Category: News

By Sophia Xiao

 

Winter Olympics

For the first time, South Korea hosted the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Overall, Team USA had a disappointing Olympics, ending in fourth place. However, Team USA did have momentous victories: Women’s Hockey beat out Canada for their first gold medal in 20 years, Jessica Diggins and Kikkan Randall won USA’s first ever gold medal in cross country skiing and Skip John Shuster led his team to USA’s first-ever gold medal in curling. Despite military tensions, North Korea participated at the games. North and South Korea marched under a unified flag at the opening ceremony and formed several joint teams including skiing and women’s hockey.

Parkland shooting

On Feb. 14, a gunman open fired on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 and injuring 14 more. It is the deadliest mass shooting at a US high school in history. Afterwards, student survivors demanded legislative action to prevent mass shootings and gun violence. In March, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which raised the minimum age for buying rifles to 21, among other gun control reforms.

Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal

In March, Facebook became embroiled in yet another major political scandal when it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica acquired the private Facebook data of up to 87 million users and used it to help elect Donald Trump. Facebook’s stock price tanked, and the scandal prompted calls for increased ethical standards and privacy regulation of social media companies.

Border Children: Immigrant families in crisis

In April, the Trump administration implemented the “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which included separating children from their guardians at the border. Following tremendous public opposition and nationwide protests, Trump signed an executive order in June suspending the policy indefinitely. A lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that thousands of children were taken from their families without a system of keeping track of the separated children or specific plans to reunite them.

Royal wedding

The world watched as Prince Harry and retired American actress Meghan Markle spoke their vows in May. Around 29 million people in the US watched the wedding on TV, surpassing the 26 million who watched the 2011 wedding of Prince Williams and Kate Middleton. In the UK, TV viewership was about 18 million people.

Puerto Rico without electricity for 11 months

Hurricane Maria wrought catastrophic damage to Puerto Rico and Dominica back in Sept. 2017, causing massive flooding, lack of running water and other resources and the worst blackout in US history. Maria’s official death toll was originally 67, but was revised to 2,975 after studies revealed the full impact of the storm, accounting for the thousands who were unable to receive medical care due to the blackout. As late as June 2018, about seven thousand homes and businesses were still without power. Total losses from the hurricane are estimated at upwards of $91 billion.

Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing

After Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, multiple women who knew Kavanaugh in high school and college came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, including professor of psychology Christine Blasey Ford, who testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in September. While the Senate ultimately voted to confirm Kavanaugh’s nomination, the hearings inspired women’s-rights advocates and survivors of rape and sexual assault to speak more openly against sexual assault.

Hurricane Michael and Florence

Hurricane Florence caused the deaths of over 55 people and severe freshwater flooding and at least $17.9 billion of damages in the Carolinas in September. Shortly after, Hurricane Michael struck the southern US with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, one of the strongest hurricanes in US history. At least 60 deaths have been attributed to Michael, including 45 in the US and 15 more in Central America.

Global Trade War

The trade war between Trump and China continues into 2019, with the total US tariffs applied exclusively to China at $250 billion, and the total Chinese tariffs applied exclusively to the US at $110 billion. Hoping to fix the “longtime abuse of the broken international system and unfair practices,” Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines in January, then steel and aluminum for all countries but Australia and Argentina. China, EU, Canada, India and Mexico have all implemented retaliatory tariffs.

By Henry Zheng

Both the track and football field are to be completed this upcoming April.

The track renovations started in December, and will go along with the newly completed science buildings as they have many new exciting features that we should look forward to.

“At both end zones of the field we will have the school name at one side and the word PIRATES at the other. This is a new feature we’re looking forward to,” said Bond Program Director Julio Lucas.

Students can look forward to a more detailed football pitch. In addition to the new “PIRATES” addition, there will be new markings as well as synthetic black turf outlining the whole field.

The new turf will not only serve aesthetic purposes, but also as an economic investment for the school.

“Typically, synthetic turf needs to be replaced every 10-12 years,” stated Mr. Lucas.

From new markings to new turf and an addition of  “PIRATES” labeled on each end-zone, the field will be completely different from before.

Sadly, one crucial aspect is to be left out: bleachers.

“We are not (renovating) the bleachers as (a) part of this project. We are scheduled for replacement of the turf field that is in place now,” explained Mr. Lucas.

