Seniors partying it up at Club 300

And because it was our last one, we seniors celebrated the night like no other.

I remember looking forward to the dance, and feeling pressured to go all out. Prior to the big day, weeks of planning, stress, and drama ensued. This meant limos, dates, fancy restaurants, a big group of friends to go with, and lots of pictures. Already, money was a huge problem, and not having a date was the end of our lives. Things go from bad to worse as my ideal senior plans for Homecoming were ruined. With all of this stress, why even bother going?

Because it’s senior year. During those moments of stress, the fact that it’s the last Homecoming dance is what’s been keeping many of the seniors’ heads up to get through it all. Was it worth it? That’s what I kept telling myself. In the end, I was right.

I ended up not going in a big limo. Instead of going with an exaggerated group of fifty people, I went with five of my closest friends. When we got out of the car in the Anaheim Garden Parking Structure, it really did feel like our dance’s theme, “A Night on the Town”. We arrived early and felt like we were VIP; taking red carpet photos made us feel like celebrities. Inside, we immediately saw about ten large screens that advertised the dance. The lights from the bowling lanes, however, drew us towards them and we went bowling first.

We bowled for a bit, but eventually hit the dance floor. This was probably the first time in a long time that the DJ did not fail us. There wasn\’t an explosion of repetitive house music and the remixes were justified to its original songs. I was also very impressed that the DJ even played some top 40′s songs from the past.

The speakers pumped out music  the whole night, and we danced under the dimmed colored lights. Multiple times, when the DJ called out to “the Class of 2012”, we seniors cheered and celebrated as we realized that it was our very last Homecoming dance. I remember when my heart skipped a beat whenever the DJ called out to us because I realized that I\’ve been waiting him to say that since freshmen year.

The dance ended, and we all walked (or danced) out of the dance floor to a remix of “Dancing in the Dark” by Dev. And when it was all over, I definitely did not regret going to Homecoming. All of the stress from the past few weeks were worth it as senior year started out with one of the greatest dances hosted by FVHS.

From a senior perspective, Homecoming was a huge success. It was night full of memories that I will never forget and one of the few highlights of my high school experience.

image courtesy of AlaaShaker WordPress

Every year, seniors aren’t assigned to lockers. They either have to sign up for one and be wait-listed until the office assigns them to one or they don’t get one at all. This year, I have had first hand experience with this massive inconvenience.  Has the school forgotten that we seniors are still here and deserve the locker rights bestowed upon our lower class men?  Do they know that we still have textbooks to carry? Very large and heavy textbooks.

We seniors need lockers to take care of our books and keep them in good condition.  Without a locker, our books are in danger of being destroyed by the elements.  We don’t  want to see a notice asking us to pay an $80 dollar fee because the textbook got soaked from the rain, the cover got dried up over a few months, and the it now has that wrinkly, flaky texture like a skin of an octogenarian. Textbooks are our friends and we would want what’s best for them but there’s no locker to safeguard these precious goods.

A locker is a great place for students to put things that they don’t need for their next period and can come back to get what they need for another period. Who wants to bring 3 textbooks at the same time for every period? Carrying heavy objects causes us to have a bad back and same goes for carrying everything in our backpacks. We may be young and assumed that it won’t affect us, but I can tell you that we feel pain like everyone else.

Seniors will feel safe once they place their beloved textbooks in their lockers knowing that their books and backs will be protected from any type of danger.  It’s our last year on campus, and I believe that all students should receive lockers, but with budget cuts, I realize this is not possible.  Not to single out Freshmen, but with harder classes (which are taken almost exclusively by upper class men), come heavier textbooks.  We should be given the higher priority.

Once a year, dozens of parent volunteers descend upon Fountain Valley High School, transforming the gym and surrounding area into something surreal. Hundreds of seniors flock to the site to see the amazing metamorphosis and take part in the endless festivities. On this coming June 16th, the legendary 23rd annual Grad Knight party will be hosted at FVHS after senior graduation, from 8:30 at night to 5:00 in the morning. We interviewed Marissa Demes, president of the Grad Knight committee to get a preview of what you can expect to see at this magnificent event.

