Volume 86 Issue 2

highlights

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Beverly Hills High School

Volume 86, Issue Two · October 12, 2012

Despite cuts, ROP survives Dami Kim Social Media Director

The state of California’s unsteady economy has laid its hands on funding for the Regional Occupational Program (ROP).

Although budget cuts were less severe than expected, the Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program cut Beverly’s ROP budget by 4 percent on Oct. 5.

According to Director and Steering Committee ROP Representative Steve Rappaport, LACOROP consists of 23 Los Angeles County school districts. As a categorical program, ROP obtains its funding based on the size of each district and recorded student involvement of the Average Daily Attendance (ADA). The majority of ROP funds are designed specifically for ROP classes and teacher salaries. Other expenses, such as competition or registration fees, transportation and supplies (one of the biggest expenditures besides teacher salaries) are all also paid from the budget.

According to Rappaport, LACOROP calculates the probable budget by each recorded ADA, which secures to approximately $1675 of funding toward ROP teachers. In the year 2008-2009, Beverly recorded about 233.5 ADA. When multiplied by the set value of $1675, the ADA yields to amount of money a district can receive for that particular year.

Although the funding has been cut annually due to a down economy, Beverly student participation in ROP classes is rising. In 2011-2012, the student enrollment has increased to about onethird of the school, or 250 ADA. In spite of the fact that Beverly ranks in the bottom five in size out of all Los Angeles County districts, Rappaport assured that Beverly is not neglected.

“We are very small in student participation compared to bigger districts that may have more than one high school, such as Santa Monica and Los Angeles,” Rappaport said.

“However, the budget is based on what our program offers, so we get a fair share in the county.”

OLIVER GALLOP

Beverly takes steps to go green

Woods designs new environmental plan Max Stahl Staff Writer The world is growing hotter. According to the National Climatic Data Center, global surface temperatures have increased about 0.13°C per decade over the past 50 years. Sea levels have risen about 1.7 mm per year over the past century, and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have not been higher in 650,000 years, NASA says. In response to this data, schools, offices, factories and other institutions have become more inclined to adjust their standards in order to reduce and reverse the apparent damage that has been done to this planet.

Superintendent Dr. Gary Woods, cognizant of these pressures, has begun planning a modernization project for the school district. His goal for the high school is to receive a silver certification from Leadership in Energy and Environ-

mental Design (LEED), an environmental friendliness rating system.

To become silver certified, the school will have to earn 50-59 out of a possible 100 points that LEED confers for various environmentally friendly features.

Although efforts to become LEED certified are initially pricey, they tend to yield savings in the long term. According to the LEED website, preexisting buildings that become certified see about a nine percent drop in operation costs and about a 7 percent rise in value.

“Attempting to become silver certified under the LEED program would be the most significant thing we can do over time,” Woods said. “The more efficient buildings are, the less energy we use to operate them.”

Woods is concerned with the current state of the high school, in terms of environmental friendliness.

“I think the schools are fairly inefficient,

because they’re so old,” he said. “We’re kind of climbing uphill every day until we modernize these classrooms.”

Gas and electricity plans to fit regulations In August 2012 the school was charged $817.23 for gas, a roughly $400 decrease from its July bill. However, its August 2012 power bill of $24,846.90 was the most it has paid for electricity in over a year.

Woods estimates that the high school has about 6,000 light bulbs and tubes, of which most are fluorescent. Types of light bulbs and fixtures must comply with the Department of State Architects’ regulations.

“We’re using the most current and modern light bulbs that we have, other than some of the real energy efficient bulbs.

Some of them don’t fit in the casings that we have. So to the degree that we can, I

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INSIDE

Students design apps for smartphones

NAHS creates new exhibition page 3 Coffee shops “rebrewed” page 8

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2 news

October 12, 2012 Highlights

Students create, join new clubs during club week

New clubs promote their groups during club sign-ups on the second floor patio on Tuesday, September 25. OLIVER GALLOP

Oliver Gallop Graphics Editor The second floor patio was bustling with student traffic, but it was not any ordinary lunch rush. The energy was high as students, standing on tables with signs high above their heads, advertised their various clubs with zeal.

Various clubs met for the annual club sign-ups on Tuesday, Sept. 25, holding signs high above their heads and screaming for recognition in hopes of adding new members to their organizations.

“I thought everyone was quite excited to get involved and broaden their horizons,” senior Nicole Davidov said.

“I just felt a spark within each and every one of those kids.”

A few of the new clubs include of R.A.G.E., The Backgammon Club, Independent Music Club and Outreach.

R.A.G.E., which stands for “ready, able and giving everything,” hopes to attend and volunteer at events for disabled and underprivileged children all across

Los Angeles. R.A.G.E. had at least 50 students sign up for the club on Tuesday.

“Our goal this year is to touch as many people as possible. We’re planning on deciding on which events in Los Angeles we feel we can contribute most to,” Vice President Eli Sachs said. “One of the first things we are looking to do is [volunteer] and [play] sports with disabled children.”

On the other hand, certain clubs, such as the Independent Music Club, have been created “just for fun,” said CoPresident Robert Katz. Katz, along with his Co-Presidents James Fast and Nicole Leibman, hope to bring one or more local indie bands to the high school this year.

“What we are doing is providing a space where students may gather and discuss something that they are very passionate about, Indie music,” Fast said. “[We would like to] to expose our club members to what lies beyond the iTunes Top 10 List.”

Although club week is over, students can find and attend meetings for clubs they did not sign up for by reading the daily bulletin.

NEW CLUBS The American Red Cross Club Amnesty International Club The Animal Protection Club Anything’s Pawsible Club ArtReach Aquatics Club Backgammon Club Brony Chess Club Comic Book Club Community Service Club Chamber Music Club Consignment Club Cue Club (Culture UCLA Exchange) Disney Club Hospital Helpers First Friday Book Swap

Legislation may prevent budget cuts Danny Licht Culture Editor Legislation on the November ballot could prevent nearly $16 million in statewide education budget cuts, saving the jobs of Beverly Hills Unified administrators, teachers and others.

The budget, based on the number of enrolled students, has decreased over the past couple of decades.

“It keeps shrinking and shrinking and shrinking,” Board of Education Vice President Jacob Manaster said of the budget. “I believe we’re down to $5,400 [per student] now, and it costs us over $12,000 a year per student.”

Manaster said that number, $12,000, includes all the “bells and whistles,” specifically mentioning the Dance Company and fine arts programs.

If either Proposition 30 or Proposition 38 passes, funding for California schools will not decrease, making many of these potential budget cuts irrelevant.

Proposition 30 aims to increase the state budget by increasing personal income taxes on high-income taxpayers for seven years and by increasing statewide sales tax

for four years.

