Ocotober2014digital

volume v • october 2014

oak park high school

TALON

Board approves calendar change 2015-2016 school year to start earlier, features a true winter break

by Christopher Lee, layout editor In response to concerns about student welfare, the Oak Park District Board of Education has approved a three-week calendar shift for the 2015-2016 school year.

While student achievement continues to increase throughout the district, so do concerns pertaining to student welfare.

In a recent letter addressed to the Oak Park community and staff, the OPUSD Calendar Committee wrote, “For quite some time the school district has been searching for ways to reduce stress on our children and have taken steps in that direction.”

With this change, the students’ summer vacation will decrease by three full weeks. School will start Aug. 11, 2015 and dismiss May 27, 2016.

Some consider the calendar change a benefit, as the first semester will end before winter break, giving students a true break from school—unlike the current school calendar.

As it has been for the past few years, high school students are burdened with the presence of finals just around the corner, during their winter recess. “[With the new calendar] we would make a commitment as a high school too,” Science Department Chair, Winnie Litten, said.

“No assignments and no homework over winter break.”

Some opponents of the shift worry that air conditioning costs will rise as a result of the mid-summer heat during the first few weeks of this proposed calendar year.

This has been a definite concern of the Calendar Committee; however, the

The Oak Park Board of Education decides upon the new calendar at the Oct. 21 board meeting (Staff Photographer/Talon). committee pointed out that the district will be spending money on air conditioning whether it be during the last few weeks of May and June, or the first few weeks of August.

According to the Cal-

A meaty conversation Superintendent discusses food morality with students

Superintendent Knight lectures to Mrs. Schultheis’s fourth period class (Connie Lan/Talon)

by Taylor Bongiovi and Eric Kellenberger, staff writers

On October 3, 2014, Superintendent Tony Knight visited Schultheis’ classroom after being requested to talk to the students regarding his experience and

knowledge on veganism.

Schultheis’ students had responded strongly to their assigned reading, the article “Is It Possible to Be a Conscientious Meat Eater?”

by Sunaura Taylor, which outlines the repercussions of the meat industry, discusses ethics and then defends veganism.

Tyler Ford, a junior in Schultheis’ class, stated that, “our country’s culture is not progressive enough at this time to give up meat.”

Schultheis emailed Knight soon afterward and asked him to come speak to the class.

Knight took a firm continued on page 4

endar Committee, the shift will particularly benefit the three-fourths of high school students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

Allowing students the maximum amount of time

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF EBOLA

by Aadarsh Jha, staff writer As Ebola becomes an international issue, sanitation and prevention become increasingly vital, even to the Oak Park community.

Though Ebola was known to exist in Africa, the virus has spread to become a pandemic, taking the lives of over 4,000 people, in countries including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Recently, the virus has spread to a number of European nations, and on September 30th, 2014, a

to prepare with their teachers before taking these exams during May will benefit not only the students, but also the instructors.

The calendar change continued on page 3

Liberian man unknowingly contracted the disease, and carried it to the United States.

In an interview with the Talon, Ms. Joann Housman, the district nurse described a number of procedures she recommends to stop the spread of infectious diseases.

“The best way to prevent the spread of most viruses is hand washing!

Good hand washing techniques include rubbing your hands under soapy water for at least the length of the happy birthday song. This gets rid of most contaminants on the hands, which are usually the number one way germs are spread.

Housman also described the district responses to infectious discontinued on page 7

INSIDE • on campus 2 • beyond oak park 5 • new classrooms 8 • campus life 11 • entertainment 14 • sports 15

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october 2014

on campus New standards create active scientists

by Ashley Siavoshi, social media manager

An example of the new science laboratory notebook, part of the new standards and curriculum in the science department (Staff Photographer/Talon).

The approach to teaching science shifts this year as all science classes implement the New Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

The main framework of these new science standards concerns creating proficiency in all aspects of science.

There are three dimensions to the new standards: practices, crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas.

Practices are designed to build a skill set that is similar to the scientific process. This dimension has led to an increase in the number of labs done in every science class.

According to OPHS Science Department Chair Winnie Litten, this aspect of the new standards changes the labs into “inquiry-based, student-driven investigations.”

Students now design their own labs. Every student now has his or her own lab notebook, in which he or she not only records data and complete the steps of a lab but also discuss the ideas and phenomena behind the experiment.

Crosscutting concepts are ideas that can be applied to every branch of sci-

“

With the new standards, students are “actively doing science, not just learning about science or following a cookbook lab.”

– science

”

teacher Winnie Litten

ence, from biology to physics.

Some of these overarching core ideas include patterns, systems and change.

These are being used to show that all branches of science are intertwined and, according to the NGSS

website, aid students in creating a “coherent and scientifically based view of the world.”

Disciplinary core ideas are what are generally referred to as standards: the topics and concepts that are to be covered in class.

These standards work alongside the Common Core curriculum.

While Advanced Placement and Honors classes tend to go beyond these standards, Litten said that the standards are “pivotal at the CP level because they allow depth, but limit some of the extraneous materials, thus creating more time for labs,” which are crucial in the new program.

These three technical aspects of the new standards are simple, but according to Litten, they are “making our students scientists” who are “actively doing science, not just learning about science or following a cookbook lab.”

Oak Park addresses pledge misconception

by Tushar Jois, editor-in-chief A recent incident regarding a ninth-grade atheist student forced to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance prompted district administrators to clarify a misconception regarding the recital of the pledge at Oak Park High School.

According to Principal Kevin Buchanan, the long-standing policy at the school was to conduct the exercise everyday, but allow students to opt out of it completely.

This policy has always allowed students to not take part of the exercise at all, without being forced to recite the pledge or even stand.

Once the father of the student emailed the administration, the administration reminded the student’s teacher of the policy.

However, Buchanan ex-

plained, “we never told the kid” about the notification.

The student continued to stand during the pledge.

The incident escalated once the student notified the American Humanist Association, the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group founded, as stated on their website, “to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other non-religious Americans.”

