The Point, Issue 2, Volume 27 - Nov. 10, 2022

Typrowicz is Quick

Co-captain Jake Typrowicz leads the XC pack

By Sophie Stoddart reporter

Senior Jake Typrowicz is a decorated cross country runner, leading his teammates to success in many races.

“Three of us ran the 400 meter and we won first, second, and third in it which was a very exciting moment for us,” Typrowicz said.

Typrowicz shared that he runs for many different reasons.

“I run for my teammates, fitness, and it’s a good way to destress,” Typrowicz said.

Typrowicz has personal goals for himself and the team. The two main goals are to win CIF and to potentially win State as well. In order to reach their goals and do well on race days, the cross country team has to follow a training schedule consisting of weekly workouts.

“Going into a workout I always tell myself that it’s going to be tough, but I know I can get through it,” Typrowicz said. “I keep myself motivated during workouts by just focusing on moving and continuing to run.”

While participating in long distance racing, there are mental hurdles that must be overcome.

“I definitely start to think negatively,” Typrowicz said. “I try to take myself out of it by thinking positively like ‘400 meters to go’ or ‘half a mile left.’”

As Typrowicz has been racing for PVHS in his four years, his coaches have seen him improve as a runner.

“I have been coaching Typie for four years,” running coach said. “There are a number of different memories throughout Typie’s running career. Probably my favorite is the most recent, where he ran fifteen flat at the Woodbridge Invitational, which was a three

mile race, and he actually realized how good he can be and currently is.”

Typrowicz always tries to make a lasting impact on others like his role models have made on him. He shared that he looks up to a group of seniors that were on the team during his sophomore year.

“They led the team really well, and they were great role models,” Typrowicz said. “I look up to them in both running as

As a runner, Typrowicz has learned many lessons which have changed his life for the

“Throughout running I have definitely learned how to take care of myself (by taking) vitamins, hydrating myself, and eating properly to stay healthy,” Typrowicz said. “I’ve learned how to be a good teammate towards those around me and be supportive of my friends.”

Typrowicz has considered what running will be to him in the future.

“I do intend to run in college either as a collegiate athlete or intramurally,” Typrowicz said.

“I think running will be something that is always in my life,” Typrowicz said.

“It’s something that I have a love for, a way to stay in good shape and a passion [which I can constantly] to improve

PVHS Walk of Fame Installed

Starring influential donors and alum

By Lucia Ruiz and Eva Yancheson editor-in-chief and reporter

For years, the PVHS Drama Department has been planning a Sea King Walk of Fame, a Hollywood-style walkway of stars featuring the names of influential patrons. On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Walk of Fame project became a reality as 14 stars now line the entrance to the MPR.

The PVHS Drama Department has a longstanding reputation for putting on impressive productions which are very popular among students. In order to fund the program, supporters can purchase a star on the Walk of Fame or purchase a seat in the theater with an inscribed nameplate.

“My entire family all loves theater,” junior Gavin Kresser said. “If I remember correctly, when we bought our star it was back during 2019 I think. It’s a great way to support the drama department.”

The Sea King Walk of Fame started as a method of fundraising for the theater program.

“The [Walk of Fame] campaign started when we were trying to raise money to get three units of theater seats because we were using fold-out chairs,” drama department director Nicole Thomspon said. “But that’s where costs have now increased. Even something like a shipment of playbills that used to cost $1200 is now $2700.”

Not only were the materials for the stars more expensive, but they were also harder to access due to the effects of COVID.

“We started the Walk of Fame preCOVID and put the order in and then the world kind of stopped,” Thompson said.

“We were unable to get our order for a year. It came from overseas so it didn’t come and then it was stuck on a ship for a

long time in Long Beach so it took forever. So a lot of people on the stars have now graduated. But it’s super exciting to see them there and they turned out incredible.”

However, the campaign has evolved into much more and involves the entire school now.

“Even when I was in high school, I remember seeing so many things dedicated to people who have helped to make programs happen,” Thompson said.

“The Sea King Walk of Fame isn’t just for theater families. There is a star for the ASB director that was here many years ago, there are a couple stars that are athlete’s families. So it really is leaving a mark and giving back to the school that you love and the programs that you love.”

Since the Sea King Walk of Fame is news to many on campus, Thompson is optimistic that it will raise more funds for the various departments in the coming years.

“We’re hoping that every program will get a star on there eventually because we really are one school and working together,” Thompson said.

Community to Elect Two New School Board Members

By Ella Sherry news editor

In early November of 2022, voters in Palos Verdes had the chance to elect new PVPUSD school board members. There were four open seats for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

Results have not been released yet, but the winners are supposed to be announced within the month.

“This year’s election is very important,” four-year seat candidate Jennifer Handjian said. “Four seats are open on the school board and that brings with it the possibility of a lot of positive change. Our community is best when all the stakeholders are engaged and informed, so I hope everyone takes the time to go to

the candidates’ websites and learn about them.”

A few topics are prevalent among the candidates’ main goals, a major one being academic concerns.

“[Academic performance] is a somewhat controversial topic among parents and candidates because there is conflicting information about how well our students are doing,” four-year seat candidate Jeremy Vanderhal said. “College acceptance rates and AP scores are doing very well, but performance on standardized testing seems to indicate a learning gap.”

The improvements of school campuses are also a main focus for many candidates this year.

“I want to implement responsible fiscal management so that we can actually fix the facilities that are in an embarrassing

and unsafe state of disrepair,” four-year seat candidate Julie Hamill said.

A large part of this problem seems to be the financial state of the school district. Other schools in the South Bay are finding new ways to deal with this problem.

“...I would like to look for private sponsors like El Segundo Unified does,” Handjian said. “Chevron is a big sponsor of El Segundo Unified School District, giving millions of dollars each year so they can continuously improve their campuses. We need to identify and go after companies who want to invest in their local communities and the South Bay.”

Lastly, most of the candidates are concerned about the mental well-being of students, amplified largely because of the pandemic.

“If I am elected I will focus on enhancing academic and mental health programs,”

another candidate, Linda Kurt, said.

Dr. Sara Deen, also running for one of the four-year seats, has similar views.

“My goal is for every district student to have their learning, social and emotional needs met on safe and friendly campuses,” she said, “so that every kid can discover their inner spark, cultivate their own unique gifts and reach for their dreams.”

It’s important for PVPUSD students to remain aware of the 2022 school board elections: it can and will affect academic and social experiences in schools.

“What I’d like PVHS students to know about this year’s elections is that they absolutely matter,” Vanderhal said.

“Many people are focused on the state and federal elections, but often it is the local elections that affect our lives the most.”

(Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

Typrowicz runs during a cross country meet. (Photo courtesy of Frank Ponce)

Death of Masha Amini Sparks Protests In Iran

By Sierra Namvari photo editor

Soon after the murder of Masha Amini on September 16, an outraged group of citizens in Iran decided it was time for things to change.

Protests started all over the world in support of Iranian women that are currently in danger.

Amini was a 22-year-old woman who was harmed and put into custody by the Iranian police because they believed her hijab was worn improperly.

In Iran, women of all religions and races must wear a hijab under the Islamic government’s law.

“I feel upset by the fact that the voices of the people of Iran, specifically women, are being suppressed by a government misusing Islam to harass its own people and oppress them for their own gain,” senior Arshia

Maleki said. “I really hope that change [can] be made so that people [can] have the freedom of choice in their personal matters.”

The Iranian government changed drastically in the late 1970’s, causing the country to fall under religious rule.

After the Iranian Revolution, women were forced by law to wear hijabs or other head coverings in order to fall in line with the country’s religious beliefs.

“I feel like no matter what religion you’re part of, you should be able to do whatever you want,” senior and co-president of the Middle Eastern Student Union (MESU) Sharlize Moayedi. “You shouldn’t have to wear a hijab if you don’t want to.”

This has been an ongoing source of conflict for a long time.

“What’s happening now is kind of just a boiling point people have come to with a long history of mistreatment of women and restriction of rights for people

in Iran, and an amalgamation of frustrations with a repressive regime,” senior and co-president of MESU Damon Pourmohsen said.

Women have been cutting their hair and taking off their hijabs in honor of Amini and as a way to defy Iranian modesty laws.

Elton John to do a Final Tour of US, Europe

By Olivia Kao reporter

After decades of a widely recognized and extremely successful career, Elton John announced he will be touring Europe and the US one last time to CBS News earlier this year.

The 75-year-old pianist, singer and activist will be concluding his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour” right in the heart of LA in Dodger Stadium on Nov. 20, 2022.

John’s career spans over half a decade. He has released over 30 albums and his music has touched the lives of millions of people of all ages around the world.

“Elton John has greatly influenced me as a pianist and musician by introducing me to playing pop music,” sophomore Jeffery Falcone said.

“When I first learned how to play ‘Tiny Dancer,’ I was intrigued by the unique style of his playing. His music and career has greatly influenced pop music and the entire music industry and if it weren’t for him, pop music today would sound much different.”

Music director and teacher Shellie Parkinson grew up listening to John’s music and it has affected her as a

musician and music educator.

“I’m sure as a kid I took his genius for granted,” she said.

“His music feels so nostalgic for me. I was pretty young when I started listening to his music, so it just feels like the sound of my childhood or the music that I heard at the mall.”

A few things set John’s music style apart from other artists of that generation.

“He’s classically trained,” Parkinson said. “He played classical music for years on the piano at a conservatory in town. If you listen to some pop music from the 60s, it all sounds the same. [John] experimented more with form and chord choices.”

However, John’s impact on the world is not limited to the music industry. As a member of the LGBTQ community, John has been recognized for fighting and funding research for AIDS as well as being an avid human rights activist.

John’s influence is clear with his creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which not only funds AIDS research but also fights the stigma surrounding the disease.

It is vital to appreciate what the British singer, songwriter and activist has done for the music and LGBTQ communities before Rocketman himself retires.

By Lucia Ruiz editor-in-chief

According to BBC News, hundreds of protests have happened since Sept. 16, causing hundreds of people, including children, to be killed as a result.

While thousands of protesters are being arrested, the Iranian government has also decided to

shut down the internet in order to censor videos and reports of the events happening.

On Nov. 6 at Malaga Cove, a protest was held for Persian and Iranian Palos Verdes residents.

A crowd of people came together in honor of the people in Iran, sporting signs, motorcycles and massive Iranian flags from before the Revolution.

“For people at our school, I think something as simple as posting on social media, if you can’t go to a protest is a really good way to spread awareness,” Pourmohsen said.

“Issues like these have been ongoing for many years, but just really isn’t covered in our media well.”

“I think we as PV High students have to take things into our own hands and spread awareness through social media, through signs on campus and just showing our support for the Iranian community right now,” Pourmohsen said.

Got Parking?

Parking has always been a highly discussed topic among students. Most students with a driver’s license have complaints about parking whether they may be how time consuming finding parking is, spot accessibility or even minor accidents.

“It’s really stressful in the morning so I feel like people are prone to getting into some kind of accident,” junior Anna Peti-Peterdi said. “You have to come extra early [on Wednesdays] because for some reason, the spots fill up so early.”

These issues are nothing new and have been an inconvenience for students and staff alike.

“We’ve had a lot of students concerned that there’s no parking since the school reopened,” Associate Principal D.J. Hill said. “There, mathematically, are not even close to enough spots.”

Students have their own ideas on how to minimize the problem.

“I feel like people should stay in the [unofficial] designated parking lots because if there are seniors parking in the junior lots and there are spots left in the senior parking lot and juniors can’t park there it’s kind of inconvenient,” PetiPeterdi said.

The school administration is aware of the parking issue and is working to resolve it.

“The biggest goal for parking this year was to create more spots for students,” Hill said. “What we tried to do with the

new parking plan was to move all staff out of any student parking at all and essentially move all staff parking behind the main office or into the first couple of rows in the main lot. The idea behind that was that it leaves all of the spots available in the main lot and the student lots for student parking.”

Staff’s cars can be identified by the number correlating to their parking spot. It may be difficult for school administrators to track down whose car belongs to who in case a student needs to move their car. This is where the importance of parking permits comes in.

“The purpose of the parking pass is for safety,” Hill said. “We have an open campus and so we’re always concerned about people visiting campus and we have to make sure that they’re actually visitors who have been invited on to our campus. Our primary concern is making sure that we don’t have anyone on campus that is not supposed to be.”

Parking permits are vital to keeping school a safe environment. The passes assign a student a number and when a student buys one, their car’s information is kept on record alongside their personal information.

“You can purchase a parking permit at the student store,” Hill said. “I think they’re twenty bucks and they’re good for the whole year. It’s pretty simple, actually.”

Hill is optimistic that the parking issue will lessen and possibly already has.

“There’s always going to be complaints about parking because we don’t have enough parking,” Hill said. “I think there have been less complaints.”

Additional student parking in front of the office and library. (Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

Community members protest at Malaga Cove on Nov. 6. (Photo by Sierra Namvari)

Administration works to create more student parking spots

By Enna Hosoi reporter

“When I woke up in Torrance Memorial Urgent Care after overdosing in the Trader Joe’s bathroom, I never saw that coming. I thought it was going to be a routine day,” recovering addict and PVHS alum Cole Graham said.

Every year, Be The Change hosts Red Ribbon Week to raise awareness and educate students on the risks of alcohol and drug use. The major demonstrations of this year’s week included Graham speaking to students about his rocky experience as a former drug addict, a display of a car that had been destroyed due to a drunk driving accident and shoes displayed in Sea King Park to represent the number of high schoolers that die everyday in the US because of drug and alcohol abuse.

“The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to spread awareness about drug and alcohol abuse,” senior and BTC executive board member Hayleigh Liu said. “We

mostly focus on the effects it has on our student body.”

Graham spoke to students about his experience and the risks of taking drugs. A relatively happy kid who grew up in Valmonte, he graduated from PV High in 2014. His addiction began as a result of peer pressure to start smoking marijuana, which soon introduced him to a different crowd and more dangerous drugs.

Graham didn’t think anything of it at the time, but then his use of marijuana started to become more prevalent. In his junior year it became a regular habit.

“I went to a couple of parties, smoked some pot. I never realized how bad it would have gotten,” Graham said.

BTC created many informational posters that were put up all around the campus to remind and inform PVHS students.

“We wanted to take on a more serious tone this week because it is a serious topic,” Liu said.

Red Ribbon Week Shines Light on the Dangers of Drug Use UCLA to Open Classes on Former Marymount California Campuses

Fentanyl Concerns Arise in Local Areas

By Aidan Shen reporter

The increase of fentanyl overdoses in Orange County and Los Angeles over the past few months has been widely discussed by faculty and members of the surrounding community. Substance abuse is not only a local problem but also an international crisis that affects cities everywhere.

The most prominent worry for many parents of young adults is how dangerous fentanyl has proven itself to be. According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, as many as “5,000 hospitalizations and 600 deaths” occur each year in Orange County due to drug and alcohol overdoses or poisonings.

After several young members of the community have overdosed in the past few months, awareness has taken a significant hold on locals.

Cole Graham, a 2014 graduate of PVHS, came to the school to bring more attention to drugs and tell his story. As someone who formerly struggled with dependence on drugs, Graham explained what his own experience was like.

He suffered from multiple counts of recurring overdoses over years of substance usage. He talked about the progression of his addiction over time and how the drugs he was using got increasingly dangerous.

“It continued to progress from

the cocaine, to the xanax, and from the xanax, when that didn’t work…I started using fentanyl,” Graham said.

It’s incredibly important for close family and friends to spot the signs of abuse before it’s too late.

Jinnie Song has been the school nurse for the past year at PVHS and has not witnessed any serious fatal drug incidents but still wants to give a helping hand.

“[I’ve] heard about it...seen it on the news,” she said, also giving a few tips to stop it from happening.

Although she has no direct experience with fentanyl itself, she listed the following ways to

help prevent an overdose from happening: educating students about drugs and their effects and looking for signs of drug use such as dilated pupils or bloodshot eyes.

Young adults and teens need to be aware of fentanyl and other powerful psychedelic drugs in settings where they are likely to be. With more drug education and support resources, the recent deaths of the young teens in Orange County and Los Angeles could have been prevented.

Spreading awareness about the deadliness of drug use can help prevent Palos Verdes students from suffering the same tragedy.

By Amber Chen editor-in-chief

To offer educational access to thousands more of its qualified applicants, UCLA has purchased two campuses formerly belonging to Marymount California University: one in Ranchos Palos Verdes, and the other in San Pedro. This $80-million expenditure is the largest land expansion in UCLA’s history, aiming to accommodate an additional 1,000 students in the classrooms.

UCLA freshman and PVHS alum Aidan Sun thinks “it’s a great idea for UCLA to create a campus in PV, especially [considering] how overcrowded [the] main campus has become in recent years.”

Possibly arising from adopting testoptional or test-blind policies, many schools have experienced significant increases in the number of applicants, leading to alarmingly low admissions rates. However, the rising number of applicants has forced schools to become more selective due to limited housing and resources.

Having only admitted approximately 8.6% of its 150,000 freshman applicants in 2022, UCLA seeks to increase applicants’ admissions chances with its new acquisition.

While the new campus may not specifically entail higher rates of admission for PVPUSD students, College and Career Center director Joanne Lewis hopes the proximity between UCLA’s new campuses and PVPUSD schools will introduce new

collaborative opportunities.

“What if there’s an early child education program over there? It would be amazing,” Lewis said. “What if there’s opportunities for research for our students? For internships? Those are the things that I’m already dying to hear. And, if the district doesn’t go after those opportunities, I will go after them, for our students.”

Details about the classes and programs offered on the new campus remain undisclosed. Palos Verdes residents await its promises.

“As someone who’s both a UCLA student and Palos Verdes resident, the Marymount campus presents a really convenient opportunity for me to take classes, especially during the summer,” Sun said. “I hope that when it opens I’ll be able to enjoy a normal summer at home while being able to easily commute to the campus to take a class or two and get ahead on getting my degree, from the comfort of my hometown.”

Although future partnership opportunities stemming from UCLA’s campus expansion are still undetermined, one foreseeable effect on the Palos Verdes community is an increase in diversity.

“I’m looking forward to international students. I’m looking forward to students from around this nation. [These people] will now be a part of the fabric of our community,” Lewis said.

Welcoming these anticipated additions to PV’s local environment, Lewis stated, “We have to show that we’re authentic, we’re living our lives, and we’re happy to share our community.”

(Graphic by Aidan Shen)

(Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

Music While Studying: Helpful or Hurtful

By Jonathan Liu sports editor

As high school students are constantly fighting the stress of studying for that next exam, some have found a method that increases focus and efficiency: listening to music. A Healthline study from 2007 shows that studying while listening to classical music has been proven to help students’ brains absorb new material more easily.

“I do see an improvement in my focus level when I am listening to music while studying,” junior Luke Bejarano said. “I think it puts me in the right mindset and keeps me focused on the task at hand.”

Another recent study by Healthline has shown that music before exams or while studying made volunteers feel more relaxed, or put them in a better and more cheerful mood.

“I’ve noticed that when I listen to music, I’m more productive when I study so it leads to better results,” senior Faizan Jaffer said.

On the other hand, there are some negative aspects of listening to music while studying. According to Healthline, some of those negative aspects include the general distraction of lyrics or noise students are hearing and a negative impact on working memory.

“I don’t like listening to music while I study because I prefer to work in a quiet space,” freshman Justin Cho said. “For me, listening to music poses a distraction while I’m trying to

focus.”

Working memory activities include remembering steps for a math problem, items on a list, or facts.

“I started listening to music in my sophomore year while studying,” junior Maddie Ahn said. “I listen to more chill music and R&B so I don’t get too distracted.”

As most students prefer to listen to music while studying, teachers tend to have a different perspective.

“I think it depends on what the music is. I think if it’s just background music then it could help the efficiency as it filters out other distracting noises, but I think if there’s words to it, it could get a little distracting,” Pre-Calculus and PVIT teacher Lorraine Loh-Norris said.

“I would think music would help for science and math because you’re not reading every word and not understanding sentences and paragraphs.”

While most individuals prefer to listen to music, there are still mixed opinions on how it impacts the studying experience.

Introducing Some of PV High’s Newest Clubs

By Eva Mayrose opinion editor

End Sexual Violence Club (Presidents: Maddie

Ahn and Te-Han Kim)

Q: What inspired you to create this club?

A: “We were inspired to make this club because we wanted to be able to prevent people from experiencing the trauma of sexual violence and prevent the impact it could have. Although we do not have full control over what happens in one’s life within sexual violence, we are still able to help the youth as we show them what happens in life, and what we could avoid to prevent [facing] these traumas,” junior Club Secretary Sofia Daneshvar said.

Q: How is your club going to connect with students on campus?

A:“We hope our club helps connect with students on campus as they come together and understand that this is a serious incident that happens everywhere in the world.

As we speak with them, we would also remind students that sexual violence is not only a single gender issue, but both. As we all come together as a community, we are able to help each other.

Communities and places where everyone is treated with respect and equality is attainable,” Daneshvar said.

Q: Any upcoming events or plans for your club this year?

A: 'We will most likely be meeting on the first Tuesday of every month and we plan on having guest speakers come in and share their experiences. As club members, we will share what we can do as people to prevent sexual violence, and what we can do to avoid it,” Danshvar said.

Q: What are your future plans/ goals for this club?

A: “Out main objective for this club is to stop sexual violence before it has the chance to happen. [Another goal is] for our community to know that there are ways to avoid sexual violence.”

Celebrating Veterans Day

By Hailey Kim reporter

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, is celebrated on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

It’s an opportunity for people all over the United States to take a moment and reflect on the sacrifices made by all who have served this country, remember those who have lost their lives, and those who have returned from battle.

In addition to honoring the mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and grandparents who have bravely fought, this day is also a great opportunity to show appreciation for military families and the struggles they face.

It has been proven that the stresses of military life and the deployment of family members are associated with feelings of concern, worry, panic, loneliness, and sadness as well as additional family responsibilities and financial difficulties.

PVHS recognizes Veterans Day in many ways.

One example is PVHS’s Be The Change organizing a drive for people to donate extra Halloween candy to homeless veterans in order to make this

holiday more special for them.

According to sophomore Leah Sachs, this is important because “Veterans and their families go through so much, and giving them our extra Halloween candy is an easy way to show our gratitude.”

Another way students at PVHS are recognizing Veterans Day is through a special club.

Christina and Robbie Nuccion made it their mission to celebrate, honor, and support veterans through making a club centered around this day.

The club was very successful at Club Rush and many enthusiastic students signed up to help support their veterans.

Overall, Veterans Day is a time for reflection and thankfulness.

It stands apart from most holidays.

Whether you are a veteran or not, you probably know someone who is.

We show our respect and honor to them on ths very special holiday.

Next time you catch yourself forgetting why Veterans Day is significant, remember that 'Freedom is not always free,” and as a nation, we are free because of the sacrifice of veterans who fought to ensure our freedom.

PV Music Connections Club (Presidents: Olivia Kao and Annalia Henderson)

Q: What inspired you to create this club?

A: “We love creating music, but we love sharing it even more with everyone around us! PV Musical Connections helps to promote musical community service,” freshman Annalia Henderson said.

Q: How is your club going to connect with students on campus?

A: “This club will help connect friends who want to help create music and share that awesomeness with our community, including senior living homes and hospitals,” Henderson said.

Q: Any upcoming events or plans for your club this year?

A: “PVMC has planned performances at local senior

living homes for the holidays. We will also partner with Torrance Memorial Hospital to perform and show thanks to the staff and doctors during their Kindness and Gratitude Week,” Henderson said.

Q: What are your future plans/ goals for this club?

A: “In the future, PVMC hopes to expand to more volunteers to participate in school and other community events and even promote diverse cultural musical traditions and fun music,” Henderson said.

16% of students don‘t listen to music

84% of students listen to music

(Graphic by Jonathan Liu)

(Photo courtesy of Olivia Kao)

(Photo by Eva Mayrose)

Students Share Their Thoughts On Required Reading Books

By Luka Ardón centerspread editor

English class is something all students have in common.

From “To Kill a Mockingbird” to “Catch 22,” there are many books that students are required to read.

Core novels connect all PVHS students, but what are students’ opinions on them?

Freshman Mia Anderson thinks there is a better way to get students to read novels.

“They should choose books that students are actually interested in,” Anderson said.

Senior Steel Weiss has thought of a way to communicate with the school about which books the students would be interested in.

“I think it would be more valuable if the school created a list for the students to choose from and the overall majority vote is what each class decides to read,” Weiss said.

“If there’s more student say in the matter, there is going to be more participation and overall more knowledge consumption,” Weiss said.

More knowledge consumption

is very important.

A key part of that is keeping students attentive and engaged.

School librarian Ashley Brockman shared the same sentiment during her high school days.

“I remember being in high school and I would read the book so quickly and I’d [think], ‘how are we spending six weeks on the same book,’” Brockman said.

The novel selection has caught the attention of many students.

“I think there are a lot of really good novels that I was glad I was introduced to by school,” junior Gia Bohorquez said.

There is one writer who everyone has an opinion on: Shakespeare.

Every student is required to read one of his plays in three out of their four years.

“I’m not a fan of Shakespeare,” Bohorquez said.

This seems to be a very

common opinion among all high schoolers and has led to conversations on the best way to teach Shakespeare.

“There are new ways of teaching difficult texts like

Shakespeare,” Brockman said.

“Nobody is going to say ‘Students really want to read Shakespeare and it’s super easy for them,’” Brockman said. These new ways of teaching are based on the fact that students are reading Shakespeare plays, which were written to be seen, not read like a book.

“The idea is that you’re going to watch [the play], [not read] segments of it,” Brockman said.

“You’re not going to read it word for word,” Brockman said.

But is this too much Shakespeare?

Three out of four years of students’ English classes are required to read a Shakespearean play.

“It would break my heart to see Shakespeare leave, but we’ve had those conversations [deciding that] maybe two years of Shakespeare is enough,” Brockman said.

Apart from Shakespeare, students still love to read and school core novels give students the chance to discover and enjoy amazing books.

This can be seen at every grade level.

“I am pretty sure that we are going to read the “Lord of the Flies,” which people say is really good,” Anderson said. “Another book I am kind of excited to read is “The Great Gatsby.’”

Sophomore Teagan Ballard has a similar opinion.

“I really enjoy them,” Ballard said.

“I think that they all have their own very important meanings and they really represent how we should be as people and how the school thinks we should be,” Ballard said.

Even seniors look back fondly on some of the books they read.

“‘Night” by Elie Wiesel is a little dark, especially for freshmen, but it’s a serious message,” Weiss said.

Teachers have cotinued teaching these books over the years because they provide students with important messages and perspectives that the students are able to apply as they grow older.

(Graphic by Amber Chen)

(Graphic by Zara Deen)

Hey... Are You Sure Sea Kings spill their

“[A lie my parents told me is that] if you cross your eyes they’ll get stuck, permanently being crossed. I was probably like six years old when I did it. I still cross my eyes because I didn’t believe them. I think one time my mom got mad in the car because me and my brother were trying to see who could hold it the longest. I found out it was a lie because I did it often so I just kinda realized.”

- Benjamin Peters (10)

“A lie my parents told me was that Santa was real. They told me this when I was around five years old. A funny story related to this is that one night I stayed up with my brother to see if Santa was real, and later in the night we thought we heard a noise and pretended to be asleep and once we heard “Santa” he was at the Christmas tree. When we got up to see the tree, it was my dad fully dressed up in a Santa outfit and he saw us and he fell into the tree on purpose. We didn’t notice it was our dad either and we ran back to our beds. I realized it was a lie three years later, when we kept on bragging about seeing Santa, and then our parents told us.”

- Joaquin Bejarano (11)

“When I was younger my parents middle school grades actually accounted would grow up and would determine my life. I now know that to not be told me when I was around kindergarten, grades started to matter that middle would matter. When I did really poorly test I was on the verge of tears because it was going to matter. It really stressed for a long time. I found out in high doesn’t really matter after looking application process.”

- Clarence Lin (11)

“Whenever I ate dinner when I was younger, I would not use a fork, because I was just that kind of child. My parents always threatened me with ‘Military Charm School,’ which I always thought of as a military school where they teach you table manners and social manners. I thought of it as the ultimate punishment. I was in elementary school. Whenever they would tell me they’d send me to Military Charm School, it would usually be at dinner when I wasn’t behaving and I would either cry or fear my parents for the rest of the night. They didn’t say it again for like… three years, and a couple months ago, they were like ‘yeah, we were always lying when we threatened to send you to Military Charm School.’”

Ben Forte (10)

-

“I was like eight. My parents told me carrots help with your eyesight. They me eat carrots when I would watch found out when] I looked it up online.”

- Samantha Lekawa (11)

Sure About That? their parents’ lies

“[My parents] told me that we had to match up our socks because there was a sock monster that stole single socks. I was like six. I found out because I actually started looking for and finding missing socks and they were usually just under my bed.”

- Maddy Herniter

(10)

parents told me that accounted for how I determine the course of be true. My parents kindergarten, when my middle school grades poorly on a math because I thought stressed me out high school that it looking into the college

“[My parents said that] a pelican delivers a baby when you get married. I think I was four or five. I really thought that’s how people have a baby, so I was telling my friends in kindergarten, and they believed it too. When I was in elementary school, my other friends told me a baby is formed when you kiss at a wedding (which is also not true) and then I realized it was a lie that a pelican brings you a human baby.”

- Connie Lim (11)

me that eating They would make TV in the dark. [I online.”

“Probably the biggest lie was if you eat a watermelon seed a watermelon would grow inside your stomach. I was probably in second or third grade... The first time I ate a watermelon seed it was very traumatizing; I tried vomiting it out and it didn’t work so I just crawled in my bed and waited [for something to happen]. I found out it was a lie when my stomach never got bigger.”

- Jason Lee (10)

“My mom said if I didn’t wash behind my ears, broccoli would grow there. And I definitely believed that when I was a kid. I was five or six (or 37? 32?). I’m still not even sure. She might be right. I haven’t grown any broccoli though, and I’ve never seen anyone with broccoli growing behind their ears, so I’m suspicious it was a lie, but I can’t confirm. Maybe I just haven’t seen it. Or they just picked it and then put it in their salad.”

- Derek Larkins (English Teacher, Soccer Coach, Colleague, Game Show Professional, Wizard)

Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s “Midnights”

By Quinn Kearns social media editor

Taylor Swift is arguably one of the most influential women of the decade. Not only does she write her own music, but she tells a story through it as well.

“Midnights” is an album that tells a story about thirteen restless nights throughout her life. It exhibits a range of emotions and each song can be connected to a different album of hers.

Initially, there was a lot of hate towards the album because it explores elements of indie pop, electropop and dream pop, which is new in her experimentation. It gives off similar vibes to “Melodrama” by Lorde and “Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey.

As Swift has gotten older, her music style has continuously changed. We have watched her stray away from her pop princess era into more adult themes within her song writing. I thought that “Midnights” was a sweet combination of many of her other popular songs.

Although I do prefer her mature

voice in her previous albums “Folklore” and “Evermore,” I think it was a nice break in her discography to add Midnights. It has the same lighthearted mood as “Lover” while also incorporating tougher topics like her eating disorder and mental health struggles.

However, I don’t think this was her best work, lyrically speaking. Her choruses are catchy and her bridges are strong, but the space in between is lacking. Many agree that the song verses come off as a little bit cringey compared to her other albums and that due to her age and relationship status, Swift can no longer relate to relevant terms used by teenagers.

However, this new era is refreshing and utilizes less of her mellow and folk like melodies while maintaining that same feel in her songwriting. Swift uses different genres to pursue a genre of pop with high production quality. “Midnights” is a mixture of “Lover,” “Red,” “Reputation” and “Folklore,” which is why it appeals to so many of her new and longtime fans.

Quinn’s Hot Takes

Lavender Haze: This song gives off similar energy to her “Lover” album while maintaining a chill undertone. It is the perfect song for driving through light fog at night by the coastline.

Maroon: This is an upbeat and uses the emotion of different shades of “Red” to tell a story.

Anti-Hero: This track is hands down her most popular track so far and it highlights her overthinking and inner anxieties to show us a more human side of her.

Snow On The Beach: This is a beautiful melancholy tune that perfectly utilizes Lana Del Rey’s vocals but not her talents. She definitely has a huge impact on the way we hear the song but she should’ve been given her own verse.

You’re On Your Own, Kid: This hit has overall the best bridge that comforts the listener. It expresses emotions of growing up and having to go off into the world. This song is like your childhood home and nights spent by the fireplace.

Faceless Celebrities

The internet’s unattainable beauty standards

By Sophie Sun reporter

“Why does he look like a bunch of Shrek villains combined into one person?”

An angsty teenager is hunched over their phone, viciously typing out yet another Tweet to contribute to the vast array of hate surrounding popular Twitch streamer Dream’s face reveal.

They comment on his facial structure and jutting chin, disregarding the very real possibility that Dream himself may be reading their comments.

Criticizing celebrities for their physical appearance is no novelty in entertainment business, but in a world that calls for body positivity, posting about how ugly someone is in comparison to your expectations seems a little hypocritical.

In today’s world, there shouldn’t be any room for posting about other people’s bodies.

Many of the internet trolls that stalk TikTok and Twitter seem to believe that they have some sort of “right” to comment on their idols’ looks, that their bodies are

the fans’ to control.

Dream is not the only victim of this toxic online environment; other streamers such as Corpse Husband, thrust into fame for his deep voice and juxtaposingly sweet personality, have expressed fear of being forced into face reveals.

When Corpse Husband’s face reveal was

The most worrying part about this horrible online culture that has developed is the fact that it’s all anonymous. You can talk smack about anyone from the safety of your throwaway account on Twitter, safe from anyone you know in real life finding out about your cruel tendencies.

their standards and others calling out the fake fans who had formed some twisted fantasy of what he looked like in their heads and proceeded to get angry when he wasn’t an immensely attractive young man.

Hordes of teenagers needing to vent their pent up anger end up taking it out on online communities, often creating an echo chamber of hate that just exponentiates into a giant ball of misguided fury. At the end of the day, people would do well to remember that even if their favorite streamer maintains a happy face on camera, they’re human too. If you wouldn’t say it to their face, why would you post it online? The Internet has bred a generation of insensitive jerks that just say whatever they want without regard for others’ feelings. Perhaps they would do well to remember that if they did a face reveal, they would probably also be the target of online hate. Empathy seems to be something netizens lack.

The Drama Behind Dahmer

Breaking down the resurgence of serial killers in the media

By Eva Yancheson reporter

From 1960 to 1994, American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer took the lives of 17 men and boys. Dahmer’s crimes run deeper than the murders themselves; they sliced open messily done stitches, exposing the festering infection of the prejudices in the heart of the American police force.

In this sense, the story circulating Dahmer’s crimes and case is an important one, one worth sharing. However, how many times can a story be told before it loses its meaning? How many versions can be rendered before its message becomes hazy?

In the sensational drama series, “Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” directors Ryan Murphy and Ian Brannan recount the gruesome details surrounding Dahmer’s murders and case, putting in careful attention to the crimes.

They remembered all but one thing: the effect that their show would have on victims’ real-life families.

The show exploits Dahmer’s victims and their families, reopening wounds that should

have been left to heal. Dahmer brutally killed 17 people, though his victims’ pain still lives on. The terror inflicted upon those 17 men continues to persist in the lives of their families, friends and communities.

Not only did these families have to bear the murder of loved one, they also had to endure the endless amounts of media, press conferences, books and movies that force them to relive the worst period of their lives. Is it fair, after 40 years, to bring their trauma back into the spotlight?

The answer is no. Netflix should have taken this into consideration. However, everyone’s favorite streaming service failed to ask, or even notify, the victim’s families that this series was being made. After

being in the dark, the shocked families of the victims took to social media to express their discomfort and anger towards the show being aired.

Not only is the show disrespectful, it’s also guilty of dramatizing certain events for an increased horror aspect. This is an unnecessary effect on the already disturbing facets of his kills being made known to the public.

The gruesome details of Dahmer’s story shook the nation, so what do modern alterations say about the director’s intentions? Straying from the facts exposes motives beyond education and awareness.

It can only be assumed that these changes were made to enthrall viewers, allowing the film industry to capitalize on the truth, as well as the anguish of those directly affected by the murders.

The film industry has a reputation of being careless and greedy, with this instance only solidifying this assumption. If Netflix wants any shot at redemption, they will have to compensate for their mistakes.

These families deserve more respect and privacy than they have been given since the very start of Dahmer’s trial.

(Photo courtesy of Netflix)

(Graphic by Sophie Sun)

(Graphic By Quinn Kearns)

A Letter From the Editors

With so many differing opinions on school board decisions, what role do student voices play?

Recent school board elections have resurfaced some concerns about the weight of student opinions. The school board makes decisions which impact students’ daily lives but, on occasion, students do not feel heard. Of course, board officials are pulled in different directions by various adult members of the community, but since students are often most impacted by changes in school policy, their opinions should be weighed significantly and with great importance.

Although it should be the school board’s responsibility to seek out students’ points of view, students have been faced with difficulties making their voices heard.

To advocate for themselves, a group of students founded the One Hill Project, a coalition of PVPUSD students working to improve correspondence between the board of education and students. The board generously offers time for One Hill Project members to voice their own concerns and those of their peers at school board meetings.

Unfortunately, the relationship

between the One Hill Project and the board of education has not always been as productive as it currently is. In the past, some students including those involved with the One Hill Project have felt that their voices were disregarded, especially during Zoom meetings with the district. The new school board elections bring hope to students that this will never happen again. The electees should work hard to preserve the influence that the One Hill Project has worked so hard for.

It seems like a tedious task for school board members to consider so many student opinions when making decisions, but there are ways to do so that could be implemented immediately.

Something as simple as visiting classrooms gives students the opportunity to talk to board members and directly give their input. Other methods of strengthening communication include making surveys and forms available to all students, whether to voice concerns or to provide opinions on ongoing affairs.

Students hope the next installation of the school board will make student voices a priority in their decision-making.

The Plight of the Bookworm

The book-to-movie adaptation craze

By Sophie Sun reporter

You stand in line, waiting for the movie adaptation premiere of your favorite book series that has taken five years to go into post-production. Stepping into the theater, your heart pounds at the idea of seeing your favorite characters materialized on the screen.

As you sit down, a sudden perturbed feeling settles in your stomach.

The opening music plays and you stare at the screen in anticipaton.

The stone that has formed at the bottom of your stomach drops. The hydra, fierce and threatening in your imagination, has now become a slimy wailing reptilian…thing. The lighting is fake and fluorescent and the actors’ smiles are plastic and forced. You cannot bear to watch any more of this monstrosity that is supposed to be your dream book come to life.

Thus is the pain of many book lovers who wait years for

a high quality adaptation. Movie companies just can’t seem to get it right; they refuse to stay true to the book’s original plot and often digress into a less than average character arc that leaves fans unsatisfied.

Whether it is the cringy, dark and brooding vampires or the horribly animated characters, you can always count on movie studios to produce something that in no way resembles the original plot line of the book.

Directors should stay true to the original plot lines of the books they are adapting instead of taking questionable “artistic” liberties.

Thankfully, there are still some producers that value honoring the author’s words as well as actors who actually read the book and understand the nature of the character they are playing.

These are the productions that truly keep revitalizing fandoms and bring back fond memories of afternoons spent curled up in bed, lost in a world of dragons, magic, and adventure.

Editors-in-Chief

The Middle Child Myth

A debunking from a certified middle child

By Olivia Kao reporter

Firstborns have it the hardest. Middle-child syndrome is real. The last child is always spoiled. We’ve all heard these common phrases about sibling birth orders, but just how viable are these statements?

With seniors rounding the corner of the college process and the complementary sudden involvement of parents, peers, and mentors in the (very) stressful process that is applications, some kids with younger siblings may feel overlooked or forgotten, while the older siblings themselves feel waves of overwhelming stress and pressure.

As a middle-child myself, I often get asked questions like “Is it as bad as they say?” or something along the lines of “Do you ever feel forgotten?”. I never quite understood why people would automatically assume my life was “bad,” until I started hearing about these stereotypes more and more often as I grew older.

As I would often hear friends, relatives, and even strangers talk about the ideas of sibling birth order and mental health, I began to ask myself if middle-

child syndrome is real or not, and how valid it is to say that all middle children have the same stereotypical experiences.

Psychologists around the world have studied the validity

are over dramatic trouble-making rebels. While in some cases this might be true, it is certain that not all middle-children are attentionseeking instigators of mischief.

Psychologists and researchers alike should take into consideration the various cultures, environments, and parenting styles kids grew up in before putting the blame of poor behavior on only birth order.

To put it simply, birth order certainly can affect the mental wellbeing of a child, but is not solely based on the fact of whether or not you are the oldest, middle, or youngest sibling.

middlechild syndrome, and have identified “symptoms” of being born in the middle of one’s siblings. These include low self-esteem, attentionseeking, and rebelling against their parents, all of which give the impression that middle-children

Rather, there are many other factors that lead to someone’s mental health, such as the culture and environment in which they grew up. In short, middle-child syndrome is nothing but a myth and should not be deemed a negative condition every middle-child suffers from.

Raising Awareness: The History of the Rising Sun Flag

By Chloe Choi centerspread editor

The Japanese imperial flag is widely known as a hate symbol throughout East and Southeast Asia. However, the American education system is extremely Eurocentric and doesn't mention the various war crimes committed by the Japanese during World War II in its curriculum.

This results in a majority of Americans being uneducated and unaware as to why using this symbol can be offensive. The rising sun symbol is a red dot with 16 red sun rays coming out of the center against a white background.

Imperial Japan occupied various countries across Asia such as Korea, China, and Taiwan. In the colonies, the Japanese aggressively banned the use of local language, killed millions of innocent civilians, and forced thousands of women into sexual slavery. The rising sun symbol serves as a reminder of the dark period of Japanese Imperialism in Asia.

In Japan, many view the rising sun exclusively as a nationalist symbol and continue using it despite the historical context.

In the West there seems to be an extreme lack of education and

Editors & Leadership

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

recognition for the Japanese war crimes and imperialism period in Asian history. It is important to educate ourselves on the history behind this symbol so we can better understand other cultures and why using the rising sun symbol is offensive

The American education system is extremely Eurocentric and often doesn’t allow time for educating students about history in countries with less developed European connections.

I’ve gone to school in the PVPUSD district my whole life and the horrible war crimes that the Japanese committed were mentioned briefly during World History AP.

At the middle school and elementary school level, mentions of the Japanese during our WWII unit tend to be related to the Japanese internment camps in California, Pearl Harbor, and the two atomic bomb drops.

While these events are very historically significant, I believe that our curriculum should mention the attacks that the Japanese did in Asia instead of just mentioning the attack on Pearl Harbor.

One may argue that since WWII is a more recent historical event that is typically covered at the end of the school year and there isn’t enough time to discuss

Centerspread: Luka Ardon Chloe Choi Online: Ella Sherry

Social Media: Quinn Kearns

Japanese imperialism. However, since there is a large Asian community in Palos Verdes I think it would be good to add to our curriculum.

For the past seven years there were two identical posters unintentionally bearing the rising sun symbol hanging outside the OAR for the majority of each school year. The graphic designer that made the posters had intended for the sun symbol to represent a retro beachy vibe since PVHS is next to the ocean.

Many teachers, students, parents and community members walked past this poster for years without a second thought.

After mentioning the posters to the administration they agreed to take them down and have them redesigned. This is a great example of educating oneself about history and taking action to repair past mistakes.

Our school and district do promote a lot of diversity on campus through school events, but diversity should also be reflected in our school curriculum.

The new Ethnic Studies class is a step in the right direction, however this course isn’t currently required and many high school students won’t take it because they already have a full schedule.

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

Follow us on Instagram! @pvhspoint

Amber Chen Lucia Ruiz Adviser Cynthia Mindicino

(Graphic by Sophie Sun)

(Graphic by Olivia Kao)

PVHS Star Athletes Take it to Next Level

By Kelly Donahue features editor

has been playing volleyball since she was in seventh grade.

Tilles decided that she wanted to play volleyball in college during her sophomore year of high school and began her recruiting journey around that time.

She announced her commitment to Davidson College in May of this year.

“I chose Davidson College because it had all of the best qualities I was looking for,” Tilles said.

“I wanted to play at the Division 1 level while also attending a school with the academic rigor I was looking for.”

Although the commitment process was not easy, being committed has relieved some of the pressure of dealing with college applications.

“Being committed has made the application process a lot less stressful because I went through the process of finding the right college for me last year,” Tilles said.

“Now, because I already know where I want to go I only have to complete one application.”

“I got into it because my dad used to play a little bit when he was younger,” Kraemer said. “One of his friends sent me a mini set of lacrosse sticks and I joined a local team and immediately fell in love with it.”

His decision to pursue lacrosse at the collegiate level was not a difficult one, but deciding where he wanted to continue his career was a much harder decision to make.

“I knew I wanted to play in college at the beginning of my sophomore year,” Kraemer said. “I had stopped playing as frequently during middle school and when high school started I fell back in love with it again [but] making my decision was a pretty hard one.”

Kraemer ultimately decided to commit to Tufts University, located in Boston, Mass.

“I fell in love with the city of Boston and loved the coaches and the guys on the team. I did come late to the process so my dream schools had most of the spots filled but I ultimately got on a team that is very good and I absolutely love,” Kraemer said.

Astros Win the World Series over the Phillies

By Aaron Propst reporter

Every October, fans around the world enjoy the suspense of watching the MLB playoffs and players make a name for themselves with great play in a quest for a World Series Championship.

Some of PVHS’s staff were heavily invested in watching the Dodgers this postseason.

“It’s baseball, anything can happen,” baseball coach Alex Morales said at the start of the playoff season. “It is a short series but I am rooting for the Dodgers. I think they proved that they are the best team over the regular season.”

The Astros were dominant in their path to the World Series as they swept through the divisional round and championship round.

The Astros played on a high level all season. They had the best record in the American League at 106 wins and 56 losses. The Astros are a very controversial baseball team as they were caught sign stealing in

their 2017 championship season.

“I hate them,” Morales said. “But they’re loaded, man, they’re tough, and I expect[ed] them to come out of the American League.”

The Philadelphia Phillies came into the World Series as the “Cinderella” of MLB. They were the lowest seed in the National League, and were thought of by many as the worst team in the playoffs.

They proceeded to play their best baseball at the perfect time. They took down the St. Louis Cardinals, defending champion Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres en route to their world series berth.

The World Series was an entertaining clash between the two teams. At one point, the Phillies lead the series two games to one. Then, the Astros rattled off three wins in a row.

In the Astros’ game sixclinching win, Astros’ Yordan Alvarez hit a three run home run to give the Astros a 3-to-1 lead in route to a 4-1 World Series clinching win.

“I joined an AYSO team and a club team called Exiles, but before that I was always playing with my siblings in the house or on the field,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan knew he wanted to play soccer in college from a young age.

“I knew I wanted to play in college when I was young, watching my dad’s college team, interacting with the players, going on the teams buses, and having team dinners,“ Flanagan said.

“Since then I [have] wanted to be in an environment like that.”

Although the commitment process is a very difficult one for a lot of people, Flanagan found it to be more exciting than difficult. “The commitment process was easier than I thought it would be and [easier] than what I’ve seen,” Flanagan said. “I enjoyed the process a lot, it was amazing to learn more and see different campuses.”

Girls Tennis Dominates Bay League

By Chris Vasey reporter

The PV High Girls Tennis Team are officially Bay League Champions.

The team has had an amazing start to the season so far, losing only a few matches to Arcadia and Westlake and going undefeated in Bay League matches.

The team-oriented environment has positively impacted many players on the team.

“Being on the tennis team has helped me become louder as a person, and come out of my introverted shell,” senior Naomi Kao said.

The construction of the team benefited many players as underclassmen could learn from other teammates’ experiences.

“It has helped me become a better player by playing with people better than me and learning from each other to improve our game,” freshman Kylie Vasey said.

Winning the Bay League did not come easy, as the team faced hardships throughout the year.

“This year our hardest match was probably against Westlake during our San Diego

tournament,” Kao said. “We tied 3-3 in matches, but lost by 10 games.”

Having the team supporting the players during their match is very different because tennis is usually a single person sport.

However, the rest of the team watching and supporting seems to help many of the players push through in hard matches.

“I’ve learned a lot about team support and people’s mental strength,” Kao said. “Tennis is a very mental sport, but when you have a dozen team members behind you, it makes playing so much more fun. And you not only play for yourself, but you play for your team too.”

Many players on the team have expressed the enjoyment of competing against others and the fun that comes with the team like environment.

“We are always fighting hard during our matches, but we always make sure that we are having fun and enjoying ourselves,” Vasey said.

The PVHS Girls Tennis Team have had an outstanding season so far and we all can hope they can continue this success as the 4th seed in the Open Division of CIF.

Senior Melanie Tilles

Senior Peter Kraemer has been playing lacrosse since he was in third grade.

Senior Jack Flanagan committed to the University of Notre Dame to play soccer in December of 2021. Flanagan began playing soccer when he was five years old.

(Photo courtesy of Mark Thompson)

(Photo courtesy of Melanie Tilles) (Photo courtesy of Peter Kraemer)

(Photo courtesy of Jack Flanagan)

Another Swimmingly Successful Season for Boys Water Polo

By Quinn Kearns reporter

After becoming Bay League champions in last year’s Bay League Tournament, the boys water polo team start the season off strong. The team has continued to maintain their momentum through even some of the toughest games.

“This season has challenged me as a coach because we are playing against some of the top teams in the open division throughout the preliminary games in our season,” coach Zach Graper said.

“Anytime we face the top competition both coaching and player wise it’s always a challenge and it stacks you up against the best of them. We’re really excited for this playoff push because we have spent all season playing teams in open division and we will be in Division One.”

By starting the season off playing some of the strongest teams in California, they have developed new skills both in and out of the game.

“This season is the first year it feels like it’s truly my own team,”

Graper said.

“Obviously, last year I joined the coaching staff in August just before our first couple games. We didn’t have a long time as a group this year. I’ve had most of this group for a full year and I had the opportunity to take the majority of them to Croatia through our club team. It’s been a group that we get to work together to develop a full preseason and we’re really excited about where we are at.”

This season, Graper has had time to develop relationships with his players to truly excel as a coach. Along with a dedicated coach, the boys have built a good culture in the pool.

“I am constantly being pushed by my teammates to improve,” senior team captain Aidan Olson said.

“They are very competitive and they push me to work harder thus making me a better player.”

The improvements the team have made this year have led them to winning yet another Bay League championship.

As the team has gotten stronger this year, so have their chances of achieving their goal of a CIF title.

“Some major goals we set this year was to both win the Bay

water polo celebrates another win in the pool. (Photo courtesy of Emily Olson)

League and to win a CIF title,” Olson said.

“So far we have completed one of these goals which was winning the Bay League and we are on

NBA Season Now Underway

By James Lew reporter

On Oct. 19, the NBA season officially began, sparking plenty of excitement from sports fans as the league has no obvious superior team as of now.

Teams with high aspirations include the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and more. Along with teams playing at a high caliber, there are star players returning from injuries that kept them out last year.

Players such as Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Jamal Murray, Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard and Michael Porter Jr. are set to elevate their teams after not being available last year.

There were many interesting and surprising storylines coming out of the offseason such as former Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert being traded, Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Meanwhile, Lakers superstar LeBron James also returns for his 20th season in the league attempting to surpass Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the highest scorer in NBA history.

There has been a lot of hope around Los Angeles for both the Clippers and the Lakers during the offseason since the Clippers gained notable forward Kawhi Leonard returning from injury and added star point guard John Wall.

Their rival, the Lakers, have their three superstars LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook who were on the team last year, but their season was interrupted by injury and by the team not being acclimated to playing with each other.

As of Nov. 8, the Clippers are 6-5 and the Lakers are second to last in the Western Conference at a 2-8 record.

“The Lakers season is like getting something new and not being able to return it since it has been past 30 days since you bought it,” freshman Grant Burrell said.

A few teams that have emerged as impressive contenders are the Clevland Cavaliers as new arrival shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has been deemed MVP-worthy.

Teams that have gotten off to dissapointing starts after deep playoff runs last year are the Miami Heat and defending champion Golden State Warriors.

Miami is experiencing a less than ideal start, contrasting last season when the team was one game away from an NBA finals appearance. Although their record is not great, there is plenty of season left to turn it around.

In the Western Conference, the defending champion Golden State Warriors have gotten off to a dissapointing start as well. Even with exceptional play by Steph Curry, the Warriors haven’t been able to pull away wins.

the right path towards hopefully winning a title in CIF Division One.

As a team, they were able to strengthen skills both in and out

of the water. By becoming more connected this year, they have achieved many of their goals and are excited to advance in the future.

Boys

Mrs. Salgado Does it All: Teaching, Training, Parenting

By Kelly Donahue features editor

Only her second year on campus as a teacher, Marissa Salgado does it all. Many students are familiar with her, whether they have had her as an anatomy or biology teacher, or have seen her in the training room working with athletes as PVHS’ athletic trainer.

Inspired by recovery from her own injuries during high school, Salgado began her career working as an athletic trainer.

“I was injured a lot in high school, so I spent a lot of time in the training room and it was just something that interested me,” Salgado said. “I wanted to figure out why I was hurt and how I could get better faster. I liked the idea of physical therapy, but I didn’t really like the office setting, so

athletic training is a perfect mix of physical therapy and being out at the sports.”

However, she soon realized she wanted to do more. Now, she has expanded her role to teach Honors Anatomy and Physiology, as well as AP Biology at PVHS.

“I decided to start teaching because once I started working at the high school level I just fell in love with it,” Salgado said.

“The kids were so inquisitive about their bodies and their injuries and I thought [what would be better] than to teach them about it.”

While teaching the classes and being one of the only two athletic trainers on campus is already a lot to juggle, Salgado has also been adjusting to life at home with a new baby.

“I am fortunate because my daughter is very well-behaved so she sleeps a lot,

so I am getting enough sleep. The time management between preparing for class, making sure I am in the training room, and also giving her time at home and making sure she’s fed and happy has been a little difficult to adjust to this year, but I think I’m doing well.”

Salgado’s colleague and friend, Honors Marine Biology and Life Science teacher Ashley Hughes, really enjoys working with Salgado.

“It’s fun to go over [to her class] and talk but it’s also really nice to have a fellow science teacher that I can bounce ideas off of,” Hughes said. “She brings such great energy, so I love seeing her every morning with a smile on her face because it really brightens my day up.”

A fun fact about Salgado that her students might not know is that she loves to travel.

“I used to travel a lot as a kid for my brother’s hockey tournaments,” Salgado said. “When I was younger I didn’t really like it. I was always on the road and was never home for my birthday, but as I got older I spent my birthday every year in a different city so it was actually really cool.”

In the future, Salgado hopes to continue traveling all over the world.

Salgado has also been hard at work trying to implement a new program at PVHS.

“I have begun having students help us in the training room,” Salgado said.

“So my goal would be to teach anatomy and physiology like I do now and also have a sports medicine course kids could take. They could then intern with me in the training room to get volunteer hours and hands-on-experience beyond the classroom.”

Pint-Sized Stories: Friendsgiving Dinner

Marissa Salgado with her daughter Addison at a PVHS football game.

(Photos courtesy of Cynthia Mindicino)