www.sonomadragonstale.
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May 2010 - Volume 19 - Issue 8 - Sonoma Valley High School
Smoke Senior class leaves a red debt
Signals
Choir & band
rock Sonoma
The award-winning SVHS
choir is performing in the Little
Theater on Wed. 26 at 7:30pm.
Band performed Tuesday to a
delighted crowd. During April
the two groups competed in New
York for the Heritage Music Fes-
tival. There were four categories:
choir, show choir, chamber choir,
and band; silvers were won in all
four categories. Jazzberries, the
school show choir, opened for
the local Jazz Festival with lively
music and vibrant pink costumes.
Enough is enough
The Plaza was abuzz with the
chanting and signs of a group of
SVHS organized protesters on
the May 4 at the Farmers Mar-
ket from 5 to 6 pm. The protest,
organized to oppose the new anti-
immigration laws in Arizona, was
proposed and put into action by
Namiko Morales, junior, and
Shane Enzensperger junior.
Roughly 30 people showed
up, all under the age of 20,
recounted Enzensperger. We
organized the demonstration
together because we felt that
Sonoma needed to hear our
voices.
Newspaper contest
SVHSs Dragons Tale staff
took a trip to the Santa Rosa
Veterans building Thurs.
May 20, to participate in the
Redwood Empire Journalism
awards ceremony sponsored by
the contest honors outstanding
articles and images in high school
newspapers as well as overall
excellence in jouranlism class-
rooms. Seven high schools from
Sonoma County participated with
SVHS receiving seven awards in
various categories. The winners
included: James Fanucchi, Sigrid
Forsythe, Matt Fraser, Ben Graff,
Anna Haley, Caity Tremblay and
Danny Maggioncalda.
Sensational
senior
projects pg.
4 11
By Luther Cenci
Despite the heroic efforts of a
small task force of dedicated stu-
dents, the Senior Class remains
$2,052.72 in debt at the time of
press. With two days left of class
for the seniors, the financial situa-
tion looks impossibly dire.
The roots of this crisis reach
their loathsome tendrils back to
last years prom, held on the USS
Hornet. By convention, SVHS
Prom is organized, marketed, and
funded by the junior section of
the Leadership Class, and more
specifically, the Prom Committe.
A combination of lower-than-ex-
pected turnout and higher -than-
predicted costs, the 2009 prom in-
currred a deficit of around $5,500.
This amount was deducted directly
from the ASB account held in the
name of the Class of 2010.
Coupled with other miscel-
laneous expenses, the prom de-
bacle ensured that the graduating
class rolled into their senior year
$6,936 into the red. Needless to
say, this staggering sum cast a
pall over the activities planned
After 60 years Doyle takes a break
Photo by Anthony Arjona Doyle scholarship
The 2010 batch of seniors moving on to SRJC were
overlooked in this years awards.
By Danny Maggioncalda
This years SVHS senior awards
ceremony commenced as well as
anyone could have planned, fill-
ing Pfeiffer Gymnasium with
wide smiles, proud parents, and
an intoxicating aura of accom-
plishment.
Sliding to the win pg.
by the senior class. While many
leadership students, for whatever
reason, did not make it a priority
to deal with this proverbial ele-
phant of a debt, a nuclear group of
seniors, both Leadership as well
as non-Leadership students, have
worked to reduce its impact.
Throughout the year, carwashes,
raffles, fundraisers and tamale
sales have been a reccurring back-
drop at any school function. Many
of these have been to benefit the
senior class. Slowly and methodi-
cally, the efforts of the fundraisers,
spearheaded by Eva Diaz, have
chipped away at the debt, bring-
ing in $6,227 in revenue. Howev-
er the Senior Class still spent over
$1,000 in various expenses.
A large contribution to the fund
was made by the Boosters Club,
despite the shrinkage of its own
revenue base. Even as it weathered
the storm of the financial collapse,
Boosters found the werewithal to
provide $750 towards the allevia-
tion of senior suffering.
Apart from this charity, the
single largest source of income
this year came from the raffle of a
Often the ceremony
drags on for many
hours, yet unfortu-
nately time was not
an issue this year,
due in part to the
absence of a par-
ticular scholarship
that is bestowed an-
nually upon a large
percentage of the
graduating senior
class.
Started in 1950 as
part of the last will
and testament of
Frank P. Doyle, the
has given much
needed financial aid
to over 100,000 students planning
to attend Santa Rosa Junior Col-
lege. Last year alone, the Doyle
trust, established through Ex-
change Bank, awarded over $1.3
million to prospective SRJC stu-
dents.
The year 2010 will not see such
money endowed at all. Those in-
Senior section pgs. 3-10
Jason Davis, Eva Diaz, Miriam Magaa, and Aracelli Moya are among a handful of
seniors working to elimate the over $2,000 debt.
tuxedo for prom, which brought in
$601.35. The raffle was marketed
under the express understanding
that the opportunity for ticket pur-
chase would be during Conven-
tion, and the winners would be an-
nounced at the Inaugaural Ball.
When I walked by the table
at Convention, they had not sold
any tickets, so I bought ten tick-
ets said Peter Armstrong, senior.
However, they never announced
dividuals who would have quali-
fied for grants (having maintained
an academic GPA of at least 2.5
throughout their high school ca-
reers) will be forced to look else-
where for financial aid.
In related news, deserving se-
niors have also lost the opportu-
nity for recognition and scholar-
ships via the prestigious Press
Democrat Youth Service Awards,
which were held this spring in
spite of SVHSs absence.
The awards are presented an-
nually to senior students who
have proven excellence in vari-
ous fields of education and dem-
onstrated commitment to their
communities through service and
humanitarianism.
According to Laura Losk of
the SVHS counseling office, no
seniors attended this year due to
a lapse in communication. Each
year, Losk plans on receiving
information for nomination pro-
tocol from the Press Democrat in
late Jan. By Mar. of 2010, she had
come across no such email.
Photo by James Fanucchi
the winners at the Ball, and I later
found out that they had extended
the raffle and changed the param-
eters of the competition.
Other classes have left with a
debt, said Maggie Cunningham,
Student Activities bookkeeper,
but never one so large.
Only time can tell the full im-
pact of this debt.
(See Slate Four response on pg 2)
It was all very frustrating,
comments Losk. Michelle Straub
from the PD has been coordinat-
ing this with Patty McFerrin for a
number of years now.
Straub, Exec. Asst. to the Pub-
lisher at the PD, continued to send
information on the awards to Mc-
Ferrins email, even after
McFerrins retirement at the con-
clusion of the 2009 school year.
Details of the event were recov-
ered by Losk and turned over to
Principal Philpot and Superin-
tendent Carlomagno. Although it
is past the deadline for SVHS to
submit nominees for the award,
the Sonoma Index Tribune and
Sonoma Sun have volunteered to
do a similar program of recogni-
tion for Sonoma seniors, only
without the prospect of a $1,000
scholarship.
Were not going to let some-
thing like this go just because we
only have three counselors instead
of four, added Losk. Were still
doing everything we can and have
to do.

