news Panther Prowler • Dec. 6, 2019
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Bobcats celebrate patriotism
Sarena Kabir News Editor
On Nov. 22, Banyan Elementary hosted a Patriotic Day Assembly to honor the veterans who have served our community and schools that reside in Newbury Park. Instead of it being the adults and staff at Banyan holding the assembly, a group of students took charge. Allison Kennedy, the Banyan Principal, believed that with the kids in charge, it made more of an impact. “I think it’s more meaningful for kids when they have to think about what they want to say and what it means to them and come up with concepts of what to do. It’s really more powerful this year because of that,” Kennedy said. The main goal of the assembly was to show gratitude towards the veterans. “We intended on honoring the guests by giving flowers and flags. We intended to show our patriotism by singing patriotic songs and we had a lot of decorations hanging up around the school showing our patriotism and our gratitude,” Kennedy said. Since the theme of the assembly is “We are Thankful,” Kennedy believes that, “it really helps kids heal from all the tragedies that have happened in the past year,” she said. “I think it means a lot to our community that [...] we’re able to
come back together and honor all these people that helped us.” In Kennedy’s opening speech to the assembly, she said, “We have watched out beloved mount boney burn not once, but twice over the past year yet even though our school is less than a mile away, not one of us lost our homes and our beloved school was always safe. You make it possible for the rest of us to sleep at night because you keep us safe.” Bill Gorback, the clerk of the CVUSD Board, attended the We are Thankful Assembly. He recognized Kennedy’s opening speech. “I think Mrs. Kennedy did a great job explaining how close the fires were to this school, and yet no one lost anybody because of the people who were sitting up here; it was the school giving thanks to the community,” Gorback said. Gorback believes that at first, kids can often initially be scared of the police uniform but here they “get to see that these people are human, they’re not only just police men and women, they are also a human being. They don’t have to see them just as an officer. They can see them as a person who has an office,” Gorback said. Lauren Bisenius, a 4th grader at Banyan who the Prowler received
Wave- Banyan students gather around the stage, waving their flags up in the air while the school’s choir sings patriotics songs. In honor of the veterans, a group of students organized the event and passed out roses to them. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler
parent permission to interview, was one of the students who held the assembly. “I wanted to motivate them to have fun, to feel proud to be an American, and to feel thankful for the heroes in our Banyan community,” Bisenius said.
Being one of the organizers of the assembly, Bisenius had several jobs. “I introduced the Banyans who sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA.” Later, I helped distribute roses and flags to the kids so they could give them to their
special guests,” Bisenius said. “I enjoyed working with the other students and teachers for this assembly. It was fun preparing and working with Mrs. Kennedy,” Biensius said.
NPBA season set to begin Aditya Vunnum Editor-in-Chief The Newbury Park Basketball Association, or NPBA, is set to have its first games of the season on Saturday, Dec. 7, and many NPHS students will be participating. NPBA is a recreational basketball league in which high school students can both play and coach with their friends and classmates. The league provides a stress-free way to play without the intensity of more competitive organizations. Prior to the beginning of the season, players participated in five on five games with random teams to act as tryouts. Coaches watched them play and took notes on their strengths and weaknesses before ranking them for draft picks. Zeyad Khokhar, junior, switched from playing high school basketball to NPBA this season. “I am looking forward to playing with and against my friends during this season. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Khokhar Flick- Vivek Kanchi, senior, works on his free throws at his first practice. From the flick of the wrist to the chiseled jaw- said. line, everything about his form is textbook, comparable to even Michael Jordan. “I wrecked my knee a couple times so Games for the league are all hosted now I just stand back and shoot because I can’t take the contact,” Kanchi said. If his injured joints allow it, Kanchi would throughout Newbury Park on Saturdays, love to continue playing in rec leagues like NPBA when he is older as well. Rahul D’Souza/Prowler making it easier for high school students to
participate as it does not conflict with busy school schedules. Vivek Kanchi, senior, decided to play in the league because he enjoyed competing against his friends and felt it was a fun way to stay active. “Other people should join because it is a fun and relaxed way to play the game and it’s not a huge time commitment,” Kanchi said. Hayden Smith, senior, is currently playing high school basketball but has decided to coach NPBA to spend more time with his friends and be more involved with the sport. “I think it’s a really good opportunity to pass on some knowledge to the youngsters that don’t know as much as I do,” Smith said. In February, every team will compete in the playoffs for a chance at winning the league. Playoffs will be double elimination, and teams with a better record during season will start higher up in the bracket. “I can’t wait to win the championship led by the best shooter in the league, Tyson Lundring, the best looking man in the league, Soren Brown, and the man who Bronny fears, Robby Keister,” Smith said.
