The Lowell May 2014

LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, CARDINAL EDITION, VOL. 221 NO. 7, MAY 2, 2014, www.thelowell.org

,OWELL 4HE

The Spotlight Page 8 Q The darker side of

Disney’s plethora of princesses? Read the controversy here.

The Backpage Page 24

Q The votes are in!

Look for your favorite teacher in the teacher pop poll results.

8IBU T What’s

Inside

News

Pages

1-­6

Q Students leave positive impact on Nicaraguan children and immerse in culture over break

3URÀOHV

Page

7

Q Go behind the scenes of school productions with the theater tech stage manager

Sports

Pages

9-­17

Q A “Brazilian” reasons to watch the World Cup this year Q Track’s distance team breaks records in the varsity boys’ distance medley relay and the varsity girls’ 4x800 meter relay Entertainment

Pages

19-­20

Q Take a look at leading ladies in the fashion world

Columns

Page

21

Q Senior compares high school experience to the movies Q Two pop poll winners reflect on their title, “Most Changed”

Opinion

Pages

22-­23

Q Reporter supports teacher union’s negotiations

Robotics wins 93rd at World Champs

By Sandi Dumas

T

(From left) Seniors Teresa Pham, Carolyn Ye and Shela Ho celebrate their win in the tie-breaking round at the National Japan Bowl in Washington, D.C., on April 11.

Experts in Japanese FXOWXUH ZLQ ¿UVW SODFH at national competition

By Madelyn Chen

O

N THE HEELS of their victory at the regional Japan Bowl, a group of students studying Japanese triumphed at the National Japan Bowl in April, winning first place and a trip to Japan.

Seniors Teresa Pham, Carolyn Ye and Shela Ho, became the first Lowell team in a decade to participate in the SoCal Japan Bowl in March (see “Seniors triumph in school’s return to SoCal Japan Bowl,” The Lowell, March 2014). The tournament afforded students the opportunity to test their knowledge of Japanese language and culture via a quiz bowl format, as they competed against teams from around the state in the national bowl in Washington D.C. from April 10-12.

Equipped with broad Jap anes e know le dge gained from many hours of study — the same methods they used to prepare for the regional bowl, such as researching and presenting specific topics — the girls survived three preliminary rounds over two days. In the preliminary rounds, the team fielded a total of 100 questions, ranging from “listening” to multiple choice. The top three highest scoring teams then advanced to the championship round. There, the Lowell team won a tiebreaker against competitors from Cupertino High School, whom they had also defeated at the SoCal bowl. Lowell’s victory in the championship round earned the team a 10-day trip to Japan this summer, sponsored by the Japanese government.

After the results were announced, the girls

“

I

jumped around and hugged each other, surprised and proud of their win. “It was surreal, standing on the stage where Lowell teams stood 10 years ago,” Ho said. “We were really chasing the dream.

And we were proud to bring back a trophy to the teachers at the language department, since they have supported us through our many months of studying.”

In addition to its competitive side, the national bowl emphasized Japanese culture with performances by Japanese musicians. Japanese exchange students were present to assist, and TV Japan filmed the bowl and aired episodes on Japanese television. After the competition, the team was also able to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. The team members hope their victories in the Japan Bowl will have a positive impact on other Lowell students studying Japanese. “I hope the Japanese program will continue to grow, and CAROLYN YE, that our win will motivate incoming Lowell students to senior join,” Ho said.

However she added that the amount of time and effort involved is significant. “A lot of people might think we’re smart,” Ho said. “But it’s really about how much commitment you can put into it. We were only able to succeed because we spent hours researching and memorizing.”

Overall, the team members showed excitement and disbelief at their win and satisfaction with their Japan Bowl journey. “The whole thing was a really good experience,” Ye said. “It was all worth the studying and preparing time, and we have a stronger team bond because of it.”

It was all worth the studying and preparing time, and we have a stronger team bond because of it.”

HE ROBOTICS TEAM faced steep competition at the World Championships last weekend, placing 93 out of 100 teams in its division. Roughly 400 teams converged on St. Louis from April 23 - 26 to compete in the finals, in a game of modified robot basketball.

Despite the team placing near the bottom of its division, physics and robotics teacher Bryan Cooley expressed that the experience was ultimately very fruitful.

“I don’t believe that our ranking reflects our performance,” he said. “The students transformed the robot and rebuilt it in one day; they dropped 40 pounds, had six motors, and a two-speed transmission.”

Lowell’s robot was also one of the fastest there, according to Cooley.

After struggling in some areas at the regional competitions, the team reengineered some facets of the robot, including rewriting a large portion of the operating code, and enabling vision recognition so the bot could respond to colors during matches.

This system allowed the team an additional way to communicate with the robot during matches, according to Cooley. For example, the team could control the robot’s gameplay by holding up colored cards to signal to the robot when to shoot.

