Panther Prints | October 2011

The Panther Prints Informing and Educating the Pinewood Community and the Surrounding Area for 25 Years October 27th, 2011

Volume I. Edition 2.

25th Annual Edition

Haunted Ho u se a hit at j a m b or e e SHANI ROSENTHAL STAFF WRITER On Saturday, Oct. 15, the entire Pinewood community gathered at Upper Campus to enjoy one of the most favored events of the year: the Pinewood Jamboree.

Friends, family, students, and faculty members filled the field, hallways, and patio to participate in games, buy Pinewood apparel, and enjoy a variety of sweets. The day began at noon and was filled with exciting activities until 6 p.m. that night.

Walking down the hallway, several tables lined the wall

with different goodies to enjoy. Each grade had a selling booth in order to raise money for their class fund.

Participants gathered around the freshman table to make tie-die T-shirts, surrounded the sophomore table to eat baked treats and get airbrush tattoos, went to the junior table to eat cotton candy, and encompassed the senior booth to buy a pumpkin.

Many other clubs and activity groups had booths at the event as well. The athletic department sold old uniforms as well as Pinewood apparel. Yearbook sold frozen yogurt, social awareness sold smoothies, and in-

teract club decorated cupcakes.

The airbrush tattoos, sold by the sophomores, were favored among students and faculty.

Another popular booth was the dunk tank: an opportunity to dunk another student, teacher, or faculty member. “The dunk tank [was my favorite],” Haley Longbottom, junior, said.

In the afternoon, excited audience members crowded on the blacktop awaiting the greatly anticipated rock club. Several different bands, including ones in which members from junior high participated, performed a variety of songs, from pop to rock.

“Rock club was amazing. We have such a huge pool of talent at Pinewood,” Literature teacher,

Hannah Jones said. “Rock club was phenomenal. They came ready to play and had a lot of fun.

After the bands performed, a line formed outside the theater for the annual haunted house.

Each grade, as well as the Associated Student Body, decorated a room with creepy props and filled the room with students who screamed, grabbed legs, and tried a variety of scare ttctics on those who dared to enter based off the theme “dollhouse.”

The tour of the doll house began with the sophomores’ backyard, then, followed by the seniors’ dining room, which filled the room with a stench of raw meat. The storage room, created by the Juniors was next, and

after crawling through a tunnel meant to be the vents, the guests entered the freshmen’s nursery and ASB’s laundry room.

“My daughters thought the storage room was the creepiest and the tunnel [also] freaked them out,” Doug Eivers said.

This year’s haunted house proved to be a success in frightening the students, family, and faculty that walked through, as well as raising hundred of dollars.

Jamboree is always a highlight for the Pinewood community.

Throughout the day, attendees had a great time interacting with friends, playing games, eating food, and spending their money.

“It was pretty awesome,” sophomore Maddy Augustine said.

Clockwise from Top Left: Sophomore Kai Kawashima plays guitar for Pinewood Rock Club. Yearbook club sells Pinkberry for fundraising. Senior classes make money off of pumpkins; President Scott Riches geared up for the dunk tank. Faculty members Doug Eivers, Scott Lacy, Spencer Williams, Jared Leake sport t-shirts for the Pinewood production. Elementary school students wait for tie-dye booth. Photos taken by Faiz Khan and Emily Ng.

sharp-tongued Pinewood 8th Graders plan to students compete in debate explore Nation’s Capitol AMRITH DEEPAK STAFF WRITER

On Saturday Oct. 15, Pinewood School participated in a debate tournament at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. It was a one-day tournament, which ran from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m..

Topics were handed out at 9 a.m.. There were four rounds, which began at 9:15, 11:00, 1:45, and 3:45. The awards ceremony was at 6:15. Several schools from the Coast Forensic League participated in the tournament including Gunn High School, Leland High School, Harker School, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and several other schools between South San Francisco and Gilroy.

“This was the first tournament, and we did really well. Robin Sanders and Matti Thurston were third year debaters, and Ali Rafie and Nancy Sutter are second year debaters. All of them did a great job” debate coach Laralyn Murphy said.

There were two types of debate-- Parliamentary and Public Forum--with a junior Varsity and Varsity section. Pinewood only participated in the Varsity Parliamentary section. Parliamentary debate is modeled after debates held in the British Parliament. Two teams with two members in each team debate against each other. One team is the government side, meaning they support change, and the other side is the opposition, which does not want change.

Topics were handed out 15 minutes before the round started. Judges consisted mostly of parents

of the debaters. There were also a couple of local community members. Parents were not allowed to judge students from the same school as their children. A database of participants was used to ensure that participants debate only students from other schools.

The topics in debate tournaments are typically controversial issues in politics. In this tournament, there was double flyting, meaning that half the students were in the first slot, and the other half were in the second slot. There were eight topics covered in the four rounds. This was done to prevent the students in the second slot from preparing material while the first slot was debating. Some examples topics were “US should ban targeted killings of US Citizens,” “EU should accept Turkey as a member state,” “The US should opt to increase tax burden on people earning more than $250,000 per year,” “Obama’s job bill will do more harm than good,” “UN should accept Palestine as a member state,” and “Democrats will win 2012 election.”

Each round lasted for approximately 40 minutes.

Two teams from Pinewood participated. Juniors Ali Rafie and Nancy Sutter were in one team and ended up winning the first two rounds, and losing the last two. “We dominated the first two rounds, and were very successful,” Junior Ali Rafie said.

“We had no chance in the third round, but

we could’ve done better in the fourth round” Junior Nancy Sutter said.

The other Pinewood team with Robin Sanders and Matti Thurston fared even better, winning three rounds, and losing only one.

ANNIE KONG STAFF WRITER

On Sunday Nov. 6, Pinewood 8th graders will be leaving Los Altos Hills to Washington D.C. This trip is not only intended for educational purposes but also to help bring the grade closer together.

Highlights of the trip to Washington D.C. include a tour of Capitol Hill, the Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, and the National Archives. They are also planning on visiting the Natioanl Mall and Smithsonian Institutions, a favorite from last year. They will also be visiting many memorials dedicated to World War II, Vietnam Veterans, Korea, and Iwo Jima, as well as the new MLK memorial, according to the trip coordinator Phil Ribaudo.

Several new sites include the University of Virginia, the Wythe House, the Pentagon Memorial, and the Ash Lawn/Highland, home of our fifth President James Monroe.

“I can’t wait for the D.C. trip,” eighth grader Maddie Wheatley said. “I’ve heard so many great things about the trip, and my friends and I are looking forward to seeing all the cool sites.”

In Colonial Williamsburg, students will communicate with and learn from costumed historic figures who will teach them of the many tasks and duties of everyday life in the 18th century. At the courthouse, they will participate in a mock trial. At the Wythe House, they will tour the home of one of America’s greatest lawyers who also signed the Declaration of Independence, and at Capitol Building, they will learn about the government and Virginia’s role during the American Revolution.

Next, they will visit Jamestown, which includes the James Fort, Powhatan Indian Village, the Glasshouse, and more. The final destination of this years eighth grade Washington D.C. trip is Charlottesville, stopping by Thomas Jefferson’s plantation home, Ash Lawn/Highland, and the University of Virginia.

“I’m so excited for the trip,”eighth grader Raika Kim said. “I think it’ll be a really fun, bonding experience.”

Opinion 2

Ne w iPhone: uM ad?