What can you expect to see at Grad Knight? “It’s better than Disneyland” says Demes. She tells us that there will be bungee jumping, photo booths, carnival booths, Rock Band, a hypnotist, temporary tattoo artists, and a fortune teller. And that’s just scratching the surface.

There’s a money booth where you stand in a glass box while fans blow dollar bills all around you. “You actually get to go in and grab money, and you get to keep any money you grab.”

“We turn half your gym into a casino; we take the other half and it’s a castle.”

“We take the whole cafeteria and turn it into a laser-tag obstacle course, and the winner gets a prize.”

Demes also tells us that there will be a go-cart course where you can race your friends.

Of course, what would a party be without good-eats? When it comes to the grub, Grad Knight’s got you covered. We are told that there will be an inconceivable amount of food, including pizza, In ‘n Out Burger, smoothies, and mocha coffees “to keep you guys awake,” says Demes. “We’re trying to get a hold of a taco man.”

If you were planning to go out to eat after graduation, then you might want to consider a change of plans. “If you want to go out to dinner, it’s best to go after Baccalaureate.”

Grad Knight is also known for having ridiculously lavish prizes. Ringing up at well over $20,000 worth, prizes include three Wii consoles, a trip to Hawaii, a trip to Cabo, concert tickets to the Warp Tour, four laptops, an iPod touch, a kayak, and multiple cash prizes. Tickets are earned at the various activities and are deposited in raffle boxes under the prize of your choice.

At 3 am, everything shuts down and all the students go to the bowl to be served breakfast. There, raffle tickets will be drawn, and prizes will be picked.

The event is a lockdown, so once you get there, the only way you’ll be leaving is if your parents come and get you. Not that you’ll want to leave, anyway. The committee would also like to ask you not to bring any electronics, including cell phones and mp3 players. They’re too valuable to loose or break, and you’ll be provided all your entertainment needs anyway.

Many seniors are worried that the ticket price is too expensive. Demes asks you to consider this: “”All of our prize packages range from $200 to $1000, and we have over 40 prizes. Someone could win [their ticket money] back, literally.”

FVHS takes pride in it’s Grad Knight, which many consider to be the biggest and best in the district. “There were too many kids where after graduation they would go out and party and get drunk, and so we wanted you guys to have a safe and sober place where you guys could all be with your friends and celebrate your four years.”

Unfortunately, the Grad Knight committee is low on volunteers this year. “We need the kids to ask their parents to come and support it. We’re a non-profit, parent-booster volunteer organization, so we need the parents to come out and help. And we don’t just need volunteers from the senior class, we also need it from the freshman/sophomore/junior class so that we can pass down the information.”

It’s a big job, and the seniors can’t have their party without the help of their parents. “We need volunteers June 11th through June 17th. June 11th to June 16th is set-up, and June 17th is take down.”

Mike Hutton, designer of the castle that gets built every year in the gym, tells us that getting volunteers for June 17th is especially important. “When everything is all done, everyone wants to just walk away and be done with it,” says Hutton.

The theme is “A Knight to Remember”. Tickets are $120, and applications are available in the activities office and online. You can contact Marissa Demes at (714) 848-2068 or at marissa.d.demes@citi.com. For more information go to the Grad Night page at http://ecs.fvhs.com/dsp.org.cfm?uid=429.

Sabrina Syed

Baron Banner: How does it feel to be a Senior of the Month?

Sabrina Syed: It is definitely an honor. I feel so lucky to have been chosen and I truly appreciate it.

BB: What was your reaction when you found out?

SS: I was very surprised because I heard Faith\’s name first. Usually one boy and one girl are chosen each month, so I expected the other Senior of the Month to be a guy. When I heard my name called after Faith’s, I was stunned.

BB: What classes are you currently taking?

SS: My schedule is pretty intense this year. I have AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Economics/Government, AP 2D Design, AP Spanish 5, and AP English 4.

BB: Wow! That\’s a lot of AP classes you have. How in the world are you managing everything?

SS: (Laughs) Well, I get a lot less sleep and I have to cut back on a lot of my activities and hobbies.

BB: What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

SS: I am a part of the Baron Banner, Model United Nations, the California Scholarship Federation and Working Wardrobes.

BB: What hobbies do you enjoy?

SS: I love to shop. I could shop all day if I had the time to.

BB: What are some things you do in your free time?

SS: (Laughs) Well, when I have free time, I hang out with my friends and family. I also love to read.

BB: What types of books do you enjoy reading?

SS: I enjoy practically every genre. I read all types of books –  from classics to science fiction.

BB: Do you have a major in mind yet?

SS: Yes, I plan on majoring in Biology. I hope to become a pediatrician one day.

BB: What universities would you like to attend?

SS: My dream school would be Stanford, but being able to attend either UCLA or USC would be amazing as well.

BB: Is senior year what you expected it to be?

SS: No, definitely not. Senior year is not as relaxing as I expected it to be. It\’s a lot of work because of college applications adding on to all my classes. I’ve heard the first semester is always stressful. I really hope it will get better second semester.

BB: Do you have any advice to give to the underclassmen?

SS: Get involved and don’t be afraid to try something new.  Listen to everyone who tells you to do only the things that you really love doing – don\’t follow anyone else’s dreams.

BB: Thank you for your time, Sabrina.

SS: No problem!

Faith Karson

Baron Banner:  How does it feel to be a Senior of the Month?

Faith Karson: It feels good. It truly is an honor. I\’m glad that I was chosen.

BB: What was your reaction when you found out?

FK: I was surprised because I didn\’t even hear my name. I found out when my classmates were clapping for me. (Laughs) But, I felt very happy to be recognized.

BB: What kind of classes are you currently taking?

FK: I am currently taking Economics, AP Statistics, AP Psychology, AP English 4, and AP Spanish 5.

BB: What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

FK: I am in the Pink Ribbon Club, American Red Cross, and Interact World Wide. I also was involved with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

BB: That\’s quite a lot of activities! Your classes are also very challenging. How are you managing everything?

FK: (Laughs) I honestly don\’t know. I just do it. I\’m stressed out all the time.

BB: Do you have any hobbies?

FK: Well, I love to sleep when I have the time. I need the sleep. I also like to travel a lot to different places.

BB: What are some things you do in your free time?

FK: (Laughs) I don\’t know. I don\’t have a lot of time.

BB: Do you have a major in mind yet?

FK: I have no idea what to major in just yet. I like Spanish though and I love Math. It\’s kind of dorky to say that, but I really do like math. It\’s my favorite subject.

BB: Is senior year what you expected it to be?

FK:  No. It is actually more difficult than junior year. Everything\’s more stressful this year. It\’s not as laid back as a lot of people say it is. I\’m trying my best to handle it right now.

BB: Do you have any advice to give to the underclassmen?

FK: (Laughs) Don\’t procrastinate! It’s a lot easier said than done and is definitely advice that I still need to follow.

BB: Thank you for your time, Faith.

FK: No problem and your welcome!

“History books tell us that the Coronet or small crown was used as early as the ninth cenutry as a “symbol of nobility.” Beginning with the fourteenth century the Barons wore the Coronet as a symbol of authority which they had achieved either through service to their country or by exceptional valor on the field of battle. The Coronet was worn only on significant occasions; consequently, as time passed, it was made from gold or silver and decorated with precious stones. The Coronet Award thus became the Baron\’s most prized and valuable possession.

The Coronet Award presented on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 is also a symbol of nobility, of it is the highest recognition that Fountain Valley High School can bestow upon a student. It has been attained through either outstanding achievement or service, or both. Some students have excelled in and are honored in more than one subject. However, a student may only win one Coronet Award in any given year. It is hoped that his Coronet Award will become their most prized and valuable possession.” – FVHS Coronet Award description

Congratulations to the 2009 Coronet Award Winners!

Publications
Victoria Yee

Business
Sabrina Solouki

Consumer and Family Studies
Tracy Jimenez

Foreign Language – French
Caitlin MacKenzie

Foreign Language – Japanese
Jacqueline Ho

Foreign Language – Spanish
Susie Toumanian

Vocal Music
Andrew Campos

Social Science
Luke Bonham

Instrumental Music
Richard Ludlow

Performing Units
Sophia Lam

Language Arts
Megan Garrity

School Service and Leadership
Jesse Dalton

Math
Anthony Pham

Theater Arts
Carisa Marino

Visual Arts
Rachel Meads
Kristin Stoyanova

Science
Sean Trinh

Girls Athletics
Amanda Young

Boys Athletics
Arthur O\’Keefe

Duo-Finalists
Melissa Beasley-Henderson
Zongwei Li
Alan Nguyen
Panayota Rigas
Tim Xue

Prix d\’Honneur
Zongwei Li
Victoria Yee

The Baron Banner caught up with some seniors to discover the colleges they did and didn\’t get into.  

“I got into Santa Barbara, Long Beach, and Riverside, but my mom doesn\’t want me to go to a party school so I\’m going to OCC.” – David Self 

“I didn\’t get into any of my first choices, but I think the college that I\’m going to, UC Santa Cruz, is a really good fit for me. I probably should have studied harder over the years, but I\’m still really excited to go to Santa Cruz.” – Kara Kraus 

“I\’m happy because the colleges I applied to were the ones I wanted to get into, except for Notre Dame, but I didn\’t really want to go there anyway. I\’m going to Northern Arizona University because I just like the training area for running, the altitude, and the girls on the team.” – Lauren Erickson 

“I guess I\’m pretty happy, because I wanted to at least attend an intermediate school. I can go to OCC or Cal State Long Beach.” – Jason Huynh  

“I\’m really happy because UC Irvine was my first choice. It\’s close to home and has a great biology program.” – Nancy Dang 

“I applied to 12 colleges, so that left a lot of my options open. I had more time to choose, even though it was more expensive. I\’m going to go to UCSD because it\’s competitive but pretty chill at the same time. It has a nice atmosphere and the weather is the same as Fountain Valley\’s climate so it\’s really nice.” – Valerie Le 

“I\’m happy with the colleges I got into. I decided to go to Long Beach because I want to stay close to home, but I got accepted into UCSD. I just applied for fun and I\’m not sure how but I got accepted. It was just luck.”  – Trevor Woolsey

Friday, March 27^th marked the second annual Staff and Alumni football game. Teachers and coaches shared the gridiron with graduating players from the Varsity football team for an energetic match-up.

Last year, the Staff won. “We are the defending champs,” explained Principal Herzfeld, “We have our pride at stake.”

The competition was intense. Neither side gained headway until senior Nyko Gonzales broke the ice with the first touchdown, thrown by quarterback Steven Santana.

The Students maintained the lead into the second half, with Santana shooting another scoring pass to Dylan Itkoff. Itkoff shared his thoughts on the competition, laughing that, “The old guys try.”

The Staff rallied with a score by soccer coach and teacher Jason Smith, passed by Football\’s Head Coach Shipp. Girls\’ soccer coach and teacher Alyson Spencer tied the game scoring a second touchdown in the final minute.

The tie led to a strong finish by the Students in Overtime. Coach Shipp threw an interception, and it was caught by Steven Santana and returned for a score. Santana quickly followed his goal on the next drive with a touchdown pass to senior Hayden Toney.

The Students won 4 touchdowns to 2, despite the valiant efforts of the FVHS Staff. 

The Barons won the first match 29-27 against the Rams.  Junior Raffi Contreras-Geck, playing in for senior Matt McCoy, did wonders for the team.  Constantly running, Contreras-Geck sent everything directly to the hitters. Captain Dillon Emery (‘09) had four kills, and senior Chris Gierhart had two kills.