Tri-Color Times 2013-10

Granger high school

Tri-Color Times

An open forum for student opinion and expression

TRICOLORTIMES.COM

OCTOBER 2013 LVI-2

Students share their thoughts about Halloween

By Cassidy Hunter HALLOWEEN is right around the corner and the Granger Lancers are getting excited for the one night where ghosts, goblins, and witches can come out of hiding and roam around without a second glance.

“Halloween? I love Halloween,” Ciearra Everill (11) said.

For Everill, Halloween has always been the part of the year that she most looks forward to.

She’s always up for a good scare, and during Halloween season, it is easy to find one.

Shaye Devenish (12) is another Lancer who is especially looking forward to Halloween this year. “It is my all-time favorite holiday,” she said. Dressing up is her favorite part because she can express her ideas and be whatever she wants. She loves the

costumes, the scary things, the ghost stories, and of course trickor-treating.

Trick-or-treating is a very old tradition that has been a part of most children’s lives since the time they could walk. Walking door to door and getting as much free candy as you want in one night sounds like the deal of a lifetime, and some Lancers will never stop.

Angel Ruiz (10) will never be too old for trick-or-treating. Ruiz gets candy every Halloween by either getting some from his little sister, or knocking on doors for it.

“I hate it when people give me taffy… or pretzels. I hate that,” he said.

Although some have the same outlook as Devenish and Ruiz that ‘you are never too old’, others disagree.

“I’m turning 17, so it’s about that time to stop trick-or-treating,” Everill said. Although she believes she is too old to trick-ortreat, she has the opposite opinion about dressing up. “When I’m an old lady, I might dress up like a young one, or a young man. I mean, why not? Young ladies dress up like old ladies.”

Some students, however, are not fond of the highly celebrated holiday. One such student is Skyler Higginson (11).

“I don’t like it, it’s too dark and bloody,” he said. Higginson hasn’t liked Halloween since he was little because it has changed a lot; it wasn’t as scary for him back then. It is true that Halloween changes from smiling pumpkins to frightening jack-o-lanterns the older one gets.

“I don’t like getting scared, I get

really nervous,” he said. He also commented on how the change in the costumes over the years isn’t tasteful because they certainly show a lot more skin now than they ever have.

Another Halloween ‘Scrooge’ is Wahkoowah Bia (12). It’s just not his hoilday.

“I find Halloween boring, you just walk around,” he said. He said that it’s too cold, and that he usually just stays home and games like on any other night.

He agrees with Higginson’s point that it was fun when he was little, but he said that he’s old enough to buy his own candy now.

Whether Lancers choose to celebrate Halloween or not, it is coming and everyone needs to be ready either to trick-or-treat, dress up, have a party, or hide from the trick-or-treaters.

The Halloween Stomp gave Granger students a chance to dress up and dance the night away. A photo station and a haunted house made it even better.

GAAP helps students raise their grades

By April Cabrera

BY NOW, most students in Granger High have seen or even heard about the GAAP program.

However some students have no idea what this program is even about.

Priscilla Romero (10) knows.

“It’s to help kids get caught up in their grades,” she said.

That pretty much sums up everything about this program. She knew what it was however, just as other students did. “The after school thing where you learn,” Megan Evans (9) said.

Teachers and the announcements

say things about this program all the time, but some students didn’t get the message yet. “I’ve never heard of it,” Israel Rameras (9) said.

There are lots of questions about GAAP. Pretty much the main one is, “Do you have to go?” The answer: Not exactly, however if you don’t have a C or above, it’s wise to use the program for some help.

Understand that this helpful program is not just for teachers to help students get grades up, but to also help students to understand difficult assignments. “It would be ashamed if no one goes to

GAAP because it can really help you,” Andrea Segura (10) said.

Some students that are supposed to come to this program to raise their grade don’t come and aren’t getting the help they need to graduate. “They get lazy and forget,” Angel Plancarte (9) said. The problem is that students don’t come to GAAP because they feel like they don’t need to or, they just don’t care.

Sometimes the reason students aren’t coming is because they’re embarrassed about what people would say if they found them in GAAP. Lots of students come to

this program to get help in their classes.

But students from Granger High understand how important this program is. It’s built to help Lancers to pass their classes and make the years to come easier on the path to graduate high school.

Most of the students interviewed said they would come to GAAP to pass class if they needed the help.

This is why GAAP is important to all Lancers, because it stands for Granger All Achieve Program.

Teachers and the staff from Granger High want students to graduate high school.

Tri-Color Times Staff The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression.

The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length and legality.

Editor Kelly Sanmiguel Online Editor Kaitlin Cluff Managing Editor Summer Judd Photo Editor Daryan Bauer Copy Editor Cassidy Hunter Reporters Brenda Aguilar Yamilex Apocada Maria Avila April Cabrera Jesus Cabrera Rosio Chacon Gavin Clark Yuriti De Leon Josh Duran Samantha English Victoria Espinoza Angel Figueroa Fernando Garcia Shannon Garcia Misty Garlick Juan Gomez Tina Huynh Aide Hurtado Halina Johnson Dominique Josphes Samantha Lopez Rigoberto Lopez Yaqueline Lopez Antonio Loredo Briana Martinez Jordyn McCluskey Taylor Molis Adilene Montelongo Brenda Nguy Jennifer Ochoa Yohnathan Rivas Mariana Rivera Melany Rivera Kaysi Rodriguez Garrett Rowe Beth Schramm Arielle Smith Kayla Steinmann Maria Tavares Marisol Torres Aaron Tuchawena Lucia Urcino Cesar Vera Gage Winters Lyndsey Xa Nicholas Yates

Granger High School 3690 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320

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VOL. LVI Issue 2

October 2013, page 2

Dance students take field trip to RWDC

By Brenda Nguy THE DANCE classes of Granger High School took a field trip to the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company on September 26 at the Rose Wagner Center in downtown, along with many other schools.

They celebrated their 50th anniversary performing a production called “The Start of Something Big”.

It featured five beautiful dances along with footage from a film called “Move it” at the end of each dance, the point of that was to show how they modernized it to this day.

