2017-2018 Issue 6 (Feb. 9, 2018)

50 Pa years nthe r P of ride

PANTHER

PROWLER Tuesday Feb. 9, 2018 • Issue VI • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

IN THIS ISSUE: 2 3 4

School Board Jamnesty FBLA and HOSA

@npprowler

7 Senioritis 8-9 Sandra Rayl Tribute 10 LLS Fundraiser

12 14 16

Art Trek Spring Sports Jack Maier

2 School board must respect students staff editorial

Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

The school board’s vote to censure board trustee Mike Dunn is a much-needed response to his threats and offensive emails. However, we’ve seen him censured before, in 2007, and it did nothing to inhibit his future mistreatment of constituents. In reality, censuring Dunn is only a formal condemnation from the board, and it does nothing to stop his behavior. Real change comes from keeping community engagement alive and calling them to vote.

In light of recent emails between Dunn and Scott Harris, president of Mustang Marketing, in which Dunn attempted to censor a vocal citizen, this issue of free speech is not only relevant, but incredibly prevalent.

Dunn’s disrespectful comments and unprofessional behavior are not limited to adult citizens; they have been directed towards minors, including students on our own newspaper staff.

In 2014, when the Prowler published an article (while the adviser was on the maternity leave) on the culture of teenage sex, Dunn pushed to have the Prowler print a rebuttal written by a nonstaff member, insisting it appear as an agenda item at the March 17, 2015 meeting. In an email to a sophomore staff member, he claimed the article was “contributing to the suffering” of AIDS and asked, “Can I trust you?”

Within the following years, our staff did not want to broach controversy. However, we cannot avoid relevant events in fear of backlash. It would be against our journalistic integrity to do so.

In 2017 we decided to cover the FAIR Act, a state mandate that would allow for LGBT representation in social science curriculum. Its implementation reached strong opposition from Dunn and several other community members. In March 2017, a Prowler staff member interviewed Dunn via email on his views about the FAIR Act. He wrote:

I will not deny my faith in Jesus Christ to appease the secular humanists who hate my Christian religion. My faith affects every decision i make in my life. Where i spend eternity is far more important to me than being a school board trustee. If i continue to be persecuted by the secular humanist for my faith......then so be it. i will not deny my faith in Jesus Christ to appease the secular humanists who hate my Christian religion. The secular humanist like your adviser [...] want to use the public schools to promote their secular humanist religion. and indoctrinate our children with their propaganda. Hitler and Gobbels did the same thing to the German people in the 1930’s. Christians and Jews who opposed Hitler’s secular humanist agenda were gassed.

Dunn complains of cyberbullying. It is ironic, then, that he was comfortable sending this email to a sophomore in high school. From the school board, our journalistic integrity has been unreasonably questioned, our adviser harassed and insulted and our reporters left in a state of fear. A censure has not and will not protect us.

Furthermore, student journalists are not the only minors targeted by Dunn’s remarks.

During the FAIR Act controversy, after Dunn claimed that “the community does not want homosexuality, bisexual and transgender taught to 7-year-old children,” an LGBT student emailed him and spoke of the LGBT history and role models that were important to her. He responded, “Pretend for a moment you are a parent. Your 7 year old comes home and asks, ‘Daddy what is a bisexual?’”

Our student body, regardless of any differing political affiliations or beliefs, should not have to endure disrespect or immaturity from community leaders. Regardless of a stance on the opt-out policy or the FAIR Act, it is imperative that we vote for effective and respectful community leaders. Students who are or will be turning 18-- please register. Even if you are graduating, the education of future generations is in your hands.

The school board’s vote to censure is a step in the right direction, but we must persevere. We cannot let this momentum cease.

As future voters, we have the power to create a board that will focus on what truly matters: our students and our education.

Alyssa Boedigheimer/Prowler

- Mike Dunn

PANTHER PROWLER

2017-2018 staff

Editors-in-Chief Caitlin Henderson Lindsay Filgas

Sports Editors Gianna Longo Clare Wang

Entertainment Editor Kessa Chavez

Copy Editors Gianna Longo Jaycen Sussman James Pratt

Cover Editor Jaycen Sussman

DPS Editor Alyssa Boedigheimer

Opinion Editors Daria Azizad Kavita Rai

Ad Managers Manger/Nidhi Satyagal Maya Chari

Features Editors Angela Swartz Aditya Vunnum

News Editors Connor Keep Nidhi Satyagal Rahul D’Souza

Staff Writers Emily Augustine Christina Borisoff Marli Davis

Graphic Artist Online Editors Manager/Angela Swartz Alyssa Boedigheimer Daria Azizad Clare Wang Photographers Emily Nagamoto Chief/Megan Vlietstra Emily Nagamoto Logan Nichols Broadcast Maya Chari Manager/Jaycen Sussman Daria Azizad Alyssa Boedigheimer Adviser Connor Keep Michelle Saremi Angela Swartz

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed.

The Panther Prowler is published every three weeks throughout the school year by American Foothill Publishing Co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org.

The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below.

Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

news

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Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

School board censures Mike Dunn Marli Davis Staff Writer The room was packed as the school board meeting commenced. Concerned citizens carried signs, wore purple t-shirts and lined up in front of the district office three hours before the meeting even began. To avoid an overcrowded meeting room that could pose a safety hazard, the district office handed out tickets to the first 160 attendees.

At the most recent CVUSD board meeting on Feb. 6, there was only one empty chair. That belonged to board member Mike Dunn, who did not attend the meeting despite being the subject of the controversy.

“My wife has asked me not to attend the board meeting. The attacks against me have crossed the line. The attacks have hurt my wife and me. That said, I should have ignored the attacks and not responded,” Dunn wrote in a note John Andersen, school board president, read to the audience.

The controversy involved himself, Jessica Weihe and Weihe’s employer, Scott Harris.

Weihe is responsible for the “Anonymous Mommy” blog, which is known for its liberal and outspoken opinions. Conservative members of the school board, especially with recent controversies surrounding the opt-out policy, have often been the target of Weihe’s criticism.

In response to Weihe’s blog posts and comments, Dunn emailed Harris, accusing Weihe of slander.

“Every time she slanders or libels the school district or a school board member during public comments at a board meeting, I am going to respond that Jessica works for Mustang Marketing and that you support her opinions,” Dunn’s email read. Once Weihe published the

Free Speech- Community members gather before the Feb. 6 board meeting to stand against the actions of board member Mike Dunn. Many held signs calling for censuring the board member after emails were released in which he threatened a community member. “He has no respect for the ideal of confidentiality,” Gus Gress, freshman, said about Dunn. In the end, the board voted unanimously in favor of the censure, but some are still skeptical about what this will entail. Maya Chari/Prowler

email exchange on her blog, she and several other community members accused Dunn of limiting Weihe’s right to free speech.

As a result, board member Dr. Betsy Connolly proposed Item 6.1 Approval of Resolution Regarding Censure of Board Member Mike Dunn. By censuring Dunn, the board would publicly disapprove of Dunn’s threats to Weihe. This lead to an influx of community members who agreed to attend the meeting in support of the censure, as well as community members in support of Dunn.

Many chose to speak about the censure and opt-out policy during public comments. “I am here to give my sincere thanks to the board members who voted for this new amended literature policy,” Dr. Amy Chen, a supporter of

Amnesty International Fundraises for the Thomas Fire Marli Davis Staff Writer Amnesty International, a human rights club, held a fundraising concert at the teen center on Jan. 27 to raise money for victims of the Thomas Fire.

The name of the of the fundraiser was “Jamnesty,” and local bands played in support of the cause. Amnesty International donated the money they raised to the Ventura County United Way Thomas Fire Fund.

“We felt that doing it for the Thomas Fire would be good for the community,” Nivi Shaham, senior and president of Amnesty International, said.

the opt-out policy said.

Among the community members in attendance were concerned students. Still wearing his basketball uniform, Nate Bymel, sophomore, came straight from his game for the opportunity to address the board.

“Tonight, members of the school board, I ask you: has that which we have put into leadership truly promoted our greater integrity?

Have we, under this leadership, supported that which we have wanted to promote within our youth? Have we upheld every moral fabric that we said we would? And if you answer no to these questions, then I urge you, cease this leadership,” Bymel said during his two minutes of comment time.

Other Panthers listened as their classmate

The line-up included Permission to Fly, Bikini Boys, Daryl Salad, Stereo Fidelity and My Native Tongue. The club found all of the bands through the teen center.

“We wanted to donate to the victims of the Thomas Fire because as we were planning it, the fire was still burning so we thought it’d be the best use of our money to help us to give back to our community, seeing that so many people needed help,” said Eesha Chattopadhyay, junior and club publicist, said.

Although they did not have a set goal of how much money they wanted to raise, Jamnesty ended up being way more profitable than the club thought possible. “We ended up raising upwards of $1,600,” Shaham said. Admission to the fundraiser was $10, and members of Amnesty International were also selling sweets for $1. All of the proceeds went to helping local community members in need.

“We were really fortunate to have Trader Joe’s donating the baked goods and California Kettle Corn donating a raffle basket,” said Shaham.

Although only around 70 people were expected, 145 people actually came.

Chloe Budnik, junior, also went to the event and said “I think it’s cool that everyone came together for such a nice cause.”

spoke. Scott Nagatoshi, junior, was watching from the hallway since there were no seats available. Nagatoshi is part of Youth and Government, and he watched his adviser, Kyle Rohrback, speak in favor of the censure.

