Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume V, Issue 2

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

October 14, 2011

German classes cut, Mandarin proposed By ERICK CASTRO and TY DEWES, Staff Reporters

Photo by Caroline Lempert

Junior Mikey Taylor has played in place of injured senior quarterback James Beekley and the Cherokees are 4-1.

Sequoia deals with injury as season continues at Woodside By JARRETT CROWELL Staff Reporter After months of hard work, the Sequoia football team is ready to play Woodside tonight, Oct. 14 at Woodside High School at 7 p.m. Sequoia, coming into the game 4-1, is looking to put another one in the win column and beat their cross town rival. The Sequoia and Woodside rivalry goes way back. Spanish teacher Cristelda Guillen, who graduated from Sequoia in 2001, remembered her days of the Woodside and Sequoia rivalry. “The Woodside and Sequoia football games were always a big deal. The orange vs. the purple and all the spirit. I always knew when Woodside was coming to play,” Guillen said. If this game has always been a big deal for the fans, imagine what the hype is for the players. Sophomore varsity football player Matt Jenkins really feels the tension building for the upcoming game. “People in the locker room have

Feature: Cinderella musical preview Page 3

been talking about it, and that is Taylor has really stepped up well and the game that everyone wants to filled the role. Also we’ve won two games already with me sitting out so I win most,” Jenkins said. Woodside, coming off a shaky think we can do great.” All players and fans alike were devyear last year (1-9) is looking to steal one away from the defending astated when Beekley was hurt but Lake Division champions. Sequoia Jenkins is still hopeful. “At first I thought it would be a rehad a great year last year and made it all the way to the championship ally hard obstacle to overcome,” Jenkins said. “And game before losing no to Willow Glen. “People in the locker room have although “We definately been talking about it, and that is one can fill the have a chance to go the game that everyone wants to shoes of Beekley, Mikey Taylor has to the champion- win most.” ship game again. —Matt Jenkins, stepped up well.” Beekley’s inThe team is looksophomore running back jury happened at ing very good,” the wrong time. Jenkins said. “Before I got injured, I had a chance The Cherokees however, are hindered by the injury of their star to get a scholarship and play football quarterback, senior James Beekley in college. Now coaches say that I can who tore his ACL in the first game walk on to their program and then of the year. The ACL is an impor- try to get a scholarship after my freshtant ligament in the knee and Beek- man year,” Beekley said. Walking on is ley will sit out the remaining games much harder and you are not guaranteed a scholarship.” of the season. With or without Beekley, the team “I think the team will do fine without me,” Beekley said. “Mikey will try to beat rival Woodside.

Entertainment: Trendsetters show off their style Page 6

The Sequoia IB program exposes students to the cultures of many other countries, with language programs such as Spanish, French, and German. Wait, scratch that. As of this year, German will not be offered. Sequoia and Gunn High School had been the last two schools on the Peninsula to still have a German class available to students, but this year Sequoia has cut German 1 class, and it will no longer be available for freshmen at Sequoia. “I think that for an IB school, it’s very sad that German is being cut,” said German teacher Claudia MeyerKispersky. “It is important for IB students to learn about many cultures.” According to IVP Lisa Gleaton, the cost for one class period is $22,000. Because of the low number of students in higher levels of German, the school is cutting the program completely. “A lot of kids want to take [German] and their parents want them to. The school is letting kids down,” said freshman Sarah Huber. The sophomores, juniors, and seniors taking German right now will be able to finish their last years of German and the program will be cut following their completion. The German club will still be active at Sequoia and they still plan to go to Germany in June. “My goal is really to keep German alive at Sequoia,” Meyer-Kispersky said. The phasing out of the German program at Sequoia has not had a major impact on the amount of students in Spanish and French. “It’s similar to where the classes were last year,” said Spanish teacher Edith Salvatore. “It might only end up being two or three kids extra [per class].” See LANGUAGE, page 2

76 students responded to a Facebook survey:

What new language do you wish Sequoia offered? 38% Italian 20% Mandarin

12% Russian 9 % Japanese 4% Latin

2

News

New T-DAP vaccine required In 2010, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that requires students to show yearly proof of vaccine against whooping cough within the first 30 days of schools. This new policy aims to prevent a new outbreak of this strain of pertussis in which over 9,000 cases were reported in California the previous year. Approx 620 students lacking this documentation were scheduled to be escorted off campus Mon. Sept. 26, until Sequoia was granted a deadline extending this cutoff date until. By this week, every single one of those students had shown proof of vaccination, thanks to the Sequoia Teen Wellness Center, which provided students with a vaccine clinic the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. —ANNA DAGUM

College field trip replaces F.A.D.

The freshmen class went on a college field trip Oct. 11 in lieu of the traditional Freshman Activities Day. Freshmen spent the day touring the campus of either UC Berkeley or Stanford. The trip replaced the icebreakers and teambuilders that previous freshman classes have spent a day on. This field trip is just one of the many efforts Sequoia is making to expose students to college and prepare them for their future.

“Over the last five years I definitely think Sequoia has increased its awareness about college,” history teacher Eric Kobrick said. In addition to the college field trip, teachers will play a video of Sequoia alumni one day a week instead of the usual announcements. “It seems like college awareness and preparation is being really amped up this year,” senior Lucia Bertero said. “I wish there was the college field trip when I was a freshman.” —SARINA GROSS

Homecoming week a success Sequoia’s 90s Spirit Week was a success. Seniors came in first for spirit points, after a close call with the junior class. The junior varsity football team won their game 21-0, varsity lost 1434. More than two hundred students came to the homecoming dance, and crowned seniors Santiago Ortega Isabel Colin as homecoming king and queen. At the homecoming rally, the dance team performed for the first time and the Sequoia choir sang the Star Spangled Banner. Sequoia also welcomed its new emcees, seniors Paige Richards, Eduardo Ochoa and Eric Watson. —LAYNE DIENER, ASB PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

Photo by Erick Castro

Sophmore Theresa Helseth is enrolled in the last German 2/3 class at Sequoia.

LANGUAGE (continued from page 1)

As one language is being cut, another is being proposed. Gleaton also said Mandarin class is being considered once again as an option for students to take. It was proposed at the end of last year, but with only 16 sign-ups, the school was unable to create a Mandarin class. Sophomore Nick Chang was one of the students who signed up for Mandarin. “I was a little disappointed,” he said. Chang is now enrolled in Spanish. However, the school had planned

to transport the interested students to Woodside in the morning via bus. Only one student chose to try this. After a scheduling error occurred, in which the bus did not show up after the class, the student chose to drop Mandarin. Sequoia is trying again this year to add Mandarin, hoping to get enough students to form a class. Despite the possibility of a Mandarin class at Sequoia, Chang said, “I would stay in the language I’m in right now because I wanted to take a language for all four years at high school”. Although the fate of the German program is set in stone, the addition of a Mandarin class remains in question.

Banking & You

Are you in high school or college? If so, which financial services are you using, if any? Do you have a checking account or savings account? Debit card or a credit card? Do you even know the difference? Sooner or later, you will have to know a little bit about banking and the different types of products and services that are out there. Why is that? • How will you store your money? In a sock? • How can you pay your bills? With cash…all the time? Obviously, that won’t work. You’ll need financial products and services sooner or later. You’re going to need a checking account, a debit card, online banking and a little bit of knowledge on how to use these services to pay your bills (paying via online transfer, check, etc.). And once you have these products and services, you’ll need some basic money skills and understanding on how they work and the guidelines you need to be aware of when using them. • Do you know how to check the balance in your account so you don’t write a check for more money than you have? If you don’t, you’ll be charged an overdraft fee and hurt your credit. • Did you know if you overdraw your debit card by just $1… you can be charged a $20 “overdraft fee!” Bang!

• Do you know which credit card is best for you (don’t just pick the one with the coolest gift)? Bang! Picking the wrong one can cost you thousands, literally! There are hundreds, even thousands, of other ways to makemistakes with your money. But however you may mess up, remember it’s always your money (or your parents’) AND your credit score that goes out the window. So what should you do? Start working through FoolProof right away! FoolProof is a fun online program that helps you understand the basics of bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, etcetera. You can work through just a single module on a topic, or several at a time. You choose… Module 4 – “Road Trip”, helps you understand all the banking details we’ve talked about. Module 6 – “Burning Money”, helps you set up a budget to get the most out of your money. Click the FoolProof link on Sequoia Federal Credit Union’s website, www.sequoiafcu.org, choose the program that is right for you (Solo, for instance, will let you “get ahead” on your own) and take control of your financial life right away. We hope this helps. Good luck, and please let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance!

530 El Camino Real, P.O. Box 5413, Redwood City (650) 366-7777

Serving employees and their families in the following districts: Redwood City Sequoia San Carlos Belmont Ravenswood Las Lomitas Menlo Park Portola Valley Woodside Canada College

Cinderella

feature

3 REBEKAH STEINER Cinderella

The glass slipper fits Sequoia well, as the drama program tries the musical Cinderella on for size this fall. The musical premiers Nov. 18-20.

