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Welcome back, Wildcats! BREA OLINDA HIGH SCHOOL Brea, CA Issue 1 Volume 89 September 26, 2019
WILDCAT VOICES The 2019-2020 school year has already been defined by changes, many of which are in response to a changing society. And as the world around us changes, so too does the role of journalism and the ways in which we consume media. This 89th volume of the Wildcat, which you will probably be reading on your phones, marks our most aggressive move yet from print to digital, a move that, we hope, reaches a larger audience.
Wildcat evolves with the times THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION has changed rapidly throughout the centuries, from “block printing,” to the creation of the printing press, to the Internet, to phone apps. But regardless of how the distribution of news changes, the intention to inform, analyze, and discuss still lies in the heart of journalism. The Brea Olinda High Schools’s Wildcat newsmagazine is no exception. Originating in 1930, just three years after BOHS was first built, the Wildcat was a bi-weekly, eight-by-eleven-inch newspaper. But while our format has evolved, from black and white text and images on newsprint that would stain the reader’s fingers with ink, to a full-color glossy magazine that is distributed via an app, the Wildcat of today and the Wildcat of 89 years agoare similar: featuring school events such as rallies and dances, and profiling noteworthy staff and students. BOHS journalists continue to exercise their First Amendment rights, to explain significant events in relation to BOHS, and currently strive to break barriers by challenging the status quo. With the evolution of technology and the ability now, more than ever, to inform and interpret changes taking place inside and outside BOHS’s walls
With the evolution of technology and the ability now, more than ever, to inform and interpret changes taking place inside and outside BOHS’s walls -- not just dances, sports, and assemblies likely to be found in every past (as well as current) issues -- the Wildcat continues to evolve. -- not just dances, sports, and assemblies likely to be found in every past (as well as current) issues -- the Wildcat continues to evolve. What began as a way to encourage students to get involved in school activities, an ever-evolving Wildcat now routinely includes commentary on current events, pop culture reviews, and exploration of topics related to being a teen in 2019. In the past couple of years alone, the Wildcat has tackled teen vaping, drug use in the Brea community, depression, school shootings, and bullying. While we’ll always cover BOHS’s typical usual day-to-day activities, the Wildcat’s maturation over the decades is most evident in our coverage of issues that were once taboo. In many ways, the Wildcat stays true to its roots by continuing to address changes in school policy, shining a light on classes and clubs offered on campus, and staying up-to-date on trends. But the Wildcat now tackles issues such as legalization of marijuanna, the retraction of protections concerning transgender students, and the rise of xenophobia in today’s divisive political climate -- all of which would’ve otherwise gone unsaid or, at the very least, would have been presented in a culturally insensitive way (such as our Oct. 7,
2 STAFF EDITORIAL September 26, 2019
1955 issue that promotes the “Shang Hai Shindig” dance and our Dec. 6, 1954 issue rating students based on physical appearance). Progress has been made, allowing the Wildcat to discuss issues in a way that educates our student body about local, regional, national, and global events. Furthermore, it allows the Wildcat to continue a “discussion” -- whether it be a first rally, changing laws regarding legalization of majijuana and anti-trans bathroom bills, or the dangers of driving under the influence -- that never stops. We have adjusted how we discuss news, in a way that is culturally aware. We distribute news differently: from newspaper, to magazine, to social media and apps (i.e., issuu.com, which you’re probably using to read this right now). How the Wildcat is published, who writes the stories, and how these stories are told are in constant flux; but the need for compelling stories about a rapidly diversifying community, and a need for professional-quality art and design, will always remain the same. Amongst these changes the why of publishing the Wildcat prevails -to inform and to educate our student body. That being said, as long as the Wildcat continues to evolve in a way that respects why it was first printed in 1930 -- to promote what’s best about this awesome community we live, work, and attend school in -- we can expect the Wildcat to continue its mission regardless of the changes to come. You can read us on the Issuu app (available for free at the App Store), or at issuu.com/bohswildcat.
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The Wildcat 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821 Volume 89, Issue 1 Editor-in-Chief Gunnar Cierley Editor-in-Chief Keely Hunt Business Manager Amber Kim News Editor Andy Jeong News Editor Grace Saluk Opinion Editor Natalie DiCesaris Opinion Editor Nathan Phillips Feature Editor Clara Lee Feature Editor Tiffaney Yang Sports Editor Allie Haluska Sports Editor Tori Torres Sports Editor Zachary Ybarra A&E Editor Gracie Wilson Foods Editor Nina Corral Trends Editor Melea Altermatt Trends Editor Katie Kudron Creative Writing Ed. Callie Yates Photo Editor Calem Burns Photo Editor Charlize Chiang Photo Editor Jada Gibson Photo Editor Indigo Lopez Photographer Isabella Abalos Photographer Alexis Alexander Photographer Miranda Miraz Photographer Caylie Phillips Photographer Claire Seo Illustrator Hannah Hernandez Illustrator Makayla Huerta Illustrator Josie Windes Staff Writer Lee Bullock Staff Writer Caroline DeMasi Staff Writer Daniel Franks Staff Writer Bella Kang Staff Writer Doyon Kim Staff Writer Cameron Lee Staff Writer Kaylee Slate Staff Writer Sarah Somerville Staff Writer Michelle Velasquez Advisor Alex Koers send us an email: wildcatnewsmagazine@gmail.com
Please include full name and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity length. follow us: @thebohswildcat (Instagram) @bohswildcat (Issuu.com)
The Wildcat is produced by the fourth period journalism students of Brea Olinda High School. The purpose of the publication is to inform, educate, and entertain the larger Brea community, and highlight campus life and student achievement. through balanced and fair reporting. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the Wildcat staff. Journalism Education Association
Freshmen get ‘wild’ welcome from Link by KEELY HUNT, Co-Editor-in-Chief
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ide-eyed freshmen, nervous and excited, marched through a human tunnel of cheering Link Crew leaders dressed in matching bright yellow shirts who welcomed the Class of 2023 to BOHS on Link Crew Freshman Welcome Day on Aug. 14. Link Crew, led by adviser Bryson Burns, has works with freshmen to help make their adjustment to the high school environment as easy a possible. Link Leaders, assigned to groups of ninth graders, provide guidance and support to their freshmen throughout the year. During the Welcome Day assembly, held in the gym, Burns was ready to “rock and roll” with the incoming freshmen and his cabinet of Link Leaders. Hit tunes like “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus, and “Despacito” by Justin Bieber, reverberated through the gym as Link members danced in themed costumes that ranged from Krispy Kreme boat hats to pool floaties around their waists. Burns energetically greeted the ninth graders assembled in the stands with a game of “Simon Says.” Other games followed, including lining up in
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order from shortest to tallest without speaking, and in order of birthdays without any communication. These games taught the ninth graders to get comfortable with the unfamiliar faces that they will graduate with in 2023. Link leader Sadie Dedrick, junior, was most excited for her freshmen to play “64 Squares” because it “teaches them about obstacles and overcoming those obstacles while keeping a positive attitude on the way and trying to find the right path.” One of Link Crew’s goals is to help the freshmen understand that there is a place for each and every one of them. Dr. Ixchel Sanchez, principal, said, “Brea Olinda High School has so many different opportunities for everyone. That is why I’m so excited for Mr. Burns to meet and talk with [the freshmen] because not everyone’s an athlete, not everyone can perform in front of a stage, but we have something for everyone.” One of Link’s missions is to boost the confidence of incoming freshmen. Madeline Thibodeaux, freshman, said, “My Link Leaders,
Brian Defranco and Madison Amparo, helped me become less nervous at the high school and now I’m feeling very confident here.” Each group of two to three LINK members and their freshmen had their own theme for welcome day. Tori Vega, senior, and Michael Melika, junior, decided on a birthday theme. “We got birthday balloons and a bunch of hats. We also made goodie bags for each of the freshmen in our group.” Other groups wore summer shades, Burger King hats, pirate eye patches, or superhero capes while they toured the campus. With each step, the freshmen grew more comfortable in the place that will be their “school for the next four years,” Jazmine Serna, president of Link Crew, stated. “I want them to be proud of it…this is eventually going to be their alma mater so I want them to remember [BOHS] in a good way.” Link Crew ended with a bang by doing the “Let’s get wild!” chant. Freshmen were on their feet cheering side-by-side with the Link Leaders made who this day -- and the many more that will follow this year -- possible.
September 26, 2019 NEWS 3
New year, many ‘ch-ch-anges’
Caltrans Road Work
New policies aim to create a safer campus for students and staff; traffic snarls prevail by GRACE SALUK, CAROLINE DeMASI, BELLA KANG, ANDY JEONG
Closed Campus Policy
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n order to improve the safety and security of BOHS, the Wildcat leadership team came to a decision to put a Closed Campus Policy into action. Starting Aug. 19, changes implemented included alterations in the drop-off and pickup of students; late arrival policies; and the locking of the main gate during school hours. According to Dr. Ixchel Sanchez, principal, the locked gates ensure that strangers don’t wander onto campus, as well as keeping students focused on school and learning. The idea to lock the gates wasn’t a new one. Sanchez said, “Our board put into board policy many years ago, that all of our campuses are ‘closed campuses’; I was just now moving [on to the] next step of enforcing a closed campus.” Sanchez added, “Parents send their children to school not hoping, but knowing, that the school is going to keep them safe, and knowing that they’re going to do everything they can to protect them.” Sanchez acknowledged that, “at the beginning of the school year there were some bumps and bruises… [but now] we’re getting to a better place.” She points out that on the first day of school, “dismissal took almost 38 minutes. But since then, we’ve gotten so much better, now down to 12 minutes.” Shannon Buckles, Brea police officer, pointed out that, “The school implemented these new closed campus rules based on a survey that 4 NEWS September 26, 2019
was done with all of the parents, and they said that school security was their number one concern.” In addition to keeping the school safe from outsiders, a closed campus ensures that students in attendance don’t wander off campus. Phil Henderson, science teacher, has witnessed many changes in safety measures and policy in his 35 at BOHS. Of the closed campus, Henderson said, “I don’t see anything wrong with it. The campus has always been a closed campus. We’re just trying to get a little bit better handle on it, so people don’t come up here willy-nilly and we can control who comes in and out.” He added, “With the way the world is right now, you never know who’s going to come up here and mess around.” For the students who leave before sixth period, it is necessary for them to have a sticker on their ID in order for them to leave. In order to be released, a campus supervisor or an administrator checks the ID to make sure that the student has permission to leave. One of the reasons for the occasional delay in releasing students is when students don’t have their ID, “which holds up the whole process,” Sanchez said. While many students interviewed by the Wildcat admitted annoyance at the delays, most acknowledged that the hold up is either ultimately good for the school, or a minor, tolerable irritation. Adam Cruze, senior, said, “I feel that the closed campus policy...makes everyone’s life more difficult, but at the same time, it’s not something too hard that we can’t get around.” Christian Lukens, senior, parks his vehicle in the back parking lot. “I have to wait for all the parents to pick up their kids at the circle. It’s all
right, but it’s also annoying because they take forever and I end up waiting about ten minutes for everyone to get picked up before I can exit the lot.” In the mornings, students who arrive to school after 8:00 a.m. are locked out and must pass through the main office to collect a tardy note. With this new policy, “there has been a huge decrease in the number of tardies,” Sanchez said. (In years past, students who arrived late were either stopped by a campus supervisor, or proceeded directly to their class and marked tardy at the discretion of their teacher.) Buckles noted that there is also increased vigilance regarding visitors to the campus. Sanchez elaborated, “When visitors come on campus, they must come in through the main office, where they get visitor badges, and they get directed to the correct location. So this way, if parents are on campus, we know they’re on campus because they’ve checked in. They have a visitor badge and we know where they’re going to be.” “School campuses have always been closed campuses,” Buckles said, “but we just haven’t had any means to enforce that, because we have so many areas of access onto the campus we’re trying to restrict the points of entry on campus.” Sanchez feels that, “At the end of the day, [a closed campus] was the right decision because I am held responsible for everyone’s safety -not only our student safety, but our staff and our faculty.” For those who are interested in finding out more information about the closed campus policy, there will be a forum in the PAC at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, where BOUSD will answer questions and address concerns parents may have.
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eavy machinery and a trail of debris line Lambert Road, with signs and cones blocking the far right lanes. The City of Brea approved plans for extensive safety-oriented reconstruction on Lambert Road, one of its most prominent routes for commercial traffic, in May. Concerns regarding potential reconfiguration include the presence of hazards caused by heavy freight traffic in the area. This project includes the widening of Lambert, as well as the widening of both of the southbound off-ramps. A loop connecting Lambert to the northbound on-ramp will be added, which will require the off-ramp to be realigned to accommodate it. These additions and alterations will essentially allow for the imminent increase of freight traffic, which has reached concentrations of up to 17%, to proceed in a safe and orderly way. The expected benefit is improved road safety and reduced traffic congestion. Roadwork undertakings were set into motion by the city in collaboration with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in late August. Construction on the 57 freeway ramps on Lambert were the first part of the process to commence on Aug. 28, and eight phases are projected to be completed by Dec. 2021. As road closures are anticipated to cause delays, BOHS administration advises students trying to reach Wildcat Way from the west to find an alternate route to take in the mornings. According to Ryan Chamberlain, District Director of Caltrans Orange County, “It is critical that we make this route as safe and efficient as possible by reducing congestion INSTAGRAM: @thebohswildcat
and improving its operational performance and longevity.”
New Hall Passes
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aper passes that varied from teacher to teacher have been replaced by official passes in the form a sturdy plastic placard and Wildcat-branded lanyard. The Wildcat leadership team introduced the hall and teacher assistant (TA) passes to better keep track of where students are going when they’re not in class. Before, students would leave a classroom with a paper pass, or no pass at all, and “be gone 20 minutes, 35 minutes,” according to Lisa Santos, campus supervisor. Now, students and teacher assistants use the large plastic passes which makes them easier to identify by staff. The passes also let staff know who is, and who isn’t, part of the BOHS campus. When staff sees a hall pass, they know that the student holding the pass is part of the BOHS community. When security doesn’t see someone holding a pass, they ask them if they are part of BOHS, and if they aren’t, they may be removed from campus. “[We] no longer have random people who don’t belong on campus,” as result of the new security measures, Sanchez said.
New Rally Schedule
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allies used to start at 9:35 a.m, right after second period, but starting this year, rallies now take place after fourth period. In the past, there were many issues where, “ASB members were missing a lot of class time because they had to take time to set up for
a rally, and then they had to take time to clean up the rally,” Sanchez said. This resulted in those students missing crucial class time, thus prompting the moving of rallies to just before lunch. The change allows, “ASB students time within their allotted class time. Because fourth period is ASB to set up and time to tear down after the rally without worrying about missing anything. When the rally released, we were telling students to go to third period, because we ran over through snack. So our students were unable to get a snack” Sanchez said. Other benefits of the revised rally schedule, according to Sanchez, are: “extended lunchtime and less chaos,” and less confusion about which class to attend afterwards, which was an issue in past years.
Honors Lit. Comp. 2 Weighted
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change that has sophomore students rejoicing is the University of California’s approval of the weighting of Honors Literature and Composition 2. This year, the class has a numerical advantage to account for its rigorous curriculum. This change will benefit the sophomores by “[giving] them more motivation to join the class” which would lead to improvement in “advancing and elevating their literacies of the reading and writing, their speaking, [and] their listening” Jonathan Quiming, English teacher, said. Quiming, and Laurel Batchelor, English Department Chair, spearheaded the effort to get the course weighted. Their accomplishment provides a leg up for current sophomore students. According to Edmund Kim, sophomore, the class becoming weighted will “look better on college transcripts” as weighted classes provide GPA boosts.