As for the track, the words “Piedmont Hills Pirates” is to be displayed in the middle of the grid lines, as well as a new straight-away that will overlap with the already existing left side of the track. There will also be new long jump runways on the track’s right side.

After many years, the worn down pink-red track surface itself is also expected to change.

“We’ve been addressing the track surface at the same time as we go through the process,” adds Mr. Lucas.

As for equipment, we can also expect to see new hurdles, which is particularly good news for senior athlete An Truong, who plans to experiment and try out hurdles this year.

“Being a track athlete, I want this done as soon as possible so I can be out running with my teammates at our home runway,” stated Truong.

However, many athletes are concerned over whether the track will be done in time for the season.

“Forreal, (we’re) not really going to have any home meets,” stated senior Tim Wang.

With construction workers working harder than ever as this will be the second major project completed this school,

we must remember to be grateful.

By: Rose Lu

 

This year, ASB and faculty banded together to host a staff talent show that took place on Jan. 24 at the L-building. The show showcased the teacher’s talents including acting, dancing and singing and with some of the cultural clubs.

“ASB had a goal at the beginning of the school year and that was to get staff more involved in student activities,” said ASB Treasurer Chloe Nguyen.

Admission was a dollar or a can of food. ASB and faculty added the form of payment as it can benefit others.

“We wanted to promote service and have an outlet for us to give back to the community,” explained ASB Secretary Tommie Huynh, “We realized that profits don’t outweigh our mission to give back to the community!”

Both PHHS staff and student clubs, including Las Mariposas, Bloomers, Indian Club and VSA, participated in the show.

“I’m participating in the talent show because I feel like it is very important for the teachers to see the other side of the student’s lives and how creativity and dance and the arts really affect them,” commented Sofi Jaquez, Las Mariposas president.

Staff also showcased their talents.

“I connected with the students on a different level because it isn’t just teachers going up there by themselves but you’re connecting with all these different groups,” remarked English Teacher and participant Michelle Flores. “It’s fun to see students in a different way than just academically.”

On stage, history teacher Jeffrey Loggins and Pep Commissioner Liana Annable teamed up to introduce all the acts and the teachers.

“The reason why I like hosting is that I feel really comfortable with it and that I’m very good with making a connection with the audience,” shares Mr. Loggins, “I feel like that’s my strong suit and that I’m comfortable on stage doing it.”

Psychology teacher Melanie Neethling played the piano and sang along with it, and English teacher Tricia Bolster sang a solo act.

“I’m a showoff and I have no pride,” shared Ms. Bolster, when asked about her reasons behind performing.

AP Honey Gubuan, social worker Yvonne Gunther and counselor Justine Kunkel also danced and had fun lip syncing and dancing to songs like Cardi B’s “I Like it.”

In the end, all teachers and cultural clubs that participated in the show gathered together to perform an end-of-the-show dance for the viewers.

“I really enjoyed seeing teachers and students come together to put on such performances,” expressed Chloe, “I hope this staff talent show becomes a Piedmont Hill’s tradition!”

By Henry Zheng

The science, GE (General Ed) and Special Ed buildings are finally coming to life this month after years of anticipation and pushed back deadlines. The projected date in which the classrooms will be completed is sometime before finals week.

“We’ll be moving boxes and things in during finals week in December,” said AP Biology and Forensics teacher Jason Dries.

The rooms are projected to be fully accessible on Jan. 7, as stated by Principal Ginny Davis.

This is particularly good news for both students and staff. After the long wait, many students look forward to having class in one of the most aesthetically pleasing buildings at school.

“I’ve been waiting for it because I thought it would be built after I graduated… I can’t wait!” says senior An Truong.

These buildings are one of the first building projects happening since the pool renovation. The buildings will allow for better access to science classes as opposed to the previous D-Building classes that were always hard to get to as people jostled around to get out of the halls.

“I always had trouble pushing through (the crowd) in the hallways,” states An.

The new buildings will offer a total of nine new classrooms that students and staff will occupy. It is not said who will move into these classrooms, but it can be inferred that most of the D-Building classrooms will be moved.

“There are four new science classrooms, two special education classrooms, and three general education classrooms. Plus, new restrooms for both staff and students,” stated Ms. Davis.

Along with being spacious, the buildings also provide something that we’re not used to.

“The science building is a single level, the other building is two story,” stated Ms. Davis.

It will be the first time in our school’s history where a two-story building will be avidly used for classes.

However, as grand as they are, many are criticizing the new buildings, stating how it’s colors do not fit in with the school’s signature maroon, white, and black.

“They really need to change the colors, it just does not fit,” said senior Aaron Jiang.

Others also believe that the buildings are pretty, but clash with Piedmont Hill’s signature “old look,” which the building’ modernist architecture does not encompass.

Despite all the comments, everyone seems to appreciate the buildings and how they have added a new dynamic to our school.

Yet many students are still mad at the construction workers on how they have pushed back many deadlines.

When asked whether weather or the wildfires had affected the buildings’ progressed, Ms. Davis replied with, “Not at all.”

Now that the buildings are done, we should appreciate its completion, and be thankful for how diligently working the construction workers have been. From the terrible air quality to the tons of rain we have been receiving, they have seemed to worked through it all.

 

By Sophia Xiao and Rex Ly

 

PHHS’ vocal jazz group, the Treblemakers, serenaded NASA employees with Christmas Jazz at the NASA Ames Research Center on Sat., Dec. 8.

Treblemaker alumni Margaret Levithan’s dad, who works for NASA, invited the jazz cappella group to perform for their Christmas party, according to Conductor Myles Ellis.

“It was really fun. We were able to draw considerably large crowds and spread some holiday cheer! We also got free food and merch from NASA,” said soprano Lilly Liu.

With songs like “Carol of the Bell,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Jingle Bells,” the group of nineteen continued their tradition of singing Christmas songs at the staff’s Christmas Party. The group also sang “Voice Dance” and “Bumble Bee,” which featured soloists Lilly, Amy Dao, and Jeremiah Porda.

“The solo went really smoothly! People seemed to enjoy having soloists and hearing our unique voices,” said Lilly.

The group sang a total of four times at the party and even had time in between performances to enjoy the huge Christmas party.

“It wasn’t like a concert at all. It was more like a Treblemakers bonding,” explained tenor Baron Lee. “The last time we performed was the best out of all the four times, because we listened to each other better, and we knew how to start off and what the tempo was in the beginning instead of rushing all the way through.”

The Treblemakers last performed at NASA back in 2015, so this is the first time the current members will perform there. While the short preparation time and special audience was a source of anxiety for some members, senior Samuel Dai felt the group delivered a strong performance.

“The jitters are always hard to ignore in the beginning but the group is like a family, and we rely on each other during performances. Even though singing in front of strangers can be terrifying, we get assurance knowing we have each other’s backs,” explained Samuel.

The Treblemakers prepared for this performance as well as for the winter choir concert, Snow Better Place to Be, through rehearsals every Monday, Thursday and Friday during Lunch and Wednesday before school.

“The students are hardworking, and we treat this like a professional job,” said Mr. Ellis.
The members love singing and are dedicated to the group. For them, singing is a form of expression and gives them a sense of community.

“I just feel like I can portray my emotions better through singing,” expressed Baron.

The vocal jazz group frequently performs at choir concerts and other showcases.

“As a member of this group for three years, vocal jazz has become such a large portion of my high school experience, and I feel a responsibility to continue the legacy the alumni from past generations left to us,” said Samuel.

By David Shih

 

The Senior Math Olympiad, a math competition, demonstrates fierce competition of mathematics among the top students at local high schools in the Santa Clara Valley. Piedmont Hills’ selected mathematicians this year are seniors Asher Twu and Sophia Xiao. Sophia Got first place in division 2, and Asher got 5th place. The competition took place on Dec. 8 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at Valley Christian High School.

Piedmont Hills currently is in the second division of the competition. This means that the contestants of our school will only have to go up against contestants in the same division.

Sophia was also ranked 4th out of the whole completion (Division 1 and 2).

“It was really unexpected that I won the competition (for division 2) and placed 4th overall. I usually get really nervous before the competition and it was really a big surprise that we beat out big schools such as Lynbrook, Evergreen and Valley Christian, “stated Sophia after the competition.

The content of the event ranges from Geometry to Algebra 2 for the students to solve. The competition took roughly 2 hours, followed up by another mini event where participants are required to participate.

“This event is really just another way for me to pursue math outside school not just restricted by the schools classes that are offered and stuff like that,” said Sophia. “This will be last event that I can put towards colleges so it’s fairly important (to me)”.

Preparing and studying for this event also took up a lot of time. Even though the content of the problems require skills from Pre-Calculus, the context the problems are put in were very confusing. As a result, the contestants spent hours training for the event.

“I didn’t really want to join, Sophia just forced me to join, but seriously. I really enjoy doing math and it’s just another way for me to get recognition for something I love.” said Asher.

The event will also include history problems that focuses when certain theorems was introduced and accepted.

Another senior Anne Ouyang was invited to the event, but unfortunately couldn’t make the event due to another coding competition that fell on the same day.             The Senior Math Olympiad was not only just a competition for math. It is also a bonding event that allows students that are interested in math, to get to know one another and compete for something that they love.

 

By Sophia.Xiao

 

PHHS Red Cross hosted its annual Fall Blood Drive on Nov. 2 in the Library, inviting Vitalant Research Institute nurses, equipment and staff onto campus to harvest blood from 58 students and staff. Blood donations collected at Piedmont Hills will directly supply the 45 hospitals here in the Bay Area, according to Vitalant Donor Recruitment Representative Nick Hooks.

“100% of that blood comes from volunteer donors so if we don’t have donors like the ones here at Piedmont Hills, those patients don’t have a chance to see tomorrow,” said Mr. Hooks.

When it comes to life-saving transfusions, there is no substitute for blood, which is used to treat accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer, according to the Red Cross website.

“We’re always in a shortage, especially in the Bay Area, since there are so many people,” said Red Cross Co-President Mignon Lee.

By hosting their biannual blood drives, Red Cross helps to diminish that shortage and save lives. In fact, high school students are a very important demographic for Vitalant.

“They’re actually our largest source of blood. During the school year, about 35% of the blood supply comes from high school students, so it’s a really important aspect of what we do,” said Mr. Hooks. “Additionally, a lot of the people donating at these drives, it’s their first time donating so that is where we get our lifetime donors.”

Among the 58 donors, 40 were first-time donors. Students were pulled out of class from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to donate blood in the Library bustling with Red Cross volunteers, Vitalant nurses and recovering donors. Donors were rewarded with a free T-shirt, as well as juice and snacks meant to help them recover lost iron and vitamins.

“I was very (nervous) because I hate needles, but it’s for a good cause, so I decided I’m just going to do it and stop being a wimp,” shared first-time donor Stacey Huang. “It’s a good experience. You get very pampered with all this food and you’re donating blood which helps others.”

“It’s really a magical experience to see how you can impact other people through something that you own,” said Red Cross Vice President Shannon Liu.

While the donation is a simple and safe procedure, Red Cross advises donors to follow certain precautions before and afterwards to stay healthy and prevent injury.

“They recommend eating a good breakfast, having salt, sleeping the night before, and staying hydrated,” explained Mignon.

According to the Red Cross website, nurses collect one pint of blood as well as several additional samples for testing. The blood is then processed, packaged and tested for blood type and infectious diseases. Finally, the blood is shipped off to hospitals where it is stored and available for use at any time.

by Katie Tran

“ARKin’ Downtown allows members to recognize the true meaning of kindness because we venture out in Downtown SJ and we step out of our comfort zones to do spontaneous things we wouldn’t do on a regular basis, like serenading or giving a stranger a hug,” says ARK President Janeene Yeh.

On Nov. 4, ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) held their annual event, ARKin’ Downtown. The event took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There was a good amount of attendees, about the same as last year but with some IHS (Independence High School) students joining as well. This is one of the biggest events that ARK holds during the year.

“Anyone can sign up, we gather Downtown to do a bunch of ice breakers and then we split into groups for the scavenger hunt,” explains Publicist Quynh Le.

At the event, ARK prepared icebreakers and activities for their members.  They had a variety of icebreakers to allow members to become acquainted with each other before the scavenger hunt such as ‘The Zoo Game’, ‘I Love My Neighbor’ and ‘The Human Knot.’  These icebreakers all serve different purposes, such as to get the attendees more comfortable with each other and to strengthen their teamwork. Members then separate into groups using lyrics from different Disney songs. They were expected to find their own groups using the lyrics and groups prepared small skits with the song to perform in front of everyone. These same groups then embarked on the main event of the day, the scavenger hunt.

Just like the club itself, the event revolves around showing kindness to strangers. The scavenger hunt wasn’t finding items on a list but rather completing as many tasks as possible in the given time of an hour and a half. Tasks count as varying amounts of points as long as they were videoed or photographed for evidence. Groups with the most points were rewarded fuzzy socks and candy in a mug, which are wrapped and tied with ribbon and have an attached white plush seal keychain.

“Tasks include taking a kawaii photo with your group, holding the door open for someone, telling a pick up line to someone and leaving a note in a book at the library,” says Janeene.

ARK had also set up a big poster in which members wrote nice and encouraging messages on a variety of brightly colored post-it notes that were then stuck onto that poster. The post-it notes are meant for SJSU (San Jose State University) students to peel off and keep while the poster itself contained a bigger message that would be revealed once all post-it notes are taken.

“ARK has been hosting ARKin’ Downtown since 2015 but we’re definitely continuing it for many years to come,” reveals Quynh.

Before the event, the club held a sneak peek scavenger hunt at their regular Thursday meeting. Attendees of the meeting formed groups of five and set off to complete the five activities on the sneak peek scavenger hunt list. The five activities listed were the following: take a picture with a teacher, tell a stranger a pick-up line, take a picture with a spirit week participant, spell out ARK with group members’ bodies and make seal noises with a friend for five seconds. The groups are expected to provide ARK officers with photographic evidence as proof. The group who finishes the quickest wins the pre scavenger hunt and are rewarded half an act.

This is a big activity for ARK because the event itself is meant to help members make friends and memories. Not only do attendees leave the event with new friendships, but they also leave with the satisfaction of knowing that they were able to make someone’s day.

By Christine Do

 

From Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, Key Club hosted their Eliminate Week, in which they promoted the awareness of MNT (Maternal Neonatal Tetanus), a deadly disease that kills newborns and mothers when they are exposed to light and touch. Dance to Eliminate was held last Saturday to celebrate the funds Key Club has raised thus far.

“MNT needs to be known since over 49 million newborns have suffered from this disease since the year 2017 and it can be cured so easily with only 3 doses of vaccine,” states Vice President of Administration Joann Huynh.

As one of Key Club’s main projects, many of the fundraisers have gone to the Eliminate Project, which pays for the vaccines that will protect the mother and pass on immunity to the baby once it is born. A baby is killed every 15 minutes by MNT and a mere $1.30 pays for three doses of vaccines which can save their lives.

“So many mothers and children suffer needlessly from MNT even when there are vaccines out there, so it shouldn’t be able to take lives when it could be cured,” states Treasurer Kathy Ton.

In order to raise awareness for this cause, Key Club hosts MNT Week. Monday is Make-A-Pledge Day where they pledge to eliminate MNT. The club sells MNT pins to support the cause on Tag-It-Tuesday. Wicked Wednesday encourages Key Clubbers to raise money by bringing their Trick-or-Treat boxes to ask for donations as they go from door to door on Halloween day in search of candy.

For Throwback Thursday, Key Clubbers post a baby picture on social media and state a fact about MNT. Finally, on Appreciation Friday, they show love and appreciation to their mothers by through a picture and a few sentimental words on social media.

“After MNT Week, we are hoping that more people are inclined to go to Dance to Eliminate because with funds going to MNT, if they learn about the cause, then they’ll want to support the cause,” says Kathy.

Similarly, Key Club hosts Dance to Eliminate to celebrate the funds that have been raised so far and as another fundraiser to promote the cause. This is a dance in which Key Clubbers have a good time dancing and mingling with each other. They’re able to meet new people while celebrating funds raised for the cause.

With all this fundraising, a huge impact is being made in the lives of those who cannot afford these vaccines. So far in the term, Key Club has raised almost $600 out of their goal of $1,300. By fundraising, those who have donated or helped with the cause have granted countless mothers and their babies protection from MNT. If the goal is reached, Key Club would be able to save over 600 lives.

“Recently, we’ve been able to eliminate MNT from Kenya and the Philippines,” says MNT Coordinator Emily Vu.

In order to raise awareness, Key Club has been talking about MNT during their meetings on Wednesdays at lunch. They have also been doing MNT workshops at DCM (District Council Meetings) that occur every month. In addition, MNT Week and Dance to Eliminate have been able to spread the knowledge about this disease. With these fundraisers, hundreds babies and mothers will be protected from MNT and given the opportunity to live a wonderful life.