The Armijo Signal

Journalism in modern times pp.8-9 Where we’ve been meets where we are going The Armijo Signal Armijo High School, Fairfi eld September 2015 Volume XX, Issue I Farm gives way to new walkway Construction improvements provide students ease of passage Dealing with drought Suggestions for students By Ashley de Groot Staff writer By De Ronte Bridges a nd Tatanisha Johnson Three months ago it was a Staff writers fenced-off jumble of weeds, but now it’s Every state has natural disas- a beautiful walkway. What do students ters and, until recently, the biggest con- think of the new quad? Does it save cerns for California have been earth- time? Why build a new quad, and what quakes. Right now, however, the focus went into building it? has been the drought. The severity of the drought has created further danger Student opinions with wildfi re, but students and staff alike So far, a majority of students can help diminish the danger by making seem to prefer the new quad to the good choices at home and at school. overgrown fi eld which used to occupy “I don’t like it at all. It’s hot and its place after the school’s farm was frustrating. Everything is dried up and dismantled a few years ago. Cathleen the government isn’t doing anything Tran said, “I think it’s really nice!” and about it,” said Angel Ortiz. “The bad part many other students are in agreement, is people can hardly water their grass anymore without somebody calling the based on the comments overheard water department on them. My solution throughout the early days of the school for this is to collect the rainwater from year. Others, however, don’t fi nd it very Nevada and bring it to California.” practical. “It’s not useful,” Hong Nguyen “I think it’s unfortunate that it said, “ but it is pretty!” lead up to this being the fourth or fi fth Students take advantage of the new routes around campus. year having this drought,” said Ms. Kar- Do the new walkways save time? Photo by Michaela Pagsolingan en Lockhart, history teacher. “It’s good to Technically, yes. The new walk- conserve water, but we should’ve been ways, on average, seem to save about more prepared for this. My solution is for 10-15 seconds, depending on how crowded they are. However, this may not be enough to entice students the big companies that use more water to take the new paths, right. Most students have experienced the discomfort of walking to or from the Annex, than the consumer to set their pace to surrounded by what feels like half the school and constantly jostled around. These new paths may help ease conserve their water.” some of that congestion. Many students, however, are sticking to their old routes which means relief for those While these are good ideas, it is important to have some things that we who dislike the crowds or prefer to walk at their own pace. As students become more comfortable with the can do as individuals, too. If we’re not new alternative routes the area may become more crowded but additional alternatives to the traffi c patterns too careful with the water situation, then will help to put fewer people in one place. it could lead to more serious demands towards our state. Here are some tips to Why a quad? help you get started on saving water. Why did Armijo add a new quad instead of renovating the school? Principal Eric Tretten explained: •Take shorter showers “The old farm area had become both an eyesore and unsafe. The district wanted to try and make sure that •Don’t use the toilet as a garbage can •Turn the water off when you’re brush- Continued on page 3 - ing your teeth Latest construction There were also recommenda- tions for saving water at school. In ad- dition reporting leaks or bathroom spills School looks back at beginnings 125 years ago immediately, there are ways that school Famous people, monumental events mark Armijo history from 1891 district can help reduce water usage. •Use the sprinkler system only when By Annika R. Uyenco necessary. News editor •The district can switch to waterless urinals and low-fl ow toilets •Set sprinklers on a timer and watch The Class of 2016 has something special to be proud of. The year that they graduate is the same year for spillage onto the sidewalks that Armijo High School will celebrate its 125th anniversary. •Replace broken hoses The school was established in the year of 1891. Compared to our 68- Not only would these efforts save acre campus with more than 2300 students, it is hard to imagine that Armijo water, but they would also save money began as one-roomed school with only 30 students. This classroom was located TABLE OF CONTENTS because there would not be a need to where Crystal Elementary School is now. The room expanded into a small build- replace parts or pay for time spent on ing where, each year, the student population ranged from low 20s to the mid- News 1, 3-4 additional repairs by the custodial staff. 40s. Fifteen years later, the school relocated to where the county courthouse is Editorials, etc. 2 When you save water you save now, on Texas Street. People 5-7 the world. Imagine how much water In the year of 1929, two men, “...Professor J.E. Brownlee and Athletic Center Spread 8-9 could be saved at Armijo alone if each of Director Buck Bailey...” discovered Armijo High School’s locker room was on fi re. us were able to cut back by just one gal- Senior News 10 lon a day. In a typical month of school, Clubs 11 that could mean nearly 50,000 of water Sports 12-13 Continued on page 3 - made available to meet the needs of the Entertainment 14-16 state of California. 125 years of changes 2 Editorials, etc. News 3 Welcome back! LATEST CONSTRUCTION - How much does free Continued on from front page Many people claim that high school is the best time of their lives, while an abundance of others can enthusiastically say otherwise. Whichever side you public education cost? Once the firemen arrived at the scene, the building was devoured by flames and noth- may take once you gradu- ing could be done. Not only did the high school burn down, but the County Free Library, By Elyce Dixon which was loved by so many in Fairfield, was also destroyed. There was little to nothing ate, for now, you are here. Entertainment Editor Whether we are in- salvaged. Causes of the fire were uncertain but possible causes included poor wiring or coming freshmen or jaded The school year is in full swing, but students had to a chemical explosion. To this day, there is little information about what really started the upperclassmen, Armijo is prepare in August by stocking up on Back to School materials. fire. where most of us spend But how much money is actually spent on school supplies? In the early 1960s, Armijo High School moved at least seven hours a To begin with, as people get older they have less of a to its present location. Many day, five days a week. It’s need for a vast amount of school supplies because the work required of them is pretty straight forward. For example, a graduates have become a difficult transition from Students can score with lots of Armijo merchandise, freshman might buy five packs of mechanical pencils, a pack well-known over the years. having all the free-time in what better way to show the world your Armijo pride! of regular wood pencils, a few erasers, white out, a pack or People such as Robert E. the world for nearly three two of pens, five or six notebooks, a binder or two, folders, Bowen (mathematician), months straight, to having colored pencils, markers, crayons, stacks of binder paper, a Johnny Colla (saxophonist to shuffle amongst over Get rich quick new backpack, a pencil case, and maybe some composition and guitarist), and George 2,300 other students on books. That alone can rack up to $70 or $80 and that doesn't Martin (National Foot- By Anna Vieira even include the clothes that one buys which can be another ball League player) were a tight schedule, but it’s a $150-$200. transition we all have to Department Chairperson once students and walked However, depending on a student’s personal through the halls of Armijo make. choices, as he or she moves on to higher Students can continue to earn Armijo Buxx for the High School. And who can It isn’t just the students this year that have had some tough transi- grades, some of the same stuff 2015-2016 school year and use these in a variety of ways. forget Pat Morita, the actor tions to make. Each department has had its challenges, from being short staffed from last year might be used Armijo Buxx is a currency of reward on the Armi- including, markers, col- from 1984’s The Karate Kid, to having to adjust to new staff in both the departments and the administration. jo campus. The program started in 2013 and since then graduated in Armijo’s Class The Armijo Signal itself even has its difficulties starting up again as this school ored pencils, crayons, hundreds of items have been distributed to deserving stu- backpacks, the pencil of 1949. year begins, postponing the publication date as staff shuffled to adapt to the dents.

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