The Santa Rosa Volume 11, Issue 3

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Spirit Daze

Monty Nerd Day & more from Spirit Week

How Homecoming Happened pg. 8-9

Dark side of “Ghetto Fab� pg. 5

2014

Climate Protection Club pg. 7

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NEWS

Staff of The Santa Rosan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD

BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS

ADVISOR

isabellaFROMAN milenaDUARTE opalWHITE lindsayBRIBIESCAS tracyFERNANDEZ mirandaMCCANN thomasPASTIS brynaHAUGEN hannahAPPEL peterAQUI aprilCORREA justinDANTE geenaESPINOZA jakeESPINOZA kiraFINDLING suncèFRANICEVIC andrewHERNANDEZ sienaLAKE ashleighMENDEZ pamelaMENENDEZ cassyMORETTO gabeMULCAIRE maiaPAGÁN kathyPHAM abbyVOLZ caseyELSA

Check out our online content at santarosan.com, on our Facebook profile (The Santa Rosan), and on our twitter account (@Santa_Rosan) Corrections: The iCloud graphic was designed by Miranda McCann. Pamela Menendez’ name was misspelled and Kathy Pham’s name was omitted in the staff list. Back page photos were taken by Isabella Froman, Andrew Hernandez, Lindsay Bribiescas, Tracy Fernandez, and Sunce Franicevic.

Note: The views expressed in this newspaper are those of the Santa Rosan staff as approved by the Santa Rosan newspaper staff and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the school, students, faculty or the Santa Rosa City School District. An effort will be made to print all letters to the editor, as long as they are signed. The Santa Rosan reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and factual correctness, but will not guarantee their accuracy. Letters should be delivered to Ms. Elsa, room D101, or put in her mailbox.

Cover photo by Sunce Franicivic Teaser photo by Lindsay Bribiescas

World News Snapshots gabeMULCAIRE STAFF WRITER

Missing Mexican students Forty-three college students have gone missing near the town of Iguala, Mexico. The students, who were left-wing activists, clashed with police in protests in late September, and were subsequently taken and possibly killed. Several officers are suspected of handing over the students to a drug cartel, provoking concern about the level of cooperation between government forces and violent drug gangs in the country.

Ebola spreads The Ebola outbreak has spread beyond West Africa, with several confirmed cases in America and several suspected cases in Europe and Asia.

The WHO reports more than 10,000 cases, and

a separate outbreak has begun in the Congo. On October 14, the UN said that if the outbreak is not controlled within sixty days, the world will face an “unprecedented” situation. However, the Senegal and Nigeria have both been declared Ebola-free, and several Spanish nurses suspected of having the disease have tested negative.

Boko Haram Extremist militant group Boko Haram has kidnapped 30 more boys and girls from a village in northeast Nigeria. The group, which wishes to impose Sharia law across Nigeria, kidnapped a group of over 200 schoolgirls in April; while many hoped for the release of these girls, this recent kidnapping dims such hopes.

Measure H could Umbrella Revolution in improve funding for Hong Kong continues SRJC facilities opalWHITE

kiraFINDLING STAFF WRITER

Measure H is a bond measure on the November ballot that, if passed, would benefit the Santa Rosa Junior College. The money would be used to update technology and classrooms, improve specialized technical programs, expand job training centers for health care fields, modernize laboratories, and more. Many SRHS students attend SRJC during and after high school, and could be directly affected by these changes.

“Future JC students, including those from SRHS, will benefit if Measure H is passed in numerous ways,” said Ellen Maremont Silver, Director of Communication & Marketing, Santa Rosa Junior College.

“You can’t prepare for tomorrow’s jobs with yesterday’s outdated facilities and technology.

So there are plans for a new science, technology, engineering and math building in Santa Rosa, a new science wing in Petaluma, an expansion at the Public Safety Training Center in Windsor, major renovation of our auto, diesel and welding training building, and many other upgrades and renovations,” says Silver.

Though opponents claim that the bond would be unjustly expensive for Sonoma County residents, the bond would cost the average homeowner only $67 per year.

MANAGING EDITOR

Over the past month the news has been awash with headlines surrounding protests in Hong Kong. The protesters, who are pro-democracy, believe that the people of Hong Kong should be allowed to choose the candidates for the upcoming 2017 election, a request that the Central Government in Beijing has denied.

The island of Hong Kong belonged to Britain for more than 150 years, but in 1997 the thriving island was given back to communist China. The people of Hong Kong were allowed to keep some of their democratic freedoms, such as freedom of the press and the right to assemble; they were even promised the right to pick their candidates for the 2017 election. But now China wants to revoke these decisions and prevent free elections.

The protests occurred outside of government buildings and were made up of mostly Hong Kong students and residents. The police have used brutal tactics to discourage pro-democracy protesters including tear gas, pepper spray and batons.

The protests have been nicknamed the Umbrella Revolution, because of photos showing protesters protecting themselves with umbrellas against tear gas.

According to the New York Times, the movement officially began on Sunday, September 28 and still continues.

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NEWS

2014 November December 4 5 6

CAHSEE Testing

7 8

Football at Rancho Cotate

CAHSEE Testing AQ Information & Application Assistance Night

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MPR 6:30 pm

Debate Tournament SAT, Subject Tests Veterans Day NO SCHOOL Senate Meeting 11:30 am

Last Day for AQ Shadowing by appt. only

AQ Advanced Drama Fall Show Black Box, Rm. 24 7:30 pm

Ag Boosters Harvest Moon Fundraiser Shone Farm 5:00-10:00 pm

D e ce mbe r

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Dance Company Performance

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SAT & Subject Tests

16 17

AQ Priority Application Deadline

20-22 24-28

Black Box 5:00 pm AQ Office 3:45 pm

AQ Advanced Drama Fall Show Black Box 7:30 pm

Thanksgiving Holiday NO SCHOOL

8:00 am

Auditorium 7:00 pm

Auditorium 7:00 pm

AQ Advanced Drama Show

Auditorium 7:00 pm

Dance Company Performance

Sonoma County Philharmonic

5:00/7:30 pm

8:00 am-12:00 pm

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14-15

12-13

13 16-18

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Vocal Music Winter Concert Auditorium 7:00 pm

ACT Test 8:00 am

FINALS — Minimum Days 8:00-12:20 pm

ay

Minimum D

Last Day of First Semester Winter Break Begins NO SCHOOL

Changes made to ArtQuest Shadowing program mirandaMCCANN EDITORIAL BOARD

Home to eight specialties and approximately 600 students, it’s no surprise that Santa Rosa High’s ArtQuest program receives a plethora of outside attention, drawing in creative students from across Sonoma County and beyond to participate in arguably the best arts program in Northern California.

