The Panther Prints Informing and Educating the Pinewood Community and the Surrounding Area for 25 Years Volume I. Edition I.
October 4th, 2011
25th Annual Edition
Marine Biology Students Rescue Ailing Sea Lion
that it was a very special experience. “It was pretty cool! The sea lion was so skinny and it was A fun and educational field trip pretty sad seeing it there on to the Marine Mammal Center in the beach,” she said. “I don’t Sausalito turned juniors Veronica think I’ll ever experience Boyce and Branden Hing, seniors something like this again. It Ryland Chan, Evan Chan, Briandefinitely opened my eyes as to na Quincy and Casey Cairo, and how much effect humans have Marine Biology teacher Monica on animals and how we should Ventrice into heroes last Tueshelp the animals.” day. As Ventrice led the students Once the students went into on a quick detour to the beach, the center, they noticed that the she noticed some people unloadmajority of the rescued animals ing a large crate from a marine were very young. “Some mammammal truck. mals are actually really tiny. “Oh my gosh! They’re going to They are sick and malnourgo rescue something. Everyone ished, so to help them get better chase them!” she said. “So we all is amazing,” Hing continued. chased them down the beach and “Most of them are just babies.” saw them go do a rescue.” The sea lion was young and The students minded their given the name “Pinewood,” teacher’s request and followed after it was rescued in a way to the marine mammal center volthank the students and teachers unteers to what would quickly of the Pinewood community. On the Marine Biology field trip Tuesday, juniors Veronica Boyce and Branden Hing and seniors Brianna Quincy, Evan Chan, be identified as a sea lion. This Casey Cairo, and Ryland Chan had the rare opportunity to save a sick sea lion and bring it to the Rehabilitation Center of the Ma“The sea lion was about one was beached, obviously sick rine Mammal Center. Photos taken by Casey Cairo and Ryland Chan. four and a half feet long. It and malnourished—the marine smelled like dead fish—you was a long stretch of beach and sea lions injured animal.” biology teacher could see its backbone. are pretty heavy, so they asked the kids Hing thought it was a very special expe- had a about a five foot radius where you Initially, Ventrice sent the students over to help out.” rience getting to help out in rescuing the could smell it, but it was pretty cute if you to watch how the marine mammal volChan was very excited about the entire sea lion. “Obviously you don’t see a res- plugged your nose,” Quincy said. unteers executed such an operation. But trip. “I knew that we were going to see cue every day, let alone participate in one,” Pinewood the sea lion is now a patient little to the teacher and students’ knowl- how the Marine Mammal Center dealt with he said. “It’s amazing that you don’t actu- at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito edge, they wouldn’t be watching—they’d and cured the assorted animals there,” he ally see more rescues. There were so many and is being nursed back to health. be participating. said. “But did I know that I would get to seals and sea lions there in the center. Still, Those interested can track the lion’s health “I wasn’t expecting them to ask the actually help save an animal? No. It was it was pretty rare.” at http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/ students to help,” Ventrice said. “But it awesome getting to actually rescue an Quincy concurred with Hing and noted patients/current-patients/. MAX DARROW EDITOR IN CHIEF
Downtown Construction Proves Headache to Pinewood Community
Construction on Main St. in Downtown Los Altos frustrate Pinewood students and faculty who plan to grab a bite to eat at lunch or after school. Photos taken by Emily Ng.
SHANI ROSENTHAL STAFF WRITER If you’re thinking about going downtown to grab a quick Jamba Juice or get a sandwich from Le Boulanger, think again because it may take more time. On July 18, construction workers began to demolish the sidewalks of Main Street and thus, the reconstruction of downtown Los Altos began. According to Los Altos’ website, the reason for this project is to “install new storm drains, sewer sections, new gas lines, disabled access, street lighting, traffic signals, crosswalks, wider sidewalks, streetscape furnishings and landscaping.” Construction manager Beverly Tucker said the new infrastructure will meet several important requirements, such as new state requirements for drainage systems and the American Disabilities Act. Although the project has cost over $1.4 million, it will lead to “safer driving and walking areas, safer sewer and storm water systems; improved water and electrical service, enhanced streetscape and a more visually appealing downtown with vibrant shopping areas,” Beverly Tucker said. Most stores have stayed open during construction even though many have lost customers and had to close down. “Construction has created lots of traffic jams and backups and [makes it] hard to maneuver
around the signs and get by other cars,” Los Altos resident and sophomore Sarah Cilker said. The project, which is expected to be completed by the first week of November, makes Pinewood students and faculty unhappy. Both science teacher Elaina Tyson, and computer and communications teacher Phil Ribaudo agree that the construction work is inconvenient. “I don’t understand why they have to re-do it. There was nothing wrong with it in the first place,” Tyson said. Pinewood students also feel annoyed maneuvering downtown. “It is to hard to get to places,” Sophomore Kendahl Wallis-Lang said. According to the Los Altos website, there will be a modified traffic signal, a raised crosswalk, and improved street lighting, as well as public art locations throughout downtown The plan includes a rock fountain, more lights, hanging baskets on streetlights and more seating. Even though the improvements will lead to better infrastructure and visual appearance, some Pinewood students and faculty believe that it is a waste of time and money as well as a major hassle. Frequent downtown goers are looking forward to the day when there are no yellow hard hats in sight; this is not because of their excitement to see how it will look, but only because they would just like to get a Jamba Juice.