By BOGART SANDOVAL Staff Reporter If you think that you know the Cinderella story, think again as Sequoia’s fall play will be showing on Nov. 18, 19, and 20. Director Danny Broome and Musical Director Othello Jefferson are working to make the best out of the singing and the pit orchestra. Choreographer Lauren Reibstein is making the dance for the play and Costume Designer Britt Broome is working endlessly to build an outstanding 70 costumes for the musical. This musical was planned last year. “We auditioned since the last week of August but we started the production about a year ago,” said Broome. The musical will include a lot of cool special effects, like fire out of mid-air and “walking through walls.” What makes this musical unique is that it is not the average Cinderella story where a glass slipper is lost and then found. Unlike Disney’s version of Cinderella, in which “everybody knows the godmother,” Broome said, this play includes excerpts from the Chinese Version of it: a long lost version of Cinderella. Don’t miss out on this one of a kind musical! JOLENE TORRES Chorus Is it hard to go to rehearsal after a long day of school? Well I get the pleasure of not having a seventh period, so its sort of relaxing to my brain in a way. I try to do my homework, but it doesn’t always work. But I try to relax; I’ve been trapped in classrooms all day long and I try to “release myself ”... before I go through anything more.

You won the lottery. What would you do with the money? Invest it for my family--because I’m practical. If you found out you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it? Cry for an hour, and for the next 23 hours I would try to figure out how to make my name a legacy. Most embarrassing moment? I was on vacation with my family, and instead of getting into my Uncle’s car, I got into his neighbor’s. She yelled at me to get out.

ZACH JAGANNATHAN Steward ter what.

Do the songs get stuck in your head? Sometimes right after the rehearsals I keep singing them in my head. There is this one song that we just learned, “10 minutes ago I saw you....”, and it has a really good harmony. You won the lottery. What would you do with the money? Spend it all within the first 24 hours... one half in a 401 K and the other invested in gold! If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it? Blow stuff up. Most embarrassing moment? One time I remember something with rehearsal skirts, and we were trying to fit a few people in the largest one. But when I went in it started to break.

ERIC WATSON Prince Charming How do you and your character compare? We both look for that different, unique kind of girl, but in my terms I’m not marrying her, only in the play. He is more of the down to earth character in the play... lovesick... and he knows what he wants. Is it hard to go to rehearsal after a day of school? No. Its actually something I look forward. I do focus in class, but being on stage really helps me put everything else aside. Role model? I have a lot of role models I guess. Maybe Shia Labeouf, Will Smith, and especially myself, because I like to be different and unique. Having myself as a role model helps me to make up my own unique trends and stay true to myself. If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it? I think half the time I’d be freaking out, but besides that, I’d go to the local Target and try to find the girl of my dreams... and also go to Channel 5 news and interrupt a weather forecast.

How do you and your character compare? I think that we have some similarities. But shes really really sweet, and no matter how mean people are to her she just doesn’t get it. She is happy with her life no mat-

You won the lottery. What would you do with the money? I would definetly keep some of it for myself cause that’s just what people do. I think I would like to donate some of the money to a day care enter or a foster home because they need it more than I do. If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it? I would do everything I have ever wanted to do, but what I always thought wasn’t worth the consequences, because I know I will be gone the next day and nothing will happen to me because of what I did.

MOLLY SHEA Stepsister How do you and your character compare? She’s over the top... and I’m also a pretty “over the top” individual. I mean I’m nowhere near as ugly... but.. You won the lottery. What would you do with the money? First I would pay off my mortgage, then do something responsible for charity that makes me look good, and then blow it all on really fun toys. And I guess I would use some for college... I guess... If you found out you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend it? I would probably do something “cray cray”... maybe go streaking at a national soccer game. Secret ambition? Its a secret. Role model? Meryl Streep