They introduced the founders of the company: Shirley Ririe and Joan Woodbury, and the new artistic director, Daniel Charon.

They explained how it all started and why they decided to be directors of a dance company. They are proud that the company has enjoyed so much success, so they hosted this recital exclusively for the 50th anniversary.

The dances were mainly modern and contemporary, a perfect experience for beginning dancers

to see which type of dance style they like best. Daniele Soto (11) had to go to the field trip because she is on Granger’s dance company and was required to go. She enjoyed the concert very much.

“It was so hard to pick which one I liked best, but I really liked the last dance,” Soto said.

Aaron Kim-Kam (12) is one of the many students who loved the performance. He thought it was very interesting and unique because it had a wide range of motion with the whole body. “There were many surprising moments that I loved,” Kim-Kam said. “In general, it was great!”

He really liked the last dance also, because he felt like it most connected with him of the four other dances in the whole production. “This dance showed us how we all get hurt, and others try to help us, but sometimes no matter how much they try to help us, they can’t,” he said.

Monyka Chheng (11) liked the dance with the balloons. She liked how well they incorporated balloons into the dance and how

Video games pause life

By Rigo Lopez Video games are a big part of Lancers’ lives. Whether in favor for or against video games; it is a growing industry with most big releases out-performing Hollywood movies according to the thegurdian.com website.

Some students view video games as a reward.

“You reward yourself after finishing your work or responsibilities, that’s how I do it,” Anthony Flores (12) said.

While this might be the case for some students, “it is not always this way,” Mr. Quist said.

“Last year, I noticed, around a few particular releases like Call Of Duty, students would miss the following day or days of school,” he said.

“At that point it causes a problem of excess, it interrupts not only school, but life in general,” Mr. Quist said.

“Video games, not only have been attributed to bad performance in school, but violent behavior as well,” The International Committee of the Red Cross found according to the kotaku. com website.

The Red Cross asked video game developers to apply some sort of consequences, that mimic what would happen in real life.

Heriberto Fuentes (12) agrees that video games might affect an already aggressive person.

“Video games are rated, and the parent is responsible for which games his or her children play,” Flores said.

However, games can also be stimulating; they are a good way

to relieve stress and provide a reward.

Here at Granger, there are lots of people who enjoy video games. In the Game Club for example, students can play with other people and have a more social experience.

“I think video games when played responsibly and in small doses, can allow for some learning to take place,” Mr. Quist said.

“I play occasionally, it’s very fun, I see myself playing video games for a long time -- even with my children some day,” Khomsan Vongsengkeo (12) said.

Many people view gamers in a certain way, but students say video games are for everyone.

“Games are rated ‘E’ for everyone not ‘C’ for children,” Flores said when asked why, people make fun of those who don’t play Mario, Zelda or Kingdom Hearths instead of the latest Battlefield or Call of Duty title.

In fact, students like Flores and Vongsengkeo will tell you their favorite game series is The Legend of Zelda.

“I believe video games can stimulate your mind in previously unexplored ways,” said Mr. Quist.

From the Atari to the Xbox and PlayStation, video games have given many people great memories and maybe the next generation of parents will spend even more time playing with their kids.

“If you like video games as a student, make sure responsibilities are taken care of before games can be reward for you,” said Mr. Quist.

Just across from Granger there’s a GameStop.

graceful it looked. “It looked like they were floating with the balloons because of how elegant it looked,” Chheng said.

The other dance she liked was the one with the dancers yelling and talking to each other throughout the dance. “It was weird that they were yelling but I thought it was cool at the same time because it didn’t look like the other dances,” she said.

Some of the dance students didn’t quite understand the dances, so they didn’t like the performance very much. Marissa Cann (12) thought it was weird.

Her favorite part of the whole trip was getting to eat at McDonald’s afterwards. “Overall I didn’t like anything about the recital,” Cann said.

The performance was nicely put together. Some students liked it a lot, and some didn’t like it at all.

And for students who missed this field trip: don’t worry. There will be plenty of other trips throughout the school year. In order to attend, enroll in a dance class, of course.

The RWDC celebrated its 50th anniversary with several performances.

Danielle Soto enjoys the show along with her dance friends.

Students and staff share thoughts on tattoos

By Halina Johnson BODY ART is one of the trending fashions these days. Tattoos and piercings have been showing up on people more often.

Many businesses have yet to accept the tattoos and piercings trend. The occupational world would rather see a more professional look; but it just represents a person with a personality.

Tattoos may be permanent, but the outcome of some of the art is quite amazing. Some other tattoos people regret getting.

“I think that you need to be at a point in your life when you will be sure you will want one. I think it is more impulsive than it is expressive,” school nurse Shannon Gavin said.

During school hours, seeing teachers and students having body art on them is quite eye catching.

Although, there are people who have tattoos, and others who prefer not to get them for personal reasons.

“I choose not to get a tattoo because I would rather not have anything permanent on me. I believe that everyone has a right to their own choice though,” Mr. Okeson said.

“My tattoo is a Day of the Dead skull, with roses around it. The words say, so you’re not just a pretty face. It represents my grandfather and his adopted parents’ heritage. The meaning is you don’t just get things for what you look like, but for your hard work instead,” Kyree Gavner (10) said.

“I have my wedding ring tattooed on me because before I became a police officer, I was a pressman. One day, the press ma-

chine caught my hand. If I’d worn a ring that day, my ring finger would have come off my hand. I have scars to this day,” Detective Ricci said.

Employers can be quick to judge when it comes to tattoos.

Sometimes it is even harder to get a job because of the art.

“I have an anchor, with the words, “I will not be weighed down.” It means that I will not be weighed down with the things going on in my life at the moment,” Kaleb Lewis (12) said.

There are also very eye-catching pieces of art, especially with bold colors and intense designs.

“I have a dragon I drew a while back, and had it tattooed on me because I cut my hand open at one point, I cannot draw with my hand anymore,” Marco Cardenaz (12) said.

Football is worth all the hard work Injuries and exhaustion won’t stop the football team from playing the sport they love.

