April/May 2011

THE April/ May 2011

20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Human Trafficking 101.............2

Sports:

Electric Green Makes a Splash at CDM Pool..............................3

Arts:

Gaga for Gaga............................4

Shannon Zhang ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief

I know I’m at a Latin convention when I see students tripping over their togas and trying to secure flimsy gold gladiator helmets to their heads. I know I’m a part of the Sage Hill delegation of 16 students and 2 chaperones when I see neon green T-shirts, foam-encased PVC clubs and one very conspicuous gorilla suit. I’m a part of Sage if I’m chanting Latin curses for the spirit competition and obnoxiously reciting the Junior Classical League creed in a British accent.

T h e 2 0 11 s t a t e L a t i n convention at Miramonte High School, in San Francisco, was held the first weekend of spring break and was an incredible bonding experience for Sage Hill’s Latin classes. We performed extraordinarily well, taking home third place overall for small schools, out of over 1800 students.

The group flew out Thursday, exhausted, yet ready to launch wholeheartedly into spring break.

The convention officially started Friday night, so we spent all morning and afternoon touring San Francisco.

Opinions:

“Like” My College Facebook Status..........................................5

School Life:

2012 Stuco: Best Year Yet?.......6

Lifestyle:

Prom: The Cynic and Cheesy Romantic....................................7

Back Page:

If you could make anything rain, what would it be?.............8

Volume 11, Issue 5

State Latin Convention in San Fran

In this Issue...

Features:

BOLT

Mr. Novotny and Dr. Ishii allowed us to split into small groups after a collective trip to City Lights Bookstore, famous for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” considered the definitive work of the early Beat movement.

We then visited F i s h e r m a n ’s Wharf and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, as well as a local penny arcade and art galleries. Other groups had dim sum adventures in Chinatown and visited local museums.

Tired as we all were, everyone looked forward to beginning the convention itself. We slipped on our purple nametags, sat in on the first general assembly, and then trooped off to the rounds of academic testing. Later that night, Liz Terry ’11 and Alexa McElroy ‘12, Yoon Cha ’13 and myself performed “ F a l l i n g S l o w l y ” f o r T h a t ’s Entertainment, the convention’s talent show. When a student from

Spring at Sage Takes Over Sasha Jay ‘11 Assistant Editor-in-Chief

This year’s Spring at Sage has raised a lot of hype for all of the awesome opportunities to study unique topics with teachers or travel around the world. However, amongst all this excitement the drawbacks of Spring at Sage and its effect on senior bonding have gone under the radar.

Just like the senior trip seems to be squeezed into the schedule this year, prom is also being crammed into the madness of May. The academic chaos that we will be consumed by APs and finals will eliminate any time to calmly organize and prepare for prom.

A lot of the senior traditions that have shaped second semester at Sage are being stripped away. First of all, Senior Ditch Day and the Senior Prank are both restricted by the chaos of AP testing and finals.

Ditch day was not allowed to take place any time in May and the hectic calendar leaves little time for a prank.

Another candid senior moment has been the return of seniors from senior trip on Awards Ceremony day. All seniors return from their last days of bonding unshowered, dirty, and rugged and trek into the gym for the ceremony.

Of course, now that Senior Trip has been moved, and this fun Sagey moment will not continue. In fact, Senior Trip as a whole is going to be a completely different experience now that it comes before Spring at Sage. For better or worse, Seniors are going to bond more with their Spring at Sage groups than with the senior class. Having the trip before Spring at Sage means that our last memory of high school won’t be bonding with the peers we have spent the last four years with, but rather with the people who happen to be in our Spring at Sage group.

Furthermore, the tight packed time schedule for the last month of the school year proves problematic as well. First of all, the end of our school year is being overtaken by the stress of AP tests, finals and portfolios.

Although many argue that the useless time after AP’s when there is not much left to learn is eliminated by the new schedule, they forget the toll that this has on seniors. Seniors lose the end of the year class parties and goodbyes that have always been celebrated as the last moments of high school.

This being said, Spring at Sage promises to be an amazing opportunity for students to bond with each other and teachers in a manner that is not possible in a normal classroom setting.

So seniors might not spend their last month of high school attached to the rest of the grade, but we definitely will still build memories with the entire student body through this new program.

another school suddenly joined us on guitar, we were both surprised and inspired by the spirit of JCL.

Saturday opened with the most important assembly, as Sage “Latinites” donned our green spirit shirts, readied our chants,

and staged gladiator battles outside the gym. Kevin Miller ’11 brought his gorilla suit for the sake of leading our group to victory. And, in spite of the intimidating numbers from both University and Woodbridge High school, Sage placed for the first time in our division! Amidst the general chaos of the morning, I campaigned for the position of Parliamentarian on state board and delivered my speech.

Afterwards, it was off to a whirlwind of academic and athletic

events; many went to cheer on our swim team members and also Jared Hoffman ’11 in his valiant efforts to play tennis.

Others competed in Latin oratory and sight-reading (yes, we actually speak Latin!), or attended lectures presented on Nero and Roman map-making.

By the last assembly, some of us had a vague idea of the JCL song melody and cheered Mr. Novotny as he went up to tell his classic Latin jokes. I redeemed my loss in last year’s state election by becoming the Parliamentarian for next year as a representative of Sage. We ended our successful convention experience that night at the annual banquet and dance.

Special mention goes out to Nate Paladino ’11, Eric Fish ’11, Yoon Cha ’13, and Henry Koo ’13 for their success in various competitions. Thank you to Mr. Novotny, Dr. Ishii, and the group for such a memorable trip!

Photo Courtesy of Liz Terry

A Modest Turnout for Career Night Shannon Zhang ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief On April 5, the Parent Association and Career Night Committee hosted Sage’s first Career Night. Although only a handful of students attended, the event ran smoothly and lived up to its advertised purpose of exposing students to a diverse sampling of professions. The speakers were very approachable and discussed their experiences in various fields such as hotel management, immigration law, journalism, and gastroenterology, to name a few. Most were parents themselves, and were more than eager to share details of not only their job, but of their personal stories.

The night began with keynote speakers and Sage trustees, Karina Hamilton and Tralance Addy, who offered advice on following one’s passions. Addy cited a Chinese proverb, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand,” which aptly captured the spirit of the entire night.

Students then attended the individual seminars they had signed up for in advisory. By eight o’clock, everyone had reconvened outside the lower library, ready to consume the delicious (and free!) Sapphire-catered dinner and browse the showcase inside.

As I walked towards the seminars I had signed up for, I reminded myself to keep an open mind. I set forth towards Mr. Dan Frost’s computer gaming presentation. As it turned out, only one other student showed up and it

was a nice way to start out the night just bonding with someone with a completely different life experience.

I then went to see Mrs. Lisa Josephson, an emergency physician at a local hospital. She dispelled some myths about ER medicine and emphasized that she balances work and family successfully because she works in shifts, rather than on call. It was refreshing to see someone truly care about an otherwise stressful job. Mr. Bruce Shuman hosted my last seminar of the night on waste management and recycling. After studying waste disposal in AP Environmental, I really respected his often-underappreciated industry. (I also learned that paper cartons are not recyclable!)

The showcase in the lower library opened after dinner and featured even more knowledgeable professionals armed with handouts and impressive displays. I myself wandered from booth to booth and did everything from discussing with UCI professor emeritus Dr. Falmagne to using a probe and camera to explore Mr. Woodworth’s prosthetic knee display..

As the night came to a close, many Sage students picked up internship questionnaires and readily spoke about their interactions. Investor Mr. Peter Nanula says he was “so impressed by the intelligence of the Sage Hill students, and their eagerness to get a head start on their futures.”

The first career night facilitated useful and inspiring connections and those looking to the future should certainly attend next year.

Page Two

Features

The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

FEATURES

Service with a Purpose Joelle Nanula ‘14 Staff Writer

The Service Learning Exposition was a big night for everyone involved. On March 30, in the cool, evening hours from six to eight o’clock, over 700 people gathered on campus to check out what Sage Hill students have been working on all year. Guests included teachers, Sage Hill students, their buddies, and proud parents who came to see their children’s work. The campus was comfortably full to capacity.

Sapphire provided lemonade, gourmet hot dogs, and their signature cookies, which guests munched on while they surveyed the results of a year’s hard work.

The evening commenced with a speech by Jason Gregory, Director of Community Life and Public Purpose. He addressed the packed stands, outlining Sage’s commitment to public service and its mission to make a difference since its inagural year. This goal led to a tradition called Service Learning. Every year, students find a way to make a positive impact on the community. Freshmen and

sophomores are assigned “buddies” ranging from second grade to sixth, who attend schools such as Wilson, Killybrooke, and El Sol that lack proper curriculum programs. The students work with their buddies on school work, while at the same time stepping in as a positive role model.

Some of the groups worked on science projects that were displayed at the exposition night for all to see. While underclassmen focused on putting others before themselves in a classroom setting, juniors and seniors had the opportunity to either work with an organization already in existence or create their own original service learning project. As Mr. Gregory explained the Service Learning process and its intent to serve the community at large, the audience seemed to lean forward with a sense of awed respect. Everyone was able to see the results of the “two-way street project,” showing how both the

Multicultural Fair!

Alexa McElroy ‘12 Staff Writer

In a festival brimming with life, more than 1,000 adults and students from the Sage community and the surrounding areas gathered to celebrate both how we are different in our heritage yet similar in our value of community at Sage Hill’s Tenth Annual Multicultural Fair on March 26th. Sixteen different cultures were represented this year, and each culture had a different booth that people could flock to and get a taste of what each culture is like.

Organized each year by the Sage Hill Parent Association, The variety of culture was huge, as every year always is. One of the most interesting parts of each culture is the different styles of music and dancing. Persian, Indian, and West African dancers lit up the stage and entertained the huge gathering of all ages on the grass. Many fair-goers sat watching attentively in café tables in the quad, and musical numbers provided the atmosphere for possibly the most unique opportunity presented by the multicultural fair; the opportunity to eat lots of delicious food from all over the globe, all served on Sage’s campus.

The scrumptious Korean barbeque was definitely a crowd pleaser, and the bubble tea from China’s stand was so popular that it sold out before the end of the day.

Multitudes of colorful tickets were exchanged for fresh Mexican tacos and horchata, and addicting Persian sweets. The tidy portion sizes made it easy to try many different culture’s foods.

In addition to the amazing food, the ethnic bazaar sold a variety of goods from many

people serving and the people being served both gained a valuable experience they will remember for years to come.

After introducing the goal of Service Learning to everyone, the “two-way street project” was proved successful when a group of Sage’s partner school students took the stage.

They shared their work with an increasingly impressed crowd, expressing their dreams through poetry they had written themselves. By this point, the audience was clapping in encouragement of the students, amazed at how mature the ideas of the students were. After the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests were free to explore and view the exhibits.

Everybody hurried out in a politely excited rush to Town Square. There, the projects of over 100 elementary school students were displayed, showing off detailed research and surprising artistic skill in a row of white poster boards.

The sight alone was aweinspiring. But even more of a mood-booster was watching the kids from Sage’s partner

Photo Courtesy of Kiva

schools, interacting with their buddies and showing their parents their work. The smiles of pure pride on their faces made it clear why we do Service Learning. Freshman Maddi Bukaty exclaimed, “It was great to see the kids so excited about showing off their projects to everyone and getting to make their big buddies proud.” Evidently, Service Learning is a favor that pays for itself.

While people moved about Wilkins Town Square, juniors and senior were presenting their independent service learning projects throughout the classrooms on

Sage’s campus. Everyone was pleasantly surprised at the progress the groups had made, and viewers were inspired to get involved in their own communities.

Looking back on the night, it’s difficult to believe that this was Sage’s first ever Service Learning Exposition.

It seemed as natural as if we had been doing it for years.

Perhaps this is because it was meant to be. After all, when parents and children from all different sorts of families come together to celebrate education, how could the results not be wonderful?

Human Trafficking 101 Gabby Ray ‘11 Guest Reporter

different countries all over the world.

Donated by both parents and students, the items for sale were attractively hung in a mini stall that resembled an antique shop, wrapped in different trinkets and patterned clothing.

Nearby, a line of tables displayed a bunch of baskets filled with gifts for a silent auction, donated by parents and students as well.

The once understated crafts section of the Multicultural fair has evolved into a fuller part of the experience for attendees, particularly kids. With the many volunteers for henna tattooing and face painting, mask making and beading, younger children had no trouble finding something to their liking. Many Sage students got in on the fun as well, especially with henna tattooing, and the dress-up booth, where participants could trade one ticket for a photo shoot in authentic Asian clothing.

Sage Hill’s service learning group for the Kiva Organization took turns educating the fair attendees at a booth of their own, though they were only one part of the educational experience. Anyone I talked to at the Tenth Annual Multicultural Fair would agree what a challenge it is to attend the fair and stay unaware of the diversity of our community and the importance of honoring our unique individual heritages. By sampling the food, listening to the music, and making new friends, most attendees surely learned something about the many cultures that surround them.

While “We celebrate diversity at Sage Hill on a daily basis,” says Mr. McNeill, “the Multicultural Fair allows us to extend that celebration to our friends and neighbors beyond our campus.”

At the beginning of the year, Chloe Jasper, Chantal Herrada, Emily Cramer, Ashkan Kayami, Kayla Pack, Caroline Williamson, Nakta Alaghabandan, and I (Gabby Ray) embarked on our Service Learning project.

We began with the intention of working with Human Options shelters, planning to visit during Service Learning days and raise money for the whole organization, but after being consulted by Mr. Gregory, he suggested that we talk to Ms. Sandra Morgan, a professor at Vanguard University who started her own organization called “Live 2 Free”. Once we learned about the objectives and goals that Ms. Morgan had set for her program with regards to human trafficking we were inspired to shift the focus of our project to include working with “Live 2 Free.”

After some thought, we decided to combine our service learning project between both organizations and become “Students Against Human Trafficking,” or SAHT. Our group is a combination of helping out with Human Options, which informs people about abusive relationships and helps the victims of those relationships, and Ms. Morgan’s “Life 2 Free” to raise awareness about human trafficking and gather the funds needed for rescue shelters. At first, we thought that our goal to raise money for Human Options had completely changed, but the more

Photo Courtesy of www.live2free.com

we learned, the more we realized how close the objectives for Hu man Options and the goals of Ms. Morgan were related. We worked all year with Ms. Morgan, who trained us at Vanguard to teach a lesson plan on human rights and slavery in the modern world to middle school students. She taught us the importance of the difference between buying Fair Trade products for individuals being exploited both overseas and in our very own communities.

One of the stories that Ms. Morgan told us that really made us gain a better understanding of the gravity of the situation was the case of a twelve-year-old girl. After two years of being exploited, she was found and rescued from a gated community in Irvine where she had been working as a slave maid. The girl had cleaned the entire house (in addition to every household chore) and had slept in boarded off section of the garage on a bare mattress. No one in our group had any idea that it was even an issue in our country, let alone our community. Everything that we learned from Human Options and “Live 2 Free” taught us the importance of awareness and

using our voice to make a change.

On March 10th, we decided it would be beneficial to bring the knowledge we had learned this year to the Sage Hill community, so we hosted an event that involved bringing in two informative speakers to the Black Box Theater, open to anyone within the Sage Hill community. Our first speaker, Ms. Shirley Gellatly, is the Education Director of Human Options. She spoke to the audience about how to avoid abusive relationships and how one finds themselves in one to begin with. Following Ms. Gellatly, Ms. Sandra Morgan spoke about Human Trafficking. Like Ms. Gellatly, Ms. Morgan spoke on safe relationships, but she connected her presentation with sex trafficking, an issue that is more widespread than anyone would think. All in attendance that night left the Black Box more informed and aware of issues happening not only all over the world but in our own neighborhoods. It was a very successful night not only for our speakers, but for our Service Learning group, as we accomplished our main goal: To keep our community informed of one of the most severe and prominent world issues.

Page Three

The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

Sports

SPORTS

Electric Green Makes a Splash at CDM Pool Katherine Nagasawa ‘11 Sports Editor

It’s 6:45 pm on a Tuesday evening, and a Newport Beach sunset is coming to a close, casting an orange glow onto the surface of the Corona Del Mar High School swimming pool. Right now, the water is full of movement as the Varsity girls swimmers compete in the 200 IM, a medley where each athlete swims two laps of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The girls are completing their final lap of freestyle, and in lane 5, sophomore Elizabeth Frost is neck-in-neck with the swimmer on her right. As she battles it out, stroke by stroke, a group of her Sage teammates hover over the edge of her lane, shouting words of encouragement as she approaches the finish line.

It’s this sense of camaraderie and team spirit that helped Elizabeth place ahead of all her competitors. After exiting the pool and receiving many heartfelt “Congratulations!”, she sprinted up to her mom and gave her a wet hug.

“Guess what, Mom? I got first!”

Her face lit up in a smile.

And this wasn’t Elizabeth’s only win that day. She also placed first in the 100m freestyle, proving that her dedication during practices is paying off. In fact, Coach Norton, a new addition to the Swim staff this season, feels like the entire team has seen their hard work rewarded at meets.

“I’m new as a coach, but I’ve already seen so much progress this season. Even some of the athletes who have just started swimming this year are improving by leaps and bounds.”

Another standout performance on the girls’ side was sophomore Natalie Singarella’s 200m freestyle, which she placed first in.

“This is the best meet ever!” she shouted as she ran over to cheer on fellow sophomore teammate Kristen Tsubota, who was competing in the 500m freestyle.

“Kristen is such an amazing 500m swimmer. She has the endurance it takes to swim those 20 laps,” Natalie adds, “Oh, and she beats some of the boys, too.”

The girls relay also proved to be a huge success. The medley relay placed 2nd, with Natalie swimming backstroke, Joy Chang swimming breaststroke, Elizabeth swimming butterfly, and Kristen swimming freestyle.

“I love the relays because I get the chance to work with the girls as a team,” says Kristen, “Many people don’t understand that swimming is very much a team sport.”

On the boys’ side, many Seniors had a bittersweet final home meet of high school.

“Swim’s been really fun, especially being able to hang out with all the seniors I’ve done waterpolo and swimming with since freshman year,” Eric Hallett explains.

Fellow Senior Matt DollettHemphill also enjoys the sport. “We

The “411” on Danielle Kain Elise Sugarman ‘13 Staff Writer The Bolt sat down with junior Danielle Kain to talk about the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team’s successful season to date.

How has the girls’ lacrosse team been doing this season?

We’ve been doing really well. We lost quite a few seniors last year and a lot of talent, but a lot of the returning girls have stepped up and we have also gained some great new players this year! We are working really hard and learning to work really well together as a team, and that progress is reflected in our performance.

Are there any players that have particularly stood out to you this season?

We have gotten a lot of new players this year, and all of them have a lot of potential and have shown a lot of heart. New additions Claudia Noto, Jenna Shapiro, and Emily Shimano have been incredibly valuable.

Someone else that stands out to me is freshman Alaina Collazo, who stepped up and volunteered to play goalie.

Returners Sophia Witte and Francesca D’Agostino have also stepped up and improved a lot, making our starting line-up stronger than ever!

When did you begin to play lacrosse?

I started to play lacrosse at Sage my freshman year and have been playing ever since!

Out of all of the spring sports at Sage, why did you choose lacrosse?

I’ve mostly played field sports so lacrosse definitely stood out to me. I

also liked the running aspect and that it seemed related to soccer.

How did playing JV soccer prepare you for Varsity Lacrosse?

In both sports, you need to play as a team and trust your teammates. This similarity in the sports made Lacrosse easier for me to learn.

Why do you enjoy playing lacrosse?

I really like lacrosse because I feel that it truly embodies the idea of a team sport.

A single star player cannot support a team and I feel like we really take that to heart. Even though one player may score the majority of the goals, every assist, interception, and ground ball is crucial to getting the ball down the field, and ultimately, the success of the team. All of the teamwork necessary also leads to a great sense of trust and respect that makes us much closer as a team.

What is your favorite part about being on the girls’ lacrosse team?

My favorite part is the close bond that we’ve formed. Even though we have a rather large team of 26 girls, and we’re all very different, we all get along really well and have a lot of fun together.

What game this season are you particularly looking forward to?

I‘m really looking forward to our second game against Aliso Niguel on May 3rd.

We played really well in our first game against them last time but we came up just short and it ended in a heart-breaking loss of 7-9. I am confident that the game will be close. Hopefully our hard work will result in a victory against Aliso. It’ll also be our last home game and senior night for captain Monique Sifuentes, so it would be great if everyone could come out and support.

joke around a lot and everyone’s good friends with each other,” he comments, “And everyone tries their hardest at meets.”

Senior Eric Fish has also been a part of the team for his entire high school career, and finished 1st in the 200 freestyle at this particular meet.

Fellow senior Kevin Miller notes that practices have helped him imrpove immensely. “I feel a lot stronger because we’ve been working on endurance training,” he says with a grin.

Underclassman boys are also enthusiastic about the sport and are more than capable of carrying on the team when the seniors leave for college

next year. Freshman Ryan Sung, who placed an impressive 1st in the 200m IM, comments, “Swimming is an awesome experience because everyone is so fun to be around. It’s also challenging with teammates like Jeremy Dorne who set the bar high for us!”

As Ryan says, sophomore Jeremy Dorne is definitely a force to be reckoned with. “He’s extremely strong in the 500m freestyle and 100m butterfly!” Head-Coach Cari says. She adds that Jeremy is looking to qualify for CIF in both events, since his times are fast enough.

Coach Cari is also counting on sophomore Harry Lubowe to win some critical points for the Lightning. “The points Harry got us last year won us the championship,” she explains. Harry dives the 1m and 3m boards, and hopes to gain “All-American” status this year.

“He also has a great shot at winning CIF,” his coach adds.

More important than CIF titles or medals, however, is team spirit. “I honestly think my favorite thing about this year’s group is their amazing camaredrie!” Coach Cari says with a genuine smile.

Judging by the overwhelming sense of positive energy emanating from the electric-green clad swimmers this April evening, it’s obvious that Coach Cari is speaking the truth. Sage Hill swim proves that success isn’t always guaranteed by the biggest and most intimidating looking team, but that the greatest victories can be won by a small team with a big heart.

NBA Playoff Predictions Kavi Sakraney ‘14 Staff Writer

Can the confident Lakers pull off a “three-peat”? Will hungry LeBron finally get a championship ring? Do the experienced Celtics have what it takes to add to their collection of titles? The 2011 NBA playoffs come down to 5 teams in a competitive contest for the title. First of all, almost always in NBA history one of the top 3 teams from one of the conferences wins the title. The former Eastern Conference champions, the Orlando Magic (3) have failed to prove to be strong enough to go far like last year. They along with the Dallas Mavericks (4) (also in the middle of the playoff spots for their division) do not have what it takes to win an NBA title. This year’s top teams include the San Antonio Spurs (1) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2), the Chicago Bulls (1), the Miami Heat (2), and the Boston Celtics (3).

The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the west and clearly have a good shot at winning an NBA title this year. With the experience of Duncan, Parker, McDyess, and Jefferson, the Spurs know how to take care of business during playoff time. Manu Ginobili is a big factor.

My personal favorite, Manu has been able to make a huge impact for the Spurs throughout the season and will really help control the Spurs success in the post-season.

He was injured for the first game in the Spurs’ series against the Memphis Grizzlies and as a result, San Antonio lost. Ginobili will be back in just one game and the Spurs have a great shot at winning the 2011 NBA championship. The Spurs will definitely make it to the Western Conference Finals, and I think edge the Lakers out of the finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers, defending league champions, will have to work hard to win again this year. The Lakers have the potential and the experience necessary to win again, but it will not be easy. Kobe Bryant knows how to win a championship, and he has the ability and power to lead his team to another title. Other teams are rising though, and I predict the Lakers battling the Spurs in an epic Western Conference final.

This year though, I think the Lakers may just fall short of the title with strong teams like the Spurs and the Bulls and the experienced Celtics to compete against.

The Chicago Bulls are an extremely strong team with the best record in the league, yet they are not discussed and talked about as much as they should be. It is truly a huge accomplishment to have the best record in the NBA and this team has a great chance of winning these playoffs. The young, yet poised and confident Derrick Rose has the ability and chance to lead the Bulls to an NBA championship. I predict Chicago facing Boston in an exciting Eastern Conference final.

The Miami Heat are a team now on the rise with an extremely strong big three including LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. However, this team does not have what it takes to win an NBA title. They have three strong players, but as a whole the team is not that well rounded.

The Boston Celtics have been a really strong contender for the last couple of years winning the championship in 2008, losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2009 and losing in the Eastern Conference Finals last year in 2010 to the eventual champions. This year the Celtics have been as strong as ever and hungry for another championship. With clever Rondo at point guard, the experienced star Paul Pierce, the emotional and strong mental leader Kevin Garnett, and the clutch Ray Allen, the Celtics have a great shot at winning the championship this year.

Overall, I would pick the Spurs and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and the Bulls and Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. These two matchups will be fun to watch and either team from both the east and the west has the potential to make it to the NBA finals. At this point between these four teams, it will come down to the heart and hunger each team has for the 2011 NBA Championship.

Page Four

The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

Yellow caution tape tops with mini skirts, faces painted like skulls, and big literal “hair” bows were some of

on March 31 at the Anaheim Honda Center.

Standing outside in line before the show, there was excitement in the air, where the crowd waited to see Lady Gaga. As we waited, “gay haters,” brandishing signs and protesting the concert told all of us that we were going to hell.

In response, one fan amusingly called out that

the outfits seen waiting outside Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour Concert

at least we’d all be going together, and would have Lady Gaga there with us. Although there

Campaign Artistry Tala Khalaf ‘11 Arts Editor

This past month, elections for student government took place, which meant lots of colorful flyers and unique campaign posters. This year candidates took their campaigns to a whole new level. Everywhere we looked, somebody’s face was staring back at you. Some posters were on the walls, hanging from the ceiling or even taped onto the ceiling!

Posters ranged from extremely large to particularly small, and the slogans were clever and entertaining. Some candidates had one poster while others had several. In Junior Casey Astorino’s campaign, she personalized her posters by taking pictures of her and other students saying why they should vote for her based on personal experiences. It was quite unique. I personally had never seen any campaign like that before.

Others stuck to the traditional type campaigning with their name, picture, and what they were running for.

Even though these posters were simple they had eye popping colors and memorable themes.

Some other unique campaigning included Thomas Hague had some of his promotions hanging from doors which read, “I open doors.” Although some students questioned this method, it definitely gave him an edge and made his campaign

very memorable. In my financial literacy class, my teacher told us that strong emotions, whether positive or negative, for a product is a good thing because it sparks emotion. Perhaps the said can be the same for campaigning too!

Our students also demonstrated their graphic art abilities with Spenser Apramian’s “I deliver” campaign, a personal favorite.

He photoshopped his face onto a mailman’s body which made me laugh and subsequently want to vote for him if I were eligible.

Taylor Petty and Kent Kawaguchi taped together pieces of regular sized pieces of paper to make a rather large poster with their picture and slogan with bubble art, another personal favorite.

I talked to some students about the campaigning this year and there were some mixed reviews. Many people were concerned that people were voting based on the posters alone and not on the candidates qualifications. Which poses a good question: Should campaigning be allowed? Or should elections be based only on the speeches and what the candidates’ plans are? Many people loved looking at all the different ways people advertised themselves, while others wished that campaigning should have some sort of limit.

All in all, elections and election campaigning were quite interesting this year!

ARTS

Arts

Gaga For Gaga Natalie Kobsa-Mark ‘12 Front Page Editor

were haters outside, inside the concert there was nothing but love and we were reassured by Gaga’s words: “Tonight all the freaks are outside and I myself locked the f*cking doors.” Starting the concert after roaring applause, Lady Gaga gave us a piece of inspiring wisdom, “Tonight, at the Monster Ball, you have the chance to be whoever the hell you want.”

Lady Gaga is a phenomenal performer. She performed her songs in extremely creative ways, very different from how her songs sound on the radio. For example she turned “Alejandro” into a religious themed song with long church sounding notes. For her song, “Born this Way,” she simply sat down and played the whole song on piano by herself. It’s one thing to hear her voice on the radio or an iPod, but another to hear her in real life where her presence is mind-blowing.

Her outfits were outrageous, as usual. For one song she looked equipped for the beach with her black bikini, and the next song she looked like a scandalous nun. She wore a nun’s white habit and a plastic see-through dress with two conveniently placed X’s of white tape underneath. Although her outfits seem random, there is more to Lady Gaga’s style than it would first appear. In fact she states, “I don’t view myself as outrageous – that’s not the intention. It’s to be more and more original.” And I agree that she is doing just that. Her outfits are not provocative for the sake of being provocative, but to be original and be a message of self-expression. My own interpretation of her scandalous nun outfit, and which she expresses continually, is that there is no one way to live your life, and life is sometimes made up of “nunsense.” She carefully designs each outfit to convey a metaphor or message that speaks beyond its unusual material.

However I do agree that sometimes her outfit symbolism is too far-fetched. For example take her infamous meat dress, which she wore in sup-

port of the LGBTQ community. This outfit was based on her message that, “If we don’t stand up for what we believe in and if we don’t fight for our rights, pretty soon we’re going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones.”

Now, how I would have ever understood this message from her wearing a slaughtered animal, I do not know. I guess it’s just Gaga.

Many people pass her off as just another artist, but I like Lady Gaga because she is truly talented. Lady Gaga started playing piano at only 4 years old and composed her first piece when she was thirteen. Did you also know that Lady Gaga, at 17, went to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts? Looks like we are all a bit behind schedule… Gaga is a true “artist” in my view.

She has amazing talent, an incredible voice, she composes her own songs, has her own sense of style and most importantly won’t let anyone in her way. At only 25 years old, Her Gaganess is an emerging icon of self-expression and originality.

One oddity I’m not quite sure I ever picked up on is her monster relationship. Let me explain. She calls herself the “mama monster” and all her fans are her “little monsters.” This is complete with a background story of how she gave birth to her fans through her head. Although bizarre, the amusing part of it all is that I believe she is testing everyone’s limits to see how far and how weird she can really take things. Apparently very far; you have to give her credit.

Lady Gaga has become the most watched person on Youtube with more than a billion views! She also has the most fans on Facebook (32.5 million) and most followers on Twitter (9.5 million). There is no escaping the fact that Lady Gaga is an large influence on society. So get rid of your “Poker Face” and go ahead and “Just Dance,” because you were ‘Born This Way!” To Gaga or not to Gaga? I say Gaga on!

IUSD Honors Groups Liz Terry ‘11 Guest Writer

Having previously seen the Donald Bren Irvine Unified School District Honors Concert performed in a church, I had an idea of the skill level of the students and anticipated a talented performance in a theatre as acoustically sound as the Henry and Renee Segerstrom Hall. The hall itself is furnished with hardwood surfaces and waved seating tiers, allowing the sound to resonate into every corner of the space.

There is also a set of speakers suspended from the ceiling, aimed at the highest tier - the middle of which I was seated in – to allow everyone to enjoy the music.

The concert began with a short speech honoring Gwen Gross and Debbie Rugani.

After this speech the choir and orchestra from the elementary and middle school levels performed their sets. Each group performed a set of music, the level of performance increasing with the age of the players and singers. The most impressive aspect of their choral music was the number of harmonies, and the addition of hand motions to accentuate the lyrics. This skillful level of performance continued through the high school set.

The choir itself was a balance of boys and girls within the sixty or so performers.

They were arranged into sections with boys in the back two rows and girls in the front. Their first piece, “How Lovely The Messengers” by Felix Mendelssohn, started off with a beautiful, open tone and slightly messy cutoffs at the end of phrases. This did not affect the overall diction, however, and the lyrics were very easy to understand. The song had interesting harmonies and the melody moved back and forth between the boys and girls. Each section within the group blended perfectly into one impulsive sound, adding to the simple beauty of the piece.

This style continued through the next piece, “Jasmine Flower” (Mo Li Hua) arranged by Jing Ling Tam, which surprised me since the songs origin was Chinese.

The tone was very strong with the girls high notes floating above the rest and the boys voices creating a soft, low contrast. This solid blend of voices stood out even more because there was so little piano accompaniment that the song was almost a cappella.

Overall, the song had a simple melody that was intertwined between the parts, creating an impressive piece, but the tone did not sound like I would expect from a song with origins in an Eastern Asian culture.

This tone did fit well into their final piece, howev-

er, which was “Wana Baraka” arranged by Shawn Kirchner.

This piece was a Swahili spiritual about gifts, victory, and love and though the short text was repeated many times, it was unique each time. The song began with the guys doing a resonant chant before the girls’ part floated in over the top. Over the course of the music, the parts made a slow crescendo from unison to harmonies to a round of all the melodies and countermelodies. The piece ended with the echoing repetition of “alleluia” in a tone that wasn’t the warmest tone, but I believe that the only reason for any lack of round tone was the closed vowels they were singing. Overall it was performed wonderfully and fit the voices of the group perfectly, as they sounded like one impulsive sound by the end.

In conclusion, the concert was a wonderful display of the talent in the Irvine School District. It was clear that the members of each group spent many hours practicing to perfect their technique and really put spirit into the music.

OPINIONS

Opinions The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

Page Five

“Like” My College Facebook Status Angela Bao ‘11, Gloria Yen ‘11 Guest Writer and Opinions Editor

John Smith’s status: “ I G O T I N T O H A RVA R D OMGG!!!” followed by 32 likes.

Jane Doe’s status: “Hmmm which to choose? Princeton or Yale?

HELP ME GUYS!!!” followed by 312 comments. “Waitlisted at Northwestern...I guess that makes me 4.5 outta 5?” followed by 12 likes and 24 comments.

Every year it’s the same thing: Someone gets into college and decides to explode it all over Facebook, and then the sniveling, griping, and complaining ensues.

Te c h n i c a l l y, t h e r e ’s nothing wrong with posting your college acceptances on Facebook statuses—freedom of speech and expression being the main reason— but that doesn’t mean high school seniors don’t receive it as a personal offense. However, isn’t it a bit juvenile for us to even complain about such a trend? Because of Facebook, we are able to connect to hundreds and thousands of online friends, thus it is next to impossible to avoid the occasional college news update. Yet, we still get ticked off when someone blares, “I GOT INTO SO-AND-SO-COLLEGE” and receives nearly 3 times the number of “likes” compared to their previous updates. I know that every time my news update is clogged with another college status, my blood pressure rises, my hands clench, and uncharitable thoughts

about that person spring into my head. It’s gotten to the point that if a senior posts a happy-ish status, I immediately get indignant that he or she would dare brag about getting into college while the rest of us are still waiting for good news.

Some people even go to the extreme and tag people’s names into their college statuses, naively thinking that only THOSE people will be able to see their friend’s update. Well you know what?

Maybe THEY dont even really want (and care) to know where you are going just yet. Maybe their acceptance letter is still being delivered from the school, thus with them wallowing in self anxiety on the couch. The last thing they want is to see a notification from their close friend about getting into ANOTHER Ivy League, raising their blood pressure even higher than before. So whatever these group statuses are? Just please, don’t be so naive about how open the Facebook community is.

Maybe it’s just the latent competitiveness in me, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. Every year, we always hear about that one person who just couldn’t resist listing every single acceptance on Facebook, and every year there are people, me included, who complain about how rude, insensitive, and/or obnoxious that person is. Yet, despite their indignation and vows to never, ever be like that person,

once April rolls around, all their previous promises are forgotten and they heartily join the Facebookbragging.

Truth is, don’t they have a right to be happy and use this as an opportunity to express how much their hard work has paid off?

Shouldn’t the rest of Facebook audiences simply be proud of this senior and move on with their lives? Maybe that is the main issue..that we simply shouldn’t care so much about other people’s lives. Or should we? That’s up for debate, but as far as Facebook college statuses go, it’s best to just ignore them. Like I said before, it’s not wrong or illegal for people to be happy over the Internet—they have every right to express their joy in whatever form they deem appropriate—and their happiness shouldn’t bother or degrade us.

But it’s not the fact that they’re happy that annoys us, it’s that they are inconsiderate of the plights of others. No one wants to hear about how someone got into Harvard, Princeton, and Yale when their own future is still uncertain. Let’s face it: it’s a lot harder to be happy about someone else’s accomplishments when we have so few of our own.

However, if your nerves are still on high from the big CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance letter, make a Facebook group instead (private settings of course) solely for your graduating class at your school. With that, not only can you not get as many

angry people on your back about your recent accomplishment, but simultaneously it will be accepted by a community of students that truly understand your intentions.

Your class, of all people, should be there to support you no matter what. But be aware, I am not telling you to post ALL of your acceptances and waitlists, but simply, of course, your final choice for your new home next year. Thus, people from your class (and truly, the people that you care most about) know how to contact you in the future, and nonethless, this whole process of college acceptnces is still within a private group of people in the community to keep away from the curious eyes of other students.

Also, if you want to do something subtle to the entire Facebook community, simply update your profile info with the college of your choice. With that, it is much more subtle than a status update, and hey, people do want to know what Class of 2015 you belong to!

Another fun, (and interactive!) way to tell the world SUBTLELY about your new school. Get a bunch of friends and have a bonfire at the beach, sporting the Rockwell Extra Bold font sweaters of your respective schools.

The bottom line is that all we can do is ignore things like that. I could tell you just don’t post anything college-related

on Facebook, but that’s not likely to happen, nor do I have the right to tell you what to do. I could advise you to stay off Facebook, but I know that’s never going to happen. The best thing we can do is try to ignore it, await our own decisions, and be internally proud of ourselves when that acceptance letter arrives at your doorstep. That other person’s life is none of our business, and we really shouldn’t take offense to something that has nothing to do with ourselves. Bottom line: while you are jumping up and down and screaming like a 5 year old, let your news be spread by itself, rather than utilizing Facebook as a blare horn to shove it in people’s lives. So to those rising seniors next year, just beware: your happiness might not be as appreciated as you might hope.

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Turkey Struggles in a Centralizing World Ashkan Khayami ‘12 Guest Writer

Turkey, a bridge between European and Asian cultures for many years, has demonstrated a desire to be considered as a westernized nation. Originally part of the Ottoman Empire formed by Muslim expansionists, Turkey seems to be breaking away from old traditions and secularizing in hopes of becoming a member of modern western countries. At the same time, the country is both struggling with traditionalist elements in its politics and showcasing its abilities in the mediating conflicts, like that of Libya.

Turkey was created in 1289 by Othman who had inherited a small Turkish state. However, within approximately two centuries, the Ottomans had amassed enough power to siege on Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire. The Ottoman Empire would slowly fall into a decline in the next few centuries, growing sluggish in its mission to spread Islam. And finally, with its defeat in WWI, the Empire was broken into pieces and modernday Turkey was established. The country immediately sought a place among other developed names to avoid the tag of “3rd World Country” and joined the UN months after the end of

WWII. At the dawn of the Cold War, Turkey was glad to join NATO (1952) and to form an alliance with western Capitalist countries.

And ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Turkey fought for its place among developed nations.

However, in what seems to be a cruel joke, Turkey has been denied admittance into the European Union (EU for short) for almost 10 years; and of course, everyone has a different opinion as to why. Some

popular commentators like Bill Maher cite its fundamentalist culture which is evident in a 2006 New York Times Poll that shows Turkey has the least amount of believers in evolution among developed nations (US is second on that poll.) Others believe that Turkey is simply an unstable country that cannot decide between a laïcité (Separation of religion and state) policy and an Islamic government. In 2007, members

of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey attacked secularist minorities and later attempted to topple the government.

Such events show the tensions between Islamic and Kemalist activist in domestic politics.

However, recently, Turkey has shown its ability as an effective mediator of disputes in its own sector of the globe. In the December of 2010 Turkey hosted the ECO (Economic Co-operation

Organization) summit for Central Asian nations to discuss economic and political stability in the region.

But Al Jazeera reported that Turkey also planned to demonstrate its “diplomatic assertiveness and project a foreign policy it defines as having ‘zero problems with neighbours.’” at Ankara. More recently, Turkey has taken the bold initiative in hosting the peace talks for the Libyan conflict. Acting very diplomatically, the nation has contacted both Gaddafi’s government and rebel leaders and hopes to mediate a cease-fire agreement between the two opposing parties.

In the following weeks, Ankara will demonstrate if it has the ability to calm a struggle that even the US seemed to have difficulty with.

And so with the AKP pushing for EU membership and the status of a western nation, the country tries to maintain a record clean of internal upheaval. Because Turkey is in a place of dominance in its locality, it is considered a power in the Middle-East and would make it a powerful ally. Furthermore, the inclusion of Turkey in the EU would introduce a bigger Muslim population into a—until recently— predominant Christian continent.

And Europeans are starting to ask themselves: Do we want to share status with a nation that openly broadcasts Muslim daily prayer in the streets of its capital?

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Page Six

The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

School Life

2012 Stuco: Best Year Yet? Katie Bick ‘11 Staff Writer What do Sagers dream of? They might not dream of Halle Berry in her cat women suit, but they definitely dream of having a voice within the school. The student council for the year of 2012 promised to deliver just that. Thomas Hague will become our Student Body President, asserting that “Next year will be the Great Awakening of Sage.” He wants to “expand the opportunities available because he feels that the community as a whole will benefit from more people being involved.” Thomas has been involved with Student Council for three years and he will be the first in Sage Hill history to have been involved all four years.

Spenser Apramian will be our student body Vice-President next year. He is ready for a great year ahead and plans to make changes such as enabling clubs and other organizations to sell food at lunch. In his speech, Spencer spoke of an experience that he had as a freshman when he fell down the stairs on his first day of

Grace Guan ‘11 Guest Writer

It was Friday – a typically sunny, beautiful school day at Sage Hill – well, a school day for everyone but the senior class of 2011. For all of us who have already been thoroughly enjoying our second semester freedom, that Friday was the cherry on top of a beautiful sundae. It was Senior Ditch Day, the day that comes around toward the end of every school year, when the campus is devoid of every single senior. And, as according to Sage Hill tradition, our student co-chairs created a list of to-do items for a scavenger hunt competition to complete for the day.

These ridiculous challenges ranged from “Take a picture of your entire team watching an event with Killer Whales at the San Diego Zoo” (for 200 points) to “Beat the Elite Four with 6 Ratatats” (also for 200 points, and I honestly don’t believe that’s possible…) to “Video tape yourselves performing a thermite reaction” (for 10 points, because the list wouldn’t be truly Sage-y if there weren’t some nerdy component to it).

And let’s not forget to “Write a paragraph on why Brandon is a cool dude,” which could have earned us from 5 to 30 points, probably depending on the level of creativity as well as the amount of sucking up included.

We were instructed to form groups of around 5 members each in order to participate in the scavenger

school. He was surprised and inspired by the environment at Sage Hill when a senior helped him recover from his fall. As our Student Body Vice-President for the year 2012, he will surely be there, hand extended, for any nervous freshman who might fall

treasurer. She unquestionably knows the ins and outs of the school and has forged a connection with the students as well as the administration. She is “excited for the new mix of students in Student Council next year who will bring in

down the stairs on his first day.

For her skills of organization and her experience from her job as co-chair the past two years, Alexandra Kain won the position of secretary and

fresh ideas.”

The winners of the two positions of Activities Commissioner were Tess Wohrle and Travis Adams. Tess delivered an eloquent speech

asserting not only her constant need for organization but also her background in planning parties and formal dinners.

Similar to Tess, Travis also spoke of his extreme organization, evident in his party-planning and in his impressive background as an Eagle Scout.

Surely Tess’s skills in party-planning and Travis’s skills as an Eagle Scout will lead us to a fun year of dances and events.

The various prospective Sage Hill class Co-Chairs showed incredible enthusiasm in their campaigns. Incoming Sophomore Co-Chairs are Jack Williamson and Claudia Noto. They will definitely get their class “jacked” for the pep-rallies next year. Incoming Junior Co-Chairs are Mackenzie Sambuco and Kent Kawaguchi. They are both “excited for the great group of people they will be working with.”

Incoming Senior Co-Chairs are Erin Hong and Taylor Petty. Their plans are not set in stone but both are looking forward to customizing senior of the day for next year. Erin says, “We will either have the senior of the day’s friends tell stories about him or her, or Taylor and I will tell stories along with the friends.” Nevertheless, Taylor and Erin plan to leave behind an unforgettable legacy for the class of 2012.

Photo Courtesy of Thomas Hague

Ditch Day Adventures 2011 hunt. My teammates Rami Sarabi, Heather Zadra, Angela Bao, and Sarah Frost, and I met for breakfast at Ruby’s at 10:30am to map out our planof-attack for the day (shout out to Ms. Orr!) while eating an appetizer of those delicious beignets dipped in chocolate sauce. Mmmm. We organized our to-do list by categorizing them first into locations, and began at Sage in an attempt to convince Sally to sing “Baby Got Back,” find an entire department to take a picture with, and grab lots of Sage paraphernalia to embellish the St. Margaret’s campus with.

Our next area of interest was Fashion Island. I decided to make a stop at Sprinkles to grab a cupcake for my brother’s 13th birthday. As a follower of Sprinkles on Twitter (follow me @gg_ftw and other Sagers too! Or include #lolshs in any Sagerelated tweet), we discovered the infamous “secret whisper word” and crossed our fingers that they hadn’t ran out yet.

Simultaneously, we decided to multitask and accomplish “Walk into a store while your entire group holds hands, and remain holding hands for the entirety of the store trip. Purchase something,” on our list as well. So, as we all walked into Sprinkles’ tiny store with our hands interlocked, we received more than a few awkward glances and confused looks. Each whispering the secret phrase of the day, we resisted the urge to blow our covers and tried to maintain

straight faces. We walked out with 5 points and 5 free bags of chocolate-coconut cupcakes!

great time celebrating our seniority. This will, without a doubt, be one of my fondest memories of my time at Sage. One one, get some!

Other hilarities ensued when I attempted to try on a strawberry-scented tank top at Justice (aka the new Limited Too) that was five sizes too small in order to fulfill the “Videotape a team member going to a store, trying on a dress or a shirt several sizes to small, and asking the clerk how it looks on them. Extra points if you can be dead serious throughout,” mission.

The Justice employee cringed a little as she told me it was probably a little too short for my torso, unless I’m into that kind of thing. Well at least it’s almost summer, right? She had no response to that. Mission accomplished.

The day in a nutshell was pretty much crazy, embarrassing, preposterous, rambunctious, and obstreperous (thank you, thesaurus.) For photos that will probably paint a better picture of Ditch Day than this article, find me on Facebook. Oh, and be sure to check out the extremely entertaining videos as well.

Ditch Day 2011 was a day to remember – whether your group of seniors was intensely focused on achieving the most number of points, whether you just wanted to take things slowly and enjoy your day, or whether you took the day off to sleep and Photoshop photos of yourself participating in Ditch Day, I’m sure all of us had a Photo Courtesy of Grace Guan TCID:BW

SCHOOL LIFE

APs, Prom, Finals, Say What?

Sophia Herzlinger ‘12 School Life Editor As the end of the school year swiftly approaches, students such as myself can’t help but begin to think of summer. Days of lounging by the pool or lying out on the sand… but there’s just one slight problem, the last three weeks of school before Spring at Sage come close to any student’s nightmare. Shall we begin?

In the next two weeks starting on May 2, AP testing will take place. Students will be frantically running around trying to cram as much information as they possibly can remember from the year back into their heads. Then, after sitting for a half-day exam, there is no break--back to class! Simply exhausting.

Rounding up the two AP weeks is Prom; however, some students may not get to immerse themselves in the funfilled carefree weekend they had planned but instead they have to not only work on portfolio but ALSO study for their remaining finals. Brilliant.

That Tuesday, the 17th is portfolio night and who are we kidding--half of the Sage Population will be pulling all nighters to make up for their procrastination. So, as we finish up the week, our sleep deprived students must take their finals the morning after portfolio and once all of the testing is complete they may very well fall into a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs by the parking lot.

Just kidding.

So, is Spring at Sage worth all the suffering? We will soon find out.

Page Seven

The Bolt ♦ April/ May 2011

Lifestyle

LIFESTYLE

Prom: The Cynic and the Cheesy Romantic CY and CR

Yes here we are again, your favorite couple of friends: The cynic and cheesy romantic, bringing you the latest update on the biggest event in high school history…PROM! Yup, it is just beyond daunting, especially to seniors, that Prom is seriously just around the corner to close off AP week for the rest of their high school career. What is Prom exactly? A last sendoff before we go off to college? A final chance to dance with that mystery person in the class who you always wanted to talk to? Or a final laugh and amazing night of memories with your high school friends? Whatever it may be, prom, whether it be at Sage or in a tiny school up in the mountains in Maine, will always be one of those teenager milestones that will imprint its importance and happiness for many years to come.

