2021-2022 Issue 1 (Sept. 27)

PANTHER

PROWLER

Monday Sept. 27, 2021 • Issue I • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

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Student Press Rights

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Coach Dagan

Afghanistan

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5

SDAC

Street Art Festival

6 14

7 15

Tone Text

COVID-19 Rules

Football

Cheer

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8-9

Reopening

Homecoming

2 Student voices can not be silenced staff editorial

Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

This past year has seen an increase in the rampant partisanship and hostility within the United States. With blatant attacks on American democracy and the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 has been a highly discordant year. At the center of all these history making events, students deserve a right to have their voices heard to help shape the future they want to live in. With all these history-making events unfolding, students at the minimum deserve their right to have their voices heard, to help shape their futures.

There is a long history of student press activism and involvement in this nation. In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, student publications faced backlash for the critical pieces they wrote about the US involvement in the war. School administrators attempted to curb the freedoms and censor the thoughts of the students. Yet the student publications did not let these attempts deter them.

This issue went to the courts, and the final rulings of cases helped the students in their fight for freedom of speech. The 1969 US Supreme Court Case Tinker v. Des Moines held that students did not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

Student journalist rights were further protected through the passing of California Education Code 48907 in 1977. With this, student publications were granted the same legal protections as their professional counterparts, the control and responsibility of the publication on the students alone.

With these protections in mind, the Panther Prowler seeks to report the facts from a student perspective. We always seek to report with the utmost integrity and honesty. Our duty as a publication is not to sensationalize or to distort reality for our own benefit. Our goal has always been and continues to be by reporting the news.

With controversy and divisiveness dominating everything from Congress to school board meetings, not everyone will always be happy with what may be happening, but it is our job to report the truth without fear. The protections given to us by Education Code 48907 allow us to cover controversial issues without a fear of censorship or repercussions.

As a student newspaper, the Panther Prowler strives to elevate the voices of our student body. This year will be one of change and rapid adjustment as the entire student population returns to in-person classes for the first time since March 2020. In a time of so much change and adversity, it is important that our student body has the voice that it rightfully deserves.

The Panther Prowler is a completely student run publication. The student editors are the only ones responsible for the content and maintenance of quality journalism in this publication. Thus, we adamantly reject any partisan or political agendas of our adviser or school administration. Despite all the changes we have faced and may overcome in the near future, the Panther Prowler will always be dedicated to reporting the news for our student body.

PANTHER PROWLER 2021-2022 staff DPS Editor

Online Editor

Carter Castillo Abby Gorman

Adalia Luo

Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Prasheetha Karthikeyan Adalia Luo Allison Nguyen Tea Sklar

Front Cover Editor Karyss Amato

Features Editor Prasheetha Karthikeyan

Sports Editor Sarena Kabir

Editorial Editor Nandini Patro

Anna Johnson

News Editors Hayden Meixner Allison Nguyen Dhruv Patel

Back Cover Editor Gwen Buchanan

Graphic Artists Emerson Fuentes-Albanza Prasheetha Karthikeyan Kai Mekari Tea Sklar

Copy Editors Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Anna Johnson Adalia Luo Allison Nguyen Dhruv Patel Nandini Patro Tea Sklar -

Emma Schoors

Opinion Editor

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Entertainment Editor

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Editors-in-Chief

Staff Writers Katelyn Arrington Ariela Behar Melissa Geher Taylor Gibson Kira Ivarsdottir Kai Mekari Rohit Ukkan

Photographers Chief // Reese Kelem Parker Bohl Emma Schoors

Social Media Leads Karyss Amato Gwen Buchanan Tiana Hoang Nandini Patro

Prasheetha Karthike

yan/Prowler

Front Cover Caption: Friday Night Lights - Students in the Panther Pit show their school spirit and get pumped up for the first football game of the season.

“When everyone was walking in in the very beginning, and the pit was filling up, and everyone was smiling and happy and loud. It was so amazing that we can just do this again, like it’s been a long time,” Maddy Mekari, senior, said.

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

The Panther Prowler is published every four weeks throughout the school year by Print 365 co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org.

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

Managing Editor

Adviser

Tiana Hoang

Michelle Saremi

news Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

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United States ends occupation of Afghanistan Rohit Ukkan Staff Writer

Before the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, the Taliban announced the restoration and restatement of a new Islamic Empire starting within Afghanistan. The newly established government put the core line leaders of Afghanistan in high positions of power whilst also excluding women and other minority groups in Afghanistan.

In 2001, The United States sent military troops to Afghanistan to remove the terrorist group Al-Qaeda from power and force them to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The Islamic group seized control over Afghanistan back in 1996, five years before the attacks on the United States.

In 2014, NATO launched their last combat mission in Afghanistan in which they were successful. The arising of problems in Afghanistan can be directly linked with NATO troops leaving shortly after their last mission in 2014. Taliban members quickly seized this sudden opportunity, and took more territory for themselves according to “The New York Times.” The United States tried to end the conflict peacefully by forming the US-Taliban peace deal in which the Taliban agreed. United States troops withdrew from Qatar in February of 2020 almost 20 years after when they first deployed in Afghanistan.

Women who live in Afghanistan face an uncertain future, as when Al-Qaeda seized power in 1996, women’s rights were a low priority for those of the terrorist group. The Taliban were also believed to have misogynistic ideals due to their many attacks on women with education and schooling. The Taliban states that they as a group will respect the rights of women and minorities.

The future for Afghanistan remains unclear, and many are worried that it will become a breeding ground for terrorism and radical ideology once again. The Taliban currently states that they will not launch an attack on any western world countries, especially the United States. This information was given by “The New York Times’’ and “The Washington Post.”

Hopeless- Afghan residents watch in despair as the Taliban march into their town with heavy machine guns, and many sources of firepower. The Taliban have been in Afghanistan for over 20 years when they seized the opportunity in 2020 to take over the country after the U.S. recalled their troops from their control in the country. Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

Texas enacts Heartbeat Act banning abortions Gwen Buchanan Back Cover Editor

Prasheetha Karthikeyan Features Editor

On May 19, Texas enacted the Texas Heartbeat Act, which outlaws the abortion of a fetus over six weeks. The law seeks to achieve justice through a civil suit rather than a criminal suit, granting private Texas citizens the power to sue all those involved in a potential abortion process, including providers and receivers, to uphold the law.

Each lawsuit is filed through the Texas Secretary of State. The plaintiff does not need evidence of the defendants involvement in an abortion, and if won, the plaintiff would receive a minimum of ten thousand dollars for their case. This money would come

from the defendant accused, and if there are multiple defendants, each would pay ten thousand dollars.

The law has no exceptions for rape and limited medical exemptions, which are determined at the discretion of healthcare providers, rather than a preexisting definition due to its ambiguous nature.

Many supporters of the Heartbeat Act argue that it is immoral for a woman to abort a fetus after cardiac activity can be detected. According to Healthline, this can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. A Texas physician is not allowed

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to perform an abortion if they can detect any cardiac activity or the contraction of the fetal heart, hence the designated time of six weeks.

The act has stirred controversy due to its challenge of Roe v.

Wade, the current Supreme Court precedent case of abortion, under which abortions within the first trimester are legalized nationwide. Many citizens are not content with the Texas Heartbeat Act because they question the constitutionality of it as well as what this may indicate as a precedent for the state to have the power to restrict upon federally settled issues.

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news

Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Newsom and Parks triumph over recall efforts

Tiana Hoang Managing Editor

Allison Nguyen News Editor

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

On Tuesday, Sept.14, California Gov. Gavin Newsom prevailed in the recall election. Election ballots were sent out to the homes of every registered voter in California with just two questions: “Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled from the office of governor?” and “If Newsom is recalled, who should succeed him as governor?” Some of the primary reasons for the recall effort are frustration over Newsom’s handling of the pandemic and business restrictions, worsening housing and homelessness crises, and tax increases.

This election marks only the second time in California history that an attempt to recall the governor has gone to ballot, the last time being in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzneggar successfully replaced then-Gov. Gray Davis. This time, conservative talk show host Larry Elder was the frontrunner to replace Newsom, who quickly gained popularity after announcing his candidacy under the promise to eliminate Newsom’s new COVID-19 mandates if elected. After the election was called on Tuesday night, Elder made a speech in Orange County to his supporters, hinting at another election run. “We may have lost the battle, but we are going to win the war.”

Newsom took his victory as indication that California citizens are in support of his measures to counteract the virus, as he primarily based his election campaign around ensuring COVID-19

safety. “We said yes to science, yes to vaccines, yes to ending the pandemic,” Newsom said in his victory speech.

This election was mirrored on the county-wide level. On the same day as the recall election for governor the effort to recall Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks fell through, when organizers of the drive failed to submit the 11,067 signatures needed to trigger the recall by the 5 p.m. deadline. Parks represents District 2 of Ventura County, which encompasses Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park and surrounding areas.

