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January 13, 2011
Osika Tripathi
The week before the finals, which is a four day week , ASB is putting on “Relaxation Week”. Each day of the week, one of Washington’s four classes is going to be hosting a noon-time activity to help students relax and not stress too much about their upcoming exams. This event is going to be held at amphitheatre at lunch time, so be sure to drop in!
Senior class officers are hosting on Tuesday, Juniors on Wednesday, Sophomores on Thursday, and Rally commissioners are hosting on Friday.
Student and Staff appreciation, which is a new commission in leadership also liked the concept of “relaxation week” and have decided to take part in it. But, instead of focusing their attention on the students, they have set their sights on making the teachers at Washington feel appreciated. They will be giving out gifts to all the teachers, in recognition of their hard work this past semester and to give thanks for all they have done.
Photo Credit: Kaylee Miu
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March 30, 2010
Alex Tyler
ASB members redistributed large planters filled with an assortment of wildflowers around campus over the past few weeks.
The students put in a brick pathway outside of the Eggers building, and they also trimmed plants around school, with student activities director Helen Paris wielding an electric edger.
These efforts are appreciated, but some students feel the money should go to school improvements, such as new books and bathroom locks. However, ASB isn’t authorized to use student funds on such items.
Senior John Rasure said although the improvements are helpful “they should have done this a long time ago, at this point the money could be better spent elsewhere.”
Paris thought of the idea to move the planters from their original position near the Eggers building because she thought that students were not noticing them. So ASB moved the planters to more noticeable areas, and work during fourth period to water the new flowers and make sure the additions maintain their beauty.
Junior Julien Malard, president of the New Leaf Club, said their club submitted a plan to ASB to place plants around school throughout the year, but then ASB moved ahead with this project separately.
“I first was a bit disappointed because I wanted our club to do the planting,” Malard said.
However, ASB agreed with the New Leaf Club to continue adding flowers, trees and other plants around the school with the help of the club. They will plant to celebrate Earth Day, April 22.
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March 30, 2010
Alex Tyler
ASB members placed large planters filled with an assortment of wildflowers around campus the past few weeks. The students put in a brick pathway outside of the Eggers building, and they also trimmed plants around school with the help of student activities director Helen Paris wielding an electric edger.
These efforts are well appreciated, but some students feel that the money should be spent on other school improvements such as new books or locks on the bathroom stalls.
Senior John Rasure said that although the improvements are helpful ”they should have done this a long time ago, at this point the money could be better spent elsewhere.”
ASB spends around $1000 each year on school improvements such as new plants and other aesthetic additions. Their decision to place planters came from activities director Helen Paris. She bought the planters in a previous year and had them situated near the redwood tree by the Eggers building. Since nobody seemed to notice them there, she decided to move them to more noticeable places. Students in the fourth period leadership class water the new flowers and make sure the additions stay nice.
Junior Julian Malard, president of the New Leaf club said that their club submitted a plan to ASB to place different plants around school throughout the year. ASB moved the planters before they passed the plan. New Leaf club will work together with ASB to continue adding flowers, trees and other plants around the school. They will be planting plants to celebrate Earth Day, April 22.
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March 2, 2010
Sarah deLanda
ASB is selling T-shirts to aid Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake. The fundraiser began Feb. 8 and all profits will go to the “Hope for Haiti” organization. More information can be found at hopeforhaiti.com.
“We’re trying to target funds towards kids in Haiti,” ASB secretary senior Cindy Chen said.
The idea for selling shirts came from seniors Breana Meagher and Jocelyne Yamaguchi as well as sophomore Caitlyn Yamaguchi. The concept was one of many emerging ideas for how to raise funds. There were plans for a “Quarters for Quake” fundraiser as a challenge to other school leaderships to see who could raise the most money within a week. Because other schools had already committed to their own fundraisers, the collaborative idea fell flat. But even without the motivation of competition, over 100 shirts have already been sold.
With large disasters, every cent counts. ASB is promoting T-shirts with posters, announcements and by word of mouth.
It took nearly a month to begin T-shirt sales because of prior commitments and the delay of planning the fundraiser. When the earthquake struck, ASB was focused on first semester finals and the Sadie Hawkins dance. The success of the Haiti relief plans might have been compromised because students were initially concentrated on other issues. To delay matters further, ASB didn’t meet every day of finals week. It took time to brainstorm for the best way to earn money for Haiti. After it was settled to sell T-shirts, there was the matter of finding a shirt design and a vendor to create the shirts.
“The shirts look cool,” senior Mehak Dharmani said. “I’m going to feel like a good person.”
ASB hopes sales will continue so they would be able to order a second shipment of shirts.
“I think it’s going to be a while until we can say it’s ‘enough,’ but the shirts brought attention to us trying to raise funds and a lot of people started donating money,” sophomore Jennifer Chang said.
ASB will continue to offer the Haiti relief T-shirts for $15 dollars in the student center until an undecided date.
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January 28, 2010
Anterpreet Kaur
WHS alumni Max and Kayla Broun lost almost everything when their house burned down. The Broun family actively participates at WHS activities, such as PTSA, leadership and grad night. When activities director Helen Paris found out about the incident, she went there immediately and stayed with the family for most of the night. The Broun family stayed in their neighbor’s home.
“This is one of the most giving families I have known,” Paris said.
The leadership class is putting forth the utmost support to help with difficulties that the family may encounter.
“At first, we were planning on fundraising, but then we found out that the family has insurance and is going to get 100 percent back,” junior Manmeet Dhillon said.
Some students went to the burned house to retrieve items that weren’t damaged. Leadership will replace any of the Brouns’ WHS memoirs, like the yearbooks, if damaged. The class is also trying to find any clothes from Max’s year at WHS to return to him, since his clothes were lost in the fire as well. So far, leadership has gathered husky clothes and has donated them to the family.
The goal is to relocate the family in their home by the end of the school year.
“If the Broun family needs help with anything, WHS leadership is here for them,” senior Cindy Chen said.
If there is a home that is available to be rented in the Glenmoor Community, leadership would like to be informed.
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January 28, 2010
Nicole Doan and Brian Jeon
ASB organized an assembly for ninth graders to bring the class together and to encourage students “give back to the school” by doing well in finals and STAR testing. The assembly also promoted the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance, Feb. 6, which the freshman ASB officers organized.
“We want you to succeed academically. We want you to succeed socially,” Small Learning Communities (SLC) coordinator Brynn Osicka said. “We want you to be number one.”
To strengthen the assembly’s message, ASB members and freshmen engaged the audience with two performances.
Freshman Fabian Gutierrez rapped about the Sadie Hawkins dance, while freshman Steve Gonzalez accompanied him by beat boxing. Freshman Ian Tambagahan break danced during their performance.
Freshman Nathan Trutner, seniors Kimberly Chatterjee, Sean Chadha and Seth Neumann performed a skit to inform freshmen about STAR testing.
Once again, the school has set a goal to reach at least 801 for the API score. If achieved, students will receive an Up Yours lunch, an extended lunch period in which ASB will provide food and various activities. In this case, “up yours” refers to increasing test scores. If students do not reach the goal, the school will be in danger of losing elective classes. In turn, administration may take away events such as dances.
“I really want to have a party. It sounds fun,” freshman Akshita Taneja said. “[The assembly] definitely motivated me.”
ASB increased involvement in encouraging the freshman to do well on their STAR testing. In reaction to the school’s unchanging API score in 2009, ASB decided to start the campaign much earlier in the school year than before. Due to schedule constraints, the freshman class officers are not enrolled in leadership class, but organizing the assembly helped them become a larger part in leadership activities.
Ninth graders were seated with their assigned “families.” The three families are K-9, Mad Dawgs and Alpha Pack.
The SLC program creates families so groups of freshmen can share the same schedules of English, science, and health or computer classes. These classes contain a smaller number of students to allow teachers to focus on more individual students. Teachers then communicate with each other more easily to reinforce integrated learning or a cross-curriculum teaching. In addition, teachers can discuss what they need to do to assist individual students.
The freshman assembly went smoothly without problems despite being the first of its kind.
According to ASB member senior Drew Jordan, ASB plans to hold similar assemblies for sophomores and juniors in the near future.
“We won’t be able to do them this semester but definitely the next,” Neumann said.
This article originally appeared in print on Jan. 26, 2010. It has been modified to correct grammatical and usage errors.
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December 15, 2009
Christelle Xu
Despite activities director Helen Paris’ request to have WHS apparel removed from Wal-Mart’s shelves, the Fremont store manager refuses to comply. The two Wal-Marts located in Fremont are the only ones that sell WHS Husky gear.
The Wal-Mart manager claims that a program launched in October donates a percentage of its profits to the school.
“If [Wal-Mart] were to give, say, 10 percent back of what their profits are, in no way would that be justified in terms of what we can do here,” Paris said.
California law says the school is allowed to have a student store to learn marketing and strategies. In terms of Washington High School, ASB serves as the student store.
The corporate decision to sell spirit wear was left to the discretion of the Wal-Mart store manager.
“I thought it was a better decision to leave [the product] up so that the schools could benefit,” store manager Mark Blome said.
The Washington logo is not copyrighted, thereby making it legal for Wal-Mart to sell generic Husky products.
The incident is not isolated. Pel Athletics creates generic clothing that is altered to fit the name and mascot of schools throughout the nation.
“Parents were contacting me asking why Wal-Mart stores didn’t offer professional spirit wear,” Blome said.
Rite Aid, Lucky’s and Raley’s, each removed WHS spirit wear upon request.
“I don’t think it’s right to be selling Husky gear at other places when not 100 percent of the proceeds go to us,” junior Kyle Plant said.
Blome claims FUSD superintendent Milt Werner authorized him to sell Husky apparel.
“I have not talked to anyone at Wal-Mart while I have been in the office of superintendent,” Werner said in an e-mail.
Blome could not be reached for additional comments.
Photo Credit: Reggie Quero
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December 14, 2009
Htoo Htoo Lu
Laughter. Hugs. Enthusiasm. Team work. There was a sense of unity as ASB leaders bonded with special education students by decorating cookies together. Rather than baking cookies during the allotted time, the sweets were prepared beforehand to give students more time to decorate the treats. During the holiday celebration, they also made Christmas tree ornaments out of paper.
“We are trying to establish a relationship with these special education kids by recognizing them more,” activity director Helen Paris said. “It’s like Link Crew, except ASB is linking with special education kids.”
ASB held the Christmas feast Dec. 10 as a continuation of their efforts to reach out to special education students. Instead of wearing the usual Thursday business attire, ASB students wore red and green.
“It was wonderful. [ASB students and special education students] all got to know each other really well,” special education teacher Mary DeLeon said. “Now they would greet each other even outside of classroom.”
Since the feast, special education students have been dropping by the student center and helping around on occasion. For example, they helped clean the student center and around the campus.
“When the sprinklers near the amphitheater were broken, they watered the plants by hand so that the plants won’t die,” Paris said.
Special education students showed their appreciation for this feast by making placemats and thank you cards for the ASB leaders and teachers who helped make the event possible.
“I loved the feast. I loved them. I can’t wait to see them again,” senior Alex Haro said.
ASB began this tradition four years ago as a way to reach out to special education students.
Often times, special education students do not have the chance to participate in any clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities. Until four years ago, this feast has always been held in the student center. Over the past four years, the feast has expanded and moved into the cafeteria.
In the future, ASB plans to get an ASB-special education wing on the campus in which both the ASB leaders and special education students will work together to grow plants and flowers.
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November 10, 2009
Paige Castren
ASB is selling Christmas trees to generate money to buy a color marquee. Activities director Helen Paris found out about this idea when she went to a leadership conference. The long-term goal is to have a color marquee installed within four years. With a color marquee, ASB would have the opportunity to display ads and pictures; now the marquee can only display word messages.
“It will let us do so much more than what we can do now,” ASB president Seth Neumann said.
Leadership students have spent the month of October spreading the word through posters and the daily bulletin.
“Everyone we’ve talked to seems really interested,” Neumann said.
Students have to order the trees by Nov. 18. The different types of trees include Douglas, Noble and Grand ranging in price from $40 to $85. ASB is also selling wreathes and garlands. The trees are from Oregon and will be cut 48 hours before delivery. Students will be able to pick them up Dec. 5 from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. in the senior parking lot.
Even though not everyone celebrates Christmas, Neumann believes this an appropriate fundraiser “because it has a potential to make a lot of money which will benefit students.”
ASB does not have any other fundraisers planned at the moment for the marquee.
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October 16, 2009
Paige Castren
PTSA has plans to install two half basketball courts between the gym and the 50s wing, tetherball courts where the picnic tables by the pool are now, and a volleyball court by the E-building to encourage the implementation of a “closed campus.”
The project was more expensive than expected. ASB contributed some money, but they couldn’t give more because of work that needed to be done on the marquee. PTSA received about $500 by asking people to donate at MAZE day last year. They also charged more for the brunch sales during finals and had more people sign up to do the mock SAT. Thus, they had about $4000 at the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
PTSA president Melinda Kufeld said this will be a “direct benefit to students.” Since there are plans down the line to close the campus during lunch, PTSA wants to provide on-campus activities for students. They want to encourage students to stay on campus because doing so will cut down on lunch time traffic.
“It would be safer for everyone,” Kufeld said.
PTSA treasurer Francine Louden is working directly with the Fremont Unified School District. She says that the biggest thing they need is people to donate and install cement for the tetherball courts. Once the district gives the final approval, the next step will be to order the equipment. Louden hopes that at least the basketball courts will be installed in about four weeks.
Kufeld met with activities director Helen Paris and principal Linda Fernandez, ASB president Brian McMahon and ASB member Melanie Wilhite at the end of last year, to discuss possible project ideas. ASB members gave specific ideas about what students would want to do during lunch time. Kufeld wasn’t surprised that they wanted basketball and volleyball courts, but she was surprised about the tetherball courts.
“High school students are big kids at heart. They still want to play games they played at recess in elementary school,” Kufeld said.
Since the kickball tournament last spring was such a success, Paris figures that students will enjoy these new facilities.
“Kids can play and laugh and have fun,” Paris said.
ASB is going to be responsible for checking out balls to students and putting up the nets and certain lunch time activities days.
Kufeld aspires this will have a positive impact on students. She knows this will not appeal to everyone, but she hopes it will be a good investment.
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