Trojan Times
Issue #4 Volume XXXVIII
Thursday, December 9, 2010
INDEX
Chio, Frifeldt and Shima earn MHS spot at theVex Robotics World Championship
Mililani students march in Veterans Day Parade
When seniors move on, CTAA looks for new talent
Page 6
Editorial
Holiday season calls for open minds and hearts
Page 7
Sports
Varsity Cheerleaders place first in OIA West Division
Home l Profile l Friends l Inbox
By Shan Yonamine s.yonamine@trojantimes.org
F
or the first time ever, a Vex Robotics game was hosted at MHS by Industrial Arts Teacher Timothy Pregana. Sophomores Richie Chio, Curtis Frifeldt and Austin Shima were named the overall winning team of this competition that consisted of 24 teams from 11 public and private schools. It lasted from Nov. 5 to 6 in the MHS gymnasium. The winning team earned a chance to represent MHS and the state of Hawaii at the Vex Robotics World Championships, which will take place next year in Orlando, Fla. Before the competition began, each team’s robot had to meet certain criteria. “The inspections make sure that you have all Vex Robotics parts, or parts that are al-
Sign Out search friends
Become A Fan of
Trojan Times
Trojan Life
Page 3
Trojan Life
lowed by the rule book,” explained Chio. Robots must also be no larger than 18 inches in width, length and height and cannot have any sharp parts that can damage the playing field or other robots. After passing inspection, the winning teams’ robot moved on to compete in the 42 qualification matches. “They’ll divide the team up, they will never give a school a slight advantage,” statedPregana. “You pretty much fight your way up to whatever, all you’re trying to do is get yourself a higher ranking,” he continued. During the qualification matches, the robots had to complete a task which varies every year. “The Vex Robotics Round Up game is a game where your robot must pick up inner tubes and place them on a pedestal to score points,” said Frifeldt.
For bonus points you may also climb the ladder which is located in the center of the playing field. “You must complete this in a two minute time period with a 20 second autonomous time period,” Frifeldt continued.
During an autonomous time period, the robot must act on its own accord, without someone controlling it. After completing the 42 qualification games, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Photos courtesy of Industrial Arts Teacher Timothy Pregana
Vex Robotics Team; top row: R. Chio (10), C. Frifeldt (10), C. Dailey (9), N.Ogata (10), D. Macato (10), T. Fernandez-Dizon (9), R.Taketa (10), bottom row: A. Shima (10), E. Mendez (11), G. Galvizo (9), G.Yoo (9).
Students from Kaiyo High School get a peek at the daily life in MHS
Beyond the border: Foreign festivities during the holiday season Feature
Page 2
News
Page 4
Page 8
2
News
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Interact, Leo clubs march in Wahiawa Veterans Day Parade By Matthew Raab
m.raab@trojantimes.org
On Nov. 11 the Stars and Stripes speckled and lined the avenue as far as the eye could see, before it bent out of sight. Children ran up and down the crowds of spectators on both sides of the crowded street, handing out more flags to everyone in sight, all gathered on the sidewalks to watch the 65th Annual Wahiawa Veterans Day Parade. Mililani students from the Interact and Leo clubs both marched in the parade, which ran from Ka’ala Elementary School to Wahiawa Regional Park, along California Avenue. “We wanted to help celebrate Veterans Day,” said Sophomore Brayton Acoba, an Interact Club member. “I thought it was pretty fun that all these people care about the veterans,” he continued, referring to the parade The parade was estabCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
scores of the teams were calculated and MHS was named the overall Oahu Central Vex Robotics Tournament Three Team Alliances Champions. “Honestly they practically live here, from 2 to 5 Monday through Friday they’re here and on Saturdays from 12 to 5, and sometimes Sundays.” said Pregana. The students’ robots must be prepared for all the technicalities associated with Vex Robotics. Even though MHS came out on top, they are constantly trying to improve their robots for upcoming competitions. “If you have a good robot, you’ll go through 10 to 12 revisions,” said Pregana, a revision meaning a modification. “When you go
lished in the 1940’s. The Interact Club marches with the parade regularly. “We’re marching with the Rotary Club,” said club President Mallory Hayase. “We have different Rotary Clubs and different Interact Clubs, so Mililani is pushing ourselves out there to support this.” Marching ahead of the Interact Club was a color guard from the 25th Infantry Division, stationed at Schofield Barracks. High schools from around the island were involved in the parade. Campbell, Kapolei and Leilehua, among others, had Junior Reserve Officer Training Course units, or JROTC marching in the parade. These units are made up of students interested in a potential career in the military, who participate in military style drills and exercises, including marches and physical routines. MHS also had a presence in the parade through other organizations. Boy Scouts
through a revision you’ll find a new speed trick or some kind of a program, an advantage and you’re going to make the modifications, and that involves just tearing your whole robot apart and redoing,” stated Pregana. The teams from MHS competed in the Pan-Pacific VEX Robotics Tournament on Dec. 2 to 4, where the winning teams, along with the winners of the Vex Robotics Round Up game, will be qualified for the World Championship. “(Pregana) only wants to send the best,” said Chio. The winning team continues to make improvements to their robot to better represent MHS at the World Championships.