THE WILDCAT INTERVIEW News Co-Editor Grace Saluk sat down with BOHS principal Dr. Ixchel Sanchez to discuss the closed campus policy and other changes that greeted students and staff on the first day of school. THE WILDCAT: What have you noticed since implementing the new closed campus policy? DR. SANCHEZ: “I noticed that first period tardies have decreased quite a bit. I [also] no longer have random people who don’t belong on campus. We’ve been trying to do a better job of making sure that students who graduated who want to visit their teachers, they schedule appointments. So I feel that’s a benefit.” THE WILDCAT: How would you explain the pros and cons of the closed campus? DR. SANCHEZ: “A pro would be with closing it out, closing the gate and making everyone come in through the main office; they get visitor badges, they get directed to the correct location, and they get help. So this way, if they are on campus, we know they’re on campus because they’ve checked in. They have a visitor badge and we know where they’re going to be. A con would be I’m out every day at lunch, checking IDs. And when I’m not out there and as students forget their ID, it’s hard for them because this hold up the dismisal process.” THE WILDCAT: When did you realize these changes had to be made? DR. SANCHEZ: “At first, I just observed. And I’d walk down in front of the gym, and I noticed that cars would just zip in and drop stuff off and would zip out; people were just in and out. I had adults sleeping in their cars, waiting for their child.” THE WILDCAT: How have parents and students reacted to the changes? DR. SANCHEZ: “Well, my senior class was very upset, and I do not blame them at all. I totally understand their frustrations, because it’s like, ‘Why my year? Couldn’t you wait until next year?’ But then that years class would have been like, ‘Why my year? Couldn’t you have waited until next year?’ So I don’t think there was ever a good time. Some parents absolutely love it. Some parents don’t care for it. They feel as though the way it was before was working just fine. So I understand both points.” THE WILDCAT: Have you achieved what you hope to accomplish by implementing these guidelines? DR. SANCHEZ: “So, the first week was a lot of adjusting and working through some things that didn’t work, and looking at it like, ‘Oh, we could maybe try this. And so every day we were looking at how we can improve it. So now I feel comfortable because I feel like the students have gotten used to the IDs. And the dismissal times have really gone well and smoothly. So yes, I think we’re moving forward. We’re getting to that good place. We’re not quite there, but moving towards it.”
illustrations by JOSIE WINDES Issuu.com: bohswildcat
September 26, 2019 NEWS 5
illustration by HANNAH HERNANDEZ
Closed campus, open minds by NATALIE DiCESARIS, Opinion Co-Editor
Brea Olinda High School’s new closed campus policy was implemented to ensure student and faculty safety, but do these new policies go far enough in keeping us safe? Some of the steps to enforce the closed campus include keeping the front gate locked during school hours; placing security at the front entrance of campus; checking students ID’s; and implementing official hall passes. (You may also have noticed an increased police presence at rallies.) And while these changes have proven to be inconveniences
Locked parking lot and campus gates are the most obvious safety measure enacted by BOHS, but how else are we kept safe on campus every day? 6 OPINION September 26, 2019
for some students and their families, they are a small price to pay to make sure students and staff members are safe from external threats. Consider, some of the most notorious school shooters in U.S. history -- Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine High School in 1999); Nikolas Cruz (Stoneman Douglas HS in 2018); and Dimitrios Pagourtzis (Santa Fe HS in 2018) -- began their rampages by walking through unsecured parking lots and easily-accessed buildings. But while the BOHS campus is secure from outside dangers, are we safe from potential threats from
219-595-2647 Text-a-Tip is a means for students to alert administrators if they witness bullying or other suspicious activity
within the locked gates and Lock Blok’ed classrooms? One thing that Cruz, Pagourtzis, and other teen school shooters have in common is that they experienced bullying by classmates. A study by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education in 2004 “found that nearly three-quarters of school shooters had been bullied or harassed at school.” And the American Counseling Association states that 87% of student perpetrators of violence claimed that their motive for their attack was to get revenge on those who had bullied
them. So now that we have secured the perimeter of BOHS by locking gates and limiting access, we should focus our energy into creating an even more strident anti-bullying environment. Even though BOHS has implemented programs to help students, such as peer support groups like Link Crew and AVID, and is bolstering student morale with WILD card rewards and Student of the Month recognition, students are still being bullied. Walking around campus, going from class to class, I have witnessed too many situations in which students were called names or literally pushed around. Dr. Ixchel Sanchez, principal, is taking a proactive approach to bullying. “We do, hopefully, try our best to make sure that if it’s brought to our attention, that we look into it, and we investigate it, because bullies are not acceptable,” Sanchez said. Because bullying will probably never entirely go away, we do have tools to help combat it. BOHS has Text-a-Tip, which allows students to anonymously report cases of bullying or suspicious activity on campus. Sanchez also proposed that if students are having difficulties with other students that they go and seek help from their counselor. BOHS administrators have made it clear that one of their main focuses is to keep students safe while they are learning. I believe that our campus is becoming safer, but we can still do more to ensure the safety for all. Unfortunately, the reality is that no school can ever be 100% safe, but BOHS has proactively taken some necessary precautions. And what can you do? Report bullying and suspicious activity with Text-a-Tip, or share your suspicions with a teacher, counselor, or administrator.
42%
of high schools nationwide host a sworn law enforcement officer like Officer Shannon Buckles of the Brea PD INSTAGRAM: @thebohswildcat
Back To School TingZ
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by MAKAYLA HUERTA
September 26, 2019 OPINION 7
Meet the New Wildcats!
Along with new policies and a new freshman class, there are also some new faces amongst the BOHS staff. One thing they have in common: a passion for education. And they’ve already been rewarded for their dedication to the BOHS community. Bill Mings, Visual and Applied Arts and ROP teacher said, “I had a student come up to me after class and say that he felt that I was a teacher who cared and he appreciated that. And that was probably about the highest compliment I could be paid as a teacher.” Now that’s the Wildcat way.
