The Union - Milpitas High School - October 2013

E D I TO R I A L 2

O PI N I O N S 3

LI FE S T Y L E 5

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 6

SPORTS 7

T HE

OCTOBER 2013 Volume XXVI Issue I

UN I O N

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STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL

Overcrowding addressed through new classrooms

BY SIDNEY LE

Staff rooms, storage rooms, and unused classrooms in various buildings were refurbished into classrooms for this school year in an effort to make more space for new teachers, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. Buildings G and E had their staff rooms turned into classrooms and outfitted with desks and whiteboards, as did building F’s additional computer lab.

MHS’s campus is up to maximum capacity with regards to how many teachers the campus has and in terms of the number of students the campus can fit, according to Schlaff. Once the extra rooms in buildings E, F, and G are filled, options for expansion, such as more portables and new buildings. will need to be considered by the school.

“I would say that we are to the point where we are maxed out without building new buildings, second stories, or more portables,” Schlaff said.

“I’m done with all of the classrooms except for the G building.”

Rooms E-19 and F-22 have been filled by English Teacher Annie Marple and Social Studies Teacher Jennifer Loomis, respectively. The internal room in the G building, formerly a staff room, has yet to be occupied, but is likely to be utilised in the future, according to Schlaff.

“If I have no more additional rooms, where am I going to put [teachers]?

The only place I can put them is in other teachers’ preps,” Schlaff said.

“The teacher would have to float from room to room, and that does not work.”

Increasing class sizes and overpopulation are becoming a serious issue and will be an issue that MHS has to deal with in the near future, according to Marple. Solutions such as converting rooms into classrooms and adding portables are merely short-term, and therefore will be unsustainable in the future.

“I have a lot of insight to this because I came from one of the two feeder middle schools. Even there, we were feeling the pinch,” Marple said.

“The current class of MHS freshman is big, but the class that will come in next year is even larger, and what I’ve heard from my friends who are still at the middle school is that the classes just keep increasing and increasing.”

MHS’s increasing performance with regards to its Academic Performance Index (API) has also become a significant pull factor for prospective residents, according to Schlaff. Real estate changes, such as the building of a large number of new homes due to the planned Bay Area Rapid Transit expansion to Milpitas, in Milpitas have also added to the population growth problem, Schlaff said.

“There’s a complete flood of people continuously who do not want to go to Lick, who do not want to go to Independence, who do not want to go to Felt,” Schlaff said. “[They] try to come into Milpitas on interdistrict transfers or by just saying, ‘I live here, and I live in a room,’ and that kind of stuff.”

Sidney le | THE UNION

Senior Jake Pham, who is President of Interact, wears a cow suit and waves a banner on the green during CLOG Rush on Sept. 3. At CLOG Rush, clubs and organizations advertise and recruit members for the new school year.

Sixty clubs participate in CLOG Rush

BY MOSHE YANG

MHS’s annual Club and Organization (CLOG) Rush was held Sept. 3-5.

This year there were 60 clubs and organizations involved, according to Activities Director Joanna Butcher.

As in years before, each of the first two days of CLOG Rush featured half of the clubs and organizations out on the grassy area by the theater, and the final day hosted all the CLOGs, Butcher said. Besides CLOGs, the event featured class T-shirt sales, according to Butcher.

Homecoming week Oct. 6 to 11 Homecoming spirit days are: Monday: Class Color Day; Tuesday: Flotation Device Day; Wednesday: On Wednesday’s We Wear Pink; Thursday: Scrabble; Friday: Blue and Gold. The Homecoming rally will be during a double fourth period on Friday, Oct. 11. The Homecoming football game will take place later that day at 7:30 p.m. The Homecoming dance is on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Dragon Boat wins at Treasure Island 36 members of Dragon Boat Club participated in a race at Treasure Island in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 17. They were split into two boats and one team won first place in the High School A Division, the highest high school level, race.

MHS American Red Cross and Recycling Club places recycling bins around campus The two clubs worked together to place donated recycling bins around campus.

They are hoping to acquire more.

Staff development day on Nov. 1 There will be a staff development day on Nov. 1. There will be no school.

and working together.”

This year’s CLOG Rush was run more smoothly because Lam was better informed than last year’s CLOG Commissioner, according to California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and Book Club President Vivian Lau. Lam constantly sent out emails to make sure CLOGS knew what to do and where to set up, Lau said. “[ASB is] hoping that everyone could join a club this year,” Butcher said. “While its not really feasible, we try to make it a goal.”

Law prohibits student fees

N EWS IN BR IEF

Winter Parent Athlete meeting to take place on Oct. 15 All student athletes and their parent or guardian interested in participating in a winter sport who did not attend the fall Parent Athlete Meeting must attend this mandatory meeting. Winter sports are basketball, soccer, and wrestling.

———————————————— PSAT to take place on October 19 Tests can be purchased for $25 at the student bank. Sign ups end on Friday, Oct. 11. Eligible juniors who score high enough may compete for National Merit scholarships.

“Some clubs that haven’t been around for a couple years have come back”, Butcher said. “One of them, the Rainbow Youth Alliance has rebranded to the Gay Straight Club.”

Everything went well except for two incidences, CLOG Commissioner Chloe Lam said. One of the clubs misplaced their table, and the cleanup process was problematic on the first day, Lam said. “[CLOG Rush] went great and the whole event went smoothly,” Lam said. “All the clubs were out cheering each other on, showing school pride,

BY SIDNEY LE AND BRENDA SU

Sidney le | THE UNION

Students learn how to code in the Introduction to Computer Science Class during zero period. The class is held in Teacher Andrea Hutchinson’s room.

Zero period comp sci offered

BY JONATHAN NGO

MHS now offers Introduction to Computer Science as a zero period class to offer students more flexibility, according to Digital Business Academy Teacher Andrea Hutchison. This class is taught by students from the University of California (UC), Berkeley Hutchison added.

The course follow’s UC Berkeley’s Build Your Own Blocks computer science curriculum, Hutchison said. Approximately 12 students have signed up so far. However, there are plans to grow and build this class, Hutchison stated.

“I love all aspects of this class,” Hutchison said. “It is exciting to see kids get here a 7 a.m. and be excited.”

Students are expected to have a solid understanding of what programming computers is about, UC Berke-

ley Instructor Max Yeremil said.

They will also learn about the various social aspects of computers and how computers can change our society, Yeremil added.

“I want students to appreciate computer science and maybe even change their career,” Yeremil said. “If they don’t, computer science is still a good skill to know.”

Introduction to Computer Science has been helpful in preparing for college, Sophomore Tatsuya Ishikawa stated. There are many opportunities for students who are interested in learning about computer programming, he added.

“I thought [this class] would be fun since I will be able to learn new things,” Tatsuya said. “I like getting to meet new people and learning about programming.”

California state law prohibits schools charging students for supplies and extracurricular activities, according a memo issued by the California Department of Education in March 2013. The law, AB 1575, went into effect in January and was issued because of a lawsuit against California over the state constitution’s guarantee of a free public education.

AB 1575 prohibits teachers from requiring students to buy class supplies as part of their class grade and from awarding extra credit for donations, Principal Kenneth Schlaff said. Students cannot be forced to bring or pay for supplies, even pens and paper, and donations must be purely voluntary; fees for extracurricular activities like clubs and sports are also prohibited. “[Teachers] can’t make a kid buy a workbook, but no one’s come saying anything to me,” Schlaff said. “I would’ve said, ‘You can’t do that.’ So obviously, they’re living within their means, and they’re able to adjust.”

Sophomore Martin Lopez said he is required to bring a binder, a writing utensil, and binder paper to class.

Not having these materials can have an impact on grades, Lopez said.

“Since we have binder checks, it may affect your grade if the work done in class isn’t completed,” Lopez said. However, he does not know anyone who has been unable to afford these materials.

MHS has been in compliance with AB 1575 for nearly a year, Schlaff said.

Following the law has forced some teachers and departments to change their policies and teaching methods.

Math Teacher Elijah Liao has relied on student donations and spent his own money because teachers are only issued five reams of paper annually, which is far from enough. “I just end up buying my own supplies because it’s just easier,” Liao said. “I don’t want to deal with forms, I don’t want to deal with reimbursements.

Last year, I bought my own projector because I needed one and I didn’t expect the school to provide one.”

Acquiring paper for class was also a significant problem for English Teacher Ginger Roy, who teaches five classes a day. Her students “readily donate” paper upon request, but more money is needed for novels.

“We get $5000 and we have over 3000 students,” Roy said. “If each student is reading five to seven novels a year, then that isn’t very much money for replacing or ordering books.

For 3100 students, $5000 isn’t very much.”

Materials taken home by students and kept, such as art projects or food, can be charged for, according to AB 1575. However, students do not need to pay for any material that is used for participation in the class itself.

For photography, students are asked to donate $30 a semester, Photography Teacher Ian Danielson said.

However, if funding in general is not enough, the class may need to be changed significantly.

“The quality of the program is completely dependent on donations from the students that take Photo,” Danielson said. “The money that gets donated has an effect on the quality of the lessons we can have and the amount of work they can print out.”

2

EDITORIAL

OCTOBER 2013

THE UNION

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

PAT RONS

Commendable efforts made to modernize school; priorities misplaced, student input needed first We, The Union, believe that while the administration has made commendable efforts to modernize our school over the past year, the basic technology that underlies our learning remains defunct. The new additions, although welcome, should be secondary to the improvement of fundamental tools.

The addition of Wi-Fi and Chromebooks seems unreasonable while many computers on campus still run outdated software like Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003. Newer versions of Microsoft Office are not compatible with the ones run on many of our school’s computers, creating many problems for teachers and students.

For example, because most of the computers in the libraries are running old programs, students who use the computers during class or on their own time have difficulties. Furthermore, with the school’s antiquated programs, students cannot benefit from helpful features on new software, like the co-authoring capabilities of Microsoft Office 2010.

Many teachers’ computers are so old that it is difficult for them to connect to our new Wi-Fi, rendering this new addition useless for many. Surely, the ancient, bulky computers and programs should be replaced before we introduce unnecessary gadgets those that many end up being unable to use.

Furthermore, each academic department only has one printer to be shared among all the teachers of that department. Printers often break and do not get fixed in timely fashions, creating many problems for instructors. This, in turn, can lead to a lesser learning experience for students. Money should have been allocated for new printers before the school purchased new Chromebooks.

The teachers’ substandard supplies and equipment unfortunately do not end with the faulty printers and computers. Teachers are also only given five reams of paper a year, causing them to ask for student donations or use their own money to obtain more paper.

Certainly, the money that went into the acquisition of new SMART Boards could have instead been used to give teachers basic teaching supplies.

Additionally, although the school has purchased new technological equipment, the school remains

backwards in many areas where simple implementation of technology could have solved many problems. For example, the paperwork for registration was not included in the registration packets students picked up over summer. This caused confusion and long lines at the E satellite kitchens after school; students also did not turn in their paperwork on time.

This problem could have easily been prevented by having the files available online. The school could have uploaded the Student Handbook online as a PDF file and asked students to print out the necessary forms to turn in during registration day. This usage of technology is simple and inexpensive.

When the school acquires flashy devices while teachers and students have to deal with archaic computers, outdated programs, and the lack of paper and functioning printers, it seems as if the administration has its priorities in the wrong order. Some may even call this prioritization hypocritical - why is the school procuring Wi-Fi while many of the school’s computers are unable to connect to it?

It is true that Chromebooks and wireless Internet have been heartily welcomed by many students and teachers. However, in the long run, MHS would benefit more from updated software, new computers, and printers.

Thus, we believe that the school should first update and repair the foundational tools we already have before it takes on projects like school-wide WiFi and Chromebooks. The school should also better implement the way it uses existing technology to, for example, simplify the registration process.

Surely, functional computers, updated software, and accessible printers would benefit the school much more than a couple of SMART Boards. Therefore, the school needs to reassess its priorities.

Students and teachers have voiced many complaints about our malfunctioning and antiquated technology, but there seems to be an absence of communication between those who make the purchases and those who use them. Perhaps teachers and students should be allowed more input before the school makes major additions to our campus.

T

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Jeff Colburn

Journalism Advisor

L E T T E R S TO T H E E DI TOR Traffic on Hillview problematic; school, city must enforce fairness I am writing a complaint about our traffic light on Hillview. The traffic at 7:40 a.m. everyday is unbelievable. Sometimes it would take my car about five red lights to finally pass the Jacklin/Hillview intersection.

This is the reason why a lot of people are always late, and it is a drag going through the tardy system. I just want to address some of the major factors that cause traffic on this road.

Cutting or taking shortcuts to the front is very unfair and inconsiderate. There are plenty of cars behind you that left earlier and waited longer to be where they are. The constant merging in during green lights slow the efficiency of how many cars can go through at a time. There should be another law and fine enforcement around the Hillview area to prevent the cutting problem.

Another problem is the crossing guard lady. She parks way too close to the right turn on Russell Road,

forcing everyone to merge into the middle lane before turning right.

This produces a tremendous amount of traffic. Also, she constantly allows people to cross from all three intersections, causing even more traffic and inconvenience for the people.

She should be addressed.

One more issue is the constant ticketing by the police officers. This is more inconvenient than letting them make a right turn because it causes even more traffic. If the officers were really obligated to fine the individuals who turned right, they should tell those cars to turn right into the nearest court and then fine them there.

That will keep the cars behind the ticketed ones away from the traffic and hassle.

Please take this into consideration.

Rhodora Villanueva

Class of 2014

Cafeteria wastes resources, paper; school should save trees, save time Every day, as I eagerly rush into the cafeteria to get food, I am stopped by

one of the staff members. I am forced to get a paper tray although I am capable of carrying my lunch. Forcing students to use paper trays is a waste of paper.

The cafeteria alone can save so many trees knowing that hundreds of kids eat lunch each and every day.

This also holds up the line for trays and creates a huge crowd at the door.

The crowd at the door obviously keeps the starving students waiting as well. There are definitely other alternatives of tracking who is getting lunch and who is not.

Micah Jelica Bondoc

Class of 2014

Marching band valuable pastime; performance not honored by school We are going to make this as concise as possible; marching band is more than running around on the football field, it’s a serious event, no different from tennis, badminton, or even football. An event we put nine hours a day for two weeks before the beginning of school, waking up at 8 AM every-

day, and will put many more hours to come. So we get to finally perform our monstrous accomplishment of a show at the varsity football game, a chance to finally pay off all the hours we’ve invested.

Unfortunately, when we begin our almost subconscious sets, we felt the crowd noise suddenly change. With a mixture of dismay and anger, we see someone throwing T-shirts at the crowd! Through almost our entire show! Now we as the marching band are above pointing fingers at people; whoever came up with that completely disrespectful idea, you know who you are. We are not calling you out, simply informing you of the great amount of disrespect, pain, and outrage you have caused us individuals in the marching band and the band as a whole.

When we go to your events, we remain respectful, dedicated, and willingly follow all the rules. Why do you insist on ignoring them? When the varsity football team is playing, who dares to throw T-Shirts at the crowd

to distract them? No one.

Now, who disparages the opposing team while simultaneously boosting our team’s moral? The marching band. Shouldn’t we then support the marching band? The crowd is loud, but the marching band is louder.

That being said, what would a football game be like without the band?

Quiet. The other teams will certainly play more astutely, and may even win a few close games that a little distraction would surely have made them lose. Please show respect to all, allow us OUR time on the field, FREE from any “distractions.”

Finally, some may say the band is simply a distraction when the ball is in play.

We can proudly say, WE DO NOT PLAY WHEN THE BALL IS IN PLAY. NEITHER SHOULD A FEW INDIVIDUALS DISTRACT THE CROWD WHEN OUR “BALL” IS IN PLAY.

Aarsh Vayas

Class of 2014

THE UNION

PRO

Affirmative action battles racism, needed for social change, progress I admit that I, a middle-class Asian without regard to their race, creed, American, have lamented how affir- color or national origin.” mative action damages my chances at This helped African-Americans getting into prestigious colleges. Oh, since they could no longer be disif only I were Native American, black, criminated against in the workplace Latino or even Cambodian. Harvard, because of their color. Likewise, afand Princeton would all firmative action seeks to grovel at my feet for my atexpand opportunities for tendance! disadvantaged races.

However, affirmative acFurthermore, affirmation is critical to the bettertive action creates a diverse ment of society and higher learning environment. In education. Affirmative acthis global economy, social tion is necessary to comsensitivity is crucial to sucbat years of oppression for ceeding in the real world — disadvantaged races. not to mention it’s kind of Statistics show that essential to being a decent whites and Asians have human being.

BRENDA higher rates of employThis is not “reverse SU ment and income than racism,” as critics of afdisadvantaged minorities. firmative action have deEducation leads to better and in- nounced it as. Reverse racism doesn’t creased job opportunities, but better exist, at least in the world of college education is typically seen in fami- admissions, because we live in a solies who can afford it. It’s difficult for ciety that favors the wealthier, more a person to get a job without a good educated majority. education, and it ‘s difficult for him to Yes, Affirmative action is not a perget a good education without a finan- fect system. Not all whites or Asians cially stable background. are educated and wealthy. Similarly, For those who are born into poor not all blacks or Hispanics are poor. families, whose parents have not However, we need to look at the big been college-educated, it is difficult picture and see how we can better soto break out of this cycle and com- ciety as a whole. pete with people like me—those with It’s the best we have to ensure equal college-educated parents. In fact, opportunity. While race should not be studies have linked higher SAT scores the key factor that decides a student’s to students with the level of the stu- acceptance into college—that would dent’s parents’ education. be academic achievement in generIn 1961, President John F. Kennedy al—race should be considered. began a policy of equal employment So maybe I won’t get into Stanford opportunity, and instructed employ- “because I’m Asian,” but affirmative ers to “take affirmative action to en- action is not reverse racism. It is a vesure that applicants are employed hicle to end racism.

CON

Affirmative action divisive, flawed, inherently unjust, misguided ideals Affirmative action in theory is not the wrongs of history. a bad practice and has many merits.

Despite the progress this nation The fact that various ethnic groups has made, racism obviously still have had a history of repression and exists. Affirmative action does not are at times at a disadvantage when solve this problem. It is essentially it comes to college admissions is un- creating a reverse racism. We are deniable. However, affirmative ac- shifting from discriminating based tion is inherently flawed for several on someone’s ethnicity to discrimreasons. inating by giving special treatment Looking to a specific ethnic group to other ethnicities. The rights of into fill a quota is almost insulting, es- dividuals should not take a back seat pecially to minority groups. An indi- to the rights of groups. Affirmative vidual who will excel in school will do action is simply not the solution we so regardless of their circumstances. are looking for. Two wrongs do not The standards for success cannot be make a right. lowered. Students should Affirmative action steals always be pushed to peropportunities from many form better. Achieving deserving individuals and pure equality means comgrants them to people who pletely ignoring race as a may not be the best at what factor. Affirmative action they do. This doesn’t mean contradicts the goal of everyone who benefits equality. It instead creates from affirmative action is a greater dichotomy beunder-skilled and incomtween different races and petent. It just means race divides the populace. should never be a deciding The most qualified and factor.

JONATHAN gifted candidate to be adA more effective soluNGO mitted into a college, or tion to achieving equality even into a job, should alwould be to directly tackways be considered and hired first. le social inequalities. One possible Of course, we should not purposely way would be to analyze individuals be choosing all white males from based on economic standing or even the most privileged backgrounds. geographic location. This would alTalent should always take priori- low us to find the most deserving ty. A race-conscious decision is and individuals with the most qualificawill always be the wrong decision. tions.

Attempting to fill a quota when the Although this may also have its talent just is not there is degrading flaws, it at least starts to push us to everyone. away from the mindset that race is A college’s admissions officer has important in determining college a very clear goal. Go through the ap- admissions. The affirmative action plications and admit the best of the debate will continue on and will brightest students to their college. likely never be resolved. Therefore, Although history tells us that groups it is important to remember that the of people have been denied opportu- ultimate goal, as idealistic as it may nities to receive a higher education, be, is true equality, not shifting the it is not a college’s obligation to undo problem somewhere else.

OPINIONS

OCTOBER 2013

3

Lack of updated textbooks problem in AP classes Textbooks suck. Especially when they have pages missing and have ruined covers. Doesn’t it seem strange that with things like Wi-Fi and Chromebooks, some of our textbooks are four editions out of date?

I don’t know about other high schools but in this one, textbooks are the foundation of learning in schools.

With money from the Measure E fund, the priority shouldn’t be supplements like technology, but should be improving our learning. The best way to do that is through better textbooks. They don’t even have to be new physical textbooks, but access to them online. This is especially the case for AP class textbooks.

AP textbooks are not only heavier, but they’re also more often than not needed for classes. Online versions could help this problem because students could then leave their textbooks in their lockers and use their computers at home. This would also save the school money because textbooks would less likely be damaged.

With the recent changes to AP exams, new textbooks are a must in order to keep students up to date. Many textbook publishers provide online

supplements for their new textbooks should definitely be a priority, espethat help students prepare for AP cially when more students are taking exams. MHS students unfortunate- AP classes. ly can’t access these resources that Some of the textbooks for AP classtextbooks provide. This is es are not even designed because our school hasn’t for AP classes. For exambeen spending money on ple, the AP Calculus AB the basics that give access and the AP Chemistry to the new programs, but textbooks are really texton the technologies that books for college classes, can access these programs. and have hundreds of Another problem that pages of excess chapters. seems to be occurring is Teachers skip these chapthat non-AP class textters because they are not books are being updated, tested on the AP exams while the AP textbooks in May. This is not only a MOSHE for AP Biology and AP hindrance to the continuYANG Government are painfulity of classes and the backs ly out-of-date. This seems of AP students, but also completely counterinturaises the question: why itive, because we should be award- aren’t our AP textbooks designed for ing students that take ‘rigorous AP classes? And following that, when college-level classes’ as the school new textbooks - designed specificalcatalog aptly states. Our district was ly for AP classes - were available, why proud that MHS was added to Col- didn’t MHS update them? lege Board’s AP Honor Roll, which is The answer is that we, the students an award based purely on AP class- of MHS, haven’t been vocal enough. es. The award also revealed that the We should not only be accepting enrollment in AP classes at MHS challenges like AP classes, but we has grown substantially in the past should continue searching for ways few years. Updating AP textbooks our school can better our learning.

MHS Wi-Fi regulations pointless, ineffectual As MHS advances in technology, our sixth period classes to the middle there comes a need to control its of campus in hopes of beating the usage. With a population of nearly lines to turn in four sheets of paper. It 3,000 students and a growing trend wouldn’t seem like an issue if we had of owning Wi-Fi compatible devices, nothing to do after school except wait Internet usage should be regulated. in lines, but unfortunately, that’s not true. Many of us participate in after However, it is not. school sports, have band Each year students are given a booklet with all the practice, or simply need to avoid missing the bus. forms needed for registraNot to mention some of tion. This year, the most important forms, i.e. the us wouldn’t even bother turning in the forms Responsible Use Acknowledgement and Media Refor the sole reason of not lease forms, found in the wanting to wait in lines; which is exactly what hapMUSD Registration and Reference Handbook, were pened.

To indicate that a stunot included in the registradent has turned in his or tion packets.

KAREN On the first day of school, her forms, a red sticker CHI was placed on his or her I walked into my first peristudent ID. It’s as if the od class and a copy of the student handbook was on presence of a red stickevery desk in the classroom. We were er allows or denies our access to the told to fill out the forms in the hand- school’s Wi-Fi. If you have a Wi-Fi book and turn them in signed starting compatible device, then it is possible the next day after school. It would be to connect to our school’s Wi-Fi, rean excellent idea if only 500 students gardless of a red sticker on your stuwere enrolled at MHS, but that’s not dent ID. In fact, the Wi-Fi was up and the case. About 3,000 students are en- running before school was even in rolled, which means for four days af- session. Therefore, as long as they alter school, we would have to race from ready knew the Wi-Fi password, stu-

dents had access to the Wi-Fi without having to turn in their forms. If students were able to connect to the WiFi before the handbook was given to them, what’s to stop them from connecting to the Wi-Fi after the forms were to be turned in? Nothing.

Certain classes on campus require students to use the Internet to supplement their learning, which would involve having access to a computer lab or checking out Chromebooks. In the library, signs are displayed stating that each student using a computer needs to have his or her student ID with the red sticker out in case anyone checks. A teacher is supposed to check each student’s ID before he or she uses a computer or Chromebook, but no one ever checks. It’s really not that big of a deal if there is a red sticker on your student ID; no one really cares.

It would have been easier for first period teachers to collect the signed form to guarantee that all the Media Release Forms were turned in and signed. If there was no system to regulate the forms being turned in and there is no regulation of the usage of the Internet, why all the fuss over everything in the first place?

Current locker assignment process needs revision Every year after registration, I join my classmates milling about campus, consulting both my schedule and my locker assignment. Groups of students wander between buildings, peering at rows of lockers in an attempt to find the one they were assigned. Many draw away in disappointment and circle around to the back of the building. I, like them, always hope my locker is not facing the creek.

It always is.

Following the trend set in my freshman year, my locker is completely out of the way of my classes. If I wanted to use it, I would have to cross the campus not once, but twice to get back to any given class; most of them are in the L building or the side of E which faces it, and my locker is generally in G or H. I never even put a lock on my specific locker because it is always too inconvenient to use.

When presented with the same situation, many simply find a locker in a location they prefer and put a lock on it, hoping the real owner does not care.

This did not work out well this year; stolen lockers were reclaimed as security cut invaders’ locks off and removed the belongings of the thief.

When this happens, students grum- ment process. Instead of just a quick ble about their lost items but never go permission slip handed to a counselto reclaim them; they buy a new lock or in exchange for a random locker and steal another locker. Other stu- number, how about we create a dedents complain that their lockers are tailed application for students to fill taken so early in the morning on the out and submit. first day of school that they are not Students that have the heaviest even able to lay claim to their rightful and biggest textbooks should receive spot. higher priority and be There are easy solutions placed in lockers nearest to this expensive waste of to their classes; likewise, locks and security’s time. students who need textThe school could avoid the books in every class on a waste of paper in the lockdaily basis should receive er assignment process and more conveniently locatmake it a free-for-all on the ed lockers than students first day of school. who need their textbooks Currently, with students once every six weeks. being assigned lockers at Of course, the school random, almost no one could also create a sysRACHEL keeps their assigned locker. tem that automatically ALVELAIS Students stake their claims places students near the on their own lockers anygreatest concentration of way. The only conflicts are their classes. Of course, seen in the first week when one lucky there would still be conflicts as peoperson in three-hundred actually ple change their schedules and share wanted the locker they were assigned. with their friends and get upset about There are hardly any complaints being put on the bottom row. about lockers being stolen over the So how about instead of stealcourse of the rest of the year, so why ing lockers during the first week of not just legitimize the process? school, we wait a while for everyone Perhaps instead we could make a to settle in to their new schedules and more comprehensive locker assign- their lockers?

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T HE U NION

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OCTOBER 2013

OCTOBER 2013

LIFESTYLE

Sisters create blog, YouTube, online store

BY BRENDA SU

In the fashion community, it is hard to stake a claim for yourself, especially on the Internet. Sophomores Amanda and Julia Nguyen are bloggers, entrepreneurs, and YouTubers trying to do just that.

In August 2012, the twin sisters started their blog, The Style Cult.

With over 600 followers, the blog features an assortment of music reviews and playlists, “DIY” tutorials, commentary on fashion trends, and outfits inspired by quirky characters like Napoleon Dynamite.

“We looked at fashion blogs and decided to start our own,” Julia Nguyen said. “Then we moved to YouTube because filming seemed more entertaining.”

They posted their first video on their YouTube channel, TheStyleCultYT, in May 2013. The sisters post lookbooks, tutorials, video logs, and occasionally, they discuss music, books, and movies they enjoy.

“The fashion blogging and YouTube community is pretty supportive so we grew by constantly putting out content and basically, it just grew from there,” Amanda Nguyen said. She mentioned that a popular YouTuber helped them gain subscribers. “We didn’t really go into this strategically, we just kind of let things happen.”

After finding an e-commerce platform and developing a product line, the twins launched their store, The Style Cult, in August 2013. They de-

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THE UNION

FASHION SPOTLIGHT Je nn i f e r M i s l a n g Senior

1. Earrings from an online store

1

2. Cardigan from Forever 21 3. Shirt Thrifted

2

4. pants from Forever 21 5. Loafers from Naturalizer

photo courtesy of amanda nguyen

Sophomore Julia Nguyen models a dress from her and her sister’s store. Their store consists of self-designed t-shirts and vintage finds.

signed t-shirts and publicized the new store on their YouTube channel and blog.

“The last step was doing a photoshoot which we shot in Mountain View,” Julia Nguyen said. “Afterwards we edited our site and pictures.”

Their store sells an “eclectic mix of vintage finds” and self-designed pieces, Amanda Nguyen said. In addition, she said the store reflects their own styles.

“I could safely say that I would wear every piece on our website,” Amanda Nguyen said. She explained that she and her sister have different styles: Amanda Nguyen

is inspired by TLC, a feminist music group from the 90’s, while Julia Nguyen is inspired by fashion blogger Tavi Gavinson, a blogger famous for her retro-vintage style. “ It’s cool being identical twins and having extremely different styles,” Julia Nguyen said. “Because it’s a way to differentiate ourselves from each other, since we have the same genetic makeup and all.”

They are unsure where their store, blog, and YouTube channel will take them, Julia Nguyen said. So far, their store is successful; they’ve ever received several international orders. “It’s something that is fun and that we’ll keep pursuing.”

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3

Her Fashion Inspir ation:

“I’ll wear anything comfortable. There isn’t much inspiration in it; I like wearing clothes that other people don’t have.”

Donkers attends World Youth Day in Brazil

BY KAREN CHI

More than three million people from all over the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for World Youth Day this past July. Senior Jonathan Donkers was one of the attendees at this week-long youth oriented Catholic Church event.

While the event itself celebrates Catholic worship and faith, the invitation to attend extends to youth everywhere, regardless of their religious convictions.

“The main purpose of this event is just expanding your faith,” explained Donkers. “I would say about eighty percent of everybody there was actually Catholic, so there were lots of other people of different religions.”

World Youth Day is held relatively annually but at a different location each year. The traditional purpose

of this event is the celebration of unity and the presence of different cultures. Flags and other national declarations are displayed amongst the attendees to demonstrate the diversity of the different cultures present. The Pope makes a special appearance, commencing his arrival in his “popemobile.” This year, the pope presided over the closing mass on Copacabana Beach.

“The Pope goes to World Youth Day each time,” said Donkers. “We got to meet him kind of close but we didn’t shake hands or anything, so we indirectly met him.”

World Youth Day isn’t so much an organized event but rather an organized gathering. Therefore, anyone who would like to attend would simply have to buy a plane ticket and go.

Although the event is mainly targeted at youth, adults are welcome to attend.

“This year was expensive, I had to pay four thousand dollars,” said Donkers. “Usually it’s around two thousand dollars, which is mainly for the plane ticket and food.”

If given the chance to go again, Donkers said he would definitely like to. The next World Youth Day is to be hosted by Poland in 2016 which he will most likely take part in with his sisters, according to Donkers. The trip itself was as much a vacation as it was a learning experience, Donkers explained.

“I think I learned to be more appreciative with what I have because Brazilians don’t have simple things like clean water like we do,” said Donkers. “We take that for granted because we can drink water whenever we want to, but the water that comes in their pipes is really dirty so they have to have it filtered and treated.”

Hentschke practices gore makeup in free time

BY JAMIE LAM

It’s not every day that you meet someone who has a truly unique hobby, let alone an interest in gore makeup! Freshman Brenna Hentschke is exceptional in that she practices applying gore makeup in her spare time.

Hentschke, who started prac-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENNA HENTSCHKE

Freshman Brenna Hentschke displays her gore makeup. She applied red food dye on her face.

ticing this skill last year, said she has always been interested in gore makeup. She attributed one of her inspirations to a television show she enjoys watching.

“I’ve been interested in [gore makeup] for my whole life,” Hentschke said. “I watch a TV show called “Face Off”, and they do fullbody makeovers for characters in a story or a show by using clay and makeup.”

Hentschke said she does not practice applying gore makeup often, as she usually only has time on the weekends and during school breaks.

Gore makeup can be applied for fun and for use in costumes, Hentschke said.

“I only applied [gore makeup] at home for the first two times,” Hentschke explained. “The biggest kind of gore makeup that I applied was on my face, and all over my forehead, arms, and legs.”

One of the most memorable and fun times when Hentschke said she used gore makeup was for Twin Day at Russell Middle School. Five or six of Hentschke’s friends all got together and dressed as zombies,

Hentschke said.

“I like [applying gore makeup], it’s really fun,” Hentschke said. “My godmom is a nurse, so she always deals with actual wounds. One time, she saw pictures [of my gore makeup] and had to ask if my wounds were real.”

It usually takes around half an hour to one hour just to apply minor gore makeup, according to Hentschke. Hentschke, who has only applied this makeup to herself, described some of the steps she takes in the application process of her makeup.

“For the coloring of wounds I use red food dye, and flesh is made out of flour and water to create good texture,” Hentschke said. “For open wounds, I use latex, and some of the materials for that are glycerin and water.”

Hentschke further described how to apply gore makeup, as she said that the latex required time to dry properly so the skin wouldn’t fall off. After that, you would put texture on the skin and put coloring in, Hentschke said.

1

Sidney Le | THE UNION

ZacH Santa cruz Junior

1. Hat from Vans 2. Jacket from dad in Air Force 3. flannel Thrifted pants (not pictured) from Circle A shoes (not pictured) from Adidas

2 His Fashion Inspir ation:

“I get my inspiration from the dudes I looked up to, taking their style and filtering what I like through that.”

3

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ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 2013

THE UNION

‘Pacific Rim’ smashing success RATING:

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BY RACHEL ALVELAIS

Courtesy of AMC

In a flashforward at the beginning second half of the fifth season, Walter White looks at his alter-ego’s name, Heisenburg, spray painted on the remains of his house. Season 5 follows Walter’s fall and the consequences.

‘Breaking Bad’ finale brilliant, well-written RATING: (out of five stars)

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BY MOSHE YANG

AMC’s critically acclaimed “Breaking Bad” ended with its finale on Sept.

28. Man, is this TV show amazing.

“Breaking Bad” follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a kind high school chemistry teacher, as he becomes the king of a meth empire. The second half of Season 5, which began airing on Aug. 11, follows the downfall of White’s hard work and concludes this thrilling show.

The crux of “Breaking Bad” has always been on the theme of moral choices. It questions the lines that we draw; the ones that we tell ourselves we can never pass. For Walter, he enters the meth business to help his family survive financially when he’s dead from cancer. These noble in-

tentions however lead Walter to kill, lie, and ultimately ruin the family he tried to save.

Season 5 Part 2 finally delivers the karma that Walter deserves. Too long has Walter escaped from the decisions he’s made, however noble they initially were. We get to see him suffer the consequences as order and reality crush Walter. It’s heartening and sad as we watch the character that we love and hate lose everything that he sacrificed his morals for.

The captivating part about “Breaking Bad” is that we all, in some way or another, relate to Walter White. Personally, I’ve always supported him in his decisions no matter how cruel, because I want him to prove himself to the people that have wronged him.

And yet, I’m sickened that I agree, because how can I support someone that murders people for power. That

Breaking Bad can lead you to support a man that breaks everything you follow is its genius.

Breaking Bad’s cinematography has always been unconventional.

Whether it’s a shot underneath a pan as the meth is being poured or a shot where the camera is on a rolling barrel, the viewers have come to expect weird angles and Season 5 Part 2 delivers. One particular scene that was memorable shows the world in first person slowing down with whirring sounds as Jesse Pinkman hyperventilates.

The season is a must watch. While the the ending is understandably has less comedy, the shows are well-written and enthralling. The best episode of Season 5 Part 2 is undoubtedly “Ozymandias” which left me gasping for air at the end. The finale, well what can I say, just watch it.

