Grade Changes
By James Walker
5/20/05

Is there a problem with grade changes here at Colton? Are teachers making too many errors and refusing to correct them on report cards?
    Recently we of the Pepper Bough received a letter from a concerned parent that grade changes were biased towards seniors and sports players. This is what she wrote:

Dear Editor & Writers of CHS's Pepper Bough,
I would like to encourage your writers to investigate a poor policy held at     CHS that effects many students, quarterly and each semester.
Grades effect the students at CHS each quarter & semester.   How many         students do you know who's teachers make mistakes on their students grades? I know quite a few of my daughter's friends, who have had problems with teachers not correctly marking graded papers into their grade books. Thus, a student thinks they have a decent grade, only to get their report card sent home, and parent's freaking out (and the student getting in trouble), because the teacher made mistakes.
So sure, yeah, everyone makes mistakes. Shouldn't a teacher be held responsible for that mistake? Or at the very least right the wrong? Change the grade. I don't care if it is quarter or semester! How many kids get in trouble with parents because of inaccurate grades?
Guess what the school policy is? That they will only change their mistake IF ... the student is a Senior or in Sports. Why is it okay to discriminate against the rest of the school?
The administration says : "it doesn't show up on the transcript". So what!?! Fix the mistake, right the wrong. If the adminstration got a inaccurate performance evaluation at their job, I bet they would fight to have it fixed. But students aren't allowed that, and that is wrong. I support students getting what they deserve in the areas of grades. I hope you do as well.
    Please encourage your students to investigate this and to encourage their friends and peers to double check their grades with their teachers, so they get the right grade. This happens way to often, and administration should not get away with just sweeping it under the rug.

    I did some research on this topic, starting with speaking to the Acting Principal, John Steven Coke. He was actually confused when asked about it because there is no such "policy." In point of fact, there are only two ways to get a grade changed: teacher mistake and make-up after absence, and according to Coke, these are open to all students in Colton High. That is school policy, and Principal Coke has signed approximately 200 grade changes since he's been here, most of them leftover from our last principal. So, I'd say it's fairly obvious that this isn't the school policy. No one else spoken to really thought that it was. I spoke to English teacher David Rainey, and he indicated that he thought this was not the school policy, and the students I spoke with thought so too. According to Rainey, "I'll change a grade if I make a mistake, but not just to get someone eligible for sports. But if I've truly calculated a grade in error, I won't hesitate to change it." According to Coke, there is no favoritism shown in changing grades. The letter writer above stands by her claim that she has been told by both a counselor and a teacher that quarter grades will not be changed. She has told the Pepperbough, however, that after numerous emails and calls, that she finally got through to someone to change an erroneous grade.

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Newport Dunes: the hot beach spot for Prom
By Sarah Hofman
5/20/05

The "Ritz" of RV Parks is what critics such as the Los Angeles Times have called the Newport Dunes. But don't get me wrong: this isn't a broke down RV Park. It is a beautiful beachfront resort, with a private Back Bay where children can play and it also has a great restaurant. This is the ideal place for the '05 Senior prom. We get to go on a Marina boat ride and also we get to step right up on to the beautiful beach. Not only are the Dunes a great place to have a prom, it is an awesome place to go on vacation. It has great cottages right on the private beachfront and tent grounds. It is also a great place for all you people who love to shop! It is only a bike path away from Balboa Island and the famous Fashion Island.
It seems to me that New Port Dunes appeals to people with all kinds of different interests, which is good since here at Colton we have people with all different types of interests. The Dunes will appeal to those who love the great outdoors, those who enjoy to beach atmosphere, those who like to shop, and pretty much anyone who wants to have a good time. Lets get ready to have a great prom!

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Do Anti-Drug programs work?
By Cindy Mey
5/20/05

    Anti-drug programs are meant to keep the kids and everyone else alert of how bad the drugs are and what they can do to. But the questions is, " Do they really work?"         D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programs are the nation's most prominent and visible attempt to educate young people to resist drug abuse. D.A.R.E. is mostly targeted at fifth graders. At the beginning of the program, the students are to required to sign a pledge that will "keep their body free from drugs." At the end of 17 weeks, the students sing D.A.R.E songs, as they are presented with D.A.R.E. T-shirts, a certificate, a pin and a wallet-sized plastic card identifying them as a D.A.R.E graduate.
    There is a down side to D.A.R.E.; there is no actual proof that their program keeps the kids off of drugs. According to its critics, D.A.R.E. has a "limited to essentially nonexistent effect on drug abuse." This means that they just hope that program got through to the kids and hope they have a second thought before they are going to try it.
     What about those "Truth" commercials? You know , where there are kids showing what other activity to do than go smoke or do any other type of drugs. Did you know that the government forces the tobacco companies to promote those commercials? As a matter of fact, cigarettes are considering a drug because they contain nicotine. It is the ingredient that makes the cigarettes so addicting.
    I think that the programs are just good for that moment, but then for the most part the kids forget. With all of those public school programs, ads, and commercials in our faces everyday it kind of gets annoying. We know that it is wrong but we do it anyways regardless of the side effects. Drugs are out there and it is impossible for the most part for us to stay away. That just how the way things are. We can't help it, except to be drug free.

