Thunder Media » Food

A building to undergo STEAMY changes for next year

MBorbon — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:30:27 +0000

A new door has opened for Freshman Katelyn Miyasaki, one of the most passionate biology students at Desert Vista. For the girl who wants to know all there is to know about cells and DNA structure, a new state of the art biotechnology lab in the A building marks the start of a new and more extensive science program.

“I’ve known I’ve wanted to do something in science since I was little,” said Miyasaki. “I’m very excited about the new technology. I am planning to take biotech 3-4 my junior or senior year, and the new technology will be a big benefit.”

For Miyasaki, an aspiring scientist since elementary school, the new class will give her the tools to reach her dreams.

But life is a revolving door, and as one side opens up, the other side closes. The new science laboratory comes at a price: the FACS and culinary program will be chopped off.

At the other end of this door is Tino Bernasconi, a freshman with a different dream. Bernasconi aspires to be a great chef and own his own restaurant. For him, the new class puts his plans in jeopardy.

“It’s absolutely terrible,” said Bernasconi, with a practice baby doll in his arms. “I was planning on taking all of the 3-4’s of the FACs classes. Without them, I can’t get the certificate that shows I’ve studied food science, which makes it harder to get into a really good Culinary Arts School.”
This begs the question: Who is to say Katelyn’s dreams are more important than Toni’s?
“ I think mainly what we’re looking at as far as the FACs program was enrollment steadily declining,” said Mr. Dan Zavaleta, who is in charge of engineering at DV. ”There are more kids interested in science programs, and taking science classes. “
The new biotechnology lab will have more room for new technology, and will allow students to work more closely with plants. Giving biotech a separate space makes it easier for students to do more complex experiments.
“This is going to keep our program at the cutting edge,” said award winning biotechnology teacher, Mrs. Birgit Musheno. “ We deal with equipment that is very sensitive so its safer to have the classroom in an area that doesn’t have a lot of traffic.”
There will also be a new 8th hour research class for students interested in pursuing their own research projects.
“My goal is for more students to pursue their own research projects,” said Musheno. “The doctor of the future is going to need to understand genetics. Having a program like this will give students a leg up in college.”
The new additions in science and math mark the beginning of a new direction for the A Building. No longer the Fine Arts Building, the STEAM will be placing a heavier emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
As for kids like Bernasconi, the future looms uncertain.
“EVIT is still there as an option, they can go there if they really want to go into those programs,” said Zavaleta. “So you know there’s still options available for them, so i think they’ll be okay.”
But is just “ok” enough when talking about someone’s future?
“ Some of my students want to be chefs,” said Mrs. Arlene Ransdell, the FACs teacher. “There’s a couple students in my advanced classes that I think will get there if they can continue, because they are extremely talented.”
Without an instructor on campus of course, they can’t directly continue.Getting into a Culinary Arts school is more difficult. Scholarships are harder to get.
“When you go to the culinary arts school, you are going to know absolutely nothing, and that’s a really hard spot to be in,” said Ransdell.

According to Principal Dr. Anna Battle, guidance counselors will work with each student to determine the best program of study to meet the academic and career goals for the
students.

“We will continue to offer courses that students need for the 21st century,” said Battle. ” The Science classes that have grown, have proven to to prepare students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Not only are students in these classes going to be prepared for coursework in post secondary training, but also will be ahead of their competitors in the job workforce.”

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes will only be extensions of the art program, and it is not likely for more programs to be cut in the A building.

Giving back while sitting back; how to raise money by eating ice cream

cgutman — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:36:06 +0000

One way that students are raising money for a cause important to them is by getting restaurants and other businesses to sponsor their events. Many restaurants offer “restaurant night” as a way to start fundraisers. Here’s how it works: On a night you choose, the restaurant will give your group a percentage of the sales for all the customers that you bring to their business. A restaurant night fundraiser requires virtually no planning and very little investment from your group.

Restaurant Night fundraisers are popular to both restaurants and consumers because; they make the restaurant look good by giving back to the community, fill the restaurant on a slow night, and It introduces people to the restaurant that might not visit otherwise.

Restaurant fundraisers are held almost everywhere in chain restaurants such as; Baja Fresh, Boston Market, Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, Sweet Tomatoes, and Subway. Some local businesses that are involved in “restaurant night” are Zoyo and Yoasis. Businesses like these are always hosting charity nights where a large amount of their profits will go to a charity you can help choose. Fundraisers including raising money for the YMCA, Student United Way, Akimel middle school, Desert Vista Grad night, and much more.

The process to start promoting a fundraiser at one of their locations is rather simple. It’s actually only as hard as emailing Zoyo at fundraising@zoyogurt.com with the following information;

Pick a day, anytime between Monday through Thursday, and it’s your official day at Zoyo.
Send them your info and they will provide a copy of the flyers and you take care of the distribution.
You can print, post, and email any additional flyers to everyone you know.
Make sure everyone knows to mention the organization while paying the day of the fundraiser.
20% of the proceeds that your organization brings in will go directly back to you.
Send them payment information for the check and you will have it in the mail within the week of your fundraiser.

The secret to having a successful restaurant night fundraiser relies on spreading the word. The key is to advertise the event to peers and make sure they show up, as well as asking friends and family to encourage others to attend the restaurant night. One major way people are spreading word is through Facebook pages. Facebook pages serve as an excellent method to gain attraction because they are able to remind everyone before the event and give an estimate on how many people are attending.

Delicious donuts cause disdain among the masses

Rfedasiuk — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:02:42 +0000

: Students chow down on the savory and sweet offerings of Renaissance club, as a celebration of their academic success.

By Ryan Fedasiuk, Reporter

In a perfect world, fairness is optimal. Utopian societies provide equal benefits to everybody within, and all are treated as one entity. However, as the saying goes, “Life’s not fair.” Unfortunately, this seems true for some students here at Desert Vista High School and false entirely for others. Last Thursday, Renaissance gold or silver card members received a free donut before school at 8:00 am in the courtyard. Not only this, but added benefits are also still existent through the option to exempt final exams, receive discounts at various stores across the valley, and park at discounted costs during the school year. So the question arises in the minds of students across the campus: “Why can’t I have one?”

The Gold and Silver Renaissance Cards are obtained through maintaining a high grade point average throughout specific quarters. A 3.833 to 4.0 GPA must be achieved to receive a gold card, and a silver card requires a 3.677 to 3.833 GPA. Only gold card members can exempt one final, but students feel deprived of advantages they could have had if they aren’t receiving a card.

“I’m not sure why I didn’t receive a card, but I feel as though I should have,” said freshman Allen Crowder. “My GPA is certainly high enough and I’ve been working hard for my high grades. The donut factor doesn’t bother me, but I would have liked one. I just want to exempt a final exam.”

In fact, some students are angry that a higher GPA means that you get one of these cards at all. They envy the benefits and feel that those successful enough to receive a card don’t even need to reap the rewards.

“I don’t know why people with that high of a GPA need to be able to exempt a final,” said freshman Jackson Clithero. “They’re already earning high grades and are probably in honors classes where they don’t even accept gold cards. I’ve been working hard, too, even if my grades aren’t perfect. In fact, I’m just under the limit, but I am the type of person that would actually use the card for my benefit if I had one, because my grades would skyrocket.”

However, students that have received these cards have certainly put a lot of time and effort into preserving their grades and valuing them holistically. Completing honors courses and turning in all assignments, even those rigorous ones, has caused the students to feel entitled to at least some benefits, and rightfully so.

“It only seems fair that hard-working students reap the rewards,” said senior Katie Giel. “It doesn’t make sense to just let anybody who slacks exempt a final exam. I work hard to achieve a high GPA, just like I know others do, and they definitely deserve what they are currently getting as rewards, if not more.”

Eating like a teenager

knotah — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:24:47 +0000

Eating like a teenager

Most teenagers like to eat food that isn’t always good for them, yet they still continue to eat it. Yeah its good, but its not good for your body. Why do young adults do this? Teenagers are more likely to eat junk food than eat an actual meal and this is the problem with it. Its not uncommon to see many teenagers eating healthy because it’s all on your eating habits and what you desire.

Everyone is different which means that we have different eating habits. It’s important to have food with good nutrients and vitamins. What would you rather enjoy, junk food or healthy food? As senior Kendall Love said “I would rather have junk food because it tastes better and I don’t have time to eat regular meals,” said Kendall Love. Many teenagers these days would agree also.

Junk food is everywhere we go but its important not to have too much of it. Once in a while junk food can be okay to eat to snack on, but not daily. What are some of your favorite snacks? “My favorites are chips, cookies, and soda,” said sophomore Destiny Taylor. “I still eat my fruits and vegetables because its good for you, but don’t expect it too much out of me.”

It is important to stay healthy and eat what is good for you. Do you eat your three meals? As most say, they don’t have time and usually forget about it. Many teens don’t eat the three meals they need to keep them going. One of the most important meals to eat is breakfast because it will help your energy to start the day off and to help give you energy through out the day and stay focused in school. Another important fact is you should have thirty grams of protein within the first half hour of waking up for the day. This helps many factors in life.

Its really rare teens don’t eat in the morning. Eating a well balanced breakfast can have teens on track in class. Its better to have something in your stomach than having nothing. Especially when teens are active most of the time. They need calories to move and be active through out the day. Like being in a sport requires eating more and drinking more water. An athlete needs more calories than a normal person who isn’t as active. It helps the body to move and be focused on what needs to be done.

