2018-2019 Issue 5 (Jan. 22, 2019) by NPHS Panther Prowler

PANTHER

PROWLER Tuesday Jan. 22, 2019 • Issue VI • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

2 7

Intersectionality

Stanning Senators

8-9

Panther Preview Night

Education Gap

Outdoor School

World Languages

The 1975

District Maps

Boys’ Basketball

editorial Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Take intersectionality seriously Violence against women of color is omnipresent. We listen to it, we read about it, we watch it happen and yet it still seems to be treated like white noise in the background of “bigger” issues. Why has the conversation of the AfricanAmerican girls missing from Washington D.C. since 2017 stopped? Did you know these abductions existed? Why do we not discuss the disproportionate rates of police brutality against women of color? The feminist movement brands itself as “intersectional” yet many in the community have remained mute to aggression and force towards women of color. Until we address the brutal hybrid of sexism and racism in America, the feminist movement will continue to inherently regress. The documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” aired on Jan. 3 on Lifetime Network. The series brought an uproar of a multitude of emotions for viewers -- anger, confusion, anxiety -- and some were able to vehemently express their convictions and adversities watching the series. These women faced physical and mental abuse at the hands of R&B musician R. Kelly; for decades, he has abused predominantly African-American girls at young ages. The issue wasn’t spreading awareness about these atrocities, but rather it was about getting people to care beyond a simple retweet. These women have spoken out prior to the series being created, but the conversation wasn’t expansive enough to lead to hopeful action. As a musician, R. Kelly was idolized as a musical prodigy who paved the way for R&B’s place in mainstream media. “Ignition (Remix)” is one of the most iconic songs that defined the 2000s era. Music can be so overwhelming at times that we tend to forget to think about its contextual implications. We must separate the artist from their music. The victims of R. Kelly’s abuse must supercede the public’s love for “I Believe I Can Fly” or “I Wish,” no matter how catchy the song. A large portion of those who claim to be feminists remained silent on the conversation. The women in the “Surviving R. Kelly” series should receive the same support white women received amidst the Harvey Weinstein allegations. Race identity politics must be united with feminist activism. If you are a feminist, then your empowerment must transcend your socioeconomic

Emily Augustine/Prowler

status, race and country. “Intersectionality” is not just an adjective you add to your tweets to sound politically correct. All activists must be comfortable and ready to recognize, support and stand up to one another’s oppressions. Living in Conejo Valley, a predominantly white community, we cannot look the other way. Neglecting the oppressions of people of color or the injustices faced in different communities makes Conejo Valley complicit in the problem. It’s important we elevate the voices of people of color in our community. Representation in schools, committees and local politics is vital to the development of identity. When people are represented they feel valued. It’s our job to raise awareness about issues that aren’t directly related to our own lives and cultures. Show them they matter. Front Cover Caption:

Help- Last year’s CAASP tests scores reveal an education gap between different student demographic groups on campus. Specialized programs are in works to support the lower scoring groups. Emily Nagamoto/Staff Writer

PANTHER PROWLER

2018-2019 staff

Editors-in-Chief Connor Keep Clare Wang

Entertainment Editor Daria Azizad Copy Editors Emily Augustine Kessa Chavez Marli Davis Kavita Rai Nidhi Satyagal Cover Editor Rahul D’Souza

Features Editor Kavita Rai

DPS Editor Kessa Chavez

Sports Editor Emily Nagamoto Jaycen Sussman Aditya Vunnum

Online Manager// Daria Azizad Maya Chari Kessa Chavez Rahul D’Souza Emily Nagamoto

Opinion Editor Nidhi Satyagal News Editor Emily Augustine Marli Davis Ad Manager Gianna Spiro

Staff Writers Brian Fang Hannah Gross Manas Khatore Hailey Washington Jessica Zhou

Graphic Artist Emily Augustine Marli Davis Gianna Spiro

Photographers Chief// Emily Nagamoto Maya Chari Rahul D’Souza Sarah Lu Clarissa Shin Aditya Vunnum Jessica Zhou Adviser Michelle Saremi

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed. The Panther Prowler is published every four weeks throughout the school year by American Foothill Publishing Co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org. The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below. Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

3 Future Panthers on the prowl news

Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Jessica Zhou Photographer Hannah Gross Staff Writer The rain poured down on the campus as the students and families streamed into NPHS on Panther Preview Night, an opportunity for those interested in NPHS to find more information about the school facilities and programs. “In the past we have called it School Choice Night and did about a 45 minute presentation in the PAC for families that wanted a school choice. This year, we wanted to do a big information night for all of our families that are interested in finding all about the great things taking place in NPHS,” Stephen Lepire, principal, said. The night started off at 4:45 p.m. with a BBQ dinner provided by Cronies and school tours given by teacher and student volunteers. Then the families were gathered in the gym to hear a welcoming speech given by Lepire. At 6:15, families went to breakout sessions. These sessions covered a variety of topics, including information about academic programs, sports and school choice, a process students interested in NPHS must complete if they live in a different area, such as Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, or Westlake. More specifically, students and their families learned more about programs such as International Baccalaureate and DATA. Lepire and Carly Adams, assistant principal of activities, organized the event with the help from department chairs and program leaders. Teachers and staff did presentations on the area they supervise over. Program leaders such as John Sargent, choir director, organized performances to show off some student talent. Student volunteers such as ASG and student ambassadors also helped out with the event. Sarah Wang, junior and NPHS ambassador, helped familiarize families with the school. “I directed people to the classrooms they were trying to find and answered questions about daily school life, class sizes, and classes offered,” Wang said. The event offered several presentations on these classes and programs. Christy Hodson, English department chair, went over the English program and the different levels of classes, including CP and IB, available to students. Hodson also touched on related programs such as digital video production and broadcasting, creative writing and journalism, which Michelle Saremi, journalism adviser, went over specifically in the journalism lab. In addition to coordinating the choir performance, Sargent also provided information on the choral program to prospective students. Sargent discussed the benefits of participating in choir, including a rigorous program and a competitive edge in the college application process. Nick Guerin, chair of the career technical education department, offered information on pathways future students can take and the Majors program. Guerin discussed the DATA program and career specific courses such as woodshop. Such programs provide an opportunity for students to learn more about fields they are interested in. In another presentation, students and their families had

the chance to learn about the language programs available to students from Seth Geher, Spanish teacher and chair of the world languages department. Languages offered include American Sign Language, French, Spanish and Chinese. Various levels are available within these programs, such as IB and CP courses. Furthermore, families were able to learn more about the NPHS athletic department. Michael Godfrey, assistant principal and athletic supervisor, gave an overview of the NPHS athletic department in the gym, showing a list of the different seasonal sports teams on campus and explaining the tryouts process and student athlete requirements. He also mentioned the new athletic facilities such as a new swimming pool that was finished in 2018 and the new softball field complex and sand volleyball courts which will be revealed in 2019. Jorge Soto, department chair of mathematics, went over the math courses that are provided at NPHS. There is a CP pathway and an honors pathway. Soto recommended two math courses that he thinks every student should take: financial algebra and

statistics. NPHS also provides Algebra 1 Honors for students who haven’t yet taken the course in eighth grade. Students were also able to learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Debbie Dogancay, IB coordinator, first gave an introduction about the goals and mission statement of the IB program. IB helps prepare students to be independent thinkers and life-long learners. The program focuses on critical thinking and teaches many useful skills such as research and writing. NPHS has been an IB World School for over 20 years. Currently one-third of the NP teachers are IB trained and 400 juniors and seniors are taking one or more IB classes. The best way to prepare for the IB program in junior and senior year are the honors classes. However, college-prep based students can also take advantage of the IB program. Overall, Panther Preview Night helped introduce students to the opportunities at NP. “NP is an awesome school where the teachers and staff are very supportive. There are many classes you can take and so many clubs to get involved in,” Wang said, “It’s a great high school that helps you grow as a person.”

