April, 2013 - Kent School District

There’s
No Place
Like Oz

[ EVENTS ] 2
Celebratory Occasions
National Pecan Month
Apr. 2: Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Apr. 6: Plan Your Epitaph Day
Apr. 13: National Scrabble Day
Apr. 16: National Librarian Day
Apr. 19: National Garlic Day
Apr. 21: National Kindergarten Day
Apr. 26: National Pretzel Day
Apr. 30: National Honesty Day
Scholastic Fantastic
Apr. 8-12: Spring Break
Apr. 16: Quarter Ends
Apr. 24: Late Start
Apr. 24: EVITA Opening Night
Movie
My 6: Thor
Releases
Apr. 5: Evil Dead (R)
Apr. 12: Scary Movie 5
(Not yet rated)
Apr. 19: Oblivion (PG-13)
Apr. 26: The Big Wedding (R)
Concerts
Apr. 3: Rihanna at Key Arena
Apr. 6: Alt-J at the Neptune
Apr. 23: Watsky at Crocodile Cafe
Apr. 29: Alex Clare at
Showbox at the Market
This Month in History
Apr. 1, 1960: US launches its first
weather satellite
Apr. 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.
assassinated
Apr. 10, 1925: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s
The Great Gatsby was published
Apr. 14, 1865: President Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated
Apr. 15, 1912: Titanic sunk
Apr. 18, 1984: Actress America Ferrera
was born
Apr. 20, 1889: Aldof Hitler born
in Austria
Apr. 30, 1986: Actress Dianna Agron
was born
Fleet Street Newspaper
Kentridge High School
12430 SE 208th St.
Kent, WA 98031
Phone: 253-373-4386
Fax: 253-373-4422
Email: hilari.anderson@kent.k12.wa.us
Superintendent: Dr. Edward Lee Vargas
Principal: Mike Albrecht
Advisor: Hilari Anderson
Cover: Kendall Reonal and Amy Yang
Lead Reporters: Matt Martin and Amy Yang
Kiera Brunson
Jared Buxton
Kylie Degrate
Dakotah Fitzgerald
Madi Gingerich
Glenn Hartman
Kyra Kaiser
Gina Koopmans
Reporters:
Matt Martin
Marisa Payton
Kendall Reonal
Danielle Sampson
Gema Soto-Marquez
Emi Williams
Lizzy Wirth
Amy Yang
Letters
Write us to give us your thoughts, compliments, or criticism. Letters to the editor should be 250
words or less. Fleet Street News reserves the right to edit for length, style, and taste. Letters
should include a printed name and phone number or e-mail address for verification.
Editorial Policy
The Editorial pages of Fleet Street News are open for comment and expression by the Kentridge
High School community consistent with Kent School Board policy 3220. Fleet Street News is a
student publication dedicated to reporting relevant, timely, and interesting information to the
students, staff, parents, and community in and surrounding Kentridge High School. It is the goal
of Fleet Street to inform, entertain, and represent the various views of Kentridge High fairly. The
opinions expressed on these pages do not reflect the opinions of the Kent School District.

[ NEWS ] 3
AP T-shirts face scrutiny
By Matt Martin, Lead Reporter
Past AP T-shirts hang on the wall in AP Calculus teacher Peggy
Taimi’s room. Proposed shirts must have teacher and administrative
approval before they will be allowed. Photo by Matt Martin
Class T-shirts are
a longstanding
tradition of
AP classes
at KR, serving
as a creative
way for students
to commemorate
a year’s worth of newfound
knowledge, sleepless
nights cramming for
tests, and happy memories.
This year, however,
these shirts are under
much stricter review
from AP teachers and
Principal Mike Albrecht
– and some may even face
being eliminated entirely.
Due to an influx of inappropriate
T-shirt designs that have
been submitted by students in recent
years, Albrecht has decided
to impose rules on designs so
they reflect Kentridge in a better
light.
“What happens is there’s inside
messages or innuendos that
are inappropriate and reflect
poorly on our school,” he said.
“Any time ‘Kentridge’ or ‘KR’
or ‘Chargers’ are being used, students
need to understand they are
representing Kentridge.”
In order to make sure AP
shirts present Kentridge in a positive
light, both at school and in
the community, starting this year,
designs must be reviewed and
approved by the course’s teacher,
then sent to Albrecht for a second
review.
In addition to introducing a
dual round of reviews before designs
can gain approval, Albrecht
offered the following guidelines:
“Everybody must understand
what it means,” he said. “No
hidden messages, no innuendos,
anything that could be considered
inappropriate. The general
rule is they should be Disneyland
appropriate.”
The consequences for students
who fail to follow these
new guidelines will extend to
the AP program. In a staff e-mail
Albrecht plainly stated, “If students
bring me a T-shirt that is
inappropriate, then that course
will no longer be allowed to have
T-shirts that in anyway represent
that course and KR this year and
in the future.”
These new conditions haven’t
resonated well with students,
many of whom believe the new
reviews are too strict and inhibit
their rights to creativity.
Senior Brendan King describes
how this year’s AP Statistics
proposal was rejected.
“Our shirt had this joke about
should you study or go to a party,
“ King said. “It was based on a
statistics terms called the ‘opportunity
cost.’ The only thing
in there was we used the words
‘party’ and ‘ratchet’ because
there’s a thing in economics
called the ‘ratchet effect,’ and it
got rejected even though in the
end, you’re supposed to assume
they didn’t go to the party.”
Senior Michael Geffre, who
has taken seven AP classes and
purchased class shirts for most
of them, was also upset by the
changes.
“It’s so stupid,” he said. “Administrators
don’t understand the
jokes we make so they automatically
assume it’s something inappropriate
or an innuendo.”
Despite these new regulations
and the complaints they fostered,
Albrecht wanted to affirm his
support for continuing the tradition
of students design AP shirts.
“At its root, I think the idea of
creating spirit among classmates
[with shirts] is fine,” he said.
Senior Tyler Bailey’s license plate is eponymous. Many personalized
license plates in the state have come under review for
inappropriate content, though none of those seem to park at KR.
Photo by Jared Buxton
Personalizing license
plates gets state attention
By Jared Buxton, Veteran Reporter
TBAILEY: If you can’t guess
whose license plate that is …
you may be living under a rock.
Yes, this personalized license
plate belongs to Senior Tyler
Bailey.
“I thought it was cool at the
time,” he said. “But now that I
think about it, it was a bad decision
because now people can
recognize me whenever, and I
can get tickets a lot easier.”
The Seattle Times reported in
January that people take advantage
of license personalization,
making crude or vulgar jokes.
The issue escalated when a man
named Tony Cava received a letter
from the state indicating that
his plate is vulgar and profane.
The Department of Licensing
has been receiving many complaints
about profane or vulgar
license plates, many of which
are sexually suggestive or immature
in content.
The DOL has been reviewing
whether to ban individual vanity
plates. The state has been sanctioning
personalized plates with
messages such as “GETSOM,
LUVBED, HUMPER, OLD-
FART, ... GO2HELL, and BIT-
EIT,” according to the Times.
Though suggestive license
plates might appear around
town, they don’t seem to appear
at KR.
Junior Meron Madebo didn’t
personalize the license plate on
the car she drives; her father did
it for her.
It reads “HESED,” which
means “Grace” in Hebrew.
If Madebo had chosen her
own vanity plate, she likely
would have chosen “something
Ethiopian. Something that
means something to me.”
Senior Emily Ketcherson also
has a personalized license plate.
It reads KOALATS, but it is pronounced
“ko-all-ah-teez.:
“My mom did it because she
likes koalas, and KOALA was
already taken, so she just added
that ‘T’ to it,” Kecherson said.
“It’s also a reminder of my mom,
and I wouldn’t change it even if I
had the option.”
Kecherson doesn’t think
highly of those around the state
who choose inappropriate plates.
“I don’t think those are cool,”
she said. “I don’t really care for
them at all.”

Skyward:
To check or
not to check?
By Emi Williams, Reporter
Students and parents have the ability
to check their grades on Skyward
through electronic devices, such
as laptops, computers, and smart
phones.
What varies among students,
though, is the frequency with which
they hop online to look at their marks
in each class.
Freshmen and sophomores have
an advantage when it comes to accessibility,
since they have laptops from
the One-to-One program. While the
lowerclassmen can go on Skyward
throughout the school day, juniors
and seniors don’t always have the
luxury to do so.
“I check my grades about every
day or every other day,” Freshman
Peyton Chick said. Sophomore Aaron
Chinchilla agreed.
Of the 33 students interviewed,
people’s answers about how often
they monitor their grades ranged
from every day to rarely.
“This is probably bad, but I haven’t
checked it all third quarter,” said
Sophomore Gabi Yokers.
“I used to check them every day,
but then I stopped caring,” said Junior
Kyra Pennington.
Teachers often see a correlation
between the frequency of looking at
grades and the grades themselves.
“To some extent, yes, [there is a
correlation between checking Skyward
and good grades],” said Kara
Butsch-Nolte, Spanish teacher.
Graphic Arts teacher Glenn Walrond
agreed.
“If you check your grades often,
you won’t be behind,” he said.
“Therefore, grades are more indicative
of skill level. There is a correlation
between those with higher grades
and how often they check.”
[ NEWS ] 4
Senior Anuka Kizer is seen checking Skyward. Many students with good grades
check Skyward often, though some obsessively check. Photo by Emi Williams
How often do people with outstanding
grades go on Skyward?
“This year, I haven’t checked
them at all,” said Junior Parashara
Shamaprasad, who has a 4.0. “I don’t
have to because my dad tells me
about them.”
“I check my grades once a week or
so,” said Senior James Dugan, also
with a 4.0.
Seniors, though, have a wide variance
in how often they go on Skyward.
Some don’t care anymore since
they are so far in their careers, while
others check religiously.
Senior Shayla Otake is quite disciplined
about keeping up with her
grades.
“I check every day or every other
day,” she said. “Sometimes, I go on
multiple times a day.”
“I go on, like, once a month,” said
Senior Matthew Bussey. “… I don’t
care enough; I’m just a senior waiting
to get out.”
Senior Haley Poole sheepishly admitted
to her lack of checking.
“I go on like once a month, on a
good month,” she said.
“I check maybe two or three times
a week,” said Senior Rebecca Hsieh.
“As a Senior, my Skyward usage has
gone up. If I have a B in a class, [it
looks like] senioritis. … That’s not
going to look good.”
How many times, then, is too
much? Also, how does an obsessed
student or parent behave?
Junior Josie Paznookas said that
“any more than twice a day” is too
much.
Senior Anuka Kizer said that students
should check “like once a day.”
When asked about the behavior of
obsessive parents, she guessed that
“maybe they go through all of the assignments.”
Sophomore Ashtyn Perlatti said
that an obsessive parent would “check
every day and freak out when there’s
a missing assignment.”
Freshman Simreet Sandhu said
that obsessive parents would be “secretly
going on their children’s Skyward
and checking their grades for
them. That’s just crazy.”
Social networking:
The politics of
unfriending
By Gema Soto-Marquez, Veteran Reporter
Students on Facebook often have a few
hundred friends; some are good to socialize
with, while others are just “un-friend
able.”
That friend with the constant annoying
posts most people don’t care about,
girls with complaint statuses, or who infamously
‘fish for compliments,’ guys with
unnecessary shirtless pictures – all of this
is familiar.
“If they post
way too much
stuff … or if I get
mad at them,”
Sophomore
Madison Taylor
will unfriend.
It may be time to unfriend.
What else would make people unfriend
each other Facebook?
“If they post way too much stuff… or if
I get mad at them,” Sophomore Madison
Taylor said.
Junior Diamond Gadson would unfriend
someone if “they are annoying or
message you randomly.”
“I would if they are just plain annoying,”
agreed Freshman Brooke Sahli.
Many students are accustomed to unfriending
each other. Maybe it’s because
the majority of people only talk to about
one to 30 people out of hundreds of friends.
“I have 1,800 friends and almost two
thousand,” Sophomore Maddie Kriner
said. “I don’t even talk to anybody.”
“I talk to about 20 out of the 400 friends
I have, but that’s on a daily basis,” Sophomore
Jordan King said.
Some people are afraid to unfriend people.
“I just don’t want to hurt their feelings if
they notice, and yes, it can be awkward if
we see each other in real life because they
give me a nasty look,” Freshman Allayna
Farmer said.

