Colton High Acquires new teachers
Elysa Arroyo
9-22-04

Ok, you can stop with the "What's up, Doc?" jokes now. New principal Harry "Doc" Ervin has heard them all already. He arrives on campus full of energy and new ideas.
Over the summer, Colton High School acquired a new principal, Harry 'Doc' Ervin. This is by no means news to any student. No doubt everyone has at least seen him walking around the campus, and he's probably popped into every class room at least once. With this new management, CHS has undergone some major changes in the way it runs.There've been some new policies added, but for the most part, the biggest change by far has been the newer, higher level of enforcement that has been added into the mix. Doc himself sometimes does the enforcing. "I'm the principal," says Doc. "It's my job to enforce the policies."
Every CHS student also knows that he will not look the other way for anyone. " My thing is consistency," he explains. Doc believes that eventually people will understand the need to come to school dressed appropriately, i.e., without bellies and cleavage showing.
Doc is a very student-driven principal. "My goal is to greatly increase the number of students who go to college," he says. Doc is planning to instate a "AAA" program, which stands for Academics, Attendance and Attitude. In essence, this means that those who do well, come to school regularly and don't get into trouble will be rewarded. He's also hinted that he's trying to get a car to give away at the end of the year, like he did at the last high school he was principal at, Yucca Valley.
The biggest problem with the school is the severely low API (Academic Preformance Index) scores. CHS's scores are in the low 580's, whereas it should be in the 640's at least. Last year, the Pepper Bough did a story on the rise in the API scores; however those scores were invalidated by the state due to testing irregularities. "We have some really great teachers and some really great students," says Doc, "so there's no reason we shouldn't get to and pass 640."
And now, the answer to the questions inquiring minds want to know: "Why do we call him 'Doc'?" Doc laughs and explains:
"When I was a Marine, I used to teach little kids sports. When we played basketball, I used to be able to do the slam dunks on the little 8-foot-rims. The kids all thought I was "Doctor J," Julius Erving, who was a famous basketball player," says Doc. "The funny thing was, if the thing had been any higher, it never would have made it."
Welcome aboard, Doc. Here's hoping your stay here is a slam dunk.

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Strike up the band! Yellow Jacket Music makers get into gear
Arline Cruz
Buzz team 1
9-22-04
So what really goes on at band camp? I spoke with senior Kyle Peck, who is this year's drum major for the award winning Colton Yellowjacket marching band. The dates for band camp were set for August 2-13, while everyone was out at the beach and going to the mall, the band's dedication started here.
       Band members learned a new field show for the competition season this fall (and they used a lot of sunscreen). Band members got to meet a lot of people because there were a handful of incoming freshman. The band also improved on their music skills and memorizes a variety of songs to play on the field.
        Last year the band did surprisingly well even though they were short on practices because the band director, Dr. Luis Gonzalez, was out for surgery for a month. The band did a great job at the Las Vegas Invitational, one of the biggest competitions of the season. "We got first place in every category including music, visual, and general effect,"says Peck. "Accomplishing that made it a successful year for the band."
         Expectations for the band this year are to make it to finals at the Las Vegas Invitational in November. The band also plans to march at Disneyland in December. The band is ready for a whole new season this fall. The first competition will be held at John F. Kennedy high school on October 2nd . Good luck band!!

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The Great Gum scrape
Janae Johnson
9-22-04
    Have you ever been sitting in class and feel something sticky under your desk? Been walking around campus and see a long string trailing from your shoe? Gum is all over our school. It all comes from students spitting it out or sticking it places, in the process making Colton High look very dirty.
    Students were informed that their school had done this on the first days of school. They all had different reactions. "I think it was a waste of time because people are going to chew gum anyways. Also they spent too much money when they could be spending it on books," sophomore Kayla Horn says. "Its good for our school because it makes it more sanitary. Maybe it will keep the gum off our shoes," says senior Louis Lopez. Adreanna Amavizca says, "I don't even notice!"
    Over the summer around $10,000 was spent scraping the residue of 75 years worth of discarded gum off the campus. Is this too much money for our school to be spending scraping gum? According to Assistant Principal Bernie Meraz, this money didn't come from school funding at all. The school worked with the district to get money for this exact purpose. There is a maintenance operation program that provides schools with money to clean up. This doesn't affect the school's budget at all.
     One of the school's main reasons for the gum scraping was to provide students with a positive learning environment. Students are more likely to do better academically when they are in a comfortable environment. Another reason was to try to put pride back into the students. When a school looks clean and nice, students tend to appreciate it. Colton wants their students and staff to take pride in their school.
     Now schools in the area are following in our footsteps and looking into cleaning up with the maintenance operation program. Thanks to this program Colton High School didn't have to spend any of its own money. This was all done to provide a comfortable and positive learning environment for everyone here at Colton High. So now maybe you won't get gum all over your soles anymore. (Unless of course you put it there yourself.)

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Both sides now: Should President Bush be re-elected? YES!
Shayne Robinson
9-23-04

President Bush is up for another election. Over the past four years we have had an amazing time. We have gone to war. We have liberated a country, we have been attacked. We have even had a new reason to hate the French. For this election year, President Bush has pulled out all the stops, with mostly the same platform as four years ago, except for the 99% about the war. He has the same social security plan that he's been trying to get through the legislature for the past four years. There are a couple of new things President Bush is trying to accomplish: he says he will provide $250 million annually to extend state assessment of student reading and math skills. He also wants to crack down on drugs in schools, increase funding for school drug testing to help students resist peer pressure and help parents intervene with students in need. In the "Jobs for the 21st Century" Initiative, President Bush also says he will provide $500 million for Jobs for the 21st Century, which will help educate and train high-skilled American workers in schools and community colleges. Tax Reform? President Bush said he would work to make the tax code simpler for taxpayers, encourage saving and investment, and improve the economy's ability to create jobs and raise wages. In the area of Troop Redeployment, President Bush said he would restructure American forces overseas to use existing forces more effectively and to support servicemen, servicewomen, and their families more efficiently. You know he may have his down falls but in Texas its all normal. Vote BUSH!

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Both Sides Now: Should President Bush be re-elected? NO!
Ilka Hernando
9-23-04
All I say is that this President seems to be going for a record. He wants to be the first for everything. Bush has single-handedly broken the record for the largest annual deficit in history. He made an economic record for the most bankruptcies filed in a two-month period. Set the record for the gigantic drop of the stock market. In his first year alone, he wons the award for the most days on vacation taken as president. He's the first president who has a criminal record. (Drunk driving). He has relieved two million Americans of their jobs. Signed laws and executed orders that amended the Constitution. Decided against using the natural reserves during the gasoline price raises. Supervised the California electricity energy crisis and refused to arbitrate when corruption was exposed. He took into hiding when we were attacked claiming that the enemy knew the secret codes for Air Force One. Has removed a great amount of checks and balances and has the smallest amount of congressional oversight as president. He withdrew himself from the World Court of Law. Received the most corporate campaign donations. Was the first president to run away when the US was attacked. Established a secret shadow government. Has 71% of Europeans view his presidency as a threat to world peace/stability. He witheld information about the Medicare Bill which could consume 37% of our seniors Social Security checks, growing to 50% by 2021. As Representative Stark said: "it doesn't look good to lie to grandma... and come up with creative ways to mask the damage they have done to Medicare." Shall I go on? But I fear that it would soon become redundant.

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Cassie's Comments
Cassie Orona
9-23-04
Hello my fellow CHS students, and welcome to another fantastic year in high school! This year promises to be fun filled and full of surprises. Our fall sports have started. Come and check out our wonderful teams as they triumph over their opponents. And, don't forget, Homecoming is coming up soon too, so find yourself a partner and go get your perfect dress or suit to dance away the night in.
    Aside from all that fun and excitement, there've also been some changes happening, which you've all, no doubt, noticed. If you don't already know, or are new to Colton High, this school is over 100 years old and is undergoing some interesting changes. For instance, if you haven't seen the new Memorial Stadium field, you should go and check it out. It's wonderfully done over. As a matter of fact, the portable classrooms that are in back of the 600 wing are new, the fields by the P.E. area are better and the expansion of the parking lots from administration and students are new as well. Now, about the policies, that's a different story.
     If you've heard at the assembly, these policies are in place to benefit us, and to help further our education. Besides these issues, you can probably tell, this year is going to be busy with all the new policies and developments that are slowly taking place, so I suppose we will have to adjust as well. I'd like to say "Congrats to the class of 2005" for an outstanding three years here at CHS and hopefully, I'll see every single one of you at graduation. If you made it through these past three years, I think you should be able to stand at least one more year here and move onto a better and brighter future. Good luck to all of you in the decisions that you make.
    To the junior, sophomore, and freshmen classes, here is a little advice: Make wise decisions, don't procrastinate, keep that G.P.A up so that you will be able to participate in the events and sports here at CHS, and most of all have fun in high school. Really, that's what high school is all about. High school is a time where you're supposed to have fun and be yourself. Live your life but also learn at the same time. Make each year count. Just get things done while you're having fun at the same time.

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Jury still out on new policies
Janae Johnson
9-23-04
How many times have you had to go to the restroom during class but were forced to wait because your teacher says no? Well now it's not just the teacher's decision, it's a school wide rule. Except for dire emergencies, students are not allowed hall passes for the restroom any longer. Good or bad?
    Last year our school's test scores were below 600, which is very low. A new administration came along with a new set of rule to enforce. The restroom rule was put into affect to increase the student's time in the classroom. The idea is that if they are constantly going to the restroom then they are missing out on valuable class time. Some students have abused their freedom to use the restroom, sometimes even going just because they were bored. These all are good reasons that this rule is in affect.
    So yes, this rule has an overall good purpose. More time in the classroom equals more learning. But, consider this: The school has also taken a minute off our passing periods, leaving students only 6 minutes to get to class and take care of their business. For a lot of people this is nearly impossible. For example, what if a student has a class in the 400 wing and their next period is in the 600 wing? These classes are at the opposite ends of the high school. That student wouldn't have time to get to class on time and use the restroom.
    This also causes very long lines in the restrooms. Lines take even more time out of the already short passing period. If you decide to wait in a long line you have pretty much decided to be late to your next class. This causes students lots of trouble, constantly stressing about when they are going to get a chance to use the restroom. Most people just decide not to go at all. When this happens a whole new set of problems come up. Students only concentrate on how much they need to use the restroom. They lose their focus and do not learn as much as they would if they were comfortable, which totally defeats the purpose of this rule. Students are not learning anymore than they would if they were taking their restroom break.
    Yes, the rule has a good purpose. But one has to consider what the students have to go though. They already are stressed out about the new school year. Following this procedure puts them under an even more amount of stress. It's great that the school wants to push students to get good grades. Is this the best way to do it?

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Welcome to the sardine can
Elysa Arroyo
9-23-04
    Over the past few years, the student population at Colton High has grown significantly. Now with the addition of nearly 1000 freshmen, CHS is now home to about 3700 students. The lunch lines are longer, the hallways are more crowded, and the classes are packed (with at least 35 students a piece). This makes it nearly impossible for CHS to be a good place to learn things.
    It's hard to get to class on time because there are always so may people in the hallway. Now, with the shortened passing period, it makes it even harder. I myself have never been late, however, I have had some very close calls. One has to crawl over many people just to get in sight of their class, and then crawl over that many more to get there.
    Oh, and did you want pizza for lunch? You stand in line for at least ten minutes, packed in with everyone else like sardines, and when you finally get up there, they're out of everything but crackers. It seems that, even though they knew we were going to get a whole lot of new students, they didn't think about upping the amount of food they order.
    It's hard to learn with that many students around. Each student gets very little one-on-one time with the teacher; therefore, if they have any problems, it makes it hard to fix them. Our teachers really care about us. They really want us to learn, but they are only human and can only do so much. With that many students in each class, what they can do to help us is lessened.
    What about that new high school everyone's been talking about for as long as I can remember? That would be the best thing for us right now. So where is it? It's still at the drawing board, because no one can make up their minds.

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Words of Wisdom (if you can call it that)
Elysa Arroyo
9-23-04
    First off, I'd like to welcome the new freshmen. High School is a huge change, I know, but it will get better. Like anything else, it's what you bring to the experience that makes it go good or bad.
    I'd also like to welcome back the sophomores, my fellow juniors and, of course, the seniors. This year, all of you (all of us) are in the same boat as the freshmen. Colton High School acquired a new principal, a new set of policies and new level of enforcement for the policies that have always been in place.
    So far, I've only heard students speak badly about the 'Doc Regime'. To tell the truth, I don't agree with many of the policies or the strictness he has instilled but there isn't much we can do about it. It's probably improving the school tremendously, but as it's harder, we don't want it.
    When I found out about all the new changes, my only wish was to stay out of the man's way, and to make myself not like him because I don't like these policies. However, that isn't the way things happened. I managed to get assigned to do the front page story about him, so I got to go interview him, and as much as I wanted to dislike him, it was impossible.
    Doc Ervin is actually a very friendly, very likeable person. He was very open and very nice to me while I was interviewing him, and has been nice to me since. It was one of the best interviews I've ever done because he was so enthusiastic, and very happy to tell me anything I asked about.
    I still don't agree with the way the rules have changed, or the way the consequences have changed. In fact, I absolutely abhor the fact the we get detention for being late to class. However, I do believe that Doc has the best of intentions and cares deeply about our welfare. He told me himself that everything he does is what he thinks is in the best interest of the students. Though I don't agree with a lot of what he does, at least he does it for the right reasons.

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Colton High adds new teachers into the mix
Ilka Hernando
9-23-04
He is a man of hard work, wanting to drive the students to get "more involved" and "to focus." He expresses his agreement with the "bell to bell" class work time, nodding his head that "they (students) should be getting instructed." He focuses "on their abilities as to their disabilities." He is Carl Coles, our newest Resource Specialist on campus.
Coles can be seen working one on one with various students in RSP and "working with [their] general education," helping them keep up and "find the best way they can learn" for both studying and day to day skills. He chose to work in Resources because of the challenges and the opportunities to "focus on individuals."
Coles comes to us from the Chino Unified School District, switching from a part time to a full time teacher, and has so far "really [been] enjoying it working in a larger school," calling it a "mini society." Before dedicating himself to teaching, he dedicated himself for three years as a professional baseball umpire for the California League; but when that bell rang, he answered and went on to Cal State University and majored in History.
But he knows that all work and no play makes any Jack a dull boy, relaxing 25-30 times a year on the ocean hooking that worm; or he could be seen hitting the green and teeing off; or taking out the old leather mitt and catching a few, letting some of the rules slide by to home base.
            _____________________________________________________________
Redondo Beach: so many people jostling back and forth in different directions, venders on the streets trying to persuade you to buy an item. With so many distractions you bump into a bright eyed young woman fighting her way against the crowd, you mutter a weak "sorry," and would probably have stored her face into your recycle bin to be emptied out later that day if it weren't for the expression she returned to you; a look of absolute excitement, as if the world had just opened up and anything was possible.
    In fact, it was what Carol Reiner was waiting for; the world to open up and allow her to pursue her dream. Ever since she was little, living in Honduras, she wanted to become a teacher. She made her way to America, the land of opportunity, at the tender age of 19, alone and without a word of English in her vocabulary.
    She lived with a friend at Redondo Beach and decided that instead of getting familiar with a burger flipper and the "what would you like to order" line, she pushed herself through school to learn English and took a year course to become a Clinical Technician, which didn't require a medical degree, and for eight years, that paid the bills. But she couldn't ignore the reason she came to America in the first place, and pushed herself even harder to reach for her life long goal of becoming a teacher. She decided that it would be in her best interest to further her skills in Spanish to be able to teach it.
    But when she entered a junior college and saw a Latino woman, not sitting down taking notes, but up front and giving the lecture, it opened her eyes to do something more challenging and helped her become a role model to those that were inexperienced to a new culture as she once was and inspire others to pursue their dreams… she wanted to become an English teacher.And that's where we meet Reiner today, at the far end of the campus in the new trailers.
    You might catch her completely engrossed in a book, or teaching a classroom full of studentseither English, English Language Development, or English Shelter, a language that only 16 years ago had never been uttered from her lips. "I want my students to see that they can still keep their culture so they can succeed in [other] cultures." She also agrees with the new policies that are being enforced, saying that "as long as it benefits the students" she is "willing to comply." With only the summer school as her background in teaching, although not quite impressive on a resume, she smiles and nods enthusiastically; this has been her "dream come true."

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Evil Resides in us (Movie Review: Resident Evil: Apocalypse)
Ilka Hernando and Robert Campos
9-23-04

Grab a shotgun; you'll need it. Excitement had built up in thousands of Resident Evil fans everywhere when Alice (Milla Jovovich) cocked the boom stick with one hand as the camera moved away from the scene and we saw the results of the biohazard outbreak [insert cheesy suspense music].
The new cast includes: the tube-top toting, gun-slinging, S.T.A.R.S. member elite; Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), partied with mercenary Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr). With the ambitious, fame-driven reporter Terri Morales (Sandrine Holt). Terrorizing the city, and part of Umbrella's hideous/devious plan, our new and beautiful creature that used to be Matt Addison (Eric Mabius) is now known as only "Nemesis" [insert deep Blockbuster commercial voice of doom].
We got what we came for: zombies, screwed up societies, derriere kicking action, cannibalistic children, sick humor, mind teasers, seat jumpers, women with guns, a viral infection that shoots too close to reality, and a shotgun.
As any Resident Evil fan that can distinguish that blue tube top, black skirt, and high boots, we hope that the movie would follow the game exactly (it being so ultimate).
Thing is, well, it doesn't. They took the characters of the game, created new ones, and produced a beautiful story that could be made into a game of its own. So don't get too disappointed because you don't like what's going on. I'm sure a respectable RPG-er understands the movie industry and how they seem to mess around with the story when any of our games are made into movies; we know, we shrug, we enjoy it, and so should you.

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Getting to know the Giggaloops
Robert Campos
9-23-04
When a person has a case of the "Giggle Oops" they might take notice of it whilst at a place of mourning, such as a funeral. You'll know if you have the Giggle Oops if you start laughing uncontrollably.
    That's what the Giggle Oops are, a special case where one starts laughing in an inappropriate place/time. What most People don't know is that we have a band on campus who's namesake is very close to the strange, yet intriguing scenario. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the Giggaloops: a four-piece punk band that sounds like a cross between No Doubt and the Distillers.
    They were first introduced to a large amount of Colton High's student and staff population at last year's Music For The Mind show. After watching the band and seeing people's response to them I thought that I should try and get in a quick interview with singer Ellie Gomez and drummer Mark Saldana, both of whom are seniors here at Colton High. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, without further adieu here's Ellie Gomez and Mark Saldana…
Why did you choose the name, The Giggaloops?
Ellie: I was watching a show called Coupling when I found out what the Giggle Oops are, and I thought that it was really appropriate, because it's twisted humor and so are a lot of our songs. It's sad that in almost all of them…someone dies.
How long has the band been together and where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Mark: this line-up has been together for a year, Ellie used to be in another band. In five years I see myself living with the band during school and then going global.
How would you sum up the music?
Ellie: One guy and three girls, who do a lot of screaming, yet are still really melodic. I guess you could call us catchy punk
Which song would you say gets the best crowd response?
Ellie: Well, Monster makes a crowd dance, and High School makes them mad and puts them in a moshing mood. So it's a toss up between those two.
What's your favorite song to play?
Ellie: An untitled song that we have, people don't really know what it's about. Here's some advice: If you want to know what the songs about…ask me!
Mark: It's easily Monster, Ellie gets really into it and it's funny to watch.
What's something that most people wouldn't know about the band?
Both: The band used to be Goth, then it kind of went into a Ska type of thing until we came across what we have today, which is kind of a cross between Goth and Punk.
    There you have it students and staff, the Gigaloops, by the way, the band will be playing at Corona's Showcase Theatre for the Showcase Showdown Finals on September 24.

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Hey Yellowjacket: Wadja do this summer?
Alyssa Isgett
9-30-04

Summer Vacation… three months off school and every high school student's favorite time of year. Colton High School students share some of their interesting experiences.
A Week At Camp
    Freshman Melanie Fowler spent a week of summer up in the mountains at Laurel Pines Christian Camp. "While I was there, I looked for squirrels, hiked, played paint ball, went swimming and made new friends."
    "I went with a group of friends that I have known since I was little during the first week of August. My main reason for going was to get away from the house, hang out with friends, and see the campers I haven't since last year when I went up there." She says she had a lot of fun and even had a close encounter with a bear. "My summer highlight was seeing a bear in real life, it ran right passed me when i was walking up the mountain!"
Off To Oz
    Sophomore Nicolas Daily spent his summer at long practices and rehearsals for a play. "I went to JU where I participated in their Wizard Of Oz production. I was a flying monkey, a Kansas person, and an Osian (a person who lives in Oz)." Although practices were time consuming and he was the only person he knew in the play, he had fun. "The practices were from June through August. I met a lot of new people including a youngest twin who ruled like me. I did this play because I love acting, singing, and dancing and this encompassed all three." He enjoyed the play, however he had another favorite highlight. "The party line at One o'clock in the morning was a blast!"
Making a
difference
    Junior Joshua Lomeli went to Laughlin for a family vacation with 25 other families. "In Laughlin we went to Light House Cove on Lake Mohave, watched movies, played games, and my sister and I rode our jet skis. It hurt because it used a lot of arm strength." Lomeli says he had a blast in Laughlin, "it is something that I look forward to every year."
    He spent his summer working at a local children's hospital as well. "I volunteered at the Loma Linda Children's Hospital. I worked with workers personnel and other volunteers. It's the volunteer services that put us in different departments in the hospital. I do this just to know that I can make a positive on my community."
Vegas is The Place To Be
    Junior Janet Monterrosa spent her vacation in Las Vegas. "I went to the top of the Stratosphere, got on the ride, walked The Strip, went to Game Works, and did all the other stuff that teenagers are supposed to do in Vegas."
    "I went with my Dad, sister, and two friends just to get out and have fun in August before we had to go back to school. We had a lot of fun. My favorite thing I did would have to be riding the roller coaster at the top of the Stratosphere. It was scary because of how high it was."

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Kobe, The King of Pop, and the alleged wife-killer: High profile trials dominate summer news
Shayne Robinson
9-23-04
Famous people, kill, rape, and molest little children too.
    At least that's what prosecutors are tryng to prove in three separate high profile cases going on in the world around you.
    The first is the case of Michael Jackson: the king of pop is accused of child molestation. Although the trial is not set to start until January of next year, in the past Jacko has settled out of court often paying millions to not forego the embarrassment of the trial. Jackson's bail has been set at $3 million. Judge Melville, the acting judge in this case, says that such a large bail was set because only a large sum of money would give Jacko the incentive to come back.
    The second case is just coming to an end, the rape case of Kobe Bryant. This case started some time ago when Kobe slept with a woman. She then said that he had raped her. The criminal rape charges were dropped against Bryant just a few weeks ago, although there is still a civil suit pending, but it is likely Bryant will settle out of court.
    The third high profile case is the murder case of Scott Peterson. Scott Peterson is accused of murdering his wife, Laci, who just happened to be pregnant. He is being accused of Murder One, which is premeditated murder. Prosecutors allege that Scott Peterson killed his wife Laci in their Modesto home. He then took the body down to San Francisco bay and dumped it. Of course all of this is alleged. The trial is currently being held in Redwood City, which is in northern California.
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Renaissance President Carlstrom "Gits-R-Dun" with drive, enthusiasm
Alyssa Isgett
9-23-04
Renaissance is a leadership program here at Colton High School. It is set up to recognize students for academic excellence as well as academic improvement. Renaissance also recognizes staff for their efforts in helping students beyond the classroom. Amanda Carlstrom is the president for this school year. This year her plans are to have a lot more teamwork, to focus more on people in academics, and to involve the students. Her plan is to get more enthusiasm in the assemblies. She also wants to focus on the students in the school rather than the people who put on the assemblies.
To involve staff, Carlstrom says, "I want the staff to recognize the more they get involved, the students will want to get involved. If the staff do not step up, how are the students going to get involved?" Aside from this organization, Amanda is on the badminton team, and is also the head Varsity water girl for the football team. As she is beginning her senior year, she says she doesn't notice any difference. "This year there are fewer classes and now we get to step on the freshmen."
She likes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Anaheim Angels. Her favorite quote is "Git-R-Dun." "It comes from The Blue Collar Comedy Tour and Larry the cable guy says it. It's a hick thing." She plans on attending UCLA and majoring in Photo Journalism or Astronomy. "I chose UCLA because I went to a Rosebowl game when I was seven and saw UCLA play Tennessee. I want to major in Astronomy because things I don't understand interest me. Photo Journalism because I like taking pictures and I like to write." She would like to tell the students at Colton High School "Get some spirit! Get Involved! It makes a difference when you are involved."

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Yellowjackets practice "The Art of War" in getting ready for new league, new challenges
After a hugely successful 2003 season, the Jackets are thrust into the cauldron of the Citrus Belt league. Can they run wild over their opponents this year as well?
Nina Acosta
9-23-04
The training room is dark and steamy. The players are huddled in a tight bunch. Some have intense scowls on their faces. Sweat streaks their bodies, evidence of an intense workout. The air is thick with intensity and purpose. Suddenly, as if as one a gigantic cry emanates from the assembled gathering. It starts slowly, building steam as if a storm were approaching. Soon the room is all but quaking from the noise. Their screams say "The Art of War! The Art of War! The Art of War!" Coach Harold Strauss' Yellowjacket football team is pumped. "We're going all the way this year," said junior co-captain Allen Bradford.
    Last year the Yellowjacket varsity football team went undefeated in the San Andreas League (11-1) and made the number one goal to do so in their new home, The Citrus Belt League. The Yellowjackets won their first game (30-14) against Rancho Buena Vista in San Diego and won their second game (38-14) against Bishop Gorman. Tomorrow they take their 2-0 record against Crenshaw here at Memorial Stadium.
    "We want to go so far as a strong family together," says senior captain Travis Boyd. Do they feel intimidated from the top teams in their new league? They smiled and said they felt no pressure, but Coach Strauss thought otherwise. He predicts that Eisenhower, A.B Miller, and Redlands East Valley high school will be their biggest concerns. "I think they were a little hungrier last year, but this year there is a lot more pressure for them to establish their own identity," says Strauss.
    The varsity team consists of 52 boys and has all four returning senior captains: Travis Boyd, Louis Alvarado, Joe Ramirez, and Mike Taylor. Varsity co-captain Bradford and Shareece Wright are returning juniors as well. "Being in the C.B.L is just more of a challenge; I want to do as good as last year only better," says Bradford. Conditioning over the summer for these guys is tough, but they seem to stick through it with the ambition stilled in them to dominate the C.B.L
    "Conditioning has gotten harder, there's no real bickering between players, and we pick each other up all the time," said junior Bradley Sorenson.
     "I want to win the championship, I want to win it all, I won't accept anything less than that," added Wright.

