By Brandon HENSLEY

Upon first inspection, the quad at CV High School on March 19 may have looked like any other during a fundraiser: There was music, food, a special performance by a Taekwondo group, and many raffle prizes to award.

But a closer look revealed something else, something more than just skin-deep.

“This day’s a wonderful day in that, yes it’s only a fundraiser, but it’s bringing people together. I see families, I see young people, I see older people, I see different cultures,” said Mathew Schick, CVHS music director.

Aren’t all fundraisers supposed to do that? Parents within the CV music department have answered ‘yes’ to that question. Now the department is in the second year of its reclamation project.

The second annual Korean Barbecue Luncheon was hosted by the CV Instrumental Music Foundation, which acts as a booster club for the music department. Families came and enjoyed the best food and music CV has to offer. In addition, those who attended also witnessed Korean parents actively involved in the department’s fundraising events, something that was sadly missing in years past, not due to lack of enthusiasm but more of a lack of direction.

In 2010, there were discussions on how to involve everyone in the department in its fundraising efforts. Car washes had gotten old; something new was needed. A student suggested having a Korean barbecue and that idea ushered in a new era of community involvement.

“Everybody jumped on board and everybody worked together to team up. The Korean parents came out in force to help grill and prepare food and it was a huge success and it was a great way to get that interaction going that was missing before,” said Tracey Black, president of the Music Foundation.

Parent Anna Choe who, along with fellow parent Janice Lee, helped organize a committee to prepare the food and assigned which parents did what. In all, she said, about 40 parents helped out.

“It just shows how one idea can do wonders,” Choe sad.

Choe was at the school at 6:30 a.m. preparing the cuisine. She was worried about the rain that might come – it didn’t – but as far as worrying about the turnout, well, that was so last year.

“Last year we did it for the first time; we had no expectations. We didn’t know what to expect …. We were just so surprised by over 800 people [that came], and this year we pretty much expected the same crowd.”

The department raised around $3,000 last year. Before that, the only number that mattered was 260. That’s the amount of students in the music program, and half of them are Korean. Until the barbecue idea was raised, the diverse community of the foothills remained on some level split.

That seems to have changed now.

“It’s a good way for the whole community to come out and try Korean food,” Choe said. “This is a group effort by all the parents; it doesn’t matter what nationality you are.”

“It was a great eye opener last year when I saw so many people working together,” said Schick. “[Koreans] make up a large percentage of the music department and we have very wonderful, helpful and supportive parents in the Korean community and [in] the kids themselves.”

Students from the department played on stage and some demonstrated their breakdancing prowess while Schick intervened every once in a while by announcing winning raffle numbers. Prizes included a Tony Hawk Wii game, tickets to the Hollywood Bowl and the grand prize, a Disneyland Park-Hopper package for two.

Schick, the school’s music director for 10 years, said he would like the event to grow every year. He wants to implement a Battle of the Bands contest, with prizes going to the winners.

As for the integration aspect, Schick himself has had to do the same recently. He and his wife had an apartment in Montrose but moved to Pasadena. After their youngest son was born – they have two sons – they moved back into the Dunsmore area.

Moving forward, Black said she hopes that one day this will be the only fundraiser the department needs. Holding it in March can be tricky, though. Heavy rains came early Saturday morning. If the rain had persisted, they would have moved it to a smaller, enclosed space in the school.

“We had a Plan B but I don’t think any of us got much sleep after 2 a.m. when it started pouring,” Black said. “We just got lucky; this is good karma.”

And good food and good times.

By Alan DER OHANNESSIAN

The Crescenta Valley Falcons beat North Saxons in Torrance 1-0 in a temper flared match to advance to quarterfinals.

Having barely won their last match in overtime, the Falcons faced a tougher challenge against North (12-5-8 overall, 8-0-2 league) who had finished the season at the top of their division.

Both teams were aggressive from the start of the match. At kickoff forward Pavle Atanackovic played a pass to Jaehoon Jung to the left side of the field whose lob aimed to Salar Hajimirsadeghi didn’t click as he missed the header.

Midfielder Michael Shanazarians played a long pass to fellow midfielder Jung inside the penalty box, leaving only goalkeeper Saxon James Lisardi for the net. However his attempt for a lob over him failed as he lost control of the ball due to the severe wind, dropping the ball into the goalkeeper’s hands.

On another possession, defender Chris Fierro played a long pass aimed to Atanackovic, but Atanackovic couldn’t control it due to tight defense. Fortunately Falcon midfielder Alex Berger got the ball out of the scramble but his shot struck wide to the right side of the goalkeeper.

Atanackovic had another opportunity but unfortunately came up short.

Jung played a lob to fellow midfielder Hajimirsadeghi for a header but he missed it. However, Atanackovic got after the ball but his shot was saved as Lisardi slid to the wrong side but his feet kept it out.

Although the Saxons had fewer opportunities they came close to score several times.

Saxon captain and midfielder Claudio Rodriguez shot 20 yards from the field but was saved by Falcons’ goalkeeper Nick Ruiz as he dived to his left to keep it out of the pocket.

Their second and last opportunity of the half was more aggressive as Saxon midfielder Shaun Nagano played a cross pass inside the penalty box to Rodriguez but his shot was thwarted by the Falcons defense.

Things were already starting to flare up which eventually led to a big melee in the second half.

One of the Saxons players pulled the shirt of defender Fierro from behind as he said, “Hey!” in dismay. That led to the referee awarding him a yellow card – a warning that if he repeated such behavior, he would be sent off the match.

Other than that minor incident things looked calm between both teams as they headed into halftime with a goalless scoreboard.

The second half was all about opportunities and maintaining composure amidst a chaotic atmosphere.

Falcons midfielder Berger passed to Atanackovic who controlled the long pass and gave it to teammate Eric Keshishian. He dribbled past two defenders and struck wide to the left side.

Eventually, the Falcons were able to capture the only goal of the match.

Berger played a lob to Shahnazarians inside the penalty box; however his pass was punched out by goalkeeper Lisardi. Fortunately, Shahnazarians got the rebound and put it into the empty net as the Saxons’ defender got there too late to cover for the goalkeeper.

The goal only added tension between the teams.

Keshishian got into Rodriguez’s face as Rodriguez tackled him. The Saxons’ captain responded with a smirk on his face that infuriated Keshishian. The referee gave Rodriguez a yellow card for his tackle like he did to another Saxons player.

Rodriguez again tackled Falcons midfielder Hajimirsadeghi. This led to a verbal exchange between both players as Rodriguez got so angry by one of Hajimirsadeghi’s comments that he started to run at him to punch him. However his teammates held him back. The Falcons bench also got up in anticipation of the worst case scenario.

Fortunately, one of the Falcons managers ordered his team to sit down in a loud voice, restoring order and control.

After the yellow card, Rodriguez was given a red card meaning he was sent off for the remainder of the game. Saxons’ head coach Dany Pena started complaining to the referee regarding the decision and he was awarded a yellow card.

The Saxons, apparently energized by the incident, came very close to leveling the match in the last minutes and sending it into overtime.

Midfielder Nagano’s corner kick found forward Bryan Johnson, a lanky player whose header hit the upper post. That was their last chance as the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

Head Coach Kiel McClung said it was the defensive effort of the team that got them the win starting with the goalkeeper adding that he was sympathetic towards the ejected player.

“[Claudio Rodriguez] was a great player, unfortunately he lost his head in a shoving match,” McClung said.

The Falcons next play the winner of El Rancho and Hawthorne on Friday at CV.

Special to CVW by

Helen KANTOR

The 2009-2010 mock trial team at Crescenta Valley High School made history Nov. 17 by advancing to the quarterfinals in the Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Mock Trial Program. To date, no other team at CVHS has made it this far.

The prosecution and defense teams had the opportunity to argue their side twice during the first four rounds of the competition. CVHS math teacher, Sierra Vasquez, has coached the team for six years with unwavering support. William Monterroso, a practicing criminal defense lawyer, joined the team as their professional mentor.

“These students inspire me,” said Vasquez. “They balance so many activities in addition to mock trial, which encourages critical thinking and promotes teamwork.”

The team was energized by CVHS principal Dr. Michele Doll who attended the trial during the quarterfinal round.

“Seeing our students in action performing at the mock trial competition was amazing. They were poised, articulate and very prepared. I was so proud of all of our students, and proud to be a Falcon!” said Doll.

The initial round of trials included 64 schools, and by the quarterfinals that pool shrank to only eight. The case given this year to all teams by the Constitutional Rights Foundation involved cyber-bullying and assault with a deadly weapon. Trials were held at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

By Jason KUROSU

Tragedies often leave those affected searching for answers, sifting through the emotional turmoil for some sort of meaning and solace. While that may never be reached, the journey itself is a healing process of its own, as Rachel’s Challenge, a non-profit organization that travels from school to school promoting kindness to fellow students, has been for the families and friends of those killed in the horrific shooting at Columbine High School 11 years ago. Student Rachel Scott was the first killed in the attack that claimed 11 other students and a teacher. Her father Darrell Scott started the program in December of 1999, which serves as both a memorial to Rachel and a campaign to prevent school violence. Rachel’s Challenge came to Crescenta Valley High this past Thursday, putting on hour long presentations in the auditorium for students and then again at night for parents. Although one of the main purposes of the organization is to curb violence amongst youths and especially prevent school shootings, the presentation focused less on violence than on encouraging positive attitudes to audiences.  Rachel was described as a girl who practiced such positive values of kindness and compassion for those around her. The presentation, as many memorials do, celebrated her life rather than focusing on her death. Her remarkable kindness towards others was described through a series of stories told in video interviews of those who knew her: a boy who bullied others in school because he felt isolated until Rachel reached out to him, a man whose terrible day was brightened when Rachel, a complete stranger, helped him change his flat tire, a schoolmate with disabilities who was intent on suicide until meeting Rachel. These portraits of her life and the acts of kindness that defined it were summed up as Rachel’s challenges, challenges because of how much more difficult it can be to show kindness to others in need than it is to ignore them.  Out of the challenges, which included responding to the needs of others and appreciate those close to you, one of the key challenges was one featured in an essay Rachel wrote shortly before she died.

“I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same,” Rachel wrote. “People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”  This “chain reaction” of kindness was what Rachel’s challenge presenter Todd Lauderdale described as “Rachel’s legacy,” as the video showcased how those touched by Rachel‘s kindness went on to further that same brand of generosity and compassion with others after her death. Lauderdale impressed upon the students in attendance that “this is the kind of legacy your life can have, too.”

It is hoped by organizers that Rachel’s legacy can live on through youth, encouraging them to promote the kind of compassion that will keep incidents like Columbine from ever happening again.

By Andrew SIMON

“It could have been really easy for our guys to come out and kind of coast tonight because of what happened the last time, but I think we played with high energy,” CV coach Shawn Zargarian said. “As long as we’re playing with high energy and not looking at our opponent or anywhere else, we’re going to be successful.”

Although Powdrill ultimately finished with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, with Dragovich adding 15 points, it was CV’s lone freshman who spurred the Falcons early in the game. Currie had struggled at times this season, including in recent games, but Zargarian said he’d told his sharp-shooter to continue firing away.

That’s what happened in the first quarter. Although the team wasn’t running plays specifically for him, Currie operated assertively. He got the Falcons on the board with a three-point play before knocking down a trio of three-pointers.

“I think he was more aggressive and looked for his shot,” Zargarian said. “He got out of his slump, and it was big for us and for him.”

Currie’s offensive explosion, which accounted for all 12 of his points, pushed CV to a 19-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“He really gave us a boost at the beginning,” Powdrill said. “It doesn’t matter that he’s a freshman. … We know he can score and we know he can play.”

The Falcons played tight defense on the Indians (5-16, 3-5), and with Currie igniting the offense, they ran away with the game in the first half. CV never trailed, and after Davis Dragovich knocked down a jumper with a little less than six minutes remaining in the half to put CV up by 11, the Falcons’ lead remained in double digits for the rest of the game.

By the intermission, CV was ahead 40-18. The Falcons shot better than 50% in the opening half, including five of 10 from three-point range.

“We’re trying to stress to our guys that how we come out for games really dictates our tempo,” Zargarian said. “When we come out with lots of energy and lots of defensive energy, it really works out well for us.”

This has been the case for CV since it dropped a tight game last Wednesday to Burbank in the final seconds. The Falcons, who were tied with the Bulldogs for second place in league entering the day, now have won two in a row.

Zargarian said the Falcons met after the Burbank loss in an effort to “clean some stuff up.”

After an 11-point win over Arcadia on Friday and the blowout of Burroughs, it seems like the talk worked for a squad that is ranked 15th in Southern Section Division 1A.

According to Powdrill, it’s a matter of the Falcons focusing and playing together. The senior forward took to heart an interview he saw with Lakers star Kobe Bryant on ESPN earlier Wednesday, during which Bryant talked about the Lakers getting complacent.

“I think that’s what we did [earlier this season],” Powdrill said. “We deviated from the team mode and thinking we’re one family. We got back together and regrouped and played as a team, which I think we’d gotten away from a little bit.”

The Falcons will have an opportunity to keep building on their recent momentum when they return home to face Hoover on Friday. The two teams last played on Jan. 8 at Hoover, with CV winning 70-37.