High Tide: Oct. 5, 2023

high tide features

October 5, 2023 Vol. CIV Edition 2 Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA

sports

Angels' Voices news

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Written in the stars Junior Sloane Graham self-published a personal poetry collection

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by Lauren Choy In the shower, the outdoors and the middle of the night–all seemingly random and odd places, yet these were the unique spots where junior Sloane Graham came up with her best poetry ideas.

“Ideas usually came to me at the weirdest moments, but I couldn't rush any ideas so I had to wait for them to [arrive] naturally,” Graham said. “There definitely were times where I sat down at my desk and thought, ‘I have to come up with something.’ But, whatever I thought of during those times never really felt genuine, it felt forced.”

Graham recently published her collection of poems, titled “based on a true story,” to Barnes and Noble. She wrote the book over the course of the summer, but was first exposed to poetry back in

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No emotion or thought is invalid and remembering that helped me to think that somebody out there is going to like this poem more than I do. I feel like everybody has different perspectives on [life], so why not release everything [I wrote].

SLOANE GRAHAM JUNIOR

middle school. The collection is an accumulation of newer poems from this summer and poems from her past.

The book was primarily an individual process as she went to Barnes and Noble to learn how to publish and edit the book for approval on her own. Graham was instructed to create another bank account for the book, “pick [her] platform, edit the book in the requirements they gave [her], and submit it.”

“There are a lot of poems in [the book] that I haven't shared with anybody. I did most of the book process on my own, so a lot of the content in my book actually hasn't been read by anyone but me,” Graham said.

The purpose behind the book wasn’t just for her; Graham wanted her poems to resonate with other teenage girls who “refrain from sharing their feelings and keep them inside, bottled up.”

Read more on page 6.

Fought to the end Girls volleyball fought hard, but fell short to Costa 3-2 2

Choir performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" for Angels Stadium crowd

by Simra Zargar Stepping onto the emerald field of Angel stadium, the loud cheers of baseball fans ringing in the background, RUHS Choir assembled themselves to perform the national anthem for the eager crowd on Sept. 27.

“It’s such a rare opportunity for the Choir to go out onto the field where the baseball players are,” Choir teacher Izumi Erskine said. “It’s also a good advertisement for us that we’re going to perform with a national baseball team on the stage.

This experience was an outreach, kind of a recruitment.”

Arriving in the parking lot a few hours early to rehearse the lyrics, the choir joined students from Adams Middle School and other schools to sing together for their performance. Although the wait to enter the stage was long, both seniors Isyss Garcia and Madison Clark felt they were “well-prepared” and “thrilled” for the performance.

“When we got through the stadium and we were on the big screen, I was like, ‘Whoa, this is actually happening. Wow,’ and my friend patted me on the back and said, ‘Hey, don't worry. We got it. We're gonna sing our hearts out,’ and it ended up being a lot of fun,” Clark said.

According to Erskine, Garcia and Clark, the song was just one to two pages long and was easy to sing. Hearing other students in choir sing, according to Garcia, exposes beginners to more experienced voices, allowing them to learn and feel more confident in their singing.

“Dr. Erskine gave us our lyric sheet on day one, and we were all really excited from the first class,” Clark said. “For every class we would have a section of the period where we would practice, so we had a lot of time to learn the songs and prepare.”

Erskine hopes that this experience not only helps students expand their musical skills, but also encourages newer members to pursue more opportunities to sing in front of larger crowds.

“I really enjoy performing, and this opportunity helps me gain experience performing in front of a larger crowd. I still get shy even though I've been performing since elementary school, but I continue to tell myself to take the chance, go out there and be myself and hope that people enjoy what I put out for them,’” Garcia said.

According to Erskine, a student brought up the previous tradition of RUHS per-

forming at the Angels game, and expressed interest in wanting to do it again. Erskine then contacted the Angels directly, and brought the tradition back to RUHS, even inviting younger students from Adams Middle School to take part.

“With all the nerves and excitement for the game, I'm just really happy and proud that my friends and the middle schoolers got to be in that moment too. The crowd was so supportive. They always applauded and I'm happy that they enjoyed the little

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With all the nerves and excitement for the game, I'm just really happy and proud that my friends and the middle schoolers got to be in that moment too. The crowd was so supportive.

They always applauded and I'm happy that they enjoyed the little bit we put on and then enjoyed the game right after.

by London Carbone Starting the season strong, winning more games than they had lost at 15-9, the girls varsity volleyball were ready to play their rivals and first in the division, Mira Costa. After losing and winning two sets, the girls fought hard in the fifth, losing only by a few points with a final score of 15-7.

The first two sets the team struggled, losing the first 25-19 and the second 25-22. For Senior Addy Benefield, the

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We [made improvements] in the third set and I'm so proud because I've never seen our team flowing and connecting so well.

ADDYSON BENEFIELD SENIOR

game was all about improvement as they continued to do better as the game progressed.

Read more on page 11.

1. Sloane Graham poses with her book, "based on a true story." PHOTO BY SASCHA PERDUE 2. Choir warms up their voices before performing the "The Star Spangled Banner."

PHOTO BY CATHERINE WONG 3. Sophomores Abby Zimmerman (9) and Taylor Boice (16) prepare to set the ball.

PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL

UPCOMING GAMES Boys Varsity Football vs Culver City - Fri. 10/6 @ 7 pm

ISYSS GARCIA SENIOR bit we put on and then enjoyed the game right after,” Garcia said.

According to Clark, the performance “was really fun” and the crowd was encouraging as well, “hyping” the students up while fireworks went off afterwards.

Although RUHS’ Choir was the smallest choir out of several choir groups present, together, they were able to put on a great performance, which, Erskine says, she’s “really proud of.”

Girls Varsity Flag Football vs Mira Costa - Thurs. 10/5 @ 5:30 pm Boys Varsity Water Polo vs Culver City - Thurs. 10/5 @ 3:30 pm Girls Varsity Volleyball vs Palos Verdes - Thurs. 10/5 @ 3:30 pm Boys Junior Varsity Football vs Santa Monica - Thurs. 10/19 @ 3:30 pm

Read more on page 3.

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news 'Tis The (Voting) Season League of Women Voters facilitate voter registration

high tide

staff editors-in-chief Lucy Davis Ethan Lerner Romi Riss

by Summer Puterbaugh

online managers Cristina Couch Stavyah Naveen sports manager Ethan Chi news editors Summer Puterbaugh Victor Simoes features editors Ethan Chi Daniella Gross Marley Van Pelt opinion editors Ariya Anvari Meara Fay entertainment editors Scarlett Mische Claudia Turner sports editors Ava Anzivino Malina Young

League of Women Voters advocate for student political participation on Tuesday, September 26. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS DAVIS.

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ooking to raise youth voter participation, the League of Women Voters visited RUHS on Sept. 26 to register students to vote. The organization was founded in 1920 and aimed to increase American political engagement while promoting female suffrage. It continues its mission to educate eligible voters through initiatives such as school visits.

“In some ways, some of our work can be redundant, since many students pre-register through the DMV. But we still think it’s worth it for the visibility,” the chairperson of the WVL, Jeanne Hamilton, said. “High schools are the best possible place to get students registered. It’s important to be on the campus with our signs encouraging people to vote.”

Youth political participation is a “mixed bag," according to AP Government teacher Michael Henges.

“Politicians respond to people who are more involved [in politics] than those who are less involved,” Henges said. “There are issues affecting young people, like the cost of college, that politicians would be more responsive to if they knew younger people were more active.”

Henges views voter registration as a small way for students to impact the political process.

“The most responsible thing we can do is to vote, be informed and talk about [political] issues with those who are closest to us. Those are the areas where we have the most influence,” Henges said. “If we skip those areas and have strong opinions about many things where

we don’t have a direct say, we will be very frustrated, and maybe even cynical, about our political situation.”

Hamilton believes a lack of education is a major barrier to youth political participation. Many political issues “take time and effort to learn"--time which citizens may not have. She also claims that voting often takes place at inconvenient dates, often weekday afternoons, hindering the ability for working adults and students alike to participate.

“Reading through all these [policies] isn’t the most interesting stuff in the world. People are going to have to take time to educate themselves,” Hamilton said.

“When you’re young, you’re usually focused on other things and don’t see how policies will affect you directly. But there are some times when young people made a really big difference on issues that hit them close to home, like the Vietnam War.” Senior participant Case Fulton believes that registering to vote is “incredibly important” and that the process was made “really easy” with the help of the WVL. “It was accessible and helpful.

I didn’t even plan on registering today, but it was one and done. I think it was important that I did it, given the easy [opportunity],” Fulton said.

Fulton claims the experience marked their first participation in government.

“There are plenty of ways for [seniors] to learn how our gov-

ernment works, like through the AP Government mock election. But I don’t think younger grades have many ways to get politically active.

We need that,” Fulton said.

Hamilton claims that teenage political activism “needs to be improved." According to the United

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The most responsible thing we can do is to vote- be informed and talk about [political] issues with those who are closest to us.

