Amos Alonzo Stagg High School1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207

05.16.14 Vol. 57 No. 8

BottomLinethe

Saying goodbye

— See pages 4&5

Solar panelsThe west parking lot will be closed on Monday, May 19, while solar pan-els are being added. The parking lot should reopen when the placement of the solar panels is fin-ished.

Minimum daysMay 28 and 29 are both minimum days. School will start at its regular time of 7:25 a.m. and end at 12:19 p.m.. The last week of school, June 2-4, are also minimum days.

GraduationThe ceremony will take place June 3, at the Stock-ton Arena and will begin at 6. No balloons or blow horns are allowed in. Parking is $15 if parking in the garage.

theStaggLine

Find us on FacebookSearch for “The Stagg Line”

Follow us onTwitter@staggonline

Follow us onInstagram@staggonline

Keep up to date at our websitestaggonline.netS

READY, SET, APPLY: Upon walking into classrooms K-9 and K-3, you will notice there is not a teacher addressing the class. This does not mean there is not any instruction given in these classes, nor does it signify a ne-glecting teacher. Small groups of students are scattered throughout the classroom, talking amongst themselves, working amongst themselves. As of next year, the amount of multiple choice tests will be greatly minimized. This elimi-nates the “plug-in” method that many students rely on to answer those seemingly impossible ques-tions. No more crossing out the ob-viously wrong and picking the more likely of the answers you can not decide on. Common Core will be enforced and inte-grated into everything we do. Because of this huge step, teachers have begun preparing students for this new way of learning. Yet, math teachers have taken it a step further. This is the mousetrap project. Some classes are making their cars run a straight track and the others are working with a circu-lar path. The cars are made of a mousetrap, planks of wood, disks

for wheels and so on. Each group is given $10 for additional mate-rials, but what they use is their choice. Kevin Johnson, sophomore, said, “Sometimes it’s stressing.” His group, like many other groups, has been working on en-suring his vehicle turns properly and the deceleration won’t leave the car stranded in the middle of the doughnut shaped track. Though the building is not the only thing they have to concern themselves with. Tiffani Zermeno, senior, said “As we modify it, we have to change the math accordingly.” Math must accompany the car to prove their alterations. This in itself becomes extremely compli-cated and many times few of the groups completely understand and find the correct answers. Though this is a competi-

tion, the students in each class are united in a way. Working to-gether to make their cars better and the overall calm atmosphere within the classrooms has been observed by the teacher. “They don’t seem to be tak-ing this as an aggressive compe-tition,” said Kathy Sady, one of the teachers participating in the project. Students can be seen observ-ing others’ cars to see how they can modify theirs and offering bits of advice to those who are making the same mistakes they

had. However, they all treat it as a competition. They all want their car to be better. They all want to receive the best grade. They all want to win. To make the best model they can, they observe real race cars. Basing their models and building off of the most aerodynamic cars, they improve the functionality of their own. This is the main idea of Common Core, using what you learn in school in the real world. This is the start of some-thing new, this is the start pistol in the race to achieve.

A simple solution of chemi-cals gives off an intense feeling in the mind, body, and spirit. Syrup, a toxic drink that contains promethazine and/or codeine mixed with Sprite, is becoming as popular as it is accessible, according to stu-dent sources, who agreed to speak anonymously. Some hip hop artists, have confessed to using the drug in their songs. Since it is a liquid Syrup can be easier to sneak in plac-es, even in school. One stu-dent said, “It helps me sleep, relax, and makes me feel good. It is not affecting someone else so it’s not as bad.” Another student who only just tried the drug once said, “People probably die from it. It’s bad for your body, and these rappers promote it?” The safety hazards of con-suming this concoction vary from skill impairment, and dysfunction in consciousness. The higher the dosage of pro-methazine and codeine con-sumed elevates the danger. Codeine is a respiratory depressant and when large amounts of it are consumed it can cause the user to stop breathing. It takes anywhere from two to five minutes to kick in. Then the mind becomes a re-cluse from this world. Thirty minutes into the high, users say, hallucination occurs, and

it’s like walking in another set-ting, talking to people whom one has never seen, and then it all goes black. However Syrup is not the only drug students use to get high. Spice, or K2, is a synthetic type of cannabis, but like nor-mal cannabis users smoke it and it to get an instant high. Spice is a homemade drug containing natural herbs and synthetic chemicals. When used, it creates psychoactive effects on its consumer In some cases Spice can be sold in common household items. In the case of the senior, the drug was given by a friend. “He probably knew it would hurt me but I was curious.” Another senior student sees it differently. “You just smoke it and its completely legal, you can buy it at smoke shops.” However spice should not be sold at smoke shops. It is an illegal drug due to its com-pounds of synthetic chemi-cals. One senior reflected that after passing out for an hour decided that it was a one time thing. He said he now knows what it is like to be a slave to the drug’s effects — off course and utterly high for a few minutes but detrimental to his health for the long term. His words were “I just want-ed to try it. I didn’t know it could put holes in your stom-

ach.” Spice can cause irregular heartbeat, vomiting, tremors, elevated blood pressure, sei-zures, and other harmful feel-ings and actions. Principal Andre Phillips said he was not aware of Spice but had knowledge of Syrup. Currently there are no re-ported hallucinogens or use of Spice on campus. Yet there are Stagg students who admit to using Spice and Syrup rou-tinely. But administration is not able to discipline students until it takes place on campus. In that case it would be treat-ed as any illegal drug: three to five days of suspension and cited by the police if they wish to do so. It is a lot harder to enforce discipline on Syrup because students can come on cam-pus with bottles from stores and home. However, If an administrator feels suspicion he or she can contact officers to test the substance. If a per-son is high in school or giving off suspicions of being high Healthy Start coordinator Judy Rauzi is trained to make an assessment to see if a stu-dent has consumed drugs. It is no doubt that these drugs con-tain chains of addiction. Whether it begins affecting the ratio of students who use it now or later, sacrifices will be made and prices will be paid.

photo by Jada Johnson

In addition to building racecars, students also had a workbook to fill out. The workbook contains problems related to building the professional car.

Graphic by Jerry Garcia

Students put Common Core skills to action by building racecars

PhillicityUriarte-Jones

BlancahMendoza

As we modify it, we have to change the math accord-ingly.”

tiffanizerMeno senior

“

Portrayed as safer than alcohol and marijuana, the

drugs Syrup and Spice are rising in popularity among

teens. Research reveals Syrup to be not such a

fun cocktail while Spice has proven to have unexpect-

ed side effects after just one use. Is experimenting with these drugs

worth the health risk?

photo by Fe Valencia

Junior Celeste Barajas is winding up the car for a prac-tice run on the track. The goal is to keep the car inside the track.

OpiniOn the StaggLine5.16.142

STAFF EDITORIAL

Common Core prepares for real world

Following in her footstepsShe wakes up every day tired but gets ready

for school because she knows there are people counting on her. She grabs her black glasses

she’s had since freshman year, puts them on and smiles at her reflection. Then she looks at me and asks,“Do I look okay?” Everyone has that one person that inspires them. For me this person is my sister, Fe Valencia. I look up to her, not because she taller than me — although she is — but because she’s indepen-dent. She doesn’t let anyone bring her down. She never gives up. When I was younger, I was known as “Fe’s little sister,” or “Little Fe.” I’d just nod because I knew I’d always want to be like her. She has taught me so many things, from learn-ing how to work a camera to curling my hair. As an athlete, she’s constantly telling me to try my best. During every game, over a crowd of screaming fans, I hear her holler something like set higher, dribble with my head up, or sprint the last lap.

Like everyone, she has her faults. She isn’t perfect. In the morning she’s grouchy. She always dictates us around to do stuff for her.

Yes, there are moments when we fight, argue, and scream at each other. But that’s what makes us sisters. All the good times overpower the bad. When she leaves in the fall to attend UC Irvine, it’ll be my turn to step up and fill all the footsteps she’s left. My brother will be a freshman next year and it’s my duty to guide him through everything like she did for me. She’ll no longer be in the room next door to me. All the photographs will be just a memory of how it was when she was here. I won’t have her to be at every game cheering

me on and being the voice to help me improve. But the miles we’ll be apart are just numbers. Phone calls, Facetime, or even the occasional SnapChat selfie will keep us together. She’ll be out in the real world pursuing her dreams and I’ll be here, creating a path for my brother to follow.

