TPH Issue 1

Paden Andrews * William Campbell * Bautista Claudio * Matteo Claudio * Nate Carpenter * Teagan Haddawy * Liam Isom * Milani Juarbe * Callan Mitchell * Roman Reyes * Jasper Zietlow * Christian Taylor * Samantha Newsom * William Hansen * Jezabel Droga * Eric Stenstrom * Tomasso Cocuzza * Aidan Mitchell * Basma Rey * Lauren Nwokedi * Luke Connolly * Arnau Costa * Anika Lambe * Madilyn Meadows * Aaron Barlin * Rene Berrios * Hannah Bjork * Emily Boyes * Gwenly Carrel * Tom Casavant * Pam DeLuca * Michael Dhyne * Lusdina Garcia * Dan Grimm * Marla Holt * Daniel Horgan * Suzanna Randick * Deysi Sahagon * Auban Willats * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * Paden Andrews * William Campbell * Bautista Claudio * Matteo Claudio * Nate Carpenter * Teagan Haddawy * Liam Isom * Milani Juarbe * Callan Mitchell * Roman Reyes * Jasper Zietlow * Christian Taylor * Samantha Newsom * William Hansen * Jezabel Droga * Eric Stenstrom * Tomasso Cocuzza * Aidan Mitchell * Basma Rey * Lauren Nwokedi * Luke Connolly * Arnau Costa * Anika Lambe * Madilyn Meadows * Aaron Barlin * Rene Berrios * Hannah Bjork * Emily Boyes * Gwenly Carrel * Tom Casavant * Pam DeLuca * Michael Dhyne * Lusdina Garcia * Dan Grimm * Marla Holt * Daniel Horgan * Suzanna Randick * Deysi Sahagon * Auban Willats * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * Paden Andrews * William Campbell * Bautista Claudio * Matteo Claudio * Nate Carpenter * Teagan Haddawy * Liam Isom * Milani Juarbe * Callan Mitchell * Roman Reyes * Jasper Zietlow * Christian Taylor * Samantha Newsom * William Hansen * Jezabel Droga * Eric Stenstrom * Tomasso Cocuzza * Aidan Mitchell * Basma Rey * Lauren Nwokedi * Luke Connolly * Arnau Costa * Anika Lambe * Madilyn Meadows * Aaron Barlin * Rene Berrios * Hannah Bjork * Emily Boyes * Gwenly Carrel * Tom Casavant * Pam DeLuca * Michael Dhyne * Lusdina Garcia * Dan Grimm * Marla Holt * Daniel Horgan * Suzanna Randick * Deysi Sahagon * Auban Willats * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * Paden Andrews * William Campbell * Bautista Claudio * Matteo Claudio * Nate Carpenter * Teagan Haddawy * Liam Isom * Milani Juarbe * Callan Mitchell * Roman Reyes * Jasper Zietlow * Christian Taylor * Samantha Newsom * William Hansen * Jezabel Droga * Eric Stenstrom * Tomasso Cocuzza * Aidan Mitchell * Basma Rey * Lauren Nwokedi * Luke Connolly * Arnau Costa * Anika Lambe * Madilyn Meadows * Aaron Barlin * Rene Berrios * Hannah Bjork * Emily Boyes * Gwenly Carrel * Tom Casavant * Pam DeLuca * Michael Dhyne * Lusdina Garcia * Dan Grimm * Marla Holt * Daniel Horgan * Suzanna Randick * Deysi Sahagon * Auban Willats * AP Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer * Coaches * Drama >> location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs * Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * AP meet new staff, * Art History * Digital Arts * Ethnic Studies * Furniture in Mr. Hayden’s room * Planner * Juvenile Officer students, and officer Coaches * Drama location * Tech policy * ASB mission statement * Construction * Clubs *juvenile Breezeway * Chilli cook-off * Paden Andrews * William Campbell * Bautista Claudio * Matteo Claudio>>* Nate Carpenter view our new campus from the sky * Teagan Haddawy * Liam Isom * Milani Juarbe * Callan Mitchell * Roman Reyes * Jasper Zietlow * Christian >> editorial: it is time to*change Taylor * Samantha Newsom * William Hansen * Jezabel Droga * Eric Stenstrom * Tomasso Cocuzza Aidan what we learn in school

NEW edition The Piedmont Highlander

ss i s

: e u

e d si

Issue 1

Volume 106

September 17, 2019

Piedmont High School

Piedmont, CA

In

i h t

A letter from the editors Dear Reader, As the new STEAM building rises from the construction site and new teachers and students wander the halls of the high school, The Piedmont Highlander is changing as well.

As an editorial board, we decided to mirror the changes happening at PHS through a new medium. Our priorities remain the same– we strive to inform our audience of the most pertinent topics and provide a better understanding of the community that we live in.

With our switch to a new format as a magazine, we hope to make information more accessible and to better connect

with the student body. Not only have we chosen to focus on our community, but we also plan to open up our coverage to world events and more student voices.

In this issue, we introduce new students and teachers to PHS in A Closer Look and provide a glimpse of the communities where they come from.

We look forward to more input from our audience and all of the upcoming issues that we have yet to tackle.

Maggie Black and Marta Symkowick editors-in-chief

NEWS >> pg. 4-11

What’s in this issue?

Read about the teacher contracts, the new juvenile officer, and teacher vacancies CAMPUS << pg. 12-13 Meet the three seniors graduating early to take a gap semester A CLOSER LOOK >> pg. 14-19 We take A Closer Look at the new faces and personalities at PHS OPINIONS << pg. 20-24 Hear our thoughts on bias in education, senior portraits, and student stress SPORTS >> pg. 25-28 Dive into Ryan Tripp’s summer success, PHS alumni updates, and a preview for fall sports ARTS << pg. 29-31 A spotlight on Justice Hartford’s music and Naomi Binger’s artwork

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Photo courtesy of Prestige Portraits

Teachers wear red APT shirts in solidarity for the staff photo to show unity in the face of the contract negotiation process.

T

Teachers pursue better contracts

he teacher contract, which comes into effect after June 30, 2020, although usually completed at this time, has not been settled. The contract has not been finalized chiefly because of a disagreement between the Association of Piedmont Teachers (APT) and the district (PUSD) over compensation. The APT represents teachers, counselors, and psychologists employed by the district.

“It’s important for people to understand that [the teachers] still have a contract,” said lead negotiator for the APT Gabriel Kessler. “A lot of people think it means that if we did not settle negotiations than we [the teachers] don’t have a contract, but APT and PUSD negotiate contracts that last for three years. The current contract [does not] expire until the end of the 2019-20 school year.”

Every three years, every article in the contract is open for discussion, said Superintendent and main negotiator for PUSD Randall Booker. Then, every subsequent year there are only certain articles that are up for review.

“APT gets to select a few, we [PUSD] get to select a few,” Booker said. “Then we

can select some jointly. But the articles compensation,” Kessler said. “What that that are always open every single year would look like over time is changing [for negotiations] are salary and welfare quite a bit. But if you just take one year in benefits.” which the CPI for the area is 4.5 percent, PUSD and APT reached tentative at the very least, you would think that [the agreements on many of the articles that compensation increase] is going to [be] are non-monetary which is very positive, close to that.”

Kessler said. However, they have not yet History teacher Todd Berry said that living agreed on compensation. in the Bay Area on a teacher’s salary is “APT has made very stressful. a request for “I took a pay cut to “I took a pay cut to compensation,” work here and then work here, and then Booker said. moving to a more moving to a more “The district was expensive place unable to meet that hurts even expensive place that request and so more,” Berry said.

- that hurts even we are continuing “Ren and the cost to negotiate. [We] of living is higher more.” will start again here by incredible Todd Berry soon and try to amounts. So having history teacher come to some less money when agreements before you need to spend June 30, 2020.” more money causes stress, especially The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has when you are trying to grow a family.” increased by 4.5 percent in the Bay Area Additionally, the lack of teacher over the past year, Kessler said. However, compensation makes it hard for the the district was only able to offer APT in district to hire and retain teachers during negotiations a 1 percent compensation the current teacher shortage in CA, increase.

Kessler said. This is one of the reasons “We’re not [being offered] enough why Kessler believes that PUSD and APT

NEWS Marta Symkowick editor-in-chief

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

day

is

then

have very similar goals. multiplied by the “The positive thing is that both APT and amount of funding the school would “ W i t h o u t the superintendent and his negotiating receive from each student, about $8,500 [measure G] the schools wouldn’t be team all see [teacher retention and per year, to determine the final state what we know,” Kessler said. “And yet measure G would only barely keep PUSD economic stability in the Bay Area] as funding, Booker said. at the levels they are now because costs important goals and then want to go one “Then there’s increase every year. step further,” Kessler said. one other rising “Those funds [Measure G might Booker said that the main reason why monumental issue not] even quite do PUSD was not able to meet the APT’s and that’s the [generated by that, depending on compensation demands was that in order parcel tax,” Booker measure H] are 100 any major changes to maintain the current quality of the said. “The parcel to state funding.” percent for helping high school, including seven periods and tax election is in Kessler believes resources for electives, they do not have November. There the district achieve that the parcel tax enough money left over in the budget. are two measures its goal in having is a great start, he This is mainly due to a lack of state on the ballot: funding. However, there are a couple measure G and teachers and support said. However, he is not sure if of different factors that will ultimately measure H.” staff be in the top it is going to be determine if they can meet the teachers’ The current parcel enough to meet quartile.” demands for compensation. tax under measure the teachers’ The first of which is the closing of the G amounts to about Randall Booker c o m p e n sation books, Booker said. The closing of the 25 percent of the superintendent demands in the books is when PUSD reviews their PUSD budget long run. spendings for the year to see if they and is estimated to “Is it going to meet all the needs?” aligned with the original budget. make about 10.8 million dollars per year, Kessler said. “Well, the problem is, any The closing of the books takes place in Booker said. It is an eight-year parcel September and if they end up having extra tax, created in 2013, that is in effect until tax package like that will raise those funds money left over it could potentially go June 30, 2021. Measure H is a companion [available for teacher compensation], but toward negotiations, he said. The second measure to measure G and will cost then [the funds] go into teacher pay that factor determining the district’s ability property owners 25 cents per building is ongoing. So [the tax package] doesn’t keep up with [the pay needs].” to increase compensation is when PUSD i m p r o v e m e n t s The only way Kessler could see the receives an update and will generate parcel taxes completely covering the “We’re not on state funding. about 2.6 million teachers’ needs would be if the taxes “It’s called census annually. offering enough were completely reformed, he said. day,” Booker said.

“Those funds He, however, still views the measure as compensation.”

“It takes place on [generated by positive.

Oct. 1 and is when measure H] are “I think it’s incredibly important that we, Gabriel Kessler the state takes a entirely for helping as teachers, keep a positive relationship lead negotiator for the APT census of how the district achieve with the administration in the district, and many students its goal in having [attend school on a] particular day. They teachers and support staff be in the top vice versa,” Kessler said. “Just because do this because we get funded on how quartile [of salaries],” Booker said. “It’s we haven’t settled does not mean we’re many students we have and how often looking to keep our teachers’ salaries not working towards a similar goal.

And that goal is to build, sustain, and they come to school.” competitive with comparable districts.”

The percentage of the population of Kessler said that measure G is essential strengthen a faculty for the purpose of meeting student needs for hiring and students who attend school on that to our district. retaining high-quality teachers.”

“We’re in a crisis that is completely avoidable.”

Amy Dunn-Ruiz math teacher

At the Sept. 11 Board of Education meeting, APT members spoke about the unresolved contract.

Photo courtesy of the Board of Education

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NEWS

PPD Marta Symkowick editor-in-chief

T

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

appo

ints n

ew ju

venil

e offi

he Piedmont Police Department Casalnuovo (PPD) has appointed police who has been officer Nicole Casalnuovo to working with the PPD since the new position of Juvenile 2015, Bowers said.

Officer. The position was created from a “She really distinguished herself,” Bowers school second proposal on how to apply for the said. “She has a lot of outstanding skills e v e n t s , $300,000 grant (now $391,599) from the that I personally have seen exhibited. She and walking around California Department of Justice Tobacco has great communication skills and, first campus trying to form meaningful Grant Program. Along with an additional and foremost, wants to work with youth.” connections with students, Bowers said. part-time health educator post, the new In accordance with the compromises Another result of the compromise of the proposal was approved on May 20 after made in the second proposal, Casalnuovo second proposal is that the school will be the first proposal for the implementation will be an armed officer housed off- using $50,000 of the grant towards hiring of a school resource officer was voted campus. an additional mental health counselor, down 4-1.

“My role is an developing a diversion program, and “[Casalnuevo] has a “We started educator and a creating a supplemental health educator engaging with lot of outstanding skills mentor however position, superintendent Randall Booker the public and p o s s i b l e , ” The health educator would assess that I personally have Casalnuovo said. said. people had a which CA health standards are being myriad of different “I’m not here to addressed in our community and work to seen exhibited.” perspectives on [the insert myself in develop a more cohesive health education Jeremy Bowers proposal],” Chief any way that’s plan. The diversion program would allow Piedmont Police Chief of Police Jeremy unwanted or the district to provide help to students Bowers said. unreasonable. I’m found using controlled substances on “Because [the position is] a police officer, here as a resource. So [far], I’ve met with campus instead of expelling them. and depending upon your perspective, school counselors, administrators, and “[The counselor and I will be] working in your history, and where you come from, staff just to introduce myself. I have asked conjunction with each other,” Casalnuovo people feel very differently about it.” how I can be of assistance and how I can said. “[The counselor is] going to be There was concern around having an help kind of bridge the gap between the another ally that I can work with at the armed SRO located on campus because of police department school.” the possible targeting of minority students, and the schools.”

Although these “My role is an the criminalization for school disciplinary Casalnuovo said compromises have educator and a issues, and the lack of a health educator she is mainly been made, some part of the program, according to the City starting with parent students still are mentor however Council Agenda Report for May 20. education, but she against having a possible.”

“Ultimately, we arrived at a decision at eventually hopes Juvenile Officer, the end of last school year, where the to set up a peer said MHS and Nicole Casalnuovo school district decided that it was going education system PHS ASB member Juvenile Officer to partner with the city,” Bowers said. where current Junior Ang Lee. “We changed the name of [the position] high schoolers “There are some because I think there’s a lot of baggage and alumni teach each other and other people at Millennium who genuinely with the name school resource officer.” members of the community, she said. wouldn’t feel comfortable going to school The PPD went through the hiring process Her job will also include answering all if they knew that there was a firearm on over the summer and decided to go with calls from the high school, attending campus,” Ang Lee said.

NEWS

fficer

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

7

New resource officer Nicole Casalnuovo stands in front of the PPD station.

Many students also are against the officer coming from a predetermined being position of authority, Lee said. armed “Police can try to tell students how to be an safe but oftentimes I think students aren’t officer on campus, going to be as receptive to that because even though she is housed in the they’re an authority figure,” junior Athene PPD. “That’s actually a good concern,” La Jeunesse said.

Because the juvenile officer is an authority Casalnuovo said. “But when officers are called to campus, figure who is armed they’re going to while on campus, “I just don’t think it’s be armed either La Jeunesse does way.” not think there is any an effective way to Casalnuovo way that the officer learn because of said that before can successfully the imbalance of she became a form connections police officer with students and power.”

15 years ago, address tobacco she never would usage.

However, Athene La Jeunesse have imagined she does understand junior carrying a gun, the idea behind the but after years of position, she said.

“I do recognize that the administration training, she has a different perspective. is trying to promote safe sex and drug “For me, it’s a tool I can use to help education,” La Jeunesse said. “And keep people safe,” Casalnuovo said. “It’s I think those are important things for never going to be used in any negligent students to learn about. I just do not think manner. I don’t take it out of my holster it is an effective way to get kids to learn for any reason. But I understand that it’s a concern - especially now. Think about the because of [the] imbalance of power.”

Casalnuovo said she is looking to be a mass shootings we’ve had in the month mentor instead of an authoritative figure of October, August, alone. But my role but also understands the concern over there centers more around being a protector. So

Photo courtesy of the Piedmont Exedra

if I ’ m there and I am armed, I’m able to address a threat faster than somebody that doesn’t have that tool available to them.”

Above all, Casalnuovo wants to be a source of support, she said. Her goal is to act as a buffer, preventing all Piedmont students from being entered into the juvenile system.

“I know it’s not always a cool idea to go call a cop, but I am available all the time,” she said. “It can be anonymous, it can be for whatever reason, but I want to be a mentor. I want to be somebody that can be used in whatever way necessary and appear as whoever you need me to be.”

She also understands that bridging the gap between the police department and the district is going to take a lot of time and hard work, she said.

“So I hope that we can grow step by step,” she said. “I know that’s a big goal, but [I hope we can] learn to trust each other.”

