Friday, February 14, 2014Page 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

THE GRIZZLY GAZETTE

Godinez Fundamental High School, 3002 Centennial Road, Santa Ana, CA 92704 Volume 5, Issue 3

FAFSA-nation By Abigail Martinez & Daisy Pizano

Stressing over whether or not you can afford college? Stop worrying. Where there’s a will, there’s a FAFSA. Let us introduce you to FAFSA. FAF-SA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The program helps students get money for school necessities. Senior Classmen, Maria Cisneros applied to FAFSA and stated, “It was stressful and a lot of work to do, but it was worth it because you are getting help to pay for college.” It’s free money for high school seniors who are looking for ways to make their dreams come true. The FAFSA application applies to citizens and non- U.S citizens. Applicants can qualify for federal and Cal Grant money. It helps you with tuition and books, and sometimes even allows you as a student to work less hours so you can concentrate on school. This is used by

the U.S. Department of Education to determine your expected family contribution based on financial need. “It wasn’t stressful at all. Although at times it was a bit confusing,” said Senior, Espe-ranza Juarez. Sponsored financial aid includes: grants, educational loans and work study programs. This is used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal state and college. To qualify for FAFSA you need:

•To be registered with the Selective Service system if you are between the ages of 18 and 25 (It’s required to do so for men)

• To be a U.S citizen or an eligible non-citizen (aka Dreamers)

• To have a valid social security number

•Bring your 2012 or 2013 tax information

If for any reason you don’t meet these require-ments, don’t worry, there’s the DREAM Act. Unlike FAFSA The DREAM Act permits people that are born in another country or are un-documented (AB540) to qualify for financial aid. Other differences when you apply for the DREAM Act are you only receive one type of financial aid, the Cal Grant. The requirements are also much simpler:

•You must have proof of having arrived in the U.S. before age 16

• You have to graduate from a U.S. High School

•You must have been in the U.S. for more than five years “Everyone should apply because every-one is eligible regardless of the circumstances,” added counselor, Jimmy Bravo. Applying to either FAFSA or the DREAM Act only takes an average of an hour to fill out. Helmer Tovar, stated that he felt, “Accomplished and ready for the swag that college has for me!” Apply now, what do you have to lose?

More information for applying can be found on theses sites: http://www.fafsa.gov. Or https://caldreamact.org/.

DON’T forget deadline is Sunday March 2nd.

Who is Mr. Godinez By Lizbeth Pantaleon

Street HarrassmentPg. 2

Winter Formal Pg. 2

Guy Code VS Girl CodePg. 7

Are you a male senior looking for a way to be remembered in Godinez history? If the answer is yes, the Mr.Godinez Pageant is coming soon. This year, the senior class of 2014 will be hosting a pageant exclusively for senior boys who want to show that they can embody the values and spirit of a Godinez Grizzly. Aspiring contestants must go through a two month process that will determine if they will be one of the lucky 10 to 12 seniors who will be participating. This process began on January 17, when seniors that were inter-ested were asked to pick up the application. By January 24 all applications were due, and by

January 28th the lucky participants were an-nounced. The seniors who will be competing for the crown and title of Mr. Godinez are Jesus Garibay, Aaron Roya, Isaac Estrada, Richard Caro, Francisco Aguayo, Maury Quintana, Eric Rodriguez, Eduardo Mancilla and Fidel Tor-res. According to senior class president, Jason Rojas, ASB “chose nine guys based on person-ality.” Rojas further commented, contestants were also chosen based on “what they could bring” to the competition, “talent wise” and to “make the show fun” for the audience. Although contestants will compete in a swimsuit competition, it is not simply a superficial pageant. Contestants must have a minimum GPA of 2.0. They will also “be interviewed on stage [and] asked random ques-tions,” according to Mr. Daniel Tena. Further-more, Tena stated that contestants will also will be required to “prepare a talent,” perform “a group dance,” and be “escorted by someone” while wearing formal attire the day of the pag-

eant. Tena stated “they are trying to get moms involved” in the pageant by having them escort the contestants. Senior Class President Jason Rojas stated that this was a way to “strengthen school spirit.” He further commented that they (ASB) “wanted [to hold the pageant] since last year” because he thinks it is a great way for the whole school to have fun. The Mr. Godinez Pageant will take place on April 25 at the the-ater here on campus.

(Photos Courtesy of Abigail Martinez)

(Photos Courtesy of Amy Jimenez & Eric Rodriguez)

VSFollow us on Instagram @ Grizzly_Gazette

(Our Godinez men jump for joy upon hearing of their nominations.)

(Counselor Jimmy Bravo helps senior

Oswaldo Palacios

complete his FAFSA)

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CAMPUS NEWS A Royale Engagement By Ana Villanueva Winter Formal, held at the Yost Theater here in Santa Ana, was a success thanks to our ASB Staff, and cutting ticket prices at the last minute. It was a night filled with laughter and smiles for many attendees. When arriving at the venue, couples checked in at the theatre's lobby and voted for the court nominees. Relaxed sitting areas were provided by the Yost Theater where students could enjoy cold drinks and appetizers: including tortilla chips with salsa, chocolate cookies, and fruit. The men looked handsome in their formal attires. Suspenders and colorful bowties were seen as the gentlemen matched their dates. The ladies looked stunning in dresses of peach, royal blues, white, gold and black . Obviously, heels were a must for that night. Colorful lights went across the dance floor as DJ Angelo ( Luis Calderon, former GFHS student) played the night away. He played a variety of music from hip-hop, merengue, to cumbias. Students had an option to play Black Jack and the winner with most chips at the end of the night won two free Sadies tickets. The lucky winners were Edward Dizon and Giovanni Cuellar. When asked how they felt about winning the tickets, Dizon expressed, “ When I was playing Black Jack, I wasn't really playing for the tickets … I was was playing because I like playing Black Jack.” Meanwhile with a sense of humor, Cuellar stated “ It made me feel like I can go to Vegas. I was feeling lucky.” Freddy Jimenez won King, for his 2nd consecutive year along with our Queen Vivian Reymundo. After the crowning, the court danced to “Adorn” by Miguel.Although the night ended early due to the fact that the Yost opened their nightclub immediately at 10 p.m., there was a lively atmosphere through-out the night. This early closing allowed the school to sell the formal tickets for $20. Mr. Tonai expressed that it was, “ Very generous of the Yost to allow us to do that.” Congratulations once again to our King Freddy Jimenez and Queen Vivian Reymundo!

A Little Common Courtesy Please By Lesly Cruz & Metztli Uraje

It is 2014 and it’s alarming how some of us have yet to recognize boundaries. It has be-come an even bigger issue when some of us are too afraid to go outside. We're talking about street harassment, a neglected topic in need of immediate discussion.

You can be on the way to grandma's house in your brand new pair of Heelys when a group of weirdos on their razors decide to disturb you with a rude comment regarding your behind. How do you respond to that?

You can be playing Nintendogs on your Nintendo DS, commuting on the bus, when you realize there is something fishy going on: the creepy, old guy who was oddly staring at

you at the bus stop has decided he wants to sit next to you and engage in a disturbing conver-sation. How do you respond to him?

You want to do something about it. You want to find the perfect remark but you are left speechless: “I normally have no problems commu-nicating my feelings, but when I try to stand up against harassers on the street, I find I am nothing but an inarticulate fool with a woefully inadequate vocabulary.”- Anonymous Sophomore

It is evident that street harassment hap-pens everywhere, no matter where you go or what you wear. You can be stinky and sweaty after running the mile in P.E. and a group of students still have the indecency to whistle and/or say something disrespectful.

At times, the fear of being harassed on the street makes someone fear wearing short skirts or shorts: “It was hot one day and I decided to wear some shorts. As I was riding my bike, this guy says, ‘Hey. Nice legs.’ He looks at me creepily like he is expecting something in re-turn. I said ‘bye’ and just rode away. I was just wearing shorts.”- Ashley Ryan, Junior

Although females are the most vulner-able to be harassed, males can be victims too:"I was in an awkward situation. I was out with my cousins when they started catcalling the firefighters, shouting things like, I LOVE A MAN IN UNIFORM. It was uncomfortable for me and it was rude to the firemen too.” -Ashley Ryan, Junior

Frankly, it is ridiculous. It’s an inva-sion of someone’s space. It is also immature-and “rude.” A glance or a smile doesn’t give a person the right to immediately begin follow-ing, commenting, or touching someone without their consent. It seems that some people just can’t handle common courtesy. Something so common and familiar is blown out of propor-tion and made into an unwanted invitation to enter someone’s personal space.

A catcall can escalate to serious physical assaults, depending on how you react to your harasser. People tend to be passive and ignore the problem, building up internal frustration.

In order for this disgusting cycle to end, victims need to speak up, not only to shame the people doing this, but to build up the courage to defend themselves. The best tip we can give you is to follow your intuition.

(Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Garcia)

(Photos Courtesy of Jose Ochoa)

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CAMPUS NEWS

Grizzly Gazette Editorial Policy The Grizzly Gazette is published six times per academic year by students in journalism class at Godinez Fundamental High School. Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Godinez Fundamental High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body. Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Educa-tion Code 48907. Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer. Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a case-by-case basis. The editors review letters to the editor, advertising, guest commentaries, reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, and obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Godinez Fundamental High School or violation of copyright laws.

Everybody Has A Story: Janely Garcia By Breanna Pennaflor

Ambitious, warm-hearted, and a goofball, are all words said to describe Janely Garcia but all of these still tell you only the tip of the iceberg that is Janely.

Now in her junior year, Janely has a blazing track record for being a hard-working scholar. She has been enrolled in all honors classes since the sixth grade and three AP classes since her sophomore year. She plans on continuing her involvement in rigorous courses for her remaining high school year in hopes of earning scholarships from her ideal universities such as UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Berkeley.

Even with academics as her strong suit, Janely adds more to her super-scholar resume by involving herself in athletics, clubs, and schools programs such as the godinez tennis team, concert band, MESA, volunteering at a food pantry, and the new Guiding Grizzlies program, but one activity that put Janely on a different kind of spotlight is the GFHS Cheer Team.

Being a representation of Godinez and a leader in the attitudes and spirits of the student body, Janely takes on a new role in high school: being a role model to her peers and siblings as a scholar, and her teammates as an achieving athlete.

However, Janely has not always been a charge-the-crowd type of person. Prior to joining the cheer team she was a shy person. The idea of public perfor-mances to her would be described as nerve-wrecking, and continues to be from time to time.

Since joining cheer she’s found rewarding achievements. Whether it is hitting a new stunt, or nailing a performance routine for pep rallies, she is proud of them all. “Cheer gave me a new kind of confidence, and I really like that” she states, and considers to be one of her greatest personal achievements.

Even Janely’s friends notice her new sense of confidence. They say she’s changed since her freshman year, but still keeps the same selfless heart and humorous personality. A close friend since the seventh grade, Jessica Mejia, junior, says Janely “ has always been a hard worker to make her family and friends happy.” Jessica also points out Janely’s habits by commenting on the fact that “she pushes herself so far because she knows she can do better even what she has already done is beyond good enough!”

Janely does not just express her warm-hearted self to her peers, she also expresses it to her family, who she likes to put before herself. Janely expressed her care for her parents when she made a proposition to her parents saying that she would try to pay off her own cheer payments, costing nearly $600. Strong-minded in her intention, she found employment at O’s American Kitchen restaurant.

Janely started her employment during the summer working four days out of the week, totaling 28 work hours per week. Once the school year started she changed her schedule to working days days out of the week: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, with her working hours being 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., as well as consistentlyworking Saturdays and Sundays.

While trying to maintain and excel at her job Janely’s priorities seemed to keep expanding due to her commitment and involvement with the Guiding Grizzlies program, tennis, and cheer.

Janely begins her regular school schedule at 8 a.m and ending at 2:45 p.m., but what happens after instruction is where the juggling begins. After school her cheer practice continues and ends at 4 p.m. She then waits to be picked and dropped off at work at 5 p.m. that ends at 11:30 p.m. She is home by midnight. Coming home to a comfortable bed ready to sleep in is not Janely’s next step, however. Her night ends with two to three hours of homework, with the addition of chores. The days she doesn’t have cheer practice or a game to attend, she goes to tennis practice followed by her work schedule.

It all hit Janely that her scheduled needed to be cut down after she constantly found herself going to sleep at 2 a.m. She also realized that she could not completely do it all without physically exhausting herself. She eventually chose to quit her job to focus on her main priority: school.

With all this school involvement, Janely can be described as a determined, selfless person. She recognizes how her peers and family view her, a phrase she defines as a “human contradiction.” She continues by saying “that’s all I know about the person I am right now.” She hopes to find out who she is as she endures every experience that life offers as time goes on.

(Photo Courtesy of Breanna Penaflor)

Page 4Page 4

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 Non Student Day

4Second Semes-ter BeginsCAHSEE : 12Girls Soccer Game (3:15 p.m.)Girls Basket-ball Game (7 p.m.)

5 CAHSEE : 12Boys Soccer (3:15)Boys Basketball (7 p.m.)Girls Water Polo (6 p.m.)

6Girls Soccer @ Laguna Beach (3:15 p.m.)Girls Basketball @ Laguna Beach (7 p.m.)

7Boys Soccer @ Laguna beach (6:30 p.m.)Boys basket-ball @ Laguna Beach (7 p.m.)Improve Show

8

9 10Lincolns’ Birth-day- No SchoolGirls Soccer Game (3:15 p.m.)Girls Basketball (7p.m.)

11Boys Soccer (3:15 p.m.) Boys Basket-ball (7 p.m.)

12FAFSA Late Night (3-7 p.m.)Girls Soccer @ Saddleback (3:15 p.m.)Girls Basketball @ Saddleback (7 p.m.)Girl Water Polo (6 p.m.)

13Boys Soccer @ Saddleback (3:15 p.m.)Boys Basketball @ Saddleback (7 p.m.)

14Valentine’s Day

15

16 17Presidents Day- No School

18 19FAFSA Late Night (3-7 p.m.)

20 21Talent Show @ 7 p.m.

22

23 24Modified Day

25 26FAFSA Late Night (3-7 p.m.)

27 28 For your planning; GFHS Cheer @ NationalsMarch 28th-30th

February 2014

Places to go on Valentine’s DayBy Margarita Perea

Out of ideas to hang out on Valentine’s Day? Make it a day to remember.

Couples:•Newport Beach Kayaking:

$25 an hour• Boomers Miniature Golf and Go Karts:

Miniature Golf $ 9 Go Karts $7 for driver, $2 for passenger

•Beach: Pack a picnic for free •Catal Restaurant Downtown Disney:

Starter Bikini Sandwich $ 9•La Brea Bakery Cafe Downtown Disney:

Cappuccino $4.95

Don’t feel left out on this day!There’s plenty to do for you too.Singles:

•Friend’s House•Movies/ Movie Night

•Mall•Hang out with your family

•Video game night •Paint balling with friends(Garden Grove)$10

Calender By Katherine Perez

By Cindi Garcia and Katherine Perez

Middle Pages By Elizabeth Garcia

Page 5

Top 10 Romantic Films

1. The Notebook: What list of the greatest cinematic love stories would be complete without this epic tale of star-crossed lovers and everlasting devotion? Switching back and forth from modern-day to the 1940s, The Notebook tells the story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, young lovers brought together by fate, divided by social class, and united by a love that refused to give up even when the world told them to. It’s hard not to shed a tear when watching this tale of romance, especially in the moments shared between the elder Noah and his dementia-stricken love. And who could forget that infamous rain scene? “I want all of you, forever, everyday.”

2. The Spectacular Now: The most recent film on this list, The Spectacular Now focuses on the unexpected love between “live for the now” party boy Sutter Keely and reserved scholar Aimee Finecky, whom he meets after waking up on her lawn. Starring Shailene Woodley (soon-to-be Hazel Grace in The Fault in Our Stars), this film is one of the few romantic gems of 2013, portraying the realities of teenage life and love that is forced to battle with the nearing stress that is adulthood. Seniors will relate perfectly to the tale of Sutter and Aimee, who traverse through the high school party scene, prom, anxiety about college, and thoughts on what it means to be young and in love.

3. (500) Days of Summer: “This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.” Indeed, as far as love stories go, this film does not meet the criteria for an epic romance. The guy falls for the girl, but the girl doesn’t fall for the guy. Such is the truth for Tom Hansen, whose 500 days with Summer Finn were (according to him) some of the best times of his life. Although not your traditional romance, (500) Days of Summer is a quirky, hilarious exploration into what love is and what it isn’t. As far as independent “romance” films go, this is surely one that cannot be beaten.

4. Wall-E: I know what you’re thinking. “An animated movie? About robots? Romantic??” Who said love can only be felt by hu-mans? The adventures of Wall-E, a robot charged with cleaning up the trash that destroyed planet Earth, begin when he meets EVE, a fellow robot assigned to investigate Earth’s environmental status. Wall-E instantly falls head-over-heels in love, and throughout the movie, we witness as these robots not only save the world, but also share touching moments, reminding us that love does not dis-criminate.

5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Although a film from before our time, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is still hailed as one of the great classics of Hollywood, and for good reason. Audrey Hepburn (in, arguably, her most memorable role) stars as Holly Golightly, an outgo-ing socialite who falls for her new neighbor, Paul Varjak. With touches of comedy and musical numbers, this tale of love is iconic, living on in the hearts of many as a story of two seemingly pretentious, yet honestly affectionate lovers caught amidst the glitz and glamour of New York City.

6. Sixteen Candles: Considered to be one of the best teenage films of the 80’s, Sixteen Candles remains to this day a classic. The story takes place on Sam Baker’s sixteenth birthday (which her family has forgotten), a birthday that has been overshadowed by her sister’s upcoming wedding. Sam is infatuated with senior Jake Ryan, who eventually falls for her, and shares a memorable kiss over a birthday cake with what else but sixteen candles. Puppy love, love letters, and the awkwardness that we all know happens in high school halls are perfectly depicted here, in a story of not just teenage love, but also of growing up and exploring the power of friend-ship.

7. Slumdog Millionaire: Winner of the 2008 Academy Award for Best Picture, this film tells the story of Jamal Malik, a modest andintelligent young man from the slums of Mumbai, India, as he competes for one million dollars on the Indian version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire? Flashbacks occur, telling us the tale of his troubled childhood, and the hopeful moments that he shared with La-tika, the girl who he fell in love with, and has not seen for years. Slumdog Millionaire is not just a story of reunited love (he eventu-ally tries calling Latika as a Life Line on the show), but also a story of hope and determination, as these characters rise up from the poverty of the slums to live a life of love in a place where it can blossom and grow.

8. Say Anything… : Ranked by Entertainment Weekly as “the greatest modern movie romance,” Say Anything… is one of those 80s films that lives on, with a legacy unmatched by any other film of the era. It’s from this movie that the idea of standing outside a girl’s window with a boombox over your head comes from, the girl being valedictorian Diane Court. The guy holding the boombox is aver-age student Lloyd Dobler, who hopes to become a kickboxer and capture the heart of Diane. Unlike the previous high school movies on this list, this story takes place the summer after graduation, when these lovers’s futures have already been set (or have they…?).

9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: From an obsession with the Rocky Horror Picture Show to nights driving down the highway, hands up in the air while standing on the trunk of a pickup, the life of Charlie Kelmeckis could not have been more perfect from the moment that he escaped loneliness and met Sam and Patrick, two wild and carefree seniors who hope to teach Charlie the joys of life. This film might be the most relatable (or simply the most touching) on the list, telling the story of a troubled teenager whose family life is mediocre at best, whose traumatic past still haunts him, and whose love life is nothing less than chaotic. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those modest romances in which love blossoms for the young Charlie and Sam, who questions the nature of love, prompting Charlie to say “We accept the love we think we deserve.” Be prepared for tears, goosebumps, and a new-found sense of hope.

10. Crazy, Stupid, Love: As the title implies, you’ll find many crazy situations, stupid (but hilarious) moments, and lots and lots of love in this flick. Featuring the comedic talents of Steve Carell and Emma Stone, as well as Ryan Gosling (yes, from The Notebook), this film tells the awkward story of Cal (Carell), recent divorcee who is now learning the tricks and tips of seduction from Jacob Palm-er (Gosling). Love is more than just the focus of this rom-com, it’s the life of it, spanning from puppy love to lost love, lasting love to everything in between. So, if you’re looking for a film sure to make you laugh, swoon, or “aww,” make sure to check this one out!

By Juan Gonzalez Popcorn, tears, and “aww” moments. The following list names a few films which are not only perfect for watching with your signifi-

cant other, but will remain in your heart forever. Here they are in no particular order:

Scan & Check us Online!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 6

Godinez Fundamental High School

3002 Centennial Road Santa Ana, California 92704

Editors:Daisy GarciaCarlos Leyva Adviser:

Joyce FeuerbornCopy Editors:

Jose OchoaElizabeth Campos Photo Editors:Amy Jimenez Janet Lopez

Middle Pages Editors:Bethany UrbanoElizabeth GarciaStaff Writers:Margarita PereaJuan GonzalezSelena Pineda

Lesly CruzEric RodriguezLuz MorenoAmy JimenezDaisy Pizano

Breanna Penaflor Diane Bustamante

Abigail MartinezLizbeth Pantaleon

Cindi GarciaErika Evangelista

Metztli UrajeAna Villanueva

Katherine Perez Social Media:

Megan LeJose Ochoa

Eric Rodriguez

It’s the Oscars By: Julian Medranda

For those who cared to notice, 2013 was a solid year in film. The Coen brothers delivered in their same fantastic fashion with “Inside Llewyn Davis,” Steve McQueen’s brutal “12 Years a Slave” deserv-ingly took a Golden Globe for Best Drama, and Spike Jonze proved with Her, that he can write an amazing script.While it’s still too early to accurately measure what the best films of 2013 were, it’s never too late to check out some of the great films that the year had to offer before the Academy Awards Sunday night, March 2nd.

“12 Years a Slave”12 Years a Slave is director Steve Mcqueen’s third feature film and is based on the true account of Solomon Northup, who was sold into slavery in 1841. The subject matter that the film deals with may be difficult for some viewers to bear, as the nature of the film reminds us of “America’s gravest mistake.” Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender deliver their roles with heart, and McQueen’s direction ultimately makes this one of the best films of 2013. Expect it to grab a few awards on Oscar night.

“The Wolf of Wall Street”This is a very hard film to recommend. On one hand, it can be seen as a three hour long, gratuitous ride with more than enough vulgar-ity for one film; on the other hand, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is an intelligent addition to veteran director Martin Scorsese’s filmogra-phy that will get audiences’ blood flowing. This film follows Leon-ardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, who rose to power as he becomes a corrupt stockbroker through the use of penny stocks and security fraud. Scorsese does not underwhelm: this is an extremely vulgar movie and viewers’ discretion is advised.

“Philomena”Following the trend of films based on true events, Philomena is a much more heartfelt and accessible film for most audiences. With that said, it is an extremely great film that explores the theme of faith that [lead actors Steve Coogan and Judi Dench have different views.] Philomena is based on the true story of Martin Sixsmith writing a public interest article about the titular char-acter Philomena who is looking for her son, after the nuns of her convent gave him up for adoption 50 years ago. The chemistry behind Coogan and Dench is delightful, as they both have certain comedic aspects, while still bearing the emotional conviction that gives this film such an emotional impact.

“Her”Subtle, smart, beautiful, funny, gripping. Her is so close to a cinematic master-piece that it’s shocking. This is undoubtedly Joaquin Phoenix at his finest, and Scarlett Johansson’s voice acting helps sell this genuine relationship that takes place between a distanced man and his operating system’s artificial intel-ligence. The sci-fi elements of the film could have been overdone, but Spike Jonze respects his audience enough to have details be more implicit. Her is a film that will alert viewers to what we are becoming, as we distance ourselves from relationships and invest time in our advancing technologies. Did I men-tion the awesome soundtrack? There is so much to say about this movie, the best thing to do is to just see it. There have been a plethora of solid films that have been released this past year and are up for Academy Awards, so tune in if you are interested in see-ing some award - winning film recommendations.

Other noteworthy films to check out before the big night:• Blue is the Warmest Color, La Grande Bellezza, Short Term 12,• InsideLlewynDavis,TheWindRises,andCutieandtheBoxer.

Act, Dance, Sing, and Laugh! By: Diane Bustamante

Every year, Mr. Richard Marting, Ms. Jeanette McMahon, and students put all their effort into pro-ducing the best shows of the year. The Talent Show, West Side Story, and the improvisation class and show are the main attractions for this spring semester. Improvisation: In the world of improvisation, you get to interact with new people while expanding your artistic skills. By the end of the day, after playing at least one round of each theater game, you have more confidence in yourself because of the fact that you tried something new. According to Junior, Roxana Marti-nez, "interacting with people is the most fun because you never know what response you'll get."The golden rule of improvisation is: always accept the offer! With that said, the improvisation class is a great place to socialize, learn something new, and have great fun. Meetings are on Wednesdays from

3-5 p.m, Mr. Marting’s room. With regular practice, your improvi-sation skills will sky rocket and next thing you know, you are perform-ing in an improvisation show! On Friday, February 8th, Godinez, along with Woodbridge High School will have their very own improvisation show, filled with lots of laughs.Talent Show:Although it may seem scary to per-form in front of a live audience, it is time to step out of your comfort zone and audition. "When I was in high school, my guy friends and I performed in the talent show; we wore togas and danced around while we lip sang. It was a life changing experience,” said Mart-ing playfully.Even if you do not plan on audition-ing, as an audience member, you are definitely up for a great treat filled with great fun. The show will have eighteen performances, ranging from dancing, singing, improvisation, live music, and much more!

The talent show will be on Friday, February 21st, at 7p.m. Hope to see you there!West Side Story:Act, dance, sing! The beauty about musicals is that you not only experi-ence amazing acting, but you also get to watch the entire cast dance and sing!West Side Story portrays a Romeo & Juliet story of an American boy who falls in love with a Puerto Rican girl, though their love is forbidden. The entire cast has been rehearsing on a daily basis, making sure their roles are all enchanting. Just wait until you mambo!The performance times for West Side Story are on March 13th at 3:30p.m., on the 14th at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on the 15th at 2 p.m.If you are looking for ways to posi-tively spend your time, do not miss out on the Talent Show, the improvi-sation show, classes, and our upcom-ing musical, West Side Story!

(Take a look at some of our fellow Grizzlies perform-

ing at our very first improv show. Photos Courtesy of

Jose Ochoa)

Page 7

EDITORIALSGodinez Guy Code

By Eric Rodriguez

vs.Godinez Girl Code

By Luz Moreno(Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Garcia)

Guys, let’s get this straight. On Valentine’s Day, girls expect to come to school and be surprised. It doesn’t take much to satisfy a girl’s need for her loved one to be romantic. You see, us girls are romantic creatures and dream about finding that perfect guy from “The Notebook” to sweep us off our feet with every perfect romantic gesture there ever was created in this world. However, that man will never exist (as much as we all hope he will). In reality, all a guy needs to do is surprise her. Show up to school with a teddy bear (the bigger the better) and maybe a few flowers or roses, you know the whole deal. Yeah, we all get that same comment, “But I show her my love every day, there shouldn’t be one day where I have to show it with material things.” No. Okay, yes that’s true, but Valentine’s Day is kind of a big day for girls (even if some don’t ad-mit it). Moral of the story, surprise your girl! And here are some helpful tips.GoingPlacesonValentine’sDay:It doesn’t have to be expensive. The reality of that day is that the two of you get to spend the day together, basking in the ambiance of love in the air. It could be a simple walk in the park where you can have a picnic. You can go the movies and watch a flick (there’s bound to be a romantic comedy that day/weekend). Maybe go to one another’s house, light up a bonfire in the backyard (if applicable) and enjoy some s’mores while cuddling up in some blankets. You can even go to a small restaurant like Subway and eat there and maybe feed the subs to each other and be all cute about it, while taking selfies and posting it on Instagram. I don’t know. “Whatever floats your boat!”Chocolate:May I have your attention, please? DON’T get girls the round little chocolates with the red glaze stuff and cherries inside, nobody likes those! Okay, now that that’s not a concern, guys, please spend the time (and a little money) to get your girl some quality chocolate, it is a MUST for Valentine's Day! On this particular day, preferably in a package that’s shaped in a heart, flower, cupid, or something Valentine’s Day related. Don’t stress too much about it, girls love any kind of chocolate (except that cherry kind). Also, if you know your girl’s favorite chocolate, even better. Try to find that yummy brand of chocolate to give to her, she’ll LOVE you. Flowers:R-O-S-E-S, find out what it means to me! Nothing makes a girl feel more special than receiving a bouquet of flowers. Contrary to the expectation, not all girls expect roses, really, any flowers would do. Once again, if you know her favorite flower, it’d be best to buy those. It’s that personal touch that really touches our hearts. Lastly,Whattodoifyou’relonelyonValentine’sDay: Girls, you don’t need a man to make your day special. Plan a movie night with your girls or maybe even a nice dinner. Plan a slumber party full of sweets and gossip and good ‘ol romantic comedies.

Dear Gummy Bear, My girlfriend and I barely started going out, I don’t know what kind of gift to give her for Valentine’s Day. What gift would be accept able for a new couple? Sincerely, Confused Boyfriend

Dear Confused Boyfriend, As a new couple, your feelings towards one another are rather new. A gift not too personal, yet memorable would work. You can either go simple by giving a silly or tacky gift. Or shell out a few bucks to buy flowers, or chocolates with a note that displays your feelings towards her. Whichever gift you give her, it is the thought that counts not the quantity or the cash values.

Dear Gummy Bear, I don’t know if I should get my boyfriend a present for Valentine’s Day. Right now we’re taking a break and I don’t know if I should still get him something for Valentine’s Day?Sincerely, Confused Cupid

Dear Confused Cupid, You’re in a bit of a complicated situation. My best advice is not to give a gift but rather send a thoughtful note to your boyfriend. This can be as simple as “I am thinking of you” or “I love you”to make him realize that you still care. Remember, it’s the little things that matter.

Gummy Bear By: Selena Pineda

Dear Gummy Bear, I have a secret that I have never told anyone. I have never, never had a boyfriend and every Valentine’s Day I feel lonely, insecure about myself and depressed. Should I change to get noticed? What should I do?Sincerely, Unnoticed

Dear Unnoticed, Even though you may feel like a fish out of water in this anxious red and pink holiday, I suggest that you celebrate the holiday instead of be-ing sad or lonely. February 14th is just another day! I would say just be you by broadening yourself with love from others such as your friends or family members. Don’t worry about the day dreaded by all singles, there are many to come in the future so just go out there and have fun. And do not change to get noticed, there will be someone who will ap-preciate and admire everything about you, as Bruno Mars says, stay “just the way you are.”

(Photo Courtesy of Amy Jimenez)

Valentine's gifts are always a risky choice just because there are so many ways that it can go wrong. Girls, please don't give us any stuffed animals, for Valentine's Day. While, the gesture is nice and we really appreciate you taking the time and money to get us something, we don't know what to do with that. I mean, what can you do with that? It's got no use, and you'll never see it in our room either. It’s as good as a decorated rock, it’s pretty but there’s nothing you can do with it. If want to buy something for us, get us something we'll use, or even better, something we can eat. It’s no secret that men love food, so why don't you get us something we can eat? It’d be nice to switch the tables at least for once and you can try taking us out for a dinner date. Now, if you wanna over achieve and cook us something yourselves then, dang, as long as it ain’t burned that'd be the best Valentine's day ever.

Chocolate, if you want to get us chocolate then I think any chocolate would do. But please don't give us a box of chocolates that is pink, heart shaped, or screams "Valentines" because it's kind of embarrassing hav-ing to carry a box of chocolates that was clearly meant to be given to a girl. Any regular chocolate that you would buy any other day is fine, please no girly chocolates, we're guys.

Flowers, don't, please don't get us flowers. A man looks good carrying flowers as long as they're not his. Can you imagine walking down the hall and then hearing "Aww, you got flowers for your girlfriend?" And then having to answer "No, they’re mine" I wish no man has ever has to go through that but I'm pretty sure some have. So girls, please keep your man manly and don't get him flowers for Valentine's, that's our job.

Now, to all of my lonely people out there, have fun! If you don't have a Valentine's you can try to make yourself feel better by telling yourself "I don't have a Valentine's date that means I ain't gotta strain my wallet" and "I'm happy by myself, I don't need anyone to tell me that they love me." While, these are all lies, you never know it might just work! Happy Velentine’s Day Grizllies

(Photo Courtesy of Amy Jimenez)

SPORTSPage 8

Sports Spotlight:Jose Martinez

By Elizabeth Campos

Athletes of the Month: January By: Irlanda Tapia

Girls’ Basketball: Jasmin Canada “Jasmin has shown that with hard work and dedication, you can become a force to be reasoned with. Jasmin is a special player who I look forward to coaching another year!” --Coach Mendez

Drop your books, pencils, binders, and make way for our Godinez Girl's Varsity Soccer team! This season, the girl's soccer team is making a strong comeback. They are going against other teams, from Sunny Hills to Estancia, to be able to have a chance at making it into league.Each player is giving it their all and has sportsmanship on and off the field. Many students take time from their busy schedule to come support the girls."I appreciate all the support, it really helps. The more support, the better we do," stated, Girl's Varsity coach, Ms. Sara Henderson, "I feel confident that my team is capable of winning league."It would come as no surprise if the team does make it to league, having already achieved winning league the last couple of years, especially with all their outstanding players like Jennifer Ramirez, Ana Villanueva, and Jenny Marin.Seeing one game is enough to make you want to see them all. The season is just beginning, so head over to the field and come support our soccer team as they compete against the other teams in the district! As Hender-son said, " If [you] want to see really talented players at a high school level, then [you] should come watch the girl's soccer team."

Goal Grizzlies By Erika Evangalista

The soccer season is in session and this time around we are recognizing one remark able player, senior Jose Martinez. Though he is currently dedicating this sea son to soccer, he is also a volleyball player during the spring season. Martinez plays as a center attacking mid fielder for the Godinez Soccer team. Aside from managing his challenging AP classes, he is additionally the co-captain of the team.

Sometimes sports can interfere with schoolwork and Martinez finds that “most of the time they do,” which he said in a playful manner. It does not seem to be entirely detrimental, however. He mentions, “Indi-vidually, I have four goals and I have a few assists so I’m actually doing pretty well [this season].” The soccer team is undefeated with three tying games. His team is closely knit, and in his words, “It doesn’t matter if we are losing, we are always going to be supportive of each other.” Martinez believes his team-mates and Coach Ruben Fernandez have motivated him to do better at the sport he has learned to love. His teammates speak fondly of his sportsmanship and dedication to the team. Senior teammate Eric Diaz says “He is a great player and he is a big part of the team.” Senior Raul Vargas recognizes his “good lead-ership” as a notable trait Martinez maintains. Senior co-captain Omar Mo-rales states he is “glad to have Jose on the team. He’s a really hard worker and is committed to the team. He is also a good leader and pushes all of the players towards growth.”

He recognizes that his parents have supported him in major ways by driving him around to distant games without a complaint. Martinez is in club soccer when he is not in season for Godinez’s Soccer team and he expresses, “They take me everywhere. They take me to Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, anywhere that we have our tournaments. They are pretty supportive.” When asked about motivation, he responded by saying, “My fam-ily. They are the ones that motivate me to do my best.” He admits he can get “pretty lazy” however, he adds “When I see my family, I like to better myself because they want the best for me and I want the best for them.”Jose Martinez is very dedicated and anyone who goes to see him play can tell he takes the sport seriously. He is a valuable member of the GFHS soccer team.

(Photo Courtesy of Janet Lopez)

(Photos Courtesy of Irlanda Tapia ) Boys’ Basketball: Jose Mirand Jose has been a valuable part of the basketball pro-gram. [He] has worked tirelessly to improve his skills and is having an outstanding senior season.” --Coach Coombs

Boys’ Soccer: Manuel Jimenez“Manuel is a very skilled, hardworking and disciplioned player. He is one of our main of-fensive players on the team and he is doing an excellent job on the pitch.” --Coach Fernandez

Girls’ Soccer: Ana Villanueva “Ana is the hardest working player on the girls’ var-sity soccer team. She is the heart and soul of the team.” --Coach Henderson

Wrestling: Alejandra Colin “Alejandra is a highly accountable student who is not only committed but an outstand-ing wrestler. She is currently ranked 3rd in CIF and is en route to becoming a state cham-pion.” -Coach Maldonado

Girls’ Water Polo: Aylin Castro“Aylin has been a valuable member of our girls’ varsity water polo team for the last year. It is her passion of the game, her flexibility and her postive determination that I name her Athlete of the Month.” --Coach Morris