VC Honor Band

Panthers play in Ventura County Honor Band

Aditya Vunnum

Editor-in-Chief

On Sunday, Feb. 9, 10 students from NPHS performed in the annual Ventura County Honor Band Concert (VCHB) along with musicians from 14 other schools in the county. Th e concert took place in the Ventura High School auditorium, featuring performances at the middle and high school level.

“It is a band comprised of the best musicians in Ventura County,” Shelbi Sullaway, senior and three year participant said. “Its purpose is to give middle and high school students the opportunity to play in a more advanced ensemble than their school might provide.”

Musicians were selected aft er auditioning in front of a panel of live judges with music that they had been practicing for a couple months beforehand. Steven Choi, senior and four year member, remembers the hard work that he had put

Spotlight- Under the stage lights in the Ventura High School auditorium, Steven Choi, senior, focuses on his music as the high school Ventura County Honor Band (VCHB) plays their third song of the afternoon. Choi, along with nine other NPHS students, participated in the VCHB, a selective group featuring students from around Ventura County. After their concert on Feb. 9, Choi, a 4-year participant, refl ected on his favorite part and what he has gained from the experience. “My favorite part is how I can play with other great musicians and we all create amazing music together. Also I’ve made so many friends there and the experiences we shared together were invaluable,” Choi said. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

into his auditions, but was happy for the experience.

“It’s made me become a much greater musician and person because preparing for that audition really takes a lot of time and commitment and it’s something you need to spend months on to get in,” Choi said.

Aft er being admitted to the band in January, the students attended weekly rehearsals, which for many off ered a more challenging environment to grow in their musicality. Sullaway said that “it has helped me become better at the clarinet and the audition alone takes a lot of practice and taught me the value of hard work.”

Emiily Augustine

Front Cover Editor

Anne Alvarez, Special Education teacher at Newbury Park High School, was awarded the Students with Exceptional Needs Human Rights Award by the California Teachers Association (CTA) for her work with special needs students. She will receive the award at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine on Feb. 29.

“40 years to teach is really a long time, and (Alvarez) is totally eligible to retire if she wants to but she doesn’t want to. Th at’s a real testament to the type of human being she is. You know, she still has more to give,” Lucia Lemieux, English teacher and colleague of Alvarez said. As a recipient of the CTA Human Rights Award for LGBTQ+ Advocacy in 2018, Lemieux decided to nominate Alvarez for the award best fi tting for her service to special needs students.

According to the CTA, this award is given to a “CTA member whose activities have helped to achieve signifi cant progress on behalf of equal opportunity for physically and/or mentally challenged students.” As one of the nine categories for individual awards, it serves to recognize educators who dedicate time and eff ort into promoting equal opportunity for groups who are typically oppressed.

“Th e day aft er Special Olympics, I am glowing because it is such a fantastic thing to see the interaction between non handicapped kids and handicapped kids,” Alvarez said. As the advisor of National Honor Society, a service club of high academic achievers, she works with the club to put together events for special needs students such as the VIP dance, Special Olympics and Unifi ed Sports.

Another qualifi cation for the award is “promoting equal educational opportunities for disabled students,” which Alvarez has displayed not only through the integration of non handicapped students in events for Special Education students, but also through her work with Cameo Carolan, the NPHS dance teacher. Th ey collaborated to make an opening dance performance for Special Olympics that included special needs students.

“(Carolan and I) worked together with my (special needs) kids, and (Carolan) fi nally said, I realize you don’t have to be perfect for it to be perfect,” Alvarez said, “She understood that to share it was the most important thing, not that it was done absolutely correct, and I’m getting more and more teachers to understand that.” NPHS has a Special Education cheer squad known as the Sparkles which performs at school rallies and some sports games.

Alvarez receives award for work with Special Education

“VCHB is diff erent because it’s at a higher level than your typical high school band,” Choi said. “We play music that’s fun and more challenging, and we get to learn from guest conductors who are experts in music and are well known for their musical expertise.”

Day of Play - Left to right: Jenny Finger, Sammi Stewart, Micheal Contreras, Lora Harney, Anne Alvarez, Rich Bradley, and Samantha Goldman; “I feel like what I have done is worth it, you know? I’ve accomplished something, and I made it better for the (students) as well, and I shine,” Alvarez said. Alvarez knew she got her award when the California Teacher Association gave her a call and told her. Sammi Stewart/With Permission

“Every single day, I learn from my students. Th ey do something that makes me happy or they teach me how to be a better teacher. If I can’t help them learn something one way, I try another way,” Alvarez said. Before coming to NPHS twelve years ago, Alvarez worked with special needs children at Camarillo State Hospital, Redwood Middle School, and Oxnard.

Th e day Alvarez will offi cially receive her award for her signifi cance in NPHS’s Special Education program is also her birthday. As she recalls the experiences she has had at this school, she concluded, “I feel that Newbury Park does a really good job of not just tolerance or acceptance, but inclusion.”