Our new sch

hool in focus

Over the summer, PUSD constructed the STEAM building foundation and performed utilities work for both the STEAM building and the new performing arts center, said H1 program consultant Julie Moll.

Unexpected challenges surrounding excavation and utilities have put pressure on both the schedule and the budget.

Compiled by Annie Cheng

Photo courtesy of Gavin Horne

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Missing teacher problem persists in

Rafael Stankiewicz sports editor

teacher Diane Miller have been helping and don’t stop working until 7:00 p.m.

Branisa plan the curriculum. For the sake Effectively, it’s a 14 hour day, which is not of consistency, all three sections are being sustainable.” t is the beginning of a new year, but the taught the same.

Freshman Liam Campbell, who is in same teacher “We’re trying to Branisa’s first period math class, said that “The bottom line is shortage issue make everything the uncertainty of having a substitute faces PHS. Last easier for the teacher has been unnerving. that a permanent year, six physics students,” Branisa “At first, [Ms. Branisa] said that she was teacher needs to be said. “I was happy going to be here for two weeks,” Campbell classes and four Spanish classes did to help out because said. “Now it’s been three weeks and we hired.” not have a teacher I’m familiar with still don’t have a teacher. It’s weird because Jana Branisa for first semester, math and it’s better I don’t know when this new teacher’s math teacher resulting in for students to going to show up.” students taking the have an in-house Branisa said it has been difficult to courses online. This year, three sections of substitute.” build relationships with her students. math and special education are without a In order to be able to substitute the Some of her students are having a hard permanent teacher, causing PHS teachers two sections of math, Branisa has had to time connecting with her because she is to step in as substitutes and add to their sacrifice her two preparation periods. She only a temporary teacher. workloads. As we enter the sixth week now teaches three “IM1 is an of school, no one knows if or when computer science important year of “It’s weird, because permanent teachers will be hired. classes, two math math and this is not Technology coordinator and computer classes, and has a great way to start I don’t know when a teacher Jana Branisa stepped up to fill two technology for these freshmen, teacher is going to two out of the three unfilled Integrated c o o r d i n a t o r ” Branisa said. “The Math 1 (IM1) sections. The other section periods. show up.”

She bottom line is a has been filled by a different in-house elects to do her permanent teacher Liam Campell substitute teacher each week, including preparation at needs to be hired.” freshman computer science teacher. Christensen, home, so she can Campbell said math teacher Dr. Hayden, and special fully focus during that despite the education teacher Ms. Hook. the school day, Branisa said. difficult circumstances, Branisa has been Branisa has a mathematics degree and “These days are very long for me,” working very hard and has been a good teaching credential. Hayden and math Branisa said. “I get up at 5:30 a.m. teacher.

“Considering it’s a job she’s not used to, Ms. Branisa has done really well,” Campbell said. “Sometimes I forget she’s a sub.”

Principal Adam Littlefield agrees that permanent teachers must be hired, but the process is difficult due to the high living expenses in the Bay Area. Littlefield and the PHS administration have been

I

TBA A. Smith = To be assigned and refers to the missing .6 FTE special education teacher. This is the open mailbox in the staff mailroom. Assistant principal Irma Muñoz said that interviews are taking place currently.

Photo courtesy of Emily Hook

NEWS

nto new year

interviewing potential applicants for the unfilled positions since March.

In some cases, they offered people positions but they turned it down, Littlefield said.

“We’re offering part time positions right now, and many teachers need to be able to take on a full time position,” Littlefield said. “To be able to be in a part time position is really challenging financially, especially in the Bay Area.”

Not only PHS, but many schools across the Bay Area are suffering from teacher shortages, according to ABC7 News. Littlefield, who was previously the principal of San Marin High School, echoed this claim.

“When I was in my previous school district, we were looking for science teachers, math teachers, special education teachers, and Spanish teachers every year,” Littlefield said.

Special education is a particular area with a lack of teachers, said Homebase teacher Nick Bruno. The PHS special education department experienced the same thing last year, as a teacher was not hired until October of last year.

“Since there are fewer special ed kids, fewer people aspire to teach special ed students,” Bruno said. “Also, it just doesn’t pay well.”

Anne Smith, a former PMS teacher, has been substituting in special education for the time being.

However, PHS is leaning towards other alternatives, Bruno said.

“If a full-time teacher isn’t hired soon, I think [the PHS administration] would look to contract someone out from an agency instead,” Bruno said.

“That person would stay until someone is hired.”

However. Littlefield said that he appreciates the mentality of the students and teachers at PHS. “I appreciate the substitute teachers that have been in there,” Littlefield said.

“I appreciate the fact that the kids are working hard with those substitutes, even though they’re not regular teachers and we hope to have a solution soon.”

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

ASB reforms mission statement Gabriela Hochster managing editor Bustling through the quad, members of ASB set up for Friday Fest, their first event of the year. While their yellow shirts remain the same, this year’s class is full of new faces and driven by a new mission.

The ASB Class, under President Jace Porter and faculty advisor Mercedes Foster, reworked their mission statement this year to align with a new vision for the class.

According to senior class Vice President Emma Fumagalli, the new statement reads, “The PHS ASB Leadership Council acts as a voice for the student body and a bridge between communities in order to create and sustain an enjoyable, enriching high school experience for all members of the Associated Student Body.”

Freshman representative Jonas KraCaskey said that ASB is trying to be more inclusive, attempting to incorporate more students’ ideas to improve events.

“It’s all really positive,” Kra-Caskey said. “Everybody’s always talking about what we can do to help improve the school and take responsibility in our community.”

Fumagalli said that there are ten new additions to this year’s ASB class and eight returning members, making the majority of this year’s ASB class new.

Foster said that the 18-person group is dynamic, with a variety of perspectives and interests, while still remaining unified.

“Everything’s open for discussion,” Fumagalli said. “In class, people can voice their opinions and explore their own ideas, but once we decide something, everyone supports it.”

Fumagalli also said that there is a lot of diversity amongst the ASB members this year.

“There are some people in the class that you wouldn’t expect to be in ASB, myself included, and it’s a good thing,” Fumagalli said. “With all these new voices from different grades, we are working to change [events] to make everyone feel more represented.”

Foster said ASB hopes to include more groups on campus in ASB events this year.

“I want students who are really passionate about their clubs to come up with ways to participate in school wide events [representing their clubs],” Foster said. “I want robots in our rally.”

Foster said that with an increase in representation in ASB events, students will feel a greater sense of school spirit.

“I just want people to enjoy the idea that school spirit is about community and not about blind allegiance,” Foster said.

Foster also said that the focus of the class has shifted this year to really focus on the needs of the student body.

“I want ASB students to be agents of positive change on campus,” Foster said. “I lead ASB in leading their peers, and I feel like we’re really on the same page this year.”

The new mission statement:

“The PHS ASB Leadership Council acts as a

voice for the student body and a bridge between communities in order to create and sustain an enjoyable, enriching high school experience for all members of the Associated Student Body.”

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CAMPUS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Three seniors take a gap semester

Photos by Graham Reicher and Maggie Black

F

our months from now, senior Ethan Drake will be on his way to Bali. Seniors Natalie and Diana Lim will either be in Taiwan or working on a teen photography project.

No longer confined to a classroom for their second semester of high school, they will be able to gain work experience at a tech company or free to travel the world.

All three seniors will graduate a semester early and will use their time to explore their interests and broaden their world view. In order to do so, they must take two English classes during their first semester, as well as both Civics and Economics, in order to fulfill their graduation requirements.

“We talked to our parents, both of whom graduated early, and they were saying how it would be a great opportunity,” Natalie said. “It was definitely our decision, but they were supportive.”

Diana said that both she and Natalie had been considering taking a gap year, but they both thought that a full year would set them behind.

“Graduating a semester e a r l y

Maggie Black editor-in-chief would give us that gap year experience but not be as long of a period,” hard these past few Diana said.

Drake said that while he was choosing years. To be honest, I feel a little burnt his classes for his senior year, he realized out,” Natalie said. “[My parents] also that he did not need very many credits in recognize that the real world is a very order to meet his graduation requirements, valuable classroom,” Natalie said.

As a result, the three seniors all so he talked to his counselor and figured plan to branch out how to fit in the out during their credits he needed.

“Graduating a second semester “I think [my semester early would and explore the parents] want me world, hoping to to travel and learn give us that gap gain experiences about the world,” year experience but that they would Drake said. “I not have the think that they not be as long of a opportunity to agree with me that period.” discover in high I could probably school. learn more by Diana Lim “Above all, traveling in that senior we’re just excited semester than I to see what we’re would in school going to do and how we’re going to make that semester.”

