June 2009 - Montclair College Prep

June 2009
Montclair Journal
Issue Six
Swine
Flu
Closes
School
By Christal Jerez
Staff Writer
Dr. McDonnell
Prom Earns Rave Reviews
Juniors and seniors danced while the DJ spun hits in the Blossom Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood during prom on May 14.
By Madison Hunter & Jeremy
Stone
Editor-in-Chief & Assistant
Editor
After almost a year of planning
and hype, the day of prom finally
arrived on Fri. May 15.
Tickets went on sale a month
beforehand, right around the
time the boys bought their tuxes
Lady
Mounties
Make
Playoffs
and the girls made their hair and
makeup appointments.
After months of rigorous planning by Ms. McNamara and the
prom committee, everything was
ready.
Junior Nicole Thompson’s
house was the location for junior
pre-prom, and parents were able
to take their immense amount of
photos then.
Most of the seniors arrived at
the Hartunnian household around
6:00 and immediately the cameras began to flash. An hour and
a half later, thirty minutes after
prom was scheduled to begin,
the seniors climbed into their limos and an extra-large party bus
to head to the Roosevelt Hotel in
Hollywood.
Waiting at the doors to the en-
trance of the banquet room, chaperones Mr. Gernes, Ms. McNamara, Coach Rocco, Mr. Krupp,
Ms. Gray and Dr. McDonnell
greeted students before they made
their way to their tables or to the
dance floor. Others headed to the
buffet table to eat the scrumptious
food.
Once Ms. McNamara could
See PROM, page 9
By Jeremy Stone
Assistant Editor
As the final league games approached, the Montclair girls softball team needed to win their last
two games if they wanted to make
the playoffs. Back to back games
against Sierra Canyon would be
the final obstacle to make their
season as a success.
The lady mounties were in
control of their own destiny.
Victory in the first game with a
score of 16-12, followed by a 7-0
forfeit win the next day put the
team in the position they wanted.
See SOFTBALL, page 12
The entire cast of “Across the Universe” performs the classic Beatles songs featured in the movie.
Mrs. Cohen
New Musical Channels the Sixties
By Natalie Schetritt
Staff Writer
The musical theater department brought a hit to the stage
with their production of “Across
the Universe.”
Throughout the show, which
ran May 12-14 and May 19-21,
the audience was captivated as
they watched and sang along to
their favorite Beatles songs.
Director Marjorie Vanderhoff
mixed comedy, song, dance and
real events from the time period
to recreate the hit movie.
The actors had great comedic
timing, and were able to squeeze
Inside This Issue...
Diploma or GED?, Page 3
Two students share their opinions.
Obama Nominates Justice, Page 4
If confirmed she will replace Justice Souter.
Senior Pullout Section, Page 5
M
Seniors
Say
Goodbye.
Special senior edition features a recap of the year.
adison
Hunter
out a few believable tears during
the dramatic scenes. The audience
was completely captivated when
“Let It Be” was sung as slides
from the Vietnam War were playing in the background.
The show,follows a boy named
Jude, played by freshman Hudson
See MUSICAL, page 9
Montclair made headlines after
closing the school for two days
after a student’s family reported
an unconfirmed case of swine flu
on Mon. May 4.
The administration was notified that a student was identified with having the swine flu.
The student may have come into
contact with other individuals so
there was concern about the safety of other students.
Montclair had to weigh out the
options of what to do. The Center for Disease Control recommended school closure while the
LA County Public Health Office
didn’t. Those contradicting tips
made it difficult to act. More research had to be done before the
school took action.
Of course there were consequences and concerns no matter
what course was taken. APs had
just begun, sports teams were
heading towards playoffs, prom
was the next week, and other
school activities had already been
planned. The school decided to
prevent anything that might lead
to harm on campus and shut down
the school until further notice.
Not everybody was happy with
the school’s decision, but that was
something Dr. McDonnell understood would happen no matter
what the decision was. Some parents were calling in to thank the
school while others were upset
saying that it was unnecessary.
Despite the upset the school
closure may have cause, Dr. McDonnell felt that they had made
the right decision in closing the
school. No one missed APs because the school was re-opened
the next day to AP students after
those rooms had been sanitized,
prom went on as scheduled, and
more importantly, no one else
contracted the flu.
Regular classes resumed the
Thursday of that week after the
campus had been completely sanitized and everything was taken
under control.
During the month of April,
See SWINE, page 9
Any Last Words?, Page 8
Seniors reminisce about life at Montclair.
Future Olympian Attended MCP, Page 9
This month’s alumni corner catches up with him.
Don’t Let Your Hair Go Flat, Page 10
Kent gives seven ways to sexy hair!
Captain Kirk Smashes the Box Office, Page 11
Star Trek and others are reviewed.
Montclair Journal
2
June issue
Editorials
Editorials
Live Your Life in the Moment
By Karin Ziv
Editor-in-chief
In life there are so many ups and downs that
sometimes it’s just better if you just smile and bear
it. Why bring your mood down, worrying about
something that will end up sorting itself out.
All that will happen in your life comes from the
sky. For this reason, it is essential to live life in the
moment. It is essential to enjoy every moment rather
then worry about the next. Why kill yourself over
that little argument you had with your friend when
you know down the line you will make up with
them.
True people can get on your last nerve and you
might not like them in the moment but you need to
not let it get to you. In the moment you don’t like
them but in the past, you couldn’t go a day without
talking to them. Think about it, why are you even
fighting with this person?
If the answer is, “they’re talking about me behind
back.” Let them talk, the more they talk about you
the more you know that you mean something in their
life. Let people spread rumors about you, what do
you care what other people even think about you?
As long as you know the truth that should be all that
matters.
Don’t spend your time dwelling in your problems
and continuously thinking about the person you are
fighting with, or the situation at hand. Rather, you
should make the best of the situation and try to let
time heal your wounds.
Be strong in your life and nothing will be able to
stop you. Sure obstacles will get in your way, but
you have to remember that you are able to overcome
anything. I once heard a quote that said “Believe
in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is
something inside you, which is greater than any obstacle.” Once you believe in this saying and realize how amazing you truly are, nothing will be able
to stop you. The ups and downs of life will not be
able to affect you in the slightest. So let that person
talk about you, let life take its toll, just remember
be strong.
Graduation Signifies Change
By Madison Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
Four years in the making, and it’s finally here.
Graduation day has been marked on calendars since
September, and has been looming over seniors since
the last day of their junior year—if not longer.
That day will seal our fate; we have cleared the
hurdle that is high school. Our lives as college students, however, have only just begun.
A year from now Montclair will be a memory,
and even if we come back to visit, it will never again
feel the way it does now. Today this is our school,
but tomorrow it won’t be. Tomorrow it will belong
to the next graduating class, and after they are gone
another class will move up to take their place.
For some, this is the most exciting event in their
life since driver’s licenses. For others, however,
leaving high school in the past and facing something
new is too much to ask.
The transition from high school senior to college
freshman does mark a significant change in a person’s life, and at times it may seem overwhelming.
Editorial Cartoon
But instead of looking at the experience as something daunting and scary, think of it as a new adventure.
Sure, you go from being the “big man on campus”
to being nothing more than a “freshy” once more,
but it’s worth the demotion. College life offers so
much more than the life of a high school student—
you just have to be willing to put yourself out there
and realize that everyone is in the same boat as you.
Once you do, the experience becomes a lot less intimidating and a lot more fun.
With college comes the responsibility and freedom of living alone. No one will tell you when to be
home by, no one will make sure that you have finished your homework, and no one will tell you not
to do something. The time to take responsibility for
your actions has arrived, whether you like it or not.
As graduation approaches all of these things are
running through a senior’s mind at any given moment. This one ceremony has come to represent all
that we’ve worked for, all that we hope to achieve,
and our futures as students and adults.
Try not to trip when they call your name.
The Montclair Journal is a student publication of
Montclair College Preparatory School, one of the
oldest private, coeducational, independent secondary
schools in the San Fernando Valley, offering a rigorous
education to students in grades six through twelve.
The statements and opinions expressed in the Editorial
and Op-Ed pages do not necessarily represent the
views of Montclair College Preparatory School, its
administrators, staff, or students.
Please direct letters to the editor, questions, comments,
and advertising inquiries to:
Editors-in-Chief, Montclair Journal
8071 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91402
www.montclairprep.com/mcp_paper.asp
[email protected]
(818) 787-5290
Stephanie Scamman
My High School
Experience
By Ilana Grines
Staff Writer
There are definitely some moments that stand out in my life.
The day I attached my tooth to a
door and yanked it out, so that the
tooth fairy could come early. The
days my younger siblings were
born, followed by my Bat Mitzvah. And last but not least, the
first day of high school.
In the summer of my eighth
grade, entering the ninth grade
was a terrifying thought. I was
ready for the transition, but had
no idea what to expect. Leaving
my established comfort zone, and
entering a new and foreign environment scared me to the point of
a minor anxiety attack.
But now, looking back at
high school, it wasn’t as bad as I
thought it would be that September morning in 2005. Walking into
the Montclair gym, being greeted
by Doc, seeing all my new classmates was the most exciting yet
nerve-racking experience. But,
now, it seems to have gone by so
quickly.
High school was a great moment in my life. It had its highs
and lows—no doubt a lot of
drama, tears, as well as laugh-
ter— but most of all these past
four years have been filled with
memories and new experiences.
I found out so much about myself, made some lifetime friends,
and felt like I belonged somewhere.
Yes, high school is not the
easiest at times, but the truth is,
what I thought high school would
be on the first day of ninth grade
was grossly exaggerated. No matter the anxiety and the pressures
these four years have brought me,
I would not have changed anything I experienced (okay, maybe
some things).
I enjoyed my high school career by making the most of it, taking the opportunities offered to
me, and allowing myself to grow.
While reminiscing I realize
that life will never be so easy. No
more set schedules, with people
you know by first and last name.
Yes, the changes I am about to
experience are exciting and new,
but just as I was panic stricken on
the first day of high school, I am
currently undergoing mini panic
attacks. This is a big change.
No more safety nets, it’s time
to step into the real world, and
face reality! Let’s cross our fingers for the best.
Staff Writers
Editors-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Madison Hunter
Jeremy Stone
Karin Ziv
Photographers
Advisor
Mr. Gernes
Ilana Grines
Amy Lin
Ilana Grines
Derek Yardum
Christal Jerez
Alex Lavin
Aree Gearhart
Ali Vanderbliek
Kent Newmark
Seung-Young No
Natalie Schetritt
Chelsea Banos
Dorielle Hadar
Sydney Sheiner
Juliet Jakob
Jeremy Stone
David Carnie
Jeffrey Steinberg
Daniela Abrams
Anthony Glukhov
Jenny Martinez
Brandon Gale
Audra Morin
Dylan Satin
Montclair Journal
June Issue
Op-Ed
Head to Head: High School Diploma or G.E.D?
Whether high school was
the best four years or the
worst four years of your
life, it’s still an experience.
By Jennifer Martinez
Staff Writer
Everything seems to get in the way of
one’s education, especially for teenagers.
Family problems and the economic state
that they’re in could be a cause for one to
dropout because they just can’t take the extra pressure from school itself. The work
is just too much and the only solution is to
leave and eventually earn their GED when
they’re able to or when the times have
cleared. Others feel that finishing the last
two years is just completely dreadful and
they just can’t go on much further despite
already having finished about 10 years of
school.
This is common in today’s society because as one gets older, one develops a
sense of what’s really going to happen after
high school.
Due to the economic state the country
is currently in, some feel that there is no
point in high school because the possibility of getting into an elite university is even
harder than before. As a result, this mentality causes one to initially drop out and earn
their GED later on life because community
colleges and corporations accept it.
But the experience one gains from high
school, not only high school but the entire
education process, elementary and so on, is
much more valuable than passing the GED
exam in a day.
Although a high school diploma is time
consuming and if one goes to a private
school, money consuming, nothing is better than pushing through the last miles of
school and feeling accomplished.
It gives one character, being able to push
through so many adversities. High school
is a chapter in one’s life and whether high
school was the best four years or the worst
four years of your life, it’s still an experience one will regret if they miss.
It’s similar to being a senior and still
having the burden of taking AP tests even
though college decisions have been made.
The whole “cramming a week before the
test” seems pointless and serves no pur-
Sure a GED is ‘equivalent’ to
the high diploma but only in
paper and the embroidery; when
looked at as a broader perspective, it is worth much more than
that.
pose because college is so close. and the
tests are useless. But when one finally
pushes through those two intense weeks of
four hour testing, it’s a relief and a huge
weight of their shoulders. Everything then
just seems to fly by and there are officially
no worries after that.
It’s about not giving up and conforming
to one’s temporary wants. It’s about one’s
own purpose, whether or not one has that
mentality to stick it through till the end and
not give up.
Sure a GED is “equivalent” to the high
diploma but only in paper and the embroidery; when looked at as a broader perspective, it is worth much more than that.
The GED allows the
student to be two years
ahead of their peers, and
saves money and time.
By Ilana Grines
Staff Writer
In life, there are very few easy choices,
and there are no crystal balls that will predict the future. For one individual, getting
a high school diploma may be the ideal
goal; but for others, the General Education
al Development [GED] seems like the only
favorable option.
The GED allows students to graduate
early by taking a test which encompasses
all one should know by the time that high
school is finished. When taking this exam,
one must show a proficiency in math as
well as in English, and is then given the
opportunity to advance to Junior or Community College.
Typically the GED, or the California
High School Proficiency Examination
(CHSPE), is taken at the end of a students’
tenth grade year. That way, the student can
take two years of community college classes before transferring to a larger university
with the required amount of units.
If the student chooses to take the test
their sophomore year, it allows them to be
two years ahead of their peers, as well as
saving them a ton of money and time. The
GED also allows individuals to get a job,
and also advances them socially and mentally.
Although high school is the customary
process, the GED route has many benefits
that are usually overlooked. It has become
increasingly more difficult to get into the
college of one’s choice after working extremely hard in high school, so why not go
in as a transfer? It may even be easier than
applying as a senior.
If one were to take the community college route, there is almost a 90 percent acceptance rate after two years— compared
with an unsure individual frantically waiting to hear from their college choices during the month of May of their senior year.
Another frequently posed question is
: won’t one be missing out on those high
school years and the “high school experi-
The GED allows individuals
to get a job, and also advances
them socially and mentally.
ence”?
For some, this is true, but there will be
a new environment at community college
filled with new friends and an overall new
experience to replace the one the student is
missing in high school.
Choosing to leave high school early is
a big decision that should be well thought
out. In the end one should realize that taking the GED and exiting high school early
would give one many more opportunities
at a much younger age, and give them a
one-up on their peers.
Not only does it save you time and
money, but it pushes you to begin your
future.
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Montclair Journal
4
News
June issue
Obama Nominates
Sotomayor to Supreme Court
By Dylan Satin
Staff Writer
Miss California Angers
Queen of all Media
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, answers the controversial Perez Hilton question.
By Aree Gearhart
Staff Writer
Perez Hilton asked Miss California Carrie Prejean whether or
not she supported the marriage of
same sex couples during the Miss
USA competition aired in April.
Her answer shocked millions.
“I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or
the other, same sex marriage or
opposite sex marriage,” she replied. She then added “I believe
that marriage should be between
a man and a woman—that’s how
I was raised.”
During interviews that followed, she was asked whether
she felt like she should’ve replied
differently. She responded, “I did
not want to offend anybody, but
I think with that question specifically, it’s not about being politically correct, it’s about being biblically correct.”
She told interviewers that that
of all the questions she had studied that one and was dreading
getting it. She added that she be-
smedia.com
lieves if she had gotten any other
question she would have won.
She continues to fight critics,
saying that she was only staying
true to her morals.
Since the competition, rumors
have been flying around and nude
pictures have surfaced of her, as
well as girls coming forward and
claiming to have dated her.
Shannon Moakler defended
her but made it clear that the Miss
California Association does not
share the same opinions and she
quit.
On Tues. May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated
Sonia Sotomayor to replace democratic Justice David Souter as
a United States Supreme Court
Justice.
After Justice Souter announced
his retirement on April 30, his
replacement has been widely anticipated by people around the
country.
Despite the nomination, there
is still a tough journey before
Sotomayor becomes a Supreme
Court Justice.
First, the FBI probes Sotomayor to ensure that she has no
criminal history. After the FBI’s
confirmation, Sotomayor must
gain a majority vote in Senate. It
is likely that most democrats will
vote for her confirmation, yet not
all republicans will.
Experts believe she should be
confirmed by the Senate, because
she has no ongoing problems with
the republican party so she should
get enough votes.
If confirmed, Sotomayor
would become the first Latino,
male or female, and only the
third woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Born on June 15, 1954, Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx
borough of New York City. Sotomayor studied hard and achieved
Sotomayor at the nominating
press conference.
her mother’s dream of attending
and graduating from college.
Hard work and dedication gave
her a scholarship to the prestigious Princeton University. She
then got a graduate degree in law
from Yale Law School.
Only 15 years later, at the
young age of 39, former President
George H.W. Bush nominated
Sotomayor for a seat on the U.S.
District Court for the Southern
District of New York.
Six years later, President Bill
Clinton nominated her to her
current position. After an overwhelming approval by senate, Sotomayor became a federal judge
on the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Second Circuit.
President Obama hopes that
Sotomayor can be confirmed by
the Senate as fast as possible.
Obama wants Senate to undergo
voting before the annual Senate
Break in August.
newly formed company.Chrysler
will be given $8 billion from
the Treasury Department on top
of the $4 billion given to help it
through bankruptcy. The $8 billion is to help keep it functioning
after it exits bankruptcy.
The Canadian government will
also loan $2 billion for Chrysler’s
Canadian operations.
Chrysler temporarily shut
down all assembly plants on
Mon., May 4th in order allow the
surplus of vehicles on dealer lots
to sell. This also avoids lay offs
of the 39,000 remaining employees and plant closings.
During the shut down, Chrysler
employees will be paid 80% of
their normal pay from unemployment benefits and supplemental
pay in the union contract.
Employees at dealers are at
risk because of a coming reduction of the 3,300 dealers operating currently.The 3,400 workers
of Chrysler Financial, the financial arm that provides loans to
Chrysler customers and dealers,
are in danger of being laid off as
it maybe going out of business.
GMAC, a finance arm co-owned
by GM and Chrysler’s current
parent company, Cerberus Capital
Management, will provide lending services as part of Chrysler’s
reorganization.
Any Chrysler vehicle warranties currently in effect will be up
held by the U.S. government.
Fiat will provide “management services” to Chrysler and
use existing plants to build cars
for the U.S. that it already makes
in Europe.
Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli
will leave Chrysler after it exits bankruptcy and completes its
deal with Fiat. Nardelli’s replacement will be announced by a new
board of directors consisting of 4
members named by the Treasury
Department, 3 by Fiat, one by the
Canadian government, and one
named by the United Auto Workers union. The Chrysler-Fiat deal
will give 55% stake in Chrysler
to the UAW, 20% to Fiat with the
possibility of increasing it to 35%,
8% to the U.S. government, and
2% to the Canadian government.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been
keeping Ford out of bankruptcy
and federal loans by implementing new policies and negotiating
new contracts with UAW, but
Ford is still bleeding cash as are
all the automakers.
GM faces a deadline to restructure by the end of May for
government loans or it too could
follow Chrysler into bankruptcy.
www.nytimes.com
Chrysler Files Bankruptcy
After months of
hardship, Chrysler
is forced to declare
chapter 11.
By Derek Yardum
Staff Writer
On Thurs., Apr. 30, Chrysler
LLC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protections due to some
of Chrysler’s smaller lenders
refusing a Treasury Department
demand to reduce the amount
of money Chrysler owed them.
However, Chrysler’s deal with
Italian automaker, Fiat, did come
through to allow both companies
to share resources with one another.
Chrysler filed in a federal
court in New York with a vow
from President Obama for the
bankruptcy process to be quick,
efficient, and controlled. The
possible time frame would be 30
to 60 days which is also when the
deal with Fiat will be finalized.
President Obama commented
on the bankruptcy not as a failure
but as “one more step on the path
to Chrysler’s revival.”
Government officials said all
of Chryslers assets will be bought
from the bankruptcy court by a
June Issue
Montclair Journal
5
Senior Pullout Section
Class of 2009
Mr. Krupp
The senior class poses for a class photo sporting their new senior shirts before partaking in Senior Mystery Night on Oct. 14. Senior Mystery Night was their first senior event of
the year, and it set the precedent for those that followed.
Some members of the class of 2009 have been together since
sixth grade and others as recently as this year. Despite the diversity in personalities and interests, the class has managed to form
a link that will bond them forever.
On the last day of summer vacation, the senior class was not
at the beach or hanging out enjoying the last few moments of
freedom. Instead, they were on campus.
The senior picnic is where the seniors
get together and eat a meal with their
friends and family, talk about senior events
that will go on throughout the upcoming
year, order their cap and gown for graduation, and decorate the school with streamers and posters.
A month later in October, Senior Mystery Night took the senior class on a two
hour bus ride to Anaheim, where they
unveiled the mystery: they were going to
have dinner at Pirate’s Adventure Dinner
Theatre.
Upon arrival, the two buses carrying the
seniors and their teacher advisors were put
on opposing teams; from then on it was the
purple team versus the orange team.
Once inside the restaurant, seniors ate
and cheered on their respective teams.
Some were even selected to participate in
the show.
Another month later, at the end of November, the first senior fundraiser, Senior
Pizza Day, was a complete success. Music
floated over the senior patio courtesy of an
iPod as a sea of underclassmen swarmed
the food area. Nothing was left at the end
of the day except for empty pizza boxes
and a few sodas.
After semester break the new secondsemester seniors had another fundraiser to
look forward to: the Senior Barbecue.
Ilana Grines
Senior girls Aree Gearhart and Natalie
Schetritt.
The school’s rock band jammed on the
patio during lunch and entertained the mass
of people waiting in line for their hot dog,
hamburger, or veggie burger.
Parents of members of the senior class
were present to help out with the grilling
and the rest of the seniors helped serve the
delicious food.
Another senior tradition takes place every April. This event is special, however,
because it also centers around the teachers
who have helped the seniors grow into the
young adults they are today: the SeniorFaculty Luncheon.
This year senior Lauren White’s grandmother graciously hosted the event, and it
Jeremy Stone
Seniors Christal Jerez, Justin Steinbaum, and Madison Hunter smile at nutrition.
was catered by local eatery Oliva Trattoria.
After eating the delicious lunch, seniors
spent time writing notes to their future
selves and putting them in a time capsule
that will be opened at the ten-year high
school reunion.
Every class since 2001 has had the opportunity to permanently leave their mark
on campus by painting 6x6 ceramic tiles
that Mr. Krupp glazes and then mounts
onto an exterior wall. Whenever anyone
looks at that wall, they will remember the
amazing class of 2009.
One of the most anticipated senior
events of the school year takes place in
May, and goes by the name of prom. This
year’s prom, aptly named “It Happened
One Night,” was located in the Blossom
Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Juniors and seniors got dressed in
their finest and everyone had a great time.
The final, and arguably most memorable, rite of passage that the class will go
through together is graduation.
Thurs. June 11 is the one day during second semester that every senior is excited to
come to school. Even though the ceremony
isn’t until 7 at night, the seniors will be at
school in the morning for the senior breakfast and the middle school graduation.
Congratulations and good luck seniors!
Montclair Journal
6
June issue
Senior Pullo
Mystery Night : Oct. 14
Seniors Juliet Jakob and Laura
Lejobowicz.
Senior boys disguised as pirates take part in the show and help their team win.
The seniors dressed up
as pirates, acted like little
kids, and had an experience
they will never forget.
Pizza Day : Nov. 21
Senior Kent Newmark poses with a flock of sophomore, jun
Mr. DeMartini forgets his manners when there’s pizza involved.
The annual senior pizza day
event was a hit, raking in
money for the senior class’
prom fund.
Empty pizza boxes littered the senior patio after the event, highlighting its success.
Barbecue : Mar. 20
Senior Sydney Sheiner hides
behind an M&M cookie.
Seniors take a break from serving hungry students to smile for the camera.
Another fundraiser, another
success! The school’s rock
band played while parents
grilled and seniors kept
things moving.
Faculty Luncheon : Apr. 29
Seniors Mikey Chin and Sam
Decker.
The annual luncheon was
held at Ms. Betty Rose’s
home and was catered by
Oliva Trattoria. After eating,
seniors filled up their time
capsule.
Senior Padraic Kane focuses so he won’t mess up!
Tiles
After eating delicious food, the seniors sat down together and talked.
The final senior tradition before graduation is
painting of 6x6 ceramic tiles that will be glaze
and mounted on campus.
June Issue
out Section
Montclair Journal
7
Pre-Prom : May 15
Seniors Ali Vanderbliek, Chelsea Banos,
Hattie Hillman, and Dorielle Hadar and
junior Natalie Gross pose for a photo in their
formal attire.
Seniors Jered Stone and his date Jennifer Martinez stop to smile before
leaving for prom.
Photos courtesy of Ilana Grines,
Dr. McDonnell, and Madison
Hunter
nior, and senior girls at the senior pre-prom at fellow senior Matt Hartunian’s house.
s the
ed
Three lucky boys stand with four ravishing girls in front
of a beautiful view.
These two couples master the ultimate prom pose.
Senior Dylan Lucks has the pleasure of being surrounded
by a bevy of senior girls.
A huge thank you goes to the Hartunian family for inviting the entire senior class and their families into
their breath-taking home for pre-prom to set the backdrop for these photos.
Jorge Gonzalez
Prom At The Roosevelt Hotel
Ms. McNamara announces senior Ilana Grines as this year’s prom queen.
Seniors Beau Noonan and Kelly Goddard
dazzle everyone with their perfect smiles.
Mr. Gernes and Ms. McNamara enjoy
their chaperoning duties.
Seniors Jou-Jou Liao, Amy Lin, and
Erika Asaga look stunning in all black.
Senior Sam Decker can’t believe how
gorgeous his date, senior Karin Ziv, is.
Montclair Journal
8
June issue
Senior Pullout Section
Seniors’ Final Thoughts Before Leaving
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
What about college excites you?
“ A nurse practicioner in a big hospital.”
“ A famous fashion designer or merchandiser.”
“ On the PGA tour.”
“ In a law firm.”
“ Somewhere out of the country owning
some sort of business.”
“ A musician or a famous producer with his
own record label.”
“ Hopefully owning a boutique.”
“ Married, with a good job.”
“ Retired in Miami.”
Alex Lavin
“ Making money somewhere.”
“ I see myself working in a recording studio, breaking barriers.”
“ Medical school.”
“Finally being able to study the subject
that I am interested in!”
“ Starting a new life.”
“ Moving on with my life.”
“ Meeting new people.”
“ Getting to learn new things.”
“ Being independent!”
“ Living away from home for the first time
and experiencing a different learning environment.”
“ Leaving LA.”
What’s the best thing about being a senior?
“ Not having to come to school.”
“ Free periods.”
“ Off-campus lunch.”
“ All the exceptions to the rules we have...
oh wait.”
“ That it’s our last year of high school.”
“ Everyone becomes extremely close and
just has fun.”
“ You are the oldest in school and are about
to go to college.”
“ No homework.”
“ Ditching school.”
Brian Zuckerman
“ We rule the school—sorta.”
What’s your favorite Montclair memory?
Nick Minot
“ Sam and the rocking horse winner in Mr.
Gika’s class. I couldn’t stop laughing.”
“ Hangin’ with friends.”
“ Getting yelled at by Mr. Patterson.”
“ Baseball trips.”
“ Prom!”
“ When Kent asked if trees mated with their
roots.”
“ There are so many memories...”
“I will always remember the three legs of
the tripod.”
“ Field trips.”
“ Meeting my best friend.”
Victory Belz
Any advice for the juniors?
“ Study hard!”
“ Do your college essays early or it’s REALLY stressful.”
“ Don’t give up...take vitamin C to fight
senioritis.”
“ Apply to as many colleges as you like.”
“ Transfer.”
“ No slacking off!”
“ Start your applications early.”
“ It is inevitable for you grades to slip once
you’ve gotten into college...try your best no
to let it get there.”
Albee Wei
“ Ha ha ha.”
“ Don’t fall into senioritis.”
“ Don’t sleep in class (unless you won’t get caught).”
“ Study hard—it’s not easy to get into college any longer.”
“ Actually do your work senior year.”
What will you miss about Montclair?
Natalie Schetritt
“ Going to off-campus lunch with the buddies.”
“ The small, home-like community where
everyone knows everyone.”
“ The small classes.”
“ The golf team.”
“ The relaxed learning environment.”
“ There are so many memories...”
“ The teachers that I’ve gotten close to.”
“ My friends.”
“ Football locker room.”
“Attending.”
“ The people.”
College Choices
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2009! Montclair seniors will be scattered across the country next fall, from
Pennsylvania to Oregon. Here’s the list of the schools the members of this year’s class will attend in the fall.
Erika Asaga—undecided
Chelsea Banos—Pepperdine
Victory Belz—Menlow College
Daniel Besharat—LMU
Edwin Calderon—SMC
Mikey Chin—UCLA
Ryan Cornateanu­—University of Oregon
Daymond Cowlah—undecided
Samuel Decker—UC Berkley
Michelle Farnum—LMU
Aree Gearhart—Cal State Northridge
Anthony Glukhov—UC San Diego
Kelly Goddard—San Francisco State
Jorge Gonzalez—LMU
Ilana Grines—Valley College
Dorielle Hadar—University of Colorado, Boulder
Matt Hartunian—undecided
Kevin Huang—undecided
Hattie Hillman—undecided
Madison Hunter—USC
Ruby Jacobs—University of Arizona
Juliet Jakob—San Jose State
Ye-Jin Jang—Georgetown
Christal Jerez—American University
Padraic Kane—Moorehouse College
Tanya Khazaie—Valley College
Ye-Ji Ko—undecided
Alex Lavin—UC San Diego
Isaac Lee—SMC
Young-Jin Lee—SMC
Laura Lejobowicz—Cal State Northridge
Jou-Jou Liao—San Jose Community College
Amy Lin—University of Washington
Dylan Lucks—undecided
Mark Mak—University of Oregon
Roland Makoge—undecided
Devin Mata—San Francisco State
Jennifer Martinez—LMU
Ethan McLaglen—Cal State Northridge
Nick Minot—William Penn
Kent Newmark—Skidmore
Liz Nguyen—American River College
Seung-Young No—Pasadena College
Beau Noonan—San Francisco State
Lily Popkin—University of Pittsburg
Stevie Rader—Valley College
Juliet Roberts—Sonoma State
Payam Rodd—undecided
Stephanie Scamman—Occidental
Natalie Schetritt—Cal State Northridge
Sydney Sheiner—San Jose State
Samantha Spiwak—University of Arizona
Justin Steinbaum—University of Oregon
Jered Stone—Cal State Monterey Bay
Jeremy Toscher—University of Oregon
Alexandra Vanderbliek—undecided
Albee Wei—UC Davis
Lauren White—Hiram
Greg Whittaker—Cal Lutheran
Grace Yang—Otis
Derek Yardun—Cal State Northridge
George Yu—Pasadena City College
Karin Ziv—Valley College
Brian Zuckerman—undecided
High school graduation is June 11 at 7 pm in
the gym, all are welcome to attend.
June Issue
Montclair Journal
9
Around Campus
Alumni Corner
Sundeen Learns Quickly
MCP graduate
represents the United
States in international
competition in a
sport he picked
up at 15. Could
he be Montclair’s
first Olympian?
By Madison Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. McDonnell
Prom queen and king [seniors] Ilana Grines and Kent Newmark.
Montclair Royalty
Crowned at Prom
PROM, from page one
find space on the dance floor, she
brought the prom king and queen
nominees to the center of the floor
directly in front of the stage.
The nominees for prom king
were seniors Beau Noonan, Dylan
Lucks, Kent Newmark, and Victory Belz. In the running for prom
queen were seniors Ilana Grines,
Hattie Hillman, Aree Gearhart,
and Kelly Goddard.
When everyone was seated
earlier in the evening they had
the opportunity to vote via ballots
on their tables. Grines and Newmark won, claimed their respective crowns, and shared a dance
before posing for photographs.
The majority of the party-goers began to leave after the winners were announced. The last
survivors, however, remained on
the dance floor until 11:30.
After students left the hotel
they either headed home to sleep
or to parties to keep the fun night
going.
This night was an emotional
one for some, especially the seniors who consider it their last
event with all of their high school
friends.
In the end, “It Happened One
Night” was a complete success,
and it is a night that no one of the
junior or senior class is likely to
forget.
File Photo
Since its opening Montclair
has had its fair share of athletes
go on to play professional ball,
but there’s something special
about the newest member to
join this elite group of Montclair
alumni—he didn’t play his sport
at school.
Ryan Sundeen, a graduate of
the class of 2007, played varsity
soccer during his time at Montclair, but starting at the age of 15
he began playing another sport:
field hockey.
While starting a sport that late
in the teenage years is considered
to be too late [that is the oldest
age any boy on either of his teams
began to play], Sundeen picked
up the sport quickly and his natural athletic ability allowed him to
progress rapidly. Today he is not
www.usfieldhockey.com/teams/men/sundeen
Sundeen’s senior photo in 2007.
just a member of the club team
LA Tigers, but also a full-time
member of the US national team
at the age of 20.
As is expected of any national
team, practices can be grueling.
Four months before any tournament the team practices for two
days in a row followed by one
day of rest in order to get the boys
in shape.
Sundeen and his team won the
bronze medal in the Pan Am Cup,
which qualified them for the upcoming World Cup. They’ve also
taken second and third in the last
two national championships.
Most of Sundeen’s teammates
on the national team are local boys
from the Ventura County area, but
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arizona,
Holland, and Germany all have
Sudeen in action during a game.
players representing them on the
team as well.
The majority of Sundeen’s
games in the United States are
played in Chula Vista, San Diego,
but he has traveled near and far
for tournaments. He and the other
members of his national team
have been to Mexico, Canada,
Trinidad and Tabago, and will
travel to Singapor and Malaysia
in June.
Despite his packed schedule,
Sundeen has not neglected school.
He attends Moorpark Junior College and works around it.
Sundeen remains optimistic
about his future, and would love
to qualify for another World Cup
and he added that “the ultimate
goal [for himself and his team] is
the Olympics!”
increase in the number of deaths
due to the Influenza A virus found
in a number of countries brought
global worry.
As of May 25 there were over
12,500 people who were infected
and nearly 100 people died. The
virus has been found in a number
of countries including Australia,
China, South Korea, and Mexico,
where it originated.
The symptoms seem like that
of the regular flu and may include
chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, and weakness. The common
symptoms cause many people to
brush them aside and continue
on normally, while they unknowingly spread the flu.
Those who recently took a trip
to Mexico may have come into
contact with the virus, assisting
in the world-wide spreading of
the virus. Advice from health officials is to stay at home if anyone
feels ill.
The first two days of
the trip through the
eyes of a student.
They love americans here.
Tanya got free tea at starbucks,
and last night when we were at
the internet cafe we didnt pay for
anything, it was hilarious.
Today I saw the place where
the first olympics were, and we
then went to the acropolys and
climbed all the way up. I felt so
out of shape but my legs are gaining muscle.
After the climb and taking over
100 photos of the view, we had 4
hours of free time during which I
ate my first gyro! It was delicious
and amazing.
We then went to Zeus’s temple and saw the guard change in
parliament. I took a picture with
one.
Our curfew is at 12 but all the
greeks are laughing at us because
that’s when they start going out.
Tomorrow we go to Delphi!
Health Scare Reaches Campus
SWINE, from page one
the director of the World Health
Organization declared a “public
health emergency of international
concern” due to the Swine Flu.
Not since the 1918 flu pandemic has the world seen such an outbreak of a deathly influenza. An
Montclair’s
Greek Odyssey
The female vocalists take charge of the stage, weilding signs that call for peace and love.
Mrs. Cohen
Mrs. Cohen
High Marks Across the Board
The ladies of the musical “Across the Universe” sing for peace, love, and understanding.
MUSICAL, from page one
Thames, as he travels from England to the United States in the
1960s.
When he gets to America he
falls in love with an American girl
named Lucy, played by freshman
Megan Goddard. But when Lucy’s
brother Max, freshman Greg Cohen, is drafted to fight in the Viet-
nam War, all three become very
involved in the peace movement.
They, with “the tribe” portrayed
by castmates Katie Rosenthal,
Michelle Konviser, Grace Yang,
and Minji Hwang, travel to New
York to protest the war.
Senior Kelly Goddard takes on
the role of Prudence, who “gets
by with a little help from her
friends” after realizing her love
for a woman­—something that
was completely taboo at the time.
The show left the audience
with an incredible feeling of what
the 60s were all about: passion,
protest, war, freedom, peace, and
of course love. The Beatles would
have been proud of this production.
By Karin Ziv
Editor-in-Chief
Day one: We’ve been in Athens for four hours and in that time
we roamed a bit and went to the
beach. While we were walking,
fireworks started! It’s beyond
beautiful here, and the weather is
great.
The flight was ridiculously
long and I was awake the whole
time: 11 hours just to london.
Tomorrow we are waking up
early and going to the acropolys
so I have to wake up at 7:30.
Day two: We went to bed at
like 2:30 am greece time and surprisingly I woke up at 7, jet-lag
free.
10
Montclair Journal
Entertainment
June issue
7 Ways to Beautiful, Sexy Summer Hair
By Kent Newmark
Staff writer
As summer is approaching
and the weather is changing, so
is your hair. Rather than letting
the weather take its toll on your
hair you should follow these tips
to you have a great hair day every
day of summer.
With these tips your hair is not
just going to look fabulous but
it will look naturally healthy as
well.
Add Volume
You should
aim for your hair
to have natural
volume and texture. Don’t use
too many products because it
makes your hair
go limp. Also,
the more product you use the
more it will look
unatural.
One product
that you should use throughout
your hair is Oscars Blandi No
Gravity Volumizing Spray ($18).
Spray your hair evenly with
stylist every time
you have a party.
It’s actually a
very simply look
to achieve. All you
have to do is flip
your hair upside
down and give it
a good shake. Flip
it back up and
scrunch the crown.
Finally fingercomb the ends of
your hair. In just
a few easy steps
you’ll be looking
just like the famous
and gorgeous super
model. As you can tell some of th
most beautiful ways to wear your
hair are the completely natural
ones without any products.
it and comb through it before it
drys.This Spray should have your
hair looking beautiful in minutes.
Layers
If you have medium to thick
hair, ask your stylist to give you
some choppy layers all around
your head, if you have thin hair
then you should only do a short
trim in the front. However, consult your stylist before your haircut, that way you’re both on the
same page. By adding layers to
your hair, your not only
going to have a new
hair cut for summer,
but it will automatically add more volume
to your hair. So if you
don’t feel like buying
the Volumizing Spray,
head towards your hair
salon ASAP!
Condition
your
hair
In order to keep you
hair healthy I stronly
suggest that everybody
use Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture
Deep Recovery hair mask ($7) –
apply this to dry hair for 10 minutes BEFORE you shampoo.
This will allow natural oils
to go deep and soften the cuticle
from within. After rinsing, use a
gentle shampoo to remove dirt
and residue.
The Super Model
Gisele Bundchen’s look is one
that is coveted over. You can get
this look without going to your
Your hairs new smell
Use a fragrance and spray it
lightly on the back of your neck.
Every time you toss your hair
while talking to that guy you are
interested in, the fragrance will
release and they will be that more
interested in you.
Try to buy that new perfum
that you’ve been eying at the
mall. That way you have a nice
“summer scent.”
Add Shine
There is a
VERY fine line
between glossy
and greasy but
with Sebastian
Professional
Trilliant shine
spray
($17)
your hair will be
looking glossier
then ever.
Which
is
Just spray your
palms and run
them over your
hair and it will shine all night.
Your shiny hair will bring a
glow to your face making you
look even more gorgeous than
you are.
Untuck
So you’re trying to attract
your crush while looking more
attractive. However if you pull
back your hair, it will not work.
Let your hair down, and let it
fall around your beautiful face.
You can wait for work or when
you work out at the gym to pull
it back.
Derek’s Cars
The Best Cars of 2009
By Derek Yardum
Staff writer
Wolverine seeks revenge for those who killed his loved one.
aceshowbiz.com
‘Wolverine’ Claws
Its Way to the Top
By Brandon Gale
Staff Writer
The X-Men series has gained
international fame over the years.
The much-anticipated fourth
movie about Wolverine’s past
has received popular buzz from
fans. Now that it has come out, it
has met the level of expectations.
However, this level is not very
high.
A back story of the last three
movies, Wolverine’s history
on how he lost his memory and
gained metal claws and skeleton
are explored in this movie as he
battles other mutants and his
brother, Sabertooth. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, but nearly no other actors
from the original series are seen.
The expectations of this movie
included: a story with little plot,
few complex characters, and a lot
of action. The movie meets all
levels of such forecasts.
Besides Logan, no character
changes throughout the film. The
story is designed as a segway
from one action sequence to the
next, of which there are many.
Yes, we must admit that having
your skeleton turned into indestructible metal is very cool, but
a little more captivating of a story
would be appreciated. I am grateful that it explains what happened
on Three Mile Island though.
If you are an X-men fanatic
and absolutely have to see this
movie, go with my blessing. But I
recommend renting it later.
The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity.
For the last issue, I have decided to do several mini reviews
instead of one or two longer reviews. All cars were chosen in a
vote between a few individuals
including myself.
As an economical car, the
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the
only hybrid that has an electric
engine capable of 47mph before
starting the gasoline engine and
can use 85 percent ethanol fuel
(E85) to further reduce your carbon footprint.
The Fusion also has available
the usual Ford goodies including
Microsoft Sync system, Sirius satellite radio, voice-activated navigation system, back-up camera,
and a $1,700 federal tax credit.
Ford has been the king of
trucks for years with the F-150
and the 2009 one is even better.
It has the best towing and payload
of any truck along with better fuel
economy, more power, lots of
safety features, and an even quieter cabin than before.
Cadillac’s sporty sedan, the
CTS, has been given a better
reputation because of the CTSV, which is now the fastest and
cheapest sport sedan in the world
(coupe and wagon versions of the
CTS will arrive sometime next
year).
Not only does this sedan have
a 26mpg capable V-6, but also a
40gigabyte hard drive to record
songs straight from the radio and
usautochoice.com
The 2009 Nissan GT-R shocked the super car world with its $80,000
price tag and can achieve 193mph.
even allows the driver or passenger to pause and rewind live
broadcasts.
The 2009 Chevy Corvette can
either be interpreted as an expensive sports car or a cheap super
car, but the buyer wins either way.
The Corvette has a lot more safety
features than other sports cars and
can get a maximum 20-26mpg
depending on whether you want a
base model, Z06, or ZR1.
The Swedish super car company, Koenigsegg, released the 2009
CCXR which is the first super car
to utilize ethanol as a source of
fuel. Now one can drive 245mph
while feeling sort of green.
The 2009 Nissan GT-R
shocked the super car world with
its $80,000 price tag and can
achieve 193mph. This 21mpg capable super car comes with safety
features and options of a luxury
sedan and includes an on screen
performance readout of the vehicle design by Polyphony Digital,
the creators of the Gran Turismo
video game series.
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis
sedan is the cheapest luxury sedan that offers almost everything
Mercedes-Benz or Cadillac do.
Its $33,000 price comes with an
unbeatable 10year/100,000 mile
Powertrain warranty, 300 horsepower, and 27mpg.
These cars and dozens of others
were nominated to find the best of
the best. A full list of categories
and winners has been posted on
Facebook under “Derek’s Cars”.
June Issue
Montclair Journal
11
Entertainment
Christal’s Ipod
Green Day Breaks It Down
By Christal Jerez
Staff Writer
It’s interesting to see how
much a band can grow from one
album to the next. Green Day has
managed to showcase their blossoming talent and ambition with
their new album “21st Century
Breakdown.”
This album is a rock opera split
into three segments: “Heroes and
Cons,” “Charlatans and Saints,”
and “Horseshoes and Handgrenades.”
The concept album tells a story
about a young couple, Christian
and Gloria, who have run away
together trying to survive the post
Bush years. The album is themed
around rebellion.
The track “21st Century
amazon.com
Breakdown” illustrates how well
written the lyrics are, so when
listening to this album one must
look into the lyrics to follow the
story as well as see the creativity.
“Christians Inferno” sounds
like classic punk rock from the
seventies while “Last of the
American Girls” is more of a
story centered song revealing the
loss of worthy rebellion in society.
The album is filled with many
punk anthems such as the single
“Know Your Enemy” and song
“East Jesus Nowhere,” with some
garage-like punk songs like “Murder City” in the mix as well.
The men add something extra to their punk songs to change
things up a little—like the Spanish feel found in “Peacemaker” or
the acoustic ballad intro of “Before the Lobotomy.”
The album overall is much
better than their previous one,
“American Idiot.” The lyrics are
very deep and meaningful, the
concept is very interesting, and
their musicality has grown tremendously. The group didn’t hold
back when recording this album.
Eminem Relapses New Album
By Christal Jerez
Staff Writer
Celebritywonder.com
‘17 Again’ is Better
Than the First Time
Mike O’Donnell becomes 17 again in order to reconnect with family.
By Brandon Gale
Staff Writer
Magically growing older is not
an alien concept to Hollywood.
In 1988 Tom Hanks stared in the
critically acclaimed movie “Big.”
More recently Jennifer Garner
stared in the movie “13 Going On
30.” “17 Again” uses this concept
with a slight twist; going younger
instead of older.
Michael O’Donnell abandoned
all his potential in high school to
marry his knocked-up girlfriend.
Twenty years later, with his life in
shambles, he is magically turned
back into his 17-year-old self.
With the help of his nerdy, rich
best friend, he attempts to go back
to high school and get a second
chance at his life.
The movie descends into a
cliché and mediocrity within 20
minutes. Within the first hour, it
becomes apparent that the movie
was a product-placement bidding war. Although it is a crowd
pleaser, it causes very little mental stimulation.
Although it is entertaining, this
film should be postponed for Netflix. Quite frankly, it isn’t worth
the $12 admission, and should be
watched at a cheaper price.
The film is rated PG-13 for
language, some sexual material
and teen partying.
It’s been a while since rapper
Eminem has been on the music
scene, but he has returned with
the release of his new album “Relapse.”
I should give a warning: it is
quite an explicit album. His album is full of hate and personal
anger. His dark emotions mixed
in with his talent and Dr. Dre’s
beats make for an interesting album.
Most of the songs are stories
about his struggles with drugs, recovery, or his family. The twenty
track album includes five skits
all giving a further look into his
struggle.
The first song off the album,
“3 a.m.” is a glimpse of what the
rest of the album is like: good,
but forced. There are either good
beats with a mediocre rap or a rap
that’s heartfelt with decent beats.
Two of the mediocre songs
that sound a little too artificial for
Eminem are the singles “Crack a
Startrekmovies.com
The stars of the reinvented Star Trek take the series to the next level in the remake of this classic.
Classic Star Trek Gets Revamped
By Brandon Gale
Staff Writer
Star Trek has probably been
the most addictive series ever. It
has sparked the interests of fans
since Leonard Nimoy created the
live long and prosper symbol.
Now, after several successful
series and respectable movies, J.J.
Abrams has made a new movie
that’s out of this world.
Featuring a complex alternate
timeline scenario, the film follows the adventures of the rising
James Kirk and Spock. As they
reconcile their rivalries and different opinions they must learn to
battle a futuristic enemy out for
vengeance.
The first impression of the
upcoming movie was “oh no, another Star Trek film.” But when it
finally came out, it received noth-
ing but good reviews.
The acting is excellent and the
script is captivating. However, the
thing that really sells the movie is
the special effects. From exploding torpedoes to black holes in the
center of planets, there is practically nothing that the special effects managers haven’t done.
I strongly recommend that you
go out and see this movie right
now, it’s rated PG-13.
amazon.com
Bottle” and “We Made You.”
Sure they are catchy and what
not, but there are so many more
songs of his that top them. If he
was just trying to make a number
one there could have been something better.
The rhyming of “We Made
You” seemed too forced as if he
chose words not for their meaning, but because it would go along
with the rhyme scheme. That was
disappointing.
However, those are the worst,
and the album only gets better
from there.
The songs that are a leeway
to the better part of the album
include “Old Times Sake” and
“Same Song and Dance.” The
subject matter isn’t the best part
of those songs, but it is his talent of being able to say what he
wants in a creative manner that
makes these songs better than the
singles.
Also unlike the singles, “My
Mom” and “Insane” remind the
listener of why Eminem is as big
as he is today. The emotions that
come off of those songs just make
the album worth listening too.
They are filled with true personal
anger at himself and others.
The beat in “My Mom” is a
very good classic Dr. Dre sounding tune. The song gives a feel of
his good older albums where he
spoke his mind not trying to make
something be the next dance hit.
“Insane” is the core of the entire album. It speaks for itself.
The album is all about insanity;
his insanity and the entire world’s
insanity.
It’s a change from his older albums, but that doesn’t mean that
is bad, just different.
Have A Backache?
Need A Massage?
We’re Very Good.
Montclair Journal
12
June issue
Sports
Student Spotlight
Cowlah Comes On Strong
Despite some obstacles,
senior Daymond
Cowlah has turned into
quite the athlete. After
graduation, he will
continue playing ball.
By Daniela Abrams
Staff Writer
Ilana Grines
Senior Stephanie Scamman hopes it’s a homerun as she swings.
Mounties Hit Hard
SOFTBALL, from page one
The next obstacle—making
the trek to Atascadero, California
to play North County Christian in
the first round of the playoffs. The
team made this trip shorthanded.
Missing key players such as junior Daniela Abrams and sophomore Lindsay Anderson would be
costly, but it gave the opportunity
for other players to step up and
show what they can do.
Playing in only her second
game of the season, freshman Alexa Pirouti made her mark on the
game by making a crucial catch
to keep North County Christian
from scoring and getting walked
twice, Pirouti contributed to the
7-1 victory.
Pitcher [junior] Chelsea Moreno kept up her consistently outstanding pitching.
The second round playoff game
against Victor Valley Christian at
home was clearly a more difficult challenge. The team’s season
came to an end after a frustrating
15-1 loss. The bright spot came
from freshman Gaby Cohen’s hit
that drove in fellow freshman Alexa Keefer for the only Montclair
run of the game.
“We didn’t play the way we
know we are capable of playing,”
said junior Nicole Thompson after the game.
This 15-1 loss hardly describes
the team’s season. The Mounties 11-5 record gave the team an
opportunity to be one of the few
teams to play in the playoffs this
year. Although the season did not
end on a high note, the twelve
girl’s determination and will to
win was notably recognized.
Senior Daymond Cowlah may
be graduating at the end of this
year, but his achievements will
remain with the school for years
to come.
Cowlah first arrived at Montclair four years ago with high
hopes of becoming a varsity basketball player; but instead he received harsh criticism from his
peers and coaches who told him
that he wouldn’t be able to play
basketball on the varsity team, let
alone in college.
Since then Cowlah has greatly
exceeded their expectations. For
the past three years he has been
captain of the varsity basketball team, averaging 24 points a
game.
He began playing basketball at
the tender age of seven, and has
traveled to locations all around
the country such as Las Vegas,
Houston, and Seattle with his
team.
As a strong point guard, he attended Double Pump Westcoast
All Star Camp where he won
Ilana Grines
Senior Daymond Cowlah brings the ball up the court.
MVP, and has also been first team play basketball.
USC and Harvard were among
all-league and first team all-CIF
at Montclair the past three years. the other schools interested in rePerhaps his greatest accom- cruiting Cowlah.
Cowlah is truly exceptional,
plishment is the full scholarship
he was awarded by the University and Montclair will miss this
of Seattle, a Division I school, to three-sport athlete.
Year of Sports: A
Look Back at the
Playoff Teams
By Jeremy Stone
Assistant Editor
Junior Dylan Satin, senior Devin Mata, and freshman Evan Kantor hang out in the dugout.
Ilana Grines
Season
Wrap-Up
By Madison Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
The boys fought hard all season long,
ending with a record of 15-13, and were
rewarded with a spot in the playoffs.
Round one of the playoffs versus Lopoc was a home game, and the crowd
helped the team win the game 10-8.
During round two of the playoffs versus Woodcrest Christian of Riverside,
however, the Mounties suffered a 0-5 loss
that knocked them out of the playoffs.
Well done and better luck next year
boys.
Ilana Grines
Senior Matt Hartunian takes a swing at the ball.
Throughout Montclair’s long
history, it has received a reputation as being a powerhouse school
in a variety of sports. This year,
the Montclair community had
the opportunity to watch several
teams make it to the playoffs.
After a summer of training,
the football team kicked off the
school year with a trip to the playoffs. They were the first of the six
teams to make it this year, with
a 4-5 record. The team unfortunately lost in the first round of
the playoffs to Avalon of Catalina
Island.
The end of the football season
marked the beginning of the boys
and girls basketball teams’ road to
the playoffs.
Coach Patterson, once again,
trained a team that was playoff
worthy. Led by captain [senior]
Daymond Cowlah, the mounties
ended their season with a 12-15
record, and made it to the second
round of playoff competition.
Most impressive was the girls
basketball team. Coached by Mr.
Webb and directed on the court
by captain [senior] Stephanie
Scamman, the lady mounties finished the season with a stunning
21-7 record with only five healthy
players left standing at the end
of the season. Shorthanded, the
mounties recruited two soccer
players and made it all the way to
the semi-final game, where they
faced off against much larger
Santa Clara. The season ended
with a heartbreaking loss, but
the team’s effort was noticed and
applauded by all the family and
friends that were able to witness
their achievements throughout
the season.
Tennis season was up next.
Lack of experience on the court
was a problem for the co-ed team,
and they ended with a 4-6 record.
Seniors Lily Popkin and Maddie
Hunter were the only ones to advance to league preliminaries held
at Brentwood High School. Facing stronger opponents, however,
the team of Popkin and Hunter
were quickly defeated.
Captain [senior] Jered Stone
represented Montclair in the golf
preliminaries after a great season
on the course.
The Monclair sports program
had a successful year, and hopes
to have another one next year.