The Paw Print - JSerra Catholic High School

The
Paw Print
JSerra Catholic High School
Volume 29 • January 2015
How to Ask a Date
to Winter Formal
New Year’s
Resolutions?!?!?
by Garrett Prendiville
Every new year people around the
nation talk about their vows to improve
themselves. I wandered around JSerra asking
people what their resolutions for the year
were, and not surprisingly, the vast majority
of people failed to make a resolution, and
of those that did, most had already broken
them.
According to Statistic Brain, 8% of
people achieve their goals, whiles at least
25% of people fail their resolution within the
first week, and some, even earlier.
Brian Richardson’s resolution to not
make one in the first place was automatically
broken by nature of his goal, and Justin
Paige’s struggle to become “better as a DJ”
was abandoned before the first sunset of the
year.
Food seemed to be the biggest foe
that Lions have been battling this month.
Amadea Lender’s commitment to “not gain
weight” lasted “about 20 minutes.”
Fr. Damien pledged to “eat less
carbs” but “broke that on January 2nd.”
Catherine Lowengrub promised to
“eat healthy” and has had more success; she
enthusiastically told me she “hasn’t broken it yet!”
by Ryan Sánchez
As the new semester
begins, so does an array of athletic
games and events, the biggest being
Winter Formal. However, this
special dance is a little different
compared to Homecoming and
Prom. Instead of boys asking girls
to the dance, the girls ask the
guys. This tradition of girls asking
guys to dances can be traced back
to the late 1930’s and since then,
it has been a common high school
custom all across America.
Who wants to be asked
to Formal in some boring or
generic way? Proposals to dances
have evolved into a grand scheme
to become the most creative
and witty person on campus.
Some of the motives behind this
is to post a trendy Instagram
Tim Vorenkamp and Jena D’Amico
picture, but either way, the final
results of many proposals are
entertaining to see. A few popular ways for someone
to ask a student include a poster with a pun, public
humiliation, or the bribery of food.
continued on page 3
JSerra Catholic High School • 26351 Junipero Serra Road
continued on page 3
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 • (949) 493-9307 • JSerra.org
Page Two
Leadership Development
Institute 2014
by Sarah Abdeshahian
Guest Contributor
day business. One of the sessions even included
a real-life Shark Tank, based on the TV show,
which held an hour-long competition between
teams that would describe their “invention,” in
order to win a prize.
The conference’s special speaker,
Brodie Kaster, held another session. Kaster
was featured on a season of Dancing with
the Stars and now travels the country, giving
positive speeches to students. His workshop
offered a new perspective to the attendees.
Kaster explained that the obstacles people
face during their lifetime may vary in the level
of difficulty; however, through hard work and
determination, everyone can be successful.
The first day of the Leadership
Development Institute shared invaluable
One of the highlights of 2014 for the Business
techniques and lessons with the students that will
Magnet Program at JSerra was the LDI Conference during
ultimately aid the students to improve the JSerra Business
the last weekend of November. The
Magnet Program. The second, and
program took 34 of its members to
last, day of the program consisted of
The
the Riverside Convention Center in
a practice test session. This session
order to take part in the annual twogave students the chance to observe
day conference held by FBLA (Future
the layout of tests that they will be
Staff
Business Leaders of America), an
taking on February 7th 2015, the
Katia Bergstrom
Zoe Kaffen
Sydni Brown
Emma McClellan
organization that aims to shape young
annual Southern Section Leadership
Olivia Coyle
Garrett Prendiville
adults into more successful leaders.
Conference Competition. The
Megan
D’Souza
Julia
Sanchez
As well as JSerra,several other
JSerra Business Magnet Program
Michael Elsanadi
Ryan Sánchez
schools also attended the event. On
will be taking over 90 students to
Connor Ferrell
Jenny Woo
the first day, students attended seven
this competition, and will, hopefully,
Mary Kaffen
Mr. Jeff Kahl, Advisor
workshops that pertained to modern
win a few medals.
Paw Print
Page Three
Maddie Taber Competes
in Spartan Race
Early in December senior Maddie Taber competed in the Malibu
Spartan race. One of only two women to start the race with the
Elite men’s division, Maddie placed 1st out of 200 in the 17-19
division. This race is very difficult—4.5 miles, 17 obstacles—and
has a 60% drop out due to obstacles and injury. It was straight
uphill and featured spear throwing, 10-ft. wall jumps, rope climbs,
barbed wire crawling, 200-lb. sand bags...crazy tough. Madison
rocked it and never gave up. She was the youngest member on
her team which placed 3rd overall from out of 1500 teams.
