Loma Linda Academy Mirror '13-'14 I1

Loma Linda Academy Newszine | Established 1940s | Volume 81 Issue 1 | Sept./Oct. 2013

Sept. / Oct. 2013

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Volume 81 Issue 1 1

Handshake & Senior Entrance

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Volume 81 Issue 1

Sept. / Oct. 2013

22 August 2013

Table of Contents Editor in Chief Shawn Weerawardana

4 Editorial

Shawn Weerawardana

Reporters

5 Fire at Pine Springs Ranch

Julian Aveling Abry Gittens Shawn Weerawardana Joyce Zheng Elijah Hickman

Abry Gittens

6 Meeting New Faces

Joyce Zheng

8 Class Officers 10 Franz Hall Update Julian Aveling

Photos by: Danelle Taylor Johnston Shawn Weerawardana

Mirror Staff

Publisher Robert Skoretz

Sponser Danelle Taylor Johnston

Contact Loma Linda Academy 10656 Anderson St. Loma Linda, CA 92354 Mirror@lla.org

14 Those Pay-cuts Though Shawn Weerawardana 16 Sports Contributions

Elijah Hickman

18 Campus Ministries/SA/

Yearbook Staff/Film

12 Five Ways to Make Your Life a Little Easier

Abry Gittens

13 Briefs

Sept. / Oct. 2013

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editorial

Editorial

C’mon guys...

Really?

You’re killing me. Everywhere I

go on this campus I am guaranteed to see trash! The sad part is that it isn’t just at the end of the day! I come in for zero period, trash, end of lunch, trash, after school, trash.

Don’t get me started about after school. I mean I get it. I’m a student here too. You may not always have time to throw away trash. Things happen—but really? It’s gotten really bad and it needs to stop.

Do you know how many trash cans we have on campus? We have over sixty trash cans on campus not including the ones in teacher’s rooms and bathrooms. So using 4

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this information, you mean to tell

ANYTHING, let me know. Just

me that during the course of your

take a second and look around, look

day you don’t pass one of these trash

and see if you see any trash. If you

cans? Do you really mean to tell me

do, please pick it up and throw it

that when you have trash, you can’t

away. Please. Make this place a better

find a trash can to throw it away in?

place to go to school. Yes, do that in

Instead, you just throw it away on

other ways too, but if you physically

the floor? NO! Please find a trash

make the school better, even in the

can! For goodness sakes find a trash

aspect of aesthetics, it automatically

can and throw away your trash.

becomes an even better place to be.

I have literally seen people that leave trash, with a trash can two feet away from them...TWO FEET! For years now the school, all the teachers, parents and multiple students, have tried to fix this issue.

Yet, it’s 2013 and the problem is just as bad, if not worse, than when it started. So how can we fix this. I am asking you straight up; what do we do? Please if you have Sept. / Oct. 2013

By: Shawn Weerawardana

Fire at Pine Springs Ranch

Community

Fire at Pine Springs Ranch causes damage that cuts close to home.

to hear about the damages to the

at all. The camp store had been

camp. As soon as it was safe, campers

destroyed, along with several other

from previous years rushed up the

buildings in the camp ground.

mountain to see what they could

Once the damage was

to do to lend assistance. Volunteers

accounted for, camp counselors

worked to clear out debris and

were left to pick up the pieces.

find other ways to help. Older

Fortunately, they were not alone.

campers created pages online, such

This statement was released by

as an account on wepay.com, as

the camp after the incident, “We

campers from past and present

thank God that none of the staff,

appealed to their friends and

campers or animals were injured.

through the San Jacinto Mountains

family to help the camp that had

But the camp will be closed until

and into Pine Springs Ranch (PSR),

given them so many good times.

extensive repairs and rebuilding

On July 15, the Mountain Fire tore

a Southeastern California Conference

Heather Grable, an ‘13

are finished, and we will need your

alumni and the older sister of

help to rebuild. The largest costs

junior Heidi Grable, was on the

will be covered by insurance, but

had to evacuate. The journey was slow

mountain working at PSR during

many smaller expenses, such as

going because of the amount of cars

the time of the fire. Luckily, she

environmental restoration, personal

going down the small winding road

came down the mountain safely.

