BRAVO NEWS • 1
CURRENT EVENTS • 2
WORLD NEWS • 3
if you see this, go follow us on Instagram @bravovitalsign for a special prize!!
BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XXXX, ISSUE VIII WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.NET| March 25, 2019
Spring Parent Conferences By Kissel Martinez
Bravo held its annual parent conference on March 20th from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., and March 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On these days, parents met with their child’s teachers and learned what kind of student their child has been and where and how the student can improve their performance in class. A parent of one Bravo student stated, “Parent conferences are very important and therefore, should be attended because it shows how much a parent cares about their child’s education and how well they do in school”. Bravo also offered community service hours to students who helped serve as translators, elevator assistants, and report card distributors. In addition, clubs took this opportunity to raise money for themselves by selling food and snacks. Parent conferences were very important days that helped many people in various ways. Parents, students, and teachers should take advantage of the resources parent conferences have to offer the next time they are held.
Source: Vital Signs Staff Member
A Smaller Trash Footprint By Angelica Aguilar
The new Environmental Studies classes of 2018-2019 have started a project in which the students run a recycling program. The materials that will be recycled include: mechanical pencils, highlighters, whiteboard markers, permanent markers, marker caps, and paper. Some of the students were asked what their role in the program is and why they´re doing it. Juan Hernandez ¨We’re currently making recycling bins out of boxes because we want to collect recyclable items in them. It is extremely convenient for collection, and rather than spending money on new boxes we are reusing used ones to help with this program. Ms. Pineda showed us statistics that illustrated the harsh reality of mass waste production. Those facts and statistics motivated us to start our own recycling program here at Bravo. We’re trying to inform the Bravo community about the impacts of recycling and how it is more important than we think. We hope to make an impact and lead the way to a less wasteful school.¨ Charlize Dizon ¨Our goal is to spread awareness about waste and how it is harming the environment. And so we’re getting people at Bravo to know. It’s important because the Earth is getting worse and then the future people are not going to have a better place to live.¨ Jennifer Gonzalez ¨What we are presenting is about a huge problem that’s going on in our world and that is that we are not recycling. Unfortunately, because we don’t recycle we are impacting the lives of many animals as well as our own because we don’t recycle it it causes issues with our health and it also takes the lives of animals because animals usually get stuck in plastic or they eat plastic which could sometimes even lead to their death. We presented to the classes because we’re going to be starting a recycling program for the students which is where we’ll be recycling things such as markers mechanical pencils and paper. And this is just so that we could reduce our footprint here at Bravo and so that we could impact others to hopefully do the same.¨
SBAC and CAASPP Testing By Edith Romero
On March 18, 2019, a majority of the juniors began testing for the CAASPP or the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System, which was established on January 1, 2014, replacing the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. CAASPP assessments measure student progress in different subjects English, Math, and Science - and they provide customized tests to every student. When the student answers correctly, the next question will be harder, while an incorrect answer gives the student an easier question. This allows the students to show what they have learned. All students, including those with disabilities and English language learners participate in the test. Due to the extranfeatures incorporated into the exams, this allows the testing to go much smoother for the students with disabilities. The test is taken online and the questions used during the exam evaluate the critical thinking skills students have that are needed for college and future careers. The CAASPP Student Score Report is mailed home afterwards, which shows the student’s results on the tests they took. Students were asked if they knew what the test is about, and their thoughts and feelings about it. Here are some of the opinions, feelings, and knowledge of some students taking the test this semester. “The SBAC is practice so I feel I might take it somewhat serious because this is gonna help me go to college and see where I am at so I will take it serious. I’ve never heard of the term [CAASPP] and I feel like it’s very important and it has to do something with college.” -Erick Nuñez
“The CAASPP is a math test . . . no there is a math part, a science part, and an english part . . . we got a letter for it, but I remember reading there is a math and english part and a science part to it too and I think next week is the math part and its from March to April and its for college admission.” “I haven’t heard too much about it, not as much as the PSAT, SAT, or SBAC, but I still know it is really important and I’m kinda nervous about taking it, but at the same time I have taken both of the PSATs so like I kinda know . . . but I’m still kinda nervous.” -Shifat Rahman “I do know that it involves Math, Science and English and its importance . . . I am not really sure about that but I think it’s like a backup for college admissions . . . like if you don’t get a good grade on your SAT or ACT then it will be a backup for you.” “I’m kinda nervous, but then at the same time I’ve taken it before . . . so I am used to it, but then again I don’t know what I am going to get.” -Naeomi Chin “I feel kinda nervous and scared knowing that it is serious and it’s like . . . it kinda affects where you’re going like college kinda of and I know it’s important so I have to take it seriously.” “I think it’s like a placement test, kind of that checks your english skills and your math skills depending like what classes you are eligible for in college, but I’m not exactly sure.” -Anonymous
2 CURRENT EVENTS
VOL. XXXX, ISSUE VIII
CURRENT EVENTS
The “Trashtag Challenge” is Making a Difference By Amy Contreras
March 25, 2019
Are You Taking Part In Today’s Climate Protests? By Amy Contreras
The media is a birthplace to anything you want to grow, for example, new In countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, businesses, organizations, social gatherings, etc., its where the word goes around Nepal, India, and several European cities, a call to action has been taken upon the students coming from all age groups to demand a wake up and it goes around fast! call for their government, or parliament, of the global issue of climate change. The latest sensation of the #Trashtag challenge is an example of how the help of the media has grown popularity and it’s viral status. This challenge has many up on their feet and running around their community to secure any area that needs This is a global protest and it’s been reported to be the biggest international one yet. It has resulted in 2,000 events within 120 cleaning or maintenance. countries, and eclipsing to be the first largest scale of students to protest ever since the 15th of February. Before and after photos are being taken and uploaded on any current social media platform to spread the word around in order to contribute more awareness in This global day of action was inspired by teenager Greta Thunberg. Her which it has done so. passion and importance of her generation’s future was remarked due to her action of protesting every Friday outside Sweden’s parliament. This challenge is targeting the “bored teens.” They’ll be able to contribute more Thunberg asserted the contributions and awareness being spread in growth for this challenge through promoting it to become more viral for other the media being motivating and positively influencing many around adolescents around the world. the world, but she claims “there is still a lack of action of politicians worldwide.” With this challenge at its peak of popularity, it has bestowed more people to learn about the challenge and have begun to show their efforts on social media. Students in the UK began to gather around London’s Parliament Square where Greta Breveglieri, a political science student from the University This challenge is making a difference in various communities around the globe of Milan, travelled from Italy to declare their government a climate and motivating young adults to take action into not only cleaning public spaces, emergency and the active steps to tackle this problem. but riverbanks and city sidewalks.
“To put it bluntly, we’re here because our world is going to be destroyed. Overall, the before and after photos of this challenge are truly inspiring and this We have to change the pace of our culture, our society, our politics, our challenge has also allowed us to see the beauty behind the madness of many areas economics,” Breveglieri said. around the world. More protests are continuing to be held throughout the day and many continue to prolong into the future.
College Degrees Losing Their Value By Prescilla Rodriguez
Imagine awaiting the decision of your life: only realizing that the sleepless nights of studying were not quite as valuable as the number of zeroes written on your parents´ checkbook.
Source: Boredpanda.com
As a current high school senior, along with the many others within the class of 2019, mid-March is a month fulfilled with stress, anxiety, and anguish. Why is that, one may ask? College admissions decisions. While the name alone can be a topic discussion in itself, I write this piece with the intent to bring awareness to those who can not afford the luxury of a secured private education, but must rather work hard and sacrifice their lives for one.
Numerous media platforms and outlets have earlier revealed this week that a number of wealthy celebrities have been charged for bribery and ultimately, scamming their child’s college admission decisions into some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. Any individual who has been actively following this case knows that these individuals include popular celebrities such as Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman, whom paid off various athletic directors and SAT administrators to equip their child with every “successful qualification” necessary to secure their child’s spot into certain colleges, such as USC. While we have heard these facts resurface countless news sources, the truth of the matter is: real, hard-working people become collateral damage to the avaricious “needs” of America’s elite. Why is this a problem? College degrees are being devalued, but on a more significant level, geuine hard work is going unrecognized... Source: abc7news.com
As most students who attend Bravo, I am one of the many students who make up the statistics of people who are not expected to “succeed.” Being a Hispanic, teenage girl from East Los Angeles, most of the odds in my favor are to drop out, or become a teenage mom, however like the many other students who attend Bravo, those stereotypes and destinies will not determine my future. The different cultures, ethnicities, and sociodemographic backgrounds that represent Bravo are the true identities of the silent heroes who are defying the odds, pursuing a better life, and working tremendously hard, all through the means of education. Students at Bravo are the ones who rely on a deprivation of sleep and a multitude of rigorous coursework to promise themselves a better future and life. While most students at Bravo may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy their way into the college of their dreams, it is no question that our students are rich in work ethic and values. A checkbook may have worked for some of the nation’s most well-known celebrities, however students at Bravo rely on real books and sleepless nights to get into college; and that is priceless. Source: WFLA.com
3 WORLD NEWS VOL. XXXX, ISSUE VIII
Fatal Mosque Shooting
WORLD NEWS
March 25, 2019
By Melanie Otero
New Zealand received terrible news of a shooting on March 15, 2019, in which an Australian citizen attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is reported that 50 were killed and 50 injured during the terror attacks. The 28 year old Australian posted a 57 page reason on why he was attacking on 8chan; a public forum online. This devastated many, as the shooter’s motives stemmed from anti-immigrant and anti-muslim sentiments. It caused a stir of anxiety in the hearts of many muslims as that day caused them to lose many brothers and sisters. As a result of this tragedy, New Zealand was scrutinized for their gun laws. There has been new adjustments in protecting their citizens from these terrorists.
Source: LA Times.com
Spring Equinox By Edith Romero
On March, 20, 2019, the spring equinox occurred at 2:58 p.m. pacific time. It is also known as the March equinox or the vernal equinox, which refers to the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator. The spring equinox occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the autumn equinox takes place. For years, cultures have viewed the change in seasons from winter to spring as a time for celebration. Here are some traditions from around the world:
Source: Deilataylor.com Middle East Here, the celebration of the spring equinox has been seen as the festival of Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year. Iran, Kosovo, Turkey, and other nations all over the Middle East and Asia celebrate the New Year on or near March 20 each year. As tradition, the night of the last Tuesday and the morning of the last Wednesday of the year, a fire festival called Chaharshanbe Suri, or the red Wednesday, takes place. Seven bonfires are lit and people gather to jump over each bonfire while saying: “my yellowness for you and your redness for me”, which means that one gives their sickness to the fire and receives health and warmth in return.
Japan In Japan, the spring equinox, known as the Shunbun no Hi, is celebrated by visiting ancestral graves and having family reunions. Traditionally, it is celebrated for seven days, but the day the equinox takes place, families spend the majority of the day cleaning, leaving flowers on their loved ones’ graves, and visiting their family members. Mexico In the past, the Mayans celebrated the Return of the Sun Serpent during the vernal equinox. Now, a celebration occurs at Kukulkan pyramid in the center of the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins, where the late afternoon sun casts a shadow over the pyramid, creating the illusion that a snake is moving down the pyramid. The serpent is related to the merge of the heavens, the earth and the underworld, and day and night. Typically, white clothes are worn to get rid of “bad vibes” and to attract positive energy. China/United States In China, there is a tradition of balancing an egg which was mainly done around the lunar New Year, but has now become popular in the U.S. as part of the spring equinox. India and Nepal From India to Nepal, Hindus celebrate the Holi festival also known as the festival of colors. People come together to sing and dance, share food, and visit loved ones. The festival includes water fights and throwing brightly colored powder to signal the end of winter and to show love wins over evil. England In Wiltshire, England, people gather at the Neolithic structure Stonehenge to take part in a sunrise tour the morning of the spring equinox. Pagans, druids, wiccans and anyone who wishes to take a part, wait for the sun to rise and many of the participants wear traditional “garb” or clothing.
Editorial Matter
Letters to the Editors
Opinions expressed in Vital Signs belong to the
Letters to the editors concerning any topic relevant to Vital Signs are
writer. They do not reflect the opinions of the
welcomed. Please refrain from using vulgar or disrespectful language.
Journalism staff or those of Francisco Bravo
Letters should be brief and may be edited to maximize space and heighten
Medical Magnet High School.
clarity. Letters may be anonymous or signed by the author. Please send letters to: bravovitalsigns@gmail.com or Drop them off in Mr. R. Rodriguez’s mailbox/Room 312
Vital Signs Staff Angelica Aguilar Amy Contreras Kissel Martinez Melanie Otero Prescilla Rodriguez Edith Romero Anabella Ruiz
Scan this QR Code to check out past Vital Signs issues online!