2021-2022 Issue 4 (Dec. 17)

PANTHER PROWLER

Friday Dec. 17, 2021 • Issue IV • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

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Gun Control

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School Shooting

Harrison Cancilla

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California Pros

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Cross Country

Inclusivity

West Side Story

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Historical Women

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Girls Basketball

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Winter Concerts Holiday Lights

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staff editorial Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

US government fails to act after countless shootings Three years ago, Thousand Oaks suffered one of the greatest tragedies the city has ever experienced. The Borderline shooting took place on Nov. 7, 2018 at the Borderline Bar and Grill. Regardless of whether you knew the victims, we all remember the sense of despair and helplessness that our community felt the day of the Borderline shooting. Thirteen lives were taken, all due to gun violence.

Shootings in America have become so ubiquitous that they’ve been turned into social media trends, causing the school district to send an email home to our families sharing they are aware of the newest TikTok challenge to threaten schools with violence. The email sent Dec. 16 encouraged parents to talk to their students and it provided resources regarding threats to school safety.

After everything the United States has undergone, from a presidential election to a civil rights movement to a full-blown pandemic, regulations for firearms have still remained the same. The federal government has not passed a firm law addressing gun violence since the 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which mandated background checks for all unlicensed individuals purchasing a firearm from a federally authorized dealer. All attempts to restrict the ownership of firearms since then have either been withdrawn or put on hold.

On Nov. 30, when news broke that a school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan had left four students dead and injured many others, the visceral despair we felt was an all too familiar recurring nightmare. The 15-yearold shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was a sophomore at the school. He had just been gifted the semi-automatic gun from his parents for Christmas–a gun that he later used to shoot 11 people.

America has a long history of preventable gun violence.

In 1999, two teenagers at Columbine High School killed 13 people in a shooting spree before committing suicide.

In 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut suffered 27 deaths at the hands of a 20-year-old shooter, which sparked the founding of the Sandy Hook Promise.

In 2018, the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting occurred in Parkland, Florida when a 19-year-old shooter opened fire, killing 17 people. In response, thousands of students across the nation walked out of class through the March For Our Lives movement, hoping to inspire some kind of change in order to keep their classmates safe; many students at our very own high school participated.

When it comes to gun violence, however, what we choose to do about these events should not be based just on statistics. Any life taken due to unnecessary and reckless shootings is one too many. How many people need to be shot for the government to finally say “enough”? How long until we begin to take the warning signs seriously?

Regulations on the state level alone are not enough to solve the national issue. Despite the intrinsic risks, some states still do not even require permits for the ownership of firearms, and once they are purchased, there is no regulation as to how they are handled. Over the years, the issue of gun control has been held as a partisan issue; however, the ultimate objective is to save lives, not to “restrict freedom.”

The reality of the situation is that school shooters do not discriminate between Democrats and Republicans, liberals or conservatives.

Editorial Editor

Carter Castillo Abby Gorman

Nandini Patro

Front Cover Editor

News Editors

Karyss Amato

Back Cover Editor Gwen Buchanan

Entertainment Editor

Kai Mekari Hayden Meixner Téa Sklar

Photographers

Sports Editor

Chief // Reese Kelem Parker Bohl Tiana Hoang Emma Schoors

Sarena Kabir

Graphic Artists

Emma Schoors

Adalia Luo

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Kai Mekari Téa Sklar

Opinion Editor

Managing Editor

DPS Editor

Anna Johnson

Tiana Hoang

Front Cover Caption: Strike a Pose-The NPHS Dance Teams lights up the stage, filling audiences with excitement. “I feel really good about our performances, we really kept the energy up and it felt hype,” Caswell said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

For the record in Issue 2:

Menstruation is spelled incorrectly on page 1 Reese Kelem is spelled incorrectly on page 7 Ava Zasloff is shown on the left in the bottom row on page 14 Ailish Hawkins is a junior on page 14 Averie Lomas is a sophomore on page 15

PANTHER PROWLER 2021-2022 staff Editors-in-Chief

When guns are being handed out to the public arbitrarily, violence is basically in the receipt. People have shown their frustration and worked hard to raise their voices, driven by the hope that maybe the most recent shooting would be the last. Yet, no matter how much people try to make a stand, shooting after shooting still occurs. America is a place where people can buy firearms as Christmas presents for their teenagers. It is also a place where students flinch at the sound of a loud bang or the sound of a fire alarm, immediately thinking of the school shootings they saw on the news.

Legislation, specifically on the federal level, needs to be enacted in order to hold shooters accountable for the tragedies they create. Through easy access to guns, school shootings will continue to persist. Are access to guns worth the student lives they take? The fact that the US government has not taken any action leaves us wondering what their true priorities are.

Social Media Leads

Staff Writers

Karyss Amato Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Nandini Patro

Katelyn Arrington Ariela Behar Melissa Geher Taylor Gibson Kira Ivarsdottir Rohit Ukkan

Copy Editors Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Anna Johnson Adalia Luo Allison Nguyen Dhruv Patel Nandini Patro Téa Sklar

Features Editors Allison Nguyen Dhruv Patel

Online Editors Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Adalia Luo Allison Nguyen Dhruv Patel Téa Sklar

Adviser Michelle Saremi

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed.

The Panther Prowler is published every four weeks throughout the school year by Print 365 co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org.

The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below.

Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

news Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Terror strikes at Oxford High School

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Dhruv Patel Features Editor

Oxford High School, a school in Oakland County, Michigan, was the site of another school shooting on Nov. 30. The gunman, Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old Caucasian male, opened fire and shot 11 people, killing four and seriously injuring the seven others. Crumbley was charged on Dec. 1 with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of terrorism causing death. He was charged as an adult and if convicted, he may face life in prison.

The students who were killed included Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17. Shilling was taken to the hospital, but died the morning of Dec. 1 at the hospital. Although there are no more victims in the ICU, some have to stay in the hospital for rehabilitation.

The morning of the shooting, Crumbley drew an alarming note at school resulting in his parents being called to the school.

The note depicted images of a gun, a person who had been shot and a laughing emoji, with the words, “Blood everywhere,” and “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” Crumbley’s parents had responsibility in preventing Crumbley from hurting others, as they did not bring him home from school that day. Crumbley also had open access to the gun used in the shooting, as the parents bought it for him as an early “Christmas present,” and kept it in an unlocked cabinet. Considering this, they were charged with 4 charges of involuntary manslaughter and both Memorialize- A memorial for the victims of the Oxford school face a maximum sentence of 60 years if convicted. shooting is set up outside the High School. Photo courtesy of

Omicron Variant Sneaks into California

PBS News Hour

Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer

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With the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant being detected in late November in South Africa, the variant has quickly spread into the U.S., reaching as locally as Alameda County, California.

One confirmed case of the variant that was reported on Dec.1, appeared in a vaccinated individual who traveled to South Africa and recently returned home to California.

Unfortunately, following Dec. 1, there have been numerous cases confirmed in the U.S. despite vaccination status. For example, on Dec. 6, Los Angeles reported its second case of Omicron in a vaccinated individual who had traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday who is now quarantined.

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Though the true severity of the variant is unknown due to cases being fairly recent, most cases in the U.S. have experienced mild to moderate symptoms. Although the variant seems to be less severe regarding symptoms, the World Health Organization reported that the virus is definitely more contagious on Friday, Dec. 3.

On Dec. 3’s last White House COVID-19 briefing, Fauci reported that studies show that vaccine boosters additionally increase antibody protection against a variety of variants including Omicron. Therefore if we continue to wear masks appropriately, we can ensure the safety of those around us, as well as ourselves in defense against Omicron and the other COVID-19 variants.

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news Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Gas prices hit record highs Katelyn Arrington Staff Writer Gas prices have increased over 30% in California in the past year, according to the United States Energy Information Administration.

Throughout the 1990s until the early 2000s, gas remained at a stable price. However, in 2006, the cost of gas began rising rapidly, and now, 15 years later, the prices are higher than ever.

Higher prices can be attributed to many factors including climate change, which is caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Gasoline powered transportation vehicles are the main contributor to these emissions, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

In order to motivate citizens to purchase electric cars, which cause significantly less CO2 emissions than gas powered cars, many governments have deliberately facilitated the rise of gas prices in an attempt to reduce global emissions. So far, these regulations have caused global emissions to drop from 36 billion metric tons of CO2 produced to 34 billion metric tons of CO2 produced from

2019 to 2020. However, in 2021, they have risen back up to 36 billion metric tons, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The rise being seen in greenhouse emissions this year is most likely due to travel and businesses opening back up after the lowering COVID-19 restrictions.