—Cast interviews compiled by LAUREL DEARBORN

4

opinion Staff Editorial

Earlier college exposure ignites motivation and focus

Dress code limits student individuality By HANNA BOLAÑOS Staff Reporter

Welcome to Sequoia; here’s your first dress cut. It was my third day of school. It was lunchtime, and I was called across the yard by an administrator and then closely escorted to the AVP office. I was asked to change out of my somewhat short shorts into extremely unattractive, itchy, and unflattering sweat pants -- super embarrassing, to say the least. No one had filled me in about the dress code. Our dress code is established to maintain an environment that promotes academic success. No one would doubt that people should dress appropriately at school. However, what is the definition of appropriate? According to our dress code, “appropriate” means no dominant colors, no sagging, no bra straps, no straps smaller than one inch, and no shorts or skirts shorter than mid thigh. It is easy to get the feeling that these rules are a bit hard to apply evenly to all students. Therefore, the enforcement can seem unfair. My guess from attending Sequoia for a little more than a year is that girls get dress cuts more than boys do. When I asked a school administrator about this seemingly one-sided gender enforcement, I was told that he has “yet to see a boy in a short skirt,” (not that there would be anything wrong with that, of course). There are some problems, however, with the way the dress code is enforced. Some people are caught more than others and some people aren’t caught at all. It’s very irritating to be taken to the AVP office, asked to change, and then see another person getting away with a skirt that’s possibly shorter than yours supposedly was. Spaghetti straps and shirts with see-through backs can easily be covered by backpacks – I am sure there are people who are experts at these concealing measures - ninja dress-cutters. The few administrators we have can’t possibly “catch” everyone who breaks the rules. But is monitoring dress cuts that important?

There are some who believe the administration spends too much time worrying about what people (girls specifically) are wearing. Last year, Ms. Hansen gave an announcement on the P.A. system and addressed the “ladies of Sequoia” directly. She very clearly stated that people cannot focus on their studies if girls are showing their thighs and shoulders. Now I for one do not want to be the reason why a certain boy did not get into the college of his choice, or a certain star athlete didn’t make grades and missed the football season. But I really don’t think that it’s fair to place that on me or any girl; nor do I really think any boy failed math because he was staring at an extra half inch of thigh. I’m not saying that we should do away with the dress code entirely; the administrator I spoke to warned that it would be “mayhem” if we did. I do think the dress code, like a nice fitting skirt, can be adjusted just a bit. Perhaps dress cuts should be given on a determination regarding whether a student’s clothing draws undue attention to them. Not everyone likes to express themselves by wearing booty shorts and not every outfit that is shorter than mid thigh is distracting. Some would argue that here at Sequoia, “mid-thigh” really translates to at the knee, and therefore, sometimes even those who follow the dress code are still disciplined High school is an important time of development. One could argue that the dress code in many ways stifles individual expression, personal growth, and development. How we dress reflects and describes who we are. Are we sporty, girly, funky, boho, simple, a Hollister groupie, unique, or just trying to stay cool in the math wing sauna? If we the students of Sequoia are truly as excellent as we are told, one wonders if our success will actually be limited by our exposure to some girls’ shoulders. Perhaps it is necessary to have a dress code to curb some people’s sartorial choices, but overall, many dress cuts can be seen as extremely nit picky. It’s far more distracting and a drag on my educational success, to spend all day thinking of how unflattering those baggy sweats really are.

It seems as if many students have been hearing about college since the second grade: personal statements, SATs, and college visits are terms we’ve heard about over and over. In reality, though, a large portion of the student body has never even opened a college guide, and the prospect of life after high school is too far away in the distant future to really grasp. With the installment of a new freshman college tour, in place of the traditional Freshman Activity Day, requiring sophomores and juniors to take a PSAT, providing a senior college application workshop, along with showing weekly alumni interviews, it is evident that Sequoia is attempting to raise college awareness and instill motivation for students early on, encouraging every student to keep their eyes on the prize. Students should take advantage of Sequoia’s increased focus on the choices students have after graduating. With our busy schedules, it’s refreshing to know that the burden of researching colleges and preparing for the application process is not entirely on us. How many high school students know what they want to

do for the rest of their lives? Not many that we know of. By informing us about our options, we are reminded of our goals. By senior year, some students have joined fifty clubs and do community service on the weekends. Seniors spend the first semester obsessing over applications and regretting not starting them over the summer, like everyone advised them to the year before. With the chaos that currently surrounds most seniors, teachers’ understanding and encouragement is greatly appreciated, especially during the frantic first semester. Allieviating some of the work load during this busy time so seniors can focus on their future plans would also be highly appreciated. Although most students independently take on the challenges of preparing for life after high school, often struggling to find a balance between school work and college applications, the struggle shouldn’t be undergone alone. We welcome the school’s help in our quest to secure our future, and appreciate their increasing efforts as the years progresses.

Sequoia High School

Raven Report 2011-2012

Editor-in-Chief Sarina Gross Layout Editor Caroline Lempert News Editor Laurel Dearborn Feature Editors Anna Dagum and Lauren Kirkpatrick Opinion Editor Tiffany Ah Tye Staff Reporters Hanna Bolaños Peter Bugos Erick Castro Jarrett Crowell Ty Dewes Cole Dunbar Araceli Efigenio Taisha Griffie Catalina Mares Sophie Miller Matthew Morrow Bogie Sandoval Adviser Kim Vinh Mission Statement The Raven Report strives to provide Sequoia High School with informative, engaging, and relevant news. The staff will exercise integrity and adaptability while promoting justice and transparency through professional reporting about the school, the community, and the world. Letters to the Editor The Raven Report welcomes letters to the editor from students, parents, or community members, sent to Room 308 or by email to ravenreport09@gmail.com. Letters must include the writer’s full name and ID number, and the staff reserves the right to edit for space and style.

Respond to what you read about in our issue, suggest a topic, or participate in a survey! Search for Sequoia High School Raven Report on Facebook and like our page.

5

Opinion

Students disappointed in new collaboration day schedule School accreditation training makes class time longer for students on Mondays

By TIFFANY AH TYE Opinions Editor Collabo ration days have changed this year, and it hasn’t necessarily been for the better. When I saw that there was going to be a collaboration day almost every Monday in the 2011-2012 school year, I was ecstatic. That is, until I received the new bell schedule - which entailed that we would now get out at 2:25 on collaboration days, if we had a 7th period. During that week, when people were receiving their bell schedules at different times, I saw outraged posts on facebook, and received numerous text messages from friends on the issue. Everyone was ranting about the change, and none of what I had heard was good. For the first few collaboration days of the year, I couldn’t help but think back to last year, when we were able to get out of school at 12:50 on collaboration days. I think that dwelling on the past simply made

me more and more angry at the new Yeager. WASC is a program that accredchange. However, once I began to talk to my new teachers, I realized the ben- its schools, meaning that people efits that the new schedule brought to from the organization go to different schools and have adults and students many of the teachers. “It’s easier for me to go to a meeting alike sit in classes and evaluate the for an hour and 10 minutes at the the school. Accreditation is extremely imporend of the day, instead of a 2 ½ hour meeting,” said IB History teacher Te- tant for schools; if a high school is not accredited, no student from that resa Yeager. school can go In reality, while to college until the old collaboration “It’s easier for me to the school is acdays were all fun and games for the stu- go to a meeting for credited. While the dents, teachers had an hour and 10 minto stay at school to utes at the the end of change in collaboration attend long, boring meetings at the end the day, instead of a seems like a of each collaboration 2 ½ hour meeting.” pain to all the day. —History teacher students, it is There are actually Teresa Yeager a relief to the teachers. I apa lot of misconceppreciate the tions about coleffort that the laboration days. For example, teachers are not necessarily teachers put into their jobs in trying collaborating with each other, as I had to pass the accreditation test. Howoriginally thought; instead, they are ever, I feel that collaboration days being informed about what is happen- have lost their purpose now that ing in the school district, and around they are so long. Collaboration days the school in general. “This year, weren’t made only for the teachers; teachers are actually participating in weren’t the days supposed to give the Western Association of Schools us more time at the beginning of and Colleges (WASC) program,” said the week to get ahead on our home-

work? Now, there is barely an hour difference between the collaboration day release time and the block schedule release time. For sports students, it’s even worse. I don’t play any sports, but I’ve spoken with many people that have. For water polo students, the coach takes advantage of the new collaboration days by giving the team an extra half hour of practice. So, what is the point of collaboration days now? We don’t have enough time to really get that much of a head start on our homework for the week, and we don’t have enough time to hang out with friends. In fact, if you do opt to hang out with friends on collaboration days now, you are most likely being more inefficient than you would be on a regular Monday or block day. It is my conclusion that, while the new collaboration days are nice for teachers, they don’t really benefit the students in any way at all. I think that there can be an exception for this year, because the teachers are preparing for WASC, but WASC only comes around every six years. Next year, collaboration days should be changed back to how they have been in previous years.

High classroom temperatures unbearable; students unable to concentrate and focus By DANIEL BLACK Student Reporter

