Chatsworth High School The Clarion November 2006 Softball Seeks Level Playing Field BYDID: By Jasmine Liu stopped,” said Altshule. Bring Your Staff Writer “If you walk out there, you will know it’s dangerous,” said It looks as though the girls’ Liz Lara, the girls’ other softball Date’s ID softball team will have a place coach. By Huong Nguyen to play this year after all. Due to the dangerous condi- Staff Writer Big potholes and uneven tions of the field, it is nearly im- ground currently make the field possible to be played on. “Eight New rules have been imple- unsafe and threatened to cancel or nine girls rolled their ankles mented about bringing a guest the season. However, the team [on the field],” said Altshule. from another school to a CHS has raised enough money to pay Also, the current field pre- dance. A photocopy of the for the district to install a new vents the girls from playing guests’ ID is now required, as field. their best. “You don’t want to well as an “Alcohol and Drug The problem was to be risk getting hurt before season Compliance Affidavit.” solved this summer. “We were starts,” said Deanna Russel, a Soccer players practice on the field also used by softball. Before, the guest only had told we were to get a new field,” junior who plays catcher. to fill out a form, which con- said Ms. Altshule, the girls’ In order to have a safe sea- budget to build a new field. school football practice, and an tained general information such softball coach. son, the girls had to raise According to Lara, the field adult soccer league on week- as their name, address, school, The team envisioned having $20,000 by the start of the new is due by January 29. The grass ends. etc., with their CHS date. A a new field with a new irrigation spring season. The girls were takes about six weeks to grow, Currently, the girls cannot contract was also attached with system, fencing, backstop, as able to fundraise $4,000 in the but so far no work has been practice anywhere else but the signatures from both student and well as level dugouts. first two weeks by selling raffle done. field. According to Coach guest stating that neither would According to Mr. Davis, tickets and asking for corporate Not only is the girls’ soft- “Hattie,” the girls cannot play commit in acts of debauchery there was never really money donations. ball field dangerous, but it is on the boys’ baseball field be- before or during the event. for the softball field. Due to fi- Fortunately, they received also worn out. Unlike the boys’ cause they use 60 ft. base paths, “We’re hoping that this will nancial problems, the field was money from the office of Jon secluded baseball field, the but the boys play on a field with help reduce future incidents at never built. “Over the summer, Lauritzen, the school board girls’ softball field is a public 90 ft. bases. dances. Last year at prom, there they put dirt down and then they member, which eased their facility. It is used for P.E., after Continued on Page 4 was a young man who got him- self into a situation and we had no clue who he was. At least Forget Santa, Get Yourself a Jolly Job for Holiday Cash with this change, we know who to reach if the student were to By Maggie Ghahri-Saremi For students living in the think you will enjoy working. thing, including your speech, find themselves in any sort of Staff Writer Valley, newly remodeled West- Consider factors such as the at- clothing, and attitude. Of situation concerning his or her field Shoppingtown Topanga is mosphere, distance from your course, you should be sure to misbehavior,” said Principal It’s that jolly time again— a good place to begin their job home and/or school, hourly consider the store’s atmosphere Davis. time to start rummaging through search. wages (especially if you have when choosing your interview This year’s homecoming your cars and couches for some Some stores that are likely some work experience under clothes and preparing your re- dance form featured several new of that much needed extra to hire teens under the age of 18 your belt), and the amount of sponses to the interview ques- additions on the guest’s side, change because gift-giving sea- include Target, Aeropostale, hours you will be expected to tions. including confirmation from a son is just around the corner. American Eagle, Hollister, Lim- work. Before the interview, ob- school authority that the student But wouldn’t you rather rum- ited Too, Foot Locker, Forever Once you’ve decided where serve the store clerks—what will behave acceptably on a mage for something a bit more 21, Journeys, Gamestop, Pac you’d like to work, walk into they are wearing, saying, and day-to-day basis, as well as a promising… like a job? Sun, and many others. those stores and ask to speak to how they behave in general— school ID. “Sometimes it’s not Around the holidays and Another resource, the a manager. Pick up an applica- and get your inspiration from so much the students here at year-round, career counselor Northridge Fashion Center Teen tion and fill it out there. Make them. If they are wearing baggy Chatsworth that cause problems, Mr. Pina said, “A variety of jobs Holiday Job Hotline (1-877- sure to turn in your application clothing, flip-flops, or heels then but the kids that come from are available to students. Entry MALL-JOB), has updates on directly to a store manager and most likely you can too. other schools,” said Leadership level jobs that are the easiest to job listing information from not a store clerk because it may Once you have secured a director Ms. Donner. acquire are fast-food service mall retailers looking for sea- never get to the manager for re- position, make sure to pick up a The new policy also makes jobs because the turnover is so sonal help. view. green-colored work permit ap- CHS students responsible for great.” To ensure a holiday or part- If you do get an interview, plication from the Career Cen- their guests. “If the guest were Pina adds that locations time position, start gathering remember to dress appropri- ter. “Students who turn in their to get kicked out or expelled such as “Jamba Juice and Cold applications now. The sooner ately—no jeans, no flip-flops, completed work permits in the from the activity, the Chats- Stone Creamery are popular hir- you apply, the sooner you will and definitely no overly reveal- morning will be able to pick up worth student has to understand ing centers for our students, as be scheduled for an interview. ing clothing. You want to con- the typed version at lunch,” Pina that they must leave, too,” stated well as [dry] cleaners.” Pick a store where you vey professionalism in every- said. Donner. A parent-student affidavit Homecoming regarding the pro- Dropouts Face Difficulties hibition of the use of alcohol New Dropout Counselor was also featured. Signing the By Faith Lim with at least a high school de- form would ensure that parents Draws From Experience Staff Writer gree. Furthermore, high school do not allow their children to dropouts are more likely to be- use any sort of illegal substance, By Faith Lim Teenagers who drop out of come involved in crime to the best of their knowledge. Staff Writer high school lack minimum skills Chatsworth High School’s “Believe it or not, we have and credentials necessary to drop out rate is around 2.3 per- parents that take part in this and From being kicked out of work in today's society and cent, according to Matthew it is just unacceptable,” said two schools to being a dropout workplace, according to www. Meyers, the new drop-out coun- Donner. counselor with a doctorate de- childtrendsdatabank.org, . selor. Continued on Page 4 gree, Matthew Meyers has gone The completion of high The two major reasons for through many hardships. school is a minimum require- dropping out from Chatsworth In This Issue Growing up in Los Angeles, ment for most jobs. High school are lack of credits and having no If you think your parents are Meyers was a troublemaker. His dropouts earn less income. Ac- connection between school and bad, wait until you read the trouble-making and class-clown cording to CNN.com, adults students. Meyers’ job is to find story on page 2. ways got him kicked out of th Dropout counselor Mr. Meyers who do not finish high school in students who have already Landmark School in 8 grade. the U.S. earn 65 percent of what dropped out or who are planning Are you paying too much for wanted to prove [to myself] that Meyers moved to another school people who have high school to drop out – usually they don’t that caffeine kick? See page 2. they were wrong,” said Meyers. where, again, he was kicked out. degrees make. show up for several days- and It was in 10 th grade that he real- He graduated from high Also, the studies have found find the best options other than See page 3 to find out why ized he needed to change. school at age 20 with help from that young adults who have low dropping out for these kids.