Becoming a Panther- Students and families gathered into room E1 to listen to Ms. Dogancay’s presentation on the IB program. On Panther Preview Night, students and their families interested in coming to NPHS got an opportunity to tour the school and hear about the different departments and programs of NPHS. Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Panthers experience a power outage Emily Augustine News Editor Newbury Park’s power outage on Jan. 11 caused first and second period teachers at the high school to alter their agenda. The first power outage started between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and lasted roughly ten minutes before the power came back on. Despite this, the internet still was not functioning and the school clocks were blank. This sudden surge of power was short lived, however, because another power outage occurred just minutes after the power came back on. Electricity within the school ceased to work until

9:32 a.m., within the last 20 minutes of second period. “With the power outage we could not make a PA announcement, (and) we couldn’t send an email because teachers might not have been able to access it,” Kelly Welch, assistant principal, said, “Administrators and campus supervisors were trying to go door to door and talk to teachers, and let them know what the plan was.” The principal kept in touch with the power company until the school’s electricity issue was resolved. The cause of the power outage is yet to be released.

Emily Augustine/Prowler

news Panther Prowler •Jan. 22, 2019

Coder wins Congressional App Challenge Emily Nagamoto Chief Photographer In the 26th Congressional district in California, there are almost 41,500 students enrolled in high school, and an estimated 30,000 students in middle school, according to the United States Census Bureau. Out of the total 71,500 students eligible, only one can win the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), and for the 2018 competition, it was Nathan Juan, junior. The CAC is a national event, created by congressional resolution, that encourages student involvement in computer science. In participating congressional districts, students can submit an app of their own creation to be judged by a panel. After the Academic Competition Resolution of 2013 was passed, the first competition was held in 2015. Congresswomen and men can sponsor a competition for their district. “The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. By encouraging and recognizing our nation’s young programming talent, we hope to shine a light on the growing importance of these skills,” Julia Brownley, House Representative for the 26th district

of California, said. Juan, who has been coding since seventh grade, saw the Challenge as a way for him to keep “applying (his) knowledge in computer science.” The app asks participants to look around and see how an app could help their lives and their communities. Juan was inspired by his experiences taking statistics in tennis. “My coach made me take stats with pencil and paper and that was pretty tedious. So, I was like why don’t I build an app to do that,” Juan said. Juan created FaStats, an app that helps youth sports teams take and keep track of statistics. “Our panel of judges were very impressed with Nathan’s creativity and skills,” Brownley said. Students must create the app independently or in teams on two, Richard Kick, Advanced Placement Computer Science teacher, believes the challenge is “very good, motivationally (and) good educationally.” “I think it tends to inspire people to do, like all things in education, beyond what they’d otherwise do if they weren’t a part of it,” Kick said. “When the app challenge comes up, I’m sure Nathan worked

on things he otherwise wouldn’t have thought about, or wouldn’t have worked on had he not gotten that challenge.” Kick believes that computer science is important for all students to learn, saying that learning computer science gives “so many options, not just to become a computer scientist, but become to become better at your job.” Although initially it was Juan’s parents that got him involved in computer science, Juan keeps coding because he believes that it is “a pretty cool field; it’s up and coming.” “It’s really cool because you kind of just tell the computer what to do and it does it for you, but you still have that level of control,” Juan said. Juan’s app will be displayed in the US Capitol building and featured on the House of Representatives website. In addition, he will receive $250 in Amazon Web Services credit for additional computer science applications. The app challenge is open to everyone. Brownley says that “no coding experience is needed to participate in this challenge. This is fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about computer programming and apply it to the real world by creating an app that helps their community.”

Coding Skills-Nathan Skills-Nathan Juan, junior, poses with his phone after winning the Congressional App Challenge. For anyone considering coding, Juan encourages everyone regardless of skill level to try it, saying, “Try it. You’ll like it.” Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

TO Strong 5K unites the community Gianna Spiro Staff Writer

Over the last year, the Ventura County dealt with many tragic losses that rocked the community. After the devastating events, many people in the community came together and often used the slogan “805 Strong.” One event that brought the Thousand Oaks residents together was The 805 Strong 5K. The event raised over $80,000 for the Ventura County Community Foundation, supporting those affected by both the fires and the shooting. With Thousand Oaks being such a tight-knit community, everyone was affected by the Borderline tragedy. “I felt like we didn’t have a chance to wrap our heads around this senseless act or begin to truly mourn because the fires started just hours later and many of us had to go into “fight or flight” mode,” Leanne Tapper (41), local community member, said. “My family and I had to evacuate from the fires. But the possibility of losing stuff, didn’t sound so daunting when so many were learning that they lost their loved ones.” “I wanted to be a part of some community event, when we would have the opportunity to come together with heavy hearts and do something positive for those affected. When I saw the Facebook post about the 805 Strong 5K event I jumped at the chance to sign up,” Tapper said. Many community members felt a similar way to Tapper, like Kim Antar (43), local community member, who also attended. “The turnout was great. The streets were very crowded. Many of the participants were families with young

children, I’m not sure of the exact number but I believe a little over 1500 people showed up,” Antar said. Several students also attended, Jace Aschbrenner, junior, finished first in the race. Aschbrenner was an integral part of the Newbury Park cross country state winning team, so he wanted to further his season with the 5k. “I love running, I’ve been doing it since 7th grade when I started cross country for Newbury Park Track Club,” Aschbrenner said. “I did the TO Strong 5K because after heard about it through my mom, I thought it was a great idea. It was really a fun experience to support the community and help bring us back out from probably one of the darkest hours in this community,” Aschbrenner said.

Community healing- After the Borderline tragedy many community members came together and began using the slogan “805 Strong”. “I think the 5K would be a great event to hold annually in memory of the Borderline 12, it’s important to keep their memory alive,” Kim Antar (43), community member, said. Christy Healy/With Permission

news Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Outdoor School has a new home Manas Khatore Staff Writer Outdoor School has been a tradition in CVUSD for over 30 years. However, the program has faced unprecedented difficulties due to the Woolsey Fire, which destroyed the site of Camp Bloomfield on Nov. 9, 2018. Luis Lichtl, assistant superintendent of instruction, stated that Outdoor School has always been a cherished program for CVUSD sixth graders. “We have a very high percentage of students, nearly 90%, that participate annually in our Outdoor School Program,” Lichtl said. This is partly attributed to Camp Bloomfield, which served as its site for years. Students would stay at the camp for around three days, participating in an assortment of educational activities outside of the classroom. “(Camp Bloomfield) provided a quality experience for our students… including the opportunity to hike to the beach and learn oceanography through observation and inquiry,” Lichtl said. Stephen Sipes, Outdoor School coordinator, has been heavily involved in the preparations this year, especially after the Woolsey Fire. He was not sure if Outdoor School would happen this year, and as a result, had to cancel much of the progress he made. “I had 75 percent of

Scorched- Camp Bloomfield was destroyed by the Woolsey Fire on Nov. 9, 2018. The site had served CVUSD Outdoor School for over 30 years. “We knew that area so well, and we had all our programs oriented towards that area,” Stephen Sipes said. CVUSD/With Permission

my staff hired when the fires hit and I had to let them go,” Sipes said. After news of Camp Bloomfield’s destruction, Sipes’ first step was to find a new campsite. He contacted about 30 camps in Southern California and even considered holding another program for participating students. “We had in the works a series of three-day field trips,” Sipes said, at sites such as Lake Castaic and the Malibu Lagoon. On Jan. 16, a verdict was reached: Outdoor School will take place at Ojai’s Camp Ramah this year. Sipes believes that certain aspects of Camp Ramah, such as easily accessible bathrooms and showers, make it suitable to hold the program. “Camp Ramah is a step up from Camp Bloomfield. It’s really nice and they have a lot of different activities that you can do there,” Sipes said. During this process, community members have been supportive of the district. “Parents are eager to provide students with the experience that is synonymous with our district while understanding that the fires... have created our dilemma and difficulty,” Lichtl said. Further updates on Camp Ramah and the Outdoor School schedule can be found on the CVUSD Outdoor School page.

CVUSD releases map blueprints Gianna Spiro Ad Manager The Conejo Valley Unified School District is transitioning to a to a By-Trustee area election system which will take affect in the 2020 general election. The transition is because of CVUSD receiving a demand letter on June 8, 2018 claiming that the District’s current method of electing the Board of Education members through at-large elections violates the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). The intent of this new proposed system is to offer greater opportunities for people who are

underrepresented to vote. There are three scenarios/drafts created by the District’s demographer and legal counsel that separate the trustees into five areas. Under the By-Trustee system, candidates for the Board of Education can reside anywhere in CVUSD’s area of service and are elected by the registered voters that reside within the CVUSD area of service. The maps also include a data table showing the total

population, voters over the age of 18 and voters who are registered. The numbers all come from a census done in 2010. Many public hearings and meetings will take place in the near future for community members to voice their opinions and concerns. The Board of Trustees will vote on February 19th, and will choose the final map that will be put into effect in 2020.

Map legends not shown, see CVUSD website for original maps. CVUSD/With Permission

6 New district voting maps are counterintuivive opinion

Panther Prowler •Jan. 22, 2019

Sarah Lu/ Prowler

Marli Davis News Editor The new voting district map drafts recently released by the school district miss the point of hispanic representation completely. During the summer, the school board received a letter from law firm Shenkman & Hughes demanding that board elections change from an at-large election to a districtbased election. Shenkman & Hughes represented the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), an organization founded in 1974 in order to ensure the voting rights of Mexican-Americans in the Southwest. The letter stated that “voting within the Conejo Valley Unified School District is racially polarized, resulting in the minority vote dilution, and, therefore, the District’s atlarge elections violate the California Voting

Marli Davis/ Prowler

Rights Act of 2001(CVRA).” For more information on the letter and the drafting process please visit the Panther Prowler website. The maps were supposed to increase hispanic representation by giving them a common district that allowed their voice to be heard. All three of the maps proposed by the district and their independent demographer fail to group the hispanic communities in the Conejo Valley into one district, instead dispersing them throughout all five districts. If the drafts are approved, the hispanic vote will be diluted even more than it already was. The hispanic population votes will be overpowered by the other groups in the community. Please refer to the maps on page five and on the CVUSD website.

We have a large hispanic population whose voices are not being heard now and these new districts are not going to fix that. Instead, their voices are going to be swallowed just like before. Additionally, a census has not been taken since 2010, yet the maps are still being based off of it. Odds are, the hispanic population in the Conejo Valley has increased since 2010. Therefore the map drafts do not even represent the current state of our community in terms of minority population. I’m no expert in drawing district voting maps but this effort seems counterintuitive and half-hearted. This has been a completely useless endeavor since the new districts will in no way increase minority representation.

I have very frigid feelings towards the cold Nidhi Satyagal Opinion Editor I hate the cold. Every morning when I pick out a jacket, the day seems a little more bleak. I have a hard time getting on board with weather under 75 degrees and I’m not ashamed to admit that my cold tolerance is very low. So low in fact, that sometimes California winters are too much for me to handle. I have taken to wearing intense fuzzy socks and multiple sweatshirts to sleep every night. It wasn’t always like this. In my younger years, I would proudly flaunt the fact that I didn’t need a jacket to brave the cold. Maybe it is karma for all those years of taking it for granted, but it is safe to say that my cold tolerance has not remained strong over the years. Lately, I feel like I have been having more conversations about the cold. Maybe it’s because the weather is go-to awkward small talk, but I feel like there has definitely been an increase in the number of times I have talked about the cold weather. I think a big reason for this is because of college applications. Whenever I tell people I am applying to schools on the East Coast, the conversation usually evolves into some sort of discussion about the way I will handle the cold weather. I am fine with commiserating with fellow cold-haters about the weather-- that much is evident from this article. But what really

puts my bees in a bonnet is the judgmental commentary coming from East Coasters. I already understand that I cannot handle the cold. I already understand that if I choose to move to the East Coast in the future, it is going to be painful adjusting to the winters. What I do not understand, is this need to rub it in my face. I saw a tweet the other day comparing Californians’ outlook on cold weather with everyone else’s. To summarize, the quote said something about how Californians complain when it drops below 75, to which East Coasters respond with a tirade of insults about how weak and cold intolerant we all are. And honestly, no tweet about the weather has ever resonated with me more. I would also like to ask these very rude and arrogant residents of the East Coast how they would begin to handle wind and wildfires. For the next few months, I have no interest in hearing about my cold-weather shortcomings. Maybe I’ll move to the East Coast and realize I flourish in below freezing temperatures. Maybe I’ll realize that all my East Coast haters were right the whole time and I’ll spend the next four years anticipating moving back home. Or maybe I won’t go to the East Coast at all, and I’ll realize West Coast is the best coast after all. But I would like people to allow me to make that decision without inserting their unsolicited weather-related advice.

Girls aren’t petty, you’re sexist Marli Davis News Editor It is a known fact that girls develop faster than boys. Thus, we quickly become tired of the male shenanigans that occur in elementary and middle school. Girls turn to each other to entertain themselves in different, less athletic ways. However, as time goes on and we reach high school, the gap between males and females begins to decrease. Boys mature, and girls get over their original animosity towards them. Even I can admit that young girls are somewhat catty. Though as we mature our pettiness is quickly replaced with intelligence and acceptance of others. I don’t believe that trivial conflicts can be explained away by pure biology. Girls are conditioned to think that they should be more emotional and less interested in physical activities than boys. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I have never been hurt by another girl. But *big shock* humans are capable of change, and they are not all the same. A girl that buys into the stereotype that females are all dramatic and petty is too simplistic and, frankly, immature and gullible. Mature boys are not more loyal and they are not less petty. The things that you may have believed as a child no longer apply to your adult life, and the sooner you figure out how to think for yourself, the more content you can feel with yourself. A girl that hates girls is the mortal enemy of feminism. They are the embodiment of self-hate and believing in stereotypes. To say that you never want to be friends with a girl because they are “toxic” is sad. Girls can show an extreme amount of acceptance and love for others. The girls that I know lift each other up and endlessly encourage each other, so maybe it’s time to question who you’re choosing as friends. Girls are worth more than just talking about clothes, makeup and shopping; and diminishing them to such is misogynistic. There is no such thing as a “girl world” and a “boy world.” There is one human world. Boys will let you down just as often as girls will because all humans are complex.

