USA: Eastwood Academy High School

Recognized school, dedicated staff

Open House

Parents are anxious to talk to the principal and staff.

Open house is one of the many events that Eastwood High School has. It was held on Wednesday, September 7, 2005. There were over 150 parents attendance which is successful for any high school. This is the occasion when parents and teachers get together and talk about how the students are doing in their classes. This is the time for parents to ask questions and get answers for any of their parental concerns. Teachers are willing to take time out and stay late to talk to parents showing them that, teachers do care. Parents confide in the teachers enough to know that the teachers are teaching their children what they need to be taught.

As teachers talk, the parents listen to what they have to say. Parents realized that ever teacher teaches his/her own way, but with the same purpose that is to get the student interested and open up their ideas and give their own input. That way students can put more effort into the class. When parents ask, if their kids behave in class. They are happy to hear the positive comments from the teacher like the students behave very well and respect one another.
With our excitement for our first journalism field assignment, we interviewed a parent about their views on school and the importance of parent involvement. One parent said, “I think the school has a lot to offer a student who is willing to work.” Then he commented, “Since the first day of school my child has been busy with nothing but homework. I think that it is the teacher’s job to keep the students mind busy! It gives them the challenges they need.” About the parents’ involvement, he answered, “It’s very important for students to succeed in life.”

At the end of the day parents go home happy knowing that Eastwood Academy is doing everything they can for the students achievement and graduation, going to college and success in life.

By: Jose and Samantha, staff writers

USA: Graduating Through Life

Through the trials
Through the changes
You gotta grow up sometime
It's just a matter of how well you deal with it
Leaving the family
Making new friends
Having a career
Striving towards goals but still wanting secret fantasies
Going through heartache
But reviving with laughter
Worries will appear that you never thought
You would need to worry about
Wanting to know which or what is the right thing
This is all a part of reality
That one day everyone will have to face
Making it easy is the tricky part
Taking it one step at a time just might be a right start.

USA: HISD Helps Katrina Victims

Hurricane Katrina has been one of the worst natural disasters to happen in the United States. Everybody has the immense desire to help the hurricane victims with anything they can. Everyone here in Houston has welcomed the victims with open arms and an open heart.

The Outsiders

The Greasers

The Outsiders is a book written by S.E. Hinton. It is based on young teenage boys that get in trouble. The boys are in a gang called the Greasers. Ponyboy, the main character, narrates it. The story centers on two group rivalries, the Socs and the Greasers.

One day at the park Ponyboy and his friend Sodapop meet up with one of the members of the Socs and ends up killing him. Ponyboy is then forced to leave the city with Sodapop. They hide out in a church, and in order to hide his identity, Ponyboy has to dye his hair. They encounter many struggles during the way.

The story is based on friendship and violence. It is a very enjoyable book. Once you read a chapter you will not want to stop.

Afterschool Activities

At Eastwood we have some afterschool activities such as music, guitar lessons, accordion lessons, singing and dancing. We also have sports. One is baseball which we have during eighth period. Our coach is Mr. McMurchy. Playing baseball is so fun. We don't have to run at all and girls get to play too. In baseball practice we work on different concepts. First we warm up by playing catch with a partner. Then we get into two separate teams and scrimmage against each other. Sometimes we have batting practice or play game simulations.

We also have a soccer team for both girls and guys. Mr. Corona is the girls' coach and Mr. Frank tries to coach the guys. They practice after school from 3:30 to 5:30 P.M. and play sometimes on Saturdays. At the student request we might get a basketball team if a coach is found.
Our school also has a sixteen week computer class for parents. At the end of the class parents will receive a free computer to keep for themselves.

Although our school is small we still have after school activities and sports. There is not a wide variety to choose from but students are happy with what we have for the present time. For the future our principal is trying to do his best to add more activities and sports for our school. We can hardly wait for those new additions.

USA: Is Hollywood Acting Like They Care?

Hurricane Katrina not only affected those who lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the state of Texas, but it seems as if it hit everyone from politicians to celebrities.

After the city of Houston opened its doors to the hurricane victims, everyone jumped onboard the helping wagon. With more and more coverage blasting our television sets, the message spread out to everyone who had a name.

Celebrities from every corner of Hollywood began to pump out some of their pocket change to help. Stars such as Sean Penn and John Travolta went out to New Orleans to give a helping hand. They actually interacted with the victims by letting them jump on their boats or by giving them a ride in their private jet.

So what are we to think of this sudden generosity from Hollywood? They think that by being on telethons without any makeup and reading from the prompters that they can fool us that they really care. Yeah right! If they really did care, they wouldn’t be reading from prompters or they wouldn’t hold benefits to raise money from other people, but they’d be the ones giving money from their pockets.

They should get together as they always do on weekends and donate their own money. They need to speak from their hearts, just like the way Kanye West did on “A Concert for Hurricane Relief”, when he went off script to say what many people have been thinking about. When he said, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”, he spoke for many who believe that Bush has done nothing for the victims.

USA: The Fight

A fight erupted at Jones High School September 13, 2005. Students from Jones High School and the new evacuee students from New Orleans had an all out rumble. It started in the morning, as classes were about to be in session. A student from Jones H.S threw a coke bottle at the new evacuee students from New Orleans. Five to ten students were involved in the fight; two Houston students were treated for facial wounds and the evacuee student was treated for a rib and facial wound.

The Houston students shouldn’t give the New Orleans evacuees a hard time. They have lost their homes, their belongings, and most of them lost their loved ones. Instead of fighting, we should be there to show our support to the Katrina victims and we should treat them like our guests. This fight just makes us appear that we can’t get along with anybody and that we show no respect. There should be a line of communication between us and the Katrina victims. We should have an open mind, and support those who are in need of help.

Luis

Hollywood continued

Hollywood needs to go to those shelters and actually see and listen to these people. Don’t stand in front of the cameras just to get more recognition. For once, stop acting like you care and stop talking that stuff about wanting to do things, but actually do it.

A survey was conducted to determine who the students thought was most likely to succeed. For the 12th graders Arely Cervantes was the winner with about 1/3 of the votes. For the 11th graders Leticia Crispin won with 1/4 of the votes. For the 10th grade Cinthia Cervantes won with 1/3 of the votes. Finally, Luis Gonzales and Francisco Corona, each won with 1/12 of the votes.

When Arely Cervantes got the news that she was chosen the most likely to succeed of her class she was very stunned and started to blush. She replied “Are you serious, I won? I am speechless!” She was jumping of joy and wanted to thank all the people who voted for her. Arely Cervantes will be the most likely to succeed because she is a hard worker and is currently the 12th grade salutatorian.

Following her sister’s, Arely Cervantes foot steps, Cinthia Cervantes was also very shocked. She replied “I feel excited, because everybody sees me that way.” We believe Cinthia Cervantes will succeed because she already has a role model to look after and also she is very dedicated to her work.

Two years in a row Leticia Crispin was chosen most successful in her class. When she received the news she was not as excited as the first time she won. She replied “I feel thankful that people voted for me two years in a row.” This year she is president of her junior class. We caught her while she was working with her fellow officers.

The freshman class had two winners, Luis Gonzales and Francisco Corona. Luis was very proud of himself that he got chosen, and with a big smile on his face he had much to say. “Ooh! I feel great actually. Of course I would be the most successful! I feel good!” Luis is a very energetic person that likes to get things done and like to be on top. Francisco Corona was not as excited as everyone else. We caught him playing a game of soccer so he took a moment of his time to tell us that he felt good about himself for winning. Francisco dedicates all his time on school and on playing soccer.

All the candidates that won seemed to be dedicated to their goals. The survey brought more confidence to themselves. We know that they will always fight to achieve their dreams. The results of the survey showed that they have proved to their class that they are most likely to succeed by all the hard work they put into school.