By Victoria Espinoza THE FOOTBALL players are really prepared this season. They even practiced during the summer to warm up for the season. Their determination shows when they come early every morning and stay every day after school.

“I joined football because it’s a fun sport that I enjoy playing.

My worst injury in football was a sprained ankle. I thought that it was tiring and a lot of hard work, but after we win, some of us guys go out to eat to celebrate,” Rhino Tavai (9) said.

Football is one of the hardest sports to play. Athletes get tackled, and some may even get some bad injuries while playing.

“I get nervous before the games, but I play football, because it’s a lot of fun, athough it’s really hot and tiring. An injury I got before that was really bad was a concussion. After the games I am really

tired so I just go home and sleep,” Myrkanian Malepeai (9) said.

Malpeai wasn’t the only one who thought that it is tiring.

A majority of football guys thought that it was either hot or tiring, but it must be worth it to them.

Some of the football players join football to keep things off their minds. It’s a real stress reliever for some of them.

Players also have ‘before’ and ‘after’ rituals on game day.

“We pray before and after the football games, I enjoy football, but one reason why I joined the team is because it’s the only sport that keeps me out of trouble. I’ve played football for a while now and I have never got an injury,” Khyiris Luarai (12) said.

Although some of the football players may or may not get bad injuries, that still doesn’t stop them from doing what they love

to do best.

“I really enjoy football, because it is fun and a contact sport. For all the time that I have played in football, I have never got an injury,” Junior Tiatia (9) said.

The football players work really hard. They practice as much as they possibly can, even if that means practicing before and after school.

“I played since I was 10 years old, although I have played football for a while now I still get really nervous around game time.

But usually after the games I still celebrate and party even though it was just exhausting and really hot,” LJ Solomona (12) said.

And the fans appreciate their effort. Football is a big part of Granger’s school spirit. Lancers are very pumped up whenever they go to the football games.

Some even dress up and paint their faces to show school spirit.

October 2013, page 3

VOL. LVI Issue 2

MESA provides academic opportunities

By Angel G. Figueroa EVERY Wednesday after school, MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) meetings start; it’s a fun and challenging club that improves students’ academic skills and gets them ready to build fun projects.

MESA is an every-year club and it goes on until the end of the school year. Everybody is welcome to join the club until the beginning of November. MESA members get to compete with other schools in different categories to go to nationals.

“It’s just a fun club to be part of,” Tiffany Rodrock (11) said.

“My favorite part of MESA is the people and the interaction with them. We have competitions, make experiments, and plan other fun projects.”

Members do fundraisers to fund their projects and experiments like selling cotton candy at games and selling the leftovers at lunch for a nice price.

“My favorite part about MESA is blowing up stuff and learning or improving your skills,” Jessica Wynd (11) said. “It’s just awesome to me: meeting new people is great and you can get scholarships for being in MESA.” “MESA is very enjoyable I go every Wednesday, to do experiments and to learn more. To join, you just show up; at the end of the

year or so we go on a field trip to Lagoon,” Jimmy Vo (11) said.

Many projects are done in MESA like making and riding hover boards and learning how they work.

That’s just one the projects MESA is working on and they got more projects for this year.

“I been in MESA for 4 years, it’s my favorite club in school. It has everything I need to show all my skills. That’s why MESA is my favorite club,” German Andrade (11) said.

“The main project for MESA is the robotic arm competition, but we also do other stuff like the hover board or play with chemicals. Every time we meet up, we play a math game call Krypto; it’s pretty fun and very competitive,” Andrade said.

“It’s a great club,” he said. “Lots of colleges like seeing that you’ve been in MESA on your college résumés, because they see it as a great cultural club. Plus you can get a scholarship from MESA, but only for seniors.”

“MESA is designed to make students have fun with their subject and make the subject easier for them. That encourages them to try harder classes,” Mr. McCarl said. MESA gives students a chance to take risks.

“We give students the chance to do stuff that they wouldn’t do in

their normal class. We do projects that make students want more of the subject,” he said.

“This year in MESA we are going to do chemistry, blow up stuff, launch different types of rockets, conduct Mentos and Coke experiments, do stuff with lasers, build and race hover crafts and have ‘walking on water’ competitions now that we have this pool.”

“We also make paper drag racers; our record for the highest

By Shannon Garcia ONE OF the problems in high school is sloughing. Some kids don’t like school, so they slough or never come to school.

Some people don’t attend school because they are having a bad day or having a hard time in life and start sloughing, but before they leave, they find friends to take along so they won’t be loners.

“Class is boring and teachers don’t let us do what we want in

class, but I regret sloughing because I don’t want to have bad grades and have to make it up next year,” Angel Ruiz (10) said.

Some people make dumb excuses about sloughing when they get in trouble with the school or their parents. Excuses that teenagers give to their parents include: ‘I got lost,’ ‘I couldn’t find my class,’ ‘[He or she] told me to slough,’ ‘I didn’t want to go to class,’ and ‘People said it would

be fun so I went.’

“I like sloughing because it gets you out of class. I regret it, but people make me do it” Jacob Orellana (10) said.

A lot of people get pressured to slough by their friends. That’s not good, because that’s not how good friends should behave. Students who say, ‘No, I don’t want to slough with you guys,’ might have friends who get mad or say things like: ‘You’re scared,’

By Adilene Montelongo THE NEW Granger High School has restored a program, which is woodworking. Along with the program, Granger also has a new teacher and a new shop that includes 28 new machines.

This new wood shop at Granger is the best equipped in the state.

Mr. Catmull, the woodworking instructor, has about 45 years of experience with wood. He taught for 20 years at Skyline High School and then was a supervisor in the Granite District for 14 years.

Having so many experiences with wood, Mr. Catmull has made many things like a lot of kitchen cabinets and aquariums that went into hospitals.

For his students, Mr. Catmull has projects like a safe, an end table and long board planned for students to work on that he is excited about. “The hardest part would be teaching the kids that don’t care,” he said. “We’ve got a few kids that are pretty good with wood.”

Most students who are taking the new woodworking program

are guys and are mainly excited about making long boards. Most students that were interviewed said they had taken a wood shop class in middle school so they have very little experience with the machines.

