Vol. 9, No. 1
North News
Clovis North Educational Center
CN student Pooja Heragu starts
Domestic Violence Awareness Club
By Armaan Salahuddin
For CN junior Pooja Heragu, a simple
volunteering job blossomed into a full time
commitment. It all started this year when
she decided to volunteer at the Marjaree
Mason Center in downtown Fresno. While
working there, Pooja learned
about the effects domestic violence has on kids and adults
alike. Inspired, she recently
started a club that focuses on
spreading awareness of domestic violence.
In this club, Heragu emphasizes how some people
don’t know they’re being
abused and others put up with
it, thinking they deserve this
kind of treatment. It also has
an effect on kids – many children who witness domestic violence become traumatized for life. “I wanted to do
something more original, something that I
cared about,” Heragu claims. These littleknown realities sparked Heragu’s determi-
nation in stopping the violence.
This summer, Heragu raised $4,411 for
the Marjaree Mason Center and her club.
Because of her substantial initiative, she
was sponsored for three years, but she has
to prove this club will make a difference
in the world of domestic violence. Determined, Heragu is trying
harder than ever to promote her club.
As for now, Heragu received hopeful news – she
has received the Citizen’s
Award by Clovis Chief of
Police Matthew Basgall.
“I am in complete shock,”
Pooja states. “I am so
happy, honestly, because
I never thought this would
happen.”
All in all, Heragu’s dedication and hard
work have proven to have a successful outcome. But she isn’t done yet. “It motivates
me to make my club even better because I
have to live up to that honor. I still have a
lot of responsibility on my shoulders.”
Constant Interruptions
improv team takes the stage
By Natalia Covish
The Constant Interruptions improv team
will be performing at 7:30 in the drama
room (Rm 702) on October 15. This group
of students has been working hard to prepare their best material to perform for us.
Improv is acting with no script or direct
lines. Drama director Joel Abels defines
improv as being “fun, spontaneous, and
not rehearsed.” Every Wednesday, this extra curricular crew practices with rehearsal
director Nick Haas on improving their
improv/acting skills. Even though improv
does not require any actual rehearsing, the
cast is willing to put full effort into trying
their best to improve. All of the members
are working together to become stronger as
a whole.
Abels says that if you are willing to
take on improv, you must have two main
qualities: you need to have an open mind in
order to get out of your comfort zone and
do something that you are maybe not used
to doing. Also, you will need to be able to
work in a group with people who you may
not know, and be willing to take on any
challenges.
September 2016
Fresno Fair
showcases
CNEC artwork
By Carina Tokatian
With the upcoming annual Fresno Fair
on October 5-16, CNEC art students look
forward
to
the exhibition
and judging
of their artwork.
The
artwork from
CNEC students
will
include phot o g r a p h y,
both classic
(original) and
altered (edited), ceramics
(one pot and
nine sculpCeramic mask by Audrey Lee. tures), and 2D
art
ranging
from drawings to paintings which will all
be showcased in the junior exhibit building
at the fair.
The artwork being presented is created
by seventh through twelfth grade students.
However, the artwork is from last year’s
students and was actually previously displayed last spring at the CUSD District
See FRESNO FAIR, Page 4
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Page 2
Editorials
How do altered Choose to face your day
appearances
with positive attitude
impact society?
Altering one’s looks through the use of
makeup has been around for at least 6,000
years, but has it improved or corrupted society? As society’s standards have evolved
and changed, so have the thoughts of people. The beauty standards have risen, and
some people have even begun to edit their
looks digitally. Some girls wear makeup
because they want to express themselves,
or they feel confident wearing it. On the
other hand, some girls wear makeup out
of peer pressure, or because they want to
impress other people. We at CNEC believe
that girls should only wear makeup if it is
solely for themselves.
Makeup has created an unrealistic vision
of how girls and boys should look. As a
result, recent studies show that over 70%
of girls ages 15-17 avoid attending school
because they feel ashamed of their appearance and 44% of women feel unattractive
without makeup. This is caused by the impossibly high beauty standards makeup and
editing apps have set. GR student Manal
Sultan stated that she is fine with makeup
“if you’re doing it for yourself and not for
other people.”
Makeup isn’t the only thing that causes
insecurity. Body editing apps have also
contributed to ridiculously high beauty
standards. The 26-year old computer app
Photoshop is used for magazines, and
sometimes to “touch up” pictures on social
media, including celebrities. It may seem
harmless, but it can have dangerous effects on growing teens. Photoshop causes
men and women around the world to feel
unsatisfied with their bodies because of
these “touch ups.” The majority of men and
women believe that their significant other
or female/male friends look fine with or
without touch ups.
The pressure from society to look a certain way can have detrimental effects on
self images. If you want to wear makeup,
make sure you are doing it for yourself
and not others and that you are not hiding
behind the makeup or face editing apps.
Sometimes you can be your toughest critic.
Every day, we choose to either tackle our
problems with a positive or a negative attitude. Everyone has his or her bad days, and
there are times when it is very difficult to
stay positive. However, it is very important
to maintain a positive attitude despite what
you may be going through. Choosing to approach your day with
a positive attitude is
imperative, as your attitude has significant
effects on your overall health. According
to school psychologist
Kris Lachs, “Thoughts
affect how you go
about your day.” You
are more likely to have
a better day if you keep
positive thoughts. In
this way, a positive attitude benefits your mental and emotional health. In addition, positivity can strengthen your physical health.
When dealing with stress and everyday
problems, thinking negatively can aggravate your troubles. This buildup of worry
and tension can cause headaches, stomach
aches, and sleeping problems.
So how can you deal with your problems
in a positive and healthy way? School psychologists Kris Lachs, Elizabeth Davies,
and Denise Segal recommend getting plenty of rest, eating healthy meals, exercising
regularly, having an outlet, and getting involved in things that interest you. Finally,
spending time with family and having
time for yourself is more important to your
happiness and well-being than you might
think. Though we all have crazy schedules,
having a balanced
life is important in
maintaining a positive attitude.
What might a
negative way of
dealing with your
problems look like?
Regularly consuming energy drinks/
sugars
for
the
“high’ is a bad habit, as they can cause
a “crash” and speed
your heart. This means that while you may
be feeling great one minute, once the feeling wears off, you may be feeling very low
or depressed. They also advise students to
limit their screen time on TV, phones, etc.
Lastly, turning to drugs and/or alcohol is
not a solution to your problems; in fact, it
See POSTIVE ATTITUDE, Page 3
North News Staff
Editor in Chief: Amy Zaninovich
News Editor: Carina Tokatian
News Staff:
Natalia Covish, Nandana Jayasankar, Armaan Salahuddin, Iris Wang
Editorials Editor: Julianna Rios
Editorial Staff:
Aidan Daher, Kennedy Ma, Joann Moon, Laci Poindexter
Features Editor: Gracyn Torigian
Features Staff:
Breanna Bernhardt, Hayden Lusk, Erin Miller, Daniel Wang,
Sports Editor: Gracie Webb
Sports Staff:
Hannah Carstens, Lilian Chen, Lindsay Mason
Features
Page 3
New activities directors
make for new traditions
By Erin Miller
preforming arts, and athletic events,” he
CN and GR are starting off the new says.
Michael Williamson is very excited to be
school year with new activities directors.
Carlos Zuniga and Michael Williamson the new GR Activities Director and wants
to make new tradiare excited to get
tions for GR as well
students more inas carrying on with
volved at school
the older traditions.
and start new tradiWilliamson wants
tions for our camto make GR have
pus. Zuniga, who
its own traditions
is now the CN Acapart from CN. An
tivities
Director,
example would be
has been working
having a student
at CNEC since it
section for GR
opened in 2007. He
football games and
has been a coach
giving out shirts
for multiple sports
for the first 75 stuincluding
track,
dents. He wants to
basketball, soccer,
have GR do their
and cross country,
own unique things
along with being
Michael Williamson and Carlos Zuniga.
to encourage stuan AB teacher and
dent involvement
the high school
peer counseling advisor. Before CNEC, and participation. Williamson said that beZuniga was a Copper Hills fifth grade ing an activities director had always been a
teacher for nine years. Zuniga says that he goal of his. He says that CNEC is a great
really wants to get more students involved spot to be an activities director, and that it
and wants the kids to be able to really get has a phenomenal campus. Before coming
the “high school experience,” like going to to CNEC, Williamson was a fourth grade
football games and participating in sports. teacher at Woods Elementary along with
Zuniga decided to become the Activities coaching baseball, cross country, and being
Director because he was familiar with the the robotics coordinator.
CNEC is glad to have enthusiastic memschool and students and he knew he needed
to take the next step in his career. “The bers of our activities staff and are eager to
perk of the job is to watch students and see what they come up with for new tradistaff actively participate in the classroom, tions.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Continued from Page 2
only exacerbates your difficulties and, in
the long run, can deteriorate your health.
Positive attitudes can help significantly
with getting through the day, but sometimes they may not be enough. If you are
having a pattern of bad days, it is major to
not ignore your feelings. If you tell yourself today is going to be a great day, but
you feel as though your problems are never
resolved or if you feel depressed, it is a
good idea to confide in someone. Also, if
you have thoughts of harming yourself, it
is essential that you seek help. If you need
serious attention, speaking with a school
psychologist or therapist are other resources that you can depend on.
Dealing with bad days in a positive fashion is crucial. Whether it be by engaging in
healthy activities or telling yourself that the
day will be fantastic, being positive even in
the face of your problems is beneficial and
is important to your overall well-being.
Miss Peregrine
delivers fantasy
and thrills
By Breanna Bernhardt
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar
Children is a new movie based on the trilogy of books written by Ransom Riggs.
The books Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City, and Library
of Soul were originally written because the
author traveled to London and found pictures of peculiar children and wrote the
books based on these pictures. The director
of this movie is Tim Burton, known for The
Nightmare Before Christmas. It stars Ella
Purnell, Eva Green, and Asa Butterfield.
