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10 Clubs rush for recruits Panther Prowler • Oct. 18, 2019
Adalia Luo Staff Writer
a team.” Right at the entrance to the gym, a different type of athletic club handed out homemade cookies for free with the promise of a Remind sign-up and a follow on Instagram. Relay for Life meets in room D24 every other Monday starting in January. “Our club was created to create a team at the Relay for Life event that takes place in May at the Conejo Creek field to represent Newbury Park and our desire to fight back against cancer,” Madeline Shain, senior, explained. “Last year, we helped raise over 70,000 dollars at the event in total,” Kayla Brandes, senior, added. “We really like that it’s a really great group of people, it’s not too overbearing or strict or anything,” Shain added, Brandes nodding in agreement. “It’s pretty chill and we all just have a good time thinking of ideas and raising money together and then at the very end, the event Relay for Life is obviously the best part of it all.” This year, the official 24-hour long Relay for Life event will be held in Conejo Creek Park from May 16 to 17. “The event itself is something that’s really special to all of us… during that event there’s like live performances, there’s other people still raising money by selling things there. Then, there’s this beautiful luminaria ceremony,” described Brandes. “That really hits close to home for me because my mom had cancer. It’s just a really nice thing to see.” This year at Newbury Park High School, it seems there may be a club or interest group for everyone.
This year, Club Rush was filled to the brim with students excited to explore new clubs and interest groups eager to gain new members, selling everything from red clown noses to acai bowls and boxes of pizza. Packed in the gym because of the Santa Ana winds, a plethora of new and old clubs alike had the opportunity to recruit and fundraise, including Habitat for Humanity, KPop Dance, and Relay for Life. Surrounded in pizza boxes up to their shoulders, the Habitat for Humanity booth, headed by Treasurer Anna Li, had a line for their pizza that spanned halfway across the gym. “We’re basically a service club that raises money for bigger projects,” Li said. “Right now, we’re mostly focused on accumulating more money through a variety of fundraisers.” “We were just founded this year,” Li said. “We all have a passion to contribute to affordable housing across the U.S. and maybe even internationally.” Habitat for Humanity meets in room B8 every Friday, where they discuss their plans for the year and any new projects. On the other side of the gym, KPop Dance members dutifully stood by their booth, offering their sign up sheet to everyone that passed by. On their Tuesday meetings in the GAR, they “learn multiple dances from different artists or specific choreographers,” president Nathalie Jimenez, senior, explained. Even though it was only created this year, the team is already spirited. “I really enjoy learning dances from KPop but I didn’t have anyone else to dance it with,” Jimenez added. With the support of adviser Cameo Carolan, their goal is for every club member to feel welcome and safe. “I really like that even though the dance moves can be kind of complicated (the club is) really patient. There’s no judgment at all,” Jimenez said. “(It’s) cool to teach others and also get to know other people who are interested and just, basically come together as
Rushing for recruits- Haley Rippon, sophomore, and Anya Reider, sophomore, pose behind the “ASL For All” club booth. ASL For All is a new club that popped up on the campus this year. “So basically, we introduce (American Sign Language) to people who are interested, and people who have already learned ASL can help teach others.” Rippon said. Jacob Malone/ Prowler
Chuck E. Cheese-in’ behind the mask Aditya Vunnum Editor In Chief Many high school students remember going to Chuck E. Cheese as children: playing arcade games, winning tickets and earning prizes. Paige Ross, senior, now relives her childhood on the other side of the tracks as she works at the amusement center located in Thousand Oaks. Ross began working at Chuck E. Cheese at the beginning of July, and plans to stay there until she leaves for college at the end of the academic year. “I applied everywhere under the sun. I applied mostly in Los Angeles County, because their minimum wage is higher. But one day, I was driving down Hillcrest and there was a huge now hiring sign on the side of the building,” Ross said. “I applied and they hired me the same day.” Ross’s jobs include greeting customers as they enter, filling the salad bar and wearing the Chuck E. Cheese costume during parties. “When I stand at kid check for eight hours a day, it’s really difficult. There’s a lot of kids that come up and they slap you or poke you and they want to tell you something, but you can’t leave this five feet area,” Ross said. Ross acknowledges that some aspects of her job are more difficult than others, but feels that she has benefited from working there. “I love my coworkers. Some of them are super fun and we always hang out after work. Usually, I have to work till like midnight, so we always hang out after and we just do whatever,” Ross said. Because of her decision to begin working over the summer, Ross inspired one of her friends to take up a job as well. Chandler Ruggiero, senior, began working at Jersey Mikes shortly after Ross began working at Chuck E. Cheese.
Cheese- Paige Ross, senior, poses in the Chuck E. Cheese mascot costume at the beginning of one of her shifts at the location in Thousand Oaks. “There’s a lot of times when kids lose their parents… It’s cute when their parents are running around for them and finally find them,” Ross said. Ross has been working at Chuck E. Cheese since July and plans to continue to work there as long as she can.
Cheese- Paige Ross, senior, poses in the Chuck E. Cheese mascot costume at the beginning of one of her shifts at the location in Thousand Oaks. “There’s a lot of times when kids lose their parents… It’s cute when their parents are running around for them and finally find them,” Ross said. Ross has been working at Chuck E. Cheese since July and plans to continue to work there as long as she can. Paige Ross/ With Permission
“I know her getting a job and earning money made me want to get a job and start earning money. Although it takes a lot of time, and you might not be able to go to all the social events that you want to, in the end it’s worth it,” Ruggiero said. Ruggiero has heard several stories about Ross’s work experiences- some good and others bad- but at the end of the day Ross has never regretted her choice to work there. “She’s really brave. And I think it’s important that she’s kind of tough through some of the hard times she has had at work because if she does what she does, you just have to learn how to deal with the bad parts. So it’s inspiring to keep going,” Ruggiero said. Tyler Peterson, senior, is a long time friend of Ross and has seen how she’s grown in the past several months. “I think she’s gained a lot of social experience. She has to interact with so many different types of people where you wouldn’t necessarily be interacting with, like families on a regular basis. But you’re kind of forced to in an environment like that,” Peterson said. Though Chuck E. Cheese isn’t exactly how she remembers it when she used to go as a child, she appreciates the new experiences she has had as an employee. “There’s always been a lot of special needs people that come in, like adults that are special needs,” Ross said. “There’s a lot of people with a mental special handicap and they just are really excited to see Chuck E. Cheese and so it’s really fun when I get to put on the costume and they’re super excited to see me.”