“I was set to go to Elsie [Allen High School] but instead came to Santa Rosa for ArtQuest because I heard it was an acclaimed program and I was really interested in doing something with performing arts. It seemed like the best option for me,” said Sophomore Riley Palmer.

ArtQuest is notoriously rigorous; a student may take academic ArtQuest classes along with their specialty. To ensure potential ArtQuest students are aware of the academically and men-

tally rigorous classes, a shadowing program is in place at Santa Rosa High.

“The ArtQuest program is amazing and Santa Rosa High School is wonderful and we can offer so much, but students that come into a specialized program need to understand that they are going to have to work really hard,” said ArtQuest director Jan Sofie.

ArtQuest has been shadowing potential students for over a decade. Every year the shadowing program has changed slightly, and 2014 is no exception.

Now, instead of shadowing an individual, the student shadows a specialty from 8:00am to noon. He or she receives an in-depth explanation of ArtQuest at a morning orientation and watches a video of SRHS students discussing their experiences in the program. The student is led in a tour of the campus by either Jan Sofie, ArtQuest program assistant Jerie Parks, or vol-

unteers from Friends of ArtQuest.

“I came to Santa Rosa completely because of ArtQuest,” shared Sophomore Samantha Bohlke-Slater. “All my life I was planning to go to Carillo and all my friends were going there so the decision to come to Santa Rosa was difficult but now I know I made the right choice.”

While screening for ArtQuest participants, grades are only one of the criteria. The student’s portfolio or audition acts as insight into their personality and showcases the skills or potential they possess, along with how much he or she would benefit from the program as an individual.

Sofie explained, “Just because you don’t have a lot of experience or skills already doesn’t mean we can’t help you learn. We are looking for potential, for that spark and enthusiasm that we can help.”

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OPINION

Should Academic-level A-G courses be required for all students? justinDANTE STAFF WRITER

The Santa Rosa City School district has recently been campaigning for a noble, albeit, idealistic policy — a policy that would allow all students to graduate eligible for college admission.

The district, headed by superintendent Socorro Shiels, had originally planned on getting rid of all non-college preparatory classes and requiring students to complete A-G courses for a diploma.

(A-G refers to the high school courses required for entrance into a UC/CSU. There are seven general subject areas labeled “A” through “G”, hence the name). While this certainly seems productive at a glance, the district has run into stout opposition from teachers and counselors. It has since, backed down from its initial position, but the A-G policy is still a hotly debated issue.

In a recent article published in the Press Democrat, Jenni Klose, a member of the school board and avid supporter of mandatory A-G, lampooned the counseling staff for participating in what she called “institutional racism.”

Her uninformed and rather offensive article is just one example of how a misconception — that counselors are artificially holding back minorities — – has been perpetuated by a handful of individuals whose advocacy for the new A-G policy is well known. In her article, Klose claims that counselors have been pre-judging students and not allowing them to enroll in higher level classes. This is blatantly untrue.

High school counselors meet with each of their students individually and make recommendations based upon past performance. This entails meetings in which the counselors review student grades, transcripts, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores, and course selections. It is true that a counselor wouldn’t advise a student who failed regular English last year to try AP English this year. But that’s hardly racism; it’s logic. And even still, students can bypass their counselors and take whichever class they want with a course request form signed by a parent. So how is it that so-called racist counselors are holding students back against their will?

“I provided Shiels with a plethora of documentation showing clear evidence of communication with students and parents about graduation and college requirements. Of course, after I sent her these documents, she stopped communicating with me,” said Seth Geffner, a Santa Rosa High School counselor of 11 years.

Shiel’s reasoning behind this interaction is unclear, although she has recently begun an open dialogue with teachers.The A-G issue has been brought to the forefront of discussion ever since Klose’s inflammatory article, in which she criticizes schools like SRHS and champions the

Passing Rate for CSU ELM Proficiency Test (Mathematics)

Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Fall 2013 Roseland Charter

27%

38%

42%

74%

Elsie Allen

58%

53%

48%

50%

Montgomery

85%

89%

89%

75%

Santa Rosa

87%

80%

83%

93%

Passing Rate for CSU EPT Proficiency Test (English)

Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Fall 2013 Roseland Charter

27%

23%

08%

56%

Elsie Allen

33%

73%

67%

55%

Montgomery

75%

93%

89%

80%

Santa Rosa

87%

91%

92%

97% Charts by Isabella Froman

All the California State Universities administer an Entry Level Math Test (ELM) and an English Proficiency Test (EPT) to their incoming freshmen. The above charts track how freshmen, recently graduated from the corresponding high school, did on these placement tests.

likes of Roseland University Prep (RUP).

RUP was the one of the first schools to institute an A-G curriculum for all of its students and has often been praised for its high college admission rates. The logic seems reasonable; more students are going to college with mandatory A-G courses which must mean it’s effective.

However, there’s a catch. Data collected by the California State University system reveals that many college freshmen from RUP are utterly unprepared, despite their impressive resumes.

In 2011, only 38% of RUP graduates passed the Entry Level Math Test (ELM) and only 23% passed the English Placement Test (EPT). In 2012, 42% passed the ELM and 8% passed the EPT. The students who failed were forced to take remedial classes at junior colleges, such as SRJC, and even then, (according to counseling professionals) they struggled.

In contrast, 93% of Santa Rosa High School graduates passed the ELM and 97% passed the EPT in 2013. The trend is obvious and glaring, and yet the district seems to be disregarding it.

At the moment, Santa Rosa High School is the last school in the district that offers remedial classes at the 9th and 10th grade levels, and if this policy is adopted, both incoming

and current students will suffer for it. By placing students without the necessary skills (and sometimes desire) to succeed in college-prep classes teachers will be caught in a terrible position. Either they will have to fail many of their students or they will have to “water-down” their class rigor, and therefore send unprepared students to colleges in which they cannot succeed.

“A-G is the latest silver bullet latched on to by education reformers to solve the issue of equality of opportunity that disregards the experience and advice of people in the classroom who actually teach,” said Andy Brennan, a government teacher and former president of the Santa Rosa Teachers’ Association.

It is clear that a “one-size fits all” solution isn’t going to help anyone. And with a college dropout rate of nearly 50% nationwide, the conformity of this watered down curriculum isn’t going to improve students’ prospects. But Klose, and people like her, will continue to paint the disparity between some students’ chosen courses and others as the construct of a racist school system that needs to be amended. All the while they ignore the real source of disparity— – socioeconomic disadvantage.

OPINION

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The dark side of “Ghetto Fab” Homecoming gabeMULCAIRE STAFF WRITER

Every year, SRHS seniors put on baggy pants and gold chains and head off to homecoming.

This unquestioned phenomenon is called “ghetto fab,” and pretty much all the seniors seem to take part. It doesn’t seem to have an official definition, but it’s pretty self-explanatory, right?

Dress like you’re from the ghetto, and be fab.

If it seems like harmless fun, that’s probably because you haven’t thought it through. No one talks about what “ghetto fab” specifically means, or who everyone’s really imitating when they dress up. That’s because if you say it outright, it’s uncomfortable, and no one wants to face it.

A ghetto is a part of a city where a minority group lives. Originally, the term was used to describe sections of European cities where Jews were forced or pressured to live; in modern America, it is most commonly used to describe sections of cities that are inhabited by a racial minority, and plagued by poverty.

The realities of ghetto fab don’t exactly reflect these definitions. The things people wear — sagging pants, gold chains, grills — are mostly exaggerated or stereotyped elements of African-American culture.

I understand that it’s probably fun to dress up so outrageously, regardless of the politics behind it.

I understand that ghetto fab might not be offensive to everyone. But the thought of a group of teenagers, many of whom are white and welloff, reveling in these stereotypes is at the very least uncomfortable.

What’s most concerning is the Last year’s senior boys also dressed up for Ghetto Fab. This has been a senior lack of thought from anyone intradition for years, so some may feel its their “right” to dress up this way volved. If we called it “dress like during their year. a minority dance” or “poverty chic homecoming,” people would have issues. But we our society, especially when it’s specific to our school. Regardless of your views on ghetto fab, ever-so-thinly veil it with “ghetto fab,” and no it’s important to consider the implications of one bats an eye. your actions — even if no one else does.

It shouldn’t be this easy to hide problems in

Internet stars: beloved idols or dangerous predators? hannahAPPEL STAFF WRITER

Vine: a six second invitation into a world of viral videos. However, some of the most famous — or rather infamous—Viners have used the power of multimedia for all the wrong reasons. Racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs and pranks have corrupted this once innocent website. Many of these “stars” see themselves as invincible. But, then again, after winning the hearts of thousands of teens, you too might think that you could do anything and still get away with it.

Who knew six seconds could change a sixteen year-old’s life forever? North Carolina native Nash Grier found himself rising to stardom about a year ago. Before he knew it, he was known worldwide with 8.7 million followers on Vine. It all came to a halt when he posted a video using homophobic slurs. In the video, Grier shows a commercial for HIV testing and then proceeds to shout out an offensive term. From there, he started losing his once-dedicated fans as he tweeted homophobic slurs. ” Though Grier proceeded to tweet an apology, many still feel like it’s not enough.

The mindset of internet invincibility is a problem not only on Vine, but also on other video websites, like YouTube. And in some cases, this mentality has led to more problematic and even illegal acts.

Twenty-five year-old Sam Pepper rose to

stardom in 2010 when he starred on the UK’s popular television show, “Big Brother.” After the show ended, Pepper became highly popular on YouTube by making prank videos. But his prank videos escalated, turning from funny jokes into what some are calling sexual harassment. In a video, Pepper approached girls and touched their backsides using a fake hand. From there, the situation escalated even more as many girls claimed to have been sexually harassed or raped

by Pepper. Many are now calling for his arrest.

When the women taken advantage of by Sam Pepper revealed their experiences, sixteen yearold Ania Magliano-Wright was inspired to share her story. Twenty year-old Jason, known by his YouTube name Veeoneeye, was a popular YouTuber in the post-hardcore band scene, a genre of music originally derived from the broader punk rock movement. He was accused of statutory rape after he provided alcohol and slept with the underage London native.

Recently, he traveled the country with the Vans Warped Tour, meeting many of his adoring fans, including some Santa Rosa High school students.

“When I first met him, he just seemed really genuine and down to earth,” says freshmen Sami Kline, “I would have never known that he had anything like that in his past, but I guess there’s no way of knowing what kind of person someone really is until they own up to it.”

Jason has lost fans and subscribers over the

Freshman Hannah Appel, the author of this article, and many other SRHS students met Youtuber Veeoneeye, who is accused of statutory rape, at the Vans Warped Tour. Appel, like the other students, had no idea of his alleged crimes when they met him.

allegations, many of whom are calling for action.

How could something like this happen? Often times viewers feel a special connection to their internet-famous idols. People like Sam Pepper and Jason Veeoneeye are on the brink of being famous enough to idolize but still normal enough that they can be related to. This gives them more power than any regular celebrity. Fans may feel a special connection to these people because of their relatability, leading them to trust these “idols” more than they would a regular person.

This makes it easier for online stars to get close enough to fans to take adavantage of them.

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FEATURES

ArtQuest Drama’s Improv Show a booming success pamelaMENENDEZ STAFF WRITER

“If we can’t make you laugh, turn on your cellphone and talk as loud as you can. That’s how much we guarantee you that we’ll make you laugh,” said senior Amber Overbay. On Friday October 3, Advanced ArtQuest Drama performed their traditional Improv Show in the Black Box. The show was highly anticipated, and brought in one of their biggest audiences. The audience was so vast that many of the spectators had to sit on the floor because there weren’t enough chairs.

Hosted by Overbay and fellow senior Mackenzie Cahill, the show was organized, entertaining, and enjoyable.

The exceptional performance given on Friday may have been fun to watch, but it required a profusion of practicing and preparing. Acting out random situations given by the audience looked effortless, and always earned a laugh. From having to act out the terms and conditions of the social media site Tumblr to using a gong to block out the actors’ swears, the scenes were memorable and witty. The enthusiasm and work of the actors definitely paid off in the performance.

Throughout the show, there was never heard the sound of a cell phone.

“Organizing the Improv Show was really fun because of how enthusiastic the people were and how much work and effort was put into it.” said senior and four-year ArtQuest Drama student Aron Corradi. The props and costumes were also all suitable for the performance. Despite having a suggested donation of $5 for admission, the performance collected $700.52 to fund ArtQuest Drama’s next shows. This was not the only show that will be performed by the Advanced ArtQuest Drama students for the school year. Look forward to a second show for the next semester!

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Photos by Pamela Menendez and Olivia Glaubiger

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1. This improv game, titled “Weekend at Bernie’s” after the 1980’s classic film, involves a single cast of four who must complete the same scene over and over.

