By Courtney Stump

He’s the teacher whose classroom is located in the three hundreds. He teaches advanced psychology. He has an awesome beard. You may have guessed it, I’m talking about Mr. Glen Keskey.

Although he was born in Fullerton California, Keskey moved to Bellingham, Washington at age six. He went on to attend Wahatcom Community College and transfer to Western Washington University. He obtained his teaching credential at California State University San Marcos and received his Master’s degree at California State University San Bernardino. “Too much school,” said Keskey jokingly.

Before becoming a teacher, Keskey performed a wide variety of jobs. He has worked at a salmon processing plant in Alaska. “I lived in a tent for the three months that I was there,” said Keskey. “I moved to Alaska for fun and adventure.” After working in Alaska, Keskey moved to Buffalo, New York where he got a job at a plastic furniture business. It might seem like a boring job, but Keskey said it was fun because there were no rules. “The business folded after a year so I guess some rules are important,” said Keskey.

Keskey was also one of the lucky few chosen to be a part of a traveling ecology and art exhibit by an artist name “Wyland.” “It was the closest I’ve ever been to being on tour,” said Keskey, referring to his musical interests. “The first song I learned to play on guitar was ‘Ghost Riders In the Sky’ by Johnny Cash,” said Keskey. Keskey is currently in a band name “Honcho.” Recently, his band has been threatened with legal action by a band in Norway who has the same name. To avoid any lawsuits, Keskey and his band decided to change their name to “The Speed Walkers.”

Glen Keskey proves that teachers are more complex than many students may think. They have their individual hobbies, educational experiences, and tribulations. Teachers are people too.

By Kaylin Murphy

DATA-SkillsUSA members attended the SkillsUSA State Competition in San Diego from April 4th through April 7th at the Town and Country Resort. This marks the third year in a row that CCHS students have competed in the event. The SkillsUSA members spent much time and effort to fundraise for the state competition; hosting a golf tournament, car washes, and forming partnerships with local businesses.

“We placed in nine competitions out of the 15 categories the members competed in,” said Matt Cauthron, DATA-SkillsUSA Advisor. “Four students will be advancing to Nationals in Kansas City, Missouri in June.”

SkillsUSA members have earned more gold medals each year they have competed. Students earned one gold medal in 2011, which was their first year competing, two gold medals in 2012, and three gold medals in 2013.

“I am excited and nervous to go to nationals,” said Alan Anguiano Gold Medalist in Audio/Radio Production.” I’m going to keep practicing my skills so I can maybe advance to Internationals, but I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

Congratulations to the following SkillsUSA students for earning medals:

Audio Broadcast Production

Gold: Team A: Alan Anguiano, Sebastian Gomez

Prepared Speech

Bronze: Moises Murillo

Screen Printing Technology

Gold: Paul Acevedo

Broadcast News Production

Silver: Taylor Burns, Linda Ha, Sara Lopez, Kaylin Murphy

Chapter Display

Silver: Melissa Munoz, Jasmin Simon, Kaylin Murphy

CPS-Arts, Audiovisual & Communication Career Pathway

Silver: Jessica Gallardo, Melissa Munoz, Jasmin Simon

Digital Cinema Production

Bronze: Israel Chavez, Jonathan Serna

Creed

Silver: Antonio Arce

Graphic Communications

Gold: Sebastian Vazquez

Promotional Bulletin Board

Gold: Tammy Melendez, Mariah Wells, Crystal Zacarrias

By Linda Ha

Joe Taras with CCHS students.

“It was very very hard times, from hunger to sickness, to being scared.”

These were the words of Joe Taras, a Holocaust survivor who shared his inspiring story with Cathedral City High School students at the Tolerance Education Center.

It was a difficult time time for Taras, who was only seven years old when the Holocaust began. And though he survived it, the pain and horrid memories are lucid, as if it happened only yesterday. “I lost all of my uncles and aunts,” said Taras. “Half of the family was put into concentration camps and Germans were going into homes killing anyone who was in their way.”

In fear of being molested by the german nazis, Taras’ sisters were hidden inside of a closet during the night for approximately 6-8 months. The family then decided that the best move was to get out of the city and live in the mountains. Taras says his family, which consisted of himself, his father and two sisters, lived in the mountains for 18 months. “We had to look for trees to burn to keep warm at night, there was no food, and many times there were snakes, and people died from lack of food and supplies.”

There was only one water pump in the mountain village. The Germans dug a hole and buried three people- a mother, a father, and a daughter up to their necks. “I witnessed as a child, vultures eating at their heads. This is a terrible memory that has remained so clear,” said Taras.

The Germans eventually came up to the mountains and killed half of the entire population 6 months after the Taras family had moved ro the region. There were three houses in the village, with at least 45 occupants in each (men, women, and children). “The Germans took everyone in one house, put them against the wall, and shot them all,” said Taras. “They did the same with the second house, and I remember my father saying ‘we tried.’ There was nothing left to do because we were next.” Fortunately, the Germans stopped and left after someone arrived on a motorcycle and spoke to the leader of the group. “My father turned to me afterwards and said,’ we are going to get through this war alive, we are going to make it.’”

Taras emigrated to Canada in 1955 with only sixty-five dollars to his name. “I went from Greece to Montreal, Canada on ship, and then moved to California.” He sees his life as beautiful despite the Holocaust that occurred during the 1930′s and 1940′s. Taras has a wife who also survived the Holocaust, and two sons, one of which teaches psychology at Cathedral City High school. “We’re healthy and living a good comfortable life, which is all I need to be happy.”

There are still hatred and atrocities occurring around the world, including in the United States, but Taras hopes that the students take what they learned about the Holocaust and use it to become better citizens, concerned with the well-being of all those around them.
“When we are born, we don’t know how to hate, we are to taught to hate by society,” said Taras. “It doesn’t matter what race we are, we are all different, and that is what makes us special.”