AUSTIN LIANG STAFF WRITER Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S on Oct. 4th at a press conference in Cupertino. Coming in the same design as its predecessor, the iPhone 4, the 4S contains upgrades such as an A5 processor and other features like a voice recognition assistant, dubbed Siri. It impressed some critics with new user interface, but failed to impress the majority of iPhone users, caused by not enough, for a lack of a better word, exciting changes.

The iPhone 4S is basically a stronger, better, faster version of the iPhone 4 with a few slight tweaks. While the exterior design was kept the same, the antenna was switched to a different location, most likely for better reception. Without any major differences in design or concept, the 4S was not different enough to be called the iPhone 5. Apple, nevertheless, was still extremely successful in sales, selling over 4 million products in the first weekend, even with the absence of their leader, Steve Jobs.

Despite a less-than astounding product, the iPhone 4S is definitely a great suc-

Apple’s New CEO Tim Cook presenting the iPhone 4S... A product that has disappointed many people. Photo taken from latimes.com.

cessor to the iPhone 4. It sold over 1 million pre-orders, beating the iPhone 4’s still impressive 600,000.

While Steve Jobs’ death was a major contributor to the increase of sales, the sixteenth month wait in between release left Apple customers yearning for an excuse to buy a new gadget.

The biggest new feature in the 4S operating system is Siri, a voice recognition artificial intelligence.

It takes verbal speech and uses it to set reminders, make recommendations, or perform online actions.

Many main functions of the iPhone

that would be previously performed through touch can now be controlled by the voice. The iPhone 4S’s storage system is iCloud, which allows any data downloaded on remote servers to be up for grabs on any public computer or other Apple devices. The 4S comes with an i5 processor, making it more than twice as fast and approximately seven times as powerful as the iPhone 4. A stronger camera with high-definition pictures and videos has been added as well.

Apple is pulling out all the stops

Lagging Appreciation for Culture

on their operating system, IOS 5. It now makes the iPhone or other Apple devices computer-free, which means that an iTunes updates can be done all from your device of choice.

The 4S also contains over 200 new add-ons, including a more developed multitasking function and a progressively efficient messaging format to other devices.

The changes in the iPhone 4S may be too subtle, however. Many people are critiquing the iPhone 4S for not being “different” enough.

However, I think Apple’s intention

with the iPhone 4S was not to release a new, groundbreaking phone, but instead to release a phone that would be an advance in processing technology. I don’t believe Apple intended to release a this phone as a new phone, but rather a more refined product testing out new system changes. Some Apple customers have become too accustomed to the company revealing technology-changing products season after season. Ever since the arrival of the iPod, Apple has revolutionized the forefront of technology in entertainment and media. With the iPhone, iPad, iCloud, and mac and iPhone OSs, its only a matter of time until a new gadget will change how people use media. The iPhone 5 will hopefully be that device. However, we should be content with Apple’s most recent product.

The new iPhone 4S improves on many features and problems the iPhone 4 had, while adding one or two new perks. Apple can’t possibly keep up with all the consumer demand of newer, more advanced, innovative phones.

The Apple iPhone 4S should just be appreciated for what it is.

THE PANTHER PRINTS WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE FEEDBACK FROM OUR READERS, AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! IF THESE OPINION/EDITORIAL ARTICLES, OR ANY OF THE ONES ON THE OTHER PAGES SOLICIT A RESPONSE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT:

pantherprints@pinewood.edu (all lower caps)

Chinese characters taught in Chinese schools like the one that Pinewood alumni Derek lee atended...

GARRETT BIGGS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Writing for this issue of the Panther Prints, I looked to past issues of the paper for some sort of inspiration. On the way though, I found an article written in 2009, by former Editor in Chief Derek Lee. The article struck a chord with me, and we decided to share it with you for this issue.

So please enjoy this look back on what we consider to be one of the best articles in Panther Prints history.

DEREK LEE PINEWOOD ALUMNUS Last Friday evening, my father dropped me off once again at

the Palo Alto Chinese School.

As I walked down the hall to my classroom, I realized that I have wandered around that campus for 13 years. Ever since I was in kindergarten, I have attended Chinese school every Friday night to further my knowledge of the Mandarin language and Chinese culture.

For the first few years of my education, the size of the school increased. As my third grade teacher taught Chinese characters and read stories, 25 students listened intently and practiced writing sentences with the new words. In later years, my classmates began to lose interest in Chinese. The class size slowly dwindled, until today, my Chinese class consists of only eleven students.

Not only that, but my fellow

EDITORS IN CHIEF: Garrett Biggs Max Darrow

FEATURES EDITORS: Karalena Davis Niuniu Teo

NEWS EDITORS: Matti Thurston Emily Zhang

SPORTS EDITORS: Max Darrow Stephen Yu

classmates have lost the enthusiasm they had in the past. Last Friday, we learned about Wu Zetian, the only female in Chinese history to become Emperor and establish her own dynasty. That sounds interesting, right? Unfortunately, if you had walked into that class, you would have found most of the students staring blankly off into space.

At Pinewood, I witnessed similar events. A few weeks ago, the school’s National Spanish Honor Society organized an activity for its members. On Sunday, November 1, the San Jose Museum of Art held a celebration for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to commemorate loved ones who have passed away.

As the President of the Honor Society, I strongly encouraged our

We look forward to hearing from you! members to attend the event. When I entered the museum, I beheld a group of musicians performing traditional Mexican songs. As I listened to the lively tunes, I expected to see familiar faces entering the museum.

However, in the end, only Señora Sheila Schmitz and one other student came. The three of us observed the intricacies of a traditional Latin American altar, and we participated in art activities that are customary to the holiday. I learned a great deal about the Spanish culture, but I was disappointed that my fellow schoolmates could not share the experience.

Two days later, Pinewood’s French classes went on a field trip to San Francisco to watch the French film “Stella”.

When I heard about this event, I envied the French students the opportunity to

Panther Prints Staff OP/ED EDITORS: Garrett Biggs Tiffany Chen

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Robin Sanders PHOTO EDITOR: Lindsay Riches

STAFF WRITERS: Ben Brown Sam Carp Rorie Duncan Kevin Endersby Victoria Gardiner Andrew Gerson Alex Hasnain Annie Kong

Sarah Lawson Austin Liang Camille Polster Shani Rosenthal Kelly Ryan Brittany Shulte Etelle Stephan Sydni Topper Karina Uppal

practice listening skills and to learn more about the culture. However, I discovered that many students had decided not to go. In fact, French teachers even had to chase down students and hand them permission slips for the trip. Such an opportunity should not be forced; instead, the students should want to take advantage of the occasion to further understand the French culture.

Today, when students learn a new language, they often care too much about its technicalities and too little about the culture. True, learning how to read, write, and speak a language correctly is important, but understanding its culture is more crucial. To interact with people, we must first understand their customs and cultures. It is then that we can communicate clearly and gain mutual respect.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Vishal Jindal Faiz Khan Emily Ng David Rodden Annie Whitacre ADVISOR: Kim Wetzel

Editorial 3

S t u d y ‘ t i l Yo u D r o p !

BRITTANY SCHULTE STAFF WRITER Asian. In recent years, this word has come to mean more than an ethnicity; it is a lifestyle and a culture prominent in our hometown of the Bay Area. Some schools can even be entirely described as “Asian” (Monta Vista High School is 72 percent Asian). Over the last few years, the Asian community has come to be defined by stereotypes because of the intense academic rigor of their students. So what does being “Asian” really entail?

