Author: Nia Evans

And then there were Four

By Nia Evans, Staff Writer

If you haven’t heard about Zayn Malik leaving the biggest and most successful boy band in history since the Beatles, then you need to catch up. In the last few days of March the world was shaken up by the surprising news that Zayn from One Direction was leaving the famous band. The news broke millions of teenage girls’ hearts around the world, and personally when I heard the news I shed a few tears myself. Prior to the news, any 1D fan could guess, that the first person to quit the band would have been Zayn, many expected this day would come. But no one expected that day would come so soon. Zayn explained that his departure from the band was due to the immense amount of stress it put him through, the strain it put on his personal relationships, and overall wanting something different. He feels he out grew the band.

When the news broke there was a lot of hate towards Zayn, but even more so towards his fiancee Perrie Edwards, who is a member of the group Little Mix. The event that really pushed Zayn to his breaking point, was tabloid pictures of Zayn getting close with a “fan” , there were two pictures of Zayn with a girl one picture of them holding hands and the other one with his his hand all over her waist. Which stirred up conflict between him and his fiancee pushing him to finally quit the band.

At first I too shared this hatred towards Zayn thinking that he’s being selfish and letting a lot of people down, but then I realized I too have grown out of my One Direction phase and I’m not as big of a fan like I was a couple of years ago. And it’s quite selfish to ask someone who isn’t happy with their life to keep living it that way just for our entertainment.

But now, the question on all of our minds is what’s in the future for One Direction? Zayn’s vocals were a major contributing factor to the band’s sound. Is the fame of the band really going to be short lived after only five years of being together? Historically, it’s around the five year mark where boy bands begin to disperse.The famous American boy band Nsync broke up only after seven years together. The Beatles were only together for eight. So it shouldn’t come as a shock if the band only lasts a year or two more. It’s sad to see this generation’s biggest boy band slowly coming to an end.

Now, people aren’t waiting for the final breakup, many know it’s already here, but rather are waiting to see who will rise up and become the Justin Timberlake of boy bands and have a successful solo career. Will it be Harry, Liam, Niall? ( we all know it won’t be Louis, well maybe except for Louis). Or maybe it will be Zayn who is already in the studio starting on his new solo career. All we know right now is that One Direction will never be the same again.

The Lowdown on Kainoa Lowman

Post author By Nia Evans
Post date March 5, 2015
No Comments on The Lowdown on Kainoa Lowman

By Nia Evans, Staff Writer

Freshmen year, for most of us, is a time we would rather not look back on. Everyone is discovering who they are and trying to find their rightful place in the McClatchy community.

However the struggles that we once faced as freshman doesn’t seem to be a problem for the freshmen class of 2018. This year’s freshman seems to have it all together, these students are sports prodigies, starring leads in the school play, and are brilliant little intellectuals destined to do big things. And one of those students who has the potential to do amazing things here at McClatchy is Kainoa Lowman.

Kainoa is a starting star player on the JV basketball here at CKM. Before attending McClatchy Kainoa attended California Middle School, where he was very active in the their speech and debate program. He participated in one of CKM’s speech and debate tournaments but hasn’t since because he’s been preoccupied with school and basketball. But Kainoa says “when I have more free time I would like to continue with it.” He says that he’s really enjoying his classes because they’re very engaging and way more interesting than the things he learned in middle school. He also likes his teachers a lot and says Ms. Cook is his favorite teacher so far. When asked if he felt any discrimination for being a lowerclassmen, especially a freshman, he replied “no, that everyone he’s met at McClatchy so far is super cool and genuine.”

The amazing people here at McClatchy have had a profound and lasting impression on Kainoa, to the extent that one of his role models is McClatchy’s own junior Roby Shideler. Kainoa says that Roby always brings positive energy to any situation and his humour could make even the saddest old man crack a smile. Kainoa added “Roby is a very talented mascot and is a clever and creative maker of campaign poster,” which he finds admirable. But on a more serious note, another role model who Kainoa looked to as an inspiration through his childhood was former Phillies baseball player Shane Victorino, who is originally from Maui, Hawaii. Though Kainoa wasn’t born in Hawaii, he’s half Hawaiian and has lots of family members who live there so he visits frequently.

