news.........................................................Page 2 OPInIOn .................................................. Page 4 sPORTs......................................................

Page 7

Index

Jimmy Pequeno begins the road to recovery Page 2

It is debated whether technology is useful in classrooms. Page 5

Football starts off the season strong Page 7

25255 Toledo Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630

www.etbulletin.org

Tuesday, October 18, 2011- Volume XXXIV, Issue 1

ET joins the
By Melanie Therrien
News Editor

technology revolution
better, Chavarria said. Chavarria prefers using the iTouch for vocabulary and hopes to download books in the future so she can help the environment and save paper. There are exceptions, though. Some students do not like using the iTouch in class. Books are easier to use, senior Sean Patrick OConnor said. They work just as well. In preparation for this adjustment, certain teachers were selected and trained on how to teach a class with the new iTouch. Holly Sheridan, English teacher, uses the iTouch for researching, creating projects and writing papers. Teachers are provided with a class set but a student can bring their own iTouch. Im hoping it makes class more engaging and fun, Sheridan said. While it is too early to tell if the iTouch is helping test scores, like it is shown to do in elementary schools, Sheridan says she is pleased so far, but has not seen any significant changes. As for the iPads, the only teachers using them are the physical education teachers, such as Robert Frith and John Johansen, needing them while out on the field or blacktop. In the future, Mucerino hopes to add to the existing technology by adding more iPads to other classes.

The Enhancing Education Through Technology program makes electronics common in classrooms. Being only three weeks into the new school year, Principal Dr. Allan Mucerino says it is hard to evaluate this new system but so far he likes it. Students in some English classes this year are using the new iPod Touch that this program paid for, and teachers are introducing iTouch and iPad into everyday learning. Using the iTouch is more fun, it is something that the students can relate to, senior Carmen Chavarria said. Like anything new, according to Mucerino there are some glitches. Being on a district server, a system where all of the computers in SVUSD are connected, the teachers and students occasionally have trouble accessing the Internet or other programs. Weve had a few problems, a few bumps in the road, Mucerino said. To fix these problems, administration is in constant contact with the support team, which is very responsive and willing to help, according to Mucerino. I give it a positive rating, Mucerino said. We just need to give it time. Most students are responding to the changes in a positive way. Its pretty fun. I think it helps us learn the material

Technology policy changes

By Courtney Berry
Feature Editor

New policies have been implemented to give students the opportunity to use applications on iPods during class to enhance their abilities to work with technology. Some students, such as junior Nicole Dahl, enjoy the freedom of the new iPod policy, which includes the use of iPods before school, after school and as well as in the classroom when allowed by the teacher for educational purposes only. I love using iPods in class, its a fun way to learn as opposed to just taking notes, Dahl said. Students seem to be cooperating well with the new rules and seem to like the idea of iPod use in the classroom, according to Kara Root, assistant principal of discipline and supervision. Apart from this policy, a new cell phone policy has been issued. If a student is caught with a cell phone out during class, they will receive a detention for first offense, Saturday school for second offense and eventually will lead to getting into contact with the students parents. I dont think the new cell phone policy is fair because I think students should be given a warning before being punished with a detention right away, junior Lauren Mcdonald said.

Changes impact the language department

By Melanie Therrien
News Editor

District hopes test scores sail

Staff Writer

By Valeria Angel
Shared Accountability for Instruction Learning and Leadership (SAILL) is a new program meant to improve the students knowledge through a series of pretests and by reteaching material if necessary. Teachers then look over pretest scores to further explain or apply creative educational strategies to reteach materials previously covered. The scores so far have been encouraging, meaning the teaching was effective, Jackie Kelly, Physics teacher,said. She also said such a process could lead to improved test scores in the entire school and eventually the entire district. To improve a students knowledge over taught materials, the district has required that all departments be involved in SAILL as of last spring. Data team leaders facilitate meetings, help analyze scores of departments as a whole as well as decide how and what to reteach. According to Kelly, any staff member could have volunteered to be a data team leader. Data team leaders and staff go over Julie Murray | The BullETin the material for the lowest scores. If Principal dr. Allan Mucerino directs the teacher meeting sept. 26. As the students sleep in on late students score below 50 percent, teachers start, teachers are going over new and old policies. may choose to review materials that their Physics and Algebra 2 classes. time. students missed and if they score proficient They are helpful at the beginning beKelly is one of the newest teachers who or above, the teacher moves on to more difcause you remember some stuff, but it feels has joined SAILL. She believes the late ficult curriculum. unnecessary because you are going to learn start meetings, during which the teachers Some students think the new program new stuff anyways, Villalobos said. decided how to implement this program, will be helpful. According to Villalobos, there is a posi- have proved to be good for everyone in our Subjects like math and physics build tive side to quizzes. They allow teachers to school. on each other a lot, if students dont get one see what level students stand. The meetings have helped because part, they are not going to get the next part, However, he also believes that theres they have shown teachers collaborated on senior Tim Miller said. a negative side. He feels that teachers are the sequence and pace of the curriculum, Junior Felipe Villalobos was a stucramming too much information at one Kelly said. dent who took a pretest quiz in both his

With a total estimate of about $13.2 French 5 class isnt learning all that they million in budget cuts for this school should because of all the time spent reyear, Principal Dr. Allan Mucerino was viewing old material. told by the district that he must cut secWere learning some of the same tions of classes out of the curriculum. So things over again, Hernandez said. I he made the decision to make cuts to the went into French 5 for a reason. language department. Others like Phillips, see a practical The language impacted the most was side to the reduction of French classes. French. Last year there were nine secI believe the reason we kept more tions of French, this year it was reduced Spanish classes is because of the fact to six, and French 1 was taken out of that we live in Southern California and Serrano Intermediate School completely there is a Spanish influence around us, due to their own budget cuts. Phillips said. There is a large number Reducof Spanish speakers tions were being were learning some in the area, as well made throughas Spanish roots in out the school of the same things over California and the and French was United States. one of the class- again. I went into French 5 French students es on the cutting see it differently, block, Regina for a reason. they think that their Deeter, German language should be teacher, said. equally represented. Many students could not get into a As a French-speaking student, I French 1 class this year due to the scarce think its unfair, junior Taran Vo said. number of classes. I think they should have kept the old Im upset that kids wont have the teachers because when youre learning a privilege to get to the highest level of different language, its difficult to adjust French, senior Leslie Alvarado said. to someone elses teaching style. Without taking French 1, students While German is being taken out of will not be able to advance to the French other schools, the future of our German 5 class when they are seniors. program is still uncertain. The reduction of French classes is As of now, there is a large amount only temporary, Steve Phillips, Spanish of students taking German 2. In Deeters teacher, said. The number of classes and German 2 class, there are 42 students teachers will eventually be restored. and other students were not able to take French students are feeling the blow it due to scheduling conflicts. There is no of these reductions. The French 5 class is longer a German 1 class being offered. now integrated with French 4 and senior I think its sad, Deeter said. GerLeslie Hernandez is not happy with it. man is also on the cutting block. According to Hernandez, the Contribution from Valeria Angel