Let’s go back to the roots of Asian belief. Recently, there has been a lot of conflict over the amount of stress put on children in Asia, specifically in South Korea. The government is trying to ban hagwons, private after-school tutoring programs that work children till late at night. Officials say that it is unhealthy for children; however, parents argue that this is not the government’s place to step in and that hagwons are necessary for their children to get a leg up in school.

Parents push their kids to be the best academically and to receive admission to the most prestigious colleges. It is a stressful and unhappy lifestyle; however, statistics have proven that this type of academically stressed lifestyle is the key to success. This type of tutoring system exists not only in South Korea, but also in other Asian countries. Sending children to these schools has become de rigueur amongst parents. By not sending your child to these tutoring centers, it is seen as depriving your child of success.

Students in South Korea have consistently performed better than kids in the United States year after year. Obama has even applauded the results of South Korean education. In Time article “Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone,” Amanda Ripley writes, “‘You Americans see a bright side of the Korean system,’ Education Minister Lee Ju-ho tells me, ‘but Koreans are not happy with it.’”

Perhaps what Education Minister Lee Ju-ho is seeing is the brilliance and power of American creativity, and the lack thereof in his own country. South Korea is producing a large amount of book smart children. However, these children can almost be as robots. Each student is practically the same. Their parents have determined their future in a realistic, moneymak-

Debilitated Asian child who lost consciousness in class. Photo taken from visualphotos.com.

ing career. However, in America, in addition to the lawyers, doctors, and businessmen, parents foster millions of future artists, writers, designers, and people with talents the world has yet to see. American children have the opportunity to embrace and embody the American Dream, a concept that Asian countries still struggle to grasp.

Although their cultures and traditions may vary, some Asian peoples value a strict work ethic and a strong set of priorities.

This includes adequate preparation for success in the workplace through an impressive education. You might be thinking back to Amy Chua’s infamous “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” article right about now. Some Asian children are being

A dearth of Respect To Teachers

pushed to their mental limit, and often pit themselves against other kids in hopes of being the best academically, which to them means they will eventually be the more successful.

I’m not saying the American education system is better, because it most definitely is not. We have a skyrocketing drop out rate and are in the midst of an economic crisis. I have no right to say that American children turn out better than Asian children. But I think there is something valuable in the idea of pursuing your own dreams despite what your parents want.

There is something special and interesting in all of us, and I believe that, as a result, America provides a more hopeful and opportunistic future for our youth.

At the Price of Others

NIUNIU TEO FEATURES EDITOR

KARALENA DAVIS ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

Teachers in America aren’t as respected as they are in other countries. You could deny it, but it’s true. But then, of course, there’s a reason this article is in the Opinion/Editorial section of the paper.

However, my grandmother on my mother’s side was a teacher in China until retiring at about 70 years old, and my aunt on my father’s remains one of the most respected teachers in Singapore. They would tell you the same thing.

Nobody denies the importance of teachers in every child’s life. However, for some reason, being a teacher in America normally isn’t up there with being a doctor, a lawyer, or a professor, as far as social status goes. Or pay, for that matter.

Perhaps the fact that teachers aren’t as respected comes from the general American tendency to question authority. After all, one could argue that our country was born in a rebellion against authority. However, the discrepancy in the amount American teachers are paid undoubtedly plays a role. Although in absolute amount American teachers are paid more, American teachers work the longest hours, and, in a ratio with the nation’s economic status, their pay is in the bottom third, according to an economic blog on the New York Times.

In my own experience as a student, I have seen countless emails to teachers from upset parents, either calling the teacher’s credibility into question, or the school system. Although the emails are sometimes based on credible reasons, and sometimes not, it is unclear whether the increased criticism results from the low pay of the teachers or a lack of respect for the teachers.

In other words, low pay could result

Let’s say you are a construction worker. One day, you are working on the job, when….oops! You get hurt and aren’t able to pay for medical treatment. But don’t worry, there are lots of rich people in America who are willing to help pay for your health care, right? Wrong. Those people don’t get a choice.

Now, under the recently altered Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was signed into law on March 23, 2010, families who make over $250,000 annually will have to pay a health care tax to help pay for the health care of the poor. That is unacceptable.

Offering to help the poor should come out of the goodness of one’s heart. When someone is willing to give up his or her wealth in order to help someone less fortunate, that is true compassion—compassion is voluntary, not forced.

Compassion is not the government forcing wealthier citizens to help pay for the health care of the poor by means of unfair taxes.

People with high-paying jobs often work just as hard as those who do not earn as much. In other words, many adults work their butts off in order to support themselves and their families, and some are able to make more money than others. Just because these people worked hard to earn large sums of money does not give the government the right to tax them more and redistribute the wealth to the impoverished. This idea of wealth redistribution means that it does not necessarily matter if you work hard to make more money; you must still help bear the burden of a poor man who does not earn as much by giving up some of your money.

America is a country that focuses on citizens having equal rights. According to the dictionary, a right is “that which is morally correct, just, or honorable.” Since when has it been just, moral, just, honorable, and above all, equal, to forcefully take money from one class and not the other to give to the poor? Where is the equality in that? One is being taxed a large amount and not the other. For there to truly be equal rights, the same tax should apply to everyone, no matter their income.

Everyone in America should be able to receive health care if so desired, but not by unjustly forcing one class of people to pay, which the Act will do when it fully kicks in 2014. Until that can be done, I will stick with the wise old saying: life’s not fair.

Challenge: Find the United States! Hint: It’s not one of them long bars. Photo taken from economix.blogs.nytimes.com

in the more qualified individuals of a field straying from the teaching profession, which would result in American teachers being, on the whole, less qualified than their better-paid peers in other countries. On the other hand, a general lack of respect for the teachers could result in an increased tendency to criticize the methods of teachers who either assign too much homework, or not enough. Perhaps it’s worth noting that parent emails to teachers are almost unheard of in China, though this may in part result from the vast differences on each country’s views of authority.

Recently, the pay and pensions of teachers have come under attack in the faltering economy. In a time when foreign competition is gaining on America

in the form of a growing economy and an almost excessive emphasis on education, the educational system is one of the most effective ways left to ensure America’s position in the world. As the job market begins to span nations, and as people begin to have to compete for jobs on a global scale, the quality of education becomes crucial in determining who ultimately gets hired, and who doesn’t. This is a time when the quality of the education of future generations is crucial to the welfare of the country as well as the students themselves.

Though it may be difficult to fathom a viable solution to the educational system in the country with a teetering economy, there’s a quite simple way to start. It’s time to start recognizing our teachers.

Features 4

Steve Jobs: a man who changed lives

Steve Jobs presenting the revolutionary iPhone, now the most popular smartphone on the market. Photo taken from newsone.com

KARINA UPPAL STAFF WRITER

As the news of chairman and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs has become a household name, and a common conversation topic in the common American household. His death spread around the globe on Wednesday, October 5th, celebrities, heads of major companies, and everyday people expressed their loss, using the very tools of the Apple cofounder. Jobs left his legacy on our desks, in our ears, and in our hands—he turned Apple Inc. into the world’s most valuable company in the world with the creation of the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad (Wall Street Journal.com).

Through his products, Jobs reached out to all by improving their lives. “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators—brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it,” President Barack Obama said after his untimely death (Huffington Post.com).

Many Pinewood students talk about how the Apple products they own alter their daily lives. “Jobs is found in Pinewood everywhere. Through usage of his products, he is remembered

anyone or anywhere and that you don’t need to come from a prestigious school to change things,” Senior Evan Chan said.

