Voices of LPS Richmond

Student Government Inside Access: Dame'yon Robinson

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Whitmore) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Good afternoon LPS community, this is the return of the Student Government's Inside Access Report. It has been over a week since an Inside Access report and I do apologize for the unexpected leave. The Student Government Officers have been very occupied with college applications, so work has been going slow but I assure you that we are still working for you the best we can.

Okay, so let's get down to business, shall we? This week is very difficult and emotional for the returning members of the LPS community. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the death of one of LPS's brightest students. Dame'yon Robinson was, in a way, like the hype man of the LPS community. He was the big man on campus, he was the comedian, the support system, and the spirit of fun that was very lively on the LPS campus.

The late, great Dame'yon Robinson gave so much energy to our school and, this Friday, a group of Dame'yon's good friends would like to bring back some of his energy by hosting Dame'yon Robinson Day.

Family Meeting on Friday will be dedicated to him and following the Family Meeting will be a very special dance which the funds going towards buying our good friend a headstone. As Mr. Madway and Mr. Hatcher said to advisories today, the dance will be from 3-5. Admission price is $5 but you are welcome to contribute more. If you cannot attend the dance but you would still like to contribute money, you are welcome to do so as well.

This week is a week to remember, to cherish, and give love to not only Dame'yon, but to all loved ones around you because at this time last year, we realized just how fast things can change. Thank you all for reading, thank you for supporting the Dame'yon Robinson project and we hope to see you at the dance. Until tomorrow, your access has expired.

A Former LPS Student Responds to The Rape at Richmond High

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Late last night, this comment was posted from an LPS graduate of the Class of 2009. I thought it would be worth sharing in a post of its own.

I am a graduate of Leadership Public Schools Richmond who now attends Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and I am proud of the students who made that call. This shows that we as youths are the leaders of tomorrow.

When news of the rape arrived in New Orleans, I was embarrassed; I was ashamed to be from a city that followed the same code that keeps murderers on the streets. I was ashamed until I saw online who made the phone call.

I was shocked to see that once again the youth at Leadership showed Richmond, as well as the rest of the world, that they are leaders. I told everyone who was around me that those were the people that I went to school with and how proud I was of them. I had a feeling of pride for my city because the diamonds in the rough were blooming into young men and women that the whole world will one day respect.

To the youth of Leadership, I love and respect your growth. Keep on striving for the change that is needed in Richmond and the world.

They Did The Right Thing - And We Thank Them For It

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:08:00 +0000

During our weekly Family Meeting today, LPS Richmond took the opportunity to honor our former and current students who were courageous enough to do the right thing by notifying police when they learned that a girl had been brutally raped on the campus of Richmond High.

We thank them for not turning away from the horrible event and, instead, simply doing what needed to be done. As we said at Family Meeting, these students are not heroes; they are simply young people whose core values would not allow them to be swayed by a street code that tells them not to "snitch." These students knew the right thing to do and they did it.

The rape outside of the dance and the young men who committed it are part of the story of Richmond, but they are far from the whole story. So, we thank Maggie and the others for showing the world that Richmond does not deserve to be judged solely by the actions of those boys. Indeed, there are others who acted that night, and we are all thankful they did.

Below is the story that ABC 7 News shot on our campus today.

Washinton DC Trip 2009

noreply@blogger.com (avkondon) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:31:00 +0000

Through the sponsorship of MicroAssembly Technology, five LPS students (Lucia Barboza, Christian Chavez, Jeanette Munoz, Fabiola Ochoa, and Mitzi Perez) and one teacher (Mr. Kondonijakos) went to Washington DC from Sunday to Tuesday. While on the trip the group was able to meet with Congressman George Miller. George Miller is CA-District 7's (which includes Richmond) representative in the US House of Representatives. Other highlights of the trip include:

Tour of the US Capitol Building
Viewed the House or Representative Chambers while in session
Viewed the Senate Chambers while in session
Tour of the Library of Congress
Obtained reader cards for the Library of Congress
Entered and used the Main Reading Room of Library of Congress
Viewed the Washington Monument
Viewed the Jefferson Monument
Viewed the Lincoln Memorial
Viewed the location where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech
Viewed the Korean War Memorial
Viewed the Vietnam War Memorial
Viewed the WWII Memorial
Viewed the FDR Memorial
Entered the House of Representatives Office building
Saw the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, Constitution, and Bill of Rights
Explored the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
Saw the Chancellor of Germany drive by with police and secret service escort
Saw the theater where President Lincoln was shot and the home in which he later died

and last but not least...

Tour of the White House (Barrack Obama was home but we did not see him)

Everyone had a great time. If you see one of the students on campus feel free to ask them about their trip!

Enjoy the slide show from the trip!

Guess what???

bautista.carina@gmail.com (cAriNa) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Guess who my next victim was?? Like I said before, please post some comments!! If you have anything you want to tell me, anything you need to let me know about these interviews, let me know through comments. So like I was saying before, my next victim was Maria Rodriguez, and these are some of the questions she had to answer...

Q: What color is your room?

A: Red, yellow and blue.

Q: Do you prefer dark, milk, or white chocolate?

A: Dark because it tastes like coffee.

Q: When was the last time you slept on the floor?

A: My friend fell asleep on my mom's bed, so my mom kicked me out of my bed and I had to sleep one the floor.

Q: Have you ever been to Six Flags?

A: No, because it never crossed my mind.

Q: Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back?

A: I sleep on my right side because it's more comfortable.

Q: Do you enjoy giving hugs?

A: Yes, but only to certain people.

Q: What's your most embarrassing moment?

A: I was trying to walk over my sister. She pulled my leg, I tripped and hit my side.

Q: Do you have a nickname?

A: My family calls me Lupita at home.

Q: What did you like to do when you where little?

A: I liked and still enjoy going to Nicholl Park in Richmond.

Q: How often do you clean your ears?

A: Whenever I find myself saying "Huh?" a lot. Just kidding... it's usually after I finish taking a shower.

The Puma News, November, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:21:00 +0000

Puma News Nov 2009

The End of Spirit Week + Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

LPS Richmond's Spirit Week 2009 came to a spectacular end with Spirit Day and Halloween all wrapped into one. There were goblins, ghouls, zombie's, and vampire's. Thriller was most definitely a thrill. And the seniors won Spirit Week. Throw into the mix PUMA of The Month, and an amazing end to Gay History Month, and you have a spectacular day.

Thank you to Mr. Hatcher, the Peer Leaders, and all the LPS Richmond students who made 2009 Spirit Week such a success!

Thriller

Spirit Week - Day 3: Clique Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Wednesday was the third day of LPS Richmond Spirit Week, and all the grades pulled out all the stops for this one. It was a sea of rockers, nerds, preps, and jocks.

The sophomores dominated the balloon stomp, with Albert Dodson and Michelle Hendricks battling for stomping supremacy. In the end, Michelle won out with a nerd stomp that Albert simply could not defend.

Check out the pictures below. Looking forward to Spirit Day tomorrow!

Former LPS Richmond Students Do The Right Thing By Reporting RHS Rape

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:26:00 +0000

In Mr. Merlino's post earlier today, he calls out the culture of "not snitching" even when someone has done something horrible against an innocent person. He says, "'Stitches for snitches,' has allowed a culture to be created that punishes the innocent and protects criminals. 'Stitches for snitches,' has made it all right for those who saw the crime to feel guilt free, and supports the idea that as humans we really don't need to look out for each other."

Sadly, it appears that numerous people were aware that a 15 year-old girl was being brutally raped on the Richmond High School campus after a dance and did nothing about it. Luckily, it looks like some of our former students and one current student actively fought against this belief system when they reported the rape to police.

Margarita Vargas, Atiana Gibbs, and Raul Rubio are part of our LPS Richmond family, and we are proud of them for doing the right thing. Although she is not mentioned in the article, Marina Rubio also played a part in the decision to notify the police.

The article below from the Contra Costa Times details their involvement.

- Mr. Madway

Richmond High gang rape, lack of action from onlookers outrages community

By Fischer and Shelly Meron
CC Times

A hint of resignation tinges Margarita Vargas' voice when she talks about the people who gang raped a 15-year-old girl at Richmond High School on Saturday.

"They think it's cool," said Vargas, who called police to report the ongoing assault. "They weren't raised to respect girls."

The investigation into the two-hour rape outside the school's homecoming dance continued Tuesday, as police leafleted the campus to advertise a $20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who participated. Detectives continued wall-to-wall interviews of students and former students, having already arrested a 15-year-old boy and 19-year-old Manuel Ortega.

"This is a fluid investigation," Detective Ken Greco said. "There will be more arrests."

Police will meet with prosecutors Wednesday to discuss charges for those in custody.

Meanwhile, young people in Richmond increasingly feel as though they are on trial themselves, as a national chorus of gawkers judges them based on the inaction of the few who hooted and laughed, punched the girl as she lay semiconscious on a bench, and even joined in the assault after word of it got around.

Strangers e-mailed the school, comparing its students to animals.

Vargas only cares what one person thinks -- the victim -- and she wants her to know that it matters to someone.

Atianna Gibbs, knows it could have been her sister.

And a Richmond High student named Alexandra, worried enough about her safety to withhold her last name, says the victim would have died if police hadn't broken up the assault, an alcohol-fueled gang rape as the homecoming dance went on in the gym.

"We called the police as soon as we found out," Vargas said. "As soon as we found out."

"No matter who she was, who she was before, she doesn't deserve that," Gibbs said.

They were watching "The Proposal" on television Saturday night when word suddenly arrived from campus, two blocks away: A girl got drunk after homecoming. A bunch of guys stripped her naked and were using her. At school. Right now.

"I was on Emeric (Avenue) with some friends when some dudes walked up and were like, 'There's a drunk girl back there,' " said Raul Rubio, who brought back the news to his girlfriend. "They said she was naked, and if you want to get f---ed, go back there."

Rubio did not. Nor did he want to risk arrest. He found someone with a phone as quickly as he could, he said. Several of the women at Vargas' walked to the perimeter of the crime scene after calling 911 but were too afraid to proceed further without police presence. Officers arrived quickly and broke up the trouble, arresting Ortega as they say he ran from them.

The victim remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition. This newspaper does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The victim left the dance by herself about 9:30 p.m. to get a ride home, Greco said. She walked up 23rd Street toward Emeric, intending to phone her father for her ride.

But before she did, a classmate called to her from behind a cyclone fence separating a campus courtyard from the street. He hopped the fence, and together they returned to the shadowy, hidden spot, where a group of people were drinking and hanging out.

The victim drank a large amount of brandy quickly, police say, and was soon incapacitated. While semiconscious, she was raped. As many as seven people assaulted her as she lay on a bench, while others jeered, beat her, robbed her and took photos with their cell phones. Police say they don't know how many people watched during the course of the attack, but some reports have said as many 20.

For several days, the community has struggled to understand how so many could stand by and watch, failing to call police or alert other adults in the area.

"It's all about, 'What are others going to think about me if I snitch? If no one else is saying it, then it must not be OK" to speak up, said Tatiana Colon, director of education and youth services at the Family Violence Law Center in Oakland.

"The culture that we've created is that it's OK to speak your mind if you're being tough," she said. "Snitching is not something we equate with toughness. Being sensitive and nice and conscientious is not something we equate with toughness."

The lack of action on the part of bystanders will make recovery for the victim that much more difficult, said Marcia Blackstock, executive director of Bay Area Women Against Rape.

"To have other people witness and not do anything about it will really compound her issues," Blackstock said.

Witnesses who failed to report the crime could be charged with aiding and abetting if police can show their actions facilitated or goaded the perpetrators, said Dara Cashman, head of the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office sex crimes unit. Passively watching the crime is not a crime itself unless the victim is younger than 14.

Neil Smelser, a professor emeritus of sociology at UC Berkeley, said crowds in such situations often can be broken into four categories: those who perpetrate the action; those who actively encourage it but don't participate; those who observe without supporting or speaking out against the action; and those who object to it and may or may not vocalize that to the rest of the group.

