The James Logan Courier

By Laurel Brodzinsky, Courier Staff Writer

A planned Culinary Arts Center to be built on the James Logan campus was effectively canceled last month when the New Haven school board redirected money previously set aside for the project.

In a January New Haven school board meeting, the trustees approved the recapturing of eight million dollars they previously budgeted for the center and other projects. About $6.9 million of this was budgeted for a new Culinary Arts Center on the James Logan campus. Construction originally was going to begin in the summer of 2008.

The center was to include classrooms, training kitchens, and a full-service, 75-person restaurant. The plans were for it to be built on the corner of Alvarado Blvd. and Hartnell, taking up 8513 square feet. The money to build it came from Measure B, which was also used to fund the new Performing Arts Center.

By Michelle Danai, Courier Staff Writer

Ask retiring Social Science teacher James Hansen about his work and he will tell you that he has never had a job. “I’m lucky! I’ve never had to go to work because I’ve always gone to school.” says Hansen.

In June, Hansen will complete 34 years (including one year of student teaching) of “going to” James Logan High School. During these years, Hansen has taught all grade levels and eight different Social Science courses, in addition to Journalism, Typing, Summer School Independent Study and Coaching Baseball. However, since the early 1990’s he has primarily taught the twelfth grade American Political Systems course.

MISCELLANEOUS
Students: It is against school policy to sell candy on campus. If you are caught doing so, candy and money will be confiscated and kept until a parent can pick it up. All on-campus fundraisers must be approved by ASB and if food is sold, it must, by law, meet certain nutritional requirements.

Attention TAs – If you have not registered with Mrs. Whitaker regarding your TA assignment, you must do so ASAP. Mrs. Whitaker is located in the main office.

Attention AP Students: Time to sign up for AP testing. Come to the main office between February 22 and March 12. See Sarah Muse to pay for your exams at lunch or after school until 4:15. Your AP teacher has detailed information.

By T.J. Matsumoto, Courier Sports Editor

Kalafitoni (Toni) Pole signed his letter of intent to play football for the Washington State Cougars last week . He is one of seven bay area recruits heading to Pullman, site of the Washington State campus, this summer. Many family members and friends were on hand to speak on his behalf and nothing but good things were said about him, although we did hear some embarrassing stories about when he was younger.

The ceremony started off with Pole, a member of the James Logan choral program, singing the national anthem, which he sang beautifully. Then there were a few words spoken by his coaches and many words spoken by his friends and family. Everyone that spoke about him described how he has grown and how much a role model he is for young Polynesian kids. They spoke of how he is a great singer, and a student athlete. His mother was so proud that she had to hold back the tears. His grandpa told the most enjoyable stories about little Toni that made everybody laugh.

By Julie Mendoza, Courier Staff Writer

What makes growing up such a struggle is that, gradually, the decisions you make begin to affect you more severely. Paranoid with the fear of making the wrong decision, teenagers are forced into maturity. That's why it's so common to look back and miss how simple and carefree life once was. For many, life is a state of constant indecisiveness combined with the pressure to be successful.

Being a teenager you're surrounded by all the elements of your life — friends, family, school — all of which want your undivided attention. Teenage priorities become torn. It's a burden settling on what decision is best. Students motivate themselves in their own personal way.

By Eric Brown, Courier Music Critic

YouTube has been credited with exposing hundreds of millions of people to unique and obscure spectacles, from strangely behaving children to vicious scenes of nature on the African savannah. One of the more innovative and artistic YouTube sensations was OK Go’s music video for their song “Here It Goes Again”. The 2006 video features the band performing a choreographed routine on eight treadmills, has gathered almost 50 million views, and is sure to become one of the quintessential videos in music history. The band’s recordings are also strong—2002’s Ok Go and 2005’s Oh No are both excellent albums, blending edgy guitar riffs with a charming knack for catchy pop tunes. The same cannot be said of their latest release Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, which marks a departure from everything the band has gained praise and notoriety for.

By Anar Salayev, Courier Correspondent

Animal, released January 5, 2010, is pop-singer Kesha (Ke$ha’s) debut album. After listening to this album several times (with as open of a mind as possible), I still can’t come to like it as much as everyone else. The album’s perfect for any good party or just to listen to on a good day, however, where does the musical originality come in?

The album starts out with “Your Love is My Drug.” The song has no real deep meaning (basically repeating “Your love is my drug” over and over again) , but it’s a great introduction to what the rest of the album sounds like. Ke$sha’s chart topping single, "Tik Tok", is the second song. This song talks about a typical day for the lovely Ke$ha and how she just can’t stop having a good time.