Editor’s note: Sequim High School’s Rachael DeAngelo, who teaches Spanish and English, gave her students an assignment to write and submit a Letter to the Editor to the Sequim Gazette on a topic that is important to them. We are happy to publish the students’ letters in this issue and over the coming weeks.
___________________
Wave pool
I believe we should build a surfing wave-pool in Sequim. As a pretty seasoned surfer, I believe that building a wave-pool like that would do wonders for local surfers in the area and newcomers alike.
One thing about where we live is that good surf here is considerably hard to find.
There are plenty of spots, but a lot of them are pretty off the grid and locals are pretty hard on keeping those spots secret.
Having a wave pool in Sequim would eliminate the need to travel across the strait to be able to surf.
Not to mention, surfing would be way more accessible for newcomers.
Another reason is I constantly hear people talk about, and I talk about this with many others too, is how wonderful it would be to have a wave pool like that.
One person that I know that especially wants one is my father.
He’s been surfing here since the 90’s and ever since a wave pool popped up in Yakima, all he can talk about is how badly he would like one here.
Where we live, especially in the winter, there are certain periods where the surf is rarely good. Sometimes these periods will go for weeks at a time.
Now imagine if we had a wave pool built here.
Surfers wouldn’t need to wait weeks at a time to go out and surf, instead they could go to a perfect wave in the heart of Sequim.
Please consider these words, many people surfer or not would love this new addition to our town.
Finn Jones
Tax the rich
Have you ever wondered why there isn’t anything to do in this town? It’s probably because we lack public funding. Do you know how to get more public funding?
Increasing taxes on the wealthy.
I propose that we make a total of ~ 80% income tax on the ultra-wealthy, this could bring so much to our community including greater public services such as transit, entertainment, infrastructure and more.
As someone who has recently come from living in Germany overseas for the past 7 years, their public infrastructure is amazing because they tax the rich much more than we do.
I’ve gone from southwest Germany all the way to northeast in a day by train. That’s a large area. I’ve gone from Germany all the way to Paris in 6 hours.
Why don’t we have that level of public infrastructure even though we are a much richer country?
Cause we don’t tax the rich enough. Instead we punish the poor and shrink our middle class by the day.
Some politicians might say that all the rich would leave and jobs will disappear because of “trickle-down economics” but that’s not the case.
The money is where the people are, and the people are here.
Their businesses are here because WE are here.
The people have the power, but the rich have convinced us we don’t.
The rich must be taxed to improve everyone else’s lives.
This is basic empathy in action, and we should all participate in it.
Nate Squicciarino
Bring back Jack
Nearing the one-year anniversary of not having this divine godsend of a fast-food chain in our lovely town of Sequim, I, a resident for 16 years, advocate for Jack’s grand return — despite claims about slow service, uncleanliness, and general issues. This could be solved with proper management and funding.
Think about it, where else would you get midnight tacos and burgers?
Just imagine the morale of all people who love Jack in the Box no longer having to travel to P.A. or order obscenely expensive Door Dash for some of the best in the fast-food game.
While there is a chance it’s a total failure and ends up like last time, the main issues with the last Jack in the Box were wait times, poor service, and an unclean workspace.
But this can be solved with more extensive employee training, management, and motivation with a better wage.
It will be expensive and may not be too profitable, but if we move the location to be closer to the schools it would be an amazing choice for students and workers who want a quick and easy meal during free time because they don’t have that many quick options nearby.
Mason Snider
Longer lunches
I believe school lunches should be extended to 45 minutes.
As someone who has been going to public school for nine years, I always feel much better when we students have been gifted an extended lunch period.
My peers and I can do much more than just eat when an extended lunch is given; we can take some time to unwind from previous classes and prepare for the upcoming.
Imagine being able to not feel rushed to get your food and eat before you must get to your next class.
Even though we are an open campus to students with responsibility, the students without cars barley have time to get lunch outside of campus unless they run there and back.
Students should have an opportunity to relax and eat their lunch instead of adding stress on top of all their classes.
Many studies have been done to show that kids who experience more outdoor time and relaxation perform better in school.
“Engaging in outdoor activities and setting aside time for quiet, reflective activities can enhance children’s focus and emotional well-being.” – Google. “Mulberrylearning” says that more outside time “improves memory, reduces stress, and improves attention span” – https://mulberrylearning.com/rest-and-relaxation-why-is-it-important-for-kids/
Kate Stanislowski
Size concerns
Clothing stores are inaccurate! Recently, I have not been able to find many clothes that properly fit me in the men’s department.
I am typically a 2XL in shirt sizes, but as sizes increase, width doesn’t.
Only length tends to increase on larger options. This goes for pants as well. For someone who might be “fluffier” like I have been for many years, it can feel like there aren’t any accommodating outfits that make us feel cute/comfortable.
If popular clothing brands continue producing plus-size clothing that is just long, then plus-size individuals will, eventually, cease to shop there.
My solution to this would be to do polls with people who commonly feel that clothes aren’t meant for their sizes, and ask the ways they’d change the clothes.
Then apply those changes to hopefully improve the production, sales, and accuracy of the clothing measurements.
This will ensure comfortability and happiness for the person spending their hard-earned dollars on outfits they find attractive!
Lincoln Terwilliger
Better computers
Sequim High School needs better computers.
As a student here, the ones we currently have break down constantly, and when they aren’t broken down they barely work.
They can barely run basic programs, and half of their screens are broken because, despite students having tech at home they care of, they seem not to know how to take care of the school computers and upload almost 170 viruses to them.
As a student I am forced to use my personal laptop to make sure I can actually get my work done in a timely manner.
I am writing this letter because despite the school staff and students constantly asking for new computers, we have not seen any new computers.
As a community we need to invest more into our schools and education to make sure that work is done efficiently and effectively by students, whether that be monetarily or time-wise.
After all this talking one thing is clear: the school needs better computers so that the students can get their work done better and faster.
Noah Tinker
