news Panther Prowler • Sept. 20, 2019
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New administrators join the NPHS staff Abby Gorman Staff Writer As the 2019-2020 school year begins, Newbury Park High School has welcomed three new members to the administration: Phalba Thomas, Christine Caprino and Kristina Konish. Thomas, who has joined the NPHS staff on multiple occasions as a long-term substitute, is returning this school year as the Assistant Principal of Activities during Carly Adams’ maternity leave. Thomas has previously worked at several of the local schools as a substitute for administrative positions including Westlake, Thousand Oaks High School, Camarillo High School, Oak Park Middle School and Somis Elementary School. As an assistant principal, Thomas’ primary responsibilities are to aid in the organization of events including homecoming, rallies and clubs, as well as the discipline for the upperclassmen students. “I like very much being back at Newbury Park High School. I think that [NPHS] has a great staff, and the students who attend NPHS are just super kids,” Thomas said. Caprino is making her return from the district office to Newbury Park High School serving as a new position created for the 2019-2020 school year. As Assistant Principal of Student Support Services, Caprino’s role is to focus on aiding the freshmen as well as assisting in the Special Education and English Language Learners (ELL) programs. Although she enjoyed her position as a Special Education coordinator at the district office, “I’m really happy to be back at a site because I love working with students. Last year, at the district office, I didn’t get to see students much.” Caprino has worked as the resident psychologist in prior years here at Newbury Park. Another addition to the staff this year is Konish, serving as the Assistant Principal of Instruction. Some of Konish’s main responsibilities as part of the NPHS administration include the organization of the scheduling of state testing, supporting the classrooms and teachers and aiding in the creation of any new elective courses. Prior to her current administrative position, Konish was a member of the administration at Sycamore Canyon Elementary and Middle School and Westlake High School, as well as a biology teacher here at Newbury Park High School. “I’ve loved seeing all of my Sycamore Canyon coyotes in High School now. That’s probably the most fun part for me, being out at nutrition and lunch and seeing all the kids that I saw go through Sycamore.”
Steve Johnson/ With Permission Unity above all - This school year, the NPHS faculty is focused on unifying the faculty with a warm and exciting welcome to the new staff members. “The administrators, the staff. NPHS has a great group of students and staff, everybody is very friendly,” Caprino said.
Seniors start the year with a sunrise Emily Augustine Cover Editor On Sept. 6 from 5:00 a.m. to 6:40 a.m., the senior class of 2020 gathered at the bleachers of the football field to watch the sunrise together. This is the first time NPHS has ever had a senior sunrise. The event was coordinated by the senior class board, AJ DeVos, Emily Nagamoto, Kyle Wonders and Nikki Usares. As president, DeVos took the lead in coordinating the event and making sure everything ran smoothly.“A lot of work went into preparing for senior sunrise because it was the first event of the year” DeVos said. “It was an amazing turnout. I think everyone had a lot of fun. The performers were all great, and the sunrise was beautiful.” For the last performance of the event, Evan Metcalf, senior, sang “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles while Ryan Younes, senior, played electric guitar.
“I usually don’t want to show my voice to people because I’m shy, and then (Younes) just went into the center and wrote my name down without my permission and here I am,” Metcalf said. “Regarding all the singers, like Liv (Udall) and Evan Metcalf and Ryan Younes, I thought they were very good,” Jackson Rice, senior and attendee of the event said, “I found a lot of my friends and...I really liked how they gave free food and drinks out.” With coffee and donuts in hand, the class of 2020 watched the sun emerge from the horizon. “I think this was just a really great way to start off senior year,” DeVos said.
Emily Nagamoto / Prowler
Emily Nagamoto / Prowler
Here comes the sun - Maya Amor and Sam Anerson, a senior couple, begin their last year of high school by watching the sun rise together.
All smiles for sunrise - Sofia Lewis, Minda Severtson, and Maya Galipeau, seniors, pose in front of the very fitrst Newbury Park High School senior sunrise banner.