Another major contributing factor is China, who has been buying record amounts of gasoline to prepare for this winter season, as coal power is not plentiful enough to provide for their entire population. China’s mass spending spree is causing shortages and price spikes all throughout Europe and Asia, according to Bloomberg News, and massive Chinese energy companies, such as Sinopec Corp and China National Offshore Oil Company, are in talks to export millions of pounds of gas out from major United States gas exporters such as Cheniere Energy and Venture Global, and if the plans go through, gas prices will most likely further increase.

Costly Gasoline prices top 5 dollars at a Chevron Gas Station in Newbury Park. Gas prices started to suddenly increase in 2006, and saw a rapid surge this year due to shortages and concerns about climate change Emma Schoors/ Prowler

Construction near The Lakes set to provide affordable housing Rohit Ukkan Staff Writer

This September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the National Affordable Housing Legislation in Oakland, California. In direct response to the act, the Thousand Oaks City Council approved construction on a new apartment complex at the Lakes on Nov. 30 of this year. The apartments will have 165 units spread across a total of 5 floors.

The legislation entails a more than 10.3 billion dollar budget investment for affordable housing in California cities, which ensures an increase in the supply of moderately priced housing. The money allocated will go to paying a portion of households’ rent costs, and it will limit the price that the property owner can charge for the house.

The Affordable Housing Act explicitly states that the government will “require state and local entities receiving direct assistance to submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a comprehensive housing affordability strategy.”

This act essentially outlines how all states need

to construct affordable housing for low-income families living in their cities. According to the Senior City Planner of Thousand Oaks, Nizar Slim, this act would assist people living below the poverty line. “Funding would be made available for the various programs in place that are closely associated with aiding the current homeless population,” Slim said.

With the construction of new housing apartments near The Lakes in Thousand Oaks, questions have arisen about the apartment, primarily about it’s portability. However, even with the portability concerns, the housing will still provide numerous benefits for the community.

“The proposed units would add to the City’s rental housing market, giving our residents more choices on where to live,” Slim said. The units would also be within walking distance of a huge market allowing a more diverse economy and reducing the carbon footprint.

Costly - Gasoline prices top 5 dollars at a Chevron Gas Station in Newbury Park. Gas prices started to suddenly increase in 2006, and saw a rapid surge this year due to shortages and concerns about climate change Emma Schoors/Prowler

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news Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Inclusive Schools Week celebrates diversity

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Karyss Amato Front Cover Editor

Inclusives Schools Week is an annual event held during the first week of December each year to encourage the celebration of diversity. Factors of the diverse student population celebrated during this week include all genders, disabilities, varied language preferences, different cultures, and so much more.

Schools nationwide unify their diversities by celebrating this week of inclusivity. In honor of Inclusive Schools Week, the schools who participate in the celebration have their student government host a variety of activities for the students to participate in. Some of these events schools provide to students are decorating classrooms, poster signings, playing games that portray concepts of teaching diversity, club promoting, and so

much more.

Unlike the more popular activities listed above, NPHS’ Associated Student Government (ASG), made their own traditions. Jenna Naumann, senior, is an ASG member who contributed to the planning of Inclusives Schools Week activities. “We essentially created a platform where clubs could reach a broader audience on our campus so we spot-lighted them on our Instagram and allowed them to have a table out at lunch where they promoted their club and inclusivity,” Naumann said.

The biggest activity hosted for Inclusive Schools Week was the poster signing on Friday during lunch. “We had a giant poster out at lunch where everyone was able to sign their name for big happy inclusivity,” Naumann said.

Diversity Inclusive Schools Week hosted their poster signing event on Friday December 10 to allow students to express themselves together to create a beautiful poster Parker Bohl/ Prowler

Legislature being modified to limit Facebook’s hate Dhruv Patel Features Editor

On Dec. 1, Frances Haugen, who recently exposed Facebook for misconduct, helped lawmakers as they debated proposals for social media site regulation.

Haugen, a former data scientist at Facebook, testified before Congress in October and brought forward a massive amount of internal documents and files to expose Facebook’s misdoings. Legislators are proposing new laws that aim to diminish social media companies’ misconduct by limiting their free-speech protections.

Haugen’s testimony revealed how Facebook’s systems and algorithms which rank posts based on engagement can spread misinformation and manipulate users of Facebook.

The systems use likes, shares and comments to rank the posts, and as a result the posts with more engagement are prioritized over the safety of the user. These systems can also potentially amplify hate and expose young users

to detrimental content. Facebook does have the ability to fix these problems, but doesn’t, to increase their own profits. “I saw that Facebook repeatedly encountered conflicts between its own profits and our safety. Facebook consistently resolved those conflicts in favor of its own profits,” Haugen said.

Members of both the Republican and Democratic parties are calling for limitations of the Section 230 provision in the United States Communications Decency Act. This provision protects companies from liability for what users post on their apps. Lawmakers are normally divided over what laws to make, as their political parties normally have different views. However, time is of the essence for this case, and the legislators are working on bipartisan legislation to quickly limit the hate on Facebook.

Téa Sklar/ Prowler

Abilities Awareness Week is undergoing significant changes Katelynn Arrington Staff Writer Abilities Awareness Week is an all inclusive week long event that educates students While disability simulation activities are no longer being continued, other events were what it’s like to live with disabilities, but it is undergoing significant changes this year. still held over the course of the week. “SEDAC parents shared alternative ideas on how The disability simulation activities, which had students perform activities such as racing to promote ability awareness, including highlighting the accomplishments of people with in wheelchairs and painting without using their hands, have been discontinued. Karen disabilities.” Sylvester said. For example, motivational speakers, such as Nick Vuijicic and Sylvester, a member of the CVUSD board of education, explains how this decision came Nick Scott, spoke at CVUSD middle schools about their experiences and how they were to be. “Parents on our Special Education District Advisory Council [SEDAC] presented able to persist despite the numerous challenges they faced from being disabled. new studies showing that these types of activities are not beneficial to students with student about both physical and mental disabilities in the most effective way possible. disabilities and may perpetuate stereotypes,” Sylvester said.

Téa Sklar/ Prowler

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opinion Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

California is not that bad

Tiana Hoang/Prowler

Carter Castillo Editor-in-Chief

It is a common critique in both online and real life spaces that California is a snobby, elitist, and expensive place that is full of fake clout chasers, but I would challenge these notions of the state. Maybe there is some truth to some of the characterizations of California, as there is plenty to critique for any state, but I think what California has to offer makes it one of the better places to inhabit.

This is thanks to California’s natural beauty, it’s culture, and the benefits awarded to its inhabitants.

Granted, this entire article rests upon generalizations, but to respond to general accusations it is necessary to also look at the much larger picture of what it is like to live in California. One of the most unique selling points of California is its nature. From San Diego to Crescent City, the entire state is filmed to the brim with some of the most breathtaking and otherworldly sites. Whether it be from the best beaches in the world, the tallest mountains in the continental US, the venerable redwood trees, the untouched skies of Death Valley, to the rare Mediterranean climate right in our own backyard.

California also boasts a very diverse culture and a rich history.

There is an assorted and colorful culture in California today thanks in large part to the contributions made by the Hispanic/ Latino and Asian American populations. California exudes the

ideas of a multicultural celebration of heritages unlike any other state, and should take great pride in that. On top of all of that, Californian culture is iconic in its own right. What other state can lay claim to being home to In-N-Out? Without a doubt a lot of the criticism aimed at California is because of its government. Without getting too political, there are certainly many criticisms to be made against California on all sides of the political spectrum, but on balance the government of the state has provided robust benefits for its citizens. The state has the best public higher education program in the country and possibly even the world. On top of that, the large park system extends across the state, including Point Mugu State Park which is right by Thousand Oaks.

There are certainly reasons people have for leaving the state, many of which are valid. That being said, I think that it would be better to leave without scorn or disdain for the state millions call home.

While California may cost a lot, I would argue that with California you are getting what you are paying for. Thanks to the nature and culture as well as the rewards for living here, California is a wonderful place to live.

Carter Castillo/Prowler

Housing costs in California are too high Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Graphic Artist California is a wonderful place to live, but is it worth the constantly increasing prices of housing? This is a question many residents of the Golden State have been asking themselves in recent years. With more and more people moving out of state, it has become a serious discussion among residents on whether or not the cost of living is worth all the attributes California has.

According to California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the price of a house in California has been steadily increasing since 2012, with the median being over 700,000 dollars as of October 2021. This is a drastic difference from the United States median which is just under 300,000 dollars.

Many people are looking to move out of state to places like Texas and Arizona, which tend to give buyers more bang for their buck.

