Friday, April 27 2012 El Rancho High School - Volume 60- Issue 8 www.erusd.k12.ca.us/elrancho El Rancho’s Get Lit Poets Head to Slam BY LIZETTE RA M IREZ EL RODEO STAFF WRITER Five selected finalists prepare to head to finals for the Get Lit Classic Slam competi- tion at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on May 27th and May 28th. Mr. Sorenson stated, “it’s sort of like a poetry competi- tion.” He organized his Advance Placement and Creative Writing classes to enter the Get Lit Clas- sic Slam Workshop to compete with other schools from around southern California. He explained Compositions the competition as “twelve Showcases weeks of experiencing poetry.” On March 30th, the five Mr. Sorenson’s junior AP English students compete for top five places in Get Lit Classic Slam. Student Work best students were chosen by are many opportunities to win cash and also present information all, appreciate poetry. After talk- five judges to head to Finals. Ms. prizes. A five hundred dollar prize about the author to an audience. ing to one of the finalists, Jaque- BY KARINA CERDA Oase, Ms. Melgar, Dr. Ventura, is given to “best coach,” “best When the students complete the line Escobar, she stated, “. I’m EL RODEO STAFF WRITER Ms. Padilla, and Ms. Gonzalez team,” and “best individual.” Be- long process of the Get Lit Work- excited to present my response were the five women to judge sides the money that the players shop, they have a “graduation poem, “Love’s Alzheimer,” to The second annual El all of Mr. Sorenson’s students’ can win, Mr. Sorenson mentions ceremony” in honor of their dedi- Edna St. Vincent’s “I Shall Forget Rancho High School art exhibit, poetry presentation. The judges “that they get bragging rights.” cation to the Classic Poetry Slam. You Presently, My Dear” because Compositions, debuted on Sat- decided that Robert Brown, Jac- The process of the Classic There are three graduations, in ev- I put my time into that poem. I urday, April 14. More than 150 queline Escobar, Samantha Her- Slam Workshop consists of learn- ery graduation some students are really think that my team and I people showed up on the first day. rera, Citlali Molina, and Naomi ing poetic terms, reading clas- eliminated from the competition. will do really well this weekend!” All the work came from students Zaldate would move forward sic poetry, memorizing a classic Now as Mr. Sorenson’s stu- She shows her optimism for her taking design, digital imaging, to the finals at The Wiltern. poem, writing a response poem, dents wait for Finals, they con- team as she anticipates for the photography, calligraphy, fine El Rancho students will and memorizing the personal re- tinue to practice their poems. The days to come. She and the rest of arts, and sculpting. Two high- compete with the best players from sponse poem. After memorizing Get Lit Classic Slam Workshop is the team have high hopes for the lights of the exhibit were a mixed other schools to try and win the both the poems, each student is an opportunity for students to ful- final competition this weekend. media piece, ‘Tis a Collective’ by five hundred dollar prizes. There required to present the poems, ly understand, master, and most of Noelle Gonzales and ‘Awake’, a sculpture done by Lynette Haro. “I am very proud of all my art students’ work that is dis- Lamar Blazes a trail through Beantown played in this year’s art show. I have numerous students that are BY ANDREA MUNOZ also spectators with their water talented in my class, but unfor- EL RODEO STAFF WRITER hoses, freshening up the runners. tunately I could only put a few Lamar said, “Really nice pieces in the art show”, says Art English teacher, Mrs. first few miles, but the last few 1 teacher Carolyn Robledo. Marcella Lamar, recently par- miles I was thinking, please don’t It was the collaboration ticipated in the Boston Athletic let my head explode.” Lamar has a of the art teachers; the visual arts Association’s 116th Marathon. strategy she has picked up through department teachers, the “SWAT” Lamar has been run- her experience in marathons. “I group, and the Pico Rivera Cen- ning since college, just not play mind tricks with myself, oh tre for the Arts that helped cre- competitively. “I did it for the look I’m half way there, oh only ate this show. The SWAT group same reason other folks do. I eight more miles, 2 more miles, consists of several teachers who couldn’t give up the ice cream wow I’m done,” says Lamar. have a variety of groups that and chocolate,” said Lamar. A majority of the race are focused on the art programs. Lamar began running was downhill, “but it was still Since the beginning of marathons about eight years hot, there was no breeze. It felt the school year in September, ago. “My husband and son like a hair dryer,” said Lamar. the groups have been talking and both ran, but mostly my hus- Lamar was able to fight planning a second art show. The band was my inspiration. He through to the end. “Marathon- idea came to life at the begin- was the first person I knew who ers are not wimps,” said Lamar. ning of second semester, when ran marathons,” Lamar said. The usual finish rate for a mara- the groups had collected enough As for training, Lamar has thon is 98 percent; for the Boston masterpieces from the students. a normal fitness routine, which marathon the rate was 96 percent. “The whole point of put- she increases as the race comes “It wasn’t that bad,” said Lamar. ting the show on, is to showcase closer. “Part of my schedule is on There were people who fainted, the talents our students possess; my class calendar,” said Lamar. and they got up, refreshed them- the students possess all these Lamar’s routine consists of a two selves, and finished the marathon. different talents like music and to three mile run on Sunday, four Lamar plans on going back cooking. I just hope we continue to five mile runs on Tuesdays and and participating in the Boston to value that in our students”, Thursdays, and alternating Sat- Athletic Association’s Marathon says Justin Diaz, Digital Imaging urdays of 14 miles and 22 miles. Lamar ran through a blazing heat in Boston Marathon. in about five years. “I was think- 1 and Video Production teach- Lamar is not new to running hottest race day in race his- The course served as an ing about going back next year but er. marathons; she has participated in tory. “It was the top story in all inspiration for Lamar, “it was there is too much to think about,” The more people go and see eight marathons already. Lamar the newspapers,” said Lamar. beautiful, very scenic, but it was said Lamar. One might think that the show, the more likely it will says, “I think I’ve got it down.” Lamar was able to over- not easy,” said Lamar. Lamar ran marathons are free but they are continue to be an annual event. It “It’s kind of fun. I look at come the heat and fight her way past Boston College and Welles- not, marathons range anywhere is open Monday through Thurs- my life, and its out there. That through to the end of the mara- ley College. “The colleges were from $95-$200. “In five years my day from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, is why it’s fun,’ said Lamar. It thon. “I wasn’t sure if it was very beautiful,” said Lamar. sons will be out of college, and I’ll Fridays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm isn’t pain free either. “You have hotter with my hat on or off,” The spectators that came have more money,” said Lamar. and Saturdays from 10:00 am to to fight through all the blis- said Lamar. The marathon be- out to watch the marathon were Lamar plans on push- 1:00 pm. ters and rashes,” said Lamar. gan at 10:40 a.m. and continued very encouraging. “The college ing her boundaries, “one of The last day to visit the art On race day, April 16th, through the hottest time of the students were all cheering, it these days I am going to see exhibit is Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012. Lamar was faced with a chal- day. “I felt like my brain was go- seemed like it was a champion- how far I can go, if you don’t lenge: the heat. It was the fourth ing to cook or fry,” said Lamar. ship,” said Lamar. There were do it you will never know.” EL RODEO , PG 2 El Rancho High School APR . 27, 2012 OPINION American dream far from being a nightmare BY JORDAN MAGANA EL RODEO STAFF WRITER Is the United States a na- tion in decline? Many say yes due to our faltering economy and Advisor dwindling reputation among all Paul Zeko nations, but what if another pow- er took the role as superpower? Editor-in-Chief We as a country can- not let that happen. The citizens David Ochoa of the United States are a free people, and although we want Copy Editor only to focus on our own prob- Des Delgadillo lems rather than those abroad that is an isolationist view that Section Editors the US has had once before.