If Proposition 38 passes, statewide personal income tax will increase for 12 years and will provide funds for schools, child care, pre-school and state debt payments.

Due to the propositions’ conflicting nature, only one of these can be enacted. If both are voted in, the one with more votes will pass.

In preparation for these potential budget cuts, Sacramento has asked districts to “prepare for the worse,” Manaster said. In doing so, the district must pen a specific list of each cut it is prepared to make.

A last-in-first-out system has endured as a result of budget cuts in past years, with an upper, static group of older teachers and a lower, inconstant group of younger teachers.

“There are really great teachers,” Manaster said of those in the lower group, “and it’s really kind of terrible to have to say, ‘We’re not sure we’re going to be able to keep you.’”

The BHUSD teachers recently received a raise, which, in light of the potential budget cuts, has caused some confusion, Manaster said. Upon being questioned about this, he notes that the cuts are only tentative.

The school library has already experienced budget cuts this year, according to head librarian Karen Boyarsky. Schoolbudget money for purchasing new books, subscribing to magazines and maintaining databases has been depleted. Boyarsky attempted to make a purchase in September, only to find that the library’s account number no longer exists.

“In my 34 years as a librarian I’ve never been in this predicament,” Boyarsky said.

Principal Carter Paysinger has donated money from the principal’s discretionary fund to pay for software that supports checking books in and out, the library’s website, cataloguing and every other digitized aspect of the library.

In addition to the harm that could be done to teachers’ jobs and the library, Paloma Bloch, a junior who has been on Dance Company since she was a freshman, raised concerns regarding the elective, which could be cut.

“If I can’t dance I’m not going to do as well in school,” Bloch said. “It’s something that keeps me sane.”

If neither proposition passes, Manaster said, the City Council will likely temporarily lend needed money to the school.

Fitness/ Nutrition Club Girls Learn International Indie Music Club Inspire Me Literary Magazine Club Medical Science Academy Live Action Role Play (L.A.R.P) L.E.T.S. (Let’s Erase This Stigma) Much Love Animal Rescue Outreach R.A.G.E (Ready, Able & Giving Everything) Socialization Club St. Jude Children Hospital Stomp Out Bullying Teens Curing Cancer Vegie Club Yoga

KEY DATES October 14: AIDS Walk Los Angeles in West Hollywod.

October 17: Special schedule for students taking PSAT/NMSQT. October 18 and 20: Girls’ lacrosse tryouts on the upper field.

October 26: Cirque du Beverly tailgate and homecoming football game starting at 5:00 pm.

November 4: PTSA is hosting an SAT and ACT workshop in the EDC from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

November 10: Compass Prep is conducting an SAT practice test in the EDC at 10:00 am.

3 news

October 12, 2012 Highlights

QUICK READS Service Learning to participate in 2102 AIDS Walk Los Angeles Continuing its 6-year tradition, Service Learning is recruiting participants to participate in AIDS Walk Los Angeles which takes place at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct.14.

According to AIDS Project Los Angeles, the AIDS Walk is the largest AIDS fundraising event in California, and brings over 30,000 participants annually to support the HIV/AIDS awareness movement.

The walk raises millions of dollars each year for APLA, and helps it provide vital services to thousands living with HIV/AIDS. With its history of 27 years, the AIDS Walk has been an wellestablished community fundraising event, raising more than $72 million.

Service Learning is expecting more than 100 student participants this year, and will donate money to help the community as much as possible.

“We usually have about 150 students attend the walk. While we do not usually raise $25 per person, our goal is to encourage people to donate that amount,” Service Learning Advisor Michelle Halimi said. “Students can learn the value of supporting an important cause that affects many people worldwide and the importance of good decision-making.”

Students can sign up for the walk on the website under the BHHS TEAM #0012 without any charge, though it is recommend to donate $25.

The AIDS Walk will be held at 647 N. San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, Calif., 90069.

More information is available at www. aidswalk.net/losangeles.

Kevin Park

Second annual NAHS gallery opens Jessica Saadian Staff Writer The second annual exhibit of The Gallery, a National Art Honor Society (NAHS) art show funded by the high school and the PTSA, commenced on Oct. 8 and featured the theme “Dreams and Nightmares.”

According to the statement on the gallery wall, “The gallery’s second exhibition [is] inspired by an artist’s ability to use their conscious mind to portray their subconscious thoughts.”

This year’s theme was chosen because the show was exhibited near the time of Halloween.

Members of NAHS brainstormed the idea last year as a possible theme in future shows.

“The theme is in a way symbolic of life,” NAHS The NAHS Gallery, “Dreams and Nightmares,” is on display next to the KL Peters audorium. MARGUERITE ALBERTS founder and President Matthew Hankin said. “There are good program to Beverly because, like other are the opportunities that NAHS allows times and bad times and sometimes they students, he wanted to do something me to have. Locally, I love to curate The Gallery,” Hankin said. more with art. come together in an unexpected way.”

Art teacher Michael Federman said, “I obviously can’t speak for all artists, Because the program is student-based, “Being a part of NAHS allows students but most people don’t make art to keep teachers have little input, as they are the to have a dedicated focus in high school it hidden away in a sketch book.

Most ones who make the majority of decisions. and helps them stand out in the college people do it to share what they created In addition, any student is qualified to application process. Instead of taking a with the world,” Hankin said.

“Students submit a piece of his or her artwork. class and being over with it at the end at Beverly never had a chance to display Students had to have submitted their of the year, students have a chance to their work until we opened The Gallery.” artwork to their art teacher by Sept. 21. continue with art and expose their work.”

Partaking in the program can earn From there, the NAHS members chose The Gallery is open as of right now, scholarships, win awards and dedicate which pieces they felt should be on and an upcoming reception will be their work to a higher level of art. display in the current gallery. announced.

“My favorite parts about the program Hankin had brought the NAHS

4 opinion Perspectives change Alex Menache Staff Writer From the moment we start school as little kids, we are flooded with signs of approval, whether a pat on the back, a golden star, or an A+ on an assignment or test. This sense of approval is not only present in the classroom, but also at home. Even if we are average students, benchwarmers or terrible singers, our parents will always be there to tell us that we are their genius, star player or rock star.

These constant re-enforcements build up our confidence and make us feel unique and special. This all changes senior year, when we are thrown into a pool with students all over the nation and our “special” traits and attributes are suddenly outshined by a two dimensional measure that becomes our tem-

porary college-applicant identity.

This consists of two numbers, test scores and GPA, and one last chance to let our personalities shine through an essay. Although we are given the ability to win over the admissions office with our writing, the flaw in these numbers is that they do not take into account the death of a grandfather that affected your sophomore grades, the easy biology teacher you had freshman year, or your lack of funds to pay for an SAT tutor; regardless, they serve as a crucial determining factor to your application.

