After three long years since the beginning of the pandemic, we have begun a long process of recovery to reach a state of normalcy once again. However, throughout this recovery, we have still been juggling chaotic and challenging times. We at the Panther Prowler have devoted ourselves to reporting news locally and globally, working to educate our student body and community on important issues. As editors-in-chief, we cannot be more proud of the work our staff has done in order to create professional and notable issues throughout the school year. The Prowler will always continue to elevate student voices and work to report news, no matter the circumstances.
Over the past few years, gun violence has become a pressing issue within our country and our community. However, with how often gun violence cases are reported, people have begun to become desensitized to the horrors of gun violence. This urgent issue of desensitization is further explained in our staff editorial on page 4. Our cover story for this magazine is also dedicated to covering this complex issue, which can be found on pages 14-16.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in millions of citizens being displaced from their home country, searching for refuge in foreign countries. However, refugees who are trying to survive in new communities are faced with many challenges, some families trying to find their way even in our own community. You can read about the journey and disadvantages one Ukranian family has faced in our Thousand Oaks community, along with how they get help from the community on page 6.
We are excited to see what the future holds for our graduating Panthers. On pages 11-13, you can find our highly anticipated Class of 2023 senior maps, showing the many schools this year’s graduating class will be embarking on in the next year. Also, learn more about the different pathways and careers that many of our seniors will be taking on on pages 32-33.
As the school year slowly comes to an end, NPHS will be losing three incredible teachers that have impacted and shaped the lives of so many on campus. Read more about Steve Johnson, Sylvia Cohen and Lucia Lemieux and their future plans on pages 18-19 to honor and celebrate their legacy here at NPHS.
Our staff has done a terrific job this year, continuing to stay dedicated to producing astounding issues monthly and persevering through hardships and setbacks. We hope you enjoy the tenth annual edition of our special edition magazine, our last publication of the school year, and continue to support the Panther Prowler in our pursuit to report the news that affects our students and our community.
Nguyen Editor-in-Chief Dhruv Patel Editor-in-Chief
On May 19, Debbie Dogancay, NPHS’ very own IB coordinator and science teacher, was named the Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Dogancay has been a teacher at NPHS for 22 years, and this is the first time she’s won this coveted award. “It’s a little strange to be singled out in this way because there are so many great educators. At the same time, it’s a great honor and feels really nice,” Dogancay said. She was nominated by the late Christine Hodson so the award has some emotional weight for Dogancay. “She nominated me for a bunch of years. She was recruiting other people to write letters because she felt so strongly that [I] should have that award,” Dogancay
On May 17, 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana signed a bill that would effectively ban the popular app TikTok in the state. The bill makes the operation and distribution of the app illegal, with a $10,000 fine per day if the laws are infringed. Gianforte composed a tweet to announce his decision to sign the bill:
“To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana,” Gianforte said. Supporters of the bill are in a staunch agreement that China poses a threat, but TikTok itself responded differently. According to a statement made to CNN by Tiktok’s representatives, “Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok,” TikTok’s representatives said.
From May 25 to May 26, The NPHS choir department had their annual Year-End Concert. The event is meant to celebrate the accomplishments of chamber and concert choir students, as well as the graduating class of 2023. Some of the songs performed over the course of the show included “You’ll be in my Heart” by Phil Collins, “I See Colors” by Pinkzebra,” and even a medley of ABBA songs. Cole Graham, junior, knows the seniors will leave an impact on choir. “[The seniors] have been really great. They’ve been really loyal to choir, so they’ve all had time to practice their techniques and become great members,” Graham said.
Bold in Italics, NPHS’ semi-annual magazine that showcases some of the students’ best artwork, writing and photography, has released a brand new issue. This issue focuses on the correlation between visual art and poetry, as well as a contest for whoever created the best companion piece. First place winner Grace Hernandez, senior, who won for her work called “Gratifying Intrusion.” “My piece was a criticism of materialism e.g., phones and social media and how they can steer our view of what really matters in life,” Hernandez said. Nearly all the art is anecdotal, weaving a story while also utilizing a greater message.
Panther Prowler
Cameron Winick/Prowler
Fill in the blank with any location that has been a victim of gun violence, and you might start to notice that we hear this phrase so often that we have become so comfortable with it, to the point where we almost expect it. Our flag is almost perpetually at half-mast, and this phrase has begun to feel like the best we are capable of saying.
When the brain is bombarded with more than it can handle, it shuts down. When it comes to national devastation, we as a community experience something very similar to this, what we are referring to as “desensitization.” It seems that we are living in a country that is willing to excuse these murders as “normal,” but they aren’t normal. Shootings aren’t normal, and how we’re dealing with it shouldn’t be excused. We shouldn’t be hearing about these traumatic events so much so that we’re becoming unaffected by the news of them.
The New York Times studied this concept. “First, when we come across data and numbers, the emotional part of our brain shuts off,” Dr. Slovic said. “We become more detached from the information, which makes us care about it less.” Responding to these threats is draining, and with every new announcement of a threat to our school and violence to someone else’s, our fatigue overtakes our ability to truly process the horror of what has taken place around us. This desensitization causes a certain numbness that spikes the ignorance in our own community.
A disturbing result of this ignorance is the increase of shooting threats and jokes about gun violence. In 2021, Dec. 17 was labeled “National Shoot-Up-Your-School-Day” on social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Many parents on this day were unwilling to send their children to school, and a large portion of students who did attend class struggled to focus and feel safe on campus.
Newbury Park High School has been one of the unfortunate victims of ignorant threats and jokes, including pulling fire
alarms, threatening to harm people online, and the Dec. 17 incident. Our school, like many other schools in the country, is on constant alert about what is going on around campus. To be sitting at lunch when someone decides to pull a fire alarm to mimic an active shooter that used fire alarms to gain access to potential victims, is terrifying. The announcements of new shootings are so frequent, it seems more strange when it isn’t the center of our newsfeeds, so to some, making these cruel jokes seems normal.
Desensitization does not excuse the horrific “pranks” that have spiked paranoia in our already frightened community. “Insensitive” is not a strong enough description for the people who these events originated from. Devastation has been normalized throughout our country, but perpetuating this normalization by convoluting tragedies for entertainment is sickening.
Further polluting our community with terror is inexcusable, regardless of the individual desensitization these students have undergone.
Editors-in-Chief
Allison Nguyen
Dhruv Patel
Managing Editor
Téa Sklar
Adviser
Michelle Saremi
Graphic Artists
Shana Blair
Kai Mekari
Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza
Téa Sklar
Page Editors
Taylor Gibson
Ariela Behar
Ava Prapaniku
Cameron Winick
Dylan Kaseno
Hayden Meixner
Jack Ranney
Jason Kiang
Josie Gardner
Kira Ivarsdottir
Melina Wagner
Melissa Geher
Nandini Patro
Nikhil Satyagal
Parker Bohl
Rohit Ukkan
Téa Sklar
Parker Bohl
Isabella Boggs
Nathan Fox
Staff Writers
Vincent Bennet
Gwen McCarthy
Brody Sinutko
Online Editors
Josie Gardner
Hayden Meixner
Nandini Patro
Téa Sklar
Rohit Ukkan
Melina Wagner
Cameron Winick
Photographers
Chief // Parker Bohl
Nathan Fox
Gwen McCarthy
Cameron Winick
**Quotes from Yuliia Kurta have been translated by Danila Paskevic
On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. As of May 2023, about 125,000 Ukranians have suffered casualties, and another 8.2 million citizens have been forced to flee, leaving everything behind to seek shelter in another country. Although this tragedy may seem a world away, it quickly becomes intertwined with our community and the population of Thousand Oaks, as many Ukrainian families have been forced to flip their life upside down and start again here, building from the ground up, with language and cultural barriers putting them at a disadvantage at every step.
Yuliia Kurta moved to the United States 14 weeks ago along with her immediate family, saying goodbye to many of her friends and relatives, who are still waiting in their devastated homeland. The Kurta family arrived in the new country filled with the hope of brand new possibilities, however, once their plane touched the ground, they immediately encountered a multitude of challenges. “It was really tough coming here… when [we] got here [we] had no home… no car so… [It was] scary because [we] didn’t know anyone,” Yuliia said.
Despite the many complications that the Kurta family has faced, they have been able to look towards their former host mother, Cherie Phoenix, for guidance and security throughout times of hardship. “It’s not easy going to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and you have no money, and you just land in the middle of Los Angeles and go, ‘Oh my God. What do I do now?’” Phoenix said.
Despite any initial turmoil that the group experienced, everyone eventually found balance with one another. “[Hosting] was a lot to get accustomed to. I felt more like a grandmother than just a host and the kids would want to play with me while I was cooking in the kitchen or they wanted to do things with me. We all became one big happy family,” Phoenix
Settling in - The Kurta family recently moved to Ventura County from Ukraine. They have faced several challenges, such as not speaking English, but ultimately are excited for new opportunities.
said. “I think it’s really important that people understand why refugees come here…they’re coming here because they were being bombed and killed, and they need help.”
Since their arrival, Yuliia and her three children, ages five, nine and 14, have been working tirelessly to adapt to their new lifestyles, by practicing English and doing their best to adjust to cultural differences. “[My] kids [are] doing really well in school. They’re studying hard and there [are] some kids that are helping [them] with learning and translating,” Kurta said.
In addition to sheltering refugees, Thousand Oaks citizens have been able to assist those still living 6,438 miles away. Nita Hanson, originally from Thousand Oaks, founded the organization “God’s Hidden Treasures,” which works to serve the needs of the poor, afflicted and orphaned Ukranians by providing them with equipment such as wheelchairs, resources and emotional support. “[Members of the organization] sit down and we get to know them, and then we kind of make them part of our family. So that means we follow up, keep in
touch with them, do home visits, normally we have picnics in the park,” Hanson said.
The Kurta family is appreciative that their family was able to come to America, and they intend to stay within the States throughout the duration of the war and have many plans for their future. “It’s scary coming to America, not knowing anything and it’s really hard to be here but there’s help, there’s always help,” Kurta said.
“It’s scary coming to America, not knowing anything and it’s really hard to be here but there’s help, there’s always help,”
- Yuliia Kurta
Nandini Patro Kai Mekari
Before the senior class heads off to wherever their future takes them, they spent their last year of high school bonding with their friends. The senior class board planned multiple senior events throughout the year to ensure an exciting last nine months on campus. These events include but are not limited to, the senior sunrise, senior snack days and social media days for seniors and dress up days. The board also has planned out the senior picnic and grad night in June.
To all the seniors, having been in four years of high school with you all will never be enough.
-Desmond PerezSunrise - Senior class board, Lucas Perez, Mina Nguyen, Niah Goudar and Desmond Perez, (left to right) smile during senior sunrise. President Perez, has been working to make the last weeks up to graduation as involved as they can be for the seniors. The board set up a calendar called “23 days ‘till graduation”, being that they are the class of 2023, and each day has an activity for the seniors to participate in. “We typically have them spaced out in a once per week fashion, and we also really push the motive that seniors look at the calendar on our instagram themselves to see specific dates they want to participate in,” Perez said. Perez has enjoyed working with the board as a team. “It’s really the senior class board out here putting in the work by ourselves,” Perez said.
Lucas Perez/With Permission
Prom! - Eshan Badwal, Tobey Chow and Adi Chattopadhyay, (left to right) smile on their prom bus. All of the board’s hard work pays off because the senior activities are one of a kind. Chattopadhyay thinks that these activities take advantage of the limited time the seniors have with each other. The activities also defy friend groups and cliques, “People in different groups kind of come together through these activities and everyone just starts hanging out with each other, which is really nice because people become less cliquey,” Chattopadhyay said. Adi Chattopadhyay/With Permission
Prizes! - On the board handing out Hersheys kisses, Niah Goudar, vice president, has been helping to organize for all the upcoming events. “We’ve been arranging stuff such as getting everyone their sweatshirts and planning, ticket buying for things such as grad night that’s coming up, the senior picnic as well as graduation tickets,” Goudar said. The board has a close bond that allows them to efficiently work together since they’ve all spent more than four years in school together. “I think it’s really special working together with them. Especially since I’ve known them all since, like seventh grade. It’s just amazing to be here right now with them as well,” Goudar said.
Lucas Perez/With PermissionInternational Baccalaureate - Eshan Badwal, senior, has been a part of the IB Program for the past two years and feels it has really defined his senior year. “Being with a group of people who are passionate to learn and complete high school with new academic achievements was very exciting,” Badwal said. He is also excited for the upcoming grad night. “It’s a unique opportunity that I’m sure will be fun because it allows me to spend a whole night at Six Flags with my friends.”
Adi Chattopadhyay/WithPermission
As the school year winds down to a close and students prepare for the summer, many are looking for interesting vacation spots away from the Conejo Valley. Some students are intent on visiting family, while others are just focused on leisure. Either way, the process of picking where to go can be a tough one. However, whether in the states or out, students’ summers are packed full of fun trips.
To start his future, Kyle Ly, senior, is heading to Cal State Fullerton to study computer science, specifically software engineering and AI. Before starting his studies, Ly plans on going on a two-week family trip with parents and brothers. The Ly family is going to visit Japan, specifically Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. “I think in Tokyo we’re visiting the different districts, mainly just eat and buy souvenirs and visit attractions,” Ly said. “In Kyoto, we’ll be doing the same thing as well as visiting temples, the Bamboo Forest, and in Osaka we’re going to Universal Studios Japan.”
Ly ponders his anticipation. “I’m just kind of excited for it. I’ve never been out of the country so that’ll be definitely be an experience,” Ly said. The trip is not completely positive, since Ly will face one miniscule issue. “It’s going to suck getting back to California after a 14-15 hour flight both ways… but we’ll just see how it goes,” Ly said.
While some students will be traveling to exciting destinations outside of the U.S., some students’ trips remain in the state. Allie Mohelnitzkey, junior, plans on getting ahead on her academic career by participating in a threeweek theater intensive at UCLA. “It’s basically a conservatory style program where we do singing, dancing and acting taught by professionals, and we get to go to field trips on field trips like to the Pantages and to other cool places,” Mohelnitzkey said.
The intensive prepares high school students for what they might experience in college theater. “It’s gonna give me college experience and prepare me for what it’s like to live on campus, and kind of prepare me for my career in musical theater, hopefully,” Mohelnitzkey said. “So I’m gonna get a lot of cool resources from professionals. Hopefully I can make some connections and it’s going to be really good.”
Kelly Brecker, senior, will be going to Hawaii with her family for an annual vacation. “My family just decided that we would go to Hawaii this year because we used to go to Palm Desert,” Brecker said. She will be going to Kauai with her parents and siblings to, “go snorkeling, going to the beach, going on hikes, going to volcanoes, eating a lot of food and meeting sea turtles,” Brecker said.
After that, Brecker will be going to Hume Lake, a Christian camp located east of Fresno. “Hume is the greatest camp on the planet. It’s a week-long camp where you basically just die and then come back to life. You play all these games and you go with all your friends and stay in a cabin,” Brecker said. “There’s this really fun game called “kajabi” where you run holding a rope with a ton of people around and try not to let go of the rope. It’s hard.”
I’ve never been out of the country so that’ll definitely be an experience.
-Kyle Ly
Panther Prowler
Melina Wagner
On May 20, Newbury Park High School’s football field was overflowing with joy brought by the students who participated in this year’s annual Special Olympics. The event was organized by National Honors Society (NHS) and included over 100 athletes with disabilities from various Ventura County schools. Members of NHS set up activities including long jump, softball throw, 25-meter dash, 50-meter dash, and 100-meter dash as well as game booths such as coloring, ladder throw, football obstacle course, face painting, cup stacking, and cookie decorating.
After participating in Special Olympics 11 years ago, Anne Alvarez, NHS advisor and special education teacher, realized the event was not run in an efficient manner. She decided, with the help of the administration, to start hosting Special Olympics at NPHS to create an improved environment. “I view Special Olympics as an opportunity to introduce all students to sports and training while including acceptance of all as well as building lasting friendships,” Alvarez said.
Soniya Patel, senior and president of NHS, was in charge of leading this year’s event by finding volunteers, designating them to certain activities, and making sure it ran smoothly overall. After being a part of Special Olympics for three years, her final year organizing Special Olympics went better than imagined. “On top of everything running so smoothly, so many of Newbury’s students wanted to volunteer even if they weren’t part of the club,” Patel said. “People should get involved with Special Olympics because it really is such an uplifting and inclusive event.”
Kate Roeder, senior and NHS treasurer, was one of the many organizers of this year’s Special Olympics that helped make for a successful day and event. As she finishes her last year at NPHS, she encourages students to continue volunteering and making a difference for the special education students. “This event is so special and the opportunity that NPHS students have to participate in it is incredibly
The smiles on all the participants’ faces brings joy to my heart. I feel like they all feel so special and now all our hard work paid off.
- Anne Alvarezspecial and should be taken advantage of,” Roeder said. After another successful Special Olympics event, Alvarez feels overjoyed with the love and support the community provided to make the day as special as possible for the athletes who participated. “I am still smiling from Saturday. This is such a special event to me and the students and staff really stepped up,” Alvarez said. “The smiles on all the participants’ faces brings joy to my heart. I feel like they all feel so special and now all our hard work paid off.
Community - During the event, athletes and volunteers gathered together and walked around the track of the football field. Leader of the event, senior Soniya Patel, identified the most important part of the event as the people. “This event is truly an embodiment of community and coming together and the more people that come out, the more fun,” Patel said.
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Pearson, Tyler
Perrin, Sedona
Peters, Nadiya
Peterson, Lucas Pierce, Jade
Ramos-Ortiz, Jonathan Reis, Leticia
Reyes, Taytem
Reynoso Morales, Liseth
Robertson, Carson
Ruiz Vilchez, Emily
Ruiz, Emily
Ruvalcaba, Daniel
Salzman, Haley
Sanchez, Emilio
Sanchez, Miranda
Santana, Luis Santos Campos, Sherly
Sarmiento, Kevin Saucerman, Vincent Scarpace, Aidan Simmons, Charles Simon, Corey Slattum, Anja
Snodgrass, Micah
Snowbarger, Sergio Soriano, Adan Sosa, Johan Soury, Piper Spann, Kellan Stark, Dakota
Story, Nolan
Sullivan, Garrett Taylor, Leina
Tennant, Carson
Thurlkill, Sydney Umali, Wesley Urias Donis, Angel
Valbuena, Karen
Van Pietersom, Kaitlyn Vasko, Brooklyn
Vodraska, Talan Weinstein, Tyler White, Tyler
Wineman, Amber
Yoo, Sophie
Younes, Grace Zapata, Aaliyah
Across the United States of America, there is one issue that appears on the radio, in newspaper headlines and is broadcasted amongst news channels over and over. The impact on citizens of all ages, particularly children, in every state, is always outstanding, and over the past few decades, the frequency at which incidents of gun violence occur is confounding. While these emergencies often feel far from home, Newbury Park High School students and staff feel the effects through memories of Borderline and yearly drills that attempt to prepare for this crisis. Tragedy after tragedy, the original blow of a shooting makes headline news, but after the immediate shock wears off, the media quickly slows down. Yet, the occurrences are never-ending. There is no arguing that shootings are an epidemic in our nation, but their significance has not plateaued, in fact, this epidemic is still on the rise, more vicious than ever. As of June 2023, there have been more mass shootings than days in the year. America has prided itself as the country that provides safety and opportunity for its citizens, however the constant fear of death, and the necessity for active shooter drills on school campuses tells another story.
Hayden Meixner Brody Sinutko Téa Sklar Vincent Bennett Isabella Boggs
Despite never having experienced a school shooting, the fear still affects students and staff members. Seana Mekari, English teacher, faces this fear constantly and is always reviewing her plan of action if a threat becomes evident. “There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about what I would have to do in order to protect my students… because having a child at the school, I hope that my child's teachers would do the same to protect my kid,” Mekari said.
Joseph Calaba, history and philosophy teacher, acknowledges that regardless of security and precautions, the possibility of an active shooter is both real and terrifying. Although the threat of violence is always prevalent, the idea of drastic changes, such as metal detectors and thicker walls, could ultimately cause agitation among the school community, making the school unnerving as opposed to the safe space it is supposed to be. “The protocol is fine. That's not what makes me fearful…If a shooter wants to shoot a school, [they are going to] be able to do that. There's nothing we can do short of creating a prison with huge, massive walls and screening people...And that's just not a plausible scenario. And I don't think I'd want to work in a prison-like environment. And I don't think students would want to go to school in a prisonlike environment,” Calaba said.
Kaleigh Catalano, ASL teacher, reported a concern to the district last year. “I think that a threat of any kind, whether it's credible or not, should be taken extremely seriously. Not that our administration didn't take it seriously. It's more that I think that policy leaves a lot of room for gray area. And I feel like it should be more of a black and white type of situation rather than flexible in judgment,” Catalano said. Following the events of Dec. 17, Catalano was faced with the image of sheer
panic from students first hand. “ They were afraid of what could be. And I think that fear of what could be is in the back of my mind every day,” Catalano said.
The safety of students and staff members at school remains a top priority, and several precautions have been put in place. On-campus school resource officer, Amanda Salas, oversees any possible threats or instances of shootings. Salas has been directly involved in the school’s safety plan for an active shooter, which has several working steps. “The sheriff's department provides training to administration on active shooters, basically red flags to watch out for, things to document… We do drills, we give ‘what if’ type situations where the admin of your school has to walk you through the process of trying to solve these problems,” Salas said.
The security on campus also has made several changes to the protocol as school shootings become almost an everyday occurrence across the country. However, even with the number of shootings rising, so does the normalization within the community. “[When a school shooting first happens], everybody gets involved in like, ‘How can we try to prevent this? Let's get more training… But then after time, it kind of [dissolves]...we should always, always be actively monitoring and trying to jump ahead of things,” Salas said.
Mekari explains that she generally feels safe, but sometimes the paranoia of the “what-if” starts to creep in. “I feel safe because I believe I live in a good community, but I also believe that all of the school shootings happened in good communities,” Mekari said. “I feel like I have almost a false sense of security sometimes. And only when I allow myself to think about it, which is on a daily basis, do I actually allow the fear to kind of creep in, you know, and it's those moments where I'm like, ‘maybe I'll shut the [classroom] door today.”
Karen Peters is the co-chapter leader of the Ventura County branch of Brady United Against Gun Violence organization. After the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, Peters became involved in the fight against gun violence by joining prevention organizations such as Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Brady is a national organization that interacts with the individual chapters all over the United States, which are all made up of volunteers and they basically work to get legislation [trying to stop gun violence] passed,” Peters said.
A victory for the Ventura chapter was their successful campaign to eliminate gun shows at the Ventura Fairgrounds through Bill AB-1769, which was followed up by bill SB-915, which banned the sale of firearms on state fairgrounds. Peters highlighted the ethical implications of gun shows being hosted on state grounds. “Why should the state be making money on the selling of guns? Because the fairgrounds are state owned,” Peters said.
Peters also explains how these fairgrounds gun shows perpetuated a toxic gun culture. “Guns are sold, especially to young men, you know, it's the macho thing,” Peters said. “They would say, [gun shows are] a very family-oriented thing.’ It's not a family-oriented thing, It's a sleazy awful place, to just get more guns. The [firearms] weren't controlled well at all.”
Peters believes that the prevalence of gun violence in American society cannot all be directly attributed to mental health issues. “The more guns, the more killing. It's the availability [of guns]. [The United States] really does not have more mental health problems [than] Europe or any other place, it's just we have the availability of guns,” Peters said.
The story of the Ventura County chapter of the Brady United Against Gun Violence is an example of local communities coming together to attempt to stop the consequences of gun violence. By raising awareness and working with legislators, change can be made at a local level contributing to a safer society.
Many students feel the constant threat of gun violence which can make attending school a stressful experience. Some situations have locally facilitated this anxiety, such as the Borderline shooting that took place in Thousand Oaks. The epidemic of shootings near and far in the United States have made students associate once normal situations, such as the sound of a fire alarm, to be the life-threatening occurrence of a shooting.
Evan Sussman, junior, recalled the recent internet challenge known as “National Shoot Up Your School Day.” Sussman was in his Spanish class when all of the sudden an ear-splitting fire alarm began blaring. “My head immediately went to Parkland,” Sussman said. “I just broke down like mentally, and I thought that was it…I texted my mom, I said something along the lines of ‘I think this might be it; I love you.’” Although there was no active shooter, the mindless prank was a grim reminder of the very real possibility that students may not return home.
The impact of school shootings continues to linger in the minds of students all across the country, NPHS being no exception. Samantha Heredia, sophomore, is not exempt from the fears of an active shooting. “I think that mass shootings have a large impact on students’ mental health. The thought of ‘will I get shot today?’ may be in the minds of students when they shouldn’t even be thinking of those possibilities. There are days when I am more scared than others to go to school,” Heredia said.
This constant bombardment of “Breaking News” or the“just-ins” of tragedies on school campuses across the country has left an expressionless face on many. Marianna Sierra, senior, is one of many young Americans who shares these feelings of numbness and desensitization. “At some point, I just stopped reacting to it because it was the only way to keep myself from being too mentally and psychologically
78.5% of students do not know how to report a threat on campus
Only
21.5% of students know about “WeTip”
affected by it,” Sierra said. “I’ve been witnessing all of this since elementary school, since at least like second grade, when my parents sat me down to talk about what happened at Sandy Hook, which was with kids my age at that time. And ever since then, it’s been all I could think about.”
After the Panther Prowler took a survey of 108 NPHS students in May of 2023, it became abundantly clear that many students were unaware of the new anonymous reporting systems the Conejo Valley School district has implemented this year called “WeTip.” Sussman praised the system but expressed some concerns. “It is a very good system. [The Student District Advisory Committee] was given a walkthrough of how to use it,” Sussman said. “My largest issue is that no one knows about it and students should be able to know about this system, which can help them.”
Many students are disappointed with how the government has managed gun violence. “It is so beyond frustrating for me and sad that the generation of the people that we put our trust into, to make our country safe, to make our lives better, and to to make this country functioning, they are ignoring you blatantly. They’re blatantly ignoring the fact that school shootings and gun violence is the number one cause of death of children this year. Tthe truth is that something does need to change,” Sussman said.
I think, just informing the students that yes, [shootings are] a possibility. But with the help of [students] talking about it, and the help of just coming to the realization that this is our kind of reality, we’ll help students understand that this is super dangerous and if they hear something they should speak out.
Number of total shootings per state in 2023
- Samantha Heredia, sophomore
Ava Prapaniku
Create - Periods with Pride gathers around to create packages with feminine hygiene products as well as spread awareness about menstruation. Aarya Bhat/ With Permission
Amongst the clubs found within Newbury Park High School, three that shine under the spotlight through their actions in helping the community are Periods with Pride, Key Club, and Doctors of the World. From supply drives, to care packages, to writing letters to the elderly, each club strives to provide students opportunities to make a difference not only within their community, but even nationally.
The wrinkle of a pad used to be a scary sound to Aarya Bhat, senior, who was taught to rarely mention being on her period. Bhat found that society looks upon menstruation in such a negative light that most people are scared to speak of the topic, which led her to take the first initiative towards change by co-founding Periods with Pride at NPHS. “We wanted to create an inclusive environment where we can have this discussion, raise awareness about the topic and talk about menstrual equity, without having societal judgment,” Bhat said.
Periods with Pride not only strives to break the stigma placed around periods, but initiates multiple menstrual product drives throughout the year. “Not everyone has the luxury to purchase period products, there are a lot of homeless individuals who have to come up with unsafe methods when on their period, so being able to donate to shelters is important so everyone can have access to menstrual products,” Bhat said.
Providing students with opportunities to partake in service projects, build character and make friends is a goal Key Club prides itself to have accomplished. Grace Younes, senior, fell in love with the mission behind Key Club during her middle school years and her passion grew even more once she became president. “We help the community a ton just based on the wide range of projects that we do. There are two big service projects we do per year, and then around
three to four smaller activities,” Younes said. “We have led a book drive and we partake in an app called Charity Miles where students can run, walk, or bike to log their miles and turn it into money for a certain charity.”
From one news screen to another, Niah Goudar, senior, saw the many crises throughout the world, and created Doctors of the World to aid these crises. “We’ve done a big collection drive where we partnered up with another non-profit called the Central Care, in which we gathered thousands of supplies such as socks, deodorants, shampoos,
“We were able to collect 616 menstrual products and make 79 care packages which we successfully donated.
and we made these care packages for the homeless people and we delivered them,” Goudar said. “We delivered about 30 to 50 packages which the homeless people directly got and it was just amazing to see how the effort of a club at school can benefit so many people.”Being able to bring smiles to so many faces has truly made all the hard work worth it for those within Doctors of the World. “We get to see the benefit our drives can make in people’s lives rather than just raising money and donating it, we really see the impact that our work has,” Goudar said.
As the presidents leave for college, a difficult goodbye to overcome has been parting with their club. “I hope the future board will carry on the message we’ve promoted these last two years and overall just spreading awareness to the topic and using periods as a way to bring people up,” Bhat said. “I hope the future board will bring in more people and create a safe space for everybody while also educating people on the topic of menstruation and making periods more normalized in our society.” Panther
-Aarya BhatVote - Niah Goudar, senior, president of the Doctors of the World club, smiles a the box of packages for the homeless. Niah Goudar/With Permission
Steve Johnson, Newbury Park High School history teacher, is retiring after 39 impactful years of teaching. Johnson has been a dedicated teacher at NPHS for 29 years, head varsity boys’ basketball coach from 1994 to 2009 and assistant coach for the boys’ varsity basketball team.
Johnson has prioritized many goals throughout his career, making sure each and every one of his students find success inside and outside the classroom, as well as creating a supportive environment that is conducive to learning. “Regardless of the title [of the class, it has] become groups of students that grow together and become almost like a family... I think I've found value and joy in all of the classes I've taught. I very much enjoy teaching what I'm teaching right now, that's for sure,” Johnson said.
Johnson makes a point of getting involved in the school community to get to know his students. “Sometimes by seeing someone in performing arts for instance, you really come to appreciate what someone is capable of and [it] helps to improve the relationship that you have in the classroom. Not every conversation in the classroom is about a grade or something that may not be the most positive thing that people want to reflect on,” Johnson said.
One of many students Johnson’s huge heart has impacted is Emily Taketa, a current first-year medical student at University of California of San Francisco and NPHS graduate of 2017.
“[I] remember from high school just having community and camaraderie in his classes because of how he approached each student. I really feel like with students, he invests so much more than [a] typical teacher, he really invested in you as a person, much more than you as just a student,” Taketa said. Taketa further noted how many other alumni fondly look back on the days spent in his classroom, not necessarily because of the history lessons he taught, but due to the environment he created. “He [is] the heart of NPHS; he [has the] kind of a classroom we call home.”
Michelle Saremi, adviser of the NPHS Panther Prowler newspaper, Pawprint yearbook and English teacher, is a good friend and neighbor of Johnson. She has observed his ability to form connections with community members primarily through his involvement in school extracurriculars. “He is really connected with our community… but not just as a teacher. He's formed those bonds beyond our campus, which I don't think a lot of teachers easily do,” Saremi said. He is such a core member of the staff that Saremi calls him a local celebrity. “My kids love hanging with Mr. J at our local restaurants--they say he's famous because he knows everyone. And he's famous because he is an exceptional human being,” Saremi said.
While he’s going to miss teaching at NPHS, he’s also looking forward to what’s next. “I'm looking forward to traveling
Impact - Johnson impacts his students as much as they impact him, "I've kept anything that a student has ever given me and if I have a lousy day I can read some of those and it makes me feel like I had something to do with someone else's success," Johnson said. Parker Bohl/Prowler
June 9, 2023
during times in the schools session. I'll be able to travel in say October and November, and be able to stay a little longer and explore different parts of the world that I haven't been [to] and most of my family is on the East Coast now. So I will probably spend a fair amount of time there but I also hope to be in the community and keep an eye on what's happening at 456 N. Reino Rd, and check up on everybody from time to time,” Johnson said.
Johnson has had an immeasurable impact on the school; finding joy in many of the aspects that come along with teaching. “ [I’m going to miss] the relationships I have with my colleagues [and] the students, getting to know them and seeing them thrive and being a part of their journey that I'll definitely miss but at the same time, I feel like I'm ready for some new adventures too. I think anything that's valuable, of course you're gonna miss it and anything you've enjoyed doing, you're gonna miss it but I think it's time for some new things to do,” Johnson said.
Dylan Kaseno Josie Gardner Taylor GibsonBeing a part of their [the student’s] journey I’ll definitely miss but at the same time I feel like I’m ready for some new adventures too.
- Steve Johnson
Lucia Lemieux, creative writing and 12th grade English teacher, is retiring after working at NPHS for 16 years. Throughout her life, Lemieux has been a poet, an author, a librarian and a teacher. Her classroom has always been a creative environment, and will be missed on campus.
Whilst she may have ended up teaching, it was not always her intention. Coming from a line of teachers, including her mother, sister and brother-in-law, Lemieux was familiar with the territory, and spent most of her life fighting against it. “I was determined never to be a teacher, but it just is in the genes. You can't help it,” Lemieux said.
During her time at NPHS, Lemieux was an active member in many programs. She’s led GSA, been a union representative and she’s tried to attend as many school performances as possible, with an interest in visual and performing arts. “I love] seeing the kids in my various classes singing in the choir or performing on the stage or dancing, I love that too so I try to go to as many as I can,” Lemieux said. Most recently in her creative writing class, she worked on a collaboration along with theater teacher Marilyn Strange and photography and media teacher Derek Grimes. The collaboration entailed her passion, screenwriting, and the creation of short films. “So it'll be the highlight swan song of my career, I guess you could say,” Lemieux said.
In retirement, Lemieux will be doing anything but retiring. She will be working on books and screenplays, a job she had prior to being a teacher. “[Teaching] is much more meaningful because I feel like as a teacher, you're helping the world in a way that you couldn't help them otherwise,” Lemieux said. Through her creative mind, she will be missed. “I would say for all students and for me and for everybody. I love carpe diem. Seize the day. Let your lives be extraordinary.” Lemieux said.
Learning - Being a teacher is a learning experience for everyone and Cohen has had valuable lessons, "There's always bright spots and every day I try to focus on those not just the things that didn't go right but the things that did go right to keep going," Cohen said. Parker
Sylvia Cohen, Special Education, Personal Finance and Algebra A and B teacher, has been teaching for 25 years and has spent 20 of those years here at NPHS. Before she decided she wanted to become a teacher, Cohen had an office job for a couple of years, but after having kids decided that that job was not a good fit. “I started elementary school because I liked younger kids, but then I realized I actually connect better with the older kids,” Cohen said.
When Cohen realized she would be a better fit working in high school, there was an opening at NPHS, which she took and has not regretted since. “Everybody was just so friendly and nice and I just really enjoyed the work here and the people here and I thought ‘I could stay here for the rest of my career’,” Cohen said.
During her years of teaching, Cohen has had many great experiences, some of her favorites being when she “sees that somebody understands the content and working with kids that way especially as we get to know families a little bit and building those relationships,” Cohen said, “and seeing students come in as freshmen and graduate as seniors and just the change and growth in students.”
In the Math for Personal Finance class that Cohen teaches, the students learn how to apply math to real world situations. Even after Cohen retires, she would like students and teachers to remember her and her impact on them. “I hope they think of me as somebody that was professional…I cared about my students and I wanted them to have high expectations, and I wanted my students to succeed,” Cohen said.
Panther Prowler
On June 1, NPHS hosted their annual boat race event, showcasing some of the most crafty inventions and strategies. The tradition has become an integral piece of the high school culture and dozens come to watch their friends and peers compete in such an exciting event. The rules of the competition include: The boat must have four sides and cannot be a raft, two to four people can work on the boat but only two have to be in the boat during the competition and most importantly you can only make the boat out of cardboard and duct tape. Fortunately, you are allowed to use a ‘paddle’ but it cannot be a real paddle and must be ASG approved.
Elliot Alfred, sophomore and member of “The Big Boat” race team, saw the competition as an exciting opportunity to have some fun and spend some time with his other friends who are also competing alongside him. “I just thought it’d be a fun opportunity to just hang out with my friends and build a boat,” Alfred said. Alfred made sure to prioritize having fun over creating the best boat possible and winning, although it was one of his goals. “We [him and his teammates] just hung out in the parking lot of Home Depot and built cardboard box boats with tapes and stuff. It was less the building aspect of the competition that drew my attention but more the opportunity to hang out with my friends,” Alfred said.
Carson DaKroob, freshman and also a member of “The Big Boat” race team, joined the competition after seeing a sign on campus when he was with his friends and decided to participate. DaKroob found every aspect of the building process interesting, even labeling some of the failures with the project as being some of the best parts. “I think the funniest part was building it and having all our screw ups and
entire competition and take home the coveted trophy. “The Floaters” ended up coming out on top of the competition with their unique design containing several rolls of duct tape. Hannah Porter and Yasmin Topinko, sophomores, were responsible for this ingenious design identifying several factors for their success this year. “It took determination, perseverance, and a lot of duct tape for sure but teamwork makes the dream work,” they said. Although confined to a very specific set of rules and instructions, the team put their best foot forward regardless, and were extremely pleased with the outcome. “We are so grateful for this opportunity and we feel so accomplished. After winning the championship we’re definitely coming back next year,” they said.
like our failures and our successes. It was a lot of fun working with them,” DaKroob said. As given by the name, DaKroob’s race team focused more on the size and stability of the boat as they believed this would give them the biggest advantage in the racing portion. “I believe we will win the competition because our boat is going to be the biggest and hopefully the most stable,” DaKroob said.
After all was said and done, only one team could win the
Overall, the event was a major success with students gathering around the NPHS swimming pool, standing and cheering their fellow competitors on. Although acting as a competition, the amount of teamwork that went into building each boat on top of the respect each team had for each other made it feel more like a display of everyone’s work. After the competition, many students decided to take their knowledge from this competition and hope to apply what they have learned to next year’s competition and dethrone the current champions.
I think the funniest part was building it and having all our screw ups and our failures and our successes. It was a lot of fun working with them.
- Carson DaKroob
Rohit UkkanRace on - Teachers cheer on Josef Thunell, junior, and John Loper, sophomore, competitors in the annual NPHS boat races to victory. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the competition only one team could come away with the victory, but all teams had a great experience with the entire event. Parker Bohl/Panther Prowler
After long weeks of hard work and rigorous extracurriculars, students look for a positive outlet, and what better place is there to express your frustrations and sing your inner feelings than a concert featuring your favorite artist or band? Students all around NPHS share their favorite concerts and artists they had the pleasure of seeing during the 2022-2023 school year, allowing them to break up their work schedule as well as scream their hearts out alongside people who share the same musical interests.
Hayley Harris, junior, attended SZA’s concert in LA in March where she was entranced by SZA and the crowd’s presence alike. Harris has been attending concerts since she was seven years old and still shares a passionate love for live shows. “The crowd at SZA was electric and SZA’s set design was very impressive,” Harris said. Harris’ love for live performances started seven years ago and said that her experiences are influenced by the spirit of the fans. “I think a lot of times my enjoyment level of a concert is based on the energy of the other people. I think that if the crowd knows all the words and dancing, they’re having a good time,” Harris said.
Retro music is big to Sydney Scott, sophomore, however she still finds common ground with present-day Taylor Swift. “I attended the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, night 1 in Glendale, Arizona. It was a fun environment, just seeing all the swifties in their outfits. All of the lights and dancers–it was so much fun,” Scott said. Aside from the party aspect of concerts, Scott favors the uniqueness of live music. “My favorite part was seeing the wristbands with the lights, so with certain songs, it would be different colors or even shapes. It was a detail that made it special,” Scott said.
Usually, the artists are typically the main focus however, stage effects and theatrics are deeply appreciated, especially for students like Aya Jamaladdine, junior, who attended The Weeknd’s concert on September 2 2022. “I really liked when he was singing, and fire shot up from the stage. You could feel the heat,” Jamaladdine said. This was Jamaladdine’s first concert, so it was hard to know what to expect, but she was satisfied with the experience. “I’ve been attending concerts for only one year, because [the Weeknd] was my first, [but] the set was really good, [and] the audience had high energy,” Jamaladdine said.
Per concert culture, students share a common appreciation for the liveliness that the crowd emits, as it is the fuel for the show. “If everybody, you know, feels very connected and is having a good time, I think that makes the concert experience more enjoyable,” Harris said.
“ It was a fun environment, just seeing all the Swifties in their outfits.
- Sydney Scott ”...Ready for it? - Syndey Scott, right, poses with her sister, Abigail. Sydney Scott/With permission In The Night - Aya Jamaladdine is pumped for a night of high energy and eardrum-busting music. Aya Jamaladdine/With permission All The Stars - Hayley Harris and Kira Ivarsdottir scream their hearts out to SZA’s powerful vocals and stage effects. Kira Ivarsdottir/With permission
Non-traditional class schedules are gaining interest at NPHS. Shriya Rajesh, junior, is currently taking Steve Johnson’s hybrid history class. “I took the hybrid class because I thought it would give me more time to manage my other classes on top of a history class, which is a class I also really enjoy,” Rajesh said. Rajesh was also drawn to the class to experience teacher Steve Johnson’s final year before retirement. “I also really wanted Mr. Johnson so it worked out great because I heard a lot of great things about Mr. Johnson. So this hybrid class helped me get the best of both worlds,” Rajesh said.
Abby Morgenstern, junior, who takes the same class as Rajesh, finds the freedom in its structure rewarding. “I wanted to take history as a hybrid because it’s more flexible. So I could set my own pace, and it gave me a free period,” Morgenstern said. The online aspect of the class aided Morgenstern in finding the best way to learn for her. “You can set your own pace because a lot of it is online. So it gives you in person like answering the questions but also, your own. You can work around your own schedule outside of school,” Morgenstern said.
Lily Kang, junior, is also taking Johnson’s IB History of the Americas as a hybrid seventh period. The class currently meets twice a week on Mondays and every other Wednesday. Kang believes it is helpful for students who are busy with extracurriculars. “It could be beneficial for students that are busy with their extracurriculars because it’s less time consuming. I don’t learn any less than I do in other classes,” Kang said. The benefits Kang described apply to many students and can aid in reducing the time commitment involved in taking a class like IB US History, “ It’s one of the best choices I’ve ever made, especially because I’m really busy, it gives me a lot more flexibility with my time,” Kang said.
Rajesh also enjoyed her time in the hybrid 7th period IB History class. “I still get to meet people, and work face to face. And then we also do a lot of online work, which I feel is what also happens in a normal class, but I feel it kind of gives me the opportunity to meet people,” Rajesh said.
their extracurriculars because it’s less time consuming. I don’t learn any less than I do in other classes.
Learn! - Abby Morgenstern goes to a hybrid history class in person ready to learn. “You can work around your own schedule outside of school,” Morgenstern said. Parker Bohl/Prowler
Hybrid - Steve Johnson teaches IB History of the Americas as a hybrid seventh period. “I’ve heard a lot of positive comments about Mr. Johnson and that he’s a good teacher. Hybrid class is different because you only meet once or twice a week,” Kang said. Parker Bohl/Prowler
“
It could be beneficial for students that are busy with
-Lily KangGwen McCarthy Parker Bohl
Hayden Meixner
The theater department of the NPHS theater has achieved the seemingly impossible, proving that high school students are able to create hilarious and intriguing scenes, start to finish, without the help of an advisor. On May 13 and 14, the Student One Acts took place, featuring eight different scenes that were written and directed completely by our own student body.
Comfort- Olivia Antu, senior, performed an act involving a mysterious injury, as well as themes of love and heartbreak. Parker Bohl/Prowler
The students in the Theater 2 class worked tirelessly on this event, but participation from the rest of the theater department, as well as anyone interested, was invited. Maxwell Hellard, sophomore and writer/director for Student One Acts, has written books and short stories in the past and decided to write and direct in this year’s production. “It’s always cool to see the stuff that you’ve worked on, on stage, especially when you’re not in it. You can just observe but yeah, I mean, it’s awesome seeing stuff that you’ve worked on, being put on with such awesome people and such great talent,” Hellard said. Hellard worked together with some friends to create the scene titled “Fall Musical’’ which was a comedy featuring the many different (well written) characters that can be found in a theater classroom. Hellard has been involved in many different areas of the theater department, but prefers writing over the many other facets of theater. “I plan to take creative writing classes and pursue that as a career. Directing is not something that I usually do but theater gave me the opportunity to explore that new creative outlet,” Hellard said.
Laugh out loud- Ariela Behar, junior, stared in “Fall Musical” a Student One Act that exposed the quirky aspects of a theater classroom. Here, Behar unveils her plan for their show. Parker Bohl/Prowler
Besides fantastic writing, the performances featured many talented actors whose talent pulled the show together. Isabella Ashamalla, senior, acted in two different scenes and amused the audience with her unique characters. “I received a lot of
Dance - Dominic Folino and Saranya Rai-Burke, juinors, dance across the stage in “Murder Family’s Day Off.” Parker Bohl/ Prowler
good feedback from the audience and from my director about how people laughed really hard,” Ashamalla said. Ashamalla played the role of Lucas in “The Audition,” who was a muppet-loving casting director and (as evidenced in the closing scene) a passionate dancer. Ashamalla also played Lisa in “Fall Musical,” a theater-kid know-it-all. Ashamalla explained what makes Student One Act a special production, “It’s different from any other production because it was completely student run and organized. Students have to get together to really make the show,” Ashamalla said.
Though Ashamalla’s scenes were both comedic, some of the scenes caused the audiences to gasp in horror instead of laugh out loud. Issac Kalama, sophomore, acted in the scene “Psychological Test.” “My character is a dead psychologist and it was about him interviewing a captive audience,” Kalama said. Kalama’s performance garnered much audience participation, making for a fun but thrilling scene, “I think my performances went pretty well. The first night was a lot of fun because we got a lot of screams since it was supposed to be scary,” Kalama said. For Kalama, the biggest difference between Student One Act and any other production put on by the NPHS theater department is the fact that it is completely student led and created.
Student One Acts is a great opportunity for those interested to get involved in creative endeavors as theater provides many outlets for expression. For Hellard, inspiration to write, for theater or for personal endeavors, comes from all around. “Once you have anything to inspire, you just start writing. Don’t think about it too much when you’re just starting out. Just put words on a page …write all over the place and you can develop your ideas as you go, you learn as you go and new ideas will definitely come to you as you go. It can be stressful starting out. But I would say just don’t let that stress get in your way,” Hellard said.
On November 27, my dad passed away tragically in my living room. My mother and I gave him CPR for what felt like hours while my brother called 911, and we listened to the first responders work on keeping him alive for forty minutes before they pronounced him dead. He had been in and out of the hospital for the previous few months for mysterious lesions on his brain, and after a biopsy which determined that they weren’t cancerous, he lost his ability to walk, which rapidly spiraled into his untimely death.
Since then, I’ve had this excruciating feeling that the world is ending. I can’t really explain it, but a few times a day I get hit with this indescribable need to disappear. To just forget every single responsibility and hide from the world.
My father dying was the most heart-wrenching thing I have ever experienced. I think it’s a pain that many others don’t really understand, and I feel torn, because on one hand, someone understanding that this memory and this extreme life change doesn’t go away in a month would be extremely beneficial when discussing the topic with me. On the other hand, I don’t wish this pain on anyone.
Despite this feeling lasting for months, I was only out of school for a week following that event. It wasn’t enough time, but I’m a senior in high school. I’m in rigorous classes, and have clubs and events to concern myself with. I could only barely entertain the idea of being out for a week, let alone longer.
Going back to school was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I felt like everyone knew what happened, but no one wanted to approach me, in fear of upsetting me. I had teachers give me their condolences, but other than a brief, two minute conversation between myself and each of my teachers, I spent a lot of time alone. It was painfully obvious
that the topic was being avoided, and the only question people felt comfortable asking was “are you doing okay?” While the answer is most certainly no, I’ve never said no. I say something along the lines of “everyday is different.” It’s not cool to depress people or push my feelings onto them [as I have made myself believe] no matter how many times it’s been insisted that it’s ok. This isn’t true, of course, but how could I spill my guts to someone I see almost everyday? I found my solace in music, but I used it more as a distraction, rather than a coping mechanism.
My dad liked the Grateful Dead. Actually, ‘like’ isn’t the right word. He adored them, honored them, followed them. When I was little, I just hated that we couldn’t listen to what I liked, and as I got older and became almost as headstrong as my dad, I was frustrated that it was literally the only music he would listen to. I did, admittedly, like a small handful of songs, but I never told him that.
As I was driving home from school one day in early March, “Eyes of the World” by the Grateful Dead popped up on a random Spotify playlist. This particular song was among my dad’s favorite songs. To be frank, I still can’t stand the lead singer’s voice, but I found profound meaning in the lyrics of the song. It seems to be keeping me connected to my father. The song discusses being the center of the universe, and finding a balance between oneself and the world around them. I’m not sure if I feel like
I’m the “eyes of the world” or my dad is, but being present with grief and the loss makes it easier to process. My dad was present, and was always focused on his life currently, at least until the end, when he spent time in the hospital, and I hope to embody that as I go into the next chapter of my life. With graduation approaching, there’s a part of me that is fearful of walking on stage in front of everyone, knowing that the one person in the audience that needs to be there won’t be there. My extended family is insistent that “he’ll be there with me in spirit,” but he won’t be there. That’s what matters.
”
“
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world
- Grateful Dead
My whole family loves Young Frankenstein, not because of Gene Wilder, but because of my mom’s impression of the monster horrendously singing “Puttin on the Ritz.” Every time the song came up, she would make herself and the rest of us laugh with her strained, goofy, out-of-tune singing. That impression is one of the many, endless little things I miss hearing around the house. The first week of October, I was home alone when I received the call that there was a complication with my mother’s brain surgery that had been scheduled two days prior due to an aneurysm spotted in a scan. I run into blank spots trying to recollect all that I felt that day. From crying on my couch, rushing to the hospital and the quiet ride back home, I thought my mom’s recovery would only take a few months before everything could return back to “normal.” It wasn’t long before months became years, and even beyond.
During those first few months, I only saw her once. I’m not proud of it, but I don’t regret it. When I saw her that first time, the pain I felt is a pain that I don’t wish for anyone. People would tell me, “Our Robin was still there,” that they still saw her and that she would come back, but I couldn’t reciprocate those feelings, because to me, she was gone. That’s all I could think when I walked in to see her slumped to the side, bald, filled with tubes, immobile and mute. My mama was gone.
I saw her for my second time over spring break. This visit was worse than the first because when I greeted her, she did not know who I was. My dad tried asking her over and over who I was, and she would look through me and shrug. She didn’t remember me - her own daughter. At that moment, I felt my heart shatter. I could have screamed. Instead, I stood there, silent. What are you supposed to say? How are you supposed to react? Is this what it will feel like forever? These are questions I’ve asked myself every day to which I still find no answer.
But throughout the rest of the hour of that visit, there was a glimmer of optimism. My mom was briefly talking, slightly moving, occasionally smirking and most importantly, breathing.
While I wish the health of my mother was all I needed to worry about, the rippling effects were just as impactful. Because of the loss of one parent, I was essentially losing the other one too; he would, understandably, be at his wife’s side all day. I was soon fully informed and constantly thinking about our financial situation. Anxieties that were never meant to be mine for years had come all at once; anxieties I would have talked about with my mom. It’s cliche to say, but time really does heal all. Visits
became easier, and eventually, I wanted to see her smile. I pulled out my phone and began to play the clip of Victor Frankenstein and his monster performing “Puttin on the Ritz.” Slowly, a toothy, crooked smile formed on her face. She remembered. My mama is not gone, like I once believed.
I wish there were better words to say than just, “thank you,” for those who showed up, and continue to show up. For months, people donated and shared my mom’s story. Friends would stop by at my house unprompted, teachers showed new levels of compassion and pure strangers sent dinners to my house. While I don’t think anyone ever saw how much I was truly struggling, and I don’t think anyone will, the gratitude I have for those who supported my family is immeasurable.
Though I will always live with a certain hole in my heart, I have newfound hope. I don’t know how to measure how different of a person I am compared to who I was before, but I do know that I treasure the people in my life all the more. I will not just continue to survive. I will continue to grow, to laugh, to cry, to live. I will be there to rebuild my mom’s memory and keep on making new ones.
I love you forever, I like you for always, and as long as I’m living, my Mama you’ll be.
She didn’t remember me - her own daughter.
The child welfare system is overwhelmed. In this system, a minor who has been taken away from their biological parents is placed in an institution, group home, relative placement, or private home of a state certified caregiver. Those working to preserve the physical and emotional safety of youth are currently fighting a lack of community resources, education and awareness. One out of every seven children in the United States has suffered from abuse or neglect, amounting to around 391,000 youth that the system is responsible for protecting. However, several child welfare workers are struggling to maintain the best interests of children as they work through a system full of barriers.
“Warning” is not a common idea within the foster system, as many youth are often stripped away from all they know. Courtney Price-Dukes, former foster youth, entered the system at age twelve. “While I was at school, I got called down to the office, and there was a man there from CPS. He told me, ‘You're not going home, it's not safe for you to go back home, but there was no warning. I felt unprotected while they were trying to protect me because there was a lack of communication,” Price-Dukes said. “The reality is a lot of social workers are overbooked. They don't have the time to really get to sit down and know their cases. In some ways, I felt like I was just a number.”
Growing up, Kristen Thomas’ experience as a foster youth isolated her from her peers. “Being in foster care, there's already such a target on your back of being different. And you have so few normal experiences. It's really hard to see your friend's parents drop them off a special lunch or come visit them,” Thomas said. “By the time I was eight, I had my first suicide attempt, because life at home was so unbearable… I didn't even know what suicide was. I would go to school, and I would just sit there, I would just cry, and I could not function. They would sit me out on this little white step by myself until I could calm down because I was seen as a distraction.”
Though most children receive support from their families as they move through grade school and transition into adulthood, many foster youth struggle to find that support once they age out of the system. “If they don't have the right
support, they're probably not going to make it… and it's not their fault, their poor nervous systems are still in fight [or] flight. It’s really hard to settle down and feel safe enough to start building a life, especially when you don't have the backup that a lot of people have,” Thomas said.
Even years after trauma first occurs, it can continue to impact survivors. “I myself suffer with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, just a lot of things that maybe people wouldn't notice right away by looking at me. But if you were to actually sit down and get to know me and my story, you would just really understand how deep the stories run. My time in the system created a lot of attachment issues that become very clear through my relationships with others,” Price-Dukes said.
Children who have undergone trauma often suffer from behavioral challenges out of their control and receive multiple diagnoses throughout their childhoods. “Essentially what [the system] did was gaslight all of my trauma into trying to make me a better fit for a family. Instead of a family coming and meeting my needs, I'm having to fit in,” Thomas said.
Rather than waiting for the consequences of psychological damage to surface in peoples' adult lives, Thomas believes that the prevention of pain and trauma from afflicting youth in the first place should be a priority. “We spend so much time trying to help all these people- the homeless and the addicted,” Thomas said. “But we have all of these children that… We could have been preventing [that from] being their story.”
Though she understands the challenges within the system, Price-Dukes is hopeful for the future of child welfare. Through advocacy, she is working to increase foster youths’ chances of success in life. “The children in the child welfare system are not bad kids. They're not anyone less deserving of love than someone who was not in the foster care system,” Price-Dukes said. “Their past has been reflected in their current attitude, behaviors and actions, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve a happy future just like everyone else.”
Nine years ago, after realizing her mission aiding youth was not done, Amy Spence was inspired to start fostering. “[Fostering] has been something that has blessed our family. This has been our ministry from the very beginning. Our own children have learned how to love hard and love fast,” Spence said. “When [foster children] leave, we've also learned how to grieve well. It’s made us more compassionate to people from different backgrounds and different life experiences and it's made us grateful for what we have.”
Looking into the foster system through an outside lens, many people build their own perspectives of what the people within are like. Straton Hamer, sophomore and foster sibling, finds that many are simply misunderstood. “Some misconceptions are that all the foster children are gonna be bad, misbehaved and horrible kids when in reality most of them are just quiet and shy but overall good kids,” Hamer said. “Another misconception is that all the parents that the kids get removed from are bad people when in reality they just have problems that they can’t handle on their own and they just need more help and care.”
Understanding that the foster children will not be theirs forever can be one of the most difficult parts about foster parenting. Maggie Anderson, foster parent, recently faced this challenge when her foster children were reunified with their biological family. “The hardest moment for me was having to strap her into the social worker's car while she was yelling, ‘Mommy, mommy, mommy,’ and reaching for me,” Anderson
said. “We never tell the kids to call us ‘Mom’ or anything, but this is a kiddo who in her conscious life had never experienced a parent… That's just what came out of our mouth.”
Going into foster care, Spence hoped her relationships with childrens’ biological parents would be more positive than her experience later revealed to her. “I thought that the families that they were taken from would be more grateful that [their children] were being taken care of and loved on. But when a child gets taken away that parent is in such a panic, because even if they've made bad choices, they love their kids. And so instead of using me as a resource, I've often been seen as a threat,” Spence said.
After seeing how trauma can inhibit children from simply playing in the park or singing, Anderson appreciates having the ability to welcome foster youth with loving arms and create space for them to overcome painful childhood experiences. “We get to be a spot of love, joy and hope for these kiddos. [We] set those positive examples and show them what unconditional love looks like and what being safe looks like. And that's something that even after they leave, they can carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Anderson said.
Though her time as a foster parent has not been short of challenges, Spence has loved every child who has come into her home as her own. “I like to think I don't just have four babies, I have lots of babies. They just have become part of our family. And every time your heart breaks when one leaves, you realize your heart can still go back,” Spence said.
Panther Prowler“ Instead of a family coming and meeting my needs, I'm having to fit in.
- Kristen Thomas
Much frustration with the system is directed towards social workers. As a foster youth, Miranda Gonzalez once regarded them as “the bad guys.” Now a social worker herself, Gonzalez sees how systematic flaws go beyond the power of employed individuals. “Child Welfare social workers are very overworked. There’s a very high turnover… [Sometimes that] leads to not doing thorough investigations. We operate on very state mandated requirements,” Gonzalez said.
Generally, after Gonzalez receives a case, she is given ten days to go out. The case must be closed within 30 days. “...These numbers kind of interfere with [our] ability to truly work with families because things take time… There are services that will take months… and it really makes it hard for us to ensure safety,” Gonzalez said.
In order to become a social worker in Ventura County, one must have a Bachelor’s degree. However, the degree is not required to be in social work specifically. Maggie Anderson, foster parent, is currently obtaining her master’s degree in social work. “A lot of [social workers] are not experienced in child welfare or mental health care systems,” Anderson said.
Even with the social workers’ efforts to support each child, the high numbers prevent them from providing every child sufficient help. “Kids become numbers… We have to advocate 10 times harder for these children,” Anderson said. “You have to call and call and call to get a response… As long as that kid is not dying, they’re not coming to your door.”
After neglect or abuse is reported, social workers undergo a process including family investigation, discussion with supervisors, and the application of Structured Decision Making. “A lot of our policies… are not within the best interest of the child, [they’re] only within the safety of the child,” Gonzalez said. “There are times where we remove kids from a home and we place them into a foster home, and those kids don’t want to go back. But because these parents have demonstrated safety or done what we’ve asked them to, we still put these kids back.”
Advocates enhance the voices of children who experience neglect or abuse. Heather Abbott-Gonzalez, child advocate at the Ventura County Family Justice center, works with children endangered by family members. “The system is overloaded. Keeping families together is their number one goal right now,” AbbottGonzalez said. “Kids [are] coming in black and blue and being returned back to their home… We don’t have places to put them, or enough resources to take care of them.” 60% of foster children are removed from their homes due to neglect, and providing for all those in need of resources can be harrowing. However, multiple organizations have emerged to help. Jessi Bierling is the associate director at James Storehouse, a Newbury Park resource facility. “With neglect it’s not always that parents are necessarily not loving… It’s that they don’t have enough money to be able to care and meet basic needs. A child often enters foster care simply because they live in poverty, which is devastating.”
In cases of domestic violence, when children are left in unsafe households, consequences may arise through violent behavior. Recently, Abbott-Gonzalez visited the Camarillo Juvenile Youth Correctional Facility. “95% of the kids that are there are victims of child sexual assaults. Maybe we’re not proving [abuse], and taking kids out of the home when they should be taken out… Kids are offending [before they are removed from abusive households], and then they’re getting locked up,” Abbott-Gonzalez said. “[We] really need to believe our children when they tell us things.”
Many of those working to improve child welfare believe that the system calls for extensive reformation. “In a lot of our systems that we’ve outgrown, we need to do an overhaul and truly get back to the basics of helping families and children,” Abbott-Gonzalez said. “Neighbors helping neighbors… As a community, talking about trauma, getting services for families that… need help, is 100% what’s needed.”
“ I felt like I was just a number.
- Courtney Price-Dukes ”
Over 23,000 foster youth age out of the system every year. Over 390,000
As the beloved class of 2023 is getting ready to say goodbye to NPHS, the class of 2027 is preparing to step onto a high school campus for the very first time. While they are excited, there is still so much for these 8th graders to learn before the school year starts in August. To help them out, a few seniors will leave with some words of wisdom for these rising freshmen.
“
How would you describe the social atmosphere at NPHS?
- Camden Aschbrenner, 8th grade ”
“
Forrest Huff, senior: “So you don’t have to commit to a college until the end of your senior year, and you don’t apply until early senior year. I would not recommend getting your sights set on a college yet, especially when you know you have time to figure out what you want to do. If you get too hung up on one school, when you don’t get it, it just makes it a lot worse. So, just explore your options and don’t be afraid to look into local schools, cheaper options are always good, and just see how it plays out. It will all work out, wherever you end up, and just don’t set your sights on just one school.”
“ What will you miss the most about high school? - Kaylee Meixner, 8th grade ”
Olivia Antu, senior: “I would definitely say when you find your crowd it’s a lot easier. For the most part people are pretty nice and accepting, but of course when you find that group of people that you really click with I think it really helps socially. You find things in common that you’re able to bond over and do kind of things together and stuff... I believe that’s super important to kind of find your crowd.”
Do you have to be committed to a college by the time you get into high school? - Sage Texidor, 8th grade ”
Martin Molinar, senior: “The people, no doubt. Theater in general, especially the social scene and all that jazz, I met so many wonderful people through it. I’m not going to get the same kind of social scene anywhere else. School is a very different experience because it’s the most social place I think anyone will be in their entire life. Every day, you’re spending time with so many people, and at lunch time you can meet so many others. That’s what I’m going to miss the most I believe, just all the friends that I’ve made.”
Take a look at some of these Panthers and find out what they have to offer as a student at NPHS:
A: A lot of the classes here are really teaching you how to move through life. You have all these extra classes you can take that really teach you a lot of skills that you would not have developed otherwise. What I will remember most from this year is the people I’ve met, and I’ve done a lot of different things throughout high school.
A: This year I have learned a lot, particularly in math and English, and I am very excited to learn new things. I feel like what I have learned so far has given me a good foundation for what’s coming next.
Kaely McCurdy, seniorQ: What have you gained during your time here?
A: During my time this year, I’ve gained further knowledge of what I want to do in the future through the classes I’ve taken, and I’ve discovered what I enjoy. I would say that what I will remember the most is eating lunch with my friends, and my biotech class, because we always have fun in there.
Q:What are some takeaways that you have from this year?
A: This year, I learned better ways to study, and I feel like these experiences I have now will teach me how I should act and how that affects my life. This year, I’ll mostly remember my basketball season.
Q: How have your experiences prepared you for the future?
A: This year, I have definitely gained a lot of wisdom and knowledge of how to conduct myself in a social environment. The part of NP that I will remember the most is the weird discussions that I had with my friends.
Kelly Brecker, senior Giovanni Albarez, senior Cameron Winick/Prowler
Nikhil Satyagal Jason Kiang
Hex Weak, senior, is planning on entering the National Bartending School in Thousand Oaks this fall. Weak is pursuing her interest in bartending and mixology, inspired by her brother. “It Started with my brother because once he turned 21 He got into different kinds of drinks, so I got curious about it. I started following like certain bartenders on Tik Tok and like, seeing them make these fancy pretty looking drinks seemed really fun. So I got my own bartending kit to start practicing making drinks at home,” Weak said. This passion helped them figure out what their plans were in life. Weak was also never interested in the conventional college route, which provided the perfect opportunity to explore their passions. “The idea of college has never really been that interesting to me. I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy it so I’ve spent the past few years thinking of stuff that I would enjoy doing,” Weak said. For those still in high school, Weak recommends research into what they want to do in life. “Definitely start researching early. I have a lot of things that I need to catch up on because it’s a whole long textbook that I was given, and there’s a lot of things you have to memorize. So it’s much better if you start practicing and start memorizing early on rather than doing it like a year before you go,” Weak said.
Jonathan Golmon, senior, is planning to start a business after high school to pursue his passions. Golmon, who was always uninterested in a conventional path towards college, always wanted to start a business. “I always knew I didn’t want to go to college. I always tried to find a way to make money without going to college. And then this year, senior year, I figured out exactly what kind of business I was trying to do,” Golmon said. Golmon is planning on starting a business in real estate arbitrage through airbnb with a friend of his. In order to get his business off the ground, Golmon is looking to work more jobs. “So once I graduate, I’m going to go out and look for two more jobs. I already have one job. So I’m going to work three jobs and make a good amount of money to invest,” Golmon said. For those who may be uncertain of what the future holds for them, Golmon advises to just follow their passions. “I’ll say, do whatever you want to do, whatever makes you happy. Whatever you dreamed of doing, just because you don’t think you can achieve it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to achieve it because you probably can,” Golmon said.
Inspired by his hobbies, centered around the water, as well as his interest in search and rescue, Ryan Stotser, senior, is looking forward to graduating and joining the U.S. Coast Guard. “If I wasn’t involved with water polo, I wouldn’t have been involved with lifeguarding or any other like aquatics so I think that definitely led me down this path,” Stotser said. Although he doesn’t know anyone else joining the Coast Guard, Stotser embraces his decision proudly, as well as all the uncertainties that come with it. “I have no clue where I’m going to be in a year’s time. Who knows where I’ll be stationed around the country. So just adapting to the new environment will be different because I’ve grown up in this area my whole life. I’m open to it though, but it’ll be hard to adapt, especially if it’s the other side of the country,” Stotser said. Before going off to the Coast Guard, Stotser has some advice for everyone still in high school: “Don’t be afraid of other people. Just be open to new experiences, try new things. And don’t let yourself get in the way of what you want to do,” Stotser said.
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Though she was accepted to multiple 4 year colleges, Francesca Hartmann, senior, chose to attend Moorpark College and transfer to a 4 year after completing Moorpark. “I was getting charged an international tuition due to the fact that I’m not an American citizen. I don’t think going into so much debt is worth it at all, so that is what made me choose Moorpark,” Hartmann said. Hartmann will major in biology to pursue her goal of becoming a surgeon, fueled by her interest in human anatomy and passion for helping others. Attending community college comes with its perks too. “I’m saving all the money that would be spent in two years of tuition and living expenses, there’s no need to worry about finding roommates or alternative transportation,” Hartmann said. Hartmann looks forward to a different schedule, more driving and more independence. She also hopes to travel more and start a medical apprenticeship program. Hartmann is looking forward to graduating and to her future. “While [high school] was a good experience, it was very stressful academically and I’m ready to start a new chapter of my life overall. I’d say it’s bittersweet because of all the things we’re also leaving behind but it was great while it lasted,” Hartmann said.
Cameron Scacheri, senior, recently decided to attend Moorpark College this fall, instead of studying automotive technology at Pierce Community College. “I had a conversation with my counselor and boss, and realized it’s very difficult to make money in the trades, and since I want to be well off, I decided to take the most conventional route and go for stability,” Scacheri said. He has been working at Bavarian Performance Specialists, a car repair shop, as he is interested in the automobiles and is also working on his own projectcar. However, he plans to go back to the automobile business if going the psychology route at Moorpark College doesn’t work out for him. While Scacheri enjoys learning, he feels that the educational system doesn’t fit his needs. “I think we need to have more focus on specialty areas, so if you have an idea of what you want to do [after high school], you should be able to start learning that topic earlier on,” Scacheri said. Though Scacheri disliked school, he would advise other high schoolers to “do your best while you can and stay on top of your work. You should do your best to get good grades even if it doesn’t feel necessary or you don’t want to,” Scacheri said.
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In fall of 2023, David Kwon, senior, will be attending Princeton University to pursue a degree in operations research and financial engineering. “II chose to aim high with Princeton because their financial aid is really good. So I thought that I would still be saving a lot of money as opposed to if I went to another four year university by choosing Princeton because as from what I’m aware of, they have like the highest amount of endowment per student because they have less students and other schools that have a lot of money donations as well ” Kwon said. Kwon has been interested in pursuing a degree in financial engineering since he took an economics class earlier this year. As he starts school at Princeton, he hopes to continue pursuing his hobbies.“I think I plan on keeping mostly everything I do the same, especially music. I’m really passionate about music, so I hope to keep playing. I hope to join the Princeton University orchestra with clarinet,” Kwon said.
While not all student-athletes choose to participate in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) or NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) athletics in college, many athletes yearn to continue their dedication and drive to their respective sports. From hard practices to getting into contact with different collegiate coaches, several NPHS student-athletes are willing to take on a new athletic challenge in the next chapter of their life: college.
After coming a long way, Kayla Robinson, senior, prepares for her time as a future volleyball team member for Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. “Volleyball has been my passion for so long since I started in 3rd grade playing USYVL, then school sports and club volleyball as well for about 10 years, and I plan to play for 4 more years at Vanguard University,” Robinson said. “I tried other sports like soccer, softball, and cheerleading, but I did not like them that much.” Besides studying for a business administration degree, it is no secret that Robinson will have a busy life, but she feels she is well-prepared. “Balancing volleyball and school will be tough, but I can handle it,” Robinson said. “In high school, I packed my schedule full, and I learned time management very well. Learning time management is one of the skills I am most thankful for, and I recommend that everyone learns about it.”
Sprint - Soon, senior Ailish Hawkins will take her speed to UCLA. Ailish Hawkins/With Permission
A seasonal runner, Ailish Hawkins, senior, will be looking forward to continuing her running career on the track and field and cross country teams at UCLA while majoring in biochemistry. After Hawkins graduates from NPHS, she could not imagine herself ending her running career in high school. “I still like [running], and I don’t want to be done running just because high school is over,” Hawkins said. “[Running] definitely does kind of take a lot of your time, and [I am] choosing to work hard at it for another four years just because I feel like I’m not done. I haven’t given everything.” Aside from running within the PAC-12 conference (and soon-to-be Big 10), Hawkins would be eager to explore Westwood and LA with her teammates. “[UCLA] is a big school, and there’s so much to do,” Hawkins said. “That said, I am excited I am about to be living in LA. There are lots of cool things to do there.”
Having fostered a love for the sport, Levi Cook, senior, has been playing water polo for the past ten years. Cook is excited to continue his athletic career at the Division III level while studying kinesiology at California Lutheran University (CLU). Cook’s water polo career would not exist if he did not see his older brother play when he was younger. “I would always go and watch his practices,” Cook said. “After that practice, I immediately fell in love with the sport and still am to this day.” Since picking up the sport, Cook has been able to travel across the world and has had the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. “I’ve been able to travel from many places in California and the United States to even as far as Canada and Italy just for water polo,” Cook said. “I have also been able to make lifelong friendships and bonds that I wouldn’t have been able to make without it.” As he wraps up his senior year, Cook wants to continue his love for the sport, so he emailed coaches from different schools until he ultimately decided to continue his academic and athletic career at CLU. “I committed to CLU because they have an excellent kinesiology program and are the top Division III school for water polo,” Cook said.
After discovering the sport in the 3rd grade, Robinson’s love for volleyball has never faded. “My favorite part about volleyball is the competitiveness and the team. I love hustling all over the court and wanting to crush a ball into the floor. It’s the best feeling ever,” Robinson said. “Everyone in volleyball is always competitive, and I love it.”
Shoot - Levi Cook, senior, throws the ball to a fellow team mate in an effort to get a goal and win the game. Levi Cook/With Permission
Being able to play water polo in the same pool I learned to swim in when I was a year old was a major plus when choosing the school. - Levi Cook
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