Before ending it all, let me give you an overview of my four fun and memorable years. It all began in 2004 when I was a fresh eighth grade graduate, young and naive, excited to meet new friends, bond with the old ones and call home to a new environment.

Since my freshmen year, I have strived to work hard and succeed in my education. I’ve had deadlines to meet, homework to complete, all the way to play rehearsals to attend. Freshmen year was all about staying on task and becoming accustomed with the whole “high school experience”. I made new friends and tried my best to attend school events.

My sophomore year, when I was a lot more aware of my environment, I began to build stronger friendships with my friends. I was a lot more outgoing, thus leading me to join the school plays and the photography class. My grades were high and I was very satisfied with what I had to offer.

Junior year was the toughest and most stressful year of all. There was no time to fool around with grades. This was the year that would help determine our future success that would lead us to a good college. Although there was a lot of pressure academically, it did not lack excitement and new opportunities. I joined the journalism class that year and enjoyed writing for the school’s newspaper.

But somewhere along my path, without noticing, the year had ended and I found my self as a high school SENIOR! This year has got to be the most spontaneous, memorable, fun, rewarding and just loving year of all. I have grown to know and admire many of my classmates. I have made a strong pact with five of my most beloved friends, which continues to grow more and more each day. Over the period of four years, I’ve been able to build a humble, honest and sweet reputation with my senior class.

This year I dedicated myself to being involved with school as often as I could. I attended every football game and watched several soccer matches. Homecoming brought home our class with a victory and the homecoming dance was unforgettable. The most shocking memory of all was Prom. My class voted me to be a part of the Prom Court which was a huge honor but even better was winning that crown.

My high school experience has been a unique one. Seeing myself grow up over the years has made me feel so unbelievably blessed and thankful with God. Of course not everything has been nice and smooth, but I have learned to accept every single challenge that falls down on me. I have taught my self to be patient and kind with others, teach others to be compassionate and to learn to forgive and forget.   

Attending St. Genevieve High School was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. The school has helped me step up and do what I want to do. I can not emphasize enough how hard it will be for me to leave the school but I’m prepared to take the next big step of my life. I’ve been taught to be confident in myself and look forward.

As for my graduating class, every single one has a place in my heart. Each one has marked me with laugher, love, kindness and most importantly, unique wisdom. I wish them all, not a goodbye, but an ‘until next time’. As for me, I am ready to be the change I want to see in the world. I am ready to go out into the world and succeed with happiness, dignity and love.        

As most know, Beauty and the Beast is a story about a young prince who neglected an old beggar because he had a cold heart. The story also reflects on the life of a young girl who is seen as the odd one of the town for wanting more than the norms. The two are misunderstood and soon seek each other for an honest and acceptable friendship, which results in love.
With about two months or more of rehearsal for the cast and three weeks for crew, they all played important roles that only perfected the well done performances. Last night demonstrated just that. The audiences applause and compliments encircled Madonna Hall. Kisses and hugs hear and there, cast and crew showered in flowers but the most proud of all was the Director of the show, Nain DoPorto.

There were microphone problems here and there, but being taken away from reality into the timeless fantasy world was inevitable. The characters performed by the students were portrayed to its fullest potential. Senior Killian LeDuke performed in his seventh production here at St. Gens for the last time and is pleased with his hard work. Along with actor and peer Justin Sabino and actresses Lindsay Sorenson and Andrea Bedoy.

We must say that Beauty and the Beast was most definitely worth the cost and time. In the end, all the preparation these students went through paid off with exuberant memories. All that is left to say is this, Disney at St. Genevieve High School was a very happy ending.

Although Prom is a night of fun, enjoyment and everlasting memories, it is also the most common night of “accidents”. The LAPD published statistics that demonstrate that “eight young people a day die in alcohol-related crashes.” We must acknowledge that many of these deaths occur in the Spring and Summer months where our teens interact in social events, including prom night and graduation parties, were alcohol is put to use.

On the day before prom, A group of LAPD official payed a visit to our seniors and spoke to them about the importance of safe driving. They demonstrated evidence and the tragic results of cases where teens have driven under the influence or simply made a careless mistake of driving under fatiguing circumstances.

These LAPD officials played several activities with two of our own seniors, Christina Rodriguez and Grant Leger. Let’s not forget about our beloved dean of character, Mr. Palmeter, whom portrayed a drunk guy in the most humorous way possible. These activities were just a small taste of what it is like to be driving under the influence, there is no control in what you can or cannot do.

In the end, no matter how pretty or handsome you looked at prom, if you won the crown or not, or who had the “fly” car, if precautions are not taken, life is over. Material things are endless and can be replaced, but loosing someone’s life for making an unwise decision is irreversible.

It is of extreme importance to become a part of our society. To get involved by simply picking up a local newspaper. It is helpful to be aware of our surroundings and the many people we come across with, because if we don’t, one day, you might just be a victim of your own negligence.

St. Genevieve High School is located in Panorama City, grounds that have become infamous for violence. A little less than a month ago, a woman was accosted by an Asian man in front of school grounds. And most recently, a gun was being pulled on an innocent life at a local Carl’s Jr.

You see, violence can occur anywhere, anytime at any circumstance. This is why it is important to keep ourselves up to date with current events. Promoting awareness of the high risk of being a victim of violence is only one step to creating a safer environment.

For more than 30 years, Panorama City has been tagged as one of the Valley’s most violent city. So much that it has been nicknamed The Witch’s Hat. So to speak, a curse that has fallen over the people of Panorama.

Every year, the people of this city have been striving to fight against crime. Laws have been reinforced and police security has doubled. City Attorney James Hahn recently stated that he “is seeking a court injunction that would impose a 9 p.m. curfew on gang members while forbidding them from hanging out on private property and flagging down cars.”

Gang violence is the most common crime attacks found here in the valley. “Five rival gangs claim the territory bordered by Nordhoff Street to the north, Roscoe Boulevard to the south, Van Nuys Boulevard to the east and the San Diego Freeway to the west.” Such claim that only frightens away the inhabitants of that area.

Since the beginning of 2001, the Witch’s Hat has been held liable for 10 percent of the Valleys gang violence. Therefore reenforcing all the assaults and crimes that are being committed today. Violence in Panorama city, instead of decreasing, only seem to increase more and more each day.

People, teenagers and adults, have often said that they don’t feel safe around the area because of all the gang violence. Eighteen year old Maria Cruz was interviewed by the Daily News and stated, ” I don’t feel safe. There’s too many problems with gangster fights here.” Therefore creating a growth of fear within her, fear of becoming the next target for gang members.

Becoming a target is a common reason why many do not report violent attacks. Others don’t report because they are afraid that the authorities will just ignore them. When in reality, the police desires such violent reports more than anyone.

Drug dealing is another source of violence. There are plenty of drug dealers in the valley waiting to sell their substance to their next desperate victim, sometimes taking their addiction to the next level. Individuals with big drug addictions do whatever it takes to acquire their source of life, even if it leads them to committing a crime.

Building a safer environment is essential in Panorama City for the entire community. In order to achieve that, everyone must comply and work together. We are in desperate need of establishment who are willing to cooperate and motivate others to promote violence awareness.

Our school grounds seem to be one of the safest establishments in the area that cognates proper behavior, but even here crime can occur. This is why we need to prevent violence. Reinforce that character counts and that there are solutions to problems.

Education, good morals and principles should start at an early age, because our children are our future.They are what we call tomorrow. If you contemplate, most crimes that are being committed are done by people who have lacked a good moral lesson from their parents and commit crimes to seek some form of rant.

There are plenty of forms in which Panorama City has become the way it is today, unsafe.
From street fights, drug dealing to the unforgivable, murder.

As you can see, St. Genevieve High School is that “diamond in the rough”, hoping to one day reach out to the community that violence is not the answer. As mention before, at our school we strive to live by the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, citizenship, caring, fairness, responsibility, and most importantly RESPECT. Pillars that many people, not just in Panorama City, but around the whole world, need to incorporate to their everyday lives.

Welcoming a new year is a great opportunity to look back at your past and plan for the future, but in order to do this, you must commit to your resolution. One thing is to have all your plans written down and the other is to act upon it. Truth be told, that’s only the easiest part. It takes about a couple of minutes or so to come up with a good new year’s resolution and perhaps the whole year to act upon those resolutions. But who said it would be easy.  
If you are dedicated to accomplishing your new year’s resolution, you will definitely work hard. In the end it will no longer be an oath but a constant learning and living life. If you think about it creating something new in our lives will take a lot of hard work and an optimistic view on our behalf. It won’t be easy, but that’s how you learn.  So Valiants, if this year you are planning to make your own New Years Resolution, be sure to make it a lifelong adventure that you can take along with you to make your dreams come true. Don’t give up. If you stumble across a bumpy road, just pick yourself up and continue walking. In the end, you will be rewarded with a positive outlook.

Secondly we had our spin off.  Round’ and round’ she goes, where she will stop nobody knows! Do you know what i’m talking about? That’s right, MUSICAL CHAIRS! A game organized to have our four classes compete against each other in a healthy and FUN way! 

We had our seniors, juniors, sophomores, and beloved freshmen go round’ and round’ the chairs accompanied with great music.

In the end our ecstatic senior class won the competitive game! With the end of a great second day, we hope to continue this years homecoming to a great success! <3

As many of you may know, western Sudan is undergoing a complete regiment. What’s happening in Darfur is called genocide. For those who may not know, genocide is “the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.”

Darfur is experiencing wicked, violent and inhumane acts, aimed directly towards their community. The worst part of it all, the United States is completely ignoring the horrifying event. They have no intention in helping the innocent lives being brutally killed.

Contradicting that decision was St. Genevieve’s Youth Ministry. This group of teens took a stand to rise above selflessness. On the night of back to school, they launched the release of a T-shirt, to not only promote the awareness of Darfur, but at the same time to help raise money for the lives being affected by this horrific tragedy.

Millions of people have lost lives since 2002. Children are left homeless and starving, women are being raped and families have been destroyed. The inhabitants have limited aid and very little food to feed thousands of people. The victims are crying out for help.

Therefore the rest of the Valiant community rose up, and took a stand. The Valiants might not be able to end this genocide but they sure can try and help out. You can too! Purchase a T-Shirt for just $18 and let your voice be heard, Save Darfur. Act now!

For more information on Darfur or other methods of aid click on the picture below

From the Sophomores to the Seniors, to faculty and staff, the whole school dedicated their time to prepare a day full of surprises for the incoming freshmen. Our school gym was covered with colorful decorations and packed with students, supporting the freshmen’s first day of high school. Students were singing and cheering the freshmen on at their entrance. The entire school really outdid themselves threw out the celebration and pulled off a great day.

Wait…there’s more! The senior class prepared a morning breakfast, hoping this would help make the freshmen feel extra welcomed.  The class also dedicated their time to designing posters with each freshmen’s name. The posters were decorated differently, showing uniqueness in each and every single one.  

Welcome Freshmen Day is organized for many different reasons, but in the end its main goal is to have our beloved freshmen feel a part of our family. As Valiants, we want everyone who comes to St. Genevieve to fit in and become involved of the many great experiences that happen here. As freshmen, these students don’t want to be outcast but instead want to be accepted. Therefore, the day is intended to have the freshmen make new friends, become comfortable with the campus and reward them with long lasting memories.