The James Logan Courier

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Director of School and Community Relations
Anthony La Rue, principal at Eastin Elementary School for the past two years, will become principal of Cesar Chavez Middle School for the 2012-13 school year, and Jesus Varela, assistant principal at Alvarado Middle School, will be promoted to principal for 2012-13, per recommendations announced today by New Haven Unified School District Superintendent Kari McVeigh.

Debi Knoth, veteran principal at Searles Elementary School, will replace Mr. La Rue at Eastin, and current Alvarado Middle School principal Hui Stevens will replace Ms. Knoth at Searles.

Naomi Ruth Sims (March 30, 1948 - August 1, 2009) was an African American model, businesswoman and author., who is widely credited as being the first African American supermodel.

Sims was born in Oxford, Mississippi, the youngest of three daughters born to John and Elizabeth Sims. Her father (whom she never knew) reportedly worked as a porter, but Sims' mother later described him "an absolute bum" and her parents divorced shortly after she was born. She was teased for her height of 5’10 at age 13. Mrs Sims later moved with her three daughters to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Naomi's mother was forced to put her child into foster care. She attended Westinghouse High School. There due to her height, she was ostracized by many of her classmates.

By James Sarmiento and Amandeep Singh, Courier Staff Writers

James Logan High School had its annual Sadie Hawkins Dance on March 23, 2012 from 7pm to 10pm. There were lots of complaints from the students who attended the dance pointing out many negative things about the dance. One of the biggest problems students were talking about was the entertainment, the DJ.

It was the same DJ from previous events hosted by this school such as lunchtime activities, homecoming, and both Junior and Senior Prom. Every single event he has done so far, he has gotten lots of negative feedback from the students such as playing bad music and talking too much during songs.

By Candace Laxamana, Courier News Editor

Seniors preformed their Senior Skit at both lunches on Friday, March 23rd. The theme was "Senior Survivors" and their skit was based around it.

The skit started with what seems to be a car accident. The characters Brandon Deadwiler, Jyoti Swamy, and Justin McCarthy were the victims of the accident. An ambulance comes and checks on these kids and an intro starts, "What happens within the 12 seconds when your body dies, and when your brain dies."

The scene then starts with students running away from these creatures. Jyoti and Brandon were left wondering what has happened . After the first dance, Thriller, the main characters figure out that the creatures are zombies. Jyoti and Brandon are then united with Justin, Maureen Diamonte, and Sagar Sen. Slowly everyone dies off into zombies. The people who are left are Jyoti, Brandon, and Justin.

By Mark Godoy, Courier Staff Writer

The sophomore skit was outstanding. The storyline was simple, cute and easy to understand with the theme of monopoly's "Take a Chance" catch phrase.

Many sophomores participated in in and they utilized everyone's talent. Many dancers and singers participated in skit making it all the more interesting. Many settings from the game were used, such as the board walk, which showed the sophomores creativity.

By Michael A. Memoli
Tribune Washington Bureau (MCT)

WASHINGTON — In calling for "some soul-searching" on the incident, President Barack Obama offered a very personal reflection on the killing of Trayvon Martin, a young black teenager in Florida that has sparked a national outcry.

"If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon," Obama said Friday morning in the White House Rose Garden, his first public comments on the incident.

"Obviously this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."

By Rick La Plante, Director and Parent & Community Relations

The Board of Education on Tuesday night approved the second interim report on the 2011-12 budget, along with projections for the next two fiscal years that include nearly $11 million in cuts in 2012-13.

The District is girding for a worst-case scenario prompted by the latest round of cuts to public education caused by the state budget crisis. The projections approved Tuesday night include a total of nine non-student, budget-cut days in 2012-13, increases class-size ratios to 30:1 in kindergarten, first and second grades and eliminates elementary specialists and middle school electives.

By Gurpreet Basin, Courier Staff Writer

This year's freshman class skit was based around a "Candyland" theme with a little bit of a twist in it. Despite the freshman being first-timers at something like this event, some observers thought the freshman did an amazing job and they deserve to be recognized.

"I thought the did pretty well for freshman," said Camille Casal, a sophomore who attended the fourth-lunch performance. She said she was particularly impressed with the acting by the freshmen in the skit. Overall, she said, "it was pretty funny."

By Tim Johnson
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world. If any of the nation's 112 million citizens want to buy firearms, there's only one store where they can do it legally. It's on a sprawling military base and run by the army.

That, however, hasn't stopped Mexicans from acquiring firearms. The country is awash in illegal guns, many of them assault weapons in the hands of merciless criminal gangs. President Felipe Calderon says authorities have seized more than 140,000 weapons since he came to office in late 2006. Many of them, Mexican officials assert, were purchased in the United States.

By Gene Romero, Courier Staff Writer

James Logan's juniors lead off the Spirit Week class skits Monday. Even though they had less time to prepare than all of the other classes, they still managed to pull together and create an amusing skit. Their story was original, but at the same time held a moral for all people to witness.

The Junior skit featured six secret agents assigned a mission by the president, President Adams. When this mission was assigned, two of the spies got into an argument and decided to try and accomplish the mission with their own squad. After they set out to do their mission, they land on Hawaii. Hula dancers were there to greet them, and before they know it, they have uncovered a plot by a group of villains called the Mean Girls.

By Michael J. Mishak
Los Angeles Times (MCT)

SACRAMENTO #&8212; Energy companies across California are injecting a mysterious mix of chemicals into the ground to tap oil deposits while frustrating attempts to regulate the controversial process, known as hydraulic fracturing.

The procedure has drawn the greatest attention in the Rocky Mountain West and Northeast, where states have debated moratoriums to develop regulations after toxic chemicals were found in nearby drinking water. But a quieter battle is being waged in the Golden State, which could be a candidate for increased "fracking" because of its unique geology. Last year, the energy industry scuttled a bill that would have enlisted California in the growing ranks of states that require companies to disclose what they put into the ground. At least nine states have such guidelines.

By Courtney Perkes
The Orange County Register (MCT)

The young researcher smiles warmly at a teenage girl with Down syndrome, inviting her to a pretend birthday party that the researcher has spent two years meticulously planning.

The video from inside a University of California, Irvine research lab captures two other guests – dolls, wearing the same light blue outfits with matching brunette ponytails. But one of the dolls has so-called typical features, while the other has the features of Down syndrome.

In an animated voice, Sayoni Saha asks the girl to feed the dolls bites of Play-Doh cake and wipe their faces clean. Next, she asks a series of questions about which doll is the prettiest, the smartest, the most popular. Which doll does the girl like best?

By Ronnell Coaster, Courier Staff Writer

Two classes from James Logan High School's Marketing and Management Academy went to Oakland yesterday for competition and trade fair. The M&M Academy is a class strictly about business and are for those who serious about starting their own business. This class gives you a feel of the real world.

The two teams from Logan were CaliNights, a Teen Night Club that is strictly for teens only, And Tastee Cakepops, who sells various baked goods. Teacher Wilbert Richberg and the M&M Academy has had a great year so far and returned from Oakland with several awards.

By Patrick May
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It's midmorning and the faces of the students in Tim Wesmiller's religious studies class are bathed in the baby-blue glow of their iPad screens.

Instead of sitting in rigid rows of desks staring at a blackboard, as they would in a typical classroom, kids huddle in groups to brainstorm and blog about Indian culture. Lessons flash from tablets to digitalized white board and back. The "lecture" is a blend of YouTube videos and interactive maps. There's very little paper and no sign of chalk.

Faculty and students in this two-year iPad pilot project at Archbishop Mitty High School say this is the future of education.

By Jason Hoppin
Santa Cruz Sentinel (MCT)

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Sailboats glide by, the chatter of outdoor diners fill the air and crab can be bought straight off the boat, but the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor in California has a long way to go before normal returns to port.

A year after a tsunami turned the harbor into a whirl of tidal surges that tore apart slips and tossed around boats like toys, just two of 23 damaged docks have been replaced. Despite appearances, Port Director Lisa Ekers said, there is evidence of the work that remains right under the balls of your feet.

By Lauren Mascarenhas, Courier Managing Editor

Despite rumors that the Institute for Community Leaders at Logan has not been running smoothly lately, House Principal Jessica Lange, takes a positive stand on its progress and continues with plans for next year.

“With any program there are things that we learn,” said Lange. As the ICL enters the final months of its first year at Logan, the “school within a school,” is being evaluated to determine what is working and what changes need to be made for next year.

By Candace Laxamana, Courier News Editor

For the past week, students have been receiving certificates: On a Roll, Honor Roll, Principal's Honor Roll, and Superintendent's Honor Roll for Academic Achievement week here at logan .

The On a Roll students have an accumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, Honor Roll students have an accumulative GPA of 3.0-3.5, Principal Honor Roll students have an accumulative GPA of 3.6-3.9, and Superintendent Honor Roll students have an accumulative GPA of 4.0 and above.

By Rick La Plante, Director, Parent & Community Relations

Girding for a worst-case scenario prompted by a projected budget reduction of nearly $11 million, the Board of Education on Tuesday night was forced to authorize the issuing of precautionary layoff notices to more than 100 teachers, classified employees and administrators.

After the latest blow dealt by Sacramento lawmakers to local school districts, New Haven Unified faces a budget shortfall of an estimated $10.7 million for the 2012-13 school year, according to Chief Business Officer Akur Varadarajan. The District has made $15 million in cuts over the past four years.

By Julie Cart
Los Angeles Times (MCT)

IVANPAH Valley, Calif. — Stubborn does not come close to describing the desert tortoise, a species that did its evolving more than 220 million years ago and has since remained resolutely prehistoric.

Its slow-poke take on biological adaptation has exposed modern vulnerabilities. The persnickety reptile is today beset by respiratory infections and prone to disease. Its only defenses are the shell on its back and the scent of its unspeakably foul urine.

How this creature the size of a shoe box became the single biggest obstacle to industrial-scale solar development in the Mojave Desert is turning into a true story of the survival of the fittest.
At the $2.2 billion BrightSource Energy solar farm in the Ivanpah Valley, the tortoise brought construction to a standstill for three months when excavation work found far more animals than biologists expected.

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Director of Parent and Community Relations

Faced with possibility of having to reduce the current school year by two additional days because of mid-year budget cuts ordered by the state, the New Haven Unified School District and the New Haven Teachers Association have agreed on a solution to maintain the integrity of the instructional calendar.

The state budget proposal announced in January by Gov. Brown included a mid-year reduction to public education that robbed New Haven children of approximately $585,000 – on top of a $6 million reduction already included in the 2011-12 budget, as compared to 2010-11.

By Lauren Mascarenhas, Courier Managing Editor

A recent change in the ASB cabinet at Logan has resulted in the promotion of junior, Allison Drumm, from ASB vice president to president.

Allison proved to be successful at her duties as vice president, organizing two blood drives and overseeing monthly teacher appreciation. “As President, my role is more broad and administrative. For example, I lead the leadership class, hold meetings and support the leadership staff in their endeavors,” said Drumm.

“As far as what I plan to do to serve the school, I plan to proceed with the current leadership agenda,” Drumm continued. This will include organization of dances and prom, as well as the annual spirit week skits and rallies – something Drumm said, “Everyone will be proud of.”

By Zohal Sharif, Courier Staff Writer

National Self Injury Awareness Day (NSID) was found to inform the public about self injury and what they can do to help someone who is struggling with this addiction. It also brings this matter into the public eye because so often this issue is swept under the rug and is thought of as "out of site out of mind". There are several organizations committed to raising awareness, but March 1st is a day for people to unite for a common cause.

Self-harm can be difficult to understand. Many self-harmers say that they don't fully understand it themselves, so how can anyone else? Self injury is far from being rare, myths and misunderstanding surrounds this psychological aliment -- mistaken ideas are often a result in self-harmers being treated badly by police, doctors, therapists, and some family members and friends. Self harm is not always obvious and it's not always going to be understandable through someone else's eyes.