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LANCER THOUSAND OAKS HIGH SCHOOL
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Volume LI, Issue 5 » December 19, 2012 » 2323 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 » www.tohsthelancer.org » Circulation 2,500
Time to get away Students travel across Southern California to participate in a variety of field trips ranging from entrepreneurship competitions to tours of electronic test companies in order to focus on their interests and futures EThOS sweeps at competition ALEXANDRA RANDALL Copy Editor
//cont. on pg. 2 » Memories
Bakersfield
Santa Barbara Agoura Thousand Oaks
WWW.CEIC.RESOURCES.CA.GOV » WITH PERMISSION
EThOS students received a chance to display their entrepreneurial talents at the California International Trade Show in Bakersfield. Twentynine seniors attended the trade show that lasted two days, Nov. 28 and 29. Students won awards for their virtual enterprises Sunset Wax and SeCo in the categories of salesmanship, marketing and best commercial. “It felt great to be recognized for all the hard work that we had all put in since the beginning of the year, and even better that it was on such a large stage,” senior Jeremy Vandenberg said. “This year we took home more awards than all of the other past EThOS classes combined, so we are very proud of our accomplishments.” This third annual trip provided a unique opportunity for students to use the skills they acquired in the classroom. “It was amazing to be able to work with my classmates in a non-classroom setting, as it makes it much more real when you are actually putting those skills you’ve learned in the classroom into practice,” Vandenberg said. “I really learned about being flexible, working on my feet and being innovative.” The opportunity for students to gain realworld experience impressed School-to-Career coordinator and trip organizer, Jane Carlson. “It was an incredible opportunity for students to come together as a group and to put to good use the skills they learned in the classroom,” Carlson said.
Los Angeles
Santa Monica
California Science Center
The Robotics ROP class toured the Endeavour Space Shuttle and its companion exhibit on Nov. 2.
Solstice Canyon
AP Environmental Science students took a tour of the national recreation area in the Santa Monica Mountains on Nov. 30.
UC Santa Barbara
Teradyne passes test with Majors ETHAN LYONS Photographer
For the last three years, students from the Engineering Major have visited the Agoura Hills office of Teradyne. Developers of automatic test equipment for electronic devices and systems, Teradyne engineers were able to explain to the students what they do in an average workday and the aspects of engineering. The field trip on Dec. 5 began when one of Teradyne’s head engineers contacted the Schoolto-Career office and offered to help students explore their future career options. “The engineers seem to enjoy the day as much as the students do,” School-to-Career coordinator Jane Carlson said. “They can remember when they were in high school and were exploring what to do with their future, so they would like to help our students.” Beginning with a brief overview and followed by a tour of the facility, the students heard from various engineers about their work throughout the day. Then, once split into three groups, they learned about a specific field—either electrical, mechanical or software engineering. Senior Daniel Minami joined the mechanical engineering group. “It was interesting because it was my first time looking around companies and seeing what an engineer does,” Minami said. “I have learned a lot of people have degrees in mechanical engineering and I learned what they do.”
EThOS students toured the university campus on Dec. 12 to learn about college life.
Bergamot Station Arts Center
JANE CARLSON » WITH PERMISSION
ENGINEERING THEIR FUTURES—Sophomore Caroline Paules and students from other schools listen to a Teradyne’s mechanical engineer explain what he does at the test equpiment center.
AP Art students studied the various contemporary and classical art galleries on Dec. 12.
Students step into teaching roles JOYCE TAN News Editor
DENISE BROWN » WITH PERMISSION
TEEN TEACHING—Sophomore Juan Ventura explains the origins of everyday products to Cathy Hocutt’s fifth grade students alongside teacher aid Magdalena Simonini at Glenwood Elementary School in the Teach for a Day program.
For four hours, the students became mentors to a classroom full of elementary schoolers. Working in conjunction with Glenwood Elementary School in the Teach for a Day program, the 11 students spent the morning teaching the fourth and fifth grade classes a series of five 45-minute Junior Achievement-curriculum based lessons using a JA kit of teaching materials. “It was amazing teaching elementary schoolers. I’ve never done anything like it, and while it was a challenge, it was such a rewarding experience,” participant junior Nicole Cvjetnicanin said. “The kids were so eager to learn and loved the activities and looked up to us so much.” Organized by School-to-Career coordinator Jane Carlson and offered each semester, the program gives students interested in teaching as a career an opportunity to explore the education field and to improve their leadership skills.
S TA F F
Glenwood’s teachers also served as mentors for the high school students by providing additional guidance, instruction and tips. “I assisted [sophomores Juan Ventura and Dallas Garcia] in relating to English Language Learners because some of the terminology was challenging, but other than that, they did a wonderful job for sophomores and not having a great amount of teaching experience,” fifth grade teacher Cathy Hocutt said. “I wish them well in their future teaching endeavors.” The students presented the lessons with various standards-based, hands-on activities from the JA kit with their team of two to three peers. “Each volunteer was tired at the end of the day and gained a new appreciation for how their TOHS teachers feel,” Carlson said. “They learned that teaching requires preparation, energy and patience, and with it comes great rewards—such as the knowledge that they have helped to inspire their pupils to become lifelong learners.”
E D I T O R I A L
Shootings prompt school safety discussion Connecticut. Nevada. Alabama. Oregon. Oklahoma. California. Originally, this staff ed was supposed to be about our safety procedures. However, in light of recent events in the tone has shifted. We feel it is necessary to expound upon the causes behind, and
reaction to, the shootings. As an all-call went out on Friday, Dec. 14 in regards to the situation in Connecticut, our safety procedures were under review, although the district did not give specifics on how itwas improving upon them. //cont. on pg. 4 » Fixing the system OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT » WITH PERMISSION
DISASTER RELIEF— Police officers stand at the entrance to the street leading up to Sandy Hook Elementary on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the scene of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting.