PonyExpressVolume 44, Number 1 • San Marin High • Novato, California • September 29, 2011

Since every Mustang’s first days of roaming the San Marin halls, all barbeques, dances, and fundrais-ers have had one purpose in mind: cheaper prom tickets. This year, in hopes of being economically stra-tegic, the Leadership class has de-cided to auction off senior parking spots to all upperclassmen, creat-ing unhappy feelings among seniors who have long awaited this privilege.Senior Alaina Collins feels like Lead-

ership has become more “money hungry” as the years have gone on, getting rid of tradition and disrespect-ing the senior class by their actions. When offering alternative sugges-tions she says “everything I suggest is immediately dismissed.” The auction started at fifty dollars a spot whereas in the past they have started at ten dollars. Students are concerned about what this will do to their budgets. “I don’t have parents that are willing to pay for these things,” says Collins. ASB president Dani Albini says that

the increase in price was a tip from ad-ministration; “people don’t understand

that we are trying to make money and do what’s best for our class,” she says. Chris Oberzeir, among many other

seniors, boycotted the auction because of the junior competition, claiming “it wasn’t worth it anymore to fight with the juniors”. In response, Albi-ni said that this is a SENIOR fund-raiser and the seniors are only hurt-ing themselves by not participating. The fundraiser as a whole backfired

when it didn’t see much involvement from the juniors as well. Josh Bern-stein, one of the two juniors who bought a spot claims that intimida-

tion was a factor in the lack of par-ticipation. “I was going to bid on spot number one in the front but then realized the seniors wouldn’t be too happy about that,” he explained. He tried to avoid this by buying a spot in the side parking lot, arguing that the front is more for the seniors. “I’ll get that spot next year,” he says.

Who is the new big man on campus? He is San Marin’s new principal, Mr. Adam Littlefield. Mr. Littlefield transferred from Technology High School in Rohnert Park to San Marin High School because he has a mis-sion to greatly improve the school. He wants to make it a place where students want to be every day by increasing the use of technology not only provided for students, but to make it easier for students to access internet on their own devices, to help students suc-ceed if they have been under-achieving, increase our API scores, and build a strong com-munity between the students, teachers, and administrators.

Building relation-ships is one of the main things that Mr. Littlefield says is needed for successful com-munication, “One of my goals is by February to know every student in the school…I can see their names on my computer, but that’s out of context.” Building relationships with the students is part of one of his biggest plans for San Marin, creating a fun, new, and involved school community. Mr. Littlefield knows that many students go off campus for lunch, but he hopes to work on making activities at lunch for stu-dents so they feel like they want to stay at San Marin. “I want to capitalize on that, I want to see a community, a family,” Mr. Littlefield commented. His plans include more than just clubs, but things like shaving Mr. Wil-liams’s hair or seeing teacher’s favorite dance moves. Though he doesn’t just want the students at San Marin

to bond together, he wants it to be students and teachers, teachers and the administration, and the administration back to the students. Many students support his ideas on bringing the school together, Junior Jenna Wilkins

commented, “I think that it’s great that he wants the school to be more con-nected, it could make it more fun and spirited!”

When talking to her Statistics class about outliers, Mrs. Taggard said, “Do you ever see the people without a group or a clique? Think about it, it’s time for you to take those people under your wing, because this is a community.” And that is how Mr. Little-field wants to approach building community as

well. He says that he plans to get the school excited and motivated again and wants to recreate that energy and feeling of school pride that he knew was fantastic when our basketball and baseball teams were doing so well last year. He says, “I didn’t see the basketball, but I saw the baseball and there was an energy there that I want to capture.” Mr. Littlefield plans to demonstrate this himself by attending games and school events. Se-nior Ryan Kates says, “I like him, he’s really nice and can relate to the kids, he has a good sense of humor and participates in activities like going to sporting events.”

Mr. Littlefield knows that all he has proposed is not going to happen overnight so he plans to stay at San

Not So Spot OnParking spot fundraiser flopsby Anahita Najafi

The New Big Man on Campusby Julia Raven

What’s Inside:

Class Sizes

Homecoming Hoedown

Rethinking Immigration

Advice Column

Summer Search

What’s on your iPod

How Not to Get a Date for Homecoming

San Marin Alumni 9/11 Trib-ute

A.P.I Knew We Could Do It Congrats San Marin, we did it. This year our school achieved an A.P.I., or Academic Performance Index, of 800, California’s goal for all public schools. “Every spring, public school students throughout the state take tests that are part of California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR). The results of these tests help determine a school’s Academic Performance Index (API). The goal for schools, set by the state, is to reach an A.P.I of 800 out of a possible 1000,” explains Principal Littlefield. The score is an overall reflection of the student body, and shows where improvements have been made among students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Not only did students raise the score 17 points from 783, but the score also puts San Marin on the right track toward becoming a California Distinguished School, a title given to the top five percent of public schools showing exceptional education programs. While NUSD boasts an average score of

833, Novato High School’s score decreased from 804 to 802. Last year a growing concern arose about the number of students slacking off dur-ing testing, resulting in lower A.P.I scores. This year, however, San Marin turned that around, and was placed in the top 28% of California public schools that met or surpassed the goal of 800.

See “API” on page 2...

by Laura Darken

Photo by Natalie Dagnino

Photo by Natalie Dagnino

Mr. Littlefield getting settled in his new office

The empty parking lot shows the failure of the fundraiser

See “LITTLEFIELD” on page 2...

NEWSSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 2Pony Express

Pony Express Staff

Editors-in-Chief Michaela Giunchigliani and Sara HaugenChief Growth Officer Anahita NajafiNews Editor Gabrielle PflugradtFeatures Editor Anahita NajafiOpinion Editor Natasha OsmidoffCenter Spread Editors Sara Haugen and Michaela GiunchiglianiArts Editor Morgan HackerSports Editor Justin WaxBack Page Editor Julia Raven Advisor Scott MacLeodPrincipal Adam Littlefield

ReportersLauren Bollinger, Ryan Burke, Owen Cao, Amanda Cardy, Natalie Dagnino, Laura Darken, Rachel Defilippis, Christopher Gorman, Jackson Grover, Louis Henry, Nidhisri Mamidi, Sierra Mayer, Katherine Minkiewicz, Sarah Monti, Sumaiya Mubarack, Lauren Obrien, Nikolas Oczkus, Paul Shin, Samantha Simmons

The Pony Express is published monthly by the journalism class at San Marin High School. The Pony Express seeks to provide a public forum for student expression and encourages letters to the editors. No unsigned letters will be accepted; however the author’s name may be withheld upon request.

San Marin Pony Express15 San Marin Drive, Room 411Novato, CA 94945phone: (415) 898-2121e-mail: smponyexpress@gmail.com

Are you angry, bitter or depressed? Write to the Pony Express! We take all complaints and opinions seriously--if you desire we will even publish them!

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The staff of the Pony Express appreciates the generous support of our patrons for 2011 - 2012:Major Mustangs Jack and June Haugen Jean Harris Johnson Julie Krasner Leslie Murphy David Oczkus Mike and Cindy Testa

Stallions Jennifer AltmannJennie and Tom BarrGail BeachLinda BlumBianca BoyajianBeke BrowneMiriam CamposKevin ChengAnna ChinSaundra DagninoKaren DohemannCynthia FalzonBertie FreebergKelé GaspariniEric and Marjann GroverAnne Hadley

Julie HaukeLisa IacovelliMike JoyceMike LipsKatie Lucey Janet MinkiewiczTerry NilsenThe O’Brien FamilyGlenn and Beth Osmidoff Diane RankinThe Raven FamilyGaye RoegiersSusan SchmidtMichelle SittonLeslie SkegrudLisa SpencerDavid and Sara SudlowLeah TufanelliMarji Zona

ColtsDon and Mai-Liis Bartling Janice and Bill BurkeJohn and Marian CaldwellCarla Cardarelli

Regina Chambers-Rebelo Christ and Helen CoaleThe Corbridge Family Gigi Crowe Michele DamazynThe Darken Family Phil and Laurie DoughertyLinda EimerTheresa Fitzgerald Timothy Friedman Erika Fuentes Fuyo Don and Marcia GonzalezTom GormanCindy HammettElaine Hannah Carol Hayes Irene HaugenMitchell HoBeth HuizengaMike JoyceLydia Knight-OriordanKim KulpMary LamerdinLaura LeonardElsa Marconi

Kris McGarty Jeannette McAlonanKimmy McIntyre Wendy Meluch Pat Minor The Molloy FamilyJeff MooreFarideh Najafi Travis PickLaura Posylkin Michael and Elaine ReyffEllen and Batty RichterMaija SchaeferLori SheronJanet Shouldis-Rothermich Gabriella SkarkaDebbie SmithMartha and Scott StewardVicki Sutton-BeattieAndrea SweatlandSK TomczakLaura and John Triantafyllos Lisa TuscherChris Vavuris Kauie Von Husen

If you’ve been paying atten-tion at school lately, you would have noticed the increase of class sizes here at San Marin. With increasingly large class sizes, it is making it almost impossible to concentrate and even harder to learn. Students, as well as teachers, are becoming outraged and hope that this problem gets resolved. “For me it is hard to concen-

trate with forty other students and if we have any questions it is hard for the teachers to answer all of them before the bell rings,” says Junior Jenna Sud-low. Mr. Zechlin, who has forty-one students in one of his Pre-Calculus class says, “The larger the number of students, the more difficult it is to con-trol the class. Regardless of what class it is, it is still hard to get the students to concentrate and stay on task.” Many other students say that the class sizes are ridiculous, and it’s even harder to get extra help from the teachers now that there are thirty-nine or forty other stu-

dents to attend to. It is understandable that some courses need to be this size but for curriculum such as math and sci-ence, forty students is no longer consid-ered a productive learning environment. Vice Principal, Ms. Pettis

who is in charge of putting classes to-gether says, “Some teachers have a contract maximum and most teachers can only see 155 students per day, and some teachers are over that amount.” Every year this amount of students per classroom is steadily increasing. Research shows students learn

better when the class sizes are smaller and teachers are available to answer questions instead of spending learning time trying to control a class of forty students or more. With the teachers not being able to attend to all the stu-dents needs they will not be able to learn everything they need to in or-der to succeed in college. If this issue does not get resolved soon classes will just keep getting bigger and bigger.

There’s No Room in Hereby Samantha Simmons Photo by Natalie Dagnino

Club Calendar

“API” continued... But what does this mean for you? When colleges look for students to accept,

they rank them based on their GPA, SAT scores, and their school’s A.P.I score. There-fore an increased school A.P.I score translates into a better college for you. Senior Luke Milton agrees that this makes college applications just a little less stressful, stating “I think it’s awesome that our school scored an 800, but at the same time I feel that a college shouldn’t judge a single character for the overall outcome from his/her school.” So we reached 800. Now what? Our goal as a school is to raise that num-

ber even higher, and Principal Littlefield is excited for next year. “I am thrilled that our school has reached the goal of 800. I look forward to working and learn-ing with our school community to increase the API by an additional 5 points next year.” So keep up your STAR test scores, and we’ll be on our way to the top. “LITTLEFIELD” continued... Marin for a long time, “Right now I

am fifty-one years old, and I plan to stay here until I am sixty-two. Ten to eleven years, and maybe more.” His old high school, Technol-ogy High had reached API scores of 900 and was one of the top rated schools in Califor-nia. When he left Technology High after eight years, he knew that building San Marin up to it’s full potential was a full on plan he was going to be taking into his own. “This is going to take time and effort... why did I leave? I felt like I couldn’t do anything else,” says Mr. Littlefield regarding the decision to leave his old school and come here. One of the biggest propositions that Mr. Littlefield has for San Marin is to try and help students who are under-achieving. This way, not only will the school be ranked higher for students looking to get into college, but it

will improve students individually as well. “I have a passion to help the under-performing students,” says Mr. Littlefield. He hopes to build up our entire school and not just for each individual, but for the entire student body as well.

On a personal note, Mr. Little-field is involved with his church and likes to help his children with the 4H club, pho-tography and art. He loves being outdoors and enjoys hiking and camping. He also enjoys cooking, whether it’s by himself or with his daughters. His favorite movie is Meet the Parents because he loves comedy.

Be sure to stop by and say hello to Mr. Littlefield over the next few weeks, and maybe we can help him meet his goal of knowing everyone by December.

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October 2011Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

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Claustraphobic classes cause a difficult working environment

OPINIONSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 3Pony Express

Tell us what you think! Send feedback to

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Photo courtesy of Celina Del Toro

You’re at In-N-Out with some friends from school and you see the boyfriend of a friend there with some other girl. They are flirting a little bit and he pretends not to see you. Do you tell your friend that you saw him? And if not, is that considered lying?

The omission of information is not a blatant lie in my eyes. If a friend doesn’t ask and you feel no need to tell him or her, then you are in no way obligated to inform them. To lie, as defined in the dictionary, is to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive. By not telling someone a piece of information you are not intending to hurt them. Senior Patrick Fairbanks says that “You’re talking about secrets and lying, we all know the difference.”

Of course there are those at San Marin who feel differently, Senior Phil Testa feels that “Yes, it is considered lying because then you are being deceptive and it is almost like telling a lie because then you

aren’t telling the person the whole truth.” But when you are knowingly denying an answer, then yes, I have to agree with him that is lying. People in high school tend to not know the difference between a lie and an omission just to create problems. The

fact that teenagers take this so seriously is ridiculous. Teenagers are not the F.B.I. and it is not a federal crime to withhold information. Having been faced with such a situation Testa advises, “It’s best to tell people everything and not leave out things because if you do then they

will feel the same as being lied to.” Junior Emily Bransford stated perfectly that “if someone asks you upfront about something and you avoid the truth by not telling them, then yes that’s lying. But if the question is never asked and the subject is never brought up then I wouldn’t consider that lying. If the information is something that won’t affect the other person than it could go without being said.”

by Natasha Osmidoff

Many know of the constant immigration battle that has been going on since the United States allowed the inflow of foreigners. Now that the total population has grown to over 300 million people, the government has been struggling to find a fair process for immigrants to enter the country. This has affected many countries over time, but right now, immigrants from Latin America are struggling the most. While living in Oaxaca for two months, I only got a taste of what it’s like for the families left behind and the ones that are struggling to enter the United States.

Immigration is far too complex of an issue to be judged from one perspective. While many hold false assumptions about the issue, this summer in Mexico I found that many of these are the product of misinformation and misunderstanding.

It’s one thing to hear stories of Mexican workers “leeching” off of our economy, it’s another to meet mothers who have not seen their husbands for several years as they try to raise four kids on their own. Others have it better, as the man of the family may only need to work in the U.S. for a few years to earn enough to provide for his children. Throughout the country, there are fragments of families trying to reconnect with their loved ones in Latin America who cannot afford or get the papers to cross the border. Whether it be an issue of sending paychecks back home or trying to start over in the U.S., immigration cannot be shaken off as the border states’ “problem.”

It seems that both sides of the political spectrum believe that extreme measures must be taken to find a solution to immigration. Either shut down the border or make it open for all. Unfortunately, it can never be that simple. Perhaps the best way to find a solution is to begin understanding every side of it--not just what the media chooses to portray.

Over the summer, I stayed with a host family in a small community in Oaxaca, Mexico as a part of Amigos de Las Américas. I went in not knowing much about immigration besides that it is an arduous issue for the U.S. and that California has a high Latino population because of it. Every day, I ate with a different family in the community, and each had a different story about a relative either moving to the U.S., working there for a while, or trying to get the papers to get there. Some

admitted that they had gone into the country illegally because of the complexities of getting a passport. However, the majority of the people I talked to had lived in the U.S. for a few years to make some money, then they returned home and continued to work in their own community. It seems that all we hear about are the illegal immigrants that are using our resources, but in truth, there are many people that only live and work in the U.S. for a little while to make what they need to get by in their own country.

Beyond the accounts of the families I met while in Mexico, there is the crucial perspective of those that have gone through the process and are currently living in the United States. As 20% of our school’s population is Latino, their views are an important piece to the immigration puzzle. This section is written in Spanish to represent this portion of San Marin.

Unos latinos de esta escuela vinieron con su familia a los Estados Unidos recientemente, mientras los padres de otros vinieron hace mucho tiempo. Unos entraron legalmente, y otros

no. De cualquier manera, muchos saben que es difícil entrar y vivir en un país nuevo y extraño con un lenguaje diferente.

Para muchos, la entrada fue lo más duro. Una estudiante del último año, Celina Del Toro dice, “[Unas leyes] son muy duras y estrictas. La gente sólo viene para trabajar y vivir <<el Sueño Americano.>> No es su culpa que muchos quieran trabajar aquí.”

Después de mucho trabajo para entrar, los latinos se tienen que adaptar a la vida americana. Una estudiante del tercer año, Mayte De Los Reyes Fuentes compartió, “Cuando mi mamá vino de Perú, era difícil vivir aquí. Estaba en un lugar extraño sin familia. Ella se enfrentó a la discriminación y tuvo muchos obstáculos.” También, Mayte se lamenta porque tiene muchos amigos que han sido deportados en Arizona.

Además, el tratamiento malo de inmigrantes ilegales les molesta a muchos. Gaby Ventura, del grado doce, tiene una opinón diferente. “Pienso que algunas reglas están bien como si uno hace algo ilegal, debería tener consecuencias. Pero otras, como las de Arizona y Georgia, no creo que sean necesarias,” expresa ella. Pues, nadie sabe el futuro de la imigración exactamente, pero lo seguro es que será difícil resolverlo; todo de un día para otro.

From the Other Side of the Borderby Sara Haugen

So I broke up with my boyfriend of a year about a month ago. He still tells me he cares about me and wants to get back together. Secretly, part of me wants to get back together but part of me wants to be single. A couple weeks after, I secretly hooked up with his best friend. I know it’s guy code and it was way too early, but he is hot and came on to me, and I was technically single. It was one of those times where after we hooked up it got really awkward and we didn’t talk. I think it was because we both felt so guilty. I learned then that I loved my boyfriend and didn’t want to be with anyone but him, and we got back together. Things have never been better with him, but I still feel horrible. I want to tell him but I know he will break up with me. I feel like I’m lying to him every day, and I am scared that one day he will find out. Should I take the chance and just keep it a secret or tell him, take the hate, and hope he can forgive me? HEELLPP!

From, GuiltyGirl

Dear Sally,

If you truly like your boyfriend you should tell him the truth because the guilt will not go away. Things will only get worse as time goes on. It will be in the back of your mind and holding you back from a trusting relationship, which is the most important thing to have. If you’re not completely honest with him you can’t expect him the same in return. No doubt this will leave a strain on your relationship, but you owe it to him to admit your mistake and take the consequences. If it is a strong relationship like the one you described, it will all work out in the end. Hopefully he will realize you made a mistake and how sorry you are. When faced with a tough situation its always best to stick with the truth. Good luck!

Love,Sally the Mustang

What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You

Dear Sally,

Dear GuiltyGirl,

San Marin students request help from school mascot

“If someone asks you upfront about something

and you avoid the truth by not

telling them, then yes that’s

lying”

The border between Mexico and California

The debate over lies and untold details

Reporter changes perspective on immigration after summer in Mexico

FEATURESSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 4Pony Express

September 11: a date that is forever etched in our nation’s psyche. While many at San Marin realize the day’s significance as the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, many lack a personal connection to the event, so it remains distant, like a reoccurring nightmare that returns every September. However, out of the nearly 3,000 Americans that lost their lives that day, the causalities included two fellow Mustangs: John ‘Jack’ Keohane (Class of ’78) and Paul Sloan (Class of ’93). Born in Denver, Colorado on July 30, 1975, Paul Sloan lived in Houston, Texas before moving to the Bay Area in 1981. Despite these frequent relocations, he and his family adjusted quite well in the Novato community. At San Marin, Sloan excelled both academically, being Senior Class Vice-President and Honor student, and athletically, playing offensive lineman for the Varsity Football team. His coach Mr. Zechlin said Sloan was “the antithesis of a dumb jock” and achieved many awards, including All-League and All-Bay Area honors as one of the top linemen in Northern California. Described by friends as a “sweet, driven” man, Sloan was “full of contradictions…he was a sensitive warrior and a humble hero.” Zechlin agrees, describing him as a “very down-to-earth, normal, intelligent guy off the field but when he played, he was a tough cookie.” Sloan continued his athletic career at Brown University, where he played offensive lineman and was awarded the University’s Football Team Award in 1996, for being the senior with the “highest scholastic standing for the first seven semesters.” After graduating with a History degree in 1997, Sloan worked in San Francisco before moving to New York City six months before the 9/11 attacks. Located on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower, Sloan’s office was only five floors above United Airlines Flight 175’s point of impact. Unfortunately, like most 9/11 victims, firefighters were unable to recover a body. He was only 26.

Like Paul, John ‘Jack’ Keohane also had a transient childhood. After living in San Bruno, California, Keohane and his family moved to Novato, where he attended Sinaloa Middle School and San Marin High. Graduating in 1978, he was a speaker at graduation. Described by friends as charismatic, Keohane was “disarming; you saw him and you wanted to talk to him.” He put his social and public speaking skills to good use, attending Sacramento State University and the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. After living in Pennsylvania, he moved to New York to be a lawyer for a successful Swiss

insurance company, Zurich, U.S. Located at One Liberty Plaza, a skyscraper adjacent to the Twin Towers, Keohane was shaken from his office desk to find his beloved city a disaster zone. He quickly evacuated to a nearby street and met up with his partner of 17 years, Mike Lyons, who worked nearby. Staring in horror at the burning towers, Keohane called his mother in Petaluma. “Mom, I’m safe,” he assured her, and remarked that a “third plane” just hit the towers. But it wasn’t a third plane, but the sound of the North Tower collapsing. As the building fell apart, Keohane and Lyons ran for cover from the cloud of smoke and debris that was headed their way. As the dust settled, Lyons realized that he escaped without harm but his partner wasn’t so lucky. After a 3-day search of local morgues and hospitals, his family was informed that Keohane’s name was on the coroner’s report. Thankful for the recovery of her brother’s body, Darlene Keohane remarked that Keohane was “just this ordinary kind of hero, calling his mother to let us know he was okay.” Though many know of the newly constructed 9/11 memorial on Ground Zero, many are unaware of similar memorial located on San Marin’s campus. Built in 2002, a flagpole, memorial plaque, and commemorative bench were constructed next to the track and football field for all

at San Marin to honor both Sloan and Keohane. A brick initiative was launched in March to enhance the memorial. and a flagpoleIn order to honor these, who both lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, a memorial was established in 2002 near the to honor these men,. The site currently consists of a beautiful flagpole next to the track and football field. Plans are currently underway to add commemorative bricks to the site as well. If you wish to buy a brick for the memorial, call 892-3585 or check out the Facebook page.

9/11 Hits Home:A Remembrance of San Marin Alumni Affected by the Tragedy

Many students at San Marin found themselves in a state of shock when they heard the news of Mrs. Julie Fung’s unexpected death. In a strong show of support, the students turned to Facebook to share their feelings and to seek comfort for the passing of the beloved teacher. The “We Believe Mrs. Fung” page was put together after cervical cancer took her life this past August. Filled with words of love, thanks and inspiration, this online memorial only scratches the surface of Mrs. Fung’s special bond with each individual. Although Fung may be physically gone, she will forever be in the hearts of her students. “Mrs. Fung was a role model. She was inspiring and the nicest person I have ever met,” said Sophomore Damon Moore, who had Fung as a 7th grade teacher. He continues to smile as he explained, “my favorite memory was when our class made the Fung Rap.” Fung was known for her humor and how she could personally relate to each student. “I will definitely miss being able to go back and visit her,” 11th grader Shay Stubblefield added. When Olivia Murillo was asked about her Fung memories, she had a tough time picking one but said, “Mrs. Fung

crowned me Queen of the M&Ms once!” Mrs. Fung’s standout personality taught all of her students to have fun while making a difference. At Fung’s remembrance service, fellow teacher Jill Heyer spoke a final goodbye message to her best friend. “Julie Fung, you are irreplaceable in my life and the lives of your family, friends and students. Your humor and joy and love have blossomed in countless people and we are better and stronger for it. You taught us all to believe and inspire. You havehad many blessings, and you are a blessing. “

by Rachel DeFilippis

by Lauren Bollinger

Students gathered to

commemorate their beloved

teacher

Remembering Mrs. Fung

Illustration by Lauren Bollinger

America commemorated those lost on 9/11

Anthony Giusti, Michael Power, and Ricky McCloskey speak about Mrs. Fung An altar constructed by students

FEATURESSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 5Pony Express

Sometimes, even at a crowded school or in a bustling classroom, one can feel so alone. In the beginning of her sophomore year, Gaby Garcia struggled with the hardships of her life because she felt it was useless trying to find someone who understood her. As control of her life and pressures from school began slipping out of her grasp, she was recruited just in time by Summer Search to enhance the life she was living. Summer Search, a nonprofit organization, helps bright and resilient but disadvantaged kids find their potential as leaders. Over the past few years, it has reached out to three students, enhancing their education with mentoring, college advisory services, and summer enrichment programs in the United States and beyond. With the help of teachers or counselors who nominated them to apply, Gaby Garcia, along with Daisy Rodriguez and Yesica Batres took advantage of the opportunity to expand their worlds beyond their lives at San Marin. They took trips to places that were new and unfamiliar, which actually helped them became more familiar with who they are today. Yesica Batres came to the U.S. from Guatemala when she was eight, and with her stunted English and quiet, reserved ways she was going through school without direction. Because of this, her grades were poor and she didn’t feel she like she could bring herself to open up to someone who

could help. Fortunately, she, Gaby, and Daisy made it through a competitive selection process to reap the benefits of the program. They had to go through a tough, probing interview, but the Summer Search people needed to get to know the driven candidates they had in front of them. “[The interview] was very personal and emotional but it was so worth it,” Daisy Rodriguez remarked,. On her trip to Idaho, she went backpacking in the wilderness and found the perfect

place to collect her thoughts and bring order back into her life. Yesica was able to open up to a mentor and start having strong goals to go to a university. Yesica’s inspirational trip to Thailand also revealed new dreams for her. While meeting kids at an orphanage and teaching them English just as she had learned so many years before, she also spent many other fulfilling hours doing community service. She now hopes to raise money for a refugee camp in Thailand with the opportunities

Summer Search provided for her in that lifetime experience. For Gaby, her outcome was the same. She found solace in the Summer Search program, where she was able to talk about and resolve her issues without fear or reservations. On her trip, where she kayaked in the San Francisco Bay, she was able to connect with many others just like her. Summer Search opened up a confident, forward-thinking, and optimistic side of those who enjoyed it at San Marin, and they all value the unforgettable experiences they’ve had over the past few years. As Daisy put it while she reminisced, “It’s an honor to be a part of Summer Search.”

Students Enrich Lives Through Summer Searchby Sumaiya Mubarack

Yesica Batres with kids in Thailand

HOMECOMING

Ophelia Pedersen & Elliott Hanson Sarah Marthinsen & Ryan Kates

Abe Magana & Bridget Pacchetti

Bissie Barzakov & Nick Kristofors

Gabrielle Pflugradt & Michael Delagnes

What to expect from this year’s candidates... Country styleWe asked these bronco-busters the following questions:1. What are you most excited about for Homecoming?2. What’s your favorite dance move?3. What’s your favorite music to get down to and why?4. What do you think about your partner?

1) Ryan- I am most excited for the after party.

2) Sarah- The Hair Flip. Ryan- The Bernie.

3) Sarah- Hard core musical theater! No joke, I am one of those crazy people who doesn’t listen to pop. Ryan- Mac Dre, a specific song be-ing ‘Let’s Get Down’.

4) Ryan- My partner is a boss tycoon

1) Nick- Thrusting in the air in the middle of the dance floor!

2) Bissie- I love doing ‘The Dougie’. It makes me feel like who I really am.

3) Both- French Rock. They sound like they have a bunch of cheese in their mouth when they sing.

4) Bissie- He’s a crazy fool who al-ways knows how to put a smile on someone’s face

1) Bridget- I’m looking for-ward to getting my pale skin burned at the football game. It will look really attractive with the dress that night. Wearing Aloe Vera as perfume to the dance truly does make it a night to remember.

2) Abe- The 2-Step because I can’t do much else.

3) Bridget- Hannah Montana AND Miley Cyrus because I like the best of both worlds

4) Abe- Bridget is the best because of her beautiful personality, warm smile and her way with others. What’s not to like about her?

1) Michael- Looking pretty in my new dress!

2) Both- One Legged Hip- Thrust. It gets the ladies antsy.

3) Gabrielle- Gospel Rap. We also listen to great music in the Swaggin’ Wagon.

4) Michael- Though I don’t like say-ing this... She is one of the few peo-ple in this world that is as perfect as me. I mean how could you not like us? Long + Awkward = Perfection

1) Both- We are most excited for the big soccer match between SM and Redwood. Gooooo Stallions!

2) Both- Dancing makes us nerv-ous.

3) Ophelia- METAL!!!

4) Elliott- She’s okay. Ophelia- I admire Elliott’s ability to rock mustard-colored corduroy pants.

September 29, 2011 • Page 6Pony Express

HOEDOWN

Danielle Albini & John Seavey

Travis Grossi & Whitney Bynum

Sarah Lucia & Trevor Dohemann

Gianna Bruschera & Matt Gauci

Patrick Fairbanks & Sam Hassett

1) John- I’m just excited for the Homecoming hype. 12.

2) Both- The Upside Down Goal Post. Yeah, I’ll let you figure that one out for yourself.

3) Both- Turkish Dir-vish. I danced my pants off one time listening to it.

4) John- Dani is like a fruit salad. A perfect

mix of everything! She also sleeps in a one-sy and owns four sloths. Just kidding but seriously, she does.

1) Matt- I’m most excited to see Mitchell Ho’s out-fit. Sophmore year it was a dragon shirt, Junior year it was a vest over a dragon shirt. Who knows what it will be this year?

2) Gianna- The Head Spin. Yes, I can spin on my head. Ask me to do it. I dare you.

3) Matt- Probably techno because when I listen to it, I believe in myself that I have rhythm but when I watch myself in the mirror, the real truth comes out.

4) Gianna- He is the most amazing, sweetest, cutest, perfect boy in the whole world. We all know he has more swagger than Mick Jag-ger. Matthew Gauci, will you marry me?

1) Sarah- Stampeding down them Wildcatz’

2) Both- The Lawn Mower

3) Trevor- We like Classical Jazz because we like to fist pump to the beat.

4) Sarah- We don’t really know each oth-er that well...but he seems like a nice guy. Trevor- We haven’t talked much, so it will be cool to get to know her.

1) Sam- I am most ex-cited for the Senior float because all the cowgirls and cowboys carry hay around with them. Hay really connects me to my inner ‘stang!

2) Both- The Bend and Snap

3) Sam- Simple. Jazz. A stream of saxophone, trombone, and clarinet creates a beat that keeps the feet movin’.

4) Sam- Patrick is supercalifragilisticexpialidicious!

1) Whitney- I'm excited to go all out for the spirit days!

2) Both- The Shopping Cart

3) Both- Polka music slaps; most people don't know this.

4) Whitney- Travis is the sweetest person ever. I adore him!

September 29, 2011 • Page 7Pony Express

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENTSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 8 Pony Express

Review: Being the “Best Rapper Alive”, Lil Wayne is on a tour across the country. With the release of his new Carter IV album, he is in the spotlight and over 12,000 fans attended his concert in Mountain View. The quality and energy of the concert can be described in two parts. The first 90 minutes was amazing and Lil Wayne was energetic and there was nothing to stop him from performing explosive modified versions of his fan favorites including “No Love,” “I’m Going In” and “A Milli.” The performance was unreal and amazing. After his glory time, Lil Wayne’s energy and program went downhill with iffy guest vocalists and bad music selection. The concert is overall very satisfactory and many attended partly due to his new Carter IV which has been the number one selling album on iTunes for over a week.

San Marin Takes White Christmas to the Stage

Lil Wayne Gets Phat Crowd

Anna Mazzariello leads the cast in dance routines.

There are many more great concerts and music events in the next few weeks happening in the Bay Area. Here are a few worth going to:

-Plain White T’s, Fillmore-CA, San Francisco, CA, Tue. Oct 4, 2011, 8:00 PM

-Journey, Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord, Concord, CA Wed. Oct 5, 2011, 7:00 PM -Enrique Iglesias with Pitbull, HP Pavilion at San Jose, San Jose, CA, Fri. Oct 7, 2011, 7:00 PM -Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, Uptown Theatre Napa, Napa, CA, Tue, 10/18/11 8:00 p.m.-Chris Brown, Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA, Sat, 10/22/11 7:00 p.m.

by Owen Cao

by Sierra Mayer

Countries are battling, cities are being bombed, but in Vermont, there is singing and dancing. The fall musical this year, White Christmas, is a love story placed after World War II. The two main characters, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, after the war ends, they go to sing and dance, soon becoming famous producers in Broadway. Their love interests are two sisters, Betty and Judy, who perform at a nightclub. The two pairs become involved with each other, while helping raise money for a small Vermont inn owned by their old commanding officer, Major General Tom Waverly. They do this by getting their old army friends together for a musical show.

White Christmas will be replacing Cookies and Cocoa. Due to reduced dance class sizes, the production was too much of an ordeal. Ms. Maas-Baldwin, Music Director, leapt on this opportunity. “As soon as I heard it wasn’t happening, my wheels were turning.” She had always wanted a chance to put on White Christmas, and is excited that she now has the chance. Although it is disappointing not to have Cookies and Cocoa, this production will be an excellent replacement. It is filled with lots of jazz and entertainment.

Upcoming Concerts:

Photo by Nik Oczkus

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENTSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 9Pony Express

by Morgan Hacker

Huck Finn, a classic, daring tale of a young boy and his companion Jim, a runaway slave, relive their adventures on our stage this fall as they run from the law, escape unfortunate events, and meet new friends along the Mississippi River. Since it was first published over 125 years ago, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has seen the banned books lists many times due to its controversial themes of racism and stereotypes. Many of our English teachers as well as students who have read this novel, are excited to see how our drama department will tell the story. “Its going to be great” said drama director Ms.K, “the way it’s written, there will be no controversy”. A great way to spend a weekend would be to bring along the family and enjoy this play as it unravels for your entertainment. Huck Finn will be coming to San Marin on November 1st, and also the 3rd-7th. Tickets will be sold at the door and also the office.

Huck Finn: A Modern Take on a Classic

Mediocrity In Space: Apollo 18 Review

Drama students Taylor Myers and Peter Slanina rehearse Huck Finn.

Apollo 18 poster forshadows events.

Not scary. Not fun. Apollo 18 is a mediocre and dreadfully boring film that will leave the audience snoring, rather than on the edge of their seats. The premise of Apollo 18 consists of three astronauts being sent on a secret government mission to the moon, to plant radio antennas that would gain a communications boost over the Russians. Questions are then raised when they stumble upon an abandoned Russian module and a dead cosmonaut. Within time the astronaut’s module becomes mysteriously damaged and they start to occasionally hear strange noises. Later they encounter aliens that create a lethal scenario that forces them to try to return to earth. The plot is probably the only remotely interesting quality about Apollo 18. The film is slow and dull.

The audience will rarely see any aliens or action. When the audience does see the action it seems to be rushed and at times unwatchable, as the camera cannot stand still. This is on done on purpose to give the film an authentic feel hence, the name, found footage. For what it’s worth the special effects are good for a 5 million dollar budget, yet they are not used to the extent to make the film more entertaining. The same goes for the acting. In the end, don’t go see this movie. It’s ugly, uninteresting and will leave you snoring. If you have time to kill, save your money for something that’s worth it.It comes barely recommended as a rental, and at that a mediocre one. The score is set at 5.2 /10.

by Nic Oczkus

Photo by Ms. K

Justin Simonetti - Senior 1. Psych 2. Bones 3. Scrubs 4. Dr. Who 5. House

What’s on Your TV?

Gena McDonald - Junior 1. Jersey Shore 2. Sex and the City 3. That 70’s Show 4. The Nanny 5. Golden Girls

The Top 5 TV shows of San Marin students

Chris Martinez - Sophomore 1. iCarly 2. Suits 3. White Collar 4. Psych 5. Jersey Shore

Illustration by Michaela Giunchigliani

Compiled by Morgan Hacker

September 29, 2011 • Page 10SPORTS

The San Marin Mustangs are (3-1) and will play the defending MCAL Champion Marin Catholic Wildcats (4-0) for the Homecoming game. The Mustangs are coming off of a playoff run that took them into the second round last year of the NCS playoffs, and have played well so far this year. San Marin hasn’t beaten the Wildcats in years, but fans believe the Mustangs have the talent to match MC this year. The two teams were predicted to finish first and second in MCAL, and this game could decide who takes home the league championship. Some of the students are doubtful of the Mustangs’ chances against MC, especially with the four-game losing streak the Mustangs have against the Wildcats. Students are confused about who chose Marin Catholic to be the Homecoming opponent, as teams typically play weaker teams for Homecoming. Tamalpais was the only other opponent the Mustangs could have played. The Tam game had originally been

scheduled on Yom Kippur, so it was decided that that week’s game would be moved to a Thursday night. So the only choice left was Marin

Catholic.

The players seem extremely optimistic about the game and cannot wait to prove the non-believers wrong. “We have a lot of talent this year and MC is weaker than they’ve been in the past, so we should be able to pull off the upset,” says Quarterback Tre Changeux. The Mustangs are expected to have a jam-packed crowd as the game will be interesting at the least. Not all of the fans believe the Mustangs will win, but they will be at the game in hope of repeating last year’s upset over Novato with a storming of the field. Students believe that a Mustang victory will improve the Homecoming dance later that night. Brad Walchli explained, “I feel the dance will be even better if San Marin wins because everyone will be in a good mood and will still be excited from the outcome of the game.” The players agree that the fans play a key role and all who can attend should be there to root them on.

Homecoming Showdown: Mustangs battle defending MCAL Champion Wildcatsby Chris Gorman

Ryan Kates:Football

Tre Changeux:Football

Jesus Del ToroSoccer

Nick KristoforsFootball

Schools interested: UC Davis, San Jose State University

Schools interested: University of Santa Clara, University of San Francisco

Schools interested: Boise State, Sacramento State, East Oregon, Pacific Oregon

Schools interested: UC Davis, University of Arizona, University of Nevada Reno, University of Washington, Fresno State, Sacramento State, San Diego State University, Cal Poly SLO, Army

College-bound Athletes Report for Dutyby Justin Wax

Pulling Off the Stunt:

*All Fall Sports Recruits photos courtesy of: Varsitypix.com/Phil Alferness

No one wants to be on a team of only six people, especially a team that is supposed to be the foundation of school spirit. This is what San Marin Cheer became during the 2010-2011 school year. But it wasn’t always like that. Between the years 2011-2012, the team has gone from 16, to six, to now 24 girls. As a freshman and sophomore on the team we had work intense practices, amazing stunts, and incredible bonds. Cheerleading was everything you could have asked for plus more. It was treated like a full time job in which if you worked hard, you would be rewarded in the end. With only three people on the team from the class of 2012, we knew that this was coming. Once the class of 2010 was gone, taking along 80 percent of the team, we were doomed. With lack of participation from my class, the team fell apart. Even I found myself bailing on everything that I had worked for since freshman year. I saw it as a waste of time weighing in the fact that almost nothing could be done with such a small team. “It was embarrassing to be dancing next to only five people,” says junior, Jillian Yee. Looking back, I made a selfish decision by abandoning my team, only making matters worse for the others. But seeing as though I dreaded every minute of practice; I saw it as a waste of my time trying to attempt things that shouldn’t be a problem under normal circumstances. The coach wasn’t exactly 100 percent committed either. She found herself bailing and letting the team fall apart during the middle of basketball season.

By the end of last year the school had completely given up on our cheer program. It was devastating to watch, especially during such an exhilarating basketball season, there were no cheerleaders supporting our team. At the brink of cutting the program, a few other girls and I presented Mr. Pitti, the athletic director, with a list of 45 girls who wanted to join. In the end we didn’t get that many people. When asked why people hadn’t joined earlier, current team member, Samantha Watson said “I think a lot of people were embarrassed because of San Marin’s previous cheer rep” she explained that people had more faith and a lot of seniors wanted to participate their last year. Sophomore Carlie Thoma explained that hearing about people joining motivated her to sign up as well, “I heard people were going to be doing it and I thought it would be nice to have an actual team and cheer family again.” This experience has proved one thing to be correct. High schoolers want to do what’s popular. “Everyone’s friends were doing it so they wanted to also,” says Yee. If word is going around that people are doing something, everyone will want to do it. The cheerleading squad came to be as a result of popularity and word of mouth. Even I can admit to being motivated through popular demand. This year, we hope that our hard work in recruiting members will pay off and San Marin’s cheer rep will continue to improve.

San Marin’s offense lines up in their 41-0 win against Lincoln High

How San Marin Cheer made a comeback

Photo by Adam Littlefield

by: Anahita Najafi

After San Marin Sports erupted in all fields last year, our school will be seen by scouts and coaches as one of the elite sports schools in the North Bay. Last year’s sports success have lured many college coaches and scouts to recruit our athletes. Here is a look at some of San Marin’s top recruits for the Fall 2011-2012 season:

SPORTSSeptember 29, 2011 • Page 11

Stuart Wesonga is no longer a Cal State Northridge Matador. After signing a National Letter of Intent to play Divison 1 basketball at Northridge last fall, Wesonga has decided to transfer to San Francisco City College. The 6’7 big man will then go through the recruiting process again, looking for another Division 1 destination after this season. After averaging 21.5 points,

20.2 rebounds, and 5 blocks in 2010 and leading San Marin to MCAL and NCS Championships, Wesonga was easily chosen as the MCAL Player of the Year and also earned All-State honors. He was also the first San Marin basketball player ever to earn a Divison 1 scholarship. But what really caused Wesonga to leave Northridge? According to San Marin Head Basketball Coach, Craig Pitti, “Issues occurred with Stuart that were not in his scholarship.” He is not allowed to talk about these terms, but did say that Wesonga was taken completely off guard by these occurrences. Another variable that caused Wesonga to leave is Northridge’s NCAA Tournament ban. After failing to meet academic requirements numerous times over the past few seasons, the NCAA suspended Northridge from this year’s post season, and according to an ESPN source, more post season bans are to come. “Initially, I was told that only my freshman year we couldn’t go to the tournament, but when I started hearing rumors about more bans I became discouraged. It was not the only reason I left, but it did factor in,” said Wesonga. Stuart was at Northridge for

just two months during the summer and after going through classes and limited workouts, it was enough for him. He states; “It is a decision I ultimately made myself. I felt Northridge was not the place for me anymore, and now I am totally focused on improving my game and helping my team win games this year.” He did not go through this process alone though. Pitti quotes: “Stuart and I talked about all possible scenarios. We both decided this was the best choice he had, and he went through with it.” Wesonga also believes he can have great success at CCSF, “It’s good to be at a winning program, a program that won state last year. I like the coaches and feel that I’m in a good place to continue my basketball and academic careers.” Pitti also does not believe Wesonga initially made the wrong decision in signing with Northridge. He said, “When we went down for a two-day visit last fall they brought out the red carpets for him. It’s hard to get a feel for what the school is really like in a two-day period.” The road to CCSF happened very quickly for Wesonga, and the potential there is big. He would have liked to play at another Division 1 school but

this was not an option for this year. An NCAA rule bans any student athlete that has signed a National Letter of Intent to leave and play at another school that year so he would have to sit out while losing a year of eligibility. “I knew that I wouldn’t be able to handle sitting out a year so the JC route was the best path for me.” said Wesonga. Thus, CCSF and their winning basketball tradition were an excellent fit. However, there are also risks with this decision. “Stuart and I talked about the risks of leaving. If he was to get hurt this year, then he would be in a lot of trouble. He is walking away from a full ride to college but he is comfortable with this.” states Pitti. The road ahead for Wesonga is very bright and he wants to make the most of it. With numerous Pac-12 schools showing interest, the decision to leave Northridge was made easier as this has always been his dream. He is studying Criminal Justice and said if basketball doesn’t work out in the future, he would like to be a detective. Whatever the case is, he knows he has a strong supporting cast in Novato and is poised to have a successful freshmen season.

by Ryan Burke

Girls Varsity Tennis: Last year, Coach Fern Ruth led the girls to a stellar finish, coming in third place in MCAL’s. However, with the loss of nine players, including three time MCAL champion Laura Posylkin, the team is going to have to work harder this season. Through the course of this season Coach Ruth expects her players to work towards improvement and not worry too much about winning or losing. There are many standouts this year that Coach Ruth expects will contribute to the team. Leading the team at number one singles is Junior Rachel Teel, who won MCAL individuals division three last year. Behind her is Sophomore Hannah Gelleri. Anchoring number one doubles is Captain Amanda Cardy and Junior Julia Raven. Captain Maria DeSalvo and Junior Rachel Cantor have also contributed by moving to harder positions this year. Coach Ruth’s goals for the team this year are to, “make the playoffs and support each other as a team.”

Cross Country: Science Teacher and Coach Virginia Vogl is eager for the season to start and pleased with the increase in runners from last year. This year, the team has 33 runners: 19 boys and 14 girls. Male standouts include: all of the Seniors and Junior Garret Sutherland. As for female standouts, Michelle Bollinger, Jan Grandi, Taylor Wheaton, and Monika Neuweiler are expected to lead the pack. Coach Vogl has high expectations from her runners this year she says; “I would love for us to make it to state, race with fire, be more competitive, and beat Novato!”

Girls Varsity Golf: With the addition of Olivia Johnson and Chloe Cheng to the team this year, History and Geography Teacher, Coach Bob Lacy hopes for the team to be more successful. This year's standouts on the team include: Senior Angela Huidekoper, Sophomore Alison Nieh, and team captain Janet Chong, who is also a Senior. Coach Lacy's goals for the girls this year are to have fun, enjoy the game, and to make the playoffs.

Girls Water Polo: You might remember Steve Morris on the basketball court last year, but this year he is making his transition to coaching the girls water polo team. Morris noted that, “Seniors Charlotte Nuyens and Ophelia Pedersen have dedicated their senior leadership to the team and towards improving their individual game.” He also mentioned that half the team are sophomores and they are also working hard and playing with great spirit. Coach Morris wants his team to be at least .500 and with some dedication and patience, he believes they will achieve his goal. He also stated, “We have two rules: don’t drown and have fun, and so far we haven’t drowned and we’ve had A LOT of fun.”

Boys Varsity Soccer: With the loss of last year’s captains, Alex Triantafyllos and Tyler Castruccui, there have been some issues on the defensive line. In order to make up for the loss of those players, the team needs to pull together and work very hard to succeed. Coach Jorge Sandoval also expects the seniors to step up and lead the rest of the team. This year, the standouts are the senior group. Captains Jesus Del Toro and Josh Godoy had to transition from their usual midfield positions, back to the defensive line this year, in hopes to strengthen the team. Seniors Patrice Bauza, Juan Velazques, and Captain Gianni Kohen are also expected to contribute to the team. Coach Sandoval’s goals for this season are to make both MCAL and NCS playoffs.

Water Polo Boys: Coach Carl Lundgren is no stranger to the San Marin water polo team, making this his seventh year at San Marin. With only one new player on the team this year, the team chemistry is very strong. Coach Lundgren says, “it’s really hard to pick one standout because they are a solid team.” But he said his top five players include: Seniors Jeff Hadley, Charlie Winter, and Nick Elsmore and Sophomores Louis and Ryan Campbell. Coach Lundgren’s two goals for this season are to make MCAL and NCS playoffs

Girls Varsity Volleyball: With nine returning players this year, English Teacher, Coach Nick Busselman expects his players to improve and grow in their quality of play. Leading the team this year is team captain and all league honorable mention, Leeann Alferness. She has started all four years on varsity at San Marin. Setters Dominique Giusti and Casey Cunningham will also help set the tone for the team. This year, Coach Busselman hopes to make MCAL playoffs and NCS.

Boys Varsity Football: Coach Dan Hickey has transformed the football team immensely in the past few years. "This year the team is very athletic," says Coach Dan Hickey, and they have spent a lot of time working together. Hickey expects his players to compete their hardest in every game all year. There are many players on the team that will help contribute to the overall success of the season. The list includes Nick Kristofors, Travis Grossi, Vince Correnti, Trevor Dohemann, Ryan Kates, and Tre Changeux. This season, Coach Hickey's goals are to win MCAL's and have a good run at the NCS championship.

Back to the Bay: Wesonga unhappy with Matadors, returns home

Fall Sports Teams Prepare for Another Great Yearby Jackson Grover

Wesonga puts up a layup in lat year’s action

BACKPAGESeptember 29, 2011Pony Express

a YAY to crackin’ classes.More people equals more fun.

a YAY to Powells reopening. Sweet, now I can get my fix.

a YAY to new Chipotle. Step aside Taco Bell.

a YAY to API=800. Our hard work paid off.

a YAY to peace out ‘11. Hello to class of ‘12.

a YAY to new flush technology in the snack shack.

a YAY to Littlefield’s reign. The dawn of a new era.

a YAY to Mr. O’s new baby!

a NEIGH to bandwagon fans(G-men). Grow some originality.

a NEIGH to bipolar weather. Cold mornings, hot afternoons.

a NEIGH to college essays. So much for no work in Senior year.

a NEIGH to Marin Oaks chalking the hill. Nice to see you can spell.

a NEIGH to hoarding school supplies. 800 pencils, 6 packs of binder paper, you know the people.

a NEIGH to driving issues with the Circle Bank construction.

a NEIGH to new bachelor (Ben F.). Not the most exciting guy in the world.

YAYS and NEIGHS

Homecoming is just around the corner for San Marin, and everyone is busy getting ready for it (unless you’re not going which is perfectly understandable). For the people who are planning to attend, here are a few tips on what to do before homecoming.

For the Guys:

1. Take a shower- Nobody wants to smell your B.O. on the dance floor or anywhere else, so shower and smell nice and fresh.2. Eat food- Most guys eat a lot and there are some who eat A LOT, so don’t be dying of hunger at homecoming, since they have no food. Eat up and then have fun all night long.3. Brush your teeth- Having bad breath is never a good sign. People don’t want to smell your dinner at Homecoming or see any food stuck to your teeth, so always brush your teeth to get a nice minty smell, and keep them clean. Also, eating some mints or chewing gum wouldn’t hurt either.4. Get clothes- Most of you probably have the appropriate clothes to fit the dress code for Homecoming: collared shirt, tie, black slacks, and some shoes. If you don’t have any of these, go buy them now. If you do, I’m sure the ones you have are fine, unless you’ve grown out of them, so go buy some new ones.5. Get a date (optional)- Now some guys will have dates and some won’t, that’s just how these things go. Don’t feel too discouraged if you don’t have one. If you do have one, well whoop-dee-doo, you get to spend your Homecoming with your special lady friend.

For the Girls:

1. Take a shower- This is the same for you girls too. Nobody wants to smell your B.O. or anything related to that so take a shower.2. Clothes- This may be the best part for the girls as they get to go shopping. Let’s just make it simple, go in the store, get the thing that you want, and get out.3. Accessory- This has the same concept as the clothes part. Unless you already have the things you want, go in the store, get the thing that you want, and get out.4. Hair and Makeup- I don’t know anything about a girls hair or getting your hair ready since I’m a guy, but just give yourself time and get it the way you want it. Same with makeup, guys don’t wear makeup so I wouldn’t know anything, but give yourself time to do it and feel good about it.5. Get a date (optional)- This applies for you girls too. You may not be asked by someone to Homecoming and that’s completely fine. If you do get asked, well whoop-dee-do congratulations, you get to spend Homecoming with your special guy friend, that is if you say yes.

1. Bribe them. Money can’t buy you happiness? Yeah, right.2. Serenade them over the loudspeaker. Preferably, a Justin Bieber song.3. Shower them with gifts. (Ex. A Ferrari, an iPad, diamonds, just to name a few)4. Watch them sleep. Hey, if it worked for Edward Cullen, it’ll work for you. 5. Tell them the voice inside your head says they have to.6. Avoid kidnapping. It’s still illegal even if you return them afterwards.

The Cabbage Patch. The White Man’s Overbite. The phenomenon known as “freaking”. These are all great ways to show your dancing prowess on Homecoming night. Thrusting, gyrating, and, for lack of a better word, churning, are all becoming exceedingly popular motions in dancing. Senior Andrew Mcwherter is no stranger to this, citing his favorite moves as “Anything with large, sweeping pelvic thrusts.”. On the other, more appropriate, side of the dancing spectrum lies Mr. Littlefield. When asked what kinds of funk he will be dishing out, he replied, “The Cabbage Patch, maybe a little bit of The Sprinkler.” These more classic moves focus on coordinated arm and, in some cases, leg movement, as opposed to the more modern, and sweaty, forms of dancing. Geography teacher Mr. Lacy says his favorite number is the Moonwalk, but we probably won’t see much of him tearing apart the dance floor anytime soon. Ms. Kislingbury’s favorite dance is, to no one in Drama’s surprise, The Skate. This dance is nothing more than sliding your feet and arms in rhythm to the music, like you are ice skating. Freshman Lucas Hassett says his favorite dance is “The Bernie”, a lazy dance where he shakes his arms about whilst moving his torso forward and back. Junior Hakeem Sherif is going for a more classic approach with “The Watusi”. This sweet little jig involves keeping your legs slightly bent and flailing your arms vertically, akin to the motions of a Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robot. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Sophomore Jason Freeberg pumping his fist to the rhythm. Perhaps someday equilibrium will be found in the world of dancing, and we can all party alongside one another in harmony.

Let’s Dance!By Louis Henry

How (Not) to Get a Date to Homecoming

Five Ways to Get Ready for Homecoming

By Nidhi Mamidi

By Paul Shin

Favorite dance moves of San Marin staff and students

an EH to no block scheduling. Happy or sad? You decide.

Illustration by Michaela Guiunchuigliana

Louis Henry violating rule #6 by stealing a date with Angela Ding for homecoming

Your heart’s pounding, your hands are sweaty, you’ve finally worked up the courage to ask that person out, and the next thing you know, you are puking your guts out in front of the entire school. Not as smooth as you’d like to be? Gentlemen, follow these tips and you are guaranteed a homecoming date.