A CLOSER LOOK (p. 7-10)
CAMPUS (p. 4-6)
We take A Closer Look at how to navigate the landscape of mental health.
TUESDAY JANUARY 16, 2018
800 MAGNOLIA AVE. PIEDMONT, CA
Students communicate with Japanese pen pals through an English class assignment.
VOL. 104
ISSUE 5
The Piedmont Highlander Lower 30s building restrooms Upcoming closed due to students vaping TPHNEWS.COM
@ PHS
TUES. JAN. 16 PHS Parent Club Meeting at 9:15 a.m. @ District Board Office
THURS. JAN. 18 Incoming 9th Grade Parent Orientation at 7 p.m. FRI. JAN. 19 ASB Winter Rally THURS. JAN. 25 PHS Site Council Meeting at 3:30 p.m. @ Student Center Photos by Margo Rosenbaum. Graphic by Gigi Gleghorn
The restrooms in the lower 30s building have been closed by the administration due to students vaping. The restrooms will stay closed until a solution is found.
MARGO ROSENBAUM campus editor
down there and it smelled a little too nice and you could see the remnants of white smoke,” Mapes said. The Piedmont Police have not been involved because no students have been identified, Mapes said. “We are not going to get involved in that situation unless we are called to the school during school hours,” said Chief of Police for Piedmont Police Department Jeremy Bowers. “We are not going to stake out the bathrooms on our own.” Mapes said the administration can close the restrooms in the bottom floor of the 30s building, because there are restrooms on the upper floor. “There are enough restrooms in the 30s
PHS student #1 said that they are very discreet when they do it. They said that The administration received reports sometimes they meet up with other students to from students through Speak Up, the online vape, but sometimes it is by themself. anonymous access form, that students have “When I am in there, I usually do not seen been vaping in the men’s restrooms on the anyone,” PHS student #1 said. “I do not think lower floor of the 30s building, assistant I am upsetting anyone.” principal Eric Mapes said. In response to the Fire Chief for City of Piedmont Warren information received at the end of November, McLaren said that vaping at school presents the administration decided to lock the men’s health and public safety hazards, including and women’s restrooms across from room the malfunctions if the vape pens are not used 30A on and will keep them closed until they properly. find a solution. “They can lead to serious burns, or “We have had students reporting that it is exploding, or even creating fires,” McLaren making them feel unsafe when they go in,” said. “It does set off smoke detectors and fire Mapes said. “I do not want students to feel alarms.” afraid to use the restroom because something President of the Parents Club Hilary might happen in there.” Cooper said that she is Principal Adam concerned that students do Littlefield, assistant principal not understand the strength “We have had students reporting that it is Irma Munoz, and Mapes of drugs. making them feel unsafe.” met recently to discuss their “I can’t speak for options. Mapes said the all parents but for me, Eric Mapes issue is that the restrooms personally, I am concerned Assistant Principal across from 30A have little that our children don’t supervision and the hallway understand how strong and leading up to the Wellness Center has no building that we could close those for right potent the drugs are now, especially in certain now until we find a way to make sure students forms,” Cooper said. classrooms, and therefore is very quiet. “We felt that we were doing a disservice to are being safe in the decisions that they are According to the PHS Student and Parent the student body because we can’t supervise making,” Mapes said. Handbook, students cannot use or be under The administration is unsure how long the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs on it,” Mapes said. “If you actually stand in that hall and time it, there are probably times where the restrooms will be closed. Littlefield campus or at school events. no one goes in that hallway for 10 minutes. said he is unaware of vaping instances “You are not allowed to smoke anything It’s too quiet, there is not enough circulation.” since the restrooms have been closed, but on campus,” Mapes said. “You are not allowed This year one or two fire alarms have the administration will continue to have to be under the influence of anything while on gone off that were not expected, with one conversations if it continues. campus.” “We are still in the process of seeing how originating the lower 30s restrooms, Mapes If the administration caught a student things go,” Littlefield said. “We do want to vaping in the restroom, the student would be said. “Students were either vaping or smoking make sure the restrooms are places being used suspended, Mapes said. something to where it was white smoke, for the intent that they are there for, not other “I hate to say that because that is zero where there was enough white smoke where things that take place.” tolerance, but there are certain things in the ed PHS student #1 said that they are unsure code that are automatics,” Mapes said. “If a it caused the alarms to go off,” Mapes said. Littlefield said that the administration why the administration has been so upset by it student is in the restroom vaping and getting does not know how many students vape in the recently, since it has always been happening. high, that means that have possession of liquid “I do it as a way to alleviate stress from marijuana, and they are under the influence.” restrooms or how often it occurs. “It depends whether I go by myself or with school and for enjoyment,” PHS student #1 Mapes said that he understands that closing other people,” said PHS student #1, who has said. the restrooms across from 30A may not stop PHS student #2 said that they have seen students from smoking in campus, since they vaped in the lower 30s restrooms. “Sometimes students vaping in the restrooms. I just run into people in there.” can go to the park or to another restroom. “All the time at lunch, it is crazy, I walk in There are no cameras in the hallways, so “Closing the bathrooms will not prevent Mapes said the administration has not caught there and see people vaping,” PHS student #2 the issue,” PHS student #1 said. “People will said. “There are like 12 kids. They don’t even just find other ways to do it.” any students entering the restroom to vape. “I have walked in the boys restroom care when I walk in there.”
FRI. JAN. 26 MHS Talent Show at 7 p.m. @ Piedmont Community Center SAT. JAN. 27 Winter Ball at 7 p.m. @ Richmond Country Club TUES. JAN. 30 Education Speaker Series at 7:30 p.m. @ Student Center FRI. FEB. 2 - SAT. FEB. 3 PHS Winter Musical at 7:30 p.m. @ Alan Harvey Theater
Ch eck out
Twenties Night Photo Gallery
Article: Troubadours Brighten Dec. 8 Tree Lighting With Holdiay Songs To see more, check out TPHNews.com
2
JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
News
School water fountains tested for lead content CLARISSA LAM
staff writer
Results from the Dec. 6 lead test came back negative for all PUSD schools. Five drinking fountains on each PUSD campus were tested for lead on Wednesday Dec. 6 as a part of East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EBMUD) free state-funded lead testing program, following a series of unsafe levels of lead found in 20 Oakland and four San Francisco public and charter schools. The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) found lead levels above the 15 ppb legal limit at McClymonds High School following a lead test on Aug. 22, according to OUSD’s website. As more schools tested positive for lead toxicity, OUSD began district wide testing in Sept 2017, partnering with EBMUD by Oct 2017. Out of the 113 OUSD schools tested, a total of 20 schools have tested positive for lead contamination.
Lead was detected throughout Oakland from Fruitvale to Montclair, according to the OUSD website. Centro Infantil, an elementary school in Fruitvale whose lead content was 256.4 ppb, had the highest toxicity of the OUSD schools. Thornhill Elementary School, Montera Middle School, Joaquin Miller Elementary School, and AIMS School, all of which are located less than a mile from Piedmont, also tested above the legal limit. After running initial tests on all OUSD schools, the district is now in the process of repairing water sources that tested above the legal lead limit and they are running secondary tests on all schools to confirm results and ensure lead levels have been reduced, according to the OUSD website. Lead poisoning can result in lowered IQs, learning disabilities, irritability, abdominal pain, memory loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Children are typically more affected by lead toxicity than adults and often display stronger symptoms. Results from the Dec. 6. lead test came back negative for all PUSD schools.
JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
News
Math teacher resigns after one semester; administration works to fill position
SARA SIQUEIRA
editor-in-chief
Photo by Clarissa Lam
Water fountains on all PUSD campuses were tested for lead.
Administration works to increase collaboration between MHS and PHS
Update
3
Math teacher Lisa Holmes resigned on Jan. 8 due to personal family reasons and PHS administration posted the job on Jan. 9 to find a permanent replacement in the math department, principal Adam Littlefield said. Assistant principal Eric Mapes said that he hopes the best for Holmes and appreciates her efforts during the first semester. “My hope is that we will be quick on this,” Littlefield said. “We are looking at the applicants, and if there is anyone in that group we feel is a strong candidate or the right match, we will interview them next week.” Holmes taught four sections of Integrated Math 1 and one section of Integrated Math 2,
Photo by Sara Siqueira
Math teacher Lisa Holmes taught four Integrated Math 1 classes and one Integrated Math 2 class.
according to the PHS website. Mapes and Littlefield said that they are also asking current PHS math teachers if they are willing to take on an extra class. Littlefield said it is important to keep in mind that teaching is a challenging profession, and
having teachers fill in for classes they do not already teach adds time needed to prepare for that class. “The best outcome is making sure that we have the right match in the class,” Littlefield said. Mapes said that the school’s responsibility is to educate students and that the administration wants to move as quickly as possible. Holmes co-taught one class with resource specialist Kennette Hoke, who is currently teaching with a substitute, Littlefield said. The administration intends to continue having two teachers in that particular class, and Littlefield also said Hoke knowing the students helps with the transition. With possibilities of hiring a new teacher or having current ones fill in, Littlefield said that there are several variables to
The administration hopes to have the position filled by the end of this week. Look for an interview with the newly hired math teacher or the current PHS teacher filling in for the Integrated Math 1 and 2 classes on TPHnews.com in the next week.
consider, but he is committed to maintaining the teaching quality. “I’m always looking for teachers who have experience teaching rather than have someone who is brand new to the curriculum,” Littlefield said. Littlefield also said that while he understands the community wants answers, he wants to communicate once the plan is more solidified and expects to
have a resolution by the end of next week. He also said he appreciates the community’s patience with this transition. “With everything that goes on at this school, the main effort is to stay student centered,” Mapes said. “We put people in place who are going to help the students be successful as they move forward in their math pathway.”
