2022-2023 Issue 6 (Mar. 10)

PANTHER PROWLER

Local teens go “scouting for food”

Brody Sinutko Staff Writer

On Saturday, Feb. 25 through the rain and hail, local Boy Scout troop 730 went racing door-to-door collecting over 75 Trader Joe’s bags filled to the brim with a total of 500 non-perishable food items for the annual Manna Conejo Valley food drive.

The Manna Conejo Valley food drive has provided much-needed food in the Conejo Valley for 40 years. The food drive on average gives aid to 1,400 people monthly and ultimately totals to 20,000 people in need each year.

During the bag collection, numerous cars would trail the teams of scouts as they competed with each other to see who could carry the most bags and load them into the cars at once.

The rainy weather forecast would prove to be a looming threat during the day of the drive, however, William O’Neil, freshman, followed his scout motto of “be prepared,” and devised a plan to keep themselves and the paper Trader Joe’s bags dry. To prepare for the storm, the boys set up tarps and a canopy off Cabrillo road where

As the final bags were being collected off of Calle Las Colonias, during the last stretch of the collection, a downpour had finally struck, causing the scouts to sprint through the rain for their final in need. “ We braved the hail, it came down on us like an avalanche. But we braved through the cold and made it to the manna thing unscathed,” O’Neil

Once the scouts collected all of the bags, they went through a sorting process, removing all expired and opened foods. A problem would soon arise when the

rain shifted forces to hail, it was so intense that even some of the bags were filling up with ice chunks rather than food. The group of boys used their teamwork abilities in order to sort the bags and load them onto the trucks, to be sent to Manna’s tiny 700 square-foot facility located in “Old Town Thousand Oaks” According to participating Scout Connor Taggart, junior, “You go to a drive-thru [at the facility], open your trunk, and they take the bags…they did a great thing and I just collected the bags” Taggart said.

According to the Boy Scout principles, a scout is helpful, and the food drive allows them to abide by these principles. “[The food drive]was a very fun event and I enjoyed helping out the homeless. If anyone decides to join Boy Scouts you should try to get your troop to participate in this type of event” Brayden Stewart, freshman, and participating scout said.

NPHS students involved in head-on car crash

Jack Ranney Staff Writer

On Feb. 27, 2023, three NPHS students were riding on an off-road electric motorcycle and collided with a car at the intersection of Via Las Brisas and Via Grande in Dos Vientos. The students were going down a hill on the wrong side of the road, and crashed into a car making a right turn.

Close friends of the victims have stated that one of the students landed in the grass and sustained minor injuries. Another student suffered extensive injuries, including

a fractured skull, fractured hip and two broken legs. The third student suffered a compound fracture in his leg, but has since come home from the hospital.

The driver stayed at the site of the crash until the students were taken to the emergency room. They cooperated with police and were willing to help.

One of the students is still recovering at LA Children’s Hospital. He is currently still in the hospital but is expected to make a full

recovery. Another student returned home after several days in the hospital, but will need to continue recovery at home.

Jeremy Paris, Thousand Oaks Police Chief, stated that there were no traffic violations made by the car involved in this accident.

UPDATE: This article was updated and corrected 3/14/23 at 2:45 p.m.

MSU is the latest victim of gun violence

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Graphic Artist

Just before 8:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 13, gunshots were heard coming from Berkeley Hall on the campus of Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae had released fire in the popular lecture hall killing two. McRae then left Berkeley Hall to release fire in the Michigan State student union building, a popular common area for students, killing a third victim. When authorities were called, McRae fled and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound off campus.

MSU’s initial response to the attack was a “shelter-in-place” alert, which was distributed via email. McRae was then caught on campus surveillance cameras around 11:00 pm and those photos were then distributed to the public at 11:18 pm. According to MSU police, just 17 minutes after the release of the photos, a tip was called in identifying McRae, leading officers to his location.

While the motive for the attack remains unknown, an investigation revealed that McRae had a plan to attack a variety of other locations including two other schools, a warehouse, fast food restaurant, discount

store, employment agency and a church.

Arielle Anderson,19-years-old, Brian Frazer, 20-years-old, and Alexandria Verner, 20-yearsold, were identified as the deceased victims of the attack. Two of the other five injured were Chinese exchange students, whose families have been contacted through the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. Of the other three victims, only one has been identified as Troy Forbush, after he made a post about the incident on social media.

After Forbush was discharged from the hospital following a bullet to the chest, he posted on Facebook about his experience. Forbush wrote, “I live in support of my four fellow Spartans whose lives are forever changed, as mine is as well. There was a time when I used to dream of getting into this school— now, I represent it. My world has been turned upside down so suddenly but I refuse to be a number, a statistic.” Forbush continued, “Alongside my family, friends, community, university, & state government officials, we will enact change. I have a long journey of recovery ahead of me. This is only the beginning. Rest in power Alexandria, Arielle, and Brian.”

Rain or shine - The Boy Scouts pose with their bounty of bags for the Manna Conejo Valley food pantry. Brody Sinutko/Prowler

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

The U.S. needs to put more effort into helping Turkey

On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Gaziantep, Turkey (Türkiye), and on Feb. 20, a 6.3-magnitude hit the southern part of Turkey. This pushed the death toll from the earthquakes past 47,000, making these events the deadliest natural disasters in history. There are reports of over 87,000 injuries and over 47,000 destroyed buildings. On Feb. 7, before the second quake, the US Department of Defense sent two search and rescue teams to Turkey to aid in locating survivors as well as providing $185 million in relief funds, but that’s the last of the support that Turkey received from the U.S., even after the death toll doubled after the second quake.

If America wishes to cultivate allyship with other countries, it needs to snap out of its self-involvement. It has the capacity to send relief items to people who are coping with devastation. Turkey’s government certainly won’t examine the U.S.’s petty uninvolvement and feel inspired to sever ties with Russia. As a wealthy superpower of a country, the US has every opportunity to step up and help a fellow ally, but we’re too caught up in a need for political gain to be of any service.

Turkey has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1952, it’s no surprise that many other countries have stepped in to aid Turkey’s government while they recover from these earthquakes, considering NATO’s agreement includes a promise of security alliance from the other countries, including the U.S.

The leading theory as to why the U.S. is hesitant to help is due to Turkey’s relationship with Russia, the instigator in the deadly invasion

of Ukraine. Of all the members of NATO, Turkey is by far the friendliest with Russia, even purchasing a defense system from them in Jan. This is the speculated barrier preventing the U.S. from giving Turkey the aid they desperately need. However, the U.S. still claims that it intends to improve its relationship with Turkey.

Individuals have lost their homes, families, jobs and livelihoods to catastrophic earthquakes. No, Turkey still has a relationship with a corrupt superpower, but it is filled with refugees. As of the beginning of 2023, Turkey currently hosts over three million refugees from Iran, Iraq, Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, all of which have horrific political or religious events that are affecting lives throughout their countries.

The condemnation of Turkey’s citizens as “guilty by association” is a scapegoat for the U.S.’s narcissism. It’s easy to pretend Turkey is full of Russia-apologists who are content with the relationship, and even if that was true, sometimes the situation should trump the belief. This shields the ugly truth- that the United States tends to only exercise compassion when it comes with political traction. If we do not expect to gain significantly in the future, we tend to not step in, which is what we’ve seen with other countries who’ve had similar issues, considering that the U.S. is known for being the leader in providing international relief.

The U.S. needs to switch its focus to the mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters struggling to survive. Turkey’s government won’t face the brunt of political apathy. But, the individuals living there certainly will.

Shana Blair/Prowler

PANTHER PROWLER

Editors-in-Chief

Allison Nguyen

Dhruv Patel

Front Cover Editor

Kira Ivarsdottir

News Editors

Isabella Boggs

Josie Gardner

Editorial Editor

Opinion Editor

Melissa Geher

Entertainment Editors

Ariela Behar

Melina Wagner

Sports Editor

Ava Prapaniku

Back Cover Editor

Hayden Meixner

2022-2023 staff

Managing Editor

Téa Sklar

Social Media Leads

Hayden Meixner

Nandini Patro

Téa Sklar

Copy Editors

Ariela Behar

Melissa Geher

Kira Ivarsdottir

Dylan Kaseno

Hayden Meixner

Nandini Patro

For the record in Issue IV:

Online Editors

Josie Gardner

Hayden Meixner

Nandini Patro

Téa Sklar

Rohit Ukkan

Melina Wagner

Cameron Winick

Staff Writers

Shana Blair

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza

Nathan Fox

Jason Kiang

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 Print 365 co. For advertisement information, visit www. pantherprowler.org.

Gwen McCarthy

Features Editors

Dylan Kaseno

Rohit Ukkan

Taylor Gibson DPS Editor

Nandini Patro

Photographers

Chief // Parker Bohl

Isabella Boggs

Nathan Fox

Gwen McCarthy

Cameron Winick

Movie Reviewer

Vincent Bennett

Ava Prapaniku

Rohit Ukkan

Melina Wagner

Cameron Winick

Graphic Artists

Shana Blair

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza

Kai Mekari

Téa Sklar

Kai Mekari

Jack Ranney

Nikhil Satyagal

Brody Sinutko

Cameron Winick

Adviser

Michelle Saremi

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Emma Corlew spelled wrong on page 1 Téa Sklar spelled wrong on page 12

Turkey and Syria rattled by devastating earthquake

Jack Ranney Staff Writer

On Feb. 6, 2023, a massive, magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central Turkey and northern Syria, killing over 50,000 people and displacing 2.4 million others. Turkey’s infrastructure was unprepared for the disaster as 6,000 buildings collapsed amid the chaos.

Due to the fact that so many buildings collapsed so easily, Turkey’s government has sought to pin blame on those who designed the buildings in question. According to the BBC, “officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants for contractors have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday’s earthquake.”

However, even though the contractors were found to have been negligent, some experts allege that the government knew about this and turned a blind eye for years. “Government policies allowed so-called amnesties for contractors who swerved building regulations, in order to encourage a construction boom - including in earthquake-prone regions,” the BBC said.

Unfortunately, our home of California is vulnerable to such a disaster, due to its location on the San Andreas Fault. According to CBS News, “a renowned seismologist is warning that the same destruction could happen in cities sitting on the San Andreas Fault.”