“I’m pretty excited to start making the long board,” Misael Mendoza (12) said. “The most difficult part about this class would be taking the safety test, because we have to pass it with 100%. I have some experiences with the

machines, like in middle school I made a construction house but that’s all.”

It sounds like there is a lot of excitement for the projects Mr. Catmull has planned for these students.

Cristian Mora (10) is also excited to work on a long board. “I took a wood shop class in seventh grade so I have some experiences with the wood shop machines,” he said.

Although the majority of the

speed for one of our paper drag racers is 115 mph, but we made it from a much stronger material, because paper would just fall apart,” he said.

“There are many competitions like the prosthetic arm that we have to build for under $40. On Lagoon Day, it’s after all MESA competitions, and you get to ride all the rides in lagoon,” he said.

“We haven’t won but this year for sure,” he said.

In addition to other projects, MESA students build and race hover crafts.

Stop sloughing and get to class

or ‘You’re a loser,’ just because those students don’t want to go.

“Some reasons why I sloughed is because people would be annoying, I would leave school then come back later. I stopped sloughing when I saw I would have to make up my homework just to be caught up with others,” Marco Magana (9) said.

Students that slough should take school seriously and go to class instead.

Woodworking returns to GHS

Woodworking students started by making orange hall passes for Granger.

students in woodworking class are guys, there are still a few girls that are taking that class.

“It’s not weird having class with almost all guys,” Salma Ortega (10) said. Ortega has a little bit of experience with the machines, and she is excited to start working and accomplish any project in wood working class.

During the first weeks of woodworking class, Mr. Catmull, has to teach the students about how to be safe in the shop at all times.

He demonstrates the right way to use the machines and tells the students what can go wrong if they aren’t used properly.

For the students who don’t listen or pay attention carefully, there is an 88-question safety test that has to be passed with 100%.

It’s the best if they pay attention at all times.

Since most of the classes are still working on passing the safety test, not all classes have started working on any projects just yet.

Students and teachers will have to wait and see how creative and talented they can be in Granger’s woodworking class.

Granger students interact with their community through FCCLA

By Samantha Lopez FCCLA helps Granger students be a part of something much more than their school. “It’s a great way to become a part of the community,” Jasmine Walker (10) said.

It has more officers then it has have had ever in Granger. “We have gone to a conference that has made us want to participate and make FCCLA something known in Granger,” Yahaira Guiterrez (12) said.

Granger students understand that being involved of something in school can help them. “It’s fun it gets you out of you’re your box and meeting new people,” Leslie Velasquez (10) said.

Students have fun in the meetings while helping the community. “It’s fun and makes me want to do important things in my community,” KC Williams (12) said.

FCCLA helps in not just in the community, but in what students want to do as a career. STAR events gives students an opportunity to compete with other schools in what they love to do from all over the country.

FCCLA shows students how to become leaders not in just in their community but what ever they may want to do. It’s not just all work and no fun they have a lot of fun in what they do. “Fashion, I love clothes, trends and putting styles together,” Kuei Makol (10) said.

Many of the FCCLA members meet new friends at the social and got to know new people. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and also help people,” Jasmine Walker (10) said.

But many of our members through FCCLA have gotten an idea of what they would want to do as a career. “Child care is something I would like to work in, kids are fun to work with,” Walker said.

FCCLA will get you ready for your future it will teach you how to help other people in your community. It does many service projects in the community. “Lots of fun activities and going to like to a lot of service projects,” Alex Page (12) said. This will help you in what you want as a career if you do not know what you would want to do.

It has not been noticed as much as other clubs because it has not gotten noticed for the things that it does. But the officers are trying hard to draw attention to FCCLA at Granger, and their goal is to have many new students join.

“Instead of being all about school your more about helping the community and representing Granger.” Vasquez said. Continued activities by FCCLA will help Granger get recognized for all the good things that the students do outside of class.

October 2013, page 4

VOL. LVI Issue 2

THE MOST DANGEROUS HAUNTED HOUSE

VOL. LVI Issue 2

October 2013, page 5

E HAPPENED AT THE HALLOWEEN STOMP

October 2013, page 6

VOL. LVI Issue 2

Granger seniors plan for after high school

By Antonio Loredo STUDENTS who graduate from high school set themselves up for success as they move forward and select careers.

“Well I work two jobs; now I plan to use those jobs to go college to join the police force,” Luis Avila (12) said. “I decided on becoming a police officer before summer ended because I like the intensity of it.”

With Avila’s interest in auto mechanics, he has many options.

However he seems dedicated to his decision on a career in law enforcement.

“In five years, I see myself training dogs to do drug busts,” he said. Avila is an average guy just trying to live the American dream, and that’s unusual considering the low economy and government shutdowns, etc. It’s tough especially for high school kids, and Avila is working hard for this.

Most people are set on certain

Seniors plan their careers

By Tina Huynh OTHER than most of the teachers here at Granger High, the seniors have been here the longest, and have been through it all.

The seniors are the first class that’s going to graduate from the new school, and they have many feelings about that.

“I think it’s pretty cool because our class goes down in history.

Everybody’s going to remember the first class that graduated, not the second or third. Even when I’m a hundred, I’ll remember that I was in that first class,” Bryan Quispe (12) said.

It seems like a lot of seniors are pretty excited to be first. A lot of them talk about how historical it is for them, and they should be proud to make history at Granger.

Other seniors just brush it off and think that it’s no big deal. It’s just graduating for them, and it wouldn’t make any difference if it’s at this school or the old one.

Graduation is exciting, and it’s important either way.

“I just feel normal to graduate in the new Granger. I do prefer the new Granger, though. It’s all right and a lot better than the old one,” Brandon Derbyshire (12) said.

One would just expect everyone to think that the new Granger was better. It’s so much bigger and fancier than the old one.

And since the new building has gone up, a lot of people are a lot more proud to say that they go to Granger.

The old building is still preferred by some, and their reasons seem to be the exact same as everyone else’s.

