january issue 2016
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Volume LVIII, No. 6 • January 29, 2016 • Larkspur, CAbark.
Toxins in crab tissue threaten multi-million dollar industryp.14
Photo by Anne Pritikin
Copy EditorsAaron Halford
Maxime Kawawa-BeaudanAdam Kreitzman
Anne PritikinRebecca Smalbach
Pearl Zhong
News EditorsHannah Blazei
Emily Cerf
Feature EditorsEric Ahern
Gregory Block
Opinion EditorsCaleigh Stephens
Nicole Stock
Sports EditorsMichael Benz
Heidi Roenisch
Lifestyles EditorsSarah Kimball
Kendall Rhoads
Review EditorsSam SheridanSydney Soofer
AdviserErin Schneider
Editors-In-ChiefOlivia Dominguez
Shiriel King AbramsonBella McWhorter
Matt Ross
Redwood High School395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939
www.redwoodbark.org
Spanish Editors Catherine Conrow
Henry Tantum
Video EditorAnnie Forsman
Social Media ManagerKylie Kvam
Snapshot EditorJenna Herz
Web Developer/ NewsletterKevin Makens
Senior Staff WritersJulia ChernerGeneva Gist
Megan MillardRobin Naylor
Business ManagerSabrina Dong
Survey ManagerKeely Jenkins
Equipment ManagerMax Josef
Technology AidGaret JatsekSam Slade
ReportersKayla Aldridge, Isabella Alioto, Danny Avins, Madison Barsi, Hayden Blum, Addison Brady, Kaylee Bushell, Ella Cook, Ovie Crum, Luke
Dahlin, Jason Fieber, Annie Fogarty, Andrew Hout, Max Josef, Camille Kawawa-Beaudam, Isabelle Marmur, Macrae Sharp, Cosmo Taylor, Mary
Winnick, Chloe Wintersteen
bark.redw
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redwood high school • 395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939 • volume LVIII, no. 6 • January 29, 2016 • www.redwoodbark.org‘Flounder’ Film 10 17 Freshman Pursues Singing 23Basketball Chemistry
Budget committee to assess programs, funding uncertain
Career Conversations attendance grows in fourth year By Amanda Trusheim
Cub Reporter
The annual Career Conversations series began Jan. 11 for the fourth consecutive year in an attempt to continue inspiring and educating students about career opportunities from professionals in the community.
Three days a week, selected parents volunteer their time to educate students about their respective professions. A variety of unique jobs are represented each week, ranging from neurosurgeons to cookbook authors.
“We try to get a cross-cut of different careers,” said College and Career specialist Paula Vantrease, who coordinates the speakers. “We don’t want to focus just in one area.”
Vantrease, along with internship coordinator Greg Davison and Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) board members, works in collaboration with students to provide speakers from desired professions. Surveys were sent out to students and various groups on campus were asked to help determine from which professions the Redwood community wanted to hear.
Redwood is currently the only school in the district to host Career Conversations as an alternative to a career fair or career day. Although mini career fairs have taken place at Redwood, the series allows for more exposure to a variety of careers.
So far, this year’s series of Career
Conversations has been incredibly successful in comparison to past years. The first and second conversations of the year, which took place on Jan. 11 and 12, had a much higher attendance rate than expected. Nearly 30 students stopped in to each one, a significant increase from the first year of Career Conversations, when student attendance was rare.
“The first year we had times where it was just myself and the speaker and nobody came, which was really disheartening,” Vantrease said.
In hopes of keeping attendance high this year, a raffle is being introduced for students who participate in Career Conservations. Each time a student attends a meeting, their name is entered into a raffle that could win them a gift card when the series is finished.
According to Vantrease, if the raffle helps raise attendance, she will be satisfied.
“If that’s the reason, they still learned about a different career, so I’m pleased,” she said.
Between regular emails to parents, staff, and students to announcements on the walls of the hallways and conveyed through homeroom representatives, the series is publicized as much as possible in order to attract students.
Over the last several years, Career Conversations have been adjusted to eliminate any possible deterrent and increase the attendance numbers of each conversation. The series was limited to specific days of the week to combat other
popular lunchtime activities. “As far as timing goes, we have
eliminated Thursdays and Fridays because Thursday is a long day and students leave campus, while on Fridays people don’t usually stick around,” Vantrease said.
According to Vantrease, the best thing a student can take away from attending a Career Conversation is new knowledge that will open up potential career explorations.
“You don’t have any idea of what careers are out there until you come and listen to a speaker,” Vantrease said. “Even
if it’s a career you’ve never thought of, it could be something that you find out you’re really interested in.”
Career Conversations are offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at lunch in the College and Career Center (Room 111). For more information, contact Paula Vantrease in Room 111.
PRESENTING A CHARACTER animation inspiration, Hal Hickel speaks on his experience as an animation director at Lucasfilm’s visual effects company on Jan. 26.
Photo by Hannah Blazei
The Tamalpais Unified High School District (TUHSD) formed a budget study committee to evaluate programs and recommend financial priorities to the TUHSD school board, according to an email written by District Superintendent David Yoshihara on Jan. 11.
The committee, which will be comprised of students, parents, district staff, and other community members will meet at least five times before presenting its findings to the school board on March 22. Once a set of recommendations is adopted, it will be used to develop the district budget at some time in late June.
“The budget study committee is an important group basically to be tasked with determining what is important for the district,” Yoshihara said. “All of these people will come together and work together to determine what is the most important thing in the district––what is it that
we value most?––so that if there is extra funding, these are the first things that are funded or well-funded, and if there’s reductions these are the last things that [receive less funding].”
This type of committee is new for the TUHSD, but Yoshihara said he developed one at his previous district, San Gabriel, in southern California. Yoshihara said that there is a possibility the committee will meet annually to assess funded programs and perform program evaluations.
“We have a lot of different programs in the district and determining whether they are effective by whatever measures effective is, is important,” Yoshihara said. “I think what the group is working with now is defining, ‘What is a program?’”
The committee will certainly assess art programs, TEAM, AIM, and other extracurriculars, according to Yoshihara. He added that representation from across the school district and the perspectives of different members of the community will be critical in forming the budget proposal that will ultimately be brought to the school
board. Part of the reason for the formation of the committee
is the district’s current financial situation. Although there will be a budget surplus in the short term, the dollars-per-student will decline in the long term due to increased enrollment, according to Yoshihara.
“We are not, like many of our neighbors, driven by enrollment,” Yoshihara said. “Whether we have one student or ten thousand students, the money literally is the same because it is all driven by property [taxes].”
While the dollar-per-student decline will not eliminate the district’s reserve, it will impact the budget, especially because over 1,000 new students are expected in the district in the next five years, according to Yoshihara.
“We have a budget that has more expenditures than revenues, but we have a strong fund balance,” said Sally Swan, assistant superintendent of finance and facilities. “We’re projecting into the future and projecting those deficits to continue, so the sooner we can address the deficit situation, the better our budget will be going forward.”
This decrease in funding per student could put certain district programs at risk of being cut, according to Yoshihara.
Class sizes, course offerings, and technology will each be evaluated by the budget study committee, Yoshihara said. The area of wellness will also be a topic of discussion for the committee.
“I think we have to talk about the importance of [wellness] against everything else,” Yoshihara said. “Is this something that holds high value and high importance for all the different people at the table?”
Redwood is currently in the second phase of construction on its wellness center, which should eventually consist of therapists, nurses and sexual health information, among other services, according to Wellness Director Jennifer Kenny-Baum. Kenny-Baum added that while the center is expanding in terms of construction, continued program growth will depend on student input.
“There are so many options and ways for it to potentially grow that I think the thing that’s key in determining where it’s going to go is the students,” Kenny-Baum said. “I can’t lay out exactly what it’s going to be—it’s going to have to be in direct response to the students, to what students say they need.”
• Budget committeeContinued on page 2
By Gregory Blockand Rebecca Smalbach
TUHSD Budget Committee:Projected Timeline of EventsBudget committee
to convene for second budget study meeting
2/2/16
Budget committee to meet for fifth and final time
Committee to present findings to
TUHSD school board
District to adopt budget based
off of commitee findings
3/15/16 June ‘16
3/22/16
Infographic by Gregory Block
Photo Survey:
What’s the craziest thing your family did
over break?“My family sang karaoke
to ABBA.”
Elliot King
“My dad facetimed me from a field of cows to wake me up one
morning.”
Sofia Cassidy
“We hijacked a golf cart in Hawaii.”
Ali Janku
“They put on a bunch of cow costumes and started
singing a song about cows.”
Aidan Reesefreshman seniorjuniorsophomore
bark Page 2 • News January 29, 2016
Peer Resource students participate in Mental Health First Aid training
The Peer Resource class participated in Mental Health First Aid training on Jan. 11-12 in an effort to learn more about mental health issues and techniques for handling mental crises.
Twenty-three PR students and two other students spent two days working with an instructor, Gina Ehlert, who taught basic information about mental illnesses, how to discern between mental illness and common anxiety, and how to work with students who need help.
While the training did not give students the ability to diagnose mental illness, it did provide them with some basic skills necessary in dealing with mental health scenarios, according to senior Carli Jacks, a student in Peer Resource.
“The idea is really getting people to understand signs and symptoms of mental health problems or challenges and being more aware of them and being able to encourage people to seek help,” said Ehlert, who added that since Mental Health First Aid training came to America in 2008, it has grown exponentially.
Students participated in a variety of activities during the training, such as roleplaying panic attacks, experiencing auditory hallucinations, and implementing a five-step action plan, according to Ehlert.
District Wellness Director Jessica Colvin had known about the training for adults, and when she heard it was offered for students, she decided to bring it to Redwood. Although the training is designed for adults, Ehlert felt that the
Peer Resource students were capable of participating.
“The curriculum is designed really for adults working with young people rather than young people working with young people,” Ehlert said. “But the peer group has had some training already and were a good group to hear more about what mental health first aid training is about.”
Colvin said that while this training was primarily offered to Peer Resource students, it could be offered to more students in the future depending on how the participants evaluate the training.
Jacks believes that a different format would be necessary if the training were offered to a larger group, and suggested that a presentation might be more suitable for the student body.
While the Wellness Center continues to develop, there have been a few events aimed at increasing mental health awareness, including Mental Wellness Week in early December.
Colvin hopes that teaching students about mental health will help destigmatize mental illness in the community.
“My hope is to raise awareness for students to realize that mental health is welcome,” Colvin said. “It’s part of who we are and we all have it, and becoming aware and having the language to talk about it. [Students] might not have the words to describe how they are feeling and we might need to teach them about anxiety and depression and stress and what they can do to take care of themselves.”
According to Ehlert, mental health often went unnoticed in past years, but has recently garnered more attention.
“It just hasn’t been at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds for a number of years,” Ehlert said. “There’s been more federal funding put toward mental health in the last couple of years than there has been in the previous 30 years.”
Colvin attributes the lack of attention to mental health services to a stigma around mental health, and added that students often associate mental health with negative things, unlike physical health.
The Mental Health First Aid training provided relatively basic information and techniques, and according to Ehlert, also provided an action plan that can make an
impact in the Redwood community. “The action plan that is provided in
the course really can be used throughout a lifetime,” Ehlert said. “It’s just a different framework for people to think about in terms of having a low-level role––not necessarily being a psychiatrist or somebody at a high level in the mental health field, but still being helpful to people, recognizing signs and symptoms, and encouraging people to get help.”
By Gregory Block
REHEARSING MENTAL HEALTH scenarios, senior Yewon Ahn and junior Juliet Ricci listen to classmate Hall Darden during training on Jan. 12.
Photo by Gregory Block
• Budget committeeContinued from page 1
Yoshihara said that there is no easy way to establish what role schools should play in student wellness.
“I’m not certain in terms of how much responsibility the district should have in wellness because there’s a lot of overlap with the services provided in wellness and other social programs that exist,” Yoshihara said.
Yoshihara also added that the impact wellness has on students will be important in determining which, if any, aspects of wellness would receive reduced funding.
“We’d have to look at what the impact is, but I don’t think it’s been determined,” Yoshihara said. “Those are conversations that’ll probably happen if you meet with me in six months or in the fall.”
Kenny-Baum said that the impact of the Wellness Center will be “incremental,” but added that there has already been more interest this year.
“The first year or two it’s not going to be a massive thing,” said senior Ben Bialla, who serves on the Wellness Advisory Council. “I don’t want to say it won’t be hugely effective right away, but over time, as people start warming up to the idea and more people start using it, it becomes more accepted to go there.”
Bialla said that the Wellness Center will be a valuable resource in a “high-stress community” like Marin, but that students must visit the center to discover its value for themselves.
“Walk into it with an open mind, go there for yourself and see the resources that it gives people and give it a fair chance,” Bialla said. “It’s not a negative; it’s something that’s trying to help people, something that’s trying to
reduce stress in the community, trying to provide a place for people to go—there’s all sorts of things that it provides and it’s overall trying to benefit our community.”
Twenty percent of 11th graders and 17 percent of ninth graders at Redwood said they had seriously considered committing suicide in the last year, according to the 2013-2014 CA Healthy Kids Survey, the most recent available.
Forty-eight percent of 11th graders at Redwood reported having consumed alcohol within the 30 days before they took the survey, compared with 19 percent of 11th graders at San Gabriel, Yoshihara’s previous school district.
Yoshihara believes that it is hard to control student activities that do not take place during school hours.
“School has some ownership [of student wellness] in that students do spend a large amount of their day here. But by the same token, I would still believe that for the most part, at least from our knowledge, kids aren’t drinking at school and smoking at school,” Yoshihara said. “A lot of that happens outside the school day, and so how do we take ownership of that?”
Junior Ben Gold-Matejka expressed similar sentiments, saying that organizations outside of the TUHSD are better suited to address student wellness.
“I don’t feel like it’s the school’s responsibility. I feel like school is supposed to give us an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to expand our ideas,” Gold-Matejka said. “I don’t feel like here’s the place to be dealing with such issues.”
Alternatively, Kenny-Baum believes that the Wellness Center can especially help students who might not actively seek help from outside resources.
“I think that what makes a program successful is the
pure accessibility. There are agencies that are outside, and there are always going to be people who will go and access them, but there are always going to be a huge group of people who don’t,” Kenny-Baum said. “There’s a lot of students at Redwood who are really busy, who are really occupied, who are real achievers, and maybe they don’t prioritize taking care of themselves...I think they have a higher chance of [taking care of themselves] if it’s here on campus.”
Parents also have a responsibility to discuss wellness with their children, according to both Yoshihara and Gold-Matejka.
“We understand that when you’re high you’re not going to learn, but to what extent are we responsible to help remedy that, counseling services, and all that, or is that a function of the home environment?” Yoshihara said.
Gold-Matejka articulated similar ideas, saying that parents should be the first to have the dialogue with their children.
“I feel like this brings up a greater issue in the Marin community of kids trying to distance themselves from their parents,” Gold-Matejka said. “You should have a sense of dialogue with your parents.”
The future of funding for the Wellness Center and other programs remains uncertain, as no funding decisions will be made until the school board first sees the budget proposal in late March, and adopts it in late June.
The next budget study committee meeting will take place on Feb. 2.
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 3 • News
Site Council creates new guidelines for Quiet Week
Site Council has created, approved and released a set of guidelines for Study Week, the week that precedes finals week previously known as Quiet Week.
The name change from Quiet Week, also known as “Dead Week,” to “Study Week” stemmed from Site Council’s desire to clarify the week’s purpose as a time for studying and preparing for exams.
Site Council is comprised of five teachers, four students, four parents, two administrators, and one classified staff member. The Redwood website states that the goals of Site Council are to “promote empathy, kindness, and respect for oneself and others, foster a safe environment that values both personal and academic goals, celebrates individuality, and cultivate tolerance and inclusiveness.”
The new guidelines are recommendations for the administration, counselors, teachers, students, parents and athletic coaches. These include limiting extracurriculars and adding in-class time for studying.
The new guidelines state that counselors, administration, teachers, and parents should not pull students from classes except in emergency situations. Additionally, students should limit social obligations and athletic coaches should minimize practices and competitions as much as possible.
The goals are to “establish a clear definition of the days prior to finals, alleviate stress and reduce anxiety leading up to finals (for students, teachers, and families), and outline policies that will help students focus on academics so they can perform to the best of their abilities,” according to the official document titled “Study Week Guidelines,” which was released Jan. 19 in an email from Principal David Sondheim.
Sondheim said that his own goal for the changes is to see students be successful on their exams while retaining their health.
“I’m hoping that we will see students be able to perform well on their end-of-semester assessments, whatever they may look like, in a way that still maintains their health and well- being during that time,” Sondheim said.
Students on Site Council presented the guidelines to a group of teacher leaders on Nov. 2 and to the full staff on Nov. 11. Although the teachers did not have to specifically approve the guidelines, as Site Council does not need approval to do
work, Sondheim said the council was open to feedback from the staff.
“From some of the comments, some of the Site Council folks saw some very easy changes to the wording that will help emphasize some of the things that the teachers gave feedback about,” Sondheim said.
Site Council has been working to establish guidelines for the week prior to finals for the past 1½ years, as people in the Redwood community acknowledge finals week as a stressful time.
“I definitely believe that not teaching new material during quiet week is important for students. It’s really tough for me to keep up with new material as well as review a whole semester’s worth of material for a final,” said junior Sanjana Seshadri, a first-year member of Site Council.
Members of Site Council saw clear distinctions between the desires of students and the desires of teachers with regard to the new guidelines, according to Julie Norwood, a teacher on Site Council.
“We saw a lot of differences in what students and teachers thought [Quiet Week] was, and what they want it to be,” Norwood said. “Kids really wanted it to be a time where they didn’t learn anything new, where they just got to focus on finals. Teachers feel that finals are important,
but giving up a full week of instruction isn’t necessarily the right thing to do.”
Although the guidelines for Study Week have been introduced for this semester, enforcement will be at the discretion of the students, teachers, parents and coaches.
“This is what we would want in an ideal situation, and teachers, coaches and parents have to use their best
judgements,” Norwood said.Teacher Ann Jaime believes that the
new guidelines are suggestions rather than rules because they allow the teachers to do what they believe is best for their students.
“We’ve never really strictly enforced guidelines,” Jaime said. “Ultimately, the way a teacher teaches their class is left pretty much up to them. So what the site council was trying to do was offer some suggestions that they thought might make for a more balanced lead up to finals. But at the end of the day, how [a teacher] conducts their classroom is up to them.”
Additionally, the high standard of teachers in the Tam Union High School District allows the administration to trust the teachers to do what is best, according
to Jaime.“Mostly, in this district, we trust the
professionalism of teachers to make wise choices,” Jaime said. “So what I think the administration is doing by offering guidelines is to say that if you are going to live outside the bounds of these guidelines, we trust that you are doing that for good cause, not to be subversive or harsh.”
Jaime also believes that by leaving the guidelines as suggestions, teachers are able to be more flexible to the needs of their students.
“To me, at the end of the day, it’s what is going work for kids. That’s the way I would use [the guidelines],” Jaime said.
The process of creating the guidelines involved choosing a topic of focus, giving out a survey, and basing the new guidelines [email protected]
By Emily Cerf
Infographic by Emily Cerf
upon the results of the survey.According to the Quiet Week Survey
Highlights released by Site Council, students who participated in the survey prioritized having no homework related to finals and having no new material taught in class, while their lowest priorities were having no mandatory athletic practices and no non-essential call slips out of class.
Teachers, on the other hand, selected not having field trips, no additional or extended SMART periods, and no non-essential call slips. Their lowest priorities were having mandatory days of review prior to the exam and having no projects due.
I’m hoping we will see students perform well on their end of semester assessments.
David Sondheim,principal
Congress approves funding for SMART train extension to Larkspurbark Page 4 • News January 29, 2016
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By Henry Tantum
After congressional approval of a federal spending bill in late December, the new Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train will be extended from downtown San Rafael to Larkspur.
Although passenger service for the initial section of the train will begin in late 2016, the extension of the project to Larkspur might not be completed for multiple years, possibly in 2019, according to Kevin McGowan, Assistant Public Works Director and City Engineer of San Rafael.
The completed tracks will start in Cloverdale, Sonoma County, and end across the street from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, where a pedestrian overpass has been constructed to allow commuters to get from the train to the ferry without having to cross the road.
“The intent is to try to improve transportation aspects throughout Marin and Sonoma,” McGowan said. “Get folks to the ferry and off the highway.”
The project will cost an estimated $541 million to construct, along with $19 million per year of operating and maintenance costs. The majority of the money will be raised through existing funds, sales tax and fares, according to SMART.
Senior Jordan Byck, a member of the Redwood Mountain Bike Racing Team who often bikes in the area of the infrastructure, said that the new overpass would be extremely beneficial to him because it would let him cross over Sir Francis Drake Boulevard without riding on the road.
“It’s going to be very useful for me because it’s going to open up a whole new area for me that I can get to very quickly,” Byck said. “You don’t want to ride in places where there are lots of cars, so I will be using that path a lot to help me stay safe.”
Although the train does not connect directly to San Francisco, it will still help to clear up traffic on Highway 101, the majority of which is bound for Marin and Sonoma
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SONOMA-MARIN AREA RAIL TRANSIT (SMART) will extend for 70 miles and provide transportation from Larkspur to Cloverdale. Construction will begin later this year, but the Larkspur extension is not predicted to be completed until 2019.
Courtesy of Patrick Dirden Photography
Counties, according to SMART.Trains will utilize “passing sidings,” or short double-
railed sections of track, to run both north and south trains during commute hours. This will make only one track
necessary, saving money and construction time, according to SMART.
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 5 • News
Local woman makes splash on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’
By Max Josef
By Andrew Hout
After Mill Valley businesswoman Sarah Oliver appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the company experienced its first website sellout in recent weeks.
Oliver negotiated a $250,000 deal with three of the five “sharks” on an episode which aired Dec. 4.
“We had a competition beforehand to see who could be the closest to how much we would sell after the show. I said we would sell 825 bags in the first week and we sold more than that,” sales representative Jenny McLaughlin said.
Entrepreneurs on “Shark Tank” attempt to strike a deal with multimillionaire investors Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John, among others, all of whom appear on the show in groups of five.
Oliver, owner of Sarah Oliver Handbags, was able to make the deal by giving up 30 percent of her company. In the future, she will have the opportunity to consult with “sharks” Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, and Robert Herjavec about business expansion strategies.
Oliver said that she did not originally intend to start a business and was simply knitting handbags as holiday gifts more than a decade ago. After receiving positive feedback from gift recipients, she decided to make a brand out of her hobby.
After appearing on “Shark Tank,” the company has seen its sales skyrocket, McLaughlin said.
“I never wanted to be on Shark Tank––they actually approached me. I went into the ‘tank’ super prepared and I knew all of the numbers,” Oliver said. “I went in thinking this company has gone from me knitting a few bags to me pitching my company to the ‘sharks’ on national TV.”
Oliver was shocked that she was able to get three sharks to “bite” on the proposition of joining her in owning the company.
The small business, where Oliver and four other employees work, is located in Sausalito. It has been operating for 10 years and sells handbags that are hand knit by older men and women in Mill Valley, who live at the Redwoods Retirement Community, called the “Purlettes,” who are all in their late 80s or early 90s years old.
Knitter and “Purlette” Daphne Campbell, 93, started knitting in college and has continued ever since. She began working for the company a few years after Oliver originally came to the Redwoods in search of knitters.
“Two or three years [after Oliver came to the Redwoods], I joined in because I found I had a lot of time on my hands and that [the “Purlettes”] got paid. So far I have made over 1,000 bags,” Campbell said.
Since Oliver originally went to the Redwoods, she has gone once a week to visit the “Purlettes.”
“I meet with the knitters once a week. I have about 30
total, two of whom are men,” Oliver said. “The process starts with the ‘Purlettes’. When they are done knitting the wool, it comes back here and we wash it. Then once it dries, we shave the fuzzy stuff off of it and then we hand stitch the labels and put on the brooches and chains.”
Each bag comes with either a gold or silver brooch chosen by the customer when ordering. The bag also comes with information about the company, pictures of the “Purlettes,” and a quote from the person who knit the bag, according to Oliver.
Campbell said that working for Oliver gives the senior citizens an income when many of them are living solely on social security.
“We try to honor our knitters and tell their stories. So we did a photo series of their hands doing something that has to do with the company, such as knitting. We are all about engaging and employing the citizens in the workforce,” Oliver said.
There is a sense of community between all the knitters as they all knit together, according to Campbell.
“We meet in one of the lounges [at the Redwoods], and
Sarah comes and talks to us and tells us how the company is doing and we sit there and chat while we knit,” Campbell said.
The company has three different distribution channels, according to Oliver.
“We distribute through our website, wholesale, and a direct-to-consumer show,” Oliver said.
Sixty percent of the company’s sales come from selling directly to the consumer, 30 percent come from wholesale, and 10 percent come from the company’s website. The company sells approximately 4,000 bags per year, according to McLaughlin.
Oliver said that while the company’s goal is to continue to grow the online business, telling the seniors’ stories, even with the company’s increased fame from the show, remains an important goal.
ENTREPRENEUR SARAH OLIVER passes a completed handbag to one of her employees. Sarah Oliver handbags are knitted by senior citizens of the Redwoods Retirement Community and customized with either a gold or silver brooch.
Photo by Max Josef
Although the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae has lost many of its beloved establishments, it has recently gained fresh, high-quality restaurants as replacements.
“The Bon Air Center is such an essential part of this area. It is basically the downtown of Greenbrae because it’s close to schools and homes,” said Audrey Shapiro, Bon Air’s marketing manager. “The center is a nice community gathering space, so we try to provide everyone with good lunch and food offerings.”
The shopping center is revitalizing its atmosphere by bringing in an assortment of new upcoming establishments, according to Vesa Becam, Bon Air’s head of leasing.
“We have a lot of young families moving into the area and a lot of established residents who have been here. We just want to make sure we can meet everyone’s needs,” Shapiro said.
Patxi’s PizzaPatxi’s Pizza is a new addition to the
Bon Air Center that opened in August and serves large deep dish and thin crust pizza.
Patxi’s has a casual atmosphere with dimly lit lights and multiple televisions. In addition, the restaurant consists of a welcoming outside patio with a fireplace that is surprisingly sheltered from the constant noise of Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Shapiro said, “They are a great addition and have been doing very, very well here.”
Ben and Jerry’sThe Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream outlet
closed down due to unsustainable profits, according to Shapiro.
“Ben and Jerry’s started as a unique experience, but since it became a grocery store brand ice cream, it was no longer unique and customers stopped coming,” Becam said.
For spacing reasons, the building that Ben and Jerry’s occupied is scheduled to be abolished, to be replaced with fountains and play areas.
A new ice cream establishment called Loving Cup will be opening in May. Loving Cup is an artisanal ice cream vendor that combines the ice cream with toppings in a mixing apparatus.
BistroBistro Vis a Vis, now located in San
Anselmo, was a food and wine cafe that was rated third best for places to eat in the San Francisco Bay Area as of 2014, according to its website.
Rated only behind The French Laundry and John Bentley’s, Bistro had an array of gourmet dishes along with all-American cuisine choices.
Bistro Vis a Vis left Bon Air around August and relocated to San Anselmo several months later, according to its website.
Oyama Sushi, a small chain located throughout the Bay Area that serves an assortment of sushi specials, is scheduled to take over the location in February.
Wipeout Bar and GrillWipeout Bar and Grill was a surf-
themed American restaurant that served a wide variety of lunch and dinner foods. A back room fit with an arcade was also available for parties or big groups.
“They were here for around five years and just couldn’t end up making it work.” said Shapiro. The original Wipeout, located on Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco is still a very popular destination.
Nothing is scheduled to replace Bon Air’s Wipeout so far.
Fifi’s DinerFifi’s Diner, the oldest establishment
in the Bon Air Shopping Center, closed on Dec. 19 after serving for 30 years.
“Fifi Schardt was a wonderful part of the center for a great long time,” Shapiro said. “Before she opened Fifi’s, it was a yogurt shop, but then she added a grill and started to make hamburgers and hot dogs.”
According to Becam, Schardt closed the restaurant because she decided to retire.
“A restaurant will definitely be replacing Fifi’s because it has a great kitchen space there. There are several restaurants that have interest in the space, but so far the spot is still up for grabs,” Shapiro said.
Infographic by Andrew Hout
As old Bon Air businesses close, new ones spring up
For the multimedia version of this story, visit www.redwoodbark.org
opinionopinion Page 6
New app highlights lack of personal intimacy in technology
By Sarah Kimball
As I was walking down the halls prior to finals week, I heard several people talking about a new app: Brighten. I downloaded the app that same night, unaware of its popularity, but willing to check it out. A few hours later, one of my friends sent me a message through the app: “You’re so beautiful,” it read. I was initially flattered, but a few compliments later, I wasn’t as excited. Why can’t these people come up to me and say these compliments personally? They would mean much more if I could see the person face-to-face.
It is easy to see why Brighten gained popularity so quickly—people appreciate the messages that the app promotes. Recipients of the compliments gain confidence and feel appreciated, while those who give the compliments feel like they have made someone’s day.
However, as humans, we are naturally inclined to see the negative qualities in others and ignore the things that truly matter: the characteristics that make everyone special. According to psychologist Rick Hanson, the amygdala, which is the “alarm” of your brain, uses about two-thirds of its neurons to look for bad news. Negative stimuli produce more neural activity than do equally intense positive ones and the negative stimuli are perceived more easily and quickly.
For example, people in studies can identify angry faces faster than happy ones even if they are shown these images so quickly that they cannot have any conscious recognition of them. Based on the makeup of our brains, we often find it difficult or awkward to say something nice about someone else. Even though Brighten encourages us
to recognize and let others know what we appreciate about them, why do we need an app to enable us to do so?
We live in a generation of evolving technology, leading to new modes of transportation, new ways to communicate and new ways to live. However, we are also a generation completely dependent upon our phones.
We are constantly obsessed with what is happening on social media or consumed by communicating through texting. Brighten encourages us to hide deeper behind our screens instead of making personal connections with others. We need to learn how to communicate effectively beyond our screens. Since a young age we have been trained how to speak to other successfully or present in front of groups but we now hide those skills and communicate solely through our technology. Making more valuable connections starts with talking face-to-face to others in a positive and constructive way.
Not only does Brighten allow us to depend on the privacy of our technology, but it also promotes a lack of self-confidence. By having an app that allows you to anonymously compliment others, we are being told
that it is preferable to compliment someone without revealing your identity. Does that really sound encouraging? We learn a lot from what is online or on our phones. Anonymity is often used to be secretive, but compliments should not be a silent act, but
an act that is acknowledged regularly. By instilling that praise for others should be anonymous, people feel as though they can’t share admiration toward friends or acquaintances without feeling uncomfortable.
Most of all, we need to learn how to look at someone and say, “Wow, your presentation was so powerful today,” or “Hey, you played amazing at practice today.” We all have the
courage to do so, but the first step toward truly complimenting someone is eliminating the distraction of Brighten so people will recognize how easy it is to praise someone in person. Even though we naturally tend to identify the faults in others, we all have the ability to see the positive qualities in everyone and discover those characteristics that make each one of us special. Now, we just have to learn to put down our phones and compliment others face-to-face.
Ditch today’s formulaic music, revert to the archaic
By Aaron Halford
Since the day my father’s old vinyl started spinning on his Grundig record player, the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s has enraptured me like no other. It was all I could listen to then, and it’s mostly all I can stand to listen to today. People continue to tell me that I was born in the wrong generation, and that music is just a matter of taste and preference. Yet my experience suggests that there has to be more to it. Popular, Billboard-topping music today generally lacks creativity, ingenuity, lyrical and musical depth, experimental spirit, and in many cases, talent.
Harsh, I know. To the high school reader, I’m sure my
opinion comes off as ignorant, and frankly, wrong.
In 1965, Bob Dylan demonstrated this ingenuity when he released “Like a Rolling Stone,” which forever shattered all preconceived notions of what a single could be in terms of length, sound, and subject matter. The six-minute gem’s social commentary, raw instrumentation and vocals, and lyrical depth changed music forever, and broke barriers in the potential of pop music.
Music during the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s used to cleverly convey the experience of being in love, or creatively critique contemporary issues. Now, however, it serves as a vehicle to either objectify women, glorify violence, extol drug use, exalt material wealth, or superficially discuss a relationship or breakup.
Throughout the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, audiences did not need to look hard to find music with unprocessed, innovative instrumentation. Today, consumers of mainstream music struggle to even find a real instrument in a recording or performance.
Additionally, music today is written by some of the same select behind-the-scene songwriters, which is evident in the unoriginality of many pop songs. Max Martin, for example, has written and co-written 21 Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits since 1999, third only to Paul
McCartney and John Lennon of the Beatles. Among Martin’s hits include songs with similar melodies, chord patterns, rhythms and instrumentation.
Since the public likes to believe that pop artists write their own songs, Martin has remained comfortable in the background of the music scene. The music industry and its consumers have made a statement that the looks and personality of pop stars are more important to them than the music they create and its artistic value.
As large record companies are increasing their control of artists and the rest of the music industry, it has become harder for artists affiliated with major record labels to maintain their artistic integrity and creativity.
Ray Charles, for example, established himself as one of the finest musicians of the ‘50s and ‘60s, with his prodigious piano skills and impeccable phrasing. Charles combined gospel, R&B, soul and jazz music in an inventive way, earning himself
a large contract with ABC-Paramount Records, as well as a dedicated fanbase. In 1962, Charles released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” where he approached a completely new genre with his own soulful twist. ABC-Paramount’s faith in Charles and his artistic vision helped make it one of the most well-known and successful albums of all time.
