Nicole Park, Executive News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorDanielle Ryan, News Editor
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA,
there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day,
where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs
going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group
and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as they
do this year, so they thought that it would be a fun and beneficial way to
let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun games,
activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an interest in
their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs and
interests of students all over our campus.“Club Day went really well because it seemed
like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time. It was
nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss Monteleone, ASB
adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day, as
well.“In the end, it is really cool to see all of the
different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over
campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you
to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day.
Students show their creativity through annual
costume contestNicole Park, Executive News EditorAllison Alben, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorSuperheros and kitty cats and fairies, oh my! On
Oct. 31, Halloween, students were allowed to come to school in their costumes.
Many students took the opportunity to dress up in a variety of costumes,
including morphsuits, Rancho Pico teachers, famous movie characters, and more.
During lunch, ASB hosted their annual costume contest with almost 50 students
in each category. The categories were: Cutest, Funniest, TV and Movies, Most
Creative, Staff, and Best Overall. All were welcome to compete in each
category, but only finalists could compete in Best Overall.And the winners were:Cutest: Funniest:
TV
and Movie: Most Creative:
Roxy Glicman
Ellie
Park
Alex
Crespo Cade CosticEthan Yu
Brooke
Fennenbock India BramhallKenna Miller
Garett
Christofferson Zack
Drake Spencer
Birchall Best Overall: Ethan
YuAfter the students, it was the amazing staff’s
time to face-off. The winner was chosen based on applause from the students.
The winner was Ms. Van Lohn who was avatar Korra. Students and staff alike
enjoyed looking at the creative costumes.“The contest was really fun! It was cool to see
all the creativity in the costumes and what they came up with and the teachers
had a great time judging,” said Ms. Monteleone, the ASB director.In the end, it was another great Halloween at
Rancho Pico, thanks to ASB and all of the teachers who contributed to making
this day fun. JPL CJSF Field tripNicole Park, Executive News editorHow do we know that life could exist on other
planets? On Dec. 2, 2014, fifty 8th grade CJSF students took a trip to Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to learn about robotic exploration of space and all
of the work and knowledge that goes into it. JPL has previously created rovers
to explore Mars and other planets, looking for forms of life, and they are
currently working on one right now.JPL employees gave students a tour of the
grounds. They visited the assembly facility and got to see a test vehicle that
was still in progress. They were also fortunate enough to see the life-sized
model of a rover named Curiosity, which weighed almost a ton (2,000 lbs.) and
contained 17 cameras and was the first of its kind.“My favorite part of the trip was visiting the
space flight operations center, where satellites were used to communicate with
the rovers. It was really cool!” said Katie Jurkowski, CJSF president.This section of JPL was filled with screens
displaying all of the information coming in from the different satellites
around the world. Students also visited a small museum about the planets and
some rovers. This CJSF field trip was a great experience for anyone interested
in going into the field.“The purpose of this field trip was to take some
of our honor students to a laboratory where they could be inspired to, maybe,
become engineers, rocket scientists, robotics experts. And to be able to talk
to these people, it’s a wonderful experience,” said Mrs. Goldberg, one of the
chaperones of this trip.These CJSF students got to experience the
building and discovering process that happens at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And
there are many more discoveries to be made.ASB holds annual Mix-it-up DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorJocelyn Wells, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing Editor Meet
someone new! Find something you have in common with them! This is exactly what
students were encouraged to do on Oct. 28, Mix-it-up Day. This national
campaign was created over a decade ago to challenge students to step out of
their comfort zones and cross social boundaries. Small slips of paper were
passed out and students filled out their name, the name of a new person they
met, and something the two of them had in common. When they turned them in to
ASB, the cards were put on a big mural and the students were awarded with
candy.“I think Mix-it-up Day was great! Everyone got
to have fun and our mural looks awesome!” says 8th grader, Abby Walters.Studies have also shown that these interactions
can reduce prejudice, biases and misperceptions and is also a good way to meet
different people. Rancho Pico has been participating in Mix-it-up Day for a few
years. “Mix-it-up Day went very well and we got a lot
of participants. It can be hard to get students to step out of their boxes, but
today they were trying to meet someone new and find something they had in
common with them,” says Ms. Monteleone.Mix-it-up day helped students to step out of
their comfort zone and meet new friends, a great skill to have in the future.
Students learn about drug awareness during Red
Ribbon WeekEllie Barton, Managing EditorNicole Park, Executive News EditorDid you know that thousands of teens die from
drug usage every year? In an attempt to end this, schools across the nation
have dedicated a week to informing students about how drugs can ruin your life.Our school did this through creative and fun
games, activities, and spirit days. Students were encouraged to show that they
were drug free by wearing red and dressing along with certain themes on
different days of the week, for example “ saying no to drugs is no sweat.” On
this day, students wore sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweat bands, etc.Miss Monteleone was very pleased with the end
result of Red Ribbon Week,“It is important for middle school students to
be aware of the bad things that come from doing drugs and to make that pledge
to stay drug free.”Students also had a positive reaction to Red
Ribbon Week and the lesson it teaches.“It was really cool, it taught me more on why
drugs are bad for you,” says 8th grade student, Eric Garcia.Red Ribbon Week teaches students all around that
drugs will never be worth it. ASB found fun ways to show students that a drug
free life will always be a better life.Fall Concert Anya Shah, News ReporterRyan Factora, News Reporter
Are you a music lover? Do you enjoy Halloween? Well, the
fall concert for advanced band and orchestra brought both of these together on
October 30 in the MPR at Rancho Pico. After practicing long and hard for the
first few months of school, the advanced students were prepared for their
performance.However, this concert is special in its own way,
the first of its kind. Mrs. Stoffel, Rancho Pico’s prestigious music teacher,
is very excited for this concert. “This is the first fall concert we have done
and it became clear last year that the advanced students were ready to play
much earlier than the December concert.”At this memorable concert, students were allowed
to wear their halloween costumes as opposed to the formal, dressy clothes they
would usually wear to a concert. Mrs.Stoffel herself even dressed up as
Professor Dumbledore from the beloved Harry Potter series. This Halloween-themed
concert featured some interesting yet spooky tunes that sent shivers down every
spine. One song that was be performed by the band was “The Curse of
Tutankhamun,” and one song that the orchestra performed was “Grim Grinning
Ghosts”, the theme from the famous Disneyland ride “The Haunted Mansion”. The advanced
orchestra even performed a song that featured our own principal Mrs. Jones.
They played the song, “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space”. During the
most scary and intense parts of the song, Mrs. Jones would shriek and scream. Many of the students
that played at the concert loved the songs and the concert itself. Advanced
orchestra student, Alyssa Truong, plays the violin. “My favorite song was the
Pirates of the Caribbean.” Another student,
Minjoon Kang, also plays the violin. “I liked how everyone was so musically
talented and they played their hearts out today.” Advanced band
student, April Kim, plays the clarinet, and particularly enjoyed one Halloween
feature. “I liked seeing everyone’s costumes at the concert!”CJSF CeremonyAllison Alben, News ReporterKelsey Choe, News Reporter Honors society, also
known as California Junior Scholarship Federation or CJSF, is a program for the
8th grade students who show leadership, scholarship, and citizenship . On
November 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm, students, parents, and staff met in the gym to
participate in the CJSF ceremony. This event was held at 7:00 P.M. in the gym
on November 6, 2014. The event began with the introduction, flag salute,
and the candle lighting ceremony. Each of the six candles
represented an important quality that each of the CJSF members have. The white
candle, representing Knowledge, was lit by Vince Buyco, followed by the gold
candle, representing scholarship, which was lit by Mazen Hussein. Camryn
Edwards lit the next red candle, meaning service. The blue candle, which
represented character, was lit by Ethan Brooks. The green candle was lit by
Janny Oh for citizenship, and the final purple candle,for leadership, was lit
by Ryan Samadi.After the candle lighting ceremony, the CJSF
officers Labiba Syeed, treasurer, Arianna Werner, secretary, Isabelle Crume,
vice president, and Katie Jurkowski, president gave their speeches. After the
recognition of the Honor Society members, Mrs. Goldberg and Ms. Jones gave the
closing speech. The ceremony ended with a gathering in the MPR where everyone
snacked on cookies and brownies.“Being a CJSF student means they are givers to
their community. They are honor students in the sense they complete all of
their class work and the way that they honor their families and their communities.
We honor them because they help make Santa Clarita a much better place.” said
Mrs.Goldberg, a devoted teacher from CJSF.Many of the adults gave their praise to the
hardworking students.“These students have distinguished themselves
as scholars, and the faculty salutes these dedicated students who have
displayed diligence in pursuit of their academic excellence.” said our
principal Ms. Jones. ”CJSF is a great experience for all students.
To become a member, it takes a lot of hard work and devotion. You need to earn
good grades and you must have at least ten community service hours. In the end,
everything is worth the work to be recognized as a member by CJSF.” said
Arianna Werner, CJSF Secretary.Students also show their pride for CJSF
through their actions.“I love the fact that everyone gets to be
acknowledged for all the hard work and dedication they have displayed
throughout the year.” said CJSF president Katie Jurkowski. The recognition that
the students receive encourages these scholars to continue at excelling and
doing their best.
Club DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorDanielle Ryan, News Editor
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA,
there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day,
where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs
going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group
and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as
they do this year, so they thought that that it would be a fun and beneficial
way to let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun
games, activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an
interest in their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs
and interests of students all over our campus.“ Club Day went really well because it
seemed like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time.
It was nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss
Monteleone, ASB adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day,
as well.“ In the end, it is really cool to see all of
the different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over
campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you
to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day.
Teacher SpotlightBrooke Fenenbock, Features writerGabrielle Fuller, Features writerMrs. Pearsall is a seventh grade English
teacher on Explorers. She has taught for twenty years, three of which are at
Rancho Pico. This well-known teacher grew up in Tarzana, California near the
San Fernando Valley. She attended school at Taft High School and Cal State
Northridge. She also took some classes at UCLA. She earned a degree in Health
administration and two masters degrees in English education. Mrs.
Pearsall became a teacher because she enjoyed spending time doing homework and
projects with her kids and figured that if she became a teacher, she would be
able to do that all day. She would also get more quality time with her kids
during their breaks. Plus, she has always,“ loved literature and English.”Mrs. Pearsall is an animal and family-oriented
person. She has four kids named Chelsea, Alex, Malik, and Jibreel. She has five
pets; three cats named Cambria, Milo, and Skrink and two dogs, Macy and
Mordecai. On her leisure time, her hobbies include gardening and traveling.
She’s also involved with animal rescue and believes every living thing deserves
a chance.Some intriguing things you might not have
known about her are: her favorite holiday is Christmas, her favorite sports
team is the Seattle Seahawks, and her first job was at Pioneer Chicken. Her
favorite foods include hot wings and strawberry cheesecake. Mrs. Pearsall’s
biggest pet peeves are gossip and animals being treated unfairly. If she could
have one superpower, it would be to wiggle her nose, and have her house clean
itself. More fun facts about her are her favorite sport to play is tennis, her
favorite type of music is country, and her birthday.
P.E. Costume ContestTali Skabelund, Sports EditorNovember 7, 2014This year, Halloween fell on an even period
day. Students who had physical education on that day were able to participate
in a costume contest. After delivering their belongings to their lockers,
students gathered outside in costume. Peers met together and went for a walk
around the basketball courts to start off their class. When they were finished
they were herded into the gym to sit on the bleachers. The teachers had picked
out five categories: cute, scary, funny, creative, and overall. People dressed
in costume went down during the category that they thought best fit their
costume description. Judging by crowd applause, the teachers eliminated people
until the winner was the last one standing. All winners won a free run pass
that they can use later on in the year .Discovery DayCharlie Morici Sports ReporterZachary Van Bennekum Sports ReporterOctober 10, 2014During Discovery Day, Discovery’s advisories gathered to
participate in interactive activities. This competition included six people in
each advisory that went against each other in a relay on dollies. Participants
pushed their teammates to the other end of the gym and back. The first team to
finish won. “Many of the kids loved it, they thought it was fun,” said
Ms. Foster.The important part of Discovery Day is to bring the entire
team together for unity. One of the organizers always try to think of a new
game for each quarter (which is the time they hold each Discovery day). One of
the organizers, Mrs. Foster, told us that Discovery Day is an important part of
team Discovery.“Discovery team events bring everyone together and bring
team spirit,” stated Ms. Foster.Discovery kids always look forward to these exciting events.