To The Point
Alarm Hawaii has recently installed 75 security cameras around campus. Several cameras are record-
from MHS and members of the Civil Air Patrol from MHS marched in the parade as well. Beverly Alexander, a junior and member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), stated, “I thought it was a great honor to represent the veterans that day and it made all the hard work worthwhile cause it was for a good purpose.” Rachel Bogue, a Sophomore and CAP member, had similar sentiments. “I enjoyed being a part of something that recognized the many people who fought and died for my rights and privileges,” she said. “I liked marching in honor of the veterans, people like my parents.” As for marching in the parade, “The best part for me was marching with the CAP color guard. It was fun getting to carry our squadron flag,” continued Bogue. The parade concluded at the Fred Wright District Park, where several speakers, including the com-
Matthew Raab| Trojan Times
Mililani Boy Scout Troop 164 participated in the Wahiawa parade. “I marched in the parade to honor the veterans who died and gave their lives for our country,” said Sophomore Kodey Gratz, who held the American flag for the troop. mander of Schofield Barracks and Representative Mazie Hirono, remarked on the holiday and supporting the troops. The Grand Marshal of the parade was Shigeo Kawamoto, a 97 year old World War II veteran of the famed 442nd Japanese-American Infantry Regiment and a
lifelong Wahiawa resident. This year’s parade was the largest Wahiawa has seen so far, with more participants than ever before. Participants came from across the islands, but they all came out in support of their veterans in a strong display of solidarity.
2011 school year offers new classes for students By Reid Imamura
With registration coming in January, underclassmen must now start thinking about the classes they will be taking in the 20112012 school year. “There are a lot of new classes being added next year and they are different in subject matter,” said Registrar Jeffrey Lum. Classes such as Advanced Placement (AP) World History integrated w/ Honors English 10 (As of this year, AP World History can only be taken with regular English 10), and AP Computer Science taught by Russell Robison will give students a chance to recieve a more in depth understanding of these subjects, yet at the same time introduce
them to new concepts, experiences and skills. Algebra Topics will be offered, giving students more instructional time and in class assistance from the teacher. Not only will new AP and basic core classes be offered next year, but classes that introduce students to real world jobs. AP Microeconomics will be taught by Cynthia Tong and will teach students about the nature and functions of produce markets, factor markets, and the efficiency, equity and role of the government. “I want students to get a good understanding of resources and economics across the world and within the United States,” said Tong. Along with AP Microeconomics, Tong will be
teaching AP Macroeconomics. This class will teach students about scarcity, opportunity costs; specialization; functions of any economic system and supply and demand. “I hope to gain knowledge on economics that will help me for college and get a major in business,” said Sophomore Marc Siler. Registration for next year will begin on Jan. 11 for the class of 2014, Jan. 12 for the class of 2013 and Jan. 13 for the class of 2012. Students will have an hour-long period where they scan the classes that they will be taking to go on their schedules for next year. The new classes being offered next year will give students a unique learning experience along with the skills they will need for the future.
ing 24/7, but some have yet to be installed to the backbone. Also, monitors in the administration offices have not been installed, but should be complete by Christmas.