Other states are growing at such a high rate that in April of 2021, after the census was released, California lost a congressional seat in the House of Representatives going from 53 to 52 representatives.

To make matters worse, wages are not keeping up with the ever rising costs in California, which has forced even more people to leave.

Even my family has been deliberating on whether or not the cost of living here is too high. My family wants to buy a house, as we are currently renters, but our budget could get us a much bigger home in places like Arizona and Texas than it ever could in California. Rent has also risen along with everything else in the state, making the housing costs hard on renters too.

On average, rent in California is around 1,700 dollars for a one bedroom apartment, but in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, some end up paying closer to 3,000 dollars in rent a month for a one bedroom apartment. These costs are 40 to 150

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

percent higher than the national average of around 1,200 dollars for an apartment of the same size. Housing in California has been a hotly debated issue among residents, and while the sights and sounds of the state are alluring, I would say the cost is too high to be able to enjoy them without the cost constantly hanging overhead.

Facing the highs and lows of school breaks Melissa Geher Staff Writer School breaks are a time for students to unwind from the pressure of school and spend time with family. As much as people long for a break, it remains a temporary getaway from stress in life.

Even though no homework was assigned to me over fall break, I could still feel all the pressures of studying.

When I got back, I knew I would have many exams and projects to be done before winter break. I felt a strong urge to get ahead in the classes that I knew would have assignments due at the end of the year, and got ahead in them during the break. While this would help me tremendously during the school year, it still felt like I wasted “valuable” break time.

Although school was on my mind during fall break, I did face some boredom. However, I tried to turn that negative energy into something positive. According to Psychology Today, “attention uses one’s limited cognitive resources for productive activities. So, taking a break can be a valuable opportunity to help our overloaded brains relax and alleviate stress.” During the break, I did take some time to get out of town for a few days to see some old friends. Even though I still felt some guilt over not doing something “productive”, it still felt nice to do something different.

People who feel a constant pressure to visibly perform and prioritize measured tasks rather than using judgment about what would be most optimal to complete, ignore their errors and keep pushing forward at the expense of everything else. Since the 1970s, the United States has been embracing neoliberalism, a philosophy that refers to an economic system in which the “free” market is applied to every aspect of our lives. Neoliberalism is essentially a system that encourages good grades or jobs while punishing a lack of competition and failure. I believe neoliberalism is a cause of this harmful culture of productivity. To me, it almost seems as though this type of culture of toxic productivity has been rooted for years, and for the most part, been heavily normalized in society. This type of normativity has definitely affected me because of all the stress I felt over the break.

School breaks are full of contradictions. They are made to rest our brains and yet we still feel pressured to be productive with school work. After taking a break from something stressful, our brains become more capable of imagining new possibilities. Learning and memories are enhanced after rest, and may not happen if we “power through” life. As we head into winter break, I hope to rest my mind for the new year and final exam season.

opinion Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

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Women in history are inspirational

Anna Johnson Opinion Editor

From a young age, learning about women in history was inspiring, as they showed me how to use my own power to create a legacy for myself. In third grade we were supposed to give a report on a person in history. While dressed up as that person, we were supposed to stand in front of the class and recite our report. I was attracted to the dressing up bit of the rubric, and, having always wanted red hair, I decided to report on Queen Elizabeth I of England so I could try on a ginger wig.

Researching her was so fun for me, learning about a woman in power who was praised for her government and her patronage of the arts. I fell in love with history and the women who filled its pages, and since then I have looked forward to every history class. In class, however, we do not get to learn about many women, and when we do, they’re a footnote on a page. So, over the past couple of years, I have taken to doing my own research into women in history, watching video after video on different women who left their mark on the world. These women inspire me in my own life, and show me how to make my own mark.

I remember talking to my mother about my love for Elizabeth I, and she told me that in her college studies she looked up to Catherine the Great of Russia. I looked up videos of her online, and found out how great she really was. Married to a man who was unfaithful and incompetent to rule, she rallied the support of her people and had him overthrown, declaring herself as Empress of Russia. Throughout her reign she continuously fought to make reforms for the people and improve her adoptive nation. At a time where women had little power, Catherine the Great proved to the world that women are capable of anything.

She showed me that despite what constructs may limit me, I have the power to make my own mark on the world.

My mother also introduced me to Jane Austen, a female writer who continues to inspire audiences with her stories that portray headstrong women. Her stories helped to tell the real experiences of women during this time, portraying their everyday lives and their experiences in love, her humor and wit exposing the true desires of the real woman. She really has inspired me as a writer because she manages to tell beautiful stories with a feminist lens, showing me what a true woman intellect can do for women all around.

More recently I had heard the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

She was the daughter of the French duke of Aquitaine, who left his extensive lands to her on his death. She married the king of France, and was largely the one in control in government. Once her marriage was annulled with him, she married King Henry II of England and continued to be the true leader of the state.

Once her husband’s rule was disproved by the people, she helped her sons revolt against him and become king. Throughout her sons’ rule, she remained the person in control of the state and maintained England’s lands and foreign relations. Even in her old age she continued to fight and make alliances. She is the epitome of a strong woman, a powerhouse who uses her intellect to get what she wants.

Reading and listening to these women’s stories, and many others like them, I feel inspired to continue their fight to end sexism for women. Hearing these stories of women who exercised great power and influence showed me that women’s power is not a modern construct, but a constant throughout time. I use their stories for inspiration in my future studies and career, honoring their legacy.

Téa Sklar/Prowler

CVUSD should not endorse private education Abby Gorman Editor-in-Chief

Carter Castillo Editor-in-Chief

Conflict- The current owners of Carden Conejo School alerted the district of their intent to transfer leadership in October, but controversy arose when it was determined that the lease does not apply in this situation. “The terms and conditions of this agreement were solely to this lessor,” Superintendent Mark McLaughlin said. Photo courtesy of Carden Conejo

When it was announced that Carden Conejo School, a non-denominational private school in Westlake Village, could face termination of their current lease with CVUSD, parents and Carden alumni alike expressed their discontent with the notion.

The possibility of termination comes after the district was alerted to an impending shift in ownership of the private school, whose lease does not allow for reassignment. However, this provides an excellent opportunity for our district to reevaluate its own position regarding the leasing of district property to a private school. Public school districts should not be giving special privileges to private schools, and Carden Conejo is no exception.

It is unjust that taxpayer’s money for the public school district is being used to lease property to a private elementary school that charges over 14,000 dollars a year for tuition. With all of the talk about inclusivity and equity in the school district, it is extremely hypocritical and misleading to turn around and allow for this one private school to get around the

costs other private schools have to pay.

Even more insulting to students and taxpayers, over 30 parents and stakeholders in Carden Conejo showed up to the Dec. 14 school board meeting pleading for the renewal of the lease. A school board meeting is far from the appropriate platform to discuss such affairs; the item took over an hour of valuable time that could be used to discuss issues pertaining to public education.

This sort of arrangement between a school district and a private school is highly unusual. District superintendent Mark McLaughlin alluded to as much at the Dec. 14 meeting, saying, “this contract is different to say the least.”

We are not advocating for the abolition of private education, but the use of a public school district’s resources and land by a private school that charges exorbitant fees that the district could use for any other purpose is frankly unjust. CVUSD has no responsibility to uphold this agreementnow is the time for the school board to fully sever ties with Carden Conejo School.

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winter concerts Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Winter concerts Light up the season Adalia Luo DPS Editor Ariela Behar Staff Writer Gwen Buchanan and Adalia Luo for all graphics Karyss Amato Front Cover Editor Taylor Gibson Staff Writer

Band On Dec. 2, the NPHS gym held the anticipated return of the band department’s lively winter concert. The production featured the school’s wind ensemble and jazz band, who played a selection of both traditional and seasonal songs.

For students, this was their first concert in nearly two years, bringing a mix of stress and excitement. Alek Fodor, senior and trombone player for the jazz band, realizes it will take some time to get back into the groove of putting on a show. “It’s the first year after COVID. So, there’s that sense of everyone getting back in the feel of it. So yeah, it’s gonna take some getting used to,” Fodor said.

Zoey Blair, sophomore, a clarinet player in the concert band, is ecstatic to return to playing music for an audience. “Doing Zoom for band was very difficult as we couldn’t even play together because of lagging and stuff… So it’s been a great opportunity for everyone to get together and make music finally,” Blair said.

The pressure of putting on a great performance was coming from

more than just the students. Dennis Crystal, the head of the band department, provided some insight as to what made the preparation for the winter concert so demanding. “Four weeks ago [we were] doing football games, and that’s a whole different set of music to prepare. And so while we’re doing that, we’ve also got to start preparing music for this concert… It’s pretty nerve wracking every year,” Crystal said. Crystal emphasized the difficulty of practicing and perfecting the nine songs played in the concert. “There’s a lot of pieces that all have to come together at the same time.”

Now, the band students are settling back into routine. Everyone involved in the concert, from the jazz band to the wind ensemble, was proud of their hard work and grateful to have put on a successful event.

“This was the first concert as a band. We’ve been back together and that’s clear. That’s a really good experience. It’s great to be back,” Fodor said.

Conduct- Dennis Crystal, the NPHS band teacher, reflected on what made the winter concert so special for the students and audience. “Kids are in uniform and people like the drumline cadence and they’re running out. That was very fun,” Crystal said. Emma Sasala/Pawprint

ORCHESTRA After a long wait, the NPHS orchestras finally returned to the stage of the PAC on Dec. 7 for their biggest concert of the year: the winter concert. The night was filled with performances of beautiful holiday music from our three orchestras, Beginning Strings, String Orchestra, Concert Chamber Orchestra.

Tina Huang, the NPHS orchestra director, has been planning and preparing the students for this concert since mid-October and was grateful for the opportunity for her students to finally perform live again. “There’s that sense that [the students] treasure [playing and performing] a lot more and they understand why they do what they do, and there’s a certain kind of affirmation,” Huang explained. “I think with the concerts that we’ve had this year, that was really exemplified and people are, you know, just generally really appreciative… [to be able] to showcase all that they worked on.

Students always want to have some sort of applause or recognition, and that’s exactly what they were able to have at the concert.”

Casey O’Brien, senior and violinist, took on an important role as first chair and concert-master of the Concert Chamber Orchestra. “It was really cool to have the opportunity to kind of lead the

section,” O’Brien said. “But, being able to perform with people again…it was really fun just playing, onstage, in the PAC again.”

Shriya Rajesh, sophomore and viola player, was excited for her first in-person orchestra performance in high school. In addition to playing in the concert, Rajesh also sang in the Intermediate String Orchestra’s performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” alongside three others. “I was really nervous about it, but it turned out pretty well…I’m glad I did it,” Rajesh said. She hopes to see more students join what she dubbed the “whole family” of orchestra.

Huang reflects on the night with praise and thanks. “Everyone pulled through and worked super hard in all of the three levels that we have here, and I believe it was well-received. We had a packed house and especially some of the Chamber Orchestra pieces were a hit with the audience- the students banded together,” Huang said. “It was just an amazing experience, for the students, the parents, and just everybody that attended the concert.”

For those that missed the orchestra program’s winter concert, you can look forward to their spring concert set for late May, for which the students have already begun preparation.

Bravo- Tina Huang, orchestra director, conducts the Concert Chamber Orchestra in their performance of “Of Glorious Plumage.” Casey O’Brien, senior and violinist, is proud of the NPHS orchestras. “I would definitely recommend coming to future concerts,” O’Brien said. “We have a lot of really hard-working people, and it’s always a fun time kind of seeing it pay off. It was really nice having such a big audience this time, so I just hope that continues.” Hayden Meixner/Prowler

winter concerts Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

DANCE For the first time since 2019, the NPHS Dance Department continued their usual annual tradition of their Winter Dance Concert. The dance team lit up the Performing Arts Center stage and blew the audience away with a variety of shows varying from Dec. 9-11.

A unique part about this concert is the differentiating levels of skill, age, and experience seen throughout all the diverse groups that performed. The Winter Dance Concert featured the varied dance physical education courses offered at NPHS; beginner dance, intermediate dance, and IB dance, as well as a hip hop club made by students on campus.

There were also some guest acts from local dance studios and other dance teams that gave the audience a different taste of performances they were not expecting.

The NPHS Dance Team was one of the concert’s biggest features, in which they performed numerous large group dances, several solos, a duo, and a few small groups all of which varied from different styles.

As many of their performances were choreographed for their upcoming competition season and or used from football season half times, they felt very prepared Leap- Olivia Pimentel dances her heart out as she performs as they have been practicing these her solo that sends waves of emotions throughout the audience. dances for months.

As this was her last Winter Reese Kelem/Prowler

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Dance Concert, Vanessa DaKroob, senior, is excited that she had the opportunity to show off all that she has worked towards leading up to her senior year in IB Dance.

“Well [the concert] is really fun, it’s so sad that it’s my last year but it’s really awesome that we get to do it in the PAC [Performing Arts Center] and not on the field,” DaKroob said.

Despite practicing for months, they faced their share of challenges as dancers became injured throughout the season leading to restage a lot of the dances. Sydney Farina, sophomore, is a dedicated member of the dance team who personally overcame this challenge. “One of the girls on the dance team got taken out of a dance because she was hurt and I filled in for her and so that made me nervous because I wanted to do her part justice,” Farina said.

Having the unique opportunity to perform for family and friends is something special that Drew Sierra Campbell Caswell, junior, is thankful for. “I think [having this Reese Kelem/Prowler opportunity] is great because I feel like everyone is like ‘oh yeah Drew’s a dancer,’ but to show them I’m a good dancer is really cool,” Caswell said.

While seniors are saddened that this was their final Winter Dance Concert, they were excited to have spent their moments on the performing arts stage, with an audience filled with their biggest supporters. “As it’s my last year, it’s cool that it’s kind of normal because COVID kind of took that away from a lot of other seniors,” DaKroob said.

CHOIR The NPHS choir had their Winter Concert on Dec. 16-17, this year. Prior to the fall concert, students had been working hard in preparation to be able to perform at their best.

Karli Bartlett, sophomore, is in an Advanced Women’s Ensemble, and was very excited to perform in the Winter Concert. “We started practicing right after our fall concert due to the short amount of time to learn our songs,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett attributed the choir’s success to their strong preparation. “I don’t think anything could improve it more except for maybe more time, because you can never have too much time when it comes to practicing,” Bartlett said.

Julia Pendleton, sophomore, had a lot of fun in the fall concert and hopes to recreate that excitement during the Winter Concert. “Our choir is very encouraging and we all cheered each other on, which had a great effect on the overall attitude in the theater,” Pendleton said.

During preparation for this concert, Pendleton enjoyed multiple opportunities being able to perform new and exciting pieces. “My favorite part about rehearsing is hearing it all come together and finally getting songs that we have been struggling with,” Pendleton said.

Ayla Mikes, sophomore, has had a lot of fun preparing for the concert with the rest of the choir. “Practicing can be hard sometimes, but Mr. Sargent gives us technically difficult songs to learn so there is always a lot of repetition which can be tiring,” Mikes said.

Once rehearsal is done and it is time to perform, Mikes enjoys being able to hear the audience congratulate them. “My favorite part is listening to the finished product. When we all learn the song and our roles throughout, it always sounds amazing,” Mikes said. “being on stage and showcasing our finished product to the people that become like your second family.”

Tamryn Dawson, senior, has been in choir for twelve years

‘Tis the season- The Chamber Choir performs the festive holiday song “Sleigh Ride” in preparation for the Winter Concert. The Choir is eager to perform at the concert, where they will spread their cheer and joy to the applauding audience. “I play an instrument for [Sleigh Ride], and it’s just so much fun even starting the beginning of the song because when he queues you in it’s just like magic,” said Tamryn Dawson, senior and member of the Chamber Choir. The choir performs their Winter Concert in the PAC on Dec. 16 and 17 at 7 PM. Reese Kelem/Prowler

and is especially excited for this Winter Concert. “I do have a solo in one of the songs and I also have a quartet that I’m doing with my friends…so I’m really excited for tonight,” Dawson said.

During the Winter Concert, the choir is able to share their gifts with the audience through holiday traditions and classing winter songs. “Well, we have a lot of traditional Christmas

pieces, especially in chamber, like Carol of the Bells and Silver Bells, which we usually do every year as well as sleigh ride,” Dawson said.

Bartlett is most excited for being able to learn and adjust to new songs.“ When you add in a new song it is refreshing because it gives you a new thing to think about and it makes the other song not so boring anymore,” Bartlett said.

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features Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Cancilla sweeps his way to BTS Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer For Harrison Cancilla, freshman, BTS is not just a band but a goal, and when he found out that the K-pop boy band would be performing in Los Angeles, he was willing to do anything to get those tickets.

What started as dancing to BTS songs on “Just Dance,” quickly evolved into an obsession that blossomed during quarantine and surfaced as a tool of motivation for Cancilla. “They’re cool, and awesome, [I like] the way they dance. [I like] their singing,” Cancilla said while wearing a jersey that said “J-Hope,” his favorite member of BTS. Cancilla is a student in Anne Alvarez’s Learning Essentials Academic Program (LEAP) where students with disabilities are taught about the essentials of being independent adults after high school. In September, he collaborated with other students in his class to brainstorm jobs that he could complete that would contribute to the community. These ideas then developed into ways that he could raise money for attending the concert.