Kristyn Essig
Special Education Teacher
Steven Brown
Special Education Teacher
Bill Mings
Visual and Applied Arts/ROP Teacher
Adrienne Thomas Assistant Principal
Eric Barrientos Assistant Principal
Naomi Liu
Japanese Teacher
BACK TO SCHOOL Welcome back, Wildcats! It’s been a memorable first month of school already with a WILD! rally, sports dominance in the pool, on the field, and along the trails, but it’s not to late to welcome new faces to BOHS, impart some veteran wisdom on each class, recommend the perfect test-prep play list, and warn our student body about those behaviors that drive our teachers crazy. by TIFFANEY YANG and CLARA LEE, Feature Co-Editors illustrations by JOSIE WINDES photographs by ISABELLA ABALOS, MARISSA ARNOLD, ALEXIS ALEXANDER, MIRANDA MIRAZ, PAM VALENTI, CLAIRE SEO
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, the stereotype goes, are prone to misbehavior and are easily distracted. But while this might not be entirely true, there are some “small” things that, while not very irritating to the average person, can be dreadful nuisances to teachers. Here are some of the BOHS staff’s pet peeves (and behaviors to avoid, Wildcats!)
TEACHER PET PEEVES
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“Air Pods.” ALEX KOERS English Teacher
“Things being thrown across the room.” BRITTANY EATON History Teacher “Bottle flipping.” LIAH KIM Math Teacher
Playing Clash of Clans in class. AMANDA HEFNER English Teacher
“When I ask [a student] something in Spanish and they answer in English.” CARLOS CAMEY Spanish Teacher
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Advice from... in the
Those
Know
Wildcat staffers and BOHS veterans Tiffaney Yang, Bella Kang, and Clara Lee drop knowledge.
9/Freshmen
Be More Involved
Get involved in clubs, organizations, and be as involved at school as you can be. The only way to get out of your comfortable “bubble” is to leave your comfort zone and take advantage of the many programs activities offered at BOHS.
Make it Count!
Freshman year grades matter! Iffy ninth grade grades aren’t going to make you stand out, especially when it’s getting more and more competitive to get into four-year schools. The last thing you want is this year’s grades haunting you on your college apps!
Create Routines
Use your agenda to keep track of homework assignments and due dates. High school is just beginning, so try to make healthy habits permanent. With a light workload, you should be able to sleep early and keep yourself, your backpack, and your binders organized. You will have an easier time transitioning into the more difficult years ahead of you if you create a foundation of routines this year.
Ask Questions!
Whether in class or out, there are a lot of people -- counselors, teachers, upperclassmen, Link Crew -- and resources that can help you out.
10/Sophomores
Challenge Yourself
You might be taking your first AP class this year so make sure to stay on top of your studies. Although these higher level classes can be demanding, they’re can be extremely rewarding if you put in the effort.
Take Pre-Tests!
Take the PSAT for both the possibility of getting the National Merit Scholarship and getting to know the SAT format. If the ACT is more your style, take the pre-ACT, too.
Get in Driver’s Seat
Once you are at least 15 and a half, you are able to sign up for a Drivers Ed class! The sooner you begin, the easier it will be to get around high school in your next two years.
Start with Service
Simply volunteering at a local shelter, or even creating a service project with your friends, will benefit both you and your community greatly. With at least 100 hours of service, you’ll be able to walk with a white cord at graduation.
Find Yourself
The way you learn most effectively may be completely different from your peers, so develop study habits and structures that work best for you. This year will also be marked by a lot of growth...embrace the change!
11/Juniors Connect!
Get to know your teachers and counselors well as this year is an important one for establishing connections and strengthening support systems! Your teachers and counselors should know you well enough to guide you on the best possible path.
Take the Tests!
Check out the SAT and ACT test calendars and sign-up for the exams ASAP. Some good news: BOHS is a testing center, so you won’t have to travel far to take your tests.
12/Seniors Fight Senioritis
Despite the urge, don’t give up just yet! Your first semester (and in some cases, quarter) grade are still important to colleges. If you plan on taking AP tests, pass them in order to earn college credits!
Be Resourceful
Make sure to research the resources available to you, such as scholarships, FAFSA, and other systems. Ask your counselor for help and guidance.
Get WILD!
Find a general direction that interests you or reflects your passions. From there, you can find some volunteer opportunities and internships in that field to test the waters and refine your path for your future.
This is your last year of high school, so get involved in senior dress-up days and other spirit activities. Join the Den at football games and cheer on your favorite sports teams. Attend dances and performing arts shows. Make a lot of memories to cherish long after you graduate.
Take the PSAT
Play the ‘Game’
Do Your Research
By taking the PSAT as a junior, you are automatically entered into the running for the National Merit Scholarship. It’s an easy-access opportunity that you do not want to pass up!
Visit Colleges
Make a short-list of your top schools and plan Fall and Spring trips with your family. It’s a great opportunity to find the best fit for you, and travel.
College applications can be very tedious and time-consuming, so get a head start. Also, do your teachers a favor by asking them early on for recommendation letters. This will benefit you in the long run as work begins to pile on. As you face the admissions process, remember that your dream college may not end up being the perfect fit for you. So keep your options open and apply to, and visit, a few prospective colleges.
JAMS 2 CRAM 2
At times, studying and working can be improved by turning on a background track and getting into a more focused state-ofmind. Some Wildcats gave us a peek into their playlists and shared those songs that help them ace their tests.
“If I Can’t Have You” - Shawn Mendes; “Are You Bored Yet?” - Wallows; “Imagine” - John Lennon; “Nobody Hangs Out” - Buddhe Trixie; “Phases” - PRETTYMUCH; “La La Land” - Bryce Vine; “Stronger” - Kelly Clarkson; “9 to 5” Dolly Parton; “New House” - Rex Orange County; “For Lovers Who Hesitate” - Jannabi; “Twice” - Fancy; “Peachy!” - Wine and Roses; “Sincerely Yours” - Iamsu!; “Goodbyes” - Post Malone
September 26, 2019 CENTERSPREAD 9
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TRENDS
“I was in Walmart, it was ten dollars, and all my friends can match basically.”
Back(Pack) to the Future W by MELEA ALTERMATT and KATIE KUDRON, Trends Co-Editors
e took pride in our new brand new backpacks when we began elementary school. Whether it was our favorite show, character, or movie, backpacks were a way for us to express what we loved. For some seniors this year, childhood nostalgia is hitting them hard and backpacks featuring childhood characters like animals or favorite Disney Princesses is trending at BOHS. Why are kids’ backpacks trending at BOHS? In her article “How Backpack Trends Shape a Kid’s Social Life,” Alia Wong reasons that, “Backpacks bridge the distance between school and home, shuttling homework and lunch boxes...in between the two most important places in a kid’s life.” Backpacks are a constant factor in life for kids all the way to high schoolers, and backpacks like senior Tori Vega’s Victorious backpack exemplifies the school/home connection. Vega shares a special connection with her
backpack: the main character of the show Victorious is also named Tori Vega. How perfect is that? Megan Coday, senior, shared that the reason behind choosing her kid backpack was based off of a childhood memory. The backpack “reminds me of a Disney Princess CD player I had when I was six and I threw a temper tantrum and I threw it at the TV and it broke and I never got to see it again,” Coday said. Walk through the quad at lunch and you’ll spot backpacks displaying classic childhood TV shows such as Paw Patrol, Victorious, Bubble Guppies, Trolls, and more. Instead of choosing the ubiquitous Jansport bag, or the trendy Fjällräven Kånken backpacks, some seniors are choosing bags made for children to live out their final year of childhood before they reach adulthood. However, some students, like Bryce Clark, senior, choose their backpacks, not out of nostalgia, but simply for fun. Clark and his friend group decided to get matching animal
“We chose the backpacks as a senior thing; it’s sort of like a tradition for all the seniors [to] get the tiny backpacks and little kids’ backpacks. Our whole friend group got a bunch of small ones.”
BRIAN BURTON senior
“My friends and I, we all did it together. and Paw Patrol really stuck out to me.”
LINDSEY LONG senior
Issuu.com: bohswildcat
BRYCE CLARK senior Dorado, Rosary Academy, and Esperanza do not contribute to this trend, and a search of the hashtag “kidsbackpacks” leads to businesses selling bags, not teens sporting them on their high school campuses. (Chino Hills High School appears to be the only local high school that also participates in the trend.) Seniors of the class of 2019 decided in their last year of childhood that they would come full circle by choosing backpacks meant mainly for children. Whether due to nostalgia, a feeling of connection to home, or just for goofy fun, BOHS’s seniors are having fun engaging in this unique trend. “It reminds me of a Disney Princess CD player I had when I was six. I threw a tantrum and threw the CD player at the TV and it broke. So I wanted [the backpack] to reminisce about the Disney CD player. This literally the exact same design as the player.”
“Me and my buddy were at Walmart and we needed a backpack [and] we saw a bunch of these and we were like, “Let’s get the boys in on it” because there were like eight [kids’ backpacks]. So I got the pretty kitty and my friend got the giraffe.”
“A few of my friends last year that were seniors had kid backpacks, so I thought I’d just keep on their tradition.”
ETHAN PARISH senior
backpacks for their last year in high school. Senior Brian Burton chose a bumblebee bag; Brian DeFranco, senior, chose a kitten; and Clark chose a shark. Collectively, the three bags form a herd of animal backpacks in one friend group. Burton mentioned this trend had already been a tradition for himself and his friends, originating last year with the graduating class of 2019. According to Nadia Fox, French teacher, “It’s been more of a recent situation. I’ve seen students in the past [with kid backpacks], but within the last one or two years, I’ve seen more and more kids following that trend.” On a normal school day, it is common to see dozens of students walking around with these childlike backpacks. But this trend of childhood-inspired packs seems to be unique to BOHS. Neighboring schools like El
TORI VEGA senior “The main character [in Victorious] is named Tori Vega, so I thought it would be perfect!”
BRIAN DeFRANCO senior
MEGAN CODAY senior
September 26, 2019 TRENDS 11
photos by ALEXIS ALEXANDER and ISABELLA ABALOS
MAKING ‘MAGIC’: (clockwise from top left) Karina Prieto, junior; rehearses a song for Masquerade’s “Fall Magic” set; Moriah Slone and Madyson Miguel, seniors, sing from sheet music; Cayla Guili, freshman, sings during rehearsal for Masquerade; Spellbound sings along to piano music
‘Magic’ comes to BOHS this Fall Wildcat choirs unite to rehearse for annual ‘Fall Magic’ concert
by GRACIE WILSON 12 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT September 26, 2019
United Choirs of Brea (UCB) is currently rehearsing for their first show of the season, “Fall Magic.” UCB consists of Tiffany’s (all-female intermediate), Spellbound (all-female advanced), Masquerade (co-ed advanced), Chamber (traditional choir singers), and Thundercats (all-male). “Usually in class, we work on our medley music,” Madyson Miguel, a fiveyear veteran of choir, said about rehearsals for the show. “On Monday, Wednesday and Friday we work our music. On Tuesday and
Thursday we work on our dances..” But to produce a large-scale, professional-quality production, a lot of work happens behind the scenes as well. “We have a tech rehearsal where we put it all together and figure out where things are going and which acts are in between each medley,” Miguel said. Tech rehearsals are rehearsals before a show with microphones, lighting, and props. UCB’s “Fall Magic” debuts on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., and continues through Saturday, Oct. 5, with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. INSTAGRAM: @thebohswildcat
WILDCAT WATER POLO
TREADING TO SUCCESS: At left, Kyle Murata, girls’ varsity water polo head coach, explains the next play to the JV/varsity training group. Murata was appointed to position last Spring. At right, boys’ head coach Damien Madrigal demonstrates a drill to the varsity team. Madrigal has led the team this season to a record of 9-2 (at press time). photos by ALEXIS ALEXANDER
Water polo welcomes new duo to deck by TORI TORRES, Sports Co-Editor
From learning the eggbeater kick, scoring their first goal, to executing a game plan, water polo players needed coaches that can provide guidance and encouragement. After Stan Sprague resigned from the pool deck last Spring, BOHS looked to Kyle Murata to take over as girls’ varsity head coach, and Damian Madrigal to lead boys’ varsity. The boys are in the midst of their season and have a record of 9-2, already equaling last year’s win total of 9 (against 14 losses). They are currently ranked fourth in CIFSouthern Section Division 5. Led by captain Dominic Chacon, senior, the boys have their first league match against Foothill High School on Oct. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Part-reason for this season’s success is Madrigal, a Long Beach City College (LBCC) graduate who played water polo for 12 years at Servite High School and LBCC. His eight years of coaching experience at the high school and club levels have prepared him for his first season at BOHS. Issuu.com: bohswildcat
Daniel Franks, sophomore, has had Madrigal as a coach for both high school and club. “[Madrigal] has changed my belief in myself… and he’s brought that confidence out in me,” Franks said. Madrigal has instilled a change in how his players see the game and how they see themselves in the sport in terms of using their specific skills, such as scoring, attacking, and blocking, to win games. Although early in the season, Chacon has noticed a new energy in the players, which he attributes to his new coach. “We listen and retain the information that Madrigal teaches us,” Chacon said. The boys’ success not only lies in their coach, but also in each other. Josh Lopez, senior and varsity goalie, has been a force in goal, limiting Wildcat opponents to only 10 goals per game. On the offensive end, the entire team is responsible for scoring goals. “There isn’t really one player who outshines the rest because everyone has their own piece [or asset] that gives them their advantage,” Chacon
said. On the girls’ side, Murata, a University of Redlands graduate, previously was the assistant coach for the Wildcats and was mentored by Sprague. Sprague coached at BOHS for 10 years and was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1997 for his contributions to National Team coaching. “He helped show me the ropes of how everything’s supposed to be done, so it’s given me a solid foundation of [what a] successful season is supposed to look like,” Murata said. In order to further the success of the girls’ team, coming off an overall record of 15-11 and league record 2-1, Murata has a plan for the off-season:“ Training hard in swim season, that’s really the time where we are able to get that advantage against other teams and set ourselves up for success come winter.” Both coaches have certain expectations and lessons that they want their players to take away from the water polo program, such as learning to work as a team. It is
also crucial for the players to “have a solid understanding of the game of water polo, and hopefully they’ve had some fun and made some lifelong friendships along the way,” Murata said. Murata keeps the rewarding part of being a coach in mind. “I’ve seen the growth, from when they’re young freshmen, [to] by the time they’re seniors, they’re basically adults and it’s cool to see that maturity and personal growth both in and out of the water,” Murata said. Kaitlyn Pasillas, senior, is a player that Murata has witnessed grow throughout her career at BOHS. He has influenced her to look beyond high school and to think about a future career in college. “I was questioning wanting to play in college until him and he pushed me to do that,” Pasillas said. Both Murata and Madrigal are making a positive impact on their players. “I love every second of having Madrigal as a coach. He cares [about us],” Franks said. September 26, 2019 SPORTS 13
Anatomy of a letter jacket (BOHS-style) by ALLIE HALUSKA, Sports Co-Editor
O
n any given school day, strolling across the quad, numerous letter jackets can be seen, draped over shoulders or worn by their proud owners. These deep green woolen jackets with smooth leather sleeves are an important part of the student life at BOHS, but what are they for? Why do our studentathletes walk the halls of BOHS with these bulky jackets slung over their shoulders, even on the hottest of days? It all began in Cambridge, Mass. Harvard baseball wanted a way to acknowledge their star players for their hard work and athletic prowess, so in 1865 they awarded their varsity players with a wool sweater with a large “H”, front and center. However, only their best player got to keep the sweater at the end of the season. The coaches dubbed the keepers of these jackets “The Lettermen.” This coveted sweater compelled their players to work harder with the hopes of earning one. Their team captains got a star embroidered on their sweaters, and each year of earning a letter, the players would get a stripe added to the sleeve. A decade later, in 1875, the Harvard football team also adopted the Letterman program. They made the program an exclusive club, an added motivation for the team’s players. The gridiron team’s Lettermen proudly wore their sweaters, showing off the hard work and athletic ability that led to a national championship that year. The letter jacket eventually spread into high schools. The first reported picture of a high schooler with a letter jacket was taken in 1911, and appeared in Phoenix Union High School’s yearbook. And some time in the early 20th century, the style evolved from the woolen sweater into a wool jacket with leather sleeves.