While the construction industry in California is not faced with the same levels of endemic corruption as that in Turkey, that does not mean that the infrastructure could withstand such a disaster. “I want people to understand that, even here in California, we are not building buildings you can use after the earthquake,” Dr. Lucy Jones, seismologist and science adviser for the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, said.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake in California would cause catastrophic damage, and the recovery process would be a quagmire. “Officials have warned that the region could see major interruptions in power, gas and other vital services due to quake damage,” the LA Times said.

Chinese spy balloon stirs up fear in the US

TeaSklar/Prowler

Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 2023, a Chinese-operated high altitude balloon was spotted flying across Alaska, Canada and the contiguous United States before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

China claims that it was an innocuous weather balloon, and has accused the United States of withholding information regarding the incident. “The United States, from the recovery of the [balloon] remains to the analysis of the [balloon] debris, has completely acted on its own and in a surreptitious manner,” the foreign ministry’s spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, according to the online source, Reuters News Agency.

However, despite the fact that the Chinese government claimed that the balloon was harmless, the US military has recovered several censors from the wreckage. The search parties have discovered key sensors in the balloon that are typically used for intelligence gathering, according to Reuters.

This has caused some panic in the United

States Government, and the US Air Force has begun shooting down flying objects without knowing what they are. According to Ground News, “An Illinois-based club of amateur balloonists says one of its small balloons is ‘missing in action.’ It last reported its location over Alaska on Saturday, the same day the US military shot down an unidentified object.” This has led to criticism of the US military and government for being too trigger-happy, while others criticized the military for being too cautious and waiting to act during the initial balloon sighting.

North America is far from the only continent where China has been gathering intelligence using underhanded means. According to the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, China-linked hackers targeted nearly 40 industries across the world. While nothing is certain, China’s plans could show that it is investing heavy resources and, for better or worse, could soon rival the US as the world’s number one superpower.

Asteroid lights up the sky over the English Channel Islands

For only the seventh time in recorded history, space enthusiasts gathered to watch a once in a million asteroid airburst. This astrological event occurred on Feb. 13 at about 3 a.m.

Resembling a massive shooting star, the asteroid dashed the sky, momentarily as bright as the moon, over the English Channel Islands ending its run with a self-combusting explosion. The airburst was reported to have been seen as far as Paris, France.

The asteroid, named S2667 by scientists, was best viewed by onlookers in England, some enthusiasts reported to have stayed up all night for this occasion. The asteroid was about as large as a handful of stones, but its significance in the

sky streaked far larger.

The event, lasting about eight seconds long, swept diagonally across the sky, turning from a bright white to a green before self combusting and disappearing, just as suddenly as its appearance.

Modern technology ensured that this rare event would be shared with as many as possible.

The European Space Agency (ESA), used the Imminent Impactor System, which sends out alerts when an astrological event or impact is about to occur. The system sent out an alert to people in surrounding areas announcing the time and place the asteroid would take place, allowing them to experience this rare occurrence.

Hayden Meixner Backcover Editor

Jack Ranney Staff Writer

Survivors - Rescue workers scavange rubble in Turkey to look for anyone who might have survived the collapse. The fact that so many buildings collapsed so easily has led to lawsuits and arrests. Photo

Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal

Former County Executive Officer faces allegation of harassment

Josie Gardner News Editor

Taylor Gibson Editorial Editor

Recently ex-County Executive of Ventura County, Mike Powers, is facing a lawsuit for sexual and racial harassment. An anonymous former executive with the Ventura County Health Care Agency made the accusations, as well as claims that the county forced her out of her job as a response to her original complaints.

The female accuser reported that in Jan. 2019, after having a dinner together, Powers grabbed her and kissed her to which she put her hand up and said, “No.” According to the woman, Powers followed these advances by saying that he wanted to sleep with her and even going as far as trying to kiss her again. She also reported, about a month later, that Powers called her into his office and kissed her for a third time. At a later point, the employee had surgery and afterwards, Powers violated her medical leave by forcing her to work during her recovery. According to the accuser, Power had “sexualized” the work environment and treated her differently than the male employees.

In July 2019, she became aware of rumors about Powers having affairs and sleeping with employees. Later in time, the accuser reports that she was labeled as being one of “Mike’s women,” and being accosted due to it.

In addition to these sexual advances, coworkers reported that Powers had called her Pico Rivera, which he followed with her name. Another employee testified to overhearing him use the nickname. This is in reference to the racial stereotypes within what he assumed her upbringing to be, even though she was actually raised in Santa Monica. Both the report and the woman found this nickname to be extremely offensive.

Responding to allegations, Powers resigned from his position on Mar. 10, 2022. The decision occurred in a closed session that Powers was not included in. The county released a statement saying that Powers resigned to spend more time with his wife and his kids. He resigned two days after the Board of Supervisors voted to place him on paid administrative leave.

Adidas seeks to rebrand itself and move forward into the future

Melissa Geher Opinion Editor

After German sportswear company Adidas broke its contractual link with Kanye West and his Yeezy sneaker line in October 2022, the brand faced a major financial and ethical dilemma.

In a recent statement issued by the company relating to risks to its earnings in the future, Adidas decided not to sell existing merchandise, as they have officially cut of West. This decision is anticipated to reduce the company's annual sales by around $1.28 billion and its annual profit by $533 million if they cannot find a new use for Yeezys. Experts in the fashion amount of money could lose is so large has rarely

field.

Getting rid of unwanted, leftover products is a common dilemma for the retail industry. Adidas could try to resell their inventory in-store at a significant discount by removing the Yeezy-specific branding, a trademark of West’s brand. Adidas may make some money with this technique, but repackaging the goods presents its own difficulties.

The corporation thinks repurposing products at a significant discount could tarnish the brand's reputation. In order to turn a profit without harming their reputation in major consumer markets like the

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likely in developing nations.

It is no secret that repurposing the brand has its own risks. Retail experts believe that destroying unsold merchandise is not a viable strategy because of the financial loss and the potential to face backlash. Popular fashion companies such as Coach, Burberry and H&M have previously faced criticism for the same form of apparel disposal.

The experts at Adidas believe that donating merchandise is more beneficial for their reputation and sustainability purposes. With the recent Turkey-Syria earthquake, Adidas has had the great opportunity to donate to disaster relief. While it will give the company some the company is still yet

PETA euthanizes more animals than it helps

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is full of contradictions. They represent a fight against animal abuse, while actively harming animals. PETA has a shelter in Virginia that euthanizes more animals than it helps.

PETA owns and operates an open admission shelter in Virginia. According to PETA’s own website, it is a “shelter of last resort.” However, other shelters should be considered for animals that need care. “When impoverished families can’t afford to pay a veterinarian to provide incurable, untreatable, elderly, or sick animals with an end to their suffering, PETA will help,” said a PETA blog post from 2020. It’s great that they offer free treatments for pets whose families cannot afford it, however that’s all PETA has in terms of a good reputation.

In 2012, an article published by The Atlantic claimed that PETA “kills 84 percent of supposedly ‘unadoptable’ animals.” By unadoptable, they mean that the animal has a condition that requires extra responsibility. PETA doesn’t turn away any animal, even if it would be killed. The state of Virginia requires that shelters report the numbers of animals that they help. According to PETA’s 2011 VDACS form, 91% of dogs and 98% of the cats that they received were euthanized. At shelters all around the world, animals that are suffering have peaceful and painful deaths. If PETA’s shelter was similar to other shelters, less people would dislike them.

However, it is impossible that so many animals that arrive at PETA would require euthanization.

PETA’s shelter, even 11 years later, still has the same track record. In 2022, PETA killed 65% of the dogs and 78% of the cats they received. While that is an improvement, euthanized animals are still the majority. PETA’s founder, Ingrid Newkirk once said to the Virginian Pilot that “We are not in the home finding business, although it is certainly true that we do find homes from time to time: Our service is to provide a peaceful and painless death to animals no one wants.” It is clear that PETA cares more about a reputation based upon animal wellbeing, than actually providing the wellbeing that animals need. PETA receives tens of millions of dollars a year for their work, and more money should be allocated to their shelter. In 2011 alone, they had $30 million of revenue, and had $72 million in 2021. It is impossible for me to believe that they are unable to allocate more resources to improve their shelter. If they are to remain a shelter that turns no animal away, they need to make their shelter bigger, and work harder to find houses for them. There is always a home for animals that need one, and if PETA says that an animal is ‘unadoptable’, that just means that they aren’t working hard enough to help.

Mercado Guadalajara takes home the best burrito in town

After trying the signature burrito from six Mexican restaurants in Newbury Park, I have come to the conclusion that “Mercado Guadalajara” takes the throne. I can attest that burritos are not just food, but can fix life issues. No-one should be eating a mediocre burrito, and “Mercado Guadalajara” delivers quality burritos.

In my hunt for the best burrito, I stopped by Three Amigos, a go-to for many NPHS students. When I visited, I was immersed in the pleasant, appealing Mexican aesthetic. I ordered their signature “Three Amigos Burrito.” When I grasped the burrito, I was pleasantly surprised to see a nongreasy and well-structured burrito, and upon cutting it open it seemed quite appetizing. However, when I inhaled a deep waft of the burrito’s scent it did not have much to offer in terms of the aroma. This was a real letdown as the smell is a key part of a legendary burrito. In spite of my hopes, the steak lacked flavor and texture. The worst part of it all, I was charged an extra two dollars for mediocre steak. I enjoyed the rice, as it was the most flavorful aspect. However, the segregation of flavors was a big red flag for me.

Overall, “Three Amigos” is like a Drake album–overhyped and mediocre.

At Taco Bell, I wasn’t expecting much, however, the $4.39 price tag pleased my budget. To my disappointment, the poor tortilla craftsmanship was prominent with minor blowout issues. I bit into the “Burrito Supreme’’ loaded with typical burrito ingredients, however, none of them were solid; rather, the texture was more akin to a smoothie. I was hit with an artificial but undeniably delicious flavor. Taco Bell tastes delicious, but the lack of quality comes with drawbacks.

When I entered the “El Sancho Loco Taqueria “ The colorful dazzling lights that grazed my peripheral created an exciting atmosphere. Before I ordered this burrito, my expectations were high. The cross-section of their signature burrito was promising, the aroma made me quiver in the glory of this $17 burrito. After

that first bite, I reached burrito nirvana. However, this short moment would be cut by the devastating blowout that amounted to one bite. Like a Kanye album, this burrito is a masterpiece at first glance, however similar to Kanye, this burrito fell apart just like his career.

The night I visited Ruperto’s, I was horrified and the burrito brought me back to the trauma of my parent’s divorce, as we could only afford $1 microwave burritos. I had to add Sriracha just to continue eating because this $13 burrito was cold, uncooked, and dry.

At Sharky’s, I was delivered a solid burrito. This burrito was packed with ingredients and made me feel healthy. The health factor reassured me about my life choices, as over the course of my “research,” I surely have packed on the pounds. Sharky’s makes a fine burrito, however, the atmosphere is lacking as the only music playing was Maroon 5, which disappointed me because I’m pretty sure Adam Levine is not Mexican.

The Mercado Guadalajara, a gem in our community that truly deserves the win. The interior is filled with the delicious smell of slow-cooking meat. The people in the store are friendly. The Mercado’s environment made me feel as if I was in a different country. When I bit into the “Burrito Regular”, I knew it was the winner; this burrito out-classed the other burritos. Its fabulous tortilla, tasty rice and beans, mouthwatering steak and their salsa tied everything in the 11-dollar burrito.

There is no other burrito in Newbury Park that outshines the Mercado Guadalajara. Their burrito hits the nail on every point that factors into a great burrito in its atmosphere, quality and affordability. In my opinion, there is no other burrito joint that you should visit.

Let Kids Draw in Class

When I was 11-years-old, I received my first C letter grade. It was on a notebook submission and points had been docked for disorganization. I fanned through the spiral bound pages, which had red Sharpie minus signs next to the various characters I had inked between chapter notes. Utterly heartbroken, I decided the next unit would be a caricature-free zone.

My teacher did not want me doing art while she was teaching. Unfortunately, I was bored out of my mind without any creative entertainment. The next unit in my notebook was not only doodle-free, it was mathfree.

During a later year, I had a teacher raise her voice at me for drawing during a lecture. She was a passionate speaker who would aggressively pace back and forth while speaking. Personally, it made me anxious. Having somewhere to put the nervous energy, whether in a drawing of a cat bristling like a cactus or a kid jumping down a manhole to get away, helped me let go of my agitation and process the lesson she was spitting at the class.

Maybe by shouting and insisting I drop the pen, my teacher wanted to demand discipline. However, upon the release of her fury, my chest filled with a terror that sadly left no room for a disciplinary takeaway. If she meant to scare me into concentrating in her class, she scared me out of it.

Anecdotes aside, I understand the want for focus in the classroom. It makes sense for teachers to want their students to respect them and their work enough to pay attention. Education is a privilege, but for some students, focusing on one thing at a time is near impossible.

The majority of us are not trying to be defiant. It is just the way certain brains are wired. I prefer to do three or four things at once. In my house, there is often a dining table covered in abstract art made from spaghetti noodles, an ottoman with a painted t-shirt drying over it, needle nose pliers and wire on my desk upstairs and an open sketchbook with cartoon concepts crammed into all four corners (the sketchbook goes where I go).

To someone who prefers not to multitask, this may sound like mayhem. For me, it is a working system. The subject surfing keeps me most consistently engaged in them all, and I finish projects without burning out.

I know I cannot have quite as many real life tabs open in school, but if something as non-disruptive as sketching while I listen can miniaturize my home system, what is with the learning style prohibition? Maybe I will actually go somewhere with art someday, and my teachers can pat themselves on the back for letting me do… whatever it is I do.

In the end, it is how I most effectively learn. That is the ultimate goal of both myself and, hopefully, my instructors. To reap the benefits of the academic environment, I and others like myself deserve the freedom to use tools that work for us.

Nathan Fox Staff Writer

Brody Sinutko Staff Writer

Shana Blair Graphic Artist

Cameron Winick/Prowler

Shana Blair/Prowler

Shana Blair/Prowler

The Oscar nominations underwhelmed me

The 2023 Academy Award nominations were announced in late January, and I have very mixed thoughts on them. Every year we have the sweeps and snubs, but this year, I was overall disappointed by the nominations.

The Oscars have lost a lot of attention and credibility over the years for their clear bias towards and against some celebrities and genres. There are times when it seems like they forget about movies that were worthy, like the past year’s Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” Ti West’s “Pearl,” and Robert Eggers’ “The Northman.” Every year there are movies that get nominated in most of the categories, and this year, those films are “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Every year, there’s also a collection of movies that get unexpectedly nominated or really become heavy hitters across the board of categories. An example of this is “Elvis,” which got nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Film Editing, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, all being well-deserved. This is fantastic news for me as the film was one of my favorites of last year. Austin Butler is also my pick for the Best Actor win, even over Brendan Fraser’s phenomenal performance in “The Whale,” the other nomination that people are pushing for a win.

There are movies that severely underperformed at getting nominations, one of these being “The Batman.” I may have a slight bias, as it was my favorite film of last year, but I still see the underrepresentation comic book movies tend to get from The Academy, aside from a couple of exceptions like 2019’s “Joker” and 2018’s “Black Panther.” “The Batman’’ was only nominated for Sound,

Visual Effects, and Makeup and Hairstyling.

The competition for the Sound Oscar is high with the presence of movies like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Elvis.” “Avatar: The Way of Water” is also the front runner for Visual Effects, but I think nothing else should win. “The Batman” truly deserves the win for Makeup and Hairstyling just for the work done on Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and that’s just one example of the fantastic makeup and hairstyling in the movie.

Most of my frustration comes from the sweep that was the nominations for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” It was nominated in 11 categories, the record of this year’s award season. I did really like this movie, but one of my biggest pet peeves is when people go crazy over a movie I didn’t think was as good as it was reviewed. This makes the movie I liked feel overrated and that really affects my enjoyment of the movie itself. To add to that, getting so many nominations over movies I find to be much more worthy really bothers me.

To be fair, this issue only comes up when we have a great year for movies which is what 2022 was. I’ve ranked all the 2022 movie releases I watched on my own time and out of the 75 releases I watched, I’d say the top 28 were all great movies. As of right now, I’ve only seen two 2023 movies and I’m hesitant to call either of them good movies. With that, it’s clear to me that next year’s award season will start up a different kind of conversation.

I’m not overly thrilled about what movies were nominated this year, but there was no shortage of great movies that were released in 2022, nominated or not.

Programs distort reasons for reading

Developing independent reading habits in elementary and middle school students positively impacts society in an unquantifiable way. This is the pretense that the Accelerated Reader (AR) program from the company Renaissance was introduced to my elementary and middle school in Ventura. In the CVUSD, the “Reading Counts” program by Scholastic is used by elementary schools and is essentially the same program with slightly different terminology. Both programs limit the books children can read and heavily influence the way in which they think about what they have read.

The AR program bases its system on the STAR test, which aims to assess the reading comprehension skills of students. This test determines the students’ Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The ZPD is the range of reading levels students can read in according to AR. This limits the books students are encouraged to read on the basis of reading comprehension skills rather than content. Students are encouraged to read books the school thinks are “at their level,” rather than choosing stories that they are interested in.

In addition to this, students must take tests on the books they read. The tests are not based on an understanding of the text, but rather a collection of details about plot points, descriptions, or

minor events in order to determine if the student actually read the book. If a student earns less than 70% on a quiz, in most schools the quiz will not count for any points whatsoever, and therefore the book does not. This is the core issue with AR and Reading Counts, because the quizzes only contain details and events from the texts students are trained to find only these elements and treat reading as a chore.

Many students from my old middle school in Ventura to others in Calabasas view these quizzes as pointless busywork. This outlook leads to people sharing quiz answers and cheating on reading comprehension assessments, further removing the results of these programs from the goals the schools implemented them to achieve.

As a whole, the AR system, and others like it, teach students that reading is an assignment where you keep track of facts so you can do well on a test. This is how so many lose their love for reading, and a system like this convinces us there is nothing more behind the words we read than their literal definitions. Alternatively, simple assignments like book reports or discussions with peers allow students to look at what they have read in a much more meaningful way, which encourages them to figure out what the author is really trying to convey.

Restore the integrity of Super Bowl commercials

Cameron Winick Staff Writer

The year is 1984. Two of the most famous and effective advertising campaigns have just dropped during Super Bowl XVIII, those being Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef” commercial, as well as Apple’s “1984” commercial. When initially brought into the public zeitgeist, these were immediate successes. They had achieved the ultimate goal of any Super Bowl commercial: becoming news and therefore, getting free replays. Since then, it seems like every company has tried to recreate the success of the 1984 Super Bowl commercials, without any of the tact or innovation.

Super Bowl commercials are in a crisis. What used to be a playground for big ideas and brand-new marketing techniques has fallen into a grating routine. A person used to be able to tune in and be surprised by a genuinely creative and funny commercial, but now it seems as though everyone has caught on to the repetitive nature of Super Bowl commercials.

For example, every year I can expect at least three commercials where the whole “joke” is two celebrities standing next to each other talking about something unfunny. Oftentimes, it will be a younger celebrity with an older celebrity to reach as many demographics as possible. It is my understanding that this trend gained popularity during Super Bowl XXVIII, with the famous McDonald’s commercial starring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. What made that commercial special, however, was the entire conceit of the premise. Seeing two of the world’s most famous basketball players who, at the time, were rivals in the game, have a oneon-one for the prospect of a Big Mac is both endearing and brilliant.

One of the most tragic instances of a good format-gone stale are the genre of commercials where an older actor returns to recreate a shot-for-shot remake of a movie or TV show in order to sell a product. I’m not quite sure when or how this trend started, but every year it appears again makes it just slightly more annoying. This year alone, Super Bowl LVII had two of these commercials: The “Clueless” ad for Rakuten, starring Alicia Silverstone, and the “Breaking Bad” ad where Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul reprise their roles as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman respectively in order to sell Popcorners. The “Clueless” commercial felt soulless, like a vacuum sucking up the last bit of good integrity that the property had. The “Breaking Bad” ad was slightly less egregious, since it wasn’t just a shot-for-shot scene recreation, but it does feel slightly odd that the last appearance of two of the most iconic fictional characters of all time are relegated to a commercial for popcorn-flavored chips.