These two numbers are also the cause of the excessive competition, stress and dissatisfaction among seniors, causing us to forget the qualities that actually make us unique, the qualities that our parents praised.

We need to remember that those numbers do not characterize who we are, and

October 12, 2012 Highlights

SASHA PARK

even though they may seem like they will determine our near future, they will not determine our success.

Advice to underclassmen: focus on who you are as a person rather than who you are as a number. Signing up for 10 clubs is not going to alter your application, while extensive devotion to one club, the changes you made and the lessons you

learned just might. We often get lost in the idea that our college ranking will define who we are, although after college we are all thrown into the same pool of people as before, and the game starts all over again. Focus on becoming involved, intelligent and accomplished for your own sake because this will translate onto your applications.

Stigmas concerning community colleges unfair Candice Hannami Feature Editor “Don’t judge a person, do not pass judgment, unless you have talked to them one on one. I don’t care what the story is, do not judge them because it is a lie.” When Michael Jackson said this, he was trying to erase malicious accusations brought on by tabloid magazines.

Yet such a statement carries a worldly breadth to it. In a college-obsessed senior’s mind, it relates to the stigma about community college.

A year ago, I spent about half an hour trying to persuade my cousin, who is now attending UCLA after transferring from SMC, that in her case, community college was a waste of time.

Why go there, I argued, when you had the option of going to UCSB (a school to which she

was admitted)? By the end of the conversation, however, I wondered what it was about community college that made so many people (including my past self) look upon it with scorn.

Budget cuts aside, community colleges were created with the purpose of offering students equal opportunities in education through affordable costs and ease of admission. Unlike most four year colleges and universities, they offer vocational training, which serves as a faster, more direct pathway to getting the job a student wants.

Moreover, for those who cannot afford a four year college or university, community college can be an easy fix. Others may have family obligations (which are sometimes misunderstood as a lack of maturity to leave home) that keep them rooted to their hometown. If they

are not accepted to a nearby college or university, then they can bet on SMC or West LA College getting them there.

Such instances seem obvious. But, as I’ve realized, many of us don’t take such things into account when we hear about a student attending a community college. The main idea that seems to forge into students’ minds is the belief that the student was too close-minded to apply to more colleges, or too lazy during high school to become a student at a top school. I don’t doubt that some students fall into the two categories. Yet as I listened to my cousin reveal more about her and her friends’ decisions to attend SMC, I realized that none of them did. I then reached an epiphany which inspired me to write this article: more students than many realize also don’t fall into either category.

Editorial Contributing factors to API change For years, the quality of education at high schools has been determined by a sole measure: the Academic Performance Index (API).

How can one metric, standardized testing, accurately characterize an entire school?

Admittedly, students’ performance is a significant indication of a school’s level of education. However, it is unreasonable for such a conclusive assessment to rely on a single, inconclusive detail. Thankfully, Senate Bill 1458, passed on Sept. 28 by Gov. Jerry Brown, will modify the API score to account for other factors besides standardized testing.

The 1,000-point index will now limit student test scores to 60 percent of high schools’ evaluations starting in 2016.

Under the revised system, the State Board of Education will consider high school graduation rates and “valid, reliable and stable measures of pupil preparedness for postsecondary education and career” choices. California Senate President Pro Darrell Steinberg (DSacramento), who wrote the new legislation, explained his motive best when he said, “Life is not a bubble test and that system has failed our kids.” Although the law remains vague on how the new factors will be measured, the revised stipulations are a victory for education and especially for our school. Finally, our school will be recognized for its excellent efforts in preparing students for college. All the college nights, advisory enrichments and col-

ing that must be raised to maintain the ROP program will be worth it because a higher score attracts more families to move into the district.

And when more students move into Beverly Hills, the district’s basic-aid funding increases.

In the end, the money spent on maintaining the ROP program will pay off.

In light of the law’s increased emphasis on math and science, our school’s relatively low scores in those disciplines must rise as we strive for a competitive API. The recently-established Title I program, designed to assist incoming freshmen who struggled with Algebra I, is a step in the right direction. As the saying goes, though, there’s always room for improvement.

Of course, API awareness must continue since standardized testing will still be the most influential factor in schools’ API scores.

In recent years, the Student Body Action Committee (SBAC) has teamed up with the administration to inform students about the API score. While the onus on student test scores will be less, it would still behoove the school if students were motivated to perSASHA PARK form well on the California Standardized Test (CST).

Los Angeles County’s Regional Occupational The state finally got it right: how “good” a Program (ROP) courses. ROP courses such as Work Experience and Entrepreneurship have school is cannot be determined simply by staninfluenced students’ decisions on prospective dardized test scores. Rather than slacking off majors and prepared students for future ca- because of the new, accommodating API metreers. In other words, the ROP program will di- ric, we should work toward higher goals. Forget rectly improve our scores. Any additional fund- about the “Race to 900”; let’s shoot for 1,000!

lege visits will hold value. The Work Experience course, a component of the ROP program, and other vocational-oriented programs will likely provide a significant boost in the school’s score.

The superb efforts by the administration and counseling department to prepare us for college will at last be rewarded.

The change decreed by the state should also invoke change at school. The new law is an incentive for the state to continue funding

So, after the conversation with my cousin, I understood that the claim that “her talents had been wasted” by going to community college instead of UCSB was total bogus. Her sister, whose footsteps my cousin had followed, is now just as successful and passionate about the medical field as her friend who had been accepted into Stanford as a freshman.

I don’t mean to imply that going to SMC will give a student the same experience that a four year university will provide. Surely, the “college life” that many students boast about may not be as apparent in a community college due to the lack of housing plans available. However, when faced with specific situations, it is often the best way to go.

The Staff Ryan Feinberg and Julia Waldow Editors-in-Chief

Michelle Banayan News Editor

Mabel Kabani Opinion Editor

Candice Hannani Feature Editor

Danny Licht Culture Editor

Benjamin Hannani Spotlight Editor

Arman Zadeh Sports Editor

Oliver Gallop Graphics Editor

Pasha Farmanara Chief Web Editor

Robert Katz Assistant Web Editor

Dami Kim Social Media Director

Audrey Park, Sasha Park and AJ Parry Cartoonists

Marguerite Alberts, Celine Hakimianpour, Zoe Kenealy, Jessica Lu, Brenda Mehdian, Alex Menache, Kevin Park, Jessica Saadian and Max Stahl Staff Writers

Gaby Herbst and Katie Murray Advisers

The mission of Highlights is to inform and entertain the community of Beverly Hills in an accurate, objective, timely and well-designed manner.

This newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Send letters to the editor to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com.

Feedback is appreciated.

