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May 2018 – Page 2 – The Prospector
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CKM Students React to Avengers: Infinity War (NO SPOILERS)

Since the movie was released on April 27th, many CKM students were excited about the new Marvel film, Avengers: Infinity War. With a huge following on social media, the film blew the charts internationally and astonished many CKM students. The film creates a combination of action, drama, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Many students believe that this film is the greatest, team-up, and crossover film this year, probably better than Black Panther. “I enjoyed the film very much, because it had many unexpected, exciting, action-packed, and sad moments.” said Chloe Falzarano, a sophomore.

Many students also loved the fact that everyone part of the MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe, were battling against the mad titan, Thanos. And many students, including Chloe, mentioned, “Fans were going wild over this film because of the humor and how action-packed it was. Everyone has been waiting for this film for awhile.” This film was crafted based on other Marvel films of the MCU.

“The actors chosen for this film were more than amazing and the audience was very astonished by how great the film was,” said Chloe. She continued, “There are so many scenes that are shocking, sad, and I never thought would have happened, but overall the movie was great.”

Avengers Infinity War 2018 Poster

Max Barbosa, sophomore, also commented, “This film blew my mind. I have never seen such greatness in a Marvel film.”

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McClatchy’s Student Parking Crisis: Tickets On the Rise

From 3rd Avenue to handicapped spaces, students park wherever they can, often at the cost of a parking ticket. Many students who drive are unable to get reserved parking in our student parking lot. The lot has just over 100 spaces, ensuring parking for only a fraction of the senior class, let alone students who begin driving as early as sophomore year.

Because of the parking space shortage, students have no choice but to park illegally if they want to make class on time.

Though there are legal spaces to park, they are a 10-minute walk from campus, at least, often causing students to be late to first period. For many students, this is not feasible.

“I live in Arden and I have to drive to school but don’t have a parking pass,” says Maya Steinhart (‘19), a student that has no choice but to park illegally. Soon after this, Maya and a rash of students that park on 17th were ticketed.

Some students continue to park illegally, while others have sought alternative options.

“I didn’t have a parking pass in the beginning of the year, so I was parking over on 7th and 8th” says Dylan Anderson (‘19),  “and then I got a ticket, so I parked in a new spot, and got another ticket.”

Anderson began parking in the student lot illegally after construction, in the spaces that were unassigned to students. When a student he knew with a parking pass left the school, he jumped at the opportunity to secure a parking spot. “I talked to Officer Graham and it took a two week process for me to even try to get a pass, but I got the pass, so now I just park there.”

Some juniors, like Kushraj Narayan (‘19), were able to earn parking spots through working in the McClatchy office over the summer, though there are some that park in the lot without a pass.

Senior Anna Murray (‘18) received a $450 ticket earlier this year for illegally parking in a handicapped space in the student parking lot, It happened because juniors and seniors park in the parking lot without a pass, so they take up all the spots, and because I get there second period, there are never any spots left.”

Murray is currently contesting her ticked in court, on the grounds that she had a pass for the lot, her spot was taken, and she had to get to class.

She believes that campus monitors checking cars at random for parking passes as they enter the lot is an effective solution to stop those that park without passes, and parents that use the lot to drop off their children.

Other students believe that another effective solution is integrating the teacher lot with students. Over the course of 20 days, one of the Prospector’s editors counted empty spaces in the lot that holds 159 vehicles. It was found that there was an average of 46 empty spaces everyday.  

As more and more students get ticketed, parking remains a difficulty for the students who drive to school.

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AP Testing at CKM

From May 7th through the 18th, many McClatchy students are taking AP tests for the AP classes they have taken this school year. According to documents the Prospector obtained from the Counseling Department, 574 tests have been ordered, and 315 students have signed up to take tests. This means that many students will be taking more than one test.

Of the 574 tests ordered, the majority seem to be for English Literature and Composition (103 tests), Government and Politics: United States (92 tests) and Calculus AB (90 tests). Meanwhile, very few tests were ordered for United States History (4 tests) Japanese Language and Culture (3 tests), and French Language and Culture (1 test).

There are several reasons why some students are taking some tests more tests than others. Language classes require students to take four years of that language till they reach the AP level their Senior year. Another factor to consider is timing: several tests take place on the same day. The French test, for example, is at 12:00 PM on the 15th. The tests for Calculus AB and BC are at 8:00 AM on the same day. Students might decide not to take the French test so they can save their energy for Calculus, which gives credits that colleges might find more valuable.

Forms giving AP test dates and numbers of tests ordered.

Something you should keep in mind if you want to take an AP test next year is that AP tests are very expensive: this year the cost was $94 per test. For students with financial needs, the College Board provides a $32 fee reduction for each test. Of the 315 McClatchy students taking tests this year, 106 qualified for AP exam fee reductions. That’s roughly 33.65%, just over a third of the students.

Despite the cost and stress of taking an AP test, there are several benefits as well. The AP classes themselves give a weighted GPA, and offer a greater challenge than other classes. According to the College Board’s website, AP exams allow you to save on college expenses by earning college credits. Doing well on AP exams can also allow you to skip introductory classes in college, allowing you to take more advanced classes, or freeing up schedule space for elective classes.

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Most Popular Movie Controversies

It’s been 10 years since the first Twilight movie came out. 6 years since The Hunger Games was released. 21 years since the Titanic was premiered. One about a vampire and a human that fall in love with each other, the other about 24 teens fighting to the death, and a sad, sad, very sad dumb door.

The only thing these sellout movies have in common, other than hot guys, is that they caused an uproar with controversies.

Let’s start with Twilight. The most serious question everybody wanted to know when Twilight was popular was if you were Team Edward or Team Jacob. In the books, and in the movies, Team Edward won in the end, as he is the one who married Bella. However, people still are not very happy over this decision, especially hard core Team Jacob fans. There have been brawls and their have been full on debates over this. Personally, I don’t know why people are mad about this when she obviously is so much better with Edward–afterall–he is the one she ends up with.

When I asked how people felt about the controversy, one fan commented that they were on Team Edward, but they wanted to remain anonymous. They even gave me a list of all the reasons why, “1. He’s a vampire 2. Jacob is more of a friend to Bella 3. Jacob imprints on her daughter (Renesmee) 4. Edward sparkles in sunlight, and finally, 5. Edward and Bella were just meant to be.”

Team Jacob also has some fans, as Freshman Carlie Floyd commented, “Team Jacob, because look at how pale Edward is compared to how tan Jacob is! Then look at Jacob’s body. Then look at Edward’s body. Then look at his hair!”

It seems as though Twilight fans still have not reached a consensus on which guy is right for Bella in the end.

Like Twilight, The Hunger Games tried to get fans excited over teams, but not everyone was absolutely crazed and sold with Team Gale and Team Peeta, mostly because only one of them really ever had a chance. The hardcore Hunger Games fans are still not happy about this, and some are still mad. Some say that Katniss should have ended up with Gale cause they grew up with each other and they had feelings for awhile.

Tye Williams, a Freshman, commented, “Gale. Because he’s really attractive and cares for her.” However, other fans would argue that Peeta has been through a lot more harsh, near death experiences with Katniss.

Kiki Walker commented, “Team Peeta. I always was. He always put Katniss’s life before his own. He is selfless and determined. Also, Peeta is far more loving and considerate towards Katniss. And he’s always there for her, plus he can bake!” They also developed strong feelings for each other throughout the course of the series, and at the end they end up married with 2 kids, so Peeta was the one that took home the bread. (that’s a baking joke)

The next scene that still sparks outrage from fans is the door scene in Titanic. In the movie, Rose lays on a floating door that saves her from hypothermia, and Jack ends up freezing to death because he has to float in the water. However, some fans claim that there was actually enough room for the both Rose and Jack on the floating door.

Was Rose selfish, or was Jack just too stubborn to admit he was cold in the freezing water? You could argue that Rose’s rich background made her narcissistic, as evident when she told Jack to draw her nude. She probably just thought that since he was her secret lover, he might as well die so no one finds out about their fling, but who’s to say? People argue that there was room on the door, and some say there wasn’t, others just don’t care. I say there was room on the door. Rose was just being selfish.

But in the grand scheme of things, do these controversies really matter? Yes, they do matter to the real fans, which is why they are still talked about, even though it has been many years since these movies were first released.

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Students Ask: What is CAASPP Testing For?

Two weeks ago, McClatchy Juniors had to take the CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) test for English during their English class period. Last week, they took the Math test during their history classes. With all of this testing, students are left asking questions: What exactly is the CAASPP test? What is it testing for? And what should students do to prepare?

The CAASPP website wasn’t much help: the site was meant to help teachers giving the test, not provide information about the test itself. This could be a problem, as students and parents looking for information on the CAASPP would likely look on the CAASPP site first. The California Department of Education’s website was more helpful: according to their site, the CAASPP system was established January 2014 as a replacement for California’s STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting) system of standardized achievement tests.  

I talked to some Juniors who have been taking the CAASPP to see what they knew about the test. Joshua Zebley said “I know that this test is sent to colleges.” This is true, although students can choose not to show their results to colleges.

Another junior, who wished to remain anonymous, said “I know that it is to see what we are being taught, and report it to the district”.

Mrs. Downey, an English teacher who has been a CAASPP test administrator for her students, said the CAASPP test is “Mandated by the state, so we have to give it… the data is helpful in determining where our students are, skill-wise, and which groups may need particular attention in coming years, and where there are gaps we might need to fill.”

When asked about his opinion on the CAASPP, Joshua Zebley said “I think the test was hard, especially since it’s generalized, not specific for the math you are in.” Another junior, who wished to remain anonymous, had similar concerns: “I think it is too general,” they said.

I had a similar experience: while taking the math portion of the CAASPP, I found that there many math concepts on the test which I was unfamiliar with. While this might just be due to me being bad at remembering math concepts, this complaint seems to be common enough that the people in charge of the CAASPP might take note of it.

As for the test itself, I personally found it to be of a similar difficulty to the SAT test the Junior class had to take earlier this year, although the CAASPP is electronic, and lacks the strict time regulations of the SAT, meaning that students should be more able to work at their own pace.

When asked how effective the CAASPP is at determining college readiness, Mrs. Downey commented, “I think it needs a lot of tweaking… I do think that it’s better than the old STAR tests, because it does require more critical thinking, it’s a more subjective test, there’s more free response… but as a scale of how ready for college students are, I think it’s just one small part in a much larger picture of education.”

CAASPP test logo

Lastly, Mrs. Downey had some advice for students taking the CAASPP test: “Hydrate. Hang in there, do your best. It’s long.”

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McClatchy Students Participate in Annual Film Festival

Poster of the Film Festival

McClatchy’s annual International Film Festival has had another successful year! From April 23 to April 26, foreign language classes featured international movies in their language with English subtitles. Admission was free, but German Club provided snacks for a price. Students could receive extra credit for their foreign language class. HISP students could also use the film festival as a cultural event.

Monday was the German film, Tuesday was the French film, Wednesday was the Japanese film, and Friday was the Spanish film. There were no films on Thursday because of Senior Projects.

The German film was Rubinrot (English: Ruby Red). In the movie, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Shepard learned about her family carrying the time travel gene. It started with Gwen dealing with her snobby relatives prasing Charlotte.

The French film was Au Revoir les Enfants (English: Goodbye Children) and based on the director’s childhood, Louis Malle. It followed Julien Quentin’s life during Nazi-occupied France. Then Jewish boys like Jean Bonnet came to Quentin’s school. Quentin tried to figure out Bonnet’s identity.

The Japanese film was Jiro Dreams of Sushi, documentary about sushi chef Jiro Ono. Ono ran Sukiyabashi, a three star Michelin restaurant. The documentary revealed his daily life shopping, preparing, and making sushi.

On Friday, the film was Voces Inocentes (English: Innocent Voices). Unlike the other films, the Spanish film was rated R, so students must showed permission slips from Spanish teachers. Voces Inocentes took place in 1986 El Salvador and followed Chava growing up in the civil war. Guerilla forces tried recruiting new members as the Salvadoran military tried preventing that.

Frau Rice, the former German teacher, started this tradition 15 years ago. The goal was to show a type of film teachers wouldn’t show in class. “Something a little bit more thought-provoking or controversial…or representative of the language’s culture,” according to Japanese teacher Mr. Fisher. The genre could be anything. Teachers announced their film choice to their classes. Most of the time it was a surprise to students not taking those classes.

Teachers were also excited for this film festival, “I’m excited that the new German teacher, Frau Templeton, is keeping the international film festival alive,” Mr. Fisher said. Frau explains the excitement of watching foreign films, “That’s the fun part about it, you get to see how much you understand.”

Overall, the international film festival was not to be missed! It was a perfect way to relax and destress from a long day at school.“It’s an important part of foreign language department’s contribution to McClatchy’s culture and spirit,” Mr. Fisher stated. The International Film Festival at McClatchy will continue for years to come.

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Meet Math Teacher Mr. Machschefes

Photo of Mr. Machschefes in his room.

Mr. Machschefes, in his first year at CKM, has had a successful year teaching mathematics.  He teaches Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2 in Room 26A, which used to be an art room. Mr. Machschefes taught at other schools as well, “I spent a couple years in Merlin, Oregon, and I taught at middle schools and elementary schools there for seven years,” said Mr. Machschefes.

One of the many reasons why Machschefes moved to CKM was because for many years, school districts mainly gave out temporary contracts. CKM wasn’t like the rest, “McClatchy offered me a full-time position. McClatchy is close to home, and I felt welcomed by staff and admin, which is different from what I experienced in the past, and I appreciate that a lot,” said Mr. Machschefes.

Students enjoy having Mr. Machschefes as a teacher, because of his dedication and passion for math. To Mr. Machschefes, mathematics is a step by step process that requires skill and thought, “I often push students to really use their brains instead of just crunching numbers.” Machschefes aims to make a change in the lives of students through his class.

Mr. Machschefes remembers a quote he once read while growing up, “When you are young, you’ll learn. When you are in your middle ages, you will do, and when you are older, you teach.” Such an idea was very prevalent in Mr. Machschefes’ life and his career, “I didn’t plan to teach right after college or out of high school, so I worked in the construction industry for more than a dozen years. When an opportunity came up to getting into teaching, I took that opportunity.”

Mr. Machschefes attended to City College of San Francisco, known as Harvard On a Hill, then he went to California State University, finished up with his construction and technology degree. He began teaching in 1996, and has taught a variety of grade levels since.

Mr. Machschefes enjoys McClatchy more than other schools he has worked at, as he has felt welcomed by staff and administration, “I haven’t felt any hostility here. I’ve seen other schools where teachers attack each other, admin attacking teachers, students being very difficult, and I run into much less of that here. I feel supported by both staff and admin, I really appreciate that,” he commented. Mr. Machschefes hopes to stay at CKM for a long period of time to continue helping students out with math.

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Trash Situation in Counseling Hall Girls’ Bathroom Can Be Fixed

Many students who use the girls’ bathroom in the counseling hall have noticed a growing trend as a result of the lack of feminine hygiene product trash cans in stalls: trash all over the floor.

Each stall in a women’s restroom typically has a small metal trash can attached to the wall of the stall that is used to dispose of trash from feminine hygiene products like pads or tampons. This trash includes products that have been used, as well as the wrappers from the products.

There are none of these trash cans in four out of the five stalls in the counseling hall girls’ bathroom. The only stall that does have one is the wheelchair accessible stall.

Due to the absence of these trash cans, people who need to change a pad or tampon in that bathroom have nowhere to dispose of their trash, leaving them with only a few options: carry the trash to a large trash bin somewhere else in the school, flush the trash down the toilet, or simply leave it on the floor of the bathroom stall.

Few people would feel comfortable carrying trash from the bathroom to another location in the school, especially because of the stigma already surrounding menstruation.

Flushing the trash down the toilet may get it out of the way, but it could potentially cause enormous plumbing issues that the school would have to deal with down the line.

Most people seem to leave their trash on the floor, seeing no other reasonable option.

As more and more students find themselves in this situation, the trash begins to build up until the floor is essentially covered in trash.

“They don’t have any trash cans anymore so [the trash] is just sitting on the floor,” said sophomore Mackenzie Crall, who uses that restroom almost every day during second period.

Callie Wong (‘19) added that the bathroom “just smells really bad.”

“I only use that one if I really have to pee and it’s my only option,” said Wong.

There is no excuse for leaving students without access to a way of disposing trash from feminine hygiene products. Whether the trash dispensers were purposefully taken away or it was just an oversight, this is an issue that needs to be rectified immediately. It’s unhygienic, bad for the school’s plumbing, and puts students in unfair and uncomfortable situations.

The solution to this issue is not complicated. The school just needs to ensure that every stall in women’s restrooms have a trash dispenser for feminine hygiene products. It’s an easy action that will drastically improve students’ experiences using the bathroom at school.

An example of the counseling hall girls’ bathroom by the end of the day.
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Tree Planted in Memoriam of Columbine Shooting

On Friday, April 20th, over a dozen McClatchy students and staff came together to plant a sunset maple tree in the front of the school as an act of service to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.

Though many students across the nation participated in a walkout to demand stricter gun control laws, McClatchy’s ASB felt that planting a memorial tree was more fitting.

“Really what the people of Columbine wanted was more of a day of service,” said ASB President Daisy Lewis (‘19). “So in response to that, we decided to hold a tree-planting ceremony.”

Since 2000, the Columbine community has organized an annual day of service on the anniversary of the shooting in which they volunteer with community organizations.

“This is our contribution to the day of service,” said McClatchy junior Maya Steinhart.

Attached to the tree was a tag with a note written by students.

“In remembrance of the lives lost in the Columbine High School shooting 19 years ago. Today, we plant this tree for change and to honor the lost lives of students and teachers,” read the note.

“We know that this little tag is not permanent, but we know why this tree is here,” said Steinhart.

Lewis emphasized that the tree-planting symbolized a growing number of similar actions taking place across the country.

Students plant the tree.
The note remembering Columbine attached to the tree.

“We’re willing to do more and do good for our community,” said Lewis. “It’s showing that our generation is people that take action. We’re ready to make change and we want to do it at our own school.”