Photo By: Tara Lanning
ERHS Choir had a very successful experience at their April competition in San Francisco. The Men’s Ensemble took 1st Place Silver; the Madrigals took 2nd Place Silver; and the Women’s Ensemble took 1st Place Gold! Congratulations to all the choirs and their amazing director, Esther Mendoza.
Photo Courtesy: Alexis J. Barile
Staff Reports
Eastvale – On Feb. 26, the 17th Annual UNITY (United Neighbors Involving Today’s Youth) Awards hosted a luncheon to recognize community members who make a difference. One of those individuals honored, was Tony Barile, Head Football Coach for Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Barile was recognized for his dedication to community involvement, and for being a positive influence and mentor to the youth of Eastvale.
Barile has worked with Michele Derus, Principal at Eastvale Elementary, to create a mentor program to bring their students together. Once a week, the coach and 20 of his players visit the elementary school to volunteer in a variety of capacities, including tutoring students, leading fitness tests, and helping teachers in the classrooms. This spring, Barile is planning to host a “Field Day” for Eastvale Elementary, which he hopes will one day incorporate all of the elementary schools in Eastvale.
For the second year in a row, Barile hosted a coed football tournament for all of the elementary schools in the Eastvale community. His players volunteered as the referees and did a great job encouraging and teaching the students to show good sportsmanship and play hard.
Barile is also heavily involved with Vantage Point Church’s community events. He has partnered with the church to start a “Breast Cancer Awareness” football game each October, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for this important cause. Survivors and fighters of cancer are invited to come and be special VIP guests. He has also partnered with another Roosevelt community group, AVID, to support students in the community with Epilepsy, raising a significant contribution and awareness for the Epilepsy Foundation. Barile’s players also help out with the “Christmas Gift Mart,” that benefits parents who are low-income and need assistance for the holidays.
Barile works diligently to instill character, leadership skills, and academic commitment in his students, and partners with other leaders in the community to provide events like annual youth football and cheer community nights and camps, coaching clinics, tutoring sessions, and even homework centers during practice. He also serves on the executive board for two prestigious football organizations, Southern California Interscholastic Football Federation (SCIFCA) and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (Riverside County Chapter). He is also on the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) advisory committee.
What Coach Barile has already put in place in just the beginning of his vision for impacting the lives of our youth. He is the epitome of UNITY in the community of Eastvale.
By Emily Aguilar
(Photo Courtesy: Victoria Robles)
Asari Aibangbee at the BSU Showcase
Although the trending topic, #BlackLivesMatter, has been seen worldwide, many have failed to comprehend its significance.
For many, the term is a response to the persistent prejudice that African-Americans have experienced as a culture; while to others, it’s a mere trend.
In order to properly define a term misunderstood by the public, Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s Black Student Union (BSU) took the initiative to educate the public by celebrating black culture in their first annual showcase entitled, “Black Lives Matter.”
The event was held on Fri., Feb. 27. The evening was a mixture of dance, song, poems, and speeches. Although there were jokes in between performances, the event released an agonizing burden within the performers.
“Our ancestors paved the way, but the struggle never stopped, because we went from slavery to segregation, and today, at least 20 of us are getting shot,” explained poet, “Original Jamie” Braswell.
As the audience of family and friends cried, applauded, and signed in agreement, one felt as if the evening had grasped everyone and presented a topic often too sensitive to approach: Tolerance.
“Being African-American means coming from a group who has suffered and triumphed; who has been beaten down and risen. That is why I feel a connection with other people. We have all understood these struggles at one point, so no matter who we are, we, as humans, always make a connection,” explained BSU President, Sam Sanchez.
Although the term is, “BlackLivesMatter,” the underlying theme is that an individual who has been overshadowed by the towering force of prejudice can overcome that nuisance of a barrier again and again.
When the performers and BSU members came together to sing and rap their final song, many applauded in support of their children or friends, but the audience – composed of Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians – was unified by the notion of acceptance and understanding: racial struggle is often overlooked, but it is the hope of triumph that brings us together.
By Tara Lanning
Photo By Daliyah Ross
Eastvale – Here at Eleanor Roosevelt High School we have a team on campus called Renaissance, who recognizes students for their achievements. One of the things we love to recognize is school spirit.
Along with Renaissance, ERHS does different activities to get kids pumped up about our school. We call these activities, “Mustang Mayhem”.
Photo By Daliyah Ross
Recently, we had a “Planks for Pizza” competition at lunch. The competition was simple… whoever held a plank position for the longest amount of time won a box of pizza.
The students raved about this Mustang Mayhem competition, and everyone had a great time.
By Emily Aguilar
The American Red Cross vehicle/blood lab on the ERHS Campus (Photo By: Emily Aguilar)
Eastvale – Many students are beginning to realize the importance of giving back to their community: they volunteer, they host fundraisers, and they try to promote philanthropy.
When the American Red Cross offered to let ERHS students donate blood on Jan. 23, over a hundred students – mostly upperclassmen – rolled up their sleeves to donate their blood in the school cafeteria.
Donating blood is necessary for patients who have been in traumatic accidents or have health related issues, but the drawing of blood isn’t as simple as it seems. Eligible donors have to be over 100 pounds, cannot have health-related issues such as diabetes, must be at least 16, and must face the risk of feeling immense fatigue afterwards. Even after signing away their consent, nurses must ask the donors a series of questions to ensure that they are physically prepared to undergo the rigorous process.
In spite of these barriers, students still stand by the belief that their half hour of discomfort is worth saving someone’s life.
ERHS student and blood drive volunteer, Jackie Camuy (Photo By: Emily Aguilar)
Included in the ERHS donors, was Jackie Camuy, an avid volunteer who has donated blood numerous times. Despite the anxiousness that she felt while having a nurse draw her blood, she has never been hesitant to take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.
“I feel like it is my responsibility to contribute to society in any way possible. I specifically chose to donate blood because I want to give somebody a better chance to live.” Camuy stated.
For those interested in donating blood or volunteering in the medical field, please visit http://www.redcross.org.
Students in camaraderie, singing “Lean On Me.” (Photo By: Emily Aguilar)
By Emily Aguilar
Eastvale – Because of its diverse alumni, Eleanor Roosevelt High School ensures that each student is given the opportunity to embrace not only the cultures of others, but that of their own as well. This environment has allowed cultures to blend with one another like peaches and cream, unifying ERHS into a strong student body.
In order to pay homage to these various cultures, ERHS’s prominent club, CSF (California Scholarship Federation), held its bi-annual Culture Night festival on Dec. 4.
Culture Night is a show meant to represent students’ traditional cultural practices through artistic performances. Before 6 p.m., the Mustang Theater was filled with supportive family and friends who wanted to see their loved ones represent their culture.
The evening began with a slideshow of students speaking about their cultures and giving the audience a preview of their performances. Following this introduction, the fun began. The performances in dance ranged from Folkloric, to the Chinese Ribbon Dance, to Polynesian and American jazz; and songs were performed from Korea and the Philippines.
Among the performances, one of the most memorable was the Bhangra Dance, which electrified the audience with its upbeat tempo and passionate movement. After captivating the audience with his group, one of the dancers, Shukan Patel stated, “I feel as if the audience was able to feel the energy and pride of the Indian culture through the fast-paced, coordinated moves to traditional music. I feel as if this performance allowed for the audience to experience the Punjabi festival of Vaisakhi’s (Harvest Festival) joy through our dance performance.”
Before the evening ended, CSF Coordinator, Frank Mata, went on stage and spoke to the audience about how working at ERHS as an AP Language and Composition teacher has introduced him to stupendous students. He expressed his admiration toward his students, because in spite of their stress with college and grades, they never fail to lose touch with who they are.
“I am proud of them – they’re not just students at that point. They become respectable young men and women who make it their privilege to pay homage to their culture in this all too foreign land,” Mata said.
After his small speech, Mata invited all of the performers on stage to sing Bill Withers’ famous song, “Lean On Me.” Captivated by the unification of their friends and children, the audience joined in and become a single voice, giving an appropriate ending to the evening.
By K.P. Sander
Kababayan Today host G. Töngi poses with award winner Marie Rosario. (Photo Courtesy: Rosario Family)
Eastvale – 2014 Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate, Marie Rosario, was recently selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Filipino-American Senior Students (TOFASS) in California.
On Dec. 29, 2016, Rosario appeared on the television show, “Kababayan Today,” on channel LA18, where she was awarded with a check and a special plaque by show host G. Töngi, commemorating her selection as a TOFASS recipient.
The TOFASS award comes from the Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) of Greater Los Angeles Alumni Association (APOGLA). It is the flagship project of the association, with the objective of recognizing and awarding outstanding senior students of Filipino-American descent for their academic and scholastic achievements so that they can serve as a role model for other young people to emulate. According to their website, they also provide scholarship grants to help assist college-bound students.
Dan E. Niño, Vice-President – and incoming 2015 President – of APOGLA, appeared with Rosario on Kababayan Today, and spoke of the selection process for the TOFASS award.
“There were 30 applicants, with only four selected. There are very rigorous and strict [guidelines] in the selection. Those selected are very deserving,” said Niño.
Niño also commented that the biggest supporters of the system are the parents. Rosario appeared on Kababayan Today with her parents, Martin and Clarissa Rosario. Proud mother, Clarissa, said, “We are very thankful and blessed to have four girls. She (Marie) is the eldest, and we are very blessed.” Both parents agree that Marie is a wonderful example for her three sisters.
Rosario is currently a freshman student at the University of California, San Diego, and studying Environmental Systems.
“The environment and our world is something that I’m very passionate about,” said Rosario when asked about her major.
Passion as a student is nothing new to Rosario. She is reportedly on full scholarship at UCSD, received an additional $1,000 scholarship from Century Gold 21 Realty for education expenses, was honored at ERHS’s Senior Awards as President of the California Scholarship Federation, and received an award in the National Honors Society for four semesters of straight As.
In high school, Rosario was a student of ERHS teacher, Patty Bickel, in Honors and AP Chemistry over two years. Bickel had some good memories to share:
“Not only was Marie a very diligent student, but her biggest attributes had to be her strong work ethic and having the ability to be a self-starter. I also remember Marie as always being available to help out her fellow students, and she was not afraid to speak her mind when she did not agree with the ‘majority,’” said Bickel – traits that have obviously been an asset to this fine student.
The future does indeed look bright for Marie Rosario.
If you would like to watch Rosario receive her award on Kababayan Today, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrZu8JWFrWg. For more information on TOFASS, visit http://alphaphiomega.org/tofass.
By Emily Aguilar
Eastvale – Because of its diverse alumni, Eleanor Roosevelt High School ensures that each student is given the opportunity to embrace not only the cultures of others, but that of their own as well. This environment has allowed cultures to blend with one another like peaches and cream, unifying ERHS into a strong student body.
In order to pay homage to these various cultures, ERHS’s prominent club, CSF (California Scholarship Federation), held its bi-annual Culture Night festival on Dec. 4.
Culture Night is a show meant to represent students’ traditional cultural practices through artistic performances. Before 6 p.m., the Mustang Theater was filled with supportive family and friends who wanted to see their loved ones represent their culture.
The evening began with a slideshow of students speaking about their cultures and giving the audience a preview of their performances. Following this introduction, the fun began. The performances in dance ranged from Folkloric, to the Chinese Ribbon Dance, to Polynesian and American jazz; and songs were performed from Korea and the Philippines.
Among the performances, one of the most memorable was the Bhangra Dance, which electrified the audience with its upbeat tempo and passionate movement. After captivating the audience with his group, one of the dancers, Shukan Patel stated, “I feel as if the audience was able to feel the energy and pride of the Indian culture through the fast-paced, coordinated moves to traditional music. I feel as if this performance allowed for the audience to experience the Punjabi festival of Vaisakhi’s (Harvest Festival) joy through our dance performance.”
Before the evening ended, CSF Coordinator, Frank Mata, went on stage and spoke to the audience about how working at ERHS as an AP Language and Composition teacher has introduced him to stupendous students. He expressed his admiration toward his students, because in spite of their stress with college and grades, they never fail to lose touch with who they are.
“I am proud of them – they’re not just students at that point. They become respectable young men and women who make it their privilege to pay homage to their culture in this all too foreign land,” Mata said.
After his small speech, Mata invited all of the performers on stage to sing Bill Withers’ famous song, “Lean On Me.” Captivated by the unification of their friends and children, the audience joined in and become a single voice, giving an appropriate ending to the evening.
By Tara Lanning
After two long months of preparation, the Drama Department at Eleanor Roosevelt High School proudly put on an amazing show – Seussical the Musical – directed by Merica Frost.
This show was filled with many Dr. Seuss stories such as Horton Hears A Who, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, and many more.
The cast was extremely talented and shined like stars. With the hilarious Wickersham brothers, Sassy Bird Girls, Amazing Mayzie, and the talented ensemble, ERHS received a lot of positive feedback. This show was a must see!
Dual Immersion Students (L-R): Valeria Mena, Sebastian Bonilla, Jennifer Brillones, Kayla Morrilla, Hugo Belias, Raynaldo Gomez, Joel Jiez, Natalie Bartoalie, Zach Evans, Emily Helms, and Caleb Brackett. (Photo Courtesy: Photo By: Emily Aguilar)
BY EMILY AGUILAR
Eastvale – On Nov. 3, foreign language teachers at Eleanor Roosevelt High School led a small presentation on the benefits of their Dual Immersion Program.
Dual Immersion is a curriculum that gives English-speaking students an opportunity to learn their school lessons in both in English and a selected foreign language. This begins early in elementary school, and is meant to sharpen a student’s intellect of a foreign language to prepare them for further academic successes.
Despite its numerous benefits, students tend to drop out of the Spanish program by high school. In fact, only 11 of the estimated 40 students are still in the program at ERHS. Therefore, a presentation led by AP Spanish Language teacher, Cristina Sanchez, and former AP Spanish and Spanish for Natives teacher, Brian Suchsland, was conducted in order to show 120 elementary students from Washington and Garrison Elementary Schools what to expect of the program as they continue their education.
“Our purpose is to show that even if the program is rigorous at first, it pays off in the end. Of course, learning Spanish efficiently only comes with practice, but it will help these students feel prepared in the world beyond school,” said Sanchez.
The 11 students participating in the Spanish Dual Immersion Program were present to convince other students to stay in the program. These students expressed their admiration for the program, spoke about their experiences, and also shared the interesting projects they did in class for Dia De Los Muertos.
“I think it’s important for these kids to stay in the program,” said Sebastian Bonilla, a junior who has been in the program since elementary school. “Spanish is an essential language to learn, and I believe that with this education, the students will go far in life.”
Through their admiration of the Spanish language, the students and teachers had high hopes that their words would persuade the students to stay in the program, which overall is intriguing, intellectual, and fun.
Don’t miss out on the ERHS Mustang Baseball Booster INAUGURAL BASEBALL GOLF CLASSIC. With the Inaugural Golf Classic, the boosters hope to establish a new tradition for their Baseball Program!The tournament will conclude with dinner, awards and raffle prizes. All proceeds from this event will go to the continued enrichment, improvement, and modernization of the Mustang Baseball Program.
We look forward to seeing you on the course!
Mail Registration Form and and Check To:
ERHS Mustang Baseball Booster
12672 Limonite Avenue
Suite 3E-404
Eaetvale, CA 92880
A friend seeks solace at the memorial.
By Emily Aguilar
Eastvale – On Oct. 3, Andrew De Leon, Nathan Dominguez, Alex Horta, and Nathaniel Marin all lost their lives in a car crash at 8:40 PM. They grew up together in Eastvale, and their relationship could be compared to that of a brotherhood. In order to formally commemorate the lives of these men, Eleanor Roosevelt High School held a funerary service in the gymnasium on Oct. 15.
The ceremony, named “A Celebration of Life,” began at 7:15 p.m. More than 150 people – family, friends, band members from other schools, and supportive citizens – filled in the chairs placed in the center of the gymnasium. The center stage itself was filled with pictures, toys, stuffed animals, and instruments to honor the memory of each boy. As a melancholy atmosphere began to permeate the room, Father Declan Fogarty began his eulogy by assuring the audience that the boys, all of whom were devoted to God, would no longer suffer as God had “fully transformed them in His image.”
Teachers, friends, parents, and priests spoke in order to recreate the image of the young boys who have passed. Through their words, the audience was reminded of Nathaniel Marin’s perseverance, intelligence, prowess in band and sports, and his warm personality that would befriend the loneliest and most timid individual. The audience giggled at the reminder of Alex Horta’s shy personality, remarkable musical abilities that spoke louder than his words, and unique admiration toward penguins and astronomy. Many began to tear up upon remembering Nathan Dominguez’s spontaneous, humorous personality; and many fell silent to the reminder of Andrew De Leon’s protectiveness, humor, and overall “gentleman-like, caring” persona.
Yet, it was Band Director Michael Fleishman’s words that truly moved the audience. The boys, who participated in the school’s marching band, created the “family” amongst the band members of the school. Fleishman stated that he enjoyed watching them grow up since they first began marching band, and felt that they had truly impacted the lives of their peers as well as his own. During his speech, he stated that he had a picture of all four boys beaming broadly on his desk, and began to cry when he confessed that he has had to suffer the anguish of seeing that picture every day since discovering that the boys died. He paused for a while to control his tears, and continued in a somber but audible voice to confess that he had lost a childhood friend. Like the boys, she was part of marching band with Fleishman, and had also died in a car accident. Unfortunately, he never said a proper goodbye to her, but through prayer, he was able to feel the closure he couldn’t give to his friend during their lifetime. He persuaded families and friends to pray for the four boys in order to feel the closure they couldn’t have while the boys were alive.
The ceremony ended with a slideshow of the boys throughout their lives. The pictures showed their accomplishments, their families, but most notably, the visible love that held the four boys together.
As the final pictures appeared on the screen, the audience finally broke down into loud, sorrowful cries that filled the room. Although the ceremony had ended, many stayed to mourn for the boys and support one another. There were those who cried, some that tried to convince others to be strong, but overall, they understood that the four boys had followed one another into the afterlife to claim “a friendship that will last forever,” and with that idea alone, many were content.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s Cross-Country Team attended the prestigious Stanford University Cross Country Invitational. They did an amazing job with the boys’ team placing 10th, and the girls’ team placing 4th. Great job, ERHS!
STAFF REPORTS
Hundreds come together in great sadness at the Candlelight Vigil on Sun., Oct. 5, at Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Photo Courtesy: Eastvale News)
Eastvale – The City of Eastvale mourns the loss of four beloved teens, and a Corona man, who all perished in a three-car accident on Fri., Oct. 3.
Nathaniel Marin, Andrew Anthony Deleon, Nathan Dominguez, and Alex Horta – all 2013 graduates of Eleanor Roosevelt High School – and Luis Ayala Mendoza, 47, of Corona, were involved in a collision on nearby Pine Avenue in Chino (near Chino-Corona Road) at around 8:45 p.m.
Although the accident is still under investigation, reports says that the Chevrolet truck the teens were riding in struck a rail and caught fire, causing two additional vehicles to collide into them. The driver of the third vehicle had minor injuries.
Broken-hearted loved ones all came together to remember these men at a Candlelight Vigil on Sun., Oct. 5, with hundreds of people honoring their lives, missing their friends, and saying good-bye.
Plan to attend the Family 5K/10K & Fun Run to help support local Eastvale schools.
Date:10/25/2014 7:30 AM
Cost:$10-$40 per participant
Location:Eleanor Roosevelt High School
7447 Scholar Way Eastvale, California 92880
This chip-timed, ATF-certified course, 100 Mile Club sanctioned event is a fundraiser for Eastvale schools. Help show support for Eastvale’s elementary & intermediate schools as well as ERHS clubs & sports. There will also be several vendor booths and entertainment, so come on out for some fun!! 6AM – CHECK-IN 7:30AM – WARM-UP 8:00AM – 5K/10K BEGINS 8:20AM – 1 MILE FUN-RUN BEGINS
Registration Fees: 5K/10K ADULTS: $30 EARLY-REGISTRATION $35 AFTER 10/12/14 OR DAY OF REGISTRATION IS $40 STUDENTS: $15 REGISTRATION OR $20 ON RACE DAY 1 MILE FUN-RUN $10 (All Ages) *AGES 4 AND UNDER ARE FREE
BY EMILY AGUILAR
Emily Huong, ERHS’ 2014 Homecoming Queen
Photo courtesy: Tara Lanning )
Eastvale – On Fri., Sept. 19, a unique victory was won at Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s football game. Although the football team didn’t win their game, Emily Huong was the true star of that evening when she claimed the title of Homecoming Queen.
Emily, a senior with special needs, was supported by over 4,000 ERHS mustangs and staff when she ran for Homecoming Queen. The students shared their excitement when it was announced that Emily had won.
Tara Lanning, President of Best Buddies, said that upon winning an excited Emily stated, “I am Queen Emily, and you all are my princesses!”
Lanning also shared that Emily thanked the girls who nominated and campaigned for her, including Best Buddies Vice President, Claire True, Amanda Albrecht (and Lanning).
“The thing that really stood out and made me happy, was that Emily thanked her buddy, Amanda, and thanked me and Claire; that definitely warmed my heart! And after she won she told everyone, “give me some hands,” and we all cheered for her,” continued Lanning.
When Lanning was asked if they were the ones who nominated Emily, she said, “Yes! We put up a lot of posters around our school and advertised it on Twitter and Instagram. But after she was nominated, it was totally our peers who reached out and voted for her, which is really awesome!”
Newly crowned Queen Emily remembers the evening to be filled with memorable experiences that made her senior year.
“I was very happy,” she said while recalling the moment that the entire audience chanted her name as the crown was being placed on her head.
Even more heartwarming for the young queen was the support that her teachers have shown toward her throughout her high school career.
“She’s come a long way,” said her teacher, Rosie Esquivel.
Watching her grow up over their years together, Esquivel couldn’t help but express how proud she is of Emily and her maturity.
“She’s a nice young lady who’s been able to communicate and express herself with her peers. She has such a vibrant personality,” said Esquivel.
It was with this personality that Emily was able to win the hearts of new admirers, as well as forming a new bond with Homecoming King, Quinn Dunziellas.
While Emily is currently enjoying her title of queen, she still enjoys the more humble activities in her life. Emily states that in her free time, she enjoys singing to the latest songs, improvising new dance moves, and watching movies; her favorite being Disney’s “Frozen”.
At the moment, Emily looks forward to finishing high school before continuing her education at John F. Kennedy Middle College to enroll in life skills courses.
Sarah Armijo contributed to this story.
BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL
Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale was the site of a recent “Active Shooter Training Scenario” conducted by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Corona-Norco Unified School District. (Photo Courtesy: ERHS)
Eastvale – In partnership with the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD), the Riverside Sheriff’s Department, overseen by Captain Jason Horton, participated in an Active Shooter Training Scenario exercise.
This training exercise allowed deputies to respond to a mock incident that simulated a real-life crisis whereby someone attempted to create violence on a campus.
According to Horton, “This doesn’t necessarily mean a school shooting only; it can also be where someone is coming on campus with the intent to injure as many victims as they can. It can also be stabbings, etc.”
Every deputy assigned out of Eastvale’s Jurupa Valley station underwent this specialized training, which occurred over a week-long period at a variety of hours. In order to accommodate the shifts of all the deputies, some of the training was held at night.
Using Eleanor Roosevelt High School as a training facility gave the deputies a way to familiarize themselves with the layout of the school, as well as some of the faculty and administration that they would be working with. The Sheriff’s Department used trained “role-players” to make the situation as real as possible.
CNUSD administration was provided training and allowed to watch a demonstration. They will take this learning experience back to the schools and train their staff members.
“We feel that along with the training that the deputies already have, this exercise serves as a way to sharpen their skills even further,” said Horton about the training. This scenario-based instruction caused concern by residents who were alarmed that something awful had happened at the high school. However, the exercise was just a way for our local deputies to further improve their skills to keep our community safe.
BY EMILY AGUILAR
Eastvale – A surprising number of teenagers in the area have taken an interest in the political affiliations of their country, and are inspired to spread this passion with the adults in their communities. Students of Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s club, the Young Democrats of America, (which is affiliated with the Democrats of Norco and the California Young Democrats) have made it their duty to spend their summer doing just that.
The members of the Young Democrats of America (which also extends to other high schools in the region) have begun a small campaign to increase the amount of adults over the age of 18 who are registered to vote by handing out registration forms. Settling in at the local Von’s market in Eastvale recently, the members of the club didn’t necessarily persuade shoppers to become part of the Democratic Party. Rather, the teens tried to emphasize the importance of having a voice in any upcoming election.
Shukan “Shuky” Patel, who leads the club at ERHS, is especially eager to ensure that Americans will realize the importance of voting.
“Most adults feel that their vote has little or no impact on the overall political process. Therefore, it is my fundamental belief that if we can erase this ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ mentality from the adult population, then we can have a higher turnout rate,” he said.
Patel also emphasized that teenagers who are interested in their country’s politics will have more power to change the course of the activities in the region, so he was proud to see that his peers are taking up an effort to show how important voting is.
The teenagers had success in garnering a handful of people to register. They plan on spending more days throughout August registering more voters.
BY EMILY LUNDBERG
Holocaust survivor, Sam Silberberg speaks to group at Eleanor Roosevelt High School
On Mon., April 27, Holocaust survivor, Sam Silberberg, visited Eleanor Roosevelt High School to share his story with students from classes such as AP European History. The day he came was particularly special, because it was Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Standing on the stage of the ERHS theater wearing jeans and a purple button down shirt, Silberberg spoke to a full house of students and teachers all eager to hear his powerful testimony of the most inhuman events in world history. He began rather unexpectedly, speaking first about the conflict in the Ukraine, before asking the students to picture themselves in his shoes.
As he went on to explain more of his story, the students in the audience witnessed their history books come to life as he steadily explained what it was like to be a child during the Holocaust. Students were able to picture him at ten years old as he described his life as having “very serious confusion about what was going on.” They could picture him at 15, escaping the Germans to hide in a convent for the remainder of the war, and every age in between. Occasionally when he spoke he gestured for emphasis, and at one point even passed around a belt from the German army that he saved as a memento over the years.
He concluded by sharing stories of some of his adventures after the Holocaust, which included a pilgrimage to Israel and moving to America – which he gratefully described as “a country of plenty.” Silberberg also answered questions from students. When asked what motivated him to stay alive he said, “Life is a game…I had a choice and I chose life because I knew that I could have it and that’s why I’m here.”
After hearing him talk, an AP European history student remarked, “We’ve been learning about the Holocaust in both Euro and Language Arts for weeks, but not until today did I get a full grasp of how it affected those who survived.”
BY REZA MORENO
Eleanor Roosevelt High School Eastvale
(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)
The 2013-2014 Eleanor Roosevelt High School year is coming to an end, with only a few weeks left until summer. With that, spring sports are almost finished with CIF and State just around the corner.Track and Field did an outstanding job in their Arcadia Invitational on April 11 – 12. Junior April Sutton finished off her Heptathlon competition with a 2:22 800. Taelin Webb set a personal record and jumped 6’6” to win the High Jump competition, while Chastity Ducre jumped 17’8” taking third in the girl’s long jump. As for the boys, they took 2nd place in the 4×200 relay. On Sat., April 12, Simone Buchanan ran a season best of 56:35 in the open 400m. For the 4×100 relay, girls Jaela Williams, Taisyn Crutchfield, Simone Buchanan and Jasmyne Graham took second place, which is the fourth fastest time in the school’s history. On April 18, the team had a meet against Centennial at home; both the boys and girls teams came in first place and did an outstanding job in all events. On April 20 – 22 the team had their Mt. SAC invitational and one event that really stood out was the girls 4×1600 relay team, breaking the school record by over 40 seconds.
Swim is also having a great start, winning against rival Norco on April 10 and against Centennial on April 17.
As for the baseball team, they won their first two league games. On April 9 they beat Corona High 4-3, and on April 11 they played against King with a score of 4-1. Although they lost to Santiago twice on April 16 and again April 18, the score was only by one point. The softball team is also doing great at the mid season point. On April 18 they beat Norco 4-1, and won against Centennial on April 23 8-1. The girls are right on track with trying to fulfill their goal of going to CIF for the first time.
ERHS has sprouted some talented athletes and here is a listing of seniors that won scholarships: For girl’s soccer, Riley Brieno is going to Marymount Cal University, Angela Mitchell to SDSU, and Elena Morrison to Cal State Bakersfield. For softball, Delainey Thompson is going to Texas A&M, and Chase Reddington is going to University of Nevada Reno. There are also two outstanding football players: Joseph Muriel is going to Missouri Valley University, and Marcus Williams is off to Utah. Taelin Webb, varsity basketball captain, is off to Cal State Northridge, and girl’s varsity basketball captain, Chiderah Uzowuru, is going to Grand Canyon University. Jada Helberg from water polo is signed to Cal State Bakersfield, and gymnast LaNiesha-Jorpe Irvin is off to UCLA. Good job, Mustangs!
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