While simultaneously failing to battle Senioritis, we stumbled upon a recent Yahoo video about girls spending nearly 4 to 5 figures for one special night. However, every girl and guy out there should realize that it is not the dollar signs that are going to make you happy that night, but the simple fact that a smile was upon your face for the reason that you are enjoying the time of your life with your high school friends. This basically proves that happiness is truly priceless.

But enough with that cheesy mojo. As we have been observing the campus recently, not many guys have had the guts to ask their dates yet. So to help give you boys that extra kick of confidence to ask that one special person, here is a list of ideas for both the romantic and for the potential romantic and cynical girl: CR: To start off? Truthfully not many girls are incredibly fond of the whole plethora of balloons or the bouquet of flowers. However, a friend has told me that a lot of balloons can work if it were placed in context, say, like the movie “Up.” A guy decorates a cardboard house, ties a bunch of balloons on the top, and asks the girl, “You carry me away into the sky…will you go to prom with

Heather Goldin ‘12 Features Editor

The atmosphere of the Sage On Sunday, April 3rd, over 400 activists showed up at Fountain Valley Sports Park for the 3rd Annual OC Walk to End Genocide. The walk was coordinated

by Mina Rush, along with many teachers, high school students, and other Jewish World Watch staff. For registration, participants were asked to either create or join a group, which consisted of families, friends, clubs, and youth groups. People from all over the community gathered together to protest the ongoing genocide in Darfur and the violence and atrocities taking place in Congo.

Before the walk, various speakers inspired the activists, along with the Golden West College Rock Band. Kicking off the inspiration, Pastor Kasareka Kasomo of the African Christian Church and Joseph Jok (lead caseworker for the International Rescue Committee for Southern Sudanese and Darfuri refugees in San Diego) gave updates on what is currently happening in Congo and Darfur. They also thanked the participants for their activism in working towards “a world without genocide.” Faith leaders of the community, Father Christian Mondor of St. Simon and Jude, Cantor Marcia Tilchin of Congregation B’nai Israel, and Rabbi Steve Einstein of Congregation B’nai Tzedek joined Joseph

me?” If you are seen standing alone with just a handful of balloons, trust me, not only will you not receive a “yes?”, but you will also be causing distractions around the school for

the rest of the day.

CY: As much as huge announcements are cute, less tends to be more, especially with us cynical types. We’re not big on the entire world knowing who we’re going to prom with. Find

a small, meaningful way to express how much you want to go to prom with her. Take an inside joke that you both share and convert it into a cute way to ask her. Trust me, the thought you put into it will definitely show through.

If you go a little out of your comfort zone, you’re quietly telling her that you are willing to take a risk on her.

CR: As for flowers? You want to show her she’s the most special one out of all the other girls…so instead of a bouquet which will be expensive and difficult for either of you to carry, just one rose will do to prove how special she is.

CY: Music is a great way to connect to someone, even if you know them well. All the cheesy romantics out there will say that music is the language of love, or whatever. Well, as much as this cynic hates to admit it, that’s a pretty accurate statement. Show off your creative side and record yourself playing or singing a song and send it to her in a private message. Or if you’re feeling especially daring, maybe consider rewriting some of the lyrics to it to make it really personal.

CR: Another simple idea: using a white board, or a t-shirt, write in permanent marker: Who will you go to prom with? Then, using dry-erase or basically something washable, write the names of other guys that could be potential dates, and asking your girl to wash the shirt until the last name appears.

CY: Don’t automatically discount the idea of just asking a girl. Many girls will be really impressed if you just go out, buy a flower, and ask her quietly, in a way that’s unique to you. As long as your friends aren’t hiding behind the corner and it’s private, girls won’t feel pressured to give you an answer. This goes along the same line of not wanting the world to know their business.

One thing to keep in mind is that prom is important to all girls, not only the cheesy romantics out there. If you’re going to ask someone, even just as a friend, make it a special night for them. Not all girls are the formal dance type. It’s hard enough to spend hundreds of dollars on dress, shoes, hair, limo, and everything else meant to make the night special. Help them to maybe change their minds about these kinds of events. Make it a great way to end both of your high school careers.

Walk To End Genocide and Pastor Kasareka in a prayer of remembrance and action. Courtney Widerman and Musiya Kasomo gave a reading of “At 13…” a poem written

dan and Easern Congo and took action to help the innocent citizens in those areas. Among the booths set up included a petition in

by Courtney Widerman that won second place in the Chapman University Holocaust Writing Competition.

Walkers returned after their 3-mile journey to find the Golden West College rock band. Following the walk there was an Awareness and Action Fair where participants learned more about the crises in Darfur, Su-

support of California’s anti-conflict mineral legislation, which passed on April 11th and 12th. Activists’ crafts including bracelets and pins by Teens for HEAL were sold to benefit the Healing Arts project in Congo, and a community art piece that was created by JWW activist artist Sam Zicarelli which was to be dis-

TCID:BW

played in the JWW office or sent to an on-the-ground project in Congo.

In addition, teen activists from all over the OC volunteered to run a JWW experiential learning program called Day in the Life of a Refugee, where the teens took on the roles of refugees to educate some of the walkers about the effects of genocide.

At the Awareness fair I spoke with Liz Braun, one of the event coordinators of the OC walk, and asked for her thoughts on the event itself. Their goal for each walk is the feat of bringing the community together, which was definitely accomplished. “[The OC walk] gives us all a chance to remind ourselves why we do this work (all of us, activists and staff alike), and know that we are all supported by each other.”

Overall, JWW raised almost 19,000 dollars at the OC walk, an amazing achievement.

It was an inspiring, educational and motivating day where people from all walks of life had the opportunity to meet others who share their passion for “taking steps forward” towards social justice. JWW walks are the biggest anti-genocide demonstrations in the world, making a huge impact.

For more information about Jewish World Watch, visit their website at www.jewishworldwatch.org.

Photo courtesy of www.jewishworldwatch.org

Page Eight

The Bolt ♦April/May 2011

BACKPAGE

Question of the Month: “If you could make anything rain, what would it be?”

“Money, but only if it’s a private place.”

Kevin Miller, ‘11

“Jelly beans.” Jared Hoffman, ‘11

“Food.” Caroline Sir, ‘11

“Chocolate bunnies.” Tala Khalaf, ‘11

“Sincerity.” Eric Cheng, ‘12

“Pixie dust.” Yoon Cha, ‘13

The Bolt Staff .

Arts Editor .................................................................Tala Khalaf ‘11 Editor-in-Chief .....................................................Patrick Brady ‘11 School Life Editor...........................................Sophia Herzlinger ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief............................................ Sasha Jay ‘11 Features Editor ....................................................Heather Goldin ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief...................................Shannon Zhang ‘12 Opinions Editor ..........................................................Gloria Yen ‘11 Sports Editor..............................................Katherine Nagasawa ‘11 Lifestyle Editor................................................Natasha Sakraney ‘12 Backpage Editor....................................................Yoonseo Cha ‘13

Advisor.............................................Mr.McCandless