They didn’t place highly enough to advance in the competition, but the group had hoped that a higher placed team would pick them to participate in group play, a scenario that did not materialize. Regardless, many students benefited through exposure to large companies that came to the event looking for prospective programmers and engineers, as well as to colleges seeking to give out scholarships.

However, students who attended the St. Louis trip did miss out on what is for some high schoolers one of the most important events of senior year: senior prom.

To compensate, a roboprom, was held for participants and one of Lowell’s own, senior Kenny Zhen, was even elected the roboprom king.

Cooley reiterated the positivity of the event. “Despite our lack of success, we had a lot of fun,” he said.

Senior robotics president Ofri Harlev agreed. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience, unless you get to go twice.”

New bungalows signal Goodbye stress seismic construction

By Patricia Nguy

The bungalows that stand on the lawn by ITH BUNGALOWS appear- the main building’s second floor entrance ing on campus during spring serve as offices for the project’s General break, the school community Contractor, Arntz Builders, Inc. As the construction winds through is preparing for the seismic retrofit. the main building Temporary bunduring the 2014galows took over 2015 school year, the west basketball groups of six classcourts on March rooms at a time 31 to temporarwill temporarily ily replace classrelocate to the new rooms during the set of bungalows, earthquake retrofit scheduled for comPAM WELTY, dubbed the Xpletion in October construction manager Wing. According to Welty, the first 2015, according to construction manager Pam Welty (see classrooms to move will be Rooms 130, “Preparation for earthquake retrofit be- 134, 136, 140, 142 and 146, along with gins later this school year,” The Lowell, the English department office, Room 133.

Nov. 2013). Welty works for Swinerton Then the construction will continue to the Builders, the San Francisco Unified second and third floor classroom wings, School District’s contractor for the excluding the second floor wing that starts Construction Management Services at after the stairs. Teachers on the oddSee CONSTRUCTION on Page 6 Lowell and other schools in the district.

W

S

“ Some

teachers have already begun packing.”

ZOE KAISER

Freshman Sarah Mozhen enjoys riding the smoothie bicycle at the Youth Outreach Workers’ booth during the Stress Free Fair on April 25.

2 NEWS

May 2, 2014

Lowell High School

NEWSBRIEFS Scholar-athlete wins scholarship Senior Kathleen Kanaley’s hard work both on and off the track has finally paid off, with her reward coming in the form of a college scholarship.

Kanaley is one of 20 students to win a $20,000 scholarship and the title “Foot Locker Scholar Athlete.”

Both these honors are bestowed by a national program that awards scholarships to students who display merit in academics, athletics and their communities. About 27,000 people entered the competition for the scholarship, according to Kanaley. “I thought I had a decent chance at winning, but because it is so selective I wasn’t expecting to win,” she said.

Winning the scholarship would not have been possible without Kanaley’s strong devotion to the track and cross country teams. She has been on both teams since freshman year, and this past season she earned the rank of co-captain of the cross country team. “Participating in sports has taught me a lot about leadership and the importance of hard work and commitment,” Kanaley said. “Being a part of these teams has also enabled me to meet amazing people who I probably never would’ve gotten to know otherwise.”

Kanaley plans to use the scholarship to help pay for her college tuition next year at Fordham University in New York City.

— Emily Teng

Cheer competes in national comp The cheerleading team participated in the 2014 United Spirit Association Nationals in Anaheim over spring break. The team placed fifth out of eight in its division, competing against schools from all over California.

Although they did not continue on to the finals, senior cheer captain Alexandra Jensen was still proud of her teammates. “When we performed, it was our best runthrough,” she said. “All of our stunts hit, and they were really clean. When it comes down to the points, it was very close. I was just happy to be there. It was satisfying.”

As it was Jensen’s third year competing, she had some mixed feelings. “It was a little bittersweet since this is my last year going,” she said. “But it was really fun, especially because we had so many new people this year. Getting to see them experience their first time at a big competition was a special thing.”

Cheerleading is all about the flare of the show. In certain stunts, a “flier” is thrown up many feet in the air, and she has to trust that her “bases” are going to catch her. Freshman Madeleine Goetz, who is usually a “base,”gushed about the team’s performance. “I loved the adrenaline I felt as we did our routine,” she said.

“Nothing else mattered in that moment other than my team and getting every move perfect.”

— Altea Bianchi Bellfort

Korean-program founder retiring Ah-mi Cho, the school’s only Korean teacher, is spending her last semester at the school preparing the Korean program for her departure.

Cho created the school’s Korean program in 1993, and since then, the Korean program has grown tremendously. Not only are Korean textbooks now abundant — unlike 21 years ago when Cho had to write her own textbook — but the Korean program also now boasts five classes and twice the number of students than when the program started.

Cho, who is leading the search for the new Korean teacher, still has not found a promising applicant, mostly because there is not a big pool of candidates to choose from. “Since there are only two regular high school Korean programs in the Bay Area, Korean teachers’ positions are limited,” Cho said.

Cho’s retirement could also affect the program’s funds from the Korean government and individual donations from previous students’ parents. Without adequate funding, special Korean activities — such as the shadow program, dinners and the summer trip — may be canceled.“I’m hoping that the program will at least be able to keep the more popular activities, though,” Cho said.

Cho is trying her best to keep the Korean program intact though, and her hard work is due to her love for her students. “Every time I walk into the classroom I’m happy because I’m teaching such motivated students every day,” she said. “I cherished every moment here.”

—Stephanie Li F O R T H E C O M P L E T E V E R S I O N S OF STORIES, PLEASE VISIT

The Lowell on the Web

www.thelowell.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON CHAN

Advanced choir performs in the Chicago Festival of Gold on March 31, placing silver in the festival.

Chamber choir takes first at Festival of Gold in Chicago

By Jeffrey Li and Luming Yan

interpretation, rhythm, intonation, general effect and music HILE MOST STUDENTS were catching up on choice. In order to qualify to for this competition, a school sleep or homework over spring break, two Lowell must have had a choir that obtained a score of 90 or above in choir groups journeyed to Chicago to participate the Heritage Festival in Anaheim last year.

Each choir performed three songs. Advanced choir sang in a daylong competition.

Chamber choir and advanced choir competed in the Chi- “Cantate Domino,” “Come Away, Death” and “Son de Camaguey.” Chamber choir performed “Exultate cago Festival of Gold on March 31, an Justi,” “Linden Lea” and “Si Chio Vorrei annual competition that is part of the Morire.”

For these songs, both choirs WorldStrides’ Heritage Performance [Chamber choir] had earned 10 out of 10 points for music Programs, which aims to bring students a chance to get the top choice. to destinations around the country to Prior to the trip, chamber choir reshowcase their talents, according to score because they per- hearsed twice a week starting in January. its website (www.hp.educationaltravel. form a high level of In addition, they practiced everyday after com). school the two weeks before the competiDespite being the smallest chamber choral repertoire.” tion. Choir teacher Jason Chan was pleased choir and the only unconducted choir, with chamber choir’s efforts. “I think they Lowell’s chamber choir placed first out JASON CHAN, had a chance to get the top score because of twelve choirs from North America. choir teacher they do have a beautiful choral sound and Chamber choir’s performance yielded perform a high level of choral repertoire,” two scores of 93 and one score of 94, winning them a chance to perform an encore in the same choir teacher Jason Chan said.

In addition to visiting downtown, choir also visited tourist evening as the “Top Scoring Festival At-Large Choir.”

Advanced choir also competed in the Festival of Gold and attractions like the Chicago skydeck on the ninety-ninth floor received an overall score of 88, ranking them as a silver choir. of the Willis Tower. “I felt like king of the world looking down Three different judges score the choirs’ performances out of from the skydeck,” sophomore advanced choir member Derrick 100 points separated into nine categories: tone, balance, diction, Yee said.

W

“

C

Student-run theater integrates tech into spring performance

By Ophir Cohen-Simayof

M

OVE-ABOUT THEATRE integrated social media into its April 11-20 production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

To make sure that the audience did not lose interest between breaks, the cast created a network of Twitter accounts for the main characters to tweet their thoughts during each break.

Co-director senior Elisa Vidales believes that this would help the audience understand certain events that took place in the play but may have been overlooked. “There are a couple of things that can get lost, especially when people are watching the play for the first time,” Vidales said. “For example, a couple of characters get married in the middle of the play, but it’s only mentioned between lines.”

The producers chose to save the Shakespearean language, despite having a contemporary audience. Junior Avery Chung-Melino, who played the lead, Viola, saw the situation as an opportunity for interpretation. “It’s the situation and the way you choose to play it that makes your show and your production yours,” she said.

Senior Lauren Taylor, another co-director of Twelfth Night, believes that the best way to make the language comprehensible for the audience is to make sure that the actors understand it themselves. “If the characters didn’t know what they were talking about, then the show just isn’t going to make any sense to the audience,” she said.

Another new feature of this year’s production is double casting,.

Senior Alexandra Beem, who also plays Viola, sees this as an opportunity to spread ideas and talent. “You have someone to bounce ideas off of, and you can start figuring out who your character is with someone else,” Beem said.

ZOE KAISER

Curio, portrayed by senior Jakob Hofso, shows Olivia, played by sophomore Kali Kecskemeti, his yellow crossgartered stockings in Move-About Theater’s production of Twelfth Night.