The Point Issue 5, Vol. 25 - March 12, 2021

THE

POINT

PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 4, VOLUME 25 - MARCH 12, 2021

Reflecting on One Year of COVID-19

By Aurora Khatibi Garrity news editor

Under normal circumstances, friends and families joyfully celebrate anniversaries, yet the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 shut down feels more like a time of mourning. This long but fleeting year has held death, justice and resilience. Over a year ago, on Jan. 9, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Twelve days later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed its first United States COVID-19 case. Nine days later, on Jan. 30, 2020, WHO declares COVID-19 a global public health emergency.

March 13, 2020 marks exactly one year ago, the day of Breonna Taylor’s death, and the day the Palos Verdes Penninsula Unified School District canceled in-person schooling. Students have lived out this “new-normal”, opening computers each morning for Zoom class, with the annual shutdown of in-person schooling being March 12, 2021. Confinement and loss of structure from quarantine have seemed to blur days into weeks, weeks into months, into a whole blur that is this past year.

COVID-19 Politics and Social Justice Education Culture

NEWS From Posterboard to Discord: PV-Peninsula Science Fair Goes Virtual

By Vikesh Dheeriya reporter On Feb. 11, students at both Palos Verdes and Peninsula High School virtually presented their science research projects over Zoom at the annual Palos Verdes Peninsula Science and Engineering Fair (PVPSEF).

Taken as a 7th-period class, science research is an experiment-based project on any specific subject that is researched, tested and analyzed throughout the year before being presented to judges at the PVPSEF. Just like everything else in the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the fundamentals of the science research class. Some groups overcame the safety issues presented by the pandemic.

“For the research process, my group mates [Kapil Dheeriya and John Kim] and I worked together virtually over Discord,” senior Daniel Belzberg said.

The adjustment to doing most social activity and classwork online has continued over to the science research class where groups need to communicate and conduct research on their project.

(Photo by Vikesh Dheeriya)

Barstool Founder Gives Small Businesses a Boost

By Ethan King reporter The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe repercussions for small businesses. During the early months of the pandemic, many small businesses shut down to protect customers and workers. As the country has gradually opened up, restrictions have been put in place to help slow the spread. Unfortunately, this has caused many businesses to lose customers. These businesses, through no fault of their own, are now on the verge of collapse.

On Dec. 17, 2020 the Barstool Fund was launched by Dave Portnoy. Portnoy is the founder of Barstool Sports and a social media personality. The fund’s goal is to help small businesses make it through the pandemic.

Portnoy first decided to launch after New York banned indoor dining, which hurt many restaurants in the state. Portnoy put forward $500 of his own money to kickstart the fund. The fund now has raised over $35 million, including donations from celebrities Tom Brady, Guy Fieri and Elon Musk.

The fund has now supported 241 small businesses around the

(Graphic by Aidan Sun) PAGE 2

country. Portnoy has pledged to continue to help businesses even after their initial funding. The only requirement is businesses must have employees on payroll and must be open.

While the pandemic has been very rough for businesses, this has offered many of them a gleam of hope. Even so, he does not believe this will be a permanent solution and the government must step in to assist.

“Is it the best plan? No,” Portnoy tweeted. “The best plan is the government issuing billions of dollars to these small business owners who are losing their livelihoods and have no way to save it through no fault of their own.”

Portnoy, who has been considered controversial at times, has received much praise for his efforts to save these small businesses.

“I respect what he has been doing,” senior Bodi Brannen said. “He has helped so many small businesses who are in trouble.”

If you would like to contribute to the fund go to www. barstoolsports.com/the-barstoolfund.

Most of the projects eventually required some hands-on science and if not for taking the right precautions, students could have been at risk of spreading the virus.

Belzberg, Dheeriya and Kim needed to meet in-person to conduct their experiment, the construction and testing of a cloud chamber to detect muons, a particle similar to the electron. “[When testing the chamber] we kept our distance as much as possible and wore masks,” Belzberg said.

The classic P.V. science fair with poster boards, experiments and in-person judging were completely changed due to the pandemic.

The painstaking research and complicated experiments that some students have spent two to three years on would have to be presented virtually. The poster boards were completely replaced with an interactive PowerPoint presentation where the judges have access to the research paper, summary video, slideshow, abstract and science notebook.

“The whole process was very

technologically different from last year, but it felt like the same core components of an in-person fair,” senior Kapil Dheeriya said.

The judges, who are chosen for their knowledge in a specific scientific field, entered a Zoom meeting with the research group for ten minutes and judged based on originality, clarity, design and execution.

Although there were some technical difficulties with some judges, every project was fairly evaluated by the end of the day.

“I prefer the in-person fair as making a personal connection with the judges was far easier,” Dheeriya said. “However, I enjoyed the virtual fair due to how much it simplified the process.”

Belzberg, Dheeriya and Kim earned second place in the physics and astronomy category for the second year in a row for their study on the muon particle.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things, but research and the scientific method will always be constant.

“In my opinion, the fair and overall research process adapted very well to the virtual environment,” Belzberg said.

Wall Street’s Laughing Stock

By Andrew Carpenter reporter Everyone has heard of the GameStop stock price skyrocketing and how it made Wall Street mad. To understand why Wall Street got mad and what happened, you need to understand what shorting a stock is.

“Shorting a stock is when you borrow shares of a stock from someone and then sell those shares for a profit,” senior and Stock Investment Club President Kapil Dheeriya said. “When a stock goes down, you can buy back those shares for a lower price. Because you have spent less on buying back those shares, you have made profit.”

This means that Wall Street was betting on the price of GameStop shares to be worthless because you sell the stock and buy it in the future.

“You can get only as much money as you have sold a stock for, but the stock could go up hundreds of percent and you’ll lose a lot of money,” said Dheeriya.

This is what happened to Wall Street hedge funds that were shorting the GameStop stock.

They borrowed shares of stock for a price and then had to pay a much higher price after the stock price inflated.

The price of a stock can fluctuate due to many different market forces. If more people buy a stock than people sell that stock, the demand is, therefore, higher than the supply causing the price of that stock to go up.

Other factors that can contribute to the price of a stock are the management and success of a company, the economy and the political climate.

However, these were not to blame for the GameStop jump in the price of one share from around $20 at the start of January to $347 on Jan 27. The sudden jump in price was due to supply and demand for the stock.

The demand for GameStop stock skyrocketed due to an online community trying to cause chaos for Wall Street and possibly make some profit. The idea started on a social media

platform called Reddit, after members of the subreddit r/ WallStreetBets decided to get back at the hedge funds that were shorting the stock.

According to the financial analysis of the finance company S3 Partners, short-sellers have lost around $12.79 billion from GameStop so far in 2021.

Short sellers lost a lot of money on more stocks than just GameStop. Bed Bath and Beyond, AMC and BlackBerry are other companies whose stocks were short squeezed with the idea of hurting the hedge funds and making a profit. To a lesser degree, media coverage of the situation also contributed to the stock fiasco.

Without hordes of people buying GameStop shares, the price would not have gone up significantly and therefore those betting against the stock would not have lost money.

However, on platforms such as Reddit, many people were able to communicate and tell each other to buy the stock causing it to skyrocket.

Due to traders selling their shares of the GameStop stock, the price has now returned to around $40 per share.

“The GameStop spike was a destructive attempt to punish Wall Street insiders who have manipulated the market with no punishment,” junior and Stock Investment Club Treasurer Ryan Hetchler said.

(Graphic by Alycen Kim) PVHSPOINT.ORG

MARCH 12, 2021

Democrats Pass $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan

By Aidan Sun news editor On Wednesday, Mar. 10, the Democratic-controlled House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package ahead of a Sunday deadline when unemployment benefits expire. In conjunction with many other additional provisions, the immense bill, known as the “American Rescue Plan” allocates funding for school reopenings, unemployment programs, vaccine distribution, small businesses and povertyreduction.

