49. Face Off: Amoeba and Rasputin
I’m sitting next to a bum at the corner of Creepy and What’s-That-Smell? I’m sure you’ve all been there. It’s that wrought-iron fence that surrounds the empty lot/trash can across the street from Amoeba Records on Telegraph Ave. That’s where I found myself once upon a Saturday.
My original intent was to ...
50. Conflict in the Middle-East: Levels of awareness vary among students
Violence between Israel and its surrounding states is a burning issue for virtually every person with the slightest sense of global awareness. Students at Albany High have mixed opinions on the subject. Some with families in the region are very passionate. Others “just don’t really care.” A number of students favor Israel, while others sympathize with Arab countries. But generally, ...
51. Summer Homework Data and AP Scores
This is the companion data for the article What Summer Vacation? This is the anonymous survey that The Cougar distributed to all AP/Honors classes that assigned summer homework. Anonymous AHS AP/Honors Student Survey The Cougar Newspaper will feature an article about summer homework in our first issue. We would like you to answer the following questions to help us gain insight into ...
52. Albany Cougars 06: The Real Deal
After last year’s horrendous season when the Albany Cougars football squad posted a depressing 1-8-1 record and was outscored 287-59, there were few signs of hope for the upcoming season. Many believed that this year would be just as bad as previous year’s teams and that nobody would take the time to go out and play for ...
53. Where We Went, And Why - Israel: Life in peace and war
When you think about Israel, what comes to mind? For most people, the answer is in some way related to war and chaos. After going to Israel this summer with 100 other Jewish teenagers, my answers are different and much more complicated.
As soon as I ...
54. I didn’t read Moby Dick
I didn’t read Moby Dick. That’s when I knew something was wrong. I’ve read every single other book assigned to me in high school. I felt horribly guilty writing an essay for summer homework about a book I hadn’t read. Then I looked at my time at Albany High. Since I’ve been here, there have been a suicide, a murder, ...
55. Oversleeping - it’s not your fault!
“And it’s a beautiful Monday morning today. There isn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun is shining down at a balmy 72 degrees. Stay tuned as we…”
The radio clicks on, speaking smoothly, and slowly you leave the comfort of your dreams.
You ...
56. No Earth Space Science for Freshmen This Year
For years, parents and students questioned the freshmen Earth/Space Science course requirement. Students whined about the boring topics discussed, while peers at other schools were already pursuing Chemistry and Biology. Parents opposed the unique graduation requirement and wished their children could ...
57. Culture 4.5
High school culture in general, and certainly at Albany High, is such that classes and tests are taken for a grade, not for enrichment; and to students, the ends justify any means.
Attitude is everything, and today’s high school attitudes allow students to Spark Note and cheat their way through high school without ...
58. STAR test results are in - AHS scores are up
Last year, Albany High School’s standardized testing scores made slight gains. Roughly 66 percent of last year’s 9th, 10th and 11th grades were either labeled as “Proficient” or “Advanced” in the CST language arts test, part of California’s STAR testing program, whereas roughly ...
59. Growing interests bring new classes
Not only are there new faces in the hallways this year, but there are also new available courses. With a demand for more AP classes, and a growing United Nations program, AP Comparative Government/World Religion is now offered to all juniors and seniors. No entrance test or prerequisites are required, but summer homework is mandatory, just like many other AP ...
60. An Italian in Albany…
A student from this school, Sadie Guthrie, left America last month for Sardinia, Italy, and at the same time I came here. “I come from Rome and I’ll be staying here for one year.” This is what I’ve been saying since I arrived in Albany and for most of you that’s all you know about me. This is why I chose to ...