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Both Sides Now: Has this school year had a negative or positive impact on you?
Negative
By Larissa Litras
5/20/05

The year has yet to end, but unless it makes a drastic turn this year for me so far has had a negative impact. I have experienced the frequently used prophecy that you will split apart from your friends in high school. Don't get me wrong, I have met great new people this year and developed friendships with people that I value so much. Yes, I have gained amazing new friends but I have also lost great friends. I value friends so much and to know some are gone has shown me what I shared with them in the past.
    This year for me has not been bad nor good but, really just overall not a year I can look back on and say "What a great year." I tried to escape the drama and this year it all came back. It was like child's play all over again and I never wanted to experience that kind of stuff again. I guess you could say I lived the Junior High drama all over again. I have been through the "he-said she-said" this-and-that kind of stuff and I really don't like it. The year went by way too fast and it's too late to change anything.
    And as for school, we had such major things happen this year. Yes, it brought the student body closer together but really, wouldn't have been better if we didn't have to go through that at all? I don't think the school has suffered much in a negative way this year; actually things have picked up quite nicely since well, you know. Classes for me were harder and I know that is inevitable but the stress has made the year not so great.
    I guess it has not been a good year because I had to bite my lip and let so many friends go. I don't want to appear as a pessimist because of my negative experiences but it really was not a good year. So, this is my farewell to the people I love so much that are gone. Losing friends is hard and I know now that it is true you cannot keep the same friends forever. Overall this year has not been great because of personal things. People can be shady and are not the people they appear to be and that has been a real eye opener for me. Next year will be great because I will go into it with a whole new outlook.
    To end on a good note, I have met outstanding people this year that I never thought I could be so close too. Plus, our school was on the news! Who cares what kind of light it might appear in, now that people know what's up from the kids at CHS? Not to mention our football team kicks butt. So, I have had my good and bad; it is too bad it had to be negative stuff but it was. But hey! There is always next year.

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Both Sides Now: Has this school year had a negative or positive impact on you?
Positive
By Jackie Alcantar
5/20/05

Well, this year has had a positive impact on me because for one thing, it went by so fast. The year is practically over! We had a lot of unprecedented acts occur during the year but, in my opinion, it has brought the student body closer together because we show that we do care about our school and the way it is run, so therefore we will work together at any extent to keep it the way we want it.
    I would be lying if I said that it was a drama-free year because drama is inevitable at any school, but I think we did pretty well in that area. I think up-and-coming classes and even people who do not attend our school will remember this year because so many significant things happened. We not only made an impact on each other, and the faculty, but on our community also. I mean c'mon, our school was on the news! How often do you see that? Never. Whether it was portrayed badly or not, some people don't care. I think they just wanted to get their fifteen minutes of fame.
    We also got a lot of new things added to our policies such as the Triple A program. Even though we might be too lazy to strive for perfect attendance, academics, or attitude, it would be pretty cool to get a free Ipod or digital camera; we had that opportunity to look forward to. We also got the new field. I think it created more school pride and support because we could actually be proud of a nice looking field to go along with our intimidating football team.
    Overall, this year was great for me because it went by fast, and it was more exciting than any other year that I have experienced at this school.

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Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?
By Cristina Sauceda
5/20/05

    Who doesn't love to hear stories about life during the war, the 50's or the groovy 60's? Elderly people are the ones to go to when you want to hear how life was like back then. But there are those young people who don't want to hear how life was like in the "old" days because it doesn't pertain to "their" time. Now not very many people care if the elderly are here or not, all it matters is what hot, new face is on the cover of the most popular magazine. Today young people are glorified while elderly are treated rudely and come to think of it will I be treated the same way also when I get to that age.
    Celebrities of today are young, beautiful, in shape and of course rich. All billboards around the world show hot and sexy ads. Nowhere will you see a young person in a comical ad, ads in that sort of matter are headlined by an elderly, an overweight person or someone who doesn't fit into the Hollywood image. If an elderly is placed in an ad that is meant to appeal to young people, the product will not sell. Ads, music and film stars are supposed to appeal to teens of today. Many music, TV and film stars are looked up to by teens because of their looks, fashion and at times ideas. But why do Americans treat the elderly rudely at times? In fact there are other cultures out there that respect their elders. Cultures such as Indian and African, believe their elderly are full of wisdom and advice. Also little kids of these tribes love to hear stories about life in the past.
Our seniors are placed in homes when no one wants to take care of them; we mocked them of their dressing habits and especially make fun of the way they dress. Many seniors get placed in nursing homes because at times the families don't want to take care of them anymore. Even when they are placed in nursing homes some are not visited. In some cases the people who are supposed to be caring for them abuse them. We all drive at different speeds. If you drive fast, you are considered a reckless driver but if you are slow, you are considered a "grandpa" driver. Many states want to set an age limit on when your license will be taken away. The ones that are affected the most are the elderly because sine they drive to slow or maybe because they are way to cautious their licenses will be taken away. I understand their vision is fading but if you are going to take away their transportation at least find them a way to get around.
    We also make fun of the way they look and act. Yes, at times their clothes are old school but obviously they will not be caught wearing today's hottest. fashions. Elderly are not interested in wearing all those designer brand names all they want to do is be comfortable. Seniors are mocked because of their suspenders, high-water pants and their pants that are way up past their waist. But it is okay just let them. They have every right in life to be comfortable, they are not young anymore and don't have to impress anybody.
    At times I wonder how life would be like when I am old. Willi tell my grandkids about my experiences? Will they want to listen? 60 years from now, I believe the world will be different. There will be flying cars, robots that are just as intelligent as us. Yes, it all sounds fantasy but it may happen, they way technology is advancing nowadays one never knows. If all this does occur, I will have to adapt to these changes and figure out how to use all the new contraptions out there. Not until then will I understand what seniors go through. I will change physically, obviously, but mentally I will have grown up so much. I would be more mature and look at life more differently. I will appreciate life a lot more because of how lucky and long I would have been roaming this earth. The causes for all my changes, time. Time changes all the time because life in the 50's was a lot different than life today but life in 2050 would be a lot different than today.
    Today's young people are glorified while elderly are treated rudely and come to think of it how willi be treated when I get older. Life for the elderly can be depressing although at times it can give them great joy that they have come so far in life. Life for them mayor may not get easier but it will be more beautiful. All we should do is at least be kind of enough to make their life a lot easier and better. All we can do also is help the elderly the best way we can and of course they will enrich us with stories of the past and good advice to go with it.

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Durd is the Word
By Sean Durdle
5/20/05

    Confined to the spaces we choose, many of us will never know more than the boundaries we are for ourselves. There is so much of this world out there and what we allow ourselves to see it less than 1% of it. I spent most of my day today reading about existentialism, a subject I had previously no interest in. It's funny how one thing leads to another. Looking up information on the aforementioned subject was not something I had planned to do, but through the randomness of life I ended up stumbling across it. I guess the only logical explanation I can think of why I wanted to explore the subject comes from the experience I had watching the movie I "Heart" Huckabees (an existential comedy). It's not like I had just watched the movie and decided I wanted to learn more about existentialism, because I hadn't seen the movie since it came out. It just so happened that while I was checking some things out on the Internet, somewhere in the back of my mind the word flew by. So I decided to look the subject up, and to my surprise became quickly interested.
    "According to existentialists, humanity's primary distinction is its freedom to choose. There is no fixed instinct that drives humanity to do what it does. Choice is inescapable; not making choices is choosing not to choose." Existentialism is, in essence, the ultimate freedom of personal being. It is the ability to define yourself and your surroundings. There is no set meaning or definition for existentialism, as it has many different facets from which it has derived from and evolved into. The meaning also changes with the times we live in. Some points of existentialism may have more relevance in certain fields now, as opposed to how they did in the past. Some existentialists say that society is unnatural, and rules are difficult to follow for humans. Since very person is their own being and has the ability and power to define who they are and the world they live in according to their views, then a societal structure is unnecessary (because people can control themselves and not need a form of rules or government). Even though many of those existentialists were highly political people, it is not seen as such a bad thing to be contradictory, because the meanings and the person's definition of things can go through constant changes. Most existential philosophers say that humans are not inherently good, and people do what they want to do for no reason at all. Things just are and people, as beings, are just that. In that view, the world is more like anarchy. Anarchy in the existential sense is not a bunch of people going crazy finding whatever reason they can to be chaotic, but "social evolution." Existentialism is not about death and being dark, but about embracing life and being able to not fear death. Absurdity (a theme of existentialism) is most prevalent in this category. A well-known existentialist, Sartre, stated that death proved the absurdity of life. "Without human suffering and death, life cannot be complete." - Frankl
    I wish there was more room for me to write more of this article, but as things go, I end up being limited. A lot of what I have written is the tip of the iceberg for existentialism, for I don't know the half of it. So before this is over I want to leave you with some quotes from some famous philosophers associated with existentialism for you to ponder.
"If something worth living for is worth dying for, what about something not worth dying for?" - Camus
"Did man create God to have a reason to live?" -         Dostoevsky
"Would living forever add meaning to life?" -         Heidegger
"How do you really act in private?" - Sartre
"Without love, without people, what is a person?" -         Kafka
"I am the eggman. They are the eggmen. I am the walrus. GOO GOO GA JOOB."    John Lennon

