The Point Issue 4 Vol. 25 - Feb. 5, 2021

THE

POINT

PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 4, VOLUME 25 - FEBRUARY 5, 2021

“A Consequence of the Circumstances”

One Hill Project Proposes Actionable Recommendations to PVPUSD to Help Students’ Mental Health and Academic Well-being

By Aurora Khatibi Garrity and Aidan Sun news editors

Partial Credit Grading

Asynch’ Wednesdays

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The partial credit mandate that we are proposing is a board policy that would ensure that every student can turn in late work and earn at least 50% of the point value up until a week before the end of the school year. It basically provides an escape route for any student that might be letting late work pile up, which is especially prevalent this year due to circumstances of online learning.

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Having an Asynchronous Wednesday where students aren’t required to be on screen and can’t be given additional assignments would be greatly benefiicial to students. A lot of students, teachers and parents share concerns about the amount of time spent on the screen, so a day for students to study, drop in for office hours, or catch up on homework and other activities sounds like the best way to move forward.

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- TIlly Safavian (PVPHS)

- Sarah Liu (PVHS)

On Jan. 27, Student Board Members of the PVPUSD Board of Education, Sarah Liu and Tilly Safavian, brought attention to COVID-19 effects on high school students, proposing potential solutions in response to online learning. PVHS, PVPHS, and Rancho Del Mar student voices were enhanced through the One Hill Project Google Survey, and students rose to share their own experiances. This is a “consequence of the circumstances,” Safavian said. Transparent classroom schedules, equitable testing, and the universal turn-inbefore class suggestions were presented to the board, with hope for change.

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Freshman year is difficult because we are trying to learn the system and adjust to the increased workload… Many have sports, plays, and other activities that have been affected or canceled. Things that make us feel good, successful or connected to our friends, are on hold right now. We worry that these were supposed to be the opportunities that were supposed to differentiate us when it comes time to apply to college. There are so many variables that are out of our control and that leaves many people feeling uneasy.

- Kylie Mone (PVHS)

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We are all worn out, emotionally drained, and unmotivated for everything in life which makes school so much harder, especially since it feels as though we’ve been largely ignored until now. We hear no updates on when schools might reopen if at all, nothing on senior activities, nor how our grades will impact college admissions.

Not knowing causes so much unnecessary stress and anxiety where a solution could be as simple as having the English teachers read off the announcements to the students every day.

I’d like to talk about… the creation of a mental health program with the counselors of all PVPUSD schools. . . One mental health workshop a week could be available to anyone with access to the Google Classroom. This could be an opportunity for students to seek help if they don’t feel comfortable reaching out to a counselor, or to destress with online puzzles and more. An idea for future consideration with this program could be small, in-person wellness cohorts specifically designated for destressing.

- Tenley Shepard (PVPHS)

- Shelby Ponce (PVHS)

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Many students. . . are often up till midnight or later completing homework.

They are struggling and losing interest, and we need to find ways to help them regain their motivation. These students could catch up on sleep or take the time to FaceTime friends. I know that many students would take the opportunity [of asynchronous Wednesdays] to further improve their mental health and catch up on school or extracurricular work. I believe that the students who are struggling still care and want to perform well in school.

- Hannah Corr (PVPHS)

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One Hill Project Survey Results *out of 707 student survey responses

Descriptions of overwhelming workloads

Requests for more asynchronous time

Pleads to help faculty “understand”

Suggestions for having “Asynch’ Wednesdays”

Reports of anxiety from online learning

“Thank you’s” to the school district

NEWS

Rocky Reef Restoration

By Andrew Carpenter reporter

The marine ecosystem off Palos Verdes is full of biodiversity and life, yet years of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) runoff from the Montrose Chemical Corporation of California and the Portuguese Bend landslide have put a strain on the ecosystem.

Driving down Palos Verdes Drive South this past summer, one may have noticed barges, tugboats, and cranes in the ocean off of the Portuguese Bend. This is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Montrose Settlement Restoration program where a 140 million dollar settlement was funded by the Montrose Chemical Corporation for the creation of an artificial reef, in an attempt to restore the aquatic life and kelp forest biodiversity.

One cause of the decimated ecosystem is due to 1950s heavy road construction, accelerating the landslide.

Junior Tristan Wattson has first-hand experience with the damage that the landslide has caused on the ocean through freediving, spearfishing, and

lobster diving.

“The effects of the landslide are devastating for marine life,” Wattson said. “The sediment covers up delicate rocky ecosystems and makes the water very murky.”

Just as the landslide dirt covered up rocky reef habitat, forming ocean sediment that chokes out the ecosystem, “Barge loads of sand were dropped over the contaminated area to try and cover the DDT,” Marine Biology teacher Marta

Wood said.

The sand dropped over the contaminated area puts additional strain on the ecosystem.

“Even though the sand helped cover up the DDT, the sand also covered up the habitat for many animals,” said Wood.

DDT is an insecticide that was produced in Torrance, California, and made its way from the factory into the sewers to the sewage discharge pipes off of White Point, San Pedro.

The insecticide was banned in 1972 due to the negative effects on humans and the environment, but has had lasting effects on marine life.

DDT affects the nervous system of animals and insects as well as affecting the eggs that they may lay.

“DDT has a very long half-life,” said Wood. DDT from 50 years ago is still prevalent in Palos Verdes today.

The contaminated area of DDT is estimated to be about 17

A crane and barge move rocks to create an artifical reef off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Munoz Williams)

square miles of the ocean floor, so removal of the contaminated sediment would be impossible.

“The solution to this environmental disaster is an artificial reef,” said Wood. “I think that this will work because it will cover up the DDT and give animals a place to live.”

According to Occidental College, “research indicates that multiple factors including reef size, spacing, relief, rock size, heterogeneity, depth, sediment depth, location relative to kelp bed perimeter and flux all influence reef performance.”

70,000 tons of large rock was transported from a quarry at Catalina Island on barges to Palos Verdes where they were dropped off to create an artificial reef for the somewhat decimated ecosystem.

Currently, the reef consists of just rock, however, in time, the rocks will become covered in kelps and algae that will be the basis of the reef, new homes for the fish and other crustaceans that were impacted by DDT and landslides.

The rocks will hopefully restore the rocky reef habitat of the Palos Verdes Penninsula, allowing all species to thrive again.

PV School District Reopens Elementary Schools Temporarily

What do vaccines and new relief mean for returning back to campuses?

By Aidan Sun news editor When schools closed on Mar. 13 of last year, it soon became abundantly clear that online school was not ideal and that a solution was quickly needed to get students back into classrooms.

Since then, school districts across the country have been seeking ways to reopen in-person classes safely and responsibly.

Nearly one year later, few schools in California have accomplished this goal.

However, it seems that as vaccines are distributed and public anxiety over COVID-19 subsides, hope for reopening PVPUSD schools seems to be on the horizon.

Already, the school district reopened facilities for sports teams to practice back in October.

The district even periodically opened up kindergarten classrooms for hybrid learning starting Nov. 30 until announcing reclosure following two separate advisories from the Los Angeles County Department of Health

- one coming on Dec. 29 mandating a 10-day quarantine upon returning to L.A. County from travel, the other on Jan. 8 advising schools in the county to remain closed until at least Feb. 1, citing the COVID-19 spike that has crippled Southern California hospitals.

Although the devastating outbreak, which has seen Los Angeles County surpass one million total cases and become the epicenter of the global pandemic, seems to only have gotten worse since the beginning of the school year, reopening seems closer than it has ever been.

On Jan. 8, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a proposed education budget for the fiscal year of $90 billion that specifically allocates $2 billion to help schools reopen and $4.6 billion to open summer schools to address shortcomings in the past year’s schooling.

The “Safe Schools for All” plan calls for funding weekly testing for all staff and students, creating increased ventilation within classrooms and providing all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

Editors-in-Chief Claire Hardesty Sarah Liu Adviser Cynthia Mindicino

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As an incentive for reopening schools, Newsom promised advanced money to schools that proposed reopening plans to the state by Feb. 1 to reopen lower elementary grades by midFebruary for hybrid learning.

In a statement from the school district, Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss explained to families what the governor’s new plan means for PVPUSD students.

“Governor Newsom released his 2021 Budget Proposal, which included $2 billion allocated to K-12 education, for elementary grades to offer in-person instruction, beginning in February (grades K-2) and March (grades 3-5),” said Cherniss. “This funding and timeline, with local approvals, would allow for all elementary schools (K-5) to be open in a hybrid program by March of 2021.”

Not all school districts in the area, however, have been equally as enthusiastic about Newsom’s new budget.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has already expressed worries that the new package doesn’t take into account the logistical and monetary behemoth it would Editors News: Aurora Khatibi Garrity, Aidan Sun Features: Lucia Ruiz Centerspread: Alycen Kim Opinion: Kaylie Harley Sports: Emily Typrowicz Photography: Sierra Namvari Online: Curtis Liu Social Media: Sydney Lyle

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take to open their more than 1,000 schools for their over 600 thousand students, especially at a time when many communities these schools are located in have been ravaged by both deaths and immense economic ramifications caused by COVID-19.

The LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner has already put to rest the idea that schools in his district would reopen soon.

He has even gone as far as to suggest that every student and staff member would be required to have been vaccinated before returning to school campuses.

The requirement, Beutner said, “would be no different than students who are vaccinated for measles or mumps,” in reference to vaccination requirement policies already in place at LAUSD. The goal of vaccinating every student within the second-largest school district in the country seems far off.

In California and across the country the process has been slow and oftentimes chaotic.

As of right now, according to many teachers, there has been no concrete plan announced to vaccinate PVPUSD teachers.

Nevertheless, with the apparent success of the initial reopening of lower grades, a new state budget and potential funding from the new Biden administration, in the coming months, students, especially those in elementary and even lower middle school grades can be hopeful that they may yet reenter classrooms.

For high schoolers and uppermiddle schoolers, however, the future remains unclear. The governor’s proposal does not make any suggestion as to when grades higher than sixth grade should open this year, if at all.

It seems highly unlikely that high schools especially - with larger class sizes, more mature students, and individuals more likely to engage in risky behavior - would reopen before the 202122 school year (although spring sports do have the potential to be able to compete).

Despite this, Newsom’s new budget and the plan to reopen schools for younger kids is a sign of hope and may be the first of many steps we take to return to normalcy and away from COVID-19.

Staff Andrew Carpenter, Vikesh Dheeriya, Alexa Dox, Cristen Haddad, Mia Harley, John Kim, Ethan King, Jonathan Liu, Mallory Meyer, McKenzie Olsen, Frances Stott, Natalie Tholan, Mathew Valero

Follow us @pvhspoint!

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

NEWS A Guide to the COVID-19 Vaccine

By Vikesh Dheeriya reporter The recent distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has reached the arms of most frontline health care workers, while students, teachers, and the general public wait for their chance to receive the vaccine as the world slowly returns to normality.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created three phases of vaccine distribution.

Phase 1 consists of health workers and significantly highrisk adults.

Phase 2 contains all the K-12 teachers and staff as well as older adults not vaccinated in Phase 1.

Phase 3 includes all youngadults and children as well as the rest of the adults not vaccinated.

The three phases were constructed to “balance the prevention of mortality and the preservation of societal functioning” according to the CDC. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccine have been developed, approved and distributed, but have small differences.

Pfizer shows 95% efficacy at preventing COVID-19 symptoms, has an interval of 21 days between doses of vaccine but requires special ultra-cold freezers for storage.

The Moderna vaccine shows 94.1% efficacy and has an interval of 28 days between doses, but only needs the temperature of a regular freezer as storage.

Although both vaccines have

shown a very high percentage of effectiveness against COVID-19 symptoms, there is no evidence as to whether or not the vaccine can actually prevent the spread of the virus.

For maximum effectiveness, there are two doses of the vaccine administered usually three to four weeks apart. The first dose helps the immune system create a response against the virus, while the second dose ensures long-term protection.

Getting vaccinated also comes with the cost of minor symptoms The Palliative Care Medical Director for Torrance Memorial Health System, Ujjwala Dheeriya, received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Some symptoms include “aching joints and a slight dizziness,” Dheeriya said. “[Feeling symptoms] is proof that your immune system is responding to the vaccine.”

The COVID-19 vaccine distribution has advanced past only medical workers and is being administered to Los Angeles County residents that are 65 years and older.

According to the LA County Department of Public Health, it is likely to be available to the general public in the spring of 2021. Among the general public, teachers are hopeful to receive the vaccine by early February as the first tier of Phase 1B in California’s vaccine plan.

Some teachers believe that returning to campus would not be safe with vaccination so close.

“Ethically it is inexcusable to put teachers, staff and their families in danger when effective vaccines are available. We can

wait. Education can be replaced.

Lives are not replaceable,” said history teacher Louis Harley.

Although the PVPUSD district hasn’t released a direct statement yet regarding the requirements of students to return to an in-person learning environment, the Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner will require all students to be vaccinated before returning to school.

“Our students getting vaccinated would be a very necessary precaution for me to personally feel safe returning to an in-person learning environment,” junior Jonathan Ross said.

Students and young adults are considered to be low risk, which means they are last in line to receive the vaccine.

Returning to an in-person learning environment is “unlikely,” Dheeriya said. “The percentages [of cases] need to drop many tiers. The vaccine likely won’t have a large effect on returning to school [before the end of the school year] because of the long amount of time the vaccine takes to become fully effective.”

With over one million cases and around 15 thousand deaths in L.A. County alone, the COVID-19 vaccine is a small light at the end of a long tunnel.

With students being among the last to receive the vaccine and the continuing disregard of social distancing and mask-wearing, a return to normal life with sports and school still will require time.

“It’s like turning a ship, Dheeriya said, “and it’s a very large ship that needs to be turned.”

(Graphic by Aidan Sun)

What is the Recall Newsom Movement?

(Graphic

by Aidan

Sun)

By John Kim reporter California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently facing some challenges to his gubernatorial position.

After footage of his dinner at French Laundry in Napa County was leaked in November by the San Francisco Chronicles, many Californians were disappointed in his hypocritical behavior as he was calling for strict lockdowns for the holiday season.

The situation got even more sticky for him when the purpose of the dinner was identified as the celebration of the 50th birthday of Jason Kinney, a political operative.

Although Newsom apologized, stating that he “made a bad mistake,” riding on the tide of the disapproving sentiment, the recall

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

effort that began in June 2020 started gaining traction.

According to the organizer, in January 2021, the campaign garnered over a million signatures.

If true, only about 400,000 more signatures are needed to put the matter on the ballot.

Supporters of the movement cite overly stringent COVID-19 regulations and high tax rates as their main grievances.

This is the fifth recall effort for Governor Newsom since he took office after the 2018 election when he received 61.9% of the vote, and so far, this one is seemingly the most serious campaign.

In fact, Superior Court Judge James Arguelles extended the deadline from Nov. 17, 2020 to Mar. 17, 2021, due to

complications caused by the pandemic.

Back in June, Governor Newsom did respond to this recall effort, claiming that it would cost $81 million in taxpayer money and that it is led by Donald Trump’s supporters.

In terms of precedent, out of 55 recall efforts to recall an incumbent Californian governor, only one case was successful when Gary Davis was recalled by voters in 2003 with Arnold Schwarzenegger serving as his replacement.

When asked if the recall movement was justified, Comparative Government teacher Louis Harley said, “Absolutely. If people are upset, they have the [Californian] constitutional right to do the recall.”

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“He lied about [the French Laundry incident]. It’s about inconsistency. It’s their livelihood,” Harley said as he described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state response.

He further stated, “The vaccination thing, you can’t do any worse. Every leader should be graded on a crisis, and he has to answer for his screw-ups.”

When asked about his opinion on whether Governor Newsom will actually be recalled if the issue does end up being placed on the ballot, Harley said, “I think there is a good chance,” referencing the circumstances of Davis’s removal in 2003.

However, given the fact that California is a strong blue state, Harley still predicted that Newsom being removed from

office is unlikely.

Personally, he said that he would vote against it if the referendum were to occur.

If the recall effort does pass the required amount of signatures and get on the ballot, in addition to deciding whether to recall Newsom or not, voters will also pick their replacement candidateeven those who voted against the recall in case it goes through.

Currently, there are a number of opponents of Newsom whose name could be on the ballot.

Some prominent figures include John H. Cox, a businessman who was the Republican nominee in 2018, and Kevin Faulconer, a former mayor of San Diego, both of whom have already launched exploratory committees for the 2022 California gubernatorial election.

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FEATURES

Thrift-Shopping is Good for the Planet, and Your Budget

By Sydney Lyle social media editor As the fashion industry has continued to grow, upcycling clothing has become more important. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, and environmental damage increases as the industry builds.

The production of materials that make up these fabrics, and the toxic wastewater being released from factories are only a few contributors in the overall negative impact the fashion industry is having.

In most countries where these garments are produced, untreated toxic wastewaters from textile factories are dumped directly into the rivers.

This wastewater contains toxins such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, which are extremely harmful for aquatic life and the health of people living by those river banks.

During the agricultural process of constructing textiles, the fertilizer used for cotton production heavily pollutes runoff and evaporation waters.

The production of garments also requires an immense amount of water to be used

for dyeing our clothing. Since many foreign countries rely on this industry to support their economies, there are not strict environmental regulations for factories.

It has become imperative that we begin to buy our clothing second-hand if we want to preserve our valuable resources.

Luckily, it has never been easier.

With social media promoting and popularizing thrifting, it has become a trend to buy secondhand.

“When people post hauls showing the pieces they thrifted, it makes others think, if she/he/they can do it, then so can I. People would be more inclined to shop second hand if more influencers they follow on Instagram and TikTok demonstrated themselves doing so,” senior Ife Ibraheem said.

When determining where to begin your thrifting journey, there are endless options to choose from.

You can visit thrift stores, consignment stores, flea markets, estate/garage sales, or any of the online platforms if you prefer to do your shopping in the comfort of your home.

Upon first arriving at a thrift store, it can be overwhelming.

Zooming to Club Rush and Connection

By Frances Stott reporter This year, Club Rush was virtual. Despite these times, club members, students, and staff came together to keep the annual Club Rush alive.

However, it was very different from previous years, for both the club presidents, and also for students who plan on signing up.

Each club had its own Zoom meeting. The club presidents had 15 minutes to talk about what their club does.

After that, anyone who was interested could sign up.

It was split into four days, with about 12 clubs presenting each day.

It took a lot of work for a virtual club rush to be set up.

Activities Director Jama Maxfield was in charge of coordinating Club Rush, along with the club presidents. She and everyone else involved worked extra hard this year to ensure that Club Rush would run smoothly.

“They did everything virtually so it’s much different. There was no in-person connection or asking people to stop by a table to check anything out,” Maxfield said.

The Club Rush experience was also very different for club presidents.

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“One of the biggest challenges this year was getting the word out and getting people to join the meetings,” Art Club president, freshman Sophie Sun, said.

“Before, we could probably have put posters up and made morning announcements, but this time because everything was so spread out, students were confused on the times and most people were unaware that Club Rush was even happening.”

Most clubs will meet on a Google Meet or a Zoom call at specific times each week.

Sun’s Art Club is one example. The Art Club meets at lunch every other Monday.

One of the worst aspects of the school closure is that many students miss the social aspect of school.

These clubs are a great opportunity for students to meet each other when in-person meetings cannot be held.

During these times, it can be hard to organize things, especially something as big as Club Rush.

Despite this, Maxfield, all of the club presidents and club members did an excellent job at organizing and executing Club Rush.

There are clothes lining every wall of the store, clothes in bins, and accessories galore.

It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture and assume it’s too difficult to find something you will like. In order to avoid this situation, you need a game plan.

“Go into the thrift store of your choice with an idea of what you’re looking for,” Ibraheem said.

This may prevent any distractions you feel from all the endless clothes. Choose one section or category in the store and go from there.

Next, “make sure you are energized and ready to be on your feet for two hours or more,” Ibraheem continued.

Thrifting is supposed to be fun, but it can be draining even when you are properly prepared.

Another way to get involved is by selling or donating your clothing.

Uptown Cheapskate and Buffalo Exchange are just two local stores that will buy your clothes from you.

Keep in mind that they can be pretty particular in what they are looking for, so they don’t always take everything you offer. But if you are successful, it is a great way to give back and make

Sydney’s Favorite Thifting Spots Vest: Uptown Cheapskate Heart top and bag: Savers

Skirt: Salvation Army

some money.

If you don’t have any luck there, try an online platform or simply donate it.

(Photo by Sydney Lyle)

A Beginner’s Guide to Crystals

By Lucia Ruiz features editor Wellness and New-Age healing has caught the media by storm in recent years.

Even more recently, people are turning to crystals to help lower stress levels, promote self-love, and even focus better.

“In the beginning of quarantine, I became more into crystals because I had more time to focus on myself,” sophomore Grace Gulcher said.

One thing every beginner should know about crystals is that they need to be cleansed and charged prior to using them.

A few methods of cleansing are using incense or anything else that produces smoke, water (some crystals will be damaged in water, be sure to check beforehand if a crystal is water-safe), or even using sound.

Charging a crystal can be done by putting it under moonlight or sunlight

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(some crystals may fade in sunlight), making a crystal grid and more.

As time goes on and someone gets more interested in crystals, they might find that one in particular stands out to them.

“I really like aventurine. It’s a form of quartz that is supposed to benefit the nervous system. It promotes healing of the physical body,” Gulcher said.

There are so many unique crystals and it may be difficult to know where to start.

A few beginnerfriendly crystals are amethyst, clear quartz, tiger’s eye, rose quartz, and satin spar.

Amethyst is said to balance emotions and calm mood swings.

Therefore, this crystal may help promote tranquility. It also represents wisdom, especially spiritual wisdom.

In ancient Rome, wealthy people often had their chalices adorned with amethyst because they believed it prevented drunkenness.

Clear quartz is called “the Master Healer.”

Since it is a clear crystal many people claim it amplifies your intention and energy, especially when manifesting something into

your life.

Tiger’s eye is another great crystal for beginners. Like amethyst, tiger’s eye may also protect from external stress.

By doing so, it also helps with concentrating.

Tiger’s eye is a protective stone, meaning that it repels negativity. Tiger’s eye is also said to promote self-confidence.

Rose quartz is known as the stone of unconditional love.

Whether you are trying to attract romantic, platonic or self love, rose quartz is the crystal for you. Rose quartz has a very gentle energy and helps heal emotions and promotes harmony.

Satin spar and selenite are also very useful crystals. They are both gypsums and have the same metaphysical properties Satin spar and selenite are said to cleanse and charge other crystals.

They can also be used to cleanse a space, person, or object of negative or unwanted energy.

Crytals pictured: Amythyst (top purple), Clear Quartz (blue center), Tiger’s Eye (far left), Red Jasper (bottom magenta), and Rose Quartz (pink right) (Photos by Lucia Ruiz) FEBRUARY 5, 2021

2021 Bingo:

After an unpredictable and wild 2020, Sea Kings try to guess what 2021 will have in store.

By Sierra Namvari photography editor

FEATURES

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

By Sarah Liu editor-in-chief Just as Alicia Keys sang in her 2007 song “Teenage Love Affair,” “Can you pick up the phone?

‘Cause I wanna holla,” it seems like all a highschooler can do in the time of the Coronavirus is pick up the phone and call their crush.

But, for two high school couples in Palos Verdes, the pandemic has only become a challenge to overcome and adapt to in their relationships.

PVHS seniors Devyn Hall and Devon McVicar were already dating before COVID-19 went global.

While the world rushed to move activities online and battled with connectivity issues both in the tech world and in the social realm, the couple found their relationship getting stronger.

“Because we were forced to minimize our social activities, we were caused to spend a lot more one-on-one time with each other which I believe has caused us to become as close as we are,” Hall said.

McVicar agreed.

“I think that the circumstances have caused us to grow closer to one another. We have spent a lot of time together and are always talking to one another,” he said.

However, in order to grow

pandemic.

A story of 21st-century romance, the couple met through Twitter; they had long followed each other on the platform.

Although the pandemic was still ongoing, there was not much hesitation in starting a new relationship for either of them.

“When we first met the cases were much lower and school looked like it might reopen soon, but as our relationship progressed, the pandemic worsened,” Brinderson said.

Benedict had already been staying cautious of her surroundings and making deliberate choices to keep her family as safe as possible.

“The bubble of people that I was seeing was small, Benedict added.

“When the cases skyrocketed, we definitely dealt with tough moments and difficult decisions, but at the end of the day we care very deeply about each other’s mental and physical health.”

As for their Valentine’s Day plans, both couples are keeping it simple.

Hall and McVicar are planning on watching a movie and making pasta.

“We are planning on dressing up a little bit, getting some sort of greasy fast food, (Graphic by Sarah Liu) and eating either in a desolate park or a deserted parking lot,” Benedict said.

Paolo Brinderson, a senior at “We also got each other gifts, PVHS, and Jeanie Benedict, a so we are going to exchange senior at PVPHS, did not begin those. Also probably take a nap.” dating until a few months into the as close as they are now, Hall and McVicar had to make compromises to ensure safety is a top priority.

“We are always very conscious of each other and one another’s social circle,” McVicar said.

“It is hard at times because we both worry for [and] about one another’s families, [so], we do our best to stay safe and avoid large groups in order to make sure we can see each other.”

Endure and Overcome Annie’s and Rafaello’s on getting through the pandemic.

By Claire Hardesty editor-in-chief As the COVID-19 virus has continued to worsen in the Southern California area, small local businesses are taking the hardest hit.

Annie’s Boutique is a local run clothing store located a block up from the Palos Verdes High campus. Annie’s has been open for many years and has been a staple of the PV area.

Featuring art and clothing created by mainly local artists in the community, Annie’s is local to the core. This local factor has been what Annie credits for getting her through the tough times this pandemic has faced small businesses.

“I think it is definitely the loyalty factor, people would always come in saying that they wanted to support us, they didn’t want us to leave,” owner Annie Banken said.

Through the most difficult part of the pandemic, spring 2020, small businesses all over began to switch to creative ways of continuing business.

“We had to get creative, we started dropping off packages to customers on approval, dropping off stuff for them to try on at home, this aspect got us through March, April, and May,” Banken

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said.

As the pandemic continues, the opening and closing has confused many customers, but never fear, Annie’s Boutique on 722 Yarmouth Road is still open.

“Everyday people come by and ask, if we’re still open, so we’ve really relied on having a stronger online presence to remind people we are still here and open,”

(Photo by Claire Hardesty) Banken said. Banken has had to take measures such as cutting hours, reducing employees, and putting an emphasis on a social media based business as ways during this difficult time.

Along with an increased use of online contact comes a loss of personal relationships they have with many customers.

“Our personal relationships with [the customers] are really limited just because they used to hang out here a lot more,”

employee Kennedy Wright said.

With schools closing, Annie’s has taken a hit. ”The way the whole calendar and time frame works around here is by the school, there’s mothers dropping off and picking up their kids with a minute or two to kill, so they used to come in and shop,” Banken said.

But along with the losses from the pandemic, some positives have arisen such as an opportunity for innovation, appreciation for the community, and even further exploration of PV by people from outside the community.

“I will say I have seen more new faces and foot traffic because more people are coming up here and walking and just discovering the area,” Banken said.

Banken and Wright consistently expressed their gratitude and credit to the community for helping them not only preserve, but also flourish through this time.

“I see a lot of good stuff happening in the community, they’re making the efforts to help their local favorite spots make it, I’ve learned how fortunate I am to be in this community,” Banken said.

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Small restaurants such as Rafaello’s have faced obstacles in reaching and providing to their customers due to the virus.

Many of the restaurants similar to Rafaello’s have turned to online ordering as their central source of income.

“It’s almost like people don’t come in anymore, everything is through Postmates, GrubHub, Uber Eats, online ordering is really what we’ve turned to,” Manager Richard Dominguez said.

COVID-19 has been a moving force that is always unknown, especially within the state.

“Through March, April, and May we cut our hours, we even cut our staff from working, we started shutting down earlier and opening later, it was tough for sure,” Dominguez said.

The loss of the heavy foot traffic from schools has seriously impacted Rafaello’s as this was a hub for many kids as an after school place to eat and hang out.

“At the beginning it was a very big difference between having the schools and not having [the students], we still see them but we see them in delivery, we see

them at their houses. Everyone ordering delivery has really helped us out though.”

Though the tides of the virus are unpredictable it does seem like things will start improving in the near future.

(Photo by Claire Hardesty) “The past few months have been a steady increase, it’s been getting a little bit better, I think people are a little less scared of going out and ordering now,” Dominguez said.

Rafaello’s credits PV’s tight knit community and the loyalty of their customers for helping them get through this difficult time.

“We have had a lot of support from the community, we really appreciate everyone’s business and for supporting us….I just want to say thank you to everyone and I hope you guys come back soon,” Dominguez said.

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Black Histo The Past, The Prese Frederick Douglass “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist and has been referred to as the father of the civil rights movement. He was an escaped enslaved person who went on to become an author. He pushed Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation and continued to fight for civil rights for the rest of his life.

Douglass wrote an autobiography titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which documented the realities that enslaved people had to endure.

He also fought for women’s rights, and their right to vote. Douglass’s work lived on as inspiration for the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia)

Amanda Gorman “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.”

Amanda Gorman was the youngest inaugural poet in US records when she recited “The Hill We Climb” to the nation on January 20, 2021 for President Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Gorman told the New York Times, “But what I really aspire to do in the poem is to be able to use my words to envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal.” Gorman’s poem is truly a message of unity, healing, and hope that has inspired many to live by that.

February is known as the month of valentines and sweets, but it is also recognized as Black History Month, a time to remember and pay tribute to important African American figures.

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson proposed the idea of dedicating a week to commemorate Black history and education.

It wasn’t until 1976, during the civil rights movement, that President Gerald Ford expanded the week into a full month.

He specifically chose the month of February to coincide with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, both of whom were famed

What Black Histo PV High’s Blac

(Photo credit: Shawn Miller, Library of Congress)

Sojourner Truth “Truth is powerful and it prevails.”

Sojourner Truth was a former enslaved person that became an outspoken abolitionist, as well as a women’s and human rights activist. While on a lecture tour, she spoke at a Women’s Rights Convention and delivered her most famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” in which she challenged the ideals of racial and gender inferiority. Her notoriety for her strong activism gained her recognition from President Abraham Lincoln. Truth was also the first Black woman to sue a white man and win, regaining custody of her son from a slave owner.

(Photo credit: The COM Library)

LeBron James “Nothing is given, everything is earned.”

Lebron Raymore James Sr. is a four-time championship basketball star. He is often referred to as “The King” and is considered one of the best all-around players in NBA history. James was brought up in a tough home life. His parents were divorced and most of the adults in his life were constantly getting in trouble with the law, so he did not have many adult role models in his life.

Basketball became his outlet; he would practice day and night working on his shot to hopefully make it in the NBA one day.

After years of hard work, he is now one of the most influential and iconic players.

(Photo credit: All-Pro Reels, Flickr)

BSU co-presidents Cameron Collier and Mogilefsky)

By Jonathan Liu reporter As Black History Month approaches in February, Palos Verdes High’s own Black Student Union (BSU) is planning to do something special despite the pandemic and distance learning this year.

With all the racial injustice that took place in the summer of 2020, senior Elijah Simpson emphasized how important it is to be part of such an union.

“To be a part of BSU is a big deal for me, especially in PV when

there’s not tha people of colo seeing most o to bring light t our country a minds of kids hear about th BSU pres Cameron Co to do someth despite the di year.

“For Black Month BSU is on posting gr the importanc History Month said. “Hopefu graphics will r with the viewe

ory Month: ent, and The Future abolitionists.

Since 1976, every president has designated the month as a time to celebrate Black American people’s significant achievements and central role in United States history.

Now, in 2021, it is more important than ever to celebrate their accomplishments and reflect on the continued fight for racial justice and equality in our country.

In this centerspread, we commemorate great historic and modern black figures and the future of the Black Student Union at our school.

ory Month Means to ck Student Union

k History s planning raphics of ce of Black h,” Collier ully these resonate ers and give

Ida B. Wells was a journalist and activist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. When three of Wells’s friends were lynched by a mob, she wrote an campaign against lynching. The editorial led to her newspaper’s office being sacked. Wells began contributing to the Chicago Conservator. She also published a look at lynching in A Red Record. She helped organize many meetings such as antilynching campaigns and suffrage rallies.

Wells participated in the founding of the NAACP and joined in the meeting of the Niagara Movement.

(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)

Jordan Peele “The power of story is greater than the power of conversation in a way.”

Jordan Peele is an American actor and filmmaker. His 2017 directorial debut, Get Out, was a box office success. Get Out won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, making him the first Black screenwriter to win in this category. Get Out also recieved nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. Peele also directed and produced the acclaimed horror film Us. In 2017, Peele was featured in the Time 100 list of most influential people.

(Photo credit: Peabody Awards)

Jesse Owens “A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.”

d Hallie Umrarong (Photo courtesy of Angie

at many or. It’s good of us unite to issues in and open the s who don’t hese issues.” sident ollier wanted hing special ifferences this

Ida B. Wells “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

them some insight on African-American culture in history.”

BSU also has posters of prominent AfricanAmericans throughout history that have had a great influence on today’s world.

BSU hopes that teachers will pick one of the posters as backgrounds to use for their online classes.

At the end of the month plans to host a movie night where people can join a Zoom to watch a movie that reflects Black History Month, according to Collier.

Jesse Owens was an American track-andfield athlete who set a world record in the long jump that stood for 25 years and who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. His four Olympic victories were a ruin to Adolf Hitler’s intention to use the Games to demonstrate Aryan superiority.

Hitler refused to shake hands with Owens because he was an African American. Jesse chose to have a positive attitude and left with his head held high. Owens’ story is one of a high-profile sports star making a statement that transcended athletics, spilling over into the world of global politics.

(Photo credit: Acme News Photos)

Stacey Abrams “We must cease being participants in our own oppression.”

People look up to Stacey Abrams because she helped 800,000 people register to vote in 2020. Abrams was a representative of Georgia’s state house. Abrams also founded a voting rigger for advocacy organization Too Far Fight action in 2018. Stacy Abrams said “We changed the trajectory of the nation, Because our combined power shows that progress is not only possible—it is inevitable,” and that is one major thing that made so many people look up to her.

Another amazing thing Abrams has done is create two amazingly successful voter drive organizations.

(Photo credit: Marla Aufmuth / TED)

OPINION Dear 2020,

By CJ Haddad reporter It brings me absolutely every pleasure to say—it’s over. We’re done. I can’t do this anymore.

Most importantly: It’s you, not me.

Throughout the course of our relationship, you’ve brought so much pain, anxiety, and fear upon me. Since January, everything you did filled me with dread.

Did you really have to take Kobe Bryant from us? Alex Trebek? Chadwick Boseman?

Your cruelty knows no bounds.

And the virus? How could you?

The year before, while you were eagerly waiting for your time to shine, you saw us fighting over Popeyes’ chicken sandwiches for upwards of a month—did you think we could handle a fullfledged pandemic?

It’s so obvious you were insensitive to my needs, and no relationship can be worth it without that basic pillar of respect. Not to mention, you couldn’t even give the people of this nation any sort of stability.

You kept us in the USA on the edges of our seats for weeks with the 2020 election, and you couldn’t even finish the job!

Why’d you have to pawn off the Georgia Senate runoffs onto 2021? That year does not need your baggage.

Yet, it’s not just the large problems of our society that plagued the time we spent together. Your small offenses made me feel unheard and upset,

from January to December.

You took the Olympics away from me—a most grievous sin when considering that Simone Biles is seen as a greater symbol of national pride than that guy who led the executive branch all year.

You’ve locked me into my homes since March—you are the reason I now consider my bedroom a prison cell.

You took PV students out of school and away from much needed human interaction—I never thought a year could make me yearn so dearly for the 40-degree cold and early morning zero periods that the teacher never shut the door for.

However, I have to admit that our relationship taught me many things.

It taught me how long is appropriate to wear the same pair of sweats before they completely reek of B.O. It taught me that online shopping isn’t a great coping mechanism, even if that 40-pack of candles seems so essential.

But above all, it taught me that we’re all in the same boat— the boat of being completely mesmerized by Tiger King and The Queen’s Gambit.

While this is all water under the bridge now that I’m in a healthier relationship with 2021, I’m more than happy to leave you 2020, my toxic ex, far behind.

Sincerely, Humanity

COVID-19 Killed the Movie Star

By Mia Harley reporter In the face of a pandemic celebrating its first anniversary, many staples of entertainment have been temporarily postponed.

Movie theaters in California, for example, have been closed for months. When theaters do begin to reopen, however, the question remains: How many movie viewers will return?

With a large number of streaming services available, many argue that watching movies from the comfort of one’s own home is more enjoyable.

When going to a theater, a single ticket generally costs about $14. If you pre-purchase your

ticket online to ensure you get a seat, the theatre also charges $1-2 in convenience fees. If the movie is new, you either need to arrive early or pay the extra convenience fee in order to get a good seat.

Alternatively, when watching at home, one must pay for the streaming service, which normally costs around $5 a month, and then an additional $20 or so for the new movie.

However, with that $20, you can watch from multiple screens and pick the time in which you view the movie. You also get to pick your own seat, though there’s a possibility you’ll have to fight with your family or dog for the best one. Either way, there’s

(Photo by Mia Harley)

a near 100% guarantee of a comfortable seat.

Besides not needing to get dressed, one of the best parts about watching a movie at home is being able to pause or rewind whenever you desire.

If you need a bathroom break or want to refill your drink, there’s no pause button at the movie theater. Finally, there’s the option to add subtitles, which is normally very rare in theatre screenings.

When movie theaters finally reopen, some might want to go back for the large screen and audience reactions. However, they will still have to deal with questionably cleaned chairs and annoyingly loud talkers sitting adjacent to them.

Sia’s Bad Idea: Ableism and Misrepresentation in Her Controversial New Movie

By Alycen Kim centerspead editor Sia, the Grammy-nominated pop sensation, has taken over our playlists and radios with catchy hits like “Chandelier” and “Elastic Heart.”

Unfortunately, her attempt to take over our movie screens with her new directorial- debut film, Music, has backfired.

Music follows Zu, an estranged free spirit, who is left as the sole guardian of her half-sister Music, a young teenager on the autism spectrum.

When the first teaser trailer was released back in November, Sia received backlash for casting Maddie Ziegler, a neurotypical actor, to play an autistic character. The trailer was uncomfortable to watch, with Ziegler jerking her head around and having a violent episode when portraying the character.

Many activists in the autism community have found the performance to be offensive and inaccurate. They expressed disappointment and anger towards Sia for excluding actors who are neurodiverse and/or disabled from such an important project.

Sia claims that she auditioned

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several non-verbal actors, but claimed they were all too “stressed out” to perform, resulting in her chosing Ziegler.

Sia insisted that her choice of casting was simply nepotism, admitting she couldn’t “make art” without Ziegler. Ziegler has starred in many of Sia’s music videos and projects, and even went on tour with her back in 2016.

Sia should have cast a person with a disability for this role, but instead chose the easy route of picking someone she had worked with many times before, making the film both exclusionary and offensive.

The casting decision was not the only cause of controversy.

The nonprofit organization Autism Speaks was involved in the production of the film. The group has been denounced by the autism community multiple times for taking money away from neurodiverse care and failing to represent the community accurately.

As Twitter users flooded Sia’s inbox with furious tweets, the singer took the time to fight the criticism with an angry rampage of replies. In response to an autistic actor suggesting that there could’ve been a greater

effort to cast an actual disabled actor for the role, Sia said “Maybe you’re just a bad actor.”

She claimed that “her heart has always been in the right place” and implored people to watch the movie before making their own assumptions. The rest of her tweets were a flurry of swear words and childish comebacks.

The controversy around this upcoming movie points to a bigger problem in the moviemaking industry.

According to a study by the Ruderman Family Foundation, “95 percent of characters with disabilities are played by ablebodied actors and at least 59 able-bodied actors have received Oscar nominations for portraying characters with disabilities.”

Filmmakers should offer equal opportunities to actors with disabilities as neurotypical ones in order to destigmatize the neurodiverse community.

Sia should not have used Ziegler, as using a neurotypical actor to play the role of a girl with disabilities is harmful to both her career and to the overall representation of the autism community.

Her response to the very valid criticism was also unacceptable, and she should admit her faults.

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(Illustration by Alycen Kim) FEBRUARY 5, 2021

OPINION

A Letter from the Editors A Capital Conundrum: PVPUSD believes strongly in the mission of developing the “whole child” —the obligation to nurture both the academic aspirations and social-emotional growth of every kid in hopes of creating “whole children.” Anxiety and depression are on the rise, kids are feeling the effects of lost connections, and burnout is becoming more and more commonplace.

At the District level, we strongly support a partial-credit policy of at least 50 percent on all turnedin assignments, and the push for an Asynchronous Wednesday at secondary schools. Now is the time for the District and our schools to start picking up the pieces in hopes of rebuilding “whole children” who have found themselves struggling immensely this year.

The inflexibility placed on missing assignments, along with the sometimes sudden onset of due dates and confusing turn-in times, has only compounded the academic anxiety students face during this already distressing time. Giving at least half-credit is in an attempt to prevent a snowball effect: missing assignments pile up and leave a hole in the gradebook that is almost impossible to overcome despite progress later in the semester. We need to prevent students from feeling like they’re in a hopeless situation.

Critics of this policy say that it would only lead students to do the bare minimum. However, academic achievement is in this school’s DNA. Most students aren’t looking to scrape by, and this policy benefits both those

who are struggling to meet the passing-threshold and those who are already thriving. Fifty percent is still a failing grade, but it provides the escape route to a passing grade that students deserve.

Students have rallied behind Asynchronous Wednesdays since the beginning of online learning. There is already a precedent for such a schedule in California public schools.

Torrance’s West High School and Northwood High School in the Irvine Unified School District already have asynch days or nearly-entirely asynch days implemented.

For many students at PVHS, Wednesday is already at least partially asynch due to teachers opting to instead assign work to be done off camera during that class period.

The proposed asynchronous day has benefits for both student and teacher, as it gives the teacher a necessary break from the screen and opens up more preparation time while allowing students to decompress, catch up or get ahead on schoolwork.

While these two proposals are contentious, the calls for compassion are not. We need to encourage open communication between teachers and students.

Students should feel comfortable making suggestions to their teachers if it means improving their learning environment, and we should be looking out for each other’s mental health.

If we want to start building a better, more whole semester, we need to start from the ground, up.

Like Two P’s in a Pod If we’re being honest, PVHS and PVPHS sound far too similar for two very different schools.

By Natalie Tholan reporter The Palos Verdes Unified School District consists of ten elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools.

These two high schools, in an obvious stroke of genius, were cleverly titled Palos Verdes High School and Palos Verdes Peninsula High School.

As to be expected, the names have caused confusion for people both on and off the hill.

My friends from other schools, such as Redondo Union or Mira Costa, don’t know the difference between the two schools, even going so far as to think they are the same place.

With that being said, I can’t help but feel offended that our unique schools are indifferentiable from each other.

Whenever I get the chance, I like to explain to my friends the many differences between the two schools.

Although there has always been a healthy competition between the two Palos Verdes high schools, there is much to

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

appreciate on both campuses.

Peninsula High School’s architecture is much more modern than PV High’s, as it was constructed during Southern California’s explosive postwar population boom.

PV High’s architecture is much more Spanish-inspired, which matches much of the houses residing in Palos Verdes Estates.

A more well-known difference is the bell schedule.

Peninsula’s students have a minimum of six to seven classes every day for 50 minutes each.

At PVHS, we have a blocked schedule of two to four classes a day for 100 minutes.

The days are split into A and B days.

Despite the differences between the two schools, each campus holds beautiful opportunities and classes for PVPUSD students to learn from.

Additionally, with Palos Verdes being located on the ocean and Peninsulas being located next to the PV Plaza, there is an ample amount of places to hang out with friends.

Jan. 6 and how we move forward.

In 2021, we must extinguish the flames stoked by vitriol, division, and white supremacy.

(Illustration by Alycen Kim)

By Kaylie Harley opinion editor Jan. 6, 2021 will be a day that forever lives in infamy.

At approximately 2 pm that day, supporters of 45th president, Donald Trump, broke into the nation’s Capitol in protest of the electoral vote count that would demonstrably favor nowPresident Joe Biden.

Rioters smashed windows, sat at the desks of Senators, assaulted U.S. Capitol Police, and made a mockery of America’s democracy.

In what can only be described as an insurrection, or a violent uprising by citizens against a government, the United States Capitol was besieged for the first time since 1814.

Understandably, the people of America were outraged, even more so when discovering the hypocrisy of police responses.

Just last June, peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in DC saw an entirely different side of law enforcement.

“When Black people protest for our lives, we are all too often met by National Guard troops or police equipped with assault rifles, shields, tear gas and battle helmets,” The Black Lives Matter Global Network said.

“Make no mistake, if the protesters were Black, we would have been tear gassed, battered, and perhaps shot.”

As an American watching the events of Jan. 6 unfold, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. What had happened to the beautiful country I had heard such great stories about in my youth?

Although the past four years have worked well to shatter my naïve perception of the United States’ perfection, I still have hopes that we’ll be able to right the wrongs of our recent past.

On Jan. 20, Joe Biden was officially inaugurated, and we have already begun to rebuild.

In the mean time, the terrorists masquerading as patriots must continually be held accountable for their actions and arrested.

Serious analysis of police and National Guard response to the riot should be used to right the hypocrisy the American public has continued to witness. Only afterwards can our nation truly heal.

2021 was supposed to be an escape from the disasters of 2020, but Jan. 6 proved that assuming all will automatically be well is simply wishful thinking.

Our problems are not magically solved, and drastic change must be implemented in order to prevent any further “bad luck” from seeping through the cracks between this year and the previous one.

Is Cursive a Dying Art? (Graphic by Aurora Khatibi Garrity)

By Aurora Khatibi Garrity news editor Let’s all rewind to elementary school: after weeks of tracing letters in workbooks and practicing calligraphy, we now sit at our respective desks, looking down at a cursive exam.

As a kid I wasn’t amazing at cursive, but I’ve been doing fine without it! In an age where legibility in writing isn’t even a guarantee, I hardly see the advantage of children enduring the long process of learning loopy penmanship.

Cursive may allow for the creation of a unique signature and the ability to write faster, but that’s about it. It seems to serve little to no purpose in the daily lives of the human race.

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Exposing students to cursive as a creative outlet is lovely, but teachers are not conveying this as a reason to learn cursive.

Senior Aidan Gutierrez, an avid cursive user, believes that the elegance of cursive holds a place in history that should be passed on to future generations.

“I always keep a letter that my grandmother wrote for me, and it’s in the most beautiful cursive I have ever seen. I find it artistic,” Gutierrez said.

Cursive might have a high historical value, as it was used for writing formal thank you letters and the American Constitution, but the past shouldn’t necessarily dictate the present. “In the end, people can write how they want to write,” Gutierrez said.

In 2010, the Common Core State Standards Initiative

dropped the teaching of cursive from public educational facilities, but 21 states have reinstated cursive as an educational requirement, saying it allows students to take notes more quickly and create a signature.

Today, where technology allows an array of cursive fonts to be discovered at the click of a button, it seems cursive has found a way to live on without being a mandatory mechanical skill.

The main concern regarding penmanship is teaching generations to simply write legibly, and the next step should be how to type faster on a keyboard. In 2021, many of us have become less strict with handwriting, and I for one would like to be able to comprehend my future co-workers’ handwriting.

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SPORTS

What’s Your Superstition?

By Emily Typrowicz sports editor Superstitions are a big part of an athlete’s mental game. They can vary from never washing game socks to listening to their favorite song before a game. A superstition is a developed routine that must be practiced in order for an athlete to perform their best. PVHS athletes have many different unique superstitions that help them play to their highest ability.

Jon Ward Varsity Cross Country/ Basketball

What is your superstition?

“The night before whether it’s basketball or cross country I like to hang up my jersey.

I also like to wear typically the same thing, so the same type of socks for game/meet or same undershirts for games” When did it start?

“The first time I ran varsity was when we were in Hawaii and it Photo courtesy of Jon Ward was the first time I got the stripes which is a big thing for cross country. I was like I’ll hang it up in the closet and ever since it’s been my thing. I started doing it for basketball because I did it for cross country so might as well hang it up in my room or at a hotel and put it in the closet.”

Harper Skeie Varsity Lacrosse

What are your superstitions?

“I always have to be wearing my avocado socks and always have to write phrases on my arm to help me stay focused.”

When and how did they start?

“I first started doing it summer into my freshman year. My mom had bought the avocado socks for me and I started wearing them and playing great so I just continued wearing them every time I had a game. With Photo courtesy of Harper Skeie writing phrases on my arm it started when I was taking the draw and there were specific things that I needed to remember. So I started writing 4f which were 4 words that start with f that I need to remember- focus, foot placement, form, and force”

Gavin Peters Varsity Baseball What is your superstition?

“I always have to tap my bat three times on the plate, far side, close, and middle. I do it after every single pitch so when I am getting ready and waiting for the pitch.”

When and how did it start?

“I think I was trying to feel where an outside pitch would be so it gives me a reach of the plate so I can feel where a strike would be Photo courtesy of Gavin Peters or a ball. I have done it for years, probably since middle school so it has been a long time”

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The Road to the Big Game Super Bowl prediction: KC- 34, TB-26

By Jonathan Liu reporter In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic taking over the world, all major sports were in jeopardy, especially football.

As the NFL figured out their different health and safety protocols and ways to battle difficulties such as rescheduling games because of COVID, players and fans were rewarded with the anticipated Super Bowl.

This year’s Super Bowl is number 55 of the Super Bowl Era, with a matchup between the defending NFL Champs and current AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The two teams that got to this destination did not get here by accident.

The Kansas City Chiefs got to this game with a regular season of 14-2 and the first seed in the AFC playoffs.

Every week they took care of their business racking up wins and building good habits while doing so.

They are led by coach Andy Reid, who coached previously for the Philadelphia Eagles until 2012.

Standout Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy leads the Kansas City elite offense that scores around 30 points per game.

The stars of the offense are the same from last year’s Super Bowl team with 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, speedster at Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill, and 6’5 standout Tight End in Travis Kelce.

Their defense is lead by Steve Spagnuolo with star players such as Safety Tyrann Mathieu and D’Lineman Chris Jones and Frank Clark on the edge.

Their playoff path was filled with some challenges as in the Divisional Round, Patrick Mahomes left the game in the second half due to a concussion against the Cleveland Browns.

With the score being 22-17 in

the final minute of the 4th quarter, backup quarterback Chad Henne threw a first down to Tyreek Hill as the Chiefs escaped.

In the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills, they fell down early, 9-0 after an early field goal and touchdown by the Bills after some mistakes such as a muffed punt by Mecole Hardman.

They then routed the Bills for the rest of the game as they won 38-24 to make it to the Super Bowl in back to back years.

The other team playing on Super Bowl Sunday are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Their regular season wasn’t the greatest as they started off 7-5 before their bye week, but they picked up their play and ended the regular season with four wins.

They are of course led by arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady who decided to join them in the offseason after many years with the New England Patriots.

Their offense is dynamic with big receivers such as Mike Evans and breakout star Chris Godwin.

Brady’s old running mate Rob Gronkowski tags along with the offense along with Leonard Forunette who signed with the Bucs right before the season started.

Their coaching staff is led by veteran head coach Bruce Arians who has been apart of many playoff teams such as the Arizona Cardinals back in 2015 when they made it to the NFC Championship game but fell short.

Their playoff path to the Super Bowl was different from the Chiefs. Without the first seed, the Bucs played in Wildcard weekend against the Washington Football Team and standout defensive rookie Chase Young, but ended up winning 31-23.

In the Divisional Round, they played on the road vs their division Rival New Orleans Saints led by Drew Brees and star wide receiver Michael Thomas.

The Saints beat the Bucs in the

regular season both times they played them. In week one, 34-23, and in week 9 38-3.

In this game, the Bucs forced four turnovers on the Saints as they ended up winning convincingly 30-20.

In the NFC Championship game, they had to go on the road to play the first seed Green Bay Packers with probable MVP Aaron Rodgers and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Davante Adams.

Green Bay had the best offense in the league as they put up 31.5 points per game in the regular season.

As the game went on the Bucs held a 28-10 lead which then got cut to 28-23. As the game dwindled down big plays by Tom Brady on offense, and the Bucs defense held the Packers to 26 points as the Bucs won 31-26 in a game with many momentum swings.

As these teams set to match up, they will have game film as they did play each other earlier in the season back in week 12 when the Chiefs won 27-24.

Tyreek Hill had 13 receptions with 269 yards and three touchdowns to cap off his offensive clinic.

An interesting to look at in this game is how the Bucs defend him after getting embarrassed by him in the previous matchup.

The Bucs have matched up with top tier receivers in the playoffs though, with Michael Thomas and Davante Adams.

Michael Thomas ended with zero reception on four targets and Davante Adams had nine receptions on 15 targets for 67 yards.

This matchup with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce who also had eight receptions in the regular season matchup might possibly determine the outcome of the game.

If the Bucs can’t contain those two, it could be a long day for them no matter what Tom Brady does.

Prediction: KC: 34 TB: 26

CIF Cancels Fall Sports Playoffs

By Mallory Meyer reporter CIF announced Tuesday, Jan. 19 they were cancelling playoffs for all fall sports due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of many.

In response to sports cancellations, parents, students, and community members held #LetThemPlayCA rallies across the state urging for high school sports to begin immediately.

At this time, Southern California counties are still in the state’s purple tier, indicating a widespread number of cases.

“I am really upset at the cancellation, but I’m not really surprised given how this past year has gone and I understand why they cancelled. I’m a huge competitor and I really thought the cross country team and basketball team had a shot at winning this year so it’s definitely frustrating thinking on what could have been,” senior Jon Ward said.

Although CIF is cancelling

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playoffs, they are still planning on holding regularseason games.

This does give athletes an opportunity to have a season even if the big championships have been cancelled.

“I think it was a good idea that they cancelled it. Continuing the season might have put the kid’s and staff in danger,” sophomore Sophia Potter said.

Once the stay-at-home order is lifted, athletic programs would be able to compete in sports under the approval of the California Department of Public Health.

Cross country, football, volleyball, and waterpolo are scheduled to begin playing sometime soon and end dates for the season will be in mid-April.

There has been talk of allowing a cross country championship, but it’s not practical to have multiple different counties all at the same location.

Club teams are still continuing to practice and have been

following their own regulations, playing in private facilities and club competitions taking place.

Countering, CIF came out with a letter making it mandatory to abide by the county and state’s existing guidelines or they will suffer consequences.

CIF is currently working on new guidelines to be released and hopefully get a season going within the next month.

Illustration by Emily Typrowicz

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

A Year without Kobe

By Curtis Liu reporter On January 25, 2020, as LeBron James scored his 33644th career point against the Philadelphia 76ers, he reached another career milestone: passing the great Kobe Bryant for third on the All-Time points list.

James happened to accomplish this feat in Bryant’s hometown, to which Bryant took to Twitter to congratulate James for his longevity and prowess.

“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644” Little did the world know that this would be Bryant’s last tweet.

It’s been a year without the sports icon of LA. Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away in a helicopter incident on the of

January 26, 2020, was a part of every basketball fan.

Senior Christian Hokama reflects on how Bryant impacted his life, stating that, “Kobe meant everything. Watching him lead the Lakers to five championships showed me truly what hard work leads to.

His Mamba Mentality is truly unmatched, and his legacy towards the game of basketball will live on forever. Kobe meant so much to the community, and so much to [me] as a Lakers fan.”

The 2019-2020 Los Angeles Lakers delivered a championship to the City of Angels, with many references to the late Laker legend. The snakeskin alternate jerseys that were presented in every Game

2 of the playoffs paid homage to Gianna Bryant’s jersey number 2. The KB patch on top of the Nike logo reminded every Laker player who they were honoring with the championship run.

Anthony Davis’s post-game winner celebration echoed the phrase “Kobe” as he dropped the dagger on the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

The words “Leave A Legacy” were largely inspired by Kobe and reminded the Lakers just how important it was to reach the goal of a championship.

“Kobe taught us to improve in ways that we thought was impossible. He taught me personally to be a better student, friend, and person; he taught all of us to be better and

Athletes Corner: Raymond Moll Tees It Up During the Pandemic

By Ethan King reporter It is 6:40 A.M. on a Tuesday morning during Winter Break and sophomore Raymond Moll has just arrived at the Palos Verdes Golf Course to begin his day. He doesn’t leave until five that night, having played and practiced for 10 hours.

Moll has always been motivated to improve. He started playing when he was 10 years old and has continued playing into high school.

“I first got into golf because of my grandpa. He is a really good golfer, so when I first beat him a couple years ago it was super

exciting,” Moll said.

Moll’s freshman year was cut short because of COVID-19. The varsity team played no matches and the JV team played only three. Moll played in all three JV matches carding a team low of 40 in a match against Mira Costa.

Even with his stint on the team being short, he has gained the respect of many older teammates.

“As someone who is only a sophomore, he will continue to grow as a player and always provide good scores for us.

His work ethic proves this too.

He practices every day” senior Vidyuth Thattai said.

Throughout the offseason he

has continued to improve. He has spent nearly every day at the golf course throughout the summer and fall, practicing and playing.

“At around 12, I head to the course. I usually putt for around 1-2 hours, then chip for half an hour. I then spend the next two hours hitting balls at the range, before trying to play a few holes.

I always stay until it gets dark,” Moll said of his daily routine.

This hard work has paid off as his scores have continued to improve. In October, he shot a new low of 73 at Palos Verdes Golf Course. Even with this improvement, Moll still believes there are some parts of his game he can work on.

“The best part of my game is off the tee and my chipping, but my putting still needs improvement.”

Moll hopes to be able to play in college, but he is not too focused with this right now.

“Playing in college is a goal, but you never know what is gonna happen. I am just gonna continue to practice and play and see where it takes me.”

Boys Golf Coach and five time Bay League Coach of the Year, Ray Rivera, believes that Moll has a promising future ahead.

“I expect Raymond to represent and contribute as a member of our varsity team. He will give our team a strong chance to win the Bay League this year,” Rivera said.

Even with this season in jeopardy, Moll holds out hope to play and will be prepared if the season does come.

(Photo courtesy of Raymond Moll)

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

PVHSPOINT.ORG

SPORTS

exceed our limitations,” senior Chiby Onyeador said.

“Being a year removed from his tragic death has opened my eyes to how important he has been to all of our lives and how important he will continue to be. Mamba Forever,” he said.

As this troubling year passes us, we cannot forget how much we have learned throughout this process. Bryant’s everlasting legacy is forever entwined with the long list of events that occurred in 2020. He has taught us to give everything we have in

Illustration by Emily Typrowicz everything that we do.

He has touched people within and beyond basketball communities. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest athletes to play on the hardwood. But most importantly, he will be remembered as a father, mentor, and an example for all.

PV Cheer Navigates This Unique Sports Season

By Alexa Dox reporter Palos Verdes High School has a well-deserved reputation for its strong athletic program.

The PVHS Cheer Team is no exception to this.

The squad is an essential part of the athletic program attending all home and away football games and men’s & women’s basketball games.

The squad is led by Jama Maxfield, who has been the Varsity Head Coach since 2006.

In her role, she has led hundreds of girls and taught them how to be strong ambassadors of the school, both on and off the field.

The PVHS Cheer Team starts practice in the mid-June in order to be fully prepared for the opening football game in late August.

The summer months are typically very busy as the team learns both the various cheer, dance and stunting routing as well as how best to represent the school.

Being selected to the PVHS Cheer Team involves a difficult, weeklong tryout process that includes learning and mastering three dance routines, three sideline cheers, a variety of stunting exercises, as well as showcasing any other skills the girls might have.

Like all school activities, the cheer program was heavily impacted by COVID-19.

The initial shutdown occurred in mid-March just as tryouts were set to take place.

The first challenge required the Cheer coaches to figure out

(Photo courtesy of Jama Maxfield) a way to proceed with tryouts while keeping safe social distancing.

Ultimately, the coaching elected to post videos of cheer routines and asked the girls to practice these routines on their own and submit a video of their performance.

This process was long and difficult. Coach Maxfield commented, “It took hours for our judges to watch all of the videos to score them AND doubly hard to find the split and natural break in scores with no stunting.”

At the conclusion of this process, the coaches selected 60 girls for a combined Varsity/ JV Cheer Team.

Once the team was selected, there were further challenges.

No practices were permitted.

“We don’t get to be together.

No games. No real practices.

No stunting. No camp. No real fun,” said Coach Maxfield to the team.

The team mostly practiced via Zoom. However, during periods when the school administration felt it was safe to practice, inperson workouts were held with each student separated into several groups.

CIF has recently permitted athletic programs back on campus, so the Cheer team has been able to continue with in-person workouts.

“Hopefully, the girls will be back on the field soon cheering the teams and leading the crowd. It’s going to be crazy our first game back. I miss it so much,” Maxfield said.

PAGE 11

BACK

Party Politics: Where do Democrats and Republicans Go From Here

By CJ Haddad reporter In the days surrounding the Biden-Harris Inauguration and in the wake of a deadly attack on the Capitol Building, the realities of our two-party political system have come fully into the limelight, awakening our citizens to an entirely new struggle in Washington D.C.—the struggle for political unity. Both Democrats and Republicans find themselves in unique positions: Democrats A narrow Senate majority, a slim hold on the House, a new presidential administration: this is the new reality for the Democratic side of the aisle.

With a newfound control over the legislative and executive branch, new opportunities exist to not only push the progressive agenda forward in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but unify for their causes.

Republicans As control over the Senate and the executive branch is lost, members of the Republican party face growing disunity in the wake of the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

Ranging from a bitter split over certification of the electoral college vote to an uncertain impeachment trial, a deep division runs through the caucus of GOP legislators.

The Senate (Democrats) The tension that filled the air since November’s election week finally dissipated in the small hours of Jan. 6—the results from the Georgia Senate elections were finally in, a pair of runoffs that would determine party control of

the Senate. Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock defeated Republican incumbent Sens.

David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler respectively, bringing the Senate to a 50-50 Democratic majority with Vice President Kamala Harris now able to serve as a tie-breaking vote for the Democrats.

With this new majority, Senator Mitch McConnell will become the Senate minority leader, giving firsttime Majority Leader Chuck Schumer more control over legislative scheduling and agendas.

Among the bills expected to be brought to a vote by the Democratic caucus include new COVID-19 relief, changes towards campaign financing, legalizing marijuana, and criminal justice reform.

However, a divide within the Democratic party remains over long-standing issues, such as eliminating the filibuster and implementing universal health care— Senators from the far-left to the staunch center have differing stances on such areas.

With the power to shape legislation for another two years, it is a matter of time and observation to see what the new majority passes until the midterms.

Impeachment and Donald Trump (Democrats) In the wake of the attack on the Capitol, the Democratic Party has found unity in the gravest task the Constitution lays before a legislature: convicting the now former President Donald Trump in the Senate after impeaching him for a second time in the House on Jan. 13. Filing one article of impeachment for

“incitement of insurrection” with less than two weeks left in the Trump administration, the House’s action stood as a symbolic opportunity for representatives to speak on the issue of accountability, leadership, and the history of this nation—with the vote quickly turning bipartisan as ten Republicans voted with House Democrats, including high-ranking GOP member Liz Cheney.

If Trump is convicted in the forthcoming Senate trial, it will bar him from holding office again.

Some student voters at PVHS supported the cause behind impeachment, with senior Pili Marco saying, “Considering the mob at the Capitol, I think that it’s important that leaders who encouraged these actions should be held accountable to some degree, because they have a great influence over their supporters’ actions.”

The Senate (Republicans) Conservative control of the Senate was lost on January 6 as incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue lost their runoff elections in Georgia, with a lower Republican voter turnout playing a large role. Within the final days of President Trump’s term, messages of doubt about the electoral process, specifically in Georgia, spurned a greater percentage of Republicans from participating in the runoff election.

Impeachment and Donald Trump (Republicans) Yet, the true division within the Republican party is most evident surrounding Donald Trump and the objection to certifying the electoral college’s votes in

Congress—a division that only deepens with his second impeachment for inciting an insurrection. Ten Republican Congressmembers voted to impeach the former President, with third-highest-ranking Rep. Cheney joining the effort.

The move has caused large backlash from proTrump conservatives inside and outside their districts, with many calling for their resignations and most already threatened with primary challengers.

Senators who did not side with the pro-Trump objection to the electoral votes have been facing a similar dissatisfaction amongst their constituents.

Republican Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) were among those

harassed in airports following public statements denouncing President Trump’s actions, with videos of them being called “traitors” circling social media.

The “Great Divide” between supporting and condemning the actions of the 45th president, especially when GOP Senators contemplate how they will vote in the impeachment trial, have not gone unnoticed by even the newest generation of voters.

“During those last days of the Trump presidency, I think there were three parties: the Trump supporters, the Republicans, and the Democrats, and I think that it’s created a lot of division.

But I have faith that things will be more unified with the new administration,” senior Chaya Holyfield said.

Presidential Impeachments: A Look Back Andrew Johnson

Bill Clinton

11 Articles filed Not convicted by Senate

Article I: Perjury Article II: Obstruction of Justice Not convicted by Senate

Donald Trump Article I: Abuse of Power Article II: Obstruction of Congress Not convicted by Senate

Article I: Incitement of Insurrection Conviction TBD (Graphic by CJ Haddad)

An End to the Trump Twitter-verse

(Graphic by Aidan Sun)

By Aidan Sun news editor In the early hours of Jan. 20, the day he was supposed to be attending the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden, President Donald Trump said his goodbyes and thanked his supporters In an insipid ceremony, void of the pomp and circumstance the day’s later events would have.

“Have a good life,” he said to the crowd right before he

left the stage. “We will see you soon.”

He then turned around to climb the steps towards Air Force One astride his wife as the song “YMCA” by the Village People blared in the background. In what couldn’t have been a more fitting end to an unconventional presidency, Trump, a man who topped every headline for four years straight, was gone, as he flew down to his home at Mar a Lago, Fla. and a new administration took office.

Stripped of his social media accounts, stripped of the Oval Office and stripped of his strongest allies including Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), to some it may seem that Trump has lost any and all influence he had over American politics.

However, that’s far from the

case.

With a looming impeachment trial in the senate and a staunchly loyal base driven by QAnon and election-related conspiracy theories, Donald Trump’s clutch over the Republican

Trump candidates.

This fear of being ousted by their own party for opposing the former president has undoubtedly led House and Senate Minority members to reconsider their stance on impeachment.

Meeting with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Jan. 28 at Mar a Lago and maintaining the support of RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump Former President Donald Trump has made it clear that he remains poised on shaping party remains strong as ever. the Republican party in a way Already, he and his allies that would support a potential have been readying to take run in 2024. the House and Senate in the While he lacks outlets such 2022 midterms. as Twitter that he used to rely Part of their strategy to on to spread his message, keep Republican members of Donald Trump will without Congress in line despite his a doubt remain a force to absence has been to threaten contend with in American to primary them with propolitics for years to come.

“Have a good life. We will see you soon. ”