Spotlight 5

October 12, 2012 Highlights

ROP programs kept amid minimal funding cuts [continued from Page 1] All 23 districts have lost one-third of funding from their budget. The 4 percent reduction in Beverly’s ROP budget resulted in a $22,000 cut from last year’s budget of $588,000.

This low rate of reduction was due to a more conservative approach in spending.

Beverly was able to carry over and add $60,000 from last year’s budget. Although there was no significant change in Beverly’s overall ROP budget, Rappaport believed that it is subject to change.

“As part of the budget sub-committee in the steering committee, I am constantly reviewing the [program’s] financial condition and trying to make sure that we have enough money in reserve,” Rappaport said. “We generally allocate the money so that the money we get this year is used next year, which means that future years can be a problem if the state of the current economy persists.”

The welfare of ROP also coincides with the fate of recent Proposition 30.

As stated by Governor Jerry Brown, the proposition allocates 89 percent of the temporary increased tax revenues to K-12 schools. If passed, this proposal claims to support California education by providing funds instead of cutting school budgets.

Rappaport warned that if the proposition does not pass, no one will know what the consequences are going to be.

“Where is the money going to come from for public education?” Rappaport asked. “It’s a problem when we know how much money is needed to operate a ROP program, but [the state] is only taking more money away.”

If the Proposition 30 fails to pass and the school budget in California is reduced, Rappaport believes that there may be a possibility that ROP programs will be cut as well.

“But we have to keep in mind that about

one-third of the students in our school take at least one ROP class, and all of these ROP classes are virtually full,” Rappaport said.

“So if you eliminate ROP, we would still have to have teachers for those students who are not enrolled in class anymore.”

According to Senate Bill 1458, the API scores may also affect the course of future ROP programs. Starting in 2016, the API score will also factor in evaluating postsecondary education and career choices, as well as non-core classes. School districts will have to report additional data for the scoring of API or other school quality reviews. Schools may also be held accountable for not preparing for such new standards if further budget cuts continue to damage education.

Although Rappaport is anticipating more budget cuts, he states that ROP funds will be safely secured at least until next year.

“If there is a mid-year budget cut, we’re going to pay for that through the county’s

ROP funds without having to go to the district’s fund,” Rappaport said. “We have left enough money in our accounts, but we still need to continue being conservative in securing money for upcoming years.”

ROP Counselor Megen Anspach is looking forward to improving programs by providing ways for students to get involved in Career Technical Student organizations, compete and showcase skills and participate in community internships.

“I’m really looking forward to strengthening our current programs this year,” Anspach said. “I think if programs collaborate with each other both inside and outside of school, it would create a new depth of skills for the students.”

Regardless of the speculations of future budget cuts and changing education standards, the current status of Beverly’s ROP program stands unchanged for the 2012-13 school year.

Students and teachers involved in the ROP program were on edge amidst potential budget cuts. After a minimal 4 percent cut, all the ROP programs at Beverly will remain. AJ PARRY

ROP student: Program needs long-term solution Robert Katz Assistant Web Editor With Regional Occupation Program (ROP) department funding thought to be near the chopping block, Beverly and its students faced one of the most debilitating changes that the school’s extracurricular classes would have ever suffered: their cancellation. However, Los Angeles County ROP’s decision has been to safeguard funding by cutting it by only 4 percent (about $22,000) of last year’s budget. Whether Governor Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30 passes or not, the minimal cut is laudable and may save seemingly “doomed” classes, such as Robotics,

Culinary Arts and DECA. The loss of ROP classes, a feared result of 2013 ROP cuts, would force about one-third of students to abandon what may be their only sources of experience in fields of interest. Those interested in Sports Medicine, for example, would lose a valuable opportunity to develop medical skills. Aspiring engineers, meanwhile, find Robotics to be a haven of programming and building opportunities, while students delving into marketing have the former and DECA to harness their visions in.

The real danger of losing these classes is that they offer vital experience in professional areas. Unless students can find comparable internships or classes offered

elsewhere, they miss out on developing skills and connections for their futures, as well as impressive accolades on their college transcripts and resumes. To many students, those losses are more terrifying than a proposed slight hike in sales taxes.

Seeing Los Angeles County take pride in non-essential classes and defending the interests of students is uplifting. The decision to hold onto ROP classes, even in the face of millions of dollars in budget cuts, shows a strong sense of faith in students and specialized education. However, Proposition 30 still looms in the distance and, should it fail, California’s education budget will be in the red. It may still cause problems for ROP in future years, with a

more restricted budget in 2013-2014 that leads to deeper cuts.

Most disturbing is the question of, even if this year’s crisis is averted, what will happen next year, or the year after that? Will the economy be worse and will the school face even greater losses in the 2013-2014 year? California must quickly find a solution to these issues that appear to plague schools, such as Beverly, every year, scattering students and staff in a brief panic until everything seems as though it has returned to the status quo. Classes are safe for now, but with each year of reaction, the margin for cuts may only shrink until, before the state knows it, they’ll be slashing away those classes entirely.

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Highlights

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Reduce Reuse Recycle

Going green: My quest to help the environment Brenda Mehdian Staff Writer It seems that going green is trendy; people are always looking for the product that will help this planet that we call home. But according to the Nature Conservancy, 90 percent of Americans are recycling, but only less than 5 percent have actually taken recommended green actions.

I challenged myself to live a more ecofriendly life for three consecutive days.

From Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, I did everything in my power to be as green as possible. Although I could not force my parents to put in solar panels or my family to live only by candlelight, I was able to do smaller, easier things that still helped the environment.

Instead of driving to the library and consuming gas, I decided to walk and enjoy the beautiful weather that Los Angeles has to offer. Before I left, I made sure to turn off all the excess lights and unplug all of the unused electronics in my house. In an effort to minimize my car usage, I carpooled with a friend to school. I tried to cut down the minutes I spent in the shower and stopped running the sink water while I brushed my teeth.

Prior to my experiment I was curious to see how I would succeed in doing these

Seven ways to save Julia Waldow Page graphics by OLIVER GALLOP, JULIA WALDOW and DANNY LICHT

October 12, 2012

tasks. I was not sure if I would be able to pull this challenge off. I thought that I would be constantly forgetting to turn off the lights or unplug electronics before leaving the house.

Although I did become forgetful on some occasions, most of the time I would catch myself making a mistake and correct my actions. I tried to make sure that my family lived as “green” as possible, so I forced my family to only pump gas at the environmentally friendly gas station on Olympic and Robertson. This gas station has recently switched from BP to Arco gas. It used recyclable material for the structure of the gas station, LED lighting and sensors to minimize light usage and a system that used rainwater to insulate the restrooms.

Overall, this challenge opened my eyes to how easy it is to be more environmentally friendly. No matter how big or small, anything that a person can do will be able to make the planet a better place, not only for the current population, but also for future generations.