Those are the issues where we have the most influence."

Michael Henges AP Government teacher

States Census Bureau, those aged 65 to 74 have the greatest voter turnout, at 76.0%, while 18 to 24-year-olds have the lowest, at just 51.4%.

“Young people’s needs and interests don’t get as much weight as they should because the parties know they don’t vote that much," Hamilton said. "That’s why it’s important to vote. You’re the future."

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news 3

high tide oct. 5, 2023

Choir Director Izumi Erskine leads her chorus to a rousing anthem. PHOTO BY CAITLYN CISNEROS

Angels' Voices Choir performed the Star Spangled Banner for Angel Stadium crowd

by Simra Zargar

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tepping onto the emerald field of ing them to learn and feel more confident Angel stadium, the loud cheers of in their singing. baseball fans ringing in the back“Dr. Erskine gave us our lyric sheet on ground, RUHS Choir assembled them- day one, and we were all really excited selves to perform the national anthem for from the first class,” Clark said. “For every the eager crowd on Sept. 27. class we would have a section of the period “It’s such a rare opportunity for where we would practice, so we had a lot of the Choir to go out onto the field where the time to learn the songs and prepare.” baseball players are,” Choir teacher Izumi Erskine hopes that this experience not Erskine said. “It’s also a good advertise- only helps students expand their musical ment for us that we’re skills, but also encourgoing to perform with a ages newer members to national baseball team pursue more opportuon the stage. This expenities to sing in front of rience was an outreach, larger crowds. kind of a recruitment.” When we got through “I really enjoy perArriving in the forming, and this opparking lot a few hours the stadium and portunity helps me early to rehearse the gain experience perwe were on the big lyrics, the choir joined forming in front of a students from Adams screen, I was like, larger crowd. I still get Middle School and otheven though I've ‘Whoa, this is actually shy er schools to sing tobeen performing since gether for their perfor- happening. Wow.’ elementary school, but mance. Although the I continue to tell myself wait to enter the stage to take the chance, go was long, both seniors Madison Clark out there and be myself Isyss Garcia and Madi- SENIOR and hope that people son Clark felt they were enjoy what I put out for “well-prepared” and them,’” Garcia said. “thrilled” for the perAccording to Erformance. skine, a student brought up the previous “When we got through the stadium tradition of RUHS performing at the Anand we were on the big screen, I was like, gels game, and expressed interest in want‘Whoa, this is actually happening. Wow,’ ing to do it again. Erskine then contacted and my friend patted me on the back and the Angels directly, and brought the tradisaid, ‘Hey, don't worry. We got it. We're tion back to RUHS, even inviting younger gonna sing our hearts out,’ and it ended up students from Adams Middle School to being a lot of fun,” Clark said. take part.

According to Erskine, Garcia and Clark, “With all the nerves and excitement for the song was just one to two pages long and the game, I'm just really happy and proud was easy to sing. Hearing other students in that my friends and the middle schoolers choir sing, according to Garcia, exposes be- got to be in that moment too. The crowd ginners to more experienced voices, allow- was so supportive. They always applaud-

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ed and I'm happy that they enjoyed the little bit we put on and then enjoyed the game right after,” Garcia said.

According to Clark, the performance “was really fun” and the crowd was encouraging as well, “hyping” the students up while fireworks went off afterwards.

Although RUHS’ Choir was the smallest choir out of several choir groups present, together, they were able to put on a great performance, which, Erskine says, she’s “really proud of.”

“Having a great teacher just makes the program a whole lot better. Singing the songs that we have sung and learning the things that Dr. Erskine has taught us has really improved my singing skills, changed how I think, and helped me open up to like different tones and different pitches,” Clarke said. “Choir isn’t just a program, it’s full of so many diverse people you wouldn’t expect to see in there. It honestly is more like a big family that I look forward to seeing.”

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2 1. Senior Chidinma Nwokorie-Ndudi (center) rings in the game with a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

2. Choir warms up for their performance outside Angel Stadium in the parking lot.

PHOTOS BY CAITLYN CISNEROS

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features

Rising from the ashes

1. Grossman with Camp Newman merch 2. Grossman with friends during a camp activity 3. Grossman at a camp meet with campmembers 4. Grossman with a friend during a camp gathering

ALL PHOTOS COURTSEY OF FIONA GROSSMAN

Grossman works 672 hours of community service and raises 12,000 dollars for Mental Health America

by Ariya Anvari

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ot expecting her beloved summer camp to be reduced to ashes, junior Fiona Grossman worked to raise money to help those who may feel lost, finding herself along the way.

In 2017, Camp Newman burned down. Camp Newman is a summer camp for Jewish indi1 viduals that also serves as a welcoming area to countless different people regardless of their religion or sexuality, allowing it to be a place for minors to find a sense of “community." High schoolers are able to go there for the experience or for volunteering purposes.

“It was a lot seeing a place a lot of people call home burned to the ground and now it's so different and it's really crazy,” Grossman said.

Despite “ n o t 3 being v e r y r e l i gious” or attending temple consistently, Grossm a n regards h e r Jewish background as an important part of her life.

“I remember when I was younger, I never had any positive Jewish role models. I

[told myself], ‘Jewish girls only have big noses, and they can't be popular, pretty and have friends.’ Then I went to camp and I saw this girl, Ellie Sherman,” Grossman said. “She was gorgeous, musically talented, sweet and funny. I [said], ‘Hey, maybe I can be like that.’ That was my first real experience [thinking], ‘Maybe being Jewish isn't so bad.’”

This summer, Grossman went to Camp Newman as a means to do community service, completing 672 hours of work. Grossman was put on the fundraising committee for Mental Health America, an organization designed to help individuals facing mental health struggles reach out online to people when in need of support. As of this summer, she helped raise 12,000 dollars for the cause.

“I was very proud of the work that people put in and it was really rewarding to

be able to help a cause that I really cared about,” Grossman said. “No one deserves to feel isolated and people who really struggle deserve to have an outlet to see that they're not the only person feeling the way that

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t h e y do.”

Grossman continued helping out with the camp by contributing to Pride events held there and serving meals to those who attended. Grossman’s mother, Jenny Grossman, is “wowed” by her daughter's ability to create opportunities for others and 4 herself through her community work.

“I was most proud of her for being open to new opportunities that she may not have thought were going to be the highlights for her, like working a lot during the summer,” Mrs. Grossman said. “Those turned into really strong, positive experiences and led to new friendships because they were working on things together with a shared goal.

She put herself out there, tried new things, and got to experience success through hard work and commitment to the project.”

Not only did Camp Newman provide opportunities to do community service, but it also gave Grossman a place to connect to

her identity as a Jewish person.

“I think she feels a strong connection to the Jewish identity through the experience and has a stronger identity to the larger implications of that community,” Mrs. Grossman said. “She now has a [further understanding of] acceptance, inclusion, culture and openness awareness.

Camp Newman was one example that she related to, but it also impacted her commitment and advocacy for the larger purpose of inclusivity, connection and acceptance for all people.”

Despite having activities based on Jewish traditions, people who aren’t Jewish can attend the camp to find community there through other aspects of the camp’s structure.

“Camp Newman is a very inclus i v e place, it isn't just a Jewish camp.

Y o u can find s o m e one out of every single box.

This year was great because we had a lot of international staff and different cultures,” Grossman said.

“This is a diverse place but so welcoming.

Seeing procreative action and many people get involved is really a magical experience.”

Son raises money through selling mugs to support those with Perthes

by Isabella Kholer

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amily means supporting one another through everything; and for junior Kevin Son, this means buying, redecorating, and selling mugs to raise money for a charity to support his brother, Hyungjun, who got diagnosed with Perthes shortly before starting elementary school.

“We were hanging around one day and my brother started to walk kind of weirdly, so we told my parents and they took him to the hospital when he started complaining that it was hurting, and apparently it was Perthes,” Son said.

According to Better Health Channel, Perthes is a curable disease which affects the hip joints of children typically between 1 the ages of 3 and 11.

It occurs when there is not enough blood flow to the femoral head (hip joint) and can affect walking ability and cause limping.

“He had to be in wheelchairs and on crutches for a few years, which was hard at times,

but it definitely brought us closer together,” Son said. “He is better now, but because of the marketplace our school had last year I thought of the opportunity to make money and donate it to people who are going through something similar to my brother.”

The bond between Son and his brother has brought him to realize his immense passion for business.

“In the future, I would like to have a team where I'm the leader and [help] get people through finance and work together to build a business,” Son said. “ I currently have a club that's for investing and we teach how to control stocks and trade.

There’s an 2 online curriculum because it's a national club so we'll go through the course and teach people about economics and circulation.”

