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Panther Post Issue 1 Flipbook PDF
Panther Post Issue 1
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
ISSUE 1
Featured Article
WELCOME TO LMCHS By Isaac D.
ADVICE FOR
WAYS TO
FRESHMEN BY IAN P.
DESTRESS BY HANNAH S.
FUN CORNER
THE PANTHER POST BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION Logo Credit: Randen Banuelos
ABOUT THE NEWSPAPER The faces behind the school newspaper have one goal in common: to make the school more interactive. These students meet during the seventh period of school on Mondays and Wednesdays in Ms. Patheal’s classroom. It is from this room that ideas are recorded, information is collected, articles are written, and the newspaper is created. This very newspaper will be be available in many forms: online, in a video, and, of course, on paper. While this is the first year that a school newspaper has been offered here at Lemoore Middle College High School, the Panther Post team is confident that it will be a success.
Meet the Newspaper Staff Editor-In-Chief: Alijah Dean Head Photographer: Isabella O’Brien
Know of any newsworthy events? Have a cool idea for the paper? Contact one of the newspaper staff or Mrs. Patheal with ideas or questions.
Writers and Photographers: Macy Gage
Isaac Dudley
Mackenzie Jeffery
Autumn Halsey
Hannah Sexton
Crystal Falconer
Karina Escobedo
Ian Parra
Jaime Wegener-Ferrara
Nathalia De Souza
Gabby Hicks
Laila Noble
Percentage
of LMCHS Students
Who Like Sushi: Yes- 46% No - 38% Never Tasted - 15% Students Polled:!1 71
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
WELCOME TO LMCHS By Isaac Dudley The school year is off to a strong start! Everyone is excited for yet another rewarding year of learning, work, and dreading that next due date. If you manage your time efficiently, you will indeed have some free time and your grades will remain high. On top of that, you are all in a really good college prep high school. In fact, we’re one of the best high schools in the area. So keep your head high and power through this year; it will go by faster than you realize. We also have a lot to look forward to. There are many events planned for the near future: rallies, the winter and spring concerts, panther stock, and the upcoming spirit week. If these events were anything like they were last year, we have a heck of a lot to be excited for. This year is a chance to make new friends, especially for freshman, and many of us will have the opportunity to discover new interests and passions. Keep an open mind and explore all the school has to offer. Good luck!
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Table of Contents Welcome to LMCHS
by Issac Dudley Page 2 Project Day Survival Guide
by Hannah Sexton Page 2 Back to School Night
by Gabby Hicks Page 3 Club Fair
by Isaac Dudley Page 4 Calling All Freshmen
by Autum Halsey & Ian Parra Pages 4-5 The Top 10 Tips to Destress
by Hannah Sexton Pages 5-6
PROJECT DAY SURVIVAL GUIDE
Creative Writing Page 6
For the Freshmen! by Hannah Sexton
Freshmen Class Elections by Isabella O’Brien Page 7
Project Day is the infamous Friday every six weeks when we don’t go home at 12:30. For the freshmen, this is a very new experience, along with everything else in this school. But don’t worry- this survival guide will teach you all you need to know about Project Day! First off, Project Day is graded and should be taken seriously. There are only three a semester and not showing up or not participating can result in a significant loss of points. With only three grades for the “class,” not doing well on one day can significantly impact your Project Day score. But don’t worry too much, Project Day is a great way to make new friends. After six weeks, everyone seems more familiar right? Well, now that you know more names, this is an opportunity to put yourself out there a bit. Project Day for freshman involves a lot of group work, so, since you have to be working with people anyway, why not try to make some more friends? The size of your class will really be apparent once everyone has gathered in their assigned meeting location. Sixty people might seem like a lot, but compared to other schools, like Lemoore High, it really is only a handful. Though you might not know everyone's name yet, it will be easy to learn them and get to know everybody through Project Days. Beyond the grade and getting to know everyone a little more, there are also important things to be learned from Project Day. The freshmen, in particular, focus on Character Counts and the Six Pillars of Character. LMCHS is known for its well-behaved and courteous students, and that model is shown through the Six Pillars. So, like any of your classes, Project Day is meant to educate and be graded, but it is also meant to be fun and provide an opportunity meet new people.
LMCHS’s Sports Hall of Lame Editorial, Pages 7-9
by Nathalia De Souza Anonymous Advice Column Page 10 Volunteer Work for Students: SPCA
by Jaime Wegener-Ferrara Page 11 Class Events
by Isabella O’Brien Page 11 Young Entrepreneurs Academy
by Crystal Falconer Page 12 A New Convention Comes In Peace
by Laila Noble Pages 12 Book Review
by Karina Escobedo Page 13 Top 5 Back to School Movies Pages 13-14 Spicy Memes Page 14-15 Guess that Teacher Page 16
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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT By Gabby Hicks On Wednesday, August 17, LMCHS had their annual Back-to-School-Night. Mrs. Reis’ classes, Leadership and Yearbook, earned over $75 from their sale of baked goods and water bottles. Mr. Gent reported that at least 73% of parents attended Back-to-School-Night. Out of the Freshman and Sophomore classes, 90% of parents came to learn about the students’ classes. All teachers gave brief introductions of themselves, and expressed expectations that are held in their individual classrooms. Coach Ramos and Coach Mac, our very well known P.E. coaches on campus, teach different types of Physical Education. Coach Ramos is known for his classwork involving the weight room, whereas Coach Mac focuses on learning the sports and steadily improving the cardio. Coach Ramos commonly uses the quote, “Healthy body, healthy mind,” for instructing his P.E. classes. Coach Ramos also doubles as the AVID teacher on our campus. On the 17th, he spoke about the Dell Scholarship, which is mainly relevant for Juniors and Seniors in the high school level with a GPA over 2.4. Coach Mac juggles between teaching P.E. and Life Skills. In the beginning of his Life Skills class, he assists freshmen in learning how to log into the West Hills portal; later in the year, he goes over the DMV booklet in order to establish thirty hours needed for earning the Driver’s Education Pink Slip. In one of his sessions explaining Life Skills during back to school night, he expressed that, “Two college classes will push students into another level.” Mr. Tong coaches Academic Decathlon. He takes his team and their impending success very seriously. This is evident immediately, just by walking into his classroom. Across the back of his classroom, he has several banners and medals earned by the Academic Decathlon Team. To inspire his class to work harder, he exclaimed, “We’re not going to be second place to anybody!” He shared this with the Academic Decathlon parents, possibly scaring a few. As a reminder to his Academic Decathlon class, before finishing, he told the parents “I’m fired up to get that fifth banner in this class!” One of our newer teachers, Mrs. Owens, who has been here for about a year and a half, told her
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incoming students’ parents a little about her background. Mrs. Owens came to LMCHS in the second semester of 2015. She only teaches Seniors, as she teaches Economics and American Government. All you need to know to take her class is to “stay organized. Then it’ll be an easy one hundred!” The teacher known as the ex-pole vaulter, who, several years ago, declined going into the
Students selling food at Back-to-School-Night. Left to Right: Steven Gong, Christopher Acevedo, Ali Macias, Brittany Coykendall, Hunter Darnell, Cody Wild, and Sami Roberts
Olympics, is Mr Whiting. Whiting teaches Chemistry, A.P. Environmental Science, and Robotics. He explained several aspects of his labs and projects. “Even if they fail at the college level, they’ve been exposed to the rigor and shock and [the shock] won't be there when they go again,” he explained. Mr. Rice, the history teacher and leader of Jesus Club, expressed the importance of iPads in his class with both taking notes and playing educational games to help students learn. The projects he assigns allow students to uses their creativity and imagination. “Every kid,” he expressed, “likes to show how smart they are in different ways.” To conclude, Back-to-School-Night offered many parents the opportunity to get an overview of what teachers require from their students in their classes. Parents were able to learn the grading structure, rules and goals of each class.
Need to contact a teacher? You can find the staff directory on the LMCHS website. !3
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
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CLUB FAIR
Mr. Bennett: “Read and engage your notes and notes that teachers give you. Always ask questions!”
By Isaac Dudley
Mr. Lopez: “Never give up, never surrender!”
The 2016 club fair has come and gone, and it was a massive success. The clubs sold a large selection of food, drinks, and desserts, and leadership brought in a taco truck and the Big Orange, both of which were extremely popular. Students say that they had a blast and enjoyed the extended lunch/assembly. They also remarked about how the food was amazing and that they hope the taco truck comes back next year. This club fair was better in just about every way than in the past, and we hope that it continues to improve in the future. Here’s to the rest of the school year! A curious student inquires about Jesus Club
CALLING ALL FRESHMEN by Ian Parra and Autum Halsey Let’s face it — freshman year is pretty overwhelming! One moment you’re in eighth grade, in a school you’ve grown accustomed to after several years. Then, all of a sudden, you’re in a different school with new people, new rules, new environment, new everything! With all of these changes, it’s a complete turnaround from what you're familiar with. Well, here at LMCHS, we would like to ease that burden with some advice from our beloved freshman teachers: Mrs. Penir: “Your high school experience is what you make of it, if you think school is great it’s probably because you’ve made an effort to make it that way.”
