The Trojan Oracle Vol 2
October 2023
Yearbook
- Make-up senior portrait dates are Monday 11/27 and Tuesday 11/28. Please schedule your appointment ASAP here
- Yearbook is now accepting senior quotes and baby pics. DUE Dec 1st. Please review instructions and guidelines
- Seniors ads can now be bought online. Instructions here
- Yearbooks are now on sale @ yearbookforever.com
College Application Deadline is fast approaching: NOVEMBER 30th
- CSU Application (State schools such as San Diego State)
- UC Application (University of California schools such as UCSD)
- Workshops in counselor center Monday and Wednesday at nutrition break and lunch
- WAHUPA office hours with Devin: Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am-5:30 pm room 202
ASB
- Grad Nite Tickets for Seniors are on sale now in the ASB for $335, limited tickets are available. The deadline to purchase Grad Nite Tickets is January 31, 2024 because Disney needs a count of how many students from CPH will be attending Grad Nite.
**FALL BREAK: November 20-24th**
A Tribute to J-Lo
Flags UP!
HOCO Proposal of a Lifetime
It Looks Tough
On October 23rd CPHS had a special visit in PE classes from San Diego Legion, professional rugby players. Mikey, one of the professional players, said that rugby “is a little bit like soccer and football combined." However, in order to distribute the ball to each other, players pass the ball shaped like a large football backwards and their goal is to always run forward in order to score, this is called “a try.” At the presentation students got to be a part of practicing the sport and playing in flag rugby. Students learned the basic fundamentals of how rugby is played and got a little dirty on the grass while doing so.
Some students had this to say about the unfamiliar sport. Maria Valdez, a sophomore in this class was a participant and explained “I really like the teamwork and how you can learn how to communicate better. This is really hard to do, but it can pay off well if your team knows how to organize and talk during a game." She goes on to say why she would want to join this sport if it was offered in CPH, “I would most likely want to join this sport if it was offered at CPH to make new friends and learn a new sport.” However, some other students were a little hesitant like Angel Suarez, “I don't think I would play this sport if it was offered right now at CPH since I'm not that interested in playing any sports currently. It does seem cool and it's different so I can see why other students would want to give it a try.” If this is something you would like at CPHS, connect with our administration and see if it's possible. Big thank you to San Diego Legion for coming out and providing students with this informative presentation.
By: Natalia Paramo
Sophomore Cathryn Gonzalez was nominated by Mr. Ruiz for always being “a very sincere, smart, warm and a caring individual” he says, “who prioritizes her academics before any extra-curricular activities. She is also a member of our volleyball team and serves as an example of what it is to be a true Trojan student-athlete.” Cathryn explained that she manages to balance her school work and volleyball by “Just making sure I do my work on time, and by making sure I turn it in. If I miss anything due to games I ask my teacher for any advice. on how to make up the missing work.” Cathryn is a perfect example for what it takes to be a great student-athlete.
Sophomore Tyson Choctaw was chosen for Trojan of the day by Ms. Mckee. She says “Tyson is a hard working Trojan who always gets to class early, completes all his assignments, and works well with any group he is in. Tyson is incredibly polite, both to other students and to his teachers. He is responsible, a motivated learner, and a fantastic Trojan!” It is easy for Tyson to work in groups because he always treats others the way he wants to be treated. Tyson explains how he considers math to be one of his best subjects because he's really good at it and does a good job at following directions which leads him to be successful in this subject.
By: Lesley De Leon
Coming Back Because It's Home
Here at Castle Park High School there are current staff members that were once Trojans themselves. They walked down the very same halls you do and even sat in the same senior lawn, true story. Two alumni we would like to highlight that currently still teach at Castle Park High School are Mr. Boggs and Ms. Medina.
For the past 38 years Mr. Boggs has been working as an English teacher at the same school he went to. He graduated with his class in 1975. During his time here at CPH he was a part of the football team. Mr. Boggs favorite memory throughout high school was beating Sweetwater during a game his junior year. Sweetwater was ranked number five in the county and he clearly remembers the Red Devils wooden stands being filled well above the max with an approximately 6,000 people in attendance. CPHS was the underdog and they had lost 2 out of the past 3 games, but they went out there to prove the same point we battle till this day; we don’t mind proving others wrong here at CPHS. Mr. Boggs stayed at CPHS all these years because he explained that “this is home.” This is where he wants to be and not many teachers get the opportunity to stay at the same school site for almost four decades. We all love Mr. Boggs for his loving nature and willingness to set us straight about the enjoyment or prose and verse in English 12.
