The Point, Issue 1, Volume 27 - Oct. 7, 2022

Who’s New? Introducing New Administration, Counselors, Staff Members

By Luka Ardon and Chloe Choi centerspread editors

As an already beloved member of the Sea King family, Dane Hill needs no introduction. From PVHS student to soccer coach to history and AVID teacher, he is now taking on a new role: Associate Principal. Before this year, he was both a teacher and the AVID coordinator. Hill believes his experience as the AVID coordinator set him up perfectly for the promotion to an administrative role. Fulfilling all of these roles, Hill has proven to be one of the most influential figures on this campus.

Jason Ito is our second new Associate Principal. He has never shied away from being the leader of a group. In high school, he was the captain of the football team and ASB president. He believes the reason he taught and coached for a long time was because of his heart for serving. Ito also works well in a team. Now, with Principal Trista Ramirez and co-Associate Principal Hill, Ito hopes to build relationships with students and make PVHS an inclusive, welcoming place for all.

Ashley Hughes isn’t completely new; she joined the PVHS staff as a teacher mid-last year and has enjoyed her time here at PVHS with her students. She graduated from Peninsula High School and had to adjust from learning in a regular schedule to teaching in a block schedule. After graduation, Hughes went to college to be a nurse. She decided it wasn’t for her and started coaching, where she realized that her passion was working with kids. Her goal here is to help students reach their full potential.

Kimberly Gill, former counselor at Rancho Del Mar High School, is PVHS’s new A-C counselor. Gill loves working with kids in an accessible environment. Gill’s number one piece of advice to students is “don’t freak out” when faced with a problem. She believes that “life is a series of problem solving activities.” Gill recommends students to relax then try and solve their problems in creative ways. As a counselor, Gill hopes to see as many students as possible to help guide them through school to shape them into better people, not just better students.

Annie Yu is Chinese-American, originally from the Bay Area, who has been a counselor for three years. Yu enjoys being a counselor because there’s a lot of relationship building with a variety of students and staff. “Just from working with my coworkers, my counseling team and the administration, [I feel that] it’s a very collaborative space that I really like,” she said. Yu’s short term goal is to become acquainted with the school community and systems, while her long term goal is to establish relationships with students and parents of all types at school.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Donna Wanner received her BS in computer science and began her career working for a software company. She quickly realized that working in front of a computer all day was taking a toll on her, and subsequently decided to take a risk and pursue a teaching credential. She decided to work at PVHS because she loved the school’s reviews and the close proximity to the ocean. Wanner’s long-term goals are to help students achieve their academic goals and to sponsor a couple of clubs to contribute to PVHS’s vibrant school community.

Stanford Admissions Officer Sheds Light on Admissions Process

By Amber Chen editor-in-chief

“I think we’re doing students a disservice if we admit students who say, like ‘I didn’t sleep at all this week in order to get [my application done].’ If we hear that, I think that’s almost a red flag… We would definitely be contributing to the problem if we were advocating for students to lose sleep and sacrifice all these things,” Stanford admissions officer Rielly Wieners said. “Balancing mental health and schoolwork is so important. We want students to come to Stanford, or go [to

whichever school], and be happy and able to engage in the community, instead of just working all the time.”

Just like the students writing their college essays, the admissions counselors on the other side of the application process are thoughtful, multifaceted people as well. With silver piercings and sleeves of tattoos, Wieners (she/ they) presents a different image than whom most students picture when they hear the word “admissions officer.” Beyond her outward appearance, Wieners also introduces a distinctive perspective to Stanford’s undergraduate admissions office.

“I was [a] first generation, low-income [student] myself,”

Wieners said. “I was an athlete— I played softball— so I was leaning towards coaching. I also have always loved writing, so I was hoping to write, or do communication in some way, maybe journalism. No one really goes into admissions thinking, ‘this is definitely something I want to do.’ It’s just a way to apply different skills.”

Wieners first became interested in working as an admissions counselor after hearing from a friend employed at Amherst College’s admissions office, consequently realizing that it would be an impactful way to “reach diverse groups of students and push back oppressive social structures.”

What’s Behind the Curtains This Fall?

Drama department to put on One Man, Two Guvnors

By Olivia Kao reporter

As the new school year begins, it’s only fitting that students and staff in the drama department are beginning to curate a distinctive production to put on later this fall. Whether it’s on the stage, behind the stage or in the pit, actors, crew members and musicians are collaborating to put on One Man, Two Guvnors as this year’s fall play.

In late October and early November, the department will be ready to put on seven showings after countless hours of hard work during rehearsals.

This play is different from other productions at PVHS: it’s a comedy.

“I felt it was the right time and I felt that I had the actors to do it,” director Nicole Thompson said.

“There was a lot of sadness and dark things that came out of the pandemic for a lot of people, so it’s nice to have an escape. The comedy and characters are larger than life.”

The actors have similar views, and are enthusiastic to be a part

of this novel production.

“It is unique in the way that it is very heavy on physical comedy,” junior and actor Dash Tyler said.

“It is very well-written and is a lot of fun to be a part of. It’s very fun to watch and interact with [as an audience member].”

Actress Rachel McGinty plays a witty bookkeeper and the main antagonist’s love interest, a character named Dolly.

“My character Dolly is smart, poised and passionate,” the junior said.

“I can relate to her in being a very passionate person; there’s a lot I’m learning from her and how she is able to speak up for herself and others.”

Besides playing a character on stage, working behind the scenes can give students a different perspective on what goes into the making of a show.

Sophomore Senna Neiman, the show’s assistant director, has noticed how different her new role is from performing on stage.

“There’s a lot to do,” she said. “For example, [we had to make] sure we have enough props for rehearsals and [take] note of any

ADHD Support at PVHS

By Zara Deen reporter

ADHD awareness has grown from one day a year to the full month of October. ADHD, a brain disorder, affects around 9% of teenagers ranging from grades 9 to 10 in California.

ADHD can affect a student’s ability to focus, pay attention and to make friends and social connections.

“Depending on the type of ADHD the student has, their learning can be positively or negatively affected,” counselor Annie Yu said.

“With the traditional school schedule, sitting down for hours can lead to a lack of focus, especially in students with ADHD. However, students with ADHD can often find something they’re passionate about and really hone in on that interest.”

At PVHS, there are many resources to help support students with ADHD, their families and their teachers.

PVHS has a lot of specialized support that can be tailored to the student’s needs.

“The student can always let the school or counselor know if help is needed. They then can provide a strategy and further resources depending on the needs of the student,” Yu said.

“Some examples of resources are SAGE counselors, school psychiatrists and, if needed, supplies to help direct focus more successfully in the classroom.”

The SAGE program is

script changes so that we have a record of everything. It’s really cool to see the behind the scenes and how much work goes into it. There’s lots of taking initiative and not waiting to be told to do something, and, in addition, having confidence.”

Other than being a part of the stage crew, a handful of student musicians also work hard behind the curtains to play live music and sound effects.

“Leading pit is challenging but also very rewarding,” electricguitarist and senior Pixie Kinsolving said.

“I think that live music feels so much more real and it makes every show a little more unique.”

With the hard work of actors, stage crew and musicians, students all over campus should look forward to the upcoming production the drama department has in store for the fall.

“I think people should come see [the show] because it’s a great production; our cast, crew and creative teams are so fantastic and we’re really excited to be able to put on this show,” McGinty said.

Roe v. Wade: How It Changed Abortion Access

a school-based therapy program with student support specialists.

“SAGE can help with social and emotional issues that come up at PVHS,” SAGE counselor Lilie Frandsen said.

“The program can also help students learn about their ADHD in a safe environment to provide resources and solutions.”

PVHS also supports psychologists who can work on ADHD-specific strategies, based on what works for the individual student.

“A session with me usually starts with a check-in if there is anything new to share or discuss,” school psychologist Thomas Nunan said.

“It then varies depending on what is needed for the student, such as anxiety reduction, social or coping skills, etc. We then end the session with either a fun game or a random question to finish things off. I love seeing students grow and feel independent enough to eventually stop seeing me,” he said.

As a school, we can raise awareness and remove the stigma around this issue by educating ourselves on ADHD to better help and understand this condition.

“Part of it is for our school administration and counselors to educate students around ADHD,” Yu said, “and to let our community know that everyone is different and may need different kinds of support.”

(Graphic by Ella Sherry)

By Ella Sherry news editor

Roe v. Wade was a monumental case in which seven of the nine judges legitimized the right to abortion due to the promise of privacy in the Constitution in 1973. The decision stood for nearly 50 years until it was overturned this past summer.

“I think that this is what an older generation of feminists have always warned about: that this was a right that we should not take for granted, and that I think many generations have taken for granted,” gender studies teacher Christina Varela said.

When the historic court case was overturned in June of 2022, many states sprang into action either to protect or ban abortions.

The severity of the bans differ widely. Currently there are laws in place for everything from full

bans to six to 24 week bans, which means abortions aren’t legal after the sixth to 24th week of pregnancy.

As of October 6, 14 states have full bans and in 10 states abortions are—to a certain extent—still legal, according to the New York Times. 15 states protect abortion rights until the fetus is viable, which is typically after 24 weeks of pregnancy. California is among those.

In many states, abortion bans are being blocked by judges. These states include Ohio, South Carolina, Wyoming, Iowa, North Dakota, Michigan and Montana. In Indiana, an almost total abortion ban was blocked on Thursday, Sept. 22, a week after it went into effect.

But although some states are blocking these bans, the rate of abortion restriction laws in other states are moving quickly.

In the span of one week, starting on Sept. 16 and ending

on Sept. 23, two states had instated complete abortion bans: West Virginia and Arizona.

“This issue is so big. [It] goes back to 1973, and even beyond,” Varela said. “People have been arguing about this for decades. And [for] people who are opposed to abortion this has been their goal since 1973: to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

Reproductive rights are most likely going to be a major topic in future federal and state elections.

“Upcoming elections will definitely be impacted,” senior Cate Fasoletti said. “The Supreme Court’s recent decision was a reminder to Americans that the individuals elected [into] office have the power and ability to change the structure of the country.”

“[The overturning] sent shock waves into this country,” Varela said. “And how [it] affects the people who live in [the US] might even be a bigger question.”

(Image courtesy of Nicole Thompson)

District Changes Fourth Grade Music Program

Celebrating the Latin American History at Palos Verdes

By Luka Ardon centerspread editor

By Olivia Kao reporter

As elementary school students enter the new school year, one grade level in particular will not have an opportunity given to previous students.

PVPUSD decided to replace the fourth grade instrumental music program with alternative music-related classes.

Instead, fourth graders will rotate between classes that cover music of the Americas, digital music, and an introduction to playing an instrument.

An early exposure to music is incredibly important for students.

“When presented at a young age, the music is of the simpler, less complex form and is easily understood and accessible for children,” local piano teacher Darlene Vlasek said.

“In my teaching experience, it has been proven many times that children have an innate sense of appreciation for and recognition of expressions of greatness, particularly in music.”

The music programs at schools all across the PVPUSD district have been subject to budget cuts, resulting in numbers of student musicians decreasing by the year. This has been seen at

all grade levels.

There are many students at PVHS who were directly influenced by the music program.

“Elementary school music definitely pushed me to keep going and play music in middle school,” sophomore drummer Nate Friedman said.

“I think that it had a huge impact on who I am today because I found something that I love to do and it’s given me huge opportunities.”

Other students had the same experience with the program.

“Learning to play [an instrument] in fourth grade showed me I had a passion for playing music, and allowed me to explore that interest,” senior saxophonist Max Colomer said.

“I think it’s important that kids are introduced to music at a young age so they have time to explore all of the opportunities that music can provide.”

The school year awaits many changes, one being the change of the fourth grade music program. It is yet to be seen if the new music classes will provide the same enrichment that playing a musical instrument throughout the entirety of fourth grade did for many.

This month, PVHS is celebrating Latin American heritage on campus.

Latin American Heritage Month’s purpose is to celebrate and learn about Latin American culture in the United States.

Christina Varela is the club director of one of PVHS’s new clubs, the Latin American Student Association, or LASA.

“It’s important for everyone to see their culture and history acknowledged, respected and appreciated,” Varela said.

Latin American Heritage Month starts off on September 15 and ends on October 15.

September 15 is an important day to many people in the Latin American community, because it’s the independence day for five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

The following day is Mexico’s independence day.

“Here’s the deal: the part of the United States that we are living in right now was all once Mexico. Then it flipped and became the United States in 1850,” said Varela.

“So that culture, that heritage, is here. It was here from the beginning.”

Although it might not seem like there is a lot of Latin

American culture in Palos Verdes, it’s the contrary.

“We have a Spanish name for our city,” Varela said.

Many of the street names are also of Spanish origin.

Alina Montalvan, one the CoPresidents of LASA, is already working on the goals of LASA for PVHS.

“We need to spread awareness about our culture and make sure that we are represented on campus,” said

Montalvan.

Awareness months like Black History Month in February and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May are very important for their respective groups.

“There are those who say we shouldn’t have these special months, but until we integrate and all accept this as our history, we need to have these months,” Varela said.

PVHS Enjoys Groovy, Casual Homecoming

By Enna Hosoi reporter

A casual Homecoming has been a tradition for PVHS.

In the span of the 20 years of its existence, there has never been a year where casual Homecoming has been changed to a more formal event.

