Skyline Walks

Event Page Spring Fashion & Beauty Cell Phone Page 8 Photos 10 & 11 Page 6 & 7 Conflict TheTitanTimes VOL. XLVI, NO. 2 THE NEWSPAPER OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL MARCH 2018 Partial Block Schedule Next Year 2 days a week to have long periods By Devon Nutting or several years, debate has been ongoing among Sky- Fline’s administration, fac- ulty and students about whether to change the school’s schedule to some form of “block” schedule, with longer periods and fewer classes per day. Now, with the announce- ment that the 2018-19 school year would have a hybrid schedule with Skyline performers in Titan red gesture to the crowd during the the winter Dance Production show in the theater. two days of block each week, the school’s leadership has finally tak- en the leap. Dance Production Impresses with Variety However, since the administra- person who really enjoys dance, ing. This is my first production I’ve unique in its own way, but what re- tion has said this schedule is “tran- Delivers strong when I see dance that makes me seen at Skyline, and I’m really en- ally put the dances on top was all TO CONTINUE, SEE BLOCK, ON PAGE 5 have an emotional response that’s joying it,” the dancers’ energy. messages how I know it’ something power- The production had various Each dance had its own mood By Janae German ful,” said audience member Alexis types of dances, some featuring all and depending on which one Budget Cuts Simmons. of the dancers and some just hav- it was, the performers’ energy or those of you that missed “There was such a powerful ing a couple, and most having their matched. Watching the show was Kill Choir, the winter Dance Produc- message in the third act, ‘Elemen- own powerful topic, such as push- a great experience. All the perfor- Ftion show you missed out on tary School’, the message was don’t ing away the person you love. mances were on point with the en- a great performance of a variety of let your vanity, your technology, “My favorite part of the play ergy, emotion, and talent. So the Shrink Staff dance genres and different mes- and your emotions get the best of was seeing the kids energy in each next time they perform, make sure sages. you because it had a bad guy, good dance,” said Ms. Dempsey. to catch it. Over $700,000 in “Being as I’ve always been a guy type rule, and it was so amaz- Each dance performed was [More photos on page 11] salaries slashed Police Chief Makes in mid-year crisis Skyline Walks Out By Fatimah Abdulla Bold Promises to Youth Staff and ne of Victoria Smith’s dreams was to sing at her students Legal car Oown graduation as part of protested the Skyline Choir. school sideshows, “Choir is part of my heart,” said shootings on local hiring the senior. “I’ve been doing it all March 14, my life.” By Gini Brown Drivers burn rubber at an illegal East Oakland sideshow. Unfortunately for Smith, mid- joining up on the field for aking a look back at my a designated area and making it a year budget cuts at Skyline killed freshman year I would safer environment — but keeping her wish when the school decid- 17 minutes of have never thought that I it the same fun event for people. ed not to hire a new choir/pia- T silence as part would be sitting down with Oak- “Legal sideshows will be dif- no teacher and disperse students land Chief of Police Anne Kirkpat- ficult because it requires a lot of in those classes to other elective of a national walkout. rick and her fellow officers, as well moving pieces aside from putting classes. as City Councilmember Desley it together,” said community activ- “Choir has been a rich tradition Brooks, to talk about resolutions ist Mya Whitaker, Skyline class of for Skyline; when I had a bad day See story & for issues in our community. ‘09, who set up the meeting. “That I went to the choir class and lis- more photos on A lot of people will wonder does not mean it can not or will not tened to something beautiful. It page 3. what will make an East Oakland be done.” always made me feel better,” said teen want to sit down with the po- Another agreement we were Mr. Johnson, a social studies teach- lice. Well, for a while I always won- able to come up with was being er. dered where that side was coming able to prioritize local young peo- tions — including the choir/piano Oakland School Board approved Choir is not the only program from and what was going through ple for a certain number of jobs in teacher, a counselor, an assistant big emergency budget cuts officials harmed by the current cuts, and their heads on the daily. the Oakland Cadets police force principal, and a school security of- said were needed to prevent OUSD a budget crisis in Oakland schools Sitting down with them provid- training program. As of August ficer -- were left unfilled in order to from running out of money in fu- means that more may be cut next ed a chance for the chief, council 2015, only 8 percent of all Oakland balance the accounting books. ture years; Skyline’s share of these year. member, and community mem- police officers actually live in our Additionally, $204,426 in fed- cuts was the biggest in the district, Some three-quarters of a mil- bers to come to some agreements. city, which some say hurts their eral Title 1 funding that is in- at nearly $450,000. lion dollars was cut from Skyline’s First of all, you know them side- ability to do their job well. tended to support students from Although no teachers were laid budget after the school year had shows everyone loves, but can nev- There is a graduating cadet disadvantaged backgrounds was off as a result of these cuts, Sky- already started, in two separate er go to because it’s too dangerous, class from Merritt College this se- reallocated by the School Site line’s Business Manager Yesenia cuts. First, about $300,000 in sav- or the police are always shutting it mester, so we will be watching to Council (SSC) at the request of Alamillo said that several posi- ings had to be trimmed as a result down? Well, during this talk, the see how many are from Oakland, the school administration, to help of under-enrollment in the previ- chief agreed to start the process as well as keep pushing to make le- pay a fifth of the salary of 17 teach- ous year. Then, at the holidays, the TO CONTINUE, SEE BUDGET, ON PAGE 2 of putting together a sideshow in gal sideshows a reality. TheTitanTimes 2 | News March 2018 The Womynist Club Creates Safe Space She added that overall she Seek to build believes “it improves the cli- Titan positivity on mate and culture at Skyline by allowing yet another safe space campus on campus.” Students that are part of Times By Katia Cortez the Womynist Group also have someone to go to for emotional he Womynist Group focuses support and where they can talk on creating a sense of safe- about real life problems that no Editor in Chief Tty for students of all gen- one really likes to discuss with ders on campus. It’s important that peers or at home. Noah Mitchell those marginalized have a space The spelling of “womyn” on campus in which they could has its roots was first used by discuss pressing issues that are im- feminists to “avoid the sugges- Managing portant to them without any judge- tion of sexism perceived in the Editor ment or prejudice. sequence m-e-n,” according to The main purpose of the group Dictionary.com. Tanim Woodruff is also to promote self love, respect Asked whether she sees the and also love, respect for others women of her generation as around campus. The cabinet mem- different from those women in Copy Editors bers feel that there isn’t much pos- her family and community, Lira Kayshawn Goodwin itivity at Skyline so they want to Araujo said she does. continue to do something to pro- “People are more outspoken & Aden Jibril mote that. and speak up for themselves,” Vice President, Christy Lira she said of girls and young Araujo said that she enjoys the women today. News Editors group because they have “con- The club meets at lunch on Devon Nutting versations filled with intellectual Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ms. & Donovan Nutting growth.” Dolan is the club advisor. Members of the Womynist Club in the library. Sports Editor BUDGET: Teacher Positions Go Unfilled Leroy Yau CONTINUED FROM BUDGET, ON PAGE 1 For example, while three of the ers in the school’s Atlas freshmen school’s pathways are California houses who do some academic in- Partnership Academies (CPA) eli- A&E & Features tervention for struggling students. gible for additional funding, the According to the SSC’s Jan. 25 Visual and Performing Arts Acade- Editors meeting notes, administrators told my (VPA) is not, and has to scram- Janae German the SSC that if their proposal was ble to fund performances, travel & Katia Cortez rejected, three teachers, as well as to competitions like the Reno Jazz the textbook manager and a mem- Festival, and art supplies. ber of the clerical staff, would The Visual and Performing Arts Opinions Editor be laid off mid-year.

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