AVUHSD QUARTZ HILL International Baccalaureate HIGH SCHOOL 6040 W. AVE. L LANCASTER CA 93536 Program 661/718-3100 Quartz Hill High School Mr. Jeff Cassady IB Coordinator Volume 3, Issue 1 September 2014 Ext. 327 [email protected] International Baccalaureate Club OfficersBaccalaureate-Biographies Club Officers-Biographies Alex Wada - Co-President Greetings! sister-school relationship that My name is Alex Wada and I will cross national borders, have the honor of being one of establish a schedule, regular the Presidents of IB Club for the tutoring sessions to help stu- 2014-2015 school year. As I dents deal with the rigor of the enter my senior year of high IB program, and integrate the IB school, I hope that I can give Club with the AP-IB Scholarship back to the program that has Foundation charity to help stu- the type of close-knit communi- given me so much already. In dents in need pay for their IB ty that IB has created out of addition to the various duties tests. Also, the office of Junior myself and my peers, what I executed by the IB Club this Representative has been made work toward and what I believe, past year, such as organizing the to increase communication sets IB apart from all else--I Inside this issue: end-of-year, tear-jerk IB ban- between the IB class of 2015 hope to make this year the best quet and holding weekly meet- and 2016. Continuing to foster year of IB yet. ings, I also hope to establish a IB/Honors 4 Parent Orienta- Emil Ekanayake - tion Meeting Co-President and students that Quartz Hill In Memoriam: 5 My name is Emil Ekanayake and has to offer are part of it, and I am one of the two Co- Connor will aid in guiding you through it. McCasland Presidents of IB club. In terms of material, I truly be- lieve that the IB curriculum is My adventure here at Quartz IB Class of 2014 6 the best high school curriculum Hill High School started about available. From Tribal Africa to three years ago in August 2011. World War 2 Era Algeria, the ber one goal is to make sure High school scared me as much program takes you on a truly that the program spreads and Inaugural IB 7 as the next freshman, but I was international journey and cre- continues to grow into the fu- Banquet a little bit lucky because I had ates a well rounded student in ture. I cannot think of a better two older sisters who already almost all subject areas. The way to contribute to a program went through Quartz Hill and program creates globally- that I love, than to watch it the IB program. They pushed May 2015 IB 8 minded students that are ready grow and gain even more popu- me to join the program, but by Diploma Exam to take charge and find their larity. My second goal is to the time I had to make the deci- own unique way to contribute assist students that are already Schedule sion in sophomore, I knew that to this planet, and I hope to in the program. This includes IB Schedule of 11 IB was the program for me. promote this through a variety everything from tutoring to Events for finding CAS opportunities in the The program has a lot to offer of methods. 2014-2015 community to anything else that to any student willing to take As co-president of IB club, I a member of the program may the challenge. The best teachers have many aspirations. My num- need. Last, but certainly not Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 2 IB Club Officers—Biographies (Cont.) least, I want to emphasize the As for myself, I believe that I part of Quartz Hill’s Cross “I” in IB even more. I hope to have been able to take full ad- Country and Track teams and a work with the club to find a vantage of my four years in high volunteer at Antelope Valley sister-school from a foreign school with the IB program and Hospital. With the IB program country to see how student life beyond. As well as being the I know I am on my way to is in other countries. The goal president of IB club, I am the completing my dream of going is to become even more global- president of Quartz Hill’s to medical school and becom- ly-minded, and I hope that branch of the National Honors ing a doctor. I am looking for- communicating with a sister- Society and Editor-in-Chief of ward to a great school year for school becomes a tradition the Quartz Hill’s school news- the Class of 2015 and beyond! within the IB club. paper, The Ubiquity. I am also Go Rebs! Niket Kulkarni- Treasurer Hello IB Newsletter reader! could immerse myself in my A huge aspiration of mine is to favorite subject, biology, with attend my dream school, Cor- My name is Niket Kulkarni, the the help of Mrs. Nichter and nell University, to study eco- IB Club Treasurer at Quartz Mrs. Perez. nomics. Hill High School for the 2014- 2015 school year. A little As much as I love learning, My passion for the Internation- about me: I was born in Michi- I’m not exactly the ideal stu- al Baccalaureate Program has gan and have lived in Colorado dent. I do my fair share of its roots in my academic and and New York before moving procrastinating, as do all of musical pursuits. I’d be lying if to California. I play the piano my IB peers, and the words I said I started out a passion- and the French horn and I have “Internal Assessment” still ate, self-motivated learner. My been involved in various music make me cringe. The biggest parents were the ones who ment than spending class groups including the school thing that I value about IB is taught me the value of educa- time with strangers. marching band, its wind ensem- the family it gave me. This is a tion, and from there academics ble, its pep band, the District feeling I’ve felt before through became a way of life. It wasn’t This, combined with the IB’s Honor Band, and the Antelope my experiences with the band until I joined the IB program engaging curriculum, is what Valley College Symphonic Band. program. that the topics I learned at keeps me motivated to My favorite composers include school actually became engag- strive for the diploma. Debussy, Ravel, and Rachmani- Just like band, IB gave me a ing and interesting. Every day Instead of being another face noff. A couple of my favorite group of students to work I’d look forward to 2nd period in the crowd reading the bands are Streetlight Manifesto through challenges with, one I where Mr. Cassady would same material as the rest of and The Strokes. could feel accepted in, and teach us history from an inter- the nation, I get to be a introduced me to a some of national perspective, to 3rd unique individual in an I’m an active member of the my best friends. Sitting in a period where Mr. House academic community and Indian Cultural Association of classroom with friendly and would blow our minds and internationally-oriented the Antelope Valley and I also familiar faces generates a make us reconsider our exist- student. volunteer at the Antelope Val- ence, or to 6th period where I much better learning environ- ley Hospital. Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 3 IB Club Officers—Biographies (Cont.) Hailey Gomillion - Public Relations Officer Hello, My name is Hailey Club, I hope to play a role hopes of further growing Gomillion and I am the IB in encouraging freshman and the program. In addition, I Club Public Relations Of- sophomores to stay on the plan to set up communica- ficer. IB track and eventually en- tions with another IB World ter into the program in 11th School overseas with the I have attended Quartz Hill grade. purpose of becoming sister- High School ever since I schools. I am very excited started in the pre-IB Pro- I am a firm believer in the for the many successes that gram in 9th grade. I am a values promoted by the IB await the IB Program this player on the Varsity Tennis Program, so this year upcoming year with both Team for my third year, and as Public Relations Officer, I the Juniors and Seniors ex- this year will be my second hope to communicate the periencing success in the year as President of the Art values and successes of the classroom, and eventually of Conversation Club. This IB Program to the Antelope on testing in May. year as a member of IB Valley community, with the Jordan Kasiah - Vice President I'm Jordan Kasiah and I'm What's your house like? What music do you like? the Vice President for the IB My house is crazy. I have I like pretty much all types Club. five siblings, all of which are of music. Right now my younger than me. Three favorite bands are: Dream What do I like? sisters and two brothers. Theater, Queensryche, I like video games, the color Both of my brothers are Rush, Tool, and A Perfect purple, llamas, bad jokes, obsessed with trains and Circle. That's not to say I top hats, and talking in funny firebricks, so as they run don't have favorite songs voices.