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Michelle's Manifesto
By Michelle Choiselat
5/20/05

    Looking back on this year, I can't help but think I am so ready to get out of here. I'm growing up, it's time to move on to bigger and better things, you know?   However, there are some things that never change, or at least they shouldn't change. You know that saying, "make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold"? Well, as I leave Colton High behind, I have come to realize that that maybe that silly rhyme is more than just a rhyme. Maybe it's a rule that we often times forget.
    I have spent the past four years keeping and making friends. It's strange, but although I can't really remember the pivotal moment in which I suddenly become "friends" with someone, I can't imagine my life without having met the people I have befriended. In some way or another, they have changed my life. The unfortunate thing, however, is that when high school is all done, the chance of us staying in touch is pretty slim. And while technology (thank goodness for MySpace) has made it a little easier for people to stay in contact, the truth is, our lives will be branching off into so many different paths that even when we find the time to chat with our old friends, we will be different people. The silver will eventually replace the gold.
    Nevertheless, there is a bright side to the melancholy truth of moving on. While we may see and hear very little from our buddies, there is a handful of kids in that bunch that will never be forgotten. You know the friends I am talking about: the friends that call your parents "mom and dad," who have slept over at your house countless amounts of times. The friends that have seen you at your absolute weakest and still take you for what you are. True friends won't allow you to forget them and you won't allow them to forget you.
    The end of my four years is finally up and I'm still coming to terms with leaving everyone behind. Unfortunately, I have to suck it up, be a big girl and be ready to say good-bye. It's going to be tough, to say the least, but I figure change is progress. As long as I remember that handful of people who have become more than just friends, but another family, I'll be all right. The hard part will just be paying the phone bill.

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A year full of memories
By Cristina Sauceda
5/20/05

    It is almost time for the school year to end, the seniors will be graduating and the freshmen will finish their first year of high school. But after it is all gone, what is left? MEMORIES!!!!! Highlights and memories are all we have in high school. That is why they say these are the best years of our lives.
    Senior Eileen Jasso has a couple of her own such as her appearing in her first pep assembly with the dance group Fever, and of course her trip to Hawaii for the NJROTC Program. Her coolest memory is the walk out. Although all these events have happened throughout one of our most controversial years, Eileen still believes that she has bonded with her friends more than ever through the thick and think of the drama as a high school student and a supporter of the cause that happened earlier in the year.
    This year can be considered a very negative year to most people whether it is students or teachers. According to Senior Monica Magana, "I think that this year has made a big difference in our high school years, especially for us seniors that have been here for almost four years. Thanks to certain people, our school will never be the same."
    I would have to say, though, that the biggest highlight and most valuable memory is the walk-out. It will go down in Colton history as one of the biggest moments in school. It was a day that very many people knew it was going to happen but no one expected it to turn out the way it did. I know for a fact that I did not know about the walk-out until the day before. It was a sight to see: people on the roofs, people yelling, but it all turned out to be chaos according to some students. Senior Marjorie Salvatierra says, "It was a little chaotic because they exaggerated a little more, and most people who were causing the chaos did not even know why they were protesting."
    This event will be in our minds for a long time even though many other things happened throughout the year.
    Since the year is almost over and we will not be able to go back and re-do all of our mistakes, events, and so on, all we have are memories to be with us for the rest of our lives or until we get really old and can't even remember what we did two minutes ago.

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Drama for your mama: it doesn't get any easier
By Michelle Choiselat
5/20/05