Buchanan said that he received “a long letter from the organization” with information “we already knew” regarding the establishment clause and the laws regarding the separation of church and state.

The Oak Park Unified School District then issued a public apology on Sept.

30, and later sent a memo to the faculty regarding proper policies during the Pledge of Allegiance.

The association later commended the district for its immediate response.

The school performs the exercise every day, as seen here in Rob Hall’s AP Government class, but it is up to the students if they choose to participate (Staff Photographer/Talon).

Buchanan said he hopes that the clarification will prevent any future incidents of this nature.

Tinker v. Des Moines, a 1969 Supreme Court case set the precedent for the school’s current policy. The Tinker siblings were suspended for wearing black

armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. The students sued the school district for violating the students’ rights, and the decision went to the Supreme Court, which ultimately declared the school’s actions unconstitutional.

“It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” said Supreme Court Justic Abe Fortas, who presided over the Tinker Decision.

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Calendar change approved continued from page 1 will also affect extracurricular activities.

ASB advisor and choir teacher Heidi Cissell said, “December is all about performances . . . it’s hard for me to take all those events away from the choir when that’s really our main time.”

Many other school districts, such as LAUSD, have only adopted a calendar shift for the districts’ high school(s).

With this specialized approach, families were broken up, as sibling breaks fell at different times dur-

ing the year, creating all kinds of “logistical nightmares,” Assistant Principal Brian Martin said during the Oak Park High School Calendar Committee meeting.

With this in mind, the committee said that, by creating this shift across the whole school district, the change will bring families together, by not only correlating elementary, middle and high school breaks, but also by relieving older siblings of the stress of studying during break at the same time.

In regards to summer school, many parents and students have wondered how this calendar shift might affect the relatively brief summer break that will occur in 2015.

Principal Kevin Buchanan said that “one of the ways that LVUSD handled [the shortened summer] that first year is that they doubled up. They ran a shorter summer school but the days were longer.”

The Friends of Oak Park Schools, the organization that currently runs Oak Park summer school,

Annual Tech Fest promotes STEM careers

by Ashwarya Srinivas, layout editor On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Oak Park Library held its annual Tech Fest to inspire future engineers in the area.

Sponsored by the Ventura County Library, OPHS, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), this event featured a variety of booths held by various groups related to engineering and technology.

Each group at the event displayed its achievements, and promoted its work in their field of interest.

Exhibitors included members of OPHS and Oak Park, who displayed their work and models through the OPHS Robotics team, the OPUSD Rocket Club and the Oak Park Library Robotics team.

CSUCI’s Computer Girls Club and CSUN’s Matador Motorsports team, the latter of which presented a functioning racecar, joined them as exhibitors.

There were also exhibitions held by larger organizations, including Northrop-Grumman, Aerovironments, ASME and even the Ventura County Fire Department.

In addition to the group displays, there were two speakers from leading tech groups.

Dr. James Lux of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/NASA spoke about the impending topic of using space communication technology, to help save lives of people on Earth.

David Zweig, the creative director at XPrize, a non-profit organization that manages competitions

to encourage technological development, also made an appearance to share news about his company.

Students said they were equally amazed by both the informative talks and the overall success of the event.

OPHS junior Neepun Gupta recalled the event as “a great opportunity for kids, and for meeting new people,” and added that the event was “certainly interesting.”

Sophomore Rithik Kumar added that for him, Tech Fest was “a new and innovative experience, which [he] truly enjoyed.”

Junior Alex Romanova also concurred that the event went well, since teenagers and children could “see what a future in engineering and technology actually looks like.”

Community members check out a go-kart at the Tech Fest (Staff Photographer/ Talon).

switched to a three-week summer school this past summer, allowing students to take full-day classes that would have taken them six weeks with the previous half-day schedule.

This adjustment should help alleviate the crunch students may feel while taking summer courses.

Concerns have also been expressed regarding how the calendar change might affect sports.

History/Social Science Department Chair, Rob Hall, said, “Other schools are already facing [this] re-

ality. They’re having their graduation ceremonies when other kids are going out to latter rounds of CIF playoffs.”

Ultimately the Board agreed with the Calendar Committee recommendation.

“We have to make a decision as a community – what’s best for our children,” the committee commented.

BAND EXPANDS

The marching band performs at Homecoming (Staff Photographer/Talon).

by Bareerah Zafar and Akshita Dondeti, staff writers The band program has expanded in the 2014-2015 school year. Two years ago, the program had a total of 18 students. Now, it has grown to more than 80 musicians.

This is also the first year an official marching band exists.

Directed by instrumental music teacher Zachary Borquez and led by two drum majors, senior Justin Lamb and junior Weston Pollock, the marching band has performed at every home football game and pep rally.

Juniors and co-presidents Juliet Tolentino and Sarah Goldberg shared their happiness of watching new musicians come in each year.

Tolentino expressed that the band program brought together a wide range of talents, and was also the catalyst of friendships that would last a lifetime.

“It has been a second family to me,” she said.

“I love that I get to play alongside such talented musicians every day.”

“The band program was so small when I was in ninth grade, and now it is so much bigger,” Goldberg added.

The students said that they are more than enthusiastic about this program, but admitted that it requires a lot of hard work.

The musicians of marching band spent two weeks of their summer rigorously training and still practice every week.

“You stand outside for a good hour or two in the hot sunshine, and you march and play,” sophomore Melissa Liu said. “But it is fun to do it with friends.”

The band room has also undergone changes with the recent addition of instrument lockers.

According to Borquez, the following year promises the addition of another concert band with more students ready to improve the musical atmosphere at Oak Park High School.

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october 2014

Superintendent discusses ethics of meat-eating

Dr. Knight discussed topics ranging from humane treatment of animals to veganism (Connie Lan/Talon). continued from page 1 stance in support of reduced meat consumption for our community and school.

He exposed many of the “inhumane” conditions that animals like cattle are forced to live in, from birth until slaughter.

He pointed out the

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health benefits of a more plant based diet and also the variety of sources of nutrients (such as protein or calcium) outside meat.

Commenting on the

inefficiency of land being used to raise livestock, Knight asserted that “if the whole world ate like we did in this country, we would have even more people

starving around the world.

It doesn’t work.”

Oak Park is currently taking steps to provide healthier options for students.

According to Mr. Buchanan, the district has hired the nutritional director Karin Lee, as well as forming a wellness committee.

With their help the cafeteria will be more prepared to offer students choices.

While the prices of entrées (both with and without meat) will stay the same, the cafeteria staff agrees the vegetarian options are more of a “hassle” to make.

Jayda Nalamlieng, another student in Schultheis’ class, had a different view. “[Americans] can apply [veganism] individually into ways that can work with our own personal lifestyle.”

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beyond oak park New nail polish attempts to prevent sexual harassment

Photo illustration showing the theoretical color change of this nail polish.

by Olivia Deveau and Connie Lan, staff writers In April 2014, four male undergraduate students from North Carolina State University started developing a new nail polish that detects date rape drugs.

Ankesh Madan, Stephen Gray, Tasso Von Wind-

heim and Tyler ConfreyMaloney, students from the Materials Science and Engineering Department, initiated the development of Undercover Colors.

The wearer of the nail polish would, in theory, dip her finger into her drink, and if there were traces of common date rape drugs such as GHB, Rohypnol, or Xanax, the clear polish

would turn black.

In the beginning stages of development, the product was a finalist at the K50 Startup Showcase, and the team won $100,000 from an investor.

The team also won $11,250 at a contest that was hosted by North Carolina State’s Entrepreneurship Initiative.

The students also plan

on starting a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to further their efforts in releasing the product to the masses, recently raising $5,000 to hire a new chemist.

Students at Oak Park High School have differing opinions on the subject.

Jake Davis, a junior, said, “I know my parents would love it if my older sister used it, just to make sure she’s safe. I would probably recommend it to all girls to help them not be taken advantage of.”

Jasmine Flora, a senior at Oak Park High School, said she disagreed.

“I think it’s great that they’re developing things like that, because obviously there’s a need for it,” Flora said.

“But also I think it says something about our society, that instead of teaching people not to use date rape drugs, we’re using a preventive measure in which the female is being responsible­­—once again— and not the person that is trying to use these drugs to solicit her into other things.”

When asked about the controversy surrounding the product, Assistant Principal of Oak Park High School Bryan Martin, said, “I think that we can avoid placing ourselves in situations. Just like me, walking down the street, late at night, getting robbed, I can maybe avoid it. It’s not my fault I got robbed, but maybe there’re things I can do to make it less likely to occur. It’s never anybody’s fault, when they’re the victim of a crime,” he adds, “but why not be safer?”

Alex Allison, a student teacher at Oak Park High School, comes from a similar standpoint. “It might not do anything. It may give the people wearing it a false sense of security. It may allow the public to blame the victim.”

However, she also points out that the invention “just shows brothers attempting to look out for sisters in some small way— even as small as a fingernail.”

Political battlegrounds set for 2014

by Benjamin Porat, staff writer On November 4, U.S. citizens will vote across the country in various elections.

While the California Gubernatorial election seems to be a predictable win for Governor Brown, a plethora of voter initiatives and congressional elections remain up for grabs.

Governor Jerry Brown (D) is currently running for reelection for a fourth and final term, due to term limits, as California’s governor against challenger Neel Kashkari (R) who served as Assistant Secretary of the

Treasury under the waning years of President George W. Bush’s administration.

The election is considered to be safely in Brown’s hands.

Brown holds mostly liberal positions on various political issues. Kashkari holds mostly conservative views with respect to economic issues and is an outspoken critic of the Obama Administration’s financial and economic policy.

When it comes to social issues, however, Kashkari describes himself as Libertarian, supporting reproductive rights, marriage equality and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Californians will vote on two major voter initiatives this year: Propositions One and Two. Proposition One, if passed will allocate over seven billion dollars to the state’s water infrastructure to help combat the drought the state is currently in. It would provide funds for the construction of dams and reservoirs and water purification.

Proposition Two would require an annual transfer of 1.5% of the general fund to a “rainy-day” fund, the transfer of a portion of capital gains taxes exceeding 8% to go to K-12 education and the use of the fund to pay off state debts. In times of severe deficits, it will also

allow access to these funds.

Both Brown and Kashkari support this proposition, arguing that it will force California to ‘live within its means.’

Former state superintendent Delaine Eastin opposes the proposition, claiming that it will actually result in less funding for education. Most polls show that the proposition will pass.

Oak Park is situated in the Twenty-Sixth Congressional District of California, which is considered to be a slightly Democratic-leaning district.

In the 2014 election, incumbent Julia Brownley (D) will be facing assembly-

man Jeff Gorell (R). Brownley narrowly received more votes than Jeff Gorell in the open primary, which narrows down the pool to two candidates. However, the two Republicans who ran collectively achieved a majority of the vote.

The election has been ranked from a toss-up to leaning-democratic.

In all, Californians may potentially see a significant shift in the state’s fiscal policy and the winds of change may result in the defeat of the incumbent congresswoman.

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october 2014

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Clown frightens local community Lost Hills watch commander tells residents not to worry

The Agoura Clown is just one of a number of copycat clowns that have been stirring up commoA mysterious man tion in communities all over dressed as a clown has California ever since one been stalking the streets of masked clown began the Agoura Hills this past week. trend and started to docuUsers on Twitter and ment his late night prowls the anonymous blogging on Instagram earlier this application ‘Yik Yak’ re- month in the city of Wasco.

Oak Park High School ported seeing the clown this past Monday, Tuesday, senior Jasmine Flora was and Wednesday as well as driving home on October late Saturday night at times 15 when she encountered ranging from 9 PM to Mid- the clown just past Reyes Adobe Rd. night.

“I thought it was a statThe small town that borders Ventura and Los ue, so I made a U-turn to Angeles counties was given get a closer look,” recounts a fright as the spooky clown Flora. “When I slowed appeared at various points down, the guy…ran into the along Thousand Oaks Blvd, street towards me.”

Flora described the imstartling passing drivers posing figure as “huge and and passengers.

The clown’s appear- holding a balloon.”

The clown made nuance comes just two weeks appearances before Halloween and only merous a week after FX premiered throughout the week.

Upon learning of him, the new season of the hit show American Horror many residents of Agoura Story, which focuses on the Hills and its neighboring towns took to social media premise of a killer clown.

by Alec Mandell, staff writer

Instagram photograph of the Wasco clown, whose exploits may have inspired Agoura Clown to express their feelings.

Many were frightened by the clown’s presence.

Others were fascinated.

Liza Warne, a freshman at Agoura High School, took to twitter saying, “clown in Agoura … I’m never leaving my house again.”

Trevor Kierstead, a senior from Agoura High, had a much different reaction

to the clown tweeting.

“Clown in Agoura you say? Where is he? I want to laugh.”

Reflecting Trevor’s attitude, many people have gone out at night seeking the clown.

The watch commander’s office at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station didn’t seem too concerned about

the clown, saying, “We received one call [about the clown] last Wednesday. As far as any threats the clown poses, we don’t think there are any at the moment.”

The clown has yet to be identified.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if the joke’s on us or not,” senior Griffin Hughes said.

Hygiene key to disease prevention

Photo illustration: hand sanitizer, one of the many forms of disease prevention employed by the district (Staff Photographer/Talon). continued from page 1 eases characterizing them as effective and decisive.

“Our district is very good at implementing extra cleanings of classrooms, providing cleansing wipes for classroom touch surfaces, making hand sanitizers available and promoting

hand washing.”

OPHS students however, had differing views on the spread of contagious viruses.

“I think the High School should be doing a better job of protecting us from diseases. I remember at Medea Creek Middle School, when you went

into the lunch line, a yard duty would make you put on hand sanitizer, to clean your hands. However, in the high school, the hand sanitizer is just there, and is not enforced to be put on,” freshman Ashley Landaverde said.

Freshman Olivia Cormier said she thought almost

the opposite.

“I think that the school is doing a good job protecting us from diseases,” Cormier said. “But to a certain extent, the student has their responsibility to protect themselves from diseases, by using the facilities that the school provides them with. Also, there

are some things that the school has no control over, like the germs and bacteria the student can bring with them when they come to school everyday, or, crowded areas where students are clumped up, can quickly spread germs.”

Ebola is an internal hemorrhagic fever that is caused by an Ebola virus strain. Ebola is a highly deadly virus, having a death rate of 47 percent, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

No FDA-approved medication exists to treat Ebola, with only very few hospitals throughout the U.S. that have the specialized equipment to stabilize the disease in the infected person.

Housman notes, however, “if people remember to cover their coughs and sneezes it would cut down on the spread of airborne viruses.”

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october 2014

21 shipping c

NEW CLASSROOMS SHIPPED TO OAK P

by Varsha

Sarveshwar,

content editor

Oak Park Unified School District constructed energy-efficient, environmentally conscious modular classrooms during the summer of 2014 that replaced the old bungalows, which OPUSD Superintendent Tony Knight deemed “an “eyesore.”

“The classrooms will provide a new and creative learning space for our students,” Knight said. “They also represent the strong concert and connection we at Oak Park USD have for the environment and our desire to model practices and teach students about sustainability.”

A new solar-panel structure accompanied the modular classrooms.

According to Knight, the solar panels, when completed, will provide 15 percent

of the school’s energy, ensuring that the new classrooms will be 100 percent carbon neutral.

Due to the extensive grading process used to construct the foundations of the buildings that damaged a large portion of the great lawn, a drought-tolerant garden and permeable pavers has been put in its place.

Furthermore, the landscape design around the buildings allows for water to seep back in to the water table and reduces run-off.

At OPHS, student and teacher reactions alike appear positive.

Robin Midiri, a math teacher who currently teaches in one of the new classrooms, said that though it is “a lot of work for the teachers to pack, move in and out, unpack and then set up” their rooms, she said she thinks the project will be worth it, describing the buildings as beautiful “both visually and structurally.”

Junior Priyanka Dav likewise excited.

“It’s great to see the ing its eco-friendly proje Oak Park,” Dave said.

To construct the new district looked to Grow chitectural firm that spe verting unused shipping classrooms.

The project, which i of 21 shipping container classrooms, has been es between 1.7 to two milli After their construct ted the classrooms wit environmentally friendly included thick insulatio and efficient air conditi ing systems, as well as a the side facing the great The old bungalo long past their expected will be used to expand t

october 2014

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containers. 72 days. 7 new classrooms.

PARK

ve said she was dependent School’s program to reach additional students. e school expandThe influx of funds from these new ects right here in students will be used to pay for the remodeling of the bungalows at OPIS. Measure R, a roughly thirty millionw classrooms, the wthpoint, an ar- dollar bond that the district took out in ecializes in con- 2008 will cover the cost of the construcg containers into tion at OPHS. OPHS students look to the buildings involved the use as another example of the district’s comrs to build seven mitment to environmentally friendly instimated to cost struction.

Sophomore Gui Andrade commented ion dollars. tion, workers fit- that the new buildings are a great way to th high-quality, “modernize our school and take advany fixtures, which tage of the free power hitting the ground on, LED lighting, twelve hours a day.” ioning and heata wall of glass on t lawn. ows, which were use life at OPHS, the Oak Park In-

fast facts.

Total project cost: between 1.7 to 2 million dollars.

Buildings are 100% carbon neutral.

Surrounded by drought-tolerant garden.

Permeable pavers and bioswales reduce runoff.

180% LEED Platinum - First classrooms in U.S. to attain this rating.

Far exceed California’s strict fire and safety standards.