These cameras are placed in common areas, and have been approved by the State DOE and School Community Council (SCC). They are now only played back when an
incident occurs. The main purpose of these cameras is to ensure the safety of MHS students.
r.imamura@trojantimes.org
Compiled by Caitlin Kelly
Thursday, December 9, 2010
ASMHS President
Sharmaine Lee
Seasons greetings everyone. Now that it’s December, our second semester is coming to a close. On Nov. 12, Kaiyo High School came to visit. A great big thank you to all of the volunteers and entertainers for your support, it was a lot of help. There was no senate meeting in November and the next one will be on Jan. 25 during period one. Also, we recently had a Thanksgiving four day weekend, where we all were reminded of the importance of family and friends (and of the bargains on Black Friday). Starting the month of December was the World Aids Awareness day. We all received a red ribbon to show our support for this cause. Following this is one of the biggest upcoming events: Winterball! The bids started in the middle of November and finished on the 24th. Winterball is on Dec. 10 at the Pacific Beach Hotel, and it’s going to be lots of fun. I would like to say thank you to the volunteers, Winterball committee and Ms. Nishimura, the committee adviser for their hard work and dedication to this big event. Finally, starting on Dec. 9 till the 14 will be the semester exams. With the semester ending on Dec. 16 we will be returning to school on Jan. 4. Happy Holidays!
3
Trojan Life
CTAA experiencing decline in male actors By Jonalyn Bate
j.bate@trojantimes.org
Several subjects including production, dance, certified stage construction, costume and set design are taught by the Central Theatre Arts Academy (CTAA). Anyone is welcome to sign up for this program, male or female. Although there are a variety of people who audition for CTAA productions, most are females. “We open up auditions for everyone, we have more girls come out than guys,” said CTAA Director Jamie Stroud. Stroud selects the plays depending on how many male actors there are. “I try to find a show that incorporates more women because you have more women. But if you look at the numbers you still have to fill the guys’ spot,” she explained. The few male actors that
Aven Santiago | Trojan Times
Seniors Kyle Otani, Lucas Bender and Jesse Butcher work on the set of The Laramie Project. They are a few of the seniors who will be leaving CTAA this year due to graduation. have auditioned this year are mostly seniors. Some of the senior actors have been in plays or under CTAA with Stroud since they were freshmen. “Most of our male senior actors are the ones that have been in the plays because they’ve been involved in it so long,” said
Sophomore Kamuela-Dawn Napoleon, a member of CTAA. In the “Laramie Project” there were only four male actors. “I believe that out of the four guys we had, three of them were seniors,” Stroud said. This year those seniors
will be graduating so there will be fewer males than usual. However, there are always new faces and talents that come along. “A lot of them are going to be heading out because it’s their last year, but there’s always somebody coming in,” Stroud said. “I mean it’s always (that) some people leave and great people come,” she continued. On the positive side, many actors who have auditioned will be able to replace the seniors in upcoming years. “We were lucky last year because we had a number of people audition and none of them were seniors. Excellent, excellent talent, they were juniors and younger,” said Stroud. Even though there will be many senior males graduating this year, there are new talents to be developed.
Committee plans “Snow in Paradise” themed Winterball By Shan Yonamine
of a white thing,” said Junior Sidney Fowler. Students also want the atmosphere The theme “Snow to exemplify the theme. “I in Paradise” will be hope to see snow and a lot of incorporated into Winterball bright lights because it’s like this year, which will be in paradise,” said Sophomore held on Dec. 10, at the Brooke Yoshimura. Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Aside from the theme, Ballroom. The committee students hope to see lots and court plan to incorporate of entertainment “There’s the theme into the program. more than just eating and There will be traditional the dance,” said Fowler, “I Winterball activities, such think we should incorporate as dancing and centerpiece more than just the court,” giveaways; however new she continued. features have been added to “Snow in Paradise” will the program that will relate also be seen in a performance to “Snow in Paradise”. by this year’s Winterball “I think the theme makes court and centerpiece it a little bit different, ... giveaway. “It’s going to be visually it’s going to be like a local Hawaii game,” different,” said Winterball said Nishimura. Committee Head Jeni The theme was chosen Nishimura. “Hopefully by the committee. “They it will be a little bit more wanted to be different and Hawaii centered, so people they wanted it be a little will feel more at home,” she more unique this year,” said continued. Nishimura. Though many Students hope to see new elements have been “Snow in Paradise” weaved added, the menu will be into the program in different similar to past years and other ways. “When I think about than the court performance, snow in paradise, I think no entertainment has been about like white Christmas finalized yet. like a white Hawaii not so The doors for Winterball much of the traditional like will open at 6 p.m. and close the red and the green thing at 7 p.m. The entire event I think that they should is scheduled to be done by make the decorations more 10:30 p.m. s.yonamine@trojantimes.org
2010 MHS Winterball Pacific Beach Hotel
Grand Ballroom
Friday, December 10
Doors open from 6 p.m till 7 p.m.
To The Point
For the second year, MHS participated in the Shoeboxes for the Homeless Program, sponsored by Chinen & Arinaga Financial Group Inc. Students filled shoeboxes with toiletry items such as soap and toothbrushes to donate to the homeless. This year, 133 boxes were collected, surpassing last year’s total of 45 boxes. Compiled by Caitlin Kelly
4
Trojan Life
Students from Kaiyo High School visit MHS
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Junior
Hiyato Nakazaki
Q: So far, what do you think of Hawaii?
" Hawaii is very pretty, everything is so open here, with a lot of plants and trees everywhere. Everyone here is so laid back."
Teacher Matthew Raab | Trojan Times
Students from Kaiyo High School demonstrate flag signaling, used to communicate between boats at sea. Simultaneously moving to the whistles of their teacher, they used flags to spell out various words such as "Mililani" and "Japan". By Zora Ha z.ha@trojantimes.org Students all around the world have things that make them different, whether it’s style, the things they learn or their personality. On Nov. 12, the students of Kaiyo High School in Japan discovered their differences from MHS by getting the opportunity to tour the campus. These selected students are part of a fishing program at their school, which allowed students that were juniors and seniors to visit Hawaii. “We weren’t really chosen by person to come, it’s more like if you are a second year, you automatically get to come,” said Junior Hiyato Nakazaki. The students from the school landed in Hawaii, not by plane, but rather, by boat. “We took about two weeks to get here,” said Nakazaki. Instead of just learning the core subjects taught at school, students aboard the boat learned about things in the fishing program. “While we’re on the boat, we learn about different fishermen things such as watching for other ships, on deck safety and other sailing hazards to
be careful about,” Nakazaki continued. The first thing Nakazaki and the other students noticed about Hawaii was how green it was. “Hawaii is very pretty, everything is so open here, with a lot of plants and trees everywhere,” Nakazaki said. “In Japan, the city is so busy and stuff, not pretty like here.” Schools here in Hawaii are also very different in sizes, compared to Kaiyo High School. “Your high school is a lot more spread out than us,” Nakazaki said, adding, “The campus is pretty big compared to ours too." Hara Takashi, a teacher at Kaiyo High School add "This school is very big but our school is very small. Our students are 200 people total," he said. Many may feel that the dress code is strict at MHS, but some students at Kaiyo disagree. “Everyone here is so laid back, like with their clothes,” Nakazaki said. At Kaiyo, students are required to wear the same uniform to school every day until they are third years (seniors) where they change to a blue uniform that distinguishes the upperclassmen and underclassmen. The un-
derclassmen uniform consists of a white collared shirt and navy blue pants that are not form fitted, while the upperclassmen’s uniform are made of a shinier, sleeker material similar to polyester. Upon landing in Hawaii, the students went around the island like most tourists in Hawaii would. “The first thing we did was go shop, eat and take lots of pictures,” Nakazaki said. Just like many students in Hawaii, the students at Kaiyo enjoy doing the same activities as students here on the weekends and breaks. The tour guides that were showing the students around had similar reactions as well. “They were just so different than us,” said Senior Kellie StephensonPino, “Just how they looked and the types of games they played showed how different they are to us,” she continued. With the visit from the Kaiyo High School students, glimpses of different lifestyles were viewed. The perspectives of schools from other countries were also experienced.
Hara Takashi
Q: What are some
differences you've noticed between MHS and Kaiyo High School?
"This school is very big but our school is very small. Our students are 200 people total."
Junior
Takuya Funabashi
Q: How do you like Mililani?
"There is a lot of things that make (Mililani) interesting. There was a lot of things to do."
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Features
5
Teaching: A career worth a second thought Freshman Micah Ishikawa wrote an iSearch paper on a career for English Teacher Steven Schick’s English 9 honors class. By Micah Ishikawa “Think twice.” This was educator Dean Kajihiro’s response when asked what advice he would give to a student contemplating a career in teaching. His answer was as unexpected as it was concise. Clearly, his words will never be used as an inspirational quote on a calendar or as a recruiting slogan for the Department of Education. Why would a teacher who has devoted twenty years to his job offer this seemingly discouraging advice to a high school student? Fortunately, Kajihiro did not stop with that pithy statement. A few more minutes of conversation revealed his deep commitment to his profession. It became apparent that while the decision to become a public high school teacher is not one that should be made lightly, it can be an extremely rewarding career
choice. Kajihiro is a Mililani resident who teaches 11th grade Modern Hawaiian History and Constitutional History at Waianae High School. He is one of approximately 9,164 teachers in the Hawaii public school system, teaching in 282 public schools (www. 2.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/hqtplans/hi.doc.). According to Janet Fine, author of “Opportunities in Teaching Careers,” teachers are responsible for preparing lessons, teaching, evaluating students’ progress and grading homework. After school hours are spent at faculty or parent meetings. Kajihiro says that every evening he spends one to two hours creating lessons and a half-hour correcting papers. Fine stated, “Teachers go far beyond the traditional 40 hour-week to meet the demands of their calling.” While teachers are able to see the rewards of their efforts, they experience stress that makes their job more difficult. Some of the disadvantages are a low rate
of pay, personal restrictions, poor teaching facilities, heavy workloads and out of class responsibilities (Fine 81). The average salary for a Hawaii public school teacher is $51,922, but after adjustments are made for the cost of living, the average drops to just $31,922 (www. associatedcontent.com/article/5610332/public_teacher_salaries_us_state_rankings.html). According to Fine, “Many teachers give up within their first five years of teaching,” (83). Although there are numerous challenges for the public school teacher, (Fine 80-81) reports that there are also many rewards. Teachers often find enjoyment in using their creativity to plan lessons. Kajihiro said he gains a great deal of satisfaction in “helping (students) understand how the world is and what the world is like and to help them grow and prepare them to become an adult.” If teachers want to travel abroad, the profession also provides foreign exchange opportunities.
Students can begin preparing for a teaching career in high school. Kajihiro encourages self-reflection. As a student, he asked himself the following questions: “What am I good at? What are my skills and abilities? What are my interests?” After high school, a student will need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree to become a teacher. In Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa is the only school accredited by the National Counsel for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Phoenix offer master’s degrees in education (www.educationdegrees.com). Prospective secondary school teachers take courses dealing with education, adolescent psychology, test and measurements, methods of teaching and student teaching (Fine 30). “Ferguson’s Careers in Focus: Education,” reports that student teachers complete classroom observations and a period of student teaching
under the supervision of an experienced teacher (153). After earning a bachelor’s degree, an applicant takes the PRAXIS Series Exam as part of the certification and licensing process required by many states (www.ets. org/praxis). In Hawaii, prospective public school teachers submit an application to the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE). New educators must complete four consecutive semesters of probation to be eligible for tenure (doe.k12.hi.us/ personnel/TeachingInHawaii/). Applicants must be licensed before starting probation. When asked what he enjoys most about being a teacher, Kajihiro responded, “In a way, you are almost like a parent as a teacher. You have the second greatest influence on someone’s life.” His most memorable moments illustrate this point. Kajihiro said that one day, he was informed that a student who was doing well in his class had committed suicide during a school break. He said, “This was one of the worst experiences I’ve had.” This tragedy made him realize how important it is “to influence people for good … to help students along, to question what is the meaning of life and why it is important to live your life to the fullest.” Some time later, another student confessed that he was thinking of killing himself. Kajihiro reported the student to the office, angering the teen for betraying his trust. Eventually, the student contacted Kajihiro to thank him and tell him how he had been a positive influence on his life. After talking to Kajihiro, it is obvious that his advice to “think twice” is not meant as a cynical remark or a grim warning aimed to discourage students from becoming teachers. Instead, he explained, “Think twice, because it’s not a job, really.” For him, teaching is a calling that requires a great deal of dedication, but one that has immeasurable rewards. Kajihiro admitted, “Even though it sounds corny, it makes all of the extremely hard work worth it.”
