Special

Lets talk about the money, m

Money is part of our daily lives,
but it means something different to
everyone, especially at a school thats
as socioeconomically diverse as ours.
Its time we talked about it.

Cheap alternatives to
popular pastimes

$75k grant targets

IB inequity, access
nomic status that is not representative
of our school or our country, English
teacher Abbie Korman said.
Korman is also the adviser of the
His alarm clock rings at 6:30 a.m., club Our Voice, which was created last
five short hours after he went to sleep, year and is dedicated to encouraging stuso he can finish homework in time for dents, particularly ones who are part of
first period. As he rushes from IB class a minority in their classes, to feel more
to IB class, the homework keeps piling confident and comfortable speaking up
onreading, problem sets, studying for in classes.
I think the equity grant and Our
upcoming testsuntil the lines of his
planner are all full. But when the final Voice [are] for students who arent white
bell of the school day rings, senior Luis and middle to upper-class to feel like
they belong, just like everybody else, to
Perez Ortizs day has barely begun.
He wont return home until 8 p.m. feel that they have the opportunity that
on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he white, middle and upper-class students
works as a tutor, and thats so he can often feel entitled to, Korman said.
The equity grant leadership team of
cook dinner and take care of his two
younger siblings. Finally, the clock hits teachers and administrators is creating a
9:30 p.m. and Perez Ortiz can finally three-year program aimed at increasing
the participation and
start his homework.
Although 47.5 percent of stu- success of low-income
Perez
Ortizs dents are eligible for free and students in the IB proexperience
isnt reduced lunch, only 15 percent gram.
The action plan inexactly what most of the current IB diploma cancludes improving and
think of when they didates are.
streamlining commuhear IB Diploma
nication as well as crestudent. He has
to work and support his family due to ating a mentoring support system. The
financial needboth his parents work hope is to increase enrollment by edulate into the night, and his father works cating feeder middle schools and within
two full-time jobsso finding time to Sequoia.
The IB equity grant makes it so we
complete his work poses a significant
pay attention to this inequity. Were givchallenge.
[The] playing field isnt always so ing more students the chances that every
equal, said Perez Ortiz, who will be student deserves.
Perez Ortiz didnt enter as a fresha first-generation college student. I
know many students who have familial man in all ICAP classes, and faced the
responsibilities, who work to support challenge of switching paths. In recent
their families, and that takes a toll on years, the school has begun to reduce the
their schooling. I feel that although a lot number of ICAP classes for freshmen
of teachers are aware of that in the stan- and sophomores, effectively giving all
dard level courses, they feel that these students a more equal opportunity to acthings arent present in IB, but they are cess the IB program.
Sequoia is one of five American IB
for many students.
Thanks to a $75,000 grant from the schools to receive money from the grant,
International Baccalaureate Organiza- which amounted to $1.3 billion total,
tions national Bridging the Equity and was selected because over 35 percent
Gap program, Sequoia is making an ef- of students here are from low income
fort to address inequity in IB classes to households.
Yes, we want to increase our numbetter reflect the schools diversity.
Although 47.5 percent of students ber, said Erin Holst, AVID teacher,
are eligible for free and reduced lunch, Social Studies Department Chair and
only 15 percent of the current IB diplo- leadership team member. But I think
more so than that, we want everyone at
ma candidates are.
When you look around the major- Sequoia to have the opportunity to exity of IB classes, most of the students are cel, to succeed, to challenge themselves
of a certain race and a certain socioeco- and to be a well-rounded student.

By CARMEN VESCIA
Managing Editor

Common expenses for 9th

Conversations about m
By SABRINA VILLANUEVA AVALOS
Opinion Editor

Im
getting
$100 for every A I
get.
Oh, dont worry about it, Ill just
use my moms credit card.
Ew. Why cant
my parents take me to the Bahamas instead of Europe.
Yes, these are actual sentences spoken
by actual people who walk these hallways.
Some people are extremely financially
fortunate, and that is fantastic. What isnt
fantastic, however, is how statements like
these alienate those who might not be as
fortunate.

As a student with a relatively low socioeconomic status, I know what its like to
be the less fortunate student listening to
comments like these. I know what its like
to work to help provide for my family and
worry about how Im going to fund my
future in college and beyond. Ive thought
about money more than so many others
who seem to think that everyone has the
funds to maintain an expensive social life.
This is what makes it so difficult to listen
to my peers brag about brand new cars
and vacation plans. For some of us, these
have never been possible.
So many students have a constant
worry about how their family is going to
pay their rent for the upcoming month
or making enough money to keep electricity on. Those of us who have jobs to
support our families dont have a stack
of money set aside for luxuries; we focus