January 30, 2013 l Volume 18, Number 4 l Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 440 St. Katherine Dr., La Canada Flintridge, California 91011eritasV shield

INDEXNews Briefs Career day set ....................2 Africa’s water crisis ..........2 Physics Day at Knotts .......2Op-Ed Be a good neighbor............5 The power of music ..,.......5 Why you should travel ......5Cast preps for Peter Pan ......6H.S. Journalism Day ............8Try to ID teacher quotes .....11Sports All-Americans .................12 Water polo rocks .............12

Seniors earn privileges earlyBy Dana BudzynStaff Writer

The class of 2013 received their privileges earlier than

any previous senior class at FSHA. After sending a request to Sister Celeste the first Monday after Christmas break, seniors were granted their privileges the following day. So, what are the amazing senior privileges that get those second-semester seniors so excited? 1. Seniors can wear college sweatshirts. Although some students break dress code every day, the right to wear the sweatshirt when everyone else would get in trouble for it is a thrill in itself. 2. Seniors can wear free dress every Friday. Nothing beats being able to choose comfortable or cute clothes on a half day. For those who don’t have sports practice, it truly starts the weekend off right. 3. The most important priv-ilege to seniors is the right to leave at enrichment. This is granted the day after the first grading period ends in February. That 30-minute win-dow to drive home is a little piece of heaven. To some, these privileges may seem small since public schools wear free dress every day and many get out of school at 2:35 p.m. anyway. But after following a dress code for four years, wearing a sweatshirt is a huge deal. The hype is not so much about the privileges themselves but more the fact that seniors have the right to do certain things that other students do not. It gives them that long-awaited sense of senior pride.

By DeeDee Durkan, Op-ed editOr

When I arrived home after school last November, I was shocked to be greeted by a stunning blue

and white package—an invitation to the presidential inauration that was so delicately wrapped, perfectly stapled and carefully written, I thought the president was asking me himself to join in the festivities. The presidential inauguration is a rare event for someone my age to experience because regardless of political affliction, it unites our country, so my immediate response yes! Donning our warmest winter coats, my sister Abby and I eagerly joined the over 800,000 people to watch the 57th presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Although the audience of the crowd waited for hours to see the president, nobody seemed irritated or even tired from their early morning wake-up call or even the freezing temperature. The second the president took his first steps

on stage, he was zealously greeted with the deafening screams and the frenetic waving of American flags held by everyone in the crowd. People enthusiastically cheered and shouted their approval throughout his speech, which focused on moving forward: “This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America’s possibilities are limitless.” Singers Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor performed patriotic songs that had members of the crowd on their feet dancing and singing. We attended the inauguration with the High School Presidential Inaugural Conference but the program also included speakers such as Condoleezza Rice, the former U.S Secretary of state, who spoke with us for over an hour about her success. Journalist Nick Clooney (yes, George

Clooney’s father) introduced us to the movie “All the President’s Men,” a film about Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the reporters who broke the Watergate story. Following the film, Woodward himself joined us to discuss the events that happened in the movie. As a student journalist during the trip I also relished visiting the Newseum, a museum centered on media and news, located in the heart of Washington, D.C. The outside of the museum featured the international and nationwide newspaper headlines fol-lowing the inauguration, which provided a fascinating look at the varied angles of the event. I also got to practice my own broadcast journalism skills as an anchor. As a current United States history student, I have so far studied presidential administrations from George Washington to Chester Arthur. Watching the 57th president get sworn into office felt like history was being written before my eyes, and I know I will never forget the experience.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE APPROVAL About 800,000 people, who braved freezing weather, were given free flags to wave during the inauguration of President Obama on Jan. 21 in Washington. Photo by Abby Durkan

By Sierra deSousa, CO-editOr

Students were devastated after hearing news about the 20 children and six adults who were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary

School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012. “School is supposed to be a haven for children and a place for education,” said junior Roxi Giuliano. “It was heart-wrenching that such innocent lives could be taken like that.” The incident was the second-deadliest school shooting in the nation. “I heard about it when I was sitting in Mr. Butera’s class, and the first thing that came to mind was that if that were to happen at FSHA, we would all die,” said Abigail Goad ’14. Controversy surrounding the massacre has centered on gun control, mental health care and school security. The most sensitive issue in the student community is school safety. FSHA’s location on top of a hill makes it far removed from the danger of a similar tragedy happening here. However, perspectives about school safety have changed since the shooting. “The tragedy has really made me think about my safety at this school,” said Goad. “I’m not scared; I’m just more appreciative that I don’t have to worry about that happening here. I never realized before

how lucky I was.” But Mrs. Kathy Desmond, who is in charge of the safety procedures, claims that our school’s remote location should not lull the students into a false sense of security. “These acts of violence are not random or based on convenience; they are targeted attacks by a disgruntled parent or student,” she said. Mrs. Desmond says FSHA is relatively unpre-pared for a situation like the one at Sandy Hook. “We have practiced what to do in case of a natural disaster, but not if a highly armed gunman were to attack the school,” she said. “There is a safety procedure in case of an emergency like that, but most people don’t even know about it. I think it is pretty much common sense.” In the event of an attack, a warning would be announced over the intercom, teachers would lock the doors and wait for further

Tragedy at Sandy Hook resonates with Tologs

Junior twins attend Obama’s inauguration in D.C.

‘It was heart-wrenching that such innocent lives could be taken like that.’

Continued on page 10

The business of silk screeningSee page 10

Cast your Oscar,Grammy ballotsSee page 6

A new look atthe Rose Parade See page 10

Page 2 News Briefs January 30, 2013Veritas Shield

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If you are interested in learning more about being an actress, teacher,

nurse, scientist or any number of other professional jobs, then you will enjoy career day on Feb. 20 from 1-3 p.m. in the SAC. Open to only juniors and seniors, career day features alumnae and provides an opportunity for Tologs to ask questions about the graduates’ occupations. Career day is divided into four sec-tions: business and technology, health and science, arts and entertainment, and education and social science. Tologs will be able to attend three. Among the numerous alumnae will be Brit Smith ‘01 and Kara Smith ‘99, co-founders and directors for Elkin collection, women’s clothing collection. Lili Kudo ’89 also will appear. She received an engineering and physics degree from Brown. She is the president and co-founder of NeuroInDx, a company that helps scientists dissect parts of the brain and central nervous system to research common medical conditions. The conclusion of the day will feature Jillian Davis ’03, an outstanding volleyball hitter at FSHA who later became one of the country’s top liberos

Career day set for juniors and seniors

The Alumnae Association organized a college assembly on Jan. 8 for

the seniors, who were split up into groups of 10 led by two alums to answer questions. Topics of discussion ranged from problems with roommates and changing a major to time management, but most simply just talked about their own colleges. A majority of the seniors didn’t think the assembly was too helpful and would have been more beneficial in September or at the end of junior year because most seniors had already submitted their college applications. Some, though, found the meeting useful. “It was helpful because the alum whose group I was in has a friend in the film program at Loyola Marymount University. I want to study film, so she was able to answer my questions about the program,” said Caitlin Manocchio. — Dana Fee

during her college career at Berkeley. She is now an actress. Director of Alumnae Relations Eliza-beth Toms encourages all the juniors and seniors to attend career day. “This is a fabulous, rare opportunity that FSHA offers to young women,” she said. —Maureen Cen

Alums visit seniors

With seemingly endless streams of clean water readily available with

the turn of a faucet, it is easy to take water for granted in such affluent societies as Los Angeles and New York. Yet, according to statistics from the United Nations, a child dies from waterborne diseases every 15 seconds. To raise awareness for the African water crisis, Christian Action Movement (CAM) and Multicultural Club (MCC) held an assembly on Jan. 16 for Wells of Life (WOL), a non-profit organization devoted to bringing clean water to East African communities in need. Guest speaker Nick Jordan, the president of WOL, urged Tologs to contribute to the

Solving Africa’s water crisis one well at a time

Seniors missed a day of school for roller coasters, funnel cake and fried

chicken on Nov. 14 when the physics students went to Knotts Berry Farm to study how physics principals are used to operate roller coasters. Physics teachers Mr. Ty Buxman and Ms. Leslie Miller planned the trip for November to correspond with what students learned during the first semester. Previous Physics Days were held during second semester. “It fit better with the curriculum,” said Ms. Miller. Students focused on principals such as Newton’s Law, impulse and potential, and kinetic energy in their assignment for the day; regular physics students also had to calculate their calorie intake for the day. “The park was clean and uncrowded, so the girls could go on a lot of the rides multiple times which made it easier to compare the rides,” said Ms. Miller. “The girls were so excited to apply class to their own experiences.” Physics Day was moved to Knotts Berry Farm because Six Flags, the previous destination, is closed on weekdays during the fall and winter seasons. “It was fun! I liked the wide variety of rides to go on and observe,” said Daelyn Moon ’13. Even students like Millie Shih ’13, who don’t like roller coasters, were not excused from the assignment. “I was still able to apply physics and have fun,” said Shih. — Jessie Lorrimer

goal of his organization: to build 1,000 wells in 10 years for the people of East Africa. Jordan stresses that a single well, which costs $6,000, can change the lives of 500-1,000 people because access to clean water is fundamental for the health and survival of young children. A well in close proximity to a community will benefit not only women but also young girls in East Africa, who will have time to go to school once they no longer bear the responsibility of carrying an average of 44 lbs. of water from faraway swamps riddled with parasites. “Water is a given in our lives and we often forget how lucky we are,” said Tina Chao ’13, MCC president. “Most of us don’t realize what a big difference clean and accessible water can make on a life.” CAM and MCC donated $1,000 towards a well in East Africa, but their act of kindness inspired Tologs beyond monetary contributions. “Since the assembly, I have tried my best to conserve water by taking shorter showers,” said Ingrid Wong ’13. —Terra Cheung

AUSTRALIAN LOVE Guest speaker Nick Jordan talks about his program, Wells of Life, and solutions to the scarcity of drinkable water in Africa. Photo by A. Rost.

Seniors learn physics principles at Knotts

Page 3FeaturesJanuary 30, 2013

What do 42 floats, 21 equestrian groups and 23 marching bands all have in common? The answer is the 2013 Rose

Parade. When you think of the Parade you probably conjure up images of freezing and sleepless nights on the parade route or that thing on TV that you never wake up for, but I can tell you that it is so much more. It wasn’t until I got the chance to serve as a student ambassador that I understood the sense of community and animation it embodies. Being a part of a select group of only 40 high school seniors from around the Pasadena area chosen to help with parade-related activities was a great opportunity. I just didn’t realize this in the beginning. Growing up with Pasadena in my backyard, I never appreciated what the Tournament of Roses does within the community. Then one day it clicked. As I was giving tours at the float decorating area at the Rose Bowl, I met a woman visiting from Ireland, a couple from Shanghai traveling around the world, and parents supporting their sons on the two football teams. All had one thing in common: they were incredibly excited about the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl. By the time parade day rolled around, I found myself as exhilarated as everyone around me, despite waking up at 2 a.m. As I spent the day handing out programs in the VIP grandstands and watching the parade from front row seats, I knew that I was lucky to be a part of the Pasadena and Tournament of Roses communities. Where else can you watch a soldier reunite with his family, a Disney pop star perform, and a couple get married on a float? The Rose Parade is undoubtedly a special event, and I encourage everyone to be a part of it in some way, through volunteering like I did or just by watching it.

It was always a dream for Victoria McGregor ’13 to serve on Rose Court, which

was realized when she became one of the few selected to be a princess on the 2013 Rose Court

for the Tournament of Roses. Being a princess means maintaining a positive attitude, an unfading smile and an alert mindset, all of which McGregor maintained while attending over 150 events. She feels her time on the Court refined her “speaking, writing and social skills.”

By Abby DurkanCampus ministry Editor

Princess McGregor’s reign comes to an end

By Sydney Acosta, staff WritEr

She said it was hard to always keep a smile on, but she succeeded knowing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She found the events fun, in-teresting and memorable, mak-ing it easy to stay positive. But she had difficulty organ-izing her time with the intense

pressure added to her schedule. “Tennis, school, friends, family and the Rose Court, along with college apps” were among the activities she managed. Despite FSHA’s understanding teachers, she was still required to turn in all assignments. Although it was a challenge, McGregor

said “it taught me how to be responsible and manage my time better.” McGregor hopes being on the court will allow her to stand out when colleges are accepting applicants. She believes her title “means more to California schools who know what [the Rose Court] is and how much time it requires,” and hopes other schools will recognize that commitment. McGregor said being on the float was a grand finale to all the work and events, and she looked forward to the parade despite the cold morning she endured wearing only a gown and tiara. Waving to crowds from the float was definitely an upgrade from the year before when she was a Girl Scout banner holder. McGregor is able to keep all the Rose Court clothing, and is excited to add the pieces to her wardrobe, which she said were more age-appropriate, fun and casual than in prior years. McGregor will leave the Court with new close friends, great memories and a better understanding of Southern California. She was amazed to learn about the variety of clubs, service organizations and social gatherings, adding that “it was so cool to be able to go to these places and feel so welcomed.”

THE WAVE Rose Princess Victoria McGregor ‘13 waves to Rose Parade spectators. Photo courtesy V. McGregor

Rose Parade offers a sense of community and animation

Page 4 OpiniOnVeritas Shield

VERITAS SHIELD

Veritas Shield is published most months of the academic year for the students of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy by the FSHA journalism class. Editorial opinions and comments are those of the staff or of con-tributors and do not necessarily represent the position of FSHA. We welcome all letters to the editors and opinion articles. All letters must be in good taste and signed. We reserve the right to edit for space. We also welcome freelance submissions.

Advertising: Veritas Shield gladly accepts display and classified ad-vertising. For rates and publication dates, contact advertising manager Kelly Dow or Mrs. Karen Thompson, moderator.

Subscriptions: Annual subscription rate for first class delivery of every issue to your residence or place of business in the U.S. is $15.

Co-Editor...............................................................Terra CheungCo-Editor.............................................................Sierra deSousa Opinion Editor...................................................Monica AmestoyEntertainment Editor.....................................................Judy LeeCampus Ministry Editor..........................................Abby DurkanOp-Ed Editor.......................................................DeeDee DurkanHow-To Columnist ...............................Melissa SchwaigerlehnerCulture Editor ........................................................Maureen CenAdvertising Manager..............................................Mindy HuangCirculation Manager............................................ Sydney AcostaModerator.................................................Mrs. Karen Thompson

Staff Writers: Dana Budzyn, Rebecca I. Cálix, Dani Chavez, Dana Fee, Yessenia Galicia, Carra Liwanag, Jessie Lorrimer, India Zietsman

Cartoonist: Ingrid Allen

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy440 St. Katherine Drive

La Canada-Flintridge, California 91011(626) 685-8300; Fax: (626) 685-8305

E-mail: kthompson@fsha.org

January 30, 2103

Time to get vaccinated for senioritistoo much of my high school experience just going through the motions and not stopping to

smell the roses around me. When I got that first college acceptance letter I realized all the things I will no longer be able to do. I will miss hugging my sisters any time I’m sad, having my dad make my breakfast if I am running late and watching “Grey’s Anatomy” with my mom every Thursday night. But I also realized I was even going to miss standing up every morning to say the Pledge of Allegiance as a school, the adrenaline of walking into Mrs. Thompson’s class with my USC sweater on, and the sight of all my teachers and fellow students

There is a contagious disease that has plagued the senior

class in recent weeks. The common symptoms include wearing college sweatshirts, a lack of completed homework, an overly-excessive use of sweatpants and being late to school. Second semester seniors can catch senioritis through college acceptances or even by finishing first semester finals. I have a minor case of sen-ioritis — I have a hard time getting anything done and wear sweats like they are the uniform — but I have not checked out on the inside; I am taking every moment in. It all started when I began to get college acceptances. Even though I was happy to receive them, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. When I got that first letter I cried, not because I was sad, but because the reality of college finally hit me. Ever since I experienced living and taking classes at a college the summer before my sophomore year, I have felt that high school was fun but not better than college. During sophomore year I was (self) diagnosed with early onset senioritis. I was happy on the hill, but it didn’t measure up to living in a dorm, being in charge of myself and having the freedom to learn the way I wanted to. As a result, I spent

praying together at Mass. Don’t get me wrong. I still find getting homework done one of the hardest things in the world. But now when I come to school, I make sure to take in the beauty of everything around me. For those of you who are not seniors, make sure to get vaccinated for senioritis so you can appreciate all the unique and beautiful things about FSHA. Remember how happy you were when you got into FSHA and all the things you were excited to be able to do in high school. Seniors, this is the homestretch. Even though June feels like it is years away, we will be surprised how fast graduation hits us. We should be enjoying all the wonderful, fun and sometimes different things about FSHA. Instead of complaining at lunch about how hard it is to be here, appreciate the time we get with our friends. We should be hanging out with our families while we still can and thanking our parents for everything they do for us instead of finding any way possible to get out of the house. Although there is no known cure for this disease, there are ways to ease the effects of senioritis: Take a moment, take everything in, and absorb the atmosphere, because in less than five months, our whole lives will change.

MONICA AMESTOY

On a really cold day (and there have been many this

month in Southern California), the average Tolog wears two hoodies, a puffy vest, a polo shirt, a pair of leggings layered under sweatpants, a pair of fuzzy socks, Uggs, and occasionally a fleece blanket. This is ridiculous. And all too often, a Tolog who is trying to be warm and fight the flu is penalized

A petition for a uniform warm jacket with a uniform infraction slip. The real problem is that our school does not offer enough warm clothing within the uniform offerings. What are we supposed to do when the temperature hits 43 degrees Fahrenheit? Layer polo shirts? Many mornings this month were lower than 40 degrees. On these cold mornings with little to cover our legs, why shouldn’t we

Editorial

be allowed to wear Uggs? Our uniform offers much variety, so would there really be a problem if a warm jacket was added? Currently, the only option for outwear is the varsity jacket, which is not only expensive but is limited to varsity sport players. The answer is simple — let us wear a warm jacket of our own or add one to the uniform.

Students woke up excited to go to school last week to see what everyone was wearing. Veritas Shield asked Tologs to share their favorite moment of Spirit Week. –Monica Amestoy ’13

“My favorite part of Spirit Week was the assembly. It was really cool to see everyone together as one big happy school.” –Heather Turcious ‘16

“I think I can speak for the seniors when I say Spirit Week was really amazing. We have been waiting for this week for four years, so it was cool to finally see everyone wearing red and singing the senior songs we have been working on for a long time.” –Kelsey Gorman ‘13

“My favorite part about spirit week was Dress Like a Boy Day because the boy’s clothing smelled really good.” –Sarah Burrola ’16

“Even though our class song didn’t work out the way we expected, my favorite part was being up there with my whole class singing and having fun. –Andrea Hurtado ‘ 15

“I liked Dress Like a Boy Day because it was quite interesting to see the people who actually looked like boys.” –Janice Park ’14

Spirit Week: What did you like best?

Photo by A.Rost

Borrow from the best when sending your Valentinenext month!

vividly remember the pain I felt at that time. Chip had cancer and my parents decided to put him down. They forced me out of the room while I banged on the door and begged for them to let me stay until his end. The vet led me outside to a bench where I sat and cried. I had no control over the situation and so I sat there, wishing there was something I could do to change the outcome. I flashed back to the first time Chip and I became friends. I was watching “Secondhand Lions” and as I began to cry, Chip licked the tears off my face and rested on my lap. I recalled thinking, “No other friend could make me feel better as fast as my dog did.” Granted, if my best friends licked my face, I would have freaked out. I digress. Losing Chip was like losing a family member. I can’t believe I was too lazy to read a poster and keep an eye out for a dog knowing a person or an entire family was helplessly hoping one member of their community would see their dog and bring him or her home. I have not become an activist in dog searching, but I now make sure that when I see any ugly bright posters I take the time to look at the description and keep my eyes peeled. I feel like I’m truly being a part of a community rather than just living in a house and calling the city my home. I believe I should do for my neighbors as I would wish them to do for me, even if I have never met them. I wonder if every person became an active member within his or her community, even if it was just taking the time to care about a brightly colored poster, how the town or city dynamic would change.

Traveling also humbles the soul and encourages cultural sensitivity because you realize just how small you are in this diverse and ever-evolving planet. Including my roundtrip ticket from California to Germany, my train ticket and hotel fees for a 3-day trip to Berlin and other miscellaneous fees, my entire trip cost less than $1,700, which is a little bit more than the price of a ticket back to Hong Kong. We go to a school where most boarders live outside of the United States. Why not spend a week or two in their home country during break and surround yourself in a whole new culture rather than sitting on the couch and watching movies? Although I speak only for myself, my family and I will gladly share our home with anyone brave enough to come to Hong Kong. My trip to Germany gave me another perspective and a wealth of lessons and knowledge that cannot be taught in a classroom. As a wise man who sat next to me on my flight to Germany once said, “Being in school is the best part of your life, because unlike those who are working, you are free of financial, familial and spousal responsibilities.” With that in mind, take advantage of your next school break and go on an adventure to another country. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Page 5January 30, 2013 Op-Ed Veritas Shield

Bright flyers: consider taking a second look at themBy Dana Budzyn

Every day I drive past a tall wooden telephone pole covered with a variety of different colored papers all saying the same thing: missing dog or lost cat. I drive by

without a care but if I do take a second to think on the array of bright flyers, it’s to note how tacky they look

on the pole. Then one day while I was illegally texting at a stop sign I looked up and saw a giant poster with tons of pictures and so much description about a lost German Shepherd, some would have called it a biography. I continued on my way to Ralphs to buy some cake

mix, but as I turned into the parking spot I saw the same sign. I couldn’t help but wonder if the owner had

covered the entire town with these flyers. How long did it take him? For the first time, instead of seeing an annoying, tacky sign in front of me, I focused on the words “Missing Dog,” and those two words took on a

whole new meaning. I don’t know why I originally felt nothing over the idea of a missing dog. I thought back to how much my own dog had meant to me. If I had been in this guy’s shoes, I would have wished someone took the time to read my posters and take a moment to care. How had I become so hardened when I knew how much a dog could mean to a person? For some, a dog is like a child. For others, a dog is a best friend and a comforting companion that will always be there, even when you wish it would stop jumping on you while you are trying to focus on homework. Five years have passed since my own Chocolate Labrador, Chip, passed away and I

The power of music in my life By Dani Chavez

A stressful day at home,“Paradise” by Coldplay. A fight with my mom, “Kill Your Heroes” by Awolnation. A breakup with a boyfriend, “Gold Digger” by

Kanye West. A new haircut, “Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake. To say the least, my life is a self-made musical. My relationship with music is deeply rooted in my mother’s job in the enter-tainment industry; up until four years ago she worked at an alternative rock radio station. My mother’s job provided me with some of my greatest childhood memories, the earliest being my first No Doubt concert when I was 5. I remember feeling infinite as I stood there barely 4 feet tall look-ing at the crowd singing around me. In that moment, no problems at home or in the world mattered. The only thing I had to worry about was which song would come up next and it made me feel free. Contrary to the belief of the older generation, it is not a catchy beat or degrading lyrics that catch my ear when I buy an album. Instead, it is the mixture of meaning and emotion that fills a song that can bring me to tears, smiles, laughs and peace. My love for music first sparked in middle school when I found myself alone, depressed, and hating my appearance. I spent most of my nights those two years

crying and wishing I would be good enough to have friends. But then I found a friend by the name of Lady Gaga, who sang songs about over-coming insecurities and staying strong. I had the pleasure of meeting Gaga in December of 2011 and it was the greatest moment of my entire life. Not just because I was able to talk to the woman who had inspired me for the past three years of my life, but because, for one moment, I was her entire world, just like she had been mine. The bond I share with Lady Gaga is one that unless you have spent nights falling

asleep to The Fame Monster or days searching Stub Hub for concert tickets, you cannot understand.

No matter the singer or genre, all fans have one thing in common: music was there for them when no one else was.

It is easy to like a musician but it is not easy to love them. It is easy to know song lyrics, but it is not easy to have an album memorized.

My relationship with music is the strongest and most consistent one I have.

It is undefinable and limitless. It is the root of my strength and the escape from my problems. It is my inspiration and most important possession. Whether I am a teenager living in Los Angeles, an adult in New York City, or a senior citizen in a nursing home, my self-made musical will forever be on Broadway.

By Terra Cheung

In Chinese there is a wise saying: “You learn more by walking a thousand miles than reading a thousand books.” Indeed, with long periodic breaks in high school, there is

really no reason not to take advantage of your extra time by stepping out of the country. This Christmas break, I took the advice from my ancestors and traveled to Germany. For two weeks, I stayed with my German friend, Laura, and her family. Laura and I became good friends two years ago in Idaho where we were both exchange students. Although she tried to prepare me for the trip over numerous Skype sessions, I still had no idea what to expect. I experienced my first culture shock the minute I stepped out of Dusseldorf International Airport, where I greeted the cold and wet German winter in a furry hoodie, much to the amusement of Laura and her family. During my stay, I lived and ate like a local. In the mornings I ate rolls for breakfast and learned the German words for cutlery. I was introduced to local delicacies such as Nutella crepes and “currywurst,” which is sliced sausage covered in ketchup with a coat of curry powder on top. I spent time with Laura’s friends and was pleasantly surprised by their traveling experiences and curiosity for other cultures. I even showered like a real German after an embarrassing lecture about the length of my shower. Apparently, most Germans rarely take showers exceeding five minutes because water in Germany is extremely expensive. Overall, I was impressed by their disciplined culture, rich history and their mesmerizing architecture. I highly recommend high school students to take advantage of school breaks and visit another part of the world. After my trip to Germany, I can assure you that the feeling of wonder when you see how others live in another part of the globe is indescribable.

Why you should travel the world during your breaks

‘I believe I should do for my neighbors as I would wish them to do for me’

Page 8 January 30, 2013Veritas Shield H.S. JournaliSm Day

By Sydney Acosta, Staff Writer

Prior to attending USC’s High School Journalism Day, I had never thought much about broadcast journalism, but speaker Judy Muller made it seem like the world’s most exhilarating job. With over 25 years of experience as a broadcast journalist, Muller, who is currently a professor at the USC Annenberg

School of Journalism, recounted her life in a manner that made me want to be a part of it. She described her times at ABC and CBS News, reporting on Columbine, and her Peabody Award-winning expose on medical marijuana dispensaries in Southern California. While encouraging budding broadcast journalists to “write to the eye and the ear,” Muller showed different video clips done by herself and her students. She stressed the mantra that “stories are everywhere” and told the audience to never be afraid to ask questions or take risks. By the end of the session, I found myself envious of Muller’s many adventures and wished I could be a daring and captivating journalist like her. Although I’m not sure I have it in me to be a hard-hitting broadcast journalist, I liked that the session gave me a new perspective on this career.

Broadcast news to the public

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Opens at 7 a.m. every day; closes 11:30 p.m. Friday & SaturdayCloses 10:30 p.m. on other nights of the week

By Dana Budzyn, Staff Writer

As a student who focuses more in the areas of math and science, I dreaded attending High School Journalism Day even though I got to pretend I was a college student at USC for a few hours. Shockingly, the seminar on public relations was so interesting it made me consider switching majors entirely. UCS’s Annenberg School of Journalism assistant professor Kjerstin Thorson, a former employee for corporate communications at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, led the seminar. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Part of public relations is the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and other social media sites to send out information or promote products to a targeted audience. I was surprised to hear that certain corporations, such as Disney, have people sit and tweet or respond to any tweets about Disney. People in public relations also help companies market themselves to their employees and can act as the mediators between corporations and investors, employees, consumers, fans and a variety of other groups. As an essential piece to gaining hype and/or creating an image for groups of people, public relations professionals “must have credibility, a good reputation and be trusted in order to succeed,” stated Thorson. No matter what methods are used to appeal to people, the facts are still the facts and should remain truthful. Thorson discussed her current research, which is focused on how the media is used to affect young adults’ political opinions, particularly on the issue of Proposition 8. She looked at how companies selected the audience they wanted to target, how they presented their ads or information so that it would appeal to the most viewers, and where the most people saw the political posts or advertisements. She noted that students now get their information from Facebook, trending tweets or memes instead of journals or newspapers. As someone who enjoys working with people, I think I would love a job in public relations and was pleasantly surprised by what I learned.

By Jessie Lorrimer, Staff Writer

Before attending High School Journalism Day, I viewed sports journalism as tedious and boring; but after hearing sports journalists Alan Abrahamson and Jeff Fellenzer describe the excitement surrounding the coverage of the Olympics, sports journalism seemed like a fun way to connect with people and travel the world. As soon as I walked into the lecture hall, I saw the dedication of a sports journalist. Abrahamson, previously a reporter for NBC and the Los Angeles Times, sat checking minute-by-minute stats. Fellenzer, a USC professor, a former Times editor and writer, and a correspondent for KTLA 5 News, began the workshop by explaining that sports journalism is not just reporting stats and quoting winners and losers. Because sports journalism has evolved with technology and information and has become available faster through smart phones and

Relate to public relations About HigH ScHool JournAliSm DAy At uSc

Journalism students attended HigH scHool Journalism day at tHe usc annenberg scHool for communication and Journalism in los angeles, wHere tHey enJoyed worksHops, ranging from tV production to media etHics.

How sports journalists cover the Olympics Games

TROJAN REPORTERS Due to heavy rain, journalism students Judy Lee ‘14, Jessie Lorrimer ‘13, Dani Chavez ‘14, Sydney Accosta ‘13 and Dana Budzyn ‘13 took their boxed lunches to go. Photo by K. Thompson

social media sites, sports journalists now need to tell an athlete’s back story. “Tell why that athlete deserves their medal more than any other competitor,” said Fellenzer. The two described the village of reporters at the summer Olympics in London and the excitement that filled the air as reporters, athletes, coaches and spectators waited with baited breath to see if this Olympics would be as exciting as the last. Abrahamson described how reporters had prepared for the Olympics since last March, researching athletes from across the globe. While in London, he wrote three to five stories a day on multiple events. The journalists closed by emphasizing the need to build relationships with athletes, coaches and other journalists to access new information. “Relationships are everything,” said Fellenzer. Sports journalism gives access to the captivating world of sports to a non-athletic person, like me.

By Judy Lee, entertainment editor

USC Annenberg’s High School Journalism Day began with Jacob Soboroff, host and producer of HuffPost Live, who discussed his experiences in non-traditional media including interviewing President Barrack Obama and Brad Pitt. Soboroff is also the executive director of the non-partisan and nonprofit organization “Why Tuesday?” that aims to improve American voter participation. He successfully won national attention after he went up to famous people with his camera and asked, “Why do Americans vote on Tuesday?” He uploaded his video to YouTube, and received feedback from many people who could not vote on Tuesday. Although Congress hasn’t change Election Day from Tuesday to a weekend, the organization showed the journalist how media can reach anyone and can have a powerful impact on the country. He stressed the value of appealing to the public from different angles, saying that a journalist can have a lot of fun when he knows how to deliver a message in different ways. “Writing a news article is not the only way to approach a story; you can tell it through interviews or creative videos,” he said. Soboroff, who is no stranger to being thrown out of people’s offices, said that a journalist must be able to access to information using every method possible. “If you want to be a good journalist, be really rude to people,” he said half-jokingly.

Expand journalistic horizons

By Judy Lee, entertainment editor

Panel leader Konnie Krislock led high school journalists on a discovery of freedom of the press, the amendment allows everyone to publish information and opinions without government interference in the “Know Your Rights” workshop. “I am famous for being fired,” laughed Kirslock, who is the publication adviser at Sage Hill School. She stands up for student journalists because she believes they have the same rights to express themselves as professionals do.

Know your rights as a journalist

Continued on next page

Page 9Features Veritas ShieldJanuary 30, 2013

By Carra LiwanagStaff Writer

Dance teacher Elizabeth Hoefner Adamis is one of only nine people

in the United States chosen to participate in the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s 2013 CHIME (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange) program. CHIME is a very competitive grant that Mrs. Adamis and her mentor Nancy Keystone applied for as a pair. Mrs. Adamis will spend a year watching, learning and working with Keystone, who is a renowned theater director, writer and designer, and also the founder of the Critical Mass Performance group in Los Angeles. “I was immediately drawn to the idea of having Nancy as a mentor because her process is one that is akin to my own in study and diligence,” stated Mrs. Adamis. “Yet her work is more sophisticated in its design and integration of elements as well as her use of performers, as expressively honest conduits of the messages behind her work.” This was Mrs. Adamis’ first time applying for a CHIME grant, and while she is thrilled

Dance teacher granted amazing opportunityto be chosen, she is also nervous because she knows the program will require an intense amount of work. “Nancy and I plan to take the year to work in the studio together for 40 hours, one-on-one, as well as with my group of dancers and actors,” explained Mrs. Adamis. “We will also be attending six meetings with the other CHIME artists where we will show the progress of what we are working on and do an exchange in San Francisco with the artists chosen from the Bay area.” Mrs. Adamis will also attend Keystone’s rehearsals to study her mentor’s upcoming pieces, such as Alcestis, in May and June. “Ultimately, Nancy and I de-cided to apply for this grant together because we have a mutual respect and understanding for each other’s work and creative process. We see real possibilities and potential for growth as artists,” said Mrs. Adamis. FSHA’s dance teacher met the founder of the CHIME program, Margaret Jenkins, on Skype. Mrs. Adamis described the experience as “awesome and nerve-wracking because she is such a genius of an artist and a prominent figure in the dance world.”

Yet many believe Mrs. Adamis is a genius in the dance world as well, evidenced from her words when describing her own pieces: “My dances begin as an investigation into some aspect of the human condition and strive to embody new ideas surrounding

these aspects through academic research, character studies, movement improvisation/crea-tion and in-depth thought.” Mrs. Adamis’ first meeting with the other members who received the 2013 grant will be on Feb. 9 in Los Angeles.

Krislock was dismissed from the Orange County High School of the Arts in 2010 for defending her students’ right to publish a factual news story that was critical of the school. “All you need to know is 48907, the California Education Code that guarantees your rights as student reporters,” she said. This code only applies to California public high schools, not FSHA, because it is a private educational institution. Three former Glendora High School newspaper writers/editors talked abo-ut the risks they took to write about a male teacher accused of inappropriate behavior. “A tremendous wall was built between the editors, the other faculty members and our friends,” said one former editor. Krislock explained that journalists’ only job is to give the facts, saying, “You have every right to dig out the truth and ask questions.”

Know your rightsContinued from page 8

CREATIVE YEAR AHEAD Dance teacher Liz Hoefner Adamis (front) is excited but nervous about the hard work ahead with mentor Nancy Keystone under a CHIME grant. Photo by Scott Groller

Page 10 January 30, 2013 FeaturesVeritas Shield

Ellen’s Silkscreening: A little store that does a lotBy Mindy Huang Advertising MAnAger

WILL THIS FIT YOU? Mrs. Ellen Daigle holds a sweatshirt for the Ambassadors Club; behind her are three boxes of sweatshirts ready to be shipped to FSHA.

If you walked by Ellen’s Silk Screening in South Pasadena,

you would never imagine what goes on behind those forest green doors. From the outside, Ellen’s seems like a quaint, one-story small business. Shockingly, it has produced thousands of branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and other promotional products for large well-known companies such as Smart & Final, The Getty Center, Wetzel’s Pretzels and many more, month in and month out for the last 35 years. The company brands products for just about every private school in the area, including

Flintridge Sacred Heart. Ellen’s started out when Mrs. Ellen Daigle, then a registered nurse, took a sign painting course at Pasadena Community College in the 1970s, which taught her the basics of silk screening. Her creativity even-tually led to the be-

ginning of Ellen’s Silk Screen-ing in 1978 in her garage; within a decade it prospered into a company that served not only the Pasadena area, but also the greater Los Angeles basin. Ellen’s has a department that digitalizes all artwork so that it is silkscreened clearly onto any product. An embroidery department takes a logo or design and turns it into a computerized program ready to be embroidered onto any article of clothing. “We make sure that each of our products comes out exactly how the customer wants it to,” explained Daigle. Ellen’s maximum order is 10,000 pieces, a niche Daigle prefers to remain comfortably

within. “The hardest part is just making sure that everything is right and paying attention to each detail; it’s a business where everything is custom,” she said. While the process of silk-screening is fascinating, Daigle sees the business end as the most rewarding part. Although semi-retired, Daigle still enjoys meeting and working with repeat and new customers. She delights in giving clients the opportunity to help make their creations a reality. “Making people’s lives better is a wonderful honor, I think we’re the Cadillac of all silk screening; we’ve been around a long time and have a great reputation,” said Daigle.

WHAT IS THIS STRANGE CONTRAPTION? This silk screnning machine is located in a building behind the store. Thousands of t-shirts and sweatshirts are branded by this machine. Photos by K. Thompson

COMPUTERIZING A DESIGN A skilled worker at Ellen’s digitizes a complex pattern onto the computer. His stitch-by-stitch program will be used to embroider hats, bags, shirts and more.

instructions. But Mrs. Desmond believes the main concern should be to prevent a gunman from entering the school. “The way our campus is set up, anyone can come in whenever they want,” she said. However, Mrs. Katy Sadler considers the chances of a similar tragedy happening here slim. “People must sign in as soon as they enter the school, and the faculty is very aware of people around campus who don’t have a visitor’s pass,” she said. President Barack Obama gave a speech two days after the massacre commemorating those who died by naming each one individually. As this is the fourth mass shooting in the past four years, the president promised to establish change, saying, “These tragedies must end.” Tologs were deeply moved by the massacre and wrote letters to the families that were affected. Brave teachers Kaitlin Roig, Yvonne Cech and Maryann Jacob hid children in Sandy Hook’s bathrooms and storage rooms and barricaded the doors with file cabinets or bookshelves. “I truly admire their courage,” said Marina Hrovat ’14. “I have little siblings, so I can imagine how grateful the families of the surviving children are.” Victoria Soto, 27, hid some of her students in a closet and when a few children ran for safety, she jumped in front of the gunman and died. School psychologist Mary Sherlach, 56, and Principal Dawn Hochsprung, 47, died while charging at the gunman. First-grade teacher Lauren Rousseau, 30, was shot in the head and 15 of her 16 students were shot; one girl survived by playing dead. “Just knowing that selfless people like that exist makes me so proud. I don’t know that I would have had that courage,” said junior Amanda Perez. “Those heroes will never be forgotten.” Mrs. Karen Ross, who came up with the idea of the letters, collected them from the religion teachers. She hopes that they will arrive in time for Valentine’s Day. “I am so grateful to the students who wrote letters; just reading them was so heartwarming. My goal was to make sure the families know that we haven’t forgotten about them and are praying for them,” she said. “I know that the message will be received.” The ASB board has ordered enlarged photos of every child who was murdered; they will be posted on the board so that students don’t forget the massacre. “When tragedies like this happen, we feel so powerless,” said Mrs. Sadler. “But I hope that these acts of violence inspire students who are passionate about it to act on their beliefs and make a difference in college or later.”

Sandy Hook tragedy Continued from page 1 Blood drive a success

ENJOY HELPING OTHERSSenior Alissa Lopez is donating her blood while reading a book at the Bloodmobile Photo by Y. Galicia

Overall, 40 Tologs, parents, teachers and staff signed up to donate blood on Jan. 16, but only 27 pints ultimately were collected.

“Our goal was to collect 35 pints of blood but some girls at our school could not do it because they had the flu or a cold,” said Assistant Principal Mrs. Katy Sadler, who coordinated the drive. “We wanted to change the date for the blood drive and have it a little later in the year, but Providence hospital insisted on having it in January because they need the blood right after the holidays,” she added. Every year about 10% of the girls that sign up are turned away for low iron; this year was no exception. Girls need strong iron to make new red blood cells to replace those lost in a blood donation; blood that is too low in iron may result in anemia. Also, international students from Mexico, China and Korea were turned away because they come from a country where people are exposed to malaria. “I felt bad when I found out that I couldn’t donate blood, because I really wanted to,” said Kara Zhang ’13, who comes from Shanghai. Those who could donate were excited because they felt that they could make a difference. “Even though it was my first time, I decided to donate because I can help save someone’s life,” said Ingrid Allen ’13. —Yessenia Galicia

Page 11January 30, 2013 Features Veritas Shield

AMr. Cramer

BMrs. Ross

FMrs. Collier

JMrs. Tramontin

CMr. Butera

DMrs. Murphy

EMr. Nish

GMr. Berrero

HMrs. Thompson

IMr. D’Mello

KMs. Grady

LMr. Thornton

MSr. Donna

NMrs. Johnston

OMrs. Hunnewell

PMr. Pals

RMrs. Havrilla

QMr. McGrath

Answers: 1. K, 2. H, 3. A, 4. J, 5. D, 6. C, 7. P, 8. M, 9. N, 10. G, 11. Q, 12. F, 13. O, 14. I, 15. E, 16. L, 17. R, 18. H, 19. B

Anyone who has had a class for a semester knows that teacher pretty well, including any everyday sayings that most Tologs would recognize. “I think I could match any of my teachers with their quote. You just get to learn more about them throughout the year, including the way they communicate,” said junior Juliana Smith. How well do you really know the teachers of FSHA? [Find out with this quiz]

1. “There is

a holiness to

the heart’s

affections.”

8. “Failure to write last name and other information

indicated may result in unexcused status.”

10. “Chao,

Tina Chao.”

13. “There’s no

extra credit in life.”

15.

“Be cheetah.”

3. “Technology is

wonderful when it

works.”

14. “Do your work.”

16. “A true friend

stabs you in the

front.”

2. “Move

freshmen!”

19. “Y’all I swear this book will change your life.”

18. “You have more work than God.”

6. “Get the

clickers and

don’t sing.”

12. “Tell the truth and shame

the devil.”

17. “Earthquakes

scare me.”

11. “Go Irish.”

Surprising quips from FSHA’s

very own faculty

Which Teacher Said What? By How-to ColumnistMelissa Schwaigerlehner

4. “Keep your heels, head and standards high.”

5. “I promise you’ll be happy I taught you this when you get your first research assignment in college.”

9. “They who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how.”’

7. “When there is a war, there is a

board game.”

January 30, 2013Veritas Shield SportSPage 12

A look at FSHA’s new All-American athletes

By Yessenia Galicia, Staff Writer

Breeana Koemans, a graduate of the class of 2012, Hannah Walleck ‘13 and Kirsten Vose ’15 have received the coveted All-American

award based on last year’s performances in their sports. Koemans, now a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, was one out of the four California players named by the National Soc-cer Coaches Association of America as an All-American. “I never played the game to win awards, but I have to admit this is pretty great,” said Koemans. Koemans finished her high school career with 155 points on 54 goals and a school record 47 assists. During her four seasons at FSHA the three-time All CIF and two time All State player helped the Tologs

run off a 36 consecutive game unbeaten streak en route to twice being ranked the No. 1 in the nation by ESPN Rise. FSHA co-coach Frank Pace said that Koemans “was a part of a very special team of girls who worked hard for every game they won and every award they earned on and off the field.” Walleck has played water polo in both high school club for four years. “I didn’t expect to get because I just applied for fun,” she said. Each player needs to apply to be an All-American for water polo.“Receiving these All-American was a great way to start the water polo season,” said Walleck. Sophomore KirstenVose, who has been swimming for five years, received All-American status based on her fastest time during a high school meet last season. “I had hoped to get an All-American before I graduated from FSHA, but I never thought I would get one my freshman year,” said Vose. At CIF finals in May, Vose swam half a second faster than she had ever swum before, taking not only 2nd place but making the automatic cut for All-American. She ended up with the 33rd fastest time in the country for the 100 breast stroke. “I love swimming and love swimming for FSHA with Coach Steve and all the girls. It is a great team. We placed 14th at CIF last year and hope to do even better this year,” said Vose.

The requirements to qualify for All-American status vary from sport to sport

Requirements for an All-American in water polo: A player must compete for an interscholastic team; have a GPA minimum of 3.65; be scholastically eligible by her school authority or state athletic association; and must be at least in 9th grade to qualify. Requirements for an All-American in swimming: Only 25-yard times are accepted; all times must be achieved in an inter-scholastic meet and to the one-hundred of a second; depending on the times submitted only 100 swimmers will be named All-American. The athlete must be at least in 9th grade to be eligible. Requirements for an All-American in soccer: A player must be selected to his or her respective All-Region team; must be selected All-State in their respective state through a recognized coaches’ selection program; All-American teams are comprised of the top players from each region.

Kirsten Vose

HannahWalleck

Maureen CenCulture editor

Varsity water polo has not only improved on its

1-10 league record from last year under new coach Carlos Ponce, but it has already posted three league wins, most recently beating Bishop Alemany. And at press time the team boasted a respectable overall record of 9-9 compared to last year’s 2-12 overall record. “The team goes by the motto ‘faster, stronger and better.’ As a team, we win, lose and sweat together,” said Coach

Ponce. The girls are pleased with their performance. “It was great to win our first league game. It was such an amazing feeling to know that we make our coach proud,” said Presley Maron ‘14. Coach Ponce is confident that the girls will do well for the remaineder of the season. “My wish for the team is to make CIS. Some people think that is a crazy goal for us to reach, but we will try our best,” he said. “We are turning the weaknesses around.” The girls believe they will get better and stronger.

Water polo shows amazing improvement

“The only differences between this season and the last are the coach and how much our team is willing to learn. We are more of a team this year,” said goal keeper Elizabeth Hinckley ‘14. Most of those graduating this year are not interested in playing water polo beyond high school. “I am not sure yet but I will see how it works for me,” said senior All-American Hannah Walleck, who has been on the team for four years. The next game is home on Feb. 5 against Notre Dame High School at 3:30 p.m.

WORTH THE CHILL Sydney Flynn ‘13, Mary Farley ‘16, Elizabeth Hinkley ‘13, Hannah Walleck ‘13 and Madeleine Dulcich ‘16 listen closely to Coach Carlos Pone. Photo courtesy yearbook

By Carra Liwanag, Staff Writer

Although varsity basketball has a league record of 0-6, two of the team’s Mission League competitors are ranked 41st and 65th in the

nation while two others are ranked in the top 100 of the state, which has made the league extra challenging this year. Despite the record, the team has been close in points against these highly ranked teams. “We are practicing hard and working towards a win for our next game,” stated starting guard Jenna Tran ’16. JV basketball is also having some difficulty in league games, although the team showed much improvement in preseason with a record of 8-5. “We have a bit of a struggle since we started league,” stated Richard Maynes, one of the coaches.“This is one of the toughest leagues in the CIF southern section.” Elizabeth Whan ’15 echoes her coach’s statement: “We’ve had some tough losses, but we’re working really hard and trying to do our best.” The next game for both teams will be at home on Jan. 31 against Louisville High School, with JV at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7:00p.m.

Basketball team effort notreflected in league recordSoccer to play

Harvard-WestlakeBy Dana Fee, Staff Writer

With only three games remaining before

play-offs, varsity soccer fac-es long-time rival Harvard Westlake on Friday at Occi-dental College at 5 p.m. Captain Savannah Viola ’13 feels confident about the game despite losing 0-3 to the Wolverines on Jan. 14. “We’re doing really well this year. There have been a lot of changes but we’ve adapted to them really nice-ly,” she said. The Tologs are 5-1-1 in league, 13-1-3 overall. JV soccer also plays against Harvard Westlake at Occidental College Friday at 3:15 p.m. Coach Melissa Warner, who is new to the Tologs this season, said, “since play-ing together for a couple of months we have really be-come a team. You can see the difference both on and off the field.” JV is currently 5-1-0 in league, 9-2-1 overall.