APRIL 27, 2012
7
THE PROSPECTOR
K F r e m o n t Homestead MONta vista
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ALYA OMAR editor-in-chief
LAURA KAO features assistant
MICHELLE CHEUNG copy editor
While the IDC Exchange is seen as a thrilling experience, to seniors Jenn Amick, Grady Li and Delia Cannon their excursion to Fremont High School taught them that there is no place like home. Cannon said, “Fremont has a lot more students and a lot more space but it also feels a bit more disconnected. The teachers and administration are closer to the students here.” Cannon also noted that both schools are parallel in their school spirit and positivity towards learning. However, Li was taken aback by their unconventional rallies. “Everybody sits down at the rallies, and when something interesting happens, they stand up...but then they have to sit down again, so it was like a huge squatfest,” Li said.
Visiting Homestead sparked curiosity in senior Shona Hemmady regarding different aspects of other schools in the district as well as our own. Hemmady shadowed a friend at the Homestead IDC Exchange. Unlike typical IDC Exchanges, Homestead’s happened on its Pajama Day rather than on a rally day. “We actually didn’t go during a rally day, but it was pretty cool going on a normal day - though it was pajama day, so it was more comfy-feeling... [and] relaxed,” Hemmady said. Throughout the day, Hemmady noticed several distinctions between Homestead and Cupertino including Homestead’s much larger campus and their double block schedule. “The different classes were interesting.” Hemmady said.
When senior Rebecca Tso walked onto the Monta Vista campus as an IDC Exchange student, she came prepared for school as if it were any other day. Tso’s exchange day happened to take place on a regular day at Monta Vista. Tso described her impression of the school as big, open and inviting. However, she had some expectations that were not met. “Monta Vista is notorious for its cutthroat learning environment, and I didn’t get any of it from there,” Tso said. “The schools really aren’t that different - the teachers are just as caring and lovable, and the classroom atmosphere is just as friendly.” Her biggest takeaway from the exchange was that one should never believe in the myths of other schools until one sees the truth for oneself.
Five schools. 10,252 students. One district. The Fremont Union High School District. Separate points on a map that are intricately interconnected; the distance between each school bridged by the IDC program
gs are on the radar for future ars. The scope of this tournament eatly surpasses that of the IDC xchanges. Coordination and execution gatherings of this caliber will become a gnificant part of an IDC Commissioner’s le. Whether it is experiencing a differt school for one day or bringing hundreds of udents around the city together, IDC is quickly coming the glue that spans the length of the disct. It also is the glue that adheres each school to the oard of Trustees by forming the invaluable information nk between the two. There are notions and experiences that are universal students regardless of the high school they come from. It is e differences that give each school its distinct flavor, and IDC the tour guide to this world of diversity.
COMPILED BY CHRIS CAI