Alex Carr's The Jaguars' Spot column for Wed., Aug. 19, 2009

Don’t ditch the first week!

First off, if my last name sounds familiar, you were probably one of the many loyal people who read this column when my sister, Sammi wrote it. As a freshman at VCHS last year myself, her Jaguars’ Spot was one of the first places I turned to in the paper each week.

One big change from years’ past is that this will be the first time this column has ever been written by a someone of the non-female persuasion. So get ready for lots of guy stuff! For example: Boxers or briefs? Enquiring Jags want to know! Anyway, I hope both new Jags and returning Jags will continue to read. Parents, too! We’re going to learn a lot about VCHS and have some fun as well.

Now, let’s get down to business. The Roadrunner is letting me write this column a week earlier than planned because of a meeting I had with Principal Ron McCowan. There are some important things he wants every Jag to know before school begins.

Principal McCowan’s biggest tip goes out to the Freshmen class: Get involved from the very beginning. “One of the best ways to do that,” he told me, “ is to participate in the 21st Century program, a rapidly growing series of after school activities that helps kids choose and enrich their extracurriculars.” Even better, Jags who have ideas about ways to make the program better are encouraged to contact McCowan or a school counselor. If you don’t participate in the 21st Century program try to become part of a team, whether it be the football team, drama club, video production or tons of other clubs and activities.

One of the best ways to get involved, in my humble opinion, is to come to actually GO TO SCHOOL -- and that includes this coming Thursday and Friday (Aug. 27 and 28), which are the first two days of the school year. Sure, if your parents only have that week off for vacation, that’s understandable. Or if there’s a snow day. But you should know I just checked the five-day forecast and there’s considerably less than a 50-50 chance of that happening. That means, for the great majority of us, school is the place to be those two days.

Principal McCowan told me he plans to start the year off with a bang. Thursday there will be a pep-rally to help orient the newer Jags. Also, freshman, mark down 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21 (Friday) in the gym. The high school gym. (Do NOT go to the Middle School by force of habit!) That’s the day of freshmen orientation. You do NOT want to miss that. Or lunch, which will be provided free.

Just one more thing ... :

How’s this for great: County Junction Deli has setup a donations box for school supplies. If you have some extra pencils, pens, paper, binders ... a brand new Sony 19” laptop computer (wait a minute, put that one in MY donations box!) drop them in the box. If you need any of those items, stop by the Deli and stock up. Thanks to Deli owners Abe and Sam Buelos!

Do you have an item for this column? Catch me on campus or send me an e-mail at alex@carrfamily.com.

Alex Carr, a sophomore at VCHS with a 3.83 GPA, is involved in track, drama, video-making and many other activities. He has written many articles for the Roadrunner since Middle School including a front page above-the-fold story he wrote about last year’s high school musical. He is the youngest recipient of a San Diego Press Club award in the organization’s 36-year history for a piece he wrote for the Roadrunner last year. Alex was a Middle School valedictorian and won the statewide CABE essay competition. Alex also won the Optimist Oratorical competition and a $1500 college scholarship.

You can read all of San Diego Press Club award-winner Alex Carr's Roadrunner articles and columns online at www.carrfamily.com.