EL SEGUNDO HERALD November 15, 2018 Page 3
“Noodles”
Featured Writer: Allison Armijo,
Junior, ESHS
Memories, glances, smiles, all engulfed the
dirt, solidified by a steel shovel. The funeral,
a rather glum event, basked in the aroma of a
colorful dirge. Her family and friends consumed
themselves with tissues, melting with tears
and hollow cries. Of all things to die from,
she was not hit by a bus or plagued with a
death-defying illness; she choked on bowtie
pasta. The vengeful, shaped and dried dough
wrapped itself around her windpipe and held
on, as though hugging her larynx. However,
her family and friends were the least distraught
at this solemn ceremony. Her long-time boyfriend
Kyle was too distraught for words. He
could not fathom how such a vibrant young
life was ripped from his clutches, nonetheless
by a bowtie-shaped Italian dish.
Arriving back to his humble abode after the
funeral, Kyle felt like something was different --
or better yet, wrong. The colors of the wall, fruits,
even the books on the shelves glared at him. In an
attempt to rid himself of her presence, Kyle
abolished anything in the house that had a
color. He suffocated himself in a monochrome
environment, confining himself to the pleasures
that came in black and white.
However, one day while Kyle was returning
the library book he checked out every Thursday,
he came upon a fantastic revelation -- or so,
one came upon him. He walked up the steps
to place the book in the return slot when
he smelled it. That wondrous, elusive smell
captivated him and he forgot what he was
just about to do. Frantically running towards
the addictive scent, Kyle clutched his book
and forgot his monochrome agenda. However,
when he arrived he saw a child eating pasta.
His heart sank and plummeted to the bottom
of his chest. He could not move, he could not
speak and he could not stop licking his lips.
Noticing his helplessness and quite awkward
stamina, the child ran over to him and called
for help. In an attempt to save his life and appease
the growing crowd around her, the little
girl began shoving pasta down Kyle’s throat. In
that moment, he forgot why he abstained from
the scrumptious carbohydrate. He chewed and
chewed and rejoiced as his taste buds galloped
across his tongue, as if a small procession
had celebrated in his mouth. Feeling
returning back to his limbs, Kyle sprung up
and stared. He stared at the girl, he stared
at the crowd, and looking in the clear
reflection in his phone, he stared at himself.
Something was different about him.
He had a peculiar expression tattooed
on his mouth; it was curved upwards. He
was smiling.
From that day forward, Kyle began to live
his life. He painted the walls, purchased a
vibrantly colored wardrobe and began reading
colorful stories. He even opened a noodle
restaurant, the name of which served as a
constant reminder of what he should never
become: an “Impasta…”
– All student’s creative writings are
welcome. Please keep at 500 words and
send to web@heraldpublications.com •
By Duane Plank
The El Segundo School Board on Tuesday
evening paid homage to its past and looked
forward to the future. Outgoing members
Dr. Bill Watkins and Dr. Jim Garza, both
of whom did not run for reelection, were
feted for their service to El Segundo Unified
School District (ESUSD). Both served long
tenures in the District, including manning the
position as the principal at El Segundo High
School (ESHS). That job suddenly became
available last week, when current Principal
Dr. Jennifer Hawn informed the District
that she was accepting a job offer from the
Whittier City School District to become the
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
there. Hawn’s last day at ESHS will be Nov.
23. Garza and Watkins, in their comments,
emotionally spoke of their “labor of love”
toiling for the District in multiple capacities.
Dr. Melissa Gooden, currently the principal
at El Segundo Middle School (ESMS),
will take over the leadership reins at ESHS.
Superintendent Dr. Melissa Moore emailed
that Gooden would start her new duties on
Nov. 26, and that ESMS Assistant Principal
Ali Rabiei will become the new principal
at the latter campus. Moore noted that both
Gooden and Rabiei will “return to their current
positions for the 2019/20 school year, and
that the District would open up the posting
for the next high school principal in March.”
Of her new post, Gooden emailed, “It
has been an honor and a privilege to serve
as the principal of the El Segundo Middle
School. ESMS is a phenomenal school with
amazing students, staff and families. I will
miss the Bulldogs dearly and appreciate the
kindness and support of the community during
my tenure. I look forward into transitioning
into the principalship at the high school and
continuing the great work that is taking place
at the best high school in the South Bay.”
Moore emailed to the community, “Dr.
Hawn has been a tremendous asset during
her time with the ESUSD and has made
significant positive contributions to the
education of our students. We regret her
departure, but understand the opportunity
that has presented itself. We wish her the
best in her future career.”
Hawn, in her email sent to the community
last week, wrote, “It is with great sadness that I
will be leaving El Segundo High School in order
to accept a position as Assistant Superintendent
of Human Resources in the Whittier
City School District. I have appreciated
each day in the Eagle family, and we have
accomplished so much since I joined El
Segundo High School.”
Of his new post at ESMS, Rabiei emailed,
“I am incredibly excited to be taking the helm
at the middle school. We have a lot of great
work ahead of us, especially with our IB
reauthorization, our rich discussions on our
bell schedule, and the stellar work that our
teachers have done to date and will continue
to do with our achievement teams. At the
end of the day, it is all about our students.”
In a busy week in the District, the recent elections
last Tuesday seated new Board members
School Spotlight
A Creative Space School Board Bids Adieu to Garza
and Watkins; Welcomes Gooden
See School Board, page 10