6
Editorial
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Charitable Christmas : Giving is the best gift By Caitlin Kelly
c.kelly@trojantimes.org
The “season of giving” is upon us once again, and with that comes numerous holiday sales. Events like these confirm the fact that our society is absorbed with the idea of giving and receiving gifts. It’s nice that people are willing to sacrifice some of their money so their loved ones receive gifts during the holidays. But what about the people who don’t want, but need? The holiday spirit doesn’t truly come alive until we open up our hearts to the ones who need it the most. There is no doubt that it is fun to receive gifts at Christmas. I used to be guilty of being concerned with what I received, and one particular year sticks out in my memory. It was in 2004 that I decided I could not live without a Tamagotchi Connection. I would say, “Mom, did you see that commercial for the Tamagotchi?” or “Mom, I think that Tamagotchi is really cool,” as I tried to drop “sly” hints. After months of pleading, I was overjoyed to open a box on Christmas
C&CC
The College and Career Center will be closed during winter break. Please plan accordingly.
ATTENTION SENIORS! Turn in your applications and/ or transcript requests, including online. A copy of scholarship letters should be sent to the front office for recognition in the graduation program. UH Community College Application Community college may be your first step. It provides quality education, more personalized attention and lots of opportunities. Popular programs fill up quickly,turninanapplication as soon as possible.
Eve and find one inside. That was back when I was around ten. I had already heard that it was good to want for others instead of wanting for myself. However, I didn’t really practice what I had been told, or even given it much thought. I figured, “well I’m just a kid, what am I going to do?” About three years after the Tamagotchi (which I had lost by then), I was waiting at a bus stop in Mililani. A cup of soda that someone had left was sitting beside me. Then, a lady in shabby clothing with a shopping cart asked if she could have it. I said “sure,” while thinking about how crazy she was. This lady proceeded to dump it in her hair and use it as a shampoo. At the time I was a little afraid, but I was also confused. What events in her life had brought her to that point? When I was in bed at the end of that day, something was different. The image would not quit replaying in my head. I was feeling something, but I wasn’t sure what. Now I know it was not a feeling of disgust towards the woman, but
a feeling of guilt. I had not been doing enough to help those in need, even though they had been right there in my community. These people, who much of our society tries to avoid, are actually people just like us. They were once newborn babies, being held in the arms of their mothers. They were once elementary school children, just learning how to spell their names. They were once high school students, worrying about what their future held. The only difference is, along that line, some were not as lucky. After that experience, I started to realize that items don’t bring happiness. I realized that there really are people out there who are forced to live in such awful conditions. I never pictured myself as a greedy person, but that short encounter made me think differently. There I was, worrying about insignificant things like cute clothes and the social hierarchy of middle school, while more people than I could’ve imagined were worrying about the next time they would get a meal. If we all learned to give
in an unselfish manner, then we could save many from a sort of living nightmare. Not knowing these people is not an excuse to just blow them off; in fact it should be even more of a reason to give. What if firefighters wouldn’t save anyone but their loved ones, or if lifeguards wouldn’t rescue anyone but their mothers? It sounds ridiculous, but it’s pretty much what we’re doing when we push the well-being of others aside due to our own self-centered reasons. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to keep acquaintances in your thoughts. However, they probably don’t need a bundle of gifts as much as those who can’t even find a permanent place to stay. During this month, and for the rest to follow, revive the holiday spirit. Be more aware of these issues, push your preconceived ideas aside and open up your mind. Whatever it is that you choose, we have more than enough power to change the lives of the people who need it the most. It’s about time we use it.
Financial Aid – Available Online January 1 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) foundation for the college financial aid process. Request forms or complete the form online after January 1 at www.fafsa.gov.
College Awareness Week from January 10-14 Come to the dining lanai during lunch to get information from colleges. UH Manoa, UH West Oahu, UH Hilo, Heald College, Hawaii Pacific University, Performing Arts Outreach College and Kapiolani Community College will be attending. Come and check it out!
Running Start The Running Start program is a unique partnership between the DOE and the UH system. Come to C&CC for more information, or visit www. hawaii.edu/runningstart.
Quest for Success C&CC, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mililani Sunrise, will be coordinating a field trip on Thursday, Jan. 20. This mini “career fair” will feature 50 businesses. The current students from the engineering, law and medical schools and local area colleges and universities. More information will be forthcoming. Check Edline for updates.
College Awareness Week Jan. 10-14 at the dining lanai during lunch
Registration Information Registration for next school year’s classes begin in January. Colleges like to see a rigorous course schedule. Check the website of prospective colleges and plan your schedule accordingly. SAT and ACT Underclassmen, juniors especially, be aware of upcoming SAT/ACT dates. Visit Collegeboard.com or actstudent.org, sign up for the appropriate test. Our school’s CEEB code is 120197.
