Culinary Lab Page 2 Christmas Page 8&9 CD Reviews Page 10 Moon Valley High School Rocket Reporter 3625 W. Cactus Rd | Phoenix, AZ 85029 | Volume 45 Issue 4 | December 2009 Rocket Town prepares for another camp simply to get Possible delegates, or first time atten- communities. These leadership develop- a break from dants, need to fill out an application and ing programs focus on diversity awareness, the everyday pay a $20 fee if chosen. The deadline for social justice, and personal empowerment. p r o b l e m s applications is Jan. 15, 2010. If money is an This results in self-reflective leaders with a they face at issue, there are possible scholarships avail- consciousness of diversity issues, and in- home. able. creased communication skills. This results R o c k e t There are many unity based activities at in more peaceful communities where prob- Town was Rocket Town, and all of them must be per- lems cannot take root. designed for formed without a cell phone. That’s right, The first impression of Rocket Town may students to cell phones are not permitted at Rocket not be fair to the life changing experience. “gain respect Town. Cell phones may connect a camp- “At first many of the activities seem stu- and learn to er with one of the influences from home pid, but eventually it gets really touching. a p p r e c i a t e they’re trying to get away from. You really learn a lot about yourself and each culture “Cell phones somewhat defeat the pur- others at the camp,” Junior Janessa McE- on our cam- pose of many of these activities. Attendants lyea, who attended Rocket Town in 2008, pus and each are encouraged to be away from all other said. other as hu- influences and simply live in the moment,” This year’s sponsors include: Melanie Al- man beings,” Sliwa said. len, Karen Sliwa, Justin Jenkins, and Kim Karen Sliwa, While Rocket Town doesn’t happen ev- Dismuke, who are available to answer any Rocket Town ery year, the program usually attracts many questions and hand out applications to in- Delegates of the 2008 Rocket Town had an experience they will not forget. sponsor said. interested students. The event highly de- terested students. R o c k e t pends on funding, so it can’t occur every “I suggest if anyone’s interested in be- Town will be year. coming a counselor a delegate, they come Haley Rice Feb. 25-28, “I definitely hope to attend Rocket Town see me and listen to the announcements. 2010 in Prescott, AZ. Campers will stay in this year. I’ve heard nothing but positive Counselors can retrieve an application Copy Editor gender specific cabins with 6-8 bunks each. things about it, and I’ve wanted to go for a from me. The committee will decide who Each cabin will house an assigned counsel- while,” Junior Maya Murillo said. becomes a counselor. I encourage everyone or, along with the delegate campers. In or- Most aspects of Rocket Town are based to attend. This can be truly life changing,” der to become a counselor, a student must on the programs of Anytown Arizona. The Sliwa said. The purpose of Rocket Town is different fill out an application; and have previously goal of Anytown Arizona is to develop out- for everyone. Some students go to get closer attended Rocket Town. standing leaders that can strengthen their to people or make new friends. Others go Core classes recieve S.M.A.R.T. Boards Electives benefit from As with anything, there are some problems that oc- override passing cur with the boards, but, according to Carlson, the problems are “infrequent.” Karson Smith Moon Valley has a huge been affected,” Principal For Carlson, problems support system, but the dis- Michael Fowler said, “First only occur when she has Reporter trict has an even bigger one, of all athletics could’ve too many programs open. the need for overrides come been possibly affected; we Tracy has encountered In February 1990, the from a lack of state resourc- might have had to limit problems with resolution Glendale Union High es, and Arizona ranks 49 in the options, or students settings, flickering boards School District overwhelm- per-pupil funding among would have to pay a fee [for and abnormal color projec- ingly passed its first over- the states. sports].” Photo by Amy Madanat tions. ride. Since that time the Approximately 80% of Additionally, Fowler Science teacher Sue Wilson uses her SMARTBoard to teach The SMARTBoards, ac- district has, as required by all Arizona school districts said that teacher salaries her students. cording to SMART Tech- nologies, the manufacturer law, successfully renewed and virtually every major could’ve been affected . Candace Tarvin its override every five years, district in the state are op- “When you have $7 mil- said that her board helps of the boards, the SMART- erating on existing over- her teach every day. Boards are supposed to last and this year’s election was lion dollars taken out of a Ad Manager no exception. rides, according to citizens- budget, it can definitely af- “My SMARTBoard helps for five to ten years. Override funds are used foraqualityeducation.com fect things,” Fowler said me to keep my students in- Carlson has had her to add to the state fund- The money stemming Help from the commu- All core classes had terested,” Carlson said.“It board for four years on a ing formula and have been from the override will go nity was definitely a huge SMARTBoards installed [SMARTBoard] lets stu- grant. used in GUHSD to provide towards things such as fine reason of why the override approximately three weeks dents interact and learn.” Other teachers in the dis- lower class size, increased arts and salaries and district passed. ago. Carlson added. trict received their boards academic offerings, greater expenses. District expendi- “There is no way in the The boards are used to Tech student Michael through an education pro- student support services, tures have correspondingly world that it would’ve passed make material big enough Acres said that “SMART- gram from the govern- increased local school sup- increased, primarily due without help from the com- for students to see and to Boards are magnificent and ment. port staffing, as well as -in to inflationary increases munity, from simple things encourage being in touch they create a better, more Tracy said that SMART creased athletic and extra in utility rates, retirement like putting a sign in your with technology, accord- interactive learning experi- Boards are “just the tip of curricular programs contribution rates, health yard, and the fact that the ing to IT Coordinator Brett ence,” and that the boards the iceberg of technology.” “Basically it means that care costs, special educa- override passed just shows Tracy. are “innovative in the teach- Each of the parts (pro- opportunities for programs tion, and transportation how much support and re- According to Tracy, the ing field.” jector, board, and installa- are not limited, it supports costs. affirms how much GUHSD next classes to receive the Carlson loves her tion) can range from $300 maintenance and operating “If the override hadn’t has, I am very thankful,” boards will be foreign lan- SMARTBoard because it to $1200 guages and some electives. budgets,” Librarian Laura passed, their was a lot of Fowler said. “gives her the ability to The total cost of the each Mason said. possible things that could’ve Math teacher Veronica capture a student’s atten- board is about $3,200, ac- Carlson, who has had her tion and keeps the class en- cording to Tracy. This price SMARTBoard since 2005, gaged.” includes installation. Page 2 December 2009 Rocket Reporter Culinary lab arrives while cafe comes soon stoves help out a lot when stalled to better serve their [the culinary students are] customers. making stuff. It’s the most “It keeps the flies out commonly used item other of the café,” Kratzer men- than the sinks. She also ex- tioned. “We used to get a plained that all new stain- few flies sometimes, but less steel appliances were now we don’t.” added, like tables, stoves, The culinary department and sinks. Also every sta- will continue to grow with a tion has a working oven. coffee shop, opening in the Kratzer also stated that beginning of next semester. the three compartment sink Culinary 1-2 students is handy, for better clean- will have the coffee shop ing and sanitizing of the open Monday, Wednesday dishes; the sink is divided and Friday mornings how- into three sections. “The ever, they are trying E.O.P first [section] is filled with mornings as a test run, to Photo by Amy Madanat warm water and soap, the see how smooth the busi- New coffee shop, a place to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. second one is clean warm Photo by Amy Madanat ness turns out. water for rinsing, and the The coffee machine is expected to be a hit on campus. The coffee shop will serve last one is warm water and everything from frappucci- Alexandria Hunter Culinary teacher Brandi bleach to sanitize the equip- era hooked up to three flat menu. Culinary 1-2 and 3-4 nos to danishes. Jans finds herself using the ment,” Kratzer explained. screens.” students open the café on “It’s kind of like Star- Reporter commercial dishwasher the Kratzer said that the Other than a demo mon- Monday, Wednesday, and bucks,” Jans finished. most; her favorite aspect, demo station is a “great way itor being out, there are no Friday’s to satisfy the stom- In addition to serving cof- however, is the walk in achs of students.