Winter Ball moves to Richmond Country Club PATRICK AEBI sports editor
This semester, PHS expects all teachers maintain an active presence on Schoology, a learning management platform that allows teachers to post assignments and grades, according to an email sent to teachers. At a bare minimum, teachers must use Schoology to post major assignments and due dates, and include a link to their website and course syllabus. Teachers are also required to use the platform’s built in gradebook function for students’ day to day grades.
The school recommends that teachers shift their entire online presence to the new platform. A slideshow sent to teachers in the email said teachers should post all course material and allow for digital assignment submissions to Schoology.
by Azul Kothari Photos courtesy of schoology.com
Photos courtesy of PUSD website
The administrations of Millennium High School and Piedmont High School hope to integrate the schools further in the future.
the information,” said MHS junior Myles Smith. staff writer There is also a lot of crossover between the two schools. Even The new administrations in though Smith is enrolled at MHS, PUSD are making an effort to he takes five PHS classes and only make Millenium High School two MHS classes. He also is in and Piedmont High School more the PHS ASB integrated so class and will that students occasionally can use the “[Millennium High School] is a report back to advantages from the MHS ASB both schools supportive non-competitive academic class so that even though environment.” both ASBs can they only get a Shannon Fierro work together. diploma from MHS Principal According one. to Fierro, “Millennium MHS and High School is a small alternative public school meetings once a month,” PHS share arts classes, athletics, ceramics, high school open to residents MHS senior Morgan Shelly said. extracurriculars, of Piedmont and interdistrict Fierro said MHS is set up to campus, a bell schedule, and a transfers from the surrounding monitor student progress more college and career center, but they area,” said MHS principal deeply with the smaller classes are working on integrating the schools even more. Shannon Fierro. “It Since so many MHS is a supportive nonstudents come with a competitive academic different perspective environment that shares “Millennium lets you learn on and background than some services with your own time.” kids in the Piedmont Piedmont High School.” Myles Smith community, it is According to MHS junior healthy to mix classes Fierro, a core differences so that students between MHS and PHS can learn from new are that MHS can focus on students a lot more because and credit system, so the teachers people. Fierro said that even though they have class sizes half the and administration can catch it has never happened, she would size of PHS and a school of only students if they start to fall. “Millennium lets you learn be open to the idea of PHS about 100 kids. MHS also has an unique class credit system that on your own time, and they will students taking a class at MHS breaks up a semester into three spend a couple days or a couple to experience the different class parts. If a student fails one part of weeks to make sure you know structure.
WILLIAM SUPPIGER
of the semester, they still have a chance to gain credits from the other two parts of the semester. “MHS has much smaller classes and student body in general, and we benefit from that by having class meetings and all
For the past two years, ASB has chosen Sequoyah Country Club as the Winter Ball venue. However, this year it will be held at the Richmond Country Club on Jan. 27, senior class president Sydney Willis said. “We looked at various country clubs and the Richmond Country Club was perfect for our date and venue,” Willis said. Willis and ASB member senior Cameron Addis are in charge of the event, Addis said. “[Willis] and I, as seniors and being in our last year, thought we would change the venue for
our fellow seniors so we could experience a different setting for our last Winter Ball,” Addis said. Senior Jonathan Dinetz said that he is happy that they changed the venue this year and hopes that it will be even more fun than last year. Senior Lane Bentley said that he liked Sequoyah Country Club last year at Winter Ball. “[The change in venue] does not make a difference to me, I’m driving to the venue either way.” Bentley said. Addis said at first, it was a bit difficult finding a venue that was suitable. “Our committee of five people searched through about
Photo courtesy of theperfectbuilder.com
The Richmond Country Club will be the new Winter Ball venue this year.
20 venues, and most were either booked or couldn’t accommodate 350-400 people,” Addis said. Senior Hanna Hohener,
junior Emily Yu, and sophomore Gabriela Hochster make up the committee that is helping Willis and Addis.
W hat’s ‘Sup? “All I Want For Winter Is You”
This year for the annual HolidayGrams Troubadours did not sing the word “Christmas,” and instead were instructed by the administration to replace it with the word “winter” in all of their holiday songs. Assistant Principal Irma Muñoz said this was done to make the campus feel more inclusive, especially because Piedmont High is a public school. Senior Sam White said the change of wording was not the correct solution to students feeling excluded around the holidays. “I don’t support this policy because of the fact that it avoids the problem,” White said. “Mere replacement of the word “Christmas” does not mean it is not a Christmas song.” Other students such as Jewish
with Suppiger
Student Union President junior Sara Zimmerman said she agreed with White that this policy was not proper action. “I don’t think that taking Christmas out of holiday songs is really adding anything to make people feel included,” Zimmerman said. Muñoz said that no students came forward to ask for this policy to be put in place or said
Photo by Ella Lee
that they felt excluded by the word “christmas.” TPH has not received the educational code regarding this policy at the time this is printed. “ W e have to evaluate how to celebrate this time of year without over emphasizing one group over another,” said Muñoz. White said that to talk
Addis said that another Country Club referred them to Richmond Country Club, so they decided to go visit the venue to see if it could be a good fit for Winter Ball. “The people working [at the Richmond Country Club] were very friendly and had all of the logistics ready for us,” Addis said. Willis said that the venue has huge green fields, a gated entrance, and a beautiful view of the sunset. “We are really happy about the venue that we ended up getting,” Addis said. “[Richmond Country Club] is beautiful and will be liked by the students.”
What’s ‘Sup? with Suppiger is a returning segment in TPH.
Staff writer William Suppiger examines our school policies in an effort to educate the student body. Contact Will at wsuppiger@ tphnews.com if there is a school policy that you want him to examine
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JANUARY 16, 2018
CAMPUS
Pen pal letters connect Piedmont and Japanese students
Photo by Sara Siqueira
Freshman and sophomores recieved letters from students who go to high school in Japan.
SARA SIQUEIRA editor-in-chief Details about Shinto burial customs, an explanation of the attached condensed milk candy, offers of a place to stay when visiting Japan. These are all snippets of letters exchanged between 14 to 15-yearold U.S. residents and Japanese students. English teacher Mercedes Foster and PHS graduate of 2013 Emily Mabry arranged a pen pal exchange between PHS freshman and sophomore classes and high schoolers in Japan. Mabry currently teaches Japanese students English and reached out to Foster to create a pen pal activity. So far, the Japanese students sent the first letters in November and PHS students responded. Foster said she hopes to
complete at least one more full cycle. Foster said that her elementary school pen pal experience partly motivated her to create this connection for her students. “I had one named Andrea in Alaska, and there was never a long term connection made because we were young,” Foster said. “I always mourned mine. Why did I let that go? And now I can’t ever get a hold of [her].” Wanting her students to create authentic relationships, the only instruction about the activity Foster gave them was to be meaningful in their responses. “Give them a piece of you,” Foster said to her students. Foster also said that the Japanese students set the open-minded and warm tone of this exchange by offering for PHS students to stay with them if students go
Who Knows Who
to Japan. to dissuade her students from sharing their “[Foster] encouraged us to keep an social media information she understands open mind and not forget the art of letter- Hill’s purpose of participating in a writing,” sophomore Josie Gross-Whitaker traditional form of communication. said. Podell said that writing letters is more English teacher Debbi Hill, whose personal than sending emails or texting students also have pen pals, said that when because the time put towards handwriting. “They get to see your handwriting, and the letters arrived, students could not wait personally, my handwriting is a part of to read them. “They were charmed,” Hill said. “They me because it is different from everyone shared one thing about their person that else’s,” Podell said. “Writing a letter means they thought was interesting, and they are more than writing an email, which is just a about the same age so there are similar few clicks.” Hill told students that they could share kinds of interests.” Gross Whitaker said she and other social media information in the last letter students enjoyed being able to connect with exchange and kept the rest of the activity someone of a different culture, especially open ended. Even if students only exchange letters for students who have not travelled as a few times in much as others. the course of the Sophomore year, they still Max Podell, who keep in touch said he does not “It’s a weird experience can through social have friends who because they know I exist, media, Foster live outside the U.S., learned they are writing to me, said, comparing opportunity about Japanese and I don’t know them. I this to her experience customs as his don’t even know how to with pen pals as pen pal shared a kid. about her describe it.” “We didn’t religion, Shinto, Max Podell sophomore have social and her family’s media, so there traditions. was no other “It’s a weird option if you experience didn’t have their because they address,” Foster know I exist, they are writing to me, and I don’t know said. “They still have that connection. them,” Podell said. “I don’t even know There is so much more possibility to the how to describe it.” relationship.” Hill said that her students wanted to In addition to bringing up ideas about share their Instagram and other social methods of communication, Hill said that media information with their pen pals right this activity also brings an audience to away, but she encouraged them not to at students’ writing. first. “As an English department, we often “That’s part of the charm of this: the talk about wanting our students to do anticipation of waiting for the letter to real writing,” Hill said. “[The pen pal come,” Hill said. “It’s brought up things we exchange] has the spirit of doing writing don’t usually think about communication.” for a real audience and a different kind of Foster said that while she did not think writing than the literary analysis essay.”
