The
www.scotscoop.com
September 2012, Vol IV, Issue I
At last, let there be light By Graham Godwin Staff Writer When the Carlmont football team runs on the field Friday night, Carlmont Athletics will start a new era with the unveiling of a brand new stadium overhaul. After years of speculation and build up, Carlmont will no longer be the only school in the Sequoia Union High School district without lights. “All of freshman and sophomore year I was really embarrassed to play home games [for soccer] because we would never be able to finish our games if it got dark,” said junior Jordan Kiss. District officials did want Carlmont to have lights, but the mission for them was not an easy one. Rumors swirled for years that lights
were on the way, but they never materialized. However, during the second semester of last year, the school held a series of townhall-like meetings to judge the community’s feelings toward the possibility of stadium lights. The feedback was mostly positive, but there were also some setbacks; neighbors were concerned that the school getting new lights would surely mean more traffic and noise in and around their neighborhoods. District officials took the neighbors concerns and crafted a set of guidelines that Carlmont must follow when using the field and lights.
The regulations for using the lights included the following: the lights cannot be used during the weekdays past 8:30 a.m. at night, 10:30 a.m. for football games on Fridays, and cannot be used on either Saturday or Sunday. Carlmont would also be limited to the number of night football games and field usage by other sports will also have its restrictions. After being approved by the school administrators and neighbors the district was able to give Carlmont the money needed to buy and install four floodlights. “School spirit is going to improve with the new lights, especially because night games get everyone very pumped up,” said Varsity Soccer player Jake Retchless, “no matter what sport is playing.” Four 70-foot tall high-tech light poles have been put in around the field, each equipped with bulbs that emit beams directly on the field which reduces unwanted spillage into neighboring areas. These lights will be used
during nighttime sporting events such as football, soccer, and lacrosse. “Whenever the school rented out lights in the past years people would flood to the games, with new lights everyone is going to all the games from here on out,” said junior, Pasha Minkovsky. The new visitor stands will seat 456 people and the added visitor capacity will be accommodated with the increased parking spaces adjacent to the field which also serves as additional parking for seniors and juniors during the day and spectators during sporting events. “The parking spaces for juniors are going to be greatly appreciated, now we won't have to park far away from school and walk in or wait in traffic and be late to class,” stated Kiss. When Carlmont Football takes the field for the first official time on Friday, Sept. 21 against Aragon High School everyone on the field and in the stands will be very proud of all the hard work and effort that went into this massive project.
Construction Consternation Athletes, students and faculty deal with complications By Rachel Schuster Staff Writer
The start of the school year has brought lights and a brand new field to the campus, but the long and unfinished process of acquiring them has taken its toll on Carlmont students. Since the end of school in May, the football team has been working out in the weight room, stirring up strategies, and tearing through their training in order to prepare for the new season. However, due to the recent renovations, the team has been sentenced to practice on the softball and baseball fields. Lines were drawn on the grass of the fields so that the players could continue to practice. But according to football coach Jason Selli, “the dimensions of the field are not accurate, which makes it difficult to gauge timing, run plays, and kick field goals.” Some players have expressed concern due to practicing on an unfamiliar field. “Because we haven’t been playing on the real field, my cleats haven’t been broken in all the way yet,” said junior Tristan Gasperian. “And it’s really annoying that the school year and the football season started, and we still don’t have our own field to practice on.” But even with these worries sifting through some of the players, Coach Selli says that the lack of having a field has not really impacted the players’ attitudes and mindsets.
“We anticipated that there would be a delay. We kind of expected it. But it has not changed the effort of the team,” Selli said. “If anything, they are just really anxious and excited to get onto the new field.” Gasperian confirmed Selli’s statement by saying, “When I saw them lay down the turf, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It looks so professional! I can’t wait to play our first game on it.” In addition to the football team, the unfinished construction has affected other sports such as cross country, as well as students enrolled in P.E. classes. “Since we aren’t allowed on the field or track yet, we have to stay inside during class,” said sophomore Helene Hauregud. “We can’t really do anything inside though because all of our sports are supposed to be played outside.” The atmosphere of the class has also changed, according to Hauregud. “Because we run inside every day, people don’t try as hard, and we have to run more laps. I think I’m going to have more fun once we get to actually go outside instead of being trapped in the gym,” said Hauregud. The administration has also been dealing with the delay in construction, but according to Vice Principal Ralph Crame, it hasn’t been too much of a disruption to the Carlmont community. “We haven’t been getting any complaints about the construction, and it’s not really a distraction in comparison to
other projects Carlmont has had. If anything, it’s more of an inconvenience,” Crame said. Students who usually utilize the field at lunch are not able to play their sports, and students who eat lunch on the bleachers no longer have a place to sit. Although there have been negative effects from the field replacement process, many believe that the benefits will outweigh the detriments. “It’s so much less of a hassle with the built-in lights,” said Vice Principal Robert Fishtrom. “All we have to do now is turn them on instead of bringing out and setting up the portable lights.” Fishtrom and Crame believe that the stadium will bring much more school spirit, attract more attention and attendance to games, evoke more pride within the students, and provide a more community-like feel to Carlmont. “Since we can now have night games, parents who are usually at work can attend. The games can become sort of like a family outing; something for the whole family to do on a Friday night,” said Crame. Fishtrom is very excited to have the new stadium, saying that “we are the last school in the Sequoia Union High School District to get this, and Carlmont really deserves it.” Crame agrees, saying that “even though it was a long process, it’s going to be so worth it.” The new Scots stadium will be ready just in time for the first home game on Sept. 21.
News and Opinions Can your cell phone damage your health?
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Cell phone addiction can cause both mental and physical harm
Carlmont students were brought up around phones, instant communication, and technology. Are we aware of the mental and physical damage that cell phones can create? Instant communication takes up too much time in our lives because we are obsessed with our cell phones. We take cell phones with us wherever we go. We put them in our jean pockets for easy access. When we break them or lose them, we replace them. We check our phones 24/7 to read new text messages. This addiction isn’t healthy because it consumes us from our real lives. When working on homework, we stop and take the time to check our texts. We call our best friends when we hear something shocking. We can’t leave our phones alone for more than five minutes without worrying that we missed substantial news. According to mobithinking.com, at the end of 2011, there were 6 billion people subscribing to mobile phone service. 6 billion people worldwide have contracted the disease. This is the society we are raised in. Doesn’t it seem a little scary? According to msnbc.com, the original Motorola cell phone weighed 2 pounds and gave 30 minutes of talk time for every charging. The phone was literally the size of a brick. In 1989, communication with the Motoro-
la wasn’t easy, considering it’s enormous size, but these days Carlmont students can communicate whenever they want. All it takes is a push of a button. According to stageoflife.com, 54 percent of teenage girls say that their social life would end if they didn’t have a cell phone. But teenage girls aren’t the only ones who obsess with their phones. Society revolves around constant communication. And if mental addiction isn’t enough to understand the problem, there’s the issue of physical health. With over 200 Carlmont students polled, 28 percent thought that cellphones can give one cancer, and they weren’t completely wrong. According to cellphones.procon.org, while cell phones have not been proven to cause cancer, there is a relationship between cell phone usage and the development of brain cancer. Radio frequency emissions can damage blood cells which can lead to cancer and putting cell phones in our front pockets is linked to infertility and an increased risk of a miscarriage. Are these serious concerns? Yes. Cell phones give us instant communication at the expense of real world interactions. The simplest solution to our cell phone addiction is having the mental strength to put our phones down and focus on whatever task is at hand.
