Thursday, September 28, 2017 El Rodeo @elrodeonews El Rancho High School Volume 66. Issue 1 www.elrodeonews.com ER holds DACA rally The Vasquez vision: Don traditions with 21st century learning for undocumented students BY ALEKSEY SOTO EL RODEO STAFF WRITER New year, new principal, and a new direction. 46-year- old Mr. Hector Vasquez, with his extensive background and passion for education, is ready and able to lead El Rancho for the 2017-2018 school year. Mr. Vasquez has twelve years of administrative experi- ence under his belt. Before com- ing to El Rancho, he was a prin- cipal in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified school district, but in the past, he’s worked in both the Bell- flower Unified and San Bernardi- Karina Segura speaks to the no City Unified school districts. audience. “I began my principalship Photo by Gabriela Nava in San Bernardino City Unified Vasquez hopes to work with school and community to achieve great things. Photo by Aleksey Soto as a middle school principal,” in law graduated in 1974,” said representing the U.S. My older most forward to graduation be- Vasquez said. “I was a middle BY GABRIELA NAVA Vasquez, “and all nine of their sib- son, Brandon, is the quarterback cause, “at the end of the year, school principal for two years EL RODEO STAFF WRITER lings and their children are gradu- of the freshman football team my job as a principal is to make and spent two years as a high ates from El Rancho. Every party also at La Habra and plays base- sure all of the seniors graduated school principal in [the district].” For five years, Deferred that I’ve ever been to on my wife’s ball. My 10 year-old son, Bryce, and move on to bigger and bet- “I began my post-second- Action for Childhood Arriv- side has been about [this school]!” plays football and baseball.” ter things. The Night Pep Rally ary educational career at Fuller- als program has allowed over “Throughout the hiring Despite his busy personal is also a big event that I’m look- ton Junior College. I was fortu- 800,000 immigrants to live in process, I was confident and life, Vasquez is passionate about ing forward to, and any sporting nate enough to get a scholarship the United States without fear nervous,” Vasquez said. “Every his job as El Rancho’s instruc- event or academic competition.” at Azusa Pacific University, of deportation. The DACA pro- time you go through an interview tional leader. “I get here early, and As a high school student, where I received my undergradu- gram has given these people process you get nervous, but I I leave late because I want to be he also had a career as a DJ! ate degree in Physical Educa- peace of mind and the ability to knew that if I got the opportu- here,” he said. “Any opportunity “I like all kinds of music. tion with a minor in Spanish. I study, work, and apply for ame- nity to interview the first time, I have I’m either reading research I had my own equipment, my went back for my teaching cre- nities like a driver’s license and then I would have a good chance about new strategies or practices, own group, and I DJ’d a lot of dential, administrative creden- credit cards. Aside from the ethi- of being in the finals. Now that or I’m attending workshops.” school dances and house parties. tial, and my masters in educa- cal implications, the removal of I’m here I’m very excited.” His plans as a principal Vasquez wants every stu- tional leadership,” Vasquez said. the program would decrease the During his free time, include, “working with the staff dent to, “Have fun, but study Coming to El Rancho was workforce population and in turn Vasquez’s life revolves around this year on keeping the tradi- harder because everything can an easy decision for Vasquez to decrease national gross revenue. sports practices and games. tions of El Rancho intact but be achieved through education.” make. Both of his in-laws are The program was started “I have three children, and moving to 21st-century teaching “I’m blessed to be at El alumni, and they and their family in 2012 by President Barack they all play sports,” Vasquez and learning.” He’s also plan- Rancho with our great staff inspired Vasquez to apply as soon Obama through executive ac- said. “My daughter, Brianna, is a ning on making this school the and students,” Vasquez said. “I as the position was announced. tion and without congressional senior at La Habra High School, best it can be for its students. love the school and the com- “My father-in-law gradu- approval. Despite common mis- and she is on the U.S. National As for school events, munity, and I hope that together ated here in 1973, and my mother conceptions, the program does Rugby team; she is in France Vasquez admits he’s looking we can achieve great things.” not put immigrants on a path to citizenship or permanent resi- dency, rather it gives them access to opportunities that are avail- AVID visits San Diego universities able to United States citizens. age test scores to the annual Red Latino Club, Movimiento and Black dance. After the pre- Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán sentation, the group was split up (MECHA), and Teen Court held and guided across campus by their own rally to show support SDSU students. Then, they had for the act on September 19, 2017 time to buy food on campus and in the quad. “It is frightening to eat before heading to UCSD. see your future dangling by a At UCSD, the tour con- string,” says Maria Domingo, a sisted of explanations of the senior who is under the umbrella six-college system and vari- of DACA. She knows nothing ous campus landmarks, such as about the country she was born the Sun God monument and the in and considers the United States Geisel Library. Again, after the her home. Many students just like tour was finished, the students her are facing the same problem. had time to walk around campus The final decision on the and purchase food or souvenirs. Deferred Action for Childhood “I think everything went Arrivals Act is currently in the great,” Porter said, “I hope [the hands of the United States con- students] got the feeling of what gress as President Trump has left it’s like to be on a college campus.” the decision up to a vote. Many “I also hope that they got displays of support for the act a reality check about the things have been displayed across col- they’re going to have to do to get lege and high school campuses to those campuses,” Porter added. alike, showing the importance The seniors AVIDly enjoyed the trip to the colleges. Photo by Aleksey Soto “Even for the students that aren’t of DACA in the lives of people BY ALEKSEY SOTO and the University of California campuses, as some may con- going to get into those schools, in every neighborhood. Until EL RODEO STAFF WRITER San Diego. The tour, which was sider applying to these schools I hope they understand that if then, students under the um- organized by the AVID cabi- Two hours after depart- they put in some work in the next brella of the Deferred Action Sixty college-bound seniors net and advisor, Mr. Porter, was ing from El Rancho, the group couple of years after high school, for Childhood Arrivals program in El Rancho’s AVID program an opportunity for these seniors stopped at SDSU and attended they can get into those types of await a final decision that dic- spent September 25th touring to get a glimpse into college an informative presentation that colleges if they really want to. tates their educational future. both San Diego State University life and learn more about these covered everything from aver- EL RODEO, PG 2 El Rancho High School SEPT. 28, 2017 OPINION Pro and Con: What Time Should School Start? Let’s Get the School Day Over With Too Tired to Learn, Too Tired to Care ter school for over two hours and says freshman Helen Mendez. “It Advisor still have to finish homework and gives them more time to wake up.” Paul Zeko other activities. If school starts An estimated 40% of stu- later, activities and sports will be dents leave for school without Editor-in-Chief pushed back, students may be fin- eating breakfast. Oversleeping Aleksey Soto ished with homework and other discourages students from buy- Copy Editors responsibilities past midnight. ing food at the cafeteria for lack Sebastian Carcano “Although it can be of time; therefore, many students Alonzo Murrieta stick to buying their food from hard to wake up,” senior An- vending machines, which has an Leslie Plaza drea Chavez says, “once you adverse impact on their health. Andrew Sepulveda do, you can start your day ear- Teachers admit to hav- Section Editors BY LESLIE PLAZA lier. If the school were to start BY MARIELA MICHEL ing several students arriv- News EL RODEO STAFF WRITER later, we would leave later.” EL RODEO STAFF WRITER ing as late as second period. Aleksey Soto Teachers will also be im- “I think school should start Opinion Would starting school later pacted by starting later in the Many students wake up in the later because according to a study, Katherine Herrera in the day fully prepare students day.