The Bluffer

February 2018

The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA

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Serving Red Bluff High School since 1901 Volume CXIX Issue 8 Bluffer The January 26, 2018 Gentlemen of the Year, page 4 & 8 'The Greatest Showman,' page 5 Katie Louisell Features Editor Varsity Boys Soccer, page 7 'Breaking Down the Walls' rallies students to forgo assumptions This last week, Red Bluff High School has been graced with the presence of the ground breaking and enlightening program, Breaking Down the Walls. This three-day event is designed by Phil Boyte to empower and unify students in and outside of their school environments. Several speakers from Learning for Living travel across the country to thousands of high schools to do interactive games, conversations, and to motivate the students to think of not only themselves but their peers. The program last on average 2-4 days, set up into three different categories. The first day is a school wide assembly introducing Breaking Down the Walls, and it opens the floor for students to self-reflect. Then, a group of students from all different backgrounds are Plant removal pleases make the campus smell better," Palmas comments. Sophomore student Ellie Alvey has a new approach as to what they should place in the planters, she shares, "I'm so glad the bushes have been removed; they smelt awful. The school should add a miniature dog park in the space; if they put dogs in there, people will start being in the quad more and there will overall be less stress." Finally, Sophomore Mariah Wooten voices her input, "I'm so glad it does not have the smell anymore. This will affect the school positively because more students will be in the quad, especially in the winter time." Overall, it seems many students are pleased with the changes Red Bluff High is making to the campus. Small enhancements will eventually add up and as a whole improve the environment students are learning in. The issue with the bushes in the quad at Red Bluff High School has been prevalent for quite some time and now, and Red Bluff's decision to act on it has created some conversation. Students have noticed walking from class to class that the bushes have been removed and it is now barren in the planters. Students and teachers had been complaining about the odd smell coming from the shrubs when it rains, and students have shared their opinions. Student Austin Ables shares, "I am happy with the changes they have made because it makes the quad looks cleaner; the school should plant cherry trees there in replacement." Freshman Yahir Palmas on the other hand, believes that they should fill the empty planters with f lowers, "It will add more color to the quad and Noel Adams Staff Writer assumptions and misunderstandings, to be courageous, lead by example, and to start to create a culture that they want. It's about creating connections and understanding that everyone has a story; a little compassion can go a long ways. We can sit around and complain, or we can get in the driver's seat and take action. You have amazing students here." Carolyn Walker announced that she will be running in the district attorney election this coming June. Walker is an attorney and legal manager at the non-profit Alternatives to Violence program. She began working as a deputy district attorney in Tehama and Shasta counties after passing the bar. At University of California, Berkeley, Walker earned her Bachelor's degree. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. She has worked in five district attorney offices, prosecuting hundreds of cases. "I've worked to break the cycle of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse to give hope to our children's generation." Walker was born and raised in Northern California. She and her husband live on a ranch in Tehama County, along with their four children. Her husband works at a company his father built 33 years ago. Walker wants to focus on the violent crimes, keeping criminals off the street. Meaning, not wasting resources on cases that could be diverted from the court system. "We have the power to create the community we want. We can have a safer community. We need to be tougher on crime, tougher on violent crime and we need to send violent offenders to prison and out of our jail." selected to be trained and to lead their fellow peers in the program. The following day(s) consist of around 150 students each day participating in an interactive day away from school, where they do multiple exercises and games that teach them to respect, listen to, and understand their fellow peers. The outcome of this moving occasion brings uplifting testimonials of strength, new friends and a vastly different perspective on friends as well as strangers. Rochelle Whellams, a Learning for Living staff member and speaker for Breaking Down the Walls, lead the event and rallied the student body together with humor as well as compassion. When asked what Breaking Down the Walls is about, Whellams was passionate about BDTW's cause. "It's about empowering students to look beyond Electives eliminated to make room for new classes and additional help With the spring semester just beginning and new schedules being made, the need to let go and create new classes and programs to accommodate students will be the source of conflict this semester. Do you dream of owning your own restaurant and cooking for paying customers everyday? With the new responsibilities of culinary teacher Mrs. Wagner, advanced culinary will not be an option for students after this semester anymore. Due to retirements in the health department in the previous years, Mrs. Wagner is having to make all cuts to her culinary program to accommodate to teach Frosh health success. This change is affecting the lives of many kids within our Liv Fambrough Staff Writer school. One student who has been a part of the program provided some insight on how he along with his classmates. is at home and parents don't really want to do that." Not only has there been a class in the process of being dropped, but there is a new program for 25 freshmen that didn't have a overly successful semester so this way they can receive extra help without being transferred to Salisbury or other options. This differs from our AVID program because it's sole purpose is for students to receive immediate help staying on track rather than receive developmental skills for college. The students for three periods a day will stay in the same room while teachers for English, academic success, and math filter through helping the students as best as they can. The three teachers included in the program are Stacy Dausse, Sheena Owens, and Sheryl Williams. Mrs. Dausse will be teaching English and cooperating with Mrs. Owens for the academic success section while Mrs. Williams will teach math. struggling students. This class/program is described as the "pilot fresh program." This program will include Broc Jones has been apart of the advanced culinary class for two years and said, "I felt it taught great life lessons and the only way kids will learn to cook Walker runs for new DA Kenzie Salinas Staff Writer Sheena Owens teaches her third period, "Pilot Fresh Program," a program to help struggling students. Speakers from 'Breaking Down the Walls' come to a high school to teach students about their program. http://learningforliving.com http://learningforliving.com

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