Genders get judged by attire

Race doesn’t define character

I hear it almost every day in the halls: the negative insults, the rude comments and the constant

whispering and snickering behind my back, and all of this because of the color of my skin and not who I am as a person. More than three times a day, I’m asked “what” I am. And every time I hear the question, my stomach twists into a tight knot. Instead of pushing them away or simply ignoring them, I just mutter that I’m part Japanese, Mexican and Irish. This, in return, only brings about bouts of laughter as if my response is a joke. Just because my skin is neither tan nor white and my hair is coarse and frizzy instead of nice and straight, I’m known as an “outcast” or an “alien.” But in reality, I’m just like any other 15-year-old girl with dreams of hitting it big. If people could see behind the color of my skin, they would realize it. The act of targeting and/or belittling certain individuals because of their race, ethnicity and religion is called racial profiling and it can be found all over the world, not just in a school campus. Every day, according to the National Citizens study, millions of people ranging from different ages are victims of racial profiling. Since when did stereotypes and generalizations define our character? Most opinions of people today are based off what other people have told us and what we assume. But if we just take the time to actually get to know a person and what makes them so different, then we can truly know what type of person they really are. I understand that when something breaks

a set pattern that we are so accustomed to, we don’t know what to do. We tend to laugh to ease the tension or pretend that we didn’t notice. But what most of us don’t know is that ignoring it or making a joke can hurt others. So instead of doing the latter, we can welcome it. Sooner or later, our lives will change and morph due to

differences and changes, but that’s a part of growing up. For me, growing up, the only family I knew was on my father’s side. But once my mother and father divorced, I suddenly found myself surrounded by my mother’s family members who said they loved me, but I had no idea who they were. I soon learned that between the two sides, there was turmoil. My mother came from a very protective Mexican-Japanese household, and when they learned she got pregnant with me by a Mexican-Irish man, they

disowned her. It hurts me to know that my mother’s part of the family— full of cousins, aunts and uncles— was taken from me because they didn’t like the color of my father’s skin. What we need to understand as a whole is that America is a land full of unique people. Many people immigrated here for the hopes of having a better life, and because of this, we all come from different backgrounds. Instead of being ashamed of it, we need to embrace it. We are the outcome of this major event, and though we may all be different, that event binds us together.

It’s that time of the year when our bodies are thrown into the heat of summer. Slushies from the snack bar, complaints of no air condition-

ing, and the rays of scorching sunlight are all part of the sea-son. It’s a time full of long days and (hopefully) cool nights. But God for-bid your shorts are above your fingertips. If they are, some adult will hunt you down, ask you where your morality lies, and force you to put on P.E. shorts. Failure to do so results to in-school detention. Rules are set for legitimate reasons; it’s under-standable. Dress codes are implemented for the safety and concern of our school faculty. Everyone should dress accordingly. But someone should not feel ashamed for what they are wearing. Even if it is against the rules, they shouldn’t be told to not wear certain clothing because “they don’t respect themselves.” A person can be naked and should still be respected. A person can be naked and still respect them-selves. That’s not saying students should be running around campus nude. They should wear whatever they deem comfortable, whether it’s short shorts or long skirts. What genuinely disgusts me is when people say we cannot wear certain apparel because “it’s dis-tracting.” Is a boy really going to jump out of his seat and be mesmerized by a girl’s visible bra strap? Or are girls really going to squeal and drool over a guy’s bare shoulders? Telling people to dress “appropriately” to not attract the attention of others is basically saying, “Look at what she’s wearing, how could we expect him to control himself?”

Let’s say a man is walking down the street with a bag filled to the brim with money. He’s just minding his own business, making his way towards the local bank. He isn’t asking anyone to steal his money. It’s what people perceive incorrectly and what causes them to do immoral acts. So if a woman is walking down the street in a tank top and shorts, is she asking anyone to flirt with her? No. Is she asking to be cat-called? No. If she is harassed and is uncomfortable, the man isn’t responsible, it’s her fault for dressing like that. This is what leads to and perpetuates rape cul-ture. People should dress to their own standards, not to accommodate others. We should teach people to esteem others rather than teaching them to confine themselves behind the restrictions of the dress code. The rules are justifiable, but they should not be represented in a way that condemns one for their body. How are we expected to accept and love our bodies when we are punished because of them?

Araceli Valencia escorts her sister at her senior night, last volleyball season.

Araceli has always had Fe by her side, blazing a trail for “Celi” to follow.

We tend to laugh to ease the tension or pretend that we didn’t notice. But ignoring it or making a joke can hurt others.”

“

phOtO by Devin WickstrOm

Mariposa Guerrero Marleene

Pheav

Araceli Valencia

The options when taking multiple choice tests are either A, B, C, or D. Luckily students have a 50 percent chance of getting the correct answer when

eliminating two answers. Good or bad, students are acclimated to the bubble-in process since they entered the first grade. The new learning standard taking place this upcom-ing school year is Common Core, which will be hard to adjust to. Although Common Core prepares students for college, many students are disappointed with the prospect of this new standard bringing their grades down. We believe Common Core is a great standard to switch to because it may bring students’ progress up. There is a possibility of students failing tests because we are not trained and are used to our bubble-in system. In the case of taking a written response test, you must know how to explain the steps in a chronological or-der. A Common Core test allows for no guessing. Therefore, a way to avoid being clueless is taking the time to ask questions and focus in class. This will help those who are worried about the written response part of the test. Common Core can benefit students in the long run. For example, it can help us with real world applica-tions such as applying for a job.

Once you are at the point of filling the application out, you see many questions asking about your past experi-ences, career interests, and a little autobiography about yourself. Writing a job application requires an explanation and an understanding of what the business is asking. This is how Common Core can prepare students for real world applications in the future. Math classes including Kathy Sady’s, Julie Backster’s, and Andrew Walter’s are constructing a mousetrap car this month relevant to Common Core. This project is designed for students to dig below the surface by determining how to make the car move a certain distance. In this project, students must use their critical thinking skills if they wish to have a successful car that moves. Assembling a mousetrap car is a great idea to prepare for the new standard taking place this year. Some of the math embedded in the project includes calculating acceleration, distance, and revolutions per minute, Backster explains. It will give students an over-view of what Common Core requires to carry to the next level of high school. Common Core will help many students with under-standing concepts in math, English, science, and history. It will be a great benefit for students to use for job ap-plications and careers.

Art by mArleene pheAv

cOurtesy Of ArAceli vAlenciA

the StaggLine 5.16.14OpiniOn 3

the StaggLine

1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207

209.933.7445 ext. 8487

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

The Stagg Line newspaper is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Awards and recognition include the following:

º 20 consecutive All-American rankings º NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005 º NSPA First Place Best of Show five times º NSPA National Newspaper Pacemaker

seven times º JEA Impact Award, 2002

Stagg Line student journalists have won many awards and scholarships over the years, includ-ing California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year.

Keep up with us º Facebook: Search “Stagg Line” º Twitter: Follow us @staggonline º Web: Check out staggonline.net º PDFs: Go to issuu.com/staggline

The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our website is updated regularly with photo galleries, video and break-ing news.

Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means that it is student editors and reporters who make content and style decisions with the adviser offering the guidance.

A staff editorial, which appears on the top left of the first opinion page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. Opin-ion columns reflect the view of the writer.

Readers are welcome to write letters to the editor in response to any story or to make a comment about an issue at school. We will make every effort to print any letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only in unusual circumstances and only when we know who the writer is. Letters may be delivered to the Stagg Line newsroom, A-10. They may also be emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us

EditorialPolicy NewspaperStaffJadaJohnson & DevinWickstrom

Co Editors in Chief

MarcellaHawkins // News Editor

MicheallaFoules // Opinion Editor

AlexusPlascencia // Features Editor

BaylinMoran // Entertainment Editor

AraceliValencia // Sports Editor

EsmeraldaMascorro // Photo Editor

MarleenePheav // Graphics Editor

VeronicaVargo // Web Editor

NuviaCervantes // Copy Editor

DonBott // Adviser

WilliamAlexander MatteoDanforth

JeniferFlores SathinaFlores LouisFuentez JerryGarcia

MariposaGuerrero CelineLopez

TrishaNewman EstefanyNunez

RubiRicoVanessaSalcedo

ArrianaSmith LuciTomas

PhillicityUriarte-Jones

SeniorStaff DellaniraAlcauter

MichaelBishop

JessicaCervantes

YesicaIbarra

JessicaMangili

AdriannaOwens

AlyssaRojas

FeValencia

BrianWalker

After all of this time, I still remember the day he left. April 6, 2006. This day brought a time of darkness in my life.

I’d sit in isolation. I’d separate myself from the kids around me, the “normal” kids, because they didn’t have to go through what I was going through. They wouldn’t understand that my family had to make up for the lost space. We had to take on the responsibilities that a father normally would. They wouldn’t understand that I no longer had time to play tag or climb a jungle gym. I had to grow up at the age of 8. As a third grader, what I didn’t realize was that his leaving brought light. My mom has been both a mother and a father; she’s held her own and carried the weight of three children. It’s astonishing to see how far she’s pushed herself because of her children. We were her motivation. Not having another parent around the house forced me to grow up faster than most children, but it also gave me a deeper insight. I now know what kind of guy to look out for. When I was 10 years old I was doing chores, making dinner, and tucking my little brother into bed while my mom worked rigorous hours trying to make ends meet. It was stressful, but we man-aged. With all of the commo-tion that was going on in such a short span of time my brothers and I definitely became a lot closer. We became a unit, a team. My older brother, even with-out the sight of a father figure, still acted as our protector. It’s like he already knew what he was supposed to do. I’m no longer the kid who avoided the jungle gym. After much talking, personal reflection and finding my salvation, I have realized that holding onto my past isn’t good. It isn’t good for anyone. It’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be sad, but it’s also okay to get over it. The thought of another man entering my life was totally out of the question at the time. I was happy with the little family I had but I had to realize that it was selfish. Just as I had moved on, so had my mother. She started going to the gym, playing with us, and being more associated with friends. Eventually, she came across a man who was willing to take in a single mom with three kids. That came as a shock to me, so I felt cautious about him. My family may not be conventional, but we are happy. That’s all that matters. I’ve come a long way since my dad left, placing myself in honors classes, taking on sports, and having a new outlook on life. Though at the time I wasn’t able to realize it, I am grateful that I got this experience to grow. I am prepared to excel in sports. I am prepared to excel in my AP classes next year. I am prepared to excel in making important decisions in life. I am ready to conquer any darkness that may come my way now because of the things I have been through.

UNEXPECTED GOODBYES

Daughter pursues a dream for her father

Granddaughter realizes faith brings comfort I’m shaking. The shampoo is slowly drying in

my hair. I didn’t have time to wash it out be-fore letting my locked out sister in the house,

as she was sobbing and talking about an ambu-lance. I automatically began to think the worst — to prepare myself. Just as fast as I let the thoughts form in my head I pushed them out. There was no way my grandfather could be dead. As I entered the hospital, the realization washed over me when I watched my father break down and sob as he attempted to tell us. I found myself reaching out to a greater being.I have never been one to deem myself as religious. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in God, but I only went to church for weddings and funer-als. Nor have I ever read the Bible. It just didn’t seem right to place an adjective on myself where I didn’t fit the mold. Yet, I often found myself consulting Him when no one was around. Asking him what to do — how to make sense of everything. But when I witnessed my fa-ther’s break down, the questions I asked were different. God, are you there? It’s me, Jes-sica. If you’re so great, how could you let this happen? How could you take my Papa’s last breath before I could even say goodbye?

It doesn’t make sense. Things are supposed to happen for a reason, but why? It just doesn’t make sense. At this moment I wasn’t even sure if there was a God. I found myself pondering whether anything close to a greater being was even a possibil-ity. And if it was, why did It take my Papa away from me? Scientifically, it isn’t. Earth started with the Big

Bang. Humans evolved over mil-lions of years as the organism began to adapt to changing environments. Logically it makes sense, but I

couldn’t settle for that explana-tion. I wanted more. I wanted comfort. I found myself still

believing in God even though he disappointed me. It isn’t that I’m

okay with losing my grandfather. I’ll never be okay with it and I don’t think I will ever forgive God for taking him away from me.

But I was in search of some-thing that provided me with that comfort. That sense that even though I had no control over my life, somebody was there to listen to me and somebody had a greater plan for me in the future. God doesn’t have to be one definitive concept. In reality He, She, or It is different for each person. God provides me with some-one to talk to. Someone to provide me with reassurance. Someone to provide me with hope. It doesn’t matter what you believe in as long as that belief brings you happiness. And for me, believing in something greater does just that.

The tears have come again, non stop rolling off my cheeks. I hold the pictures in my hand and hear his voice once more, “Mi

guera, tu puedes ser lo que quieras. Pero tu don es hablar por la gente. Yo se que un dia tu vas a ser la mejor abogada de los Estados Unidos.” When my father passed away, these words were all that resounded within my mind. He was run over, thrown off the side of the road by a careless driver. The driver wasn’t charged with murder, wasn’t even prosecuted. He’s alive, enjoying a beautiful spring day as I sit here and mourn my father’s death. Seeing these injustices strike not only the world, but myself, and angers me. My jaw tightens and my fists clench as I think about how this man is walking around freely while my dad is six feet under. While I think of this, I realize that the world will not change unless someone stands up and fights for lost causes. I want to be that someone. I want to effect change. Though my current career choice is not law, I know I can make a difference through powerful writing. I want to use my words to help those without a voice. To unmask the horrors that go unnoticed. My career choice has been influenced by my father’s death, but I am not dwelling on the negative. I have continued to live my life and to remember my father’s. As I sat in the back of my aunt’s van, collecting donations for my father’s funeral, she reminded me of the good times I shared with him, like how he used to brag about me being his

daughter anywhere he went. All of his friends knew me from head to toe, my favorite color, my favorite snack. But most importantly they knew that his beloved “guera” was going to be a lawyer. He was the one that always pushed me to do my best in school. Getting an education was a priority since I could remember. Just like any father, though, he had faults. He yelled and grounded me. He drank a bit too much sometimes. He couldn’t hold a steady job. Looking back, none of that mattered. He is my father. He loved me more than life itself. If times were tough, he’d give me food before he even thought about himself. When it was us two, the world’s problems

disappeared. It didn’t matter that my mom was angry he’d begin to drink again, it didn’t matter that we didn’t have money to pay the mortgage, and it didn’t matter that his marriage was failing. He’d pick me up from school every day and take me to the liquor store. We’d get gummy bears, chips, and a Mucho Mango Arizona drink, then sit in the car and listen to his Mexican Rancheras.

I was his little girl and as long as I was with him, nothing could harm me. He wasn’t the perfect father but he pushed me to make sure I was the perfect person. Right after he passed, it broke my soul to know I didn’t have the chance to thank him one last time, to say goodbye. I felt angry. I wouldn’t have anyone to walk me down the aisle, no one to share a father-daughter dance with, no one to treat me like a princess. Now, that almost seems silly to me. He will always be with me. His words will continue to resound in my head as I write, as I help the people. My white girl, you can be whatever you want. But your gift is to speak for the people. I know one day you will be the best lawyer in the United States.

Three girls tell how the loss of a male figure inspired them to keep pushing on and overcome adversity

Dellanira Alcauter enjoys a cherished moment with her father at age 2.cOurtesy Of Dellanira alcauter

Parents’ divorce is ‘a good thing’

The world will not change unless someone fights for lost causes.”

“After finding my salvation, I have realized that holding onto my past isn’t good.”

“ Dellanira Alcauter

Jessica Mangili

Trisha Newman

cOurtesy Of Jessica MangiliOne of senior Jessica Mangili’s favorite moments was her grandfather supporting her at homecoming.

Features the StaggLine5.16.144

John Steiner tells his last joke:Why does the teacher leave?

Through shared stories of pain, Sharron Clayton feels comfort

He’s leaving. Pack up your lab books. Take off your goggles. Put away the Bunsen burner. Drain the water from the beaker. Breathe in some oxygen. Forget what you know about molar mass. The famous Steiner stare will be no more; just like the years passed — in the blink of an eye.No more funny jokes that take you 10 minutes to get. No more playing with matches. Chemistry at Stagg just won’t be the same without him. John Steiner is leaving. But he is not retiring. The former Science Depart-ment Chair will be taking on the role of president for the Stockton Teachers Association after serv-ing as the treasurer this past year. “It’s different,” Steiner says. “Nothing can ever be more im-portant than teaching and I’ve been blessed to have such good students.” Born in Oakland, Steiner moved to Louisiana where he eventually graduated from the University of New Orleans, launching his teaching career. He has taught at Stagg for 28 years.

In order to further the pos-sibilities, like he hopes to do as president by having “a school within a school,” Steiner wrote and got approved the AP Chem-istry course that is currently of-fered. English teacher and former student of Steiner, Thongthip Duangsawat says, “Juan-UNO’s

(John- University of New Or-leans) class was very unique.” She goes on giggling as she remem-bers, “Now that we are colleagues his sense of humor has amplified and I appreciate it way more than when I was a kid.” Senior Sami Nand, inspired by Steiner, has been in his class a year and a half, but the experi-ences he lived will last more than that. “He guided me through this journey that is high school,” Nand says. “I’m excited (to leave),” Stein-er says. “When you have done what I’ve done for so long, you see the student body changing; it’s more challenging.” Leaving doesn’t mean that no one will see Steiner again. He will still be around. In fact, you could catch him at a hardware store picking up sup-plies for his garden or at the gym for his evening workout, leaving behind his teaching persona to face the more mature you. No matter the ridiculous things you might have done while being his student, whether that was get-ting an F or accidently leaving the sink running, he won’t hold a grudge. But he might stare. John Steiner is leaving. His legacy isn’t.

He’s recognizable. The short ponytail with the intellectual, thin-framed glasses seem to contradict each other; his colorful collared shirts are com-plemented by his silly ties. When the tall professor leaves his class-room he strides confidently while his eyes roam curiously through his surroundings. You already know who he is. Stewart Jacoby graduated from Stagg, earned his doctorate in American history with a focus on the intellectual and social side, taught in college, and came back to his alma mater to teach histo-ry. He’s had an impressive record teaching and traveling (like go-ing to West Africa with the Peace Corps) and he can tell you every bit of it — he likes to talk with people. Just ask him something. He said this last year has been a unique experience and it’s been an honor to teach at Stagg. But he’s ending on a good note; this has been one of his most success-ful years. For example, the Ad-vanced Placement U.S. History class reviewed all the chapters at least once, which may not sound

like a huge success, but ask any-one in there and they’ll say it is. And yeah, he is a history teacher, but he’s not focused on the past. No, this guy has ideas, this guy has plans. Jacoby says he’s probably go-ing to sleep in for a while once school lets out, maybe see some friends in Oregon, go hiking (he loves the mountains), work on some projects in his barn, and tend to his garden. As anyone can see, he likes staying active. And some may not know that he loves classical music. He played the french horn in Stagg’s band when he attended and he passed on the passion to his children — his son played in solo concerts with the Russian Orchestra when he was 9. He also founded the Cincin-nati Brass Fellowship in 1994, who bring together amateur and professional musicians to play to-gether. He’s worked with many musicians from major orchestras across the U.S. when he managed a musical instrument repair shop in Cincinnati. “(And now) I’m trying to recover my ‘horn lip’ so I can play the French horn in

Robert Aldrich leaves classroom behind to embrace his own art

He holds a dry-erase marker to the whiteboard and maps out the last 30 years of his life. Scribbling numbers, he realiz-es that his “statistics” are remark-able. Twenty-eight years in leader-ship and being the department chair of art. Thirty years walking in the graduations and doing the art-work for each one. Thirty years teaching here, and he’s been in the same room since day one. Robert Aldrich is packing up his art supplies and leaving after this year in order to pursue his passion for creating. He recalled on the time in which he created several paintings for the Spanos family, and wants to continue to paint. He constantly encourages students to sell their artwork in their free time, even if they do not take on a career in art. Retiring this year, he will move to Santa Cruz, where he grew up and continue to create. “I wanted to do my own art,” he said. “I’m so busy taking care

of everybody else’s creative needs that I’ve put my own creative needs on hold. I’ve been too busy to create freely.” His teaching does not stop at just the high school level. He ran the art program at the Mary Gra-ham Children’s Center for seven years. Working with students who were physically abused or neglected in other ways, Aldrich put his own needs aside as he helped soothe their minds with art. He views his teaching position as more than sitting in his class-room five days a week. Whenever someone (in his class or not) asks him for a card, poster, banner or any other piece of art, he offers his services. He believes that many of the stu-dents come from broken homes, without enough money to buy a card. “I take care of not only the visual needs of the students but of the faculty as well,” he said. “I did big banners for WASC and any time someone is sick, I do get-well cards. Anytime there is a birthday, anniversary, holiday, you can find me doing cards.”

Taking a second to count on his fingers, he said, “I did 27 will-you-go-to-prom-with-me signs (this year).” For senior Cheyenne Brinton, Aldrich was a role model figure. She is sad to see him go be-cause “he won’t be able to pass on his art techniques to other stu-dents.” Reflecting on his teaching, she said he’s more than just a teacher. “He showed me companion-ship, and I knew that he cared about my life in and out of school,” she said. “I’ll miss all of his stories and life lessons. The

fact that he pushes me to go to art school and reach my full po-tential makes me care for him. Because of him I’m thinking about (going).” Though caring and willing to lend a hand to his students, he admits that sometimes the pres-sure gets to him and he has to respectfully decline their wants, even though this rarely happens. “I like doing that for the kids,” he said. “But there’s a saturation point. You help everyone and do as much as you can but it’s like a sponge and sometimes you can only take so much, only help so much.” However, the 68-year-old didn’t let the stress affect his teaching and was awarded with Art Educator of the Year in Stockton in 2010. This feat, he believes, is the sole purpose of his career — to be a great educator for his stu-dents. “I’d like to think that’s why I got into education,” he said. “I wanted to make an impact. I look at you guys as the future. I’d like to think that I’ve had some-thing to do with it.”

adriannaOwens

devinwickstrOm

veronicaVargOcelineLOpez

She still finds humor in the story. She remem-bers trying to stifle a sneeze, but the wig bounced forward anyway. When they asked why her hair did that, she pulled off her wig, revealing a few thin strands of hair left. “It made me cry,” she says now. “My students told me, ‘You know, we would shave our heads for you.’ I said, ‘Don’t. Don’t do that, my hair will grow back.’ That made me feel really good.” Back then, Sharron Clayton was losing her hair from a medication prescribed to her for an illness, causing her to have to wear a wig. Her oncologist wasn’t sure if she had leukemia or another form of cancer, but within a year of treatment, it was gone. Clayton has been in remission for eight years, and now, after 20 years as an English teacher, she’s retiring. She says her students helped her through these tough times, even searching for the hospital she was admitted in when she became ill. Her childhood was rough. Growing up, she says her family struggled with money, food and other tools that most kids have now that she didn’t. “I wasn’t like the other kids; I had patches on my clothes,” she says. “But I had a few teachers who believed in me; they motivated me.” These teachers inspired Clayton to be her best, and she takes their philosophy into her own teaching now. Many of her students feel inclined to speak to Clayton about their problems, or even just for someone to converse with. “There was a stronger bond (with her) than any other teacher I had this year,” says senior TJ Blair.

“She actually lets you into her personal life; she’s not afraid.” But the relationship between teacher and stu-dent isn’t a one-way street. Clayton’s openness has allowed her students to feel close enough to her that they can go to her with their own problems. “I would go to her sometimes — just advice on what to do,” says Savhannah Lopez, senior, who shares this relationship with Clayton. They both listen to each other’s problems. “She’s willing to talk to every single student,” Blair says. “She’ll go out her way to help them.” In her English classes, Clayton had her kids write for a prompt asking to nominate a teacher for a “Teacher of the Year” award. She gleams at the pile of essays she’s holding. “I never thought I’d get this many responses for me.”

please see CLAYTON page 8

Hiking has been a favorite hobby of Stewart Jacoby since he’s been a kid. He enjoys hiking with his wife.

photo courtesy oF stewart Jacoby

Clayton reviews a student’s accomplish-ments on a recent project.

photo by Dellanira alcauter

photo by phllicity uriarte-Jones

Art teacher Robert Aldrich teaches students how to draw simple still-life objects.

photo by aDrianna owens

Cheyenne Brinton, senior“He showed me compan-ionship and I knew that he cared about my life in and out of school. I’ll miss all of his stories and life lessons.”

Anthony Loera, senior“Not only is Mr. Aldrich a wonderful teacher but he’s also a wonderful friend and he will always be there for you.”

“I like to go into his class to hang out and I can easily vent to him because he re-ally listens.”

“I went through a lot this year, and he helped me through it all. He’s some-one I can trust.”

Moving forward, the rest is historyStewart Jacoby sees retiring as the next part of his journey

ensembles around the area,” he said. But that’s not all of his plans. It’s good news for the students that are going to miss him be-cause this won’t be the last time they’re going to see him. He’s not done yet; and if you know Jaco-by, you know he’s never finished, even after the bell rings. “I want to be engaged in the community,” he said. “I don’t want to run things or be the boss, but just be a team player and help out.” And he’s already getting started. Stagg has been lacking a strong Alumni Association, but Jacobi’s worked with several oth-

ers to get it going. So far it has helped the yearbook program and paid for part of the AP ex-ams, dropping the price from $80 to $56. Besides those things, he doesn’t have a definite set of plans. But he does have some ideas. “The first few months will be a rhythm: when the fruit comes in, I’m going to be canning. My wife has a couple of projects we’re going to work on together. (But) the world is out there.” And he plans to see it. Italy, Peru, snorkeling, scuba diving — the works. “I plan to be living for a long time,” he said. “And I’m going to see where my wife and I can go.” But don’t for-get he’ll still be around. Stewart Jacoby is the social studies and psychology teacher, the father and grandfather, the friend and husband. He will be retiring, but it’s only another part of the journey. He may not be a teacher after this school year, but he will still be around. The bell didn’t stop him, and neither will retirement.

Steiner explains the correct procedures of a lab.

Taylor Garcia, senior

Monica Kunz, sophomore

the StaggLine 5.16.14Features 5

With the focus of empower-ment and leadership in mind, Eddie Slowikowski is the ulti-mate winner. Now known as a motivational speaker, he touches the hearts of many with his bub-bly personality and energetic dance moves. On Tuesday, April 22, he per-formed in front of two audiences in the theatre with hopes to mo-tivate students to lead their own lives and not let the past define them. At first looking forward to just getting out of class to yet another assembly, junior Victoria Saing said it was really unexpected be-cause he did different things; he thought the way she did. “Finally someone under-stood.” Slowikowski was not always known as an international speak-er/trainer. He used to be a world-class runner. He represented the United States at the 1987 Pan Am games, the 1990 USA track and field team in London, as well as the 1992 Olympic trials. He was also inducted into Loyola Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He welcomes everybody he speaks to into his life and his mind, providing the audience

with an insight on who he is with a mixture of heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of his childhood. He teaches the significance of everyone’s past in their daily life with the assurance that it does not define who we are. He goes on to explain that the pain in life can only make us bet-ter people. His goal is to take the audi-ence on a roller coaster ride for the realization that, “It’s all about the journey on the way to your dreams.” “I was like, I get that!” junior Nancie Tapo said. “He was re-ally relatable because no matter how bad it all seems everyone has something good in life.” He continues with the impor-tance of love, demonstrating his version of a teenage love story in his own way. “It impacted me when he talk-ed about high school relation-ships. It made me more mature to where little issues don’t bother me as much,” senior Anthony Nichols said. With the understanding of what it is like to really care how others see you, Slowikowski has said that people who are truly happy with themselves have no need to bring others down.

“Love is not something you fall in and out of,” Slowikowski said. “Love is a choice; you choose who you fall in love with.” Including yourself. Slowikowski explained how amazed he is by how much we hold ourselves back, and that sometimes magical things do

happen, not every day, but to embrace them when they do, and students understood this. “Don’t be stuck up, be more lively,” sophomore James Vanley said. “Take life lightly but still pursue your dreams.” The key, according to Slowikowski and many who saw him is: do you believe in you?

VanessaSalcedo

graphic by rubi rico

It’s the end of the year when that lackadaisical attitude is evi-dent in almost every class. Students miss school because they were enjoying the light cracking through their window as they snoozed and when they woke it was al-ready 9:25 a.m. There isn’t any point in go-ing, especially since they’re al-ready late and there’s only a month left. Junior Eric Andrade de-scribes it as spring fever. “The end is so near I just give up on school,” he said. “It is the spring season,” Chan Sam, the head counselor, said. “It’s the hot weather, the feeling that school is about to be over.” When it’s cold, he said, they try to come to school and tend to maintain grades. “They try to band together, stay warm.” The warm weather doesn’t stop some. “I work until the end because I want to finish the school year out on a positive note,” Nathan Keosomphanh said. The fresh-man keeps his work habit high as he keeps sports scouts and even college recruiters in mind. This makes perfect sense, ac-cording to Sam. “Underclassmen are actually doing better,” he said. “It’s the first semester that trips them up.” “You never know who’s watch-ing you,” Keosomphanh said. “That summer vibe starts to kick in,” he said, but he doesn’t want scouts to lose interest in him be-cause of bad grades. History teacher Tara Hayes shared a story about one of her students a few years ago. “He got into CSU San Francisco and got a D his second semester of senior year,” she said. “He was told he no longer qualified for college and couldn’t go.” Truancy, according to Sam, is crucial. “Attendance impacts grades,” he said. He even gets extra bus

passes from the district, “for those who really need it” to re-duce absences due to lack of transportation. Even teachers begin to feel the warm air and want to snooze. “By the end of the year,” Span-ish teacher Raquel Chavez said, “I am exhausted.”

She sympa-thizes with stu-dents and even progress ive ly adds “little breaks” be-tween activities for breathers. An excep-tion to those who get caught in the spring time sweep of relaxation and lack of motiva-

tion for school would be junior Jamela Anderson, who will try anything to push herself even if it’s a summer class. “I’d do it for the benefits and because my heart would tell me to.” “Some students will say ‘Oh, I’m going to change,’” Hayes said. “Change is a process.” His-tory teacher Roger Esparza al-ways tells his students it takes six week to break a habit. What hap-pens when there aren’t six weeks left? With graduation inching clos-er, it is a motivation for some. Take senior David Coffield, for example. He said his first two years of high school were differ-ent times for him. “I picked myself up junior year,” he said. Senior year is coming to a close and he said he would be less motivated knowing graduation was not within arm’s reach. A junior who is consistently two questions shy of passing the CAHSEE says, “I would be more motivated knowing I would be graduating next year.” Junior Armani Smalls said as the year rolls on, the workload should lessen considering the third and fourth quarters are the designated “testing season.” “Some students just get burned out,” Hayes said. “You wouldn’t run a marathon and give up at the last second, right?”

JadaJohnSon

End of the year causes attitudes

to alter

‘Embracing the magic’

photos by Matteo DanForth

(Top right) Eddie Slowikowski incorporates how students should believe in their own abilities by showing off his dance moves. (Above) Slowikowski expresses high school relationships through lip synching songs.

Motivational speaker teaches students to see positive aspects of life

I’d do it for the benefits and because my heart would tell me to.”JamelaanderSon

junior

“

August 28

September 14

September 27

November 1

November 19

January 18

February 22

March 8

March 25

April 18

May 3

First senior sunrise

Sophomore Jonathon Phillips breaks world record holding 167 pencils in his hair

Fe Valencia and TJ Blair win homecoming

queen, king

Varsity football beats St. Mary’s for the first

time since 1999

First blood drive of the year

Kathy Sady takes home stare-off trophy for the

third year in a row

Seniors win 2014 Powder Puff game

Stagg hosts its first annual breast cancer soccer tournament

New pool opens and swim team takes the first dive in

Salvador Pasillas, Denisha Hill win

prom king, queen

Highlights of 2013-14

Girls varsity tennis team beats St. Mary’s in T-

CAL finals

EntErtainmEnt the StaggLine5.16.146

One choice can transform you. One choice can destroy you. Once choice will define you. There are five choices. You only get one. And if you can’t pick, you’re as good as dead. You take a test to guide your decision. That makes life much easier, doesn’t it? No. There are some who don’t fit anywhere, and even fewer who fit everywhere. They call it “Divergent.” This dystopian novel was the debut for author Veronica Roth in 2011. Similar to “The Hunger Games,” the setting takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where the civilians have created a new soci-ety to prevent wars by segregating five areas of living, called factions, based on the human characteristics of kindness, intelligence, honesty, selflessness, and bravery. Recently, the hit novel found its way into theatres, establishing its popularity among young adults. The story focuses on 16-year-old Tris, who has never felt like she belonged in her own faction, Abnegation, but al-ways admired the bravery of the Dauntless. When it’s time for her to take her aptitude test before deciding where she’ll live for the rest of her life, she finds out she’s suitable for three factions instead of one. Uncommon, this is a trait of one called a Divergent. The Divergent are sought out by the govern-ment, because since they can’t be defined by just one disposition, they pose a threat to the “perfect” structure of society that was developed. Behind the action and romance scenes of the book, there are deeper themes that reflect tenden-cies in human nature, the struggles within a society, fears, and the searching for one’s identity at a young age. Tris, who ditches her plain name Beatrice after she leaves Abnegation for Dauntless, is portrayed as an insecure girl who doesn’t know her place in the world yet and needs to find answers, especially when she finds out she’s Divergent. She has lived her whole life in selflessness, sneak-ing glances at her reflection in spoons because her faction prohibits acts of vanity. Though she never felt like she could be com-pletely selfless, she always marveled at the daring acts of the Dauntless. Sadly, the movie leaves out major scenes, and re-places them with disappointments. Although the movie brings to life the brutal fights, cool action scenes, and great actors to por-tray great characters, it was missing key elements that made the story worth the read. Tris’ insecurities were not made apparent in the film and this important part of the story line was disregarded. In one scene in the novel, Tris is being abducted by Peter, her rival, Drew, Peter’s friend, and, sur-prisingly, Al, one of her closest friends. Peter mo-lests her, which heightens Tris’ insecurities, creating her fear of intimacy that appears in her final fear simulation. The movie completely skips over this part, and without first reading the book, the importance of this theme is not connected. Many times, these holes in the plot of the movie undermine the depth that the book provides. In the book, Al suffers from frequent nightmares

and Tris is kept up by his sobs. He develops a crush on Tris, and when Tris refuses his apology after his betrayal, his depression worsens. The next day, he’s found in the bottom of a chasm. While the movie keeps his betrayal, Tris’ refusal, and his suicide, Al’s continuing and worsening depression and his feelings for Tris aren’t made evident. The purpose of Al’s eventual downfall in the book gives you a glimpse of how horrible Dauntless initiation is and the pressure it puts on the initiates. If you can’t keep up, you’re cut. Once you’re cut, you’re factionless. And as Al’s name dwindled under the red line of initiate ranks, his depression consumed his rationality and amplified his fears. It’s the typical case for readers everywhere: the book overpowers the movie. I suggest for future readers to watch the movie first, because read-ing the book later will provide you with the depth that comes from Tris’ insight and clear up any ambiguities. If you’ve only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book. You won’t be disappointed.

Why are there two different “Spider-Man” movies? There’s only one Spider-Man. Well, for a die-hard fan like me, there isn’t. There are actually quite a few differences between the two; and no, it’s not because one is amazing and the other isn’t. For those who haven’t read the comics, there may be some con-fusion around who this Gwen Stacy chick is. Like, what the heck, Peter? What happened to Mary Jane? Well, Gwen was Peter’s first love before MJ, but the 2002 tril-ogy “Spider-Man” went straight to the latter. The director didn’t make a mistake because there are differ-ent versions of the comics, and the director simply chose a dif-ferent version than the original. In the original “The Amaz-ing Spider-Man” comics, Gwen is Peter’s first true love, but then he strays towards Mary Jane, who is Gwen’s rival. Marc Webb, the director of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” focused a lot more on the emotional connection between Peter and Gwen, and this is es-pecially true in the sequel. His counterpart Sam Raimi, the di-rector of the “Spider-Man” tril-ogy, didn’t focus on the love as much. But enough about girls. What’s the difference in the web-slinger himself? It’s hard to tell, actually. It depends whether it’s the comics or the movies being compared.

For timeliness, let’s stick with the movies. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both emphasize Peter’s different personalities. Maguire focuses on the nerdy, quiet side of his character and doesn’t really become confident until he is bit-ten. Garfield, on the other hand, already has that air of confidence with him, which is proven when he stands against the bully before he got the bite. There are even more obvious contrasts between the trilogy and duology. In “Spider-Man,” for example, Peter can naturally shoot webs out of his wrists, whereas in “The Amazing Spider-Man” he has to build his own web shooter, and this version follows the original comics. So neither director made a real mistake; the comics branch off in a hundred different ways and the wallcrawler is different almost ev-ery time. And it’s hard to actually de-cide which set of movies is better than the other because they both focus on different things. For example, the trilogy focus-es a lot more on the relationship between the Osborn family and Peter while its counterpart em-phasizes his love for Gwen. And that’s the awesome part about superheros, which is the real reason why there are so many different versions of one hero; they can change to be ev-eryone’s friendly neighbor and more.

Differences make the

hero ‘amazing’DevinWickstrom

‘Divergent’ film disappointsCelineLopez

estefanynunez

art by marlEEnE PhEav

The words science and fairy tale don’t usually go togeth-er in the same sentence, which makes this novel so unique and fascinating. “Cinder,” by Marissa Meyer, is a dystopian sci-fi retelling of the classic fable, Cinderella. The story begins with New Beijing’s best me-chanic, the 16-year-

old cyborg, Cin-der, who Prince

Kai comes for help with his an-droid. That’s where her problems begin. Cinder, the main character, is 36.28 percent machine, which makes her a cyborg. The author made it clear that she was riddled with flaws. She isn’t the same girl with beautiful blonde hair and eti-quette as in the fable. Cinder has a temper and usually has grease stains on her face. That is why I found her character so admirable — she is realistic. Prince Kai is charming and has a great sense of humor. The friendship that Cin-der and Kai establish becomes the nice relief to the dark theme. He’s the perfect guy that peo-

ple swoon over, the same dreamy prince from the fairy tales that everyone falls in love with. The story still has a fair share of antagonists. It seems their only purpose is to be horrid. Adri, the evil stepmother, Pearl, one of the two stepsisters, and Queen Levana all make the story deliciously aggravating. This far from typical children’s fairy tale is filled with the real-ity of cruel people, tragic events, stress, anxiety and heartbreak. Meyer does a great job tying in science by including the fatal plague, technology, an entire new species on the moon, androids and cyborgs. It’s appealing because it is

something we definitely haven’t read before. The book is never boring: the forbidden love, the deadly plague, the threat of an intergalactic war, the mystery of Cinder’s past, the politics, the science. The book is difficult to put down. The third person point of view allows readers to see perspectives other than Cinder’s. That helps readers keep up with the conflicts and learn more about the setting and plot. At times the story seems a bit dragged, making me say, “Get to the point!” while I read. Still, everything has some significance that would help solve the puzzle of mysteries by the end of the

book. Another flaw that irks me is how Meyer fails at being in-conspicuous. The foreshadowing used makes one of the biggest plot twists predictable. Meyer does a fantastic job introducing readers to new characters and a dysto-pian world set in the far future. Overall, “Cinder” is a great read, especially since it’s Meyer’s debut novel, which excites me for the rest of the series. Meyer’s retelling of Cinderella does a fantastic job of tying in the whole storyline together perfect-ly with the cyborgs, androids and lunars. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

may 30 maleficent july 18 the purge: anarchy

summer blockbusters

may 16may 23

godzillax-men: days of future past

june 13june 27 transformers 4: age of extiction

22 jump street

GraPhic by alExus PlascEncia, FE valEncia and JErry Garcia

“thE amazinG sPidEr-man”“sPidEr-man”

Fairy tales, cyborgs, magic make ‘Cinder’ work

Seniors Tosha and Kacie Monroe play sports together

SportS the StaggLine5.16.14 7

She shakes her head as she recalls the specific moment. “I wasn’t really thinking. I was so into the play, I didn’t even notice.” There was one out and senior Tianna Sterni was playing second base, frantically waiting for the ball to meet her mitt, but when she glanced over, the runner was sliding legs first onto the base. The next thing she knew she was on the ground. “My leg was stinging, so coach told me to walk it off. I knew something was wrong. It was scary.”T he other player’s cleats had torn a gash two inches deep into her body that required 12 stitch-es. She had to wait four weeks to play again. “I really wanted to get back out there,” she said. “I was lit-erally going to the doctor every week hoping he would say I could play sooner.” She has played with the softball team since her freshman year so everyone is really close. Watching them play without her was heartbreaking. When

she fully recovered, she was able to finish the season with her team. Sterni’s teammate, Mia Macias, played softball alongside Tianna throughout this season. “Tianna’s always so positive and hard working,” Macias said. “She never gives up on her team.” While she has played this sport her whole life,

she was never really proud of what she was doing. She only continued to play because her father liked the sport. “We went to a lot of college soft-ball games together,”said Sterni. However, when she turned 5 and joined a tee-ball team she started to appreciate and enjoy the sport. Sterni’s dedication led her to play travel ball outside of school. It is much faster than softball and she must travel to different cities. Throughout the years, Tianna changed her mind about how she plans to follow her passion.

“When I was younger I wanted to play for a U.S. team,” Sterni said. “Now I just want to play for my college even if it’s just at Delta.” Sterni did not expect to fall in love with this

sport. She feels that even if some-one is uncertain of something they should give it a try. “You try to be confident so ev-erything’s perfect before you get out on the field,” she said with a smile. “I’ve experienced a lot in my four years playing softball. It’s been incredible. I will never forget it.” Sterni didn’t bat often because she was a pitcher. However, she did help her team win four games. Even though Sterni just played her last season with the team, she certainly left her mark on the field and with her teammates. A smile widened across Macias’ face as she talks about her overall experience with Sterni. “She’s always so high-spirited and determined to win the game no matter what.”

arrianaSmith

After recovering from her leg injury, senior Tianna Sterni pitches at her last home game against St. Mary’s.

photo by blancah Mendoza

As he approaches the tee, the only thing going through his mind is that he has to beat his oppo-nent. From the loud screams of the court to the quiet sounds of nature, Eddie Balanon has to tran-sition from two very different sports. “I just wanted another sport. It’s calm and relax-ing and gets your mind off of things,” said Balanon when asked about the shift from basketball to golf. When his grandfather first took him to the course, he wasn’t hooked. Then his uncle started to teach him and that’s when he knew golf was going to be a big part of his life. Balanon started to play with his uncle when he was only 4 and that was when he knew he was in-terested and played until he was in the fifth grade. “At first it was intimidating, but you’re playing with people your age,” he said. As a freshman Balanon thought that not only was he ready for the sport but he was determined to try and be the best. With all the years of experience he has made a lot of friends, especially senior Paul Carranco. “(Once) we were at the par 3, he hit a ball high into the air and it hit the water,” Carranco said. “We went to go look for it and it hit a fish. He killed a fish.” This shows how much fun they have and shows that he is serious and lighthearted towards some of the younger players or even players that started when they were seniors. Carranco said if you ever have a bad game that he would come up to you and tell you to just keep your head up. “Tiger is my inspiration and I try and get as many tips from him while I watch him on T.V.,” said Balanon when describing the profession of a great golfer Tiger Woods. Recently, he has been awarded most valuable player for golf and has been to sections all his four years of high school. He plans on going to commu-nity college and playing golf and then move on to a four-year college. Balanon knew when he first went to the golf course with his grandfather and uncle that he would have fun but what he didn’t know is that he would play for life. “Basketball you have multiple opponents, in golf you have one..the course.”

Grandfather and uncle spark his passion for golf

Senior Edward Balanon on the putting green working on his short game.

photo by devin WickStroM

Sisters, best friends, teammates Get ready and rally! The gym starts to fill itself with players, dividing the courts with every position. The battle to outwit their op-ponent begins. Everyone’s on their feet -- the repeated motion of feet constant-ly bouncing back and forth. The opponent makes a move. The serve. It could be used to their advantage -- a weapon. They hold the birdie and let it drop slightly in front of them. Whoosh. Sweat drizzles down her face as she prepares herself for a swing back to the birdie. She smashes it with maximum power and it strikes the floor. She scores. From freshman to senior year, Tosha Monroe has played bad-minton, and not a day goes by when she does not try her hardest to rank towards the top. Monroe enjoys the position of first double and does her best to make it into sections. Monroe plans to con-tinue to play as she makes her way to college. She says, “One day I plan to come back and play in the alumni tournaments.” The tradition of alumni tour-naments have been apart of badminton for years, where past players come back to the courts to teach the next gen-eration. Monroe would like to be apart of that tradition with her sister. Kacie Monroe, her sister, has been Tosha’s partner since they began playing. Monroe says, “she’s not only my sister -- she’s like my best friend.” After playing for years, bad-minton has changed for Tosha. “We as a team have become one. Usually you don’t say ‘Hi’, you just walk by,” Monroe says, “but because we’ve become a

family we say ‘Hi’ and more.” Although simple gestures like “Hi” are being made to one an-other, they do more than just that. Both sisters have interacted with the team they now call a second family and hang out to-gether at lunch. The Monroes not only play badminton, but volleyball as well. They have played volleyball since the sixth grade all the way to their senior year. But there is more to Mon-roe than just sports. Her love for animals drives her passion to be a zoologist. This career would allow Monroe to inter-act with her favorite animals: elephants and tigers. The youngest of her siblings, she craved the school life that her sib-lings had, but was not yet old enough to at-tend.

However, her grandmother held her sister Kacie back, so they could attend school together. They’ve been together for a long time; not just as sisters, but friends. “We’re always together,” said To-sha, “and you will always see us together.”

The whistling followed by a hollow sounding thump is heard several times a minute through-out the gym. Back and forth over the net, a battle of will and skill plays out. This combat transpires over a span of mere minutes de-ciding who can move fastest, smash strongest, and who can do

these with the most endurance. This is the world of badminton, a world where senior Kacie Mon-roe thrives. Monroe enjoys being part of the No. 2 doubles team, as she is an excellent player. She remembers a time when it was not as such. “We were outcasts at first, but then we started p l a y i n g

and we bonded with the team,” Monroe said.

She has played since freshman year alongside her sister, Tosha. They may

fight often, but they complement each other when

they play, becoming a winning combination.

The team rarely loses a match or tournament and has won TCAL since

its inception in 2005. Al-though the team is very com-

petitive with its rivals, its mem-bers aren’t competitive unless they are trying to help each other improve themselves. “We are always trying to help one another because if each one of us improves, so does the whole team.”

Monroe remembers a time when she was not a good player.

She was in her freshman year and at the bottom of

the totem pole just like all the freshmen who had no previous experience. She was brand new to the sport and needed lots of help with her technique and footwork. She has improved con-siderably since then, becoming much better and moving toward the top. “Everyone I have ever played against, win or lose, has helped me get here,” she said. She has worked hard through-out the years in school and sports. Monroe has a great ap-preciation for this who brought her here and the friends along the way. It has been a great ex-perience overall for her. Monroe hopes she can con-tinue badminton in college and waits to return to crush her fel-low players in next year’s alumni tournament.

WilliamAlexAnder SathinaFloreS

Injury challenges dedication to softball

louiSFuentez

You try to be confident so everything’s perfect before you get out on the field.”

tianna Sterni

“

Everyone I have ever played against, win or lose, has helped me get here.”Kacie monroe

“

Graphic by blancah Mendoza

5golf facts

1. You need to yell “fore” if your ball could possibly hit someone.

2. If you lose your ball, you hit a provisional ball.

3. You are not allowed to pick up your ball except to clean it on the put-ting green.

4. The lower number is better because its the least amount of swing you need to get your ball in the hole.

5. Two putts or less is best for the put-ting green.

the StaggLineNews05.16.148

New ASB director finishes out year

photo by blaNcah MeNdoza

Ryan Berg has already started helping out with the lunch time activities. He will also become the new psychology teacher.

Stepping into the Student Activities office is like plunging into a world submerged in years’ worth of carefully crafted memories. Pictures and posters plaster the walls while various objects and materials clutter the room, telling a silent story of past As-sociated Student Body events. Sitting behind the desk is a face relatively new to the scene, Ryan Berg. Berg is currently a history teacher and the coach for the boys varsity basketball team. However, he has decided to help ASB finish up the school year by becoming the new ASB director. It is a new role Berg will carry out into the next school year, along with his other new positions as he takes over parts of Stewart Jacoby’s schedule. Berg said, “It wasn’t extra work piled onto me. I chose to do this.” Berg has four years of experience from when he worked at Chavez as their athletics director. “It was a good experience,” Berg said, “but I’m glad I moved on from it to join Stagg.” Berg said he had the extra time to fill in the posi-tion aside from his other work. “It’s a lot of time put to use, time during breaks, time during lunch, and time after school to work with ASB.” As director, Berg said he wanted to help ASB manage activities and events in place of Michelle Canfield, who left midyear to take another posi-tion. Junior Elizabeth Magana said, “I don’t think the way ASB advertised school events appealed to the students much.” She looks forward to ASB improving the way they announce events before they are held to give students a heads-up on what will be happening on campus. ASB member Zariah Gonzalez said she is already working with Berg and the rest of the staff to pre-pare for the upcoming year. She and the other members will be managing a calendar listing every activity they hope to help set up and turning in paperwork to approve events early. ASB is even going to buy a new printer so they can print posters instead of drawing them all out by hand. The purpose of this is to help improve the way events are advertised, which Gonzalez rec-ognized as a problem this year. “We’re committed during the summer to spend time at school to work on our plans.” Gonzalez is also looking forward to working

with Berg next year. “I know we’re going to have a great year with Mr. Berg because he has experi-ence.” Berg stressed the importance of trying to con-nect to the student body during the upcoming school year to have more activities and events take place on campus. “We desperately need more student and staff in-volvement. We can create a better atmosphere the more (students) participate.” Jonathon Ivy, another junior, said, “I would like to see more activities happen next year, especially since I will be a senior then.” Berg says being a director for ASB is a different experience than just being a teacher. There is a more direct interaction with the students than just him assigning work and them completing it in class. “You get to see different sides of kids.” Berg and Gonzalez said they believe the school year is ending on a positive note and both of them will strive to open up the next year just the same.

NuviaCervantes

Monica Kunz, junior, de-scribes a picture she recently saw on Facebook. “It was a book and someone had cut out the middle in the shape of a DVD,” she said. “It was trying to depict how a lot of the book is lost when the mov-ie is made.” This then becomes what she assumes the main fo-cus of the new class will be: see-ing how a novel compares to its movie enactment. This new class will be Literacy through Film, taught by English teacher Alice Henderson. With a name like Literacy through Film, students can ex-pect a number of possibilities. Reading classics and watching the renditions is the biggest as-sumption for Kunz, who looks forward to the interesting, buried classics from the 1900’s and early 2000’s. “I didn’t know it was pos-sible,” she said after calling to mind all the budget cuts and the beaten up, worn out supplies in the art and band classes. After several informal prin-cipal meetings, the idea for the

class was conceived. The class promises to be better for those who have completed English 3-4 and have trouble keeping their head buried in a book. A cure might be the focusing on the transformation of a book into a movie. For some students, it’s more of a concern of “what” rather than “how.” Nick Garcia, junior, jok-ingly hopes that popular series like “Twilight” and “Game of Thrones” will stay off of the read-ing and watching lists. However, he says it’s “something different,” and is interested in how the class will go about reading a book and comparing it to the movie con-sidering a lot of the main points that people would love to be put in a movie are cut from the script. Contrary to this, Hender-son wants to focus on books and movies from the 1900’s and avoiding pieces students have already read. “Things would be boring if the class was based on (things) students (have) already seen,” she said. Like Kunz, junior Michealla

Booth wonders to what extent the class will go to meet its cri-teria. “Some really great books have excellent movies, but they are rated R and not PG-13,” she said. Yet, Kunz hopes the school pushes toward treating teenagers like young adults because “that’s how they want us to act and what better way than this.” Henderson plans on basing the criteria off of reading a book, whether it be a play or a novel, analyzing, and then comparing this to excerpts, and a few full length, from the adaptations of the writing. In spite of this, classes won’t be spent just read-ing. Lesson plans include analyz-ing the excerpts from the films and discussing how the charac-ters and the plot develop over the course of the run time. The soundtrack and setting will also be decrypted in order to see if it represents the mood and captures the setting.Even though there is much plan-ning to do, there are high expec-tations for its ability to engage students.

MatteoDanforth

She admits, for a while, she felt most students these days were insensitive, making her want to “pull her hair out.” “With those letters there, I have to back up on that.” Clayton says that she has “thousands” of pictures with her students over the years, and she plans on creating a collage of them with the letters she has re-ceived and put up in her house. “It’s something to remember them by,” she smiles. Clayton doesn’t like the idea

of growing old and retiring, and thinks of it in a bad way, but she realizes she has to accept it as an-other part of life. “The hardest thing is growing old as a teacher and fading away.” Clayton wishes for all students to keep their dreams no matter what happens in life and contin-ue to reach for the highest point in their dreams, and you’ll always be successful, she said. She definitely takes this mes-sage to heart, as she continues to dream and strive for her goals

even after retirement. “I’ve got all kinds of plans -- whether or not they materialize.” She’s thinking of running for a political office position in Modesto, despite health issues, and wants to focus on her crafts. She also wants to write a book of her life and struggles. “I had people approach me to write my story,” she says, but turned down all offers because “I could do it just as well.” Mostly, though, she wants to spend time with her family,

the people who experienced her hardships alongside her. Her son, while taking care of his child, is in remission from leukemia now, ready to receive a bone marrow transplant from his brother, and her daughter is preg-nant. Clayton is excited to spend time with her children and new grandchildren, and travel across the country with them in a mo-torhome. She says her students, “even the ones that drive her crazy,” are

what she’ll miss the most. “There was never a dull mo-ment with these kids. They made me feel good when I was down … and I’m going to miss that.” Her students, she says, are the reason why she gets up in the morning, and are her motivation to live every day with a positive attitude. They were the ones who helped her cope when she was in the worst of times -- the ones who were there when she felt she had lost everybody.

Within a period of three years, her husband, brother and one of her daughters died, and one of her sons was diagnosed with leu-kemia the day of his son’s birth. To add to Clayton’s dismay that day, her car broke down, so she was unable to reach her son at the hospital or her new grandchild. She says when she was grief-stricken, her students were the ones who gave her the courage to go on. “They fill that gap, they really do.”

CLAYTON: Continued from page 4Graphic by alex Qualls, MarleeNe pheav, aNd deviN wickstroM

TEXT BOOKTROUBLEWhether a book has been stolen, lost, or badly damaged, someone has to replace it. From elementry to high school, your book bill follows you everywhere. The amount also stacks up, so the prices can range.

Owes $516 by May 28“I went home and found all of them, thankfully. I didn’t really worry because I ended up fi nding them all, but I was scared at fi rst.” - Maria Fonesca, senior

Owes $150 before he graduates“I came in my locker room and they were gone. They ran out (of books) so I didn’t get another book until a week later.” - Cam Burnett, sophomore

photo by blaNcah

MeNdoza

Alice Hen-derson will

be teaching the new English

elective, Literacy through

Film, next year.

New English elective incorporates books, movies

Going to the show