Food Fights in Our Countries Mess-Hall, D.C

cgutman — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:49:53 +0000

By Connor Gutman

The latest food fight in our governments mess-hall, D.C., Is a law blocking new regulations of tomato paste, potatoes and salt in school meals. What’s getting peoples attention is that the amount of sauce contained in a pizza slice is enough to qualify as a “serving” of vegetables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to improve the quality of school lunches apply to the roughly $11-billion school lunch program, which provides free or low-cost meals to more than 31 million students. The current nutrition standards for school lunches are based on guidelines from 1989. After 2009, that was used it to develop a plan that includes cutting back on ingredients like salt and potatoes, lowering saturated fats and total calories, and adding fresh fruits and vegetables. The goal was to improve nutrition and help lower childhood obesity.

The concern is that schoolchildren aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables in their lunches and that the variety are way too limited. Officials proposed separating fruits and vegetables into separate categories to increase the total amount and the variety offered to kids. Further, they said that once a week, lunches must offer at least one half-cup serving of each of the following items: dark green vegetables (such as spinach or broccoli), orange vegetables (carrots, squash), legumes (chickpeas, kidney beans), starchy vegetables (white potatoes, corn ) and “other” vegetables, including tomatoes. Another issue being addressed is the quality of whole grains served in school cafeterias. The government want to see at least half of the grain servings be whole grain; in two years, all grain servings should be “whole-grain rich,” they said.

For sodium levels, the government wants a reduction over the next 10 years; in elementary school lunches, for instance, the average level would fall from 1,377 milligrams per week now to a maximum of 640 mg per week in 2021. For saturated fat, the USDA recommends it contribute less than 10% of total calories.

However, the “solutions” being created by the government don’t fully solve anything. They may be saying that they’ve “cut back” on tomato sauce, salt, and potatoes; But, all they’ve done is redefine how much is healthy for a serving to the point where a slice of pizza is considered good enough. As the government continues to improve our cafeterias it’s guesstimated that DV will start seeing hamburgers as fruit and a bag of chips as your daily nutrition, so for that, enjoy the various health issues coming your way.

Movie Night and future hopes

Staff — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:08:55 +0000

by Kendra Donohoe

The buttery smell of popcorn fills the audience, and eagerly awaiting students sit in their cars, set up chairs, and face the big screen on Movie Night.

After raising money through different activities, and having extra money from shirts, Student Council held the first movie night showing “Remember the Titans” on a 50 x 50 foot screen.

Student body vice president Hayley Schwartz said it was a good first effort, but hopes for a bigger audience next time.

“It actually went really well. The screen was … HUGE,” she said. “We didn’t have a ton of people there because there was a U of A, ASU game, but next time we’re expecting a huge turn out.”

As students got up and down from their seats and cars, student council directed them where to go, and showed guests where to get popcorn, water, and other movie night snacks.

Teacher Mrs. Crystal McKenna, who helped run move night, said that maybe there weren’t as many students because not enough students knew about the event.

“Next time we hope to be able to advertise a little bit more,” she said. “We were a little bit limited on getting approval from the district ahead of time, so we hope to advertise more and get people more interested in it.”

McKenna said inviting more people is the key.

“Maybe we can invite more of the community, and the middle schools and stuff like that; make it more of a community drive instead of just Desert Vista.”

McKenna discussed that advertising throughout the community and getting sponsors could help the school raise more money for future movie nights. This first time the school lost more money than they spent.

Creative breakfast for Christmas break

SChristensen — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:28:16 +0000

Waking up on the Christmas morning, the five senses kick in. Starting with the sights, smells, and noises of the holiday. The waft of homemade cinnamon rolls, delicious casseroles, and sweet pastries slips under the crack of the bedroom door.

“We just usually eat whatever is left over from Christmas eve dinner then we open presents and watch the parade,” Tracy Chung said.
Having leftovers from the night before is a wonderful tradition, but why not have something more sweet and full of savory flavor in the morning? There are so many traditional breakfasts for any winter holiday; creative recipes are everywhere.

“My family has a tradition of eating coffee cake on Christmas morning,” said Stephanie Miller, a freshman. “I love waking up to the smell of cinnamon.”
Here are some ideas for a delicious breakfast on Christmas morning:

Pancakes:

The options for these are endless. Chocolate chip, blueberry, banana, whole wheat, pumpkin, syrup-drenched, cranberry, even apple pancakes are easy and delicious to whip up on Christmas morning. Whether from a box, package, or made from scratch, pancakes make a great Christmas breakfast.

(Belgium waffles, regular waffles, and crepes are also delicious.)

Crumb cake:

Coffee, crumb, cinnamon, and marble tea loaf cakes may not make the healthiest breakfast, but they do make a savory one.

Honey and biscuits:

Honey and warm biscuits are a simple and delicious way to start Christmas morning. Fresh baked biscuits with melted butter and a light drizzle of honey can make any morning feel more cozy.

Donuts:

Yes, donuts may not be the crazy-recipe route but they are definitely hard to resist. Sweet and full of sugar, frosting, or sprinkles, not only are they a cheap and easy alternative to spending an hour whipping something up, but they still have the sugar to brighten the morning.

Danishes and pastries:

Blueberry, strawberry, cherry, apple, cheese, chocolate, and raspberry danishes; cinnamon rolls, Elephant Ear pastries, cookies, and more– there are loads of opportunities for a fantastic holiday breakfast.

For recipes and more ideas, check out this website:

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/christmas/breakfastbrunch/

Spending can’t subsidize savory

Rfedasiuk — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:49:36 +0000

By Ryan Fedasiuk, Reporter

Students pay a lot of cash daily for their meals, and most are reluctant to buy due to current prices.

Jackson Clithero sits down for lunch every day to a soda, an Arby, fries, and two Hostess chocolate cup cakes. There is never a thought of deviation from the norm in his mind.

“It’s tasty stuff,” said Clithero, a freshman, “and not too expensive to buy. It’s enough to eat and it’s satisfying to taste. I’m not sure what else I could ask for besides that.”

Satisfactory is enough to keep some students content, but others have much higher standards for their meals. Some students even bring their lunch every day, rather than buy from the cafeteria, such as Nik Singh, another freshman.

“I bring my lunch daily to avoid waiting in long lines, avoid paying for meals, and mainly so that I can have what I want when I want it. While the cafeteria may be varied somewhat, it’s not enough to suit every mood,” Singh said.

While thousands of students may pour into the cafeteria daily, it is only hunger that drives them. Some students are content with current school food, though most admit it is not their favorite and long for more variety.

Wide varieties of chips, more Mexican food, more choices from the Arby’s cart, and more salad options have been requested, among other food items. John Duncan is also an advocate for change.

“I don’t think the food here is varied enough,” said Duncan, a freshman. “For instance, tacos would be a great addition, specifically Taco Bell. I’m sure other items can be added to, but the current stuff is not enough.”

While these foods may be requested, they are not economically friendly for Tempe Union to buy on a regular basis. Currently only Arby’s, Rice Bowls, Pizza, deli items, and a slew of Mexican food choices are available for purchase as main entrée items on a regular basis.

No matter the expense, students still hope for more food choices. At the moment, though, the school district simply cannot afford the requested culinary delights.

Should I Attempt Cafeteria Food?

Staff — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:20:48 +0000

By Kendra Donohoe

The View

To some of us, the first thing we think about when we arrive at school is food. “I forgot my lunch. I’m so hungry. I need to wait in the long lunch line for food.” If you forget your lunch, you might not want any part of cafeteria food. You don’t know how good or bad the food is and are afraid to even taste it. Who knows what it’s made of?

Students here at Desert Vista have bought lunches in the cafeteria. Everyone has their own opinions about it.

“I’ve bought quite a few things in the cafeteria, but I’m not a fan of all of it. I mostly get the roast beef sandwiches, and they’re okay. It’s better than nothing,” Corrina Hale said.

Another student has an opinion that believes everything in the cafeteria is delicious! “Everything’s good. It’s really good. It’s actually edible! Way better than Altadena’s food,” Cade Hornsby said.

But there is some negative reviews on the cafeteria food. For example, Tori Lapre said, “I don’t like the food in the cafeteria at all. All I mostly like is the cookies. They’re really good. I highly suggest people get those,”

Everyone thinks differently. So to answer the question of, “Should I even attempt cafeteria food?” the answer is… if you want to try it, buy it.

Fun With Fish

Staff — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:17:13 +0000

Sushi is an expensive dining option no matter where you go. Now though, a new sushi bar has hit the valley. Teharu Sushi has some of the best sushi in town. Of course no one can beat RA but they put a new spin on the dining experience. Teharu Sushi is not like any other sushi bar around; it is a revolving sushi bar.

When the chefs make the sushi, they automatically go on to a certain colored plate, depending on how much it costs. The prices range from one dollar to two dollars at the maximum. After that, they are ready to be served. The sushi is put on a conveyer belt and the customers can watch the choices go around and pick whatever you want.

It has some of the best sushi I have ever tasted! And not only is the fish exceptionally fresh, it’s also fun. It is fun to watch all of the food go around and just try a little bit of everything. Another thing I love about the place is that it is cheap. I can go in there and feast for literally ten dollars. It is amazing. One plate of sushi at RA is probably the same price as six at Teharu.

Every sushi lover needs to go to Teharu because it not only tastes amazing, it is a great experience full of fish and fun.