THE NIGHTHAWK NOTE:
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
The Talon a bird’s eye view
content news 2
Informing you about what’s happening at Del Norte
STORIES FROM JAPAN, ISTANBUL, AND ISRAEL
Del Norte High School
Volume 3 | Issue 2 | December 19, 2014
NEW FACES IN THE FLOCK SPOTLIGHT ON THE NEWEST NIGHTHAWK TEACHERS
features 4
BY ASHI SHRIVASTAVA
Mr. Lantsberger-AP Computer Science
Highlighting the distinctive Del Norte culture
opinions 5
Shedding light on Del Norte’s voice on both local and global issues
sports 8
Taking an indepth look at the Nighthawk’s athletics
arts & styles 11 Reporting on Del Norte’s artistic side
submissions by SAHBA MOBINI
Ms. Buehler-Math
Mr. Coleman-AP Studio Art Mr. Coleman is rejoining the Del Norte family after two years away. He is overjoyed to be able to come back to “the best school in the best district in the nation.” Mr. Coleman loves everything about Del Norte: the administration, the staff, the students, the district, the campus, and more. This enthusiastic teacher has been teaching for 15 years. He’s teaching Art classes, like Drawing and Painting, Design Mixed Media, and AP Studio Art. Fun Fact: Mr. Coleman was actually a signed musician on Capital Records in the late 1990’s. Mr. Lantsberger is the college prep and AP Computer Science teacher. Mr. Lantsberger arrived here from Italy just two days before school started. Despite this difficulty, he is grateful that “so many people have offered to help in personal and professional ways.” Mr. lantsberger says that his favorite thing about Del Norte is the “large, active student body.” Mr. Lantsberger is on his 14th year of teaching math. Fun Fact: Mr. Lantsberger was a touring musician for many years. Ms. Smedley is the newest addition to Del Norte’s science department. She’s been teaching for 20 years in PUSD and has taught a range of courses including Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Oceanography, and Physical Science. Though she has had difficulty adjusting to our unique trimester schedule, Ms. Smedley’s favorite part about Del Norte is our beautiful campus and “top-notch” students. Fun Fact: Ms. Smedley traveled the world chasing eclipses.
Ms. Smolonsky-Photography Ms. Volger is our new Civics and AP European Civilization teacher. After struggling to adjust to the technology we have at our school, she finds that students “are motivated and more willing to learn.” Fun fact: Ms. Volger played varsity volleyball at La Jolla High School. Ms. Buehler, the newest addition to Del Norte’s math department, has been teaching various math courses over the past 24 years. At first, Ms. Buehler had a difficult time getting accustomed to all the technology Del Norte offers, such as smart boards and the websites. Despite this, Ms. Buehler likes the “feeling of inclusiveness” evident at Del Norte. Fun Fact: Ms. Buehler is an excellent mirror image cursive writer and she also enjoys to geocache on hikes. Ms. South had been teaching math for 6 years before coming to the
Nest. The easiest adjustment to teaching at Del Norte is working with the students, their good personalities and their eagerness to learn. With regards to the staff, Ms. South says, “They are so welcoming and they have smiles for you everyday.” Fun Fact: Ms. South loves being outside. She finds the beach and the mountains rejuvenating places to be. Ms. Goulet, the new academic success and physics teacher, finds the students at our school to be driven, willing, and optimistic. The most challenging part was adjusting to the fast-paced trimester schedule. She says, “I can’t believe we’re almost at the halfway point already!” Fun Fact: Once, Ms. Goulet accidentally rammed a six-person bicycle into a parked truck. Her simple explanation for the fiasco was “inertia.” Mrs. Ayres is another new teacher in the Social Sciences department. She currently teaches APEC and will be taking on more history classes in the upcoming trimesters. This is her 10th year teaching and she’s most excited over the students’ spirit, motivation, and willingness to learn. The hardest part of her move was leaving her old school, because she loved it there; coming here was a risk. Fun Fact: Ms. Ayres has marched in the two largest parades in the country in the same year (2000). As of press time, other additions to the Nighthawk Nest include: Ms. Kozuchowski (math), Mr. McCreary (social science), Ms. Smolonsky (fine arts), and Ms. Good (language).
News
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DEL NORTE TALON Del Norte High School 16601 Nighthawk Lane San Diego, CA 92127 Advisors: Danie Schelhorse Lori Matthews (858) 487-0877 dschelhorse@powayusd.com
THE MISSION Our mission is to inform and entertain the Del Norte community with a well-written and factually sound newspaper. As a student-run organization, The Talon aims to report on issues relevant to Del Norte students, prompting the discussion that serves as a catalyst for growth. The Talon pledges to repect the opinions of all and seeks to encourage the diversity inherent in the Del Norte community.
THE EDITORS Hannah Glover EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jeena Lee Benjamin Li Ashi Shrivastava Revati Thatte EDITORS Aishwarya Kudrimoti Joshua Lee DESIGN EDITORS Chelsea Song PRINCIPAL ARTIST Andrew Childers Brian Seikkula FINANCE MANAGERS THE CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Noah Brown Tina Chen Gurleen Gill Nikki Hardiman Joaquin Hernandez Kelly Huynh Brandon Huynh
Chinmayi Pandya Connor Ridge Manisha Seelam Anna Tian Linda Yang
THE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ammar Alsaeid Mallory Broberg Noah Brown Ahana Chakraborty Nick Diprima Ben Freidl Guneet Gill Hannah Glover Mallie Green Joaquin Hernandez Josh LeBow Leigh Levinson
Nicholas Li Benjamin Li Morgan Moody Maddy Noet Simi Panda Flora Park Melanie Ross Mason Shields Ashi Shrivastava Giuliana Squeo Tina Ye Nadia Zafar
The Talon is the official newspaper of Del Norte High School, and is published by Del Norte Networks. The views expressed in The Talon do not necessarily repesent the opinions of Del Norte High School administration or the PUSD Board of Education. Unsigned editorials reflect the beliefs of The Talon editorial board. The Talon is a collaborative effort with Del Norte Network, and applications for prospective members are always available. Letters to the editors are welcome and should be signed. For advertising rates or information please call, email, or write The Talon at the address above.
DECEMBER 2014
The Talon
FOOD, FUN, AND FUNDS A LOOK INTO DEL NORTE’S CLUB CARNIVAL AND HOW CLUBS USE WHAT THEY EARN BY TINA YE
Club Carnival is a fun 2-3 day event during lunch in December when sudents have the opportunity to enjoy good food while supporting their school community. It is a way for Del Norte affiliated clubs to earn money by selling food to the school. Many clubs on campus depend on Club Carnival to raise funds for their activities. Clubs usually have an idea of what their money is going towards months before the actual event. This year, various clubs had different ideas regarding how to use their money including repairing school equipment, funding on-campus events, and entering competitions. Members of Del Norte UNICEF plan to use their money to prepare for next year’s Trick or Treat for UNICEF event. Club president Casey Zhang (12) mentions: “We raised around $100 during Club Carnival last year, but hopefully we can do better this year. Most of our money will go towards preparing for the trickor-treating event, and we usually donate the rest of the money to UNICEF’s national fund.” For Club Carnival, members of Del Norte’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) are planning to sell baklava, a Middle Eastern dessert that is a flaky pastry covered in syrup and occasionally some nuts. “We want to be more active on campus this year,” says club co-president Hannah Elarabawy (11), “so we will most likely use the money to coordinate on-campus events.” Abhi Nathan (11), president of Model United Na-
tions, a club that goes to interschool conferences and simulates actual model United Nations committees, hopes the money can be used to pay for competition fees: “Each delegate that wants to go usually pays their own fee and we usually split the school fee as a club, so the money from Club Carnival will help us a lot.” Del Norte’s Robotics Team Optix 3739, which has already paid their entrance fee for the First Robotics Competition (FRC), will be using the money to buy supplies. “From past carnivals, we have raised $100 to $200 to buy supplies such as tape, a new computer, and various parts to build our robot. This year, we hope to raise around the same amount since we need at least $5000, which we mostly get from corporate sponsors. The money will go to creating a website and buying various supplies that the team needs,” says Sonali Carlton (11),Vice President of the club. The money raised from Club Carnival is very important for the functionality of Del Norte’s numerous clubs. Students of Del Norte can help these clubs achieve their goals by participating in this exciting event. Food, funds, and fun—what could be better?
TEAMING UP TO GAIN LAUGHS LOOKING CLOSER AT DEL NORTE’S IMPROV CLUB BY MADDY NOET Del Norte’s Improv Club, le by Max Rojas and Cory Lane, performed on December 5 to a full house. The Improv team practices for shows every Wednesday during tutorial in preparation for each big event. Improvisation requires quickwit, on-the-spot thinking, and guts. However, one thing that people may not expect is the teamwork put into improv. Each member of the team must work together, becoming a cohesive unit. The chemistry and synchronization that is born from this
teamwork is integral to inspiring laughter. The Del Norte Improv Team utilizes this teamwork while simultaneously countering each other’s jokes. Like other teams, they challenge each other with improv games to become better and learn from their peers’ mistakes and experiences. A few of the more seasoned members complete the challenges with ease, while the newbies have to warm up to performing these games onstage. As an audience mem-
ber, you can shout out random words, names, or phrases for the Improv Team to use in skits and jokes. Whether it be Max’s quick rhyme in response to Cory’s clever pun or a impromptu skit centered around a crowd-created name or character, Improv’s December show was yet another spectacular demonstration of humor and hoopla. Improv practices are just as side-splitting as their larger shows, so be sure to watch the hilarity ensue every Wednesday during tutorial in the PAC.
The Talon
DECEMBER 2014
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TEACHING POLITICS TO YOUNG STUDENTS
A DEEPER LOOK AT YOUTH POLITICAL AWARENESS
BY AHANA CHAKRABORTY Seniors Justin Shin, Christa Hoffman, Sam Haber, Amy Nickolay, and Andrew Childers created YPA (Youth Political Awareness) in order to educate and excite young students about government and politics. So far, they have visited seven classrooms and received endorsements from a variety of public officials such as Scott Peters. PAC stands for a Political Action Committee, and historically, PACs have been utilized in order to get around campaign finance laws and fund campaigns. At Del Norte, however, the focus is a little different. YPA began over the summer after Justin Shin received federal approval to start up the PAC, and it was created to educate and excite young students about government and politics, thereby fostering higher rates of civic engagement. “I joined because I believe that ignorance of political and government issues causes the huge
partisanship and divide that we are seeing all over the country right now,” says Director of Recruitment and Education Christa Hoffman. “Most of the time, I see that a lot of the people who are on the extremes of each side of an issue are sometimes the least informed.” YPA receives endorsements from major public officials like
PC: MATT SANTOS
Congressmen, Senators, the District Superintendent, etc. By publicly supporting YPA, these officials lend credibility to the program. The endorsements also allow for the organization to garner further public recognition, a result of association with important figures like Scott Peters. In order to make more kids
aware of YPA, members visit different classrooms at various schools and organize activities that incorporate political concepts, such as checks and balances and the balance of power. Middle school students are prepared for a mock midterm election by learning about the different propositions and candidates they would be voting on. So far, YPA has visited seven classrooms: four at Stone Ranch Elementary School and three at Bernardo Heights Middle School. As far as high school participation goes, students hoping to join YPA need not have prior extensive knowledge on politics. “We do not exactly have set requirements, as we read each application holistically,” says Vice-Chairman and Chief of Staff Sam Haber. If you are interested, contact Christa Hoffman at christahoffman@ypapac.org or Andrew Childers at andrewchilders@ ypapac.com.
AMBASSADOR INFLUENCE DEL NORTE SPREADS POSITIVITY TO FUTURE NIGHTBY AHANA CHAKRABORTY DNHS Ambassadors, seniors focused on the character development and academic achievement of younger students in the school district, visit “feeder schools”(elementary and middle schools where the students could be future Nighthawks in the future) and give life lessons. One of the most prestigious recognitions of outstanding performance and character at Del Norte is the Ambassadors program. Seniors are nominated by a teacher, and then partake in an interview with past Ambassadors and the Ambassador program’s advisor. Of the multiple seniors nominated, eleven are selected. This year’s Ambassadors are Murray Andrews, Gillian Gilbert, Christa Hoffman, Jourdan Jackson, Austin Kindig, Sibongile Makatini, Justin Morris, Takuma Maruo, Abeygail Panganiban, Ashi Shrivastava, and Erik Smith. Ambassadors focus mainly on building Character Counts and nurturing a drive for academic success. They visit elementary schools and bestow the students with the Ambassadors’ motto S.O.A.R. (Success through Outstanding Achievement with Respect). As of now, they have visited two elementary schools. At Monterey Ridge Elementary School, the Ambassadors’ main focus was the six character pillars: Fairness, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Caring, Citizenship and Respect. Adrita Chakraborty, a 4th grader at MRES, says that “It was very exciting to see high school students lecture us about good character. One of the Ambassadors, Justin, was pretty cool and really helpful. I think the whole school learned something that day.” The Ambassadors’ personal character development and success inspires younger students to emulate the same quality. During Red Ribbon Week, the Ambassadors visited Stone Ranch Elementary School and performed a small “balloon man” skit that advised students to avoid indulging
in peer pressure and to say no to drugs. Younger students, especially in today’s society, often yearn for another hand to reach out to, a person to call. With the Ambassadors program, the students receive opportunities to interact with older and wiser high schoolers, thus widening their outlook on life. “I remember when ambassadors from RB came to my school when I was in 4th grade, and thinking about how cool it would be to do that when I was in high school,” says Ambassador Christa Hoffman (12). “It’s an honor to be selected as an ambassador because it reflects that I have good character, which is something to be proud of,” mentions Justin Morris (12). “It’s fulfilling to know that you can make a difference in your community by spreading a positive message, like having good character.” Great character and a love for academic success can be achieved at any age if one is willing to cultivate these attributes, as demonstrated by Hoffman, Morris, and the other Ambassadors.
Features
DECEMBER 2014
The Talon
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featured poem TO SUBMIT CREATIVE WRITING ENTRIES TO THE DEL NORTE TALON, EMAIL: HANNAHQUILLEN33@GMAIL.COM
THE ENTRY FOR ISSUE 3 WILL BE SELECTED IN JANUARY 2015.
WARNING BY BENJAMIN LI
Long ago, I was a young tree. I lived among a family of trees With the spirited animals around me to keep me company. I watched the fish swim laps in the nearby pond. I watched the squirrels play hide-and-seek under my fallen leaves. I watched the birds sit along my branches. I watched the bears lie beside my roots. Now, I am an old tree. I live among a jungle of concrete With the suffocating walls around me to keep me company. The bears no longer lie beside my roots. The birds no longer sit along my branches. The squirrels no longer play under my fallen leaves. The fish no longer swim laps in the nearby pond. I no longer watch the animals. Instead, I watch as the forest fades away, Replaced by a dark and eternal fog.
CROSSING FINANCIAL BARRIERS BY FLORA PARK to do something about students who didn’t have educational opportunities so readily. That’s why I created this club: to raise money for students who need help,” Chang voiced, showing her great interest in academia, “basically, what we want to do is create a scholarship program that would allow students to go to extra classes, or maybe provide extra materials that they might need such as extra textbooks, calculators, stuff like that.” The ABC Club provides scholarships for students who are experiencing financial difficulties--but this does not mean that certain students are more privileged than others. According to Chang, anyone is able to receive a scholarship, as long as they meet certain baseline criteria. So far, Chang and her club have raised about 400 dollars selling flower crowns at the Homecoming game: “...we had a pretty fun time, and at the game, we sold all these flower crowns, and I think we all felt pretty good about raising a lot of this money and seeing our efforts pay off. It’s going to be really cool at the end of the year when we give the scholarships out.” The ABC Club meets in Mrs. Cheskaty’s classroom every Monday, during lunch, and welcomes any new members who are willing to help. Though large-scale problems like homelessness and disasters may exist, the When I first talked to sophomore Sami Chang about her club, Aca- Academic Bridge Creators focus on a much more local problem--a financial demic Bridge Creators, it was in the AP Biology classroom with an audience problem that exists right in the very school we Nighthawks call our home. A of worn textbooks, a lone voice recorder, and a few uninterested students-- problem that affects our schoolmates, our classmates, our friends. The ABC the perfect setting for the contents of our interview. Academic Bridge Cre- Club’s heroes are on their way to eradicate this problem once and for all. ators is a club formed to aid financially burdened students who have strong desires to learn and achieve great things. While looking quite gentle and quiet, Chang showed amazing passion for her leadership position and her fellow clubmates as she answered my probing questions animatedly. “I wanted
The Talon
Opinions
DECEMBER 2014
EBOLA IN THE US: IN HINDSIGHT When I was assigned this article, the Ebola virus was still present in the United States: 10 individuals contracted the disease, either by bringing it over from West Africa or treating patients with the virus and then contracting Ebola themselves. At the time, however, there were three very specific cases that were looked at extensively by the media: those of Thomas Eric Duncan, Amber Vinson, and Nina Pham. Duncan was a Liberian man who came to the United States to visit his family, but ended up also bringing Ebola over for the visit; he then infected two nurses who were assigned to care for him, Vinson and Pham. Duncan ultimately succumbed to the disease, while Vinson and Pham were taken in for treatment and were monitored by not only doctors, but also the media. News outlets played a major role in panicking the public, placing huge headlines on their websites to cause readers to worry and have an exaggerated perception of just how dangerous for the nation it is to have Ebola on U.S soil. However, this yellow journalism, which certainly contributed to raising ratings for the likes of CNN, TIME, and Newsweek, did not succeed in completely scaring the American public, as many individuals recognized that these isolated cases of Ebola in the U.S were at little risk of spreading across our Republic.
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LOOKING BACK ON A GLOBAL EVENT THAT TOOK THE WORLD BY STORM BY AMMAR ALSAIED
When asked if she was personally concerned with the threat of Ebola in the United States, Mallory Broberg (12) responded, “Am I concerned about myself being infected with Ebola? Absolutely not. The only case in the United States that wasn’t a doctor treating Ebola in West Africa was someone who came from Liberia to Texas; and that is only one person. Doctors say that Ebola is a very low risk to Americans at this time, so I am not too concerned.” Several weeks after the assignment of this article, there are now zero active cases of Ebola in the United States, though select patients from overseas may still be brought over for treatment. Vinson and Pham were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital, though a doctor who was evacuated to the U.S for treatment unfortunately died on November 15th. As anticipated, despite what CNN.com attempted to make the public fear, Ebola failed to spread across the nation, and for the most part we do not have to worry about it on a domestic level. With that being said, however, we as a nation and as human beings must still show concern for the threat of Ebola in West Africa; while the virus, aside from a few isolated cases, has mainly remained within the borders of the Western African nations of Mali, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (Nigeria and Senegal were declared Ebola free), this out-
break of Ebola is the largest ever recorded since 1975 which is when the virus was first discovered. As Mallory says, “the disease as a whole issomething to be cautious about. It has increased significantly in West Africa over the past few years. The safety and well being of those in West Africa is something to be concerned about.” When I asked Mrs. Craig, who currently teaches Principles of Biomedical Sciences, what she has to say about all this, she addressed that “we should be concerned about helping those overseas in need who don’t have access to regular care or treatment options. That’s why the U.S is sending people to help; medical professionals are well educated to know what the symptoms are and that they won’t appear right away, and can help stop spreading the virus by quarantining at-risk individuals who arrive from Africa. While Ebola is definitely a concern on a global scale, and we should make an effort to end the epidemic, it’s safe to say that on a national scale Ebola is not (and never has been) a major threat to our citizens. The few cases that popped up in our country certainly struck fear into the public, but using logic and reason, many individuals have come to realize that they were not as at risk as they have been led to believe by the media.
if not me, who? if not now, when? A LOOK AT THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT SPARKED BY THE WORLD-FAMOUS UNITED NATIONS SPEECH BY SIMI PANDA With our generation’s extensive knowledge of social affairs, most of us have at least heard of the word “feminism”. While extremists have left the general public with a “bad taste” regarding this idea, the official definition states that everyone should have an equal chance at success regardless of gender. Well-known actress Emma Watson eloquently composed these thoughts in her speech for UN Women. Unlike most stereotypical feminism speeches, she adds something extremely important to any gender equality speech; that of men’s rights. Men are just as restricted as women when it comes to traditional gender roles and stereotypes. One method of solving this problem is not having distinct gender roles. “If men don’t have to be aggressive in
order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled,” Watson explains, urging men to take a stand against gender inequality. This is where the campaign, HeForShe, comes into the picture. The campaign was launched on September 20 with the goal to gather men and boys to fight gender inequality. UN Women started the movement to shift the change from thinking that feminism is a woman-only problem. The official site for the campaign talks about how the combined effort of both men and women taking a stand will make all the difference. However, this idea of working in unison is found nowhere on the website: “put men at the center of activ-
ism and dialogue to end persistent inequalities faced by women and girls around the world.” Regardless, the movement shouldn’t have as much hate as most opposition gives it. Too many people judge the movement as a be-all, end-all to the problem, which simply asks too much of it. Something as huge as gender equality won’t have a resolution as basic as a single campaign. If it was that easy, we would have achieved it already. I think there are many men who want to help and don’t know how to and this is a great way to go about it. Many famous men including Harry Styles, Logan Lerman, and Benedict Cumberbatch have posted pictures and at least brought the subject to light. That alone brings us one step closer to fixing the problem.
We still have a long road ahead of us but it has to start somewhere. Men alone will not fix the problem. Women alone will not fix the problem. As a community, we have remain aware that we have not achieved parity yet. The first step is to improve conditions right here at home. At Del Norte HS, only 19 out of 100 students asked had even heard of the HeForShe campaign. We must keep everyone aware that we have a long way to go before we can truly say everyone, girl, boy, or gender fluid, has the same opportunities to eventually bring upon the result we all want. If HeForShe helps with that then it’s worth keeping around. For sure, it’s better than doing nothing because as our beloved former “Harry Potter” star puts it, “If not me, who? If not now, when?”
DEL NORTE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS BY BEN Friedl
It’s that time of the year again! Time for hot chocolate by the campfire, daily trips to Candy Cane Lane, and watching Elf 5 times a week. Yes the Christmas season is finally upon us, and when time isn’t spent working on the loads of homework assigned by teachers over break, Del Norte students use this time to create meaningful memories with friends and family. Three Nighthawks shared their own holiday traditions with The Talon.
Sahba Mobini (11)
Q: Where is your favorite place to go during break? A: My favorite would still be Disneyland, the same favorite place of mine since I was probably 5. I love seeing everything in Christmas colors and hearing Christmas music play all around the park. It's really a nice way to get into the spirit. For me, school in December really gets in the way of feeling Christmas-y. Disneyland during the holidays, with its decorations and themed rides, is definitely my favorite place to go and it's still the happiest place on earth. Although, this year I'm spending Christmas in New York City (hopefully seeing for the first time a white Christmas). After I get there, it'll probably be my new favorite place. Q: What is one of your family’s holiday traditions? A: On Christmas Eve, my family, extended family, and family friends get together for a Christmas dinner. I love the Persian twist my family puts on the feast; it tastes absolutely amazing and feels a lot like home. We spend a little time around the piano, since four to five kids including myself can play. I love exchanging presents and one of my favorite traditions is opening the smallest present on the night before Christmas. Q: What does your ideal holiday afternoon consist of? A: My ideal holiday afternoon would be half on the piano bench, playing Christmas music and half on the couch with blankets, a fire in the fire place, hot chocolate, candy canes, and Christmas movies. It'll hopefully be raining, since that's the closest thing San Diego ever gets to snow. All in all, any ideal afternoon of mine is just relaxation.
Takuma Maruo (12)
Q: Where is your favorite place to go during break? A: My favorite place during the winter break is visiting my grandma in Japan and also visiting my other grandparents in Taiwan. Celebrating the holidays twice with different people is always a nice memory to me. It is also nice when they make different kinds food so I get to enjoy different kinds of food. Its also nice to see my mom and dad having a chance to catch up with their parents. Q: What is one of your family’s holiday traditions? A: My family has a tradition of going to church the morning of Christmas before we open any gifts. We would visit our friends up in Irvine and also go to their church service and spend the day with them. Gifts would often be the last thing of the day while being a blessing to others is first. Even though it may sometimes be tough, in the end, it was all worth it. Q: What does your ideal holiday afternoon consist of? A: My ideal holiday would consist of me going to the church service the night before. Then, I would sleep in till my dog comes up to my bed and wakes me up. Then I would wake up and make a brunch for my family. After that, I would go to my dad’s sailboat and hang out with my family in the harbor till afternoon. Finally, I would probably eat something light, open my gifts and then sleep.
Umesh Narayan (10)
Q: Where is your favorite place to go during break? A: During the holiday's I prefer to stay local because I usually get sick when I travel and travelling long distances really does a number on me. However even locally there is still a lot of fun stuff to do. One of my favorite things to do here is going to Balboa Park as it has a great and interesting museum which always has tons of new exhibits. It also has a ton of personality with interesting people and culture. I also really enjoy the San Diego Wild Animal Park as it has a majestic and regal quality. Q: What is one of your family’s holiday traditions? A: One of my favorite traditions with my family is watching movies. It always feels great when my family puts aside our differences (in terms of taste in movies) and comes together to just have a good time. It's also great because usually we give each other a hard time for the movies we enjoy. But when we're all together watching movies all judgement is put aside. We also talk a lot more with each other ironically enough. Most of the time when we talk with each other it feels like our conversations don't amount to anything. But for whatever reason, when we are watching movies, we talk in more detail and depth with one another, whether it be about the films themselves or the ideas that are expressed through them and that's always great. Some of our favorites include the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pulp Fiction, and Harry Potter. Q: What does your ideal holiday afternoon consist of? A: My ideal holiday afternoon would be either relaxing with my friends or relaxing with my family (relaxing is key). With my family, especially with my sisters, we would watch TV and eat cereal and other breakfast foods. Usually with my sisters we like to watch shows like Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, South Park, and Avatar the Last Airbender. I don't usually get to spend much time with my sisters so its always fun to watch something we all like and just take a break from the day. With my friends afternoons can go a number of ways, from playing video games, going to the movies, or playing sports outside. With school its hard to spend a lot of time with your friends so I always love being able to take a reprieve from school and just have a good time.
KONNICHIWA AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS BY AMMAR ALSAIED
During Thanksgiving break of last year, I had the pleasure of visiting the lovely State of Japan. I’ve wanted to visit the island nation for as long as I can remember, as I was always intrigued by my dad’s constant business trips there when I was young. As expected, the American holiday of Thanksgiving is not really given much attention in Japan (I had about a dozen sushi rolls instead of the traditional turkey), but the atmosphere of the holiday season was still heavy. Though less than 1% of the Japanese population identify as Christians, Christmas is still a big deal in Japan purely for commercial reasons, and the Japanese certainly get into the spirit as early as we do here in the United States. Of the three different Pokémon Centers that I visited in Japan (Tokyo, Tokyo-Bay, and Yokohama), all three of them featured large Pokémon themed Christmas trees. The tune of the classic “Sleigh Ride” played in several malls that I visited, posters advertising Christmas sales were plastered up, and Christmas-themed merchandise began to go on sale (I bought some really cute Pokémon plushes). Alas, I only got a taste of the holi-
day season in Japan, and left by the end of November. However, I have been blessed with another opportunity to visit the country: I plan on returning over Winter Break this year. Knowing that I will be visiting during the heart of the holiday season, I took it upon myself to learn a few of the holiday traditions practiced in Japan. First and foremost, it is a Christmas tradition in Japan to eat KFC (you read that right). This was due to a very successful marketing campaign in the 1970’s: “Kentucky for Christmas” -- families that wish to have the 11 herbs and spices for Christmas Dinner must either make reservations at their nearest KFC, or wait 2 hours in line for their buckets of chicken. Christmas is also an opportunity for couples to spend time together, usually with fancy dinners and hotel stays, along with the customary giving of gifts. In addition to Christmas gifts being exchanged, people in Japan traditionally give each other oseibo, or the end of the year gift. Although still extremely important in Japan, New Year’s celebrations tend to be subtler in the marketing sense. Families tend to spend time with each
other as most businesses have limited opening hours between Christmas Day and New Year’s. Contemporary traditions of watching special programming on TV are met with old traditions of visiting temples and shrines for the first time of the year. Japanese Emperor Akihito also makes several official appearances throughout the second day of the year at the Imperial Palace for his New Year’s Greetings; this day is one of the only days of the year when the inner grounds of the Palace are open to the public (the other being December 23rd- the Emperor’s birthday). Experiencing some of the Holiday Season in Japan was quite interesting given the apparent fusion of Eastern and Western customs, and I look forward to experiencing it yet again deeper into the Holiday Season and witnessing firsthand just how people in Japan celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. I also look forward to hopefully catching a glimpse of the Emperor during his New Year’s Greetings--I’m sure he would love to meet the future Sultan of Ammarica!
Ramadan in IstanbuL (not in constantinople)
Streets were packed with people. Vibrant lights illuminated the plazas. Every table at every restaurant was filled with a variety of people, old and young. Every night was a party as everyone in Istanbul came together to celebrate Ramadan. Being in Istanbul during Ramadan was definitely an unforgettable cultural experience. Every summer my family and I take a trip to Europe for about a month, moving around the continent from city to city. I have witnessed a lot of European culture because of this tradition, but Istanbul was extremely different. It opened my eyes to new cultural experiences like tasting different foods, visiting mosques, and understanding the Islamic religion. I have never experienced anything like this before. Ramadan is an important month of the year. Over 1.6 billion Muslims celebrate
BY NADIA zafar
it worldwide. It is a time of self-reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Observing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset; after sunset prayer everyone comes together to celebrate a meal for dinner. The night comes alive and you can feel the happiness flowing through the city, truly understanding what this holiday means to them. I remember the night that my family and I arrived in Istanbul. We had decided to eat at this restaurant right down the street from our apartment that served traditional Turkish Kebob. It was already late in the sense that it was past ten o’clock but the restaurant was still packed with people. I remember my dad asking our waiter if stores and restaurants would be closed during the day due to Ramadan. We were quite surprised to see the reaction of the waiter as he chuckled to himself. He then explained that
Istanbul is a very lively city during the time of Ramadan; everyone is out and about with their families and friends. We soon discovered this for ourselves. I remember waking up every morning to the sounds of beating drums accompanied with the joyful shouts of excitement. One of my favorite moments was walking through Taksim Square and seeing people just simply get up from wherever they were and just start dancing, despite there being no music. And, as expected, the calls to prayer were made five times a day by thousands of mosques in Istanbul, a norm in the city but especially relevant during Ramadan. It didn’t matter how old you were or where you came from. In Istanbul everyone came together every night to celebrate the month of Ramadan.
HALLOWEEN IN ISRAEL BY MELANIE ROSS
Loud cries of joy echoed through the walls of my apartment in Ramat Gan, Israel. I looked outside my window as people of all ages swarmed the streets, singing songs of celebration and moving their noisy groggers as a sign of victory. It was Purim, a national holiday in Israel that commemorates a biblical story (in the book of Esther) where an evil man named Haman was defeated in his plan to massacre the Jews. Being an American so used to the environment around the states, I’ve never been so exposed to many cultural outbreaks
like this holiday. I was completely blown away by the amount of participation the whole country had for this one-day festivity. I noticed the elaborate costumes of the many clowns, princesses, doctors, fairies, and superheroes, reminding me of my own home on a day we all love to take part in, Halloween. However, Purim isn’t exactly the same as Halloween in many aspects. For one, Halloween revolves around death and gruesome costumes, whereas Purim focuses more on its own story while dressing up in more uplifting outfits and singing lyrics
of success and triumph. However, the way everyone celebrates the two holidays is very similar. Comparably, it’s among the favorite holidays for both Americans and Jews, and participation is by a big portion of the country. The amount of spirit casted by these two cultures is immense, and extremely lively. Therefore, I felt just at home while in Israel, all happy and carefree. It’s awesome that just for that one day you could act like anyone you chose to be, even in a different country.
Sports
DECEMBER 2014
The Talon
PAGE 8
STUDENT ATHLETE STANDOUTS
BY JOAQUIN HERNANDEZ
Del Norte Athletics is a fast developing department in our school, with many titles already won including CIF. Our fairly young school shows a lot of promise for the future. Part of this success our school holds is due to the unique relationships are top athletes on campus share with the sport they participate in.
NICK CARLTON
PC: KELLY HUYNH There’s nothing else Nick Carlson would rather be doing than stand on the soccer pitch, goalie gloves on, protecting the goal. With 39 saves recorded last high school soccer season, Nick is praised highly by his fellow teammates and coaches. Q:How long have Q: What has been one you’ve been playing of your greatest acsoccer? complishment as an A: Ever since I can athlete? remember I’ve been A: Last year during kicking a soccer ball , the high school soccer my dads a huge fan of season, at our senior it so its always been night game against around me even as Orange Glen I saved toddler. a penalty kick. It felt Q: Why Soccer? really good. A: To be honest I do Q:Where do you see not know maybe beyourself in the future cause my parents got with this sport? me into it when I was A: College soccer young, but I’m glad would be the goal, but that it was soccer that if not I’ll always be I’ve dedicated all this playing it even for rectime and energy over reation purposes. It’s a the years because the hobby that will be part amount of joy I get out of me all my life. of it is irreplaceable.
ROBERT GUEVARA
ANDREA ARMSTRONG
PC: KELLY HUYNH RJ Guevara is passionately dedicated to wrestling. As a sophomore, RJ is a key member of the Del Norte wrestling team. He is praised for retaining a positive mindset even in the most stressful and competitive matches. Q:Why wrestling? school, I learned all the A:There’s no sport out moves, eventually one there like it, it mentally day I got put on the and physically breaks mat and started wresyou. It’s extremely dif- tling. ficult but rewarding. Q:Do you think this Q:What has been one sport is a good prepaof your biggest disration for life? appointments as an A: Not only does it athlete? prepare you physically A: Not being able to it prepares you menwrestle last year, and tally, it teaches you to just missing my first pick yourself up when highschool season of you’re down, to see wrestling your hard work and Q: Where do you draw pay off, and most imyour inspiration from? portantly discipline. A: I’ve always had a Q: What’s your goal passion for this sport, this season? I grew up with it. I A: Just to have fun, bestarted watching my come a better athlete, brother wrestle in high and hopefully win CIF.
Soccer has taught Andrea Armstrong many valuable lessons on and off the field. In her career, she has won many titles with her club soccer team and has earned the opportunity to play overseas. Andrea plans to bring her experiences to her high school soccer team. Q:Why soccer? is that from soccer I A: As a kid most of have made friends who us play soccer its became sisters. My kind like the I don’t team became my famknow kid thing to ily and it is because of do. However there them that I push and comes a point where better myself. Soccer you decide if you brought me happiness, want to stick with it a new family, and or try something new. helped me become... I never wanted to try well me. something different Q:What would be your because I loved what ultimate achievement? I was doing too much. A: My ultimate It just grew on me and achievement would became a part of me be to push myself and I couldn’t stop everyday and to have playing it. become a better perQ:How has this sport son by applying what impacted your life? soccer has taught me A:This sport has to the real world. impacted my life in so many ways, One way
The Talon
DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 9
spotlight: RUGBY BY MASON SHIELDS
Continuing to complete strenuous pre-season workouts four days a week, the Del Norte Rugby team is back in action this fall as they prepare for the winter season ahead. Although rugby is a lesser known sport at Del Norte and in the world, the program and the sport itself is up and coming and clubs have now formed in places such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Japan, and our own San Diego County. Del Norte’s program has become a solid franchise and is composed of two full teams, junior varsity and varsity, which are led by thirteen returning lettermen. There are a total of 50 to 6 players and that number is expected to rise if the team continues their winning tradition with a junior varsity championship and a strong varsity finish. Mark Brewin, a frontrunner for Team Captain, says that rugby teams throughout San Diego County are trying to make rugby an official C.I.F. sport, which begins by changing the outlook on the game. The goal of integrating rugby into the conversation of “recognized sports” gives Brewin pride and motivation to succeed as an athlete because he dreams of changing
the perception of rugby and has thought of joining or starting a rugby club at whichever college he decides to go. While the primary objective of rugby is simple, like any sport, it is more complicated than what meets the eye. The objective of rugby is to carry the ball across the opponent’s goal line and force it to the ground to score. However, in order to
move forward, the ball must be passed backwards which places a greater emphasis on the team rather than the individual. There are multiple ways to score that vary with respective point value. A try is when the ball is grounded over the opponents’ goal line in the goal area which gives
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK VARSITY WINTER SPORTS boy’s basketball BY MASON SHIELDS • Head Varsity Coach: Coach Bob Spahn • Montrice Johns, Garrett Eddy, and Jordan Lach are the three returning seniors of the team and are the captains and the leaders of the program. • Last year’s varsity clinched the 2014 Valley League title. • The varsity team is comprised of 4 Sophomores and 7 Juniors meaning we have a young team. • There have not been any serious injuries so far in the season, and hopefully it remains that way. • This year the program will face the challenge of continuing to build upon the winning reputation that Del Norte has established in basketball.
girl’s basketball BY MALLIE GREEN
• Head Coach: Coach Jake McNeely • Captains: Kayla Evans (12), Christa Hoffman (12), Taylor Tollestrup (12), Shannon McGuire (12) and Mallie Green (12) • Practice everyday after school from 3:45 - 5:30 or 7:00 - 9:00 • We are in Avocado East League, Division 3 in CA and Division 2 in San Diego • We have a JV team but no Freshman team
girl’s soccer BY MORGAN MOODY • • • •
Head Coach: Gary Rossi 25 girls on roster (2 Freshmen, 4 Sophomores, 11 Juniors, 8 Seniors) Games are on Wednesday and Friday in the stadium at 5:00 pm We are in Avocado East League
the team five points and a conversion is when the ball is kicked over the crossbar and between two posts which yields two points. Lastly, a drop goal yields three points when the player drops the ball on the ground and kicks it in off the half-volley. In terms of the essential components of the team, the coaches have fostered the program’s development from the beginning by instituting the values of the Positive Coaching Alliance in which coaches motivate players through positivity and communication. Coach Griva has defined his role as a coach which is to set clear expectations of what it takes to be a starter in regard to any position and is a firm believer that the team can be as great as they want to be. Although the program is new itself, the Del Norte rugby team was the first of its kind in the Poway Unified School District and has already produced notable alumni such as Dalton Wimmer and Kevin McGlone of San Diego State University. This season, the team will showcase the hard work they have put in during preseason workouts as they play various other high schools around the county such as Cathedral Catholic, Rancho Bernardo and Poway.
rugby BY NICK DIPRIMA • Head Varsity Coach: Ven Griva • Teams: JV and Varsity (no Freshman team) (See article for more details)
boy’s soccer BY HANNAH GLOVER • • • • •
Head Coach: Dave O’Reilly There are 25 players Captains are Grayson Farnham, Lindolfo Crisan and Parker Ahyuen Practices are everyday from 4:00-6:00 Building on last season’s success already with 2 wins and 2 ties
wrestling BY NOAH BROWN • Head Coach: Anthony Alvarrez • Assistant Coach: Former wrestler on team, Sam Acosta Hosting CIF this year • High school practices a style known as folkstyle wrestling during the season • Max amount of points that can be scored in a match is 20 • Wrestler wins by either leading by 15, obtaining 20, or holding both of the opponents shoulders or shoulder blades in contact with the mat for a continuous 2 seconds while maintaining clear control over opponent • Weight class system designed to ensure fair matches • Wrestlers can drop weight to get into a lower weight class • Nighthawk wrestlers must shave their heads once during season
girl’s water polo BY GIULIANA SQUEO • Head Coach: Andy Avila • Captains: Courtenay Grossman (12) and Giuliana Squeo (12) • Had 7 games so far
Sports
DECEMBER 2014
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PAGE 10
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PREPARATION BY NICHOLAS LI
Sporting events reflect both a team's skill and the effort of each individual. Athletes must be at their peak condition to excel in competition. An athlete’s body must be physically fit and able in order to perform during games. Their preparation varies, depending on the sport, but all routines have the same outcome: to maximize the athlete's physical poten-
tial.
In most exercises, athletes improve their "core strength�,the strength of the underlying muscles of the torso, which help determine posture. Some exercises include situps, push-ups, and planks. A well-conditioned athlete has the low back, abdominal, and hip strength to transfer the force generated by the legs to
the upper body. Most sports require a huge hip power transfer in different planes of motion such as straight ahead, side to side, rotation, chopping, etc. Aside from training, it is necessary to maintain a healthy diet. Healthy meals contain the necessary nutrients for athletes to grow stronger muscles and bones. These meals would also provide energy for athletes to train. In addition to these, athletes should get enough rest. Sleeping will allow the body to repair and strengthen itself. "Usually I take a nap and then I eat some healthy food before I go to the game," says rugby player, Amir Nafez (12). Athletes must also learn to control their nerves before games. How athletes control this varies depending on the person. Some people simply train harder during practices, while others listen to music to get themselves in the mood for the game.
"I listen to a lot of pump up music so I can get in the zone and so I can be more focused on winning," says basketball player, William Lau (10). Most athletes keep a positive attitude and a winning mindset before each game. This helps them enjoy the game and push them to improve themselves even more. Remaining positive and optimistic even in the face of adversity can make a big difference in a competition. Having a strong, powerful mind help athletes make it through their training and games. Without a strong, powerful mind, athletes would lack incentive. Motivation is key in sports. It's what keeps an athlete constantly practices and training. Each individual athlete must prepare physically and mentally for games. Their methods to improve physically and mentally may be different, but together, all athletes strive toward the same goal: to win.
The Talon
Arts & Styles
DECEMBER 2014
PAGE 11
CHIN CHIN’S OPTOMETRIST
THE UNIQUE BAND THAT YOU have TO HEAR BY JOSH LEBOW Chin Chin’s Optometrist is an electronic rock band with two members Jake McBride (12) and Brandon Caroll (12). Caroll begins, “Some of you may be wondering where exactly the name “Chin Chin’s Optometrist” comes from.” He reveals, “The name is based off of a character created by YouTuber ‘Filthy Frank’.” Their unique name matches an equally unique sound. McBride struggles to label the band’s eclectic style: “Our music is difficult to describe some of it is like getting hit by a truck other times its like walking through a spooky forest at night with no lights…We've sort of experimented with different electronic
styles and incorporated elements of hardcore, grindcore, and other things of that nature.” Carroll and McBride don’t perform for profit but because they enjoy music and love being on stage. McBride describes his personal motivation: “It was never really for the fame or money, but rather to gain like-minded individuals who like to goof around. Its therapeutic for me to make music and it helps with a lot of anxieties and dysphoria.” Both members love to perform, but it isn’t always easy to make it a priority. “Sometimes it can get hard to manage a band with all the schoolwork and extracurricular that happen during the year,” says Carroll. He continues,
“We just make music in our free time. It's in that weird state of being a commitment without the commitment.” This band has shown their dedication and independence by choosing to walk the rock path on their own. McBride stated that they’ve “said no to every promoter” because they “want to do things by themselves.” For the future, the group just wants to keep doing what they are doing and just having fun with it. However, they are always open to recruiting new, passionate members to Chin Chin’s Optometrist. Don’t forget to check them out at chinchinsoptometrist. bandcamp.com to purchase CDs or visit their page on Facebook.
CATHERINE WINTERSTEEN
HOW ONE GIRL GETS LOST IN THE ARTS BY LEIGH LEVINSON
Cat Wintersteen (12), a natural born artist, has outstanding talent. She is currently enrolled in AP Studio Art and, during the past Night of the Museum, Wintersteen had her own exhibit featuring her 3D art portfolio. Wintersteen’s love for minimalism, simplistic art, and monochromatic color schemes heavily influenced her exhibit. It featured three sculptures that focused on silver and projection elements. Her sculptures included a fish tank, silver cardboard rolls, and a silver crate sculpture that utilized the projection of a video onto a canvas and broken telephones painted in silver. A video art class at the University of California San Diego, in which a student had set up
a camera to capture the effects of a projector and fish tank, inspired Wintersteen’s recent projects. Wintersteen wanted the people at her exhibit to have the same sort of interaction with her art as she had seen in the video art class. She says, “I also love art that’s interactive, something that can be viewed from multiple angles and perspectives.” Wintersteen says her biggest influence in art is being able to use so many different materials to create different forms of art. A lot of the materials she used were not bought, but recycled or old pieces, such as the broken phones she used in her sculptures. Making sculptures is one thing Wintersteen finds very enjoyable. She says that, “I’ve al-
ways loved expressing my ideas through something three dimensional, because there is no limit to the type of material I can use.” In addition to sculptures, Wintersteen has spent a great deal of time creating collages inspired by surrealism. For one, she took clippings from 1960 LIFE magazines and layered them to create social statements. Even when working on a piece of hours, Wintersteen feels like no time has passed. Art has always been her stress reliever and a very big part of her life. No matter what type of art she explores in the future, Wintersteen hopes to amaze the world with her creativity and imagination.
JUST ONE BIG FAMILY A SNEAK PEAK INTO THE MARCHING BAND FAMILY BY ASHI SHRIVASTAVA For an entire 12 weeks, the Marching Band members spend at least 8 hours a week together. Apart from that, they eat lunch together, go out together, and have bonding time. Through that quality time, they grow quite close. By the time Marching Band is nearing its end for field season, the band seems to have formed one big family. Meghan Gaur (11), one of the drum majors for the band, says, “We really are a family – in all aspects.” She continued to say that, like much families, the band members bicker but, at the end of the day, they “have each others backs.” Similarly, Thomas Kim (11), section leader for saxophones, says that his relationship with his fellow
band members feels like “brotherhood”. He feels like an older brother to his section members and he enjoys that role, even if it comes with hardships. Josh LeBow (12), section leader for tenor saxophones, says that band has changed his perspective on people. He ended up friends with a variety of people that he might not have been able to be friends with outside of band. The family that they have formed also helps these individuals grow. For them, band has been incredibly impactful on their lives. Lebow says that band “helped me grow as a leader, as a musician, and as a member of a central family.” Likewise, Kim says that band has instilled “passion into my life” and
that he has met “the greatest people” he knows today because of his involvement. The band members put hours of effort into their performance, and that stress and effort forms a bond between them that isn’t easily broken. Gaur says, “Even after marching season, the band stays close.” Although they don’t get to spend as much time together, they still see each other often and have fun together when they do meet up. All through the year, Marching Band works together and plays together. They have each other’s backs and, in the end, form one big Nighthawk family.
THE MAN BEHIND DNN BY MALLORY BROBERG
You know his name from the credits in each Del Norte Network Broadcast, you know his production team as anchors like Julie Millay and actors like Cory Lane, and you know his face from around campus, but who is Matt Santos? Over the years, Del Norte Network,
also known as DNN, has changed significantly. However, from this year’s first broadcast, it was evident that DNN has risen to a new level. Matt Santos, Editor of DNN, is responsible for a huge portion of that improvement. According to Matt, currently a senior, he has been active in DNN since the end of his freshman year. Matt explained that he initially joined because of a need for an extracurricular activity and an interest in computers. After speaking with Omar Ali (Del Norte Class of 2013), he was placed in the editor position. After three years of experience, Matt has exponentially increased his leadership and editing skills. Matt states, “I always made all the decisions, all the major and final decisions, because when you’re an editor, you have to decide what goes in and how it looks and how everything flows. That was what I was already doing.” In addition to honing his skills as an editor, Matt mastered the skill of delegating to other students: “[I had to] put together a team of 15 people, 14 at the least, people who came up with ideas, who were writers, people who could come up with content, because I was not good at that. I could only edit.” Matt initiated major chang-
es like merging “The Morning Show” and “The Pulse” into one cohesive segment, which indisputably improved DNN. Separately, “The Morning Show” covered “boring announcements” while “The Pulse” “didn’t have anything to do with anything… [it was] sort of school spirit related”. Matt hoped that bringing these two elements together would create a more entertaining and educational production, which was successful. What is the next step for Matt’s extremely promising future in digital media production? Sadly, he says, there isn’t much of one. Shockingly enough, Matt does not plan his future to be focused around digital media. He plans to attend college but qualifies: “for me it’s more of a hobby; it’s kind of fun. It’s a cool project to work on, but I am more interested in computers and editing because of computers.” Matt further explains that DNN had little effect on his future planning. He says that he “never saw [digital media production] as having a future for me- it doesn’t seem secure, and the arts are not my favorite subject.” For now, Matt hopes to bring the legacy of “informing through entertainment” to DNN in future years.
SENIOR ASSASSIN A Lasting Tradition BY GUNEET GILL Senior Assassin. Those who have participated know the spirit and zeal of the game. It is infamous among high school seniors, bringing each graduating class closer together for their last year. The game has become a recent tradition here at Del Norte. Senior Assassin is essentially a game in which a team of two must “assassinate” other pairs throughout the school year. The typical weapon of choice is a water gun, but water bottles and balloons have been known to be used. If you get wet, you are out of the game. However, there are exceptions. “Safe zones” include the Del Norte parking lot and campus, as well as any location shared by at least two of the organizers at the same time. The organizers of the event, Alexis Sweiss, Tiffany Doan, and Kayla Evans, have been working hard to continue this tradition at Del Norte. “This is our second year of the senior class playing the game, and we think that it is a great way to bond the senior class, and relieve the stresses of senior year. We would love if all of the classes got experience it, and make it a tradition for our school,” they explain.
However, not everyone agrees. Players say it’s a fun way to blow off steam and bond with their peers, but some school administrators and police officials fear it could turn deadly: “ ‘Parents and students should know that we consider this a dangerous game and prohibit playing it on campus,’ Hunter College High School Principal Tony Fisher wrote in an email to parents last week.” There have been instances at other schools where Senior Assassin has caused trouble, but Del Norte’s organizers have taken great pains to ensure the safety of Senior Assassin. Floaties can be worn to ensure protection from being assassinated at times when participating in the game would not be in the player’s best interest. Additionally, a new rule stating that no one can be assassinated while driving prevents much of the danger that officials are worried about. “Our goal is to have fun, so we keep the game fair for everyone and make sure people don’t act out.” responds organizers Sweiss, Doan and Evans. They have been immersed in setting up teams in their meeting spots and running a Twitter account for updates about the game. Justin Shin, Senior Class President,
explains, “Tiffany, Kayla, and Lexi have shown incredible leadership in directing the game. I’m so proud to see them assuming the responsibilities so well for the class.” Senior Assassin has developed into more than just a game; it is a creative and fun outlet for Del Norte’s senior class to relieve the stress of applications, homework, and extracurriculars. More than anything, it is a fun way to bond and connect with one another.