“I like the new Granger because it’s bigger and better, but I don’t like how 9th graders come here, because it’s super packed,” Daisy Olmedo (12) said.

Even the people that say they like the new Granger better still say that it’s crowded. One wouldn’t expect a school as big as this one to get as big and crowded especially with our two floors, but it still has to make room for the new freshmen.

“I think being the first class graduating from the new Granger is a pretty huge responsibility. We have to make Granger look good, show what Granger is, and be examples to the other classes graduating after us,” Michael Manu (12) said.

“I feel pretty cool being first.

We get our pictures first, and I can come back when I’m 60 and see it. I just think it’s crazy. It feels like school’s never even started,” Amy Casillas (12) said.

The seniors are definitely making their mark and showing how to end a year big.

jobs and goals.

Other students want to be videogame designers and/or animators.

“I’m going to work for about a year and earn money for college,” Alyssa Sprague (12) said. If she doesn’t make it as an animator, she plans to go into the videogame design business. “In five years, I see myself graduating and going for an art degree or animation degree,” she said.

In order to become a game designer, it’s best to have a bach-

elor’s degree in computer programming. It’s a great choice because there has been a big increase in computer programming and simulator design. Flight simulators for the military and other technological things promise lots of work because there will be newer things with technology.

But not all people want to become a video game designer or a police officer or a cartoon artist.

“I want to save up money to go to college, I’m also thinking of go-

Granger High selects its first ninth grade class officers ever

By Melany Rivera RUNNING for office takes a lot of work, and all the candidates should be congratulated.

After the votes were counted, the new ninth grade class officers are: Luis Rendon as President, Wendy Yu as Vice President, Tommy Vo as Secretary, and Diana Dinh and Austin Malichanh as the Representatives.

Ninth graders are roaming the halls of Granger High but they’re not there just here to learn.

They’re there to show Lancer pride and lend a hand with all school activities.

Although they are new to the school, they are not afraid to participate and show their skills.

Some of the candidates running for class office have had experience in their old junior highs.

“I’m running for vice president because I did it before at Valley, and it was fun. I like to be able to win because it feels amazing to find out that you’ve won something,” Gage Shamy (9) said.

Running for class office is a huge responsibility for students.

It takes a lot of time and effort to make sure everything turns out

okay.

Class officers have the responsibility to stay after school and help out with activities, and this takes time away from personal lives.

A lot of the candidates running are dedicated to helping their peers and making the school a better place.

“I’m running for president because I think I can be a great candidate, and I can give back to Granger,” Monique Alirdes (9) said.

“I can be a great representative for the freshmen. I can help with a lot of activities. I can give it my all and help everyone out and just do my best. I can get everyone involved in school activities and not single people out. Everyone deserves the same attention, which is why I want to help them,” Alirdes said.

Being an officer takes a lot of confidence and leadership skills.

Officers must also get along with people and be very social.

“I’m running for vice president because I want to be a good example to all ninth grade students.

I think they should vote for me because I’m punctual, organized,

Faculty and students face trouble with parking lot

Crowded Granger faculty parking on driving range.

By Lyndsey Xa FOR MOST Granger Lancers, the parking lot is a nightmare.

There’s just not enough parking for the number of students that drive. And teachers are facing the parking lot dilemma though.

Granger’s faculty, is too.

As you look around the Granger High parking lot, there are parking violations everywhere. Students have even taken to making their own parking spaces, which

squeezes our already small parking even tighter.

“The main reason students are late to class is there’s no parking,” Alma Mancera (12) said.

As students circle the parking lot for spaces, it creates a problem in the classroom, too. Being late constantly leads to lowered grades and citizenship.

“My friends used to have to park in Nam,” Carlos Cano (12) said.

Granger students took to parking

ing into the Air Force,” Marissa Cann (12) said.

Cann has many things that she wants to do, but she hasn’t officially decided on what she wants to do full time. “I also want to go to college to be a dance teacher -maybe teach hip-pop dance. I’m taking a dance class now as well,” she said.

Many seniors have their priorities straight, and they know what they want to do by the time they graduate.

at places like Fresh Market, but that is no longer a choice. Fresh Market is now booting, towing, and ticketing cars when Lancers park there.

The administration has tried their best to make things easier for the students regarding the parking lot. “We have not towed or ticketed students due to our parking situation,” Mr. Oaks said.

Mr. Oaks has had a rather positive outlook on the development of the new Granger High parking lot. “It is being cleared out daily and will be great when it’s finally finished,” he said.

For some teachers, parking hasn’t been a problem in their daily lives. “I have no issues with parking,” Ms. Parrish said.

While other members of Granger faculty are repeatedly coming across problems with the parking lot and taking them to the administration. “I face problems every day with it,” Mr. Haslam said.

“There isn’t enough space for faculty because students are back there,” Mr. Cooper said. “I spend three or four minutes just trying to find parking,” As students are

starting to breach every parking lot trying to find a space, the church parking lot is now open for students across the street.

Mr. Sanata coaches our tennis team and has to move his car before the end of school, since the Drivers Ed now uses the range.

“It’s hard for the coaches and the teachers that stay late,” he said.

The new parking lot no longer just wraps around the school, we now have an actual lot. To accommodate the increase in Granger staff, the parking lot now reaches back to the car dealership. “Unlike the old school, there is no assigned parking,” Ms. House said.

“If I leave, there won’t be a spot when I come back.”

“If I don’t arrive early enough, I have to park in the boonies,” Ms. Dickert said. The new lot now also raises red flags for teacher safety when they stay after school. “The janitors will walk me out to my car if I stay late,” she said.

The new Granger High parking lot is quickly getting built, meanwhile students and teachers need to learn to deal with this temporary situation.

I get good grades, I’m friendly and I’m sometimes funny,” Beatney Ceron (9) said.

Besides giving up time and having to be in school to help with activities, the officers have to help Granger students, too.

Being an officer means having to be a great example for the other students.

“I’m running for vice president because I want to be involved in activities, I also want to lead people and have them look up to me,” Wendy Vu (9) said.

Other students who are running for class office just want to be involved in school things because they think it would be a fun and an interesting experience.

