New Year, New Goals!

 New Year’s means new dreams, new goals for another year. New Years is another time of the year which you could spend with your family. “I like New Years to start over, and make sure I don’t repeat the same mistakes,” said Ashley Philips. It’s another time of the year which makes you think on what you have done for this past year, how have you changed and how you became a better person, “Because it gives people the opportunity to change themselves for the better, “says Graciela Pack. Other people might see it as a “whatever” year, or just a year which everything Is going to be the same, but for everyone it should be another great year that you could spend with your family, another great year that you were able to stay alive. “I like it because I get to spend time with my family, and I get to see my grandma,” says Alec O’Rourke. We all celebrate New Year’s differently, some families just order a pizza and has a great time with a family, others have homemade meals and have a big party for their friends and family, “My family and I bake cookies and play games while we watch the countdown to the New Year’s shows on TV,” said Pack. 

The question is what change are you going to do this new coming year, how is it going to benefit yourself, and your community?

Robin Hood

               On December 6, the drama troop made a fun trip to CSU. The drama class went to CSU to see this year’s fall performance. The CSU drama performed the play, Red Robin Hood. “The play was amazing, their performance was so professional, but they still looked like they were having fun,” says Solomoni Namosimalua.

      
              When the students arrived to the university they were really well attended with their food service. The drama troop got to meet their campus, and got to know how it’s on an everyday basis.  The performance started at 6pm, " The props that they had were amazing, it seemed like we were actually in the place," says Namosimalua.  

“I really like the modification of the play,” says Tina Naranjo.

                 The play had a twist to it that we did not expect. The CSU drama modernizes the play, “I completely loved it! Every part about the play made it perfectly entertaining” says Carlena Granados. Everything was well practiced and they all knew what to do, but sometimes they could not help to laugh with the audience.   The drama class agrees that one of their favorite parts of the play was when the characters started to sword fight, “They made movements that actually seemed as if they were in a real fight,” Namosimalua said.

         “They were all very nice towards us, they even started to joke around with us,” Naranjo.

 After the performance was finished the actors
let our student’s take pictures with them, and gave some useful tips that they may need.

“I really enjoyed the jester. He was so funny characters on stage even accidently laughed at him!” said Granados.

Spartans have christmas spirit!

In East Nicolaus, the students have started their Christmas spirits; some have started to dress in Christmas clothes. Spartans have shown their Christmas spirit in different ways, some wear granny Christmas sweaters, others were Christmas socks, and some wear cute Christmas jewelry. “To show off my spirit I wear my fuzzy socks,” says Ariana Sanchez.

The Spartans have figured out how to look great for the winter holiday. Our students dress in Christmas clothes not to stand out, but to show how this season means something to them, and how they have Christmas spirit! “I wear Christmas clothes to have fun, and it’s the season to dress up,” says Alec O’Rourke. Everyone enjoys the Christmas season, people can sing along, and spend time with family and show how much they appreciate each other, Christmas is the time of year when everyone comes together and celebrates for a same reason, and we Spartans show it by dressing into holiday clothes. “Christmas is full of cheer and Joy,” says Kenia Gutierrez.

East Nicolaus could proudly say that they do have Christmas spirit!

Senior Projects

             The Senior Project is a mandatory assignment that the seniors must complete to graduate. Seniors need to complete between fifteen to twenty hours of community service. After the hours are completed, a five to seven page essay must be written. The seniors are required to make a presentation to community members that volunteer to become the panel. The panel then grades and judges the presentation and from there, the seniors know whether or not they passed their Senior Projects.

“It helps me to get involve and help out my community,” says Christina Naranjo, an East Nicolaus senior.

Andrea Neidhart, a senior at East Nicolaus, thinks that her senior project will give her more experience with dancing. The project requires a benefit to the seniors, but the priority is to impact the community.

“It’s going to be a flash mob with little kids helping them,” said Andrea Neidhart, she is still undecided on her senior project but has an idea.

Seniors complained all year long, but at the end, the projects taught many lessons that seniors were not expecting. Soledad Rodriguez a graduate last year from East Nicolaus High school, last year did her senior project about Ballet Folkloric. It helped to teach people about the Mexican Culture.

“It helped prevent bullying by educating people about another culture besides their own,” said Rodriguez.
Senior Projects have positive effects on everyone; they help our community to get stronger. In some senior projects, they help learn about each other as a community. “I think the senior projects helps the seniors think about what they want to do after high school and also helps them realize and experience the way that the world really is,” said Rodriguez.

New Year, New rules!

                East Nicolaus High School has changed various ways this year, but what the students have been very concerned are about the school’s new rules.

Every year they add rules to the school, but they have not added a new rule which concerned student drivers until this year. The parking lot is closed during school hours; drivers cannot go to their cars to get their school supplies.

“This is a way to keep kids safe,” explained Michelle Adams about the new rule.

“We haven’t changed any of the school rules, we enforced them,” says Mrs. Lauppe. Mrs. Lauppe also said they closed the parking lot for the safety of the students.

“The parking lot rule should be the rule to be changed first,” suggested Brittany Seward. “I think they should change the rules into how they were before.”

