6
October 20, 2008
nest
The Talon
Enterprising Students Practice Their Entrepreneurship New Virtual Enterprise class teaches how to run a business By Niall McCarthy staff writer The Virtual Enterprise program is not new. It was established in 1996 in New York, and expanded to California in 1998. It is now a program that is in classes internationally. Although this is an older program, it is new to the Murrieta Valley campus. In this class, students run a mock business, and sell whatever product the class decides on. They try to advertise their program on the Virtual Enterprise network, where classes from all across the United States trade and buy products from each other. Computers and Careers teacher Joel Levin started Virtual Enterprise here at MVHS this year. “It sounded like a very exciting program, and a great opportunity for students,” said Levin. “It is one of the few classes that gives students real world experience in learning about the business world, and also teaches how to do personal finances.” Each student in the class has his or her own job that they
He also has to do a lot of work on the class’s business plan. Along with many other students in the class, Rasmussen states, “I joined the class to gain business experience.” Junior Advertising Assistant Trey Barnes and other classmates have learned a lot but, “we still have fun.” Fundraising is also a large part of the class. Senior Jessica Avalos is heavily involved as one of the fundraising directors in the Public Relations department. In this job, “I have to help get everything ready for trade fairs and raise the money to help us go to trade fairs.” They planned a garage sale on Virtual Enterprise seniors, CEO Brett Rasmussen and class October 18th, and also plan to member Kevin Kravitz plan a marketing strategy. have a booth selling waters at the Halloween Boonanza held Senior Brett Rasmussen was had to interview for. These jobs by the drama club. named the CEO, and he now range from human resources Aside from trading with oversees the whole class to make to marketing, to being a CEO other companies over the Virtual sure everyone is doing their jobs. (Chief Executive Officer) of the company. Those who applied for upper management positions actually had to interview at the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce with members of the chamber.
Changing Times: Mrs. Hess’ tale From speaking Spanish to talking politics
What’s new in the library? A look at the books to read in a nook By Laura Vogel co-nest editor Remember that building right beside the Hawk Rock? Here’s a hint: it has a lot of books in it. The Murrieta Valley High School library has so much more to offer than books, however. According to librarian Susan Cline, it’s unfortunate that so few students realize the opportunity that is slipping right through their fingers. Here are a couple of bullet points to inform and explain the latest in the library and what it can do for each student: • Books checked out can now be renewed via email. This library has definitely entered the 21st century. • There is tutoring every day after school in the library from Monday to Thursday, 2:45 – 3:45 pm. • On the school website under Library is the comprehensive reading list for all the AR books. Students can now access the list of AR quizzes by title, author, reading range or number of points. And now here are some great reads recommended by the library. Many of these books are new and have just come in:
Enterprise Network, the class will also be attending trade fairs, where the students will try to sell their product to other virtual businesses while also competing to see which business is the best. The products they are selling this year are all related to surfing and skateboarding, focusing mostly on apparel and accessories. The class will be attending the Bakersfield trade fair, but there are other trade fairs as far away as New York and South Carolina. Levin hopes that the class will be able to attend a few of these trade fairs in the future, and be able to represent the school favorably. The class has high aspirations for the school’s first year of Virtual Enterprise. Some of their main goals are to be named the best business at a trade fair, and they hope to advance to the national competition in New York.
Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught: Jamie is a senior in high school who struggles with her weight. She writes a column in the paper every week with her thoughts and fears and complaints. Throughout the hilarious novel, Jamie tackles many events and in the end grows from it.
Airman by Eoin Colfer: The story of a pilot who is thrown into prison. In order to escape the prison ad save his family, Conor must built the flying contraption he has always dreamed of building.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Junior is a young cartoonist living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior moves to an all-white high school and attempts to break away from the life he once thought he was destined to live.
The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson: Cameryn wishes to be a forensic pathologist and becomes an assistant to her father, who is the county coroner. The sleepy town of Silverton, Colorado hadn’t seen a murder in years... until one of Cameryn’s friends is the fourth victim of a serial killer.
By Jake Steele circulation manager By the time that they reach upperclassman status, most students know who teaches what subjects. In normal conversation, sometimes subjects might not even be mentioned. If a student says “I have to do my Pardue work this weekend” many juniors and seniors will know that means AP Biology or CP Biology. After years of going to MVHS, many seniors can predict what teachers they will have based upon the classes they have registered for. But some students were surprised to see that they had teacher Diana Hess next to AP Government or Modern World History on their schedules. “I was expecting to get Chavez,” senior Darryl Valdez said, “he has been teaching [AP Government] for years, and I just assumed that I would have him.” It was a surprise to some. Seniors who had Hess before for a foreign language all of a sudden had a completely different subject with their old foreign language teacher. It is unusual for teachers to change the subjects that they teach. But after years of teaching foreign language at this school for several years, Hess decided to obtain her master’s degree and get a degree in social science. While at UCLA, Hess originally wanted to be a political science major, but she changed her focus to a degree in linguistics after studying Chinese, political science of the Far East, and history of the Far East. Marriage, children, and a hectic life interrupted her degree plans, but she still worked hard to
receive her MA in social science at CSUSB. Hess has a passion in her classes usually reserved by chocoholics for chocolate cake. Teacher Todd Tatro said that “during department meetings she is very enthusiastic. She is also very dedicated to her subject.” During classtime she overflows with excitement. “She is very passionate when she is doing a lecture. And she always asks us about our current events,” said senior Kevin Kravitz.
Former Spanish teacher Diana Hess says she enjoys the challenge of her new classes, including AP Government.
Discussions in her class are always encouraged (except, of course, during quizzes), and she wants her students to always be caught up to date with what is happening in the world. Hess said that she would like to “incite some excitement” in her students. Her excitement for the course is also translated in a different way not seen by her students. In addition to reading the government book that her AP students use, she has also read two other textbooks on the subject
matter. To prepare to teach the course, she went to a two seminars over the summer. One of these seminars, the AP Institute for Government, has helped her to understand what her AP students need to know by May. She also went to an AVID conference, which has helped her in both her AP Government class and Modern World History class. Because this is her first time teaching AP Government, she often seeks the advice of those who have been teaching the course for a number of years. This means consultations from time to time with teacher Steve Chavez, AP Government expert here on campus, talking to Peter Pew, an AP Government adviser for teachers seeking help, and Mr. Tremble, an AP Government teacher from Rancho Verde High School. Hess has joined an AP network where she can write for help and for any questions that she has. “When you love something this much, it is just natural to work hard,’ said Hess. To better prepare her AP students for the exam in May, she uses free response questions that have appeared in past exams, and all of the tests are AP style questions. “I want to prepare my students as much as possible,” said Hess. Seeing her excitement and commitment in the classroom, and to the course when nobody is watching, shows a teacher that is totally capable of taking on the new challenge. Hopefully one day in a few years, “Hess” will also be synonymous with AP Government at the Murrieta Valley campus.