Renaissance Rally Honors Taft's Academic
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Major Tim Vincent Mock Rock back from service goes to at Guantanamo Bay, “School,” Page 3 Page 5 Spring Fling Dress-Up Days, Pages 4-5 The Voice of the Wildcats Since 1912 Vol. 93, No. 5 TheTaft Union High School, Gusher 701 Seventh Street, Taft, Calif. 93268 April 25, 2006 Renaissance Rally honors Taft’s academic “superheroes” Ray Newton through wins Teacher a n o b - s t a c l e of Year, Kayla c o u r s e to rescue Hillygus named the rest Scholar of Year of their t e a m - By Lacey Chappelear m a t e s . Staff Writer T h e y h a d t o Taft High was besieged with j u m p superheroes recently! It all made stones, sense at the spring Renaissance c r a w l Rally held during 7th period. The up a lad- theme was superheroes, and the der, and History teacher Ray Newton and his family celebrate his crowd was spotted with red “In- go over Teacher of the Year award. Photo by Jim Carnal credible Grades” and blue “Super and un- Attitude” shirts. der two Mr. Kopp kicked off the fes- hurdles to get to their team. Then See Ray Newton pro- tivities by getting all the classes they’d have to return. The freshmen pumped up. A quick intro to super and juniors took first and second file on page 3 Renaissance advisor Regina Bench, place and went on to battle the Prom King Anthony Lampkin and Prom Queen Denise and the rally had begun. Bench teachers. The freshmen took that the screen, they entered through Hiracheta enjoy their crowning moment at the 2006 startd off by introducing the Renais- race as well. an archway and began their honor Prom. Photo by Jennifer Gonzales sance team, each one decked out Kopp and Matthews came back walk. in his or her own superhero cape. out with new clues. The teacher After the highly honored Cats Then came a beautiful rendition of has been working at Taft High for took their seats, it was time for the Prom a fairy-tale night the national anthem sung by senior more than 10 years, Kopp said. third clue. The teacher can flip his or Kristen Meadors. The scholar, Matthews said, works her eyelids inside out. The scholar By Cherokee Ingram With a nifty music cue, Kopp out on her own when not playing is planning on going to a four-year News Editor “When you walked in, you thought to yourself, ‘Self, this is and Ari Matthews delivered the sports. university. This year’s Prom theme was actually an awesome dance,’” said first clues for Teacher and Scholar The cheerleaders, as always, Time for the next game! As “Happily Ever After.” You’re prob- senior Craig Foust. of the Year. The first clue for the graced the crowd with a dance. many students as each class could ably imagining a ballroom dance It was impossible to miss the teacher was that this person loves For the occasion, they donned su- fit lying down between two marks floor with elegant lighting, but the airport hangar with its loud music to cook and garden and also loves perhero outfits and performed an on the ground positioned them- atmosphere was far from that. and black lights shining. Bubbles to fish and hunt. The first scholar intentionally clichéd, retro dance. selves on opposite sides with their “As you walked in it seemed filled the air as everyone made their clue was that he or she had four After the cheers died down, heads next to each other. They then more like a rave with how the light- way onto the dance floor. siblings. the Top Cats, students who earned had to use their hands to move four ing was done, but it was still fun,” “All the lights and music actu It was time for the first game. above a 4.0, were announced. As people from one side to the other said senior Andrew Carter. continued on page 3 One member of each class would race each Top Cat profile appeared on continued on page 2 TUHS makes Info Processing teacher 12-point jump Anderson nominated for in 2005 STAR County Teacher of Year test results By Jennifer Gonzales By Morgan Blair award chosen by students rather Staff Writer Staff Writer than administration and teachers. “It is really nice to be recog- The results of the 2005 STAR Ken Anderson, information nized for what I do even though I test, released in late March, show processing teacher and chair of elec- don’t do it to be recognized, but for that Taft High had a score of 633, tives, is Taft Union High School’s our school, “Anderson explains. a 12-point increase from the year candidate in the Kern County “He has always been admired before. Teacher of the Year competition. by both the students and staff,” says API stands for the Academic Typically there are about two-dozen Ray Newton, chair of social studies Performance Index and the range teachers nominated for this award department. “He is very much a is from 200 to 1,000. The state has throughout Kern County. professional. “I couldn’t be more set a goal for all schools of 800. “What an honor it is to be nomi- happy for him.” Francisco Camacho, at far right with Mexican flag shirt, spoke for stu- Principal Marilyn Brown cred- nated for this position, especially “I don’t think that this reward dents who briefly staged a walkout. Photo by Cristina Gonzales its several factors for the steady since we have so many good teach- could go to a more deserving per- improvement in Taft’s API. ers here. It is just outstanding to son,” says Harold Heiter, chair of Students stage brief walkout to “Having AVID, the Oil-Tech be put in that category,” Anderson the math and science department. Academy, and more challenging said. “He has always had a good protest immigration policies classes” has made a difference, she Anderson has been teaching work ethic. When he retires he will told the Midway Driller. By Cristina Gonzales for 36 years. He has taught math, be missed,” says art teacher Mike debating a more even-handed Schools must show an increase Photo Editor geography, some business classes Colen. response to the immigration prob- every year. If a school has little or and, more recently, information Anderson also coached both lem. no improvement over a period of processing. boys’ and girls’ swimming for 31 Twenty-two TUHS students Although it looked like the Sen- three years, they can be taken over “I like all of the classes I have years, and retired last year with 23 walked out of school o March 31 ate was about to pass a moderate by the state. taught,” he notes. “I enjoy teaching league championships and 9 valley to protest a strict immigration bill bill that would allow illegal immi- Taft High is currently at a 3 in computers the most because it is championships. passed by the House of Represen- grants who had been here at least the statewide rank, which is based just a necessity nowadays. Almost “I really enjoyed coaching tatives. The law would make it a five years to remain in the U. S. and on deciles (10% groups). This is everyone uses these tools in life,” swimming. I had a great group of felony to illegally be in the U.S. or to work towards citizenship, as well as about the 30th percentile. he says. youngsters who worked very hard, help illegal immigrants come to the a guest worker program, they were While all this information is Anderson likes to motivate his and at the end of each season they U.S. It would also put up 700 miles unable to do so before their spring that important to the school, what students by promoting projects. He were able to see their accomplish- of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican recess. most students don’t know is the also tries to get them to see what ments,” he says. border, as well as deport illegal Protests continued in many STAR test results are used in impor- they can achieve when they work Anderson is married to Caro- immigrants. cities and schools, suggesting that tant ways. The administration uses hard. lyn, who is a mortgage loan officer In response, Mexican-Ameri- some protesters were unaware that the STAR test results to search for “I like to do these things on a and together they have three grown can organizations and Spanish- the Senate was in the process of students for the honors program. regular basis,” he says. “I like to children. His eldest son is Shawn, language radio stations called for blocking the harsh House legisla- Also, students who perform poorly create a motivation in the students 36 and a dentist. His middle child, a protest demonstration in Los tion. on the tests are viewed as need- to improve their life. Tonya, is 35 and a teacher. His Angeles. Approximately half a Most TUHS students thought ing remedial help, so they can be Anderson was also Renais- youngest child, Chad, 32, is also million people filled the streets of their voices would be heard by required to take a tutorial or extra sance Teacher of the Year in 1990, a a dentist. Anderson’s hobbies are downtown Los Angeles. walking out. Although most of the class instead of an elective. contest not to be confused with the spending time with his family, go- These protests got the attention students didn’t really understand Superintendent Curt Dubost current one as the winner of that ing out to eat and exercising.