ITAL IGNSV S 2. BRAVO NEWS

1. NEWS AND FEATURES

3. OPINION

4. SPORTS

BRAVO MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | VOL. XV, ISSUE v | WWW.BRAVOWEB.LAUSD.K12.CA.US | JANUARY 19, 2011

By ROXANA SIERRA & WILLIAM NUBLA

On Tuesday, December 13, an organized group of Bravo students participated on a 4-mile walk to the downtown LAUSD building in Beaudry St. The purpose of this walk was to make a political statement about budget cuts which threatened the magnet program and other activities that relied on transportation. When Bravo students received news of this information, many became worried. Many students thought about not returning to Bravo, while a handful decided to put an end to thinking about the “what ifs,” and started talking about possible action. As junior Vito Perez put it, “When the cuts were first announced, I felt that we could do nothing about it, and so I didn't care just like most Bravo students — or anyone at all for that matter.“ However, when Perez was informed that student action was indeed possible and would help with the issue, Perez and other students quickly stood up — better yet, walked out — for the cause. For a little over a week, every nutrition, lunch and after school was dedicated to organizing and strategizing the steps necessary for an effective walkout. The group discussed the possible

consequences, though many were willing to accept them. They (the students organizing the walkout) told everyone on the online networking site, Facebook, about the consequences if they decided to go to the walkout. In response,

the school administration and other LAUSD officials called homes to remind parents of the consequences of their children’s actions. Despite these retaliation measures, many still went, and the end result was an organized and peaceful march along

Soto St., Cesar Chavez, and finally Beaudry St. Banners were made beforehand, the route printouts and purpose-of-the-walkout printouts were distributed, and reminders, via Facebook, were announced about bringing water, snacks, and comfortable clothing. On the anxious day of the walkout, one of the head organizers, president of Random Acts of Kindness Francisco Araujo (’12), was nowhere to be found. Maria Maritrosyan (’12) was already scheduled to speak on behalf of Bravo students as planned. However, it only took one student to ignite a frenzy; soon, others were chanting “Walkout!” As they were ready to go, the principal, Mrs. Torres-Flores, gave the students another warning, but was hardly heard amid the chaos. Earlier that morning, she announced Superintendent John Deasy’s plan to take legal action; but, as many have learned over the course of winter break, it has worked, and thus no cuts to transportation will be made this year. Bravo, along with Downtown Magnet, walked out. It was the zero hour and they were ready to make their mark, to show their frustration and show the media their passion for their education.

A Walk for LAUSD’s Future

By WILLIAM NUBLA

Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League members met up on December 9 and December 10 for yet another series of skirmishes settled at Crenshaw High School, and this time, Bravo competed with its new recruits. Although the majority of the performances of Bravo debaters were bland (in the sense that few awards were given out to Bravo debaters during the award ceremony), Eva Hu (’13) and Jocelyn De La Rosa (’12) prevailed as the clear winners in the Open Division. Taking home a gigantic and much-deserved trophy, these two put Bravo in the spotlight — since it was their first time winning a first place trophy (and not to mention Jocelyn De La Rosa’s first

time competing in Open Division.)

Bewilderment with the judge

In the Novice Division, debaters Stephanie Situ (’13) and Shapatur Badhon (’13), after having debated against three teams, disputed over a seemingly “clear” victory against debaters in Downtown Magnet High School in one of their debate rounds. Even though the judge disclosed (meaning that they told the competitors whom she had chosen to win the debate round) in favor of Situ and Badhon, she wrote down the team from Downtown Magnet High School as the winners of that round. Why’s it such a big

Bravo Takes First in Debate Tournament| see WALKOUT, page 2 |

| see DEBATE, page 2 |

ROXANA SIERRA Vital Signs

WILLIAM NUBLA Vital Signs

Fortitude • A few hundred students from both Bravo Medical Magnet High School and Downtown Magnet High School stand strong, better yet, walk strong, for their education system.

Backbone • Despite the cuts made on Bravo’s debate program, neither Jocelyn De La Rosa (left) nor Eva Hu complain, as they take home the first place trophy for the Open Division.

ITAL IGNSV SPAGE 2 NEWS VOL. XV, ISSUE v

BRAVO NEWSJANUARY 19, 2011

The media was ready, BAMN (By Any Means Necessary) members were outside, and the school police and Mr. Katzman, ready to help the students get to the Beaudry building safely. Over the course of two hours the students walked peacefully, stayed on the sidewalks, and chanted loudly, receiving honks and cheers from passing vehicles and pedestrians. With the media crew following them, some Knights were interviewed along the

way as well. The students chanted “No funds, no future!” It was fortunate that this protest was not overbearing and childish; in doing so, they did not face the risk of the media interpreting them as vulgar or rash. When the students got to the LAUSD building, they began to crowd around the entrance to the board meeting room — one hour before the meeting started. They were told they would not be allowed in. Instead, Bravo was allowed to select three representatives,

and Downtown magnet, one representative. From Bravo, they were juniors Arturo Gomez and Vito Perez, senior Jessica Romero, and Downtown Magnet student, Alex Gomez. At the end of the day, the evening news on several local channels covered the story and portrayed the bold move in a good light; Facebook was bombarded with comments and wallposts from students and faculty alike. As Vito Perez stated, “We received the media with apprehension since

| WALKOUT, from page 2 | they had the power to demonize or praise us.” The students who walked out demonstrated, through their actions, that the education system has had enough cuts — education has suffered enough. Even if there might have been severe consequences for these students as individuals, they felt that it was time for them to stand up and do something about it. And as a result of these efforts, no changes on transportation will be made this year.

By JACQUELINE ROMERO

We’re almost halfway through the school year, but don’t scream “Hurrah!” just yet! Final exams are coming up, which means that the students of Bravo are going to start denoting the ‘dying’ in studying. However, here are some tips to make finals a little less of a chore, and more of an easy task (with some studying, of course).

• Avoid procrastination!

Despite the seduction of procrastinating, be aware that it will only lead to destructive late nights of going over sloppy notes and textbook definitions. Don’t wait for your teacher to give you a study guide or hint you on what might be on your final. Rather, study at an efficient pace and look over all that you have covered this semester. Teachers may be tricky, so don’t be surprised if you get a problem that has nothing to do with the study guide you patiently waited for.

• Want to know what makes things more fun? Rewards.

Doing well on a test is fun because you reward yourself with an A. Running a mile is fun because you reward yourself with a healthy exercise, which includes a good night of sleep. It’s easy to make studying fun if you reward yourself. For every chapter you go over, praise yourself with a treat, such as a chocolate chip cookie or an ice cream cone. (Don’t let winter stop you.)

deal? Because with the should-have-been victory of that round, Situ and Badhon would of had a 4-0 records, and therefore taking them to finals in the Novice Division.

The new debaters: solar-powered what?

Many of the new debaters (that is, this was their first time competing in a tournament) complained about being nervous and not being ready on their first-ever debate tournament, and many did not do so well. What could they improve on? They could probably improve on making articulate arguments that are effective and as well as improving their speaking skills. They were all nervous wrecks during the practice debate rounds hosted during after-school practices. Debaters, from personal experience, may even win debate rounds without even knowing the structure of debate; they just have to make good arguments and use them well.

All in all, the Bravo debaters did well. The novices will get better over time, and they did well for their first tournament; in general, almost any new member performs substandard to their full potential. But the noticable improvements observed over time are staggering. And finally, Eva Hu and Jocelyn De La Rosa get to boast about their big first place trophy.

• Avoid getting distracted.

No social websites or texting is allowed until you memorize a formula or vocabulary word that you’ve been struggling with. Put the phone under the mattress if necessary.

• Type your notes, and exercise your phalanges.

An entire notebook full of written notes is overwhelming. Although, it may seem like a waste of time to type notes you already have, repetition is actually great for memorization. The time you spend typing counts as studying, because you absorb information without even realizing it.

• Take breaks!

If you plan to study for hours, take breaks every 20 minutes or so. Getting away from all the material is alleviating and it will give you more energy. But your breaks shouldn’t exceed five minutes.

• Make flashcards; and if they’re ready to go, tape them around your room.

Place them all around your walls a few nights before your test. If you’re wondering why this is helpful, just imagine all those times that you tend to wander off and stare at the wall. Now you will be reading off your flashcards instead.

Study Tips for your Finals

| DEBATE, from page 2 |

By MONICA ROQUE

Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Computation and Neural Systems — the fields of scientific studies at the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) are as extensive as they are stimulating. If you’re a student who shines brighter than a supernova in the areas of science and mathematics, then the outstanding research opportunities and unmatched education at Cal Tech are for you.

Location: Pasadena, California, U.S.

College Type: private, co-ed

Calendar System: quarter

Use of this list to keep track of the requirements needed to apply:

Academic Preparation

• 4 years of math, including calculus.

• 1 year of physics.

• 1 year of chemistry.

• 3 years of English (4 years recommended).

• 1 year of U.S. history/government.

Testing Requirements

• SAT OR ACT.

• SAT Mathematics Level 2.

• 1 SAT Subject Test: Biology (Ecological), Biology (Molecular), Chemistry, OR Physics.

Teacher Evaluations

• One Math or Science Teacher. • One Humanities or Social Science Teacher.

College Corner: Cal Tech University

Google Images

“I was really astonished by the achievements of the new

Novices. They made me really proud by the way they learned

so much in such a short amount of time and by going

against students who have been debating for a longer

time than they have.”...

Maria Martirosyan,Debate Captain

SUPER BOWL XLVISan Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

The football gods absolutely love the fans, and they’ll prove it by providing a Super Bowl for the ages. This will be a special matchup because the head coaches of each team are brothers Jim and John Harbaugh. Both of these teams

| FOOTBALL, from page 4 | play an exact type of football: a lot of running, very aggressive defense, and limited passing. Neither QB is elite, but Baltimore’s Joe Flacco has proven that he can win in the playoffs, and the Ravens have a lot more experience. While the 49ers have shown to be contenders for the next several years, they will fall short of the ultimate goal in 2012.

PETROSYAN PREDICTION: 49ers 19, Ravens 24

Bravo Takes First in Debate Tour-nament

Petrosyan Playoff Predictions

ITAL IGNSV S PAGE 3 OPINION VOL. XV, ISSUE v

EDITORIALSJANUARY 19, 2011

2012 gives millions a chance to start fresh by eating well and getting fit to make better people of themselves. Obesity has grown out of control to the point that it is a leading risk factor in America. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), obesity has claimed the lives of over 112,000 this past year alone. The time to make goals to better yourself has come and decisions that you make now may possibly affect your future, more specifically, the difference between health and disease, life and death. What can you do about this, you may ask? You can start by factoring out yourself and making a realistic New Year’s Resolution that revolves around eating healthy and exercising in order to create a better you. Fear not! With an open mind and a keen sense of commitment you can be steered towards a better future to carry out this new goal.

As poor eating habits and couch potatoes become more common in American households, so does the risk of developing many serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and the heightened chance of experiencing a stroke. The Rand Corporation (a research and analysis institution) also inquired that by 2020, more than 20% of health care spending will be put towards obesity, a highly preventable condition.

By HELEN BEZIKYAN

There are so many movies coming soon in theatres for the new year, but do you know which one you’re going to watch? If you’re looking out for a romantic chick flick, then The Vow is for you. The Vow stars Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum as a newlywed couple who are recovering from a car accident that puts the bride into a coma. But when she wakes, she has severe memory loss and her husband goes through the process of winning her heart all over again. The Vow will be in theaters on February 10, 2012. Now if you’re interested in a suspenseful action movie, the remake of Contraband stars Mark Wahlberg as a previous smuggler who was widely known as legendary, but he abandoned the life of crime to have a family. After his brother-in-law gets in some kind of trouble with dealers, Chris (played by Wahlberg) is dragged back into running a contraband — a smuggling system — to resolve his brother-in-law’s debt. Chris must get to work fast and successfully navigate a sneaky, illegal network of brutal drug lords, cops, and “hitmen” before his wife, Kate, and sons become their target. Contraband will be in theaters on January 13, 2012. A great comedy is always a crowd-pleaser. One for the Money stars Katherine Heigl as a New Jersey girl who doesn’t have a job, so she convinces her bail bondsman cousin to give her a shot as a bounty hunter. Her first task is to track down a former cop on the run for murder, who turns out to be her ex-flame in high school. One for the Money will hit the theatres on January 27, 2012.

According to the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) and the HHS (US Department of Health and Human Services), two out of three Americans are either overweight or obese. Now that the year has finally begun, you can improve your health and help take yourself out of the equation. Here is how to get started. The USDA strongly suggests a well-balanced meal of 2-3 servings of dairy and meats, 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruits, and 6-11 servings of grains. Eating well certainly satisfies nutrition, but the importance of being active also circulates blood and oxygen throughout our

bodies to strengthen muscles, especially the heart. HHS encourages teens to get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Let’s not leave out adults, or teachers for that matter, since they have to work twice as hard by doing two hours of exercise to ward off coffee splurges. Not only does eating healthy and exercising rid your body from fat-inducing Takis™ and knee-high bottles of Coca Cola™ but it also improves your studies in school. Tiring stressful days are a drag when it comes to school but the solution may be as simple as a bowl of fresh fruits and vegetables coupled with being active. Healthy living will amp up your immune-system (much needed to tackle illness and toxins in the body), increase your energy, increase productivity, improve the way you handle stress, allow you to catch some serious sleep and will consequently reduce dark zombie circles underneath your eyes. Unless you plan on becoming a zombie, the easier way to a healthy lifestyle is making a goal towards eating right. How might you start this absurd land of eight-hour sleep and virus fighting ninjas? Start small. Make goals that you know you can achieve and overtime alter your goal so that you push yourself a little each day. To add to that, make realistic goals. Though enthusiasm is much appreciated, it is not recommended to make ridiculous goals in the course of one day such as: a person who considers their exercise running to the restroom wanting to run a marathon the next day (though it could be possible in some very far far away universe). The very idea may not get you a body sculpted from the gods, but it can be assured that overtime if you stick to your resolution, something just as good can help you on the way. So make a resolution that will last longer than the year itself and help yourself to a longer healthier life.

A New Year’s Resolution That Lasts a LifetimeBy HANNAH CONTRERAS

Top 3 Movies to Watch out for in 2012

www.meltingmama.net / Google Images

www.beyondhollywood.com / Google Images

PORTION CONTROL, daily values, and nutrition facts are made easy on this website. It is run by the United States Department of Agriculture.

DEAR JOHN’S Channing Tatum (left) and The Notebook’s Rachel McAdams star in the possibly-tear-jerking movie, The Vow.

Obesity has grown out of control to the point that it is a leading risk

factor in America.

SPORTS

William Nubla Editor-in-Chief

AJ Saniano Editor-in-Chief

Cynthia Serrano Editor-in-Chief

Katherin Javalera Managing Editor

Crystal Rivas Managing Editor

Jasmine Montanez Photographer-in-Chief

Amy Guerra Editor Citlaly Orozco Editor Albert Petrosyan Editor

Jacqueline Romero Editor

Monica Roque Editor

Letters to the Editors

Letters to the editors concerning any topic relevant to Vital Signs are welcomed. Please refrain from using vulgar or

disrespectful language. Letters should be brief and should be edited to maximize space use and heighten clarity. Letters may be

anonymous or signed by the author. Please send letters to:

bravo.journalism@gmail.comor

Drop them off in Mr. R. Rodriguez’s mailbox or in Room 312

Editorial Matter

Opinions expressed in Vital Signs belong to

the writer. They do not reflect the opinions of the

journalism staff or those of Francisco Bravo Medical

Magnet High School.

ITAL IGNSV S

ITAL IGNSV S JANUARY 19, 2011PAGE 4 SPORTS VOL. XV, ISSUE v

By ALBERT PETROSYAN While Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School has been known for its academics more than for its athletics, the varsity basketball team has found some recent successes. Last year the team, led by seven-year coach Brian Ota, rode a mid-season six-game winning streak en route to an 18-8 record and a playoff berth. Despite losing to a formidable Narbonne (22-9 record) team, the

team found solace in tying for the lead in a tough Southern Division. The problem, however, remained in the fact that 12 of the 17 players were seniors, and so would be graduating. It looked like the team had to go into rebuilding mode, or so it seemed. Coach Ota knew he needed to find ways to fill the void left by the graduating players, such as leading scorer Theo Agbonwaneten (’11) and starting point guard Vincent Ung (’11). However, Ota knew he had talent in the returning members, thus

leading him to choose Rehan Ahmed (’12) and James Pallo (’12) as co-captains. “We showed hard work, commitment, passion, dedication, good decision making, and that’s why Ota chose James and me,” said Ahmed when asked why they were chosen. Ahmed and Pallo know the burden is on them to rally the team and show the necessary leadership and responsibility to lead this revamped group to another playoff run. The other returning members are Avetis Boyadzhyan (’12), Rashad Tucker (’13), and Alberto Figueroa (’12). However, Ota has some new talent on the team as well, bringing in some up-and-coming players such as Harut Torosyan (’13), Nicolas Delgado (’13), Jose Robles (’13), and Oswaldo Sanchez (’13). Also joining the team are the senior presences of Jeffrey Machado (’12) and Alberto Hernandez (’12) who both spent three years in the Junior Varsity team. When asked how he would handle the transition, Machado responded, “Well, I've been working harder and getting even more in shape because varsity is a lot faster. All the preseason games have helped though.” One player that many people speak highly of is sophomore Adam Baltazar (’14) who has worked hard in the offseason to become a rare sophomore addition to the varsity team. Both captains have been highly impressed by the youngster’s play and they know that he needs to live up to the billing. “He is the youngest one and needs to prove to us he has what it takes to be in varsity,” said Pallo. Ahmed added a few good remarks, “Adam, as a sophomore, has been playing well. He has good ball handling and smart passes, and can score.” While this year’s team knows

Looking to Rebound

Bravo Varsity Team Hopes to Build on Strong Season

that losing the key players from last year will not help the team, they are making it known that their effort and dedication, along with their morale, has never been higher. Boyadzhyan (’12) comments, “Basically we formed a new game plan that we play with best. We know our advantages and we play by them at all times. Losing players like them was upsetting but we’ll do the best we can.” Machado added, “Well, I think that if we work together as teammates, as a whole, we'll be able to contribute as much as those [players that graduated] individual players did.” The preseason has not lived up to the high expectations that the captains have set for the team, as Bravo has gone 5-6 in those games. Both captains have been critical of the defensive effort, as well as the ball movement. However, they also have realized that this group of players are barely learning to play with each other, and that it will take time for the chemistry and flow to build. “Well we do have a new system and inexperienced players. I guess time will have to tell and let everything fall into place,” said Pallo. The captains have been impressed by the communication the team has had on the court, as well as the offensive efforts that the players have displayed. “Our shooting can be deadly at times, and despite our size, we are good at rebounding,” said Ahmed. In the eyes of opponents, the formidability of Bravo basketball may have dimished compared to last year. Bravo will head into some games as the underdog; yet more often than not, the underdogs are the overachievers.

JASMINE MONTANEZ Vital Signs

Who will win it all?

By ALBERT PETROSYAN

NFC CHAMPIONSHIPGAME

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers

The New York Giants, fresh of their huge upset over the defending champion Packers head into a tough environment to play a rough and tough 49ers

team that has experienced a huge rejuvenation under first year coach John Harbaugh. The 49ers have thrived by playing a fundamentally sound brand of football filled with a lot of running, efficient passing, and aggressive defense and special teams. The Giants are peaking at the right time and Eli Manning does look like an elite QB, and their defense looked great at shutting down an explosive Packers offense, but the 49ers stopped an equally dangerous Saints offense last week. Let’s also not forget that the 49ers beat the Giants earlier in the year as well.

PETROSYAN PREDICTION: Giants 20, 49ers 30

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMEBaltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

This is a compelling matchup between two opposite style teams. The Patriots are one of the best offensive teams with an explosive aerial attack and a historic QB, Tom Brady. The Ravens are a defensive minded, ground and pound ball club that has a limited passing game. However, the Patriots record is inflated since they

have only faced 2 teams that finished with winning records and the lost to them both. Even their playoff win was against a flawed Denver team. But you can never count Tom Brady and the Patriots dynamic offense out. However, The Ravens are a more complete team, and they know how to win on the road.

PETROSYAN PREDICTION: Ravens 34, Patriots 27

Petrosyan Playoff Predictions

| see FOOTBALL, page 2 |

Caliber • Despite the loss of talent by last year’s graduating seniors, Ota knew that there was talent in the returning members, which is why he chose James Pallo (left) and Rehan Ahmed as co-captains.