2014-2015 Issue 3 (October 31, 2014)

in this issue

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PANTHER PROWLER Friday October 31, 2014

Issue III

Newbury Park High School

456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320

Take a walk down “Lou Lane” Haley Berardinelli Features Editor Alyssa Boedigheimer Staff Writer

Lou Lane - At his retirement party, school security officer Lou Trevisan displays the new sign for the recently renamed service road that cuts through campus.

Samantha Meyer/ Prowler

After 23 years of working as a campus supervisor and school security enforcer, 93-yearold Louis “Lou” Trevisan retired on Oct. 29.

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the quad during lunch on the day of Trevisan’s retirement to celebrate and thank him. Later, the faculty held a more intimate celebration where they shared humorous stories and memories over cake.

In honor of his many years of service to the school, the faculty decided to dedicate the service road to Trevisan. During the faculty celebration, Assistant Principal of Athletics Kelly Welch surprised Trevisan with a street sign that reads “Lou Lane”, to match the one that has been hung on the road.

Originally, Trevisan did not anticipate working on campus for as long as he did. “I thought I’d take a chance, but I never knew I would be here all these years,” Trevisan said. “I think it’s a great school … I would have worked here even if they didn’t pay me.”

Social science department chair Steve Johnson has known Trevisan for about 20 years. Johnson was happy to see Trevisan able to retire in good health and on his own terms. However, he added, “it’s going to be sad not to see him around campus.”

Even while Trevisan’s retirement is bittersweet, the faculty has been trying to look on the bright side, recalling all the good memories they have of him.

When Trevisan was keeping food and drinks

out of the gym during a basketball game, Johnson watched as he “controlled a crowd of 1500 people and had everyone respect what he was saying,” said Johnson. “He makes a very difficult job look easy.”

Lynn Baum, physical education and health teacher, reminisced about when Trevisan was escorting celebrities Bob Saget, Tim Allen, and Howie Mandel to the faculty cafeteria. “(He) was having so much fun with them, making them laugh. And they’re the comedians!” Baum said.

Baum shared that she will miss Trevisan’s smile, his sunny disposition, and how he is always willing to tell a story. “Just him driving around in his golf cart and being with all the kids is always (going to be) a happy memory,” Baum said.

Trevisan may be leaving the school, but he is also leaving his wisdom to all the students, faculty and staff who pass through. “Always think positive, don’t put your head down; keep on going,” Trevisan said.

Trevisan also shared his personal beliefs about the importance of education. “There’s nothing like a good education,” Trevisan said, “(so) do the best that you can. They give you a diploma after graduating high school, but they don’t give you a diploma to life. Life is tough, and you’ve got to go out there and fight for yourself.”

During his speech at Trevisan’s retirement party, Principal Josh Eby said, “Lou is definitely a big part of our family here at Newbury Park, and he will be missed.”

Clubs tackle new community service requirement Victoria Juan DPS Editor Preparing for the Southern California Super State competition has been Chess Club’s focus every year. However, this year, along with the rest of the clubs on campus, they will have something else on their agenda: a community service project.

As of this year, all clubs are required to complete a community service project, and 80 percent of its members must participate. Project proposals are due on Dec. 1 to Dean of Activities Carly Adams, with a verification form as evidence of the completed community service due May 1.

According to Adams, the requirement is meant to promote more community involvement.

“We want to get our students out there working with the community,” she said. “We’re also hoping that the clubs have greater meaning, not just meeting because they like a certain interest.”

Some clubs foresee obstacles with the implementation of this project, such as finding a time that works for the majority of members and the logistics involved for off-campus activities.

“We’ve been ignoring it recently and we don’t have many plans yet,” said Jessica Han, junior president of the Speech and Debate club. “We have to have enough people going, and a lot

of people may not want to spend extra time outside of school on a day that they may have other plans.”

For service clubs such as Interact Club and Key Club, the requirement has not brought up many problems.

“Our club as a whole hasn’t really been affected by the new requirement, but we really like the requirement because it encourages others to take part in community service,” said Dani Moors, sophomore and secretary of Key Club.

Despite the additional challenges that clubs now face, the requirement has also been received with positivity.

“I think for students, this is actually an opportunity to be outside of school and see things that they’re not used to seeing.

It gives them the opportunity to be exposed,” math teacher Miharu Altmire, advisor of several clubs including Speech and Debate, said.

Brandon Chen, junior and president of Chemistry Club, also sees it as a positive addition.

“I think we will get more kids interested in chemistry and (create) a stronger science program,” Chen said. “We make our community a better place not only through direct community service but through spreading knowledge about what we’re doing in high school.”

The service requirement may undergo adjustments in the future.

“We think it’s a great idea... However, it would probably make sense if we had different requirements (for different clubs),” senior Quinn Creger, president of Chess Club, said.

“Some clubs such as NHS are targeted towards community service, whereas others such as Robotics and Chess Club have a different focus.”

Responding to this issue, Adams said, “We’re going to see how this year goes, and we might need to make some revisions, maybe make the requirements more specific. We might need to tweak it a little bit.”

In fact, changes are already in order this year. The ASG Constitution lists the service requirement vaguely under Article XVIII, Section 6, reading: “A club must actively contribute to the school by sponsoring activities or services….”

Adams said that “the constitution...is not written properly,” and presented to ASG on Oct. 29 in hopes of encouraging amendments to the constitution.

ASG has yet to vote on the changes during the next few weeks’ convention, but Adams looks forward to the implementation of community service for years to come.

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news Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

Visit us online at pantherprowler.org Zombie Run, Lifesaving World Championships, Humans of Newbury Park, and more!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Catching up- Coach Parvin hugs basketball player and Sequoia Middle School physical education teacher, alumna Julie Wastell. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

The steps of greatness 353 wins, 34 years: Coach Lori Parvin’s path to the CIF Hall of Fame

@NPProwler The voters of now: student mock election results Yes No

Angela Swartz Staff Writer Nori Parvin, former Girls’ Varsity basketball coach and current Girls’ Varsity golf coach, has won 353 games during her 34 years of coaching. On Oct. 23, Parvin was inducted into the CIF Hall of Fame for her dedication and overall coaching excellence in basketball.

“Coach Parvin was a Physical Education coach and the head basketball coach for 34 years,” said Kelly Welch, assistant principal of athletics. “In that time she won the most games in Ventura County, coached the longest time, and brought our team to many CIF championships.

She was just a wonderful coach in the way she inspired her players.”

Parvin was nominated by retired principal Athol Wong, who was joined by Larry Berlin, Principal Josh Eby, and Welch to present the award to Parvin at a luncheon in Long Beach.

“Winning the award was a very humbling experience, especially since I coach in the Southern section, which is the biggest section of California. I was actually quite surprised,” Parvin said.

But winning numerous games isn’t the only reason Parvin was Hall of Fame-worthy. She works on improving her players’ attitudes along with their skills.

“She taught them great qualities,” Welch added. “it’s not about winning or losing, and to strive to be people with character and respect. When they didn’t have a successful game, she taught them how to learn from the experience and to grow from it.”

“I think the most important lesson for my players to learn are honesty and integrity, and to bring that not only during the game, but in real life too,” Parvin said.

“She is a wonderful example of what true Panther spirit is, and always had a way of motivating and inspiring her students, players, and fellow staff,” Welch said. “She (is) ... a foundation of the school.”

Prop 1: water system

64.0%

36.0%

Prop 2: ‘rainy day’ funds

62.0%

38.0%

Prop 45: insurance rates

53.8%

46.2%

Prop 46: medical negligence

57.2%

42.8%

Prop 47: nonviolent crimes

58.6%

36.0%

Prop 48: gaming contracts

53.2%

46.8%

Governor: Jerry Brown (D), 54.7% Attorney General: Kamala Harris (D), 52.2% Secretary of State: Alex Padilla (D), 52.6%

Voices expressed in mock election Victoria Juan DPS Editor Amid the bombardment of television Overall, student responses were ads and mailed pamphlets, adult voters must “positive.” Senior Lauren Dziedzic said that take a position on Nov. 4 on issues ranging the experience convinced her to register from healthcare to hunting. Even though a for a voter’s license when she turns 18 in majority of students are not yet old enough February. to vote, roughly 700 students got the “Without our vote, democracy would chance to take part in a mock election on not exist. The more people that can vote, the Wednesday, Oct. 29. more options we have as America,” Dziedzic 23 social science classes led by nine said. “Voting just means our freedom.” teachers voted on six propositions, Atis Petersons, Bradley’s former history California governor, house representative teacher and an observer of the election, and school board in the mock believes that the mock election is an election. Parent and student important step to increasing volunteers tallied the voter turnout in the votes afterwards: future.

54.7% re-elected “(Voting) is Governor Jerry really important Brown, 50.6% to becoming a voted Jeff Gorell good citizen, but to the House of unfortunately only one Representatives, and all in four people vote Michael Hellard/P rowler six propositions passed. today. People are apathetic, “(Students) need to learn how to vote, they don’t care about candidates, they how to research the issue, how to research think it’s a bother to drive, and some states candidates, not just believe what they see make it difficult to vote,” Petersons said. on TV,” Rich Bradley, social science teacher “Some students think it is shocking that and coordinator of the student election, three out of four don’t vote (while) we are said. “The decisions they make are going to given the process.” be affecting themselves, their future kids, Through this process, students have their grandparents, and they need to know experienced the intimidations of expressing their issues because their decisions are big.” their voice in the governme.

Before the process, Bradley advised “This mock election has taught me students in his class to find more information definitely to vote in every election, and about the legislation and candidates being definitely to vote, to research and know considered. On election day, students voted the facts,” Dziedzic said. “Throughout my in a separate booths by themselves, making future as an adult, it would just mean my decisions “alone in that booth with just your freedom, and I would encourage everyone thoughts and your ballot,” as Bradley said. to vote.”

opinion Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

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CLUB COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT UNCALLED FOR AND UNNECESSARY As of the 2014-2015 school year, all clubs on campus are required to complete a community service project.

Article XVIII, section 6 of the ASG Constitution states:

“A club must actively contribute to the school by sponsoring activities or services.”

Do you think all clubs should be required to do community service?

Yes 23%

77% No 100 random students on campus were polled

As of the 2014-2015 school year, all clubs on campus are required to complete a community service project. In order for a club to remain a club, the project must be approved by both ASG and the dean of activities, and 80 percent of the club’s members must participate. For clubs that are already community service-based, this new requirement is little more than an afterthought. But for others, it creates a serious inconvenience.

Article XVIII, section 6 of the school constitution reads, “a club must actively contribute to the school by sponsoring activities or services.” This is the only mention in the constitution of required services with regard to clubs, and it does not provide enough basis for a requirement of community service. A club may serve the school in a variety of ways -- perhaps through community service, or simply by providing a small community in which likeminded students can connect. Similarly, activities can range from Interact’s caroling for cans to math club’s math competitions. The existence of a club inherently contributes to the school. An extra requirement is unnecessary and is not provided for under the constitution.

Carly Adams, dean of activities, said that changes will soon be made to the school constitution and that “it is not written properly.” However, as long as the constitution exists in its current form it is the authority for rules regarding clubs. Since community service is not required under it, the rule should not exist at least until the document is changed, if at all. In addition, there is no difference in the requirements for community service clubs and the requirements for interest clubs. This suggests that the rule has not been carefully thought out.

Requiring a non-community service-based club to do community service often undermines its purpose. It distorts the meaning of a club into an organization that does community service, which is not accurate. In short, a club is nothing more than an interest group -- a collection of a group of students who share a common interest. The cookies and naptime club was not created to help the community. It was created for members to eat cookies and nap. The purpose of the “Girls Who Code” club is to learn coding, not spend time planning and executing a community service project. Clubs should be free to carry out their respective purposes, not to serve a purpose that is already being provided for by other clubs.

The new rule not only takes away from the authenticity of interest clubs, it also dilutes the importance of the clubs that are geared towards community service -- if every club does community service, then there is no longer any reason to join the clubs that were created for community service. Rather than being clubs that are known for something specialized, those clubs lose much of their meaning.

There is a difference between community service to fulfill a requirement and community service to help a cause, and the former is much less useful than the latter. Jessica Han, president of Speech and Debate club, said “I guess we’ll get community service done, but I don’t know how meaningful it will be.”

A multitude of interest clubs may have this problem. Because there is no time requirement in the wording of the rule, it lends itself to one-time endeavors that are simply something to write down rather than thoughtful services that can significantly help the community. It will not have a profound effect on the community, and will instead take time away from the true purpose of clubs: creating communities.

Positive change is enacted by creative, informed people who genuinely care about a cause. It isn’t something that’s created by requiring community service -- it is something that is created by endorsing and supporting every club that seeks to bring passionate people together.

PANTHER PROWLER 2014-2015 staff

Editors-in-Chief Courtney Brousseau Grace O’Toole Copy Editors Monica Boedigheimer Adrianna Robakowski Raevyn Walker Photographers Chief / Samantha Meyer Daulton Beck Haley Berardinelli

News Editors Ad Managers Entertainment Editors Monica Boedigheimer Cheif / Tazaieen Sayeda Adrianna Robakowski Mariam Syed Rachna Deshpande Raevyn Walker Opinion Editors Daulton Beck Kellie Levine Tazaieen Sayeda Features Editors Haley Berardinelli Nevnit Gill

Online Editors Victoria Juan Mariam Syed Graphic Artist Michael Hellard DPS Editor Victoria Juan

Staff Writers Alyssa Boedigheimer Rachna Deshpande Lindsay Filgas Angela Swartz Sports Editors Shreya Chattopadhyay Sam Ellison

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

Adviser Michelle Saremi

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opinion HallowTeen

Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

Ebola:

Stop tweeting about it, you’re not going to die Courtney Brousseau Editor-in-Chief 600,000 Americans die every year of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CIA estimates that the United States is 47th in infant mortality rates, 5.2 deaths for every 1,000 live births. The flu kills about 36,000 Americans every year, also according to the CDC. Ebola, on the other hand, has claimed the life of one person on American soil - one. In fact, as senior Katie Owens pointed out in my history class the other day, “more people have married Kim Kardashian than have died from ebola in the United States.” And yet, every media outlet is reporting about ebola 24/7, politicians and candidates are fearmongering and spouting rhetoric, and people are tweeting non-stop about how ebola is going to kill us all.

The truth is you are not going to get ebola; it is only spread through bodily fluids which means that you must be in close contact with someone showing symptoms of ebola to contract the disease.

Don’t get me wrong. Ebola can be incredibly pervasive and deadly in an underdeveloped nation. The CDC estimates

that there could be as many as 1.4 million cases of ebola in West Africa without the continued and focused help of the United States and other countries.

The cases of ebola in the United States, however, are isolated and will continue to remain isolated as long as hospitals are diligent and follow protocol, which unfortunately wasn’t the case in Dallas.

In addition, President Obama has now appointed an “ebola czar” (I think we can all agree the title “czar” was a bad choice) and air travel from West Africa has been restricted to 5 airports in the United States with a quarantine period enforced for arriving passengers.

Nevertheless, politicians are taking advantage of this outbreak to gain political points, which is incredibly uncharacteristic of them. Former Senator Scott Brown said earlier this month that his “concern is with our unprotected border where people with Ebola and other infectious diseases can enter the country without being challenged,” in an awkward attempt to simultaneously show his fear of ebola and his support for increased border security. However, in his attempt to

kill two birds with one stone, Brown has missed both.

My point is this: the United States should continue to supply aid to West Africa to help suppress and isolate the ebola outbreak, domestic authorities need to ensure that protocols are in place and that hospitals and airports are following these protocols, and you should stop worrying about contracting ebola.

Remember those statistics that I mentioned before? The ones about how 600,000 Americans die each year due to heart disease and the United States is 47th in infant mortality rates? There are plenty of other, more pressing issues we, as a country, need to address.

Instead of incessantly reporting about ebola, the media should start covering the rest of the challenges facing the country.

Instead of fear mongering to gain political points, candidates should start talking about the real problems they plan to address after ebola is contained. And instead of tweeting about ebola, you should get involved in a cause that will actually be relevant in 20 years.

Costumes don’t define you Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor Halloween is a holiday of masks. It is a day to put on a persona, run around the neighborhood, go to parties, and eat candy. The next day, when you wake up, you won’t be a princess, or a witch, or Miley Cyrus. You will still be you. And most likely, while in character, you didn’t suddenly become heir to a kingdom, gain magical powers, or kick-start a career in music. So why should you be judged for a mask?

I’ve always made my own Halloween costumes.

One year, I wrapped myself in aluminum foil and Trick-or-Treated as “the ghost of a Hershey’s Kiss.” I like being creative and resourceful (while saving money for more important stuff, like a homecoming dress). I never wanted to wear a skin-tight, plasticy dress, fishnets, and bunny ears for a costume. But one year, I almost did. What stopped me was one word that my mom halfwhispered: slut.

What she actually said was, the costume made me look like a slut. After seeing how devastated (or slut-shamed) I was, she sat me down and told me that the costume didn’t make me a slut. I didn’t understand the difference then, but now I know that she was (partially) correct. If using yards of household material, a cardboard box, or a full-length ball gown for a costume makes you happy and confident, then wear that. It is obvious, in these scenarios, that the costume can be disconnected from your personality. However, there

is a long-standing stigma against “slutty” Halloween costumes.

But if dressing up as a “sexy” Godzilla, or Miley Cyrus, or a Victoria’s Secret model makes you feel genuinely content, then … what does that say about you? There is the point that society associates scanty clothing with the attributes of a slut: toying with a guy’s emotions, being unfaithful in relationships, and “sleeping around”. But the two ideas -- the outer appearance and inner personality -- need to be separated. Especially on a holiday where the point is to put on a façade that covers what is underneath.

That façade could be completely unrelated to what it is covering (referencing a December holiday, the times parents put a gift card in a refrigerator-sized box).

On Halloween, you could put the real Miley Cyrus in a sweater, jeans, and glasses, call her a nerd, and that would not make her a better (or worse) person. You could also take yourself (insert personality traits here), dress in whatever costume makes you feel awesome, and it would not change those characteristics. So leave your house confident, and come back with loads of candy. Really, that’s all that matters.

So many choices, not enough time Adrianna Robakowski Copy Editor Our school prides itself on having an incredible selection of extracurricular activities. We have incredible teachers and coaches who are dedicated and strive to make sure we achieve excellence in our chosen areas. If there is a sport you are interested in or an art form you want to explore, chances are we have it here. We’re very fortunate in that regard, because many students aren’t so lucky.

There’s only one little glitch. What if you happen to be the Troy Bolton type? You’ve got a passion for basketball but you’d like to give theater a try too? Well if that’s you, sorry, because you’ve got to pick one and only one.

If you participate in any extracurricular activity, you are well aware of the time commitments most of them require. Athletic team practices are longer than ever despite time constraints limiting practice hours.

Various art forms are being practiced more rigorously, leading them to be perfected by students at even younger ages than ever before. Students dive headfirst into their activity of choice, giving it all of their time, energy and focus. But if you think about it, is that what high school is supposed to be about?

High school is a time to explore our interests and try new things. In the near future, the time for choosing a career path will come, whether we are ready or not.

Have we dabbled in enough areas to discover our talents and know what we like?

In the world of my dreams, there would be one hundred hours in the day. With those one hundred hours one could participate in whatever activities sounded appealing.

Unfortunately, here in the real world, there are only twenty four, and only eight of those

For the record...

On pages 1 and 2, Monetha Raghani and Riley Grinker was misspelled. On page 9, Kellie Levine’s byline was cut off, as well as the last lines of the Maria Luciani article. On page 10, Robert Stanton was misidentified as a dentist; he sells dentistry equipment. On page 11, the football team played against Birmingham (top photo) and Agoura (bottom photo).

fit from the time you leave school to the dead of night.

There’s no time for trying new things, no time for relaxing, no time for adventures.

Personally, the one major thing I’ve learned from high school is that you can’t do everything. This is one flaw in our school system that there’s no good solution for. They claim to be preparing us for the real world, but this isn’t how it all works. In reality, you’ll never be able to do everything, but you can certainly do more than one thing. Time management is a valuable skill and it’ll allow you to explore more than one interest as soon as you get out of high school. There is no way to please everyone, in high school and in the real world. At this point there’s not much to be done except hope that I’ve spent my time doing the right things. Good luck Panthers, I hope you’ve all chosen wisely.

The Panther Prowler deeply regrets and apologizes for any errors we have made. If you spot any errors we have missed, help us correct them by sending mistakes to: prowler.newspaper@gmail.com.

Kellie Levine Opinion Editor It’s that time of the year again, when everything is terrifying and teenagers are up late at night, sometimes even until the early morning hours. That’s right, it’s midterms!

Oh, yeah, also Halloween. Back in August, we all started seeing the black and orange decorations lining the aisles of stores and the pumpkin-flavored-everything filling the shelves, all of this leading up to the magical night where we ... wait, what do we do?

As teenagers, Halloween comes with many tough decisions about the level of maturity we desire to employ. Some may choose the standard celebration that has been our Halloween tradition since childhood and go door-to-door demanding candy.

However, for those of us who cannot bear the disapproving looks adults bestow upon us for taking the candy that they intended for cute, pumpkin-clad children that Trickor-Treat with their parents, this activity may not be the right choice.

When I think of teenagers on Halloween, my mind immediately goes to the mischievous teenagers that would run around under the cover of night TP-ing houses and smash my prized jack-o-lantern. Although I have never actually met a teenager that engages in this activity, they must exist, because my jacko-lantern certainly didn’t smash itself, and I have a hard time imagining an adult going around and smashing pumpkins (other than the members of Smashing Pumpkins).

If this happens to be your idea of a good time, perhaps you should reevaluate why you enjoy crushing the happiness of young children, because that blow is lasting. I myself am still bitter.

When determining the level of maturity to take on for Halloween, a question encountered by many is whether or not they should attend a classic costume party and get “turnt.” In these adolescent years, we find ourselves in that place between being viewed as a child and finally being thought of as an adult. So, naturally, it would be appealing for us inbetweeners to take this opportunity to establish ourselves as adults once and for all by doing “adult things.” As a teenager who finds parties to be mildly terrifying, I’m not claiming to be an authority on them, and I’m sure there is some value in spending time with peers who you may not normally talk to if it weren’t for this festive gathering.

However, “adult things”doesn’t have to be synonymous with “illegal things.” Maybe spend your Halloween doing other adult things, like taxes. Nothing is more terrifying than taxes.

But maybe there’s nothing wrong with spending your Halloween night embracing your status as an inbetweener. This inbetween stage in our lives will be short lived, so we should take advantage of it and spend the night enjoying any festivities we can get our hands on. Though the place for us teenagers during this holiday is not one that is easily found, our proximity to acclaimed haunted houses provides an outlet for those of us who dream of living out their nightmares, and you can’t go more than a few miles without running into a movie theater that is sure to be screening that creepy doll movie. There are definitely many Halloween options that are more widely accepted for us hoodlums. Whatever you do this Halloween, be sure to enjoy the relief of getting through midterms, burn your notes in a bonfire, and for god’s sake, don’t smash any poor kid’s jack-o-lantern!

features THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Panther Prowler • Oct 31, 2014

5

A whole new world

Struggles abroad renew worries at home

DECK

Mariam Syed News Editor Despite the ceasefire that ended Operation Protective Edge in late August, violence between Israel and Palestine has persisted. In the past week, several people were killed, including two minors with American citizenship, a fourteen-year-old Palestinian boy, and a three-month-old Jewish girl.

For students who have family in Israel and Palestine, the struggles abroad have renewed worries at home.

Jason Krastein, senior, and his sister Karina Krastein, junior, have close ties to the struggle, as almost their entire maternal extended family lives in Haifa, Israel (located approximately 90 miles from Jerusalem and 110 miles from the Gaza strip).

“Pretty much anytime there’s a conflict in Israel, there is a lot of tension at home, no matter how far away from the conflict they are,” Jason said. “That brings a lot of worry and anxiety.”

Junior Fatima Salah, who supported Palestinian rights this summer by attending marches and protests, believes that students don’t know enough about the conflict. “Be open-minded (and) research both sides,” Salah said, as she spoke of her ties to the land through her grandmothers and aunts currently living in the West Bank.

Both Jason and Karina have supported Israel by donating to the Israeli Defense Forces numerous times this past summer.

However, both agree with Salah, and stress the importance of understanding both sides of the conflict; they attribute the escalating tensions in the United States to lack of knowledge of the conflict.

“People should watch different media sources, read different things, and not just (believe) what they’re told,” Karina said.

Lindsay Filgas Staff Writer Traveling to a foreign country for a year, attending a new school, and living with a family you have never met can be daunting. But every year, students all over the world, like juniors Louise Lisra and Darleen Hunziker, take on this challenge.

This year, Lisra and Hunziker joined the EF (Education First) foreign exchange program. Lisra traveled from Sweden, and Hunziker from Switzerland, to spend a year here.

However, one can’t travel the world with the snap of your fingers.

For these foreign exchange students, the application process was long and strenuous. “You apply through an organization … they look at your grades and the stuff you’ve done and they decide if you’re good to go,” Lisra said.

They were evaluated on their effort in school, their grades, English proficiency, and had to apply to get a visa to study abroad. After they were accepted, they attended many preparation meeting.

Moving to a new country isn’t an easy experience either. “I just signed up for U.S.A. and they told me they would have a school and a family in Newbury Park,” Hunziker said. When she moved here earlier this year, she had only talked with her host family through email, but had never met them.

After getting into the exchange program and moving, students are

faced with the task of transitioning between high schools in different countries.“It’s very different,” Lisra said. “When we go to high school [in Sweden], we get to apply to different high schools that we want to go to.” In Sweden, sports are not a part of schools, and you don’t get to choose the classes you take. “I’m really happy to be here,” Lisra said.

“When I came here I chose classes that we don’t have in Switzerland” Hunziker said. This semester she is taking psychology and digital photography. “I like the subjects, I like the teachers, they’re more easy going here. In Switzerland they’re more formal.” Hunziker said.

“To be an exchange student you have to have an open heart and an open mind,” said Wendy Vanloo. Vanloo, who was an exchange student herself in high school, now works with students to find host families and help them through the year, and has even hosted students in the past. “By having a student living in your own home … you can pick up some of their culture and then you have a lifelong friend,” Vanloo said.

“I would really recommend it because it’s a really great experience and just it’s not how you expect it to be,” Hunziker said. “It’s really different but it’s great.”

Excitement - Louise Lisra, junior, is an Education First (EF) exchange student from Sweden. Michelle Kang/Prowler

Taking on Challenges For Darleen Hunziker, junior, the hardest part about living in a new country has been learning the language. Sammy Meyer/Prowler

Daulton Beck/ Prowler

things you didn’t know about Madam Cardenas French Teacher Alyssa Boedigheimer Staff Writer

Lived in Boulogne-surMer (a town in France) before moving to Port Hueneme.

If she were a superhero, her power would be having multiple hands in order to multitask.

Taught math at ACE Charter High School in Camarillo before becoming a French teacher.

The worst restaurant she ever went to was in Spain, where she found a dead pincher bug in her paëlla.

Has two trilingual children named Eloïse and Rémi.

They speak Spanish, French, and English.

6

paranormal Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

Paranormal experiences haunt students’ memories Haley Berardinelli Features Editor Nevnit Gill Features Editor

Clairvoyance:

Taryn Schweissinger, junior, claims that she can tell where there is a spirit around her.

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s a sense that you would know is real,” she says. According to Schweissinger, some people in her family also have the same ability to experience the presence of paranormal activity. Schweissinger had her most memorable paranormal experience when she was young, around five or six years old. She says that one night, something interrupted her sleep. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man who looked to be in his 20s wearing a red shirt with a blue baseball cap. Throughout the last ten years, this man keeps appearing throughout her household.

ten years of spirit sensing

Jackie Holt, sophomore, had an unpleasant paranormal experience about four years ago in a small town called Bridgeport, located in Northern California. In this town, there is a building called the Bridgeport inn that was established in 1877 and is allegedly haunted. Downstairs, is a small restaurant and upstairs, there are a few hotel rooms and an attic.

Holt went up into the attic with a few other people she was camping with to test how haunted the site really was.

Attempting to pull a harmless prank, her family friend Michael Puetz was switching the light on and off to scare the kids. Once Puetz turned the light back on, they all noticed blood dripping from his arm. Three deep scratches had appeared once the lights were back on. “No one was near him, and no one touched him,” Holt said.

Prank gone wrong

makes horror films reality

A post ritual

Ryan Dewayne Melton, senior, says he offers energy to spirits through rituals.

On one occasion, Melton was entering his home after completing a ritual, when he experienced something rather unexpected. “It was completely dark, but I could see across to the living room … I saw a very tall man, about six-and-a-half-foot, wearing Western clothing, just step in and pass by.” Melton ran over, thinking there was an intruder. But when he looked again, “no one was in there.” This experience made him believe that he was helping the spirits by giving them energy.

Melton says he has had many other experiences with spirits because of his rituals, with this experience being the most prominent. When asked about these “rituals” entail, he declined to give details.

surprise

Friends with an ex-human:

Tony Kael*, junior, says that she can communicate with her spirit guide, which she says is an entity that acts as a guide or protector to a human being. For centuries, stories of spirit guides and humans calling on their help have been passed down from generation to generation. According to these legends, every human has their own spirit guide as well as the means to contact them.

Spirit guides are known to have once been living, with Kael’s guide being an ex-human called Richard.

“Halfway through the process of discovering my spirit guide, I got kind of skeptical,” says Kael. To prove that her spirit guide was real, she asked him to tell her long distance friend what her favorite dinosaur was. Kael gave her spirit guide three choices of dinosaurs to relay to her friend, one of them being a stegosaur. The next morning when she woke up, Kael texted her friend, who replied with “I had some weird dreams last night about dinosaurs”. Kael sat in shock before confirming that, in fact, her friend had dreamt of a stegosaurus.

Kael now often communicates with her spirit guide through a technique called “automatic writing,” in which one produces written words without consciously writing; Kael believes the written words are what her spirit guide wants to say to her. She views her guide as her lifelong friend and mentor.

Samantha Meyer/Prowler

the spirit guide

paranormal Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

7

Skeptical students question paranormal based on science Daulton Beck Opinion Editor Raevyn Walker Copy Editor Due to the lack of scientific evidence regarding whether or not ghosts exist, 27% of americans do not believe in paranormal encounters, according to a Gallup poll.

Several research experiments have been conducted to determine the factuality of the supernatural. Despite the surplus of Halloween revelations, no one has found actual evidence outside of personal encounters; as such, the scientific community has never confirmed the existence of ghosts.With this knowledge, students like Blake Angelastro, junior, are strictly opposed to people who claim to have experienced the paranormal.

“I admit science has not disproved (paranormal experiences) yet. But it does not mean that there is a supernatural correlation with the unknown,” Angelastro said. Paranormal skeptics like him are not swayed by supernatural “revelations”.

“The majority of people who claim to have paranormal experiences are not who I would call credible,” Cody Ruoss, senior, said. “I have a very logic and reason-based mindset and I will not trust (accounts of the supernatural) at all until someone like Albert Einstein or Newton validates them.”

perception that occurs independently of physical

paranormal activities, including

EXTRASENSORY sensory PERCEPTION (ESP), processes (i.e. telepathy),

GHOSTS,

data and definitions drawn from Gallup poll, Encyclopedia Britannica and Encylcopedia of American Folklore by Linda S. Watts

73%

of Americans believe in one or more

souls or spectres of a dead person and WITCHES, inhabiting HAUNTED HOUSES,

POSSESSION, and the netherworld REINCARNATION. and able to return to this world,

8

features Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

STUDENT Catherine Vo/Freshman

VS

TEACHER Miharu Altmire/Math

Alyssa Boedigheimer Staff Writer

1

8

1-2

Which edible plant was named after the latin word for milk because of its milky juice?

Altmire: Onion Vo: Milk Plant Answer: Lettuce From latin Lac or lact (milk)

Who was the Baby Ruth candy bar named after?

Altmire: Babe Ruth the Baseball Player Vo: Babe Ruth Answer: Ruth Cleveland “Baby” Ruth Cleveland was the eldest daughter of President Grover Cleveland and First Lady Frances Cleveland. She was honored with the naming of the peanut and chocolate bar. The final score is 1-2.

If milk grows on a plant, is it still considered dairy? The score starts with a 0-0.

2

7

If one coffee bean is darker than the other, which bean will have more caffeine?

Altmire: Lighter One Vo: Darker One Answer: The lighter bean.

What species do May Queen, Wiseley Crab, Foxwhelps and Lane’s Prince Albert all belong to?

Altmire: Potatoes Vo: Crabs Answer: Apples

When there is a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there is a 90% chance that you will get it wrong. Bad luck Vo. Altmire pulls ahead to 0-1.

3 In order to be considered a “big band,” how many musicians must be in the band?

Altmire: 10 Vo: More than 5 Answer: Ten Here’s a hint: The same number it takes to answer a trivia question.

Altmire brings the score to a 0-2.

While the May Queen is also the name of a potato, the rest are not. Score remains at 1-2.

ALTMIRE WINS 4

5

6

What is the ballet term for a spin of 360 degrees on one foot?

What was the first planet discovered using the telescope?

Altmire: Saturn Vo: Venus Answer: Uranus

What was the name of the son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway?

Altmire: William Shakespeare Jr. Vo: William...Jr or something Answer: Hamnet

Altmire: Plie Vo: Pirouette Answer: Pirouette All those ballet terms always sound the same anyways. Vo gets the point.Vo catches up with a 1-2

Venus can be seen in the night sky by the unaided eye, but good try. The score remains at 1-2.

Shakespeare named his play Hamlet after his deceased son Hamnet. The score stays at 1-2.

Straight From Africa Mariam Syed News Editor

Smile - Children from The Indigenous Education Foundation (IEFT) enjoy a “sports day” with St. Judes. Alumna Cassie Kobrin has worked with IEFT (IEFT / With Permission)

In the past few months, the world has been struck with an ebola panic, stemming from the outbreak of cases in Western Africa. Stories and and photographs have gone viral, ranging from a woman dressed in hazmat suit in the terminal of a Dallas airport to schools being shut down due to the chance that a teacher might have flown on the same plane as a patient of ebola. But the ebola panic has not scared off everyone.

Cassie Kobrin, a 2009 NPHS alumnus, is currently in Tanzania, a country on the west coast of Africa. After graduating from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Kobrin worked at a public relations firm in San Diego before her wanderlust kicked in.

“During my third year at UCSD I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, then declared an African Studies minor when I returned to UCSD,” Kobrin said. When a friend put her in touch with a non-profit organization called Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania who were looking for a communications coordinator, Kobrin jumped at the chance and has been in Tanzania since June.

The Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT) is an organization that runs Orkeeswa School, a secondary school (high school) for children in Maasai village, in northwest Tanzania.

“In Tanzania the average secondary school (high school) costs five hundred dollars but the average Tanzanian family makes just four hundred dollars, and this amount is much lower in the area where our school is located,” Kobrin said.

In fact, according to the IEFT website, most

students come from families who make an average of one dollar per day.

This wide gap has only allowed 10 percent of Tanzanian youth to go to high school. IEFT provides underprivileged children with a free, high quality education as well as teaching them life skills, such as entrepreneurship.

As a communications coordinator, Kobrin oversees social media, public relations, marketing, newsletters, sponsorship coordinating, and photography for the organization and the school.

She also recently started running the student newspaper.

For Kobrin, the ebola outbreak has not been a main concern of her experience. “People forget exactly how large of a continent Africa is,” Kobrin said. “Ebola is still thousands of miles from me. The distance from me to the outbreak is farther than it is from Newbury Park to New York City,” adding that she receives safety alerts and updates.

Kobrin noted her surprise at the way the Ebola cases in the United States were handled. “I recently traveled to Kigali, Rwanda and there were Ebola checkpoints entering Rwanda and then again when I came back to Tanzania where they took my temperature and made me fill out a form detailing everywhere I’d been in the past few weeks,” Kobrin said.

“I’ve found that African people don’t travel nearly as much as us Westerners do. It’s more likely that someone from the U.S. go to vacation in Guinea than someone from Tanzania going on vacation there.”

entertainment Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

9

45 Minutes: where can you really eat?

Adrianna Robakowski Entertainment Editor We all know the struggle. Lunch is only 45 minutes long. In that short 45 minutes you have to get to your car, drive to your restaurant of choice, get your food, eat, and then get back for your fourth period. Since no one wants to be late and have their Off Campus Pass taken away, you have to have a game plan before you go. If you’re hungry enough to dash off-campus, here are some good timely options.

THE HABIT

PRESTO PASTA

If Taco Bell makes you feel queasy, or if you need some solid food to get you through your fifth period sports practice, leave a few minutes earlier and go to The Habit. “The best thing about The Habit is that the service is fast and it’s quality food for a fast meal.

There is something on the menu for everyone. From what I’ve heard, everyone loves the Charburger, but I like their chicken nuggets,” Rachel Katz, senior, said. You can always count on a good tasting meal from The Habit, and this definitely won’t leave your wallet empty either.

Considering it doesn’t taste like fast food, your food comes pretty fast. Not particularly busy and only 5 minutes from campus, Presto Pasta is a good option to consider. “It’s fast and really good. I normally get the tortellini with chicken and marinara sauce,” Grace McCloskey, junior, said. If you’re not really in the mood for a pasta dish, Presto Pasta also has a wide selection of salads, soups, pizzas, and sub sandwiches. Whatever you feel like eating, make your way to Presto Pasta and smell the beautiful smells of marinara sauce.

Convenience: 4/5 Taste: 4/5

Convenience: 4/5 Taste: 4/5

TACO BELL

CHIPOTLE

The ultimate “I HAVE NO TIME” option. Taco Bell can get you just what you want, as fast as you could possibly want it. “The best thing is their addictive burritos and their freezes. Foodwise, you can never go wrong with the Doritos locos tacos. If you like burritos then the beefy nacho griller or the beef quesarito wins hands down,” Ali Guth, junior, said. “Plus, Ted is the nicest worker there. He always gets your order right.” So head on over to Taco Bell, and say hi to Ted.

A classic favorite. If you can get off campus in less than10 minutes, Chipotle is a viable option.

According to Kurt Kemper, senior, it takes him about 5 minutes to get to Chipotle. “It’s great because you can get a burrito or a bowl and put anything and everything you like in them,” Kemper said. With multiple options when it comes to customizing your meal and tons of parking, Chipotle is definitely an off-campus lunch possibility.

Michael Hellard/Prowler

Convenience: 4/5 Taste: 5/5

Convenience: 5/5 Taste: 5/5

Fall Favorites Angela Swartz Staff Writer

Favorite Apparel Sandwiched between summer and winter, fall is the start of many things - colder weather, warmer clothes, good tv shows, etc. We polled 60 students to find out their fall favorites.

Pumpkin or No Pumpkin

Favorite Sport

o Pumpkin

Favorite TV Show

Favorite Drink

Favorite Halloween Candy

Halloween vs. Thanksgiving

10

entertainment Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

Nevnit Gill Features Editor In the 1973 horror film, “The Exorcist,” directed by William Friedkin, a young girl called Regan (Linda Blair) and her mother Chris McNeil (Ellen Burstyn) witness unusual happenings in their house.

Before long, these happenings escalate into possession by the devil. After numerous psychiatrists and doctors are unable to heal her daughter’s strange “symptoms,” Chris looks to a priest for help and asks for an exorcism.

Although this film is on several lists of “top horror movies,” it does not have the qualities of a film that truly strikes terror into people. The possession and the slow deterioration of Regan’s body, along with the added deep demon voice was not and done in a way that would be very believable today. This is not at the fault of the director or actors, as the film was made in 1973 and these effects were probably horrific then, but the deep voice and bright green vomit that kept emitting from Regan’s mouth did not really help. Because possession was the fear factor, the film was generally not scary.

The character development of the film took thirty minutes and was particularly bland, however once Regan begins to misbehave, cuss, and become dramatically violent all at the fault of the devil, the film becomes entertaining.

When Regan’s face becomes sickly and she clearly looks possessed, the film

Tazaieen Sayeda Ad Manager becomes intriguing and enjoyable to watch.

The family’s attempts to seek for help are suspenseful and immensely emotional. The audience feels captivated with the desire for Regan to be healed, and when all scientific reason fails Chris finds an exorcist. What happens from then on results in a slightly sad, but satisfying end.

Linda Blair’s performance as Regan was phenomenal. It did not at all seem like a child wearing excessive makeup was “acting” possessed. The disgustingly sickly look of Blair’s face, the cussing, and the brute strength Blair appeared to have all enhanced her great acting skills.

Through multiple parts in the movie, there is no background music. During the few times music is played, the effects of it become impactful and suspenseful. The score was very well done.

For a film that was done over 30 years ago, the special effects are admirable. It is rather alarming to see the deaths that occur and the mischievousness of the devil by the effects they used.

“The Exorcist” is not ideal if one is looking to be pee-your-pants scared, but the fear level is pretty basic and can be handled by most people that do not find monstrous creatures to be overwhelmingly terrifying.

“The Exorcist” is a classic that is worth watching despite its few faults.

“Annabelle”, directed by John R. Leonetti, is a modern spin-off of “The Conjuring”. It tells the tale of a vintage doll that soon-tobe-father John Gordon (Ward Horton) gives his wife Mia Gordon (Annabelle Wallis).

The delight of having a vintage doll for their unborn child quickly turns into a nightmare: one night the young couple is attacked by satanists who possess the doll. As the movie continues, the couple begins to experience supernatural happenings as the doll becomes sentient.

While a haunted doll living in a house with a baby might be initially terrifying, by the time the movie reaches its climax, the concept comes across as silly and misguided.

After it is clear that the doll is possesed, there is no substantial plot development or new scare factors.

Disregarding the nonexistent plot line, the real strength of “Annabelle” is in the cinematography. Viewers who have watched Leonetti’s previous movies will agree that this movie stays true to his style of ultra-realism.

The shots are pieced together effectively and capture the tension he wants viewers to feel for the entirety of the film.

While the first part of the movie had one of the most boring setups of all time, as the film progresses the story does get a little bit more interesting (although only few scenes were actually scary). The movie is well shot, and is theatrical enough to stay somewhat

engaging.

Those who love haunted dolls scaring their human victims might believe that “Annabelle” is a movie with great potential.

For the rest of us, if you want to spend Halloween night indoors cuddled with blankets and popcorn this movie is definitely worth the one watch. Just in case it turns out to be a disappointment, have actual Halloween classics ready.

Hello Mia - Mia realizes who Anabelle really is. Warner Bros./WIth Permission

PANTHER PANCAKE POW-WOW

Club Day Pow Wow - As a crowd gathers in front of the club’s booth, the Panther Pancake Pow Wow Club sells freshly made pancakes as a way to advertise on Club Day. Every Friday, the group meets in room C6 to make pancakes and hang out with friends. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Rachna Deshpande Staff Writer “Pancakes are love. Pancakes are life.”

For some, pancakes are nothing more than a Sunday morning breakfast food, but for senior Paul Schneider, they are the unifying force behind the Panther Pancake Pow-Wow (PPP) club.

The club meets once a week on campus to cook and eat pancakes with friends.

The PPP was “inspired by a running joke of two years,” Schneider said. However, the idea of making a pancake club soon became a reality. Schneider became president of the club when he and his friends founded the PPP last year.

As of now, each meeting is attended by 8 to 15 members, most of whom were in the club last year. The PPP isn’t focused on opening their club up to new members at the moment because “expansion is in no way a priority, until (we) can finance more griddles,” Schneider said.

Although the PPP family is small, the members of the club have taken a liking to its size.

Giselle Sadler, senior, has been a member of the PPP since it was founded last fall. “It’s a tightknit community in PPP. We’re all really good friends,” Sadler said. “I believe all the members love the club. It’s simply pancakes and friends; there’s nothing to complain about.”

Pancakes are all fun and games, but after multiple weeks, they can get old. The PPP has begun discussing changing up their food of the week. The only requirements: it must begin

with the letter “P”, of course.

“During one meeting at the beginning of this year, we bought a pizza instead of making pancakes,” Sadler said. “That day we joked around and said we were PPP: Panther Pizza PowWow. Then other food items starting with the letter “P” were replacing what had originally been pancake, and ever since, the club has been discussing when to actually take these former jokes into effect and start mixing up our food of the week.”

Mrs. Wright, the advisor of the PPP, initially thought the club would be “a lot of work” because cooking pancakes can be “really messy.” However, she hasn’t had to worry because the club members “do a really good job cleaning up after themselves.”

Jokingly, Wright added, “they’re the only club (she has) had that is very, very focused every meeting on what they’re all about.” Being the advisor of the PPP definitely has its perks. “On the days they cook pancakes, it smells amazing,” Wright said.

For fundraising, the PPP is planning on doing another sale before or after school in December. “We stocked up on a bit too many paper plates and plastic utensils for club day, so we should be able to earn enough so that we won’t have to have membership dues this year and get another griddle or two,” Schneider said.

sports

11

Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

GIRL’S GOLF QUALIFIES FOR CIF

On Track for Victory- Excited about qualifying for CIF, the team poses for a silly photo. (Left) Skyler Wood, sophomore, puts on a green. (Right) Sonia Patel, sophomore, tees off. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Sam Ellison Sports Editor For the second year in a row, Girls’ Varsity Golf has swung their way into CIF playoffs. After losing four of their first six tournaments, the team won their next three tournaments against Agoura, Calabasas, and Nordhoff High Schools, keeping their momentum rolling into the post-season.

“I think we can all say we improved a lot at the end of our season, and now that is carrying on into CIF,” said Skyler Wood, sophomore, who is a member of the Varsity squad.

The first tournament of the post-season

was played against Westlake on Oct. 17 and concluded on Oct. 23.

The first half of the tournament was dominated by the Panthers, who were able to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the tournament. The squad beat Westlake by 16 strokes and shot an 820 to finish their tournament.

“We just want to finish strong and have as much fun as we can, because this is it for us,” said Sabrina English, senior and co-captain of the team.

“Jayne (Avendano) and I are seniors, so this is our last year,” she continued.

“Last year we didn’t know what to expect,” said Jayne Avendano, senior, and co-captain with English. “I think we know what to expect more this year.”

“We were undefeated last year,” said English. “But, we realized (we still needed to try) pretty quickly on in the season, which resulted in us practicing more, going out and playing more, and finding the ability in ourselves to do well.”

Contributing to the team’s success is sophomore Madison Wood, who was recently named Marmonte League Girls Golf Champion by shooting the lowest score in a 2-day tournament that concluded on Oct. 23.

Madison and her twin sister, Skyler, played Oct. 27 in the start of individual rounds to determine the single CIF Champion.

As for the team, their second place finish in the Marmonte League will put them in a good position as they began their journey on Oct. 30 toward the CIF Championship.

Mandi Nishimori: Dancer, libero, traveller, winner Monica Boedigheimer Copy Editor After her sister watched a video on river dancing, Mandi Nishimori, senior, signed up for an Irish dance class and has been competing since kindergarten. Freshman year, she would also begin playing volleyball. Nishimori now competes with the Varsity volleyball team, while also travelling (and winning) internationally with her Irish dance team.

Due to the time commitment required of both sports, Nishimori must make decisions between the two, especially when volleyball season starts.

“When volleyball season starts, I can’t always make it to dance practice,” Nishimori said, adding that this leads to “a lot of tears.”

Despite the conflicts, Nishimori repeatedly cites determination not only as something that allows her to compete at such high levels, but also as advice to others who want to improve at their sports.

“You have to give it your all, all the time.

You have to give that dedication to your sport,” Nishimori said. “You also have to really love it. I don’t think I would have danced all this time if I didn’t actually like it, because it’s pretty brutal, but really fun.” Nishimori has overcome ankle injuries, which she said are hard to bounce back from. She also deals with stress right before dances.

“I don’t like to think about my dance, because I know it by heart, but people get really annoyed at me because I’m jumping around,” Nishimori said, describing her pre-dance routine. “Oh, and I have to retie my shoes a billion times.”

Nishimori demonstrates dedication in Volleyball, playing club in off-season. She said that, during the season, “we have practice every day from five to seven, and there’s gamedays on Tuesday and Thursday.” In off-season, which runs the rest of the year, there are still more practices and weekend tournaments.

That dedication has also helped Nishimori win at four levels of competition in Irish Dance -- Oireachtas (regionals), Nationals, All-Ireland, and Worlds. At Worlds, which she calls the Olympics of Irish Dancing, her team has won two World Irish Dancing Championships, in 2009 and 2013. She has competed in Ireland several times, as well as in Philadelphia, Boston, and London.

According to Nishimori, both volleyball and dancing are team sports. “Volleyball was really great to get into and to be part of the team,” Nishimori said. Her varsity team members, seniors Natalie O’Sullivan and Morgan Ichimotl, agree that their team is a family. Nishimori’s teammates not only mentioned her dedication, but also her positivity, humor, and energy.

“We really like our team,” Ichimotl said.

O’Sullivan listed memories shared with the team: dressing up for home games and their “Shabooya” pre-game cheer. However, O’Sullivan’s favorite memories are: “ (the) undefeated froshsoph team in freshman year, bus rides singing, and Senior Nights.” Their favorite part of the Varsity volleyball team?

“Just being with the girls,” said Nishimori.

Nishimori also emphasizes the team aspect of Irish Dancing, and how much her coach, Maire O’Connell, and her team, mean to her.

“I’ve placed eighth in the nation for my solos, I’ve won the regionals before, but I think my greatest achievement was when my team won Worlds,” Nishimori said.

After years of training and competing, Nishimori offers what she has learned through putting time and effort into her passions: “You have to have commitment. I’ve been on a world champion team for three years and you have to be there for your team. My teacher also emphasizes “love, loyalty, friendship”--the claddagh symbol.”

A Versatile AthleteAthlete Mandi Nishimori, senior and libero on the varsity volleyball team, has been competing in Irish dancing competitions around the world since she was in kindergarten.

Mandi Nishimori/With Permission

12

sports Panther Prowler • Oct. 31, 2014

WATER

POLO Samantha Meyer Chief Photographer

Working to win - Thomas Ofria, junior, passes the ball to his teammate in the Varsity game against Oaks Christian on Oct. 22.

Monkey in the middle - Jordan Jomsky, sophomore, throws the ball over an incoming Oaks Christian defender.

Keeping his eyes up - Struggling against his defender, Ben Van Brande, sophomore, searches for an offensive opportunity.

No look pass - Nick Bublitz, senior, squints against the sun as he finds a teammate to pass to.

Holding his water - Noah Hudgins, senior, pushes against his oppenent to prevent him from scoring.

Shot on goal - Will Pikus, senior, fires a shot at the Oaks Christian goalkeeper while playing offense in the home game on Oct. 22.