This year they have also been more concerned about appropriate clothes. There are other rules that they would like to add, for example if you miss many days of school you must go to Saturday school. Plus, they want to limit Independent Study.

Not all of the rules are bad for ENHS students; they are trying to permit the phone usage, but only during breaks. Visiting college campuses will not count as an absence, but as an Academic Field Trip. These new rules can benefit students, such as making them more responsible and receiving a better education.

“I think it’s hard to adjust to the new rules, but it’s for the best,” concluded Michelle Adams.

School Food

 

Everyone at school talks about the school menu. Students have different opinions of school food. Some can’t wait for lunch time to eat our school amazing food, others are not too happy about our food.

“I think its awesome good variety,” says Mrs. Tibbetts, she helps to prepare the school lunch.

Schools must give nutritional food; they can’t give the students food if it’s not healthy. Our lunch staff tries to make our lunch the best as it can be. They try to make a variety of food that the students make like. “Our school food is very healthy, low fat and nothing fried,” says Mrs. Tibbets. 

“It’s not as healthy as it should be, but then again I know kids don’t want to eat healthy,” says Andrea Neidhardt.

Students want their food to be good. Sometimes they just want good food and don’t realize how the “good” food can affect their body. Junk food can make us have over weight problems but the worst damage that can be made, is the damage to our health. The lunch staff just tries to have every satisfied by maintaining healthy meals, and by making a lunch that students would like. Next time when you see the staff working in the deli, thank them for trying to make a menu that fallows the nutritional guidelines and for the wonderful food they try to make.

If you think that some nutritional foods can be added or maybe changed to our lunch menu you can contact Ms.  Sayani Rodriguez. If you want to know more about nutritional guidelines go to http://www.letsmove.gov/  .

“Our school food is not bad, I love that we have a variety of fruit,” says Neidhardt.

 

 

 

 

Obamas Victory!

On November, 2012 American Citizens made a decision, and decided that Obama should stay for four more years. American citizens believed Obama should stay as a president because they truly believe that he has tried to make our Country a better place, “He provides good services to our country,” says Delilah Yang.

“No I am ashamed of Americas decision, I thought the people would figure out what is right for our country,” said Krysta Wanner.

            In the other hand, others are not too happy with America’s decision. They think Obama has not done a good job on helping the economy, nor has he tried to help all the US citizens, that is why they believe that Mitt Romney would have made a better president,  “He would have gotten rid of Obama care, and fixed our economy,” says Wanner. Romney wanted to help small businesses, because that’s how he started and wanted to give the chance to others. Romney did not want to raise taxes on the wealthy because wealthy pay workers and if they don’t have enough money, they won’t be able to pay the workers.

                     Democrats believe that Mr. Obama has tried to fix the economy, and that it is hard to try to fix our economy in little time, that’s why Obama needed four more years. “I think that Obama needed four more years to help our economy,” says Anthony Hernandez. Citizens were also opposed to Romney because he was going to take a right that women’s have, which is abortion. Many Women’s were concerned and did not agree. Many also voted for him because he wants to help different people, from different societies. Our president has tried to make our public schools better; he gave more money to our education, not like Romney that only wanted to bring help to the private schools. Mr. Obama tries to help not only the high class but the lower and middle class.

“Yes, he’s the one I would have voted for!” says Yang.

Dream Graduation

             Every ones dream is to be able to graduate with their class. Some just want the diploma and run off, but others want to make their graduation ceremony to last and to be memorable.

           “I want my graduation ceremony to be big and surprising, but pretty,” says Fatima Leon Rodriguez.

For some people graduation means everything to them, it’s like their dream wedding, which they can’t wait till the day arrives. Others like Cameren Miller said “I don’t really know how I want mine to go” for others, like Miller want their ceremonies to be nice but not too out going.

             “I do believe the ceremony is special to me, due to it being the only High School graduation I will experience,” said Robert DeValentine.

Students have been in school for thirteen years, for the same dream, to have a diploma. They have been waiting for so long, which to seniors it seems it went by so fast “It came up so fast,” says DeValentine.

The most important to the students is that they have finally completed high school, they have their diploma and they can start with their new life. Of course to some it will be a melancholy day because it will be the last time they will see their class, and they have been together for so long.

             “What makes my ceremony so special is that it makes my parents proud of me,” says Leon Rodriguez.

Monologue cafe

On October 17, the East Nicolaus Drama Troupe will perform dramatic monologues in the multipurpose room. The show will begin at 6:30 pm; the cost of the entrance will be $5.

“I’m excited to see what the drama troop has to show,” says Hannah Bolla.

There will be desserts and drinks on sale. All the proceeds will go to the Drama department spring show.

“Last year’s monologue café was great, I can’t wait see this year’s. Great job Drama Club!” exclaimed Jessica Segoviano.

The Drama class has a surprise for all: a special guest for the night. “I hope to see familiar faces from last year perform for the guest,” says Arianna Sanchez.

If you would want to help or bring donations to sell during the monologues, it will be appreciated. It will be a breathtaking and dramatic night for everyone to remember.