New Year’s Resolutions
continued from page 1
Mr. Holligan said his goal was a secret, and that he
is still going strong. Anastasia Aleman said the very same
thing...whatever her secret resolution is. She then added a
second one: to keep running no matter how much it hurts.
This resolution is also still going strong.
Derek Reyes says he lowered his goals for the year
and adds he’s very successful so far.
Connor Gross claims to have made no resolutions,
but he did get grounded the very first day of the year for
being a bad son!
Studies have shown that people are more likely to
attain their goals if they have support from their peers, so
all Lions must join together and encourage each other to
better ourselves.
Winter Formal
continued from page 1
However, in the recent past, the creativity and
spontaneousness of recent proposals have been lackluster.
Recently, students have asked their peers to dances in
emotionless and lazy ways. In this circumstance, the bigger the
better. Proposals should be elaborate in order for the potential
date to say “yes” and also to create happy memories.
Asking someone to Winter Formal can be an
enjoyable and entertaining experience if you ask in the right
way. With that in mind, here are some creative and fun
ways to ask a potential date.
Public Embarrassment: Although this does not
seem like the best thing to do, if performed the correct way,
the proposal can be a memorable and comedic experience.
Publicly humiliating your date is extremely easy and
involves one step: be loud and noticeable. Weather using a
creative poster or dressing up in a goofy outfit, your date
is bound to agree to go to the dance so they do not seem
like heartless people in front of people.
Break In:What’s creepy and illegal for an adult to do
is cute and romantic for high schoolers to do.With consent
of their parents, a unique way to make sure you have a
date to the dance is to decorate their bedrooms. Some
amusing decorations one could use are balloons, streamers,
and banners.
Bribery: Let’s get real, food is everyone’s best friend
so it’s foolproof to use this as an advantage! Figure out
which foods your potential date loves and shower him/her
with mounds of trans fats and calories.
Scavenger Hunt: For the adventurous, a scavenger hunt is
the best way to ask someone. Make a map and place clues all over
campus.After many confusing minutes, your date would come to
see that you are the “X” that marks the spot.
School dances should be a fun and enjoyable experience,
not a stressful and dramatic episode. While figuring out how to
ask someone to the dance, make it fun, personal, and memorable.
Campus Ministry
Fashion and Modesty
by Katia Bergstrom
Many people assume that modesty and fashion
don’t go together. But the truth is, they do. Style and
modesty do go together. Women look much more stylish
when they dress modestly.
By choosing to wear something classy, women
look more beautiful and confident. Also, when a woman
dresses modestly, the woman feels better about herself
and more comfortable with her surroundings. If a woman
dresses modestly, she doesn’t have to keep adjusting her
clothing in order to feel comfortable. If you are modest, it
means you have more fabric on your body; you have more
room to be stylish because there is more clothing on your
body. This gives you the opportunity to express your own
style more.
By the same token, keep in mind that many people
believe length equals modesty, and this is not always the
case. For example, many people think if you have a floor
length gown or maxi skirt on, you are dressed modestly. In
a sense, this is true because you are covering up all parts of
your body. But keep in mind that these dresses and skirts
may be immodest if they are too tight.
Form-fitting clothing is to be applauded; nice,
stylish clothing doesn’t need to show off every piece of skin
underneath, yet it doesn’t look baggy, either. Wearing formfitting clothing shows that women appreciate the body that
God gave them, while still being covered.
Skin-tight clothing, whether long or short, is never
a good thing. Also keep in mind that you do not want to
go too short with certain items of clothing, such as dresses
and skirts. If you are seriously in doubt as to whether an
item of clothing is too short, remember that to the knee
or a little above the knee is usually appropriate for various
occasions. Also remember that the proper length of apparel
is different for different occasions.
Many women
50 to 60 years
ago, especially in
Hollywood, dressed
with a sense of
modesty and style.
If you are looking
for a good fashion
model to follow,
who also excelled
at dressing modestly,
Audrey
Hepburn,
Grace Kelly, and
Greta Garbo are
good
examples.
Leah Darrow is
a
contemporary
example of how modesty and fashion go together, and her
story is inspiring for many women.
If you
struggle with to
dress modestly,
or are just
looking
for
some interesting
examples
of
fashionable
and
modest
individuals,
there are some saints who embraced fashion and modesty.
