Fall 2014 Vol. 5. No. 1 TitanTribune.Tumblr.com The Titan Tribune @JfkTitanTribune (510) 657-1070 Ext. 27352 Empower Change Massacre By Tiffany Nguyen act clubs receive guidance from in- enough funds to build a school from other Interact districts will dividual Rotary clubs, they govern and a library in Bangladesh. We fly in to make an appearance in the What’s the first thing you and support themselves. also raised enough money to ad- rally. The energy radiating from inBy Charles Gaza Leandoer think of when someone says, “ex- Interact District 5170-- in ditionally have a book written in the attendees is ground-breaking. tracurricular activities?” While which John F. Kennedy’s Inter- the local language on Bangladeshi You may wonder, how can I be a On July 8th, the State of people normally gravitate towards act Club is proudly a part of--is culture and history. As service is part of this phenomenon? By the Israel started Operation Protec- sports, let’s not time you read tive Edge in Gaza, a small strip forget about this article, FLC of land off the Mediterranean our hardwork- 2014 will already Sea, containing almost 2 mil- ing clubs as have passed, but lion Palestinian citizens. In the well. John F. you and your seven weeks that followed, Israel Kennedy high friends can still dropped 20,000 tons of explosives school is home become part of onto the 25 mile long strip, killing to numerous the Interact fam- 2,100 Palestinian citizens (500 of clubs-- some ily! Throughout those being children) and wound- new, and oth- the rest of the ing 11,000 others, while 66 Israeli ers built on year, the thirteen soldiers and 5 Israeli citizens have generations areas of Interact been killed. Israel justifies this of devout stu- 5170 (yes, we are murder by stating that it’s in retal- dent-officers. so large that we iation to Hamas’ attacks on Israel, A club that had to section which Hamas states was in retali- has been able ourselves off) ation to Israel’s airstrike on July to call Ken- will work togeth- 6th. Whoever started this conflict, nedy its home er to reach our one thing is for sure: the murder of for multiple international innocent Palestinian civilians by years on-end and community Israeli militants needs to stop. No is our Inter- project goals matter what the reason, the death act Club. The through hosting toll speaks for itself. With over name “Inter- events that could 2,000 Gaza citizens murdered in act” was cre- range from char- their homes and on the street, it is ated by combining the words “in- the world’s largest and most rec- an extremely essential root of In- ity dinners and benefit shows to obvious that this is not an issue of ternational” and “action.” Interact ognized Interact district in the teract 5170, the district also per- service and leadership workshops. retaliation or self-defense, but an is an international organization of world, with over 100 clubs and formed approximately 70,000 To stay posted on these events, action motivated by pure malice service that fosters leadership and approximately 7,000 members in hours of community service in the join Interact Club! Anyone can and hatred. This is not a political responsible citizenship, and pro- and around the San Jose Silicon 2012-2013 school year. join, and you have nothing to lose. issue, but a human rights issue. motes international understand- Valley Metropolitan Area, Cali- Every year, as the weather Through joining, you will be in- In response to this, nearly ing and peace. Interact clubs are fornia. Our district is extremely gets chillier and students have ac- vited to our Facebook group page, every nation in the UN has de- sponsored by Rotary clubs (you dedicated to serving both the lo- customed to their classes, Inter- where all of our events will be nounced Israel, and the bomb- may recall that Rotary Interna- cal and international communities act 5170 holds their annual Fall posted. You and your friends can ings themselves have been called tional has embarked on a mission through volunteering and fund- Leadership Conference, in which also keep up with us at @jfkhs_ a criminal act by the UN Chief. to end Polio around the globe), and raising. Throughout 2012 to 2013, Interactors from all over the dis- interact on Instagram to catch a However, the United States con- Interact, as a district consisting of District 5170 raised over $100,000 trict (from Alameda to Santa Cruz) glimpse of what our events are tinues to support and sympathize a multitude of schools, organizes to support our international proj- gather to one central location to be really like. Though meeting atten- with the country. We are Israel’s at least two service projects a year: ect, titled “Life, Love, Literacy.” inspired to bring their soon-to-be- dance is not strict, nor mandatory, greatest ally, with most of their one that benefits their community For this project, we partnered revealed community and inter- we highly encourage you to attend trading revenue coming from us. and one that encourages interna- with an organization called Room national projects to life. Famous (meeting dates will be announced Continued on page 3 tional understanding. While Inter- to Read and were able to raise guest-speakers and even figures on our Facebook page)! What’s New, Ms. Vu? By Austerlino Anthony Galdo do her job well, Mrs. Vu says, “I most basic way: her own eyes. In Mrs. Vu, like many oth- winter, she loves to ski a lot. Snow- want students that are struggling her short time here, she has seen ers, loves to read. Currently, she boarding caught her interest, but As we wait for autumn fitting in, and I also want them that Kennedy students accept each is reading the “Fremont Unified she wasn’t very good at it, so don’t leaves to fall to mark a season’s to help themselves”. Mrs. Vu also other’s differences, and this dis- School District Agreement Con- expect her ripping and shredding change, Kennedy High School discussed a desire to reach out to tinct value of diversity at Kennedy tract,” admittedly not as exciting anytime soon. In the near future, has already welcomed a distinct she’d like to read about student change within the JFK Adminis- discipline and educational law, to trative Team. In July 2014, Mrs. help improve herself in her new Ai Vu, a former Instructional role. Coach with the Alameda County In her high school years, Office of Education, accepted the she remembers the great teachers offer from Kennedy to become our who taught her memorable les- new Assistant Principal. Part and sons, and friends who helped cre- parcel of an educator’s responsi- ate lasting memories. She wants bilities include a sense of accessi- students to interact with others bility; her enthusiastic willingness and learn from their teachers as to sit down and share her time for she did in her high school years. this article exemplifies this admi- Her most proud accom- rable quality. plishments are: having raised two During her tenure as an socially aware children. Her eldest Instructional Coach, Mrs. Vu son, who is nine-years old, is rais- supervised teachers within her ing money to save the pandas and school district and provided valu- fight breast cancer. Her daughter able feedback in her required cri- volunteers in the library and also tiques to help in assisting in their lends her time in fixing bicycles for progressive journey to continu- others who can’t afford the parts ously learn; in the same vein these and labor in riding their bikes teachers follow this process with again. Mrs. Vu is proud and glad to their students. It is this invaluable be a parent to such kids that care experience as an Instructional for lives just as much as she does. Coach at the county level that she students who are having difficul- is what drew her in accepting her as the latest Veronica Roth novel We can count on Mrs. Vu’s hopes to impart to her new role at ties socially and academically; new role. As our new Assistant of “Divergent” fame. Some of her passionate dedication to her stu- Kennedy. helping these students feel they Principal, she hopes to lead by books are about science, instruc- dents to remain a constant. Based In asking what Mrs. Vu are not alone and encouraging example; abiding by the rules so tional coaching, and non-fiction on her passion alone, she’s already hopes to accomplish at Kennedy, them to be themselves. D u r i n g students can know the rules and stories. She only reads non-fiction off to a great start. one can sense her palpable excite- our conversation, it is apparent follow them. She also hopes for books in the summer, and then ment in answering this critical that Mrs. Vu loves the Kennedy the students to have a good educa- displays the books in her office for Club Listings........................2 question. “I want to do my job family of students and her peers. tion here and of course, create and students to borrow. Mrs Vu also Ray Rice Case.......................7 well. Like, really well.” answered Her feelings were not born in a maintain friendships that may last likes to explore the outdoors by iPhone 6 Debate.................9 Mrs. Vu. Aside from wanting to vacuum, but rather grown in the beyond our years here at Kennedy. camping and hiking. During the Humans of Kennedy...........10 Fall 2014 Vol.