Natalie said her parents feel very the most of our time,” Diana said.

Natalie said that she has several goals similarly about her high school for how she wants to spend her time experience.

“We’ve been working during her second semester. The first is v e r y to gain more work experience, possibly at the tech company that she

CAMPUS

interned for over the summer.

Through the extra work experience, she hopes to gain a better understanding as to what major and career that she wants to pursue in the future.

As for Diana, she will continue working on her minimalist teen photo project, which she is collaborating on with Oscar-nominated artist JR. “The goal of the project is to photograph minimalist teens and millennials around the world in order to capture and spread awareness about the rising movement of minimalism in younger generations,” Diana said. “[Our last] objective is to broaden our world views through travel,” Natalie said. “One of our options is to stay with our grandparents who live in Taiwan. We haven’t seen them in several years, and we’d like to immerse ourselves in the culture and improve our Chinese language skills.”

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

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experience.

“I think one of the things that I’ve Drake said that heard from a lot of people about secondhis plans include traveling to Bali for a semester senior year is that a lot of month to work at a school, he said. people branch out “[Afterward], socially,” Diana I’m probably going “I think [my parents] said. “I feel like to go to Southeast because we will be want me to travel Asia for a bit, and graduating early, maybe Diana and and learn about the we may miss out on Natalie can meet some of that.” world.” me there,” Drake Drake said he said.

Ethan Drake feels as though he Drake said that senior is just getting to part of his plan know more people includes strapping and wants to stay a part of that.

While on a backpack and exploring for five he thinks Piedmont is a really wonderful months of his gap semester, but he does not know where he is going to travel community, he is anxious to see the world.

“I know that my friendships are very during that time yet. strong and they’ll keep growing even While all three are looking forward to if I’m not going to be at school,” their future adventures during their time Natalie said. away from school, they also recognize that they will miss part of the classic high school

Max Monical media editor

Piedmont shakes up earthquake preparations On Oct. 17, the Piedmont government and Piedmont residents will participate in the statewide Great California ShakeOut for the first time.

The Great California ShakeOut will take place at 10:17 a.m. and will pretend a large-scale earthquake just occurred, which generally last about one minute.

Their participation is a result of a push for more disaster readiness, Black said.

“We’re passing out information to the community prior to that event encouraging them to sign up and be prepared for earthquakes,” Black said.

Superintendent Randall Booker said that the Piedmont Unified School District participates in the Great California ShakeOut annually.

Black said he wants the Piedmont community to be selfreliant in the case of a major disaster. “[The community] is used to a very high level of service

on a day to day basis,” Black said. “That ability won’t be there when all ten thousand residents are affected at once.”

Individuals and businesses can register independently on the shakeout.org website.

Being prepared for any type of disaster is one of the many jobs of a fire department, Black said.

“Piedmont and the rest of the state are at a very high fire risk. We’re entering the last few months of fire season, and they’re usually the most intense,” Black said.

Senior Durant Fuller said that his family has a plan in the case of an earthquake.

“We have a bunch of canned food and water,” Fuller said. “Our neighborhood will go to the tennis courts if there’s an earthquake.”

It is important to have a plan in the event of an earthquake, Fuller said.

“It sounds a little apocalyptic, but have that worst-case scenario plan ready,” Black said.

Photo courtesy of the California Great ShakeOut

14

A CLOSER LOOK

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

THE FACES O

T

hey come from bustling and an identity cultivated from their Miami streets, full of lively surroundings. As they transition to Spanish banter. They come Piedmont life, we take A Closer Look at from the idyllic coast of who they are through the lens of where Valencia, and the multicultural flavor they come from. of the Philippines. They come from hometown soccer pride, chicken WHERE JUNIOR BASMA Rey comes adobo, and monthly festivals. Some from, community is defined and speak three languages. Others have strengthened by differences. In the lived in three countries. Some come Philippines, multiple cultures, religions, from thousands and languages of miles away, “I am Muslim. I wear coexist in one while others vibrant and the veil to represent come from exciting place, Rey that not all Muslims are just outside said. of Piedmont’s “I want terrorists.” borders. people to Basma Rey This year, know about the new junior new students culture, the food, at PHS bring the people, and more than just a backpack and pencils the traditions in the Philippines,” Rey to school every day. They also carry said. “We are a very diverse country their hometowns, their experiences, because we have different traditions,

different festivals every month, different languages, and different beliefs.”

In her classes back in the Philippines, Rey remembers learning about America’s cultural tensions surrounding Muslim Americans and Muslim immigrants.

“We talked about all the problems in America, like the Muslim ban,” Rey said.

For Rey, who identifies as Muslim, said that the issue had personal resonance.

She elected to join the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), a foreign exchange program that aims to advance knowledge and acceptance of Muslim culture in the United States.

According to the YES website, participants like Rey serve as “youth ambassadors” who will promote mutual respect by forming lasting relationships within their host communities.

Rey said that her decision to wear a veil at school aligns with the program’s overarching goal of promoting cross-

A CLOSER LOOK

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

OF NEWNESS.

cultural understanding.

“I wear the veil to represent that not all Muslims are terrorists,” Rey said.

As to Piedmont students’ reaction to her veil, Rey said while some people have approached her to inquire about it, many have remained silent.

“Once I started wearing the veil, a lot of people were watching me and looking at me,” Rey said. “I can see that they think I’m different.”

But Rey hopes that her differences will be a springboard for strong relationships at Piedmont.

“I’m still trying to make friends with other people,” Rey said.

WHERE SENIOR ARNAU Costa comes from, community means 6,000 residents avidly following the success of a homegrown soccer star. Before coming to Piedmont, Costa lived in a small town called Dènia on the

Southern coast of Valencia — home to For this school year, Costa will stay Valencia Club de Fútbol’s left-back José with a host family who are friends of Luis Gayà, Costa said. family friends.

“We have a lot Costa said that of pride because he is excited to “This is all pretty scary, of him,” Costa learn more about but if I didn’t come, I said.

American culture.

Although he would have regretted my During his stay has lived in Dénia here, he wants to decision.” his whole life, go to an American Costa has family football game.

Arnau Costa ties to both Spain “I don’t really new senior and the Bay Area. know how it “My dad is [football] works Spanish, from Valencia,” Costa said. yet, but I know there is a lot of hype “But my mom is American. She is from around it,” Costa said. the Bay Area.”

While living abroad can be Costa said that he has always been intimidating, Costa believes that the interested in experiencing life in America. experience is worthwhile.

“I come every two to three years in the “This is all pretty scary,” Costa said. summer to see family, and that has made “But I think that if I didn’t come I would me want to live here,” Costa said. “Now, have regretted my decision.”

I’m here.”

15

“I lived in France for ten years. In France, the culture and the food is extraordinary. People are very humble, smart, and opinionated.”

Jezabel Droga new sophomore

“My old school was near Ghirardelli Square, which always has free chocolate samplings. So unfortunately, I won’t be eating chocolate every day anymore.”

Daniel Grimm new science teacher

“My old school was more diverse. Most people here dress the same way, and they have the same water bottles and backpacks.

Their style is really basic.”

Lauren Nwokedi new junior

“Teaching in Philadelphia was hard. It’s a very different community, with a lot more issues in behavior, and attendance. I don’t take the beautiful aspects of this school for granted.”

Aaron Barlin new English teacher

“My freshman and sophomore years, I was at Oakland Tech, and junior year, I was at Saint Mary’s.

I think that it is weird that there is a tiny town in the middle of Oakland.”

Anika Lambe new senior

“Before I transferred, I was at a small charter school.

There were ony 110 people in my school, so coming to Piedmont has been kind of a shocker.”

Teagan Haddawy new freshman

18

A CLOSER LOOK

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

NO MATTER WHERE SOMEONE COMES FROM, THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS NORMAL FOR THEM. What is normal for someone from on humanities like Latin, Ancient Greek, Southern California is vastly different and philosophy,” Cocuzza said. “Here, we than what is normal for someone from seem to focus more on the sciences. The Northern California. On a grander scale, technology at Piedmont is better, too.” someone from Spain has even more Other newcomers have noticed extreme differences in their perception of Piedmont’s intense concentration on life and culture. So, when all these people academic success and rigor. are transplanted to Piedmont, they will “The academic level here is more each have their own, different perception advanced than in the Philippines,” of what goes on junior Basma Rey here. said. I’ve been “People here are very Senior Arnau adjusting to the curious and openCosta, who just classes because hearted.” came to Piedmont the [structure] from Valencia, is different but Jezabel Droga Spain, said that the the lessons are new sophomore academic culture at the same. In the Piedmont is both Philippines, we challenging and exciting. don’t have homework.”