The catch -- each time somebody’s dies, and the show must go on. Pictured are (left to right) Junior Shayla Nordby, Junior Devon Keelty Senior Jone Bacinskaite, and Junior Amelia Reed.

2. Senior Lukas Hickman, playing his character “Lukacalifragilisticexpialidocious,” is the bachelor in this improv game and must guess the characters played by the contestants based soley on their resonses to his questions.

3. Seniors Michael Sultana and Tanya Ochoa play a round of “Director” where one person tells a cast of three or four to modify a scene however they choose.

4. Junior Lily Rivera, Senior Tanya Ochoa, Senior Tatiana Mercier, and Senior Sarah Tucker watch their classmates during the show.

5. Senior Adrianna Jackson dances in her round of “Freeze” which involves the entire cast, who sat behind her watching intently.

FEATURES

Climate Protection Club raises awareness for environmental issues geenaESPINOZA STAFF WRITER

Santa Rosa High School has many important and interesting clubs, but some would argue that none are as important as Climate Protection Club. The rapidly changing world is in need of youth who will continue to fight climate change into adulthood.

Through events such as trash clean-up days and Walk and Roll to School Day, the growing club aims to raise awareness about the changing climate and other ecological threats. By raising awareness, the club hopes to to help students and staff learn what they themselves can do to become more environmentally conscious.

Led by President Lucy Moholt-Siebert and Vice President Winnie Nguyen, the club annually hosts Walk and Roll to School Day, handing out treats like pencils, granola bars, stickers, and hot chocolate. This year’s Walk and Roll to school day was a success, with an estimated 150 people choosing CO2-free transportation despite the chilly weather.

During the upcoming year, Climate Protection Club will be facilitating Earth Week and participating in several cleanups both on campus and off. “We’ve got some things in the works,” says club advisor and biology teacher Ms. Simerly, “and Rock and Roll to School day was fairly successful this year.”

“One of our big campaigns this year is try-

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Things:

words with no English translation kiraFINDLING STAFF WRITER

1. komorebi (noun, Japanese): sunlight that filters through the trees Photo by Geena Espinoza

Seniors Winnie Nguyen, Lucy Moholt-Siebert, and Haley Hackett are Vice-President, President, and Secretary (respectively) of the Climate Protection Club.

ing to get people to pick up trash and recycle,” explained Simerly. Trash has become a big problem on campus. In response to this issue, Climate Protection Club is working together with Student Government to organize the first campus cleanup to be held on November 7. Says freshman class president, Kaitlyn Kline, “I think it is going to be a great year.”

Interested in joining this great club? Climate Protection Club meets every Friday at lunch in Room 11, and is currently welcoming new members.

2. tsundoku (noun, Japanese): act of leaving a book unread after buying it, often stacked up with other such books 3. gattara (noun, Italian): an elderly woman who surrounds herself with cats 4. age-otori (verb, Japanese): to look worse after a haircut 5. kummerspeck (noun, German): weight gained from emotional eating, directly translates to “grief bacon” 6. jayus (adjective, Indonesian): describes situation where a person tries and fails to make a joke 7. zeg (noun, Georgian): day after tomorrow 8. mamihlapinatapai (noun, Yaghan): a look shared between two people when both are wishing that the other would do something that both desire but are unwilling to do 9. zhaghzhagh (noun, Persian): chattering of teeth from cold or rage 10. saudade (noun, Portuguese): nostalgia for something you never had Words from Buzzfeed and MentalFloss.com

BehindHow the Homec isabellaFROMAN

t

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This year, hundreds of orange and black balloons, including a gigantic arch over the Homecoming Court Ceremony, lined the bleachers and field. The football team played against Windsor, the cheer team performed a complex routine, the Senior Homecoming Court was announced, and students and spectators in the stands went wild at every part. The dance the next evening was themed “Enchanted Nights,” so the North Gym and Main Building were furnished with ballroom, castle, forest, and starry night decorations. Couples and friends enjoyed thumping music from DJ and SRHS alum Daniel Urquhart.

But how does such an extravagant two-day

1. Cloud decorations lined the hall between the North Gym and the Main Building. They were created by Senior Lulu Turchin’s grandmother.

2. Sophomore Jessica Jafari, a member of the Varsity Cheer Team, raises her pom-poms in celebration.

3. Junior Jenna Ellis props up a classmate to hang up decorations on the football field.

4. Senior and Homecoming Court Nominee Trevor Weitzenburg is escorted by his mother.

5. Seniors in the stands wait for the cheerleaders to begin during halftime.

6. Senior Julianna Basile is one of the leaders of Pep Band, which plays music in the stands at every home game.

7. The carriage decoration was created by Kendra Gregersen’s father. The castle portraits were painted by Turchin’s mother and grandmother.

8. Juniors Brennie Dale and Avery Lentz cheer for a touchdown.

9. Senior Lorin Beaty jumps for joy at the beginning of the game.

10. Senior Kathryn Nelson holds a “Go Harvey” sign at the game. Harvey McPeters, one of the quarterbacks, was injured during the first home game of the season. He is now recovered and eligible to play.

school-wide celebration of our home and spirit come to pass?

Homecoming festivities are designed, decorated, and run primarily by the SRHS Cheer Team.

Every year, the students on the team raise money for, create, and set up decorations both on the field and in the North Gym for the dance. The team decorates the field during school on the day of the game, and then arrives at the North Gym as early as 7:00 a.m. the next morning to hang and place decorations created and donated by family members and the cheer team booster club. The team also cleans up afterward — keeping some students until 2:00 a.m. for an exhausting 17-hour workday.

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Other costs —such as hiri security, custodians to help come out of the team’s ASB Additional help came fr ment members, who made for the dance; Debbie Sedl ness Office and Mr. Harpe the Homecoming Court; Mr culture class, who arranged the balloon decorations for other parent volunteers. Ev of the cheerleaders helped alongside the team.

“We are trying to utilize possible,” said Cheer Coach

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Spread layout by Isabella Froman

As

they cheer for us,

Scenes: coming Happened

ing a police officer for p clean up, and a DJ ---B account. rom Student Governsigns and advertised letzky from the Busier, who assisted with rs. Piehl and the Florid the Court flowers and r the field; and many ven the dates of some d set up and clean up

Seniors Roland Calloway and Jessica Diangson were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

“Next year I’d like to have the different school departments help us even more. It’s a fundraiser for us, but when we do have to spend money, I would love to put it back into our school.”

Laudenbach, who herself was cheerleader in high school, and all the girls and boys on the team work for weeks planning the events – the cheer routine alone may take two or three weeks.

But all the effort from the team and its assistants culminates in a celebration the whole school can enjoy, making it a worthwhile and very-muchappreciated endeavor.

2015

the school as much as h Sydney Laudenbach.

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Photos by Lindsay Bribiescas, Sunce Franicevic, Dakota McGranahan Special thanks to contributor Jenna Ellis

let’s

11. Seniors Aden Pierce and Ashley Younce are crowned Homecoming Lord and Lady.

12. Seniors April Correa, Justine Dominguez, Alondra Maravilla, and Vanessa Camargo pose for a picture while waiting to check in their belongings.

13. Junior Michaela Teora, and Sophomores Cara Green and Luisa Ciaffe pose in front of the blue cloud decorations.

14. The dance is in full swing in the North Gym. The decorations add to the theme of the dance, which was “Enchanted Nights.”

cheer for them

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COLUMNS

/

Sincere Sarcastic An advice column

How do you know when someone is playing around with your feelings? isabellaFROMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There are many ways to play with someone’s feelings, so it’s hard to determine exactly what you mean from this question.

But someone who is playing with your feelings might give subtle clues as to their true motives.

Asking them for help or for emotional support may get an odd response — this friend is suddenly unavailable or makes some other excuse. They may also try to elicit a certain response from you — saying something really sweet or flirting with you to make you blush — when it feels like they don’t mean what they’re saying or doing.

But when it really comes down to it, it doesn’t actually matter if they are toying with your emotions or not — if you feel you’re being manipulated, something probably isn’t right anyway. If this is a friend who is concerning you, ask them what is going on. Ask them about the specific behaviors that are making you question their sincerity. If this is someone else, possibly a potential boyfriend/girlfriend, then take the hint that your friendship or relationship would have problems since you already feel uncomfortable. Trust your gut when it’s telling you something’s wrong — that’s where the instincts, not the rationalizations, are.

thomasPASTIS

EDITORIAL BOARD

You’re missing something fundamental about human nature. Everyone exists purely to manipulate others for the happiness of watching you suffer. By allowing yourself to feel emotions, you open yourself up to that suffering. Your biggest mistake was assuming that there are people who don’t play around with your feelings.

So, in response to your question, you’re an idiot, and you’re only trying to delude yourself. Everyone hates you; anyone can see that. Even the mere fact that you have to ask means that most, if not all, of the people you call ‘friends’ and ‘loved ones’ are only associating with you to manipulate your feelings for their own personal enjoyment.

However, there’s hope. The name of the game is counter-manipulation. Studies have shown that everyone in the world is out to get you.

Yes, you. Get there first. Enter every relationship assuming that the other person is only associating with you for some sort of sick glee at watching you suffer. After all, if you never experience happiness, you’ve got nothing to lose. It’s only uphill from there.

So, to answer your question, everyone hates you and wants to see you suffer, and the only way to prevent this is to never feel happiness.

How do I stop falling for bad boys?

To make yourself stop doing something, you must change your point of view. Especially if you feel this is a behavior you can’t control. This sounds broad and confusing, but it’s still very important.

In this case, it means changing the way you think about romance, about bad boys, and about yourself.

Romance is very complicated. Relationships can be interpreted in many ways. But falling for someone should be more than falling for an aesthetic.

Which is what the “bad boy” type is — just a look or way of acting.

It’s alright to like a type or the way someone looks. But you can’t let it control the way you make emotional and romantic connections with people. Ask yourself: do you really want to be pining over a guy because he seems dangerous? Doesn’t that sound a little self-destructive? You need to change the script in your head that says “bad boys are attractive.” If you (and only you) decide they aren’t attractive, then you won’t be attracted to them.

Once “falling for bad boys” becomes something you don’t want to do anymore, only you can change your behavior. Realize that if you work hard on something, such as on an essay or on leaving behind your “bad boy” preference, it’ll usually work out for the better.

Well, if I know anything about the female psyche (and who could possibly know the female psyche better than a sociopathic introverted teenage boy), most girls fall for bad boys because they see some sort of redeemable quality in them, and they believe that their problems can be fixed.

Assuming that you can fix someone is both arrogant and misguided.

This assumes that you yourself are perfect and not flawed, and let’s face it; you’re flawed. You wrote to the school newspaper on how to stop falling for bad boys. I’ll put this as nicely as I possibly can. Maybe you shouldn’t try to fix someone if you evoke the qualities of human beings that I despise the most.

So, you shouldn’t be falling for bad boys, but how can you stop? Simply lose your faith in humanity. It’s foolish and pointless for you to see good qualities in anyone, let alone those whom you label as ‘bad boys’. Studies show that everyone on Earth is horribly and irrevocably flawed except me. Think about it. If human beings were virtuous, they wouldn’t package stuff in that plastic mesh which is literally impossible to open? I mean, like, you can’t open those things without a blowtorch. Such a method of packaging could only come out of the darker side of human nature.

In closing, you’re a terrible person just like the rest of them. Except me.

I’m perfect. Don’t argue with me. Since I’m perfect. Pastis out.

Need advice? Send your letters to D101 or message them to the Santa Rosan Facebook page. They will be printed anonymously.

11

COLUMNS

Insight from a quiet observer: #HeforShe

tracyFERNANDEZ EDITORIAL BOARD

In 2001, with the debut of the Harry Potter series, children had Hermione Granger to admire and now, in 2014 they have Emma Watson to respect. Launching the “HeForShe” campaign at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, Watson addresses a prominent issue that continues to persist in today’s society: gender inequality.

Yes, it does exist. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, full-time working women earn 77 percent of men’s earnings. Recently, a bill called the Paycheck Fairness Act aimed to eliminate that pay gap in September by pressuring employers into offering women equal pay as men, but was voted down by Senate Republicans, including all four Republican women, for the the third time since 2012.

If asked, no women would consent to be paid less for the same amount of hours, experience, education, or quality of effort in comparison to her male counterpart. This is inadmissible.

“HeForShe” is a campaign that seeks to end gender inequality—but with a twist. Extending an open invitation, Watson challenges men to join women in the effort to terminate the inequality that exists between both sexes.

Yet, gender inequality is still considered a “female problem”. However, suicide occurs four times more likely among men than women due to societal pressures to be aggressive and not reveal vulnerabilities, according to the Center for Disease Control. Destructive to everyone, gender inequality targets men too.

Though the experiences of men and women

differ in consequence in relation to gender inequality, it is clearly a universal issue, requiring everyone’s participation if change is to be evoked.

Currently 183,829 men have joined the “HeForShe” campaign, and more continue to declare their support. On Twitter, people have taken the pledge to aid in the liberation from gender inequality by posting photos of themselves, promoting the “HeForShe” campaign.

Despite the increasing support for this movement among the public, an essential point of the campaign has been overshadowed by the media.

The “HeForShe” campaign submits a request upon men: advocacy. Silence is unacceptable and actually garnders adverse results. While it is not condoning gender inequality, silence inadvertently perpetuates this behavior because it’s specifically the act of abstaining from speech or action, according to the Oxford Dictionary.

But as Watson so adequately proposed: “Men— I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too.” A collective problem: what will you contribute to this movement?

Get some glasses: Cultural Appropriation

lindsayBRIBIESCAS EDITORIAL BOARD

Halloween is a favorite holiday and why not? It’s a time for eating way too much candy, dressing up in fun costumes, and watching scary movies. But it’s also the most blatant display of cultural appropriation, with an influx of “Indians” and bellydancers and geishas, along with other “cute” and potentially offensive costumes.

Though Halloween may be the most popular and condoned time of cultural appropriation, it is not the only time that this happens. Cultural appropriation is the taking of a specific part of

one culture by another cultural group, without understanding and appreciating the cultural significance and value that comes with it. Typically, minority cultures are the ones being appropriated, many of whom already have a long history of being exploited, and/or continue to be at some disadvantage, socially, economically, or politically.

Celebrities are often some of the worst, and most obvious, offenders. Katy Perry donned full geisha costume, dressed as Cleopatra, and even played a Jewish caricature in her music video for “Birthday.” Not to mention, in her music video for “This Is How We Do,” she creates an amalgam of racist stereotypes and cultural appropriation. She gets her nails done “all Japanese-y,” wears styles like cornrows and gelled baby hairs that are traditionally African-American, and perpetuates harmful stereotypes like an unusual appetite for watermelon.

Not only is cultural appropriation offensive, but it adds insult to injury by allowing the appropriators (white or not) to simply take off their costumes and escape the stigma that may come with that culture. Many people who do not come from marginalized groups fail to understand the history of discrimination, or believe they are appreciating or celebrating a culture when they are, in fact, appropriating it.

So how might one avoid appropriating a culture?

For one thing, acknowledge the culture that is being honored or that was used as inspiration. For another, understand the history of a culture before participating in a cultural activity or wearing cultural clothing. For example, before wearing Native American headdresses, understand that different types of headdresses originate from different tribes (many headdresses worn solely for the aesthetic, combine multiple features of various tribes). Knowing the sacred significance of the headdress, which was traditionally extremely spiritual — and called a “war bonnet” for a reason — may change people’s opinions on appropriate attire.

One of the biggest issues with cultural appropriation is that it usually isn’t intentional. Many people simply don’t realize that cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation are different.

By doing a little research into the history of a “trend,” and deciding whether or not it is okay to participate in that facet of a culture, we may stop marginalizing already struggling groups and begin to truly appreciate our world’s diversity.

At the very least, opt for a ghost costume rather than a Native American this Halloween, and avoid offending anyone.

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Scariest Horror Games: which chilling experience to choose for a night of terror kathyPHAM

thomasPASTIS

STAFF WRITER

EDITORIAL BOARD

A metallic “clink” is heard nearby as you rush to input the passcode for the locked door. You hear the door behind you slide open, followed by a spine-chilling screech. You don’t dare turn around. You want to run.

You want to hide. But it’s too late. The next thing you know, your face is being eaten (not romantically) by the jet-black alien stalker with double sets of silver grills from Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi movie, Alien.

This newly released horror game from Sega, Alien: Isolation, takes place fifteen years after the events from the sci-fi movie. The game follows Amanda Ridley, who’s investigating the disappearance of her mother Ellen Ripley on the space station Sevastopol. Soon, she discovers that a bloodthirsty Alien has infested the station.

A survival horror game, Alien: Isolation requires stealth tactics and careful exit strategies. The alien cannot be killed, therefore making you the prey. It actively hunts using sight, sound, and smell, and adjusts it hunting strategy with each encounter, meaning it isn’t stupid (as much as you wish it was).

The alien isn’t the only thing you should be afraid of, though.

Armed, shady human occupants and bald, aggressive androids roam the ship, making situations even more nerve-racking. The game features some weapons to defend yourself, but other than that, your best weapon is instinct. With stunning visuals and hair-raising ambience, Alien: Isolation is a true sneak-and-creep game. Tip: Silence and patience are your only companions.

So, before I begin, I’d like to point out that I hate the horror genre in general. I don’t like jump scares, and I hate the overwhelming feeling of creepiness that games like Amnesia give the player. Therefore, my favorite horror game is, of course, Luigi’s Mansion for the Gamecube.

To get what I’m talking about, imagine that you’re five, and your mom recognizes that Nintendo games are good or whatever, and since this one has Mario(ish, he’s got a green hat, but close enough), it’s got to be good for her child. Of course, this is the only Mario-themed horror game (that I know of), and for anyone that played that game when they were five, the overwhelming sense of loneliness and helplessness that the mansion gives you was enough to make five-year-old me stop playing.

I don’t care if not one other person on the planet agrees with me.

The game was creepy. The first time I saw that butler was enough to scar me for life. It scared me when I was five, and that’s all that matters.

As I’ve said, I’ve never really been a fan of the horror genre. I don’t like fear as an emotion, and I hate games that make me scared to walk down a hallway in real life.

So, you can keep your Amnesia, you PT, your Containment Breach. The only scares I need are from Luigi’s Mansion.

Plus, the game was legit.

THE

andrewHERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER

GAMING CORNER

The crash you hear from somewhere in the room scares you half to death. As you frantically load new batteries into your camera, you can hear footsteps as something inches towards you. You look up to see a disgusting creature drooling over you. This is one of the many scary sights you’ll see while playing Outlast.

This first person video game, released September 4, 2013 and developed by Red Barrels, mixes your feelings and turns your stomach upside down while playing. Made with Unreal Engine 3.5, you are instantly transported into this super realistic gaming experience.

The story line follows an investigative journalist, Miles Upshur, around Mount Massive asylum, as he tries to uncover the inhumane experiments committed on the patients of the asylum. He is followed around by three people, Chris Walker and two cannibalistic twins.

Throughout the game you encounter many patients (also known as “Variants”) who try to murder you--very aggressively. You are also followed by an entity called the Wal Rider, who caused the escape of the patients.

In case you’re wondering, you protect yourself by pushing enemies out of the way and hiding in lockers and under several things. You get around by vaulting over obstacles and using parkour to climb and get around. You constantly need to find batteries, which you use to power your camera so you can document the series of incidents that unfold.

If you are looking for a real scare this October, I truly recommend this game. Every little thing will make your heart jump in this game, as you will be immersed in it.

jakeESPINOZA STAFF WRITER

The first time you walk through the door at the end of the hall and it opens to the door you first stepped through, you might be confused. As you do this over and over again, you quickly realize that there is no escape. This endless repetition brings to mind the definition of insanity by Albert Einstein.

That is – “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And that’s what P.T. is. It is a terrifying game in which you navigate the same stretch of hallway over and over and over.

One of the most impressive features of P.T. is its ability to terrify without relying heavily on the jump scares that are common in many other horror games. Instead, it builds tension by using repetitive actions to slowly reveal more and more terrifying things. It creates a whirling vortex of terror that causes you to check over your shoulder to make sure nothing is watching you play.

P.T. weaves elements that would be terrifying enough on their own into one vast blanket of dread. For instance, everyone should be familiar with the ominous writing-on-the-wall scenario. But when a terrifying phrase slowly disappears from one place in the hall, only to be eerily completed in another, it takes the suspense and fear to a new level.

The creators of P.T. have done an exceptional job of creating one of the scariest games I’ve ever played. And it’s not even a full game. P.T. stands for Playable Teaser. It is a trailer for the next edition in the series of Silent Hill horror games. And this trailer has done exceptionally well, with over a million downloads and more than 30,000,000 views on different platforms.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

13

Fall and winter music festivals aprilCORREA STAFF WRITER

opalWHITE

MANAGING EDITOR

Although music festivals are identified as being a summertime event (Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza), it may be a surprise to hear that some of the best festivals occur during autumn and winter.

Despite the considerable change in temperature and school becoming a hindrance, fall fests attract thousands of music fanatics stuffing their bags and setting up tents just to hear a good tune.

Many Santa Rosa High School students join the mass numbers of people looking forward to fall and winter music festivals, such as Escape, Hard Day of the Dead, CMJ Music Marathon and Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Rain or shine, winter or summer, people will always flock to music festivals to enjoy their favorite artists and bands.

Dustin Engel (Senior) “The two fall electronic music festivals that I think are going to be the biggest this year are Escape and Hard Day of the Dead.

Both line-ups look amazing, and they are both put on the same entertainment groups that do EDC and Hard Summer. I would definitely go if I had a ride to LA!”

Alondra Maravilla (Senior) “I love music festivals! They give a sense of peace and acceptance.

If I can’t attend them, I will most likely watch a live broadcast or follow the shows on Snapchat (and then cry about not going).

I’m super excited about CMJ Music Marathon and Fun Fun Fun Fest— their line-ups focus more on underground musicians.”

Henry Santos (Sophomore) “I’m excited to watch the live broadcast of EDC Orlando. I’m really looking forward to Krewella’s performance. They have a cool, unique sound plus they’re really hot!”

Photos by Abril Correa

Last minute halloween costumes abbyVOLZ

STAFF WRITER

Not everyone thinks about their Halloween costume ahead of time. It could be a day after last Halloween or a month before this year’s.

Some people just don’t think about it until a week before Halloween. These are just a few ideas to help anyone out of that scary situation.

The Ghost: The bedsheet ghost has been around as long as kids have dressed up for Halloween. Get an old bedsheet, cut two holes out for eyes, there’s your Halloween costume. Simple enough to do it the night before, and creative enough for a costume no one uses anymore.

Charlie Brown: Who can forget about Charlie Brown around this time of year? To make a Charlie Brown costume, do the same steps as the bedsheet ghost, but add a paper bag with “I got a rock” written on it. It’s sure to bring out the inner child, and hopefully make sure you get something better than a rock while Trickor-Treating.

A Sim: This is a costume you don’t even have to change clothes for. Cut a diamond out of green construction paper, attach it to some green (or any other color) pipecleaner, and attach that to a headband. For added measure, speak in Simlish all day or walk into rooms for no reason then walk out.

The Doctor: This does sound challenging if

you plan on dressing up in one of the outfits, but there is a way to be The Doctor without the bowties or pinstripes. Show up dressed as yourself, act a bit confused and say, “Well, I regenerated again. Has anyone seen my tardis?” Say a variation of that whenever anyone asks who you’re dressed up as, and you’ll be as golden as the Time Vortex.

Life: Everyone’s heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Now, put it into action. Wear a shirt that says “Life” and carry around a bag of lemons. If you want, you can even hand them out to people.

50 Shades of Grey: No, we’re not talking about covering yourself with leather or any other extreme fashion choice. Simply go to a paint store, get as many of the grey shade sample cards as you need to make 50 shades all together (might be more or less), and tape them on a shirt. No reading required.

Ceiling Fan: Who doesn’t love pun related costumes? To be a ceiling fan, make a sign with “Ceiling’s #1 fan!” or “Go ceiling!” written on it.

You’ll be the punniest one of the day.

T-Shirts: If you don’t have time to get or make a costume, there are plenty of t-shirts that can work. There are some that say something like “This is My Halloween Costume” while others say “404 Error: Halloween Costume not found.”

Either way, there are a variety of t-shirts that’ll work just as well as a costume.

Photo by Abby Volz

Charlie Brown off to do some trick-or-treating, hoping to get something better than a rock.

14

FOOD/HEALTH

The Birds and the Bees: Body Hair

brynaHAUGEN

BUSINESS MANAGER

The purpose of this article is not only to inform and educate about the human body, but also to spark discussion about topics that have long been viewed as “wrong’ or “inappropriate.” Teenagers deserve to understand their own bodies, and their own sexuality, without shame.

The month of November is home to a cancer awareness campaign, known as “No-Shave No-

vember” or “Novembeard.” The concept is simply to grow out the hair that cancer patients often lose to chemotherapy, and perhaps donate to cancer research as well.

However, the concept of “No-Shave November” can bring to the forefront some questions about hair and shaving in the modern age — specifically, why body hair is considered masculine, and why a lack thereof is considered feminine.

The beginning of shaving can be traced back to Roman and Greek men using sharpened volcanic rock to trim their beards before battle. The more modern trends of armpit, leg, and groin shaving haven’t been common in western culture for longer than a century. In fact, the now common practice of shaving legs only became popularized in America in the 1940s, after hemlines rose.