"They may think, 'Why do I need to get involved in this if it doesn't involve me?' Maybe they're stunned, maybe it's denial, or fear," Smelser said. "You don't necessarily want to blame these people in not getting involved and calling police. You often have to avoid simple judgments and look at all the circumstances. It's the kind of scene that encourages a helpless feeling."

For the school district's part, officials plan to "review and revise our protocols," said Marin Trujillo, spokesman for West Contra Costa Unified.

"There were two site supervisors at the dance. One left at 9 p.m., had a previous engagement. Another was dismissed by a teacher. They were going to close the doors; there were four Richmond police officers there, and they felt they had enough security."

Spirit Week - Day 2: 80's and Back Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Today was the 2nd day of spirit week, and if you were able to avoid drowning in all of the neon that was being sported, you probably had a pretty great day.

Thanks to all of the students who participated by dressing up. You all looked fresh!

How Scary is "Paranormal Activities"?

noreply@blogger.com (Ruby.S) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Paranormal Activities is about a woman who is being haunted by a demand that has been with her since she was a little girl. Every night she would see the shadow of the demand and she would pray until it was gone. She and her boyfriend try to do whatever is possible to get rid of it, but only end up making things worse for her.

Many people think this movie is one of the scariest movies they've ever seen. Some people got so scared watching this movie that they couldn't sleep at night. A student here at LPS, Maria Diaz, said, "I was so scared, I covered my eyes at the end because I didn't want to see it any more."

Another student, Jessenia Jimenez, who hasn't even seen the movie said, "That movie looks scary. Every time the commercials come on I start screaming and running to the TV to change it or turn it off."

I saw this movie myself and I thought it really wasn't that scary; it was, but not really. I also think that this movie is like any other scary movie you've seen, but people make it seem like this movie is scarier. That's just my opinion, though. You should go watch the movie and see what you think about it!

Student Government Inside Access: Spirit Week

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Whitmore) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Good afternoon LPS community, this is your Inside Access report for October 27, 2009. Again this is a special Spirit Week report so no Student Government activity will be reported in this article. Today it was so great to see the 80s & Back participants show their creativity.

The students look great as well as teachers and the energy on campus was at a high. I would like to congradulate Cristal Leon for winning best dressed. I would also like to say good job to everyone who took the time to but an outfit together and who participated in the best dressed contest.

I would like to make a reminder that Candy Grams are being sold by the Peer Leaders in the breeze way everyday at lunch. There are a lot of fun activities at lunch but please take a minute or so out of dancing or spectating and buy a candy gram for a friend or even yourself. The Peer Leaders would appreciate your contribution and I'm sure a friend will appreciate your thoughtfulness this Halloween.

Again it is safe to say that today was a success. Each day our creativity is increasing more and more so I can't wait to see what you all have in store for tomorrow. To remind you of tomorrow's theme it is going to be Clique Day. The 9th grade will represent Rockers, the 10th grade will represent Nerds, the 11th grade will represent the Preps, and the seniors are going to represent Jocks.

Again, I can't wait to see what is in store for tomorrow as well as Friday and good job to everyone who has been showing Puma Pride. Thank you all for reading. Expect your next Spirit Week report tomorrow afternoon, but until then, your access has been expired.

Police: Girl Raped At Richmond High

noreply@blogger.com (MerlinO) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:10:00 +0000

RICHMOND, Calif. -- Richmond police are looking for between four and seven males who allegedly beat, robbed and gang-raped a 15-year-old girl on the Richmond High School campus Saturday night, police Lt. Mark Gagan said.

Investigators believe that as many as 10 people witnessed the attack and failed to stop or report it.

"This is just a horrific crime," Gagan said. "The victim was beaten, sexually assaulted, robbed and dehumanized. ... What's even more disturbing is that other people came by and witnessed the attack and failed to report it."

He said he is confident that police will be able to find out who was involved in the attack and what roles they played.

The attack happened shortly before midnight Saturday in an alleyway on the north side of campus at 1250 23rd St., about an hour after the school's homecoming dance ended.

When officers arrived, they saw several males running away and found the victim, a Richmond High School student, unconscious, police said.