Nowadays, record companies have disregarded commitment to artistic growth and development and are quick to cut an artist loose if they try something that may not be as profitable as the label prefers. Artists do not have the time to flourish musically simply because the record companies won’t let them.
Record labels look for a profitable formula and attempt to repeat it once they achieve success. That’s why so many of the songs we hear today have similar melodies, similar lyrics and similar time signatures. That’s why so many of the popular songs today are written by such a small group of
songwriters—the writers have mastered the art of writing a pop song that sells, and they continue to write songs using the same formula.
These same record companies also have a large sway on radio stations, which are paid to play songs by artists on a particular label. This explains why on popular stations today, the same playlist of songs is repeated again and again until it’s ingrained in the minds of the consumers.
Despite all that is wrong with the industry, listeners are also at fault. If you buy into loud, booming bass and lyrics that objectify women and glorify violence, it’s what you’re going to get. If you hold artists to a high standard and listen more critically, the quality of music you discover will be higher. In order to enact change, people need to stop settling for bad music. We need to revolt against the music of today, or music will never be what it once was.
Illustration by Lohana Chiovarou
Illustration by Haley Bjursten
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 7 • Opinion
Trivial events threaten validity of cultural appropriationBy Nicole Stock
In the final months of 2015, a new movement emerged in the media, dubbed the “Culture War” by The New York Times. College students and faculty were criticized for practicing “cultural appropriation,” which is when one culture adopts elements of another. The term typically carries a negative connotation.
We often see the debate about cultural appropriation appear in news linked to college campus events. However, the term’s use has extended beyond problems that deserve media attention and onto trivial events that threaten its validity and significance.
At the end of December, a group of Oberlin College students made headlines in The New York Times and other national publications because they were discontent with school’s food, which included a reportedly “soggy” version of the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, a Chinese General Tso’s chicken dish that was steamed instead of fried, and sushi that was said to have been poorly prepared, among other items.
The students claimed that—because the food at their school didn’t taste authentic enough—the cafeteria staff was culturally appropriating the cuisine.
While it’s unfortunate that the food in the school dining hall left something to be desired, poorly made sushi in no way measures up to the scale of cultural appropriation that has been observed on other college campuses. When the media regards it as such, it detracts from and therefore diminishes the magnitude of the root issues that exist in our society.
Who is to blame for the exaggeration and
overuse of this term? It’s not a new phenomenon for college kids to complain about the quality and authenticity of the food in their dining halls, yet somehow, this time, such complaints earned national coverage.
We need to hold the media accountable for furthering an exaggerated view of the “culture war” on college campuses because its coverage runs the risk
of making a joke out of an issue that must be taken seriously.
News coverage favors fluff over important storiesBy Caleigh Stephens
The home page of the San Francisco Chronicle website is filled with bold headlines highlighting such scintillating topics as a sign at a pizza restaurant that received “national attention,” an Oscar scandal, and, on a lucky day, Mark Zuckerberg’s neighbors. Far to the right, in a much smaller font, is a mention of a shooting in Santa Rosa. Scroll way down and there might just be a glimpse of a story about decoy cameras at BART stations, or Obama’s $4 billion initiative to fund the testing of self-driving cars.
The Chronicle is not alone. The age of social media has caused countless other publications to favor clickbait over current global issues because the value of a story is directly correlated to the number of shares and likes it gets.
A Pew Research study from October, which examined media coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, revealed that more stories relied on personal narratives than political narratives: 31 percent used members of the public as sources, while only 12 percent used a member of Congress as a source, and 12 percent used someone from a single-issue interest group as a source.
Only covering certain aspects of important topics will lead to a negative outcome, especially if they are as important as the Pope’s political views and messages, which will shape the Catholic church and the world.
This focus on superficial news trickles down to readers. I’ve heard many friends discuss viral news events they heard about via social media and make claims backed by studies they read on Snapchat.
In fact, a Pew Research study from July
found that 63 percent of Twitter users and 63 percent of Facebook users reported that they used the sites as a source for news.
While these statistics may not seem problematic, “trending” tags inflate the importance of superficial stories––they allow us to read about the latest celebrity break-up, or a new diet guaranteed to help them lose 20 pounds in a week, rather than the hard truth we need to hear to become
informed. The influx of news articles onto social media itself is not a problem, rather it helps the public become more involved in news events. The troubling aspect comes when social media dictates which stories should be read, and which should not.
More often than not, it is the stories with little relevance that go viral, leaving articles on other issues go unnoticed. This over emphasis on stories that are composed
solely of fluff can distract us from what is actually going on in the world. When reputable news sources publish stories that might have previously only been published in a gossip magazine, they let what the audience wants to hear overshadow what they need to hear.
I readily admit that I would much rather read a heartwarming story than one about the most recent mass shooting. But just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean I should ignore it. Not every important event is enjoyable, but that doesn’t mean the less enjoyable ones should be disregarded.
It is vitally important to be informed about world issues so that we can build a better future, solve problems, and become more tolerant of people who have different views and experiences than us. When news coverage skirts away from hard news, and the audience’s only source of news is opinionated social media, we are left with ignorance instead of education.
If a news event is shared multiple times and blows up on social media, its exposure and influence will skyrocket and grow exponentially, leaving less-viewed stories behind in the dust. Tieing a story’s worth to its success on social media will make it so other equally important articles can be swept under a rug.
If a well-respected publication prints clickbait stories, it further corroborates the idea that stories written purely for entertainment are important, and that crucial global events should be disregarded.
Although readers might not be able to control the media’s attempt to distract them, it is their responsibility to look past the fluffy stories and find out what is truly going on.
[email protected] by Asha Cummings
The instances of cultural appropriation that do warrant national headlines often stem from larger issues, such as racial discrimination and gender inequality.
On some campuses, fraternities have been cited for holding parties deemed racially offensive by school administrators, such as a Kanye West-themed party that took place at UCLA to which some students came in blackface.
The debate regarding cultural appropriation intensified around Halloween, when many schools, including Yale and the University of Washington, warned against wearing culturally offensive costumes, such as dressing as Pocahontas or a samurai warrior.
At Claremont McKenna College, a photo of students dressed in sombreros and woven ponchos offended
some of the other students and augmented the discussion of the controversial topic. No matter how you believe cultural appropriation should be handled on
campuses, it’s clear that many of these issues stem directly from problems that deserve the limelight in the media.
While it is important that the media continues to spur discussion about
cultural appropriation, it must not call attention to smaller matters
because doing so devalues the worth of the term. As media consumers, we need to recognize the difference between cultural offense and
poor culinary abilities, and only support publications that do so as well.
If we begin to associate every
interaction between different cultures as
cultural appropriation, it ultimately stalls our progress toward finding solutions to the problems at the core of the real “culture war.”
Illustration by Caleigh Stephens
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 8• Opinion
Barks& Bites
a hydrogen bomb. If they continue dropping H-Bombs, the U.S. military will soon have them dropping F-bombs.A BARK to Sarah Palin for endorsing Donald Trump. SNL’s job has never been so easy.A BITE to Yellow Cab in San Francisco for going bankrupt. Maybe you should rename yourself new-ber.
A BARK to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for naming their kid Saint West. Looks like their reading has improved from a map to the Bible.A BITE to Fox News calling Obama’s tears over gun violence “fake.” When it comes to being fake, Fox truly takes the win.A BARK t o t h e O l y m p i c c o m m i t t e e f o r a l l o w i n g t r a n s g e n d e r a t h l e t e s t o compete in the Rio Games. #ComebackCaitlynA B I T E t o N e w Ye a r ’s resolutions for being just one more way to let ourselves down.A BARK to El Niño for literally
being “the boy.” ‘Nuff said.A BITE to El Niño for not being strong enough to cancel school. Still waiting on Stormageddon 2k16.A BARK to the new Star Wars movie. So good we want to see it in Blu-REY.A BITE to school for stressing us out. Our senior year feels like our senior years.A BARK to Jim Tomsula for getting $14 million from the 49ers. At least someone benefitted from this season.A BITE to the North Koreans for testing out the newest weapon in the i r a rsena l ,
BARKS and BITES are the col lect ive opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.
Redwood High School395 Doherty Drive
Larkspur, CA 94939www.redwoodbark.org
redw
ood
POLICY: All edi tor ia ls are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.
editorial Dear Admin:
Make the unpopular
decision
Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in the Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to the Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible, and signed. They must be submitted to Room 177 or the Bark mailbox in the facility. They may also be emailed to [email protected].
Principal David Sondheim sent a set of guidelines to the Redwood community about the week preceding final exams, formerly known as “Quiet Week” or “Dead Week,” on Jan. 19.
The guidelines for the week, now called “Study Week,” were discussed and approved by the school’s Site Council, a group primarily comprised of students, parents, staff members, and administrators, including the principal.
The Site Council was presented with a complex issue, and any effort to bring uniform policies or rules to the week must be praised. But the guidelines are not enough.
The principal cited our community’s general “confusion” about the purpose of the week in his email about the guidelines, and proceeded to thank the Site Council for its dedication in “helping students be emotionally and academically successful.” One of the group’s primary goals was to “establish a clear definition” of what should take place during the week before final exams.
Yet the guidelines listed in the document and on the school’s website are anything but “clear” or uniform. For example, the Council states that athletic events and other extracurricular “performances” should “be kept to a minimum.” The guidelines also state, “We suggest that teachers avoid giving students large assignments or assessments during Study Week that would take away from their ability to prepare for their finals.”
But how is a student to make the most of their study time during Study Week when coaches are not bound to any concrete rule, and teachers are only prompted by suggestion? If the Site Council’s goal is truly to assist students in “perform[ing] to the best of their abilities,” athletics (among other “performances”) must take a backseat to academics, and the administration should require teachers to adhere to mandatory policies—without exception.
The guidelines also state that teachers “should avoid teaching new content if students will not have adequate time to learn the material before the final exam.” Whether or not students “have adequate time to learn” the new content is a purely subjective judgement on behalf of the teacher. Teachers will have the freedom to deem anywhere from four class periods to zero class periods as “adequate time” to understand
new material, while simultaneously reviewing a semester’s worth of curriculum.
A recently released summary of a survey given to both teachers and students in May 2015 suggests that they have conflicting ideas about their priorities for Study Week, aside from a shared desire for “additional or extended SMART periods.” Among the top-ranked teacher priorities were “no field trips,” and “no non-essential call slips,” while students rated “no homework unrelated to the final,” and “no new material” among their own.
By including vague language in the guidelines, the Site Council and administration appease both students and teachers. These groups avoid addressing the concerns of the student body by endorsing such nonobligatory language as “suggesting” and “recommending.”
It is admirable that the administrators involved students and teachers in the planning process. The attempt to include student voice was a good first step toward facilitating discussion of differing viewpoints.
If administrators truly wish to promote academic and emotional success for students, however, they should approve rules, not guidelines, that teachers must follow. Because of the room for interpretation in the guidelines, we are only compounding the dilemma at hand, rather than lessening the “hectic” nature of the week that the principal described in his email.
We cannot expect that all students will receive adequate time to learn without enforceable rules. Study Week should be reserved for studying and reviewing a semester’s worth of learning—this is what the students have demanded, and this is how we can best “alleviate stress and reduce anxiety.” We urge Principal Sondheim and the administration to make what may seem like an unpopular decision and act in the best interest of the students they are supposed to serve.
Enforce rules, not suggestions
barkEditors-in-ChiEf
Olivia DominguezShiriel King Abramson
Bella McWhorterMatt Ross
Copy EditorsAaron Halford Anne Pritikin
Rebecca Smalbach Caleigh Stephens
Pearl Zhong
nEws Editors Camille Kawawa-Beaudan
Hannah BlazeiGregory Block
opinion Editors Geneva GistNicole Stock
fEaturE Editors Eric Ahern
Annie Forsman
sports Editors Michael Benz
Adam KreitzmanHeidi Roenisch
rEviEw Editors Julia ChernerSam Sheridan
LifEstyLEs Editors Ella Cook
Sarah Kimball
spanish EditorsCatherine Conrow
Henry Tantum
vidEo EditorHayden Blum
wEbsitE dEvELopErKevin Makens
Sam Slade
businEss ManagErSabrina Dong
soCiaL MEdia ManagErKylie Kvam
survEy ManagErKeely Jenkins
snaphshot EditorChloe Wintersteen
rEportErsKayla AldridgeIsabella AliotoDanny AvinsMadi Barsi
Addison BradyKaylee Bushell
Emily CerfOvie Crum
Luke DahlinJason Fieber
Annie FogartyJenna Herz
Andrew HoutMax Josef
Maxime Kawawa-BeaudanIsabelle Marmur
Robin NaylorKendall RhoadsSydney SooferCosmo TaylorMary Winnick
iLLustratorsAsha CummingsHaley Bjursten
Lohana Chiovarou
advisErErin Schneider
españolespañol Página 9
Aprendizaje no ha cambiado después de terminación del programa ‘sheltered’
En el año escolar 2014-2015, 44 por ciento de los estudiantes en el programa English Language Development (ELD) recibieron un D o F en las calificaciones de sus clases, según estadísticas realizadas por el distrito. Eso es 8 por ciento más que un aproximado 36 por ciento en los años anteriores, cuando había un programa llamado “sheltered”.
El programa “sheltered” era una opción para los estudiantes que no mostraron un entendimiento básico de inglés inscribirse en plan de estudios de cinco clases cada día con otros estudiantes que también estaban aprendiendo inglés. Tomó lugar en Tamalpais High School.
Un año después que la terminación del programa “sheltered”, la escuela todavia tiene que hacer más para ayudar a los estudiantes ELD, según, profesores, y administradores del distrito.
Los estudiantes ELD tienen que tomar el California English Language Development Test (CELDT) que indica el nivel que tiene el estudiante en una escala de 1-5. Antes del cambio del programa ELD, los estudiantes que sacaron un 1 o un 2 tuvieron la opción de participar en las clases “sheltered”.
“Una de las razones mayores [que terminamos el programa] era para desegregar los estudiantes para integrar en las clases con sus compañeros en vez de ser aislados con los otras estudiantes ELD”, dijo Kim Stiffler, directora de estudios y instrucción para el TUHSD.
Sin embargo, según una investigación realizada por la administración, el programa no esta mejorando con la terminación del programa “sheltered” pero todavía no esta empeorando en una manera significado.
Hoy día, Redwood solo tiene tres estudiantes que tiene nivel CELDT uno o dos.
Mike Levinson, el coordinador del programa ELD, cree que el distrito todavía tiene mucho que hacer con respeto a su comprensión para apoyar los estudiantes de ELD.
“Nosotros no estamos haciendo suficiente para los estudiantes de ELD, absolutamente no. Todos creen que tenemos que resolver de una mejor manera para que los estudiantes tengan la educación que necesitan”, dijo Levinson.
Según Debbie McCrea, la maestra de la clase de ELD, el distrito no está haciendo suficiente para ayudar estudiantes cuyos primer idioma no es inglés desde el cambio del programa el año pasado.
“Pienso que no están recibiendo la ayuda que necesitan”, dijo McCrea. “Están aprendiendo pero es muy, muy duro, para ellos”.
Stiffler compartió los sentimientos de McCrea y Levinson.
“La parte más interesante es el “data” -– solo tenemos un año de “data” del
programa ‘mainstream’ enfoque -– lo que el “data” mostró es que no estamos sirviendo a los estudiantes ELD asi como podriamos en ningun modelo”, dijo Stiffler.
Al principio del año pasado, el administrador determinó que su objetivo sería que el 80 por ciento de los estudiantes en el programa de ELD adelantaría el proximo nivel de el California English Language
Learning Development Test (CELDT) ese año. Sin embargo, desde los cambios y el punto de referencia puesto, sólo 62,5 por ciento de los estudiantes mejoraron a un nivel superior nivel del CELDT.
También, según data realizada por el distrito, sólo 69 por ciento de los estudiantes del programa ELD pasaron el CAHSEE sección de “English Language Arts” mientras 85 por ciento pasaron la sección de matemáticas, en el año escolar 2014-2015.
Según Levinson los resultados del programa ELD se han mezclado en los años pasados.
“Hay éxitos [en el programa]–– algunos toman clases de AP y algunos están aplicando a buenas universidades”, dijo Levinson. “Pero hay algunos que se esforzaron para pasar sus clases y no están desarrollando un respeto por aprender el idioma inglés”.
También, McCrea dijo que hay estudiantes que no están bien preparados.
“Uno de los beneficios del programa [“sheltered”] es que
proveyó una buena comunidad para los estudiantes porque pasan mucho tiempo juntos con solamente cuatro o cinco maestros diferentes”, dijo Stiffler. “Había un sentimiento de comunidad que los que son profesores dijeron que lo pierden”.
Sin los programas de clases “sheltered”, solamente hay un periodo de la clase ELD se ofrece en cada escuela en el distrito.