Helping the environment is one of the easiest and greatest things one can do. Some little things that everyone can and should start doing are turning off lights, unplugging unnecessary electronics and making sure that the water is off when not being used. If we don’t start caring about our environment, it will stop caring about us.

Beverly’s ecological footprint examined, analyzed for modernization project Beverly’s Monthly Gas Costs, July 2011-June 2012 $2500

$2000

$1500

$1000

$500 July 2011 Aug. 2011 Sept. 2011 Oct. 2011 Nov. 2011 Dec. 2011 Jan. 2012 Feb. 2012 March 2012April 2012 May 2012 June 2012

Beverly’s Monthly Power Costs, July 2011-June 2012 $25000

$20000

$15000

$10000

$5000 July 2011 Aug. 2011 Sept. 2011 Oct. 2011 Nov. 2011 Dec. 2011 Jan. 2012 Feb. 2012 March 2012April 2012 May 2012 June 2012

[continued from page 1] know we are trying to put in some energy efficient bulbs, but we’re very limited on what we can actually use right now,” Woods said.

Light bulbs are not the only factor that contributes to energy costs, however. “[Most of the electrical needs are] air conditioning and heating units,” Woods explained. “Believe it or not, it’s not the light bulbs.”

These features, and more, would be changed under the modernization plan.

“In the future we hope to create classrooms that are extremely energy efficient, not only from a lightbulb standpoint, but from a wall standpoint, ceiling standpoint and window standpoint, and controls that monitor multiple systems at one time, so they’re efficient, like your air conditioning and heating,” Woods said.

semi-green, really.”

As part of modernization, the school would improve the watering system and install toilets and urinals that use less water in order to comply with LEED regulations.

Beverly’s water bills fluctuate

Woods makes changes under modernization

Like the August electric bill, the school’s July-August water bill was higher than it has been in over a year, at $6,058.64. Much of the school’s water consumption, such as use of water fountains, sinks and toilets, is determined by the students. However, the school does regulate a significant portion of its water consumption. For example, the administrators control how often and how thoroughly the front lawn is watered.

“We don’t have an appropriate [watering] system. We chose not to do anything with the old system right now because it’s going to require a new pumping system, new pipes, new outlets,” Woods said. “It’s a minimal watering plan; we do conserve, because water does cost money. So we water it just enough to keep [the front lawn]

Woods stated that in order for the school to become “greener,” the students and staff should be more conscientious of certain actions, including turning off the lights when leaving a room or turning off unused air conditioning.

However, he also affirmed that the modernization program could mitigate these concerns.

“In modernization, you can do things within the way you build the classrooms, so that the lights automatically go off when there’s no movement. So if everyone leaves the classroom, and they have a motion detector in there, it automatically turns the lights off.

So you can control some of that just in the way you modernize the classroom. And that’s the direction we’re going in,” Woods said.

Beverly’s Monthly Refuse Costs, July 2011-June 2012 $1500

Beverly Hills maintains waste Due to city policy, the school is not responsible for waste management.

“We use a local company that picks up our garbage and does all the separations and recycling at their level, which they’re mandated to do by law,” Woods explained.

Although some programs, like Service Learning, recycle independently, the high school itself cannot recycle.

The school’s disposal bill of $1,454.80 has remained constant since August 2011.

$1200 July 2011 Aug. 2011 Sept. 2011 Oct. 2011 Nov. 2011 Dec. 2011 Jan. 2012 Feb. 2012 March 2012April 2012 May 2012 June 2012

Beverly’s Water Costs, July 2011 - June 2012 $6000

$5000

$4000 July-Aug. 2011

Sept.-Oct. 2011

Nov.-Dec. 2011

Jan.-Feb. 2012

March-April 2012 May-June 2012

Information courtesy of BHUSD. Graphs by JULIA WALDOW

1 2 3 Unplug electronics when they are not in use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electronics that are plugged in all day consume up to 5 to 10 percent of a household’s electricity.

7

Use ENERGY STAR-labeled computers.

These save 30-65 percent more energy than non-ENERGY STAR computers do, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Use rechargeable batteries for cordless phones and digital cameras. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, recharable batteries are more environmentally friendly than regular batteries.

4

Buy a resuable water bottle that is BPA free.

5

Walk, skateboard or ride a bike around the city or to school to cut down on pollution and get exercise.

6

Use a reusable lunch box instead of a brown paper bag or a plastic bag. Some stores even sell insulated lunchboxes.

7

Buy locally raised, humane and organic food.

Food that is grown close to home is not being transported long distances by gas-guzzling trucks that produce pollution.

8 culture

October 12, 2012 Highlights

Study havens in the likeliest of places Local cafes reviewed for more than their coffee Danny Licht Culture Editor All the cliches about coffee shops are true: they’re filled with pretentious existential writers who drink Portland-roasted, syphon-brewed beans, listen to bands you have probably never heard of, reading arduous magazine articles and wear ironic T-shirts. And for all these reasons, coffee shops—especially those in Los Angeles— are vibrant, intellectual places to study and focus on homework.

The coffee at these coffee shops varies only subtly, so I judge these places primarily as places, not as just caffeine venders.

Their proximities range from Beverly Drive to a-short-drive-away, but each is worth the trek.

Beginning with a local favorite, Urth Caffe on South Beverly Drive serves excellent food and coffee in a quiet atmosphere.

A designated quiet area lies hidden in the back, and it is often empty. Urth’s specialties include their trademarked Spanish Latte and pumpkin pie. For those who don’t like coffee, Urth has an entire tea menu, as well as blended boba drinks, such as the locally famous green tea boba. Peet’s, across the street from Urth, serves excellent coffee as well, and it’s more spacious, less preten-

tious and less expensive, compared to Urth Caffe.

Recently I’ve been going to Balconi Coffee, on Olympic and Sawtelle, which is a six-minute drive from school. It’s full of toys—an Etch A Sketch, philosophical books, a functioning typewriter—and it offers no Wi-Fi, which does wonders for productivity. The music can be a bit jarring at times, but it’s usually some sort of pleasant, neo-classical melody. The menu of beans changes weekly, though the almond latte and green-tea latte remain in the permanent collection. Coffees here are made via syphon, a gravity-defying magic machine, which is in and of itself worth the visit to the establishment.

Short Cake, at the Original Farmers Market, on Third and Fairfax, is owned by La Brea Bakery founder Nancy Silverton and offers sumptuous baked goods and fancy coffee. The Farmers Market, a weird, heterogeneous blend of uber-touristy and hyperlocal, provides a never-boring landscape for doing work. It nearly makes homework interesting.

To me coffee is more than just a substitute for sleep; it’s a substitute for water. It makes me happy and lively and allows me to work late at night and early in the morning.

‘No One’ for all

Hall adapts one-woman play for full cast

Marguerite Alberts Staff Writer Theatre Arts Workshop will be performing its annual fall play in the Salter Family Theatre from Nov. 14-17. Director Herb Hall has converted the onewoman show “No One” into a full-cast show. In some parts of the play, Hall has students improvise dialogue to compensate for the original format of the play.

Written by Nilaja Sun, “No One” tells the story of the difficulties students at a New York high school face. The title comes from the 2001 federal act No Child Left Behind that helps underachieving students. The play teaches about the troubles that a high school faces and how a school system works. The play’s main character directs a student production at an underachieving school that does not meet federal standards.

“Most of the characters are kids so it’s a chance for them to play characters their own age for a change,” Hall said.

“The subject matter is very timely because we are all dealing with No Child Left Behind.”

The play also relates to the upcoming election because both deal with the controversial issues of education reform.

Hall hopes that the audience will understand “that fixing whatever people think is wrong with our education sys-

tem is not as simple as passing a law based on test scores and pigeonholing kids is not right.”

Junior Deven Martin was “honored, grateful and quite enthusiastic” to be selected to play the janitor, a major character and the narrator.

‘The play is a great way to educate people on... the less-advantaged districts’ “I think that the play is a great way to educate people on history and the conditions of the less-advantaged districts because there is a balance of comedy and seriousness,” Martin said. “I think that there will be a lot of laughter, but at the same time there will be some serious parts which would cause some serious reactions among the audience members.”

Martin explained that a lot of work goes into making a show successful, whether that be publicizing the show, designing costumes for the characters or creating sets for the show.

All students are eligible to be a part of the production. According to Martin, it is helpful if a participant has taken Drama Lab and is currently in Theatre Arts Workshop, but it is not necessary.

A vanilla bean latte (top, left) from Short Cake sits on top of one of the Original Farmers Market’s colorful tables. Senior Rachel Lee (above) drinks a decaffeinated coffee at Balconi Coffee, on Olympic and Sawtelle, while studying for her government and economics class.

A barista (middle left) at Balconi prepares drinks via the syphonbrewing method, which uses a two-chamber glass-and-metal device to harness the pressure of water vapor in order to produce coffee. DANNY LICHT

Culture clash

In documentary, American copes in Iran Benjamin Hannani Spotlight Editor

Rarely do films transcend genres as artfully as “The Iran Job.” In the documentary, director Till Schauder and his wife, producer Sara Nodjoumi, follow American professional basketball player Kevin Sheppard as he plays in Shiraz, Iran, for the A.S. Shiraz team during the 2008-2009 season. The film not only captures the ups and downs of a season in the Iranian Super League, but also highlights cultural misunderstandings that the Western world projects onto Iran.

Filmed amidst the 2009 Iranian presidential election and beginning of the Green Movement, a series of protests led by supporters of reformist candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the timely documentary also offers a firsthand look into life in the stringent Middle Eastern theocracy that is Iran.

By the end of this masterful film, Schauder and Nodjoumi shatter Middle Eastern stereotypes in this chronicle of humanity.

At its surface “The Iran Job” appears to be a sports story. Schauder brilliantly uses the framework of the season to keep the story in context. However, the film expands beyond the realm of basketball as it establishes common ground between Sheppard and the Iranians, or generally speaking, between the Western world and the Middle East. Political clips, including a heated Iranian presidential debate and

President George W. Bush denouncing Iran as a member of the “axis of evil” are juxtaposed against the eye-opening reality in Sheppard’s intimate exchanges with the Iranian people.

The film’s greatest asset is the quality of its characters. Sheppard, a vibrant personality and likeable character, serves as an empathetic figure for American audiences.

Naturally, Sheppard is concerned about being a stranger in a strange land. As the season progresses, Sheppard realizes that he and the Iranian people actually share more in common than he would have believed. In the end Schauder’s choice to follow Sheppard is an ingenious one, as the athlete makes for an appealing protagonist.

“The Iran Job,” which has already been mentioned by The Wrap as a possible Oscar contender, is a must-see for all students, not just Iranian-Americans. The film concluded its Los Angeles theatrical release last night and opens in New York City today at the IFC Center. Although the film is currently off-screen in Los Angeles, Schauder and Nodjoumi have launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a nationwide release. As of Tuesday afternoon, the film had raised $37,219 from 216 backers with 15 days remaining to reach its goal of $60,000.

You can learn more about the film, watch the trailer and support the documentary’s campaign for a nationwide release at theiranjob.com.

9

October 12, 2012 Highlights

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10 feature

October 12, 2012 Highlights

Repeal of state law changes food restrictions Zoe Kenealy Staff Writer Beverly now offers a different selection of food for students in both the vending machines and the cafeteria. This change is due to a repealed law that prevented schools from selling any foods that exceeded a certain calorie limit and contained a certain amount of nutritional significance.

In hiring Chartwells, the company that controls the Beverly Café and Outtakes, Principal Carter Paysinger wanted to address what he believed the students would enjoy eating. However, Chartwells makes all the decisions regarding the types of food that are given to students.

“We make our decisions based on the best food we can offer kids, what we think kids would like,” Paysinger said.

Faculty members claim to notice a difference in students’ performances when their students are operating on unhealthful diets as opposed to when their students are living a healthy lifestyle.

“Kids aren’t getting their vitamins, minerals and nutrients. I think that it’s important they [the school] offer a majority of healthful foods. I do see a difference in the students’ performances and their ability to complete the fitness test [when students aren’t on a healthful diet],” physical education teacher Heather Harrison said.

According to the district’s posted wellness policy on its food services webpage, “schools will eliminate marketing and advertising of unhealthy foods and

beverages. Any food or beverage that do not meet the provided guidelines will not be promoted through signage, vending machine fronts, logo scoreboards, school supplies, educational incentive programs that provide food as a reward, in-school television, free samples or coupons, or foods sales through fundraising activities.”

However, vending machines sell snacks such as cookies and potato chips, the food carts can sell pizza and the cafeteria offers plate sized sticky buns. However while the school offers foods that do not necessarily follow the district’s wellness policy, the vending machines and cafeteria also offer “balanced choices.” In the school’s vending machines, the balanced choices are labeled with bright green dispensers.

Some students at Beverly appreciate the law being repealed and do not agree with the school’s previous attempt to further influence students’ diets.

“I’m happy now that the school is selling foods that the students actually can enjoy.

I don’t agree that students should only be given healthful foods, because it’s not as if we’re going to go home and eat healthily anyway. I don’t think it’s the school’s job to control what the students are fed. That is their own decision. There is no point in trying to control it,” junior Milan WallsSmith said.