Son has a Cricut Mug Press machine to make the mugs that he sells. First, he makes the designs online and then prints them out with a specific type of paper, which he then wraps around the mug. Then he heats it (“like you’re ironing clothes,” Son said) and the design stays on it. At last year’s RUHS job fair, Son raised $700 for the Perthes Kids Foundation. From there, his passion

for entrepreneurship grew. Hyungjun Son, is “very proud” that his brother has always supported him through the many ups and downs that their family has endured.

“He has seen me when I haven’t been well, [when] I've been at my lowest and he’s seen me in pain. I know what it's like to have the disease and I was surprised and proud that he made the choice to spend his time supporting me.” Hyungjun Son said.

For Hyungjun, having Perthes felt like “hitting pause on life.” It could be a struggle at times and during those mom e n t s , Hyunjun remembers his brother always at his side to ensure that he became the best and happiest version of himself.

“When I had Perthes, I didn’t feel like I was actually living. I had many surgeries and I couldn’t eat sometimes,” Hyungjun said. “There was even a period where I couldn’t go to school and during those times, my brother was next to me to support me physically so that I could recover and not fall into a terrible state.”

Hyungjun, who is now in college, finds that because of his brother’s consistent and passionate efforts to combine his love for

business with his love for his brother, the two make a strong effort to stay connected.

“Compared to normal brothers, we have a really strong bond because of what we’ve been through,” Hyungjun said. “I try to call him everyday, and him supporting me through all of this has brought us together more than anything else.”

Due to the young age that both Son and his brother were at the time of the diagnosis, Son never truly understood the impact of Perthes, and later educated himself when he decided to fund for the cause.

“Before I started to make 3 mugs and donate, I didn't know what his symptoms were. When I started to research, I found out about the symptoms and the foundations that I would donate to,” Son said. “I got to know what he went through and I got to understand him and what kind of pain he went through, allowing me to connect with him more.”

1. Photo of Hyungjun Son 2. Two of Kevin Son's mug creations 3. Photo of Kevin Son ALL PHOTOS COURTSEY OF KEVIN SON

features 5

high tide sept. 14, 2023

Dual Immersion Program

Students enrolled in Dual Immersion reflect on its postive impacts

by CaraMia Leal

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leven years ago, ethnicity (National Center for Education a group of RUHS and Statistics). Cho wanted to introduce This is a pullout quote. Feel free to juniors, the first to his children the importance of learning class to participate in the about others in the and urges others to enchange the size/shape of the box district’s Dual Immersion roll their kids, as well. and text, but not the fonts. Don’t program, sat in their kin“[Students] understand they're invited dergarten class listening to to become a global citizen. [The program] forget to make your person’s name their teacher speak to them opens up and broadens one's way of thinkand the quotation marks the color of fluently mostly in Spanish. ing and way of understanding the world.

Too young to fully underIt's deeper and broader. I also believe that your page. stand the purpose or value of it invites students to be more appreciative the program, these students’ of others, and all the differences that parents chose it for them for come with it and celebrate those differKIRA TSENG good reasons. ences,” Cho said.

SOPHOMORE This is a pullout In kindergarten, students Families also benefit from their are taught 90% in Spanish and quote. Feel free to children’s biliteracy.

10% in English; in first grade, “As parents, we wanted our own change the size/ the ratio changes to 80% Spanchildren to have appropriate deish and 20% English and so forth, in many things. There shape of the box and velopment until each language is taught 50% are many variations within the of the time in fourth and fifth grade. text, but not the fonts. Spanish speaking cultures, and Once in high school, “students are that was a big bonus to our Don’t forget to make tested and placed in Native Spanish family personally,” Cho said. speaker classes, with the goal being “That taught the whole famyour person’s name Spanish Language for their last year,” ily, not just the students, and the quotation according to Spanish teacher Sara that there's a whole new Gonzalez. whole world out there marks the color of “[The Dual Immersion program] for us to explore and your page. at RBUSD is promoting biliteracy, not get to know, and just bilingual education, meaning they’re it’s a wonderful learning to read and write proficiently in world [that KYLIE CHO two languages, in this case English and should be cel1 SOPHOMORE Spanish versus fully speaking two languagebrated].”

1. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA es. [The program] also focuses on various GONZALEZ cultural aspects of Spanish speaking countries and cultures,” Redondo Beach District Board Member Byung Cho said.

I’m Cho is an active advocate for the program here and has enrolled three of his children in it. tech“[The program] is so much more than n i just teaching our students to read and c a l l y write. It teaches them to understand where n o t , ” people came from and the history of the T s e n g culture. There’s so much more depth and s a i d . intricacy involved and explored- it's like “Learnthe more you learn the more you want to ing about learn. I want that curiosity about learning the culture to be pervasive among all the students in t h r o u g h our district. That's why I'm so passionate the Dual about [the program],” Mr. Cho said.

Immersion Students in the program practically ap- program 2 is ply what they’ve learned from the program nice because to communicate with people they meet. I’m able to conBYUNG CHO Sophomore Kira Tseng, a member of the nect with it and RBUSD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER Dual Immersion program, did an exchange the people [of program in Mexico for a week in the spring that heritage].” and was able to form connections with her Kylie added host family. how the education “I was really homesick, and I was crying. and knowledge Dual My host parents saw me crying, and they Immersion instills were comforting me. They didn't speak En- has helped her naviglish, but just knowing Spanish in general gate real world situa2. PHOTO COURTESY OF RBUSD OFFICAL WEBSITE made it easier for me to be more comfort- tions. able with them,” Tseng said.

“I remember one As a Spanish teacher, Amanda Duran time we were flying to encourages her students to take pride in Hawaii, and we couldn't 1 speaking multiple languages enjoys work- find any of the signs, but ing with her Dual Immersion students. there was one in Spanish, and “I think that until you're in a program my parents don't know how, like the Dual Immersion program, you but my sister and I were able to don't realize the value of speaking another know we needed to go this way,” language, and I think it's a really powerful Kylie said. thing,” Duran said. “In Spanish, we say, When not travelling, Kylie also ‘You’re worth two souls, two beings’ and finds it handy to be able to help peothat's a really beautiful thing to say when ple with directions, read advertiseyou can communicate in two languages. ments and billboards, and enjoy films.

The world just opens up for you.”

“It’s special that I was given this opSophomore Damian Artiga benefits on a portunity. Some movies don’t have Enpersonal level from the program. glish versions available at all, so it’s cool “I’m able to talk more about [my fami- that I don’t need the subtitles to watch ly], about my culture, and I can learn new them while some people may be extremely DAMIAN ARTIGA 3 things that my grandparents or my parents confused. It’s a plus,” Kylie said.

SOPHOMORE have experienced firsthand,” Artiga said.

The program also highlights the imporTseng and sophomore Kylie Cho feel “a tance of making connections with a variety part” of Hispanic culture after being im- of people in their community, which is necmersed in it. essary considering sixteen percent of the 3. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAMI“I’m not Latina, but knowing the culture student population in RBUSD are Hispanic AN ARTIGA feels more like I’m a part of it, even though and the other 84% are of another race or

“

This is a pullout quote. Feel free to change the size/shape of the box and text, but not the fonts. Don’t forget to make your person’s name and the quotation marks the color of your page.

“

This is a pullout quote. Feel free to change the size/ shape of the box and text, but not the fonts. Don’t forget to make your person’s name and the quotation marks the color of your page.

oct. 5, 2023 high tide

6 features

Written in the Stars

Junior Sloane Graham self-published a personal poetry collection

by Lauren Choy

I

n the shower, the outdoors and the middle of the night– all seemingly random and odd places, yet these were the unique spots where junior Sloane Graham came up with her best poetry ideas.

“Ideas usually came to me at the weirdest moments, but I couldn't rush any ideas so I had to wait for them to [arrive] naturally,” Graham said. “There definitely were times where I sat down at my desk and thought, ‘I have to come up with something.’ But, whatever I thought of during those times never really felt genuine, it felt forced.”

Graham recently published her collection of poems, titled “based on a true story,” to Barnes and Nobles. She wrote the book over the course of the summer, but was first exposed to poetry back in middle school. The collection is an accumulation of newer poems from this summer and poems from her past.

The book was an individual process; Graham went to Barnes and Nobles to learn how to publish and edit the book for approval on her own. She was instructed to create another bank account for the book, “pick [her] platform, edit the book, and submit it.”

“There are a lot of poems in [the book] that I haven't shared with anybody. I did most of the book process on my own, so a lot of the content in my book actually hasn't been read by anyone but me,” Graham said.

The purpose behind the book wasn’t just for her; Graham wanted her poems to resonate with other teenage girls who “refrain

from shari n g their feelings and keep them inside, bottled up.”

A l though the natural flow of her ideas was an important part of Graham's writing process, she also set a small deadline for herself to complete the book by the end of the summer in order to hold herself accountable. While the natural ideas allowed for authentic emotion in her poems, it sometimes slowed her writing down and caused writer’s block.

“Towards the middle of the writing [process], while I was trying to fill up the pages there was an issue. What I did to get out of writer’s block was close my computer entirely and walk away from it. In high school especially, there are a lot of firsts, so going out and experiencing everything gave me things to write about,” Graham said.