Ms. Medina, who teaches math, has worked here for the past 18 years. Ms. Medina was also a previous student and graduated in 1996. Her favorite memory throughout highschool was being able to contribute and be a part of the MEChA club which she now runs. She recalls MEChA in high school providing the opportunity to connect with college Chicano/a students and them explaining that people who look like and sound like the students at CPHS deserve to be in higher education spaces. This is one of main motivations for keeping the club going after so many years. She said, that although many students in the past have been attracted to other schools because of their new building, stadiums, and “better” locations, what they don’t realize is all the tradition and rich history that CPHS has. She explains that one of the many traditions here at CPH is, “Students having family members like parents and uncles that attended CPHS throughout the previous years.” This is unique to only a few schools in the SUHSD. To be able to say my mom/dad, or my grandmother/grandfather was once a Trojan.
Thank you to these dedicated educators for staying in the community that they grew up in and giving back in more ways than one.
By: Giselle Romo Rooney & Natalia Orozco
High school creates memories with friends, teachers and the community. School can be a challenge for others and sometimes it can be easy. The challenge of being a student and athlete takes a great deal of courage and the ability to work around the clock. The first person we have for student athlete highlight for the month of October is senior Irene Bustillos. She plays golf and also field hockey all while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.18. Dang Irene, you can really do it all. Irene expresses her dedication toward being a student-athlete is not always easy. She states that “I make sure to stay on top of my work so it doesn’t interfere with sports.” One way she manages her time between academics and sports is by “making sure to stay on top of her work so she doesn’t have to worry about it during practice or games.” The current class that gives her the most challenge is AP PreCalculus due to it not being her strongest subject, so sometimes it is challenging to stay on top of it. But all in all that GPA she has is exceptional!
Another familiar face around campus is senior Vincent Choctaw. You usually find him on the field with a soccer ball or in the senior lawn in the mornings. He plays soccer for CPHS and is a really good student-athlete with a GPA of 3.8. When Vincent was 5 years old he always had the love for soccer, but then took a break for combat sports. When he turned 14 his little brother's coach convinced him to play again, and not long after he fell back in love with the sport. Being a student athlete takes a lot of determination in which Vincent stated he likes to “prioritize getting all work done in class so [he] has free time later for sports.” My dude you hella smart! Advice Vincent would give to underclassmen that are thinking about playing sports is be ready for commitment, “you have to put your time, effort, blood and sweat into the sport, but at the same time prioritize school. Stick with it because it all gets easier with time.” Thanks for the motivation Vincent!
By: Moises Lopez
Science Innovation Academy (SIA)
SIA is our science innovation academy here at Castle Park, this program allows students to expand their understanding of healthcare and other forms of scientific research through the use of guest speakers, hands-on field trips, and in-class experiments. We interviewed two students who have benefited from being in SIA. Here is what they had to say:
Q:Do you plan to apply the skills learned in this program to your future career?
A: Danna Mata (senior): Yes, I want to pursue a career relating to science so the lessons we’ve learned so far would definitely be helpful. I feel like SIA really pushes us into becoming leaders and teaches us about responsibility.
A: Chantal Volteada (senior): Definitely, I want to become a veterinarian in the future and this class covers a lot of human and animal anatomy that would be helpful for that career path. SIA really helps encourage students to take risks and learn leadership skills
Q: Whats the most interesting thing you’ve dissected in SIA?
A: Both seniors: The pig! We had to dissect a pig because their organs are most similar to humans and we were doing a study comparing the both of them. They were vacuum sealed when we got them but it smelled so bad once the bag was opened and they were hairy .. It was gross. But we learned a lot and it was all in the name of research so it was well worth the horrendous smell.
Q: What is SIA?