opinion

Hey Democrats, stop stanning your senators

Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Marli Davis/ Prowler

Daria Azizad Entertainment Editor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is sharing cooking videos. Beto O’Rourke is giving us the inside scoop on his dental cleaning. What does this have to do with policy-making? Nothing. The new breed of Democratic politicians is trying to be our BFF. Why? There is a notion within the Democratic party that hinges on the idea of likability and relatability. While this is important, it seems as though it has become the main focus of a campaign or serving term. The more hip, personable or quirky you are, the more likely you are to build a base of followers. The political savvying of young people has come to a phenomenon of stanning political incumbents. If you are unfamiliar with social media culture, stanning is when a celebrity’s fanbase romanticizes every detail about the person to the point where they can do no wrong. While this infatuation is creepy, it is not unusual-- celebrities have a long history of being lauded by their fans. But celebrities are not responsible for dealing with health care, welfare, school funding or regulating safety concerns. The stanning problem began in the 2016 presidential election when many young Democrats stanned Senator Bernie Sanders. This created a culture bent on demonizing other candidates like Hillary Clinton despite the fact that Sanders was out of the race after the primaries. With his cute old man persona, Democrats flocked to his base, but the only thing they accomplished was

aiding the Trump base in trashing Clinton. Purely out of stan culture, Bernie was given much more recognition than his campaign deserved. And in this upcoming election, the Bernie base is ready to destroy other Democratic candidates out of support for him. Already, the Bernie base has tried to discredit popular Texas Democrat, Beto O’Rourke. The typical Democrat laughs at the hordes of middle America Trumpers clinging to their trust in anything POTUS does, despite how ridiculous, nonsensical or bizarre it is. His loyal base is constantly criticized-- and rightly so --for being blind to his shortcomings. However, Democrats are doing the same thing by treating leaders as celebrity idols. Sanders is not the only one being propped on a pedestal. Beto O’Rourke, who takes monetary support from fossil fuel companies and has a history of voting red, has taken the hearts of a large part of the Democratic party. Other than being a charismatic blue speaker in a red state, O’Rourke does not have much to set him apart from the crowd. However, the stan culture that has adopted O’Rourke and treats him like the future of America and the ideal of progress. No mind to other promising Democrats like Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar. The stan culture has faced the most heat with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) for her social media involvement, youthful age and readiness to refute conservative commentators coming after her.

All of this stanning takes attention from policy. Politics should not be a personality contest-- Beto is not a contestant on The Bachelorette, Bernie is not your grandpa and AOC is not your cool older sister. Focus on their proposed plans, ideas and values and stop deflecting. These political figures are responsible for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Americans. They aren’t our friends.

Don’t underestimate the middle child Manas Khatore Staff Writer

I am a victim of Middle Child Syndrome. I get the least amount of attention out of my siblings, with my parents usually talking about my older brother’s newest internship or my younger brother’s multiplication skills. When I play games with my siblings, I’m usually the default “bad guy” and serve as a punching bag for the two. Worst of all, my parents expect me to do most of the housework out of my siblings. To non-middle children, these struggles seem like a joke, but it’s something that millions of people have to deal with everyday. To make things worse, parents usually deny that they treat the middle child differently. However, as Kelly Clarkson once said, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” In a sense, the benefits (or lack thereof ) that middle children receive drives them to find success on their own. Having the least amount of attention is a blessing in disguise. Not only can you get away with suspicious activity, but you learn how to be independent very quickly. My parents were so caught up with my older brother’s college applications and taking care of my younger brother that it seemed like they forgot I existed. Emily Augustine/ It forced me to travel through the treacherous waters of middle Prowler school alone, which was a rough yet rewarding experience.

Dog movies are not the same without a dog Hailey Washington Staff Writer Back in middle school we read the book “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. The story is about a boy raising and training two coonhounds, a type of dog, to hunt coons. However, my most memorable moment from reading this book

was when nearly everyone in my class started crying when Billy’s dogs died. I found this moment in the book to be sad, but not sad enough to make me cry. Now, before you go saying, “How could you not cry when a dog dies?” I want you to understand why. In middle school, I did not have a dog and most likely every student in the classroom who did were the ones crying. Through personal experience, I found this cause and effect to be true. I remember when “Marley & Me” was “the saddest movie ever” but when I watched it I once again only thought of it as sad; I never showed any physical sadness. However, I realized that I was missing the most important part of experiencing a dog movie: a dog. Two years ago, my mom came home on a random Wednesday, and brought home a dog. His black fur was unevenly cut and he

The same goes for being given more chores than my siblings. When I asked my father why I had to wash the dishes every night, he replied by quoting Goldilocks: “Your older brother is too old and your younger brother is too young. But you, you are just right.” Although this explanation never made sense to me, I continued to wash the dishes every night, and I eventually developed a strange love for it. Now, if anyone else in my family washes the dishes, I am on the verge of tears. The point is that my parents now trust me with taking care of my siblings. If they are gone, I am able to make dinner and clean up after them, while they do so much as put their plate in the sink. With these skills, I will be able to be a good roommate and provide for my parents in the future. The trend of middle children making the best out of the worst extends far beyond me. What do Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates and Martin Luther King Jr. have in common? They’re all middle children. Middle children have grown up to advance society tremendously, and they will continue to do so in the future. Sure, they may be underappreciated or forgotten from time to time, but when they are given the spotlight, middle children shine.

was small enough to sit on your lap. But when she brought him that day, I just thought it was another dog we were dog-sitting. My mom would always joke about going to get a dog, but I never believed we actually would. So when she brought Zuko home that day, I could only be surprised. The new furry addition to my family was why I started bawling my eyes out a couple weeks ago when I watched the episode “Bravo, Zeus” in the documentary series “Dogs” on Netflix. The dog started whining after seeing a photo of his owner, I couldn’t help but tear up. Being apart from my dog for that long seems unimaginable. Now that I have a dog I always put myself in the owner’s shoes. Before this I had no incentive to, but thanks to Zuko, I get to fully experience dog movies and books that my peers were so moved by.

education gap

education gap Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Source: caschooldashboard.org

Daria Azizad Entertainment Editor Maya Chari Photographer Brian Fang Staff writer Nidhi Sataygal Opinion Editor

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CAASP overview As a relatively new implementation of the California Department of Education, CAS or Cognitive Assessment System testing scores have been under speculation recently, as drops in performance levels of several student groups from

2017 to 2018 raised some concerns about the nature of the test and district supplemental programs. According to data from the California department of education, several minority groups including English Learner and low income demographics at Newbury Park High School and across the district experienced declines in academic proficiency rates over the past year. At the most recent school board meeting, Luis Lichtl, assistant superintendent, specified state-defined “targeted populations” that the 8 million dollar LCAP fund will primarily aim to support. These groups include English

learners, foster youth, socio-economically disadvantaged students and homeless students. The district also plans to provide future support for students with disabilities, although they are not specified by the state as a target population. Community members voiced concerns about a lack of past compensation for special education learners; “Inclusive education is not just a special education fix, it’s changing general education to make it more accessible to all types of learners,” said Leanne Holland. Several found the fact that many minority demographics were in the “red” and “orange” categories in terms of achievement. The California State Dashboard and the California Department of Education both provide statistics on categorical improvements and dis-improvements within the district and its specific schools. The district plans to use this information to make general education changes in the next school year. This current school year is our baseline year for all of the strategies and adjustments that we’re making within the classroom in the educational setting,” Mark McLaughlin, CVUSD superintendent, said.

Lowest performance to Arrows indicate the average performance of all students. Colors highest performance labelled with student groups indicate the average performance of the corresponding group(s).

College/Career

Suspension rate Students with disabilities Homeless English learners, Hispanic, socioeconomically disadvantaged, foster youth

Chronic Absenteeism Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disavantaged Foster youth

Marli Davis/Prowler

Total Enrollment

18,733 Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

25.7% English Learners

10% Foster Youth

0.2% Navigating College Preparedness One data point presented by the California State Dashboard is an index that measures student college and career readiness. This is measured through either three different standardized tests or three different forms of success in a student’s academic course load. NPHS has implemented many programs to help push students struggling academically. Bennett Wutkee, assistant principal, described some of these initiatives such as the AVID program. “The

Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disadvantaged Foster youth

Mathematics Foster Youth Students with disabilities, Hispanic, socioeconomically disadvantaged Homeless, English learners

Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

In session- At the Jan. 8 board meeting, Luis Lichtl, assistant superintendent of instruction, gave a presentation on the performance of the Conejo Valley Unified School District under the California Accountability System index. Pictured from left to right are Mark McLaughlin, superintendent, Betsy Connolly, board trustee, Sandee Everett, board trustee and Victor Hayek, deputy superintendent, speaking about the scores after.. Connor Keep/Prowler

AVID program, which is targeted towards kids that need extra support, lets students work with the intervention coordinator for advancement via individual determination. It’s for kids that have the potential to be college eligible upon graduation, but without additional support probably wouldn’t get there.” Outside of achieving high test scores and standards in academic coursework, NPHS also contributes to individual student growth through the College and Career Center (CCC). Many student resources are provided including career guidance, college tours and standardized test prep. “We help students navigate through the career or academic interest process. They come and they say, I don’t really know what I want to do. So we start that conversation. We direct them to take an interest assessment test on Naviance that they can start with,” Carmencita Ricafort, college and career specialist, said. Other opportunities the center provides were emphasized. “During the fall, we probably host anywhere between 50 to 70 different college reps from all over the US and even a few from countries outside the US. I

Graduation Rate

Students with disabilities, homeless, English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged Hispanic

encourage the students even when they’re not seniors, maybe a few sophomores or most juniors, to attend at least maybe two to three to get their exploration process started.” The CCC also provides free resources for standardized tests. “We have prep books and we put it out there on our website that there are testing workshops or boot camps being offered,” Ricafort said, “Or let’s say the financial value Adult Education Center twice a year. They offer an SAT prep program that is being taught by a lot of our CV teachers so we share that information to our students. So they can either go to the counseling website or to the college and career site in the Newbury Park High School website.” NPHS is on an upward path in college and career readiness. From in-school programs that help struggling students to additional resources provided by the CCC, NPHS has put significant effort into giving students ample opportunities to succeed. “We try to help students identify what is a realistic goal, balancing it with their personal interests and passions; we’d like students to be able to pursue what they want to do,” Ricafort said.

Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disadvantaged Foster Youth

English Language Arts

education gap

education gap Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Source: caschooldashboard.org

Daria Azizad Entertainment Editor Maya Chari Photographer Brian Fang Staff writer Nidhi Sataygal Opinion Editor

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Lowest performance to Arrows indicate the average performance of all students. Colors highest performance labelled with student groups indicate the average performance of the corresponding group(s).

College/Career

Suspension rate Students with disabilities Homeless English learners, Hispanic, socioeconomically disadvantaged, foster youth

Chronic Absenteeism Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disavantaged Foster youth

Marli Davis/Prowler

Total Enrollment

18,733 Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

25.7% English Learners

10% Foster Youth

Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disadvantaged Foster youth

Mathematics Foster Youth Students with disabilities, Hispanic, socioeconomically disadvantaged Homeless, English learners

Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Graduation Rate

Students with disabilities, homeless, English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged Hispanic

Students with disabilities English learners, Hispanic, homeless, socioeconomically disadvantaged Foster Youth

English Language Arts

features

Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

CVUSD teachers speak about the LAUSD teacher strike Emily Augustine News Editor

Students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are told not to attend school -- but not because it is a holiday or due to extreme weather conditions. All of the teachers are absent. LAUSD teachers began their strike on Jan. 14 to protest large class sizes, the lack of staff and inadequate salaries. In reaction to LAUSD’s first teacher strike since 1989, the staff of Newbury Park High School sympathize with those affected by the issue. “It’s a horrible situation all around for everybody. Number one being for the students. I think it’s just awful that they’re not receiving their education right now,” Karen Tisor, Spanish teacher, said. As the second largest school district in the United States, LAUSD holds 600,000 students who now have to put their education on hold. “The main thing is class size. I have taught in several schools where class size limit was 30… and it was wonderful,” Tisor said. “There is a huge difference between teaching a class of 30 and under, and a class of 40 or 50.” According to Center for Public Education, smaller class sizes at a younger age result in higher academic achievement among students. “We all know Nurse Betty. We are very lucky to have her and she is here everyday. She is full time. A lot of schools only have part-time nurses to cut on the budget,” Tisor said. Part of the LAUSD protest is to fight for more school nurses. “When public employees go on strike there is always some resentment from people, so I am sure there are some parents and some taxpayers that are not happy,” Gary Fabricius, psychology and history teacher, said. “But obviously (the teachers) thought

things

5 yo u d id not know ab out

Sarah Lu /Prowler

Jennifer Halpert Gianna Spiro Staff Writer

She has two cats named Atticus and Finch, naming them after her love of the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” “My Atticus, he’s my sweet boy. He completely encapsulates the character of Atticus. He’s very dapper. Now Finch, he’s our little monster.”

Halpert has a two-year-old daughter named Lillian. “Being a mom is never what you expect, or what people tell you. I cry a lot more easily now, especially to movies, like “Coco.” I’m already a child, but she truly brings out the child in me,” Halpert said.

This is Halpert’s 11th year teaching. She was ASB coordinator for nine years.

If she could travel anywhere in the world, Halpert would go “anywhere and all over Greece.”

If Halpert could be any character in a book she would be Hermione. “Not to be cliche, but it would be cool to be in Harry Potter, and have powers.”

that was the only way they could get what they wanted.” Prior to the strike, LAUSD teachers had been fighting to have their needs met by the Teacher’s Union for over a year. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in Newbury Park or if it’s in LA,” Fabricius said. “If the class is larger … it’s just really hard for them to get the attention that the students need.” Only one third of students in the LAUSD are attending school during the strike according to CNN. “I think it’s unfortunate that (the teachers) have to go this far to negotiate what they feel they deserve, but I do think it will have a positive outcome that they can both agree on,” Tracy Acosta, art teacher, said. Another negotiation commenced between the Union and the LAUSD educators at City Hall on Jan. 17, which marks day four of the strike. “How often did you hear about their negotiations prior to them striking? You really didn’t,” Acosta said. “I think they see, ok, teachers are very valuable.” As of Jan. 17, the strike has cost LAUSD 69 million dollars due to lack of attendance. “They probably do not want to admit it but the Union is like ‘Oh no, we’ve got to scramble, we’ve got to figure this out,’” Acosta said. The strike is still ongoing.

Emily Augustine/Prowler

Mu Alpha Theta is the path to math Sarah Lu Photographer Mu Alpha Theta, the Greek letters for math, is a club that many students would not voluntarily join due to its focus on mathematics. However, there are a few students on campus that really enjoy it, and do math competitions for fun through this math club. Mu Alpha Theta meets every Monday in D-21 to prepare and participate in math competitions. Lap Doan, senior and president, describes the club as “A place for people who have an interest in math to get together, talk about it with each other (and) nerd out.” Victoria Dzieciol, senior, has been in Mu Alpha Theta for four years. She originally joined the club because of her love of math and competitions. “(I) wanted more practice with the types of challenging problems that Mu Alpha Theta competitions have because they’re totally different than what we do in class and way more fun,” Dzieciol said. There are many different competitions that the club participates in, including the Continental Mathematics League (CML) and the Atlantic-Pacific Mathematics League (AtPac) competitions. Many students who aren’t in the club can participate in those competitions to try to get extra credit in their math classes. Other competitions are just for the club, like the National Log1 Competition and the Rocket City Math League (RCML) competition. Mu Alpha Theta has been successful in many of their competitions, and sometimes wins money that they put aside for pizza. The goal of both the individuals and the club is to improve their standings in competitions. “My personal goals for the club are to learn about how to do the various types of problems that appear in the competitions, such as problems about functions or geometry,” Anish Shanbhag, sophomore and secretary, said. “As a team, we would like to make sure that furthers (the team’s) understanding of math so that we can do better in our competitions.” The atmosphere of the club is Dzieciol’s favorite part. “(I get) to learn from the other members when they explain how they got the solution to a problem,” Dzieciol said. “Everyone approaches things in a different way and it’s super interesting to see someone else’s strategy. It’s really helpful to see things from a new perspective and you learn a lot.” Shanbhag agrees, saying the different perspectives in the club have helped him see how to solve problems more efficiently. “Where most of our teamwork happens is when we discuss how

