March, 2008 - Contra Costa Journalism.net
Transcription
March, 2008 - Contra Costa Journalism.net
–4 'Mrs. FYI' new vice principal at Northgate –2 Consectetuer –3 Mmmmmmm! Cloned burgers? news OPINION Who would you vote for if you could vote for president? Consectetuer March 2008 CVHS switches athletic leagues –5 CC Spin News & Views from Contra Costa County High Schools March 2008 Miller wants NCLB law renewed By Karly Lee Clayton Valley HS George Miller, congressman from the 7th District of California which includes portions of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, is working hard to get the No Child Left Behind Law renewed while also trying to change the standards of the law. The No Child Left Behind Law, passed in 2002 to ensure that all children have a fair and equal level of education, must be renewed every five years. Unless lawmakers vote to abolish it, or pass changes to it this year, it will remain in effect. Because it is a federal law, NCLB applies to all school districts in the United States. Miller is chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor renewed or altered law must come through him and his committee. NCLB is under attack by various education groups for its stress on standardized tests and many states for its cost and what they say are unreimbursed mandates of the law. Democrats voted to rewrite the law this year, but if it is rewritten, there is not much time left to push 75% Is the percent increase of California public schools identified as chronically struggling under NCLB, 8% of the state's schools. Christian Science Monitor, Mar. 1, 2007 NCLB page 5 Grisham honored by Women Commission By Alyssa Fagan Joni Lynn Grisham, an 18-year teaching veteran at Pittsburgh High School, was inducted into Contra Costa Commission for Women March 20. Pittsburgh HS As a college student years ago, Joni Grisham ventured to Point Molate in Richmond. At the whaling station, she saw the dead animals on hooks and men with knives slicing them open, just to get their oil. Grisham was so horrified by the scene, she decided to change her major from history to science. As a teacher at Pittsburg High School for 18 years, Grisham worked to pass on her passion for nature and preservation to students. On March 20, she will be honored for her environmental activism and inducted into the photo by Alyssa Fagan, Pittsburgh HS Northgate groundbreaking By Cassie Stover Northgate HS By the end of the school year, Northgate High athletes will have a new football field and track. Ground was broken for the new sports complex during a ceremony on Oct. 16. “I am very excited about it,” said Kassie Wenzell, project manager of the sports complex and representative of the Northgate Community Pride Foundation, which helped raised funds for the construction. “It is the result of a lot of hard word, a lot of team work.” Northgate’s athletes have been using the old football field and track since the school was built in 1974. Overused and under-maintained, the turf was uneven and full of potholes that left athletes prone to injuries. Thirty years of poor drainage led to flooding and eventually eroded the surrounding dirt track. Lack of stadium lights and inadequate bleacher seating made it impossible to have home games at night. The new sports complex will have a rubberized, all-weather track surface and a football field of artificial turf. The features will help minimize injuries and eliminate climate damage. So far, the Northgate foundation, a nonprofit group of parents and community residents, has raised $1.2 million for the first phase of the project, which includes the track and field. The total cost of this phase is estimated to be $1.3 million. The next stage of the project will include the installation of lights, bleachers and a press box. Money was donated by local residents and businesses, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation. “The beauty of this occasion is the community,” said Superintendent Gary McHenry. During construction, lacrosse and track and field athletes have been practicing on a blacktop court. Northgate’s homecoming football game had to be held on Mt. Diablo’s field. Senior football players said at the ground-breaking ceremony that they remembered discussion of a new field during their freshman year. “I want to thank the community for sticking with us so long,” said player Casey Diebert. GROUNDBREAKING page 2 Contra Costa Commission for Women’s Hall of Fame. At Pittsburg, Grisham has tried to get students and others to understand how important it is to preserve the environment. With Club P.O.W.E.R., a community service group she helped start, she organized an annual whale watching trip to Monterey, and last summer arranged a field trip to Yellowstone National Park. She still runs the Pittsburg High Natural Science Museum despite retiring from teaching last year. She also has helped restore wetlands and clean up Kirker Creek, planted trees at Contra GRISHAM page 2 EPIDEMIC! 1 in 4 Teen women infected • A CDC study released Mar. 11 found 26% of young women between the ages of 14 and 19 is infected with a STD. 3.2 Million • That translates into over 3 million young women with HPV, chlamydia, herpes simplex vitus and trichomoniasis. African Americans at 48% • African American teenage girls were most severely affected with nearly half infected with an STD. White teen women were at 20%. HPV, Chlamdia most common • Human papillomavirus at 18% and chlamydia (4%) were the two most common STDs. STD screening needed • STD screening is critical to prevention strategies. Centers for Disease Control, March 11, 2008 Volume 1, Issue 1 Staph virus plagues CC school campuses By Lauren Davis Ygnacio Valley HS Personal hygiene is becoming more important than ever with the discovery of a virus that is everywhere around but may not be obvious to students. Within the past few months, several cases of staph infection, also known as MRSA, have been discovered on school campuses throughout the nation. Ashton Bonds, 17, a student at Staunton River High School in Virginia was killed from a staph infection. He wasn’t aware of the infection until being admitted to the hospital where he remained for more than a week before he suddenly died. Staph is a dangerous infection because it is resistant to most antibiotics and it can thrive in school bathrooms, gyms, and locker rooms. This antibiotic-resistant “super bug,” is a common germ that many people carry on their skin, in their nasal-passage, or under their fingernails. The most common way to contract staph is an open wound coming in contact with excess bacteria that can be found on campus. Shortly after the young man from Virginia died, several cases were found among schools in California, including Mt. Diablo School District and schools in surrounding towns. Students at Freedom High School contracted the disease, followed by students at Northgate, Harvest Park Middle School in Pleasanton, and students and faculty at Sequoia Middle School. As word gets out, more and more schools have been testing their students and sterilizing their campuses. Some schools have even shut down, canceling school days, so they can make sure that their campus is a safe and healthy environment to be in. Students at both College Park High School and PleasSee SUPERBUG page 5 News 2 March 2008 CC Spin 'Mrs. FYI' new Northgate vice principal Yiannakopoulos Contra Costa native By Lina Pervez Northgate HS For Northgate High School’s junior class, there’s a new source of help, "FYI." Christina Filios Yiannakopoulos is the new viceprincipal of Northgate High School, but you can just call her by her nickname, Mrs. FYI. It’s an apt name for what she’ll be doing. At Northgate, the vice-principal is a mentor to the class. Students report to the vice-principal for misconduct, questions, class activities, or any other concerns regarding their high school career. The junior class has been without a vice-principal for four month until Filios’ appointment. Filios Yiannakopoulos, whose long name is of Greek heritage, was nicknamed Mrs. FYI by one of her students several years ago. She also goes by Mrs. Filios. Filios, 34, said teaching rewarding, but feels that her administration position allows her to connect with both students and teachers, and provides her the opportunity to support wider visions and goals. “I had heard of Northgate’s high academic standards, enthusiastic students, and the supportive local community,” she said, when asked why she She is a die-hard fan of the Oakland Raiders, A's, and Warriors. In short, she is a big fan of Oakland sports. applied for the job. Filios was born and raised in Walnut Creek and graduated from Carondelet High School. She attended Santa Clara University, where she majored in English. She stayed at SCU to earn her teaching credentials and a master’s degree, and later went to San Jose State University to earn her master’s in administration. Filios knew early on that she wanted to become a teacher because of her love for literature and a desire to make a difference. She said she was inspired to pursue administration by Principal Rich Knapp of her previous place of employment, Ann Sobrato High in Morgan Hill. She taught English there and later became an administrator. Filios recently moved back to Walnut Creek so she could be closer to family and friends. She also wanted to shorten the commute of her husband, George, who works as a caterer in Oakland. In her spare time, Filios enjoys gardening, reading historical fiction and mystery books and cooking. She is also a fan of the Oakland Raiders, A’s, and Warriors. Her favorite shows on television are CSI and 24, and she said that her second career choice would most certainly be a forensic scientist. NEW VP Christina Filios Yiannakapoulos steps in to fill the vacant vice-principal spot at Northgate High School. photo by Cassie Stover, Northgate HS Recitation event pays off for Pittsburg pals Students earn cash for oratory By April Quilon Pittsburg HS Pittsburg High seniors Joslynn Aquino and Maria Sandoval participated in the County Final of the First Annual Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest at the School House Theater in Pleasant Hill on February 23. Students from Contra Costa Country high schools Deer Valley, Mt. Diablo, Los Lomas, Miramonte, and Salesian gathered to compete for the chance of representing the county at the California championship. “I could not have been prouder of our students,” said Pittsburg High drama teacher Makaela Huntsinger. “They showed remarkably well.” After an emotional roller coaster of poetic performance, Aquino took fourth place with her recitations of Tony Hoagland’s “Beauty” and “When I was Fair and Young” by Queen Elizabeth I. For her efforts, she received a $50 gift certificate from Berkshire Books in Concord. “The hardest part was controlling my voice and actions on stage,” Aquino said. “I was very nervous up on stage, but I’d totally do it again. It was a great experience.” Although Sandoval did not place, she said her experience did not go to waste. “The whole experience turned out much different than I expected. Everybody was super cool and friendly,” she said. “It’s a bummer that I’m a graduating this year, because I would totally participate in this contest again if I had the chance.” Groundbreaking for new field From GROUNDBREAKING page 1 Soccer captain T.J. Kelley said that he wanted to encourage students to “make it important to win on this field.” The Northgate Community Pride Foundation has been working to update the school’s campus for over a decade. The gym was renovated in 2000, and the Little Theatre was modernized in 2006. The foundation’s next project is the construction of an aquatics center. More information about the foundation is available at www.northgatepride.org. Clayton Valley celebrates anniversary Miranda Lutz & Ben Silverberg Clayton Valley HS With the fifty year anniversary of Clayton Valley fast approaching CVHS is getting ready to celebrate the big event. “There has already been one meeting to start planning the event and there will be another one at the end of this month” says Principal Gary Swanson. One of the more difficult jobs that the committee planning the anniversary will have to do is contacting former Alumni. They are especially hoping to get some Alumni who were in the first graduating class of Clayton Valley in 1960 to come. Some of the original staff from Clayton Valley will also come back to help celebrate. One goal of this celebration is to commemorate all that Clayton Valley’s staff members and students have achieved. Having halls of fame will help bring this goal to life. Of course there will be an athletic hall of fame and another of the committee’s job is to find a way to categorize other halls of fame. There will be two celebrations beginning in the fall of next year and another one during the springtime. The festivities in the fall will last a whole weekend and will definitely include a special Alumni football game against our rivals when the school opened: Mt. Diablo High School. Many people are looking forward to this monumental event and can’t wait to show students the history of the school, the history that they will one day be a part of. Mr. Swanson is looking for currents students as well as alumni to participate in the fiftieth anniversary. Clayton Valley has survived many changes throughout its fifty year history. Many trends, styles, and ways of life have passed through Clayton Valley’s halls. Students, staff members and principals have come and gone; from Dan G. Della who was the principal when the school opened in 1958 to Gary Swanson who is the principal today. Mrs. Dillion a teacher here at Clayton Valley attended CV from 1995-1999. She noticed that teachers have become younger as the years passed, and that there seems to be less school spirit than when she went to Clayton Valley. Mr. Almond, a PE. teacher, is another former Clayton Valley student. Since graduating in 2001 he’s notice that the school campus has become dirtier, but the sports teams seem to have stayed consistent in talent. Grisham inspires students From GRISHAM page 1 Loma Reservoir and worked with the Lindsay Museum in Walnut Creek. Chemistry teacher Randy Jang said that Grisham has paid for countless items for the school’s science museum from her own pocket. “She wants what’s best for the kids,” states Jang, who is organizing a teachers’ table for the induction event. “It’s more than just a job for her; it’s a lifestyle.” Grisham said jokingly that the award was her reimbursement for the museum items. Getting student engaged and interested in what she has to say and teach them is key, Grisham believes. “When the teacher has enthusiasm, the kids can’t help it when you show them or expose them and get them to interact and be just as excited,” she said. Brian Hart, a Pittsburg High senior, said that Grisham was one of his favorite teachers. “She had a strong hand so her class didn’t get out of hand like many classes can,” he said. “She also had a sense of humor, allowing her class to be fun while you learned.” Senior Edward Rodriguez also spoke highly of Grisham. “She is a great teacher,” he said. “When you put your heart and soul into your work and have fun with it, then you know that it is the right job for you.” To Grisham, the biggest challenge in teaching was at the beginning of her career, when she had limited resources. “As time went by and I was able to work with UC Berkeley, it became a lot easier and more interesting and we were able to show students that science was fun,” she said. Grisham has a garden at home, but “native plants only.” She ripped out her lawn because it required too much water. In addition to the garden, she has three dogs, two cats, and recently paid her respects to a deceased iguana. What concerns Grisham most about the environment is habitat loss. “If you can save the habitat, then you save whatever life is in the habitat,” she explains, “It’s not about one thing in the habitat. Everything is a part of each other, and if one tiny part is declining, the others will soon follow.” CC Spin Opinions AP—Always perfect 3 March 2008 If you could vote, who would you vote to be president? Asked of students at Pittsburgh and Ygnacio Valley High Schools. T he alarm sounds, with a blaring noise that immediately wakes up anyone within 10 feet of it. The clock glows an iridescently red 6:00 am, as you sigh and slowly walk towards the kitchen for breakfast. Your day starts at 7 a.m., as do many high school students’. You have a "0" period; you are taking Advanced Placement English, AP Econ and Government, Calculus, and to round it all off your electives are AP Spanish and AP Biology. After school you go to volleyball practice until almost 6 p.m., and then you’ve got at least three hours of homework to plow through before hitting the sack at, the earliest, midnight. Whew! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Plenty of high school students have schedSTAFF WRITER ules just like yours, packed with advanced Ygnacio VHS placement classes and extracurricular events. Juniors Adam Conn and Michelle Fu only have time for one or two extracurricular activities because of their heavily packed academic schedules. There are many different reasons for having tight days, such as pressure from your parents, or maybe you fell behind some year earlier and need to make up the credits. Either way, in the back of everyone’s mind is the inevitable dread: getting into college is getting harder and harder. Students are running themselves ragged trying to get up to the standards of Stanford and Cal Berkeley, barely having any time for social events or getting together with friends. When asked how much time they spend on advanced placement homework a night, junior Stephanie Raso and sophomore Sameena Mashhood both agreed about an one to two hours per advanced placement subject. Do students really need carry such heavy loads to succeed? As the colleges turn more and more away each year, it’s not necessarily balancing AP classes and sports that can make you noticeable. “Stick to one thing you’re passionate about,” says Erin Searfus, a senior. “Colleges like to see that.” Many people who are accepted into esteemed universities do exactly what Erin points out; find something that you like to do and stick to it. You don’t have to juggle different things to get accepted. If you enjoy singing, join choir and try out for the musical. If you enjoy drama, join the Drama Club and audition for Ygnacio Valley's many school productions. Just try not to handle too much. Some students who take too many advanced placement classes get burnt out. While it is possible to take multiple advanced placement classes, it is necessary to break up the workload into small sections and make sure you take breaks in between. It is also important to take advanced placement classes when you can handle them, because according to AP World History teacher Mr. Weber, “AP classes are good if you want to go to college.” AP US History teacher Mr. Shaw also comments, “It gets people prepared for the pace of college courses, and helps develop higher level thinking skills.” You CAN get into college and you CAN be successful, you just have to make sure that you like what you’re doing and don’t stress out too much. Either way, in the back of everyone’s mind is the inevitable dread: getting into college is getting harder and harder. “I would vote for Obama because he seems to have interesting political ideas and it seems like he would connect with the world. Jose Cortez, 12, Pittsburg HS “I am having a tough time voting because I feel that our country is still discriminates against African Americans and women. Nia Gregory, 11, Pittsburg HS “Clinton. She has a good health care plan and a strong voice for women.” Rachel Cefalu10, Ygnacio Valley HS “Obama. I agree with what he is trying to do for the people.” Patrick Race 10, Ygnacio Valley HS “If I were able to vote for President, I would vote for Hilary Clinton because. . . we’ve never had a woman in charge.” Aurelia Bowman, 10, Pittsburg HS “ Obama. He’d be the first black president which is different, and he'd have a positive influence.” Shelita Brown 11, Ygnacio Valley HS “I would vote for Clinton because she wants to end the war in Iraq. She could be the first female President.” Wendell Uytengsu, 9, Pittsburg HS “Clinton. She’d be the first female, and women are just as good as men.” Areli Aguilar, 10, Ygnacio Valley HS “If I were able to vote for President, I would vote Obama because he would be the first black President and it would change a lot of things.” Terrance Crowley, 11, Pittsburg HS Pittsburgh High interviews by Jasmine Esquivel and Shanelynn Manuel, photos by Nitda Sayvaseth. Ygnacio Valley High interviews by Nicole Wilson, photos by Enrico Aguilar REVIEW Time to get stuck.on.stupid By Marie Villafuerte & Mark Ryabtsev Ygnacio Valley HS C alifornia has produced many innovative and successful bands. From the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Green Day, it shows that talent and new styles can be expected from The Golden State. And now there is a new group that has the same passion and originality as those that preceded it. That band is Stuck.On.Stupid. A local band whose members go to Ygnacio Valley HS. Their talent is undeniable – from Mike Morris’ outstanding bass playing to Izzat Bajalia’s incomparable drumming to Billy Jennings’ supreme guitar playing and vocals. Now you may not be too familiar with Stuck.On.Stupid, but their performance at Homecoming was definitely their coming out party. They rocked Ygnacio Valley like no other band has and truly left an impression. Soon after, friend requests began to ooze into their MySpace music profile (www. myspace.com/thegoodstuckonstupid) from those who know that this new sound is a hit and want to be informed when new songs are available. People can’t get enough of their best song yet, “Lost Logic.” It’s a reggae puck song that deals with topics about “fighting against the wrong things,” says Jennings. So it’s time to ask yourself if you want to listen to the same songs on the radio or your iPod everyday, or if you’re ready for the new sensation that is on the cusp of taking the local music scene by storm and to places and heights that it has never been before? 4 March 2008 Opinions CC Spin Mmmm . . . Cloneburgers! Graphic Opinion S Editorial A voice for Contra Costa youth Welcome to the first edition of CC Spin. This newspaper is a collaboration between student journalism programs in the Contra Costa County Schools, the Contra Costa County Office of Education, the Lesher Foundation, the Contra Costa Times, and the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative. Under increasing pressure from high stakes testing mandates and Have an opinion? tight budgets, many student publications in the public schools are strugWant to contribute? gling to stay alive. The purpose of CC Want to comment? Spin is afford Contra Costa students a larger venue for their views and [email protected] news, and support to help them keep their school publications going. As for the reading public, we hope that you learn more about the schools in your neighborhood and develop an appreciation for the many positive things youth in this community are involved in. All stories, news and opinion, are researched and written by students at one of four county high schools—Clayton Valley High School, Northgate High School, Pittsburg High School, and Ygnacio Valley High School. Staff from the Contra Costa Times meet with the student journalists once a month to present on topics useful to the students and assist in their development as writers and reporters. The County Office of Education facilitates the grant funds from Lesher Foundation that make this effort possible. Students e-mail their stories to a professional journalist who acts as writing coach and copy editor. She helps the students improve and refine their stories. CSJI works with the teachers and coordinates this effort. This is the first edition and we are still working out some o f the kinks, but we intend to print more before the end of the academic year and continue in the fall. Our expectation is that each issue will improve over its predecessors. Your feedbacks would be a welcome part of that process And if you are a student who likes to write–we want to hear from you! Last month, the FDA gave the thumbs up to cloned food as being safe to eat, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be eating them anytime soon at our nearest McDonald’s. Many people, including scientists, shake their heads in disapproval at the idea because it’s risky, unethical, immoral, or just plain weird. As a fellow meat-lover and science nerd, I, too shake my head along with them but mainly for another reason: What’s the point? Cows don’t seem to have lost interest to reproduce, pigs continue to make piglets, and there are plenty of sheep as well. Evidently there’s no shortage of food, so why pour our money into creating something we really Kristina Lorilla Pittsburgh HS don’t need? According to cloners, there IS a shortage of something but it’s not in the quantity of food, but the quality. In other words, the purpose of cloning animals is to make the “perfect” animal, which results in better-tasting meat. Proof of this is unknown. Apparently surveys indicate that meat-lovers complain a lot that the quality of the meat they buy is disappointing. Surveys also indicate that America is the fattest nation on earth. Obviously we could life without cloned meat unless biotechnologists made it so that eating it would provide a stronger immune system or help burn fat, but then we’d be diving into genetic modification, a totally different topic. Perhaps it would be best for our health and our wallets that we waste our money on something more productive, like alternative gas, food pills, or jet packs. Another thing- aren’t clones identical, exactly the same gene-for-gene, as the animal they were cloned from? So how would you get better-tasting meat from cloning when it would be exactly the same? The answer: You wouldn’t, unless biotechnologists created a tasty gene, which again would be in the realm of genetic modification. However, if cloned animal products were to enter the market, imagine the price. A normal cow would cost around $1,000 whereas its cloned counterpart would be $20,000, which doesn’t seem to help America’s falling See CLONEBURGERS page 5 CC Spin CC Spin is printed by the Contra Costa Times but all copy, photos, art and other contents are written, photographed, drawn or produced by students at Clayton Valley, Northgate, Pittsburg and Ygnacio Valley High Schools. Story development is supervised by the journalism advisers at the participating schools. Professional journalists coach the students and guide their reporting and writing. Staff members of the Contra Costa Times instruct participating students in professional journalism standards and practices. CC Spin is a product of the collaboration of The Lesher Foundation, the Contra Costa Times, the Contra Costa County Office of Education, and the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative. All opinions expressed in CC Spin are the views of the student authors and do not represent the opinion of the Contra Costa Times, any school, district or county educational authority, or the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative. CC Spin is a product of student journalists and is guided by the strictures of The First Amendment, the ethics guidelines of the Society of Professional Journalists and California Education Code sections 45907 and 48950. Facilitators Kevin Keane Executive Editor, Contra Costa Times Vice President, California Newspapers Partnership Steve O’Donoghue California Scholastic Journalism Initiative Coordinator Faculty Advisers Kathleen Odne Executive Director Lesher Foundation Hosay Jamili Clayton Valley High School Peggy Marshburn Chief Communications Officer Contra Costa County Office of Education Jason Haley Ygnacio Valley High School Sally Savage, Principal, Student Programs Contra Costa County Office of Education Rick Pyle Pittsburg High School Phuong Ly Writing Coach/Copy Editor John Miller/Karen Jenkins Northgate High School News CC Spin 5 March 2008 Alum excels at CVHS switches athletic leagues De la Salle leaves Bay Valley Athletic League in 2008 as well college hoop By Katie McEllistrim Clayton Valley HS By Carl Freschl Northgate HS Haley Dahlgard knew what she wanted when she graduated from Northgate last year. She wanted to play basketball at the college level. Picking where to play was the challenge. Dahlgard received offers from UC-San Diego, Sonoma State, Humboldt State, University of AlaskaFairbanks, Fresno Pacific, Westmont College, and Hope College. She didn’t pick any of them. Instead, she chose to expand her options by writing to college coaches across the country. Her letter intrigued Denison University, a Division III private school in Ohio. The coaches looked at Dahlgard’s game tapes and invited her for a visit. Dahlgard decided to go to Denison and has been on a roll ever since. A starting guard, she was named at the end of the season as the Co-Newcomer of the year by the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Big Reds won their fourth consecutive NCAC tournament championship. Dahlgard led her team with 50 3pointers this season and an average of 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. “I thought that the basketball players were extremely nice, and I could see myself playing for that coach for the next four years,” Dahlgard said of her decision to go to Denison. “I ended up really enjoying the campus and professors and students I met.” When she was a senior at Northgate, she scored 17.8 points a game and shot 46 percent from the 3-point range. In college, Dahlgard said she has had to adjust to the increased speed and physicality of the players. “The college game is very fast paced and all the players are a lot stronger,” she said. During the summer and winter Break, Dahlgard came back to Northgate to work with her former team. “Haley was a great teammate and an incredible shooter,” said Kelley Peterson, a Northgate junior. Dahlgard recommends contacting coaches and visiting campuses if students are interested in playing sports at the collegiate level. But she warns that only those with a lot of heart in the game will succeed. “Playing on a collegiate athletic team takes up a lot of time and is only for those who really love playing and are willing to work hard,” she said. Cloneburgers From CLONEBURGERS page 4 economy. The cloning process itself isn’t perfected, either. Studies have shown that clone babies have a higher incidence of abnormalities compared to their nature-born twins, such as underdeveloped organs, weaker immune systems, etc. Due to such deformities, clones tend to be more susceptible to diseases, have a lower life-expectancy, or die immediately or during birth which is why the mothers are super juiced with an array of chemicals to keep the clone baby alive. The FDA says these deformities pose few, if any, health risks if eaten. However, as the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” I say this belongs in the lab and out of our burgers. Starting next school year, Clayton Valley’s sports teams are switching out of the Bay Valley Athletic League. In the new league Clayton Valley will participate in, which is yet to be named, CV will be able to play schools closer to the area such as Ygnacio Valley, Concord, Mt. Diablo, Berean, College Park and Northgate High School. “I’m excited for the upcoming football season because a lot of the schools we are going to play think they are better than us, but I can’t wait to take them down,” says football player Michael Banks about the new rivals he will face during next year’s season. CV athletes seem to be more confident about the teams they will soon be playing. CV leaves Pittsburg, Heritage, Antioch, Deer Valley, Liberty, Freedom and Ygnacio Valley behind. “If we keep working hard, I think we will do a lot better next year,” said Junior Nick Cole about the league switch. According to Cole, the teams we will be playing next year aren’t known to be as much competition as the teams CV’s football team played last season, which include Pittsburg, Heritage, Antioch, Deer Valley, Liberty, Freedom and Ygnacio Valley High School. De La Salle High School will also be leaving the BVAL league next year as they switch into the East Bay Athletic League, leaving their independent status they have had since 1998. Clayton Valley Football coach Herc Pardi stated in the Contra Costa Times that he will miss having the choice to schedule our team to play the Spartans “Having one of the best teams in the country in your league was pretty special,” said Pardi. Miller's NCLB revisions may not be acted on From MILLIER WANTS NCLB page 1 Teachers could vie for $10,000 bonuses under Rep. George Miller's NCLB bill it throw Congress, especially with the focus on the November presidential race. Miller wrote a 1,036-page draft bill of his proposed changes to the law. Senior Republican committeeman Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeaon of Santa Clarita wrote the bill with Miller. Miller’s bill does not suit everyone’s wants or thoughts on the law, so there is controversy over it. The law has standards that each school needs to reach and some people believe that the standards are too high; others think they are too low. Miller’s bill is in between the two views. Some of the standards include student assessment in math and reading through testing but in 2007-2008 science will also be added in as well. “Just testing those two items isn’t complete. They should be tested through other ways, such as the arts, or in the shops. Assessment should encompass more than math and English,” said math teacher Ralph Dorsey on the student assessment of the No Child Left Behind Law. The law states that when a school cannot meet the standards after three years that it must offer free tutoring and the chance to transfer to all students attending that school. If a school does not meet the standards of the No Child Left Behind Law after five years, the school can be compelled to hire a new staff, change leadership, convert to a charter school, or close down. In Miller’s draft bill, he expands the standards that students and schools are required to meet under the law. Students’ progress would not be measured by a test, but how much the student improved throughout the school year. Miller wants the school’s standards to be broadened as well. To do this, the bill proposed that schools are not to be judged solely on math and English scores. For high schools, factors such as graduation rates, dropout rates, and college enrollment could be factored into whether the school reached the standards of the law. Miller would reward outstanding teachers with a $10,000 bonus and those who teach subjects where there are teacher shortages, for example, special education, math and science, would receive $12,500 bonuses in his new bill. Some, including teacher union do not believe that this is a fair proposal because of the different working conditions teachers face. Spanish teacher Misha Doig said she does not think that the teacher bonuses are fair. 'Superbug' hard to eradicate From STAPH VIRUS page 1 ant Hill Middle have been treated for a virus called Impetigo, which is the step before Staph. If so many schools so close to Ygnacio Valley High have been found to carry the virus, what’s to say YVHS isn’t? Keeping a campus clean and sanitary now has new importance. Health official advise students and school personnel take the few extra steps to the garbage can, to clean up after themselves when in the gym, locker rooms, bathrooms and even classrooms. It is important to try and avoid unsanitary situations. Washing hands regularly can prevent the virus. Students should avoid touching things in public places as much as possible. Extra precautions you can take include using hand sanitizer, wearing clean clothes, cleaning sporting equipment after each use, keeping your finger nails short, and avoiding contact with other people. Students should be sure to thoroughly clean and cover any open wounds. Coming in contact with a person with an infected open wound is the most common way of spreading Staph. Signs that you may have staph include a sore that hasn’t begun to heal within 48 hours, wounds that are red, swollen, develop boils or blisters, and are hot to touch may be infected. If you think you may have contracted staph, see a doctor immediately. Features 6 CC Spin March 2008 Why women want Dave Grohl’s babies Hip hop beyond MTV, VH1 world By Abdul Bassa Clayton Valley HS W By Edward Cendejas Pittsburg HS Pittsburg High and UC Santa Barbara alumni Kristina Boyer wants to have Dave Grohl’s children. Oddly enough, I’ve encountered several women who’ve made the same claim in the last couple weeks since the Foo Fighters played Oakland’s Oracle Arena. “I’m totally down with that,” Boyer states, giving a look that shows she’s being neither funny nor ironically hip. Grohl, 39, the lead singer and guitarist for the Foo’s, has an undeniable aura to him. Every song he writes has substance to it. He has near-perfect teeth. His hair is awesome. The origins of Grohl’s groupie-getting career started when he left Virginia to join Nirvana as their drummer in 1990. He played with the band for four years until singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Nirvana broke up immediately after Cobain’s death. Grohl then formed the Foo Fighters in 1995, releasing their first album Foo Fighters featuring the hit single “Big Me.” The hits, as they say, kept coming. Women want this man. Why you ask? Well, he is a rock star. Plain and simple, women want the bad boys, the rock stars. David Grohl just so happens to be both. What seems to work best for Grohl is good, old fashioned personality. He simply comes across as everybody’s best friend, like Dale Carnegie gone wild, and it’s a great night at the rock show. Despite all the tail flying around Oracle Arena, however, Grohl seems to enjoy the role of family man. According to online sources, Grohl has been married twice: first to Jennifer Youngblood from 1993-1997, then to former MTV producer Jordyn Blum in 2003. Grohl and his second wife welcomed their first child, daughter Violet Maye, in 2006. As much of a lady killer Grohl is, he’s unfortunately taken forever. Or at least until divorce. Review 'Deadline' is an intriguing read By Dustin Ignacio Staff Writer W hat if you only had one year to live . . . and you knew it?” This question is intuitively asked and hilariously answered by acclaimed author Chris Crutcher and his most recent novel: “Deadline” (2007), published by Greenwillow Books. Senior Ben Wolf lives in the small town of Trout, Idaho, where he coasts through high school as the captain of the cross-country team and is overshadowed by his younger brother, Cody, the local quarterback hero. Then, an unexpected diagnosis by his doctor reveals that he possesses a rare incurable blood disease. He has no more than a year to live. Ben decides to fulfill his last months without treatment or medical attention. He vows to never tell a soul about his condition, not even his family. He wants to live with no regrets, no fears and no consequences. With his doctor’s help, Ben joins the Cougars’ varsity football team, hoping to leave a mark on Trout High and gain new respect toward Cody. At only 123 pounds, Ben must face players nearly twice his size. He surprises everyone at practice with his strong tackles and is soon assigned to special teams and defense. His interests, however, are not only focused on the gridiron, but also on the captain of the girls’ volleyball team and leading reporter of the school newspaper, Dallas Suzuki. Dallas is a tall, half-Japanese athlete who has caught Ben’s heart since the moment he laid his eyes upon her. With nothing to lose, Ben rushes to meet her and asks her to homecoming. She accepts. Ben also begins reading everything he could get his hands on, and his favorite text became a biography on Malcolm X. He obsessed over fighting discrimination in his hometown. For is senior project, Ben wants to rename one street after Malcolm X. Time passes rapidly, and Ben suffers unpredictable consequences on the way to his grave. He gets more sick and fatigued, encounters relationship problems with Dallas and fights alone against the town of Trout to rename the road. And finally, he must reveal the darkest secret he had kept from everyone. Crutcher’s novel portrays the realities of teenhood wrapped tightly in a ribbon of laughter. The simplicity and use of pop culture creates a comfortable background for any student reader. Easy to follow and at only 316 pages, this would be a breeze for the average bookworm. Overall, I give Crutcher’s tale a four out of five stars for making me grin and break out the Kleenex box throughout the entire story. This is well worth reading in the short time one has left on this little planet. The message presented in “Deadline” is clear: seize the day, please. ith the country’s plethora of new hip hop artists dulling the desire for tasteful lyrics and replacing them with synthetic doses of one or two-hit wonder “Crunk” and “Hyphy” discographies, one may feel the state of hip hop as a genre is deteriorating. The feeling though well warranted is false, if you believe that all present day artists have to offer is what you see on MTV or VH1 (in the two-minute intervals between reality shows) or what everybody and their mother’s are requesting on the radio than you haven’t looked hard enough. If feel offended or strongly disagree turn what ever “Crank Dat” song you fancy up and go about your day as you were, but be you the few that do agree here are five artists and groups you’ve probably never heard of but will probably enjoy: 1. Immortal Technique—Hailed as one of the most politically aware rappers of present day, Immortal Technique delivers hard-hitting eyebrow-raising lyrics that have the hairs on the back of your neck rising as you listen. Tech as fans often refer to him as, raps about issues of war, racism, religion, and numerous other political hot topics rather than the popular misogyny, and jewelry that others choose as the base of their lyrics. Suggested Songs: Bin Laden, Freedom Of Speech 2. The Frontline—Arising from the Northern California city of Richmond, The Frontline a duo consisting of rappers Locksmith and Left made their debut in the Bay Area Hip hop scene amidst the mainstreaming of the “Hyphy” culture however this group maintains distance from the brand. Like Immortal Technique, Frontline uses hard-core lyrics and often reference political issues in their songs as well as the need for change in Richmond pointing attention to the city’s rising crime rate. Both Locksmith and Left do not smoke or drink nor do they glorify either in any of their songs. Though politically active, Frontline have numerous club anthems under their belt. Suggested Songs: It’s Goin’ Down, The Truth, Bang It, What Do You Believe In? 3. Talib Kweli—Talib Kweli though considerably wellknown is extremely underrated, he is politically aware, active in urban New York communities and has worked with the likes of legendary producers Just Blaze, DJ Quick and Hi-Tek. Talib Kweli possesses somewhat of a positive vibe to his songs and through his record label Blacksmith promotes artists with the same feel like Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae. Suggested Songs: Listen!!!, Get By 4. Crooked I—Crooked I is more of just an incredible lyricist than an incredibly conscious rapper, though at times making good points about socio-economic topics Crooked I stays true to the “Gangster Rap” mantra. Every week on Wednesdays he releases a free downloadable song on an instrumental of a fan’s choice or his own about a topic of his own or a fan’s suggestion, Crooked I is one of a few artists whom actually listens to fans. Suggested Songs: New West Anthem, My Life, Any of the Hip hop Weekly Freestyles 5. Mos Def—Mos Def, like Talib Kweli and Immortal Technique is very politically aware and is a very active critic of conservative policies and a great defender of his religion; Islam, in the media. He is one of the few rappers to bring up the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the civil rights issue of the Jena Six. Suggested Songs: Katrina Clap, Beef, Jumpoff Whether it be the extremely conscious lyrics of Talib Kweli or Mos Def or the hard-core verses of Crooked I and The Frontline, hip hop has more to offer than just uninspired dance songs and shoe advertisements. Features CC Spin 7 CVHS performing arts gala By Sara Casey Clayton Valley HS The Clayton Valley Performing Arts Center Action Committee (CVPACAC) presented “A Night of Entertainment” Gala on Friday, November 2. What a night of entertainment it was. Showcasing the Gala were students from CVHS. The performances ranged from instrumental, to vocals, and even dramatic skits in the soon to be old theater/ multi-use room. Through the back door were gallery displays of students’ art and photography. This event was the kick off to launch the campaign for a performing arts center at CVHS. Throughout the performances, there would be ‘hiccups’ of persuasive testimonials from former CVHS Another favorite was Joaquin and Pablo Jara singing with Mr. Wills. Another crowd pleaser was four of the Arts Academy students’ rendition of William Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” When Zach Rowe walked on stage in a ruffled white dress, nearly everyone was in tears. Other performances were by a few chorus groups, the symphonic band, and two scenes by the Improv Group. Since there was no admission fee to enter the Gala, many wondered how it helped the Foundation. “It helped by showing the public how much potential all these kids have and how much it would really mean to us all if we had it,” said Arts Academy student Jacqueline Grohs. “It helped by showing the public how much potential all these kids have,” —Jacqueline Grohs. March 2008 “It raised money, as well, through donations and raffles.” Arts Academy students could be seen everywhere, not only on stage, but backstage, to the side of the stage, in the audience, collecting tickets, managing auctions, and above all, enjoying the night. The promise of a new theater is important to those who have had to cope with the minimal conditions. “I’m in the Academy for Drama, and I’m striving for a new theater,” said Grohs, “not just for me, but for classes to come, for a nice working and performing space.” Local bands rock CTAP helps parents CVHS rally understand web world T he roof of the Clayton Valley High gymnasium shook from the audiences’ cheers for the musical talents of local bands, Dripsound and Foolsville Heroes, who both delivered spectacular performances at the rallies on Oct.12. Dripsound got the crowd of excited CV students warmed up with one of their hit songs, “Hollow.” With their rock/experimental sounds, everyone received a chance to delve into their inner rocker and really get into the performance. “I thought that they were good, but the acoustics in the gym suck, so you can’t really hear the vocals”, said senior Brian Prell. Aside from the bad acoustics in the gym, Dripsound managed to work through that and perform at the top of their game, leaving most students as newly made fans. Dripsound, consisting of Vince Bruno (Bass/Vocals), Dom Bruno (Guitar), and Chris Brophy (Drums), is one of Concord’s aspiring local bands. Some of their musical influences include; The Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Arctic Monkeys, and Queens of the Stone Age. They are currently looking to book more shows in the future and planning to record their first CD within the next month or so. So be sure to keep an eye out for any upcoming events to promote their unique and wondrous music. Allyza Leongson The second band to perform at the rally Clayton VHS was none other than Foolsville Heroes, with “Caravanity,” which left the crowd applauding and cheering for more. Formed by Max Marcil (Bass/Vocals), Dylan Trent (Rhythm guitar/Vocals), Casey Garcia (Drums, and Zack Rowe (Lead Guitar), Foolsville Heroes’ sounds are more alternative, with a splash of rock, and a hint of pop- a yummy combination, don’t you think? Clayton Valley student, Steven DeWitt had this to say about Foolsville; “. . . They are an awesome band, and I hope they do more shows, ‘cause I have seen them at their best.” Some of Foolsville’s influences consist of great bands such as; Greenday, The Rocket Summer, The Strokes, The Clash, and more. They are also an aspiring band looking to land more shows and events. Word is, they are currently planning to record some new material at Lightning Studios with the assistance of Breaking Custom’s (another local band) own, Joe Skandalaris. So fans, keep your ears open! All in all, the bands performances blew the crowd away with their unique styles and different sounds. But don’t think that the rally will be the last place you’ll get to see Dripsound or Foolsville Heroes. To stay updated on any upcoming events, both bands have music myspace accounts at; www.myspace. com/Dripsound and www.myspace.com/FoolsvilleHeroes. But for all you non-myspacers out there, they’ll be sure to get the word out to you. So if you are a newly made fan, never fear, it doesn’t look like these bands will be fading from the lime light anytime soon By Staff Write Northgate HS A large group of concerned parents attended an informational seminar on Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying on Jan 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre. The program was led by AT&T Education Advocate Linda Uhrenholt, a technology expert for teachers and administrators, and co-developed by CTAP Region IV, a branch of the California Technology Assistance project. Unlike traditional bullying, which usually ends along with the school day, cyber bullying can follow a student 24/7. Cyber bullying occurs when technology is used for harassment, impersonation, exclusion, and stalking. A survey from seven anonymous Los Lomas High School students recounted their online experiences and gave advice. One student was bullied online because her older brother had enemies. Another student said it was important that the school district monitor, not block, certain Internet sites. Uhrenholt and Dr. Riley explained that students have ways of getting through the blocks. Uhrenholt compared the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is the new, interactive version made up of social networking sites, places to read write, and create. Uhrenholt explained, “Web 1.0 is the equivalent of a plain cup of coffee, while Web 2.0 could be compared to a decaf nonfat latte.” Uhrenholt spoke of herself as a “digital immigrant,” a person who grew up without technology and has learned to adapt. The youth of today, she said, are “digital natives,” people who can work the system with ease. While navigating hundreds of social networking sites and other virtual worlds such as Club Penguin, Uhrenholt admitted, “I don’t know what’s going on, but the kids sure do.” Sites such as Passado, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter were mentioned as methods of social networking, all of which carry the same user risks. Pages from the CTAP website encouraged teenagers be smart about what information they posted online. CTAP’s website contains links for teachers and parents to read real life stories and articles about cyber bullying. Links such as “Personal Information,” and “Inappropriate Content” inform parents of what they should watch out for while networking online. Dr. Riley reminded parents that if the cyber bullying takes place off campus, the school cannot do anything about it unless it causes a problem on campus. Riley stated that to solve the problem administrators “must appeal to the better side of everyone” and that they had had success in doing so. She also stated, “We all need to be most concerned about hurting other people.” Uhrenholt recommended notifying an adult at the first signs of online bullying, but admitted that the Internet was a “gray area,” in which only a certain amount could be done to solve the problem. She said, “Parents must talk to their children about their online activities and make sure they are being safe, in other words, not talking to strangers.” One parent mentioned, “Younger and younger kids are getting more and more sophisticated.” Uhrenholt stressed that parents should talk to their children about online safety as early as middle school. She advised using “teachable moments,” such as items in the newspaper, as opportunities to discuss cyber safety with children. She also cautioned parents, “Don’t ignore some of the technology just because it’s not online.” Cell phones have also become a gateway for cyber bullies, and threatening text messages can run up the costs on a wireless bill. Parents should educate themselves about new technologies before simply telling their teenager that he or she cannot have a Myspace. As Uhrenholt tells parents, “You might not ever blog, but you should know what it is.” More information can be found at CTAP IV’s website, www.ctap4.org/cyber safety/. FREEDOM It looks good on you. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that your thoughts, speech, and expression of beliefs can be displayed proudly and boldly. The First Amendment – Keep It Strong! Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of RELIGION, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of SPEECH, or of the PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to ASSEMBLE, and to PETITION the government for a redress of grievances. This message made possible by the Illinois Press Association Foundation and Copley First Amendment Center www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com