Applying figurative language skills from English 10 Honors to her writing allowed Graham to get over any bumps in the road.

“I love using language to express myself

because an emotion is usually not captured in a novel or long paragraphs. It's usually a mixture of words and specific synonyms, and that's what I was trying to capture in my book,” Graham said. “I try not to write super straightforward descriptions, but something more metaphor heavy. When it comes together, it blends really well into a specific mood and tone.”

Her English 10 Honors teacher, Anthony Magani, touched on how Graham took the skills learned in class to another level, which she represented in her book.

"She’s a phenomenal writer. Sometimes it would surprise me because it felt very adult and mature the way she wrote, while still utilizing t h e concepts that we learned i n class,” Magani said. “To have rules and regulations

for what a teacher expects, but then take your writing style and make all of that fit while still having a voice is not easy, yet she did it super well.”

Part of her writing voice and style also included not using the personal pronoun “I." Graham found comfort in knowing that nobody knows which feelings expressed in the book are specifically hers.

While moving towards the final publish, Graham was aware that some poems are better than others, and how that is just “natural.” Despite this, she still released almost everything for the benefit of others.

“No emotion or thought is invalid and remembering that helped me to think that somebody out there is going to like this poem more than I do,” Graham said. “I feel like everybody has different perspectives on [life], so why not release everything.”

With the accomplishment of formally publishing a book and persevering through the writing process, Graham felt that being able to accurately express emotions into words was the cherry on top.

“It was just amazing. I didn't think I'd actually be able to publish everything that was personal. It's really hard to capture a feeling or the five senses through words,” Graham said. “Being able to capture a feeling through words feels like an achievement. After reading it back, you feel that emotion again and it feels complete.”

Sloane Graham reading her book, "based on a true story". PHOTOS BY SASCHA PERDUE

Vincent Varela collects and enjoys the tangible aspects of vinyl records

by Ethan Chi

1

O

nce the needle touches the spinning ringed record, junior Vincent Varela knows he’s about to experience a sound indescribable by words.

Varela finds that those who classify record players as nothing more than a bit of 60s nostalgia coupled with an outdated technology, clearly haven’t listened to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen on vinyl with a friend.

“We played ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ really loud, and we sang every single word together. It was amazing. It was so loud that we couldn't even hear ourselves. On vinyl we could actually feel the music: we could feel ourselves getting super excited, we could feel the urge to jump and scream to the song, and we could feel every lyric as if Freddy Mercury himself was singing to us,”

Varela said.

As Varela noted, the feeling a Queen song can evoke is a testament to the influence of music. Allowing an artist like Freddy Mercury to make students feel inspired or excited through melodies and beats is what Varela describes as the beauty of music. However, as Varela also noted, listening to music is only the first step: it’s how people listen to music that builds on your understanding and connection with a song.

“The sound quality when listening to a song on a record, full blast with four speakers all coming at you from different directions, is 2 so much more satisfying than listening on your Air Pods.

Sometimes hearing the song on record multiplies the greatness of the song. It's music in its rawest form,” Varela said.

According to Varela, the ability to strip back the digitized sound quality of modern listening devices and produce music in a down-to-earth way adds to the significance of a vinyl record. The music of his record player allows him to tap into an emotionally vulnerable state, where he is free to feel anything he wants, without any judgment or fear. This deeper connection not only adds to his appreciation for songs but also develops a mutualistic relationship where Varela feels comfortable leaning on music in times of need.

“Usually when I am going through something really rough I'll have songs that I like to cope with. I’ll just put the record on repeat because it was so good. Songs will do that for me. Like ‘Self Control’ by Frank Ocean, that song kills me every single time I hear it, because I just remember me in freshman year and how miserable I was.

“

The sound quality when listening to a song on a record, full blast with four speakers all coming at you from different directions is so much more satisfying than listening on your Air Pods.

VINCENT VARELA JUNIOR But I also remember how that song helped me,” Varela said.

Finding support through the music of a record player proved to be invaluable for Varela, and he isn’t alone. Using music to push through struggle is an experience junior Kayla Halpin knows “too well.”

“When my mom got cancer I was too young to go inside the hospital, and I remember sitting in the car and listening to music, while my dad and my sister were in the hospital.

But even though I was alone, there was comfort in that situation because I could be there by myself and listen to Radiohead,” Halpin said.

The comforting feeling both Varela and Halpin

found in music bonded them.

“Being able to converse with someone about music that they can't really find anyone else to listen with is really nice and sharing that joy of understanding why it's good is something special,” Varela said.

For Varela and Halpin, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” vinyl was the moment that connected them through music. While Air Pods and headphones tend to enhance the individual experience, a record player fills the room by echoing the essence of a song across all four walls. Halpin added that owning physical music and openly streaming it can facilitate musical connections like the one she and Varela shared.

“Compared to Spotify,

simply having it in your hands, you can feel the music physically and literally,” Halpin said. “And when you listen to your vinyl, you don't hear it- you understand it.”

1. Stack of CD's from Varela's collection PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCENT VARELA 2. Queen's Greatest Hits CD PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCENT VARELA 3. Vincents record player PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCENT VARELA

3

features 7

high tide oct. 5, 2023

Knock, Knock, Knock'n On Music's Door

A group of like-minded young musicians find a space to "jam" in the bingo room

by Rena Felde

T

he drums, bass and guitars electrify the air in Mike SooHoo’s classroom. Lunchtime with Jam Club has begun.

Jam Club, a product of connections among friends and teachers, started as six close students who were “just looking for a place to jam outside of [their] homes,” according to junior guitarist and Club President Franco Aulet.

The club found its roots in Tyler Salisbury’s classroom, where he has guitars that he lets his students play, but eventually the group shifted to SooHoo’s classroom for a better space.

SooHoo, a teacher of junior vocalist and Club Vice President Samantha Neubauer, knew about the band’s interest in playing music at school, so he introduced them to a drum set and keyboard he had in his classroom’s storage closet. SooHoo had purchased the instruments with the “vision” for the closet space to be converted into a band area; Jam Club’s meetings brought both SooHoo’s and the club’s vision alive.

“When we got this room, it really allowed us to express our ideas and gave us so much motivation,” junior drummer Luke Lobsenz said.

With the approval of neighboring teachers and ASB, the group plays outside in front of the Bingo Room every Friday.

SooHoo hopes to see Jam Club become a gathering spot for students to enjoy live music at the end of every week.

“I think [Jam Club] definitely improves the vibe of my room. I’ve always had a lot of students that come and hang out in my room, but the atmosphere of having live

music would liven up any place,” SooHoo said. “They sound great, and I think it helps the social atmosphere.”

The group plays covers of popular songs such as “Money” by Pink Floyd and “Santeria” by Sublime, but they also enjoy mixing in their own music and chord progressions too. Without microphones at the moment, they can’t add lyrics, but re-

“

We're still meeting up every day. We don't really care [about not being an offical club].

It's all about jamming.

FRANCO AUTLET

gardless, playing as a group is “a unifying language,” Lobsenz said.

In order to play harmoniously, all of the band members must play at similar levels, which can be difficult to achieve when musicians are just getting into their instruments. Luckily, Jam Club’s consistent meetings give members a space to practice everyday and work on their skills.

Junior Austin Rushton, who has played bass on and off since he was in first grade, says he was “terrible” because he never practiced, nor did he have anybody to play with, so he didn’t have motivation. Upon joining Jam Club, however, he says he has experienced a newfound motivation. The other club members agree that everyone’s

effort and skill is equally important in making the music sound good.

“Not wanting to fall behind the rest of the people I play with [is a big motivator],” Rushton said. “I want to put in as much effort as they’re putting 1 in to make the songs sound good.”

Additionally, performing well is not just about the “skill of playing the instrument,” according to Aulet, but also “the skill of 2 learning how to play with other people.”

Jam Club is not an official club through ASB due to “issues with paperwork,” according to SooHoo, but they hope to become formally 3 approved during the second semester. Despite their lack of official status, the students continue to do what they enjoy.

“We’re still meeting up everyday.

We don’t really care [about not being an official club]. It’s all about jamming,” Aulet said.

In the future, Jam Club hopes to do gigs together at venues such as Saint Rocke or BeachLife Festival and perform at Battle of the Bands later in the school year. “[A space to play with others] is not something that a lot of musicians have,” Aulet said. “Usually you just learn an instrument by yourself, but I feel like we all feel the same way; playing with each other is actually fun.”

1. Junior Austin Rushton playing bass behind junior Luke Lobzenz on drums.

PHOTOS BY CATE HEMPSTEAD 2. Franco Autlet playing piano. PHOTOS BY CATE HEMPSTEAD 3. Senior Sam Angulo playing guitar. PHOTOS

BY CATE HEMPSTEAD

Drumming allows Gianna Grabher to pursue her dream of performing on stage

by Valentina Mason

J

unior Gianna Grabher’s passion for drumming began with a set of gifted plastic drums she got for Christmas when she was four. Eleven years later, drumming remains an important part of her life and she hopes to play at Madison Square Garden one day.

“Drumming has been my passion since I was really little. It's a way for me to express myself and get some emotions out, and improve to then show off my skills,” Grabher said. “A great personal milestone for me was getting to play at Saint Rocke with the School of Rock program. Going up there, being on stage and having people in the crowd watching me was such a surreal feeling.”

Part of the School of Rock program for two years, Grabher performs in casts of kids playing different instruments and is given a set of songs along with the opportunity to play at a venue.

“I’ve always wanted to play [at Saint Rocke] because it’s such a packed venue and good [groups] consistently play there,” Grabher said.

Grabher’s band, Backhanded, started in June 2023. Grabher and her best friend, freshman Samantha Pressey, met in theatre when they were four, deciding that Pressey’s love for singing and Grabher’s eleven years of drumming experience were a perfect match for success.

Now, the band is composed of Pressey as lead singer, Grabher on drums, freshman Lillie Waite on bass and freshman Jax

Kornith and sophomore Hayden Sandefur as guitarists.

“We all have similar personalities. Whenever we

have a bad practice, we're all laugh-

ing the entire time. We make jokes about everything, and it’s such a fun environment. It feels like hanging out with friends and getting to play music,” Pressey said.

Backhanded plays mainly alternative rock, covering bands like Sublime and Incubus, taking songs and inspiration and putting a unique spin on it.

“Once we were [playing] ‘Drive’

by Incubus, and Jax didn’t know the solo. So, we told him what key the song was in and let him do his thing, improvise, and it ended up sounding amazing,” Grabher said.

Pressey's father plays in a band, also, and has a basement recording studio that Pressey utilizes.

“My dad has helped so much with the band and he’s definitely my biggest personal inspiration,” Pressey said. “He gives us advice, he’ll tell us to loop or try something new. He’s almost a manager, and I really look up to him.”

Along with the covers they work on, the band aims to someday write and release original music, with some lyrics and chord progressions already in the works.

“My songs come from random bottled up feelings I have. Sometimes I'll wake up in the middle of the night and write down a lyric. Everything inspires me, for example the song I'm working on sparked off of a conversation that I had with my girlfriend,” Grabher said.

Making original music is a group effort, and Grabher always looks for input and new lyrics to work in from her bandmates.

“I usually help [Grabher] with lyrics and creating the tune, she’s our main songwriter. We all collaborate and work together to put our ideas out since we’re new to making original [music] and playing it,” Pressey said. “I’ll help figure out how the singing tunes in with the background music, as everyone has a role.”

The band hopes to play gigs at various venues in the area and draw an audience that extends beyond people they already know.

“Music plays such a significant role in my everyday life. It’s always been a coping mechanism for me because I find peace and expression in music, as well as feeling others emotions and conveying my own,” Grabher said. “To me that’s what songwriting and music is about, writing a song about your emotions so someone else Gianna Grabher performing at Saint Rocke. can relate to it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF GIANNA GRABHER

opinion

It's time to retire

8

Reevaluating the ability of senior politicians to shape the future of the United States government

by Kat Otey

“

When I think about my age… the number doesn’t even register,” Joe Biden (80) replied to concerns about his age in a recent CNN interview. I sincerely wish we could all say the same.

Our clearly aging politicians have been the talk of the town everywhere you care to look. Just last Friday, September 29th, California Senator Dianne Feinstein (90) was reported dead while still in office, following months of debate over whether or not someone without power of attorney over their own life should have power over the entire population of California as our (now former) representative. A poll from AP News, referenced by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Fox News—the list goes on and on, spanning the political spectrum of news sources— reports that 77 percent of voters believe that Biden is too old to serve another term as president. Over three-quarters of voters, including 89 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats, themselves both young and old, share this belief. Let’s take a step back and think about that for a moment. In our strikingly bipartisan political sphere, we have found an issue that everyone agrees is an issue.

That’s a good (or at least an intriguing) first step. But what exactly can we do with these numbers? What do they mean? Widely publicized solutions include an age limit on politicians, an idea tossed around in interviews with Biden, as well as many of the representatives, presidential or other-

PHOTO OF JOE BIDEN VIA WHITEHOUSE.GOV

wise. Solutions include a mental competency test required for aging candidates, supported notably by Nikki Haley (51), a candidate for the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election.

Speaking purely in medical terms, it’s true that 80 years old today doesn’t hold the same meaning as 30 years ago— nor is it what 80 years old will mean in the future. Even those in other prominent positions, such as actors and directors, are still working competently well into their nineties. Several men and women over 90—some even over 100—have finished marathons. But politicians aren’t just retired self-improvement fanatics; we trust them (more or less) to work towards improvement for our country, our states, and represent us down to an individual level. Age is for sure a factor in the many that make a “good” (whatever definition of such you choose to believe) politician, and that’s highlighted even more by the attention it receives. In the current polarizing world of American bipartisan politics, to see people from vastly different perspectives actually agree to even acknowledge that something is an problem is a sign that it’s not a problem we can simply ignore.

Because let’s face it—in the political sphere, old people are hard to get passionate about. I’ll talk politics all day long, but I’m not exactly screaming my support and waving an American flag while Mitch McConnell freezes at the podium (twice. TWICE.) And that’s not just a petty throwaway: young, passionate people who will have to live in the future that our elected officials create are hardly reassured or emboldened to put their two cents into the political sphere at the

PHOTO OF DIANE FEINSTEIN VIA SENATE.GOV

PHOTO OF MITCH MCCONEL VIA SENATE.GOV

In the battle for originality in cinema, the role of writers and the impact of smaller studios take center stage

O

by Calvin Bonn

n its opening weekend, I went to see “A Haunting in Venice,” a murder-mystery movie that courted spookiness and the supernatural. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, with an all-star cast of Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, and Tina Fey. But was it really new? Turns out, it was based off of the 1969 Agatha Christie novel, “Hallowe’en Party,” and was a threequel to Branagh’s 2017, “Murder on the Orient Express.” The starring detective, Hercule Poirot, had been adapted on the big screen 15 times before this installment and even had 13 seasons of a TV show to his name. In my mind, this points to the lack of originality that plagues modern day cinema.

Originality is a tricky idea to pin down in the movie industry. In movies, this is reflected not as much in acting, but in the writing and directing of the dialogue and plot, crafting a storyline that is compelling and unique enough to feel fresh and exciting. There are varying degrees of originality in my mind, with remakes at the bottom of the scale, followed by book adaptations where the plot exists as a loose guide, and then additions to existing franchises where characters and the world building have already been established, with completely new screenplays with original writing, characters, and storylines at the top. This does not mean that movies lacking originality are unenjoyable, and I will be the first in line to see any of the new Marvel releases and have gushed over Naomi Scott’s performance in the live-action “Aladdin” just like anyone else.

But does originality matter in the movie industry? For the average audience member, the answer seems to be no. In 2020, AMC Theaters reported losing $4.6 billion in revenue thanks to COVID. In the face of streaming and the pandemic, it seemed like theaters could have been on

their way out—AMC needed studios to produce guaranteed blockbusters to put butts in seats ASAP. Accordingly, the highest grossing movies in 2021 and 2022 were “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: Way of the Water'' respectively, both of which were additions to existing franchises with a huge fan following. Compared to these, truly original movies represent a risk that studios and theaters might not have been willing to take in those more vulnerable times. In the eyes of major studios, movies aren’t art, but moneymakers. But Companies Market Cap reports that AMC has made $4.26 billion in 2023 alone, a near 250% increase since 2020, proving that these vulnerable times are over and taking risks on original content must be normalized.

Good writers are the drivers of original content, but writers have been undervalued by the current movie industry, as highlighted by the Writers’ Guild of America’s months-long strike since May. Studios have begun exploring AI-generated scripts to write new shows or use writers’ work to train AI as part of the machine-learning process per PBS, leaving writers concerned that they might be removed from the writing process entirely.

AI-generated scripts would represent the death of originality; it is merely a mashup of scripts, recycled and in a new font. To create a truly unique storyline, human involvement is necessary.

Luckily, originality has the opportunity to make a comeback. The writers’ strike ended on Sept. 27, with writers winning better financial compensation for their work, regulations against AI, and an increase in the minimum number of writers per project. This proves that without writers,

thought of voting for option one: someone’s grandpa, or option two: someone’s great grandpa.

But these are the people shaping our future, and the disconnect between them and us can feel too large to leap—literally generational.

Young people are interested in politics, but current politicians run for re-election after re-election off of the money they earned from the previous ones—a cycle that refuses to end until death. Meanwhile, those trying to bridge the gap leave college with six-figure student loan debt to repay and few ways “in” that are realistic for a majority of the population. Rather than incur still more debt by running for political office, they might wait until middle age to enter the arena- if they do at all. In our current socioeconomic state, passion can’t build a political career, and that’s not the way that it should be.