Which twins know each other best?
JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
Campus
5
Venturing Crews teach leadership and community involvement
Photos courtesy of Rachel Elliott
High Adventure Crew student members go on outdoor adventures such as paragliding, backpacking, camping, hiking, and indoor skydiving throughout the school year together.
GIGI GLEGHORN arts editor Community service, high adventure, film, photography, and cooking do not usually have a lot in common. But, actually, all of these activities are parts of different Venturing Crews. Venturing is a subsection of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) that gets funding from BSA but is less formal. These crews are also registered through PHS as clubs. Half of a Venturing Crew is focused on that crew’s aspect, like community service, and the other half involves learning leadership and life skills. Students run the crews with an adult advisor, said current Piedmont Community Service Crew (PCSC) president, senior Maya Guzdar. “Piedmont has Boy Scouts, but then there’s also Venturing,” Guzdar said. “Venturing is coed, ages 14 through 21, and it is all sorts of different crews that anyone can create.” Guzdar said she has been in Venturing since her freshman year, attended around six leadership trainings, and taught three. “There’s a whole leadership side and I think that’s where it ties in with Boy Scouts and that’s
what people don’t learn about PCSC,” Guzdar said. “It’s one thing to go to a soup kitchen and make food and serve it, but it’s another thing to plan the event, learn how to get the ingredients, coordinate with the people who work there, and that is really what PCSC is about.” PCSC member and officer, junior Josh Rogers said he participated in many food and soup kitchen events that PCSC facilitated while recovering from a broken knee his freshman year. “I love cooking and I am taking ROP Culinary Arts right now which is really fun,” Rogers said. “I’m one of the only people in PCSC who has led an event for Hot Meals which is an event where there are multiple community service groups coming in and we serve around 120 people.” Because of his passion for cooking, Rogers was asked by BSA and Venturing Board member Kathleen Winters to head the Food and Cooking Crew they wanted to create, Rogers said. “Venturing has a board of adult members and youth members and they go through and they’re like ‘How do we make our present crews better and what kind of crews do we want to help expand that,’” Rogers said.
“They came up with the Food and Cooking Crew, and Kathleen said she’d take that on and try and find a leader and she chose me.” Right now, Rogers said that the dynamic of the Food and Cooking Crew right now is him pushing ideas onto the members which is not the way he wants the environment to be. “I want it, in the years to come, to become more of the crew members saying ‘Hey, I want to do this, I want to make this, I want to learn how to do something related to cooking,’ and then we just do it,” Rogers said. “It’s very crew based instead of leader based.” Many students are in multiple of these crews, like junior Rachel Elliott. She is the president of High Adventure Crew, the Assistant to the VP of Program for PCSC, a youth member of the councils board, and the head of the Venturing Awards for all Venturing programs, Elliott said. The Venturing Awards are similar to Boy Scout awards, but it culminates in the Summit award, instead of the Eagle Scout Award, Elliott said. “Summit is the top award and essentially you have to go through a series of requirements which is focused on a certain amount
of service, a certain amount of leadership trainings of a certain kind,” Elliott said. “There’s also a Summit project.” Anyone in the Venturing program is eligible to get a Summit Award. A venturer is able to combine all of their experiences throughout their Venturing career and complete a project, then apply for their Summit Award, Elliott said. “Summit is a way of tracking your own personal growth,” Elliott said. “You have to set your own personal goals and meet them. It focuses on three areas which are basically, growth and helping of yourself, growth and helping of others, and growth and helping of your faith, which in Boy Scouts probably means religion and Christianity but for me, I am trying to take that in a different direction.” Guzdar said she is trying to implement the award program for PCSC, including the lower awards, the Venturing Award, the Pathfinder Award, and the Discovery Award. “Boy Scouts is very formal, with uniforms and badges,” Guzdar said. “Most people aren’t doing Venturing for awards or service hours, they are doing it because they love it.”
V enturing Crews
Film Crew
Andrew Hansen, Anna Campbell
Photography Crew
Rose Eisenbach, Lian Call
Piedmont Community Service Crew Maya Guzdar
High Adventure Crew Rachel Elliott
Piedmont Food and Cooking Crew Josh Rogers
Information courtesy of Rachel Elliott
College and Career Center opens its doors for junior meetings NATHAN CHIN staff writer
Sophomores Paul Pappas and Luke Barrett guess how their twin sisters, Julia Pappas and Lucy Barrett, would answer certain questions. Julia’s Answers
Paul’s Guesses
Questions
Luke’s Guesses
Lucy’s Answers
Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Favorite Book Series
I have no idea
The Art of Racing in the Rain
“My Youth” by Troye Sivan
Anything by Taylor Swift
Favorite Song
Young Dumb & Broke by Khalid
Anything by Khalid
Greece
Greece
Dream Vacation
Italy
Somewhere in Europe
New Year’s
Christmas
Favorite Holiday
Christmas
Christmas
Endless Love
The Fault in Our Stars
Favorite Movie
The Incredibles
The Incredibles
Eggs
Pancakes
Favorite Breakfast Food
Avocado toast
Avocado toast
2/6
Luke and Lucy Barrett win!
5/6
Photos and information compiled by Roni Schaker
The maroon clusters of trees beam in the dim, sunlit morning. Tall buildings lined with red bricks tower over the vegetative lawn, encompassed by fall foliage that ventures far out into the countryside. “There’s that one poster of Vassar’s beautiful campus that I always look at,” senior Lena Fleischer said. “It’s something that only seniors would know about.” Following the long months of college applications, the College and Career Center now allows juniors to seek guidance within its walls overlaid with posters from various institutions. Fleischer said she definitely encourages juniors to visit the College and Career Center now before they start senior year. “I think it’s helpful to have a guidance especially early on during the junior year,” Fleischer said. “It can be really stressrelieving if people take advantage of the opportunity during junior year to have a lower stress senior year.” By meeting the Director of the College and Career Center Kristen Hansen at the center, students will come up with effective timelines to help them spread standardized tests, essays, and supplements over a
Photo by Sara Siqueira
PHS graduates spoke at a College and Career Center meeting that juniors could attend.
reasonable period of time, Hansen said. “The more organized you can be allows for a lot less stress,” Hansen said. “It’s a lot of work to write essays, take tests, and still look at schools. You don’t want to do that all at the same time.” After setting up a timeline, students will begin to start thinking about various essay prompts and hopefully become more insightful, allowing them to better express themselves to colleges in their essays, Hansen said. “[It] was so relieving at the beginning of the year when everyone else was freaking out about their essays,” said Fleischer, who
completed a college essay workshop over the summer. “I already had five structured essays and had very thoughtfully gone through the process.” Hansen said she wants people to feel comfortable coming in despite where they are in the process of looking at colleges. It is important for people who feel overwhelmed and adrift to come in and seek guidance about their academic journey. “Even though [some people] don’t know their major it’s really important that they set a general path of where they want to go and what they want to achieve,”
senior Tiffany Foo said. “Telling [Hansen] that type of stuff really helps your senior year when she makes sure you’re achieving that path and meeting deadlines.” The center offers numerous resources including college representative visits and reference materials, sample standardized tests, tutoring information, and other college planning resources. Junior Robin Disco said he has been to a college visit hosted by the College and Career Center and plans to utilize more of the resources it has to offer. “It was very helpful to learn about a school on the east coast while being at home,” Disco said. “I was really impressed with the knowledge and guidance the College and Career Center had to offer so my parents and I scheduled an appointment with [Hansen] to learn more about the college process.” Hansen said juniors should make appointments with her via Calendly found on the College and Career Center’s website. “I think the only time people ever go to the college and career center is to go in and grab a piece of candy and run out awkwardly, Fleischer said. “[The counselors] are really nice. Go talk to them and get help.”
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JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
Campus
Students help others bundle up for winter through coat drive really good,” Scofield said. MHS teacher Marcela Privat-Gilman is one the advisors who helped Scofield start the coat drive. The cold, crisp winter breeze blows throughout the Bay Privat-Gilman said Sydney Scofield came to her and Area. To most, it is a cheerful sign that winter is here. But said she had volunteered at the Covenant House, and for others, it is a reminder of the necessary clothing items thought that she could do something at MHS, and wanted that they cannot afford this holiday season. Sophomore their support. Sydney Scofield has just what these people need, a coat Privat-Gilman said Scofield is setting an example for drive. how an individual student can create opportunities for The coats collected during Scofield’s drive at PHS from community service at the high school. Nov. 27 to Jan. 19 will be donated to the Covenant House, “So far there are two garbage bags full of coats, which a place for young adults to seek shelter and guidance, in I would say is a success,” Privat-Gilman said. Jack London Square in Oakland. Privat-Gilman said that to make students more aware, “I decided to start the coat drive because I volunteered instead of announcing the coat drive over announcements, with my mom over Thanksgiving break at the Covenant representatives from the Covenant House could go into House,” Scofield said. “They told me that I was too young classrooms to make a bigger impact. to start volunteering by myself at the house, but that I “I definitely think Scofield is a role model, she could help by organizing provided everything, she made a coat drive.” posters, she brought the bins, she Scofield said she collects the bags, all she was asking is looking forward to for support was to hang the posters,” “I have definitely felt support helping the young adults Privat-Gilman said. for the drive because the in need and is happy to Because the kids at the shelter first day all of the bins in the see the support from the are very close to high school age, school. Scofield said students in the PHS hallway were full, which felt “The Covent House community can relate to them and really good.” has residential space for want to help this issue. Sydney Scofield between 20 to 50 people “I am hoping to make people sophomore and also has a space for aware of this issue by having this homeless people who fundraiser bring awareness to this need supplies to care for issue and letting people know about themselves,” Scofield the Covenant House and what they said. do,” Scofield said. To organize the drive, Scofield said she first got her Sophomore Kate Goldberg has also felt impacted by idea approved by the MHS administration. Then she the drive and donated some of her old coats and blankets. went to PHS ASB to organize the drive at PHS, and had “Donating a coat made me feel really good, because announcements to let people know about the drive and I see the need for blankets and coats for the homeless placed bins to drop off the coats in the hallways. community and I wanted to make a difference in someone’s “I have definitely felt support for the drive because the life,” Goldberg said. first day all of the bins in the hallway were full, which felt Goldberg said having the coat drive at both PHS and
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A CLOSER LOOK
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RILEY FRANCIS staff writer
Navigating the Photo by Riley Francis
Sophomore Sydney Scofield organized the coat drive herself.