Republicans in the House and Senate have been vehemently opposed to the bill stating that it is far too large and would undermine efforts to reduce spending and cut the federal deficit.

The relief bill is indeed a behemoth. By comparison, the 2009 Recovery Act under President Barack Obama was only $831 billion and it was widely credited for, albeit slowly, kickstarting the United States’ emergence from the 2008 financial crisis. However, the bill has massive support across party lines with 70% or more support nationally in most polls.

Despite Republican opposition at the federal level, state and local Republican leaders like Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia have voiced their support stating that the enormity of the relief package meets the enormity of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the American people.

Examining the bill’s provisions, it’s easy to see how such a bill could have such bipartisan

agreement by voters. The part of the bill most likely to be wellreceived includes $1,400 stimulus checks to every American adult making under $75,000 a year with an additional $1,400 for dependents. It also extends $300 per week nontaxable federal unemployment insurance through Sep. 6.

The American Rescue Plan also expands the child tax credit, gives $350 billion in state and local aid, $178 billion for reopening schools and higher education, $176 for vaccinations and health care, $109 billion for farmers, small businesses and other essential industries, $47 billion in FEMA disaster relief money, $40 billion in aid to renters and homeowners, $17 billion to restaurants and bars and $17 billion to veterans Despite some setbacks to progressives (such as a lack of minimum wage provisions), in the eye of the overall party and other supporters of the bill, the American Rescue Plan “meets the moment” by focusing on getting aid to individuals rather than focusing on businesses like last year’s HEROES Act. With wide bipartisan support among voters and the wide berth of issues it addresses, the White House sees the relief bill as the jumpstart needed for President Biden’s “Build Back Better” campaign promise.

Whether or not the bill truly accomplishes the revitalization intended by the Biden administration has yet to be seen.

Nonetheless, it is only the first of many more expected legislative actions taken by Democrats to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession.

NEWS

Decoding iPhone Security and Safety Tips

By Alexa Dox reporter The world’s technology is constantly growing and expanding in numerous ways that benefit our daily lives.

Due to this rapid growth in technology, illegal activity to exploit these technologies is also on the rise.

This suspicious activity is adapting and advancing along with our modern technology, especially among Apple products.

Recently, in response to increased cybersecurity threats to its users, Apple enhanced their security to protect users from this new criminal activity.

Apple recently released a new iOS update to its iPhones, which gives users more protection and privacy from hackers and others who might try to exploit user data and activity.

The company has advertised this new update as having the best protection available to keep your information safe from hackers.

Another new feature Apple added to the iPhone is a yellow dot indicator light in the status bar, that will turn on when the phone’s microphone or camera is recording.

In addition, Apple came out with a new feature for antitracking.

This feature stops apps like Facebook and Instagram from tracking your website activity and limits the apps’ access to your phone’s browsing history.

It is evident that Apple is aware of the importance of updating their security measures on all products, along with taking all necessary steps to eliminate or removing old apps or updates that they deem unsafe.

(Graphic by Alexa Dox)

Major Relocations Leave People Wondering Why Companies Are Ditching California

By John Kim reporter Recently, prominent figures like Elon Musk and companies like Oracle have announced their departure from California to Texas, shaking up the scene and perhaps alerting many people.

However, they are not the only ones. Leaving California for states like Texas, Nevada and Florida has notably become a prevalent trend.

Particularly, the hot topic has become the exodus out of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which inarguably used to be the center of various startups and various other businesses like Google, Solar City, Intel, etc.

Of course, other cities like Los Angeles have experienced the effect as well; notably, the popular podcast host Joe Rogan moved to Austin from L.A. The complaints of those who leave boil down to a couple of common themes many exCalifornians cite. These include

MARCH 12, 2021

California’s notoriously high marginal tax rate, overcrowding of cities, ever-increasing homelessness crisis and stringent COVID-19 regulations.

To compare states, California has a 7.25% sales tax while Texas has 6.25% (final sales tax rate depends on the cities).

Perhaps most importantly, the top income tax bracket in California on individuals with an income exceeding $1 million a year is 13.3%. On the other hand, Texas has no personal income tax.

Texas also has more lax COVID-19 regulations regarding dining, shopping and other social activities compared to California, where most people are still living under some form of localized lockdown.

Due to these factors, from July 2019 to July 2020, the net migration in California was in the negatives, even as the total population grew.

During that time period, about 135,600 more people emigrated

from California than immigrated to the state, marking only the 12th time since 1900 the state has had a net loss in migration (incidentally it is also the third largest negative net migration to be recorded in the state’s 170 year history).

Cumulatively, over the past two decades, over five million people have left California. About 600,000 of them headed for Texas.

In his interview with the Wall Street Journal, Boring Company CEO, Elon Musk, revealed the rather negative circumstances affecting Californian industries.

“It’s worth noting that Tesla is the last car company still manufacturing cars in California,” said Musk.

“SpaceX is the last aerospace company still doing significant manufacturing in California.”

This information is especially relevant given the fact that California was once bustling with the automobile and aerospace industry.

PVHSPOINT.ORG

“For myself, yes, I have moved to Texas,” Musk said.

“I think it’s incredibly important that the government focus on [incentivizing] the outcome, not the path.”

Texas leadership seems to be welcoming and hopeful of this trend.

“If you look at Austin, for example, where high-tech companies are moving in like crazy, venture capital companies are moving in like crazy... hopefully you have hundreds or thousands of small businesses being formed to take on the next big business,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said in an interview with PragerU, a conservative media company. “It’s that creative destruction that moves the economy forward.”

However, AP Comparative Government teacher Louis Harley is skeptical of the trend and remains optimistic about the future of California.

“Most Americans are very jealous of California,” Harley

said. “California’s economy is as strong as ever.”

“We’re going to be fine, our population is going to be fine and our economy is going to be fine,” he added.

As for the reason behind the publicity, Harley believes, “It’s mainly media stuff,” attributing the issue to the current polarized political climate.

He cautioned, “You have to take these stories with a grain of salt.”

Harley is also fairly confident in the course of action the state of California has taken.

“We’ve done a decent job keeping the numbers down,” he said.

Overall, Harley described the trade-off that people and businesses of California implicitly make.

“It’s a trade-off: we have the best education and the best people, but the taxes are high,” Harley said. “This is the best place to live but also the most expensive.”

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FEATURES A Bene-fish-al Pet Pet fish have more benefits than what meets the eye

By CJ Haddad reporter In a time where PVHS students are spending a prolonged time studying at home, a small pick-me-up could come in an unlikely form–a pet fish.

Tiny as they may be— and boring as they are often described—fish can have personalities much larger than meets the eye, and make excellent and beneficial companions for any student in their quest to finish the long hours of homework. With their bright hues and lovable eyes, many inside and outside of the PVHS community can’t resist them.

“I think having a fish can help a lot of people relax with their homework—they’re so colorful, and I think they’re very calming to look at,” senior Brooke Stiebel said, the owner of several fish.

“I think that having one is especially a great idea for people who are doing lots of homework; they can take a quick break, look at them, and destress.”

Stiebel’s words ring true at a

deeper level; transcending their pleasing appearances, there exist surprising physiological and mental health benefits to owning and

observing fish.

According to a 2005 study by the University of Plymouth, the simple act of watching fish in an aquarium can reduce blood pressure and heart rates, as well as help

ease anxiety—this is why so many doctors’ offices have this characteristic feature.

With the circumstances of quarantine and an onlinecentered lifestyle increasing cases of

anxiety and poor mental health in many, even small solutions like keeping fish could be beneficial in mitigating these types of symptoms.

If you’re looking to get your own aquatic companion, several freshwater species are ideal for beginners, with most being available at any local pet store.

Mollys, tetras, and guppies are social fish that thrive in groups, while the territorial betta fish must be kept on its own.

While you may think a goldfish is a worthy candidate for a beginner as well, they actually require a very large environment compared to other fish—about twenty gallons each.

While each fish will have slightly different requirements depending on their species, they will all thrive in the proper environment with some basic fixtures: a spacious tank, places to hide, water with a consistent pH and temperature, and plants that are not sharp or spiky (so as to not damage their fins).

An important thing to note, however, is the strong opposition that many animal rights groups, including PETA, have to the commercial fish trade. They

correctly address the fact that many fish can be subjected to below-average, cramped and abusive conditions during delivery or while being sold, most particularly with the small, inadequate containers that betta fish are often sold in.

If you decide to purchase a fish, be sure to provide your new pet with a bigger habitat than they may have been in when you saw them in the store.

If you give them the proper amount of space and follow their breed’s specific guidelines, they will finally thrive.

In sum, given the right environment and care, fish can make wonderful companions for any student; they can lower anxiety as well as provide a friendly face for any and many.

(Graphic by CJ Haddad)

Two Chickens in a Coop A new Raising Cane’s location sparks debate between Chick-Fil-A lovers and Raising Cane’s fans

By Natalie Tholan reporter As many now know, a new Raising Cane’s establishment opened on Mar. 2 on Western Avenue. While this is great news for Raising Cane’s lovers, it has sparked debate about what is the most popular chicken among Sea Kings.

Chick-Fil-A and Raising Cane’s share similarities with their most popular food being chicken. Raising Cane’s famous meal is their fried chicken served with fries and a piece of Texas toast.

“The toast is definitely my favorite part of my meal when I go there. It is a very unusual mix to eat toast with your chicken, but it is a really good combination when you get to taste it,” senior Will Engstrom said.

Engstrom truly is committed to the toast. He makes the long

commute to Long Beach for his chicken, but he will not have to do that anymore.

“I couldn’t be more excited that there is one in the South Bay,” Engstrom said.

With the recent grand opening, Engstrom and other Raising Cane’s lovers will be able to enjoy their favorite chicken more often.

“When I would make these long commutes, I don’t go as often as I would like to. I would probably only go once every two months. With this new Raising Cane’s open I will definitely be making this a weekly trip,” Engstom said.

The Raising Cane’s on Western Avenue is fairly close to the Chick-Fil-A on Hawthorne Boulevard, leaving people wondering “will Raising Cane’s take away some of Chick-Fil-A’s business?”

“Oh absolutely. I think Chick-

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

PAGE 4

Fil-A and Raising Canes are very loved, but Raising Cane’s comes with a chicken that is more of a country style that I think people enjoy eating more. It seems more traditional to eat chicken the way Cane’s does it,” Engstrom said.

On the other hand, devout Chick-Fil-A lovers have a different opinion.

“Did you know that the name Chick-Fil-A is a play on ‘chicken fillet’ and the capital ‘A’ is on purpose; it represents the ‘grade A chicken used in the famous sandwich,” sophomore Gigi Cole said, excited to share about one of her favorite restaurants.

Cole’s loyalty to Chick-Fil-A started at a young age.

“I first started eating ChickFil-A because my older sister would come home with it a lot.

Now I love it,” Cole said.

Like many people, Cole’s favorite meal from Chick-Fil-A is their nuggets. The nuggets were 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

PVHSPOINT.ORG

On Grand Opening Day, the line for Raising Cane’s was about an hour-long wait for the drive-thru. (Photo by Cynthia Mindicino) the most popular item on the menu in 2020, and will likely take the prize this year as well.

When Cole found out that a new Raising Cane’s would be opening in her favorite spot, she expressed that she had no doubts that Chick-Fil-A’s

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

popularity would stay strong.

“No way, Chick-Fil-A is way too known to get overpowered

by Raising Cane’s. I love Raising Cane’s too but there aren’t many locations for it to be so good that people want to travel to get their delicious food.”

Follow us @pvhspoint!

MARCH 12, 2021

FEATURES

Sea King Schedules

How does a day in the life of a student compare to a teacher’s?

By Sierra Namvari photography editor

Amy Byrne (teacher)

Sharlize Moayedi (student)

Morning: “I wake up at 5:00am and get to school by 6:00am.”

Morning: “I usually wake up around 7:30, sometimes 6:00am depending on whether or not I have incomplete homework.”

During school: “While students are working doing asynchronous work or collaborative activities, I usually check my lesson plans and prepare the next activity that we will do or do the activity simultaneously so that I will better be able to judge how long it takes students to complete.

I usually check my emails during my prep period and grade homework before school, in the evening or on the weekends.”

During school: “I wouldn’t say I normally have projects or tests, other than math class, but I do have big assignments that are worth a lot of points.

I also participate in many clubs during school. I have some meetings during lunch but most of them are after school.”

After School: “Right after school I go to the grocery store, eat a quick snack, check on my kids (help with homework, make them food), and then exercise.”

Free Time: “In my free time, I spend time with my kids and husband (play basketball, ride bikes, walk/jog or do a workout together, play cards or a board game), talk to family on the phone, cook, exercise, read or watch a show.

We often do family movie and pizza night on Friday or Saturday. That’s why I love getting movie recommendations from students!!”

After School: “I usually go to the gym with my brother then play soccer with my team.”

Spanish and French teacher Amy Byrne teaches from home. (Photo courtesy of Amy Byrne) Night: “I usually go to sleep at 10pm during the week.”

Sharlize Moayedi enjoys her free time by riding her bike. (Photo courtesy of Sharlize Moayedi)

Free Time: “When I come home at night I finish up my homework and study.

For days that I don’t have soccer, I try to go on bike rides to freshen myself.”

Night: “Lately I’ve been going to sleep around 10, no later than 11.”

Student Small Businesses Find Success During Quarantine

By Mallory Meyer reporter

to customize any order someone may want.”

Because of COVID-19, D’Alfonso is able to get her Over quarantine, many customers their products students have been through either pick up or a getting creative in starting masked meetup. their own businesses.

“I put a lot of time, work, One unique and popular and effort into making sure business is owned by my customers are happy junior Bella D’Alfonso. with their products,” she “I create customizable, said. gourmet chocolate dipped To find out more about strawberries. I started this Berries by Bella, you can business because I really find her on instagram @ love being creative and BerriesbyBella_. love chocolate dipped Another talented small strawberries,” she said. business is owned by With a little sophomore Ava Stanczak. encouragement, “I think the term D’Alfonso got the idea to ‘psychedelic’ would be the make chocolate dipped Bella D’Alfonso created a successful best way to describe my art,” strawberries more than a business, Berries by Bella. (Photo she said. hobby. courtesy of Bella D’Alfonso) During quarantine, many “After the reaction I got ofexperimented different from my friends, I wanted activity, there is a lot of work put hobbies. Most were just for a to share my creative chocolate into it. short period of time, but Stanczak dipped strawberries with more “It takes a lot of time and effort stuck with hers. people.” to make each box of berries.

“I started painting in the Though chocolate dipped In preparation, I buy a lot of beginning of quarantine and I strawberries seems like a fun chocolate, coloring, and sprinkles haven’t stopped painting since.”

MARCH 12, 2021

PVHSPOINT.ORG

Ava Stanczak profits off of her talent by selling artwork.

(Photo courtesy of Ava Stanczak) Stanczak saw an opportunity in turning her new hobby into a job.

“I use acrylic paints and brushes. Once I’m finished with a painting, I coat my work in varnish and sign it.”

Stanczak puts in the time and effort to create each individual painting and customization.

“Each piece can take me anywhere from a day to weeks.”

Stanczak gets her work safely to her customers by dropping it off or mailing it.

To find out more about her work, you can find her on instagram @trippyartsco.

PAGE 5

Mo Money, M

Teachers reflect on their first jobs and st A Penny

Economics teacher Chris Wi students should know about s

Q: When do you think kids should star

I’m of the mindset that kids, with t the more likely it is that they will retain goo allow kids to become familiarized with diff interest,” preparing them with the financia working for their money).

Q: Do you think having a debit or credi

Tough one. Debit card? Yes. Cred account. Money is immediately withdrawn much more cautious about their spending them budget those funds more efficiently own property better than that of others. W the watchful eye of their parents), opportu early on (spending limits, reminders to pa habits we’re looking to develop early on in be a recipe for disaster.

Q: Is there a rule of thumb we should le

Every financial guru has their own to generating enormous amounts of wealt preference.” Are you someone with a high future? Or are you somebody with a low ti future? Those with a high time preference month on what income they’re able to gen probably have to sacrifice a little pleasure picture” might just be the difference betwe

Q: What do you think is the biggest spe

Being too cautious with their inves extra disposable income tucked away), m the market on a stock tip from your buddy afford to play with.

Q: What is the value in doing a “budge

For teachers, we get a tremendou California is EXPENSIVE!” For students, t their income) and the lessons you’ll learn your way.

Q: What was your worst “money mista

I could tell you but I don’t want the spending every dollar I earned working su was supposed to go toward college textbo

Before They Were Teachers...

Teachers reflect on the valuable life lessons they learned from their first jobs.

Mrs. Kuhn

“My first paycheck was working at an amusement park as a cashier at the portrait stand where artists draw portraits of people. My favorite part of my job was that I got to work with really talented artists, some whom I am still very good friends with! It was great watching them draw the portraits.

Also, my friends worked at other places in the amusement park so I’d see them every day. Working with the public takes a lot of patience and good interpersonal skills, so I think that has helped me in all the jobs I’ve had, even teaching! Also, I was promoted to manager of the antique photos stand after one year, which showed me that being a good, honest employee and hard worker gets you noticed and can lead to other opportunities.”

Mr. Larkins

“My first real job was w Americorps through Ca Brothers/Big Sisters at CEC in Pomona. I was community relations re for the school, but I als a lot one-on-one with th mentoring and tutoring favorite memory was w new population than I w and being around a lot speaking individuals. M students were in gangs but I learned they were just a different background and different circumstances. playing basketball and soccer with the kids, too- the Larry Bird. This job made me realize I loved working school-aged kids. Also, it reinforced that it doesn’t m you go, people will bond over sports, music, food, an their cultures. I saw some gnarly stuff too and heard stories. But my biggest takeaway was that kids are k matter where you go, and that contrary to what they admit, they crave discipline and structure, especially there.”

Mo Problems?

tudents share their part-time jobs For Your Thoughts

Money Talks

ilson answers some questions about personal finance and what saving and spending money.

rt opening bank accounts, and is there a benefit to saving when you’re young? the help of parents or guardians, should start early in this regard. The earlier they get started od financial and budgetary habits later on in life. Opening up a simple savings account will ferent money management techniques and concepts like “simple interest vs. compounded al tools they’ll need later in life to make their money work for them (as opposed to them

it card is smart for high-schoolers? dit card? Yes (with a caveat). Debit cards are great because they are tied to your checking n from that checking account the second you engage in any transaction. Students will be g habits knowing that they have a limited amount of their own money to play with. This helps than, say, a credit card, because, again, the money is their own and we tend to look after our With credit cards, I think it is important to allow students, while they are still at home (under unities to establish a credit history with financial institutions. Parents can help set parameters ay-off monthly bills in full to avoid late fees and penalties, etc.) which will ingrain the types of n life. Applying for a credit card in college without any understanding of how they work could

earn when we get our first paychecks? n “rule of thumb” and I’m not going to pretend to have all of the answers when it comes th or income. What I can say is that it’s very important to understand the idea of “time h time preference, focused primarily on your own well-being in the present or immediate ime preference, placing more emphasis than average on their well-being in the further e will probably find themselves living paycheck to paycheck, barely making it through the nerate due to their outrageous spending habits. Those with a low time preference will e now in order to enjoy the fruits of their labor later on in life. Training yourself to see the “big een being able to retire at 45 versus retiring at 75. It all comes down to sacrifice, though.

Kendall Beshear, freshman

“I tutor 4th to 6th graders. I didn’t actually tutor before the pandemic. The pandemic has given me the opportunity to tutor because I probably wouldn’t have the time to if we were in school. I’m not that big of a spender, so I tend to put away money and then only spend it on things I need or really want. My favorite part about the job is seeing when the kids understand the concept we have been working on. My favorite memory is when I was packing up to leave one of my tutoring sessions, the kid thanked me and told me that he would never have the grades he had right now if it wasn’t for me. I took that as one of the greatest compliments ever.”

ending mistake you’ve seen people make? stments. If you have the chance and can afford it (maybe you’ve got a little “nest egg” or maybe moving some of your money out of a 2% interest earning savings account and playing y isn’t the worst decision one can make. Again, though, this needs to be money you can

et project” as a high-schooler? us kick out of seeing student’s faces when it finally sinks in: “OMG. Adulting is hard. And the benefit is obvious--you’re practicing for a real-world scenario (everyone has to budget from the project will (hopefully) prepare you for “the unexpected” that life sometimes throws

ake” as a young person? e IRS on my tail again. (Calm down. That was a joke.) Worst money mistake? Probably ummers at a parking lot (I was paid in cash) on a Hawaiian vacation package. The money ooks. Oops! Live and learn.

working in atholic Big Grossmont s essentially a epresentative so worked he kids, g them. My working with a was used to of SpanishMany of our kids with I enjoyed ey called me g with high matter where nd sharing d some crazy kids, no y’d want to y when it’s not

Will Engstrom, senior “I work as a Postmates Driver. Because a lot of people work from home now and are staying in their houses, demand has increased a lot from the pandemic, so I’ve been getting more work. I save my money and with the leftover amounts, I usually buy things I enjoy or spend it on eating out. My favorite part of my job is meeting all the customers and driving around being able to listen to unlimited music.”

Ms. Mastan

Sophia Norris, junior

“My first job was working at the summer camp at Chadwick.

I got to work with a good friend of mine. The director had me work with different aspects of the camp. Sometimes I would be swimming, other times working with the garden or teaching science concepts, and working with the music class. That job was the start of my career of working in education. After that job I taught dance at local dance studios. I worked at The Limited in high school also, but I realized then that a job in sales was not going to be my future.”

“I work at Big Island Eats and Shaved Ice in the Peninsula Center. I got my job in September, so I don’t know what it would’ve been like before the pandemic. But now, everyone is very germ conscious and we take additional safety measures such as wearing gloves and face shields. We are also very careful about no direct contact and won’t hand food directly to customers. I mostly save the money I earn in my primary savings account, and then when I need it, I transfer it to my checking account. I got really lucky with my job: it’s such a positive environment to work in and my co-workers are all super nice and supportive.”

OPINION

Too Many Services, Too Little Time

By Alycen Kim centerspread editor Imagine there’s a movie you’ve been interested in watching that has just been released, but you can’t seem to find it on any of your streaming services.

After many fruitless search attempts to locate it on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+, you find out that you’ll need to purchase yet another subscription for a movie that will inevitably move to another streaming site.

Long gone are the good old days of buying a simple cable package and watching whatever show or movie came up on the given channels.

In the present, there are a seemingly infinite number of streaming subscriptions that places a multitude of options right into the hands of consumers.

Flexibility, however, isn’t the same as convenience. With each new streaming service, viewers are becoming more and more irritated with having to buy multiple subscriptions just to watch what they want.

According to eMarketer, a marketing research company, almost 60 percent of households in America have at least one kind of pay TV, but more than half of the consumers surveyed noted they were frustrated by the growing number of subscriptions and plans necessary in order to watch the shows and movies they wanted.

Although the multitude of streaming sites allow for a larger selection of entertainment, the problem lies in highly soughtafter movies and TV shows being scattered randomly throughout the various sites.

It’s frustrating for viewers to figure out which streaming service to pay for, as entertainment keeps getting bounced around from one streaming site to another.

People who desperately want to see that new, exclusive TV show have no choice but to pay for another subscription.