A: Ms. Kimball (SIA Cordinator): The STEM industry is facing an ongoing crisis: there are more jobs available than we have qualified employees to fill these essential positions in our community. At the same time, our high school students, who have the potential to fill those needs in industry, deserve experiences and opportunities that could empower them and set them apart from their peers. The Science Innovation Academy (SIA) at Castle Park High School is designed to capture all students who deserve rigorous and relevant A-G classes to help prepare them for college while also connecting them with professionals who will guide them toward career-readiness. Students in SIA become a family of learners while they take courses that are packed with real-world application and skills. Through this academic support system and skill set development, SIA students become confident in their studies while becoming eligible to earn college credit and interacting with industry professionals during guest speaker visits, field trips, student work experience through internships, and professional mentorships. SIA students become leaders and productive individuals through community outreach and service learning projects who are celebrated during graduation and the year-end Academy Awards Banquet. The Science Innovation Academy at Castle Park High School was developed for all students who wish to explore college and careers, to reach their academic potential through a team-support system, to work with future employers, and to build self-assurance and leadership qualities among caring peers, community members and educators. So far this year, SIA students have become inspired by SIA alumni who have shared their stories, become empowered by attending the UCSD STEM Cell Awareness Day, have been motivated by professional guest speakers sharing their career lives, become informed about the college application process and financial aid, and have collected over a two-hundred pounds of CPH recycling, just to name a few...and there are more opportunities that are already in the works! If you would like to learn more about SIA, you can find Ms. Kimball and the SIA students in room 306 or email me @ Darci.Kmball@sweetwaterschools.org
By: Ixchel Montellano
Sports Medicine
CPHS offers Sports Medicine as a class which is divided into 3 years with Mr. Eddie. Sports Medicine 1 is the introduction to Sports Medicine where students learn the basics of the human bone structure and different types of muscles. Sports Medicine 2 is about the care and prevention of athletic injuries, how to treat them in a way that is safe for the athlete all while learning how to care properly for these injuries. Sports Medicine 3 is the internship which students who show great interest in the medical field are able to do by joining Mr. Eddie on the court/field before, during and after to help treat student athletes. In case you're wondering what they do in Sports Medicine 3, Alondra Ramos, an intern, says “It is all about aiding players' health performance. We take time to treat or diagnose any injuries as well as taping them up for support and stability.” Alondra also suggests people to join if they “are interested in medicine and collaborating with other people. You gain experience and knowledge in treating athletes. However, a great social aspect of it is building relationships that give you lifetime memories of your high school years.” Another intern, Jessica Herrera, adds on how they “help injured athletes to treat their injuries, diagnose them, and sometimes give them rehab if needed.” Jessica describes how “Students interested in the medicine field or public health gain experience and knowledge about injuries and what happens in games.” If your an athlete or if you have any interest in how the body moves and how it recovers, please reach out to Mr. Eddie for more information or request the class from your high school counselor.
By: Camila Pineda Padilla
Poerty Club (ASP)
Many students at Castle Park High have interests that they don’t show to the public, they prefer to display them in small settings. such as writing poetry. Castle Park offers a poetry club every Tuesday in the mornings from 7:20 am to 8:20 am. If you are interested in joining, room 505 offers a safe, quiet, and welcoming environment to write and build on your writing skills.
Senior, Poetry Club president, Vivi Sanchez, expressed “what we do in the poetry club is mostly write and give feedback to each other's work. I think students should join if they are interested in poetry and creative writing. This is a safe space for everyone; any languages are admited. What I'm personally gaining in this club is bettering my writing skills. My writing has improved such as my grammar and creative thinking.” Club advisor Mr.Vargas describes “we mostly write poetry as we listen to music. We do sometimes read a poem, song lyrics or talk about forms of poetry, but most of the students love poetry and want a place to write and receive feedback. Every session, we play a poetry game and then share the poems we have written. Students should join in order to express themselves through creative writing. The poetry club is a brave space where students can be vulnerable and embrace each other as artistic-poets. Additionally, the club is hoping to attend a few open mic nights and produce a zine (mini poetry book) with poetry from students here at Castle Park.”