MHS is a good start to continue to spread awareness about the change that high schoolers can make. “I knew there was a large homeless population in Oakland but before the drive I was not aware of how many young people are affected by homelessness and need our help,” Goldberg said. Goldberg said the high schools should do more drives like this because many people have old clothes that they could give to someone who really needs them. “It is important that people keep spreading awareness about this issue because as young people we can make an impact on other young adults lives,” Goldberg said.
International students bring new cultural perspectives to campus
Graphic by Gigi Gleghorn
MILES FAWCETT staff writer
Salted butter. Disrespectful teens. Asking someone how they are without really caring. To most U.S. natives, these customs may not seem abnormal or foreign. But to people who have lived in other countries, these cultural staples are just that. Some PHS students lived in other countries for a short time, and others are in exchange programs, seeing what an American school has to offer. Moving to a new country presents cultural challenges for students and tests their ability to adapt to
different situations, junior Carson Breber said. Breber, who lived in Thailand for two years, said that one of the biggest differences between Thai and American culture is the importance of tradition and respect to one’s elders. “In America, teens can get away with being disrespectful and angsty, but it’s much more serious in Thailand,” Breber said. “You can get in a lot of trouble.” Breber said the inability to voice opinions about the government was another culture shock he encountered. “You can’t say anything bad about the king, that’s an arrestable
offense,” Breber said. Schneider said. he liked living in America or Interacting with people was Schneider said that the Switzerland more. West moved different as well, Breber said, biggest challenge when adjusting from New Jersey to Switzerland since people in Thailand are more to American culture is the food with his sister, senior Isa West, indirect. differences. when he was nine-years-old. West Breber said that when his “It sounds so ridiculous, but lived in Switzerland for five years family would call a repairman to I really dislike salted butter,” before coming to California. check on their wifi, they would Schneider said. “It’s gross. Now, West said that the biggest ask him if their wifi was working [the Smegal family] buys unsalted difference between the U.S. and and the man would politely nod, butter for me. I really appreciate Switzerland is how efficient smile, and tell them that it was that.” everything is in Switzerland. not. Schneider said that the “The transportation is “I went to an international cultural differences between amazing, you can take trams, school, so I got to experience Germany and the United States trolleys, trains and buses that go a lot of different cultures as do not end with taste preferences. within one block of anywhere in well as Thai and make friends “I think [the biggest cultural the country,” West said. “They with a lot of kids from different difference] is how people arrive every six or seven minutes. backgrounds,” Breber said. “It approach each other,” Schneider It’s life changing because you was a great community.” said. “Everybody says ‘Hi, how don’t need a car and it saves a lot In Thailand, Breber said that are you’, [but] people might not on carbon emissions. As a middle he missed watching schooler, I could live sports. go anywhere in the “Sports are a city.” “It sounds so ridiculous, but I huge part of my life, West says that and everything I Swiss people are really dislike salted butter. It’s wanted to watch was notorious for being gross. Now, [The Smegal family] on when I was either sticklers for rules, buys unsalted butter for me. I asleep or at school,” but if they can get Breber said. around the rule, really appreciate that.” Marlene Scheider Sophomore they will. junior Marlene Schneider is “They’ll call an exchange student the cops if they see from southeast someone going two Germany. Unlike miles an hour over Breber, she had to the speed limit, but adapt to the quirks in American really be interested in how you when they go to Germany, on the culture, which may go unnoticed actually are.” Autobahn, where there’s no speed to many American students. Schneider says that people limit, they will be going above Schneider attends PHS and is make friends more easily in the ninety miles an hour,” West said. staying with junior Anna Smegal United States than in Germany. West said that he loved and freshman Thomas Smegal. “I like both [countries],” experiencing a new culture with After the school year ends, she Schneider said. “They’re so different people, and being so will return to Germany. different and it’s really difficult close to the Alpine mountains for “I signed up for the exchange to choose which is better in total.” skiing and snowboarding. program in May 2016, and I got Senior Max West also found “I miss the beauty and the the scholarship in January 2017,” it difficult to determine whether public transportation,” West said.
of Mental Wellness Randomly generated names (Sandie, Mona, and Todd) were used in place of students’ actual names in order to maintain anonymity.
A Closer Look Even so, where going to the gym is a badge most people wear with honor, going to therapy is rarely discussed. This phenomenon doesn’t make sense, since mental illness affects approximately one in every five adults, according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health. Having honest and open discussions about mental health reduces the stigmas and empowers others, both Sandie and Mona said. They felt that having good conversations about mental health was enriching and helpful, but they also said that they did not regularly have these conversations “The friend group that I’m in right now doesn’t talk about mental
JANUARY 16, 2018
A Closer Look
breath, can really help,” Miller said. “Students come down [to the Wellness Center] to talk about whatever with somebody who’s non judgemental and neutral.” Much like how exercise is universally beneficial, therapy holds the same value, and for Mona, she said that structure and support are also critical parts of her mental health routine. “For me, I know that I need to take time out of my day to check in with myself and check in with how I’m doing mentally,” said Mona. “I know that I go to therapy every week and I take medication every day.” Miller said that medication is not useful for everybody, but for Mona, taking medication has helped her cope with her bipolar disorder. “Medication is a mood stabilizer,
“The idea of ‘Piedmont Stress’ hangs over a large number of students, feeling that they need to get the highest possible grade on every assignment and test.”
Todd junior
how to cope
how to survive
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t age four, students learn to brush their teeth. At age seven, they learn the importance of exercise. By high school, endless supplies of information on staying physically healthy hang within the reach of a quick Google search. However, society often pushes mental health to the sidelines, forgetting health comes in two parts: physical and emotional. Two juniors, Sandie and Mona, said maintaining good psychological well-being was a top priority. “Mental health is just as important as physical health,” Sandie said, having experienced both anxiety and depression.
health a lot, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” Mona said. In addition, Wellness Center therapist Matt Miller said that maintaining boundaries during these conversations creates a safer environment. “You have to be careful not to take on too much or put too much onto somebody else because that weighs them down,” Miller said. “For those bigger issues, that’s where adults come in, who have more experience holding that and dealing with it.” Conversations about mental health are like going for a light jog alone, while therapy is more like taking a pilates class. The therapist is there to guide you, and movements are more deliberate. Using therapy as a tool to cope with mental illness can be powerful, and both Sandie and Mona cited it as a helpful activity. “I used to go to therapy,” Sandie said. “It taught me a lot of useful skills for coping [with anxiety and depression] as well as other things.” All students have the opportunity to engage in talk therapy at the Wellness Center, something that can be beneficial for everyone, not just those with mental illnesses, Miller said. “Maybe it’s not every week, but every once in awhile works too. Just mind dumping, dropping everything out to take a mental deep
The Piedmont Highlander
which j u s t makes me experience mood swings with less i n t e n s i t y, ” Mona said. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t have mood swings, but it means that my depressive mood swings don’t me from leaving the house my manic mood swings don’t lead doing life threatening things.” the other hand, Sandie uses socializaself care as a critical part of her mental routine. destress a lot in different ways like hangmy friends, being with my dogs, drawing, ing, and, of course, exercise,” said Sandie. said exercise can facilitate maintaining good
stop and me to O n tion and health “I try to ing out with or journal Miller mental health. “Cardio exercise is like the natural drug for all of us to boost
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our mental health,” Miller said. However, he also said that just doing anything can be beneficial. “Whether it’s just going outside and walking around, playing a sport, or doing an art-based thing, activities just get your mind off of your mind,” Miller said.