A Note On the 25th Anniversary Edition As we began to format the issue you are currently reading, something struck us about it. This is the 25th volume of The Panther Prints. It surprised us that nobody had noticed we had reached this milestone. We decided to scrap much of what we had already written for this paper, push back the publishing date, and make this a special 25th Anniversary Edition. Now we are sure you noticed a contradiction in our header at the top of this page. It is listed on the right as our 25th Anniversary Edition, but on the left as the first volume of the first edition. This is because when we found out we had reached this milestone, it made us rethink what we wanted to do with the paper. We wanted this to be a new Panther Prints. After all, change can be a good thing. Therefore, we created a new layout, a new page (Arts & Culture section), and a mission statement/tagline. We wanted to pay our respects to the past issues of the Panther Prints but also look forward to a new beginnig for the newspaper. We will stop at nothing to make this the best volume of The Panther Prints and hope that future Editors in Chief will carry this torch. So thank you for your loyal readership for the past 25 years, and thank you for your support, ideas and love of both this paper, and this school. Your Editors in Chief, Garrett Biggs and Max Darrow
Opinion 2
Understanding Art Today GARRETT BIGGS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Does art have boundaries? The word itself does not. I thought when writing this article, I would have a clear definition to work around, but after searching the word art in the dictionary, I realized not even our friends at Merriam Webster could put a true handle on what art is. In fact, they divided it into over 6 definitions. It has been called a “branch of learning,” “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects,” even “decorative or illustrated elements in a printed matter.” But does that even begin to truly explain what art is? Going by those definitions, an anonsymous graffiti artist operating out of San Francisco, has set nation wide artistic trends, making people ask what you would not be able to con- Banksy, really is art? This is one of his pieces of “art”... Photo taken from boredpanda.com sider music art. At the end of the day, defining art is difficult sidered art. Even then, people ated on a computer). Yet many hate any change whatsoever. because you don’t really have contested whether it was really would say because it is not Art in its’ very nature is not anywhere to begin. art. handmade, it isn’t art. about what is, and what has So as we move forward into Fast forward to today. As for I personally, would say they been done, but what could be. the 21st century, the conven- music, the medium has trans- both are art. Because to me, art The best artists of all time are tional face of art has changed. formed into electronic music. is not based on the medium at those who looked past the conNo longer is art done on blank No longer is music made in a all. Art to me, is a man-made ventional artistic methods of canvases and in oils. It isn’t studio, it can be recorded in a creation with some kind of the time and transformed with simply a melody played on the persons basement or on their meaning behind it. Yes, that the times. As they did that, the guitar. For instance what some computer. It is completely pos- means that technically any- genre of art moved with them. people consider art today, oth- sible to make “music” without thing could be called art. I Look at all the greats: ers call vandalism (i.e graffiti). ever touching an instrument or don’t find anything wrong Picasso, Dali, even the Beatles. It brings other questions such opening your mouth to sing. with that, because new cre- They are not remembered for as, “if it is built on a computer, So here’s the question: is that ative ways to express art are repeating what other people is it art?” considered art? Before I an- being created every day, and as had done, but instead being so What I am going to ask swer that with my own opin- we move forward throughout innovative and therefore, havhere is a question with no ion, let’s look at some other time, what we will consider art ing people follow them. real answer: if the method mediums of art; In this case, will change. As I said, art is a question transforms, do we still let’s look at the most convenIt’s a good thing. There’s of what could be. And not tional: visual art. Classic paint- something comforting in what is? Art is a greater idea: consider it art? If we are going to look back ings are art. Sculptures are art. knowing that things will It is taking something unexa long ways, the medium that And both are still around. But always be transforming for pressible and turning it into something that can be viewed art uses is constantly chang- mediums of art are transform- the better. Those who frown on this and loved. As long as we as ing. In the late 1800’s, art was ing once again. Graffiti art for instance, is change, frankly do not care humans have an innate desire pretty much limited to classical music, but it soon trans- becoming a widely accepted what the change is. From what to understand ourselves, and formed into jazz, also consid- field of art. But others call I have seen, the majority of show our feelings, art will be ered art. By the mid-1900’s it vandalism. You also have people who detest the direc- around. It just may look or we had rock n’ roll. Also con- graphic design, (art being cre- tion that art is moving, would sound different.
Touching your way to a smarter Future BEN BROWN STAFF WRITER
Over the summer, Pinewood purchased and installed 13 new Smartboards. Each one cost a little under $6,000 with installment, meaning Pinewood spent a total of $78,000 raised from the auction last year. While expensive and sometimes hard and confusing to use, Smartboards are well worth the money because, as powerful teaching tools, they allow teachers to store information or notes for later and allow teachers to portray concepts in innovative ways. For example, in his AP World History class, social studies teacher Dan Cristiani had a short list of causes and effects pertaining to the agricultural revolution on the Smartboard. Then, the class discussed what should go where, and, with arrows in between, created a large complex flow chart. When time comes to study for the first semester final and the class in confused about
the agricultural revolution, Cristiani will not have to draw up a whole new flow chart of causes and effects. He can just draw up the one the class did during the first week of school. Math teacher Corinne Burnside also uses a Smartboard for class notes. “Smartboards help me to prepare my lessons from a different, more visual perspective than I had done on the traditional whiteboard.” “I have access to so many geometric shapes, protractors, and tools that will allow me to stretch, shrink, reflect and shift. These tools make me want to show math concepts visually as opposed to just algebraically. I can put all of our class notes into Veracross, allowing all students to archive their class notes.” This takes the pressure off of students during class, freeing them up to participate, and spend their energy thinking about the material,” Burnside said. Cristiani’s use of the Smartboards encourages more student
EDITORS IN CHIEF: Garrett Biggs Max Darrow
FEATURES EDITORS: Karalena Davis Niuniu Teo
NEWS EDITORS: Matti Thurston Emily Zhang
SPORTS EDITORS: Max Darrow Stephen Yu
involvement, and Burnside’s allows students who learn better visually to learn just as easily as those who don’t; both help keep notes organized. Not all teachers use their Smartboards, however. According to Principal Mark Gardner, there are going to be two classes, on October 3 and 12, in which the teachers will be taught how to best utilize their Smartboards. Hopefully, after these training courses, most teachers will start to use the powerful teaching tools the school has bought for them. The point of school is to learn, and not all people learn by mindlessly copying down information from the whiteboard. This is where Smartboards come in; with them, teachers can have students actively participate in class, effectively allowing them to learn the material. Teachers can then more easily print out the material they covered, for the students to study later. Therefore, the new Smartboards Pinewood purchased this year were well worth the money spent on them.
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Robin Sanders PHOTO EDITOR: Lindsay Riches
Computer generated art like such, also known as graphic design is becoming more the norm in the art world. Photo by “executions”
THE PANTHER PRINTS WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE FEEDBACK FROM OUR READERS, AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! IF THESE OPINION/EDITORIAL ARTICLES, OR ANY OF THE ONES ON THE OTHER PAGES SOLICIT A RESPONSE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT:
pantherprints@pinewood.edu (all lower caps)
We look forward to hearing from you!
Panther Prints Staff OP/ED EDITORS: Garrett Biggs Tiffany Chen
San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. Here, some of the most groundbreaking and forward thinking artists are showcased. Photo taken from fineartamerica.com
STAFF WRITERS: Ben Brown Sam Carp Rorie Duncan Kevin Endersby Victoria Gardiner Andrew Gerson Alex Hasnain Annie Kong
Sarah Lawson Austin Liang Camille Polster Shani Rosenthal Kelly Ryan Brittany Shulte Etelle Stephan Sydni Topper Karina Uppal
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Vishal Jindal Faiz Khan Emily Ng David Rodden Annie Whitacre ADVISOR: Kim Wetzel
Editorial 3
Hurricane: Safe or Sorry?
Justice’s Fatal Flaw TIFFANY CHEN OP-ED EDITOR
Photo taken from http://gothamist.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=hurricaneirene&__mode=tag&IncludeBlogs=1&limit=30&page=3
BRITTANY SCHULTE STAFF WRITER Public transit completely shut down. 300,000 people evacuated. Businesses in Times Square with doors shut. New York City is one of the most bustling, active cities in the world, so were the economic consequences of shutting it down for the weekend worth the reassurance that lives could be saved? Almost a month since Hurricane Irene blasted its way up the eastern United States coastline, many people in New York look back andponder whether Mayor Bloomberg’s extensive preparation and evacuation procedures were necessary in what turned out to be a smaller Category 1 hurricane. Through their bold decisions prior to Hurricane Irene’s landfall, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo demonstrated the importance of preparation. Hurricane Irene proved to be a vast and almighty storm, causing immense trouble for the entire eastern U.S. coastline. Over a period of nine days, Irene made its way up the eastern coastline as far north as Atlantic Canada,
causing flooding and thousands of power outages throughout many regions. By the time it reached New York, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm, but this did not mean that it would spare the city. Bloomberg and Cuomo prepared for the worst. Bloomberg shut down all New York airports and mass transit systems in preparation for the storm. The actions took to prepare for this hurricane were right in line with the meteorological predictions that the storm was calming down. In New York, the government classified three areas by their location and evacuated all lowlying flood-prone regions. In no way an overreaction, these precautionary actions ensured safety for all areas. However, with transit systems shut down and people left indoors, business in New York City skidded to an abrupt halt. According to New York Daily News article “Hurricane Irene Costs New York City $55 million” by Jonathon Lemire, the preparation efforts and evacuation plans cost the city an estimated $55 million and is expected to exceed 1 billion. As a whole, the storm could cost up to $15 billion for the United
States. This may seem excessive in light of the current debt crisis. However, if the storm had ended up causing utter destruction, the cost of rebuilding a city the size of New York would have taken considerably more money over a longer period of time than it would have to shut down business and transportation and evacuate areas for one weekend. Rather than blaming the two for over preparing and wasting precious government money, the public should be thanking them for being proactive in a situation that could have very well replicated 2005’s Hurricane Katrina tragic aftermath. People are not perfect; weathermen are not psychic, and we cannot expect them to be. It seems obviously better to be prepared for the worst, rather than being blindsided in the case that the worst actually occurs. Money can be replaced, buildings can be rebuilt; however, lives are never an object that should be handled with doubt or chance. For once, rather than let history repeat itself, elected leaders have finally shown the gumption to prevent the tragedy and destruction of another natural disaster through early planning and action.