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VolleyBallers ready to dominate new season
Nina Acosta
9-23-04
A girl with long brown hair jumps up and almost seems to soar across the court, the air around her seems to catch her and hold her in a moment that held time so that the ball speeding towards her met her palm and she drove it down and made the spike. The Colton Yellowjacket varsity volleyball team is ready for the attack!!
    Coach Tanya Strauss and her group of bumping girls are ready for the Citrus Belt league for the 2004-2005 seasons.
    "It's a young team, we're definitely working hard and holding our expectations up to our goal," says Strauss. The Yellowjacket volleyball team went 2-10 last year and has the vigorous desire to tower above their past scores in their new league. The Yellowjackets went best 3 out of 5 against Bloomington.
    "I want to win more than half our games," says junior Nataley Romo. Strauss has seen a definite positive change in the girls compared to last year.
    "I'm excited. They're getting along better and have a better attitude." Being moved into the C.B.L doesn't intimidate the girls or the coach but rather stimulates their confidence with competing with new schools.
    "It's tough," says Strauss, "I would have wanted to stay in the San Andreas League a little bit longer but I'm looking forward to the challenge." Schools they are looking forward to contending are Yucaipa, Redlands East Valley, and Rialto. They varsity volleyball team has a few returning players but still works together as a successful family unit even through conditioning.
    "It was hot, long, and difficult but we got into shape," says Romo.
    "Next year conditioning will be harder," says Strauss. Two returning players are captains for the varsity team; junior Sarah Vasquez and senior Dianne Lopez. "I want to win more than we did last year and I want our team to try harder," says Vasquez.
    "We got a whole team of girls who are key," says Strauss, " and they all have improved a lot."

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Cross Country trains all summer; hopes to improve
Alyssa Isgett
9-23-04
Don't you just love sleeping in over summer vacation; you know, sleeping in 'til noon and relaxing all day? Well, as students of Colton High were sleeping in, the Cross Country team was up bright and early ready to run.
    For the school year, junior co-captain Chad Bryant, expects the team to do extremely well. Coach Karen Lazarus, along with Varsity senior co-captains Mario Alvarez and junior Chad Bryant have been working hard since the beginning of summer to get in shape to be ready for this season. An expectation for this year is to have each runner place his or her own personal records. "To be a successful runner, you must have diligence, you won't quit on the first day. You have to have a lot of endurance and be able to fight through the pain," says Bryant. He continued to say, "conditioning went well. It was tough at times, but still good. All Varsity players are returning and we will defiantly do good this year because we have an older team."
    For their September 14th meet against REV, the Varsity boys ran hard. Although a REV student placed first, senior Mario Alvarez came in second with a time of 16.53. Senior JJ Ramirez placed sixth with a time of 17.18. Junior Chad Bryant, came in ninth with a time of 18.23. Senior Eric Martinez placed eleventh with a time of 18.53 and with a time 18.56 senior Gilbert Hernandez finished twelvth. Freshman Adrian Jaurigue finished with a time of 22.30 and freshman Erick Gonzales finished with a time of 22.32.
    Their next meet is Saturday at Dana Hills. The time is to be announced. Their next home meet is Wednesday, September 29 at Colton against Yucaipa at 3:15.

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