This endless hassle also leads to another problem: illegal video piracy.

Consumers who cannot afford

the multitude of streaming sites are forced to turn to illegal websites to watch films and shows for free.

Because of this, people in the film industry must deal with their creative work getting copied and stolen by hackers. These hackers can also use pirated content to spread viruses and malware to vulnerable viewers, dismantling cybersecurity.

Popular TV shows and movies should be centralized to a few big streaming platforms, instead of being scattered throughout various streaming sites.

The centralization of entertainment should bring about successful search attempts and less video pirating.

(Graphic by Alycen Kim)

A Suppression of Subtitles:

Why are they hated so much?

By Kaylie Harley opinion editor America has always claimed to be a “melting pot of cultures”—a place that embraces all languages and customs from every corner of the planet.

Hypocritically, however, that “pot” seems to contain a shocking number of people who resent the presence of any language that isn’t English.

Xenolingohassen is a term that is defined as the hatred and intolerance of foreign languages.

This intolerance can manifest in large ways, such as verbally berating complete strangers in the streets for speaking Spanish or Mandarin, or in small ways, like despising subtitles.

Between the years 2003 to 2017, “1,728 non-English language movies were released [in North America], i.e. 18.8% of all movies released,” film producer Stephen Follows said. Despite the high number, “together they grossed just 1.1% of total domestic box office,” Follows said. Through this data, it becomes obvious that films requiring translations to

(Graphic by Kaylie Harley)

understand are fairly badly received in the US. Subtitles are often used as the scapegoats for those who dislike the acceptance and use of foreign languages. Refusal to use subtitles narrows one’s options for entertainment, and limits what can be learnt from the multitude of cultures present on Earth.

On rare occasions, thankfully, a movie breaks through the xenophobic barrier of America to inspire its audiences. In February of 2020, at the 92nd Academy Awards, the Korean film Parasite became the first non-English movie to win Best Picture.

During his acceptance speech, Parasite director Bong Joon-ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

There are so many stories being excluded from our viewership when the only ones to pick from come from America, Canada, or the UK. By bridging the gap through something as simple as subtitles, countless cultures will be accessible and understandable for the general public.

Nationalism: Our Country’s Quiet Threat

By CJ Haddad reporter “The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war” - Sydney J. Harris Hardly two months after the deadly attack on the Capitol, Harris’ words should prompt some soul-searching among the millions of voters who wish intensely for a promising future in the country they love.

Throughout the political campaigns and tenures in American history, no matter the party or individual seeking a high office, there has always been a quiet, lesser-known threat hiding in politicians’ rhetoric: Nationalism. The line that divides unifying patriotism and dangerous nationalism can often

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be blurred, with subtle language sitting hidden within long remarks or speeches. As new generations rise up to lead their respective nations, they have a duty to avoid using rhetoric that inflames rather than inspires. Language that exalts one nation over others can come in many forms. It can be implicit, existing as a wolf dressed in sheep’s language; or explicit, like off-putting remarks that foster a sense of national superiority amongst those who can take them to heart.

“We are the sole remaining superpower, and we should be that!

But we have a certain disproportionate responsibility” - President George H. W. Bush [said in a 1992 presidential debate, following collapse of Soviet Union] A statement such as Bush’s can always be interpreted differently, as an individual’s opinion on the US’s foreign relations issues plays a large role in their political perspectives.

It must also be considered that in times such as the Cold War, fears of further aggressions were high.

However, with temperatures running cooler in regards to war, it’s concerning that our current political scene has placed even more emphasis on nationalism.

“A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well… not caring about our country so much… We can’t have that! You know they have a word—it sort of became old fashioned— called a nationalist… We’re not supposed to use that word. You know what I am?

I’m a nationalist, okay?”

- President Donald Trump Explicitly calling oneself a nationalist aside, we all have to be individual judges of what political rhetoric crosses the line and what is acceptably patriotic. However, the danger of nationalism itself, which transcends traditional patriotism one has for their country, is clear.

It promotes a sense of toxic pride

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in a country that has its faults alongside its triumphs. The love we have for our nation is complex and not unconditional. Unconditional affection does little to unite, nor address the issues we face; love for a nation is best shown by actively identifying and working to solve our problems. Nationalistic language fosters an attitude that is uncooperative on the global stage—and with the climate crisis requiring all hands on deck, it is an attitude that we cannot afford.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it best at the World War I Centennial:

“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism…By pursuing our own interests first, with no regard to others’, we erase the very thing that a nation holds most precious...: its moral values.”

(Graphic by Sarah Liu) MARCH 12, 2021

A Letter from the Editors In elementary school, when biology, chemistry and physics were able to fit in one textbook, we learned about adaptation.

Over the centuries, creatures like giraffes sprouted long necks to reach trees for food, and aquatic animals grew webbed feet to swim, all out of necessity.

The rules of biology are quite literally a tale as old as time, and unforgiving, too: adapt, or die trying.

In every aspect of our lives, the message of adaptation has been consistent: adapt to to teaching and learning virtually; adapt sport practices and social lives to fit the unprecedented circumstances.

Yet, standardized testing seems to be exempt from this sudden evolution we find ourselves in.

If we are to survive in our new environment, then the rules necessitate that testing must undergo some changes as well.

The usual pitfalls of standardized testing haven’t changed much, whether it’s the onset of testing anxiety brought on by the pressure of these exams, or the precious class time traditionally lost to the CAASPP, and now, i-Ready exams. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the inequities that have long lurked beneath the surface. The shift to remote learning has already hurt the most vulnerable among us, which include low-income families, racial minority groups, and disabled students. Inaccessibility to high-speed WiFi or the necessary technology has made online learning hard enough.

The continuation of high-stakes

testing only exacerbates the issue.

The introduction of the i-Ready test was in response to CA Senate Bill 98, which requires all school districts to use a diagnostic assessment to determine learning loss and learning gaps due to school closures. Teachers have been left in the dark as to what these tests look like and entail. To have students take the diagnostic again in the second semester, with questions identical to the ones on the first-semester test, is not a constructive strategy.

Furthermore, expecting students to retain the same volume of knowledge at the same rate as any other year is a gross miscalculation.

As i-Ready remains more of a nuisance than a stressor, AP Exams are just around the corner with more uncertainty than last year. In some classes, it still has not been announced yet as to whether the exam will be taken in-person or online.

It also remains unclear when students will no longer be able to back out of exams they don’t feel comfortable or safe taking, and the logistics of safe in-person testing is still unfamiliar for most PVHS students.

Last year’s fully-online AP exams eliminated some curriculum from the test and was over within 45 minutes. Now, the College Board has decided to go forward with full-length exams regardless of testing environment. Three-hour tests have always felt excessive, but they feel downright cruel now.

Worse, the amount of knowledge the College Board expects from test-takers has not been adapted to meet the moment. The online platform, even after a semester in practice, is still a far cry from the in-person educational experience.

In the world of college-entrance exams, standardized tests seem to be becoming a thing of the past. With COVID-19 finally pushing the ACT and SAT off their high horses this year through test-optional policies, it is unlikely their relevancy and influence will bounce back to what it once was. Through and through, standardized tests cater to a specific type of student or economic class. Those who have the money and time to dedicate to a personal tutor or prep course will predictiably score higher than their less-fortunate, but intellectually-comparable peers.

There’s a point to be made in the ability of some of our peers to travel out of state for the sake of an SAT score.

The cracks have become especially noticeable in an already faulty practice.

Diagnostics will prove to be unhelpful as kids inevitably rush through questions, and it seems like the College Board would rather save their bottom line than adapt to the circumstances faced by this year’s students.

Time won’t stop for standardized testing. If there’s a lesson to be learned from the pandemic era, it’s that testing must evolve to be more equitable as institutions wake up to its flaws, or run the risk of becoming extinct.

OPINION

Reconsidering Representation:

Why cisgendered actors should stay out of transgender roles

(Illustration by Frances Stott)

By Frances Stott reporter Representation of transgender people, especially in a positive light, has only recently made it onto the big screen, so it would make sense for transgender characters in the media to played by trans actors. Unfortunately, the vast majority are normally played by cisgendered actors. Trans people get so little representation as it is; cisgender actors should not being playing the roles of transgender people.

According to GLAAD, a media-monitoring organization for LGBTQ+ representation, there wasn’t a single transgender character out of 110 films released by major studio films in 2018 and 2019. With 0.6% of Americans being transgender, according to the Williams Institute, major studios should put more effort into including trans characters portrayed by trans actors.

As it is, cisgendered actors already get more opportunities in the entertainment industry

It’s Not My Fault that Mercury is in Retrograde.

By Sydney Lyle social media editor As an avid astrology follower, I navigate my life by following two rules: religiously read my daily horoscope, and blame every mistake I make on the fact that I’m a Gemini. Through my extensive research, I have discovered my actions are truly beyond my control. I can be unpredictable, easily distracted and, in some people’s opinion, two-faced. I am a Gemini, so I can hardly be blamed for it.

You see, I haven’t always been this self-aware. In the past, whenever I was running late after sharing some surprisingly unwelcome opinions, or forgetting about plans I had made, I always thought it was my fault. I’d apologize profusely for my oversights and promise to make it up to them, but it seemed like I couldn’t do anything right.

To my delight, my problems were miraculously solved the day I was introduced to astrology.

I realized that apologizing for my mistakes was no longer necessary; my astrological sign was the only explanation I needed.

I now know that my behavior is completely normal, and the stars

MARCH 12, 2021

ensure that I will never change who I am.

Don’t believe in astrology?

Initially, I had doubts myself, but now my life has improved astronomically...for the most part.

There is one aspect, or person I should say, that has repeatedly reminded me of my shortcomings and, ultimately, prevented me from living to my fullest potential.

This friend not only refuses to accept my explanations, but rejects astrology completely.

I tried to explain that she must trust in the stars to achieve utmost tranquility, but she grew increasingly emotional and proceeded to call out my insensitivity. Typical Cancer.

Luckily, most of my friends no longer harbor this frustration or resentment toward me; they understand that we must surrender our control and allow the stars to guide us on our path.

On certain occasions, like last Friday, the stars aligned and gifted spectacular news.

Fate shifted in favor as Venus, the planet ruling love, entered Gemini. You may be wondering what this means, but it’s quite simple: Love is in the air. I immediately noticed a shift in my heart when Friday’s horoscope hinted at a possible love interest

(Illustration by Alycen Kim) in my future.

Of course, I immediately knew it was true. I scoured far and wide for this mysterious person. When the opportunity finally presented itself (in my local grocery store no less) I was mortified to discover this mystery person was a Pisces. I tried to stay calm but immediately sprinted in the opposite direction.

It’s common knowledge that

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Geminis and Pisces aren’t compatible, so I knew I shouldn’t take my chances and further that conversation.

My intuition may have faltered that day, but I know my horoscope would never lead me so astray without reason. With my faith, I know my knowledge of astrology will lead me to my destiny, as long as it’s not with a Virgo.

for being less polarizing public figures than their marginalized counterparts. Although gender identity shouldn’t be a controversial topic, casting directors are more likely to choose cis actors so as to not offend close-minded viewers.

Cis actors also should not play trans actors because they perpetrate stereotypes. Casting trans actors in trans roles would allow them to input personal experience into their acting, and bring emotional authenticity to the character.

In July of 2020, Halle Berry received backlash for taking on the role of a transgender man.

She quickly let go of the part because she learned that trans people do not want a cis woman playing a trans man. This should become the norm: cis actors should turn down roles if they are asked to portray trans characters.

Studio executives and casting directors must learn to be more inclusive in the media, as there is a severe lack of trans representation.

Work Hard, Play Hard

By Matthew Valero reporter Chronic stress, intense sensory stimulation, fight or flight. Playing video games makes our brains think there is potential danger, especially with violent war video games.

Now consider how hard your brain must work to balance a video game with Algebra.

Good combination? I think not.

Rather, it’s a recipe for disaster.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some students have been playing games during class, and it is affecting the quality of their work and their grades in school. Students are not able to concentrate on their work, and are not productive when distracted by video games.

If students want to play video games but find school is getting in the way, they are going to have to learn time management and see how they can keep their grades up while still being able to relax and play games in their free time.

Some ways students can get started on managing their time is to get a planner so they are able to plan out there day and how they will incorporate gaming into their day while keeping up their learning.

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SPORTS

The Madness Returns

March Madness Tournament is Back After a Year Hiatus the year and will most likely have to go through the same protocols to make this event successful despite the circumstances.

“I’m very excited yet hesitant about this year’s March Madness. I’ve always loved watching the competitiveness of the teams in the tournament and watching some of my favorite college basketball players go head-to- head,” said junior David Maemoto.

“I hope that the tournament can make it all the way to the championship, but I feel that restrictions and strict rules need to be in place to best avoid any difficulties regarding Corona,” he continued.

A big part of this tournament is the fan aspect of this as they cheer hard for their team no matter how well-known or not well-known their school is.

The “IndyStar” twitter account ran a poll about how fans would feel about attending the games.

Around 1,500 twitter users responded to this poll with 48% of the fans saying that they would feel absolutely safe attending.

29% of the responders said it would depend on the rules and number of fans allowed, and the

By Jonathan Liu Reporter The COVID-19 pandemic has taken over the world for almost a whole year now and one of the first events cancelled by the pandemic was the yearly March Madness College Basketball tournament.

The tournament that is loved by fans is coming back this year and fans hope to see an exciting comeback.

Fans are hoping for some unexpected outcomes with players making names for themselves and raising their stock.“Cinderella” teams making deep runs into the tournament and raising eyebrows is a must see.

The games in this year’s tournament will all be played in Indiana to try to prevent the spread of the virus.

They will be played in Mackey Arena, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, and Lucas Oil Stadium.

Players have been producing negative COVID tests throughout

remaining 23% said they wouldn’t even consider it.

The NCAA has released that they will be allowing a limited amount of fans though for this year’s tournament. The exact number is still to be decided but it is looking like a 25% capacity in the arenas would be the max.

This year’s tournament will include many new teams and exclude teams that many fans have seen before. Blue Blood schools such as Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky will most likely not be making the tournament because of their poor record which has been a rarity in the last 20 years.

Duke Freshman Jalen Johnson who was ranked 13th in the country before entering college opted out of the season making Duke’s path to a National Championship even tougher than it has already been.

Schools on the come up such as Gonzaga, Ohio State, and Baylor have looked dominant so far in the year. USC is back on track as they have star forwards with the Mobley brothers, Evan and Isaiah Mobley leading the way.

UCLA is also looking to be a

This surf season, like everything else in this past year, has been very different from previous years. However, while there are unideal changes, there are also good changes coming for the surfers of PVHS. For instance, the conditions this year have been very good.

“This surf season has been really good, [there were] really good waves. There have been really good barrels this year.

Last year wasn’t this intense,” freshman Parker Evans said.

Freshman Adam Hardesty agrees. He says that the consistent, big waves and good weather have been ideal for surfing, even saying that “this surf season has been one of the best we’ve had probably in the last decade.”

“The Santa Ana winds, or east winds, coming from the inland going into the ocean make the waves a bit cleaner and less bumpy,” Hardesty said.

While ocean conditions are great, some other conditions are not. Safety measures are easily maintained while surfing in the water, however participating in the surf

team does not allow for social distancing or masks.

“There was no surf team so we didn’t get to participate in that,” Hardesty said.

While the surfers are not pleased, they understand that it is critical to maintain proper safety guidelines and surfing on a team does not make that easy.

“We don’t have a team this year and there are no tryouts or anything like that, so it’s just on your own and sometimes you forget to go [surf],” junior Coral Hugoboom said.

However, not all of the changes for the surfers have been for the worse this year.

“I’ve noticed a lot more people starting to surf because they have more time,” Hardesty said.

Agreeing, Hugoboom said “Now that it’s quarantine, I kind of get to go whenever I want, after school too. We have more time.”

With more time and energy to put towards surfing, Hugoboom has tried a few new things in her surfing and even gotten others involved.

“I really enjoy being able to go out whenever I want after school and it’s a lot nicer to just be able to go out [surfing] with friends some more. I’ve even been teaching my friends how to surf because we have some free time,” Hugoboom said.

(Photo Courtesy of Tate Ballard) PAGE 10

averaging around 18 points per game along with six rebounds and three and a half assists. He single handedly has propelled Oklahoma State into a mustwatch team because of his play.

Another star player that will be in the tournament is Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs. The 6’4 guard is averaging 14 points with five rebounds and four assists, guiding Gonzaga to one of the best records in College Basketball.

As the tournament is upon us, we hope it runs smoothly as we watch the best college programs go at it for the national title.

(Graphic by Jonathan Liu)

PV Choreo

A Swell Surf Season

By Lucia Ruiz Features Editor

sure lock into the tournament as they are led by three guards, Johnny Juzang and Chris Smith who both average over 12 points per game, with Juzang at 14. The third guard, Tyler Cambell is the do-it all guard with 11 points per game, but also with five assists per game.

This year in the tournament there are a couple stand-out players that could go into the lottery of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Cade Cunningham out of Oklahoma State is looking like the clear frontrunner to be the number one pick in the draft at the moment. The 6’8 guard is

Timing is Everything

By Mia Harley Reporter Running a soccer play with teammates is an impossible feat to do over Zoom, and the same can be said for the PVHS Choreo team in planning formations and positions for dance routines.

It is great that sports and cheer practices have been on campus for the past few weeks, but the same can unfortunately not be said for other activities.

It has been a challenge for Choreo to practice over Zoom, as many students have faced the many inconveniences seen also in their general academic classes, and example being slow Wi-Fi that causes sound delays and frozen screens.

Recently, the LA County Public Health announced the county COVID-19 infection numbers had lowered into an acceptable rate, so the Choreo team finally

(Photo by Mia Harley)

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received the clearance to return on campus. This news came just in time for the team to begin practicing for their Spring Concert.

Every year, the PVHS Choreo and Intermediate Dance teams perform in the Choreo Spring Concert. Last year it was cancelled due to the pandemic, but this year the team hopes to perform and record the show to share with their Sea King friends and family members.

“It’ll be my first performance [with the Choreo team] and I’m really excited,” sophomore Brynn Ottolia said.“It would be different having a live audience.”

Although performing without an audience does lack the excitement and immediate reaction felt on a live stage, filming it can add to it artistically.

“It will allow us to do what we cannot do…on a stage,” Choreo team member Jennifer Kamholz

said. “It’ll allow us to put green screens behind us, or change shots, so we can make it more edited.”

There are hopes that this performance will help safely increase a sense of community at PVHS. Safety itself is key, so new standards must be put in place for the dancers to practice in person.

“The dancers [will] wear masks the entire practice and will not be performing choreography in which they touch each other,” Choreo teacher Kathleen Mastan said.

With the addition of the new safety guidelines, dance routines might have to be staged differently to accommodate everyone’s safety.

“A lot of the pieces were choreographed during the pandemic,” Kamholz said. “It’s going to be very easy to take our choreography and have us spaced apart...six feet.”

As Choreo works through the new safety protocols for dance practice, hopefully they will see a way to integrate Intermediate Dance into the program as well.

“I am hoping to have Intermediate return to campus in the next few weeks,” Mastan said. “We can clean the dances they will perform before we film the pieces.” Performing together in the Choreo Spring Concert will be a highlight for the dancers to finish out their year.

MARCH 12, 2021

SPORTS

PV Jerseys Cross the Finish Line Once Again

By Claire Hardesty editor-in-chief With the PV High stripes in retirement for almost a year now, no team has taken the field in a jersey reading “Palos Verdes” since the beginning of March last year. As of now, since the state has re-entered the purple tier instead of a stay-at-home order, non-contact sports such as tennis, swimming, and cross country have been cleared to compete again.

“It’s definitely been hard to stay motivated through this pandemic but being able to run with my teammates has really helped me to continue practicing hard and stay positive,” senior Emma Nelson said.

LA County was hesitant to

allow these sports to compete the first week the state cleared them to do so, but on Tuesday February 15 LA County officially updated their website guidelines regarding high school competition sports.

LA County has allowed these non-contact fall season sports to compete, signaling further competitions to be allowed when the spring season arrives.

“Based on the fact that we were in a stay-at-home for so long, I never thought we would race XC, but I’m really glad we are going to be able to now,” senior Colin Lantz said.

The PVHS cross country team has dominated the Southern

(Photo Courtesy of Kristin Typrowicz)

Section for the past two years with the girls team winning CIF Finals back to back in 2018 and 2019. With the loss of two star senior runners from last year, the rather young team is striving to make the most of the season they will be given, even though they are going into it lacking the steady training they’re used to.

(Photo Courtesy of Hardesty Family) “Having so much uncertainty team we want to go undefeated regarding the this year, and we will. Every season and not being able to single guy knows what we have practice with the entire team to do, and we are all mentally made it hard to train to my full tough enough to get it done potential so I feel like I am less no matter the circumstances. prepared than previous years,” As an individual I need to be Nelson said. better prepared to race, which Once the team lines up and is expected as racing becomes finishes their first race in a jersey normal again,” Lantz said. bearing the words Palos Verdes, But with this opportunity this will be a monumental comes responsibility for the moment for all sports teams in team to uphold expected safety the South Bay and PVHS. precautions set in place to allow On February 20, the Palos competition to continue running Verdes jerseys returned to smoothly. competition, with the first “My number one priority is organized sports meet since definitely to remain safe during the start of the pandemic taking this whole process and follow all place without a hitch. Palos guidelines but I definitely want to Verdes faced off with Redondo represent the school seeing as ending in a boys team sweep we are the first sport in the area with a perfect score of 15 and a to begin racing again,” Nelson 1-5 finish. said.

“My first race was not my best.

The cross country team and I had fun and the boys got the job other sports that have started done, so I can’t complain. As a competing in the beginning

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skiing

sports

basketball

swells

choreo

surf

MARCH 12, 2021

PVHSPOINT.ORG

parts of this process have the responsibility to carry out competition safely and set an example for other sports who may return to competition later this year.

It is crucial that the team hold themselves and their peers accountable during this small season in hope to prove to the county and state that competition can be done safely and efficiently.

With the cross country team leading the way for all other PVHS sports, the short season will open the gates for the excitement of sports competitions again and allow seniors a last chance to compete with their teams.

“In the next few weeks we are looking to pick up the speed during practices and really focus on our training in order to give us the best chance at our last few races,” Nelson said.

Hitting the Slopes

By Emily Typrowicz sports editor With stay-at-home orders in place and online school, heading up to the mountains could not be any easier. Local ski resorts such as Mammoth, Big Bear, and Mountain High, are easy to go whether it’s for a day or a short weekend.

Conditions for skiing and snowboarding this season have been perfect as the weather continues to impress. Snow reports on average claimed to have reached about 18 feet.

While it may be snowy, there are plenty of warmer days which make skiing and snowboarding even more enjoyable. The weather has been great recently with temperatures not too cold or hot and the snow has been packing up because of the storms.

“I went skiing in Mammoth a few weekends ago and the conditions were awesome. It was dumping snow and there was a blizzard for a day,” senior Samantha Laurin said.

While it may be easy to make time to ski and snowboard, COVID-19 has caused many restrictions and challenges.

Resorts, like Mammoth, have special employees who stand at each chairlift controlling the crowds.

The COVID-19 patrol reminds athletes to keep masks over their noses and social distance. This helps keep everyone safe to ensure a good time.

Wearing a face mask is mandatory when at the bottom of the mountain while hanging around near a lodge or waiting in line for the chair lift. Once on the chairlift it is your choice to keep your mask on or off. These precautions are in place to keep the mountain open and help everyone remain healthy.

Even with all of the new precautions, Sea Kings are still hitting the slopes this year.

“I go snowboarding at Mountain High because it’s close to home and easy to go up with friends,” senior Ryann Levendusky said.

Mountain High is about two hours from the South Bay and perfect for a quick day trip.

With more free time and easy-tomanage schedules, Sea Kings are able to ski almost whenever and wherever they want.

“I am skiing a lot more this year than I have in years past because I have the time,” said Laurin.

More time and perfect weather has allowed for Sea Kings to get in some good skiing, making this ski season one of the best ones in years.

PAGE 11

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Wellness Iniatives Aim to Combat Mental Health Woes

By Claire Hardesty and Sarah Liu editors-in-cheif In the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, there are now two diseases that students and staff have become acutely aware of: one of the lungs, and one of the heart and mind.

The already-existing concerns surrounding worsening mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic were given new life in the second semester, as students spoke frankly about declining mental health through petitions and Board of Education meetings.

Discussions on the mental health of adolescents have increasingly been in the public conversation as of recent years. According to a report by the National College Health Assessment, nearly two-thirds of college students reported having “overwhelming anxiety,” with anxiety being the number-one reason for students seeking mental health services in the past decade. In the South Bay, there appears to be a similar trend.

Psychologist Dr. Nicole Pickering is the founder and director of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Treatment Center in Manhattan Beach and specializes in treating anxiety disorders. Among adolescents, anxiety tends to increase when thinking about academic performance and its implications for their future.

While the type of patient she works with has not changed much, she has noticed that the pandemic has only created more stress.

“I am seeing more teenagers impacted by the social distancing recommendations as they are really missing in-person interactions,” Pickering said.

In a report to the Board of Education on Jan. 27, Dr. Trista Ramirez, the PVPUSD’s Student Mental Health and Support Coordinator, shared data on the state of student mental health. While the number of students serviced has more or less stayed consistent with the previous year’s first

By Curtis Liu reporter

semester (there are fewer counselor interventions due to school being moved online), the incidence rate of academic anxiety and depression has increased in students who seek therapy services, from 24% to 51% and 12% to 18%, respectively.

80-90% of the student body.

Tier Two interventions are more targeted, reaching 1015% of students. Through Tier Two supports, Sage “really brings more services to the campus than what just your regular school-based counselors can do,” Carpenter

mental health presentations, classroom presentations, and virtual and in-person groups.

We plan on continuing these services when we return to campus as well,” De La Rosa and Shurtleff wrote in a joint email.

In addition to online-friendly

mind, Ponce, along with her boyfriend, Loyola High School senior, Daniel (DJ) Wetzel, created the Wellness Project Discord server.

The Wellness Project is unorthodox by design, as Ponce and Wetzel tried to create a solution that worked for the virtual world students are in. Through the popular messaging platform Discord, the Project aims to provide users with a safe and positive community, and different channels, or tabs, within the server focus on common issues that users may have, providing links to other mental health resources.

Discord’s popularity among students is a plus, but Ponce added, “While it’s a risk, I think it’s also been very beneficial how people can remain anonymous with their usernames or the tag names… I think it can be very beneficial for those who are more nervous to reach out and are more nervous about judgment.”

When it comes to seeking out help, avenues like a Discord server are simple.

But, it may not be enough for some students, especially when the support they are receiving is from peers who may be struggling in their own way.

The stigma on campuses is omniscient. According to a survey done by the One Hill Project,over 70% of 707 survey-takers were aware of their school’s mental health resources, but only 13.5% utilized them.

“Asking for help is difficult, which is why we are so proud of our student’s bravery in reaching out to their friends, teachers, parents, and staff when they are struggling,” De La Rosa and Shurtleff said.

Carpenter remains optimistic about the impact that the new wellness initiatives can bring.

“As far as our wellness groups and our wellness workshops, we are still in the kind of the beginning stages,” Carpenter said. “We’re trying to do is get the word out that, ‘Hey, we have these opportunities, we’re here we’re available, we want to help you...we want you to tell us what you need.’”

PVPUSD contracts therapy services through Sage, a company that provides crisis intervention, treatment, consultations and educational resources to students, families, and school site staff. Sage provides the District with a network of licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), and from this pool of candidates, the school ultimately has discretion as to which therapists, or Student Support Specialists, they choose to hire. Nancy De La Rosa and Jodie Shurtleff serve PVHS. Sage has been affiliated with the PVHS students and staff for the last four years.

The program began with the installment of the Wellness Center and progressed to bringing two licensed marriage and family therapists from Sage to always be on campus as an extra mental health resource for Tier Two interventions, Assistant Principal Gayle Carpenter said.

Tier One interventions are generally defined as “universal supports,” or resources that aim to reach

explained. “This is something that I’ve worked on at a lot of different schools and haven’t seen the level of support for mental health that I’ve seen here.”

At its core, the partnership with Sage is rooted in providing equal access to all students.

“There’s a wide variety of reasons why kids might not have access to therapy outside of school,” Ramirez said, naming health insurance coverage as a common barrier.

Therapy services have drastically been impacted by the pandemic, with the typical in-person, one-on-one sessions being derailed by online learning. Sage and the affiliated therapists have worked around the current obstacles and faced the challenge head-on, with the goal of making sure students still have access to mental health resources in this challenging time.

“We make ourselves as accessible as possible by meeting students where they are, this could be through individual sessions,

(Graphic by Sarah Liu) services, the counseling department has recently added in-person wellness opportunities for students who feel they need that extra time specifically dedicated to their mental health. Starting Feb. 22, students at both district high schools have been able to attend in-person wellness workshops with the Sage Therapists, with a virtual option called the Virtual Student Cafe taking place over Zoom weekly.

Senior Shelby Ponce is an attendee at the in-person wellness workshops and has found the experience to be a positive one.

“You don’t really know what [the other attendees] are going through or why they’re there, but it just felt very safe,” Ponce said.

Ponce was the author of an impassioned letter to PVHS Principal Dr. Allan Tyner and PVPUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss, asking for the school and district to acknowledge student mental health. At the time of publishing, the letter has accrued 237 signatures. With the urgency of the matter in

per exam. These tests were generally composed of one or two questions and were completed within 40 minutes.

If the student failed to submit their response within the time frame, their scores would be invalidated.

“It was a pretty good experience,” senior Eric Sheng said. “It was nice to have a shorter test, but submitting was stressful since you never knew how long it would take for your computer to submit.”

Senior Chance Lee disagreed.

“AP testing was pretty

hectic last year, considering that school was suddenly online. In terms of the tests themselves, I had some problems submitting and that led to some unnecessary stress.”

Having the three different administrations with both digital and in-person versions adds to the flexibility of a rather stiff situation.

Longtime AP teacher, Louis Harley said, “I appreciate the three ‘administrations’ that allow schools the flexibility to provide later exam dates and digital at-home exams.”

However, this new method

isn’t without its faults. Harley noted that AP Comparative Government and AP Human Geography have the exact same test date and time for the second administration.

As for history classes, the Long-Essay Questions will be present in the in-person exams, but not on the digital version, raising questions as to whether scores will be consistent across all administrations and fully determine the students’ competence with the AP subjects they have been preparing for in the virtual (Graphic by Aurora Khatibi Garrity) world.

AP Testing Amidst the Pandemic

Whilst the pandemic raged on, many AP students began to wonder how they could take these exams they have been preparing for in the past six months.

Computers were permitted for the first time in a College Board exam last May. Several significant changes were made for the AP tests so that the experience would run smoother, which included the decision to shorten the tests to less than one hour, as opposed to three to four hours