The reality surrounding ticket prices began to dawn on Mary Cancilla, his mother, as his excitement grew.

“Some tickets were in the thousands. All I could bring myself to tell him was, ‘Those tickets are so expensive.’

I couldn’t figure out yet a way to break the news to him that we would not be able to go,” Mary Cancilla said.

Luckily, Harrison Cancilla’s hard work, as well as a GoFundMe, ticket offers and news coverage from NBCLA, helped make Harrison Cancilla’s wish a reality.

“Strangers all over the internet started sharing both news stories, and I got comments of love and support from all

over [the world],” Mary Cancilla said.

SoFi stadium then heard about Harrison Cancilla’s story and decided to take his dream one step further.

“They invited him to the stadium for a tour, where they awarded him the title of 1,000,000th fan and gave him a suite for four tickets to the show,” Mary Cancilla said.

For Harrison Cancilla, attending the concert itself would be an unforgettable experience. “At the concert, Harrison was recognized by several people in the audience who congratulated him for making it to the show and asked to take selfies with him. He danced and sang the night away. He will never forget that night, and we will be grateful to SoFi forever,” Mary Cancilla said.

Harrison Cancilla’s story of determination and never giving up inspired not only Alvarez and his class, but many people around the world. “I think the thing that made me happiest is that something in school… transferred to him getting this great thing that he got so we’re really happy about it and he’s a little inspiration to all the other kids because they see him on TV and they know that he has a certain type of disability,” Alvarez said.

Although the concert is over, his love for BTS still remains strong. Along with BTS’ signature dancing, “Their playlists,” was what he enjoyed the most during the duration of the two concerts. Even while at the event Harrison never failed to express his gratitude towards this life-altering experience. “[Harrison] said to me, ‘Mommy, my wish and my dream came true’” Mary Cancilla said.

Top: Smile!- Harrison Cancilla, center with white BTS shirt, and Mary Cancilla, on the right with grey long sleeve, smiles with the rest of their family at the BTS concert at SoFi stadium. “They awarded him the title of one millionth fan and gave him a suite for four tickets to the show,” Mary Cancilla said. Reese Kelem/Prowler Bottom: Fun- Harrison Cancilla, center with white BTS shirt, and Mary Cancilla, on the right with grey long sleeve, smiles with the rest of their family at the BTS concert at SoFi stadium. “The next day, I got a call from a FB friend, Scott. He said he had some connections and, if I was willing to make a movie of Harrison working and talking about BTS, he would send it to his contacts to try and find tickets for the little man,” Mary Cancilla said. Mary Cancilla/With Permission

Hong lends a hand with athletic training Taylor Gibson Staff Writer Brittany Hong, College and Career Guidance Specialist, has recently been assisting with strength and conditioning training for the girls’ tennis team as well as the girls’ soccer team.

Hong received her certification as a Strength and Conditioning coach in 2007. “So when I got working at high schools in the College and Career Center…I wanted to get back into being able to help athletes perform better on and off the field,” Hong said.

So far, Hong said she is having a great experience coaching these teams. “Each week, we continue to move along and continue to progress into more challenging exercises, and also increasing our mental toughness,” Hong said.

She trains these teams with many different strategies and routines. “All of the training is speed, strength, agility, power, and increasing athletic abilities for the actual sport,” Hong said.

Hong believes that these conditioning practices will benefit athletes beyond their physical health. “I think it’s helping them with confidence,” Hong said, “Being more confident and explosive, and then also them realizing what their strengths are, and then how they can continue to improve on those,” Hong said.

Rachel Hu, junior, has been playing tennis for close to six years, and began training with Hong as soon as she returned from Thanksgiving break. “We typically do different variations of running across the court to be quicker, core exercises with the yoga mats and also work with resistance bands,” Hu said.

Hu also experiences many benefits that come along with this training. “It is affecting my skills as an athlete by improving my endurance, and it also helps with increasing control over the ball and my coordination in tennis,” Hu said.

Cali Woomer, freshman, has been playing soccer for nine years and trains with Hong once a week.

“My favorite thing about training with her are the drills she has us do. We mostly do skips, jumps and lunges,” Woomer said.

Woomer recalled some of the ways these drills benefit her performance. “It helps a lot of skills that I need to work on like strength, coordination and power which helps a lot when in a game,” Woomer said.

Hong stresses the importance of athletes improving their health with better habits. “We’re starting to get into nutrition, and what healthy habits look like for being an athlete, like how much sleep you should get,” Hong said.

Train- Rachel Hu, Makayla Hu, Aarya Bhat, juniors, Karli Bartlett, Bailey Sparks, sophomores, Ivy Waters, Avyn Broms, Emily Stevenson, Lily Cohen, freshmen, work together with Mrs. Hong in training.

“As a team we get to hang out with each other more after school, and practice makes me feel more productive after school,” Rachel Hu said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

Student

Abby Morgenstern/Student

Taylor Gibson Staff Writer

1 What type of fish is Nemo?

Morgenstern: Clownfish Coull: Clownfish Answer: Clownfish

5-8

They both know their childhood movies by heart 1-1

many pairs of wings do 2 How bees have?

VS

Coull is pretty cool!

Morgenstern: 2 Coull: 2 Answer: 2

Tiffani Coull/Teacher

5 What is the fastest land animal?

Morgenstern: Cheetah Coull: Cheetah Answer: Cheetah Spot on!

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the nursery rhyme, who sat on 6 Ina wall before having a great fall?

They’re both interested in nursery rhymes 5-6

3 What is a female deer called?

is the name of Harry Potter’s 7 What pet owl?

Morgenstern: Doe Coull: Doe Answer: Doe

Morgenstern: I don’t know Coull: Hedwig Answer: Hedwig

“A doe, a deer, a female deer” -The Sound of Music 3-3

Looks like Morgenstern needs to catch up on her Harry Potter facts.

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4 What is a group of lions called?

I guess lions are pretty hard to miss 3-4

Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Morgenstern: Humpty Dumpty Coull: Humpty Dumpty Answer: Humpty Dumpty

Two pairs, but four wings 2-2

Morgenstern: I don’t know Coull: A pride Answer: A pride

11 Teacher features

kind of tree do acorns come 8 What from?

Emma Schoors/Prowler

Morgenstern: Acrorn Tree Coull: Oak Answer: Oak

Morgenstern was on the right track…

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Interact club carols for charity food drive Adalia Luo DPS Editor

Holiday carols fill the chilly air on a peaceful Friday night in Dos Vientos. Volunteers from the NPHS Interact Club move from home to home, knocking on doors singing everything from “Frosty the Snowman” to “Deck the Halls.” These students are participating in Interact Club’s Caroling for Cans, an annual charity food drive which asks the community for non-perishable food donations for Manna Food Bank whilst spreading holiday cheer.

This year, it was held on the night of Dec. 3.

After a festive night of singing and laughing, the groups congregated back at the Dos Vientos Community Park wheeling three carts of nonperishable food. The club sat down at the picnic tables to enjoy valuable bonding time over some slices of pizza.

Sage Patel, senior, is the co-president of the Interact Club. On the night of, she led one of the two groups that was sent out caroling. “We got a lot more cans than we were expecting. Because of COVID-19, we weren’t expecting a lot of people to be opening their doors to strangers–especially high schoolers singing Christmas carols,” Patel said, laughing. “I was worried it was going to be

a lot different than years past, but just because it’s outdoors and everything, and we got an outdoor venue, it turned out to be good.”

For Chaz Hoang, freshman, this year’s Caroling for Cans was his first Interact club fundraiser experience. “I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know how many cans we were going to get, how much food, but I’d say it was pretty successful,” Hoang said. “I thought it was a really good cause– to feed homeless people and also it brings people together as well.” Hoang treasured the opportunity to socialize with his friends as well as people he had met for the first time while doing some good.

Micah Snodgrass, junior, came for their friends but stayed for the event. “It was really positive and everyone was welcoming,” Snodgrass said. “We got three huge carts of canned food and most people did open their doors. I felt like it was really successful.”

As one of the most beloved Interact Club events, Caroling for Cans continues to be a staple charity event at our school. “I loved it,” Patel said.

“It’s always been one of my favorite events, and I had a lot of fun.”

Singing- Members of the Interact Club at NPHS, a community service club affiliated with the Rotary Club gather in the Dos Vientos Community Center picnic tables to pose with the cans they collected during Interact’s annual winter event, Caroling for Cans. Sage Patel, senior and co-president of the club, fondly looks back on the event. “It was a good experience,” Patel said. “I enjoyed it!” Tiana Hoang/Prowler

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entertainment Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Spielberg improves “West Side Story”

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Anna Johnson Opinion Editor

On Dec. 10, Steven Spielberg released his version of the movie “West Side Story,” greatly improving upon both the enjoyment of the movie and the plot, honoring its writer Stephen Sondheim who just passed away.

“West Side Story” details the lives of two rival gangs in 1950’s New York City, the Caucasian Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. The Sharks face harsh racism from both the Jets and the police. The leader of the Sharks has a younger sister, Maria, who he allows to come to a dance both gangs are attending with his girlfriend Anita. At the dance, Maria falls in love with a former Jet, Tony, but because of their rival gang associations, her brother challenges the Jets to a fight for trying to date his sister. Their love and the fight that ensues ends in tragic deaths on both sides, and the movie ends in tragedy for all due to the rivalry. The movie serves to detail the dangers of warring factions, and the harsh discrimination people of color face in the United States.

Spielberg vastly improved upon the original 1961 version of the musical, starting by casting actual Latin actors to play the Sharks. The original version painted white actors brown in order to play the Latin parts, which was greatly offensive. Spielberg also cut down a lot of the long dance scenes that made the movie hard to watch, making the plot flow more nicely and the movie more enjoyable to watch. He also used his directorial expertise to make the cinematography amazing to watch, making the audience feel transported into the 50s and the angles amplifying the emotions each character was feeling. I cannot describe how beautiful the movie was, the lights, shadows, and angles perfectly capturing the struggles of the gangs.

The casting was perfect for this movie, but Spielberg really found gold in Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita, and Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria. These women had beautiful voices that took my breath away everytime they started to sing, and whose acting made me feel their pain. DeBose encapsulated the willful, sassy, and kind Anita so beautifully, her dancing and treatment of her loved ones perfectly encapsulating Latin culture in America, trying to both preserve their roots while assimilating to a new country that discriminated against her. Zegler perfectly portrayed the innocent and kind Maria that only knew to love and not hate, doomed to tragedy.

However, like the original version of the movie, I found myself rolling my eyes to another “Romeo and Juliet” story. We all know how this movie ends, and we all cringe as we see another unrealistic telling of love at first sight. The lovers were ready to marry each other on their first date, and although I realize musicals are inherently unrealistic, this just pushes it over the edge. They also exaggerate the powers of love, as no one can love a killer because of true love’s blindness, that is simply not true.

Also, although I know the movie’s casting and filming ended before Ansel Elgort’s sexual assault allegations came out, it still made it hard to enjoy his role in the movie, as his allegations were all I could think about when he appeared.

All in all, Spielberg’s “West Side Story” was a beautiful retelling of the classic musical that moves audiences. This movie is a must watch, the casting, cinematography, and plot all coming together to make an accurate portrayal of the struggles of love and racism.

“Arcane” takes top spot on Netflix Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer

to each episode begins with an excerpt from Arcane’s original song, “Enemy,” which features artists including Imagine Dragons as well as JID which makes for an unskippable intro despite the amount of times a viewer hears it. Along with the intro, the series additionally accompanies action sequences with powerful techno and rock combos as well as soulful modern jazz in heart-felt scenes with songs such as “Our Love”, a personal favorite, sung by Curtis Harding and Jazmine Sullivan.

Even for viewers who do not play League of Legends, such as myself, audiences will find that Arcane is a binge worthy and beautiful series. I found myself sympathizing for the villains, feeling hatred yet empathy towards the heroes, and getting invariably encompassed into the magical worlds and lives of the residents of Piltover and Zaun. This series will break your heart while putting it back together through each episode and every second will have been worth it.

Téa Sklar/Prowler

On Nov. 6, 2021, The first three episodes of “Arcane,” a show based on characters and stories from Riot Games’ “League of Legends”, premiered on Netflix to shock the world.

Though the show is based on multiple characters from the League of Legends world, it mainly follows the backstory of Vi and Jinx, two characters known as “champions” in the game that share a bond of sisterhood. The game briefly captures the aspects of sisterhood, as Arcane goes into full depth regarding how Jinx and Vi grew up and managed their young adult years.

Three episodes were released on Nov. 6, followed by three more on Nov.13, and the last three of the season were released on Nov. 20. Arcane was the second most watched English-language TV series globally, with 34.17 million streaming hours between the week of Nov. 8-14. The series also scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% audience score; and rightfully so. The show is a beautifully animated and action-filled, steampunk/sci-fi fantasy with animation and vfx done by Fortiche in Paris. It has an exquisite sound track and character voices, including performances by Hailee Stenfeld and Ella Purnell.

The setting of the story revolves around the wealthy city of Piltover, as well as the city revolving under Piltover, Zaun, otherwise known as the Undercity. With Jinx and Vi both growing up in Zaun, they face numerous challenges while living in the poverty-ridden area, including being subject to conflict between the two cities. While the undercity is influenced by crime due to being under the presence of greed-stricken antagonist, Silco, the orphan sisters begin to grow apart during their teenage years.

Although the story of the show alone significantly exceeds standards, the accompaniment of a beautiful soundtrack perfectly compliments Arcane as a whole. For example, the intro theme

Ariela Behar Staff Writer On Nov. 12, the highly anticipated album, “An Evening with Silk Sonic’’ was released and enchanted fans of all styles of music. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are already powerhouse names by themselves, and with their diverse experiences in the music industry, they have created an unstoppable duo known as Silk Sonic. The album seamlessly covers genres of R&B, pop, funk and soul while maintaining a consistent and recognizable sound throughout its nine songs. To no surprise, a fan favorite single is track no. 5, “Smokin Out the Window.” Besides its groovy intimate beat, the lyrics are genuinely humorous. In the very first

Kai Mekari/Prowler

verse, .Paak passionately sings, “Got her…kids runnin’ ‘round my whole crib like it’s Chuck E. Cheese,” as Mars howls adlibs in response. Almost every song is a love letter to 70s funk, and the artists aren’t trying to hide it. They feature Boosty Collins, a bassist of the retro era whose driving baselines are unmissable. To put it simply, Mars’ and .Paak’s vocal performances and musical creativity never fail to impress audiences. The album is fun, soulful, animated and makes for an entertaining 31 minutes. 2021 has been filled with amazing albums by various artists, but “An Evening with Silk Sonic” may be the one to become a classic.

entertainment

Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

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“Home Sweet Home Alone” fails to understand filmmaking Parker Bohl Photographer

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Since 1990 six Home Alone films have been released, only two of which manage to earn above 30% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The last three remakes of this holiday classic have been major disappointments, and “Home Sweet Home Alone” released Nov. 12 on Disney+, is not any different.

The film’s cast contains many up-and-coming actors, like the star, Archie Yates. Yates’ first and previous role in a feature film was as the secondary character Yorki in “Jojo Rabbit,” a film that was nominated for Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars.

Unfortunately, the awkward writing of “Home Sweet Home Alone” and poor instruction from director Dan Mazer overshadow any glimmer of a convincing performance.

This film spends more time with its “antagonists” than it does with Yates’ character, Max. The structure of the film is such that one is meant to garner sympathy for this family which believes Max has stolen from them. Inevitably, as in every Home Alone movie, they try to break into Max’s house while his family is on vacation. It is truly painful to watch these

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people be violently attacked by Max and his contraptions.

The charm of the first two Home Alone films comes from John Hughes, the writer-producer of the first two movies, and his ability to make you sympathize with an otherwise annoying character, seeing the character grow from their experience of independence. The slapstick ending is an indication of his ability to take care of himself. “Home Sweet Home Alone” does not understand John Hughes’ original vision, nor recreate or add to it in any way. It leaves Max as the same annoying and entitled kid throughout the entire movie.

Every click on this film is a confirmation to Disney that the main problem in all the film industry is okay to ignore. The idea that audiences just want to see what they’ve seen before, over and over and over again is held by every single major movie studio. This movie proves that idea true. However, one simple way this can be combated is for people to ignore these tasteless remakes and guide their valuable attention to something new. This is the only way the industry can grow.

“The Beatles: Get Back” brings Beatles back to life Emma Schoors Entertainment Editor Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back,” released between Nov. 25 and Nov. 27 and named after the beloved track from The Beatles’ 1970 record “Let It Be,” is a wonderful inside look at the second to last album The Beatles ever recorded. Methodically edited from 60 hours of footage and over 150 hours of audio, the three-part series takes place at first in Twickenham Studios, then moves to the band’s Apple Studios in London for their iconic rooftop performance.

At one point in the documentary Paul McCartney can be seen with Ringo Starr and George Harrison sitting silently beside him while he strums his bass like a guitar. Soon the iconic “Jojo” emerges amidst a stunning string of developing lines, and “Get Back” is truly born. From there the band performs this track, along with others like the “I’ve Got A Feeling” and “One After 909,” rehearsing and tweaking and suggesting until each song is perfect. Masters in spontaneity, The Beatles are also careful craftsmen, and “Let It Be” is the proof in the pudding.

The band worked tirelessly almost every day, and though tensions were running high between members, the quality of the music was never sacrificed. Tracks from “Abbey Road” like “Something” and “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” are briefly rehearsed as well. “Attracts me like a cauliflower,” John Lennon jokingly suggests as a line in the former, Harrison responding, “Attracts me like a pomegranate.” A good half of the documentary is the band goofing off and covering bits of other songs; everything from “Rock and Roll Music” by Chuck Berry to Tommy Tucker’s “HiHeel Sneakers” is exuberantly played, and it is this lack of rigidness that makes you feel as if you are right there with them. The recorded version of “Two Of Us” is phenomenal, but nothing beats Lennon and McCartney gritting their teeth ventriloquist style and singing it to each other.

Seeing the unmistakable glimmer in Harrison’s eye when he gets a guitar solo just right, watching Starr become more inventive as a drummer by the second, witnessing McCartney birth some of the

most gorgeous songs of all time, and laughing the entire time because of Lennon’s impeccable wit feel like reconnecting with a long lost loved one. Reaching the end of the documentary is like saying a bittersweet goodbye once more to the greatest band of all time, but fans all over the world know that though the band has broken up, their music will never die.

Very few bands reach true immortality, and “The Beatles: Get Back” is further proof that The Beatles are a band for all time.

Téa Sklar/Prowler

“House of Gucci” falls short of expectations Hayden Meixner News Editor

Kai Mekari/Prowler

With an extensive budget of 75 million dollars and its suspenseful build up, the world expected “House of Gucci,” directed by Ridley Scott, to be a huge hit but it unfortunately missed the mark. The movie has been in theatres since Nov. 24 and currently has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of only 61%. The film even faced backlash from the Gucci Family themselves as well as negative comments from Tom Ford, Gucci’s creative director for 10 years, though he made a point in commending the actors.

The movie follows Patrizia Reggani who falls head over heels for Maurizio Gucci - and his money. Patrizia and Maurizio are soon married and Patrizia is introduced to her new husband’s family. Patrizia attempts to push her ideas for the Gucci company and soon finds herself high up in the ranks of this luxury brand.

She even goes as far as manipulating members of the family to go against each other. But this does not come without a price.

Annoyed by her outspoken personality, Maurizio, a man who was previously madly in love with his wife, starts to push his wife away from the Gucci family and they suffer marital problems.

Patrizia tries to salvage an already crumbling relationship.

Though the entire movie is about the infamous fashion house, barely any of it focuses on the fashion itself, rather it highlights the family dynamic of the Gucci’s, which I found to be a bit boring and repetitive after a while. The film lasts a painful 2 hours and 38 minutes, many of the scenes were unnecessary and flat out boring. Finally, the most important part of the film, the murder of Maurizio Gucci, was only given about ten minutes of screentime.

Though the film itself was a disappointment, the performances of Lady Gaga and Adam Driver were not. I was shocked by how similar the pair looked and acted to the infamous couple they portrayed. Similarly, Jared Leto, who played Pablo Gucci, provided a refreshingly hilarious performance. Though it was long and dry at some points, I did enjoy learning about the history of the Gucci family as I had no prior knowledge before watching the film.

Though there were a few positive aspects, watching “House of Gucci” was truly, as Tom Ford put it, “like surviving a hurricane.”

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sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

NPHS XC shatters records at championships Reese Kelem Chief Photographer

Samantha McDonnel/With Permission

14 minutes, 3 seconds. The crowds in John Hunt Park roar with excitement as the runners in the Boys Gold race reach the final stretch of the competition. After preparing for months and traveling 2,000 miles to compete, the top three runners passed the finish line, breaking the national 5k record; Colin Sahlman, Leo Young, and Lex Young come in as the top three runners, winning the 2021 Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships. As the last race of the season, the cross country team of Newbury Park High school competed and performed outstandingly in this 5k race in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Boys and Girls Cross country teams’ season has come to an end after the teams made extraordinary successes this year; the boys team was able to win the Clovis Invitational Meet, earned first place in the CIF State Division One meet with the girls taking second, and then broke US record for fastest team time on multiple of their races, making them the best high school team in the nation. The team chose to finally compete in Alabama after the Nike Cross Nationals race (NXN) was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but were fortunate enough to race among some of the fastest high school teams from all over the nation in the Huntsville race.

Leo and Lex Young, juniors, have become the fastest twins in the nation after earning times of 14:05:07 and 14:05:49 respectively in the Huntsville race. The two have been racing together since freshman year along with NPHS alumni Nico Young, who holds the American U20 record time for indoor and outdoor 5k. “We get to race each other and we get to have fun with each other. And we get to push each other harder,” Leo Young said. “Watching Nico go and be very successful definitely inspires me to try and do the same,” Lex Young said. The self-dubbed dynamic duo have received a lot of support from their family and each other in their practices and races leading up to this event. “[My family] helped propel me forward by taking me to meets and helping me with anything I need, like recovering and making sure I have proper recovery.”

The team has trained rigorously this year to prepare for this race among many others. Zaki Blunt, senior, explained that the team ran everyday in 2 hour practices, and even practiced twice a day during the season to ensure their best results “All season, we’ve been doing really hard workouts. So leading up to the race, we took it a little easier. We still did workouts but they were shortened just to make sure we were fresh for the race,” Blunt said.

Samantha McDonnell, senior, noted that most practices are co-ed, with only slight variations with the girls team. “I know some of the girls will do a little less mileage, but my training schedule is exactly the same as the guys and just a few that are a little bit different at times,” McDonnell said.

Once the team arrived in Alabama, they mentally and physically prepared for the race day as much as they could to ensure their best results. Colin Sahlman, senior and first place winner in the race, ran three miles of the course with his team in the prior days and maintained a good attitude leading up to the race.“I was just like, visualizing it in my head, just like thinking about what I had to do during the race and where to push during the race. And really just keep a good mindset and just stay positive,” Sahlman said.

On race day, the Newbury Park team became a winning name as the boys team broke the record for the fastest team 5k and Sahlman broke the record for fastest high school individual time. “There were more guys from across the nation in the field. So it was a faster race and more guys to push you,” Sahlman said. The team was thrilled with their results in the race and how they performed against some of the fastest individuals in the nation. “The course itself was wide. The footing was good.

It wasn’t too hilly. And there’s somewhat of a downhill finish, which made it really really fun,” Leo Young said.

Along with all their hard work the cross country teams were grateful to spend time together and have fun in Alabama. After Huntsville, the team got to take a trip together to Nashville and spend the day golfing before returning home. Although the season is over, the runners expressed how much they truly enjoyed competing with their friends. “Anytime you get to go out of state with your best friends and stay in a house together. It’s all super fun. We had a really great time and I definitely made a lot of memories,” Blunt said. Even after an intense season, these runners keep pushing on as track season is just around the corner. “Track season, that’s coming up right now. So we’re really excited for that. We’re already starting training and we’re going to be very prepared,” Leo Young said.

Record breaker- Colin Sahlman, senior, finishes first in the 2021 Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships in Huntsville, Alabama with a time of 14:03:29. Sahlman broke the record in this race for the fastest High School 5k in the nation with his time. “There were more guys from across the nation in the field, so it was a faster race and more guys to push you,” Sahlman said. Sahlman is extremely satisfied with his race and looks forward to running for Northern Arizona University, which he has committed to going to after high school. Colin Sahlman/With Permission

Finish line!- Lex and Leo Young, cross the finish line seconds after each other coming in at 14: and 14: respectively. The twins have been running together since freshman year and find it beneficial competing with each other. “It’s fun, because we’re like a dynamic duo,” Lex Young said. “We can push each other harder, and we can play off each other’s strengths and just keep each other accountable.” The two come from a family of fast racers, including Nico Young, NPHS alumni and holder of the American U20 record time for indoor and outdoor 5k. Lex Young/With Permission

National champions- NPHS Boys’ Cross Country team continues to make their name clear as they accept their new title as National Champions and are now the fastest high school team in history. “The team broke the 5k team national record, and brought the average down to 14:14,” Lex Young said. “[The team record] is only four seconds slower than what the old individual record used to be.” The team has trained vigorously for this trip, practicing up to twice a day everyday throughout the season. Lex Young/With Permission

sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

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Girls’ basketball builds trust and teamwork Nandini Patro Editorial Editor

On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, Newbury Park girls’ basketball took home their first win of the pre-season against Oak Park High School on Dec. 14, scoring 45-20. This victory has changed the outlook of the team and given them confidence to win more games into the new year.

