Features

Just the mere mention of the SAT and its counterpart, the ACT, conjures images of late night studying and massive prep books. These six letters often guide the future for high schoolers who hope to go to competitive colleges. While we all are familiar with the test, few if any, of us have taken the time to step back and ask, how did these two tests become the gateway to college?

Rally commissioner Leah Capek's black 2003 Volkswagen Jetta seems more like a storage closet for costumes, props and equipment used in past rallies rather than a form of transportation.

"My stuff is all pretty much from the rally, give or take a few things," said the senior who has been on the rally commission since the end of last year. "There are flags, my clothes from the rally, skates and in the backseat of my car I have my blanket and binders. I also have some nice robes and a bra."

Capek, embarrassed by the blue leopard print bra, explains how it got in her car.

If you ever thought that wearing rubber bands around your wrist was a dumb idea, take a look around.

Alligators, squirrels, dinosaurs, strawberries and stars are only a few of the many shapes of Silly Bandz, colorful silicone wristbands that form shapes or words. These playful accessories have become a cultural phenomenon among people of all ages, including students across the school.

Having scuba dived all over the world, math and computer science teacher Debra Troxell found her biggest thrill in the ocean off the shores of Carmel. Three years ago Troxell had the honor of coming face to face with a mother humpback whale and her baby on the way back to shore after a dive. The enormous whales glided by just 20 feet from her face, leaving her in awe.

“It was just majestic,” said Troxell, as she fished for words to describe the event.

The sound of the yangqin, an instrument known as the Chinese piano, rings through junior Kristal Kung's ears as she lifts the mallet again.

Kung has played the yangqin since fourth grade. The yangqin is a trapezoid-shaped instrument made of wood with around 144 metal strings. It is played using two mallets made of bamboo with rubber on the ends to hit the strings.

"I started because one of my friend's mom introduced us to this Chinese instrument teacher and we all thought it was nice and joined," said Kung.