All of this to say that we don’t need to be picking and choosing which old people qualify to lead our country. We need to expand the pool of options: experience combined with contemporary new ideas, growth with stability, a government that truly represents the people. Just because you have to be 35 to run for president doesn’t mean that waiting until you’re twice that age should double your chances of winning.

Shame on egotistical politicians who favor cementing their own legacy and impact over leaving room for our new generations to grow into the world they’ve left us with. If we really have more freedom and equality than ever, then expanding our options, reconnecting the “representatives” with the represented shouldn’t be such an impossible goal.

I have enough to worry about without waiting for the news that another one of our “leaders” has died in office.

letters to the

editor

The High Tide encourages greater input of perspectives from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed. Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.

voice column The High Tide aims to share the voices of a wider swath of the RUHS student population, beyond just our staff members.

If you have a story to share, a unique outlook on something, or a personal opinion, fill out the form linked at the QR code. the big studio bosses start losing money, since storylines sell tickets.

Smaller studios are successful in part because they provide platforms to uplift and share new perspectives. The problem was never that the world was running out of stories to tell, but rather that major movies weren’t reflecting the diverse experiences of the world. Hollywood finally seems to be learning that stories representing the broad spectrum of races, cultures, genders, sexualities, and religions are profitable. “Barbie” is currently the highest grossing movie of 2023, making over $1 billion worldwide, and it promotes a AMC LOGO women-centered story that VIA examines the impacts of the FREE.PNG. patriarchy on society and LOGOS.COM makes it pretty, fun, and pink! This is the type of original content that needs to continue. Movies use entertainment as a lens in which to see the world, so while watching the previews for the next superhero movie you see, consider branching out and supporting creative, original movies that make the world a more exciting place.

opinion 9

high tide oct. 5, 2023

The Collection Question Should teachers collect phones during class?

No

by Claudia Turner

I

t's no secret that our school has plenty of college-level courses.

Classes like AP US History, AP Government and Politics, and AP Chemistry are all high-level, full of competent and driven upperclassmen ready to take on the challenges that college curriculum has to offer. The difference between APs and most college courses is that these specific classes all force students to give up their phones, a policy most universities and jobs don't enforce.

This leads me to the ever-pressing question in today's educational space: how well are we preparing our students for the "real world?" And where does personal responsibility come into play in all this? Because, as the way I see it right now, it doesn't. Students who lock up their phones at the beginning of class from freshman to senior year never really build up the skills they need to manage their phone addiction. They also don’t experience the consequences of what scrolling on social media in class might do to their grades, something they won't know how to manage when they go on to college.

According to Pew Research Center, roughly six in ten teens say they feel anxious, lonely or upset when they do not have their cell phone with them.

FOMO (fear of missing out) moments that might seem trivial in retrospect can mean a lot at the moment, especially to hormonal teenagers. Using restrictions like phone corrals cuts these kids off cold and can exacerbate negative emotions, which is counterintuitive for a productive learning environment, especially because only 8% of teens reported often losing focus due to cell phone presence in class. Sometimes just allowing students to keep their phones at their side can alleviate anxiety and increase focus, as they don't need to worry about missing a potentially important text or notification.

Phone corrals can be problematic even for students who don't feel any type of negativity when separated from their devices because it brings into question the level of trust between a teacher and their class. For students who have worked hard for three years, being treated the same way by their ninthgrade honors English teacher and their senior year AP Government teacher can be frustrating. The implementation of a no-phone policy the moment students walk through the door doesn't allow them to demonstrate any of the maturity or responsibility they might have acquired over the years, and creates animosity in the student-teacher relationship right from the get-go.

I acknowledge that yes, most teachers only want what’s best for their students, and phone corrals are implemented with the best intentions of curating a distraction-free learning environment.

But as technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, I find it important that we learn to work with that technology instead of just pushing it away. I’ve already used my camera tool multiple times in Honors Chemistry, and it’s helped me get through quite a few hectic lab situations. Let’s reframe phones as tools for the classroom, as they provide many features that can be used for assignments and projects alike.

Yes

by Ava Anzivino

I

This usage of phones in a productive way during class isn't an experience that’s unique by any means. A 2013 study by Kevin Thomas Blanche O'Bannon cited that 61% of the 92 teachers surveyed reported that cell phones created more anytime/anywhere learning opportunities, as well as increased student communication and motivation.

’m sitting in my zero period chemistry class, my eyes already stinging from exhaustion and my attention span holding on by a thread. Suddenly, the faint noise of my seatmate’s TikTok For You Page permeates my brain and takes my focus away from the lesson at hand. My mind wanders through the depths of

Phones are an inherently neutral tool, and their pros and cons are determined by how you choose to interact with them, not by the technology itself. To brush them off completely is to close a door to a world of technological teaching that the school-issued Chromebooks might not be able to provide. Whether you like it or not, phones are the future, so it’s better to explore the options now than to be left behind.

So how can we achieve this positive relationship with cell phones? In my eyes, it all starts with the removal of that phone corral. It’s unnecessary, quite frankly a bit insulting to students’ integrity, and fosters a harsh learning environment from the day the syllabus gets passed out. Instead, having students keep their cellular devices on hand during daily class would reduce overall anxiety, potentially provide a helpful tool for class discussions and show kids that teachers actually see them as mature learners who don’t need to be mollycoddled out of learning from their mistakes. After all, taking away the problem for brief periods doesn’t solve the addiction if one is present, so why would that be the case with your phone?

my mental agenda, until soon enough, chemistry becomes my lowest grade. I wonder why.

While we might try to deny the effect that phones have on us at school, we’re all teenagers, and most of us do care about what’s waiting for us on our phones during class. For a teacher, there aren’t many other ways to combat students’ urges besides the widely unpopular phone holder. And no matter how much students complain about it, having phones out of reach can produce higher grades and better engagement in the classroom setting.

As a sophomore who’s being introduced to the world of APs, I'm learning very quickly that there’s no room for my mind to stray during lessons. If I’m in the middle of an AP Seminar timed write, the time doesn’t stop for me to get on my phone and wonder if I should post that one picture on my story. But it happens to all of us, which means it’s in our best interest to find a solution for the problem—that solution being the phone holder.

In a study done in 2022 at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, professionals observed the evolution of

phone regulations in New York’s schools.

While schools were confident that their old phone regulations were ensuring success, both students and parents were insisting that phone use should be normalized in the classroom. After these complaints finally lifted the phone ban, grades gradually dropped due to the lack of focus students displayed during class.

The teacher’s job is to keep their students engaged, which in return will help the students maintain good grades.

If students continuously roam away from this system by distracting themselves with their phones, it gives reason for the teacher to enforce a phone-holding policy. Sure, it can be a little bit of a bummer, but what we don’t seem to realize is that restricting phone usage is just the teacher doing their job.

Some of my peers, including sophomore Haley Eder, have mentioned that their stress during school is reduced without the presence of phones. The devices are no longer there to constantly remind them of their social lives, sports, and other outside factors. In an environment where teenagers are competing against one another academically, and stress is always looming, there’s no need for the technological world to plague already scattered minds.

“If my phone falls out of my bag during class, it’s like a reminder of everything else going on. And even when other people have it out, it’s a distraction and really bothers me because there’s no need to have it out right at that moment,” Eder said.

A small fraction of bitter students like to challenge the phone rules by throwing out claims that if teachers take away phones, it shows a lack of trust between teachers and students and therefore makes the class less inviting.

However, according to an RUHS teacher who asked to stay anonymous, most students are respectful about phone use in class—but there’s always an outlier of kids who disrupt the classroom by using their phones. A phone holder is simply an “equitable, uniform standard for everyone,” so teachers are able to “keep the power of the classroom alive and focus on growth,” the teacher said.

I’m an underclassman, and with expectations being set higher and higher every year for college admissions, I won’t be one to fight with a teacher about phone holders if it ultimately sets me up for academic success over the course of high school. In this competitive climate, we should be taking every measure to improve classroom engagement, whether it’s popular with students or not.

PHOTO BY DYLAN MOORE

Retraction from Issue 1 In the Issue published Sept. 14, artist Clare Maloney’s name was misspelled on pages 8-9 and 16.

On the cover, Karishma Pandya’s name was misspelled. On page 14, the sports headline for the Sept. 5 water polo game was incorrect.

Redondo won 7-3.

10

entertainment Trader No's?

Trader Joe's latest batch of fall treats are pleasing to the eye, but missing fall flavor by Meara Fay

E

veryone knows that Trader Joe’s is the king of grocery stores. Notorious for their cult classic specialties and seasonal selections, with every solstice and equinox comes another frenzy of eager shoppers ready to try new items and stock up on their longtime favorites. This autumn, the store boasts 61 limited-time offers spanning from cakes and cereals to scented soaps.

Lucky for you, I reviewed five of TJ’s most popular fall desserts so that you don’t have to.

I want to preface this review by PHOTO BY DYLAN MOORE acknowledging that some may consider me a picky eater.

I don’t like a lot of things, like sausage with my eggs and fish with my fries, but the one field I can consider myself an expert in is desserts. The sweet tooth gene runs in my family and let’s just say that it’s presenting.

I have had my fair share of sweet treats in my lifetime, and therefore I am of the utmost credibility regarding desserts.

The first thing I tried was the Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins. I truly have no clue why the internet has an infatuation with these things. Recently I even went to a party where someone happened to have brought the pumpkins, and the praise was never-ending. I’m going to stand up and say that they’re all wrong, because these “cakes” were the worst item I tried. You shouldn’t be able to call something a cake when half of its mass is just fondant. It felt like I had to squint my taste buds in order to even taste the chocolate underneath the gigantic mass of flavorless “confectioners coating.” TJ’s product designers clear-

C O W L O R M E

ly sacrificed taste for aesthetics with this nuts began to feel kind of soggy and their spice was a bit too strong for my liking. product. Even if you cut all of the frosting airy texture was no longer there, which can There’s a fine line with pumpkin-spiced off, the cake and mousse’s flavor under- be expected with any pastry left out for too food between delicious and tasting like a neath would still be mediocre—and with- long. I would rate the donuts a six out of HomeGoods candle, and these were defiout the frosting, the actual dessert’s size ten. Would I buy them again? Probably not. nitely teetering. I still prefer was equivalent to a quarter of my palm. But did I eat the whole my holy grail Golden Oreos, The pseudo-cakes receive a zero from me, box as they were sitting but for the autumn season, in my kitchen? Absoluteand were definitely not worth the $3.29. these can do the job.

As I browsed the grocery store aisles, ly.

If there’s one thing I like, I’m not even going to the Apple Cider Donuts in it’s an excuse to eat dessert the bakery section immedi- try to pretend I have any for breakfast. My grandPHOTO BY DYLAN MOORE ately made my eyes light up. insightful thoughts on mother taught me the art of According to the Fall Fearless the third item, because finishing last night’s pie the Flyer, Trader Joe’s seasonal I don’t. TJ’s Pumpkin Spice Batons tastes next morning, and that was exactly what pamphlet meant to introduce like nothing. The wafers have a light, airy Trader Joe’s Apple Cinnamon Bun remindcustomers to new products, texture which is always nice, but the pump- ed me of. Simply put, it’s a cinnamon roll the donuts are baked exclu- kin spice flavor was lacking. If anything, hollowed out in the middle, stuffed with sively at a “family-owned they tasted more like pure vanilla than the apple pie filling and topped with sugary bakery in Western Massachusetts,” and I package’s description of nutmeg, ginger, crumbs. And according to the Fearless Flycould tell because they were rock solid. It’s and clove. These cookies definitely need er, “It’s enough to make anyone aspire to almost impossible to go right with store- to be dipped in something, preferably a morning personhood.” These were by far pumpkin spice the best item I tried, scoring a ten out of bought donuts, since latte, to even be ten, and the only product off this list that I most donuts start tastconsidered gro- would actually go back for. Upon first bite, ing stale after 24 hours cery-list-wor- the bun can come off a little dry, but once of being prepared. thy. Solid three you hit the center all amends are made.

They look very apout of ten. pealing in the store, The sweet apple compote had the perfect I was pleas- texture and, despite the flyer’s recommenand the golden color antly surprised dation that the buns be served warm, tastof the cake screams “I PHOTO COURTESY OF when I saw that ed like a chilled slice of heaven. Although taste like apples.” The MEARA FAY Joe Joe’s, ev- the buns could be savored as an after-dinapple cider aroma was definitely strong, and when I brought the eryone’s favorite Nabisco cookie rip-off, ner dessert, eating them first thing in the grocery bag home it filled the kitchen with came in a pumpkin flavor. They’re orange, morning is so much more fun. a sweet scent that lured all of my family fittingly, and slightly larger than their Oreo I don’t think I will be scurrying to Tradmembers into trying them. But when I bit counterparts. The texture of the cookie was er Joe’s next year when the season turns into the donut, there was so much sugar on immaculate—the cream center was smooth autumn. For me, the flavors didn’t pop and it that I felt like I was chewing on sand. But and luscious, and the cookies were just nothing was a life-altering decision. But if once you get past the chewing sensation, soft enough to crunch with minimal effort. someone brought the fall items to a party, I the donuts actually don’t taste bad—they’re Once again, dipping these in a PSL would would say the desserts were worthy enough sweet, spiced, and everything that the box definitely up their game, but these cookies of being eaten again. In summary, don’t says they will be. However, after a few days are semi-enjoyable alone. Although they’re run, just walk to your local Trader Joe’s for of sitting on my kitchen counter, the do- definitely fall-flavored, I did feel like the this year’s fall-seasoned treats.

Revisting Toni Morrison's controversial debut novel and its powerful and thought-provoking subject matter by Yasmeen Ford henever I enter a Barnes and Noble, the aroma of crisp pages and brewed coffee filling my nose, I beeline towards the section that boasts a title written in thick red font: “Banned Books.”

The section is frequently littered with the seemingly most controversial yet popular books like “Catcher in the Rye” and the infamous dystopia “1984,” both selections that I read and enjoyed.

On one of my recent trips, I found a new book: dark blue with sloping golden cursive, this time reading, “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison. After I read the back summary, describing the story of a young Black girl in a world that constantly devalues her for the color of her skin, I pick up the novel, preparing for a more serious read that I’m accustomed to with other fiction books.

Although the prologue of “The Bluest Eye” opens with

Claudia and Frieda MacTeer, children who ized racism, Cholly's misplaced hatred for live with their parents nearing the end of Black women and his suppressed sexualithe Great Depression, the book's main char- ty further damage Pecola's haunting false acter is Pecola Breedlove, a young Black perception of beauty now that she sees girl whose self-perception is shaped by her through her illusory blue eyes. parents who both possess a deep self-haI was pleasantly surprised when I saw tred regarding the similarly to their Blackness, her other novels, stemming from Morrison alterthe prominence of nates between first White power and and third-person supremacy. After perspectives, inPecola's estranged cluding a plethofather, Cholly, atra of perspectives tempts to burn while maintaining their house a tragic, melandown, she is taken choly, and almost in by the MacTcryptic mood with eer family, whose every turn of the daily lives, filled page.

Jumping with love and a between various sense of stability, time periods and contrast with the character viewsuffocating lifepoints, Morrison style of her own. employs a sense Eventually, Pecola of fragmentation, is forced to return mirroring the to her own dyscharacters’ brofunctional family, ken, fragmented COVER IMAGE BY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON her glimpse at a lives and memonormal childhood pulled from beneath her ries. feet.

Morrison writes with such unique eloSurrounded by the idea that quence and poetic insight that cannot be beauty can only come in the form replicated let alone imitated, delving into of Whiteness, Pecola longs for the the stream of consciousness of each of her blue eyes that seem to exist every- characters. Providing readers with unwhere around her, the hatred for filtered and unfabricated access to inner her dark skin and eyes only inten- thoughts and emotions, Morrison allows sifying. Through the remainder of readers to empathize and connect with the novel, the Breedlove's internal- characters on a profound level, experienc-

BLUE

ing their joys, sorrow and struggles intimately, even through the face of adversity.

This abundance of rich symbolism and evocative descriptions brings both the setting and characters to life, making me feel as if I'm in post-Great Depression Ohio, longing for blue eyes, the key to acceptance in a society that perpetuates racial discrimination and values white beauty. However, as I thought more about the content of this book, I realized Pecola's desire to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards was not just relatable in the aspect that we’re both women of color, but also because society still favors the white skin and blue eyes that are universally plastered on billboards and magazines alike and unavoidably on social media.

Whenever I leave a Barnes and Noble with a tote bag full of banned books, I’m bewildered that some individuals truly believe banning books that contain “sensitive” topics protects youth from the world's harsh realities.

It’s almost ironic, especially when I think about how “Fahrenheit 451,” a book regarding the implications of literary censorship or “The Bluest Eye,” a novel focused on the negative consequences of internalizing a single viewpoint is placed in the section that aims to deprive kids of learning about perspectives that differ from their own.

The next time you find yourself at your local bookstore, I urge you to pick up one of these omitted books and see for yourself— widen your perspective, especially if society tells you not to.

sports 11

high tide oct. 5, 2023

Fought to the End

Girls volleyball fought hard, but fell short to Costa 3-2

by London Carbone

S

tarting the season strong, winning more games than they had lost at 15-9, the girls varsity volleyball were ready to play their rivals and first in the division, Mira Costa. After losing and winning two sets, the girls fought hard in the fifth, losing only by a few points with a final score of 15-7.

The first two sets the team struggled, losing the first 25-19 and the second 25-22. For Senior Addy Benefield the game was all about improvement as they continued to do better as the game progressed.

“The first two sets were a little bit rough because as a team, mentally we were nervous to play [Costa] and felt we were gonna get swept right away, but we really worked hard and mentally were aware that we're all skilled players with a great coach. We let that become a mental strength for us and we use that to play, I think, the best so far,” Benefiled said.

Third and fourth sets they came out with wins. The teams were often tied with neither having a constant lead on the other and by the fourth set were able to win 25-19. Sophomore Abby Zimerman played strong throughout the whole game, but along with the rest of the team, was best in these two sets. On top of that, this was one of her first games in a new position, moving from opposite hitter to setter. “[The transition has been] good because I’ve been applying what I've learned in training and making sure to keep communicating with all my teammates. It was really fun to ignore what other people thought if I made a mistake and to try out something new. I was able to be an overall leader and uplift our team to make sure we find success,” Zimmerman said.

Making it all the way to the fifth set was an achievement despite the outcome of the game because of how highly ranked Costa is. The team's effort to work together showed as they progressed through the

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game.

“We [made improvements] in the third set and I'm so proud because I've never seen our team flowing and connecting so well. The fifth set is always hard to play because mentally and physically you're exhausted and I think they beat us with their mental game. That’s somewhere we need to improve and I know we will and already have,” Benefield said.

In the future they are looking to improve and have already begun reflecting on what they did well throughout the game.

They took many pointers for playing Costa again later in the season so they can come

out even stronger and better as a team.

“We’ve definitely [grown in] our blocking, making sure we've read and adjusted to the hitters. We kept improving on defending the other side's setter because she got a couple points in crucial times. [In the future] I think we should be better at that and knowing when to keep it and go for it when serving,” Zimmerman said.

Costa being a difficult game every year pushes the team to perform their strongest.

The experiences and practice helps them grow as players and as a team.

“Last year when we played Costa, I happened to perform probably the worst I've

ever played in my life, and I didn't want to fall down that same path, so I worked really hard mentally to be tuned in and locked in enough to play my best,” Benefield said.

Their main focus right now is to improve themselves as a team mentally and physically.

“As a team, we're taking out that every single practice we need to be working 110% and we know that it's not gonna be easy, but we need to be putting our best effort forward,” Benefield said.

1. Sophomore Abby Zimmerman and senior Madison Clark jump to block the ball PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL

Girls tennis loses a tough match against Mira Costa 15-3

by Victor Simoes

G

irls Tennis faced tough competition against Mira Costa on Thursday Sept. 28, winning three sets, but ultimately losing the match 15-3.

“

I think there is something special [about playing Costa]. They're better in a lot of ways, but I think one day we'll be able to win. I believe in our team."

MALIA WILKIN SENIOR

Every point won by the girls tennis team was hard fought, as Costa proved to be a tough challenger. Senior Malia Wilkin and sophomore Keely Gould played second doubles with quality slices on Wilkin’s part and reliable power shots from Gould, however, they fell short of the set, losing 6-1.

“There was one point in my first match where I was at the net, and I had to run back and forth across the net left and right for what felt like forever, but we won the point in the end. I was really proud that I had stuck to it, and I was aggressive at the net so we could win that point,” Wilken

said.

Gould and Wilkin closed the game from a point scored by a back-and-forth lobbing that ended with Costa hitting the ball into the net, leading to a point scored from a serve by Gould.

“We tried being a lot more active at the net and positioning [by] being ready for every ball,” Gould said. “Having a strong serve definitely helped because then it would give the person at the net an opportunity to win the point and put it away.”

Sophomore Kathleen Pham adopted a controlling strategy during her 3rd round set, keeping her opponent moving. Her cannonball serves earned a few points, but unfortunately she lost the set 6-0.

“I try to move [my opponent] around a lot and keep the ball in. I knew that giving her a really easy ball would just give her the winner, a put-away shot,” Pham said. “There were a couple of moments where it went to deuce, which is when either person could win [a game in a set], and if I won that point, I would have won a game. That really stood out to me because it was really stressful and there's high tension.”

Senior Nicole Sasaki and junior Molly Trotter composed the first doubles pair and the third round was a welcome highlight to what could have otherwise been a dispiriting match. Winning the set 6-4, Trotter scored a momentum shifting point by precisely aiming between her two opponents, leaving both unable to react.

“[The first two games] were rough “I think there is something special because we let them get in our minds too [about playing against Costa] because much instead of just sticking to our game. they're our rival school, so we always After our match, our coach came over and really want to beat them. They're better in said to stick to our playing and hit the a lot of ways, but I think one day we'll be shots that we know how to do because we able to win.I believe in our team. And with doubt ourselves sometimes. That was key, our freshmen. I think they'll keep getting playing our game and not playing their better. So maybe next year,” Wilkin said. game,” Sasaki said.

“I think there were a few times on that third match where they gave us some short balls that we were able to drill down the line, and we got the momentum back that we needed to get,” Sasaki said.

1. Senior Nicole Sasaki and junior Molly Trotter Last week’s game may not have gone high-five their rackets after a rally ideally, but more opportunities will come PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE SANCHEZ to the girls tennis team.

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sports 12

high tide oct. 5, 2023 1. Senior running back, Roman Broughton, runs the ball stiff arming a Peninsula player.

PHOTO BY AMI BIERWILER

2

Football shuts out Peninsula at the annual Homecoming game 7-0

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n a heavily defensive battle, the Homecoming game ushered in another football win, being the Sea Hawks third shut out of the season as they beat Peninsula High School 7-0.

Although the Sea Hawks conducted a dominant defensive performance, it wasn’t something the team was familiar with yet, as they had been working on new defensive plays all week, according to junior safety Zeke Johnson.

“This week, we were introduced to a whole new defense with different coverages, so this game was the first time we got to try it out. There is still a lot to work on, but I think it works pretty well,” Johnson said.

According to Junior quarterback Niko London, not only did the defense try new plays, but so did the offense, which had been implemented in practice weeks before.

“We’ve been putting in a new offense since week four, and we’ve been rolling with that, but we’ve [also] been making variations of plays. We have gotten really good at our base plays and then just building off [from there],” London said.

According to Johnson, the team was confident in their ability to win, as they knew they were a better team.

“It was just a matter of if we did what we were taught to do all week [well]. We practiced well all week, so I was confident we would win that game,” Johnson said.

Because it was Homecoming, London states that there was extra pressure with one of the most packed crowds they had seen in recent seasons.

“I think this is the most packed I’ve ever seen the Flock, so it was definitely a bit louder. We had a few mishaps, especially with the play calls, because of the [noise] from the Flock. But Peninsula had to deal with it too, so it goes both ways. It made the game mean a little more,” London said.

The game was tied at half-time, and the

by Sam Schwartz pressure to score a touchdown had intensified. Mid-way through the third quarter, senior running back Colin Kelly opened up the scoring, finding a hole and rushing for a sixty-yard rushing touchdown.

“I was so happy, and I realized that

“

I was so happy, and I realized that was when the game was over. I knew they weren’t going to score on us, and I kept saying on the sideline, 'That’s all we needed.

That’s all we needed.

Now [defense] can shut them down.'

terception, and the next play, I got it; I felt really excited and happy I could contribute to the win,” Johnson said.

“I knew the defense was going to get a stop there.

They’ve shown time and time again that they are the best part of our team, and once Zeke got that, it was just an amazing play.

And when you see one of your best friends making a play like that, you're so happy for them,” London said.

According to London, this game wasn’t just a victory; it was the first homecoming victory since 2019, meaning the first for every person in the whole school and on the football team.

“The seniors had never won a homecoming game here. So this definitely means a little more, it’s also good momentum going into the rest of the league, and it was such a fun night,” London said.

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4 3.

was when the game was over. I knew they weren’t going to score on us, and I kept saying on the sideline, 'That’s all we needed.

That’s all we needed. Now [defense] can shut them down,'” Johnson said.

With continued back and forth defensive stops on both sides, the game came down to one last drive for Peninsula with two minutes left. With thirty seconds left on the clock, and Peninsula on the twenty-yard line with one last play from Peninsula, the quarterback dropped back and threw a pass over the middle, allowing 5 Johnson to pick the ball off, as the Flock 2.

The Flock arrives early to cheer and attend the annual Homecoming game.

PHOTO BY AMI BIERWILER erupted into chaos.

3. Junior MLB, Milo Youker is met by the Flock after the exciting win. PHOTO BY NICOLAS COLLINS “I was really grateful. I set a prayer on 4. The Flock holds poms poms and balloons gifted by ASB at the whiteout themed game. PHOTO BY TALIA PATthe sideline to get an inTISHALL 5. Redondo player runs the ball on offense, attempting to avoid Peninsula's defense. PHOTO BY AMI BIERWILER.

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7 6. Varisity football runs out before the game and is met with energetic cheers. PHOTO BY AMI BIERWILER 7. Redondo's defense piles onto Peninsula who has attempted to run the ball. PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL