THE SPARTAN

La Cañada High SchoolVolume XX, Issue 1 October 13, 2009

National Merit Scholars

Fourteen spectacu-lar seniors from La Cañada High

School qualified as Na-tional Merit Semifinalists announced by the Na-tional Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The students are Alex-andra Antonoplis, Julia Burrows, Silas Hughes, Kevin Hurlbutt, Robert Jones, Tim Joo, Jane

Kang, Riley Kessler, Ber-nard Kim, Emily Kim, Megan Koerber, Caroline Koo, Lingkai Tang and Christina Zdawczyk.

These talented students make up the less-than-one-percent of all 1.5 million students that took the 2008 PSAT last year. Each year, approximately 16,000 top-performing PSAT stu-dents are chosen across the

country as semifinalists. Then, 15,000 of the 16,000 students then go through an application process that includes a counselor’s rec-ommendation and an essay in order to try to become National Merit Finalists. Then, of the 15,000 Final-ists, 8,200 receive schol-arships, then becoming National Merit Scholars. Some finalists may also re-

ceive smaller scholarships from corporate sponsors. There are also roughly 4,600 college-sponsored scholarships for students who plan on attending the sponsor col lege . The La Canada High School staff and stu-dents would like to con-gratulate these esteemed students on their spectacu-lar academic achievement!

Questions, comments or contributions? Contact us at lchsspartan@gmail.com.

LCHS takes evacuees page 3

LCXC CIF Material?

page 6 page 10

Advice for Juniors

Looking for Scooby Snacks By Ameer Khan Spartan Staff

among their children, pres-sured Ms. Sinette to call on Scooby Doo and his gang to sniff around the campus.

The parents concerns resulted in administra-tive action as the drug dogs program was initi-ated at LCHS during the 2007-2008 school year. Students were immedi-ately enraged. One sig-nificant concern among the student body was how the school was paying for the canines. Students wondered if the adminis-tration was spending its money wisely consider-ing that amidst a deepen-ing recession and teacher cuts, the school decided to bust druggies rather than trying to keep teachers.

The fact of the mat-

Over the last two years, controver-sy has surrounded

La Canada High School’s decision to implement drugs dogs. The deci-sion was made amidst a growing number of drug related incidents at the high school. Drug related instances, some of which resulted in suspensions and arrests, caused school administrators to take preemptive action.

Rumored to be the main propagatovr of the program is Wendy Si-nette, the former princi-pal of La Canada’s 7/8 schools. Parents of the ju-nior high school students, who were witnessing a growing drug problem continued on page 2

LC Welcomes Ms. PittmanBy Grace AmicoSpartan Staff

Allow me to intro-duce you to Miss Audra Pittman, La

Cañada High School’s new high school principal. She is already making a differ-ence as the school’s first female principal in the en-tire 46 years of La Cañada High School’s existence.

The arrival of a new principal often brings a feeling of uncertainty to skeptical high school students. Their policies and disposition are a mys-tery, and some students do not even know their new principal’s name or appearance. However, Miss Pittman has been working hard to intro-duce herself to the staff, teachers, and students by attending sports games and school activities. She is already proving to be a proactive leader and positive school influence.

Before arriving in La Cañada, Miss Pit-tman worked as the As-sistant Principal at Pioneer High School in Whittier, California. She is self-described as driven, and has a motto of “good is

Dear Spartan Nation,

This is your ASB President, Mary Young, speaking. I just wanted to let you all know how truly excited I am for this year!

Seniors, get ready for some risky business. Juniors, we all know you don’t fail. Sophomores, congrats on not being freshman. And freshies, well good luck!

ASB has some really great ideas for the rest of the year. First we have homecoming, which will fea-ture a rally, parade, game, and amazing dance. After a successful homecoming, ASB will do many more activities and try to be as active on campus as pos-sible. Also, we are always looking for new ideas!

Stop me or any other ASB member to let us know what you think! Thanks Spartans and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my year with you!

Go Spartans!,

Mary Young

Message in a Bottle

Miss Pittman looks foward to an exciting year with the Spartans.

From left: Silas Hughes, Meg Koerber, Tim Joo, Riley Kessler, Lingkai Tang, Emily Kim, Bernard Kim, Alex Antonopolis, Trent Jones, Caroline Koo, Jane Kang, Kevin Hurlbutt, Christina Zdawczyk.

not enough” to describe a desire to help make the school as great as it can be. Her confidence and hard work have paid off, espe-cially with the many com-plications that occurred before the start of school, like the station fire and the school construction.

According to Miss Pittman, the beginning of school was a “smooth start thanks to the [help from the] teachers and parents.”

W h e n a s k e d about her plans for LCHS’ future, Miss Pittman re-

marked that her main goal would be that “every stu-dent [at LCHS] has a well-rounded education” and that she wants “what’s best for the students.”

Although there may be some bumps along the way, Miss Pittman’s main hope is “for the en-

ergy that was felt on the first day of school contin-ues throughout the year.”

If you happen to pass Miss Pittman in the hall or see her in the office, be sure to make her feel welcome, because she is a much-needed addition to La Cañada High School.

Alicia Kim

What’s Inside

Her hobbies include scrapbooking, traveling, dancing, and read-ing. She finds thrills when vis-

iting her favorite Disney character, Tinkerbell, at Disneyland with her son and daughter and exploring the historical town of Victoria, British Co-lumbia. Say hello to Mrs. Kristina Kalb! Mrs. Kalb is the new AP Gov-ernment/Economics teacher and cheer advisor at LCHS. Growing up in Pasa-dena, Mrs. Kalb was greatly attracted to dancing. She used to dance as a child and was a part of her high school cheerleading team. Although she did not continue dancing professionally as an adult, dancing remains her passion. In addition to her dancing skills, Mrs. Kalb states that she is “good at organizing

groups of people” which is why she is so suitable for the job of pep squad advisor.Mrs. Kalb may be a new teacher to LCHS, but she isn’t a new face to the city of La Can-ada. Not only is Mrs. Kalb an alumna of Pasadena High School, but her husband, whom she met when they were camp counsel-ors in high school, is a La Canada High School alumnus. After

g radua t ing from PHS, Mrs. Kalb attended Occidental College where she re-ceived her bachelor’s degree in history. From there, she went on to Pepperdine Uni-

versity for her masters in education. Following her college years, Mrs. Kalb taught at Flintridge Prepara-tory School, Milken Community High School, Pasadena High School, and Battle Ground Academy. Having been an educator for seventeen years, Mrs. Kalb still “enjoys learning and shar-ing knowledge with [her] students”.

Her favorite subjects to teach include U.S. History and Govern-ment, but she has also been a middle school principal, grade level dean, and a department chair. Mrs. Kalb’s vast knowledge and experience in education underscores her abilities and dedication to teaching students. So, make sure to smile, wave, and welcome our new, hard-working staff member, Mrs. Kalb.

2 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

news-ter is, the dog’s really do not cost that much. According to Campus Se-curity Tanya Wilson, the dogs cost r o u g h l y 2 , 0 0 0 d o l l a r s a y e a r. Still, why hire a bunch of tough looking

guys with intimidating dogs to harass students during class? Some would ar-gue that the kids who want to do drugs should be left to their illicit activities be-cause nothing will stop them from doing them. This is not the way Tanya sees it.

“I think they’re a great deterrent. I know the dogs don’t stop kids from doing what they want to, but at least it’s away from my campus now,” she stated when asked about the efficacy of the dogs’ presence.

And drug activities at school have been curbed substantially. Tanya notes that the amount of illicit substances and dealings occurring on school prem-ises have significantly decreased, if not come to a complete stop altogether.

Willem Swart, a senior shares a similar sentiment. When asked whether he thought the dogs deterred any kind of drug activity among students who do drugs, he replied flatly, “No. All they do is keep those kids from doing drugs around the campus.”

Students do not seemed to be too bothered by the dogs coming in and

interrupting them during class. “I enjoy the break I get from class,” says Willem, with a less than innocent smile on his face.

The dogs have proved to be Scooby-Doo a couple of times. A couple of times, Shaggy and Scooby found some students’ “Scooby Snacks” in their backpacks and cars, leading to their suspensions. These incidences raise questions about what happens to the substances after they have been confiscated. According to Tanya, if it is an illicit substance of any kind, it must be sent to the sheriff’s depart-ment immediately, but if it is marijuana related paraphernalia, it is kept in her office for display. “It’s for educational purposes of course,” she says, referring to her former collection of drug related paraphernalia in her office that she had confiscated from students over the years. The collection was stolen recently.

So the question of whether or not the drug dogs are really a necessary pres-ence on our campus cannot be readily answered; we are certainly not a high school in the depths of a ghetto. But that does not stop drugs from entering the high school. Hence, Scooby-Doo and his crew will be back again this year sniffing around for some Scooby Snacks.

Scooby (continued)

Mr. Smith Leads BandBy Gina YoonSpartan Staff

As the new school year approached and the position

for assistant director was still in need, Band stu-dents and Orchestra stu-dents were curious about whom their new assistant teacher would be. No one knew what to expect, until Band Camp soon approached and an un-familiar face introduced himself as Kyle Smith. Only twenty-three years old, Mr. Smith began his career as La Canada High School’s new 7/8 Orches-tra and assistant Band director. Mr. Smith he was enticed by our com-munity and its popular music programs. Before teaching at La Canada, Mr. Smith taught at Oak Avenue Middle School in Temple City, train-ing and learning under a teacher there to receive his credentials. Mr. Smith heard about the opening at LCHS through one of his “Master” teachers and a friend. Thanks to them, LCHS has a new teacher that many seem to like.

One student said, “He seemed really quiet at first, but once you got to talking to him, he was really chill. And since

he is young, it’s easier to communicate with him.”

Still new to this at-mosphere, Mr. Smith commented that he was, “definitely both excited and nervous, but more excited. I had already been able to meet a num-ber of my students during Band Workshops and Band Camp in the days before school started, so I wasn’t as nervous as I probably would have been.” Band Camp consists of five days of marching under the hot grilling sun. But band students still enjoy those 5 days of putting together their first show because all the students get to bond with one another. Since Mr. Smith was able to meet with the students before school started, it definitely eased the nerves and helped him enjoy LCHS more.

Mr. Smith attended Temple City High School graduated from California State University, Fullerton. As the band director Kyle Smith has a general knowledge of how to play all the instruments included in Band, but he mostly likes to play the trumpet, guitar, and bass. His remarkable talents also extend to playing Lacrosse

during college, as well as knowing how use computer and web design/develop.

Mr. Smith has had a lot on his hands prepar-ing for the performance at this past LA County Pomona Fair. Band stu-dents left to enjoy a school day at Pomona Fair after avidly performing and practicing with their band mates. Not only do they have this performance, but competitions are on their way. It is evident that Mr. Smith is work-ing hard because many students seem to like him.

Sen io r Tim Lee , a trumpet player, said, “He’s a nice person and he’s lenient. He knows what he’s doing in band and I can tell he wants what’s best for band.”

Senior Chanel Fu, a flute player, feels the same way about stating, “He’s really funny and works well with the students. He definitely knows what he is doing.” Band and 7/8 Or-chestra seems to enjoy their classes as does Mr. Smith, who hopes to have a good first year at LCHS and is looking forward to get-ting to know his students by giving them a posi-tive musical experience.

Mrs. Kalb is all smiles in front of room 621

Kalb Knows Kapitalism

A Government Expert Joins the LCHS Teacher Staff

The Homecoming theme was announced on Wednesday, Oc-tober 7. The theme for LCHS’ 2009 Homecoming Dance is “Char-lie and the Chocolate Homecoming.”

This year, the dance will take place on Saturday, October 24 from 8:30 to 11:30. As usual, the dance will be held in the North Gym, and the home-

coming queen will be announced that night. The 2009 Homecoming Court includes seniors Robin Jamison, Court-ney McCutchan, and Mary Young, and juniors Lizzie Miller and Chelsea Graf.

As inspired by the book and movies, there will be “a special prize for those who find the golden ticket!” Keep an eye out for something shiny!

Mr. Wonka Presents...By Emily KimSpartan Staff

Christi ChoiSpartan Staff

3 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

news

Dance or Gamble?By Gina YoonSpartan Staff

Monte Carlo is a dance that was created as a fundraiser for prom. However, it was not a formal dance. Usually, a theme would be decided and people would dress up in costumes play card games and dance. Instead of dancing, most would wait around to get a table.

Though it may have been successful for previous years, this year’s ASB is trying to make some changes. Some have been complaining that many do not go to Monte Carlo, seats are always taken and other people do not have a chance to play card games.

Therefore, ASB has been going around class-to-class asking for a vote between Monte Carlo and Winter Formal. Winter Formal tickets would only be ten dollars more than Monte Carlo tickets, which are fifteen dol-lars. Also, it would be off campus, something that appeals to most students.

This might be a new and better step in trying to increase the funds for prom as well as making it more fun. And it has been confirmed that Win-ter Formal won, but we will have to wait for the venue to be revealed.

Last year’s Monte Carlo theme

Even Gravity Can’t Stop Corralejo

Ever since the 4th grade at the young age of 9, Eryn Corralejo wanted to be a teacher. Inspired by her previous “awe-some teachers” and hopes of becoming a part of students’ lives and lifting them up, Corralejo attended the University of California of Los Angeles, at first major-ing in liberal studies. After exploring her options, she discovered her talent in physics, switched majors, and altered her life forever.

The UCLA alumnus, who was born in Los Angeles, has lived in California all her life and was raised by her loving, hard working, and ethical parents and grandparents. When asked about her fa-vorite hobbies, the physics expert cleverly quipped, “aside from grading papers?” When free from her duties as a teacher, Corralejo enjoys cooking and traveling. She relieves stress through exercise and quality time with friends and family and advises students to “look at the bigger picture, which makes you not stress about the details”.

Although determined to be a teacher from a very young age, Corralejo has considered other occupations.

“I haven’t really thought about this since 4th grade, but I would’ve liked being a firefighter or a police officer. However, I can hardly lift myself out of bed so I would not be helping anybody,” Cor-ralejo joked.

The passionate physics teacher shared her perspective on educating.

“The best part about teaching is getting to help students and watching them mature. I also enjoy being part of college apps. However, what I find most difficult about teaching is figuring how to

motivate students and parents when they aren’t self-motivated,” she said. When asked what she liked most about a student, Corralejo displayed her wisdom in her response that “each student has his or her own unique and special qualities”.

It has been a long journey from her childhood to her current position as an Honors and Advanced Placement Physics teacher at La Canada High School. She has worked “a thousand jobs in college,” from air space engineering to a hostess at Marie Calendars, but seems to have finally found her place at La Canada. In ten years, Corralejo hopes to find herself in the same room 313 as “an even better teacher, who is continuing to grow and learn.”

Ms. Corralejo is comfortably settled in Room 313, where she hopes to have a wonderful year with her students.

Joao Teixeira

LC Unifed School District is #2 in State

On September 15, 2009, the new principal, Ms. Pittman, interrupted classes to inform the student body of their suc-cess on the previous year’s standardized test scores and the school’s corresponding API. While the scores are nothing to be ashamed of and as a school our API, Aca-demic Performance Index, increased, ulti-mately the results are mixed. Only by look-ing back at our goals and at specific parts of the score can we see how well we did.

Our school-wide goal was to beat San Marino, but we fell short of that goal. Despite raising our score from 896, in 2008 to our 2009 score of 906, out of a maximum 1000; our score was still below San Marino who raised their score from 921 to 935. Furthermore as many students predicted last year, we lost to San Marion in the math section, by 5.7 percent. Despite the efforts of our students the competition in that section was just too hard. On the bright side though, La Canada High School beat San Marino in the English category by 2.5 percent. Even though we lost to San Marino we still beat every other public school in the

area. Maybe next year we can cut down the gap between us and San Marino, and the teacher’s who promised to let their hair be cut would be held accountable.

Not only does LCHS receive API scores but so does our districts elemen-tary schools. La Canada Elementary (LCE) retains the top spot with the score of 967 and is trailed closely by Para-dise Canyon (PCY) who scored a 960. Palm Crest (PCR) falls in third with a strong score of 956. Though this does not settle which school is the best LCE’s continuing string of dominance does suggest they are still the strongest aca-demically. Despite LCE’s domination, the other schools do have a hope, specifically PCR who cut the deficit between them and LCE by four percentage points.

With our district as a whole scoring a 926 life is good for those working at the district office, especially since that makes LCUSD the second highest scor-ing district in the state. Our school though did not achieve the goal of defeating San Marino. Luckily for those who aren’t sen10rs they have got another shot at San Marino and beating them at the game in which they excel the most, tests. So get ready for the second semester show down.

As fires blazed across La Canada’s beloved Angeles National Forest, an unlikely beacon of hope shone through the flames: the La Canada High School North Gym. From August 29, 200, to September 7, 2009, our pep-rally plaza became a rescue center set up by the Red Cross as evacuees from Palm Drive to the JPL area came down from the hills seeking shelter. Margaret Beesley and Taylor Thompson were just two of the many LCHS students who assisted the Red Cross’s cause. Others included John and Kelly Gregg, and Meghan Nathan.

“At first, they didn’t have much for me to do. But as the fires got closer, my friend Margaret and I got put in charge of giving people food and other necessities,” said Taylor Thompson, a senior at La Canada High School. The volunteer’s tasks ranged from providing food and water, caring to special needs, and simply providing comfort for those who needed it. Volunteers also took care of evacuated pets, making sure that the animals, like their owners, had enough food and water to sustain them.

Evacuees, Taylor recalled, were scared; the mood was gloomy, and hope seemed solely a false front on the faces of displaced family members.

“I had to make sure that I had something to get their mind off the fire…they walked around hoping their house wasn’t going to burn down,” she said. Most activities consisted of watching television and walking around, anything to distract them from the thought of the fire engulfing their homes.

Ta y l o r a d d e d , “ T h e l o o k s on peoples’ faces, thinking they might lose anything, was just sad.”

The Red Cross and the evacuees greatly appreciated the service of the volunteers provided during La Canada’s time of crisis. With fires lighting up the hillside, and too much smoke in the air for activities, La Canada High School started two days late; students immediately participated in the last few days of summer. However, some celebrated in a different way. Instead of soaking up the sun at the beach, or hanging out with friends at a party, some of La Canada’s very own found merriment in the heroic act of kindness, caring, and service.

G-20 SummitBy David MkrtchianSpartan Staff

The great nat ions of the world convened Pittsburgh, PA, to discuss the economic future of the world following the global economic collapse. The convention’s goal was to institute tighter restrictions on bonuses for bankers and also to avoid trade deficits and surpluses in the future. During the summit, G-20 leaders agreed to establish a system whereby the International Monetary Fund would encourage countries such as the US to scale back spending, while prompting countries hoarding trade surpluses, like Germany and China, to boost consumer demand. Barack Obama described the agreement as the opening of a “new era of engagement” bringing an end to the “boom and bust economies of the past.”

By Ben ChonSpartan Staff

By John GreggSpartan Staff

By Hailey WilliamsSpartan Staff

Gym Takes Evacuees

A DétenteBy David MkrtchianSpartan Staff

The US plans on holding rare face to face diplomatic talks with pariah nation Iran. Countries such as America and other UN Security Council members plan to discuss the future of Iran’s nuclear program. This nuclear program is a source of great distress in America, as Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, president of Iran, has expressed anti-Israel sentiment. The United States fears that Iran is intent on developing atomic capabilities despite Iran’s assurances that it is for civilian purpose. Iran has enhanced their long-range missile capabilities, stating that “Iranian missiles are able to target any place that threatens Iran”.

Healthcare ConsBy David Belcher

Spartan StaffBy David Mkrtchian

Spartan Staff

It is the summer of ’09. You are at the beach with your friends swimming and having fun. Suddenly things start going

black, your tunnel of vision is caving. You lose sensation in your legs, everything feels disjointed, and you collapse. You are lucky because they got you to the hospital on time, that you are safe because they pay thousands of dollars to a company like United Health Group. How can you not be safe? You are in a hospital in the self-proclaimed “Greatest country of the world.” The doctors approach your parents as you wait inside the hospital bed. The doctor’s face embraces a somber gaze. Your mother is crying on your father’s shoulder, and your father is biting his lip. They found out that you have a congenital heart defect, a preexisting condition that was overlooked by doctors when your parents bought your health insurance. The overwhelming majority of health insur-ance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Your parents enter the room and tell you that they’re sorry. Not because your condition is incurable, but because the treatment is so expensive that they can-not afford it. For the rest of your short life, you are confined to the 10 by 12 room of a hospital, gasping your last breaths, wonder-ing whether your life was worth anything. America needs to adopt a universal healthcare system, not in order to make government larger, but to make healthcare a fundamental right. Just as we depend on regulation for utilities from the government, healthcare is also a basic human necessity that needs to be regulated. Such regulation would come from competition in the form of the public option for healthcare that the government offers. On any given day, 40 million Americans may face financial ruin due to healthcare, according to the US Cen-sus Bureau in 2004. 40 million men, women, and children, excluding illegal immigrants, face the choice between poverty and life. The World Health Organization states that America spends almost twice as much as any other industrialized coun-try in the world. The logical answer for conservatives of is “you pay for what you get” and that expensive healthcare comes as a result of quality healthcare. Contrary to conservative opinion, according to the World Health Organization, America ranks dead last amongst industrialized countries for highest infant mortality rate and highest number of uninsured people. So where does the money go? A recent Harvard University study found that American Health Insur-ance companies spend 11.7 cents of every dollar on “administrative costs,” whereas Medicare (which is government run) spends 3.6 cents of every dollar on “administrative costs”. Our government, although far from perfect, functions more efficiently than private companies in some fiscal aspects. Healthcare is a matter of life and death, not capitalism. In no other country would making money off the pains of others be tolerated. Capitalism has its place, but not in between you and your life. Health-care is a basic right of every American, whether it is an underprivileged family in the ghetto, or a family of La Canada. The question is, is your life worth more than money? Sadly, we know the answer too well.

Healthcare Pros

4 October 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

OpinionThe Spartan Staff

Editor-in-ChiefAlicia Kim

Managing EditorDenny Choi

News EditorEmily Kim

Opinion EditorTerese Rutkowski

Features EditorsPreview/Review Editor

Back Page EditorsRebecca Han

Michelle Phillips Tamar Bezjian

Sports EditorDavid Choe

Photography EditorMargaret Beesley

Helen Won Joao Teixeira

Business ManagerAlexandra Van Wie

Layout Editors Joseph Kim

Kevork KurdoghllanChristi Choi Gina Yoon

Grace Amico

ReportersIan Balisy

David BelcherMichael Belcher

Ben ChonJohn Gregg

Alice Grubb JonesMargo HartleyAmeer KhanJoseph Kim

Christophe LabelleSarena Lu

David MkrtchianErica Moore

Katherine PropperKrishna Rajagopalan

David RheeNaima Voght

Hailey Williams

AdvisorMr. Ben Powers

Recently, I had an opportunity to go to the doctor’s office. As I waited in the office, I had time to

think about President Obama’s proposed healthcare plan. I thought about the healthcare crisis in America. 45 million of our fellow countrymen are uninsured. When I considered the proposed healthcare bill, I must admit that at first, I thought that it was a great idea. I believed that it could solve one of our nation’s biggest problems. After I researched the plan, I realized that it is too expensive, too inefficient, causes more problems than it solves, and goes against our American values.

According to CNN.com, the uni-versal healthcare plan will cost the United States 1.5 trillion dollars over the next de-cade. That is 1.5 trillion dollars that you and I will have to pay for the rest of our lives. That is 1.5 trillion dollars that our country will not be able to spend on more pressing matters, such as the financial crisis, the education cri-sis, or housing crises. For those of you who are wondering just how much 1.5 trillion dollars is, it is one half of the total national debt. Do you really think we should be spending that kind of money on a plan that isn’t even guaranteed to work?

Universal heal thcare is an inefficient system. “In just about every country it is instituted in, it is called the trick or treat policy by doctors.” stated Dr. Albert Schumacher of Canada’s health ministry, “This is because at the beginning of each year, doctors receive their stipend to spend on patients, and by October 31 of that year, all of that money is spent, and the doctors go broke.” In my opinion it is an imprudent idea to instate a policy that has never worked on a large scale. If passed, the healthcare bill will cause way more problems than it will solve. It will create 45 million new patients for doctors, without increasing the number of available doctors. This will cause horrendously long waits at the ER. Imagine having to wait 10 hours just to have your broken arm treated In addition, it will put every insurance company in America out of business. Needless to say, this will lead to massive unemployment. Tens of thousands of people will lose their jobs. The universal healthcare plan won’t fit in with our system of American values. We are a capitalist nation, and we always have been, and always will be. This bill is out-right socialism. It would be almost impossible to change our nation’s political ideology. Changing our capitalistic health-care system to a socialistic one would go over about as well as changing our official langue to Swahili. Many of you are probably now wondering, if the healthcare bill doesn’t get passed, then how will this crisis be solved? The answer is simple really. Think back to the year 2000. There wasn’t any coverage on the healthcare crisis, because there wasn’t any crisis. The difference between 2000 and today is the fact that our economy is much worse than it was in 2000. So instead of spending 1.5 tril-lion dollars on this plan, which will not work, we should spend that money on fixing our economy. Problem solved.

Open enrollment for AP classes is paradoxical in nature. It is an attempt to introduce

inclusiveness to something inher-ently exclusive. Although AP courses are designed to provide excellent opportunities for intellectual growth and development- including those students deemed unqualified or unpre-pared, they are in reality hindered by students looking to exude an outward image of ambition to the universities without ever contributing an iota of positive participation to the class.

There was a time when I imagined that I could take all AP classes. But the reality prevailed that there were only 24 hours in a day. My ambi-tion was tempered by the truth: AP courses are not regular courses. They demand sincere commitment, perse-verance, and a completely monastic lifestyle. Because this reality is so often neglected, Advanced Placement remains in a state of imperfection.

The cost of open enrollment for APs is oversize classes, which con-tradict the idea of a more refined curriculum with a better relationship with teachers. There is an inherent relationship between the number of students and the quantity of work, which preserves a teacher’s ability to teach effectively. AP classes imply more work, and thus, following this inverse relation, there should be fewer students in these classes. Conversely, a regular class(with no heightened designation or distinction) denotes less work but more students. Assuming then that the enrollment creates a traditional pyramid rather than an inverted one,

there will be a greater mass of students taking regular courses. But then there wouldn’t be enough teachers to accom-modate all theses “regular” students. So it would be feasible to share the load with AP teachers, who would take on regular classes. If we extend this proposal, teachers of predominantly “regular” students can receive ac-creditation to teach AP courses, ensur-ing that all teachers are well-rounded, that they champion education, and not merely the diffusion of information.

The institution of more re-strictions- rather than suggestions- for AP enrollment would facilitate reg-istration. Summer assignments are effective filters to protect the quality of the course, but policies vary across the board. Without a common policy to transform open enrollment into a pure meritocracy- where a proven track record of academic success alone determines eligibility, disorder ensues.

Particularly relevant is the situa-tion with AP Gov/Econ classes. This year, the largest number of students ever-190 in total- signed up for the course. Having planned for this trend, and not for the possibility of students switching out of the course into regu-lar Gov/Econ, the school created only enough regular classes for the original amount of students who enrolled. For those who regretted signing up for the course and desired to switch out, they are now set for a year of struggle, fettered by blind ambitions and rash decisions. With this example in mind, we may begin to recognize that an idea has been sacrificed for a more po-litically correct, impracticable reality.