Math - Nathan Juan, junior, sporting his freshest fit, watches intently as Lap Doan, senior, breezes through a complicated math equation: dividing 10000 by 60. They don’t even need a calculator. to solve difficult practice problems. Being able to listen to how others solve a problem enhances everyone’s understanding of how to complete it,” Shanbhag said. Overall, the club has many benefits. “Joining the club is really good for improving your math skills and just problem-solving skills in general, because a lot of the problems aren’t exactly math as much as they are just like logic puzzles that you need to be a little creative to figure out,” Dzieciol said. Mu Alpha Theta also helps in math classes. “It teaches me how to improve my speed when doing difficult math problems -- something that is useful during tests,” Shanbhag said. Dzieciol agrees, saying the competition problems help her remember everything she has learned. “The questions are completely random, (so) you never know when you might need to remember something you learned a long time ago. It’s also helped me practice doing harder math problems than in class and taught me how to approach them, so class definitely seems a little easier thanks to the club,” Dzieciol said. “Plus, figuring out those problems makes you feel really smart, which is fun.” Many people believe that to be in the club, they have to be good at math. In reality, Mu Alpha Theta is “not really what people would expect out of a math club,” Doan said. “It’s a club where we celebrate mathematical ability and we try to build each other up.”

features Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Student Urias Merlo/Senior

was the sequel to the famous 1 What book “To Kill a Mockingbird” that was published in 2015? Erickson:“To Kill a Bluejay” Merlo: “The Trial of the Mockingbird” A: “Go set a Watchman” To be fair the novel was written four years ago, at least they both tried. 0-0

VS Gianna Spiro Ad Manager

Teacher Mr. Erickson/Science

What is a group of penguins on land called?

How many total voting members are there in Congress?

Erickson Wins!

Erickson: A waddle Merlo: No way it’s a waddle?! A: A waddle It looks like Mr. Erickson is waddling to victory. 2-1

Erickson: 350 Merlo: 550 A: 535 As the tight race continues, Merlo gets close to scoring but not close enough. 2-1

2 Erickson:1951

When was the computer invented? Merlo:1955 A:1936 Looks like neither could get with the program. 0-0

the capital of Illinois? 3 What’s Erickson: Springfield Merlo: Oh Mrs. Wade is gonna hate me. Springfield. I was gonna say Little Rock. A: Springfield Good job Erickson, finally scoring on a question many get wrong. Merlo, nice try copying Erickson. 1-0

How many members are on PTV this year? Erickson: 8 Merlo: 9 A: including sports 5 or 6 not including sports 6 2-1

2-1 Gianna Spiro/Prowler

World Languages Center provides extra support Emily Augustine News Editor ¿Necesitas ayuda? The World Languages Center is the newest destination for all things foreign. Open since the first week of December, it offers tutoring Monday through Thursday at lunch and after school. About 30 tutors are available for Spanish, French, Chinese and American Sign Language. Christéle Cazin, French teacher, hosts the Center in room B-29 and proposed for its creation. “Students definitely need ongoing support all year long. We have a lot of different levels and… to learn a different language is not necessarily easy,” Cazin said. She speaks from experience, as she had difficulty learning English as a native French speaker. “I struggled so much to learn English that I feel that the more support there is, the better it will be (for students),” Cazin said. When entering the center, students sign in and are assigned a tutor for their language and ability level. Ramya Ukkan, sophomore, tutors Spanish 1 and 2 twice a week at lunch. In order to become a tutor, she filled out an application and attended a training program. “Basically, (tutors) had to stay in (Cazin’s) classroom for two hours and learn all of the materials and basic Emily Augustine/Prowler

stuff to be a tutor,” Ukkan said. Students are able to receive more attention from tutors than from a classroom setting, as Ukkan works with about two students during an average lunch session. Charlotte Weymer, sophomore, attended the language center as a way to receive extra credit in her Spanish 3 class. “If (a student) went, (they) would be able to retake a test, and so I chose to do that,” Weymer said. Although Weymer was not struggling in Spanish, she has since attended the center a total of three times due to its knowledgeable tutors and practice opportunities. “I really didn’t need that much help, but it was nice practice,” Weymer said. She notes that there are currently not many tutors for higher ability levels, recommending the center for those who need help in the lower levels. Cazin has already seen the positive effects of the tutoring center in her students’ performance. She advises that all students take advantage of this resource if they are seeking help. “Even if it’s ten minutes, ten minutes can make such a difference on a grammar point or some similar concept that is confusing,” Cazin said.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

The 1975 wows with their newest album Kessa Chavez DPS Editor Maya Chari/Prowler

Marli Davis/Prowler

The 1975 had not released new music for over a year, and their millions of fans were left wondering when they would be back with new songs for their playlists. All of their dreams would be realized when they dropped their first single “Give Yourself a Try.” I patiently waited for the full album to drop so I could lay down with my headphones on and replay all of their songs until my heart was content. Finally, they released their third album “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships” on Nov. 30, 2018. My first experience listening to the album all the way through was incredible. I was astounded by the quality of production and found myself disappointed that the album was only 58 minutes of pure bliss, but excited by the fact that I could hit the replay button as many times as I wanted -- I have yet to stop pushing it. The best way to express what the album is like is to say that it felt like the lead singer, Matthew Healy, was having a heart-to-heart with the listener where he was sharing everything that he had come to know in his life both in and out of the spotlight. The album’s many songs contain lyrics that unashamedly speak to issues like gun violence, mental illness, drug addiction, racism and sexism. However, there are also songs that cover both lighter and relatable things like struggles with authenticity in a generation that seeks perfection and feeling alone despite constantly being surrounded by people.

Healy uses the album to voice his concern about the ever-growing influence that the internet has on the youth and what it has done to our sense of humanity. The song “Sincerity is Scary” speaks to this idea as it comments on the fact that many young people find it easier to put on a front and laugh things off so they don’t have to go down the painful path of being honest with their feelings. The lyric, “And irony is okay, I suppose culture is to blame, you try and mask your pain in the most postmodern way, you lack substance when you say something like, ‘oh, what a shame’ it’s just a self-referential way that stops you havin’ to be human,” spectacularly embodies this idea. Each track contains lyrics that the listener feels compelled to listen to again just like when Healy quoted Donald Trump’s famous tweet, “Thank you Kanye, very cool!” in their single “Love It If We Made It.” None of the songs on the album sounded the same and each of them told their own story. As I finished the album for the third time, I had decided that it was undeniably my favorite one that they had released. If you have never listened to The 1975 and are debating on it because you may have heard them in a store once or twice or maybe you heard about them from a friend, I highly suggest taking the time to listen to this newest album. The songs on the record are so versatile and contain lyrics that everyone could relate to, so what are you waiting for?

trades story quality for novelty

Marli Davis News Editor Bandersnatch is Netflix’s new choose your own adventure movie, a spin off of their hit series Black Mirror. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t like open-ended endings and craves a resolution, this movie isn’t for you. Black Mirror is a Netflix original series that analyzes the effects of technology on human society through individual episodes taking place in the future. Unlike most Black Mirror episodes, Bandersnatch is set in the past, specifically the 1980s. It follows a young man, Stefan, with the dream of programming a computer game based off of his favorite book, “Bandersnatch.” His video game of the same name is a choose your own adventure game. I was incredibly excited when I first heard about the movie. I love the thought-provoking nature of Black Mirror episodes

and the interactive aspect sounded intriguing. This made the end result even more disappointing. The watcher makes their first choice early on in the movie when they choose which kind of cereal Stefan will eat for breakfast. The decisions gradually become more intense and more impactful, eventually coming to a choice between life and death. There are multiple endings that the watcher can end up with, each less interesting than the first. The movie can take as long as the watcher chooses, you can even go back into the past to make different decisions. The minimum amount of time it takes to finish the movie is about an hour and half, but it can last up to five hours if you choose to find all of the endings. Each ending includes a review on Stefan’s game, giving watchers a way to gauge the success of their choices.

About halfway through the movie I realized how pointless the entire endeavor was. Although the decision making was fun, the movie lacked the social commentary aspect that viewers have come to expect from Black Mirror. The best part of the movie was the philosophical questions that it raised regarding free will. However, even this part is tackled with the immaturity and shallow thinking that would be expected of a high school student, not a professional filmmaker. I suppose if you enjoy spending hours clicking through choices just to watch one more minute of footage, then this movie is great. Overall the movie is entertaining in the moment but leaves the viewer feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

New Spider-Man movie exceeds expectations

entertainment Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Rahul D’Souza Front Cover Editor Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! The familiar sounds of our favorite web swinger made it to the big screen yet again, and fans are not disappointed by the latest installment. Out of all the Spider-man films, “Spider-man: Into the Spider Verse” may top the list. The film follows the story of young Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore. Miles gains the same powers as the original Spider-man of his dimension when he is bit by a spider. Soon, an inter-dimensional breach brings multiple different Spider-people from various dimensions. Each has a different back-story, outfit, and character persona. Miles seeks help from Peter Parker, the original Spider-man, to control his powers. The two form a characteristic teacherpupil bond that carries through the movie. By the end of the film, it is heartbreaking to see them separate. Overall, the film was one of the best, if not the best, installment in the long series of Spider-man cinema. The plot is a nice transition from the stereotypical superhero movie template, with one main character who beats the villain against all odds

and ends up getting the girl. This film is anything but ordinary when it comes to the plot. The animation is also amazing, as well as the character development. The film combined iconic aspects of earlier Spider-man films into a completely new template. The whole movie was textured to look like a comic book, with the words “POW”, “SKRT”, “BANG”, etc. showing up at choice moments. The head of the animation team has said that if the movie is paused at any frame, you would see a complete comic book panel on screen. At the beginning of the film, Cliff Robertson, Uncle Ben from the original trilogy, can be heard saying his iconic words, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Like any superhero film, character development is essential. Miles Morales must learn through experience that he holds the same responsibility as all the Spider-people before him. Gianna Spiro/Prowler

“BIRD BOX” comes out of nowhere Brian Fang Staff Writer

On December 21, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, was released as the final Netflix original film of 2018. In this psychological thriller, a chilling mood shadows a spontaneous apocalypse, as an unknown presence causes all people who look at it to see their worst fears and regrets; people are forced to see something so personally horrifying that it causes them to commit immediate suicide. Following this plot, a mother attempts to lead two children to a refuge that is just down river, without seeing anything in the process. As a common movie goer, I won’t lie when I say that the genre of thriller dramas isn’t my style. I’ve never been a fan of how these types of films would draw in audiences, typically following the stupidity of the main characters as everyone is slowly but surely slaughtered until one person remains. It’s always seemed so basic, so routine, and so predictable. In this sense, I went into watching Bird Box with something similar in mind. Luckily, I can say that I don’t think I could have been further off when describing the characteristics of this movie. Although

Marli Davis/Prowler

the essence of these conventional elements were still in the film, a certain connection was established between the mother, Malorie, and the audience. It was strangely enticing to follow her journey, and the difficulties that she had to overcome both personally as a mother as well as the clear impending danger that surrounds her. Naturally, critics have had their fair share of criticism as well, from plot discontinuities to unrealistic character actions. It still seems unbelievable to me that in every horror movie human beings suddenly forget how to run. Bird Box was no different (although they are all blindfolded, so some slack can be given). Critics are also quick to point out how lucky the characters are, surviving seemingly detrimental situations. Overall, I’d argue that the film is definitely worth seeing, even for those of you who aren’t fans of the genre. Despite some of the basic dramatic thriller elements this film utilizes, there is a quality that will pull any viewer in, regardless.

sports

14 Boys’ basketball enhances past successes Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Jaycen Sussman Back Cover Editor The NPHS Boys’ Basketball team went through a major transition during the 2017-18 season. During the 201617 year, the team unsuccessfully finished with a record of 8-19, failing to make the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) playoffs. Yet after a complete revamp in coaching staff to begin last year, the team finished with a record of 20-6, while achieving new school records along the way. The pressure is high for the team to remain a league powerhouse this year, ensuring they stay consistent with the expectations that came along with last year’s successes. Small forward, Nickerson DeMelfi, senior, is a two year varsity player who wants to make sure these high expectations are met. “Throughout the summer, I believe we worked harder than any other teams because we would never take a second off during practice knowing it would pay off during the regular season. Practices were always very competitive but we also built lots of chemistry in the process which has brought us closer together as friends this year,” DeMelfi said. One of the primary changes that has lead the team to a successful season last year stemmed from a complete overhaul in coaching staff. Matt Eichinger was introduced as new head coach last season and took immediate action with his assistants. According to Eichinger, one of the leading reasons of his successful coaching stems improving various essentials. “When (the new coaches) first took over last year we wanted to change the culture of the program to a winning one, and one where we took pride in our defense and outworking the competition. We focused on a few major things that we felt needed to change a lot like defense, shot

Slam Dunk- Andrew Wilson, junior wearing jersey 20, jumps up to shoot a basket at a basketball practice while three of his teammates playing defense try to block him. From left to right, the teammates blocking Wilson, wearing white jerseys, are Amari Thomas, sophomore, Matthew Smith, junior, and Sean Leehey, senior. Sarah Lu/ Prowler

selection and rebounding. But I feel more than anything it was about building a gritty, winning mindset,” Eichinger said. The 2018-19 year is holding up to the expectations set by this team’s predecessors. During the course of the season so far Matt Solomon, senior, broke the NPHS all time scoring record, the group placed second and third in the Northeast Valley and Santa Barbara Holiday Tournaments and for the first time in 15 years the team as secured back to back winning season. Holding up to last years team isn’t the only drive to success. Solomon voiced how playing on the basketball team has produced some lifelong memories. “I think just playing with my teammates because I’ve been playing with them for such a long time and it’s really cool to just have one more season with all of them, and then all my friends coming to games. It’s so cool to just look around and see them all cheering in the stands… and then when we win in front of them, it’s just such a cool feeling,” Solomon said. With a the season heading in the right direction, the team in its entirety remains optimistic in its postseason chances. Sitting at a current state of 14 wins, Eichinger emphasized that not only “The ultimate goal is always to develop our guys into young men who are better prepared for the rest of their lives having played in the program. We want them to develop a growth mindset, learn how to work hard and continue to improve to be the best player and person they can be. Wins are nice and losses aren’t fun, but sports are about a lot more than just winning and losing. I think the greatest measure of these things is in their attitude and effort. How well they compete and get after it every minute they’re on the court,” Eichinger said.

STUNT flips into tryouts for the new season Hannah Gross Staff Writer Despite being a relatively new sport at NPHS, having been established only three years ago, STUNT has already found success, earning the title of Marmonte League Champions last spring. This year, STUNT is establishing a team for the upcoming season. Tryouts for the team took place on Jan. 7, 9 and 10. Although STUNT attracts many members from cheer, the two sports have significant differences, according to the Kaleigh Coffman, coach and ASL teacher. “Traditional cheerleading has a lot to do with performance. We don’t have to perform, we need to be technically correct. We need to do exactly what they ask of us and be as safe as possible,” Coffman said. This is Coffman’s first year as the coach of STUNT. Many may be unaware of what STUNT actually is. Competitions, or games, involve a series of set routines each team has to perform. Performances take place over four rounds, and those with the most wins out of four win the game. Madeline Janisse, sophomore, has

a simpler explanation of STUNT. “We basically throw and catch other girls and make some cool routines,” Janisse said. This will be Janisse’s second year doing stunt. “Freshman year I tried out for STUNT because I wanted a new experience and my friends were trying out as well, and then from stunt I moved into spirit cheer and I’ve been doing it ever since” Janisse said. Haven Roper, sophomore, discovered stunt through cheer. “A lot of my friends had done it from cheerleading so I thought it would be a fun experience to do with them,” Roper said. The STUNT season only lasts three to four months. Janisse enjoys the team aspect. “I like the teamwork because I’ve never been on a team sport so it was a good new experience,” Janisse said. Roper also values the relationships built through cheer and STUNT. “I really enjoy the community aspect, all the girls are so nice and it’s just a great environment to be around,” Roper said.

Strength- Lifting a peer above her head, Haven Roper (base left), sophomore, uses her skills to carry a fellow student during stunt tryouts. Stunt tryouts tested the girls on a variety of abilities used during the sport. “I really enjoy the community aspect, all the girls are so nice and it’s just a great environment to be around,” Roper said. Stunt allows girls to compete with routines and learn new skills as a team. Clarissa Shin/ Prowler

Focus- Holding the feet of a peer, Madeline Janisse (base right), sophomore, balances a fellow student on her hands during stunt tryouts. On Jan. 7, tryouts for the stunt team were held in the GAR and continued on Jan. 9 and 10. “I like the teamwork because I’ve never been on a team sport so it was a good new experience,” Janisse said. Stunt cheer is a new sport and competes in the spring season. Clarissa Shin/Prowler

sports Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Girls’ Water Polo flies into season Brian Fang Staff Writer As the ball flies across the water from player to player, you can feel the tension building in the crisp winter air. Everybody on the pool deck is dead silent: the ball screams into the back of the net and cheers pierce the air: girls’ water polo is in full swing. As of Jan. 17, the varsity team is currently 5-1 in league and 12-2 overall, winning by a score of 16-3 against Westlake and losing in a tough loss against 16-6 against Oaks in their last two games. Mary Grosswendt, junior, is currently playing her second year on varsity with high expectations for the team this year. She loves the atmosphere that they have developed over the course of the summer. “We are all super close this year and I definitely think that will contribute to a great season. The majority of varsity has been playing together for a really long time and the team chemistry is pretty great,” Grosswendt said. Juniors Abby Begg and Rachel Vlietstra, both returners to varsity, felt confident regarding season though they had to adapt due to the work being done on the pool and complications from the fires. “It was definitely a struggle to work around all the breaks that we have had. We are trying to squeeze in a lot of games after a period of not practicing. I think that we adapt really well to

situations and we work things out,” Begg said. The team’s’ primary goal is to get second in league and make it as far into the CIF playoffs as possible, similar to previous years, but they feel that they have a much better chance to advance as far as possible this year. “I think this is one of the strongest teams we’ve had just because we’re all really well connected and well bonded since we’ve played together for a really long time,” Vlietstra said. “I definitely think getting second in league is achievable given how we’ve done so far.” Three out of the six starters have been on varsity since freshman year and the entirety of the team has played together for several years. “We have been relatively constant since we’ve been freshmen, and we’ve had a good group of girls that have been on varsity for a couple years. That adds to how well we work together and we’ve always had the same coach, Dave, who has been great,” Grosswendt said. With only one loss so far, the team feels quite comfortable approaching the second half of the season. “We play, we figure out what we need to work on, and then we work on it and keep the process going. There have been some hard games but we just keep on going so we’re ready,” Begg said. Last year the team made it into the semifinals

Shoot- Jumping out of the water, Abby Begg, junior, prepares to throw the ball across the pool as her teammates surround her. The varsity girls’ water polo team dominated Westlake on Jan. 15 winning with a score of 16-3. “I think we adapt really well to situations and we work things out,” Begg said. Three of the six starters on varsity have been on the team since freshman year, contributing to good team chemistry. Bridget Grosswendt /With Permission.

of CIF, and they want to attempt to make it that far once more this year. “There are so many great teams out there and if we get there we get there and if we don’t we don’t,” Grosswendt said. “It’s definitely a really cool experience to be able to play.”

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Score- The ball soars through the air before being slapped out of the air by goalie Taylor Lorenzen, senior, during a game against Calabasas. The team feels confident going into the second half of the season with only one loss so far. Bridget Grosswendt/With Permission.

Pass- Warming up before the game, Rachel Vlietstra (11) throws a ball to her teammate. As a returner to varsity, Pass she feels confident in their chances this year: “I think this is one of the strongest teams we’ve had just because we’re all really well connected and well bonded since we’ve played together for a really long time,” Vlietstra said. The team is 5-1 in league and 12-2 overall as of Jan. 16. Bridget Grosswendt/With Permission.

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sports Panther Prowler • Jan. 22, 2019

Boys’ varsity soccer is having a very successful season so far, currently undefeated in the Marmonte League. On Jan.11, the Panthers faced off against the Oaks Christian Lions, winning 3-1. The team hopes this streak will continue all the way to CIF Championships as well as state.

Got the ball - Randy Wright, senior, traps the ball with his chest to slow down the soccer ball and pass it to his teammate. “The team, as the game went on, picked up confidence and started playing better, and led us to the victory,” Wright said. Sarah Lu/ Prowler

Out of my way - Sidestepping around an Oaks Christian player, Ty Sander, sophomore wearing jersey 17, keeps the ball away from his opponent. Throughout the season, the team has done very well, but one of the most memorable moments for the team has been beating Thousand Oaks High School 6-0 at their home. “(It doesn’t) matter what the stats say, or the sheets or the computers before the game. It only matters what’s on the scoreboard at the end of the game,” Wright said. After winning against Thousand Oaks, the team had a pizza party. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Not today - Randy Wright, senior wearing jersey 11, keeps the ball away from an Oaks Christian player while dribbling it down the field. “We have pretty much the best players in the league for all the positions and that gave us confidence going into the game, especially knowing we had good subs as well, and a good keeper,” Wright said. The team was able to score all three of their goals before Oaks Christian scored one. Sarah Lu/Prowler

Breakaway - Dribbling towards the goal, Nick Scherer, senior wearing jersey 23, kicks the ball forward. The team did very well last year, with a record of 12-4, but this year they have improved. “This year there’s just a mood and a feeling around the locker room that everyone is just really connected to each other…. Everyone is one unit, and we laugh together, we go out to dinner together and we play together,” Wright said. Their new record is 14-1, only losing a game after six consecutive wins. Emily Nagamoto/ Prowler

Emily Nagamato Chief Photographer Sarah Lu Photographer

Full focus - Luke Varav, junior wearing jersey 4, races after the ball to keep it from his opponents. The team is currently 4-0 in the Marmonte League. “We’re kind of just getting warmed up… (We are) trying to go undefeated and then win CIF,” Jack Fitzpatrick, senior, said. In total, the team has made 25 goals this season, and only conceded two. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler