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Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
News
Around Campus
Board of Education recognizes student groups
By Jason Wang Staff Writer The South Pasadena District Office resonated with the sound of choral harmony and piano accompaniment on Tuesday, April 22 as cast members from South Pasadena High School’s spring musical Beauty and the Beast opened the Board of Education meeting with a performance of “Something There,” an excerpt from the upcoming show. Board President Elisabeth Eilers then facilitated the recognition of the SPHS Varsity Virtual Business Team Oasis for its unprecedented achievement as national champions in the New York City Business Plan Competition, which was held on April 2. The six-person team faced off against 533 firms across the United States, pitching the feasibility
and profitability of a rooftop garden company to a panel of judges. Superintendent Geoff Yantz also honored each member of the business plan team with a congratulatory trophy. Following designated reports, Yantz noted the achievements of students and staff alike at all three levels of education. At the elementary level, fifth graders from Marengo earned a spot at the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Tennessee, in which they will compete against students from 48 states and 30 countries in the realms of science and art. At the middle school, seven students were honored at the Los Angeles County Science Fair, with two second places and one first place. At the high school level, Western Association of Schools and Colleges affirmed SPHS’s accreditation, a status valid until June 2017.
The board concluded the meeting with a discussion on the bidding results and impact of the South Pasadena Middle School cafeteria and bandroom modernization project, an undertaking that will convert the former library into a music facility and renovate the kitchen and eating spaces of the cafeteria. SPUSD received bids from two contractors for the construction project, with the cheapest offer at $1,257,000. Due to strict time requirements and unfavorable market conditions, the Board discussed the importance of prioritizing only aspects of the construction project that directly affect students as opposed to cosmetic upgrades. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Dr. Scott Price hopes to bring an award of contract agenda item to the next board meeting on May 6.
The spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, will premiere on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Additional performances will be held on May 3 and 4. Tickets can be purchased at the door or during lunch on the Tiger Patio for $10 with a SAC card and $15 non-SAC. /Stanley Wu
Y OSEMITE 2014 G ROUPS Alpenglow - Mr. Don Wielenga Firelight - Mr. Casey Shotwell Moonlight - Ms Audrey Toth Starlight - Mr. Shane Mills Evening Light - Mr. Josh Whitney
Former SPHS student Jeffrey Cortinez honored at funeral service at Holy Family Church By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
Stephanie Kim
Club president Isabella Faith and member Denise Huang sold brownies, cookies, and other baked goods on April 18.
Family and friends of the late Jeffrey Cortinez gathered at Holy Family Catholic Church on April 10 to celebrate his life and mourn his recent passing. During Cortinez’s senior year at South Pasadena High School in 2008, classmate Elijah Stinson attacked him with a baseball bat in Garfield Park, allegedly over a gangrelated conflict. Cortinez had remained in a non-responsive state for the last six years and passed on March 23, 2014. Stinson was convicted of aggravated assault and is currently serving a 12-year prison term. The funeral Mass took place with Holy Family celebrants speaking on behalf of Cortinez and singing traditional hymns.
Cortinez’s younger brother, Daniel, delivered a eulogy that “shed light on who his brother really was,” according to SPHS English teacher Ms Adrianna Wiedermann, who attended the service. A reception at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where Cortinez is now buried, took place after the service. Among the attendees were several SPHS faculty members, including Principal Ms Janet Anderson. “The priest assured those gathered at the service that Jeffrey will now experience no pain, suffering, or sadness,” Anderson said. “After so many years of living this tragedy, I hope the Cortinez family can take comfort from the idea that Jeffrey is now in a better place. As a community, we need to continue to reach out to the family through this
most difficult time.” Wiedermann has been closely involved with the Cortinez family in recent years following the incident, supporting the the family members throughout their sacrifices during the fight to keep Jeffrey alive. Wiedermann taught both Cortinez and Stinson during their time at SPHS and feels as though two young lives were lost in this tragedy. “Violence in any form is intolerable and whenever we can mitigate and react to any form of violence we can stop this kind of result that grew from minor hostilities,” Wiedermann said. “The true hero is Daniel Cortinez, who is full of kindness and ambition to heal his family and himself. His older brother Chris deserves recognition as well for remaining strong throughout this tragedy.”
Baking Tigers raise money for charity By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The South Pasadena Baking Tigers held its seventh bake sale of the year on Friday, April 18. The club raised over $50 to give to hunger related charities. The sale lasted from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in front of the gym and had a wide variety of goods sold anywhere from 50 cents to one dollar apiece. Sales fell short of expectations this time, with the club making around half of the usual sum, according to club president sophomore Isabella Faith. “We usually make $100 [per sale], so this one wasn’t the best we’ve had,” Faith said. Proceeds earned from this year’s sales will most likely go to Heifer International, a non-profit organization that
provides impoverished families with live animals and agricultural training for long-term self-sufficiency. “This year we don’t want to buy food and clothes so much as things like cows and chickens, so people can have a continuous supply [of food],” sophomore baker Denise Huang said. The Baking Tigers have one more sale planned for the year, which they hope will be more successful. The club also recently became involved in the ongoing Project Cookie, a drive to send baked goods to United States servicemen and women abroad. Those interested in contributing cookies can bring them to Room 213 on Friday, May 9. “Baking Tigers is a club where we gather people who have a love for baking together for a good cause,” Huang said.
Raj Jain
A collection of photos celebrating Jeff Cortinez’s life was on display at Holy Family Church during his funeral service on April 10. Family and friends gathered to pay their respects to Cortinez, who succumbed to injuries he sustained in a February 2008 attack at Garfield Park.