This is the archive for October 2009
By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
UNION CITY - The deadline to purchase tickets for James Logan High School’s second annual Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet has been extended Wednesday, Nov. 4, Athletic Director Tom Rosenthal announced today.
Two Olympians, a Super Bowl winner and a state championship track and field team are part of the class that will be inducted at the 6 p.m. banquet on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Tickets are $60 each, or $500 for a table of 10. To make reservations, e-mail Sarah Muse (smuse@nhusd.k12.ca.us). Payment must be received when reservations are made.
Posted by courier at 08:33 AM. Filed under: News
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This "Fair Trade Trick or
Treat Action Kit is available
from globalexchangestore.org
Every Halloween, youth of all ages rule the nighttime, running from door to door in search of free candy. This year, however, Logan teacher Michelle Galaria is proposing something a little different, called a “reverse trick-or-treat.”
A reverse trick-or-treat is where a student, in the event of receiving a piece of chocolate as a treat, would in turn hand the giver a flier. This flier explains how most chocolate companies do not follow fair trade laws. They would then hand their neighbor a piece of fair trade chocolate and encourage them to buy it in the future.
Posted by courier at 09:33 AM. Filed under: News
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"Edarem" in one of his
YouTube videos.
TAVARES, Fla. — On the YouTube video-sharing Web site, Edward Muscare is known by his user name "Edarem," and his recordings show an older man lip syncing and singing songs such as Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman." Many of them have drawn hundreds of thousands of page views.
Muscare's online fame, though, helped land him back in jail.
Muscare's videos have become so viral that law enforcement in Florida and South Carolina, where he has been living, became aware of his online presence. The former Lake County, Fla., resident was jailed for violating probation and for not complying with conditions related to his status as a registered sex offender.
Posted by courier at 09:24 AM. Filed under: News
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By Mike Swift
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Google launched a new product Monday that will allow users to find recently updated public online postings by a person's network of friends, colleagues or media sources.
The goal of "Social Search," which came Monday afternoon at http://www.google.com/experimental, is to find relevant postings on Twitter, in blogs or other public Web content published by a user's circle of online colleagues.
Posted by courier at 09:14 AM. Filed under: News
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Superintendent Kari
McVeigh
Superintendent Kari McVeigh will host the first in a series of after-school forums for staff members today, and an evening forum for parents is scheduled next week.
Staff members who work on the west side of Interstate 880 are invited to join the Superintendent at 2:50 p.m. today in the Media Center at Alvarado Middle School. Ms. McVeigh will answer questions and receive comments in a session scheduled specifically for employees at Alvarado, Eastin and Pioneer elementary schools, Alvarado Middle, the Cabello Student Support Center, the Corporation Yard and Food Services.
Posted by courier at 06:39 AM. Filed under: News
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By Alyssa Pimentel, Courier School News Editor
Last week, the Logan administration had to deal with problem after problem. The first of the problems was flooded classrooms in the 200s, then the power outage in all the buildings except 400s and 500s and the numerous fire drills going off Thursday and Friday.
After hours of work over the weekend, the administration now knows what caused all of the problems, except the flood in the 200s.
Rhonda Neagle, Vice Principal of Operations, said “We still don’t know the source of the flood but we’re investigating.”
Posted by courier at 05:49 AM. Filed under: News
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By Laurel Brodzinsky, Courier Staff Writer
Around the Logan campus, there are occasionally whirlwinds of trash and piles of half-eaten food. These usually occur about five feet away from a trash can. Loads of recyclable material is also either left on tables or put into the trash cans. However, recycling bins are prevalent around the campus.
The trash problem at Logan is worse than some might think. Trash can even be found crammed behind books in the library, which attracts ants and other bugs. The food scraps left on tables in the courtyards attract seagulls, which become serious pests as they fly overhead during lunch and defecate on the students below them.
Posted by courier at 10:22 AM. Filed under: News
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By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
The Board of Education on Tuesday night received a report on student performance from the Division of Teaching and Learning.
Chief Academic Officer Wendy Gudalewicz and Director of Assessment Craig Boyan told the Board that New Haven students are scoring higher each year on standardized tests but must continue to improve to meet ever-increasing accountability goals.