JARED BUYS
MIA DOUGE
senior
senior
cross country track and field BACK Embroidered “Douge” 2018 State Championships CIF Finals X3 2018 CIF Championship First Team All-League X2 Bible verse: “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”
baseball R. SLEEVE jersey number position CHEST Wildcat logo Embroidered “baseball” varsity letter baseball patch captain’s star patch L. SLEEVE 2020 patch BACK Embroidered “Buys”
photos by ALEXIS ALEXANDER
In the 1930’s, more intricate patches, also known as chenilles, were designed for, and sewn on, the jackets. Now, in today’s retro-fashion culture, letter jackets are as popular as ever. Found in high schools around the country, including BOHS, they still hold a certain prestige and respect. There’s a reason our varsity athletes proudly walk the halls with these historic jackets. Jessica Woody, junior, says that lettering in water polo “was a proud moment” for her, a moment commemorated on her patch-adorned jacket. Woody says that her letter is a symbol of something she’s been wanting since she started water polo. As a freshman, Woody set goals for herself, and one of those was to “letter by sophomore year,” and the fact that she did that for a sport she started only in high school “was huge.” Woody’s jacket shows off her two CIF playoff patches and her sports medicine patch, on display below her last name which is embroidered in large letters. Lee Bullock, sophomore, says
The letterman’s jacket tradition dates back to the 19th century, originating with the Harvard baseball team in 1865. Pictured below, a BOHS student-athlete in a letter jacket in 1959 from the Gusher yearbook, and an athlete and cheerleader from 1946.
that his letter jacket allows for him to “show off [his] growth as both an athlete [and] a person.” It’s not just a jacket to throw on in cold weather, although as Lee stated, his letter jacket is “very warm.” Bullock lettered as a freshman, and proudly sports his league championship patch earned during water polo season last year. The letter jacket has undergone many changes throughout the years, but it is still as popular and prestigious as ever. Cheer have their own jackets, and for each year on varsity they can get a bow, heart, or chevron on the sleeve. And letter jackets aren’t just for athletes anymore, as performing arts, such as our band, choir, and dance production students, sport the leathersleeves as well. Students dedicate countless hours to their activities everyday in hopes of earning a chenille “BO” letter of their own. The opportunity to be recognized for one’s achievement -- in academics, performing arts, and athletics -- by the patch- and medal-laden jackets has made BOHS’s students work harder and aspire to be better.
sources: kvvarsity.com, traditioneversince.com, the Gusher, historydaily.org, highsnobiety.com 14 SPORTS September 26, 2019
INSTAGRAM: @thebohswildcat
WILDCATS FOOTBALL
photos courtesy of JULIE MARQUEZ; bottom row middle photo by MIRANDA MIRAZ BACK IN ACTION: (clockwise from top left) The Wildcat defense piles on top of a Valencia running back on Sept. 6; Hunter Southern, junior, punishes a Sonora Raider on Aug. 30; Ulises Reveles, senior, leads pre-game stretches before a game with Ryan Reagins, sophomore; Aidan Toms, senior, is congratulated by Chase King, junior, during the Sept. 13 game against Sunny Hills; Christian Steward, senior, picks up a loose ball and looks to return it up field against Valencia; quarterback Justus Thongprachanh prepares to throw down field as Valencia defenders close in.
Steward’s 4 TD’s lift Wildcats over FHS by ZACHARY YBARRA, Sports Co-Editor
“W
e need to be mentally tough...it’s a long, grueling season. Physically we are prepared, but we need to constantly stay ahead of the grind, mentally,” Robb Perrance, head coach, said. It was that mental toughness, and a barrage of touchdowns and yardage by senior Christian Steward, that led the Wildcats to a 28-15 win over Fullerton High School, and a 3-1 record. To no one’s surprise, Steward was the MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Game after scoring all of the Wildcat’s points against Fullerton, which included a 99-yard kickoff return, a 71-yard touchdown Issuu.com: bohswildcat
reception, a rushing touchdown, and 298 yards of total offense. Perrance acknowledged even before the game that his team is “very talented.” That talent was on full display against the Indians. Quarterback Justus Thongphrachanh, sophomore, completed 13 of 16 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. And on the defensive side of the ball, Noah Vonburger, junior, and seniors Austin Saucedo and Eugene Kim, combined for 33 of the Wildcats’ 90 tackles; and Luke Sherman, senior, notched two of the teams’ season high seven sacks. The win followed a Sept. 23 loss to Sunny Hills High School,
17-10. The Lancers’ ground attack netted 237 rushing yards, while their defense held the Wildcats to 198 yards in the air and on the ground, combined. Ethan Parish, senior, acknowledged that the Wildcats weren’t at full strength. “That was a good game and we played our best, but some of our teammates were injured [who] would have made a big difference,” Parish said. Parish was a standout on defense with 19 tackles, 14 of them solo, in the loss. While Steward’s offensive explosion against Fullerton will be talked about for years to come, another memorable outcome was the Wildcats come-from-behind win
against the Valencia Tigers on Sept. 6. The Wildcats prevailed, 27-26, despite being down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Stewards 219 all-purpose yards, including a kickoff return for a 97 yard touchdown, led the offense. Defensively, George Gomez had a pair of sacks, while Kim brought down 10 Tigers with solo tackles. Through the four games, Thongphrachanh, has been a steady presence on offense, completing 45 of 68 passes for 557 passing yards, throwing three touchdowns, and rushing for another two. Next up for the Wildcats is the undefeated Ayala Bulldogs, who bring their 4-0 record to BOHS on Friday at 7 p.m. September 26, 2019 SPORTS 15
photo courtesy of JULIE MARQUEZ