Chartwells’s food director Dominique Kramer was contacted for an interview, but could not release any information regarding the specific health standards in which the company chooses to abide by.

Since the repeal of the health ban, Beverly has loosened its restrictions of certain foods. PASHA FARMANARA, OLIVER GALLOP

Newman earns position as Dean of Discipline

Newman works in his office, where he speaks to students about behavioral matters. PASHA FARMANARA

Pasha Farmanara Web Editor-in-chief Athletic director and golf coach Jason Newman has yet another duty on campus as Dean of Discipline. The position of Dean of Discipline was put into place second semester of last year to help take off some workload from the vice principals.

“The vice principals do discipline on a routine basis. What [the school] wants to do is let them manage other parts of

the educational process. With them disciplining all the time, they couldn’t go out and be where they needed to be, which is helping teachers teach and helping the overall learning process,” Newman said.

However, the Dean of Discipline has not fulfilled all of the vice principals’ disciplinary duties. Newman typically deals with minor issues.

“I don’t do drug stuff or suspension, but I do more of the routine disciplinary matters,” Newman said. “I try to help

students realize how their behavior is putting them in situations that they don’t want to be in. I try to make them understand that their behavior is their responsibility.”

In the past, Newman has dealt with cases varying from students acting rude to students showing a major lack of effort in the classroom.

“Sometimes it’s just rudeness and not caring, but usually there is a certain amount of pain behind why kids continually put themselves in a position

that they have to be disciplined,” Newman said.

Students around the school believe that, due to his personality, Newman is the perfect man for the job.

“Coach [Newman] is very intimidating. I would hate to have to walk into his office after doing something bad. He just has that effect,” senior Joseph Leifer said.

Newman was chosen as Dean of Discipline due to his years of experience, direct way of teaching and degree in counseling.

“My background in counseling allows me to see what is going on behind kids’ behavior. There is a reason why you see patterns in kids. I try to hone in on them and help them understand their own patterns and why they keep getting in trouble,” Newman said.

In the process of helping kids with behavior issues, Newman finds himself growing as a person. He enjoys analyzing students’ actions and searching for the deep cause of their behavior, whether it involves social issues or problems at home.

“I think that it’s always a great opportunity for me and everybody to try and look beyond a person’s behavior and see its root, which usually involves other things going on in the person’s life,” Newman said.

Newman believes that the opportunity to understand a person’s issues is one that everyone should take advantage of.

“Kids aren’t born bad. There are reasons why young people do these things. I think it’s good for adults to continue to try to find out what is behind people’s behaviors, adults or kids, so they can understand their reasons,” he said.

October 12, 2012 Highlights

feature 11 Students program apps for store, personal use

Students Bailey Berro and Rong Zheng work on creating their apps. OLIVER GALLOP

Jessica Lu Staff Writer With the growing popularity of iPhones and Androids, many students have apps on their Smartphones, but few actually make them. Despite having extra responsibilities as Robotics captains, seniors Bailey Berro and Rong (Eva) Zheng recently managed to pursue their own programming and computer science interests through creating iPhone applications.

Berro decided that he wanted to make a better Beverly app after visiting Stanford last

year and using its app, which gives students access to campus maps, news and events.

Berro’s app, iNorman, is free and will be submitted to the App Store this month.

“I like to describe the application as a utility for students. It is similar to the current application...but excels in certain aspects,” Berro said.

The main advantage of iNorman is its capability to send push notifications to users. Push notifications use Internet-based servers to send out alerts. ASB, Berro said, could send reminders of its school events to the downloaders.

“It would get a lot more students involved. The Bulletin is not widely spread, so it would allow for a lot more extracurricular involvement for students,” ASB Treasurer Gabriel Bogner said.

Berro acquired some of his programming skills from Math Analysis Computational Honors and from a “slew of books.” Along the way, he gained resources from watching free lectures on iTunesU and receiving help from both online sources and Robotics alumnus Alex Kern.

“Without getting too technical, the most challenging part of the application process was troubleshooting...taking a somewhat functional version and working out the kinks one at a time until the product is satisfactory,” Berro said.

Berro is interested in majoring in computer science and electrical engineering. Currently, he is working on a food delivery app similar to Seamless and La Bite for a business in East Hampton, New York.

“I think that programming is an invaluable skill because it really changes how you think and analyze problems,” Berro said. “It does take a considerable amount of time, but it is an extremely rewarding experience.”

Zheng underwent a different process in

creating her free app, Filebeam, which is only available through Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean Androids. These apps use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to share files on Dropbox. Documents, videos and PowerPoints can be transferred from one Android to another. According to Zheng, this process required more work than expected.

“Using NFC would be the hardest thing we could try,” Zheng said. “You can’t find coding samples. You have to read ten page documents word by word without looking at examples, because there aren’t any.”

Currently, the app has around 300 downloads off the App Store.

“It’s admirable what she has done. I can’t say many have actually created an app in the store,” Build Captain Michael Simozar said.

Zheng’s idea to create an app began last summer when her older brother proposed that they attend a Hackathon in San Francisco. A Hackathon is a competition in which programmers collaborate to produce a specific kind of product.

“Going to San Francisco and learning to program actually sounded like fun, even though it was a bit nerdy,” Zheng said.

Zheng was faced with the difficulty of being “one of the only women” present and the challenge of adapting to a new way of thinking.

“You have to be able to think logically like programmers do because their sense of logic is different,” Zheng said.

Zheng plans to major in computer science in college and to continue creating apps.

“It’s really rewarding after your apps go live into the App Store. It’s pretty amazing because everyone with the phone can see it,” Zheng said.

Alumnus ‘Bendow’ pursues talent in artistry Mabel Kabani Opinion Editor Benjamin Waldow (class of 2010) has been pursuing his dreams of becoming an artist ever since he was a child. Waldow has always loved to draw and paint, but it did not occur to him to turn his hobby into a business until his freshman year at Beverly.

“I was painting a building for a friend’s Eagle Scout project and got white paint on my shoes,” Waldow said. “I decided to cover them in paint and later drew on them when they dried. A friend saw them and said she would buy a pair and my business began after that.”

Though Waldow’s business started off small and local, his passion for his art drove him to work to achieve his dream.

He began selling custom-made shoes to relatives and friends and eventually put the service on his website, bendow-art.com.

Since then, Waldow has painted murals for Standard Time, Tra Teahouse, the Standard Hotel and Equal and has been privately commissioned by a Starbucks employee to create a painting for the Starbucks headquarters office in Seattle.

“Each mural I paint is entirely freehand, so my process is mostly choosing colors that I believe will work together in the environment that they are in,” Waldow said. “After that, I simply paint all day until I’m tired and come back the next day.”

Waldow started showcasing his art when he was 15 years old and says that Beverly played a vital role in his success.