Parks has represented District 2 since 2002, and is currently serving her fifth and final term as a result of term limits.

The recall effort began when Parks and three other supervisors initiated litigation on 18 businesses in Ventura County for repeated violations of county closure mandates due to the pandemic, one being Godspeak Calvary Church in Newbury Park. Parks has expressed her belief that her effort to enforce these restrictions is needed during these times.

With results finalizing and the season coming to an end, both Newsom and Parks have both managed to overcome their recall efforts. Newsom and Parks will continue to stay in their office positions for another term, up until next fall.

Natural disasters badger the coasts of Americas Rohit Ukkan Staff Writer While wildfires are a normal occurrence in California’s ecosystem, the annual fires burning across the state are beginning earlier every year. As of Aug. 30, 6,913 fires were recorded as a part of the 2021 California Wildfire season. A total of 1,761,821 acres went up in flames across the state of California. There are seven ongoing fires of interest as of Aug. 31, with the main source of the problems being the Dixie fire. Scorching through over 750,000 acres of land, the Dixie fire originated from just above the Cresta Dam in Northern California. The Dixie fire is 86 percent contained as of September 17th.

California’s wildfire season began early amidst an ongoing drought and record low levels of rainfall across the state. The 2020 wildfire season was the largest season of wildfires in California’s known history. In fact, the 2021 fire season is on pace to break the records set in 2020 according to CAL Fire.

Over the course of this years California wildfire season, zero people have died as a direct result of the wildfires. However, twenty 22 have experienced or are experiencing non-fatal injuries as a result

of the fires and 2,898 buildings have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Ida continues to move up the East Coast, creating dangerous living conditions for each state it passes through.

The hurricane has left more than 500,000 people without power. The windy conditions make recovery from the hurricane slow, as many workers are afraid to fix power lines and other things needing repair throughout their cities.

Hurricane Ida is characterized as a category four hurricane, whilst being the strongest landfall hurricane since 2009. The hurricane is predominantly in the coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic states. With an average wind speed of over eighty mph and a high of 103, Hurricane Ida is rampaging through the states with little signs of slowing down.

About 5,000 members of the United States National Guard were deployed within Louisiana in order to help with damage reduction and repair from the hurricane. The government also provided water proficient vehicles, helicopters, and rescue boats in order to assist the National Guard in saving lives.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Booster shots are the next step in fighting off the pandemic Tea Sklar Graphic Artist

Vaccinated- Getting vaccinated is the key to ending this virus. Photo Courtesy of PIXNIO

The surge of the COVID-19 Delta Variant brought on new challenges for tje world to face. The Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), decided that booster shots are needed to fight the rapidly evolving virus.

A booster shot is most commonly given after two rounds of a specific vaccine to encourage the immune system to keep fighting it. In other words, it works to prolong immunity. Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 virus, the CDC has announced that a booster shot may be a necessity for anyone immunocompromised to getting sick.

According to the CDC, booster shots will only be required for those who got

the vaccine in the early stage. “The goal is for people to start receiving a COVID-19 booster shot beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting 8 months after they received their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either PfizerBioNTech or Moderna),” according to the CDC website.

Healthcare providers, residents of care facilities, and adults over 65 or those who are at severe risk of getting sick are strongly encouraged by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Besides that specific group of people, “the FDA overwhelmingly rejected recommending Pfizer booster shots for most recipients of the company’s coronavirus vaccine,” The

New York Times stated. The reasoning behind this is the majority of trials with this new vaccine were done on the elderly population, and the vaccines that were distributed more recently haven’t shown signs of declining in terms of immunity.

In addition to the new booster shots, Pfizer and BioNtech announced that the first major trial of vaccine testing on children 5-11 years have produced positive results. While young children are less likely to become seriously ill, they are still exposed.

With school’s returning to in-person learning, it is becoming more and more of a serious consideration to get young children vaccinated.

news Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

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SDAC welcomes new executive board Taylor Gibson Staff Writer Adalia Luo DPS Editor The Student District Advisory Council (SDAC) swore in a new executive board for the upcoming school year led by Chairperson Catherine Xu, senior at WHS, and Vice Chairperson Michael Lindroth, senior at NPHS. SDAC provides a forum for students at their school sites to transform their concerns into solutions and recommendations for reform. “SDAC is basically an advisory committee to the Board of Education and to the entire school district,” Xu explained. “Our job is to represent students.”

In its third year, the board developed an effective transitional protocol. “The transition from the past board to the new board has been great. Last year, what I tried to do was to form a relationship between the past board members for SDAC and the new board members,” Xu said. “I set up meetings in between every single position...They were able to gain some knowledge and experience through conversation.”

Lindroth, who serves as the NPHS executive on the board, echoes this sentiment. “I really admire the work that the previous board has done, and I want to continue that legacy that SDAC has developed over the past several years,” he said.

Brian Mercer, Director of High Schools for the CVUSD, generally oversees SDAC as the superintendent’s designee for the council. “If there’s one word that I can use [to describe them], it would be ‘driven.’ They are very global minded. It’s not just about their school; they understand that this is a district and that each individual school site has needs,” Mercer said. “They’re very driven to make positive change.”

Mercer has full faith in the new heads of the council given their past experience on the executive board. “[Xu and Lindroth] were representatives on the SDAC [last year], and they really had a deep involvement in some of the committees and some of the initiatives,” he said. “It’s really just kind of like picking up where they left off, and really working hard to make our schools a better place.” SDAC is currently working to estanlish subcommittes for the year. “Last year we had some examples our Publicity Committee, our Reopen and Redesign Committee, our Mental Health Committee,” Lindroth said.“Each of these committees work towards separate goals based on their title, and this year we’re trying to figure out which ones, which areas, we want to focus on in terms of improvement in our district.”

Catherine Xu/With Permission

Michael Lindroth/With Permission

Change is good- Catherine Xu, senior at WHS, wants students to be able to feel comfortable and speak up when they have a concern about their school. “[Students] bring ideas and issues that they think they may have solutions for and come up with ideas to recommend and areas of reform to recommend to the board as well,” Xu explains.

Every opinion matters- Michael Lindroth, senior at NPHS, believes surveying students is a great way to get different opinions and act on issues. “I think surveying the students that are really working to represent students at these student advisory board meetings,” Lindroth said.

“Each of these committees work towards separate goals based on their title, and this year we’re trying to figure out which ones, which areas, we want to focus on in terms of improvement in our district.”

Lindroth and Xu strive to fulfill the core goals of SDAC and represent students in CVUSD. “I think SDAC is a really great outlet for students to share their concerns, and I think that it’s not limited to those specifically in SDAC,” Lindroth said. “Anyone [is welcome to] share their thoughts or concerns at our meetings.”

Rocky Capobianco becomes new school board trustee Kai Mekari Staff Writer

New faces - Rocky Capobianco, new school board trustee, is involved and ready to take chances and learn as he grows from being on the school board. “I think it’s so important to be open and willing to listen,” Capobianco said. Rocky Capobianco/With Permission

Following Jenny Fitzgerald’s exit from the school board, new trustee Rocky Capobianco takes her place on the dais after being selected by the remaining board members. He was appointed to the position on Aug. 12 and has sat the first two school board meetings of the year.

The decision for the new trustee was made by the school board itself in a 4-0 vote after candidates appeared at a special board meeting. “We interviewed six candidates and narrowed it down and then voted,” Bill Gorback, Vice President of the school board, said. “There were several questions after the interviews were concluded asking for who we thought would be good members up to three choices. Then after discussion, the motion for Mr. Capobianco was made.”

Considering that he also has kids that have been through the motions of CVUSD programs, many attest to his experience in the district, including Cindy Goldberg, board trustee. “He has deep roots in the community and a wide range of people that he interacts with in his professional

life, and his personal life.” Goldberg said. Goldberg was in favor of Trustee Capobianco. “Everybody brings a different strength. So hopefully, he will be able to calm the waters,” Goldberg said.

Prior to Capobianco’s appointment, he has been working as a full time licensed insurance broker and a parent volunteer in the community for the past 15 years.

“Whether it be school site council, PTA, budget committee, or LCAP...I’ve been an active parent and volunteer and leader with their community,” Capobianco said.

There are many complications that have arisen from this pandemic and Trustee Capobianco is aware that this will affect students on many different levels.

“There’s so much divide, there’s so much frustration on so many levels... It’s been a rough year and a half of this pandemic onto our students...[and] I’ve always been a proponent of being open. Open to listen to different ideas for acceptance and for coming up with some sort of plan that we can all work on together,” Capobianco said.

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opinion Panther Prowler • Sept. 27 2021

Tone indicators are the future of text Melissa Geher Staff Writer Tone indicators, also known as tone tags, are used at the end of sentences and phrases to convey tone on texts, posts, and comments.

According to Understood.org, neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits. People who fall under the neurodivergent spectrum view and interact with the world in a unique way.

The tone of a person’s voice varies, and has a significant impact on the meaning and consequences of their speech. Thus, it is essential that this is conveyed accurately online. Tone indicators can be used by anyone but have become more frequently used over the years among neurodivergent people such as autistic people and people with OCD, ADHD and dyslexia.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler Sometimes, it can be difficult for neurodivergent people to perceive tone through writing. Many people, myself included, have difficulties understanding the meaning of a written message. The lack of indicators outside of words (ex. physical body language, voice intonation, facial emotions) might make it difficult for neurodivergent people to understand the meaning of a text or post. This is not to say that neurotypical people don’t misinterpret tone in texts or in real life, they do - but many neurodivergent people feel and interpret tone differently.

For instance, if you are joking around with a friend, they might reply with a message saying “I hate you. /j” The “/j” implies that the message is a joke, and the recipient does not actually hate the sender. On the flip side, if you legitimately hate someone, you might write “I hate you /srs.” This implies that you aren’t joking around. If you are being serious, never use the “/j” as a joke.

Our grammar and sentence structure have co-evolved with the rise of non-face-to-face communication, and tone indicators can help increase clarity. Tone indicators are easy to use and avoid potential misunderstandings caused by missing social signals.

Miscommunication and misconceptions caused by unclear tone in text and writing can essentially be prevented by using tone indicators.

While not everyone who is on the neurodivergent spectrum needs or wants tone indicators, they are beneficial to many.

There are no rules for using tone indicators online, and you aren’t a horrible person if you choose not to use them. However, I think that more people will be understanding towards your thoughts when someone asks you to clarify something if you use tone indicators.

I personally use them when needed because I find them to be very helpful with communication. If someone asks you to clarify what you said- give them a shot! You might just make a new friend.

The grim reality behind fairytales Nandini Patro Editorial Editor “And then they all lived happily ever after…” A phrase almost father and ultimately led to her getting tortured and beheaded. every person has heard countless times. It comes from fairytales, Already there wasn’t much positive influence. Also in the original the fairytales we incessantly share with children for reasons tale, Rapunzel’s prince sneaks into the tower and leaves Rapunzel unknown. After all, these stories have never been on the pregnant, much to the anger of her mother who sends her realistic side but after further discovery, these stories have off into the street to live the life of a beggar while baring incredibly disturbing origins. German authors Wilhelm a child.

Carl Grimm and Jacob Grimm (The Brothers Grimm) In “Hansel and Gretel”, the two children are left are often credited with being the “keepers of modernalone as their parents leave them in a great famine. day fairytales”; however, the tales the The children begin starving to death when an evil brothers wrote are far different from cannibalistic witch invites them to have a feast at her modern-day fairytales. These stories they house. They follow her but soon realize she plans to wrote are filled with disturbing material eat them and instead of escaping and “living happily that is unpleasant for even the general public. ever after” the children finish their feast and then kill In the original tale “Snow White” written her. It seems clear that there are a lot more important, by the Brothers Grimm, the evil queen orders concerning takeaways from this story rather than a huntsman to kill Snow White. However the leaving a trail of breadcrumbs (which is not even queen goes above and beyond and requests practical). proof of Snow White’s death, in the form Finally, the most disturbing tale, Sleeping of Snow White’s liver and lungs. The Beauty. In the actual Sleeping Beauty, there was Huntsman spares Snow White because of no true love’s kiss that woke her up. Instead, her beauty so he instead kills a wild boar the prince made her fall unconscious and and brings the Queen the boar’s liver and sexually assaulted Sleeping Beauty in her lungs. In this original tale, the Queen wants sleep. He left and moved on with his life and more than to just keep the lungs and liver. So, Sleeping Beauty was awoken by her own child, she cooks them, and eats them. Far different than Téa Sklar/Prowler which she now had, and a new prince. Then the old the cute fairytale of Snow White singing to animals prince heard Sleeping Beauty now had children and and dwarfs, this tale has cannibalism. Maybe not the burned his old wife alive so he could come back. perfect bedtime story.

Fairytales send unrealistic messages and the places But it doesn’t stop there, Rapunzel’s story is different as well. In that they stem from are disturbing and alarming. In real life, we the tale that the Brothers Grimm wrote, Rapunzel’s story is based shouldn’t encourage the unsettling actions that occur in fairy off of a girl who was locked captive in a tower by her controlling tales for children. Maybe we should invest in some non-fiction.

South Asian culture affects youth Sarena Kabir Sports Editor As much as I love South Asian culture, the traditional and conservative mindsets it carries have impacted many as they have grown up, myself included. “Be as smart as your brother. Why aren’t you skinnier? Your skin is far too dark,’’ my mother would always repeat.

South Asian parents have instilled westernized values as a result of colonization and a need to assimilate. A major issue within South Asian culture is the contradictory expectations we are fed to appear physically compliant to westernized beauty standards while remaining culturally intact. Parents will shame you for being dark-skinned, even buying you skin lighteners to meet their expectations.

Ironically, while they want me to accustom myself to western beauty standards, they also want me to be culturally intact. There is no plausible way to hold up to these modern-day standards while also upholding my own culture. I cannot focus on two things at once.

Culture is more about embracing yourself and your origins, but the question is: “How can I do that when I have had this preconception all my life that being cultural means that I cannot embrace myself ?”

I have always been told to be skinny just like the other westernized girls. I have always been compared to my friends to the point where I do not even introduce them to my parents in fear of being scolded over my body. In reality, there is no satisfaction on either side.

Even if you were smaller, there will always be something else to criticize in their eyes.

Growing up, I have inherited this mindset from my parents the same way my parents had internalized it from theirs. It made me extremely self-conscious about my appearance and stunted my own self-esteem because I could never fulfill the unattainable image of what my parents wanted me to be. There has always been this thought embedded in the back of my head of whether I will truly be enough for my parents to accept me for who I am, or if I will always have to put up this charade of someone I am not.

Although I can’t help but feel lasting resentment towards my parents, I want to heal for me and generations before me; what should matter is how you view yourself. There have been several times where I have been comfortable in my own skin, and though it quickly gets shut down, every moment is a step forward for my self-preservation and self-esteem.

Don’t get me wrong, the culture is GORGEOUS. South Asian festivities and weddings will always be one of my favorite things to ever exist, but the expectations and standards that are instilled have always been a challenge, and is something that must be reversed in order for generations down the line to be happier.

opinion

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Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Students need to mask up Ariela Behar Staff Writer

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Within the first few weeks of school, my family received messages from the school that told us about my classmates who have contracted COVID-19. I knew the first email would be inevitable. But as more started filling my parents’ inboxes, it began to put into perspective just how rapidly the virus is spreading around the school. I can not help but wonder, how long until it reaches me or someone I love?

I enjoy the refreshing feeling of taking my mask off just as much as my peers, but it is not worth the risk. There have been cases of unmasked, fully vaccinated people who tested positive for COVID-19. While the likelihood of this happening is low, it’s still very possible. Just because mask protocols may not be strict, people should continue to keep their guard up and mask up.

On June 15, masks were no longer required indoors for fully vaccinated California residents. Not even two full months later on Aug. 15, this was reversed. The moment people began to remove masks, COVID-19 cases spiked to no surprise once again.

As citizens can become agitated with the ever changing protocols,

they should remember that it is in the favor of their safety and well being to wear face coverings in all indoor and outdoor vacinities.

During the short period of time when masks were not required in enclosed spaces, an important adult in my life contracted the virus from an asymptomatic person while indoors . Both individuals were fully vaccinated.

Normally I am able to confide in this individual my daily anxiety struggles. Not having in-person contact with them took this away from me and placed a mental toll on me. But, I know they had it worse because COVID-19 is a nasty, unforgiving virus.

This is one of many real situations that serves a warning for anyone and everyone in our community. If a healthy, fully vaccinated person who was following state guidelines can contract the illness, it is definitely capable of reaching the unmasked students who prowl around campus.

Students need to follow regulations as if they are always at risk because unfortunately, that is reality. Sticking with masks, inside and outside, can keep us safe in our school and personal lives.

Read to be socially aware Sarena Kabir Sports Editor

Anna Johnson Opinion Editor

Throughout history, books and novels have remained a constant and efficient method of recording monumental events, and should remain so in present times. With the social climate constantly changing, people tend to become more and more unaware of world events. Providing students and adults alike with first hand accounts of a major historical event, whether the book be fact or fiction, can help them to understand the impact these events had on people’s lives and want to bring change to the world.

In school, students do not start to learn about more recent history until late into middle school, leaving kids ill informed of the world they live in. Even when we enter high school, history is general and does not include many primary sources or first hand experiences of the major events that took place in modern times.

Reading about what the social climate was like in the past helps people develop a better understanding of what is going on today. Books written at the time an event was taking place brings much more meaning and allows readers to draw a more emotional connection to the event. People respond more to an

emotional connection rather than fact, so providing the empathy between people of different nations allows them to want to act.

For example, for those not well-informed of the struggles people of color face in America, marginalized groups recommend reading books like “Stamped” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi or “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas to help them be educated on the ongoing racism that exists in America. Reading these books helped people of all races understand the need for change in America’s justice system, and instill change in protest.

In another context, Afghanistan has endured much torment for over 100 years, but the situation has never been that prevalent until this past month after the evacuation of American troops from the nation and the succeeding Taliban government. Many people had never been as sure as to what was actually occurring in the country and never knew how many Afghans were being tormented by the Taliban. Books like “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and “The Kite Runner,” both written by an Afghan author, Khaled Hosseini, incorporate the emotions, feelings, and struggles innocent civilians had faced due to the brutal rule

of the Taliban, helping people around the globe to understand how in need of help these people are. This would allow readers to donate to charities for the Afghan people or lend other aid to help them survive through this crisis, helping to relieve the struggles in the world instead of focusing on their own.

Even the “Who Was” books for younger people can be helpful for children to understand the world they live in, as they provide simple information on key figures from the past and present who have impacted the world. This would better prepare kids in understanding the world climate they are entering, ready to act like the role models they read about in these books.

Books are a powerful method of communication, especially when relating to world crises. People need to continue to turn to the written word to educate themselves and understand the world we live in, in order to continue making the world a better place for the next generation.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Senior year feels like a slap in the face Reese Kelem Chief Photographer

During my freshman year, I saw seniors having the time of their lives; taking fun ID photos, cheering like crazy in the Panther Pit during football games, getting to wear the coolest hoodies, making up iconic yearbook quotes and building a proud community of Newbury Park. The fun of senior year is what inspired me to work hard in classes throughout the years, no matter how unbearable. But now that it finally is here, it seems that the pizzazz of senior year has faded, and it’s just another dreadful year on campus.

Every year, it feels like more and more rules are being added.

We no longer have a senior quote in the yearbook, ID photos must be strictly professional with “NO face paint or costume masks, NO hats or costume wigs...NO props, pets/animals or other items are permitted that may interfere with the photo,” according to the email sent out by the NPHS staff.

While it is understandable to restrict inappropriate clothing items and props, there is no harm in a senior taking their ID photo with a princess tiara or a funny hat. These photos don’t

go into the yearbook and have no negative effect as long as the student is still identifiable.

In addition to restrictions, senior traditions seemingly fade out of existence. Many students were waiting for a senior sunrise on the first day of school, yet this event has been delayed and will not happen until the end of the month. With a student survey being sent out regarding this event, some seniors are under the impression that we might have to pay for this event as well. Nobody wants to pay for an event that is celebrating them, especially if it traditionally is a free event and doesn’t cost money to hold.

With our honorary hoodies being spiked in price and senior sunrises being forgotten about, senior year feels more like a slap in the face rather than a last hoorah. With all that this year’s senior class has endured, from yearly fires to a global pandemic, we deserve some leeway to have fun during our final year at NPHS. This opinion is entirely my own and does not reflect the beliefs of the entire staff as a whole.

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

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re-opening Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

NPHS campus comes back to life

Ariela Behar Staff Writer Parker Bohl Photographer Karyss Amato Front Cover Editor Reese Kelem Chief Photographer Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Graphic Artist

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza for all graphics

Adjusting While many students looked forward to the full return back to campus, many have lots of changes and adjustments to cope with. Many underclassmen stepped onto campus for the first time last month and are still learning the way to their classes, while returning students are struggling to get back into their pre-COVID routines.

The Prowler conducted a survey through various social media accounts about how students felt towards coming back to school. With 101 responses, results indicate that 50 percent of the students who took the survey are excited to be back and that their mental health has improved significantly. However, about 60 percent of the students have been struggling with their schedules and amount of homework given each night.

Sixteen percent of students who took the survey had a rather difficult transition from hybrid to in-person and 25 percent feel that their mental health has declined since the start of school.

For sophomores like Shriya Rajesh, being on campus feels

like a new freshman year. “One day I’d find my classes, and the next I couldn’t remember what room it was,” Rajesh said.

Despite the struggles of mapping out an unfamiliar campus, Rajesh is happy to be in-person.

However, Rajesh has found herself struggling to manage her school workload. “We’re transitioning back to school, so hopefully it’ll thin out once we spend more time but also going back into classes that I do outside of school has been challenging,” Rajesh said. Finally, having socialization in person continues to keep her motivated and she is excited to be able to branch out, meeting new people. “I’m just excited to meet new people, I’ve made a lot of new friends so far and I guess that’s what I’m looking forward to the most,” Rajesh said.

Justin Copeland, senior, has now experienced high school pre-COVID, remote, and now in-person. Only a few weeks in, he feels that students have had an excess amount of stress this year due to teachers trying to make up for lost time last year.

“I’m definitely more stressed. I feel like a lot of the teachers don’t understand that we are still in a pandemic,” Copeland said. “A lot of us do have outside activities like sports, work, and more importantly, like we all want to have a social life,

we’re all still teenagers.”

Teachers such as Paula Anderson, English teacher, agree that going back in person was a necessity for both students and teachers. “It has been so exhilarating to have all the students back in class,” Anderson said. “I am really a face-to-face teacher and I like to interact and see body language and reactions.”

Anderson is happy to see that students have finally been able to have that social aspect of school once again. “Kids have written to me that it’s so nice to see their friends again, talk openly, and you know, hang out at lunchtime and nutrition with their friends,” Anderson said. “I think the social aspect has been ten times better than that zoom stuff.”

Erin Fay Stillwagon, science teacher, has also noticed a renewed motivation in her students following the return to campus. “The kids are eager to learn because they’ve been missing it for so long,” Stillwagon said. She has noticed many students progressing that were struggling online last year.

“Now that distance learning is gone and you have that limiting factor pulled away and you’re here. It’s just like the kids are excelling, so I’m really happy with having you guys back,” Stillwagon said.

Return- After over a year of hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, a full stadium of NPHS fans watch the Panthers win. “It feels great to have everybody back, the [marching] band... the Panther was here, to everybody in the crowd.” Ryan Gillum, junior on the varsity football team said, “We played in front of a home crowd, put in front of all the parents [we] performed very well.” Parker Bohl/ Prowler

re-opening Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

9

Specialized Classes

Ready, set, bake- (Left to right) Gabe Braddock, Danny Duarte, Paris Vandevort, and Sierra Carey, seniors in Chef Burnett’s jump back into the kitchen to make chocolate chip cookies. “I love one-on-one cooking with the students and seeing them cook their foods and being able to taste their food” Chef Liz Burnett said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Student Activities The current pandemic has made many student activities difficult, but ASG and administration have made an effort to make the events just as engaging as previous years with COVID protocols in mind.

On Friday Sept. 3, many Panthers were excited about the first home football game of the year and having the Panther Pit back. Maddy Mekari, senior, is one of the leaders of the Panther Pit. “When everyone was walking in in the very beginning and the pit was filling up, everyone was smiling and happy and loud. It was so amazing that we can just do this again,” Mekari said.

The energy of the crowd is equal to the enthusiasm radiating from the varsity football team. Ryan Gillum, junior, talked about his strongest moment in the first game. “We played in front of a home crowd. I played in front of all the parents and we performed very well.

I mean, we only held [the other team] to seven points,” Gillum said.

During the pregame and halftime show, the dance team was there to hype up the crowd. Drew Caswell, junior, a dance team member, compared last year’s modified season to their first performance back on the field. “[Our] nerves were very high, especially because we didn’t have masks on, so we had to perform...a lot more than we did last year.”

Cameo Carolan, the dance team’s coach, was thrilled to see her team perform at a football game for the first time in over a year. “Us being out on the field was the first time everyone saw [the dance]. It was the first time we did it with the band and did it full out.

Then halftime, it was just so great to see them doing what they love. It was neat to get the response from the other teachers as well, and administration- and it was a packed game…the stands were so full. It’s crazy,” Carolan said.

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the homecoming dance and almost all of it’s festivities were back in full swing. Though the homecoming football game, the second game of the season, had to be cancelled due to a COVID outbreak on the opposing team, the annual pep rally and dance were able to bring students

together.

Edyn Stepler, senior and ASG president, helped to manage the planning that went towards this year’s events. “We have been trying to work around and see what we are allowed to do, and what would be in the best interest of the students,” Stepler said. “Luckily this year, we’ve been able to do a lot more than we originally thought that we could.”

This year’s homecoming rally lifted school spirits, complete with performances from the dance team, cheer, and Sparkles. Michael Lindroth, senior, is the head of the rally planning committee for ASG and was very excited for this year’s events. “Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of in person activities. I think that [it was] fun for everyone just to be able to get together as a school and play games together, watch performances, and things like that,” Lindroth said.

Crowds were cheering as the Class of 2022 ran onto the field. Screams from the bleachers could be heard as homecoming court was announced, and the enthusiasm continued through all of the activities.

Kaylee Aschbrenner, junior, was one of many students who preferred the outdoor scenery to the confined space of the gym. “People were less sweaty, and it just made it easier to have a good time… I honestly hope that they do it again outside because the vibes were immaculate,” Aschbrenner said.

Although the homecoming dance could not take place in the school’s gym like it normally would due to COVID-19 protocols, the party still found an equal amount of life on the quad. Sunshine Roth, senior, made some positive memories at this year’s dance.

“When they played Happiness by Kid Cudi, I got my friend and we got our boyfriends and we went in the pit. We got some other friends and we were just jamming out so hard to the song,” Roth said. “It really was fun.”

Roth shared a similar sentiment to how the majority of Panthers feel about the return of student activities. “It’s going to be hard getting back to normal but it was nice to have something that felt familiar,” Roth said.

A major benefit to the full on-campus return is the return of hands-on learning, especially with interactive classes such as photography, music, and food & nutrition. During online learning, teachers found it difficult to teach a typically hands-on class, but now students can return to the creative arts with a new motivation.

Although many efforts were made to give students the best virtual experience possible, teachers like Chef Liz Burnett, the culinary teacher at NPHS, were relieved to have classes in-person. “The most difficult part is when you’re trying to teach somebody something that’s better in person,” Burnett said. “I can say out loud how to flip an egg all day, but actually showing you how to do it and being there with you when you do it makes a huge difference.”

The music department is also grateful for a return, as their class is now unified and synchronized. Tina Huang, orchestra teacher, emphasized how in-person learning allowed her to see a great improvement in her students.

“When we came back and everyone started playing again, I think everyone was in shock [at] how different we sounded [together],” Huang said. “My approach this year has been just to start slow, because we’re just getting back to the swing of things and with everything that’s still kind of unknown with COVID.” Orchestra’s first concert of the year will be on Oct. 24 at the Conejo Community Park.

As exciting as it is for students to return to campus, many teachers are concerned with how COVID-19 restrictions might intervene with their student’s education. Teachers like Richard Bateman, digital photography teacher, are doing the most to maintain a sanitary classroom to avoid closures.

“You have to wipe down cameras and clean them if somebody else is gonna use them. You just don’t want the germs spreading on the camera, especially since you put a camera right up to your face,” Bateman said. “That’s the equivalent of you know, touching a doorknob and then wiping your eyes.”

After being stuck behind a computer screen all last year, students finally feel as if they are learning efficiently. “I feel like students are extremely happy to be here, more happy than they have in years past. Maybe being away was a good thing for them. Maybe they’re just happy to be around people again and be social,” Burnett said.

The Final Walk- Football seniors Cole Bowen, Mason Tucker, Alex Kovach, Tony Hernandez and Ethan Wing strut across the home field for the last homecoming rally of their high school experience. Bowen rides Tucker’s shoulders whilst coming out of the panther’s mouth the day before the homecoming dance. Parker Bohl/Prowler

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features Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Softball team honors Coach Dagan’s legacy Carter Castillo Editor-in-Chief

Abby Gorman Editor-in-Chief

NPHS softball coach Mike Dagan believed his team could achieve anything they put their mind to. With passion and commitment to his role, Dagan led NPHS to CIF-Southern Section Championship in 2018, the first time in our school’s history. Dagan’s passing on Aug. 27 leaves a monumental legacy on the NPHS softball field and within the community.

Dagan was in a league of his own when it came to coaching, constantly going the extra mile for his team. He was not only a dedicated coach but a knowledgeable person as well. Alyssa Carpenter, sophomore, spoke to his understanding of the sport as well as his interpersonal skills. “There are definitely not a lot of coaches that knew as much as he did. He always knew everything about the other teams. He really just knew everything, it was kind of weird but really awesome. He knew a lot of people, too, which is not completely softball related, but that was one of his strengths- just knowing how people work, and making sure that they’re okay,” Carpenter said.

His dedication to the team shined through every day, from his encouraging pre-game pep talks to his tireless advocacy for the new softball field on campus. Maddy Mekari, senior, recalls the impact his motivation had on the team. “He always had a new uplifting quote before games, and it was always so funny and awesome. It always motivated us,” Mekari said.

Although he pushed his players to achieve their highest potential, Dagan always had the players’ well-being at the forefront of his mind. No matter how the game was going, players recall Dagan being their ‘biggest cheerleader.’ “There was never anything negative he would say at the gameshe’d always wait until practice to make corrections. It was always positive reinforcement to keep us going,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter recalls that Dagan was wholly devoted to the continued success of the softball team.

“We don’t get the same attention as a lot of sports, and he put so much into the program. They won CIF, I think it was 2018, that is something he should definitely be remembered by. That was seriously incredible; they couldn’t have done it without him,” she said.

Throughout the challenges faced on and off the field, players knew they could depend on Dagan for comfort and support. When Paige Henry, senior, was left unable to play due to a surgery, Dagan stayed by her side through it all. “Over the summer, he was always checking in on me and asking for updates. Then a couple of days before he passed, I had told him I got the ‘okay’ to start throwing. I will never forget how happy he was,” Henry said. “To this day, he is the biggest reason I am going to work as hard as I can to get back to playing on the field since my surgery.”

Memories -The softball field at the memorial for Dagan consisted of players sharing their favorite stories and leaving objects that remind them of the coach. “He would always make sure each and every one of us never got down on ourselves and would always help keep our heads up high,” Henry said. Kai Mekari/Prowler

Impact- Paige Henry, senior, was a member of the softball team all four years of her high school career and remembers the effect Dagan has had on her life. “He has made the biggest impact on my life. He taught me that no matter how well we were doing in a game, you always play with class. He also was the coach that believed in me, no matter what and always pushed me to do better because he knew how much potential I have,” Henry said. Maddy Mekari/With Permission

The void that Coach Dagan will leave will be extremely difficult to fill. “I think that it is going to be really hard to get another girl’s softball coach...He’s a unique coach, definitely one-of-a-kind that should be remembered. There should be a certain standard, he would be that standard,” Carpenter said.

Coach Dagan will be remembered fondly by those who have had him as a coach. “I would describe him as a good coach, first, and just a good person that had a really unfortunate thing happen to him that he definitely didn’t deserve,” Carpenter said. “Dagan and his family are such good people with such good hearts.”

Remembrance- A memorial was held for Coach Dagan on Sept. 22 at the new NPHS softball field, which Dagan continuously advocated for. Players wrote messages on the walls of the dugout about the coach’s passion and dedication to the team. Dagan’s car, a symbol associated with the coach by the team, was visible in the park lot outside the field. Alyssa Carpenter, sophomore, regained her love of softball through Dagan’s mentorship. “[Dagan] telling me that I had a lot of potential and that I could do really amazing things with it motivated me to work hard. Him telling me he believed in me was really cool,” Carpenter said. Kai Mekari/Prowler

Student Gracen Mechling/Sophomore

1

What does www stand for in the beginning of a website?

Mechling: Website website website Cortes: World Wide Web Answer: World Wide Web

VS

Karyss Amato Staff Writer

3-2

It’s a tie!

Mechling was on the right track...

0-1

is the most uncommon M 2 What & M color?

Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Teacher

11

Edith Cortes/NPHS Counselor is the average height for an 5 What American adult female?

Mechling: 5’5” Cortes: 5’8” Answer: 5’4”

Maybe they were thinking of somewhere else?

0-1

many hearts does an 6 How octopus have?

Mechling: Yellow Cortes: Yellow...brown?

Answer: Brown

Mechling: 3 Cortes: 1 Answer: 3

When’s the last time a brown or yellow M & M was seen?

0-1

People seek the abnormal, there would not be just one...

1-1

was the first Disney movie 7 What ever made?

3 Who won the 2021 Super Bowl?

Mechling: Kansas City Chiefs Cortes: I have no idea.

Answer: Buccaneers

Mechling: Snow White Cortes: Snow White Answer: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Looks like they both need to catch up on their football knowledge.

0-1

4

features

It appears we have some Disney fans here.

2-2

was the lifespan of a 8 What Tyrannosaurus Rex?

How many bones do adult humans have in their body?

Mechling: Extinct Cortes: 12 years Answer: 20-30 years

Mechling: 200 Cortes: 217 Answer: 206

Mechling is not wrong. She takes the win.

2-2

So close. Just a little low and a little high.

0-1 Emma Schoors/Prowler

Honey Cup opens its doors Melissa Geher Staff Writer

Parker Bohl Photographer

New Beginnings- Honey Cup recently opened its doors for the first time, and aims to be an influential part of Newbury Park culture. “It’s not just like a normal coffee shop, because we have sandwiches and pastries and all kinds of stuff.” Camp said,” I was interested [in working here] because I wanted to see what this area was like, and I thought it’d be nice to come and work out here, and the store is beautiful. So I’m very excited about it.” Parker Bohl/Prowler

Fading afternoon light poured through the large green windows of a brand new coffee shop aiming to be the “Cheers” of Newbury Park. Honey Cup’s second-ever location and new flagship store first opened in the Village, Dos Vientos, during early September 2021.

The store serves coffee, tea, ice cream, and brunch items.

Tastes and Tales, a company that also owns a restaurant in Ventura, bought Honey Cup a few years ago. Ian Reigelman, the manager of the Honey Cup in Newbury Park, explained how this helps the Newbury Park coffee shop. “Our bread is all made by hand in [the Ventura restaurant], they slice all of our deli meats for us, all of our cheeses, they do everything, everything, everything. The only thing [we] really don’t make is bagels” Reigelman said.

Mary Sherman, along with her granddaughter, stopped by the coffee shop one afternoon and enjoyed her experience. “[Honey Cup has] a nice atmosphere, they have TV screens, they have nice outdoor and indoor seating areas, they have lots of breakfast and brunch options. Not many chain places have brunch options,” Sherman stated. “I got a latte and my granddaughter got vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is homemade and the coffee is really good,” Sherman said.

Bailey Camp likes working as a barista at Honey Cup. “I love all my co-workers, and I feel like it’s just such a fun environment. Honestly, all of ... our customers have been amazing, ... so it’s just like a fun environment,” Camp said. “The school is right around here, so we have a good mix of like the moms coming and dropping off their kids in the morning and then all the kids come and get their frappuccinos and smoothies. So this is nice because everyone can just come and hang out, it’s just a nice area.”

Reigelman shares Camp’s sentiment. “It’s not your work. It’s not your house. It’s a third place to kind of hang out, chill, unwind. Ideally, you know you’re coming here to maybe do your homework, maybe meet some people, show up for some coffee, realize you’ve spent like three hours here and now you’re hungry and get one of our awesome sandwiches too.”

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entertainment Panther Prowler • Oct. 25, 2021

Artists bring creativity to Ventura streets Téa Sklar Graphic Artist

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza Graphic Artist

Chalk Out- Professional artist, Marcella Swett, works on her chalk art piece on the sidewalk at the Ventura Art and Street Painting Festival on Sept. 12. “She’s very beautiful, strong, it’s all in the eyes.

When I do my artwork I always start with the eyes, because I’ve always been told the eyes are the window into the soul,” Swett said. Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Picture incredible chalk art lining walkways, paintings, sculptures, and handmade jewelry for sale on the Ventura Harbor. The Ventura Art and Street Painting Festival took place on Sept. 11 and 12 at Ventura Harbor Village. The event combined artists showing and selling their work from paintings to metalwork and street painters who created chalk murals on the sidewalks.

Dan Shattuck was one of the more eye-catching sellers at the fair. “I’m working with recycled materials and lots of silverware,” Shattuck said.

Inspired by his wife’s encouragement, Shattuck has continued this craft for over 20 years. “I’ve always liked making things. So, this was a hobby for vacation money when we had our first kid 19 years ago, my wife liked her job and I’m like ‘I can totally watch a kid and work at the same time.’ Went so well that by the time we had the second kid, my wife was able to quit her job,” Shattuck said. You can find Shattuck and his art on Instagram at the user handle, @danshattuck_recycledart.

A big part of this festival was chalk art. Through the parking lot and sidewalk that hosted the festival, you could see over two dozen chalk artists creating various murals on the ground. One of these artists

was Adora Mira, a sophomore at Valley Academy of Arts and Science. Mira has been going to shows with her mother for years but just recently started to make designs herself, with a particular focus on 19th-century art. “The academic art movement in the Victorian area had a bunch of Aphrodite and Greek mythology, so I used that and I wanted to use it here. I’ve used some other artworks before in the past from the 1890s as well, and I put them on chalk. I had fun in the first one so I’m happy for this one,” Mira said. Mira can be found on Instagram, @cherry_flavored_cherub, where you can see all of her recent works.

Another chalk artist at the festival was Marcella Swett. Swett is a professional artist and is sponsored by various companies so she can participate in many events like this one. The piece she was working on was of a little girl with very ethnic hair, in honor of the Crown Act, as a few weeks prior she happened to meet one of the women who passed the bill. “ “I feel that it’s my duty to be able to express them to individuals as they are going by,” Swett said. Swett’s Instagram handle is @marcellaswettart, where you can see all of her work in addition to where she will be next.

Bob Ross Inc. paints a painful picture Emma Schoors Entertainment Editor

Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer

“Bob Ross; Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed” is both a scathing exposé of Bob Ross Inc. and a beautiful recollection of an artist’s life and legacy.

Bob Ross’ life before becoming a public figure sets the scene for the beginning of the documentary, while being accompanied by his only son, Steve Ross. The doting father then quits his career to pursue his true love; teaching others how to paint. This transition makes for a crucial backdrop to the troubles that unfold later on.

Business partner Annette Kowalski, who denied the request to be interviewed for the documentary, took a special interest in Bob’s newfound work. However she was blinded by the possibility of profiting monetarily from it, while Bob was merely “in it for the art,” Steve Ross said. This difference in values meant Bob’s face and name were plastered on the front of every paint supply imaginable, yet Bob had no idea of or interest in what kind of money Kowalski was reeling in. In 1994, the painter was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which led to his tragic death at 52. Despite being faced with constant physical pain, he insisted on teaching for as long as possible.

Although the artist was flooded with mostly messages of love and support during his diagnosis, Kowlaski saw his illness as a segue into

getting the rights to his name. Steve recalls his father’s final weeks of life being constantly interrupted by the Kowlaski’s vehement demands. In Bob’s final will and testament, he left his rights to his name and company to his son, Steve, and half-brother, Jimmie Coxx.

The Kowlaskis countered with a lawsuit, which they eventually won.

The Kowalskis are now full owners over the once-shared company, and Steve has not received any of the profits. With Steve and Jimmie having been the rightful owners of Bob’s rights and company, I cannot help but feel as though the Kowalskis stole what was not rightfully theirs. In this instance one can also doubt the justice system in which a powerful family can counter a last will and testament despite not being related to that person or acting on good intentions.

Despite every obstacle thrown his way, Steve continues to teach students how to express themselves through art as Bob once did.

Reflecting beautifully on the millions of people who are inspired by Bob’s influence and charisma, the ending minutes of the documentary shed light on what was truly important about Bob’s life. Although the ending scenes were catered to influence positivity, the documentary as a whole is a clear call-to-action: most prominently to help Steve Ross see the rights to his own father’s name and business.

Emma Schoors Entertainment Editor Aug. 27 brought Big Red Machine’s sophomore effort “How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?”, a melancholic collection of songs that center around youth and the loss of it. Spearheaded by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessner, the album is a definite sonic departure from their self-titled debut. Dessner’s signature slow, churning guitars wrap around Vernon’s bittersweet voice, while avoiding any mopey or drawn-out moments. Featuring everyone from Taylor Swift to Sharon Van Etten to Fleet Foxes to Anaïs Mitchell, the record is star-studded and stylistically excellent. “June’s a River (feat.

Téa Sklar/Prowler

Kai Mekari/Prowler

Ben Howard & This Is The Kit)” is especially haunting, melding hesitant vocals and an equally wary beat, but every track weaves an arresting story. A song that has gained massive traction is “Renegade (feat. Taylor Swift)”, racking up over 24 million streams on Spotify alone, while “Phoenix (feat. Fleet Foxes & Anaïs Mitchell)” is currently in second at 3 million streams. No matter the numbers, “How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?” is sure to become a favorite for fans of Bon Iver, The National, as well as all the talented featured artists.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Oct. 25, 2021

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New Halsey album explores motherhood and feminism Prasheetha Karthikeyan Features Editor

as

Pr e he tha Ka ike rth ya ler ow

r n/P

After releasing their previous album Manic, starting the makeup line About Face and having a baby, Ashley Frangipane, commonly known by their stage name Halsey, has returned with a new album. “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” is equally as striking and alluring as the name suggests, complete with Halsey’s infamous nods to feminism, as well as new sweeping themes of childbirth and pregnancy.

The album starts off with the haunting organ music transposed behind eerie vocals in “The Tradition” and “Bells of Santa Fe,” which set the stage and atmosphere for the entire album, referencing motifs of femininity, impermanence of self and time, love and religion.

Religious references are frequent throughout the album, communicated through the organ music and lyrics, such as nods to “Faith” and “the Creator” in the faster paced “Easier than Lying.” The album then leads into “Lilith,” a Biblical name from the Old Testament associated with a woman who was said to be the first wife of Adam, who left him after he refused to accept their equality. The song is structurally and musically reminiscent of Halsey’s sophomore album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, and illustrates the double standards and struggles femininity faces in a patriarchal society, much like Lilith herself is said to have faced.

“Girl is a Gun” is likely my favorite song off the whole album, with Halsey’s sweeter, innocent sounding vocals juxtaposed with

the feminine strength underlying the lyrics. There is a powerful independence in the song that aligns with the title of the album.

A couple other favorites of mine would be “Honey” and “Darling,” for their powerful, clear vocals. “Honey” encapsulates love with a fast, addicting beat that could not help but remind me of the wildness of Halsey’s first album, “Badlands.” “Darling,” on the other hand, is slower and more melodic. The lyrics are initially reminiscent of a typical love song, but upon further listening it is clear that the song is a lullaby for Halsey’s newborn, a promise to the baby.

Arguably, the most popular song off the album is “I’m not a woman, I’m a god,” with its strong title alluding back to the name of the album. The song does not disappoint, matching the feminine energy manifested by the rest of the album and Halsey’s vocals.

The album finishes with the melancholy song “Ya’aburnee,” titled after the Arabic phrase that translates to “you bury me.”

The title implies the common wish to die before a loved one, which connects to the slow lyrics immortalizing love for both Halsey’s husband and their child. The song is the perfect finale to the album, complete with the sadder, yearning sound juxtaposed with the sweetness and innocence of the lyrics, as well as allowing the listener to feel as though Halsey has successfully distinguished their new sound and motifs.

“He’s All That” destroys a classic Hayden Meixner News Editor The movie “He’s All That”, starring TikTok celebrity Addison Rae, is a story about betrayal, revenge and the realities of social media. Although it has been the joke of the internet for a while now, the movie delivered a good message, contrasting the rest which was cringy and hard to watch. From spontaneous dances, to bad acting, an unbelievable amount of in-movie brand deals (and Kourtney Kardashian?), I was disappointed to see a classic 90’s movie ruined.

The movie follows protagonist Padget Sawyer, a popular dancer who has gained a large social media following for giving her followers makeover advice. After catching her wanna-be singer boyfriend, Jordan, cheating on her, Padget makes a bet with her friend to turn Cameron Kweller, a nerdy photographer at her school, into the perfect rebound boy and “prom king”.

“He’s All That’’ was hard to watch for the most part, although

there were a few aspects that I did enjoy. The inclusion of the original movie’s cast members, Rachel Lee Cook and Matthew Lilard, adds a nostalgic touch. The movie also communicates some hard truths about the materialism of social media.

Padgett must learn that “makeovers” don’t always have to be about one’s appearance. Sometimes, “makeovers” can deal with someone’s heart and perspective on the world.

On another note, the unrealistic superficial attitude of some of the characters throughout the movie makes it hard to have any relation to or engagement in the film. The classic “mean girl betrays best friend” trope is quite over done and painfully predictable.

Although the redo of the 1999 film “She’s All That” seemed like a great idea, the new one lacked individuality and was almost a carbon copy of the original.

Kanye West drops controversial album Donda Dhruv Patel News Editor

Emerson Fuentes-Alabanza/Prowler

Kanye West, one of the most influential, popular and controversial music artists of the past century recently released his tenth studio album. The album was released Sunday, Aug. 29, and broke numerous records. Even with some very good songs, with great production, the album as a whole has numerous weak songs and is not the best album Kanye has made, but is still a fairly strong album.

The album, named “Donda,” is dedicated to West’s mother, who passed away in 2007. Donda’s death had a big impact on West, and with it he became a controversial artist, but kept on releasing top-notch music albums. West has recently devoted himself to Christianity and these tones are evident in some of the songs in “Donda”. These tones work well in most of the songs, but can be a little off-putting to some listeners.

Before the release of “Donda,” West announced the album to be released on July 24, 2020, but it was delayed, and thought by many to never be released. Nevertheless, West announced he would be doing a live streamed listening event for “Donda” in July. West was presumed to release the album after the first listening party, but two more were held, before releasing “Donda.” With each listening event, fans expected Kanye to release the full album to streaming services, but every-time fans were let down. Kanye’s long possession of “Donda”

Tea Sklar/Prowler

did have an effect, as fans who watched the listening events were listening to songs on the album for the third time. However, even if fans did not have the first listening experience, “Donda” was very well-received, and broke numerous records.

West starts the album off with the song, “Donda Chant,” in which Syleena Johnson, an American R&B artist, repeats the name Donda over and over again. However, it was revealed that everytime Donda, the name of West’s late mother, was spoken, it represented a heartbeat from Donda, as she was dying. Donda is also repeated 60 times, the age Donda was when she passed away.

West starts the album off with darker, more rap focused and fast paced songs. As the album goes on, West transitions into more heartfelt songs, many being God-oriented, revealing a shift in the album. The two contrasting types of songs help to address a wide range of listeners, people who like the faster-paced rap songs, and others who enjoy the somber songs.

“Donda’’ as a whole is very different from previous albums, as the songs do not have a cohesive format. Yet, this does not take away from the standout hits that make this album unique. The album all together is good, but should not be considered as the number one on West’s discography, but also not the worst.

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sports Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Volleyball team sets their way to victory Kai Mekari Staff Writer

Spike- Ella Holzberger, seven, goes to hit the ball with Kalyna Lewus, seven, and other teammates covering her in a home game against Royal High school. “Our team, personally and like athletically, is going to be really good this season,” Lewis said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

After years of being underdogs to Westlake, NPHS has taken their first step towards dethroning the Warriors by claiming a victory of 25 - 22 on Sept. 9.

After their slow and short season last year before COVID-19 hit, the volleyball team resorted to zoom calls.

Despite the first tournament of the season being canceled due to a player having COVID-19, the season is going back to normal. Brooke Burritt, sophomore, has never gotten a real highschool volleyball experience until this year. “[We couldn’t] travel anywhere, we couldn’t have tournaments, we [couldn’t] have games.

So a lot of it was not like volleyball, it was a lot more conditioning...It’s a big change,” Burritt said.

Ella Holtzburger, junior, is captain of the JV team, and did not get to have a season last year. Even though Holtzburger had two seasons before COVID-19 because she did club, it didn’t give the same energy as games with NP. “I’m just excited to have home games.

I love home games, because I just love the energy and I love the people that come to watch,” Holtzburger said.

Creating a program called “Big Sister” out of needing to cope with being separated & still having team bonding, they were finally able to come together

again and support one another in not only the upcoming season but in the school year as well. Kalyna Lewus, senior and member of the varsity team, when having to stop playing indoor volleyball, transitioned smoothly into beach volleyball. “All the players in your group of sisters will tell the other ones things that they like. We all get to text and talk about our days, and we’ll meet on Fridays and talk. As a senior, I get to help my sisters. [On the first day of school], I showed them around campus which [was] super fun,” Lewus said.

NPHS broke Westlake’s five year undefeated streak on NPHS home turf on Sept. 9. “It felt so good, Newbury’s varsity team hadn’t beat Westlake’s in five years so this was huge. There were a ton of nerves going into the game because it was such a big deal so when we finally won, it was such a relief because our hard work had paid off. I was so excited, our whole team was, it was an amazing feeling,” Lewus said.

After bringing home the first win in a while, “Other teams realize that Newbury has a strong team this year and that we’re willing to fight for every win no matter the challenge. Beating Westlake was a huge confidence boost for us and really proved that we could do whatever we put our minds to,” Lewus said.

Varsity football tackles their way to the top

Adalia Luo DPS Editor

Gwen Buchanan Back Cover Editor

Harsh lights flash against the dark sky, and the stadium’s turf is hot with the constant collision of shoes, elbows, and helmets. The crowd goes silent and time slows down as the NPHS football team line up to face their opponents. The whistle is blown. Seconds later, the crowd erupts in cheers and applause.

This fall, the NPHS football team is finally back in front of a large audience after a year of COVID-19 restrictions. On Friday, Sept. 3, the team played their first home game in a huge 42-7 victory against Atascadero. “For us, it was the first time we got to play in front of our home crowd since two years ago and having a great big crowd like that and the excitement, it was a great night,” Coach Jason Klein said.

Tyler Anderson, senior, is the varsity team’s outside linebacker and wide receiver. “I felt really good [about the game],” Anderson said. “The whole team was on the same page going into it and everyone did their job, so it made it really smooth and super fun, especially it being our first home game.”

Anderson has been playing football for 11 years, and this is his second year on varsity. “My favorite part about football is the fact that it takes everyone on the team to do their jobs,” Anderson said. “From the best guy to the bench player, everyone has a role, and in order for the team to be successful everyone has to execute their role.”

Lance Knieriem, senior, found his passion for football seven years ago, and is now the running back for the Panther team. Knierniem explains that the game is not only strenuous physical exercise, but also requires quick contemplation of moves. “The hardest part is probably just the mental part of it, on top of like, you know, remembering plays and stuff like that,” Knieriem said.

Before games, the entire football team has certain traditions that bring them closer together and put them in the right mindset before a game.

“There’s a sign in the locker room that’s right next to the exit door and so Dodge- The crowd cheers as Braeden Johnson, 25, dodges two Atascadero players to make one of many touchdowns for Newbury Park in before games everyone hits it with their hand and touches it,” Anderson the first game of the season. The Panthers won with a final score of 7-40. “[The game on Friday went] pretty good, I mean I’m obviously very said. pleased with the outcome of it, but there’s always things that we can work on.” Varsity Coach Jason Klein said. Parker Bohl/Prowler Knieriem also enjoys the team culture before a game. “The band going through the locker room [is] one of my favorite things ever! It gets you so campus, they want to win, all kinds of different reasons,” Klein said. hyped, you could just feel the tingling sensation in your body and it’s just the greatest thing ever,” “The main goal of our team is to become one, and what that means is that everybody on the Kniernem said. team knows what their role is and they do their job to the best of their ability,” Klein said. “The Klein is amped for the upcoming year, and knows this team is something special. “Everybody’s reason that they’re out there is because they want to play for each other and that they also try to find different. Everybody’s there for different reasons: they love the game, they want to be a part of a way to help each other. That is our goal, every year.”

sports Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

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Cheer team bounces back into season

Allison Nguyen News Editor

Dhruv Patel News Editor

Go Panthers Go!- Victoria Viveiros, senior, and Madelyn Ward, senior, spend their first game of the season cheering for the NPHS football team. The team played against Atascadero High School and won 40-7. “I’m looking forward to getting almost a real season and getting to go to all the in person games and performing halftime routines,” Ever Irete, sophomore, said. Tiana Hoang/Prowler

Black and gold, let’s go! The junior varsity and varsity cheer teams make their way back on the field as the new season gets started. Because of the year gap from the pandemic, a lot has changed since the first time they were back on campus.

The teams are currently recovering from the limited season they had last year, as they try to get back into their normal routines and practices. Michela Maher, senior and captain of the varsity team, has been an avid cheerleader for the NPHS team all four years of her high school experience. “Just last year we had very shortened and limited practices... you are very distanced and that definitely impacted a lot of cheer because most of what we’re doing is being in close quarters together,” Maher said. “[Now,] people who are vaccinated are given the option to take off their masks [during practice] and we are allowed to stunt… everything’s almost back to normal which is awesome.”

When COVID-19 first hit, the cheer teams were struck very hard. Ryann Butcher, the assistant coach for the teams, has only been coaching since June, but has already experienced the effects the pandemic has caused when the cheer team was forced into change. “The team couldn’t practice, couldn’t work on new skills, and were just stuck in a bad position,” Butcher said.

However, even with these complications, the teams are still managing to stay positive. “My favorite part about the cheer team is the personalities these girls have and the energy they bring to practice everyday. They push themselves more than we ask because they know they are capable of more,” Butcher said.

Even as time went on and COVID-19 cases went down, both teams still needed to take safety precautions over the summer. Ever Irete, sophomore, is having her first time experiencing being a part of the JV team this year and has felt the effects of the pandemic even during their practices.

“Some people on the team tested positive and couldn’t come to practice, and so our August practice got canceled so that restricted us for a whole week of preparing,” Irete said.

After months of restricted practices, the teams began adding extra practice time to their normal schedule in order to prepare for upcoming games. “We had like two or three cheer practices before our first game, after a three week break, so I think that restricted us from working on a lot of new spending skills, but I think with the extra practice that we’ve added in every week, we’ve gotten a lot done that we missed out on,” Irete said. The cheer team performs during every football game in their season and they plan to cheer at the basketball games as well.

Despite all of the obstacles presented to them, the teams have not given up and have persevered through these hard times. “It looks like we have a full season of cheer with football season and basketball season. We started practicing in June and have been practicing since then.” Butcher said. Overall, the cheer team is excited and ready to have a full regular season. “I’ve been looking forward to a full varsity season since my freshman year and I’m just so excited that I finally get to have that with all of my best friends,” Maher said.

Boys water polo returns after dry season Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer

Katelyn Arrington Staff Writer

The boys water polo team has returned with a new coach for all teams and a new routine after being postponed for two months due to the pandemic.

New protocols to ensure the players’ safety has led the team to take many new precautions, making it different from past years. Water polo is a very contact heavy sport, but the team is making the appropriate adjustments to stop the spread of the virus between the players and coaches. Billy Cornado, sophomore, who plays left wing, a player on the left side who makes offensive plays, on the JV team explained the expectations when practicing. “[I] had to get a test weekly, to make sure we don’t have COVID...Outside the deck they make us wear a mask, unless we’re in the water,” Coronado said.

Players, including Drew Powell, sophomore, are still excited to jump into a new season despite the restrictions, which are slowly winding down as the practices start shifting back to normal. “Had you asked this last year, I’m sure there would’ve been a lot more to my answer,’’ Powell said. “As of now, however, practices have been fairly normal. There was a time where a large amount of players had to quarantine, but other than that there haven’t been any major differences.”

This year, NPHS welcomed a new coach, Chet Hardy. Hardy played water polo for four years at Camarillo high school and has an additional four years of coaching experience. “I have a great group of guys who love the sport, who want to win and I think that’s a big contributing factor into why everything is going so smoothly so far,” Hardy said.

Powell has been playing water polo for three years. “I had started purely because there wasn’t anything else I was doing at the time,” Powell said. Powell was not afraid to point out the perseverance that is required to play. “My favorite thing about water polo might just be the knowledge that I’m playing the hardest sport there is, and we’re having a good time doing it too,” Despite the challenges this new season may bring, the coaches and players are excited to begin a new chapter. It is always hard to adapt to new things, but the water polo team is adapting well to the new Splash- Ethan Meli, eight, holds up the ball with his hand in order to pass the ball to his teammates in a restrictions. “It’s good to have tournaments again with multiple teams [and] lots of fans with energy,” home game against Ventura High School. Ethan and his team ended the game with a definitive 21-13 win Hardy said. “It’s just really fun [to be] kind of back to normal.” over Ventura. Parker Bohl/Prowler

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homecoming Panther Prowler • Sept. 27, 2021

Homecoming dance welcomes students back to school Parker Bohl Photographer Kira Ivarsdottir Staff Writer

Taylor Gibson Staff Writer Katelyn Arrington Staff Writer

From freshman to seniors, this year's homecoming was one spectacular night filled with lights, music and energy. For many students, the night of Sept. 18 was a chance to let loose after being stuck in a desk chair for the majority of last year. During all of the craziness, students were found having an amazing time and making memories.

Picture Perfect- Adina Sada, Prisha Dutta, sophomores, felt it was beneficial to have the dance outside due to having more space and smaller crowds. One of Dutta’s favorite events of the night in particular was getting to take pictures. “I enjoyed taking pictures in the park and at the dance,” Dutta said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

First time- Shelly Naulin, senior, celebrated her first and last homecoming at NPHS. Due to COVID-19 precautions of having the dance outdoors; her and her friends “[made] the most of it even if it was [during] COVID. I had a good time and I’m glad I went,” Naulin said.

“Sometimes inside dances can get too sweaty and be too much, and I prefer outside actually.”

Parker Bohl/ Prowler

Fun time and memories- Brady Gabler, sophomore, had been surprised by the entire event and how much fun it actually was. For the majority of the night, Gabler could be found in the mosh pit dancing and making memories with friends. “That’s where I was most of the night.

It was the highlight of homecoming for me,” Gabler said. Parker Bohl/Prowler

Lights, music, homecoming- Emma George and Lucy Carpiac, sophomores, and her friends had fun dancing around and making memories. “I hadn’t been able to have fun with my friends in a really long time because of the pandemic, and being able to just have fun with them again meant a lot to me,” Carpiac said. For the first homecoming in two years, students had felt this was an amazing experience!

Parker Bohl/Prowler

Best one yet- Linda Diaz, Karissa Gralnick, Ashley Neier, Rachel Barsy, Joie Steinkamp and Sophia Malouf, juniors, spend the night together at homecoming. Neier, junior, had been excited to have the ability to return to a somewhat normal setting of socializing. Neier had liked how it felt to be able to socialize on a larger scale. “It was great to see people I have not seen since the start of COVID,” Neier said. Parker Bohl/Prowler