day, Halloran has a favorite.

“Definitely the Scrub jay because they are very

Gazette photo /RYAN MCAVOY

Braly’s students from his Fish and Wildlife class take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. common, and I always thought they were called Blue jays,” Halloran said.

Halloran has some positive words of advice for future students interested in the GBBC. “Everybody go participate next year because Mr. Braly is a very knowledgeable person and it’s great to spend the afternoon with him,” Halloran said. “It is so interesting to hear everything he has to say and the all the information stored up in that brain of his.”

Just as Halloran quickly learned the difference between Scrub jays and Blue jays, anyone can take part in and enjoy bird watching.

“Birding is one of those things that you don’t have

Teachers discuss tenure status

Term length can potentially lead to poor teaching and abuse of power

BY AKHIL SHAH

I

ashah.gazette@gmail.com

n the wake of recent sexual harassment allegations against Doug Mason of the Roseville Joint Union High School District, many have wondered how teachers’ tenure played a role in the handling of this case, and how tenure assists teachers throughout their careers.

New teachers serve a two year probationary period, in which year one is called Probationary 1, and year two is called Probationary 2.

During the course of this two year period, “new teachers are supported through the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program, their Professional Learning Team, their Department Chair, administration and others,” RJUHSD Assistant Superintendent Steve Williams said.

Over the course of any teacher’s career, tenure can benefit teachers in the midst of certain terminable offenses.

“When a teacher remains in his/her probationary period, they can be non-reelected.

Teachers who hold tenure cause the district to go through lengthy legal processes and costly dismissals,” Williams said.

When asked if tenure played a role in the investigations of Mason, Williams expressed the confidentiality of the case.

“Mr. Mason’s investigation is a confidential personnel case involving a current employee that I cannot comment on at this time,” Williams said.

Granite Bay High School Spanish teacher, Jill Cova, who has taught at GBHS since it opened 21 years ago, said most policies re-

garding probationary periods and tenure have often comes with the idea that teachers with remained the same throughout the time she tenure can do as they please. has worked at GBHS. “I think it’s this false sense of freedom. I ¨Depending on who the principal is, there think if you have professionalism and meet might be more visits the standards of your job to classrooms, more and you´re doing what stringent to perform you should be doing as a at a certain level,” teacher then I don’t see a Cova said. reason to take advantage Though her I think if you have probationary period of your tenure status,” was many years ago, professionalism and meet Bonilla said. she believes she Williams said that he tothe standards of your job was welcomed with tally disagreed that teachand you’re doing what open arms and had a ing styles and methods can tremendous amount you should be doing as a and often do deteriorate of support during her due to tenure. teacher then I don’t see a probationary period.

“There are teachers who ¨I don’t know if reason to take advantage there’s favoritism misuse their tenure. I think of your tenure status. towards teachers it’s really easy to fall back with tenure or on the as a teacher and know you probationary period,¨ – GBHS Spanish Teacher Julia have this security net, this Cova said.

Bonilla-Leary job protection,” Bonilla Julia Bonilsaid. la-Leary, also a While some teachers spanish teacher, may abuse their tenure thanks her coach for status, allegations such her pleasant probationary period. as sexual assault are dealt “I had a really with in similar manners good experience, a good coach, she was exduring probationary periods and tenure. cellent. She was the kind of person you need Nevertheless, the fact that certain educators during your probationary period,” Bonilla stray away from their job purpose and abuse said. their tenure is still problematic.

With the handling of Mason’s case under “We can make our schools a lot better if we fire, parents and students have expressed their rework the tenure system and change how proconcerns over teachers abusing their power.

Tenure, a sort of status quo among teachers, fessional status comes about,” Bonilla said.

to take in a class,” Braly said. “You don’t have to be a professional ornithologist to learn your birds. They’re all distinctive – the coloration, the size and the calls.”

Braly hopes the students’ experience with the event propels them to continue.

“It hopefully makes them interested in possibly doing this in the future on their own and contributing to the GBBC,” Braly said.

However, Braly wishes the students take more away from the experience than just common bird names.

“Being interested and being enthusiastic about things is important – whatever those things are,”

Wacky Scholarship of the Month Asparagus Club Scholarship Requirements: For juniors, seniors, or graduate students in college. Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA and be pursuing a degree in food management, business or courses that lead to a career in the independent retail grocery industry.

Scholarship awarded: $8,000 Who offers: The Asparagus Club Deadline: April 30 - Researched by Sabina Mahavni

Random...

Facts

BY NATASHA CHANDA

nchanda.gazette@gmail.com

1) A librocubicularist is a person who reads in bed.

Club Club Name Club President Sabina Mahavni :

Student

: National Honors Society

Gazette: Why did you decide to join the club?

Gazette photo /ASHLEY LUCIA

Peyton Zimmerman

Gazette: How long have you been playing water polo and swimming for GBHS?

2) It takes one hour to make an oreo.

Mahavni: I have a passion for community service and I like NHS’s combination of academic excellence and volunteer work.

3) A newborn panda weighs less than an iPhone.

Gazette: What do you typically do at a meeting?

Gazette: What originally made you drawn to the sport?

4) In Oklahoma it is illegal to take a bite out of someone else’s hamburger.

Mahavni: We go over upcoming events and reflect on past events.

5) You can’t block Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook.

Zimmerman: I have family members that were involved in aquatics and I was really interested as a child.

Gazette: When and where do you meet?

Gazette: What is your favorite part of playing?

6) Elephants are scared of bees.

Mahavni: Every other Monday in Mrs. Bacharach’s (room 821).

Zimmerman: My favorite part of playing is getting in shape and feeling great because I have worked hard.

7) A snail can sleep for up to three years.

- Compiled by Lauren Stargardter

- Compiled by Jake Criscione

Zimmerman: I have been playing since my freshman year.

- Compiled by Ashley Lucia

Friday, March 9, 2018

w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B3

Personality isn’t based off people’s economic value Students explain how they are judged because of monetary status

BY STEPHANIE KANG skang.gazette@gmail.com

W

hile Granite Bay High School is infamous for being a school full of wealthy students, there still exist students at extreme ends of the spectrum.

Yet, GBHS sometimes lets its wealthy stereotype eclipse the personalities of individual students.

“I’m usually stereotyped as being super rich,” Tristan Lee, a GBHS junior, said. “My cousin once threw disks everywhere stating that ‘we can afford the ones (he) broke.’”

Although the extent of the ownership of material items seems like it should be determined by class, yet, in practice, the mere presence of said items is mostly dependent on personal values.

“As somebody from a not at all well off family, I try to break (stereotypes made about poor students) by looking my best everyday,” senior Yasaman Mohammadi said. “The kinds of stereotypes that are placed upon people that are considered poor are very material vanity stuff like they look like they’re grubby, they look like they don’t have nice clothes, they don’t dress to impress basically, or they act a certain way, they act more bummy and they just don’t try as hard. But the reality of it is that that’s not at all true.”

In all honesty, life on either extreme end of the spectrum is just not, well, as extreme as expected.

“It’s not that we constantly feel like we’re dying or that we’re going hungry,” Mohammadi said. “Not to say that there are students who are going through that, but for the most part, people from lower class families are

barely scraping by, but we’re still living.”

“People who are financially inclined aren’t always snobby idiots,” Lee said. “(My cousin) was trying to act like what he thought all upper-class people were like.

The majority of the difference in students is made up in the support offered on campus.

Academically, low-income students are well-supported by GBHS. “Granite Bay offers a lot in terms of things like financial aid,” Mohammadi said. “I got the financial aid scholarship to pay for my IB classes. I literally would have not been able to take my IB exams without it. I really appreciate the fact that they have it - I know other schools don’t have it as good as we have here and I feel really privileged to go to a school that provides this for me.”

Additionally, last year, not just GBHS but the entire school district was honored by the White House Cabinet and My Brother’s Keeper Task Force chair Broderick Johnson for enrolling more low-income people of color in

more advanced programs through the district’s participation in Equal Opportunity Schools.

However, the need to inform low-income students specifically of resources other than academics they can take advantage of still exists.

“I think GBHS can support these disadvantaged students much more efficiently, and they could make a bigger effort to notify the student body about the available resources,” senior Candice Leung said. “I have a few friends who qualified for subsidized lunches, but didn’t know until months after they were eligible.”

Above all, a distance from socioeconomic class and who someone is as a person needs to be maintained to see students as they are holistically, something prevalent across all classes.

“No matter your status in the world,” Lee said. “you have certain morals and views you follow that keep you who you are and who you will always be. It’s important to never judge anyone based on race, gender, or class.”

Social media can hurt teens

People have become obsessed with likes, posts and notifications

BY DYLAN ROWE

drowe.gazette@gmail.com

I

n this day and age, the number of followers, likes and Snapchats a person receives dominates people’s lives – sometimes, to the exclusion of everything that should actually matter.

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and others fuel this constant craving of confirmation via numbers that most young adults have developed.

“When people use media, it creates an emotional level of comparison between the user and picture that they’re seeing,” Granite Bay High School Peer Counseling advisor, and AP Psychology teacher Natalie Elkin said. “This unhealthy cycle of comparison inherently creates a feeling of isolation and neglect.”

Many critics believe this infatuation with sharing pictures and posting status updates leads young adults to lose sight of what the online and offline reality is, leading users to continuously alter themselves in order to receive a positive response.

“I probably check my phone every couple minutes to see if anyone has contacted me,” Granite Bay High School freshman Jayden Smith said. “When I get a notification, it feels like a headrush.”

People of all ages are becoming addicted to their social media profiles, rather than being and acting like their true selves.

This is beginning to cause negative effects

don’t, it ruins my mood,” said Tate Lovett, on the users’ reality instead of their virtual a 17-year-old local YouTube and Instagram reality. creator who has more than 17,000 subscribAdam Alter, author of “Irresistible: ers on YouTube and more than 25,000 on The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked,” notes that Instagram.

Studies show social media can cause users the reason so many people are becoming to feel a sense of neglect addicted to online media is from others when they because it gives users evdon’t get a large enough erything they need to enjoy response to a post. the moment they are in, “When one of my posts and that it’s even more appealing because it doesn’t The amount of time doesn’t get a certain amount of likes by a require much initiative. my friends spend certain time, it makes me “The amount of time my feel like what I’m sharing friends spend on Instagram on Instagram has has become a borderline become a borderline about my life isn’t good enough,” senior Spencer obsession,” sophomore obsession.

Richard said.

Maryssa Schulz said.

Social media can be an “Most of the time people interesting and engaging only talk about who posted – Maryssa Shulz, pursuit, but it can go too what and how ‘cute’ it sophomore far. was.”

“In this modern age, it’s Online media enables difficult not to become users to create a false front attached to social media,” about who they are to junior Dallas Fuller said. others. This inaccurate projection not only creates a cycle of seemingly “The apps are like lifelines to people, and allow people to be whoever they want to perfect moments, it also leads people to be. The problem is when people’s lives are struggle with meeting this standard. affected because of it ” Users are given a small self-esteem boost Social media applications aren’t all bad everytime they receive a notification from through, it gives people the ability to stay social media, which gives people who use connected with anyone, anytime, anywhere. media unhealthy levels of negative or posi“I love that I can see what my friends are tive feedback. doing even when they’re across the coun“I feel accomplished when I get a certain try,” sophomore Bella Gennuso said. amount of Snapchats a day – and when I

Juniors share their expectations for this year’s junior prom

Students express their excitement for dance and what their night entails

BY ASHLEY LUCIA

P

alucia.gazette@gmail.com

lans for the 2018 Junior Prom are already underway. The dance will be held on Mar. 17 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The school’s quad will be transformed into a dance worthy setting, and has the theme of Spring in Paris.

The juniors behind this year’s dance are dedicated to making it a night to remember.

“I have been wanting to plan this since my freshman year, so I’m excited to see everything come to life,” junior class president and Junior Prom commissioner Gabriela Williams said.

Williams has high hopes for the event and is confident in her abilities to make it a successful night.

“I’m going to plan it so it doesn’t feel like you’re on the campus, so it’ll be different than the other dances,” Williams said.

Williams is not alone in the task of planning this extravagant event. Student government students are able to pitch in during brainstorming sessions and help with the labor intensive set up.

“It takes four or five people to plan it, and the entire class to set up,” Williams said. “You can get different perspectives and ideas and you can be strong in one category and they can be

strong in another.”

Williams is not the only one who is looking forward to this years junior prom.

“I am super excited for Junior Prom because it is the first dance where I got to shop for a long prom dress so that was really fun,” junior Jordan Galbaugh said.

Along with the attire, many students are also excited to take part in an event that is focused solely on their class.

“This dance will be different because only one quarter of the school will be attending and that makes it special,” junior Mikayla Deblaquiere said.

Each student who plans on attending has a different vision for the night.

“The perfect Junior Prom is definitely everyone dancing on the floor and seeing smiles everywhere,” Williams said. “Even if they don’t have a date, it is still fun for everyone.”

“A good Junior Prom in my mind is a fun night with my friends where we take pictures, go to dinner and then go to the dance with a super fun DJ,” Galbaugh said.

This year’s Junior Prom has been projected to bring a crowd of three hundred to three hundred and fifty students.

“Students should definitely come out for a night to remember,” Williams said. “It will be an experience they don’t want to miss.”

Gazette photo /REESE RICHMOND

Students feel they can be stereotyped based off how much money they have rather than who they are as people.

If you really knew me,

you would know...

Eva Bushnell

“If you really knew me, you would know that when I see a spider, I cry.”

Jarad Harper

“If you really knew me, you would know that I am an athlete.”

Kasey Yean

“If you really knew me, you would know I am a germaphobe, yet my room is always a mess.”

Sarah Becker

Gazette illustration /REESE RICHMOND

Junior Prom commisioner and student government have many things they need to do in order to make Junior Prom a successful night.

“If you really knew me, you would know that I fear whales a lot.”

- By Ashley Lucia

Lifestyle B4

Friday, March 9, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Teachers activate selective hearing in school setting Staff intervention is only required when student safety is in question

BY EMILY HANSEN

I

ehansen.gazette@gmail.com

t’s inevitable that teachers will overhear students’ conversations in class. Students often chat about their weekend plans or tell each other funny anecdotes. Many of these conversations include the discussion of illegal conduct. Do teachers intervene in these overheard conversations, or do they consider it an invasion of privacy?

Advanced Placement European History teacher Mike Valentine commonly overhears his students discussing high school party culture.

“They weren’t talking to me,” Valentine said. “It wasn’t meant for my ears.

So it’s none of my business.”

The general consensus is that most teachers engage in a type of selective

hearing when it comes to students’ personal discussions.

“When a boy is talking about a girl, my ‘mom ear’ perks up,” business teacher Jeanne Sampson said. “I will step in and say ‘Would you say that to your mom?’”

Occasionally, teachers who overhear something concerning will intervene because of their concern for their students’ well-being.

“I’ll ask questions to follow-up,” AP Human Geography teacher Katie Angelone said. “Just so I know if there’s something that I should be concerned about as far as students’ safety and emotions.”

Naturally, teachers overhear their own students criticizing the class, or even the teacher themself.

“They are entitled to their opinion,” Valentine said. “Let sleeping dogs lie.”

However, the situation becomes gravely serious if students are heard discussing something that could be a threat to safety.

“If we start hearing things about drugs on our campus, weapons, students who are in trouble or students who have possibly been harmed,” Valentine said, “that’s when it crosses the line. I have to bring it to the attention of the authorities.”

According to the California Department of Education, all school district employees are mandated reporters – meaning they are legally obligated to report any confirmed or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

“I’ve had to report a variety of things, whether it’s concern about drugs or alcohol or emotional stability,” Angelone said.

Although these instances of reported illegal conduct aren’t necessarily publicized, they do happen rather often.

One of a teacher’s main responsibilities is to help enforce the school’s

Religious diversity enriches community

Granite Bay is home to vast array of faiths

BY SAMREEN SIDDIQUI

T

ssiddiqui.gazette@gmail.com

here is a Jewish Orthodox Synagogue down the street, a church next door, and a Muslim Mosque not too far from GBHS. With all of this is mind, this area’s religious diversity is prominent.

“I think we are more (religiously) diverse than people think,” GBHS teacher David Tastor said. “But despite that diversity, I think certain churches and faiths get more play than others. I don’t know if there is an equity of respect between religions.” The differences between religions causes conflict, as expressed

through local hate crimes and fights on social media.

The conflict, however, has potential to subside, according to Tastor.

“There is a way to eliminate ignorance – it’s called education,” Tastor said. “The longer we sit in our silos the more confrontation we are going to have.”

While expanding on his point, Tastor mentioned the Baha’i faith, a religion that started in the Middle East and eventually made its way to the United States.

“One of the things that Baha’is stand for is equal education for all,” Tastor said.

“Everyone gets educated. (They) don’t like to keep people dumb, and for Baha’i (followers) it’s important for them to

rules. A large part of the enforcement includes reporting overheard discussions of students using drugs on campus, bullying or threatening other students.

According to the GBHS handbook, “The Roseville Joint Union High School District expects students and/or staff to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee.”

If students are gossiping in class about something that one of their peers did to another student, a teacher is expected by the district to report the incident.

Students may be incriminating their peers by discussing their conduct within earshot of teachers – and they don’t even know it.

For the most part, teachers only report matters that are an immediate threat to safety. As for discussions of parties or crazy weekend plans, the majority of teachers ignore what they can.

“Perfect?” Valentine said. “I wasn’t, and I don’t expect them to be either.”

understand others’ religions.”

Two local members of the Baha’i faith, Marjan Elahi and James Bailey, explain what their faith believes in.

“The Baha’i faith is a world religion,” Bailey said. “It’s widespread across the world and its main purpose is to eliminate everything that has separated mankind from each other, whether it’s racial, economic or other kinds of prejudices. So, our aim is to unify everybody around the world.”

Elahi gave background on the history of the faith.

“The Baha'i faith is the continuation of the coming of all of the messengers of God. The foundation of all of the religions is one, but their social teachings change according to the time (the messengers) appear because they reflect God’s will and faith in humanity,” Elahi said. “We call them the manifestations of God, because there is no connection between us and the creator. The latest of these divine messengers is Bahallah, and his purpose is to unify all mankind.”

According to Elahi, there are a total of 19 people in Granite Bay who follow the Baha’i faith.

While this number might seem small,

Gazette illustration /NOELANI NICHOLS

Administration covers eyes and ears during school hours when students discuss illegal conduct.

In addition to the service the Baha’i their influence in the community is promfaith does, they also promote education. inent.

“One of the main prin“The Baha’i have ciples of the Baha’i faith the teaching that our is that you investigate the daily work, if we do truth,” Elahi said. “Eduit with the attitude of cation is very important. service to mankind, There is a way (Followers) need to have is the same thing as to eliminate spiritual education as well worshipping God. So as the education of the mind everyday when we ignorance – it’s spirit.” do our work that’s a called education. and And when education is service that we are emphasized, so is equality. offering to humanity “We have the principle and God accepts that – David Tastor, GBHS that men and women are as worshipping him,” IB World Religions spiritually equal,” Bailey Elahi said. teacher said. “Interest in the eduGBHS senior cation of women is part of Makayla Clement said that.” she believes this type The prominence of of work enriches our religious diversity yields a community. community of mutual respect.

“I think religion affects our communiFor Tastor, outwardly displaying one’s ty positively,” Clement said. “A lot of devotion to their religion, is a representachurches, especially in our community, do community service projects together to tion of their character.

“My personal opinion is that the bravest help out the community, such as feeding people on this campus are the girls who the hungry or helping clean disasters wear their hijab,” Tastor said. “They’re like at the lake recently with all the log brave because they hold their faith outdamage that had been clogging the waterward for everyone to see on a daily basis.” ways.”

Random Holiday of the Month: National Pi Day

Date: March 14 Gazette photo /KEYURI PILLAY

In spite of differences, prayer is a common practice among many religions. People express thanks or ask for guidance or forgiveness.

Faculty Focus

Why it’s celebrated: National Pi Day commemorates the 14th day of the 3rd month of the year. The date ends up appearing as: 3/14 representing the first three digits of pi.

What is your favorite activity outside of school?

I play all kinds of sports and work out at the gym, including a lot of tennis and golf.

What got you into teaching?

I wanted to be a high school coach, and to coach high school, you need to teach.

What’s your favorite part about teaching?

I have creative and intellectual (control), and I like working with youth because of the energy they have.

- By Reese Richmond

How it came about: On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution to recognize the holiday.

Gazette photo /REESE RICHMOND

Linda Dickson

How you can celebrate: • Eat a slice of pie – it can be a fruit or pizza pie, your choice!

• Have a “pi” off – compete to see who can recite the most digits of pi!

• Ask your math teacher to hold a memoir in honor of pi in class • PI UP, and wear shirts to show your spirit!

• Throw pies at people! (Or not.)

- By Kavana Gonur

Friday, March 9, 2018

Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

GBiT prepares members for real world Technology course helps community in addition to teachers and classes

BY KENNEDY HEALY

I

khealy.gazette@gmail.com

magine being on campus with a broken computer or pro board and not knowing what to do. Well, don’t worry — GBiT does.

Granite Bay High School offers a course that teaches students how to deal with the tech side of the world, and so much more.

Ryan Hunter, a high ranking member of the course, explained what GBiT entails.

“GBiT is a collection of teams that learn about different aspects of technology while supporting the camoys.”

Hunter said.

Marc Imrie, the GBiT teacher, who oversees the program and keeps students on track for future success, illuminated the different aspects of GBiT. “GBiT students are divided into teams: Tech Support, Tech Training, Tech Innovation, Computer Science, CyberSecurity, and Marketing and Development. Each team has a manager. Teams work on tasks (training, support, development, etc.) specific to their area and are supervised by their manager,” Imrie said.

The teams work on projects that go directly with what they’re in charge of.

Hunter broke down what a typical work day in GBiT looks like for certain teams.

“A typical day in GBiT varies a lot depending on the team,” Hunter said. “For example, if you’re on the computer science team, most of your day is spent training in a programming language, and then working on projects in that language. However, members of a tech team might spend all day helping teachers with tech problems.”

Ian Mackey, another GBiT member, shedded light on the diversity of daily GBiT tasks.

Mackey said GBiT is composed of the Web Team, Marketing and Development Team, Cyber Security Team, and Coding Team – all working on different technological aspects.

“A day in GBiT looks different for everyone,” Mackey said.

One of the best parts about GBiT for many of the students is the environment they’re apart of, and the skills they learn.

“My favorite part is definitely the growth,” Hunter said.

“Everyday, students in the class are learning something new in a very tangible way.

And, the environment is really wonderful, because we’re all a bunch of tech nerds that love what we’re doing. So, a problem that a student is struggling to solve on one day often gets turned into something cool that they get to share with

everyone else the next day.”

Mackey has similar beliefs to Hunter pertaining to GBiT’s perks.

“We always come in, and we get to work. It’s a very professional environment, but it’s

A day in GBiT looks different for everyone.

– Ian Mackey, senior GBiT member

also a relaxed environment. As long as you do your work in a timely fashion, the class is super fun,” Mackey said. “GBit benefits the people involved by teaching us soft skills like learning how to teach ourselves skills, ask for help from our peers and mentors, and how to engage socially in a professional environment.”

As a teacher, Imrie said he sees a direct parallel to the positive environment, and new skills acquired.

“I like the real world ‘industry’ environment that is created in GBiT. GBiT gives

students an experience they don’t get in most classes by encouraging them to learn independently, take initiative, evaluate their own progress, determine their own interest area and pursue projects in that area,” Imrie said. “Nearly every student in GBiT is learning something unique and applying their learning to a unique project that they decide.”

Imrie expressed just how powerful the course is to those who aren’t in it.

“GBiT serves the community by training teachers, providing tech support (hardware and software) for the campus and the community, managing the website and school marquees, managing all student computers and Chromebooks on campus. GBiT is the go to for anything technology related on campus,” Imrie said. “Ask any teacher about GBiT.” GBiT is also known to give back to the community – outside of school.

“We have taken clients from the community whose technology we’ll fix on a donation basis.” Hunter said.

Aside from the great environment and new skills, students realize the opportunity to build a future for themselves through GBiT. Hunter used his GBiT involvement as a resume-builder and as an opportunity to

prepare himself for real world opportunities. Now, as a senior in high school, Hunter can say he already has internship experience.

“GBiT is recognized by various companies in the area as a program that produces hard workers and competent technicians. So, going through the program and having a leadership position can be a great way to start a resume,” Hunter said.

Imirie said that partaking in GBiT may often lead to success in the tech world later on.

“GBiT is often a course that my students use to explain and present their technology experience when getting hired, getting into college, or getting internships as GBiT gives them real-world experiences and student developed project that companies are looking for to demonstrate knowledge,” Imrie said. “It’s not just that students have taken a class and earned an A.” As a course championing community involvement, technological knowledge, and future preparation – GBiT is much more than the standard high school class.

“GBiT takes care of all the tech problems on campus,” Mackey said. “GBiT is the ‘it’ class at (Granite Bay).”

Electives impact college experience Extracurriculars prove to influence future interests

BY ASHLEY YUNG

I

ayung2.gazette@gmail.com

t’s not uncommon for high school graduates to pursue their electives of choice in common.

Such was the case for former GBHS student, Sophie Brubaker, who was involved in the drama program.

“I took every (drama) class available and was involved in all of the plays and musicals that the department put on since the spring of my freshman year,” Brubaker said.

Now, Brubaker says she looks back on the experience without regrets.

“Getting involved in the GBHS drama department was easily the best decision I could have made for myself in terms of an extracurricular,” Brubaker said. “It (made) me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in acting.”

Brubaker said she doesn’t just think highly of the program, she also thinks highly of the instructor, Kyle Holmes.

“Holmes is not only incredibly invested in his students, but he also emphasizes how to question the world and make an impact in whatever way you can,” Brubaker said.

However, Brubaker’s participation in the GBHS drama program is just the beginning of her acting career.

She now attends UC Davis where she works in the school’s theatre costume shop and takes a drama class.

Outside of college, Brubaker found a role in an original musical and a book trailer.

However, other GBHS graduates have been inspired by other high schools electives.

Another GBHS graduate, Whitney Knorp, said her senior year as a Greenscreen editor for the Granite Bay Gazette helped her find her major in college. Knorp is currently a Graphic Design major at Cal Poly.

“I’m so thankful journalism gave me experience that has helped me (succeed in my) major so far,” Knorp said.

Knorp said she enjoyed the friendly journalistic community and the fact that the program offers hands-on experience.

In journalism, Knorp learned how to use Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

“I think it’s amazing that you can be in high school and actually be learning the basics of a real trade,” Knorp said.

Former student, Hannah Stubee, said the GBHS art program is what enabled her to pursue art as a career.

“The GBHS art program really (gave) me the tools I need to be a technically good painter, create meaningful work, and be a professional,” Stubee

TOP Kinds of Flowers

Peonies

Dahlias

Carnations

Irises

Anemones

Camellias

Gazette illustration /NOELANI NICHOLS

Many GBHS art students continue their passion in their college life, whether it be their choice in major, minor, or simply as an outside hobby. said.

Stubee expressed her gratefulness for the guidance of her high school art teacher, Myron Stephens. “(Stephens) teaches students not only how to paint but also how to manage the business (aspect) of art,” Stubee said.

Currently, Stubee is majoring in Studio Art at Lewis and Clark College.

She also recently finished a series of paintings called “You are What You Eat.”

In addition to her current endeavors, Stubee has many plans for the near future, including an internship and putting on student led workshops in her college dorm.

Above all, Stubee knows engaging in activities she’s passionate about will result in an overall much happier college experience and life in general.

“I think it’s really important to throw yourself into the things that you love,” Stubee said. “If you do that, you can’t lose.”

Sunflowers

Begonias

Hydrangeas

Tulips

- Compiled by Sidney Zabell

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The Granite Bay Gazette

Vaping trend carries health risks and complications Negative effects noticed from the ‘new’ form of smoking

BY BRUCE RUSSELL

brussell.gazette@gmail.com

G

ranite Bay High School has been consumed by a new tradition. Partly caused by high school’s historic guidelines of the need to “fit in”, the craze seems like an ambiguous attempt to blur the lines between recreational fun and harmful toxins.

The new phenomenon? None other than this generation’s current favorite past time – vaping.

Vaping is a common term for the use of e-cigarettes, a device wherein the user inhales and exhales vapor, usually containing a liquid traced with nicotine.

“Honestly this (vaping) thing is just a fad and I’m not gonna do it for the rest of my life,” an anonymous Granite Bay High

junior boy said.

While vaping may be currently a popular activity of high schoolers, experts believe it is not merely entertainment, but instead a valid health risk.

Toxicologist Irfan Rahman at the University of Rochester in New York found worrying signs that vaping is indeed harmful, according to a study from the school’s medical website.

Rahman saw inflamed mouth cells from vapors, a sign of potential gum disease. He also witnessed smoker’s cough and bloody sores in many teenage vapers, caused by the inhalation of pollution.

“There are studies that show nicotine (is) harmful to the adolescent brain,” health teacher John MacLeane said, agreeing with Rahman’s claim.

MacLeane added that e-cigs contain chemical flavors known to be detrimental to the body such as formaldehyde and diacetyl.

“Air is the only thing that belongs in your lungs,” MacLeane said. “Anyone who purposefully puts other things in their lungs is asking for trouble.”

Regardless of problems concerning health, supporters of vaping have argued for its non-addictive qualities compared to smoking.

“I’m not too worried about my health if I’m only going to (vape) for a couple of years,” another anonymous junior girl said. “Vaping won’t affect me that much.”

Partially agreeing with the student, a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reported in The New York Times found conclusive proof that e-cigarettes are considerably less harmful than smoking.

The report stated that while vaping reduces a user’s vulnerability to toxins, e-cigarettes can be seen as a “stepping stone” to the smoking world.

An anonymous senior boy, who is a prominent e-cigarette user, agreed with Rahman and the accuracy of the findings, but doesn’t relate to any of the symptoms.

“I’ve heard of (the health complications), however I haven’t suffered from any of those problems,” the senior boy said.

“I know there’s a risk involved, but it doesn’t affect me.”

MacLeane, worried of the unknown dangers of vaping by teenagers, is concerned about the future ramifications of e-cigarette use.

“Vaping is still so new that people who are doing it now are the guinea pigs for future generations,” MacLeane said. “We won’t know all of the dangers for years to come.”

Gazette photo /SIDNEY ZABELL

‘Juuling’ and vaping have become extremely popular pastimes in recent months across Granite Bay students, but health risks are concerning to some.

National Park of the Month Rocky Mountain National Park • Established on Jan. 26, 1915 and protects 415 square miles of lush meadows, dense forest, and tall peaks, along with montane, subalpine, and alpine environments • Contains some of the highest mountains in the lower 48 states, including Longs Peak at 14,259 feet​ • The Continental Divide, a mountainous, hydrological drainage that separates watershed drainage to the Atlantic from drainage to the Pacific, passes through the park • Features the highest, continuous paved road in the nation peaking over 12,000 feet, the Trail Ridge Road, that is 48 miles in length and crosses through some of the most pristine country in the Rockies • Bighorn Sheep became the symbol of the park when their numbers began to decline because of disease but rebounded – they now number 300-400 in the park and are the biggest wild sheep in North America Gazette photos /BRAYDEN JOHNK

– by Brayden Johnk, co-editor-in-chief

Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is home to various flora and fauna along with vast wilderness and rugged mountain peaks.

Delegates are nominated for Boys and Girls State Five male and female juniors are chosen to be finalists in the programs run by American Legion groups

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

E

ach year, just five male and five female juniors are told that they have been selected as a finalist to be interviewed to attend one of the nation’s most prestigious programs for high school students, Boys and Girls State.

The Boys State program is run by The American Legion, while the Girls State program is run by The American Legion Auxiliary. These are veterans organizations devoted to volunteerism and bipartisan patriotism.

Tim Aboudara is a senior counselor in the Boys State program for California.

“The Boys State program was founded in Illinois in 1935 as a program about how our system of government is supposed to work by giving young men an opportunity to set up their own city, county and state governments,” Aboudara said.

The program focuses on developing a sense of realism among its participants.

Thus the program denies being a “mock” or fake government as it closely mimics the reality of government in the United States.

“We try to replicate reality as best we can by following the California State Constitution,” Aboudara said. “We replicate all three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive at the city, county and state

levels. Students learn more in a week with us than they will in a year long civics class.”

The knowledge gained from the experience is seen as extremely valuable by the many people that have participated. Many famous people including Bill Clinton and Dick Cheney attended Boys State and extolled its importance.

“Delegates are nominated by their schools and interviewed by their local sponsoring American Legion Post,” Aboudara said. “It is a big honor to be chosen. The delegates today are our leaders of tomorrow.”

This year, Granite Bay High School’s five Boys State candidates are juniors Brad Davito, Spencer Cova, Ethan Birch, Andrew Dolan and Josh Vaughan.

Davito is involved in Student Government and is a captain of the varsity boys lacrosse team.

“I didn’t know about Boys State before they called us into the meeting,” Davito said. “I was surprised when I walked in and saw all the other participants in the room because I had no idea what was going on.”

Being selected by GBHS staff demonstrates a level of trust and respect for the candidate. Students who receive the honor are rewarded with a great learning experience and a helpful addition on college applications.

“I feel honored to have been recognized by the staff at our school,” Davito said.

“Every finalist is an all around great person.

These people all stand out in their role at only learned about it once I heard I had been school, whether they’re involved in the engi- nominated.” neering program, athletics or just an overall After being interviewed by a three-man positive force on campus.” counsel, Vanderjack was selected.

The Girls State finalists included juniors “You assemble with this group of 1,000 Abbie Gould, Sydney Sewell, Kate Caulhigh school juniors and are told you are all field, Chloe Clark, and Sofia Novaresi. members of the Boys State,” Vanderjack The interviews for Girls State occur about said. “After that the legislative process two weeks earlier than the begins and you can start boys, and junior Sydcreating laws – however ney Sewell was chosen ridiculous you want.” to attend Girls State as Whether it be fining the representative from students for not blinking GBHS. twice or banning students It’s such a great “I got called into Teri for turning right, some honor to be Keeney’s office and she laws made are absurd. chosen. handed me a rose and told However, students also me, ‘Congratulations, you seek to give the program won,’” Sewell said. “I was realism and find solutions – Alyssa Sewell, really surprised.” to real world problems. senior Girls State allows Cal“This program helps ifornia’s best high school you understand and gives girls to come together and you access to all these find solutions to some of institutions that are here, our generation’s greatest but you may not hear problems. about in the media,” “It’s such a great honor to be chosen,” Vanderjack said. “Everything I learn now Sewell said. “It excites me that I’ll get to be in AP Government is all review because I among the greatest from every school, and I learned it all firsthand in a seven day crash won’t be at the top anymore.” course at Boys State.”

Senior Bronson Vanderjack represented Some GBHS students question the validity GBHS last year at Boys State. of the selection process, as each year several “I had no idea about this incredibly prescandidates are children of staff members. tigious organization,” Vanderjack said. “I This year, three out of five candidates for

Boys State are children of staff members.

“There definitely is an element of nepotism in the selection process, because it’s the staff who choose so obviously their kids will have a better of chance of being selected,” Vanderjack said. “However, the veterans – being an objective third party – erase the nepotism in the selection of the candidate from the final five.”

At Whitney and Rocklin high school, any junior boy can apply to be interviewed by the American Legion. Vanderjack believes that an open application at GBHS would lead to an over-abundance of applicants to interview however.

“I think the teachers do a good job of choosing the best students GBHS has to offer,” Vanderjack said. “They weed out potential candidates who wouldn’t have a realistic opportunity to be selected.”

As a student who was selected to participate and isn’t a child of a staff member, Vanderjack is proof the selection system isn’t inherently biased.

“You have to have a desire to learn for the sake of knowledge, be curious about the world, have a desire to be successful and most importantly respect everyone around you,” Vanderjack said. “It is a fantastic opportunity – anyone who has the honor of being chosen should make the best of their experience so they can better share with their community everything that they learned.”

Friday, March 9, 2018

Lifestyle

The Granite Bay Gazette

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Hitting the roads Gazette illustration /SIDNEY ZABELL

Licensing provides new freedom, but many delay taking test due to busy lifestyles and schedules

BY ASHLEY LUCIA

alucia.gazette@gmail.com

A

s a member of society, many believe a driver’s license is a valuable tool. Students are given their first opportunity to have the shiny card of their own at sixteen.

Many take this opportunity the second eligibility permits them, while others lack the burning desire to be behind the wheel.

“I never really thought about it and when my birthday came, I wasn’t longing for a license, so I thought I would just wait,” sophomore Morgan Peterson said.

Peterson hasn’t began the process to obtaining a license quite yet. Her nervousness towards driving has

held her back up until this point.

“I panic about a lot of stuff so I feel like I’d be really scared behind the wheel if I started,” Peterson said.

Although Peterson has a more timid outlook on receiving a license, other students were eager to gain the independence.

“It’s really nice because I get to go places and my parents don’t have to drive me,” sophomore Grace Putman said. “I have a freedom to do what I want, with their permission of course.”

Putman received her license before entering sophomore year, and has no regrets about getting it the moment she was eligible.

Other students have attempted to achieve what Putman has, but have not been as successful due to

both uncontrollable and controllable circumstances.

“The permit (course) took longer than I thought, so I was a few weeks late for that,” sophomore Kaiya Lang said. “Then, it was hard for me to find an appointment for my actual driving test and I failed.”

Like Lang, many students have not passed the behind the wheel drive test. This leads to the inevitable rumors that circulate school campuses of whether the test is too easy or too hard for rookie drivers to pass.

“Even though I didn’t pass, I didn’t think it was that bad. For me, there was just a few mistakes that I needed to correct, but I don’t think it’s that hard especially since it’s really short, so it makes it easy,”

Lang said. obtainment of a provisional permit Although students don’t hesitate accompanied by behind the wheel to place their opintraining, and fiions on the skill nally, the golden level required for ticket – the drive the drive test, rutest, according to mors aren’t always DMV.org.

The test is very the most reliable.

Many of fair. The examiner these steps are “The test is very fair. The examiner implemented for wants to pass wants to pass the the benefit of the driver as driver as long as the new driver. long as they can they can demonHowever, as strate safe driving students begin demonstrate safe habits,” driver’s the process to driving habits. education instruccompleting the tor Stacy Heyman requirements, said. some cracks can – Stacy Heyman, Each licensed be seen in the driving instructor driver has had their system. own experience for “The course to obtaining a license. take your permit However, all was thirty hours minors in Califorso that felt very nia are subject to completing three unnecessary because I feel like they steps before earning their license: could have taught us in a different the online drivers education, the way,” Lang said.

Workshops aim to help peers Students are able to relieve stress during their lunch time at school in room 812

BY ANGELINA KOLOSEY

S

akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

tress – this feeling is experienced by every human in some way, sometimes seemingly too often.

There’s no doubt that the pressures of life often cause the unhealthy stress high school students constantly experience.

When Granite Bay High School AP Psychology teacher Natalie Elkin realized this, she decided to create the Peer Counseling program to provide students on campus with someone to talk to.

The program helps train students to be-

come Peer Counselors. The Peer Counselors would be available for any high school students going through tough times.

This program has been successful in guiding students through their struggles ever since it started.

Along with the new program came the idea of “stress workshops”, activities planned specifically to create an environment for students to hang out and relieve stress.

“It became really clear that what our kids really struggle with is stress and anxiety and depression, sort of all mixed in together on this campus because the

pressure’s so intense here,” Elkin said.

So far, these workshops have been enjoyed by many students across campus while reaching the main goal of helping students relieve some stress throughout their school days.

“It gives students some time to relax and have fun and be creative,” sophomore Sophia Arias said. “The environment is chill, happy and very positive.”

Workshops are centered around specific activities for students to enjoy. For example, there is a meditation as well as a rock painting workshop for students to attend.

There was even a cookie decorating workshop around the holidays and finals time of year, which many attended.

“Mainly, the stress relief workshop (coordinators) come up with a lot of ideas and then we all choose one when we are asked what we like,” sophomore Peer

Counselor Ellen Taylor said when asked about how workshop activities are chosen.

The workshops usually take place during both lunches on school days in the Peer Counseling room.

The workshops are usually held around particular times students may have an increase in stress, such as midterm and finals weeks as well as SAT and ACT weeks.

“First we brainstorm what type of workshops we want to do,” senior Juliet Arizcuren, a Peer Counselor on the Stress Workshop committee, said. “Then we set the date before something stress-inducing (like the SAT, ACT, or midterms).”

In Peer Counseling, there are different committees that Peer counselors section off into, one of which is the Stress Workshop Committee.

The Peer Counselors on this committee are in charge of planning and putting together the stress workshops with help from the rest of the class.

“It’s definitely a team effort,” Arizcuren said. “Everyone in Peer Counseling participates in the workshops and helps out in

Putman agrees that the effect of the online drivers education course was far less than beneficial, and has a solution to lead to overall success among new drivers.

“They should offer the online courses here,” Putman said. “It would be really helpful for people.”

Putman is not the only one that feels a classroom setting would be a more beneficial learning environment for inexperienced drivers.

“What we learn from each other in a real time setting teaches us to interact and be patient with others just like when driving a vehicle,” Heyman said.

Although some think the current system isn’t the smoothest process to obtain a license, many students know it will still be waiting for them at the end of the day. Whether now or down the road, students will always have the ability to earn the luxury of driving. Above all rumors and rants, that privilege is something to be grateful for.

Shereen Golkar Sophomore has attended lunchtime workshop to de-stress.

any way they can.”

The Peer Counseling team works tirelessly to create workshops in order to benefit their peers.

All this hard work pays off when students are able to come to the workshops, relax and relieve some stress.

Sophomore Shereen Golkar, like many students, has attended a stress workshop before.

“I would encourage students to lookout for and attend workshops every chance they get because it’s fun and a relaxing area,” Golkar said.

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The Granite Bay Gazette

Teachers reflect on years of

YOUTH Gazette illustration /SIDNEY ZABELL

Teachers say they have had their fair share of wild stories throughout younger years

BY SPENCER COVA

R

scova.gazette@gmail.com

umor has it your history teacher is old, lifeless and just about as exciting as taking the SAT for the third time around, but teachers have some unbelievable stories up their sleeves.

If you’ve ever been a freshman, you can relate to Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher Brandon Dell’Orto.

“I went to school at a time where juniors and seniors would haze freshmen every opportunity they could,” Dell’Orto said.

The hazing at Granite Bay extends to maybe a few freshman ending up in a trash can each school year, but Dell’Orto experience was far more traumatizing.

Dell’Orto’s P.E. class finished about 15 minutes early, so he and five of his friends decided to shower in preparation for an afternoon football practice. The varsity football team just so happened to get out early as well.

“While we were showering, the varsity team came in, picked us up, ran us across campus and dumped us into the swimming pool,” Dell’Orto said.

This wouldn’t have been the worst of incidents – if the entire girls P.E. class wasn’t doing the swim unit at the same time.

“Freshman boys are already self conscious enough… so wading naked

in front of a bunch of girls really didn’t help,” Dell’Orto said.

Their solution to the situation given?

Bubbles. Lots of them.

“Soon enough, the bell rang and the girls left, but since it was the bell to end school there were people constantly walking by in front of the pool,” Dell’Orto said.

With all other options to that point exhausted, the boys resorted to their final alternative, making bubbles in the pool naked for 15 minutes.

Across the hall from Dell’Orto, AP European History teacher Mike Valentine also had a story to share involving wading in water with women, though his is far more heroic much less of a nightmare.

One afternoon during his free time while attending Cordova High School, Valentine decided to go float down the American River in inflatable rafts with a group of friends. They had experience rafting down the river and weren’t panicked when stuck on the side of the river bank.

“Another raft came floating down the river and smack, hit us,” Valentine said.

“Their raft flipped over and my buddies and I looked at each other and started (cracking up).”

They found the situation hilarious until a man from the flipped raft popped out of the water and yelled, ‘get the old lady!’

“My buddies started to dive into the water to find this old lady,” Valentine said. “Turns out, she was trapped under

the raft.”

The situation had turned from low-key to frantic in a matter of seconds.

“After that another women popped up next to me and I pulled her up into our raft,” Valentine said.

While he was pulling one woman into a raft, the old woman in the water was drowning.

Eventually his friends got her out, but she was bright blue. They dragged everyone to shore and got them the attention needed.

While one teacher on campus saved lives in a river in their youth, another almost had his life taken from him along one.

After college, biology and Fish and Wildlife teacher Scott Braly got hired for his dream job: working as an Alaskan river rafting and fishing guide.

Braly spent eight summers in a row leading guests on week long, 100 mile rafting trips that began in a remote lake and ended in the Pacific Ocean.

Braly was living his best life, until he ran into some implications two weeks into the job.

The area Braly would raft through was densely populated by a native Alaskan tribe that wasn’t especially happy with fisherman at the time.

Commercial boats had mass fished throughout the native’s territory had had left scarce amount of chum salmon left, one of the tribe’s main food sources – and they decided not to stand for it any longer.

“They beat up some fisherman half to death just days before we passed through,” Braly said. “When we came to the territory we were confronted by a tribe member and they had said that they were going to kill any non-native white person they saw.”

The tribe was not bluffing.

“We knew they were serious because they were armed with rifles, shotguns, clubs and knives,” Braly said.

Braly and the three other guides he was with had the guests evacuated off of the reservation, but the four of them were stuck there overnight. They hunkered down and prepared for the long night ahead of them with nothing for shelter but a tent.

“We built defenses, we dug a foxhole big enough for the four of us and filled it with all the guns and weapons we had,” Braly said.

The guides were preparing for war with the native tribes, and they didn’t miss a step in planning either.

“We lined propane tanks along the perimeter just in case we were over run we could shoot them,” Braly said.

Braly ended up surviving the night unscathed, only hearing gunshots but not making confrontation with the tribe.

Nonetheless, the single night evoked enough fear for a lifetime.

“It seems like crazy talk but it was very real,” Braly said. “Not one of us could sleep that night. I wrote a letter to my parents because I didn’t know if I would be alive in the morning.”

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

C1 Section

Friday w March 9, 2018

COMMENTARY

spencer cova scova.gazette@gmail.com

Dangers of specializing in one sport

Sports have always been a significant aspect of my life growing up.

As a child I played nearly every sport I could get my hands on. It was a rarity to catch me without a ball in my hands.

I couldn’t get away from athletics, they kept my competitive spirit in action, my mind busy and gave me a sense of belonging – because of that I had a genuine love for sports.

During middle school, it became increasingly more difficult to continue to be a multi-sport athlete.

The kids I grew up playing with quickly began to exceed my skill level through their involvement in club and competitive teams in a sole sport. In response I jumped on the trend and joined a club lacrosse team and AAU (Amatuer Athletic Union) basketball.

The rate in which I lost my passion for basketball was astonishing.

There were no more pickup games in the park with friends because I was playing 6 days a week in a gym with players being cut and added from the team day by day. It was not about the love of the game anymore, and I ended up quitting basketball as a whole before high school.

I’ve had a similar experience in lacrosse. I joined a club team in eighth grade and since then it has done its purpose – vastly improve my skills as a player. But at what cost?

It was clear to me that I lost my passion for lacrosse after my freshman year. After putting nearly every waking hour of free time into lacrosse, I’ve since been burnt out.

Truly the only reason I still play is because my team makes it worthwhile.

I completely regret specializing in sports at a relatively young age, it has become increasingly difficult for me to exercise my genuine love for athletics.

So why did I start in the first place? Club coaches and program organizers advertise that the only way to become a division one or professional athlete is through their own competitive teams – and I completely bought into it.

Multi-sport athletes become better athletes in their favorite sport of choice than those that choose to specialize at a young age.

According to the Journal of Sports Sciences, athletes who play 3 or more sports at the age of 15 are significantly more likely to excel at the highest level than those that specialize in one sports at the age of 15.

In my fear of not being good enough to play sports at a high level, I chose to focus on a select few sports to play, when in fact I was more likely to excel if I had continued to be a multi-sport athlete.

If I had the ability to go back to my childhood, I would. I would change my decision to focus on lacrosse and basketball, and instead I would continue playing all the sports I love.

Kids should not have to decide what sport they want to focus in on at a young age, they should be able to participate in the activities that make them happy.

***

Spencer Cova, a junior, is a Sports editor.

Rising Star

Special to the Gazette /THE RENO GAZETTE

Charlie Tooley, pictured defending an opposing player, dribbling and shooting in several games, currently plays basketball for University of Nevada at Reno.

Granite Bay High alum surprised with scholarship Charlie Tooley receives scholarship during impressive sophomore season

BY ABBIE GOULD

agould2.gazette@gmail.com

Fairy-tale endings have a way of pulling on the right heart strings – especially when it is one of our hometown heros.

Charlie Tooley, a Granite Bay High School alum, is that hero.

T Tooley was an a star basketball player while he attended GBHS. He played all

Rugby chases national title

GBR ranks top five nationally

In the past years Granite Bay Rugby (GBR) has won state titles, put out D1 athletes, and won a national championship, making the team incredibly successful.

From junior varsity to varsity the whole Rugby club in general has been a powerhouse for years now.

The program is coming off of a national championship title, and both teams are ready for a new season.

JV is for freshman and sophomore players, where they get introduced to what GBR is all about.

“Right off the bat, we were working out and running more than I ever had, our coaches definitely instilled hard work into us,” Triston Haverty, a second year JV player said.

Both JV and varsity this year are following last year’s teams that placed highly in the brackets of the national championships.

“Following such great teams, I wouldn’t say there is much pressure,” Dante Bandoni, a second year JV player said. “It is very encouraging to follow them, and we push ourselves a lot harder to play at their level.”

The JV team ended up placing second in state after losing to Danville Rugby Club.

Although upset, the players returning this year are determined to come back from the upset.

“To win state is definitely a goal and an expectation from us players and coaches,” Haverty said. “There is also a change of coaching this year to make sure we are a winning team.”

The varsity team this past year was ex-

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One day at practice, Musselman, the rest of the UNR coaching staff and team, surprised Tooley with a scholarship paper – he was given a full athletic scholarship for the spring semester.

“I was very emotional that day and have had a hard time putting it into words how I felt – I just felt very blessed,” said Tooley, “it was, by far, one of the best days of my life.”

Musselman also had Tooley’s parents film a video congratulating their son.

“They [Tooley’s parents] actually See TOOLEY, page C2

Back to back?

Class of 2018 plays for second straight Powder Puff victory

BY MAX SCHWARTZ

mschwartz.gazette@gmail.com

Athlete of the Month C3 Grizz Quiz

four years for the high school, three of which he was on the varsity team.

In his senior year, Tooley committed to play college basketball at the University of Nevada at Reno as a recruited walk-on – meaning he was not offered any athletic scholarship money, but was still extended a spot on the team.

Most of the time, scholarship athletes have more authority and preference with

the other players and coaches than preferred walk-ons.

Tooley, however, defied the odds and made an impact his freshman year.

He came off the bench and played in 16 games, and was a main part of UNR’s comeback against New Mexico last season. This helped the team capture the Mountain West Title in 2017.

Tooley was given the Most Inspirational Award after his freshman year at UNR. His coach, Eric Musselman, recognized Tooley’s hard work throughout his first year and decided he should be rewarded.

BY JAKE CRISCIONE

jcriscione.gazette@gmail.com

Special to the Gazette /COLLEEN NOGRADY

Will Nogrady lowers his shoulder into defenders. tremely successful and came out on top, ranked as number one in the nation, but there was a lot of work leading up to that.

“We knew how hard we needed to work in order to reach our goal,” said Jake Van Order, who played varsity last year and now plays for University of Arizona.

The team itself in its regular season season had a great winning record and continued the streak throughout the year.

When the varsity team made it to nationals they pulled up seven of the second year JV players.

“All seven of us got playing time and contributed, which was a really cool experience to play for the national championship game,” said Thomas Brandolino, one of the players who got moved up.

Kendra Van Order was one of the board member for GBR and also watched them play throughout the year..

“Win or lose, it was an experience very few high school athletes are ever exposed See RUGBY, page C2

Powder Puff: a battle between the class of 2018 vs. class of 2019 with more than just a trophy at stake.

On Friday, April 6, Granite Bay High School’s junior and senior girls will face off in an intense flag football game where weeks of practice will be laid out on the GBHS football field.

Over the many years of powder puff, the most sought out prize when it comes to the game is bragging rights. Rivalries have formed between the junior and senior class leading up to this game with only one finishing on top – the winner of

Powder Puff.

The class of 2018 is looking to repeat last year’s success as they squeezed out a 29-28 victory against last year’s senior class who was looking for their first victory out of two chances at the time.

Despite being the ‘underdogs’ last year, the class of 2018 proved their grit and skill by winning as juniors for only the second time in GBHS history. They will be looking to duplicate their triumph despite losing a couple of key athletes to injury for this year.

“I think we’re going to go out just as hard, maybe even harder, than we did last year,” said last year’s MVP See POWDER PUFF, page C3

Special to the Gazette /ADRIENNE RUSSELL

Class of 2018 players celebrate after beating the seniors 29-28 in the 2017 Powder Puff.

Staff Basketball Game

GBHS Swimmer impresses many

Spring Sports Schedules

Teachers of rival schools square off in charitable game

Junior Chloe Clark is succeeding in high school and is headed to Cal

Upcoming dates and opponents for GBHS Athletics

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Friday, March 9, 2018 w The Granite Bay Gazette

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Walk-on athletes snubbed on national signing day Players on scholarship fill the entire stage

BY ABBIE GOULD

agould.gazette@gmail.com

Just because an athlete is committed to playing at the collegiate level, doesn’t mean that they are guaranteed a spot on the signing panel at Granite Bay High School.

Zach Wong, a senior, committed to play soccer at the University of California San Diego the summer before his senior year.

“To put it simply, nothing happened for me,” said Wong.

He did not receive any athletic money at UCSD, but was offered a spot on the team.

“It turns out I was getting an institutional letter of intent, meaning it was not binding, even though I committed before senior year,” Wong said.

Wong was not singing a National Letter of Intent (NLI), so he was unable to participate in this event.

“A national letter of intent is about signing an athletic scholarship, in which a student receives money from a school to participate in a college program on their campus,” said athletic director Tim Healy.

Athletes who were not signing a NLI, or walk-ons, were not permitted to sign at GBHS. “A walk on can be anyone from a kid that was invited to try out for a team, to a preferred spot on a

team, to an actual spot on the team to which you are invited to spring training and other activities like all of the scholarship athletes,” Healy said.

Clare Murphy, a preferred walk-on at California Polytechnic University for women’s soccer, found out about her inability to participate from her high school soccer coach.

“Before signing day, my high school coach, Mark Broers, texted me to ask if I was participating in signing day,” Murphy said, “He said that they were not honoring preferred walk-ons for signing day.”

Murphy originally had a scholarship at the University of San Francisco, but decided to play soccer at Cal Poly instead.

“I wouldnt change my decision to drop my scholarship, even though I didn’t get to sign,” Murphy said.

Jack Powers, senior, was in the same situation as Wong and Murphy.

Powers is going to play football at the University of Nevada at Reno, but is not receiving any athletic money as well.

“I was kind of bummed because it would’ve been cool to sign with my friends – especially one of my best friends who’s also going to UNR,” Powers said.

Both Wong and Murphy also said that they were sad because they were unable to sign with their friends.

“I was definitely upset because I wanted to sign next to my best friends, and it is something you look forward to as an athlete,” Murphy said.

Healy said that he wanted to make sure the athletes are properly recognized on signing day.

“A walk on can be synonymous with a try out,

Kendra Van Order was one of the board member for GBR and also watched them play throughout the year..

“Win or lose, it was an experience very few high school athletes are ever exposed to,” said Kendra. “The entire team worked very hard all season and throughout the tournament to get to the last match.”

“Nationals were the best experiences I could’ve possibly had in my high school career,” Van Order said. “We worked so hard and feeling the payoff was the best feeling ever.”

With all of this success there

is pressure for the upcoming season because fans and players alike have such high hopes.

Senior varsity player, Desi Streater, is looking to keep the momentum from last year.

“I’m looking forward to making sure our team as a strong bond and chemistry because that’s what’s needed in order to have the type of season we are striving for,” Streater said.

With all of the accomplishments by the very prestigious program, it boils down to two things that ultimately make the team successful.

“We train like a professional

team,” said Jason Devine, GBR head coach. “We have staff that have played for real pro teams and our guys show their hard work on the field.”

Van Order also said the team’s success boiled down to one main thing.

“To be a top team in the nation, our board is very particular with the coaches we hire, we look for coaches that work together that optimize the training on the practice field,” Van Order said. “The players themselves have a desire to be the best rugby players and team they can, with strong coaching and a stronger work ethic you get a winning team.”

tionally, but that was not the case this year.

“I think it is important if they honor preferred walkons because it is the same circumstance, they just don’t have scholarship money,” said Murphy, “it is worth celebrating because they worked really hard to get that.”

anyone can try out for a team,” said Healy, “to me that is different than earning an athletic scholarship from which a program or a school has stated that we think you are significant enough of a player or a level of player (to receive money) to come to our school.”

Healy said that walk-ons have been recognized tradi-

TOOLEY: Graduate excels at UNR

RUGBY: Nationally ranked team Continued from page C1

Special to the Gazette/NICOLETTE LEWIS

Granite Bay soccer players Nicolette Lewis, left, and Emily Talmi enjoy the moment after signing a National Letter of Intent for their school they are playing at on scholarship.

Continued from page C1

surprised me with a video on the day that I found out which was awesome,” said . Tooley, “they are just really happy for me and proud.”

When Tooley received his letter, Musselman explained the reasons for his scholarship.

His Upon receiving the letter, Tooley’s coach told him that his work ethic, desire to compete and help his team, and confidence aided in his decision.

Throughout all of Tooley’s years playing basketball, his desire to get better is constantly seen.

“Even though he was the most talented player, he was still the first to arrive at practice and the last to o leave – he was always putting in the extra work,” said Jason Sitterud, Tooley’s high school basketball coach.

Joey Scotti, a childhood childhood friend of Tooley’s, recognized recognized his work ethic as well.

“Outside of (high) school basketball I know Charlie played on a highly competitive travel team and worked

a lot on his own to perfect his skills,” Scotti said.

Along with his constant effort to improve his game, Tooley influenced those around him too.

“He made everyone around him play at a higher level – he had high expectations of himself and encouraged everyone around him to expect more from themselves,” Sitterud said.

Scotti said he was not surprised when he found out about his friend’s scholarship.

“Charlie’s one of the hardest working guys I know and absolutely earned the scholarship,” Scotti said. His high school coach was in the same boat as well.

“I was excited for him, because I knew that he had earned it through his hard work and being a great teammate,” Sitterud said.

Tooley’s inspiring story is a great lesson for many athletes.

Sitterud said he would want to teach others from Tooley’s story that “hard work plus (a) selfless attitude equals success.”

Faculty basketball game makes a return

Rival schools team up for charity

BY DYLAN ROWE

drowe.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /MAX SCHWARTZ

Teacher Mike Trout prepares for the staff basketball game against Del Oro by shooting a basket.

This April, staff at Granite Bay High School will be continuing the yearly tradition of participating in a basketball game against Del Oro High School.

This game is held in order to raise money for teens through the Koinonia Home.

Koinonia is an organization that helps kids find foster and adopted parents, like every non-profit, they need extra financial help. These donations help pay for foster children and their everyday needs.

“I believe that when we serve others we tend to forget about our own problems, and it get a feeling of fulfillment,” GBHS staff member Mike Trout said.

This organization has provided for countless children who have experienced neglect, abandonment, abuse, delinquency, guardian absence or voluntary placement, to begin a better life. Koinonia aids Therapeutic Foster Care, Adoption, Day Treatment, Medically Fragile and teens who experience substance abuse.

The game has fifteen players from the Granite Bay faculty participating. “We will come to play,” GBHS staff member Jill Mckinney said about the upcoming game. “This year we will dominate like never before,” Trout adds.

While the concept of seeing one of your own teachers play is exciting, to add onto that, students are seeing them play against their rival team.

However, GB students aren’t the only ones who are looking forward to the game, Del Oro students will also attend the game to show support for their own teachers.

“It’ll be an interesting twist,” Del Oro junior, Jacob

Shabanov said. “Instead of a student rivalry, teachers will now be apart of the competition component of sports.”

Aside from seeing teachers out of the classroom, “Students can catch a break from their homework,” Kathie Sinor said.

“I’m excited to watch the game because it’s cool to see teachers act like regular people,” Freshman Andrew Jensen said about the upcoming game.

Like Jensen, lots of students are eager to see their teachers ‘ball it up’ for a good cause Del Oro, like Granite Bay is also showing their support for Koinonia by donating all of their ticket sales to the organization. “The game is shows the importance of having a working relationship with DOHS,” Honberger said.

So, should watchers expect a win for Granite Bay? “Winning is secondary,” Honberger said.

“Last year the GB men’s team won their quarters.”

This game is also giving staff members an opportunity to show off their skills on the court. “I love the sport but I don’t get to play as often as I would like” McKinney said.

The staff game is a way to bring a two schools together and raise money for a good cause, who wouldn’t want to come to that? Make sure to come out on April 21st to support your teachers.

Basketball player excels at the junior varsity level

BY ASHLEY YUNG

ayung2.gazette@gmail.com

Brian Lambey, a sophomore at GBHS, has been on the boy’s junior varsity basketball team for two years now.

Lambey has been interested in basketball from a young age.

“I first played with a ball when I was one and a half years old,” Lambey said.

It was Lambey’s father that built his foundation for the game. “(My father) took the time and energy to make sure (that) my siblings and I were advanced players,” Lambey said.

Playing basketball at a high school level takes a lot of commitment. Lambey practices one to two hours on the weekdays and two to three hours on the weekends. On the weekends, he practices with his brother and sister.

Lambey said one of his greatest achievements to date is beating his brother, Patrick, who is on the Varsity basketball team, one versus one.

“With (Patrick’s) size and skill, I must put more effort into driving by him and scoring,” Lambey said.

Patrick is also one of Brian’s basketball inspirations.

“His level of playing is a little higher than mine, and it pushes me to try to catch (up) to him,” Lam-

bey said.

Despite the successes Lambey has already had at GBHS, he still has many goals for the future of his high school basketball career. “(I want) to have the highest average assists in GBHS history,” Lambey said. “I would also like to dunk the ball on a defender in a game sometime soon.”

Lambey plans on continuing to play basketball in college. He feels that it would be a good experience.

“It’s a great way to travel around the country and meet new competition,” Lambey said. “Competition pushes (me) to work harder.”

Lambey also knows that if he achieves a higher playing level, he can receive a scholarship.

“(Scholarships) take off some of the financial stress,” Lambey said.

Lambey dedicates so much time and energy into basketball because he genuinely loves the sport.

“I love basketball because it’s an all around great sport and I’ve worked hard to be good at it,” Lambey said.

Friday, March 9, 2018

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w The Granite Bay Gazette

Grizz Quiz

Mitch Tullo Lacrosse

Mika Sakata Basketball

Compiled by Keyuri Pillay

Samantha Scott Swim

Jarad Harper Track & Field

Jake Trythall Tennis

Who is your greatest inspiration in the sport you play?

Michael Jordan

Josh Campo

Katelyn and Kayla Hughes (my sisters)

Michael Johnson

Serena Williams

What is your favorite Winter Olympics Sport?

Figure Skating

Snowboarding

Figure Skating

Snowboarding

Curling

I like bonding with my team mates

Competition

I don’t know what I’d do without it

It’s a part of me

College

Do you plan on playing in college?

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

How do you get ready for a game?

I solve my Rubik’s Cube

Listen to music

Talk to my teammates

Pray

Nothing

What is one reason why you continue to play your sport?

Is it worth the risk Concussions familiar at youth level

BY EMILY TALMI

etalmi.gazette@gmail.com

Though sports are a great activity to participate in and also one to spectate, they do come with risks. Whether the risk is a sprained ankle or a pulled hamstring, all these injuries come with a cost. However, some injuries are harder to rebound from and may prohibit the athlete from participating in his or her athletic activities.

One injury that has come to affect all different types of athletes of all different ages is the concussion.

Many institutions and universities have tried to remedy and prevent this harmful head injury, yet many athletes who participate in contact sports still receive one.

“My own personal experience is that I’ve never been diagnosed with a concussion,” Brandi Chastain, the 99” Women’s World Cup soccer player said. “Back in the old days, you just basically did what they said, ‘shake it off.’ Tough it out, shake it off, get back in there.”

During Chastain’s soccer career, concussions were never talked about as it wasn’t an issue prevalent enough to be spoken about, or so they thought.

“I know specifically there was one game in particular, I was playing in college where I definitely probably got my bell rung, as they called it,” Chastain said.

“I went down, they came out, I came off, I came right back in, and I had another similar moment where I shook it off a little faster, and I played the rest of the game.”

After having her fair share of head injuries, Chastain became increasingly interested in the prevention of concussions. She began to learn about the work of Boston University, and also the work from a gentleman by the name of Chris

POWDER PUFF: Senior

Gazette illustration /KATIE COLOGNA

Many high school and youth athletes suffer from concussions

in physical sports starting at a young age.

Nowinski. She decided to team up with Dr. Cantu from Boston University, and Nowinski of Concussion Legacy Institute, to influence the prevention of concussions.

“We had a regular board meeting and someone on our board said ‘okay so what is the next thing we are going to do?’ And without really thinking about it for very long, I raised my hand and said I’d like to influence the age limit for heading in soccer,” Chastain said. “I’d love to take heading out of youth soccer.

And so we went to work and we actually pushed U.S. soccer to increase the age.”

Chastain and her team members successfully raised the age of heading in youth soccer from 10 to 11 years old. The United States Youth Soccer Association that deals with the soccer rules and regulations, have enforced the rule into

vs. junior rivalry heating up Continued from page C1 Tastor. “It’s our last year and we want to get the same outcome as we did last year. I think it will be a good fight.”

Tastor and her classmates are anticipating to focus on the run game and maybe throw in a few trick plays for the inexperienced class of 2019.

Focusing on the first timers, this year’s junior squad is both excited for and aware of the physicality of the game. They are hoping to spoil the seniors’ hopes of claiming the powder puff win two years in a row.

A tall task is ahead, yet the class of 2019 is “ down for a good fight,” junior Skylar Sommer said.

“I definitely think we have a chance of giving the seniors a run for their money,” Sommer said. “However many of the players I think would be really good are in sports in the spring so they wouldn’t be able to play in powder puff.”

Aside from the game itself, weeks

of anticipation and hard practice lead to an intense competitive atmosphere which has gotten out of hand in past years.

Though no major conflict led to admin intervention, Tastor admits that trash talk and dirty hits were certainly present.

Tastor anticipates an equal if not greater rivalry to form for this year’s game and can’t wait to represent her senior class out on the field in a respectful yet uncompromising manor.

Sommer, in her first year of powder puff is aware of the competitive environment but hasn’t dealt with it first hand yet.

“I’m sure as the game gets closer and we start to practice I think it will get more competitive.” Sommer said.

Though this competitive atmosphere has led to some issues in the past, Tastor and Sommer are confident that this year’s players will be able to behave with respect and mindfulness during the friendly match up.

the game in hopes of preventing head injuries of young kids across the U.S. “One study found that college athletes are twice as likely to experience an acute lower extremity injury after concussion,” Kirsten Carmichael, a physical therapist said. “Another even more recent study looked at high school athletes, and found for every previous concussion the odds of sustaining a subsequent lower extremity injury resulting in lost playing time increased 34%.”

Many concussions can lead to a higher risk of attaining more injuries.

“We are concerned that current concussion protocols do not test enough dynamic balance tasks to determine if the athlete is ready for the full demands of sport,” Carmichael said.

Though prevention for concussions exist, they still remain prevalent. And even though there is therapy to aid those who have received one, Carmichael believes there needs to be an improved concussion protocol in place.

“The brain is not developed at that young of an age, muscular maturity is not developed yet, and there are so many unfortunate situations happening with young kids because they are just not prepared to handle that kind of moment,” Chastain said.

Understanding the health risks, Chastain’s ultimate goal is to limit the amount of concussions for young kids.

At the age of 13, Emily Dedo, a Granite Bay High sophomore, suffered from a concussion and was forced to be taken out of school for 2 weeks and then an additional 5 months.

“Now I have to wear headgear when I play soccer,” Dedo said. “I don’t head the ball just because I don’t want another concussion and with how severe my concussion was, getting another was is pretty easy.”

Sadly Dedo isn’t the only one who suffers from these consequences. In the past year, physical therapist Carmichael estimates 20-30 patients with concussions.

Being a mother, Chastain worries for her son’s health and wellness and therefore has even more reason to lead the game to a better place.

“I love soccer, I want the kids and the people who play have longer lives on the field,” Chastain said. “If we can lessen the 30,000 concussions from heading that happens nationally, then that’s more people on the field in the long run, and the game benefits.”

Kyra Kappos A single decision to try out lacrosse in elementary school gave birth to a passion and hidden skillset for GBHS sophomore.

Lacrosse player Kyra Kappos prospers at a young age Sophomore looks to take her athletic career to the next level

BY ANGELINA KOLOSEY akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

In the fourth grade, Kyra Kappos saw a poster about lacrosse and decided to sign up and play.

Little did she know that she would fall in love with Lacrosse and continue to pursue it for the next seven years.

Kappos is a dedicated lacrosse player for Granite Bay High on the varsity team as a Sophomore and plays for the Tenacity club in the offseason.

“When I go out there, I just feel happy. It’s like my happy place,” Kappos said as she described what it’s like for her to be out on the field.

Kappos is a competitive athlete and enjoys the fast pace nature of the game as well as the

amount of thinking the game requires.

Kappos attends practices five days a week from Monday to Friday. She also has lacrosse games every week and participates in activities related to lacrosse, such as clinics, over the weekend.

Kappos has become a strong lacrosse player over time and is currently looking at Division One schools that she would like to play lacrosse for.

One of the main obstacles Kappos has had to overcome over her many years of development is getting into an extremely focused game mindset and playing wholeheartedly – instead of getting frustrated with tiny details dealing with technique.

“Physically, I definitely had to stay dedicated to a constant conditioning schedule,” Kappos said when describing physical challenges she

had to conquer which included staying motivated and becoming faster in order to make varsity.

The mental and physical challenges Kappos learned to dominate have made her a stronger athlete.

Kappos’ main supporters include her parents and her coach. Her parents coached her in youth and have been very helpful to Kappos with the recruiting process. Her coach has helped her work to improve on certain aspects in lacrosse as well.

Kappos has her mind set upon reaching the goal of playing at a Division One college, as she is currently going through the recruiting process.

What started out as a sport Kappos wanted to try out in the fourth grade has now become her passion that she plans to keep pursuing through hardwork and dedication – qualities an eager athlete is bound to have.

The beginning of a legacy UC Berkeley commit balances school with swim

BY JORDAN BLAIR

jblair.gazette@gmail.com

School is difficult enough as it is. Add in sports and extracurricular activities and you’re bound to have your plate full. Chloe Clark is a junior at Granite Bay High School who has become very familiar with this feeling.

Having won the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke as a sophomore at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships for swim, Clark continues to push herself in swim while challenging herself in academics.

Clark’s coach, John Sherman, is one of many who are amazed with her accomplishments.

“Maybe more interesting is that as a freshman, when she was still at 14 year old, she put up two times (100 free and 100 back) that are both top three swims all time for the country for 14U age group,” Sherman said in an email.

Clark continues to challenge herself both in swim and in school. This year Clark has continued to swim for the GBHS varsity team while also being enrolled in three AP courses.

“I swim every afternoon, two mornings before school, and then Saturday in the morning,” Clark said.

Despite her rigorous schedule, Clark still tries her best to keep up with her schoolwork.

“I just try to have my planner and always try to write down my schedule to try and get everything done as best I can,” Clark said.

Sherman recognizes Clark’s ongoing efforts.

“Chloe has a drive and determination that sets her apart from most other swimmers,” Sherman said.

“She is highly motivated in everything she does.”

Clark is proud to represent her school having won State Championships.

“It felt really good to do something bigger for me to support my school and to represent my school as a whole,” Clark said.

Winning championships has also helped Clark to grow as a person. “I think it’s helped me become more confident in myself,” Clark said.

Clark has made verbal commitment to UC Berkeley. After graduating from GBHS, she hopes to get a degree in Molecular Biology or Anatomy before later going on to attend Med school.

Clark chose Berkley after visiting and having the opportunity to meet juniors/seniors currently enrolled in the college. She fell in love with the the welcoming people and overall atmosphere.

“They were all super humble and genuine,” Clark said. “It’s people I look up to and people I want to be like so I felt it was a really great fit for me and at the end of the day I get a really great education out of it.”

Despite her drive to be successful and her rigorous schedule, Clark still continues to touch those around her. “Chloe is outgoing, has a strong personality, is a great student, and LOVES ice cream,” Sherman said.

Special to the Gazette /SCOTT SHEA

Chloe Clark poses with her first place medal at the CIF Swimming and Diving Championships.

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Friday, March 9, 2018w The Granite Bay Gazette

SECOND LOOK

Spring sports schedules Check out all of the GBHS spring sports

Special to the Gazette /PAVLINA CLEM

Special to the Gazette /PAVLINA CLEM

Boys Golf

March 13 - GBHS vs Folsom March 15 - GBHS @ Stevenson March 20 - GBHS vs Oak Ridge March 22 - GBHS @ Nevada Union April 3 - GBHS @ Woodcreek April 6 - GBHS vs Rocklin

Swim

March 9&10 - GBHS @ Roseville Invitational March 16&17 - GBHS @ De La Salle Invite March 24 - GBHS @ Mission Viejo Invite April 3 - GBHS vs Folsom & Woodcreek April 6&7 - GBHS @ NorCal Champs

Baseball

March 9 - GBHS @ Clovis March 10 - GBHS @ Tulare Western March 17 - GBHS vs Campolindo March 20 - GBHS vs Woodcreek March 22 - GBHS @ Woodcreek March 23 - GBHS vs Woodcreek April 3 - GBHS @ Rocklin April 5 - GBHS vs Rocklin April 6 - GBHS @ Rocklin

Special to the Gazette /DAVID GONI

Boys’ Volleyball

March 12 - GBHS @ Del Oro March 14 - GBHS vs Folsom March 21 - GBHS vs Oak Ridge April 4 - GBHS @ Woodcreek April 5 - GBHS @ Nevada Union April 9 - GBHS @ Rocklin

Softball

March 14 - GBHS vs Woodcreek March 16 - GBHS @ Rocklin March 19 - GBHS @ Laguna Creek March 21 - GBHS @ Del Oro April 4 - GBHS vs Folsom April 3 - GBHS @ Casa Roble

Girls’ Lacrosse

Special to the Gazette /ANDREW ORETTA

March 10 - GBHS vs St. Ignatius College Prep March 12 - GBHS vs Monte Vista March 13 - GBHS vs California March 16 - GBHS vs Justin-Siena March 20 - GBHS @ Bella Vista April 6 - GBHS @ Vista Del Lago

Boys’ Lacrosse

March 13 - GBHS @ Amador Valley March 17 - GBHS vs Piedmont March 20 - GBHS vs Bella Vista March 22 - GBHS @ Jesuit March 24 - GBHS @ Servite March 26 - GBHS @ Corona Del Mar April 7 - GBHS vs Vista Del Lago

Gazette photo /LOGAN EMBREE

Boys’ Tennis

March 12 - GBHS @ Rocklin March 13 - GBHS vs Woodcreek March 15 - GBHS @ Del Oro March 20 - GBHS vs Folsom April 3 - GBHS @ Oak Ridge April 9 - GBHS vs Rocklin

Track & Field

March 10 - GBHS @ Sturgeon Invite March 17 - GBHS @ Dublin Distance Carnival & Lancer Invitational March 21 - GBHS @ Nevada Union, vs Del Oro & Nevada Union March 23 - GBHS @ Bronco Pole Vault Carnival March 30-31 - GBHS @ Stanford Invitational

- Compiled by Jake Criscione

Special to the Gazette /ANDREW ORETTA

GBHS girl’s swimmer, top left, works on her freestyle at practice. Top right, senior Hayden Dean defends junior Dylan Beland in a lacrosse practice. Catcher Spencer Cusack, top middle, prepares to throw the baseball. Jessica Baker, middle left, picks up a ground ball while being defended. GBHS boys golf, middle right, competes in a match against Jesuit Highschool. Bottom left, GBHS boys volleyball in a competitive game against Wheatland Highschool. Junior Lindsay Poulos, bottom right, pitches the softball in a preseason game.

Special to the Gazette /SARAH WITHROW

GS The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide.

March 2018

GREENSCREEN A guide on how to make your spring break super

PAGES 8 & 9 Gazette Photo/ LOGAN EMBREE

Page 2

March 2018

sneak peek.

Special to the Gazette /NASH ROOD

Gazette photo/ BELLA HAMILTON

wSee page 3 Nash Rood demo tape

wSee pages 8 & 9 Spring break travels

Gazette photo/ EMILY HANSEN

wSee page 13 Popular brands at GBHS

Violence from forms of media causes problems Popular video games, movies and TV shows promote violent ideology

T

ime and time again, the discussion of what the younger gen- the matter. What goes into the still-forming minds of the younger erations see in movies and video games has been looked at. generations can directly reflect into their behaviors, and sometimes More attention to the topic of gun control has been seen be taken to extremes. after the tragic events in Parkland, Florida where a 19 year All movies and video games are rated before they are sold, by old legally purchased a AR-15 rifle, a rifle only seen in the the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Enmilitary usually, and killed 14 students and teachers. Some much needed light was shined on this tragic matter. tertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), but that doesn’t stop This event in my eyes set the bar higher for how exactly schools them from getting into the hands of teens, and eventually their around the US would react during the kind of situation that hapminds. pened here.

Every person on the planet interprets Additionally, when these horrible events violence differently, and some people are happen, the National Rifle Association (NRA) does not want to change their gun laws, and heavily influenced by what they see, even if believe that after a few months everyone will it isn’t real. Being someone who has played forget about the situation, moving on until the their share of video games and seen some next one. graphic movies, I can wholeheartedly agree Living in that kind of a cycle worries me with why Trump took action when he did. immensely, knowing that we’re at the mercy of what the NRA wants to do, and sadly it has While it could be unseen problems that always been that way in the modern world. cause a teenager to go over the deep end, With all the ultra-violent content young taking care of what we can control, such as people can get their hands on, the possible violence in young minds, should be where link to this and a shooter or thread on school we start off. campuses increases. jkehoe.gazette@gmail.com Granite Bay High School, along with Needless to say, what younger audiences schools around the country, has taken extreme see should be monitored by both companies measures to ensure the safety of their students, including talking and parents. I strongly believe that parents are just as accountable about what to do in the slim chance of a shooter being near or on as other sources for the violence that children can see online, in campus. the movies, or in video games.

It’s great that the topic is being brought into students lives, but also tragic at the same time because it took a horrible event hapWith the more careful monitoring of what younger children see pening to give it serious attention. while growing up, the possibility of making awful decisions can While it could be a number of reasons that the one shooting be reduced or even eliminated. in Florida happened, a possible source that President Trump is addressing is the prevalent violence in modern movies and video *** games.

Over the last week, Trump met with various high up officials on Jack Kehoe, a senior, is a Gazette Green Screen editor.

Upcoming GBHS Events for March and

April

COMME NTARY

jack kehoe

Page 3 Nash Rood

Guide to Green Screen

Page 4 Food reviews Page 5 Club Kaoss Page 6 Top Tweets

Page 7 Chinny and Wandy Pages 8&9 Spring Break Travel Guide Page 10 St. Patrick’s Day Page 11 Music reviews

March 15&16 Midterms March 17 Junior Prom March 24 April 2 Spring Break

Page 12 Artist of the Month Page 13 Dominating brands Pages 14&15 Movie reviews Page 16 Prom Style Guide

March 2018

local legend.

Page 3

NAsh Rood Granite Bay High School graduate ripples the waters of the music industry

BY MACKENZIE BROWN

I

mbrown.gazette@gmail.com

n today’s day and age, creating and publishing music is not at all what it used to be. With the increase in media platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, and the opportunity for anyone with a laptop and headphones to create their own music, thousands of artists have the ability to do it all themselves.

Nash Rood, a recent GBHS graduate, has followed the trend of making and self-releasing his music with limited tools and resources.

Rood has been a music-lover and musician for almost the entirety of his life, inspiring him to create his own music.

“I’ve played music my whole life […] since I was like, four. I learned how to play piano, and then the trumpet and then drums. And now I play piano, bass and guitar,” Rood said.

With a passion and background in music interest, Rood recently decided to make his own music, doing so entirely with a limited amount of resources.

“I didn’t really use equipment. All I used was my Macbook Pro, GarageBand, and the microphone that comes on the Apple headphones,” Rood said, “So, pretty straightforward. GarageBand is super easy [to use.]”

As far as the artistic side of creating music, such as the writing of songs and melodies, Rood received some critique from Violet Mayugba, who is also a musician.

“With recording and just music wise, that was all me. In terms of [...] just help and improving the songs and making changes and whatnot, my girlfriend Violet was a big help. She’s big in the music world,” Rood said.

“He would send me his demos and I would give him little tweaks and changes based off of my own experience with writing music,” Mayugba said. “I didn’t really do any of the real writing, it was all him [...] He’s a kind of a weird genius, but I would help him incorporate certain musical elements and dynamics.”

As a fellow musician, Mayugba knows the value of what constructive feedback can do in terms of improving an artist’s work.

“I think having a second opinion on your art, especially a fairly experienced opinion, will push the artist to do more and think a bit harder about their artistic options,” Mayugba said. “I’ve been writing my own music for five and a half years now, and I’ve been working as a professional musician for two years, so I have a little bit of knowledge to offer!”

Creating music is a feat that is derived from personal experiences and ideas, along with inspiration from other

artists.

Both Mayugba and Rood agree that the sound of Rood’s music is partly inspired by the artist “SALES.” “Anything with jangly guitar and haunting melodies,” Mayugba said, describing in her words what Rood’s music encompasses.

In relation to identifying with a genre, “[I would say] dream rock or dream pop? Genres are fairly limiting.

His music is the prettiest sunset you have ever seen,” Mayugba said.

Although Rood derived ideas from particular artists, a large portion of his muse came from genres overall.

“Of course the Beatles. And a lot of disco, I’m big into disco, a lot of disco inspiration actually… And pop music.

Just pop in general,” Rood said, “And [if I had to put my music into a genre,] I [would] refer to my music as jingle pop or bedroom pop.”

And although each song has specific meaning and reason why it was created, Rood still has tunes he favors over others.

“Each song has a different meaning to me. Love Alone is a good one.

Twice Daily is also good. Those are probably my two favorites,” Rood said.

“Love Alone is about being sad by yourself and liking the idea of being in love but not actually having anyone to be in love with, which is pretty cheesy… but yeah that’s what it’s about. Twice Daily is about just having

insecurities and dealing with [those] insecurities. It’s like a prescription pill, you take twice daily.”

Mayugba also has her top picks, although she admires the work as a whole as well.

“All of them are so great for different reasons, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. depends on my mood. If I’m [feeling] dreamy, I’ll listen to Love Alone,” Mayugba said.

As far as releasing more of his own music in the future, Rood is leaving it up to “I’m working on songs right now [...] As far as [making more of my own music] goes, I’d like to make more, but I’m not going to say anything,” Rood said. “So I’ll leave it at I’d like to, but I have no idea [if I will.]”

Releasing your own work can be frightening, as one can worry about the opinions and reactions of those around them. Rood has a piece of advice for anyone who is anxious about putting their art out and into the world.

“Do it. Music is a really cool way to express yourself and express how you feel about stuff. I think it’s just important that if you want to make [music] then make it. Same goes for all art. If you want to make art, make art,” Rood said. “Make it for yourself, and use the tools you have [available to] you. You don’t have to spend a million dollars to make good art. If it’s good art, then it’s good art no matter what.”

Special to the Gazette /NASH ROOD

Page 4

March 2018

comida coma.

Let’s taco ‘bout Mexican food El Sombrero

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

E

l Sombrero has been a staple for Granite Bay High students looking for an afterschool Mexican food fix since 2011.

The restaurant is a bit of a hole-in-thewall – my first two years of living in Granite Bay I was completely unaware of its existence.

My discovery of it at a party that they catered was no less than life changing.

Walking in, the first thing that hits you is the exquisite aroma of slow cooked carnitas and fresh made tortillas. The experience is completed by the Mexican music playing in the background as you hear laughter emanating from the kitchen staff.

The decor is rustic and very authentic and it looks like most restaurants that I’ve walked into while in Mexico. It has TVs displaying soccer, a cooler for mexican sodas, jars full of homemade frescas, and streamers hung across the ceiling.

The best thing on the menu is the Carnitas Super Burrito complete with beans, rice, a healthy portion of pork, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. There are always free tortilla chips and salsa to pair with every entree.

You also can’t go wrong with the Super Nachos or Flautas (basically big taquitos).

The one aspect of the menu that I don’t hold in particularly high regards is the seafood. If it’s fish tacos you desire, then Rubio’s might be the better option.

They also carry fresh made fresca

The Gazette staff spills the beans about the best local Mexican food

La Villa drinks – my favorite is the cantaloupe but the horchata is also solid.

The small, family run restaurant provides a nice contrast to chains like Dos Coyotes and Chipotle. There’s always a satisfying feeling when you walk into a restaurant and your order is already known.

The menu offers a pretty incredible variety and overall is consistently good across the board.

I highly recommend El Sombrero to anyone craving a taste of authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price.

Gazette photo /ELLIOT HYMAN

El Sombrero provides a variety of traditional Mexican food for an afforable price

BY BELLA HAMILTON

A

bhamilton.gazette@gmail.com

lthough there is a variety of quality Mexican restaurants in Granite Bay, the one that brings me back to thinking about my memories from Mexico is La Villa.

Previously named El Pollo De Oro, this Mexican restaurant is relatively new to Granite Bay. I first tried this restaurant almost a year ago, and I loved it. I remember the burrito that I ate was amazing and I was excited to go again.

As soon as I walked in, I could smell the freshly made food in the air, wafting towards me.

There were not many workers in the restaurant and there was only one other family seated at one of the other tables in the restaurant.

The staff was eager to help and very friendly. The setting of the restaurant made the meal much more enjoyable.

It did not take me a long time to look over the menu because I had already been there in the past, and I knew what I wanted to eat.

I ordered a lime jarritos soda in addition to my entree, and my meal came with chips and salsa.

As soon as I bit into my burrito with rice, steak, black beans and guacamole I knew it was still as good as I had remembered it.

I loved the texture of the food and the whole experience of eating the burrito.

My friend had ordered the shrimp al mojo de ajo which is a mexican shrimp dish cooked with garlic and other sauces.

When I tried the shrimp, it became my favorite dish at the restaurant. It was fresh, cooked to perfection and was covered in an amazing sauce that will keep me coming back.

The shrimp was delicious, although it was not the biggest portion. We could have gotten another one if the dish was not so pricey.

The house-made salsa was also delicious and my friends and I finished three baskets of it.

The menu at La Villa is on the expensive side – my regular burrito cost me $7.95 and the shrimp we had was almost 17 dollars.

Although La Villa restaurant is a little on the costly side, I believe there is delicious mexican food for everyone in your family and friends to try.

If you’re looking for somewhere to go and get good service, delicious food and have a great time, La Villa is for you.

La Villa, located in Granite Bay, serves conventional Mexican

Carmelita’s

BY AKHIL SHAH

C

ashah.gazette@gmail.com

armelita’s Restaurant in downtown Roseville is a traditional Mexican style restaurant with exceptional service.

When I entered the restaurant I immediately noticed the wall art. Classic pictures and paintings surrounded the walls. Ingrained into the ceiling was a statue-like figure of an animal. The vast realms of art were a point to view during my meal.

My waitress was very quick and effective, as she brought me an appetizer of chips, beans and salsa almost immediately after I was seated.

I noticed the menu had a wide variety of food choices, and could accommodate the needs of both vegetarians and nonvegetarians.

I chose to order the chicken mole enchiladas, and was more than satisfied with the quality and taste of my meal.

The two enchiladas came layered with a type of

textured sweet red sauce which I personally thought added to the taste. My meal also came with a side of traditional spanish rice, which was also very delicious.

I was very pleased with the quality in which my food was presented. The way in which the meals were set on the plates came with a certain aesthetic.

Throughout the course of my meal, my waitress was very friendly and considerate of all my needs. I personally thought the entire staff was helpful and polite, accommodating all their customers and providing quality service in general.

Carmelita’s also has a bar, and I noticed many adults around it enjoying each others’ company.

The restaurant as a whole holds a very traditional feel, and is a great family environment.

The location of the restaurant gave it a very classic feel, being in the heart of downtown Roseville.

With so many positive aspects to Carmelita’s, I believe the cost of all menu items is the only aspect straying me from giving a full 5 stars.

The chicken mole enchiladas I ordered were alone 17

dollars, and as I glanced at the other menu items I did notice them to be fairly pricey.

Though pricey, I was content with my food and the friendly service. I recommend Carmelita’s to anyone who wants to try traditional Mexican food.

Gazette photo /AKHIL SHAH

Carmelita’s provides Mexican food in an authenthic setting

March 2018

Page 5

khaos in the klub.

Kaoss is anything but ordinary GBHS students share their experiences at local teen nightclub

BY AKHIL SHAH

A

ashah.gazette@gmail.com

teen nightclub open to high schoolers in Roseville holds significant controversies and hidden realities.

Faced with many rumors is Klub Kaoss which hosts a themed dance night every month.

Lance Soto, founder of Klub Kaoss and more frequently recognized as DJ Elements, declined to comment on the controversies he thought of as “rumors.”

Klub Kaoss’s website reveals a multitude of security measures for the club ranging from stationed security, bag checks, and a strict policy against drugs and alcohol.

A junior boy at Granite Bay High School who wished to remain anonymous mentioned the multitude of negative aspects which he’s seen occur at Klub Kaoss.

“Inappropriate grinding, touching and kissing are just some of the things I’ve seen there in the eight or so times I’ve been,” said the anonymous source.

He added, “They have security outside the bathrooms and the front entrance. They check your pockets and bags. They sometimes even breathalyze kids they suspect.”

However, the alleged ways teenage girls are treated at the club raises a cause of concern.

GBHS Resource Officer and Placer County Sheriff’s deputy Gregg Hopping didn’t know or have any information of Klub Kaoss.

“After hour activities that aren’t directly related to GBHS, I really don’t have any influence or responsibility for,” Hopping said.

Hopping involves himself in situations within the campus, and any activity that takes place outside of campus which still raises concerns and hinders ability to learn at GBHS. Essentially, activities at Klub Kaoss that involve GBHS students aren’t always necessarily the school’s responsibility.

Caden Mckillop, a junior at GBHS who’s attended Klub Kaoss several times said, “they do alright for security, not super good.”

Mckillop added that fights and students smoking are just several of the things that happen at Klub Kaoss.

Regarding the treatment of women, Mckillop felt that since women choose to go and do what they do, he doesn’t think they’re treated bad.

However, the junior boy at GBHS who wished to remain anonymous felt differently.

“Women shouldn’t be touched inappropriately. Even though the dance is supposed to be like that, I disagree with the way people act

inside Klub Kaoss.”

A junior girl at GBHS who also wished to remain anonymous confirmed that drugs and alcohol are normal to come across at Klub Kaoss.

“The security really doesn’t care what you do at all,” the anonymous girl said.

She also emphasized the excess amounts of sexual and inappropriate behavior in general, adding that she’s seen fights break out as well.

Similar to the anonymous junior boy, she felt that women are treated negatively there and boys are out to practically take advantage of girls at Klub Kaoss.

While both the boy and girl who wished to remain anonymous don’t attend anymore for the reasons stated above, Mckillop felt differently.

“I go and it’s fun because of the music, dancing, and it’s cool to make new friends,” said Mckillop.

Klub Kaoss holds a multitude of hidden realities, most of which can be confirmed by students who attend. These statements which are contrary to founder Lance Soto’s statement about much of these aspects being simply “rumor,” raise a significant cause for concern.

 GBHS students often go to clubs over the weekends to hang out with friends or to enjoy the party atmosphere.

Gazette Illustration /JACK KEHOE

Page 6

March 2018

current.

Top Tweets Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students

BY MILAN FRENCH

mfrench.gazette@gmail.com

Netflix Picks

Twitter

BY JORDAN BLAIR

jblair.gazette@gmail.com

1. Reign For anyone who enjoys watching drama unfold, especially amongst those in power, Reign might be the show for you. Following Mary of Scotland on her fight to protect her country and become Queen, she will leave you in admiration. This seemingly harmless tale receives a much darker twist as prophecies and plagues fall upon France, where she is to marry Prince Francis. As the two struggle to agree while each looks out for their own country, viewers watch in anticipation and struggle to pick sides.

2. Black As long as you don’t mind watching your show with subtitles, “Black” is perfect for anyone. Dark like it’s name, this thriller follows a woman named Ha-Ram who’s glasses have been the only thing preventing her from foreseeing the death of those around her. Having seen her abilities as a curse for most her life and receiving only criticism from those around her, when detective Mu-gang believes in her abilities she is quick to befriend him. Once convincing her the power she has is a gift, they soon begin using her abilities in attempt to save the lives of others. But Death always has a way of taking a life for a life.

3. Men in Black Released in 1997, ‘Men in Black’ isn’t necessarily new to us, but it is new to Netflix. Released February 1, 2018 this sci-fi film with leave you aching with laughter. Starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones ‘Men in Black’ is filled with satire. Not only is the film a comedy at its core, it also received a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the movie being over 20 years old, thanks to a wellwritten script and a great performance by both Smith and Jones, the movie will never fail to let you down.

i saw a micro econ joke today and laughed...this is what senior year has come to. maddie tastor @maddietastor

0 Retweets

14 Likes

doing everything in my power to resist the urge of eating this entire box of cheez-its

nash roooooooooood @grandpalover22

0 Retweets

15 Likes

school low key caught on fire, Tuesday’s am I right?! #lol #lit

Will Anderson @officialbilliam

0 Retweets

10 Likes

bell peppers were created by white people for white people

john lang @johnlang0114

1 Retweet

13 Likes

Hangout Location of the Month:

“Midtown Farmers Market”

T

What is it?

he Midtown Farmers Market is the perfect destination for a morning adventure with friends and/or a delicious

brunch. Every Saturday, over 50 vendors line

What to Look Out For

•

range of flavors all made from simple ingredients •

Volkswaffle, a food truck selling authentic Belgian waffles – topped and served right in front of you

20th Street offering baked goods, beverages, fresh flowers, fruits, clothing, crafts and more.

Wheel Lemonade, a company selling lemonade in a

•

Peace, Love, and Soywax, a company selling eco-

You’re always guaranteed to witness friendly

friendly soy candles that promise a slow burn and

locals bustling about, making conversation and

quality fragrances

exchanging goods and the stories that go along with them. Aside from the Farmers Market itself, 20th Street is home to a range of restaurants, Sacramento Comedy Spot, Nekter Juice Bar and Peet’s Coffee.

•

LowBrau, a restaurant on 20th, offering German cuisine, refreshing beverages, and weekend brunch specials

Gazette Photo /NOELANI NICHOLS

BY NOELANI NICHOLS

nnichols.gazette@gmail.com

March 2018

Page 7

it is 2000 something.

A blast from the past ... year!

BY BRUCE RUSSELL

brussell.gazette@gmail.com

S

ometimes, while skipping through the endless amounts of depressing dramas, frantic action flicks, and loveless rom-coms on your Netflix list, you get a bit frustrated.

Sometimes, we just need a visual break; a chance to breathe and have a bit of fun in your friday night movie experience, and there are few better options than the sequel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most creative blockbuster – “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is an atypical superhero film, chalked up with boatloads of snarky humor and unique action extravaganzas.

The main characters, who make up the “Guardians of the Galaxy,” notably Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax the Destroyer, and Gamora all have different backstories and personalities that set them apart.

Seeing the crew fight a giant alien octopus in the background with the camera centered on baby Groot dancing to 70s tunes is cinematic entertainment at its finest.

With a retrofuturist production design and a vibrant color palette, the movie has a clear artistic vision, unlike the bland look of many of today’s movies.

Mixing practical and visual effects interchangebaly, the CGI, while widespread throughout the film, is impressively rendered and animated. I never thought I’d see a walking raccoon next to a pesonified tree, but now I can say I have.

The film’s soundtrack – “Awesome Mix Vol. 2” is equally as unique as the rest of the film. Mixing 70s disco music with space-faring visuals may seem weird, but is unusually gratifying.

It’s a seldom occurrence when a movie so successfully makes the audience laugh and cheer as “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” does.

Movies like this are frequently criticized for being nothing more than high-speed thrill rides filled with humor and excitement over any moral lessons.

But frankly, I believe it’s a good thing. Does every movie have to be a philosophical guide to life or a complex allegorical thriller? With our often depressing and brisk lives, who’s to say we can’t sit back and have some much-needed fun?

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is an ideal presentation of pure entertainment, and a stimulanting film for joyous audiences.

BY LOGAN EMBREE

I

lembree.gazette@gmail.com

have been a fan of logic for a very long time but I never considered myself to be a fanatic. I have to say I was impressed by the amount of contrast between “Everybody,” Logic’s third studio album, and his previous works.

The album was created as an adaption of the story, “The Egg,” by Andy Weir, which is a sci-fi story including themes such as evolution and growth.

When a man is killed in a car crash he meets a man names limbo, a seemingly savior like character, that reveals the man’s fate to him. The man later figures out that time is an illusion, he is the universe and the infinite loop of death and birth is all part of a maturing process.

The title, “The Egg,” comes from the metaphor that the universe, or the man, is the egg and when it is fully born it will attain consciousness.

“Everybody” takes the main premise behind the story and morphs it to place importance on the idea that this endless cycle would eventually result in everyone being different incarnations of the same individual.

It has always amazed me at how capable Logic is when it comes to taking very intricate and difficult topics and mold them into understandable songs filled with meaning and interlaced with personal experience. “Everybody” is no different and although Weir’s story was written as a work of fiction, Logic treats it as a parable, emphasizing ideas such as equality or race and religion which he has battled with in the past.

Logic has no fear when it comes to addressing real world issues that many would rather turn a blind eye too. In his songs “1-800-273-8255” and “Anziety,” he focuses on mental health and wellness. Constantly relaying a message that you are not alone even when it feels like it which he relates to personally.

Logic does his best to include as much into one album as possible however with his rap speed and the complexity of his included ideas many people have no doubt been lost in rhythm and did not understand many of the ideas that are tricky to understand at normal speed.

Overall “Everybody” was a bit different than Logic’s previous releases but it was nice to hear something different. A repetitive style is a plague in today’s music industry and “Everybody” was a courageous move by Logic for which I believe to have been worth it.

Gazette illustration/LOGAN EMBREE

Pages 8 &9

sea the beauty in life.

March 2018

Spring is in the air Students share their upcoming vacation plans

BY MILAN FRENCH

S Gazette illustrations /ASHLEY YUNG

mfrench.gazette@gmail.com

pring break is always a perfect travel opportunity for students and families. This year, like every year, many Granite Bay students will be volunteering their spring break to go to Mexicali alongside Bayside Church for the Mexico Outreach Trip. On this trip, high school and college students assist and support the churches, organizations and children of Mexicali.

“On the trip, I’m most excited to get to spread the word of God (to) los ninos” senior Zach Wong said.

It is Wong’s second time volunteering in Mexicali where he works with the local churches and hangs out with the kids “(My) favorite part is bonding with people that you haven't met before,” Wong said.

For some students, it's their first time experiencing the Mexico Outreach Trip.

“I've never been there before (but) my dad and I finally decided to go this spring break,” senior Jessica Quecano said. “It’s a great bonding experience.”

The program is something the church does every year for one week long.

“I'm so excited and thankful for the opportunity to experience Mexicali and to make an impact,” Quecano said.

Other students are still going to Mexico, but instead of going along with Bayside, they are going to the beaches. Seniors Carly Wallace and Nicolette Lewis are going to Cancun, Mexico this spring break.

“My favorite part about going is to see the different culture of Mexico and being able to have a good time,” Wallace said.

Last spring, the two went to Cabo. This time, they are planning on going to differ-

ent restaurants and beaches.

“I’m most looking forward to being able to enjoy the nice weather, get tan, and swim in the turquoise water “ Wallace said.

Lewis is excited to go jet skiing.

Students like junior Stephanie Sampson take advantage of the break to go visit destinations overseas.

“I'm going to Paris, France with my family for six days… I've never been there,” Sampson said. “I've always been interested in seeing everything.

Sampson is looking forward to experiencing the different culture that Europe has to offer.

“I'll probably try some new foods and activities like eating a baguette,” Sampson said.

Sampson also hopes to see much of what Paris has to offer for tourists. She is going to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

However, some students are taking a more simple approach to spring break.

Sophomore Jack Dugoni plans on staying in Granite Bay. “I'm most excited about catching up with my shows and adventuring with friends,” Dugoni said.“I (also) want to go watch the sunset somewhere by Folsom Lake and play my guitar.”

College response season falls right in line with spring break, so some students plan on using the break to tour colleges.

“I'm going to go visit UCLA, UCSD, and UCSB with my brother and my mom,” senior Katie Hunter said.

When touring Hunter is planning to focus on the fine arts program in which she applied to major under. “ I'd really like to see the campuses and check out the theater programs,” Hunter said.

Gazette photo /BELLA HAMILTON

 Mexicali volunteers, left, gather in front of a building in Mexico. Emily Province, above, expresses her love for vacation at Folsom Lake.

Gazette photo /ANDREW DOLAN

Page 10

luck of the irish.

St. Patrick’s Day

March 2018

The history behind the Irish holiday and GBHS student traditions

E

BY LOGAN EMBREE

lembree.gazette@gmail.com

very year on March 17th, preschools from all different parts of the world are fraudulently vandalized by a mischievous culprit that is most commonly referred to as the Leprechaun.

Saint Patrick’s day is celebrated in many different manners across the world. This once sacred and religious holiday has turned into a day dedicated to drinking too much, staying out too late and convincing young children that there is a leprechaun in their mist.

While “Saint Patty’s day” is celebrated by thousands of people across the world, it is quite surprising that the majority of these individuals have little to no knowledge of the holidays origins.

Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17 − the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron Saint of Ireland. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity to Ireland, along with celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Historically the Lenten restrictions on drinking were lifted for the day which offers an explanation for the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.

The Leprechaun, a common symbol for the green-filled day, has no correlation to Saint Patrick’s day besides the Irish relation, every year on March 17th in homes and preschools across the United States are thought by young children to be visited and vandalized by these small Irish scoundrels.

Gazette Illustrations /MACKENZIE BROWN SABINA MAHAVNI KATIE COLGNA

The lives of local individuals are also affected in this playful and festive manner.

“Every year on Saint Patrick’s day I wake up to find lucky charms from the “leprechaun” and the water in my toilet mysteriously dyed green” said Easton Holland junior at Granite Bay high school.

Holland now being a Junior in high school has of course discovered that the real leprechaun has been his parents all along but he recounts of fond memories created by the holiday in his past.

“One year when I was 10 I left out a piece of paper for the leprechaun with the message, “draw yourself.” The next day there was small stick man drawing from the Leprechaun,” said Holland.

Many students enrolled at Granite Bay high school have had similar experiences with various creative modifications.

“Every year on Saint Patrick’s day my mom goes all out, she dyes our food green like the eggs, milk, etc and makes us green pancakes that morning.” said Lindsay Withrow a senior at GBHS. Conning children into believing that these small Irish fairies do exist is a trademark of Saint Patrick’s day but is not used to celebrate nearly as much as simply wearing green.

While dying different things green and leaving false traces of Leprechauns strung about is a fun way to celebrate, in many places in Ireland the holiday is still celebrated in its proper historical and religious manner. Parades and marches are held annually to commemorate the return of Saint Patrick.

March 2018

Page 11

tune in.

Vance Joy Nation of Two

BY ANGELINA KOLOSEY

J

akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

ust recently, Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy finally graced his fans with his second studio album “Nation of Two.” The album includes thirteen songs and features two singles called, “Lay It On Me and “We’re Going Home,” which came out back in 2017.

The album revolves around the themes of love and life.

Although this is Joy’s second album, success can be expected as his previous album received enormous success, featuring some well known tracks including “Riptide” and “Red Eye.”

This album can most likely be enjoyed by indie alternative music fans.

Joy is a fairly new artist and got to collaborate with well known songwriter and musician, Dan Wilson, for “Nation of Two.” The first song featured on the album is titled, “Call If You Need Me,” and sets up a representative start to the love theme.

Some songs mostly consist of mellow and light tunes, such as “I’m With You.” While others present more jovial and exciting ukulele and banjo rhythms that peak in the chorus in “We’re Going Home and “Take Your Time.”

There are also songs that portray Joy’s childhood memories on a deeper level such as, “Little Boy,” a song about when Joy fell off of his bike as a child.

As you listen to the album the passion that went into it is evident, as every line relates to the themes of love and life on a deep and detailed level.

The lyrics represent a lot of meaning as you listen to them and paint scenarios and stories in your head.

My personal favorite tracks are “Saturday Sun,” as well as “Call If You Need Me.” “Saturday Sun” includes a more uplifting tune and puts me in a positive mood whenever I give it a listen. “Call If You Need Me” has a beautiful melody, I like to listen to it whenever I study or just need to relax.

As iTunes puts it, “Vance’s romantic love songs feel like poetry poured into pop-music castings, overflowing with intimacy and tuneful tenderness.”

Mushroom Promotions

 Nation of Two was released on February 23, 2018.

A

Skip to: “Saturday Sun”

SHIRT Pure Beauty

BY JORDAN BLAIR

jblair.gazette@gmail.com

Q

Discogs

 Pure Beauty was released on February 9, 2018.

B

Skip to: “Snowbeach”

ueens-rapper Shirt just released his newest album “Pure Beauty” on February 9, 2018. Not yet well-known, Shirt offers his listeners a relaxed vibe as they become entranced in his music.

After dropping out as a senior in highschool, Shirt began playing gigs, making art and selling clothes for a living. As he continued to work and become more popular, Shirt was soon accepted into an art school in Switzerland.

Despite his publicity stunt in 2014 when he created a false New York Times website, which has to do with writing an article hyping up his music, Shirt has much more to offer his listeners. “Pure Beauty” is his first full

album released since signing with Third Man Records, and has a total of 11 songs waiting to be heard.

Shirt is sort of a jack of all trades, and he has been in many areas of music as well as controversy with the New York Times scandal.

It later became apparent that the whole NYT situation was in order to convey a deeper message, and Shirt had been attempting to get his feet off the ground ever since.

The most popular is “Flight Home” is the only song with lyrics currently released, entwining dry humor within a song about returning home.

Contrary to his music, Shirt is known to be a kind and lovable man within Third Man Records. Shirt is the first rapper to be signed into the label by Jack White, and copies of his album “Pure Beauty” were released later.

The vibe that Shirt’s songs give off are known to be portraying reality, but they are also done in a relaxed tone.

Shirt isn’t knew to the production of music as he’s produced his own in the past. Shirt has even collaborated with artists such as Insane Clown Posse and Black Milk.

My go to song in Shirt’s album “Pure Beauty” is his song “Snowbeach” as it envelops listeners into a calm, serene state.

I would rate the album a B overall. Most songs have been well-produced and portray their own message, while one or two have more potential.

I would definitely recommend listening to Shirt’s songs outside of this album for the overall feeling they give and for understanding more of his life story.

Fall Out Boy Mania

BY KAVANA GONUR

A

gfinn.gazette@gmail.com

ttracted to Fall Out Boy’s songs such as “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark” and “Centuries,” I chose their latest album since I thought my experience would be similar.

I was worried because I had heard Fall Out Boy’s taste in songs had changed, but to my pleasant surprise, the album does not disappoint.

The American rock band has always been a popular, and their newest album, “Mania” definitely lives up to that expectation.

“Mania” is a follow-up to their 2015 album, titled “American Beauty/American Psycho.” While the album itself received mixed

reviews from the public, it debuted at the number one spot on the US Billboard 200.

Overall, the music is extremely intense, given that the album is more pop than it is rock. It’s the perfect album to listen to when you feel like getting your feelings out or if you just feel like dancing.

As for the title of the album itself, while the song’s music seemed very full, the music didn’t have as many pace changes as I would have liked to. But again, the strength of the voices and the lyrics made up for it.

My personal favorite would undoubtedly be “The Last of The Real Ones.” I especially related with the lyrics of the songs and its themes, and I would definitely play that on repeat while I’m alone in my room.

“Church” had a very different, much more

salvation-like vibe that made it stand out from the other songs. I appreciated its uniqueness from the other songs in the album.

While the background music of “Sunshine Riptide” seemed very upbeat, the lyrics clearly said otherwise. This juxtaposition of the two elements made the song all the more better.

I’d say that the most pop of the songs would be “Hold Me Tight or Don’t.” It’s generally light-noted background and song made it seem like a typical song I’d listen to in my car on the way to work.

Overall, the album is very intense with multiple different emotions packed within it.

I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, but not everyone may think favorably of the album, especially due to the intensity.

Genius

 Mania was released on Janruary 19, 2018.

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Skip to: “The Last of The Real Ones”

March 2018

Page 12

current.

Mixtape - Sunday Morning Classics

Artist of the Month Lauryn Goodwin 1) What is the piece of art that you’re most proud of?

I think my self portrait I’m working on right now. It makes me really proud of my progress in the class-

BY EMILY HANSEN

es so far.

ehansen.gazette@gmail.com

1. “Glitter” by Tyler, the Creator Who doesn’t want to feel shiny like glitter every now and then?

2. “Electric” by Alina Baraz ft. Khalid Celebrating romance and emotion, this is the perfect song to listen to with that special someone.

3. “Rogues” by Hippy Sabotage Sometimes it feels good to let go and go a little rogue.

4. “Left Hand Free” by Alt-J This song epitomizes the easy-going feeling of spring break.

5. “We’re Going Home” by Vance Joy After a long day of sunbathing and adventuring, this is the best song to relax to.

Gazette photo /EMILY HANSEN

2) What is your inspiration for making art?

I think my friends and cat are my biggest influences on me when I’m sketching.

3) Do you want to continue to do art after high school?

I think it will be more of a hobby after high school, but hope to make my skills stronger for the next year.

Compiled by Bella Hamilton

Follow Friday

Instagram

Follow @e_wernn for fun, interesting, and friendly content. You won’t be disappointed!

Compiled by Kennedy Healy

FRESHMAN 2022 v s.

VS. SENIOR 2018 Whould you rather go skiiing or snowboarding?

Max: “Snowboarding” Gunnar: “Skiing” Would you rather watch Netflix or read a book?

Max: “Netflix” Gunnar: “Netflix”

Gazette photo /Dylan Rowe

Gunnar Vidaurri, GBHS freshman

Gazette photo /Dylan Rowe

Max Johnson, GBHS senior Compiled by Dylan Rowe

March 2018

Page 13

we’ve been branded.