Steve Jobs always seemed to know what people wanted even before they voiced their opinions. “What I was mostly sad [about Steve Jobs’ death] is that this genius is no longer going to be around to give us anymore of his ideas of vision… We have come to the point where we can do thirty things in one hand.

Productivity has increased because of his inventions…” Computers and Communications teacher Phil Ribaudo said.

From the beginning, Steve Jobs declared, “It’s about power…Information is power”. Jobs always thought about the future, creating many new, tasteful, and stylish products used by millions. “Steve Jobs invented what used to be implausible and worked hard stepping technology up level by level until he died.

I’ve been supporting his products since the first generation iPod and am satisfied with the upgrades since then,” senior Ryland Chan said.

Steve Jobs will join the list of historic geniuses and innovators, such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford (WSJ.com). “When I think of [Jobs], the first thing that comes to mind is that he is such a genius—one of the most important inventors in history,” Junior Erica Osterberger said.

“Really, that is what Steve Jobs was—a visionary more than he was anything else...and the fact that he stuck to his guns when other people criticized him for wanting to go in a certain direction, but he forced it and that is where we are today,” Ribaudo said.

every minute of every day,” Sophomore Haley Keck said.

Starting from Apple’s founding in 1976, Jobs displayed his genius by creating computer models, which could be used by regular people in their homes. “With the creation of the first iPod and the application iTunes, Jobs changed the way we know music. His products allow the students in Pinewood to communicate better with each other—be clear communicators,” Freshman Jack Sweat said.

Some students felt that Jobs brought hope—he proved that anyone could succeed and change the world if he desired to do so. “When I heard about Steve Jobs’ death, I was saddened, but I not very surprised because I knew he had cancer. He has given me hope that something big can happen with one person—that one man can change the world,” Freshman Rohan Gharat said.

Steve Jobs’ innovations affected the entire world and changed the technology industry.

“My dad works at Apple, and Steve Jobs was his inspiration…

He really changed our lives. Today, we all depend on Internet and social networking; Steve Jobs revolutionized the way to present these through applications on devices” Freshman Katherine Tseung said.

“I think that Jobs showed us all that innovation can come from Steve Jobs in Apple’s early years, before he infamously was fired.

Photo taken from edudemic.com

INTRODUCING THE NEW TEACHERS...

AMRITH DEEPAK AND ALEX HASNAIN STAFF WRITERS Five new teachers – Sabra Abraham, Liz Mooney, Jared Leake, Scott Lacy and Ellie Pojarska - have joined the Pinewood faculty this school year.

Abraham teaches General Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, and Advanced Placement Chemistry. She got her Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and her masters from Cal-State East Bay. Before teaching, she also got a teaching credential from San Jose State University.

Abraham started her career as a clinical researcher in the pharmaceutical industry. She got into teaching because she “loves young people, and wants to work with teens.” Outside of school, she likes doing anything outdoors. She is going dog mushing in Christmas.

She also enjoys reading.

Liz Mooney teaches American history and geography.

She has a bachelor’s degree in History and Women Studies from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, a masters in secondary social education, and her teaching credential from Teachers College Columbia. She taught World History and United States History in Woodland School, but moved to Pinewood because she “knows some of the high school students at Pinewood as they were in Woodland before, and there was a job opportunity at Pinewood.” She lives in the city of San Francisco, and enjoys art, music, surfing, and going out to restaurants.

Jared Leake teaches Studio Art, VPA 1, Graphic Design, Film Studies, and Digital Photography. Leake has taught children for twelve years, from preschoolers to college students. He has also taught in both urban and suburban settings, and is a practicing art-

Question of the Month

My friend dressed up as a woopie cushion and had a farting machine attached.

-Sydney Goeld Freshman

ist who presents his work to the public. He graduated from Northeastern University and Wheelock College in 2002 with a BA in the visual arts and a concentration in Painting and Early Childhood Education. In 2008, he graduated from Lesley University and Art Institute of Boston, where he received his M.Ed. Teacher of Visual Arts degree.

“He is a great guy. He’s a funny, relaxed, flexible, and relatable guy who is always fun to be in class with,” senior Casey Cairo said.

New music teacher Scott Lacey has spent the last 18 years working in the National Theater Community and has not only helped to develop seventeen World Premier productions, but also five Broadway musicals. He has a degree in music and voice from the University of Redlands school of music and has been teaching for over fifteen years.

“I can tell that he [Lacy] really loves teaching and be-

ing with the students. He has a wonderful sense of humor.

I have never heard students say a single bad thing about him. I am looking forward to spending time with him during this year. I’m sure that he will make a great impact on our performing arts department,” said sophomore Annie Whitacre, an actor in the play All My Sons.

Ellie Pojarska is a Writing 9 teacher. She taught British Literature Honors at Pine- Jared Leake wood three years ago, but took a break because she had her second child. She got a master of arts in Comparative Literature from Stanford University.

Her favorite hobby is spending time with children. She enjoys hiking with kids, spending time in the park with kids, and going to farmers markets with her kids. Two teachers, Scott Lacy and Jared Leake, have joined the Pinewood staff in late August as new drama and Liz Mooney art teachers.

Sabra Abraham

G. Scott Lacy

What is the wackiest Halloween costume you’ve ever seen?

A headless guy carrying around his head.

-Sonia Sokolova Junior

I dressed up as Kevin Tracy once.

-Austin Twombly Sophomore

A guy dressed as a magnet with a bunch of little chickens attached.

He was a chick magnet.

-Hannah Dabagian Senior

My daughter Sky dressed up as a refrigerator. When you opened her door a light would come on.

-Hannah Jones English Teacher

Arts & Culture 5

Pinewood Teacher Auctions Off Art for Charity BEN BROWN STAFF WRITER From Sept. 16-18, there was an art show for 50 emerging artists in San Francisco’s mission district where Jared Leake, Pinewood’s new art teacher, had four works on display. At the show, there were live DJ’s, great food, and tons of artwork. According to Leake, it was a giant party and a great time.

Born in Connecticut, Leake graduated from Wheelock College and received his bachelors degree in the arts.

He then continued on to graduate school where he earned his master’s degree in Visual Arts with a focus on education.

He only recently moved to the Bay area. Leake’s favorite works to create are mixed media oil paintings. This is when he takes a photograph, blows it up and puts it on canvas, and then adds multiple layers of oil paint and textures, including acetate, tracing paper, and tissue paper. He also is an avid photorapher and his work can be seen at his personal website, jaredleake.com.

Leake’s favorite of his paintings is “In a Moment Things can Change,” which symbolizes the 2008 stock market crash. The bottom section of the painting is a haze that represents people’s unawareness and denial, and the

top represents the wounded economy.

Where the top has started to seep into the bottom represents the fact that reality will overcome perception.

On Oct. 23, from 6-9 p.m., there was a fundraiser art show in San Francisco called “Spectrum.”

This event last year raised over $100,000 through live and silent auctions. The event features a large array of artwork, from photography, to paintings and drawings. Leake’s piece, “Allston Footbridge Reclamation Project”, was one of the presented works.

All the proceeds of the event go to an organization called Access Institute.

According to their website, the Access Institute for Psychological Services has helped hundreds of people by providing medication consultation and therapy, and psychological testing services to those in need.

“Through [their] training program, [they] are building a community of clinicians who are committed to community service,” the website stated.

