Category: Local

How low attendance impacts the school’s budget

How low attendance impacts the school’s budget

By Ernesto H. There have been many absences for the past years at CATS with seats waiting for students to occupy them. But few students know that when they miss class, that also means less money goes to the school in the future. So what is the connection between attendance and a school’s budget? On a random day, Ms. Nguyen, said, “We have 169 absences, so then we make phone calls home, but that’s like after the first period, so sometimes students come back later.” She explained that many students are counted absent at first because

How was the “gas leak” handled?

How was the “gas leak” handled?

Teachers weigh in on the impact and outcome from the incident that happened on December 5, 2023 in which an overwhelming gas-like smell throughout campus (and in the surrounding neighborhood) led to an evacuation. Following the incident, the school administration released the following statement to teachers, students and parents: “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain my top priority. Today, a strong odor coming from the community was noticed at our school. We have followed our Integrated Safe School Plan and have taken precautionary steps to prevent illness including having students and staff shelter in

Is public transportation good for students and teachers?

Is public transportation good for students and teachers?

By Alexandra M. Public transportation, like taking the bus, is used everyday by students and teachers at CATS, but they often face a number of challenges and negative incidents on their way to and from school. Ms. Salcido, a Social Studies teacher, mentioned she was surprised by the substantial number of students taking the bus to and from school. “Sometimes students can’t get on the bus that is going to take them to school because it’s already full,” she said. It’s not just that buses fill up fast, but that often, they are delayed. Ms. Salcido

AP/Honors Society Club hosts successful fundraiser at Shakey’s

AP/Honors Society Club hosts successful fundraiser at Shakey’s

By Manuel V. The AP/Honors Society Club at CATS hosted a fundraiser at a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor and Restaurant in Huntington Park during the first week of December to raise money for student recognition. Math teacher and GATE Coordinator Ms. Nava said the fundraiser as a whole was a huge success. “I feel very happy and delighted that it turned out very very good,” she said, sharing that the event took a lot of effort and commitment from the AP/ Honors Society Club members. “There was a lot of back planning with [History teacher] Ms. Haagen

Potential project would make Bethune Park, Diego Rivera ‘greener’

Potential project would make Bethune Park, Diego Rivera ‘greener’

By Jeremy L.Z. and Angel T.  Have you looked around the school or the community by the school? Do you ever look around and wonder, “why does it feel like it is missing something”?  That thing is the lack of trees. And when there are no trees, there is a lack of shade.  Carlos Moran, a Watershed Coordinator from Council for Watershed Health, is trying to change that.  Moran actually worked at Diego Rivera running a community center. Through this work, he saw the need for resources in the Florence-Firestone community.  “I noticed there’s a lack

Teachers’ union and District come to a tentative agreement on contract

Teachers’ union and District come to a tentative agreement on contract

By Arely V. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has come to an agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the teachers union, granting a 21% salary increase along with reduced class sizes and other important gains in their contract. The two entities had been negotiating over the contract for about a year. The tentative agreement, which will have to be voted on by all teachers, is seen as a victory for different reasons. The first reason is pay. Maintaining a stable life in Los Angeles with a teacher’s pay is difficult, especially with the economy.

Why are we having ‘tardy sweeps’?

Why are we having ‘tardy sweeps’?

By Maria M. In January 2023, CATS began implementing a new system called “tardy sweeps” to ensure that students make it to class on time. A major reason why the school proposed having the tardy sweeps is because “More than 100 students were coming late to school,” according to attendance counselor Ms. Del Castillo. “Every period is 80 minutes, and we noticed that students were missing learning time.” The tardy sweeps were something that the support staff and the counselors proposed as a way of trying to get students to go to class. The problem now

Profile: Meet CATS’ very own self-taught clothes designer

Profile: Meet CATS’ very own self-taught clothes designer

By Adin F. Most people don’t know that Andrew R., a senior at CATS, has a knack for designing clothes. When walking through a mall one day, looking for clothes, Andrew felt rather unsatisfied with the selection every brand offered. None of them seemed to fit his unique style or the price tag was unreasonable. Then it occurred to him: “I can just make it myself, and I can make it better myself.”  Andrew was then determined to do so. When asked how he learned to design his own clothes, he said “I was self taught.

Profile: Why Ms. Sanchez became a teacher

Profile: Why Ms. Sanchez became a teacher

By Heyli G.   Ms. Xiomara Sanchez Mara, a science teacher and department chair for science, became a teacher “because I truly believe my purpose in life is to help change lives.” She feels like teaching is the best way to influence someone or help to guide them through their life.  Ms. Sanchez said that she has been a teacher for 3 years, but she has been at this for 5 almost 6 years. She shared she was a teacher assistant (or TA) for 2 years, a semester as a substitute teacher, and another semester working

The classroom comes alive: students explore history at Autry Museum

The classroom comes alive: students explore history at Autry Museum

By Ernesto H. and Angel C. As the school bus pulled up to the towering Autry Museum of the American West, the students could feel their excitement building. Little did they know, this field trip would take them on a journey through time, art, and science, revealing a world they never knew existed. Students from Ms. Lopez’s Native American Studies express their thoughts about the museum and what they liked about it. “What I really appreciated about the museum is that it really told an equitable perspective of the American West,” said Ms. Lopez a U.S.

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