Ms. Patheal: “Trust in your creativity, intelligence, and strength — you have the power to do amazing things, and if you pursue your goals with enough dedication, you’ll either achieve them or find something better to undertake. Do your own work, help each other, and be amazing!” Coach Mac: “Do well, be well. Get ahead, stay ahead. Have no regrets.” Coach Ramos: “Don't take freshmen year lightly. It's the foundation of the rest your high school career.” As you can see, the teachers have some words of wisdom for the newcomers of the school. Plus, we can speak from experience that they have much more advice for anyone that asks. Now to keep up with the theme of this article, we present advice from upperclassmen: “You can eat lunch in Mr. Bennett’s room (he has a microwave!).” “Don't procrastinate!!! It's not worth it!” “Don't throw rock(s).” “Always study ahead of time, don't cram everything into one night!” “Don't worry about your social reputation. Being genuine is the only quality you'll need.” “No matter how different someone may be from yourself, remember that everyone deserves to be respected.” “Don't let anyone stop you from being you.” “Enjoy your time in LMCHS. But, remember school is important as well.” Overall, we here at the Panther Post want to emphasize point that this school is a community to all. The staff and students are always available to help you advance in your academic prowess. Good luck freshmen, and have a great year!
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WAYS TO DESTRESS By Hannah Sexton It’s back to school and you all know what that means! Homework, college classes, and for the freshman, a whole new school. Right now it might not seem so bad, but later on it will get more intense and you’re bound to get a little stressed. But don’t worry, here are some tips for reducing stress (courtesy of the University of New Hampshire’s Health Services) right when you need it! Tip #1: Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re bound to make a few mistakes along the way, but beating yourself up for them won’t help your cause. Of course, you should always try to do your best in everything, but you aren’t perfect (hopefully, that’s not a surprise). Knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes and knowing how to learn from them is an important part of growing up. Tip #2: If it’s really bad, get help. There are plenty of people on campus willing to help you. If it’s an assignment causing the stress, ask the teacher for extra time. If it’s family issues, talk to a friend. You aren’t alone. One of the great things about LMCHS is how supportive everyone is of each other, teachers and students alike. Don’t we all know one person in our class who we could talk to about anything, even a serious topic? Tip #3: Don’t bottle it all up. You’re stressed out. You have twenty projects due tomorrow, three essays, and finals for college classes you don’t even remember signing up for. Maybe there’s some drama in your friend group or you haven’t had the best relationship with your parents lately. It feels like you have nowhere to vent so you bottle it up. But that’s not a good thing. It’s not good for you to continue to hold it in because you can’t hold it forever. At some point you will explode. It’s far healthier to vent to someone, preferably someone you trust, writing it down in a journal, or expressing it through art or poetry. Tip #4: Identify what’s making you stressed and fix it. It could be an assignment, a friend, a family member, anything. Identify what is stressing you and what you can do to possibly fix it. For assignments, you may need to stop spreading
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yourself so thin (see tip #5). For friends, maybe you need to talk to them or just stop associating with them altogether (that’s a more extreme action, though). For family members, well, it really depends on context and what’s within your power to influence. But either way, identifying what’s wrong is the first step towards fixing it.
Tip #5: Don’t spread yourself too thin. Colleges practically want you to do every possible activity your school and community offers. But that simply isn’t feasible. There are only so many hours in the day, and you need to sleep. Sure we can brag about how little sleep we get because of all your responsibilities, but losing lots of sleep because of all the stuff you have to do is unhealthy and a definite recipe for burnout. To combat this, keep a planner. We all have iPads that can have the myHomework app (recommended by Mrs. Macias in her Tutorial class) or other, similar apps. Paper and pencil planners work well too. Try to schedule time for all your assignments, as well as your extracurriculars, clubs, and obligations outside of school. Be sure to also make time for yourself because you aren’t a machine. You need sleep, you need breaks, and you definitely need some fun every once in awhile. Tip #6: Learn your limits. Unfortunately, you can’t do everything. Some things just aren’t for everyone and that’s okay. Remember, it’s about quality over quantity. In the example of college classes, it’s more important to take fewer classes and do very well rather than take many classes and do mediocre. It can also be hard to have a thriving social life unless your friends are all doing the same things. Even then, you can’t go out every day and
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hang out for hours and hours without doing any homework. That’s another recipe for bad things to happen. If it gets too much, don’t worry. Teachers can be lenient, and classes dropped early in the semester. Tip #7: Relaxation techniques. The University of New Hampshire recommends that besides just taking a break every now and then, do other things to help you relax. These can be mental, like listening to music, or physical, like yoga or taking a walk. This is important because it’s another way to relax. Though listening to music might mostly be a mental thing, it relaxes your whole body, while taking a walk also clears your mind. These relaxation techniques can be really helpful when you’re working on a long project or essay, or when you're experiencing some mind blocks, like writer’s block. Tip #8: Exercise. This one can be pretty tricky to do because it requires setting aside more time. It can be pretty hard to exercise regularly (beyond just your PE class) when you already have so many things to do but it’s worth it. A study by the American Psychological Association showed that Americans who exercised regularly reported lower levels of stress than those who did things like watching TV or sleeping. Exercise also increases your self-confidence and your sense of achievement. It’s a triple whammy! Tip #9: Sleep. This one should be rather obvious, but many people will give up sleep because they are so stressed out with all the things they have to do. While you may lose some because of assignment overload, try to get some. For teens, eight hours a night is in the healthy range but many teens don’t get that because of their responsibilities or staying up late for free time. But either way, eight hours is healthy and you should try to get no less than that. Tip #10: Relax! At the end of the day unwind with whatever it is that you do in your free time. And after a particularly stressful day (or finals week), give yourself a pat on the back because you made it. That’s it! Now that you know how to manage stress, go out and tackle your responsibilities. You can do it!
CREATIVE WRITING Grand Piano She always relies on muscle memory for her playing, never looking twice at the sheet music. She stares at the black and white keys that her fingers either rest or press upon. The piece holds still in position as her favorite; both to listen and to play. She never wants to leave music behind. Three of her delicate fingers press the notes an octave higher than the others, and she turns her head to follow them. As her head swiftly moves, her hair moves in the opposite direction; flowing like a smooth waterfall. She smiles as she presses multiple keys at once before moving her hands back to the center of the piano. The sounds the grand piano emits intrigue her every time the melodies wisp their way into her ear. She plays for hours at a time; her eyes never grow tired of seeing the black and white rectangles of her favorite instrument. This girl has one possession that reigns supreme. It will never leave her, and she will never leave it. That one possession which, to her, proves priceless. And of course, she uses that possession for all it is worth. Her dear, grand piano. -Anonymous
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FRESHMAN CLASS ELECTIONS By Isabella O’Brien There are now two new additions to the LMCHS Associated Student Body council. Lily Jula and Breanna Monsivaiz were just two of the several 9th graders running for the position of freshman representative. Voting took place on August 22nd, when the class of 2020 decided who they thought would be best suited for the part. Now that Jula (previously University Charter School’s treasurer) and Monsivaiz (Pioneer Middle School's former president) are officially part of LMCHS' student council, there is no doubt these two will be doing their best to make sure the freshman class' voice is
Lily considers herself Breanna’s “right hand man”, and plans to support her in future elections. Left to Right: Lily Jula and Breanna Monsivaiz
heard. "I wanted to be in a club and meet new people," Lily gushed. Breanna chimed in, saying, "I like to be involved no matter where I am. If I'm not, I feel like I don't know what's going on. It makes me happy." Both agreed they're looking forward to collaborating and sharing their ideas with the rest of the council. The two girls were confident when they decided they wanted to run, but Monsivaiz did admit she felt rather hesitant when she knew a good amount of candidates running came from the same school and were already familiar with a large portion of the 9th grade student body. Jula also said it was "overwhelming" having to get to know as many people as possible before the election, which obviously took place quite early in the year. Their efforts surely won the freshmen over, and they plan to continue doing so in the future when they decide to run for other positions. "Probably president," Monsivaiz said confidently, with Jula adding, "If she's running for president, I'll run for vice. I'm her right hand man." There you have it, freshmen! Make sure you keep an eye out for these two young ladies on the yard if you wish to share any ideas you have to better LMCHS. As for any students in ASB (especially the newly crowned freshmen reps), the first student council meeting of the year will be taking place on September 14th. Make sure to be at Mrs. Reis' room during lunch on that date!
LMCHS’S SPORTS HALL OF LAME Editorial by Nathalia De Souza Nonexistent, but hopeful nonetheless, are the days of Lemoore Middle College sports. Although there has always been talk about including sports at the Middle College, it is evident that no one has made a strong enough argument to justify the addition of an official sports program. Because LMCHS boasts a rigorous high school and college curriculum, it is clear to students and staff alike that a full-time sports program may not be the best idea for the charter school. Not to mention all the other features our school offers that a possible athletics program might change. The Middle College is made up of a very tight-knit group of roughly 260 students. Not only could a sports program influence our population, but it could also shift student focus from academics to athletics. Additionally, we already have a set of free, year-round intramural sports competitions, so what would be the point in creating another sports program that would instead cost us thousands of dollars? For a school that focuses on academics, intramural sports work, for the most part, to quench
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student thirst for athletics. Even though I understand that the intramural club may not include many sports, it really shines a light on school participation. What would students be willing to do to get an athletics club? If the school board, by some miraculous act, integrated a sports program into our school, what are the odds enough students would try out? All in all, it's clear that,an athletic program does not have a place here at LMCHS. I had the opportunity to interview a few of our educators on their opinions. My first interview was with Life Skills and P.E. teacher, Mr. Justin McLleland, also known as Coach Mac. Despite his unmatchable charisma and love for sports, Coach Mac is against the implementation of extramural athletics. During our interview, he told me he acknowledges that sports could either be a good outlet for stress, or could just pile more responsibilities on to the lives of students. Considering the LMCHS charter just added another requirement to student curriculum— all students must take and pass at least one college course per semester— I can see where he is coming from. In spite of this, Coach Mac mentioned that athletics can provide “another environment where students can be successful,” so he does his best to run the intramural sports program at LMCHS. The program boasts three different sports throughout the school year:football, soccer, and volleyball. In hindsight, this miniature sports program acts as the ideal buffer between getting students involved athletically and keeping our school-wide focus on academics. Either way, Coach Mac still doesn't believe an extramural sports program should exist at LMCHS. During class, I spoke to English 9, 10, and Journalism teacher, Ms. Patheal. She says that our school charter should guarantee that the current amount of students would remain, even if we added a sports program to the charter. She also says that, even though a potential sports program would
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attract many more students to the school, the school’s academic standards would work to keep the academic achievement high. This would be a prime outcome, that is, if the Lemoore Union High School District board would think twice about considering it. Scratch that—chances are slim anyone could get it past even our principal. From the get-go, Mr. Gent made it obvious in our interview that he, too, did not like the idea of an extramural sports program. He argues sports “would take away from our core mission,” of a school-wide focus on academics and a mission to “[support] students in the transition to college.” In short, Mr. Gent paraphrased the charter’s mission statement, further supporting the fact that LMCHS was not destined to include an athletics program. In all honesty, I was fairly surprised to hear this from Mr. Gent; for those of you that may not know, Mr. Gent has significant background in athletics. By simply entering his office, visitors will notice a wall lined with signed sports memorabilia and trophies. He explained to me, with a grin on his face, that he had previously been a baseball and football coach. Mr. Gent is also a baseball aficionado, having visited over twenty different professional baseball fields across the country. Knowing he, like Coach Mac, was a sports-enthusiast, I figured he would be wholeheartedly in favor of a sports program. Yet, I was once again surprised by the multidimensionality of our school’s staff. Little did I know after my meeting with Mr. Gent that more surprises would be in store for me once I interviewed Dr. Rosa and Coach Ramos. Dr. Victor Rosa was the principal at LMCHS before Mr. Gent, and is now the current assistant superintendent, while Coach Frank Ramos is the P.E. and Avid teacher. Together, Dr. Rosa and Coach Ramos wrote a proposal to the school board about eight years ago asking for the addition of a sports program. During my interview with Dr. Rosa, he
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mentioned saying that he only backed the program because he wanted to support his students and staff. This was a long time ago, though. Now that Dr. Rosa is in such a vital position of power, he can see why the LUHSD board shot his idea down. "Sports shouldn't compete with our academics," he confides, going on to say that college preparation is our focus, and he is glad that the board denied his proposal.
Coach Ramos has similar views. “Eight or so years ago I thought it would be a really good addition for the students,” he tells me, “[...but] I’m not sure sports really fit the interests of our students as a whole [today].” Even though Coach Ramos may have altered his view on the subject, he mentioned that he believes we could work something out, especially if LMCHS only included sports the college was doing, so as to make “a bridge program with the college teams.” Nonetheless, Coach Ramos says that, if you truly wish to pursue sports within a school, you should go to LHS instead of the Middle College. All in all, time made a big impact on how these two educators viewed their old proposal. In addition to staff, I asked a few students their opinion on the subject, which generated varied responses. One student said they wouldn't mind a higher student-to-teacher ratio, because they believed sports could help students relieve stress, win scholarships, and form friendships more easily because of common interests. Another student argued that an increase in school size due to sports would not be good because our small size “makes our school, ours.” Additionally, two students I talked to mentioned approving of a potential program, but not necessarily being willing to go out of their way for it. Despite this, all of the students I talked to
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agreed that an athletics club would be good for team-building and getting to know peers. In the end, responses were made me wonder how these opinions would be reflected on a larger scale at LMCHS. How would our other peers feel about the subject, and could we ever reach a consensus? Chances are, my question will be left unanswered for many years to come. While I understand the various points our students and staff made, I am still reluctant to encourage the implementation of a sports program. Referring to my second paragraph, our school is made up of a sparse 260 students. Are sports worth increasing our conveniently small student-to-teacher ratio and potentially shifting school-wide focus from academics to athletics? Even if we did start having extramural sports, what are the chances that enough students would try out? Perhaps, we should first work on student involvement during intramural sports. Moreover, what are LMCHS communitymembers doing, or willing to do, to get their program? Actions speak louder than words, so vows to support a sports program have a high chance of ringing untrue, if the time ever comes. And finally, would an athletics program even be worth the money or the hassle? Not only are sports expensive, but they are time consuming for both coaches and students. Although I agree with the many points my fellow LMCHS community members made, I still believe that having sports at LMCHS would not be beneficial. Regardless of this, students ought to be ready to fight for what they believe in if they really want to get their sports. In the end, it is clear that school athletics and a tiny, fast paced academic community just do not go together.
Editorials are the opinion of the student writer. If you have an opinion about something at school, feel free to send an editorial to [email protected] for consideration. All editorials must be submitted with a name, even if you would prefer to publish anonymously.
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ANONYMOUS ADVICE COLUMN Dear [Insert Name Here], There is this guy at our school and I have recently started to like him, but the there is one problem: we have never talked before. I would really love to get to know him, but I am a very shy person. How do I get his approach him without it being totally awkward? Thanks a bunch! -Yeah, I Don’t Know, Put Anything. Dear Yeah, First off, absolutely go for it! Don’t be intimidated by anything, and always remember to always be yourself when you’re talking to him, because it would really suck if he thought you were something you’re not. As for how you should talk to him, I always like to just go up to them in person next time you see an opportunity, such as if you pass him in the area or something of the sort. At first, just introduce yourself and maybe bring up some small talk as a sort of icebreaker, however don’t do too much of that. Then, I recommend asking for his social media, like Instagram or Snapchat, then starting to talk to him via said social media. Asking for a phone number can seem a little more personal, so you might want to hold off on that, or go for it if you like a (very) small risk. If you’re just too shy (No shame, I’ve been there too), then ask for his social media from a mutual friend, or just one of his friends and progress as normal. Other than that, it’s really up to you and how you want things to progress, or not progress. Good luck! -[Insert Name Here]
Dear [Insert Name Here], I've recently disconnected with a friend and I can't get the whole event out of my mind. I'm constantly plagued by it when I see this person and I just wish they knew what I thought about that. I wish I could tell them all about the good and bad they missed out on after we had our fallout. I wish I could just tell them that I still want the best for them in every
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possible scenario and that I wish they hadn't seemingly blocked me out of certain aspects of their life. I felt like I had to reciprocate the same actions they went about doing. I'm not really sure how to move past it. Thanks! -No Name Jane Jane, I will recommend time after time to just talk to the person that is bugging you in any way. I’m sure it will be hard, however unless you want this memory to haunt you foryour near future, you need to do it. Approach them and say that you really need to talk about something, and that it’s really bugging you. Ask any questions you have and just talk it out. In a worst case scenario, they just refuse to talk to you. This won’t be the worst, because at the very least you can walk away with the closure of “Hey, at least I tried!”. I hope this helps you in any way. Hope it all goes well, -[Insert Name Here]
Dear [Insert Name Here], How do I get my students to take seriously the purpose of daily Open Note Quizzes? This has caused me to lose my hair. Doughnuts would seem to be the solution, but this outright bribery hasn't worked very often. Any suggestions? -Anonymous Teacher Dear “Anonymous” Teacher, I heard through the pipes that someone had a pretty sweet idea about giving out swedish fish for people with a high ONQ average. Maybe take that into consideration? If that’s a “no” or it flat out doesn't work, then you honestly really can’t do much. Students need to realize that it’s their grade that is affected by the results of their ONQs, and will come back to bite them in the butt if they don’t take care of it. Good luck bribing your students with sugar, -[Insert Name Here]
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VOLUNTEER WORK STUDENTS: SPCA
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By Jaime Wegener-Ferrara This is Applejack, a cat rescued and put up for adoption at the SPCA in hopes he would find a loving family. and like thousands of other animals before him, he found one when he was adopted from the SPCA. When you research the SPCA, you will find that the SPCA’s mission is to advance the safety and well being of animals globally. Every day, workers at the SPCA rescue animals, provide these animals with shelter, food, toys and walks, and most of all, a home. Animal lovers from all around the world most likely know about the SPCA, but now they can help support it too. For community service hours or just to lend a helping hand, you can volunteer at the Kings SPCA located at 9071 16 1/2 Ave. in Lemoore from 10:00 A.M. To 6:00 P.M. Any day besides Monday, in which they are closed all day. To volunteer just make sure you print out the registration forms off of their website and sign them, and make sure you are 16 years old or older. However if you are younger than 16, you can bring an adult to watch you. At the SPCA you can engage in various tasks, such as dog walking, spending time with the animals, cleaning the premises, and more. Your work helps the employees of the SPCA greatly, and is much appreciated by both them, and the animals there.
CLASS EVENTS By Isabella O’Brien Funds For Fun! Project Day is near and surely all of the classes are anxiously awaiting to know exactly what the teachers have planned for September 9th. As some of the upperclassmen may be familiar with, fundraising is in the air. Sophomores are being encouraged to conjure up any ideas that come to mind that would be suitable for raising money for their highly anticipated senior trip. Mr. Whiting and Mr. Tong are overseeing and conducting these plans, and so far have decided that they will be selling Jamba Juice cards for $10. These cards will offer discounts and other money saving promotions for those who purchase them. Stay tuned for this upcoming project day to find out more information.
Senior Tailgate Barbecuing, fun in the field, and reminiscing will be taking place on September 23rd. From 5 to 7pm, the senior class of 2017 will be on campus kicking off their last year together. For those of you who aren't aware, Senior Tailgate is something every class gets to partake in their graduating year. It is an evening full of food and fun, an event that is conducted by the senior class themselves. For you 12th graders out there, start coming up with fun and exciting ideas that will make your senior tailgate unforgettable!
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY By Crystal Falconer Have you ever wanted to be a CEO of your own company? The Chamber of Commerce is hosting, for the second year, Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA). It is a year-long program that teaches students from 6th-12th grade how to start and run their own businesses. The program helps guide students to start an actual business or social movement over the course of an academic year. The program itself has started over 1,000 businesses and social movements. You begin as a student and leave as CEO of your own company. You get to create or improve a idea for a company or social movement. It can be about a hobby, something you've struggled a lot within your life, or anything that you want to improve. Prior business experience isn't necessary to the class so just have fun with it but take it seriously. You'll learn as you go, such as, learning many things about the business world, and what it means to be a CEO. If you are interested in “YEA,” classes start on October 22, 2016 and end in May 2016. The deadline is September 16, 2016 to turn in your application. For more information contact Jenny MacMurdo at (559) 924-6401 or email [email protected]. To listen someone with experience to the class talk to Sofie Johnson or Crystal Falconer.
A NEW CONVENTION COMES IN PEACE By Laila Noble Recently, a new convention has opened by the name of, "AlienCon," selling tickets with the reputation of being one of the first conventions dedicated to the exploration of extra terrestrial life and science fiction cosplay alike. And, although newer to the convention community, it's already being sponsored and backed up by plenty of famous faces, as well as the "History Channel." This supposed "out of this world convention" is due to take place on October 28th through the 30th, 2016 at the Santa Clara
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Convention Center, with guests from the cast of "Godzilla," "Battlestar Galactica," and the creators of, "Ancient Aliens." Some attendees will travel from as far out as the Central Valley to attend. As expected, many Sci-Fi fans will be able to take a look at some artifacts from their favorite shows, and also receive autographs from their favorite cast members. For those interested in the thrill of alien life, panels will be open in order for people to discuss certain theories revolving around the mystery of the "unknown." Not only is this convention for Sci-Fi geeks and alien theorists, it's been promised that the newest video game technology will be presented at this convention. Also, as retro video games available for a so-called, "nostalgia" effect on guests. Cosplayers will also be mixed among the crowd, with "Star Wars" themed costumes dedicated to Mandalorian Mercenaries and the 51st legion. With its promises and many supporters, it's hard to argue against the fun involved with this convention; although, since many have yet to form an opinion for themselves and actually attend it, some may disagree after the day of the event. However, only one person can decide if they like the event or not, and that person, is you! The tickets to this event are a mere $25 if you decide to go on Sunday, but progressively get higher and higher throughout the weekend days. Saturday fees are about $45, while the Friday fee is $35 each. There are also bonus packages, although these are wildly expensive. "Grilling With The Godzillas!" offers an exclusive dinner with the cast members of the original Godzilla movie, at an off sight location. This is approximately $200. "Brunch with George Noory" allows you to come join him and Tom Danheiser for one incredible Saturday night! The price for this is about $150. Now last, and certainly the cheapest, is the close encounter package that comes around to about, $80. So if you have the gas money, and the interests, AlienCon is definitely something you should give a try.
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BOOK REVIEW
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Book 1: The Sword of Summer Review by Karina Escobedo Rick Riordan has written yet another book series. Riordan has written several well-known series such as, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which focuses on Greek mythology, and The Kane Chronicles, which focuses on Egyptian mythology. Now, Rick Riordan is releasing yet another mythology series. This time Riordan has written a series concerning Norse Gods. Norse Gods relate to the legends of the Gods of Asgard, as mentioned on the book’s cover. This book follows the journey of Magnus Chase, a teenager living on the streets of Boston, who finds out that he is connected to the Norse Gods. In the novel, the reader finds out that Magnus is a part of a much bigger plan that can, quite possibly, destroy the entire universe. Like most of Riordan’s books, this book is filled with laughter, triumph, and, of course, tears. Follow Magnus in his journey as he finds out who his allies are, who his enemies are, and how this all links to him. Rick Riordan certainly knows how to write a book that will leave you on the edge of your seat, so go check it out!
Fun fact: Nepal is the only country in the world without a rectangular flag.
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TOP 5 FAVORITE MOVIES TO WATCH TO GET INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL GROOVE By Nathalia De Souza Everyone knows that starting a new school year is pretty overwhelming. In fact, it can be very “butterflies-in-the-stomach” inducing. Despite this, high schoolers should take the chance to dwell on their adolescent years while they can, and what better way to do that than with a good-ole’ high school-film binge and some popcorn? I've complied a list of a few of my favorite high school-themed movies of all time, and if you think I don't expect you all to be enthusiastic about them as I am, you are dead wrong. 5. Mean Girls This movie is on the list for obvious reasons: IT IS A 21ST CENTURY CULTCLASSIC! Although students that haven’t seen the movie are emerging every day, Mean Girls is still one of the most important films to impact teenage society in a very long time. I don't want to give away the whole plot to those of you (*cough* outcasts) who haven't been graced with its presence yet, but the film mainly revolves around the life of an African transfer student and her struggles (and how she overcomes them) during high school, with the support of a comedic narration. 4. Grease A movie all about “summer lovin’,” Grease has been a classic high-school movie since its release in 1978, telling the story of a charming couple—played by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John—who finds true love amid !1 3
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a series of setbacks. In addition to focusing on a love-story, this this movie also depicts the (rather cheesy) struggles of teen life in the 50s, which includes making messes in restaurants, relationship drama, and greaser gang rivalries.This movie—periodically graced by catchy musical numbers and dances—will never die. For those of you that haven't seen this classic, “You gotta keep up!” 3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off This film revolves around a sneaky high school student named Ferris who is determined to get a “sick day” off from school with his best friend and girlfriend, no matter what. With the blessings in disguise of outdated technologies, gullible parenting, and vicious dogs, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off tells the tale of a high school persona that all students can live through vicariously. Except, maybe you shouldn't try Ferris’s methods at home. Either way, Save Ferris!
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Back when I was like you Breakfast Club-less students, I thought the movie seemed boring. After all, I was soon to be an “official teenager” myself; what would this movie teach me that I didn't already know? The answer is: A LOT. Not only does The Breakfast Club talk about moving out of your comfort zones in life, but in social settings as well. Plus, it talks about some hardhitting subjects like sexuality, parent-student relationships, and stereotyping. This movie will forever be considered one of the most influential high school-themed films, so do yourself a favor and WATCH IT!
SPICY MEMES
2. Easy A (Be forewarned that this movie talks very intimately, and some times crudely, about teen sexuality and mild sexual harassment.) The most ostentatious movie on the list, Easy A, is definitely worthy of its higher ranking. Despite the very serious topics, this film’s incredibly comedic narrations help make the issues less uncomfortable to talk about. Not to mention the fact that—in a society where sex is more and more quickly becoming the linchpin of various types of relationships—Easy A reminds us all that sex isn’t required in relationships, nor should it be considered taboo. 1. The Breakfast Club Coming in at number one is this powerful film directed by John Wilden Hughes. I’m just going to start off this description by saying this: If you have never seen The Breakfast Club we need to have a serious talk.
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The Panther Post is published each grading period by the Journalism class at LMCHS. If you have
any questions, corrections, comments, or suggestions, please contact Ms. Patheal at 559-925-3552 x. 3555 !1 6 or by email at [email protected]. Thanks for reading!