Cross Country Runners Left Without Options
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Steve Dominguez in News
Steven Montoya
Chronicle Reporter
The lack of transportation has led the cross-country runners to abruptly miss their invitational meet on Oct. 25. The team was supposed to attend the invitational at San Antonio College in Walnut, a city in the San Gabriel Valley, about 20 miles from Downtown Los Angeles. When the team asked the school administration for transportation to Mt. SAC, they were unexpectedly denied due to a lack of funding.
According to Coach Carcano, the team had other drivers at the ready, but some drivers had unexpectedly dropped, leaving limited space. The team was then forced to resort to transportation from parents and relatives. However, some of the parents could not offer round-trips; others could have round-trips, but would have to take multiple round-trips to take the whole team of 16 participating runners back home from Mt. SAC. The car trips finally had to be cancelled after the school refused to allow any sort of transportation by parents. “The coach has to be with all the runners, so he would have to be on all 3 cars at the same time, which is impossible,” cross-country runner Alex Meza said.
Athletic director Raul Grijalva said the district only has funds available for buses for district-sanctioned events. The Mt. SAC invitational was one of those private events that was not sanctioned by the school district, which was the reason for the bus decision. As for the car trip decisions, Grijalva said that if the team had asked permission earlier, the assistant principals would have approved. “It’s all about liability issues,” he said.
The runners feel that the cross-country team is not being paid the attention they deserve. “I think it is ridiculous that the school could not give us a bus, since it is the only time the cross country team asks anything of the school and I think that we should have been granted the bus,” Alex said.
Runner Josie Medrano, SAS senior, agreed. “It really sucks that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to get us a bus. Mt. SAC is a very prestigious race and the whole Cross Country team wanted to be there and race. Especially for the seniors, this is our last year and we didn’t get the chance to go there,” she said.
Despite these latest hardships, the team has decided not to let these matters get in the way of their upcoming goals. “We plan to win our next race and hopefully win league finals and go to Mt. SAC next year,” Alex said confidently.
Work hard for a cord
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Beatriz Sison in Op-Ed
Beatriz Sison and Azniv Derdzakyan
Crimson Chronicle Reporters
Does each student in all SLCs deserve a graduation cord when they graduate? Students should only get graduation cords if they have high academic grades, are active in particular clubs and are in special classes such as Leadership and JROTC, because the cords represent the students’ hard work and commitment.
Not every student deserves a graduation cord if they didn’t work hard throughout their four years in high school. Each student deserves a cord if they have achieved high GPAs.
There should not be a different graduation cord based on one’s SLC. It is unfair because it separates students and might make a certain distinction between SLCs.
Instead of cords, people in clubs should have pins if they were active in the club for two years. They deserve it because it proves students put effort into participating in a group to achieve something.They do not have to take that step to be in clubs, they want to take that step.
Leadership and JROTC are classes that are of major significance and need a cord. They serve the school by organizing events, telling the news regarding students, and provide security. Leadership (minimum 2 years) and JROTC (minimum 3 years) students have traditionally received a cord for their graduation.
As for other students who are graduating after the year of 2014, they can see this as a motivator to achieve high academic grades in order to get their own graduation cords.
JROTC Scores High in the Voice of Democracy Memorandum
Posted on November 19, 2013 by J Lauren Kim in Sports
Two members of Hollywood High School’s JROTC and Sheik Battalion, C/2LT and Executive Officer Holly San Nicolas, and C/SGT, S-1 primary Cristian Artiga are both placed in the highest ranks of the Voice of Democracy Memorandum. San Nicolas is placed in second with 375 points and Artiga is placed in 16th with 100 points.
It is expected that San Nicolas will receive a cash prize award, a red ribbon, lapel pins, patches, and authorized ribbons. Artiga will receive lapel pins, patches, and authorized ribbons.
Now, they will move on to the final round.
Parent Center
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Keith Neal in News
Keith Neal
Chronicle Reporter
The parent center’s normal job is to serve as an in between for the teachers and the parents, so they can talk to each other. The parent center helps the teachers schedule conferences with parents. Their community representatives call parents to set up appointments.
Since communication with parents is important, translators are provided within the parent center as well. The school budget funds parent education. It gives information to parents helping them to stay involved in the students’ education.
The parent center is starting classes for parents who are inexperienced with computers. They learn to develop computer skills and help parents utilize the Hollywood High website. The parent classes are provided by Beyond the Bell, an organization that works for LAUSD. The class is taught by a teacher from the adult school unit. The classes start Nov. 8. They are 6 weeks long, 1 day a week on fridays for 3 hours. A total of 18 hours of experience will be given to the parents.
The parent center assists in putting on events every month. One such event is Coffee with Principal which lets parents get together and meet with teachers and talk with the principal about any issues they feel are important.
College Workshops Help Students Enroll
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Steve Dominguez in News
Steven Montoya
Chronicle Reporter
The College Center has offered workshops to seniors who plan on submitting applications to a Cal State or a UC system college. Seniors have until Nov. 30 to submit their applications online. The workshops are held after school until 5 p.m. every Monday and Thursday.
College Counselor Heather Brown says that many seniors have attended the workshops, and some have even done their online applications during nutrition and lunch.
“Many seniors are getting a little panicky, with the deadline soon approaching,” Brown said. Volunteer tutors from Prime Time LA, a non-profit organization that places retired LAUSD educators as volunteers, also helped the seniors write their personal statement essays.
Brown says that she has already seen acceptances, including Humboldt in Northern California and King’s College in New York.
Brown is especially hopeful that the college workshops will be of great help for next year’s seniors. “This junior class has the largest amount of 4.0 GPA’s I’ve seen in my career,” she says. In total, there are 16 junior students with 4.0 GPA’s. Brown said she expects intense competition for very interesting college acceptances next year.
“Seniors should sign up for as many colleges as time and money will allow, whether they be near or far,” said Brown. “Collect as many ‘yeses’ as you can. Go to college, get a life, literally!” she exclaimed.
Lady Sheiks celebrate victory at final home game
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Rocio Fores in Sports
By Rocio Flores
Volleyball season is over and the varsity Lady Sheiks have completed it with an overall record of 11-4, while Junior Varsity’s final record was 7-7. The final conference match was played on Nov. 8 against Belmont High School with a loss of 3-1 for the varsity team.
The last home game was played Nov. 4, varsity won against Torres High School with a score of 3-0, and JV lost 2-0. The varsity team kicked off the season by winning games against Bernstein, Marquez, and Miguel Contreras High School. JV won matches against Miguel Contreras and Belmont High Schools.
“The games were intense, but we stuck together,” said varsity player, junior Dominique Robinson.
It was great season for players Belginy Molina, Dominique Robinson, Deborah Campos, and Tiajah McKnight who were noted for their remarkable sportsmanship throughout the season. They will continue to show off their skills as Leauge Finals approaches.
The girls in the varsity team continue to work as a team as League Finals approaches. They advanced to playoffs and won their match against Franklin High school on Nov. 12 with a score of 3-1. Another playoff match was played on November 14 with a loss of 3-0. Their next match is scheduled to happen on Nov. 19 with their opponent to be determined. They will move on to the next match depending if they win.
“We had a pretty good season considering the fact that we had no summer conditioning and things were rushed when season started. But I’m proud of us for pulling through when things got tough,” said JV player Christy Echavarria.
The unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Maricela Cordova in Entertainment
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
By Maricela Cordova
Mara Dyer is a seventeen year old girl who moves to Florida after a terrible incident that changes her life. Now she has a new fresh start at a new life.
However, memories of the incident still haunt her. She keeps seeing things that make no sense. It makes her think that she is mentally unstable. Her parents do not believe her and it makes her feel more insane.
Worst of all she thinks that she can kill people by just imagining their deaths. She does not know what she is capable of and is scared by her own self. Good thing British boy, Noah Shaw, helps her on the path of self discovery as he discovers his own gift as well.
In this captivating psychological thriller it will keep you wondering who is Mara Dyer exactly? Mara Dyer is a girl who believes she is losing her sanity, she is lost within herself. She is confused and horrified of what she is. She is a girl that wants her normal life back but she knows that will never happen with the power she believes is a curse.
Most of all, she is a girl who is finding herself. She is unbecoming. She knows she is not normal because she has a newfound power. She is slowly creating who she wants to be. She is revolutionizing.
You will get lost in the world of Mara Dyer and not want to put the book down. You will want to reread the book over and over again trying to understand Mara Dyer.
Even though she is special she is like most teens, lost and confused. She can be a relatable character to some readers and her snarky comments will make you smile. It is a wonderful, beautifully told story that cannot be missed by anyone.
Pages: 452
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Word count: 325
SAS news
Posted on November 19, 2013 by Maricela Cordova in News
By Maricela Cordova
Get excited because SAS is restarting its SAS Brigade club where it will help plan activities and think about new electives . The new electives will be offered to the students next year. Also, the club will design shirts for SAS. The club’s president is Erin Gannett, vice president is Keitty Calderon, secretary is Amber Sanchez and the treasure is Diego Tamayo. The club will meet every other Wednesday starting from November 6.
A parent group has also been created to support SAS. Lee Rossi one of the parents involved in the parent group said that she joined the group because, “I want to support SAS and I love the school.” Also, she wants to learn how the parent group and SAS can work together and communicate with one another to get what SAS needs.
Lately, the parent group has donated school supplies, like notebooks, paper and ink. The next meeting will be on Dec. 4 and parents will discuss homework policies.
One of the parents also recommended for teachers to create an Amazon wishlist. Karen Cusolito, English teacher and lead teacher of SAS, said teachers got a cordless vacuum because of the Amazon wishlist. The cordless vacuum will help make cleaning the floors much easier because the custodians sometimes do not sweep up the floors.
So, tell your parents to come the next parent meeting to stay involve in what is happening in SAS.
Word count: 236
