Executive Action Benefits SEHS students

On November 20, 2014, in front of millions of television viewers Obama announced the changes to the immigration system through an executive action. This act stipulated that parents of citizen children will be able to finally remain in the U.S. for a determined amount of time legally, DACA (Differed Action for Childhood Arrival) students will be given more aid and support when studying careers in the STEM fields, and a higher priority will be placed on reinforcing borders than deporting immigrants.        

​            Not only will it give students the confidence to apply to out of state schools, but most DACA students will find more motivation in becoming engaged in the science, engineering, technology, and mathematics fields. “Many students are afraid to apply to out of state schools, because they feel the need to monetarily support their parents. Hence, they are constrained to work,” Bry Smith, Counselor from College Corps said.
      

​Despite some students not benefiting from the executive order such as Katherine Pena, senior in the Business, Leadership, and Innovation small school who can neither become a DACA student nor can her parents qualify for this action; she still does not lose hope. “I have faith that one day Obama will a comprehensive reform to all students,” Pena said.
      ​Nevertheless, some of the students’ parents will be able to reap benefits. “I am so excited for my mother, we have both have been waiting a long time for this moment,” Danny Carranza, freshman from the Tech & Media Magnet said. Thus, many students such as Carranza will have less fear in
endeavor into new experiences outside of California.

LAUSD's Mysterious Policy

For many when we see a worker that speaks Spanish we begin to speak because it is our native language. Therefore, the English-Only Policy in cafeterias is irrelevant to primarily all the student body.

Is the district blind or something? Only 76% of the students in LAUSD are Hispanic (Oh so they may say), as it is reported in their 2011- 2012 LAUSD Fingertip Facts report. Therefore, students in primarily all of the LAUSD face the same fleeting reality, a Hispanic the majority of the time will be next to them (which is not a bad thing) but it means that in one way or another they are exposed to the Hispanic culture. What this means (if they already don’t know) is that it is rubbish to say this policy ensures a student’s safety, in terms of the non-speaking Spanish students being exposed to great danger. The district said in a statement, “In an emergency situation in a busy kitchen are where and it trying to communicate ‘hot food’ or a similar warning it is suggested that theses phrases are spoken in English for the benefit of everyone working in the kitchen and cafeteria area,” luckily most bilingual students are always willing to translate and well the district is so smart to print out instructions in English (WOW that is so GENIUS!).

An even more pressing problem is the fact that a Cafeteria Worker would not be able to communicate with a student who does not speak English. What is a student supposed to do then? Sadly there are no Spanish labels and if the workers are unable to speak to the student in Spanish than they will be sued. They should consider ALL of their students before making decisions.

The Evoution of Homecoming

Change is inevitable, unstoppable, and the factor that makes every year fresh. This year’s homecoming dance serves as a reminder of evolution, where students continually welcome a bright new school year.
    This year the leadership students added a twist to the traditional homecoming dance as they opted for a Sadie Hawkins style dance, which is when girls ask guys to be their dates.  Robert Garcia, a Tech & Media Magnet senior said, “Some guys felt sad because they did not have the luck to be asked out,” while girls felt empowered as they chose the guy whom they wanted to go with.
    Many of the girls added creative twists to proposals, while some created their proposal based on the sport that their potential date play, other girls opted for other ways. For instance, one of the girls decided to write their proposal on a baseball, while other girls decided to ask their potential date in a more traditional way. Pedro de Anda, a sophomore from the Tech & Media Magnet was asked out with a poster that said, “Want to book homecoming with me?” Either way this was completely different to the way that homecoming was when the school had their first dance.   
    This year’s homecoming theme was Under the Sea, selected by the leadership class. All in all the leadership produced a homecoming dance that was a combination of conservative style and fun, filled with memorable moments. This year’s attendants had a variety of opinions, Carlos Lopez, a senior from the Law and Justice small school, said that it was “the best experience of my life”.
However, senior from the Health and Environmental small school Yocelyn Ruiz said, “It could have been better.” One of the main ideas that Garcia, Ruiz, and Lopez definitely agree on is the fact that leadership could have chosen a better DJ.
    In comparison to the school’s first homecoming dance, this year’s homecoming was definitely something else. Not only was the first theme different, but the trends, fashions, and hairstyles were too. One of the visible contrasts that Yocelyn Ruiz noticed was in the attire. She said, “Before girls used to dress fancier.” She wore “a black dress and golden strapped sandals.” On the other hand there was a combination of formality and informality.  De Anda said, “I wore a black button-up and black slacks and a blue bow tie.” As opposed to De Anda, Garcia said, “I was told to go casual so I wore jeans and a checkered shirt.”
    The school’s first theme was a 50’s theme. Unlike this last theme the guys opted to wear suspenders, black pants, and their hair slicked back and some of the girls opted for poodle skirts with the intention their homecoming theme, though the homecoming queen did not follow that trend. She wore a loose black dress to her knees, loose curls thatwent midway down her shoulders, and dangling earrings. While the prom king opted for a black suit, white button-up t-shirt and a grey tie with squares. To compliment their 50’s style dance the DJ also made sure to play the ultimate hits of the generation.
    A contrast can be observed from the styles adapted of what know seems like a decade ago to present
times.

Free as a Butterfly

Tragedy struck on September 30, 2011 when then senior; Cindi Santana was fatally wounded by her ex-boyfriend. “It all happened really quickly, it felt like a second,” said Mrs. Flores, Assistant Principal.

As the last class who was actually present during the incident prepares to graduate, the picture of such a cloudy and sad day still remains embedded in their mind. Senior in the Tech & Media Magnet Jason Fuentes recollects this day as “surreal” as he was present when the incident occurred. Others who were also there such as Angel Martinez, senior from the Visual and Performing Arts small school said, “I thought he was just punching her,” he said he was with his “friends and [were] sitting down in the grass by the area were it occurred.”

 Although some students who were not present felt the gravity of the incident such as Julissa Felix, senior from the Health, Science and Environment Small School said, “Why is lunch ending early? I was mad” and later once the news spread that Santana had died she said, “I was just shocked.” These are just a few of the memories that people have of the day.

There will never be enough words to capture the mood that was present throughout the school; a piece of South East had been torn away and never mended. Though one thing is undeniable; Cindi Santana will always remain in the hearts of the seniors who were beginning to start their journey through high school when the this tragedy struck.

One of the most beautiful creatures starts as a cocoon, blossoms into a butterfly, and later flies. Cindi Santana was a cocoon, which transformed into a beautiful butterfly that took her journey up to heaven.

            Daughter of Margarita Meza and sister of Janet Duran Santana, Cindi Santana was a lovely teenager whose lifetime was cut short on earth.  The memories she created and the people she brightened with her lovely smile will forever remain vivid in their minds. One of her friends, Arlene Rivera said, “She was such an outgoing and intelligent girl that had her future planned ahead of her.” She remembers her as a “super sweet” girl who “always seemed to be there for others.”

She loved the simple details of life such as, “spending time with her mother, [hanging] out with her sister and friends, specially going to Zogos Burgers,” said Duran Santana. Additionally, she had a passion for reading and beauty as she loved to watch make up tutorials.

Duran Santana said, “Cindi loved the idea of being able to help others in need!” Furthermore, Santana like others student had high hopes for life after high school. Duran Santana said, “She wanted to become a doctor.” Cindi Santana will always be remembered by her strength and resilience to continue seeking the brighter portion of life, though it was terminated abruptly.

Over three years have passed and yet the school has not recuperated from this atrocity. Ms. Baragan, government and leadership teacher said, “Ever since [that day] the school spirit has gone down.” 

Not only has the school spirit gone down but as Fuentes said, “I am glad that everyone who experienced the incident has left, because they all held painful memories.”

In order to promote a healthier and more stable environment Baragan and the leadership students organized “Keep the Peace Week” where students pledged to non-violence for the rest of the year. Additionally, the Cindi Santana scholarship every year is awarded to students. It is now the time for the school to close this chapter of its story and leave the history of such a day in the past where it belongs, but continue to honor the person who Cindi Santana was, and all that she has come to represent.