Come and support our Drama program! We hope to see you all there. Please add us on facebook: East Nicolaus Drama.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Mrs. Yocum at Jyocum@eastnicolaus.k.2.Ca.us. Or (530) 6562255 Ext.111

Spartans donating blood, trying to make a diffrence

On November 1, The Blood Source came to our school and hoped that students, staff or even community member would come and donate. The blood source comes to schools to get as much qualifying donors, so they can donate blood. The blood that the Blood Source gets goes to the patients with a disease, or a patient that needs blood to survive. “Because I know when your life is threatened and you need blood,” said Rabecca Davis. Blood that is donated does get sold, but only because the program needs to cover some expenses.

“It’s a big needle,” says Abbiey Allen when she just had donated.
Some of the students did not care about how much blood was going to be taken out of them; the thing that had them worried was that they knew that a big needle was going to go in them. “It’s a slight punch,” says Davis she did not feel much when the needle got in her arm. After you donate you might feel a little dizzy or a little week, some even faint, but so this could be avoided eat a well breakfast and drink plenty of water. “When I do it I get dizzy and hot,” says Kaitlin McGonigle.
“I was finally old enough to donate,” said Allen.
To donate blood there are requirements that the donors have to meet. The largest obstacle that the students have is that they don’t meet the age requirement, you must be 16 and you can’t do drugs, etc. Students under 18 have to get parent permission.“I feel good because I know I’m going to save someone lives,” David says.
When you donate you get a free t-shirt, and most of all you feel proud of yourself for saving someone’s life. “You should try it once, if you don’t like it at least you experienced it,” suggests McGonigle.
And yes, you do save lives.

What’s Up Dog?

Carlena Grandados’ senior project caught everyone’s attention. Her project is to raise and care for a black Labrador puppy that will help his future owner who may have autism.
Carlena got to show everyone on campus to see what her senior project is. The puppy was only a few months old but now he already knows how to obey. Both East Nicolaus students and staff alike were was excited to see a dog at school.
“I’m going to potty train him, and train him commands that he has to know. Plus, I am going to teach try to teach him to stop the child if he tries to leave from his house,” said Granados.
The “pawsitive” program gave her the puppy when he was only about two months. Granados is going to keep her puppy until eight to ten months, or until she has to go to the military.
“It’s going to be hard to get him to listen to me, and to potty training is going to be hard because I have to potty train him at school”.

Carlena has to bring her puppy every day to school because that way she can teach him how to behave around other people. She also mentioned how it’s hard to arrive to class on time. There has to be lots of potty breaks for her puppy and it’s going to be hard to teach her dog to stay still during her classes.
All money raised goes to the autism children so they can have a service dog. Granados is going to make this program more noticeable, which will help raise funds to make children with autism have a better life.

Keeping America Fit

Keeping America fit is one of America’s concerns. More than 40% of Americans are obese, including children. Obesity rate has been increasing over three decades. A person is likely to suffer diseases like if they are obese.

How has America been increasing on obesity rate? People used to be more athletic. We used to walk more, not every family had a car, but overall we did not have the technology as compared to today’s technology. Technology has made people lazy; they don’t have to work as hard with technology.

“About once a week I go out to eat in fast food restaurants,” said Nate Navarro.

Technology is not to blame, now that there are fast food restaurants. People would rather go out and enjoy a meal then to cook a healthier meal at home. When people go out to eat, they don’t realize how many calories they’re consuming.

“I go to the gym every other day for two to three hours; I do a bit of everything” says Jessica Segoviano.

Some people do try to maintain their health. They exercise in the gym or play sports in school. “I sometimes ride my bike but I also play football,” says Nate Navarro. There are a lot of different ways to exercise. You could exercise anywhere, from going shopping to going to run a mile.

“I try to keep physical education in elementary schools and teach students how to maintain their health,” says Alecia Geach, a Physical Education teacher from East Nicolaus.

Other people are not just trying to maintain their own health, but also their community’s health. Michelle Obama is developing the program “Let’s Move” to help children to know about healthier foods and teach them the importance of health. Not only is she teaching children, but also parents and schools about healthier and more affordable foods. The real question is how can you prevent obesity?

On October 9, the FFA students and staff welcomed a new female baby lamb to their program. The new lamb was properly taken care of, and has already received a name.

The lamb is being nursed by her mother and in the barn. “We take care of both by making sure the mom eats and see if she’s producing milk for her baby,” said Reonna Miller.

When the lamb is nursing her baby, they remain in the barn. FFA is expecting that three more lambs will be joining them.

“I think it’s great that lambs are being raised in our school,” said Cesar Lopez.

 

Lambs in our school benefit our FFA students by teaching them how to properly take care of an animal by themselves.

“Today or tomorrow,” said Karlyn Nordby about her lamb which is supposed to be born sometime this week. She has been taking care of the mom making sure she is ok.  “Outside of school I raise twenty to twenty six per year,” said Miller.

After the student’s animal is raised and well trained they get to sell them. With the money that FFA students get, they use the money to buy another animal and raise them.

“When the students show their animals, it promotes FFA,” says Nordby.