The varsity and junior varsity teams are packed with new players from every grade. The season officially starts in January once the Marmonte League begins, but the team has been competing and practicing in pre-season tournaments to prepare.

Alanna Young, senior and one of the captains of the varsity team, enjoys playing on the team and practicing with new members this year. “I knew there were going to be a lot of new freshmen on the team this year so one of the things I really wanted to incorporate was like if they need anything, I’m there and just having a good environment for them,” Young said. To Young, fostering an inclusive environment is a priority as a captain. When she was a freshman, she had a senior on the team who guided her through her high school career and she wants current freshmen to feel that same comfort on the team.

Olivia Antu, junior and point guard on varsity, feels as though much of Young’s hopes have come true. “I really enjoy the team first off, we have a really good connection and have great chemistry outside of the sport itself too.” The team works like a well-oiled machine, with each member there to support the others. “If we weren’t all on the same page we wouldn’t be able to really play successfully so I’m really glad I have the teammates I do,” Antu said.

Antu’s love for basketball started unexpectedly. After playing softball for ten years. She decided to give basketball a shot. “I asked my mom if I could play [recreational basketball] and from there I got on the team and we ended up winning the championship,” Antu said. Like many dedicated athletes, Antu also plays for a club team as well and both players enjoy training outside of school.

On junior varsity, Ria Dudhia, sophomore and guard for the team, enjoys playing for her team. “We all get along really well and seem to understand each other pretty well,” Dudhia said.

For Dudhia, every position on the team is important and contributes to the team’s achievements.

“All positions are assets to the team,” she said. “Guards I feel like help out the most and they are sort of like the core of the team because they’re always open when you need them.”

Overall, the girls on the basketball team have a special bond that only comes with spending hours on the basketball court. “I just really enjoy the time that we all get to spend and learn and grow together and become better players,” Antu said. With the momentum that they have built, the team hopes to win at their next game at Chaminade.

Fast break- Lauren Davis, junior, drives the ball to the net dribbling around the other team’s player. Davis and Antu both play as guards on the team, each position is thoughtfully chosen to each player’s advantage. “Usually our taller girls are usually down low playing the post but I am usually bringing the ball down as a point guard,” Antu said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Varsity boys’ soccer heads into the new season

Allison Nguyen Features Editor

Game on- Lucas Perez, junior, attempts to steal the ball. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was around three or four years old, and I’ve been part of the high school team since [10th grade,]” Perez said. “Joining the team seemed fun because it’s such a lively environment and you get to play with all your friends.” Tiana Hoang/ Prowler

After months off the field, many of the players on the boys’ varsity soccer team have been waiting patiently to play again. The team kicked off their new season this month.

Adam Olson, senior, has been on the varsity team for two years. Around the time his club season ends, Olson immediately starts training for the school team, never slowing his pace. “[We have] practice every day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and we do a lot of running. Eric, the coach, definitely likes for us to be in shape. We just do some passing drills and he just likes to keep it fun,” Olson said. “We just started pre-season, and we took three to one against Taft and it is one and one in the season [as of December 1].”

For many athletes like Lucas Perez, junior, joining a high school sports team is about the people and the environment. “My favorite part is definitely playing with my friends from school. It’s such a different environment because usually in club [soccer] you play with people from other schools and you don’t have that same bond that you have with your school friends,” Perez said.

Bohdie Ing, freshman, is one of only two freshmen that made the varsity team this year and echoes much of Perez’s thoughts on the team culture. “I met most of these kids this year and I’ve already [gotten] along with pretty much all of them and I joke around and have a good time every single practice and game,” Ing said. “They’re like role models to me for my next few years so that I can become a better leader.”

Even though the season has just started, team members have been challenged by other varsity players. “Since I’m a junior, there’s kids that are bigger than me when I go against other teams, like other seniors from other schools are really big and fast…so matching their athleticism is probably the hardest part [about playing on varsity],” Perez said.

Although intimidating at first, facing other schools will be a new and fun challenge for many of the newer team members, including Ing. “I feel like I am around the same level as other players and some are even better than me, but I feel like they will make me better and I can make them better,” Ing said.

No matter what challenges they face in their upcoming season, the boys are looking forward to a fun time and creating camaraderie with new teammates. “[It’s] cool to be with guys that you talk to outside of just soccer because in club [soccer] we strictly know each other for soccer and don’t really do much outside of soccer,” Olson said. “With the high school team, it’s more like a friendship and a team.”

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back cover Panther Prowler • Dec. 17, 2021

Houses light up Newbury Park Gwen Buchanan/Prowler

Sarena Kabir Sports Editor Reese Kelem Chief Photographer

Reese Kelem/Prowler

In lieu of traditional holiday celebrations in colder climates, Californians bring it on the decorating front. In hope of spreading joy this holiday season, homeowners in Newbury Park have decorated their houses by covering almost every inch with colorful lights and blow up figures. These festivities began for many in November, when fully decorated houses began to pop up around town.

Reese Kelem/Prowler Family traditions- Covered with about 20 thousand lights that are synchronized to music, 5332 Via Patricia consists of handmade decorations such as a giant Christmas tree and a band, made

by Brian Fuchs, the father of Crystal Fuchs, an NPHS alumnae. “My dad saw a house with lights [that was] synchronized to music and thought, ‘I could totally do this,’” Crystal Fuchs said. When Brian Fuchs first started the light show, he wanted to start a tradition for his kids to grow up with, and now, Crystal Fuchs has joined the train. “Every few years, my dad tries to update the show with new songs and new lights. I [also] got the chance to learn how to program my first song, [which] has been the newest addition to the show,” Crystal Fuchs said.

Reese Kelem/Prowler

Bunches of fun- Randy Hallford, the homeowner of 982 Golden Crest Ave. took about 3 weeks to decorate his house, starting after Halloween. His house and frontyard are separated into different theme areas, with every inch of the house and yard being covered with lights. “We have a snowy slope with a giant reindeer, giant ornaments and a Santa sleigh. [There is also a] lake where Santa is fishing, and a Fortnite themed area for gamers,” Hallford said. In comparison to previous years, Hallford stepped up his design, adding in a 20 ft. candy cane tunnel that includes a talking and singing Santa Claus. For the holiday season, Hallford is using his house as a designated drop-off site for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, a donation drive his family is hosting alongside the Fire Departments of Ventura County.

Reese Kelem/Prowler Holiday Cheer- With only four people to help, one of the homes on Walter Ave. took 3 days to decorate. Debra Jay, one of the residents of this house has been decorating their home alongside her family for the last 20 years, and this year, their yard included house lights, painted wood characters, candy canes, and blow up figures, such as Rudolph, a snowman, the Nutcracker and Santa Claus. Whenever a home is dressed with festive lights, it is always an attraction to the others in the neighborhood. “We love Christmas, and [so do] our neighbors and children…

[My] favorite part [about decorating our house] is knowing how much [others] enjoy them…Christmas is a beautiful time of the year, and we love sharing the spirit of the season and making people smile,” Jay said.

Little Santa band- First starting with Halloween decor, Ralph Riganti, the owner of 538 Brisbane Ave, transitioned into doing Christmas decorations in 2009.

Riganti’s home includes a lot of wireframe decorations, which is a pattern that is made out of metal that has lights attached to it. “I have a drummer boy. I have an elf that is animated that is skipping rope. I have a snowman that is tossing packages. I have two owls that are tossing packages back and forth to each other and I have reindeer and a little Santa band. [The Santa band has] Santa on guitar, elves playing the drums and Rudolph as the lead singer singing along,” Riganti said. Aside from the wireframe decorations, his home contains other Christmas lighting, such as icicle lighting, and even singing Christmas trees.

Julie Feola/With Permission

World of animation- This year, Brian Feola put up a brand new SpongeBob and Patrick display at his home on Donald Ave. Feola’s front yard is filled with handmade wooden cutouts of different cartoon and movie characters. Not only are there wooden characters, his fence, roof and even the wooden cutouts are covered with lights, making sure that every inch of the property has some sort of decor. “Ever since I was young…I’ve always loved holiday decorations,” Feola said.

“I’ve been [decorating] for about 1023 years now, [and I love] seeing [the] kids’ reaction [to the lights and decorations.]”