losses and facility improvements will

summer camp. About 179 visitors

on the side of the mountain. Campers

Students at LLA have fond

require additional donations... It

memories of Pine Springs Ranch.

is estimated that no functions will

Some may remember going up for

be possible at the camp for some

with nothing but the clothes on their

Bible Camp during 7th and 8th

time, possibly several months.�

back, due to the extreme smoke.

grade or during their junior or senior

and counselors had to leave the camp

Currently, PSR is closed until

year. Other students may remember

further notice. As they work to

in 1961, has a long-standing legacy

the food from the cafeteria or

get back on their feet, we can

in the Adventist church. From their

maybe during summer camp when

all say a preyer that they will get

summer camps, to hosting retreats

all the campers lined up in front

back to where they once were.

for schools and churches year-round,

of the flagpole. During this whole

PSR has done a lot for servicing

ordeal, people have really banded

countless amounts of people. As an

together to show support for their

unfortunate consequence of the fire,

beloved Pine Springs Ranch.

The 480-acre facility, purchased

all these activities have been halted.

During a brief inspection the

News traveled quickly and soon

day after the fire, the home of the

people all around heard about the

camp facility manager and his family

tragic fire. Local churches joined

had been burned to the ground. The

together in prayer as they awaited

sewage plant was unable to work Sept. / Oct. 2013

By Abry Gittens

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Meeting New Faces Starting on August 22nd, Loma Linda Academy ushered in a brand new 2013-2014 school year.

God and we have the same goal.”

Speaking of cultural backgrounds,

for high school students every week.

Victoria Pacheco (10) and

LLA has two new Chinese

Mariam Jenkins (10) are both

international students this semester:

sophomores. Jenkins loves music;

Yichen (Peter) Wang (10) and Yuchen

She loves to sing and she likes to

(Jim) Yang (9). As a Freshman, it

laugh and talk. She went to Redlands

is Yang’s first year in the United

Adventist Academy before she came

States. Although still struggling for

to LLA. She has always known LLA

language barriers, he has already made

and Loma Linda University (LLU),

Some changes on campus

include the construction of the new library and the planned demolition

(Yuchen Yang)

of Franz Hall. The most significant

(Mariam Jenkins)

difference is that many new students

many friends in school. According

since both of her aunt and uncle

joined the school and two teachers

to Yang, his friends are willing to

went to LLU. She said, “People

joined the faculty. Among the

help him with his classes. He loves

have strong and long friendships.”

transfer students, eighteen of them

sports and is an excellent swimmer.

are in the freshmen class, and the

Yang is also greatly interested in golf

School. She likes sports and would

other three classes each have four

and looks forward to joining the

like to join the girls volleyball and

new students. Erica Rantung is the

school golf team. After two weeks of

basketball team. She has a very open

new English as a Second Language

studying in LLA, he has experienced

mind and enjoys helping people and

(ESL), geography and Bible teacher.

a completely different type of

experimenting new things. What

The school also has Lucio Camacho

school system compared to that in

is unique about Victoria is that she

as the new athletic director.

China. “In China I used to have all

hangs out with a lot of celebrities;

classes with exactly the same group

since she has friends whose parents

about new people in campus. They

of people.” But in LLA, he meets

are producers of TV series including

may have different personalities,

different people in each period. He

Austin and Ally, Vampire Diaries,

specialities and cutural backgrounds.

also added, “ Here I have P.E. class

The Secret Life of the American

However, just as Rantung said,

almost everyday.” In China only one

Teenager, True Blood, and Pretty

“In LLA, we are serving the same

or two P.E. class periods are provided

Little Liars. Dr. Sandiford is her

It is interesting to get to know

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Pacheco went to Providence High

student life

favorite teacher. Pacheco enjoys

to handle all classes. She loves the

also loves the food, especially

Sandiford’s class very much because

diversity of the students, and she

Asian food for every Wednesday.

she thinks his style of teaching is

said, “I grow as I teach.” Rantung

very unique and self-explanatory.

also suggested some effective

loving the school. “Everyone is so

ways for foreign students to learn

fun to talk to and it’s so easy to

ESL and Bible classes as her part-time

English. “Learn through daily basis,”

make new friends,” said Jenkins.

job for the last school year. This year,

She said, “One helpful way is to

Erica Rantung actually taught

she

communicate with native speakers.”

All interviewees found themselves

“I love how we are so connected like a community,” said

The new athletic director, Lucio Camacho previously worked for Mesa Grande Academy for 16 years. Camacho said that LLA has very nice facilities as well as good (Erica Rantung)

sports programs.He also wanted to work with Gary Eggers. This year Camacho’s goal is to “continue

becomes a full-time teacher. Rantung

moving things forward,” and “keep

has an international background.

all the sportsmanship good.”

She graduated with a B.A. in Foreign Language (English) Education in

Throughout the interviews,

(Kasey Harry) Pacheco. She said that the school “makes you feel more at home.”

“LLA makes me feel welcomed,”

LLA cafeteria was favored by all

Taiwan in 2005. She obtained her

said Harry. Yang said that everyone

M.A. in Religious Education from

is very friendly. It can be seen

Andrews University in 2011. She

that all new students quickly

also completed the TESOL (Teachers

integrated into the new campus.

of English to Speakers of Other

by

Languages) certificate program

Joyce Zheng

through Anaheim University in 2013.

When Skoretz was looking for an ESL teacher, Rantung happened to have what the school was looking

(Lucio Camacho)

for. Rantung teaches four classes:

interviewees. “Pretty good! It’s better

ESL, Introduction to Christianity,

than La Sierra,” said Kasey Harry

Geography and History of Religion

(11), a new Junior from La Sierra

I & II. She said that she is thankful

Academy. Jenkins also showed her

for the opportunity to teach multiple

love for the school cafeteria. She

classes. She tries to balance her time

said, “I love the food.” Rantung Sept. / Oct. 2013

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Campus Leaders

2017

Freshmen Officers & Sponsors

2016

Sophomore Officers & Sponsors

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Sept. / Oct. 2013

student life

2015

Junior Officers & Sponsors

2014

Senior Officers & Sponsors

Sept. / Oct. 2013

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Franz Hall Update ‘What is happening with Franz Hall?’

This is a question that has been

that the first option was not cost

through Franz Hall to North

effective. The second option is

Hall, adding that while she would

unfeasible because the plans for

prefer it not to be torn down, she

a new building have not been

understood that it is necessary.

finalized, and imposing a constraint before then would be restrictive.

Skoretz stated that the school’s

Franz Hall also contained the Library which has been temporarily moved into the heritage room.

asked by many students since

The new library is currently being

the plans for deconstruction

constructed within the four old former classrooms in West Hall.

were first revealed.

According to Mark Holm, vice

Franz Hall itself has a number

principal, the library is due to

of problems. Its foundation is old

be finished any day, possibly by

and the building needs structural

the time this is published. The

reinforcement. The school plans to begin main demolition around Christmas break, per the approval of the city, according to Robert Skoretz, principal.

Loma Linda’s Historical Commission, an advisory group to the city council, is not entirely agreeable to Franz Hall being torn down. The Historical Commission wishes Franz Hall to be memorialized in some way.

One suggestion is for the front third of Franz Hall to be saved and incorporated into a new building.

If that is not possible, the Historical Commission would like for a new building to have a facade that resembled old Franz Hall. Unfortunately Loma Linda Academy administration felt 10

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LLA students and staff Spring 2013

ideal plan would be for the new

cafeteria is still located on the north side of the building.

On a recent tour of the library,

building to be an auditorium, so

Holm explained that the library

high school students would no longer

will have, among other things: a

need to walk to Chan Auditorium,

combination of a study hall and

on the elementary campus.

computer lab room, as well as two

Even if the front third of the

smaller study rooms and special

building cannot be saved, plans are

UV ray blinds that will block

still being made to memorialize

sunlight and protect the books.

Franz Hall. Plans include making

Skoretz added, “I am sad to see

a detailed photographic record and

it [Franz Hall] go. I was a student

placing a memorial to Howard

there myself, but my duty to the

Franz at the northwest corner of

current students outweighs the

the Student Services Building.

sentimental value of the building.”

Student opinions on what is happening to Franz Hall were in general hopeful for the future.

Tahira Ashley, (12), recalled fond memories of having a shortcut Sept. / Oct. 2013

By Julian Aveling

School Life

Franz Hall now

Sept. / Oct. 2013

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5 Ways To Make Your Life A Little Easier High School is a rough time for anyone. Here are a few tips to make your experiences 1)Start the day off right Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast. Your brain needs food to keep running. It is true what

3) Get Involved

A great way to have fun

during the school year is to get involved with school activities.

If you’re a little shy and want to branch out, joining a club or trying out for a sport is a great way to meet new people and get out of your comfort zone a little. Just be careful not to pile too much on to your plate!

4) Follow the Rules

Not following the rules doesn’t

they say, breakfast really is the

make you cool. A simple way not

most important meal of the day.

to create unnecessary problems is to

2) Get your priorities straight

stick to the book. Whether it’s the dress code, or not parking in the visitors parking, doing what you are supposed to can make life a lot easier.

5) Devotionals

This is something that can be a struggle for some high school students. Between our friends, family, sports, and that great show on TV, we sometimes get a little too caught

It’s easy to get caught up in all

up. Don’t forget what’s important.

the things we have going on, but

It is easy to get distracted in the

don’t forget to spend time with

short-term fun, but don’t forget

God. He’ll always motivate you

about your long term success.

and keep you on the right path.

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Sept. / Oct. 2013

Extra

You dont know? Now you know

Sarah

28, 2013 Mica r e b h

Henderson, English teacher, has

Ch

begun the Graduate

arl

On Se

em pt

Certificate Program in

rmann was Her b o rn

d. l i h

es

h is .T

tc

Briefs

Mind, Brain, and Teaching at John Hopkins University.

The Last Of the 90s Kids!

This year will be the last year that

Go to the mirror

most of our students who were born in the 1990s will totally populate the school. After the incoming freshmen

r. is M

Herr

mann ’ s fir s

arrive, we will be in the midst of the kids of the new millenium.

website! www.llamirror.org

McDonalds opened in Loma Linda near the intersection of of Mountain View and Barton Rd. How do you feel about this? Let us know at llamirror.org/news at the brief called McLomaLinda on

A full list of clubs and their descriptions are on the mirror website!

Robert Skoretz, high school principal, has commenced his PhD in Practical Theology with an emphasis in Religious Education at Claremont Lincoln University.

the site.

Sept. / Oct. 2013

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Those Pay cuts Though!

Surprising pay cuts strike a chord with the community of LLA.

For many years, the school has

been the source of income for a countless number of students. At the start of this school year a limit of two hours of student work per teacher

Pastor Skoretz said, "Due to

for myself, because where else am

lower enrollment this year, we have

I going to get it from you know? I

made school-wide budget cuts in as

can’t depend on my parents forever.”

many areas as possible. Fortunately,

Other students, like Josh Stange

we did not have to lay off any faculty

(11), did not mind the hours cut.

at Loma Linda Academy. However,

He says, “Well, the only reason is

we did need to cut back the amount

that I’m fine with it, I don’t really

of hours of paid student labor given

need to get paid. I just like to help

to each teacher, from five to two

out Ms. Elsmann. Other than that

hours per week. We realize this

I'm fine with being able to just

is difficult for both students and

earn some money. I mean that’s

teachers and we are continuing to

a gift from the school, they don't

hunt for ways we might be able to

HAVE to pay us, but they do.”

restore some of the lost hours. In

workers were asked to work a

was set in place. It left many students

maximum of two hours a week.

searching for other sources of income.