Domination of

Gazette Photo /EMILY HANSEN

 Hydro Flasks are among the most popular product for GBHS students to be carrying around.

Brands

Gazette Photo /EMILY HANSEN

 Pura Vida jewlery catches the eye and gives off an adventurous vibe.

Students share their views on popular and hip products

BY EMILY HANSEN

ehansen.gazette@gmail.com

F

rom the distinctly colorful metal Hydro Flasks to the tiny horseshoe-shaped Lululemon logo, brands are infiltrating the Granite Bay High School campus. Businesses use psychology to make their products more appealing to their target market. Depending on the business’ success, this determines which brands will become a trend, and which will fall behind.

Logos can be found everywhere on campus.

Jansport backpacks, Nike shoes, Pura Vida bracelets and The North Face jackets are in abundance. These brands aren’t necessarily the only high quality options in their respective markets, but it’s the branding that draws teenagers to them.

Marketing specialists manipulate aspects of their product to increase brand loyalty. Logos quickly turn into status symbols. For teens, donning these symbols is a simple way to fit in with the rest of their peers.

This isn’t to say every student gives into the social pressure of brands.

“I purchase my clothes based on what fits me best or the styles that I like, but I don’t usually pay attention to brands,” senior Ashley Milne said.

Trends, however, can be very influential.

“I definitely have purchased things just because it was trendy,” senior Ethan Ammatuna said. “When denim came back into style and people were wearing denim jackets, I went out and bought a denim jacket just because that was the trend.”

The popularity extends beyond just clothing.

“I bought (a Hydro Flask) because everybody else had it,” junior Shelby Acker said.

The proximity of stores and the brands they carry also plays a role in which items will be popular on campus. If a brand can only be found online, for example, it is less likely to become a popular trend. When a brand is carried in multiple locations, such as those that are sold at department stores, it increases the chance of that brand succeeding as a trend.

“I usually get my clothes at stores like Nordstrom and they usually have the latest trends, so I probably give into them a lot,” Milne said.

Psychology can actually determine and pre-

dict trends. Apple’s use of color and design in their products is meant to evoke sophistication and simplicity. Consumers are drawn to their products because they see it as a way to exude those qualities themselves.

There are five categories to which a company can cater: excitement, competence, ruggedness, sophistication and sincerity. Colors, slogans and advertisements are all utilized to give customers a particular conception of a product.

Pura Vida’s colorful jewelry, for example, markets towards customers interested in the “excitement” category. The Costa Rican name gives an adventurous edge to the brand, making it popular with people who love travel.

The Hydro flask brand is aimed towards the “competence” category. The stainless steel water bottle is marketed as being dependable and practical.

Despite the social desire to conform to trends, many students see their choices of brands as a way to express their individuality.

“I like the social aspect of clothing,” Ammatuna said. “I like being able to make a statement, especially through the different kinds of clothes that different brands offer.”

COLUMBIA PICTURES

Rated: PG By: Keyuri Pillay kpillay.gazette@gmail.com

peter rabbit: C+

he big screen adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s beloved children book characters were overly portrayed as animals that could talk.

The combination of CGI characters with actors was somewhat off putting and took away from the enjoyment of seeing the movie.

Also, the mere fact that this idea was given the greenlight to be produced in the first place is surprising. The movie did not do the books any justice.

From the two minute trailer released earlier in the year, the entire plot of the movie was almost foretold.

“Peter Rabbit” was an extremely predictable storyline and was definitely a cinematic flop worth forgetting.

To many young children under the age of eight, this movie may be appealing with it’s low charm and cheesy one-liners.

Children may be able to find the movie appealing with the occasional laugh-out-loud moments and the amusing antics.

This will probably not be the go-to choice for an adult wanting to watch a movie but as a family movie, “Peter Rabbit” serves its purpose of being entertaining and fun.

Despite some obvious faults, it is a bearable movie that has an amazingly talented star cast.

Rose Bryne brings her “A” star quality acting and shines bright in this move accompanied with the voice talents of Daisy Ridley and Margot Robbie.

The voice talents of “Peter Rabbit” definitely contributed to this movie being appealing to the younger generation.

There is no doubt that these actors are talented, but even the most talented actors cannot strengthen a weak script.

The inadequate scripting and lack of conviction to the beloved children’s books definitely hurts the reputation of “Peter Rabbit”, even though it did appeal to children. Easy chuckles are in no way a substitute for substance and authentic charm.

Overall, the movie did not meet my expectations, and I was definitely disappointed with the cinematic adaptation.

I

COLUMBIA PICTURES

n this action packed movie featuring entertainment’s biggest stars like Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas, a group of high school students find themselves trapped in a video game.

The video game, “Jumanji”, brings a forest-like environment to life, with different real life characters trapped within.

In the beginning, I found the plot layout to be both interesting and confusing.

Though an action movie, it was evident that certain scenes were exaggerated in efforts to create a better viewing experience. I thought this hurt the development of the plot.

At times, parts in scenes showed little correlation to previous scenes.

However, the surplus of action and comedy distracted me from recognizing this problem.

Throughout the course of the movie, humor resulted in smiles and laughter from those watching.

Movie star and comedian, Kevin Hart, lightened the mood during critical parts in the movie.

It is also important to note that “Jumanji” is two hours long. I found the scenes leading up to the climax to be very repetitive. Much of that has to do with the emphasis on action and adventure, which lengthened the movie time.

During these scenes of extra and often lengthy action, I noticed both myself and others distracted as the scenes began to grow tiring to watch.

Also portrayed throughout the movie was a deeper meaning of high school students, their bodies, social status and stereotypes. The characters in the movie were high school kids that all held different body types, images, strengths and weaknesses.

The entire cast did a fantastic job of indirectly emphasizing various issues that take place in teenagers’ daily lives. However, for both young children and elders, the storyline and message won’t be very relatable.

On the flip-side, if you enjoy action and comedy, you will also enjoy the layout of this movie.

Overall, “Jumanji” was a fun, action packed film. Though it had its flaws, the comedy and positive message made the two hours worth the watch.

Rated: PG-13

By: Akhil Shah ashah.gazette@gmail.com

jumanji welcome to the jungle: B-

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Page 14

film.

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BULLITT ENTERTAINMENT

alking into the theater to see “Winchester,” I was especially intrigued because of the locality lure that the movie brings. The real “Winchester Mansion” is located in San Jose, and is now a tourist attraction it is dubbed as the ‘Most Haunted Mansion’ in the U.S. The sheer fact that “Winchester” is a real place and is based on true events made me interested to see if it would be in documentary form or a true hide- behind-your-blanket film.

The movie takes place in 1906, and follows two main characters, one of which is the builder of the “Winchester” haunted mansion, Sarah Winchester.

The other is a doctor who is visiting the house to determine if “Winchester” is mentally fit to run the company. This investigation is held due to Ms. Winchester’s beliefs about the house being haunted. Ms. Winchester built her house so large in order to put the people killed by her companies guns at rest.

“Winchester” tells the story of why Sarah Winchester built the mansion to be so large and unexplainable, and gives watchers the experience of ghost haunting gone wrong.

Sounds interesting right? You’d be wrong to say that what followed behind the first five minutes was a good movie. It was rather one with a bad plot. It also features a fatal love story on the back burner, which leads to an interesting conflict and eventually a twist.

The film had a lot going for it, mostly because of the fact that it is a real place but also because of the fact that the paranormal activity shown could actually have happened.

Instead what watchers got was a run-of-the-mill horror movie, with its fair share of predictable jump scares and a ‘villain,’ who terrorizes those who are in the house.

What the movie did provide was decent cinematography, acting and an amazing plot twist towards the end that almost made the movie worth while.

If you like watching safe, not-so-scary movies, this is the one for you. The film gives an interesting historical back story, while playing it safe and hitting all the markers for a mediocre horror movie.

Rated: PG-13 By: Dylan Rowe drowe.gazette@gmail.com

winchester: B-

March 2018

MARVEL STUDIOS

Rated: PG-13 By: Bruce Russell brussell.gazette@gmail.com

black panther: B-

ew films have received as much widespread hype as “Black Panther.”

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) 18th movie has broken multiple box office records and garnered acclaim from critics and fans alike, its cultural ramifications are much more important.

The film is set in the fictional African country of Wakanda, a technologically advanced nation due to the presence of the precious metal Vibranium.

“Black Panther’s” narrative follows Wakanda’s recently crowned king T’Challa, who must defend his reign against the opposing Erik Killmonger.

The film’s cast did an excellent job of bringing Wakanda to life. Chadwick Boseman nails his role as T’Challa while the multiple female leads have an equally impressive performance. However, the largest standout is Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger.

“Black Panther’s” antagonist is nothing like the stereotypical movie villain; Killmonger does not want to “take over the world” or enact revenge for the protagonist’s wrongdoings. Killmonger instead has a simple goal: he wants to share Vibranium with the rest of the world, notably to help out disenfranchised people like himself. His moral philosophy is so plausible that an argument could be made on whether he is truly an antagonist.

A brutal, up-close hand to hand brawl is impressive, uniting the film’s respect of longheld African traditions with its sleek, modern visions of Afrofuturism.

It’s a shame the third act battle leaves much to be desired. Unlike the realistic brawl or the awesomely choreographed car, the CGI-filled climactic fight feels weightless and cartoony by comparison.

Luckily, the movie ends with proper closure, signifying the end of T’Challa’s first chapter and his upcoming return in “Avengers: Infinity War” in May. “Black Panther” is a celebration of black culture, one showcasing a perspective of African achievement while introducing intriguing, thought-provoking questions meant to challenge its action-seeking audience.

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WARNERS BROS. PICTURES

t’s no mystery that Clint Eastwood would have interest in a true-life thriller portraying Alek, Spencer and Anthony’s brave actions on the fateful train ride.

Centered around a terrorist, a train and three brave friends, “15:17 to Paris” had all the elements and plot potential to be a successful and powerful movie.

Two of the main characters, Spencer and Alek, want to help their country by joining the military and get their chance when they board the fated train.

“15:17 to Paris” had a decent premise, but the execution of the movie could have been better.

The director, Clint Eastwood, in my opinion, made a bold cinematic decision casting the actual men who stepped in to protect the 55 passengers on the European train. It kept the authenticity of the heroism and terror during the unexpected attack.

However, watching the incident play out on the big screen didn’t pan out to meet the rollercoaster of emotions that were expressed in real life.

The sentiment and thought were there, but the overall execution could have been better.

The movie was simple but clear, and the heroes in this movie were perceived to be a group of friends in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What made the heroes stand out from anyone else was that they had the courage to act in a high stakes situation.

Overall I thought the movie was a well intentioned tribute to American heroism. It maintained the authenticity of the circumstance and was a well done dramatic reconstruction of the original situation.

Although some of the acting can be considered amateurish and the plot was slow, the movie reaches the climax of Clint Eastwood’s world-renowned cinematic skills which compensated for any kind of criticism that comes before.

My favorite part of the whole movie would have to be the remarkable action sequence that truly encapsulates the sheer terror and heroism that shook the world to its core.

“15:17 to Paris” brought a sense of authenticity and breathless excitement that Hollywood has been lacking for a long time. The true portrayal of the epitome of American heroism makes “15:17 to Paris” a must watch of this year.

Rated: PG-13 By: Lauren Stargardter lstargardter.gazette@gmail.com

the 15:17 to paris: B

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Page 15

film.

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SKYDANCE MEDIA

he movie “Annihilation” is a thought provoking Sci-fi and Horror mash-up. What differentiates “Annihilation” from other movies of the same genre is its female centric cast led by a very strong performance from Natalie Portman.

Portman shows off an impressive emotional range. As her character encounters repeated challenges and hardships, she remains strong and resilient – a good example to young women.

I think the movie premise is incredibly creative and offers a refreshing switch from the recurring storylines within the Sci-Fi genre.

After a meteor containing alien life lands in a national park, a mysterious wall expands over the isolated landscape. The government keeps the phenomenon secret, but continuous expedition teams enter “The Shimmer” and never return.

Lena (Natalie Portman) is thrown into the investigation and enters the shimmer with a team of four other female scientists to discover its cause.

The movie is heavily filmed on the green screen with a healthy amount of CGI. Despite this, the cinematography is beautiful with some breathtaking shots.

This film should definitely be avoided by squeamish people as it has some pretty brutal scenes.

These disturbing scenes forced me to ponder the essence of good and evil and how humanity perceives our impact on the world.

I left the theater feeling grossed out and uneasy, but the longer I ponder the film and its significance, the more I appreciate its thematic genius.

The film demands you to consider your own beliefs and their merit.

To enjoy the film, you must keep an open mind and be willing to think about the questions it poses about human society and self-destruction.

If you expect to see a shoot-em-up, blindly violent Sci-Fi film, you will be sorely mistaken and probably regret spending the $10.

I recommend watching the movie with friends so that you can discuss the film’s big ideas rather than wallowing in horror at some of the more disturbing scenes.

I believe the film will be a surprising success, especially among Sci-Fi nerds and thoughtful viewers. “Annihilation” provides a refreshing women-led escape from the basic ideologically and pervasive violence of current Hollywood films.

Rated: R By: Elliott Hyman ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

annhilation: A-

March 2018

Page 16

March 2018

junior prom.

Dress Relief:

Prom Style Guide Prom essentials lipstick, heels, fake eyelashes and a dress pictured.

BY ANGELINA KOLOSEY

I

akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

t’s that time of the year again! Junior Prom is coming up and that means it’s also time to start looking for the perfect Junior Prom outfit.

For Granite Bay High School junior Michela Smith, the process of going in to look for a dress was thoughtful and smooth.

“I went in knowing it is hard to find a dress, so I tried to be pretty calm and not be super stressed about finding one,” said Smith.

When looking for a dress it’s definitely important to relax and take your time, this will result in finding the perfect dress for you.

For Jayden Taylor and Cate Wolfe, also juniors at GBHS, the goal was to find a unique and special outfit. “ I was looking for a dress that was different from everyone else’s,” Taylor said.

Unique dresses seem to be something every girl hopes to find, “I wanted to find one that I loved, but no one else had,” Wolfe said.

For most guys the Junior Prom attire needs tend to be less extravagant than a girl’s wishes, yet there are some pairs that choose to coordinate their outfits in some way.

“I think coordinatinating a little bit is good, but it doesn’t have to be perfectly matching,” Smith said.

Coordinating just even a little can include similar colors for the tie on a suit and a dress or a boutonniere and corsage that match.

Taylor also agreed that coordinating is beneficial, “I do think it’s important because if you’re going as a pair to a dance you would want to wear the same colors so people can tell who’s with who.”

Many start looking for their dream prom dress by having at least a couple desirable characteristics in mind.

“I was only looking for something that would

be comfortable and flowy, in a simple design,” Angeladco said when explaining what specific characteristics she was looking for in a dress.

Setting up a couple of standards before looking for a dress can be beneficial in narrowing down which ones to start looking through.

Some people choose to not set up standards and have an open mind when looking for a dress as well.

“I didn’t have any specific dress ideas in mind so I was pretty open to all different kinds,” Smith said.

An open mind provides the opportunity to find many different styled dresses that specifically stand out to an individual.

Although every year the dance floor is full of beautiful and distinct dresses, there are often certain trendy styles seen more than once or twice.

“I am expecting to see low back and high neck (dresses) and also many two piece dresses,” Angeladco said of what styles she think will be trendy this year.

Two piece dresses will be a trend this year as Smith also said, “I definitely think that two piece dresses will be very popular, or dresses with slits.”

The frustration of not being able to find the right dress quickly is definitely normal in this process.

If someone were struggling to find a prom dress, Taylor would advise them to look at many different stores, even if you don’t expect them to have cuter dresses. “Just try because you never know,” Taylor said.

The prom dress hunt can be a little irritating at times, but make sure that you keep calm and find a dress that will help you be happy and confident at the dance.

“Don’t stress too much about finding the ‘perfect dress,” Wolfe said. “Just find one that suits you (and one) you would love to wear.”

Gazette Illustrations /MACKENZIE BROWN