It is time that we come out from the dark and diluted world on our cell phones; back
to the real world, where having a conversation with someone face to face is once again normal.
Graphic desgined by Niko Frazier, Kellan McDonough, and Sarah Levin
By Kellan McDonough Multimedia Editor
Robot lands on Mars looking for life
Curiosity, the aptly named Mars rover, landed safely and successfully on Mars’s Gale Crater on Aug. 6, 2012 to the delight of its NASA team and the rest of the country. But with the media hype about being on Mars, the enthusiasm Carlmont students have for the developments seems to be almost nonexistent. “I think the results of it are too far in the future for students to recognize,” said teacher and robotics supervisor Laura Robeck. “Not as many people have an interest in it.” As part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), Curiosity was sent to Mars by NASA for specific purposes: to determine the landing site's habitability, or its potential to develop and sustain life, including the role of water, the study of the climate and the geology of Mars. Curiosity was launched on Nov. 26, 2011 from Florida’s Cape Canaveral and started the nearly eight month long journey to the red planet of Mars, with a confirmed landing at exactly 1:32 AM EDT on Aug. 6. When asked about the rover, students know that it did in fact land on Mars and it’s moving around, but that’s about it. “I think it landed in some crater - I think it's the Gale Crater - on bedrock. I only know that because my mom told me,” commented Cate Sue, a sophomore. Curiosity’s landing site, named after the late writer Ray Bradbury, and Gale Crater were chosen specifically for the purposes of this exploration due to its prime location and its unusual topography. In the middle of the crater, Mount Sharp’s peak extends 18,000 feet above the crater floor. As well as not being well informed about the landing of
Photos courtesy of NASA
By Virginia O’Callahan Staff Writer
Photo of Mars taken by Curiousity
the rover, students didn’t know that this wasn’t the first time NASA has sent rovers to Mars. Before Curiosity, twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars in Jan. 2004 in search of rocks and soil that could have held clues to past water activity on Mars. The rovers found possible signs that Mars had at one point had liquid water on its surface in the past. Like Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity will search and identify types of rocks and soil, but more for the purpose of analyzing the surface and local geological setting in order to detect chemical building blocks of life on Mars. It will also assess what the martian environment was like in the past, according to NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory webpage. “I think it will find rocks. Or ice and some evidence of water,” said Samuel Bunk, a senior. Sue agreed, “I'm pretty sure there is evidence of the pos-
sibility of liquid water on Mars, and where there's water there might be life.” The information received on Curiosity’s mission can determine whether or not a manned mission to Mars can take place sometime in the future and the habitability of the planet. “It would be interesting to know more about Mars's past,” replied Sue. “I would like to find out if there was ever life on Mars.” Pictures and videos from Curiosity’s mission are released to the public via NASA’s website as they come, showing the rover’s movements and what the rover sees as it searches for clues over the landscape. “I think students need to have a love for space to appreciate it, and not as many people do,” said Robeck. According to NASA’s mission statement, Curiosity’s mission is set to last about 23 Earth months, or one Mars year.
News and Opinions
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Eleven years later, and it’s still around
An attack that will never leave our memories
By Niko Frazier Staff Writer
are extremists. There have been illegal wiretaps, “prisons” to hold the suspected and actual terrorists. Two presidents have conducted and approved these methods, one starting the wars, and another continuing, turning a blind eye towards, or in the rare instances, shutting them down. Movies have been made because of this, movies like The World Trade Center, shining a light onto the heroes that lost their lives, or movies like The Green Zone, that showed the failed efforts to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the sole purpose for invasion. Student Andrew Durlofsky said, “I was 7, I wasn't totally clear what was going on. I was probably in school but I can’t remember exactly” is the standard explanation to the student memory of the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. When you ask an adult where they were when they heard the news about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, they would tell you one of two answers. The exact time and spot where they found out, or the answer that they were not born yet. But in the case of the Carlmont students, there are millions of possibilities.
“Watching the towers fall down was one of the most memorable moments in my life - I have never had such a feeling of emptiness inside of me.” - Jaime Abdilla, Carlmont biology teacher
Photo taken by Grace Chang
When it first hit the news, everyone was shocked. People did not know what was happening. Were we under attack? How could this happen on American soil? Eleven years ago, two planes hit the North and South
Towers of the World Trade Center. A third plane hit the Pentagon, and another crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Many students remember the following years, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the increased security all over our nation and the world. Many feared we were under attack, many did not know what would happen next, was there going to be another attack? Freshman students were mostly still in pre-school, Seniors in first grade. We remember the years following, the annual presidential speech, the flag at half mast and the media coverage. Everyday, people are impacted by the consequences of the nineteen hijackers that killed approximately three thousand Americans. Years later, students may not remember that day, but realize the effects, the lives lost. “It really changed the world we are living in - more security at airports, ball parks, etc, more regulations, racial profiling towards people of Arabic descent,” commented instruction Vice Principal Robert Fishtrom. And he is right, people have suffered, not only the families that have lost loved ones, but the Islamic believers that have been put in the spotlight because of the small percent of their religion that
An in-depth look at high school English
By Sarah Levin Staff Writer
Sigmund Freud once famously claimed that “sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar,” making the point that some things can, and should, be taken at face value. High school literature, apparently, is not one of those things. Overanalyzation is, in my opinion, one of the greatest pitfalls in a subject I am unashamed to call my favorite. English class has always been enjoyable for me; I have no problem with reading thick volumes in a short amount of time, or deciphering complex vocabulary. I even enjoy Shakespeare. My only real problem with the subject is when a great work (i.e. The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet) is turned from a classic to nothing more than homework through a ridiculous amount of overanalysis. Why is it that we can never seem to accept the fact that the author may have, in fact, used things such as colors and sounds without giving them some underlying meaning? Take a sentence such as, “The curtains were dark blue to match the drapes.” Now, of course, the author may have meant the color blue to symbolize the deep anguish and anxiousness that the main character was feeling, coupled with the recent death of his father. Couldn’t they just be blue to match the drapes? If they had been red, would that change the overall meaning of the book? Peter Ravenelle, a senior in AP English, believes that a gross amount of analyzation makes English classes difficult and unlikable- especially for younger students. “I think the upperclassmen can handle going into that much detail, because we’re used to it by now,” he stated. “But freshmen and sophomores should be able to enjoy the books they read, without analyzing them to death. Otherwise, they’ll never like English for the rest of their lives.” Senior Emma Smith agreed with Ravenelle, and also pointed out that reading with analysis in mind causes kids to either read too quickly or too slowly for their own tastes. “I read fast,” she claimed, “but when other kids don’t get a small piece of the analysis, or don’t agree with the teacher, we have to go back and read it again, more slowly. It takes whatever fun there was out of reading.” If all this analysis makes English so boring and difficult to deal with, is it really necessary to go into that much detail? Well, according to Anne Frost, a sophomore and senior English teacher, analysis is a critical skill not just for English class, but in life in general.
“For the rest of your life,” she claimed, “you’re going to need to know how to analyze things in detail. You get real-life experience from that, no matter what you’re reading. Plus, it’s a standard that students need to be well-versed in close analysis.” According to Frost, having classes at mixed levels (aside from AS and AP) means that reading in class and reading slowly is necessary, as it makes sure all members of the class are on the same page. “Sometimes the language and style of the book is a barrier, or the material is too dry for the student to grasp. Analysis makes sure everyone is getting something out of the experience.” Eliza Hunt said that in her past four years at Carlmont, she’s enjoyed the analysis she has done. “If a kid is predisposed to like reading and English,” she explained, “then of course he’s going to hate analysis. I like it, though. Reading books like The Great Gatsby is a lot more enjoyable when you actually know what the author was trying to communicate through symbolism and language.” Frost pointed out that, “there will always be those kids who walk in saying ‘I already know how to speak English; why do I need to be here?’ They don’t find the work interesting so the point of the analysis, in my class and others, is to make it real for them.”
Photo taken by Grace Chang
Sometimes, blue is just blue, and a fish is just a fish
The Highlander Editor-in-Chief: Gianna Dimick
Managing Editor:
Online: Erica Valbusa
Back Page:
Alex Porter
Carly Bertolozzi
News and Op:
Multimedia:
Grace Chang
Campus: Jacob Rudger
Features: Anna Wheeler
Sports: Ryan Freeman
Kellan Mcdonough
Faculty Adviser: Justin Raisner
Staff Writers: Gabriela D’Souza Nikos Frazier Ivan Garin Graham Godwin Matthew Harris Sabrina Leung Sarah Levin Conrad May Virginia O’Callahan Rachel Schuster Annie Wesolek
The mission of The Highlander is to accurately and honestly cover communal as well as school events. As a student run open forum newspaper, we strive to incorporate multiple views and represent the diverse community at Carlmont.
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Features
Flipping the classroom: the new teaching technique The new teaching technique that two Carlmont teachers are employing in order to make the most out of class time
The image above is a screenshot of the Carlmont AP Calculus page on Facebook.
Teachers at Carlmont are trying a new style of teaching called “flipping the classroom” that allows more time in class for school work. “Flipping the classroom” means students watch pre-recorded videos of the teacher doing lecture at home, so at school the “homework” portion can be done during class. Melissa Hero, a biology teaching using the new system, noticed that is was “really easy for [her] students to take notes without thinking.” With this new setup students can do the easier note-taking at home, allowing time for review, interpretation, and analysis in class with the teacher for deeper understanding. Amber Mills, a math teacher also using the new system, enjoys the benefits of more activity in class saying, “Students receive more help from their classmates and teacher.” Another benefit of “flipping the classroom” is the ability to pause, rewind, fast forward,and repeat the videos, letting students watch and learn at their own paces. A majority of the students enjoy the new classroom setting, but some still like the traditional way of learning. Cayla Rahmani, a senior at Carlmont, prefers the old system commenting, “The videos are not as helpful as a classroom would be, because I really like learning from a teaching, so I can ask questions during the work.” Some students miss the interactions of other students asking questions during lecture, and thus expanding their learning with others. Another set back to “flipping the classroom” is easily getting lost because a student fails to watch a video, thus not learning the day’s assignment. “Students need to make sure to actually watch the videos,” stated Mills, stressing the responsibility of the students.
Poll designed by Alex Porter
By Alex Porter Managing Editor
The key to success is motivated and dedicated students who want to expand their learning by utilizing the extra time in class. So far there has been a positive response from both the students and teachers. Mills said, “I’m really enjoying it. I love the students’ energy and they are more engaged.” Although Hero and Mills are the only teachers at Carlmont currently using the system, the positive feedback has gotten
Poll conducted of Carlmont students currently enrolled in a flipped classroom.
the attention from other teachers. The idea of “flipping the classroom” has already been blogged and written about, but it is up to the teacher and students to find what it most comfortable for their class. Both teachers decided “flipping the classroom” was best for their classes due to a restriction of time during class. “Why spend one-on-one time with a teacher during the easy stuff and do the hard work at home?” questioned Hero.
Features
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Community colleges vs. four year colleges By Anna Wheeler Features Editor
College is a huge part of life after high school in the United States. In fact, 50 percent of citizens either graduate from college or complete a certain amount of college. This statistic, however, can be further broken down: what percentage of students attend community colleges? What percentage of students go to a four year college? Even this can be broken down into more detail: what percentage of students go to a school within the University of California school system? The California State University system? A private school? An out-of-state public school? The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to choosing a college. There are many different factors to consider when finding the right college. Students attempting to find where they want to go are influenced by a variety of things:
to have much more flexibility when it comes to scheduling and degrees. They also tend to provide a much more well-rounded education than community colleges: students are given the opportunities to participate in clubs, on-campus activities, cultural events, and much more. “I’ve always wanted to go to a four year college because I think they’re just stronger schools,” Andrew Durlofsky, a senior, said. Regardless of Durlofsky’s enthusiasm for four year colleges, there is still the lingering question of cost: how big of a dent does education at a four year college make? On average, a public four year school costs around $8,000 for in-state tuition per year. Room and board costs around $7,000 per year. Private schools cost around $28,000 for tuition and around $10,000 for room and board, a total of $38,000. Others find a way to incorporate both types of education into their college experience by attending a community college for two years and then transferring to a four year college. By doing so, cost is reduced. Furthermore, many students choose to get their basic course requirements out of the way at community college, thus allowing them to focus on their chosen major. “I’m planning on going to a community college and then transferring to a UC so I can get all the boring, basic classes out of the way,” stated J.R. Vitale, a senior.
Graphics designed by Sabrina Leung and Gabby D’souza
location, cost, programs, sports, academic rigor, and much more. Different types of schools offer so many different advantages. For example, community colleges: community colleges seem very logical to many – in fact, nearly half of the country’s undergraduates attend community colleges. In 2009, 44 percent of all U.S. undergraduates went to a community college. Community colleges tend to be much more vocational. Because of this, many believe that attending a community college increases lifetime earning potential. In fact, in an article on www.usatoday. com, Jill Biden, second lady of the United States, states that community colleges help meet “the specific needs of employers” and help “get workers into good-paying jobs that allow them to provide.” Furthermore, community college makes sense to many people economically. According to the College Board, community colleges cost an average of $2,963, which is much less than the average cost of a four year college, whether public or private. Others believe that four year colleges are the better choice. Four year colleges, although generally more costly than community colleges, have their advantages as well. Going to a four year college allows a student
Building the perfect applicant
Students’ attempts to improve their chances of being accepted to colleges By Sabrina Leung Staff Writer The competitive and selective college admissions process has caused many students to feel anxiety, stress and worry about creating the perfect resume for their college application. Creating a new club at school, volunteering at food banks, taking college preparation summer courses and an abundant amount of Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced Standing (AS) classes for a 5.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) to impress has been a common activity in selective college admissions. “One of my groups of friends join every camp, learn at least one instrument, and ‘volunteer’ every possible opportunity, not out of passion, but for the sake of college,” said senior Masaya Takahashi. To most students, one of the most important pieces of the college application is their transcript. The course selection reveals the student’s academic drive and how well they handled the heavy academic schedule. However, because each advanced course offers five points compared to four in a regular course, some students have found themselves taking between four to six AP/AS courses for the weighted 5.0 GPA on their transcript. “GPA is such an important factor when it comes to getting into college. It’s vital for me at least to keep up my GPA so that I am a fair
competitor for college admissions,” affirmed junior Leesan Kwok. Similarly, Yale University states that, “The single most important document in your application is the student’s high school transcript. We look for students who have successfully and consistently taken a broad range of challenging courses in high school.” Additionally, Yale questions students, “Are you choosing a particular course because you are truly excited about it and the challenge it presents, or are you also motivated by a desire?” Grades are not the only factor in college admissions. Due to the competition, students have pushed themselves even further, such as taking on leadership roles and volunteer activities to create the ‘ideal’ resume. “The colleges look for more than just 4.0s [unweighted GPA], such as community service and leadership. One has to meet this minimum criteria in order to be in the competitive pool of students,” added Takahashi. Extracurricular activities allow students to reveal their leadership skills, gain experience in a variety of areas that will enhance their future and reveal hidden interests to colleges. Shelby Wallace, Director of Admissions at Norwich University states, “Many colleges look to see that students are involved outside the classroom to show that they are wellrounded.” Although extracurriculars reveal to colleges a well-rounded and passionate student,
others have found their peers’ overextend themselves by taking on too many activities or committees in an organization and engage in extracurricular activities just to pad their college resume. “Some people are absolutely committed to their clubs while others only take up the position to make their resume look better. Students should not design their high school experience only to look good for a college. I don’t think colleges like to see a bunch of random ‘stuff’ that you do only to put on your application,” stated Kwok. In addition to an abundant amount of extracurriculars and advanced placement courses, many students have found their parents paying thousands of dollars for SAT/ ACT preparation courses from Kaplan, Princeton Review and Ivymax to help students earn a perfect score of 2400. These companies also offer personal college counselors, costing between $10,000 to $30,000, who help students throughout their high school career with their application to create the ‘perfect’ resume and fulfill their dreams of acceptance into notable and prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Stanford or Columbia. Although test preparation companies have shown proven results and improved test scores among a variety of students, some have found no advantage taking these courses. “I took a five week SAT preparation course in the summer before my senior year. The course didn’t help me much-I recommend
taking practice tests. Some people do very well without studying much or at all and get into great colleges,” commented senior Lauren Bruguera. Stellar grades, high test scores and long lists of extracurricular activities may be appealing to colleges; however, some are mistaken that that these factors automatically guarantee acceptance to the college of their choice. According to Harvard University, “There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Many are ‘well rounded’ and have contributed in various ways to the lives of their schools. Others bring perspectives formed by unusual personal circumstances or experiences. We seek people with enthusiasm, creativity and strength of character.” Likewise, Bruguera noted that students should take or engage in activities based on their interests and consider applying colleges that best fit their interests, career goals instead of its national ranking and prestigious name. “There are so many schools that offer a fantastic college experience, educationally and otherwise. It’s not all about getting into the ‘best’ school, but what you make of the overall college experience. It’s important to ask yourself what you want, not what you think the colleges wants out of you.” Excellent grades and extracurriculars are some factors of potential acceptance into prestigious colleges and universities, but one’s passion, interests, and personality are the main factors that will stand out and be noticed by the college acceptance board.
Edward Lieven Smart, Band
“I really enjoy working with young people. Getting them engaged is very fulfilling.” -Gray
Mary Guinn, Spanish
Lindsey Moynihan, History
photos by Matt Harris and Alex Porter
Stephan Lucia, English
Kenneth Nadeau, Physics
“Working with students and making a difference in people’s lives is important to me, literature can offer so much insight into the human condition, I like my students to think about complex issues.” -Lucia
Martine Demaily, Math
Back to School Welcome to Carlmont!
Ashley Gray, History
Sarah Cane, English
Mihal Nozik, Science
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Carlmont’s campus gets a summer makeover By Gabriela d’Souza Staff Writer At the start of the new school year, there are not only new faces at Carlmont, but also many new physical features. From the new turf, bleachers, and stadium lights, to the new floors in D hall, and the gravel that replaced some of the few grassy areas on campus, Carlmont’s image has once again changed. The turfed field has been redone due to an eight year policy agreement stating that every eight years, or when the turf is heavily worn down, the school must replace it for various reasons including safety and functionality. “I really like the new stadium in general, the field looks fantastic and our logo in the middle just tops it off,” stated Tristan Gasperian, varsity defensive tackle.
For many years, Carlmont has been the only high school in the Sequoia Union District without stadium lights, thus making Carlmont unable to host many night football, soccer, or lacrosse games unless the school was willing to rent out floodlights, which tend to be quite costly. As a result of this issue, the district decided to fund the purchase and installment of stadium lights to go along with the overhaul of the school athletic facilities. With this decision, the Carlmont administration chose to also set up new bleachers in order to separate the fans attending the games and a new parking lot for extra student and athletic parking. “The new field [and facilities] will increase school spirit, it’s awesome and [we] feel very fortunate to have it [all],” said the instructional vice-principal Robert Fishtrom.
Many students and teachers, especially those involved in athletics, view the new field and its equipment as a prideful addition to the campus. “Playing under the lights at home is going to bring a new experience to everyone at Carlmont. I know I can’t wait to play on the new field, and I can speak for the team on saying that too. It’s going to be an excellent year!” proclaimed Gasperian. Another improvement to the campus are the new floors in D hall which have been put in the classrooms due to the heavy amount of rainfall last year that caused flooding throughout D hall and the classrooms. With the new tile floors replacing the carpet, the school hopes to eliminate damage done to that area of campus and increase cleanliness within the classes. An additional area that has been strongly
affected by floods was B hall where gravel has now become prevalent replacing old grass patches to install proper drainage for floods. “The gravel patches are temporary,” said Fishtrom, “we hope to put in brick pavers and tables, similar to those in the quad.” Carlmont has also begun to face a shortage of lockers to accommodate to the growing student body. To fix this problem administration has begun to take lockers away from seniors and give them to freshman. “Nine out of every ten lockers we search are empty; [to our knowledge] seniors have the fewest books and use their lockers less,” said Fishtrom. This problem is both a financial and availability issue that will continue unless the school is able to come up with the funds for this project.
photos by Alex Porter
The hallways between D and E hall are being renivated. They have been cleared and filled with gravel. All pathways will soon look like the one on the far right.
Back to School
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The FRESHMEN SURVIVAL GUIDE Most of the confusion associated with freshman year can be linked to the lack of knowledge incoming freshman have about the way Carlmont operates. Here are some tips and general information to help freshman and uninformed upperclassmen survive the year.
BELLS:
In the mornings and during lunch there are three warning bells: the ten minute, the six minute, and the one minute bell. Each bell has a certain distinct ring, but the chances are that despite the four years of practice you will have, you will never be able to tell the bells apart. Freshman Ella Reich said, “For me, I'm always confused in the morning before school starts. I never know which bell is the five minute bell or the one minute bell or the late bell.” (Quick tip: You can gauge the bells based upon your own sense of time or the reaction of passing students. Still, if you have absolutely no idea which bell has rung, you can always ask another student.) Due to the fact that the bells are timed in accordance with an unreliable clock in the office, there is a chance that they’ll be slightly off on any given day.
BATHROOMS/ WATER FOUNTAINS:
A common misconception about campus bathrooms is that they are all outdated and unsanitary, but there are newer and cleaner bathrooms on campus. The bathrooms in the newly constructed Biotech building and Performing Arts Center are the newest bathrooms on campus and if you’re lucky enough to have a class in either of those building, you should take advantage of them. (Quick tip: The best water fountain on campus is on the right side of E hall. Sure it looks like a toilet, but it has the coolest water and the best water pressure.)
RULES AND PROCEDURES:
At Carlmont there are some procedures that are necessary to learn. In middle school if you needed to leave campus you had to be picked up by a parent. However, because Carlmont has a large percentage of student drivers, Carlmont has a system that allows students to leave school for special circumstances. To leave campus you must take a note that has been signed by a parent and explains the reason you will be leaving campus to the attendance room in A9 before the school day starts. You are then given a yellow slip of paper, which you must show to your teacher when you leave their class. (Quick tip: Commit your ID number to memory because like in prison, your ID number is your new first name.)
LIBRARY:
The Carlmont library can be a great academic resource. The library is open Monday through Friday from 7:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. All Carlmont students have library account that are assigned freshman year. This year, due to under funding, Carlmont library only has two librarians. This means that there is a higher chance that the library could be closed. During these times, there
will be a sign posted on the front library door explaining the closure. (Quick tip: If for any reason you need to print, check out a book, or use any of the library resources, you should plan ahead. You never want to miss a deadline if the library is unexpectedly closed.) The Carlmont library has a lot of rules and procedures that should be followed, such as: always show your IDs when in the library, no food or drink in the library, and no phones or music players. To learn more about the library rules, go to Carlmont High School website under the student tab and search for the library link. Printing at the library is not always free. The first four pages of text that you print at the library are free, but every page after that cost 10 cents each. To print a page with graphics cost 25 cents each. (Quick tip: If you want to print for free you should go to the tutoring center after school.)
TUTORING:
Most Carlmont students don’t know it, but there is a tutoring center after school on campus. The Tutoring Center is open on Tuesdays,Wednesdays, and Thursdays in room D23 from 2:30p.m. to 4:15p.m. At the tutoring center you can get help with your core classes, research a paper, or just study in a quiet place. The last bit of advice that will aid you in your academic career at Carlmont is that you don’t have to be in a rush; sometimes it is nice to stop for a minute and enjoy campus life. Mateen Nozzari is a freshmen at Carlmont and posed as one of his confused peers.
photo by Jacob Rudger
By Annie Wesolek Staff Writer
Campus Parking lot opens spots for seniors Page 8
Erica Valbusa Online Editor
Beginning in September, seniors who drive to school will have more say in where they choose to park. Construction for another student parking lot began the week after graduation in June. The idea for the new lot went hand-in-hand with the field project, which included the installation of stadium lights, new bleachers, and new turf. The estimated cost of the project as a whole was $900,000. The new parking lot, which meets Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, was originally calculated to cost $120,000 of the budget. The lot also includes lighting for security purposes. The School Board and the Superintendent liked the thought of having another parking lot to serve as student parking and overflow parking for school events. “We expect to see an increase in the attendance of games at the school, so the new lot would not
Photo by Graham Godwin
The new parking lot will be available to both seniors and juniors who have purchased a permit, and is located behind the Scots Gym. There is also new turf for Track & Field (bottom left).
only increase the amount of student parking, but also provide those who come to the games with more parking,” stated Administrative Vice Principal Ralph Crame. The entrance to the new parking lot is connected to the existing driveway and staff parking area near the Scots Gym.
With 44 spaces, the new lot is less than half the size of the original senior lot, which has over 100 spaces. “Adding a parking lot will keep cars off of the street, which means that the neighbors will be happier,” added Crame. Permits for both lots sold for $100. Only seniors were able to
buy permits the first few days they were issued. Once that window had passed, juniors were able to buy permits for any remaining spots. Permit sales for the senior lot began during lunch on Sept. 6 and were made only available to seniors until Sept. 11. By Sept. 7, all of the permits for the senior lot had been sold to seniors. Therefore, no juniors were permitted to park there. A specific datefor when permits for the new lot will be sold could not be released by press time, but they are expected to come within the next week. Once the new lot is officially approved, permits can go on sale. However, unlike the senior lot, any student with a driver’s license may park in the new lot. Purchased permits may only be used for one lot. If a student buys a permit for the original senior lot, he or she can only park there. The same rule applies for those who buy a permit for the new lot.
This year, the red permits are for the senior lot and blue permits are for the new lot. Despite the option to park in the newly constructed lot, many students will continue to park in the original parking lot and various other locations including the Tongan Church, Chula Vista Drive, and El Verano Way. “I’m still going to park in the church parking lot because it’s free,” commented senior Josh Yolland. “I’m going to continue to park in the senior lot because it is closer to where I live and it is easier to access,” added senior Laura VanArsdel. In order for construction to begin on the new lot, the existing discus area for track and field had to be relocated. Track and field team member Mindy Yang is excited about the relocated discus area for the upcoming season. “The old discus place was always uneven and muddy,” stated Yang.
nect with the students by telling her own personal story of how she overcame an eating disorder after 10 years. She reminded students of how all she wanted was for “someone to notice, someone to care enough to help”. Her proposal for Carlmont students was to do exactly that, to care. To care for yourself, but also to smile at someone in the hallways, to not whisper behind someone’s back, to not judge people in the same way that the voice from the front row
of the assembly did. This was her proposal and it is up to Carlmont students to take it on. Carlmont student Danny Akkel came and stood next to Armstrong and was asked how he connected to the presentation. He admitted that he himself, ever since he was eight, has been called fat by his mom, his sister and people at school. He wisely told the school, “sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will fester and screw you up completely.” As the assembly came to a close, a few girls came up to Armstrong crying, thanking her for her inspirational presentation. Others, however, were not so impressed and did not think things would change at Carlmont. Kyla Puzon, a senior, stated “no one’s actually going to go out and announce they have an eating disorder because of an assembly.” It is not that students did not find the presentation to be relevant to them. When Armstrong asked the whole school to stand up and then to sit down if you have ever been less than 100% completely comfortable with your body, only about eight people stayed standing. Carlmont has been forced to look at the issue differently, crossing number one and two off the list, but number three has yet to come.
Body Image: will it make a difference? By Gianna Dimick Editor-in-chief
“She’s got a fat booty.” These are the words whispered not so quietly by the girl in the front row during a 22 minute video that, ironically, is on body image. Over two thousand Carlmont students spent an hour and a half crammed into the gym to hear Stephanie Armstrong, a member of the Teen Truth organization, present the message of the body image assembly: “Love yourself, love others and be healthy.” The Teen Truth organization has presented at Carlmont before, most recently two years ago to make students aware of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. This, however, was the first assembly Carlmont has ever watched that brought up such a taboo topic, a subject no one wants to talk about, a subject that makes most adolescents uncomfortable. Kaela Ismael, a senior at Carlmont and a representative of the ASB assembly team, admits that the ASB class had some reservations when it came to booking the body image presentation. Prior to the start of the assembly she stated, “it could be negatively perceived, like we know it’s not a subject everybody is crazy about.”
Armstrong agreed that other subjects are less touchy, “bullying and drugs and alcohol are a lot easier [to talk about] because we can see it.” Nevertheless, Armstrong confidently gave her presentation. She started off by stating that she “was not here to waste time,” but here for three reasons: 1. To give students a voice. 2. To challenge them to think differently on an issue that teens face every day. 3. To empower Carlmont students to make a difference. With that, she played a video filmed by other teenagers that described the challenges everyone deals with when it comes to body image. It started with a teenage girl who said, “the world is so shallow that it has taught me
that my body is who I am.” The video continued on highlighting other teenagers with different problems from eating disorders to use of steroids. Armstrong tried to further con-
Last year, the main announcers were J-Rudge and the Lightsaber; more formally known as Jacob Rudger and Michael Saber. Students became very familiar with their voices, as Rudger and Saber spoke to the entire student body on a daily basis. This year there is going to be a rotation of announcers that will change weekly. With twelve announcers in total, the lineup will include all of the class officers. This way, students will never know whose voices to expect. There are three announcers for the senior class, Jacob Rudger, Kim Bean and Max Mcbride. The
junior class also has three announcers, Reggie Chatman, Claire Porter and Claire Noemer. Sophomore announcers are James Pak, Amanda Breslauer and Adam Cobb. And newly-elected freshman class officers, Timmy Miller, Mateen Nozzari, and Tori Shanefelter. Many students were excited about last year’s announcers and can’t wait to hear more from the new announcers. Jack Tilly said, “I really like the announcements because I like to hear about what is going on in the campus and they are a lot of fun to listen to.” Although many students enjoy listening to the announcements,
Fresh voices for the daily announcements By Conrad May Staff Writer
A variety of new voices have hit the Carlmont campus. And now, students will never get bored during daily announcements. Right before lunch starts every day, the announcements are played throughout the entire school through the public announcement system. The announcements give Carlmont students information about what is going on around campus and the local community, as well as focusing on school sports, opportunities around campus, and school clubs.
some students have trouble hearing the announcements, due to students using the announcements as time to talk to their friends. Junior Talon Bartolo said, “Usually I can’t hear the announcements at all because everybody is talking and it’s really annoying because sometimes you miss important things that are being said.” Some students are disappointed at the shortage in time of the announcements. “I wish that there was a little more time for the announcements because I feel like we received a lot more information in past years and I like getting to just hang out in class listening to the
announcements,” said senior Nick Rich. At the start of last year, five minutes was allotted to the daily announcements, but both this year and the end of last year there is only time for three minutes due to new seven minute passing periods. The announcements are also posted on Scots Scoop News, the online news page for Carlmont. The announcements are a key part of our everyday schedule and help information get passed throughout Carlmont and help keep the students informed, and now students will be able to hear a wide variety of voices on the PA system.
Extras What’s your Horoscope?
Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Are you feeling crazy? Are you ready to go wild?! Well, thats unfortunate. This month, it’s time for you to calm down and clean the messy hole in the wall that you call your room. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): You will find yourself very emotional this September. It’s a really good time to start stocking up on ice cream and chocolate because you’ll desperately need it towards the end of the month. Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Congratulations! This month you will discover that you’re actually insane. Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The universe likes you this month. It shall grant you three wishes, but there’s no guarantee that any of them will come true.
Libra (September 23 – October 22): Your life will suck this month. You’re going to get grounded for something silly, and you are going to get phone privileges taken away. It’s the perfect time to rebel! Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): You will meet the guy or girl of your dreams while walking down the street. Turns out they are already taken. Too bad, so sad. Aries (March 21 – April 19): This month you will feel very charitable. This is a good thing! Where to start with this newfound generosity of yours? Try making friends with a hobo.
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*For entertainment purposes only
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): September is going to bring you great fortune. The stars are aligned just right and the odds are ever in your favor. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): You’re feeling very moody this month, so you will be snapping at people left and right. Who needs friends? Not you... especially not after you’ve scared them all away. Taurus (April 20 – May 20): People will take advantage of your kind and caring nature this month, especially with regards to homework. Don’t be such a pushover! Give them all the wrong answers.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Feeling lucky this month? Well think again, because you’re not. In fact, everything you do this month will turn out exactly how you don’t want it to. The best thing to do is stay inside your house and hide.
Leo (July 23 – August 22): You’re a super nice person and everyone loves you! People call you their good luck charm and you always bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Luckily for you, nothing tragic will happen this month.
College representatives visit Carlmont seniors By Rachel Schuster Staff Writer
Students have a unique opportunity to make contact with a person who may be evaluating their application in the future. The meeting provides students with a During September and October of every specific contact at the college to whom year, admissions officers from selective colthey can send questions. leges travel to schools all over the country to Sometimes representatives, particularly meet with high school students. ones from state universities, will give an In small groups, these representatives early read on students’ transcripts, test discuss topics such as the academic programs, scores and course selections during their campus life, financial aid, and admission visits. This helps students assess their fit at procedures of their college, answering any that institution and figure out what they questions the soon-to-be college freshmen can do to improve their chances of getting may have. “The reason I’m here is simple,” said a rep- in. It’s an opportunity to bring to attention resentative from Duke University, who came a college that the student may not have and spoke to Carlmont students this past considered before. Wednesday, Sept. 12. “I’m here to meet kids This past week, three different college that hopefully I will be seeing around my representatives have visited the Carlmont campus one day. I have no hidden agenda, campus, and there are many more schedI’m just here to answer questions and help uled to come and speak to students. out kids who need a little direction.” “I thought that the rep from [Duke According to the College Board, there are University] was so helpful,” said senior six main reasons why students should attend Josh Yolland. “I had so many questions meetings with college representatives: and he answered all of them and was Students have a chance to meet face-to-face really friendly. He made me rethink a with a representative in a familiar environlot about where I want to apply and the ment and ask specific questions. benefits of each college that I am considStudents can let the college representative ering.” know that they are seriously interested.
Senior Natasha Stergiou agreed with Yolland. After the meeting she attended, she said that she “had never really considered [University of Colorado, Boulder] before, but now that I’ve learned so much more about it, I think it’s one of my top choices!” All that a student must do to attend these meetings is go to the College Center at the scheduled time of the representative’s visit and write down their ID number on the sign-in sheet. From there, they will automatically be
excused from class. To find more information on college representatives visits, including a schedule of which college representatives are coming on what days, a student should go under the “college tab” on the Naviance website. *Taken from Scot Scoop News
Sports New cheer coach strives to improve spirit Page 10
By Carly Bertolozzi Design Chief
Kara Jankowski, 21, has been hired by P.E. Athletic Director Patrick Smith as Carlmont High School’s new cheerleading coach for the 2012-2013 school year. Due to former cheerleading coach Jelica Baker’s resignation, Smith used cheerleading websites and other cheerleading connections to search for a qualified candidate to fill the position. What he came across was a former cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders with “amazing organization skills,” and who is a “wonderful communicator,” said Smith. According to Smith, there were three applicants for the coaching position, however with the background and skills that Jankowski possesses she was the most promising choice for Carlmont. Jankowski not only has the skills necessary to coach a successful team, but she also
has the ability to encourage and motivate her team through positive means. Smith divulged that throughout the team’s summer workouts Jankowski sent out weekly emails announcing the practice player who demonstrated significant improvement or dedication and also included words of encouragement to the entire team. The coach herself went through difficult times. She grew up in the Bay Area and is a faithful San Francisco 49er fan. She originally tried out to be a part of the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush team, but unfortunately she did not make the cuts. Despite the disappointment, Jankowski says she always encourages her girls to go to multiple tryouts, and that is exactly what she did.
“Coach K is amazing...She’s really trying to bring back school spirit to Carlmont.”
Are cheerleaders important to overall school spirit? Not at All Helpful
28%
A little Helpful
Very Helpful
36%
Since the Raiderettes are typically more difficult to join than Do you think Kara Jankowski, the the Gold Rush team, she went new cheer coach, will improve the to the tryouts for experience and was pleasantly surprised when the cheer team this year? Raider officials expressed that they would like her on the 2010 team. Jankowski says it was an amaz(Kara Jankowski is a former cheerleader for the ing experience and she learned a Oakland Raiders) lot. Despite the amount of happiness the experience and skills she gained while cheering for the Oakland Raiders gave her, “it was a change I needed to get used to,” Jankowski told the Highlander, referring to her love for the 49ers. NO Although it didn’t work out for 27% Jankowski, her unique experience will surely benefit the Scots cheerleaders, giving them a first-hand insight into the world of professional cheerleading. Michelle Oliva, a cheer veteran at CarlThe team’s short-term goals this mont, also has the same sentiments. Oliva season will be football games and assemblies. said, “Coach K is amazing. She really wants Once basketball season approaches, Jankowsto make this fun for us. She listens to our ki says, they will also prepare for those games ideas and is even having us choreograph our as well. The plan is to “rebuild little by little,” own dances. She’s really trying to bring back said Jankowski, and hopefully by the time the school spirit to Carlmont and she’s definitely team leaves for the Sequoia Competition at going to give the Carlmont cheer team a betSequoia High School they will be prepared. ter name.” The school seems to believe the new coachWith 72 percent of the school viewing the ing change will benefit the team. In a poll discheer team as a contributor to school spirit, tributed to 100 Carlmont Scots, 73 students many are looking forward to both an amazing said that they believe the new coach will be season and seeing how the team will progress. very helpful to the improvement of the team.
Center of School Spirit
26% 10%
YES 73%
Cross-country coaching conundrum
Carlmont’s winningest team solves its coaching problem
Photo by Cena Cook
Picture a school’s most successful sports team. Now picture this team with no coach. That is exactly what happened when Carlmont Cross-Country athletes showed up to practice in mid-August, but thankfully, a solution has been put in place. In 2010, both boys and girls varsity teams swept through PAL’s. The teams then moved on to CCS Championships, where the boys placed second and the girls were crowned champions. The 2010 team set the bar high for the 2011 team, but they rose to the challenge. Both boys and girls varsity teams were PAL and CCS champions. To set the bar even higher for this years’ team, the 2011 running Scots took it to the state level. Boys placed 10th in state championships, and girls placed 17th. Safe to say the stakes are pretty high for this 2012 team. Needless to say, when all 57 runners showed up to practice the first day, they were in shock. “Not having a coach in Cross-Country makes it harder to push yourself. Having a coach gives me motivation to push myself to the limit,” said Co-Team Captain, Shawn Geronimo. Jenn Randazzo had been the Carlmont Cross-Country coach for four years. Not one runner on the team has had a different coach than Randazzo at Carlmont.
Assistant coach Kevin Abby shares a laugh with freshman Justin Tsuchiyama
“It’s always hard to make a transition like this, especially when you lose someone who knows the kids so well. But fortunately we have a lot of leaders on our team who are a great positive influence on the younger kids,” said four-year runner Zach Levin. With their leader absent, the routine success of the team could be in jeopardy. Athletic Director Patrick Smith took notice
of the situation immediately. He decided to take the reins himself, while at the same time, searching for a permanent replacement. About one and a half weeks into the season, an assistant coach was hired. Four weeks ago, Kevin Abbey was working for the San Francisco Police Department. Now, Abbey doubles as Police Officer and part-time Cross-Country Coach. The
newly acquired coach is quite the runner himself. In high school, Abbey won the State Championship and ran in the Junior National Olympics. Because of the conflicts with his job, Abbey is not a full-time solution but he will be coaching about three days a week. “He really knows what he’s doing and I like that he’s very hard-nosed. He wants us to be the best runners we can be,” said Tim Layten, a senior who many college coaches will be watching this fall. Despite the important acquisition of Abbey, Smith was very persistent in his search for a head coach, and Laura Brasfield jumped on the opportunity. Brasfield found out about the job opening at Carlmont over Craigslist. She was actually hired immediately after Randazzo left the team, but there is an extensive process to become a coach at Carlmont. The process requires a series of tests including medical shots and fingerprint screening. She assumed her position on September 6, and since then has lead the team in daily workouts and weekly meets. When Randazzo visited the team early in the season, tears were shed. It’s tough for these athletes to lose someone who played such an important role in their running careers, but it is now the dawning of a new era. Under the leadership of Brasfield and Abbey, Carlmont Cross-Country looks to run away with multiple championship titles.
Photos by Cena Cook
By Jacob Rudger Campus Editor
Sports The ‘Melk Man’ is on juice Students React to All-Star Suspension
By Ryan Freeman Sports Editor With the dust finally clearing from the Melky Cabrera Suspension, Giants nation appears to be less than the rest of the country. On Aug. 15th the 28-year-old left-fielder from the Dominican Republic tested positive for the use of synthetic testosterone, an illegal PED (performance enhancing drug) as stated in the player-owner agreements. Melky not only was a contender to be the National League’s Most Valuable Player, but at the same time was only below Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates for the batting title. Unfortunately Cabrera’s suspension went much farther than just forcing him to fall out of contention for these awards. "He screwed over his teammates,” said junior Julian Herns. With his bat acting as the basis of the Giant’s mediocre offense, its absence not only puts the Giants in an awkward situation offensively, but puts pressure on the rest of the struggling players to produce as well. Although the biggest blow to the Giants organization was losing Cabrera’s bat, Cabrera’s abrupt exit also left fans heart-broken and betrayed. On top of the usual herd of twitter followers and mediocre signs that comes with the celebrity status of being a professional athlete, Cabrera found himself more of a god. Even the casual Giant’s fan, whether their usual seat is a stadium chair or couch, knows of the infamous Milk Men and Milkmaids.
These Cabrera super-fans come to the stadium dressed in traditional milk delivery man costumes accompanied by their faithful milk maids dressed in plaid dresses and braided pigtails. These characters’, inspired by Cabrera’s nickname the “Melk Man,” popularity grew to the extent of the Giant’s Dugout store beginning to sell Cabrera merchandise like “Got Melk?” shirts and Milk Man Hats. With his overwhelming support, it is no surprise the outrage that flooded the giant’s talk radio, Twitter, and Facebook. Many felt betrayed and filled with despair of the Giants’ future, like sophomore Brandon Magpayo. “Without their star player, how are the Giants supposed to win those big games?” asked Magpayo. Although a majority of the Giants fan base seem to feel pessimistic towards the suspension, with efficient work by general manager Brian Sabean near the trade deadline the Giants were able to pick up some players to fill the gap that Cabrera left. Herns continues to say, “They seem to be at the same [offensively] as before, but with him they would obviously be much better.” With these new pickups along with some excellent managing by the Giant’s coaching staff, led by Bruce Bochy, to shift people around to fill the holes left by Cabrera, the Giants seem to have survived a certain death as the strongly hold on to first in the National League West. To Giants’ fans this is a horrendously disap-
JV football opens strong By Maxwell Ware Staff Writer Carlmont’s junior varsity football team is off to a 2-0 start after defeating The King’s Academy and Gunn High School. “Things are looking up,” said Shelby Rebholtz, a sophomore on the team. Carlmont’s first game against The King’s Academy was a success, with a final score of 64-0. Their second game against Gunn High School was somewhat more difficult than they thought. “[It was a] bigger challenge than we expected… we powered through and achieved our goal,” Rebholtz said. “We went in a little over-confident at Gunn, but we came back in the 4th,” said sophomore Chris Jabs. The team is bonding well. “We got a lot of freshman here playing hard,” said assistant coach Pete Lotti Lotti was also enthusiastic about Carlmont’s first home game. The Scots will play Aragon High School on Sept. 21. “It’s going to be exciting: new field, lights… It’s going to be great for the students and the community,” added Lotti. The team is practicing hard and studying their opponents. “We’re going to be watching some game (tapes of Aragon), and hopefully come up with a good game plan,” said sophomore Aaron Karpie, who is confident in Carlmont’s potential. -Originally appeared on Scotscoop.com-
Photo by Maxwell Ware
pointing event, but looking at the bigger picture, issues far worse are becoming apparent. With this incident following the controversial Ryan Braun incident (he got out of suspension due to a technicality), questions are being raised of the future of major league baseball and its drug testing. We have seen this once before, many years ago during what we know as the “Drug Era” with steroids, a simpler PED that current tests can easily sense. USA today reports that Victor Conte, cofounder of BALCO (the drug company associated with the Barry Bonds scandal) believes that about 50 per cent of MLB players are using some sort of PED. Bud Selig, current Commissioner of the MLB, has big decisions to make and big problems to solve. With synthetic testosterone becoming undetectable in approximately a day, the current systems do not stand a chance. With the inadequacy of the tests in comparison to the complexity of the drugs, cheating is almost too easy. As MLB has tried numerous times, just changing the techniques for monitoring and testing players isn’t the solution.
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Photo by Ryan Freeman
AT&T Park’s left field is a little empty
“The players are just going to keep finding new ways [to evade the tests],” explained Lorenzo Fuentes, current junior. Will the war ever end? The answer is going to be no for a very long time unless Selig and his men find a way to not only punish the user, but to make it so undesirable that the risk is not worth it; unfortunately for Selig, the player’s union will fight this issue to the end.
Fall Sports: Reviews and Predictions Water polo (Mens)
Water polo (Womens)
Tennis (Womens)
Cross Country (Mens)
2011-2012 Results: Placed 5th in Bay Division. 2012-2013 Prediction: “I expect us to do really well this season because we only lost one starting senior. We also got a couple good juniors that might be able to help us out,” said “set de” player Josh Yolland.
2011-2012 Results: Placed 3rd in Ocean Division. 2012-2013 Prediction: “Last year we dominated and were able to move up to the Bay Division this season. It should be a challenging season but I have confidence that we will be able to pull through and get some good wins,” said attacker and driver Lauren Denney.
2011-2012 Results: Placed 3rd in Bay Division and made it to the 2nd round of CCS. 2012-2013 Prediction: “The team isn’t the same without last year’s seniors but we have gained some amazing new players. We have a really strong team this year so I expect us to do well,” said doubles player Taylor Choye.
2011-2012 Results: PAL Champions, CCS Champions, and placed 10th in state. 2012-2013 Prediction: “We expect to win CCS, place top three in the state meet as well as make it to nationals this year,” said athlete Reese Dickson.
Cross Country (Womens) 2011-2012 Results: PAL Champions, CCS Champions, and placed 17th in State. 2012-2013 Prediction: “For this year, we have plenty of talented new runners alongside some of the fastest, hard working runners I know so I expect an awesome season even if we do not make it to states,” said athlete Michelle Swarovski.
Photos By Grave Chang, Erica Valbusa, and Jacob Rudger
Football 2011-2012 Results: Lake Division CoChampions. 2012-2013 Prediction: “I thought last year we performed really well but this year, if we work together and have a good mentality, the team has the ability and talent to travel further,” said safety and running back Jesse Gifford.
Volleyball 2011-2012 Results: Placed 2nd in Bay Division and CCS Semi-finalist. 2012-2013 Prediction: “We did very well last year’s season but this year we have such great potential. Our team wants to be ‘the most improved team in the country,’ a goal set by our Coach Crader,” said defensive specialist Kayla Wright.