“Everybody here is much more This competitive academic culture articulate,” Costa said. “If you ask an can lead to strange interactions, English open-ended question to a Spanish kid, teacher Aaron Barlin said. they don’t know what to say.”

“I just updated grades this past Junior Tommaso Cocuzza, a foreign weekend, and some people are off by exchange student from Turin, Italy, said a few points of the total 21 and people that Piedmont has different academic are emailing me,” Barlin said, “I’m like, specialties than his previous school. shouldn’t you be happy? You have a 98 “In Italy, I attend a classical school, percent in the class.” where the material is a lot more focused As a strong backbone for tough

academics, teachers are nice and supportive, said sophomore Jezabel Droga, who came to Piedmont after living in England, France, and Miami.

“The kindness of teachers and people really stood out [about Piedmont]. I love all my teachers which is a new one,” Droga said.

Senior Anika Lambe, who came to Piedmont after going to multiple other schools in the Bay Area, said that the teachers are extremely helpful. However, in terms of the social scene, Piedmont is a weird place to get thrown into, because of how long everyone has known each other.

“I think the culture here is very clique-y,” Lambe said. “There is an interesting dynamic at Piedmont because everyone has been together for so long, so everyone knows each other really well, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is nicer to each other.”

However, both Droga and Lambe said they were able to integrate into the culture here pretty well.

“I was kind of nervous on the first day, but I met a few people beforehand and it

A CLOSER LOOK

was easy to integrate. People here are very “[It’s odd that] people don’t party every curious and open-hearted,” Droga said. weekend, as far as I know. I have friends in Since Piedmont is so tight-knit, there is Spain that go clubbing every single Friday a real sense of community that is driven and every single Saturday,” Costa said. home.

Costa said that in Spain there are “Everyone is always helping or relying no house parties, which are common on each other,” Droga said. “In Miami, I occurrences in Piedmont. had more trouble experiencing this.”

Droga said that sports are really thrust Some see Piedmont as homogenous into the limelight in Piedmont. community, while “I have been others see it as doing cross country, “There’s an interesting a diverse place. and it is every day There is much for two hours,” dynamic in Piedmont more diversity here said Droga. “This is because everyone has compared to Spain, really crazy because been together for so Costa said. most schools I’ve Lambe said that been to have sports long.” this is not the case as an elective you Anika Lambe compared to where can take, but it’s new senior she came from. nothing serious.”

“Everyone looks Costa said that kind of the same [at Piedmont],” she said. this muted sports culture is prevalent in “There is a lot less diversity than Tech Spanish schools as well, so he is excited or even Saint Mary’s, which is a private for big sporting and spirit events like school.” football games here.

The social life in Piedmont is also a Lambe and Droga said they are also little bit different than in Spain, Costa said. excited for the football games because it is

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

something they previously missed at their previous schools.

“Saint Mary’s didn’t have night games and I didn’t really go to Tech games,” Lambe said. “I’m really excited for the football games and the spirit.”

This kind of school spirit excites Rey as well, she said.

“I’m so excited about activities like Winter Ball and Homecoming,” Rey said.

“I also want to join clubs.

Droga said that Piedmont is shaping up to be the epitome of what she was looking for in her high school years.

“I have usually been at very small schools where there weren’t any football teams or cheerleaders. There was nothing,” Droga said. “Here is really the high school experience that I have been looking for since I moved.”

WRITTEN BY ANNIE CHENG, HUNTER DISCO, AND MAURA COWAN EDITING AND DESIGN BY ANNIE CHENG PHOTOGRAPHY BY AYA TROYER AND GRAHAM REICHER

19

20

OPINIONS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Editorial: It is time to chan School is all we know. From kindergarten to twelfth grade, students are flooded with information and ideas.

Students internalize these ideas, which in turn become their own beliefs.

Education has an unbelievable amount of influence on every kid’s idea about how the world works. Left with no alternative to the traditional school system, students are only exposed to the points of view being taught to them.

To combat this, PUSD needs to ensure that their curriculums and classes include all perspectives and facts when portraying a topic.

The setup of the school system itself is not an issue. Instead, the problem starts when curriculums only include one side or perspective when portraying

an issue. This perspective becomes the that Reaganomics failed, because that students’ full definition of what the event is what they were taught. In isolation, is. this does not For example, appear to be a big Education has an the American However, unbelievable amount deal.

Pageant textbook, imagine an entire of influence on every year learning the textbook for AP US History, kid’s idea of how the topics created presented with one political world works.

Ronald Reagan’s background presidency as a in mind. Now weakening of multiply that by the American economy. While this is twelve. The product is a high school a valid argument, many economists graduate who only knows one set of and historians argue the contrary. beliefs.

They believe that Reaganomics helped It is education’s job to tell us what America out of the stagflation of the happened and is happening in our world.

1970s.

It is not education’s job to tunnel our Most APUSH students now believe focus and tell us what we should and

graphic by Maura Cowan

OPINIONS

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

nge what we learn in class

21

should not believe. list of biased curriculums, each of which viewpoint on a certain topic, as opposed Previous California Governor Jerry pushes more and more students over to a single one. These differences do not Brown passed a bill in 2016 that would towards one political viewpoint. This stem from bias, but rather shed light on require all high schoolers to take an political viewpoint different aspects ethnic studies course as part of their then shapes our of that topic.

Classes should graduation requirement. In the proposed whole entire It is necessary curriculum, many groups were left out country. include all the facts, that as students, or misrepresented. For example, Israel However, we realize when and students need was made to look like an oppressor of it is not just we are not shown to choose which Palestinians, and anti-semitism was Piedmont that has the full picture nowhere to be found in the glossary of problems with and actively try perspective they terms in the textbook. biased curriculum. to obtain that adhere to.

This is scary. A class that could be According to full picture. It is mandated for all high schoolers displays National Public necessary that events at a shockingly uneven political Radio, a student attending Pearland teachers do their best to paint this full and social disposition. It does not matter High School, near Houston, found that image for their students. Classes should whether or not you believe that Israel a textbook referred to American slaves include all the facts, and students need to are oppressors of Palestine. The ethnic as workers rather than slaves. Calling choose which perspective they believe. studies class would slaves “workers” At Piedmont, we should start by It is not education’s be driven by one glosses over making a conscious effort to realize viewpoint to the the immensely when something is told through a lens, job to tunnel our point where the important fact that and actively search for the other lenses. focus and tell us what they were brought Otherwise, we will only know half of the marginalization of certain groups we should and should against their will, world around us. is completely forced to work It does not matter what the topic is, or not believe. ignored. This is without seeing whether you think what you are learning not education a single benefit is crazy. All that matters you know all anymore. This despite their labor. facets of an issue at hand. would be brainwashing.

It is important to draw the line As noted before, this kind of bias between a biased viewpoint and a already exists in our school, and ethnic factual, different viewpoint. We need studies would only add to the growing to start learning about every factual

editors

Staff Writers

Kate Goldberg Alden Heske Maria Kyser Malia Lee Ben Levinson Nico Manolis Ben Marshburn Emma Moorhead Ella Rey Nash Zenobia Pellisier Lloyd Graham Reicher Aya Troyer Anthony Wong Valerie Xiong

The

Piedmont

Highlander

Editors-in-Chief

News and Campus Editor A Closer Look Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Arts Editors Managing Editor

Marta Symkowick Maggie Black Ben Irving Annie Cheng

Hunter Disco Rafael Stankiewicz Morgan Bouch Maura Cowan Gabriela Hochster

Editorial policy: The Piedmont Highlander, a publication conceived, planned and produced by students, is also the product of an academic elective program. Certain guidelines must be put into practice ethically and legally. Journalistic in nature, TPH attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair and accurate manner on all subjects that affect the readers in the areas of academics, clubs, sports and all other aspects of student life. The entire student body of Piedmont High School constitutes the target audience of the newspaper with secondary audiences including school personnel, community members and other journalism groups.

Content focuses on coverage that will meet the wants and needs of the majority of the student body. The staff not only allows but also encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper before or after distribution, but final decisions will be made by the editorial board and adviser. If deemed necessary, the administration will be consulted concerning questionable material. No material, opinionated or otherwise, that is libelous, irresponsible, advocates an illegal activity or which the editorial board or adviser deems in poor taste will be printed or posted online.

Equity policy: TPH maintains a policy not to discriminate through printed material against any person or group on the basis of race, gender, nationality, religion, creed, age, profession, sexual orientation or disability. If you feel TPH has strayed from this policy, please contact Beth Black, TPH faculty adviser.

Subscriptions: Parents or others may subscribe for $45 for one full year. The subscription can be combined with the yearbook, the Pride.

Advertisement policy: TPH has the right to accept, reject, edit or cancel an advertisement at any time. If the business has paid for the ad, the payment will be refunded in full. Advertising shall be free of statements, illustrations or implications that are offensive to good taste. Advertisements that are racist, sexist or offer an illegal product for sale will not be published. Ads that TPH accepts are not an endorsement from the staff, adviser, administration or the PUSD. TPH is a ROP program through Contra Costa County.

Piedmont High School 800 Magnolia Avenue Piedmont, California 94611 Phone: (510) 594-2883 Fax: (510) 540-0425

22

OPINIONS

Give us the choice

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Maggie Black editor-in-chief

My family stares at my senior portrait Instead, the lack of choice that we now with disappointment barely disguised have mocks the idea of inclusivity. on their faces. They grimace as they I am not advocating for returning only peer closely at the photos, and my to the drapes and tuxes. I recognize the reaction mirrors theirs almost exactly. inclusivity that the graduation gown I feel as though I should be insulted could provide, but only if students are by my family’s distaste, but even my able to make that choice for themselves. brightest smile cannot distract from the Since I am now forced to use a portrait tacky purple gown. I glance over at my with a gown, I feel constrained and grandma’s senior portrait, her black disappointed by the school’s decision. drape framing her shoulders and her hair According to an email sent by the perfectly curled. Although the picture is PHS administration, “PHS and MHS in black and white, you can tell that she are committed to aligning their practices was really beautiful. My mom’s picture with the PUSD vision of “All Means follows the same pattern, her black All” outlined in the District’s LCAP. In a drape matching the classic image of my concerted effort to promote educational grandmother’s. equity and However, my inclusion so that The lack of choice pictures do not all students will that we now have follow the same feel physically elegant theme. The safe, emotionally mocks the idea of shiny purple cloth cared for, and inclusivity. starkly contrasts academically the classical outline and socially included in their school and style of the simple drape. Even environment, senior portraits appearing though many of us took pictures with in the yearbook will now be taken in a drape or a tux, they will not appear purple graduation gowns.” in the yearbook. For the class of 2020, According to a survey of 106 seniors it was decided by the PHS and MHS at PHS, 90.6 percent of students said administrations that everyone would that their preferred attire for their senior wear the same purple graduation gown. portrait is not the graduation gown. In However, I would have liked to addition, only 24.5 percent of students make that choice for myself. I do realize said that they wanted to see everyone in that as a part of the Local Control the same attire, although not necessarily Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the the graduation gown, compared to the “All Means All” initiative in PUSD, the remaining 76 percent who preferred elimination of the drapes and tuxes could having different choices or were unsure be seen as a more inclusive “choice”. of whether they wanted conformity.

Finally, 73.6 percent of students felt that they did not have the means to express their opinion about the change to the gowns.

“The main argument [for the change] that has spread among students is that some kids may not want to pick between either a tuxedo or dress,” senior James Manolis said. “However, having everyone wear the same purple gown without an alternative option seems to force conformity all the same.”

I support the “All Means All” initiative that inspired this change. But to truly accommodate everyone, you cannot eliminate our voice. Senior portrait makeup days, on Oct. 2 and 3, provide the perfect opportunity for seniors to retake their pictures if they wish to change which portrait to submit to the yearbook.

Give every student the right to choose: a drape, a tux, a gown, or an outfit of their choice. We can pride ourselves on both tradition and inclusivity. The gowns do not fulfill either of these criteria. Let us express ourselves so that we don ot all look back at the yearbook and wonder why all our personality and flair got left behind.

Photo courtesy of Prestige Portraits

OPINIONS

t i d

e r

a e

, r o

D

90.6%

of the senior class would like to wear something other than the graduation gown

73.6%

of the senior class said they did not have the opportunity to share their opinions about the change

Data taken from a survey of 106 PHS seniors

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

23

In Regards to the Senior Portrait Uniforms: When Nick and I heard that the administration was requiring all seniors to wear graduation gowns for senior portraits, we were a bit disappointed. I’ve been wanting to wear a tux for my senior portrait for quite a while, so I was sad to hear I wouldn’t be able to. I read the email notifying us of the change more closely, and saw that the administration was doing this to be more inclusionary for trans and gender non-conforming students. This irked both Nick and I greatly. In the class of 2020, we’re the only people that the administration is targeting with this change. While we appreciate the concern, it bothers both of us that no one thought to ask us for our take on the matter. It was just assumed that we would be grateful for the change and agree whole-heartedly with it. I think instead of mandating the gowns for everyone, the administration should just let students pick their own outfits for the portrait. They can even assign an open ended inclusionary theme to it if they want (e.g. black formal wear). Nick and I really hope in the future, the administration will give students a chance to voice their opinions, especially on matters that directly affect them.

Sincerely, Leo Putnam and Nicholas Jones

My name is Hunter Disco, the opinions editor for TPH. Throughout the course of this year, I invite anyone to send me or any of the editors any potential letters to the editors or ideas for what you want to see in this newspaper.

TPH is what it is because of our great community, making it extremely important that each member of this community has their voices heard. Please feel free to send any letters or ideas to hdisco@tphnews.com, or editors@tphnews.com.

24

OPINIONS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Let us stop competing about stress

A

junior downs another Health (NAMI), approximately one in energy drink, their third five youths aged 13-18 in the United one of the evening, States struggles with mental illness. preparing for yet another Within Piedmont, the statistics are even all-nighter to cram for their midterms. higher. According to the 2017-2018 A sophomore succumbs to the need for California Healthy Kids Survey, 27 sleep in the early hours of the morning, percent of 9th graders and 27 percent of their head on their desk, hair splayed 11th graders had experienced “chronic across an honors chemistry textbook. A sadness or hopelessness” in the previous senior rocks back and forth in a spiral of 12 months. 12 percent and 13 percent, panic, college applications, upper-level respectively, had contemplated suicide in courses, and extracurriculars piling up that same amount of time. in their mind like cinder blocks. In these These statistics, and the actions taken moments, stress, anxiety, and fatigue because of them, are just some of the have completely overwhelmed these effects of what increasingly appears to be students. But come first period, every a national trend. According to Corporate one of them will be joking with their Wellness Magazine, the United States friends, bouncing stories back and forth may very well be moving into a state to see who truly had the worst night. of what they have dubbed “cultural I cannot count stress”– that is, a how many times national identity The United States is I have overheard that normalizes moving into a state battles for overwork, of cultural stress and bragging rights, economic anxiety, where the winner constant competition. and constant is the one who competition. is closest to the Though initially Corporate Wellness Magazine edge. Who cried acknowledged the most last in the corporate week? Who slept workplace, the least? Who will be the next to crack recently, many of the country’s most in class? It is hard to listen to, but even elite colleges and universities have harder to admit that I am by no means turned a critical eye towards their own immune. “stress cultures”, examining student The harmful effect that this kind of mental health and the overall school environment has on students has become environment. It is past time for Piedmont normalized, making it all the more to do the same. damaging. According to the National These issues are deep-rooted, and the Alliance on way we examine them must be nuanced.

Mental While the conversation about mental and emotional illness is an important one, it is essential that we have it in a way that focuses on solutions rather than glorifying the problem.

The faculty and administration have not ignored this issue. They have met extensively to tackle scheduling conflicts and established the Wellness Center, a safe, quiet space that is open all day to all students, whether dropping in or seeking long-term counseling. But their work is far from done. Stress minimization is integral to creating an environment in which students can thrive. This could take the form of more built-in study time, or increased awareness surrounding mental well-being– overall, examining the educational process with the goal of reducing pressure and anxiety. This is a college preparatory school with highachieving students. We want to succeed, and ultimately, many of us will do so whether or not the methods that we use are detrimental to our health. So to the professionals: please keep this in your consciousness, and help ensure that student mental health is as much of a priority as learning and growing, because one cannot successfully exist without the other.

In the meantime, we can make individual adjustments to improve our quality of life. We can eat three meals a day, and sleep, even when those things don’t conveniently fit into our busy schedules. We can take time for ourselves and use the resources already in place, like the Wellness Center. And perhaps most importantly, we can stop playing the stress game. This does not mean losing our collective sense of humor, or silencing ourselves when we are struggling. But the competition, the need for each of our anxieties to be validated as the worst… it has to end.

The sooner we realize that we are on the same side, the happier –and healthier– our school environment will be.

72% of juniors experienced “chronic sadness or

Maura Cowan arts editor

13%

hopelessness” in the past 12 months

contemplated suicide during that time

SPORTS

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

25

Rowing takes Tripp to new heights

W

Morgan Bouch assistant arts editor

ake up, row, eat, row, school, row, study, row, sleep. Repeat. Everyday the same. Starting with the stinging ring of the alarm that reads 5:30 a.m., he leaps from his comforting sheets to the deserted gym. Lifting weights and erging miles independent from his team, he gains hours of strengthening and practice.

Tripp’s hard work and dedication is recognized by most. He is always the most prepared and enthusiastic one in class yet he is so humble, senior Georgie Brayer said.

“He always says he’s busy, but he’s not, because he’s just smart enough to make it so that he’s never busy, no matter what he has to do,” senior Kyle Spanier said. “He’s efficient.”

He takes every class you can imagine, and he does well in each one, Spanier said. However, his dedication stretches past just academics into athletics.

“I know he dedicates a lot of time to rowing,” Spanier said. “It makes it hard for us to hang out, but at the same time it’s good to see he has his own interests and passions.”

Tripp said that he rowed for the first time the summer before eighth grade at a summer camp and has been rowing for a little over four years now. He initially wanted to try rowing because his grandfather rowed in high school, and he wanted to continue the tradition.

“I remember him saying he wasn’t the best at first, but over time, with a lot of practice, he became a lot better, which is something he’s really proud of,” Spanier said.

The key to success is simple, Tripp said. Going to practice a lot, working out outside of practice, and overall getting a lot of mileage is important for improvement.

However, it is not just exercise that strengthens Tripp. Managing time well, getting enough sleep, and eating right is just as important for getting stronger.

“Rowing is about working really hard.

It’s about working harder than all of the other teams we compete

Photo courtesy of Ryan Tripp

Tripp with the U-19 national team at the CanAmMex competition in Sarasota, Florida.

against, and it teaches us a lot of valuable Tripp attempted to set the record for all of life skills,” Tripp said. “I’ve learned how the U-19s in the eight, and was only four to control my life, manage my time, eat seconds off, he said. His boat consisted of well, and how to be an adult.” boys from Marin, Alameda, Sacramento, Tripp has applied those skills Chicago, Washington D.C., Florida, and throughout his New York. rowing career, “Looking back on “I’ve learned how all the way to it, the CanAmMex to control my life, CanAmMex, a was a good Junior National experience because manage my time, eat competition it was a really high well, and how to be against Canada level of rowing, and and Mexico, I was pretty happy an adult.” held in Sarasota, about it,” Tripp said.

Ryan Tripp Florida.

Tripp “It took a lot of hard senior was chosen from work and 20-plus 80 people who hours a week of were invited to the Junior National Team training to get to the level I am right now.

Selection Camp to row for the U-19 Rowing is a very honest sport, so I put a national team during the competition, he lot of hard work in but get an even higher said. reward out, which is something that you “I wasn’t entirely sure if I was fast don’t experience a lot.” enough because I was a lot smaller than the other athletes,” he said. “If you look at the guys who historically make the team, they are well over six feet most of the time.”

Competing in both the six, a six person boat, and the eight, an eight person boat,

26

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

From Chabot College to Indiana Univer

Photo courtesy of Reece Proctor

Proctor finishes first in the 800 meter dash at the California Community College Athletic Association 2019 State Championships.

HIS LEGS GRACE THE TRACK WITH SUCH ELEGANCE THAT IT SEEMS EFFORTLESS. WATCHING HIS LONG STRIDES, ONE WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED HE WAS RUNNING FAST, but the distance between the 18-year-old and the other runners says otherwise. As he approaches the finish line, the spotlight is finally on him. After being overlooked in high school, his time is now. Alumnus Reece Proctor crosses the finish line, his body loosens, and he pumps his fist ferociously. His time reads 1:49.92, a personal record and the fastest time in Chabot College history.

As a freshman in college, Proctor rose to national prominence in track and field. A 2018 graduate from PHS who specializes

in the 800 meter event, he finished first in California and second in the nation in the 800 meter for all community college runners. Furthermore, he was an California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) All-American and was invited to the USA Track & Field Under-20 National Championship 800 meter final. Had he been running in Division I, Proctor’s record-breaking time would have ranked him as the fourthfastest freshman, Proctor said.

“I expected to have solid improvement

this past year, but nothing to this extent,” Proctor said. “My success was pretty unprecedented across the board; I dropped three seconds on my 800 meter time and 18 seconds on my 1500 meter time from high school.”

For those who knew him at Piedmont, his recent success is not a surprise, said senior track and field runner Jayden Lee. “Reece is incredibly fast, and he has the body for running,” Lee said. “On top of that, he has one of the best work ethics of anyone I know. Even after he graduated, I would always see him down at the track training.”

By the end of his senior year at at PHS, Proctor was a seven-time Western Alameda County Conference league champion and ranked fourth in the state and top 50 nationally in the 800 meter. He won individual league titles in the mile, two-mile, and 800 meter both his junior and senior years. Furthermore, he finished 3rd in the 800 at the North Coast Section (NCS) tournament his senior year and qualified for the state preliminary races.

“Senior year was a huge break out for me,” Proctor said. “I shaved over three seconds off my 800 meter time from the previous year, which is something like an eight percent improvement.”

Unfortunately for Proctor, his breakout

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rsity: Proctor runs the path less traveled came too late to attract major interest from four-year colleges. Until April of his senior year, he did not have the times to get on the radar of major Division I and Division II programs. At this point, however, most major college programs were done recruiting for the next year.

“Coming out of high school, I didn’t have as many options as I would’ve liked in terms of four-year colleges,” Proctor said. “I had interest from UCLA, but I felt forced into going there and decided it wasn’t the right place for me.”

Eventually, Proctor decided to run at Chabot College, a community college program in Hayward, California.

Ultimately, Proctor’s relationship with Chabot College track and field head coach Kyle Robinson convinced him to go there, Proctor said.

“Coach Kyle was always very honest with me and had my best interests in mind,” Proctor said. “He thought Chabot College would be a great plan B for me if nothing else worked out, but he always said that if I had better options to pursue I should totally do that.”

After flourishing his freshman year at Chabot and dropping his 800 meter time from 1:52.64 to 1:49.92, Proctor received interest from many top

Division I programs. At the end of the Proctor believes that going to community year, he narrowed down his choices to college is a good option both athletically UC Berkeley, University of Colorado and academically.

Boulder, and Indiana University.

“If you’re someone like me who was “I had some great options after my first somewhat of a late bloomer athletically year at Chabot,” Proctor said. “At first I or academically, taking the community thought I would go college route is an to UC Berkeley, excellent option,” “If you’re someone but I fell in love Proctor said. “You like me who was with Indiana can save a lot of University after money and set somewhat of a late visiting there.” yourself up for bloomer athletically or PHS track and success in the academically, taking field assistant future.” the community college coach Len As Proctor Goldman said embarks on his next route is an excellent he could not journey at Indiana option.” be happier for University, which Proctor’s success, has a nationallyReece Proctor who watched ranked program, class of 2018 alumnus him transform he knows he still as a runner since has a lot of work to middle school. do, Proctor said. He is currently the fifth“Proctor was an average runner in fastest 800 meter runner on the team, and middle school,” Goldman said. “Starting only the top four runners on each team get his junior year, however, he grew a lot to compete at the conference level. and really started to get into running.

“I want to make a positive impact on the The passion and commitment was there program at Indiana and keep improving in and his times began to drop rapidly as a all regards,” Proctor said. “It’s great that I result.” had success this past year, but I’m always Upon reflecting on a whirlwind year, going to want to get better.”

Proctor (left) finishes third in NCS in the 800 meter dash in 2018, qualifying him for the state preliminary races.

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Photo courtesy of Reece Proctor

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RAF’S RECAP: 2019 fall sports

As the school year begins, fall sports teams have jumped right into action.

PHS has seven fall sports: cross country, football, women’s golf, women’s tennis, volleyball, men’s and women’s water polo.

Photo courtesy of Eleanor Hoffpauir

Howard Oliver with the women’s golf team.

Photo by Steve Zirkelbach

Cross country warms up before a meet.

Cross country looks to build upon its strong season last year. Senior Sophia Zalewski won North Coast Section (NCS) on the women’s side and the men were competitive as well. JV coach Chris Rogers says the goal of the program is for each runner to improve.

“I want everyone to be competitive,” Rogers said.

Howard Oliver is the new women’s golf head coach. He is also the men’s golf head coach. In order to make the team more competitive, Oliver established a qualifying score of 60 strokes to be an active member of the team with full practice privileges.

“We’ve begun tailoring practices towards those players committed to the process of playing better golf,” Oliver said. “We are not a golf club, we are a competitive team.”

Photo courtesy of the Piedmont Exedra

Men’s water polo splashes in the pool.

Photo courtesy of Emily Becker

The varsity tennis players and coaches.

Photo by Todd Marshburn

The varsity football players and coaches.

Football went 5-6 last year and graduated 22 seniors. They also hired a new interim head coach, Jerome Johnson, after former coach John Trotman resigned.

Coach and Director of Athletics Alphonso Powell believes that the team can be good through hard work.

“This is a young team, so the team’s going to go as far as they want to work, learn, and get better,” Powell said.

Volleyball is setting the bar high and is looking to progress this season.

Coach Daron True is optimistic about the team’s chances as league matches begin. They are looking to make their third consecutive NCS appearance and finished second or third in league.

“We have good leadership on both teams and I was overjoyed at the amount of talent we got from the new freshman class,” True said. “We’ve built up so much the past two years and I want to continue that success.”

Women’s tennis has been dominant recently, but they lost many key players. They have not lost a league match in 20 years and have won NCS five times.

However, they lost Western Alameda County Shoreline (WACC) Foothill Division player-of-year and junior Makenna Thiel, who is being homeschooled to focus on her tennis career.

“My goal for this year is to improve,” coach Jim Landes said. “I’m not going for a great record, I just want the players that we have to get significantly better.”

Photo courtesy of Kate Goldberg

Varsity volleyball huddles before a match.

Men’s water polo is coming off a 22-6 season in which they won the league title, lost in the league championship final, and advanced to the semifinals of NCS. However, all six of their starters graduated and the team is looking to rebuild and progress this year.

“The goal for this year is to have a great, healthy season filled with wins,” senior Tag Walter said.

Photo by Zenobia Pellissier Lloyd

Women’s water polo smiles in the pool.

Women’s water polo recently hired a new head coach, Sarah Mooney. Mooney, a 2014 PHS graduate and two-time WACC player of the year, played water polo at Bucknell University. Mooney said the goal for this year is to work on the fundamentals of the sport and teamwork.

“Another main goal is to win senior night,” Mooney said.

Compiled by TPH staff writers

ARTS

THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDER

Justice Hartford spits fire and ice

T

Ben Irving news and campus editor

he lights are dim, the room quiet. The vast control board blinks as the producer moves the levers to and fro.

Sophomore Justice Hartford stands behind the mic, waiting to spit his rhymes. This setting is where he has spent many hours throughout the last few months.

Justice released his EP, “Just Icey”, in August.

“At first, [rapping] was just for the memes,” Justice said. “But around midway through last year, I started actually recording music.”

Justice said that when he got more serious about rapping, he started to write more about himself.

“If I was feeling happy, I would write something happy,” Justice said.

“If I was sad, I would write something sad.”

Justice said that he began to spend a fair amount of time with his music.

“When he started to get serious about music, he started writing a lot in his free time,” Counselor Chris Hartford, father to Justice, said.

Chris said that Justice’s passion for rapping is cool.

“It all has come from him,” Chris said. “All the work he’s put into it is self-driven.”

Justice said that the studio made the rapping seem real.

“The studio is professional,” Justice said. “Tavon Carter is a friend of mine, and he’s the one who produces the songs.”

Justice said he met Carter freshman year.

“I was getting into music, and I met [Carter] online through some mutual friends from Oakland Tech.” Justice said.

Justice said that he enjoys the atmosphere in the studio.

“I bring my friends, and we just hang out and make music,” Justice said.

Justice said that working with his

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friend, sophomore Jojo Murphy, was song.” really fun.

The two are also very productive, “Justice just asked me to hop on a getting all of their songs done during song with him to make a hit,” Murphy recording sessions, Murphy said. said.

“It’s “We can work just fun to go hard,” Murphy “At first, it was just to the studio said. “And have and rap with a lot of fun while for the memes, but friends.” doing it.” around midway Murphy Justice plans through last year, said that he, to have more like Hartford, substance in his I started actually enjoys the music moving recording music.” creative forward, he said. process.

“I want to go Justice Hartford “I can deeper in future sophomore express past songs,” he said. experiences “Maybe talk about and moments through music,” Murphy some stuff that’s more important to said. “I can’t really do that anywhere me.” else.”

Murphy said that he also plans to Murphy said that Hartford really record and release more songs with helps him find his way with his music.

Justice.

“Justice is a mastermind,” Murphy “All I gotta say is Just Ice and I have said. “He’s always thinking of the next got two bangers coming out, so stay bar, which usually fits perfectly with the tuned,” Murphy said.

Photo courtesy of Jsutice Hartford

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ARTS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Binger brings the beauty to the East Bay Monthly Gabriela Hochster managing editor

East Bay Monthly’s website, this is their students have been very successful in this 19th year running the competition, open contest, winning almost every year. This to everyone from grades 6-12. year, Brooke Hendershott, class of 2019, Binger also placed. said that the “It’s really exciting “I think [the Monthly] winner of because a lot of other the contest high schools in the chooses us because gets to have area enter the contest a lot of the artwork their art on as well,” Bailey said. “I that we create is the cover of think [the Monthly] the East Bay chooses us because a lot really personal to Mo nt h l y, of the artwork that we the students. You alongside create is really personal a small bio to the students. You can really tell that and a longer can really tell that they’re authentically article inside they’re authentically expressing the issue. expressing themselves.”

“The cover Bailey said that she themselves.” is on the encourages her students Gillian Bailey September not to be afraid of art teacher issue of the contests, critiques, and East Bay judgement.

Monthly, and “Sometimes it is it will be delivered to homes as well as intimidating to put work that you care available at some newsstands,” Bailey said. about out there for all to see,” Bailey Senior Clara Castronovo said that said. “But even if nothing happens the Bailey tells her art students about the first time, you’ve taken a risk by putting contest every year, and submits students’ yourself out there, and the second time, art pieces for them. it’s going to be easier. It’s always a good “Every year [Bailey] asks for a folder thing to just try.” of our three best pieces and enters all of them,” Castronovo said.

With her striking self portrait, senior Bailey said that Binger’s piece is a selfNaomi Binger won portrait that she first place in this made last year.

“The piece is a year’s East Bay “The piece is Monthly cover art a picture of me picture of me looking contest. looking through through a jar. I “East Bay a jar,” Binger said. painted it with colorMonthly [magazine] “I painted it with holds a contest for blocking to show the color-blocking to high school students show the ripples ripples in the glass.” that happens once in the glass.” a year,” art teacher Bailey said Naomi Binger Gillian Bailey said. that in the past, senior According to the Piedmont art

Through the bottom of the glass, her green eye glimmers, distorted and piercing.

A cupped hand shields her view and she squints to peer through.

“Sometimes it is intimidating to put work that you care about out there for all to see. But even if nothing happens the first time, you’ve taken a risk by putting yourself out there, and the second time, it’s going to be easier.”

Gillian Bailey art teacher

Photo courtesy of Naomi Binger

“I love my colleagues in the math department, so it is an easy thing to want to come back and work with them again.”

“I’m looking forward to being able to work with kids and seeing how excited they are about food.”

Rene Berrios food service employee

Auban Willats math teacher

“Teaching at both [Millennium and Piedmont High] is a severe case of whiplash. You live in two different worlds.”

“I’m excited to get more familiar with the community and to get to know [PHS] students.”

Emily Boyes math teacher

Thomas Casavant science teacher

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the creativity and the wonderful artwork that the students produce.”

“I’m excited to see results from the hard work that we put in.”

Maria Holt learning center

“I assist the chef in the kitchen. I work for both Piedmont High School and Piedmont Middle school.”

Lusdina Garcia food service assistant

Hannah Bjork art teacher

“I chose to come to PHS for the community’s commitment to education, the staff members and colleagues.”

Suzanne Randick resource specialist