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November Poetry Collection

Photo Credit: Riley Burke

 

Hollow Halls

By Genesis Ellen

Perched upon a thought that lingers

Fears spawn suddenly beneath my fingers

For here in the dark there is no singer

Nothing but voices exhaling “Bring her”

 

Bewildered this night

Having lost my sight

My steps prove cautious only out of fright

 

Unsettling groans beneath the floorboards down under

Echo through the halls with lesser-known thunder

 

And as I creep my way down, an unlikely observer

I’ve become now realizing the ground as firmer

Though before I rejoice

I should soon listen a voice

And the spirits now whisper “Burn her”

 

A murmur so icy, in irony true

To escape from this wrath, I led them askew

Leaving footprints trailing colors black and blue

When left alone with my trickery

Their tone changed and within me,

I heard them cry out “She knew”

 

A Tasteless Little Dream

By Olivia Martinez

I only have one wish

but my mind is overfed

 

like a brick dropped from a tower

my body hit the bed

 

finally a little sense of peace

almost smooth like silk

the sheets caress every crease

 

I lay awake reminiscing

about the thoughts

that seem too good to be true

 

only a tasteless little dream

who could have even knew?

 

put you first!!!!

By Olivia Martinez

from infancy we are told to be selfless,

 

but heaven forbid you become a pushover.

 

treat them the way you want to be treated,

 

yet don’t tolerate disrespect.

 

when will you fathom

 

the mental image of whose soul lingered ‘till the end?

 

anything you could possibly need

 

is found within.

 

your only duty is to live this life

 

not to satisfy.

 

its okay if they take offense,

 

they’ll know it’s only ‘cause you care.

 

 

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Are High Schoolers Too Old To Trick-Or-Treat?

As Halloween has come and gone, a popular topic of discussion is what to do on Halloween night.  Have we outgrown running around the neighborhood asking for candy, or can we still hold onto this tradition?

Taken from a poll on The Prospector’s Twitter page, out of the 20 voters, 20% do not believe that high schoolers should be able to trick-or-treat, while a staggering 80% do.   

“I think it depends on how old you look, not how old you are,” said Gabe Mills (‘20), in reference to trick-or-treating.  

Sophia Abramsky-sze (‘20) added, “It’s only bad if you get caught,” referring to pretending to be younger while trick-or-treating.

Taylor Hughes (‘20) argued that “older kids take too much candy,” which brings up the concern of robbing the younger trick-or-treaters from being able to fully enjoy the holiday.

“It’s awkward because it’s a little kid thing to do, and it’s weird to hand candy to your peers. Also teens usually don’t dress up,” said Lily Ewing (‘20).

It seems that students at McClatchy are divided. Some want to trick-or-treat as long as their appearance will allow them, and others have left this tradition behind to live in their childhoods.

Photo Credit: Time.com
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McClatchy Students Weigh In On Voting Age Discussion

Since the start of fall, students at McClatchy have been seeing posters, icons, billboards, and headlines all flashing one bright, critical word: VOTE.

The fact that most students at McClatchy couldn’t vote in the midterm elections didn’t change the level of passion teenagers felt about some of the proposals. While this year’s ballot didn’t show any measures that would directly affect the 14 to 18-year-old demographic, one proposed measure for the 2020 presidential elections could have an impact on McClatchy’s young people.

The measure to allow 16-year-olds to vote was reintroduced this year by U.S Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) after the bill, proposed by Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), was shot down in 2015. The bill would have resulted in legislation that allowed minors to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

A poll was taken on Twitter asking McClatchy’s student body whether or not those who will be 16 in 2020 should be allowed to partake in the presidential election. The results were even; of the 12 people that voted, half of those said yes, and the other half said no.

Those that supported the measure were eager to be able to use their voice and change the nation’s future in a few short years.

“Yes, absolutely,” said Michael Alongi (‘21), who spoke up about the rights of the LGBTQ community, with which he identifies. “I want to be able to vote in the next presidential election, to protect my rights and the rights of the people I care about.”

Nick Fleming (20’) offered that “There is a similar mindset between 16 and 18.”

With the students that supported seeing the measure pass, there seems to be a common trend of bringing up that there aren’t many disparities between the mentality of a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old that would prevent a young teen from making a poignant decision that decides their future. They argue both ages are enthusiastic and committed enough to change that both are capable and deserving of the responsibility.