The Crisis of FreedomBy Christophe LaBelle

Spartan Staff

Students must seek detours around our campusThe

Economic Report

5 October 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

Opinion

Walking up to the front of LCHS, the first thing our students and staff see are

the tall white buildings that house our classes. They are greeted by many smiling faces. When they get to the stairs, they put down one foot before another, noting the cement that meets their shoes. However, the next thing that meets their gaze is a cluster of black spots that seems to jump out at them. What are these black dots splattered across the floor? It’s gum. The office, noticing the black dots that plastered the floor, enacted the gum policy for the sake of preserving the school campus. However, this policy has never been heavily enforced. In fact, last year, gum rules only applied inside the classroom or next to teachers that cared. However, the rules have changed. In order to address the problem of gum not being kept in student’s mouths, LCHS administrators have declared an all out “war on gum.” Is the office a power hungry organiza-tion that shuns all things chewy and sweet? Not really. The of-fice exists to protect, improve, and oversee our environment.

In fact, La Canada’s vice prin-cipal, Ms. Davidson, stated, “Per-sonally, I love gum. But the reality is here, kids are spitting out gum on the ground and not keeping it

in their mouths. It really isn’t a good learning environment.” Ms. Davidson also said that due to irresponsible behavior, the gum policy is to now be a top priority for the office.

An important thing to know is that the gum policy has not changed much at all, but its method of enforcement has. The gum policy has always been treated as a joke by students who would stealthily chew gum dur-ing class or outside regardless of light chidings from teach-ers. There was simply never reason to fear the gum policy.

Jason Park, a sophomore at LCHS, stated, “It’s a shame no one ever took the gum policy seriously. I can’t even touch the bottom of my desk without the fear of catching some crazy infectious disease.” For those who still choose to defy the policy, harsher punishments have been enacted. The new gum policy states that the first offense would result in a warning and confisca-tion of the gum. However, the sec-ond offense would not be taken as lightly. Repeated offenses of being caught with gum vary from com-munity service to Saturday School.To raise awareness and increase productivity, the policy calls all teachers to participate in the war against gum on campus. Teachers

are encouraged to take a stubborn stance regarding gum on campus and are now required to fill out referrals when they catch offenders.

Now, as students, we cannot help but question the office’s ac-tions. The policy is strict, there is no doubt. There are punishments waiting for those who do something as inoculous as chewing gum. How-ever, when chewing gum results in vandalism, the office has valid reason to take away this privilege. In fact, history-and our sidewalks- has shown that students just can’t keep their gum in their mouths. Of course, in reality, there’s no eye in the sky with a gum sensor, and school staff can’t catch what they don’t see. Just know that if you’ve been caught, you won’t get off easily.

Over the past seventeen years, dozens of politicians and average Americans have warned that America is driving towards

the cliff of economic doom. America’s economy is spiraling down with no recovery in sight. It is important to understand that our economic situ-ation was not brought on by greed. Laziness was the cause of this economic downturn. Our stock markets, specifically the Dow Jones Index, were not supposed to hit their low of 6,500 points and they were never supposed to reach the high of 14,000 points. One might ask why the Dow Jones ever reached a point so high as 14,000 points. The answer is because the average American thought wealth was unlim-ited. This is because during the Carter, Clinton and Bush Administrations, many major banks were forced to give home loans to everyone, including below average income families. These Americans could not pay back their loans and as a result many banks reported negative earnings, pushing them closer and closer to bankruptcy. China was the largest source of wealth for America because they provided America with cheap labor and consumer products. In addition to cheap labor, they also lent America money. Americans spent this money buying Chinese prod-ucts. What did America give in return? The only reason China continues to provide America with all of these services is because America continues to give the Chinese promises that America will pay back China the money that they borrowed.

One-day, China will open their eyes and see that America is cheating them and producing a huge bubble in the Chinese economy. An eco-nomic bubble is when a sector of the U.S. economy becomes over inflated and prices are at abnormal levels. That bubble began in 2003 and it is unlikely that the abnormal prices will stabilize until 2014.

A reason for America’s short term economic success or the accomplishment of the Dow Jones stabilizing from 6,500 points to 9,500 points, is not due to the stimulus package or President Obama. The reason for this stabilization is an increase in productivity. In the book Crash Proof Peter Schiff clarifies the difference between productivity and production by saying, “Produc-tion has to do with quantities, productivity with efficiencies.” When a company is more efficient it does not mean they will be able to maintain long-term growth, this then translates into the bigger picture of the U.S. Stock Market. The Market is at a plateau until companies start employing, which will result in positive growth. If there is no increase in production and employment then America will continue on this economic trend until China real-izes that they are no longer dependant on America. America is only at the beginning of its problems. The U.S. government must stop reckless spending and start emphasizing the importance of savings. It will take a long time to pay back eleven trillion dollars of debt, and only through savings will this succeed. It must start by cutting government spending and bringing back finan-cial responsibility to Washington D.C. That all starts with you, the student, the next generation.

Everyone at La Cañada High School has expe-rienced the consequences of the construction going on at LCHS. The halls are more crowded

than ever before, there are not enough lockers for everyone to store their heavy textbooks, and there aren’t any more shortcuts that can be taken from class to class because almost every walkway has been blocked off by gates, cones and caution tape. With these new obstacles, students and staff are struggling.

Why is the school doing so much construction at once? Wouldn’t it have been a better idea to take on a few projects during the three months of summer and then start some more during Thanksgiving and winter breaks? Instead, the school has decided to continue the construction past the summer vacation. As if walk-ing across the campus from Mrs. Kalb’s classroom in the bungalow at the end of the football field to Dr. E’s room on the third floor of the main building wasn’t already bad enough, now I have to spend three out of the six minutes I have to get to my next class squeezing through the traffic jam in between the Mr. Kauffman’s art room and the gates that block the walkway to the locker rooms. That leaves me less than three minutes to go to the second floor, stop by my locker, and run up a flight of stairs to make it to class on time. And instead of being able to get to the counselors’ offices from the side of the main building, students must spend more time cutting through the front office because the west side of the office is fenced in by gates, a bungalow, and parked cars. Also, it isn’t easy for students to try to concentrate in class with the horrible drilling sounds that the

c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k e r s m a k e o u t s i d e .Not only is the on-going construction making t

raveling around the school more difficult, it has made it tough for teachers as well. Teachers whose classes are being renovated have been relocated to newly built bun-galows or older classrooms only to possibly be moved back out mid-year. Mrs. Calm, for example, was moved to room 113, which has been stripped of the tiles floors and has no screen to use for the overhead projectors. Students in her AP Calculus AB and Pre-Calculus classes must learn from a makeshift projection screen made out of butcher paper. Mrs. Calm will most likely be moved back into her old room on the second floor after first semester, and her student must once again readjust their paths from one class to another. The school staff knows that the con-struction is to improve the overall look of the campus, but they also know that it is affecting students as well. Mrs. Gurrola says, “I just wish it wasn’t during school.”

Construction is projected to continue until well past first semester and possibly into the summer of 2010. Instead of being known as the Senior Class of 2010, we are now known as the “Seniors of Construc-tion.” According to our new principal Mrs. Pittman, the construction is a four-phase process that should end by the end of the summer of 2010. Although it is not the “ideal situation” the purpose of the construc-tion is to “modernize facilities” and making the labs more modern. It is true that many classrooms as well as labs needed to be renovated, but to continue construc-tion throughout the school year was a very bad idea.

Construction Destruction

By Kevork KurdoghlianSpartan Staff

Gum Chewers BewareDavid Rhee

Spartan Staff

Emily KimSpartan Staff

The U.S. Economic Crisis

The GI Briefing: For 2009 & 2010

6 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

FeaturesSpotlight: Make a Difference

By Sarena LuSpartan Staff

On TV, we see important and famous people travel to different countries and make differences in other people’s lives. But this past summer, our very own Young Yi, a senior from La Canada High School, took part in a life changing trip to South Korea. On this trip, Young wanted to accomplish two things: to teach elementary students Basic English

and help take care of dogs and cats at the Korean Animal Protection Society.

Before leaving, Young and two other high school students held a yard sale to raise money for the Korean Animal Protection Society and collected elementary books for the students. After the

yard sale, they collected $50 for the Korean Animal Protection Society and collected about thirty elementary level books.

The first stop on the trip was Gimchun, South Korea. In Gimchun there is a small mountainous region where Jeungsan Elementary School is located. Young chose to teach this elementary school English

because the students there are rarely exposed to this language due to its graphical location. Jeungsan Elementary School consists of twenty-six students from grades one to six. Young taught them basic conversational English and got to know each and every one of them. Young explained

By Christophe LaBelleSpartan Staff

In a recent Sports Illustrat-ed article, San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito

commented on the tragedy of professional baseball, which carries considerable rel-evance when compared with the trials and tribulations of high school: “When you first get to the majors, it’s so much fun. Then time goes by, and you get jaded. The idea is always to be who you were when you first got here.” Unfortunately, the euphoria of freshman year can quickly turn into disillusionment and misdirected frustration.

The current paradigm identifies the junior year as the most labor intensive, grueling, heartbreaking, punishing year of high school. Survey says it’s the most challenging year by far, the final year where you can define yourself for the uni-versities. I had to go through tremendous tests of faith and

commitment last year, but I was able to emerge intact and

motivated to push on through the final step-senior year.

You’re going to have to or-ganize your life for maximum

e f f i c i e n c y, with time in-vested in small pieces. Even though uni-versities may seem a year a w a y f r o m now, it would be a fantastic idea to attend college visits now in order to eliminate the rush at the beginning of senior year. For those who feel confident in a foreign language, sign up for the No-vember Sub-ject Test as

soon as possible; it is the only month where the com-

bined Language and Listening Test is offered. Small efforts now will make monumen-tal differences in the future.

However, if you procrasti-nate, you’re guaranteed to fail later. You’re going to have to prioritize and make sacrifices. You can’t afford to pull all-nighters constantly. If the as-signment is minor, don’t fret. Wake up earlier the next morn-ing and finish it before school. You’re going to have to realize that a schedule loaded with AP courses is not possible along with a slew of extracurriculars.

I implore you to take a moment to transcend the chaos, and evaluate your home, your friends, your life. They are your legacy. Pick up that instrument and play, dive into that novel. Some-thing is hidden there of great importance. I find myself every day more inclined to reminisce on these treasures.

New School Year ResolutionsBy Grace AmicoSpartan Staff

Forget January first as the perfect time to create resolutions; the start of the new school year has always been the beginning spark for many students’ new plans. Listen close-ly while walking down the halls and you will catch promises of smarter, more efficient schoolwork schedules and brilliant tactics to reduce stress.

We often tell ourselves that this year will be differ-ent from last year, and that we will have learned from our mistakes and will not fall into the eager hands of procrastination and care-lessness. Unfortunately, what begins as optimism quickly dissolves into hopelessness for many students. The main ques-tion is; how do people stay true to their resolutions?

Being a major pro-crastinator myself, I have always tried to get my-self on schedule to avoid close calls with project deadlines and staying up into the early hours of the morning to finish work. On some days my school agenda even seemed to be trying to help with tips like “Establish a rou-tine by trying to study at the same time each day” or “Work on your hardest assignment first.” Easier said then done. In a world of technology, it only takes the touch of a button or a screen to get sidetracked. Hello distractions, goodbye overambitious resolutions.

As for other stu-dents, many, like LCHS senior Caroline Koo, want to perfect their study plans and avoid procrastination. “This year, I won’t [have] as many all-nighters” she resolved. To make it ef-fective, Caroline plans

to spend more time studying at the public library so as to remove any tempting distrac-tions, a smart choice.

S t e p h a n i e P e -terson, also a senior, voiced another common concern. She explained for her new school year

resolution, she wants “to make the right choice for college.”

vHowever impos-sible it may seem to stay true to a new school year resolution, it is al-ways worth the trouble of having something to strive for. As with all

habits, it takes perse-verance and hard work to stick to a new reso-lution. For the LCHS students who have not yet given up on keep-ing a steady work pace, stay strong, and good luck! You’ll need it.

Materialism and Recession By Tamar BezjianSpartan Staff

Socially, one of the most obvious aspects of high school are the cliques: groups of peo-ple separated- at least, from a detached spectator’s point of view- by how they act and what they’re interested in, but mostly by the way they dress. Though this is only a personal observation that might seem overly clichéd and biased, just take a look around: image-wise, not many people can deny that the way one dresses has a sig-nificant influence on who they spend their time in school with.

Of course, this is not al-ways the case. Over the years, most notably at La Canada, I am happy to see that people have been increasingly able to see beyond appearances and accept people as their peers no matter how they dress.

But still, cliques and image issues in any high school are unavoidable, and when I watch these cliques, especially under today’s financial circumstances, a new question prods at my conscience: what would happen to a devoted, widely accepted member of a clique if one day,

his or her wardrobe were to fail completely? Or, more re-alistically, what would they do if they were suddenly limited financially towards buying the stylish, often expensive outfits that the other members of their clique were so accustomed to seeing them wear regularly? Would the person feel intense pressure in trying to retain their social image under a budget? Would they go so far as to make the same purchases they did in the days before money was tight for the sole sake of keeping their image intact?

Now, I am considering these questions from a clique member’s point of view, but the reactions of high school-ers with more relaxed social groups would probably think differently: most likely, they would be going through a rough adjusting period. People used to sending money regularly and forced to deal with a sudden stop would undoubtedly be a bit shaken- but the question seems to change entirely when popularity comes into play.

Nowadays, the pressure felt in high school in fairly high.

Though it may be presented in different forms, people from both ends of the high school social spectrum feel it: no one can quite put their finger on it, but there is no denying that the second you step into school, a part of you is slightly less comfortable than it was when you were back home. When adults complain about the recession, most of what we hear has to do with mortgage payments, health insurance, and water bills- but in the mind of a high schooler, a whole different world is affected: the pressure of high school made just a little bit tighter because we can’t retain our images in quite the way we used to.

Though I keep telling myself not to separate peo-ple into these social groups and to try to see everyone as equals, it seems that when money and the outfits it can buy come into play, suddenly everyone is distinguishable.

Money undoubtedly boasts a revolutionary and coveted fea-ture: the ability to purchase a few more steps up the social ladder.

Young Yi poses together with the students from Jeungsan Elementary School, where she taught English.

A newspaper colum about Young’s participation of the program.

7 La Cañada High School

Featuresoctober 13, 2009

Spotlight: Make a Difference For Those Who Hope to Rock

The emergence of garage bands and lunch concerts saw a sea of students captivated by the hard rock phenomenon. Andy Williams, a La Canada High School alumni from the 70’s, was one of the stu-dents who reserved a seat every afternoon in front of the North Gym.

“A few buddies and I would eat our lunch right in front of the gym and listen to them play. It was the way lunch should be; we thought the school administration had finally done something right,” Andy reminisced.

The first cover bands began an un-derground music to develop pop cultural horizons- with a certain “baditude”. Since then, scene has evolved into a network of students from different walks of life who demonstrate the versatile quality of music itself.

Arguably the most popular high school bands to hail from LCHS in recent years are Copperhead, Legion, Emovores, and the Chris Lee Experience. The major-ity of these bands have correlated with the music trends of today. This generation’s answer to the diehard rocker of 1969 is the metalhead. The most passionate fans among the student body are those who make their musical tastes a part of their lifestyle- from their image to how they devote their free time. And so, these bands are generally quite successful in building a fan base of their own. One such death metal band that plans to dominate the stage this year is Desolith.

Kevin DeSimone is the lead guitarist and co-founder of Desolith. He and Ian Balisy teamed up in 2006 with the inten-tion to integrate music into their futures. When Kyle Gosselin took up the bass they had the makings of a dream come true.

“I’d like to make a living off of mu-sic, but I’m not really sure we’ll do so great doing exactly what we do- it’s not as popular,” commented the lead guitar-ist Kevin.

What exactly they do might be unusual, but unpopular is questionable.

yard sale, they collected $50 for the Korean Animal Protection Society and collected about thirty elementary level books.

The first stop on the trip was Gimchun, South Korea. In Gimchun there is a small mountainous region where Jeungsan Elementary School is located. Young chose to teach this elementary school English

because the students there are rarely exposed to this language due to its graphical location. Jeungsan Elementary School consists of twenty-six students from grades one to six. Young taught them basic conversational English and got to know each and every one of them. Young explained

that “What was interesting about these students is that they enjoyed hanging out with each other even if there was a huge age gap”.

As Young left the school, she realized that, “being a teacher is not easy. Watching twenty six students can get tiring, but it was well worth it.” Young’s most memorable time was when she and the students “jumped into a stream on the last day of school”. It was during these moments in which their friendships grew.

Young’s next stop was the Korean Animal Protection Society. Korean Animal Protection Society helps protect dogs and cats from the streets and slaughter houses. While she was there, she learned that the president of this organization dealt with a lot of criticism and attacks from animal abusers and dog/cat meat advocates when trying to start this organization. Yet she was persistent, and created this wonderful organization. Young donated $50 to this organization. She knew about this organization because her family currently sponsors five cats and dogs. While she was there, she groomed, fed and played with the pets. From this experience, Young learned that “amidst all hardships and opposing forces, one can still stand up against them and do what’s necessary”.

This trip was so meaningful that Young hopes to make this a tradition every summer. She would also like to offer this opportunity to others. If you are interested in joining her on her next trip, you can contact her at est1991@hotmail.com. If you can’t make it, you can still help Young out by collecting elementary books or pet toys to make a difference.

By Alexandra Van WieSpartan Staff

Without a lead singer they might lack a clear front-man, but with 193 fans on their Facebook page they seem to be doing pretty well with only the three. However, not all bands witness such a great pay-off.

In 2008, a band known as Proteus brought their jazzy music to the table and was comprised of mostly seniors. The only former member who is not currently engrossed in college is Alex Rosen- the keyboardist/vocalist extraordinaire.

He explained, “we just kind of threw it together, because the guys just wanted to play Battle of the Bands before they graduated and then- we just played.”

The event he speaks of is the coup de gras of LCHS’s lunch concerts. For some bands, it is the only chance the public gets to see their extra-curricular talents and for others it is when they may be seen at their best. Last June, one of the best performances came from an underwear-clad Legion.

As far as thrash/progressive metal bands go, Legion was the end-all be-all of 2009. Just as any great band must face, these upstanding men jumped hurdles and overcame pitfalls.

“I think any in any band every-

one has a different expectation, especially at the beginning, for what the band is going to sound like and what they’re going to play and I think this is difficult- usually,” former singer David Neyland recounts.

Although they lost a key member, they have not staggered and plan to fol-low in the footsteps of their friends in Copperhead and continue to play locally after graduation.

So, while not every story is a com-plete success in the social world of school bands, there is certainly inspiration to draw from. Andy Williams again loses himself in his teenage years…

“David Lee Roth was just begin-ning to come out of his shell running and screaming not quite to a level he is known for, but entertaining. Eddy was the center piece and could play the electric guitar like no one I had ever heard… Alex had this huge drum set up and he worked it all.”

Before the decade was up these gentlemen put out their first gold album and in the next century kids the world over are still listening to Van Halen.

And so: for those who hope to rock, we salute you.

The Dangers of Fad DietsChristi ChoiSpartan Staff

The grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, the detox diet, the junk food diet, and the banana diet. These are only a few of the many diets that have caught the attention of consumers who are try-ing to find a fast and easy way to shed those stub-born pounds. Although the claims may sound prom-ising- rapid weight loss without much exercise- people don’t realize the physical and psychological dangers of these diets.

The grapefruit diet and the cabbage soup diet claim that eating large quantities of one particular food is the key to weight loss. However, eating only one type of food deprives our bodies of important vitamins and minerals that are vital to our overall

health. This improper nutrition can result in a potential loss of water and muscle density. It can cause up to 3-6% of muscle loss along with any fat loss. If the weight is regained, more fat and less muscle is replaced, result-ing in less overall muscle pro-tein. Another side effect begins to show in the nails, hair, and skin from malnutrition. Nails will become brittle, hair will shed more frequently, and your skin will lose its shine and dark circles may develop under your eyes. Psychological problems that may occur from these fad diets include apathetic, irritable, depressed, easily distracted, and less mentally alert actions.

Another well known diet, the detox diet, promises to flush poisons from your body, eliminate pounds of excess fat, clear your complexion and strengthen your immune system if a concoction of lemon juice mixed with maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper, as well as salt water and a laxative tea is drunk for 10 days. Celebri-ties like Gwyneth Paltrow,

Angelina Jolie, and Beyonce Knowles inspire the average person to try this diet, but vitamin deficiencies, muscle breakdown and blood-sug-ar problems- not to mention frequent liquid bowel move-ments- are the common health problems that occur. In the end, it just doesn’t seem worth it.

Experts say that the health-iest way to drop pounds is not through crash diets or bursts of sudden exercise. The most effective way to lose weight for a long term is to reduce the amount of calories you

eat and to increase your levels of activity. A healthy diet im-proves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical ac-tivity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don’t normally eat. So don’t get sucked into the media frenzied diets and just stick to staying healthy and happy.

Young Yi poses together with the students from Jeungsan Elementary School, where she taught English.

A newspaper colum about Young’s participation of the program.

8 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

Preview/ReviewThe New and Improved iPod Nano Delivers

This year, Apple has given the iPod little tweaks, but no major facelifts. The most revamped Apple product is the new iPod Nano, which has received some pretty cool upgrades.

The most apparent upgrade is the built-in video recorder. The size and shape of the iPod is still the same, but now it has tiny camera lens on the back. Video trans-fers are very simple. You can sync your iPod videos to your computer with a single click of a button. The quality of the videos is very decent as well. Not only that, the video recording program comes with different video ef-fects. Effects that you can choose from include, Thermal, Mirror, X Ray, Motion Blur, Sepia, and Cyborg.

Of course, audio can also be recorded. A video would not be complete without sound. A cool feature of the built-in mic is the “VoiceOver” function, which tells you the title and the artist of the songs you listen to. Instead of having to look down and trying to read the information, the iPod will just tell you. It even speaks multiple languages, which is convenient if you have an eclectic collection of songs. iTunes does this by match-ing the song title and artist information with the best preprogrammed language.

My personal favorite part of the iPod Nano is the “FM Radio” and “Live Pause”. You can listen to your favorite radio channels right on your iPod. The

iPod screen displays the song information for you too. The “Live Pause” function is amazing. It gives you the power to temporarily stop listening to the radio, while

playing the song right where you left off the next time you listen to it. You can even rewind back to as much as fifteen minutes and then fast forward to the live

broadcasts. Furthermore, you can tag all your favorite songs that pop up on the radio, which iTunes then sets up an entire playlist containing the selections you chose earlier.

Also, the iPod touch upgrad-ed its memory capacities and adjusted its prices accordingly as well. An 8 GB costs $199, a 32 GB costs $299, and a 64 GB costs $399. However, the iPod touch has not undergone any major changes. Another item that has lowered its cost is the iPod shuffle, which goes for only $59 for the 2 GB, and $79 for the 4 GB. This product has also not changed, but they came out with a new, limited edition product color, polished stainless steel. Lastly, the price of the increasingly

popular iPod Nano is $149 for the 8 GB and $179 for the 16 GB.

By Rebecca HanSpartan Staff

Where the Wild Things AreBased on the children’s picture storybook of the same name by Maurice Sendak, the movie adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are” is currently being di-rected by Spike Jonze. Also credited as a co-founder of the MTV series Jackass, Spike Jonze is known to be a man with a “childlike imagination” by his family, friends, and fellow directors. Many people wonder how and why such a small, yet crucial part of their child-hood is being transformed from a 40 page illustrated novel to a feature length movie. This is possible due to an enhanced story that further details Max, the main character, and his ventures in the land of the Wilds- all approved by the author, of course. Accompanied by gloriously rendered art that truly captures the nostalgic, heartwarming story that held a place in everyone’s hearts as a child, this movie is something to keep an eye on. This movie is set for an October 16, 2009 release date.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides Disney has been planning to release the fourth installment of its most successful trilogy, the “Pirates of the Caribbean”. However, this movie is unique from the others in that it stars Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa instead of former main characters Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. In fact, word of

2009 EventsOur school is built on the basis of having fun while excelling in academics and sports. It is important to have a fun filled senior year, especially one that is memorable. We as seniors are at the top of the class so it important that we show to the underclass-man what fun is really all about. Our theme this year is Risky Business, which to me means having fun but in a clever and risky manner. We have activi-ties planned all year long so come on and join in the fun; it’s just about to start.

By Krisha RajagopalanSpartan StaffWelcome back to another fun filled school year. So far the school year has been very exciting from catching up with friends to exploring new classes. But there is a lot more ahead for all of you to absorb. It is my job to present to you all the fun filled activities we have planned for this school year especially for the seniors. You have a very enthusiastic ASB that is constantly look-ing for ways to have fun.

Date: Event: Week of Oct. 19,2009 Spirit Week October 23, 2009 Homecoming Parade October 23, 2009 Homecoming Asse- mbly and Pep RallyOngoing Activities at the QuadOngoing Senior T-Shirts are still on sale for $20Block Days at Break Music to Feast Your EarsTBA T-shirt Day (For Seniors)All Year Long Comedy Sportz

the return of characters Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann was not reported. This film centers on the two pirate captains. Filmofilia.com reports that the story is generally one in which “both captains of the Black Pearl compete for the exact same prize. But eventually all the double crossing has to stop as these two rivals are forced to join forces in order to defeat some supernatural terror.” This movie is set to be shown in theatres roughly around the summer of 2011.

The Avengers

The superhero movie concept has been growing notice-ably in the past few years and “The Avengers” is the movie it all leads up to. “The Avengers” promotional clips have been found after the credits roll in both “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk”. The Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes first created in the 1960s that includes The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and other notable superheroes. “The Avengers” movie is the final destination for Marvel as the success of this movie depends on the super-hero movies that precede it. “The Avengers” is due out around 2012, but Marvel expects to release some other superhero-related movies that will lead up to “The Avengers”, including Thor and Captain America.

Watch Out! It’s Movie Time!By David RheeSpartan Staff

Where the Wild Things Are The Avengers

Pirates of the Caribbean 4

The new iPod nano can shoot videos and take pictures!

9 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

Lifestyle

How do I tell a girl I don’t like her?

-NotInterested M: There aren’t many ways to go about this, but if you re-

ally don’t like her, I guess it’s better to let her find out then lead her on. You can let her down gently and tell her you would rather

just be friends, or hint at liking another girl. If you’re shy, spread a rumor that you like someone else. If you want to be blunt about it…

hook up with her friend.

H: You don’t. If you are a freshman, which you most likely are, being blunt about this can cost life-inflicting damages on the girl, and you do not want a bitter girl with a ninth grade grudge on your conscience throughout all of high school. Students go through a noticeable

amount of change throughout high school, for better or for worse… Avoid leading her on, hopefully she gets the hint.

If this does not work and her crush persists, then kindly refer her to another guy pal or tell her that you hate

animals.

How do I get my boy-friend’s parents to like me?

-PuppyLove M: Say you go to church. Be sure to say please and thank you

for everything. Dress like you are going to your grandparents’ house (no midriff or low shirts). If you go anywhere with them, offer to pay

for yourself and say thank you if they pay. Always put forward a helping hand. Don’t overstay your welcome and leave at a considerably early time.

Be an angel.

H: When you are visiting his home, or you know that you will be meeting his parents, try not to wear revealing clothes, and look like a nice, conservative girl. Act like how you would when going somewhere where etiquette matters. Humor is appreciated, as long as it is appro-priate. Never ever get caught in an uncompromising situation by

them. Emphasize the never. Be courteous and respectful, and if you share a common interest with them, bringing up what you

know about these conversational topics is always a nice way to bond. A first impression should show that

you are fond of their son’s personality, not his physique.

I want to ask this girl to homecoming in October, how should

I go about this?-LoverBoi5532

M: Well, it depends if you like her just as a friend or more than a friend. If you just want to go as friends, you have to make sure you word the question cor-

rectly so she doesn’t get the wrong impression. Be sure to use the words like, (pal, friend, buddy, companion). If you really like this girl, spend a lot of time and money in asking her.

Make it cute and romantic and even ask her friends what she would like. DO NOT ask her in front of her whole class if you know she will be completely embarrassed and hide it under her

desk as soon as she receives your invitation. It is also a horrible idea to stand there waiting for her response. Let her say yes or no to you in a creative way. Using flowers, stuffed animals, and candy are good ways to get the girls attention. Try to find out what she likes and incorporate it in the ques-tion. Try to be imaginative and NOT use Google, because I’m sure the girl has already heard of that

“creative” idea.

H: First of all, do not hold this off to the last minute. Asking her a day or even a week before the date of the dance is a big no-no. Not only is it slightly impudent, but girls also become anxious as the day gets closer and they have not been asked. The sooner you ask, the better, although too early may also be considered too forward. Some girls do not plan on going to the dance if they have not been asked, so asking her shortly before the dance would not give her enough time to prepare and shop for dresses if she has not already done so. There is also the risk of some-

body else asking this girl before you do. Her friends are a great source for ideas if you aren’t really sure on how to ask her. If she does not have friends, then try to get to

know her as much as possible if you don’t. Hobbies, sports, inside jokes, romantic movie ideas, and activities should provide cutesy ways to ask her. Just try to

be original unless she is the cliché-liking sort of girl. Make your invita-tion to the dance significant so it seems like you care and put some

thought into it, even if the gesture is small, it should still be considerate. Best of luck!

Ask margaret and Helen*All questions needing advice please place inside the sparkly pink box located in the IRC. Questions related to school, relationships, curiosity, friends, or problems in your daily teen life are welcome to be considered. The box is available to anyone. We do not discriminate.

*Disclaimer’s Note: The advice and opinions reflected in this article are that of the Spar-tan Staff, and we are not responsible for any outcomes or decisions that you make.

Football Practice DelayedAlice Grubb JonesSpartan Staff

From the first day of school, it was clear that this year would be unlike the usual routine that LCHS students have grown

accustom to. The construction provided block-ades around usual pathways, causing confused groups to wander around until an ulterior route could be scouted. Teachers played musi-cal chairs with classrooms until they ended up moving down stories or across campus. Anyone trying to meet with their P.E. teacher in the North Gym found evacuees. Even the

school schedule changed, to the delight of all the students, to allow for two extra days of summer. Whether they were anticipated or not, this year started with some unique twists.

With college football coverage starting to dominate media attention, it’s no won-der the game between La Canada High and Glen-dale High was so anticipated. However, the first game for the Spartans was met with a small dose of trepidation. A two-week delay of active prac-tice has caused our football team to lag in field

time. Due to the fires, air quality was deemed unfit for players to exercise in. As a result, the team was forced into the gym for walk-throughs on plays. Although the district called the poor air quality a hazard to the team’s health, Saint Francis, who was not restricted by the District’s ban on outdoor activity, actively practiced and played their first game on September 10th. It made no difference that their administration was not in accordance with ours. “Better safe than sorry,” was LCHS’s slogan, and a good one to follow when parents were

involved. Firefighters used our field for workouts and training during the air quality lockdown, but one must keep in mind that those men are adults. They don’t have disgruntled parents calling the school with a flurry of concerns for their children’s lungs. Coach Daniel Yoder, the new head coach for the Varsity football team, confirmed that his coach-ing staff stalled practices based on the district’s air quality calls. Although the loss of practice time was unfortunate, he stat-ed, “Health comes first.”

Luckily for us, many other teams were faced with a delay of field time due to the fires and ash. Crescenta Valley, our biggest rival,

had the same athletic restric-t ions as we did. Yoder ex-plained, “The loss in practice time might hurt the team in the f i r s t coup le games, simply because other teams might have already played and got-ten the jitters out of their sys-tem.” However, Yoder assured, “Any cockiness o the r t eams feel should not influence our ability on the

field.” Since Yoder took position as head coach, the practices have been running smoothly and the players’ confidence rose despite the delayed start to the season. One player praised, “Yoder knows and has coached almost everyone on the team before, so he knows every kid per-sonally and can help each one individually.”

10 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

Sports

CIF Repeat?John GreggSpartan Staff

With the start of every season, team’s have many expecta-tions. This year the La Canada High School girls’ vol-leyball team’s expectations are high, as they should be

considering that they won CIF last year. With early season victories over Long Beach Poly, Mayfield and Hart this year is shaping up to be a good year. Against Mayfield the team won by three sets to one (25-17, 25-22, 20-25, 28-26). Hart provide less of a challenge as the girl’s team beat them in straight sets. As big as these victories are, the biggest game coming up is on November 29 against local rivals Sacred Heart. This game will be a good barometer of this year’s team. Six seniors played on last year’s CIF winning team so this year’s team is hoping to fill their voids with some younger players, such as freshmen Katie Pierce, Micaela Anderson, and sophomore Clare Hilson. Luckily some key players are returning from last year’s team. One of them is senior Courtney McCutchan who was named All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year last year, and intends to play collegiate volleyball at Lehigh. Despite the loss of many key players from last year when asked if La Canada was favored against Sacred Heart she responded with a tentative yet optimistic, “I think so.” Even though only time will tell, the season has started well for the girl’s volleyball team and they have definitely got a chance to re-peat as CIF champions. So come out and support the defending CIF champion LCHS girl’s volleyball team at their home games, which are all at the North Gym!

The Spartans line up for a play. (Photo Credit: Margaret Beesley)

Erica MooreSpartan Staff

The La Canada Varsity Cross Country team attended and dominated their first league meet on Thursday, September 25th. From the start of the first race, the team seemed strong

and well prepared for the upcoming season. Mike Thatcher, a re-turning cross country coach who has taken over the responsibility of training the boy’s teams, was very impressed with the first race.

“The guys have a lot of depth,” he explained. “Ev-ery team ran a tactical race and I’m very proud of them.”

Varsity boys placed first overall with top runners Aayush Shah, who came in 2nd place with the time of 17:07, Adam Skaggs, 3rd with a time of 17:18, Brendan Greene, 4th with a time of 17:19, Erick Lankey, 6th with a time of (17:39), and Kevin Hoffman, 8th with a time of 17:49.

The Varsity girls dominated and earned their number one spot as well. The top five team runners included Holly Shreckengast, placing 1st with a time of 20:15, Meghan Fuelling right behind in 2nd place with a time of 20:24, Sonja Cwick, 5th with 21;04, Gabri-elle Badie, 8th with a time of 21:32, and Goldie Young, 19th with a time of 23:27. Two runners from the Junior Varsity team, Michelle Berjikian and Diana H. Tran, also took part in their first race and completed it successfully with great times. Berjikian took 27th place with a time of 24:45 with Tran right behind her in 28th place at 24:47.

Mr. DiConti, another returning coach who now fo-cuses more on the girl’s teams, stated that the team is “do-ing great,” and that he “couldn’t have asked for a better race.”

When asked what to expect from the team this year, Girl’s Varsity team captain Gabrielle Badie answered, “while we don’t have the depth that we’ve had in past years, I think all of us are re-ally dedicated and we’re working hard to do a good job as a team”.

Varsity Cross Country 1st League Meet

Friday, October 9, 20097:00PM Boys Varsity Football VS. Arroyo High School-El Monte

Thursday, October 15, 20097:00PM Boys Varsity Football VS. Temple City High School

Friday, October 23,20097:00PM Boys Varsity Football VS. Blair High School

Friday, October 30,20097:00PM Boys Varsity Football @ San Marino High School

Varsity Football Schedule: ctober

The Spartans fight to reach the endzone. (Photo Credit: Margaret Beesely)

Joao TeixeiraSpartan Staff

Freshmen face two years of required Physical Education at LCHS, but Aay-ush Shah, now a senior, was not going

to stand for that. Back when he was a fresh-man, he was a proficient soccer player, and still is, but he needed a dual-sport to escape the futile exercise of changing into smelly and sweaty clothes in the middle of the day. Hence, Aayush signed up for Cross Country.

This is now Aay-ush’s fourth year as a Var-sity Cross Country runner, and there is only one way to describe his undispu-table success in the gru-eling sport: natural tal-ent. Since his first year, he has grown faster, climb-ing to the highest rank of La Canada CC and tying the all-time school record.

About two weeks ago, Aayush qualified for the Elite Sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Invitational, in which he competed with the top runners of the state un-der the lights, and recorded a 15:18 minute Cross Country (3 mile) time to tie the school record. Now, if you do the math correctly, that’s 15 minutes and 18 seconds over the course of three miles, which gives you a stomach-churning average of 5 minutes 6 seconds per mile. And, although his average mileage comprises of a 55-mile week, which, considering his status amongst the CC net-work, is a relatively low number, he nonethe-less hopes to break that same school record this year and to lead the CC team to state.

Aayush said, “We have a good spread, so I think we can accomplish great things this year and we can go pretty far in CIF and maybe make it to state.”And he intends to accomplish all of this with his

teammates at his side. He said “You can make it as an individual, but its really difficult and I’d rather go as a team because there is more glory in representing your school as a team.”

Aayush is indeed a team player and dislikes training by himself, explain-ing that his team is what maintains his high motivation to religiously attend prac-tice during the rigorous summer training.

N o b o d y k n o w s A a y u s h , as a runner, better than Coach Mike Thatcher, who has been coaching him for the last two years.

C o a c h Thatcher explained, “Every runner feels pain when they run. Some runners let it affect them psy-chologically more than others. Some runners let it break their form down and they cut loose and let people see how tired they are, but

Aayush keeps it contained. He keeps all the pain in his face and in his eyes, but his from doesn’t break and he stays smooth. And that is something that’s going to take him really far this season and the next.”

Aayush’s top competitor on the team is junior Adam Skaggs, another promising Cross Country star, but his main concern dur-ing league races is South Pasadena runner, Sam Pons, who Aayush is keen on beating this year.

What goes through his mind during races is simple. He explained, “I just think of the guy in front of me and I just want to catch him,” he said, and, given that Pons is liter-ally the only runner standing between Aay-ush and first place, his objectives are clear.

11 october 13, 2009 La Cañada High School

Sports

In professional tennis, there are many amazing doubles teams. However, the doubles teams that seem to do

exceptionally well are sibling teams such as Bob and Mike Bryant or Ve-nus and Serene Williams. Here in La Canada, Girls Varsity Tennis has its own sibling’s double team. Alex Antonoplis, a senior at La Canada High School and Missy Antonoplis a junior, have paired up this year and are ranked as the num-ber one doubles team for our school. Throughout their childhood, they were very avid tennis players. Both Alex and Missy started participating in tennis competitions at the age of twelve. During this time, they rarely played doubles together, until they were paired for a CIF doubles match. It must have been destiny. They played so well to-gether. From then on, they have always played doubles together. Alex expressed that, “playing doubles together has

brought us closer”. Missy added “play-ing doubles has brought me confidence in myself and made me more competitive”. During the past couple of years,

this sister duo has won various awards. In-cluding the Positive Attitude Award from La Canada High School. The award was given to the sisters for their good sports-

manship, teamwork, and team spirit. An article featuring the girls appeared in the Pasadena Star after they were selected for the All Area First Team Selection. This distinguished honor awarded to the top three doubles from areas like South Pasa-dena, La Canada, San Marino and Temple City. Alex and Missy are chosen based on their excellent records from their tennis season. The pair also won bronze medal in the league individual tournament. This tournament is single elimination and Alex and Missy were quite pleased placing in the top three in the league. Last season, this sister doubles team were recognized as the MVP doubles team. They were undefeated so far this season. In the future, Alex and Missy have some promising plans. Alex would like to play tennis for an inner mural or Division three college. Missy would also like to play tennis at a Division three college. As we can see, this sister team is not any ordinary doubles team. Their success in doubles must be in the blood.

Success: It’s In Their BloodBy Sarena LuSpartan Staff

Dan Webster coach of the La Canada JV Tennis Teams has conducted the tryouts

for the past 19 years. With everything going on recently, he has no doubt that this will be another great season.

“This year is a l i t t le interesting, seeing as Christina Min, Leanna Fraiser, Cami Lopez, and Sharon Kim moved up to four spots on the Varsity team,” explained Varsity Coach Will Moravec.

The 25 girls on the Girls JV Tennis Team compromise two sub-teams; the Varsity team has another 16 players. This means that of the 30 players that competed in the tryouts about 20 will make the cut. This varies from year to year, depending on how many girls return.

A s C o a c h We b s t e r elaborated, “The tryouts help us judge their ability, and see how they can handle pressure.” To play tennis is one thing, but to play competitively, under pressure is entirely different.

“The tryouts basically allow Will to see if you can play on Varsity,” explained now varsity tennis player, Cami Lopez.

The first day of tryouts was held on August 24th; however, as a result of the Station Fire giving off unhealthy amounts of smoke, the tryouts were postponed for nearly

two weeks! At the tryouts girls paired up and played each other in a quick challenge matches. New girls came to the tryouts and play each other, or had the option of challenging a veteran player. Each day, the scores were taken into account, and both coaches, having kept an eye on the players’ skill, form, and potential, made decisions as to who will make the team, or move up to try out for Varsity.

“The Girls JV Team has won the Rio Hondo League in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Not bad, huh?” joked JV Tennis Coach, Dan Webster, with a laugh. The Girls Varsity Tennis team was Co-Champion last year, which isn’t bad at all, considering they are in one of the most competitive leagues in the state.

When asked for predictions about this coming season, Cami Lopez responded, “For varsity… well, it’s hard to tell because there are so many new girls.” Although reluctant to make forecasts about the season, she seemed very optimistic. With a few senior girls leaving the team, this season will truly be a test of how well the Girls’ Tennis Teams can handle pressure, and perhaps bring home another championship trophy.

Which Players Made The Cut For Varsity This Year?

Girls Tennis Tryouts (‘09 –‘10)

The Senior Swoosh

Alex and Missy are ready for the tough season ahead.

Sisters make the court their home.

Ian BalisySpartan Staff

Gemini:M a y 2 1 - J u n e 2 1Jupiter makes you even more adven-turous this month than usual. Find somewhere fun to make new friends and enjoy new experiences. Dating tip: The sweetie in your English class might seem too shy for you, but give him or her, another chance to surprise you with his or her charm.

Sagittarius:N o v e m b e r 2 2 - D e c e m b e r 2 1Now that the Neptune is moving into your sign try for some new accessories to spice up your bedroom. Add simple but bold artwork to keep things interesting. Energy from Pluto will keep you going, so try to get as much done as possible this month. Dating tip: A stunning outfit might catch the attention of your new catch.

Leo:J u l y 2 3 - A u g u s t 2 2You’re super excited for Halloween this year so plan out your costume with friends and lavish on the make up and accessories! Go to as many parties as you can you’ll have a blast! Dating tip: Don’t go for anyone who’s less than what you want this month. You deserve the best and don’t forget it!

Aries:M a r c h 2 1 - A p r i l 2 0You might encounter a friend in need this month so help by giving them advice or just being there to listen. This will ben-efit you by earning good karma points. Dating tip: You found a good catch that keeps you interested, hold on to them!

Scorpio:O c t o b e r 2 3 - N o v e m b e r 2 1Jupiter keeps you on your toes this month. Don’t let chances slip by you. Plunge into this month with an optimistic flare. If you’re trying to make a decision about go-ing on a get away or buying a new sweater, go for it! Dating tip: This month you might decide to go past the “just friends” limit with a guy you’re comfortable with.

Cancer:J u n e 2 2 - J u l y 2 2This month stay with people that you feel the most comfortable with. You will learn more about each other and become closer. Dating tip: Don’t go for your usual rockstar, but look to an intellectual hottie for a romantic date.

Pisces:F e b r u a r y 1 9 - M a r c h 2 0Mars gives you the opportunity to do something different. Join that new club you’ve been looking at or pick up a new hobby, like an art class at the Armory Center. Dating tip: Mercury keeps you attractive and captivating this month. You’ll be tempted to give away your num-ber, but save it for that special someone!

Libra:S e p t e m b e r 2 3 - O c t o b e r 2 2At the beginning of the month convincing Mercury helps you win over something you crave. Try out for a new sport or work on persuading your parents to get you that new car! Dating tip: The beginning of the school year is filled with new opportunities and weekend social activities. You’ll be the star of these up coming events this month, keep your eyes peeled for a new cutie.

Aquarius:J a n u a r y 2 0 - F e b r u a r y 1 8Your responsibility and compassion will shine through you this month. Teachers will appreciate your effort and it will pay off. Venus tempts you to stray away from your work, but keep a level head and strive to achieve goals. Dating tip: An artsy rebel is looking in your direc-tion; send him/her a text if you’re single.

Virgo:A u g u s t 2 3 - S e p t e m b e r 2 2Neptune might push you to make an important decision this month. Wheth-er you’re going to pick which college to go to, or you might determine if you have the time and responsibility for a new puppy, it’ll be a tough deci-sion, but you’ll make the right choice. Dating tip: Volunteer at the local hospital, you may bump into someone that shares the same interests as you.

Capricorn:D e c e m b e r 2 2 - J a n u a r y 1 9You’ll try to keep to yourself this month despite the fact that family and friends are continuously pestering you to get things done. Go on a run or relax at Starbucks to try to get away for a lit-tle. Dating tip: Don’t doubt yourself and stay confident this month. Yours truly will approach you during STEP.

Back PageSpartan

October 13, 2009

H O R O S C O P E S By Margaret BeesleySpartan Staff

Taurus:A p r i l 2 1 - M a y 2 0This month you will receive some important information from a friend or a family member. Try to pay attention you might need it eventually. Dating tip: Keep things casual this month and don’t make any commitments.

Four Play by Erica MooreSpartan Staff

Questions: 1. If you could create one school rule, what would it be?2. What is the most outrageous thing you would do to ask someone to back-

wards/homecoming?3. What do you think of your class theme?4. What makes this year better than the last?

FRESHMAN: Kirsten George1. No school on Mondays2. I would write a note and throw it at him from

the third story.3. I don’t really like it.4. We’re in high school now!

SOPHOMORE: Amanda Wojciechowski 1. Get rid of STEP and have extra time at lunch.2. You’ll find out later this year.3. I definitely think it’s better than last year’s, but

it’s a little too similar to the Senior’s. 4. Not being the lowest class and being able to pick

more electives.

JUNIOR(S): Joseph Torres III and Chris Yoo V1. No required classes.2. Get an obese man in a speedo that says “Homecom-ing?” on the back.3. I think it’s very inadequate for our class potential.4. Joe: I’m not at CV anymore!

Chris:..uhm…

SENIOR: Greg Lee1. Water Balloon Wednesday!2. Get obese and very hairy guys to shave

“Homecoming?” into their chests.3. Better than last year’s theme…I didn’t

like Junior Jetsons at all.4. In January, I become a man.