w h e n i t ’s s t r e s s
w h e n i t ’s m o r e
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The Piedmont Highlander
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am so stressed. I have no time for that. I was up all night studying. “Everyone has stress,” said clinical supervisor of the Wellness Center Alisa Crovetti. Some students stress about grades or a big game or their outfit, but everyone gets stressed about one thing or another. How to handle that stress is the difference between it becoming a larger health concern. “Stress is a pretty normal experience for people to have,” Crovetti said. “Only when that stress escalates to a certain level do we start thinking about a real mental health problem.” There are many differences between when one is experiencing stress and when one experiences a mental health issue, Crovetti said. Teens report that their stress level during the school year far exceeds what is believed to be healthy, 5.8 compared to 3.9 on a 10 point scale, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. This stress leads many teens to feel overwhelmed, depressed, and tired. “Stress, just on its own, at a mild to moderate level, can be pretty normal” Crovetti said. “As long as people have ways to cope with it and that its not constant, stress is not a bad thing.” “It is only a mental health issue when it’s significantly interfering with someone’s ability to function in life,” Crovetti said. “Some signs that the stress is becoming too much are having trouble falling or staying asleep, eating too much or not enough, difficulty concentrating, and feeling that they can never relax.” “Once a student begins seeing these signs occur in themselves, then they should seek help,” Crovetti said. While it’s easy to write in a text or tell a friend in the hallway about one’s stress, Person said that many students do not know how to talk about the stress they experience. “I know for me, and for some of my friends who also have stress, we do not like to talk about it,” junior Todd said. “Students just don’t feel comfortable talking about it.” Transition- Wellness center and school counselors are available for students. For the students who do talk to the advisors at the Wellness Center about their stress, the causes of the stress are all very similar, Crovetti said. “More than half of the students who come to the Wellness Center are having an issue with school related stress or anxiety,” Crovetti said. However, many students think about stress as their own personal problem, and feel they need to handle it on their own, Todd said. “I know the counselors are supposed to be there and the Wellness Center is supposed to be there to talk about it but I don’t feel like they’re usable resources,” Todd said. The idea of “Piedmont Stress” hangs over a large number of students, feeling that they need to get the highest possible grade on every assignment and test, Todd said. “I feel that there is a difference between being motivated to get good grades and the fear of getting a bad one,” Todd said.
R E P O RT I N G
Casey Lane Owen Levinson Marta Symkowick
GRAPHICS Gigi Gleghorn
EDITING AND DESIGN Samantha Fanger Katherine Irving
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perspective
stigma
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JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
ne out of four people currently have a mental illness. For most, the humiliation and forced separation from society trumps the symptoms of the mental illness itself, according to Psychology Today. In a survey conducted by Time to Change, 26 percent of the young people questioned who had a mental illness felt that they wanted to give up on life because the stigma around their diagnosis is so appalling. The definition of stigma is the shame and discrimination based around a certain trait. Stigma plays a large part in mental illness, psychiatrist Charles Saldanha said. “If a leg is broken one can see it using an x-ray,” Saldanha said, “If someone has a tumor, one can see it using an MRI, but there is no clear way to see a mental illness.” Therefore, the only way to know if someone has a mental health issue is if the person chooses to tell you directly, according to teenmentalhealth.org. Everyone responds to mental illnesses differently, Saldanha said. This can make it exceptionally hard for other people to understand what a person with a mental illness is going through and what they can do to help, according to helpmentalteenhealth.org. This misunderstanding often leads to people feeling uncomfortable and then treating those with mental illness unfairly. Another cause for the stigma around mental illnesses is social media, according to teenmentalhealth.org. Mental illness is frightening, and people often assume that those who are mentally ill are violent and crazy, Saldanha said. “In the media, many say the solution to the gun debate is to just stop giving guns to the crazy people, but in reality the number of mentally ill people that have conducted shootings recently is incredibly low,” Saldanha said. The most common belief of over 1700 adults in the UK about people with mental illnesses is that people with mental disorders were threatening, according to Psychology Today. One of the most important forms of stigma to be addressed is the current widespread belief that mental illness is not real, said Saldanha. “Many of my patients have a hard time themselves believing that they have a mental illness,”
Saldanha said. Most people think of mental health as a hyperbolized image that doesn’t reflect what the majority of people that experience these disorders, junior Sandie said. “Often my patients miss out on opportunities because of the stigma around their diagnosis,” Saldanha said. For example, it is much harder for people with a mental illness to find a job, Saldanha said. “Even though employers may not be conscious of how their bias is affecting their decision, this is still a reality,” Saldanha said. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, there is an 80 percent unemployment rate for people who have a mental illness. “Most people try to distance themselves from mental illness,” Saldanha said. “They think that mental illness is not their problem because it will never happen to them. But in reality, 20 percent of people will experience mental illness at one point in their life.” Therapy dog handler Debbie Reid and her rottweiler, Ruby, are registered with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs or ATD, Reid said. They have worked in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. “Most people don’t want to be around people with mental illness,” Reid said. “They don’t know how to react. They shy away from it. But Ruby doesn’t care, she loves everybody.” Part of what makes Ruby so appealing to people, especially those with mental illnesses is that she comes without the burden of judgment, Reid said. “[Mental illness] is not something you can experience with other people,” Sandie said. “There is no way that it can be a group experience and as soon as people try to think of it in that way, you’ve crossed into romanticization.” The solution is that mental health should be an experience that is very private and personal, Sandie said. “Most of the time, and I understand that some people want to keep their personal information private, but just showing support and acceptance can tremendously help the recovery of someone who has a mental illness,” Saldanha said. Education and experience are the key to stopping this stigma around mental illnesses, Reid said.
“Most people try to distance themselves from mental illness. They think mental illness is not their problem because it will never happen to them.” Charles Saldanha mental illness psychiatrist
A Closer Look
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JANUARY 16, 2018
OPINIONS
Speeding ahead, but also falling behind RONI SCHACKER staff writer
I look down at problem 45, head shaking in disappointment. My eyes follow up and down the ladder of answers in panic. There are only four. A, B, C, and D. When was the Declaration of Independence signed? Why can’t I remember the date? I remember studying this. I remember going over it time and time again. Reciting the date to myself as I paced around my room. 30 seconds have gone by. Now 45, now 60. My mind is flooding with doubts as time sprints by me. This is ridiculous. If I looked this up on my chromebook I would’ve had the answer in 8 seconds. Why has this become my main focus? The evolution of technology is stuck on fast-forward, but testing has failed to keep up with its phenomenal pace. Instead of spending what feels like an hour on one problem, I should be using this date that I
can’t remember as general information on a problem that to our advantage in our world of learning. Therefore, doesn’t strain my mind for something the internet could the types of exams given to us should not be completely easily give me, and allows me to analyze events and altered to fit our new life of technology, but should be connect them to bigger ideas. I should be finding interpretations and reasoning that only the human brain can think “The types of exams given to us up. The potential of my brain should not be completely altered to fit our is set aside when I take tests new life of technology, but should be shiftthat avoid critical thinking altogether and stick us with ed enough to balance the advantages technever ending ABCD options. nology brings to the table.” We, as humans, are prone to making technology a substitution for real thinking. There are certain things that the internet cannot give us like our ability to have shifted enough to balance the advantages technology a sophisticated brings to the table. conversation with We should never live our lives constantly depending someone using on technology to give us quick answers that our languish sophisticated selves don’t want to find. We should live in a world vocabulary, or to where our extraordinary technology supports our growth logically scrutinize as humans, allowing us to turn away from the unsuccessinformation that ful attempts to memorize like machines, and leads us on leads to a further a path of actions only a human brain can accomplish. understanding of a Think, criticize, reflect. We are capable of so much more topic. I never want than a detailed multiple choice exam measures, and we to be in a world should be given the opportunity to demonstrate just how where someone is amazing our minds can really be when we stop ignoring forced to turn to the omniscient resource that has fallen into our laps. Oh, their phone to solve a simple math equation. But we have and by the way, the answer was B, August 2nd 1776, I been given this amazing gift of technology, and I know just looked it up. that there are so many intelligent ways we could use it
“The evolution of technology is stuck on fast-forward, but testing has failed to keep up with its phenomenal pace.”
It’s not all about the fruit SAMANTHA FANGER acl editor
My stomach rumbles as I sit at my desk. The craving hits me. In just a few more minutes, it will be brunch, and I can speedily make my way down to food service before all the best fruit selection is taken by other students. I watch the clock as I plan out the fastest route to food service and try to guess which fruits they will offer today. I imagine the wide crystal bowls, often filled with glinting red and green apples or oranges with leaf stems still attached.
“It’s about being aware of what we are receiving” Piedmont has been providing students with free fruit for six years but now the fruit is no longer as accessible as it once was. During lunch and brunch, students must wait in line, an endless sea of hungry teens, if they want access to the fruit that is now tucked away behind the counter. Latecomers, who have to leave for class before they can reach the front of the line, can no longer grab an apple or orange to sustain them for the coming hours of learning. Though the fruit is available during passing periods, for some students, there is simply not enough time to stop by food service without being late for their next class. Perhaps what we are not noticing is that this fruit bowl withdrawal is a consequence of our own actions. The concern was that students were grabbing fruit and sliding into the front of the lines. It is easy to mock it, or shrug it off as the school being too uptight, but the reality still remains—actions have consequences. Regardless of whether or not those consequences are justified, this
seemingly insignificant fruit situation could indicate an underlying issue. It is easy to forget privilege, especially when no one stops to think about it. Initially, I did not view the free fruit as a privilege and complained about food service moving the bowls. I had not stopped to think about the reason behind what I saw as a nonsensical inconvenience. I was reminded that the free fruit was first provided to students because the school’s desire to make sure students had quality brainfood throughout the day, and was free for students, but not free for the school. And yet, in the past, if the bowls were left unsupervised, there were issues with students abusing the easy access and using the fruit as toys or excessively leaving them around campus. It wasn’t uncommon to see several bananas strewn and abandoned on empty benches, or an orange that someone tried to throw away but missed, leaving it to roll away into a dark corner. Food service felt that, due to the recent issues with line cuttings in conjunction with past student behaviors, the only solution they were left with was to make students have to wait in line if they want free fruit. Maybe that is a drastic measure because those were issues are not current, but maybe it is also time to remind ourselves that we need to pay attention to the free commodities we are provided with, however small or large. It is not all about fruit. It’s about being aware of what we are receiving for free everyday, and at the very least, recognizing it. With that recognition also comes knowing that if we are given something good and we decide to abuse it, then we can’t complain when those privileges are taking away. It is time to make an attitude shift and stop complaining about commodities that we should recognize and be grateful for. Maybe if we accomplish this, the school and food service will eventually realize that we are mature enough to handle the privilege of accessible fruit bowls.
Contact Samantha at sfanger@tphnews.com
Contact Roni at rschacker@tphnews.com
Keep us informed Our publications office sits right across from the bathrooms on the same floor of the library, which is very convenient. But for months, the door to the bathroom has been locked. At the end of November, the administration discovered that students were vaping in the bathrooms near the library and closed them down shortly after. The uninformed students were greeted by a bathroom that is currently still locked, and the only explanation given is a sign reading “Do Not Use.” Six weeks ago, the administration also completed a lead test for the school’s water, and the results were expected two weeks after testing, Director of Facilities Pete Palmer said. However, the results were just released last Thursday indicating that one faucet and drinking fountain will be removed due to low, but present lead levels. As students, we believe that our student body and faculty have the right to know about changes to school policy or practice that are consequential to us. Right now, we spend the majority of our hours at school, using the bathrooms and drinking from the water fountains, so we deserve to know about the events in our surroundings. The administration should inform us, even if it is a brief memo, about what is going on at our school. We deserve updates about which bathrooms are open, the results of the lead tests, and whether or not water fountains are safe to drink from. We understand that this might be private information, in which case a brief update of the process the administration is going through to solve these two potential problems would suffice. Being informed as a community can keep us connected and prevent other potential problems from arising. We are a small school, which means that ensuring everyone is well-informed about current events at the school should not be a difficult task. An update through email, even if only limited information can be provided, will help students, staff, parents, and other community members to feel involved with the happenings of school. This way, we will not have to keep checking if the bathrooms across from 30A are still locked, or be cautious about which water fountains to drink from.
-TPH Editorial board Contact the editors: editors@tphnews.com
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The Piedmont Highlander
Opinions
Three is actually not the magic number
So thank you neurons, for essentially, in some twisted marks the peak in conformity for students. If a boy had to way, giving us a superpower. choose between a book with a girl in a willowing dress on NINA Inundated with books featuring male leading characthe cover, and a pirate weilding a sword on another, with TAFAPOLSKY ters at school such as Lord of the Flies, All Quiet on the the entire class watching, which one would he choose? staff writer Western Front, and The Pearl, the curriculum inadvertentThe fact of the matter is this: boys and girls will not ly condones empathization with men. necessarily read books with female characters if they are Looking back, Piedmont has had some discrepancies not required to, and once they get to high school, they (and that is putting it have been indoctrinicely) in ability to show nated into seeing evThree books. empathy. My question ery book by a female To Kill A Mockingbird. Roll of Thunder Hear My “It is paramount that stuis: how did we get here? author with a female Cry. The House on Mango Street. dents see the representation of According to Chimanarrative as being Female voices narrate these poignant stories, and manda Adichie’s speech, ‘less than’ or ‘not teach valuable lessons about inherent and relevant probboth the female and male story in “The Danger of a Single actually literature.’ lems in the world such as identity, racism, and sexual the required curriculum.” Story,” when only one This exacerbates the assault, just to name a few. voice is represented, divide between men Books are artfully crafted, moving readers to the a myriad of problems and women, and point of tears. All three of those books are female-written arise. It is paramount that students see the representation explains why the books should be required reading. and narrated novels that I was required to read from sixth of both the female and male story in the required curricuWhen I first told my father about the subject for my grade through sophomore year. But, no one in any of my lum in order to decrease the amount of misunderstandings opinion piece, he said that I should consider the fact that classes was required to read other female-driven literathat lead to conflicts. Look, I am not saying that reading there simply are not the same amount of literary novels ture over the course of six years. a book will stop all dissension towards one another, but I written by women, with female protagonists out there. In this case, three is not the magic number. will say this: I know, however, that a vast number of women have Starting in middle school, more female authors I do not see how anyone could read Night, and make won the Newbery medal, considered one of the highest should be implemented into English curriculum. ‘Rejoke about the Holocaust. achievements in writing. I know that Adichie, the author quired,’ meaning I do not see how anyone who talked about the ‘single story,’ writes incredible that everyone in who has read A Lesson novels that illustrate women and her culture. I know the grade must Before Dying could make a that authors such as Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, read them. “If a boy had to choose between racist remark about African Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, Kate Chopin, Amy Tan, Why stress a book with a girl in a willowing dress on Americans. And I cannot and Sue Monk Kidd, just to name a few, write exquisite the requirement the cover, and a pirate weilding a sword see how anyone could read novels that would be wonderful to analyze in class. of novels written Thirteen Reasons Why and On our journey to maximize the amount of empathy on another, with the entire class watchby women? Why think it is fine to rank girls here at PHS, let us start by adding these stories to our does it matter so ing, which one would he choose?” by attractiveness. curriculum earlier than junior year. much? Administrators and othAnd boys, please read girl books, and do not limit What if I told er students might argue that yourself to just literary novels for school. Read about you that we can for various book reports and independent reading assigna girl whose combat skills dwarf even that of the most read minds? Well, in a sense, that is true, but more solike ments, many female-written novels were available. While muscular male in the kingdom. Read about a girl who can we can read feelings. According to Psychology Today, many books by female authors have been optional reading see the beauty in the world. Read about a girl who has situated behind our eyebrows, mirror neurons give us an choices throughout the course of our middle school and aspirations, who has dreams. Read about her because she ability that undeniably makes us human: the ability to high school careers, the operative word is optional. Midis a story, stories are life, and life has no gender. feel empathy. Therefore, by reading various situations in dle school, according to Psychology teacher Alison Cota, novels, we feel these emotions as if they were our own.
Shhh! Don’t say Christmas! ELLA LEE
staff writer
All I want for winter is you. One foggy winter’s night. In the air, there’s a feeling of winter. When the Piedmont Troubadours performed their Holiday-o-Grams this year, there was something noticeably off: the words. Administration told the Troubs to refrain from singing the word Christmas, so instead they sang ‘winter.’ ‘Christmas list’ became ‘wishlist,’ ‘Christmas day’ became ‘New Year’s day,’ and ‘Christmas Eve’ became ‘winter’s night.’ These lyric changes were implemented to keep the songs from being associated with religion, something especially important at a public school. The motivation to do so is understandable, since the anti-semitic events that took place last spring have created tension regarding religion at Piedmont. However, this may not have been the best way to try to make progress towards a more accepting and inclusive school environment. We have become hypersensitive to offending those around us. This is better than blatantly insulting everyone who crosses your path, but it limits us and keeps us from speaking freely at times. As a society and as a generation, we overreact to the littlest things, like the word ‘Christmas’ in a holiday carol. The Troubadours continued to sing the words ‘Santa,’ ‘mistletoe,’ and ‘Rudolph,’ all things known to be a part of Christmas tradition; they sang everything but the word Christmas. The Troubadours are a diverse bunch, with a mixed range of religious practices, and all agreed that the use of ‘Christmas’ was not offensive. So, what effect does taking out the word “Christmas” really have? In an age of constant advertising, marketing, and consumerism, Christmas-related products are everywhere. The stores put Christmas decorations on shelves in November, and many Americans begin to get out their Christmas trees soon after. The holiday has evolved to become a somewhat secular holiday, in that everyone, even those of other religions, can enjoy the music
and festivities that come around every December whether or not they celebrate its religious significance. Making changes to create a school that is inclusive of all religions is difficult. If we wanted to treat every religion as truly equal, we would have to change our breaks, which are Christianity-centric, to accommodate all religious holidays. Spring break often falls around Easter time, and winter break includes Christmas but rarely Hanukkah. In fact, it was finals week during Hanukkah. Imagine having a fifty-question multiple choice test and an in-class essay on Christmas. Many Jewish students, and even teachers and staff, are also forced to miss school for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that falls in September. They are then forced to make up the school work they missed, which is like having to make up work for missing school on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, something unthinkable to most students. In A cappella, they sing songs of all cultures, in several languages. There might be a song in Hebrew, followed by a latin text about Jesus, followed by a gospel anthem, along countless others to create a full and cultured variety that everyone can appreciate. Mr. Piazza educates his students on the musical text, but the essence of the song and the music itself is what makes an impact on the audience more than the religious significance. It spreads the message, inspirational or tragic or beautiful, more than it spreads the specific religion. Of course, this specific incident of word-changing could have been caused by a student complaint, and these wishes should be respected. There is a valid argument that staying secular is safest, as it lessens possibility of someone taking offense, but then we lose the possibility of appreciating different cultures. However, music is not the right medium to restrict religious connotations, since a wide majority of music stems from faith. There has to be a way to express ourselves creatively in a way that is respectful and inclusive of all. Especially as students, it is important that we are exposed to as many cultures and walks of life as possible. Inclusion of minority is a better solution than exclusion of majority. Contact Ella at elee@tphnews.com
Contact Nina at ntafapolsky@tphnews.com
The
Piedmont
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Royden Connors Sara Siqueira NEWS EDITOR Mira Tellegen CAMPUS EDITOR Margo Rosenbaum A CLOSER LOOK EDITORS Samantha Fanger Katherine Irving OPINIONS EDITOR Shay Hempeck SPORTS EDITOR Patrick Aebi ARTS EDITOR Gigi Gleghorn WEB EDITORS Azul Kothari Jeremy Wong PHOTO EDITOR Ty Ozsoy MANAGING EDITOR Yasi Parsa STAFF WRITERS Maggie Black Nathan Chin Miles Fawcett Susan Kuroda Clarissa Lam Casey Lane Ella Lee Owen Levinson Max Monical Roni Schacker William Suppiger Marta Symkowick Nina Tafapolsky
Highlander 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 Clanolog. 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 Piedmont High School 800 Magnolia Avenue, 800 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, California 94611 Piedmont, California 94611 Phone: (510) 594-2883 Phone: (510) 594-2883 Fax: (510) 540-0425 Fax: (510) 540-0425
JANUARY 16, 2018
SPORTS
13
Basketball scores more fans with new Purple Pit were really vocal and enthusiastic. He said that the players definitely appreciate the support. “I’ve been to other schools that have a sixth man club that really creates support and excitement for teams,” Assistant Principal Irma Muñoz said. Spencer said that the home crowd can make a difference in how the team plays and have a big impact on the score and outcome of the game. “It all just builds off of each other,” Spencer said. “Our players feed off that sort of energy, and it’s exciting for the fans to see how well they’re playing. And then the players are playing better and with more energy and excitement because the fans are into it now.” Even with the excitement surrounding the Purple Pit, Welsh said that they are still Photo by Maggie Black looking for more ways to publicize the new Students in the purple pit cheering on the men’s basketball team in against Bishop O’Dowd on Jan 10. section. “The idea behind the Purple Pit is to MAGGIE BLACK Welsh said that Gardere and Spencer create a student community,” Welsh said. section,” said men’s varsity assistant head staff writer approached him with the idea prior to the “We have a t-shirt that you purchase for basketball coach Ben Spencer. “We just 25 dollars, you get free thought this would be a cool way to get entry for the season for Noise and cheers erupt in the stands. people to come to the games.” all the games, and you get Students jump up and down, screaming The creation of the Purple Pit was a in excitement as the buzzer sounds and group effort consisting of Spencer, men’s free food and drinks at the “The Purple Pit is like our sixth Piedmont scores. All clad in purple shirts, basketball coach Mike Hudson, women’s games.” man section.” basketball head Welsh said that shirts are Ben Spencer coach Bryan available on the Piedmont Men’s Varsity Assistant Head Basketball Coach Gardere, and Store, through the athletics “Personally, I think that this is really Director of office, and also available for going to work, Perhaps it will be a new Athletics Joe purchase at the basketball Piedmont tradition.” season starting because they really wanted games. Welsh. “About two more students to come cheer on both the “We’re just starting to get students to Irma Muñoz years ago, Gardere men’s and women’s Junior Varsity and wear the shirt,” Welsh said. “We don’t have Assistant Principal and I were at a Varsity basketball teams. the bleachers full yet, probably around “When I played high school basketball, two-thirds full. We’d like to get everyone double-header and talking to each our gym was packed,” Spencer said. “In to be wearing it.” the students fuel the basketball team other, and we noticed that we don’t have the student section, you couldn’t even sit Welsh said that it’s a fun environment with energy as the game continues. They any fans at our games,” Spencer said. “We down it was so packed.” whether or not you like basketball. Welsh said that the men’s basketball scream, shout, yell and cheer in the newest finally came up with this idea a couple “Personally, I think that this is really overtime win against Kennedy High going to work,” Muñoz said. “Perhaps it years ago, it’s just taken us a few years to student fan section, the Purple Pit. School was well-attended and that students will be a new Piedmont tradition.” “The Purple Pit is like our sixth man implement it.”
Men’s and Women’s soccer kick off their seasons MAX MONICAL staff writer
The fluorescent lights blare over Witter field. The crowd is silent. Tension throughout the stands right before the free kick. It’s a pass to sophomore co-captain Rafael Stankiewicz. Without another stride, he hammers the ball towards the goal. The white and black pentagons of the soccer ball blur together as it rips into the side netting. The men’s varsity team holds a record 3-7. Despite their losing record, sophomore varsity soccer player Hunter Disco said he has high hopes for the team. “I think our team is going to do incredible because, although we have tough competition, we have great attitudes.” Disco said. Stankiewicz said he also thinks the team will do well this season. Photo Courtesy of Ellie Coleman “Even though we have a losing record right now, I The women’s soccer team assembles for a picture on the track minutes after beating Miramonte 6-0 on Dec 19. know we will do well going forward in the season.” said Stankiewicz. There are many important factors to having a good women’s team has started off with a 7-2 record. them every day.” Ellis said. “We practice four out of five soccer team, and the men’s team has all of them, Disco Junior captain Gracie Ellis said she thinks that the team days of the school week and even on our off day we spend said. can keep up this time together as friends.” “I think a good team plays winning record. Ellis said that being on the women’s soccer team is well together,” Disco said. “We are going like being adopted into a new family, and that this kind of “We are going to be successful “They’re good friends on and to be successful dynamic has made them more passionate and dedicated to off the field and they have really because we play the team. because we play every game for good communication, and a good every game for Ellis said that the game against Northgate on Dec. 14 each other.” work ethic.” each other.” Ellis was the most exciting part of the season so far. Gracie Ellis Disco said that his favorite said. “We have all “We all got to the locker room early and played junior part of the season so far has been come together at Boyfriend by JB insanely loud, danced together and got the fun he has had with the team. a stressful point excited to play.” Ellis said. “We knew it was a big game “Winning our first game in the year to do and we were texting in our group chat throughout the day, together was great, but everyone plays well together and something we all love and have in common.” so the anticipation was intense.” we have good chemistry, and it just makes it a lot fun.” Ellis said the most important parts of a team are Although the team ended up losing this close game, Disco said. dedication, bond, and passion. Ellis said she was very proud of how far the team had While the men’s team tries to improve their record, the “I believe our team has all three and is improving on come in such a short time.
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JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
Sports
Women’s Basketball finds success at the beginning of season
Photo Courtesy of Roberto Castro
Junior Megan Tang takes a three point shot against McClymonds High School at the Paris Twins Classic Tournament in the Binks gym on Dec 7.
SUSAN KURODA staff writer
winter sports
Last season, the women’s basketball team members struggled with their mindset and perseverance through all four quarters of their games. This season, the team is working together and coming back with victories. The women’s basketball season started Nov. 6 and the team has found redemption with the Paris Twins Classic Tournament Dec. 7 through 9. “We had a hard and long season last year, so this year is especially important for us to redeem ourselves,” junior Ashley Gao said. “We are not the strongest, tallest, or fastest team out there, but we hope to be the hardest working team on the floor
of every game.” Before a game, the Piedmont team members often go around and share a quote with a certain theme or word in mind and explain what their quote means and why they chose it, Gao said. The women’s basketball team
“Our team learned the importance of never underestimating the other team and always playing with the same intensity for all four quarters,” Gao said. Senior Nicole Shoptaugh said that the most significant game
“Our team learned the importance of never underestimating the other team and always playing with the same intensity for all four quarters,”
Ashley Gao junior
has only lost two games this year, their game against San Ramon and one of their tournament games in Santa Barbara.
for her was during the Santa Barbara tournament, when junior Kristen Seyranian had very good accuracy from behind the three
point line. “It was incredible to watch,” Shoptaugh said. “Although we lost the game, the most incredible moment was just watching her find success.” Shoptaugh said that the team went to a tournament in Lompoc Dec. 2 through 3 and won two out of their three games. The team also competed in the Paris Twins Classic Tournament Dec. 7 through 9. “Being part of the first Piedmont team to ever win the tournament is such a great honor,” Shoptaugh said. This is the first year that the varsity team won the Paris Twins Classic Tournament division, while hosting the Tournament. “This year showed us that even though we were down 18 in
SP ORTING EVENTS
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
Most spirited player? Team moto?
the championship game against Oakland High, we were able to not be worried about being down and continue playing even though there was only eight minutes in the fourth quarter,” junior Megan Tang said. Tang said that although she struggled during the Lompoc tournament, she bounced back during the Paris Twins Classic Tournament. She scored sixteen points in the first game and twenty points in the second game, six for seven from the three point line. “Our team is always trying to get better; there are always girls on our team practicing on the side after our scheduled team practice is over,” junior Erin Hong said. “Our coaches are also stellar, and they have helped me improve immensely as a player, taking my skills to the next level.” Before the Paris Twins Classic Tournament, a women’s basketball team from Australia came to Piedmont and shadowed the Piedmont team Dec. 8 around campus. “[My Australian shadow] was really interested in the activities we did, even though my day was a bit on the boring side,” Hong said. “Meeting the Aussies brought our team closer and brought people closer to the sport of basketball, because we had to work together to welcome them and many JV players hosted players at their houses.” The Australian team gave insight into their culture and lifestyle, Shoptaugh said. “Exchanging our different cultures and learning Australian phrases was a nice break to our regular busy and monotonous schedules,” Gao said.
WED. JAN. 17
Men’s Varsity Basketball Vs Encinal @ 7:00 p.m.
FRI. JAN. 19
Rafael Stankiewicz
Ellie Coleman
Emmett Reed
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
Men’s Basketball
Will Kalmbach
Gracie Ellis
Patch Selna
Women’s Varsity Basketball Vs Berkeley @ 6:30 p.m.
MON. JAN. 22
Women’s Varsity Soccer Vs Berean Christian @ 3:30 p.m.
TUES. JAN. 23 No Motto
“Mc Chubbin It”
“Family”
Men’s JV Basketball Vs Alameda @ 5:30 p.m.
WED. JAN. 24 Biggest Rival?
Team Pump-up song? Favorite Team food?
Funniest player?
Bishop O’Dowd
Bishop O’Dowd
Bishop O’Dowd
Men’s Varsity Soccer Vs Hayward @ 7:00 p.m.
FRI. JAN. 26
Women’s JV Basketball Vs Encinal @ 5:00 p.m.
“Almost Famous”
Mac & Cheese
Will Suppiger
“No Hands”
Pasta
Maxine Miller
“Snow”
Tacos
Rohan Srivastava
SAT. JAN. 27
Men’s freshmen Basketball Vs St Joe’s @ 5:00 p.m.
TUES. JAN. 30
Women’s JV Soccer Vs Bishop O’Dowd @ 5:00 p.m.
15 ARTS Lambert creates and races drones with 3D printer
JANUARY 16, 2018
Photo by Azul Kothari
Henry Lambert uses his hand-held remote and his virtual reality goggles to fly one of his drones in Piedmont Park.
SHAY HEMPECK opinions editor Layer after layer and dot after dot are placed as the computer reads the code, slowly, but magically, building drone propellers. For freshman Henry Lambert, this is just another day. “I build drones and race them,” Lambert said. “I attach
GoPros to them, but I also have drones that are for photography.” When Lambert was younger, he bought a small drone that flew fairly slowly. His interest grew when he did research and found a company that makes larger drones, and saved up his money to buy one, he said. Lambert has been doing
3D printing for three years, but just recently started getting into drone building and racing, as his interest with drones grew. Lambert said he has his own 3D printer to print parts, but also has access to 20 other 3D printers. “I’d say [racing drones] is the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted,” Lambert said.
Lambert is a part of the plus,” Burnet said. “It also allows Aerial Sports League, a drone anybody to try out different racing league, where he competes engineering solutions.” in many races and combats with Lambert was a part of the drones he constructs using 3D Piedmont Pioneers, the PMS printing. Most of the people he robotics team, during his time at races against are adults, Lambert the middle school. It was there said. that he met 3D printing mentor, “We race them about the Ollie Krause, a freshman at Licklength of Witter Field,” Lambert Wilmerding High School. said. “It can be anywhere from “He started flying 100 yards to a few miles. Most drones, and I started flying [races] are pretty short.” drones, and now we are close,” Douglas Burnet, Krause said. founder of T h e Aerial Sports two ran a 3D League, said printing camp he noticed that at Redwood Lambert has Day School “I’d say [racing this lots of skill past and passion drones] is the summer, and when it comes are looking hardest thing I’ve to to flying further ever attempted.” drones. e d u c a t e people about “Drones for drones outside Henry Lambert sport are the country freshman typically by running smaller, about a camp in dinner plateRwanda this sized, around summer. ten inches “The across.” people in Burnet said. “Increasingly Rwanda that we may work with popular are palm-sized drones. want us to teach the staff and There’s also an emerging class students about 3D printing, and of large-scale drones, which are plant that seed,” Krause said. a meter across, even bigger, and “So that the staff can continue to being flown at incredibly fast teach the students, and run them speeds.” on their own in the future.” Being skilled at both 3D As for Lambert’s future, printing and drone flying is the the possibilities are endless. ultimate package, Burnet said. “In terms of what he can do “The reality with drone racing with his future, if he can dream is that things break, so being able it, he can build it,” Burnet said. to print a new part on the fly, to “He’s got no limitations, and the replace a broken part, is a great sky’s the limit.”
AP 3D art students use independence to foster creativity ROY CONNORS editor-in-chief
the students’ ideas and projects and make sure they are aware of deadlines.” Like Ozsoy and Aikawa who are taking Four classes, 25 students, one teacher, AP 3D art for the first time, this is the first two kilns, one classroom. During fifth year that Beckner is teaching the class. period, all of these people and objects can “I have never taken AP 3D art and be found in [Beckner] has room 41 as never taught it Ceramics I, before so we are II, III classes both working in addition to together and the AP 3D art figuring it out “AP students have their class share on our way as a own area, we talk about the same group,” Aikawa classroom said. what their concentration and the same Having only will be and I try to support teacher. two students the students’ ideas “I am taking AP 3D running four art does have its and projects and make classes at advantages, as sure they are aware of one time,” students receive deadlines.” ceramics more personal t e a c h e r guidance from Katherine their teacher, Katherine Beckner Beckner Aikawa said. ceramics teacher said. “[Small class O n l y size] is really nice two of the because you get students more of a focus in the with the teacher, classroom, senior Ty Ozsoy and senior and you get more time with her, and you Megan Aikawa, are taking AP 3D art, get more of her opinion,” Aikawa said. which figures for a unique class structure. The AP 3D art curriculum allows “AP students have their own area,” students a lot of freedom on their Beckner said. “We talk about what their concentration, as well as the pieces that are concentration will be and I try to support to be sent to the College Board, called the
Photo by Ty Ozsoy
Megan Aikawa cuts holes in the wings she created, made out of duct tape and wire feathers.
breadth, Aikawa said. “I am lucky because I have two students who are more than capable of working independently,” Beckner said. Ceramics II student senior Conner Weber said that the amount of freshmen in the fifth period class gives AP students
more independence and one-on-one attention with Beckner. “There is a lot more instruction for Ceramics I students, they basically have their hands held the whole time while the AP ceramics students have free reign,” Weber said.
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JANUARY 16, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
Arts
Call, Hung, Garcia leap into Cal dance group MIRA TELLEGEN
news editor At age five, children spend winter afternoons watching animated shows about ballerinas, at age seven they dress in tutus and pink shoes for Halloween, and at age 13 they may still bust a move at social dance, but only a committed few continue to dance in their high school years. For the past semester, junior Gabrielle Garcia, junior Vivian Hung, and senior Lian Call have all danced with a UC Berkeley dance group, Aspiration Family Experience (AFX). Garcia and Hung danced in a smaller group called “Technicality,” and Call danced in a smaller group called “S3,” both of which are under the AFX umbrella. AFX is mostly comprised of college students, but a few high schoolers audition to dance with the group. Call said that dancing with AFX allowed her to surround herself with invested dancers. “Everyone wanted to be there,” Call said. “A lot of people do [dance class] just for PE credit, but for AFX everyone tried out because they wanted to be on a dance team.” Call said that dance has always been in her life, but starting her sophomore year, she decided to commit more time to it. “My family always dances, we’re a big dancing family. Whenever we have a Christmas party, we always play Just Dance together,” Call said. “Sophomore year, I decided I really like doing this.” Call said that the benefits of the group extended beyond just dance. “Because it’s at Cal I made a lot of friends there.” Call said. “They taught me a lot of stuff about life.” Hung said that initially, the age gap between the college dancers and her was intimidating, but she fit in quickly. “It felt like a community I could really fit in with,” Hung said. “I felt really welcome.” Before joining AFX, Garcia was dancing with all younger dancers. She said that dancing at the college level has allowed her to grow. “I’ve b e e n “It felt like a community dancing p r e t t y felt really welcome.” much my entire life,” Garcia said. “If I were to lose it I don’t know what I would do.” One specific skill Garcia said she learned was the isolation style of dance, which she hadn’t focused on in
Photo courtesy of Lian Call
Lian Call, who dances outside of school with a Cal dance group called AFX, dances with a college student who is also in the group.
I
the past. Isolation is when the dancer moves parts of their body individually. “I’m more used to more popping and hitting, isolation’s a lot more precise,” G a r c i a said. “You could really fit in with. I need to have more control of Vivian Hung your body.” junior H u n g said her biggest takeaway from the group was learning to dance with a team rather than as an individual. “You’re not dancing by yourself,” Hung said. “You’re
dancing with your team to create a bigger picture.” Although she may not pursue it as a career, Garcia wants to continue to dance after high school. “I want dance to play a big role in my life,” Garcia said. The group’s auditions for the next season will start Jan. 20. Call said she wants to keep dancing with the group. “I had a really positive experience,” Call said. Garcia said AFX has improved her dancing and she also hopes to continue with the group. “I want to continue on and see how far I can go as a dancer,” Garcia said. PHS dance class member senior Vivian Anable Eme said that she’s proud of Call for pursuing her interest in dance. “It’s really cool that she’s doing this,” Anable Eme said. “Most of us keep dance in the class, but she’s really pushing herself.”
AP ART CORNER
Nathan HarrisonBokor What is your concentration? “The effects of technology on humans viewed through a monstrous lens.”
Compiled by Yasi Parsa
What is this piece about? “It’s about a child inside the womb, who’s feeding off an iPhone. The charging cable is connected to where the umbilical cord is. He’s clearly demonized by this technology, and that’s a social commentary on how children are given technology at too early of an age. It’s showing it through the most extreme way possible.”