Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

h;=-
. «•*«• 2 loatll Mlgh School. Sin Frjnriiro. Cilifornij Ml). 1
Kermesse is back!
V "The Kersr-vie b * unique intcr-
• ••atiooal food fair organized to improve
school spirit and promote the
brotherhood of all peoples," ca>
• plained Hany Ccllts. head of the
Foreign Language Department.
TVs event will lake place on Thurs*
- day, April 25. 1985.
'There is a double reason to hold
the KermcsK," CoJlb continued.
"Originally, the main reason for
having the celebration was to raise
, funds for the Foreign Language
Lab. The money raised U very important
to maintain the equipment.
But. as the Kcrmcsac became
popular, the improvement of school
spirit became just as important a
reason for having it."
Last year there was no Kcrmesse
at Luwcl*. A conflict arose between
the teachers of the Foreign
Language Dcpanrocnt and the administration
over the hours of extracurricular
school service.
All Lowell teachers wtre assigned
sporting evcou to attend. Most
foreign language teachers objected
to UJC supervision duty, stating that
the hours of planning and supervising
the Kermeuc fulfilled the administration
requirement.
Dr. Alan B. Fibish. principal.
disagreed with the Foreign
Language Department's reasoning.
and therefore, the Foreign
• Laocuarc Department cancelled the
~~ 19M Kcrmcsac.
"1 have never had any problems
with the Kermessc, " slated Fibish.
"The members of the Foreign
Language Department made a deci-
sion not to have it last >car. I am
glad that the Kermcsie will be back,
and 1 believe the decision to hold it
ihit year b a good one."
"Last year, my friends and 1 were
prttty upset because ti was cancelled.
We were really looking forward
to it," expressed junior Allen Choi,
in a staten.nU that echoed those of
many other Lowell students.
"I sense a very strong feeling that
most students »inl to have the
Kermcsvc — not only to observe —
but to take part in it and show their
crcitivuy." reasoned Georges
Tchikovani, chief orpnUcr of the
1985 event.
"We arc currently working on
making a better program than in past
yean, with more variety,"
Tchikovani stressed. "Hopefully,
more kids will participate. 1 hope
that teachers from other departments
will all-nv student* to attend
the KcrmcMc so everyone can get as
much out of the day as possible."
Foreign Language Lab Director
Marc ZavaJa revealed. "In add it urn
to the many different foods and
displays, there will be a show with
dinccr* and muiicuns. There will
a'Mi be prizes given to the stud.*pl
w ilh the bevt cmtumc and the booth
with the best food."
Kcrmeuc will be new w miny
students. For others who have been
at the Kerocssc before, it will still
be good to have back."
Many students havr fond
memories of the pavt Kcrtrmses,
while for the studenu in the
freshman and sophomore classes.
this will be a first look at this Lowell
Senior Helen Straloudakis recalled.
"1 participated in the Hellenic
Club for two yean. We sold Greek
food and pastries. We had Greek
dancers that were dressed up in
cotfumo representing a designated
area in Greece, ll was a lot of fun."
"It is su unique thit it sets Lowell
apart from the other schoolv," ennmcnteJ
senior Oxu Smi'h, W!IP added.
"The Kermeuc Ha very socul
event because everyone can pet
involved."
Junior Wilfred Dcrc stated, "I
especial!;' enjoyed the food and the
cjpcnenccs of having all thr
cultural offering*.**
Tera RoVtrs. a Lowell Irwhnian.
promised. ' I'm going :o irate
cream pulfi and quiches for iltc
French Exhibition."
Dohc often disturbs clams.
Fibish punishes
noisy students
"All ihc language classes and
some clubs, such as the Korean.
Chinese. Japanese, and Vietnamese
CluH. will sponsor booth* with the
fixxl* and costumes of different
"1 have never »ecn a Kefme\se
before," confessed ficshman JJ.
Spcvht. "But it '.hould he run to
really vec the blend of cultures that
Lowell is proud of."
Counselor Stella Michaclian
n>ucJ. "Ii'fc iii.» ui: 1^4med mci*
Countries." V-awli continued. "We JUKJI CKII other If **c can uan
encourage students to dm* up in UK with other people'* cultute*. line
couumes of many countries." The Kcrmewe is a ilep in thai
Tchikovuii pointed out. "The direction.
-Violence returns to trestle path-
By DM Hailofoo
rob the stfdents. When one of the Sloncstown Shopping Mall and
Once again, the area Iroown as the victim* declined to give any money, Winston Drive, where many
Trestle Path has proven dangenxu one of the aggressors revealed a students board buses after school.
to Lowell students.
knit.* and apparently tried to stab the The path and nearby trestle bridge
The latest incident occurred on Lowell student — cutting open the have been sites for other crimes, in-
March 22 at ooontime ntime as to sleeve of the victim.
cluding theft, indecent ciposurr. ar-
^t^iwir^H Lowell freshmen were Two witnesses U> the attack scared son, and rape.
e»dng lunth by the path. Accordiog away Ur: muggers and helped the Gloria Bogdaooff. assistant prin-
to Elba Salpdo, dean of students at students to the lowell building, cipal, warned, "The path's many
Lowell, the Modems ". . . were from where the Police Department trees and bushes attract unpleasant
cssaolted by rwo suangen who were wav cjlled. The response time to people. The previous incident, vhow
drinking and were ai high as a that call wi% AS minutes.
that we should try *°
Utc"
Th= isolated and wooded Lrea is
j
The if^"?^ - then oUcmptcd to oflcr* used as a short cut to the
avoi IU Irrm Kim
Although the campaign against
noise in the halls hasn't been as
popularized as that launched against
litter, the problem, nevertheless, exists;
only recently have school offkialt
begun to take disciplinary octicn
zziitix •'soiseruktrv"
kisr improved following language
leather Sara Ticlaun** Ictlrr.
"They really did hurl thermcUc*
against the door. The) wok pleasure
m steini; how fjr they t*»uld go."
commented a student who wished to
remain anonymous, though the
group member* contended
d that area.
It iv not vife 4t all."
Lowell Security Aide t on H;xJgcs
advtved. "For your own safety it iv
best to talc the long way instead of a
shon cut." Hndjgcv continueJ,
"Especially if um'rc alone ii is a
very tlangtmu* pl^cc to he."
The Trevlle Path w IOCJICJ directly
behind the fence f ihc
Sloncvtown parking Ivt. Thiv atca \\
owned by the Siimcum Developmem
Corporation, which tiics In
keep the area secure.
Stoncstown Security Officer
The problem gained tlgnlttcam attention
after a teacher wrote a lettrr
to Thr ^ntfjf protesting the conditions
outside her room on the second
floor.
KHlowinf* Itn* tixi'rJ.'ri. Prinvipj)
AUn Fiic\c I »J« nuking all the nuive.
"I'm vuppiKed to vet an cwitplc.
1 think," vaid ihc viudcnt.
"We're wx the t»nly i»nes makn):
Sinuljily. texhers offered different
opinion* on (he *cscnt> ol UKproblcm.
Chemistry teacher Thomav l*ng£*
said that noive •* not a prublem for
*iim tvcjuic the d.wr iv "...fairly
thick "
"Vtu can't leave the doof open.
Hi »C»LT. it a teacher must open it
for the sake of ventilation purposes.
I think that it i* up to the MittSent* to
make an effort lobe quiet." he said.
The ultimate solution he fell
•vould be to install "...sound proof
English teacher FUmic Lewis
shared the method she and many
other teacher* employ L> \ilcnce the
halls.
"If the noise prevents me Inin
teavhini;. I'm pung to sell in order
to pill them.
"I know that I'm taking a chance
becau've it'* easy for Lowell k>ds to
be wnsime. but freedom t* tn-c
thing and license is another," she
4vserted
The pci»plc in the vxond floor
*foup jcknttwlcu^cd LrLit teachers
l.i\c hurl'-d siritul JNJVV> M IbcitI
jnvt vooti-nJcd thjl •>ne leather
•uv-jr*"' at iheni.
I Ui>n't think ica^h*.'rv *h«t do
ilui jre settirn: p^vj cumple.."
Kevin Martin patrolv the area during
the late evening and early mormr.g
hours. "We have an officer patrol
the path about every 15 minutcv and
guard the area between 7:30 and
8:30 in the morning when the kids
the ndtsc." viid veniof Daniel
Lhi^c. «mc «if hiv ctxr.panKm\
"The pci> *c waiting in the food line
(nui»kk nx. n 2-itt) are p*ctty noisy.
u«."
Contrary to Thomas' hope that the
Students and school otftcials alike
agreed that the noise ts a consequence
of modular whedultng and
that the only solution would be to
eliminate this aspect of Lowell life.
are walking to school. I don't know- suspension would be the "...first Fihtsh cautioned ttut clinututioi
why anyone would want to be there and last one" regarding the situa- ol modular whalalin,: WIHII.: rv J
at all."
tion, a month later. Fibish suipcnd- ptKsibilny vhtuld th/ i^nw |tf>>r*lt.
The last incident to occur in the cd another three studentv for the
area near the Trestle **»lh previous same reason.
to the assault was a fire that burned
most of the rtilltidc adjacent to ihc
; path. This happened in November
t of 1984 and was classified as trwn.
< Two years ago, a Lowell student
' was raped near the path in tb~ late
"No group of students has the
rijht to steal a quiet learning environment
from others. My functioa
b to provide a good learning environrrent:
any interruption i» a problem
and rentoves the opportunity
' afternoon. The suspect was never for learning." Fibish said.
f
[
:
apprehended.
BogdanofT added. 'Ninth graocrs
who don't know the hazards of Ihc
"For a teacher to leave his ebsv
to quiet down the hallway shouldn't
be nccnvary." added Thonut.
area should be especially wary. Do Smdcnts who have classes in the
not use the Trestle Path."
disputed area agree that conditions
> m
persist. tn»»tj;h he AUCVI n M.HIUI he
canted tt ru!l*j>* i*
tnev tuhie."