Fitted with thick insulation, dual-paned glass, low-emission carpeting, LED lighting, new furniture and efficient air conditioning and heating systems.

artwork by Elijah Henry.

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october 2014

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campus life Oak Park Comedy Sportz wins against Agoura

by Lauren Perlmutter, staff writer The Comedy Sportz team at Oak Park High School faced off against Agoura’s team at Agoura High School Oct. 11.

Seniors Griffin Hughes, Tyler Kristensen and Zach Finn, and junior Liora Bregman, pulled through with a win of 15-11 for Oak Park.

“At the game we had an excellent debate on cheerleading, a good mix of genres including anime, and a loving story of a super villain transforming into a good person,” junior Tyler Ford said.

“It was one of the best games yet, and those who were playing represented our team well.”

The Agoura High School auditorium was filled with more than 150 people.

“It was great to be back up on stage, and this year should be great,” senior Ben Winck said.

“

The Oak Park Comedy Sportz team won against Agoura’s team on Oct. 11 (Staff Photographer/Talon).

SCHOOL SPIRIT ROCKS BIRD CAGE

by Daniel Magat, staff writer With the start of the 2014-2015 school year, students from all grade levels at Oak Park High School have been expressing their school spirit in increasing numbers.

When asked about the subject, Junior Class President Kenny Park said, “I can honestly say that this year has been the most spirited I have ever seen my class.”

Park added, “The intensity and passion is definitely contagious within the junior class and I can’t wait to show the school what the Class of 2016 is all about.”

On the other hand, Senior Class President Rachel Cohen said, “At first, the senior class needed to come together, but once we did, we had more spirit than I’ve ever seen before.”

She continued, “The senior army is going strong.”

For sports games, Oak Park’s student section is known as “The Bird Cage” and students are encour-

aged to wear black shirts.

Niccolo Posarelli, a starting guard on the CIF winning boys varsity basketball team said that playing basketball with kids chanting in the Bird Cage, “is a privilege because the team feeds off of the energy of the Bird Cage.”

“It gives us an extra spark on the court,” Posarelli said.

Spirit points were introduced last year by ASB as a way to make spirit days and rally events count for points.

It was also introduced as a way to boost school spirit.

Looking forward for the rest of the year, ASB President Michelle Velasquez said, “Though it is sometimes hard to get the whole student body involved, I believe that our school’s spirit is increasing as the year continues. It will be amazing to see what we can accomplish spirit-wise by the end of this year.”

It was one of the best games yet, and those who were playing represented our team well.

– junior

”

Tyler Ford

For many practice sessions, the Comedy Sportz team has been working on improving their game to make this year a successful one.

The team members performed in their first game­ —facing off against each other—Sept. 19.

With five freshmen and eight other new members, the team welcomed many new players for the upcoming school year.

“This team has welcomed me and going to school is easier knowing I have practice at the end of the day, a time where I can laugh and have fun,” freshman Meghan Cleary said.

“Having support from Oak Park students and seeing them at the games makes it a lot of fun and we love entertaining all who come,” Finn said. “Be sure to come to our next game on Oct. 30. We can guarantee you a good time.”

Drama dept. presents new play

by Jasmine Flora, staff writer The school’s production of Reginald Rose’s “Twelve Angry Men,” performed by the OPHS drama department, opened Thursday and will run until Saturday, Oct. 25.

It is performed by two casts: one all-male and the other all-female, alternating performances each night.

A play Oak Park students study their sophomore year, “Twelve Angry Men” follows the deliberation of 12 jurors for a court

case taking place in the 1950’s.

None of the characters are given distinct names and are simply referred to by their juror number in the script.

The drama is filled with tension, tempers, prejudice and, of course, anger.

“It is very gripping, and the whole audience is sure to be brought immediately into the atmosphere of the show,” senior Alec Mandell said.

Melanie Labrecque, who plays juror #8 added that “there’s a lot of emotion that can be seen in all the different characters.”

“This show has been a big stepping stone for a lot of us, allowing us to branch out and experience new roles that allow us to portray more on stage,” junior Savannah Hale said.

She described the atmosphere of the rehearsals as different from that of past productions, saying that everyone “pictures the show as one composed of all leads.”

The male cast performs during the Thursday and Saturday night shows, while the female cast performs Friday night and Saturday matinee.

TALON

12

october 2014

senior spotlight Tyler Kristensen

by Tushar Jois, editor-in-chief Senior Spotlight is a column written by the editorin-chief, Tushar Jois, that attempts to capture the essence of the Class of 2015 through focused interviews with specific individuals from different backgrounds.

Tyler Kristensen is, in a word, amiable. He’s the kind of person one could go with to a coffee shop and laugh the day away sharing awkward puns and jokes.

Much of his personality, though, coexists with what he does at Oak Park High School. With this mindset, I entered the interview.

I first asked about what he does.

Tyler responded, “I do APC [Advanced Peer Counseling] as a liaison, Comedy Sportz, and I would say drama but I don’t do that anymore. I also participate in feminism club.”

I then wanted to find the underlying reason be-

hind all of those activities.

I asked him, “What is one word that describes you best?”

Almost immediately, he replied with the word ,“driven.”

I decided to shift the topic toward something goofier.

“What is your spirit animal?”

He gave me a pensive look, and replied, “People have told me a camel.”

“What?” I answered with a look of disbelief.

“I look like a camel while eating.”

So that’s why he’s on Comedy Sportz, I thought to myself with a chuckle.

“So out of all the things you do, what would you consider the most important to you?”

“I really love APC.” “Why is that?”

Tyler paused to think about it.

After a moment, he began, “APC takes people from all backgrounds and allows them to come together to create a place for others. It makes people feel better on a daily basis.”

I was struck by his sense of altruism, and took a pause myself.

“So what defines Tyler Kristensen?”

“How I affect other people.”

I gave him a quizzical glance.

“It’s not how others see me,” he continued, “but how I can help others’ lives.”

On that note, I decided to conclude the interview, and thanked him for his time. Although I may have known some of Tyler’s background, I underestimated the compassion and empathy he holds for others.

The ever-smiling Tyler Kristensen (Staff Photographer/Talon).

club spotlight Cricket Club the world’s second most popular sport comes to Oak Park High School

by Rutwik Tipireddy, staff writer Akshay Rao and Rutwik Tipireddy started Cricket Club at Oak Park High School, with the main goal to teach members the rudiments of the game through in-class demonstrations and first-hand experience.

The club meets every other Wednesdays during lunch in advisor Ken Jones’s classroom and every other Thursday at the baseball field.

Jones, a veteran of the game, “played men’s cricket since the age of 15, always at a high standard.”

When asked if the game will ever catch on at OPHS and America in general, Jones commented, “it will prove popular at OPHS. There seems to be a lot of

interest and my students have always taken an interest.”

“I doubt that it will ever catch on in the USA,” Jones said.

He believes the club is “a chance for them [students] to try another sport and one that they may find they have a talent for.”

Students who signed up had various reasons for doing so.

Sophomore Apurva Kulkarni said he wanted to understand the reason why his dad “stayed up all night watching the sport.”

He also likes “the fact that we get to play cricket” and describes it as being a lot of fun.

Others joined the club to learn more about cricket.

Sophomore Jacob Tennent said, “I played baseball for five years. I was in-

The Cricket Club tries out the game on one of Oak Park’s fields (Staff Photographer/Talon). terested to see how cricket is different.”

The club members learn the game every other Wednesday through video clips, in-class demonstration and PowerPoint presentations.

The next day, they get to put their learning into practice by playing the

game.

Freshman Vinay Adabala noted that, “actually playing the game” is the best part about the club.

He adds that since he is descent at the game already, “teaching others the sport” is a satisfactory role as well.

Overall, Cricket Club’s

President Akshay Rao hopes “cricket will catch on in Oak Park High School.”

TALON

october 2014

New teachers in Oak Park

interviews by Jessica Ji, managing editor history department, football coach

TIMOTHY KENNEY

13 Fries bids farewell to Oak Park

What are your hopes for the future?

Well I would like to see our football team win a game.

We’d like the football team to get better. It’ll be good to get established and comfortable here and know the lay of the land. I like teaching and coaching. I’d like to have a family eventually I love kids; so I’d love to have kids of my own.

Favorite food? Most exotic?

I love tri-tip steak because that’s the only cooking I do. I had never had sushi. So the people I moved out here with introduced me to sushi. The first time I was a little skeptical, wasn’t sure if I liked it. But now I love sushi.

What is the one thing you want your students to know?

Just as there are multiverses, there are multiple ways to be successful in life. There are different ways to achieve the same exact goal. Because parents have this expectation, and, I’m like, did you forget what it was like to be seventeen or eighteen?

english department

CANDIS GILLETT

What is your background?

I taught AP Composition for a long time but I’ve also taught programming because I was a computer science major. I used to work at JPL for NASA but the hours were really unpredictable and I had young kids. Then I started teaching to be around for my kids more.

science department

NISHA PARMAR

What are your hopes for the future?

So I have three more years of school so after that I hope to transition into teaching college or masters level program, specifically education for teaching credentials. I want to teach teachers how to become effective teachers. I have always put my goals first in life and that’s really what I want to do. I really value success in people and ambition.

Best joke?

What do you do with a sick chemist? If you can’t Helium, and you can’t Curium, then you gotta Barium.

What is the one thing you want your students to know?

I strive to do my best by them, every single day. I believe in them, even when they don’t believe in themselves.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to someday be teaching in a world where education is seen as a right for all people, not just a privilege for a few. I try to stress to my students how lucky we are to be living in a country where education is available to everyone, let alone a wonderful place like Oak Park.

english department

LESLIE MILLER

special education department

KELLIE GROSS

What is your background?

I graduated from OPHS! I grew up in this community and went to UCLA. I have been teaching for ten years. I hope to spend the rest of my teaching career at OPHS; I really like it here.

Best Joke?

My apartment is closer to my classroom than my parking spot here at OPHS! Favorite food?

Italian food; I love to cook it and eat it. After that, I love sushi. I didn’t eat sushi for the first 37 years of my life and then one day, I fell in love with it.

What is the one thing you want your students to know?

I love supporting these kids and being able to encourage them. Sometimes they don’t think they can do things but I like to encourage them that they can.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love to run. I run marathons. The hardest part about running them is that they never end. I’ve run five but that’s what I like to do when I can.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’d like to get my masters and continue working with the students. I want to run the London Marathon and go to Belize one day.

special education department

TIFFANY JOHNSON

by Jake Davis and Max Davis, staff writers

The counseling office is going through major changes, including Debi Fries’ decision to retire from the school .

Fries has been a member of the Oak Park faculty for many years as a guidance counselor and an advisor for the Advanced Peer Counseling program.

On the annual retreat this past September, she publicly announced to the peer counselors that it is her time to leave Oak Park and move on to her next chapter in life.

Fries ran the Advanced Peer Counseling program with the freshman counselor, Janet Svoboda. “She [Fries] brings a great sense of humor, knowledge and expertise to the counseling office.”

Svoboda added, “It has been a pleasure to work with Ms. Fries, as a counselor through the Advanced Peer Counseling program.”

Svoboda admired Fries’ charisma and her dedication to the program.

In addition, Svoboda loved that Fries always helped people to remain clam and, according to Svo-

boda, “reminded them to just breathe” in times of stress.

Julie Heeney, another counselor at Oak Park High School, will be replacing Fries’ position in the Advanced Peer Counseling program. “No, I am not nervous,” Heeney said, “I enjoyed directly working with students much more than other aspects of my job so I am pretty excited about it.”

Svoboda also included that she is excited for Heeney to join the program because “she will bring her own unique style, creative contributions and positive energy” to make the program very “impactful and meaningful.”

“I have really had a lot of respect for this program.” Heeney also added, “I don’t know any school that has such an impactful group on their campus as Peer Counseling!”

With this change happening in the counseling office, Fries will always be remembered for her amazing contributions she has made at the school.

Principal Kevin Buchanan said, “It is a loss but we are excited to see her embark on her next adventure.”

TALON

14

october 2014

entertainment Back-to-school crossword

by Zach Finn, staff writer

REVIEWS FROM A READER: “CINDER”

by Juliana Furgala, staff writer

across

down

1. TI’s song about Oak Park (3 words)

2. Seniors’ worst nightmare (2 words)

3. Homecoming theme

6. Without scissors, students can still cut this (2 words)

4. Freshmens’ worst nightmare (2 words) 5. Expect a zero if you don’t ____.

7. New team where females can score eagles (2 words)

8. How to write a good essay

8. What most students want to do

10. Oak Park’s favorite program (2 words)

9. Wild students attend ____. (2 words)

11. Most violated school law (2 words)

12. Another term for 12th grade militia (2 words)

14. What the new math buildings look like (2 words) 16. What to do when a student arrives at home 17. Most desired class (2 words) 18. Ready, Set, _______!

13. The place where juniors get their honey 15. Another word for fall 19. Juniors’ worst nightmare Find the answers in next month’s edition!

Top 3 summer films of 2014

by Samuel Edelsohn, staff writer 3. X-Men: Days of Future Past $745 Million Being the newest film in the very long lineage of the X-Men movie franchise, Day of Future Past deviates from the standard formula by taking elements from political dramas, much like Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Critics consider the film to be the best superhero film since The Dark Knight trilogy.

Starring Hugh Jackman,

James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender, the plot involves the organized, cooperative, and endangered X-Men from the not-toodistant future sending Wolverine back to 1973, where he is tasked with stopping the genocide of the mutant race by stopping the powerful sentinels.

2. Maleficent $748.7 Million Based on the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, this Disney film offers insight into the untold tale of the story’s antagonist: Maleficent. The movie had

ambitious aims, but flopped with a lousy 49 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.

While Jolie’s splendid performance shines, the rest of the film does not come to life.

1. Transformers: Age of Extinction $1 Billion Being the fourth installment in Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise, Age of Extinction tries to rebrand and distance itself from the previous three.

Scoring a wretched 18 per-

As students settle down into the patterns of the school year, oftentimes they lack the time to spend on non-academic, enjoyable activities, whether that be drawing, watching television, exercising, or reading. This is an unfortunate consequence of schoolwork.

These moments of extreme business are often accompanied by periods of nothing to do.

To assist you with these moments of spare time, this column will offer you a possible course of action when you find that you have finished your work or that you need a break from studying.

This column aims to provide you with one potential novel to read each month. These novels will vary from better-known novels to more obscure ones so that you can broaden your range of reading material.

This month’s novel is “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer. This book is an exemplary example of how fairytales are timeless. Marissa Meyer takes the story of Cinderella to a new world – a future technological age of robots, bionic limbs, and aircraft.

In this world, Cinder, a name derived from Cinderella, is an independent spirit and the finest mechanic in her town. The story begins when the prince of the land, Prince Kai, brings a malfunctioning robot to Cinder cent on Rotten Tomatoes, distancing itself apparently did little. Axing Shia LaBeouf in favor of Mark Wahlberg, the film’s plot is quite similar to Bay’s other films.

to be fixed. Even though the original tale is mostly preserved, it is twisted and presented in a different form; for example, there is a new layer to the story.

There are humanoid creatures known as Lunars, who live in a settlement on the moon. Queen Levana, their ruler, is ruthlessly ambitious and will stop at nothing to conquer the earth, beginning with a possible marriage to the single Prince Kai, next in line to rule the futuristic Asia.

Some of the Lunars have escaped to earth, to seek refuge from Queen Levana and her reign, and when the world of Cinder and the Lunars collide, the seemingly normal world begins to unravel.

“Cinder” is an entrancing piece with an excellent balance of action and information.

Meyers presents a new, yet slightly familiar world and includes enough of a spin on the original plot to keep readers guessing, despite many readers’ familiarity with fairytales.

The technology invigorates the plot and allows readers to see the tale through a new angle. It also opens the questions of the future: “What will the world look like?” and “Will we be able to recognize this new world if or when it arrives?”

This thrilling and dramatic piece is a great read when you’re looking for something light, yet thought-provoking.

In reality, the plot does not matter in the slightest.

However, according to critics, if the prospective viewer likes pretty explosions, then they should not hesitate to see the film.

TALON

october 2014

15

sports Football experiences transition season

by Jonathan Rifkind, sports editor Going into Friday’s game against Simi Valley with a 0-7 record, the Oak Park football team will be looking to make a statement.

Although this Eagles squad has surrendered over 450 rushing yards per game along with an average of 50 points per game, each week has seen improvement and hard work.

Head Coach Tim Kenney stated, “We’ve played a lot of really good teams so we can’t be down about that.” The strength of the schedule is a 14.7 out of 20 according to Max Preps.

The schedule strength is based on how good the opposing teams are.

Oak Park’s ranking is 12,289 in the country and play teams such as Bishop Diego, Simi Valley, and Fillmore, who are all in the top 5,000 schools.

Oak Park’s schedule rating is higher than Can-

yon Division leader Calabasas (3-4) and only two points behind rival Agoura High School (3-4).

Coach Kenney is in his first year at Oak Park, but has prior coaching experience at St. Genevieve and Campbell Hall High School.

He has taken on the challenge of coaching a team who is in the rebuilding process following an 11-2 semifinal run last season.

“Nobody wants to be winless,” Kenney explained, “We’ve got a lot of new players and can’t make excuses. We will just keep working and making progress.” The Eagles have lost 20 seniors from last season’s team.

The effort is evident in this Oak Park team. Each player strives to improve every week and to finally get into the win column.

Senior offensive lineman, Nick Brown, understands that this team is facing adversity because of the 0-7 record, but Brown

The Oak Park High School football team faces a rebuilding. Team seen here versus Bishop Diego (Staff Photographer/Talon). asserts that the record does not reflect the amount of effort this teams puts into each practice and game.

“I don’t blame the skepticism, but under the circumstances, such as having a very young team that includes only 4 seniors with varsity experience, a new coaching staff, and a new league, it has been difficult.”

Brown continued to explain that the Eagles have

been improving steadily each week and are looking to end the season strong.

A rebuilding year is a time that every sports team, professional, collegiate or high school, must endure to ensure a successful future.

Oak Park High School Assistant Principal Jason Meskis noted, “These programs have ups and downs.

I have been happy with how this program is being run.

Coach Kenney had been doing a great job keeping the players motivated.”

Even with the offensive and defensive struggles, as well as maintaining last place in the Canyon League, positivity is still evident amongst the Eagles players.

Nick Brown remarked, “We are going out and giving it our best every Friday while having fun in the process. That’s a success in my book.”

Oak Park adds girls golf to sports resume Jewel Jorgensen.

“It’s better to play with more girls – it’s more fun,” said Shevitt, who has been After almost 10 years golfing for six years.

In addition to Shevitt of trying, Oak Park High School has finally found the and Jorgensen, the team inmoney to create a girls golf cludes Alyssa Exler, Reagan team. Since 2005, there has Finch, Abby King, Dakota been talk of adding a team Makulec, and Karisa Toy. By its members, the at the school, however this team has been described was never made a reality because of the lack of fund- as a great bonding experience. “It’s a lot of fun when ing.

The new varsity team you get all the personaliconsists of seven under- ties together,” said freshman Karisa classmen, “I’ve but the I want them to find Toy. really gotcoach is looking to something that they ten to know expand. “I enjoy, something they e v e r y o n e . would love can do their entire We’ve all become great to see the friends.” girl’s team lives.

– Coach Donn James The team grow… they has been sucdeserve everything that any varsity cessful this season, wining level team would aspire to,” ten out of eleven matches against schools such as said Coach Donn James.

The girl’s team sprung Royal (0-5), Moorpark (0from two golfers who 4), Calabasas (4-12), and played alongside the boy’s Camarillo (1-2).

At each match the team team, Georgia Shevitt and

by Camille Polk, staff writer

“

”

The first ever Oak Park High School girls golf team (Staff Photographer/Talon). has had the best score. “Almost every match one of the girls sets a new season low for them,” said Coach James, explaining that in golf, a lower score is a better one.

When asked what the practices, held at the Westlake Golf Course, are like,

Toy replied enthusiastically, “We just go out and putt.”

Being on the team is about more than golf however; it is about developing into well rounded people.

James said he likes to see the girls succeed on the course, but he also wants

them to represent Oak Park positively.

“I want them to find something that they enjoy, something they can do their entire lives, and, I don’t want them to lose sight of the fact that it’s just golf,” James said. “It’s not life.”

TALON

16

october 2014

letter from the editor Dear Readers, Welcome, freshmen. For the rest of us, welcome back.

With a new year, comes new changes to any institution. To Oak Park High School, the new school year has brought new students, new teachers and a whole array of new classrooms.

TALON veritas exquirere

Even the Talon has experienced change, with an all new editorial staff and a more contemporary layout. Also, we are celebrating the addition of a formal class to the Journalism program. This diversification of the Journalism program has led to an explosion of creativity, allowing us to include broadcast and creative design. We also have had the good fortune of expanding our newspaper by four pages, and adding color to our front, back and feature pages.

The staff has worked hard to ensure that this Talon is clearer and more concise than ever.

The Talon, produced by Oak Park High School Journalism students, strives to discuss and bring attention to current events through a student forum.

Looking forward, the Talon hopes to provide more insight into the workings of the school and its students, along with their interactions with the outside world. While this pursuit of truth may enter territories that are controversial or uncomfortable, we hope to embrace this pursuit as a newspaper and make it our greatest strength.

The paper aims to inform the student body in a reliable and relevant manner.

Through all the changes that come with the beginning of the year, we often face daunting tasks and challenges. So, for all the freshmen coping with high school, to the seniors coping with college applications, and to all of you in between, I leave you until next edition with the wise words of Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never give up.”

Tushar Jois, editor-in-chief

Those interested in joining the Talon should contact Tushar Jois or Mrs. Fowler in Room H-9 or attend a staff meeting, monthly on Wednesdays.

If you would like to contact the Talon with comments or questions regarding advertising, please email the newspaper at: <talon@oakparkusd. org>.

2014-2015

TALON

editorial staff editor-in-chief Tushar Jois

content editors

Nicholas Branigan Varsha Sarveshwar

sports editor

Jonathan Rifkind

managing editor Jessica Ji

layout editors

Christopher Lee Ashwarya Srinivas

art director

Irena Yang

head photographer Carly Albert

social media manager Ashley Siavoshi

HOMECOMING WEEKEND

by Carly Albert, head photographer Oak Park High School students celebrated the annual homecoming rally, football game and dance on October 16 and 17.

Freshman Shailyn Dorado claimed that her favorite part about high school so far was the homecoming rally.

“My favorite part about the rally was the fashion show,” she stated.

“I loved homecoming!”

clockwise, from top left: Griffin Scott and Michelle Velasquez are crowned Homecoming King and Queen; the cheer team enjoys the fireworks; the junior class displays its pep; students enjoy the Homecoming dance (Carly Albert/Talon). senior Jasmine Flora exclaimed. “Who doesn’t love to get dressed up and then dance around crazily with your friends?”

The Hollywood-themed dance included a popcorn machine, an old-fashioned looking photo booth and

posters of famous movies.

Another aspect of the homecoming weekend is the football game, which took place the night before the dance.

However, many people did not enjoy this year’s game.

“The game itself wasn’t good,” senior Michael Glassman commented.

However, he added “the ceremony and fireworks were cool.”