“I think being involved in local governments, whether in your school board or at city hall, is super important, especially for the youth, because it helps to show that the youth isn’t ignorant. We are educated on the issues that face our communities, and we have a power to use our voices to make change in our communities,” Nagatoshi said.

Students of all grades were in attendance.

For Gus Gress, freshman, this was the first time he had attended a school board meeting.

“What (Mike Dunn) did was so out of place, and he’s there to serve the school board and pay attention to issues facing CVUSD. He shouldn’t have contacted the employer of this person who was just standing up for the rights of our students and parents here in the district,” Gress said.

Of the NPHS students that were present at the meeting, all were in support of the censure.

After statements from all of the present board members, the resolution passed 4-0, officially demonstrating the board’s disapproval of Dunn.

“I am here to tell you, that there is only one way, before Nov. 6, to take care of this problem, and that’s with my fellow board members, Mr. Andersen and Mrs. Everett,” Connolly said during her statement on the censuring of Dunn. “When they let him misbehave without comment, when they allow him to orchestrate bizarre reordering of our agendas to promote their political aims, the process and protocols and control over the board falls apart.”

Jamming Out- Members of the high school band Permission to Fly perform in front of a crowd of over 100. Permission to Fly won this year’s teen center battle of the bands concert. “It was really fun; it’s a great atmosphere,” Ryan Younes, audience member, said. Younes was impressed with the performance of all the bands and thought donating the money to the Thomas Fire was an awesome idea.

Maya Chari/Prowler

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news Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

New CTSO club regulations c lose FBLA and HOSA Kavita Rai Opinion Editor Starting next year, the clubs Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) will no longer be clubs tied to their affiliated national organizations on campus.

Both HOSA and FBLA are career and technical service organizations (CTSO). The state of California has made it a requirement that all CTSO club members must take at least one career technical education (CTE) class to be eligible for competitions provided by their respective organizations.

Nick Colangelo, Career Education Coordinator, believes NPHS is in better shape than most schools affected by the regulation. “In order to have CTE classes, we have to have certified teachers, and here at NPHS we have about six.” Colangelo said.

According to Colangelo, it does not matter what CTE class you take for the requirement. At NPHS, some of the CTE classes offered include: Woodshop, Broadcasting, Advanced Digital Production, Food and Nutrition, Medical Terminology, and Sports Medicine.

Maya Ganham, junior and co-president of HOSA, said she felt frustrated after hearing the news. “These career tech classes that you have to take, are pretty much roadblocks to go to the conference,” Ganham said. Seeing that this regulation starts next year, most club members will not get a chance to take these classes. “We have 45 members in our club and only one of them has taken medical terminology.”

While HOSA will still be a club on campus, members will no longer be able to participate in conferences or competitions.

For FBLA, students attend sectional, state, and national competitions that range from Healthcare administration to Sport and Entertainment Management. HOSA has more than 50 events during their competitions. “There are knowledge written tests, reenactments of medical situations, group work,

debates,and leadership events,” Ganham said. The club will not necessarily mean it is the end of all of that, but it is kind of continue to offer medical community service opportunities, one less way you will be able to show all of the skills you have developed throughout high school,” Kanapuram said. internships and presentations.

While FBLA and HOSA will no longer be a part of their Unlike HOSA, FBLA is centered around the conferences students attend, so the club will no longer be active on-campus respective organizations, HOSA will still provide resources for students interested in the medical field, and to continue the next year.

Varna Kanapuram, sophomore, did not think it was fair FBLA legacy, Xi explains that business related clubs could be a to place a regulation most schools cannot meet. “When I first viable option for next year. heard about the new regulations, I was pretty annoyed with the whole situation. FBLA has played just a big role in my life. I have been able to run for officer positions and compete in so many competitions,” Kanapuram said.

Brian Xi, senior and president of FBLA, thinks that it is unfortunate that many members like Kanapuram will not be able to continue their FBLA experience.

He explains that although the situation is very unfortunate, “there is no real way for us to circumvent (the regulation), so we have been forced to shut down.”

NPHS is not the only school affected by this regulation.

Westlake High School, one of the Shutting down- The HOSA club members conduct their weekly meeting on Feb. 2. Although the club is not going to be an official part of the HOSA organization because all of their members would need to take medical biggest FBLA clubs in the area, terminology, the members will make a new club. “We are still planning to have a club that is involved in the will also be forced to shut down. medical community,” Maya Ganham, junior, said, “We are going to have community service, internships and “FBLA just provided so many presentations.” Members are upset that they will no longer be able to participate in conferences that they opportunities to thrive as a have attended in the past, but they will still be active to help the community. Megan Vlietstra/Prowler student, and with it gone it does

Stability Balls bring a refreshing change to the classroom Aditya Vunnum Features Editor Most students walk into a generic classroom filled with desks and chairs still trying to wake up every morning. Yet students of Peggy Walker and Jennifer Halpert walk into a room filled with colorful yoga balls to start their day.

Walker, Psychology teacher, and Halpert, Associated Student Government (ASG) adviser and English teacher, obtained the balls from a random selection among several teachers trying to get the balls for their classrooms.

“The admin emailed the staff offering this opportunity and I thought ‘what the heck,’ throw my hat in the ring. If we were interested, they asked us how we would utilize the desks and balls. I just wrote a little snippet and I got it,” Halpert said.

Both Walker and Halpert were given 20 “stability balls” to use in their classrooms along with normal chairs and desks.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to mix things up a little bit and give people a different environment than what they’re used to and give them a break from their normal day,” Walker said. Walker has always looked for a way to make her classroom different and she found a way to do so with stability balls.

Nicole Katz, senior and member of ASG, was one of the first to get the stability balls in her class with Halpert.

“I think most people like them. Personally I am not a big fan of yoga balls. I get there (at) seven in the morning I don’t have

the agility and patience to seat myself on the yoga ball,” Katz said.

“Personally when I look around in the classroom in the morning, I notice people are a little bit more awake and alert because they are more on their toes since they may roll over if they don’t sit right. You really need to balance yourself on it.”

Although Katz was one of the select few that preferred normal desks and chairs, the majority of students prefer the stability balls and love to have them in their classroom.

According to Walker, she has 39 desks in her classroom, with 20 being stability balls. In some of her classes everybody gravitates towards the balls but she does have several students who prefer to stick with the normal desks and chairs.

Walker and Halpert opted for the stability balls for very different reasons. While Walker was looking for a more colorful arrangement in her classroom, Halpert had very different ideas.

“I actually wanted the desks that came with the balls. I liked that they were not favoring to a righty or a lefty, they were ambidextrous. I wanted the desks and the balls were just a bonus,” Halpert said. Most desks extend further on the right side to accommodate a right-handed student.

“Overall it has been a really positive experience, it’s been really fun,” Walker said. “There’s been a lot of bouncing going around, even just little bouncing and I like that.”

Students add a little bounce in their education- In January, several classrooms replaced some of their standard, square, slide-in desks with open, trapezoidal desks and bouncy exercise balls behind them. Rory Smith, senior, a student in Peggy Walker’s AP Psychology class, sits, balanced on one of the exercise balls. “The balls don’t necessarily help me learn, but they do keep my attention to what the teacher is teaching; so, I guess that they do,” Smith said. Within the first two weeks of the balls arriving, around three of them have already popped and/or deflated in Walker’s class. One is currently staying inflated by a piece of tape. Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

news Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

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To look back at the 90’s: Pagers, punk music and protests Angela Swartz Features Editor

Throwback- This is the flag design the Panther Prowler Newspaper used as their headline in 1997, a time when issues were drafted by hand and layed out on placement boards because computer design was not yet available to the press.

The 90’s: teens everywhere were walking around with scrunchies in their hair, mood rings on their fingers and Walkmans in their pockets, fit with the newest NYSNC or Britney Spears hit. To celebrate the 50th year of the Prowler’s publication, let’s take a look back at the newspaper in 1997.

Walkmans, beanies and pagers were technically not allowed on campus. However, many students were upset by these rules and still walked into school equipped with these devices.

Administrators may have let fashion trends slide, but were active in response to students’ complaints about GPA. Advanced students taking IB, AP, and honors classes were troubled by the fact that these were on the same 4.0 scale as CP classes. This meant that it would negatively impact their class rank in comparison to

other schools for college admissions. Administrators looked at adopting a weighted GPA system that would be adopted later.

Another main concern that administrators had with advanced students were their schedules. They worked on reconstructing the block schedule for full IB students who were unable to take all the needed classes for the IB diploma in a regular day. It was decided that the students would have six 45 minute classes in comparison to the normal three blocks.

Measure Q, a $97 million bond plan providing modernization and reconstruction of CVUSD schools, was passed. Widescale renovations were planned in the school including new air conditioning, wiring for technology and renovating the bleachers.

Students take to the street in the 2018 LA Women’s March

Along with these renovations, the current theatre was being constructed, causing students to not be able to park in the side lot. Students were expected to park on Reino Road, bringing about many student complaints.

Plans to build the Dos Vientos community were also passed and the community was in process of being built. This included 2000 new homes, 350 apartments, an elementary school, four parks, 1200 acres for open space and 10 miles of trails There were mixed feelings about this in students, as there would be more citizens but also more customers for local businesses.

Other new community additions included the skate park at Borchard Park. However, this was not the current concrete skate park, and instead was a portable skate park constructed at basketball courts for two hours each day. It cost $5 to use it for the year.

In other pop news, the 90’s were the time for punk ska hardcore bands and the school was no exception to these trends.

The band “Veteran Flashbax,” featuring several seniors, signed a record deal with 206 Records and had several compilation CDs. While some students played music as an extracurricular, others joined clubs. Amnesty International took part in a LA rally to protest Chinese president Jiang Zemin for his human rights violations and the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.

Amnesty today is continuing to examine international affairs and fight for human rights.

The 90’s may have been 20 years ago, but high school life had many parallels to today.

PROWLER’S CAPTION CONTEST #6 <---- This cartoon needs a caption by you! You can submit a caption by visiting our social media pages or emailing prowler.newspaper@gmail. com with the subject “Issue V Caption Contest.” Remember to submit your name and keep your caption under 250 characters. Any person of any age is welcome to participate.

Best of luck!

Megan Vlietstra Chief Photographer

Marching for equality- Megan Morales, senior, holds up her sign during the Women’s March on Jan. 20. Her sign read, “Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers!” in reference to the character Rizzo from the movie, “Grease.” Morales attended with Latham and Smith. Leila Latham/With Permission

Over half a million people took to the streets in Los Angeles to participate in the Women’s March on Jan. 20. This event mirrored the Women’s March that occurred on Jan. 21, 2017 in response to the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Leila Latham, senior, attended the Women’s March both last year and this year.

“To me the Women’s March was just an opportunity. This year it spread awareness about voting, which is the most important thing. It also served as a way to come together with people with similar ideologies

and help empower women,” Latham said. “This year I was able to take people that weren’t able to go last year. That was my main goal: to take other people, spread awareness and let them see this amazing event.”

Latham was accompanied by Rory Smith, senior and president of Feminist Club.

“My motivation for going this year was because I believe that women are equal to men,” Smith said. “It was hard not to feel empowered when everyone around you wants to do the right thing. With so many people who believe the same things, you can be hopeful about the future and about change.”

While Smith and Latham participated in the march because of the female empowerment that it represented, Evelyn Zhai, senior, and Sam Church, junior, marched because they are upset with the current political climate.

“We live in a democracy where what’s supposed to happen is our legislators and our representatives vote according to what the people believe in. When people demonstrate in marches such as these, they are sending a message to the legislators and people who are running campaigns that this is what we want in our elected officials,” Church said.

Zhai and Church have both been politically active throughout the past few years and are members of Youth and Government.

“Protesting is in our constitution, freedom to assemble. It is also in freedom to petition, and so I think that by going out and protesting,

Nidhi Satyagal/Prowler

MAKE A SUBMISSION @npprowler on Instagram <--- Issue V Winner: “When the midterm isn’t curved.”

-Brian Santoso Maya Chari/Prowler

we really show the government that we have a voice and we are making them hear our voice.

Protesting has been shown to historically bring about change,” Zhai said. “I honestly think that throughout history, protests have shown people that there are real people behind these movements and that it’s not just on Twitter or petty fights.”

“I don’t think we can fix our issues unless we talk about them. I think if we don’t champion

equality and feminism and that sort of thing, instances of sexual misconduct will keep occurring,” Sam Church, junior, said. “Speaking out for human rights in general--especially when people are misrepresented and not given a voice, speaking with them, alongside them, for them and advocating for all people-- is essential for cultivating a society in which equality is actually prevalent.”

6

opinion Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Get off your phone

Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

Megan Vlietstra Cheif Photographer Every morning I wake up and reach for my phone. I check Instagram, Snapchat, emails, text messages and even Facebook if I am feeling adventurous. I do this without fail every morning. But wouldn’t it be nice to break this streak?

Over winter break, my family and I went on a trip to South Africa. On this trip, I did not have any cell service, and I was thoroughly disappointed. Although that soon changed and I eventually connected to WiFi, I was a little excited about the forced separation that I had with my phone.

On the trip, I had access to the internet but found myself leaving my phone behind. Instead, I spent the time that I was normally on my phone with my friends and family. It ended up being one of the best trips of my life.

In a society where we need to be constantly updating the world about our lives and need social media sources to constantly update us, it is important to take a minute to enjoy what is surrounding you instead of look down at your phone.

While in South Africa, I was able to reconnect with friends and meet new

people that I normally would not have been able to connect with. Although I missed my friends at home, I was excited about making new friendships and strengthening old ones.

If I had been fixated on getting my next Snapchat or waiting for my Instagram feed to update, I would have missed out on the opportunities that the trip presented to me. But why, when I came back to California, did I find myself falling back into old habits and re-gluing my phone to my hand?

For the month that I have been back, I have been trying to force myself into a phone detox. When I get home from school, I will check my social media, answer any texts or Snapchats and then leave it in the kitchen as I go and do homework in my room. I have found that I am more productive and that I can finish my work in a much more timeefficient manner, which leaves me more time to go out and interact with my friends.

When I go out, I will put my phone face down on the table which prevents me from feeling the need to look at it and check social media. This has allowed

me to strengthen my friendships by showing that I am engaged in what the other person is saying.

Now, I am not trying to say that I am perfect by any means; I still check my phone in the morning and more frequently than I would like, but staying off of my phone for the extra hour or two has allowed me to build better relations with my friends and interact with people on a deeper level than before.

Take ‘em to Wendy’s® Logan Nichols Photographer

Transfixed- Spending too much time staring at a cell phone has been shown to cause back problems. As students stare down at their devices, they are disconnected from the physical world. Caitlin Henderson/Prowler

Eating Tide Pods is bad: I should not have to say this Rahul D’Souza News Editor

Generation Z loves their internet challenges: the mannequin challenge, the ice bucket challenge and the cinnamon challenge. But the newest craze to hit the simpletons of YouTube is known as “The Tide Pod Challenge.”

What started out as an internet joke about how much the colorful detergent pods look like candy, the “Tide Pod Challenge” has recently gone too far.

Kids of all ages have posted videos of themselves eating Tide Pods as part as an internet-wide challenge. As one can imagine, this did not go well.

Many have turned the challenge into a sensationally hilarious internet meme, but the challenge itself is not funny at all. There have been several deaths associated with the challenge and hundreds have called Poison Control

after ingesting detergent from the pods.

The manufacturers infused a bittering agent into the capsule of the Pods so ignorant children would spit it out if it ever made its way into their mouths.

And yet, these fools continue to pop them in their mouths in the hopes of gaining a few subscribers. First the salt and ice challenge, now this. It might be highway running next.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission must have foreseen the latest craze because they issued a warning about the squishy pods several years ago when many children began to get sick after eating them. At some point last year, older children became inclined to disregard reason and started doing some hands-on research. Eventually it developed into the popular craze we are

plagued by today.

YouTube has taken some initiative in taking down all videos of people eating Tide Pods. They have made a genuine attempt to discourage the masses, but these kids will go to any lengths to get views.

This truly tops the list of absolutely imbecilic internet challenges. Recently, people have started posting foolish challenges or videos online in order to gain more popularity. The Tide Pod challenge is only one example. Logan Paul also recently posted a video of a dead body in Japan’s Suicide Forest. Just because they have no friends doesn’t mean they should try and be popular on YouTube. These are the people that will be carrying on the future of the human race… Darwin has failed us.

So, before we even start, let me put a disclaimer out there: I do not hate Valentine’s Day just because I am sad and alone.

Actually, my state of unattractive solitude has nothing to do with my dislike for Feb. 14.

What does, however, continue to attribute to my utter distaste, is all this “love” stuff.

Okay, now, get your knickers out of a bunch and let me finish. Do not go opening your mouth with that, “OH MY GOODNESS, LOGAN—!”

No. Stop.

Just what is so fascinating about Valentine’s Day? I have always been genuinely curious about what everyone finds so fascinating about it.

I recognize that it is for significant others to go all out and show their care for the other. And that is wonderful; you normally take them to Taco Bell, but on Valentine’s Day you push the budget and take them somewhere classier, like Wendy’s.

But, what I find interesting, are the people who dawn their affection on their partner only on Valentine’s Day. As if, now that the rest of society is up in arms about “show them you care!” you decide to bring out the big guns for an whole 18-24 hours. Kudos to you, my dude.

I am tired of hearing all the Zales and “Every kiss begins with Kay” nonsense on the radio. As if the radio did not already play subpar tunes nowadays, I am to be subjected to cringey jewelry commercials, where they go on and on about “show her how much you love her: get her a pair of 24k gold earrings! Now only $399.99!”

Beyond me not having that much money, why should I have to get someone anything to show them I care? If I do, I will try to show them daily.

I try to not use the word ‘love.’ I do not like it and hate to use it. But, in this case, I will; because the word ‘care’ will probably not come across as strongly as I want.

I have never been good at showing care or affection and when I try, I probably ruin things. However, if I love someone, they can bet their buttons I will try to show them that everyday. I cannot afford much (if anything at all), so they will probably not receive anything of material value, but I do hope that they will take my awkward attempts as something just as much.

If you care about someone, would you not want to show them everyday; to let them know that they are your whole world; that they are the reason you wake up every morning? That no matter what happens, even if they hate you and forget you, you will always love them?

Call me whatever you like, but I think if I were to truly care about someone-- if I have ever truly cared about someone-- I would muster up whatever I can think of to ensure that they know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I cared about them.