Kainoa is looking forward to his future here at McClatchy and beyond. Although he doesn’t plan to run for class president Kainoa would be interested in being “bake sale test taster.” He wants to exceed his parents already great accomplishments by attending a college better or compatible to his parents schools, Stanford and Duke. Currently, Kainoa is considering majoring in Journalism but he says “I’m not sure how viable of a career option it will be by the time I grow up.” Some time in the near future he would like to travel abroad preferably to South America where he can put his spanish to the test.

This school has a plethora of talented young individuals, Kainoa included.If you see Kainoa in the halls, don’t be a stranger, give him a high five or a quick awkward hey because chances are this funny smart charismatic kid is going give you a big smile and a friendly response back.

Married on the Job

Marriage can be a beautiful and special bond between two people. The bond between those people is a magical and passionate experience. A great romance can spark between the partners, creating an everlasting love, making the partners feel more connected.Usually the more time they spend together, the deeper they fall in love and the closer they become. But how close is too close? Who would devote themselves to one person so completely; twenty-four hours, five days a week?

“Most couples don’t eat every single meal together, drive to and from work together, and work across the halls,” said Mrs. Wong.

However here a C.K. McClatchy we have three couples who have been putting themselves through this for years, you can sort of think of them as the power couples of McClatchy, and they are: Mrs. and Mr. Hankin, Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Tagg, and Mrs. and Mr. Wong. So do they find it difficult working along side their spouse or does it actually strengthen their relationship?

Many teachers here each at McClatchy vary in their teaching styles- no two teachers are exactly alike in the way they teach. This may not be a problem among your average teachers, but for our married teachers this may stir up problems in their relationship. In the first few years of Mr. Tagg and Mrs. Jablonskis’ teaching careers, Mr. Tagg found this to be a problem. Apparently his AP students complained about his teaching to his wife, which created friction. But after eleven years of marriage and four years of working together they both stated that since their world views and teaching methods aren’t that radically different there’s really no conflict between the two, especially since they teach different subjects.

Mr. Wong stated about his wife, “We have very different teaching methods, but it doesn’t create any problems. She is very enthusiastic and free wheeling and I’m more lecture based, but both teaching styles are still effective.”

Mrs. Wong told a story similar to Mr. Tagg’s, about how her and Mr. Wong switched HISP sophomores halfway through the year for about ten years. And she said her students complained to her because they’re were afraid of having Mr. Wong.

She had to tell her students, “Guys I’m married to him, stop saying that.”

She reassured them that they would be fine. Which they would, speaking from personal experience- having had Mr. Wong as a teacher he may seem intimidating but he’s really not that scary.

Both Mrs. and Mr. Wong said they have very different personalities, but after twenty-seven years of being married and twenty-six years of working together, that old saying must be right, opposites do attract.

As many people at McClatchy know, Mrs. Wong is the HISP director and teacher for the program and Mr. Wong is also a HISP teacher. So in a sense, she’s not only his colleague and wife, but also his boss, and if there were any complaints about Mr. Wong, Mrs. Wong would be the one to address those issues with him.

Mrs. Wong admits, “It is sometimes awkward giving him suggestions, but it doesn’t create problems, I have to treat him like the other eleven HISP teachers, and I do, so it’s not an issue.”

Mr. Wong responded by saying that he does listen to the suggestions, but it depends on the stitution if he actually makes a change.

Usually when adults come home from work they let go of what happened and unwind. But this isn’t the case when both you and your spouse are teachers at the same school.

Mr. Wong hates when work takes over his home life, he said “She’s always on her laptop, but I understand as a dedicated teacher, my wife’s dedication.”

They both said they enjoy working together for reasons like this. They understand what the other one is going through because they both teach at the same school, which they believe strengthens their relationship.

Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Tagg both agreed that they do talk about work a lot at home, but they don’t really talk about the work aspect. They mostly talk about students. Imagine, your teachers coming home and talking about how you failed that test or that dumb comment you made in class. However they both stated that they like sharing students, not so they can complain about them, but so they can share funny stories of things that happen in class.

Sometimes it’s perfectly healthy to get some individual alone time. And our power couples love their alone time. Mr. Wong has his golf, Mr. Tagg has his band and Mrs. Jablonski and Mrs. Wong said they like travelling alone or with some friends.

“She encourages me to golf because I think she gets annoyed with me,” said Mr. Wong jokingly.

One thing that the power couples agreed on is that if they had the choice to continue working together or to work separately, they would all chose to continue working together. They agreed that working together makes them closer and strengthens their relationship.