Students had the option to continue

LLA had cut student’s work

working for just the two hours or

hours to two hours a week at

working for community service hour.

the beginning this school year in

Students were, and still are, not

attempt to save the school’s money,

allowed to switch over to community

as opposed to the prior limit of five hours. Enrollment went down from the expected 460 students to this year’s enrollment of approximately 440. There was a budget for this year based on more students than are actually here, and the pay cuts to student workers were placed in order to reduce expenses in order to balance the budget. This cut happened so suddenly that students were at the crossroads as to whether they should continue working or to quit their jobs.

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Due to these changes, student

service hours once their work hours the meantime we appreciate those

for the week are complete. They

who have been able and willing to

must choose to do one or the other.

help teachers on a volunteer basis."

The whole situation had become

Valerie Lopez (11) explained, “Instead of getting paid more I work

a problem that affected the student

for community service.” For a clearer

community at LLA. Jordan Roberson

example, if a student had worked

(12) said, “I think it has affected me

during fourth period, and this

but in ways that don’t necessarily

student worked his or her two hours

affect me now. Like since this has

for the week, once this was done,

happened I have a cap on how

he or she does not have the option

much money I can make, and like

to switch over to Work Education

I’m not gonna lie, I need money

Experience or community service

Sept. / Oct. 2013

School Life hours. If the student continues to

full five hours students had before

work for pay he or she still had to

but to 200 minutes per week.

go to work until the period is over and was not allowed to work.

The change had not only affected

For now this will have to work.

But starting on July, 1, 2013, the minimum wage in California will be

students but teachers as well. Many

increased from $8 an hour to $9. And

teachers are behind on grading and

even after this happens, 18 months

it affected the way they spend their

later, the minimum wage will rise

time. Students in general are noticing

to $10. These raises in minimum

grades on PowerSchool are appearing

wage will seriously affect the student

later than usual. These appear to

labor budget in the following years

be the consequences not having

to come. But for now we will have

the availability of their workers at

to make due with what we have, and

various times during the week.

students seem, for the time being,

Valerie Lopez said, “ I don’t

happy with what has happened

think its fair, not only for students

in the end of this whole ordeal.

but for the teachers. It affects everybody. Less students helping

By: Shawn Weerawardana

with the work means more work for the teachers, and that affects grades and effectiveness in a sense I guess.�

This does not only affect workers at the high school, but also workers at both the elementary and junior high.

The LLA community was in

Do you ever find yourself out of the know on school events?

Not to worry, the mirror staff has your back!

Go visit... www.llamirror.org

distress, and many teachers and students were left in confusion as to what to do, until October came along. The administration had found some money in the budget that could be used. Obviously student labor had become a huge issue among us, so it was inevitable, that this money, at least some, would go to this cause.

The administration had a meeting with the faculty to discuss how to use the money that was found. What has been done is that the student labor budget has now been restored. Although not to the Sept. / Oct. 2013

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School Life

BEEP BEEP! Loma Linda Vollyball

Wins & Losses FROSH (freshmen/sophomore) As of Oct. 17 Wins 4 Losses 1

Junior Varsity (J.V.) As of Oct. 17 Wins 5 Losses 1 two scores are unknown Varsity As of Oct. 17 Wins 11 losses 3

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School Life

BEEP BEEP! Loma Linda football

Photos by: Diane Bradley

Wins & Losses Girls Flag Football As of Oct. 17 Girls Varsity Wins 7 Losses 0

Guys Flag Football As of Oct. 17 Guys Varsity Wins 7 Losses 1 Sept. / Oct. 2013

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Campus Leaders Campus Ministries

Student Association

Yearbook Staff

Film/Replay

Journalism/Mirror

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Sept. / Oct. 2013

Senior Coming Out

Sept. / Oct. 2013

9 September 2013

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Picnic/Beach Vespers

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Sept. / Oct. 2013

4 October 2013