“I’m running for President because it’s something I’m good at and because I think it would be a fun thing to do. I think people should vote for me because I won’t let them down and they won’t regret it.” Diana Dinh (9) said.

Not everyone was chosen to represent Granger High as a class officer, although they all wanted to win. In the end, only five of them were chosen.

Meet a new student from Egypt

By Kate Lopez STUDENTS come to Granger from around the world. “Our students are accepting, and they welcome new people,” former ESL teacher Ms. Taylor said.

Saqr Alazerg (12) came from Egypt to come to the U.S., and now Alacerg is a Lancer. “It was a big change,” Alacerg said.

Alacerg is such a friendly and interesting student. He is not too shy to introduce himself and tell people about Egypt. “There are many beautiful places you can visit,” he said. “Dahab is an amazing beach and hangout place you can visit,” he said.

“He’s nice and a fun person to talk to,” said Maria Tavares (11).

He is now living with his brother who is currently attending college. Alacerg learned English back in Egypt. “People often ask me how Egypt is different from the U.S.,” he said. “Things are different like food and culture.”

He said he misses his friends and family back in Egypt, but he plans to visit as soon as he can.

October 2013, page 7

VOL. LVI Issue 2

Watch drama club actors perform at lunch

By Taylor Molis GRANGER’S drama council is always thinking of ways to entertain, and they have found a great way to do that at the end of every week. The improv captains, Taylor Molis (12) and Josh Davis (12), are hosting and working improv shows the last day of the week, every week, at lunch.

Improv is short for the word I\’improvisation’, which means making something up on the spot.

Everything in improv theatre is not scripted and is completely made up in the minds of the actors presenting it.

Although Molis and Davis won’t be able to preform at every lunch due to their class schedules, the rest of the drama team will be there. The crowd is also invited to be a part of the action.

Colton Smith (12) was the improv captain last year. He was

excited that the drama council agreed to something like this, which was not relevant with last year’s drama council. “I am looking forward to it because it lets people and students know about drama club and it’s a great fundraiser. Our captains are great this year too,” he said.

“They know how to keep the games rolling and all of the laughs coming. It is so much fun because the crowd can interact and we sell popcorn for one dollar,” Smith said.

When most students heard about the popcorn, they came rushing over, much to drama council president Anna Fuller’s (12) despair.

She is in charge of serving the popcorn, but isn’t too fond of the job. “The bags are demented, and it’s such a struggle to get the popcorn in the bag and keep the line moving fast, because all the kids

Lancers love the Walking Dead

By Gage Winters ‘ANTICIPATION’ is a good word to describe how many Lancers have felt ever since the third season of The Walking Dead ended in late March.

Although season four seemed to take forever to arrive, fans could watch three webisodes of The Walking Dead on the AMC website starting on October 1, the actual television-series season starts on October 13.

The Walking Dead will continue from last season, and it is a drama/apocalypse series. It airs every Sunday 9/8c for about an hour, and is followed by a Walking Dead-themed talk-show with special guests that discuss the episode’s happenings called Talking Dead, and includes many people involved with the show in some way.

Lancers have many opinions concerning characters and seasons of the Walking Dead. “My favorite character is Deryll, because he’s smart and efficient.

He’s a good guy even though for a little while you aren’t sure about him, and he’s very loyal,” Ms. Berrett said.

“Season one is my personal favorite, although I started with season two. My family usually all gets together on Sunday and watches it; I think it’s pretty scary, but the third season focuses around the human-threat in spite of the zombies of previous seasons,” Ms. Berrett said.

There are mixed feelings definitely about where the story is headed and who the main protagonist will be in the fourth season.

“I don’t like Carl, he’s a little bananas,” James Mordue (11) said.

“I think that in the fourth season, Carl is going to try to kill his

dad or overthrow him so that he will have power of the group. It makes sense if you look at some of his recent actions during the third season,” he said.

Students and faculty who watch the Walking Dead talk a lot about what their favorite season is, and it is a hotly debated topic.

“The third season seems more high-stakes, like more people actually die, that’s why it’s my favorite season in the series so far,” Mordue said.

For those who just can’t get enough of the series (especially after a season ends) there’s the award-winning video game for the series titled, “The Walking Dead: A Tell-Tale Game Series”.

Other than that, there’s always watching many of the webisodes on the AMC website.

Fans of the Walking Dead should also tune into the Talking Dead talk-show. “I like to watch Talking Dead, because it really gives me an outlet for all of the suspense I feel during the show,” Annielah To (11) said.

With the popularity of undead characters like vampires and zombies, more and more shows have a horror theme. They’re all about dark settings, interesting costumes and extensive make-up.

“The show isn’t really terribly scary, it’s mostly just fun, suspenseful, and entertaining,” she said. “It kind of feels like watching a small movie every Sunday, but being cut-off from finishing all of it really motivates me to watch every Sunday on tv or later on the computer.”

There are a lot of things not certain in the new season of the Walking Dead, but one thing is certain: it is sure to be one of the biggest seasons yet.

are like ‘We want popcorn!’ But, it really helps the drama council, so I don’t mind,” she said.

Not only the kids in drama club, but many productions have said it many times throughout time, the crowd makes the performance.

“I love doing improv, but having a great crowd is important. You need to feed off that energy,” Davis said.

“There is a lot of responsibility, but I wear that flag with pride.

We are going to have some great events this year, maybe even with other schools. We are looking to be putting a team together soon,” Davis said.

“I think it’s a great idea because drama club really needs to get out there. I want us to be recognized,” Cassidy Hunter (11) said. She also mentioned that she really loves learning improv in her advanced theatre class, and she en-

joys it even more outside of the classroom.

The students from drama club love performing; it is what they do. Join them at the end of every week at all three lunches. They

will perform in the outdoor amphitheater near the lunchroom, but if the weather gets bad, they will perform outside of the auditorium near the front of the school.

By Nick Yates GRANGER High school has thousands of different kids with all kinds of different hobbies and talents: some play sports, some act, some are artistic, but there are some Lancers that are very musically gifted.

Whether they are in orchestra, band, choir, or Rock School, these students love anything to do with music.

When they aren’t doing schoolwork, they are rocking out to some tunes. The music that classes have been working on is all different genres: rock, classical, hip-hop, and top hits.

“I play the guitar and violin. I have been playing the guitar for four years, and I’ve been playing the violin for five years,” Tiffany Rodrock (11) said.

Tiffany takes orchestra and guitar classes at school and wants to develop and use her skills for her future.

Playing an instrument can help express who someone is and how they feel or think. Some instruments that Lancers play are the

drums, the guitar, cello, piano, and, yes it is also an instrument, their voice.

“I have been singing since the day I could talk. I have also been taking classes like Rock School to pursue my dreams of singing,” Beth Schramm (12) said. Beth is part of the All-Stars in her Rock School class. Those are the students who have worked hard and have gone above and beyond in music.

Many students take advantage of the classes offered at Granger High School either to learn or to improve the talents they already possess. Jesse Korous (11) is one such student.

“I’ve been taking Rock School so I can play the drums. I taught myself to play, and I have been playing the drums for around five years,” Korous said. He can often be seen with drumsticks in his hands. He is very serious about it and wants to take it to the next level, so that maybe he can make a career out of his passion.

Some student just play for the fun of it, but some students can

see it being in their lives as a career. For many, music isn’t just a hobby; it is a lifestyle. Everyone can listen to music. In fact, everyone does listen to it at least one time throughout the day, whether or not by choice.

But creating music gives a person a new appreciation for it. Understanding how much detail really goes into music makes music much more meaningful.

“Without music, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with all the drama in my life,” Schramm said.

Many students say, ‘I wish I could sing or play the piano.’

Well, they can. Being talented, for some people is just something with which they are born, but any music teacher would say that if one works hard, one can succeed.

“I think that it is a little bit of both -- being born with it and developing it,” Schramm said.

Granger has some Lancers that need to be recognized, so next time a choir, orchestra, band, or Rock Band performance finishes on stage, make sure to give them a really loud round of applause.

By Jennifer Ochoa THIS YEAR’S homecoming theme was a 1920s Gatsby theme where the girls first abandoned their most restricted fashions and began wearing short skirts and dresses.

While all the girls went crazy shopping for dresses, the guys went crazy thinking about creative ways to ask that special someone to homecoming. They also spent time over-thinking if the girl they asked to homecoming would say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

“He bought all my favorite candies and came to my room and in my bed, he spelled out ‘homecoming’. It was cute, and now I have candy for days,” Sarah Jacobsen (12) said.

All the struggles and all the stressing for that one special day to go perfect paid off. “My boyfriend first asked me in a text. I thought it wasn’t creative, so I said, ‘No.’ Then he thought of a creative way, and he sang me a song and asked me to homecom-

ing and I said ‘Yes,’ ” Ana Ramos (11) said.

Many students went with a group and some went as a couple.

“I went with a group, because I thought it would be fun being with your friends and just dancing like crazy,” Ramos said.

For the seniors this year, it was their last homecoming dance, “It was a magical experience, because it was my boyfriend and my first homecoming dance we have ever been to,” Jacobsen said.

Knowing that it was going to be the seniors’ last homecoming dance brought sadness to some.

“I was really sad knowing that I wasn’t going to party at homecoming no longer since it was my last year. That’s why I made it memorable and went with my friends and we had a blast together,” Veronica Ojeda (12) said.

Many students went out to have day activities and spend the whole day with their friends “My girlfriend and I went as a group and we went to go play laser tag

with our friends we went as a group, after the went laser tagging we went to the capitol to take pictures and to get to know the place, it was fun,” Rigo Burgos (12) said.

At homecoming there were ups and downs. “What I didn’t like about homecoming was that it should have been more like the Gatsby. There should have been more lights and streamers and more music from the album of the Gatsby,” Emina Mehmedovic (12) said.

“I don’t like how the dance was only three hours. It’s not enough time while we wait in line to take our pictures. It just takes from our time to dance, they also should have had more music to dance.” said Ramos.

But besides homecoming’s downs it also had it ups. “I loved homecomings theme I thought it was creative and fun to dress up as, the music was also pretty good, I had such a good time,” Ojeda said.

Granger’s outdoor amphitheater hosts lunchtime improv shows.

Music students thrive at Granger

Homecoming had Gatsby style

VOL. LVI Issue 2

October 2013, page 8

Lancers explain what makes classes enjoyable Every student and teacher has the power to make a class enjoyable.

By Yohnathan Rivas MOST TEACHERS will do their best to make a class enjoyable.

“I like making jokes in my classroom,” Ms. Berrett said. She uses her technique called “fun notes.”

‘Fun notes’ are regular notes, but they are colorful and have pictures for students to draw.

The notes contain all the information they need but with goofy pictures for students to copy. Students say that they loved the idea of fun notes because they are so much easier to understand.

Ms. Berrett keeps minimal decorations in her classroom so students do not get distracted. Ms. Berrett goes right to the subject of the day and gets her students to work, so they will understand what they learned, and they can work on their homework during the class period. Ms. Berrett makes the work personal, so the students have something to relate to.

And Ms. Berrett isn’t the only teacher who connects with students.

“I keep a positive attitude towards my students,” Mr. Pace said. He treats his students like

adults because at the age that like taking so many notes. “It had less homework, I would enthey are, they are getting ready would be easier for the class and joy my classes much more,” Luis for the real world. He noticed that myself if the notes were written Martinez (12) said. students focus and pay attention on the board and we were allowed “Being with friends and bemore when the material relates to to shorten them with our words ing able to work with them is althem or applies to them, because rather than having to write ev- ways enjoyable,” Cristian Diaz they see that they will need this erything word by word,” he said. (12) said. Diaz likes going to his in the future and classes when will work harder. teachers are not Mr. Pace’s so strict and are students are refun. “I would sponsible for always come their own work. to my classes if In his classroom, the classes were all students are always enjoytreated equally able,” said Diaz. and they are all “Being around given the respect friends will althat they deways make a serve. He writes class fun for his own motivame,” Eduardo tional quotes and Morales (12) hangs them on said. his walls for stuMr. Okedents to read. son’s class Students have Ms. Berrett’s class taking ‘fun notes.’ “It’s all about what you do,” she said. often leaves many reasons to their classroom like a class, and they’re not shy And when it comes to in-school for lessons in other areas in the about explaining things from their activities, Nelson finds classes school, and Morales likes the way own perspective. with fewer notes and more inter- Mr. Okeson teaches his class.