A few good examples include: Saint Gianna Molla,Venerable
Teresita Quevodo, and Maria Goretti.
Remember that if you dress with modesty and
style, you will be a fashion plate in this world and the next!
Campus Ministry
Freshman Retreat
by Olivia Coyle
For the first time in JSerra history, Campus Ministry is
hosting an overnight retreat for freshmen students.The retreat
will take place from Friday, January the 23rd to Saturday the
24th, at Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center.
After speaking to Mr. Eckert, he said he is
frequently asked why Campus Ministry doesn’t offer an
overnight retreat for the freshmen. Sure, there is the annual
in-school Freshmen Retreat each Fall, but over the years
many students have requested something more to help
them grow closer to God and become more involved with
Campus Ministry. Already, the response to this new retreat
has exceeded expectations. Forty students and counting
are signed up, and capacity is nearing the fifty-student limit.
The retreat will be focused around strengthening
students’ relationships with God and building strong
foundations of faith. It is vital for students to build these
foundations of faith and strong relationships with God,
so that they can continue to grow spiritually throughout
their next three years at JSerra. By attending the Freshmen
Retreat, or any other retreat
for that matter, students build
connections with each other and
their participation at school mass
is transformed each Wednesday.
Miss Bass, Mr. Eckert, Mr.
Labaucher, and Mr. Reidy have all contributed a lot of their
time and energy towards planning and preparing for this
retreat. Students can expect many fun activities, including
hikes and games. As for building a stronger faith, freshmen
can experience God during adoration and mass. In addition,
Mr. Misiow, Ms. Scotti, and Mrs. Arvidson will be helping lead
the retreat, along with eight other student leaders.
The Freshmen Retreat is an exciting addition to
Campus Ministry and the over all freshmen year experience.
It is the perfect opportunity to meet new people, make
friends, and take ownership of faith.
Fine Arts
Winter Showcase Is Here!
by Megan D’Souza and Zoe Kaffen
The JSerra Winter Showcase returns January 23,
showing off the school's Fine Arts Department. This year's
display will take place at Mariners Ocean Hills Church.
Ranging from illustrative photography, to surreal paintings,
to sneak peeks of the Spring Musical, the Winter Showcase
is one of the most popular extra-curricular events.
Some students might ask, “Why bother going?” As
a theater arts participant, I offer “Here's why.”
Performing arts are something I am especially
passionate about. Whether it be a Shakespearian parody
or the Seussical, being on stage and serving others
through entertainment gives me a sort of fulfillment
that I have yet to encounter anywhere else. What helps
foster the growth of young performers is the support
of an audience—most specifically, their friends, family,
classmates and teachers. Performers need the feedback
of an active crowd in order to truly gain experience and
confidence. Participating in this growth is a wonderful
thing for viewers, and the audience will leave the
showcase in awe and laughter.
Each Fine Arts teacher had something to say about
the hard work that the individual classes entail. Mr. Dehn,
Performing Arts chair, helps explain, “It really showcases
what JSerra has to offer in the best light possible.
All the arts in and of themselves are kind of our
greatest expressions of faith and beauty, so what
could be better than watching your friends doing
that for everybody?”
What about students feeling inhibited, that
they're not “good enough” to participate in the
arts?
“People thinking they're not good enough
is part of that insecurity. That doesn't just keep
people from doing the performing arts in school,
but it keeps people from doing things in life. The
first step is to not doubt yourself and go for it, try
something new. Even though it's something new,
it's really beautiful and it's a lot of fun,” says Mr. Dehn.
When asked about the work put into the Winter
Showcase, esteemed photography teacher Ms. Stehney says,
"The students are outstanding in the amount of work they
have produced this year. They have worked hard to control
the outcome of their artistic achievements. The process?
Revise, redo, revise, and do it again until its perfect!"
Fine Arts
Theatre teacher, Ms.Ybarra, describes the showcase
as a chance “to display JSerra's extreme talent.” This year
Theatre will be featuring their Comedy Sports team and
showcasing one of the scenes from the fall musical, Seussical.
The student coaches for Comedy Sports are juniors Peyton
Nasi and Heather Baker.
When asked what makes this year's Seussical
special, Ms. Ybarra says that, “the musical is a combination
of the dance department, theatre department and choral
department featuring talent from all three of the groups
with Brian Dehn directing vocals and Mrs. McClellan
choreographing.”
Speaking of Mrs. McClellan, her Dance 3 class has
been working hard to bring never-before seen dances to
the Winter Showcase, including solos by Emma McClellan
and Jordyn Squiers.