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Heat. It’s a big problem for some teachers and their students in both the first and last couple of months of the school year. Some of Sequoia’s older classrooms have absolutely no air conditioning at all. Teachers have even tried purchasing their own air-cooling devices to help. Jason Drogin, an English teacher in B-3, brought two fans from home to try and help the heat, while Zaida Bowers, a math teacher in 112, bought four fans and an air conditioning unit. “Students and many teachers are uncomfortable when it’s warm out,” said Drogin. “It takes away from academic learning time. Students often complain it’s hotter out here [in B-3] than other classrooms.” In the United Kingdom, the HSE (Health and Safety Executives) set the maximum work environment temperature at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but

there is no maximum temperature for schools. “It’s a health risk not to have a maximum allowable temperature,” said Drogin. But should the administration do something to help out these excessive temperatures? “It could lead to fainting spells and bloody noses,” said Bowers. After lunch seems to be the hottest time of the day in the B-quad classrooms and in the math wing. “After lunch, it’s hard to concentrate when it’s extremely hot,” said Bowers. So why has nothing been done? When you are crammed in a classroom with 35 plus people, does it make the heat worse? “Classes are getting bigger and bigger, and it’s not helping decrease the temperature,” said senior Crystal Casillas. As we continue to renovate, classroom temperature should be a priority. New gyms are nice, but being able to breathe in math class should be imperative. Maybe Sequoia can take a look at the blue prints for the 300 and 200 wing, and follow in those footsteps.

6

Feature

Many do double shifts as both students and workers By LAUREN KIRKPATRICK and ARACELI EFIGENIO Feature Editor and Staff Reporter

As the new school year settles in, many students find themselves on a job hunt: willing to attempt juggling academics, social life, extracurriculars, a part time job, and their sanity for some work experience and a bit of extra pocket change. "I need a job, and I'm starting to look because I turn 16 in a couple weeks, so it'd be nice to be making money," said sophomore Danny Oliva. Oliva isn't alone. With college expenses, football game tickets, and expensive gas, the extra cash is a necessity for many. The problem is finding out how and where to get one. However, Sequoia students have many examples and resources at their disposal to help them through this process. “Send in an application, wait for a response, interview, nail the job, get your work per-

Photo by Lauren Kirkpatrick

Senior Nathalie Irias works at Yoppi Yogurt in downtown Redwood City to help pay her bills. mit, and start making money!” said senior Ryan Perkins, who earlier this past summer landed a job at Speederia Pizzeria. The first step is applying. This time of year, most businesses are hiring students for part-time jobs. “The application just asks you for the hours you can work and for your some con-

tact info. It’s pretty simple, so it doesn’t hurt to send in a few applications to different places just in case,” said senior Jesse Boyle, who is a part time employee at REI. Applying for the jobs is the easy part, it’s waiting to hear back that’s hard. “I applied four places and only got one response,” said Boyle.

Persistence is key, so contacting the manager to check the status of your application is not unheard of. “I made sure to keep in contact with my manager after I sent in my application so that I wouldn’t get lost in the bunch,” said senior Tarah Haslett, who recently got a job at Redwood City’s Yoppi Yogurt. After hearing back, there’s still an interview to nail. “Interview to the job. My job was casual, so I acted friendly and casual in my interview,” said senior Matt Elliott, who landed a summer job working at Elks Lodge. “Oh, and don’t forget to dress the part,” said Elliott. Without a work permit, students can’t be legally paid. The person to look for on campus is Jenna Cestone, the only teacher at Sequoia who issues work permits. While Sequoia issues an estimated one-hundred work permits a month to its students, one won’t just be hand-

ed over. “Attendance and academics are our priority,” said Cestone, who wants to make sure kids are responsible at school before they take on the added respobsibility of a job. Students failing any classes or with unexcused absences are probably out of luck for a work permit until their school life improves. But once students have a job, there are ways to help keep things manageable. “Actually, people can get elective credit for work hours. Thirty-six hours is one unit,” said Cestone of an option to help students manage work along with academic requirements. While it can be difficult to navigate a job hunt the first time around, it prepares students for the eventual transition from student to employee. Once all is said and done, the reward is worth it as Sequoia students are able to take their first steps out into the workforce. Plus, a nice paycheck isn’t too bad either.

Fall Fashion 2011

Say good bye to flowy skirts and strappy tanks to welcome cute and cozy looks for Fall. Compiled by Taisha Griffie and Catalina Mares

Photos by TAISHA GRIFFIE and ERIC WATSON

Freshman Amy Shinshiro

“Eccentric and kinda grunge inspired.” Advice: “Don’t follow what everybody else is wearing if you want to wear something just wear it.” Burgundy top: Forever 21 Blue skinny jeans: Urban Outfitters Combat boots: DB shoes Bag: H&M

Sophomore Katryna Fogel

“Preppy chic.”

Advice: “Dress in what makes you feel comfortable. The more comfortable you feel the better you look.” White jean jacket: Forever 21 Floral dress: Forever 21 Belt: Forever 21 Toms: Nordstrom

“Cute but not too girly.”

Senior Brandon Chase “Vintage, retro, a little bit of urban.”