“It makes us stand out,” ASB President Sharlize Moayedi said. She prefers Homecoming to be more laid-back, because students already have a formal dance in the winter.

Some Sea Kings find it a positive that PVHS does Homecoming differently, but one student, Izzy Zaro, has a different opinion on the school’s homecoming.

“I would like it better if our Homecoming was more formal like the other schools,” Zaro said.

Everyone has very different opinions on this topic.

Nevertheless, students still enjoy all of the events surrounding Homecoming.

The Homecoming game on Friday Sept. 30 was high-spirited; the neon theme was popular and the student section was full,

fired up by Red Tide. The historic nature of the game was not lost on anyone - it was the first night game in the history of the school.

School administrators and ASB Director Jama Maxfield worked hard to persuade local residents and politicians to allow the school to have lights for the game.

The Sea King football team won 54-0 against the Santa Monica Vikings.

The Homecoming court ceremony was the highlight of the game. The Freshman Court winners, Bella Sachar and Roko Albano, were celebrated along with the Sophomore Court winners, Lucienne Jassy and Nate Friedman, and the Junior Court winners, Maximillian Behzad-Asiri and Jada Durroh, at halftime. Moayedi and Peter Kraemer were announced as the Senior Court winners at the same time.

The dance theme this year was disco, and students dressed up in bright colors, flare jeans, halter tops, tie-dye, sequins, Go-go boots, colorful sunglasses, headbands and 70s-inspired dresses.

The theme made for a festive and exciting experience.

LASA Presidents Luka Ardon and Alina Montalvan at a cultural food fair last year. (Photo courtesy of Cynthia Mindicino)

Elementary schools offer a new experience for students

(Photos by Eva Mayrose)

“I

Whatis your dream class at PVHS?

World Cuisine Honors

Students Publish Their First Novel Together

By Sophie Sun reporter

Architecture

Fashion Design More Languages Blacksmithing

Two girls walk side by side outside McDonalds, holding icy McFlurries in their hands as they laugh and snack on the chilly dessert. One is tall, with a black and silver wolf cut and multiple piercings and the other is shorter, with caramel honey-colored hair and slim silver frames. In the dim light of the world’s biggest fast food chain, they bond over the cool sweetness of ice cream.

This is one of the most popular scenes from PV High senior and varsity volleyball player Katie Choi’s self-published novel, “Everything I’ve Lost I’ve Found in You.”

With select scenes illustrated by senior Cynthia Ho, the sapphic novel tells the story of a popular volleyball player/influencer and a wealthy, introverted, misunderstood student.

Choi began writing the book in the fall of 2021 and published it in August of 2022.

“It was supposed to be a standalone but I really liked the characters and then I kept writing it and eventually finished it,” Choi said.

The main couple, Wynn and Jiyu, start off their relationship as roommates, slowly blossoming into something more. The

Caffeine Craze: Coffee or Energy Drinks?

By Eva Yancheson reporter

Students, faced with rigorous and demanding schedules, often need pick-me-ups to keep them going during the day.

Though both drinks share a common ingredient, coffee and energy drinkers have stern beliefs on which one is better.

Coffee drinkers are common amongst our staff and student body.

Junior Maddie Sherman explains why she is an avid coffee-drinker. “In the morning when I don’t have coffee I notice throughout the day that I’m tired [and I will] be waiting until after school [when] I can drink it,” she said.

For Sherman, drinking coffee has become a reliance, a necessity to her routine.

She stated that without it, “my anxiety is higher, I’m shaky all day, I don’t want to eat [and] I don’t have the energy to do things, so I have to drink it.”

For most coffee lovers, coffee gives them the jolt of caffeine and energy that they need, without going overboard on their caffeine intake.

Though Sherman is already feeling like her relationship with coffee is an addiction, she refuses to drink any energy drinks in fear that her dependence on caffeine will become “even more intense,” than it already is.

Those who push for energy drinks argue

that it provides them with a more intense energy boost.

Many say that coffee doesn’t give them the jolt they require to get going in the mornings and doesn’t keep them energized for the whole day.

Junior Samantha Lekawa explained that Celcius, a caffeinated and carbonated energy drink, is the only thing that will wake her up in times of need.

“I feel more energized after drinking celcius than [I do after drinking] coffee. I’ll drink one at 7 AM when I’m feeling tired in the morning, or 11 PM when I need to stay up late to do homework,” Lekawa said.

Lekawa reports that on those late nights, the caffeine in the Celcius will last her until almost 2 or 3 AM, which leaves her with questionable sleep and study habits.

This is something that all students here at PV High School should be wary of.

book covers topics like familial pressure, academic stress, fake friends, and includes a diverse cast of queer and POC characters. Choi drew inspiration from real life issues and topics, writing as a creative outlet.

“People are like ‘Oh I’m so bad

Ho and Choi met last year in 5th period English class. After being introduced to the story, Ho began working on the book in December of 2021. Ho drew the cover with soft pink and purple tones, depicting an intimate, heartwarming scene of the main couple embracing on a bed. Ho says that the cover took her almost 4 months to complete as Choi worked on editing the book, the pair working through finals and AP season.

“I had to change my style quite a bit and I learned how to format my art in a way that was easily editable because it is a project with other people, so it has to be flexible,” Ho said.

“It really just taught me how to complete a project as well because I’ve never done something this big so far.”

Choi says that though the whole process of writing her book took about one and a half years, the hardest part was the final step: publishing the book.

at writing,’ but it’s definitely a skill you can build…whatever you make all the time doesn’t have to be a double prize winner, like I didn’t write this thinking ‘man this is gonna be a New York Times bestseller’, I just wrote it and it was fun,” Choi said.

Despite this challenge, Choi continues to enjoy writing and says she will continue publishing in the future, whether that comes in the form of illustrating children’s books or working on novels.

“You can just create whatever you want to create or see and it’s your own little universe,” Choi said.

“I wish that

would

we

make Korean Bulgogi.”

Rohan Gianchandani

should have it as a class because it can help people who like architecture explore it and find out if they want to pursue

as a career.”

Brette Andrews

“I think it would be really awesome if we had a fashion design class. We would get fashion advice, create our own pieces, and model the clothes.” - Abby Cheung (11)

“I think there should be more language

offered.

able

exposed

of the world and more languages.”

Gia Bohorquez

“I

was

(Graphic by Chloe Choi)

(Graphic by Eva Yancheson)

Stanford Admissions Officer Sheds

Light on Application Process

(continued from front page)

A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Wieners views Stanford’s holistic admissions process as a way for students “to express their strengths in different ways, and not just through test scores, or [one single aspect].”

For instance, “things like family commitments are valued in the process, as much as working or test scores,” she stated.

“We want to give people a chance to shine in different ways, and just let personality come through.”

Presenting themselves uniquely is a challenge students can find different ways to overcome each year, provided that they are not fabricating personal experiences.

“We can really tell when students are trying to say what they think we want to hear, versus what they want to give to us,” Wieners said. “It’s the introspection, the space to clear your head and not look for a

elements fit together, admissions officers use a specific term: harmonizing.

“We start to see [the applicant] harmonize and come together, when we see the list of things they do outside the classroom,

own words. We start to sit up and see them as a whole person, and understand what their angle is,’’ Wieners said.

When it comes to optimizing one’s high school experience, Wieners provides advice applicable both to seniors who are searching for essay-worthy topics and to freshmen who are seeking out ways to involve themselves in the community.

“Truly lean into the things you’re passionate about. Make time for things you actually care about, follow those passions, and take as much time as you need to write about them,” Wieners said.

particular topic or angle— that’s what makes essays good!”

To describe what a genuine application looks like as its

when we hear teachers talking about the presence they have inside the classroom or outside… and then we hear the student’s

“Students worry about the quantitative— which is also important; we do need to know that you can do well in a rigorous course schedule, but what really stands out to us is the voice in your essays. If

that’s not there, the other stuff doesn’t really matter.

“We really want to hear you reflecting, being introspective, applying your interests, thinking about what changes you want to make in the world, and thinking about what your goals are. It’s deep emotional work.”

Wieners believes that an “openness to learning about yourself and the people around you” and “the ability to give yourself grace” are key to cultivating fulfilling experiences, whether in high school, college or beyond.

“Take time to really put yourself on the page,” Wieners said.

“But before that, you first have to live those experiences, right? So, open yourself up to opportunities around you in order to learn about yourself, so that you will have things to write about.”

Getting to Know Ms. Olson

An inside look at one of PVHS’s most-loved English teachers

By Sophie Stoddart reporter

Before going to college and pursuing her career as a teacher, Jennifer Olson grew up in Palos Verdes. She went to Silverspur Elementary School, PVIS, and then Peninsula High School when it was the only high school on the hill.

Olson shared that she had a great experience and education growing up on the hill, and feels grateful to have been raised here.

In school, Olson involved herself in a lot of different activities. She was a writer for the school newspaper in both high school and college. She did CSF, was Activities Director in ASB and was a part of a Christian club.

After being a student in PVPUSD, she went on to get her Bachelor’s degree (BA) in English at UCLA. After receiving her BA, she participated in a program where she studied theology in Maryland for a year. She completed her Masters in Education at Stanford University, through a twelve month program where she got both her masters and credentials.

She then taught at Peninsula for four years before transferring to PVHS where she has been teaching for thirteen years.

Olson has kept a journal for almost her entire life. In elementary school, she had developed an interest in writing.

In fourth grade, Olson’s teacher, Mr. Popperwell would assign spelling stories. “He would give us our spelling words and we would have to come up with a story. Most kids did the bare minimum, but I looked forward to the spelling stories so much. I would go home and write these mini novels, like little short stories and I’d get really excited. I had maybe ten page long stories.”

Her teacher deeply encouraged her to continue writing.

Olson’s creative writing teacher at Peninsula High, Ms. Yoshahara, made all of her students submit their writing to get published. Olson ended up submitting a short story of hers to “Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul,” and they accepted it. However, she does not write as much anymore because she is so busy with teaching and taking care of her family.

When Olson was younger, she thought she wanted to be a journalist, and wrote for “The Daily Bruin” newspaper at UCLA, but realized the lifestyle was not the right fit for her.

She also thought she wanted to be a lawyer like her father and did not figure out what she really wanted to do until she studied in Maryland and applied for the Stanford Teacher Education Program.

Olson started teaching right away when she entered the program.

“Right when I got in the classroom and started student teaching I just knew that I was going to be a teacher. I loved it. I loved being in the classroom, I loved teaching, I felt so much joy from it, and I thought ‘oh my gosh this is what I’m meant to do.’”

She hopes students will find comfort knowing you don’t have to have your whole future mapped out.

“It’s hopeful because students always say ‘oh I don’t know what I want to do with my life yet,’ in college, I didn’t know until grad school. Hopefully that’s encouraging to students, that you might not know what [you] want to do right away, and people change careers too.”

Olson loves her job. She enjoys interacting with students and having class discussions.

Olson also hopes to see more of the world in the future. “My husband and I would really like to travel at some point when the kids get older.”

She also expressed interest in rediscovering old passions. “I would really like to write at some point too, but we’ll see when I have time for that.”

Olson has advice for every high school student that she wishes she could have heard as a high schooler. “I would definitely tell myself to relax and not stress as much as I stressed out. I think that I stressed out a lot in high school and everything felt really overwhelming. I felt like I had to get really good grades and go to the best schools, and while that’s all really important, I think I would have told myself that even if I don’t stress as much, life will still be okay.”

“

I love really great discussions in class. Like when we end up having a really great discussion, and they’re making me think about stuff that I’ve never thought about, especially books that I’ve read [so many times before].”

Olson also loves knowing that she is making an impact on her students and their lives.

“Obviously, it’s nice when you get encouragement from students and they say ‘you really helped me, I really learned in your class,’ because then it feels like I’m making a difference. It’s just really great.”

Olson has just moved into a new house with her family. When asked about what she thinks the next chapter of her life will look like, she stated that she is excited to watch her kids grow up.

“It sounds simple and probably not that exciting, but just watching my kids grow up, and being a part of that process is a big focus right now.”

“Truly lean into the things you’re passionate about. Make time for things you actually care about, follow those passions, and take as much time as you need to write about them.”

Scrolling Through

Students’ Opinions on Everything

Students’ Favorite Trends

“Well as an artist I’m a bit biased to say I really enjoy art trends on TikTok. Like, I enjoyed people animating their characters doing the same dances.

It shows off how different artists take on the same challenges. It really shows how art style and technique affect a product even if you’re given the same template or guide as everyone else; it shows off the creativity of individuals.”

- Ari Tousey (11)

Trend or

activity.

By Eva Yancheson reporter

The death of Musically was the birth of TikTok, thus beginning the long, influential reign of one of the most popular social media apps amongst the youth.

TikTok and Pinterest, along with other social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, provide hours of entertainment while enabling anyone to create and share content.

These apps are often described as temporary escapes from reality, feeding personalized content to users through algorithms designed to keep them entertained and hooked.

For decades, billboards, magazines, and commercials were responsible for popularizing fashion and material trends, reassuring companies that these advertising methods were worthy investments.

Similarly, social media is a platform for immense advertisement and exposure, but digital.

Through online trends, companies are able to market their own brands and capitalize.

Social media has the overwhelming power to influence not just merchandise, but also the behaviors and lifestyles of students and young adults who are still developing their identities.

Trends cycle through social media apps constantly, almost always containing some sort of clothing style, recipe or recreational

However, some newly contain malevolent themes trouble for those involved.

Last year, in high schools country, a short but destructive called “devious licks” was the bathrooms.

Olivia Carrasquillo campus supervisors, explained, “[Students] tried to take off the hand soap dispensers, towel dispensers, they trash can into the toilet”.

This two-week phenomenon Carrasquillo and other confused and disappointed,

“I really like theory videos about books I like.

When I enjoy a book I like to get as much content from the story as possible and I like to hear other people’s ideas and theories about the story.”

- Michelle Nikmehr (10)

“My favorite trend on social media was the Duolingo account and everything surrounding it. This was from around earlier this year but in a lot of TikToks, the Duolingo account would make funny threats to people who haven’t done their daily streak. Some things Duo would say would be ‘Spanish or vanish,’ ‘French or the trench,’ etc.”

“I like when American and British people make fun of each other on TikTok.

I lived in London and the United States of America so it is funny to see the different perspectives the different areas have on each other.”

- Leyton Wolfe (10)

“My favorite trend is the Academic Weapon movement founded by Bradley Kraut #KickTheSheets has inspired an entire generation to do better and to become academic weapons.”

- Nathan Chavira (11)

“I really like the TikTok slideshows I’ve been seeing, the ones that have something to do with the ‘indomitable human spirit.’ I find them entertaining because in most cases it’s simply made for the purposes of making the viewer laugh, but sometimes they really do make you feel indomitable.”

- Arshia Maleki (12)

- Jenyne Ebreo (10)

“My favorite trend is low rise jeans, long sleeves and platform converse.

I like this trend because it’s unlike other fashion [trends]. It’s a throwback to the 2000’s and other eras combined. It can also be diverse instead of wearing the same basics.”

- Anna Pilato (9)

Through Trends Trouble?

Survey of Students’ Favorite Social Media App

newly emerging trends themes that cause involved.

schools across the destructive trend was put in action in

, one of PVHS’s explained, take a toilet, they broke dispensers, the paper even flipped the toilet”.

phenomenon had school officials disappointed, as this was

the most profound occasion of vandalism they had ever seen on campus.

“I had only seen it last year, never had I seen it happen before,” Carrasquillo said.

Though negativity is always present on social media, occasionally there are positive trends that are seen amongst students in school.

Pinterest and TikTok are hubs for fashion advice, and contain trends that flourish and create specific niches and styles that teen girls can take inspiration from.

Junior Anna Peti-Peterdi explained the influence Pinterest and TikTok have on her style.

“Seeing how other girls express themselves through clothes [on Pinterest] helps me find a way to express myself as well. The basic pieces of my clothes stay constant, but then every once in a while there’s a clothing trend that I like and will implement into my style,” Peti-Peterdi said.

Peti-Peterdi sees social media as a positive and helpful resource for fashion, as well as for other aspects of lifestyle like cooking.

“I get all sorts of recipes from TikTok. My favorite ones are the desserts, and TikTok is super useful for showing me quick, easy ways to expand on simple recipes,” said Peti-Peterdi.

Using social media can prove to be a positive and negative resource, depending on the user the type of videos they let influence them.

It is important that teens use social media apps consciously in order to ensure the well-being of themselves and of others.

Rising Above Social Media’s Troublesome Tides

By Eva Yancheson reporter

Escaping social media’s grasp proves a rare and difficult task in today’s society, especially for teens and students.

Still, is this something we should be ignoring?

The collective population of the world seems conflicted on the effects of social apps, and whether they will contribute to a more positive or negative future for our young generation.

To protect themselves from succumbing to misinformation and negative influences, teenagers are learning to recognize and identify the falsities installed and advertised by social media.

Corporations and apps use calculated strategies or algorithms to take advantage of young, impressionable minds, so it is important for users to realize that social media is not an accurate reflection of reality.

Promotion of makeup products, for example, are often endorsed by “honest” reviews from an influencer for a trending product.

The reality is that they simply are paid to make that video or post.

Once revealed, the secrets of marketing on social media through trends and influencers no longer are able to make teens oblivious victims, but rather connoisseurs of the inevitable technological future.

OPINION

STAY IN YOUR LANE Time to Fix PV High’s Parking Problem

By Eva Mayrose opinion editor

“Late again, I see,” your first period teacher says as you walk into the room after a grueling battle for a parking space.

“I know, I know, but you should really see the never-ending line of cars waiting to enter the parking lot. Plus, once you finally get in, it takes forever to find a spot. I guess I’ll leave the house earlier tomorrow,” you tiredly say.

A new school year comes with a rise in stress and anxiety for almost all high school students, but who would have thought that making it to class on time because of parking would sit high on the list of stressors for students?

It seems that PVHS’s dated parking system has finally been taking its toll over the last few years, as the number of student drivers has been increasing.

Though PV High can’t exactly make more room for parking to make it easier on students, there are definitely some

improvements that could make the morning rush less stressful.

For instance, the administration could better enforce separation of the grades by parking lot. Currently, our two student lots are already divided into senior and junior spaces; however, there is no real enforcement of parking by grade level.

This leads to some juniors taking up senior spots because of “easier access” or shade, leaving the remaining seniors to hunt through the smaller junior lot for a parking space.

When all spaces are full, some are forced to park in illegitimate areas or even in the spare teacher spaces, causing another problem for the administration to fix.

As one can imagine,the situation only worsens when sophomores start driving, adding a whole new set of wheels to the problem.

All of this is not to say that our new administration has been sitting idly by every morning

while upperclassmen battle it out for a corner spot.

With new teacher-assigned parking spaces, the idea was to give the students more space to park, but that hasn’t exactly been the case.

However, the latest changes have not been as beneficial to students as we have hoped.

Instead, the slight increase in student room has seemed negligible, because when trying to park in what was previously an available spot but is now reserved as a “teacher area,” students are violating the new system and consequently pulled out of class to move their car.

Capitalizing on the alreadycompromised situation, parking spots have now been on sale to students who can afford to pay the high price. Within these personal parking spaces, no others are allowed to park in the purchased spot, even when the student who bought it is absent.

The idea that students are paying for parking spots is already a budding corruption,

but it especially highlights the urgency and importance of this parking crisis.

For the rest of the students who are left to fend for themselves early in the morning, sooner than later there needs to be a solution to the parking problem.

A short-term solution would

be for administration to enforce the parking system according to grade, giving seniors priority to the senior lot.

As for students, those who live close to school should consider walking or biking to school instead of taking up another precious parking space after a thirty-second drive to school.

Temperature Makes a Difference

Students suffer from lack of AC in classrooms

By Quinn Kearns social media manager

Along with the increasing temperatures in California, our students’ tolerance to this harsh weather is decreasing.

Returning to school after a long summer under intense UV rays is hard, especially when the transition allows for no solution to more extreme heat in the learning environment.

Walking to my last period of the day covered in so much sweat that I look as though I just ran a mile or drenched myself with a bucket of water was definitely not one of my prouder moments.

While sitting uncomfortably in my puddle of sweat I began pondering a solution to my dehydration and dangerously high body temperatures.

The only rational thing that came to mind was air conditioning. Many will argue that the few wimpy fans per

classroom do the job of cooling down students and that getting air conditioning units would be too expensive.

To this I respond that it is nearly impossible to focus, let alone learn in a work environment in which my pit stains are larger than the Pacific Ocean.

Having a comfortable temperature in our classrooms helps productivity and also helps control air quality in classrooms.

To maintain a healthy and comfortable working environment for everyone, teachers are advised to keep their classrooms between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is a hard standard to meet when most teachers pay out of pocket to supply a couple fans blowing around warm air in their classrooms and classroom temperatures can reach the high 80s.

Many students who transfer to our school claim that the

only downside of PV High is the painful transition to non-air conditioned classrooms.

Though some may argue that this is not entirely true, the reality is that only a select number of teachers have air conditioning. Why is it fair that some students

and staff members get to relax and learn in well air conditioned rooms while others are slowly dying of heat exhaustion?

The short answer is that students shouldn’t be sacrificing yet another facet of their health when they already neglect their

hydration, sleep, and mental health.

In retrospect, we shouldn’t be neglected when it comes to a healthy learning environment.

This needs to be a priority for the school district because the heat waves will keep coming.

Graphic by Quinn Kearns

Students park in unauthorized areas in full lots. (Photos by Eva Mayrose)

A Letter From the Editors

District’s Decision to Change Elementary School Music Program Closes the Door to Artistic Exploration

You may forget the name of an 18th century composer, but you will never forget the joy of playing Hot Cross Buns on your fourth grade instrument of choice.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District’s decision to cut down the fourth grade music program will close the door to creative opportunities for elementary students.

Learning a musical instrument is parallel to learning a new language. A fourth grader never knows if this instrument is their passion in dormancy, waiting to be discovered by yearlong participation in music.

The only way for students to develop this passion is through prolonged exposure to a hands-on music program.

Young minds are more pliable, so picking up an instrument during fourth grade is much easier than beginning music in middle school. Students who miss out on music at a young age have a hard time sticking with it at a later age because by middle school, the discrepancy between proficiency levels is already prominent, decreasing motivation for those who are just beginning.

Furthermore, elementary students have much more free time to invest in learning a new talent compared to middle school students. They also have more time to find what works best for them – their natural style and method of thinking and learning.

PVPUSD greatly values the significance of an interdisciplinary and diverse curriculum, which is why it provides a wide range of classes available to students.

The music program is such a vital part of elementary school education, and while it’s

true that not everyone continues to pursue music, people who learn this art at an early age develop secondary skills that are applicable to personal and academic goals.

Such skills include improved handeye coordination and memory, which are important for children to develop.

Through hours and hours of independent practicing, musicians also refine important qualities like discipline and a greater appreciation of the arts.

Cutting down the fourth grade music program may lead to the reduction of the fifth grade program when PVPUSD needs funding for other sectors. Districts such as San Fransisco’s Mount Diablo Unified School District have already modeled this, others even going as far as to cut music programs from middle school as well.

The number of students entering the middle school music departments is already decreasing, which directly translates to even fewer who choose to continue music in high school.

With lower enrollment rates comes less funding as fewer parents and beneficiaries donate to the arts, and the district unintentionally devalues the importance of an education in music.

The district takes pride in its exceptional music department. But with declining numbers of music students due to the lack of funding and the reduction of fourth grade music, PVPUSD will no longer be able to call on string quartets or jazz combos to enhance its private events and students with a potential affinity for music will also feel the repercussions.

To Snooze or Not to Snooze?

By Aidan Shen reporter

As the 2022-23 school year kicks off, Palos Verdes High School implemented a new bell schedule in response to the state law introduced to give students extra sleep before class.

The previous bell schedule required students to be on campus at 8 AM. for their first period. However, the newly applied schedule sets time forward to 8:30, in hopes of giving students an extra half hour of rest.

Though there is a large amount of controversy surrounding the updated schedule, and whether getting thirty minutes of extra sleep or allowing students to get out earlier is more important, in my opinion, the change has had more benefits than losses.

With an extra half an hour of sleep, there has been an increase of students arriving on time and well-rested for their classes than before.

Providing a sufficient time period for students who live farther away to get to school

OPINION

Students Give Their Opinion on Popular Scary Movies

By Kelly Donahue features editor

on time reduces stress in the mornings which is important for their mental health and later academic performance throughout the day.

Most classes assign one assignment each period to be submitted to the next class.

Along with extracurricular activities and outside commitments, highschoolers have to balance finishing their homework as well as making sure they get the recommended eight to ten hours of sleep every night.

In past years, a healthy sleep schedule was rare for students, especially those with zero periods. From being in class at seven, and having to leave the house as early as 6:30 AM for students who live farther away, this extra thirty minutes, though seemingly small, serves its purpose as providing students with a grace period during a rushed morning.

With students getting to school on time, getting more sleep, and seemingly doing better academically, the new schedule seems to bring a positive change for most.

A Quiet Place

“I think any John Krasinski movie is really well made and I love Emily Blunt. I think it’s different from your normal scary movie because you really have to pay attention and it really sucks you into the movie since it’s quiet the whole time.”

Ranking: 5/5 Grace Gulcher (12)

Midsommar

“I encourage everyone to watch Midsommar because it really tells us a lot about society and it’s a very well done film. My favorite part was the ending, I didn’t see it coming.”

Ranking: 4.5/5 Cherise Stoll (12)

(Graphic by Kelly Donahue)

The Conjuring

“The conjuring was the first horror movie I ever watched. It’s an iconic movie that everyone should know about, it’s such a classic. I feel like if you’re trying to venture into the world of scary movies it’s a good first one because it has the elements of a scary movie with the jump scares and the plots you don’t expect.

“My favorite thing about the movie is I feel like it’s the first movie to really capture demonic possession in a way that will intrigue you and not in a cheesy, overdone way.”

Ranking: 5/5 Vali Gardner (12)

Underclassmen Should Be Given A Chance at Off-Campus Lunch Passes

By Aaron Propst reporter

This year, the campus supervisors have begun to more stricltly enforce rules that state that freshman, sophomores, and juniors cannot leave campus during lunchtime.

However, rules for leaving campus during lunch are too strict and should not be enforced on all underclassmen.

Allowing students to leave campus at lunch has many upsides that are not normally taken into consideration.

When students are able to leave campus at lunch they are able to make more personal choices on what they want to eat. Otherwise, they have to stick to school lunch or whatever they are able to pack themselves for the day.

Leaving campus at lunch also offers a better break from the stressful school day. Giving the choice to students to get away from school and go eat on their own can be a way students can energize themselves for the rest

News: Ella Sherry Features: Kelly Donahue Opinion: Eva Mayrose Sports: Jonathan Liu

Sierra Namvari

of the day.

Finally, having the opportunity to be independent by themselves can benefit students in many ways. For instance, leaving campus can teach these students time management and financial responsibility.

However, this does not mean

behavior from students that walk over during lunch. Students are also occasionally late to their third or sixth period class because they were off campus getting food.

A solution to these problems could be providing students with an off-campus lunch pass. This pass should not be limited to only students without a sixth period.

If a student is late to their sixth period consistently or is caught causing disruptions at local food places, this pass and their privilege to leave during lunch, would be taken away.

Our school needs to be more fair when it comes to handling punishments, for example, having individual students take responsibility for their actions and not punishing an entire grade for the actions of a few.

that allowing students to leave campus at lunch has no downsides.

Rafaello’s Pizza, a hot spot for students during lunch time due to its proximity to the school, has complained of messing around, and obnoxious

Although students may have been irresponsible in the past when allowed to leave campus at lunch, if a more organized offcampus system is used, students will take their responsibilities more seriously.

Centerspread: Luka Ardon

Choi Online: Ella Sherry

Social Media: Quinn Kearns

Zara Deen, Enna Hosoi, Olivia Kao, Hailey Kim, James Lew, Aaron Propst, Aidan Shen, Sophie Stoddart, Christopher Vasey, Eva Yancheson

Editors-in-Chief

Amber Chen Lucia Ruiz

Mindicino

How the new state-wide schedule change has improved students’ mental health

Photo iIllustration by Aaron Propst

Touching Down with Luke Gayton

PVHS star shares about his passion for football

By Sophie Stoddart reporter

PV Football star Luke Gayton has been catching touchdowns for as long as he can remember.

Gayton started playing flag football when he was in first grade, and began playing tackle football later in elementary school.

He practices every day as a varsity player in the after school hours during the week and then he watches film on Saturdays to prepare for the week ahead.

Gayton started playing football because of his dad, who played football when he was a kid, and coaches now. He has always loved the sport with the help of his friends.

“It’s a pretty hard sport, so I don’t think it would be nearly as fun if my friends weren’t playing,” Gayton said.

The physical aspect of football is the hardest for Gayton but he feels he fares well with the mental challenges that come with playing the sport.

“If I mess up, I can bounce back from that, but getting hit and running everyday is pretty hard. When I mess up, I want to be the guy that people look to for inspiration. So if I have a rough play, I bounce back from that. So I don’t give up when I mess up once, I want to have a good mentality,” Gayton said.

Gayton is not set on playing professionally, but he definitely wants to play in college.

“I want to use it as a gateway to get into a better college than I could without playing football,” Gayton said.

Gayton’s inspirations as an athlete comes from his dad.

“I would look at old photos, and he was a stud back in the day, so definitely him,” Gayton said.

As Gayton’s playing experience has widened overtime, he’s pulled traits that has made him the player he is today.

“Definitely determination, just wanting to go out there every single day, and if you’re lacking in practice and not playing to your full ability, then you definitely won’t play to your full ability during games, and you won’t get better,” Gayton said.

Gayton’s favorite memory from high school football was the Mira Costa game last year.

“It was Homecoming, and we all wanted to win, and we ended up blowing them out, so that was pretty fun,” Gayton said.

As Gayton’s season and playing career goes on, he’s picked up advice from his coaches and teammates that keep him going.

“Just don’t give up. In life you can’t give up on anything, because you never know where it’s going to take you,” he said.

Recent Player Injury in NFL Causes More Concerns Over Player Safety

By Aaron Propst and James Lew reporters

Over the years, the number of NFL players who have been suffering from head injuries has become an obvious problem.

Recently, Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sacked and hit the ground hardin a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29. What followed was a very scary sight where Tagovailoa had lost consciousness and his fingers were extending and contorting.

Tagovailoa’s incident came only three rest days following his Sunday afternoon game against the Buffalo Bills.

In the first half of that game, Tagovailoa got up after a hit and was noticeably struggling to walk.

Fans were concerned about Tagovailoa’s health and questioned the organization’s decision to keep him in for the remainder of the game.

This caused numerous worries around the world as this game was televised nationally on Thursday Night Football and Tagovailoa was slated to play.

This isn’t an isolated incident, however. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is very common among retired NFL athletes, as repeated hits to the head and

multiple concussions increase the risk of permanent brain trauma.

A Boston University study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July 2017, stated that out of the 225 brains studied, 99% of former NFL players have CTE and 21% of high school football players have CTE.

This number is way too high.

CTE has many long-lasting effects on the unfortunate people that have the condition.

Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, difficulties in controlling impulse, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

The NFL, and all football associations, should take much more accountability in protecting their players.

Having new and improved helmet designs that can fully protect the head, especially the back of the head, is necessary.

Also, sports doctors and neurologists should be much more careful with concussions, not rushing the players back to the field to prevent worsening the injury.

Team doctors need to stand up to the pressures of coaches and injured players who want to play and make choices that prioritize safety and health.

Luke Gayton runs route against Corona Del Mar at the game on Sept. 2 (Photo by Quinn Kearns).

PVHS Girls Volleyball Team Begins Strong Season With a Splash in Hawaii Tournament

By Lucia Ruiz editor-in-chief

Girls volleyball had a very successful season last year, tying for second in Bay League Championships, placing third in their summer tournament in Hawaii, and beating teams that they had not beaten in years.

The girls are continuing their momentum and are headed toward another impressive season.

One of the reasons that the team is so successful is because of their great team chemistry.

Through spending so much time with each other, the team bonds and forms valuable relationships which sophomore player Ryan Thurlow says improves their team’s performance.

“I’ve made really good connections with all the girls. We have a great team overall. If you have a good connection with your teammates then everything works out,” Thurlow said.

Senior volleyball (position) Meg Walsh agrees.

“Our chemistry on and off the court really makes the team. Last year, I have never been part of a team that was so close. It’s super fun to play with everyone and our energy is always good on the

court,” Walsh said.

To facilitate a healthy playing environment, seniors Tatum Lane and Walsh lead the team as captains.

“Tatum and I are captains together. We maintain a positive attitude on the court.

That’s a really big part of volleyball: just staying positive. When we play loose and comfortable is when we play our best. We make sure everyone’s focused during practice, too,” Walsh said.

With such an efficient and lively team and a record as impressive as last year’s, the girls have big hopes for the coming season.

“Our main goal this year is to win Bay League. Of course, winning CIF is important too, but we are focusing on Bay League,” Walsh said.

The school has a lot of pride in the girls’ team which motivates them even further.

“It’s a really fun environment [at games]. Especially with a big Red Tide crowd. It’s super fun when

of

Williams

By Chris Vasey reporter

As of September 2022, Serena Williams officially retired from tennis. After playing her final match at the US Open, she lost to Ajila Tomljanovic 5-7, 7-6, 1-6.

After a long 27 years as a pro, she finished her career with five years staying on top as the number one female tennis player in the world.

Williams won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles between singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Through her hard work and perseverance she has maintained one of the most successful and inspirational careers of any other professional athlete.

As a strong female role model, Williams has been an inspiration to pretty much all young and even old female tennis players all over the world.

“Serena Williams has inspired me to become a better tennis player and work harder,” junior Maily Huynh said.

To many, Williams’ retirement was a shock. Young girls who grew up watching and following Williams’ path will not forget the impact she made on their lives.

“When I was young I would always watch TV and see Serena playing. This inspired me to start playing tennis and want to get good at it,” sophomore Caroline Chu said.

The amount of inspiration that Williams gave to so many young girls is something that doesn’t happen often.

She showed many that the impossible can be possible through hard work and ambition.

“Serena has inspired me to get better at tennis for years since she has been on top ever since I was little. Her hard work that made her the best women’s tennis player of all time inspired me to become the best tennis player I could,” junior Christine Xie said.

Williams has inspired many young people all over the world to become hardworking, determined, strong, and confident.

Going from a rough upbringing to the best women’s tennis player ever has inspired countless amounts of people and will continue to inspire people.

Even though the next generation won’t be able to watch her dominate, she has made sure to leave her mark in the tennis world and her records will stand for many years to come.

we have a loud environment,” Walsh said.

Over the summer, the girls went to Hawaii to compete in the pre-season Ann Kang Invitational Volleyball Tournament at the Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“[Going to Hawaii as a team]

was super fun. We all played really well,” Thurlow said.

Not only is the team special because of their achievements, but they are also an especially young team, with four of the fifteen players being underclassmen.

“It’s really special how young our team is and how we still get along so well. When there’s a big age gap, sometimes that makes it hard for the team to get along but that hasn’t been an issue and we’re all really close so it’s super fun to play together,” Walsh said.

What Local NFL Team do Students Prefer?

delighted fans.

By Jonathan Liu sports editor

As NFL football has returned to LA after a few years, both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers are fighting to determine who really runs the city. For some LA fans, it was an easy choice.

“Well, being a Rams fan over the Chargers is a very easy choice. Would anyone that truly appreciates NBA greatness prefer the Clippers over the Lakers? Same with the Chargers.

The Chargers are LA’s second team,” history teacher Louis Harley said.

The Rams were the first of the two in the city as they played in Los Angeles from 1946 to 1944.

As the Rams arrived back in 2016 from St. Louis, the move

The move back didn’t have a quick splash as some may have thought, as in the beginning few years of the revival of the Rams in LA was filled with gloomy seasons and tough crowd attendance.

With a new coach and rising stars, the Rams were loved once again by the city very quickly.

The rival Chargers had a one year stint in 1960-1961 before moving back in 2017 after having a long tenure in San Diego.

“I honestly don’t know what made me a Chargers fan. I guess just because they are from California. I liked the Chargers more than the Rams because it felt like everyone around me liked either the Rams or the Raiders,” junior Aaron Paik said.

As years went by, both team’s fan bases grew as the Rams had

a Super Bowl berth in 2019 due to their aggressive front office acquiring free agents and trading draft picks.

(Graphic by Jonathan Liu)

As for the Chargers,the franchise changed as they drafted quarterback Justin Herbert who immediately became a superstar and a fan favorite.

“Justin Herbert makes me optimistic for the Chargers because he’s a young player and a great leader. He’s a fun player to watch and he gives it his all. I’ll continue to root for the Chargers because I’ve liked them since I was young and I’m a loyal fan,” junior Jadon Watts said.

Whether the student majority roots for the Rams or the Chargers in Los Angeles, there is one thing clear.

Both team’s fans are optimistic and will never give up on their teams.

PVHS Girls Volleyball Team after placing third in the Hawaii tournament. (Photo courtesy of Tatum Lane)

The More, the Merrier

PV’s student section introduces eight Red Tide Captains, the most in history

Peter Kraemer

By Sierra Namvari photo editor

“I’ve been coming to the football games since sixth grade, with my friends on the left side of the bleachers. From the start I just saw how much fun people were having in the stands…as I got older my love for Red Tide and school spirit grew stronger, so I made it a goal to be involved in school.”

Max Larkin

“[I originally wanted to be a Red Tide Captain because] my brother did it, and I got to see him do it. I love it because getting kids more involved at games is pretty cool to see.”

“I remember being in eight grade, going down to the high school to watch the football games with all my friends, and I remember seeing all the former captains doing all the chants and getting everyone excited and I thought ‘I really want to do this and this looks really cool, I wanna be that guy when I’m a Senior.’ I really love our school and I wanna help make the campus better.”

Tate Ballard

“The spirit is one of my favorite [parts of being a Captain],” Ballard said. “It creates a lot of fun at events. My favorite events are the PV vs Pen or Mira Costa game.”

“Ever since I started thinking about going to PV High, the main factor that brought me here was the Red Tide Captains. I met one of them [and] they were super nice to me. I thought they were the coolest people ever, so I wanted to be one when I got older.”

Alex Forman

“Originally I didn’t think I would want to be a Red Tide Captain early in high school. Last year talking to my friends who were captains convinced me and showed how fun it was, as I grew up and became more comfortable in a position like that.”

“I’ve been a part of ASB since sophomore year and I really love the school and everything about it, so I just really wanted to be a part of it and be one of the captains. Everything about it is super fun, and I love getting to inspire the younger classes and give them someone they look up to as a role model on campus.”

Jonah Jones

“[Being a Red Tide Captain] has been a huge deal for me since eight grade. I went to a football game and never looked back since. Being out on Friday in front of the whole school and friends kind of makes my week.”

Pint-Sized Stories: Fall Sports Montage

By Luka Ardon and Chloe Choi

editors

This year’s Red Tide captains are Mafalda Corral, David Zavarella, Peter Kraemer, Alex Forman, Max Larkin, Tate Ballard, Bridget Gormley, and Jonah Jones. (Photo courtesy of Lily Bohannon)

Mafalda Corral

David Zavarella

Bridget Gormley