“Other than [taking Graphic Design], attending Beverly mostly gave me the opportunity to doodle in class,” Waldow said. “That might sound bad but drawing while taking notes helps me concentrate.

Alumnus “Bendow” works on his project near the Standard Hotel in Downtown, Los Angeles. Courtesy of MITCH WALDOW

Some teachers understood and allowed me to draw, which really helped.”

One of Waldow’s former teachers, history teacher Joanie Garratt, “really motivated” Waldow as an artist and even gave him his nickname and artist’s name, Bendow.

“I first met Bendow when he was in my eighth grade history class at El Rodeo,” Garratt reminisces. “He was much shyer then, but I was always struck by his creativity. I am thrilled that he is

experiencing so much success in the field that he loves so much and that he also uses the nickname I gave him.”

Waldow is now attending School of the Art Institute of Chicago and will graduate from the college next year.

“Now that I attend SAIC, my work and studies are pretty much the same thing,” he said. “However, when I’m required to travel to work on a project, I usually wait until my summer or winter breaks to

schedule a different project.”

Waldow says his next mural is still “up in the air” but he is very excited to see how his new project, making comics, turn out.

Waldow’s advice for students who aspire to be artists is to “continue working and creating work.”

“Sometimes it won’t be work you like, but it’s all important if you want to create a distinct style or just make work you’re happy with,” Waldow said.

12 sports

October 12, 2012 Highlights

Girls’ varsity volleyball dives into Ocean League Celine Hakimianpour Staff Writer In the team’s Ocean League opener, the girls’ varsity volleyball team played against the Inglewood Sentinels on Sept. 27 in the swim gym.

The Normans were victorious as they beat the Sentinels in all three sets. The score of the first set was 25-12. The Normans also conquered the second set 25-6, as well as the third set by a final score of 25-12.

“We truly played like the team we are.

It felt amazing to have all our hard work, that we put into practice everyday, show in our games,” outside hitter Natasha Kashani said. “We are improving a lot and it really shows.”

Kashani led the Normans to victory with her serves. As the Normans held a record of 1-0 after defeating the Sentinels, they headed into their next match against Santa Monica on Oct. 3.

The Normans’s success was cut short as they struggled to defeat the Vikings with the match ending 0-3. Nevertheless, coach Jherray Ricks saw it was a game played with great effort.

“We always start and end each match with positive energy and effort throughout the whole match. However, I think maintaining focus is definitely one of our team’s weaknesses. It’ can be hard to remain consistent throughout the entire match, but we are continuing to work hard on that,” Ricks stated.

With the Normans holding a league record of 1-1, they headed into their next game on Oct. 4 at Rio Hondo Prep. The girls’ effort was not enough to win them the match.

Although the match against Rio was not a league game, the Normans played with their normal intensity. The Normans lost

The Normans perform their pre-game ritual before playing theInglewood Sentinels. ALEX MENACHE.

three sets to one.

“We played well, but we just need to come out with more fire and strength,” hitter Daisy Abrams said.

Captain Allison Wolff’s absence, as she remained on the sidelines due to an injury, has forced the girls to strive to be the best they can without her. She is said to return soon.

“It’s always hard to have a leader go down,” Ricks said. “We continue to practice drills that will help us make good decisions, and build better court awareness. However, she will be back very soon, and we look forward to having her play with us again.”

Wolff, although sidelined by injury, continues to support the team throughout the season.

“I love supporting the girls. They are truly working very hard, and I have so much respect for them. I see us being very successful this season, and I can see us getting better and better as each day progresses,” Wolff said. “I can’t wait to be playing with them again.”

The Normans next battled Morningside on their home court on Oct. 5, bringing home a victory. The team conquered Morningside, winning the match three sets to none.

“I think as time has gone on, the team has incurred the ability to go very far. We have been working very hard, and it will continue to pay off. We continue to practice drills that will help us make good decisions, and build better court awareness. We are starting to get more consistent and learning to be fearless,” Ricks said.

The team held a league record of 2-1 as they headed into its Thursday match against Culver City, but results were not available in time for press. The Normans will compete in a Brentwood tournament on Oct.12.

Cross-country team races Samo at Rancho Park Ryan Feinberg Editor-in-Chief

Top: Boys’ varsity team lines up for a team picture before they raced at Kenneth Han. Bottom right: Senior Sydney Segal runs to the finish line at Kenneth Hahn. Bottom left: Senior Eli Flesch completes the three mile Kenneth Hahn run. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEFF WOLFE.

The Norman cross-country team recently came in second against Santa Monica in a league race at Rancho Park. on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Despite coming in second place overall, the girls’ varsity team came in first place among the other schools.

Varsity runner Eli Flesch set both a school record and a course record at Rancho, with an official race time of 14:56 on the 3-mile course. Flesch is currently the only racer to break 15 minutes on the course. The record was previously held by John Mora in 1985 with a time of 15:19.

Flesch is satisfied with his performances because he accomplished his two goals: “breaking fifteen” and “winning the race.”

Flesch’s success in the race only increases his determination to succeed in the future.

“I hope to lead the team to the state meet,” Flesch said. “If we do not qualify as a team, I would love to qualify individually.”

Aaron Wolfe completed the race with a time of 15:37, coming in third place. His time has placed him tied for fourth place for all Beverly racers on the course.

“Individually I could have pushed harder in the last mile of the race when my legs were beginning to give out,” Wolfe explained. “As a team, I feel we competed well, running without two of our key runners, but we could try to use each other to push ourselves more.”

Although more pleased with the team’s performance than his own, Wolfe still has set goals for both himself and his

team for the remainder of the season.

“Our team goals for this year are to compete hard race by race and ultimately repeat the success of reaching CIF finals as we did last year and hopefully reaching the CIF state meet” Wolfe said.

Individually, Wolfe hopes to break a time of 16:00 at the Mount SAC course, whether he does so at the Invitational Meet or a CIF meet, in addition to breaking 16:50 at the Kenneth Hahn course at league finals.

The individual girls proved to perform as well as the boys in ranking, with Sydney Segal completing the race in first place with a time of 18:01, also attaining a new course record and school record for the course.

Although she came in first place, Segal noted that she was “wearing [her] training shoes not [her] racing ones.”

Segal’s goal for the season is to continue her undefeated record. She currently is 4-0.

“As a team we need to continue to stay positive and do what we have been doing,” Segal said.

Lily Ting came in third place, though second for Beverly girl runners, with a time of 19:28.

Ting was glad to have been able to contribute to her team, however she too has set goals for personal running improvement.

“Individually, I have to be more aggressive when I race and I hope I can be a good role model for my teammates to follow, to race with more confidence and a better, winning mentality,” Ting explained.

Cross-country team next competes in the Mount SAC Invite on Friday, Oct. 19.