That I love them.

opinion Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

7

Senior year is not over: keep pushing on Angela Swartz Features Editor

Graphic/Alyssa Boedigheimer

Senioritis is real. The rumors are true. I can’t exactly tell you when it began, but it has definitely hit like a brick. Even starting this year was different: right off the block entering the campus, I wanted to leave. I was not excited at all, similar to previous years, and moped about the whole day. And it got so much worse, let me tell you. To illustrate, here is a graph of my motivation and subsequently the quality of my work for this year:

I pushed through college applications, the Extended Essay and midterms, and my body has officially called it quits. I can no longer keep my eyes open or grip my pencil long enough to get past the fifth problem on my assignments. It’s gotten to the point where I have spent the past three months getting up at 3 or 4 a.m. to do all the previous night’s homework that I slept through. I used to think it was extremely rude to nap or listen to music in class (I mean, it still is), yet now I find myself constantly breaking my own etiquette rules. Sure, I napped quite often in previous years, but this year has gotten out of control. If you are reading this, I am sorry Mr. Johnson. I zoom out of classes the second the bell rings and linger until the last minute to enter the classroom door. Over the weekends, I went out with friends, despite tests looming around the corner.

And then, Mrs. Ricafort came. Her arms and black bag were filled with exactly what I was trying to forget: AP registration sheets. I shed many an imaginary tear for myself as I received that packet and looked at the testing schedule. I had five back-to-back days of double testing along with two tests on other days. I was

ready to walk out right then and there.

I thought I was done. I had heard many great things about becoming a second semester senior, and had salivated at the thought ever since I began high school. “Second semester senior year is a walk in the park! Don’t worry!” became my sole motivation to get through junior year. However, it’s not over, like I was so desperately hoping. Yes, it’s easier, but it’s really never over. AP and IB testing, scholarship essays, and the same amount of homework from the same amount of classes are still waiting to be completed. Teachers still expect the same quality of work and colleges are still awaiting your end of the year transcript.

So, if you are like me, don’t throw in the towel so soon. No matter how much your soul is crumbling into millions of pieces (not dramatized at all), you have to keep pushing until May testing. It will be worth it in the end when you are in college saving thousands of dollars because you were able to get AP and IB credit. I hope you take my advice, because I’m pretty sure my feeble attempts to get my diligence back in tact will miserably fail, and at least one of us should be succeeding.

Blurry Mueller investigation demands attention James Pratt Copy Editor Graphic/Emily Augustine

The Trump-Russia scandal and the evidence that has been dug up this past year is getting harder and harder to deny.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia in the 2016 election is not just a democratic conspiracy, or “witch hunt” as Trump likes to call it. This is an issue that the public has to take seriously. Controversial platforms and unconventional behavior should not give you a free pass on evaluation from “biased” investigators and judicial officials, and as such we have to treat Donald Trump like we would any other president. With Michael Wolff ’s “Fire and Fury” shaking things up and bringing to light several controversial (yet questionable) accounts that paint a scary picture of a disorganized and chaotic White House, the American public waits with bated breath for news on cooperation between former Trump cohorts and the special counsel.

Obstruction of Justice charges seem to be the main objective of the Special Counsel as it stands right now, and one-by-one people are folding and cooperating with the investigation. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, has even come before the House Intelligence Committee to talk about his time in the White House.

The latest revelation in this lengthy investigation follows the firing of FBI Director James Comey. Current reports, confirmed

by an interview Trump had with Lester Holt last year, seem to indicate that he deliberately terminated an appointed official to curb a federal investigation.

Reportedly, Trump, soon after terminating Comey, ordered

his counsel to fire Robert Mueller as well, a new revelation that came to light after leaks from New York Times correspondents Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman. However, Don McGahn threatened to resign if forced to fire Mueller, so Trump backed off and only the anger (and special counsel) remained.

This is insanity. The picture the administration is painting is not what it seems. With so many factual accounts and leaked documents, like the Trump Jr. emails and Flynn contacts, the information imbalance that existed before the election between the right and the left is quickly closing, and the witch hunt narrative set forth by the right does not hold up. There is very little legal precedence here, so what will happen next is very unclear. The question still remains about whether this translates to obstruction of justice, but it certainly establishes motive, and, in combination with other accounts from former and current Trump administration staffers, the investigation can not be blown off as a partisan pony show. Trump said that he would be open to talking to Mueller under oath, but his lawyers have been quickly playing damage control and trying to avoid that possibility these past couple weeks. It is more important now than ever to not turn a blind eye to investigations at this level of government, and while the “smoking gun” hasn’t been uncovered yet, the matter certainly merits investigation and cannot be dismissed as just another “deep state” operation.

Graphic/Logan Nichols

Daria Azizad Opinion Editor On campus, students have little control over what they can and cannot do. Usually this is to ensure that we are in a safe environment, however, the extent of this control can become borderline unethical. I agree that students should be monitored and that their whereabouts on campus must be known. But it is not okay for teachers to deny students access to the bathroom.

I understand why some teachers are hesitant to allow students to leave their class to

go: some students just want to avoid class, or some might try to look up answers to a test in the guise of a bathroom break. However that small minority should not be allowed to dictate the rulings for the majority of students-- the ones that actually need to go to the bathroom.

Teachers should not be allowed to arbitrarily rule whether or not a student deserves to go to the bathroom. In a bit over a year, I am expected to go off to college and be

completely autonomous-- but for the time being I am not considered responsible enough to pee.

The justifications for these denials do not hold water (unlike a student’s bladder). For example, teachers say students can go during passing period. But the lines are so long it is unlikely you will be able to make it to class on time. I have also, unsurprisingly, not yet figured out how to make the human body function like clockwork that perfectly operates in harmony with the school bell schedule.

It seems reasonable not to allow students to leave during a test because there is a possibility that the student is trying to cheat. However there are ways to ensure that this is not happening, like taking the student’s phone and backpack. Making a student either fail their test or pee their pants is not ethical.

Students should not have to prove themselves worthy to do something as basic as going to the bathroom. Peeing is not a privilege-- we should not treat it as such.

8

In loving memory Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

in loving memory The warm San Marcos air was thick with emotion as the Led Zeppelin song, “Stairway to Heaven,” floated through the atmosphere. Listening to the music, the collection of people were united in their love for one who had left too soon, but touched the lives of many. They were celebrating the life of Sandra Rayl, beloved English teacher, author and friend.

After a tough battle with brain cancer, Rayl passed away on Jan. 12, and her memorial service was held Feb. 2. Christine Hodson, English teacher, attended the service and believed it to be perfect for Rayl.

“It was a memorial service that, if I didn’t know better, I thought Ms. Rayl would have designed it herself,” Hodson said. “It was very authentically her. Each of her daughters got up and spoke, her sister spoke, some of her work was read out loud, and it was absolutely poignant, absolutely beautiful.”

Rayl taught at NPHS for more than 18 years, her classroom a warm environment for students and faculty alike. Janet Conner, former English teacher and friend of Rayl’s, credits this atmosphere to Rayl’s peaceful personality and respect for everyone.

Conner described Rayl as “gentle, smart, academic, cared so much about others. Even at her worst illness she would ask how I was doing, that was her. It just made the a tm o s p h e r e really special... she just had the same respect for all of (her students).”

T h i s r e s p e c t resonated in the students and helped them succeed beyond the English and walls of the classroom.

MJ de Vere, senior, credits Rayl for her success in writing and is grateful for Rayl’s encouragement and respect.

“She is a big reason of why I am a better writer now… Looking back, I think something that I really appreciate about her is that she saw a potential in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself,” de Vere said.

Freshman year was difficult for de Vere, but Rayl’s role in her life went beyond an English teacher; she became a mentor, who de Vere said, “broadened my world outside of my little bubble.” New to high school, de Vere felt that Rayl’s class helped prepare her for the next four years, and she is grateful for Rayl’s kind and understanding treatment.

“I remember her as a mothering figure to young freshman and I just remember her gentle nature,” de Vere said. “She would never raise her voice (and) she was very kind and open -minded.”

Noah Varav, senior, experienced a similar relationship with Rayl,

“

also going through challenges during his first year in high school that his freshman English teacher helped him through.

“Freshman year was not the easiest one in my life, and she must have found out or something, because she would talk to me after class sometimes and make sure I was doing okay,” Varav said. “I thought that was really cool.”

Perhaps the extra care Rayl gave her students stemmed from what Hodson calls her “infinite capacity for hope and for optimism for herself (and) her students.”

Hodson remembers observing Rayl’s class and being “struck that she addressed her students, 9th graders, and talked to her students as if she was speaking to a peer... honoring their intellectual maturity.”

Sean Flaherty, Spanish teacher, also saw how her “authentic and genuine” personality translated to how she treated her students.

“Who she was as a person was also who she was as a teacher,” Flaherty said. “When she was dealing with her students… I could just tell, she treated everybody as potential writers and took them seriously as individuals.”

A Life of Memories For some, even the everyday encounters with Rayl were special and unforgettable. One of Varav’s favorite memories happened right outside the front office. During class, the two had bonded over a mutual love of movies. Even after Varav’s semester with Rayl ended, she did not forget him, evidence of the sincere c onn e c ti ons she made with her students.

