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April 16, 2010
Brian Jeon
ASB held an assembly for tenth graders on March 31 to promote higher Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) testing scores, to talk about the upcoming Advanced Placement (AP) tests and to encourage students to give a genuine effort on the I-Search project. Classmates performed skits to help motivate their peers.
Assistant principal Sean Moffatt kicked things off with a speech about STAR testing. He emphasized the benefits of doing well on the test, such as being able to keep the diverse electives that the school already offers. He also listed the consequences of failing to meet adequate scores, including implementation of longer school days.
“[Doing well] tells them you guys are mastering the standards,” Moffatt said.
To further drive the point home, sophomore Blake Barrientos, seniors Seth Neumann, Kim Chatterjee and Sean Chadha held a skit on STAR testing. The skit covered the positives of doing well on STAR testing as well as the negatives of doing badly on it. The skit emphasized the message to “take the test seriously.”
Neumann with sophomores Ruby Miu and Brady Knight performed another skit to provide tips and encouragement to the sophomores about the AP tests.
Chatterjee introduced career counselor Michelene Wittmer to the sophomores.
“She should be your new best friend,” Chatterjee said.
Seniors Seth Neumann, Kaylee Miu, Lauren Floro, Brian Jeon and Reggie Quero each held a miniature speech on the importance of picking an interesting career for the I-Search. Each emphasized a different point on why the sophomore class should take the opportunity to think about a future career, not simply for the sake of doing it.
To augment the assembly’s message and to rally the sophomore spirit, sophomores of the school band, Peter Braun, Michael Liao, Daniel Brown and Allen Liu played a song as Terrance Walker danced to music.
“The sophomore assembly told us a lot of information about upcoming events like STAR testing, and our I-Search projects,” sophomore Kerry Liou said.
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March 2, 2010
Kaylee Miu
“Technical, tactical, mental and physical excellence are the four cornerstones of a house that all great soccer players must have,” varsity coach Ron Chell said. “And like a house, without one [cornerstone], it is incomplete.”
After great consideration, one player rose to meet the challenge.
Co-captain senior Lauren Floro has played soccer for over 13 years. During her three years playing for WHS, she led the Huskies to a 7-3-2 league record, MVAL league title and round one of sectional (NCS).
“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t even be close to where I am today,” Floro said.
Although Floro started the season as a forward, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Later in the season, she suffered a shin contusion and was moved to play defense.
“Even though Lauren was injured at our Mission game, her ability to step up to the plate and play in was inspirational,” Chell said.
Floro has committed to the UC Riverside. She dedicates her success to her grandmother, who was her number one fan.
“If Lauren pursues a coaching career, who knows where she may go,” Chell said.
This article originally appeared in print on March 2, 2010. It has been modified to correct style and grammatical errors.
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March 2, 2010
Kaylee Miu
Seniors Lauren Floro and Cedric Lousi were both honored for their athletic achievements in being actively recruited by Division 1 colleges. Floro has been recruited by University of California, Riverside and is guaranteed a spot on the soccer team, while Lousi has been given a full-ride scholarship to attend San Jose State University for football. Activities director Helen Paris arranged a “signing party” for both athletes to finalize their scholarships with family and friends. The leadership class spent the beginning of fourth period, Feb. 2, decorating the multi-purpose room (MPR), plastering the walls with posters and balloons.
“Today, we are honoring Huskies who have taken sports to the highest level Washington has ever seen,” Paris said.
Alumni of 2008 Morgon Woodrow was the last WHS student to be recruited by a university. She now plays basketball for Michigan State University.
Floro has been named all-league selection forward, top offensive player and co-captain of the 2009-2010 season. Outside of school, Floro plays for the Pleasanton Rage and Premiere, a nationally recognized traveling soccer team.
Floro will play a forward for the University of California, Riverside and major in global studies, aspiring to be an elementary school teacher.
“I’m speechless,” Floro said, “It’s official now! But it still feels kind of surreal.”
Lousi, a 6-1 defensive and tight end player for the Huskies, has led Washington further than it has ever gone in 30 years.
“[Cedric] never hesitated to let the team go first,” football head coach Ken Whittmer said. “He’s not only a great player, but also a great leader.”
Lousi had been recruited by several schools, such as Brigham Young University, Sacramento State and University of Northern Colorado, but San Jose presented him with the best offer, fully covering all his expenses. According to Whittmer, the last Husky to have received a full scholarship to a Division 1 school was in 1982.
Lousi has played varsity football for three years and was co-captain of the 2009 season. He was one of two players from Washington chosen to play in the all-star game in Sacramento and honored as third team All-East Bay Selection.
The signing party, filled with camera flashes, emotion and hugs concluded with a loud chant: “Once a Husky, always a Husky.”
This article originally appeared in print on March 2, 2010. It has been modified to correct spelling and grammatical errors.
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February 2, 2010
Kaylee Miu
After defeating Mission San Jose, Jan. 19, the girls soccer team carried the MVAL crown, ranking first in the league. However, WHS (9-6-4) had an unexpected loss to Newark Memorial, Jan. 26, ultimately losing their first place ranking back to Mission San Jose (11-3-5).
Co-Captain senior Lauren Floro called the match “truly a home court advantage,” as the NMHS field was covered in mud and pot holes after weeks of rain fall. Floro described the field as similar to the WHS freshman football field off the Eggers Drive.
“Our girls were slipping all over the field, and the refs [mistook] slipping with fouls, thinking they were pushed,” Floro said.”The playing condition was just bad.”
Newark Memorial midfielder Shelly Erber scored a goal in the second half of the game, sending a 30-yard free kick into the net.
Photo Credit: Majelet Linsao
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October 19, 2009
Briana Terry
At a goal of raising $4,000 to donate to the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, our school gathered the community and its students together to spread the awareness of breast cancer.
ASB secretary and senior Lauren Floro came up with the idea of walking for breast cancer. She was inspired by “Relay for Life,” an event that gives people around the world a chance to celebrate individuals who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer.
Floro asked activity coordinator Helen Paris for her opinion on hosting the event; Paris thought it was a great idea.
Paws for a Cause is a non-profit charity walk in honor of national breast cancer awareness month, which would be a new tradition at our school.
As participants for the charity walk lined up to sign in, others lined up to get “paws” to show which individuals affected by breast cancer they were walking for. The paws represented lost, love and awareness of breast cancer.
“I lost two of my grandmas, from breast cancer, leaving one with one breast. Before it could spread they had to cut one of my grandma’s breasts,” senior Casarah Catucci said.
At the starting line, a ribbon was shown to symbolize the beginning of our first annual walk. As the ribbon was cut, families and friends raced around campus. Most walked, while others decided to run theirs laps. Having to walk five laps, students received stamps to show their number of laps they completed.
Junior Carmelle Coleman felt the walk was a great idea to spread awareness. She came out and walked around campus for her mother.
“My mother got diagnosed with it, so she’s been fighting towards breast cancer since last June. Thankfully she’s been cured for a year now,” Coleman said.
The students and community enjoyed themselves and came together to celebrate and spread breast cancer awareness.
At the end of the day, Paris was pleased and happy with how the first annual Paws for a Cause turned out. More people than what was expected showed up to help out with the walk. The community took the time to bring success to the big event.
“Paws for a Cause will now be a tradition to the Huskies family,” Paris said.
