VOLUME 48.8

Granada Hills Charter High

10535 Zelzah Ave, Granada Hills 91344

i am

May 24, 2010

granada Feature Grab your popcorn, and check out the stars of our senior class in their very own DVDs as they say farewell. NEWS Take a look at the radical changes for the upcoming year. ENTERTAINMENT Read up on everything you need to know for the summer season.

02 news

May 24, 2010

Gabrielle Amar/ Plaid Press

FAREWELL Lindley Avenue will no longer be crowded with school buses before or after school hours; students will need alternate methods of transportation.

Busing no longer offered to traveling students By Rebecca Hong The traveling programs for students who take the school bus to Granada will be canceled starting in the 2010 fall semester as a result of budget cuts from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Because of the cuts, LAUSD would have charged the school approximately $500,000 per year to use the buses it provides. The district’s funding for public programs including busing students will be cut due to the budget crisis in California. This means that traveling student programs -- Magnet, Permits with Transportation (PWT), Capacity Adjustment Program (CAP), and Public School Choice (PSC) -- will no longer come with LAUSD transportation provided. While existing traveling students will be

allowed to remain at GHCHS, they will have to make their own transportation arrangements to GHCHS. LAUSD is considering offering transportation to next year’s 12th grade traveling students only. A decision will be made shortly. However, this will not affect special needs students receiving transportation through their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Incoming Magnet, CAP, and PWT freshmen are being offered a seat at Granada without transportation. Traveling students and parents were recently given surveys on whether or not they would be able to arrange for their own transportation to the school. The preliminary results show that 90 percent of families could send students to

By Chelsea Turner Seniors will get their excess money on their identification cards during senior clearance on June 2. Students will also have to pay any debts at that time. “During senior checkout, we’ll have either one or two employees giving cash reimbursements to students if it’s under a certain amount,” Chief Business Officer Walter Wallace said. Anything over $20 will be given in the form of a check made out to the parents of the student. Currently, 264 seniors have overspent on their cards, owing the school as much as

$18.25. On the other hand, 403 students have a positive balance amounting to a grand total of $4,260.96 as of April 21. According to Wallace, senior students get their money amounts down on their I.D. cards before graduation. However, students can go online and see their balance via the same method used to add money to the card. In order to receive money upon checkout students have to ask for their reimbursement with their school card. “If they ask for their money, they’ll get it,” said Wallace. Unfortunately for students,

Granada without LAUSD buses. However, many students would not be able to attend Granada without LAUSD’s buses and may have to transfer to schools in their own neighborhood. Transportation will also be unavailable for summer school, but students can attend on campus if they have their own transportation or at their home schools if they choose to do so. “It doesn’t seem right that students who came to Granada to have better educational opportunities have to leave in the middle of high school. Schools in Los Angeles aren’t of the same caliber as those in the valley,” sophomore Janice Choi said. There is marked concern for next year’s seniors who only have one year left of school.

“I feel really bad for the current juniors, sophomores and freshmen who are suddenly going to have to attend their home schools which might already be crowded,” senior Anastassia Knight said. Currently, 500 students take a bus, but 97 percent of them live in the valley with a few students commuting from farther areas such as Los Angeles and Crenshaw. “It doesn’t seem fair. Many people might drop-fail because they won’t have a ride, and they’ll have to take public transportation. This will also make them get up really early to get to school which will make them fall asleep in class,” junior Steven Robles said. So far the school is continuing to negotiate with LAUSD to come up with a decision on transportation that is in the best interest for the students.

Seniors reimbursed for excess I.D. card money it may be the slowest part of the clearance. For those who do not know they are in debt, it is crucial to know before Memorial Day weekend so all amounts can be paid upon clearance. If a senior does not pay his or her debt, he or she will not graduate on stage. “We will probably write and send letters to the parents for students in debt $5 or more,” Wallace said. “There are still things we can do to ensure students know if they are in debt like list the senior outstanding debts and post it somewhere on campus and let them know over the daily bulletin.”

Last year, as few as eight checks were written for reimbursement, but some money was left over as students did not bother to get it back. For seniors with small amounts of money left, the school will try to match the exact amount cents-wise. According to Wallace, it is possible that reimbursements will be rounded up to the nearest quarter this year. All seniors should ensure that there is no money on his or her I.D. card or outstanding debts if he or she wishes to avoid reimbursement and payment at senior clearance.

District cancels funding for the Magnet Program By Danielle Sink In a decision made by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the GHCHS Math, Science and Technology/CSUN Magnet Program will no longer receive district funding. The GHCHS Magnet was established in 1993 as part of LAUSD’s voluntary integration program which created all of the district’s Magnet Schools. “[It] was established to provide students the opportunity to overcome the five harms of racial isolation: low academic achievement, low self-esteem, lack of access to postsecondary opportunities, interracial hostility and intolerance and overcrowded conditions,” Magnet Coordinator Judie Baumwirt said. However, after 17 years of the Magnet Program, integration is no longer an issue within the school. “The decision does not really affect Magnet teachers or current Magnet students other than with transportation,” Baumwirt said. Whether or not buses will be provided for next year’s tenth to twelfth grade Magnet student is still in negotiation with LAUSD. The decision regarding transportation for incoming ninth grade students placed in the Magnet program, however, has already

been terminated. These students can still accept their fall ninth grade placement with the condition that transportation becomes the responsibility of the students’ parent or guardian. They will be considered part of the regular high school rather than part of the Magnet Program. The Magnet Program will gradually dissolve as each of the current years of Magnet students (this year’s seniors and upcoming tenth to twelfth graders) graduate from the school. To replace this program, plans have been made to create a Math, Science and Technology Academy. “We’ll be starting this summer to research and lay the foundation of the MST Academy following the model of a Small Learning Community,” Baumwirt said. “The transition is expected to be seamless.” The Academy will most likely be run by a coordinator and will be similar to the Magnet Program with its emphasis on science and mathematics curriculum. Specific matters of the Magnet Program still have yet to be decided; the status of student activities such as the Magnet Picnic and Senior Brunch are still unknown. More information will be available as the Magnet administration is made aware of it.

s ’ t o c S l l: n a tio i d C tE M

e n g a

Junior - Brandon Petersen “It doesn’t really affect me because I’ll be a senior next year but I feel bad for all of the incoming freshman.”

Sophomore - Adrienne Naor

Freshman - Stephanie Hua

“I guess I understand why it’s happening and I’ll miss the students but I’m also excited for new classes.”

“Some Magnet students might be happy to be part of the regular school but I still think it’s unfair.”

03 news

May 24, 2010

New summer programs will offer students more variety in their education By Austin Kang Summer school programs have been reformed to compensate for limited funding as well as to help students prepare more efficiently over the summer. For the first time, students will have the opportunity to enroll in summer school online classes, where most of the curriculum can be covered at home. However, students will still have to attend school at least once a week to take examinations on the material covered. “Online classes provide students more individualized instruction, so that each student can go over specific parts of the curriculum that they are not so familiar with at their own pace,” Director of Counseling Julia Howelman said. Online classes are already available to students who are lacking credits or to those who have failed a class last semester as part of the Credit Recovery Program. “After having to take an online Credit Recovery class, I was actually really impressed by just how much information and responsibility it gave me,” senior Kapish Haldia said. However, other students disapprove of the impersonal nature of the online classes. Junior Katrina Mercado commented that the school has “become too computerized” and that “[she] personally wouldn’t take [online classes]” because they don’t allow enough interaction between the student and the teacher. “I grew up learning from people, not from the computer,” Mercado said. Furthermore, junior Sandra Kim remarked how online classes are “inherently unmotivating” due to the potential for pro-

crastination. Besides online classes, the Summer Transition Academy has also undergone reform from “skill building to introducing incoming students to the actual curriculum that they will face in the ninth grade,” English Department Chair Elisa Ragus said. In addition, every student in the academy will be taught by actual Granada teachers rather than the educators sent from Kaplan. “It wasn’t that the previous Kaplan curriculum was bad, but just that the Summer Transition Academy should really be an opportunity to help new students acclimate to Granada curriculum and standards,” Intervention Counselor Sanaz Vasseghi said. News of the changes has been primarily met with favor by students who typically disliked the mandatory Kaplan-run summer programs. “Since it was a graduation requirement, I had to do it no matter what, but I don’t think I really learned anything from the teacher that I couldn’t have learned on my own,” sophomore Ahra Cho said. Although all of these summer school reforms primarily help to streamline academic preparation, funding has also become a factor in installing the new programs. “Due to the economy, the school budget has obviously shrunken, but these changes are being made to help maximize those dollars into the best instructional program the school can offer,” Howelman said. “We are exploring some experimental approaches to the summer school experience, so I don’t know exactly how everything is going to work out,” Ragus said. “But we definitely want to try it.”

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Gabrielle Amar/ Plaid Press

COMING SOON The Kirk Douglas playground site may be transformed into art and Humanitas classrooms as part of the New Media Academy.

School builds structure for New Media Academy By Joan Lee The school has recently received the Qualified Zone Academy Bond Grant (QZAP) which will be used to build a new structure to provide space for new and existing art and Humanitas classes. The building for the New Media department may to be located on the unused Kirk Douglas playground site near the boys’ locker room. A proposal is going to be presented to the Operations Committee. “We are currently working with an architect to design the building. It should be finished in the spring of 2012,” Director of Accountability and Technology Pat Givant said. Once the building opens, students will be encouraged to sign up in order to expand the existing Humanitas Program and create a popular department. “In the beginning we hope to get at least 200 students to sign up and eventually increase in number up to 400,” said Givant. Some of the new classes that are expected to be available are game design and film, depending on the student demand for each class offered. The program is generally not too drastic of a change. Current teachers will teach the classes, and they will operate similarly to the current Humanitas Program. This program has students grouped with the same peers for three subjects throughout their high school career, according to the Humanitas curriculum. Classes will incorporate similar themes

Senior Notifications

Important dates that seniors should remember Senior Awards Ceremony

All participants sit on the field. All parents sit in the bleachers. Seniors should arrive by 5:30 pm.

Graduation Rehearsal

MANDATORY

Graduation Rehearsal

MANDATORY

Senior Clearance

MANDATORY

Graduation Ceremony

All detentions must be cleared by Thursday May 27, 2010 and all debts cleared by Wednesday June 2, 2010.

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm John Elway Stadium Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 8:10 am John Elway Stadium

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 8:10 am John Elway Stadium Wednesday, June 2, 2010 Following practice in Large Gym

Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:00 pm John Elway Stadium

Grad Night Want a fast, easy way to fundraise for your class? Earn a 25% commission and save your friends 15% off drivers ed. Visit www.DriversEd.com/Associate-Programs. *Discount for online drivers ed class only.

2.1_BW_5x8_D12 © 2009 DriversEd.com

of art and media into core classes. Classes such as game design are meant to foster creativity as well as aesthetic presentation skills. “Students will be able to take a handson approach to designing as well as working cooperatively with their peers to get successful results,” art teacher Mathew Bivens said of the proposed game design class. There will be many projects and presentations included in the program which are aimed to develop students’ artistic abilities as well as cooperation and presentation skills. For students that are interested in entering the classes, the Counseling Office will take requests for admission. Students who are currently enrolled in the Humanitas Program will have access to these classes by default. The expansion of the Humanitas Program and the addition of the Academy brings positive expectations for the future of Granada’s curriculum as it offers more art and “creative outlet” classes for students. Although the VAPA department is not as popular amongst students as the sciences, the improvement of the existing program might serve to attract more students to the program. “The New Media Academy offers an opportunity for students to follow their interests and take interesting classes,” Givant said. She hopes that the new academy will encourage more students to get involved in the arts.

Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 9:30 pm Disneyland Resort Theme Park

Grad Night is not a GHCHS sponsored activity. It is sponsored by the PTSA.

04Restaurant Hot Spots entertainment Alessio

Graikos

Type of Food: Italian Price Range: $10-$25 Atmosphere: With dim lighting and a live pianist, you would think you were actually in Italy. Alessio is suitable for various occasions ranging from first dates to family outings. Popular Menu Items: Bruschetta, Cioppino, Tiramisu Location: 9725 Reseda Blvd., Northridge Service Quality: Good service but can get chaotic during peak hours.

Type of Food: Greek/ Mediterranean Price Range: $11-30 Atmosphere: Great for families. The restaurant exuded Greek culture in all aspects. For example, the customers can pick a table and seat themselves instead of waiting at the door. Popular Menu Items: Lamb and beef gyros Location: 19346 Rinaldi St., Northridge Service Quality: Average. Food took a long time to arrive.

Pagoda Inn

California Chicken Cafe

Type of Food: American Price Range: $6-15 Atmosphere: Surrounded by brick walls and blinding glass walls, it is usually filled with families and CSUN students who come by for a quick meal. Popular Menu Items: Rotisserie Chicken, Broccoli Salad Pasta, Hot Potatoes. Location: 18445 Nordhoff St., Northridge Service Quality: The wait for the food is short, but it can get busy during peak hours. However, the food is worth it.

May 24, 2010

Type of Food: Chinese Price Range: $8-$17 Atmosphere: The overall setting of the restaurant was quaint and dark, suggesting an undisturbed and tranquil vibe. Popular Menu Items: Crispy Beef Schezwan, East Jade Walnut Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Pork. Location: 19348 Rinaldi St., Northridge Service Quality: Great service. The waiters were very kind and efficient in serving us. - Joanne Choi and SueJean Kim

By Eidah Hilo

For all you earth-loving fashionistas out there, make a noticeable statement with a bohemian styled two-piece. Look for bathing suits with different color patches, vine-like patterns, and especially anything with a paisley pattern. Keep it bohemian with earthy and deep colors such as browns, forest greens, burgandies, etc.

Bored of the plain old traditional one-piece? Then set yourself apart with a unique onepiece bound to turn heads. A little bit can go a long way, so subtle changes in the traditional one-piece will surely attract attention. Look for bathing suits with asymmetrical shoulder straps and/or cut-outs either covered with mesh or not.

Where to find it: www.victoriasecret.com

Where to find it: www.bloomingdales.com

Accessorize with: a braided headband, peace sign necklace, lots of handmade friendship and beaded bracelets.

Accessorize with: studded bracelets, RayBan sunglasses, lots of silver rings, a bright neon sarong.

If you see yourself as a diva, make a fierce statement with a glam bathing suit. Look for bathing suits embellished with sequins, rhinestones, or anything else that will shine in the sun. Anything metallic or in an animal print is definitely glamorous as well.

If you are the cute and quiet girl that gets all the guys, a simple and feminine two-piece is sure to let you stay true to your flirty side. Look for bathing suits in shades of pinks and pastels with frills or ruffles. Along with the original polka dot bikini, some flirty patterns include hearts and butterflies.

Where to find it: Target

Where to find it: www.everythingbutwater.com

Accessorize with: gold or silver bangle bracelets, diamond earrings, and lots of rings to flaunt your diva status.

Accessorize with: flowery headbands, lace necklaces, simple charm bracelets, a pastel colored sarong.

05

entertainment

May 24, 2010

Killers

The Karate Kid

A-Team

Grown-Ups

Jonah Hex

Toy Story 3 Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen Release Date: June 18 Synopsis: Andy goes away to college and gives his toys away so Woody and Buzz Lightyear set out on an adventure to return to the loving arms of Andy once again.

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner Release Date: June 30 Synopsis: Bella has to finally choose between Edward and Jacob. Her decision may spark a vicious war between vampires and werewolves.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade Release Date: June 25 Synopsis: Five former high school basketball teammates come together thirty years after graduating to prove they are forever young.

Starring: Megan Fox Release Date: June 18 Synopsis: Gunslingers and bounty hunters dominate this actionpacked film. With a mix of supernatural and Western elements, you’ll surely stay on the edge of your seats.

The Last Airbender

Eclipse

Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan Release Date: June 11 Synopsis: Dre Parker moves to China and upon arrival, he is bullied by his classmate. Maintenance man, Mr. Han, teaches him the art of kung-fu to help him stand up against the bully.

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Liam Neeson, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copely Release Date: June 11 Synopsis: This actionpacked war movie is centered around Iraq war veterans and their adventures.

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl Release Date: June 4 Synopsis: Spencer Aimes, an undercover assassin, meets Jen Komfeldt and marries her. Three years later, they become the target of a multi-million dollar hit and are on the run.

Despicable Me

Starring: Jackson Rathbone, Noah Ringer Release Date: July 2 Synopsis: The four nations of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air are in a fierce global war and it’s up to the Avatar, the only person who can control all four elements, to restore peace and harmony.

Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand Release Date: July 9 Synopsis: A man plans to steal the moon but he is obstructed by the burden of caring for three orphans.

- Eidah Hilo and Rebecca Hong

photos courtesy of www.moviephone.com

Bamboozle & Warp Tour this summer! Witness the birth of up-and-coming bands in this annual music festival

By Lindsay Pleskus As the school year comes to an end and summer begins, the question on every student’s mind is what to do over vacation. Instead of going to the beach or the park, another way to spend a day or two of your two months off is to go to a music festival. Go to an annual summer music festival that

gives dozens of bands a chance to perform instead of just one. Although Bamboozle Left already passed in March, Bamboozle Roadshow will come to California June 4 through June 6. The festival on June 4 will be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim; on June 5 it will be held at the Sleep Train Pavillion in Concord; and on June 6 it will be held at the Cricket Amphitheater in Chula Vista. All three days of Bamboozle in California include the same list of bands and artists that performed in the March festival. Another reason to check out a festival is because they include a wide range of well-known and underground artists to broaden your musical taste. Some of the well-known bands that will

be present at Bamboozle Roadshow will be All Time Low, Hellogoodbye, Good Charlotte and Forever the Sickest Kids. Bamboozle Roadshow also includes less known bands such as A Cursive Memory and Great Big Planes. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased through the Bamboozle Roadshow website. The price of the tickets vary depending on the place of the performance. Another well-known music festival is Warped Tour, which will be in California June 25 through June 27. This year will be Warped Tour’s 15th anniversary. Though presale tickets are no longer on sale, tickets will be on sale until the day of Warped Tour. Purchase tickets early online or wake up early to wait in line the morning of the event. Warped Tour will be at the Home Depot Center on June 25, at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View on June 26, and at Seaside Park in Ventura on June 27. The California Warped Tour will include over seventy bands. Some better known bands are Anarbor, Sum 41, All American Rejects, The Rocket Summer and The Summer Set. Other less known bands includes Breath Electric, FEAR, Face to Face and Fake Problems. Hurry up and get your tickets before it is too late!

- 50 cent & Lloyd Banks: June 4 @ Club Nokia - Iron Maiden: June 19 @ San Manuel Amphitheater - Backstreet Boys: June 26 @ Gibson Amphitheater - Kings of Leon: July 12 @ Hollywood Bowl - Justin Beiber & Sean Kingston: July 20 @ Nokia Theater - Rihanna & Ke$ha: July 24 @ Staples Center - Adam Lambert & Orianthi: July 28 @ Pacific Amphitheater - Lady Gaga: August 11 @ Staples Center - “Weird Al” Yankovic: August 13 @ Pacific Amphitheater.

07 COMING SOON TO A COLLEGE NEAR YOU

May 24, 2010

senior farewells

The Race to First

I really don’t know what to write about in this essay, article, thingy. The editor of this school newspaper wants this done by lunch, and in the spirit of true senioritis, I am writing it during third period. Although this section is titled “the race for first,” there was never a rivalry between us three uber-nerds. At least not in my mind. Maybe Kevin Nam thought of it that way. You never know what that alien is thinking. I know Steven Smallberg doesn’t even care enough to know that he is number one. I think he just found out about that. We each got into colleges the other two did not. Funny how that worked out. Now I’m nearing the end of my word requirement, and I feel a bit sentimental. Maybe I should have written about how being captain of Science Bowl has been one of the most funnest experiences during the last four years. I know you can’t say “most funnest,” but it was literally that much fun. Where else could I yell complex arithmetic at my fat best friend Ashwin Amit and watching him compute the stuff faster than most calculators. Or maybe I could have written about how my accapella group, Smooth White Chocolate, started a mosh-pit at Disneyland while singing Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way”. Or maybe I could have written about performing a duet with Leeann Hsueh at the talent show or Paul Jackson at the Homecoming game. There are just too many memories that happened here at Granada. Although I don’t like its rules and random detentions, I must thank this school for bringing me close to people I will hold dear for the rest of my life. -Krishna Choudhary

Basketball and Love So, Greg and I are not in love. Instead as the title of our movie says, we are in love with basketball. You can say, and I’m sure Greg thinks the same, that our high school lives have predominantly revolved around basketball. The real reason I even joined high school basketball was because I knew the schools we would be playing had super cute boys. Just kidding. It was for the fun, unforgettable experience. Despite four seasons of basketball, sophomore year and senior year were definitely the most unforgettable. We were ranked 7th in the city sophomore year, and our team chemistry was unbelievable. But attending the first round of State playoffs in Yosemite this past year was the epitome of my basketball career at Granada. With the team’s unity at the highest peak yet, those couple of days really emphasized how great the team was that year. Even though we lost at City, we only think about how proud we are of each other and even for making it all the way to City despite being the underdogs. Playing at Granada was the most important and memorable part of my high school career. As a senior, it’s interesting to reflect on the past four years. We’ve lost some and we’ve won some, but in the end the only thing that remains is the fact that we did it together. I do not believe I would be half as happy culminating high school and going off to college without having been on the basketball team. Yeah, this may sound cliche, but all those sweat, tears and hard work did pay off in the end. -Laney Ming

Reallybad

School is winding down, which means no more hanging out as high school people. Hopefully college girls will be a little more DTF, or Down To be Friends in other words. Chaddy still says he hung out with Mr. Boen all night. He tells me that he destroyed a cop car, but I don’t buy it. He says that it happened when Kevin and I were getting beaten up by that crazy hobo. That bum got us thrown off the bus in front of Ralphs! That was almost as bad as the time when Kevin made that nasty Tiramisu in Ms. Brook’s class. Lucky for him though, he got to partner up with the hottest girl in class. He needed it though; he was working like a single parent over there. Me and Haroki though, made the best Tiramisu in the world. It was better than Kevin touching my nose and saying “Boop, boop.” Overall, we’ve had a pretty awesome time in high school. College should be fun, since me and Chadwick are heading to UC Irvine together. We’ll keep in touch with Kevin though. Hopefully he’s gotten over the fact that me and Chadwick are going to room together and he can’t go. Oh well, I’m sure Kevin will find his own fun dancing with bloody girls at crazy college parties. But movie jokes aside, I really did enjoy my time here at high school. Though the school didn’t allow me much of a creative outlet and the football players probably still want to beat me up I did enjoy high school. Getting to know my friends and finding out who I was has really been a great experience. I’m looking forward to my next adventure in college and look back fondly on my high school days. -Alex Pyle

Mr. Shaw Goes to Washington People have often asked what the Brandon Shaw stigma is, what that is defined by, why he is the way he is. There is no definitive answer to such a question. If that is in reference to why I have an overt sense of jovial optimism (a sense that if one didn’t find it obnoxious, their sanity would be questioned strongly) the answer is that there is no other option. A believer that when times are toughest, it becomes the most pertinent, as Americans, to rise above the challenges, and overcome them, not just to regain our composure, but t o regain it so that we are exponentially above where we were prior to our decline. How does this translate to every day behavior? I have recently been placed on the Communications and speech writing staff for several political consulting agencies, and even two Congressional offices, working on upcoming campaigns for the upcoming 2010 midterm elections. Being called “Sir” by visitors feels equivalent to calling the current President “Rocky” to his face. This turns to my obnoxious and often ignored sense of appropriate behavior, at my soon-to-be alma mater, Granada Hills Charter High School. Anyone who has given this sense of extremism a chance, I thank you. Anyone who has not, I’ll still appreciate your vote in the Congressional election of 2028, when I run. The point is, as for advice, I strongly recommend giving people a second chance, and a second thought, before turning to first impressions and often-false judgments. They could be “up to” a lot more than first meets the eye. -Brandon Shaw

08 feature

May 24, 2010

t

r futu u o R y r d e e m e o a E r fr i d ng u i c n l q e i p s g e h x e R t to cla s ses a Wh

ninth grade

Of Mice and Men nbeck Stei ohn By J

-Sindhura Seeni

tenth grade

In the futuristic world of Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, there are no books to read, no nature to enjoy and no close friends to talk to. Guy Montag, a fireman whose job it is to burn all the books in his society, finds dissatisfaction in this futuristic world. The main conflict starts when Montag runs into his boss, the fire captain named Beatty. He tries to persuade Montag that books only create problems in the society, but Montag believes otherwise. In tenth grade English classes, students read this book to develop their analytical skills. Bradbury uses simplistic language, but

there are many points to analyze. Although this book seems simple and easy to read, there are many underlying symbols and messages. Over 50 years have passed since Bradbury wrote this novel filled with his predictions about the future world many of which have became reality. Today people listen to iPods and are engrossed in television just like in his novel. This book displays a horrific world that can be our future. Sophomores should expect to be enlightened about how technology can engulf our society, and create disastrous outcomes.

eleventh grade

TCHER THE CA E RYE I N TH er Saling J.D. y B

twelfth grade

Although “Beowulf ” is not required reading for twelfth graders, many senior English teachers choose to teach their classes this famous Anglo-Saxon poem that dates from between the eighth and early eleventh centuries. In the story, Beowulf is the hero of a North Germanic tribe who comes to the aid of the Danish king, Hroogar. The epic poem follows Beowulf on his journey to slaughter a menacing monster named Grendel, and then murder Grendel’s vengeful mother. After becoming a king himself, Beowulf embarks on a fatal mission to destroy a dragon that terrorizes his

It’s the 1930s in California and George and Lennie have a dream larger than themselves. But for the main characters of John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, this desire may be “just in their heads.” The two men are itinerant workers looking for farm labor along the West Coast, and perhaps, the seemingly impossible American dream. What they do encounter during their time on the farm is an even odder concept to the nomadic migrant worker: the strength of friendship. Of Mice and Men, often encountered by freshman students, is read for its truthful portrayal of the migrant farm industry in

-Jane Ha

FAHRENHEIT 451

RADBURY BY RAY B

Holden Caulfield, the troubled teen hero of The Catcher in the Rye, has been kicked out of yet another boarding school. Written by J. D. Salinger, and once banned from publication in the entire nation, this book is now read in eleventh grade English classes school wide. Judging the book by its cover, many may doubt the book’s significance. By the time you finish it, however, you will be utterly shocked by its depth. After being expelled, Caulfield decides to spend time in New York City where his depression, confusion, and cynicism

people. If seniors are motivated enough to try to comprehend “Beowulf,” they will discover an epic poem with a gory plot. However, most seniors end up barely reading “Beowulf ” due to advanced stages of senioritis. Instead, many students rely on poorly written websites that merely summarize the basics, or rent movies that provide a director’s interpretation of the text. Seniors only hurt themselves by not putting enough effort because the poem can help to further prepare seniors for college where long and difficult reading is the norm.

postwar America. Most students experience no problems with the diction, as the book is fairly simple to understand. However, the plot may seem to move slowly due to Steinbeck’s vivid descriptions of settings. Once students become familiarized with Steinbeck’s style of writing, the book should become an easier read. It is important to distinguish between the different characters in the novel, as they all serve different purposes. Nevertheless, as the novel approaches its close, Steinbeck manages to intertwine them effortlessly, as well as truthfully capture the fragility of human emotions.

-Viviana

Kim

deepen into a serious breakdown involving alcohol and self-hatred. At first glance, the book seems like a pointless series of insignificant events, told from a very annoying, immature point of view. At times you may have to put the book down out of sheer irritation at the flat character that seems to merely criticize everything and everyone around him. But after closer reading you will begin to appreciate the novel’s depth. Holden is not just an annoying, flat character; but rather an extreme portrayal of the confused teenage mind.

Beowulf -Sarah Co mst ock

09

opinion

May 24, 2010

Seagulls poop air raids terrorize students By Jane Ha The bell tolls for the end of lunch. I start making my way from my hang-out spot near G-building across the quad to my fifth period in A-building. I hurry because the air raid is about to start; surely enough, the enemies launch their attack with loud battle-cries. They chase the frantic people’s heads, swoop down on them in a quick dive, or even unleash the deadliest of weapons that go “splat” as they land on their unfortunate victims. They are seagulls. Schools across the state have always had seagulls around, and until now I merely shrugged my shoulders at them. It’s what we get for having such fabulous beaches nearby, I simply thought. But the problem is much more complex and serious than I thought; the seagulls have breached the boundary of mere coexistence with students and have begun to wreak havoc all over the school. “One time I was talking to this guy I liked,” junior Emily Hernandez said. “And a seagull suddenly flew over and pooped in my hair.” She did not have to finish her story for me to get the point. She received several nods from people around us proved that this is common at Granada. And truly enough, there is always a constant supply of people who come with white smudges on their hair or their shoulders. “I think people are more afraid of the seagulls than they are of teachers,” junior

Faith Park said. They may scavenge or scurry or even try to jump on someone, but at least the squirrels, as vicious as they are, do not drop unpleasant things on people. The seagulls, however, are more vicious than the squirrels, even louder and with wings. And having feasted on the new school cafeteria food, they are becoming bigger and fatter with every generation. Watching one of them sabotage a leftover patty, I wonder what the school administration must feel about its new and improved food nourishing more seagulls than students. Experiencing hundreds of episodes of “War of the Worlds” every lunch period is tiring me out. If there is a policy to be made in the school, an endeavor for the administration to contribute to or a campaign for the ASB to launch, it should involve sending the air-raiders back to Santa Monica Beach. Perhaps we should look for a solution in the source of the problem itself: ourselves. After all, we, students, are the ones who provide the banquet for the seagulls. The quad is a bountiful haven for the seagulls after lunch period: left-over food and drinks spilled on the floor, lunch trays and plastic bags rolling around like tumbleweeds. These are all the food staples that fatten the seagulls, the very thing that make it so hard for them to leave Granada. And who provides all of this? We do. If the student body would just utilize the close-lid trash bins located in every corner

of the school, it would be able to eliminate the seagulls almost instantly. Of course carrying out the plan out has always been difficult, since we have not yet found an incentive attractive enough to involve everyone in the campaign. Perhaps if the administration used seagull-elimination as an incentive for students to clean after themselves they might make more effort to keep the quad clean. I certainly would. But if this state of inaction continues, the seagulls will continue to multiply, and what’s worse, they just might make this

school their permanent home. And if and when that happens, the air raids and the excrement will stay for good as well, continuing to plague everyone who sets foot in the quad at the wrong time. But I look at the seagulls with hope that when the situation gets annoying enough, the students will feel more motivated to take action. Remembering the heart-touching film “Free Willy”, I look forward to seeing the seagulls back at the beaches, where they belong.

Lucy Lee Are you a dog or a cat? Or perhaps a bird? Being a teacher’s pet is very likely within classrooms and all around the school campus. Teachers play favorites too, just like everyone else. Sure, teachers aren’t supposed to prefer one student over the other but there are always those few who are willing to go out of their ways to win a teacher’s heart and eventually succeed. Though the unfortunate students may argue for equal rights and treatment, it is inevitable that teachers cannot appreciate and value students all the same.

Being a teacher’s pet does not guarantee a student an automatic A in the class. It does provide a more lenient attitude towards them, however. No matter how hard you try to avoid the “misconception” of teachers and their favorites, you will soon face the reality when the teacher frowns at you and not the other girl who asks the same question two minutes later. There has to be a reason why students dress a certain way on the first day of school: to set a flawless impression in order to give teachers the right opinion of themselves. Although you may not be the best looking one in the classroom with the finest clothing, there is more to it than appear-

ance. Here are some ways to ensure your teacher’s pet status. Flattery time to time will get you off to a good start. Compliment haircuts or act as if your teacher has the cutest shirt on. Teachers are humans beings too. It is only human nature to be happy after hearing compliments. Regardless of possibly fake commentary, they will be flattered. Once you begin to feel even a slight connection between with your teacher, you might want to throw in some good conversation topics. Chances are, you have a pretty good idea of what your teacher likes and dislikes. Conversations may carry on from there.

But aside from the insincere “I have to do this for my sake” attitude, you can truly win a teacher’s heart by being genuine. Teachers laugh at stupid corny jokes, have profound thoughts and enjoy babbling about their favorite restaurants and movies just like we do. To think that we cannot relate to someone whom we see everyday and spend an hour with at the least sounds pretty insane. Tall, short, fat, skinny, sweet talker, or a sleepy head in classrooms, we can all become a “teacher’s pet.”

Find the key to a teacher’s heart next year

The Plaid Press The Plaid Press is published by the Advanced Journalism class at

Granada Hills Charter High School. 10535 Zelzah Ave. Granada Hills, CA 91344 Phone: (818) 360-2361

Friday night prom preparation inconveniences stress seniors Hair, nails, makeup, dress, tuxedo, corsages and boutonniere. It seems a miracle that we were able to accomplish so much in so little time. Because we didn’t have all day on Saturday to get ready for the prom, we were supposed to spend Thursday night getting ready. But for many of us, that wasn’t entirely possible because teachers decided to give us stacks of homework and senior projects or bosses wouldn’t let us have the night off. We all know that Friday is the typical test day, which means we were either cramming in some studying or ignoring them while getting our eyebrows threaded. Lots of people even had to present Senior Projects on Friday, which added to the stress. Instead of having a luxuriously long Saturday to prepare, we had to make our appointments during the week, which took time away from the homework and assignments during the week as well as after school jobs.

After the tiresome day full of tests and projects, we still had to run all around town. The day of prom, after a long day of school, students had to rush home to use their limited time to get ready before the limousine drivers escorted them through traffic to Universal Studios. Boys who rented their tuxes had to pick them up and try them on during the week in hopes that it fit properly, leaving time for any last-minute alterations. Some companies did not even lend out the tuxedo until the rental day which made picking it up after classes stressful since boys had to get the corsages and be ready in time for pictures. Nails had to be done close to Friday in order for them to dry but not allow too much time to pass to avoid the possibility of chipping. Another inconvenience of having a Friday prom was having to drive to the flower shop to pick up the corsages and boutonnieres. We hoped that there wouldn’t be a line of everyone else in the neighborhood

picking up their items. It’s not like we could pick up fresh flowers earlier in the week unless the brown of a wilted flower went with our dresses. And as for hair-dos, it can take up to two hours for a stylist to rinse, pin-up and spray the chosen look. Then there was the makeup artist. Since this was the most important occasion in our teenage girl lives, this used up another crucial hour before the big dance. That didn’t leave us much time to squeeze into those fitted dresses, especially since we had to be careful with our make-up and hair. One little mistake would have ruined the whole night; it’s not like there was time to get anything redone. Having prom on a Friday only added to the massive amounts of work and stress put on us at the end of senior year. While prom was an amazing experience, the rush to get everything done and get to Universal Studios on time took away some of the fun.

The Plaid Press welcomes all letters and commentaries on all matters and reserves the right to edit as required. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Plaid Press, its adviser, Granada Hills Charter High School faculty or student body. Joanne Choi Jay Kim Sara Naor Managing Editor Steven Smallberg News Editors Danielle Sink Glara Park Entertainment Editors Eidah Hilo Rebecca Hong Opinion Editor Min Kim Feature Editors Sarah Comstock Lindsay Pleskus Sports Editors Steven Smallberg Madushi Wanniarachchige Business Managers Glara Park Austin Kang Copy Editor Chelsea Turner Photo Editor Lindsay Pleskus Photographer Gabrielle Amar Cartoonist Benjamin Vivas Editors-in-Chief

Adviser Melissa Mason Staff reporters: Jane Ha, Ausin Kang, Suejean Kim, Viviana Kim, Joan Lee, Lucy Lee, Allison Ouchi, Sindhura Seeni, Estevan Velasquez, John Cho

The Plaid Press is a proud member of National Scholastic Press Association.

10 opinion

May 24, 2010

Legalizing marijuana, what’s your side? Pro: “It would help boost the economy, lower the interest in the drug, and provide more regulations.”

By Sara Naor Five hundred thousand pounds. That is how much marijuana Bruce Perlowin smuggled into California’s coast to sell for profit. He made 100 million dollars off of his business venture and opened the doors to smugglers and dealers all over the world. With marijuana as prevalent in our society as cigarettes and alcohol it is no wonder that people have begun questioning whether or not it should be made legal. Marijuana, thought by some to be a gateway drug, has already been legalized for medicinal uses. Doctors approved of this new measure because the chances of being addicted to the drug were less then other prescribed painkillers like Vicodin. However, in California getting a medical card has become laughably easy. A simple lie of “back pain” can get anyone over 18 a drug card with unlimited access to legal cannabis. Even faking a card is now an option. But the issue stands, should the drug be legalized for public use? On the positive side, legalizing it would drive down the desire to use the drug itself like smoking or drinking has now become. Likewise, the average user spends 20 to 30 dollars on one gram of cannabis. If marijuana were to be taxed ten to 25 percent that would be an average of two and a half to seven dollars profit on each transaction. And lets face it; in our economy can we really turn down that extra boost? But legalization does have its cons as

well. The major problem is that unlike with drinking there is no way to test if a driver suspected of being under the influence has marijuana in their system. This poses problems for law enforcement that would find it difficult to stop an onslaught of possible DUIs. There is also the idea that marijuana use will lead to more dangerous, “hard core” drugs and in turn more widespread crime. Marijuana will lessen crime as well though, at least marijuana related incidents. With legalization we can stop persecuting every person who is found with cannabis in their possession which could land them a jail sentence, a sentence that California taxpayers have to pay for. Were marijuana to be legalized, we could stop wasting money spent on jail time and put the money to enforcing stricter regulation laws. According to National Institute of Drug Abuse, one in ten students is a marijuana user and three in five have been exposed to it at least once. Marijuana may be though of as a gateway drug, but the regulation for high school students won’t change; it will still be illegal for minors. Likewise, were marijuana to be legalized it would drive up the prices of the black market selling and if stricter regulations were placed on the legal drug then are currently on the medicinal one then more teens could be prevented from using the drug. In the end, legalizing marijuana does have its pros. It would help boost the economy, lower the interest in the drug, and provide more regulations. However, until there is a way to detect it in drivers, it seems unlikely that the proposition will ever pass. Perhaps one of our own students could find a solution to this problem and bring the drug into public use.

Con: “We will have an influx of criminals, become an attraction and haven for drug abusers in the nation.” By John Cho Proponents of legalizing marijuana for recreational usage state that legalization will fill the fiscal gaps in California, decrease crime rates, and that the current drug policy is ineffectual, therefore embracing narcotics use is our only option. However, proponents fail to provide adequate information on how much federal funding will be needed to implement and enforce the legal marketing of narcotics as well as to create and operate drug recovery programs. With California’s sagging state budget, we do not have the funds nor the manpower to enforce the selling of state regulated marijuana safely and legitimately. When narcotics become so mainstream and available to the general public, there is bound to be an influx of users who have the potential to become harmed and possibly addicted to the drugs. This forces the state of California and citizens to spend time, effort, and money to set up rehabilitation clinics and increase awareness about the dangers of using narcotics. There are also proponents that suggest that state regulated sales of marijuana will allay the crime rate by destroying the drug trades, gang warfare, and stop unneeded crowding of state penitentiaries. These proponents have jumped to the conclusion that legalization will be the answer to all questions and failed to see historical events where their ideas have been put to action. To see what’s in store if current trends are left unchecked, one need

look no farther than Baltimore, Philadelphia. By offering larger rehabilitation centers and offering sterile needles and drug materials to addicts, Baltimore hoped that spreading awareness and safer drug usage would help alleviate the rampant drug related crimes and emergencies. Yet, this slight leniency and acceptance towards drug usage has now helped the city of Baltimore to deprecate to new depths. When news spread that Baltimore was lenient and even helpful towards its citizens’ drug abuse by offering sterile drug material, there was a huge influx of drug offenders, many with criminal backgrounds. Baltimore now has the third highest percentage of drug abusers and crime rates in the United States according to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Information. One thing Baltimore noticed regarding marijuana was its effects on drivers. Because marijuana is potent enough to slow reaction time and distance judgment, there was an increase in motor vehicle accidents. The homicide rate also increased to a level five times higher than average states. The state of Pennsylvania was forced to increase state taxes to apportion more of the state budget into its police force to help keep crime at bay. Similarly, if the drug were more accessible, it could lead to more criminals, and the state and citizens of California would be forced to pay more taxes as crime rates goes up. The legalization of marijuana will not alleviate crime but encourage it. We must truly ask ourselves, is the legalization of marijuana the best choice to keep recession out. Or is this the desperate antics of a desperate people?

Substitute teachers fail to serve their purpose When substitute teachers come, students feel they have a free day By Sindhura Seeni One of my most memorable days in elementary school occurred in third grade. We had our daily dose of grammar, read from the English textbook, and even attempted our times tables. But the best part of the day, in my eightyear old mind, was the gummy worms our substitute teacher gave out before the bell rang at 2:30 p.m. Eight years later, as I reminisce about the good old days, what’s more memorable than the gummy worms to me is the fact that the sub actually taught. The sad truth nowadays is that subs that are knowledgeable in the class they teach are as rare to come across as high school field trips. Instead, they are merely bench warmers or in this case, seat warmers. According to the New York Times, not a single state requires a substitute teacher to

hold a teaching degree. And in 28 states, only a high school diploma is required to be hired. Perhaps that is all a substitute needs in order to qualify. After all, they are teaching high school students. So why do I still have unanswered questions about what I’m learning? I’m in high school, you have a high school diploma, so you can help me right? Wrong. “I can’t remember a time when there was a sub that taught the class and didn’t just sit in the back at the teacher’s desk and stare at the clock. They always begin class by apologizing because they can’t help us,” junior Sarah Asiaban said. When a teacher takes days off, it also affects the students, and not in a positive manner. “Last week I had a sub for three days in

history where we got absolutely none of our work done. Although it was nice to have a break from learning, we were so unprepared when the teacher came back and gave us a test. It turned out the sub forgot to pass out the handouts we needed,” junior Miranda Mendoza said. It’s not uncommon to have a sub that teaches a different subject than the class they’re subbing for, and therefore is unfamiliar with the curriculum. As a result, the students are forced to struggle with their questions, or take the easy way out by slacking off. “Unless there is a school teacher subbing for the class, the kids think it’s a free period. At the end of the day, subs don’t force you to do your work. Only the teacher does,” freshman Divya Bramharothu said. From a sub’s point of view, it is understandable that a class might get a little hectic. There are names to learn, medical

conditions to be aware of, and… lessons to teach? Not quite. “In most classes, we are assigned book work or independent study, and the lesson resumes the next day. The same goes for homework: it’s collected the next day. I think teachers are afraid the subs might lose them,” junior Flo Ramirez said. “Although subs sometimes have better control, mood, or atmosphere of the classroom, they are only effective space fillers, ” agreed sophomore Ahra Cho. Well, if I were the teacher, I know what I would write on my lesson plans: “Dear substitute, Staring at the clock is one way to pass the time, but perhaps a more useful way would be to brush up on your high school courses. Or someday we might all end up apologizing for the knowledge we lack.”

Students find school emergency drills waste of time By Madushi Wanniarachchige As long as anyone can remember, students have been participating in emergency drills that schools so generously bestow upon us. In elementary school it was fun – going under your desk for a minute was considered an adventure! In high school it is just considered a big waste of time. The school administration is justified in having these drills. They care about the students’ safety and want to ensure that they know how to act properly in case of a real emergency. However they fail to realize that such drills do not actually prepare students for

a real life emergency. The term “practice makes perfect” cannot be applied in this case because multiple drills will definitely not make students more prepared for emergencies. Firstly and most obviously, it is pointless to attempt to re-enact an emergency situation to try to get students ready if a real one happens. It is highly unlikely that students will take a “pretend situation” seriously. This is a fact of life. On top of that, there is no plausible way to completely re-enact the circumstances of an emergency. Not even pretend. There is no point in practicing for something that

students will have no clue about unless they have experienced it before. The fact is no one can predict what will possibly happen in the school during an earthquake or fire. No one knows which buildings will be affected the most, who would get injured, etc. But it is extremely obvious that if such an event were to happen, students would not react in the pseudo-calm manner that emergency drills try so hard to enforce. Be realistic. These are high strung teenagers with turbulent emotions. Of course they are going to scream, panic, and cause mass havoc in the school once the ground starts shaking.

Emergency drills can be dangerous too. With such a large student body in such a small campus squeezing bodies to get through the P.E. gates, someone is bound to get hurt from jabbing elbows, or swinging backpacks. We can all relate to how those poor claustrophobic kids must feel. It is not that being prepared is unreasonable. Being prepared is good! But the actual drills need to go. There is nothing wrong with having one of those educational videos or announcements that the school seems to love so much to help prepare students. But the current system only wastes time and energy on everyone’s part.

11

sports SPORT SNAPSHOTS

Several of Granada’s finest athletes end the year with some final words G O L F

V O L L E Y B A L L

Hanna Levanen

Kyle Alcazar

“Just losing yourself in the game is the greatest feeling ever.”

“I think golf is a very rewarding sport. Practice really does make perfect.”

T E N N I S

W A T E R P O L O

Steven Liu

Melanie Zecca

“Being on the team was great since every day I got to do what I loved.”

“I’m always in the water so I get to work out without getting sweaty.”

T E N N I S

S O C C E R

Leeann Hsueh

Michael Pattison

“My team has been a support system—tennis is my safe haven.”

“Soccer has taught me to never give up and battle it out to the finish. ”

B A S E B A L L

T R A C K / F I E L D

Bryce Kelly

Javert Solorzano

“Baseball isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life and I live by that.”

“Track gives me the opportunity to meet new people and compete.”

May 24, 2010

Athletes exchange jerseys for swimsuits By Allison Ouchi With the school year coming to an end and summer being just around the corner, it is almost time for teenagers to throw on their bathing suits, put on the sunscreen and head down to the beach for some fun in the sun. Students usually associate summer with sleeping in, hanging out with friends and getting a tan. “Summer is one of my favorite seasons because I get to relax, forget about all my school work and just have fun,” freshman Katherine Bucher said. For athletes, however, summer can be a tough time to maintain fitness for their sport. “We all know it’s easy to get lazy over the summer,” junior wrestler Dillon Freeman said. With the break from the daily school routine, traveling with family, or just the wonderful lazy days of vacation, there are many distractions that keep some athletes from staying fit and ready to go come the fall season. “I feel lazy in the summer because it is the only time when everything, such as sports and school, are both on break and I can finally rest,” sophomore soccer player Nick Jens said. However, these sports-minded students should remember that it is important to stay healthy during this relaxing time off. “I know if I never had any physical activity over the summer I would have probably gotten really out of shape for the football season,” senior Jonathan Ixta said. Luckily, summer sports provide athletes with a way to maintain their fitness over the break and have fun at the same time. Instead of a season filled with the typical football or basketball games we see during the school year, summer consists of sports such as swimming, surfing, river rafting, wakeboarding, hiking, rock climbing and beach volleyball. “All of these things are fun because they offer entertainment as well as exercise,” Freeman said. Summer sports allow athletes to enjoy the outdoors because these activities are held in environments different from the ones they are used to playing in. For example, beach volleyball is a step away from the regular school volleyball games that take place in gyms. “Beach volleyball is always so much fun. Not only is the beach atmosphere enjoyable, but also the fact that you are playing competitive volleyball at the same time. And after the tournament, you get to just spend time relaxing a little bit and go swimming,” junior volleyball player Hanna Levanen said. In addition, both popular summer land and water sports allow for exercises that provide cardio and various muscle workouts. These exercises help athletes stay in tip-top shape so they can excel once school starts back up. “Being involved in a summer sport definitely keeps me in shape so I don’t skip a beat in the transition between the club volleyball season and the fall school season. I get extra training, which makes me extra prepared physically for the upcoming season,” Levanen said. Whatever exercise athletes may get over the summer, it is just important for them to get outside participate in all the fun sports this season has to offer.

“Epic, exhilarating! Movie of the year!”



12 the end

May 24, 2010











-The G-House Post

The Big Three: The Final Chapter Journalism equals drama. One of the most remarkable fights we had during our fifth period journalism class was over mice. Yes, mice. You see, on our frustrating and slow Mac computers are computer mice we deal with nearly everyday in fifth period. Not every mice has a nice scrolling button to help you scroll down on pages. Overnight, some nice mice just seemed to grow legs and magically vanish and reappear at other editors’ computers. And thus, the mice war began. It eventually ended, as most wars do, with both sides losing and the introduction of new territory--or in this case new PC mice that all had a scrolling center. The next fight was over rolling chairs. Not all of the chairs at the computers have cushions or wheels. This war never really was solved, and some of our editors had to settle for normal classroom chairs. I guess our journalism class has an unhealthy obsession with things that roll. But as much as we love to roll, we love dropping bombs on our school even more. Bombs, as in stories that get attention. Unlike your typical high school newspaper, we try to cover stories that our students

actually care about. Hence the stories about A5, discriminatory dress code, dead school spirit and marijuana (By the way, IT’S IN THIS ISSUE, PAGE 10!!). And to all those students who have been offended by any stories published, we apologize. We as editors have tried to ensure that the truth, and nothing but the truth, came out this year. We hope that the majority of our readers (all five of you) have found these stories not only informative but fun and enlightening as well. So as much as we will love to leave Granada to spread our wings at college, we’re sad to see that you underclassmen might never witness such great awesomeness like us again. Despite the many college applications, final SATs and lazy senioritis threatening our journalism fervor, we finally made it in one piece. We would love to thank all of our staff members for being the greatest. As editors-in-chief, we can honestly say without a doubt that we had the best talent this year. Stylistically and technically strong, without our editors we would never have been able to publish on time with the top-notch quality we consistently had. Not to mention

the necessary guidance and peace-making Switzerland we gained in our advisor, Melissa Mason. We most definitely would have raged World War III without her, and no this war would not have been over rolling things. With our final issue in your hands and our final stories being read by your eyes, we three editors-in-chief are now cruising towards graduation with a heart full of gratitude and the happy feelings of pure success (or at least we hope our papers made it in time into your hands). So goodbye Granada, goodbye The Plaid Press. You have most definitely been one of the fondest memories of high school for all three of us. As we throw our caps into the air, we will never forget the changes we brought and the impact we delivered. And even when we are at our respective colleges, we will make sure to keep an eye on The Plaid Press to ensure that it will continue the legacy we have created.

-Your Editors-in Chief -Joanne Choi

-Jay Kim -Sara Naor

Dani Sink & Glara Park -News Editors

Lindsay Pleskus & Sarah Comstock -Feature Editors

Rebecca Hong & Eidah Hilo -Entertainment Editors

Min Kim & Gabrielle Amar -Opinion & Photo Editors

Steven Smallberg & Madushi W. -Sports Editors

Joanne Choi -Editor-in-Chief

Editors-in-Chief Joanne Choi -30Jay Kim -30Sara Naor -30News Editors Danielle Sink Glara Park -30Entertainment Editors Eidah Hilo Rebecca Hong -30-

Jay Kim -Editor-in-Chief

Sara Naor -Editor-in-Chief

Opinion Editor Min Kim -30Feature Editors Sarah Comstock -30Lindsay Pleskus -30Sports Editors Steven Smallberg -30Madushi Wanniarachchige Business Managers Glara Park -30-

Austin Kang Copy Editor Chelsea Turner -30Photo Editor Gabrielle Amar Cartoonist Benjamin Vivas Staff reporters: John Cho

Jane Ha Sujean Kim Viviana Kim -30Joan Lee Lucy Lee Allison Ouchi Sindhura Seeni Estevan Velasquez -30-

Adviser Melissa Mason

Chelsea Turner -Copy Editor

“I AM GRANADA” Directed by the 2010 Staff of...

-The Plaid Press

May 2010.pdf

[online classes]” because they don't allow. enough interaction between the student and. the teacher. “I grew up learning from people, not. from the computer,” ...

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