Pioneer Valley HS
May 24, 2017
Issue 150 vol. 2
Choir Performance Ends Year on High Note
Last night the concert choir and jazz choir preformed their last performance and last solo of the year. For most of the performers it was the last one of their high school career. They were excited but also sad, as it is hard to say goodbye. They did an amazing job and nailed it. That’s how you finish on a high note!
"Over the past three years in choir I have experienced a lot and I've noticed that I progressed. I started from this boy whose voice cracked all the time and couldn't even actually being to be able to sing. Overall we've had our ups and downs but it’s been a good experience.” -Leterian Brandon (11), far left
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"My two year experience has been great so far because I got to learn a variety of jazz songs and I never saw myself singing jazzy. When I was introduced to it I was automatically like, this is so cool and I love jazz choir because everyone's friends and there's no drama and the music is just awesome." -Aaliyah Atondo (10), 2nd from left
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"My experience in jazz choir for the past four years has been a great and long rollercoaster, but overall I’ve been really happy with the success and memories we have all shared. The choir family is awesome they are all welcoming and very friendly. I have learned to grow with them and really connect with them. I am sad that I'm leaving jazz choir, but I know the program will keep improving." -Kevon Cabatic (12), 3rd from left
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"For my three years in the choir it's been pretty fun, we’ve bonded like a family. I've learned a lot new things with our director and just with everybody teaching each other new skills and technics on how to sing and we all grew together. It’s a fun experience." -Edrick Rodriguez (11), far right
"I really liked learning, meeting new people and just becoming more confident and coming out of my shell and singing in front of people. It was really fun." -Lupita Rios (11)
"At first I was scared of choir because there were auditions but then afterwards it helped. Choir got me really confident in my singing and helped me get better at singing. I have a lot of fun in choir." -Christina Bui (11)
"This is my first year in choir and it went really well. I learned how to sing better. All the songs were my favorite, but my least favorite was 'Fire and Rain' because it was really sad and it doesn’t go with my attitude. I had a lot of fun." -Kevin Gonzales (11)
-Cacilda Ramirez, Daniel Rodriguez & Araceli Flores
The CHAIR-ity Event
In April, Miss Curry’s New Entry SAAS class painted a chair for the Santa Maria Public Library.
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As an annual fundraiser, the library raffles off chairs that artists have painted to the theme of a book. The SAAS class read the Spanish version of the Circuit by Francisco Jimenez. One of the symbols of the book was butterflies which the class used to decorate the painted baby blue chair.
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Then, the class went on a field trip to see the 40 displayed chairs in the Town Center Mall. First, they enjoyed viewing their chair and all the others, and then they had lunch in the mall’s food court. And finally, they visited the Natural History Museum and the Santa Maria Public Library.
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The event raised $8,000 for the library, and the class delighted in being a part of it.
Fun was had by all!
-Ms. Curry
Art Show Part 3
This third installation of the Santa Maria Town Center Mall Art Show coverage, will recognize yet another talented, artistic panther: Vanessa Osalde. In previous articles, Taryn Anaya was interviewed for placing in Design with her astronomic based spray painting, Jocelyn Sandoval was also featured for placing in the 3D category for her well-sculpted mask featuring the day and the night. Competing in the popular and very competitive category of painting, Vanessa Osalde, a junior here at PV, was recognized for her incredible painting at the art show as well. This is what the young artist had to say about her accomplishment, and what inspired her:
“I saw this picture of a man once and he was laying on the couch and the scenery was beautiful. I created it so that the face was vague. It's relatable to everyone. Sometimes it's just a feeling.”
Thank you to everyone who participated in the art show for not only representing Pioneer Valley on a unique way, but also for creating these masterpieces that offer fresh perspective and comfort to those who see it.
-Jordan Gonzales
Help Sasha Score a Goal in Israel!
One of our fellow Panthers has the opportunity of a lifetime! Sasha Brafman is planning on competing in this year's Brazilian National Team! This will be an amazing dream of hers to make it. But she needs your help to get her there. Here's a link to Sasha's gofundme page. Help her get there and make her goal!
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The Brazilian national team is compiled of girls representing Brazil during the Jewish Olympics in Isreal this summer. "Girls have been recruited from all over Brazil and luckily they found me," Brafman explains. She has been in love with the sport when she was as young as 3 years old. However, there is more than just pure talent that got her this far. It's been 12 years of hard work and dedication for Brafman and it sure paid off. "Traveling all across California for games and tournaments has helped prepare me for something big like the Maccabi games in Israel."
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"I am different from the other girls in many ways," Brafman explains, "For one thing I don't live in Brazil. I can understand Brazil's language (Portuguese) but it is still hard for me to speak fluently." Unlike the other girls on the team, Brafman is born and raised in the US. However, she is familiar with the Brazilian culture since Mr. Brafman, her father, is born and raised in the country.
When it comes to things Brafman can bring to the national team, she can offer her knowledge of the sport. "I can offer to the team my experience, since I have been playing club soccer for 6 years now," says Brafman. She is also a good team member and a hard worker which are important factors to bring to a team.
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In other words, Sasha Brafman is a good member for the team. Help this fellow Panther represent Brazil and make the country proud! Here is a link to her gofundme page. All donations are appreciated!
-Alexis Dagar