“I was walking to the front office, and I heard I B Te a c h e r someone running down the hall, and someone was saying ‘Noah, Noah!’” Varav recounted. “I turn around and it is Ms. Rayl, and she was like ‘Sorry, I just saw you and I had to tell you about this movie that I just watched.’ … It had been a long time since I had seen her, and she just said ‘I just saw ‘The Judge’ with Robert Downey Jr. and it just made me think of you, I thought Noah had to see this movie,’ and I don’t know, I just thought it was really cool that she remembered me and thought of me specifically when she was watching this movie.”

Remembering their cinema bond still, Varav nostalgically wishes to tell Rayl one more thing: “I think you should really watch ‘The Big Sick,’ it is a good movie.”

De Vere’s connection with Rayl also ran deep. Rayl even asked her and a couple other students to review a book that she was writing, and though de Vere was unable to, she greatly appreciated Rayl’s offer.

Ms. Rayl had, to me, an infinite capacity for hope and for optimism.

“

Teaching Beyond the Subject

Christine Hodson

“As a freshman, that was really flattering, because not only did she want our opinion, she also was willing to compensate us for it, which is pretty incredible,” de Vere said.

Writing seemed to be a common thread among many of Rayl’s relationships; with Flaherty, the two were brought closer together by writing and reading each others’ works.

“She was teaching English and I had my own writings as well, so our love of writing brought us together,” Flaherty said. “She shared with me that she was writing stories and a novel, so through that we

ust gradually kind of gravitated towards each other and ended up alking a lot about writing.”

While Rayl experimented with many genres of literature, there s one specific set of works from her that Flaherty believed was “just rilliant.”

“She got this idea shortly after the Iraq War,” Flaherty said. “She eard this statistic that a disproportionate number of young men ad died from Clovis, California and heard this crazy percentage f men who signed up for the war had died, all from this small

In loving memory Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

town. She went to the families that had survived that and went to write a profile about their lives now that they lost their sons.

She showed as much as she could and interviewed people to get to know the community. Some of the writing that came out of that was astounding.”

The two often worked together, critiquing and supporting one another. He believes that Rayl had a great impact on him and his writing.

“She was so courageous in trying stuff and it gave me courage to try stuff in my own writing. She tried anything, she loved writing, she loved stories,” Flaherty said. “Just the fearlessness and how she would go at it, and sometimes she made it work, sometimes she did not, but she would dust herself off and keep going. It was very influential on me.”

Legacy of Love Rayl was known to carry a love for literature. Her passion and drive with books, plays, poetry and more has carried on to her teaching.

Rory Smith, senior, had the pleasure of being Rayl’s student in her freshman year, “I could tell (Rayl) was really passionate about literature and she really loved her job. I remember her as a person who gave a lot to others. She gave her time and her advice to her students. She was just a really beautiful person and I hope people remember her as that and as a good teacher, because she was,” Smith said.

Having her class first semester, second period, Smith said that Rayl “made me feel at ease, because everyone is nervous on the first day, but she had a really calming impact.”

Smith also had the opportunity to read Rayl’s book, like de Vere, and was grateful for the opportunity that not only boosted Smith’s confidence, but also let her grow closer to her teacher.

9

Varav felt the same way, while in Rayl’s class, and was happy to continue contact with her after their semester, calling her “one of the first teachers in high school that I got to connect with and form a relationship with outside of the classroom.”

It was not just movies that Varav connected with Rayl about, he also knew of the books she was writing and hopes to get the opportunity to read them, as does de Vere.

Another beloved aspect of Rayl’s writing is her poetry, and Conner remembers her to be “a beautiful poet.”

“I can remember (a) poem and it was just about the sea and about nature, but about human beings being sort of part of it too, so it was a beautiful poem,” Conner said.

Conner could see that Rayl’s poetry was a reflection of Rayl, herself, and many around Rayl saw the gentleness and kindness. De Vere especially felt Rayl’s compassion and knows it left a big impact on her.

“Since she has passed, I have been thinking more and more about her kindness and her generous nature,” de Vere said. “I really hope that as I move forward in whatever I do, I can, through her kindness I can give her a legacy.”

The kindness that de Vere described was felt by so many of her students that upon hearing her passing, they wanted to give back.

All of the memories the students had with Rayl seemed to be touched by her kindness and unique personality, and to showcase Rayl’s true impact on the students, Hodson organized a scrapbook filled with some of her students’ favorite memories with Rayl.

“The scrapbook took on a life of its own because of students who approached me with stories that they had to tell about Ms. Rayl,” Hodson said.

Hodson gave the book to Rayl’s mother, and it was a heartfelt acknowledgement of the influential, irreplaceable, unforgettable life that Rayl lived.

“Her mother clasped the collection of student recollections to her chest as if it was absolutely precious treasure, which is what it is. It is a legacy that will represent what she meant to people here on campus.”

Gianna Longo Sports Editor Emily Nagamoto Online Editor

From left to right, Sandra Rayl, Christine Hodson and Janet Conner. Janet Conner/With Permission.

10

features Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Hands on Earth club promotes the power of nature Kessa Chavez Entertainment Editor Some students have a knack for sports, others have a passion for computer programming and some have a green thumb. No matter what interest group students may identify with, there is always room for them in Hands on Earth club.

Daria Azizad and Maya Chari, juniors, had an idea for an environmental club that could help innovate and educate the campus.

Thus, the club Hands on Earth came to be.

Those involved in the club work to create conversation around the environment, where it is heading and what they can do to help. This relatively new club has spurred an awareness of nature that has only recently been spread across the student body.

On Jan. 27, the club hosted a gardening event at NPHS from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., where they had the opportunity to further their goals.

During the event, those who attended, 15 students and a handful of adults, weeded and put new soil in the club’s gardening boxes. They also planted four different types of carrots, a milestone that they hope to further in the future. They also had the chance to speak with a garden specialist who provided more soil to the club and plans to help them complete their final gardening box.

The club welcomes a variety of students to become involved in their weekly discussions.

Suha Hussain, junior and vice president, encourages student involvement by creating an

y ou did n ot k now a b ou t

Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

things

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entertaining environment.

“You will learn something new every meeting. We also focus more on group discussions as a whole rather than just activities directed by the board members,” Hussain said.

The club has bigger plans for what lies ahead as they plan on beginning the project of introducing solar panels to the school and encouraging environmental growth by creating a safe place for wildlife such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Another goal of the club is to maintain a sustainable garden that can provide fruit and vegetables to the cafeteria.

Brian Fang, junior, first joined Hands on Earth while looking for something to do with his friends on Wednesdays at lunch.

“Other students should join the club because most clubs don’t give you the opportunity to make an actual difference. In this club, we are working on real environmentally beneficial projects, such as getting solar power for the school and renovating the NPHS garden for all students,” Fang said.

Anne Alvarez, special education teacher who oversees the club’s gardening events, explained the importance of a club like this on campus.

“It is not just food growth, it is recycling and making a better place for everyone and that is what I think this club is all about,” she said.

The club encourages students to join whether out of pure curiosity or a genuine

Ronald Toomey // Economics and Psychology Clare Wang Back Cover Editor

1

He has had three careers: Chief Financial Officer, marriage and family therapist, and teacher.

2 3

Yosemite is his favorite location, but he finds the Grand Canyon to be the most awe-inspiring place he has been.

He is most proud of his three kids, two of which live in Australia, and the other lives in Hawaii.

4

During his youth, he backpacked in the Sierra Nevada and climbed Mount Whitney four times.

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His life motto: “Find the tiger inside of you,” meaning that you have to be assertive in life.

passion for nature preservation.

“We’re a really friendly and welcoming club,” Hussain said. “We had a lot of people (at the event) who usually don’t come to our meetings but know of the club. Our club is mostly juniors but it would be nice to see more members who are sophomores or freshman.”

Students can join in on the club’s conversation on Wednesdays at lunch in room D8.

And if you need even more convincing Fang added, “I don’t think there can be a better feeling than getting to eat your hard work.”

Get out and garden- NPHS Hands on Earth held a gardening event at the NPHS garden on Jan. 27. The club worked on filling garden boxes with fresh soil for the winter planting season. Fang thinks gardening is a great way to contribute to the school. “We will be able to see what all of our hard work has amounted to when our garden is fully grown,” Fang said. NPHS Hands on Earth plans to garden the first saturday of every month.

Aside from contributing to the NPHS garden, Hands on Earth hopes to decrease the school’s nonrenewable energy in the future. The club meets every Wednesday in D-8, where students discuss their plans to keep NPHS environment friendly. Kavita Rai/With Permission.

LLS aims to raise $50,000 for blood cancer research Clare Wang Back Cover Editor Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) was founded in 1949, when the survival rate for kids diagnosed with Leukemia was just 8 percent. Now, that figure has drastically increased to 90 percent.

NPHS welcomed an LLS club five years ago and has been contributing to the fight against cancer ever since.

“Leukemia Lymphoma Society is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to help fund blood cancer research, which in turn helps find treatments for other cancers as well,” Brenda Herron, senior and co-president, said.

One campaign the club is running this year is called Students of the Year.

“Students of the Year is a seven-week initiative that is an opportunity for high school students to come forward and raise as much money as they can any way they know how for blood cancer research via Leukemia Lymphoma Society,” Frank Gress III, senior and co-president, said.

This is the second year NPHS has

participated in the Students of the Year campaign, and they have set a goal of $50,000.

“Our goal is $50,000 because with that particular goal, we’ll be able to attach our community’s name, Newbury Park, to any blood cancer research that is established in the future,” Herron said.

LLS has several events and fund raisers planned to provide opportunities for donations, however people do not have to wait for these to donate.

“The real bread and butter (of our efforts) is sending our campaign letter that was written by Brenda and I to family and friends and anyone who we feel would be willing to donate as much or as little as they can,” Gress said.

Over the seven-week period that they will be collecting donations, LLS plans on hosting at least one event each week.

“We have a silent auction that we will be doing online as well as random things like bringing food trucks to campus and

getting fund raisers at Chipotle and such places,” Bella Scott, senior and member of the LLS event planning committee, said.

Aside from collecting donations, LLS also aims to bring awareness to blood cancer.

“People our age are the most susceptible and I think it’s really important for people to understand that and to support their peers, not only in this community, but in the global community as well, who are all struggling with something that we could easily be afflicted by,” Herron said.

Since cancer is an unfortunate occurrence in several people’s lives in every community, LLS is a source of hope for the patients as well as their families.

“Just to have our name linked to (cancer research) would be so honorable for so many of our community members who have been touched by cancer and I think as a community, it would be really inspiring to do that for people,” Herron said.

features Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Student Nickerson DeMelfi/Junior

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What was the second most popular meme of 2017?

Nickerson: I can’t even think of any memes.

Ellis: I think we’re going to have to take the ‘L’ on this one.

Answer: The distracted boyfriend It seems fair to say these two are not very cultured.

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VS

Teacher Scott Ellis/AP European History Teacher

Logan Nichols Photographer

0-1 Ellis Wins!

About how many days does the average human live?

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Studies show that what fast food restaurant is just as, if not more, unhealthy as McDonald’s?

Nickerson: ...In-N-Out? Ellis: Taco Bell? Your questions are not friendly.

Answer: Chipotle Into the second half… still, no one has scored.

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Nickerson: How many days... let’s go with 70,000.

Ellis: I’m gonna go with around 75,000.

Answer: 28,000 days; roughly translated to 77 years Unfortunately, the average of these numbers amounts to about 197 years...

How much money does the average American spend on Starbucks a year?

Nickerson: $750. I don’t drink it, it stunts your growth.

Ellis: $500 Answer: $1,100 Sorry, DeMelfi, you were too far off for me to get away with giving it to you.

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3

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How much money does Judge Judy make a year?

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In accords to basketball, where is the “Highest Court in the Land” located?

Nickerson: I should know this, she’s on a TV show... $5 million.

Ellis: We’re off to a rough start Nick...$3 million.

Answer: $45 million It seems they underestimate her overwhelming power.

Nickerson: This is in a video game! Empire State Building.

Ellis: New York Building of Unknown Name.

Answer: Above the Supreme Court Still tied nothing to nothing; will anyone pull through?

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What is the most critically despised band of 2017?

What is a large group of crows called?

8 Nickerson: A flock? I’ve never heard this in my life.

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4

Nickerson: 21 Pilots? That’s definitely wrong I just said a band Ellis: Green Day. We’re zero for four.

Answer: Nickelback (as always) The mystery of the universal Nickelback hatred sleeps for no man.

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Ellis: A murder Answer: A murder And Ellis brings in the win with the bird trivia! It was painful, but they made it through.

0-1 Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

Julia Berman maximizes theater’s potential Jaycen Sussman Copy Editor Anxiously scribbling and preparing for their next show, the many students of the theater department are all exhausted. Yet, the word exhausted is not tolerated in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), as there is always work that must get done to stay on schedule. Staying on-task is the key to success in the theater department, and this success is met with the high-pitched, booming voice of senior Julia Berman.

Berman has always had a high expectation for getting the job done, no matter how loud she needs to get. But after spending all of her high school career with the theater department, she has figured out what works best for each performance.

“I learned how to communicate a lot better. I have met a lot of people that I might not necessarily agree with, and maybe we have our moments, but you have to come together

with them in the end, and work with them no matter what; for the greater good of the club or play,” Berman said.

In addition to communication, self-reliance is what has led Berman to acquire higher roles within the theater department. Berman tends to various positions such as head of lighting, the assistant director to the upcoming show ‘Antigone’ and president of the Drama Club.

Berman has produced a name for herself within the school’s department with her contributions. Max Oliver, senior, has grown close to Berman over the past years working coherently with her in the department and knows she resembles raw perseverance and dedication towards the program. With her ecstatic personality cheery smile, she brings light to everyone in the PAC and each individual she influences.

“Many people in the PAC look up to Julia

for guidance, but are also not afraid to look to her as a friend. She is a multifaceted individual who everyone has the ability to form a connection with,” Oliver said.

With the many people she has touched through her enthusiasm, Berman’s personality has left a mark on Marilyn Strange, Theater Arts Director. Working with Berman since her freshman year, the two have grown together and have a bond unlike any other.

“I have had the pleasure of watching Julia grow into the talented lighting designer and leader that she is, over the years in the theatre department. She is confident in her work, puts her innovative style on the stage consistently, and is constantly pushing herself as an artist to grow. I have been able to see her blossom under professional internships she has acquired and learn a lot of professional ‘tricks of the trade’ that she happily teaches to others

in our department. I have no doubt she would make it in the industry as she graduates from NP to move on to the bigger and better,” Strange said.

Berman has impacted all students surrounding her, whether it be through sheer panic while working on a performance, or teaching and influencing new members of the department. Berman intends to continue inspiring others in this field at the professional level after high school.

“When you put on a show, (you have) that initial feeling of dread, because you are so scared and so nervous your work won’t pay off, but it always ends up paying off in the end. That feeling of relief in the end is so addicting, it what keeps me wanting to do this and what makes me want to do this forever,” Berman said.

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entertainment Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Daria Azizad Opinion Editor Art Trek is a cute and quirky arts program found on Rancho Conejo Blvd., Newbury Park. Trinkets line its entryway, paintings hang about on every possible surface and oddly enough, several giant patterned bunnies sit about.

On the third Friday of every month, Art Trek opens at 7 p.m. for Five Dollar Friday. After seeing their flyers around school, I decided to finally see what it was all about.

I worried that the friends I forced to come with me and I would be the only ones there. But upon arriving, I was surprised to see excited faces greet us as they took our admission fee. In the spirit of forging some kind of quasi-community, they gave us nametags and introduced themselves. After being directed to where different art supplies stations were, my friends and I trekked (ha ha) farther into Art Trek.

There were several tables set up with wooden “peace poles” and panels to be painted and decorated. If you are anything like me, you might be wondering what the heck a peace pole is.

Luckily for us both, I learned what it is: a peace pole is a wooden staff that generally displays a message having to do with peace or a prayer. However, many of the Art Trekkers were taking their own creative liberty with the peace poles and painted them without regard to a specific message.

In the center of the room, there was a Valentine’s Day themed cookie decorating station with frosting and sprinkles.

I was glad that there were several options to choose from so that I was not locked down on a project that I would rather not be doing. However, there is only so much options can do if you are like one of my painfully indecisive friends who was not able to choose a project and stick with it.

I decided to paint a peace pole. I was relieved that Art Trek provided a variety of colors since I have some trouble mixing paints consistently (eyeing proportions should not be that hard yet I can never get the color the way I want it). They also had paintbrushes in various sizes to accommodate whatever level of

Masterpiece-Laughing with her friends, Sarah Bean, sophomore smiles Masterpiece-Laughing as she paints the side of a block of wood. This was Bean’s first time at a $5 Friday, and she appreciated the opportunity to be creative. “I painted a peace pole that had different dichotomies on the sides. One side was the sun, the other the moon and the other two were the forest and the ocean. I was just inspired by the beauty of nature and how it all comes together cohesively despite being so vastly different,” Bean said. The $5 Friday high school events have ended for this year, but the organizers are considering starting them again next year. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Artistic processprocess-Focusing Focusing on her work, Allison Gennette, senior, paints an African Safari at the Art Trek $5 event. The community art center Art Trek hosts $5 events where anyone can come and create art; Friday, Feb. 2 was one of the special high school only events. “I wish $5 Fridays would happen more often... I would recommend it to anybody because it is inexpensive, an artistic outlet, and you get to meet new people,” Gennette said. Some of Gennette’s favorite projects at Art Trek include cookie decorating and “blackout poetry,” where she created her own poem from a novel page. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

precision you need for your project.

Music played in the background throughout the night, which was soothing to paint along to. The owner of Art Trek also kept made rounds through tables, snapping photos of people working on their soon-to-be masterpieces.

Although I do not think I will be making it a regular habit to attend Five Dollar Fridays, I really enjoyed going and will

probably do so again. If you are a person that loves painting, sculpting or even just decorating cookies, Art Trek is the place for you. The people are nice, and create an overall inviting ambiance that makes you feel welcome to stay. For the cheap price of admission, you definitely get more than what you paid for. Art Trek is definitely the place to go if you need to work on an art project or just want to have a fun time making something.

Stick and poke tattoos make their mark James Pratt Copy Editor

Inked in- Charles Cremault, senior, flashes his symbolic tattoo. “I had a life-changing trip to China where I nearly died,” Cremault said.

“I figured I’d get a tattoo of the view from where I lived in China to symbolize the trip and my experience there.” Maya Chari/Prowler

“Do it yourself ” (D.I.Y) tattoos, most of which are done manually with easy-to-acquire craft materials, have become popular amongst high schoolers because of their accessibility and low cost.

Stick and poke tattoos work just like they sound. A needle is dipped in ink and in punk-rock style is inserted into the skin several times until a full tattoo is made. “You have to take the needle and attach it to a pen or a pencil for grip and then you wrap a bunch of string around it,” Oli Martin, senior, said. “The string will hold the ink.”

Having an affinity for tattoos from an artistic standpoint, Martin and Charles Cremault, senior, isn’t at all averse to them.

“Well, I always admired tattoos and I had a couple friends that had some and I just like the style of it I guess.” Martin said.

“They’re just like different and cool because they’re small and you can do it yourself.”

It says ‘thx ugly god’ because that’s my favorite rapper,” John*, junior, said, when describing a tattoo he got on his waistband.

John insists that stick and pokes are worth the pain. “I’m pretty happy about it,” John said.

Differing in size and location, D.I.Y. tattoos are growing in popularity thanks to their low cost and easy concealment.

“People like to do them on their thighs, it’s easily hidden,” Martin said.

In addition to often causing infections if not done correctly, stick and poke tattoos also come with intense pain and often even more painful regret. “When you got lower down it hurt more.

There’s more nerves in your foot down there,” Mike, junior, said.

“People see it a lot. I just dont think I should have gotten one.”

Martin, on the other hand, isn’t as pessimistic about an arrow stick and poke on his wrist. “It kind of looks like a cross but I mean I’m probably going to get a tattoo over it anyway so I don’t really care.”

However students like Charles Cremault, senior opt to get tattoos done in a shop. “At the end of the day it isn’t the most sanitary option, and if it is going to be on your body for the rest of your life, have it professionally done” Cremault said. While the operation isn’t as complicated as a real, professionally done tattoo, the implications are close to the same. “They can last anywhere from five years to forever basically. I mean all tattoos fade with time but they do last a long time,” Martin said. “The longest one I’ve had is almost three years old now and it hasn’t faded yet.”

Only time will tell whether the trend will fade as slowly as the tattoos themselves, but one thing is sure about the trend right now. “They’re around, they’re around. But only the edgy kids do it.” Martin said. * names changed upon request

entertainment Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

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Quartet finishes their senior year on a high note Megan Vlietstra Chief Photographer Many children can only dream of However, their rehearsals are not just growing up and singing with their best singing. friends on stage. Bella Scott, Alisha Patel, “We crack each other up, so that helps Jillian Cotone and Brenda Herron, seniors, too. Half of our rehearsals are us just are living that dream. laughing,” Cotone said. “Maybe that’s why The seniors created the quartet in their we have so many and they last so long.” senior year of high school. Even though the The quartet call themselves BAJA group is newly formed, they look and sound or JABB, a combination of their as if they have been singing together for initials. years.

“I thought of BAJA but there are two “We’re all in choir together and have ‘B’s’ and only one ‘A’ so you have to do been friends since freshman year. We were Brenda, BellA, Jillian, and Alisha,” Cotone just like ‘hey it would be fun if we did said while laughing. “So it works but it a quartet together,’” Scott said. “We do doesn’t work at the same time. They call us acapella music: Destiny’s child, Little Mix JABB too. But I like BAJA the best.” and that kind of stuff.”

Scott said that John Sargent, choir The four decided to create the group and teacher, identifies the group by calling for perform in the solo portions of the choir “Alisha’s Quartet.” concerts. However, they have also been paid “It’s funny because there are three other to perform at private parties and rallies. The people in the group too. Its like Beyonce group spends much of their time preparing and Destiny’s Child,” Scott said. their music, but they can also produce a “Maybe we should just be Alisha and performance-ready sound in one day. the Girls,” Patel said jokingly.

“We spent a solid eight hours together Looking sharp- Alisha Patel, Brenda Herron, Bella Scott and Jillian Cotone, seniors, practice with their quartet for the The bonds that the quartet feel for rehearsing and I gotta say, I’ve never felt upcoming choir shows. The group met when they joined choir in freshman year and quickly became friends, eventually each other would not have been possible closer to anybody. We were trying to get deciding to form a quartet in their senior year. “It is really important to work with people who you vibe with really well without their original introduction in ready for a paid gig and we were like ‘we do because music is something where you can’t just do it and force it,” Herron said. “I think that’s why we work so well choir in their freshman year. not know any of our music’ so we had to together, because we have such great energy.” The quartet affectionately names themselves BAJA after trying to create “Choir is a good program to be a part of learn like five songs that day,” Patel said. On an acronym with their names. Jillian Cotone/With Permission if you are interested in, and you are going top of learning the music itself, the quartet also needed to learn The girls use their friendship to push the limits of their to make amazing friends,” Cotone said. hand motions and keys to perform their acapella music.

“They become family too. Choir is more than just a program: singing abilities.

“Because we are good friends with each other, we are not “We are able to take criticism from each other and not be its a family. The four of us has been through the good, the bad afraid of being honest with each other. We all have just grown so afraid to suck in front of each other. It brings us closer which and the ugly,” Scott said. much as musicians, “ Scott said. “We’re all very best friends too.” helps with being so open with each other,” Herron said.

reflects our dark future James Pratt Copy Editor “Black Mirror,” a Netflix original drama that explores technological innovations and their consequences, is an entertaining and spooky show that I am glad to have in my Netflix repertoire.

“Black Mirror: Season 4,” the most recent entry into Netflix’s deep dystopian coffers, tackles a couple new issues. One of the greater themes of the season had to do with memory and simulations, with several issues arising when consciousness is peered into or attached to different vessels. Begging the viewer to ask themselves several questions about the

Alyssa Boedigheimer/Prowler

implications of theoretical technologies, Black Mirror is a thought provoking show that feels closer to real life with each season that comes out.

“Metalhead,” the fifth episode in the new season, was one of the darkest and most mysterious episodes in the entire series.

Following a woman and her escape from a human-exterminating robot dog, the episode was confusing at times but quite interesting.

While these dogs were not ever explained and the issues of the greater world are not reviewed or resolved in any way, it has excellent acting

and cinematography, and it is the best produced show in the season. It feels reminiscent of an art film, with interesting shots and excellent acting giving us a vivid picture of a desolate world.

The new season also had more genuinely funny moments and fun plot elements compared to past seasons. “Hang the DJ,” an episode that explores two people and the foibles of an advanced dating service, has a satisfying feelgood ending that made me feel warm and fuzzy after watching “Crocodile”. “Black Museum”, an episode about the “history” of moving consciousness between people and objects also

has some funny elements, and in conjunction with a clever plot the episode had a comforting ending. This more light-hearted tone applied to three of the six new Black Mirror episodes, and they do a brilliant job of complimenting the darker episodes by cleansing our palettes and allowing us to better understand the season’s more complicated issues.

In classic Netflix style, I watched all six episodes in one sitting, and I can confidently say that the mix of humor and catharsis left me entertained, intrigued, and most importantly not exhausted.

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sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Spring sports take on a new season Connor Keep News Editor Girls’ Softball: Coming off of a 24-7 season, the girls’ softball team is poised for another winning season. They won the Marmonte League last year and have high goals for this year. Chase Knapp, junior and center fielder, has high aims for herself and the team. “Personally, I would like to improve my batting average from last year and as a team winning the Marmonte League and being champions for the second year in a row,” Knapp said. Last year she had a .354 batting average over 31 games played which is above average. The Panthers have been working hard over the offseason to reach their goals. Sydney Barth/With Permission Boys’ Baseball: A second place finish in Marmonte League, a 21-10 record and having one of the strongest pitching staffs in California are a few of the accolades that the boys’ baseball team boasts of last season. The Panthers are keen on completing their goals for this season, although they lost most of their starting lineup to graduation.

“This year (we want) to come together as a team and win some ball games. We have a very strong team this year. We hope to go far into the playoffs and plan to win a CIF title,” Trent Packard, senior, said. Coaching this team with high aspirations is Curtis Scott who is in his second season at the high school. Caitlin Henderson/Prowler Boys’ Volleyball: The Panthers have been finetuning their abilities over this offseason with many grueling workouts and practices. As the sweat drips down the faces of the volleyball players, they all have one thing that they are working toward-beating Westlake. Last year, Westlake won the Marmonte League. They have taken second place the past two years and want to win league. “As a team we have a huge advantage in that the majority of the starting lineup plays together all year through club,” Luke Hetherington, senior, said, “Also, the senior class this year has been playing together for years although I am sad that this is our last year.”

Jake Cecena/With Permission

Boys’ Tennis: Tennis is a unique sport, as it includes the variations of playing in an individual or a team match while also scoring for the team overall. Last season, Wally Thayne, junior, made it to CIF as an individual and Nathan Juan and Justin Kreymer, sophomores, advanced to CIF in doubles. On top of all of these achievements, the Panthers placed second in league. Regnar Madarang, junior, wants the team to improve on many things this season. “We can work together as one big team. We need to get less people sitting down during the game and have more people need to stand up and support other team members, even if it’s JV. We are still one team.” Megan Vlietstra/ Prowler

Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse: Coming off of a 6-4 season, the Panthers are ready for another tough season of Marmonte League play. Coached

by Michael Noble, the lacrosse team has been putting in hard work this season. “I plan on being a key figure on the offensive scene this year. I will also be prepared to snipe corners from farther out, with my offseason training by increasing my range and strength,” Jackson Wells, junior, said. As well, the team is very young because they had many of their players graduate last year. Their loss of seniors seems to not have dismantled the team, because of their athleticism and skill. Jackson Wells/With Permission

Girls’ Swimming: Swimming is one of the most intense sports in the world and many athletes dedicate their time to the sport at school. Athena Hochevar, senior, is one of these athletes who helped the Panthers achieve a 3rd place finish in the Marmonte League last season. “My goals (this season) are to drop time in the 50 and 100 (meters) freestyle,” Hochevar said, “The team’s goals are to bond a lot more and work harder to win as many meets as we can.” She loves to improve her times, but especially enjoys the company of her teammates. This season, for the girls swimming team will be hard to overcome because of the loss of the pool. Sarah Lu/With Permission Boys’ Swimming: High school swimming is scored off of relays, individuals. The higher place in races, the team receives more points. The team that has more points at the end of the meet wins that day.

Although swimming is a team sport, individuals advance to CIF. Jason Lu, senior, has a goal to, “place top 3 in CIF, break the 100 Breaststroke school record and break the VC champs record.”

One hurdle this season that the swim team faces is the construction on the pool. One way that the team will overcome this is, “working hard to organize events where people can come together (and swim),” Lu said. Jason Lu/With Permission Boys’ and Girls’ Track: The track and field season is approaching for the participants, but for some it has already started. Some boys and girls traveled to race the University of Washington High School Invitational. The Marmonte League season starts in March, but many athletes have been working throughout the winter. Last year’s Marmonte League 1600 meter champion, Nathaniel Garner, senior, feels he has improved immensely. “This year I’ve spent a lot more time outside of practice on having a better sleep schedule and eating the right foods,” Garner said. Track and field is a team sport, but an athlete must place top three at the Marmonte League Championship meet to advance to CIF. Alexa Bolanos, senior, has been running track all four years of high school and she has improved since her freshman year. “The goals for this season would be to work our hardest, improve ourselves individually and also as a team...Individually I am striving to reach new personal bests and encourage each other to work hard so we can continue to build a strong and competitive program for years to come.” The mentality of the team for this season is very positive and everyone is looking forward to racing. Nathaniel Garner/With Permission

sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

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Plans to build new softball fields o n N P H S c a m p u s u n d e r wa y Emily Augustine Staff Writer After school, Zoe Estoppey, senior, rushes out of class and begins to speed walk to Borchard Park. It is the only way she will be on time to softball practice. Borchard Park allows the school softball team to use their softball field only right after school during the week. The lack of a softball field on campus has been an inconvenience to softball players, like Estoppey, but a project is currently in the works to fix this.

Under Title IX, schools are required by federal law to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls. This law became relevant on campus when complaints were made that it was unfair that the school provided a baseball field for boys but not a softball field for girls.

This is Estoppey’s fourth year playing softball for NPHS. Having experienced the hassle of rushing out of class five days a week to attend 2:30 practices, she dreams of a field on campus.

“For games and stuff it would just be nice to be on your own campus,” Estoppey said.

Due to the fact that a softball field is smaller and has a non-elevated pitcher’s mound, the school baseball fields are unsuitable for softball fields to practice or play on.

Before the softball players head to Borchard Park to practice, they change their clothes in the locker room, which is in close proximity to the designated spot for the new softball fields. “It would...allow us to practice more easily,” said Estoppey in regards to on campus softball fields.

Although no one submitted a formal complaint to the school about this issue, it has been acknowledged by the school district.

Scoreboard- Amidst Title IX complaints, a scoreboard was built at Borchard park in 2012 to benefit the softball program, but the difficulty of practicing on a separate field still remained. Zoe Estoppey, senior, comments on the separate field: “It would be a lot easier to get to practice because I know freshman and sophomore year, when people who don’t have a driver’s license, walking over there takes a little bit of time because you have to walk all the way to the back of the school to change, right by the baseball fields, then walk all the way back out and down to Borchard.” Plans for the new softball fields to be built have yet to be announced. Gianna Longo/Prowler

“It was a recommended project that Mr. Eby put on the list as part of a master plan,” Steve Lepire, Principal said.

The master plan is a document that includes major projects to be done within the district.

With the timeline and idea of the new softball field documented on the master plan by Mr. Eby, the project is expected to be in the design phase this year.

“It’s all dependent upon when an actual design gets approved, everything that’s going to be on the field...as well as going and getting it approved by the board, going to bid, letting companies bid on the project, and then the timelines for the construction of the actual field” Lepire said regarding the timeline of the project.

Mike Dagan, the head coach of the softball team, agreed on establishing a softball field with a 200 foot fence in the same back fields as the baseball fields. The expected cost is $1,206,420.00.

Building a softball field is a gradual process that can take years. “There’s a lot of moving pieces,” Lepire said. “There’s pre-meetings, there’s bid walk, there’s a pre-construction meeting, and then there’s a whole process of monitoring the construction.”

In less than a year, the project of creating new softball fields on campus will be put into action, assuming things run smoothly in the design phase. “Based on the current documents I have, it does indicate potentially breaking ground next school year to build it.” Lepire said.

Simone Overbeck carries on her legacy Jacyen Sussman Cover Editor A young girl, barely in elementary school, awaits for light to loom over a blacktop court to begin playing with a basketball that is just as big as her. She goes up for a layup, pushes the ball with all her force and the clanking of the chains from the hoop creates a music to her ears. Twelve years of practice later, this girl is now one of the most feared in the Marmonte League-- a six foot, lengthy guard for the Girls’ Basketball team who pushes her team to the next level. Her name is Simone Overbeck.

Overbeck, junior, has devoted her life to becoming an elite player in the many athletics she has pursued. During the winter sports season, Overbeck has pushed herself and her teammates to play to their highest potential in every game.

“I’m just trying to take over and do what’s best. I want to try and incorporate everyone, and encouragement is also really important because you need to have fun with the game you will end up playing. We play hard, but also make sure to have fun,” Overbeck said.

Overbeck has created a lasting impact on her teammates and influenced them throughout their basketball experience. One of her teammates, Emma Smigel, sophomore, has taken away many lessons from working with Overbeck.

“She is a really good leader. She’s not afraid to tell us what to fix and how to become better as players and individuals,” Smigel

said.

The development of Overbeck’s journey in athletics has been a complex one. Mastering both basketball and volleyball, Overbeck committed to the University of Arizona to play Division 1 volleyball after high school, but the process of committing has not affected Overbeck and her basketball state of mind.

“It’s kind of to keep my court IQ ‘cause the more you know about multiple sports and different views, it can help play a role in other sports,” Overbeck said.

Averaging 12.5 points a game, Overbeck has not grown to an elite level alone. With help from all her surroundings; her sister Kayla, a basketball star at Vanderbilt, her many teammates who surround her with positivity or her head coach Darren Burge who has recognized her skill she brings to the table each and every game.

“Simone is a competitor. You can always count on her to compete down to the final buzzer. In sports, that’s all you can ask of a player. As a teammate, she’s a bright light - she enhances her surroundings at practice and in games with her spirit and her positivity, which is infectious and invaluable to her team,” Burge said.

Shoot and Score- Dribbling the basketball down the court, Simone Overbeck, junior, joins her team near the basket, setting up to shoot. At the game against Oaks Christian, Overbeck played with the girls’ varsity team, enjoying the family atmosphere of the team. “(I know) I can rely on my teammates to bring me up or I can talk to them about anything, because they are there for me and I’m there for them and I think that’s a really big part of it because my closest friends,” Overbeck said. Overbeck plans on playing basketball next year, but she also focuses on volleyball.

Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

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sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 9, 2018

Parkour- Maier dances daily for the school, in addition to dancing at Bobbie’s several times a week. He has competed almost every weekend this winter, traveling all over with the school dance team.

“Competitions don’t make me stressed,” Maier said; after dancing for many years, he knows what to expect and handles the pressure well. Maya Chari/Prowler

Soaring, flying- Maier’s confidence in his abilities is constantly reinforced by a solid group of friends who support him and always cheer him on. His freshman year, Maier “expected people to not accept (his dancing), but people were so nice about it.” Having the support of friends gives Maier confidence and lets him fly high.

Maya Chari/Prowler

Seize the moment- Contemporary is one of Maier’s favorite kinds of dance and he likes the “hard-hitting” style more than conventional emotional dance. “Dancing is an escape because school is very stressful,” Maier said. He sees dancing as a safe space where his creativity can blossom. Maya Chari/Prowler

dances through life A performer since age eight, Jack Maier fell in love with dance on the first day of the class his mom made him take. Now a senior, Maier has been a member of the NPHS dance team since freshman year, and considers his teammates to be his family. He also dances competitively with Bobbie’s dance company and is interested in pursuing a career as a choreographer.

Stretch- Lowering himself on the floor, Maier performs a difficult maneuver as a part of his solo at the Winter Dance Concert. Throughout his years as a dancer, Maier has performed solos and group dances, and has found that he prefers the former. “Group dances are fun to be a team, but it’s nice to get solo recognition sometimes, just to see how good of a dancer you are by yourself; to judge yourself only,” Maier said. Maier wants to continue dancing in college, although he does not know which college yet. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Feeling the emotion- In one of his last dances at the NPHS PAC, Maier incorporates a series of flowing moves into his solo. As a member of dance team since he was a freshman, Maier considers them like a family.

“We all really love dance, so we all connect that way. Everyone on dance team is really great,” Maier said. After high school, Maier wants to become a choreographer. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler