SENIGAGLIA

STAR Test

STAFF LIST:

Outgoing Editors 2011

Executive EditorRachel FoxManaging EditorHaley McCabeArt EditorSo� a Guterrez-Dewar

Incoming Editors 2012

Executive EditorHaley McCabeManaging EditorMax GoldensteinArt Editor Maria IkonomouLayout EditorsNicky HugAnna LukeCopy EditorsSasha BobrowiczStephanie Sabatini

Sta� Anna Argente Helen BurkeGaby BusqueRussell GurmanCaitlyn KenneyJe� LaPlanteBridget MaganaJason MouchawarLaurin NoguchiLauren SmithRoger UptonRyan Wentz Alyssa West� eldPhilip WithamJP NashMao Mei Sonkin Brooke Delly

Photo EditorsPrescott Foland Emily JohnsonKeara HaldemanSuzie McMurtry

SENIGAGLIA 12

STAR Test

23

Battle of

the Bands 41

Cover Art Stefany Maldonado

3

SENIGAGLIA

STAR Test

STAFF LIST:

Outgoing Editors 2011

Executive EditorRachel FoxManaging EditorHaley McCabeArt EditorSo� a Guterrez-Dewar

Incoming Editors 2012

Executive EditorHaley McCabeManaging EditorMax GoldensteinArt Editor Maria IkonomouLayout EditorsNicky HugAnna LukeCopy EditorsSasha BobrowiczStephanie Sabatini

Sta� Anna Argente Helen BurkeGaby BusqueRussell GurmanCaitlyn KenneyJe� LaPlanteBridget MaganaJason MouchawarLaurin NoguchiLauren SmithRoger UptonRyan Wentz Alyssa West� eldPhilip WithamJP NashMao Mei Sonkin Brooke Delly

Photo EditorsPrescott Foland Emily JohnsonKeara HaldemanSuzie McMurtry

SENIGAGLIA 12

STAR Test

23

Battle of

the Bands 41

Cover Art Stefany Maldonado

4 PHOTOGRAPHY Mao Mei Sonkin

5PHOTOGRAPHY Mao Mei Sonkin

6

The salty pond forms a riverWhere no salmon run upstream,No bears to prey, the water strolls down.At fi rst, one at a time -Two now: one from each pond.The thunder beings to rumble,And a storm shakes the earth beneath.Its Zeusian grip purging the foundationsAnd sending lightning shocks to calloused obelisk tips -And loose stones bash against each side inside the Earth -And the forests of trees swish and sway while holding its roots -And the moon focuses its beam onto the pond.Without noise now, the water doesn’t recede, but simply drops away,The earth from dirt has been shocked to stone.

LIKE A STREAM FROM A LAKE

BY CONRAD YU

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Johnson

The salty pond forms a riverWhere no salmon run upstream,No bears to prey, the water strolls down.At fi rst, one at a time -Two now: one from each pond.The thunder beings to rumble,And a storm shakes the earth beneath.Its Zeusian grip purging the foundationsAnd sending lightning shocks to calloused obelisk tips -And loose stones bash against each side inside the Earth -And the forests of trees swish and sway while holding its roots -And the moon focuses its beam onto the pond.Without noise now, the water doesn’t recede, but simply drops away,The earth from dirt has been shocked to stone.

LIKE A STREAM FROM A LAKE

BY CONRAD YU

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Johnson

8

ART Stefany Maldonado

9

ART Stefany Maldonado

10

In�this�digital�age fi lm photography has become obsolete. However, after fi ve years of fi lm experience and about four years of digital ex-perience, I have developed a preference for fi lm. Yes, fi lm may be more expensive and less convenient, but there is something so gratifying about perfecting one print and having the hands on experience with each photograph. With only 36 exposures each shot and each frame is precious since you can’t simply delete one that doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped. For me, knowing that my eyes and hard work produced such an image (like the ones on this page) creates a remarkable feeling that I fear I will never feel through digital photography.

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Johnson

11

In�this�digital�age fi lm photography has become obsolete. However, after fi ve years of fi lm experience and about four years of digital ex-perience, I have developed a preference for fi lm. Yes, fi lm may be more expensive and less convenient, but there is something so gratifying about perfecting one print and having the hands on experience with each photograph. With only 36 exposures each shot and each frame is precious since you can’t simply delete one that doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped. For me, knowing that my eyes and hard work produced such an image (like the ones on this page) creates a remarkable feeling that I fear I will never feel through digital photography.

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Johnson

12

ART Riley Miller

For an exclusive in-tervew with Mr. Seni-galia about his music

career, visit mabearnews.com

Violin

Sarabande for solo violin.

by Jonathan Senigaglia

6

3

3

3 3

3 3

8

3 3 3

cresc.

decresc.

12

16

3

19

22

25

27

3 please visit www.wix.com/jonathansenigaglia/music

13

ART Riley Miller

For an exclusive in-tervew with Mr. Seni-galia about his music

career, visit mabearnews.com

Violin

Sarabande for solo violin.

by Jonathan Senigaglia

6

3

3

3 3

3 3

8

3 3 3

cresc.

decresc.

12

16

3

19

22

25

27

3 please visit www.wix.com/jonathansenigaglia/music

14

16

if the woods

are what you need

I will planttreesgrassmoss

along my spine

and the white land will

bloomlike Spring

if the woods

are not enough

clear cutthe

land

and buildhouses

factoriesshops

livein

thecurves

ofthe

mountains

PHOTOGRAPHY Maria Ikonomou, POEM Shayda Abadi ART Therese Regonini

if the woods

are what you need

I will planttreesgrassmoss

along my spine

and the white land will

bloomlike Spring

if the woods

are not enough

clear cutthe

land

and buildhouses

factoriesshops

livein

thecurves

ofthe

mountains

PHOTOGRAPHY Maria Ikonomou, POEM Shayda Abadi ART Therese Regonini

18

He is my child, and because he is MY child, it is my responsibility to coach him through school

so that he can be the best boy he can be, the best student he can be. Since kindergarten, I have

pushed him to work harder, study longer, and be better. Together, we have worked through STAR

testing textbooks to ensure that he is ready for his early examinations that determine his worth

within society. Sure, he complains of the pressure I put on him to be great, but we all know he’ll

thank me in the end, thank me for all the after-school tutors. Thank me for the extra workbooks,

and Saturday morning SAT classes. He’ll thank me for emailing his teachers daily just to check in.

He’ll thank me because I constantly monitor his attendance and grades on Infi nite Campus. He’ll

thank me once he discovers his phone has a GPS chip embedded inside. He’ll thank me when I’ve

read over his college essay and make a few, minor changes, or major changes. Either way, he’ll

thank me. He’ll thank me because I made it better, made him better. He’ll thank me for looking after

him when he’s in an Ivy League College. He’ll thank me. He’ll be happy. He won’t crack, no, not with

me pushing him. No one can ever be pushed too far. He’ll thank me.

H e l i c o p t e r P a r e n t v s . A b s e n t P a r e n tby Maria Ikonomou

He is my child, I mean I gave him life, but he has his own life. It is not MY responsibility

to help him accomplish everything. When he was young I helped him, of course but with the

fundamentals. I was like training wheels, I helped keep him stable but I did not choose the path. I

allowed him to explore and through his experiences, decide who he should be. STAR testing? If

he asked me for help I’d give it to him, but we never studied for it or anything. I mean, I send him to

school to do that. At home he should be able to express who he is, not be busied by studying. He

doesn’t complain, no. I fi gure he is old enough to decide the kind of person he wants to be. If he

chooses the wrong road his relationships and experiences through life will let him know, it’s not my

place to tell him. He’ll thank me for this freedom. He’ll thank me that I was not breathing down his

neck about college essays and SAT tests. If he wants to excel in academics or go to college, he

will push himself. He’ll thank me because this will make him a stronger person. He’ll thank me. He’ll

be happy. He won’t crack or anything, no, not with the knowledge he has gained. I’m there for him

as support but I won’t decide for him. No one ever benefi ts from having things done for them. He’ll

thank me.

H e l i c o p t e r P a r e n t v s . A b s e n t P a r e n tby Anna Luke

ART Maria Ikonomou

19

He is my child, and because he is MY child, it is my responsibility to coach him through school

so that he can be the best boy he can be, the best student he can be. Since kindergarten, I have

pushed him to work harder, study longer, and be better. Together, we have worked through STAR

testing textbooks to ensure that he is ready for his early examinations that determine his worth

within society. Sure, he complains of the pressure I put on him to be great, but we all know he’ll

thank me in the end, thank me for all the after-school tutors. Thank me for the extra workbooks,

and Saturday morning SAT classes. He’ll thank me for emailing his teachers daily just to check in.

He’ll thank me because I constantly monitor his attendance and grades on Infi nite Campus. He’ll

thank me once he discovers his phone has a GPS chip embedded inside. He’ll thank me when I’ve

read over his college essay and make a few, minor changes, or major changes. Either way, he’ll

thank me. He’ll thank me because I made it better, made him better. He’ll thank me for looking after

him when he’s in an Ivy League College. He’ll thank me. He’ll be happy. He won’t crack, no, not with

me pushing him. No one can ever be pushed too far. He’ll thank me.

H e l i c o p t e r P a r e n t v s . A b s e n t P a r e n tby Maria Ikonomou

He is my child, I mean I gave him life, but he has his own life. It is not MY responsibility

to help him accomplish everything. When he was young I helped him, of course but with the

fundamentals. I was like training wheels, I helped keep him stable but I did not choose the path. I

allowed him to explore and through his experiences, decide who he should be. STAR testing? If

he asked me for help I’d give it to him, but we never studied for it or anything. I mean, I send him to

school to do that. At home he should be able to express who he is, not be busied by studying. He

doesn’t complain, no. I fi gure he is old enough to decide the kind of person he wants to be. If he

chooses the wrong road his relationships and experiences through life will let him know, it’s not my

place to tell him. He’ll thank me for this freedom. He’ll thank me that I was not breathing down his

neck about college essays and SAT tests. If he wants to excel in academics or go to college, he

will push himself. He’ll thank me because this will make him a stronger person. He’ll thank me. He’ll

be happy. He won’t crack or anything, no, not with the knowledge he has gained. I’m there for him

as support but I won’t decide for him. No one ever benefi ts from having things done for them. He’ll

thank me.

H e l i c o p t e r P a r e n t v s . A b s e n t P a r e n tby Anna Luke

ART Maria Ikonomou

20

UNDA PREHSHA

ART Maria Ikonomou

I am a high school student. Given that statement, you already know a lot about me. You know I am strongly en-couraged to do well in school—by both parents and peers. You know that I get stressed pretty easily. (Don’t we all?) You know that I have dealt with peer pressure to “be cool” or whatever random adjective teens use to describe the act of fi tting in. I’ll be completely honest; on top of all my schoolwork, college visits, and standard-ized testing, the pressure to “fi t in” is a pain in the ass. It seems completely unfair that I have to deal with all of these pres-sures and sometimes I can’t handle all of the stress. ‘Cause like, doesn’t my future depend on this test I’m taking Saturday? Or will that girl get mad if she sees me walking with this guy? Or will people think I’m weird if I wear this outfi t today? It’s diffi cult to answer these questions based solely on your own opinions because other people affect your decisions more than you think. Whether you like it or not, you are subconsciously concerned with the way you present yourself to the people around you. So those types of questions constantly run through your head to make sure that you are fulfi lling the standard you have set for yourself based on others’ opinions. Don’t worry though, caring what

other people think can be a good thing. You wouldn’t want to completely not care about what anyone thought of you, be-cause then no one would like you. So peer pressure works in a hovering fashion. It’s never really strong verbal persuasion but rather an expectation that you will act and dress like your friends do. The com-mon misconception about peer pressure is associated with drinking and smoking—issues with which many adults are con-cerned. Parents warn against drinking and smoking at parties and they’ll often tell their kid, “If anyone at that party says, ‘Here have a smoke!’ or ‘Have a beer!’-- say no.” I’ve heard this before and you might have too. (But don’t get annoyed when your parents constantly remind you about the dangers of drinking and smoking because A) they are right and B) they’re are just concerned about your health, your safety, and oh yeah, THE LAW). While parents think that teens force each other to “do what everyone else is doing,” this is actually not the case. As a high school student, I don’t see any teens con-vincing their peers to do something that they would be uncomfortable with. So I think that peer pressure is more of a hov-ering expectation for teens to fi t in rather than verbal infl uence from their peers.

UNDA PREHSHA

by Keara Haldeman

21

UNDA PREHSHA

ART Maria Ikonomou

I am a high school student. Given that statement, you already know a lot about me. You know I am strongly en-couraged to do well in school—by both parents and peers. You know that I get stressed pretty easily. (Don’t we all?) You know that I have dealt with peer pressure to “be cool” or whatever random adjective teens use to describe the act of fi tting in. I’ll be completely honest; on top of all my schoolwork, college visits, and standard-ized testing, the pressure to “fi t in” is a pain in the ass. It seems completely unfair that I have to deal with all of these pres-sures and sometimes I can’t handle all of the stress. ‘Cause like, doesn’t my future depend on this test I’m taking Saturday? Or will that girl get mad if she sees me walking with this guy? Or will people think I’m weird if I wear this outfi t today? It’s diffi cult to answer these questions based solely on your own opinions because other people affect your decisions more than you think. Whether you like it or not, you are subconsciously concerned with the way you present yourself to the people around you. So those types of questions constantly run through your head to make sure that you are fulfi lling the standard you have set for yourself based on others’ opinions. Don’t worry though, caring what

other people think can be a good thing. You wouldn’t want to completely not care about what anyone thought of you, be-cause then no one would like you. So peer pressure works in a hovering fashion. It’s never really strong verbal persuasion but rather an expectation that you will act and dress like your friends do. The com-mon misconception about peer pressure is associated with drinking and smoking—issues with which many adults are con-cerned. Parents warn against drinking and smoking at parties and they’ll often tell their kid, “If anyone at that party says, ‘Here have a smoke!’ or ‘Have a beer!’-- say no.” I’ve heard this before and you might have too. (But don’t get annoyed when your parents constantly remind you about the dangers of drinking and smoking because A) they are right and B) they’re are just concerned about your health, your safety, and oh yeah, THE LAW). While parents think that teens force each other to “do what everyone else is doing,” this is actually not the case. As a high school student, I don’t see any teens con-vincing their peers to do something that they would be uncomfortable with. So I think that peer pressure is more of a hov-ering expectation for teens to fi t in rather than verbal infl uence from their peers.

UNDA PREHSHA

by Keara Haldeman

STAR TESTING

Do you want to win some really awesome stuff just for taking a standardized test that everyone

has to take?! This year, taking the STAR test now has some incentive! People can win a prize ranging anywhere from a $10 gift card to a local Jamba Juice or Starbucks, to an iPod Touch or an iPod nano. It has become apparent that the administrative staff has done more than their fair share to support the STAR test and to promote good scores this year. Question is, is it actually working? And if so, why are people changing? According to Mr. Lippi, the STAR test is a way for the state to see how schools rank against other schools. “M-A has been steadily going up in our scores, and the goal is for us to get up to a score of 800 as school. At 800, the state recognizes that the school can work on it’s own, and it will give us a lot more freedom. This is the main reason why we are pushing so hard to do well this year. What Lippi and the rest of the administrative staff are trying to do is change the way people see the importance of STAR testing. I personally remember my freshman and sophomore year viewing the STAR test as something that didn’t count for college, didn’t

contribute to my grade, and my teachers wouldn’t see it that year. So why bother? The reason to care is because students who do well on the STAR test actually fund the school more money and therefore provide a better education for the students. When students do well on the STAR test, it gives M-A a better reputation compared to other public schools. Most of the money for the raffl e prizes comes from donations from parents in the school district and PTA. Despite what many may think, none of the money is coming from the government.

In other perspectives, some people do not really agree with what M-A is doing with students to help improve STAR testing scores. Mrs. Trent, math teacher, says “I think it’s unfair that they are bribing students to do better, when they should always be doing their best. The school pretty much only asks you to do one thing. And in life, I think that if someone gives you something to

do, you should always do your best”. Of course, this would be ideal, but lets be honest, most teenagers at M-A don’t give two fl ying fucks about the STAR testing… so if this is motivating them, then why not continue doing it? Of course, we won’t actually know the results of the STAR test results until the end of the year.

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

by Jeff LaPlante

23

STAR TESTING

Do you want to win some really awesome stuff just for taking a standardized test that everyone

has to take?! This year, taking the STAR test now has some incentive! People can win a prize ranging anywhere from a $10 gift card to a local Jamba Juice or Starbucks, to an iPod Touch or an iPod nano. It has become apparent that the administrative staff has done more than their fair share to support the STAR test and to promote good scores this year. Question is, is it actually working? And if so, why are people changing? According to Mr. Lippi, the STAR test is a way for the state to see how schools rank against other schools. “M-A has been steadily going up in our scores, and the goal is for us to get up to a score of 800 as school. At 800, the state recognizes that the school can work on it’s own, and it will give us a lot more freedom. This is the main reason why we are pushing so hard to do well this year. What Lippi and the rest of the administrative staff are trying to do is change the way people see the importance of STAR testing. I personally remember my freshman and sophomore year viewing the STAR test as something that didn’t count for college, didn’t

contribute to my grade, and my teachers wouldn’t see it that year. So why bother? The reason to care is because students who do well on the STAR test actually fund the school more money and therefore provide a better education for the students. When students do well on the STAR test, it gives M-A a better reputation compared to other public schools. Most of the money for the raffl e prizes comes from donations from parents in the school district and PTA. Despite what many may think, none of the money is coming from the government.

In other perspectives, some people do not really agree with what M-A is doing with students to help improve STAR testing scores. Mrs. Trent, math teacher, says “I think it’s unfair that they are bribing students to do better, when they should always be doing their best. The school pretty much only asks you to do one thing. And in life, I think that if someone gives you something to

do, you should always do your best”. Of course, this would be ideal, but lets be honest, most teenagers at M-A don’t give two fl ying fucks about the STAR testing… so if this is motivating them, then why not continue doing it? Of course, we won’t actually know the results of the STAR test results until the end of the year.

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

a a aa b b bb c c cc d d dd e e ee

by Jeff LaPlante

This page is intentionally left blank.

24

Every person is a prisoner of his or her own reality. We feel lonely, even when others surround us. Like a blanket, loneliness engulfs us, overwhelms us, and pushes us back into our own minds. We must travel that journey that connects our reality to our imagination. We must begin our exploration, push the endless limits of our minds until our thirst is quenched, for only then, can we escape our sollitude and become ourselves. Only then, can we truly be satisfi ed with our lives. My collection, and its chronology, ilustrates the personal exploration of a man as he travels from his sad, lonely re-ality, to the depths of his own mind in order to fi nd himself. As seen in my fi rst three artworks, the falling man is a lonely man, a man sustained within his reality despite the many people that surround him. The black space throughout my works respre-sents the parts of our mind are neglected, and are yet to be explore. As the collec-tion progresses, the black space becomes smaller, for the man is pushing the unique boundaries of his mind, testing how far he can explore. The birdhouses represent the confi nement of our day-to-day lives, our reality, and the birds that escape these houses as the collection progresses il-lustrate the feeling of freedom one experi-ences when they fi nally discover that there is something beyond our reality, something greater embedded in our minds: our imagi-nation. The doors featured in the second to last work are a metaphorical outlet in which we can escape our solitude. The man pushes the boundaries of his mind, exploring his unknown, discovering the different factors that lead to self-discovery. Once this journey is traveled, once our doors are opened, we can truly discover ourselves, we can truly be happy. This col-lection is the journey in which we discover the meaning of our lives.

I Dream With My Eyes Open

Maria Ikonomou

25

Every person is a prisoner of his or her own reality. We feel lonely, even when others surround us. Like a blanket, loneliness engulfs us, overwhelms us, and pushes us back into our own minds. We must travel that journey that connects our reality to our imagination. We must begin our exploration, push the endless limits of our minds until our thirst is quenched, for only then, can we escape our sollitude and become ourselves. Only then, can we truly be satisfi ed with our lives. My collection, and its chronology, ilustrates the personal exploration of a man as he travels from his sad, lonely re-ality, to the depths of his own mind in order to fi nd himself. As seen in my fi rst three artworks, the falling man is a lonely man, a man sustained within his reality despite the many people that surround him. The black space throughout my works respre-sents the parts of our mind are neglected, and are yet to be explore. As the collec-tion progresses, the black space becomes smaller, for the man is pushing the unique boundaries of his mind, testing how far he can explore. The birdhouses represent the confi nement of our day-to-day lives, our reality, and the birds that escape these houses as the collection progresses il-lustrate the feeling of freedom one experi-ences when they fi nally discover that there is something beyond our reality, something greater embedded in our minds: our imagi-nation. The doors featured in the second to last work are a metaphorical outlet in which we can escape our solitude. The man pushes the boundaries of his mind, exploring his unknown, discovering the different factors that lead to self-discovery. Once this journey is traveled, once our doors are opened, we can truly discover ourselves, we can truly be happy. This col-lection is the journey in which we discover the meaning of our lives.

I Dream With My Eyes Open

Maria Ikonomou

26

NOW What?

You don’t want to go to college yet?

Here’s 25 steps to something different....

25 STEPS TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

like taking a year off after graduation

#1 apply to colleges#2 apply for scholarships

#3 Visit potential college choices

#4 apply to FAFSA

#5 wait to hear back from colleges

#7 receive acceptance/denial letters

#6 receive a whole bunch of junk mail

#8 visit some more schools

#9 still don’t know which one to choose

#10 lear about gap years programs (from college coun-selor or google)

#11 choose program that best fi ts you (trav-el, volunteer, study, intern, or work?)

#12 apply to program

#13 wait for reply

#25 start your year abroad

#20 deffer schol-arships, such as Calgrant

#21 get the right medical shots

#22 pack your bags

#23 say farewells to loved ones

#24 aboard your fl ight

#14 proceed to next step in application - interview

#15 wait for fi nal reply --> Success

#16 add it to college acceptances

#17 decide if you do wanna do the gap year

#18 accept admission into program

#19 deffer from school(s) you plan on attending after return

27

NOW What?

25 STEPS TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

like taking a year off after graduation

#1 apply to colleges#2 apply for scholarships

#3 Visit potential college choices

#4 apply to FAFSA

#5 wait to hear back from colleges

#7 receive acceptance/denial letters

#6 receive a whole bunch of junk mail

#8 visit some more schools

#9 still don’t know which one to choose

#10 lear about gap years programs (from college coun-selor or google)

#11 choose program that best fi ts you (trav-el, volunteer, study, intern, or work?)

#12 apply to program

#13 wait for reply

#25 start your year abroad

#20 deffer schol-arships, such as Calgrant

#21 get the right medical shots

#22 pack your bags

#23 say farewells to loved ones

#24 aboard your fl ight

#14 proceed to next step in application - interview

#15 wait for fi nal reply --> Success

#16 add it to college acceptances

#17 decide if you do wanna do the gap year

#18 accept admission into program

#19 deffer from school(s) you plan on attending after return

28

G rowing up around Menlo Park, many kids attended gymnastics classes at Burgess. As they got older, they dropped out. However, some

of us remain. I’m in Burges Gymnastics Gym Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I started in the Mommy-and-me class when I could walk, and have now been going there for sixteen out of my seventeen years. When my dad was in highschool and college, he also did gymnastics. He enrolled me at Burgess, like many other parents, because it is local and friendly. Currently, I’m in the competitive team class, while my younger brother and sister are in the recreational classes, and my dad is in the adult class. My coach is Savina Krakowski, who also grew up in Menlo Park and has been coaching there since 1989. She frequently encourages the team members to become a coach when they turn 16, and that’s exactly what I did. Starting last year, I help teach 3-5 year olds gymnastics on Saturday mornings. While being at the gym from 8:30 AM to noon teaching pre-schoolers, then coming back from 1 PM – 3:30 PM for team practice may not sound like the ideal Saturday, I get a lot of out of my experience there. Combining the experience of doing and teaching has given me a new insight into what we truly teach at Burgess. While the students do learn basic gymnastics skills, they also learn cooperation, patience, colors, and numbers, while also getting a valuable source of exercise. As I teach them,

by Alyssa Westfield

the old gym

the temp. gym

the new plan

Goodbye Burgess!

PHOTOGRAPHY Alyssa Westfi eld

I gain knowledge and skills that will help me throughout my life. Burgess has had a significant impact on my life, as well as influencing the lives of the thousands of kids who have attended.

While this was a steady weekly cycle, things are about to change. John Arrillaga, the same man who funded the new Burgess basketball gymnasium and the remodel of the Stanford Center for Sports and Recreation, has agreed to fund the building of a new all-gymnastics gym. Previously, the gymnastics gym and basketball gym shared a space, each area not receiving the attention or equipment it needed to be used to its fullest potential. With the upcoming gymnastics gym, finally our gymnastics gym will have all the equipment that it should have, such as foam pits and rod floors. To complete this new gym, the old gym, after having been a part of our community since 1975, will be torn down in May. Gymnastics classes will be held in a temporary gym, located on the field, for the expected nine months it will take to build the new gym. Savina says she expects the new gym will provide numerous benefits, including equipment that will help higher level teams, and make learning more fun for the preschoolers.

I bid a fond farewell to the old gym. I thank it for the experiences it has given me, and for being a constant landmark throughout my childhood. But I eagerly await the opportunities the new gym will bring.

Goodbye Burgess!

29

G rowing up around Menlo Park, many kids attended gymnastics classes at Burgess. As they got older, they dropped out. However, some

of us remain. I’m in Burges Gymnastics Gym Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I started in the Mommy-and-me class when I could walk, and have now been going there for sixteen out of my seventeen years. When my dad was in highschool and college, he also did gymnastics. He enrolled me at Burgess, like many other parents, because it is local and friendly. Currently, I’m in the competitive team class, while my younger brother and sister are in the recreational classes, and my dad is in the adult class. My coach is Savina Krakowski, who also grew up in Menlo Park and has been coaching there since 1989. She frequently encourages the team members to become a coach when they turn 16, and that’s exactly what I did. Starting last year, I help teach 3-5 year olds gymnastics on Saturday mornings. While being at the gym from 8:30 AM to noon teaching pre-schoolers, then coming back from 1 PM – 3:30 PM for team practice may not sound like the ideal Saturday, I get a lot of out of my experience there. Combining the experience of doing and teaching has given me a new insight into what we truly teach at Burgess. While the students do learn basic gymnastics skills, they also learn cooperation, patience, colors, and numbers, while also getting a valuable source of exercise. As I teach them,

by Alyssa Westfield

the old gym

the temp. gym

the new plan

Goodbye Burgess!

PHOTOGRAPHY Alyssa Westfi eld

I gain knowledge and skills that will help me throughout my life. Burgess has had a significant impact on my life, as well as influencing the lives of the thousands of kids who have attended.

While this was a steady weekly cycle, things are about to change. John Arrillaga, the same man who funded the new Burgess basketball gymnasium and the remodel of the Stanford Center for Sports and Recreation, has agreed to fund the building of a new all-gymnastics gym. Previously, the gymnastics gym and basketball gym shared a space, each area not receiving the attention or equipment it needed to be used to its fullest potential. With the upcoming gymnastics gym, finally our gymnastics gym will have all the equipment that it should have, such as foam pits and rod floors. To complete this new gym, the old gym, after having been a part of our community since 1975, will be torn down in May. Gymnastics classes will be held in a temporary gym, located on the field, for the expected nine months it will take to build the new gym. Savina says she expects the new gym will provide numerous benefits, including equipment that will help higher level teams, and make learning more fun for the preschoolers.

I bid a fond farewell to the old gym. I thank it for the experiences it has given me, and for being a constant landmark throughout my childhood. But I eagerly await the opportunities the new gym will bring.

Goodbye Burgess!

30FIELD

M-A TRACK AND

Stephanie Sabatini

We have been winning a lot

though, so I guess that’s a

good sign.

Since Mr. Perry has taken over as coach for M-A track and fi eld, the program has taken on a new legitimacy. Last season, being a no-cut sport, track was the go to program not only for those with a desire to participate in the athletics but also just for those who needed some more credits to meet graduation requirements. This year, with Mr. Perry coaching, students who sign up for track are required to be actually accountable. Last year, although technically students had to attend a certain number of practices and meets to receive credit for the sport, the rules were not enforced. Students, who did not take the sport seriously, did not have to attend consistently and still received sport credit. Mr. Perry began this year’s season with a much more committed attitude. Sign ups dropped some when students saw they would be held responsible for making constructive contributions. Perry said that “either they are going to do it 100% or they won’t do it at all.” Although the track program is receiving praises for it’s new found legitimacy, students who have experienced the transformation have mixed reviews. Some athletes believe that Mr. Perry is taking the sport “very seriously and sometimes needs to lighten up.” One M-A junior who has ran track for the past two years, acknowledges that even though “track is less fun than last year, Perry makes us work a lot harder. We have been winning a lot though, so I guess that’s a good sign.” Many students also sing praise for the new jumping coach, Aisha Swayzer, for being especially constructive and understanding about injuries – which can often be overlooked when a sport reaches a more serious level. So, while it may take some of the longstanding track athletes some time to adjust to Mr. Perry’s methods of coaching, the program has defi nitely taken a turn for the better.

31

FIELD

M-A TRACK AND

Stephanie Sabatini

We have been winning a lot

though, so I guess that’s a

good sign.

Since Mr. Perry has taken over as coach for M-A track and fi eld, the program has taken on a new legitimacy. Last season, being a no-cut sport, track was the go to program not only for those with a desire to participate in the athletics but also just for those who needed some more credits to meet graduation requirements. This year, with Mr. Perry coaching, students who sign up for track are required to be actually accountable. Last year, although technically students had to attend a certain number of practices and meets to receive credit for the sport, the rules were not enforced. Students, who did not take the sport seriously, did not have to attend consistently and still received sport credit. Mr. Perry began this year’s season with a much more committed attitude. Sign ups dropped some when students saw they would be held responsible for making constructive contributions. Perry said that “either they are going to do it 100% or they won’t do it at all.” Although the track program is receiving praises for it’s new found legitimacy, students who have experienced the transformation have mixed reviews. Some athletes believe that Mr. Perry is taking the sport “very seriously and sometimes needs to lighten up.” One M-A junior who has ran track for the past two years, acknowledges that even though “track is less fun than last year, Perry makes us work a lot harder. We have been winning a lot though, so I guess that’s a good sign.” Many students also sing praise for the new jumping coach, Aisha Swayzer, for being especially constructive and understanding about injuries – which can often be overlooked when a sport reaches a more serious level. So, while it may take some of the longstanding track athletes some time to adjust to Mr. Perry’s methods of coaching, the program has defi nitely taken a turn for the better.

32

@ ShelbyFero

by Phillip Witham

With the coming of Twitter has come the 140-character joke. Users can follow comedians such as Stephen Colbert, Conan O’brien, or (for frontal lobotomy patients and Shelby Fero) Sarah Silverman. Followers can fi nd a hilarious (unless they follow Sarah Silverman) nearly every minute. Twitter has become a Mecca for the established and the unknown to spread their comedic gold upon the proverbial Wonder Bread of the American public. If there were one person to follow next on Twitter, it would

be our own Shelby Fero. Shelby, now a senior, has quickly massed a growing following on Twitter. Her Twitter profi le, @shelbyfero, has been mentioned in Funny or Die, The Huffi ngton Post, and Wired

Magazine. We sat down to interview the rising star one sunny afternoon.The Mark: “So how do you feel about your success

as a Twitter comedian?”Shelby Fero: “Why are you writing this about me?” Anyways, get on Twitter and follow her.

“Sleep is so cute when it tries to com-pete with the inter-

net”- Shelby

33

@ ShelbyFero

by Phillip Witham

With the coming of Twitter has come the 140-character joke. Users can follow comedians such as Stephen Colbert, Conan O’brien, or (for frontal lobotomy patients and Shelby Fero) Sarah Silverman. Followers can fi nd a hilarious (unless they follow Sarah Silverman) nearly every minute. Twitter has become a Mecca for the established and the unknown to spread their comedic gold upon the proverbial Wonder Bread of the American public. If there were one person to follow next on Twitter, it would

be our own Shelby Fero. Shelby, now a senior, has quickly massed a growing following on Twitter. Her Twitter profi le, @shelbyfero, has been mentioned in Funny or Die, The Huffi ngton Post, and Wired

Magazine. We sat down to interview the rising star one sunny afternoon.The Mark: “So how do you feel about your success

as a Twitter comedian?”Shelby Fero: “Why are you writing this about me?” Anyways, get on Twitter and follow her.

“Sleep is so cute when it tries to com-pete with the inter-

net”- Shelby

34

AD SQUIRREL! Wait . . . sorry , what was I talking about? Oh, right!... DDo you:• “zone out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation?

• become extremely distracted and have a wandering attention that makes it hard

to stay on track?

• struggle to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple?

• Have a tendency to overlook details, which lead to errors or incomplete work?

• Have poor listening skills and a hard time remembering conversations and following

directions?

• blurt out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking?

• have trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways?

• trouble staying motivated?

• act recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences?

These are common symptoms of the disorder ADHD (or Attention Deficit Hy-

peractivity Disorder). If one or more of the above applies to you, you most likely do

not have it. No, you did not misread that (unless you read “do have it”). The number of

people who are convinced they have ADHD is significantly higher than the number of

people who actually have the disorder– and it’s over-diagnosed.

Having some sort of attentive or obsessive disorder seems to be a kind of fad

for high school students. The vast majority of my friends have at some point professed

to have ADD, and at least one of them diagnoses me with it every week or so. Most

of the people who say they have ADD use it to emphasize the fact that they are easily

distracted; however, quite a few teens are convinced that they have a disorder. Most

people have no idea what ADD is. Actually, ADD isn’t. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

was renamed ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in 1994. They are now

used to refer to the same disorder.

People with ADHD also tend to be unorganized, procrastinate, and are frequently

late. They are forgetful and frequently lose or misplace important items. About 10% of

children have ADHD; but, as mentioned earlier, the disorder is over-diagnosed. A miscon-

ception many people have is that a person with ADHD is simply easily distracted. While

it’s true that that is one symptom of the disorder, there are many factors that deter-

mine whether or not a person has it. Most people have symptoms of ADHD, but most

people do not actually have the disorder. ADHD isn’t just an attentive problem, it’s a

chemical problem in the organizational centers of the brain.