    As the end of the year approaches, we assume that all the drama that built up over the course of the year will finally come to and end and we can move on with our lives. (Yeah, and pigs will start to fly over the football stadium.) We all know that drama is inescapable. Even when we get out of school, it seems to follow us wherever we go; it just gets more complicated in the adult world. Well, hey, look on the bright side. At least drama makes our lives just a tad bit more interesting.
    It's funny how something that happens during freshman year can interfere with the rest of your Colton High School life. You get into a fight with your best friend over something really, really stupid, and then you never speak to them again. All because neither one of you was willing to admit that you were wrong. So, you spend your sophomore, junior, and senior years hating each other even though you knew each other since grade school. To think, this drama could've been avoided if someone was just willing to be the bigger person and admit that they were being petty.
    Does it ever end? Do we ever escape the severe stings that drama tends to leave behind? Well, yes and no. Your marriage won't be affected by something that happened to you during your years in high school. On the other hand, now you have to deal with all the drama that comes along with marriage. It only gets more and more difficult. Adult situations are a heck of a lot more difficult to deal with because generally they involve "adult" things. You know, financial situations, relationships, careers, etc. Yet, the only difference between high school drama and "out of high school" drama is that no one really cares what happens during high school. High school is only four years of your life. When we get into the real world, all the stuff that you get yourself into is pretty much permanent. At least in high school we can move on and forget about it when we graduate. The real world isn't nearly as forgiving.
    Drama is everywhere. The situations are just a little different, that's all. But, I have to wonder if it's all worth it. Of course it isn't. Losing your best friend because you were both being pigheaded is just stupid. You'd miss out on all of the Ben & Jerry moments, the parties, the fun all because you didn't want to apologize (or maybe were afraid to). It's okay to admit that you're in the wrong. Believe it or not, a   15-minute apology can shave years off the drama you'll be dealing with in the future. Only now, you'll have someone to turn to when the going gets rough. If that's not reason enough, then I don't know what is. Have fun in this soap opera we call "life."

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Fortune Cookies
By Sarah Hofman & Shauna Pardo
5/20/05

    Well classes, it is our last fortune cookies for the year. I know we promised you that we were going to go watch the Blue Collar comedy, but it sadly got cancelled. Instead, we go to a very funny man named Jack Handey. We wrote down some of his funny and enlightening quotes for you all. I hope you think they are as funny and out there as we did. Enjoy!

Seniors- "Instead of studying for finals, what about just going to the Bahamas and catching some rays? Maybe you'll flunk, but you might have flunked anyway; that's my point."

Juniors- "If when you die you get a choice between pie heaven and regular heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick but if not, mmmboy"

Sophomores- "If you rob a bank, and your pants fall down, its okay to laugh. and let your hostages laugh too, because come on, life is funny."

Freshmen- "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man."
        So seniors the plan is that we are going to the Bahamas for finals, right?? I'm just joking teachers, you guys can come too if you'd like. Juniors choose the pie heaven it sounds like a winner to me. Sophomores don't rob a bank. It wouldn't be a good idea, but if you do, be sure to wear clean underwear, just in case. Freshmen don't be afraid to be the bigger man and laugh at the big crying man. Have a good summer!

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Freshman Feedback: The beginning of the end
By Sean Durdle
5/20/05

    Coming into high school is something that we always hoped for and dreaded. We all remember the preconceived notions that we had before making the big school change, and how when we finally got here, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Compared to when other generations first started out here, it might have been a little more difficult coming in as a freshman this year, but it has been quite interesting. When put in perspective, this year has been one the strangest of recent times; presidential candidate John Kerry came to our school, a devastating tsunami/earthquake claimed hundred of thousands of lives in over 12 countries, quite a large principal fiasco which landed us on the evening news occurred and got us out of school early, construction of our school has begun which led to a broken gas line at one point, and numerous other incidents.
    Despite all the hardships of this year, the freshman class pushed on through knowing it's only the beginning for them. For some of them, high school wasn't as bad as they thought it could have been. "This year was awesome, it was fun and even though I had some bad experiences I'll never forget this year," commented freshman Maria Torres. For others though, high school lived up to their expectations and more. "It's even more ghetto than I thought, but they do have good French fries, [although] they need to lay off on the salt." freshman Bethany Pearson stated. Yet, even others felt neutral towards it all. "It's O.K., it's kind of like middle school," says freshman Sarah Archuleta, "There's a lot more people then what I thought." Of course everyone has their own view of how high school is, because everyone has completely different experiences.
    As first year people new to Colton High, freshmen may feel that they are unnecessary or rejected by the school. "When I'm an upperclassman, I'm going to make sure freshmen feel relevant, like they have a say in what's going on," says freshman Richard Bowie. While that is a good point, the truth is that a lot of the things the school does is in order to improve it for further generations. Everything that is done is trial and error; i.e., if something doesn't work out for one year, then they know not to do it again further bettering the education system for future generations. Also, being a freshman is no piece of cake. Freshman year is one of the hardest years of high school; first of all, you're entering a whole new school with tons of people you don't even know (which is always a weird thing), second, you're not sure how you're going to be treated when you get there or what the classes are going to be like, and third, it's the beginning of the end of your grade school career. When you start, it seems like there is still a long to go, but soon you being to realize that the four more years aren't that bad.
    Our school it's just like any other school (almost), and if you work hard and stick to it, the four years here go by quicker than you think. It does seem like a lot at first, but once you get used to it, everything goes by a lot smoother. The great thing about school is getting the chance to meet so many various people and all the variety that comes with them. If you put the effort forth to make the friends, these school years will be some of your favorite. Don't let the first year here bring you down, because there is so much more to do before it's over.

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Last Minute Scholarships
By Michelle Choiselat
5/20/05

Graduation is just around the corner, but that doesn't mean it's too late to apply for scholarships. There are a few still out there; it's just a matter of looking. Thankfully, various websites offer a bit of relief from the difficulties of searching for scholarship competitions. If the ones I am about to mention don't suit your needs, check out fastweb.com or collegeboard.com. Also, many companies offer scholarships that people don't really know about. Check out a local small business and maybe they have something to offer you.
Rice Romp Essay Contest (Deadline: May 25, 2005) - The Rice Romp Essay Contest is available to students currently in grades 11 and 12 who submit an original 1,000 to 1,200 word essay addressing the topic: "The Importance of Wetlands in the Environment and How the U.S. Rice Industry is Vital to Maintain Wetlands Habitat in the United States."
Teenage Vision for America Essay Contest (Deadline: May 31, 2005) - The Teenage Vision for America Essay Contest is available to students who are currently enrolled in a public or private high school, junior high, middle school or home school. You must submit an original essay, poem, photograph or photograph of your original artwork, which describes your vision for America.
The NAPF Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest (Deadline June 1, 2005) - The NAPF Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest is open to all high school students. You must Write a proposal for a youth-led event, campaign, or project that educates members of your community and/or other students concerning the continuing threat of nuclear weapons and the need for nuclear disarmament in 1,500 words or less.
Pac-West Scholarship Award (Deadline: June 30, 2005) - The Pac-West Scholarship Award is available to high school seniors in California. Recipients must plan to attend a four-year university, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need and have a minimum SAT score of 1100 (ACT 24). You must also demonstrate community service and academic achievement to be eligible for this award.

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Senior reflects a year full of changes
Opinion by Sarah Hofman
5/20/05

    As my senior year comes to an end, I can honestly say that it has been a very interesting year. It was sad to find out that our beloved principal Almendarez was leaving and then we found out who our new principal was. I had no idea that it was not only just going to be a change of principals, but a change of attitude for the rest of the school year. What I mean by this is that many of the students went from not really liking school and dealing with it to being scared to go to school, because of an overbearing principal. Once we got the word out that the way that things were going wasn't right. There was a change made which led to a big sigh of relief. I feel that this whole big mess could've been stopped from the very beginning.
    I feel that there was not a lot of initiative taken to make sure that the principal put into power would be the right principal for the school. Doc just wasn't the right guy for the job. He was doing way too drastic things all at one time. Colton High School is a school that speaks up and we need to do things a steady nice pace. In the future if there is going to be a new principal, the board needs to make sure that the person is one who knows about the students here and understand how we feel the school should be so that there is a nice rhythm between the daily tasks and needed improvements.
    Another aspect that Colton High needs is trust. This year many students lost trust in the very school board that is supposed to be helping us to be better students. Through the whole fight to change some administrative rules, a lot of teachers lost trust in the school administration and also other staff members. There was a lot of secrecy that broke up the school in some aspect. For a school to run in a healthy manner there needs to be a good relationship between the students, teachers, and administration. This would come with trust.
    I also feel that although it was a helpful thing to have our issue publicized, we as a school need to stay out of the media light. It ended up being a great way to get the story out, but it also took away from the main reason why we go to school for 12 years, which is to learn. I know, I know, learning isn't why some of us come to school but its supposed to be the reason. So for the school to be more empowered we need to show the public that we needed to get a change for the better, to improve our learning.

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Staff Profile: Mitzi Abbott
By Michelle Choiselat
5/20/05

Mitzi Abbott somehow manages to stay calm and collected in spite of the size of her workload. Not only does she teach AP English IV and English III, but she also oversees the entire English department. Despite the constant phone calls and interruptions from other teachers, she never gets frustrated, and continues on with her class, no problem.
    Abbott has been teaching for 34 years, and has been at Colton for 31. She received her Bachelor's and Master's Degree in English from California State Northridge. As knowledgeable as she is when it comes to literature, especially William Shakespeare, many of her students joke that she is actually a famous literary critic by the name of Harold Bloom.
    The AP English IV class next year will consist of 40 students in one class. "I just think they really need to enjoy literature because the work is hard," she advises her incoming students. Don't worry, it's not as terrible as it seems. All you need to remember is one thing to survive in her AP class: "Brevity is the soul of wit." Nevertheless, while the class load can become demanding, it is more than worth it.
    Abbott's favorite book is Hamlet by William Shakespeare. "Every time I read it I get something new from it. It's multifaceted. 'Perplex'd in the extreme,' as Othello says," says Abbott. Naturally, her favorite words of wisdom would come from her favorite novel. "To thine own self be true," advised Polonius to his son, Laertes, before he left for France. Pretty powerful words of wisdom, don't you think?

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Student Profile: Deonna Moreno
By Jackie Alcantar
5/20/05

    For Junior Deonna Moreno, this year overall has been fun. For one, she has made many new friends, but the real experience is attending her cosmetology class that our school provides her with. Every day she leaves at 12:00 to ride the bus to Fontana where the school, Salon Success Academy, is located. Her classes end at 5 p.m. After school Moreno plans to work at a salon called Angles in the Ontario Mills mall. By then, she will have her license. On the side, she is interested in photography.
    While Moreno's favorite brand of make up is MAC, she loves to work with people and try new looks. She currently has pink and green dye in her hair. For fun, she likes to hang out with the "Viva Latina" girls and go to shows where she can meet more people. She enjoys Music from 80's, 50's, Reggae, Happy Hardcore, Hardcore, and trance. A big influence on Moreno's future is her older sister Jovanna Moreno, who is also pursuing a career in cosmetology. "She got me into it," says Moreno about her older sister.
    Having to go to school for eleven hours a day is pretty tiring and would get monotonous real fast. What keeps Moreno going, is making an interesting situation out of a boring one. She states, "You just have to keep on going and make things as fun as possible."
    When asked if there were any last words, Moreno smiled and said, "Shout out to my Homeboy, Mr. Davis who put me in my cosmetology class and made it possible for me."

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Time for Grades, but this time we grade them?
by Cristina Sauceda
5/20/05

    In school we get grades such as A, B, and F because of our work. But why not for once grade the teachers, the school and the rules to see how they have done in the year?
    I am a senior so I have been here long enough to know what kind of teachers Colton High School offers. I have had teachers who did not like me and I did not like them, but then I have had teachers that I have learned a lot from and are well loved by most students.

Teachers: B
It is hard to grade teachers because there are so many of them but overall they received a grade of a B.
    Whether or not we like it teachers are a big influence in our lives. They are doing their jobs. When I was doing this survey, most people felt that teachers do their jobs and do them well. I myself had really good teachers this year. Many students who have participated in my survey also believe that they are very influential in all aspects and for some reason as a senior a teacher is more appreciated than as a teacher as a freshmen.
Administrators: D
This has been a negative year in my point. We have had administrators who were on the student's side and others that were perceived as not. In my survey it seems that it was fifty-fifty. Some students believe that some administrators deserve the grade of a C while others received the grade of an F. Many students who gave the grades of an F to some administrators believe it was because of the new rules that were placed and the decisions made to supposedly better our school. We'll split the difference and give a D.

Rules: C
There have been rules that have changed and others that haven't. The rules received an overall grade of a C because there were people who believed the dress code was too strict, others believe the 20/15 minute rule was unfair, and mostly the cut down on minutes we had to go from class to class. Now it seems to many students that we are rushed to class and do not even have time to go to the restroom and not only that we had to wait 20 minutes before we can go to the restroom. One student believes that it is better to go at the beginning of class so that way in the middle of class we do not have to go and interrupt the learning process.
     The rules, the teachers and administrators will always be around as long as we are in school. Whether or not we want to agree with teachers or the rules, we just have to learn to live with them.

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Useless Column
by Michelle Choiselat
5/20/05

·    A blue whale's heart only beats nine times per minute.
·    A body decomposes four times as fast in water than on land.
·    A broken clock is right at least twice a day.
·    A butterfly can look at you through 12,000 eyes.
·    A Californian doctor has set the record of eating 17 bananas in two minutes.
·    A Canadian tattoo artist had 4,831 tattoos on his body.
·    A cat uses its whiskers to determine if a space is too small to squeeze through.
·    A chameleon can move its eyes in two directions at the same time.
·    A Cheetah at full speed takes strides of 8 meters.
·    A person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a few weeks.
·    A pig is the only animal than can get sunburned.
·    A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.
·    A pineapple is a berry.
·    A poem written to celebrate a wedding is called an epithalamium.
·    A polar bears skin is black. Its fur is actually clear, but like snow it appears white.
·    A polecat is not a cat. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
·    A poll of 3,000 Americans found that for 41 percent, the thing they're most afraid of is speaking before a group of people. 32 percent stated they were       afraid of heights.
·    A porpoise swims slowly in a circle as it sleeps.
·    About 10,000,000 people have the same birthday as you.
·    About 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens each year.
·    About 200,000,000 M&Ms are sold each day in the United States.
·    About 55% of all movies are rated R. About 500 movies are made in the US and 800 in India annually.
·    About 70% of Americans who go to college do it just to make more money.
·    About one-tenth of the earth's surface is permanently covered with ice.
·    Abraham Lincoln had to go across the street to the War Department to get news from the battlefield because there was no telegraph in the White House.
·    Abraham Lincoln's ghost is said to haunt the White House.
·    Americans spend approximately $25 billion each year on beer.
·    Americans spend more than $5 billion a year on cosmetics, toiletries, beauty parlors and barbershops.
·    Americans use about 100 million pounds of tea leaves every year.
·    Americans use over 16,000 tons of aspirin a year.
·    Americans, on average, eat 18 acres of pizza in one day.
·    Dogs can't decipher size. That's why little dogs are mean.
·    More Monopoly money is printed yearly than real money throughout the world.
·    Penguins are not found in the North Pole
·    People photocopying their buttocks are the cause of 23% of all photocopier errors worldwide.
·    Diet Soda actually kills brain cells because of all the chemicals they put in it to make it "diet."
·    The average person swallows three spiders in the course of a year.
·    You will swallow and recycle two quarts of mucous today.
·    3% of all mammals are monogamous

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Swim Team ends year
By Shauna Pardo
5/20/05

    Swimming started off with a bang and ended with a splash. Unfortunately this year wasn't a shinning one. Not only because of the transition from division 4 to division 1, but also the inconvenience of having to share the Rialto pool with Carter high school.
    "Everyone worked really hard and had a lot of dedication, everyone gave it your all," Junior captain Ashley Abril commented. The teams overall record was 0-10. "There was more effort this year from the team but division-wise it was like kids learning how to swim against Olympic swimmers, but they had a lot of heart," stated coach and computer lab teacher Rosa Booth. Practice was always attended at 5-5:45 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. to show the team's dedication. Last in league hasn't always been the Colton High's best record but there is always room for improvement especially since they are adjusting to the new division. Booth hopes to bring back water polo next year to increase the interests of students. Farewell seniors Mike Arteaga and Nina Acosta. Acosta was injured during the season and took an assistant manager position.

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Top Yellow jackets to appear in All Star Football Game
By Paul Heredia
5/20/05

    High School Football is not quite over for the top seniors in the Inland Empire. The 20th Annual Inland Empire All-Star Football Classic will feature the top senior football players taken from more than 100 high schools from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The game will be held on Saturday, June 25th, 6:00 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium at Colton High School.
    The Inland Empire All-Star Football Classic is sponsored by The Press-Enterprise and Community Medical Group of Riverside. It was developed and is upheld by The Sport Clinic with all proceeds going to The Sport Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on youth programs. The Football Classic will conduct a series of pre-game and post-game activities, including a halftime show with various singers, dancers, and cheerleaders. The game will be followed by Fireworks show presented by PYRO Spectaculars. Tickets are ten dollars for adults and six dollars for students and are available at the Sport Clinic or by calling 951-274-3455.
    Colton High the undefeated Citrus Belt League Champions will be represented with three players of their own in the game. Senior Offensive Linemen Joseph Ramirez who will be attending Trinity International University in Chicago, Illinois, senior Punter Travis Boyd who will be attending Chaffey Community College, and senior Defensive Tide end Luis Alvarado who will be attending either RCC or Valley College.         The All-Star game is a great opportunity for all players to be recognized in their community and high schools and have a great opportunity of receiving scholarships for college. All players will be able to have the chance of receiving one of the six scholarships offered to all participants of the game.

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Track sends players to CIF
By Shauna Pardo
5/20/05

In Boy's Track, Captains Jesse (Tui) Purcell, Marcus Fraser, Joe Ramirez, and Christopher (Mike) Taylor, led the team to a decent year. Overall, the team posted a record of 3-4 in league, an improvement over last year with returning coach Wayne Weeks. Some of seniors feel that with their leaving would weaken the team for next year without them returning, but time can only tell. Purcell led the pack with a personal record long jump of 20 ft. 10 in., Fraser ran the 110 meters high hurdles in 14.3 seconds, and Taylor took 2nd in all league. Several players were sent to CIF including Taylor and Purcell.
In Girls Track, with no one clear on who the captains were, they had top performers: Junior Lisa Montgomery, Amy Haden, Kaleena Gomez, and Christina Morales. Unfortunately girls track didn't do as well as the guys with a record of 0-7. Gomez had a personal record of 6:31 on the mile. "We were and inspiration to the underclassmen," she said. Improvements have been made throughout the year and hope to continue to next year.

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