Mrs. McClellan says, “this year's showcase is fun
because Dance 3 will be teaming up with the orchestra for
the piece Highland Holiday.”
These new collaborations are sure to please the
audience by combining the extreme talent of JSerra's Fine
Art department in the Winter Showcase.
Mrs. Harrell, Fine Arts department head, has given
us some insight into the process of actually planning the
showcase:
“We start reserving space for the
following January in the previous year. In
September, we meet as a department and
decide on a theme or how we want the
look of the show to be presented. During
the course of the first semester, we have
the teachers and students prepare artwork,
music, videos, dances, and theater pieces for
the performance. In January, we have our final
meeting as a department to secure advertising,
printing, and posters for the event.”
When asked if there was anything in
particular she was excited to see, she replied,
“I am excited to see the show hung in its
entirety. The show displays the many facets
of our Visual Arts program, and what the
students can really do!”
Sports
Ice Lions
by Julia Sanchez
Currently ranked fourth in the ADHSHL (Anaheim
Ducks High School Hockey League), the JSerra Varsity
Ice Lions closely follow behind Santa Margarita ranked
third, Edison ranked second, and Orange Lutheran leading
the rankings of Division One. The Varsity teams’ current
record remains 7 wins, 7 losses.
Lead by team captain Zach Fiedler (junior) and
head Coach Mike Perkins, the team has been practicing
since
the
beginning
of
the
school
year preparing
to
defend
their
2014
CAHA
High
definitely is a rival,” Coach Perkins explained, regarding
School State
their biggest competitor in the ADHSHL.
Championship
When asked about going to the state
title.
Last
championship, Coach Perkins eagerly replied, “Any team
year,
JSerra
can win at this point. It’s going to come down to who is
Francis Lemay
beat Orange
playing the best hockey at the end of the year. Can we
Lutheran 5-4 at the Honda Center allowing them to
win? Yes! We have several players who contribute on a
secure their first State Championship title in a couple
regular basis, but Zach Fiedler (junior) and Francis Lemay
years. Both Orange Lutheran and JSerra traveled to
(junior) have been the backbone of our team. Their
Omaha, Nebraska to represent California in the USA
leadership and ability to make plays during important
Hockey High Nationals.
times of the game have helped us win 19 games to this
“I think any Trinity League team is a big rival and we
point of the season.”
have to be ready to play any of those teams. Between JSerra
The Ice Lions’ next game will be played against
and SM we have been
Edison High School
the only two schools
at Anaheim Ice on
to win the ADHSHL
January 24 at 3:15 pm.
Championship
or
Don’t forget to come
the CAHA State
out and support your
Championship.
Ice Lions as they
Because of our
continue on in their
close proximity, SM
successful season!
Sports
Boys Basketball
by Jenny Woo
Run, pass, dribble,
shoot, take that ball
straight to the hoop!
Lions fans, be prepared
to roar for this year’s
JSerra Boys Basketball
team as they dribble into
the new season. From
a cheerleader’s point of
view, basketball season is animating and lively. We have the
opportunity to physically be a part of the game as we share
in the team’s triumphs and losses. Getting the fans involved
is also a huge part of the game, and the players love the
support. I interviewed JV player Mark Summers about his
role and commitment to the basketball team.
Mark plays the post position, or the floor, and
remarks that the crowd’s support and cheers “make the
game 30 times better and make you want to play better.”
As a power forward, also known as #4, Mark is one of the
taller players on the team and is a strong rebounder that can
move well around the key. The close relationship he shares
with his teammates, or as he calls it, his “brotherhood,” has
strengthened Mark’s confidence about his team competing
in the Trinity League and also having a good chance of
winning this year’s CIF playoffs.
Strong relationships between each and every player
on the team, as well as with the coach, bring the sense of
unity and wholeness onto the court. Mark also mentioned
the special traditions that occur before and after the game,
such as the prayers and pep talks to prepare for the game
and to reflect on it afterwards.
Steele Brenner,Varsity forward/guard, also mentions
the happiness he feels when he’s on the court and agrees
with Mark Summers on the team’s companionship present
on the court, as well as within the teams.
Although the boys put
forth the hard work and
effort, many people fail
to accredit the beloved
coach, Joedy Gardner. He
describes his coaching role
at JSerra as if it was “in
my blood,” and mentions
that his dad was also a
successful player and coach.
He remarks, “I love developing young men to not
only become better basketball players, but to represent JSerra
Catholic High School and it’s community with character,
loyalty, and high academics, along with spiritual excellence.”
Coach Gardner received a full scholarship at Long
Beach State University and was drafted into the NBA by
the Houston Rockets as their 7th pick in 1984. He played
professionally in the U.S. and in Europe for six years.
This is currently Coach Gardner’s 6th year coaching
at JSerra and describes this year as a “rebuilding year”
because the team lost six seniors to graduation, with four
playing Division 1 college ball. Coach Gardner describes his
team to be “thirsty to learn how to become a better team”
and that the team continues to “improve each and every
game” they play.
“The best feeling for me,” he says, “is when a player
comes back after they have left high school and are now in
college or beyond and come back into your life to say how
much we, as coaches, impacted their life.”
The JSerra basketball team is currently ranked 8th
in the State Division 4AA and Coach Gardner states that
the Trinity League will get the players ready to face the
challenge of the CIF competition. He believes that winning
is a great thing, but adds that “in the long run, it’s about the
relationship and impact you have made on that individual.”
Entertainment
Austin City Limits
by Michael Elsanadi
Beginning in
1974, PBS KLRU,
or the Public
Broadcasting
Service of Austin,
Texas, sought a
TV show that
would broadcast
and
celebrate
the
traditional
music of Texas. The producer intended to film live Texan
bands performing songs from the genres of western swing,
progressive country, and rock and roll.
The show, with minimal funds and materials for
production, filmed its pilot in 1974 with Willie Nelson, before
his rise to fame, as its main guest. Bill Arhos, the creator of
the show, then pitched the pilot to PBS with the intention
of selling recordings to raise funds for the station. Because
of
the
show’s
massive success as
a fundraiser, PBS
agreed to broadcast
Austin City Limits
beginning in 1976.
The show
is currently the
longest-running
music series in
American television
history, and it is
filmed in the Moody
Theater and Studio
in
Downtown
Austin.
During its season, ACL releases a 60-minute episode
weekly, featuring a band, or two, playing a set list of their
choice live. An audience of around 300 people are chosen
from a raffle they sign up for; they surround the band or
artist playing.
Austin City Limits digressed from Texan music early
on, and allowed artists of hundreds of different genres to play
on the show. Performers ranged from the Alabama Shakes and
Johnny Cash to Alvin Crow and the Pleasant Valley Boys. Later
in the show’s history, artists began creating unique posters for
each
band
performer
that week;
this provided
a
sublime
combination
of visual and
auditory art.
During
the
28th
season
of
the
show,
Austin City Limits debuted its first music festival with a
humble line up of American bands, such as Nickel Creek
and The String Cheese Incident. Now encompassing a range
of culinary art, visual art, and community service, the ACL
Festival has grown to become one of the biggest Indie,
Rock, and Folk music festivals, with approximately 75,000
people present each day of the festival.
From it’s unassuming inception as a weekly TV
show on PBS to becoming the only television show
in history to win the National Medal of Arts, Austin
City Limits has broken the boundaries of producing,
distributing, and celebrating music.
Entertainment
Unbroken
A Movie Review
by Mary Kaffen
The movie "Unbroken" was released into theaters
on December 25, 2014. Directed by Academy Award winner
Angelina Jolie, this epic drama tells the story of Olympic
athlete and war hero Louie Zamperini who fought for the
U.S Air Force as a bombardier during World War II.
The movie is based on the biography of Olympic
runner Louie Zamperini written by Laura Hillenbrand
in the novel, "Unbroken.” Unbroken introduces Louie
Zamperini, played by English actor Jack O'Connell, as
a young rebellious teen (whose teenage self is played by
C. J. Valleroy), living in Torrance, California. This rebellious
young man however, eventually grows up to run one of the
fastest laps ever recorded in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and
placed eighth in the 5,000 meter race. Louie's supportive,
yet sometimes exasperated, Italian immigrant parents are
played by Maddalena Ischiale and Vincenzo Amato. Louie's
older brother Pete is played by John D'Leo as a young boy
and later on by Alex Russell. In the movie, Pete realizes
Louie's potential to become an Olympic runner, and helps
Louie earn the nickname "The Tornado of Torrance."
The movie opens as Louie and his air mates drop
bombs on Japanese military bases and fight off Zero planes
in a breathtaking aerial-combat scene from the point of view
of a B-24 bomber.The combat scene is filled with flashbacks
of Louie's childhood and his rise to running stardom. Later
on, Louie and his crew are sent on a rescue mission, but
encounter a complication early on as one of the B-24
engines explodes and the plane crashes, landing the crew
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Eight men of the 11
die on impact, leaving Louie stranded at sea with his pilot,
Capt. Russell Alan Phillips, played by Domhnall Gleeson, and
tail gunner, Sgt.. Francis "Mac" McNamara, played by Finn
Wittrock.The men endure weeks of endless drifting, extreme
sunburns,
dehydration,
starvation,
and attacks
not only by
Japanese
bombers but
by the sharks as well. This scene in the movie made up a
large part of the novel, yet critics were displeased with
the movie's attempts to portray this slow, painful journey,
feeling it was rushed and unmemorable.
Only Phil and Louie survive the 47 days on the
raft and are eventually captured by the Japanese. Once in
their hands, Phil and Louie are separated and sent to the
POW camp in Tokyo called Omori. It is in Omori where
Louie meets the man that develops a sadistic fascination
towards him and takes special interest in making Louie's
life miserable. Mutsuhiro Watanabe, played by Miyavi, was
a corporal at Omori and the POW's nicknamed him the
"Bird." Miyavi is a Japanese singer and songwriter and this
was his first appearance in a feature length film.Throughout
the course of the movie, Louie leans on other soldiers for
support, especially Commander John Fitzgerald, played by
Garrett Hedlund.
Critics believed the story to be powerful on its
own, and thought movie was too watered down to create
any real inspirational moments for the audience. Others,
however, praised Unbroken for its amazing set-pieces and
portrayal of the captivating hero that embodies the triumph
of the human spirit. Whatever the case may be, Unbroken
honored the life of Louie Zamperini, whose tale will be told
for years to come not only in a novel, but on the big screen
as well.
Opinions
The opinions expressed here are those of the student journalist.
They do not reflect the views of the JSerra faculty, staff or administration.
Winter Formal
Dazzling lights,
booming music,
and heels thrown
in a pile of the
girls’ bathroom
floor; it’s that
time of the year
once again! With
this year’s Winter
by Jenny Woo
Formal
theme
being the “Roaring 20’s,” many students,
especially girls, are ecstatic about dressing
up in fringe, pearls, and feathers.
However, many students are
hesitant to attend dances, thinking that
they won’t have a fun time or simply
because, “it’s lame.” Keep in mind that
high school only last 4 years, which gives
us limited time to experience all the fun
events, as the years does go by quickly.
Students should not view dances as a
hassle or an event their parents made
them go to, but as an opportunity to go
out, dress up fancy, and just have fun.
Also, many are under the
impression that for dances, they should
have a date. I’d like to remind the student
population that going to dances with
your friends by your side is always a great
option, too. Besides, dates are really only
for the pictures your parents will cherish
forever, so grab anyone willing to take a
picture with you and you’re set.
Don’t waste an opportunity to
dance the night away surrounded by your
best friends. Remember, stag is swag!
The War on
Terror
Scheduled
Test Taking
Ever since
September
11th, 2001, the
Western world
has struggled
with
Islamic
terrorism, both
in the Middle
East and within
by Ryan Sánchez
its
subways,
streets, and marathons.
Our military and our
allies have done a remarkable job
preventing attacks, and because of this,
the American people have been lulled
into a false sense of security.
As we mourn the 12
Frenchmen murdered in Paris
because of a cartoon depicting the
Prophet Muhammad, we must realize
the sad truth: the threat from Islamic
extremism is very real and very close.
We must remain vigilant and mindful
of the sacrifices of those fighting the
international crusade against Islamic
terrorism and take action to stop
the quickly-growing threat within our
borders and around the world.
Don’t you
hate it when
you spend your
Thursday night
cramming for
your 4 tests
and 3 quizzes,
all conveniently
scheduled for
by Olivia Coyle
the
following
day? Just about every student has
experienced this multiple times
during his/her time here at JSerra, and
I believe it to be unnecessary.
JSerra students would benefit
if each department had a designated
day to schedule tests. The religion
classes can hold their tests on say,
a Tuesday, while all math tests are
scheduled for Friday, and so on. This
would prevent students from feeling
overwhelmed by masses of tests and
would also contribute to higher test
scores, as students are enabled to set
a primary focus on studying for less
tests each night. It isn’t rocket science
that cramming is not an efficient way
of learning, as the information you
learn for your test will leave your
mind as soon as you walk out of the
classroom.
Administration should take
department designated test days
into consideration as the students of
JSerra would benefit greatly from it.
Letters to the Editor
The Paw Print welcomes reader feedback. Letters
must contain your full name and grade level, or if a
non-student, your full name and city of residence.
Please e-mail Mr. Kahl at [email protected] with a
subject heading of “Letters to the Editor.”
Opinions
New Year’s
Resolutions
The New
Year
brings
the
beginning
of a long list
of New Years’
Resolutions.
New
Years’
Resolutions
range
from
the
promise
of a healthier lifestyle to the decision
of mastering a new language. Though it
may not be the case with everyone, the
majority of New Years’ Resolutions are
almost never kept.
Take, for instance, the resolution
of healthy living. Many people across the
world decide to exercise more and stay
away from delicious, yet corrupting, junk
food. Giving up junk food isn’t easy but
it’s the goal to exercise everyday that
completely unhinges people. The first
few weeks proceed smoothly but as the
weeks turn into months it’s easier to click
a switch on the remote control than to tie
on tennis shoes and hit the gym.
People begin to make excuses
as to why keeping their resolutions
are inconvenient and a waste of time.
Driving to the gym wastes gas and
buying a bucket of vegetables costs
extra money and more trips to the
store. Long-term resolutions generally
don’t last if your a normal human being,
so instead of creating a resolution that
Friends
Role Models
Everyone
knows
and
loves the classic
NBC
sitcom
series, Friends.
The
question
remains,
why
is it such a
hit?
Having
by Megan D’Souza
personally
watched all 236 episodes of the 10
seasons, I think that Friends goes
deeper than humor and ironic
situations.
On a more superficial level,
Friends provides comfort and laughter
to those who watch it. However, each
character is so individually developed
that it makes it easier for viewers to
connect with the show. Many fans
have found themselves relating with
a specific character, which makes
viewership more meaningful.
Friends isn’t just a sitcom- it is
a beautiful representation of a family:
a group of friends who looks out for
each other no matter what life throws
their way. Who wouldn’t want that?
It is safe
to say that many
teenagers have
famous
role
models; people
who can be
looked up to
for inspiration
because of their
by Garrett Prendiville
kindness, social
skills, and correct moral compasses.
But, some people have skewed
opinions on who an acceptable role
model is. For example, Justin Bieber
is referred to as a “role model,” but
what does he have? Good hair...and
that’s about it.
Every year Forbes Magazine
releases their “30 Under 30” list.
These young adults are excellent
people to look up to because of their
great success and flawless character.
Famous examples of people making
the list include actress and activist
Emma Watson and musician Ed
Sheeran. If someone was looking for
an influential role model, one should
turn to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List.
will eventually fade, make a list of resolutions that can be accomplished in an
hour or day. Short resolutions can include learning one song on the piano or
trying out a new recipe, or going on a run with that new neighbor that lives
across the street.
Stop worrying about the time commitments and costs of New Years’
Resolutions, and set up small goals that can be accomplished with just a little
time and effort.
Opinions
This Land is
Your Land, This
Land is My Land.
Immigration
is
vital
and
necessary for a
healthy, effective,
and
powerful
nation to succeed
in the competitive,
diverse,
and
hostile
world
by Michael Elsanadi
we
live
in
today. Immigration, especially for the
United States, catalyzes and improves
economic growth through encouraging
business activity, and therefore,
producing more jobs as immigrants
will be spending their earned money
in the American market and economy
rather than in a competing nation’s
market and economy.
To further benefit the United
States’ economy and promote a
more socially diverse communities
government officials must lessen
the restrictions on immigration and
make the immigration process easier
and more efficient. Immigration is
beneficial for the United States as well
as its citizens;The United States should
open its borders for easier access to
the freedom, benefits, and protection
that the Untied States provides.
We are all human beings
working towards the same goal of
success.
Pete Zamperini
YA Novels
Most of
us have had
someone who
shaped us in life
for the better. For
Louie Zamperini,
hero of the book/
movie, Unbroken,
it was his brother,
by Katia Bergstrom
Pete.
Pete Zamperini is heroic
in a different way: he did nothing
extraordinary and lived an unassuming
life. But he inspired Louie to run and
he believed in him, even if Louie didn’t
believe in himself. When the war came
he never gave up hope that Louie would
return and he held the family together.
Without Pete, I believe Louie
never would have become an Olympic
runner or a POW survivor. Pete helped
him see his true potential, encouraging
him to do his best in life. He gave advice
that helped Louie both in the Olympics
and when he was a prisoner of war. In
his later years, he even kept a scrapbook
filled with clippings and photographs of
his brother,and could talk for hours about
him. Louie’s attitude and outlook on life
was reflected by Pete’s encouragement.
We should all aspire to be like
Pete—helping each other out in life,
truly caring and loving one another,
and recognizing each other’s talents
and potential by encouraging one
another in life.
I have been
engaged in a
struggle to find
a great new
book to read.
Frankly, I can’t
seem to find
any Young Adult
novels
that
by Emma McClellan
appeal to me.
Romance novels bore me,
regardless of whether the relationship
playing out falls within the “paranormal”
genre. Dystopian society novels, outlining
teenage life following an apocalyptic
nuclear fallout, seem tired and overdone.
I love books that are well-paced and
fraught with suspense, but the meaningless
dialogue and unrelatable drama found in
most works of young adult fiction leave
me feeling disgusted and annoyed.
I realize my struggle to locate
a book that I can really get into doesn’t
mean that there aren’t any great books
out there. There may be YA novels that
I would enjoy, but much of the literature
written for girls my age is full of drama and
far-fetched circumstances that leave girls
feeling inadequate or full of unrealistic
expectations. It is extremely unlikely that
I am going to meet and fall in love with
my future husband at age 15, and I think
that I speak for many girls when I say that
the unrealistic and cursory quality of the
literature directed at our age group is
slightly insulting to our intelligence.
Opinions
Google
Pool vs. Beach
Virtual
Apple,
Starbucks,
McDonalds,
Google. These
companies
are just a few
of the biggest
brand names
in the world.
by Zoe Kaffen
But
which
company takes first place and what
makes them a worldwide sensation?
Since 2010 Apple has dominated
the world market with over 150 billion
dollars in value. However, in this past year
Google has leapfrogged over Apple to
take the top spot in the global ranking
with a year-on-year increase of 40
percent beating out Apple whose value
fell 20 percent in the last year. Nick Cooper, the managing
director of Millward Brown Optimor,
accredited Google’s rise to the top
with innovations like, “Google Glass,
investment’s in artificial intelligence,
and a multitude of new partnerships.”
The fact that Google and Apple take
first and second place in the global
ranking reflects the world’s growing
dependence upon technology. Tech
accounted for the top four spots in
the globe with IBM and Microsoft
taking third and fourth.
It is becoming clear that
technology will be the key to pushing the
world forward into a new modern age.
Living in
Southern
Orange County
on a day to day
basis we are
exposed
to
scenic beaches
or having the
convenience of
by Julia Sanchez
a pool in our
backyard or down the street. In my
opinion, the pool is a better option
then the beach.
The other
day, I was going
through Amazon
looking
for
review
books
for AP classes,
and I noticed
that nearly every
single book had a
by Sydni Brown
“Kindle” option.
This is becoming more and more popular
because, who wants to carry around five
or six books when you can have all of
them in the palm of your hand?
Personally, I don’t know how if
this is a good thing or a bad thing, it just
means we’re becoming more…virtual.
It’s like we’re colonizing this whole
other world that, materially, doesn’t
exist. I keep getting notifications on
my phone suggesting I purchase more
iCloud storage, and every time I
consider it, I can’t help but compare it
to an apartment being rented out or
a house being sold. However, instead
of being able enjoy the comforts of a
new home, you’re merely the proud
owner of a couple more gigabytes.
As I said before, this is a matter
with a million different sides, and no one
know how this truly affects society as
it is so new. I ended up purchasing the
review books where I would actually
have to turn the pages, but I can’t help
but wonder if the virtual version actually
might have been worth it.
For those who love to surf,
then of course the beach is the better
option. Don’t get me wrong, I love the
beach every once in a while, but if I had
to choose, I would prefer the pool. At
the pool, there tends to be less people,
there is no sand getting in all of your
stuff, and you do not have to walk just
to get food.
I did not grow up on the
beach, so going to the beach every
single weekend can get boring for me.
For me, the pool is a better place to
go, relax, and cool off rather than the
beach.
JSerra Catholic High School
26351 Junipero Serra Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
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PAID
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Sav
Fine Arts Winter Showcase....................................................January 23
Mariner’s Ocean Hills Church
Freshman Retreat.........................................................January 23 & 24 Irvine Regional Park
XLT...........................................................................................January 27
JSerra Center Room
Kairos 29................February 3, 4, 5, & 6
Oakbridge
Winter Formal.....................February 7
Westmister Rose Center