Advice: “Don’t dress with the pack; dress weirdly.” Striped blue and red sweater: Buffalo Exchange High waisted long gray button down skirt: Lost and Found (store in Tokyo) Tights: Tutu Anna Doc Martins

Advice:“Take risks; don’t be afraid of what people say. Who you are should be expressed through your clothing.” Bowler hat Red bow tie Gray varsity cardigan Black slacks Loafers

Junior Sabina Jacobs

7

Entertainment

Delectable downtown destinations offer variety By TAISHA GRIFFIE and CATALINA MARES Staff Reporters

Old Spaghetti Factory:

The “Old Spaghetti Factory” is actually, very new to Redwood City. In Downtown is an extremely popu- fact, it is still under construction and lar place for students opening to hang out, especially later this with it being so close month to Sequoia. There on Oct. are many events, nice 24. The places to eat and the Ita l i a n movie theater, which restauattracts the most peor a n t ple, even though the is well prices are too high. So, known with all these people for their you would think they homewould have more made Old Spaghetti Factory opens Oct. 24 in b a k e d stores, and restaurants, and soon, there will be. downtown Redwood City. lasagna There have been many additions to the downtown area and ($11.50), variety of pastas ($11-14), they have all been places to eat, and and freshly baked breads. The restaubeing that they are so new, you may rant will occupy the two vacant spaces not know much about them, and we’re that are located on Jefferson Ave, and here to give you a bit more insight. Broadway (near the movie theater).

Yoppi Yogurt: A delicious yet healthy yogurt shop has arrived to downtown Redwood City! The yogurt shop replaced the Marble slab near the movie theater. Yoppi yogurt has many different yogurt flavors to choose from. Ranging from classic chocolate to yellow cake batter (yum). There is an endless list of toppings to choose f r o m including fruit, cereals, cookies, and numerous candies. Yoppi yogurt is self served so GO NUTS! After you’re done you weigh your yogurt, which is about 34 cents per ounce, and enjoy.

New dance team allows chance to perform and develop passion By SOPHIE MILLER and TAISHA GRIFFIE Staff Reporters

The newest campus dance group made their debut at the Sept. 30 rally. A blend of dance styles and pop songs, the team’s “MTV video music awards” performance came across as energetic and fun. Led by sophomore Joy Robinson and alumna Chelsy Hogue, the team is made up of the best of the advanced dance class. Pursuing her dream, Robinson asked dance teacher Taylor White, as well as former dance teacher Hogue, if she could create a dance team last April. Robinson had stopped dancing at her local dance studio and wanted to have a new chance to dance, as well as create something for others. “It was fun because we got to show off our talents,” junior dancer Bian Jabari said about auditioning for the team. “[We became] a family,” Jabari said. Hogue looked for the dancers who were the best at all styles of dance. Out of the 17 dancers that auditioned, 13 were able to join the dance team. Robinson’s goal is for the team to be as popular as Woodside and Carlmont high schools’ dance teams. Both schools have much larger teams than Sequoia. Hogue wants students to come to Sequoia just for the chance to be on the dance team. “Having 200 people try out would be amazing,” Jabari said. Not only will the team be performing at future rallies, homecoming games and dance shows, but they will also be participating in larger competitions between rivaling high school dance teams, including one coming up in December. The dance team meets after school on Mondays

Sakura Teppanyaki:

Photo by Caroline Lempert

]Junior Nick Pauly, part of the new dance team, shows off his skills at the Homecoming Rally. and Wednesdays in the studio, practicing for any upcoming performances for about two hours. Robinson leads the warm ups, while Hogue trains the group in their newest choreography. Jabari also said that guest choreographers come to teach the performers certain varieties of dances. They learn not only hip hop and jazz for rallies, but lyrical and ballet steps. Hogue was proud of the team’s performance at the rally. She called it “professional”, especially since they had only five weeks to choreograph and rehearse it. Robinson is glad that the dance team was formed. “[It] is an opportunity to lead something I was passionate about,” she said. “[I] can still carry on what I want to do.”

Sakura Teppanyaki is a Japanese restaurant that not only serves great authentic Japanese food, but also cooks it right before your eyes. This restaurant is on Broadway and Middle field. The food choice comes in a wide variety ranging from sushi rolls ($3-11) to Hibachi steak and chicken ($22.95). For all you vegetarians out there they offer the Hibachi vegetarian dinner ($12.95) which is sauteed broccoli, carrots, green, and red bell peppers, snow peas, asparagus, and baby corn. Go and check this awesome restaurant!

Halloween gives students a chance to express personality As Halloween approaches, students at Sequoia don’t know whether they want to go as scary, cute or in between. It is a hot topic this month, and should be given thought before it is too late. Sophomore Sydney Cohn loves Halloween, and has some ideas for costumes, including scary things and girly and decaying things. “You can be anything you want to be and have an excuse for it,” said Cohn. English teacher Jasmine Schimek sees costumes as a way “to express yourself in a way you typically don’t get to. You can tell a lot about a person by their costume,” said Schimek. “It also gives girls the chance to use Halloween as an excuse to bare skin.” Freshman Erik West is excited for Halloween and loves making his own unique costumes. “I like to make them funny and different,” said West.

Top three costumes for guys: 1. Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean 2.Zombie 3.Werewolf Top three costumes for girls: 1. Pink punk pirate 2. Batgirl 3. Vampire

—MATTHEW MORROW

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Sports The homecoming rally featured dance routines, by both students and teachers, MCs dressed with purple spirit and telletubbie costumes, and various games put on by the ASB class.

Homecoming 2011

Alum returns to campus to relive heyday Amid the screaming fans and teenagers clad in purple waving pompoms in the bleachers, sits Glenn Stewart, cheering for his home team and reliving his high school days at Sequoia from 68 years ago, with just as much gusto as the rest of us. “We’re a Sequoia family through and through,” said Stewart, whose mother graduated in 1916, and father left after two years of high school in 1912. Stewart, class of 1943, served as Sequoia’s head yell leader for three years in high school. “I was too small for football,” said Stewart about his size back then: 4’9” and less than 100 lbs. “I found it was safer in the sidelines.” He recalls old traditions that Sequoia once had, including an annual chase through campus, where a boy brandishing a heliotrope, a lantern-like instrument, ran across the school being chased by his classmates. This tradition was ended after Stewart graduated; “It usually ended up more physical then fun.” Regarding the grad numerals leading to Carrington Hall in the front of the school, “My grad numeral and only one or two more were done in tile brass was something that we just couldn’t obtain because of the war,” said Stewart, who served in the military for three years after graduating high school. “The world of employment right now is for the highly educated,” Stewart said to current classes. “It’s important to get the best education available. Oh, have fun when [you’re] young” he added as a side note, “because life gets serious when you’re older.” —ANNA DAGUM

Photos by Caroline Lempert and Anna Dagum

Although we lost the game against Valley Christian High School, Sequoia recovered with a great victory over Aragon the following Friday.

Boys volleyball would bump up opportunities to win By COLE DUNBAR and PETER BUGOS Staff Reporters

Volleyball is an aggressive, competitive, and athletic sport. The only problem is that Sequoia boys can’t play because currently, we don’t have a team. Boys Volleyball would be an excellent addition to sequoia’s sports program and school community. If we had a boys volleyball team the school would benefit from it. Having Boys volleyball would offer another sport for Sequoia students to play. Volleyball would cover PE credits for students. With the team work required for the sport comes the need for hard in-

dividual preparation as well. This individual need for improvement leads to self motivation in players. As sophomore Elaina Harr, currently on the girls varsity volleyball team said, “You either bring each other up or bring each other down.” In volleyball you only get three hits per side so if one player makes a mistake the whole team feels the pain. Although volleyball is a challenging sport, many people have fond memories and love to play it. Junior Alex Ruhlman, who has fond memories of playing in middle school, says he would be interested in playing again. The only thing that is holding us

back is the troubles making a team. Morell says some of the requirements to create a new team are: cutting another boy’s sport team or adding another girls team, find a league to join, finding a coach and players, and lastly raise money. For boys volleyball it would be another spring sport. If we were to cut a spring sport I think we should cut boys Golf. Golf has a low attendance and can be expensive if you do not have clubs already. If we had enough support for boys volleyball we could ask teachers that could be interested in coaching. Lastly in a few years we would regain money from other sports so we can pay off Lacrosse. Since we already have a girls vol-

leyball team we have the equipment already that we can use for the team. One opportunity is powder puff volleyball, it gives male athletes a chance to experience the sport. Powder puff volleyball is when a group of Senior and Junior boys get together and have one duel against each other. Freshman Ben Morrison said he is interested in playing powder puff volleyball because it is not a big commitment. “It’s just fun,” Morrison said. Also, colleges look for boys volleyball players. Schools such as Stanford, Berkeley, and Cal-Poly will give scholarships to volleyball players that they would like on their team. The reason we have sports at Sequoia is to raise school spirit and to be more well known as a school. “We are a tougher team to beat these days but I would like to see us be number one,” said sports director Stacy Morell. Volleyball would give Sequoia another opportunity to be number one.