She was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition. Her condition has since been upgraded to stable, police said.

The officers detained a 19-year-old man who was seen running from the high school shortly after the attack and arrested him on suspicion of rape, Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said.

He was still in custody Monday morning, but hadn't yet been charged.

Copyright 2009 by Bay City News.

The idea that individuals who saw this crime happening did not report it makes me sick and we hope that the victim can get the justice she deserves and wish her the best in her recovery. Would you have reported it? Could this have been your friend, sister, cousin, mother? How would you have reacted if it was? What kind of mental/physical stitches do you think this individual will have for the rest of her life because not one human being who saw it...reported it or stopped it?

"Stitches for snitches," has allowed a culture to be created that punishes the innocent and protects criminals. "Stitches for snitches," has made it all right for those who saw the crime to feel guilt free, and supports the idea that as humans we really don't need to look out for each other...which makes us less then animals...because even certain animals protect each other. We hope the best for the victim and hope other situations like this can be stopped by courageous individuals who understand the difference between right and wrong. I would like to know what LPS's student population has to say about this. Would you have stopped this horrific act of violence if you could?

- Mr. Merlino

Student Government Inside Access: Spirit Week

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Whitmore) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Good afternoon LPS community, this is your Inside Access report for October 26, 2009. As day one of Spirit Week comes to a close, I can safely say that the day was a success. It was really great to see all of the twins on campus and with a turn out this good on day one I am excited to see our creativity on the remaining days. I would also like to shout out everyone who participated in musical chairs during lunch. It was very entertaining and way to show your puma spirit.

Remember tomorrow is 80s & Back day. You can come in styles like classic Adidas and Run DMC apparel, to Elvis Presley, to Whatever era you would like to represent. Take advantage of the blast from the past and show your creativity! To remind those who do not wish to participate in tomorrow's theme, regular clothes will not be acceptable. Your clothing has to be obviously from the 1980s and back. If you come in current day clothing you will be sent home.

This is a special Spirit Week report so no Student Government information will be released at this time. Please check in tomorrow afternoon for a Student Government update but until then, your access has expired. Thank you for reading and remember to show your LPS spirit all week long.

The True Importance of Volleyball

ltamayo26@gmail.com (luis tamayo) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:15:00 +0000

Hello LPS community, Maria Bautista is a freshmen and a member of the volleyball team, and she had a few words to say about the sport of volleyball

"Volleyball is not just an ordinary sport that you have to put a lot of effort and energy into. It's a sport were you win and lose, but at the same time what really matters is to have fun. The importance of a volleyball team is to focus as a group and communicate with each other and keep the ball in the air. I consider a true volleyball team to be one that wins and loses with dignity."

Spirit Week - Day 1: Twin Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Today is the first day of LPS Richmond Spirit Week, and we started off with a bang with Twin Day!

We had some great twins come through the gates this morning (an some really unimpressive ones, I must admit). Thank you to all of the students who put real thought and effort into their outfits!

At lunch, their was a spirited game of musical chairs with Christian Chavez and the junior class coming out on top. So, they earn some Spirit Week points!

See you tomorrow for 80's and Back Day!

It's me again!!

bautista.carina@gmail.com (cAriNa) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Hello, this is Carina Bautista again with another victim of my amazing interviews. Guess who it was this time?... Edgar Campos. Make sure you're sitting down because this is only getting better..

Q: Who is the last person you think of before you fall asleap?
A: My little sister because she gave me a meaning to live life again.

Q: Have you ever given money to a bum?
A: Yes, to a family of bums in San Francisco.

Q: Do you prefer oranges or apples?
A: Oranges because they are juicy and they have a better taste.

Q: What is your favorite day of the week?
A: Wednesdays, just because.

Q: What toothpaste brand do you use?
A: Colgate Total.

Q: Have you ever caught a butterfly before?
A: Yes, when I was little.. somewhere in a backyard.

Q: If a vending machine steals your money, what do you do?
A: Disconnect it, and then reconnect it so I can get something for free.

Q: Do you listen to the radio?
A: Yes, 98.9 y 99.1 - Esterio sol.

Q: If you could take a year off and travel somewhere, where would you go?
A: I would go to Rome because it has many romantic views.

Q: Would you rather spend a year in the desert or a year in the middle of the ocean?
A: A year in the desert because it has more chances of survival.

Student Government Inside Access

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Whitmore) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Good afternoon LPS community, this is your Inside Access report for October 20th, 2009. Spirit Week is right around the corner! The Peer Leaders are very excited to host Spirit Week which is the week of October 26th through 30th. For new students, during our spirit week each day has a different theme and everyday at lunch there is a different activity. The following is the order that the themes will go in...

Monday - Twin Day

Tuesday - 80s & Back

Wednesday - Clique Day

*9th grade- Rockers

*10th grade- Nerds

*11th grade- Preppy

*12th grade- Jock

Thursday - No School!

Friday - Costume/ Class color

We would like to note that if you do not choose to participate in Spirit Week dress up, you must come in uniform.

On Friday our Spirit week will close with a Halloween themed school dance which will take place immediately after school. Also, it was decided just today to have a Royal Court for Spirit Week, meaning a King, Queen, Prince and Princess will be crowned for that week. It is expected to be a great week for our community like it has always been in the past and we hope you all enjoy. Thank you for reading; Check in here tomorrow for more information but until then, your access has been expired.

Ruby.s - About Me

noreply@blogger.com (Ruby.S) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Hello everyone, this is Ruby Soria. I'm new to the LPS Blog. I'm also new to this school, this is my first year here and I already LOVE it. One thing I'm interested in doing on this blog is to post movie reviews on some of the most watched and least watched movies. My reason for choosing to do this is to tell you what some people think of certain movies and also to tell you my own opinion on some of those movies.

The first movie review I'll be doing is going to be about "Paranormal Activities."

Guess who?

bautista.carina@gmail.com (cAriNa) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Hello, my name is Carina Bautista and I am going to be interviewing some of the students here at LPS. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to post a comment. My first victim was Barbara Mejia and some of the questions asked were...

Q: Do you like Taco Bell?
A: Yes.

Q: What was your childhood nickname?
A: Barbie.

Q: Do you have any strange phobias?
A: Clowns.

Q: What is your favorite sport?
A: Baseball.

Q: What is one thing that annoys you most?
A: People being rude.

Q: What is your favorite male name?
A: Jonathan.

Q: When you wake up, what is the first thing you think?
A: I want to sleep again.

Q: What do you like to do when you are bored?
A: Write.

Q: Which shoe do you put on first?
A: Left.

Q: Would you prefer to drown in mayonnaise or be hit by pickles to death?
A: Be hit by pickles to death.

Family Meeting: October 9, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (MariaGMadrigal) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

This week's Family Meeting started off with a poem by Frederico Garcia Lorca, read by Maria Salazar.

After, Christian Chavez and Jeanetter Munoz talked about two famous Latinos: Oscar de la Hoya and Julia Alvarez. They talked about their highs and lows and how till this day, they continue to work hard and do their best, day by day, no matter what the obstacle.

Throughout this month, Family Meeting will honor Gay History Month. Over the next 3-4weeks, you will hear students talk to about people in our society and how they connect to this month. Maria, Yuliana, LLanet, Beatriz, Karen, and Yvonne spoke to us about Lady Gaga, Andy Warhol, and Renaldo Arenas. If you would like to know about these and other men and women you can follow this link.

The Risha Show:What college means to me? consisted of 5 LPS staff members: Mr.Gaines, Ms. Barrios, Mr. Rozeville, Mr. Aguilera, and Ms. Frymore. Each individual was asked a different question based on the how much college really meant to them. They all did an amazing job, giving everyone great key points that really showed how much they cared about their education.

Then, Chris Whitmore introduced key points about how he prepared and is still preparing for his journey to college. Great job! We wish you nothing but the very best.

Of course, the best part of family meeting is Pumas of The Week. Amazing student nominees and amazing winners who showed a great deal of potential and determination. Congratulations to all LPS PUMA nominees and PUMA winners. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for reading, until the next Family Meeting.

PUMA NOMINEES & WINNERS

9TH GRADE:
Brandi Fisher
Gracia Castro
Josue Valdes
Laura Montano
Antonia Cervantes
Maria Sanchez

WINNER:
Gerardo Renteria

10TH GRADE:
Claudia Rios
Elizabeth Vera
Horacio Torres
Takota Bennett
Michelle Hendricks
Julissa Otzoy-Medrano
Arturo Manzo
Dayon Turner

WINNER:
Takota Bennett

11TH GRADE:
Jeanette Munoz
Soraya Creer
Karen Duran
Nelly Hernandez
Walter Mejia

WINNER:
Jeanette Munoz

12TH GRADE:
Jorge Martinez
Enedina Mendez
Vanessa Pineda
Kayla Etheridge
Erica Millian
Miguel Rosales

WINNER:
Jorge Martinez

Free Dress Announcement for Friday, October 16th

noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Madway) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:04:00 +0000

Good afternoon, this is Ms. Benjamin with your free dress announcement.

I am sorry to report that were a number of instances of graffiti on and around our campus this week. Two of the students who are responsible have been caught, and will be addressing you in Family Meeting next week. Since they will not have a chance to apologize to you in person until then, I would like to express to you how sorry I am that their thoughtless actions have negatively impacted our entire community.

So, despite the fact that that Ms. Frymoyer says that she has “been impressed this entire week with the dedication that my students are committing to their assignments,” and despite the fact that Mr. Baer says that his “juniors in English have really impressed me as they grapple with some very challenging essay questions,” we will not have free dress because we believe that we can have a community that cares about itself enough not to do these types of things. As I have said many times before, you, the students, deserve to have a school community that is free from tagging. In the same way that we do not accept garbage on the ground of your school, we just will not put up with graffiti. Quite simply you deserve more, and we will not settle for less.

Thank you, and have a good afternoon, the LPS Richmond way.

Student Government Inside Access

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Whitmore) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Good afternoon LPS community, this is the Student Government update of October 19th, 2009. Today for your exclusive Inside Access pass I want to talk to you about how to voice your opinion, questions or ideas to the Student Government. Earlier this year the Student Government Officers created a system that allows you to submit ideas to us, but the promotion of the system was halted because we felt it was too early in the year for it.

Now that we have been in school for a while and now that the Student Government is progressing forward we want to bring back our system. It is called the Student Government Suggestion System. To submit a suggestion or idea you fill out a very simple suggestion form. It is a half sheet of paper with the LPS Student Government logo on it and you simply write your name, grade, the date and then write what you want us to know. After you have completed that you simply turn it in to the office and ask that it is put in the Student Government envelope.

Every Thursday the Student Government Officers will read all of the slips and respond to your questions, ideas or comments. It is the best way for you to make yourself known to us and for us to structure our plans with Student Government. Remember, we work for you. Tell us what you want and we will do our very best to satisfy you. This system is expected to be operational next week. Be sure to listen in the morning announcements for an exact day. That's all for today; thank you for reading. Be sure to check in with me tomorrow, but until then your access has been expired.

About Me - Elias Ortega

noreply@blogger.com (Eortega) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:15:00 +0000

Hello LPS community, this is Elias Ortega I am new to the LPS blog and I am a freshman LPS Richmond. The first seven weeks of school are going great. I hope to graduate on time and go to college. It's going to be a rough road but I'll make it with the support of all my teachers. One of my goals in the blog is posting special events like, for example, posting the story of LPS, and how it got started; what the school expects from you, and how they will help you get to where you want to go.

This is one of the best schools around because it is a small school where everyone gets a lot of attention. I look forward to writing about all of the important events that come up at LPS Richmond.

About Me - Luis Tamayo

ltamayo26@gmail.com (luis tamayo) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Hello LPS community, my name is Luis Tamayo and I am junior at LPS Richmond. I am part of the blogging class, but this is my first time doing this, so it's an honor being here. I will be talking about important events that happen in the school and also I will be talking about our school's sports teams such as basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

If you have any stories that you would like me to cover, you can contact me through email at tamayo26@gmail.com.