... Underclassmen left in the lurch
By Luther Cenci
It seems all but inevitable that
the Senior Class will graduate
with a substantial debt on the
books. Every cent of their scar-
let thousands must be taken from
somewhere else, in an already
overstretched economic climate.
As Financial Director for the
incoming Slate, your correspon-
dent is faced with a bleak vista of
painful financial choices as far as
the eye can see.
During the recent campaign,
Slate Four committed to fis-
cal responsibility, pledging not
to spend money the school did
not have. The necessity of such
methods was only further em-
phasized by the revelation that
the Senior Class had spent more
$2000 more than they brought in,
despite frantic efforts to balance
the budget.
The current crisis highlights
deep organizational and doctrinal
flaws in the way the student body
manages its finances. The system
of regulatory checks on spend-
ing must be changed so that such
a fault in budget reconciliation
cannot occur in the future.
The account for the Senior Class
is a part of a larger bookeeping
network of balances compos-
ing the entirety of the ASBs
finances. This general fund is
partitioned into 130 discrete ele-
ments, which hold all the paper
money for every club, sport, and
grade-level leadership group.
According to Maggie Cun-
ningham, keeper of the books,
The negative balance will have
to come from a little here, a little
there, from anywhere where
funds can be found. While un-
fortunate, this process cannot
be wholly covered by increased
fundraising.
The only feasible way to bal-
ance the books in the short term
is to temporarily or permanently
divert funds from the other ASB
accounts. This action is an hor-
rifying act of necessary theft,
forced upon the majority of the
school by the financial folly of
the Prom Planning Committee of
the Class of 2010.
The greatest injustice of this
sorry debacle is that the perpe-
trators are escaping without ever
having been held responsible for
their actions. Since the seniors
graduate in two weeks, most have
no motivation to address the fi-
Opinion - Editorial
Cartoon by Sigrid Forsythe
nancial issue. The overwhelming
opinion of the Senior Class is one
of apathy towards the crisis.
This attitude is one of decided
immorality. There are no imme-
diate or material consequences
to their actions, but this crisis
affects all the underclassmen.
By not caring about their
debt, the Senior Class is show-
ing a blatant disregard for any
community spirit or cross-grade
empathy.
However, the classes left in the
lurch cannot concern themselves
with the ethical dissolution of
the graduating class, but rather
must respond to the crisis. This
response must address both the
immediate funding crisis and the
underlying fiscal irresponsibility.
SVHS must work cooperatively
to identify potential sources of
funding. It must find creative new
sources of revenue. The entire
student body must agree that sac-
rifices must be made to address
the issue.
Second, there must be checks
on spending to avert a similar
crisis. If any ASB account looks
to be overdrawn, there must be
a cutoff to withdrawals by its
holders. If a class appears to be
leaving a debt, it must be placed
on a collective Loss of Privi-
lege, and must have its preroga-
tives curtailed for the duration,
so as to impress upon them the
severity of their misconduct.
To make the budget shortfall an is-
sue of the body politic, rather than
a private concern, Senior Week and
other senior activities should have
been shortened or eliminated. If
this drastic measure had even been
threatened, the accompanying re-
sponse from the non-Leadership
elements of the Class of 2010 would
have tipped the budget balance to-
wards the black.
As the representatives of next
years ASB, Slate Four is dedi-
cated to reducing the impact of
the budget shortfall. This fiscal
conservatism does not imply
an accompanying reactionary
attitude. Slate Four will stand
firmly in defense of students
rights at all administrative lev-
els. However, in order to confi-
dently argue for increased stu-
dent independence, Slate and,
by extension, the entire school
must prove that it can be mor-
ally and financially responsible.
College
lacks
intellectual
integrity
By Troy Cameron
College is a privilege, not a
right. However, that privilege is
slowly dwindling away.
Fewer and fewer students are
able to afford the education that
their intellect warrants. Institu-
tions of higher learning ought to
be accessible to those with the
mental capacity. Unfortunately,
reality operates on the dollar.
By definition, private universities
retain the right to enroll whichev-
er demographic they prefer, yet to
do so would run contrary to their
academic philosophies.
Due to current economic con-
straints, scholarship opportuni-
ties are severely lacking. As a
result, college has the appearance
of being out of reach for many.
State-funded education is suffer-
ing tremendously. Tuition costs
are rising, class sizes are swell-
ing and admission is contentious.
A side effect of this is the junior
college phenomena.
An incredible number of stu-
dents resign themselves to this
fate because they feel a four-year
university is an unrealistic goal.
With the disappearance of the
Doyle Scholarship, even this is
becoming less of an option.
In attempts to save some pre-
cious cash, even university-eligi-
ble students are opting for the ju-
nior college with plans to transfer
later. Clearly economics are hav-
ing a great effect on educational

Junior colleges limiting potential

decision making.
The spirit of education is be-
ing diluted. Instead of groom-
By Shannon Murphy lifestyle of a college student. ing students to be well-rounded
Of course, these perks all seem members of society, these insti-
Every SVHS student is familiar promising in theory and are un- tutions are treating them as static
with the Santa Rosa Junior Col- doubtedly beneficial to those who amounts of money or singularly
lege and its reputation as one of utilize this opportunity in its en- racial entities.
the best community colleges in tirety but the truth of the matter The politics of college are de-
the country, but its availability is that many people use the SRJC tracting from the intended bene-
to the students is both a blessing as an excuse to not try in high fits. While education has histori-
and a curse. school. cally belonged to the affluent, it
The SRJC is conveniently lo- With acceptance at the commu- is time to spread the intellectual
cated within the county and is nity college being all but a cer- wealth. Merit-based education is
much less expensive than most tainty, and transferring to a four- the goal.
colleges, especially those with year college remaining a rather If that were the reality, then per-
four-year attendance. These cir- attractive option, it is perceived haps students would be more mo-
cumstances produce ideal condi- by many students as a clean slate tivated to learn in the first place.
Cartoon by Danny Maggioncalda While there arent many imme-
tions as a person makes the tran- and continuance of high school.
sition from the nurtured lifestyle But this idea concerning trans- selves unable to break the habit would not be a stretch to say that diate changes that can be made
of a high school student to the fers is nothing more than a fal- they formed in high school and as over a third of students who are to the private education system,
independent and self-sufficient lacy; many students find them- a result suffer in their college ex- attending college out of SVHS there are some pressing revisions
perience. Fewer than 20 percent are going straight to the SRJC. that need to be made to public
~Dragons Tale Staff~
ADVISER - Alison Manchester of enrolled students successfully In in the interest of a better fu- education.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF - Clarke Campion transfer to four-year colleges after ture, it is best for college hopefuls Instead of investing in the mili-
MANAGING EDITOR- Peter Armstrong their attendance at the SRJC. to dismiss the SRJC as a fallback tary or faltering financial institu-
LAYOUT EDITOR - Rachel Glago Even with the repeal of the plan and to reach for the college tions, perhaps the United States
COPY EDITOR - Troy Cameron Doyle Scholarship, the number that not only is the most academi- should invest in the education of
NEWS EDITOR - Kirsten Aguilar, Hannah Horrowitz, of students who choose to go to cally prestigious but also the one its future leaders. Then they might
Danny Maggioncalda
the SRJC remains unchanged. which is most suitable for the stu- get the education they deserve.
OP/ED EDITOR - Alejandro Tinajero
FEATURE EDITORS - Chelsea Rose Shiery, Caity Tremblay As evident in this publication, it dent and his or her interest.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR - Gabe Bassett ~Editorial Policy~
PHOTO EDITOR - Joe Gilmore The Dragons Tale is a public forum newspaper produced by the Sonoma Valley High School Newspaper
SPORTS EDITORS - Matt Fraser, Ben Graff class. The newspaper attempts to inform its audience in a broad, fair and accurate manner on all subjects, and
BUSINESS MANAGERS - Zachary Adams, Mackenzie Kelley, to encourage an exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers.
Eva Lindstrom The newspaper staff encourages letters for opinions and responses on the content of the publication. Only
REPORTERS - Zachary Adams, Kirsten Aguilar, Anthony Arjona, Troy signed letters will be considered for publication. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all letters for
Cameron, Luther Cenci, Sigrid Forsythe, Matt Fraser, Ben Graff, Anna Haley, content.
Hannah Horowitz, Mackenzie Kelley, Eva Lindstrom, Daniel Maggioncalda,
No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible, advocates an illegal
Shannon Murphy, Jesse URen, Victor Vasquez Connor Vickers, Charles
Watson
activity or which the editorial staff deems in poor taste.
PHOTOGRAPHERS - James Fanucchi, Joe Gilmore, Chelsea Rose Shiery, Editorials reflect the collective views of the staff and will not contain bylines. Other opinionated pieces will
Alejandro Tinajero, Caity Tremblay include editors columns, feature columns, letters-to-the-editor, and entertainment reviews.
ART AND GRAPHICS - Sigrid Forsythe, Daniel Maggioncalda If the staff discovers that a mistake has eluded the editors, a correction will be printed in the next issue.

Dragons Tale Page 2 April 2010

We salute you, class of 2010
By Jesse URen

Finally the school year has come

to a close, and with it the annual
crowning of the senior valedicto-
rian and salutatorian.
The honors are placed upon the
students with the highest overall
GPA, singled out based on aca-
demic achievements.
Something unexpected has
happened this year, however. In-
stead of two students winning the
awards, there are three.
Sean Hammett won valedictori-
an with a GPA of 4.36, and there
has been a tie for salutatorian be-
tween Dominic Amara and Ellen
Everidge with a GPA of 4.31.
Separated by a mere .003 points
in GPA, Everidge has a slight lead
over Amara, however they hold
no grudge towards each other,
treating the event as a playful
competition.
Although technically Everidge
had the higher of the two grades,
both students are being honored.
The students worked fiercely to
receive their great grades, though
they still had time for fun.
Some days you simply dont
sleep admitted Amara. Other
nights you can sit around and
watch movies; it really depends.
Challenge yourself but dont
stress out too much, advised Photo by James Fanucchi
Everidge. Award-winners Sean Hammet, Ellen Everidge, and Dominic Amara display the plaques to which their names were added to SVHS history.
All three recipients stated they fessed Everidge. I was surprised I knew awhile in advance, amongst students with such high lenge themselves.
werent striving to obtain the that I received it! explained Hammett. I even used standards; however, the three Knowing your teachers real-
awards; they were simply trying Everidge may have been sur- the award on my college applica- hard workers maintained genial ly helps you do well in a class,
to do well in school. prised, but Hammett and Amara tions! attitudes towards each other. Hammett reflected. Amara at-
I didnt actually want it, con- were informed before hand. Hammett applied to numerous Competition was joked about, tributed his success to keeping up
prestigious schools; he will be but not really taken seriously, re- with his homework.
attending Dartmouth in the fall. marked Hammett. Hammett, Everidge and
Coincidentally, both salutatorians The three award-winners viewed Amara truly have an admirable
will be attending UC Berkeley. winning as a benefit, not a goal; work ethic, dedication, and serve
One would think there would instead, they worked hard and as an inspiration to aspiring schol-
be a fair level of competition took AP classes in order to chal- ars.