Important Upcoming Dates PSAT Parent and Student Night Dec. 13 at 6:15 p.m. in the cafeteria
Financial Aid Night Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria Quest for Success Field Trip Jan. 20 from 8:30a.m. to 1:00 p.m. College Goal Sunday Jan. 23 at 1:00 p.m. in the cafeteria
Trojan Times
The mission of the Trojan Times is to be the student voice and to publicize events, share in the successes of students, promote the hard work of the faculty and capture the dedication of organizations. Editor-in-Chief Bianca Sewake Assistant Editor Caitlin Kelly Design Editor Matthew Ambrosecchio Business Manager Jessica Antonio Adviser Mr. Christopher Sato Principal Dr. John Brummel Staff Jonalyn Bate Zora Ha Reid Imamura Chanel Kawasaki Ella Macaraig Judy Mossman Jacquelyn Perreira Matthew Raab Aven Santiago Shan Yonamine The Trojan Times is a monthly production of the Newswriting staff of Mililani High School 95-1200 Meheula Pkwy., Mililani, HI 96789 To voice an opinion or any concerns, feel free to submit a letter to L205 or to b.sewake@ trojantimes.org. The Trojan Times reserves the right to edit letters as they see fit. Please type your letter and clearly state your name, grade level and period one class.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
MMonth
Trojan of the
By Zora Ha
z.ha@trojantimes.org
With many years put into perfecting the sport of bowling, Senior Leihulunani Siafuafu has played a part in MHS’ recent OIA Champions and HHSAA Runners-up titles. Siafuafu has been bowling for nine years. What first got her interest in bowling was the fact that it was a challenge. “I never knew that bowling had so much more to it, which is having accuracy, skill, concentration and discipline, which makes bowling challenging. From then on all I wanted to do was learn.“ MHS Bowling Coach Kellen Inafuku would have to agree, with the progress he has seen. “I don’t know anyone else at this school that can bowl like her, when she’s bowling you can really see how having a good attitude affects her,” he said. Before every game, she always prays to remind her of her roots and to reflect on how far she has come. Afterward, she likes to have a pep talk with the team to get them ready. “I have a talk with the team telling them to stay strong, have fun and no matter what, don’t give up.” With her final season over, Siafuafu will continue to bowl with the Leeward Jr. Bowling Club.
Sports
7
Varsity Cheerleading takes first in OIA West Division By Ella Macaraig
e.macaraig@trojantimes.org
Performing to the tunes of “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khaled, “Baby” by Justin Bieber, “We Run This” by Missy Elliot and “The Dougie” by Cali Swag District, MHS’ Varsity Cheerleaders won first place in the OIA West Division Competition, held at Moanalua High School on Saturday Nov. 6. Out of more than 20 schools, MHS managed to get first place. Radford took second and Kapolei placed third. Head Coach Renesha Kierstedt was thrilled with the team’s victory. “My first reaction was ‘Oh my God they did it.’ Finally there was ... evidence for them to see that they can be better than that. We had some difficulties, and they came out top. That was a great experience,” she said. They performed one original routine with a number of mixed songs for the competition, which was no longer than two minutes and thirty seconds. Their routine consisted of both chant and cheer. Routines are not just
Juyoung Song| Na Mana Poina ole
The MHS Varsity Cheerleading squad preformed their routine at the OIA West Division Championships Nov. 6. After their victory, the team moved on to the state championships on Dec. 5. that, they need practice so they can be perfect. “Lots of practice, rest, team bondings, that’s pretty much it. We usually have a lot of fun during practice,” said Senior La’Precious Richardson. They underwent months of practice and preparation. “We’ve been preparing since summer. We got to prepare our girls to be well mentally, physically and emotionally, they have to be able to do
it, love it, get used to it. And that’s probably (what) this team has that other team doesn’t,” said Kierstedt. Though cheerleading is a team sport, individuals engaged in it must posses certain skills. “Some of us go to open gym. Some of us have cheerleading outside the school like we have All-Stars and we just have practices for school everyday,” said Junior Amanda Bejerana.
Kierstedt was impressed with this year’s varsity team, “This year’s varsity team is ‘beast,’ that’s how I call it, I’m talking about their strength, emotional tightness. No matter what happens they’re always trying to help each other to that ultimate goal,” she said The team worked hard to reach the top, overcoming injuries along the way, and was able to put on a show.
Senas succeeds in softball, life with family’s support By Caitlin Kelly
c.kelly@trojantimes.org
MHS alumna Ciera Senas, class of 2005, was never one to take her family for granted. This family oriented athlete was a part of Hawaii Pacific University’s (HPU) NCAA Division II Softball College World Series Team. Senas has also received several honors, with recognition as an All Pac West First Team member being one of them. She credits her family, who has always been supportive, for her success. Senas began playing softball when she was five years old, her grandfather being her first coach. She has three sisters, Chasity (Mililani ’06), Chanelle (Mililani ’08) and Courtney (Mililani ’10), all of whom play softball as well. Being the oldest sibling, Senas took it upon herself to serve as a mentor for her sisters. “I feel like I influence them, so they watch every
Caitlin Kelly|Trojan Times
Ciera Senas, an MHS alumna , an educational assistant at MHS and a champion former Trojan softball player. move I make and being the older sibling I feel like I have to push them too,” she said. Senas’ parents have always been supportive of the sport. “My family played a big role in (my athletic success). They supported me throughout my whole high school softball career,” Senas said. It was her parents’
dream for their daughters to advance to the World Series. However, tragedy struck in Feb. 2010 when Senas’ father passed away after a long struggle with bone cancer just three months before the World Series game. Her strength was tested during a time of difficulty for her family, but she kept her father’s words in mind. “He
taught me to always fight until the end. You always fight and push and strive to do your best, and because of that I think he pushed me to be a better person,” she said. Therefore, when HPU walked away with the title, it had an increased value. “He’s the one that pushed me, because him and my mom always talked about how one of their daughters was going to bring them to the world series. I was always motivated to go. And my senior year, he wasn’t here but he had the best seats in the house and we made it,” Senas said. Though she has since graduated from HPU, Senas continues to carry on the softball tradition by coaching the Junior Varsity team at MHS, while also working as an educational assistant. With the support of her family, she hopes to pass the legacy on to younger players.
8
Features
Thursday, December 9, 2010
u t r l h i t a : Celebrating the holidays around the world
By Matthew Ambrosecchio and Bianca Sewake m.ambrosecchio@trojantimes.org b.sewake@trojantimes.org
As December rolls around, one can find many festive holiday decorations practically everywhere. Although the norm here in the U.S. is to celebrate Christmas-tree, lights, presents and Santa Claus-many other countries have their own customs and holiday traditions.
SOUTH KOREA Although Christmas is not one of their more popular holidays, the people of Korea still celebrate it. Lavish decorations can be found around the community and work places. Cards and gifts are exchanged, and some homes have a tree decorated similar to what we have in the U.S. A family dinner is planned and the gift exchanging is not materialistic, it has some kind of meaning behind it.
NORWAY The Norwegians have several festive holiday figures. Gnomes, to be exact. Legend has it that one named Neisse guards all the farm animals and plays tricks on children who forget to leave out a special porridge for him on Christm a s . T h e r e is also a gnomelike goat n a m e d Julebukk who bears gifts. http://www. santas.net/ aroundtheworld.htm
http://christmas.lovetoknow. com/Korean_Christmas_ Traditions
ITALY
N W E S
PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, Christmas is a popular holiday. There are many decorations, and it is a time for family gatherings, exchanging gifts and making lots of food. Typically, there isn’t much sleep on Christmas Eve, as the celebrations are still going on. On Christmas Day, families and friends wish each other a Merry Christmas and have get-togethers, where people bring different foods. http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals/ philippine_christmas.htm
It is an Italian tradition for family members to pass around the “Urn of Fate”. Each member of the family gets a chance to select a gift from this bowl. Children look forward to “Epiphany” on January 6, where a folktale tells of a witch named Befana who rides on a broomstick, leaving presents for children at their homes.
http://www.santas.net/ aroundtheworld.htm
JAPAN Although December 25 is not a national holiday, they still enjoy celebrations. Usually, on December 23, families buy and eat “Christmas Cake”. Around this time, it is believed to be a time of romantic miracles, so young girls and boys usually reveal their affection for the other. Couples and close friends exchange gifts such as teddy bears, rings, scarves and jewelry. The elderly couples usually see shows of famous actresses and singers at different hotels. http://www.tanutech.com/japan/jxmas.html