Veracross: Powerschool 2.0 AUSTIN LIANG STAFF WRITER Pinewood’s online student information system, PowerSchool, has been changed to the new and improved Veracross, with features such as a grades’ news feed, class news, students resources. PowerSchool was easily accessible, but it did not offer upcoming homework assignments, tests, quizzes, or any previous years’ grades. This has changed with the highly anticipated Veracross release. Veracross comes with new perks such as an online directory, calendar, and individual class agendas. Many teachers are jumping for the chance to send out a class email, or put up a project on Veracross’s agenda. “I never used PowerSchool, so it didn’t really help me that much, just to see grades. They should have had it with the Pinewood Student Portal,” ninth grader Eri Yoshimoto said. Now, Veracross is also integrated with Pinewood Portal login, so that makes it both more convenient and accessible.Veracross will also be used more often, to the relief of
both faculty and students. But why the sudden change to Veracross? There were two main reasons for switching to Veracross. “One is so teachers can put homework and grades in one place, and the other is there will be better communication between the office, faculty, and student,” says math teacher Christine Normoyle. For instance, the office will now be able to send one automatic email to the whole sopho-
Screenshot of Pinewood Veracross Login.
more class, or everyone enrolled in Drama. Teachers will be able to send out mass emails to one class instead of tediously putting down all of the student’s emails. Let’s compare PowerSchool and Veracross. PowerSchool has features such as grades, attendance, citizenship, and teacher comments. Generally, it was easy to use and access. However, it did not offer upcoming assignments,
or anything else, in that case. On the other hand, Veracross will encompass all or at least the main perks and utilities of PowerSchool. Veracross is now a huge system of not only grades, but simple add-ons that will make school life easier for both the teacher and student. For example, there is a handy calendar that tells you not only the date, but what grades you got on the day they were graded for every single assignment for every single class. You can also check the agenda, missing homework, or class news. I believe that Pinewood changed to Veracross mainly for this reason. Now students will have no reason to not complete homework on time, contributing to both a more efficient school and student. However, when I used it for the first time yesterday, it seemed kind of awkward to use, since there were a lot more things to handle and track. Still, I think Veracross is for sure a step up from PowerSchool, with more tools and uses. There is no doubt in my mind that Veracross will play a huge part in helping me throughout high school.
Last week Troy Davis died by lethal injection in Georgia. Executed some 20 years after his trial, Davis had been convicted of the murder of police officer Mark MacPhail that occurred August 1989. Davis maintained his innocence until his death. Without looking at the exact evidence, it is impossible for the public to judge whether Davis was indeed innocent. However, it is easy to say that Davis did not deserve execution. No one does. Capital punishment should be eradicated. An execution is permanent. There lies the primary flaw of capital punishment— when criminals are put to death, their conviction is usually solid. The key word is “usually.” In Davis’s case, no DNA evidence was found to guarantee his guilt. Looking at the death penalty from a practical standpoint, the death penalty is much more expensive. To put a criminal behind bars for life takes $740,000 out of taxpayers’ pockets, according to a 2003 Kansas Performance Audit Report. But the litigation involved with execution takes a huge chunk of taxpayer money as well. According to that same report, the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million, while the trial costs fordeath cases were about 16 times greater that for non-death cases ($508,000 vs. $32,000). Part of the high cost is the length of time it takes to sentence a man to death. Look at Davis. He was convicted in 1991. His execution took place 20 years later. Most agree that killing is a “bad” thing. A moral argument, however, is hard to maintain without bringing in some form of religious authority—the very thing that no one in society ever agrees on. I may personally believe that killing of any sort is never justified except in cases of self-defense, but another may state that the state has a duty to maintain the safty of its people— whether by capital punishment, or other means. But whatever one may think about the validity of capital punishment, the truth is that innocent people have been put to death. The Death Penalty Information Center has a list of eight inmates that have been executed but could have been innocent, while Northwestern University has compiled a list of 39 executions “that have been carried out in the United States in face of compelling evidence of innocence or serious doubt about guilt” in a report titled“Executing the Innocent.” These cases provide compelling evidence that the death penalty can result in a severe miscarriage of justice. Even if one doesn’t subscribe to the “right to life” idea, one can at least acquiesce to the idea that innocent people should not be executed. The death penalty is slowly being eradicated. Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits capital punishment, stating “Everyone has the right to life” and “No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.” Public opinion in most countries is also slowly turning against the death penalty. The U.S. should do the same. It would not only reflect our commitment to human rights but more importantly, to rightful justice.
Features 4
Education: The Globalized American Dream NIUNIU TEO FEATURES EDITOR Every year, new students from different backgrounds, cultures, and locations, join the Pinewood community. For some, it takes less than ten minutes to get to school. For others, it takes more than half an hour. However, this year, a few new students at Pinewood are truly a long way from home. About 6,000 miles and an 18-hour plane flight, to be exact. Although they come from vastly different cities, with varying motives, some new students came from abroad to America with one general goal in common: to gain access to the educational system we all often take for granted. Not only are they thrust into a completely different environment and culture, they are faced with the daunting task of learning the language at the same time. “I know, because I have two kids here, that you can do between two and four hours of homework a night, and that these students, because English isn’t their first language, have to go above and beyond that,” Director of Admissions Dafna Brown said. However, though the language barrier poses a major challenge, Esther Zhu, a sophomore from Hang Zhou, sees Pinewood as a way for a brighter future, and well worth the extra work. “I came because the college education in America is much better than in China,” she said. “College is really important , because in China, you need a good education to have a successful lifestyle.”
