Octagon 2021-22 Issue 6

THE

OCTAGON

U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668 @scdsoctagon

VOL.45 NO.6 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento, CA •www.scdsoctagon.com • March 8, 2022

History teacher leaves abruptly due to health issues

BY NIHAL GULATI History teacher Chelsie Beck stepped down from her position on March 1 “due to an unforeseen medical situation,” according to an email from Head of High School Brooke Wells to faculty and high school families.

Beck joined the Country Day comby Chris Kuipers, who taught ninthgrade comparative world history and U.S. and AP U.S. History.

MASK OFF? Middle school students walk to advisory on March 4 — many choosing to continue to wear their masks while outside. PHOTO BY ARIJIT TRIVEDI

New mask-optional policies set in place

C

BY SIMONE DEBERRY

alifornia COVID-19 masking mandates are evolving as infection rates fall. Following state and country guidance, Sacramento Country Day School ditched outdoor masking requirements Feb. 28. During the week that followed some students unmasked outside and some did not. No one seemed to mind either way.

In another advancement, the state also is ending the indoor masking mandate for K-12 schools on March 11.

In response, on March 14, the school will

follow suit, leaving the decision to mask indoors up to the students and their families, although it will remain strongly en“Parents should determine for themselves whether to instruct their students to keep masks on when outdoors. We will actively support anyone who chooses to continue masking when outside,” Head of School Lee Thomsen wrote in a Feb. 18 message to the school.

He explained that Gov. Newsom’s decision to drop the statewide mandate was one of three factors that culminated in the school’s decision to end the outdoor mandate.

the state, and we felt that there would be no better time to make our own move towards normalcy,” Thomsen said.

Second, Thomsen noted that of the cases contracted in January, none could be traced back to an outdoor transmission on campus, a fact he believes will prove comfort for many.

Finally, in spite of a peak of 3% positivity rate on campus in January, less than 1% of the community tested positive for the virus as of Feb. 18. This statistic includes data from both on-campus testing and

COVID-19 page 3 >>

SAT to go digital, deprioritized by colleges

BY ETHAN MONASA & ARIJIT TRIVEDI The College Board’s SAT suite of tests, including the eponymous exam and the PSAT, are moving to the digital world.

The board plans to roll out the digital international SAT by spring of 2023, the digital PSAT by fall of 2023 and the digital U.S. SAT by spring of 2024, according to the board website. Students will still need or during designated SAT days at their schools.

With this transition, the College Board is also making other changes, including: • Students will take the exam on lap-

tops or tablets. Students will be provided devices on test day if they do not have one.

• The SAT will last two hours, instead of three.

• A calculator will be allowed throughout the entire math section.

• Each test section will have adaptive culty based on the student’s performance on an initial set of questions.

• The reading section will have shorter passages with one question each.

• ibility on when to administer tests.

• Scores will be delivered faster.

Score reports will also how potential

CAMPUSCORNER EVENTS RETURNING

SCIENCE BOWL

After being cancelled the past two years due to COVID-19, Ancil Hoffman, Country Day’s annual high school-wide capture-

tered into the U.S. Department of Energy’s regional Science Bowl tournament. The cast, led by freshman captain and club founder Saheb Gulati, placed third. There will be a medal ceremony during Morning Meeting on March 9.

dance will be returning this spring. Student council has found ways to pandemic-proof these Country Day traditions.

two-year college, career and workforce training opportunities.

The College Board has not indicated whether the price of the SAT will change.

The SAT cost $55 in 2021-22, according to the College Board.

Country Day Director of College Counseling Jane Bauman said the new digital format will not impact the value of the SAT Already the importance of the SAT — digital or print — has been wavering because many colleges already are test-optional and the University of California system, among others, have gone test-blind. “Over

SAT page 3 >>

hired alum Grace Strumpfer, ‘16, who has a B.A. in history, to teach Beck’s classes. She is being mentored by 36-year-veteran history teacher Sue Nellis, who retired from Country Day in 2019 and also taught ninth-grade history and AP U.S. History.

Wells said that SCDS has begun the process of hiring a permanent teacher and already has received “many reApril.

Following Beck’s immediate departure, her students in AP U.S. History and ninth-grade history worked asynchronously with assigned readings and work packets. Wells teaches the regular U.S. history class.

“It’s always hard when something like this happens,” Nellis said. “I know that when you lose a teacher at this time of the year, that can be a little disconcerting, especially to the AP students. At the same time, I’m hoping that what Grace and I can do is get up Nellis, Strumpfer and Beck are currently working together to gauge the students’ progress and develop a plan for the rest of the year. Although Nellis isn’t familiar with the current textbooks, she has a lot of material and experience to share.

“I’m doing this because I feel for the students. I know it’s hard and so we’re just going to do our best, and I really want the students to know that. It’s a situation that can either go really well, or it can fall apart. And we intend it to go really well,” she said.

In an email Beck sent to her AP U.S. History students, she said it “broke her heart” to leave them.

“I had intended on telling you in person; however, that is not going to be possible,” Beck wrote. “I have enjoyed getting to know each one of you this year, and I am so proud of everything you have accomplished! What I want you to know is what a joy it has been to be your teacher.”

INSIDE the ISSUE Sports recaps and previews Take a look back on Country Day winter sports or peek into the spring season. (PAGES 4 - 5) PHOTO BY SIMONE DEBERRY

02 NEWS

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

STAFF PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sanjana Anand Arikta Trivedi ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Ethan Monasa Arijit Trivedi NEWS EDITOR Nihal Gulati FEATURE EDITOR Arjin Claire SPORTS EDITOR Miles Morrow A&E/OPINION EDITOR Dylan Margolis PHOTO EDITORS Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi PAGE EDITORS Sanjana Anand Rod Azghadi Jacob Chand Arjin Claire Simone DeBerry Nihal Gulati Samhita Kumar Dylan Margolis Ethan Monasa Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi Garman Xu BUSINESS STAFF Arjin Claire, manager Samhita Kumar, assistant Willliam Holz SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF Arikta Trivedi, editor Ava Eberhart Samhita Kumar, assistant Lauren Lu HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY Nihal Gulati REPORTERS Adam Akins Andrew Burr Emily Cook Ava Eberhart Saheb Gulati William Holz Lauren Lu Ishaan Sekhon Kali Wells Garrett Xu Ryan Xu PHOTOGRAPHERS Adam Akins Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi Kali Wells MULTIMEDIA STAFF Dylan Margolis, editor Arjin Claire Simone Deberry William Holz Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Garman Xu GRAPHIC ARTISTS Brynne Barnard-Bahn Lilah Shorey

BLURRED LINES Students pass by Bella Mathisen’s, ‘19, mural featuring her classmates. PHOTO BY ARIJIT TRIVEDI

Mural tradition returns post-lockdown

T

-

BY KALI WELLS & GARRETT XU

he sun is shining on a bright Monday afternoon. It’s the ideal day to hang out with friends or play a sport, but ning their last and possibly their biggest

-

-

for years, and it’s a really great thing that

-

to push representation for the school’s art

-

Although they are in the early stages Art seniors Jesus Aispuro, Zola Grey, Tina

In a way, an underlying purpose of this

The original idea was an underwater tun-

a chance to contribute to the school, Head of color.

“The spot itself wasn’t necessarily se-

-

sy at Country Day in 2017, when the school

-

because they were fading and peeling.

-

“They approached the school saying, -

-

about.

lence.

willing to consider just about anything, and -

ADVISER Bonnie Stewart

VOL 45. ISSUE 5 CORRECTIONS

The Octagon is the student-run newspaper of Sacramento Country Day high school. The print edition is published eight times a year, and the website is updated daily. The Octagon is committed to unbiased and comprehensive reporting, serving as a source of reliable information for SCDS students and the school community. The Octagon will publish all timely and relevant news deemed appropriate by the editors-in-chief and adviser. We seek to highlight high-school-related events and spotlight the voices of those with a story to share. Further policies can be found on our website or by scanning the QR code below.

It is The Octagon’s policy to correct factual errors and to clarify potentially confusing statements.

Email us: octagon@scdsstudent.org

Page 1 “Vending machines”: The -

Page 3 “Limited mental health supprot”: -

MURAL MANIA (from left to right) Made in 2018, the mural portrays two women of color and the representation of women in art; seven former students contributed to and signed the mural.

PHOTO BY ARIJIT TRIVEDI

incorrectly stated to be staffed by Page 4 “Inside the minds of Country Day Captains”: -

NEWS 03

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

COVID-19: Many students continue wearing masks (continued from page 1) self-reported cases, Thomsen said. Still, many students fear that the timing might cause chaos because following the winter break, the school and the state experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The CDC attributed this rise to both the increased prevalence of the omicron variant and widespread travel during the holidays.

Although omicron variant cases are in a gradual decline, the mid-winter break provided an opportunity for increased travel, one that many families capitalized upon.

Freshman Ashley Lattyak voiced concerns about increased travel.

“As glad as I am to see masks go, I don’t think it is the best idea following a break,” she said. “With everyone traveling, I just feel like we shouldn’t be getting rid of requirements just yet.”

Sophomore Juliette Zúñiga echoed the same concerns.

“Timing-wise, I’m not sure if it’s best,” she said. “I know that a lot of my friends are pretty worried about cases going up, but I think we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Zúñiga lives with her grandmother, so maintaining her health is a priority.

“I would rather wear masks all the time than increase the risk of her getting sick,” she said.

Additionally, Zúñiga worried that the administration’s decision to eliminate aspects of the mandate might provide students an excuse to disregard COVID-19 altogether.

Apart from that, some worry that the school may not be able to fully manage another surge in cases.

With the case increase, the school’s COVID-19 reports showed increased speciand the method of discovery (self-reported or school testing) was easily accessible.

At the same time, however, contact tracing

emails, sent out to parents upon COVID-19

away.

Ultimately, despite the seemingly endless worries, many see the outdoor mask mandate termination as a step in the right direction.

Monasa, although unsure of how much of a difference the outdoor mask mandate would make, is glad to see case numbers decreasing and normalcy returning.

Similarly, junior Felix Wu anticipates a day where masks may also be optional inside.

“I am very happy that we no longer have to wear masks outside,” he said. “I just think that it is more comfortable without.” tends to continue wearing her mask, understands the school’s decision to go mask-optional outdoors, saying she understands why

Elizabeth Monasa sends all four of her children to Country Day. Two attend the high school and two the middle school.

“Sometimes I would receive emails saying that my child had been exposed to COVID-19 and required testing,” she said.

In those instances, Monasa did not know which of the four to test, but she found the administration supportive. back, and they would quickly reply with the grade,” she said.

At the end of the day, she is grateful for everything the school has done, noting that her “concern” is more of an inconvenience than anything else.

Regardless, it is one shared by many parents at the school.

Thomsen recognizes the occasional frustration but assures parents if they ever remain unsure, answers are only an email

them outside.

But, in the end, Zúñiga summed it up when she said, “we won’t ever progress if we don’t try to get things back to normal.”

SAT: New format unlikely to impact admissions decisions (continued from page 1) 1,800 schools are test-optional,” Bauman said. “Schools know how to make a decision without test scores.”

The trend away from requiring is likely to stay unless test-optional or test-free schools are unable to attract the type of students they want, said Country Day College Seth Katz, ’09, has been an adCollege in Bronxville, New York, since 2015. He said the SAT hasn’t been and is not a “major determining factor for admission.”

Furthermore, the new digi-

tal format will likely not have an impact on admissions at Sarah Lawrence, Katz said. However, the yet discussed whether they will make changes to their admissions process for the 2022-23 admissions cycle, which would impact the graduating class of 2023.

Katz said Sarah Lawrence, like many other colleges, takes a holistic approach to college admissions, which includes many optional parts — including the SAT. “I wouldn’t say we weigh one part of the application more heavtranscript, that’s an important component. But it’s not the only thing.”

He said it doesn’t necessarily matter if students have or have not submitted an SAT because the school does not compare applicants unless they come from the same school.

“If the student only submits the required components of the application, that’s enough for us to make a decision.” of standardized testing in an application will make admissions necessarily raise one part of the application to a higher value.

“It’s just one among a variety of factors. If you score really well, great. That’s a plus. Similar to if you’re the head of Student Council

Testing was considered more in the past and it has just lowered in Katz advises students choose to

“

“Schools know how to make decisions without test scores.”

“I would also tell parents there’s absolutely no reason to pay for an expensive test prep course because it’s likely you won’t even need test scores,” she said. “And the free preparation materials are excellent.” tinues to hold value, Bauman said. fy for a National Merit Scholarship, which can include up to $2,500 for With standardized testing taking on more of a supplementary

JANE BAUMAN

submit SAT scores to test-optional schools based on how their scores compare to the middle 50% range of students enrolled in that college. He also suggested students look at how their SAT scores compare to classroom performance.

Bauman had similar advice, adding that whether students should take the SAT depends on where they intend to go to college.

Schools in California are overwhelmingly test-free, rendering the SAT mostly useless, while the states of Georgia and Florida still require the SAT or ACT to be considered for admission into public state universities.

Ultimately, Bauman recommended taking the SAT at least once in case students need a score.

She added students don’t need to worry about taking the test until the summer after junior year.

said it’s important to keep parents informed, many of whom may be approaching their child’s college admissions process with their own experiences in mind.

“We need to educate the parents because it’s not just the process that has changed, but the nature of certain schools and their reputations and their selectivities have As test-optional admissions beshe hopes she can reframe the way students choose colleges. Instead of parents getting their children students should instead look for list has expanded as standardized testing fades in importance.

Originally posted on the online edition of the Octagon on March 5.

Test status of schools at which Country Day students commonly enroll* Test-Blind •

•

Univeristy of California System California State University System

Test-Optional • Stanford • Purdue • Loyola Marymount University • University of Southern California • University of Colorado System • • University of Pennsylvania • Harvey Mudd College • Bates College • Santa Clara University • George Washington University • University of Rochester • Duke University • University of Chicago

Test-Required •

Georgia Institute of Technology

*Data is from the graduate years 2016-21. Schools listed had at least two SCDS students enroll in that time period.

04 SPORTS

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

SPORTS RECAP Boys Basketball

Ski & Snowboard

STORIES BY GARRETT XU, MILES MORROW, WILLIAM HOLZ AND KALI WELLS; PHOTOS BY ADAM AKINS

F

Girls Basketball

SPORTS 05

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

R

Tennis

Track & Field

Baseball

Girls Soccer

PREVIEW

06

CENTER

MARCH 8, 2022

BENEATH TH IA

GA UR EM CO CC DI OR GN A IT Y GN OMO IV LO E SS DA CH OS TIO IS AL C NS LE NG RIT ES ER

W

hether you can’t focus on an assignment, require extended time on an exam or need support for a diagnosed learning disability,

Academic Resource Center, known as the ARC. for students with learning disabilities or academic issues.

Debbie Morris, the administrator of Sacramento County Special Education Local Plan Area, handles

ing or in using language.”

N

ULT

C AD

-

caused by dyslexia.

Senior Hailey Fesai attributes her academic successes to the

an M.A. in the science of education and interdisciplinary studies as well as a B.A. in elementary education for K-9 students.

Fesai said Country Day helped her recognize her learning disability.

M

O

NON -

YSL

EXI

40 M AN ILLI XIET Y ON D

DYSLEX IA

S*

AD VERBA TE HD L PROC ESS IN F STI

G

ISORDER SPECIFIC LEARNING D

**

1 IN 5 STUDENTS

OOM ES R ET ILITI I U Q B OURCE Y A R S I D ES RA LIB DEMIC R R TE ACA CEN TR A TIME D EX EEOU NTR BLE FOCUSING

Students with learning disabi

accommodations that allowed her to succeed academically, she said. as that’s something that helps people with test anxiety,” she said.

Extra time is a common accommodation for students who require it. Students are typically placed in a separate room or in the ARC room for an extended period to take port for learning disabilities. No formal documentation such as a diagnosis is required in

which we do,” Wells said. a weekly basis can make appointments if they need help getting started on any writing assignment.” outside resources.

ist Adie Renteria works with lower school students.

-

to stay on top of homework and academic commitments. Adams will check in with him to ensure he’s keeping up.

Cooley is happy with what the ARC has to offer. who specialize in that academic subject and be the point of contact for setting up these sessions,” she said. access the curriculum.”

nizations such as the College Board — which administers AP exams and the SAT — require documentaBecause Fesai was diagnosed after she took the majority of her standardized tests, she was unable to use College Board accommodations. She recommends that students struggling academically seek testing and diagnosis on top of accommodations within Country Day. college.”

Accommodations for learning disabilities are not about creating inequalities in the classroom, Wells said.

-

RP O I NT

THE OCTAGON

07

HE SURFACE

bilities feel supported at SCDS Resources for learning disabilites and mental health on campus

ADHD

• The ARC • Individual or group sessions with socialemotional counselor Pat Reynolds.

“

Affecting one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language.”

Debbie Morris ing learning disabilities

9.1% of kids ages 6-21 in the U.S. receive assistance in learning at school.** ty disorder may cause trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behavior or being overly active.**

-

40 million U.S. adults are dyslexic. Only 2 million know of their diagnosis.*

80% of school-aged children with learning disorders have a reading impairment, commonly referred to as dyslexia.*

1 IN 10 U.S. KIDS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD** Expert’s view on learning disabilities

to public and charter schools.

She emphasized the importance of multi-tier support for students. dence-based strategies to help struggling readers, social-emotional support and social skills training.”

STORIES BY SAHEB GULATI AND SAMHITA KUMAR; GRAPHICS BY SANJANA ANAND AND ARIKTA TRIVEDI; INFO FROM AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION* (2021) AND CDC.ORG** (2021)

-

08

• THE OCTAGON

EDITORIAL: MY ANGLE:

Russia and Ukraine were founding members of the USSR in 1922 until its dissolution in 1991 -

Fingers tense, eyes concentratcounts down — 3, 2, 1, Go!

Ukraine’s President Yanukovych 2014 for wanting to cut ties with the EU. This marks a shift in Ukranian

In February 2022, Putin, demounts a full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Putin aims to bring Ukraine “back into the fold,”

telling me I need to do my math homework and not waste my time Under the 1994

-

doing better things with my time

in exchange for assurances from has given me many advantages, tinated on an essay and now you

Later in 2014, Russia violates that assurance, invades A smoldering war in Donbas,

in 2014 and 2015. They were

A

fter years of turmoil, an extreme occurred on Feb. 24: Russia invaded Ukraine.

The invasion, which has horri-

Feb. 24 when President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine

and a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Here’s some of the history.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been rising ever since 1991 when the Soviet Union was terminated and aration occurred 79 years after the two became founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922.

were wounded. In that initial battle, 2,870 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and about 3,700 were wounded.

-

Ukrainians eventually voted to become dence, Ukrainian leaders still aligned Union’s nuclear arsenal.

-

-

lation of the war beyond Ukraine and Rus-

foreign exchange reserves.

States immobilized Russia’s central banks.

According to a statement released by security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies.”

State, the U.S. is the largest humanitarian Ukrainian donor. Along with the United -

existing borders of Ukraine,” the New York

Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Canada.

For instance, the German cessation of

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has severely violated this agreement. This should

energy and trade ties with Russia, has

nization, since 2008 and even drafted a ever since.

-

your train of thought, essay-writing can go by in a blur instead of a slow nor mistakes.

Even right now, the letters of my keyboard are being smacked

GRAPHIC BY NIHAL GULATI SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES

demned Russia’s actions. In a Feb. 24 ident Ursula von de Leyen, the invasion was described as “barbaric.”

-

system, Russian businesses are entering a state of crisis. The value of the Russian according to NPR, and the Russian Central Bank has doubled its interest rate to 20%.

The main goal of all countries should be de-escalation. If there’s one thing technology has done, it’s immortalize how tru-

written on the board, and it normally gets erased after a few minutes. come in handy frequently.

with a nuclear war. Fighting would be mutually assured destruction — there’s no lives have been lost and thousands more will be affected for as long as this contining against armed Russian soldiers for the basic human right of freedom.

President Putin is not likely to back down unless sanctions are severe and the Rustic thug that he is. It’s going to be a hard

ing games, in which the faster you

-

random common English words for

Even the famously neutral Switzerland is aligning with Ukraine. As a country built

one or two sentences to a long

made.

afterwards.

beyond Russia and Ukraine further threatening global stability. Even now, the sanc-

time, I’ve been able to increase with it currently being around 140

reach of an economic crisis.

-

attention. Read the news. Recognize the the globe.

ready have — basic freedom.

countless ways.

-

AVA EBERHART

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR KEEPING US IN THE BLACK! Family, Trivedi Family

-

of how quickly and accurately you

modernize. And in addition, we will freeze -

around me in the library. But I’m getting work done, and fast!

FEATURE 09

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

FRESHMAN FOCUS: Ming Zhu, ’21, explores computer science, music program, game design at UCLA

Q: What classes have you been taking?

A: Contemporary issues in education.

The other two are CS. One of them is CS 35, which is software construction, and the other one is CS 32, or Introduction to Computer Science II, which is an algorithms class.

Q: Which class is your favorite?

A: CS 32 has a very vibrant professor. He brings a lot of jokes to the class and he’s very dedicated to the work that he does. He

Q: What extracurriculars are you doing?

A: I’m part of the chamber ensemble here. The advisers are from the School of Music, but the organization itself is not. So, you send an audition to get paired with people of your skill level rather than to determine whether or not you make the organization.

There’s also a big CS club on campus called ACM. And they have eight subgroups. I kind of tune in with ACM AI. They teach stuff like machine learning and algoACM Studio, which is a game development branch that focuses on game development, design, writing, and UI and UX and all that stuff.

Q: Are there other clubs in which you’re involved?

A: There’s a games club called Enigma — I’m a part of their board game branch. I participate in their events.

There are two events per week: every Tuesday and Friday there is a board game night.

Everyone brings the board games they have and they all just play and unwind, especially on Friday when the week is over.

Q: What is your housing situation?

A: Most freshmen are in triple rooms. I have one of the nice versions of that, called a plaza triple, which has air conditioning and a private bathroom. The classic triples, doubles and singles have shared bathrooms I would say I’m among the luckier ones.

I’ve heard people complaining about how the bathrooms aren’t maintained well, and

A: My roommates are random. I could’ve found and chosen roommates and networked with people but I didn’t. It was too late before I realized I should’ve done that.

So, I have random roommates now, but they are very nice people. The two of them were from the same high school, which made it awkward; however, they were really welcoming so it wasn’t an issue for long.

Q: How was your transition from Country Day to UCLA? A: pus is that literally everyone here is nicer than you would expect. Most people are very welcoming and kind of forgiving of

A bunch of people there invited us to go and play Poker. And having good food is also a plus because good food makes you feel good.

Q: What’s your favorite part about UCLA? A: The people. The vibe here is very comfortable. You get people from all walks of life here, and the great majority of people treat you with kindness and respect. The whole club environment is super friendly.

Q: Have you made any freshman mistakes?

A: Well, I mean there’s hard classes and there were a few shell shocks. I remember when the second midterm for my math — it’s just another midterm.” And it turned out to be harder than imagined: there were like 48%. So, I’d say that was a shock. Before that, college seemed to be going slow, like you could count the weeks go by. But after the midterm, it became like a scramble to get all the materials in your head.

Q: Do you have any advice for the class of 2022?

A: I’d honestly say trust the process. As long as you try your best you can turn out on top. From Country Day, you can’t really end up in a bad spot. No matter what you think on the spot when you get that acceptance or rejection letter, it doesn’t really matter. After having gone to college for a bit, the results of your applications become obsolete — there’ll be better things to worry about.

For incoming freshmen into UCLA, do the housing application and make an effort to choose your roommates. I’ve heard horror stories about people who chose random roommates, and you don’t want to put that up to chance because it’s not easy to switch out of it. You’ll be stuck with your roomates for a year.

Originally posted on the online edition

UCLA: Five star or subpar?

Studio?

A: So ACM itself is inherently a teaching organization. Every committee runs tutorials on concepts related to their committee. So with game development, that’s using Unity to do various things about

Quality of Classes: Teacher interaction: Location: Food:

Housing: Social Scene: Clubs: School Spirit:

OCTO-BLOCK 1

2

4

3

5

6

8

9

10

7

Across

Down

1. Roswell Incident 5. ____ and Serve, the motto of LAPD 8. Pepperoni or Berry?

9. Alaskan Tourist City 10. Unique metal tool

2. Extreme exhaustion 3. College Board class or forceful shove 4. Colorless solvent with a wine-like odor 6. Greek expression followed by the shattering of plates 7. Exclamation of disgust

Answers

Q: Have your classes been in-person?

A: I have one lecture online, but every other class and discussion has been in person

the advanced track. And there’s also a creative track that covers the design aspects of game development.

8. Pie 9. Skagway 10. Key

Q: What precautions has UCLA been taking during the pandemic?

A: We’re required to test weekly for COVID-19, and there’s a system where we can get testing kits. You deposit them at various locations on campus, and you get the results back usually within a day.

Everyone is required to test once a week, and encouraged to test twice. If you’re involved with music or wind instruments, you’re required to test three times per week. Rapid tests are available in most of the residential halls.

Q: What does your average workload look like this quarter?

A: One of my classes is from 10 in the morning to 12, and the other class is from 2 to 4 in the afternoon.

I start doing stuff at around 9 a.m., get breakfast and then go onto campus and stay there until 5-ish and then come back. In between classes, I do my homework. All my CS 32 classes are recorded, so if there’s a hard project for CS 35, I spend the 32 class time working on my project and catch up later.

pus, freshman Connor Perderson,

Across:

actively trying to make yourself jobless because of the algorithms that you’re creating, you’re not doing it right.”

who you vibe with.

1. UFO 5. Protect

Q: Why did you choose your major?

A: I like making stuff that does things for me. I don’t like doing things that could be automated by something else. This is what (our professors) told us in lecture one: “in

Q: How big are your classes?

A: Largest are 300-people classes. That doesn’t mean that everyone is coming into class. Some people Zoom. One of the classes I’m enrolling in for next quarter has a max cap of 400 people. The smallest class I’ve had is 60 to 70 people. But, the discussions are very small. My discussion is only like 15 to 16 people, which is kind of like the Country Day vibe.

your mistakes. And the good thing about being a big campus is you just have so many people you can network with,

4. Ethyl 6. Opa 7. Eew

Q: Why did you choose to attend UCLA? A: It’s in-state, and they have a pretty good computer science program.

I like the weather here and it doesn’t feel that far from home.

game development. There’s a beginner track which covers the basics of how to use various parts of Unity to make a complete game. There’s an advanced track for doing more niche things like, for example, the rotational gravity in Super Mario Galaxy

Down:

M

ing Zhu, ’21, is a freshman at University of California, Los Angeles. He is majoring in Computer Science and participating in club orchestra.

knows a lot about what he’s talking about, and he makes it very engaging to listen to.

On the other hand, with CS 35, although the tests are really hard, if you do the work, you actually learn a good amount of stuff because you’re forcing yourself to learn a ton of things in a short amount of time.

2. Fatigue 3. APush

BY ETHAN MONASA & ARIJIT TRIVEDI

10 FEATURE

MARCH 8, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

R

ight when the lunch bell rings, students across Country Day machine. Before you step in line, here’s a quick guide for the best and the worst of the vending machine.

Tropical Welch’s Fruit Snacks When the vending machines returned in January, this tropical treat cost $1.25; however, it has since increased to an overly high $2. ounces, and its contents are even smaller, barely

P.Nuttles Butter Toffee Peanuts The perfectly sweet, hard, exterior provides a delectable crunch before your taste buds greet the supposed main event, the peanut. But that main event is where the snack falls ever so slightly short.

Though Bart and Judy may have similar names to the dessert tycoons, Ben and Jerry, their products aren’t in the same league.

They label their cookie “ultimate” cookie, but

In the popularity of this spicy chip, or more the cake as the best of the best.

Sporting a crunch like

you to a relaxing beach on a perfect summer day while others send you to a chemist’s laboratory. The

ranging from strawberry-banana to guava-kiwi, is its greatest attribute vors are incredibly hit or miss. Some transport

per bag is randomized, so buying a bag of these gummies is like spinning a roulette wheel at a casino; it may turn out good, it may turn out bad.

After cracking the sweet coating, the snack reverts from a classy treat to the likes of a grimy old nut found at the bottom of a gallon size bag of trail mix from Costco. The peanut lacks quality, and when not compensated by the sugary-sweet exterior,

Bart and Judy’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

Baken-Ets Hot ‘N Spicy Flavored Fried Pork Skins

each gummy about the size of a dime.

The gummies’ broad

“average cookie.” It’s dry, bland and uninteresting in presentation, but what can you expect from a cookie trapped in a metal cage for days?

Its chocolate chips are its reason for any possibility of an encore performance.

none other, the skin is perfectly fried. Then the skin begins to dissolve. It melts effortlessly in your mouth — almost like cotton candy. Tossed in a cloud of mildly spicy dust, the skin tingles your taste goodbye.

it tastes dull. However, fying enough.

Coming in at $2, these peanuts cost a pretty penny, but the sugary coating makes this snack worth it.

Buying only one bag is practically criminal with this savory snack.

Possessing a decadent but-

of a chocolate chip cookie.

If in desperate need of a cookie, this $1.75 snack may just do the trick, but set low expectations, and don’t think of a homemade batch; these won’t meet that bar.

Unfortunately, the smaller crumbles remaining at the bottom don’t compare to their larger counterparts.

These skins are hard and rough as they enter your mouth.

Multiple purchases at $1.25 are an absolute must with this item.

STORY BY DYLAN MARGOLIS AND RYAN XU; GRAPHICS BY ARJIN CLAIRE

PUSH

the wall

ANOTHER SNACK IN

A&E 11

•

IS IT WORTH THE DOUGH?

Knead-to-read assessment of items at local mochi doughnut chain Mochinut

O

ut of the numerous doughnut shops spread throughout the Sacramento area, each with a unique take on the time-honored doughnut pastry, only one takes the Mochinut specializes in mochi doughnuts — a doughnut ioca paste — known for their crispy outside and dense, chewy inside. Unlike tradition-

al doughnuts, mochi doughnuts merge eight little dough balls in a circle, giving them a unique and instantly distinguishable look. Flavors of mochi doughnuts usually are repeated in the icing and toppings, as they seldom hold cream or jelly.

After trying Mochinut for was ecstatic to see the chain restaurant opening up near Sacramento. The inside decor

was pleasant, with a calming lavender shade on the walls and some relaxed hip-hop music in the background. Fittingly, a neon sign glowed, “Mochi over everything,” complementing a large printed rainbow. Next to the cash register appeared all the mochi doughnuts on display — I had to restrain myself from grabbing a handful and running out.

that day included Snickers, Pandan Snow, Captain Crunch, Red Bean, Churro and the Original, which is a glazed doughnut. In addition, Mochinut also sells Korean corn dogs — eight to 10-inch long deep-fried sausage or mozzarella on a stick — as well as bottled drinks, thai tea, coffee and ube.

Mochinut is located on 8148 Delta Shores Circle South, Suite

ORIGINAL DOUGHNUT Each bite I took started with the crisp, outer layer of the dough, followed by the dense, almost bouncy inside. The glaze on the doughnut wasn’t too

4/5

PRICE: $3.75

CHURRO DOUGHNUT Each bite I took of this doughnut was full of bliss. The cinnamon and sugar powder danced on my tastebuds, and the al dente texture complemented it all the more so.

Every time I think about it now, my stomach rumbles. This was a phenomenal doughnut.

5/5

DEAR DYLAN...

Dear Dylan is an advice column that responds to questions from anonymous Country Day students.

To submit, write your question on a piece of paper and drop it in the newspaper-wrapped box in Room 9. Please do not include your name.

Responses are not guaranteed.

I have a crush on someone who’s in a relationship. Should I stop?

A: Let’s be honest: crushes are fun.

In the monotonous cycle of everyday life, they add a bit of excitement and a dose of delirium. Still, there comes a point when they cross the line between innocuous and injurious.

At the end of the day, I think a simple crush is no cause for concern. If sitting next to this person in class is enough to brighten your day, so be it.

That said, I am by no means endorsing scandalous love affairs on the Country Day campus.

If you notice yourself pining for the person’s attention or plotting against their relationship, it is time to stop.

In fact, I warn against even so much as openly discussing this infatuation.

Place yourself in the position of the person’s partner. Would you like to hear someone else actively seeking your partner’s admiration?

Probably not. it is time to stop, you have answered your own question.

I feel like I go to romantic partners to

PRICE: $3.75

A: As the saying goes, love yourself before you love others. Though we never reach perfection, it’s import-

HALF & HALF CORN DOG When purchasing Korean corn dogs, customers can pick between mozzarella, sausage or a combination of both. I decided to get a taste of both worlds and went half & half. I absolutely loved the corn dog. The outer crispiness was delightful, and the cheese and meat paired nicely with it.

4/5

PRICE: $5.95 HOT CHEETO CORN DOG One of the intriguing attributes about Mochinut’s Korean corn dogs is the toppings you can add: regular, Hot Cheetos, potato, sweet potato, cheddar cheese or crispy ramen. The Hot Cheeto corn dog had a nice kick to accompany the sausage. However, it was missing the iconic crunch of a classic Korean corn dog. It was a decent item nonetheless

3/5

PRICE: $6.50 FINAL ROUNDUP I enjoyed my experience at Mochinut. The mochi doughnuts’ perfect al dente texture provided a pleasant change of rhythm from the run-of-themill doughnut, and the Korean corn dogs were just as good. My top picks are the churro doughnut and the Half n’ Half corn dog. Although the prices were slightly steep, the quality was more than comparable. Mochinut is a great place to grab a snack with family or friends, and I can’t wait to return!

4/5

through introspection before engrossing oneself in a new partner.

The idea of admiration through the shallow compliments that often accompany a romantic relationship why even try to escape this cycle?

There’s a good reason.

tra validation from your partner through compliments or other mediums, you eventually will wear your partner out.

Think about it! If you’re around people that are constantly hinting to be complimented, eventually you want to escape and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Remember, your partner’s job is not to resolve all of your self-worth Although the expression “you complete me,” may seem romantic, it ignites a negative feedback loop of expecting a result that will never come.

If the idea of a romantic relationship garners more interest than your actual partner, then what you seek isn’t this person, but respect, both internally and externally.

Designate parts of your day for “me-time,” allowing yourself to focus on things that truly make you happy, whether that is reading an old book or attempting a new recipe.

Find value in yourself and the things that you cherish. Keep a journal, noting which moments made you feel good about yourself that didn’t involve anyone else. When through your words again.

Once you have gained respect for yourself, external respect and even without the assistance of a romantic partner.

12

• THE OCTAGON

HOW SHOULD YOU SPEND YOUR

summer vacation?

C

love! STORY BY JACOB CHAND, GRAPHICS BY CHAND AND SAMHITA KUMAR

ST

ART Do you want to learn something new?

Do you want to pick up some work?

No

No

Yes

Yes

Do you want academic credit for your class?

No

Yes

Attend a Nike basketball camp.

paid?

No

Do you want to stay active and improve skills?

for anyone and everyone who wants to test

Yes attendees for three days, crafting their funda mental skills with guest appearances from ex

Take a Country Day summer course.

No

Yes

this summer with a chance like no other at this

Get ahead this summer and join the

Do you want to pay?

No

for those who want to challenge them

Volunteer at SMUD’s science museum.

course is intense, yet thrilling, for those who seek to expand their knowledge.

Both classes count for credits, ensuring

Volunteer at the Front Street Animal Shelter.

Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter is a great way for students who love animals to get some volun

to volunteer without adult

classes during the regular school year. a summer camp counsel or at the museum with few

Attend the summer enrichment program in person at Columbia University.

Yes

meet a Volunteer Project Manager to go through a quick interview. Volunteers

guide camps through the tarium and theater shows. selors can learn a lot during

(for ages 18 and up), start ing donation drives or doing

week courses. Getting into the course essay and a teacher recommendation. ing from astrophysics to anatomy, cre ative writing, law and the stock market

Become a C.I.L.T at Walton’s Grizzly Lodge.

university professors. If you aren’t avail

Teach classes at Breakthrough Sacramento. gram as teachers for underprivileged students within the greater Sacramento area.

Originally published on the online edition of the Octagon on March 4.

Enjoy your free time! nothing this summer. Summer is meant for relaxing, so why not partake? Sleep family. pandemic. So, take some time to yourself and enjoy your time off.