The trilogy is about a boy named Jacob
who discovers clues to a mystery that spans
different worlds and times creating a place
of mystery that makes him eager to explore. This trilogy starts out with a family
tragedy, which sends teenager Jacob into a
lost state and then journeying to a mysterious island, where he finds the rotting ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar
Children.
As Jacob explores the abandoned orphanage he becomes aware that these children are more than just peculiar, they also
could be dangerous. Jacob and the peculiar
children may have been put on this uninhabited island for a good reason and Jacob
intends to stay and find out the secrets of
this island. In some way the peculiar children may even still be alive but just defying all laws of human nature in the process,
but Jacob must find out what is so peculiar
about him.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar
Children, released on September 30, will
entertain teens, adults, and anyone who
desires fantasy and thrilling tales of truly
strange and peculiar children.
Page 4
CN football
gains new coach
By Lindsay Mason
CN head football coach Casey Quinn is
a dedicated and committed coach. He has
coached football for 21 years, and this is
his eighth year being a head coach. He’s
coached at Clovis West, Central High
School, Roosevelt High School, Reedley College, and Chavez High School in
Stockton.
Along with football, Quinn has coached
track, men’s and women’s basketball, and
baseball. He enjoys coaching
football because
“it teaches the
values and skills
that will promote success in
the classroom
and in life.” He
started to coach
football because
his coaches created a family atmosphere.
“I was being loved, supported, and challenged each day,” he says.
Quinn says he plans to “get our kids to
compete in every game and in the classroom” and “to establish a relationship with
everyone on campus.” Quinn decided to
coach at CN because of the support of the
school administration. “I plan on being a
Bronco until I’m done coaching,” he stated, and he plans to coach for many more
years.
Sports
New coach leads CN girls’ volleyball
By Gracie Webb
Driven Volleyball Challenge” on SeptemThe CN girls’ varsity volleyball team ber 23-24.
Herb has been involved with coaching
has started off with an overall current prevolleyball
for about 16 years, serving as a
season record of 13-8. As the new varsity
boys’
varsity
coach, girls’ assistant coach,
head coach, CNEC teacher Travis Herb
and a club director. Herb
hopes to keep a solid reshares that he sees dedicord throughout league
cation and commitment
and for the girls to play
from the team, whether
to their fullest potential
it’s to the game or to one
while having a good exanother. To further develperience.
op a more comprehensive
On September 9-10,
volleyball program here
the team participated in
at CN, Herb and the team
a tournament at San Luis
are reaching out to the
Obispo, finishing ninth
feeder schools by helping
out of 40 teams with a
coach practices and hostrecord of 3-2. Herb mening an elementary tourtions that the girls had a
nament. Herb believes
win over league competithat being involved with
tor Buchanan while at the
tournament. According Marina Gonzalez Dakota Stephany the feeder schools will
have “a great effect years
to Herb, all league teams
block the ball.
down” and that a successthis year are very equal
ful
season
relies
on players, coaches, parand there will be no “easy wins.” CNGVB
ents,
and
the
student
body “buying into the
competed against teams from up and down
goals
and
values
of
the
program.”
the state while CN hosted their own “Hard
CN XC team aims for top
By Lilian Chen
The CN cross country team is starting
this year strongly, using intelligent tactics
to train themselves not only physically, but
mentally too, for upcoming meets. Coach
Jason Lienau says, “I run with them, do in-
FRESNO FAIR
Continued from Page 1
Office. Former senior Naser Khader’s photograph received Best of Show out of all
CUSD photography students at the district
art show.
The rating system basically rates each
piece with first, second, and third place
awards based on each category. GR art
teacher Monica Morandi believes that it’s
not too difficult to place as it really depends
on how many exhibits are in that particular
category. However, Morandi acknowledges how great of an achievement it is for students’ artwork to be submitted as she states,
“I hope that they all just see their artwork
displayed,” recalling having to choose ten
pieces out of her two hundred students.
Photography teacher Travis Herb also
shares high hopes for his students as he
claims, “We usually do pretty well usually
getting half [of CN students] first place
prizes.” Ceramics teacher Travis Mills,
having seven of his ten students win first
place last year, explains, “I approach art
not as a huge competitive thing,” and underscores how art is really about “getting
a chance to express your best quality of
work.”
spirational quotes, and give them rewards
for doing good things.” The CN team will
be hosting a meet in October called The
Twilight Invitational, where the CN team
and other high school cross country teams
run after the sun sets. The CN cross country team has no time to waste if they hope
to win at their home meet. Lienau states,
“They will have to overcome their lack of
confidence and begin to trust their training.
We try to be consistent in practice and push
each other to work in groups.”
Lienau’s plan to get his team to the top
consists of “putting in a lot of miles, meeting on Saturdays, and doing team activities.” Lineau has high expectations for the
runners, wanting them to take top places in
league, valley, and state. CN cross country
girls hope to win another Valley Championsip and the boys team is thriving to as
well. This just might be possible, with a
combination of motivated, hardworking
athletes and an experienced coach.