Moving to a completely different continent for the sake of a better education may seem radical, especially from a country like China, where education is held to be just as important, if not more so, than in America. It seems an even more formidable change when the family stays behind, as is the case with BoJie Wang, a junior from Liao Ning province. He lives with his sister, who is 18 and attending De Anza College. “How many kids at Pinewood can say they cook dinner for themselves? [Bojie] and his sister switch off cooking every night,” Brown said. However, Bojie believes it is worth it, convinced that there are simply more chances for a good education in America. “There are more
opportunities here,” he said. “It’s really hard to get into good schools in China, because there are less of them.” Pinewood is no stranger to befriending students from abroad. It is no longer surprising to see a student from abroad on stage in the spring musical or playing on the soccer team. Still, needless to say, there are undoubtedly certain elements of culture shock, but the international students embrace the differences, as daunting as the language and culture barrier may seem. “I came because I want to experience what it’s like in America and open up my eyes to get more knowledge, because I can learn
From left to right: sophomore Esther Zhu, from Hang Zhou, junior Liyu Gui, from Beijing, and junior Bo Jie Wang, from Liao Ning province. By Niuniu Teo
Remembering 9/11 SARAH LAWSON STAFF WRITER America has never been the same, emotionally or physically, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This day is remembered as an event that drastically changed the course of history and evokes a multitude of different reactions in everyone, especially on its 10th anniversary. Not only did 9/11 strain the morale of the country as a whole, but it also showed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that there was a need for higher security measures. Now, long after the event has taken place, TSA has employed methods of higher security in airports across the country, and abroad. Upon looking back on the event, some think that it could have been avoided as a whole. “ …The TSA and the government could have taken stronger precau-
tions,” freshman Evan Escher said. For some, 9/11 was more emotional than for others, and for senior Ava Adlparvar, it served as an eye-opening experience. “It reminds me to take advantage of every minute of life, because something so tragic like 9/11 can happen to anyone, at any time,” Adlparvar said. Memories filled the minds of some during the 10th anniversary, while others preferred to avoid the news this year. “ [9/11] was just strange, sort of surreal… [and] I wasn’t really anxious to relive the event. Nostalgia can manifest itself as a sort of patriotism or nationalistic energy with which I’m not very comfortable,” History teacher Daniel Cristiani said. While some people preferred avoiding 9/11 memories, sophomore Talmage Wise preferred to embrace them. “This year I visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York,” Wise said. “It was emotional.” Looking back on the event, some
people theorize that the government had something to do with the attacks, while others are proud of the government for staying strong during a hardship. “ [I was] amazed that the government administration has been able to keep under control since [9/11],” Math teacher Christine Normoyle said. September 11th was a truly tragic event in the hearts of Americans. However, it brought together a country in a way that no other event could have. As tragic and devastating as 9/11 was, it surely proved that America does have a strong network of concerned, caring people willing to help out the country. “ It was a sad moment; but at the same time it is good to know that people of all types can come together,” junior Emma Grillo said. The 10th anniversary certainly served as a reminder of how a seemingly small event can lead to devastation and uproar. “It just strikes me that one single event shifted the views and experiences of a whole generation,” Cristiani said.
the most of Western knowledge in America,” Zhu said. “The people here are very different, [like] their hair color; the lifestyle is different, [everything] is more… energetic here in America.” Additionally, some see the potential benefit in learning and experiencing Western culture and ways of thought. “My family has people in both countries, so it’s good for me to learn English and learn about the culture here, to help international relations and communication,” Wang said. Liyu Gui, a junior from Beijing, spent two years at Henry M. Gunn High in Palo Alto before transferring to Pinewood. “It’s a lot smaller,” she said, referring to Pinewood. “I like it more this way, because everyone has opportunities to find out about themselves.” Similarly, sophomore Ginny Yang, also from Beijing, spent one year at Gunn High before transferring, finding Pinewood more suitable. “Pinewood is smaller and the teachers care more, so I came,” she said. When asked what her first impression of Pinewood was, she had concise answers. “Green,” she said. “And friendly. I like it here. Most friendly people I ever [met] in the US!” Despite the challenges these students face, they have undoubtedly found a welcoming community in Pinewood. “What I don’t worry about is that the Pinewood students would embrace them and welcome them, and I see that happening,” Brown said.
SEPTEMBER IN REVIEW
Senior Ryland Chan catches the frisbee in Ultimate. By Annie Whitacre
Senior Amanda Zucker as teacher David Wells. By Emily Ng
A Bloody Triumph
VICTORIA GARDINER STAFF WRITER The first Pinewood blood drive started four years ago, organized by alumni Matt Kroll and Sarina Bhndari. Since then it has enjoyed growing popularity, reaching an all time high this year with the collection of 36 pints of blood. That is certainly above the norm for school donations, from Pinewood students, family, and faculty members. “Pinewood students already give a lot to the community and it’s hard to take that extra step and give an actual part of yourself, but it saves so many lives” Senior and blood drive organizer, Helen Jarnigan said. A coordinator from the Blood Cen-
ter of the Pacific, JoEllen Myslik, works with Corinne Burnside, the faculty advisor for the blood drive, to promote and conduct donations. “We pick three dates at the beginning of the year, spaced out so students can donate each time. Then it’s up to us to get signups any which way we can,” Burnside said. Several factors contributed to the increased popularity of the blood drive. Science teacher Elaina Tyson offered free homework passes to any of her students who convinced parents to donate. The community service hours were an especially great motivator, as many students spend the year scrambling to meet the graduation requirement of twenty hours a year. Corinne Burnside has been the faculty advisor of the blood drive for the past four years. “I decided to donate and I was one of the few teachers that did. Matt and Sarina were both my students and they both knew I was interested in donating whenever I can so they asked me to be the faculty advisor, and I have been ever since,” Burnside said.
This year both faculty and students donated blood. “I donated for Ms. Burnside, because she’s my friend and I did it to support her cause,” science teacher Monica Ventrice said. Some students were unable to donate blood, not only due to medical reasons such as anemia or exposure to certain infections, but also because of sports commitments. However, there are blood drives during multiple sports seasons, helping to maximize how many student athletes can donate. Blood cannot be artificially produced, only donated, and less than 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood. Five million patients require blood transfusions every year in the United States, according to the Red Cross. Pinewood has contributed 36 pints of blood to the overall 16 million collected throughout the entire country in an entire year. Thirty six pints of blood out of the 16 million annually collected from the country has already been contributed by these 200 students, and this is only blood drive one out of three.
Seniors watch their classmates learn the choreography to the walk in. By Emily Ng
Seventh graders share a milkshake on their class trip to Golfland in San Jose. Courtesy of Elaina Tyson
If you have any photos of the Pinewood community and from October that you would like to see in this section in our next issue, please feel free to send them to pantherprints@pinewood.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!
Arts And Culture 5
Art At Zoe’s RORIE DUNCAN STAFF WRITER The 2011 Pinewood Art Show was a hit among Pinewood faculty, students, and parents. On Friday, Dec. 2, Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park hosted Pinewoodʼs first art show containing of all the art from the studentsʼ first semester at Pinewood. From 7-9 p.m., parents, teachers, and students enjoyed a wide variety of art. Studentsʼ work was hung up on the walls as well as studentsʼ videos, which were projected on a wall behind the counter for all to enjoy. Delicious food was served as guests made conversation about the presented work. People came and went as they pleased so it was an all-around relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. “Everyone there seemed to really enjoy the art. The setting was perfect and the art itself was magnificent,” P.E. teacher Doc Schepler said. The art was organized on different walls according to each class added a pop of color to the walls. However, art
was not the only entertainment at the show this year. Sophomores Quinn Foster and Daniel Shvarts, along with former Pinewood student Parker Shaefle, provided an acoustic set of music with songs like “Gives you Hell,” “Wonderwall,” “Everlong,” “Where is my mind,” “Ghost who Walks,” and “Far From Never.” The music added a whole new artistic element to the show. “I thought it was a really nice function. The cafe was a great place to have it, and in my opinion the music added to the whole atmosphere of it. It was my first “gig” kind of thing and I was really nervous but letʼs just say: if I can play through that I think I can play through anything. It was a great show,” Foster said. Another thing that made Cafe Zoe the perfect location was the delicious food that was served. From bread and cheese to lemon squares and sandwiches, those who attended were in for a treat. “It was really nice to be able to play there and the art was incredible, but the best part was the cheese paninis. It was the greatest thing to ever enter my mouth,” Shvarts said.
“The food was really good and the music was great. Seeing my friends perform was awesome, and it was all around just really really fun,” junior Claire Nolan said. With a unanimous vote, the art show wowed the critics and defined a new approach to art at Pinewood. Jared Leake, the new art teacher replacing Casey Smith, has made a great and innovative new approach to art, creating new classes that have caught the attention of many Pinewood students who had never previously participated in art courses. These new classes, including photography and graphic and digital design, have made the art program more fun and exciting by giving students a larger variety of arts explore. “Heʼs a really chill, laidback guy and makes the classes fun and exciting by showing his enthusiasm for the class,” junior Colin Gulesserian said. By making the show a social event, Leake showed how inspiring art can be, making even more students interested in his entertaining but educational classes.
Can You Spell“Hilarious”? SYDNI TOPPER STAFF WRITER Singing, dancing, hilarious jokes, a talented cast: this musical has it all. Pinewood’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which ran for two nights with one matinée, completely captivated audience members for all two and a half hours of the show. “I don’t think I stopped laughing for the entire time!” freshman Whitney Mathews said. The cast included all kinds of unique characters, from the nerdy and pompous William Barfée, played by sophomore Talmage Wise, to the saucy Marta Martinez, played by senior Ava Adlparvar. “Every single one of us had a distinct, interesting, and hilarious character, which let us really get into the show and go full out,” Adlparvar said. The musical takes place in a small town called Putnam, where each year, a competitive spelling bee takes place. At the beginning of the musical, each participant was introduced, and the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee commenced. Soon, they audience got to participate in the Spelling Bee as well. Four audience members were chosen at random and had the chance to spell
words that were either ridiculously easy or insanely difficult. “My favorite part was the improv nature of this show. You never know what could happen on stage since we had volunteer spellers from the audience. Every night was different, but it was so much fun,” director Spencer Williams said. “It was honestly the most fun play I think I’ve ever been in, and there was not a moment when I wasn’t busting out laughing with the other cast members,” said junior Lindsay Riches, who played Olive Ostrovsky. Throughout the play, each character goes through a personal conflict while spelling incredibly difficult words, cracking hysterical jokes, and listening to Vice Principal Douglas Panch, played by senior Max Darrow’s entertainingly unhelpful definitions and sentences. Each character has his or her own unique struggle. For example, Marcy Park, played by freshman Eri Yoshimoto, had always been a humorless overachiever. However, after being called “too serious,” she decides that she is tired of always winning at everything, and she throws the competition. Another character, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, played by Claire Witzke, was a nerdy girl who wanted to win the competition in order to impress her
two dads and win their affection. However, she tries to cheat and sabotage Barfée’s “magic foot,” which helps him spell the words correctly. She herself gets disqualified when she spells the word “vug” incorrectly. Other actors, such as Garrett Biggs and Carson Robinette both played equally funny rolls also. In the end, it comes down to two competitors, Ostrovsky, a smalltown girl who can’t pay the entrance fee, and Barfée, an arrogant knowit-all. When Ostrovsky misses a word, it is up to Barfée to decide if he wants to take the prize or let the beautiful Ostrovsky win. Unsurprisingly, he takes the prize and wins a $200 scholarship towards his future education. However, Panch shows his sensitive side and gives Olive Ostrovsky $25 from his wallet so she can pay the entrance fee. The show ended with each character telling a bit about what happened in their future. “My favorite part of performing is the very end when we’re doing our bows. It makes me happy when people clap because it shows that they liked the play and everything we did,” said junior Jenny Paz, who took the role of Rona Lisa Peretti, a former Putnam Spelling Bee winner and one of the announcers at the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee.
A Gamer’s Guide to Christmas VICTORIA GARDINER STAFF WRITER With the Holidays right around the corner, many big-label video game companies are pulling out all the stops with their latest and greatest releases. Some of this season’s games have been the most anticipated of the year; here are a few to look out for. ASSASSIN’S CREED: REVELATIONS System: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Rating: M Single Player / Online Multiplayer The fourth installment in the highly successful “Assassin’s Creed” series, “Revelations” follows the journey of Ezio Auditore, who is now grand master of the Assassin’s brotherhood on his journey through the Middle East to piece together the legacy of his ancestor, Altair Ibin LaAhad. The game also exposes major revelations about the series protagonist, Desmond Miles, and the mysterious Subject 16. “Revelations” still contains many of the features of its predecessor, “Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood,” such as a revamped multiplayer campaign, but it improves on the assassin apprentice metagame first debuted in Brotherhood. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD System: Wii Rating: E 10+ Single Player After the massive Success of LoZ: “Twilight Princess” on the Wii ,Zelda fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of a new console installment of the series. With a five-year delay, peppered with hand held system releases, the wait is finally over. “Skyward Sword” serves as the prequel to the series’ cornerstone game, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” Throughout the game, the player discovers the origin of several of the series’ repeating themes such as “The Master Sword,” and the origins of the series’ antagonist, Ganondorf. Just as its predecessor, “Skyward Sword” utilizes the Wii’s motion sensor controls in gameplay, though the improved software leads to a much smoother gaming experience. MARIO KART 7 System: Nintendo 3DS Rating: E Single Player / Online Multiplayer Just like every “Mario Kart” installment before it, “Mario Kart 7” promises to be just as addictive as the last. “Mario Kart 7” continues as a comic, carton style, racing game, incorporating themes, settings, and characters, from Nintendo’s classic Mario Brothers series. However, this is the first installment of the series to use the 3D presentation of the new Nintendo 3DS. The game also presents a first person perspective option where the player controls their go-kart gyroscopically by tilting the 3DS to move. Like prior versions of the game, “Mario Kart 7” looks to be a fun and comical distraction for gamers who aren’t concerned with complex and building storylines and just want to have some fun. SKYRIM System: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Rating: M Single Player Fully titled, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” this has been one of the year’s most highly anticipated games. A completely open world, role playing game with stunning graphics, music, and the complex building story line that the series is known for, “Skyrim” is an absolute must for lovers of “Dark Fantasy RPG’s.” “Skyrim” is entirely open world. While it does follow a storyline, the gameplay is nonlinear, meaning the player can do just about whatever they want at any give time. In addition, there are scores of options for players to customize their characters, appearance, skills, personality, and allegiances. The game incorporates a complete setting, with every single mentioned location and the space reachable by the player during gameplay. The game developers designed the setting by hand and Bethesda Softworks actually developed a new graphic engine specifically for the “Skyrim.” Bethesda has outdone itself to create an absolutely beautiful and complex game.
Far left: Junior Claire Witzke, freshman Carson Robinette, juniorJenny Paz, and sophomore Talmage Wise perform one of the musical dance numbers. Top right: Sophomore Talmage Wise performs on stage. Left: Freshman Eri Yoshimoto shows off her flexibility during one performance. Above: junior Lindsay Riches sings in the musical. Photos courtesy of Faiz Khan.
