April - San Luis Coastal Unified School District

Expressions
San Luis Obispo High School
Volume XIV, Issue VI
April 5, 2013
Expressions 2013 Student
Photo
Competition
8 SLOHS students turned in photos, and Expressions chose the
following top photographers. See their original photos on the
expressions website.
First Place: Skye Michel
Maddy Abroms
Staff Reporter
Freshman Skye Michel’s passion for
photography began at a young age when
her grandpa used to take her out for photo
shoots. “About two years ago for Christmas I got a camera,” said Michel, “that’s
when I started to really get into photography.”
A trip to Europe with her family served
as the inspiration for the photos she en-
tered into the Expressions photo contest.
However, Michel’s favorite subject to
photograph is her friends. Although Michel doesn’t wish to pursue photography
as a full-time career, she does hope to continue taking photos as a side job.
“I like to see how different people come
up with different ways to take photos, because there are so many ways to take pictures,” said Michel. To view more of her
incredible for photography, check out her
Instagram: @skyelit.
Runner Up: Kristyna Dankova
Kendra Lewis
Staff Reporter
Budget defecit affects
SLOHS
Carolyn Amir
News Editor
San Luis Coastal Unified School
District anticipates a total deficit for
the 2012-2013 school year of around
$4.5 million, a shortage that has affected San Luis Obispo High School.
An increase in class sizes has been
the main result of the deficit at the
high school level this year. However,
there are expected to be more consequences in the 2013-2014 school
year.
“I’m getting less site funds next
year. They’re going to give me about
25 percent less, so I’m going to have
to do the same job with less money,”
said principal Leslie O’Connor.
According to district assistant superintendent Rick Robinette, what is
likely “on the chopping block” for
next year may be counselors, librarians, and class size.
The district budget is public and 92
percent annually is paid out in salaries, which is why staff is first examined when cuts need to be made.
Pink slips in the district have been
primarily going to librarians and
counselors.
State
law requires that preliminary layoff notices to certified employees
were made by March 15 this year.
O’Connor said, “From about midFebruary I’ve been talking to staff
members who are under that microscope for funding reduction. It’s a
very tough, personal conversation,
but it’s the professional thing to do
so that they have all of their notifications well in advance of that March
15 deadline.”
SLOHS’s administration has given
a budget and reductions proposal to
the school board. The school board
will now deliberate over this proposal, which will then be sent to the
superintendent. Then the superintendent will give his recommendations
to the school board for them to make
final decisions about the 2013-2014
budget.
President of the school board Walter Millar said, “There is no question that cuts of this magnitude [at
a district level] will impact students.
The possible loss of counselors and
teacher librarians will be difficult.
The district and board will work to
reduce that impact and find ways to
continue the support as best we can.”
Continued on Page 2.
Senior Kristyna Dankova from the
Czech Republic began taking photos at age 14, but only got into the
talent more recently.
Dankova said, “I won a competitioin for the British Council for the
Olympics in London. I took pictures of athletes in Czech for the
Olympics.”
With her Pentax KX camera (and
sometimes a flexaret), she focuses
on capturing photos of people and
portraits to show off the beauty
of everyday life to her audience.
“Memories and emotions inspire
me. Also just by the world and everyday experiences in life.”
She is looking forward to pursuing
her craft in college.
Changes for graduation planned
Sam Tomac
Editor-in-Chief
The San Luis Obispo High School
administration has added improvements and alterations to this year’s
2013 graduation ceremony. Whereas
in the past the graduation stage has
been placed in front of the end zone
of the field, this year the setup will
take a ninety degree turn. As seen in
the diagram, the stage will be set up
in front of the away bleachers, with
two-hundred and fifty or more chairs
on the grass for families and friends
to sit.
Deans Nick Frost and Scott Schaldy
led these changes.
“My son graduated three years ago
from SLOHS and even then it was a
strange set up. We want everything
to be front and center,” stated Frost.
As students were taking their trimester two finals, Frost, Schaldy, and the
custodial staff created a mock graduation set up on the field.
“We used the ASB [Associated Student Body] stage and got some chairs
to try and see if what we had come
up with would work,” said Frost.
Students have been utilized to help
with seating as well. Welding and
Woodshop classes have been refurbishing old bleachers at the school,
which could be used for additional
seating.
Similar to last year’s ceremony,
graduates will walk down the center
aisle-though not through the inflatable Tiger’s head. Frost said that “it
was something that last year’s class
requested, but it really just isn’t feasible.”
Also like last year’s graduation, parents, families, and friends will not be
able to come in hours before the ceremony to reserve seats. Doors will
open around 3:00 p.m. and spectators will be allowed to enter then.
“Some families used to arrive early
and save seats with sheets of butcher
paper, and then they would leave.
That’s what we don’t want,” said
Frost.
The senior graduates will again
congregate in the New Gym where
the bleachers will be pulled out.
“We want to allow the students to
relax beforehand. We will definitely
have a P.A. system set up so we can
give instruction,” explained Schaldy.
Graphic courtesy of Scott Schalde
News
2
Editor: Carolyn Amir
5 April, 2013
Hey world, what’s going on?
Charlie Moore
People Editor
So far, 2013 has been an eventful year. Expressions compiled a summary of
a few recent events and then went to students for their reactions:
Event:
New Pope:
After the surprising resignation of
Pope Benedict the XVI, a new
Pope has been selected to lead the
world’s Catholics. Pope Francis
the first swore into the papacy
March 13, 2013.
Student Reaction
“I know that the new Pope is from
Argentina, and it is good that the
Catholic Church is branching out”
- sophomore Garrett Perkins
Iraq war:
March 19, 2013 marks the tenth
anniversary of U.S. Involvement
in Iraq, a conflict started in 2003
by the Bush administration.
I think that it was smart, and completely justifiable to jump in to the
Middle East after 9/11 but to jump in
because there were “weapons of mass
destruction” was stupid.
-junior Anders Meisenhiemer
Assault weapons ban:
after months of controversy over
gun law reform, the proposed assault weapons ban was not in
cluded in the bill that will be pro
posed to the senate.
“First, I want to say that gun control
is an absolute violation to the second
amendment and shouldn’t be considered at all. Secondly, the assault
weapons ban not being included in
the legislation is a huge victory for its
opponents like me.”
-junior Tanner Begin
Popular Culture:
Celebrities Katy Perry and John
Mayor split up. Again.
“John Mayer is a weirdo. He’s broken
up with Jennifer Aniston, Taylor
Swift and now Katy Perry. I think he
just likes the drama.”
-junior Jessica Moody
Graphic above by Charlie Moore
How to choose a college
Clare Duffy
Editor-in-Chief
As many seniors at San
Luis Obispo
High School
have come
to recognize,
chossing where
to go to college
is a seemingly
insurmountable
task. Luckily,
Expressions
has compiled
a checklist to
help you
decide.
“Budget deficit affects SLOHS”, Continued from Page 1
“We pay our superintendent more
than any other in the county and
have more total administrators than
any other school in the county,” said
Chemistry teacher Bruce Tedone.
Proposition 30, which set up a new
funding model for California public
schools, was approved on November
6, 2012, “Money has been taken
by the state, and we are left with a
huge hole in our budget that must be
filled. We can do it, but it won’t be
easy, and it won’t be good for kids,”
said assistant superintendent of business and support services Russell
Miller.
The school board voted to notify
approximately 28 full time equivalent (FTE) employees by the March
deadline.
“Yes, I have to reduce our staff by
two full-time equivalents. That could
be three teachers, that could be four
teachers, or it could be two teachers depending on the combination. ”
said O’Connor.
Another area being looked at is
teacher credentials and seniority,
because according to O’Connor,
“Permanent employees are a lot
harder to review.”
Source:
sanluisobispo.com
News
5 April, 2013
3
Editor: Carolyn Amir
Dodgeball tournament begins
Maddy Abroms
Staff Reporter
In hopes of creating a livelier oncampus lunchtime experience and
to augment school spirit among the
student body, the Associated Student
Body is working to create a new
lunchtime activity.
ASB has planned an Intramural
Dodgeball tournament, similar to
Intramural Soccer tournament that
took place back in January and February. The Dodgeball tournament is
scheduled to take place “sometime
after Spring Break,” stated senior
Tommy O’Neil, who plans lunchtime activities for ASB.