Most of the uncertainty towards the measure came from students who chose to be more realistic about the big picture. There were blatant laughs of disbelief from these 16 and 17-year-olds at the thought of McClatchy’s youngest being able to vote. Most students used their judgement of foolish student behavior at McClatchy as justification of their vote. One student simply said, “Have you seen high schoolers?”

But some students took it to an individual level, and reflected on their personal preparedness. “No, I’ve been 16 for a year and I don’t think I would have been ready to vote,” said Brennan Rivas (‘20).

Of course, whether or not the younger generation will be able to partake in the 2020 elections is up to the people. There are plenty of arguments that can be made advocating both choices, but for those students anticipating change, they will have to wait to see if the outcome was a result of a bold irresponsibility or a hopeful expectation.

 

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A Week Of Student Backlash As SCUSD Is Last In Area To Cancel Classes

In the midst of the “Camp Fire” sweeping Northern California, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) students called for class cancellations for days following a string of cancellations from other school districts and college campuses.

SCUSD released a statement on Thursday saying it would be cancelling November 16 classes after a week of students and parents calling for the schools to be closed.

Sacramento State announced cancellations on November 12 and have since moved to cancel class for the entire week. Los Rios Community College District made the decision to cancel all on site and online classes for the week on November 14. All in the face of categorized “very unhealthy” air quality that ranges four times above healthy air quality conditions.

On November 15 Downtown Sacramento measured a borderline hazardous AQI of 266 (PM 2.5) at 1PM.

A petition posted to Change.org calling for the cancellation of SCUSD classes had reached over 10,000 signatures by students and parents alike.

“I’m done sitting in class coughing all day with a headache! Please take our health into consideration,” said one commenter on the petition.

McClatchy students expressed some frustrations with the District over the choice to keep doors open throughout the week.

“I have asthma and couldn’t go to school, now I’m behind on all my work. So I definitely wish they canceled,” said Joe Ciminelli (‘19) on SCUSD not closing its doors on November 15.

Students also took to Twitter to demonstrate their annoyance in good humor. Mackenzie Crall tweeted out about the District’s decision to keep school’s open on November 15:

While Molly Robinson (‘21) tweeted out a meme targeting SCUSD and their supposed motive to keep students in school to keep attendance cash flow up:

Many students believe the District holding out on closing was in part due to the income provided by student’s attendance and took issue.

“The fact that the school is making money off of our own suffering…shows how messed up the school system is and the people that run it,” wrote Aldina Kelecija (‘20) to The Prospector.

“We already knew that the district doesn’t truly care about our health and safety, and this event just solidifies that fact,” said Grace Kline (‘21).

Rachel Halbo, a West Campus Senior and SCUSD’s Student Board Member, explained the District’s choice to not close schools on November 15, “One of the biggest reason behind not closing schools is because a lot of parents still have work. They have no where to put their elementary aged kids during the school day.”

Halbo added, “If the District was in it for money they would cancel school today and have us make it up after graduation…instead they have school today to provide students a safe place to be with supervision even though they are gonna lose a ton of money from people like me who aren’t in school.”

Most K-12 Districts have made the choice to cancel classes November 16. Elk Grove, Folsom and Cordova, San Juan, and Sacramento City Unified Districts will all be closing campuses.

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BREAKING: SCUSD Cancels All Nov. 16 Classes Due to Poor Air Quality

All Sacramento City Unified School District campuses will be closed November 16 due to poor air quality and following a string of cancellations from other K-12 districts and college campuses.

In a statement released by the District on November 15, the District stated that they are closing campuses due to poor air quality and debilitated HVAC systems that are unable to keep smoke out of classrooms.

“The health and safety of our students and employees continues to be a serious concern as we monitor air quality conditions and maintain close communication with the Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District and Sacramento County Public Health. Unfortunately, this afternoon air quality has continued to worsen, not improve.”

On November 15, Downtown Sacramento measured a borderline hazardous AQI of 266 (PM 2.5) at 1:00 p.m.

Other K-12 districts have, in the wake of worsening conditions, chosen to cancel November 16 classes. Elk Grove Unified School District, Folsom Cordova Unified School District, and San Juan Unified School District have all chosen to cancel school as well. 

“…the wellness and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. After careful consideration, continuous monitoring of air quality conditions across our District…EGUSD officials have made the decision to close all of its school sites,” wrote Elk Grove Unified officials in a message to the district’s parents on November 15.

SCUSD will provide bagged lunches for students to take home to “ensure the nutritional well-being of our students.” Meals are being distributed from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 15 at the campuses of C.K. McClatchy High School, Hiram Johnson High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Luther Burbank High School, and Rosemont High School.

A petition posted to Change.org calling for the cancellation of SCUSD classes reached over 10,000 signatures by students and parents alike. 

“I’m done sitting in class coughing all day with a headache! Please take our health into consideration,” said one commenter on the petition.

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K-Pop: The Rising Popularity Of BTS In the U.S.

Which K-Pop boy group has been getting chart-topping songs in the U.S. this past summer, performing on Saturday Night Live, beating Taylor Swift’s YouTube record, receiving recognition from Forbes, and more? Well, if you guessed BTS, you guessed right. The group BTS, also known as “Bangtan Squad,” derived from the acronym “Behind The Scenes,” is the first K-Pop group to have a major influence in the U.S.  

The band was formed by Big Hit Entertainment, and is composed of seven members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook. They debuted on June 13, 2013 with their track “No More Dream.” They continued to gain prominence with subsequent albums Dark and Wild, The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever, which got on the U.S. Billboard 200, marking the first international influence in the U.S., explaining the recent social media craze about the band.  

Their second full album, Wings, was released in 2016, which became their first million-copy- seller and debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200. They also managed to debut on the Billboard 100, entering with number 85, which rose to number 67, for a different title track album called “DNA.” One of the songs from the album was remixed by Steve Aoki with a feature from Desiigner. Both tracks certified gold, a first for any Korean act ever and selling to a million.

In 2018, they released Love Yourself: Tear, their third full album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It was the only K-Pop release to have reached that far, along with its title track “Fake Love” becoming the third song from the group to reach gold certification.

Later this year, they released a follow-up record, called Love Yourself: Answer, which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.This became a successful feat for the group, marking continuous achievements that continue to expand as more American pop influences begin to work with the group, such as Nicki Minaj and, most recently, Yuna.

As the boy band continues to gain notoriety in the U.S., they will continue to grow. If you haven’t heard about them and don’t know who they are, now you do. Their style is similar to that of our hip hop culture today, which probably explains the rise in popularity and the feeling of familiarity in their song that peaks our attention. Not only their style and taste in clothing and music, but their good looks have caught the eyes of many teen hearts. Though they may be performing in a different language, BTS proves that these differences are a strong advantage in the music and business industry.

 

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Students Upset Over New Food Sale Policy

Recently, SCUSD released a district-wide notice about the law banning the selling of food by students at schools in Sacramento, C.K. McClatchy included.

This law affects clubs, classes, and other student-run organizations that depend on the earnings they make off of food sales to run their groups. This also entails the end of schoolwide traditions like the Harvest Festival, International Day, Hearts Festival, Oktoberfest, and Eco Jam, all events based around the selling of food.

At C.K. McClatchy, clubs like German Club, whose successful existence relies just on the profits they make selling treats and food to the student body, are now left stranded, struggling to figure out their next way to make money.

This also greatly affects graduating classes. For example, the graduating class of ‘20 had plans to sell at upcoming festivals, along with dedicating a day every week to sell coffee and hot chocolate to make money for prom, which is no longer possible according to the district’s ban.

As for the origin of the law, the meaning behind why the state decided to issue it is unknown.

“From what I understand it’s not just a district thing, it’s a federal law,” ASB Junior class Vice President, Mackenzie Crall, explained.

Crall explained that the idea of this ban being a federal law could be based around the district wanting to promote healthy eating habits and trying to implement healthier lifestyles.

The law states, “Only those foods and beverages that comply with state and federal competitive food and beverage requirements are allowed to be sold to a student on the school campus during the school day outside of the federal meal programs.”

The law defines competitive foods as all foods and beverages sold to students on school campus during the school day outside the reimbursable meal programs.

As the district can’t oversee and control every sale or event centered around food in each school throughout the district, banning all sales can help reduce chances of unhealthy habits originating from school.

There is controversy about whether or not C.K. McClatchy is going to abide by this rule. The discussion that took place in C.K.M.’s Associated Student Body upon hearing about the ban went along the lines of, “So we’re just gonna ignore the law right?”

It’s not that McClatchy’s ASB wants to break the rule, it’s the matter that lots of funding, for clubs, classes, and programs, come from food sales, and now that it’s against the rules, it’s going to be difficult to find alternative solutions for fundraising.  

Crall concluded with, “Now we have to find some other way of fundraising which is a challenge because it’s high schoolers, and they’re not likely to buy much else.”

 

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New Marquee In the Front Of the School

Photo credit: Adriana Barrios

Many C.K.M. students are unaware of our school’s new technological asset: a new marquee in the front of the school.

The class of 2018’s student officers labored over the decision of what gift to grant the campus upon their graduation. They first considered purchasing a kiln for the ceramics and VAPA classes, but they wanted a gift that could reach more students. So, they next considered a water bottle filler similar to one that is currently installed near the front of the auditorium. However, they decided that this idea, having already been done, was stale and boring, and they wanted to leave their stamp on the school so they could go out with a bang.

One day, Mr. Hubbard proposed that a new marquee be installed, and all student officers, as well as administrators, were on board. This way, every single C.K.M. student would see the new project in action for years to come. Administration soon came up with the necessary funds, and soon the project was underway.

“It is supposed to be spectacular,” said Mr. Gatten, co-advisor to the class of 2018. It can display pictures in high definition as well as a wide range of colors.

The greater obstacle in this project has been a lack of technological training. As Mr. Gatten stated, we already have a fully functional and exciting new marquee, but we cannot reap its benefits and see its potential without new technological knowledge of how to control it.

“We’re still waiting to see the full range of what this marquee can do,” said Gatten.

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The Good Place: A Comedic Escape

Students at McClatchy find NBC’s The Good Place to be a good way to destress and have a good laugh.

The Good Place is a light comedic television show that can take away the stresses of life.  Filled with plot twists, the show keeps the viewer captivated, while having a good laugh. At the end of each episode, there is a cliffhanger, leaving viewers excited for the next episode.  

On September 27th, the third season aired on NBC, renewing fans with new laughs and a more developed story.

The cast is comprised of fan-favorite Kristen Bell, award-winning actor Ted Danson, and comedy stars such as D’Arcy Carden. Adam Scott, well-known for portraying Ben Wyatt on the series Parks and Recreation, also makes a feature in the show.      

An Instagram poll involving McClatchy students proved that nearly everyone who has seen the show enjoyed it.  

When asked why she likes the show, Taylor Hughes (‘20)  said, “The show is just good. The acting, the comedy, everything.”

Adelina Hernandez (‘20) binged the show over the summer. “I liked the filming, it was very colorful. It was really funny and there was good character development.”

Seasons one and two of the series can be found on Netflix while the third season can be found online, new episodes on Fridays, a day after they are released.

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McClatchy Students And the Vaping Epidemic

E-cigarette use and vaping is typically considered safer and alternative use to kill a nicotine addiction, according to the National Center for Health Research. But how about forming an addiction? Teenagers across the nation are creating an epidemic of new tobacco users through the attraction of delicious vaping flavors.

Big tobacco companies have made it almost too easy for teenagers to abuse their products. Available at nearly any gas stop for less than $40, “Juul” is becoming the silent killer of the century. It’s desired by many teens because it produces a cloud that disappears within seconds, has no distinct smell, and is easily concealable due to its flash drive-looking design.

“I know a lot of people who vape and I’m not sure if they realize that one Juul cartridge has the equivalent amount of nicotine as two packs of cigarettes, which is kind of scary,” says Lauren Wong (‘19).

“If teenagers want to go ahead and ruin their lungs for the sake of being cool, it’s their life, their choice,” said Christopher Rinnetti (‘19). “That being said, I hope they know the risk factors that come along with it,” he added.

According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 9.5% of eighth graders, 14% of tenth graders, and 16.2% of 12th graders have used e-cigarettes in the past month. On the other hand, the amount of students that smoked regular cigarettes was nearly half the percent in each grade level.

“I feel like teenagers would smoke regardless of the fact that vaping is currently rising in popularity,” said Hector Chavez (‘19). “The media is the main cause of this epidemic. Everyone just wants to fit in, doesn’t matter if it’ll kill you.”