Sports 6
Football Fights Back From Slow Start ROBIN SANDERS ASSISTANT EDITOR The year of 2011-2012 has many surprises in store: a presidential election, a possible apocalyptic event, but not surprisingly an energized and talented Pinewood Football team. Since losing seniors Peter Gallagher, Jack Jenke and Anthony Copriviza, the team has picked up a large amount of new and motivated players, ready to give up their heart and body to make Pinewood proud. Pinewood hosted the Stuart Hall Knights in the Panthers’ first contest of the year. The home team was up in the first half, scoring a touchdown and a safety, thanks to junior defensive end Nate Bell. It was head-to-head almost the entire game, and eventually ended in a very narrow 22-26 loss for the home team. There was a big turnout for the game, and with green-andgold-clothed fans every way one turned. Even though the Panthers lost, the Pinewood supporters were undiminished, cheering the football team on in their first game. The second game was played at Crystal Springs Uplands where Pinewood lost 30-40. Unfortunately, the team has been inflicted with several injuries. Senior star captain, receiver and linebacker Dante Fraioli separated his shoulder in the game and will miss the next two games. Seasoned veterans junior Ali Rafie and senior Daniel Branski also are out for at least three more weeks.
Senior captain and quarterback John Bennett runs the ball and prepares to truck a Stuart Hall defender. Photo by Faiz Khan.
Though the beginning of the season hasn’t been optimal, the football department isn’t worried. Head Coach Mike Tirabassi is very confident about this year’s team. “[It has the potential to be] the best team [Pinewood] has ever had,” he said. Full of new recruits and a copious amount of raw talent, the football team has the necessary components to become a well-oiled winning machine. Although their first two games were losses, Tirabassi has noticed that each player has improved a vast
Senior Daniel Branski returns to the huddle after getting a sack. Photo by Annie Whitacre.
amount in the short time since the beginning of the season. He also mentioned that the team, although very strong so far, is yet to be anywhere near it’s potential. The players have also noticed this, and “are doing everything in their power to improve and make their school proud,” Tirabassi said. Thanks to the strong leadership of Captains John Bennett and Fraioli, a strong connection between the players and the coaches has made each player feel appreciated and
respected as a team member. The coaching staff, including new assistant coach Peter Gallagher, is confident that with a little more practice and better team chemistry, the Panthers will pull through with some victories and hopefully a shot at the league championship. The team has already improved their workouts and practices, making them more strenuous and beneficial to the players. The Panthers host the Cornerstone Christian Cougars this Thursday at 4:00.
The Pinewood defensive line. Junior Nate Bell (far right) would force a fumble. Photo by Annie Whitacre.
Seniors Win Frisbee Tournament ANDREW GERSON STAFF WRITER Frisbees were flying all over the Pinewood field as a part of the Ultimate Frisbee tournament held from Sept. 14-19. To cap off an exciting week of Frisbee, the seniors defeated the teachers 5-1 in the final game of the tournament. The juniors finished in second place, followed by the sophomores in third place and the freshmen in fourth. As usual, the tournament was held for spirit points for the high school’s year-long spirit competition. However, there was a little too much spirit at this year’s tournament; students noticed the added physicality of many players who were eager to win. In several instances, players collided in mid-air, fighting to catch a Frisbee. And while this certainly isn’t as dangerous the NFL, some players thought there should be rules in place for injury prevention and general player safety. “The problem is that when guys defend girls, and vice versa, there’s bound to be injuries,” senior Ted Lim said. Fortunately for the students, teachers spotted this problem as well. “For Ultimate Frisbee specifically, there will be a spirit and sportsmanship clause added to the rules [next year],” Activities Director Jackee Bruno said. This isn’t to say that Pinewood students are running around like maniacs, endangering everyone else on the field. “I think the game is played the right way, and any safety issues are just part
of the game,” sophomore Dylan Dreyer said. “However, I do think stricter rules should be made for excessive contact, like pushing or shoving.” While safety was the most noticeable issue of the tournament, early matches displayed easy victories by upperclassmen over less cohesive sophomore and freshman teams. “The freshmen struggled a bit,” Bruno said. “But that’s ok, they’re learning the ropes.” It does take time for a class to work together effectively as a unit, considering the juniors and seniors have had several years to hone their team building skills through a variety of activities. And eventually, the freshmen will become juniors and seniors, giving them an opportunity to dominate the tournament. “The level of competition evens out, as new freshman eventually become seasoned seniors,” Dreyer noted. Until that time, this cycle can be rough on freshmen, many of which are just beginning to know each other and have spent little time on team building activities. “The freshman have nothing going for them,” junior Allie Beers said. “So I guess it’s not fair.” Despite some kinks, the tournament still remains a school favorite. “I think it helps us [juniors] get our spirit up. We even got a flag!” Beers said, referring to the giant flag with the year “2013” boldly written across it. Unlike the other sports-related spirit competitions, Ultimate Frisbee is open to everyone, which is one of its most appealing qualities. “It’s a game that any gender can play,” Lim said.
Junior Owen Lewis jumps splits senior defenders Bradley Naumann (right) and Ted Lim (left) as he leaps for the frisbee. The seniors went on to beat the juniors and then finished off the faculty. Photo by Annie Whitacre.
Home Games this Week...
10/4 @ 3:30: Girls Varsity Tennis v. Notre Dame San Jose 10/4 @ 4:30: JV Volleyball v. Woodside Priory 10/4 @ 5:45: Varsity Volleyball v. Woodside Priory 10/5 @ 3:30: Girls Varisty Tennis v. Mountain View High School 10/6 @ 3:30: JV Volleyball v. Kings Academy 10/6 @ 3:30: Girls Varsity Tennis v. Menlo 10/6 @ 4:45: Varsity Volleyball v. Woodside Priory 10/6 @ 4:00: Varsity Football v. Cornerstone Christian
Come out and support your teams!
Sports 7
Colonna Triumphs at Xc State Championships STEPHEN YU SPORTS EDITOR On Nov. 5, 2006, senior Megan Endersby represented Pinewood at the CIF State Cross Country Championships. Finishing in 91st place with a time of 21:49 (7:02 pace) in the women’s Division V 5,000 meters, Endersby surprised the entire Pinewood community with such a stunning performance. Flash-forward five years and meet a legacy in the making: freshman Nicole Colonna. On Nov. 26, 2011 at Woodwark Park in Fresno, California, Colonna also competed in the Division V CIF State Cross Country Championship but this time with much different results. Colonna finished 25th out of 175 of California’s fastest runners with a time of 19:45, two minutes faster than Endersby’s. Her performance solidified her budding high school cross country career as she placed second out of the 23 freshmen that participated. Although Colonna faced stark competition, she did not falter or lose sight of her goals. Remembering all the efforts she put into practice helped provide the extra kick she needed to finish races strongly. “During the State race I was so nervous that I was shaking. There were about 175 girls there and when I looked down the line there was just a never ending line of girls. I ran my best 5k time that day with a 19:45. I just ran my normal race and pushed myself until I crossed the final finish line,” Colonna said. Colonna’s speed and athleticism allowed her to compete amongst many upperclassmen, which ultimately helped build her confidence by adding experience. “I was extremely nervous at all of the high level meets such as CCS and State. It was also definitely intimidating to look around at all your competition and
Freshman Nicole Colonna running in the heat of competition. Photos by Faiz Khan.
see how old and experienced they all looked,” Colonna said. Perhaps it was this intimidation that contributed to Colonna’s stellar performance. Competing against mainly juniors and seniors, Colonna went into State with a calm, composed mindset that any place would suffice. “My expectations for the race were to place in the 40’s or 50th place. I was extremely shocked to learn that I finished 25. When I finished I thought I was in the high 30’s. I am extremely proud of my performance and I could not have run a better race than I did that day. Looking back, I don’t think I would do anything different. I think I ran the race of my life in State and I would not change a thing,” Colonna said. With three seasons still ahead of her, Colonna remains optimistic and enthusiastic, looking for ways to challenge herself to become a better runner.
What happened to Jingleball? SAM CARP STAFF WRITER The annual Jingleball tournament for Pinewood has been delayed until next year. The annual dodge ball tournament was scheduled to be held on Dec. 6, but due to the lack of participation from the students, it has been canceled. “There just weren’t enough students who signed up,” Activities Director Jackee Bruno said. The concept and objective of Jingleball is to raise money to offset the cost of winter formal tickets, and the more students who sign up, the lower the cost. In the past, the competition and participation for Jingleball had been immense. Students from freshman to seniors battle it
out on the tennis courts, ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging. By the end of lunch, students would exit the battlefield bruised, dirty, and tired. It’s unclear why students failed to sign up this year. Some students speculate that it could be the price, which was lowered from last year to $40. Another reason could be the lack of advertisement. “I think my first thought to the cancellation of Jingleball was just astonishment. Why didn’t anybody want to play? I then realized that the Associated Student Body does need to take partial blame for the lack of participation. We need to do a better job of getting the word out,” senior and ASB President Bradley Naumann said. Bruno said he hopes the annual tradition will resume next year.
Fall sports awards team awards Football
Panther award - mikey naumann mvp - dante f raioli most improved player - kai kawashima
league awards football
co-mvp - dante fraioli first team - kevin sweat first team - mikey naumann first team - john bennett
cross country
most outstanding runner - nicole colonna
senior award - niuniu teo senior award - hannah dabagian
Cross country
first team - nicole colonna
“I see myself improving and becoming more successful every year, and to do this I will train as hard as I can and I will work hard to be the best that I can be,” Colonna said. An integral part of Colonna’s success came from her relationship with her teammates and coach. Both parties provided support in times of success and failure. “I was new to the cross country team this year because I am a freshman, but almost immediately my teammates started supporting me and cheering me on and made me feel part of the team. No matter how far behind I was in the race or no matter how disappointed in myself I was after the race was over, they all were always there to support me and congratulate me at the finish line after every race,” Colonna said. However, Colonna’s dedication to the sport provided her with the most motivation to perform at a high level.
“I motivated myself. I am a very competitive person and I always push myself to my limit. There were also my coach and my teammates that motivated me to do well because I did not want to disappoint them,” Colonna said. With the cross country season over, reminiscent memories presided over the entire team, but none was more prevalent than Colonna’s success. The entire team reveled in their successes from particpating in the WBAL championships to qualifying for the CCS championships. Even the first few meets harbored many memories among the teammates. “It is so hard to choose my favorite part of the season. There are just so many good memories from running with this team this year. The highlight for me was being privileged to run in state but also the practices when everyone was together and joking around were so much fun,” Colonna said.
Girls Basketball Teams in Developing Season ROBIN SANDERS ASSISTANT EDITOR As the basketball season gets under way, the girl’s JV and Varsity teams must train hard in order to compete against competitive bay area teams. The girls’ varsity has been training especially hard. With five seniors graduated, the incoming freshmen must work extremely hard to uphold the precedent set by last year’s state championship team. Varsity won their first game against International High School, ending with an impressive 70-44 victory. Unfortunately, the team lost their second game against Scott’s Valley with a close 48-49 deficit. Currently at a 1-2 record, Doc and his team are confident about improving their standings. Kendahl Wallis-Lang, a sophomore who played varsity last year, is happy with the progress that the team is making. “This year has been really fun and we’re all getting alot better. Everyone is really excited for the season... and we’re coming together really well,” Wallis-Lang said. Kelly Doran, a senior on the team, has similar, albeit more realistic, views about the season. “There’s a lot of new players,a lot of things to learn, and a lot of meshing that needs to happen, but we are looking good” Doran said. The team as a whole is looking forward to their next few games. They are looking forward to getting a win on the
road as they travel to Overfelt High and Lincoln High. The JV team is also hoping to continue to improve in their game. They have a 12 record so far, having just took part in a Burlingame Tournament. They played the neighboring Gunn High School, where they unfortunately lost. However, they won their second game against Mission San Francisco with an ending score of 2423. The team lost their last game to Santa Cruz High School 50-20. Nancy Sutter, junior, has been playing on the team since her sophomore year, and was able to put the team’s standing in perspective. “We have mostly freshmen, with two sophomores and 2 juniors. When we play we are at a bit of a disadvantage because we are mostly short and skinny compared to tall girls we play,” Sutter said. While they may not be the most physical team out there, the JVgirls are excited for the season. Sutter commented that there was good chemistry between the players and the coach. “Our new coach Larry is really cool and helpful, and he makes the team come together a lot,” she said. In addition, in-team chemistry is strong as well. Junior Haley Longbottom noted that all the team members were getting along well. “It has actually been really fun so far this year, and we are all getting along so well. I hope that we will be able to work together on the court as well as we do off of it” she said.
jv volleyball
offensive player - rorie duncan most valuable player - sarah cilker most improved player - juka kim
varsity volleyball 2nd team - kandace korver
honorable mention - adrienne whitlock
varsity volleyball
honorable mention - jenn bodine
most valuable player - kandace korver rookie of the year - karalena davis hardest worker - adrienne whitlock
varsity tennis
varsity tennis
coaches award - nancy sutter coaches award - hannah manheim
first team - emily zhang honorable mention - nancy sutter honorable mention - katie wen honorable mention - tiffany chen
From left to right -senior Jenny Hansen, sophomore Leanna Bade, freshman Monique McDevitt, sophomore Kendahl Wallis-Lang, and freshman Marissa Hing. Photo by Emily Ng.
Nooz ∞
Paved Paradise, Put Up Parking Lot SYDNI CHOPPER HEATH BAR ADDICT After many years of student protest and administrative discussion, Pinewood has finally decided to build another parking lot to give more parking space to the students and faculty. Not only will this parking lot give students more space, it will also reduce congestion on the roads outside Pinewood and cause less trouble for Los Altos residents. Construction will begin in early May for the new parking lot. “I used to think we had enough
parking spaces, but during the basketball game there were so many people that I realized we needed more room,” principal Mark Gardner said. “I’m glad we are getting a new parking lot so I won’t get doubleparked anymore. I always seem to get blocked in,” junior Nancy Sutter said. The original plan was to build a two-story parking lot, but there were difficulties getting air rights above the current parking lot. The administration has decided to build the second story on top of the gym instead. “I’m very excited to have a parking lot on top of the gym, because this way, I can get out of my car and I’ll already be right where I need to be!”
P.E. teacher Doc Scheppler said. This new development requires a few other changes as well. First, new supports must be installed inside the gym to account for the new story. While the gym is under construction, PE will be cancelled for all grades and replaced by “Hiphop Abs” and P90X in Room 8. Second, the weight room will be temporarily removed during construction, which which will most likely cause some unrest among teachers who frequently use the weight room. “I use the workout room in much of my spare time so I can work on my core. I don’t know what I’ll do when it is taken out,” English
teacher Rob Morrill said. Rooms 22, 23, and 24 will be temporarily unavailable and taught on the tennis courts until construction is completed, forcing the tennis season to be cut short. “I’m very upset that our season ended early this year; I really thought this was going to be our greatest season ever,” boys tennis coach Craig Corfield said. Third, large ramps must be built to give cars access to the roof of the gym. These ramps will connect the small parking area behind rooms 20 and 21 to the new roof parking lot. A second school entrance will be created to allow cars direct access to the roof lot and will prevent
congested traffic. The new space provided by the parking lot will help Pinewood immensely. There will be enough room for each grade to have their own designated parking area along with a separate sphere for the faculty and administration. In addition, since they now have enough room to store them, Pinewood has bought two large buses that will be used for transportation to and from events such as basketball games and field trips. “This new parking lot will really make things easier for Pinewood as a whole, and I’m glad students are having such a positive reaction to it,” Gardner said.
Ribaudo Target of Mac Computer Hate Crime ANNIE “KING” KONG SENIOR GORILLA Computer teacher Phil Ribaudo, known Mac supporter, was attacked by a Macbook-hating band of terrorists on March 12. When Ribaudo, computer and communications teacher, unlocked and opened the door to his classroom, he was greeted with a cardboard box attached to a string from the ceiling; written in black sharpy on its side was “Macbook’s Suck! Go PC’s!” Pushing the cardboard box away from his face, Ribaudo scannned the room and almost had a heart attack. Tables were overturned, chairs broken and tossed to the side, and papers were scattered and ripped. The worst shock came when the Macbooks came into view. Cords unplugged, shards of computer screens across the floor, keyboard covers ripped up and lying around, the white server boxes thrashed around and cut up, the screens snapped off their bases lay dejectedly on the ground. Toilet paper, strewn throughout the room, decorated the ceiling and walls. “I couldn’t believe the state that the room was in,” Ribaudo said.
Ribaudo silently absorbed the shock. His beloved Macs – ruined! All that time put into setting them up, gone! Wasted! Ribaudo tried to calculate the amount of money it would take to repair the damage, but the numbers started to spin in his head and he was forced to sit down. However, Ribaudo didn’t real-
ize at the time that he might still be in danger. According to an intial police report, he reported that he thought he was hearing things, but through straining his ears, he could faintly make out people whispering. Before he could even react, five people clad in black sprang
then danced around him while chanting “Go PC’s!” and stepping all over the Macbooks. They then lit a bonfire in the parking lot outside of Ribaudo’s classroom, and threw all of the Macbooks, keyboards and covers, and mouses in to burn. “My eyes watered as I watched my precious computers go up in flames,” Ribaudo said. The robbers proceeded to rip off the tape from Ribaudo’s mouth and force him to condemn Macs forever. “They were very violent and forceful, and it was a very frightening experience. Not at all a memory I will fondly cherish. They ripped off the tape from my mouth quite brutally, mind you and taking with it some pieces of my beard,” Ribaudo said. “I almost cried as I watched my dear Macbooks being incinerated.” The robbers then left suddenly, leaving Ribaudo to untangle himself from the chair and put out the fire himself. In a final act of violence, the robbers, using a homemade catapult, propelled Ribaudo’s car into the Pinewood trees. Although this event took place on Mar. 12, the police still are keeping an eye out for possible suspects. If LEFT: Ribaudo’s Scion XB, found March 12, sitting atop the Pinewood trees. Photo submitted by Adrienne Whitlock. TOP: Rib- you see anybody suspicous that apaudo trying to defend himself with his MacBook Pro. Photo taken pears to glorify PC’s and appears to and submitted by Faiz “Faizeebo” Khan. be in all-black, please call 911.
Cafe Pre-Pay Starts Bartering System AUSTIN LIANG THE LAST SAMURAI Starting next week, Café Prepay will trash its current system of credit accounts and will offer its goods through the barter system. This barter system, which was originally proposed last year by the history department, will act as a simulation for students to know what market life was like back in the Middle Ages, when the barter system was mainly used. This sudden change will occur because 85 percent of the entire Pinewood Upper Campus scored a C or below on their history finals. Students will be able to trade in items that can range from the expensive: a Rolex watch, to the cheap: tattered boots. Based on the value of the item, students will be able to receive the appropriate amount of baked goods, sandwiches, or sweets in return. Café Prepay is getting a whole makeover, starting from expansion of the hallway of the café to the bathrooms on either side. Unfortunately, this will leave only one pair of bathrooms out on the school hallways, with which the students will just have to make do. Fridges, racks, and shelves will be revamped and decorated to resemble a 1600s marketplace, complete with squawking chickens, braying donkeys, and mooing cows. The cashier, Angel, will even be dressed up as an English pilgrim in order to further strengthen the simulation’s authenticity. Additionally, Dr. Mark Hecht Ph.D, a professor of bartology from nearby Stanford University, will
be coming to Pinewood to supervise the simulation and various trades to make sure all trades are fair. Cafe Prepay will auction off all high-value goods to fervent antique collectors, while the rest will be sold for profit or given to the employees themselves. Many teachers anxiously await the launch of this new barter system. “We all are very excited for this change,” history teacher Mary-Kate Leos, said “I also feel this could be a good way to help my students learn, as some class time can be devoted to some fun show-and-tell of various items students have brought from their homes to barter with, which can help me teach my students in a fun way about the origin of each item, instead of plain note-taking.” “My family left me some old suits of armor and medieval weaponry, and I never knew what to do with them. But now, with this new barter system, I can get rid of them while getting free food!” history teacher Daniel Cristiani said. Moreover, students are very eager for the barter system to open. “This system could be my saving grace. I could trade in lost clothes and school items that I will refurbish and be able to support and feed myself,” sophomore Annie Daines, who has been living in the lost and found, said. “I bet this system will be great, as occasionally when I walk around my house, I can find various prehistoric fossils, and I presume these will fetch a high price of possible two or more cookies at Café Prepay,” freshman Oliver Cho said. “Gee, I can’t wait to trade in that set of old dragon scales I have collecting dust at home too!”
out from behind the overturned tables. They tackled Ribaudo football – style, and forced him into a chair, binding him with ropes and duct-taping his hands and feet together. As if this wasn’t enough, they also slapped on a long piece of duck tape over his mouth. The attackers
Normoyle Deported MATTI “THE BLASIAN” THURSTON TEENAGE HEARTTHROB In a shocking series of events, Math teacher Christine Normoyle has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Normoyle, previously believed to be a simple American-born citizen, was taken into custody during the morning hours on Feb. 30. A spokesperson for ICE failed to delve into the details of the situation. No knowledge was given on the warrant for Normoyle’s detainment or the reasons why they suspect her of being illegally here. The only information that we have at this time is that Normoyle will have a hearing on June 27 to determine whether or not she will be deported to her “home” country of Liechtenstein. As we are only in the earliest stages of this report, the Pot-Bellied Pig Prints will keep you posted on the situation.
ABOVE: Math teacher Christine Normoyle gets detained by an ICE agent while teacking. Photo by Vishal “I Like Famous Amos” Jindal.