“I feel very lucky to be participating in the Access Institute’s gala event “Spectrum”. It [was] a great opportunity for me to not only showcase my work in a live and silent auction, but to support a wonderful cause,” Leake said.

Jared Leake’s ‘In A Moment Things Can Change’ symbolizes the 2008 stock market crash. The bottom section of the painting is a haze that represents people’s unawareness and denial, and the top represents the wounded economy. Where the top has started to seep into the bottom represents the fact that reality will overcome perception. Photo courtesy of Jared Leake.

Panther Prints’ Photo of the Month PANTHER PRINTS STAFF A photo of the month may be any photo taken by either student or artist that solicited a reaction from our editorial staff. We chose this photo in particular because of the intense lighting and the

interesting effects it has on the subject. This photo was taken

by Sophomore Karalena Davis while she was in Africa on Safari. “I didn’t realize how great it turned out till I got home and put it on the computerer. I’m glad I have the chance to share it with you all,” Davis said.

If you are a hopeful phtographer, or just happened to snap a lucky shot, we want your photo. If you would like your photo to appear in the Panther Prints, please send your submission to pantherprints@pinewood. edu. We look foward to seeing them.

Photo taken by Sophomore Karalena Davis.

Horror Movie Madness RORIE DUNCAN STAFF WRITER Halloween is looming just around the corner with ghosts, vampires, and even Pinewood students awaiting its return. Kicking off the Halloween season, Pinewood played, “Insidious,” at movie night, which was a definite hit.

Screams could be heard across the entire campus during the movie, sometimes even when it wasnʼt scary. The movie was held in the gym, a change from its usual venue of the theater.

Snacks such as candy, popcorn, and cinammon roles were provided.

“It was really fun and kind of scary. I enjoyed hanging out and watching it,” junior Brooke Wills said. For those of you who didnʼt get a chance to see this movie, “Insidious” was a frightening tale of a little boy who slips into a coma. When his family begins to be tormented by evil spirits, the family moves. After the move, they soon realize that it isnʼt the house that was haunted; it is their son. Determined to find answers, the family puts their trust into a mysterious medium, who tells the family that their son is lost in a place called a“The Further.”

“The scariest part is when the red devil face appeared,” sophomore Annie Daines said. To this day, students are still talking about how scared they are to see this face when they do to sleep.

Scary movies can be seen as a Halloween tradition. However, there are mixed reviews

from Pinewood students about them. “I hate scary movies because people always do what theyʼre not supposed to do,” senior Daniel Branski said. For example, opening the door to the basement to investigate when you hear a creepy noise never ends well.

Other students say that horror movies are their absolute favorite genre. Some popular movies include “IT,” “The Sixth Sense,” “What Lies Beneath,” “Haunting in Connecticut,” “Zodiac Killer,” and “When a Stranger Calls.” My personal favorite is “The Strangers.”

“My favorite scary movie is “The Ring. It has never been so scary to watch a little girl walk across the screen,” said Physics teacher Jack Young. Filmed in 2002, it is the story of a cursed videotape, where whoever watched it would die in seven days. The storyline, which seemed a little less than terrifying at the time, turned out to be a movie that would keep you scared for weeks.

This year, one of the only new scary movies that will be coming out is “Paranormal Activity 3.” This is a sequel to the first two Paranormal Activity movies, which continue mostly along the same plot line as the first two. Set in the 80ʼs, this movie again shows a small family being haunted in the night by unruly spirits. Although there have been mixed reviews, many critics agree this is the best Paranormal Activity movie to date.

Whether you like the classics, or new films such as “Paranormal Activity 3,” any of these horror movies will guarantee you a night of fright!

Thoughts From A Castmember CAMILLE POLSTER STAFF WRITER For Pinewoods’ Fall play, the drama All My Sons was chosen. Telling the story of the Keller family, “All My Sons” analyzes the relationship between father & son, the ethics of business, and the loss of loved ones.

In it, junior Claire Witzke plays Kate Keller, an older woman whose oldest son has gone missing in action, and her youngest plans on marrying his brothers’ high school sweetheart. This leads to a climactic moment where she reveals her husband Joe’s darkest secret. I sat down with Claire, and asked her a few questions about the play, the weeks of preparation, and her relationship with the opening actors.

Q: How did you feel about All My Sons, as the choice for the play?

A: “At first I was hesitant because I knew that it was a very heavy drama, but I was excited because it’s a very good play, well written.”

Q: What are the differences between doing a drama and a comedy?

A:“In a drama you have to think more” Q: About what?

A:“About your characters motivations and objectives and their history” Q: Did you feel prepared for Opening Night?

A: “Yeah, I felt like we were all ready and very excited..and a little tired”

Q: Has this been more stressful than previous years (only 5 weeks to prepare)?

A: “I don’t think so. I feel like sometimes it [hit] us that we only [had] 5 weeks, but I think [we were] ready” Q: What did you think of the casting choices?

A: “Casting is always a difficult decision but I think it turned out to be a great cast and it’s a great show.”

Q: You’ve worked with Talmage Wise (Joe Keller) before, but as brother and sister. How was it different playing husband and wife?

A: “Talmage is a great actor and a good friend and it was easy to adapt to be husband and wife.”

Q: What did you think of the “new blood”?

A: “I think that they are all very talented and it was fun to have new people and new energy. [laughs] Sometimes Garrett (Chris Keller) is a little too much.”

Q:What was your favorite moment from rehearsals?

A: “Though some people don’t like tech week, I enjoy it because it gets everyone together in one room to run through the show together because in the past rehearsal weeks you don’t always see everyone in the cast.”

Q: Trevor Longbottom for a long time was instrumental in the Tech Crew. Now that he is gone, how did you think the crew and Eivers did, adjusting without him?

A: “I think Helen Jarnagin did a very good job directing the new people in tech and being the stage manager. The set looks really good and I’m amazed that they constructed something that great in such a short amount of time.”

Q:How did you prepare yourself to play the role

Claire Witzke and Garrett Biggs performing in “All My Sons.” Photo taken by Amy Witzke.

of Kate Keller?

A: “I looked up several YouTube videos of past actresses performing as Kate and saw what worked and didn’t work for them and tried to apply that to my own character adaptation.”

Q: What was your favorite scene to perform?

A: “I really like scene near the end of Act Two where things are spiraling out of control and I slap Talmage.”

Sports 6

Football Readies Up for League Finale KEVIN ENDERSBY STAFF WRITER On Oct. 22, the Pinewood football team traveled to Pacifica and dominated the hosting Alma Heights Christian Academy Eagles, winning 50-6. Sophomore running back Kai Kawashima led the team in rushing, gaining 110 of the Panthers’ 308 yards of 22 attempts.

Defensively, Pinewood held the Eagles to 93 total yards and allowed one touchdown—off of a kickoff return.

Senior team captain and linebacker Dante Fraioli led the defense in tackles with seven.

In their previous game, the team beat the Anzar High School Hawks with an almost identical score of 54-6.

The Panthers’ ground game propelled them to victory, rushing for 272 yards.

In the past three games, Pinewood has outscored their opponents 136-12, and now have a record of 2-1 in the Mission Trail 8-Man league.

Fraioli felt the team has improved through more effort during practice and was proud of how they played against Alma Heights and Anzar.

“The tempo in practice has picked up and it’s really starting to translate into better execution during the games,” Fraioli said. “The team gave it their all over the weekend. That was evident in the score by halftime.”

However, senior team captain John Bennett felt differently. “In the first half, we played lazily,” Bennett said. “Although the score was 50-6, I felt that we didn’t get much better and that everyone just showed up to be there. It’s not a matter of how our team has improved. We as a whole just needed a little confidence and recently we have found that confidence to make ourselves look a whole lot better.”

Although the captains had opposing views of how the team played, they both agreed that the play of the game was junior wide receiver Ali Rafie’s fourth-quarter touchdown.

After a third-down fumble brought the offense 23 yards, on fourth

down, Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Michael Tirabassi called for a deep play action pass. Seconds after the ball was thrown, the Pinewood sideline erupted with emotion as Rafie caught his first touchdown pass of the year.

Local newspapers projected the Mission Trail league championship to be between the same two teams from 2010 and 2009. In this well-anticipated championship game, the Panthers host the league undefeated Anchorpoint Christian Warriors. The team is doing everything they can to prepare in order to defeat their four-year rival and win their first championship on their senior night.

After losing the league championship two years in a row, the Pinewood football team is desperate for a turnaround. However, with a home field advantage, the players are more confident.

Both captains have advice for themselves and their players.

“This is going to be a huge game because it is our last home game and senior night,” Bennett said.

“To tell you the truth, a couple of us players are going to go ‘beast mode on the field’ and not let a league championship slip from our grasp two years in a row by the same team. As a matter of fact, we are prepared enough, it’s just that we need to be a little more mentally tough in order to beat Anchorpoint in the championship game.”

Fraioli is also confident in his team but still has a few words of advice in order to win. “The one thing we are going to need to do better is focus during the game,” Fraioli said.

“Practice is the time for error but the game is the time for flawless execution. If we are going to beat Anchorpoint, [we’ll have to guarantee to make] no blocks in the back, no facemasks, no encroachment, and no offsides.

Other than that, our skills and intensity will get us the championship banner.”

The Panthers look to beat Anchorpoint in the league finale, starting at 3:30 this afternoon at home.

Q & A With Freshman Cross Country Star Nicole Colonna MAX DARROW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Freshman Nicole Colonna always was fast, but nobody really knew how fast she was until she ran cross-country for Pinewood—not even herself. The Panther Prints decided to do a short questions and answers session with the runner after she began to gain recognition throughout not only the Pinewood community, but the Bay Area.

Darrow: What makes crosscountry fun?

Colonna: (Laughing) Oh gosh. Just like, joking around with everyone while you’re running. The competition—I love competition—I’m a very competitive person.

Darrow: Do you do anything special before every meet, like any sort of pre-race ritual?

Colonna: Not really. The night before every meet I have pasta. Just to load up on carbs.

Darrow: How many meets have you had this year and what positions have you placed in each?

Colonna: We’ve had four meets. In the first one, I got something like 34th, the second one I got sixth, then I got tenth, and in the most recent one I got fifteenth.

Darrow: It has been said that you “kill” people while you are running. What do people mean when they say this?

Colonna: (Chuckling) They just mean that I catch up to them and pass them.

Darrow: You obviously have a lot of potential as a runner, being a freshman and already placing extremely high in all of the meets. Have you ever thought about pursuing it in college?

Colonna: Just a little bit. I’m not too concerned about it right now, not really thinking about it right now because I’m still a freshman.

Darrow: How does it feel being the fastest runner on a varsity cross-country team and having your name known outside of Pinewood?

Colonna: It’s a lot of fun. (Chuckling) I’ll have people come up to me sometimes saying, “Hey! You’re the girl in the yellow shirt! You crushed me last time.”

Sophomore defensive tackle M.J. Stevens (54) sacks the Anzar quarterback for a loss in the Panthers 50-6 rout of the Hawks. Photo by Faiz Khan.

NBA Lockout Continues, Could the S e a s on be C a nc e l l e d ?

ANDREW GERSON STAFF WRITER

“We are so far apart . . . we can’t close the gap,” National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern said on Oct. 10 as he cancelled the first two week of the NBA’s regular season.

This move officially leaves 100 games cancelled from Nov. 1-14 and represents a big financial hit to anyone who makes a living in the NBA. On average, NBA owners will lose $1 million for every game cancelled, while the players will lose $350 million every month without games played.

Meanwhile, the owners and players are hoping to come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Among the many discussion points are the luxury tax, contract length, and split of basketball-related income between owners and players.

Some players have already given up on the NBA season, however. New Jersey Nets star Deron Williams has already started playing in a Turkish league, and Kobe Bryant has considered playing in Italy.

As with any televised sport, the most important questions involve the fans.

Will a lockout destroy the NBA fan base? Will fans turn to another sport?

“The longer [the lockout] goes on, the more fans we’re going to lose,” Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade said.

Wade’s prediction may be right on the money. Why should fans even bother to recognize the NBA if there is no season?

“If the lockout continues, I’m going to switch to hockey,” Pinewood senior Ryland Chan said.

On the other hand, some fans are very attached to the NBA, and their loyalty cannot be swayed by a lockout. “I’m pretty upset about it because I really like watching basketball,” sophomore Kendahl Wallis-Lang said.

However, the lockout has also changed how fans see NBA players. “In my opinion, the players that let their egos get to them are not only hurting themselves but the NBA’s integrity,” junior Josh Rose said.

“It makes the fans angry and shows how the NBA players only care about the millions they make and not about the love of the game and it’s a shame.”

Nevertheless, many fans are optimistic about the possibility of a 2011-2012 season. “In no way do I believe the owners and players are stubborn enough not to come to terms on a new labor agreement,” Rose said.

Despite the differences between the sides, it is hard to imagine that an agreement will not be reached sometime during the scheduled NBA season.

“I do think there will be a season, but not for at least a month or two,” Lang said.

In the meantime, fans will just have to sit on the sidelines. They have no official say in the lockout and can only hope to speed up the labor talks by threatening to hurt the NBA revenue stream.

As ticket sales cease, both parties will be more motivated to finalize a new CBA. “This is a big blow obviously to our fans, most importantly,” Lakers guard and NBA players union president Derek Fisher said. “They don’t have a voice in this fight so far, but we hear them loud and clearly.”

Darrow: Did you ever have any formal running training?

Colonna: Never. I just wanted to join for soccer fitness and stuff like that and I guess I’m pretty good at it.

Darrow: So this is your first year?

Colonna: No, I ran for the junior high last year.

Darrow: Are you going to participate in the Central Coast Section Tournament this year?

Colonna: Yes, I’ve actually already qualified.

Darrow: So you’ve already qualified, so what does that mean for the next couple weeks? Do you have to train harder or do anything special in your workouts?

Colonna: I have to work very hard and keep running.

(Left): NBA Commissioner David Stern talks to the press about the decisions made in regards to the first two weeks of the season being cancelled. (Right): NBA Players Union President Derek Fisher speaks on behalf of the players to the media. Photos taken from www.washingtonexaminer.com and www.sfexaminer.com.

Sports 7

Varsity girls and boys basketball preview STEPHEN YU SPORTS EDITOR Amid a rebuilding season, both the Varsity boys and girls basketball teams have high expectations to play well. The loss of last year’s starting seniors has thrust many freshman and sophomores to step up their game in order to fill in key positions in what appears to be another run for the state championships.

Last year, the varsity girls capped off their season with a 67-56 victory in the CIF State Division V championship game, but this year, getting through the regular season may be tough. The loss of last year’s seniors, including Hailie Eackles, Miranda Seto, Caitlin Ciardella, Kelsey Morehead, and Jenna McLoughlin, has placed increased emphasis on the two returning seniors and three returning sophomores, as well as on the five new freshmen.

“Our goals for the season are always the same. Maintain our standard of excellence in playing the game with passion, skill, selflessness and have everybody committed to be in a state of continual improvement,” Head Coach Doc Scheppler said.

Similarly, the players also expressed their goals for the season. “As a team, since we have a lot of new players this year, there’s going to be a lot of adjustments. I think this year’s more developmental,” sophomore Leeana Bade said.

To achieve their overall goals, the varsity girls have valuable resources in Scheppler and assistant coach Anna Tracy. Both coaches exhibit professionalism on and off the court. “Doc and Anna live and breathe for Pinewood Basketball. Doc is always looking for new ways to make us better, adding different kinds of finishes into our repertoires, making us better shooters, and teaching us more about the game,” senior co-captain Jenny Hansen said.

Senior Solomone Wolfgramm drives towards the basket for layups during an open gym. Photo by Faiz Khan.

The girls believe that the two coaches excel in developing basketball fundamentals and acting as motivators. To prepare for the season, the girls have practiced throughout the summer, playing in an AAU schedule of 20 games for two months with two practices per week as well as open gyms. The girls believe that success stems from practice.

The time spent over the summer has provided the girls with confidence by substantially improving their ability to work together. “Before summer and now there has been a drastic change in terms of individual skills and our chemistry. There might be some adjustments in terms of defense and offense but i think we can improve,” Bade said.

Tennis and XC prepare for CCS SAM CARP STAFF WRITER As the seasons for two of the fall sportsvarsity cross-country and girls tenniscome to a close, people begin to wonder what sort of contention the athletes will have in the upcoming CCS playoffs, in November.

CCS rules are a bit complicated when it comes to tennis and cross-country because each player is ranked individually, unless you play in doubles tennis. This single ranking system means that one player may go to CCS while everybody else may not.

A player’s chances of making it to CCS are based upon their performances alone, rather than everybody’s.

Freshman and first year varsity runner Nicole Colonna is one of the few cross-country participants who shows that she may be able to compete in CCS with the top athletes from schools around the Bay Area.

“I want to show people what I’m made of and I want to represent Pinewood well,” Colonna said.

“I think Nicole is going to make it, she’s got spunk,” fellow teammate and senior Ryland Chan said.

Girls tennis seniors Emily Zhang, Ashley Fuller, and Katie Wen as well as junior Tiffany Chen also show the skill necessary to contend with other CCS competitors.

“They’re really good and I enjoy watching them play,” junior teammate Hannah Kosinovsky said.

Although tennis and cross-country focus on an individual’s skill, a team effort and a good chemistry between the players is key in having a successful, fun-filled season. Trust in one another is important when working as a team. The cross-country squad has formed a close bond over the past few years, becoming closer and closer together every mile. Even the freshmen are getting in on the action.

“We are stronger than last year with a new speedy freshman class to back us,” sophomore Dylan Dryer said.

Leadership also provides a team with the backing they need to contend for a CCS title. Varsity tennis girls believe in one another, thanks to the strong support and good example set by the upperclassmen.

Wen believes that they are “stronger” than last year.

“Seniors keep us together. Emily is a great captain and is really on top of things,” sophomore Natalie Arnheim said.

CCS is a great accomplishment. The thrill of representing your school at an elite stage and matching your capabilities against the top competitors in the area can never really be described as anything but amazing. It does not matter if a person is to compete by themselves in playoffs, they will always have one force backing them. Pinewood.

The varsity boys finished their season last year with a win in the CCS Division V finals but fell short of the state championship title in a loss during the Norcal playoffs. Like the varsity girls, the boys also lost a core group of seniors this year, consisting of Kyle Riches, Aaron Daines, Peter Gallagher, and Arun Sundaresan. Even with the losses the team still has high expectations to perform well during the season. “As far as the team goes though, we have pretty much set sights on winning CCS and Norcal this year. Also we aim to be the team that no one in league wants to play because of our relentless defense and fast-paced offense,” senior Bradley Naumann said.

“I think that we are definitely capable of winning state, it’s just a matter of how dedicated and committed we are to the team,” senior Solomone Wolfgramm said.

The boys have worked hard all summer to perfect their game in preparation for this season. “We’ve prepared by playing a lot of summer league games, mostly against excellent competition, and every boy has taken responsibility to get in the best physical shape ever. The coaches have done a lot of planning, tweaking, and adjusting minor things to our system,” head coach Jason Peery said.

With the first game of the season rapidly approaching the team believes it can proceed with a flying start.

Possibility of no girls jv bball ROBIN SANDERS ASSISTANT EDITOR The Girls basketball program has always been a major component of Pinewood sports, with the Varsity girls winning multiple state championships in the past decade, the most recent being the 2010-11 victory. While the Varsity team is remaining, there has been talk that there may not be a Girls JV basketball team this year.

The loss of five Varsity girls’ seniors last year, including Hailie Eackles, Miranda Seto, Caitlin Ciardella, Kelsey Morehead, and Jenna McLoughlin, has drastically reduced the size, physically and psychologically, of the girls’ varsity team. Losing the starting five has made the team more vulnerable since it now lacks the prodigious skill of last year’s seniors. In addition, recurring injuries from last year’s players has become a cause for action by the coaching staff.

Because of a lack of players, Head Coach Doc Scheppler has recruited several promising freshmen such as Gaabi Bade, Marissa Hing, and Monique McDevitt, to train for the varsity team. While giving the team an extra boost in skill and energy, this recruitment may result in a dearth of players for the JV team. In addition to the smaller amount of players, last year’s seniors, such as Lizzy Fields and Chloe Robinette, and this year’s junior Hannah Dabagian are all not playing this year, due to graduation and studies.

The rumors have been dispersed, however, with a recent interview with Pinewood Sports Coordinator, Matt Stimson, who said there will be indeed a JV Girls Basketball team this year. “[The sports coordinators] had a meeting with our new JV girls coach, Larry Williams, last week.

He is really excited and has great energy,” Stimson said. Since a new coach has al-

ready been hired, replacing old coach Jackee Bruno, there is concrete evidence that the JV team will still be created.

In an interview with Physical Education Activities Advisor Jackee Bruno, he mentioned no recollection of cancelling the girls JV basketball team. “I actually don’t know much about it,” Bruno said.

As long as there are enough players to play on the JV team, finding a coach and organizing practices and games should be relatively simple considering Pinewood has been doing it for years. The biggest concern right now is the fact that with so many underclassmen on the Varsity team, there may not be enough girls left in the combined grades.

When talking with several underclassmen as well as some juniors, reasons such as an abundance of homework and a want to focus on school life became evident in their reluctance to play JV basketball.

Junior Nancy Sutter seemed pretty overwhelmed when talking about playing JV this year. “It seems like people are focused on grades and there are lots of freshman and sophomore people who are on varsity,” Sutter said.

“Since I am taking debate as an elective, as well as other advanced classes, I don’t think I would even have enough time to try out for the team,” she said.

With a lack of motivation, along with a large workload, athletes who would usually play for fun and enjoyment may not have the luxury this year. As high school becomes more time consuming, the choice between playing an extra sport or having more free time becomes harder and harder to make, and unfortunately those truly dedicated end up on the varsity team, leaving the less motivated to be on the JV team. However, a lack of players is not the deciding factor that may result in a possibility of no JV girls Basketball Team.

Pinewood Athletics Win-Loss Summary

XC team shows off their muscular legs. Photos by Annie Whitacre.

8-Man Football - 2-3 (League record - 2-1) Girls JV Volleyball - 8-7 (3-6 Home, 5-1 Away) Girls Varsity Volleyball - 8-6 (4-4 Home, 4-2 Away) Girls Tennis - 6-5 (5-2 Home, 1-3 Away) Junior High Flag Football - 3-3-1 (1-2 Home, 2-1 Away) Junior High Softball - 3-1 (2-0 Home, 1-1 Away)

News 8

Pinewood Travels to Ashland MATTI THURSTON NEWS EDITOR On Sept. 30, Pinewood’s annual junior and senior Ashland, Ore., trip got underway.

With students arriving at normal school time, carrying with them all of their luggage, the bus departed at 11 a.m. fueled and ready for the long bus ride. Once the students arrived, they spent their time enjoying Ashland and its tourist attractions, with the main focus of the trip around the world famous Ashland Shakespeare festival.

After discussion between Rob Morrill, Hannah Jones, and Meghann Hummel, all of whom are literature teachers at Upper Campus and chaperones of the trip, the trio decided upon three plays: Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” and W.S. Gilbert’s muscial “The Pirates of Penzance.” People seemed to like the play choices, with almost everybody loving the musical.

The students grudgingly anticipated a six-hour bus ride up through California.

Although this seemed like a daunting trip, it turned out to be rather fun.

“Overall the bus ride was a lot of fun because we were with a bunch of our friends

so we enjoyed watching movies, listening to music, doing homework and sleeping,” Junior Gabrielle AmosGrosser said.

Once they arrived late that night, the students quickly checked into the Stratford Inn and were whisked away to dinner. Right after dinner, everybody headed over to the Shakespeare festival, where they watched “Love’s Labour’s Lost” in the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre.

The next day, after a re-

freshing night’s sleep, the students and chaperones were given freedom to explore the city. Known for its culture, Ashland is thought of as a center of the literary arts and of artisan crafts; the travelers took advantage of their freedom to explore.

“We went around and ate at restaurants and visited cool shops, but mainly just wandered around looking at stuff.

Some people bought little craft pieces. I enjoyed how artistic the place was,” Senior

Erik Matousek said.

“Ashland wasn’t just about seeing plays. We also had a bunch of free time during the day to walk around and see what Ashland was like. The culture was all around, and the people seemed proud of what they had,” Amos-Grosser said.

After enjoying the freedom to explore, everybody gathered together at Lithia Park in downtown Ashland for a picnic lunch and an acting activity run by chaperone Meghann Hummel.

Later that night, the group enjoyed dinner together and then traveled back over to the Shakespeare Festival to watch “Measure for Measure.” Some felt that this was one of the better plays that was seen.

“I thought all three plays [that we saw] were really excellent, but “Measure for Measure” was the best, in my opinion,” Rob Morrill, Literature teacher and chaperone, said.

On the last full day in

Seniors Amelia Lampron-York, Erik Matousek and Moreen Lamont gathered around sharing photos on the bus trip up to Ashland Picture adapted by Faiz Khan

Ashland, the group went for a hike on Mt. Ashland in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, which contains beautiful views of surrounding mountains and some high altitude wildflowers.

Afterwards, everybody headed back toward downtown for dinner, and then back to the festival to watch “The Pirates of Penzance”.

While enjoying the town was a large part of the trip, there was one reason why the trip was and will continue to be available to Pinewood students: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

World renowned as one of the premier acting stages for both Shakespearian and other acclaimed plays, the Festival provides a way for all ages to enjoy literary masterpieces in the shape of the visual arts.

“The plays were actually really funny. My favorite one was The Pirates of Penzance because they added modern and contemporary feels to it,” Amos-Grosser said.

“All of them were fun, but I particularly enjoyed the musical because it was interesting and more modern. I liked the choices that the teachers decided upon,” Junior Colin Gulesserian said.

In general, attitudes were positive, and everybody seemed happy with how the trip went.

“I would most definitely do it again [laugh], and yes, it was fun,” Matousek said.

Bake Love and Shakespeare Performance Also War SYDNI TOPPER & SARAH LAWSON STAFF WRITERS On Oct. 4/5, a brand new class competition, Bake Wars, was held. In this spirit competition each grade brought in baked goods and tried to earn as much money as possible by selling them to the other students. After setting up on the black top at lunch, the student council representatives and other volunteers from each grade waited anxiously, loaded with food and ready to sell.

Each grade started with $100 in change, and a cash box ready to be filled. In the end, the freshmen won the competition with $186. The sophomores were a close second with $170, the seniors were third with $112, and the juniors were last with $56. The money that was raised will go towards each grades’ fund which pays for later activities and supplies.

“Even though Bake Wars’ main purpose was to raise money for the class funds, I still had a lot of fun baking and preparing for the competition. And I’m really excited and surprised that we won because a lot of our food was store-bought,” freshman Carson Robinette said.

All sorts of goods were brought in, from tasty cookies and brownies to doughnuts and festive pumpkin pie. Inspired by the new season and the upcoming holiday, many people brought in Halloween-associated treats.

Although it was a high school event, many junior high students took part in it as well.

They were excited about participating in one of their first spirit events of the year.

“The food was absolutely delicious, the prices were surprisingly low, and overall it was a super fun event,” seventh grader Haley Mathews said.

“My favorite table was the sophomore’s because they had lots of different kinds of yummy treats,” eight grader Hannah Ditzler said.

“Bake Wars was a really fun and effective event and I’m really excited to do it again next year,” sophomore class president Talmage

Wise said.

“We have always had days where people bring in food to sell but this year we wanted to kick it off with one main event,” Associative Student Body publicity commissioner Adrienne Whitlock said.

Even though these were the first ever Bake Wars, many people considered it a success. “I was really happy with the outcome; it will definitely be happening next year,” Activities Director Jackee Bruno said.

The Associated Student Body already plans to bring back this event and hopes that it will raise as much money and be as fun as this year.

“I really like being involved in Pinewood activities, and I loved helping out with setting up and selling all the food we brought. It was so much fun and I hope that it will become a new tradition at Pinewood,” sophomore Andrew Yaholkovsky said.

KELLY RYAN STAFF WRITER On Friday, Nov. 18, Pinewood Upper Campus will be treated to performances by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from Ashland, Oregon.

At 9:21-10:11 a.m., for high school students, and 10:36-11:26 for junior high students, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival will perform scenes and selections from many Shakespeare plays and other plays by Hugh Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Tom Stoppard, and others.

This is part of OSF’s School Visit Program, which is committed to bringing theater to young people and have succeeded in doing so by performing for 55,000 students last year alone including our Upper Campus.

According to the OSF website, “The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s School Visit Program is now in its 41st year. When a team of two actors visits a school, students see and hear works of Shakespeare and other great writers presented in ways that relate to their own experiences and engage their imaginations.”

On Feb. 2, 2011, Pinewood students and faculty partook in last year’s visit.

Eddie Lopez and Cate Daviss, the two actors, traveled to Pinewood to perform three fragmented plays: “Kiss Me Kate,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” and “The Catcher in the Rye.” The actors did several interactive activities to put the students in the shoes of the characters in the play, including walking around, picking sides, and pretending to be anywhere from a slave to a nobleman.

“All My Sons” Tribute FAIZ KHAN PHOTOGRAPHER