Armpits were a taboo part of the body well into the 20th century, and it was only when Harpers Bazaar magazine printed an advertisement with a woman’s arms above her head, showing off her shaved underarms, that razors were even produced for women’s use.

Of course, Islamic men and women tradition-

ally remove all body hair because of religious reasons, but the Westernized ideal of a cleanshaven female body is relatively new—so why is it so scandalous to be feminine and hairy, or masculine and shaved?

The truth of the matter is that how much you do or don’t shave really doesn’t matter. Body hair, no matter where it is on the body, is just as hygienic (if not more so, due to the ability to wick away sweat and prevent colonization by odorproducing bacteria) as shaved skin.

Cultural norms have long attempted to regulate what bodies are supposed to look like, but at the end of the day, choosing to shave or not has never been a decision of real consequence. Shaving is purely aesthetic, popularized by companies that profit off of the insecurity in people of all genders.

So this coming month, practice No-Shame November, and remember that no one has the right to police anyone’s body but their own. If someone actually cares what you’re doing with your hair enough to be judgemental, they’re probably not worth giving the time of day anyway.

Dangers and benefits of veganism/vegetarianism geenaESPINOZA STAFF WRITER

As awareness about healthy eating grows, many people —teenage girls in particular—have made the choice to give up meat. In many cases, eating a herbivorous diet is nothing but healthy, but as the number of vegans, vegetarians, and pescetarians rises, so does the risk of malnutrition and other nutritional deficiencies.

In survey of 206 Santa Rosa High School students, 19 female students, or 10% of those surveyed were vegans, vegetarians, or pescetarians.

Of the remaining students, 26% said they would consider changing their diet to exclude meat. The overwhelming majority of those 26% was again, female.

Teen boys may be less inclined to give up meat due to the fact that they are taught by society that they must eat meat to build the “ideal” muscular body, or because eating meat is perceived as “manly”. Sometimes it may just be a question of taste- “Meat tastes better than vegetables,” said freshman Edge Weaver.

Some people choose vegetarianism, veganism, or pescetarianism (a diet where the only meat consumed is fish) because of the environmental impact of the meat industry— massive amounts of natural resources consumed and fossil fuels burned. The exorbitant consumption of water has become especially prevalent in drought-rid-

den California: according to the Water Education Foundation, it takes 2,464 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef.

Others choose to give up meat because of the health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, easier weight loss, and longer lives. Yes, that’s right: according to a twelve-year Oxford study, vegetarians outlive meat eaters by an average of six years. That’s 2,191 extra days of life, simply for giving up meat.

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Vegetarians outlive meat eaters by an average of six years. That’s 2,191 extra days of life, simply for giving up meat.

,,

One of the most common reasons teen girls choose to give up meat is due to ethical issues.

Freshman Hailey King said, “I just don’t like the idea of taking someone or something’s life.” On a more sarcastic note, Freshman Ari Thomas gave her reason as, “Because I hate animals and want to eat all their food.”

Overall, choosing a meat-free lifestyle can be great. The problem is, when teenagers who al-

ready have trouble properly feeding themselves give up meat and/or dairy products, they often don’t know how to get the nutrition required for their growing bodies.

Despite the fact that many teenagers believe they are invincible, the teen years are a fragile time when it is particularly important to eat well.

When one takes meat out of the equation, a large amount of protein, iron, and important amino acids are no longer being supplied to the body. However, staying healthy while consuming a meatless diet can be completely achievable if a proper balance of nuts, legumes (beans), seeds, and whole grains are eaten as a substitute for meat, along with fruits and lots of dark green vegetables.

Most pescetarians and vegetarians can substitute in eggs and cheese as well.

Unfortunately, many teen girls have taken up meat-free diets because it is the “cool” or “hipster” thing to do, without taking their health into consideration. This usually results in girls receiving an insufficient amount of protein and iron.

Overall, becoming a vegan, vegetarian, or pescetarian can be a great decision, but before one makes the choice to change up their diet, they need to understand that it can affect their health in a big way. Anyone interested in making this dietary change should talk to their parents and doctor to make sure this is the right choice to keep them healthy.

SPORTS

Boys soccer: Rosa vs. Rancho

15

aprilCORREA STAFF WRITER

Although there was not an abundance of fans in the stands, the SRHS boys varsity team showed no fear and began their game on a strong foot. Due to their tied game in the past, the varsity team knew they would need to put in their best effort and win against Rancho Cotate. In the end, the game was fought relentlessly. The game closed with the scoreboard shining 3 to 1, Rancho Cotate. As the soccer season comes to a close, the boys varsity soccer team is making sure to end on a strong note.

Photos by April Correa

Above: Senior Fernando Mora Roman scans the bleachers as the varsity team performs its ritual: a close huddle before the game. The team has proven to be less of a team and more of a family.

Left: Teamwork plays a key role in the SRHS varsity team. Freshman Bryan Rosales and Senior Erik Leon work together to succeed in every game.

Girls Tennis takes first place in the League lindsayBRIBIESCAS EDITORIAL BOARD

For the first time in at least twenty years, the girls’ tennis team came in first in the North Bay League, with a record of 12-2. The team has developed considerably over the course of the last five years, with the guidance of Coach Dustin St. John, who joined the team in 2010.

Though most of the team had never played before joining, things began looking up in the 2012 season, due to the consistency of returning players. Several strong players showed themselves early on — senior Haley Lyons quickly established a varsity spot her freshman year, and has held the number one singles position throughout most of her high school career.

Other players won consistently, contributing to the team’s match-to-match success. Seniors Caroline Chu and Chloe Maybrun won 7 out of 8 matches at the number one doubles position, and sophomore Emma Guilfoil ascended quickly from number three doubles to number four singles, winning 12 out of 13 matches. The team heads to NCS in early November, where they will compete with other top teams.

The team’s rapid success can be explained in many ways — the most positive way is one put forth by the coach: “Winning is easier when we’re having fun.”

Photos by Lindsay Bribiescas

Above: Junior Alaina McIntyre serves during a practice. McIntyre is also on the girls basketball team.

Left: Junior Ana Rye returns a high volley.

Rye has been playing all three years that she has attended SRHS.

16

PANTHER LIFE

Friday

WEEK

Monday

Sports Day

Tuesday

Tie Dye Day

Wednesday

Monty Nerd Day

Thursday

Day of Mourning

Extreme ORANGE & BLACK Day

Photos by Lindsay Bribiescas, Sunce Franicevic, Isabella Froman, and Dakota McGranahan