These events were started because of the heritage of team activities at the
school. It also gave teachers the ability to better get to know their
students and their assets, plus the chance to get to meet their parents.“Team events such as Discovery Day build relationships among
students and make students feel like they're truly part of a team,” explained
Mrs. Carey.These events are planned by your team teachers who will
pitch in to ensure that you will enjoy your event. Discovery Day is just one of
the many team building activities students will have during this year.News: One Big Happy Family for the FutureDanielle Ryan, News ReporterChristian Sims, News ReporterTying the knot is a huge deal for many people. Our beloved
7th grade science teacher, Ms.Balmonte, has recently gotten married on Aug. 23,
2014. For most of our 8th graders, it may be a little tough to refer to her as
Mrs. Makovsky, but she said is still alright to address her by Ms.Balmonte.
Even though Mrs. Makovsky has opened a new chapter in her life, she still plans
on teaching science at Rancho Pico, because this is where her home is, and she
enjoys working with students and informing them about science.Mrs. Makovsky has been with her husband for one and a half
years before the proposal. He proposed to her on a private helipad and the
wedding was held in Blaine, Minnesota. The reception took place at Lord
Fletcher's restaurant at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Makovsky now plan to travel to Spain, Greece,
or Switzerland for a honeymoon to kick off their marriage and come together as
family.During an interview, Mrs.Makovsky stated,”There is not a
huge change after being married, but I guess that’s a good thing because it
just feels really natural.” Hoofbeats and all Rancho Pico students sincerely
wish the best of luck and a happy, healthy relationship for the future.Teen Read WeekJocelyn Wells, News ReporterTali Skabelund, Sports ReporterEllie Barton, Managing EditorOctober 21, 2014 As most of you might have
heard, our library has recently been home to some exciting events. Rancho Pico
recently participated in the celebration of Teen Read Week. Teen Read week is a
nationwide initiation that encourages kids to read. It allows teens to
acknowledge their personal agency to decide what they want to read, and
highlights how important it is to do so. Rancho Pico engaged in this event by
opening up its library to the pupils at this school. Mrs. Mellinger allowed
only the first one hundred students to come in and participate. On October 17,
literary enthusiasts gathered in the library to eat their lunch, a special
occasion for our library. Dessert (a cookie), and a special treat were handed
out to each of the students who came. While there, they indulged in watching a
captivating film, “Hotel Transylvania.” As students were exiting the venue,
they were given a small gift bag to thank them for taking part in the event. It
was a lot of fun! Be sure to make it to this event next year! Discovery Movie NightBy Gabrielle Fullerand Allison AlbenOctober 16, 2014
On Wednesday, October 15 Team Discovery had its first
feature of Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American horror
comedy film. The movie is set in Salem, Massachusetts, and is about a young boy
who doesn’t believe in Halloween, but he changes his mind completely when he
accidently reincarnates a trio of evil witches who try to suck the life from
all the children in Salem. He sets out on a Halloween adventure with his
younger sister and the girl of his dreams to try to stop the witches. 
The movie took place in Ms. Slayback and Ms.
Terry’s conjoined classroom, with plenty of room for all the students to relax
and watch the movie. During the movie, team Discovery enjoyed many treats
including popcorn, candy, and much more. We asked one of the students,
Mackenzie Perez, what she thought about the movie, and she said “I was
really excited about the movie! My favorite part was when the witches are
flying away from the house with the main character’s sister. The idea of the
movie night itself was great, because it was a great time for kids of Team
Discovery to socialize.” Overall, the Discovery students seemed to have a great
time eating tons of candy, watching the movie, and spending time with their
peers.Mrs. Terry’s Wand War
Jocelyn Wells, News Reporter Allison Alben, News
Reporter October 8, 2014
Attention Hogwarts residents, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be
having its first match on Halloween. Competing for Gryffindor will be Ms.
Terry, against her brother, a Slytherin student. Come Halloween Ms. Terry will
be seen in Gryffindor robes prepared for battle against her brother. Their
wands are polished and ready for the dual that will be viewed and refereed by
Discovery students. Ms. Terry has made it well known to her students that she
loves the Harry Potter series. When asked why Ms. Terry loves Harry
Potter so much, she responded, “I like it because I grew up reading it. I
started reading the books when I was eleven, so it has been a constant part of
my life. I want to pass that on to my students, and I want to pass it on to my
kids, when I eventually have them. I think it is a really great story with a
lot of great lessons.” Painless Fundraiser
Ryan Ilan, News ReporterRyan Factora, News
ReporterSeptember 30, 2014Thanks to the generous
donations from Rancho Pico families, Rancho Pico’s Painless
Donation Drive was a huge success! The Painless Donation Drive was a great way
to raise money for the school. This special event was different than most
fundraisers. Unlike other fundraisers, the Painless Donation Drive was “painless”
because families simply donated money for the school, and none of the money
went to third-party companies. This event raised a lot of money for the school
to use, and for the students to have a great year. The donations will help pay
for many events such as field trips, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, and other
extracurricular events.
Our goal was to hit
$15,000 and we surpassed it. We hit $24,000! To reward the students for
exceeding our goal, everyone at Rancho Pico enjoyed an extended brunch. At advisory,
right after RPTV announcements, students were dismissed early to brunch, which
resulted in about 15 extra minutes of brunch. Jeemin Jung, a seventh grader,
loved the extra brunch: “I actually liked the extra brunch time, because it
gave us more time to relax and the schedule was not very rushed.”
The school thanks the students and their families for their generous
contributions. It was a great help and it will help fund many future events.Back to School Bash
Danielle Ryan, New
ReporterKelsey Choe, News
ReporterSeptember 16, 2014
On September 12, ASB
welcomed all students back to school by hosting the annual Back to School Bash.
After the last bell of the day, students lined up off campus. As they piled
into the school for the Santa Monica Pier themed dance, they dropped off their
backpacks in the locker rooms so that they wouldn’t have to carry their
belongings for the eventful night.The dance began at
3:30pm and students eagerly rushed in, prepared for a whole night of fun, including
airbrushed tattoos, human foosball, water tag, carnival games, a D.J., airbrush
tattoos and a lot of dancing.
A student tests his strength against the Hammer Game. “It was really nice, I liked how they continued the human foosball and the water tag. It’s nice how they added a lot of new things compared to last year,” says 8th-grader Arianna Werner.
Students having fun while playing a cool game of water tag. Students also
enjoyed munching on Italian shaved ice, Domino’s Pizza and tacos that were
available for purchase to everyone who attended this year’s bash.
“This is
really fun! I’m enjoying myself and I really like tacos!” said 7th-grader
Olivia West.Over 500 kids
showed up at the Back to School Bash and ASB earned lots of funds for future
activities and dances.After students
enjoyed all the activities at the bash, they retrieved their backpacks and left
campus with smiling faces and great memories. Mustangs will never forget this
eventful dance and how much fun we had.Eco Art ClassAllison Alben, News ReporterRyan Factora, New ReporterRyan Ilan, News ReporterSeptember 15, 2014
Our world today is trying very hard to make the environment
cleaner and better for our planet. That is why Ms. Gaines started the
Eco-Art elective. This elective is an art program that teaches kids to love art
and the environment. Ms. Gaines says,”I think it is important to educate
children about taking care of the Earth and I love to do art. Everything we use
is made of either trash or recyclables to make something new and exciting.” In
this elective students collect and use different types of scraps they find
around their school and neighborhood, such as egg shells, old shirts, and
cardboard. Mrs. Gaines adds, “I like all materials as long as I'm saving them
from a landfill. Many projects in the Eco-Art elective are very creative
and fun. We make mosaics, and, currently, we are in the process of making beads
out of recycled paper. [Also,] we are also going to make magazine bowls, as
well as carnival out of paper boxes.”All the students in Mrs. Gaines class are very creative and
enthusiastic about doing these innovative art projects, and they all love Mrs.
Gaines. Symphony Walter-Eze, a 7th grade Explorers student, says,”My favorite
project is this paper shell project that we have done. Mrs. Gaines is so nice,
helpful, and funny.”
A rainbow rug of colorful T-shirts
The Eco-Art
elective is a very fun and meaningful class that shows kids the beauty in
everything. “I would like students to know that there is so much they can do to
take care of the earth -- every small step counts, and they can have fun while doing it,” says Mrs. Gaines. Back to School
NightEllie Barton,
Senior Editor Kelsey Choe,
EditorSeptember 5, 2014
Teachers and parents were very excited for this year’s Back to School Night on
September 2, 2014. The parents met the teachers, saw student work on display in
classrooms, and learned about this year’s curriculum. 7th grade parent
Mrs. Kuz explains, “I think Back to School Night is important because it gives
the parents an opportunity to see what their kids go through everyday. I also
think it opens up communication between teachers and parents, which I think is
the best way for their kids to have success.” By the end of the evening Mrs.
Kuz reveals that she was excited to meet the teachers and “walk through [her]
daughter’s daily routine.” She states, “I have a better understanding for the
day at the school. I thought the campus was very easy to navigate and I liked
how the eighth graders and seventh graders were separate. The campus is very
clean and orderly.”Teachers and
parents met on this day to review how they can work together to ensure the
success of the students and establish a strong connection of
communication, collaboration, and teamwork. “Back to School Night is important
because its goals are similar to a ‘huddle’ for a football team. You want to
communicate the goal or ‘play’ before you snap the ball to start the game.
Educating students requires teamwork and a partnership between parents,
teachers, and students. Back to School Night is a time for the teachers and
parents to communicate the ways to share these goals and ensure a successful
year for the students,” explains Mrs. Kim. Though their time is limited,
teachers value the opportunity to create an open dialogue and communicate with
parents because it helps establish a stronger learning foundation for students.
In order to ensure students reach their full potential, a strong connection
between parents and teachers must be established early and maintained
throughout the school year. Mrs. Kim explains
her objective for the evening: “I want to give parents a clear understanding of
the changes in the math curriculum and its rigorous aspects, while striking
down the misinformation about the Common Core State Standards that is being fed
to the public by the media and uninformed, biased groups.” After her
presentation, Mrs. Kim adss, “Parents were impressed by how challenging the new
standards are and how such a rigorous curriculum will challenge the students to
be better prepared for advanced math courses and other advanced subjects such
as chemistry and physics in high school and beyond.” Mrs. Terry
explains, “I hope to accomplish an open line of communication at Back to School
Night and let the parents know that I am here for them and their child’s
success and to help them build a brighter future. I think this event will help
me as a teacher because it’s going to help me better understand the background
of my students and I also think that it will help when parents offer
suggestions of how to make improvements, specifically with their child. It will
really help me get to know my students better.”
Engaged parents listen to Mr. Richie as he reviews his classroom procedures. By the end of the evening both teachers and parents were very
pleased with their experience and excited about the school year. “I loved
meeting the teachers and I thought they were very excited about the new year
and very energetic. They also have a very good outlook on teaching seventh
grade,” explains Mrs. Kuz. Teachers were also very enthusiastic about meeting
their students’ parents. Ms. Terry reflects on the night and says, “Back to
School Night was a huge success and I was thrilled to meet all the parents, and
I can’t wait to continue watching their kids grow.” Overall, Back to
School Night was a huge success, in which parents were able to meet their child’s
teachers’ and understand what is in store for their child this school
year and beyond.
Mrs. Levy-Holm’s Art SketchbookEllie Barton, Managing EditorAnya Shah, News ReporterJocelyn Wells, News
ReporterDanielle Ryan, News
ReporterSeptember 30, 2014
Have you ever sewn
before? How about used a hammer? You might ask, what do the two have in common?
Art students in Mrs. Levy-Holm’s art elective class had the chance to employ
both of these tools to make art sketch books. The sketchbooks that her students
are creating involve many diverse techniques and materials that no “ordinary
elective” would require - and that is because this is no ordinary elective.
Students were very
detailed oriented and thorough in their process. Students began the projects by
folding paper and inserting the binding tab. Next, the students used nails and
real hammers to pound in holes for the string. Many of the students
agreed in saying that it was scary using the hammers for the first time.
Mrs. Levy-Holm is especially fond of the next step in the process, which
was sewing - one of Mrs. Levy-Holm’s many talents and interests. She even
shared a childhood memory of sewing her own dresses when she was merely a
seventh-grader in order to stress the importance of knowing how to sew. The
students sewed the binding together, therefore, creating a book. The
students completed the project by gluing cereal boxes onto the sketch book
binding and applying unique designs to the cereal boxes. The amazing, artistic
pursuits of this class don’t stop with over-the-top sketch books. The elective
also practices other skills and activities. Art student, Allison Kim says, “She
provides a prompt and we doodle off that prompt.” Their main objectives are
always directed towards learning the elements of art such as color, form, and
shape, which is especially useful if you have a desire to pursue the subject as
a career.
“My favorite part of art is probably having Mrs. Levy-Holm as a teacher,” says
Ariana Ford. It’s only fitting that such an amazing teacher could come up with
such a fun and engaging project.
New ASB OfficersEllie
Barton, Managing Editor Danielle Ryan, News
ReporterSeptember 3, 2014
The new ASB officers are
in place for this year, and for the first time in years, the voting system has
been changed. The candidates no longer try out for a specific position, but
instead choose their position depending on how many votes they received. So,
the person with the most votes will get first pick and so on.
Towards the end of
August, ASB students appeared on RPTV and broadcasted live speeches telling all
of Rancho Pico, why they should vote for them to be in the executive council.
After the speeches were given by the 8 candidates, students anxiously cast their
top four votes for who they felt were best fit to represent our school. The
results: Abby Walters for treasurer, Grace Waterman is the new secretary,
Sophia Kriegel is the vice president, and David Salven is the ASB president for
this year. These four students are on their way to lead Rancho Pico into a fun,
successful school year.
The new ASB Executive Council“I am very excited.
Everyone’s voice will be heard through ASB and it’s going to be a great year!
Thank you for voting for me,” says ASB president, David Salven.“I am excited to be vice
president because I want to make school a more fun and enjoyable place to come
to and I want to make sure everyone’s seventh and eighth grade year is as
special as can be,” says Sophia Kriegel, the new vice president.“I’m happy to have a
leadership position in ASB, so that everyone can look up to me, and help
develop everyone and myself,” say secretary, Grace Waterman.“I’m very excited to
make this year successful. Whether it is your first or last year at Rancho
Pico, I want to make it a success,” says Abby Walters, the new treasurer.Representing your school
takes a lot of courage and hard work, which these students are committed to
doing.“The student body picked
great candidates. All eight candidates were really good, they are all very
organized and friendly, and they have a good grasp of ASB from being in here
last year, so I know they are going to do a great job this year.Congratulations to the new ASB executive council! We wish the best to our new
officers as they assume the command of their roles.Mrs. Jones and the ALS Ice Bucket ChallengeNicole Park, Executive
Editor Ellie Barton, Managing
EditorSeptember 25, 2014
All over the country, people of all ages have been pouring buckets filled with
ice water on themselves to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s
Disease. The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing
the brain to shut down. It can also lead to loss of muscle control
and, eventually, death.To raise money and spread the word about this terrible disease, people
began challenging their friends and family to drench themselves in buckets of
ice water, widely known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you are nominated
and don’t complete the challenge within twenty-four hours, you are supposed
to donate one hundred dollars to the disease. Many people go the
extra mile and make a donation to the ALS Association in addition to
enduring the freezing water. On August 19, 2014,
our own principal, Mrs. Jones, accepted the challenge.Dr. Nielsen, the principal at Hart High School, nominated Mrs. Jones, and she
passed along the challenge to Mr. Crawford, West Ranch principal, Mr. Ferry,
Rio Norte principal, and Mr. Powell, former Rancho Pico assistant principal who
is now at Valencia High School. “Completing the Ice Bucket Challenge was cold, wet, and refreshing. It actually
wasn’t too bad because the two kids pouring it on me did it quickly,” said Mrs.
Jones. “There had been some controversy about the challenge wasting water, but
I believe that this is a tangible way to build awareness for ALS. This was also
a great example for the students to show that no matter how old you are, it’s
never too late or too early to give back.” Mrs Jones also made a monetary
donation to the ALS Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation. Although, at the moment, the water may be cold and a bit miserable, each time a
bucket is dumped, more people become aware of the disease, and the closer we
become to finding a cure.
Mrs. Jones endures the cold for a good cause. New Vice Principal
Anya Shah, News ReporterEllie Barton, Senior
EditorAugust 30, 2014
Have you noticed a new face in the vice principal’s office? Benjamin Wobrock is
this year’s new assistant principal, and he is looking forward to a great year
here at Rancho Pico. Mr. Wobrock explains his interest in the position:
“I have wanted to become vice principal for a few years now, mainly because I
loved being in the classroom. However, I wanted to have a greater impact on an
entire school, instead of just effecting one classroom,” says Mr. Wobrock. With
such high standards proposed by the school, Mr. Wobrock has set high
expectations for himself, as well. “ My goal is to really get to know Rancho
Pico and its students, and also keep everything going as well as it has been
and, hopefully, even better.” We have high hopes for Mr. Wobrock and are
excited to see what he has in store for our school!
Our new assistant principal, Mr. Wobrock.
New StaffNicole Park, Executive
EditorRyan Factora, News
ReporterAllison Alben, News
ReporterAugust 30, 2014
Have you seen any new
faces around campus? In fact, there have been many changes to the Rancho Pico
administration including new teachers. Ms. Terry, Mrs. Chaddick, Ms. Taylor,
Mr. Monfared and Ms. Albrecht, and Mrs. Koskie are all new additions to the Rancho
Pico teaching staff, and Mrs. Clevenger is a new counselor.
Ms. Albrecht, who has
taught at Math Support, California State University of Northridge (CSUN), and
West Ranch, is now teaching English, History, Math, and Science for the SC7
Asperger’s program on team Discovery. “I absolutely love working at Rancho Pico
and am honored to be here. My students are amazing and the staff is beyond
supportive!” says Ms. Albrecht.
Ms. AlbrechtThe new History teacher on Team Discovery, Ms.
Terry, student-taught and coached softball at Canyon High School. “I couldn't
be happier at Rancho Pico and with Team Discovery. The Discovery Team teachers,
Ms. Slayback and Mrs. Carey, as well as Mrs. Foster, have been extremely
supportive and welcoming. It's a great team to be on! Go Discovery and Go
Mustangs!” says Ms. Terry.
Ms. TerryMs. Taylor, who is now teaching on Team Infinity
and Discovery, previously taught 12th,
10th, and 7th grade English. “I love working at Rancho Pico. All of the other
teachers have been so welcoming. I also have awesome students. They make me
excited to come to school each day,” says Ms. Taylor.
Ms. TaylorMrs. Chaddick, who was a 7th grade History teacher
at Arroyo Seco, is now the current Infinity History teacher. “I am loving
teaching at Rancho Pico! The students, teachers and staff are super awesome
here and a joy to work with. And team Infinity rocks!” says Mrs. Chaddick.
Mrs. Chaddick Another new teacher, Mrs. Koskie, previously
worked in fashion marketing as a brand manager before pursuing her teaching
credential. Before coming to Rancho Pico, she taught 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
English in the District. Mrs. Koskie teaches English on Team Infinity and is
the new advisor for Hoofbeats. “I love it here! I feel so fortunate to be
surrounded by so many collaborative and supportive teachers. My students are
amazing! They are so talented, creative, and they inspire me everyday,”
says Mrs. Koskie.
Mrs. Koskie
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Mr. Monfared
In addition to these teachers, the 7th graders
have a new counselor, Mrs. Clevenger. “ I am absolutely loving working here at
Rancho Pico! The students and staff are so great and everyone has made me feel
right at home!” says Mrs. Clevenger.
These teachers are now part of the loving Rancho
Pico family and we want to wish them a warm welcome and a successful school
year!
New Schedule
Nicole Park, Executive Editor
Anya Shah, News Reporter
August 30, 2014
A, B, C is no longer as easy as 1,2,3. Because there are no longer anymore early release Thursdays like last year (when students were released from school at 2:00pm every Thursday), and more minimum days are being added to the schedule. With this new addition comes a new schedule for these days: A and B days.When it is a minimum day, school ends at
12:10pm, so all the classes will be shorter. Instead of cutting into those teachers’ classes, certain minimum days will only have two periods or “A days.” The following or previous day, which will be a full school day, will have four periods, a “B day,” to balance out the classes. Although this gives teachers more time in their classes than they would normally have on minimum days, students are not very pleased with this new change.12:10pm, so all the classes will be shorter. Instead of cutting into those teachers’ classes, certain minimum days will only have two periods or “A days.” The following or previous day, which will be a full school day, will have four periods, a “B day,” to balance out the classes. Although this gives teachers more time in their classes than they would normally have on minimum days, students are not very pleased with this new change.
"I don’t really like this new A and B schedule
and I think it’s pretty confusing,” says 8th grader, Lauren Bensmiller. Seventh
grader, Jenee Anekwe, agrees, “Why can’t we just have the Early Release
Thursdays like last year? In elementary school, we had minimum days on Fridays
and the whole school liked it.”
At the end of the year, we will still have had just as many hours of school as the previous years.
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Nicole Park, Executive Editor
Anya Shah, News Reporter
August 30, 2014
At the end of the year, we will still have had just as many hours of school as the previous years.
Nicole Park, Executive News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorDanielle Ryan, News Editor
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA, there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day, where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as they do this year, so they thought that it would be a fun and beneficial way to let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun games, activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an interest in their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs and interests of students all over our campus.“Club Day went really well because it seemed like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time. It was nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss Monteleone, ASB adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day, as well.“In the end, it is really cool to see all of the different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day.