“Estaban en estas clases separadas, segregadas donde solamente estaban estudiantes que hablaban Inglés en las
Por Madi Barsi yHenry Tantum
Nosotros no estamos haciendo suficiente para los estudiantes de ELD, absolutamente no. Mike Levinson,coordinador del programa ELD
clases. El distrito eliminó esas clases y ahora los estudiantes están en clases [regulares], y no importa cómo su nivel de Inglés les afectan”, dijo Levinson. “Es un problema grande para los estudiantes que no hablan nada de Inglés”.
Stiffler cree que, las clases del programa “sheltered” se dio por terminado porque los estudiantes en las clases regulares estaban tan bien preparados como los estudiantes en las clases “sheltered”, y lo más importante, según el distrito, el programa formó un sentimiento de segregación en la escuela.
“La meta es tratar de mejorar la conocimiento de contenido”, dijo Stiffler, “Pero es un desafío porque a veces no
podemos encontrar los libros en sus idiomas nativos. Nosotros trabajamos duro por ellos conseguir la nivel de comprender que un hablante nativo de ingles tiene.”
Sin embargo, la administración está trabajando duro para hacer pasos de acción para ayudar los estudiantes ELD.
“Ya no tenemos la solución, pero queremos y tenemos maestros que son muy apasionados y dedicados”, dijo Stiffler.
No estamos sirviendo a los estudiantes ELD asi como podriamos en ningun modelo.Kim Stiffler,directora de estudios y instrucción
Maestros, administradores dicen que más tiene que ser realizado para ayudar a los estudiantes ELL después de la integración
For the English version, visit www.redwoodbark.org/spanish.
Infografía por Pearl Zhong
bark Page 10 • Feature January 29, 2016
By Macrae Sharp
started when senior Preston Tholan scribbled an idea for a storyline late one night about a year ago. Tholan was living in Great
Falls, Va., after growing up in Marin and attending Redwood as a freshman. He called senior and close friend Kim Vela, and they discussed the idea. It quickly developed into a movie plot about a boy named Isaiah who escapes from his destructive home and travels to the Sierra Nevada mountains.
“Flounder” is a film that features a “thrilling story of a young runaway’s adolescence and turbulent adventures,” according to the movie’s website.
Tholan is the director and screenwriter of “Flounder.” Vela is the producer and acts as Savannah, a flirtatious teenage runaway who meets Isaiah in the mountains. In Tholan’s words, Vela “handles all the logistics.”
“I’ve always been interested in [filmmaking]. As a little kid, I thought it was really cool how you could upload your own stories to YouTube,” Tholan said. “Through high school, I wanted to get more serious with it.”
Other members of the production team include sophomore Jack Green, juniors Sam Slade and Garet Jatsek, and seniors Annie Forsman and Campbell Nolan.
Slade is the editor and director of photography, while Jatsek serves as assistant cameraman and boom operator. Green and Nolan work as production assistants, and Forsman is assistant director.
Vela became interested in film in recent years after taking drama courses at Redwood and making short films.
When Tholan told Vela about the idea
of the plot for “Flounder,” she was eager to produce the film.
“We talked for hours and hours,” Vela said. “I was kind of already directing and producing short films of my own, so I immediately leapt on the opportunity.”
Vela said she and Tholan revised the plot continually, collaborating from 3000 miles apart. Tholan said the writing process didn’t happen at all like he expected.
“I think the hardest part for me was creating the characters and creating the actual specific scenarios of these characters meeting. It was [creating] what type of situations they would have. I had never gone that deep into creating these fictional characters,” Tholan said.
Writing the script was a new experience and a challenge for Tholan.
“I started writing the script a year ago, not knowing I was going to be the official writer. But we had auditions, and had actors from all over the state come down and read what I had written at two in the morning on some nights,” Tholan said. “That was incredible to me because I had no idea they were just going to read what I had written, just raw.”
Tholan and Vela began the production process with a very small team, but more peers started to join when he returned to California following his junior year.
As of press time, the crew is close to finishing the production process, and released an official film trailer on Jan. 10.
“We wanted to get the trailer out to get people excited, and to show our actors that they made the right choice [to act in Flounder],” Vela said. “It’s also to kind of prove to ourselves that this is actually happening, that we actually have to get this done. People gave us money, and people are driving two hours to come film with us.
All that stuff is real.”The crew raised more than $1,000
for the film by sharing a link to a crowd funding website, Indiegogo, with friends and family via email. Tholan also said he created a Facebook page to promote the project.
Tholan, Vela, Forsman, and Nolan cast a number of high school students to play teenagers in the film, including Redwood seniors James Cruz, Matt Theriault, McKinley Clemons, Fusion Academy senior Emily Todd, and Tam juniors Andrew LeBuhn and Charlie Lubenow.
Lubenow plays the leading role of Isaiah, a young boy who escapes from an abusive home environment and runs away to live in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Theriault has acted in drama productions at Redwood, but this will be the first time he has acted in a film. He plays Skunk, a character whose role is more prominent in the latter half of “Flounder,” and said the experience has been rewarding.
“It’s been completely different being onstage and being in a film, coming from someone who’s predominantly been on stage. I like the role because it’s more of a physical role and there’s a lot of running and action.”
Vela also reached out to a few people with whom she had previously worked in other films. Some even traveled from Brentwood and Sacramento to audition.
“For the adult [actors], we advertised on [Casting Networks San Francisco], which is the acting website that I use to find jobs for myself. So that was really cool to be on the other end,” Vela said.
Vela and Tholan both expressed incredible surprise at the amount of progress they’ve made on the film.
“It’s amazing. I knew it was going to be the biggest project I’d done, but I didn’t actually consider it because when you’re in it, you’re not really thinking about what you’re doing,” Vela said. “But then some guy comes in [to audition], you look at his resume and he was in Star Trek. You’re like, ‘Oh wow. Hi, read my script.’”
The crew did, in fact, cast the former “Star Trek” actor Mitch Darnell in “Flounder” as John Hudson, a kind-hearted father figure who Isaiah meets on his [email protected]
journey. Actor Steve Dakota, who played a small role in “Moneyball,” also came out to audition.
The crew is not paying its actors to participate, according to Tholan.
“It actually works out because nobody is driven by the money, but instead [by] the exposure and passion,” Tholan said.
Nolan also said his favorite part about filming “Flounder” was seeing all of the pre-production work come together on the first day of shooting on set last summer.
“It was so awesome seeing our dream, our vision that we had worked so hard on, actually turn into the film,” said Nolan, who became interested in the film industry through making short films.
Nolan said that one of the hardest parts of filming “Flounder” was scheduling the shoots and coordinating schedules with a large group of cast and crew members.
The production crew hopes its film will be finalized and released this summer.
“I’m excited to see the editing process as it comes to a completion,” Nolan said. “We almost feel like we bit off more than we could chew, but it worked out. We’ve been working so hard on it, and it feels like all this time when it finally comes together, it will be really rewarding.”
Tholan also said that directing “Flounder” and writing the script has changed his outlook on his future in the film industry.
“I’ve always been into film, but in terms of fine tuning what I like within the industry, I think I definitely want to improve on my writing,” Tholan said.
Vela plans on following her passion for film in college next year, and said that producing “Flounder” has further cemented her love for moviemaking and acting.
“[With] every film I’ve made, the production quality has gone up,” Vela said. “[Producing ‘Flounder’] has definitely changed me because I had no idea I could do something like this.”
“It was so awesome seeing our dream, our vision that we had worked so hard on, actually turn into the film,” said senior Campbell Nolan, a
production assistant for “Flounder.”DIRECTOR PRESTON THOLAN and producer Kim Vela discuss plans for their feature-length film, “Flounder.”
Photo by Macrae Sharp
Photo by Sam Slade
ACTOR ROBERT MATAS walks along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in West Marin on the second day of shooting for a scene in “Flounder.”
Photo by Sam Slade
IT
Nobody is driven by money, but instead [by] the exposure and passion.Preston Tholan,senior
‘Flounder’Making a splash in the youth filmmaking industry
House on tHe Hill
At the center of Marin County’s active and prosperous suburbia stands Mt. Tamalpais. On top of this serene, elevated green landscape sits an often misunderstood structure.
This distinct, dark-brown building, that houses the lookouts who scan the surrounding area for fires, has windows that line the second floor and give inhabitants a panoramic view of Marin, San Francisco, and the Pacific Ocean. It is perched upon the East Peak, elevation 2572 ft.
Many see this building every day; however, few understand the important service it provides for much of our county. This building serves as Mt. Tam’s fire post, and it overlooks all of Marin, from Bolinas all the way through past Novato.
Built in 1937, the Gardner Lookout stands above all of Marin’s inhabited and uninhabited areas, and its temporary inhabitants continuously scan for fires. The lookout was named after ex-fire chief Edwin B. Gardner, who died two years prior to the completion of its construction.
“People don’t know what it does. Unless they go up there and read [the plaque], they don’t know it’s a fire lookout,” said volunteer lookout Pat Williams, who began working as a lookout in 1969.
Williams is one of a long line of perpetual overseers to take the reins of this granite slewn, barbed-wire building at the peak of Tamalpais.
Williams, a seasoned veteran, is approaching his 50th year as a lookout. At the age of 21, he lived in the lookout for nearly five months.
“I lived up there for two weeks at a time, and I would come down for one day and pick up supplies and then go back up again,” Williams said.
Williams felt reentering the workforce as a paid lookout was a great opportunity after returning home from the Vietnam War.
“The lookout is no longer a paid position, but when I started up there I was being paid $200 a month, the same exact amount that they were paying me to get shot at in Vietnam,” Williams said. “Being up on Mt. Tam was a pretty good deal.”
To Williams and other lookouts, the job is much more than it appears on the surface. Gary Yost, a six year volunteer, said that becoming a lookout allowed him to spend more time immersed in nature.
“I was mostly interested in becoming a lookout because it gave me time to be on the mountain,” Yost said. “I love Mt. Tam, and the prospect of being the only one up there was really enticing.”
Yost is the creator of the video “A Day in the Life of a Fire Lookout,” which includes time-lapses and peak lookout. It was posted on Vimeo in 2012 and has since been viewed over 200,000 times.
Yost said that the video was intended not only to showcase the beauty of the mountain but also to recruit potential volunteers.
The lookout program is now nearing full capacity with 40 volunteers, according to Yost.
“Being a lookout is much more difficult than it seems because you’re looking at the same scene over and over again, and it’s very easy to zone out,” Yost said.
According to Yost, the lookout’s purpose may seem simple, but surveying thousands of surrounding acres is extremely challenging. However, for many
Un c ov e r i n g Mt. ta M’s p e a k r e s i d e n c yBy Michael Benzand Luke Dahlin
lookouts the pros outweigh the cons, according to Yost. “[The lookout] really is [like a safe haven]. There are 7
million people in the Bay Area and you’re the only one on top of this mountain, with a huge buffer around you, and you can see all of these people. It’s really spectacular,” Yost said.
Despite their separate backgrounds, the lookouts appreciate the same unmistakable beauty in the mountain.
“You feel like you’re on top of the world. You can see all of the Bay Area, you can see about 200 miles, you can see the snow-capped Sierras from up there, and on a really clear day you can see Mt. Lasson. It’s a special feeling,” Williams said. “There are absolutely magic moments up there.”
Don Keylon, a firefighter who manages and coordinates the volunteer lookout program, has only spent the night in the lookout twice, but he experienced many of the same feelings.
“I found myself waking up that night and just looking down at the lights and the cities–– San Francisco, Marin County,” Keylon said. “I was thinking about how I am the only one up there, and it really is a great feeling. I was just enjoying having Mt. Tamalpais all to myself.”
According to Yost, Mt. Tamalpais has been admired and enjoyed for thousands of years by native populations in the region. The Miwoks, the indigenous American Indian population in Northern California, considered Mt. Tamalpais to be the most sacred place in this area.
“Mt. Tamalpais occupies a very exalted position in Native American mythology. And prior to Westerners’ arrival, [Miwoks] rarely ever traveled toward the peak because it was considered too close to their spirit,” Yost said.
“The mountain is a spiritual mother in that it represents this high exalted place,” Yost said. “But it’s also a very physical mother because it provides us with all of the water that we drink.”
According to Yost, this spiritual significance is the primary draw for travelers and tourists looking to venture toward the peak of Tamalpais. And though the Miwoks rarely climbed to the peak, a diverse range of people have made the trip.
“I met a lot of interesting people up there,” Williams said. “A lot of people go to the top of the mountain from all over the world. I was meeting people that were ambassadors in different countries, Nobel Prize winners.”
For Yost, the mountain represents a guardian that looks over everyone and everything in the Bay Area.
“Mt. Tamalpais is sacred to me primarily because I feel protected by it,” Yost said. “The mountain provides me with the water that I drink, but it also provides me with this sentinel-like quality that it’s always there, sheltering me. It is a place I can go for refuge when I need it.”
Yost also enjoys the wilderness of the mountain.
“Mt. Tam is a place where you can think, or not think, but in general just to be restorative.” Yost said. “And to be able to get away from the world and just aimlessly wander, encountering wildlife or other hikers wanting to do the same
thing, is really healing and meditative.” For Williams, Tamalpais provides a sentimental
value of origin and and has a special place in his memory.
“The mountain to me is home. The mountain is a sacred place for me, which is why I’m up there,” Williams said. “Mt. Tam is part of me, or I’m part of Mt. Tam. Mt. Tam is a lot bigger than all of us.”
You feel like you’re on top of the world ... It’s a special feeling.Pat Williams,volunteer lookout
HIDDEN BEHIND THE THICK FOG sits the Mt. Tamalpais fire lookout on the mountain’s East Peak. It towers over Marin with an elevation of 2572 feet.
Photo by Michael Benz
www.redwoodbark.org Page 11 • Feature
For a longer version of this story, as well as multimedia components, visit
www.redwoodbark.org
bark
Photo by Sam Slade
The goal of the project right now is to provide a bridge to survival. Matt Lewindoctor
Redwood alumnus Matthew Lewin lay silently as paralysis overcame him. Incapacitated, he waited helplessly as an emergency room doctor applied Neostigmine, in the form of a nasal spray, to reverse the paralysis.
Lewin had just been a guinea pig in his own experiment, one aimed toward the development of a successful antidote for snake venom. He took Mivacurium, a paralyzing agent, to simulate the effects of a cobra bite. Lewin has spent countless hours trying to fix a problem that is pervasive throughout the world: death by snakebite.
Victims of snake bites can die from an array of causes: Some venoms weaken the body, often causing paralysis, until the person suffocates to death. Others cause the victim to bleed to death. Often, bites are painless –– some people wake up paralyzed a day later because of a delayed reaction from a snakebite.
Snake attacks are prevalent across the world, and about five million people are bitten by snakes each year. Of those bitten, nearly 100,000 people die, and approximately 400,000 people are permanently disabled or disfigured, with many requiring amputations.
A DAunting DilemmA Lewin, an emergency medicine doctor at Kaiser Terra Linda and an expedition doctor for the California Academy of Sciences, is developing a cheap, durable treatment option.
Though snake-related deaths pose an enormous obstacle to many developing nations, Lewin believes they haven’t received enough attention.
“The pharmaceutical industry in general has completely abandoned anything to do with snake bites. The [Bill and
Melinda] Gates Foundation, World Health Organization, and Unicef have invested, I think zero dollars into snakebite [research],” Lewin said. “It’s basically a problem that has been completely neglected.”
Due to this lack of recognition and support from large organizations, the development of an inexpensive, preventative, and on-site treatment has been delayed for almost a century.
While the 2014 Ebola epidemic killed 11,136 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, snake bites kill approximately 100,000 people per year.
Lewin expressed concern that the Ebola outbreak received significantly more international coverage and attention.
According to Lewin, the number of people who will die from snake bites in one month during a monsoon is
An emerging SolutionWhen it comes to a snake’s bite, the key to survival is
quick treatment. Those who are treated quickly after being bitten have a very high chance of survival. Often, those who get bitten suffer from some form of paralysis, and even if they are able to make it to the hospital, a massive economic decision awaits them.
Treatment for a snake’s bite is incredibly costly, especially for poverty-stricken people who live in developing countries or rural areas.
In addition, there is no definite way to know if a snake’s bite is fatal because venom can take effect ranging from a couple of minutes to an entire day, forcing people to gamble with their lives, said Lewin.
“Imagine being bitten, and, like most bites, it isn’t deep so you aren’t sure that [the snake] injected venom, and you won’t know for about four hours,” Lewin said. “Now you have to make a life-or-death decision of whether or not to undergo anti-venom treatment. And if you do, right there, that is six months’ income. Just the decision to get treated is a potentially life-altering event.”
Lewin said that many unnecessary fatalities come from people’s hesitation to get the necessary treatment.
“If you are poor and only one in 10 snake bites are going to be fatal and you can bankrupt your family, you might hesitate,” Lewin said.
Currently, antivenom is the only cure for snake bites and a single vial can cost up to $3,000, with most people needing anywhere from four-to-20 vials at a time. The treatment Lewin and his team are developing, however, could be available for just a few dollars per dose.
Antivenom is an extremely complicated chemical solution, according to Lewin, and it has many drawbacks, including a high rate of allergic reaction, a 90-minute dissolving period and a need for a doctor with precise expertise who can handle the dangerous antivenom. The compound also needs to be stored in a refrigerated area, which makes it perishable and difficult to transport.
This treatment was first introduced in the 1980s by French physician Albert Calmette, and the lengthy and complicated production process has remained nearly unchanged.
Lewin, however, hopes his low-cost buffer will increase the chance of survival for victims of snakebite.
Currently confidential and patent-pending, the treatment will most likely come in liquid form so that victims of snakebite can easily drink it, even if they are partially paralyzed, said Lewin.
“Right now, you’ve got a first aid element [to the project], which is that when you are bitten, you can drink [the compound] and make it to the hospital before having to decide whether to undergo antivenom treatment or not. The hope is that it will be able to replace antivenom entirely,” Lewin said.
Three out of four snake-related human fatalities occur outside of the hospital, according to Lewin.
“If you make it to the hospital you’re going to probably live, even without a good antivenom, because of the intensive care capabilities of most hospitals,” Lewin said. “The goal of the project right now is to provide a bridge to survival. ”
According to Lewin, current snakebite treatment does not address the problem soon enough. Lewin said that he is focusing his treatment on the first six to 12-hours following the bite because that is the immediate life
tHeBy Annie Forsman and Adam Kreitzman
NEGLECTED
You’ve been bitten, now what?!
Initial biteWhile a bite itself may be painless, some
venoms take effect within minutes; others take hours or even days.
5 million snake bites occur each year and of these bites 40% are from venomous snakes.
The victim is rushed to the hospital.
The victim doesn’t have access to a hospital or help comes too late.
The victim bleeds to death.
The victim is paralyzed by the
venom and is then sufficated by the
snake.
The victim spends up to $20,000 on a single vial
of antivenom and survives.
The victim chooses not to go through with the treatment or cannot
afford it.
The victim dies.
The victim is not affected by the venom and survives without
treatment.
Infographic by Olivia Dominguez
greater than the number of people who died in the entire Ebola epidemic. He believes that the reason Ebola recieved more media attention is because it was an infectious, life threatening disease that could spread, whereas snake bites are a problem of poverty that cannot spread.
“Even during the Ebola outbreak in Africa, hospitals were much more concerned with victims of snakebite,” Lewin said. “It is a pretty big problem that hasn’t been addressed.”
Lewin said that while lethal snake attacks are more of a foreign issue than a domestic issue, the dilemma is widespread, especially in countries such as India, whose population is approaching 1.3 billion.
“So many people don’t have indoor plumbing, so the risk of being bitten by a snake is high,” Lewin said. “When people are walking in flip flops outside every single day, the odds that they will be bitten by a snake are very high.”
Lewin said that those who live in the United States are incredibly fortunate because they do not have to worry about venomous snakes frequently slithering into their homes, gardens, or fields.
For a longer version of this story, as well as multimedia components, visit
www.redwoodbark.org
tHe ForeSeeAble Future
KILLERNEGLECTED
threatening period.“The first project I really want to focus my attention
on is figuring out how to get the solution into a stable form and figure out a way to manufacture it. The key is to manufacture it so that it is usable in an emergency,” Lewin said.
Lewin said the idea of a simple, durable compound that could counteract venom has been “floating around” in his mind for years.
“I had given up on the idea for a while, for a variety of reasons,” Lewin said. “I was actually at a party somebody had dragged me to and Jerry Harrison was there, from the ‘Talking Heads’ and he said ‘Does anybody have any crazy ideas.’ And I blurted out this idea, ‘nasal spray for snakebites.’ And he said I should really pursue this.”
Lewin’s team is very small and primarily local, consisting of Dr. Philip Bickler from UCSF and Dr. Stephen Samuel from the National Health Service in the
EMERGENCY MEDICINE DOCTOR Matt Lewin shows off his lab with his son Daniel and a friend. The lab is located within the Lewin home (BOTTOM), where Lewin does research and tests on the new compound (TOP) for future snake bite treatments.
Photo by Annie Forsman
The yearly death toll from snake bites has remained constant at about 100,000 and has shown no sign of decline.
Lewin’s ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for antivenom and make snake bites a “nuisance problem” rather than a life-threatening and costly problem.
Lewin said he would like to develope the first oral antidote for a snakebite, that will take [the treatment] outside of the realm of hospital care.
Lewin hopes to administer the drug on humans within 18 to 24 months, but acknowledges that the process to develop, patent, and publicly distribute the drug will be very long.
“What I expect to happen is that we will publish the basic recipe and many countries will probably ignore the patent and just start producing [the antidote]. And if that starts saving lives early then that is OK and it’s hard to argue with that,” Lewin said.
In six to 10 weeks, Lewin expects that the “secret sauce,” or recipe, will be made public in the form of an official and carefully edited scientific journal.
“The moment that [the paper] comes out there will be a lot of international pressure to develop it quickly and then I think that will accelerate things,” Lewin said. “We already know the drug is safe on humans because we have tested it on 10,000 people, so we have a good sense that it can be deployed quickly.”
Though Lewin has high hopes for the future, he is currently most focused on developing the product so that it can be tested and manufactured properly.
“The reality is that on a day-to-day basis I am more worried about how I am going to dissolve this [solution]. If you can’t dissolve it, then it will be hard to give it,” Lewin said. “It’s not going to save anyone’s life if we cannot get it developed, so that is sort of the preoccupation.”
Lewin hopes the risks he has taken developing this new treatment will eventually make a difference.
“It is a fantastically exciting project. Intellectually it is really fun. It is not a crowded field,” Lewin said. “There are just a few people in the world working on this problem in a similar way. It would be fun to be the first, I would be lying if I said it isn’t. So, why not me? I put a lot on the line for it.”
United Kingdom, who is from Tamil Nadu, a densely populated venomous snake region in southern India.
“It is a multi-person effort. To have an idea that can save lives is great, and [it’s] why I went into medicine,” Lewin said. “From a professional standpoint, it feels as though I am finally living up to my potential, after floundering for a decade.”
Lewin said his greatest challenge has been a lack of funding among potential supporters.
“At the beginning, there wasn’t much I could tell [potential investors] other than, ‘I’ve got this,’” Lewin said.
To minimize costs, Lewin has conducted a large portion of his research and tests in his own garage, which contains a small lab he built with the help of his 9-year-old son, Daniel.
“What I do in here is basic pharmaceutical formulation, basically stuff you can do without a permit,” Lewin said.
bark Page 14 • Feature January 29, 2016
Toxins in crab tissue threaten multi-million dollar industry
As the morning sun looms over the waves lapping against the dock, it illuminates faded neon crab traps that line the outside of the sheds, a pitiful reminder of the absence of local, fresh-caught crabs.
Fishermen such as Larry Collins, President of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association, have not made any profits from crab this season, even though crabs contribute to about two-thirds of his company’s income.
“There is no business. Last year, we probably unloaded half a million pounds of crab. This year, we haven’t unloaded one,” Collins said.
Collins has been in the fishing industry for 35 years and has never seen a situation as desperate as California’s current crab season closure. Fishermen have stopped releasing crab traps ever since local crabs failed to pass the seafood regulations after the neurotoxin, domoic acid, was found in their tissue.
The California Department of Health measures the harvested organisms biweekly to test their levels of toxicity, according to William Cochlan, Senior Research Scientist at the Romberg Tiburon Center. To be deemed safe, the organisms have to be free of toxins for two consecutive weeks.
Produced by the harmful Pseudo-nitzschia algal bloom, domoic acid has been found in high concentrations in Bay Area crabs and in other areas along the Pacific coast. Domoic acid is an analog of glutamic acid, an amino acid essential to the function of the brain’s nerve cell
transmission, according to Vera Trainer, an oceanographer and toxicologist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.
“In humans, what is affected mostly [by domoic acid] is our hippocampus, which is where memory and learning take place. In extreme cases of high toxin exposure, permanent short term memory loss can result, and therefore the syndrome in humans is called anemic shellfish poisoning,” Trainer said.
At lower levels, the toxin causes gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to trainer.
Before the holiday season, Whole Foods Seafood Associate Team Leader Mike Gehl typically pre-orders up to 3,000 pounds of dungeness crab to satisfy customers during the Christmas rush. This crab
season, however, he considers himself lucky to have received a mere 23 pounds.
According to Cochlan, this past algal bloom that first appeared in May of 2015 and lasted until November of 2015 was the longest lasting bloom of the Pseudo-nitzschia species reported for the Pacific
coast. The bloom also covered the largest geographical area reported to date, from the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara, CA, to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
Despite common belief that El Niño directly caused the severity of the large algal bloom, there has been no published research that proves this theory, although Cochlan says it is certainly a contributing factor to the toxic algal bloom.
In 2015, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center sampled 200 stations
off the California coast and discovered that 100 stations contained a dominant population of Pseudo-nitzschia. Typically, there are certain areas offshore, known as hotspots, that are home to large populations of Pseudo-nitzschia; however, this past year, almost the entire coast was dominated by the harmful algal bloom.
“[The results were] extremely unusual. It’s a bloom situation at over half of the stations offshore. We’ve measured toxins at every station north of Santa Barbara and pretty much all of California. Rather than seeing these typical hotspot sights, we had toxins pretty much everywhere by May 2015,” Trainer said.
The toxic algal bloom is essentially gone from nearshore waters, but may still remain offshore, according to Cochlan. This recent bloom has garnered so much attention because of its nearshore presence, which can be harmful to marine wildlife.
The closure of the crab industry has negatively affected fishermen and local seafood businesses, according to Cochlan.
“The commercial fishery is worth
anywhere from 60 to 90 million dollars a year in California alone. It’s a really, really lucrative fishery, so all the fisherpeople were impacted, restaurants, all that stuff. Huge economic impact,” Cochlan said.
Sport fisher Todd Parson said that the closure of this season’s crab industry significantly affected fishermen and businesses, but those whose income depends upon the success of the industry were hit especially devastated.
“[Commercial crabbers] do it as part of their life. It is very significant, and Fisherman’s Wharf was really affected by this because dungeness crab has historically been a very significant fishery for San Francisco. This is really, really big. It’s big for the commercial industry. It’s big for tourism,” Parson said.
UNUSED CRAB TRAPS line a dock along Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Photo by Pearl Zhong
By Anne Pritikinand Pearl Zhong
[email protected] a longer version of this story, as well as multimedia components, visit www.redwoodbark.org
There is no business..This year we haven’t unloaded one [pound of crab].Larry Collins,fisherman
bark Page 15 • Sports January 29, 2016
Dynamic Duo: Lauren Foehr and Hannah Halford
Junior Lauren Foehr passes down the field as sophomore Hannah Halford runs a diagonal cut and dribbles to the goal. This is a familiar play for the two varsity soccer players, who started to build a connection at the beginning of last season.
Foehr and Halford both started as freshmen on the girls’ varsity soccer team.
“We played a scrimmage against JV for the first time and we started to click,” Halford said.
While the whole soccer team has a strong bond, Foehr and Halford work especially well together due to their complementary positions and similar ways of thinking. Foehr plays attacking midfield, which is responsible for attacking, defending, and generally controlling the play, while Halford plays right in front of her at forward, the main scoring position.
Through long plane and car rides, both Foehr and Halford travel all over the country to play soccer for various programs. Halford and Foehr both play for Marin Football Club, while Foehr also plays for the Olympic Development Program, the Cal North, Region IV and Player Development Program.
Because they have both trained with Marin FC for a long period of time, Foehr and Halford think similarly and can read the plays early on. The training throughout Marin FC has helped them develop field vision, and focus on possessing the ball to be able to combine and pass with other players. This specific training has made it second nature for Foehr and Halford to connect and read the play. When Foehr is in possession of the ball, Halford has the ability to run where Foehr wants without having to communicate making it easier for the girls to out-play the defense.
“It is important for our positions to be close because we have to be able to
combine through the defense,” Foehr said. “When we start connecting our passes it helps the whole team flow.”
By knowing each other’s style of play and connecting their “one-two’s,” (a play where someone passes the ball and then passes it right back to play around a defender) it makes it easier for them to beat the defense and open up the field. Halford is technical and crafty while Foehr has an aggressive and strategic style of play.
Girls’ varsity soccer coach Mattias Kodzoman gives the duo freedom on the field to do what they believe is the best option.
“They are two players on our team that posses the most quality in terms of ability and having an understanding of the game of soccer,” Kodzoman said. “They are two key players to our girls varsity team.”
Foehr and Halford have created a special connection with each other that neither had experienced before playing for Redwood.
“We can look at each other and we will already know what we’re doing,” Halford said. “We don’t need to say anything, it just happens.”
They can almost always count on each other to be there during the play. Although many athletes have a similar connection to theirs, their bond is stronger than most due to their training with Marin FC and putting in the extra work outside of practice.
“We can read each other’s body language well, so we can anticipate what each other are going to do,” Foehr said.
Due to Halford’s starting role on varsity last season, their relationship has been able to grow and progress. It helps that they are
LAUREN FOEHR and Hannah Halford juggle a ball after their practice. The Giants are currently 2-3. As of press time, their next game is Jan. 30, away, against Justin Siena.
Photo by Mary Winnick
By Mary Winnick
Experienced senior leads junior-heavy offenseRedwood senior Mike Sullivan’s unstoppable three-
point shooting stroke and ruthless attitude yield the success formula for the Giants to stand among the top tier MCAL teams.
Sullivan was on junior varsity as a freshman, and a part of the varsity team from his sophomore season onward. He started last season as the shooting guard alongside the versatile duo of William Breck and Elliot Dean, who both graduated in 2015. He said he understands the importance of stepping up to lead the first-year varsity players this season.
“I have a large leadership role. Last year my best friends were all on the team, and this year has been interesting because I had to make friends with the new guys and develop good relationships with them as well,” Sullivan said. “Watching how the older guys developed chemistry with the younger guys helped me emerge from a [solid performer] to a leader.”
Varsity coach Steve Compagno believes that Sullivan will be a vital factor in helping the team succeed in MCALs this season.
“[Sullivan] is a great three-point shooter. He understands the game and is passionate about it,” Compagno said. “This season I want [Sullivan] to be as reliable on the defensive end as he is on the offensive end and to hold himself accountable in his decision making.”
Sullivan said there are certain aspects of his game that he needs to improve in order for him to make a bigger impact this year.
“I would love to say [that my] biggest improvement since freshman year is my shooting, but back then I was still good at it. I have to say my attitude and effort is the better [improvement of the two],” Sullivan said. “I focus on not being negative, having good body language, and not showing any bad emotions. It’s important for me not to lose my temper because I set an example for how we are as a team and how we are as individual players.”
Compagno said whatever is going on off the court in Sullivan’s personal life must be put aside when games start so that he can be focused and ready to make an impact.
“[Sullivan] has to be in the moment, he has to be present, and he has to get out there and get better every day. It’s very important that [Sullivan] is mentally tough no matter what [might be] going on in life outside of basketball,” he said.
Compagno and Sullivan have known each other since Sullivan was in the fifth grade, and Sullivan often attends the games of his coach’s son, Joe Compagno. Joe plays for Occidental College’s basketball team and graduated Redwood in 2013.
Aside from Sullivan’s individual improvements, he must construct positive relationships with his teammates, according to Breck, who led the team in scoring last year.
“We had a tight group of seniors [last season] but we all made sure to branch out to everyone,” Breck said. “To be a good leader [Sullivan] needs to always keep his attitude in check and be the biggest supporter on the team.”
Breck played aside Sullivan for three seasons, and believes that Sullivan’s experience will have a huge
positive impact on his game. “I think [Sullivan’s] experience will be the biggest
thing for him. This is his third year so he knows what kind of leadership works and what doesn't,” Breck said. “He's also a great scorer so guys will have confidence in him late in the game when a leader needs to step up.”
close in age and have had multiple seasons to grow, and they will have a chance to grow their bond next year as well. Foehr and Halford can combine advanced skills with their communicative bond to create plays.
“While working together going down the field towards goal, they can go with speed and combine it with footwork which is unique to have that combination while going to goal,” said teammate junior Lily Armstrong.
Together, Foehr and Halford initiate plays that help carry the rest of the team.
“If they don’t score a goal they will always create opportunity for either themselves or a teammate to score a goal,” Kodzoman said.
By Addison Brady
MIKE SULLIVAN prepares for practice. He is the starting point guard on a varsity basketball team that, as of press time, has a 5-3 record in MCAL, and is also in 5th place.
Photo by Addison Brady
bark Page 16 • Sports January 29, 2016
Chemistry reigns supreme among four junior basketball players
The bench is getting restless, the game clock is counting down, the parents are already celebrating, and the four boys know what they have accomplished. Not just any victory, but a championship: a sixth-grade CYO basketball championship.
Fast forward five years, and once again the four are competing for a championship, but this time there is far more at stake. Now they are at Redwood and have a true shot at a MCAL championship, something that a Redwood basketball team hasn’t done in six years.
Juniors Brendan Shepard, Matthew Walravens, Ashton Finegold, and Charlie Reis have been playing together for eight years, forming a bond and friendship on and off the court that makes the Giants a close-knit and hungry team: a potent combination for the final stretch of the season.
The bond began in the fourth grade when Shepard, Walravens and Finegold first started playing on the local Tiburon team. Two years later, Reis joined the team, and together they won three consecutive championships on their CYO and middle school teams.
At Redwood, Shepard and Reis were called up to varsity as sophomores, while Finegold and Walravens played on the JV team.
According to Finegold, it’s been exciting to be teammates again and to see how the others have grown as players.
“Playing together in practice has really been exciting for me to see,” Finegold said. “Just seeing how Brendan and Charlie have improved so much being in a really competitive position last year and playing with veterans like Laron Bullock and William Breck and getting their experience from them—I can see how it really benefitted them.”
Though the four all have different roles, they have big plans for the remainder of the season.
“I think we definitely want to beat Drake and Marin Catholic (MC) those are going to be really big games for us,” Reis said. “We lost to MC the other night by two points and we were shooting a little off but next time if we come out with a lot of focus and we are firing on all cylinders we should be able to beat them.”
Throughout middle school, all four were the stars of the team, part of a starting five that pestered opponents with stifling defense, efficient offensive-playmaking and mistake-free execution. At Redwood, mixed in with a deeper pool of players from other middle schools and teams, their roles have changed. Walravens and Finegold, both guards, have accepted more limited roles, coming in for brief periods to rejuvenate the offense and give starters a rest. Shepard and Reis, meanwhile, have become starters—Reis as a quick-footed big man and Shepard as a
go-to defender. While each of the four has a different
role, their success during the remainder of the season will be dictated by how well each player can fulfill their purpose on a team with many talented players, but no one who can take over a game single-handedly.
“On a team where there’s one really good player or a team where you don’t know many of the people, if you’re having an off day it’s awful because there’s nobody you can go back on,” Walravens said. “That’s not the case with our team. With our team we have people that give
support.”Being comfortable and confident
on the court is a necessity for any team to be successful. Anticipation, synergy, energy all of these are components of championship-caliber basketball teams and Reis believes the Giants have the necessary ingredients.
“Having played together for so long, we just can anticipate each other and what we
By Gregory Block
Having played together for so long, we can anticipate each other .Charlie Reis,junior
are doing and our movements and cuts and passes,” Reis said. “I think that just having so much experience with these guys, it really helps us play better and know what each of our strengths and weaknesses are.”
Shepard called the connection “subconscious” and Finegold added that they “know where everyone’s going to do their best.”
The Giants are going to need every possible advantage if they are going to win the MCAL championship, especially with strong competitors such as Drake, MC, and Branson. They gained some inspiration last Tuesday with their last-second loss to MC, a game that frustrated, but also motivated the team to improve.
“I’ve played four games against MC now,” Shepard said. “Every single game we’ve lost, but every single game we’ve been in the game until the fourth quarter.”
Walravens believes that a win against the Wildcats would be especially important to the seniors, many of whom have never beaten MC while on varsity.
“Some players on our team who have been playing varsity for awhile have been dying to beat MC but it hasn’t happened yet,” Walravens said. “Our last game of the season this year is at MC and so it should be really exciting. We are going to work really hard to get to a point to do that.”
It is rare for teammates to stick together for as long as these four have, but the potential of what lies in front of them is not something any of them have overlooked.
“As a kid you always kind of picture yourself growing up with the friends and teammates that you are with,” Reis said. “And this year our team being pretty good and having the opportunity to possibly win the MCAL championship and be successful with our team of friends, I think it’s just a really great experience.”
With our team we have people that give support.Matt Walravens,junior
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While all four are keen on staying focused during the final stretch of the season, they also have reminisced about some of the strangest and most valuable memories they have from their CYO years.
There was the time they pulled up in a Hummer limo to an AAU tournament, or the practice Shepard remembered when their coach wore the jersey of their opponent’s star player in order to imitate the feel of the game.
From these memories as eager sixth-graders to becoming seasoned players both physically and mentally, all four players know that the time is now to win a championship. And all four agree that there is nobody else they would rather do it with.
“I think it’s really fun to win in general, but I think it’s even more fun when you have people that you’re friends with and you hang out with a lot that you win with them.” Reis said. “Because then you all can reminisce and remember that moment and it really makes it all that much better.”
While they can look back on a successful CYO career, unsurprisingly,
a MCAL championship would be a lot more meaningful, according to Shepard.
“When you are 40 and you tell your kids, ‘I won a CYO championship,’ it’s definitely not as impressive as ‘I won a high school basketball championship’,” Shepard said.
While the Giants may not be the favorites to take home a championship, the
trophies that all four players have collected over the years as teammates and as friends speak otherwise these Giants have the competitive desire to win and they have the relationships that were formed eight years ago and have been strengthened over time.
JUNIORS ASHTON FINEGOLD, Matt Walravens, Brendan Shepard, and Charlie Reis (front to back), pictured here in the locker room, have been playing together for five years. This year, the four are helping Redwood compete for an MCAL championship.
Photo by Gregory Block
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 17 • Sports
Balancing Act: Students split time between gym and school
“On the beam, all you’re thinking about is making it back onto those four inches of wood. Everything has a mental aspect,” said freshman Lauren Smart.
Smart began practicing gymnastics when she was six years old, but only started competing four years ago after being inspired by the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Although gymnasts normally favor one event, according to Smart, they compete in all four: uneven bars, beam, floor, and vault.
“I do all four events, but I’d say floor [is my favorite] because it’s really upbeat. Your teammates can cheer you on during your routine,” Smart said.
However, Smart said that outside of competitions, her favorite event was the beam.
“But during meets, I got all sweaty and shaky, so that’s not as fun,” Smart said, in reference to the beam event.
According to Smart, she learns a new skill—or move—once every two weeks or so.
“Being around my teammates is really nice, and especially the satisfaction when you master a new skill,” Smart said. “Gymnastics lets me dance, on floor and on beam, and I love the balance aspect.”
Smart trains with her teammates at GymWorld in San Rafael four to five hours a day, five days a week.
She attended Redwood her first semester of freshman year, but this semester she transferred to Tamiscal because of her demanding schedule.
Smart said that last semester, she went to the gym right after school, trained until 8:30 p.m., and arrived home
by 9 p.m., so she didn’t start her homework at 9:30 p.m.
“I was really sleep deprived,” Smart said.
She hopes to switch gyms in order to train at Head Over Heels Athletic Arts in Emeryville, where she can further pursue her passion. Smart said that the program
i n the East Bay is more competitive than her current one, and she
is excited to start training there with the goal of eventually developing the skills to compete in college. Smart is
currently on the gym’s waiting list.
However, her story is different
from other girls, such as junior Ashlyn D ’ O r a z i o , who started gymnastics in kindergar ten, but stopped
after her s o p h o m o r e year.
D’Orazio t r a i n e d
at Mega Gymnastics in San
Rafael, but switched to practice at The Cave in Corte Madera because she was looking for a less competitive
environment.U n l i k e
Smart, who plans to compete for years to come, D’Orazio said
she did not enjoy competing.
“I hated a c t u a l l y competing
because it’s stressful, and if you mess up then it’s over. If you fall off beam, you lose half-a-point—a big deduction—and it’s like, ‘Wow I’ve done that skill a thousand times perfectly in practice,’ and then you fall off,” D’Orazio said.
D’Orazio said being part of a gymnastics team introduces you to a great community of peers. She stayed close with her friends from middle school because they were all at the gym together for four hours a day.
However, D’Orazio highlighted that gymnastics is not a traditional team sport.
“You’re competitive with each other. It’s definitely not a team sport; it’s very individual. If you get a skill, your teammates will be happy for you because they’ve been through your struggle getting there, but it’s competing, and it’s individual,” D’Orazio said.
D’Orazio’s favorite apparatus to work on was the beam.
“It’s a large mental challenge because the skills that you do on beam you can already do on floor. You practice on a line, but then getting up on beam, it’s different,” D’Orazio said.
Although balancing and doing skills on a four-inch-wide wooden beam is intimidating, it’s also really fun, according to D’Orazio.
“Some of the skills are scary. I like that aspect of it. It’s very physically demanding but also mentally demanding too,” D’Orazio said.
However, last year D’Orazio quit competing because of the rigorous schedule and the large time commitment it required. She now coaches a few hours a week at The Cave, working with 6-12 year-old kids.
“Gymnastics has definitely changed me. Coaching is a different take on the sport, it’s a different way of looking at it,” D’Orazio said.
According to senior Nina Segedin, gymnastics is also a sport that requires a specific body type and size.
Segedin competed from the age of five until she was fourteen years old. However, during her sophomore year, she switched from gymnastics to rowing.
“I was getting too tall, and I had too many injuries,” Segedin said. “When you’re a gymnast, if you
want to be successful you need a very specific body type, and normally that’s very short and pretty small so you can flip around easily.”
Segedin also said that the cause of her transition from gymnastics to rowing was her strong upper body, which she had developed through conditioning in the gym.
“I was physically ready, and since I was getting taller, that was good for rowing,” Segedin said.
Junior McKenna Bonkowski also switched from gymnastics to rowing when she was 13 years old because of her height.
“You have to be really strong to do the [events] in gymnastics, so that really helped with [switching] to rowing,” Bonkowski said.
Bonkowski began gymnastics at the age of three when her mother introduced her to the sport, and she competed throughout her childhood. She competed in all four events, but said she favored the vault and the uneven bars.
“I feel like not many people actually like beam. It’s four inches wide and four feet high and then you have to do a backflip. Bars were really fun because you’re swinging around,” Bonkowski said.
Segedin also competed in all four events, but she favored the uneven bars and the beam, especially due to her large amount of injuries.
“I was a little better at the beam and bars because that was less high-intensity stuff and less impact. It was more about lines and fluidity and gracefulness, which was better for me, instead of the tumbling,” Segedin said.
Segedin said that she loved gymnastics because of the personal gratification it gave her.
“It’s fun to do things that amaze other people, and it’s very satisfying,” Segedin said. “It’s satisfying to learn new things and it’s satisfying to put routines together and to improve.”
Who will raise the Lombardi in the Super Bowl by the bay?
By Macrae Sharp
By Adam Kreitzman By Danny Avins
Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Kalil, Trai Turner, Mike Tolbert, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Josh Norman, Kawann Short. No, I’m not laundry-listing the names of players I know on the Panthers, but rather the absurdly high number of players, 10 to be exact, who earned Pro-Bowl honors from the Panthers’ roster.
The Panthers are locked and loaded and no one can stop them. Their dominance on the defensive side of the football has been vital to the unparalleled success of the Panthers this season. Thomas Davis is having a career year, Luke Kuechly is his usual force to be reckoned with in the middle of the field, and Josh Norman has developed into a primetime cornerback. Their defense is a three-headed monster: it can stop the run with a healthy stable of linebackers and a fourth-ranked rush defense, it can disrupt the passing game with solid cornerbacks and an unrelenting sixth-ranked pass rush, and it can force turnovers, leading the league in the regular season with 39 takeaways. When it comes to the Panthers’ defense, you have to pick your poison.
In addition to a championship-caliber defense, the Panthers offense has made an impressive turnaround under the guidance of offensive coordinator Mike Shula. Shula has helped to develop signal-caller Cam Newton into a pocket-passer, rather than a run-first quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, Newton is still a prolific runner, adding an extra element to the offense. Shula’s offensive system has clearly worked and opened up the passing game, as Newton is the current MVP frontrunner. In addition to a revived passing game, the Panthers benefit from Jonathan Stewart, who has helped lead the Panthers’ second-ranked rushing attack. If Newton finds open space and can extend plays, it will be difficult to stop the Panthers’ offense from victory, especially if they can establish the run.
After watching the AFC championship game, it is hard not to say the Denver Broncos are poised for a Super Bowl victory. With a defense that will most likely go down as one of the best in NFL history, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, and a great running attack led by C.J. Anderson, the odds are in favor of Denver.
Some people may say that the Carolina Panthers’ demolition of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship showed why the Panthers are guaranteed to win the Super Bowl. However, I think the Broncos defense is too much of a force for Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to handle. Newton is a special talent, but I believe Von Miller will be able to sufficiently disrupt Newton’s play (and I’m not just saying this because I am an Alabama fan). In addition, the Broncos secondary, featuring a pair of Pro-Bowl corners in Chris Harris jr. and Aqib Talib, will provide a challenge for Ted Ginn jr. and Greg Olsen in the passing game.
On the other side of the ball, it’s a pretty simple argument. Peyton Manning. Those two words are enough to convince a lot of people. Though he may have had a poor year for his career, one cannot deny the Manning magic in the playoffs. He always finds a way to get the job done.
C.J. Anderson will have a monster game. The former Cal Bear has been running through defenses all season, and in the biggest game football has to offer, there’s no reason why he won’t turn up the intensity even more. I predict that Anderson will have at least 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Needless to say, this Super Bowl is going to be one for the ages. But when it’s all said and done, I believe the Denver Broncos will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and Peyton Manning will cement his place in history.
[email protected] [email protected]
Photo by Macrae Sharp
Photos courtesy of the NFL
bark Page 18 • Sports January 29, 2016
Separated by only about two miles, Marin Catholic and Redwood have deservedly earned the title “rivalry” for their matchups.
There has been high tension between the two schools since they first began competing, and the energetic environment of the rivalry hasn’t changed since then.
Head varsity basketball coach Steve Compagno is well-versed in the traditions of the rivalry.
Compagno played basketball and baseball for Redwood for his first three years of high school before transferring to Marin Catholic his senior year. He played for Redwood during its national baseball championship run in 1977. Despite his season as a Wildcat, Compagno says he remains true to his Redwood roots.
“I’m a Redwood guy. I always have been,” he said.Compagno recalled the importance of the rivalry felt in
the days leading up to games between the two. “Prior to my senior year we knew when we were
playing Marin Catholic, and when I was a senior at Marin Catholic we knew when we were playing Redwood,” Compagno said.
He added that his most notable memory of the rivalry as a player came when he was playing for Marin Catholic’s baseball team.
“When I transferred to Marin Catholic as a senior [Redwood was] the national champion. We beat them. I actually pitched against them and we won the game,” he said. “It was probably one of the most memorable moments I had as a winner.”
Junior Gabe Stephens has also gotten to experience the rivalry from both points of view. Stephens attended Marin Catholic for his first two years of high school before transferring to Redwood his junior year.
Stephens said he keeps in contact with his former classmates, often to discuss the rivalry game.
“I always talk with my friends about the Redwood [vs. MC] football game, the Redwood [vs. MC] basketball game and the Redwood [vs. MC] baseball game,” he said.
Despite still feeling a connection to Marin Catholic, Stephens said it doesn’t prevent him from joining in the cheering of a raucous Redwood crowd.
“It’s hard at first [to cheer against them],” he said. “You
know it’s the school that you have been to for two years, but then you realize that you’re with all of your friends cheering, and it’s pretty friendly.”
Stephens played football at Marin Catholic his first two years, and now plays on the Redwood varsity team.
“At MC we usually put all of our effort into the Redwood game,” he said.
He said that in addition to the proximity of the two schools, the camaraderie between them has a large effect on the intensity of the rivalry.
“We’re playing our friends, so we know that we want to really show up to that game,” Stephens said.
Compagno’s attitude toward the rivalry has changed during his 10-year stint as the head coach for varsity basketball.
“We are dealing with high school boys. They get jacked up for certain teams. My job is just to calm them down and make sure that they realize that every game, they are playing a nameless, faceless opponent,” he said.
Compagno said he tries to prepare the team for games the same way, regardless of the opponent.
Tension remains high in Redwood-Marin Catholic rivalry
By Jason Fieber
From pool to court to field:
On the girls’ varsity basketball team, one player’s quickness and agility stands out. She sprints from defense to offense, darting between the players on the opposing team. An 800-meter runner, sophomore Sophia McWhorter’s speed on the court is also evident on the track. She has played varsity basketball, cross country, and track since her freshman year.
There are few students who, like McWhorter, commit to playing three different sports throughout the course of three different seasons. A majority of student athletes select one or two Redwood sports and practice year-round so that they are in optimal condition for the season, according to Athletic Director Jessica Peisch.
Because playing three high school sports is such a rarity, athletes who participate for all four years are recognized at the Senior Athletic Banquet in the spring with an award for the accomplishment, according to Peisch.
“[These athletes] get a gold card, so they get into a lifetime of free events at Redwood High. It’s a fun way to honor them for their time and commitment,” Peisch said.
McWhorter’s love for her three sports began long before high school. She started playing basketball in elementary school and began running in fifth grade.
Like McWhorter, junior Layla Dunne also has participated in three sports since her freshman year. Dunne, a runner on junior varsity cross country in the fall, plays varsity basketball in the winter and varsity lacrosse in the spring. When she was young, she watched her older siblings compete in Redwood sports, which inspired her to follow their lead. Her sister played both volleyball and basketball, while her brother played basketball and lacrosse.
“I have always played a sport so I don’t really know it any other way. It’s normal
for me,” Dunne said.She switched from volleyball to cross
country this fall season and intends to try out for field hockey next fall, meaning that she will graduate having played five different Redwood sports.
Dunne admitted that her divided attention prevents her from concentrating on and excelling in one sport. However, she has significantly improved in basketball and lacrosse, even working her way up to the varsity level in both sports.
“A drawback in playing multiple sports is that I wasn’t able to focus my attention on one,” Dunne said. “Once I finished a season, I couldn’t keep working at [it]. I had to transition into the next sport.”
McWhorter also said that balancing multiple sports can be a challenge. Though she wants to continue her three sports throughout high school, she acknowledges it will be more difficult to make progress in each.
“It can be hard to get better at one sport when you have to take off a season to do the other one,” McWhorter said.
While Dunne and McWhorter plan to continue playing three sports for the rest of
high school, three-sport athlete sophomore Ashley Lamar is considering focusing her attention on a single sport.
Lamar says that she brings a very competitive personality to all the sports she practices, whether she is at the pool, court, or field. This year, she played varsity water polo in the fall and hopes to play varsity lacrosse in the spring. She is currently on the junior varsity basketball team. Her freshman year, she participated in the same three sports.
“I’m thinking about picking one sport to focus on next year, but I don’t know if I can because I like them all so much,” Lamar said.
Though each sport is unique, there are some universal components. McWhorter said that her endurance from cross country is an asset in basketball, while Dunne said her mentality is also transferrable between sports.
“Being on varsity basketball this year, my confidence has grown and I feel like I will be able to transition it into my lacrosse season,” Dunne said.
However, one obstacle in balancing three sports is the overlap between seasons.
By Anne Fogarty The postseason of one sport may carry over into the season of the subsequent one, Peisch said.
“Students cannot transition into a new sport until they have finished their season,” Peisch said. “We work with the athlete to make sure that they communicate to the new coach that they will be trying out later.”
McWhorter said that her coaches are very understanding and she switches into her next sport as soon as she can. The same week that she competes at the state cross country meet, she returns to the basketball court for practice.
While the transition from one sport to the other is sudden for McWhorter, she eases back into competing.
“During basketball, I sit out the first few games to get back into it and because other people have been putting the time in,” McWhorter said.
Many sports also have a preseason, so athletes still participating in their second or third seasons cannot begin training as early as their teammates, according to Peisch.
“Preseason basketball overlaps [with water polo]. It is all fall so I wasn’t able to make open gyms. Preseason would have helped me practice and get to know the team,” Lamar said.
In addition to a sport each season, some athletes also play for club teams year-round. With school and club teams, few students have time to commit to playing multiple sports, according to Peisch. Dunne played club volleyball her freshman and sophomore years, but eventually decided to quit due to the time commitment. However, Lamar continues to play club basketball, which has multiple practices a day.
“We don’t have that many athletes who participate in three sports, so it is wonderful that we have this many right now. It’s exciting,” Peisch said.
“You play them one game at a time,” he said. “You adjust your game plan based on their personnel. Every year is different, every team is different, and as a coach you just want to put your players in a situation where they have an opportunity to be successful.”
One of the most memorable moments of Compagno’s coaching career came in the playoffs last year, when Redwood lost to Marin Catholic.
“I really believe that if we had won that game we [would have] had a chance to win a championship because we were just starting to gel and put it all together,” Compagno said.
Stephens said that the anticipation of a Redwood upset brings excitement to the home stands.
“It’s kind of nice to be an underdog because when you do pull off a win it has a more special meaning,” Stephens said. “Every win just feels that much better.”
PLAYING THREE SPORTS in the calendar year, sophomore Ashley Lamar balances a busy schedule that includes basketball, water polo, and lacrosse.
Photo by Heidi Roenisch
SHUFFLING ON DEFENSE, junior Jordan Jackson guards Marin Catholic’s Sepehr Agnese during a heartbreaking loss against Marin Catholic. Redwood and Marin Catholic will meet again Feb. 11 at Marin Catholic.
Photo by Olivia Dominguez
Three athletes tackle three different sports year-round
someone. Co-written by McKay and Charles Randolph, the
dialogue is consistently sharp and snappy. I’ve never felt so bad for laughing at something as I did during this movie.
“The Big Short” exposes the greed, ignorance and corruption of Wall Street during the housing market, and it completely hits its mark.
Though the concept might not be the easiest to understand, “The Big Short” serves as a well-acted, well-directed, well-written alarm to the dangers of financial idiocy.
reviewreview Page 19
“The Big Short,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, is an insightful and important look at the 2008 financial crisis, though it is anything but unbiased.
The movie follows various investors and traders both on and off Wall Street who realize that the housing market is a bubble years before anyone else does. By betting against the housing market, they are positioned to make money when it fails.
There are very few redeeming characters in “The Big Short.” Some investors brag about selling adjustable-rate mortgages to clueless strippers, and others with a vaguely protagonistic bent count on millions of people to default on their mortgages in order to profit.
When Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), a grizzly retired investment banker, scolds his two young upstarts for celebrating the money they’ve won when the market crashes, he reminds the audience that in rooting for for the takedown of Wall Street, they are in fact rooting for people to lose their homes and jobs.
Though director Adam McKay overwhelms the audience with facts and figures, it is a very effective way to fully convey the impact of the crisis because it details the fallout of the crash as it pertained to everyday Americans.
The most poignant scene of the movie comes when employees of hedge fund manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell) wander through a new development of houses, talking with the homeowners to discuss why they defaulted on their mortgages. Except many of the houses are vacant because the residents fled angry debt collectors. This scene lends a more emotionally desolate feeling to the film.
The rest of the movie is devoted to people shouting at quick-talking bankers, and all the glitz and glamour that comes along with stereotypes of Wall Street. However, as the employees walk down this completely deserted street, it really wakes audience members up to the devastating reality of the financial crash.
McKay’s rage at the crooked investors simmers under the surface throughout the film, though this movie is not based purely on emotion. Instead, McKay makes little effort to dumb down the complicated financial terms to make it easier for audiences to understand. He uses celebrity cameos by household names such as Selena Gomez in order to explain things like synthetic collateralized debt obligations.
These explanations help just enough so that people can follow the movie, and though the technical jargon can be
‘Making a Murderer’ adds variety to Netflix Originals
By Rebecca Smalbach
IN “THE BIG SHORT,” actors Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling face off while talking about the drastic implications of the 2008 housing bubble.
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
‘The Big Short’ stands tall as an impressive retelling of the 2008 financial crisis
hard to understand, it aptly represents the way Wall Street confused investors the same way in the early 2000s.
This focus on the numbers and economic concepts is complemented by outstanding performances from a large ensemble.
Christian Bale stands out as Michael Burry, a neurotic hedge fund manager who spends the majority of his screen time rocking out to death metal, and Ryan Gosling is excellent as Jared Vennet, an oily fast-talking banker. However, neither of their characters seem particularly concerned with the plight of the American public, showing that even those fighting Wall Street can be deeply impersonal.
The only character who seems to have a soul is that of Carell, who plays his part with impressive emotional depth, actually enabling the audience to empathize with
Netflix’s original documentary series “Making a Murderer” proves to be both thrilling and intriguing.
The documentary tells the elaborate story of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison.
Avery was released after DNA evidence proved he was not guilty in the rape of Penny Beerntsen.
While “Making a Murderer” primarily focuses on Avery’s second crime, the first two episodes only show his first offense and life after jail. This was important to the show, as it added a complete background picture of Avery before diving into the second crime.
Additionally, leaving out these important details in the first two episodes helps to add a sense of suspense for the upcoming episodes.
The plot can often be hard to grasp despite the show’s visually interesting aspects, including photographs and audio recordings of Avery and his family.
To compensate for the complex plotline, the show provides well-laid-out infographics to make the information clearer.
One of the best infographics was displayed when the show described the attack on Beerntsen. The graphic clearly depicted Avery’s whereabouts during the attack and the significant times in the crime, which enhanced my understanding immensely.
Despite an overall interesting plotline, some episodes are certainly more enjoyable to watch than others.
While the first episode focuses on the exoneration of Avery through DNA evidence, the series digresses into Avery’s second arrest for the murder of Teresa Halbach.
Even with the infographics that aid the viewer in understanding the plotline,
there are moments in the show where the language can be difficult to comprehend, including the justice system terminology used.
Because of the sophisticated language, the series requires full attention from the viewer in order to fully grasp the story.
At times, photos shown on screen are too graphic. One particular scene in the first episode, describing the rape of Penny
Beerntsen, shows close-up pictures of Beerntsen that seemed unnecessary and too gory to show on camera.
Even with an intriguing plotline, there are moments where the series becomes slightly repetitive and boring to watch. For example, in the second episode, many scenes consisted of Avery’s court trials, which become tedious to watch.
High pitched shrill sounds used in “Making a Murderer” add suspense to the series, similar to many other horror films.
The sounds are most effective in setting a mysterious mood when they are added to the scenes of Manitowoc County, where Avery resides. In these particular shots, the music adds to the eerie, empty feeling the town gives.
Additionally, the soundtrack shifts during the more uplifting points in the series. When Avery is finally released from prison, the music becomes much more cheery.
As pictures of Avery and his family fill the screen, upbeat instrumental guitar music plays in the background. The series is similar to the NPR podcast “Serial,” in the sense that they both go in depth into a complex crime and combine multiple sources into a cohesive story.
The first season consists of 10 episodes and is available on Netflix.
STEVEN AVERY was falsely accused of rape and imprisoned for 18 years. The Netflix show “Making a Murderer” tells his story in a captivating manner.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
By Ella Cook
bark Page 20 • Review January 29, 2016
Sophomore season of ‘American Crime’ does not disappoint
Returning for its second season, ABC’s “American Crime” cements itself as one of the best dramas on network television, balancing strong acting with deft exploration of heavy subject matter, though occasionally becoming mired in its own over-ambition.
This season’s episodes take place in a small town in Indiana where several star basketball players allegedly rape a boy from their school. The story follows how they deal with the repercussions of their actions within their community.
The exact details of the incident are intentionally left ambiguous, which can be frustrating at times, but they ultimately add realism to the plot because rape is usually one person’s word against another, with little hard evidence.
This storyline has proved especially relevant, as three high school basketball players in Tennessee were recently charged with the rape of a freshman teammate after a team overnight trip on Dec. 21, 2015. They could also potentially be charged with three more counts of sexual assault on other teammates. The athletic director and head coach are also being charged with criminal negligence.
This connection gives the show a feeling of urgency, as it becomes clear that it could be taking place anywhere in the country and is not a fictional concept.
Expectations were high after the success of season one, which was nominated for 10 Emmys and three Golden Globes, and season two proves early on that it is worth the hype.
The series follows the increasingly popular anthologic format of having each season be a self-contained story, recently done by “True Detective,” “American Horror Story,” and “Fargo.” This suits the show well, allowing it to cover the most prominent and relevant issues at the time and also have a sense of resolution at the end of each season, rather than dragging out an idea throughout multiple seasons.
The core of the show consists of Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, and Regina King returning from the first season, though in different roles. These three provide some of the strongest acting on the show and help to elevate the other actors to their level.
Huffman portrays private school headmistress Leslie Graham with an excellent pseudo-sincerity that shows her concern for the well being of the students—until it interferes with the reputation of her school.
Regina King plays the mother of Kevin Lacroix, one of the boys accused of rape, and her performance as an
overbearing yet dedicated parent is very realistic. She blindly defends her son in public, while privately berating him for the smallest mistakes. After Kevin has the winning assist in a basketball game, her only response is, “Why did you pass up the shot?”
Another interesting twist the show puts on a typical rape case is that the victim is a boy, something that is not common in mainstream media. The stigma around male rape is also addressed, as several characters don’t believe the victim simply because, “Boys don’t do that to other boys.”
However, the plot occasionally has too big of a scope. In the first two episodes alone, race relations, socioeconomic disparity, social issues experienced in high school, sexual orientation and rape have all been key issues. While I understand the intent is to mimic the complexity of real crime, such a broad scope proves overwhelming and
therefore has less of an impact. Another flaw in the show is the distinctly self-
impressed style of cinematography. Director John Ridley often uses strange angles and jumpy cuts as if to show how creative he is with the camera, but the result distracts from key dialogue.
Overall, the show attempts to tackle the vast topic of crime, and while it occasionally falters in the face of such complexity, far more often it provides a thoughtful, well-acted insight into society.
“American Crime” airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC.
By Heidi Roenisch
“AMERICAN CRIME” follows the story of several basketball players accused of raping a fellow student at a small town Indiana high school. The show examines how the community deals with the event’s repercussions.
Photo courtesy of ABC Productions
DiCaprio shines in Oscar-nominated film ‘The Revenant’
Anticipation for Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Revenant” had been building since the release of its first trailer in July 2015, and it continued to soar until its debut on Jan. 8 finally put an end to the suspense.
The remarkable casting, directing and acting made this film truly spectacular. More than just a story about a man’s emotional vengeance and his struggles in the wilderness, this film features the brilliant Leonardo DiCaprio, who deserves to win an Oscar for his role after years of empty-handedness.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the director who gave us Michael Keaton’s Oscar-winning “Birdman,” took advantage of the picturesque landscapes of both Canada and Argentina to portray the true struggles between man and emotion as well as man and nature to deliver a thrilling film.
DiCaprio, who practices method acting, expertly plays Hugh Glass, a historical figure who endured both emotional and physical challenges.
DiCaprio’s commitment to the role cannot be questioned, which he demonstrates by eating raw bison liver, wading into frozen streams, and even carving out the innards of a dead animal on screen.
This dedication definitely made the difference because it created a cathartic experience for those watching the film.
It was a wise choice for Iñárritu to feature DiCaprio’s initial reactions to the grisly situations in the film because it allowed us to feel the gore and disgust that Glass experienced.
This feeling of immersion undoubtedly
contributed to the high quality of the film.DiCaprio wasn’t the only actor who
outdid himself. Tom Hardy and Will
Poulter also played key roles as fellow fur tradesmen, expressing two opposing sides of the moral coin: Hardy’s character, John
Fitzgerald, is a self-interested, greedy man from the south who expresses no remorse, while Poulter plays a youthful, kindhearted character. Both successfully work to balance the narrative.
This film was truly exceptional. It was raw. However, do not confuse exceptional with entertaining.
While “The Revenant” had incredibly high-quality acting, directing, and cinematography, the intensity was exhausting.
If you are looking to see a movie to give you an escape, see something else. But if you are looking for a movie that displays the industry’s prowess, “The Revenant” is an appropriate selection.
Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, there is gore and violence, which continues until the very end, expressing the brutality of the terrain, the industry, the time period, and the inter-party relations.
The Americans, the French, and the Native Americans were each represented with very little bias to express more accurately how “business” was carried out, which was clear from the brutality of interactions and the cold-hearted dialogue between people of opposing parties.
A revenant is “a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead,” according to the Oxford dictionary, and this movie lives up to the potency of its title.
With 12 Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Actor, “The Revenant” is ultimately worth the energy and attention needed to appreciate its captivating storytelling.
By Megan Millard
LEONARDO DICAPRIO trudges through the Alaskan wilderness in the recent thrilling movie, “The Revenant.”
Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 21 • Review
GymPact
GymPact encourages users to reach their health goals by tracking their progress while requiring them to bet real money on whether they will meet their goal for the week. When making an account, users input their goal, whether that goal is going to the gym or logging what food they eat in order to lose weight. If the user reaches their goal within a week, they can earn a money reward. However, if the person doesn’t reach their goal, they will be charged an amount that they select. GymPact sends periodic reminders to each user’s email informing them of the goal they set and how much money they could potentially earn or lose. Other “pacters” also post images of their progress as part of their goals, which makes users feel like their goals are more obtainable. GymPact allows the user to change their bet, so they receive the most out of their goals. Although GymPact is a positive motivator and free of charge, the app can cause users to break the bank if they don’t stay committed to their goals.
Pillow
If you are looking to get more sleep, Pillow is a sleep-tracking alarm clock that improves the way users wake up and helps them learn to improve their sleep. After the user places the phone next to their pillow, Pillow will listen to their movement patterns. It calculates when the user is awake, when they’re in light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep. The alarm will sound when the user is in their lightest sleep––not when users set it––so this app is not ideal for those on a tight morning schedule. But the app will leave the user refreshed and alert, if time is not an issue. The app also provides a graph that shows the time during which users are in each sleep stage and the overall quality of their sleep. For a fee of $4.99, audio recordings of nighttime sleep are available for purchase, which allow users to compare their sleep quality against 10 different health metrics. If the person is not happy with their sleep results, they can set a goal of how many hours they want to sleep, and Pillow will give them tips to do so.
30/30
For those who are looking to use their time more wisely so they can limit procrastination, 30/30 is one app to try. Easily add all the tasks and the time it will take to complete them, and 30/30 will start counting down the time. The user can add or subtract minimal amounts of time to fit the desired task. When the time is up, a buzzer sounds, indicating it is time to move on to the next task. 30/30 gives users exact times too, so the user is not only aware of the number of minutes they have left, but the actual time they should be finishing each task as well. The app also allows the user to pause the countdown, so they don’t feel totally restrained to the timer. Not only does 30/30 time every task, the app gives users periodic warnings so they can successfully complete their specific responsibilities without getting off task. 30/30 is simple to use and free of charge, with common touch functions and a visually pleasing interface that users can customize to their liking.
Plant Nanny
Aiming to drink more water? Each user can raise their own virtual plant that grows when they hydrate. Users can choose from a small selection of plant types and the amount of water they want to drink, and when they finish a glass, they feed the water to their plant so it can begin to grow. When the plant is fully grown––signaling the goal has been reached––the user may move it to the garden, where it sprouts seeds that can be used toward the purchase of rare plants, custom backgrounds, and special water that revives dead plants. But, if the user doesn’t drink water, their plant will begin to droop and eventually die. Plant Nanny sends updates on the health of each user’s plant as reminders to continue hydrating. The only downside is the user is required to remember to enter the amount of water they drank, which can become a hassle and a task that is easy to forget. Nevertheless the easy-to-use app allows each person to feel rewarded when they drink water, a necessary task that is easier said than done.
By Sarah Kimball
Bookstores offer large selections with low pricesWhether you’re looking to find the latest bestseller or a
Pulitzer-winning classic, The Bark has you covered with a review of the best bookstores in Marin. The Bark compared four bookstores: Barnes & Noble, Book Passage, Diesel and Copperfield’s. The bookstores were reviewed based on affordability, atmosphere, and quality of shopping experience.
By Rebecca Smalbach
Barnes & Noble is the upscale Walmart of bookstores in Marin. A large chain, Barnes & Noble has a huge selection of books in terms of breadth as well as depth. The company can afford to offer its books for much cheaper prices than those of many locally-owned bookstores due to the sheer volume of books it is able to sell. However, the atmosphere of the store seems impersonal, and employees aren’t particularly invested in helping customers find the perfect book. If you know exactly which book you’re looking for and shopping at chain stores doesn’t bother you, then Barnes & Noble is an excellent bookstore for a cheap read.
Diesel
Diesel is a small chain bookstore located in Larkspur Landing that is often overlooked by people searching for a literary present. Its less-traversed location gives it a tranquil environment. Though Diesel’s selection is small enough that it shouldn’t be a go-to for the classics, it does have an impressive display of lesser-known human interest books that make superb gifts. The store, incredibly aesthetically pleasing with its well-lit stands and colorful displays, is a pleasant place to spend time. The employees are knowledgeable, friendly and willing to help. Diesel is the place to go for a unique book you might not have picked up otherwise, though the prices are among the most expensive.
Like Diesel, Copperfield’s is a small chain bookstore in downtown San Rafael with more of a family feel. The store is bright and very minimalistic, a visually pleasing choice. However, compared to the other bookstores on this list, the selection of books at Copperfield’s is very small, and the books are quite expensive. The staff isn’t particularly attentive, and this is not a bookstore to go to without having a book in mind already. Don’t go out of your way to buy books at Copperfield’s as other bookstores have a larger variety of books, and are cheaper to boot.
Located in Corte Madera, Book Passage is the quintessential community bookstore. Book Passage is known for hosting authors and other events, making it a great place to get involved with the book-loving community in Marin. Though Book Passage has a wide selection of books, it is best for hardcore book lovers who are willing to engage in lengthy conversation with store staff about the latest niche books. Though the books can be expensive and the decor isn’t inviting, staff who are cheery and knowledgeable make Book Passage an apt place to go for recommendations from people who are passionate about books.
BOOK PASSAGE was ranked the highest due to its homey feel, wide selection of books, and knowledgeable staff. It is also home to a delicious cafe that is perfect for rainy days.
Photo by Julia Cherner
Copperfield’sBook Passage
Barnes & Noble
Best App Picks: The solution to your New Year’s resolution
Random Facts
inches of rain have fallen in Larkspur since Jan. 3.
percent of Redwood students read the news once a week.
years have passed since Redwood basketball has won an MCAL championship.
million dollars is the cost of construction for the Sonoma Marin Area Trail Transit.
million people are injured each year from snake bites.
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24
6
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bark Page 22 • Lifestyles January 29, 2016
Predictions for this season’s ‘The Bachelor’
Infographic by Kylie Kvam
Empowering club sparks middle school girls toward achieving success
SENIOR Emily Caindec leads a Girls with Goals meeting with the help of senior Mackenzie Cullens at Hall Middle School.
Photo by Sabrina Dong
An energetic buzz fills the air, accompanied by the sound of crinkling brown paper lunch bags and the hum of excited voices. In the brightly lit classroom at Hall Middle School, seventh and eighth grade girls excitedly raise their hands to answer the prompt: “Who are role models in your life?”
This is a typical meeting of “Girls with Goals,” a club created by seniors Emily Caindec and Mackenzie Cullens that focuses on providing girls at Hall Middle School advice and mentorship
“The focus with Girls with Goals, the whole point of the club, was to impact middle schoolers. We realized that a lot of their information comes from parents or teachers and we wanted them to have people they could relate to,” Caindec said.
Cullens and Caindec help the girls tackle topics like bullying, gossip, and friendship. The club organizes interactive activities to discuss the issues.
“We have question boxes because at the beginning they felt a little uncomfortable. Now, they barely feel uncomfortable with us,” Cullens said.
The club took off when they contacted Hall teacher Josh Evans, who they worked with to get the club off the ground.
“Mr. Evans really wanted a connection [between Redwood and Hall], because we’re right across the street; he didn’t really see much of a connection,” Cullens said.
Girls with Goals meets every Thursday to discuss a new topic during each meeting.
“One time, when we were talking about bullying, [the girls in the club] really opened up to us about a lot of their issues and the emotional stuff they were going through,” Caindec said.
The pair feels like they have made a big impact at Hall because the younger girls look up to them and genuinely want their advice.
“It’s really fun,” said Sumaiya Bassa, an eighth grader at Hall Middle School.
“We learn things about high school. They tell us what’s to come and easy study tips and things like that.”
Caindec and Cullens found that they had more of an impact on middle schoolers, than on high schoolers.
“When they’re in middle school, they’re still looking for role models and they still want advice from high schoolers about how to make their high school experience successful,” Cullens said.
Girls with Goals started as a branch of another, co-ed, club that Cullens and Caindec run called Future Focused.
“We invite successful business women to come and speak about their career paths and what they do and make those lectures open to everyone at Redwood and the community,” Caindec said.
Cullens first had the idea to start Future Focused during her sophomore year. She was inspired by her desire to have a club at Redwood that was about planning for the future.
Caindec and Cullens recruit speakers using connections through their classmates and parents to try to get a variety of successful women to talk about different career paths and how they work toward their goals.
The pair recalled that their most memorable speaker was the NBA International President Heidi Ueberroth, who spoke on June 2, 2015.
“It’s important to see that just because a job has to do with the NBA doesn’t mean that it has to be a man. It’s important for girls and guys to see that there are women in jobs that you wouldn’t see a woman in,” Cullens said.
According to Caindec, what really made Ueberroth stand out was her message telling people to give every opportunity a chance, because it can expand students’ knowledge of their likes and dislikes.
She said that the speakers usually stress that everyone’s road to personal success is a different one.
“Heidi took that one step further when she said to take advantage of everything and to take every opportunity given to you because even if you don’t end up liking that experience or that internship, you’re still a step closer to figuring out where you want to be,” Cullens said.
Ben Higgins, this season’s “Bachelor,” will go on a number of magical adventures in search of love on “The Bachelor.” At the start of the show, 28 girls are brought to a mansion in the Hollywood Hills in hopes of an engagement at the end. Every Monday night on ABC, Ben takes the girls on dates around the world, and narrows down the number of potential suitors during the rose ceremonies. The Bark evaluated the potential partners and made picks on who could win.
Caila: As they are both software sales associates, Caila and Ben started off with an instant connection. Ben also picked Caila to be his first one-on-one date, and though they had to endure a painfully scripted promotion for “Ride Along 2” during their date, Caila went along with it and showed Ben her easygoing and fun attitude. Upon their first meeting, Caila ran and jumped into Ben’s arms-displaying her bubbly personality. However, Caila also has depth, something that many of the other contestants lack. Her conversations with Ben have substance and are not simply “I am excited to get to know you,” like many of the others. I predict Caila will go far this season and end with a ring on her finger.
Lauren B: Due to the fact that she was the first shown out of the limo, Lauren B. will likely go far, as this is a trend in the “Bachelor” franchise. Lauren and Ben had their first one-on-one date on the third episode, and it was obvious to viewers everywhere that their personalities clicked. The flight attendant matched well with Ben’s kind and caring personality, and the two kissed multiple times in the hot tub. However, they also were joking around––proving they are comfortable around each other. Lauren and Ben have a good chance of making it in the long-run.
JoJo: Texas native Joelle (JoJo) and Ben’s chemistry has been undeniable since she first stepped out of the limo––even with the unicorn head she was wearing. On their one-on-one date this week, their body language was telling. JoJo received the first group date rose after the two shared their first kiss atop a helicopter pad. Her outgoing and animated personality is a perfect match for Ben. I believe JoJo has the potential to be chosen.
Olivia: Sparks were flying right away when Ben met Olivia on the first night, and she received the highly coveted “First Impression Rose” before the first rose ceremony, putting an immediate target on her back. Not only do Ben and Olivia physically look good together, the two connected scientifically at the Love Lab on Jan. 11. Although she is not popular in the house, she knows how to assert herself with Ben and how to establish a strong connection. I believe she will make it far.
Becca: This San Diego native and chiropractic assistant is definitely a front-
runner for this competition. She made her first appearance on “The Bachelor” during Season 19 with Chris Soules. During the show she revealed that she had never had a boyfriend or sex before, yet she made it to the final round. Their connection will be extra-strong because they waited to establish a personal relationship before a physical one. There are no doubts that Becca is a fan-favorite and will be in the final ceremony with Ben.
Amanda: Amanda is the only parent on this season, but her mommy side has resonated with Ben in a positive way. He has previously mentioned that he is excited to become a parent in the future. A few episodes ago, Ben pulled Amanda aside to make hair barrettes for her to bring back to her daughters. This showed not only to Amanda, but to Bachelor Nation, how serious he is about keeping her in the house.
By Julia Chernerand Kylie Kvam
By Sabrina Dong
barkwww.redwoodbark.org Page 23 • Lifestyles
Face-to-Face: Are New Year’s resolutions worth our time?
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Freshman sings at the Sinatra 50th Memorial ShowBy Kayla Aldridge
FRESHMAN Sofia Quinn Perozzi applies makeup prior to her performance at the Sinatra Memorial Show where she sang four songs for hundreds of people.
Photo by Kayla Aldridge
By Isabella Alioto
Ally van Dorsten- vs -
Jaclyn Alvarado
Face-to-Face is a feature that allows two members of the Redwood Community to grill each other, argue, or simply converse about a relevant issue or event. We provide the topic, and they do the rest. This month’s participants are seniors Ally van Dorsten and Jaclyn Alvarado. They discuss the relevance and importance of New Year’s resolutions.
New Year’s resolutions can help people set goals, but at the same time, it can be very discouraging if a person isn’t able to stick to these goals. For this reason, do you think that it is beneficial to make New Year’s resolutions?
Ally van Dorsten: “I always think it’s a good idea just to set goals for yourself, and whether you follow through with them or not, that’s on you. At least by setting a goal, you’re starting which is better than not doing anything at all because you think you’re not going to follow through.”
Jaclyn Alvarado: “I feel like setting New Year’s resolutions is not a good idea because people set very high standards for themselves thinking they’ll have a year to do it, and they end up not achieving the goals they set.”
Do you think that people generally set reasonable goals as their New Year’s resolutions?
AVD: “From a personal standpoint, I try to set reasonable goals, but I definitely know that some people don’t. But, a goal is a goal and if you have high standards for yourself and you want to do big things, you have to set those goals.”
JA: “People think ‘new year, new me’ and they’re like ‘I have all year to achieve this goal’ [so] they set very high standards for themselves. Personally, you could set a goal for yourself that you know you could achieve, but sometimes people, think they’re going to change overnight and be a new person in the new year, [so they] set goals that are not attainable.”
What is the biggest upside or biggest downside to making a New Year’s resolution?
AVD: “For me, the biggest upside is that I’m motivated and excited about the new goals I set for myself. Even if it doesn’t work out later on in the year, at least I have something to look forward to or something to really work hard for and it makes me motivated.
JA: “I think the biggest downside would just be letting yourself down. You go into the new year being positive,
but then you end up letting yourself down which can turn into a negative start to the year. You also change as a
person throughout the year so your goals might differ by the time December
comes around.”
Is New Year’s the only time to make a resolution?
JA: No, I think that you have the opportunity all year because your life might
change. You might meet new people or pick up a new hobby that you can set goals for. Especially for people at school, if they start a new sport in the spring, [they] can set a goal for themselves to get better at the sport throughout the year.
AVD: No, I think that any time is a good time,
but New Year’s is an easier time.
Which resolutions have been successful for you or people you know?
JA: Some of my friends’ New Year’s resolutions are to eat healthier or to exercise more. If you set little goals like that it’s more achievable.
AVD: My best [resolutions] are ones that aren’t the final goal I’m looking for but a step in the right direction. If I want to improve my grades, I say I’m not going to use my phone while I’m doing my math homework and then, eventually, my grades get better. If I want to start exercising more, I’m going to work out once a week.
Beams of light shone toward the center of the stage, and the crowd waited in anticipation. Murmurs and indistinct conversations were instantly silenced as freshman Sofia Quinn Perozzi’s fervent, powerful voice filled the auditorium.
On Dec. 11, 2015, Perozzi performed for hundreds of people at the Herbst Theatre in honor of what would have been the 100th birthday of 20th century jazz vocalist Frank Sinatra.
Accompanied by an orchestra, Perozzi sang various Frank Sinatra songs. Among them were the solo pieces “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “I’ve Got a Crush On You” and “High Hopes” as a duet with Noah Griffin, founder of the Cole Porter Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of musician Cole Porter. Perozzi also performed “New York, New York” as a group number.
“[Singing] is different to dancing or acting because it’s more soulful––it comes from your heart,” Perozzi said. “It’s a completely different type of energy. It’s basically the best feeling that you can have.”
Although Perozzi can’t recall when she was first introduced to music, singing has always been a central part of her upbringing, as her mother was an avid singer.
“Growing up, I’d watch her [sing], and I knew early on that I wanted to do the same thing,” Perozzi said.
Perozzi’s career began when her singing talent was noticed at the San Francisco Yacht Club.
“This member of the club wanted my mom to sing Barbara Streisand. She’s my idol, and I know all of her songs. My mom didn’t know any, so she suggested I sing a song,” Perozzi said.
After singing at the San Francisco Yacht Club, Perozzi’s first real gig was at the St. Francis Yacht Club. Since then, Perozzi has sung at the University Club and the Bohemian Club. Her professional singing career, however, took off when she began working with the American Conservatory Theater’s Junior Cabaret in San Francisco four years ago.
After joining the Conservatory and being exposed to the level of talent of her fellow teen performers, Perozzi looked to find a vocal coach.
“The American Conservatory Theater made me realize that I needed someone else to help me hear what I couldn’t hear when I was actually singing, which is what a vocal coach does,” Perozzi said.
The Frank Sinatra show, Perozzi’s favorite performance, was the largest audience for whom she has performed.
“I usually get to perform for 100 people, tops, so this was so amazingly cool. The theater was beautiful. I had an entire orchestra behind me, and a pianist. It was just so amazing. I can’t wait until I get to do another show like that again,” Perozzi said.
The opportunity to sing at the memorial concert was presented to her by Griffin.
According to Perozzi, part of the Cole Porter Society’s goal is to bring life to the Great American Songbook, which contains many popular songs from the 20th century.
“[Griffin] wants younger people to experience this type of music, so having someone younger, like me, perform with him is great as it makes it more accessible and makes other kids think and dream that they can be up there too. It increases the attention on the music,” Perozzi said.
Though Perozzi has the audience’s undivided attention while singing, she rarely experiences anxiety.
“My favorite part of singing is getting to perform in front of people. I just love the energy on the stage, particularly when I am singing a solo,” Perozzi said. “I also enjoy the group numbers, learning to harmonize
with the other singers, and keeping time with the pianist. I think I just enjoy learning new ways to sing.”
Following the Sinatra memorial show, Perozzi was asked to perform in an upcoming show at a winery in Napa. Griffin, who Perozzi performs many shows with, sends emails to her, listing upcoming potential performances. Perozzi then researches the opportunities, and makes a decision as to whether she wants to perform. Though Griffin provides her with performing opportunities, she currently does not have an agent.
[Singing] is different to dancing or acting because it’s more soulful—it comes from the heart.
Sofia Quinn Perozzi,freshman
