Vol. 7, No. 2
North News
Clovis North Educational Center
Connecting through sports:
Special Olympians and BRONCZ
By Ani Abajian
The CNEC Special Olympians and
BRONCZ (Building Relationships Outside Of Comfort Zones) Club are significant programs that help special and general
education students connect through sports.
“The social environment of sports is something the kids can relate to as a common
ground,” says special education teacher
Roman Gonzalez.
The special education program at CNEC
has a large population, about 100 students.
The BRONCZ club also has many members, with 200+ people signing up, and an
average of 40-50 kids per meeting. The
Special Olympians and the BRONCZ meet
the first Thursday of every month in room
188, with, according to Gonzalez, a leader-
Remind is a new system in which teachers and staff can communicate to students
via text messages. CNEC principal Scott
Dille can send text messages to students,
parents, or teachers to inform them about
what’s coming up and other important information directly to their phones. Teachers too can send messages to students to
remind them about upcoming events. For
example, if there was a test coming up, the
teacher would send you a message to study.
However, recipients cannot reply back.
Remind 101, as it was called originally,
was first created by struggling student Brett
Kopf. His struggle with dyslexia and ADD
led to the idea and creation of Remind in
2012. Since then, many students, teachers, and parents have been using the app.
Dille came across this and started “play-
Bronco statue coming
to CNEC campus
By Lily Crook
ship team of five peers and five athletes.
The Special Olympians take part in
sports events throughout the year, such
as soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball,
track and field, bowling, tennis, and new
this year, bocce ball. CNEC hosts two of
these events, soccer and track and field.
The soccer tournament took place this October, and the track and field will be hosted
in the spring. Many general education students, as well as the BRONCZ, also help
with these events, such as Leadership, Peer
Counseling, Key Club, and even varsity
sports teams on campus.
The Special Olympians and BRONCZ
club work together to build unity between
general and special education students at
CNEC.
Stay in touch with Remind
By Lea Hernandez and Oliviana Oaks
November 2014
ing around with it.” He then realized that
it would be a great app to incorporate with
the school, and hoped that many students
would get involved with Remind. So far,
2,008 students, 697 parents, and 186 staff
members are using the Remind app. Dille
aims to get even more Bronco parents involved.
To set up Remind, ask your teacher for
the cell phone number and also ask for
the code. Once you send the code to that
number, it will ask for your full name or
you can complete signup on the website it
sends you. From then on you will receive
messages from your teacher about important upcoming information. To sign up,
parents can do the same thing, or get the
free app available on the app store and on
Androids.
A new 10 foot tall Bronco statue will
be gracing the front of CNEC, outside the
main office. The aluminum statue has been
made and paid for, but is being stored at
school pending CUSD architectural approval before its installation; it should be
in place and on display by the end of January. Though the statue has no dedication
planned for it as of now, principal Scott
Dille said, “I am looking forward to see it
up and in place.”
Inside
HaagenDazs ice
cream
now
available
at CNEC
Go to bronconorthnews.weebly.com to read more articles and share your opinion.
Page 2
Editorials
Typing: helpful or not?
Eating disorders: effects and recovery
Nowadays, technology plays a big role
in our lives. Times have changed, and laptops have now replaced a pencil and paper.
Should
more
technology be
continued to be
introduced into
student curriculum?
Schools are
now focusing
more on typing skills rather
than handwriting and practicing cursive. Handwriting
is only taught from kindergarten to second grade. From third grade on, the focus
changes to typing and computer skills.
Students need to develop typing skills, because, increasingly, assessments are on the
computer.
Some still feel that cursive should still be
practiced, and that it should be used more
frequently. It can also help dyslexic students, because they often have a difficult
time reading and writing. Writing stimulates cells at the base of the brain called
the Reticular Activating System (RAS).
Research shows that writing triggers RAS,
therefore you will remember things more
accurately, and perform better on tests and
exams. Many studies have also proven that
students learn better when writing things
down.
Many people think typing is better, since
you can get things done faster and it looks
more professional. A computer can also
check spelling and grammatical errors
while you are typing. Therefore, typing
will not engage the brain. Many middle
schools and high schools, like Granite
Ridge and Clovis North, use laptops for
much of their classes and homework.
All in all, handwriting has definite benefits for the brain, and should be used more
often. Even though studies and research
had proven all of this, many schools are
still continuing to add more technology
into student curriculum. Then again, typing
has not been around long enough for us to
know whether it is helping us or not. Will
there be even more typing – and even less
handwriting -- for students in the future?
We will have to see.
An eating disorder is an illness that
causes serious disturbances to your everyday eating habits. It can mean eating extremely tiny portions of food, overeating,
obsessively counting calories, or throwing
up after meals.
What causes an eating disorder? The
exact cause of an eating disorder is unknown, but it is known that concern about
body weight and size may lead to an eating
disorder. Low self-esteem, depression, or
stress can also lead to an eating disorder.
What are the most common kinds of eating disorders? Anorexia is a type of eating
disorder where one starves oneself by eating small portions of food. People who have
bulimia make themselves throw up after
every meal. Those with both anorexia and
bulimia try to use different actions to lose
weight and become thinner. Uncomfortable
emotions can cause the disorder binge eating, which is described as uncontrollable
overeating, in which people consume tons
of food and do not have the power to stop.
People who binge eat have no behaviors to
prevent weight gain.
What are the effects of an eating disorder? Eating disorders can have many life
threatening consequences. Anorexia can
cause your bones to become brittle (osteoporosis), muscle loss, and dehydration,
which can result in kidney failure, hair
loss, and a risk of heart failure. Bulimia can
cause tooth decay, electrolyte imbalances
that can lead to irregular heartbeats, gastric rupture, rupture of the esophagus, and
constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
Binge eating can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease,
type two diabetes, and gallbladder disease.
How can you get help? First, recovery
starts with admitting you have a problem
and asking for help. You can see a therapist or a specialist to help you with eating disorder treatments and recovery. One
can also discuss how the eating disorder
started, and any emotional effects from
the eating disorder. It might be embarrassing at first to discuss the disorder out
loud, but once recovery begins, there will
be no regrets about seeing a therapist or a
specialist. Then, you must learn to listen
to your body (is your body in pain?) and
how you feel; if you are in pain you should
see a doctor and address your health issues.
Finally, make a long-term treatment plan.
You, your therapist or doctor, and perhaps
family members will make up your eating
disorder treatment team, and you and your
team will make a long-term recovery plan
that will fit your needs.
Eating disorders can be very dangerous
and interrupt your body’s normal ability to function correctly. Those who have
eating disorders must first recognize that
they have a disorder, and secondly, understand they are not alone. There are many
professionals who are trained to help deal
with these illnesses, as well as their family members who may also help them deal
with the emotional aspect of the disorder.
North News Staff
Editor in Chief: Alex Scott
Assistant Editor: Amy Zaninovich
News Editor: Carina Tokatian
News Staff:
Ani Abajian, Lily Crook
Editorials Editor: Oliviana Oaks
Editorial Staff:
Lea Hernandez
Features Editor: Gracyn Torigian
Features Staff:
Jordan Cusator, Julianna Rios
Sports Editor: Gracie Webb
Sports Staff:
Justin Adams, Jacob Hall
Features
Teens bond in
Red Band Society
By Jordan Cusator
Page 3
Ebola has nation on alert
By Amy Zaninovich
Ebola, an infectious and generally fatal
disease has spread from West Africa to the
USA. It began when a Liberian man began
showing the symptoms four days after his
arrival in Dallas, Texas: nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, red eyes, rash, chest pain, cough,
stomach pain, severe weight loss, and
bleeding from eyes.
The US is taking precautions by isolating anyone who might have been exposed
to the patient if they start running a fever or
showing symptoms and is then further tested. Ebola is spread through direct contact
with body fluids, so anything from a cough
or to blood into another person’s eyes,
nose, or mouth may be transmitted. Also,
the virus can survive up to several hours on
surfaces (doorknobs, countertops), so any
object contaminated with a bodily fluid
may spread the disease. It can also survive
several days in puddles or other collections
of body fluids. Bleach solutions, however,
can kill it.
The symptoms begin about eight to 10
days after being exposed, but can be as late
as 21 days after exposure. This virus seems
at first very similar to the flu, showing signs
such as headaches, fever, aches and pains,
before taking a downhill turn. The epidemic grows faster than efforts to keep up with
it, making the virus difficult to contain.
Ebola is only contagious, however, when
patients start to show the symptoms.
Ways to try to prevent being exposed to
this disease is to wash your hands more
frequently and use soap wash and alcoholbased hand rubs/wipes, and avoid contact
with people who may be infected or are infected, and practice very careful hygiene.
Howells receives perfect score on ACT
By Carina Tokatian
Red Band Society is an engaging television series that takes a twist on The Fault
in Our Stars and Glee. It’s a comedy-drama
that focuses on a group of unlikely friends
living together in a hospital’s pediatric
ward. The patients each have their own
story to tell that only they can share.
In this series, kids are living at Ocean
Park Hospital with different illnesses and
challenges to face. Some of the illnesses
that these patients have can lead to death.
The teenagers that are thriving for a chance
to live a full life have all grown together as
a family in the most unlikely time.
Some of the actors and actresses appearing in the series are Griffin Gluck, Dave
Annable, Nolan Sotillo, Charlie Rowe,
Ciara Bravo, Astor, Zoe Levin, and Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer. The
characters have distinctive personalities.
Whether they are mean, nice, or a bit of
both, they are all an important part of the
show.
At the end of the day at Ocean Park
Hospital, everyone always has a unique
adventure to be told. Bonding these teens
together are the critical conditions that can
mean the difference between life and death.
To cap off his time at CN, senior Spencer Howells received a perfect score on the
ACT, an achievement test in which students are tested in English, mathematics,
science, reading, and an optional writing
test. Only 1% of students taking the ACT
yearly achieve that feat. Howells dominated the test, receiving a perfect 36 on the
questions. However, it came as a surprise
for him, as he didn't study and forgot to
bring his calculator on the test day. Also,
Howells suffered through some personal
hardship as his grandmother passed away
the day before the test. After learning his
score he stated, “Initially, I was shocked.”
Howells has been active in school activities, participating in tennis since 9th grade
and has also played soccer. Additionally, he
has been playing piano for the last 10 years.
Howells plans to major in either math or
physics and join one of the Ivy League
schools. He claims, “My dream job is to be
a college professor.”
Howells also has the goal to start a prep
class for people who scored highly on any
standardized test such as the PSAT or ACT
to study and work together. He states that
his parents have encouraged him to achieve
his goals. “They inspired me and nurtured
an intellectual drive to choose my direction.”
Student Store features new options
By Ani Abajian
The CNEC Student Store has improved
its quality and options from last year. For
example, new choices include Skittles,
Sour Patch, spicy beef jerky, and now also
includes Häagen-Dazs ice cream. These
extra items are only available after school.
As many have noticed, Gummy Bears
have not been for sale in the Student Store
this year, due to new health requirements.
Gummy Bears have an excess amount of
fat and sugar in them, and will be brought
back when these components are reduced.
“The standards have changed,” said Student Store supervisor Tara Ross.
Leadership students also assist Ross in
the store for community service hours. The
store is open during lunch and after school
until 3:15. It is located across from the Activities Office in between the CN and GR
sides of CNEC.
Sports
Page 4
Girls’ varsity Simons: CN football hopeful for
volleyball team valley championship
works together
as ‘family’
By Justin Adams
As the football season is coming along,
the team is looking great. Coach Tim Simons says team goals don’t particularly
Simons. The big defensive lineman Daniel
has verbally committed to the prestigious
USC and will play in the high school AllAmerican game this January.
By Jacob Hall
The CN girls’ varsity volleyball team
has currently won 19 games and lost only
three. Head coach Brittany Henderson, in
her second year at CN, says that her players
have improved this year on being focused
and coming together as a team.
Henderson describes her team as “ladies of high character,” who take pride in
academics and in their performance on the
court. She says that all of her players are
good teammates.
In a volleyball player, Henderson looks
for someone who is committed, has a good
work ethic, and always does the right thing.
She describes the volleyball program as “a
group of hard working individuals who
have come together as a family.”
Henderson’s future goal for her team
is that they will get better every day. She
also hopes to accomplish goals like winning valley, TRAC, and then going on to
state. “We all want each other to succeed,”
Henderson said. ”We support each other
100%.” The CN girls’ varsity volleyball
team, as described by Henderson, is a team
of hard working, talented ladies who display great character.
Photo courtesy of Sportswurlz
Bolu Olorunfunmi stiff-arms a Central defensive back in a 41-15 victory over the Grizzlies.
vary season to season: “Our main goal is
the same as every year… to win the valley
championship.” The games have produced
some physical issues with players that
prove the team is willing to fight and compete with the opposition. “Noruwa Obanor
suffered a severe injury in game four and
won’t play anymore this season. Another
one, Jacob Daniel, has only played in one
full game because of injury issues,” added
North is on a three-game winning streak
heading into a game vs. Clovis High this
Friday. Simons said, “We are currently first
place in the TRAC.” With the majority of
games in the W column this season, the
team is looking better than ever and should
have a good shot at achieving the goal of
being valley champions.
stoppable in all categories of skill. Teamwork, sportsmanship, and drive are all
qualities that are exemplified by these girls.
According to head coach Micha Pavlovic,
one of the team’s biggest strengths is definitely the relationship the players have with
one another. Also, with ten senior players,
the team is complete with plenty of experience. One of Pavlovic’s biggest goals he
has set for the team is to win the Valley
Championships.
As far as team expectations go, Pavlovic explains that he wants practices to be
tougher than games. That way, it becomes
easier to stay focused when it comes down
to a crucial time of a game. He also adds
that the girls showcase intensity and all
understand the same goals. As the season
progressed, Pavlovic noticed outstanding
improvement. The players began to understand and learn more about each other as
they experienced ups and downs. Another
improvement was the motivation that they
found during critical moments in games.
Consequently, these powerful skills and
team bonding generates one massive threat
to any challenger they face.
Girls’ varsity water polo shows enthusiasm, determination
By Gracie Webb
The CN girls’ varsity water polo team
has had an extremely successful season so
far. With a record of 19-7, these players together are tough competition. The team has
participated in varsity tournaments such as
the Central Valley Water Polo Tournament,
where they placed third, the Chuck McCollum Tournament, coming in first place,
and the Western States Tournament, taking
fourth place.
With great enthusiasm and strong determination, this team has proven to be un-