MUSIC REVIEWS

MGMT

by MGMT

DORIS

by Earl Sweatshirt Rap RATING:

THE CIVIL WARS

by The Civil Wars Alternative Rock RATING:

Pop RATING:

BY SIDNEY LE

BY KAREN CHI

BY RACHEL ALVELAIS

Earl Sweatshirt, the prodigal son of rap, has returned from his sabbatical in Samoa and delivered unto us “Doris,” his debut studio album.

“Doris” is one of the most sonically challenging and verbally menacing albums I have ever heard, but is not without its thematic flaws.

After his ridiculous shock-rap debut with “Earl” in 2010, we were left with a single question: “Who is Earl Sweatshirt?” At that point, I doubt even the rapper himself knew.

There was a hint of brilliance in his bars, a powerful ability to fill his syllables with dense imagery. However, the ever-present grotesqueness that was the Odd Future modus operandi distracted and almost completely obfuscated Sweatshirts true skills. In his absence, Odd Future has risen to immense heights, fueled by their counter-culture image, which, in reality, is about as rebellious as white bread.

“Doris” is the story of Sweatshirt’s identity, an utterly confusing album for the utterly confusing journey of self-discovery. He is “too black for the white kids, and too white for the blacks.”

After an announcement that the duo would no longer be performing together, The Civil Wars managed to put differences aside and recorded a second self-titled album. To everyone’s astonishment, the album turned out well and may be the duo’s most mature work yet.

The first track of the album, “The One That Got Away,” starts off with raw honesty, showing no sign of reconciliation between the two singers. The album as a whole is littered with emotional damage that bores at times as every song sounds the same as the next. It’s good, mindless music to play in the background while doing homework or driving, so awkward silences can be avoided.

William’s and White’s hushed vibe gives Smashing Pumpkin’s “Disarm,” a new feel. William proves her voice is passionate but that’s as far as it goes in Etta James’ “Tell Mama.” The best track of the album is the very last one, “D’Arline,” with the soft sounds of birds in the background; it almost sounds like a demo. Upon further research, the track was indeed a demo of sorts: it was recorded live on an iPhone 4S on a front porch.

What happened to everyone’s favorite psychedelic rock band of “Oracular Spectacular” fame? I’m confused but not as much the album is.

Nowhere more than in this album does the band demonstrate how much it doesn’t believe in finding a unique style of music to attach its name to. “MGMT” sounds like two rookies and a piano in an echoey bathroom and the whinings of a guitarist on a boring trip. The only thing that even remotely connects the songs is the air of confusion and an overuse of electrical beeping.

Musicians Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden explained their mediocre second album, “Congratulations,” by saying that their fans were wrong for wanting more songs like their 2008 hit tracks “Electric Feel” and “Kids.”

The ultimate hipsters, Goldwasser and VanWyngarden seem to dislike the mainstream so much that they have dedicated “MGMT” to murdering any sort of signature sound they might have had and burning its remains.

""""

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"

“Pacific Rim” has been lauded as the greatest wish-fulfillment any four-year-old boy could ask for. In the movie, kaiju, “strange creatures” similar to Godzilla and Mothra, terrorize our world. Humanity’s response is to send giant robots called jaegers into battle against them.

The film pays homage not only to the Tokusatsu genre of movies (such as “Godzilla”) but also super robot or mecha animes series like “Gundam.” It may MOVIE seem like “Pacific Rim” REVIEW rips these works off. However, many prominent anime creators, including Hideaki Anno of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” have seen “Pacific Rim” for what it is: the greatest love poem to the mecha and kaiju genres ever created.

“Pacific Rim” is made of long action scenes and loud noises, and it is simple in presentation; many remarked that its only worth comes from the fact that it knows it is a wish-fulfillment action movie. I argue that “Pacific Rim” is that and more.

“Pacific Rim” uses its visual medium masterfully: it shows story rather than tells it. For example, the blue highlight in the female lead Mako’s hair calls back to the coat she wore the day her life changed forever. It shows that she carries that moment with her now as a jaeger pilot.

“Pacific Rim” turns Hollywood’s idea of a strong female on its head.

Mako is criticized for having few lines, yet she’s one of the best female characters I’ve seen. She is not merely a love interest for the male lead, Raleigh. There is romantic tension between them, but it doesn’t prevent them from working together or create unnecessary drama in the plot. In fact, you can completely overlook it and see them simply as friends.

Mako doesn’t beat Raleigh up and never tries to prove that she is better than him; she doesn’t really have a need to prove herself, because she is already regarded as an equal to the men. Still, she is not so strong that she is invulnerable; she is a human being with a depth that is clear, but she never has to cry about it into Raleigh’s shoulder. She is protected by those who love her, but it is explicitly shown this doesn’t take away from her strength as a person. She can set and goal and reach it, even if it means standing up to Pentecost, who has become a god to her.

“Pacific Rim” is a pioneering movie for female leads. It also shows scientists as both competent and comedic, features minority characters in power, and shows that men can be strong, calm, and respectful—more than just macho hunks who mouth off at authority. Most of all, “Pacific Rim” is a visual masterpiece that is intellectual and complex in its storytelling and, in the end, an incredibly entertaining movie about giant robots punching giant monsters in the face.

‘House Party’ insanely fun RATING:

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BY KAREN CHI

Only after a concert will I willingly say I’m glad I got hit in the head with a drumstick and drenched in Rockstar.

Never have I seen so many girls willingly take off their bras and toss them on a stage. The House Party Tour was a lot like going to a party, no pun intended.

I had high expectations for this show; I had never seen any of these bands live before. I hadn’t heard of the first band, The Wonder Years, before coming to the show. I was lucky enough to get barricade right underneath the speakers.

All Time Low was as interactive with the crowd as security allowed and even brought fans on stage. They created a mosh pit which resulted in mayhem. I got kicked in the head, shoved into the barricade, and was literally lifted off the ground by the force of the crowd moving closer to stage. Security tried their best to help but couldn’t do much. After about thirty minutes of screaming, jumping, pushing, and sweating, the last chords were strummed. Drumsticks and guitar picks were thrown into the audience and cans of Rockstar were opened and tossed at us, announcing their departure.

At this point I decided the next two bands were not worth being suffocated against the barricade for, so I left my place. Because the show was gen-

eral admission, people were free to roam around which left the bleacher seats fairly empty. I found seats directly in line of center stage and enjoyed Pierce the Veil from there. The atmosphere in the bleachers was a complete flip from the pit. I had time to admire the set and the performance as a whole instead of trying to get a band member to acknowledge me.

The hardest part about watching a band live is not knowing who to keep your eye on while they’re running around the stage. Pierce the Veil was no different. I was thankful I decided to move away from under the speakers; each song included blood curling screams hardcore rock would be incomplete without.

A Day to Remember’s set took longest to put up. The most impressive, it was the garage of a house, hence “House Party Tour.” They rolled around on the crowd in a life sized hamster ball and climbed in and out of the top window of the “house.” I couldn’t help but leave my seat to join the crowd once again. The set was an hour long but after thirty minutes of jumping to songs I didn’t know the lyrics to, I decided it was time to leave to beat traffic.

By far the most chaotic and exciting concert I’ve ever been to, A Day to Remember’s House Party definitely did not disappoint. I came in only a fan of All Time Low and Pierce the Veil, but left also a fan of The Wonder Years and A Day to Remember.

OCTOBER 2013

SPORTS

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THE UNION

Colleges recruit MHS athletes

BY BRENDA SU

Only two percent of high school athletes receive college athletic scholarships, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Some athletes offered these prized scholarships are MHS Seniors Alexa Cacao, Angelica Guting, and Ronald Reed.

Alexa Cacao Cacao, a three-time CCS diving champion and winner at multiple national competitions, has been scouted by the University of Wisconsin, University of Arizona, University of Southern California (USC), University of Utah, and Florida State University. University of Nevada, Reno, also offered her a full-ride scholarship.

“I was being recruited by Ivy League schools but I decided not to pursue them,” Cacao said. “I wanted a school that was big on their athletics.”

Cacao began diving after her mother suggested her to try the sport after watching the 2008 Olympics. Cacao instantly “loved it.”

“I actually wasn’t that great,” Cacao said. “My mom thought I wouldn’t continue because I wasn’t that great.

Through hard work, I continued and got better. It takes perseverance, determination, and a positive attitude to reach your goals. ” Cacao said her top college choices at the moment are Florida State University, USC, and the University of Arizona. Currently, she trains five days a week.

Ronald Reed Senior Ronald Reed not only excels

in baseball; he excels in football, and his athletic abilities in both sports have garnered him attention from many colleges. Chico State University, University of Utah, Utah State University, San Jose State University, and Oregon State University have all offered him places on their teams.

Chico State offered Reed a full ride scholarship for baseball and University of Utah offered him a 50 percent scholarship for football, Reed said.

Reed was also offered a full scholarship to San Jose State. Reed emailed and called some schools while other schools reached out to him.

“I want to lead and help my team win CCS and hopefully make state,” Reed said. “I hope to win a full-ride athletic scholarship to a Division I college.”

Angelica Guting Senior Angelica Guting has received multiple honors in Taekwondo. She has been a national champion six times and has won several titles at the U.S. Open and the Korean Open.

Currently, Guting competes in the 14-17 age group in the under 92 pound weight category.

Because Taekwondo is “a very small sport” in the United States, she wants to attend college in the Philippines.

She has received scholarship offers from De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of the Phillipines, Letran.

“I want to work my way into getting into the Olympic team in the Philippines,” Guting said. She trains at Garr Sports Taekwondo four days a week on top of training at home.

FEATURED ATHLETE Does being two-time CCS champion Katie Le’s younger sister add any pressure?

It does add a little pressure to me because I look up to her and hope to be a good player like her.

Courtesy of TEAMUSA.ORG

Junior Prachi Jha serves the ball at the 2013 International Table Tennis Federation North American Championship in Canada. Jha placed third in both Women’s and Junior Girl’s Singles. The U.S. team won 7 of the 10 gold medals.

Jha travels to Table Tennis Championship

BY JAMIE LAM

Unlike other highschoolers her age, Junior Prachi Jha spent her summer traveling to different countries to attend table tennis competitions and events. Before the last school year ended, Jha went to Paris in May to attend the World Table Tennis Championships.

Over the summer, Jha went to a month-long international training camp in Austria. Jha also participated in the North American Championships and the Canadian Junior and Cadet Open in Canada.

Only the top five men and women from each country can qualify for the annual World Table Tennis Championships, according to Jha. After placing fourth during the National Team Trials, Jha was able to qualify. Players from 126 countries participate in the tournament, Jha said.

“I was lucky to be able to go to such a famous and exciting city as Paris to compete in such a prestigious event,”

Jha said. “I was one of the youngest players there, so for me it was more of a learning experience. However, it was very exciting just being in the same room as all the top players in the world.”

Along with her mother and brother, Jha attended an international training camp in Austria for “intense, high-level training.” Although she did not participate in any tournaments in Austria, Jha shared that her favorite experience with table tennis this summer was from spending time in Austria.

“The coaches were more focused on physical training than usual to get all the players in shape.,” Jha said. “What I thought was going to be a light job turned out to be an exhausting, nearly one hour run with a 20 minute break before our next training session on the table.That grueling workout was a great experience for me, and it boosted my self-confidence and made me physically stronger.”

The most recent events that Jha

participated in were two backto-back tournaments, the North American Championships and the Canadian Junior and Cadet Open, in Vancourver, Canada. According to Jha, all national junior and cadet team members were sent to play at both tournaments.

“We got first place in Junior Teams and I got bronze in both Women’s singles and Junior girl’s singles,” Jha said. “During the North American Championships, Team USA beat Canada for a spot in the World Junior Championships in Morocco this December. I am very excited to go to Africa for the first time.”

Jha said she has been to 11 different countries through her table tennis competitions, including Venezuela and China. Traveling to exotic countries to compete in the sport she loves is the very best part of playing table tennis, Jha said. Competing against players from other countries also gives her an idea of how to improve, Jha added.

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

I’m hoping to improve how I play and having fun with the team.

Do you prefer doubles or singles, and why?

I prefer singles because if I’m having a bad day I wouldn’t want to put more pressure on my partner.

Rachel Alvelais | THE UNION

Jenny Le Freshman Tennis Varsity

What position do you play on the tennis team?

There is not an official line-up, but I switch between playing singles 4 and doubles 1.

How long have you been playing tennis?

I’ve been playing tennis for about three years.

How did you get into the sport?

It has been sort of like a family sport.

My dad and sister.

What’s it like being a freshman on varsity?

I’ve been meeting a bunch of new people and it’s really fun!

What challenges you the most about tennis?

I find that I need to improve on my footwork and running What advice do you have for other tennis players?

My advice to other tennis players is to keep practicing and try your best.

Who’s your favorite professional tennis player?

Serena Williams. She’s amazing and I mean she did the splits in one of her matches which is pretty awesome.`

Nhi Tran| THE UNION

Sophomore Maggie Wu returns the ball in a Doubles 3 tennis match against players from the Harker Upper School at the Decathlon on Sept. 25. The MHS Varsity Tennis team finished with a 0-7 loss against Harker.

Fall sports season kicks off with new changes

BY MOSHE YANG

Current sports at MHS for the fall season are Football, Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, and Girls Tennis, according to Athletics Director Jeffrey Lamb. Several sports have experienced various changes, he said.

Bridget Hall is no longer the Cross Country Head Coach, according to Lamb. Co-Head Coaches Bernie Ramos and Nastassia Hamor have replaced Hall, Lamb said.

“Ms. Hall has taken a leave of absence for at least this season,” Lamb said. “I’m not sure if she’ll return next year.”

The football team this year has 51 Varsity and 60 Frosh-Soph players, according to Football Head Coach Kelly King. The Varsity team defeated Woodside High School 50-6 in its opening game on Sept. 13, King said.

“We have lots of returning players

this year and only a few new players,” King said. “This year’s offense will be led by Ronnie Reed and John Keller at quarterback and Squally Canada at running-back.”

This year’s Volleyball team has started off 1-6, according to Lamb who is also Volleyball Head Coach.

The team has 12 players for the Freshmen team, 15 for Junior Varsity (JV), and 13 for the Varsity team, Lamb said.

“This is one of the most inexperienced Volleyball teams in a long time,” Lamb said. “We’re working on getting better to hopefully break even by midseason.”

This year, Varsity has 25 players according to Tennis Head Coach Dong Pham. JV has 16.

“A lot of the new players need more practice to get better,” Pham said.

“We lost two seniors that were really good last year, but I don’t know good

the other teams will be this year.”

The Cross Country team this year has roughly 100 runners, Hamor said.

The male freshmen runners are very promising, according to Hamor who coaches the male runners.

“There are definitely a lot more freshmen and sophomores this year,” Hamor said. “Some notable runners this year are Junior Ralph Balaoing, Freshman Andrew Buchanan, Freshman Richard Sung, and Freshman Martin Espinoza.”

On the girls’ side, the team has many strong sophomore and freshmen runners, Ramos said. The returning team is led by Junior Sierra Brenciaglia, Senior Jessica Espinoza, and Sophomore Carla Espinoza, according to Ramos.

“Last year’s team had 60 runners, so the team has doubled in size,” Ramos said. “It’s still early in the season and we’re excited for this year.”

8

NEWS

T HE U NION

2013 AP Exam Scores

EXAM SUBJECT

5s

4s

3s

2s

1s

Biology Calculus AB

7 39

26 29

47 42

42 18

5 18

Average Score 2.91 3.36

Calculus BC Chemistry Chinese Language and Culture Computer Science English Literature Macroeconomics Microeconomics Physics B Psychology Spanish Language and Culture Statistics Studio Art: Drawing United States History

47 26 3

14 27 0

6 16 1

1 4 0

1 3 0

4.52 3.91 4.50

2 16 4 3 5 41 5

1 20 4 5 11 45 7

2 28 1 2 7 20 6

0 15 8 2 3 12 0

3 1 6 9 4 8 1

2.88 3.44 2.65 2.57 3.33 3.79 3.79

23 5 9

30 1 21

27 6 17

14 0 24

6 0 9

3.50 3.92 2.96 Brenda Su | THE UNION

The Advanced Placement (AP) scores for the previous school year are shown above. In total, MHS students took 15 of 34 possible AP exams administered by the Collegeboard in May. MHS offers all the AP classes listed above except for Chinese Language and Culture. Students received their scores online in July. AP scores considered passing, 3 or higher, may give students college credit. Data was provided courtesy of Principal Kenneth Schlaff.

OCTOBER 2013

Integrated Science formed to address biology fail rate

BY BRENDA SU

Integrated Science has been introduced at MHS in efforts to address the large number of students having to repeat Biology, according to Science Department Lead Letta Meyer.

Integrated Science is a freshman-only class that combines the different branches of science to help students understand basic scientific processes.

Many students came to high school lacking skills needed to do biology, Meyer said. These skills include reading comprehension, study skills, and math skills. She added that some students may also lack the maturity needed for Biology.

“They just aren’t ready for [biology],” Meyer said. “The superintendent doesn’t think this is an issue. Every student is different but the same curriculum fits every student, which is a contradiction. I’m not saying they can’t handle it; it’s just that they need some support.”

Students are placed in Integrated Science based on recommendations by their middle school teachers and

grades earned in middle school, Meyer said. The class moves at a slower pace and after finishing the course, students have the option of taking any of the basic science classes.

“For example, if they find out they like the physics section and they have the math skills, they can go take physics,” Meyer said. “It’s not like you’re behind in science. If they’re looking just to graduate they can take another science course and then they’re done.”

Currently, there are four sections of Integrated Science taught by Science Teacher Kenneth Lewis. The students have utilized Chromebooks to do virtual labs before they do them in person, Lewis explained.

“So far the class is going okay,” Lewis said. “There were some behavioral issues, but they’re getting better. Parents have been supportive.”

Integrated Science is not focusing on Common Core at the moment, Lewis said. The main goal right now is to prepare students for college-prep science classes.

API score goes up, lends school credibility

BY BRENDA SU

MHS’ Academic Performance Index (API) went up from 825 in 2012 to 830 in 2013, said Principal Kenneth Schlaff. MHS and Sinnott Elementary School were the only schools in the Milpitas Unified School District whose API went up, Schlaff said.

Every subgroup at MHS increased its API, except for Asians whose score went down by three points.

Students with disabilities showed

the most growth in API, gaining 53 points, according to a report from the California Department of Education website.

“There was a mindset of taking the test,” Schlaff said. “We stayed on script. This is the tenth year in a row we’ve gone up. I don’t think any other place has gone up ten years in a row.”

API score gives the school a good reputation, Schlaff said. Property values are also related to API score because people want to live in cities

that have high-performing schools; MHS receives many inter-district transfer requests from people who want to attend MHS, he said.

Assistant Principal Laurie Armino said the school did well covering all the standards. The school was able to focus on STAR testing while making the transition to Common Core.

“We don’t know how API is going to work next year with the Common Core,” Armino said. “But I think we’ll be successful at whatever we do.”

Fok, Garg named National Merit Semifinalists

BY JONATHAN NGO

Every year, 1.5 million high school students take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), according to nationalmerit.org. About 16,000 of those students, including MHS Seniors Rakshit Garg and Lordique Fok, scorely highly enough to qualify as semifinalists.

In California, students must score at least 223 out of 240 to become a semifinalist, Garg stated. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation

(NMSC) Board then decides which students become finalists, he added.

“You have to fill out an application and write an essay,” Garg said. “The NMSC Board is going to decide, based on the application, whether or not I should become a finalist.”

Finalists are eligible to receive a variety scholarships, according to Fok. These include corporate and college sponsored scholarships, she added.

Fok did not study much for the PSAT because she did not see it as something to stress about. However, she did a practice test.

“[The PSAT] was just something for which I should try to do my best on the day of the test,” Fok said. “I was too busy to spend time and money of SAT classes or tutors.”

Students planning on taking the PSAT should not go overboard with studying, Garg said. They should take one or two tests a week, he added.

“I’d say for students to relax about it,” Garg, who scored a 233 on the test, said. “I basically took practice tests and went to Excel Test Prep once or twice a week.”

EYE ON CAMPUS

Rachel Alvelais | THE UNION

Freshman Victoria Rose Ybarra adjusts a scale as part a lab in her Integrated Science class. The students tests the densities of various objects.

New online classes introduced, include wide range of subjects

BY SIDNEY LE

Sidney Le | THE UNION

Custodian Juan Marroquin removes graffiti from the wall in the back of the L-building by room L-14. The graffiti was found the same morning, on Sept. 5. The graffiti depicts a crown-like character and letters “A,” “k,” and “u.”

New online classes were offered at MHS and are now being conducted through ConnectionsLearning, according to Assistant Principal Casey McMurray. Students received an e-mail from McMurray prior to the beginning of this school year with instructions on how to sign up for the classes.

ConnectionsLearning offers many courses which are not available at MHS, including but not limited to: Marine Science, Earth Space Science, AP Computer Science, Japanese, Medical Terminology, and Medical Assisting. The courses conform to California and Common Core standards and are typically semester-long, though it is possible to complete the courses in less than a semester.

“Anything listed under electives [on ConnectionsLearning] that is not offered on campus is available,” McMurray said. “You can finish as fast as you want, then you would have one less class to worry about.”

In last year’s online classes, many students fell behind significantly and

struggled to complete their courses, affecting their grades, McMurray said. In order to prevent a repeat incident, the students taking online courses this year attended a meeting about time management and responsibility.

“It was mainly a time management issue,” McMurray said. “We tell them to take it just like an on-campus class where you have homework kind of regularly and you do it regularly to stay up with the lessons.”

Students enrolled in the class by responding to McMurray’s email and following through the application process, Senior Jake Pham, currently enrolled in Medical Terminology, said. A list of class choices was attached to the e-mail and students chose the class they wished to enroll in.

“I didn’t think that there were any other classes at school that really caught my attention,” Pham said.

“Medical Terminology is a lot of vocabulary and a lot of note-taking, but besides that, all of it’s not that bad at all.”