El Rancho High School • Volume 57 • Issue 4• Thursday, December 11, 2008 www.erusd.k12.ca.us/elrancho Drama Serves a Tasty Treat in A Catered Affair BY RE B ECCA RO B LES EL RODEO NEWS STAFF WR ITE R On December 4th, 5th, and 6th Mr. Stan Wlasick directed the play A Catered Affair. The actors were strictly from the Advanced Drama class which included eight Thespians from Troupe #2164. A Catered Affair is about a lower middle class family who lives in the Bronx. Jane, Con- suelo Rivera, announces that Wlasick Receives she and Ralph, Jeremy Zazueta– Ruiz, are getting married. All Teacher of the the two want is to have a small and quick wedding so that they Tri Award can go on their honeymoon. Soon Ralph’s parents meet RE B ECCA RO B LES Jane’s. At dinner Ralph’s parents, EL RODEO NEWS STAFF Osmin Riperto and Sarah San- chez, (Mr. and Mrs. Halloran) Mr. Wlasick, the Senior go on and on about big weddings Team and Drama teacher, was with lots of people, and money. presented with the Teacher RE B ECCA RO B LES Aggie Hurley, Chantel The Right Mood: A few of the star actors begin to get into character before a scene presentation. of the Trimester award. He Moreno, realizes that she wants said, “The award honored her daughter Jane to have a with common class people who and I hope our hard work shines cido, pulled the scene together him because by being chosen grand wedding with traditional struggle with common problems. through.” The audience agreed. by keenly speaking a line about by the students this shows items. However, the problem is The cast hoped to sell all The star of the play Ch- the silly blunder. Hence the au- that he has made an impact that Aggie and her husband Tom of the printed tickets so that they antel Santos said, “ My favorite dience believed the fallen prop in the lives of students.” Hurley, David Hernandez, have could have a full theater to per- line of the play is when Pasha, was just a normal part of the play. Students voted by log- been saving for several years. form in front of. Friday night the Diana Jimenez, said, ‘You didn’t The tone of the play was ging on to the Don Page, select- Tom has been saving for a cab theater seemed to be quite full, see by any chance my cat...An- optimistic, and the play had a ing a teacher, and writing their with a medallion, but now with as did all of the other nights of gelo...you know the pink one.’” characteristic of comedy that reason for their vote. A student, the wedding he is obligated to performances. As the audience Along with the cast the shone through whenever Uncle Consuelo Rivera, has known spend the money on his daughter. took their seats there did not seem audience found this humor- Jack Colon, played by Carlos Mr. Wlasick for many years At the end Aggie Hurley to be any need for seat fillers. ous line full of entertainment. Figueroa, appeared in the play. and voted for him for Teacher learns that there is always some- Before the play began I had a On Friday night, about Carlos was happy to say, of the Tri. Miss. Rivera said, thing new to learn and love about chance to speak to Jane, Consuelo midway through the play, a stage “My inspiration is comedy, I “ Mr. Wlasick is a great role a relationship over a lifetime. Rivera. She said, “I hope the play prop, a changing screen hit the just feel comfortable in a co- model. I would like to thank The play integrated kitchen is a success because all of the ac- floor. Casual and cool the actors medic situation. For my part in him for all he does and more.” sink realism. Kitchen sink real- tors deserve it. We have been prep- continued the scene. The bridal Mr. Wlasick began his ism means that the play deals ping for this play for ten weeks saleswoman, Emily Wold–Sal- [See Theatre, Pg. 5] career as an actor, but becom- ing bored with this occupa- hour travel period is due to the to experience the German life- tion came across a friend that time difference and change of style, just for a day,” said Tapia. taught at the Ranch. Later, his planes, it is still a long flight. “The “I am looking forward to friend Mr. Rigg, the drama plane ride will take…um…A going the Holocaust museums and teacher at the time, offered LOT of hours, enough to watch the BMW museum. I really want him the opportunity to take a movie or three,” said Zeko. to see the cars. Most of all I am re- his place. Mr. Wlasick took “While on the plane, I plan ally looking forward to tasting the the position and started at El to talk to the person next to me, lis- food from Germany,” said Molina. Rancho in October of 1980. ten to my music, and sleep. As for Senior Jose Tapia, who is El Rancho High School reading material I’m thinking of not a stranger to Europe, will be is Mr. Wlasick’s first and only taking my old “Brown bear, brown traveling with the Gadabouts for teaching job. He said, “El bear, what do you see?” Book,” the first time. “I have been to Italy. Rancho is my home.” His fa- said fellow traveler Jose Tapia. I went with my cousin and brother. vorite aspect in an everyday “I plan to sleep a lot and I I didn’t know what the Gadabouts school day is “Senior team am taking Twelfth Night, 1984, or were at the time,” said Tapia. because it inspires my mind DO N PAGE Emily Dickinson to read on the With the trip less than two and Advanced and Begin- Four Christmas Wishes: Gadabouts will travel to Germany, Aus- plane,” said senior Angie Molina. days away, the Gadabouts have to ning Drama because it brings tria, Czech Republic, and Hungary. This will be the Gadabouts’ think of packing and money plans. out my artistic yearnings.” third trip to Europe. “Our first “I used to travel with the band Mr. Wlasick has taught trip was to London and Paris from North Park, so I know how the Senior Team class along- Gadabouts Head Out for during the 2006 spring break. much to pack,” said Senior Angel- side Mr. Meza since 1981. During the summer of 2007 we ica Molina. I think I’m going to Mr. Meza said, “Teaching visited Italy, Greece and Tur- take like $500,” said Abril Perez. This trip will not be with Mr. Wlasick has been Europe Trip this Saturday key, and now, during the 2008 the last one, according to Zeko. the highlight of my teaching winter break, we are going to BY MADELI N E ROD R IGUEZ rope, will take more than forty Germany, Austria, Hungary, and “I have a book of destinations, career because he is funny, EL RODEO STAFF WR ITE R people to Germany, Austria, Hun- Czech Republic,” said Zeko. and the kids are currently mark- witty, extremely well-read, tal- gary, and the Czech Republic. The tour will start as ing the places they want to go. ented, and a dynamic teacher While everyone sleeps in “We leave LAX at 6:00 soon as they step off the plane. When this trip is over, we’ll of English and Drama. His on the first morning of Christ- AM on Saturday the 13th, change “We will head straight see where the kids want to go intelligence and sense of hu- mas break, El Rancho’s travel planes in Atlanta, and land in Mu- to Dachau, a concentration next by narrowing the choices mor never fails to amaze me club, the Gadabouts, will be fly- nich, Germany at 8AM on Sunday,” camp,” said Zeko. The stu- to the top three, and then vot- and I look forward to more ing to Central Europe. The club, said club advisor Charissa Zeko. dents have high hopes for what ing. There’s some talk of Japan” years of working with him.” which plans low cost trips to Eu- Although much of the 26 they will experience. “I hope El Rancho High School Page 2 Dec. 11, 2008 End of the Year Environmental Science Learn’s that Watsewater can be Reused Begings the BY RE B ECCA RO B LES EL RODEO STAFF WR ITE R Senior Year Last Friday Mr. Leonardi’s AP Environmental BY MA R IC R UZ CAST R O -SP E N CE R Science Class took a field trip EL RODEO STAFF WR ITE R to the Wastewater Management Facility and the Whittier Narrows Nature Center in South While everyone is prepar- El Monte. ing for the New Year, seniors all At the Wastewater across the nation are filling out Management Facility the stu- financial aid and college applica- dents were shown a movie about tions. The pressure to fill out and how people waste water and the The AP Environmental Science class takes a trip to the Wastewater Management Facility an the Whittier turn in all applications having to amount of freshwater on earth. Narrows Nature Center in South El Monte, to learn about the recycling of water. do with college is showing on the Then the students were faces of seniors. From the twitch taken on a walking tour of the ued the students were exposed to fore me and I was drinking re- the tour the guides advised them in the eye to the hair that is messy facility.