By: Caitlin Kenney

35

AD SQUIRREL! Wait . . . sorry , what was I talking about? Oh, right!... DDo you:• “zone out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation?

• become extremely distracted and have a wandering attention that makes it hard

to stay on track?

• struggle to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple?

• Have a tendency to overlook details, which lead to errors or incomplete work?

• Have poor listening skills and a hard time remembering conversations and following

directions?

• blurt out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking?

• have trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways?

• trouble staying motivated?

• act recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences?

These are common symptoms of the disorder ADHD (or Attention Deficit Hy-

peractivity Disorder). If one or more of the above applies to you, you most likely do

not have it. No, you did not misread that (unless you read “do have it”). The number of

people who are convinced they have ADHD is significantly higher than the number of

people who actually have the disorder– and it’s over-diagnosed.

Having some sort of attentive or obsessive disorder seems to be a kind of fad

for high school students. The vast majority of my friends have at some point professed

to have ADD, and at least one of them diagnoses me with it every week or so. Most

of the people who say they have ADD use it to emphasize the fact that they are easily

distracted; however, quite a few teens are convinced that they have a disorder. Most

people have no idea what ADD is. Actually, ADD isn’t. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

was renamed ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in 1994. They are now

used to refer to the same disorder.

People with ADHD also tend to be unorganized, procrastinate, and are frequently

late. They are forgetful and frequently lose or misplace important items. About 10% of

children have ADHD; but, as mentioned earlier, the disorder is over-diagnosed. A miscon-

ception many people have is that a person with ADHD is simply easily distracted. While

it’s true that that is one symptom of the disorder, there are many factors that deter-

mine whether or not a person has it. Most people have symptoms of ADHD, but most

people do not actually have the disorder. ADHD isn’t just an attentive problem, it’s a

chemical problem in the organizational centers of the brain.

By: Caitlin Kenney

Are you distracted by Wallace?

ART Diquan Richard

36

Planned Parenthood sends emails every day encouraging me to give them money. And if I had any money that was easy to send over the internet, I probably would.

As Redwood City prepares for a new Planned Parenthood clinic, it can be expected that birth control and reproductive health services will become more easily accessible to young people. Currently, there are several clinics in the area that offer family planning, STD screening, OB-GYN services, and birth control. Willow Clinic, on Willow Road, is certainly well within accessible range for students who attend M-A, and there are often posters for The Sequoia Teen Wellness Center seen around school. These two centers are both run by San Mateo Medical Center. The Sequoia Teen Wellness Center is only open on weekdays, and closes at 4:30. This could make it diffi cult to get appointments after or before school. However, it is easy to get an appointment during school. However, missing class could be a positive or negative experience, depending on how you look at it. Though the Sequoia Teen Wellness Center, Willow Clinic, and other clinics in the area do provide services for teens, Planned Parenthood would be a familiar name in healthcare for the community at large, especially those without health insurance. The addition of a new Planned Parenthood is overall positive for the community, making services more readily available to the people that need them, whether teens or adults.

The clinic’s hours would also be longer than the Sequoia Teen Wellness Center, from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M., with the possibility of two or more late days, and hours ending at 7 o’clock. Saturday morning may also be an option. This would make the services the clinic offers more available for patients, especially those who work during the week. Dr. Susan Schor had worked with Planned Parenthood Golden Gate until it closed and currently works with Planned Parenthood in Sunnyvale and at Skyline College Student Health Center. She is a Redwood City resident, and notes that when Planned Parenthood Golden Gate closed, patients searched elsewhere for care. However, “those patients are still in the community” and still need health care.“It’s a growing need,” she says. Representatives from Planned Parenthood expressed at a planning meeting earlier this year that the community in general has been supportive of the move. According to Valerie Rowe, Area Services Director, the County Health Department has been a large proponent of Planned Parenthood’s establishing itself in Redwood City.

An important factor in choosing the site for the clinic was the option for public transportation. It makes little sense to have a clinic “out in the boonies” where people without cars, bikes, etc., can’t get to it. So its projected site, on El Camino (2890 El Camino) - near the border of Redwood City

PLANNED PARENTHOODa positive addition to the community

and Atherton- is a convenient location. There are of course, those who oppose Planned Parenthood. There will always be people with posters and disturbing abortion pictures. Planned Parenthood is not focused on abortions. The healthcare offered at Planned Parenthood is valuable for everyone in the community- men, women, children and teens. They provide health services for people who can’t pay for healthcare. And luckily, they still get government funding. Planned Parenthood stands as more than just a convenience in the community, but also as an active proponent of open discussion and education. “We understand from the community these [services] are really needed here,” Rowe said. Planned Parenthood hosts programs that help pregnant teens fi nish school, and their website teems with information for teens and adults. Not only would Planned Parenthood prove useful to the community, but directly have an impact on the students at M-A. Though condoms are available at M-A, time searching for other forms of free birth control and researching places to get health care would be greatly reduced. Its convenient location, familiar name, and well established presence in the community would make it an easy place to go and hopefully facilitate more comfortable discussion about sex, birth control, and reproductive health.

by Rachel Fox

37

Planned Parenthood sends emails every day encouraging me to give them money. And if I had any money that was easy to send over the internet, I probably would.

As Redwood City prepares for a new Planned Parenthood clinic, it can be expected that birth control and reproductive health services will become more easily accessible to young people. Currently, there are several clinics in the area that offer family planning, STD screening, OB-GYN services, and birth control. Willow Clinic, on Willow Road, is certainly well within accessible range for students who attend M-A, and there are often posters for The Sequoia Teen Wellness Center seen around school. These two centers are both run by San Mateo Medical Center. The Sequoia Teen Wellness Center is only open on weekdays, and closes at 4:30. This could make it diffi cult to get appointments after or before school. However, it is easy to get an appointment during school. However, missing class could be a positive or negative experience, depending on how you look at it. Though the Sequoia Teen Wellness Center, Willow Clinic, and other clinics in the area do provide services for teens, Planned Parenthood would be a familiar name in healthcare for the community at large, especially those without health insurance. The addition of a new Planned Parenthood is overall positive for the community, making services more readily available to the people that need them, whether teens or adults.

The clinic’s hours would also be longer than the Sequoia Teen Wellness Center, from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M., with the possibility of two or more late days, and hours ending at 7 o’clock. Saturday morning may also be an option. This would make the services the clinic offers more available for patients, especially those who work during the week. Dr. Susan Schor had worked with Planned Parenthood Golden Gate until it closed and currently works with Planned Parenthood in Sunnyvale and at Skyline College Student Health Center. She is a Redwood City resident, and notes that when Planned Parenthood Golden Gate closed, patients searched elsewhere for care. However, “those patients are still in the community” and still need health care.“It’s a growing need,” she says. Representatives from Planned Parenthood expressed at a planning meeting earlier this year that the community in general has been supportive of the move. According to Valerie Rowe, Area Services Director, the County Health Department has been a large proponent of Planned Parenthood’s establishing itself in Redwood City.

An important factor in choosing the site for the clinic was the option for public transportation. It makes little sense to have a clinic “out in the boonies” where people without cars, bikes, etc., can’t get to it. So its projected site, on El Camino (2890 El Camino) - near the border of Redwood City

PLANNED PARENTHOODa positive addition to the community

and Atherton- is a convenient location. There are of course, those who oppose Planned Parenthood. There will always be people with posters and disturbing abortion pictures. Planned Parenthood is not focused on abortions. The healthcare offered at Planned Parenthood is valuable for everyone in the community- men, women, children and teens. They provide health services for people who can’t pay for healthcare. And luckily, they still get government funding. Planned Parenthood stands as more than just a convenience in the community, but also as an active proponent of open discussion and education. “We understand from the community these [services] are really needed here,” Rowe said. Planned Parenthood hosts programs that help pregnant teens fi nish school, and their website teems with information for teens and adults. Not only would Planned Parenthood prove useful to the community, but directly have an impact on the students at M-A. Though condoms are available at M-A, time searching for other forms of free birth control and researching places to get health care would be greatly reduced. Its convenient location, familiar name, and well established presence in the community would make it an easy place to go and hopefully facilitate more comfortable discussion about sex, birth control, and reproductive health.

by Rachel Fox

38ART Lauren Smith

Daily Post Owes Teachers Explanation

Written by M-A Bear News Editorial Board

Many teachers felt that their privacy had been violated due to a recent article in the Daily Post releasing teacher salaries in the Sequoia Union

High School District. While this information is public record, lack of context and biased word choice made the article not only insensi-tive but also an example of poor journalism.

� e article, � rst published on April 1st with an-other installment following on the 2nd, consists of a spreadsheet containing salaries given out by the District. Teachers, administrators, and other employees are included in the chart. � e salaries and names rank from highest to lowest. “I felt kind of exposed. Generally one thinks of one’s earnings as something pri-vate,” expressed English teacher Liane Strub. However, under the California Pub-lic Records Act, the Daily Post has the right to publish the salaries of government employees. “� ink of it as an employee-employer kind of relationship,” says author of the Daily Post article, Ryan Riddle. “If I didn’t do anything right, my boss has the right to know because he pays me.” Many feel that privacy could have been better respected if teachers were listed by � eld of education, brack-et, and hours worked, rather than by name. However, Riddle believes that “it puts a name to a face. Speaking for myself, it would be kind of uninteresting or foolish for a boss not to know who their employees are.” More like put-ting a dollar sign to a face, actually. And although teachers’ salaries are certainly an excellent pull

factor for the Daily Post, simply including their names with no other analysis is in poor taste. Teachers felt that at the very least, more background information could have been pro-vided about these facts to explain the reason-ing behind certain salaries. What analysis the Post did provide was headed with the in� am-matory title “Little-Known Perks For Teachers.” “� e article seems manipulative be-cause of its apparent bias in its wording and pre-sentation. Overall, it could use more explana-tion,” says history teacher Jonathan Senigaglia. “We gave their jobs and their salaries,” Riddle stated. “Would it have been more de-tailed if we had included things such as part time versus full time? Perhaps. It would have been more information, and more informa-tion is good.” Yes, more information is good. � e major � aws behind the article are a lack of research and context. Without such context, it appears that the story’s sole pur-pose is to incite antagonism against teachers. “� ey’re going to try and justify cutting this salary or that expenditure,” math teacher Kristen Trent expressed. “I think there’s an agenda, for sure.” � e word “perk” speci� cally contributed to the article’s overall negative reception. � e term, without context, is widely perceived as a bene� t or privilege, and many feel it does not accu-rately express what teachers’ extra pay actually is. Riddle says extra pay, de� ned by the district, is “anything that falls outside of an em-ployee’s contract, including overtime, coach-ing, or clubs,” and that he was only imply-ing that it is an extra pay that comes with the job. “Any kind of reimbursement can be considered a perk. It’s just the terminology.”

ART Lauren Smith

39

Daily Post Owes Teachers Explanation

Written by M-A Bear News Editorial Board

Many teachers felt that their privacy had been violated due to a recent article in the Daily Post releasing teacher salaries in the Sequoia Union

High School District. While this information is public record, lack of context and biased word choice made the article not only insensi-tive but also an example of poor journalism.

� e article, � rst published on April 1st with an-other installment following on the 2nd, consists of a spreadsheet containing salaries given out by the District. Teachers, administrators, and other employees are included in the chart. � e salaries and names rank from highest to lowest. “I felt kind of exposed. Generally one thinks of one’s earnings as something pri-vate,” expressed English teacher Liane Strub. However, under the California Pub-lic Records Act, the Daily Post has the right to publish the salaries of government employees. “� ink of it as an employee-employer kind of relationship,” says author of the Daily Post article, Ryan Riddle. “If I didn’t do anything right, my boss has the right to know because he pays me.” Many feel that privacy could have been better respected if teachers were listed by � eld of education, brack-et, and hours worked, rather than by name. However, Riddle believes that “it puts a name to a face. Speaking for myself, it would be kind of uninteresting or foolish for a boss not to know who their employees are.” More like put-ting a dollar sign to a face, actually. And although teachers’ salaries are certainly an excellent pull

factor for the Daily Post, simply including their names with no other analysis is in poor taste. Teachers felt that at the very least, more background information could have been pro-vided about these facts to explain the reason-ing behind certain salaries. What analysis the Post did provide was headed with the in� am-matory title “Little-Known Perks For Teachers.” “� e article seems manipulative be-cause of its apparent bias in its wording and pre-sentation. Overall, it could use more explana-tion,” says history teacher Jonathan Senigaglia. “We gave their jobs and their salaries,” Riddle stated. “Would it have been more de-tailed if we had included things such as part time versus full time? Perhaps. It would have been more information, and more informa-tion is good.” Yes, more information is good. � e major � aws behind the article are a lack of research and context. Without such context, it appears that the story’s sole pur-pose is to incite antagonism against teachers. “� ey’re going to try and justify cutting this salary or that expenditure,” math teacher Kristen Trent expressed. “I think there’s an agenda, for sure.” � e word “perk” speci� cally contributed to the article’s overall negative reception. � e term, without context, is widely perceived as a bene� t or privilege, and many feel it does not accu-rately express what teachers’ extra pay actually is. Riddle says extra pay, de� ned by the district, is “anything that falls outside of an em-ployee’s contract, including overtime, coach-ing, or clubs,” and that he was only imply-ing that it is an extra pay that comes with the job. “Any kind of reimbursement can be considered a perk. It’s just the terminology.”

ART Lauren Smith

40

Feeling a bit like movie critics, we sat down amongst a crowd of students and parents, eager to enjoy Mr. Giambruno’s

2011 Student Film Festival. Seated in the plush PAC chairs, all that was missing was the popcorn. The festival featured a

variety of student-made short fi lms, with subjects ranging serious to completely silly. The fi lms revealed student perspectives

on sensitive topics like racial profi ling, loss, and peer pressure.

Highlights of the night included Britteny Badduke and Peter Freschi’s, Catz and Drugz, Meowvie, which lightened the

serious topic of peer pressure by depicting cat-like high school students getting drunk off milk. While silly, the movie had an

obvious message: stay above the infl uence. Jake Meyers and Michael McDonnell’s, A Glass of Tang, took on a somber tone

following the struggle of a grief-stricken man. This fi lm was also notable for its unique and creative special effects. Another

movie with striking special effects was German Romero’s, Youth Discrimination, which depicted the often overlooked

issue of racial discrimination in our legal system.

All the fi lms were an excellent display of cinematography and we highly

suggest that this festival become an annual event so that all Menlo-

Atherton students can view the great talent of their

peers.

by Naomi Pacalin and Sasha Bobrowicz

student film festival

Menlo -Atherton

Battle of the Bands

The music scene at M-A rocks, but showcasing student talent has proven diffi cult. The Battle of the Bands is an annual event held at M-A that successfully does just that. Do you remember when you were forced to learn, say, the piano? And it wasn’t cool? Now is the time in our lives when playing an instrument gets cool. It can be anything, a ukulele, guitar, electric violin, or the triangle, really any musical talent whatsoever earns brownie points from your peers.

Being in a band is one of the ways that M-A students do just that. Noah Stid, Colin Sutton, Stefan Turkowski, and Jonny Hoech formed their multi-genre band, “Tyrannosaurus Sex” a couple of years ago. Their music can be described as prehistorically sensual and as said by Nicholas Cuisinot, they’re “like one giant-ass dinosaur of a band blowing your mind”. And although not playing at the Battle, senior James Wenzel’s “Rather Bright” is another well-known musical sensation of M-A. He can be found at ratherbright.bandcamp.com, where his alternative-soul voice is smooth and honest, and his lyrics are from the heart. Max Goldenstein is another solo-artist performing at the Battle, in “The Cosmic Owl Band”, in which he loops a number of instrumentals, all on his own.

Leadership traditionally runs the Battle, and this year in charge is Leah Worthington and Misha Schwarz. This year most of the bands that auditioned for the Battle were accepted, however, because the concert, or festival as it could be called, is only three hours long, Misha and Leah had to limit the length of each performance. The music being played consists of classic rock, alternative rock, and hard rock/metal, but across campus, a larger variety of genres can be found, such as ukulele tunes from Hawaii and the Pacifi c Islands. M-A has as much musical talent as any other high school, but with more variety. And getting involved is as easy as signing up for a guitar, choral, or band class!

PHOTOGRAPHY Suzie McMurtry

by Suzie McMurtry

The Lineup:-Whambergur: Neil Zaky, Brett Warren, Alexander Bercow-Tyrannosaurus Sex: Stefan Turkowski, Colin Sutton, Jonathan Hoech, and Noah Stid-Optimistic Oppression: Jonathan Morataya, Marc Bermudez, Sammuel Martinez, Luis Barcelo-Cosmic Owl Band: Max Goldenstein:-Honey Bunches of Dope: Mark Moritz-Rabson, Sam Hausman, Koji Kameda, Johan Guerra-Eponymous: Christo� er � ygesen, Philip Witham, Brogan O’Hara, Evan Weiner-Sour Diesel- Ste� an Salas, Julian Salas, David Stern, Matt Shea

Feeling a bit like movie critics, we sat down amongst a crowd of students and parents, eager to enjoy Mr. Giambruno’s

2011 Student Film Festival. Seated in the plush PAC chairs, all that was missing was the popcorn. The festival featured a

variety of student-made short fi lms, with subjects ranging serious to completely silly. The fi lms revealed student perspectives

on sensitive topics like racial profi ling, loss, and peer pressure.

Highlights of the night included Britteny Badduke and Peter Freschi’s, Catz and Drugz, Meowvie, which lightened the

serious topic of peer pressure by depicting cat-like high school students getting drunk off milk. While silly, the movie had an

obvious message: stay above the infl uence. Jake Meyers and Michael McDonnell’s, A Glass of Tang, took on a somber tone

following the struggle of a grief-stricken man. This fi lm was also notable for its unique and creative special effects. Another

movie with striking special effects was German Romero’s, Youth Discrimination, which depicted the often overlooked

issue of racial discrimination in our legal system.

All the fi lms were an excellent display of cinematography and we highly

suggest that this festival become an annual event so that all Menlo-

Atherton students can view the great talent of their

peers.

by Naomi Pacalin and Sasha Bobrowicz

student film festival

Menlo -Atherton

Battle of the Bands

The music scene at M-A rocks, but showcasing student talent has proven diffi cult. The Battle of the Bands is an annual event held at M-A that successfully does just that. Do you remember when you were forced to learn, say, the piano? And it wasn’t cool? Now is the time in our lives when playing an instrument gets cool. It can be anything, a ukulele, guitar, electric violin, or the triangle, really any musical talent whatsoever earns brownie points from your peers.

Being in a band is one of the ways that M-A students do just that. Noah Stid, Colin Sutton, Stefan Turkowski, and Jonny Hoech formed their multi-genre band, “Tyrannosaurus Sex” a couple of years ago. Their music can be described as prehistorically sensual and as said by Nicholas Cuisinot, they’re “like one giant-ass dinosaur of a band blowing your mind”. And although not playing at the Battle, senior James Wenzel’s “Rather Bright” is another well-known musical sensation of M-A. He can be found at ratherbright.bandcamp.com, where his alternative-soul voice is smooth and honest, and his lyrics are from the heart. Max Goldenstein is another solo-artist performing at the Battle, in “The Cosmic Owl Band”, in which he loops a number of instrumentals, all on his own.

Leadership traditionally runs the Battle, and this year in charge is Leah Worthington and Misha Schwarz. This year most of the bands that auditioned for the Battle were accepted, however, because the concert, or festival as it could be called, is only three hours long, Misha and Leah had to limit the length of each performance. The music being played consists of classic rock, alternative rock, and hard rock/metal, but across campus, a larger variety of genres can be found, such as ukulele tunes from Hawaii and the Pacifi c Islands. M-A has as much musical talent as any other high school, but with more variety. And getting involved is as easy as signing up for a guitar, choral, or band class!

PHOTOGRAPHY Suzie McMurtry

by Suzie McMurtry

The Lineup:-Whambergur: Neil Zaky, Brett Warren, Alexander Bercow-Tyrannosaurus Sex: Stefan Turkowski, Colin Sutton, Jonathan Hoech, and Noah Stid-Optimistic Oppression: Jonathan Morataya, Marc Bermudez, Sammuel Martinez, Luis Barcelo-Cosmic Owl Band: Max Goldenstein:-Honey Bunches of Dope: Mark Moritz-Rabson, Sam Hausman, Koji Kameda, Johan Guerra-Eponymous: Christo� er � ygesen, Philip Witham, Brogan O’Hara, Evan Weiner-Sour Diesel- Ste� an Salas, Julian Salas, David Stern, Matt Shea

42

Ms. Trent, a math teacher and Redwood City householder, has noticed many students frat-ernizing around her town. She mainly sports the most students at the Century 20 Redwood City movie theatre, a popular spot among students, as they gather to see Hollywood’s latest fl icks. Many students also eat at the plethora of restau-rants scattered down both Broadway and Main Streets. Due to the convenient location of the movie theatres, students scramble to surround-ing restaurants as they dine before they sit down with their popcorn and ICEES to watch the hot-test new fi lms. Popular Spots: The Movie Theatres, Milagro’s,Chipotle, Suisha House

Nana Teu, a sophomore and citizen of EPA, has noticed that there is a lack of dining and shop-ping options in her town. However, there is no shortage of recreational fun in East Palo Alto and the adjacent East Menlo Park. Teu explains that students often can be found at both Jack Pharrel and Martin Luther King Parks in East Palo Alto. Also, the Onetta Harris Community Center in East Menlo Park is a popular destination for basketball players and swimmers. Finally, Teu says that many students enjoy and take full advantage of the Boys & Girls Clubs in EPA and East Menlo Park. Popular Spots: Martin Luther King Park, Onetta Har-ris Community Center, Boys & Girls Club, McDon-alds, Baskin Robbins

Neighborhoods of the Peninsula by Ryan W

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oogle Maps

Redwood City

Menlo Park

Ladera Stanford/Palo Alto

East Palo Alto

Students spend about seven hours a day sitting at desks, taking nots, and working diligently. But what they do after 3:15 and on the weekends? Four students and one teacher (!) answer where most kids in their respective towns hang out.

Alameda de las Pulgas, a street in West Menlo Park, has gained popular-ity among high school students. Sam Tasch, a sophomore and Menlo Park resident, is a constant customer at restaurants along the Alameda. Tasch suggests the Dutch Goose, a long time favorite among teens that live in the Peninsula. He proclaims, “the Goose is one of the most, if not the most popular restaurant in Menlo Park.” He loves the Alameda for the “warm, friendly vibe” and buzzing social scene. Popular Spots: The Dutch Goose, The Mix: A Frozen Treatery, Lulu’s on the Alameda

Diane Masket, a Ladera native, fi nds nonstop fun burrowed in the rolling hills of Portola Valley. Masket, a junior, loves waking up to coffee at Konditorei, a café in the Ladera Center. For din-ner, Masket recommends Amigos Grill, known for their “wonderful burritos”. She also enjoys Bianchini’s Market for its late hours, making it ideal for late night ice cream runs. Though not as populous as Stanford Shopping Center or Menlo Park, Ladera has something to suit every teenager’s needs.Popular Spots: Konditorei, Amigos Grill, Mike’s Café, Bianchini’s Market, Ladera Rec

Palo Alto, known for Stanford and its young college students, is also home to another social center, the Stanford Shopping Center. Vivian Qiu, a sophomore and an Atherton resident, often fi nds herself wandering from shop to shop with her fi rends, enjoying the myriad of clothing and merchandise for sale. She also enjoys the delectable food, ranging from the Peninsula Creamery to Pinkberry. The plethora of options, be it food or apparel, makes for an attractive place to socialize. Popular Spots: Nordstrom’s, Peninsula Cream-ery, Bloomingdale’s, PacSun, California Pizza Kitchen, Pinkberry

We’ve all been there. That moment after you cast once last furtive glance towards the text you just sent, only to see that your phone has somehow misinterpreted your typing of ‘sunburn’ to ‘pregnant’. Or to realize instead of sending that text to your girlfriend you sent it to your mom. Dinner tonight should be fun… It’s just a part of life, like puberty, or getting pushed into lockers when you’re a Freshman. The sad truth is that texting mishaps happen to everyone and there is nothing you can do about it, except laugh about it hope your mom still thinks that Jack Daniels sits behind you in Geometry.

Texting Gone Wrongby Roger Upton

Mommy Vladimir Blaine

43

Ms. Trent, a math teacher and Redwood City householder, has noticed many students frat-ernizing around her town. She mainly sports the most students at the Century 20 Redwood City movie theatre, a popular spot among students, as they gather to see Hollywood’s latest fl icks. Many students also eat at the plethora of restau-rants scattered down both Broadway and Main Streets. Due to the convenient location of the movie theatres, students scramble to surround-ing restaurants as they dine before they sit down with their popcorn and ICEES to watch the hot-test new fi lms. Popular Spots: The Movie Theatres, Milagro’s,Chipotle, Suisha House

Nana Teu, a sophomore and citizen of EPA, has noticed that there is a lack of dining and shop-ping options in her town. However, there is no shortage of recreational fun in East Palo Alto and the adjacent East Menlo Park. Teu explains that students often can be found at both Jack Pharrel and Martin Luther King Parks in East Palo Alto. Also, the Onetta Harris Community Center in East Menlo Park is a popular destination for basketball players and swimmers. Finally, Teu says that many students enjoy and take full advantage of the Boys & Girls Clubs in EPA and East Menlo Park. Popular Spots: Martin Luther King Park, Onetta Har-ris Community Center, Boys & Girls Club, McDon-alds, Baskin Robbins

Neighborhoods of the Peninsula by Ryan W

entzP

HO

TO

GR

AP

HY

Creative C

omm

ons, G

oogle Maps

Redwood City

Menlo Park

Ladera Stanford/Palo Alto

East Palo Alto

Students spend about seven hours a day sitting at desks, taking nots, and working diligently. But what they do after 3:15 and on the weekends? Four students and one teacher (!) answer where most kids in their respective towns hang out.

Alameda de las Pulgas, a street in West Menlo Park, has gained popular-ity among high school students. Sam Tasch, a sophomore and Menlo Park resident, is a constant customer at restaurants along the Alameda. Tasch suggests the Dutch Goose, a long time favorite among teens that live in the Peninsula. He proclaims, “the Goose is one of the most, if not the most popular restaurant in Menlo Park.” He loves the Alameda for the “warm, friendly vibe” and buzzing social scene. Popular Spots: The Dutch Goose, The Mix: A Frozen Treatery, Lulu’s on the Alameda

Diane Masket, a Ladera native, fi nds nonstop fun burrowed in the rolling hills of Portola Valley. Masket, a junior, loves waking up to coffee at Konditorei, a café in the Ladera Center. For din-ner, Masket recommends Amigos Grill, known for their “wonderful burritos”. She also enjoys Bianchini’s Market for its late hours, making it ideal for late night ice cream runs. Though not as populous as Stanford Shopping Center or Menlo Park, Ladera has something to suit every teenager’s needs.Popular Spots: Konditorei, Amigos Grill, Mike’s Café, Bianchini’s Market, Ladera Rec

Palo Alto, known for Stanford and its young college students, is also home to another social center, the Stanford Shopping Center. Vivian Qiu, a sophomore and an Atherton resident, often fi nds herself wandering from shop to shop with her fi rends, enjoying the myriad of clothing and merchandise for sale. She also enjoys the delectable food, ranging from the Peninsula Creamery to Pinkberry. The plethora of options, be it food or apparel, makes for an attractive place to socialize. Popular Spots: Nordstrom’s, Peninsula Cream-ery, Bloomingdale’s, PacSun, California Pizza Kitchen, Pinkberry

We’ve all been there. That moment after you cast once last furtive glance towards the text you just sent, only to see that your phone has somehow misinterpreted your typing of ‘sunburn’ to ‘pregnant’. Or to realize instead of sending that text to your girlfriend you sent it to your mom. Dinner tonight should be fun… It’s just a part of life, like puberty, or getting pushed into lockers when you’re a Freshman. The sad truth is that texting mishaps happen to everyone and there is nothing you can do about it, except laugh about it hope your mom still thinks that Jack Daniels sits behind you in Geometry.

Texting Gone Wrongby Roger Upton

Mommy Vladimir Blaine

44ART Lauren SmithPHOTOGRAPHYClaire Jungleib

45ART Lauren SmithPHOTOGRAPHYClaire Jungleib

46

What Will seniors miss the most about m-a?

“I will miss Polynesians” -Vince Hagman

“I’ll miss this school because they help me do my classes and I’ll miss the ladies and teachers”- Kevin Fanuatanu

“I had a lot of fun at M-A, I’ll miss the baseball team” - Casey Eason

“A dumb person learns from his mistakes a wise person learns from others mistakes is a quote that’s helped. Me go through highschool.” - Zaid Vargas

“I’ll miss the times when me’ and dom got to skate and Sam used to bust our asses” - Dave Douglas

“Spending time at lunch with my friends” - Jose Gonzlez

“I’ll miss the PAC, teachers, and the grass.” - Ricardo Colin

“I’ll miss the athletics.” - Stas Della Morte

“I’ll miss the wrestling room.” - Austin Escobedo

“The girls...” - Lualala Naufahu

“All of my friends, the teachers, and I guess events that go on that i got to meet people at.” - Charliie Contreras

“I’ll miss football.” - Erwin Estrabo

“When I graduate, the thing i’ll miss te most about M-A is the teachers that I had a close bond with” - Sela Tupou

“What I will miss most about MA when I graduate are the teach-ers that I have grown very close to over the years. And of course MA Dance Team and Nona.”-Brandaise Armstrong

“Sam, the security guard, yelling at me for things I shouldn’t be do-ing.”-Wes Hagman

“Nothing” - Colin Sutton

“I will miss the weekly fi re alarms going off and the fact that no one even fl inches when they go off.”-Taylor Gananian

“Starting the dynasty known as MA Lacrosse.”-Alec Van Stone

“Don’t be a teachers pet... no one will like you AND never remind a teacher to collect homework. Ooh and don’t take anything too seriously, have fun!”-Emily Aguilar

“I’m going to miss the 6th man club”-Chris Chavolla

“I’ll miss how it’s right behind my house and I just wake up 10 minutes before school.” - John Athens

“I won’t miss s***.” - DeVonte Piper

“I’ll miss my LAX bros.” - Jai Vaswani

by Anna Argente and Bridget Magaña

47

What Will seniors miss the most about m-a?

“I will miss Polynesians” -Vince Hagman

“I’ll miss this school because they help me do my classes and I’ll miss the ladies and teachers”- Kevin Fanuatanu

“I had a lot of fun at M-A, I’ll miss the baseball team” - Casey Eason

“A dumb person learns from his mistakes a wise person learns from others mistakes is a quote that’s helped. Me go through highschool.” - Zaid Vargas

“I’ll miss the times when me’ and dom got to skate and Sam used to bust our asses” - Dave Douglas

“Spending time at lunch with my friends” - Jose Gonzlez

“I’ll miss the PAC, teachers, and the grass.” - Ricardo Colin

“I’ll miss the athletics.” - Stas Della Morte

“I’ll miss the wrestling room.” - Austin Escobedo

“The girls...” - Lualala Naufahu

“All of my friends, the teachers, and I guess events that go on that i got to meet people at.” - Charliie Contreras

“I’ll miss football.” - Erwin Estrabo

“When I graduate, the thing i’ll miss te most about M-A is the teachers that I had a close bond with” - Sela Tupou

“What I will miss most about MA when I graduate are the teach-ers that I have grown very close to over the years. And of course MA Dance Team and Nona.”-Brandaise Armstrong

“Sam, the security guard, yelling at me for things I shouldn’t be do-ing.”-Wes Hagman

“Nothing” - Colin Sutton

“I will miss the weekly fi re alarms going off and the fact that no one even fl inches when they go off.”-Taylor Gananian

“Starting the dynasty known as MA Lacrosse.”-Alec Van Stone

“Don’t be a teachers pet... no one will like you AND never remind a teacher to collect homework. Ooh and don’t take anything too seriously, have fun!”-Emily Aguilar

“I’m going to miss the 6th man club”-Chris Chavolla

“I’ll miss how it’s right behind my house and I just wake up 10 minutes before school.” - John Athens

“I won’t miss s***.” - DeVonte Piper

“I’ll miss my LAX bros.” - Jai Vaswani

by Anna Argente and Bridget Magaña

The MArk has been an awesome part of my high school experience. I first

participated with the MArk as a junior, spending lunchtimes and hours outside of school helping out with layout and any artistic tasks that needed to be

done. This year I've had an even larger role with the magazine, serving as

the Arts Editor. I strongly encourage everyone to consider enrolling in Journalism, or at least submitting a piece. As a staff member you are

encouraged to leverage your specific talents and background to contribute something unique to the publication. Personally, the MArk has been a way for me to apply my love of art to a

more multi-dimensional project.

Although I'm going to college next year, I can't wait to see how the MArk continues to develop and evolve. With a student body as large, diverse, and talented as M-A's, the MArk can only

get better.

--Sofia

Parting Thoughts...

This is the end of my senior year. After two years in journalism, one in digital photography, and one hopelessly confused freshman year, here I am, graduating. It finally feels like I've completed something. I wanted to say a final goodbye to all of the readers, contributors, and of course all of the staff members who I've gotten a chance to work with this year and last year- it has been a huge amount of work, but also a ton of fun. When I signed up for Journalism, I never thought that one day I'd be at school until 10 pm, trying to send a final magazine file to the printer, eating Chinese food, and being kind of disgusted that I was at school that late. I'll never forget going completely hysterical over blank pages, running around from computer to computer with a flash drive when the server crashed, telling people that their layouts looked like crap (or amaz-ing, when applicable), being the computer nerd of the room, and being a part of the hilarious mosaic of a community that we had in E-26. Through working on the magazine our class truly became a team. To work in the same room for what feels like a billion hours a day and to finally send the magazine to press creates mutual pride and a sense of community. I'm so glad I was a part of Journalism and The MArk at M-A. Now I have a tangible stack of magazines to look at, hold in my hands, and show off to my friends like the most obnoxious person you've ever met. It's so fun. My wish for the magazine in the future is for it to evolve and continue to be interesting, fun, and nice to look at, just like you. So on that note, congratulations to all gradu-ating seniors, it's been fun. As for the rest of you finishing high school, you might as well make the best of it.

--Rachel