“Less homework, less stress, action to be more enjoyable.

“The class activities are always more joy,” Kenneth Nelson (12) “Having friends in my class is fun and really enjoyable,” said recommended. Nelson does not always enjoyable. I think if we Morales.

“I like it when teachers let me listen to music in class, because I can concentrate a lot better with music when I am doing an assignment,” Louis Avila (12) said.

“Having boring teachers is never fun. I like classes when teachers interact with students.”

“Class field trips are always the best. Doing an assignment on what we did at a field trip is always enjoyable,” Manuel Flores (12) said.

“A teacher that shows interest in what she is teaching is something that every class needs. Having music playing while we are doing work is good because it keeps conversations to a minimum, and we have better concentration towards our assignment. A teacher that shows she cares about how you are learning gives me a feeling of joy because I can see that the teachers really do care about us,” Khomsan Vongsengkeo (12) said.

Lancers can all see the effort that every teacher puts into the class to make the students feel as comfortable as possible. In the end, teachers and students are what make a class enjoyable.

Students balance work with school

Granger High students took a field trip to a taco cart during Spanish class.

Taco cart field trip

By Misty Garlick LANCERS who have Spanish classes recently took foot-powered field trips to a taco stand.

Elliot Sine (10) ordered 2 tacos.

“It was the best authentic food I have ever had!” he said. “ I don’t eat out a lot, so it was fun to try something new,” said Sine.

The best part for him was the food, and he didn’t mind walking there and back because it was good exercise. “It was fun and entertaining,” said Sine.

Many second-year Spanish students said that they had a lot of friends who enjoyed themselves on this delicious field trip.

“I ordered two steak and cheese quesadas. The hardest part was ordering in Spanish. The walk was long, but it was worth it for the jalapeños,” Austin Brown (12) said. Brown is in his in his second year in Spanish, and he loves it.

“I had a blast!” Camille Thompson (10) said. She ordered three tacos. “My favorite part was watching the lazy people wobble.

It was hilarious,” said Thompson.

She was one of the people who had to order for five different people. “I enjoyed it all, and I would do it again,” she said.

The first year students often had someone else order for them, and did not enjoy it as much as sec-

ond-year Spanish students.

She enjoyed her chicken taco a lot, but “trying to order in Spanish was the hardest part of the field trip,” Nafanua Pau’Leota (10) said. Walking back was the least fun part for her, and her favorite part was eating in class.

The timing of food-based field trips matters to hungry students: hit the right period, and the students will be starving.

Drake Tran (11) ordered eight tacos. “I would have ordered more but I didn’t have enough money,” he said. His favorite part was eating the tacos; his least favorite part was walking. For Tran, the walk felt “like forever long.”

But he would do it again.

It may seem very 2012, but people of all ages still fill social media websites like Twitter and Facebook with food photos from restaurants, carts and home.

To’o Seiuli (9) took pictures of her food and uploaded them on Instagram. “I ordered two tacos, one tortilla and three sopas,” she said. “It was boring, but I enjoyed the food.” Like many students, her favorite part was eating, and she didn’t like the walk there and back.

The taco cart is a short walk from Granger, and it offers many inexpensive and delicious lunch options.

By Yamilex Apodaca PART OF growing up is becoming responsible; the majority of seniors at Granger High both attend school and balance a job.

“Sometimes it’s hard to balance grades and a job at the same time,” Claudia Torres (12) said.

“I think that it depends, I have so much homework and work all on one night sometimes. You have to find time for homework. There is no time to be slacking off,” she said.

“Having a job is all right, I work on the weekends and most of the time I work late. It’s OK though, I don’t find it that hard, because I have good management,” Adrian Meza (12) said.

Some students have found that having a job is motivating.

“I finish my work in school, that way I have no homework, or I find a time either before or after school to do my work. I feel that work keeps me on track with my grades, because if I don’t have a certain grade point average, I’m not allowed to work. The best part is that I get my own money.

I think people should remember that it’s not a career, it’s a job,” Tomas Cuenca (12) said.

Sometimes having more to do helps students manage their time better.

“My grades are better since I started working, I feel that it makes me work harder. It is a little harder to find time to do homework, but it’s all about balance. If you don’t have good grades, neither school or work will let you keep your job,” Brian Palmer (12) said.

Keeping up in school definitely affects the attitude at work.

“Sometimes going to school is a stress reliever,” he said.

Students who take AP classes

find it a little harder to divide their time between work and school.

“I find that having a job is more tiring, especially if you have AP classes like I do. There are days that you get twice the homework, and that’s when I get a bit stressed,” Yulenny Lorenzano (12) said. “I also think that it’s a little harder on my shoulders because I have two jobs, but I got this.”

“I have three jobs and I am on the track team, I find it really hard to keep my grades up while having to manage three jobs. On the weekends I work in Park City doing custodial services from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the weekdays, I have to go straight from school to work. Having extracurricular activities in my schedule makes it a little harder,” Eddie Lopez (12) said.

“It makes me happy that I am able to manage work with school although it may be hard at times,” Lopez said. “The best part is that I am on track for graduation.”

“I think that at times it might get hard have a job while going to school, but I like it. There are days when I am very stressed about the fact that I have homework and work on the same day, but I always manage to get my work done on time,” Madeline Garcia (12) said.

“I try to get all of my work done in class, that way I have less homework, or no homework at all. I think that if you are going to have a job, you should learn how to manage your time so that your grades aren’t affected,” she said.

In the end, students must focus on graduation. Better jobs will come for students who graduate, but without a diploma, students may find themselves locked into jobs that pay less.

Tomas Cuenca

Yulenny Lorenzano

Claudia Torrez

Adrian Meza

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