Posted by courier at 11:37 AM. Filed under: News
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By Alexa Rocero, Courier Staff Writer
Contrary to the popular belief that last year was the 50th class at James Logan, this year, the class of 2010, actually takes the title. In commemoration of this significant milestone, the new James Logan Alumni Association is teaming up with Logan’s ASB leadership to plan a three-day celebration unlike anything this school has ever seen.
Posted by courier at 08:59 AM. Filed under: News
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Alexa Rocero, Courier Staff Writer
The Red Cross took over the school’s Old Gym to run this fall’s blood drive Thursday. It began during first period, despite all of the morning mishaps, and ran quite smoothly. Twice a year the team comes to give students the opportunity to donate, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
Posted by courier at 10:17 AM. Filed under: News
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By Diane C. Lade
Sun Sentinel (MCT)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — An ultraviolet light that its sellers promise will "destroy swine flu virus." A dietary supplement claiming to be "more effective than the swine flu shot." Pills, hand sanitizers and air filters galore.
These products were among the hundreds of swine flu deterrents and cures that were advertised online this year. And their Internet purveyors were among the 80 who received warnings from the Food and Drug Administration over the past six months to stop peddling unproven or illegal treatments.
Posted by courier at 09:46 AM. Filed under: News
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By Alyssa Pimentel, Courier School News Editor
James Logan High School started the school week back on the power grid Monday, with hopes of smoother sailing after the travails of last week.
Friday night, technicians found and repaired damaged equipment that, until it was fixed, kept Logan off the power grid for four days and led to a flurry of fire drills, dark and powerless rooms, an unexpected day off for students and expensive back-up power generators being brought in.
Vice Principal of Operations Rhonda Neagle delivered the good news via email Friday night. "I am pleased to report that as of about 8:00 pm Friday night, Logan's transformers have been restored to full operation," she wrote. "The Colts are back in the power game!"
Posted by courier at 05:37 AM. Filed under: News
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The new performing arts center
needs a name. Any ideas?
Courier photo
As everyone can see, construction on the much anticipated visual and performing arts building has been slowly progressing, a traffic obstruction for a year now. According to Rhonda Neagle, Logan's Vice Principal of Operations, completion of the new building finally is approaching.
Before the center can be officially opened, one issue must be attended to: the name.
Posted by courier at 10:11 AM. Filed under: News
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Courier Staff Report
Logan staff and students struggled to contend with a series of problems with re-opening the high school using on-site generator power.
"At the risk of stating the obvious, it has been an interesting morning," wrote Rhonda Neagle, Vice Principal of Operations, wrote in an email to staff.
Students who showed up for zero period spent much it outside when the school's fire alarm system went off repeatedly.
Posted by courier at 09:35 AM. Filed under: News
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School district officials address Logan's
staff Wednesday morning. Courier Photo
Powered by four large generators, James Logan High School is expected to re-open Thursday despite continuing electrical problems spurred by Tuesday's big rain storm.
At a meeting in the dim, powerless Guy Emanuele Pavilion Wednesday afternoon, assembled teachers and other staff heard that, while electricians haven't yet pin-pointed and repaired the damaged circuits that plunged 80 percent of the school's classrooms into darkness during fifth period Tuesday, the school should be able to re-open and function fairly normally using the generators, which, at the time of the meeting hadn't yet arrived at the sprawling campus.
Posted by courier at 02:45 PM. Filed under: News
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The new Hacky Sack Club
recruited dozens of new members.
Walter J. Carrasco/Courier Photo
Logan’s annual Club Recruitment, held on October 8th and 9th during 4th and 5th lunch, was a great success.
On both days, forty-three clubs were present. Rojas said, “It’s the largest turnout for club recruitment and I’ve been here for eight years.”
Rojas said that many clubs have been asking for extra signup sheets because the current ones they had were already full. He said, “I think most of the clubs are getting more sign ups than they expected.”
Posted by courier at 08:44 AM. Filed under: News
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Examples of Kyee's cupcakes.
Courier photo
Senior Michelle Kyee has started her own business of making cupcakes decorated with holiday themes.
Kyee, an AP art student at Logan, took up cake decorating last year to hone her sculpture skills and express herself through her cakes.
Kyee is considering taking up cake decorating as a career or a side job. "I want to decorate cakes, but this allows me to still decorate but at a cheaper price," she said.
At first, she made full-sized decorated cakes, but this fall she's branched out to making and selling Halloween designed cupcakes. She hand makes her cupcakes and then decorates them with frosting and fondant in a variety of styles, including ghosts, mummies, brains, and gravestones.
Posted by courier at 08:32 AM. Filed under: News
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By Jericho Faustino, Courier Staff Writer
Logan Campus Security Technician, football coach and Polynesian Club Advisor Rob Lealao is organizing the Samoa Bo/ Disaster Relief program, to help the people of Samoa suffering from the effects of tsunamis that struck the group of islands Sept. 29, killing more than 170 people.
The Samoa Bo/ Disaster Relief program, in conjunction with the "Poly Club" and Logan Leadership, is collecting supplies such as toiletries, food, and good condition clothing, to send to Samoa. The relief effort, started last Monday, has already collected over 100 lbs. of rice, 20 cases of water, and 6 boxes of noodles, and has gotten support from UN Airlines and the local community.
Although collection of needed supplies has already started. Next week, October 12-16, relief organizers at Logan will make a more concerted effort.
Activities Director Francis Rojas, in a Friday email to staff, wrote " Please encourage your second period students to donate clothing (new or gently used, especially for children), hygiene items, and non-perishable food. Cash donations are also welcome.
Posted by courier at 06:20 AM. Filed under: News
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By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
UNION CITY – Emanuele Elementary School’s Elaine Cant and Cesar Chavez Middle School’s Joe Edwards were among 1,200 teachers nationwide who were honored by OfficeMax this week on “A Day Made Better.”
OfficeMax representatives visited Emanuele and Chavez on Tuesday to present Ms. Cant and Mr. Edwards with more than $1,000 each in classroom supplies. Each teacher received a rolling leather chair and a huge gift box that included a digital camera, a color printer and dozens of other items.
Posted by courier at 09:13 AM. Filed under: News
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By Kara McGuire
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (MCT)
Student loans are commonly referred to as "good debt" — the kind of debt people take on for a college degree and the promise of higher income that accompanies it.
But for some, there is nothing good about private student loans. Just ask Kristi Nelson and Jennie Fisher. Nelson graduated from St. Paul's College of Visual Arts in 2003 and has $55,000 in private student loans.
Posted by courier at 12:35 PM. Filed under: News
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By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
The Board of Education on Tuesday night received a 2009-10 Strategic Plan Update, including action items for the year, to be monitored on a monthly basis, with progress reports to be provided to the Superintendent.
The action items, some of which already are under way or have been completed:
— Each school will develop an Instructional Leadership Team that will meet monthly to plan strategies aligned to the District’s Seven Essentials for Continuous Growth & Improvement, meet five times to learn collaborative leadership strategies, visit other schools to observe instructional practices;
Posted by courier at 09:35 AM. Filed under: News
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Vashion Bullock Jr., 17, shows
signs of the fight that left
Derrion Albert, 16, dead
two weeks ago.
Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune/MCT
CHICAGO — His left eye still swollen shut, Vashion Bullock doesn't deny fighting in the massive brawl that claimed a Fenger High School student's life two weeks ago.
He's watched the grainy fight video and seen himself standing shirtless in the middle of the frenetic mob. But to him, the footage is a 2-minute-and-26-second clip of his world without context, broadcast endlessly on television and the Web.
Posted by courier at 05:33 AM. Filed under: News
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Year-to-year advertising
revenues compared.
Internet Advertising Bureau chart
SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Internet-advertising revenue fell 5.3 percent in the first half of 2009 compared with the like period last year, as marketers continued to rein in spending thanks to the downturn, according to a study published Monday.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP study reported that despite the overall decline in Internet advertising to $10.9 billion in the first half of the year, online search-advertising revenue actually rose slightly to $5.1 billion.
Posted by courier at 09:42 AM. Filed under: News
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The Senior Class of 2007's float
Courier file photo
Logan students with spirit have begun building floats for Spirit Week, continuing a long tradition of float construction in celebration of Homecoming.
Each year,Logan's classes choose a theme spirit week to show off the greatness of their respective classes. On the Friday of spirit week, the students in Leadership arrange an assembly to present to the student body the homecoming floats that the classes have designed and built to represent what their class is all about while reflecting a theme they've chosen.
Posted by courier at 09:25 AM. Filed under: News
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By Ranjana Prasad, Courier Staff Writer
Complaints about Logan students jaywalking, particularly in the morning at the intersection of Alvarado Niles Boulevard and H Street where some have been crossing through the middle of the intersection, have spurred the school and Union City police to announce increased enforcement of anti-jaywalking laws.
In addition to crossing streets outside of crosswalks, local motorists have complained about student who have been crossing when it is not their turn to cross.
Posted by courier at 09:50 AM. Filed under: News
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By Bonnie Miller Rubin
Chicago Tribune (MCT)
CHICAGO — When Amar Bhatia was weighing his postsecondary options, he chose Indiana University over DePaul University because DePaul's downtown Chicago campus was just too close to Mom and Dad.
Now, as a sophomore, he's even closer — at Harper Community College, a five-minute drive from his Palatine, Ill., home. "It's like being a senior all over again," said the 2008 Fremd High School graduate.
Posted by courier at 08:27 AM. Filed under: News
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Image: Newark Memorial webpage
On Wednesday, Newark Memorial High School went into a lockdown around 11:40 a.m. due to a 16-year-old boy having a loaded gun with him. As reported, the student was accompanied by three others people who all were not Newark residents. It was said that a few of them were Union City residents.
According to New Haven officials and published press reports, one student detained at Newark Memorial is not in the NHUSD's records, but another one is a current NHUSD student. Officials did not reveal which New Haven school the boy attends. Also, the boy with the loaded gun is said to be a student who was previously enrolled in a New Haven school when he was younger, but it not a current student at this time within this district.
Posted by courier at 09:49 AM. Filed under: News
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By VOA News
Philippine Islands President Gloria Arroyo has declared a "state of calamity" throughout the island nation, which lies in the path of a second major storm in days.
Typhoon Parma is forecast to hit the Philippine's east coast on Saturday, bringing with it sustained winds of nearly 200 kilometers per hour.
Mrs. Arroyo has ordered evacuations from six provinces likely to feel the typhoon's strongest effects. Her declaration of emergency frees up funds to help the government respond to emergencies.
Posted by courier at 08:28 AM. Filed under: News
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By Alexys Cran, Courier Staff Writer
In Bangkok Thailand, 16,000 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 were involved in the world's largest HIV vaccine study ever, conducted by The Thailand Ministry of Public Health. The combination of previously unsuccessful vaccines, prime and booster vaccines, were proven effective as the results were modest. However, before this study, it was widely believed that a vaccine for HIV was not possible. And so "modest results" actually means that one day there will be a way to beat the human immunodeficiency virus. It is this virus that causes AIDS, which kills millions every year.
According to CNNHealth.com, the researchers conducting the trial found that people who received a series of inoculations of the prime vaccine and booster vaccine were 31% less likely to be infected with HIV compared with those on a placebo. "The results from the trial are an important first step that will help researchers work toward a more effective vaccine. This shows a statistically significant effect," Colonel Jerome Kim, the HIV vaccines product manager for the U.S. Army, said.
Posted by courier at 10:25 AM. Filed under: News
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Policy debate whizzes Justin
Chan and Patrick Berger
Seniors Patrick Berger and Justin Chan, who took second in the nation in Policy Debate at the 2009 National Forensics League National tournament, representing the world-renowned James Logan Forensics team, have their sights set on a new goal: to cement Logan's newly won reputation as a policy debate powerhouse.
Every year, the national tournament – funded by the Lincoln Financial Group – hosts rounds for events in both speech and debate; however, in order for a student, debate team, or duo team to enter, they must first compete at a district qualifier tournament. Schools are also bestowed with School of Excellence awards at the national tournament.
Posted by courier at 09:19 AM. Filed under: News
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Ruins on south coast of Samoa
AFP photo
Aid is starting to reach the Pacific islands devastated by a powerful earthquake and a resulting series of tsunami waves. The death toll is now above 120 on American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga and is expected to rise as authorities reach villages cut off by the disaster.
Power and telecommunications remain cut on much of Samoa and American Samoa, as island residents struggle to recover from the disaster.
Donate to the relief effort through DirectRelief.org.
Posted by courier at 05:33 AM. Filed under: News
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