[ NEWS ] 5
Why four-leaf clovers are special
By Kyra Kaiser, Veteran Reporter
Four-leaf clovers are a ubiquitous
symbol of luck across many
cultures, despite the symbol’s
Irish roots.
According to The Chronicle,
Celtic priests known as Druids
originally used four-leaf clovers
as good-luck charms to protect
against bad spirits. Due to widespread
Celtic dominance, the
symbol spread across
Europe.
Then,
around
fourth
century
B.C.E., St.
Patrick used
the shamrock, the
three-leaf white clover,
to teach Christianity to the
Irish. St. Patrick preached
that the shamrock’s three leaves
symbolized the Holy Trinity, the
three aspects of God: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In
four-leaf clovers, the last leaf represented
God’s grace. Later, the
shamrock became Ireland’s national
symbol.
Other religious notations include
a story about Eve carrying
a four-leaf clover from Eden. To
many Christians, four-leaf clovers
are a little bit of heaven.
Legend also has it that the
leaves of a shamrock stand for
hope, faith, and love. A fourth
leaf stands for luck; hence, the
lucky four-leaf clover.
However, some are hesitant to
believe in luck and old legends.
Junior Ramsay Moore noted
that she didn’t think four-leaf clovers
were lucky “because when I
found one, I didn’t feel any different.”
Others like to be optimistic.
Freshman Mitch Morehead thinks
luck “is something to be hopeful
for,” and Math teacher Deann
Anguiano also believes in luck
because she’s had good luck.
Statistics vary, but according
to The Chronicle, there are 100
thousand three-leaf clovers for
every one four-leaf clover.
Morehead thinks
this rarity
makes
four-leaf clovers
“really neat,” adding
that “four leaves instead
of three just makes it good
luck.”
But beware of immediately
jumping to conclusions if you
see a clover-like plant with four
leaves. Look-alike plants, such
as Pepperwort, Water Clover, and
Oxalis, which all have four leaves
naturally, are sometimes sold as
fakes. In a real four-leaf clover,
the fourth leaf is usually smaller
than the rest. If you look closely
on the back of the petals where
the stem meets the leaves, you
can often find the stem is split into
three parts, one part then branching
off into two leaves instead of
one. Thus, it is rare even among
four leaf clovers for the leaves to
be perfectly distributed around
the stem.
The leaves should also be the
lobe-shape of a true clover. Because
a four-leaf clover is a mutation
caused by genes or environmental
factors such as pollution,
there are sometimes several fourleaf
clovers on the same plant, so
be sure to survey the area nearby
if you happen to find one.
Despite varying beliefs in
luck, most people, if they found a
four-leaf clover, would not throw
it away. Junior Tim Hanks said he
would keep a four-leaf clover “as
a good luck charm because I’m
kind of superstitious.”
”Regardless of religious beliefs,
there are outside forces that
influence outcome,” he said.
Likewise, Morehead would
press a four-leaf clover
“in a book or give it
to somebody who
needed it.”
Not lucky enough?
Five, six, seven,
eight-leaf clovers,
and so on also
exist, though
these specimens
become
increasingly uncommon
with the
increasing number of leaves.
The fifth leaf of these extremely
rare clovers is said to bring
money, and the sixth leaf fame.
According the Guinness Book of
World Records, Shigeo Obara of
Japan currently holds the record
for his 56-leaf clover produced in
2009. Obara had, however, more
than luck on his side, because he
bred the clover with the help of
the plants that produced his previous
record-breaking 18 and 21-
leaf clovers.
As the leaves on a clover increase,
the question remains
whether you believe in luck, hard
work, or a combination of both.
But maybe, as Anguiano
points out, “if you don’t believe
in something, nothing’s going to
happen. … It’s like believing in
Santa,” and the magic is for you
to create.
Got Luck?
By Marisa Payton, Veteran Reporter
St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated
each year on March 17, is a day
of pinching and good luck.
What’s with belief in luck? Is
it merely the unforeseen outcome
of choice or a force all its own?
Luck is defined as “the events
or circumstances that work for
or against an individual,” according
to the Merriam-Webster
Dictionary.
“I think lazy people mainly
believe in luck,” said Senior
Brittany Ingo. “They don’t put
forth the hard work it takes to get
something and just hope they’ll
get ‘lucky.’ ”
“Luck is something that happens
spontaneously,” said Senior
Autumn Palmer.
Often, students refer to being
lucky when they receive a good
grade on a test they didn’t study
for, or when they get the last slice
of pepperoni pizza in the lunch
line. What constitutes having
good luck or bad luck? Can they
be interchangeable?
“I think [good luck and bad
luck] go hand in hand, and it is really
about how you view the situation,”
said Senior Aubri Avery.
Ingo’s brush with bad luck
turned out to be something positive
later on in her life.
“I got in a car accident when
I was 4, and now I get this big
settlement that’s gonna help pay
off my college,” Ingo said. “It’s
lucky because otherwise I have
no idea how I’d pay for my college.”
What appears negative at first
has the potential to turn itself
around for the better. Whether
you view an outcome as luck, the
more effort put into something
the better. The chances are of the
end product being good.
“I believe luck is the result of
hard work,” said Avery.
“If you do something good,
then something good will happen
to you,” said Ingo.

[ NEWS ] 6
The Easter bunny comes to KR
By Danielle Sampson, Reporter
Who is cute, adorable, and
lives under Portable 3?
It’s KR’s own Easter bunny.
Social Studies teacher Christopher
Howard found a lost bunny
underneath his portable ramp
March 11.
The discovery brought about
much excitement as students
stopped to get a look at the bunny.
Cute animals can be tempting
to catch, feed, or pet. However,
this can put you in a dangerous
situation. Animals in the wild can
have an array of diseases that can
be harmful to the human immune
system. These diseases range
from bacterial infections, to parasitic
diseases.
When finding a lost animal
or any animal in the wild, there
are certain precautions that you
should take before you try and
catch it. Stray or wild animals
tend to be scared and on the defensive.
The Humane Society
says before you try and catch
the critter you should “Use caution
when approaching the animal.
Should you succeed in getting
close enough to capture him,
you stand a good chance of being
scratched or bitten.”
If you are attacked by a stray
animal, go to the emergency room
as soon as possible because many
of the diseases that animals have
can be extremely detrimental to
your health.
If you are unable to find a way
to safely capture the animal in
question, you should call your local
animal control agency. Make
sure to leave directions to the exact
area where the animal was last
seen to help the dispatchers when
they arrive.
Howard did not call the animal
control agency because “…we
were afraid if we turned it in to
an animal shelter, it would be put
down and we didn’t want that to
happen,” he said.
Howard’s plan was to capture
the bunny with a raccoon cage
and carrots.
We caught the elusive bunny on camera under Social Studies
teacher Chris Howard’s portable. Though cute, people should
not try to handle wild animals, but should instead report them to
animal control agencies.
Photo by Danielle Sampson
“Most wild animals, I don’t
recommend you go up to,” he
said. “… Mr. King had an animal
cage. … We tried to catch it using
carrots as bait … to see who
Bats
Muskrats
Beavers
Nutria
Black Bears
Opossums
Bobcats
Pocket Gophers
Cougars
Rabbits
Coyotes
has bunnies and could take care
of them or what have you.”
The plan did not work, however,
and the elusive bunny remains
on the lam.
Common Mammals Found in the Northwest
Raccoons
Deer
Rats
Elk
River Otters
Moles
Skunks
Moose
Tree Squirrels
Mountain Beavers
From left: Seniors Simone Williams and Myra Ah-Siu, along with
Junior Jackie Ryan, work in class. Williams is a co-founder of
Poetry club.
Photo by Kylie Degrate
Don’t you know it?
You could be a poet!
By Kylie Degrate, Veteran Reporter
If there were a poetry club,
would you join it?
Poetry club has begun this
year, according to Senior Simone
Williams, a co-founder.
“Everyone is welcome,” Williams
said. “A lot of people who
don’t go here that I’ve told about
it really want to join the club, but
because they aren’t apart of Kentridge,
they can’t be.”
Lovers of writing, and people
who want a voice: This club may
be for you.
English teacher Sarah Stringer
is the club’s advisor.
“I chose to be the advisor because
I truly appreciate and admire
any individual who is able
to speak with purpose in front of
their peers,” she said. “The messages
are often deeply personal,
and I wanted to create a safe
space for the club members.”
Poetry is the focus.
“It’s mostly just going to be
poetry and song lyrics, but mostly
poetry,” Williams added.
“When I am having a bad day
or any kind of day in general, it’s
a good way to express anything
that you feel, so you don’t take
your bad days out on yourself,”
Senior Courtney Coscorossa, the
other co-founder, said. “It means
a lot to me because it helps me
express my feelings during more
challenging times”
Coscorrosa came to poetry in
a dark time in her life and said
that after starting it, she’s never
felt better. She added she wanted
to ensure that everyone had a safe
and non-judgmental place to be.
“I have struggled a lot with
depression and self-harm, and I
know other people at this school
are going through the same
thing,” she said, “and getting out
my feelings and writing them
down in a creative way helped
me like I know it will help others.”
“The meetings usually take
place every other Tuesday,”
Stringer said. “However, the
club leaders have not fully committed
to a specific day, so sometimes
it might be Wednesday.
There should be announcements
that have more information.”
The idea intrigues some KR
students.
“It’s a cool idea,” Junior Jackie
Ryan added. “I like poetry. It’s
a way of expressing yourself in a
different way.”
“I like the idea of a poetry club
because I like to write,” Sophomore
Kelli Adams said.
“I like poetry as a way of
expressing myself,” Freshman
Brooke Wilson said. “I’d love
to join the club; I just don’t have
time with all of my other commitments.”

[ NEWS ] 7
Electronics find their
purpose in academics
By Gema Soto-Marquez,
Veteran Reporter
Every student at KR will have
a district-issued laptop in two
years.
What about beyond?
Will the next step be to assign
tablets? Perhaps students will
use their new Google glasses, or
watches that double as computers.
Google Project Glass is attempting
to bring hands-free
technology to the public through
what they call “Google Glasses,”
which have a small display that
can be seen by looking up and
controlled through voice recognition
similar to the voice control
in many smartphones. Google
glasses can take pictures, videos,
help with directions, and send
messages.
Google has confirmed that the
Google Glasses will be available
sometime during late 2013 and
plans to sell it for $1,500 with the
hope that the consumer version is
less than that.
Then there is the iWatch. It has
about a 1-inch display, Bluetooth,
and may include Siri. However,
it most likely won’t do as much as
the iPod or iPhone. Its price and
release date aren’t determined
yet. There will be some rivalry
between this device made by
Apple, and a similar smart-watch
Samsung already has.
Then there are tablets. At a recent
conference in Austin, Texas,
Joel Klein, chief executive of
the tech company Amplify, announced
that his company will
offer tablets to students some students
from grades K-12.
“In November, Amplify began
testing its tablet in hundreds of
public schools nationwide, and in
December it explained the venture
to investors,” the New York
Times reported. “… A preloaded
tablet, training and customer care
Google Glasses may prove to be another tool for electronic use
in schools. Tablets are currently becoming popular with many
students.
(largely from former teachers)
starts at $299, along with a twoyear
subscription for $99 a year.”
Already, students use personal
tablets at school.
“It’s very useful if you can’t
find a paper copy of a certain
book or if it’s too expensive, you
can just get it online,” said Sophomore
Desiree Duran.
“The classic books are especially
cheaper if you buy it on
Kindle,” added Sophomore Kelly
Spratt.
“I’m actually reading my semester
book on my tablet,” said
Sophomore Maria Ilioukhov.
Each of these sophomores
agreed they also use a dictionary
app versus a hard copy dictionary.
Ilioukhov uses her tablet as a
tuner as well, and also has a metronome
app for her instrument.
Principal Mike Albrecht said
tablet technology could be useful.
“Well I think that people can
bring their personal technology
as long as it’s being used in the
guidelines that the district has,”
said Albrecht. The policies and
restrictions for the use of tablets
would follow policies set for the
One-To-One laptops.
However, there are some concerns
when facing technology
that’s easily accessible.
“My biggest concern is the social
media,” said Albrecht. “…
Students and people in general
are saying things on our social
media [Facebook, Twitter, etc.]
that they would never say to the
person face-to-face. I would say
that 90 percent of all the conflicts
that we had to deal with at
Kentridge this year, involving
students, and the root cause of it
started on Facebook. The social
media part is what concerns me;
other than that, [technology] is a
wonderful tool.”
Aside from tablets, students
have access to cell phones and
other electronic devices in the
lunchroom.
“I would prefer that cellphones
and all those devices not be used
during the school hours, but I do
recognize that our society has
become increasingly wanting
to use those devices,” Albrecht
said. “… If they will use it appropriately,
they can use it during
lunch.”
Juniors Jordan Ablao, Brayden Jackson, and Molly Hughes enjoy
lunch at Starbucks in March. Many students enjoy going off
campus mid-day.
Photo by Madi Gingerich
Off campus lunch
more fun for some
By Madi Gingerich, Reporter
Not all students stay in the
cafeteria for lunches. So, if they
aren’t on campus, where do they
go?
Common places for juniors
and seniors include Starbucks,
Circle-K, Subway, Jack in the
Box, and Yummy Teriyaki.
Students who leave campus
have the same amount of time for
lunch as on-campus students, but
for some, the time seems less.
Junior Andrey Stepunyuk
thinks it’s exciting to leave campus
because “it’s a chance to get
away from school for a little bit
and have fun with your friends.”
Junior Kailyn Pennock leaves
“because I’m too lazy to make my
lunch and I don’t like the school
lunches.” Pennock also said her
favorite place to go is Starbucks
because she likes the drinks and
the pastries they offer.
Senior Haley Poole said her
favorite place to go also is Starbucks.
“I’ve spent quite a few paychecks
there from buying Frappuccino
and bagels,” Poole said.
Once students go out a few
times, it becomes a habit. Lunch
in the cafeteria becomes less intriguing,
according to students.
Poole has stayed at KR only a few
times.
“I’ve sat at the lunch table
maybe six times this year,” she
said.
Some people would like to go
out to lunch but fear they don’t
have enough time. If their car is
in the pit for the day, it takes up
more time to walk down there.
Stepunyuk doesn’t worry
about making it back in time for
his 5 th period class.
“I have 3 rd lunch … ,” he said.
I’m not too worried about walking
in a few minutes late …”

[ NEWS ] 8
What did your teachers want to be when they grew up?
By Kyra Kaiser, Veteran Reporter
Some kids have a solid idea
about what they want to be when
they grow up.
Sophomore Maria Ilioukhov
wants to be a forensic pathologist
because she loves science.
The portrayal of this career in the
numerous books she has read initially
intrigued her.
Sophomore Terry Hoskins
said she aims to “be a psychiatrist
because I want to help people.”
Hoskins originally considered
becoming a zoologist and actor,
but she said she grew out of those
phases.
Now, neither Ilioukhov nor
Hoskins think they will change
their minds.
Others are bewildered by the
vast number of career possibilities,
especially the underclassmen.
Freshman
Steven Clark says that
he has no idea what he
wants to be when he
grows up.
Fortunately, students
who are uncertain
about the future
have a wealth of help at
their fingertips from people
they see every day: teachers.
Librarian Mitzi Gligorea
advises “taking lots of
different classes” and
“not being afraid to
take general studies.”
Gligorea originally
wanted to be a P.E.
teacher because she was
involved in a lot of sports
in high school, including
gymnastics and track, and
liked having summers off.
She even majored and
student-taught in P.E.
However, her minor in
library sciences eventually
led
her to becoming a librarian.
Gligorea has been a librarian
in elementary, middle, and high
schools, though she admits that
she “really likes teens” because
she can hold real conversations
with them.
Gligorea was “always
interested in English.” However,
she found her passion
in the more general category
of books and libraries, rather
than literary analysis. Gligorea
also emphasized that
you should “not be afraid to
change your mind” about your
career, even in college.
Business and Computer Science
teacher Al Waltner likewise
advises students to “keep
your options open; go to school
as long as you can so you don’t
close your doors.”
“Taking a lot
of science and
math” is also a
good idea, he
says, because the
foundation these
essentials provide can
be taken in many different
directions.
These practical
areas also have
plenty of job
opportunities; Waltner was hired
right out of college due to his
computer skills.
Waltner originally thought he
would run his own business when
he grew up because he wanted to
be independent. However, halfway
through college, Waltner
realized that business wasn’t
for him; he didn’t want to sit at
a desk all day. His dad, being
his teacher and coach as well as
a vice principal, along
with Waltner’s good
experiences throughout
high school, led
him to favor being a
teacher.
Job shadows are another
way to be exposed
to the world of careers. Science
teacher Jonna Radford
says students unsure of their
career pathways should “do as
many job shadows” as they can
and “talk to adults about their
jobs.”
In high school, Radford
was interested in environmental
science, fueled by
a curiosity in natural
systems. This led her
to conduct three different
job shadows
in the nu-
trition, botany, and recreational
fields. Radford said her job shadows
helped her decide on her career,
as well as an internship with
the King County Parks, where
she had positive experiences
working with kids.
While being open to new possibilities
and sampling a wide
spectrum of courses available is
important, you should also stick
to what you love.
Language Arts teacher Patience
Burns says students should
“pursue their passion even if others
don’t appreciate the passion
or think it’s valid.”
Burns knew that she wanted to
be “a teacher since first grade.”
Burns’ first grade teacher instilled
a love of learning in her by
guiding her to help other students
with reading when she was ahead.
Burns said that her college
experience with student
teaching simply
“solidified the fact
that this was what
I wanted to do.”
Higher-lev-
el education is definitely essential
for higher quality and higher paying
jobs.
Math teacher Raymond Lee
says “definitely go to college. In
college, you’ll learn a lot” and
use this learning throughout your
life. Lee thinks “college was the
best thing I ever did in my life.”
Lee originally wanted to be a
sports photographer because he
“loved taking pictures and watching
sports.”
However, Lee ended up working
at Microsoft for 10 years,
and then decided he wanted to
go back to college for a teaching
degree. While student teaching,
Lee enjoyed learning about threedimensional
art from his mentor
teacher. Lee can teach both math
and art and likes the higher-level
thinking in high school.
The options are open,
but whatever career path
you choose, be sure to
keep this in mind:
“You are the one
who’s going to have
to live with it,”
Burns said.

[ NEWS ] 9
Exchange students Yoann Roisneau and Marie Migeon present French rappers to Noemie Hamon’s fourth period French class. For three weeks, these students
spent time learning about American education and teaching about France.
Photo by Glenn Hartman
KR visited by French exchange students
By Glenn Hartman, Veteran Reporter
KR was the beneficiary of
four exchange students from
France, who experienced what
it’s like to be a high schooler
in America for three weeks in
March.
Last month, Fleet Street
wrote about some differences
between French and U.S.
schools. We thought it would be
interesting to follow up with our
French visitors.
Naturally, there was a bit of
a culture shock, especially when
they first came to school.
Amal Jaber, a 16-year-old
exchange student staying with
Senior Kathryn Bliden noted the
early start time.
School in the U.S. “starts
earlier,” she said, “but also ends
earlier. We go to school from 9
to 5. The school [in France] is
also a lot smaller.”
Eyitayo Zonon, a 15-year-old
staying with Senior Christopher
Camarero, agrees with Jaber.
School in France is “smaller,”
he said, and there are “no school
colors.”
Jaber also mentioned that
classes at KR are “a lot more
noisy,” and that students “talk
more with teachers. In France,
we aren’t allowed to talk to
teachers.”
Marie Migeon, also 16, is
staying with Senior Maddie
Herzog.
She said that during school
in France, “we aren’t allowed
to use our phones, and we aren’t
allowed to listen to music,” even
during lunch.
“Lockers are smaller,” she
added. “They are short and wider
in France.”
“There is no eating, drinks,
talking, or leaving for the bathroom,”
Yoann Roisneau, a
17-year-old staying with Senior
Cassie Ash, said. “We listen to
the teacher; that’s it.”
“We don’t pay for food at
lunch,” he also said. “… We
don’t pick classes,” he added,
and there are no special education
students in his French
school.
Outside of school differences,
these French teens are much
like Americans in their extracurricular
interests.
When not at school, Jaber enjoys
boxing, listening to music,
sleeping, movies, hanging out
with friends, going to parties,
and dancing. Her favorite class
in France is history, and she enjoys
her English classes both in
France and here in America.
Migeon enjoys seeing her
friends, dancing, and listening
to music. She enjoys her English
class in France, and likes English,
French, and Peer Tutoring
here in America.
Zonon likes reading, playing
video games, and “sports with
friends.” He enjoys the French,
cooking and biology classes
here in America, and also enjoys
biology in France.
Roisneau likes to “go with
friends to Paris, the cinema,
play on PS3, listen to music, and
I read science fiction, mystery
and action.”
“Assassin’s Creed 2 is my favorite,”
he said. Roisneau also
plays “tennis, soccer, basketball.
I run for fun.”
He likes listening to French
rap, too.
“I like all kinds [of music],”
he says. His favorite artists are a
French group 1995, and Flo-Rida.
He likes his “French, math,
and sports classes.”

[ NEWS ] 10
First-generation kids juggle home
culture with America
By Amy Yang, Veteran Reporter
Kentridge High School is a
diverse community with many
students, or their parents, hailing
from many different countries.
Senior Bhavya Kumar is from
Punjab, India, and moved to the
U.S. with her mom when she was
just six months old.
“My parents wanted a better
future for their kids, which happened
to be just me,” she said.
This was a common theme
seen in many other immigrants as
Sophomores Amanpreet Kaur and
Cleo Tsang cited the same, saying
that their parents wanted to see
what America had to offer, and to
provide a better life for their children.
While Senior Becca Hsieh’s
family left Taiwan to look for job
opportunities, Senior Timothy
Ie’s family, who is Chinese but
came from Indonesia, moved to
the U.S. due to some ethnic discrimination
of Chinese people in
Indonesia’s educational system.
Some leave because of social
or political upheaval.
“In Chile, there was a coup
that was about to occur, … so
they had to get out of their country,”
Sophomore Elena Johns
said of her parents.
Because these students’ parents
migrated to the U.S., some
of the customs Americans practice
are not practiced at home,
making it difficult for their Americanized
children to assimilate.
“At first, it was a ginormous
culture clash,” Kumar said. “I
would always wonder why some
children did things that I never got
to do. However, as I have grown,
I have found myself leaning on
my heritage for support through
arduous times. Today, I am incredibly
proud to experience the
cultural diversity that allows me
to celebrate both Thanksgiving
and Diwali in the fall.”
Sophomore Aman Kaur (left) poses with her friend Harleen Kaur
(a KL student) for New Year’s Eve at Gurdwara SIngh Sabha
(the Renton Sikh temple).
Courtesy Photo
“My upbringing focused a
lot on learning, as the idea that
‘youth is the time for learning’ is
heavily emphasized in my family,”
Ie said. “Sometimes, I felt
left out if I didn’t play a certain
game or watch a certain movie
that everyone else had watched,
but it didn’t bother me much.”
“I balance the lifestyle out
with hanging out with friends,”
Kaur said. “Sometimes it gets
hard because when there’s a birthday
party, I have to be at temple,
so managing it is harder, but it’s
worth the time and effort.”
Kaur does not feel America
takes away from her Punjabi and
Sikh culture.
“For me personally, I don’t
think so because both my parents
are religious, so they still balance
our American lifestyle with
our Indian lifestyle,” Kaur said.
“And, we still go to the temple on
Saturdays and Sundays and during
the weekdays when we can.
And as us learning it, there are so
many Indians around here, and
my dad is really religious, so we
know a lot of other Indians, so it’s
not like we missed out; we still
have our functions and holidays
that we do.”
“My mom often says, ‘No, this
— this is the Chinese way’ as a
justification for things I don’t like
or understand,” said Senior Jeannette
Yu. “As a family, we have
not experienced much struggle
with culture, but individually
as someone who has grown up
absorbing the American culture
around me, there are conflicts.
Basically, I had an upbringing
with plenty of Chinese traditions,
but it was a lot more relaxed ...
than my own parents’ upbringing
because of the security America
offers.”
While it is hard in the beginning
to learn how to balance two
different cultures, it must have
been scarier and a lot more challenging
for parents of first-generations
kids who had to leave the
comfort of a home culture.
“It was much easier for me to
assimilate into the culture than it
was to my parents,” Kumar said.
“Since I was so young when I
first came to America, I was immersed
in the culture from the
beginning of my life. However,
my parents had an entire lifetime
of societal rules that they had to
make up for. Still, I think they
did far more than I could ever ask
for.”
Growing up in a surrounding
different from the culture in
which one was raised can bring
about loss and discrimination.
“I believe I lost the real essence
of Asian holidays because
even though I celebrate it still at
my Chinese School, it’s just not
as traditional,” Hsieh said.
“…I used to speak my parents’
language, Indonesian, but since
preschool, I have been using and
become more proficient in English
and forgot some of my Indonesian,”
Ie said. “I hope to learn
it again, though.”
This situation is the same with
Sophomore Denny Tran.
“I speak English at home, but
Senior Bhavya Kumar (left) with a family friend wearing traditional
Indian clothes for a wedding.
Courtesy Photo

[ NEWS ] 11
Senior Timothy Ie (center) and his older brother, 2012 Alumnus Christian Ie (left) visit Borobudar,
a giant Buddhist monument and prominent landmark in Indonesia. Ie’s parents left Indonesia
because of discrimination against Chinese people.
Courtesy Photo
the first language I learned was
Vietnamese, and I’m not fluent in
reading or writing, but I just kind
of figure it out,” he said.
“I definitely feel like I missed
out on cultural experiences because
there aren’t very many
Chileanos here, and it’s really difficult
to find people who are,” she
said. “So we try to celebrate like
the independence day for Chile
and stuff, and we make some of
the food sometimes, but when we
celebrate, we make sure to keep
contact with people who are in
Chile.”
Kaur has faced some stereotypes
due to coming from a different
background.
“People ask me if my house
Senior Jeannette Yu took this picture of the Hong Kong skyline
when she visited in April, 2012. Yu’s parents have passed down
many of the Chinese traditions with which they grew up.
Sophomore Elena Johns (left) poses with her mom Veronica and
sister Julia at a French restaurant in Chile, translated to “The
Trickster of Montpellier.”
Courtesy Photo
smells like curry, and I don’t eat
curry.”
Johns has faced the same.
“Sometimes, I feel like there
are a lot of weird stereotypes
that I don’t know where people
got them from, and when I was
in elementary school [they would
say], ‘You’re from a bowl of
chili. People eat you.’ It was like,
‘What are you talking about?’ ”
Although growing up with
two different cultures can be confusing,
there are still many perks.
“It was always really important
to my parents that I retain my
culture because it is such a large
part of who I truly am,” Kumar
said. “It’s all because of their efforts
that I am still so connected
to my Indian heritage through
my religion, language, food, and
even dance. I feel like I have had
an amazing opportunity to enjoy
life through two perspectives,
and I wouldn’t give up either for
the world.”
And, coming from another
culture allows for more understanding
as the parents of these
kids brought over values.
“They say to work hard for
what you want and not take advantage
over it because, like, this
is where the lectures come in, and
they’re like, when I was your age
I worked much harder than you
to get what I wanted,” said Tran.
“… You won’t get everything
you want, you have to work for
it.”
Kaur’s parents reinforce this
value.
“We just take things for an
advantage,” Kaur echoes her parents.
“Our motto is: Do you want
it, or do you need it? Because
there’s a difference of want and
need.”
Often, people may find themselves
in situations in which they
don’t understand or know anything
such as a culture, but the
misunderstandings can cause barriers
that would let us experience
something that could be great.
“I think that a lot of times, we
don’t realize how much power diversity
holds,” Kumar said. “We
live in ignorance, thinking that
our culture or country is superior
to others. There is so much to
learn from other cultures, not just
new foods and clothes, but new
lifestyles.
“Whether it is an inherited
respect for elders in Asiatic cultures,
or the emphasis on the power
of the individual in Western
cultures. If we could only open
our eyes, we would discover that
there is something worth learning
from every culture in this world.”

How many
times have we
left Kansas?
By Amy Yang, Veteran Reporter
The Wonderful Wizard of
Oz, a novel by L. Frank Baum,
along with the famous movie
of the same name starring Judy
Garland, are two beloved cultural
icons.
A simple story about a redhaired
girl in Kansas who is
swept away by a cyclone and is
transported into a magical land
called Oz – where there are flying
monkeys, munchkins, and
a menacing, green witch – the
film, in particular, has had a
phenomenal effect on American
popular culture. Its influence
has expanded to song,
TV, musical theater, fashion,
and more.
And, the new film, Oz: The
Great and Powerful, the latest
in a series of Oz stories, was
released in theaters this March
to some financial, if not critical,
success.
The trip down the Yellow-
Brick Road has taken many
turns.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
(1910)
The first ever movie version
of Baum’s novel of the
same name came out in 1910.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a
silent fantasy film. The running
time is a mere 13 minutes.
Not only is the technology
vastly different from what modern
audiences enjoy, but so is the
storyline.
In this picture, Dorothy finds
the scarecrow alive in the back
of her Kansas field. He builds
a haystack in which she takes
cover. The cyclone quickly
transports them to Oz.
Dorothy goes on an adventure,
meeting the Tin Man and
Lion, who then all go to defeat
the witch. In Emerald City, the
Wizard retires and leaves on a
balloon with Dorothy, making
the Scarecrow the new king.
Wizard of Oz (1925), directed
by Larry Semon
Released in 1925, this second
film also is a silent film, directed
by and starring Larry Semon as
the scarecrow. Unlike in other
films, this Dorothy is involved
in a love triangle with the Tin
Woodsman and the Scarecrow.
There are new characters involved,
too, while characters
like Glinda the Good is not
important, and the Cowardly
Lion’s arc does not exactly revolve
around him searching for
courage; rather, he dresses up as
a lion to scare enemies away.
The movie begins not in Kansas
nor in Oz, but in a toymaker’s
shop. The toymaker makes
a toy scarecrow, and his daughter
asks him about Oz. He proceeds
to tell her about the tale.
The Land of Oz is run by
Prime Minister Kruel, an evil
dictator. Prince Kynd leads
people to rebellion and wants
the long-lost princess back to reclaim
her throne.
That princess happens to be
Dorothy, who was kidnapped as
a child. Thus, the story revolves
around how Kruel and Ambassador
Wicked (implied in the
movie as the true antagonist)
try to stop Dorothy from being
crowned. Alongside this, there
are two farmhands (who will
later become the Tin Woodsman
and Scarecrow through
disguises) who are vying for
her affection. The two are swept
in the tornado with Dorothy,
who is later kidnapped. Though
both the Scarecrow and the Tin
Woodsman attempt to rescue
Dorothy, the Tin Woodsman almost
turns evil, and the Scarecrow
still deeply in love with
Dorothy, saves her.
However, in the end she marries
Prince Kynd, and it is implied
that the Scarecrow might
have died; Dorothy and her
prince live happily ever after.
The Wizard of Oz (1933 film),
directed by Ted Eshbaugh
Made in 1933, this is an animated
short with a screen time
of nine minutes.
Reminiscent of Disney’s
classic short films, the storyline
is loosely inspired by the original
story, and the plot is not as
dramatic.
Dorothy and her beloved dog
Toto are swept away in a tornado
to Oz, where she meets the
Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman,
and the Lion. They soon reach
Emerald City without much adventure
or conflict. They are
greeted by a jovial, white-bearded
man in a starry cloak and a
conical hat who performs magic
with a hen and some eggs. It all
goes awry with one egg that will
not stop growing. The five try
to stop it, and soon enough, the
egg hatches with a small chick
inside. The movie ends with the
hen taking the chick and singing
“Rock-a-Bye Baby” while the
five laughing in the background.
The Wizard of Oz (1939
film), starring Judy Garland
This is probably the most famous
Wizard of Oz production
to date. Starring the great and
lovely Garland, it is the classic
story of Dorothy and her
beloved travelers — the Scarecrow
who wishes for a brain, the
Tin Man who longs for a heart,
and the Lion who wants cour-

age — who all aid Dorothy in
her adventure to the Emerald
City so the Wizard can transport
her back to Kansas. Many critics
and audiences alike consider
this one of the greatest films in
history, and its cultural impact is
vast.
The film was ahead of its time
for its rich use of Technicolor
during an era when black and
white was still the norm in film.
It contains memorable lines,
such as “I’m melting! I’m melting,”
which have been used in
numerous movies, from The
Matrix to Avatar. Other notable
quotes are, “I’ll get you,
my pretty, and your little dog,
too!” and “There’s no place
like home.” Not only are the
quotes memorable, but so was
the fashion, specifically the ruby
shoes and gingham dress worn
by Dortothy. The shoes are the
most treasured and valuable film
memorabilia in movie history,
according to Forbes.
There are many students and
teachers alike who appreciate
this film.
“Well it’s a classic, Judy Garland
with her red shoes,” English
and Drama teacher Beverly
Henderson said,
“The Wicked Witch of the
East was scary,” said Social
Studies teacher Chris Howard.
“…Freddy Krueger of its time.
Trust me – trust me – fear.”
“I love that movie,” Senior
Meghan Smith said. “When I
was little, I thought it was real
life. I thought black and white
was real.”
Junior Taryn Saunders said
she likes it “ ‘cause it has a lot of
action in it.”
“I like it cause it’s just an awesome
adventure on the Yellow
Brick Road,” added Sophomore
Trevor
Larson.
The Wiz (1978)
The Wiz is a musical adventure
film featuring an entire African-American
cast and starring
Diana Ross as Dorothy, a school
teacher, and Michael Jackson,
who plays the Scarecrow.
This retelling of the classic
1939 movie is similar in each
character’s arc, but the setting
is an urban environment, resembling
a magical version of New
York City, where many iconic
scenes and items are altered.
Dorothy’s classic ruby shoes are
silver in this movie, the poppy
field is instead poppy girls (prostitutes),
flying monkeys are now
a motorcycle gang, and more.
This film, like its predecessor,
has fun, catchy music, and
a touching theme of believing in
oneself and rising above others’
expectations.
This retelling of the film was
a fresh breath of air to the Oz
family.
“Well The Wiz I love because
it was an answer to the more
traditional, less diverse story
of the Wizard of Oz,” Drama
teacher, Jennifer Grajewski said.
“…I love the music in the Wiz.”
“The Wiz is interesting,”
Howard said. “It’s just that
when you’ve seen The Wizard of
Oz all your years [growing up], I
mean, for how old I am, 25 years
plus. You have some expectations.”
Oz: The Great and Powerful
(2013)
This movie is the newest addition
to the Oz family; while
it still fits family-friendly, it’s
darker and creepier than past
films.
Instead of Dorothy leading
the movie, the film is set 20
years before her adventure. Oscar
Diggs (Oz) is the leading
man and is a debunked magician
who finds himself in the Emerald
City after being caught in a
tornado. There, Oz encounters
the witches, Glinda the Good
Witch of the South, Theodora
the Wicked Witch of the West,
and Evanora the Wicked Witch
of the East. Instead of companions
like Toto, the Scarecrow,
and the Lion, the gang consists
of a china girl (named for her
porcelain exterior), and a flying
monkey. There, Oz must
find it in him to become either
a great man or a good man,
which will affect the course of
Oz the place forever.
The film wowed audiences
with its special effects and
creativity of the land of Oz.
“I’m not a huge Wizard of
Oz fan,” Grajewski said. “I
liked the new movie, but the
acting was terrible. It oversimplified
how the Wicked Witch
became the Wicked Witch of
the West … more than the story
of Wicked [the Broadway
musical production].”
“I thought the special effect,
3-D IMAX was cool with
the witch flying right past you,
but I couldn’t get past the acting,
how awful,” she added.
“I did like the change in the
wizard. … I liked where he
started and how he ended.”
Time will tell how this story
will continue to be told, but
for many, that first Technicolor
film will be the favorite.
“I’m a traditionalist,” Howard
said. “I like The Wizard of
Oz, but each one has their own
little twist.”

[ NEWS ] 14
Parents and students born to be Chargers
By Lizzy Wirth, Veteran Reporter
“Everyone needs a break from
their parents, but I don’t get one,”
said Junior Erik Anguiano, son of
Math teacher Deann Anguiano.
During the teenage years, the
parent-child relationship can be
nothing short of strained, as kids
want more independence, and
parents don’t want to give up
their authority. School and time
with friends oftentimes is a break
from home and parents.
However, some kids at KR
don’t have this time away from
their parents at school because
their parents are staff here.
Although you might think
that having a parent that is also a
teacher could only be bad, some
students think it can also be good.
“Whenever I need money or if
I forget to get something signed,
it’s easy because I can just go ask
her,” Sophomore Hannah Turk,
daughter of English teacher Lynn
Poindexter-Turk, said.
Sophomore Meressa Mamon,
daughter of Cashier Teri Mamon,
also finds it convenient to have
her mom in the building.
“If I forget something at home
or if I need any money, she can
get it for me.”
Proving to people that favoritism
doesn’t exist can be a challenge,
according to Junior Maria
Anderson, daughter of Vice Principal
Eric Anderson.
“People think that I don’t earn
my grades like everyone else
does,” she said.
This sentiment is echoed by
Junior Sam Dacus, son of English
teacher Glenn Dacus.
“I earn the grades I get,” he
said. “I don’t always get good
grades, but teachers give me the
grades I deserve.”
Some students may not know
of the relationship between staff
Junior Sam Dacus talks to his dad, English teacher Glenn Dacus, over lunch. Sam is just one of
many kids whose parent works at KR.
Photo by Lizzy Wirth
Freshman Emily Christopher talks to her mom and World History
teacher, May Wong.
Photo by Lizzy Wirth
and their kids.
“People don’t even know my
step-mom is a teacher here,” said
Senior Grady Poulson of Math
teacher Patti Poulson.
The exposure of the parentchild
relationship can sometimes
be awkward.
“I go into her class and get my
lunch every day, and sometimes
her class teases me, and that can
be kind of embarrassing,” Anguiano
said.
But to him the jokes are worth
it because “she is a good support
system at school,” and “she looks
out for me. She’s like an eye in
the sky at school.”
Sometimes these parents that
are also teachers “looking out”
for their kids at school is a bad
thing.
“People assume that hanging
out with me is going to get them
in trouble because my dad is, my
dad,” said Anderson.
“People are very intimidated
by him,” she added.
“Sometimes I’m even a little
skeptical of doing things at school
because I know my parents will
find out about it,” said Dacus.
Histroy teacher May Wong
has her daughter, Freshman Emily
Christopher, in her class.
“She gets treated the same, if
not worse, than everyone else in
my class,” Wong said.
The only downside for Mamon
is that “people ask me if my
mom works here all the time, and
I’m just like ‘yea, she does.’ ”
And for Anderson, there may
be more scrutiny.
“Freshman year, a guy I was
with at the dance got kicked out
because we were dancing ‘inappropriately’
but I don’t think we
were,” she said.
“People are afraid to come to
my house,” she added.
Even though it can be tough to
have parents around, these Chargers
look on the bright side.
“I was born to be a Charger,
and I guess my dad was, too,”
said Anderson.

[ ENTERTAINMENT ] 15
Are covers better than originals?
By Emi Williams, Reporter
To put their own twist on
tunes, a multitude of artists from
around the world have recycled
music throughout the years by
doing covers.
“Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby,”
“Cry Me a River,” And I Love
Her,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,”
“Blackbird,” “Imagine,”
and “Over the Rainbow” are
among the most covered songs,
according to The Independent.
These tunes have been covered
by the greats, including Elvis,
Sinatra, Aretha, and Bob Marley.
Covers are done in a variety
of styles, depending on
the artist. For example, Israel
Kamakiwowo’ole’s version of
“Over The Rainbow” has an islander-feel,
given that he is from
Hawaii.
Kentridge students appreciate
covers as well as the original
versions.
“My favorite cover is ‘My
Chemical Romance’ by Common
People,” said Freshman
Siena Bushard. “The original is
sung by a manly-man, but both
are really good. It is like trying
to compare a spoon and a fork.”
“My favorite cover is ‘Carry
On My Wayward Son’ by Panic
At The Disco,” said Freshman
Sophia Pinti. “Kansas’ original
is best. [The cover] is almost as
good, but it’s hard to compare,
since their voices have completely
different qualities.”
However, covers can create
mixed feelings -- some positive,
others not so much.
“Covers just cause me to like
the original song even more,”
Sophomore Joy Okot-Okidi said.
“They also help me discover a
deeper meaning in the lyrics.”
“Covers can ruin songs,”
countered Junior Cristina Daniel.
“Some of them should not be
done at all.”
Sometimes, covers garner
more attention than the original.
The great 1967 Aretha Franklin
classic, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”
Senior Nick Luna enjoys covering
well-known music in his
own way. Courtesy Photo
was actually a cover. Two years
earlier, Otis Redding released the
song. When Aretha released it,
though, she won a Grammy and
was ranked by the Rolling Stone
Magazine as the fifth greatest
song of all time, while Redding’s
version is barely remembered,
according to AllYouNeedIsLists.
com.
Also, Elvis Presley’s trademark
song, “Hound Dog” was a
cover. The song was originally
sung by Big Mama Horton, but
Elvis’s rock-and-roll imprint
made it forever his, says Top-
Tenz.net.
Some talented Kentridge students
do their own take of songs
as well.
“Think about how the lyrics
make you feel, and emphasize
that vocally, but more importantly
with your physical presence,”
said Senior Nick Luna.
Due to involvement in the
school musicals and the choral
program, he has experience
with having to make songs his
own. In his spare time, he has
recorded tunes such as “She Will
Be Loved” with Senior Brandon
Blue and “Flightless Bird.”
Sophomore Emi Okawara
also is heavily involved in the
school musicals.
What’s most important is
“conveying the message they
were trying to get out, and then
making it my own while still
honoring the artist,” she said.
The Moon Chickens are, from left: Senior Matthew Bussey, Senior Robbie Nack, Sophomore
Braxton Kendall, and Junior Braden Cox.
Photo by Lizzy Wirth
Big night for The Moon
Chickens at Battle of the Bands
By Lizzy Wirth, Veteran Reporter
With a wide variety of music,
it was a close competition, but the
quartet “The Moon Chickens”
won first place at The Battle of
the Bands in March.
“Nick’s last name is Luna,
and Braden’s last name is Cox,
so Luna is moon, and a cock is a
chicken, so the Moon Chickens,”
explained Senior Robbie Nack.
Luna, a senior, left the quartet
earlier this year and was replaced
by Sophomore Braxton Kendall.
Other members of the winning
group are Nack, Cox, and Senior
Matthew Bussey.
The quartet formed almost two
years ago under the name “The
Backup Plan.” Since then, they
have competed in the Oregon
Forest Grove competition and
have performed at choir concerts
and some school functions.
TOGA (Thunder of Group
Awesome) with Luna, Freshman
Elena Luna, Junior Eli Wills, and
Senior Grant Wilson placed second.
“We have been practicing for
months because Battle of the
Bands was supposed to be a while
ago, but we got a couple great
practices out of it,” Wills said.
Nack played the piano for
TOGA while wearing one.
“Yes, I was in two of the bands,
and yes,” he paused, “I did wear a
toga.”
Freshman Elena Luna’s favorite
part of performing was “getting
to see the audience’s face in
the crowd while we got freaky up
there on stage.”
“I love singing with my Elena,”
Nick said of his little sister.
“This is the first time we have
ever performed together, though.
I wish I could do it more because
it’s a pleasure to see her and help
her get better, and she’s so good!”
Failed Generation with Juniors
Mitchel Midkiff, Michael
Gonzales, and Karsen Kendig
took third place in the competition.
“If I was funnier, I think that
people would have thought of me
better,” Gonzales said.
Senior Karan Singh played
the guitar and sang beautifully.
On his first try, the batteries in his
guitar died, but he kept going. He
was given another shot, and he
rocked it.
Another great performance
was from Senior Symone McKernan.
She sang elegantly and
looked it, too.
Nick Luna not only was in
two of the bands, but he had just
returned from an audition with
“Berklee [in Boston]; it’s my top
choice” for college.
“I think I did well,” he said of
the audition. Nick already has
been accepted to Central.
After the winner was announced,
Nick had The Moon
Chickens sing to Kendal Seemen,
alumna 2011, before he swooped
in and serenaded her as a clever
way to ask her to prom.
“It was a pleasure singing to
Kendal for Nick,” Nack said. “It
has been in the works for a couple
of months, and I’m glad she said
yes.”
“It was really cute,” Wills said.
Nick Luna’s favorite moments
were “probably the howling or,
you know, getting a prom date.
Plus Robbie wearing a toga was a
pleasure.”
“I actually made the arrangements
and starting working on it
in December,” Nick said of the
prom proposal. “We had been
practicing regularly since then. …
I felt Battle of the Bands would
be a good place to do it.”

Sasquatch
vs. Prom:
Where will
you be?
By Dakotah Fitzgerald, Veteran Reporter
[ ENTERTAINMENT ] 16
One of the most talked-about concerts
held right here in Washington is the popular
Sasquatch Festival in George at the
Gorge Amphitheater.
The four-day festival will take place
over Memorial weekend, beginning the
same day as this year’s senior prom.
Tickets for the experience sold out in a
record time of 90 minutes this year, with
the cost being roughly $400 for all four
days, including camping and parking.
What are KR seniors choosing to do?
Senior Taylor Green is compromising.
Though Green paid for all four days, she
doesn’t plan on missing out on her prom.
“I’m going to both because, even though
I will be missing one day, I think it will be
an amazing weekend because I will get to
end my last high school dance with all my
friends and also get to go and enjoy seeing
some of my favorite bands,” she said.
Senior Sean Redmond said Sasquatch
isn’t worth it.
“I’d definitely choose prom,” he said.
“Sasquatch happens every year. Prom is
a one-time thing and my last chance to go
ham with my class!”
The lineup for the festival is creating
conflict about whether to even attend prom.
“There are multiple bands that are pretty
amazing,” Senior Bret Johnson said. “I
might consider sacrificing prom for them.
Although Sasquatch happens every year,
those bands might only go this year. But, I
can’t miss prom.”
Senior Kevin Aliment is also torn. He
already has experienced the four days of
greatness.
“It’s like leaving this dimension and entering
a new one where nothing matters except
music, peace, and love,” he said. “Everyone
is there for a common purpose, and
you get to just be yourself and jam out. It’s
the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.
I’m not sure about prom this year.”
Concert-goers enjoy the Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge in George, WA. The annual festival takes place on Memorial Day
Weekend, which coincides with this year’s senior prom.
Courtesy Photo
Mumford & Sons
The Postal Service
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Vampire Weekend
The xx
The Lumineers
Arctic Monkeys
Edward Sharpe &
The Magnetic Zeros
Cake
Imagine Dragons
Bloc Party
Sasquatch Lineup
Alt-J
Steve Aoki
Tallest Man on Earth
Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul
Danny Brown
Earl Sweatshirt
Dirty Projectors
Holy Ghost!
Akron/Family
Caveman
Telekinesis

[ ENTERTAINMENT ] 17
Counter makeup may contain
unhealthy bacteria
By Dakotah Fitzgerald, Veteran Reporter
Twenty percent of makeup samples or
products used for makeovers at cosmetic
counters contain a significant amount of
mold, yeast, and even fecal matter, according
to Good Morning America, who conducted
an undercover test in June, 2012.
Many of the bacteria that were found in
random makeup samples across the states
lead to diseases, rashes on the face, and
infections in eyes, although this was only
found in extreme cases with patients who
had applied makeup to open cuts or sores
on their face.
According to emedicinehealth.com,
sharing makeup is unsanitary and can lead
to skin problems or eye infections such as
sties or chalazions. Other causes of inflammation
or infections of the eye can be improper
removal of makeup and use of infected
makeup.
Senior Charlene Tolentino was appalled
by these statistics.
“I was going to get my makeup done at
MAC, but now I’m reconsidering it,” she
said. “If anything, I’ll be sure to ask the
makeup artist to wash her hands first.”
Junior Abbey Lincoln is comfortable
sharing makeup with her friends.
“I always share makeup,” she said. “I
mean, not with strangers of course. I never
really thought about germs or anything.”
Although makeup used over the counter
or by makeup artists in Sephora, MAC, and
Bare Minerals is considered by many to be
•Avoid testing on lips and eyes,
which are the most vulnerable to infection;
use the back of your hand.
•Try makeup only at a counter
manned by a salesperson who practices
hygienic usage, including single-use
applicators.
•Wash your hands with soap and
water or use a hand sanitizer before
and after visiting a makeup counter.
•Test only products that come from a
shaker or a squeeze or pump dispenser,
or those that are single use.
Many are lured by the “free” makeovers
at department and cosmetic stores, but
before you offer your face for painting,
make sure the makeup is clean.
sanitary, the cleanliness is dependent upon
the practices of the makeup artists.
The best advice given by Good Morning
America to ensure clean makeup is
to use new applicators and never directly
apply samples to sensitive areas, such as
around lips or eyes.
You should also be sure to question the
artists about their products and ask them to
wash their hands, according to emedicinehealth.com.
Sophomore Annalise Kress had her
makeup done at Lancome.
“The makeup looked clean to me,” she
said.
Want to Use Makeup Testers? Tips For Keeping It Clean
•Have an in-store makeup artist apply
testers for you provided they use
sanitary measures, including disinfecting
their hands, sharpening pencils,
and spraying makeup brushes
with antibacterial spray between customers.
•The safest route: Don’t use testers
at all, and buy your makeup from a
store where you can return it. Inquire
about the return policy first.
Courtesy of http://www.prevention
Sophomore Adam Dinius rocks the leather jacket. Many girls like a guy in nice
jeans and a jacket.
Photo by Gina Koopmans
What do you like the
opposite sex to wear?
By Gina Koopmans, Veteran Reporter
From casual Tees to classy dress shirts,
from high heels to flip-flops and everything
in between -- there are so many different
styles guys and girls can wear, it’s hard to
keep track of what’s “in” and what’s just
“not.”
You can, however, keep track of the
preferences girls and guys have about what
the opposite gender wears.
Do girls prefer a guy wearing scarves
and pea coats? Do guys like a girl who can
rock the sweat pants and tennis shoes?
We asked the men and women of KR
their personal preferences to help clear the
air.
Juniors Brayden Jackson and Tonny Le
prefer it when girls wear yoga pants and
leggings.
“It makes them look more sophisticated”
Le added.
Sophomore Larry Sims has a different
preference.
“Pencil skirts, and I think sheer
shirts are cute and good for the summer,”
he said. “I also like when
girls wear combat boots or Toms.”
Like boys, girls have many different
opinions about what guys should wear.
While guys don’t mind a girl in yoga pants,
girls prefer a guy who can coordinate and
look nice.
“I like it when a guy can color coordinate,”
said Sophomore Carissa Ortega. “I
like the teeny-bopper look.”
“I like it when they dress casual, yet
scrumptious or sporty, but the best goods
are some nice jeans with a smexy jacket,”
said Sophomore Lauren Cox.

[ SPORTS ] 18
Smackin’ down
on those mats
By Danielle Sampson, Reporter
Judo Co-Captain Kenneth
Lam predicts a bright future and
a Wilson Cup win.
Captain Christine Nguyen
wants “the team to actually be
united.”
The captains have different
ideas about how ro run the team.
Japanese teacher Philip Davis
has stepped down as head coach,
and his son, Kazu Davis, has
stepped up.
The new coach and captains
Lam, Nguyen, and Hannah Ostrander,
all seniors, are bringing
change to the team.
“Practices won’t be as strict,”
Lam said. “Kazu knows how to
balance fun and the team,” he
added.
Though Lam says the team
will be more fun this year, he predicts
that KR will get the “League
championship, beat Kentwood,
win State and the Wilson Cup.”
Although these goals seem
high, the team has proven itself
with State championship wins for
the past 10 years in a row.
This past season, the team also
experienced a change in location.
Instead of practicing in the
Auxiliary gym that has been the
team dojo for so many years , the
group has moved to the Special
Charger gym, all the way across
the school.
“I like it because we get to
walk through the halls in our
Gi’s, which gives judo more recognition,”
Lam said. A Gi is the
uniform that each person in Judo
wears. It is made of a thick white
or blue material and covers the
whole body, except for the face.
Still, Nguyen says “space is
an issue; we always fly into each
other.”
The Judo team is generally
little known compared to other
no-cut sports, so being able to
walk through the hallways af-
Two KR Judo Team members practice a Newaza. This year’s Judo team has a record 88 members.
Photo by Danielle Sampson
ter school in their Judo uniform
makes the team more known and
more prone to attention. This recognition
is probably what brought
the 88 people to the first practice
Taylor Lee places 2 nd at State
By Madi Gingerich, Reporter
“I knew it was my last year
wrestling, so I knew I wanted
to do really well.”
ence that there weren’t any girls.”
Lee has been wrestling for 12
years with her dad coaching by
her side her whole life. As a freshman
on the KR wrestling team,
she made it to state, although she
didn’t place that year.
Lee is not a four-year member
on the KR wrestling team; she
took her sophomore year off.
“I really missed it,” she said.
“You make a lot of friends from
other schools. I also missed the
team a lot. We become like a fam-
Taylor Lee
Senior Taylor Lee placed 2 nd
at the state wrestling tournament
held at the Tacoma Dome in February.
Lee took 3 rd at regionals, 2 nd at
districts, and after two days at the
Tacoma Dome, she took 2 nd .
“My sister was a really big
motivation,” Lee said. “I wanted
to do well for her.”
The only girl on the KR team,
Lee said she had no problem
competing with a bunch of guys.
The guys didn’t seem to mind
wrestling with a girl.
“If you went easy on Taylor
you would get beat all the time,”
said Sophomore Jesse Covey.
“I’ve always been with guys,”
she said. “It didn’t make a differily.”
Covey agrees that the guys see
her as another wrestling partner.
They didn’t really see her as a
girl.
However, he said that “a lot
of the guys acted nicer and less
gross” when Lee was around.
Through her dedication and
passion for the sport, Lee’s senior
year season was very successful.
“I knew it was my last year
wrestling, so I knew I wanted to
do really well,” Lee added.
of the season. In previous years,
the team has had a maximum of
around 40 people.
“We have a lot of people,”
Nguyen said. “We have 88 people
on the team and they’re actually
learning pretty quick.”
“Judo is a beautiful sport,”
Lam added, and there is “very
strong diversity.”
Senior Taylor Lee (front) demonstrates good wrestling form with
an opponent. Lee took 2nd at the State tournament in February.

[ SPORTS ] 19
The Yellow Brick Road leads
to a 1st place finish at State
By Kiera Brunson, Veteran Reporter
The Chatelaines won 1 st place
in Show, 2 nd place in Kick, and
3 rd place in Dance at the state
tournament at The Sun Dome in
Yakama March 23.
For Kick, they danced to a
medley of Elvis Presley songs,
and in the Dance Category, they
danced to songs from the band
Gossip. For the Show routine,
the theme was The Wizard of
Oz.
Prior to the state competition,
the Chats took 1 st place in all of
their district dance categories.
Senior and Captain Katie
Theisen’s favorite routine is
Show.
“Just ‘cause everyone is in
it,” she said. For the other two
routines, each dancer auditions
to perform.
For Show, dancers are split
into groups, including the
Juniors Madi Gingerich and
Taylor Bushong dress as Dorothy
and the Wicked Witch.
Munchkins, the Scarecrow, the
Tin Man, the Lion, and Dorothy,
who is played by Junior
Madi Gingerich. The Wicked
Witch is played by Junior Taylor
Bushong, and the Wizard is
performed by Theisen.
The Chatelaines perform a Pom routine during a basketball game. Pom is named for its use of
pom-poms in the choreography.
Courtesy Photo
Senior Kirsten Brewer’s favorite
routine is Kick.
“It’s really upbeat and fun,”
she said.
The Chatelaine’s biggest
competition at State was Moses
Lake. Last year, Moses Lake
beat the Chatelaines by two
points in the Kick Category.
“They have been scoring really
well this year,” Senior and
Lieutenant Nicole Silver said.
Before State each year, the
team has an inspirational meeting.
“The night before we have a
huge team talk and we all dress
up and really girly and fun,”
Theisen said.
“We really bond as a team,”
Silver added.
SuperSonics to make a return? KR hopes, feels bad
By Kendall Reonal, Reporter
The news that the Sacramento
Kings may potentially move to
Seattle in time for the 2013-14
NBA season has been met with
mixed responses by KR students
and staff.
After the Seattle SuperSonics
moved to Oklahoma City in 2008,
Sonics fans made their voices
loud and clear about bringing the
NBA back to Seattle.
A Seattle ownership group,
led by hedge-fund manager Chris
Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer, agreed to purchase 65
percent of the Kings for roughly
$341 million in January. If the
sale is approved by the NBA’s
Board of Governors, the Kings
are expected to move to Seattle
and play at Key Arena next season.
“I feel excited, yet sad for
Sacramento at the
same time ...”
Senior Rohan Bhat.
While Sacramento has a plan
to save the team, odds are in favor
of Seattle’s bid. Still, Mayor
Kevin Johnson has assembled
a group of owners to possibly
keep the Kings in Sacramento.
The group includes billionaire
Ron Burkle and 24 Hour Fitness
founder Mark Mastrov.
The report of the potential purchase
excited several Kentridge
students, including Senior Zach
Beatty:
“That’d be great for the city
and the old Sonics fans,” he said.
“It was one of the worst feelings
Kings Guard Isaiah Thomas, a Tacoma native, may be returning
home next season as a member of the Seattle SuperSonics.
Courtesy Photo
of my life,” he said of his feelings
when the Sonics left in 2008.
Although many are thrilled
with the news of the Kings moving
to Seattle, some students feel
bittersweet.
“I feel excited, yet sad, for Sacramento
at the same time because
they are going to go through what
we went through,” said Senior
Rohan Bhat.
While numerous Sonics fans
like Bhat would rather not purchase
another city’s team, NBA
commissioner David Stern has
firmly stated that there would be
no league expansion, meaning
that the only method for a city
to obtain a basketball team is
through relocation.
“I don’t like David Stern and
the NBA,” History teacher Charlie
Mitchell said. “I feel bad for
Sacramento.”

Knowing that another city may be losing
its pro basketball team makes it difficult
to be excited about the potential return
of the SuperSonics to Seattle next season.
Named after former Sonics guard Kendall
Gill, I have literally had a connection to
the team since the day I was born. I chose
only to use the Sonics’ tandem of Detlef
Schrempf and Shawn Kemp when playing
NBA Jam on the Super Nintendo, and any
basketball cards featuring players decked
in green and gold were my favorites. I
watched nearly every Sonics game on TV
[ OP-ED ] 20
Volleyball is a
Man’s Sport, Too
By Kiera Brunson
According to the print magazine Volleyball
Monthly, volleyball is the second most
popular sport in the world, with soccer being
the first.
Think back to the 2012 London Olympics.
Chances are you watched some of
the volleyball competition. In fact, beach
volleyball was the most-watched sport.
Sacramento:
I Feel Your Pain
By Kendall Reonal
with my father, and I still clearly recall the
excitement of witnessing the sharpshooting
2004-05 squad come out of nowhere to
push its way into the playoffs after years of
mediocrity.
Everything changed during the 2007-08
season.
On April 18, 2008, the NBA Board of
Governors approved the move of the Sonics
to Oklahoma City. Despite several efforts
to save the team, it was all over. The
franchise was leaving. Forty-one years of
basketball, all down the drain.
So I have to ask: Why isn’t boys’ volleyball
a school sport in Washington state?
Though associated as a female sport by
high schools, volleyball began as a men’s
sport. Twenty states include the male version
in their high schools, including California,
New York, Texas, Florida, and Alabama.
None are in the Northwest.
To this day, we Sonics fans cannot get
over it. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s
success makes it worse; the city of Seattle
should be celebrating the team’s performance,
and Kevin Durant should be winning
scoring titles here.
I have strongly advocated the return
of the NBA to Seattle since the team left.
However, if the Sonics were ever to return
to Seattle, I would want it to happen
through league expansion (creation of a
new franchise), which NBA commissioner
David Stern has repeatedly opposed. This
halts my excitement about the Sacramento
Kings possibly moving north next season.
I don’t want to be a thief. Taking another
city’s team will not completely fill the void
that I’ve had in my heart since 2008, but it
is tough knowing that in order to bring the
NBA back to Seattle, Sacramento will have
to suffer.
It’s just not fair.
I’m sure I will support the new incarnation
of the Sonics, but it won’t be easy. It
definitely won’t feel the same. Many people
will support the new Sonics without
hesitation, and that’s perfectly acceptable.
But I know that there is someone out there
in Sacramento named after a Kings player,
afraid of having his hometown team taken
from him. I feel his pain.
Let’s hope a winning SuperSonics’ season
will help to ease it.
Volleyball is an excellent way to get into
college; several schools have men’s volleyball,
such as the University of Southern
California, Brigham Young University, and
Lewis University in Illinois, among others.
Also, with obesity being a huge problem
in America, why wouldn’t Washington
want to promote more sports?
Schools already have the proper resources
to start a boys’ volleyball program.
The equipment already exists for girls, so it
is not a purchasing problem.
By adding boys’ volleyball, schools
would also be helping the economy. For
each match, two professional referees are
hired and paid from ASB funds. Hence,
school districts would be providing jobs.
One potential problem is Title IX,
which states that if you add a boys’ sport
you must add a girls’ sport for the season.
To add boys’ volleyball, schools would
then have to add an opportunity for girls.
Many school districts include lacrosse,
which would solve the problem.
Volleyball is a tough sport, and it’s time
that the boys in Washington to realize how
tough they have to be to play volleyball.
Lasting Legacies We
Ought to Abandon
By Gina Koopmans
I am not the first member of my family
to walk these halls. Many Chargers come
from a long line of family members who
attended years prior.
If you’re a student who has had brothers,
sisters, or cousins who have graced
KR with their presence, you can probably
relate to this: You walk into class on the
first day of school, and your teachers read
through the attendance, stopping at your
name. They ask you about your relative,
which sparks a conversation about how
that person was in class or what s/he is up
to these days.
I’ve had teachers look at my last name
and suddenly light up when they realize
I’m related to whomever (in this case, my
brother Brandon, class of 2009 and cousin
Cody, class 2006). On the flip side, I’ve
had teachers look kind of worried because
of it.
It’s nice to have this connection
with a teacher, but it can be a
drag. I don’t want to be compared to
someone I may or may not be like.
Teachers probably hope I’m similar to
my brother (a quiet genius) or dissimilar
from my cousin (not so quiet), but they
soon realize we are completely different
people. Feeling as though I have to live up
to my brother’s accomplishments can be
stressful because comparing us puts more
pressure on me. For the most part, the comparisons
between me and Cody/Brandon
have been for the better; teachers have had
good experiences with them, so by default
they like me, too.
When their experiences are not-sogood,
the result can feel unfair.
I’m glad I’ve had family who made
their own legacies, but I hope to create my
own. I hope that teachers who have siblings
or cousins in class will treat students
as individuals who have nothing to do with
past behaviors of previous students.

[ OP-ED ] 21
Last year, freshmen had the opportunity
to retrieve failed credit at semester’s end.
This year, the opportunity was extended to
the sophomore class.
In order to be considered for credit
retrieval, students have to have earned
between a 50-59 percent in the course.
Teachers determine on a case-by-case situation
what the student will be required to
do in order to receive a ‘D’ for that course.
The student then needs to sign a contract
agreeing to what the teacher has outlined.
While this is an opportunity for students
to succeed, it’s far too gracious. Students
should accept the fact that they chose not
Credit Retrieval =
Credit Upheaval
By Glenn Hartman
If we provide students
with the materials to
succeed beforehand,
rather than offering a
lifeline on which they
learn to rely, they will
be more successful
in the future.
to do the work required during the semester
and thus, accept the grade they were
given. How is it fair to the students who
were focused and dedicated to their studies
during the semester, when those who were
lazy can receive a passing grade in just one
short week?
Credit should be earned throughout the
semester, rather than in a short amount of
time, with various worksheets that cannot
contain an entire semester’s course load.
Not only is credit retrieval unfair to the
student’s peers, but also to the teachers.
Credit retrieval undermines the teaching of
the subjects. When doing the credit retrieval,
an entire course load’s worth of work
is jam-packed into roughly a week after
the semester. It does not allow students to
fully learn or even comprehend the material
learned throughout an entire semester.
I understand that a freshman who fails a
class has a significantly increased percent
of not graduating on time. According to
middletownk12.org, “70 to 80 percent of
students who fail a class in ninth grade will
not graduate high school.” Schools should
help teach students how to study, should
enforce more strict deadlines, and provide
more progress reports as a way to help students
pass before semester’s end.
If we provide students with the materials
to succeed beforehand, rather than offering
a lifeline on which they learn to rely,
they will be more successful in the future.
If students utilize the credit retrieval opportunity
every year, they may come to abuse
it. Colleges do not offer credit retrieval opportunities.
In order to receive credit for a
course you fail, you have to pay to retake it.
Students here in high school should also
have to retake the course.
By allowing students to utilize the credit
retrieval option, the students are being
set up for failure as professionals. If we allow
students to easily make up credit for a
class, they don’t learn to accept their consequences.
Employers look most for professionalism,
high energy, and confidence, as well
as intellectual-curiosity, according Forbes.
com. These are all traits that can be found
in the students who are most successful
while in high school. Those who are dedicated
to their learning are often those who
have an easier time getting into college,
and in turn, generally are able to find jobs
more easily after leaving college.
It’s like a sports game or a theatre performance.
If you lose a game or mess up
while on stage, you don’t get a do-over.
You have to accept the fact that you didn’t
perform to the standard you wished you
had.
After all, aren’t we all in high school to
prepare ourselves for the future?
Grammar
Manners Matter
By Marisa Payton
The lack of grammatical etiquette is
becoming more and more prominent, and
part of the reason, especially among teens,
is that we have become increasingly lazy.
It shows through our speech habits.
I’ve heard people say “tooken” when
they really meant “I took” or “it was
taken.” I’ve also heard “I got” when they
should be saying “I have.”
Often, when we say “should have” we
substitute “of” because we slur our words
to make them shorter. The common notion
seems to be: Saying it shorter is better.
It spirals, this misuse of the English
language. Being able to speak and write
well is vital when communicating with
higher-ups, when being interviewed for a
Grammar is shown to have a
significant impact on one’s
ability to earn a large salary. Yet, schools
do not teach proper grammar.
job, when being professional in general.
And, it’s a school’s responsibility to teach
students correct grammar.
Schools are meant to prepare us for
our futures, something Kentridge staff
members say every chance they have;
yet, I wonder why grammar always slips
through the cracks. We’re taught how to
spell accurately, use proper punctuation,
and yet we’re still unable to put a grammatically
correct sentence together.
The University of Akron, Ohio, produced
a “Grammar Income” test, which
showed a correlation between a person’s
score and his/her estimated future income.
If a tester misses five questions
or fewer, the person’s annual salary is
predicted to be $90 thousand and above.
With 10 questions answered incorrectly,
the estimated salary falls to between $25
and $60 thousand. When more than 10
questions are missed, salaries are said to
be between $10 and $25 thousand annually.
With so many errors, there is a great
chance of unemployment.
In that test alone, grammar is shown to
have a significant impact on one’s ability
to earn a large salary. Yet, schools do not
teach proper grammar.
Just like constant cussing, having bad
grammar doesn’t make a person sound intelligent.
And, if anyone hopes to do well
in college or obtain a good job, then s/
he is left to his/her own devices because
schools aren’t doing enough to teach us
how to speak well.

[ OP-ED ] 22
I Feel Safe
In Kent
By Jared Buxton
I have never thought Kent so bad. Sure,
we have some goats, some chickens, some
murders, some sexual assaults, but I feel
safe here.
The crime stats, however, paint another
picture.
Kent had one murder and 60 sexual assaults
in 2012. Auburn had two murders
and 23 rapes. Renton had one murder and
33 sexual assaults.
Residents in Kent have a 1 in 210
chance of becoming a victim, according to
www.neighborhoodscout.com. The Washington
average is 1 in 339. In Renton, your
chances are 1 in 318, and in Auburn, they
are at 1 in 256.
By contrast, you have a 1 in 167 chance
of becoming a victim in the center of Seattle.
Leave the
Bathrooms
Open
By Lizzy Wirth
Why vandalize the bathroom? What
does anyone gain from it?
Nothing.
When I leave class to go to the bathroom,
I shouldn’t have to walk to three different
places in order to pee. This isn’t just
a waste of my time, but class time.
I will never understand why people
vandalize the bathrooms -- never. But for
some reason, people decide that it is cool
to write, or draw an unnecessary and stupid
picture, on the wall. If you want to waste
class time doing that, great; good for you.
But I don’t want to have to suffer.
I don’t know why or how the numbers
are bad. Maybe it’s because of how close
we are to Seattle or the fact that we live in
an area where only 15 percent of the population
has a college education, according to
the same source.
Since I have always thought Kent a
nice place, I wondered what others thought
about this town we call home.
Vice Principal Eric Anderson still has
the opinion that Kent is a nice area.
“Yes I live in the area, and I think that
it’s the community that makes this place
great,” he said. “Also, it is good to see that
the KR way outside of these walls of the
school.”
Are there some parts of town that even
Anderson won’t go?
“If I don’t go it is because I don’t have a
If vandalism is reported, the bathroom
is closed. Nice -- there goes the next 15
minutes of class. I’m not a teacher, but if a
student was gone from class for 15 minutes
to find a bathroom, I would be concerned.
Don’t get me wrong; a quick trip away
from class can be nice, but when I miss that
much time, I actually have to make things
up. And that sucks.
If you have class in the East Wing, there
are only two bathrooms for each gender. If
the bathroom on your floor is closed, it is
a pain in the buns to go to the other floor.
What happens if that one is closed, too?
You get really mad; that’s what happens.
In the time you could have gone to
the bathroom and returned to class, you
haven’t yet found a bathroom. And now
that you have started your hunt, you might
as well continue it.
People should just stop vandalizing the
bathrooms to avoid all of this trouble, but
that probably won’t happen.
However, I would like to point out that
reason to go there -- not because of safety,
but because I don’t have a reason to be
there at the time.”
Senior Joseph Gonzaga has some of the
same feelings.
“I feel safe for the most part because I
hear a lot of police sirens a lot, and that
worries me, but there isn’t really a place I
wouldn’t go because I don’t feel safe,” he
said.
“I feel safe in Kent for the most part,”
Sophomore Gabriela Chilczuk said. One
area she stays away from is “Downtown
Renton because it is scary, and my mom
doesn’t want me to go there.”
“I know more of crime in Fairwood Villa
because I get told about gang violence
all the time from my sister,” Chulczuk added.
“Kent seems pretty nice, though.”
Fife police Lieutenant Paula Schwan reminds
us that all cities have problems.
“Every city has their own element, and
what they are more open. Not better or
worse for either, just different,” she said.
So, maybe we aren’t so bad after all. I
enjoy the community and the people in it
most of the time. I would much rather live
here than Renton. Where I live, I have a
cul-de-sac, and we care about each other’s
homes. Neighbors sometimes mow each
other’s lawns or stop and actually talk
among one another and inquire about their
lives, what has been going on lately or
even how the game was last night.
Perhaps crime statistics don’t paint the
whole picture.
even with the vandalism, our bathrooms
are cleaner than other high schools I have
been to. Still, I understand why they close
them, to try to “teach us a lesson,” but obviously,
it isn’t working because there is at
least one bathroom closed every day.
There are cameras outside of the bathrooms,
and administrators have an idea
about what time these crimes are committed,
so why don’t the administrators search
for the villain instead of punishing everyone
that didn’t do anything wrong?
I understand why they are closed if there
is damage and repairs need to be made, but
why close the bathrooms because stupid
people write on a stall?
For those of you who are writing on
stalls: Stop being stupid. I mean, really?
Who has that kind of time? We should be
responsible by not vandalizing, and in return,
the adults should be responsible for
our education and not close the bathrooms.
And people, seriously, go draw on paper.
Avoid Senioritis;
It Takes a Toll
By Kylie Degrate
It’s the time of year when seniors start
to complain that they have “Senioritis.”
Let’s be real: You don’t have “Senioritis.”
You’re just lazy and you don’t want to
be here. I get it; your teachers get it; we all
get it, so stop complaining.
I won’t lie; I am one of them, but I don’t
use it as an excuse to stop doing my work
and coming to school. I still need the credits.
I still need the grade. We still have two
months left.
We can’t give up quite yet.
There is no 13-day rule anymore, but
make-up work and getting behind are no
picnic. I know I sure want to keep up with
my classes.
Most people use the excuse, “Don’t
worry, my teachers will pass me.”
No they won’t. It’s not their job to pass
you; it is their job to educate you, and if
you aren’t earning the grade, you won’t get
it. Let’s not kid ourselves – we all are tired
and checked out, but we still have over two
months. We cannot afford to fail.
“It is sure hitting me, but I know I still
need to do my work; I can’t give up quite
yet,” Senior Aliyah Davis said. “I’ll admit
I’ve skipped a few days because I’m exhausted,
but I always make up my work.”
If you’re struggling with “Senioritis,”
take my advice and keep your eye on the
prize. Getting our diplomas has not come
easily, and we haven’t done these four
years for nothing. You’ve put in the hard
work and the time; you’re almost there.
Graduation is expensive, and I’m sure it
has run all our parents dry. If you’re struggling
go to the counselor, or talk to your
parents to get some kind of encouragement.
DON’T GIVE UP NOW.

[ OP-ED ] 23
The Last Word:
What’s the most played
song on your iPod?
Leadership: Tear
Down That Wall
By Matt Martin
Freshman Mahaira Pom
“ ‘Pyramid’ by Frank Ocean
because it’s the only song
I have on my iPod.”
Sophomore Natalie Clifton
“ ‘Titanium’ by David Guetta
‘cause it’s inspiring and
pumps me up.”
Traditionally, the Senior Wall
is decorated with a colorful mosaic
of personalized tiles handcrafted
by each member of the
Senior class. This annual memorial
to the reigning class has allowed
each student to leave his
or her individual mark on the
school, commemorating the four
years lived as Chargers.
This year, if you look at the
Senior Wall, you will see it instead
decorated with hundreds
of green and gold handprints inscribed
with the names of Kentridge’s
Class of 2013.
Mine is not among them.
Why? I refuse to take part in
the depreciation of one of the
most sacred traditions of Kentridge
culture; one that removes
virtually all aspects of creativity
and individualism that the senior
tiles fostered; one that replaces
it with a mural reminiscent of a
pre-school art project. We’re seniors,
not Little Chargers – our
wall should reflect that.
Up until this year, seniors had
the freedom to decorate their tiles
in any fashion they wanted - so
long as it was school appropriate
- and these innumerable choices
spurred ingenuity from students
in the form of countless one-ofa-kind
designs. The introduction
of senior handprints limited seniors
to just one choice – would
you like your handprint in green
or gold?
As a further insult to the Class
of 2013, students were not even
given the right to sign their own
handprints as Leadership originally
intended because of the
difficulty involved in finding
whose handprint was whose after
they had dried. Not only did
this decision deny students any
opportunity to add a touch of
distinction to their handprints,
some of those written on darker
prints are nearly illegible.
Leadership cited declining
participation and tile sales in
recent years as the main reason
for implementing this change,
though they also mentioned it
would be a cost-free alternative
that would allow all Class of
2013 students to participate in
constructing their Wall. Though
their intention of making the
Senior Wall all-inclusive is an
admirable one, how can Leadership
claim to be representing the
senior class with this new tradition
when the only role we had
in decorating the wall was mechanically
pressing our hands to
it?
Don’t get me wrong; I’m
not one to oppose Leadership
and ASB bringing forth new
ideas and innovations to send
the Class of ‘13 out in style as
it deserves. However, these innovations
should be taking steps
forward in promoting creativity
and involvement from the senior
class. After the Senior Wall is
buried by a layer of paint at the
conclusion of this year, I recommend
next year’s Leadership
start brainstorming a more creative
design instead of continuing
this uninspiring tradition.
Junior Diamond Gadson
“ ‘ADHD’ by Kendrick Lamar
because it’s my favorite song,
and it keeps me chill.”
Senior Naomi Satow
“ ‘Medicine’ by The Downtown
Fiction because I was
obssessed with them my
freshman year and I would
always fall asleep to them.”
Assistant Principal Eric Anderson
”On my eight track ... ‘Free Bird’ by
Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

We’re Off To See The Back Page
by: Glenn Hartman
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