By: Marisol Arevalo
Boys Water Polo
Water Polo just wrapped up their successful season and here is what two impact players had to say. Senior Canon Humphrey recalls how he started playing for a club called Southern when he was only 7 years old. Canon explains that the highlight of his season was “the game we played at Mater Dei because I scored the most goals there which was 11.” Ishmael Guzman is another Senior athlete and has been playing for 3 years. Ishmael states that “the highlight of my season was the game against Olympian High School at Southwestern College where we won by 2 points.” Both Canon and Ishmael were inspired to join by their older brothers who also played in high school. Ishmael claims he wanted to be a better number 2 than his brother. If anyone is looking to have fun in a pool be sure to connect with head coach Mark Esquivel for more information: mark.esquivel@sweetwaterschools.org
By: Romina Villalvazo
Field Hockey
A lot of people aren’t aware of Field Hockey. This sport consists of eleven girls working together with their sticks, communicating on the field, and actively trying to make a goal and score some points. Senior Captain Princess Tacla says “The highlight of my season was being captain and scoring a couple goals. It looks easy to do, but it’s pretty challenging since you have to focus on the ball while hitting it with the stick.” As a captain, you have to show leadership and that’s what Princess showed on and off the field. Also, Sophomore Leilani Roche shed some light as to who encouraged her to play a new sport, she states “The person who encouraged me to play is Lali Ramirez because we play multiple sports together and she’s just my duo.” This is Leilani’s first season playing this sport, and so far she enjoys it. Get out there lady Trojans and give it a try on the field. For more information, please contact Coach Chris @ Christopher.kryjewski@sweetwaterschools.org
By: Marissa Valdivia
Flag Football
Student athletes at CPHS are open and intrigued to take upon themselves new challenges. This doesn’t stop in the classroom because it’s also explored with new sports on campus, such as Girls Flag Football. Junior Jazmine Coronel emphasized, “What encouraged me to join Flag Football was the fact that it was a new sport that seemed challenging and fun to play, plus it’s something different.” This boosts the spirit of other students to join a sport which resulted in CPHS having not only a full varsity squad, they aslo had a full JV one as well. In other words, even though new things might seem intimidating you should not be afraid to go for it. To get more information about flag football, please contact head coach Rudy Castillo @ rudycastillo@hotmail.com
By: Brandon Reyes
Cross Country
Boys and Girls Cross Country is another sport offered inthe fall. The sport involves running long distances across an open countryside rather than running around in a normal track field. Meets usually take place at locations such as Lucky Waller Park in San Diego and Rohr Park in Chula Vista.
Sophomore Ian Ortiz, has been in cross country since his Freshman year. When asked about what his highlight of the season was he stated “Meeting new people, having a connection with my team and being able to run on the Imperial Beach Pier during a meet.” Sophomore Veronica Soto, has also been in the sport since her Freshman year. She illustrated how she “wanted to use the sport as a way to be able to condition my body and also to get out of just staying home.” Most students feel that running can be tiring, but it can also be peaceful and a great workout. If you think you want to join the race, please contact head coach Raquel Farfan in the library or @ raquel.farfan@sweetwaterschools.org
By: Evonnie Velasco
Girls Volleyball
Sophomore Kamila Cabrera Donas has been playing volleyball for three years and started in middle school. She was interested in volleyball because she wanted to give it a try since it was something new that she had never done before. Kamila's highlight was her first block. “I jumped up at the same time when the hitter did and I remember the ball hitting my palm and it going straight down on the other side. It felt great and we won that game!” Senior Brianna Ramirez joined her sophomore year. The one thing she has enjoyed the most this season was being able to bond with her teammates. If you are interested in joining volleyball next season please contact Coach Bryce Durgin @ badurgin@gmail.com
By: Abraham Olguin
Football
By: Alessandra Cabrales
Girls Tennis
More than just a racket and a ball, Junior Ana Morales shares her experience playing tennis this season. I've been playing for 3 years now and the main reason I joined freshman year was because my friend was planning on joining, even then I showed up to the first practice and was really interested in playing. Ana's highlight of this year's season was all the girls that ended up joining. Over the years no one was really interested in playing tennis which led us to be a very small team. Now that team has grown in numbers. So with girls joining and enjoying the sport it really put tennis out there this season! For more information or if you want to join please contact coach Wegenka in the PE area or @ Michael.Wegenka@sweetwaterschools.org
By: Xochitl Ruiz
Girls Golf
A sport that many don't know much about is golf. Golf is gaining speed not only in the mainstream media, but also here at CPHS because we had one of biggest teams yet, with a total of 10 players. A young bright star on the team is freshman Ariel Preciado. She shared how she enjoyed being part of the team because it allowed her to "make new friends and since the team is small, we became more like a little family. The hardest thing about golf is having to focus, but it's somehting that I am working on." Come be a part of the up and coming team. For more information, please connect with coach Miguel Lopez @ buster91911@yahoo.com
By: Pedro Aguilar
