2020-2021 Issue 4 (Dec. 4, 2020)

PANTHER

PROWLER

Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 • Issue IV • Newbury Park High School 456 N Reino Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

2 Editorial 3 Purple Tier 4 Pilot Classes 5 Sylvester and Gill 6 10 Carmencita Ricafort 11 Tea Time 12 Starbucks 13 Clouds 14

Mental Health 7 Business Education Gymnastics

15

Dance Team

8-9

SPED

16 Holiday Diversity

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editorial Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Fitness 19 must comply with county regulations Fitness 19 on Reino Road has been one of the most popular community centers in Newbury Park since its inception in 2013.

Since Ventura County has been moved back into the purple tier, all gyms and fitness centers have been ordered to close down temporarily for the safety of the community. However, Fitness 19 has failed to comply with California regulations by allowing its business to run as it did in the red tier, with people sharing equipment and exercising indoors without proper social distancing and mask wearing. Fitness 19 has an obligation to follow county protocols to keep its members safe. The disregard for public safety that Fitness 19 has shown is dangerous to our community in that it promotes a lack of concern towards the pandemic, potentially affecting community members.

Upon one of our writers inquiring about the Fitness 19 staying open in a phone call, a gym employee disclosed little information on the subject; however, he said that he was under the impression that Fitness 19 was in a lawsuit with the state, and that they had received a notice from the county. In another writer’s phone call with a separate employee, the employee mentioned that the manager of the establishment has been trying to avoid the press, despite them reaching out for comment. As with other news sources, the manager of Fitness 19 was not available for comment.

The holiday season is statistically the most profitable time of the year for gyms. According to Barrons, gyms such as those operated under Towns Sports International Holdings, an operator of fitness centers, have a major revenue jump at

the end of the year. Similarly, Fitness 19 is attempting to cling onto their main source of income. Although an understandable predicament, Fitness 19 is not alone in this matter, like many other businesses whose crucial revenue comes from the holiday season. However, the county’s restrictions under the purple tier involve the closing of businesses for the safety of the public.

Fitness 19 is acting irresponsibly for their own benefit; the reason for staying open is solely for their own financial gains.

As a large business, Fitness 19 is able to pay whatever fine is imposed upon them, since the profit brought in is higher than said fine. This is an unethical and unsafe advantage that only large businesses have, with others such as Gold’s Gym in Simi Valley and Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Dos Vientos pushing to stay open as well. This contrasts smaller businesses that cannot afford to stay closed for extended periods of time. These smaller, possibly family owned businesses have to adjust their typical ways because disregard for the rules is not something they can use to their advantage.

Fitness 19 is a place frequented by dozens of people, including high schoolers, and as such has an obligation to be compliant with the county’s COVID-19 guidelines. As a gym that supposedly promotes health, its first concern should be protecting the health of its own members by keeping them safe from the virus - something that the regulations they are ignoring are intended to do.

Front Cover Caption:

Disregarding the rulesrules Fitness 19 continues to stay open and allow members to exercise even in the purple tier after the state has mandated all gyms to be closed. Ventura County returned to the purple tier on Nov. 16. Reese Kelem/Prowler

PANTHER PROWLER Editors-in-Chief Manas Khatore Jessica Zhou Front Cover Editor Reese Kelem Editorial Editor Abby Gorman News Editor Sarena Kabir Opinion Editor Emma Schoors DPS Editor Adalia Luo Entertainment Editor Anna Johnson

Features Editor Carter Castillo

2020-2021 staff

Copy Editors Gwen Buchanan Carter Castillo Sports Editor Abby Gorman Prasheetha Karthikeyan Anna Johnson Back Cover Editor Prasheetha Karthikeyan Gwen Buchanan Adalia Luo

Staff Writers Parker Bohl Hayden Meixner Nandini Patro McGlauthon Fleming IV Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Sera Mohammed Allison Nguyen

Online Editors Photographers Carter Castillo Graphic Artists Chief// Reese Kelem Sarena Kabir Carter Castillo Parker Bohl Prasheetha Karthikeyan McGlauthon Fleming IV Prasheetha Karthikeyan Adalia Luo Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Managing Team Hayden Meixner Adviser Lead// Cynthia Gao Nandini Patro Michelle Saremi Dhruv Patel Allison Nguyen Follow us: Sera Mohammed Social Media Leads @npprowler on Instagram/ Gwen Buchanan Twitter Prasheetha Karthikeyan NPHS Panther Prowler on Allison Nguyen Facebook Nandini Patro

Learn - Stacy Hustedt, paraeducator, works with one of her students Declan McGrath, sophomore with his schoolwork on campus. Many educators such as Hustedt and substitutes like Jeanette Zollinger have been helping the special education students return to campus since October.

“I think a common misconception is that these kids can’t learn. But they can totally learn. They can learn in their own way and they all have really magical personalities,” Zollinger said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

The Panther Prowler is the offical 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 other 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 three weeks. For advertisement information, visit 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 can be submitted to the email posted below.

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

news Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

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Ventura County moves back into the purple tier Nandini Patro Staff Writer Ventura County has officially been moved back into the purple tier, a mere couple of weeks after the county received news of being moved to the red tier. The red tier permitted businesses to have indoor dining, gyms to reopen and schools to begin in person attendance.

Regarding schools, everything will stay the way it is with middle and elementary school students attending in-person in cohorts. High school was set to open in-person learning in January and will continue to do so unless dramatic changes occur. Cindy Goldberg, president of the board of education for CVUSD explains that in-person school in this district is actually quite a bit safer than many may think. “Dr. McLaughlin gets data based on zip code. Our zip codes are in, mostly in the orange [tier]. One of them was even in the yellow, so like it just sort of depends on how they calculate it,” Goldberg said. “The entire county currently is purple but we are doing a little bit better here than other places in the county so that should give parents and students and teachers some measure of confidence.”

As of right now, the only reason schools could shut down would be because of health reasons specific to the amount of students that may be positive, but not different colored tiers.

“Let’s take [elementary school], a student and their family tested positive... that entire morning class had to quarantine,” Goldberg said. “If the teacher tests positive then the afternoon class of that teacher would have to quarantine… [there’s no] hard and fast rule because it just sort of depends.” Goldberg assures parents that schools will be informed of any positive tests and procedures that will be taken. “I think it’s currently if five percent of your school is in that situation then your whole school would close and quarantine for...14 days and then come back,” Goldberg said.

Businesses face stricter restrictions. For The Local Table, they are allowed to serve outside on the patios. Giorgio Pierangeli, the owner of The Local Table, explained the struggles that his restaurant is facing. “We just run a lot of heaters and upgrades to try and make it more pleasant… it’s very difficult and also the cost of the heating and everything,” Pierangeli said. However, through all the difficulties, the business still must uphold county safety guidelines. “We have temperature control for all the employees,” Pierangeli said.

“When we arrive, we sanitize the entire place, all the tables, all the areas.” The Local Table also has a scannable menu to avoid

Adjusting- The Local Table employees set up the outside patio and prepare to open at 4:30pm to serve their guests while following protocols. “It Adjustingdefinitely.. is a little bit of a hard time to manage as a business right now” Giorgio Pierangeli, the owner of The Local Table, said. Nandini Patro/ Prowler

touching the same menu when ordering and preventing lots of contact.

Other businesses, such as Bollywood Spice Cuisine, have faced similar situations. Ravindra Kumar, the owner of Bollywood Spice Cuisine, acknowledges the difficulties his new business is facing. “We are still doing marketing. But then,

since we bought [the business] in February and COVID started in March… we didn’t have enough time,” Kumar said. The restaurant does takeout but in contrast to The Local Table, not much outdoor dining. In terms of safety, they follow the standard protocols. “We use the sanitizer, mask and gloves,” Kumar said.

New vaccines reach a breakthrough Sarena Kabir News Editor Eight months since the initial lockdown, a few vaccines have been created. Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca released data for their vaccines.

As of Nov. 18, Pfizer determined that their vaccine is now 95% effective following the results of a four-week trial. In addition, they also made sure that there was a diversity with who was being tested in order to account for most demographics, such as people from different age groups and races. An issue that raises concern with hospitals is that the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius, colder than most facilities can provide.

Few side effects occurred from the Pfizer vaccine, with the only recorded adverse effects being fatigue and headache.

On the other hand, the Moderna vaccine has a 94.5% effective rate. The Phase 3 trial of Moderna began in July, and on Nov. 15, Moderna released their results and findings of their trials. According to the National Institutes of Health, a total of 95 cases were evaluated, with 90 being observed in the placebo group and 5 of them observed in their mRNA-1273 vaccinated group, resulting in their estimated 94.5% effective rate. Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna vaccine only needs to be stored at -20 degrees celsius, which is closer to an ordinary freezer.

AstraZeneca released their vaccine on Nov. 23. Their vaccine requires a dose and a half, and estimates its success rate to be 90%, with 131 cases being analyzed. The AstraZeneca vaccine can also be stored for at least 6 months in normal refrigerated conditions.

Before the Pfizer vaccine can be released to the public for usage, data from their trials and research will be sent to a scientific peer-review publication, with hopes of their vaccine being released by the end of December. Pfizer’s expected production of vaccines for the end of 2020 is 50 million doses, while the expected production by the end of 2021 is 1.3 billion doses. By the end of 2020, Moderna plans to have about 20 million doses to be ready and shipped across the U.S. Recently, the Moderna vaccine has been submitted to the FDA for emergency authorization, and if approved, they will be able to release the vaccine in December. The AstraZeneca vaccine has already started their distribution process in other countries, not including America.

Shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new stay-at-home order, he announced that California will receive 327,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer. These doses will be distributed within six regions, in which the elderly, first responders and immediate healthcare facilities are prioritized.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

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news Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Students revisit campus for pilot classes Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Staff Writer With high schools scheduled to reopen in January, safety restrictions were not the only concern, as the logistics of teaching blended and remote had not been sorted out. In an effort to make the transition smoother, ten NPHS teachers were asked to teach their remote and blended students at the same time, while following all of the new COVID-19 safety protocols.

These classes are a part of a pilot program implemented the week of Nov. 9. “All the high schools worked on getting some type of pilot program up and running,” Stephen Lepire, principal, said. Lepire mentioned that when visiting classrooms, it seemed that many students were genuinely happy to be physically back on campus; in addition, the school hopes to do an official survey for students and teachers in the pilot program after Thanksgiving break.

Teachers of the pilot program have welcomed the change with open arms.

“Career Technical Education, or CTE classes... are very very difficult online... it gave me the opportunity to have my students back in the shop,” Kristian Atkins, the woodworking teacher at NPHS, said. While there was some confusion regarding where to go on campus, Atkins said the transition back has been relatively smooth for his students.

Some students were worried about how restrictions would be managed by both the school and their peers but were pleasantly surprised by how well the situation was handled. “I was a little worried because I didn’t know how the school would be handling restrictions and even if they put them in place, how well they’d be following them...but I think the school is doing a really good job,” says Lindsay Freedman, freshman, in Associated Student Government (ASG).

ASG has been meeting as a fifth period class throughout the school year, but with the pilot program, they have been meeting in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She says that not only do the teachers and staff take restrictions seriously, the students do as well. “We are being super responsible because we know it’s up to us to decide whether we can keep going or not,” Freedman said.

Emily Flores, senior, has been going on campus for her sports medicine class. Flores enjoys being back on the grounds and is really pleased with the way sanitation and safety protocol were executed.

The returningreturning- The NPHS Woodshop class is one of the first classes to return back to campus. Alongside woodshop, there are a few other “I think it’s a great way to slowly adjust to make sure that protocols classes that are testing out the waters and are returning to campus as a pilot class, to do test runs on in-person classes. Pawprint/With and everything are being met as safely as possible,” Flores said.

Permission

President-elect Joe Biden creates his cabinet Dhruv Patel Ad Manager Nandini Patro Staff Writer President-elect Joe Biden has begun to assemble his Cabinet officials, who will accompany Biden into the White House when he is sworn into presidency in January 2021. Biden has begun to name a few positions, and plans to release more as January approaches.

Biden has chosen Ron Klain and Jennifer O’Malley Dillon for chief and deputy chief of staff, respectively.

Klain is an attorney and he and Biden have worked together on numerous occasions. He oversaw the White House response to the Ebola epidemic in 2014 and was the chief of staff for Biden and Al Gore during the Obama and Clinton administrations. Dillon was Biden’s campaign manager and was also the deputy campaign manager for former Pres. Obama’s reelection campaign.

She is also a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee.

Biden also named the offices for director of public engagement along with the director of intergovernmental affairs. The director of public engagement and Biden’s senior advisor will be Cedric Richmond, a Democratic representative for Louisiana’s 2nd district and a co-chair

for Biden’s campaign. Richmond served on multiple committees and worked on criminal justice reform legislation and is set to be the highest-ranking Black aide to the President-elect. The director of intergovernmental affairs will be Julie Chávez Rodriguez, who worked as Biden’s deputy campaign manager. Prior to that, she was national political director for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ presidential bid. Rodriguez also had a senior role on the White House’s public engagement team during Obama’s term.

The senior adviser and counselor in Biden’s cabinet were also named, the senior adviser being Mike Donilon and the counselor being Steve Ricchetti. Donilon is an attorney, and has been an advisor and consultant to Biden since 1981. He also acted as Biden’s chief strategist during his campaign and Biden’s counselor during the Obama administration. Ricchetti, a political aide, acted as Biden’s second chief of staff during the Obama Administration.

Richetti also was the deputy chief of staff for Operations during former Pres. Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Carter Castillo/Prowler

news

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Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Candidates Sylvester and Gill elected to the school board Sarena Kabir News Editor Carter Castillo Features Editor Adalia Luo DPS Editor

All about teamworkteamwork- Karen Sylvester, elected trustee of Area 1, believes that her background in working in teams will be helpful for her time on the board. “Everything I’ve done, whether it’s been working in the PTA or working as consultant, it’s all been team based. It’s rare that I’m off as a lone wolf doing something. I’ve always worked with other people,” Sylvester said. Karen Sylvester/With Permission

Karen Sylvester

Following the results of the 2020 election, candidates Karen Sylvester and Lauren Gill were elected to the CVUSD school board in place of trustee Sandee Everett, who lost re-election, and trustee Dr. Betsy Connolly, who stated intentions to step down in 2018.

Connolly, who has served on the board since 2008, has high hopes for the newcomers, having previously endorsed Gill. “We were hearing a campaign of criticism [before], and a lack of civility and decorum that didn’t advance anyone’s views,” Connolly explained.

“Without the attacks from one dissenting board member, we’re actually going to see more daylight between different board members on different issues with productive discussions, challenging discussions and better decisions because of that.”

As such, Connolly expects the new board’s attention to go towards solving budgeting complications for the next years to come and meaningfully impacting student programs.

“We need to make sure that we don’t lose ground in other areas [besides the pandemic], and that we give our students the best possible education under those circumstances,” Connolly said.

“If I was going to offer any piece of insight that I’ve gleaned over these 12 years is to listen to the superintendent, [especially] if the superintendent says we have the capacity to do [something],” Connolly said. Oftentimes, Connolly says, board members must say no to new and great ideas as they are presented due to a lack of accommodations or resources. “I hope that this new school board keeps the dreams alive, but does so in a way that is realistic, that is sustainable, and that is within the capacity of the school district to deliver,” Connolly advised. “That doesn’t mean giving up on great ideas. It means finding ways to make them happen that doesn’t cost a lot of money or time when those two commodities are in such a short supply.”

Confident in her self-described “succession plan,” Connolly welcomes the changes.

“I leave the board feeling comfortable that they are going to be able to focus on the important work,” Connolly said. “I think that they are a capable group, and I have a great deal of confidence in them.”

On Dec. 3, the Ventura County clerk reporter announced the official final results of the election, which showed that Gill had in fact defeated Everett, garnering 51.5 percent of the votes compared to Everett’s 48.4 percent.

Everett did not respond to the Prowler’s requests for comment. As of Dec. 3, Everett has not made any comments publicly regarding the election results.

Sylvester was elected to represent Area 1, which encompasses Westlake Village, taking Connolly’s place on the board.

Sylvester had intended to run for the school board very early on. “I felt like I could add value to the school board, that I was the right person at the right time, and that my background would benefit and I think mesh well with the existing trustees,” Sylvester said. “It felt like the time was right, and that I could give back to a school system that served my own kids really, really well.”

Sylvester believes that the school board trustees all have different backgrounds and experiences which can bring in different perspectives into important discussions. “I think we’re on the same page on a lot of things, but have very different ways of looking at circumstances,” Sylvester said. “I really think that the collective group can make some really good changes for the school… and I look forward to making a difference and to being able to work with what I consider really a top notch team of trustees as well as administrators.”

As Sylvester developed her platform, she made inclusivity as one of her highest priorities. “I think every student should feel safe on campus, they should feel celebrated, they should feel welcomed, they should share their differences so that the students around them can also learn about the diversity out there,” Sylvester said.

Campaigning during the middle of a pandemic was a challenge for Sylvester, as life was changing drastically. “I’ve had experience with political campaigns before, but this was definitely unexpected, as it was for everybody in all walks of life. Adjusting a campaign, to meeting people, to raising money, has impacted every aspect of the campaign,” Sylvester said.

During Sylvester’s journey, she had come across students who had changed her perspective on certain matters. “What I’ve learned is there’s so many different assets, and so many different viewpoints. I’ve really appreciated getting to hear those viewpoints… From pretty early on, [I] was really impressed with all the students I met,” Sylvester said. “I love the give and take, and hearing from students.”

There are a lot of responsibilities that come along with being a school board trustee, and that is something Sylvester embraces. “I’m really looking forward to what is really the hard work, which is being a trustee on the board and looking forward to working with my fellow trustees,” Sylvester said.

“I’m looking forward to making things better. So, I’m optimistic about everything. I feel good.”

Lauren Gill

Ready- Lauren Gill, elected trustee of Area 5, believes that Readyduring this upcoming term, the school board will be united in regards to the students’ needs. “Every one of the five will be united in their firm belief that public education is essential infrastructure for our community, and who will all work hard to make sure that our district delivers on its promise to every single student,” Gill said. Lauren Gill/With Permission

Gill is the Area 5 school board trustee-elect, which includes Newbury Park and Dos Vientos, defeating incumbent school board trustee Everett.

In recent years there has been an increase in the divide between the de facto factions in the school board. Although the positions on the school board are nonpartisan, there is a clear divide between Everett and the rest of the board members. As the years have progressed, these tensions seem to have only increased. “I do think that we’re going to heal those divisions, I think that we are going to rebuild the trust that has been damaged in this community, and repair those bonds,” Gill said.

Campaigning across area 5 has provided Gill with different opportunities to hear from all different constituents. “I have learned so much. I’m really grateful to all the people who shared with me their hopes and their concerns and their worries about our great district and how we could keep it strong and make it better,” Gill said.

The future trustee has already formed strong relationships with members of the current school board and has started a dialogue with them about pressing issues to CVUSD. “I have great relationships with all of the four who will be my fellow board members, I have worked with each and every one of them,” Gill said. “I like them very, very much as people, and I’m very respectful of the skill sets and the backgrounds and experiences that they bring to their roles.”

With the implementation of distance learning continuing throughout the semester for high school students, many are concerned over the impacts this will have on students and teachers.

“The first thing is, I’m going to join with my fellow board members and the district leadership and the superintendent and our teachers to make sure that everyone is learning, to make sure that the remote models that we’ve developed are the best they can possibly be, that our blended models are working,” Gill said.

Gill narrowly won the election for school board. Over 40 percent of people in Area 5 voted for her opponent, Everett. “Those folks are my constituents, and I am here to serve them and to represent them to the absolute best of my ability. So I want to talk with them. I want to listen to their concerns. And I pledge to do my absolute best to represent their needs and the needs of their children and families as a member of the board,” Gill said.

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opinion Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Keep your mental health up during online learning Hayden Meixner Staff Writer

Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler

With distance learning, maintaining a positive attitude and a healthy mindset is more difficult than ever. Even though it is the only option at the moment, school is not supposed to be experienced alone in your room.

Although we may be returning soon, there are a few habits and hobbies that I have developed over the course of this year that have helped me feel more connected and less lonely doing my work.

Getting into a routine can help you to be more productive and make homework more doable. Creating a homework schedule can help keep you on track and to know exactly what you need to get done in a specific time slot.

It could be as simple as writing a check list or as fancy as a minute by minute plan. Knowing exactly what needs to be done is key to keeping up in class.

Listening to music during a study session keeps me going and helps me maintain focus. Although, it is important that the music you are listening to isn’t too distracting or takes away from the quality of your work.

Oftentimes, if I feel stressed studying for a test, I will turn on a YouTube

playlist. Personally, my go to homework music is anything by Fleetwood Mac or The Beatles. Spotify is a great platform to make playlists with some of your favorite music. One of the many benefits of Spotify is that it takes the kind of music you have been listening to and creates playlists based on it.

Writing has always been my favorite way of escaping the stress and anxiety that school and life brings. My room is filled with journals that I spend at least 30 minutes everyday writing in about how I’m feeling or just how my day went. Seeing your emotions and thoughts written down on a piece of paper not only allows you to understand your feelings deeper but to know what you need to work on. Journaling about the positives and what makes you happy is just as important as well, and reading your self-affirming thoughts can lighten your mood and make your day better.

Although keeping mental health up with online school can be tough, picking up these habits has made it a lot better.

You cannot take TikTok too seriously Sarena Kabir News Editor Reese Kelem Front Cover Editor

With the chaos of the recent election, news, whether true or false, has been coming out from every corner of the media. As it is vital to make informed decisions on who to vote for and how to stay safe during the pandemic, it is just as important to get information from multiple, credible news sources.

Unfortunately, there are people who have used media such as TikTok to come to a political decision based on biased and unreliable news.

While TikTok may be a great platform to use for humor and comedy, it is not the most dependable source when it comes to crucial events and topics that happen in society. TikTok can have credible information, but using only this platform will not inform or educate people accurately. People need to understand that in order to actually be educated on a certain topic, they need to dive as deep as they can and research as much as possible.

Politically, there are plenty of satire videos that are intended for humor. However, people have taken these videos seriously and believed what was said or mentioned. In this scenario, it is important to always fact-check on what one may just have “learned.” If the extra research is not done to formulate reasonable conclusions, then people will be misinformed and may spread fake news. This creates more unnecessary confusion that nobody needs right now to safely maneuver through a crazy year.

Many TikToks have blown up about politicians on either side saying seemingly unjust things that are actually just out of context. One video of what seemed to be Joe Biden incorrectly reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was posted and went viral, but when viewed in further context, it was revealed that Biden was not saying the pledge, but rather giving a speech about his

bipartisan beliefs. If a person were to see this and be concerned, it is vital for one to further research this clip before posting or sharing it elsewhere.

If people use multiple platforms and sources to gather information, then they have a wide range of resources they can use to come to an educated and unbiased conclusion. Almost all news media have a bias, even if it is slight. That is why people should look at the left, the right and everything in between to get an even ground on what is opinion and what is fact. Next time you are scrolling on TikTok and you see a political video that sways you, just take five minutes to fact check that on other non-biased sources before you help spread more fake news.

Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler

Wealthy student athletes have an advantage Gwen Buchanan Back Cover Editor Ever since I was little, I have been pretty athletic. In elementary school, I practiced ballet, hip hop and tennis; now, I am a proud member of the NPHS water polo and swim team.

In middle school, I knew I wanted to swim, but my school did not have a team to join. My next option was to join a club team outside of school, something I could not afford.

This, however, is the path that many other student athletes end up taking, building strength with professional coaches to get familiarized and skilled at the sport before and throughout high school. Club teams are a lot of work; with practices often two or three times a week, the student must be dedicated, and something else too infrequently spoken about... financially inclined.

With COVID-19 limiting my practices this year, I looked into club water polo again. I found that the costs soared to $745 for one season, with up to $600 extra for games. The discovery made me realize just how lucky I am to be in a school sport, which lets me play at a much lower price. Most parents, like mine, don’t have over a thousand dollars to spend on their kids’ sports season every single year. With that cost, of course I haven’t been able to play club in the past!

In middle school, I was not able to compete in a club sport because of the high cost. Many of my classmates just assumed that I did not want to practice or was not dedicated enough to do so, when quite the opposite was the case. The truth is that most club players are better than athletes like me, but it’s not because they are more dedicated. I would love to practice vigorously with a club team everyday, but just do not have the money.

Instead, I have been training by myself at public pools, where you can rent lanes for low prices. With college applications just around the corner, I have been working hard in the hopes of getting into a division school. Only, how can I compete with athletes who have been regularly training and conditioning in club sports since they were young?

When colleges choose high schoolers for their teams and give out athletic scholarships, their choices are often club players, since they are inherently more experienced. However, student athletes on club teams are the least in need of these significant scholarships, since they must already be financially inclined to be able to play club in the first place.

This ongoing cycle that favors wealthy student athletes must be recognized. It is important to understand the advantage that wealth gives athletes, and to make the distinction between money and dedication.

opinion

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Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

High schoolers need a basic financial education Cynthia Gao Managing Editor One question many students have asked themselves in the middle of class is, “When are we ever going to need this in real life?” Personally, I’m guilty, as it certainly made its fair share of runs through my head while I scribbled notes on a war that happened a millennium ago or tried to make sense of a math problem whose solution is dragged to an offensive length. This is not to say these subjects aren’t important; they are, but there is a severe lack of emphasis on one essential subject that everyone needs at least a basic understanding in: finance.

Like it or not, today’s world revolves around money. Across the nation, Americans of all ages struggle with monetary issues: financing a property, investing their income, planning for retirement or simply budgeting a paycheck to put food on the table and pay the utility bills. And yet, according to the New York Times, as of 2020, only 21 of 50 states require a financial education for high schoolers, with California not being one of them. Given that about 31% of high school students enter the workforce directly after graduation and will certainly have to make decisions about their personal finances, the problem becomes clear. These students lack the education necessary to develop strong money habits and avoid lifelong financial struggles.

This hole in graduation requirements also has a significant effect on college students. While the increasing number of students pursuing a college education is positive, the lack of required financial literacy has resulted in countless students who graduate with crippling student debt that they don’t know how to handle. As of now, the cumulative total student debt in the US has

surpassed $1.7 trillion.

There is no better time than high school to begin reinforcing skills related to investing, saving and borrowing. Still having the privilege of living under their parents’ roofs, students can absorb and apply the knowledge in our lives without having to make the critical financial decisions that will come with adulthood.

While ideally more states, including ours, will mandate this soon, one way to start becoming more financially literate is to dabble a bit in stock market investing, or do some basic research on economics. That way, the next time you unbox a new iPhone or stand in line at Starbucks, you’ll understand why they can charge as much as they do, and why we let them.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Trump’s fraud claims are damaging to democracy

Carter Castillo Features Editor Mac Fleming Staff Writer

Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the election. Most sensible people looked at the electoral college and realized that a Biden victory is inevitable. However, certain people, most prominently current Pres. Donald Trump, continue to undermine the integrity of the democratic process by claiming voter fraud conspiracies without merit.

The United States is predicated on the idea of upholding the democratic expression of people’s voice. This is primarily done through electoral representation. These claims of voter fraud are a direct harm to America’s credibility as one of the world’s leading powers.

Trump and his administration, in spreading his falsehoods and unfounded conspiracies, are continuing his egotistical and narcissistic habit of refusing to take accountability. The damage Trump is causing is evident in the fact that a shocking number of people seem to believe that Biden won illegitimately. Polls suggest that a decisive majority of Trump supporters do not believe that the election held was legitimate. Even though Biden will be the president come January, it is a scary thought to have a significant portion of the population refuse to ever accept the legitimate results of an election.

Spanning back to the first transition of power from an incumbent president to their opponent, with John Adams losing to Thomas Jefferson, the United States has prided itself in its ability to change leaders peacefully and smoothly. Only recently has Biden been able to receive critical

national security briefings, and yet Trump still wallows in self pity and still shows no signs of conceding defeat.

Trump has put himself and his interests above the needs of the people. He is jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of all Americans amidst the largest pandemic in a century while eroding the fundamental principles that this country was built upon. Trump’s degradation of the credibility of our democratic process is merely another self-serving scheme developed by the narcissist in chief.

We must do Stacey Abrams better Adalia Luo DPS Editor Emma Schoors Opinion Editor

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

The Georgia runoff elections could not be more important, as their results will indicate the balance of power within the Senate.

The efficacy of the Biden administration is almost singularly dependent on the ruling party these results will cement.

Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and Democratic nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, is one of the key reasons Georgia turned blue in the 2020 presidential election. Her tireless work and passion in leading voting rights organizations like Fair Fight and The New Georgia Project led to hundreds of thousands of newly registered Georgia voters.

Though Abrams’s efforts are entirely on the upcoming runoff elections, it is not at all lost on her why Georgia is under the pressure it is. “It is the Republican party that has maintained this runoff system that is a vestige of Jim Crow, which was designed to keep Black votes from counting effectively in deciding the outcome of elections,” Abrams said Nov. 12 on “The View.”

It was Abrams, a Black woman who had an election stolen from her, who worked to register over 800,000 new voters across Georgia affected by voter suppression. Her contributions in the 2020 election are unmatched by any non-Black person, and reflective of the work of many other POC organizers who continue to show up against all odds.

However, it is Biden who will be accredited for saving White

Carter Castllo/Prowler

people from other White people, all while doing nothing for POC. Black organizers cannot be showered with only empty applause for electing a centrist White man, their only choice. Black voters, and Black women in particular, are continually tokenized and made collateral, centered in movements that give up on them the moment they no longer provide buzz. As Ericka Hart, M. Ed. in Human Sexuality from Widener University, tweeted, “Stacey Abrams and all Black femmes deserve recognition and fighting for ALWAYS not just when it serves the interest of white people.”

It is not thanks that must be extended to Black women, but instead policies that support them directly and work to repair the irreparable damage that continues to happen through our fundamentally White and male-centric institutions.

Commitments to building POC-directed political power, wealth redistribution and the abolishment of ICE as well as the police are only some of an endless catalog of policy platforms that should have been developed years ago.

Abrams’s situation highlights much of what is fundamentally fraudulent about American elections. First, the depth of the corruption in political systems favorable only to those who will remain profiting from its results, and secondly, the fragility of those that oppress, willing to commodify the lives of those they support until it translates into legislative action.

8

special education Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Introduction to SPED While 9.2 percent of CVUSD students are enrolled in SPED classes, many of their peers are likely unaware of what this term actually means.

Coreen Pefley, NPHS English SPED teacher, is very familiar with the program and its origin. “Special education comes from the federal program called ITA, which is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” Pefley said. “Basically, if a student has a disability that affects their education, the government needs to give special help or accommodations to help the students.”

The SPED program provides accommodations for a diverse group of students; fundamentally, the program is for the benefit of any student for which the general education curriculum does not suit their learning style. Angela Thomas, a paraprofessional, assists SPED students in the classroom. She explains the variety of students that SPED applies to. “[It can be] either because they have physical disabilities, if they’re in a wheelchair, blind or hard of hearing, but it’s also for students that have intellectual disabilities,” Thomas said.

The program varies vastly depending on each student’s individual needs; while some may be entirely in general education and occasionally work alongside SPED teachers, others attend co-taught general education classes with SPED educators present. In addition, some students attend specialized academic instruction, while others are in specialized programs specifically designed for students who require moderate to significant accommodations.

The Individual Education Program (IEP) is a system that gives SPED students the help they need for their academic journey. Within the program are support services such as extra time on tests and assignments, quiet testing environments, preferred seating, text to speech softwares, questions read aloud during examinations and a lack of penalties for minor spelling and grammatical errors.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Students can apply to the IEP by getting evaluated by a professional; from there, the student’s school will decide if they qualify for the program, and what accommodations would be made available for the student.

Despite the importance of these accommodations, there can often be a stigma around SPED programs, much of which stems from incorrect assumptions made about the program. Lora von Kronemann, NPHS SPED history teacher, has noticed the negative effect that these misconceptions can have on students in her classes. “I think that people think the students in special ed are not smart. And then, unfortunately, the students who are in this program start to feel this way,” von Kronemann said. “If you don’t have that confidence in yourself, it’s hard to open up yourself to the possibility of learning.”

Educators are working hard to break the stigma and show that their students are working towards the same goal as everyone else on campus - to learn. “Even if it takes them a bit longer to learn things, it doesn’t mean they can’t learn,” Thomas said. “Everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways. They just take a class that gives a bit more time to achieve that.”

Carter Castillo/Prowler

Emerson Fuentes-Alaban Prasheetha Karthikeyan Abby Gorman Edit Parker Bohl Sta

While the majority of students are not scheduled to return to school learning model. Select special education (SPED) classes first returned the remote learning model. The staff has been working hard to make the these classes can run as smoothly as possible desp

Special Education DAC The Special Education District Advisory Council (SEDAC) is a committee made up of parents of SPED students who are working to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed. Erika Johnson is a member of the committee who is helping to advocate for SPED students. “SEDAC advises district administrators and board of education on matters that are related to educational programs, policies, procedures and specific actions being taken for students receiving special education services,” Johnson said.

One of the main responsibilities of the council is to ensure every student is receiving the support that is necessary for them to succeed. “I am so grateful for [SEDAC’s] advocacy and their collaboration to work with site and district staff to ensure that all students who receive services through an IEP and/or 504 are considered and included in every school activity and/or decision made when it comes to all students at a school site,” Johnson said.

Breaking boundaries is crucial to providing SPED students with their optimal academic experience. Allice Chou, the chair of SEDAC, stressed the importance of bringing awareness to the invalidity of SPED stereotypes and assumptions.

“What I consider as part of my role is to really break the idea of the stereotype of what special education is. . .we all have our strengths and our weaknesses, and so part of it is finding out what are those strengths of the student,” Chou said.

Spe Educa stude face challe

Listen and learnlearn Educators within SPED attend a presentation about post-secondary education for people with developmental disabilities with guest speaker Wil Francis from UCLA. Allice Chou/With Permission

Chou believes that the collaboration and communication from multiple parts of the district helps SEDAC aid students. “[Because of ] the support of teachers, administrators, particularly, Dr. Miller and Dr. McLaughlin and the Board of Trustees...we have a voice and a meaningful seat at the table and not only are we invited, but we feel welcomed because of them,” Chou said.

Above all, SEDAC strives to create a supportive community for SPED students. “It takes a village. . .it’s not just the parent, it’s not just a teacher, and it’s not just a student. It’s all of us together,” Chou said.

Prasheetha Karthikeyan

special education Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Adalia Luo/Prowler

ecial ation ents new enges

Learning Models While some classes are back on campus, others will remain remote until all blended students return on Jan. 19. Through remote learning, teachers have faced some challenges, from not being able to emulate the experience in the classroom to properly accommodating all students’ needs.

“For a kid who has trouble auditorily, they’re not going to do really well if the teacher only talks to them all the time.

They need things written down, they need to see things so that they can use some of their other senses,” Pefley said.

“During distance learning, it’s really hard to always get the accommodations the way they’re supposed to be.”

Ensuring students are doing well in their classes is another challenge; remote learning creates a barrier between a teachers’ ability to check for student understanding. “Some of them might [respond], but some of them might not, and verbally responding is different from seeing them in person,” von Kronemann said. “It’s hard when they need to be prompted for that kind of help and assistance.”

Remote learning not only creates boundaries between teachers and students but between their peers as well; the ability for students to interact with each other can play a significant role for working on language development. Lisa Miller, assistant superintendent, noticed challenges with distance learning as well. “A lot of [speech and language intervention] is just the natural dialogue that happens between a speech therapist and the student and the other students in the room… on Zoom, it is often the adult doing the speaking,” Miller said. “The language engagement between peers is really valuable and important for our students who need to develop their language skills.”

Create CreateArielle Correa, junior, shows off some of her artwork created during in-person class time.

While many classroom activities had to be modified, teachers and aids are working hard to make sure school can still be enjoyable for the students. Reese Kelem/Prowler

nza Graphic Artist n Sports Editor torial Editor aff Writer

until January, several classes are well underway in the blended to campus in early October, while others have continued with e necessary adjustments from a typical school year to ensure that pite the obstacles caused by COVID-19.

n/Prowler

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Interact Jeanett Zollinger, Interacta current substitute teacher, and a student of hers work together on homework while going through classes during the day. Since the school has opened up for SPED students, many teachers have helped their students throughout the school day for whatever they need.

“My job is to hang out with them and make sure their needs are met, whatever those needs may be,” Zollinger said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

9

Jump Avery Finger Jumpand Nicholas Crilley, seniors go back onto campus to partake in P.E. classes.

Angela Thomas, paraprofessional for the SPED classes at NPHS, is one of the people who have made classes possible for these students.

“I love what I’m doing and it’s so rewarding to help the kids achieve things, and then you might work for months on it and all of a sudden they can do it. And they are very proud of themselves as well.” Thomas said.

Reese Kelem/ Prowler

Most programs have had to be adapted in order to suit online learning; physical education classes have continued over Zoom with modifications to their typical activities. Liam Mistry, sophomore, expresses his opinion on the new P.E. classes. “I miss having P.E… [but now] we do dancing, yoga and other exercise,” Mistry said. Several of the students typically participate in Unified Sports as well, which has held weekly Zoom meetings but cannot have games or practices at this time.

However, this is not to say remote learning is inherently negative; some SPED students are enjoying aspects of their online classes. John Perosio, sophomore, has benefitted from working primarily on the computer. “It makes me smarter, because I can focus better,” Perosio said.

For those who have returned to campus through the blended learning model, classes are held in-person four days a week for two and a half hours. “Because we don’t have that many students, we are just one cohort,” Thomas said. “Not all of our students have chosen to come back, so they don’t have the full class on campus at the moment.”

Students who have returned are happy to be back, and many agreed that the social aspect was one of the main motivations to return. “It’s better. I get to see my friends,” Carson Keene, freshman, said.

Being back on campus also aids in providing the support necessary for students to succeed; even with modifications for social distancing restrictions, there are still many benefits to returning to in-person education for SPED students. “[It is easier to] use things and get help in class,” Keene said.

10

features Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Ricafort retires after 14 years at NPHS Dhruv Patel Ad team

Carmenita Ricafort is retiring this year on Dec. 30 after 14 years at Newbury Park. Ricafort has worked hard with Nick Guerin to make the College and Career Center (CCC) a welcoming place for students to help them with all college related matters.

Ricafort works around the clock to give students opportunities to plan for their futures and to help them get prepared for college. “My primary function is to provide guidance and resources to students in their college exploration, preparation, search and application process, financial aid and scholarships,” Ricafort said. Although she takes on many responsibilities, Ricafort loves doing her job and has Rest-After working hard for 14 years at NPHS, Carmenita Ricafort, Rest shaped the CCC. “I worked the College and Career Center (CCC) director, is retiring Dec. 30. very hard in making the Through her dedication, Ricafort is leaving a lasting impact on the CCC a very open, nurturing school and student body. Elise Laina/With Permission

and welcoming place to students and letting them know that Mr. Guerin and I are always willing to help them and be there for them,” Ricafort said.

During her time at the school, the CCC has changed immensely into a place where students can schedule appointments to discuss their plans or just pop in. “While appointments are encouraged, students can pop in anytime during normal office hours and talk to either one of us on college or career related questions, or even just to hang out and air their frustrations and problems,” Ricafort said.

The CCC also created opportunities for students to come and help out Ricafort. “I worked with her everyday to pass out notes to seniors so that they could receive college help, I organized her room, and much more,” Samantha Scheffler, senior and Ricafort teacher’s assistant for 3 years, said.

Ricafort puts extreme care and enthusiasm in her

work and it shows. “Mrs. Ricafort is so kind hearted and genuine,” Scheffler said. “She is incredible at her job; guiding students in the right direction, with kindness and patience.”

Students and staff alike will miss Ricafort’s presence at NPHS. “Mrs. Ricafort is truly exceptional when it comes to listening and giving good advice,” Guerin said. “Many people know her by her kindness and laughter, but not everyone knows the depth of the wisdom and strength she possesses in tandem with her excellent sense of humor.” Ricafort’s legacy lives on in the school through the connections she made with everyone on campus. “I will miss working with students and helping them navigate the complex college exploration process and being a part of a very warm and supportive administrative, office and teaching staff.” Ricafort said.

Periods with Pride advocates for menstrual equity Hayden Meixner Staff Writer

Periods with Pride is an organization that strives to fight period poverty and advocate for menstrual equity. NPHS students recently created a club on campus to bring those efforts on a local level.

Himani Pothulu, sophomore and one of the co-presidents of the club, explained that she was inspired to start this club when she saw the stigma created around periods in the community. “We wanted to normalize menstruation as a whole in our community because it seems very... not talked about in a way, but every woman goes through this,” Pothulu said.

Aarya Bhat, sophomore and the other co-president, said, “Our goal is to spread awareness on mensuration, period poverty, the tampon tax and provide menstrual hygiene products for women and people in need.”

A big part of the Periods with Pride is helping others.

Grace Pei, sophomore and treasurer, decided to join the club out of interest to help the less fortunate in our community

while normalizing talking about periods. “I have always been interested in helping those in need because I want to make a difference in someone’s life,” Pei said.

Periods with Pride recently held a feminine hygiene product drive at school in light of Thanksgiving. The donations they received are going to be donated to James Storehouse, a nonprofit organization that cares and provides for children in the foster care system. This was the first drive the club has done.

“We are trying to hold drives at least once to three times a year to provide for either homeless individuals, people in the foster care system or anyone who needs it,” Bhat said.

Information about Periods with Pride’s meetings as well as future drives can be found on their Instagram account @periodswithpridenphs. The club meets every other Friday, and the Zoom link can be accessed by joining the Periods with Pride Remind. “Anybody is welcome in this club and we appreciate the help,” Bhat said.

That’s on period-Club period members Grace Pei, Allison Nguyen, Himani Pothulu, Aarya Bhat and Anika Kaushik gather to organize and distribute menstrual products collected for their most recent drive. Aarya Bhat/With Permission

ASG prepares for National Inclusive Schools Week Abby Gorman Editorial Editor

Adalia Luo DPS Editor

CVUSD schools have been diligently preparing for the week of Dec. 7, the designated dates for this year’s annual National Inclusive Schools Week celebrations.

At the Nov. 3 board meeting in which the resolution was approved, many spoke up in support of its significance.

“The positive experiences of inclusive opportunities often prepare us for our own journey in life. All students need to experience this. An inclusive mindset helps all students become well-rounded, well-informed, and well-prepared for life as adults,” Carole Shelton, public commenter, said.

Many schools have been finding new and COVID-19 friendly ways to honor this third annual National Inclusive Schools Week. Lee Ann Holland, another public commenter, says, “I am confident that our students and student leaders, principals and teachers, staff and family will find innovative ways to celebrate Inclusive Schools Week.” At NPHS, many of these efforts have been carefully coordinated by our ASG, with each day having a different theme.

The first and final days of the week, the plan is to promote a general inclusivity culture, with Monday having a special emphasis on the freshmen. “We know that this year has been a little bit hard on the freshmen, and they may not totally feel like they’re part of our

Panther family yet, since they’ve never actually been on campus,” Steven Kitchell, senior and ASG president, explained. “We really want to make sure that they feel included in our school culture.” All freshmen should look out for an email from their freshmen buddy and class of 2024 spotlights on the ASG Instagram, @ newburyparkpanthers. Friday’s festivities will be broader, emphasizing that everyone is a Panther through a blackand-gold dress up day and a school-wide Zoom from 4pm-5pm.

On Dec. 8 and 10, the focus will be on clubs on campus.

“We’re going to spotlight them on our Instagram: talk about what those clubs do, how they promote inclusivity and maybe have an Instagram takeover,” Kitchell said.

On Tuesday, the focus will be on language and culture groups such as Asian Culture Club, Latinos Unidos, English Learners and the American Sign Language club.

Thursday will center on all the other groups on campus that promote inclusivity, especially social justice clubs like GirlUp and GSA. Wednesday, Dec. 9, ASG plans to highlight abilities inclusion through an all-orange dress-up day, a unified sports feature on the school Instagram and a special delivery of posters and balloons to the special needs

classes, along with general campus decorations. You can also look out for a dance video of Sparkles on Instagram.

“We know how much everyone loves to see Sparkles,” Kitchell said. “[They’re] definitely a crowd favorite.”

Other programs like the Panther Pals and LEAP will also be spotlighted for their impactful work.

ASG’s goal of this year’s observance is to reinforce the inclusive ideals at our school. “We’re really lucky at NP, actually- I think we have a very inclusive school in general,” Kitchell said. “But, I think Inclusive Schools Week is important to…find those students that don’t always get the spotlight on them, or don’t always know that they’re being included…and making sure that they feel a part of our community.”

Steven Kitchell/With Permission

11 with Lesley Nedwick features

Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Anna Johnson Entertainment Editor

Cynthia Gao Managing Editor Lesley Nedwick, a counselor at NPHS, encourages students to reach out for support during these difficult times. Read our Tea Time to see why she loves her job and learn about how she spends her free time!

What do you like most about your job?

I love being able to bridge the gap for students between academics, emotional issues, anything that they’re having outside of school, being able to help them find resources. I love getting to know my students and building relationships. I have a little over 500 students on my caseload so sometimes it’s difficult to get to know them on a personal level, but being there for students and knowing that I am their support and advocate on campus is something that I really enjoy and I love being able to come to work on most days, or now over Zoom, and just put out fires all day and help students when they’re in distress.

Why did you want to be a counselor?

Well, for years I wanted to be a teacher. For years, I would play teacher when I was a little girl. I always loved it, and I became a substitute teacher while I was in college. My jobs were always in schools: I was a homeschool teacher, I was a paraprofessional with special ed students, I worked at a preschool when I was in high school. I always loved working in the school system, and then I just wasn’t sure I wanted to be a teacher.

I thought maybe a therapist, because I love to help. Then I actually had a dear friend in college bring up school counselor to me and I thought, “Gosh, that’s the best of both worlds.” I love working in schools and I love being able to help students that maybe aren’t getting help or aren’t able to get help elsewhere, so I kinda put those together and I thought this would be the perfect job, exactly what I want to do.

What advice would you give to students this year?

Just to know that it’s temporary, what’s going on right now, and that there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we’ll get through this. In the meantime, reach out for help if you need it, whether it’s academic or emotional, reach out to your counselor if you’re having a hard time. Our district website has a wellness room... which has a lot of really cool stuff and resources to check out. There are a lot of apps on there as well that students could listen to. If they’re having a hard time emotionally, we have wellness counselors available at our school as well, if they need somebody to talk to. I know a lot of students...are really struggling, some are thriving during this time, but most are really having a hard time. But if they’re having a hard time academically, just to really reach out and ask for help. A lot of the times, students could write a private chat to their teacher during class and say, “Can I spend a few minutes with you after class” and just be honest and say, “I’m really struggling and I just need some support to get back on track.” I think with Google and Canvas and Q, it’s really hard for students to stay organized, too. At the beginning of the year, my goodness, I know a lot were struggling, now I think some are getting into routine. Do lists and ask for help, take it one step at a time but really reach out if they’re suffering and need help.

Lesley Nedwick/With Permission

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

If I could have a superpower, I think that I would like to be a time traveler. I’d love to be able to go back in time and see different eras, centuries, decades, it would be so interesting. Also to meet family that I never got to meet before.

Anne Alvarez named Teacher of the Month

Abby Gorman Editorial Editor

CVUSD’s October Teacher of the Month accolade honored Anne Alvarez, a special education teacher at NPHS, for her dedication and tireless work to ensure that all of her students are always given the opportunity to shine both in and out of the classroom. Her kindness and care shows through in her work, reflected by this well-deserved recognition.

Since childhood, being an educator has always been her goal. “I’ve always really enjoyed working with kids, and helping them develop into what they can be,” Alvarez said.

Upon being accepted into a specialized program after college, she decided to pursue special education.

After 40 years as a teacher, Alvarez says the most rewarding aspect of her work is being able to see the impact teachers can have on their students. “When you have someone come up to you and say, ‘You’ve changed my life, you made my life better,’ to me, that’s what teaching is about,” Alvarez said. “Teachers don’t go into teaching for money; there isn’t money in it.

But, we get paid in the way we can help positively influence students’ lives.”

For students lucky enough to have her, it is clear that they

feel the impact of her kindness. “I just see how much [they] love her. When you go into her room or they see her outside, you can see not only her love for the students but also how the students love her,” Michael Contreras, teacher and coach for the Unified Sports team, said.

Richard Bradley, social science teacher, nominated Alvarez for Teacher of the Month and has worked alongside her through both the National Honor Society and Unified Sports team. “There’s not a more deserving teacher,” Bradley said. “I think Annie is the best teacher I’ve ever met.”

Anyone who has seen Alvarez in action can attest to how she goes above and beyond in support of her students. “She really loves what she does, and it’s so infectious,” Bradley said.

“I use the term ‘labor of love’ with her all the time. It’s really how she approaches things. She’s so passionate and just loves her job so much, [even when] her job’s not always easy.”

Above all, Alvarez is known for her heart. “She’s just a great person.” Contreras said. “She’ll always take the time to be kind.

Kind. That’s the word that I always think of when I think of her.”

Dedicated- Alvarez was awarded Teacher of the Month for October for the consistent effort she puts into her service and the positive impact she has on her students. “It’s probably one of the hardest, yet most rewarding things a person can do,” Alvarez said. She has taught in the Conejo Valley for over 15 years.

Anne Alvarez/With Permission

12

entertainment

Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Seasonal Starbucks Drinks are back Sera Mohammad Staff Writer For me, winter has a distinct smell: cinnamon, pumpkin spice and candy canes. Starbucks smells just like that following the end of October and the beginning of November, and their winter seasonal drinks taste just like Christmas. A few of my favorite winter themed drinks are their seasonal ones, but some were of my own creation.

The Caramel Brulee Frappuccino, although incredibly sweet, is one of my favorite seasonal drinks. The little crunch of caramel at the top pulls the drink together. I prefer to get it with light ice, so that the drink has more flavor and it is not so diluted. With the normal amount of ice, there tends to be chunks in the drink that taste like water. With light ice, it tastes like a variation of a caramel frappuccino, but it has a more vibrant caramel flavor. I personally don’t like very sweet drinks, but the Caramel Brulee Frappuccino is one of my favorites. 7/10.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a staple for seasonal drinks, and it is highly anticipated by the public when November rolls around.

I liked it as a kid because I had a huge sweet tooth, but now I am more inclined to order drinks that taste more like coffee than like sugar. The first sip is really good, but the longer I drank it, the more nauseous I felt. I would not recommend this drink, especially if you have sensitive teeth like me. But, if you are in the mood for something sweet that tastes like Thanksgiving, this is the drink for you. 4/10.

A more Christmassy drink that I enjoy is the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino (light ice) and I ask for it with strawberry puree at the bottom and topped with mocha syrup. I find the Vanilla Bean Frappe too sweet by itself, but when you add the strawberry, not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, it balances some of the sweetness with the sourness of the fruit. 8/10.

Emerson FuentesAlabanza/Prowler

“It’s a Wonderful Life” still has something to say Parker Bohl Staff Writer

Silence A chaotic crowd rushes into the bank to withdraw their funds Silenceduring the great depression, as George Bailey (James Stewart) considers how to address them. Liberty Films/with permission

The Christmas film released in 1947 is still a festive classic worth revisiting this year. From the legendary performances by nearly every actor in the film to the timeless message and heartwarming conclusion, it’s well worth considering.

The film opens with stars, which represent angels, in the sky discussing how to save George Bailey, the protagonist, who is planning to commit suicide. We follow moments from George’s life up to his lowest moment, with an impactful conclusion.

Despite a heartwarming story and long-lasting fame, the film certainly falls short in some places. Much like other films of its time, the exposition scenes contain a couple of outdated jokes and references that can be tedious. Though this could be seen as an accurate portrayal of the 1900s, it is important to consider the exposition to the actual film takes up about half of the runtime.

This section of the film is completely overshadowed by the ending.

The ending of this film is one of the purest manifestations of art and emotion in all of cinema. It encapsulates the contrast between reality and the twisted fiction we can trap ourselves in

by bringing the protagonist into a world where he was never born. Heroes cease to exist, his wife lives sad and alone, all the hope and joy he brought to the world is painfully absent and the world is remarkably worse off without him. When he is finally brought back into reality, it seems the whole world has been waiting to tell him how much they care.

The trope for a character to wish they had never been born is usually inspired directly from this film. The final act of the film utilizes all the seemingly unimportant exposition the viewer absorbed earlier in an extremely satisfying way. Here, realism is portrayed by each and every actor in the film, bringing the film to life in the process. It communicates a timeless message of the importance of friendship and the value of life. Rather than forcing the moral onto the viewer, the film allows you to draw your own conclusions based on the events of the story.

Though it is far from perfect, this film is worth sharing.

From the incredible performances by each and every actor to a surprisingly applicable and timely message, this film deserves the reputation it upholds.

“Emma.” brings new dimension to Jane Austen classic Abby Gorman Editorial Editor

Adalia Luo DPS Editor

In Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma.,” Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Emma Woodhouse, a clever and flawed young woman in Georgian-era England who spends her days interfering in the lives of those around her. This lighthearted, airy take on a classic provides a new depth to the familiar story.

Unbothered with providing the layer of “modernity” that seems to be required of period pieces in the 21st century, de Wilde focuses her attention on character study rather than the story, interlaced with a witty screenplay and incredible artistic direction.

At its heart, the plot of “Emma” is romantic, an integral element de Wilde refuses to compromise, using it as a device for characterization instead of the sole focus. Fundamentally, however, “Emma” is not about a relationship, but a story simply about a girl. Taylor-Joy and de Wilde flawlessly encapsulate the antics of a young woman, capturing the tornado of a suffocating society hidden behind the careless wit of class. Filmed against a backdrop of gorgeous sets and with commendable performances from Taylor-Joy and her co-stars Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Josh O’Connor, Bill Nighy and more, the book is brought to life.

The actors’ performances are all heightened by Isobel Waller Bridge’s folksy score. The music of “Emma.” does more than enhance the story on screen, but tells a story on its own.

The “Emma Suite” on its own modulates with Woodhouse’s missteps and successes and repeats in thematic bursts in a recall of its originally detailed arc. Three of the cast members also have additions into the score: Flynn, a musician in his own right, wrote “Queen Bee” for the production and duetted “Drink to me Only with Thine Eyes” with Amber Anderson, who plays Jane Fairfax.

Anderson, along with Taylor-Joy, both performed piano pieces, with Anderson performing two classical pieces and Taylor Joy going to “great pains” to perform her solo with affectation.

“Emma.” is a story that breaks through the monotony of everyday life not with its complexity, but instead, its simplicity.

The characters and plot lines are not without flaws, but that was de Wilde’s goal in the first place: to highlight and study the implicit flaws of human nature and their manifestations. A thoroughly fulfilling watch aesthetically, sonically and narratively, “Emma.” is the perfect movie to watch, rewatch and rewatch again.

Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler

entertainment

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Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

“Clouds” tells a heart wrenching true story Reese Kelem Front Cover Editor

Gwen Buchanon Back Cover Editor

This past October, Disney+ released their take on the life of Zach Sobiech, singer and writer of the song “Clouds.” The movie pays respect to the life of Sobiech, and tells a heartwarming coming-of-age story that will leave you curled up on your couch, clutching a tissue box.

“Clouds” opens up with Sobiech during his senior year of high school, displaying his struggles with harsh chemotherapy while introducing his positive attitude about the future. In the movie, Sobiech has lung cancer, while in real life, he had osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone in addition to the tumors in his lungs.

At the beginning of the movie, Sobiech seems to be headed towards recovery, but he soon finds out that his cancer is terminal, leaving him with just six to nine months to live.

This ticking timer takes a toll on him everyday as he copes with the normal challenges of being adolescent and his diagnosis.

Through his pain, Sobiech finds inspiration in music and songwriting, gaining significant media attention over his song, “Clouds.” Sobiech and his best friend, Sammy Brown, create an album that receives popularity throughout the movie.

A 25-minute documentary was filmed and released on

YouTube in 2013, just weeks before Sobiech passed away.

The documentary shows many original scenes that the movie recreated, and is just as heart-warming and heartbreaking as the movie, if not more so. Seeing Sobiech as himself added a certain depth to the movie and reinforced the characters as real people.

The documentary can be found on YouTube.

Apart from being beautifully tragic, the only complaint we could muster about the movie is that it runs a little long, finishing at two hours and one minute. However, be sure to make it to the end, where a concert has a bitter-sweet twist and footage of the real Zach Sobiech is shown during the credits.

We can all learn something from Sobiech’s incredible life.

Sobiech’s song “Clouds” is still available to listen to on almost all platforms, as well as his entire album “Fix Me Up” with Sammy Brown.

Just before Sobiech passed away, he and his family started the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma fund, where anyone can donate to research for osteosarcoma. Currently, only four Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler percent Emerson of federal cancer research is sent to childhood cancer.

You can donate here: https://childrenscancer.org/about-us/.

YouTube in 2013, just weeks before Sobiech passed away.

The documentary shows many original scenes that the movie recreated, and is just as heart-warming and heartbreaking as the movie, if not more so. Seeing Sobiech as himself added a certain depth to the movie and reinforced the characters as real people.

The documentary can be found on YouTube Apart from being beautifully tragic, the only complaint we could muster about the movie is that it runs a little long, finishing at two hours and one minute. However, be sure to make it to the end, where a concert has a bitter-sweet twist and footage of the real Zach Sobiech is shown during the credits.

We can all learn something from Sobiech’s incredible life.

Sobiech’s song “Clouds” is still available to listen to on almost all platforms, as well as his entire album “Fix Me Up” with Sammy Brown.

Just before Sobiech passed away, he and his family started the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma fund, where anyone can donate to research for osteosarcoma. Currently, only four percent of federal cancer research is sent to childhood cancer.

You can donate here: https://childrenscancer.org/about-us/.

Season two of the “Mandalorian” raises the bar Parker Bohl Staff Writer

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

One of the few promises not broken in 2020 is the release of the highly anticipated second season of the Star Wars TV series, “The Mandalorian.” Though only four episodes have been released, a clear trajectory has been set for this season, including a surprise Star Wars fans can greatly appreciate, and casual viewers can effortlessly enjoy.

Every episode of the show consists of the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) doing a favor of some sort, in seemingly separate and unconnected adventures. This creates an engaging variety in settings and characters along with the promise that you will be rewarded for paying attention to the details. The show introduces new places and characters and includes satisfying tieins and callbacks that even non-fans can enjoy.

There are a few slow moments in the show and a couple of stale performances, including a lot of moments where the viewer just waits with the Mandalorian while he is traveling, eating or hiding. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you enjoy a pause from sci-fi action, in which case these

are moments to reconnect with the character. The Tatooine mechanic character (Amy Sedaris) is a bit painful to watch due to an inferior performance. This makes it a bit more difficult to stay in the story as this character is clearly just reciting lines without being absorbed into their role. However, these are incredibly minor critiques that are more than made up for in the explosive action and creative plot of the show.

“The Mandalorian” effectively uses many concepts and storytelling principles recent Star Wars content has failed to. The world-building is phenomenal, it truly makes every location feel like a real place. The costumes and sets are absolutely stunning and convincing. The visual effects are, of course, exceptional. The plot is intriguing and builds off curiosities it effectively places in the audience’s minds. The action scenes always make use of special weapons or locations that you wouldn’t find in any other show.

It has an extremely identifiable Star Wars feeling while being fresh and utilizing creative concepts untouched by the films.

“

Emma Schoors Opinion Editor Foo Fighters kicked off November with the release of “Shame Shame,” the first single off their tenth studio album “Medicine At Midnight.” The track debuted with a performance on Saturday Night Live on Nov. 7, as well as an accompanying music video.

While this single is different from the band’s signature sound, the album as a whole is expected to be “instantly recognizable” as a Foo Fighters record. “It was written and sequenced in a way that you put it on, and nine songs later you’ll just put it on again,” Dave Grohl, lead singer and guitarist, told NME. The 2021 Grammy nominations list caused much-needed discussion about the award show’s questionable nomination process.

The Weeknd’s critically acclaimed record “After Hours” was notably missing from the list, as well as Harry Styles’s majorly successful sophomore solo record “Fine Line,” among many other well-deserving albums created this year by artists like Lady Gaga and Fiona Apple. “It can often be about behind the scenes private performances, knowing the right people, campaigning through the grapevine, with the right handshakes,” Halsey, singer-songwriter and 2016 Grammy nominee, said. “‘Bribes’ that can be just ambiguous enough to pass as ‘not-bribes.’” Music should be about just that: the love of music. Status and money should be irrelevant.

Award shows should award musicians for their genuine passion rather than their willingness to please the wealthy and powerful.

The Grammys remain corrupt.

You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.

-The Weeknd

“

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sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Gymnasts return to Monarchs Allison Nguyen Staff Writer Life for the gymnasts at NPHS is slowly going back to routine as members begin making their way back to the gym after months away. Through time and persistence, the girls on the Monarchs team have been adapting to the new ways of practice and adjustment during their training.

Mallory Norton, junior, is currently practicing at Monarchs Gymnastics and taking extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. “All coaches have to have masks on at all times. My group, specifically my team, wear our masks when we are on an event... our coaches are wiping down all the mats with UV lights that we use to clean off surfaces,” Norton said.

“We’re social distancing and we’re doing everything we can right now to just keep everybody safe but still practice.”

Spending much of her life doing gymnastics, Norton has definitely had a different and new experience this year, especially at the start. “It was definitely rough because if you don’t do gymnastics for a long period of time you’ll start to lose skills and lose your flexibility and it gets really hard to come back,” Norton said. “My gym was out for about three months and it doesn’t sound like a really long time, but in gymnastics, it is because in those three months, you could have done so much to get stronger and more flexible and get your skills down.”

Aside from the adjustments in the gym, competition season is still a very unknown subject.

Ambal Kailasam, sophomore, is a competitive gymnast of five years at Monarchs Gymnastics.

Balance- Lauren Markus, senior, Madison Klein, freshman, Mallory Norton, junior, and Allie Honbo, sophomore, (left to right) pose after a competition before quarantine. Competing for the past eight years, Klein has found the hobby a fun way to show her talents. “Gymnastics is such a fun sport for me and I love just having fun with my teammates and showing people what I can do and also getting judged and competing against other gymnasts from different places,” Klein said. With COVID-19 precautions still very strong, this won’t stop her from continuing her passion. Madison Klein/With Permission

“I competed for one season and I enjoyed it because of the adrenaline rush and seeing my teammates compete as well,” Kailasam explained.

“Our competition season is usually from January through March and as of now, competitions are still happening. However, I am not sure if they will be canceled if COVID gets worse.”

Madison Klein, freshman, has also been experiencing the same struggles as Norton and Kailasam at Monarchs, especially the lack of social interactions with her teammates. “We were so close with each other and it’s really hard to not go and give someone a high five or a hug after they just did a skill… it’s so fun just getting to congratulate your teammates when they’ve achieved something,” Klein said.

From being separated for so long, the gymnasts find it hard to not be able to catch up like before.

“Our team is physically separated due to social distancing, so team bonding is a little bit less,” Kailasam said.

Through every struggle, members of the team have found a way to adjust to their hardships. “I’ve met some really, really cool people throughout my years of competing and just really hope that we’ll still be able to kind of interact with other gyms, but I don’t really think that it’s going to be a possibility, but I can hope,” Norton said. With the only option to hope, the girls hope to be able to get back to a semi-normal competitive season as January comes by.

Athletes sign off for college

Hayden Meixner Staff Writer

For many high school athletes, years of hard work and dedication lead up to one thing: being committed to play their sport in college. For these students, it was never a question of if they were going to play a sport in college, it was always where. Some of these talented athletes attend NPHS and have decided to take the next step in their athletic career by committing to a college.

Daniella Guyette, junior, has been playing lacrosse for six years. “I truly love how competitive everyone is and how I’m able to test myself constantly against the best players,” Guyette said.

Guyette has made the decision to bring her passion for lacrosse with her to college at Syracuse University after she graduates in 2022. Guyette decided she wanted to attend the university for its forensics major and prestigious lacrosse program. Continuing practice and improving on skills has definitely been a challenge for athletes of all sports due to the closure of gym facilities. “The hardest thing right now is not being able to practice as much as well as not being able to go to the tournaments to help my other teammates get recruited,” Guyette said.

Cade Vitto is a senior who made the decision to attend Colorado Mesa University while continuing his lacrosse career. “I wanted to go because it has a really good program for the two majors I am deciding between...I am a big outdoors guy and the surrounding area of CMU has a ton to offer,” Vitto said. Vitto’s favorite part of the game is its fast tempo and getting to play with his friends. The hardest part for Vitto was not being able to play lacrosse at school, although he is still holding out hope for a season this year. “I am really hoping we still get a high school season especially since it is my senior year. High school games have been my favorite experience in lacrosse,” Vitto said.

When Ruby Cota, senior, realized she could not live without playing softball, she committed to Adams State University in Colorado. She chose this university because of her love of the Colorado weather and its kinesiology. For Cota, the hardest part about being an athlete during COVID-19 is not being able to practice as much. “Any athlete, committed or not, would miss practices and games if they got taken away for a long period of time,” Cota said. Her advice to younger athletes interested in playing in college is to never give up. “It’s never too late to start the process. It’s never too late to put in the hard work. It’s never too late to change your future,” Cota said.

Don’t cross me- Cade Vitto, senior, plays at the NPHS field. Vitto has been playing lacrosse since 5th grade and is committed to attend Colorado Mesa University in the fall next year. Cade Vitto/With Permission

sports

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Boys tennis swings back into the courts Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Allison Nguyen Staff Writer

Smash Parker Lee, senior, has been a part of the NPHS boys tennis team for the past four years. With this Smashbeing his final year playing for the school, there have been many changes from his previous seasons. “We’re practicing a lot like normal just using precautions like staying away from each other during warm ups and only touching certain balls,” Lee said. Parker Lee/With Permission

With last year’s season getting cut off short due to the pandemic, the NPHS boys tennis team is finally back onto the courts. Members of the team have found this new routine a different adjustment from past years and are adapting to the small changes in training.

Raghav Rapaka, sophomore, has been playing tennis for the past three years and has recently returned to the NPHS courts to start his second offseason practice. “You can’t touch anybody and you have to bring your own balls to practices. We get our temperatures checked a few times and then you have to work,” Rapaka said. “Tennis is a sport where you play on the complete opposite side of the court so it hasn’t really affected [me personally] much.”

Richard Kick, coach of seven years for the boys tennis team, has found this season very different from last year. “Last year we had no protocols to keep the players distance. When doubles players would celebrate a point they would high five each other. There was much more interaction. When they were doing drills they were much closer together. And so we could actually put more players on a court,” Kick said.

Even with limits, this won’t stop the team from working their way through it. “We are now sharing the courts with the girls team... so that definitely limits us, but tennis is usually

a sport where people do a lot of out of team training, and that again helped us to have them be able to work independently of the team...

They’re usually very well prepared,” Kick said.

Aside from practices inside the school courts, many players have taken the opportunity to condition at their own pace to rebuild their skills for the new season.

Parker Lee, senior, has been training since the offseason began. “[I’m] just conditioning a lot by myself, making myself faster, stronger, and playing a little bit when I could once the courts open,” Lee said.

Though the boys tennis team has been spending their time adjusting these past few weeks, the social aspects of the sport is what many team members miss the most.“If we’re not able to have a season, I miss being with the team and practicing with everyone and seeing everyone every day,” Lee said.

Even with so many obstacles, the team is still hopeful for a successful season. “Once we can ensure that [safety], the level of competition this year I think is going to be incredibly high. Back in 2018, we won the conference championship for the first time in 47 years and I think we have that level of talent and dedication and improvement to allow us to start challenging for another conference title,” Kick said.

Dance team pirouettes into in-person practices Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Graphic Artist Due to the pandemic, NPHS dance team has had to make many adjustments to how they practice and interact, including starting the year off holding practices over Zoom. This created challenges ranging from coordinating movement to creating bonds with teammates.

Being on the dance team for her first year, Jordan Jaglowski, freshman, said that she was having a particularly hard time dancing over Zoom. “Training over Zoom, it was kind of hard to learn a dance because I didn’t know which leg they were using or which direction [to go],” Jaglowski said.

Another significant problem over the computer was not being able to interact with the rest of the team and build strong bonds.

Sophia Di Stefano, sophomore, is also on the team for the first time. “Our team members, we weren’t as close together, like we didn’t know each other that well because we didn’t have time to really like dance together and exchange that type of energy and really talking and getting to know each other,” Di Stefano said.

Now, further into the year, the team is allowed to hold practices on campus. Taking place outside of the gym, they social distance and wear masks. However, this situation has

provided its own set of problems. “In person it’s very difficult to breathe, especially when you have a cloth mask on. So you get out of breath easily,” Di Stefano said. “But you’re able to connect better with the team, and obviously learn to dance a little bit better.”

Despite these obstacles, students on the dance team are grateful for the chance to make connections and dance together. Brielle Anderson, freshman, appreciates going back on campus because it gives her a chance to meet new people while doing something she enjoys.

Since it is Anderson’s first year at NPHS, she was really excited to interact with some of her peers. “It’s been really cool, just going to dance practice and being able to meet new people, because you are starting off at a new school,” Anderson said.

Through the COVID crisis, the NPHS dance team has found ways to keep dancing while staying healthy and safe. In spite of challenges they have faced with these alternative practices, they have pulled through and stayed optimistic. “I love it, like it’s such a good opportunity to meet new people and everyone on the dance team is so nice and welcoming,” Jaglowski said.

Mixing it upup NPHS dance team members start practicing on school grounds again after months of waiting.

Sophia Di Stefano, sophomore, has joined the team for the first time this year, even with the challenges of not being able to know the team as well. “This time [practice] is creating less of a bond because we need to stay away from each other more. We’re not able to hug or shake hands or anything like that. We kind of have to stay away, and just get to know each other from a distance,” Di Stefano said. Makena Messing/ Pawprint

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holiday diversity Panther Prowler • Dec. 4, 2020

Diverse holidays

pop into season

Anna Johnson Entertainment Editor Apala Bhunia/With Permission

November and December is the time of holiday season. These holidays are celebrated by a diverse group of people at NPHS, belonging to several different cultures and religions. Three major holidays during this time are Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas; although celebrated for separate reasons, each holiday involves celebrating with family and friends, reflecting on the past and hoping for a better future.

Diwali Diwali is an Indian holiday celebrated by different religions. The holiday marks the return of the gods Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile, and for the day the goddess Durga destroyed a demon called Mahisha. This year it fell on Nov. 14.

According to Ojal Hamwat, freshman, Diwali is an important day to honor the past. “It’s important to our culture as we worship the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, so they can wish for a better financial year, and for some people it’s just to remember what has happened in the past for their family,” Hamwat said.

Hamwat and her family celebrate with lights and candles. “Usually, every year we put up lights all around our house, and every night we do a prayer to our god and we take little candles and set them around everywhere. On the third day we decorate the outside of our houses with color dust,” Hamwat said.

Hanukkah

Jessica Shwartz/With Permission

Hanukkah is an important holiday for those who are Jewish, celebrating the miracle of light that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem wherein people of the Jewish faith were able to last their light in their temple for eight days instead of one. This was significant for their culture, as the Greeks, who were in control of their land, had outlawed all Jewish worship, but their temple was able to outlast expectations. This year, Hanukkah is Dec. 10 - Dec. 18.

Ariela Behar, freshman, believes that “Hanukkah… really just means just thinking about our past and really just celebrating the lights and a miracle that happened on that day… My family and I are not super duper religious, but we get together most of the years, but this year will be different. We will make latkes, which is a food for the holiday, and will play dreidel and will get presents for each other and just think about the holiday and celebrate,” Behar said.

Christmas Christmas falls on Dec. 25, an important holiday for Christians. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who the Christians believe to be the son of God and the Lord and savior of men.

Eudia Ng, freshman, celebrates by rekindling her faith. “Usually we get together and there will be four candles leading up to Christmas Eve or Christmas day where we light one each week on that Sunday in a sort of countdown, so we usually have a sort of sermon or a little lesson where we go through the birth again,” Ng said.

Ng believes that giving back is the most important part of the holiday, working with her church to help out those in need. “On Christmas Eve, our church will go somewhere to go caroling like people’s houses. In recent years, we’ve gone to Mary House of the Sick to carol for them and usually bring some gifts or presents because a lot of the elderly people there don’t have anyone to celebrate with them for Christmas. It is nice to spend time with them on Christmas Eve,” Ng said.

Eudia Ng/With Permission