Creativity is lacking in these new commercials. Everything feels more artificial, rather than genuine. The worst thing that a commercial could possibly do is remind you that it was created solely to sell something. Super Bowl commercials used to be able to fool people, making them forget like a wonderful magic trick. Unfortunately, the more times an audience sees the same trick, the more they’ll begin to see through it. The only way Super Bowl commercials will remain a fun tradition is to become more creatively driven and less of whatever the marketing team has in their Rolodex.

Vincent Bennett Movie Reviewer

Parker Bohl Chief Photographer

Kai Mekari/Prowler

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Talent flourishes in Conejo Theater for Everyone

Gwen McCarthy Staff Writer

Conejo Theater for Everyone is a program that runs through Conejo Recreation and Park District’s therapeutic Recreation Unit and teams up with Young Artist Ensemble to give opportunities to performers with disabilities. On Feb. 24 through the 26 the actors performed “Descendants” a musical based off of the Disney Channel original movies. And those movies are about the kids of the most famous villains and iconic Disney movies, and how they navigate the worlds that they’ve created from the movies.

McKenna Tedrick, director of the “Descendants” production, has now officially directed five plays. “I think this is the first one [play] I’ve ever gotten paid for. So that’s been really cool, but I think I’ve directed four [plays] before this Yeah, so this makes it five,” Tedrick said.

Isabella Rose, an actress who played Mal in the production,felt a strong connection between herself and the character she portrays. “It was definitely a very complicated role, with a lot of complex feelings,” Rose said. “[There was] lots of anger [that had to be portrayed] and then switching back from like, kind of not

Nandini Patro DPS Editor Nikhil Satyagal Staff Writer

On March 2, the second annual student musician showcase took place in the NPHS Performing Arts Center. Made up of Tri-M Music Honor Society students, IB Music students and student musicians across campus, this showcase donated $600 of their profits to the Harmony Project, which is a nonprofit, music education organization that provides free music instruction to underprivileged students in Ventura County.

Students from various musical backgrounds came together to put on a unique performance. Deepa Venkat, senior and the president of Tri-M Honor’s Society, enjoyed the creative aspect of the showcase. “This is the first concert that was entirely student-led, from writing pieces, planning rehearsals and choosing accompanists, backing tracks, performance attire, etcetera. I think that it was really amazing to see everyone’s creativity come together as performers and musicians,” Venkat said.

The performance was also marked by its focus on the student. Tina Huang, orchestra director and IB music teacher at NPHS, takes pride in the students’ work. “It’s not a typical ensemble where you have one person directing a whole group. Most of the pieces are student run in small groups, without the presence of a conductor.

Showtime - Justin Tham, NPHS senior, playing the song “Wake Up” on the piano at the showcase. The concert was great, me and the band had fun… [I] would definitely recommend the event for newer bands or just in general, musicians,” Tham said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

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liking people and then pretending to be nice and then eventually becoming a good person.” Rose said.

Katherine Serena, the actress who performed as Ben in the production, felt that it was an easier role to act in than others. “It was more fun to get to mess around with the things that I did, like how to portray them,” Serena said. Serena is happy being able to perform in a play that offers more inclusivity in the community. “I think [the play] is very inclusive and I’m very glad that they do it because it’s so fun getting to meet more people,” Serena said. When performing, Serena prefers to have a live audience because of the feedback and encouragement she receives when performing. “I think the pros are that you get a live audience and they’re always really reactive and they laugh at your jokes and they [gasp] and they clap and it helps give you some form of confidence to be up there,” Serena said.

The program had a successful weekend, completely selling out their Friday and Saturday shows. “I think that every person in this show was casted perfectly. I think everybody has just grown into their role so beautifully,” Tedrick said.

Student Musician Showcase wows the audience

My role in it has mainly been mentor and advisor to each individual group,” Huang said.

The event was an exceptional experience for the audience, with a combination of musical performances unlike any other. David Kwon, senior, was awed by the unique combination of musical performances. “There were a diverse range of genres that were performed, including classical, country, rock and anime,” Kwon said.

The untraditional mix of songs and genres gave the event a special touch, but for the audience, the event was made more special by blurbs read out about each student’s perspective in composing or choosing their song. “[The blurbs] allowed the audience to understand where the student was coming from when writing their piece, which enabled them to listen to it in an entirely different way,” Venkat said.

Ultimately, the event served as an enjoyable experience for the performers and audience alike while also giving back to the community. “It was really gratifying to see all of the club’s hard work result in an event that individual students were able to enjoy so much and that helped the community,” Venkat said.

Sing - Ana Sharp played Maleficent in Conejo Theater for Everyone’s production of “Descendants”. The cast put in an incredible amount of time to perfect their performance, which took place Feb. 24 through the 26. The play was a huge success, with shows completely selling out on Friday and Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Paul Cranmer

Apart from sculpting her students academically, Christy Hodson forged them into stronger people. She was a teacher everyone wanted to resemble as she not only set high standards in English, but for one’s character as well. Hodson had a passion for her job and a love for her subject that when together, was impossible to ignore. The advice and words of wisdom she shared will not end with her passing, and instead will carry on through her students. Whether they have already graduated from NPHS, or are still attending, her students affectionately credit her part in shaping the person they are today.

The transition from middle school to high school is often full of challenges, but having Hodson as a teacher made the shift much easier for Abigail Thuna, sophomore. Thuna felt fortunate to always have Hodson in her back pocket, even if the topic was not school related. “She just taught us to really be ourselves and not to be afraid of that, or worry about what others may think…She really helped me come out of my shell,” Thuna said. “She was so incredibly hands-on with each and every one of her students. Every single one of her students was her top priority.”

Hodson has been intertwined with her students reminiscing of their previous high school years, as well as their laughter. Thuna feels lucky to have experienced such a positive relationship, and how uniquely Hodson’s class operated. “My first thought, when I think of her, is just, her quips and banter with students and her little fake little arguments she’d have [with students],” Thuna said. Hodson was able to also incorporate her passions into daily lessons, giving her students a break from the constant rigor of work. “During class one time, she brought us out to the quad. She got up on the stage and she just did her own little hula routine,” Thuna said.

Ms. Hodson lives with

“There

Jason Wu, senior at NPHS, noted that Hodson went above and beyond the standards of the education system to ensure that those within her life were doing well, and if they gave an indication otherwise, Hodson spent time either offering advice or being everyone’s confidant. “She really took the time and effort to get to know us. It wasn’t like the common feedback of exceeding or needing work or something like that, she would actually take the time and talk to us and pull us aside,” Wu said.

There are also many fond memories of Hodson’s continual effort to push her students to their full capability. “There was a time when I was talking with some friends outside about how I completely did not try on my essay and she overheard and in the middle of the class she kind of exposed me, it was really funny,” Wu said. “She was like ‘you know, I heard a student outside and they just started talking about how they did not care about the essay at all’ and all my friends just looked at me and she just laughed. And she pointed me out and it was really funny. It was just that kind of vibe where everyone was very supportive and fun.”

Aidan Behar, a freshman at California State University Fullerton, had Ms. Hodson during his last year at NPHS and remembers her personality and demeanor in the classroom. “My first impression was that she definitely was a very, very kind soul, very gentle soul. Someone who was passionate about what they did. She had a very, very contagious smile [that] never left her face and that would just brighten my day sometimes,” Behar said.

When the long periods started to take a toll on students, Hodson would take the class outside for breaks, something other teachers normally do not do. “We would actually sometimes take breaks in class and go outside for a walk,” Behar said. “I remember when we would walk around, and I would just have a conversation with her. I think personally, I had this bond with her, in a sense, where I felt like I was able to just talk to her about what was going on in my life.”

Hodson always reminded her students to be their best, kindest selves. Those students now feel especially inspired to do so, reflecting Hodson’s significant impact on the lives around her.

“She made me see the world in a new, much more positive way. She was just this ball of positive energy with anyone she came in touch with,” Thuna said.

While Christy Hodson was one of the key contributors to Newbury Park High School’s reputation as “Nice People High School,” she also spread her caring persona beyond her own students, and into clubs and other organizations. Hodson’s remarkable ways have left strong impressions on different groups in Newbury Park, all of which treasure their time spent together.

In addition to being an incredible teacher, Hodson was also a key part of the NPHS cancer awareness club, and as the club’s advisor, helped to ensure that every meeting was informational, as well as a comfortable place where anyone was welcome. Parker Shubin, junior, and treasurer of the club was able to build a strong connection with Hodson through the club’s meetings. Shubin was always able to ask Hodson for advice, and knew that he would receive an impactful answer. “Knowing her as a club advisor, she was just such a remarkable human being really. She just had so much empathy for others and she just came to each club meeting with a big smile on her face. She was just always happy,” Shubin said. Shubin also recalls a unique experience he had with Hodson that demonstrated her willingness to connect with everyone and their struggles. She never shied away from sharing her own challenges if she knew it would benefit another. “Personally, she was actually one of the people who I went to deal with my struggles since I was actually diagnosed with a brain tumor, [which was] the reason I joined the cancer awareness club, and so having someone to talk to who went through similar things as I faced in my life is really really nice,” Shubin said. “When we were going through adversity she went to me and I went to her and we both got to talk it out and help each other get through the tough times.”

Hodson also expressed her spirit and passions through dance. 10 years ago, Hodson began taking hula dancing lessons from June Rust, who feels lucky to have had the privilege of watching the relationship between the other hula dancers and Hodson grow stronger, until it was as if they were family. “All her hula sisters are going to miss her terribly, because we always did a lot of things together. As a whole group we would perform together, and

Hula - Ms. Hodson, featured with past members of the IB dance program, shared her love of Hula with other student dancers.

was one day [where] we actually, a whole class, went out. She did a Hula performance for us, which was really, really cool,” Behar said. Ms. Dogancay/With Permission

Family - Ms. Hodson shared a close relationship with her family, increasingly so with “She basked in the affection of her grandson, the relationship they had was so special,” said. Eileen Zhang/With Permission

Support - Members of the Cancer Awareness Club, “She made sure that the kids in the club were passionate about cancer and cancer awareness,” Nguyen said. Ms. Dogancay/ With Permission

Hodson changed with love

Christy Hodson was the light, the strength, and the passion of Newbury Park High School. The epitome of caring, she regarded everyone with a judgment free mindset and kindness, no matter the situation. She always found the good in the bad, and spread the light of good to everyone around her. Throughout her years of teaching, Hodson developed close relationships and forged memories with her coworkers that will be cherished beyond her parting. Hodson’s fellow teachers kindly reflect on their time spent together and the lasting impact she made on their lives.

Being able to find the one person who understands you, who loves you for simply being you, and who is just ‘your’ person is one of the greatest gifts life could give. Deborah Dogancay, Chemistry teacher, received that gift in her friendship with Hodson. “She certainly saw me. She saw all my parts - the unfiltered me, the ugly parts I had hoped to hide… and somehow she only saw and acknowledged the good,” Dogancay said. “She lifted me and everyone around her up. And oh that laugh. I can hear her laugh and see her persistent smile in my mind and it brings me a joy that I will keep with me always.”

Wherever Hodson went, she created a safe environment where people could let their guard down. Vannessa Denchfield, English teacher, was welcomed by Hodson with open arms, who created a welcoming, friendly atmosphere on campus for her. “She was a friend who was like a mom. She only gave love and nurturing and warmth and just listened to me complain and offered really good advice,” Denchfield said. “I always laughed within ten seconds of talking to her. I could be in the worst mood ever and then I run into Christy and I’d be laughing immediately.”

No matter what Hodson was going through, she was always there to check up on others and help out in any way she could. Seana Mekari, English teacher, fondly recollects memories of how fierce Hodson was, but also the tenderness and raw emotion that shined within her. “She was fierce and she advocated for all of the teachers under her and on the staff. I respected the fact that she could be present for us at every level. Even when I had an injury and was out for months, she supported me and came and made food for me and took care of me,” Mekari said.

“I just love her. And I miss her. And I’ve missed her for a while. And I hope that when it came down to it, I hope she understood the impact that she had. And I hope that she took that with her.”

Although the two did not cross paths, Steve Johnson, History teacher, and Hodson attended NPHS at the same time. Both Johnson and Hodson had a full circle moment as they came back to teach at the school they attended. Since working together, the two bonded over their shared high school experiences, as well as their love for teaching the youth. “Her humanity and genuine concern for other people, whether it was

her students or colleagues or family, really kind of separated her from other people,” Johnson said. “She showed how important it was to think about what students are going through and the obstacles and things they have to overcome. And to really see that an important part of being a teacher is knowing.”

To remember Hodson is to also remember the authenticity of her, her empathy and her passions. For as long as Michelle Saremi, English teacher, knew Hodson, she felt that Hodson’s true personality always stayed vibrant and honest. “She was always real. If you asked her how she was doing she would tell you. She wouldn’t say ‘oh, good’, which is the response that you’re expecting because you don’t actually want to engage in a conversation,” Saremi said. “She’s the teacher that would come in to say hi and actually sit down and talk for a while. She’s the teacher where if a kid was struggling and shared that with her, she would think about it and she would talk about it with her colleagues who could give her some advice. And she internalized and just cared so much.”

Hodson’s memory and legacy will forever be remembered in the hearts of her colleagues, students and her community. To cherish her and to honor her is to act with kindness, to check up on others and to genuinely care for everyone, as that is what she would want to see. “Her bright light forever changed us,” Dogancay said.

when someone was sad, we would all cry,” Rust said. Her hula family will keep their fellow dancer close to their hearts, as the group came together to perform a dance at NPHS Interact Club’s Dance for Hope, honoring Hodson. “Well, [we danced] a song called ‘Mapu Mau Ke’Ala’, and we dedicated it to her because it’s a song that a lady wrote about her best friend, and in the songs, she remembered the fun things they used to do. But at the end it says, ‘even though you’re gone and your scent will always remain here with us,” Rust said.

Hodson is known throughout campus as someone who would immediately wave or say hello as she passed by anyone she knew. Hodson also always put in an extreme amount of work into getting to know those around her on a more personal level. Mina Nguyen, senior, and president of the Cancer Awareness Club built a strong relationship with Hodson due to their collaborative efforts to run the club, as well as their conversations about their personal lives. “I would see her interact with new members [of the club]. Then when I came into some of her classes just to set up for the club early, I noticed that she would talk to her seniors about their plans for the weekend, or get to know where they worked,” Nguyen said. “She tried to truly build a connection with someone on a deeper basis than just student and teacher.”

Across the many different groups in which Hodson was involved, she regarded them all with the utmost attention and compassion. The appreciation and admiration that people around Newbury Park, both at the high school and beyond, have for Hodson will continue far into the future. Her encouragement towards her friends as well as students is surely something to applaud and look up to. “She always just said to always have a smile on your face. Always live life with a positive outlook; always be optimistic. Be kind to others and good things will happen to you.” Shubin said. “Hodson will be greatly missed, she was such an amazing person and she made a really, really large impact on this school and in our community in general.”

Ava Prapaniku Sports Editor Ariela Behar Entertainment Writer

Isabella Boggs Staff Writer Téa Sklar Managing Editor

A hui hou - Janet Conner, Christy Hodson, Jennifer Lockwood and Deborah Dogancay hold close as they pose for a picture. The tight-knit group cherished their time together. Ms. Dogancay/With Permission

Mahalo Ms. Hodson - Hodson was a member of the Ka Mele Wai o Ke Anuenue hula dance group. “[Hodson] would just come to be here because she said it just gave her a nice peace,” Rust said. Eileen Zhang/With Permission

Holoholo - Vanessa Denchfield, Christy Hodson and Deborah Dogancay gathered together. The three were close and enjoyed each other’s company. Ms. Dogancay/With Permission

with her grandson. special,” Saremi

Student

Zoe Crumrine/Sophomore

1

What is the seventh zodiac sign?

Crumrine: Libra

Halpert: “Taurus”

A: Libra

0-1

It was written in the stars.

2

What year was the first iPhone released?

Crumrine: 2007

Halpert: 2003

A: 2007

0-2

iKnow this answer.

3

What three states share a border with California?

Crumrine: Arizona, Nevada, Oregon

Halpert: Arizona, Nevada Oregon

A: Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon

1-3

Not knowing this answer would be borderline criminal.

4

Who was the winner of American Idol season one?

Crumrine: Unsure

Halpert: Kelly Clarkson

A: Kelly Clarkson

2-3

This killed Zoe but made Halpert stronger.

5

What year was Thousand Oaks incorporated?

Crumrine: 1963

Halpert: 1953

A: 1964

2-3

These answers are not oak-ay.

VS

Nathan Fox Staff Writer

Crumrine Wins! 5-2

Jennifer Halpert/English Teacher

6

What is Barbie’s real name?

Crumrine: Barbara Roberts

Halpert: Unsure

A: Barbara Roberts

2-4

Be a Ken, not a chad.

7

What Greek mythological creature is featured in the Starbucks logo?

Crumrine: A Siren

Halpert: Aphrodite

A: A Siren

2-5

Mediocre coffee isn’t a Greek myth!

8

How many album units has Taylor Swift sold?

Crumrine: 700 million

Halpert: 6 million

A: 51 million units

2-5

They were fearless in answering this question wrong.

9

When was the first Super Bowl?

Crumrine: 1971

Halpert: 1966

A: 1967

2-5

The super bowl needs a super answer.

10

How many feet are in a mile?

Nathan Fox/Prowler

Crumrine: 1,200 ft

Halpert: 1,500 ft

A: 5,280 ft

2-5

Answer this right or take a mile hike!

Musical stars arise from Newbury Park High School

From Belinda Carlisle from “The Go Gos” and Jesse James Rutherford from “The Neighbourhood,” it is no secret that NPHS has produced many musicians. Our campus is filled with talented students who even have their own bands.

Among these bands, Darwin Rowland, freshman, leads a band called “No Idea,” with fellow bandmates: Lucas Willard, freshman, Summer Jones, senior, Tommy Anthony, freshman, and TJ Elliot, eighth grader. The band has gained local fame across Camarillo, frequently performing at the El Rey Cantina, located in Camarillo’s old town. While all this fame and fortune has gotten to many rockstars’ heads, Rowland’s heart for music reigns true. “It’s a very family-driven thing [performing], but I got that gene that just loves it, and so it means a lot to me[...] It’s something I’m really good at,” Rowland said. To catch “No Idea’s” self-described “90s old stuff” music, they will be performing at the Camarillo Beer Festival on March 18th, and at the Strawberry Festival on April 28th located at Convair Street, which just so happens to be in old town Camarillo. The notoriety gained by these student bands further exemplifies their dedication to their art.

With social media being a main source of publicity in modern years, “Microscopicmoments” utilizes TikTok as a building ground to share their unique style. Lead guitarist Nat Meyer, sophomore, bassist Zoey Blair, junior, and lead vocalist Tegan Farrell, senior, members relate to their unique style of what Blair describes as the “math rock” genre of the music and uses it as a method to cope with the challenges of life, and be in tune with their emotions.

Student bands like “Microscopicmoments” allow artists to have an unprecedented opportunity to express themselves through the medium of music.

“As someone who doesn’t really write lyrics, [playing the guitar is] a great way to express emotions in ways that aren’t words because sometimes you just can’t find the words to explain something, and sometimes music can describe it better,” Meyer said. Although “Microscopicmoments” is a newly formed band who found their preferred medium on TikTok, they truly prefer performing live.

Students by day and rockstars by night, the band “Just Play,” provides a space where members from many different backgrounds can perform in harmony. Davis Armstrong, senior, leads the band on the drums, David Stewart, junior, and Harry Sera, senior, on guitar, Jackson Rippon, junior, on bass, Justin Tham, senior, and Jacob Brusseau, senior, on keyboard and percussion. They are a new group who “banded together” and share their common passion for their self-described “jazz-inspired funk band.” They recently performed for the Student Musicians Showcase this March. “The only thing that really unifies us is music, [as we] don’t see each other outside of music,” Armstrong said.“There’s a lot of people who are from different walks of life and our paths have all kind of converged at this one point, to music, and that’s where we meet.”

NPHS’s thriving music scene gives musicians the opportunity to express themselves through their art.

“I could be amazing at sports. I could be amazing intellectually. I’ve got the music. That’s all I need,” Rowland said.

Brody Sinutko Staff Writer

Setting the tempo - Davis Armstrong plays the drums at the March Tri-M Music Honor Society showcase accompanied by his band “Just Play.” “I love that music is like a language that can be heard throughout the world, like there are no barriers that you need in order to understand it,” Armstrong said. Parker Bohl/ Prowler

Paramore’s “This is Why” is a stellar comeback album

Ariela Behar

Entertainment

After a five year hiatus, Paramore released their 10th studio album “This is Why” on Feb. 10. The three members of Paramore have been making music for almost two decades, and this album proves that they are building and improving upon their alternative rock sound. However, this album differs from their past projects as the subjects they write about have evolved as they’ve grown into adulthood. Depressing news channels, chiropractic appointments and still feeling young while your body gets older are just a few of the new ideas Paramore explores in “This is Why.”

The titular opening track “This is Why,” which was also their comeback single, sets up the album with a high, angsty and even danceable energy that is maintained throughout most of the album. A little down the album is “Running out of Time.”

This song was my personal favorite on the album, and it strongly reminds listeners of Hayley Williams’ power and range, and how she defined 2000s alternative music with her voice. The concept of poor time management is one familiar to all, and the musicality is clever in reflecting the feeling. The slow rise of the first verse into the

explosive chorus truly captures the anxiety tied to procrastination. With exceptional songs continuing down the album, the final two songs especially stand out. “Crave” is a bittersweet song about trying to capture the happiness of the present moment. The music that backs up the wistful lyrics emphasizes the theme as the bass plays a melody that evokes a coming-of-age feel. The final track, “Thick Skull” is a powerful closer for the project. Although it’s last, it was the first song written for the album. The song is nearly satirical since Williams sings of herself with all the hateful perceptions that have been placed upon her throughout the years. Knowing that this is the final album that Paramore is set to release under their label’s contract, this song becomes much more daunting. Although it is not a happy ending, it is a necessary one.

KaiMekari/Prowler

“Poker Face,” a new show on Peacock, is a wildly inventive and refreshing take on the standard murder mystery formula. The show is directed and written by known appreciator and reinventor of the genre mystery, Rian Johnson, who also directed the critically acclaimed murder mystery “Knives Out.” Johnson brings new life to the genre in the modern era, now putting that life into television.

Natasha Lyonne, best known for her work in “Orange is the New Black” and “Russian Dolls,” is the main star of “Poker Face.” The story follows Charlie Cale’s journey through the country as she runs from a vengeful casino owner. Cale goes from state to state, solving mysteries in small towns. Her uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying is what sets her apart from the regular detective. Using this, she solves various murders of people she encounters along the way.

This show is exceptionally unique, not like any murder mystery I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. Unlike a character in a singular location, it’s across the states. In most mysteries, an investigator is suave, cunning, professional, and well-mannered. Cale, on the other hand, is extremely raunchy, dangerously impulsive, intuitive, and loyal. She would commonly put herself in direct danger in search of justice for her friends that she made while on the run.

However, Cale is still a real person. Oftentimes when reflecting on various shows, I realize the characters don’t act like actual people.

Overall, “This is Why,” is an incredibly successful album, especially after coming back from a five year breakup. It is perfect for introducing the genre of alternative rock to new and old listeners of Paramore.

This show found a way to humanize the main character, allowing the audience to sympathize with her. Cale isn’t a wealthy and wellrespected detective but a (at first glance) random, broke, and untrustworthy sleuth. Her casual demeanor, eccentric mannerisms, and old car add realism to the show. These minor details turn her into a relatable character, just trying to make it through another day, following her moral compass.

The show also features a slew of guest stars. Stephanie Hsu, Ellen Barkin, Nick Nolte, Chloё Sevigny, Judith Light, Joseph GordonLevitt, and Benjamin Bratt. These stars are all at a range of pace of careers bringing a refreshing variety. And they also are one of many features that bring life and spontaneity to “Poker Face.”

Unique is one of many ways to describe this show. One of the main reasons for that is the show’s format. Each story starts with a murder and a brief build-up. Then, we back up and see how Cale is inserted into the life of the victim and culprit. During which, you can never guess what will happen next, constantly keeping the viewer on their toes.

“Poker Face” is a comedic and exciting new take on murder mystery shows. It has a new type of detective and a new type of murder. It definitely is a worthy watch because who would hate a nosey, raspyvoiced, and raunchy detective?

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Natasha Lyonne brings unmatchable comedy to “Poker Face”

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“Cocaine Bear” will crack you up

Vincent Bennett Movie Reviewer

“Cocaine Bear,” released on Feb. 24, tells the story of drugrunners dropping cocaine into a Georgia forest when, unfortunately, a bear beats them to picking up the drug load. The bear ingests more and more cocaine as the movie goes on, along with meeting and interacting with an assortment of unique groups.

The curious anticipation of this wild concept brought the movie surprising box office numbers. It has earned $55.6 million worldwide with a $35 million budget. Although they’ve yet to make a profit, this is still extremely impressive as they made their money in the midst of a Marvel movie, movies known for dominating the box office.

The best part of the movie is easily the bear herself. Any scene that the bear is in is the movie at its best with its humor and self awareness. The gore was plentiful and kept me entertained for the entire 95 minute runtime. The cast includes Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Keri Russell, and one of the final appearances of Ray Liotta before his death. I really enjoyed this cast as they play stereotypes, such as rednecks and kingpins. These different groups of people cross paths with the bear, making for funny, over the top interactions.

However, past the humor and cast, this movie tended to disappoint me. Although I enjoyed seeing the actors, I didn’t enjoy the actual characters they played, except for a select few. This is a shame as there were one or two characters in each storyline that I liked. Along with this, there are about 5 storylines going on throughout the movie, making the story convoluted for no particular reason. The crossing storylines were unnecessary for the goal of the movie’s experience.

Elizabeth Banks, the director of the movie, was trying to recapture the feel of a 1980s movie to complement the 1985 setting. There’s a foundational 80s synth score, but they’ll

play a music cue for a specific moment that sounded too modern and at times only serves a comedic moment.

This leads to one of my biggest issues with the movie: it couldn’t pick the kind of comedy it wanted to be. At times it was slapstick, and then meta, and then dialogue that’s almost like stand-up comedy and it did not blend together well.

In my opinion, movies like this need to feel like they’ve climaxed in the third act to get that ultimate taste of B-movie fun. But this never quite reaches those heights for me. I can see the movie working on paper but I think the execution of it was underwhelming.

Even though this is a turn your brain off B-movie, as the target audience, I wasn’t a fan of the execution of a very funny concept inspired by a true story. For now, I’ll give it a 2.5 / 5.

be: a chaotic, graphic, and hilarious movie about people encountering a bear on cocaine.”

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” bewildered me

Vincent Bennett Movie Reviewer

The most recent entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” was made with huge ambition and held very high hopes. However, the movie was met with predominantly mixed reviews and a severe box office underperformance in its first two weeks of release. As a lifelong comic book fan who grew up with the MCU becoming part of pop culture, I’m starting to believe that the MCU magic has faded.

The movie, released on Feb. 17, tells the story of Scott Lang, Ant-Man himself, trying to live a more family oriented life after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” But when a family issue gets in the way of his new life, AntMan finds himself at the crux of his own Avengers level threat.

Although I’m not a big fan of this movie, there are some undeniable good things in it. Paul Rudd is one of the best comedy actors working today and he’s responsible for making most of the humor in this movie work. Given the recast, I really liked Kathryn Newton in the role of Cassie Lang and the utilization of her, which feels natural for the evolution of the character and the story being told.

Marvel has always been great at delivering big, entertaining action and this is no exception. For the AntMan movies, the action has more of a sci-fi edge that was quite entertaining. Speaking of which, even though this movie has big ambition, it still has that side story feel to it like the previous Ant-Man movies did. This aspect was both refreshing and somewhat required for this ambition to work within an Ant-Man movie.

Without a doubt, the best part of the movie is Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. We got a sneak peak of this character in the “Loki” show but he’s on full throttle

here and it’s fantastic. He’s so menacing in his subtlety that when he breaks this, it’s genuinely scary. I can’t wait to see more from this character as the next big villain of the MCU.

This movie is an interesting case because it’s got a handful of big positives going for it but is held back by tons of negatives that add up. I’m leaning towards not liking the movie and here’s why.

This movie has issues that have plagued the MCU for years now. Even though I previously stated that Paul Rudd makes some of the comedy work, he couldn’t save it all. In classic MCU fashion, the humor undercuts the more mature moments and plot points. More so than past MCU movies, the dialogue was pretty corny and cringy at times, which is something they really got to take care of if they’re going to continue to be publicly confident in the writers they hire.

The elephant in the room is the character of M.O.D.O.K who straight up did not work at all. This is no fault of the actor Corey Stoll, he clearly did exactly what they wanted, but I like most people did not like what they wanted. He’s not as funny as he thinks he is and that interrupts any intimidation there could have been. His look is so jarring that I could never get used to it. Plus, his utilization in the final act just might be the all time low of the MCU.

With the character of M.O.D.O.K and the clearly rushed visual effects work, this movie has been compared to movies like “Spy Kids” and “Sharkboy and Lavagirl” and although it’s kind of mean, it’s merited.

This is a heavily mixed movie that is in the hot seat of critical discussion. For now, I’ll give it a somewhat generous 3 / 5.

“A gruesomely fun-filled movie.” - Audrey de Mos, Senior

“‘Cocaine Bear’ was exactly what is said it was going to

5 / 5 - Tariq Ali, Senior

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Panther Prowler • March 10, 2023

“80 for Brady” saves the industry of cinema

Cameron Winick Staff Writer

Released on Feb. 3, “80 for Brady,” a comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, capitalized on the hype for this year’s Super Bowl by transporting audiences back in time to the 2017 Super Bowl between the Patriots and the Falcons. The film sees the journey of four old women who are obsessed with Tom Brady to go see Super Bowl LI live, with constant hijinx occurring all around them. This movie’s target demographic is exactly who you expect: old people. It is a comedy specifically designed to appeal to and make old people laugh. Needless to say, I adored it.

From the first trailer, “80 for Brady” seemed like a complete joke. It felt like it would be nothing more than a lame comedy starring some famous old women, and to a certain extent, it was. However, that is not a detractor. There is a certain charm to being lame, and this film fully captures the endearing nature of acting corny. All the jokes are scientifically engineered to appeal to old people and old people alone, but that doesn’t take away the comedic effect. There were many times that I caught myself in a gleeful chuckle over something utterly ridiculous that the four women would say. I spent most of my viewing experience, however, with a relaxed smile on my face.

It is an effortlessly charming movie, and I believe that some of that is owed to its cast. I must preface that there aren’t really any “great” performances in the movie, as in, I was never persuaded into believing that these characters were anything more than the actresses having fun on a movie

set. However, that is just fine for this film. Watching old women just enjoy each other’s company was enough to satisfy my needs, as it brought a consistent joy that warmed my heart. In a way, it kind of feels like because the four starring women have had such long and illustrious careers, they’re now able to just kick back and be in something fun. Tom Brady also plays himself in this film, and while his performance isn’t amazing, his appearance is genuine. He produced the movie and seems to actually care a lot about it. For what reason, I could not tell you, but he does seem to have a true passion for this project.

Despite feeling like a 90-minute commercial for the Super Bowl, it never really loses its charm. Many scenes unfold in a conventional way, but the fact that it is the old women in the situation makes it ten times more endearing. It is shot in the flattest and most boring way possible, which in any other film would be a massive problem. “80 for Brady,” however, is in a league of its own in terms of film, meaning that the filmmaking itself does not matter. As long as it is a cute and enjoyable movie, I will be on board to see the hijinx of these old women no matter what technical elements are lacking.

I laughed. I cried. I cheered. “80 for Brady” is what audiences have been craving for years. If you go to the cinema soon, don’t see the same superhero garbage that studios continue to shove down our throats. See a film that inspires people to be kinder, and conjures waves of smiles and applause. I was entranced by “80 for Brady,” and I believe that it can save cinema as a whole.

Netflix viewers are impressed by “Lockwood & Co”

Kira Ivarsdottir Front Cover Editor

Based on the lesser-known book series by Jonathan Stroud, “Lockwood & Co” is taking Netflix by storm during this rainy season. Like many viewers, I had not read the series beforehand yet I was completely taken aback by excitement and surprise while watching the series.

Set in present-day London, the show begins with an eerie tone as soon as the viewer clicks episode one. When I was introduced to the apocalyptic world of “Lockwood and Co,” I found myself entranced by the idea that teenagers could be the only salvation to a worldwide crisis. The show’s characters live in an era referred to as ‘The Problem’ where ghosts roam and rule the streets after the dead begin to come back to life, seeking vengeance. With innocent bystanders terrified to walk outside, having the fear of being killed by the lethal undead, teenagers also began to develop psychic powers that enable them to sense the ghosts before they strike. With the discovery of these abilities, teens who fight against ghosts quickly become the largest livelihood, influencing the creation of ghost-hunting organizations; one being Lockwood and Co.

The first episode focuses on the introduction of the protagonist Lucy Carlyle, played by Ruby Stokes, who viewers such as myself are quick to sympathize with, due to her difficult upbringing as a gifted ghost hunter. I found myself immediately rooting for Lucy as we are put into the perspective of a young girl who is made to believe that her

only purpose in life is to fix a problem that she had no role in starting. From the beginning of Lucy’s childhood, her mother noticed that her daughter possessed powers more potent than most teenagers; and instead of nurturing and supporting Lucy, she decided to exploit her, as many others in the show are. After an accident that resulted in the near-death experience of Lucy’s best friend, Lucy decides to start a new life in London where she finds an ad for an agency run by a boy her age called Lockwood and Co.

Though the cast is not as star-studded as most Netflix shows, I was impressed by the acting skills portrayed by the main and even side characters. Anthony Lockwood, for example, played by Cameron Chapman, conveyed the most surprising and intriguing character for an actor with no previous acting experience. The music also played a key role for my high regard of the show in which the depressing yet passionate tone of the show was perfectly conveyed through eerie songs, such as “A55” by English Teacher. The development of friendship and trust however, was the main selling point for me. I felt that I could relate to so many aspects of the characters and I found myself rooting for a cause that was purely fictional. Wracking up an overall audience score of 92%, the show keeps moving up on the charts; for viewers looking for a new show to binge and inevitably get invested in, Lockwood & Co is the way to go.

On Feb. 24, Gorillaz, a British virtual band, released a new album called “Cracker Island” inspired by their relocation to Silver Lake, California. “Cracker Island” is loosely based around a quasi-religious cult, which seems only tangentially connected to the themes of the two main tracks, “Oil” and “Silent Running.” “Cracker Island” didn’t do as well as though despite the various prominent artists that were featured. This album featured many of California’s favorite artists such as Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny and Thundercat. Despite these artists bringing attention to this band, the record didn’t have the pop of modern music I was hoping for. The record seemed just like regular Gorillaz, as usual. The diversity that the other singers were supposed to bring to this album didn’t seem notable enough to make a change to their style of music. Most Gorillaz

album releases come with an underlying concept attached, although the concept on this album feels more vague and disconnected from the music in their most recent songs. However, the loose narrative structure suits both creative and modern music lovers. Albarn, the creator of Gorillaz, seems unburdened by his fearlessness to live up to a concept. They show time and time again why they remain relevant so far into their career, whereas other artists might start to die down. Even though their music can be repetitive in sound, this band that was once considered sitting out on the periphery of pop is now defining the present and inspiring the future. This album had its ups and downs, but overall it was disappointing because there was nothing special about it, especially since I was looking forward to hearing how new the artists would spice up this Gorillaz album.

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Boys’ tennis slices into the new season

Nikhil Satyagal Staff Writer

As spring sports are coming into full swing, boys’ tennis is preparing themselves for the season ahead, through preparation in matches and practice. Their season begins in a few weeks, and with a new team, they are ready to start their season off with a bang.

Richard Kick, head coach of the team, is excited about this season’s prospects and is very confident in the potential of players. “This current season has started wonderfully well. We have only won one out of the three matches, but the three matches have been very competitive and our skill level is very high this year,” Kick said. “It’s a great pre-season and I’m very much looking forward to getting into the conference and showing players how they can attain their goals.”

Last year, the team lost in round one of CIF, but this year, they have high hopes for improvement. Joseph Bonn, sophomore, has been playing on the team for two years, and is excited for this year’s prospects. “I think we’re capable of great things. Last year, we did get a wildcard for CIF, and it was a narrow loss in the first round. But we’re coming together,” Bonn said. This year, their team is strong statistically and are looking to achieve great things. “It [their strength] shows and comes together when we can all just play with unity and dedication,” Bonn said.

This season, the tennis team has also exploded in size, with a large addition of underclassmen. Ronak Santhosh, senior and captain of the team, believes this increase will benefit their team overall. “This year we have a lot of new participants, and quite a few freshmen and sophomores. We look to strengthen our

team in our doubles and it’s going to get way stronger than ever before,” Santhosh said.

With the influx of new players and the upcoming season, players need to be prepared for both the physical and mental aspects of the game. “The mental aspect of tennis is as important as physically hitting the ball, [players] have to understand this, because hitting a ball on a normal point, versus a practice point versus hitting a ball at a game point, a set point, or a match point are very different circumstances,” Kick said. To prepare for competition, students perform drills that prepare them for key moments in matches. “It’s just a matter of experience. The more you do it, the more you’re able to in actual match circumstances,” Kick said.

The large increase in players has also brought new challenges, but the team is confident in their ability to push past them. “Right now, some people are missing games. We’ve had a lot of missing players who’ve caused some dysfunction on our team, ” Bonn said. Even with these hardships, Bonn and the rest of the team are confident in their ability to prosper in the upcoming season.

Overall, the team has a strong sense of kinship and has high potential for this season. “I absolutely love this year’s group. They’ve not only played tennis well, but they’ve also helped each other out with statistical analyses. They take stats on the matches. They talk to each other about strategies. It’s just been a really positive good group of players and very much looking forward to the rest of the year, ” Kick said.

Boys’ LAX beats opponents to the MAX

Adrenaline rushes into players’ bones as the ball soars quickly into the back of the net. Cheers roar throughout the stadium and the final swoosh is made, signifying yet another step towards victory. The NPHS boys’ lacrosse team strives to feel the everlasting rush of success, working hard and preparing themselves for games while also building connections with each other. The team’s season kicked off in Jan. and new mindsets, methods and aspirations will flow throughout their season.

Waiting to see how the team’s hard work will play off is one of the most exhilarating and nerve-wracking parts of coaching. With many new faces on the field, Tyler Kemeny, varsity head coach, looks into the future with a positive spin. “We have a younger team. So some of the concepts are a little more at the beginner level, but we’re trying to master those concepts and ensure that, no matter who gets to step onto the field, they’re aware of what we’re trying to do as a team,” Kemeny said. “I want to build on last year [and set] higher standards for everyone including myself.”

The team does not only have Kemeny to look to for guidance. Travis Lee Hooker, senior, hopes to make his year as captain count and be a role model for the younger players. His goal is to be able to encourage those around him and push them to work harder so that years from now, Hooker’s contributions will remain intact. “I’m always trying to work as much as I can and I motivate my teammates to get better by just telling them to shoot back on the road and stuff like that,” Hooker said. “Once you see your success and what you’re doing clicks, it’s the best.”

Cyrus Dael, sophomore, has not only grown as a player

through lacrosse, but has acquired a mentality that will benefit him throughout his life. “The mindsets that we have to have are always focusing on working as a team, putting a hundred percent into our games, and leaving our mistakes in the past and not worrying too much about them,” Dael said. “Even if we make mistakes, lacrosse has taught me that we can always bounce back.”

Hooker is proud of what the team has already accomplished and looks forward to seeing their goals come to head. “I’m feeling pretty confident in myself and in my teammates, because I know we’ve been working hard over the offseason,” Hooker said. “[I’m] just trying to keep the leadership up in practice as much as [I] can and just bring that skill up every day.”

Many players hope to see results right away, but improvement takes time. Through this, patience is instilled amongst many and those who understand, who persevere, will succeed. “If you improve a little bit every single day, you might not notice it in three weeks. You might not notice it in two months, but over the course of a whole career in high school [the improvement is huge]. You can go from being a third-string guy, to a starter, to scoring a bunch of goals,” Kemeny said.

Face off - Jake Rangel, sophomore, walks onto the field and gets ready to work hard during the teams’ practice. The players have high hopes for this season that motivate them to push themselves to fullest. Having this mindset is the key to success as the team develops strategies that will aid them throughout the season.

Parker

Pass - Stas Mclone, junior, throws the ball as he prepares for the upcoming game. The team has been working hard over the off season and Travis Lee Hooker, senior and captain, hopes to prepare the boys for a strong season. “Our strength is how close we are and then one of the weaker things just skill wise because there’s a lot of new players,” Hooker said. Parker Bohl/

Get Ready - Preston Marchlik, junior, joins his team in getting ready for upcoming games by practicing routine exercises such as scrimmages, defense, and offense. Despite the cold weather, boys’ lacrosse does not skimp on any opportunities to better themselves for the prosperity of the team. Parker Bohl/Prowler

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Volley - Joseph Bonn, sophomore, believes that cooperation is integral to the team’s success. “Making sure that we’re getting along with each other in doubles is especially important,” Bonn said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

Dodge - Cyrus Dael, sophomore, runs across the field eager to score a goal. “[The team] bonds through practices and games and we have a lot of fun, while making tons of memories together,” Dael said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

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Prowler

A clean serve saves the day against Camarillo

On March 4, the NPHS boy’s volleyball triumphantly beat Camarillo with a score of 3-0. This elevated them from their loss to Santa Barbara on Feb 22.

Benjamin Sachs, sophomore, has been looking forward to starting the new season. Over summer, he practiced and competed in club volleyball tournaments in order to prepare. “My goals for myself and my team [are] to work hard and win,” Sachs said.

In anticipation of upcoming games, the team has participated in scrimmages. “I got to reconnect with my team and also meet everyone else who is joining this year,” Sachs said. Sachs also enjoys teamwork and making friends along the way. “A lot of the opposing teams are super nice and you can make a couple of friends from [them],” Sachs said.

Caleb Eschenberg, sophomore, also feels positive about the new season. Eschenberg has played volleyball for the past six years and is excited for the first game back.

As the off-season comes to a close and games approach, athletes become more competitive for spots on the team. “Practices become longer and we run more drills [including] back and forth pepper with

a partner and volleyball, [and] a game called King’s Court, where we just have like three back row players on each side,” Eschenberg said.

One of Eschenberg’s favorite parts of volleyball is the satisfaction that follows a successful game. “After a long rally… even if you don’t gain the point, if you have the satisfaction of knowing that you and your team were able to keep the ball up on your side of the court for that long of a time, it just feels great,” Eschenberg said.

Ethan Miller Jr., junior, has been playing volleyball for the past four years. After transitioning from off season to season, the intensity has risen for preparation for their games. “The transition from the offseason to the regular season has been very fluid. Practices have been increasing in difficulty and intensity,” Miller said. For Miller, the most important rule of the game is to be in a good headspace. “Volleyball is such a mental game… the right mindset is half of the battle,” Miller said. “I think a team goal this year is to take home CIF,” Miller said.

To Sachs, the best thing about volleyball is the thrill that it gives. “With all the adrenaline, you never know what you’re capable of,” Sachs said.

Girls’ beach volleyball sets up the season

With the sun beating down on their heads, and the sand hot on the ground, the NPHS beach volleyball team walks onto the court, ready to secure a win.

Ariadna Coll Bech, senior, acknowledges the team’s working to achieve their goals by practicing.“On Tuesdays, we do drills and conditioning, which includes running in the sand. Then on Fridays, we do scrimmages within our team to see who gets to compete in the tournaments, which we have twice or three times a month,” Coll Bech said. George Hees, head coach, plans each practice to work on specific skills. “We’ve been able to try to see pretty obviously things we need to work on. So we try to work on those skills and reinforce our strengths,” Hees said. Besides the rain canceling matches, the beach volleyball players have learned to adapt to the wind. “The wind can shift the ball a lot depending on if it’s windy so you have to really coordinate with your teammate. Moving in the sand is also really tricky, so it’s something else to be wary about,” Coll Bech said. Maddie Byrne, junior, discusses how the team changes strategies to prevent this. “We adjust to the wind by keeping the ball lower and hitting into the wind. Playing in difficult conditions teaches a lot of ball

control,” Byrne said.

The players also enjoy their sport’s uniqueness, as well as some of the traits that make it different from indoor volleyball. “Compared to indoor volleyball, you have to be good at everything. [In] a lot of other sports and especially indoor, you can specialize in one area. And I love the mental part of it. You have to read what the other team is doing and figure out how to capitalize on every play,” Hees said. The athletes also note the main differences between beach volleyball and normal volleyball. “There’s only two players, and it’s on sand, which is much harder to move around in, so you have to get everywhere. Whereas in indoor volleyball, you’re in a set position and don’t have to move as much,” Coll Bech said.

Players enjoy making new friends on the team and strengthening their sportsmanship. “I enjoy bonding with teammates, and because we spend a lot of time around each other, we’re able to form good friendships with each other,” Coll Bech said. The friendships built within the team contribute to a friendly and positive environment, which coupled with the team’s competitive spirit allows for the team to improve, watching as their score grows higher and higher.

NPHS students adventure in the snow this winter

With snow-capped mountains just a short drive away, Newbury Park High School students are strapping on their skis and snowboards, and enjoying the thrill of gliding down the powdery slopes of various mountain resorts in California.

Riana Thur, sophomore, is an exchange student from Switzerland who continued her love for skiing here in the United States. “I’ve been skiing my whole life in the Swiss Alps and skied at Mammoth for the first time this year,” Thur said.

Starting at three years old, Thur and her family have made an effort to ski as much as possible. “My parents would make me and my brothers learn how to ski because they ski themselves, and that’s just how we would spend our weekends during winter,” Thur said. Thur not only loves to ski, but she loves the whole aspect of being on the slopes all day. “It’s not only the skiing, it’s everything around it too,” Thur said. “My family and I love getting hot chocolate, eating lunch together, and tanning outside.”

However, many students have taken up snowboarding as an alternative to skiing. Sophia Jimenez, senior, makes the trip to Mountain High Resort two to three times a month, finding the shorter drive to a less crowded resort more peaceful. “There’s always traffic when you

go to Mammoth or Big Bear so I feel like it’s a little more secluded, which I like,” Jimenez said. She enjoys snowboarding, finding a sort of calm in the chaos that occurs on the high altitude mountain resorts. “My favorite part about the snow is just the quietness of all of it … I feel like snow makes everything quiet and you get to enjoy the peace,” Jimenez said.

Picking up a new sport late in high school is no easy feat, however, Tim Chen, senior, began snowboarding just two years ago when he first went up to Mammoth. Unlike Jimenez, Chen enjoys taking the longer trip to Mammoth, finding the snow conditions more favorable. “I just feel like Mammoth has the best powder to snowboard on … I also really like how there’s so many options to ride from at Mammoth,” Chen said. Seeing snowboarding as a stress reliever rather than a sport has made his snow trips more enjoyable, especially during the school year. “Snowboarding is really fun because you can get your mind off of things, especially during school [...] You can just go on the slope, and forget everything about it,” Chen said.

Whether it’s skiing or snowboarding, students at NPHS find joy in the slopes of the mountains. “I love the exercise and being outside. It’s just overall a fun way to spend your weekend with friends and family,” Thur said.

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Spike - Logan Oliverson, senior, on the NPHS Boys Volleyball teams attacks the ball to prevent Camarillo from scoring. Hayden Meixner/Prowler

Swing - Vivian Falt, freshman, serves the ball in a practice drill to prepare for the new season. Nathan Fox/Prowler

Cruise - Riana Thur, sophomore, heads down the slopes this ski season in Mammoth mountain. Riana Thur/With Permission

Gwen McCarthy Staff Writer

Dance for Hope raises an abun-dance of money

Cameron Winick Staff Writer

The annual Dance for Hope, coordinated by the Interact Club took place Saturday, March 4, and featured performances by five different dance studios, including the “Sexy Brown Bollywood Brilliance,” a group of 20 IndianAmerican students mostly from Newbury Park High School. Tickets for the event sold out completely, with a few audience

Jason Kiang Staff Writer

members standing in the back just to get a glimpse of the action. The event, which was dedicated to Christine Hodson’s legacy, raised over $4000 for the American Cancer Society. People from the ages of seven to seventy participated in the dances, adding to the diverse nature of the event. The night was filled with dancing, food, fun and an overall great atmosphere.

Flex - Performers from Thrive Dance Center begin the show at a lightning pace with a number entitled ‘No, I Don’t Remember.” Juliette Stoffer, sophomore, dances at Thrive and was overjoyed to not only participate in the dances, but choreograph a large group of people. “It was one of the first years almost every dance was made from scratch, and we got to pick the songs we loved. I thought this was really special when I made the mix because these were songs I grew up listening to and heard from my parents, and now I got to create my own art with them,” Stoffer said.

Reach - The boys of “Sexy Brown Bollywood Brilliance” take the floor as they perform one of their dances. Adi Chattopadhyay, senior, remarks on the fun nature of introducing a younger crowd to Dance for Hope. “It was less about dancing and also more about like, creating a fun community for people to hang out with and teaching dances in a fun way,” Chattopadhyay said.

Aloha - Teachers and trained dancers open Act II with a slow hula number in memory of Christine Hodson. In reference to their cause, the co-president of Interact Club, Brady Craven, senior, talks about the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. “It’s always been [the] American Cancer Society, but I think this year means something else. Something kind of more important because of the loss of Ms. Hodson and just how much that means to our school community,” Craven said.

Flowers - The Interact Club board accepts flowers after the show, something which they had been planning since the start of the year. Brady Craven discusses the work they do in preparation for the event. “It really takes a lot to plan it. It’s a long process. We do donations from food companies for our dinner portion of the event and then we also have to coordinate all of the dancers and make sure that they’re ready and prepared to perform for the dance,” Craven said.

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