Mr. Johnson, the ASB adviser, later
stated that the tournament should
begin once, “enough teams sign up,
brackets and playing schedules are
created, and permission slips are
turned in.”
Each Dodgeball game will last
ten minutes, an adequate amount of
time to play the game and eat lunch.
Since every game will take place
on campus, the activity will be easily accessible to any student who
wishes to be active during the fiftyminute lunchtime span. Regardless
of playing on a team or not, students
can still flood the court to support
their fellow peers.
Tommy O’Neil, who excitedly anticipates the Dodgeball tournament,
said, “Our hope is to see who the
best of the best dodge ball players
are in, and increase school spirit.”
Photo by Maddy Abroms
Dodging: SLOHS students show off their dodgeball skills on the SLOHS tennis courts.
Superbugs wage war New tardy policy
Randy Reynaga
Staff Reporter
Scientists are concerned about the
emergence of new “superbugs”—
bacterial infections that are immune to commonly-used antibiotics.
Students at San Luis Obispo High
School are the targets of decades of
misused antibiotics, partnered with
the powers of natural selection.
After the introduction of penicillin
in the 1940’s, the mortality rate from
bacterial infections began to decline.
The war against disease turned in the
favor of humanity. Bacteria has been
working in the shadows, however,
mutating and developing resistance
to our weapons. The tide of war is
turning again, with these superbugs
conquering our medication.
Science teacher Amanda Gibson
confirmed that “they are becoming
more and more prevalent, which is
scary, because diseases that used to
be curable, such as tuberculosis and
staph infection, are becoming deadly
again as the superbugs become more
and more common.”
There was a powerful antibiotic
called Vancomycin, previously reserved as a “last resort” medication.
It was a super-medication, capable
of annihilating all germs. It was specifically revered for its ability to conquer Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Staph
Infection.
Then, in 1987, the first Vancomycin-resistant disease was discovered.
Our super-weapon was defeated.
Today, Vancomycin-resistant Staph
Infection is common, and other bacterial diseases are following in its
wake, killing tens of thousands of
people yearly. And the numbers are
rising.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
(TB) is a swelling concern. It’s characterized by its resistance to both
isoniazid and rifampicin, which are
currently the two most powerful anti-TB drugs. A measure of last resort
is to surgically remove the infected
portion of the diseased lung, which
does have a high success rate. Even
so, this superbug has a mortality rate
of 80 percent, and is growing more
common as time passes.
Although new antibiotics are gener-
ated, their lifetime is never long, due
to the rapid development of new superbugs. We are part of the problem.
Although any usage of antibiotics results in the creation of a few resistant
bacteria, the misuse of medication
magnifies the danger.
According to Gibson, “[It’s a problem] when a person takes an antibiotic and doesn’t finish their course.
There’s a few bacteria left, and
you’re breeding the ones that are
resistant, just like selective breeding for dogs. If you want a dog with
a curly coat, you breed your curlycoated dogs together. Every time you
take an antibiotic, there’s a few bacteria left in your system that didn’t
die from the antibiotic, and they are
the ones that are breeding.”
Despite the dangers, experts assure
us that things are under control, as
the most dangerous superbugs are in
containment. We are expected to remain calm, like junior Amy Taylor,
who said, “I think [superbugs] are
really interesting, but I’d like it if
they could somehow result in zombies.”
Calico Randall
Sports Editor
for an interview?
“I wear a plain white button down
shirt with black pants and my hair
back,” said junior Rebecca Brizendine, who currently works at Sportclips as a receptionist.
How one should dress varies on the
position and job that they’re applying for. But usually a white top with
black bottoms is safe for any interview. Make sure to be conservative,
the interviewee doesn’t want to accidentally offend their employer.
If a student doesn’t look like they
really want the job, the manager be-
enacted at SLOHS
Tess Goodnowott
Staff Reporter
A new tardy policy has recently been
enacted this third trimester at San
Luis Obispo High School. It calls for
consistency in roll-taking by teachers, and enforcement of consequences by the Dean of Students.
According to Dean Nick Frost, “we
have a real problem with kids being
late to class.”
SLOHS’s new Dean and creator of
the latest tardy policy, Scott Schalde,
said “My job is to make them go and
go on time.” His new policy states
that after four unexcused tardies in
all classrooms combined, students
will receive consequences.
Five to nine unexcused tardies receive one day of trash pick-up for
each. For example, if a student has
seven unexcused tardies, then he or
she will have to serve three trash
pick-ups. From ten to 14 unexcused
tardies, two days trash pick-up are
given. Upon arrival on the fifteenth
tardy, students must serve a Saturday work program, from 8:00 to
11:00 a.m.
For each subsequent tardy after the
fifteenth, students are required to
serve either three days trash pick-up
or Saturday work program for each.
A student’s twentieth tardy results in
either in-school or off-campus suspension.
“Second trimester 168 students had
at least ten tardies. Forty-four students had at least twenty tardies, 14
students had at least thirty, and six
had at least forty,” said Schalde. He
hopes for improvement with the new
policy.
“It’s important to have uniformity
in how we manage tardies. [The
policy] only will work if teachers
are accurate, consistent, and take
roll like they should,” said SLOHS
principal Leslie O’Connor
This policy has apparently been
deemed a “pilot” for third trimester.
Schalde said, “We’ll probably stick
with it if it works.”
How should I dress for an interview?
High school is a time when many
students begin to get jobs and are
pushed into the “grown-up” world.
Getting a job can be very stressful,
especially when students with no experience are competing with adults
that have more experience.
Something that really helps set you
ahead of other interviewees is how
you dress, and sometimes that can be
a turning point in an employer’s decision. So how should a student dress
Photos by Calico Randall
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comes uninterested. It’s best to look
as professional as possible and have
them ask the interviewee to dress
more casually, rather than to have
them turn them away immediately
because of how casual they look.
Always try to dress better than those
who are applying for the same position.
“I have seen people go in looking
raggedy and not appropriate and they
[managers] have just denied them on
the spot. Then they see me and I look
nice and well put together. It looks
like I’m trying,” said Brizendine.
Pro: Austin Dalley, left, and
Rebecca Brizendine, above,
model professional attire.
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Yea r
1 9 6 3 - 2 01 3
Opinion
4
Editor: Avery Candelario
Staff Ed: Change isn’t
always bad!
Alteration. Transition. Modification. Reconstruction. While all these words can be synonymous with
“change,” they seem to hold a stigma in our culture. We as a society
resist change. And as the recent changes imposed by our administration and
management team have shown, San Luis Obispo High School students fit into this
societal norm. From angry conversations about three-finals-in-one-day shared in the
hall, to entire class periods spent debating which passing period schedule is better, SLOHS
seems fixated on a few changes brought about by the “regime,” as some students call it, of
Principal Leslie O’Connor.
However our fixation seems to be stuck on the bad change. What about the mural project spearheaded by the administration and the art department? Or the huge improvements to the theatre program, enabled because of the Black and Gold Booster club’s donations and O’Connor’s participation? Even our SLOHS webpage is now a priority, being updated and checked daily by Computer
Applications teacher Ted Zamorano all because of our principal’s initiative.
Amidst the handful of bad, students are experiencing great improvements to their programs
and activities. When we focus on the handful of controversial changes as we are now, it
blinds us from the positive ones. In a world where bad news dominates, shouldn’t our
generation be the ones to try to correct this mindset?
Acclaimed writer Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something,
change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” So debate the
tardy police all you want. Criticize change. Go ahead and protest
for more student involvement; but before it is too late,
don’t forget to appreciate the good.
Life without Librarians:
illiterate children, overdue books, and
TALKING (shhh) in the Library
Are zero
periods the
right choice?
Charlie Moore
People Editor
Photo by Avery Candelario
Helpful Librarians do their Job: Vicki Carroll and Mary Dornish work hard
every day at the SLOHS library.
Karaline Bridgeford
Staff Reporter
With the recent threat of budget
cuts casting its wide shadow across
the school district, secondary school
librarians are under the chopping
block. Librarians in the San Luis
Obispo Unified School District
could soon receive notices—and
don’t allow their pleasant pink coloring to deceive you. When a teacher
receives a pink slip, it is equivalent
to a preemptive firing.
So what are the ramifications if our
librarians pack up their glasses and
books and leave students to fend for
themselves amongst the chaos of the
Dewy Decimal System? I believe the
results would be utterly disastrous.
We need librarians. They have
pages and pages of book navigating experience, experience obtained
through years of fulfilling their own
love of books. Who else will give
you that stellar book recommendation that transforms you from an
avid SparkNote procrastinator to a
page-turning book worshiper? Our
librarians are the ones who have the
answers. Senior Emily Mcbride attested to the necessity of our own
San Luis Obispo High School librarian Vicki Carroll “she is incredibly
sweet and always helpful. Whenever
I need advice on a research project
I know she will help me find what
I need.”
In our technological era students
are trading books for beeping illuminating iPhones and gaming devices.
Librarians are the last card we have
to play against this war on books. It
is our librarians who can offer the
light in the dark of the tunnel, the encouragement, and the recommended
books that will keep students interested. Our school district cannot afford to cut our librarians—students’
educations will be put in jeopardy.
Have you ever wished that you
could take more classes than you
already do? Well some students at
San Luis Obispo high do, and for
those individuals, a zero period
class can be a viable option.
The trimester system offers a flexible schedule that lends itself naturally to students who desire to take
a lot of elective classes. This offers
solutions to many problems, but
one issue that still persists is class
size. Smaller classes fill up quickly
and only a certain amount of students can take these classes. And
for seniors who are leaving for college next year, this may be their last
opportunity to take that class.
This is where the major issue pops
up: why is a zero period even necessary? Because we are on the aforementioned trimester system, we
should be able to get into important
like AP Calculus BC. Furthermore,
those students who are willing to go
the extra mile and get to school an
hour earlier are some of the most
driven individuals on campus. Now,
on top of their already rigorous
schedule they have to lose an hour
of sleep. Senior Alex Scoolis said
that, “It was maybe the worst thing
that ever happened to me, I can understand having a zero period art
class, but forcing my brain to work
that earl was not an ideal situation.”
Ultimately, to the select group of
individuals who decide to take a
zero period are there by their own
volition, and should be commended
for they’re efforts.
5 April, 2013
Should the good
kids still get
punished for cuts?
Calico Randall
Sports Editor
Walking back onto campus from
lunch in the eighty degree summerlike weather, I wish I could be anywhere but here. As I skim through
the activities planned for my fourth
and fifth period, I realize how pointless it would be to stay at school.
“Come on!” my friends yell out their
car window, “Let’s go to the beach!”
Contemplating, I decide I deserve a
break… Don’t I? I have all A’s and
am ahead in my last two classes. It
wouldn’t be a big deal to just cut
class, would it?
Apparently, yes it would. The administration office called my mother, and even though she attested to
me being at “Doctor Avila’s” office,
I still got a cut and dirty looks from
my fourth and fifth period teachers.
Excuse me, but last time I looked
(two minutes ago) I had a high A in
your class. Why should straight A
students get punished for taking a
well-earned break?
“Cutting really shouldn’t be a big
deal unless it happens too frequently
and thus affects one’s performance
in school,” attests junior Mary Donaldson.
I’m not saying that I should get
special treatment, or that students
should cut their classes. I’m just
pointing out that most students who
have A’s try very hard, and are usually ahead in class. It doesn’t make
sense that students with all A’s are
punished just as much as students
who don’t try at all at with D’s. Either we should get a break, or the D
students get punished more!
Role changes:
Leaders at SLOHS
are still just as cool
Photo by Randolph Slocum
Leaders at SLOHS: Seniors Austin Dalley, Jessica Dalley, and Nico MacDougall are all presidents on clubs on campus.
Clare Duffy
Editor-in-Chief: Front
Remember freshman year when you
were busy every day during lunch
going to every club meeting under
the sun? And if you weren’t, you
were trying to convince people that
you weren’t a slacker for not going
to any, because the number of choices was too overwhelming. Regardless of what category you fall under,
the officers of these groups were
idols in our eyes, as well as captains
of varsity sports teams, and champions of other causes on campus for
being the wise leaders we hoped we
would once be.
Now, as upperclassmen looking
back, many wonder whether these
role models have become less influential or if it just seems this way
because we are now in these roles.
In my experience, the latter is definitely the case. Senior Erika Chandler and Junior Jessica Judge lead
the varsity girls basketball team
through an incredible season. As
President of the Drama Club, senior
Alex Scoolis helped in the impressive production of the Importance of
Being Earnest earlier this year. Senior Randy Slocum is the president
of the popular entertainment group
on campus, Improv, which has put
on several shows this year.
Thus, the metamorphosis of these
leadership roles has not caused
them to disappear. Quite the opposite, leaders on campus are alive and
thriving.
Upperclassmen only need to look
to their peers to find the heroes that
seemed to exist only in their younger
days. We can all learn a thing or two
from one another.
Pirate’s Cove : Showin’ some booty
Avery Candelario
Opinion Editor
When most people think of the infamous beach Pirate’s Cove, they think
of one thing and one thing only: a
bunch of unusually tan, creepy, naked guys walking around a beach, but
the truth is, Pirate’s Cove is actually
much much more than that. It is a
haven for numerous species of wildlife, and more than anything, simply
one of the most beautiful beaches on
our coast. Unfortunately, however,
the county has recently adopted the
beach as a state park. Plans to develop the beach and create easier access
for just about everyone and anyone
to get to the beach are currently underway.
This seems like a nice gesture, yet
I myself, and quite a few of the local
beach-goers, both clothed and not,
have a few concerns about such development. First and foremost, I fear
for the effects on wildlife and that
their habitats will be altered dramatically. Currently the cove is maintained simply by those who care…
those who love the beach. I am
concerned that with easier access to
the cove, more tourists and drunken
college students will find their way
down to the wildlife haven and litter
and destruction will surely ensue.
The cove is separated from the main
drag of Avila beach simply by a large
rock, yet we can clearly see just how
much of a difference the seclusion
of the spot has made. The clear blue
waters are filled with algae, kelp,
dolphins and seals just about every
time I’ve come, as well as a large
assortment of native fish and birds.
Now think about it for a moment…
how often do you see these animals
at the very populated Avila Beach?
Oh you don’t? What about plastic
bags? Cups? Bottle caps?
Without any effort to get to the true
paradise of a Beach (it takes quite a
bit of hiking down a winding cliff
path to get their currently), then
more people who just don’t care will
attend, just like they do in touristy
Avila…destroying habitats, and cultures too.
So please, let’s deny these changes
and keep Pirates Cove and its inhabitants wild!
Photo courtesy of GoCalifornia.
About.com
Source: NewTimesSlo.com
Wildlife Running Rampant in the Cove: Seals like these and many other species of California wildlife inhabit the
beautiful cove seen above.
Opinion
5 April, 2013
Everyone calm down:
College is not the endall, be-all
Clare Duffy
Editor-in-Chief
In the last several weeks the majority of college decisions have been received and, thus, the level of anxiety
among the senior class has been at
an all-time high. However, it has disgruntled me to experience the level
of negativity with which the senior
class has treated one another.
“Oh, you got in there? How will
you pay for it?”
“You’re not going to an Ivy
League?”
“She’s always wanted to go there,
it will be so funny if she doesn’t get
in!”
What are we thinking? We only
have a few more months to spend
together (or tolerate each other) before we will never see the majority
of our senior class again, why not
fill them with positivity and compassion? One way or another, we will
As 18 year olds, Americans have the
right to vote for a president, enter
into binding contracts, join the military, and marry- all without parental
consent. So, why won’t San Luis
Obispo High School administration
allow 18 year old students to sign
themselves out of school for a medical appointment without parental
permission and a clean attendance
record?
If an 18 year old is considered legally responsible enough to carry an
M-16 in battle, he or she should be
able to decide, without parental involvement, when they want to get
their braces tightened.
“Tiger Topics,” the SLOHS rulebook states, “Upon parent and
school written approval, 18 year old
students may assume absence verification responsibilities.” This attendance restriction for adult students
It’s time to get happy!
seemed too ridiculous to be true, so I
did some research.
According to California Education
Code section 46010-46014, “For
purposes of any procedure for verification of absences from school, a
student 18 years of age or over, with
respect to his own absences from
school, shall have all of the responsibilities and powers which, in the
case of a minor, would be charged
to the parent, guardian, or other person having charge or control of the
minor.”
This law is clear- 18 year old students possess all of the rights regarding their own absences that would
have been their parents, if they were
under 18 years old, including attendance rights. So, does it really matter if SLOHS has a restrictive and
potentially illegal attendance rule? If
18 year olds have the right so sign
themselves out of school, they can
sign themselves out of school. Period.
Photos by Tess Goodnowott
and Avery Candelario
Happiness is Contagious: SLOHS students enjoy the simple pleasures of life and simply be happy! From left to
right: junior Kieran Netzley, freshman Gregg Hart, senior Tess Goodnowott, Netzley, senior Sam Tomac.
Tess Goodnowott
Staff Reporter
Let’s face it: it’s way too easy to
forget all the things we have to be
grateful for and to get sucked into
negative thinking. But why is this
our natural tendency, when the world
around us is so beautiful and there
are infinite ways and reasons to be
happy?
Glee, joy, and radiance merely
brighten our moods, paste a smile
across our face, and warm up our
souls. Simple beauty is all around—
the brightness and warmth of the
sun, for example.
Sophomore Shea McSorley has a
beautiful optimism which emanates
from him. He sees goodness in the
future, no matter how bad something
is at present.
Forgotten students: What it takes to
get noticed by the administration
Miranda Chinichian
Staff Reporter
For those who don’t know or have
forgotten, last year a trip to former
dean Chris Brown’s office would result in a few red licorices and some
corny jokes. Even a simple schedule
change with former counselor Jim
Vegher would end after a ten minute
conversation about our personalities
with two other unknown students.
However, now it’s hard to feel welcome when the counselors’ jobs have
doubled, or when you no longer
know who the dean is.
Lately, the connection between student and administration is forced. It
seems the campus friendliness has
Editor: Avery Candelario
all end up where we are supposed
to be, and that place will inevitably
vary from person to person, so we
might as well hope that each of us
ends up where we want to be.
While it may be difficult to believe
right now, college (or wherever
you’re planning on going after high
school) is not the end-all, be-all determinant of the course of one’s life.
It is only a step along the way, and if
you make the most of wherever you
end up, it will ultimately be meaningful.
Not to mention that college is nearly
five months away! We should focus
on enjoying each other’s company
for the last few months of school,
which we can’t do if we’re criticizing others’ college choices in a reflection of our own stress.
So, everyone calm down about college. Everything will work out in the
end. In the meantime, be nice to your
fellow seniors!
SLOHS adult
students’
attendance
rights
withheld
Harland Dahl
Staff Reporter
5
been lost within all the changes. Every morning we are welcomed by
a generic ‘good morning’ from the
principal or dean.
It’s comforting to see someone
there to welcome us, but is the warm
welcome lost after we pass the big
tree? No longer can you simply walk
into the administration building just
to have a friendly conversation. Now
a student has to fill out a counseling
request form that may take from a
day to a month for their counselors
to see.
It might be a little far-fetched to ask
administration to know everyone’s
name by heart, but we all know what
separates a good teacher from a bad
one. A class is more bearable when
the teacher takes the time to get to
know you. Classes become unbearable when a teacher goes through the
daily motions without ever knowing
your name.
This idea of comfort should expand beyond the classroom. Walking past the principal or dean should
be equally as comforting as passing
your math teacher. Is it because the
administration enforces punishment?
If this is the cause for the seemingly
increasing distance between the students and administratons, both parties must try and find the balance between friend, administrator, and rule
enforcer for a more pleasant school
environment.
“Be happy not only for yourself
but for everyone. Your happiness
has a positive effect on all people!”
said McSorley. Happiness is kind of
like a disease, it’s contagious, and
spreads like wildfire.
True, happiness makes things all
good. But it can be really hard to
find sometimes. Life can really be a
drag—relationships can be bumpy,
school can be stressful, and families can really put the burn on. Some
days it feels impossible to be happy.
But hey, why not try? I’ve been
thinking of all the little things that
make me happy, all the little things
we can all be grateful for, and here is
what I’ve come up with to brighten
the day:
1. Take a walk somewhere natural.
Sip in the air; admire the beauty of
SLOHS Expressions Staff
2012-2013
emailed to slhs-newspaper@
Editorial Staff slcusd.org.
Expressions will publish
Editor-in-Chief: Front
Clare Duffy
Editor-in-Chief: Feature
Sam Tomac
Feature Editor:
Charlie Moore
News Editor
Carolyn Amir
Sports/Health Editor
Calico Randall
Opinion Editor
Avery Candelario
Back Page Editor
Kat Soll
Arts/Entertainment
Editor
Teagan Griffith
Business Manager
Randolph Slocum
The paper is printed on recycled
paper by University Graphics
Systems, Cal Poly SLO.
www.UGS.CalPoly.edu
Photo by Miranda Chinichian
A Morning’s Welcome: Principal Leslie O’Connor greets students at the Big Tree before first period.
trees and the wildflowers (which are
splendid this time of year!)
2. Listen to music, whatever genre
that appeals to you.
3. Make some yummy food.
4. Scream until all you can do is
laugh.
5. Get up and do something social
and carefree and wild.
6. Make yourself feel pretty (mostly
this one’s for girls): paint your nails,
do your hair fancy, and wear some
bright red, pink, orange, or purple
lipstick.
7. Look around and realize that there
are so many little beautiful things:
the chirping birds, our beautiful
town, the mountains hugging us, the
infinite adventure possibilities, and
the myriad offerings our planet earth
gives to us… land, fire, water, sky—
all beautiful.
The Expressions staff welcomes
letters to the editor. Letters
must be signed by the author(s)
and delivered to room 505 or
only legally protected speech,
following legal definitions of libel,
obscenity, and invasion of privacy.
The editorial board reserves
the right to edit all material for
length, grammar, and potential
libel. The staff will refrain from
printing stories which may disrupt school
activities.
Reporting Staff
Madeleine Abroms
Karaline Bridgeford
Miranda Chinichian
Harland Dahl
Tess Goodnowott
Victoria Helm
Kendra Lewis
Emily McBride
Mia Rolph
Hannah Sada
Randy Reynaga
Randolph Slocum
Max Zulauf
Adviser
Scott Nairne
8 Arts and Entertainment
Editor: Teagan Griffith
5 April, 2013
Kyle Kraemer jams out on guitar
Hannah Sada
Staff Reporter
Behold! Junior Kyle Kraemer has
been jamming on guitar and bass for
over five years. Kraemer’s passion
and drive for musical excellence has
caught the eye of many San Luis
Obispo High School students. Expressions sought out this musical enthusiast and asked him a few questions about his passion for creating
music.
Expressions: Who are your musical
inspirations?
Kyle Kraemer: Anyone from Angus Young to Chuck Berry. So,
pretty much anything from classic to
80’s rock.
Expressions: Do you take lessons or
are you self-taught?
Kraemer: I take lessons with my
teacher, Pat, at Grand Central Music.
Expressions: What do you play on
and what is your favorite piece of
equipment that you own?
Kraemer: I play a Jackson Kelley guitar, which I got for free, and
I play a Samick bass. I got my bass
in sixth grade and haven’t bought
a new one since. My favorite piece
of equipment would have to be the
“Wah” pedal which gives the guitar
a distorted sound.
Expressions: What is your favorite
song and what song are you working
on now?
Kraemer: On the guitar, I’m working on “Gimme Three Steps” by
Lynyrd Skynyrd. My favorite song
to listen to right now would probably
have to “Doom and Gloom” by the
Rolling Stones.
Expressions: Do you have your eye
on any equipment or dream guitar?
Kraemer: Yeah, I really want a Paul
Reed Smith custom guitar.
Expressions: Between the guitar
and bass, do you have a favorite?
Kraemer: No, they’re both their
own thing.
Expressions: Do you “jam” with
other musicians?
Kraemer: Yeah, actually, I play a lot
with my friend Robbie Kramer and
my neighbor who is in a folk band.
Expressions: Do you plan to continue to play music in the future?
Kraemer: Yeah. I like playing music as a hobby and probably will
continue to play in college.
Randy Reynaga
Staff Reporter
Reading is sometimes an unpopular requirement of high school, but
some books are actually enjoyed by
students. Expressions asked several
students to name their favorite or
least favorite of our required readings.
Photos by Randy Reynaga
Photo by Hannah Sada
Musician of the month: Talented junior Kyle Kraemer rocks on the guitar
and slaps the bass.
A guide to upcoming
music festivals
near you
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
When: April 12-14 and April 19-21
Where: Indio, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix, The Stone Roses, Blur.
Perhaps the most famous national festival, Indiobased Coachella features three stages of sublime
music. Many foreigners attend, making Coachella a true multi-cultural experience.
California Roots 2013
When: May 24-26, 2013
Where: Monterey, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: The Expendables, Tribal Seeds, Rebelution, Matisyahu.
Located in northern California, California Roots
dedicates itself to “music and good vibes from
across the state and the globe.” One of the only
music festivals in California dedicated to surf
rock and world music, good vibes are sure to be
abundant.
Lightning in A Bottle Festival
When: July 11-15, 2013
Where: Temecula, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: TBA
This festival is unlike the wild, hyped-up
atmospheres of Stagecoach and Coachella.
Instead, Lightning in a Bottle offers ambient music, painting contests, and workshops in environmentalism. It calls itself
a “celebration of art, music, performance,
sustainability and life.”
Bottle Rock Napa Valley 2013
When: May 9-11, 2013
Where: Napa, California
Camping: No
Headliners: The Flaming Lips, Cake,
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,
Jane’s Addiction.
Perhaps the most versatile of the music
festivals, Bottle Rock offers something for
everyone. Genres from world to alternative
to country are present here, giving a good
time to all.
Hollywood is out,
foreign is in
Max Zulauf
Staff Reporter
Foreign movies are so cool. “Hollywood is not the only film industry
that produces good films,” was what
I had to tell senior Foster May after
he made fun of me because I told
him of a good French movie. He
inspired me to make this list of my
favorite foreign movies and I hope I
inspire some to watch one or two of
the list below.
“The Round Up” (2010)
A French movie that tells a true
moving story of a Jewish boy who
is arrested during the mass arrest of
Jews in Paris in July 1942. And this
wasn’t only by the Nazis but also by
the French police, who worked for
the Nazis. This movie is definitely
Kat Soll
Back Page Editor
One of the best things to do in
this increasingly warm weather is
attending various music festivals
scattered across our state. Here is a
guide to some of the best and brightest upcoming music festivals:
Live Oak Music Festival
When: June 14-16, 2013
Where: Santa Barbara, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: Inga Swearingen, Robert Earl Keen, more
TBA.
The closest in proximity to San Luis Obispo, Live
Oak offers family fun for everyone, local music and
art, and a lovely creek to dip ones toes in.
Outside Lands Music Festival
When: August 9-11, 2013
Where: San Francisco, California
Camping: No
Headliners: TBA
Possibly the coldest music festival in California,
Outside Lands provides an atmosphere that is
somewhere between Lightning in a Bottle and
Coachella-fun performers but a back-to-nature
vibe in Frisco’s gorgeous Golden Gate Park.
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
When: June 21-23, 2013
Where: Boonville, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: K’Naan, Groundation, The Green, Damien
Marley.
Not only does SNWMF offer a wide array of global music,
crafts, world food, and art from countries such as India,
Ethiopia, Jamaica, and West Africa.
Make Music Pasadena 2013
When: June 11
Where: Pasadena, California
Camping: No
Headliners: TBA
Since 2008, Make Music Pasadena has provided some of the best music in the Golden
State. And what’s best-it’s totally free! Past
performers include Best Coast, Grouplove,
and Matt & Kim.
Stagecoach Music Festival
When: April 26-28, 2013
Where: Indio, California
Camping: Yes
Headliners: Old Crow Medicine
Show, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown
Band, Toby Keith.
Located in the same place as Coachella, Stagecoach offers the alternate
experience of all-day country musicdubbing itself “California’s Country
Music Festival.”
“The Downfall” (2004)
It is a German movie about the last
ten days of Adolf Hitler’s reign of
Nazi Germany in 1945. Swiss exchange student junior Simon Mueller
“‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was probably my favorite to read, especially
with Mr. Sprague. He’s insane.”
Senior Scarlett Gravelle
“[I disliked] ‘Julius Caesar’. It was
historically inaccurate, not particularly interesting, and there weren’t
enough puns, not even close. Not
sexual enough either. Not nearly
sexual enough. Step it up, Shakespeare.”
Senior Nico MacDougall
Photo by Grace Torres
one of my favorites and has given
me a view of how cruel Jews were
treated not only by the Nazis but also
by the conquered French people.
“The Intouchables” (2011)
The rich but handicapped Philippe
is looking live-in caregiver and hires
Driss, a candidate who didn’t even
want to get hired. HE only needed a
signature that shows that he’s looking for a job for the social security.
These very unlike two people turn
after a while into good friends but
like in many films there is something
that puts an end to good things.
People
on the
street:
Beloved
and
despised
books
of high
school
“I hated ‘Heart of Darkness.’ It was
trying too hard to make a point and
I was bored to death. It just kept going on and on.”
Senior Katherine Greenlee
said
nean
Swiss pride: Foreign exchange Max Zulauf wants
“This
America to be more open to foreign films.
seais
my
side but
favorite forthe
maneign movie,” and
agement finds
I agree the movie is one
out that he’s lying. As
of a kind.
a punishment he’s sent for two years
to Bergues, a small village in the
“Welcome to the Sticks” (2008)
north of France. And since the north
In this French comedy a postman of France is seen as very uncivilized
from southern France pretends to be and freezing cold the expectations
disabled to get a job at the Mediterra- aren’t the best ones.
“I don’t really read the books, but
‘The Great Gatsby’ was really good.
I liked the dynamic between all the
characters. It just seemed more realistic and current.”
Senior Jessica Slate
Arts and Entertainment 9
5 April, 2013
Tune into an
Expressions
playlist
Avery Candelario
Opinion Editor
We at Expressions love a very wide variety of music, so we decided to
put together an eclectic list of what we’re currently listening to. Give some
of these songs a listen and feast your ears on some random, yet very good,
tunes!
“Your Fine Petting Duck” by Devendra Banhart
Banhart is at it again with this beautifully quirky love song, bringing in his
usual hint of South American flare to the chill vibes of his guitar sounds and
melodic singing.
“Safe and Sound” by Capital City
This up-beat indie pop song is sure to lift your spirits and pump you up for
a girly night on the town!
“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show
Whether you know this catchy American folk song or not, chances are
you’ve sang along to it around a campfire. It touches on the longing and
freedom of a travelers life…and it just keeps going, leading to endless fun
around the flames.
“Beach Rats” by The Growlers
The Growlers don’t disappoint in this song off of their new album, “Hung
at Heart.” With their very original mix of surf rock, psychadelia, and droning vocals, this nostalgic and slightly regretful tune is sure to get you groovin’ and reminiscin’.
“Gravity” by Barnaby Bright
Barnaby Bright is a beautiful medley of guitar and subtle instrumentation
alongside beautiful male and female vocals. This particular song is very
calming and perfect for a romantic evening, or even better, for simply daydreaming on your own on a rainy day.
“Rebel Beat” by Goo Goo Dolls
We have to take a trip back to the good ‘ol days every once in a while…
and of course I mean the 90’s! And who better to take us on that trip down
First Grade Memory Lane than the Goo Goo Dolls, and with this upbeat pop
song, you’ll just be happy to be alive, just like when you were a kid.
“Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child
And let’s be honest, if we’re taking a trip back to the 90’s we simply
wouldn’t be bootylicious enough without adding this little gem to the mix.
The truth is, it’s a great track, and we all just want to be Beyonce, but listening to this song is pretty much the next best thing.
“Aromatik” by Knxwledge
When you need to chill out and zone out, this chill beat really hits the spot.
It’s very calming, but definitely still something you could bob your head to
if you need, with a child’s voices in the background, it’s even a little trippy.
“Of Mice and Men” by O.G. Loko
Sometimes you’ve got to scream it out, and what better song to do that with
than O.G. Loko’s “Of Mice and Men,” a little bit heavy metal, but secretly
a touching love song if you can decipher some of those screams. Definitely
what you need when you want to get a little crazy.
“1940” (Amplive Remix) by The Submarines
Again, this song is perfect for chilling out. Trip hop’s the new genre, and
with sampled old radio in the beginning, fresh beats, and killer female vocals, this song will put you in a slightly weird, but totally ethereal mood,
sure to tweak your thinking a little…in the best way possible.
“Exhausted Love” by Eyedea and Abilities
Finally, we finish off the list with some top notch rap. Eyedea, being one of
the original geniuses who headed the underground hip hop scene in the new
millennium, artistically gives us a very clear picture raw emotion layered
over a cool, slightly funky and eclectic beat. Give it a listen, you won’t be
disappointed!
Editor: Teagan Griffith
Take a peek
“Into the Woods”
Mia Rolph
Staff Reporter
Attention theatre lovers! The San
Luis Obispo High School drama
club will be putting on the musical
“Into the Woods” for your viewing
and listening pleasure on May 16-18,
23, and 24 at 7 p.m. in the SLOHS
Theater.
According to freshman Mya Paredes, who will be starring in the play,
“Into the Woods” is a great story
that involves all the best fairy tales,
although these fairy tales are not exactly the original version. Each on
has an exciting twist.”
Sophomore Brandon Phillips said
that these “more grown up” fairy
tales are “compiled into one large
story that revolves around a few
characters who face many obstacles
and try their hardest to get through.”
But besides an exciting story, why
else should you come to see our very
own high school musical? Besides to
support the theatrical talents here at
SLOHS.
Sophomore Madeline Romero said,
“There is a big twist in the second
half of the play that I think people
would really like.”
Paredes said, “I am most excited
about the cast and the wonderful
voices that will be singing in this
musical.” “Into the Woods” is not
your typical “over told fairy tale,”
but an exciting, new and original
musical.
Fixate your mind on a
maze
Enjoy this maze sketched by San Luis
Obispo High School junior Austen Trout.
Compiled by Hannah Sada
People
10
5 April, 2013
Knitting: knot
just for girls
Editor: Charlie Moore
Students want library
eating policy changed
Carolyn Amir
News Editor
Photo by Randy Reynaga
Knitting scarfs: Senior Randy Reynaga and Teacher Eldra Avery sit down together and work on knitting clothes.
Randy Reynaga
Staff Reporter
Knitting is a well-known pastime,
stereotypically associated with elderly woman.
English teacher Eldra Avery of San
Luis Obispo High School has recently taken up this hobby, but suggests that it should be a therapeutic
habit for everyone, even males, who
aren’t typically associated with the
skill.
Expressions: How did you learn to
knit?
Avery: I just taught myself to Knit
this in October, at homecoming
weekend. I went on YouTube, I
looked at videos on how to knit, and
I sat in front of the computer. It was
torture. It was so hard that I didn’t
think I could do it. In fact, I told my
husband, “I don’t think I can do it. I
think I’m just going to crochet.”
I started at homecoming, in the
hallway by the bathroom, because
that was my duty, I had to be on supervision, so I sat in the hallway--oh
it was horrible--and guess what? I
ripped it out eight times. But that’s
what knitting is.
I made like forty wash cloths, because you have to keep practicing.
You keep practicing and practicing,
and I’m so glad I didn’t give up, because now I can actually do it.
Expressions: How can knitting be
beneficial?
Avery: I have found that it’s like
meditation to knit, I can’t describe
it. Some people say that the parts of
your brain that worry cannot be activated when you’re doing something
like knitting. ... And for people like
me who have lots and lots of energy,
it gives me a focus. It gives me an
intention and a goal, and I’m real
goal-oriented. And plus it’s artistic,
it’s creative.
Expressions: Can men knit too?
Illegal activities such as drinking or
smoking during school hours aren’t
obsolete. Some students even take
the risk of coming to school under
the influence. Expressions asked two
anonymous students to talk about
their experiences about coming to
school after illegallydrinking or doing drugs:
Expressions: What drugs or alcohol
have you done at school?
Anonymous Junior: I’ve smoked
weed and drank alcohol before
school, and I’ve done A.D.D. pills
and a bunch of prescription drugs at
school.
Anonymous Senior: I’ve been
stoned and drank vodka.
Expressions: How often do you do
it?
Anonymous Junior: I get stoned
everyday before school and a lot at
lunch. So pretty often.
Anonymous Senior: I haven’t done
anything this year.
Expressions: Have you gotten
caught before?
Anonymous Junior: No, because I
am sly.
Anonymous Senior: Yes, I ditched
second period and drank a bottle
of vodka… I went to Scolaries and
gave this girl my car keys, and she
tried to drive my car. She backed out
and hit another car and the people
from Scolaries got my license and
called the school.
Expressions: Why do you do it at
school?
Anonymous Junior: It’s like a
ritual. I wake up and there’s time to
smoke.
Expressions: Does it affect your
work?
Dance
like
no
one’s watching
Avery: In fact, one of my favorite
blogs... references a guy who works
on a cruise ship and knits. He carries
yarn with him, and since he works
on a cruise ship he has a lot of time
to knit.
We have a person in San Luis Obispo who created a video called “Real
Men Knit”, and Kaffe Fassett is in
the video so I watched this. It shows
him and his partner--and they’re
knitting--and he says, “If I get on an
airplane and I can knit, I’m happy.”
And that’s exactly the way I am.
Getting HIGH at high school
Miranda Chinichian
Staff Reporter
The San Luis Obispo High School
Library is full to the brim at lunchtime. To the annoyance of the librarians, students often try to sneak food
while cramming for an after-lunch
test or doing last minute homework.
Expressions went to the library at
lunchtime and caught a few of these
secret eaters.
Junior and library-eater Alexandra
Goodison, upon being spotted in a
cubicle with a sandwich, confessed
that she eats in the library because
“I’m studious and want to study, but
I’m also hungry. It’s the best of both
worlds, being able to have a quiet
place to work and enjoy my scrumptious lunch.”
Junior Joana Najera, another person
caught sneaking food, said, “I eat in
the library because I don’t want to
go outside and a lot of people like
me have to study and don’t have
time to be outside.”
Librarian Mary Dornish often
catches people eating and asks them
to stop or leave. She said that the
reason for the strict no eating in the
library policy is that “most people,
if allowed to eat, would probably
be reasonably neat, but there will
always be an exception. At my last
library, we actually had ants.”
Despite this concern, some students, like Goodison, think that they
should change the library eating policy, “I understand them not wanting
us to eat where the computers are,
but I think it should be okay to eat,
say, in the cubicles, because we need
to eat!”
Anonymous Junior: Personally
how I study I would say no. I’ve
pretty much gotten ‘A’s since the
fourth grade.
Anonymous Senior: My grades
went down.
Expressions: Do you have any interesting stories while under the influence?
Anonymous Junior: One time I
was walking back on campus and
I called Roger “Marvin” and he totally didn’t notice. [Many teachers]
have asked why my eyes were red
and they laughed. Also me and [two
girls] hid a bottle of champagne under the wheel of my car at the adult
school, and when [they] went back
to get it, it wasn’t there anymore…
Anonymous Senior: I smoked and
drank at lunch, and then came back
and went to wood shop and broke a
machine one time, but the teacher
didn’t notice.
Photo by Max Zulauf
Strike a pose: Senior Jane Selna demonstrates a cool dance move.
Tess Goodnowott
Staff Reporter
San Luis Obispo High School senior Jane Selna has been organizing
what she calls ‘Jams,’ or no-judgment dance sessions. At these Jams,
people from all walks of life can get
together to move and groove. As
of present, Selna has led two Jams.
Of them, one was at the 620 studio,
owned by PJ Novotny, and the second at an empty house owned by
Selna’s family. Currently, the Jams
are free of cost.
“It’s a gradual progression of
groovy movement and tapping into
our instinctual need to move our
bodies,” said Selna in attempt to describe her Jams.
The most amazing thing about the
Jams is that they come without judgment. “You don’t have to be a dancer. Nor do you have to think you’re
a good dancer. You just have to be
open to dance and to movement,”
Selna explained. All one has to do is
come and dance. There are no criticisms and no expectations.
“There’s no wrong way to do it! I
know it sounds cliché, but it’s a way
to express yourself!” Said senior
Nolan Morgan, who attended a Jam
Session.
Selna aspires for a Jumbo Jam,
with lots of ecstatic people in a large
space. She is looking into renting
out the Monday Club, which is relatively inexpensive, about $100 for
the evening. If fellow groovy dancers contribute a few dollars here and
there, it would cover the cost.
If jamming, movin’, and groovin’
sounds of interest to you, find Jane
Selna on campus and let her know.
Her sessions are usually publicized
via mass text message or by word of
mouth.
SLOHS gets a
mad case of
senioritis!
Kat Soll
Back Editor
As the spring months continue and
the temperature rises, so does the
common affliction known as “senioritis”. Symptoms of this illness
include beach days during school
hours, cutting class on the daily,
checking ones email daily for college updates, and even more frequently, expressing sentiments such
as “I can’t wait to graduate!”
Perhaps one of the main proponents
of senioritis is the imminence of college. Seniors are focusing so much
on leaving for a new life that it’s
hard to focus on their present one
that remains in high school. With
college admission notifications and
graduation plans, they find it harder
and harder to believe that they’re
still here.
As senior Maddy Perello put it,
“For me, it’s that I’ve been working
hard since I was 5, and now that I’ve
gotten into the school I’m going to,
it’s hard to attend classes like Floral
Design.”
Though the ending “itis” has the
connotation of illness, there are
some good components of this condition. One of these effects is eliminating unnecessary people from
one’s daily life.
Perello added that “I’m starting to
reevaluate who is important in my
life, instead of hanging out with
like ten different people.” Fellow
senior Nico Macdougall reinforced
this, stating that “I’m also starting
to think about who I want to spend
most of my time with.”
Though many of us seniors have
differing paths after high school, we
all have one thing in common: we all
cannot wait to graduate. Senioritis
is merely a side effect of this desire,
and once we do finally throw our
mortar boards in the air, this malady
will end.
Photo by Eva Hogue
Lazy Daze: Senior Jared Nabhan checks his phone while laying on a bench before he heads off to his class.
$50.00 off session
(May 1 - June 1, 2013*)
Pre-Prom pics
Best friend (BFF) pics
*sessions must take place during this month only
Renoda Campbell Photography
www.photosbyrc.com
805.801.9480
5 April, 2013
Sports & Health
11
Editor: Calico Randall
Which milkshake is the best in town?
Randolph Slocum
Staff Reporter
Photo by Cool Cats Owner
These Milkshakes Certainly Bring SLOHS Students to Their Yard: Senior Randy Slocum and junior Calico Randall went out around town and taste-tested many different restaurants to find which milkshake was the best overall.
Milkshakes are an icon of the
American lifestyle. The delicious
mixture of ice cream, various syrups, and milk has blended its way
into our hearts for centuries. These
shakes have worked their way into
our culture and even into songs, but
which milkshake in our town is the
best? Expressions searched for the
best milkshake, and I can promise;
we can teach you, but we’ll have to
charge.
Margie’s Diner: Chocolate Shake
Rate: 8
The mixture by itself was a rich
chocolate, with fluffy whipped
cream. However, it was more watery
than a milkshake should be.
Atmosphere: 5
While the milkshake was utterly delicious, the atmosphere was uninteresting. It has a nice old-timer burger
joint front, but the spot we were seated was dark and almost depressing.
Price: C- $6.95 after tax
Carl’s Jr.: Oreo Cookie Ice Cream
Shake
Rate: 9
This shake has a thick and creamy
taste. It is like a drinkable Oreo! It
exactly replicates the taste of the
cookie.
Atmosphere: 7
It’s mostly empty and not exactly
friendly, but it’s not depressing. It
would be a 6, but they have a play
structure outside.
Price: A+ $3.23 after tax
Cool Cats Café: Chocolate Oreo
Milkshake
Rate: 10
This milkshake was creamy, rich,
and delicious. The presentation made
it ten times better, it was gorgeous
(as shown in picture to the left).
Atmosphere: 10
They have lively music playing and
a very cool eighties theme. The tables, ground, chairs, etc. are all spotless, and the staff is friendly.
Price: B $5.61 after tax
Sally Loo’s: Vanilla Orange Zest
Milkshake
Rate: 8
One would expect this to taste more
like a smoothie, but Sally Loos manages to keep the milkshake texture in
this odd, but delicious mix. The presentation was beautiful, with orange
zest sprinkled over whipped cream.
Atmosphere: 9
The atmosphere was very lively and
artsy. It was really relaxed and comfortable, and very café like.
Price: C+ $6.50 after tax
Freshman making varsity sports
Mia Rolph
Staff Reporter
Varsity sports teams are for the best
athletes around, and typically that
means they take on mostly juniors,
seniors and the occasional sophomore. However, there are the few
gems of the freshman class who roll
right up from junior high and take
our San Luis Obispo High School
Varsity teams by storm. But how do
they do it?
It is not without hard work. Freshman Elizabeth Willey, who made
varsity track, said “I had to work
pretty hard to make it on varsity...
Every day I usually stay later and
work on different events.” Even after
all their hard work, freshmen on varsity sometimes still don’t get as much
playing time as their older teammates. Varsity Softball Freshman
Elizabeth Soll said, “I always wish I
could have more [playing time], but I
understand that being younger means
I have to prove myself more. I know
that I still have three more years and
that it’s only the beginning”.
Scary rumors about mean upperclassmen teammates aside, these
freshmen aren’t forced to do all the
team’s dirty work. According to Soll,
this talk is reserved to friendly joking.
“We always have this joke on the
team where the girls say, ‘have the
freshman put away the gear’, but
it’s just a joke. We all split the work
evenly,” said Soll. Despite any disadvantages, these sports superstars love
their place on varsity. Willey said, “I
love how I get to train with the upper
class man because it makes me a better athlete, and I can learn from their
mistakes.”
Learn
how
to
cook Swiss bread
Photo by Max Zulauf
Swiss foods are rising in America! Doesn’t this traditional Swiss bread look fluffly and delicious?
Max Zulauf
Staff Reporter
Want to surprise family or friends
with a tasty foreign baked good?
Zopf is a traditional Swiss Sunday
bread that has been around since the
15th century. It is rumored that it
started with the tradition of widows
cutting off their braid and burying it
with their husbands. But as generations passed, the widows started to
bury bread that had been braided like
their hair with their husbands rather
than their actual hair.
Despite the odd origin, Zopf is fan-
tastic. It is thick, but at the same time
fluffy, and can be eaten with nearly
any jam or jelly. And this family
recipe is sure to taste better than the
cheap bread that Americans by in
stores.
Ingredients:
Preparation:
to do this, the best way to learn how
is by simply Googling it. Preheat the
oven to four hundred-thirty degrees
and bake it for twenty minutes. After this time lower the temperature
to three hundred-forty degrees and
bake it for another twenty minutes.
Now take it out and enjoy your
bread. I suggest eating it with Nutella or some jam.
4 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
2 1/8 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tablespoon yeast
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup butter
Put the flour and salt in a bowl.
Warm the milk up and mix it with
the yeast, melted butter, sugar and
the sour cream. Add to the bowl.
Knead it to an airy dough. Leave it
for about two hours so it can rise and
then form it to any shape wanted.
Originally Swiss people braid them
into what we also call a zopf and it’s
similar to braiding hair. If you want
Source: Theramblingpicture.com
5 April, 2013
Traumarama
12
Editor: Kat Soll
Kendra Lewis, Teagan Griffith, and Harland Dahl
Staff Reporter, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Staff Reporter
We have all been in those moments where our face was roughly the color of a ripe tomato. Sometimes we plan to take those moments to the grave, and sometimes we just have to look back
and laugh at that time and place. Your lovable Expressions newspaper has pried the secrets from some of our fellow students. Concealing their identity is our only gift back to them.
Photo illustration by Kat Soll
Once, I played in a cello recital. During the
reception I had to carry a huge glass plate
of cookies out from the kitchen for the audience to eat. While I was walking with the
cookies, a really hot guy tapped me on
the shoulder to tell me that I had done a
good job. I freaked out and literally threw
the plate of cookies backward into the air.
The glass plate broke on his shoulder, and
cookies and glass landed everywhere.
Photo illustration by Kat Soll
One day I really had to go to the
bathroom during class so I asked my
teacher if I could go. When I walked
back into my classroom, though,
everyone started laughing. I was
so confused...until I realized my skirt
was tucked into my underwear in
the back and everyone could see
my Dora the Explorer underwear! It
was absolutely horrible. Talk about a
bad day to wear my old Dora undies!
photo illustration by Kat Soll
I once went on a date with this really cute
guy. He walked me home and as I was
about to open the door to my house, he
tried to kiss me. Unfortunately, my cat was
trying to get inside as well, and as soon as
we kissed, I accidently tripped over my innocent pet. I fell down my porch, completely embarassed. That guy never asked
me out again!
I was on the bus going to a sports thing and
this really attractive senior got on the bus
and sat near me. I texted my friend about
it. My friend then asked me to send a picture of him, but as I secretly took the photo,
my flash went off. He totally knew that I had
taken a picture of him, but he kind of pretended that he didn’t notice. It was really
embarrassing.
Many of us here at our grassy
campus have had the horrible
experience of slipping in the
mud-usually in our freshman
year. My story did happen in
my freshman year, but it was
much worse. I decided a rainy
day was a great day to debut
my new white pants. After first
period, I was running across
the quad to my next class. Unfortunately, as soon as my feet
hit the grass, I fell. Not only did
I fall, I slid all the way acrossabout seventy feet. My pants
were completely browned,
and it was only first period.
Photo illustration by Harland Dahl
I wanted to ask this girl to Winter Formal.
I made her a batch of cookies, and I was
going to deliver them to her at school.
When I got to school with a bouquet of
roses and the cookies, one of her friends
came up to me on the way to class (in
front of a group of my friends) and said,
“Yeah... she doesn’t want to go with you
at all. She will probably say no. Sorry.” It
was a bummer. My friends all laughed,
and I ended up giving the cookies to my
math class.
Photo illustration by Kat Soll
Photo illustration by Kat Soll
Feature: Dating
6
5 April, 2013
?
g
n
i
t
a
d
What isneration defines
ge
How our
ips
relationsh
Teagan Griffith
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Beginning in high school, we fantasize
about these wonderful dates where a boy
pays to take a girl to dinner and a movie,
where he will swiftly sweep her off her
feet until the two fall into this phenomenon of blissful love. The idea is cliché but
still apparent in modern society. However,
since dating is so secretly daydreamed, exciting, and adventurous, why is it so rare
these days?
Wikipedia’s definition states that dating is
a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two people with the intent
of each assessing the other’s suitability as
a partner in an intimate relationship or as a
spouse. This lengthy definition shows the
past of traditional dating and rather the end
of romanticism. Modern day dating consists of random hook ups and cyber conversations that entail lust instead of love.
People type their feelings instead of proclaiming them.
However dates may not be as extinct
as we may think. San Luis Obispo High
School senior Alison Hart shares one of
her memorable dates with her boyfriend
and junior Josh Milla.
“For our three month anniversary, we
went kayaking and he rowed the whole
way because I was too tired, which was
sweet. When we got to shore, we set up
a picnic on this little beach and we went
fishing and then he gave me a heart shaped
necklace,” said Hart. Junior Ellee Shields
and boyfriend Bryce Heinsen-Madison
also shared a date that both of them enjoyed.
“The best date I’ve been on was when
me and Bryce took the train down to Santa Barbra and got to see the ocean on the
way down and then went to the zoo and
got to see a gorilla and a ton of
other animals. We also went to
the beach, people watched, got
froyo, and ate dinner on the
pier,” said Shields.
While Hart’s and Shields’ experiences have been positive,
senior Ryley Washbish’s experiences have been a bit stranger.
Washbish said, “I took a girl
to a renaissance fair one time. She got too
into it. It was kind of weird.”
Should you follow the old-fashioned
pathway to love? Get done up, hit the
town, and hope that someone invites you to dinner
and a movie?
There are men and women who mourn the death
of “dating.” People yearn
for the straightforward
clarity of an earlier era
where technology didn’t
play such a central role.
People didn’t have to deal
with the unclear “signals”
of text messages or Facebook chats.
It can be concluded that
Wikipedia’s variation of traditional dating
is now a part of the past and a new definition is to be discovered. A more modern
meaning of dating in today’s society can
be concluded to be: an arrangement to go out socially with
another person, often out of
romantic interest. Dating is not
yet dead, it may just need a new
definition.
Sources:
Wikipedia.org
Hooking up hurts
(in the long run)
Avery Candelario
Opinion Editor
I just want to talk
about my “G-GGeneration” for a
minute here—we
get around. Random
hook-ups
seem to be the norm,
while real relationships
and courtship seem to
be almost nonexistent
these days.
Now I’m
not judging
one
bit, but I
do have to
wonder;
could it be
harming us
on a more
emotional
level?
Could
this promiscuity potentially
have lasting effects into our
adulthood when relationships might actually mean
something real?
There’s nothing
wrong with having some fun while
we’re young. However, too much sexuality without any
sort of emotional
connection or relationship will sub-
consciously stick with us as
we reach adulthood.
Senior Andrew Jess said
of hooking up while we’re
young, “it leads to shallow and pedantic relationships in the future. There
isn’t much love to spread
because it’s all been spread
tinually at a young age will
become something that follows us into adulthood.
We will be teaching ourselves that mindless sex
without connection is natural, and the truth is: it’s not.
There’s a reason that we
tend to get attached after
hooking up with
someone, at least
before
we’ve
taught ourselves to
keep those warm
and fuzzy feeling
separate.
Love and affection will always
be more rewarding than the instant
pleasure and a rise
in one’s ego (because of feeling
wanted).
See, I’m not suggesting that the
promiscuity of our generation is the real problem, but
more importantly, promiscuity without any sort of
emotions or connection.
It’s okay to enjoy the perks
of being young and delightfully free, but just don’t forget that being with someone
physically also means quite
a lot on an emotional level.
Keep the love while you
enjoy each other’s bodies!
7
Editor: Sam Tomac
How to plan the perfect prom date
Randy Slocum
Staff Reporter
Prom is stressful. Not only is formal attire required but so are wristlets, corsages, and to top it all off, a date. The date usually involves last minute reservations at some pseudo fancy Italian restaurant and awkward forced conversation or tagging along to a huge group. To avoid this, Expressions has detailed an original prom date, so your night out will definitely be one to
remember.
“...‘Hooking up’
continually at a
young age will
become something that follows us into
adulthood.”
already.”
Sophomore Josh Alexander also said of hook-ups,
usually associated with partying, “I think it’s a little
stupid; you should have a
legitimate relationship with
someone you care about.
You should share the experience with someone you
love instead of someone you
just got drunk with.”
He’s right too. We learn
through repetition, so naturally “hooking-up” con-
Graphic created by Randy Slocum and Martin Risberg
SLOHS students experience blind dating
Senior Jason
Brechwald
Calico Randall
Sports and Health Editor
Rate the date:
7.5
Favorite part?
Finding out who my date was and Solo Stix.
Future blind dates?
For sure.
Blind dates originated from the 1950s game show, “Blind
Date.” They were created to set up two people who may or
may not be similar in personality, in hopes that they will
find their “soul mate.” After the television show, blind dating turned into friends setting up their friends because they
had a chance of getting along, and they were both lonely.
Blind dates are very rare for people to go on in this day
and age, especially with so many ways to connect to people
without needing to meet them face-to-face.
Fortunately, Expressions was able to set up a lovely couple, seniors Jason Brechwald and McKenzie Hathaway, for
a blind lunch date at Pizza Solo.
To set up the date, we went around school and asked
people if they would be willing to go on a blind date with
someone they may or may not know. We wanted them to
both be in the same grade, in order for them to have a greater chance of getting along.
Though many blind dates tend to be very awkward, Brech-
The two drive off to
Pizza Solo in Brechwald’s truck. Expressions reporters follow
close behind.
Photo by Calico Randall
Brechwald and
Hathaway discover
their secret date at
the Big Tree.
wald said, “I was excited to see who it was. And there were
no awkward silences because we both were able to keep
the conversation going.”
It was only a fifty minute date during lunch, but both of
them had a good time. These two outgoing seniors were
able to make the most of it.
“The date was just splendid overall. I don’t know if I have
a favorite part, it was all fun,” said Hathaway.
Before this, Brechwald wasn’t too sure about the whole
aspect of blind dating.
“I thought they were awkward. Not knowing the person or
what necessarily to talk about would be scary. The person
could be a total creep for all I know,” said Brechwald.
After this experience though, both of them agreed that
they are more open to blind dates and would be willing to
go on more in the future.
“I thought that the idea of blind dating was kind of weird,
but going on one has changed my view! I think that they
are really fun,” said Hathaway.
Amidst their lunch
conversation, the couple spot staff reporters spying on them
from Starbucks.
Rate the date:
8
Favorite part?
Can’t decide!
Future Blind dates?
Totally.
Senior McKenzie
Hathaway
After this new experience, both Hathaway
and Brechwald have
new opinions on blind
dating.
Photo by Harland Dahl