Inside the
Senior Section:
High School 101 - What to know
Unofficial Senior Awards
Senior Stories - Best memories
Seniors attend Road to Reality.
Photo by James Fanucchi Colleges - Who is going where
Dragons Tale Page 3 May 2010

I scream, you scream,
we all scream...
By Caity Tremblay and
Anna Haley
For ice cream! SVHS art de-
partment made its own stand
against hunger during the fourth
Empty Bowls Project: Art
Alleviating Hunger on May 7.
The fundraiser allowed artists
and students to use their resources
to combat hun-
ger locally and
globally. Art I
The idea is
students made
bowls for the
to create
event, voting
for proceeds to
something to
go to F.I.S.H.
and Haiti Hun-
be a memento,
ger Relief.
Its done ev-
a reminder that
erybody good.
Even school
hunger exists
families have
been helped
and continues
by F.I.S.H....
its real, re-
to exist.
marked art
teacher Peggy Feuer, organizer of
the ice cream event.
Art I students handmade the
ceramic bowls; each bowl was
uniquely designed and decorated,
then painted, glazed, and fired in
a kiln.
People have put so much care
into making the bowls gushed
Mrs. Feuer. The idea is to cre-
ate something to be a memento,
a reminder that hunger exists and
continues to exist.
Any student could participate.
Retiring from teaching, not life
By Hannah Horowitz
Passionate, dedicated, and in-
spiring are all words that define
many of SVHSs teachers.
This is certainly true of principal
Micaela Philpot, math teachers
Ken Bystrom and Jerry Thomas,
as well as Ag. Teacher Mike
Soukup, the four educators who
will be retiring at the end of the
current school year.
Im really grateful that these
teachers have put so much time
Dragons Tale
Students donated a minimum of
$8, chose one of the unique bowls
to eat ice cream in, and then were
free to keep their new treasure.
[People] take the bowl and
hopefully it is reminder of the
hunger in the world, commented
Mrs. Feuer.
Culinary students received ex-
tra credit for helping, but students
also participated
for moral rea-
sons.
I do this because
its a cool way to
raise awareness
of non-profit or-
ganizations, re-
marked Monika
Bauermeister, se-
nior who scooped
ice cream.
The Empty
Bowls movement
began 10 years
ago in Michi-
gan; events are
now conducted
in schools and other community
groups internationally.
The May 7 Empty Bowls Proj-
ect was the fourth one SVHS has
hosted this year. Culinary and Art
contributed to three soup lunches
conducted for the staff between
December and February; pro-
ceeds totaled around $900.
Enthusiasm was really high,
Mrs. Feuer recalled proudly. She
plans to repeat the project in the
coming year.
As long as theres enthusiasm
an effort into helping the students
and school achieve, comments
Caitlyn Silkey. They truly shape
the school.
Ms. Philpot, who has been
at SVHS for 4 years and in the
education business for 35, looks
forward to living life at a slower,
more relaxed pace, something that
all four of these retiring teachers
have in common.
Mr. Bystrom, who has spent 31
years at SVHS, states the first
year [of retirement] will be about
Feature
Araceli Moya and Carlos Marquez make their contirbution to eliminate hunger
on a local to a global scale.
for it I feel its beneficial.
The project promotes awareness
of the terrible prevalence of hun-
ger, allowing students to make a
difference in their school, their
community, and the world.
myself; I like to fish and camp.
Maybe down the road I might
give some help with the teachers
support network.
Mr. Thomas also looks forward
to getting back to nature and is
excited to take his boat up near
Vancouver for a couple of months,
while Mr. Soukup looks forward
to relaxing with his family.
All the teachers agree that the
thing they will most about SVHS
is the students. Its so gratifying
to watch when the lightbulb goes
off when a student comprehends
something, relates Bystrom.
And then, with a note of finality,
Bystrom announces that the in-
ability to change the bureaucracy
will be what he will miss least.
I dont know whether to say Ill
miss staff meetings or disciplin-
ary meetings least, comments
Mr. Thomas with a wry smile,
before adding definitely the staff
meetings.
Page 12
Photo by Alejandro Tinajero
You have to care about other
people, passionately stated
Maria Sanabria, junior who
scooped ice cream. You need
to help other people: its a really
sweet thing to do.
SVHS will be hard put to re-
place these experienced teachers,
yet the most difficult may be Mr.
Soukup, who has taught Animal
Science, Applied Life Science,
and Ag Mechanics at SVHSs
unique agriculture program for
over 20 years.
Mr. Soukup is very enthusiastic
about the program says Macken-
zie Mackling, senior, and Sonoma
FFA President. He is optimistic
and enjoys seeing students work
hard and also has a very close
bond with all of his students here
at SVHS.
These teachers also contribute
in many ways students dont even
see adds Shawn Martin, his-
tory teacher. Were going to lose
some wise voices.
We wish all four of these edu-
cators much luck, relaxation, and
peace as they join the ranks of the
retired. Perhaps, if were lucky,
theyll even return for visits!
Foreign
friends bid
farewell
By Anthony Arjona
Summer brings joy, relaxation,
and sleep to most students at
SVHS, but for a few unique stu-
dents it means the end of a great
adventure. Returning home after
a long year, the foreign exchange
students are filled with bittersweet
emotions.
It went by really fast, ex-
plained Bruno Freijanes, senior
from Brazil. Having arrived Au-
gust 13, Freijanes has spent nine
months exploring, living, and en-
joying the American lifestyle.
I was expecting that school
would be easier so I would make
friends quickly, he admitted.
But when I arrived, it was differ-
ent; I was a bit scared.
However, after two weeks
Freijanes adjusted to his new en-
vironment. Im really interested
to see how much Ive changed
once Im back home, he noted.
At the end of his visit he fondly
reflects, Ive tried to get the most
out of it, and I will remember all
of the happy moments. . . I would
like to thank all of the people
who have been so friendly. My
friends, and host family really
made me feel more at home.
Tina Wing Chi Wong, junior
from Hong Kong, arrived one
day earlier than Freijas after a 13
hours of flying. I feel more in-
dependent now; it is a big step for
me, commented Wong.
When she arrived, Wong took
a week to polish her English and
adjust to the culture.
My expectations were that
school would be easy, and I knew
that the food would be different,
described Wong, but everything
is different.
We dont have dances in Hong
Kong like the ones here, Wong
noted. She has enjoyed making
new friends, and eating the differ-
ent foods.
I would definetly
want to stay more...
a full year maybe.
Ive enjoyed
everything!
I like burritos with the flour
tortillas, confessed Wong. I like
the brownies and the cookies!
I would like to thank my host
family. Im going to miss being
here, Wong fondly lamented,
adding I would like to stay for
the 4th of July celebration!
Hailing from the country of
Denmark, Vitus Mortensen, ju-
nior, has dived into activities this
year. I was the campaign man-
ager for Slate, that was fun, and I
have played varsity basketball.
Mortensen arrived by airplane
after a 12 hour flight. Some of
his favorite moments in America
include the run for Slate, playing
basketball, and experiencing pea-
nut butter and jelly.
I would definitely want to stay
more, he added, a full year may-
be. Ive enjoyed everything!
May 2010

Caught
in
From sandbox to graduation
Thought
What are you
going to study
after High
School? Photo courtesy of dunbarschool.org.
Kevin Phillips
Dunbar
Growing up in Glen Ellen, Kev-
in Phillips had a strong group of
friends as well as a lot of fun.
He enjoys snowboarding, scuba-
diving, cycling, backpacking and
fishing. This summer, he plans on
traveling to Europe. He will visit
Germany, Austria, and the Neth-
Environmental Re- erlands.
source Engineering at
Humboldt State.
-Mason Rothfeld
Next year, he will attend Cuesta
Community College in San Luis
Obispbo. Its a very cool town,
he says. He wants to learn a little
bit, discover new hobbies, en-
gage in activites, meet new peo-
Journalism. ple and lead a healthy, happy and
successful life. He hopes to give
back more to the environment
-Bobby Schimm than he takes away.
Seniors share memories of high school
Jonathon Reynolds
My favorite moment of my
senior year was the moment right
after I did my senior project pre-
sentation. It felt absolutely liber-
ating to know that I had tried my
hardest to succeed in my efforts
at graduating high school and that
the odds were now in my favor to
graduate successfully.
Architecture...maybe... After 12 years of constant effort
yes. and studying, I will finally be able
to reap what I have sown. Be-
ing confident in the fact that my
-Ena Sokney graduation is now imminent takes
a heavy burden off my shoulders
and makes me look forward to a
brighter future.
Mackenzie Marie
Mackling
My favorite part of senior year
was my involvement in the Future
Farmers of America program and
serving as the 2009-2010 Sonoma
President. Going on field trips to
Economics. conferences, public speaking con-
tests, and planning FFA activities
was a lot of fun, and it created a
-Ron Perkins lot of memories for me in my se-
nior year.
Dragons Tale
Senior Section
Photo courtesy of floweryschool.org.
Arlanne Burquez
Flowery
Born and raised in Sonoma, Ar-
lanne Burquez loves music. She
plays both guitar and piano and
sings as well. I would like to be
a musician, she says.
Aside from music, Arlanne has
played soccer for seven years. She
likes photography and kayaking.
Ive only been once, she says of
kayaking, but it was amazing.
Some of her favorite memories
from elementary school are the
Flowery Talent Shows. She also
remembers the Washington D. C.
and New York trip that Mr. Van
took eighth graders at Altimira on.
She plans to go to college and
continue playing music. She
would like to travel the world.
Apol Lansang
One of my memorable moments
during senior year was when the
whole music department went on
a trip to New York. We had one
more week of spring break! The
week we stayed in New York was
made more fun because I was
with my friends and classmates.
It was my first time seeing the
Statue of Liberty, and the city was
really crowded with busy and
bustling New Yorkers.
We competed against schools
from many different states. Con-
sidering that we have so many
newcomers in choir this year, we
were really good. Even though
we were aiming for the gold, win-
ning silver is still something to be
grateful for.
I will miss all the fun times Ive
experienced going to SVHS. Its
sad that Im graduating now and
leaving the SVHS music depart-
ment. It has given me many op-
portunities to share my talent.
Page 5
Photo courtesy of sassarinischool.org.
Manuel Heredia
Sassarini, Prestwood,
Flowery, El Verano
At each of the elementary
schools he attended, Manuel
Heredia was on the Honor Roll.
He also was named Youth of the
Year in 2009.
for reading and writing poetry. In
He plans on studying architecture
at Colgate University in Hamil-
ton, New York because he wants
to be an architect.
Manuel, however, is not only
and then transfer to U.C. Merced
about his studies. He also likes
music and art. I like oldies, he
says, about his favorite kind of music.
He enjoys drawing, mostly
black and white sketches. He
hopes to live his life to the fullest
and wants to make an impact in
the world.
Scott Young
Graduation is upon us, and the
time has come to leave behind the
academics of SVHS and enter a
world of opportunities, freedom,
and happiness. The Class of 2010
has shared multiple special mo-
ments this year that have either
inspired us to make better choices
in the future, or simply to brighten our
day. I have been incredibly grate-
ful to have shared so many mem-
ories with many of my friends,
who have guided me through life
and who have supported me.
It is extremely difficult to choose
certain memories, because once
you begin to think of one, another
revolves around your brain, then
another and so on.
The moments I cherish the
most are the with people I have
worked with this entire year. Ei-
ther it was working with Jordan
Villasenor, Mackenzie Mackling,
and Stephanie Campos for Road
to Reality or working with Cole
Aviles to perform our scene, Reb-
el without a Cause, I was inspired
by the amount of achievement we
have all reached together. Work-
ing with these dedicated, spirited,
and encouraging people is the rea-
son why so many memories have
been established this year.
Photo courtesy of elveranoschool.org.
Kristen Palmer
El Verano
At the age of three, Kristen
Palmer moved from her place of
birth, Marin, to the Sonoma Val-
ley, a town she quickly came to
call her home.
At El Verano Elementary
School, she developed a passion
third grade, she read the entirety
of the Lord of The Rings series.
One of her favorite memories
of elementary school is the time
she got stuck in a tree and Monika
Bauermeister had to fetch a jani-
tor to help extract Kristen from
the branches. It was a tree that
everyone used to hang out around
during break and lunch. Some-
how, I got stuck in it, she says.
She also remembers the trip to
Disneyland that her class earned
Kristen plans to attend the Santa
Rosa Junior College for two years
to earn a Bachelors degree in
Tissue Engineering.
Tissue engineering is the science
of growing organs. I like the idea
of being able to fix people, Kris-
ten says.
Teresa Moreno
Chavez
There are way too many mem-
ories to choose from, but I guess
the most memorable would have
to be going to New York for the
Choir and Band trip.
I am so fortunate to be able to
even set foot over there. I thought
I wasnt going at all because of
money and other personal issues,
but I ended up going and it was
a lot of fun! I loved hanging out
with different friends; I adored
the tours, the Broadway shows,
other amazing places, and the
people over there, and I had so
much fun singing at the Riverside
Church. I always told myself that
I was never going to like the city
because of too many people, too
noisy, and all those stereotypical
city-like qualities. But New York
changed that, and I would like to
someday go back and visit again.
It was a wonderful experience,
and I hope to visit other awesome
places.
May 2010

Jazz Plus Not So Jazzy
By Peter Armstrong and
Gabe Bassett
Continuing the five-year tradi-
tion of the Sonoma Jazz + Festi-
val, many iconic artists graced the
main stage on Sonomas Field of
Dreams, none of which could be
considered a true jazz group.
The main headliners for the 2010
festival were Crosby, Stills, and
Nash, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and
Elvis Costello and the Sugar-
canes.
Opening each nights perfor-
mances on the main stage was
SVHSs own Jazzberries, Show
Choir, and Jazz Band.
It was really great to be able
to perform there, though I do
wish more people knew about our
show, said Anna Haley, senior.
Most people were just arriving
during our performance, but they
did seem to be enjoying it once
they saw us.
Following the Jazzberries Fri-
day night performance was Liz
Wright, who opened for Crosby,
Editors farewell
The H1N1 scare, the falling
redwood tree, the new superin-
tendent, the retiring principal, the
budget cuts all of these occur-
rences have amounted to an in-
teresting and exciting year for the
Dragons Tale Staff.
My experience as Editor-in-
Chief has been extremely enjoy-
able from quelling the inevita-
ble quarrels within the newspaper
staff to championing the freedom
of press, I have tried my best to
honor the duties and responsibili-
ties that accompany my title. The
productivity of the newspaper,
however, is defined by the actions
of the staff as a whole. Thus, I
extend my gratitude to the entire
newspaper staff who worked dili-
gently and relentlessly to provide
accurate, unbiased news. Without
the undeniable wit, prowess, hu-
Dragons Tale
Senior Section
Stills, and Nash. Though to-
Caught in
gether for over forty years,
time has left its mark upon thought
their stage performance. With
slightly off-tune harmonics,
the band did not live up to the
What was your most
expectations of many. embarrassing moment
The headliners for Saturday,
Earth, Wind and Fire, put on
in high school?
a show to remember. Phil-
lip Bailey, the lead singer,
and one of the three original
members demonstrated his
dynamic singing abilitites and
incredible range. Earth, Wind
and Fire stuck to the classics,
and kept the audience enter-
tained for the entire duration
of the show.
One downside to the festi-
val was the restrictions set on
the audiences movement and When I fell down the
seating seemed to stifle the the
crowds energy to a certain
H-wing stairs.
Photos from Google Images
extent. This lack of energy
seems to translate directly to This years headliners at the Jazz + concerts -Jeff Slack, senior
the performance of the artists, were Crosby, Stills, and Nash (above) on Fri-
day, Earth, Wind, and Fire (top) on Saturday,
but not enough to really de-
and Elvis Costello (right) on Sunday night.
tract from the good times.
mor, and talent of these journal-
ists, this years newspaper would
not have been nearly as dynamic
and accomplished.
The inherent nature of jour-
nalism is chaotic, yet exhilarat-
ing. In the event of receiving a When I spilled
tip-off or hearing a rumor, a staff
member is immediately called spaghetti over my
and sent on assignment to check white button up shirt.
for validity of these unconfirmed
reports. If this new information is
found newsworthy, the deadline
schedules, article assignments,
and page layouts are immediately
Slate peacing out -Oscar Gomez, senior
Dear SVHS Students, Valley students, we think of a
changed to make room for the You guys really are a great well-rounded, grounded student
more pertinent, timely news. bunch; it has been an honor to with a bright future. You only
I wish the Class of 2010 all the serve as your Slate this past year. have to go visit a few clubs or at-
best in your endeavors, and urge We appreciate all the great ideas tend a few sports games to feel
you to be culturally and politi- you had (free condom Friday?) that legendary Dragon Pride.
cally aware as you face your new and the enthusiasm with which Well miss you next year, every
surroundings in college, or wher- you approach your schooling. single one of you, and although
ever life may take you. Never Weve always been struck, in we will be meeting many new
forget the importance of newspa- traveling to and visiting other people, theyll never be quite as
pers and media in your life; these schools, by the depth and extent awesome as a Dragon.
sources of news ensure the free- of talents here at the Sonoma So, have a great summer, Sono-
dom and sovereignty of the pub- Valley High compared to every- ma Valley High School. Enjoy
When I slipped on
lic, while checking the actions of one else. yourselves, live it up, maybe stay
powerful institutions in the name Other schools (especially safe or get a job, and certainly a banana peel in the
of the publics right to know. Analy) cant hope to compare come to school next year ready
Stay classy and strive for great- with our good-natured humor, ar- to succeed.
hallway, and then Mrs.
ness, and read the paper. tistic talent, helpful atmosphere, Hawing announced it to
and down-to-earth enthusiasm. I Sincerely, my Spanish class.
-Clarke Campion, suppose we might be biased, but Joe Alexander-Short,
Editor-in-Chief who cares. Its true. Sean Hammett, and
When we think of Sonoma Dylan Howarth -Liz Lawlor, senior
When I got pantsed in
PE freshman year.
-Elise Howlett, senior
Page 9 May 2010
 Private
Class o
Syracuse University
Emily Hawing
Oregon State University
Megan Gordon
UC Santa Barbara
Megan Cline
BYU Hawaii Shirley Morovich Matt Fraser
Zachary Adams University of Puget Sound Rachel Glago
Allison Cobb Portland State University Mackenzie Kelley
Colgate University Kendal Krupa Christian Weiss
Manuel Heredia Santoyo University of Redlands
Sofia Zieminski Sacramento State University UC Santa Cruz
Dartmouth College Brianda Hurtado Chris Anderson
Sean Hammett University of San Francisco Victor Vasquez Hallie Cohen
Jessica Forchione Jason Davis
Dominican University Ben Graff San Diego State University Ruben Lopez
Samantha Bonbright Sloane Rice Luke Salmas
Yuliana Camarena University of New Hampshire
Elizabeth Garcia Univ. of Southern California San Francisco State University Nonnie Cobb
Lindsey Mercer Clarke Campion Gabriel Bassett
Araceli Moya Arlanne Burquez University of Oregon
Carlos Ortiz Whitman College James Fanucchi Karina Davis
Josefina Santoyo Castro Troy Cameron Eva Lindstrom Dylan Howarth
Jordan Villaseor Yesenia Martinez Samantha Lind
Nayeli Zamudio Public Connor Vickers
Utah Valley University
George Fox University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Sonoma State University Lauren Fisher
Lauren Pea Elizabeth Lawlor-Johnson Jessica Banales
Brian Clementino
Ulises Corona
Community Colleges
Hampshire College Chico State University
Shona Warwick-Smith Kris Patrick Amber Daly
Cabrillo Community College
Logan Peil Leslie Galindo
Chelsea Borbeck
Holy Names College Andrea Nibler Michelle Martin
Ivor Horsfall
John F. Kennedy Jeff Slack Ricki McCarthy
Kelly Hyde
Sophia Somers Juan-Pablo Perez
Joseph Lee
Johnson & Wales University Ronald Perkins
Elisa Merino
Lizbet Vega CSU East Bay Victoria Phelan
Tyler Rose Jimmy Pureco-Patino
College of Marin
Macalester College Mason Rothfeld
Cole Aviles
Miriam Magana CSU Monterey Bay Chelsea Shiery
Hailey Barker Scott Young
Cuesta Community College
Mid. America Nazarene University Sheala DeMartini Alexandra Zavaleta
Stephen Murden
Keeley Ray Alexander Fuller Kevin Phillips
UC Berkeley
Matt Versaggi
Middlebury College Ferris State University Dominic Amara
Kirsten Aguilar Sam Lee David De Smet
Folsom Junior College
Ellen Everidge
Anthony Castelli
Santa Clara University Fresno State University Kevin McCarthy
Joe Alexander-Short Stephen Brooks Fresno City College
UC Davis
Garrett Kracke
Soka University Humboldt State University Laura Harvey
Nicholas Spector Braden Lyons Ellen Labitzke
Manhattan City College
Paul Sokoloski Mason Thomsen
Cairo Marcopoulis
St. Marys College Honora Tisell
Prisila Alvarez Lewis-Clark State University Charlie Watson
Modesto Community College
Emma McNeilly Brooke Dagner Yezenia Sanchez
Nate Swanson
of 2010
Napa Valley College
Melissa Balich
Alyssa Caesario-Kearns
Brianna Carranza
Mariela Lopez Bergen Verdu
Griffin Lucia Hernan Zamudio
Michael Coats Adriana Casillas Jonathan Luna Miriam Zenon
Erin Galut Manuel Castellanos Mackenzie Mackling
Felipe Saldana Maira* Chavez Ramon Manzo
Vanessa Chavez Carlos Marquez
Trade Schools
Palomar City College Tylre Christensen Drake Martin
Rachel Arietta Cinta Aveda Institute
Alfredo Colin Francisco Martinez
Brooke Kardum
Devon Compagno Violeta Martinez
Pasadena City College Thomas Conaway* Jakob Matthews
Conner Jeffress Fashion Institute of Design and
Jessica Contreras Jacquilnn McRice
William Papadin Merchandising
Monica Corona Griselda Mendez
Gabriel Stein Mayra De la Cruz
Angel Cortes German Mendoza
Stephanie Macedonio
Darwin Cortes Valentin Mendoza
San Diego City College Daniel Martinez
Olivia Dailey Richard Merlo
Ashlyn Deffenbaugh Jennifer Rivas
Manuel De la Cruz Morgan Miles
Natalie Pratt Amanda de la Torre Areli Molina
Le Melange
James DeMartini Mario Molina
Santa Barbara City College Amanda Lanning
Eva Diaz Maria Moreno
Timothy Breen McKayla Doyle Evan Murden
Peter Coburn Milan Cosmetology Institute
Trevor Dwelly Mireya Olivares
Dominic DeMartini Sheila Ake
Victoria Dwyer Maria Padilla
Nicholas Woodle Mayra Echeverria Kristen Palmer
Paul Mitchell Cosmetology
Janneth Escobar Alejandro Parra
Santa Monica City College Kendall Smith
Ricardo Gamino Mari Carmen Pena
Gianna Johns Kevin Gaona Nicola Petersen
Working
Erik Garcia Jason Phillips
Santa Rosa Junior College Dylan Orton
Jose Garcia Collette Picard
Jason Acebedo Eric Perez
Oscar Garcia Raul Pizano, Jr.
Janet Aceves Oscar Perez
Josh Garcia Liliana Ponce
Dllion Adams Eddie Sarabia
Joseph Gilmore Carlos Ramirez
Joshua Allen Jordan Winslow
Monica Gomez Lizette Ramirez
Marcus Amantite Oscar Gomez Destiny Reyes
Eden Anuskewicz Alex Gray Jonathan Reynolds International Schools/
Maricruz Arellano Haley Gruber Johanna Rivas Travel
Albert Armanini Anna Haley Tanya Rojas
Christina Atencio Nathanael Hargitt Justin Salvo Federal University of Rio de
Katherine Bachelder Michelle Henry Karina Santiago Janeiro
Stacey Barker Javier Hernandez Rachelle Scaife Bruno Costa
Esmeralda Baron Laura Hernandez-Coyac Robert Schimm
Alejandro Barrera Steven Hobaugh Jeffrey Shoemaker !"#"$%&'( )*%+,"-%./0$$1(
Yuliana Barriga Elise Howlett Ena Sokney +$'/0-%'.0.
Monika Bauermeister Vanessa Hubbenette Mayra Soto Peter Armstrong
Gary Beerbower Brenda Huizar-Barrios Silvia Soto
Evelyn Belmonte Alexandra Hyde Adam Spry Sweden
Michael Benson Michael Juricich Dillon Stall Sigrid Forsythe
Jose Bermudez Rachel Kemp Daniel Stone
Diana Bernardino Sarah Khalil Meghan Sullivan
Jeremy Branconi
Citizens of the World
Carter Kimble Vichida Suwansap Kyle Clouse
Julianna Broadbent Kasey Koch Alfred Texeira Kevin Davis
Andrew Bryson Apol Lansang Alejandro Tinajero Jason Welty
Jesus Calderon Joshua Larson Ricardo Tinoco
Jose Calvillo Alex Linares Elver Trejo
Roxana Stephanie Campos Dave Linares Undecided
Jesse URen
Samuel Livingston Emanuel Vega Alberto Bandt
Olivia Bolling
Grant Noble
Oscar Sanchez

Caught High School 101;
in what you should have done
I would work better on my time
Thought management skills.
-Yuliana Camareme
What is the most I would watch where I step so I
important thing
dont fall in the halls or trip down
the stairs.
you have learned -Destiny Reyes
in high school? Do more volunteer work.
-Dominic Amara
I would be more like James
Bond.
-Emily Hawing
Get involved in more clubs.
-Nomie Cobb
Students studying abroad
Not By Chelsea Rose Shiery
calculus. Many students are expected to
take the path of college and to start
-Shona Warwick-Smith their career. However, for some,
the journey after high school takes
them to the beyond. For seniors
Jason Welty, Sigrid Forsythe, and
Peter Armstrong, they have de-
cided to learn through travel.
Even though Forsythe, half
Swedish, has been to Sweden for
months at a time, she cant wait to
go back to her roots.
It was my first language, but
I am a little rusty, admitted
Forsythe. I have a lot of family
there, and I want to pick up the
How to
language again.
Forsythe plans to live in Sweden
for one semester, but also antici-
weld. pates a longer stay if she discov-
ers new opportunities.
-Dillion Adams I might stay the whole year if I
like it, confessed Forsythe.
Upon returning to the
States, Forsythe wants to
continue her acting career.
I want to go to New York to do
Broadway, Forsythe stated with
Fascinating Senior Projects
By Victor Vasquez
Every year, seniors take their
time throughout the year to work
on Senior Project. Some select a
I learned many dif- project based on a subject they
have loved for years, while oth-
ferent ways to cook ers pick a project that teach them
something new. Either way the
chicken. purpose of Senior Project is to
learn and grow.
-Jake Welty
Alex Gray volunteered as a firefighter.
Alex Gray spent his Senior Proj-
ect contributing to his dream of
becoming a firefighter.
You only go through I spent my activity hours inside
a fire house learning about every-
high school once, you thing, working on engines, and
making sure all the equipment
might as well have as was ready, commented Gray.
much fun as you can. Although Gray had an amazing
experience, he now knows that he
-Cairo Marcopoulos does not want to become a fire-
fighter.
Dragons Tale
Senior Section
Filled out more scholarships.
-Jessica Forchinoe
I would have liked to have en-
joyed myself more.
-Liz Lawlor
I would do the exact same
thing.
-Rachel Glago
I would take a foreign language
my freshmen year and studied
more.
-Scott Young
I would get more involved.
-Ricki McCarthy
excitement.
Armstrong, originally destined
for Germany, plans to travel to
Russia on a scholarship he re-
ceived for studying abroad. The
scholarship was from the Nation-
al Security Language Initiative
for Youth program, from the US
State Department.
I had a list of countries to
choose from. My top choices
were India, Russia, and Turkey,
and I was chosen to go to Russia,
commented Armstrong.
With required Russian classes
15 hours a week, Armstrong is
looking forward to taking classes
at Kazan State University, as well
as having free time in a new coun-
try and volunteering.
I have to go to class from
9:00-2:00 every day, but I really
want to get in water polo over
there, as well, stated Armstrong.
Jason Welty has decided to take
a different approach to studying
abroad. With only his two legs
propelling him forward, Welty
will travel as a vagabond.
I am bored of living in a seclud-
Braden Lyons trained Yayah Muslim
for football.
Braden Lyons chose to combine
his love for the sport of football
with his leadership skills to create
his Senior Project.
Lyons chose to train sophomore
standout running back Yayah
Muslim, in preparation for a Nike
Combine, in Oakland, where
Yayah can show off his skills in
front of coaches from around the
nation and compare his skills to
other top athletes from around the
bay area.
It was hard trying to find time
in both of our busy schedules for
training, but in the end we made it
work, Lyons admitted.
Muslin was tested in events
such as the 40-yard dash, the high
jump as well as strength drills.
Lyons also hopes to guide
Muslim as he might be recruited
as a student athlete next year.
Page 4
I would have taken an art class.
-Sean Hammett
Not overstressed my schedule.
-Ashlyn Deffenbaugh
I would have taken metal shop.
-Ellen Everidge
I wouldnt have taken AP statis-
tics and not procrastinated.
-Hailey Barker
Everything different sophomore
year.
-Christian Weiss
Done my A-G requirements.
-Stacey Barker
ed place [Sonoma and California].
I want to see what the world has
to offer, Welty divulged.
Welty plans to prepare for his
journey over the summer and be-
gin his expedition when he gets
restless in this small town.
Although his destination is not
definite, his desire is to end up in
Tibet at some point.
I am going to travel across
the United States, go to Europe,
down through Russia, China,
Tibet, and then maybe India, de-
scribed Welty.
Welty receives inspiration from
both Woody Guthrie and
Buddhist monks.
I want to see where I end up
as a human being, revealed Wel-
ty. I believe the best education
comes from the world, and I want
to see what it has to offer.
Although they are not taking
the traditional course after high
school, Forsythe, Armstrong, and
Welty will learn from each expe-
rience as they take on the world
and discover new opportunities
through their travels.
Mike Benson cycled in a 100k race.
Mike Benson has loved fitness
and cycling since he was a child.
When it was time for him to de-
cide his Senior Project, Benson
easily decided to focus on his
passion.
I trained for five months, three
bike rides a week, 25 miles each,
explained Benson.
Bensons main activity was to
enter in a 100K bike race. The
race was May 1 and consisted of
riders of all ages.
It really tested my body, ad-
mitted Benson. All that training
and the race, but in the end it was
worth it.
I would be more outgoing, more
extracurricular, volunteer work,
etc.
-Tylre Christensen
I would have taken all honors
and AP courses and been more
into school.
-Bergen Verdu
I would have wrestled as a fresh-
men.
-Mike Juristich
Gotten into AVID freshmen
year.
-Eden Anuskewicz
Pay more attention to school.
-Shane Burns
Not cut. Ever.
-Alberto Bandt
I would do all my homework.
-Paul Sokoloski
Get better grades.
-Silvia Soto
Get involved with the leadership
class and join community clubs.
-Apol Lansang
Tried harder.
-Mike Coats
Take shop and ag classes fresh-
men year.
-Josh Indy Gehert
If I could do freshmen year over
again, I would because it affected
my GPA.
-Pablo Perez
Be more outgoing.
-Vanessa Cheves
No real regrets.
-Jordan Villaseor
Davis gave New Orleans children a
chance at soccer.
Karina Davis combined her love
for soccer and the city of New Or-
leans to create her Senior Project.
I just want to give kids in New
Orleans the same opportunity to
play soccer that we have, com-
mented Davis.
Davis held an exhibition soc-
cer game at Arnold Field. Fans
and community members paid
$6 to watch a team consisting of
Sonoma Valley coaches, players,
Alumni, and league members play
against Sonoma Valley Youth Se-
lect Soccer players.
The hardest part was trying to
get all the necessary permits to
use Arnold Field, Davis admit-
ted.
Donation boxes where placed
around town, in an effort to raise
money for the soccer playing
youth of New Orleans.
May 2010
 Senior Section
Longest hair: Most hydrated: Caught in
Yuliana Camarena Christian Weiss thought
By Alejandro Tinajero ried since sophomore year, but
occasionally hell fill it with an-
Water, without a doubt, is one other beverage.
What is one thing
of the most crucial compounds He originally began carry- you will never
in our life. ing the mas-
Without it, sive cup for forget from high
life would a simple
cease to exist. reason. I school?
It is the elixir had a giant
of life. cup. Why
It is ad- wouldnt I?
vised that one However,
drinks about it hasnt al-
eight glasses ways been
of this life- good.
Photo by Alejandro Tinajero sustaining Trips to the
elixir a day to bathroom
By Sigrid Forsythe and is around two and a half feet live a healthy, were fre-
Anthony Arjona long has its downsides. It gets hydrated life. quent, but
tangled, commented Camerena, For Christian he soon got
Rapunzels got nothing on and it gets warm. Weiss, this is used to it. I
Yuliana Camerena. This senior
girl rightfully deserves the title of
She has considered trimming it,
even though her father is against
not a difficult have a mans Senior prom.
task, but a bladder,
longest hair, measuring at 32.25 the idea. I probably will just trim daily activity.
inches in length. it later. Photo by Alejandro Tinajero Weiss proud-
You may ly states.
Ever since I was little I was There may be a chance of lay- have seen Christian walking Christian Weiss was not at- -Brianna Carranza
used to having it long, stated ers in the future, but while short around school campus with his tempting to become a healthier,
Camerena. With long hair it is hair styles go in and out, Yulianas large, two liter Big Gulp cup. more hydrated person. Drink-
easier to do different hairdos and hair remains long and deserving Water is normally found inside ing water to Christian is simply,
hair styles. the Longest Hair award. this container, which he has car- something you just do when
But of course having hair that

Unofficial Senior
Awards!
Most unique
Tallest and Shortest:
Passing out at the
district concert.

- Lauren Pena
sneeze:
Jackie McRice Grant Noble and Lizbet Vega

Getting away
with too much.

Photo by Alejandro Tinajero

-Michael Coats
By Alejandro Tinajero

Occasionally, when exposed

to the sun, Jackie McRices
nose will get that feeling in her
sinuses that we are all familiar
with.
The urge in her sinus will
continue to build until it can no
longer be contained and
Jackies unique sneeze is re-
leased.
People say it sounds like
somebody stepping on a little
dogs foot or tail, but I dont
like that. Its just a squeak.
Whatever the sneeze sounds
like, it is still a quite unique
phenomenon.
Dragons Tale
Life is really just a matter of
perspective. Everyone sees the
world in a different way. Some
may see the glass half empty, oth-
ers may see it half full and there
are people that will pronounce
tomato or potato differently than
others.
Then, there are those that see
the world closer to the ground, or
closer to the clouds.
Lizbet Vega and Grant Noble
stand at four feet, eleven inches
and 6 feet and seven inches re-
spectively. Obviously, their view
of the world is drastically differ-
ent compared to one anothers.
Unfortunately, Lizbet has some
difficulty reaching objects, which
usually results in her asking for
assistance from someone taller.
Nonetheless, she still enjoys her
Page 8
Photo by Alejandro Tinajero
small height.
Grant towers over the rest of
his class. He is barely able to fit
through the doorways in the K
building, which is one of the few
drawbacks to his height. The same
drawback, however, also serves
as an advantage, such as the abil- Band trips.
ity to hide things in the ceiling.
SVHS is proud to exemplify
both extremes of stature. -Haley Gruber
May 2010

Dragons on to college
Seniors Brian Clementino and Sophia Somers exercise their talent in games during the 2009-2010 school year.
By Charles Watson
The chance to play collegiate
sports is something that hundreds
of high school athletes strive for,
yet never obtain. However, the
class of 2010 is lucky to have mul-
tiple students assuming positions
on college teams.
Keeley Ray, who was an out-
standing basketball and softball
player, was awarded a scholarship
to attend Mid America Nazarene
University in Olathe, Kansas. She
has been an indispensable leader
of many Lady Dragons squads for
three years, including softball and
basketball teams
Ray finished the 2010 softball
season with 39 hits in 70 at bats,
which is an astounding .557 aver-
age. She also finished with an on
base percentage of .608, which
along with her batting average, led
the league.
Campers happy with coaches
By Ben Graff
Every year, hundreds of seniors
wander around early in the fall
semester trying to make a deci-
sion on what to accomplish during
their Senior Project activity.
A trendy choice among seniors
has been to oversee and coach at
sports camps, in activities varying
from basketball to golf.
Several members of the var-
sity baseball team for example,
organized and coached a youth
baseball camp for Sonoma Valley
Little League.
I enjoy working with kids, said
Nate Swanson, senior, Plus the
camp gave me a chance to spread
the game of baseball.
This camp has become an annual
Dragons Tale
SENIOR SPORTS
Tyler Rose will be attending CSU
East Bay located in Hayward,
California. He plans to play base-
ball and continue his success from
Cardinal Newman and SVHS.
Rose, who transferred to Sonoma
his junior year has been a strong
football, basketball, and baseball
player for the Dragons. As a ju-
nior, he batted .329 while playing
catcher, and this year is leading the
team with a .368 average.
Brian Clementino will be playing
soccer at Sonoma State University
in Rohnert Park. Clementino, who
has been on the varsity team for
three years received All-Empire
honors this year, en route to a 9-2-
1 league record.
Sophia Somers has been on the
varsity volleyball team for two
years, where she has been a team
captain and leader. The 6 years of
work and countless games played
has paid off for Somers, who plans
fundraiser, and the varsity players
are assisted in running the camp by
varsity head coach, Don Lyons.
Coach Lyons helped us orga-
nize the camp, and also assisted
in supervising the participants,
stated Swanson.
Evidently this statement mir-
rors the thoughts of many seniors.
Brooke Dagner and Sheala De-
Martini chose to do a joint senior
project, running a golf camp for
aspiring Phil Mickelsons and Pau-
la Cramers.
I enjoy working with children,
and I love the sport of golf, so I
assumed a golf camp would be
fun, and I was correct, explained
DeMartini.
DeMartini was mentored by
Mike Piver, who assisted the girls
Senior Section
to attend Chico State University
next year and play volleyball.
Somers has been a very hard-
working and determined athlete
for all four years at SVHS, and
will likely maintain her attitude in
college.
Ben Graff will be attending
the University of San Francisco,
where he will be pitching on the
Dons baseball team. Graff, who
has been a dominant baseball play-
er for the Dragons, missed most of
this season with a knee injury, but
should be ready for next year.
In 2008, Graff and the Dragons
defeated Cardinal Newman to be-
come NCS champions. Graff got
the win with a powerful perfor-
mance. He also led the league in
strikeouts with 93, as well as the
following year with 82.
Braden Lyons will be playing
offensive line at Humboldt State
next year. Lyons, who was injured
in getting clubs, as well as the cor-
rect size of wiffle balls.
Other projects include a basket-
ball camp coached by Christian
Paliminos, Carlos Ramirez, and
Nick Woodle. Jeremy Branconi
and Kris Patrick also participat-
ed in the baseball camp with the
aforementioned Swanson. Marcus
Amantite assisted in coaching a
Babe Ruth League baseball team,
and seniors Amanda Lanning and
Keeley Ray coached a softball
camp.
Ray, who was mentored by var-
sity softball coach Dean Marrel,
probably did not find the next Jen-
ny Finch, but still had a great time
Page 10
Photoes by Joe Gilmore and James Fanucchi
for part of his junior year, and a
starter this past year, received sec-
ond team all-league honors.
Standout golfer Brooke Dagner
intends to play at LewisClark
State University in Lewiston,
Idaho. Dagner has been one of the
most successful Lady Dragons,
being named female athlete of the
year for SVHS.
Other athletes being recruited to
continue competing in college are:
Nick Spector at Soka University,
Ruben Lopez at UC Santa Cruz,
Logan Peil at Chico State, Sofia
Ziemienski at University of Red-
lands, Erin Galut at Napa Commu-
nity College, and Sam Lee at Fer-
ris Sate University in Big Rapids,
Michigan.
It is also likely that others will at-
tempt to walk on to college teams
as well. There is also always the
opportunity to play club and intra-
mural sports as well.
with the kids.
I wanted to show younger girls
that softball can be fun, and easy
to learn if you have someone to
help you, reported an enthusias-
tic Ray. I liked that I got to be the
one to teach them and help them
learn.
While many may view sports
camps as an easy alternative to a
real Senior Project, every senior
who participates seems to have a
great experience.
Senior Projects go through many
fads, and the sports camp is just
the latest. What the next one will
be is up to the future graduating
classes at SVHS.
Cagers
Corner
By Rachel Glago
Effort; a word most people hear
their parents use. Just try your
best; we all hear the phrase at
some point in our lives. However,
sometimes it is more important
than others.
Athletes are bound to make
mistakes as they continue to play
their hearts out and give their best
effort. Yet mistakes can be forgiv-
en when an athlete puts out their
best effort, but what if they decide
to give only 50 percent during a
game? Well, theyre benched.
For example, Florida Marlins
manager Fredi Gonzalez benched
shortstop Hanley Ramirez for not
hustling after a ball during a game
against the Arizona Diamond-
backs on May 17.
During the second inning,
Ramirez committed an error;
which contributed greatly to the
Marlins defeat. The shortstop ac-
cidentally kicked the ball deeper
into the left-field corner and then
jogged after the ball, allowing two
Diamondbacks to score as the hit-
ter, Tony Abreu, stopped at third.
After his saunter to the ball,
Brian Barden replaced Ramirez
in the following inning. Once the
game ended, Gonzalez confirmed
that Ramirez was pulled for not
hustling.
Previously in the game, Ramir-
ez had been startled after Ed-
win Jacksons pitch hit off his
left shin. A trainer looked at his
knee before he went back into
the game. When he returned, his
costly mistake occurred.
Ramirezs lack of hustle contrib-
uted to Floridas 5-1 loss, which
concluded a four-game winning
streak.
The lack of effort Ramirez
showed was evident during the
game. It seemed as though he tru-
ly didnt care and, in fact, didnt
want to be in the game at all.
He may have injured his shin in
the previous inning, but as Gonza-
lez said in an interview with ESPN
There are 24 guys out there that
are busting their butts. Cody Ross
got hit with a ball at 95 mph and
it wasnt hit or thrown any slower
and he stayed in the game making
diving plays and battling, got two
hits and an RBI.
Of course, this makes Ramirez
look like a wimp and exception-
ally lazy. He kicked the ball at
least 100 feet in the wrong direc-
tion, and then neglected to fix his
mistake and hustle to recover.
Gonzalez made the right deci-
sion in benching Ramirez. If he
hadnt, it would have reflected
poorly on him as a coach.
True talent is shown through the
effort put in.
May 2010
 Sports

D ragons tra c k n e a r s t h e f in is h Time-Out By Charles Watson
With the completion of the Sono-
ma County League track and field
finals, 24 of the 35 SVHS athletes
that competed advanced to the Red-
wood Area Championships. Of the
24 athletes, 4 qualified for the NCS
Meet of Champions to be held on
May 28/29 at UC Berkeley.
At the Redwood Area Champi-
onships Ellen Everidge once again
stole the show, qualifying for the
NCS Meet of Champions in three
different events. The senior not
only qualified in all events, but set
personal records as well.
Everidge jumped 35 1! in the
photo by Andy Mitchell triple jump, which was a personal
Danny Dwyer, freshman, strides over the board at the SCL triple jump record, as well as the 3rd longest
mark in Lady Dragons history. She
also placed second in long jump, as
well as 5th in the 400m, which is
the 5th fastest time in history. By Danny Maggioncalda
Sean Hammett, Nathaneal Har-
gitt, and Nick Spector were also Off the field, Sonomas
successful in qualifying for the student athletes discuss
Meet of Champions. Hargitt things their coaches may
placed sixth in the 110 hurdles, ty- not have known about...
ing his personal record of 16.16.
Hammett tied his personal record
in pole vault with a height of 12
0 to take 6th place. Spector took
seventh in the 3200m with a time
of 9:41.29.
At the SCL finals, the Dragon
boys placed 5th overall, with Casa
Grande winning, and the girls team
placing 6th, with Petaluma taking
first place.

Dragons cant contain Petaluma

By Matt Fraser
The Dragons baseball team came
in strong during their last few
games but unfortunately did not
take first place in league.
The Dragons faced off against
Healdsburg on Tuesday May 11,
ending the game with their 8th
straight league win. Contributing
to their success was Sam Alton,
junior, who pitched all 7 innings
with 12 strikeouts; Kris Patrick, se-
nior, with 1 hit, 1 run, and 1 RBI;
Tyler Rose, senior, with 2 hits and
2 RBIs; Nick Woodle, senior, with
1 run; Sam Morgan, sophomore,
with 1 run; Anthony Albano, ju-
nior, with 1 run; and Kevin Deely,
junior, with 1 run.
Following that, the Dragons
played Petaluma on Friday May
14, with the league champion-
ship on the line. Unfortunately the
Ray Mellinger
junior
Dragons couldnt keep up with Pet- Varsity Track Captain
aluma and lost 7-1, placing them at
2nd in SCL. 1. Dream sponsor:
The Dragons competed in the SCL Chiquita Bananas.
tournament this past week, where 2. Favorite 90s cartoon:
they blanked Casa Grande 6-0 in R o c k e t P o w e r.
the first round, but then fell to Peta- 3. Famous historical relative:
luma once again in the champion- B e n F r a n k l i n . . . and
ship 6-5. After taking a 5-3 lead, the some members of the
Dragons could not seal the victory, D o n n e r P a r t y.
and lost in the last innings. 4. Events:
This coming week the Dragons Shot-put and discus.
will be battling the Alameda Hor-
nets in the first game of the NCS
tournament. With the NCS seed-
ings being announced this past
week, the Dragons discovered their
possible rout to a championship. If
they advance past Alameda, they
would play either Montgomery or
Dublin, two teams they have al-
ready played. photo by James Fanucchi
Kris Patrick, senior, slides safely into home in a win over Healdsburg

H al l wins it a l l Major League Baseball Alex Conner

Current Standings sophomore
Varsity Golf
(as of May 24, 2010)
1. Dream sponsor:
American League Ta y l o r M a d e .
East 2 . Favorite Will Ferrel Movie:
Tampa Bay 32 12 .727 W2 Ta l l e d e g a N i g h t s .
N e w Yo r k 26 18 . 5 91 6.0 L2
3. Prefered Nerf Weapon:
Toronto 26 20 .565 7. 0 W1
Boston 24 21 .533 8.5 W2 Pistol... probably two.
Baltimore 17 31 . 311 18 . 5 L2 4. Favorite course:
Pebble Beach.
Central
Minnesota 26 18 . 5 91 L1
Detroit 25 19 .568 1. 0 W1
Chicago 18 25 . 419 7. 5 L1
Kansas City 18 27 .400 8.5 L2
Cleveland 16 26 . 3 81 9.0 W1
West
Texas 25 20 .556 L2
photo by James Fanucchi Oakland 23 22 . 511 2.0 W3
Los Angeles 21 25 .457 4.5 L1
Sean Hall, freshman, returns a serve in a match against Casa Grande Seattle 16 28 .364 8.5 L2
by Ben Graff falling to Casa Grandes Kenny
Campbell and Ken Woods, 6-4,
National League
Sean Hall, freshman, downed 6-3. We fought hard, comments
his opponent from Casa Grande, Adams. Its heartbreaking. East
Philadephia 26 17 .605 L2
and the SCL co-MVP came out Atlanta 23 21 .523 3.5 L1
victorious in the leagues postsea- ***** Florida 23 22 . 511 4.0 W1
son tournament, clinching berth In golf, A.J. Vitorelo, junior, Wa s h i n g t o n 23 22 . 511 4.0 W2 Jamie Ballard
to the North Coast Section Cham- and Alex Connor, sophomore, N e w Yo r k 22 23 .489 5.0 W2 freshman
pionships. both advanced to the North Coast Central Varsity Swimming
St. Louis 26 19 .578 W1
Hall, who has been dominant Section qualifier tournament, but
Cincinnati 25 19 .568 0.5 L1 1. Dream sponsor:
all season, was able to dispatch of were unable to qualify for the Chicago 21 24 .467 5.0 W2
fellow freshman Matt Halligan in NCS Championships. Pittsburgh 19 25 .432 6.5 W1
Nike, even though
straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Vitorelo shot an 81, and was a Milwaukee 17 27 .386 8.5 W1 everyone else says that.
Also performing well in the mere two strokes behind the final Houston 15 29 .341 10 . 5 L2 2. Favorite art medium:
league tournament were doubles qualifier for the NCS finals. Con- West Wa t e r c o l o r.
partners Zach Adams, senior, and nor shot an 86, five strokes off San Diego 26 18 . 5 91 W2 3. Mac or PC?:
Los Angeles 25 19 .568 1. 0 L1 Windows, for sure.
Stephen Montano, freshman. The of the pace. Both turned in great
San Francisco 22 21 . 51 2 3.5 L5 4. Events:
partners were able to advance seasons, but unfortunately came Colorado 22 22 .500 4.0 W2
all the way to the finals, before up just a little short. Arizona 20 25 .444 6.5 L1
200 and 500 meters.

Dragons Tale Page 11 May 2010