Students show their creativity through annual costume contestNicole Park, Executive News EditorAllison Alben, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorSuperheros and kitty cats and fairies, oh my! On Oct. 31, Halloween, students were allowed to come to school in their costumes. Many students took the opportunity to dress up in a variety of costumes, including morphsuits, Rancho Pico teachers, famous movie characters, and more. During lunch, ASB hosted their annual costume contest with almost 50 students in each category. The categories were: Cutest, Funniest, TV and Movies, Most Creative, Staff, and Best Overall. All were welcome to compete in each category, but only finalists could compete in Best Overall.And the winners were:Cutest: Funniest: TV and Movie: Most Creative: Roxy Glicman Ellie Park Alex Crespo Cade CosticEthan Yu Brooke Fennenbock India BramhallKenna Miller Garett Christofferson Zack Drake Spencer Birchall Best Overall: Ethan YuAfter the students, it was the amazing staff’s time to face-off. The winner was chosen based on applause from the students. The winner was Ms. Van Lohn who was avatar Korra. Students and staff alike enjoyed looking at the creative costumes.“The contest was really fun! It was cool to see all the creativity in the costumes and what they came up with and the teachers had a great time judging,” said Ms. Monteleone, the ASB director.In the end, it was another great Halloween at Rancho Pico, thanks to ASB and all of the teachers who contributed to making this day fun. JPL CJSF Field tripNicole Park, Executive News editorHow do we know that life could exist on other planets? On Dec. 2, 2014, fifty 8th grade CJSF students took a trip to Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to learn about robotic exploration of space and all of the work and knowledge that goes into it. JPL has previously created rovers to explore Mars and other planets, looking for forms of life, and they are currently working on one right now.JPL employees gave students a tour of the grounds. They visited the assembly facility and got to see a test vehicle that was still in progress. They were also fortunate enough to see the life-sized model of a rover named Curiosity, which weighed almost a ton (2,000 lbs.) and contained 17 cameras and was the first of its kind.“My favorite part of the trip was visiting the space flight operations center, where satellites were used to communicate with the rovers. It was really cool!” said Katie Jurkowski, CJSF president.This section of JPL was filled with screens displaying all of the information coming in from the different satellites around the world. Students also visited a small museum about the planets and some rovers. This CJSF field trip was a great experience for anyone interested in going into the field.“The purpose of this field trip was to take some of our honor students to a laboratory where they could be inspired to, maybe, become engineers, rocket scientists, robotics experts. And to be able to talk to these people, it’s a wonderful experience,” said Mrs. Goldberg, one of the chaperones of this trip.These CJSF students got to experience the building and discovering process that happens at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And there are many more discoveries to be made.ASB holds annual Mix-it-up DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorJocelyn Wells, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing Editor Meet someone new! Find something you have in common with them! This is exactly what students were encouraged to do on Oct. 28, Mix-it-up Day. This national campaign was created over a decade ago to challenge students to step out of their comfort zones and cross social boundaries. Small slips of paper were passed out and students filled out their name, the name of a new person they met, and something the two of them had in common. When they turned them in to ASB, the cards were put on a big mural and the students were awarded with candy.“I think Mix-it-up Day was great! Everyone got to have fun and our mural looks awesome!” says 8th grader, Abby Walters.Studies have also shown that these interactions can reduce prejudice, biases and misperceptions and is also a good way to meet different people. Rancho Pico has been participating in Mix-it-up Day for a few years. “Mix-it-up Day went very well and we got a lot of participants. It can be hard to get students to step out of their boxes, but today they were trying to meet someone new and find something they had in common with them,” says Ms. Monteleone.Mix-it-up day helped students to step out of their comfort zone and meet new friends, a great skill to have in the future.
Students learn about drug awareness during Red Ribbon WeekEllie Barton, Managing EditorNicole Park, Executive News EditorDid you know that thousands of teens die from drug usage every year? In an attempt to end this, schools across the nation have dedicated a week to informing students about how drugs can ruin your life.Our school did this through creative and fun games, activities, and spirit days. Students were encouraged to show that they were drug free by wearing red and dressing along with certain themes on different days of the week, for example “ saying no to drugs is no sweat.” On this day, students wore sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweat bands, etc.Miss Monteleone was very pleased with the end result of Red Ribbon Week,“It is important for middle school students to be aware of the bad things that come from doing drugs and to make that pledge to stay drug free.”Students also had a positive reaction to Red Ribbon Week and the lesson it teaches.“It was really cool, it taught me more on why drugs are bad for you,” says 8th grade student, Eric Garcia.Red Ribbon Week teaches students all around that drugs will never be worth it. ASB found fun ways to show students that a drug free life will always be a better life.Fall Concert Anya Shah, News ReporterRyan Factora, News Reporter
Are you a music lover? Do you enjoy Halloween? Well, the fall concert for advanced band and orchestra brought both of these together on October 30 in the MPR at Rancho Pico. After practicing long and hard for the first few months of school, the advanced students were prepared for their performance.However, this concert is special in its own way, the first of its kind. Mrs. Stoffel, Rancho Pico’s prestigious music teacher, is very excited for this concert. “This is the first fall concert we have done and it became clear last year that the advanced students were ready to play much earlier than the December concert.”At this memorable concert, students were allowed to wear their halloween costumes as opposed to the formal, dressy clothes they would usually wear to a concert. Mrs.Stoffel herself even dressed up as Professor Dumbledore from the beloved Harry Potter series. This Halloween-themed concert featured some interesting yet spooky tunes that sent shivers down every spine. One song that was be performed by the band was “The Curse of Tutankhamun,” and one song that the orchestra performed was “Grim Grinning Ghosts”, the theme from the famous Disneyland ride “The Haunted Mansion”. The advanced orchestra even performed a song that featured our own principal Mrs. Jones. They played the song, “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space”. During the most scary and intense parts of the song, Mrs. Jones would shriek and scream. Many of the students that played at the concert loved the songs and the concert itself. Advanced orchestra student, Alyssa Truong, plays the violin. “My favorite song was the Pirates of the Caribbean.” Another student, Minjoon Kang, also plays the violin. “I liked how everyone was so musically talented and they played their hearts out today.” Advanced band student, April Kim, plays the clarinet, and particularly enjoyed one Halloween feature. “I liked seeing everyone’s costumes at the concert!”CJSF CeremonyAllison Alben, News ReporterKelsey Choe, News Reporter Honors society, also known as California Junior Scholarship Federation or CJSF, is a program for the 8th grade students who show leadership, scholarship, and citizenship . On November 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm, students, parents, and staff met in the gym to participate in the CJSF ceremony. This event was held at 7:00 P.M. in the gym on November 6, 2014. The event began with the introduction, flag salute, and the candle lighting ceremony. Each of the six candles represented an important quality that each of the CJSF members have. The white candle, representing Knowledge, was lit by Vince Buyco, followed by the gold candle, representing scholarship, which was lit by Mazen Hussein. Camryn Edwards lit the next red candle, meaning service. The blue candle, which represented character, was lit by Ethan Brooks. The green candle was lit by Janny Oh for citizenship, and the final purple candle,for leadership, was lit by Ryan Samadi.After the candle lighting ceremony, the CJSF officers Labiba Syeed, treasurer, Arianna Werner, secretary, Isabelle Crume, vice president, and Katie Jurkowski, president gave their speeches. After the recognition of the Honor Society members, Mrs. Goldberg and Ms. Jones gave the closing speech. The ceremony ended with a gathering in the MPR where everyone snacked on cookies and brownies.“Being a CJSF student means they are givers to their community. They are honor students in the sense they complete all of their class work and the way that they honor their families and their communities. We honor them because they help make Santa Clarita a much better place.” said Mrs.Goldberg, a devoted teacher from CJSF.Many of the adults gave their praise to the hardworking students.“These students have distinguished themselves as scholars, and the faculty salutes these dedicated students who have displayed diligence in pursuit of their academic excellence.” said our principal Ms. Jones. ”CJSF is a great experience for all students. To become a member, it takes a lot of hard work and devotion. You need to earn good grades and you must have at least ten community service hours. In the end, everything is worth the work to be recognized as a member by CJSF.” said Arianna Werner, CJSF Secretary.Students also show their pride for CJSF through their actions.“I love the fact that everyone gets to be acknowledged for all the hard work and dedication they have displayed throughout the year.” said CJSF president Katie Jurkowski. The recognition that the students receive encourages these scholars to continue at excelling and doing their best.
Club DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorDanielle Ryan, News Editor
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA, there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day, where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as they do this year, so they thought that that it would be a fun and beneficial way to let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun games, activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an interest in their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs and interests of students all over our campus.“ Club Day went really well because it seemed like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time. It was nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss Monteleone, ASB adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day, as well.“ In the end, it is really cool to see all of the different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day. Teacher SpotlightBrooke Fenenbock, Features writerGabrielle Fuller, Features writerMrs. Pearsall is a seventh grade English teacher on Explorers. She has taught for twenty years, three of which are at Rancho Pico. This well-known teacher grew up in Tarzana, California near the San Fernando Valley. She attended school at Taft High School and Cal State Northridge. She also took some classes at UCLA. She earned a degree in Health administration and two masters degrees in English education. Mrs. Pearsall became a teacher because she enjoyed spending time doing homework and projects with her kids and figured that if she became a teacher, she would be able to do that all day. She would also get more quality time with her kids during their breaks. Plus, she has always,“ loved literature and English.”Mrs. Pearsall is an animal and family-oriented person. She has four kids named Chelsea, Alex, Malik, and Jibreel. She has five pets; three cats named Cambria, Milo, and Skrink and two dogs, Macy and Mordecai. On her leisure time, her hobbies include gardening and traveling. She’s also involved with animal rescue and believes every living thing deserves a chance.Some intriguing things you might not have known about her are: her favorite holiday is Christmas, her favorite sports team is the Seattle Seahawks, and her first job was at Pioneer Chicken. Her favorite foods include hot wings and strawberry cheesecake. Mrs. Pearsall’s biggest pet peeves are gossip and animals being treated unfairly. If she could have one superpower, it would be to wiggle her nose, and have her house clean itself. More fun facts about her are her favorite sport to play is tennis, her favorite type of music is country, and her birthday.P.E. Costume ContestTali Skabelund, Sports EditorNovember 7, 2014This year, Halloween fell on an even period
day. Students who had physical education on that day were able to participate
in a costume contest. After delivering their belongings to their lockers,
students gathered outside in costume. Peers met together and went for a walk
around the basketball courts to start off their class. When they were finished
they were herded into the gym to sit on the bleachers. The teachers had picked
out five categories: cute, scary, funny, creative, and overall. People dressed
in costume went down during the category that they thought best fit their
costume description. Judging by crowd applause, the teachers eliminated people
until the winner was the last one standing. All winners won a free run pass
that they can use later on in the year .Discovery DayCharlie Morici Sports ReporterZachary Van Bennekum Sports ReporterOctober 10, 2014During Discovery Day, Discovery’s advisories gathered to
participate in interactive activities. This competition included six people in
each advisory that went against each other in a relay on dollies. Participants
pushed their teammates to the other end of the gym and back. The first team to
finish won. “Many of the kids loved it, they thought it was fun,” said
Ms. Foster.The important part of Discovery Day is to bring the entire
team together for unity. One of the organizers always try to think of a new
game for each quarter (which is the time they hold each Discovery day). One of
the organizers, Mrs. Foster, told us that Discovery Day is an important part of
team Discovery.“Discovery team events bring everyone together and bring
team spirit,” stated Ms. Foster.Discovery kids always look forward to these exciting events.
These events were started because of the heritage of team activities at the
school. It also gave teachers the ability to better get to know their
students and their assets, plus the chance to get to meet their parents.“Team events such as Discovery Day build relationships among
students and make students feel like they're truly part of a team,” explained
Mrs. Carey.These events are planned by your team teachers who will
pitch in to ensure that you will enjoy your event. Discovery Day is just one of
the many team building activities students will have during this year.News: One Big Happy Family for the FutureDanielle Ryan, News ReporterChristian Sims, News ReporterTying the knot is a huge deal for many people. Our beloved
7th grade science teacher, Ms.Balmonte, has recently gotten married on Aug. 23,
2014. For most of our 8th graders, it may be a little tough to refer to her as
Mrs. Makovsky, but she said is still alright to address her by Ms.Balmonte.
Even though Mrs. Makovsky has opened a new chapter in her life, she still plans
on teaching science at Rancho Pico, because this is where her home is, and she
enjoys working with students and informing them about science.Mrs. Makovsky has been with her husband for one and a half
years before the proposal. He proposed to her on a private helipad and the
wedding was held in Blaine, Minnesota. The reception took place at Lord
Fletcher's restaurant at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Makovsky now plan to travel to Spain, Greece,
or Switzerland for a honeymoon to kick off their marriage and come together as
family.During an interview, Mrs.Makovsky stated,”There is not a
huge change after being married, but I guess that’s a good thing because it
just feels really natural.” Hoofbeats and all Rancho Pico students sincerely
wish the best of luck and a happy, healthy relationship for the future.Teen Read WeekJocelyn Wells, News ReporterTali Skabelund, Sports ReporterEllie Barton, Managing EditorOctober 21, 2014 As most of you might have
heard, our library has recently been home to some exciting events. Rancho Pico
recently participated in the celebration of Teen Read Week. Teen Read week is a
nationwide initiation that encourages kids to read. It allows teens to
acknowledge their personal agency to decide what they want to read, and
highlights how important it is to do so. Rancho Pico engaged in this event by
opening up its library to the pupils at this school. Mrs. Mellinger allowed
only the first one hundred students to come in and participate. On October 17,
literary enthusiasts gathered in the library to eat their lunch, a special
occasion for our library. Dessert (a cookie), and a special treat were handed
out to each of the students who came. While there, they indulged in watching a
captivating film, “Hotel Transylvania.” As students were exiting the venue,
they were given a small gift bag to thank them for taking part in the event. It
was a lot of fun! Be sure to make it to this event next year! Discovery Movie NightBy Gabrielle Fullerand Allison AlbenOctober 16, 2014
On Wednesday, October 15 Team Discovery had its first feature of Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American horror comedy film. The movie is set in Salem, Massachusetts, and is about a young boy who doesn’t believe in Halloween, but he changes his mind completely when he accidently reincarnates a trio of evil witches who try to suck the life from all the children in Salem. He sets out on a Halloween adventure with his younger sister and the girl of his dreams to try to stop the witches.The movie took place in Ms. Slayback and Ms.
Terry’s conjoined classroom, with plenty of room for all the students to relax
and watch the movie. During the movie, team Discovery enjoyed many treats
including popcorn, candy, and much more. We asked one of the students,
Mackenzie Perez, what she thought about the movie, and she said “I was
really excited about the movie! My favorite part was when the witches are
flying away from the house with the main character’s sister. The idea of the
movie night itself was great, because it was a great time for kids of Team
Discovery to socialize.” Overall, the Discovery students seemed to have a great
time eating tons of candy, watching the movie, and spending time with their
peers.Mrs. Terry’s Wand War
Jocelyn Wells, News Reporter Allison Alben, News
Reporter October 8, 2014
Attention Hogwarts residents, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be
having its first match on Halloween. Competing for Gryffindor will be Ms.
Terry, against her brother, a Slytherin student. Come Halloween Ms. Terry will
be seen in Gryffindor robes prepared for battle against her brother. Their
wands are polished and ready for the dual that will be viewed and refereed by
Discovery students. Ms. Terry has made it well known to her students that she
loves the Harry Potter series. When asked why Ms. Terry loves Harry
Potter so much, she responded, “I like it because I grew up reading it. I
started reading the books when I was eleven, so it has been a constant part of
my life. I want to pass that on to my students, and I want to pass it on to my
kids, when I eventually have them. I think it is a really great story with a
lot of great lessons.” Painless Fundraiser
Ryan Ilan, News ReporterRyan Factora, News
ReporterSeptember 30, 2014Thanks to the generous
donations from Rancho Pico families, Rancho Pico’s Painless
Donation Drive was a huge success! The Painless Donation Drive was a great way
to raise money for the school. This special event was different than most
fundraisers. Unlike other fundraisers, the Painless Donation Drive was “painless”
because families simply donated money for the school, and none of the money
went to third-party companies. This event raised a lot of money for the school
to use, and for the students to have a great year. The donations will help pay
for many events such as field trips, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, and other
extracurricular events.
Our goal was to hit $15,000 and we surpassed it. We hit $24,000! To reward the students for exceeding our goal, everyone at Rancho Pico enjoyed an extended brunch. At advisory, right after RPTV announcements, students were dismissed early to brunch, which resulted in about 15 extra minutes of brunch. Jeemin Jung, a seventh grader, loved the extra brunch: “I actually liked the extra brunch time, because it gave us more time to relax and the schedule was not very rushed.” The school thanks the students and their families for their generous contributions. It was a great help and it will help fund many future events.Back to School Bash Danielle Ryan, New ReporterKelsey Choe, News ReporterSeptember 16, 2014
On September 12, ASB welcomed all students back to school by hosting the annual Back to School Bash. After the last bell of the day, students lined up off campus. As they piled into the school for the Santa Monica Pier themed dance, they dropped off their backpacks in the locker rooms so that they wouldn’t have to carry their belongings for the eventful night.The dance began at 3:30pm and students eagerly rushed in, prepared for a whole night of fun, including airbrushed tattoos, human foosball, water tag, carnival games, a D.J., airbrush tattoos and a lot of dancing.
A student tests his strength against the Hammer Game. “It was really nice, I liked how they continued the human foosball and the water tag. It’s nice how they added a lot of new things compared to last year,” says 8th-grader Arianna Werner.
Students having fun while playing a cool game of water tag. Students also
enjoyed munching on Italian shaved ice, Domino’s Pizza and tacos that were
available for purchase to everyone who attended this year’s bash.
“This is really fun! I’m enjoying myself and I really like tacos!” said 7th-grader Olivia West.Over 500 kids showed up at the Back to School Bash and ASB earned lots of funds for future activities and dances.After students enjoyed all the activities at the bash, they retrieved their backpacks and left campus with smiling faces and great memories. Mustangs will never forget this eventful dance and how much fun we had.Eco Art ClassAllison Alben, News ReporterRyan Factora, New ReporterRyan Ilan, News ReporterSeptember 15, 2014
Our world today is trying very hard to make the environment cleaner and better for our planet. That is why Ms. Gaines started the Eco-Art elective. This elective is an art program that teaches kids to love art and the environment. Ms. Gaines says,”I think it is important to educate children about taking care of the Earth and I love to do art. Everything we use is made of either trash or recyclables to make something new and exciting.” In this elective students collect and use different types of scraps they find around their school and neighborhood, such as egg shells, old shirts, and cardboard. Mrs. Gaines adds, “I like all materials as long as I'm saving them from a landfill. Many projects in the Eco-Art elective are very creative and fun. We make mosaics, and, currently, we are in the process of making beads out of recycled paper. [Also,] we are also going to make magazine bowls, as well as carnival out of paper boxes.”All the students in Mrs. Gaines class are very creative and enthusiastic about doing these innovative art projects, and they all love Mrs. Gaines. Symphony Walter-Eze, a 7th grade Explorers student, says,”My favorite project is this paper shell project that we have done. Mrs. Gaines is so nice, helpful, and funny.”A rainbow rug of colorful T-shirts
The Eco-Art elective is a very fun and meaningful class that shows kids the beauty in everything. “I would like students to know that there is so much they can do to take care of the earth -- every small step counts, and they can have fun while doing it,” says Mrs. Gaines. Back to School NightEllie Barton, Senior Editor Kelsey Choe, EditorSeptember 5, 2014 Teachers and parents were very excited for this year’s Back to School Night on September 2, 2014. The parents met the teachers, saw student work on display in classrooms, and learned about this year’s curriculum. 7th grade parent Mrs. Kuz explains, “I think Back to School Night is important because it gives the parents an opportunity to see what their kids go through everyday. I also think it opens up communication between teachers and parents, which I think is the best way for their kids to have success.” By the end of the evening Mrs. Kuz reveals that she was excited to meet the teachers and “walk through [her] daughter’s daily routine.” She states, “I have a better understanding for the day at the school. I thought the campus was very easy to navigate and I liked how the eighth graders and seventh graders were separate. The campus is very clean and orderly.”Teachers and parents met on this day to review how they can work together to ensure the success of the students and establish a strong connection of communication, collaboration, and teamwork. “Back to School Night is important because its goals are similar to a ‘huddle’ for a football team. You want to communicate the goal or ‘play’ before you snap the ball to start the game. Educating students requires teamwork and a partnership between parents, teachers, and students. Back to School Night is a time for the teachers and parents to communicate the ways to share these goals and ensure a successful year for the students,” explains Mrs. Kim. Though their time is limited, teachers value the opportunity to create an open dialogue and communicate with parents because it helps establish a stronger learning foundation for students. In order to ensure students reach their full potential, a strong connection between parents and teachers must be established early and maintained throughout the school year. Mrs. Kim explains her objective for the evening: “I want to give parents a clear understanding of the changes in the math curriculum and its rigorous aspects, while striking down the misinformation about the Common Core State Standards that is being fed to the public by the media and uninformed, biased groups.” After her presentation, Mrs. Kim adss, “Parents were impressed by how challenging the new standards are and how such a rigorous curriculum will challenge the students to be better prepared for advanced math courses and other advanced subjects such as chemistry and physics in high school and beyond.” Mrs. Terry explains, “I hope to accomplish an open line of communication at Back to School Night and let the parents know that I am here for them and their child’s success and to help them build a brighter future. I think this event will help me as a teacher because it’s going to help me better understand the background of my students and I also think that it will help when parents offer suggestions of how to make improvements, specifically with their child. It will really help me get to know my students better.”
Engaged parents listen to Mr. Richie as he reviews his classroom procedures. By the end of the evening both teachers and parents were very
pleased with their experience and excited about the school year. “I loved
meeting the teachers and I thought they were very excited about the new year
and very energetic. They also have a very good outlook on teaching seventh
grade,” explains Mrs. Kuz. Teachers were also very enthusiastic about meeting
their students’ parents. Ms. Terry reflects on the night and says, “Back to
School Night was a huge success and I was thrilled to meet all the parents, and
I can’t wait to continue watching their kids grow.” Overall, Back to
School Night was a huge success, in which parents were able to meet their child’s
teachers’ and understand what is in store for their child this school
year and beyond.
Mrs. Levy-Holm’s Art SketchbookEllie Barton, Managing EditorAnya Shah, News ReporterJocelyn Wells, News ReporterDanielle Ryan, News ReporterSeptember 30, 2014
Have you ever sewn before? How about used a hammer? You might ask, what do the two have in common? Art students in Mrs. Levy-Holm’s art elective class had the chance to employ both of these tools to make art sketch books. The sketchbooks that her students are creating involve many diverse techniques and materials that no “ordinary elective” would require - and that is because this is no ordinary elective.
Students were very detailed oriented and thorough in their process. Students began the projects by folding paper and inserting the binding tab. Next, the students used nails and real hammers to pound in holes for the string. Many of the students agreed in saying that it was scary using the hammers for the first time. Mrs. Levy-Holm is especially fond of the next step in the process, which was sewing - one of Mrs. Levy-Holm’s many talents and interests. She even shared a childhood memory of sewing her own dresses when she was merely a seventh-grader in order to stress the importance of knowing how to sew. The students sewed the binding together, therefore, creating a book. The students completed the project by gluing cereal boxes onto the sketch book binding and applying unique designs to the cereal boxes. The amazing, artistic pursuits of this class don’t stop with over-the-top sketch books. The elective also practices other skills and activities. Art student, Allison Kim says, “She provides a prompt and we doodle off that prompt.” Their main objectives are always directed towards learning the elements of art such as color, form, and shape, which is especially useful if you have a desire to pursue the subject as a career. “My favorite part of art is probably having Mrs. Levy-Holm as a teacher,” says Ariana Ford. It’s only fitting that such an amazing teacher could come up with such a fun and engaging project.
New ASB OfficersEllie Barton, Managing Editor Danielle Ryan, News ReporterSeptember 3, 2014
The new ASB officers are in place for this year, and for the first time in years, the voting system has been changed. The candidates no longer try out for a specific position, but instead choose their position depending on how many votes they received. So, the person with the most votes will get first pick and so on.
Towards the end of August, ASB students appeared on RPTV and broadcasted live speeches telling all of Rancho Pico, why they should vote for them to be in the executive council. After the speeches were given by the 8 candidates, students anxiously cast their top four votes for who they felt were best fit to represent our school. The results: Abby Walters for treasurer, Grace Waterman is the new secretary, Sophia Kriegel is the vice president, and David Salven is the ASB president for this year. These four students are on their way to lead Rancho Pico into a fun, successful school year.
The new ASB Executive Council“I am very excited.
Everyone’s voice will be heard through ASB and it’s going to be a great year!
Thank you for voting for me,” says ASB president, David Salven.“I am excited to be vice
president because I want to make school a more fun and enjoyable place to come
to and I want to make sure everyone’s seventh and eighth grade year is as
special as can be,” says Sophia Kriegel, the new vice president.“I’m happy to have a
leadership position in ASB, so that everyone can look up to me, and help
develop everyone and myself,” say secretary, Grace Waterman.“I’m very excited to
make this year successful. Whether it is your first or last year at Rancho
Pico, I want to make it a success,” says Abby Walters, the new treasurer.Representing your school
takes a lot of courage and hard work, which these students are committed to
doing.“The student body picked
great candidates. All eight candidates were really good, they are all very
organized and friendly, and they have a good grasp of ASB from being in here
last year, so I know they are going to do a great job this year.Congratulations to the new ASB executive council! We wish the best to our new
officers as they assume the command of their roles.Mrs. Jones and the ALS Ice Bucket ChallengeNicole Park, Executive
Editor Ellie Barton, Managing
EditorSeptember 25, 2014
All over the country, people of all ages have been pouring buckets filled with ice water on themselves to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the brain to shut down. It can also lead to loss of muscle control and, eventually, death.To raise money and spread the word about this terrible disease, people began challenging their friends and family to drench themselves in buckets of ice water, widely known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you are nominated and don’t complete the challenge within twenty-four hours, you are supposed to donate one hundred dollars to the disease. Many people go the extra mile and make a donation to the ALS Association in addition to enduring the freezing water. On August 19, 2014, our own principal, Mrs. Jones, accepted the challenge.Dr. Nielsen, the principal at Hart High School, nominated Mrs. Jones, and she passed along the challenge to Mr. Crawford, West Ranch principal, Mr. Ferry, Rio Norte principal, and Mr. Powell, former Rancho Pico assistant principal who is now at Valencia High School. “Completing the Ice Bucket Challenge was cold, wet, and refreshing. It actually wasn’t too bad because the two kids pouring it on me did it quickly,” said Mrs. Jones. “There had been some controversy about the challenge wasting water, but I believe that this is a tangible way to build awareness for ALS. This was also a great example for the students to show that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late or too early to give back.” Mrs Jones also made a monetary donation to the ALS Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Although, at the moment, the water may be cold and a bit miserable, each time a bucket is dumped, more people become aware of the disease, and the closer we become to finding a cure.
Mrs. Jones endures the cold for a good cause. New Vice Principal
Anya Shah, News ReporterEllie Barton, Senior EditorAugust 30, 2014
Have you noticed a new face in the vice principal’s office? Benjamin Wobrock is this year’s new assistant principal, and he is looking forward to a great year here at Rancho Pico. Mr. Wobrock explains his interest in the position: “I have wanted to become vice principal for a few years now, mainly because I loved being in the classroom. However, I wanted to have a greater impact on an entire school, instead of just effecting one classroom,” says Mr. Wobrock. With such high standards proposed by the school, Mr. Wobrock has set high expectations for himself, as well. “ My goal is to really get to know Rancho Pico and its students, and also keep everything going as well as it has been and, hopefully, even better.” We have high hopes for Mr. Wobrock and are excited to see what he has in store for our school!Our new assistant principal, Mr. Wobrock.
New StaffNicole Park, Executive EditorRyan Factora, News ReporterAllison Alben, News ReporterAugust 30, 2014
Have you seen any new faces around campus? In fact, there have been many changes to the Rancho Pico administration including new teachers. Ms. Terry, Mrs. Chaddick, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Monfared and Ms. Albrecht, and Mrs. Koskie are all new additions to the Rancho Pico teaching staff, and Mrs. Clevenger is a new counselor.
Ms. Albrecht, who has taught at Math Support, California State University of Northridge (CSUN), and West Ranch, is now teaching English, History, Math, and Science for the SC7 Asperger’s program on team Discovery. “I absolutely love working at Rancho Pico and am honored to be here. My students are amazing and the staff is beyond supportive!” says Ms. Albrecht.
Ms. AlbrechtThe new History teacher on Team Discovery, Ms.
Terry, student-taught and coached softball at Canyon High School. “I couldn't
be happier at Rancho Pico and with Team Discovery. The Discovery Team teachers,
Ms. Slayback and Mrs. Carey, as well as Mrs. Foster, have been extremely
supportive and welcoming. It's a great team to be on! Go Discovery and Go
Mustangs!” says Ms. Terry.Ms. TerryMs. Taylor, who is now teaching on Team Infinity
and Discovery, previously taught 12th,
10th, and 7th grade English. “I love working at Rancho Pico. All of the other
teachers have been so welcoming. I also have awesome students. They make me
excited to come to school each day,” says Ms. Taylor.Ms. TaylorMrs. Chaddick, who was a 7th grade History teacher
at Arroyo Seco, is now the current Infinity History teacher. “I am loving
teaching at Rancho Pico! The students, teachers and staff are super awesome
here and a joy to work with. And team Infinity rocks!” says Mrs. Chaddick.Mrs. Chaddick Another new teacher, Mrs. Koskie, previously
worked in fashion marketing as a brand manager before pursuing her teaching
credential. Before coming to Rancho Pico, she taught 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
English in the District. Mrs. Koskie teaches English on Team Infinity and is
the new advisor for Hoofbeats. “I love it here! I feel so fortunate to be
surrounded by so many collaborative and supportive teachers. My students are
amazing! They are so talented, creative, and they inspire me everyday,”
says Mrs. Koskie.
Mrs. Koskie
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA, there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day, where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as they do this year, so they thought that it would be a fun and beneficial way to let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun games, activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an interest in their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs and interests of students all over our campus.“Club Day went really well because it seemed like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time. It was nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss Monteleone, ASB adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day, as well.“In the end, it is really cool to see all of the different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day.
Students show their creativity through annual costume contestNicole Park, Executive News EditorAllison Alben, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorSuperheros and kitty cats and fairies, oh my! On Oct. 31, Halloween, students were allowed to come to school in their costumes. Many students took the opportunity to dress up in a variety of costumes, including morphsuits, Rancho Pico teachers, famous movie characters, and more. During lunch, ASB hosted their annual costume contest with almost 50 students in each category. The categories were: Cutest, Funniest, TV and Movies, Most Creative, Staff, and Best Overall. All were welcome to compete in each category, but only finalists could compete in Best Overall.And the winners were:Cutest: Funniest: TV and Movie: Most Creative: Roxy Glicman Ellie Park Alex Crespo Cade CosticEthan Yu Brooke Fennenbock India BramhallKenna Miller Garett Christofferson Zack Drake Spencer Birchall Best Overall: Ethan YuAfter the students, it was the amazing staff’s time to face-off. The winner was chosen based on applause from the students. The winner was Ms. Van Lohn who was avatar Korra. Students and staff alike enjoyed looking at the creative costumes.“The contest was really fun! It was cool to see all the creativity in the costumes and what they came up with and the teachers had a great time judging,” said Ms. Monteleone, the ASB director.In the end, it was another great Halloween at Rancho Pico, thanks to ASB and all of the teachers who contributed to making this day fun. JPL CJSF Field tripNicole Park, Executive News editorHow do we know that life could exist on other planets? On Dec. 2, 2014, fifty 8th grade CJSF students took a trip to Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to learn about robotic exploration of space and all of the work and knowledge that goes into it. JPL has previously created rovers to explore Mars and other planets, looking for forms of life, and they are currently working on one right now.JPL employees gave students a tour of the grounds. They visited the assembly facility and got to see a test vehicle that was still in progress. They were also fortunate enough to see the life-sized model of a rover named Curiosity, which weighed almost a ton (2,000 lbs.) and contained 17 cameras and was the first of its kind.“My favorite part of the trip was visiting the space flight operations center, where satellites were used to communicate with the rovers. It was really cool!” said Katie Jurkowski, CJSF president.This section of JPL was filled with screens displaying all of the information coming in from the different satellites around the world. Students also visited a small museum about the planets and some rovers. This CJSF field trip was a great experience for anyone interested in going into the field.“The purpose of this field trip was to take some of our honor students to a laboratory where they could be inspired to, maybe, become engineers, rocket scientists, robotics experts. And to be able to talk to these people, it’s a wonderful experience,” said Mrs. Goldberg, one of the chaperones of this trip.These CJSF students got to experience the building and discovering process that happens at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And there are many more discoveries to be made.ASB holds annual Mix-it-up DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorJocelyn Wells, News EditorEllie Barton, Managing Editor Meet someone new! Find something you have in common with them! This is exactly what students were encouraged to do on Oct. 28, Mix-it-up Day. This national campaign was created over a decade ago to challenge students to step out of their comfort zones and cross social boundaries. Small slips of paper were passed out and students filled out their name, the name of a new person they met, and something the two of them had in common. When they turned them in to ASB, the cards were put on a big mural and the students were awarded with candy.“I think Mix-it-up Day was great! Everyone got to have fun and our mural looks awesome!” says 8th grader, Abby Walters.Studies have also shown that these interactions can reduce prejudice, biases and misperceptions and is also a good way to meet different people. Rancho Pico has been participating in Mix-it-up Day for a few years. “Mix-it-up Day went very well and we got a lot of participants. It can be hard to get students to step out of their boxes, but today they were trying to meet someone new and find something they had in common with them,” says Ms. Monteleone.Mix-it-up day helped students to step out of their comfort zone and meet new friends, a great skill to have in the future.
Students learn about drug awareness during Red Ribbon WeekEllie Barton, Managing EditorNicole Park, Executive News EditorDid you know that thousands of teens die from drug usage every year? In an attempt to end this, schools across the nation have dedicated a week to informing students about how drugs can ruin your life.Our school did this through creative and fun games, activities, and spirit days. Students were encouraged to show that they were drug free by wearing red and dressing along with certain themes on different days of the week, for example “ saying no to drugs is no sweat.” On this day, students wore sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweat bands, etc.Miss Monteleone was very pleased with the end result of Red Ribbon Week,“It is important for middle school students to be aware of the bad things that come from doing drugs and to make that pledge to stay drug free.”Students also had a positive reaction to Red Ribbon Week and the lesson it teaches.“It was really cool, it taught me more on why drugs are bad for you,” says 8th grade student, Eric Garcia.Red Ribbon Week teaches students all around that drugs will never be worth it. ASB found fun ways to show students that a drug free life will always be a better life.Fall Concert Anya Shah, News ReporterRyan Factora, News Reporter
Are you a music lover? Do you enjoy Halloween? Well, the fall concert for advanced band and orchestra brought both of these together on October 30 in the MPR at Rancho Pico. After practicing long and hard for the first few months of school, the advanced students were prepared for their performance.However, this concert is special in its own way, the first of its kind. Mrs. Stoffel, Rancho Pico’s prestigious music teacher, is very excited for this concert. “This is the first fall concert we have done and it became clear last year that the advanced students were ready to play much earlier than the December concert.”At this memorable concert, students were allowed to wear their halloween costumes as opposed to the formal, dressy clothes they would usually wear to a concert. Mrs.Stoffel herself even dressed up as Professor Dumbledore from the beloved Harry Potter series. This Halloween-themed concert featured some interesting yet spooky tunes that sent shivers down every spine. One song that was be performed by the band was “The Curse of Tutankhamun,” and one song that the orchestra performed was “Grim Grinning Ghosts”, the theme from the famous Disneyland ride “The Haunted Mansion”. The advanced orchestra even performed a song that featured our own principal Mrs. Jones. They played the song, “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space”. During the most scary and intense parts of the song, Mrs. Jones would shriek and scream. Many of the students that played at the concert loved the songs and the concert itself. Advanced orchestra student, Alyssa Truong, plays the violin. “My favorite song was the Pirates of the Caribbean.” Another student, Minjoon Kang, also plays the violin. “I liked how everyone was so musically talented and they played their hearts out today.” Advanced band student, April Kim, plays the clarinet, and particularly enjoyed one Halloween feature. “I liked seeing everyone’s costumes at the concert!”CJSF CeremonyAllison Alben, News ReporterKelsey Choe, News Reporter Honors society, also known as California Junior Scholarship Federation or CJSF, is a program for the 8th grade students who show leadership, scholarship, and citizenship . On November 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm, students, parents, and staff met in the gym to participate in the CJSF ceremony. This event was held at 7:00 P.M. in the gym on November 6, 2014. The event began with the introduction, flag salute, and the candle lighting ceremony. Each of the six candles represented an important quality that each of the CJSF members have. The white candle, representing Knowledge, was lit by Vince Buyco, followed by the gold candle, representing scholarship, which was lit by Mazen Hussein. Camryn Edwards lit the next red candle, meaning service. The blue candle, which represented character, was lit by Ethan Brooks. The green candle was lit by Janny Oh for citizenship, and the final purple candle,for leadership, was lit by Ryan Samadi.After the candle lighting ceremony, the CJSF officers Labiba Syeed, treasurer, Arianna Werner, secretary, Isabelle Crume, vice president, and Katie Jurkowski, president gave their speeches. After the recognition of the Honor Society members, Mrs. Goldberg and Ms. Jones gave the closing speech. The ceremony ended with a gathering in the MPR where everyone snacked on cookies and brownies.“Being a CJSF student means they are givers to their community. They are honor students in the sense they complete all of their class work and the way that they honor their families and their communities. We honor them because they help make Santa Clarita a much better place.” said Mrs.Goldberg, a devoted teacher from CJSF.Many of the adults gave their praise to the hardworking students.“These students have distinguished themselves as scholars, and the faculty salutes these dedicated students who have displayed diligence in pursuit of their academic excellence.” said our principal Ms. Jones. ”CJSF is a great experience for all students. To become a member, it takes a lot of hard work and devotion. You need to earn good grades and you must have at least ten community service hours. In the end, everything is worth the work to be recognized as a member by CJSF.” said Arianna Werner, CJSF Secretary.Students also show their pride for CJSF through their actions.“I love the fact that everyone gets to be acknowledged for all the hard work and dedication they have displayed throughout the year.” said CJSF president Katie Jurkowski. The recognition that the students receive encourages these scholars to continue at excelling and doing their best.
Club DayNicole Park, Executive News EditorEllie Barton, Managing EditorDanielle Ryan, News Editor
From guitar club to dance club, DFYIT to FBLA, there is something for everyone here at Rancho Pico. Oct. 28 was Club Day, where students had the opportunity to learn about all 20 of the different clubs going on at school. Each club had a table with information about their group and how to get involved for anyone that was interested.Rancho Pico has never had as many clubs as they do this year, so they thought that that it would be a fun and beneficial way to let everybody learn more about them. Some clubs provided fun games, activities, and even passed out candy to students that showed an interest in their club. This was an easy way to spread the word about the clubs and interests of students all over our campus.“ Club Day went really well because it seemed like a high school or college campus, where clubs do that all the time. It was nice to have something like this at our junior high,” said Miss Monteleone, ASB adviser.Students had a positive reaction to Club Day, as well.“ In the end, it is really cool to see all of the different clubs that we have on campus,” said 8th grader Ani Scholz.Club Day was a huge success. Students all over campus came together to support and check out all of the new clubs. Thank you to all of the clubs who contributed to this fun day. Teacher SpotlightBrooke Fenenbock, Features writerGabrielle Fuller, Features writerMrs. Pearsall is a seventh grade English teacher on Explorers. She has taught for twenty years, three of which are at Rancho Pico. This well-known teacher grew up in Tarzana, California near the San Fernando Valley. She attended school at Taft High School and Cal State Northridge. She also took some classes at UCLA. She earned a degree in Health administration and two masters degrees in English education. Mrs. Pearsall became a teacher because she enjoyed spending time doing homework and projects with her kids and figured that if she became a teacher, she would be able to do that all day. She would also get more quality time with her kids during their breaks. Plus, she has always,“ loved literature and English.”Mrs. Pearsall is an animal and family-oriented person. She has four kids named Chelsea, Alex, Malik, and Jibreel. She has five pets; three cats named Cambria, Milo, and Skrink and two dogs, Macy and Mordecai. On her leisure time, her hobbies include gardening and traveling. She’s also involved with animal rescue and believes every living thing deserves a chance.Some intriguing things you might not have known about her are: her favorite holiday is Christmas, her favorite sports team is the Seattle Seahawks, and her first job was at Pioneer Chicken. Her favorite foods include hot wings and strawberry cheesecake. Mrs. Pearsall’s biggest pet peeves are gossip and animals being treated unfairly. If she could have one superpower, it would be to wiggle her nose, and have her house clean itself. More fun facts about her are her favorite sport to play is tennis, her favorite type of music is country, and her birthday.
P.E. Costume ContestTali Skabelund, Sports EditorNovember 7, 2014This year, Halloween fell on an even period
day. Students who had physical education on that day were able to participate
in a costume contest. After delivering their belongings to their lockers,
students gathered outside in costume. Peers met together and went for a walk
around the basketball courts to start off their class. When they were finished
they were herded into the gym to sit on the bleachers. The teachers had picked
out five categories: cute, scary, funny, creative, and overall. People dressed
in costume went down during the category that they thought best fit their
costume description. Judging by crowd applause, the teachers eliminated people
until the winner was the last one standing. All winners won a free run pass
that they can use later on in the year .Discovery DayCharlie Morici Sports ReporterZachary Van Bennekum Sports ReporterOctober 10, 2014During Discovery Day, Discovery’s advisories gathered to
participate in interactive activities. This competition included six people in
each advisory that went against each other in a relay on dollies. Participants
pushed their teammates to the other end of the gym and back. The first team to
finish won. “Many of the kids loved it, they thought it was fun,” said
Ms. Foster.The important part of Discovery Day is to bring the entire
team together for unity. One of the organizers always try to think of a new
game for each quarter (which is the time they hold each Discovery day). One of
the organizers, Mrs. Foster, told us that Discovery Day is an important part of
team Discovery.“Discovery team events bring everyone together and bring
team spirit,” stated Ms. Foster.Discovery kids always look forward to these exciting events.
These events were started because of the heritage of team activities at the
school. It also gave teachers the ability to better get to know their
students and their assets, plus the chance to get to meet their parents.“Team events such as Discovery Day build relationships among
students and make students feel like they're truly part of a team,” explained
Mrs. Carey.These events are planned by your team teachers who will
pitch in to ensure that you will enjoy your event. Discovery Day is just one of
the many team building activities students will have during this year.News: One Big Happy Family for the FutureDanielle Ryan, News ReporterChristian Sims, News ReporterTying the knot is a huge deal for many people. Our beloved
7th grade science teacher, Ms.Balmonte, has recently gotten married on Aug. 23,
2014. For most of our 8th graders, it may be a little tough to refer to her as
Mrs. Makovsky, but she said is still alright to address her by Ms.Balmonte.
Even though Mrs. Makovsky has opened a new chapter in her life, she still plans
on teaching science at Rancho Pico, because this is where her home is, and she
enjoys working with students and informing them about science.Mrs. Makovsky has been with her husband for one and a half
years before the proposal. He proposed to her on a private helipad and the
wedding was held in Blaine, Minnesota. The reception took place at Lord
Fletcher's restaurant at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Makovsky now plan to travel to Spain, Greece,
or Switzerland for a honeymoon to kick off their marriage and come together as
family.During an interview, Mrs.Makovsky stated,”There is not a
huge change after being married, but I guess that’s a good thing because it
just feels really natural.” Hoofbeats and all Rancho Pico students sincerely
wish the best of luck and a happy, healthy relationship for the future.Teen Read WeekJocelyn Wells, News ReporterTali Skabelund, Sports ReporterEllie Barton, Managing EditorOctober 21, 2014 As most of you might have
heard, our library has recently been home to some exciting events. Rancho Pico
recently participated in the celebration of Teen Read Week. Teen Read week is a
nationwide initiation that encourages kids to read. It allows teens to
acknowledge their personal agency to decide what they want to read, and
highlights how important it is to do so. Rancho Pico engaged in this event by
opening up its library to the pupils at this school. Mrs. Mellinger allowed
only the first one hundred students to come in and participate. On October 17,
literary enthusiasts gathered in the library to eat their lunch, a special
occasion for our library. Dessert (a cookie), and a special treat were handed
out to each of the students who came. While there, they indulged in watching a
captivating film, “Hotel Transylvania.” As students were exiting the venue,
they were given a small gift bag to thank them for taking part in the event. It
was a lot of fun! Be sure to make it to this event next year! Discovery Movie NightBy Gabrielle Fullerand Allison AlbenOctober 16, 2014On Wednesday, October 15 Team Discovery had its first feature of Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American horror comedy film. The movie is set in Salem, Massachusetts, and is about a young boy who doesn’t believe in Halloween, but he changes his mind completely when he accidently reincarnates a trio of evil witches who try to suck the life from all the children in Salem. He sets out on a Halloween adventure with his younger sister and the girl of his dreams to try to stop the witches.
The movie took place in Ms. Slayback and Ms.
Terry’s conjoined classroom, with plenty of room for all the students to relax
and watch the movie. During the movie, team Discovery enjoyed many treats
including popcorn, candy, and much more. We asked one of the students,
Mackenzie Perez, what she thought about the movie, and she said “I was
really excited about the movie! My favorite part was when the witches are
flying away from the house with the main character’s sister. The idea of the
movie night itself was great, because it was a great time for kids of Team
Discovery to socialize.” Overall, the Discovery students seemed to have a great
time eating tons of candy, watching the movie, and spending time with their
peers.Mrs. Terry’s Wand War
Jocelyn Wells, News Reporter Allison Alben, News
Reporter October 8, 2014
Attention Hogwarts residents, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be
having its first match on Halloween. Competing for Gryffindor will be Ms.
Terry, against her brother, a Slytherin student. Come Halloween Ms. Terry will
be seen in Gryffindor robes prepared for battle against her brother. Their
wands are polished and ready for the dual that will be viewed and refereed by
Discovery students. Ms. Terry has made it well known to her students that she
loves the Harry Potter series. When asked why Ms. Terry loves Harry
Potter so much, she responded, “I like it because I grew up reading it. I
started reading the books when I was eleven, so it has been a constant part of
my life. I want to pass that on to my students, and I want to pass it on to my
kids, when I eventually have them. I think it is a really great story with a
lot of great lessons.” Painless Fundraiser
Ryan Ilan, News ReporterRyan Factora, News
ReporterSeptember 30, 2014Thanks to the generous
donations from Rancho Pico families, Rancho Pico’s Painless
Donation Drive was a huge success! The Painless Donation Drive was a great way
to raise money for the school. This special event was different than most
fundraisers. Unlike other fundraisers, the Painless Donation Drive was “painless”
because families simply donated money for the school, and none of the money
went to third-party companies. This event raised a lot of money for the school
to use, and for the students to have a great year. The donations will help pay
for many events such as field trips, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, and other
extracurricular events.Our goal was to hit $15,000 and we surpassed it. We hit $24,000! To reward the students for exceeding our goal, everyone at Rancho Pico enjoyed an extended brunch. At advisory, right after RPTV announcements, students were dismissed early to brunch, which resulted in about 15 extra minutes of brunch. Jeemin Jung, a seventh grader, loved the extra brunch: “I actually liked the extra brunch time, because it gave us more time to relax and the schedule was not very rushed.” The school thanks the students and their families for their generous contributions. It was a great help and it will help fund many future events.Back to School Bash Danielle Ryan, New ReporterKelsey Choe, News ReporterSeptember 16, 2014
On September 12, ASB welcomed all students back to school by hosting the annual Back to School Bash. After the last bell of the day, students lined up off campus. As they piled into the school for the Santa Monica Pier themed dance, they dropped off their backpacks in the locker rooms so that they wouldn’t have to carry their belongings for the eventful night.The dance began at 3:30pm and students eagerly rushed in, prepared for a whole night of fun, including airbrushed tattoos, human foosball, water tag, carnival games, a D.J., airbrush tattoos and a lot of dancing.
“This is really fun! I’m enjoying myself and I really like tacos!” said 7th-grader Olivia West.Over 500 kids showed up at the Back to School Bash and ASB earned lots of funds for future activities and dances.After students enjoyed all the activities at the bash, they retrieved their backpacks and left campus with smiling faces and great memories. Mustangs will never forget this eventful dance and how much fun we had.Eco Art ClassAllison Alben, News ReporterRyan Factora, New ReporterRyan Ilan, News ReporterSeptember 15, 2014
Our world today is trying very hard to make the environment cleaner and better for our planet. That is why Ms. Gaines started the Eco-Art elective. This elective is an art program that teaches kids to love art and the environment. Ms. Gaines says,”I think it is important to educate children about taking care of the Earth and I love to do art. Everything we use is made of either trash or recyclables to make something new and exciting.” In this elective students collect and use different types of scraps they find around their school and neighborhood, such as egg shells, old shirts, and cardboard. Mrs. Gaines adds, “I like all materials as long as I'm saving them from a landfill. Many projects in the Eco-Art elective are very creative and fun. We make mosaics, and, currently, we are in the process of making beads out of recycled paper. [Also,] we are also going to make magazine bowls, as well as carnival out of paper boxes.”All the students in Mrs. Gaines class are very creative and enthusiastic about doing these innovative art projects, and they all love Mrs. Gaines. Symphony Walter-Eze, a 7th grade Explorers student, says,”My favorite project is this paper shell project that we have done. Mrs. Gaines is so nice, helpful, and funny.”
A rainbow rug of colorful T-shirtsThe Eco-Art elective is a very fun and meaningful class that shows kids the beauty in everything. “I would like students to know that there is so much they can do to take care of the earth -- every small step counts, and they can have fun while doing it,” says Mrs. Gaines. Back to School NightEllie Barton, Senior Editor Kelsey Choe, EditorSeptember 5, 2014 Teachers and parents were very excited for this year’s Back to School Night on September 2, 2014. The parents met the teachers, saw student work on display in classrooms, and learned about this year’s curriculum. 7th grade parent Mrs. Kuz explains, “I think Back to School Night is important because it gives the parents an opportunity to see what their kids go through everyday. I also think it opens up communication between teachers and parents, which I think is the best way for their kids to have success.” By the end of the evening Mrs. Kuz reveals that she was excited to meet the teachers and “walk through [her] daughter’s daily routine.” She states, “I have a better understanding for the day at the school. I thought the campus was very easy to navigate and I liked how the eighth graders and seventh graders were separate. The campus is very clean and orderly.”Teachers and parents met on this day to review how they can work together to ensure the success of the students and establish a strong connection of communication, collaboration, and teamwork. “Back to School Night is important because its goals are similar to a ‘huddle’ for a football team. You want to communicate the goal or ‘play’ before you snap the ball to start the game. Educating students requires teamwork and a partnership between parents, teachers, and students. Back to School Night is a time for the teachers and parents to communicate the ways to share these goals and ensure a successful year for the students,” explains Mrs. Kim. Though their time is limited, teachers value the opportunity to create an open dialogue and communicate with parents because it helps establish a stronger learning foundation for students. In order to ensure students reach their full potential, a strong connection between parents and teachers must be established early and maintained throughout the school year. Mrs. Kim explains her objective for the evening: “I want to give parents a clear understanding of the changes in the math curriculum and its rigorous aspects, while striking down the misinformation about the Common Core State Standards that is being fed to the public by the media and uninformed, biased groups.” After her presentation, Mrs. Kim adss, “Parents were impressed by how challenging the new standards are and how such a rigorous curriculum will challenge the students to be better prepared for advanced math courses and other advanced subjects such as chemistry and physics in high school and beyond.” Mrs. Terry explains, “I hope to accomplish an open line of communication at Back to School Night and let the parents know that I am here for them and their child’s success and to help them build a brighter future. I think this event will help me as a teacher because it’s going to help me better understand the background of my students and I also think that it will help when parents offer suggestions of how to make improvements, specifically with their child. It will really help me get to know my students better.”
Engaged parents listen to Mr. Richie as he reviews his classroom procedures. By the end of the evening both teachers and parents were very
pleased with their experience and excited about the school year. “I loved
meeting the teachers and I thought they were very excited about the new year
and very energetic. They also have a very good outlook on teaching seventh
grade,” explains Mrs. Kuz. Teachers were also very enthusiastic about meeting
their students’ parents. Ms. Terry reflects on the night and says, “Back to
School Night was a huge success and I was thrilled to meet all the parents, and
I can’t wait to continue watching their kids grow.” Overall, Back to
School Night was a huge success, in which parents were able to meet their child’s
teachers’ and understand what is in store for their child this school
year and beyond.Mrs. Levy-Holm’s Art SketchbookEllie Barton, Managing EditorAnya Shah, News ReporterJocelyn Wells, News ReporterDanielle Ryan, News ReporterSeptember 30, 2014
Have you ever sewn before? How about used a hammer? You might ask, what do the two have in common? Art students in Mrs. Levy-Holm’s art elective class had the chance to employ both of these tools to make art sketch books. The sketchbooks that her students are creating involve many diverse techniques and materials that no “ordinary elective” would require - and that is because this is no ordinary elective.
Students were very detailed oriented and thorough in their process. Students began the projects by folding paper and inserting the binding tab. Next, the students used nails and real hammers to pound in holes for the string. Many of the students agreed in saying that it was scary using the hammers for the first time. Mrs. Levy-Holm is especially fond of the next step in the process, which was sewing - one of Mrs. Levy-Holm’s many talents and interests. She even shared a childhood memory of sewing her own dresses when she was merely a seventh-grader in order to stress the importance of knowing how to sew. The students sewed the binding together, therefore, creating a book. The students completed the project by gluing cereal boxes onto the sketch book binding and applying unique designs to the cereal boxes. The amazing, artistic pursuits of this class don’t stop with over-the-top sketch books. The elective also practices other skills and activities. Art student, Allison Kim says, “She provides a prompt and we doodle off that prompt.” Their main objectives are always directed towards learning the elements of art such as color, form, and shape, which is especially useful if you have a desire to pursue the subject as a career. “My favorite part of art is probably having Mrs. Levy-Holm as a teacher,” says Ariana Ford. It’s only fitting that such an amazing teacher could come up with such a fun and engaging project.
New ASB OfficersEllie Barton, Managing Editor Danielle Ryan, News ReporterSeptember 3, 2014
The new ASB officers are in place for this year, and for the first time in years, the voting system has been changed. The candidates no longer try out for a specific position, but instead choose their position depending on how many votes they received. So, the person with the most votes will get first pick and so on.
Towards the end of August, ASB students appeared on RPTV and broadcasted live speeches telling all of Rancho Pico, why they should vote for them to be in the executive council. After the speeches were given by the 8 candidates, students anxiously cast their top four votes for who they felt were best fit to represent our school. The results: Abby Walters for treasurer, Grace Waterman is the new secretary, Sophia Kriegel is the vice president, and David Salven is the ASB president for this year. These four students are on their way to lead Rancho Pico into a fun, successful school year.
All over the country, people of all ages have been pouring buckets filled with ice water on themselves to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the brain to shut down. It can also lead to loss of muscle control and, eventually, death.To raise money and spread the word about this terrible disease, people began challenging their friends and family to drench themselves in buckets of ice water, widely known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you are nominated and don’t complete the challenge within twenty-four hours, you are supposed to donate one hundred dollars to the disease. Many people go the extra mile and make a donation to the ALS Association in addition to enduring the freezing water. On August 19, 2014, our own principal, Mrs. Jones, accepted the challenge.Dr. Nielsen, the principal at Hart High School, nominated Mrs. Jones, and she passed along the challenge to Mr. Crawford, West Ranch principal, Mr. Ferry, Rio Norte principal, and Mr. Powell, former Rancho Pico assistant principal who is now at Valencia High School. “Completing the Ice Bucket Challenge was cold, wet, and refreshing. It actually wasn’t too bad because the two kids pouring it on me did it quickly,” said Mrs. Jones. “There had been some controversy about the challenge wasting water, but I believe that this is a tangible way to build awareness for ALS. This was also a great example for the students to show that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late or too early to give back.” Mrs Jones also made a monetary donation to the ALS Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Although, at the moment, the water may be cold and a bit miserable, each time a bucket is dumped, more people become aware of the disease, and the closer we become to finding a cure.
Anya Shah, News ReporterEllie Barton, Senior EditorAugust 30, 2014
Have you noticed a new face in the vice principal’s office? Benjamin Wobrock is this year’s new assistant principal, and he is looking forward to a great year here at Rancho Pico. Mr. Wobrock explains his interest in the position: “I have wanted to become vice principal for a few years now, mainly because I loved being in the classroom. However, I wanted to have a greater impact on an entire school, instead of just effecting one classroom,” says Mr. Wobrock. With such high standards proposed by the school, Mr. Wobrock has set high expectations for himself, as well. “ My goal is to really get to know Rancho Pico and its students, and also keep everything going as well as it has been and, hopefully, even better.” We have high hopes for Mr. Wobrock and are excited to see what he has in store for our school!
New StaffNicole Park, Executive EditorRyan Factora, News ReporterAllison Alben, News ReporterAugust 30, 2014
Have you seen any new faces around campus? In fact, there have been many changes to the Rancho Pico administration including new teachers. Ms. Terry, Mrs. Chaddick, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Monfared and Ms. Albrecht, and Mrs. Koskie are all new additions to the Rancho Pico teaching staff, and Mrs. Clevenger is a new counselor.
Ms. Albrecht, who has taught at Math Support, California State University of Northridge (CSUN), and West Ranch, is now teaching English, History, Math, and Science for the SC7 Asperger’s program on team Discovery. “I absolutely love working at Rancho Pico and am honored to be here. My students are amazing and the staff is beyond supportive!” says Ms. Albrecht.
Mrs. Chaddick Another new teacher, Mrs. Koskie, previously
worked in fashion marketing as a brand manager before pursuing her teaching
credential. Before coming to Rancho Pico, she taught 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
English in the District. Mrs. Koskie teaches English on Team Infinity and is
the new advisor for Hoofbeats. “I love it here! I feel so fortunate to be
surrounded by so many collaborative and supportive teachers. My students are
amazing! They are so talented, creative, and they inspire me everyday,”
says Mrs. Koskie.
Mrs. Koskie
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Mr. MonfaredIn addition to these teachers, the 7th graders
have a new counselor, Mrs. Clevenger. “ I am absolutely loving working here at
Rancho Pico! The students and staff are so great and everyone has made me feel
right at home!” says Mrs. Clevenger.
These teachers are now part of the loving Rancho
Pico family and we want to wish them a warm welcome and a successful school
year! New Schedule
Nicole Park, Executive Editor
Anya Shah, News Reporter
August 30, 2014
A, B, C is no longer as easy as 1,2,3. Because there are no longer anymore early release Thursdays like last year (when students were released from school at 2:00pm every Thursday), and more minimum days are being added to the schedule. With this new addition comes a new schedule for these days: A and B days.When it is a minimum day, school ends at 12:10pm, so all the classes will be shorter. Instead of cutting into those teachers’ classes, certain minimum days will only have two periods or “A days.” The following or previous day, which will be a full school day, will have four periods, a “B day,” to balance out the classes. Although this gives teachers more time in their classes than they would normally have on minimum days, students are not very pleased with this new change.12:10pm, so all the classes will be shorter. Instead of cutting into those teachers’ classes, certain minimum days will only have two periods or “A days.” The following or previous day, which will be a full school day, will have four periods, a “B day,” to balance out the classes. Although this gives teachers more time in their classes than they would normally have on minimum days, students are not very pleased with this new change.
"I don’t really like this new A and B schedule and I think it’s pretty confusing,” says 8th grader, Lauren Bensmiller. Seventh grader, Jenee Anekwe, agrees, “Why can’t we just have the Early Release Thursdays like last year? In elementary school, we had minimum days on Fridays and the whole school liked it.”
At the end of the year, we will still have had just as many hours of school as the previous years.
Mr. Monfared, who was a substitute teacher, mostly at Canyon High School, is now teaching Math 7, Math 8 and Learning Strategies at our school. “Teaching at Rancho Pico is amazing. Everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. The students are respectful and it’s been a great experience,” says Mr. Monfared.
Nicole Park, Executive Editor
Anya Shah, News Reporter
August 30, 2014
At the end of the year, we will still have had just as many hours of school as the previous years.
