“Refugee camps in Syria are cleaner than this,” Oakland property developer Gene Gorelik said in an interview with the New York Times at an Oakland fast-food restaurant that overlooks a homeless encampment. Homelessness has continuously been a crisis in California and has risen significantly in certain cities. For example, San Jose experienced a 42 percent… Continue reading Backlash against homelessness crisis grows in Bay Area
Author: Vivienne Tran
CAASPP scores drop compared to previous years
San Marin’s California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) scores dropped from the 2018-19 school year. English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) scores decreased from 68 percent either having met or exceeded the standard to 60 percent, which, according to Principal Mark Sims, went from the “all-time high to the all-time low.” Mathematics scores decreased from… Continue reading CAASPP scores drop compared to previous years
Opinion: We cannot scroll past tragedy
At least once a year, a tragic event prompts teachers to give students a serious, emotional talk. In my sophomore year, when the Parkland school shooting and a San Marin student’s death happened, a couple of my teachers would talk about it in the beginning of class, and would then move on to actual classwork.… Continue reading Opinion: We cannot scroll past tragedy
School to construct new student center and STEM building
By Vivienne Tran and Emma Williams On June 17, construction of a new Performing Arts Center Building and STEM Building will begin. The current Emily Gates Student Center will be completely demolished, with the new performing arts center built from scratch during the 2019-2020 school year. The new Performing Arts Center Building will be… Continue reading School to construct new student center and STEM building
Opinion: Child-free women and couples face outdated bias
Young women are asked this question constantly in their lives leading up to adulthood: “How many children do you want to have?” To this question, I usually answer, “None.” Each time, I have received judgment in the form of a question, expression or statement. Some said that I am selfish for not wanting children. Others… Continue reading Opinion: Child-free women and couples face outdated bias
Opinion: My perceived imaginary audience influences my feelings and actions
As a teenager surrounded by teenagers that talk about other teenagers, I feel the need to always look and act presentable. I always feel as if everyone is paying close attention to me, trying to pick out my flaws and remembering me for them. Even if I was alone, I’d still feel like someone was… Continue reading Opinion: My perceived imaginary audience influences my feelings and actions
Administration creates new programs to aid students
By Vivienne Tran Editor According to Student Success Advisor Katherine Warren, too many of San Marin’s students are getting D’s and F’s or have attendance issues. As a result, she is pulling up their grades and attendance regularly. If students are struggling, she contacts the parents and pulls the student aside to find out what… Continue reading Administration creates new programs to aid students
Teachers address need for ELD program reform
The English Language Development (ELD) program has had students taking classes they were not prepared for and exams with little knowledge of the English language. These issues lead to teachers and students voicing concerns of the lack of support. English teacher Wesley Swedlow has several ELD students in his college preparatory classes, six of whom… Continue reading Teachers address need for ELD program reform
Teachers protest lack of sufficient school funds
By: Vivian Bui and Vivienne Tran In early April, teachers from Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma and West Virginia went on strike to protest the lack of funding for education and teacher salaries. These protests consisted of teachers walking out to demand better pay and funding, which are struggles that also exist in the Novato Unified School… Continue reading Teachers protest lack of sufficient school funds
Junior Emmie Lee’s talent ‘shines like the first bright star in the sky at night’
“There’s always the whole ‘starving artists that can’t pay the bills’ ideology that floats around everywhere and, honestly, it’s true to an extent,” junior Emmie Lee admitted. “The art world is hard to thrive in and a lot of people depreciate the effort it takes to create art.” In middle school, Lee decided to take… Continue reading Junior Emmie Lee’s talent ‘shines like the first bright star in the sky at night’
