March 2024

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Volume

Addressing lower participation rates in CAASPP testing

By Henry Barker and Evan Wang Cub Reporters

During the 2022-23 school year, many upperclassmen opted out of taking the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Unlike other standardized tests, these assessments are mandated by California to inform students, teachers, school districts and the state of student performance in comparison to statewide standards. The evaluation focuses on math, English and science achievements following the Common Core and California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

The CAASPP assessment intends to allow the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) to understand whether Redwood’s curriculum adequately supports students towards meeting and achieving statewide standards. The district uses the results from the assessment to make changes in its curriculum. The scores also aid teachers in the respective subjects to properly assess their students’ abilities.

Paula Berry, the Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction, oversees the results of CAASPP tests for curriculum improvement. Berry believes that Redwood students should participate in this standardized testing, as the results help improve the school environment.

“It’s constant work by the teachers by our educational services, looking at data [from the CAASPP tests] and figuring out what tweaks we might need to make in the classroom, both instructional and curricular,” Berry said.

Berry has observed a drop in participation rates in CAASPP tests over the past years, resulting in lower scores for Redwood. Federal regulations require a specific participation rate to provide an accurate representation of the student body. Because Redwood did not meet this requirement, its test scores dropped.

“By law [Redwood] is required to have 95 percent of the junior class to take the tests; last year, we only had 70 percent. Participation is really important because [the state of California] wants it to reflect the student body,” Berry said.

Every student below the 95 percent participation rate causes a downtick on the academic indicators, a scale that rates overall student performance. The lower scores also affect Redwood’s national ranking.

According to Berry, funding has yet to be affected, but the state can withhold it if Redwood continues to stay below the participation threshold. Berry emphasized that the lack of participation is the cause of lower academic indicators on the California dashboard, which gives the public a negative perception of Redwood.

“Right now our school’s academic indicators are really low. It’s not an accurate reflection [of Redwood]. But that’s what the public sees,” said Berry.

Some upperclassmen believe that because the test doesn’t affect their grades, it’s not necessary to take it. Senior Auden Baker elected not to take the CAASPP last year.

“[The CAASPP test] has zero effect on me whether I do well or not,” Baker said. “I just don’t have a reason to do it.”

Berry explains that low CAASPP scores can also affect how colleges view course rigor at Redwood. Schools with high state test averages indicate a more rigorous curriculum, giving students who attend those schools an advantage.

Another reason for the low participation rates is the current issue with the timing of the standardized tests.

“The [CAASPP] tests were also at a really bad time for me,” Baker said, “I have all these [Advanced Placement (AP)] tests that affect me [personally] a lot more, and I have to study for those tests.”

TUHSD is working to make state testing more manageable for students. As a result, the district moved CAASPP testing to earlier in the year. Principal Barnaby Payne recently announced the new CAASPP schedule. April 2 and April 3 are now the primary test days for all juniors.

Editorial teaser

...Redwood’s low rates can have severe consequences on both students’ futures and on the future of Redwood itself. It is crucial for students to take this test in order to better support themselves and their future. Read The Bark’s position on the importance of juniors taking the CAASPP test.

Continue reading on p. 6.

The impact of the potential ‘NO’ on Measure A

By Emily Hitchcock

As the clock ticks down to see if Measure A will pass, its current ‘Yes’ count is at 53.8 percent, with 55 needed to pass. An estimated 50 ballots are left to count, and updates will be posted by Friday, March 22. Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) schools’ aging infrastructure faces dire prospects, as enacted by Mike Woolard, senior director of the facilities planning for Measure A.

“[For instance, a] heating unit is good for 20 years, and right now [the ones we have are] on year 24. It’s past its service life. It’s inevitable [that the buildings are] going to fail. If [similar outdated utilities] fail at the same time, we have a big problem because we don’t have the funds to replace that,” Woolard said.

According to the County of Marin, Measure A is a measure meant to repair and upgrade local high schools by updating outdated facilities, such as replacing leaking roofs and inefficient heating, cooling, ventilation, and more. If the measure receives 55 percent of the vote, TUHSD will be authorized to issue more than half a billion dollars in bonds.

Corbett Elsen, the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations, emphasized that such efforts are for the safety and insurance of students. Redwood and Archie Williams High School are over 60 years old, while Tamalpais High School (Tam) is over 100 years old. Despite these schools receiving acclaim for high-quality education, the state of the buildings needs to be updated and kept up to standard.

“Safety is the number one responsibility we have for students behind educating them,” Elsen said. “There is a California law that if the cost of renovating a building up to its safety code… is more than 50 percent of what it would cost to [simply] replace it, then you must replace it,” Elsen said.

Woolard stresses the importance of renovation and explains the possible negative implications of not renovating facilities to meet code.

“We have a lot of indicators that if we don’t maintain and improve some of our facilities, we will be in a spot where it could cause us to have to close down schools,” Woolard said.

Corbett emphasizes that Measure A’s sole purpose is to protect students and allow them to flourish in a safe environment. Measure A surpasses just repairing schools but it also invests in the future of youth at TUHSD schools.

“We want all of our students, whether from Archie, Tam or Redwood, [to have access to] the facilities to support the same learning outcomes,” Corbett said.

ONE AREA IN need of repair is an aged staircase leading to a cracked walkway at Tam District’s Tamalpais High School.

Photo courtesy of Foresight Planning & Development

Infographic by Linnea Koblik

STUDENTS AND BASKETBALL fans have begun to create their March Madness brackets for the year.

March Madness:

As the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One men’s and women’s basketball tournaments begin on March 19, all types of basketball fans, from students to international fans, are gearing up to fill out the “perfect bracket.” With selection Sunday out of the way on March 17, basketball enthusiasts finally fill out their brackets. In every bracket, you have the “blue bloods,” consisting of Duke, University of North Carolina, Kansas, etc., but don’t forget to add your sleeper picks; some notable names to include are Northwestern and Grand Canyon University.

Senior Assassin:

Senior Assassin has been a tradition at Redwood and many high schools across the United States. It began last Monday, March 18, with over 350 senior participants. To participate, each player has to pay $15 and the winning teamgroup is awarded approximately $1,000 per person. The rules to play are simple: you choose a team of four students with one member as the team captain. You must use water guns to ‘assassinate’ your opponents assigned to your squad weekly while protecting against an unknown team attempting to ‘assassinate’ you with a water gun. If your captain is shot, your dreams of becoming the champion of senior assassin are over. To keep the game contained, there are so-called safe zones where players can not be shot; these areas include sports practices, a player’s job, inside of a player’s household and more. Let the games begin!

TikTok Ban:

The United States House of Representatives passed the H.R. 7521 bill to ban TikTok. The bill claims this act “protects Americans from foreign adversaries and safeguards data privacy.” The House needed two-thirds of the majority for this bill to pass, and they quickly hit the number, voting 352-65 in favor of the ban. But Tiktok isn’t going anywhere yet; it still needs 60 votes in the Senate and President Biden’s signature. Biden has already agreed he will sign this bill if it passes the Senate, but the Senate majority leader has already stated he is in no apparent rush to fast-track this bill as the House did.

mgarbo@redwoodbark.org

The return of the prom boutique

By Leina Khan

In continuation of last year’s successful storefront, leadership students Olivia Villanova and Charlotte Lacy have put countless hours into an improved prom boutique with a target audience that has expanded to all of Marin.

Last year, now-graduated seniors Caroline Goodrich and Micheal Geloso realized that prom can, in many ways, exclude those from socioeconomic backgrounds as the high attire, transportation, and ticket prices are only attainable for some. With this in mind, the pair brainstormed the idea of a boutique that would provide dresses, tuxes and accessories free of charge. The project extended beyond Redwood’s doors and with the help of The Village at Corte Madera, a storefront was opened to create an in-person shopping experience.

David Plescia, an advisor to Redwood leadership, wants this year’s prom boutique to attract not just Redwood students, but all Marin students needing prom attire.

“We are [trying to use our] social media [platform to help advertise the boutique] which will hopefully get other high schools, like Archie and Marin Catholic to visit the boutique,” Plescia said.

To attain a broader audience outside of Redwood, nearly six months of planning have been needed to improve and revise the blueprint of last year’s boutique. Senior Olivia Villanova was a large contributor to this process.

“This year, there are a lot more dresses. We have a lot more to offer, and the space is twice, if not three times bigger than it was last year,” Villanova said. The storefront has expanded physically, and the dress selection has grown, going from around 300 dresses to nearly 600. “Most of the dresses we received from companies, but we also have some really great people in the community that give donations.”

Leadership students organized the beautiful selection of donated dresses in their new physical storefront. Christine Miller, senior marketing manager of The Village at Corte Madera, is credited with integrating this storefront into the project.

“Caroline Goodrich reached out to me at first. She said, ‘We have this idea about a prom boutique,’ and she didn’t want something in the gym; she wanted something more elevated, a destination where kids would really want to come,” said Miller. Miller further expresses how a critical element of this boutique is that it is approachable for high school students.

“I want the girls and guys to feel comfortable. I don’t want them to think there’s any weird vibe or think they’re there because they need a dress. The whole thing is [more about], how fun is this? And it really looks like a store, so it’s very approachable,” Miller said.

The boutique will be open for only Redwood students on March 22, from 4p.m.-7p.m., and then to all of Marin on March 23 and 24, from 11a.m.-5p.m., March 29, from 4p.m.7 p.m. and Mar. 30, from 11-5. If people have any additional questions they can email marinpromboutique@gmail.com.

lkhan@redwoodbark.org

GLISTENING IN THE light, gold tinsel hangs over a wide variety of prom dresses available to all teens in Marin looking to acquire a dress for prom.

Photo by Leina Khan

Photo Illustration by Ava Stephens

SENIOR ASSASSIN IS more intense this year with a larger prize of $1000 each and better water guns.

Photo by Mia Ginsburg

By Mason Garbo

TIKTOK IS OFTEN a staple in teenagers daily lives. A potential ban would threaten this routine.

Photo by Nadia Massoumi

CHRISTINE MILLER, SENIOR marketing manager of The Village at Corte Madera, stands in front of the boutique’s new physical storefront.

Photo by Leina Khan

LAST YEAR’S PROM boutique had a large selection of dresses, shoes and more. There is an even bigger selection at this year’s new location.

Photo by Sawyer Barta

Library refresh: Five year journey

By Madison Bishop and Skyla Thomas

Beginning in June 2024, the Library Refresh Project will commence with the intention of creating a more comfortable and versatile place for both students and teachers to use. The renovation will include refurnishing, repainting and the replacement of old books. It is planned to be completed by the first day of school, Aug. 21.

Despite not having been renovated since the early 1960s, the library remains one of the most popular areas on campus for students to spend their time in, emphasizing the urgency for the upcoming renovation. The Redwood Foundation Board recently approved a $350,000 grant to go towards the library renovations and is currently working with administration and the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) to develop a plan for the space. The updated layout will ideally promote learning, community and collaboration. Kathleen Savastano, the library specialist since 2019 explains how the renovation ideas were brought about five years ago.

“Back in 2019, I noticed that the library chairs looked pretty scruffy. I said [the chairs] were shabby, but not in a chic way. So I [ended up telling TUHSD] and I wrote a grant request,” Savastano said.

Five years after her initial grant request, Savastano eagerly awaits what is to come for the library as furniture in the library is from the original layout from 1964.

Saum Zargar, the assistant principal is overseeing the project. As part of the designing process, a survey was conducted in December in order to receive direct feedback from those who would be utilizing the space. The survey was later completed by over 150 students.

“The survey was given to the Redwood leadership group, the Architecture students, the Redwood [Advance Via Individual Determination] classes, all four grade levels and the Redwood [Student Led Anti-Racist Movement] class,” Zargar said.

An additional survey was given to a majority of the Redwood staff. The second survey was designed by Redwood architecture students in order to have a better understanding of their needs in regards to designing a more modern and comfortable library.

One Workplace is the leading group working on the interior design. The company specializes in designing workplaces for companies, schools and libraries. About one year ago, One Workplace begun the process of creating a more refreshed and leaner selection of books.

“We have been working with One Workplace to design the [interior of the] library, which includes the purchasing of new furniture, including desks, chairs and bookshelves,” Zargar said. “We’re also working with the district’s maintenance operations department to redo the carpet and paint in the [library] this summer.”

The library improvements will create a more open and put-together space for diverse academic activities.

“[It is planned] to have a wider, more open space for staff meetings. [The designers and students also] want to have more cozy nooks and crannies where the students can sit in comfy chairs and do work,” Savastano said.

As the board finalizes the design and visuals are still being developed and are not yet available to the public.

Inadequate facilities: Struggles for gender-neutral students at Redwood

By Michael Seton

Redwood provides nonbinary and transgender students unrestricted access to its locker rooms in compliance with Federal and state laws. However, these students typically use the two gender-neutral bathrooms in the small gym instead. These are small, single-use bathrooms, so there is often a line for them, which can cause students to be late for class. For these reasons, Physical Education (PE) teacher Nicole Graydon has been attempting to locate a better space for a gender-neutral locker room.

“I spent the beginning of this year conversing with admin and [Tamalpais Union Senior Director of Student Services] Dr. Jeanine Evains-Robinson trying to find a bigger gender-neutral space. We couldn’t find one that was Americans with Disabilities Act compliant,” Graydon said.

Another problem is only one of the gender-neutral bathrooms contains lockers, and these lockers are not big enough to hold standard-sized backpacks. Redwood has approved larger lockers but they have yet to arrive.

“We’ve been working for a long time to get bigger lockers in the nonbinary bathrooms,” Graydon said.

These inadequate facilities disadvantage nonbinary students. To access the bathrooms, they must walk through the small gym in their PE uniforms or swimsuits while a class is in session. If a class is not occurring, the small gym remains locked, leaving students outside waiting to change until it is unlocked. In some cases, students opt not to change their clothes at all for PE class, impacting their grade. These issues not only affect PE students but also student-athletes.

“We have nonbinary and transgender athletes on our sports teams, and they don’t have anywhere to change before games. They can’t change with their teams after practice if they’re not comfortable. It is a scramble every time for some of those kids,” Graydon said.

Using the regular locker rooms is not a viable alternative as students have expressed discomfort with disrobing in front of their gender-neutral and transgender peers.

“Knowing that there’s a biological male that’s changing in a locker room where I am changing is very uncomfortable,” an anonymous female student told 7News reporter Nick Minock in Virginia. Similarly, an anonymous Vermont father conveyed his son’s embarrassment at sharing the boys’ locker room with a biological female.

“It’s about being uncomfortable changing in front of the opposite sex, period,” the father said.

Senior Wesley Wihlborg agrees that California’s legal requirement to share a locker room with gender-neutral students could create an awkward environment.

work differently,” Wihlborg said.

Unified School District addressed this concern at one of its high schools by designing private stalls large enough for individuals to change and shower in.

However, this locker room project was put on hold in 2022 when Breitbart News Network reported that some parents feared students would be in “various states of undress” together in the locker room. Graydon agreed that teens may not be mature enough to use gender-neutral locker rooms.

“I’m not sure we’re ready for [private changing stalls in shared locker rooms] at high school age groups,” Graydon said. “It opens up the whole [issue of] vaping and drug use.”

Parents are also worried that students could suffer unwanted advances or invasions of privacy by gender-

Infographic by Linnea Koblik neutral teens, even though there is no evidence to support this concern. On the contrary, a 2019 study by the National Institute of Health found “[students] whose restroom/locker room use was restricted were more likely to experience sexual assault compared to those without restrictions.”

Thirty-six percent of trans teens who were subjected to bathroom or locker room restrictions reported being a sexual assault victim in the prior year.

This compares to 26 percent of youths with unrestricted access, 15 percent of cisgender girls and four percent of cisgender boys.

The number of nonbinary and transgender students at Redwood is increasing and there has been no progress on these issues, leaving teachers like

“We’ve known that we’re students] who are going to need [gender-neutral] space, and we’ve been asking for it for a long time,” Graydon said. “We’ve been brushed aside and we just want things to be equitable for our students. Everybody deserves a safe place to change.”

STUDENTS DEPEND ON the library for studying, tutoring and socializing during and after school hours due to its quiet atmosphere.

Photo by Madison Bishop

Photo by Alex Argov

Redwood set to launch African American Studies

By Emily Garcia

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will officially be launched and offered to all juniors and seniors. The class is only offered at 700 high schools nationwide and the subject was put on the AP test for the first time in 2023. The course will focus on and examine the diversity of African American experiences. Additionally, it will allow students to make connections between early African kingdoms and

contemporary society. This class is the only multidisciplinary course offered in Redwood’s history department and includes material about literature, music and sports, which is taught alongside traditional history instruction.

Nickolai Butkevich, one of Redwood’s history teachers, currently teaches World History and World Cultures and Geography paired with the Social Issues course. Butkevich has applied to teach the AP African American Studies course and expresses his excitement about the opportunity to introduce something

different from the typical history curriculum.

“The fact that [the class] is multidisciplinary is the most exciting thing for me,” Butkevich said. “This is a unique offering, in the sense that whoever teaches [the course] will be tracing music as it evolves from Africa, through the Americas, all the way to the modern age. I think it’s going to be an exciting class to teach.”

Students must take a government and economics class during their senior year, which fulfills a history requirement. Even as a junior, Kate Winter is looking forward to the opportunity to take an additional history class during her final year.

“I was sad that I wasn’t going to be able to take [a history class] senior year, so I was really excited when it was announced that AP African American Studies was going to come to Redwood. I think it will blend history, social studies and the way society works,” Winter said.

Winter also noticed that specific groups, especially the African American community, in traditional history courses have been ignored in past curricula. Now, with this new class, students will be able to recognize the contributions made by the African American community that have shaped American society.

“[The African American community has] always been either at the center or near the center of every major turning point of [American] history. They’ve greatly contributed to our culture and what it means to be an American. It’s unimaginable what our country would be like without them,” Butkevich said.

While many share Butkevich’s sentiments, the course still received criticism from Florida Governor Ron

DeSantis and other state officials in early 2023. This backlash stemmed from the state’s belief that the course violated state laws and was historically inaccurate, resulting in the College Board releasing a newly revised curriculum.

“What’s interesting about [Florida’s decision] was a couple of things. [First of all], the College Board accepted about 75 percent of what Florida said, took it as valid criticism and removed it from the course, which I’ve never seen before,” Butkevich said.

Winter found Florida’s decision detrimental to students’ learning and emphasized the importance of inclusive education.

“If Florida is rejecting this course, then their students are not going to be prepared to live in the real world and society because that’s how America is; it’s super diverse,” Winter said. “If we’re only teaching one group of people’s history, then a whole part of America is being completely erased.”

All AP courses are meant to dive deeply into a topic and allow students to be critical thinkers. Students who take these classes tend to have a deep interest in their chosen subject. Frequently, those who elect to take an AP history class are inclined to focus on learning different aspects of history. Butkevich hopes to recruit students who bring the same curiosity that he does to the classroom.

“As a teacher, that’s what you want. You want to be in a room full of students who are just as excited as you are to learn something new and explore it,” Butkevich said.

egarcia@redwoodbark.org

PRESENTING ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN Studies, prospective teacher Nickolai Butkevich informs juniors and seniors about their history course options.

Photo by Charlotte Lacy

The Bark conducted its first ever sex survey in 1974. The 2024 sex survey marks both the 50 year edition and the

11th issue. Throughout its history, the sex survey has received a mix of responses. The San Francisco Chronicle ran a story with

the headline “School Sex Poll Praised” following the first sex survey. Other surveys have faced challenges from school

and district administrators. The following graphic features selected data from the 1974, 2014, 2019 and 2024 issues.

opinion opinion Stay politically optimistic for 2024

By Tallulah Knill Allen

By all accounts, the world is ending. Whether regarding the climate crisis or the upcoming 2024 election, we are constantly being fed the narrative that the end of times is upon us—and quite often, we come to believe it. According to a February 2024 survey by the New York Times, only 23 percent of Democratic voters are enthusiastic about Joe Biden’s nomination; in a 2023 Pew Research survey, 65 percent of Americans said that they often or always feel exhausted when they think about politics. Nor is social media free from these ideas. In an October TikTok post about the 2024 election candidates, one comment, which received 116, 000 likes, said, “It’s such a lose-lose situation.” Another remarked, “We are going to cry and pray.”

Through the sensationalism of modern media, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that we still have control over our future. Often, the bad can be interpreted as inevitable and fatalism can be construed as fact. The 2024 election will likely be a replay of 2020, and the now set nominees, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, hold little engagement or interest to most Americans. However, as the 2024 election approaches and as many Redwood students go to the ballot box for the first time, it is vital not to give into the idea that a negative outcome is guaranteed. In reality, the action we take in these upcoming months is vital to the future. To keep a sense of perspective and enact actual change, it is crucial to maintain a sense of political optimism.

New York Times Opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg spoke to this sentiment in a December 2023 article, urging voters not to give in to pessimism before the 2024 election.

“Before we can fight authoritarianism, we have to fight fatalism… My great hope for 2024 is that anti-Trump Americans can transcend exhaustion, burnout and self-protective pessimism to mobilize once again for the latest, most important election of our lifetimes,” Goldberg wrote. “If you don’t want an even uglier and more despairing replay of [Trump’s years in office], the time to act is now.”

Often, the bad can be interpreted as inevitable and fatalism can be construed as fact.

Historically, understanding positive outcomes as possible has been a driving force for social change. In the 1900s, for instance, a coalition of farmers and workers achieved through the Progressive movement the institution of the referendum in the

In a 2023 Pew Research survey, 65 percent of Americans said that they often or always feel exhausted when they think about politics.

American political system — allowing citizens to vote on laws in their states directly. And it was a referendum that 57 percent of Ohio citizens passed in 2023 to enshrine the right to abortion access in their state.

Yes, the 2022 decision Dobbs v. Jackson marked a significant loss for the abortion rights movement, an 50 years of codified protection for the right of women to receive an abortion. Yet, in every election since 2022, when abortion rights have been on the ballot, they have won. This resulted from the continual efforts of many people across this country, who did not give in to pessimism and instead worked on what was in their power to change.

Many people can feel like voting is futile, like their actions will have little effect. When this occurs, the strength of our democracy is threatened. There has never been a time when young people’s voices have been more important or their vote more crucial, but many still assume that their vote will have little influence or impact. However, the opposite can be true. In the 2000 presidential election that was eventually taken to the Supreme Court, George W. Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the vote, or 537 votes, according to National Geographic. That tiny 0.009 percent changed the result of the election simply because people showed up to vote.

Similarly, according to Pew Research, it was a difference in turnout that led to Republicans gaining control of the House in 2022; while only 3 percent of voters switched parties from 2018 to 2022, 84 percent of 2018 Republican voters turned out to vote in 2022, compared to 74 percent for Democratic voters. This difference proved essential in leading the GOP into their 51 percent to 48 percent victory. Had the Democratic turnout been higher, the current shape of the House could look significantly different.

Yes, there will always be politics that are out of our control; yes, the oceans may continue to rise, and yes, the candidates for the 2024 election may not truly represent the will of many Americans. But those facts should have no bearing on whether or not we as individuals take action where we can. The mindset that the world is ending and that the American government is failing will have no effect on whether it actually does. Whether we believe that the world is ending is irrelevant. Whether we take action to combat that fate is what matters.

Ignorance breeds violence:

A case for religious education

By Beckett Tudor

The United States has become one of the most diverse countries in the world. Through policies encouraging immigration and plentiful economic opportunities, natives of virtually every country on Earth have found their way to the States. This cultural mixing has brought a plethora of benefits to the country, including scientific discoveries, economic development and a more robust network of allies. Because of the diverse population, American culture also carries a wide range of religions. According to the Pew Research Center, around 70.6 percent of America is Christian, 1.9 percent is Jewish, 0.9 percent is Muslim, 0.7 percent is Hindu and 0.7 percent is Buddhist. While the number of non-Christian religious practitioners may seem small, it is essential that we do represent all faiths in our educational systems, regardless of the percentage of the census they compose. Even with the wide variety of religions in the United States, much of the country does not know other faiths outside the teachings of Christ. This can, and has, bred hate and ignorance. To prevent this from happening, students around the country and at Redwood should be given primary religious education to understand better and respect the faiths of their peers.

According to the Jewish Virtual Library, quoting data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there were 2,042 religious hate crimes in the US in 2022 alone. These incidents were separate from any racial or ethnic-based violence and purely based on religion. The FBI states that the most dangerous type of person who commits hate crimes is known as a “crusader,” or someone who is spurred on by religious violence. The root cause of this religious violence is ignorance surrounding other religions. Stereotypes surrounding other religions often perverse the morals of one’s own and create harmful tensions between different faiths. Evidently, education is required to reprimand this growing problem in America. Especially in children, educational programs can help address these stereotypes and ignorance with facts and understanding from a young age.

Language Kids, an educational institution language development in children, cultural education can help foster community, collaboration, and kindness between children and their peers. This same logic could be applied to religion. Students should be taught the most common belief systems in the country in a secular manner. Elementary teachers can host conversations for students to learn about what their peers believe in and understand how and why to respect their

As for Redwood, a similar protocol would fit perfectly. Redwood has reported numerous antisemitic and islamophobic incidents in recent years, and compassionate education is desperately needed. Thankfully, Redwood already has a required class where they learn about global topics, world cultures and geography. By adding a unit about religious diversity to the freshman world cultures and geography class, Redwood students would better understand how people with different faiths lead their lives and learn compassion and respect.

Illustration by Lauren Olsen

Illustration by Ava Stephens

The great divide of special education: The 504 plan

By Nina Howard

As of 2018, up to one in four students at elite colleges were considered legally disabled due to mental health issues, learning differences or physical disabilities. With a doctor’s diagnosis, many of these students are entitled to extra time on tests and individualized educational accommodations. This number has seen a significant spike in recent years, increasing by 5 percent from 2014 to 2018. According to a study conducted by Boston College, the number of students with a 504 plan, a form of learning accommodation agreement, more than doubled between the 2009 and 2015 school years, with most of the growth in wealthier districts.

According to the University of Vermont, more affluent areas have seen much higher rates of special education plans in recent years. The inequity of this special education system, often seen in higher-income communities, opens the door to possibilities for misuse and abuse of the system, as we saw on a national scale with the Varsity Blues Scandal.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protects students with mental and physical disabilities by requiring

An assessment from a private specialist can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to almost $15,000.

schools to honor a student’s 504 plan. The 504 plan protects and aids students with learning differences like dyslexia, dyscalculia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as students with serious health issues like epilepsy or visual and auditory limitations. Section 504 is a necessary law that can offer students extra time on standardized tests, personal aid and more. However, these plans are much easier to come by for more wealthy students because they can afford to see private specialists. Students with a 504 can receive time and a half or even double time on in-class and standardized tests, which is very appealing to any ambitious student and their parents, regardless of need.

Although all school districts are legally required to offer free testing, it’s a much more selective process and those officials often have huge caseloads with few resources available. An assessment from a private specialist can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to almost $15,000 if paid for out-of-pocket. This puts wealthy families at a huge advantage if they seek learning accommodations for their children, which could lead to manipulation or overuse of diagnostic testing.

On the other end of the spectrum, students of lower socioeconomic status are much less likely to be given a 504 plan. According to a study conducted by students at the University of Vermont, children with ADHD who fall below the federal poverty level were the least likely to receive a 504 when compared to other socioeconomic ranks. This means that an affluent community with much more access to learning accommodations has the potential to abuse and overuse them.

An article written by graduate students Raquel Moniz and Maria Lewis investigated misuse and inequitable access to 504 plans for the National Education Policy Center at the University of Boulder, Colorado.

“Federal disability law allows affluent parents, families and students to leverage their power and privilege to pursue accommodations when needed—and even when they’re not,” Lewis and Moniz wrote. It’s no secret that inequity and the corruption of wealth plague every aspect of our lives and from that, we cannot exclude educational institutions.

Still, it’s tough to prove that any individual with a 504

or IEP doesn’t deserve it. Just because people are served more frequently for learning disabilities in more affluent areas doesn’t inherently make those disabilities invalid. For kids with extreme testing anxiety, dyslexia, reading and writing hindrances, or even more severe disabilities, a 504 plan is essential and deserves to be honored and respected by both teachers and peers. Misuse of these plans is relatively uncommon, as they are more often used under the correct circumstances. Yet, that doesn’t make the special education system free of issues. Significant racial and socioeconomic inequity still plagues departments. Even if the majority of learning plans are necessary, the fact remains that students with fewer means are under served.

More attention to the misuse of learning plans is required to mend the gap of notable education inequality. It is the more disadvantaged students that require these resources the most. More state funding needs to be allocated to the special education departments in public schools so that free diagnostic testing, as well as more trained specialists, are available to students. Abuse of special education plans also requires further investigation so that schools can closely monitor who truly needs accommodations.

nhoward@redwoodbark.org

A guide to informed college conversations

By Lauren Poulin

Anyone who has ever applied to college knows the feeling of opening a decision letter. Your heart beats a million miles per hour, palms sweat, all while preparing for the worst-case scenario. Reading these letters from colleges can be the most anxiety-inducing moment of some senior years. That being said, the only thing worse than the anticipation while opening these letters is when the worstcase scenario comes true. Clicking ‘View Decision’ only to read the first few lines of “We regret to inform you…” or “This year our applicant pool was stronger than ever…” can be heartbreaking.

Rejected applicants are often left with a multitude of questions as to why a school didn’t accept them. Was it their essays? Their grades? Their extracurricular activities? In reality, the number of college applicants has drastically increased, making it harder to receive an acceptance letter this year than ever before.

According to Forbes Magazine, data collected from the Common Application showed that their process received over seven million applications. This has made it impossible for schools to find room and offer acceptance for every qualified application that rolls through their admissions offices. In this high-stress environment, students and parents just want to know one thing: How is everyone else being affected? This is where college conversations come into play.

If I received a dollar every time I’ve been asked about my top school or where I’ve gotten into, I would be wealthy enough to retire and forgo a college degree. Sadly, these conversations have just gotten old and intrusive.

College can be such a sensitive topic for many and some comments and questions should be avoided altogether when having these conversations. It is important to approach these conversations with compassion; here are some things to avoid:

Mindsets and conversations to reframe:

“What is your top school?”

Asking someone about their top school creates pressure to have one. Having a ‘dream college’ forces the idea that target or safety schools aren’t valid or worthy options to be excited about. This further pushes the idea that selective or competitive ‘dream’ schools are the only ones worth being excited about.

“They couldn’t get in there.”

Comments involving an applicant’s ability to get into a school can be hurtful and insensitive. College rejection already suggests to an applicant that they aren’t enough for a school and these comments do nothing but further reinforce that.

“They wouldn’t be able to afford that school.”

Money is a subject people tend to stray away from in most general conversations and for a good reason. When discussing college, a school’s affordability shouldn’t be addressed.

“I can’t believe ___ got in and ___ didn’t.”

It is impossible to know the exact criteria that a specific admissions officer was looking for when they read someone’s application. Every applicant has or tries to find their own edge that sets them apart from the rest of the applicant pool — commenting on how it was unjust for someone to get into a school when someone else didn’t, minimizes their achievement.

Takeaways:

The college admissions process is more complex than it looks. It is a period of peaked stress and anxiety. The rumblings of college conversations will never come to an end, so the best way to have them is by encouraging sensitivity and compassion. Prying into college admissions gossip, whether your child, a friend’s child, a friend or an acquaintance, does nothing but heighten the fear in the senior’s life.

Illustration by Lauren Olsen

Illustration by Zach Dinowitz

Let’s get psyched! A case for a full-year psychology course at Redwood

By Linnea Koblik

Studying the complexities of human nature, unlocking the mysteries of our brain chemistry and learning key tools to improve mental health are just a few of the topics covered in a high school psychology class. In freshman year, I had been eagerly anticipating the chance to enroll in a psychology class at Redwood and hoped it would allow me to learn more about the field. However, upon further research, I was disappointed to learn that the class was offered for only one semester and that for me and other passionate students interested in an indepth psychology class, our only option for a full course of study was to enroll off-campus at the College of Marin. By limiting the psychology course to only one semester, Redwood has overlooked the pressing need for a comprehensive understanding of psychology among students.

The innovative American psychologist Albert Ellis once remarked, “I think the future of psychotherapy and psychology is in the school system.” Now, more than ever, this point holds importance. The mental health crisis has become an increasingly prominent issue, especially for Generation Z. In a study issued by the National Library of Medicine in 2023, nearly 20 percent of people ages 3-19 have experienced a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder. Additionally, suicidal behaviors among high school students increased by 40 percent from 2009 to 2019. These statistics emphasize the importance of taking an indepth psychology class, as students will be able to not only learn about different types of mental states but also gain the tools to

benefits students’ mental health but has sparked interest among students. The Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology exam attracted the fifthhighest number of students out of the 38 AP subjects offered and was the most popular of the science tests, according to the College Board’s 2021 Program Summary.

semester-long psychology course has little to offer students. For students interested in a less in-depth course, the current psychology class enables them to understand psychology at a more basic level than a full-year course. Additionally, many students take the course and follow it up by taking Street Law in their second

Stop putting male celebrities on a pedestal

By Larkin Moffett

“I…needed a job. I am being so serious,” replied Rachel Zegler in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining her decision to take the role of Anthea in Shazam 2. The endless comments under this video of Zegler were filled with statements like, “She sounds desperate,” or “Rachel is such an ungrateful brat.” Other celebrity news outlets and endless Hollywood fans have expressed their disapproval of the new public figure, questioning the abilities of her publicist and even going as far as to claim that she is unpassionate. Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, male actors like Jacob Elordi, Robert Pattinson and Hugh Grant have received vastly different reactions. When commenting on his latest production of Saltburn to an Indie Wire reporter, Elordi stated,

“I just play what they give me. You know, I need a job.” The consequences of Elordi’s actions drastically differed from Zeglers's, gaining praise with comments like, “That was so real of him,” or “Valid.” For centuries in Hollywood, women have always been a step below men and have fought desperately to catch up, yet they have continued to fall short when it comes to the praise of viewers. These differing reactions to comments made by actors and actresses discourage women from sharing their opinions and feelings.

According to a Pew Research survey, when asked about traits most valued in each gender, 30 percent said they valued kindness in women, while 11 percent of people said they valued such for men. Because of this bias, their comments,

especially in the media, are much more critically examined than comments from male actors, especially if they come off as insensitive. These heightened expectations of women create a double standard in the industry to always be courteous and not stand up for themselves, even if they are simply stating their beliefs or doing their job. In an interview with The Independent, Mindy Kaling, actress, director and producer, expressed her experience with the double standards she faces as a director.

“As a leader and employer in my shows, I think of myself as incredibly direct, very decisive and also impatient. Which you need to be, you have to know the pace of TV, you know how quickly things have to work,” Kaling said. “Those are [qualities] that in men [people appreciate], you’re like ‘thank you’” Kaling said. “But in a woman, those qualities are ugly to certain people.”

Double standards and expectations of viewers of celebrities and people in the Hollywood industry can be summed up perfectly by Taylor Swift. Swift, who has repeatedly written songs about her exes in her career, receives a great amount of backlash from listeners. In an interview on the Australian podcast, Jules, Merrick & Sophie, Swift stated, “You’re going to have people who are going to say, “Oh, you know, she just writes songs about her ex-boyfriends.” And I think frankly that’s a very sexist angle to take. No one says that about Ed Sheeran. No one says that about Bruno Mars.

semester. This exposes students who would otherwise not take a psychology course to learn about the subject. Furthermore, the Social Issues course, which freshmen are required to take, already informs students of some of the principles of psychology, which may make another semester of psychology enough.

Even so, psychology is not a social studies course, but a specialized area of social science that is heavily rooted in the first-hand experiences of empirical research. Students lose their fundamental understanding of the field when complex materials are squeezed into one semester. According to the American Psychological Association National Standard for High School Psychology Curriculum, a psychology course needs to include a breadth of complex units including Biology, Cognition, Development, Social and Personality and Mental and Physical Health, which can only be deeply understood in a year-long

Furthermore, a demand for a yearlong psychology course is also reflected within the Redwood student body. According to a March Bark Survey, excluding the responses that answered “I don’t know,” 36 percent of students replied, “yes,” and 23 percent said “no,” to an academic year-long psychology course rather than the current one.

The demand for studying psychology opens a window into understanding all aspects of human nature, including complex social structures and mindsets. This is more important now than ever, given that teen depression and anxiety is the highest in our nation’s history. Since most students think a year-long psychology course is beneficial, students interested should directly address the

They’re all writing songs about their exes, perform a certain way offstage. These double standards do not get as much attention because their argument attacks of the biggest industries in the world. For example, the #MeToo movement started in 2006 but didn’t pick up steam until 2017. For years women have dealt with sexual assault and felt invalidated and under-represented. In order to not make the same mistake of delaying attention to the issue, the misogynistic lens society uses to look into the actions of female celebrities must be recognized and eventually stopped. As a society, we must equivocate the actions of both men and women without marginalizing

Illustration by Ava Stephens

We need to raise our CAASPP standards

Your absence, our loss

bark

POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of The Bark staff.

On April 2 and 3, juniors will be taking the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) testing. The CAASPP evaluates students’ ability to meet the standard school curriculum adopted by California public schools, better known as Common Core. The CAASPP assessment is the only test to be mandated by the state of California. The assessment achieves this by testing students in math, English and science.

Many of us can recall taking these tests throughout elementary and middle school; when we hear the name, we are brought back to the familiar audio testing sounds playing from every computer and to crowded classrooms that provide little chance to focus. Many of us resented these long testing days; they felt like punishment without a purpose. Students’ continued distaste for this assessment was evident last year, in which 79 percent of juniors participated in the English Language Arts test, 69 percent of the class participated in the math test and 58 percent took the California Science Test. While these rates might seem harmless, in reality, the state of California requires 95 percent participation in CAASPP testing and Redwood’s low rates can have severe consequences on both students’ futures and on the future of Redwood itself. It is crucial for students to take this test in order to better support themselves and their future.

One of the most common misconceptions about CAASPP testing is that the only purpose of the test is to determine California public school ranking. What students fail to realize is that CAASPP testing can also impact the students’ future academic careers. Many Redwood students go on to attend schools through the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) system and students who display impressive scores on CAASPP tests can be exempted from taking remedial classes at UCs or CSUs. Remedial classes are classes at the high school level that don’t count toward a degree and act as review classes for students if their abilities are not properly assessed. College should be a step up from our high school careers and simply reviewing the same topics we’ve already mastered doesn’t adequately prepare us for the careers we wish to pursue in the future.

For many who didn’t take the test, they assumed that their individual actions would matter little in the broader scheme of all those at Redwood. However, for schools that do not meet the 95 percent participation mark, when any one person refuses to take the test, their grade is marked by default as the Lowest Obtainable Score, or LOSS. This drags scores down and can harm the reputation of the school. While colleges may not see students’ individual CAASPP scores, these scores determine Redwood’s rankings. These rankings are

A BARK to senior assassin. Our motivation in school has already been killed.

A BITE to UC decisions being released. Can’t UC we tried our best!

A BARK to skipping class to go to the beach. Why be a senior in good standing when you can get some good sand in?

A BITE to Elon Musk’s alleged 11 children. He’s going to run out of roman numerals soon.

A BARK to Ryan Gosling’s Oscar performance. It was more than good kenough for us.

provided to colleges and play a role in admissions decisions, as a school’s lower ranking can make grades appear less impressive. Additionally, schools that fail to meet yearly progress standards may not be able to access grants and other forms of funding and after five years of failure, a school can close altogether.

Moreover, CAASPP results can affect housing prices in the surrounding area. Many who move to Marin County greatly take into account the grades of schools nearby, so when academically rigorous schools, such as Redwood, start suddenly dropping in their grades, families will be less inclined to move to the area. This decline in demand for housing leads to decreasing house prices.

That being said, there are many issues with the CAASPP system. Unlike other standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT), there is little incentive to perform well on the tests, as colleges do not look at the CAASPP scores of students applying. Similarly, given the fact that students are not mandated to take the test, CAASPP scores often do not accurately reflect students’ performance, but rather schools’ enforcement of participation.

However, the lack of participation in the test is not solely the students’ fault. Education about the true importance of the test has been confined to passing references in weekly emails. Few teachers have discussed its far-reaching impacts on Redwood’s performance and reputation. It is the responsibility of the Redwood administration to educate parents and students alike on the importance of these government assessments. Teachers should encourage students to take the test, with the knowledge that their scores will not hurt their grades and taking the test can only help the overall reputation of Redwood.

Parental education surrounding CAASPP tests is similarly essential for student participation. Many parents have previously signed off on their kids opting out of CAASPP testing, perhaps without the proper knowledge of what the consequences of their actions could be. It is key for parents to encourage their students to participate in testing and for students to take initiative on behalf of their school and themselves.

Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in The Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to The Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They must emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org

A BITE to the TikTok ban, how will we waste our time now?

A BARK to planting season in the SustAg farm. At least there is some life at Redwood.

A BITE to wearing flip flops. Just because the sun’s out does not mean we want to see those dogs out.

BARKS and BITES are the collective opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.

Alex Argov Lauren Poulin Senior Staff Writers

Sawyer Barta

Elsa Block

Ella Erwig

Harrison Lapic

Bowen Rivera

Aanika Sawhney

Sam Sumski

Maya Winger

Reporters

Ava Carlson

Sean Cunneen

Mason Garbo

Jay Knopping

Owen McDaniels

Michael Seton

Ashlin Quach Adviser

Erin Schneider

español español

Cocinando con Bark: Alfajores

Por Charlotte Fishburne, Mia Ginsburg y Lili Hakimi

Los alfajores se originaron probablemente en el Oriente Medio y eventualmente llegaron a España en el siglo dieciséis cuando los conquistadores llegaron a Sudamérica. Originalmente, los alfajores tenían nueces, frutas, miel y especias. Los alfajores son muy importantes en Argentina porque en muchas de las regiones pueden ser identificados por sus métodos de hacer recetas específicas. Cada tipo de alfajor refleja la identidad de una provincia, región o localidad y los alfajores varían mucho dependiendo de dónde se fabrican. Pero los alfajores se pueden encontrar en muchas partes de Sudamérica. En Argentina, los alfajores son una merienda a media mañana o tarde. Las marcas más populares de los alfajores son Havanna, Cachafaz, Guaymallén y Capitán del Espacio.

3/4 taza de harina

1 taza de maicena

Ingredientes:

1/2 cucharadita de bicarbonato de sodio

1 cucharadita de polvo para hornear

1/4 cucharadita de sal

1 barra de mantequilla, ablandada

1/3 taza de azúcar

2 cucharaditas de ralladura de limón

2 yemas de huevo

1 cucharada de agua

1/2 cucharadita de extracto de vainilla

1 8 oz de Dulce de Leche frasco o botella Azúcar en polvo

Proceso:

La primera cosa que hay que hacer es mezclar los ingredientes secos en un tazón. Nuestra Lili, una nueva cocinera , luchó un poco con esto. Repite con nosotras, “¡Agua no es un ingrediente seco Lili!” Tuvimos que reiniciar después de eso, pero perseveramos. La segunda vez preparamos los ingredientes correctamente y descubrimos cómo rallar un limón. El siguiente paso es poner la masa en el refrigerador por aproximadamente una hora. Después, extendimos la masa y usamos un vaso para cortarlos porque no teníamos un molde de galletas adecuado. Para ser honesta, la masa cruda estaba muy buena. Es casi como si las galletas ¡no se necesitaran hornear! Bromas, bromas. Después, necesitan hornear las galletas por 12 minutos, a una temperatura de 350 grados y dejarlas enfriar un poco. ¡Finalmente, es tiempo para el dulce de leche y azúcar de polvo!

Resultados: Los alfajores son dulces y sorprendentemente exquisitos. Las galletas solas, tal vez podrían ser un poco secas, pero con el dulce de leche, eso no fue un problema. El sabor a limón trabaja perfectamente con el dulce de leche, y la receta produce muchas galletas para muchos alfajores completos. ¡Recomendamos mucho hacer estas galletas!

Compartiendo historias: Custodios Roberto Córdoba y Tomás Herrera

Por Emily Garcia

En Redwood, hay muchos estudiantes, personal y administración que hacen cosas muy importantes. La mayoría del tiempo ellos son reconocidos por sus acciones, logros y a veces por su vida diaria. También, cuentan sus historias de vida. Este no es el caso de todos las personas que hacen posible que vengamos a la escuela.. Dos de esas personas más importantes se quedan después de la escuela y pasan desapercibidos y por eso no obtienen el reconocimiento que merecen de los estudiantes. Roberto Córdoba y Tomás Herrera son dos custodios de Redwood que también son parte de la comunidad latina.

Roberto Córdoba:

Roberto Córdoba ha trabajado por muchos años en Redwood. Primero empezó como custodio para pagar sus clases de teología en el University of Redlands, Marin Campus (Universidad de los Redlands, Marin). Por la misma razón, Córdoba vino a los Estados Unidos de Masaya, Nicaragua. Córdoba siempre quería estudiar teología. Pero en 1979, Nicaragua tuvo una revolución que cambió la sociedad

completamente. Córdoba estaba en la escuela secundaria cuando empezó y el evento tuvo un gran impacto en su vida. Después de la revolución él describe una dictadura parecida a la de Cuba y Venezuela. Por esa razón, Córdoba tuvo que tomar la decisión de venir a los Estados Unidos para continuar sus estudios de teología.

Aparte de eso, como a todos, a Córdoba le gusta hacer una variedad de cosas en su tiempo libre. Sus cosas favoritas son pasar tiempo con su esposa en los parques de San Francisco, San José y Pittsburgh. También le gusta la lectura los domingos.

Córdoba tiene una pasión por ayudar a otras personas incluyendo la gente pobre. Los viernes Córdoba aparta tiempo para contribuir a su comunidad.

“La comunidad que tengo en Richmond, California, tengo varios amigos y trabajamos como comunidad con cualquier problema social que vemos. Los viernes se reparte comunidad gratis para la gente pobre de mi comunidad,” Córdoba dijo.

Córdoba espera que la dictadura en su país se acabe para que pueda regresar y vivir su tiempo de retiro a la edad de 67 y pasar más tiempo con su familia. Pero también espera que la juventud de ahora se cuide y tome buenas decisiones.

“El consejo para la juventud hispana en mi comunidad es que se aparten de [malas cosas] y se dediquen a estudiar y vivir una vida tranquila,” Córdoba dijo. “A los estudiantes quiero decirles que no se rindan, que cumplan sus sueños después que se gradúen de aquí y que hagan cosas grandes siempre.”

Tomás Herrera:

Tomás Herrera es de Zacatecas, México y también ha vivido en Oregon. Trabajaba en jardinería y todavía trabaja en esa además de ser custodio. Herrera también tiene una pasión por ir a ranchos de rodeos.

Herrera tiene un gran amor por su familia. Él tiene cuatro hijos y pasa tiempo con ellos cuando puede, no

importa que ya estén grandes. Él va a reuniones de familia cuando está invitado y tiene tiempo. Su gran sueño también se trata de su familia.

“Quiero terminar de trabajar y mantener a mi familia para siempre estar más unidos con ellos,” Herrera dijo. “Es muy importante mantener y pasar tiempo con la familia.”

Él también tiene un sueño similar a Córdoba para los estudiantes y juventud de Redwood.

“Sigan estudiando cuanto puedan y si no tienen dinero para una escuela cara pues que ir al colegio comunitario y completar sus estudios allí,” Herrera dijo.

Todos las historias de Redwood son importantes y por eso necesitamos enseñarlas y compartirlas tanto como podamos. Los custodios se aseguran de que la escuela esté en buenas condiciones para que podamos estudiar en un lugar limpio, además de trabajar duro para todos los eventos como el baile de Homecoming, juegos en Redwood, reuniones de personal, pedidos de los maestros, etc.

Cuando los vean por el campus, denles las gracias por su duro trabajo y recojan su propia basura.

DULCE DE LECHE se pone entre las galletas para darles un sabor rico y dulce.

games games

Spring Word Search

By Sydney Johnson

feature feature

By Tallulah Knill Allen and Nadia Massoumi

How is it that humans living in the same country and contributing to the same economy can have completely opposing perceptions of the world that surrounds us? Today’s national landscape is marked by divides so extreme that Americans’ ability to solve collective concerns has stagnated. And in this stagnation, mistrust in the institutions designed to support and represent Americans has risen. Underneath this division lies a deeper psychological factor: skepticism — our skepticism of the information we receive, our skepticism of the institutions we are a part of and most importantly, our skepticism of each other.

On some level, possessing a skeptical mindset — or expressing doubt toward the claims with which one is presented — is more important now than ever, as news has become driven by profit to emphasize only the most sensationalized information. We have become predisposed to accept much of this information without further question or analysis. Part of the issue is social media. While its accessibility and individually curated content makes it a fan favorite for news coverage amongst teens, it has also resulted in a decline in skepticism when it matters most. According to a 2023 study by Pew Research, 32 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 regularly get news from TikTok.

However, rarely is this information looked at through a critical lens. According to a March of students never double-check news they see on social media, while 56 percent of students sometimes doublecheck this information. Not only is misinformation more accessible through social media, but it is also geared to appeal to our interests and biases. Junior Ella Buske fell victim to this phenomenon, learning about the importance of skepticism on social media as her feed began to cater to her pre-existing beliefs.

“In sixth grade, when I got Instagram, I got really invested in current events and social activism. But as soon as I started following one or two accounts of the social activism that I was interested in, all of my recommendations shared similar voices and it was a spiral of the algorithm only providing me with the kinds of media I was already consuming,” Buske said.

This cycle is perpetuated through the engagement that comes from sharing provocative information online. Facebook was one of the first companies to take note of this. From 2016 to 2019, Facebook’s algorithm prioritized “anger” emoji reactions over “likes,” giving the “anger” reactions five times as much weight as positive reactions. In this, they capitalized on the fact that posts that angered consumers were more likely to generate engagement than neutral posts. For senior Jake Williams, he has observed this spread of misinformation through social media.

“There is such a market with social media to misuse

information, get people to watch your [content] and believe what you believe for financial incentive,” Williams said. “The most profitable content is usually the most polarizing

Hirsch explained.

“When we hear what we want to hear, or even when we think we’re going to hear what we want to hear, we’re much more likely to accept it without skepticism,” Hirsch

However, it is difficult to be skeptical about all the information that is present online. The number of people who get their news from social media may reflect a decline in media literacy, but it also reflects that amid the inundation of polarizing content, it is difficult to discern what exactly is worth looking at through a more critical

Despite its benefits, skepticism can be a doubleedged sword. Skepticism can become a force for confirming our existing biases; the instrument once so important for challenging our beliefs can become retooled to confirm them. Often, it is precisely the issues that target our most deeply held beliefs on which it is most crucial that we maintain a level of skepticism, as Hirsch explained.

“If someone has a great amount of political knowledge, they’re more likely to trust what they believe. And if they’ve invested a lot [into being informed], feeling informed is probably a part of their identity. So they are most at risk of feeling like their identity is threatened if their political assumptions are threatened,” Hirsch said. This concept was particularly prevalent in respect to the so-called “birther” conspiracy theories surrounding former president Barack Obama’s country of birth. According to a 2019 study by the University of Michigan, Republicans with high levels of racial animus and high amounts of political knowledge were the most likely to believe conspiracy theories about the former president’s

Today, the issue of defensiveness over information has played in regards to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the greater levels of polarization the recent war has sparked,

“You get the same kind of thing [with the IsraelPalestine conflict.] Someone who is pro-Israel is not likely to look at Al-Jazeera. They’re not going to look up, ‘Is Israel’s settlement a violation of the United Nations Human Rights Declaration?’ Someone who’s pro-Palestine isn’t going to look up, ‘Did Hamas terrorize its own citizens to

This media landscape can also perpetuate division, often unintentionally, as we can become trapped in our own beliefs and perceptions of the world, with little care given to the possibility of flaws within our knowledge.

“If someone is relying super heavily on one source or one type of source, they are absolutely going to find their internal monologue sounding more and more like that information,” Buske said.

To continue reading about skepticism and its impacts, see “The dilemma of distrust: skepticism’s impact” in the feature section of bark@redwoodbark.org

By Lili Hakimi and Alana Leifer

“She was compassionate. She played the violin, played soccer, ran track and loved animals. She loved her friends and family. She loved life, and she was the person that her friends would come to for advice,” Linda Mazur said.

John and Linda Mazur lost their daughter, Emilee Mazur, to an eating disorder (ED) after 10 years of battling the illness. Emilee, who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at age 25, passed away when she was 35 after receiving inadequate treatment.

“[We] never imagined, even when we found out she had an issue, that she wouldn’t overcome it,” John said.

Following their daughter’s passing, the Mazur family started a non-profit organization, The Emilee Connection, to offer people the support they wished their family had.

According to the Academy for Eating Disorders, 9 percent of Americans or 28 million people will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime. Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common types

1. A choice

of eating disorders, characterized by food restriction, an extreme fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body image. Out of any mental illness, anorexia has the highest mortality rate — even greater than depression or anxiety.

When exploring the effects of eating disorders, it is important to distinguish disordered eating from eating disorders. Although some of the characteristics overlap, the primary difference between the two is an eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis while disordered eating references abnormal behaviors. This could manifest in avoiding specific food groups, eating due to boredom or stress or restricting

I didn’t realize [how dangerous eating disorders are] until I was admitted to the hospital with a heart rate of 30 when I actually could have died.

“Hannah,” junior

calories over a limited period. On the other hand, eating disorders are a form of mental illness denoted by overwhelming, persistent obsessive thoughts regarding food, calories and exercise, as well as extreme weight changes. However, eating disorders manifest themselves differently in each individual.

The number of eating disorder cases has doubled from 2000 to 2018 and is currently on the rise, as reported by Oregon Health and Science University. Jojo Hill, a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, attributes the increase in eating disorders to social media and the increasing use of technology to alter photos. Hill also believes a surge in the popularity of health

culture has contributed to a rise in eating disorders.

“There is a rise of a kind of wellness culture, which is often just thinness wrapped in a different bow. Instead of being really thin, people want to be really fit, which requires similar levels of obsession with changing one’s natural body,” Hill said.

For “Hannah,” a junior who wishes to remain anonymous, her two-year-long battle with anorexia began in 8th grade. From its onset, the disease took control of Hannah’s life, ruining her physical health, mental health and her relationships, notably with her family.

“I was such a happy person. Once my brain switched and focused so much on food, that’s what made me depressed because I had so much hatred for myself because of how I looked [and] how I [ate], and that’s what led to my eating disorder,” Hannah said.

As Hannah’s eating disorder gained power over her well-being, her social relationships became strained.

“Anorexia made me frustrated with people. … I had so many issues with my friends because I pushed so many people away. I didn’t realize how much that

Four misconceptions of eating disorders: 2. One body type

Eating disorders are not a choice, but rather complex medical and psychological conditions that can stem from genetics, histories of trauma, weight stigma and more.

“It’s the actions and things you’re thinking that make it an eating disorder. The body you have doesn’t dictate whether or not your habits and behaviors are unhealthy for you,” Bender said.

Illustrations by Lucy Wong Ryniejski

Illustrations by Lucy Wong Ryniejski

Navigating the mental health of eating disorders

(South

affected them. I saw my parents’ texts about how worried they were about me and how scared they were for my life. They didn’t know what to do,” Hannah said.

It wasn’t until her health became jeopardized that Hannah began to grasp the gravity and severity of eating disorders.

“I didn’t realize [how dangerous eating disorders are] until I was admitted to the hospital with a heart rate of 30 when I actually could have died,” Hannah said.

Flippant, off-the-cuff remarks people make about their bodies or food... can be incredibly triggering [to people with EDs.]

“But I didn’t care because the only thing consuming me was the wish to be skinnier. I didn’t really realize how dangerous it was and how close I was to actually losing my life over it.”

of women will suffer from an eating disorder by their 40s or 50s. (ANAD)

said. “It takes a lot of work, time and mental effort to recover from something like that. And even when you recover, it’s still a process you must work through daily. You’ll still have these thoughts in the back of your head. It’s almost a lifelong process of navigating how to deal with food and continuing to [choose to] recover.”

For Hannah, she found it challenging to seek the help she direly needed due to an underlying fear of embarrassment.

Jojo Hill, Eating Disorder Specialist

“I kept my eating disorder hidden due to the feeling that it was my fault. No one directly said it to me, but I know some people thought so,” Hannah said.

Misconceptions

As a mental illness, eating disorders are often misunderstood. One of the largest misconceptions surrounding eating disorders is the idea that there is a singular cause behind them.

“The first thing people go to is [eating disorders are] about achieving control. Often that’s true, but eating disorders are so complex, and it’s really impossible to distill it down to one reason,” Hill said.

Senior Georgia Bender, who recovered from an eating disorder, believes one of the most harmful misconceptions regarding eating disorders is that there is a specific body type associated with having an eating disorder.

“[With eating disorders], there is a physical piece to it sometimes, but more than anything, it’s a mental thing. It’s the actions and things you’re thinking that make it an eating disorder. The body you have doesn’t dictate whether or not your habits and behaviors are unhealthy for you,” Bender said.

Bender also feels the recovery process for eating disorders is misunderstood.

“[People think] it’s as easy as just eating more. That’s not how you fix it,” Bender

“I was very reserved when talking about it because it affected my life so much, primarily from the fear that I would get judged. It isn’t very comfortable to talk about, but it’s not something you choose. It’s something that comes to you. It’s a disease.”

As demonstrated by Hannah’s experience, Hill cautions that many seemingly casual comments can often be upsetting to those who have or had eating disorders.

“Often there are a lot of flippant, offthe-cuff remarks that people say about their bodies or about food that can be impactful to people with eating disorders, that can be incredibly triggering, and it can make them sometimes feel like their eating disorder isn’t real … and make it harder for them to be honest and to seek help,” Hill said. “Whether it’s judgments about one’s own food or body, or judgments about another’s food or body, those comments can be really impactful even if the impact isn’t visible.”

Linda emphasized the importance of educating yourself on the reality behind eating disorders, particularly while trying to support those struggling around you.

“[It is critical to] learn that what you say isn’t always what the person

3. Just women

of Americans know someone with an ED. (“SCAMH”)

15% 10% 50% 90%

hears. It’s very important to become educated, realize it’s not a choice and help the person help themselves as much as you can,” Linda said. “Recovery isn’t always a straight line. We have to be compassionate with people who are struggling, and they have to be compassionate with themselves, too.”

Recovery

While recovery is a lifelong process for some people, Hill finds that many people are uncertain about starting their recovery journeys because they do not think it is possible.

“People often hesitate to go into treatment because they think that they will always [have their eating disorder]. [They think] they will always have these thoughts, always have these feelings, always have these worries. Recovery is possible. And it’s typically a really long journey. The sooner you start, the easier it usually is,” Hill said.

One of recovery’s most significant and complex parts is learning to let go of control. For Bender, what drove her to begin her recovery journey was wanting her life back to how it was before food and her body controlled it.

“Once I realized that my eating disorder was my whole life, everything I was thinking about was correlated to food, and how my body looked and exercising, I realized that if I was able to recover — if I chose to recover, if I chose to let go of this control — I could focus on so many other things,” Bender said. “Look at your life now and how your life used to be when you were free of those eating disorder thoughts. Let that drive you.”

of teens with anorexia are female.

(Polaris Teen Center)

much more. I had strong hair again, and finally, I could get up without feeling like I was going to faint. Most importantly, I was able to actually feel healthy,” Hannah said. “You do get your life back.”

Hill also recognizes the limitations of therapy, given that an individual fighting an eating disorder must choose recovery for themselves. However, Hill acknowledges the importance of demonstrating empathy with patients and assisting them in navigating their journey to recovery.

“It’s essential to listen to clients and hear their worries and pain. Explore their hesitations, fears, and options, then allow them to choose. And they usually [choose recovery] in time, even if it’s excruciating, but it’s a process,” Hill said.

Although those struggling with eating disorders may view recovery as a neverending journey, it is essential to remember that there will always be light at the end of this tunnel.

“For a lot of people, they will still have that [eating disorder] voice. But maybe it is not a roar anymore; maybe it’s a whisper they can ignore,” Linda said.

As emphasized by Linda, although easier said than done, it is crucial for those struggling with eating disorders to seek help.

As another survivor, Hannah’s decision to recover was what ultimately saved her life. Through her journey to recovery, Hannah began to rediscover herself, getting back the little things that made life worth living.

“I regained the ability to do spontaneous things and be a teenager. I could get ice cream at 10 p.m. I found myself being able to talk about my issues, being able to run again and there’s so

“The sooner people are diagnosed, and treatment begins, the better their chances of finding some level of recovery. Everybody’s recovery may look different, and that’s okay,” Linda said.

“Whether you’re living in recovery or not, everybody deserves to lead a rich life. You shouldn’t compare your progress with anybody else’s. As long as you keep going and trying and moving forward, you’re doing the right thing and doors will open.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with an ED, reach out to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders’s (ANAD) helpline at 888-375-7767 (open Monday through Friday) or email hello@anad.org.

bark@redwoodbark.org

4. EDs are linear

“Almost every girl I’ve talked to has had an eating disorder and they come in all forms. Doesn’t mean you eat nothing or you throw everything up. Doesn’t mean you work out [all day],” Hannah said.

Illustration by Ava Stephens

Illustration by Lili Hakimi

A look into thirty days of faith and fasting

By Ava Carlson and Ava Stephens

This year, Ramadan was announced to begin at sundown on Sunday, March 10, when the crescent moon was spotted by officials in Saudi Arabia. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is most well known for the fast that Muslims undertake over the course of its 30 days. During Ramadan, those fasting do not consume food or drink from dawn until sundown, with meals before and after those times.

While the fast is central to Ramadan, many other traditions accompany it, with traditional practices around meals, prayer, charity and more, ranging from global to local in their focus.

History and Background

The earliest recorded practice of Ramadan occurred in 624 CE, when it was observed for the first time in Medina, located in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Like this year’s observance, the first Ramadan began in March. The Prophet Muhammad instructed Muslims to fast for the month of Ramadan in order to strengthen faith and spiritual discipline while facing military conflicts with ruling pagans. Those words can be read today as verses in the Quran that have governed the practices of Ramadan ever since.

“I was always really amazed and impressed with it, seeing my parents and

“As we continue night by night, sometimes the Quran is recited in its

Ramadan is observed according to the Islamic calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar as it is based on the patterns of the moon rather than the sun. As such, each Muslim holiday takes place approximately eleven days earlier every year.

Marin resident and former teacher Amal Crespo grew up in a secular household due to the blend of religions, including Islam, in his family and as such chose to begin fasting as an adult.

“Because every year [Ramadan] takes place earlier than the previous year, throughout your lifetime, you [fast at different times] of the whole year. It’s very difficult in summer, because you could fast for 18 hours straight between dawn and sundown.

When I first started fasting, it was winter, so it was much easier,” Crespo said.

Ramadan is like rejuvenation . . . There’s definitely a special something in the air when Ramadan comes around.

Aziz Majid, Redwood alumnus

While fasting is a key pillar of Islam, Muslims who are children, elderly, pregnant, unwell or otherwise unable to fast are not expected to participate. Sausalito resident Aziz Majid, a Redwood alumnus, remembered wanting to fast as a child in admiration of his parents.

they’re missing out on other holidays that they don’t practice,” Majid said.

recalled fond memories of Iftar dinners and nights spent at the masjid with her family.

“As a kid, I really liked breaking my fast with my family, having a lot of food and going to the masjid. And every night during Ramadan, at Tarawih, you pray for a few hours. Sometimes you go home around 1 or 2 a.m., and it’s very, very peaceful. When I was younger I would go with my dad to the masjid just to come play around other kids while he prayed,” Mussa said.

The prayer is Sunnah, or nonmandatory, but an important practice nonetheless. A key element of Tarawih is the recital of verses from the Quran.

alternate hosts for each holiday with your family and friends.”

Majid always had an appreciation for Eid as a holiday partially because of its celebratory gift giving tradition.

“I grew up in Marin County, and I really didn’t have any Muslim friends at all. When you’re little, you think, ‘Oh, Christmas looks really cool.’ At an early age I think I got a little envious. However, I feel that in our religion, my parents did a good job of it — really uplifting Eid [and] giving gifts, so kids don’t feel like

Perspectives and Connections

Mussa has fasted during Ramadan since adolescence, and as such has a lot of experience with long, hungry school days during the month.

“Waking up earlier to eat before sunrise, and then going to school for six, seven hours can be exhausting. But the idea of Ramadan is to help us understand how lucky we are to have food, water, the things we take for granted. During school, it is tiring, but when I feel hungry, when I get tired, I’m thinking ‘This is the point,’” Mussa said. “It’s when something’s taken away that you realize ‘Wow, I really took this for granted, and I wish I didn’t.’ That’s what Ramadan does for you.”

Crespo spoke on the challenges of Ramadan that come with its mental fast from bad habits and mindsets.

“During Ramadan, it’s also fasting from bad thoughts, from negative attitudes, from swearing, from gossiping about people [or] making bad comments. If people try to engage you in a discussion that goes in that direction, you tell them, ‘Sorry, I’m fasting.’ Frankly, that can be the hardest part,” Crespo said. Majid also emphasized the more spiritual aspect of fasting for Ramadan.

“To many people, it seems like we’re just simply fasting from food and drink, which we are. But it’s also much deeper than that. The month is to really work on yourself as a person in society, in your relationships, in your family, at work. I always say the month of Ramadan is like a rejuvenation, or a battery recharge, for Muslims throughout the year,” Majid said. “There’s definitely a special something in the air when Ramadan comes around.”

Redwood’s roots: The Spirit Ball and the Tiki statue

By Charlotte Lacy and Nick Hartung

Although formed later than many of the schools in the area, Redwood High School’s history is just as vibrant as neighboring Tamalpais, Archie Williams and Marin Catholic. Students have demonstrated school spirit by creating icons like the Spirit Ball and the quad’s Tiki. When Redwood opened in 1958, the surrounding area was very different. Only recently has the marsh been filled with landfill for development to support a growing Marin population. Marilee Rogers was a sophomore during the opening year of Redwood and graduated in 1961.

“When I came to Redwood, it was [the shape of an] L,” Rogers said. “There was no quad, just the [South] and [West] wings…There was no Doherty Drive; you came in by Williams Avenue.”

Looking back at the infrastructure, many of Redwood’s buildings today were still not yet constructed. In addition to the lack of two main buildings, the art buildings, Covered Eating Area (CEA), district offices, woodshop classrooms and many critical parts of Redwood were constructed only years later.

Furthermore, Redwood was originally named Licatuit after a local Native American tribe – similar to the Native American Prince Tamalpais – and the school faced community backlash due to the tribal origin of the name and concerns about potential obscenities during athletic events. The Board of Trustees ultimately rescinded the name and settled on Redwood, inspired by the romantic notion of the school’s location at the start of the highway through the Redwood Empire. Due to the marsh the school was built on, no Redwood trees were actually in the surrounding area until a portion of land was raised and Redwood trees were planted in front of the school. Unfortunately, due to the poor soil, the trees will never grow much taller than they are now. Named by the first class of Redwood, the newspaper, yearbook and weekly bulletin were also named following the school name, the “Bark,” “Log” and “Twig,” respectively.

Spirit Ball

Spirit has been central to Redwood’s identity throughout its past. Part of our school’s spirit is demonstrated through sports and spectatorship. Richard Torney is a Redwood alumnus who graduated in the class of 1966.

“Whenever there was a rival game, many [students] would go. There were cheerleaders, song leaders and yell leaders and the gym was packed,” Torney said.

One distinctive symbol of Redwood’s spirit is the “Spirit Ball,” an icon that encapsulates our school’s vibrant energy. While some may see it as a simple metal sphere, its history is rich and profound.

The Spirit Ball’s origin story dates back to World War II. Initially, our beloved Spirit Ball was a buoy used under the Golden Gate Bridge to support large nets that kept submarines out of the bay. After the war ended, it was abandoned and forgotten and ended up in a quiet lot in Corte Madera, now occupied by Hertz Equipment Rentals.

The story of the Spirit Ball begins with the football team, which wanted an icon for the school to center its spirit around. After a suggestion from their coach,

Bob Troppmann, the team drove to the lot and loaded the 672-pound buoy into Troppmann’s truck. Once at Redwood, the players brought the buoy to the metal shop teacher, Robert Flynn, who cut a hole in the bottom and painted it with the help of his metal shop students.

“It was originally painted red with the white Redwood G [for Giants] on the side,” Torney said.

The original plan was to place the Spirit Ball on top of a 70-foot telephone pole. However, after the project’s logistics and engineering were questioned, those involved later created a frame for the Spirit Ball. The frame was initially made from four sections of the telephone pole and a chain that hung the Spirit Ball from the top. This design was changed much later to its current rebar and cement base after a senior prank that moved and buried the Spirit Ball in the 1980s.

Since its addition to the school, the Spirit Ball has been a staple that students paint in the spirit of sports competitions. Like much else in Redwood’s history, the Spirit Ball is something students can form a community around.

Tiki Statue

Have you ever walked into the quad and wondered why a giant Tiki statue exists? Many years ago, during the spring of 1966, the senior class debated what to donate to Redwood as their graduation class gift.

“We had money left over and somebody suggested we buy a new piece of equipment for the office. Then someone else said, ‘Let’s get a Tiki statue and put it in the quad’ because, at the time, it was a senior quad,” Torney said.

Sadly, the class of 1966 never got to see the infamous Tiki displayed in the quad, as they graduated before the Tiki was installed. A business in Sausalito, Tiki Junction, made the visions of the 1966 class come to life. Artist Barney West was dedicated to carving an 8-foot tall, 2-foot diameter Polynesian war god. However, this isn’t any traditional piece of wood.

“It’s made from the middle of [a Redwood] tree. It’s called All Heart Redwood. So our gift is All Heart Redwood for Redwood. There was some symbolism involved in the Tiki,” Torney said.

The current Tiki differs from the original due to considerable controversy in 1968. Someone from the Tiki Junction returned and modified it, no longer making it an anatomically correct male.

From 1968 to 2004, the Tiki stood tall and proud in the courtyard for all to enjoy. However, in January 2004, Torney visited his beloved Tiki and noticed something was off.

“I was taking a night class at Redwood and during one of the breaks, I went to look at the Tiki when I found it lying flat on the ground and the bottom had rotted out,” Torney said.

Torney was dedicated to ensuring the Tiki was repaired to stand in all its glory.

To continue reading about the history of Redwood and the Tiki statue, see “Redwood’s roots grow deep: The Spirit Ball and the Tiki statue” on redwoodbark.org.

bark@redwoodbark.org

BUOYS AND NETS are assembled at the net depot in Tiburon, Calif. during the 1940s.

Photo courtesy of US Navy RICHARD TORNY STANDS alongside his beloved Tiki in the Redwood quad.

THE 1971 VARSITY golf team stands before the original Spirit Ball, then known as “The Big G.”

Photo courtesy of the Bark

review review

Bite into Marin’s best veggie burgers

By Tessa DeLay

The hamburger is an American classic. Bacon, cheese, avocado… you can find it all on a juicy beef patty. However, as more and more people choose to reduce their meat intake, or eliminate it from their diet completely, vegetarian options have become increasingly popular. This new trend has caused “veggie burgers” to become common in restaurants across Marin, with each restaurant putting their own spin on the dish.

Super Duper

Super Duper’s veggie burger is light but satisfying. The veggie patty is crunchy on the outside with lots of corn kernels throughout and soft on the inside, but far from the flavor of a regular burger. The patty sits atop a perfectly soft brioche bun and is topped with onions, cucumbers, lettuce, super sauce and hummus. The cucumbers add to the texture and the hummus is unique in terms of flavor but blends perfectly with the sauce, which has a more subtle salty taste. The veggie burger costs $8, but customers can add cheese or

Shake Shack

The “Veggie Shack” is definitely less impressive than the Super Duper veggie burger. While the veggie patty itself is crispy, any flavor it has is covered by an excessive amount of creamy “ShackSauce,” which drenches the brioche bun. The burger comes with cheese, which is slightly waxy. The sauteed onions are a nice addition but are ultimately overpowered by the pickles. Overall, this veggie burger is slightly salty and would benefit from additional toppings.

The Hub

The Hub’s vegan burger was by far the most sophisticated. The patty is thicker and made of quinoa, kidney beans and oats, served on a whole-grain bun. The sauteed portabella mushrooms add the perfect amount of flavor and the texture blends well with the patty. Caramelized onions add a sweetness that balances out the tangy arugula. However, the dijon mustard was overpowering and dominated the overall flavor.

Super Duper, Shake Shack and The Hub are all within a 20-minute drive from Redwood and each has its own recipe. If you are looking for a delicious vegetarian

tdelay@redwoodbark.org

Fashion rentals: Keeping closets sustainable

By Charlotte Lacy

Fast fashion has taken over today’s world. Trends flare up and fade away in the blink of an eye, making it nearly impossible for individuals to keep pace without incurring significant costs. The relentless cycle of consumption places a strain not only on wallets but also on the environment. Fueled by social media platforms, the pressure to constantly sport new attire has become a palpable societal norm. However, this constant desire for novelty often leaves closets bursting at the seams with overlooked garments. Rental companies have recognized this pattern and seized the opportunity to create subscription services that keep your closet fresh with updated trends. Three companies are frontrunners: Nuuly, Rent the Runway and Armoire.

Nuuly

Do you enjoy brands such as Free People, Anthropology and Urban Outfitters? Well then, Nuuly is the place for you. With its ever-evolving selection of styles and thousands of

Whether dressing up for a formal event, hitting the beach or embracing snowy weather, Nuuly has you covered. For $98 per month, Nuuly lets you choose six items from their vast collection. This fee includes shipping, returns, repairs and dry cleaning for your desired items. Say goodbye to the hassle of cleaning your items before sending them back; Nuuly takes care of it all. Their user-friendly website makes it a breeze to browse your favorite items throughout the month, simplifying selecting your favorites. While Nuuly’s offerings are exclusive and sometimes pricey, the subscription fee remains fixed, regardless of the item’s cost. Plus, their commitment to sustainable shipping practices ensures your items arrive in an eco-friendly manner, using reusable packaging.

Rent the Runway

Traditionally known for its focus on ballgowns and evening wear, Rent The Runway has undergone a transformative evolution. Today, it boasts a selection of over 750 designers, offering fashionforward options at a staggering 73 percent discount compared to retail prices. Rent The Runway offers two subscription tiers, simultaneously granting access to five items. The “Limited Closet” plan, priced at $94 per month, provides access to 9,000 styles with a retail value of up to $350. On the other hand, the “Full Closet” plan, initially priced at $144, allows for 10 items per month, with only five available for shipment at a time, necessitating two separate deliveries. This plan offers access to a staggering 10,000 styles with a combined retail value of $3,000.

In addition, they deliver a one-time rental for items such as ballgowns and dresses specifically meant to support those attending an event. The company’s shipping process is remarkably efficient, with deliveries typically arriving within three days if orders are placed before the 3 p.m. deadline. Notably, Rent The Runway offers the flexibility of extended rental periods, allowing customers to keep items for weeks or even months and permitting the return of items individually. Unlike its competitors, Rent The Runway also includes handbags in its rental offerings.

Armoire

If you’re seeking professional styling assistance, look no further than Armoire. By taking a personalized styling quiz, Armoire utilizes an algorithm and stylists to curate a wardrobe explicitly tailored to your preferences and needs. Armoire offers three distinct subscription options, such as the 4-item plan, priced at $89 per month, and provides a curated selection of essentials. For those seeking a more extensive wardrobe, the 7-item plan is available at $119 per month. Alternatively, the unlimited plan is $249 monthly for unlimited access to their vast inventory.

Despite the unlimited plan allowing only six items to be rented at a time, it offers the convenience of unlimited returns. All subscription tiers include complimentary shipping, unrestricted access to the entire inventory, and the flexibility to pause or cancel your subscription anytime. Notably, Armoire allows companies to

new items in your closet. Armoire is proud to support women-owned brands, a testament to its dedication to promoting female empowerment within the fashion industry. This emphasis on brands created by and for women adds a meaningful layer to the Armoire experience.

clacy@redwoodbark.org

Spring Gardening Guide: Crops for your backyard

By Taylor Allan

Spring is finally upon us, and with that comes the joys of gardening and preparing fresh food from your backyard. Maintaining your own garden can be a fun and sustainable way to have tasty fruits, vegetables and leafy greens at your fingertips. Still, many people often don’t know where to start their gardening journey. Well, have no fear. Along with local plant expert and Sustainable Agriculture teacher Joe Stewart, I am here with the easiest and most plentiful crops the plant world offers.

As you browse your calendar to choose the perfect weekend to take up gardening, you might want to keep in mind a good rule of thumb: always wait to plant your crops until after the last frost of winter.

15,” Stewart said.

Marin County typically has a very mild winter — there is no snow, and temperatures rarely drop below 42 degrees. This ideal environment allows plants to thrive, giving gardeners a diverse selection of plants to choose from. Let’s dive into the easiest and most useful plants to have right outside your back door.

Leafy Greens

There are many leafy greens to choose from that would be a great addition to any backyard garden, but the ones that grow most abundantly in Marin are kale, spinach and arugula. All of these can be planted from February through April and will flourish in full sun with fertile, welldrained soil. Having planted these greens for years myself, I can attest that these are extremely hardy and healthy plants to include in any meal. Kale is a popular leafy green that can be used for healthy (and tasty) smoothies, salads and dinners. Both arugula and spinach can also be used for salads and adds a deliciously bold taste.

Squash is considered a summer and fall crop, but seedlings must be planted in the mid to late spring months of April and May. Often, these sun-loving gourds require an indoor start to ensure their growth, so it is wise to either wait for warmer conditions or plant seedlings inside for three to four weeks before moving them to their permanent homes in the great outdoors.

“If you’re planting from seeds, you’re waiting for a time where [the seeds] are

going to get consistent water, either from you or from rain, and it’s not cold because little seedlings don’t do very well in the cold,” Stewart said.

To provide that warmth squashes love, they need substantial sunlight, so pick a hot area in your garden for these photophilics. Zucchini, patty pan and yellow straight neck are all easy and delicious squashes to start your at-home garden as they only require good sun and consistently moist soil.

These scrumptious squashes are a great addition to any meal or snack. One of my favorite things to do with zucchini is to thinly slice and bake it in the oven for 15 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to make zucchini chips. This dish is a great snack or addition to a full meal. Patty pan and yellow straight neck squash can both be roasted, sauteed or added onto pizzas for semi-sweet and buttery flavors. These vegetables are packed with an abundance of vitamins and dietary necessities, including vitamin C, magnesium, fiber and antioxidants.

This is why I am going to focus primarily on just the annual options of fruits. Cucumbers, carrots, strawberries and bell peppers are all easy and very rewarding foods to try in your new garden. All of these plants need a substantial amount of warmth, so planting these guys in a part of your garden with full sunlight is the way to go.

Fruits and Other Vegetables

This is the moment I assume you have been waiting for… the fruits, and even more vegetables! There are numerous perennial — meaning plants that last more than just one season — fruits and vegetables that thrive in the northern California climate, such as artichokes, asparagus and many fruit trees (apple, orange, lemon, etc.).

“It’s great to grow fruit trees and those grow year to year, but a tree takes [around] five years before it’s going to produce [fruit] for

Check out these sparkling jewelry stores

By Kate Harrison

Jewelry shopping can be daunting because of the wide variety of stores, styles and types offered on the market. But it doesn’t have to be. Jewelry shopping should be a treat and it should be about getting the best quality that one can buy, at the cheapest prices one can find. These three stores offer some of the best jewelry in Marin or online and can help if you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of jewelry shopping.

Gorjana

Located at The Village at Corte Madera, Gorjana offers a wide range of affordable and expensive staple jewelry. Known for their yellow gold jewelry, they

offer a variety of earrings, clasp bracelets, necklaces and rings. Gorjana is based in Laguna Beach and has many stores across the country. From $25 dollar stud earrings to $60 dollar necklaces, Gorjana has good prices for the quality of jewelry that they offer. All of their products are either sterling silver or gold plated; however, they do sometimes tarnish or lose their sparkle after extended wear. They also offer fine jewelry, with diamonds and other precious stones that won’t tarnish as easily. These are more expensive, costing $100 dollars or more, depending on which variety you want. Their fine jewelry is amazing quality and is the perfect birthday or holiday gift, making Gorjana the perfect place to buy

classic pieces or more expensive jewelry.

If you want inexpensive jewelry, Evry Jewels is the perfect place for you. Based online, Evry Jewels is a treasure trove of jewelry. They have everything you could want: necklaces, bracelets, rings, charms, earrings and so much more. For the price, their quality is top-notch and won’t tarnish. They also have multiple sales, frequently offering sitewide 80% discounts or holiday sales. You can even customize your necklaces and bracelets with initials or other small details. The only downside is that shipping may take a while, but it is worth the wait and the jewelry always sparkles. Evry Jewels is the best place to start your jewelry collection.

Located on 4th Street in San Rafael, the Tibetan Culture House offers funky stone rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Popular for their rings, they offer a huge selection of stone and gem rings, ranging from turquoise to jade. Most of their rings are sterling silver and won’t tarnish. If you are looking for chunky rings, this is your spot. Prices range from $40 dollars to $100 or more, usually depending on how big the stone is or what kind of jewelry you buy. Tibetan Culture House also has Tibetan clothing and Buddhist products. If you want to get unique jewelry that many don’t have, this is the place.

As you embark on your gardening journey, each plant option in this guide promises to be a beneficial addition to your garden. With attention, love and sun, any plant you pick will be worthwhile. Sustaining an at-home garden reduces carbon emissions greatly by eliminating packaging, transportation and most refrigeration, so this choice isn’t just a fun hobby, it is contributing to the conservation of our wonderful planet. So get that green thumb out!

Jewelry shopping should be fun and provide a new experience every time. These stores have so much to offer and are full of unique finds, offering a variety of jewelry that ranges from quality jewelry and staples to more eccentric pieces. Now that you know some great jewelry stores, have fun shopping!

kharrison@redwoodbark.org

EVRY JEWELS OFFERS a plethora of rings and other jewelry.

Photo courtesy of Evry Jewels

A MODEL SHOWCASES Gorjana’s classic heart necklace.

Photo courtesy of Gorjana

Photo courtesy of Evry Jewels

A big sister’s guide to prom

By Cameryn Smith

The most important day of the year is coming up right around the corner. The highly anticipated high school dance we dream about is finally here, and we can only hope all the long preparation was worth it. For the duration of this article, I will be giving you all of the tips and tricks from a second-time prom attendee who coincidentally also happens to be planning the event.

Dresses

You may already have your dress at this point, but if not, here’s a list of websites and stores where you can buy one that will still arrive in time for the big day!

Lucy in the Sky

Lulus

Revolve

Redwood’s Prom Boutique House of CB Nordstrom

Macy's

Transportation

This year, the venue is at a location with NO STUDENT PARKING. It’s necessary to rent a bus or plan a ride ahead of time. There are many websites online to choose from.

Pre-Prom

Get ready to feel like a runway model, because with the amount of photos being taken, you will feel famous. Seriously though, all the pictures can get a little excessive so make sure you are prepared. Pro-tip: Keep some powder with you so you don’t look like a grease ball on camera! And, keep the pre-prom appetizers to a minimum because there will be lots of food at the venue.

What to Bring

There will be somewhere on site to leave a bag or coat, so bring whatever you need. I recommend changing into sneakers instead of heels – my biggest mistake last year was wearing heels the whole night, and it was not fun. Also have a purse for your phone with your favorite lip gloss!

To-Dos

So, all things considered, here is an action list of items you want to complete with specific timing.

Ordering a dress - Ideally, want to have it at the latest two weeks before.

Nails - Get them done one to two days before prom, so you have time to change

them if you don’t like them!

Hair - Get it done the morning of! Or trust a talented friend or family member to reach those parts you can't.

Makeup - Do about two hours before your pre-prom event starts.

Prom is a fun night that requires a lot of planning! Don’t stress if any plan goes awry as there are always bumps in the road. However, it’s always best to have a plan B or plan far enough in advance. Have fun in your preparation, and most importantly, have a fun prom night!

Xoxo, Big sister, signing out.

csmith@redwoodbark.org

Kito’s Taco Shop brings an authentic flair to the table

By Emily Hitchcock

“Everything is made fresh. Everything. The chips are made fresh, our guacamole, our salsa, everything. We brine the meat and burn it. A lot of love is put into this food. In order to get the flavor that we get out of our food you have to prep,” the owner of Kito’s Taco Shop, Tommy Guerrero said.

Kito’s Taco Shop was recently brought to Corte Madera by an experienced owner, Tommy Guerrero, with a mission to bring an authentic taco restaurant to the town by connecting to his Mexican-American heritage. “Gramma Kito,” Guerrero’s grandmother, is where the restaurant got its name. Kito’s Taco Shop drew from cherished sentimental memories

Gramma’s authentic Mexican cooking Gramma had a kitchen like no one else, with recipes that could put a smile on the saddest face. Located in the Old Corte Madera Town Square, this authentic taco shop puts a traditional spin on high-quality dining.

Kito’s Burrito / $14.95

Carnitas, al pastor, grilled chicken/ $16.95

Carne asada/ $17.95

What is a better place to start than a classic grilled chicken burrito? This burrito is delicious, juicy, tender meat paired with cheesy rice, comforting chilled sour cream, refreshing,house-made guacamole and pico de gallo. The X-factor in this particular burrito is the well-balanced bean-to-meat ratio. The best part about this burrito is how filling it was, as one may hope for its price. It came with additional red and green dipping salsas which added a great flavor boost.

Agua Fresca/8OZ $6.95

Hibiscus, Horchata, Watermelon

Agua Fresca, or “fresh water” in English, is a fitting name for this refreshing type of beverage. Specifically, horchata is a soaked, ground and blended rice milk drink which gives it a smooth but at times grainy texture. What made this particular one extra refreshing was the appropriate amount of ice, which was satisfying paired with the hot-fresh food items. It had a pleasant mildly sweet taste that was matched in intensity with the fragrant cinnamon and other spices, giving it a warm complex flavor that juxtaposed its icy temperature.

Chips, Salsa and Guacamole/$10.95

These chips are home-fried, with a hearty and thick texture. The warm platter comes with chips coated in a special seasoning. It was well paired with fresh guacamole and pico de gallo, which made this an enjoyable appetizer.

Taco Tuesday Special/3 Street Tacos/ Carnitas/Carne Asada/Chicken/Veggie $11.5

*Available vegan

Taco Tuesday is essential to any taco shop, and Kito’s did not disappoint. Out of the many meat and vegetarian options, I chose carne asada, chicken and al pastor. The carne asada taco was tangy due to the splash of lime that I added but it worked well with the grilled smokey flavor of the tender carne. Despite portion levels being on the smaller side, it was still filling due to the high density of meat topped with fresh onion and cilantro. Dryness was not a problem because the tacos were served with red and green salsa that gave it extra relish. Similar to carne, the chicken taco came with the same sides and topping and stole the show with the meat quality. I thought the meat in this one was more tender and didn't need the salsa, although it gave it even more flavor when added. Lastly, and probably my favorite, the al pastor was succulent. With juicy pineapple and deliciously seasoned pork which had a unique taste compared to the others, it felt like summer in my mouth.

delicious, coated in a crispy beer battered deep fried crust that provided a shell for the tender inside. The flavor of the seafood was apparent, but not overpowering with a fishy taste. The touch of lime paired with the other acidic toppings made it very well-balanced, and definitely my favorite item from the menu. Though, of course, I had to include a vegetarian option. The mix of flavor from the hearty portobello mushroom along with a fair amount of diverse toppings, gave the flavor multiple dimensions.

PhotobyEmilyHitchcock

The mushroom had a meatlike texture that emulated the heartiness a good taco gives you. The corn in the salsa added a fun crunch while adding sweetness. This gave the taco a unique taste with the grilled mushroom's smoky flavor.

Decor

To finish off this review, it would be hard to leave out the decor. Kito’s gives off an authentic feel. Tommy shared a sweet story of his time growing up and visiting Mexico with his family, and how the frequent visits gave him a flair for authenticity.

Specialty Tacos/Baja Fish Taco/ Portobello Mushroom Taco

Available a la carte (1)/9.25

*Available vegan

Due to Kito’s being a taco shop, I wanted to try as many variations as I could. So, I got one baja fish taco and a vegetarian option, which was made with portobello mushroom. The baja taco was

“[Me and my family] would go to Mexico since I could crawl, and I’ve been eating tacos for as long as I can remember. Maybe [the inspiration for the decor] was subconscious in my head,” Tommy said.

LAKE CHALET IN Oakland will be the venue for the 2024 Redwood prom.

Photo courtesy of Redwood 2024 Instagram

Photo by Emily Hitchcock

CONCENTRATED, LAID BACK and confident, Tommy, the owner, hands a freshly poured horchata to customers.

Illustration by Cameryn Smith

Prank me later: An April Fools’ Day guide

By Isabella Wagner to the vehicle with the sign already taped up. Once you have the paper secure, your work is done! Hopefully, you can take a ride with the victim to have the satisfaction of watching their face turn red as others on the road start beeping nonstop.

On March 20, the United States Congress officially declared the new date of April Fools’ Day, March 31. Ha! Just kidding, fooled you! It's a good thing that isn’t true, so you have more time to prepare your pranks for your friends and family. Wait, don’t have any ideas? Luckily, this prank guide has plenty of options for anyone to use this April 1, including some pro tips on what to avoid. Remember, it’s best to be on the offensive to avoid being the victim, so take notes!

Honk if you're______

This prank requires supreme execution, but it can be done on anyone with a vehicle. First, acquire a piece of paper and write in bold letters, “Honk if you’re happy,” or “Honk at me,” or honestly, any phrase that starts with “Honk.” Get creative, a sign saying “Honk if you’re single” always seems to work. Next, tape it on the back of your victim’s automobile, where it can be visible to other drivers. This is crucial; you must do this without the target noticing. Wait until they’re just sitting down in their car so they don’t walk up

Celebrity invasion

While this next prank calls for a bit of extra preparation, it is the perfect way to get a good laugh for yourself and a shock for your victims. The first step is to find photos of different celebrities online, ranging from professional and serious to goofy. Next, determine the sizes of all the picture frames in your house and order your selected celebrity photos to be printed in those specific measurements. You can do this through Shutterfly,

CVS Photo Prints or any way that is easiest for you.

Once you have the photos in hand, there’s no harm in editing the pictures with markers if you need to add a mustache or two. Then, find a moment when your family members are asleep or distracted to swap out the normal photos for your celebrity shots. For the best reaction, don’t mention anything and let your family slowly notice as the day goes on. If one of them realizes the change before the others, let them in

on the prank and you can have an even better laugh when the rest finally see the swap! Another fun variation of this prank would be to replace the normal photos with silly pictures of your family members and expose some of their very awkward photo faces.

Link and wink

Here’s one that you can pull on virtually anybody (pun intended), even friends or family you won’t see on April Fools. The idea is to create a fake link that looks like something legitimate, for example, a link to an article or online product that you send to your victim. When they click on it, they are unexpectedly taken to a funny video. Some simple but effective website options you can use to generate your prank are The Redirector, which you can customize to send any video to your victim, or the Rick Roll link generatorNihal Navath, which sends your victim to the classic Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video, a common prank known as “getting Rick Rolled.” However, these are just two choices and many others do the same job. All you have to do is come up with a believable theme for the appearance of your link. Most require you to customize the link title and URL and sometimes include a description or a photo. Once finished, have the website generate the link and send it to yourself first to test it out. Make sure the link seems reasonable so your victim doesn’t get suspicious.

After you are satisfied with your creation, send the prank to your target with a text underneath that incentivizes them to click on the URL. While you don’t get their reaction, the confused text messages that follow will leave you rolling on the floor and laughing.

Bubble mat, not bubble bath

IllustrationbyAvaStephens

Who doesn’t love a little sibling competition? I know I for sure want to stir up some sibling rivalry, so here’s an idea just for that! The object of the prank is to place bubble wrap under a mat or rug in your house, so that when your sibling (or any victim) steps on it, they jump from the unexpected popping noise. Pretty selfexplanatory; the only material you need to locate is some bubble wrap. The size and thickness of the bubble wrap sheet depends on the mat or rug you want to place it under, as it should not poke out enough for someone to see the hidden plastic. Once you have the bubble wrap, find a time to slip it under a mat or rugknow your victim will step on, and then wait in the next room over to hear their little scream when they hear the popping beneath them! Good luck pranksters!

iwagner@redwoodbark.org

Tagalong for this adventureful Girl Scout cookie review

By Anna Youngs

You may have noticed tables set up outside of every grocery store and maybe even heard the knock of an eager salesperson at your door… it's Girl Scout cookie season. The best Girl Scout cookie is a largely debated topic, but I am here to settle the argument. Here is the lineup of the 2024 Girl Scout cookies ranked from worst to best.

Toffee-tastic

This cookie has a very sweet and buttery flavor with crunchy toffee bits incorporated throughout. They don’t look appetizing and the taste isn’t good either. However, it is the one and only gluten-free option provided. If you aren’t gluten-free, I would advise you to maybe skip this box.

Adventurefuls

One of the newer cookies on the roster, Adventurfuls are an indulgent brownie-

inspired cookie with caramel-flavored cream and a hint of sea salt. Being one of the more busy cookies, Adventurfuls don’t quite meet the mark. They are mediocre tasting and there is too much going on. If you decide to buy these, take the name quite literally and don’t go through with it unless you are an adventurous eater.

Do-si-dos

Forgotten for a good reason, the Do-sido is an oatmeal sandwich cookie with a peanut butter filling. The oatmeal is hard to taste but the peanut butter flavor is almost too potent. These cookies are arguably the subpar version of a Tagalong. However, these are a great alternative for those who dislike chocolate but love peanut butter.

Lemon-ups

Sometimes, a crispy lemon-flavored cookie is precisely what you want for a sweet treat. These Lemon-ups are delicious

and refreshing cookies. However, lemonflavored dessert haters should steer clear because each bite has a strong lemon punch. There's even an inspirational message, “I am a go-getter” engraved in each cookie!

Trefoils

These iconic shortbread cookies do not disappoint, especially for those with less adventurous palettes. Derived from the original Girl Scout recipe, Trefoils are a relatively common purchase for many. They are even shaped in the Girl Scout logo to represent their history.

S’mores

Thin Mints

These crispy mint chocolate cookies have been America's favorite since their invention. They are light and refreshing, yet rich and delectable. The mint is natural and not at all overpowering.

Many even freeze these cookies for a cool treat or blend them into milkshakes as an add-on. These are a must-try if you want to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies.

S’mores are one of the more controversial cookies on the 2024 lineup. With an adorable graham cracker sandwich look, these cookies win for the most aesthetically pleasing design. They consist of a chocolate and marshmallow filling between graham cracker sandwich cookies. If you are wanting to try something new, you should grab a box of these.

Tagalongs

These classic cookies are like Reese's peanut butter cups in cookie form. Although they aren’t everyone's first choice, most people pick up a box or two when purchasing their annual order. Peanut butter fans would definitely appreciate these crispy, chocolate-coated cookies.

Samoas

Samoas, also known as Caramel deLites in certain states, are wellrenowned crowd-pleasers.

With a chocolate base and caramel-filled cookie middle layer topped with toasted coconut, these cookies boast the second-place ribbon on the Girl Scouts' official bestseller list. Even if you don’t like coconut, it’s worth giving these cookies a try.

The number of options can be overwhelming, but choosing cookies based on the flavor notes depicted on each box instead of by appearance is the best method to find something you will like. When in doubt, there are three types of Girl Scout cookies that everyone should try: Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs.

Illustration

Photo by Anna Youngs

SEVEN OF NINE Girl Scout cookie options are lined up from Adventurefuls (left) to Toffee-tastics (right).

Photo by Anna Youngs

sports sports

Opinion: Baseball for the past, football for the present

By Jay Knopping

Sports are an essential part of most American’s lives, and many would even consider them sacred. According to Live Sports Statistics, around 70 percent of Americans, or 229.6 million people, watch some level of college or professional sports. While sports are a form of entertainment, they serve a much bigger purpose for Americans. They allow families to spend time together, unite communities and rally cities and states. It’s more than wins and losses. It’s about being part of a team, about coming together as one.

The Harvard School of Health found that 73 percent of Americans played a sport growing up. This begs the question: What is America’s favorite pastime?

Historically, baseball has been America’s pastime. From the early 1900s to the mid-1970s, Americans’ favorite sport was baseball. However, that is not the case anymore. According to Pew Research, in a 2019 survey of American sports fans, football emerged as the favorite with 53 percent of votes, followed by baseball at 27 percent. Basketball garnered 8 percent, while soccer and auto racing each received 3 percent.

Football has a much larger fan base than other popular spectator sports, contributing to the argument that football is America’s pastime. Statista, a German database company, states that Americans watched 974.7 billion minutes of football from November 2022 to November 2023. Baseball was next, with 329.9 billion minutes watched. While there is overlap because many Americans watch both football and baseball, baseball has a much longer season and still fewer minutes watched.

Each baseball team plays 162 regular-season games,

while football teams play just 17. Despite many more games, Americans still watch much more football than baseball.

If football has more fans, and Americans prefer football, why do many still argue that baseball is America’s pastime? It’s the history. Baseball has been America’s favorite sport since its creation and rise to popularity in the 19th century. For many, the first sporting event they attend is a baseball game. I

remember going to my first Giants game — sliding down the giant Coca-Cola slide, sitting in the hot summer sun and eating cotton candy for the first time. The history of baseball is so important to many people and will continue to be. As Americans, we will always remember the history of baseball — catching foul balls, home runs and diving plays — but it’s not the favorite sport anymore. People just don’t love it the way they used to.

Not only do Americans favor football, but football also brings in significantly more money than baseball. Money Incorporated, an online financial advisor website, found that the National Football League brings in $16 billion while Major League Baseball brings in $10.7 billion. The figures for football don’t even include college football, valued at over $1 billion.

According to Gallup News, football took over polls as America’s favorite sport in 1972 and has retained that title ever since. Football makes more money and has more fans. Despite baseball’s history, football is America’s favorite sport — a sport popular in the present, not the past.

Opinion: Rolling the dice — the effects of sports betting promotions

By Matthew Knauer

Nobody could have predicted the monumental impact of Murphy vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association in May 2018. Two and a half decades before this case, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) restricted states from legalizing sports betting, shrinking the industry to a few illegal websites and local bookies, people who take bets from gamblers and pay out winnings. However, when the Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional, individual states were given the freedom to establish their own sports gambling laws, and the floodgates to one of America’s most significant, corrupt and addictive industries opened. In the five years since the landmark case, over $220 billion has been wagered on sports games, increasing at an average rate of 22 percent annually.

Yet the problem doesn’t solely lie in the legalization of gambling; it truly lies in the promotion of gambling on large platforms such as cable television

(TV), social media and the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN).

In an era with unprecedented social media use and technology addiction, quickly impressionable teens and young adults have become incredibly addicted to sports betting. Over the past three years, The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that gambling addictions have risen by 30 percent over the past three years, and the council has seen a 45 percent increase in calls and texts to their hotline. The mass promotion of sports betting is extremely harmful to young sports fans, and it needs to be curbed before an entire generation becomes addicted. With the staggering growth of social media over the past half-decade, these gambling companies have found an alternative method to attract new audiences.

According to the Responsible Gambling Council, men from ages 18 to 34 are by far the most likely to become addicted to betting. These young men can easily be targeted through advertisements on their favorite sports podcasts. Barstool Sports, a sports media company that owns three of the top 10 sports podcasts in the US, has its own sportsbook, which is

Increased exposure to gambling advertisements leads to higher rates of addiction.

Dr. Ayoub Bouguettaya Gambling physcology expert

advertised on its shows. Fanduel, America’s largest sportsbook, sponsors both the Pat McAfee Show, with a $30 million per year deal, and the Bill Simmons Podcast, the third most viewed sports podcast in the US. The list goes on and on as every single one of the top 10 most viewed sports podcasts in America has agreements with sports betting companies. With such high viewership on these podcasts, frequently averaging hundreds of thousands of listeners per episode, betting advertisements have become ingrained in sports culture.

However, it’s not just men ages 18 to 34 who are becoming addicted; boys under the age of 18 are incredibly addicted as well. A recent study conducted in the March Bark survey found that over 40 percent of male students place a sports bet at least once a week, despite the fact that it is illegal as a minor. Yet, apps like Fliff, Underdog and PrizePicks have made sports betting easily accessible for minors.

A study done by IPSOS Mori, a market research company, proves that gambling advertisements have become commonplace in society; they found that 96 percent of people ages 11-24 have seen gambling marketing messages in the previous month. A separate study done by Dr. Ayoub Bouguettaya, a gambling psychology expert in London, found that increased exposure to gambling advertising was associated with more favorable attitudes towards gambling, as well as significantly higher rates of addiction. The connection is apparent between the mass promotion of sports betting and the increase in gambling addictions.

The money flows easily for

companies such as Bet MGM, Draftkings, Caesars, etc. These sportsbooks tilt the odds in their favor ever so slightly, taking about a dollar from every 10-dollar wager with 50/50 odds. While customers still often win some bets over long periods of time, the books are guaranteed to make money as the odds are in their favor. In 2023, American sports betting companies brought in almost $11 billion in revenue, close to 10 percent of the $120 billion wagered by Americans in 2023. Because gambling is so addictive, it is hard for bettors to stop, and their consistent betting brings in large cash flow for companies while losing significant amounts of their own money.

Addiction has plagued Americans for decades. In 1964, nearly half of all Americans smoked cigarettes. Still, as the serious health effects became evident, congress passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act, banning the advertising of cigarettes on television and radio. A steep decrease in the usage of cigarettes ensued, as currently only 11.5 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes. While cigarette addiction and gambling addiction may seem like an unequal comparison to some, UCLA Health found that gambling is just as addictive as nicotine and alcohol and can rewire the reward system in your brain the same way.

Sports betting companies realize advertising has power in recruiting lifelong gamblers, as almost $2 billion was spent in 2022 to promote their platforms. Odds are in their favor, creating long-term profit for the company, while average citizens lose significant amounts of money. The government needs to step in and ban gambling promotions on all platforms, similar to the legislation created in the 1970s to strike down cigarette advertisements. Advertising targeted towards youth and adults vulnerable to sports betting addictions and mass promotion of gambling must come to an end. jknopping@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Lauren Olsen

Illustration by Zach Dinowitz

Meet Riley Peterson: “Big Red” dominates the lacrosse field

By Erica Block

If you have ever stopped by a girls’ varsity lacrosse game and found yourself mesmerized by the blaze of flashing red, don’t be alarmed; it’s not just the iconic Redwood lacrosse jerseys catching your eye. Take a closer look and you’ll see that it’s the striking red hair of star senior Riley Peterson racing down the field. A powerhouse on the lacrosse field, #1 is not only a force to be reckoned with but also serves as an inspiration to the athletes around her. Riley is a driven athlete, having devoted 11 years to playing lacrosse.

From gymnastics to water polo to soccer and now lacrosse, Riley’s athletic journey began at a young age, fueled by her natural athleticism and the joy she found in being part of a team. After watching her sister play lacrosse in first grade, Riley fell in love with the speed, intensity and team culture of the sport. That year, she began playing on recreational teams, starting with Mill Valley Wolfpack and later for the Ross Valley Grizzlies and the Tenacity Project. In seventh grade, Riley switched to play on her current team, Steps Lacrosse, assisting greatly in her recruitment process.

Riley’s dedication to lacrosse extends beyond the confines of practices and games. Her hard work is seen in the relentless hours she devotes each week to honing her skills, a commitment that she attributes to her consistent routine.

“Putting in the effort outside of playing with the team has greatly impacted my skill on the field. Improvement is just about consistency and getting in the habit of things. [In my routine] I know I do wallball on this day and run on this day and it’s really helped,” Riley said.

With consistent practice, Riley has become one of the best players in Northern California. She takes draws for the Giants, using her quick feet and agility to create offensive momentum. Her workout regimen gives her the strength to overpower opponents, win ground balls and maintain the stamina to play throughout intense games.

Deedee Peterson, Riley’s mom, notes that Riley’s passion for the sport has shifted from her earlier years.

“[Riley has really] laser-focused on lacrosse for the last five years to ensure that she fully embraced the sport and learned every aspect about how to be successful,” Deedee said.

After playing varsity lacrosse her freshman and sophomore years, Riley took on a crucial role as team captain in her junior year. Senior Caitlin

Following the tryout, Dowd reached out to Riley and the two discussed her possibility of playing on the team at Brown University.

Before getting in contact with the head coach at Brown, Riley was committed to play lacrosse at San Diego State University (SDSU). Apart from the connection Riley made with the coach at Brown, she also felt that Brown was the right fit for her to feel challenged both academically and athletically.

Shaver has played lacrosse with Riley for the past two years and speaks on the impact Riley has had on the team dynamic.

“Everyone on the team has a great sense of respect for Riley. She is such a strong and accomplished player, and everyone wants to follow her lead and take after her,” Shaver said.

the accomplishment even more special for Riley and her family. After such a momentous achievement, Riley tried out again this year, making the 21-and-over team for the summer of 2024. She hopes that through continued hard work and dedication, she will qualify to play in the 2028 Olympics with Team

“I went on my official visit to SDSU, and I had a gut feeling that something was a little wrong… I was looking for a higher level [to play lacrosse] and the Ivy League is a more competitive [conference]. I bonded really well with the girls that I know at Brown and everything kind of just clicked with me, whereas I was trying to force the pieces together at SDSU,” Riley said.

Riley’s journey — from getting a spot on the All-American roster to serving as captain of the varsity team to playing for Team Ireland is a testament to her extraordinary dedication on and off the field. Through it all, the incredible highs and the inevitable lows, Riley’s family has served as a backbone to her.

“[My family] goes to tournaments with me, and after the game, if I don’t [play] well, they tell me to pick my head up and say, ‘Okay, next game, next ball, let’s put that in the past,’” Riley said.

Deedee also touches on their family’s support in traveling country-wide to support Riley at her games.

“Our family’s infrastructure wrapped [itself] around Riley to ensure that she was supported every step of the way,” Deedee said.

While the demand for the sport can be very high, Deedee finds immense pride in watching her daughter play the sport she loves.

“[Our family] gets very emotional watching Riley play because we have seen all the highs, lows and everything in between. We see how well she’s developed as a person and how the sport has helped mold what she wants in life. We are usually happiest when we see her enjoying the game,” Deedee said.

Amidst the demands of the sport, Riley reflects on the profound influence of her coach, Lauren Yee, who was able to mentor her throughout her journey on Grizzlies, Steps and now the Redwood varsity team.

“[Yee] helped me because, at one point, I didn’t really want to [play lacrosse] anymore. [She] reminded me of all my work and effort and kept telling me how sad it would be to watch me lose what I love,” Riley said.

Since Riley held a lacrosse stick in first grade, her love for the sport has only grown.

“I have so much drive and passion because I just love this sport so much. There are so many people who are good at a sport, but they just don’t have a passion for it. You really have to love your sport to be great at it,” Riley said.

RILEY PETERSON CHEERS with the girls’ varsity lacrosse team after helping to bring the team to victory in the North Coast Section Championship during her sophomore year.

Photo courtesy of Riley Peterson

ON BEING CAPTAIN: “We keep everyone organized and in line and lead the team on and off the field,” Peterson said about her and her co-captain Maya Mihara (left).

Photo by Lauren Poulin

Photo courtesy of Riley Peterson

Meet the captains: Spring sports 2024

What makes you a good fit for captain? What are your goals for this season?

Girls’ Lacrosse

“I’m always looking out for my teammates and making sure that we all bond throughout the season,” Maya Mihara said.

Girls’ Track

“I help out the younger kids by answering questions and encouraging them to keep working hard while also being someone the younger kids can look up to and learn from,” Erin Stolte said.

Boys’ Golf

“I like to take things as teaching moments. We have a lot of younger people on the team so I try to turn losses and mistakes into teachable moments,” Sam Sumski said.

Boys’ Lacrosse

“I try to lead by example, play my role on the team and just work as hard as possible,” Eddie Lin said.

Boys’ Tennis

Baseball

“My goals are to win both an MCAL and NCS championship, and to keep this team playing baseball until the end of the school year,” Gavin Soper said.

Boys’ Swim

“My goals for this season are to build a community that swim has never seen before and to work hard as a group everyday so that we all get faster,” Owen Pritchard said.

Boys’ Track

“We have a pretty solid team this year, lots of depth throughout all the events. I think we have a good chance of placing high in MCAL’s and hopefully NCS,” Nate Beltran said.

Girls’ Swim

“My goal is to get the team very unified. I hope that the team all cheers each other on and that we all become very bonded,” Amelia Loiacono said.

Boys’ Volleyball

“I am a hard worker and someone who strives to always do my best. I push myself as well as my teammates to be the best we can,” Chris Lee said.

“I motivate our team with a lot of pep talks and let them know they are the better team. As captains, we encourage them to play as themselves and we will be fine,” Jack Alley said.

Softball

“The team is my family and I can’t wait to enjoy this last season together. Hopefully we can win MCALs and NCS,” Maizy Crawford said.

lifestyles lifestyles

Meet the mayor: Scot Candell

By Charlotte Lacy members in Larkspur, and they will all eventually rotate into the position of mayor sometime within four years.

On the first and third Wednesday of each month, a Larkspur City Council meeting is held to discuss change and listen to community members’ concerns. The Mayor of Larkspur, Scot Candell, leads every meeting for city council members and is open to the community. But Candell is more than just a mayor and community member. He is a Redwood parent with two sons, a freshman and a junior.

In Marin, being elected to the position of mayor is different than one might think.

All 11 cities and towns in Marin County vote for their city council members except San Rafael, a charter city, leading them to have a direct election for mayor.

Currently, there are four council

Candell joined the council in December 2019 and took the mayor position this year. He will be asked to rerun for city council next year in 2025. As a city council member, he has learned what it takes to be a good mayor.

“You learn how the procedures work. On your first day [as mayor], you don’t know what to do, so as city council, you get to watch the sitting mayor run the meetings,” Candell said.

A mayor takes on many different responsibilities, as the success and struggles of the city rely on them. However, according to the City of Larkspur public records, the mayor makes $330 monthly. To Candell, the job is not about money.

“My motto as mayor is pretty similar to that of a doctor, which is, do not do any harm. I think we live in a fantastic place and I don’t want to screw it up. So [when] issues come up, we try to deal with them in a way that’s going to make our city better or at least keep it the way it is,” Candell said.

Candell has looked up to former mayor Catherine Way throughout his time on council. Way is the current Vice Mayor of Larkspur and has served the city since 2013. Way was initially unsure about Candell, as he hadn’t had previous experience as a board member or commissioner.

“I’ll admit, I was a little concerned at first. [Candell] did not have [any board member or commissioner experience]. [This] would [make it] challenging for him [to take on this new role]. It took him a little time to figure out the process, which we all do. It took me three or four years to figure it out [but he is doing great now],” Way said.

Candell and Way face many challenges as they work together to improve the city of Larkspur. Current issues that they are working to address include affordable housing, new bond measures, the Redwood parking situation (as the back parking lot will be closed next year) and other community events.

Way’s concerns quickly faded away and she believes that Candell’s problemsolving experience as a criminal law attorney makes him an excellent mayor.

“I like Scott; he’s very smart and decisive. He thinks through every issue and wants to reach a conclusion, which is often hard to do,” Way said.

Nicole Whitty: Clothing boutique success

By Paige Edelen

Nicolette, a clothing boutique in downtown Larkspur, brings the charm when it comes to all things fashion, accessories and spirit with a modern and chic touch. Nicolette’s success is all thanks to Nicole Whitty, the owner and face of the business that has thrived in Larkspur for over 22 years.

Whitty has owned the store since 2001, and her atypical journey out of high school gave her the background and experience she needed to run the store smoothly.

“I ended up not going to college and moving to Europe and modeling for 15 years, so that gave me an introduction to fashion,” Whitty said.

When she returned to Marin, Whitty discovered a way to bring her love of

fashion and a fresh perspective to Larkspur. She decided to take over her dad’s small boutique, which was founded in 1994.

“I saw that there were a lot of young people moving back to Larkspur, so I was like ‘I think I can take my dad’s store and revamp it.’ I remodeled the store and that was the beginning of Nicolette,” Whitty said.

After a few years, Whitty’s sister, Colette, joined the business as a co-owner. Whitty explained how having her sister working with her and helping to run the business has brought diversity and a different outlook in terms of styles and clothing for the store.

“When Colette came in, she brought a different perspective, because she dresses a little more funky. I’m very traditional [and] classic with my attire, so it was fun having somebody else with a different eye come

in,” Whitty commented.

Beth Mitchell, a Redwood parent and frequent customer at Nicolette, described how the two sisters’ pasts and personalities enhance the store.

“[The sisters’] combined backgrounds in fashion and modeling really compliment each other and they have such a good eye for what is stylish. They’re both nononsense and always want to make sure their customer looks good; they’re not going to try to sell you something just to sell it,” Mitchell said.

Not only does she know the world of clothing and accessories inside and out, Whitty works hard to give back to the community and establish meaningful relationships with her customers.

“Doing fundraisers for schools and fashion shows have always been really fun. I love my customers and I love the loyalty I have with [them]. Nicolette is just my home away from home,” Whitty said.

As a customer, Mitchell feels that the store has a positive and welcoming environment.

“[Nicole and Colette] have a really vested interest in the community and in the schools in the community. They care. And that comes across in how they treat their customers and the commitment that they show to the school districts,” Mitchell said.“They’re kind of a stalwart on the block. They belong there.”

Go visit the shop and Nicole Witty at 499 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA 94939.

SCOT CANDELL PREPARES for his first city ouncil meeting as Mayor in January.

Photo courtesy of Scot Candell

CONTINUING THEIR FAMILY’S legacy, Nicole Whitty and Colette Whitty revamped their father’s old boutique in downtown Larkspur.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Whitty Photo

Freshman “Redfest.”

Ethan Ferry Sophomore

Junior Brennan Woodley

“Redwood vs Tam rivalry football games.”

“Rallies because it gets the whole school involved.”

clacy@redwoodbark.org

Cub Reporter

Georgia Thomas bark@redwoodbark.org

Senior

Fallon O’Keefe

Beyond the shelves: Librarian Savastano

By Alana Leifer

From a quiet learning space to a new book, or simply access to a printer, the library is dedicated to meeting the needs of all students. The library integrates students of different grades under one roof — a roof that could not be held up without Kathleen Savastano, the library specialist.

“The library at Redwood is so much more than a standard library. It’s one space [which] we have some flexibility for students. It can be a hangout space, but it can also be a productive workspace,” principal Dr. Barnaby Payne said. “The library is so important here because it gives students a place to complete their work.”

From a young age, Savastano was a voracious reader due to the influence of her mother. Savasatano explained that the book collection in her childhood home led her to appreciate the library.

“We had a room in our house with bookcases full of books. I didn’t want to accumulate all these books, so I used the library. Not having to buy new books for myself constantly resulted in my real appreciation for the library,” Savastano said.

Savastano expressed that she enjoys her role as the library specialist as it allows her to enhance students’ learning opportunities and interact with avid readers through the exchange of book recommendations.

“Sometimes students come in with their English classes and have to check out books and that’s very rewarding. I love to

talk to people about books and help them find new ones in a genre based on their interests,” Savastano said.

As per her responsibility of managing the literary compilation in the library, Savastano tailors to student needs through her understanding of bestseller trends. She makes judgment calls on the characteristics of books that will receive the most student engagement and attraction, prior to making the book order.

“I follow the trends in terms of what are top-sellers, what the best young-adult books are [or] sometimes the best graphic novels. Selections like that help me decide what to order. Sometimes I’ll think, ‘This book is 600 pages, [so] no one is going to read it.’ I have to understand what circulates and what doesn’t,” Savastano said.

However, the book collection is not the only way in which Savastano tailors the library to student needs. She has dedicated herself to making the library a clean and organized space where students can optimize their study and work efficiency. According to Savastano, there is a plan to renovate the library in the next few years, which is being generously funded by the Redwood Foundation. While the plans for the renovation are still in progress, the installation of new carpeting, paint and furniture to make the library a more comfortable space for students are likely.

“It all started in 2019 when I wrote a huge grant request for the Foundation because some of the chairs [were] awful and dirty. I asked to get them cleaned or replaced and the Foundation agreed with

me, but we want to do more than that. [The renovation] has taken a life of its own, so next year it should be pretty exciting here,” Savastano said.

In addition to her role as a school librarian, Savastano works as a library aide paraprofessional.

“She’s a supervisor, manager and support person, which differs from a traditional librarian role. For example, she directs the book assortment but is not responsible for renewing, updating and weeding the collection,” Payne said.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and Advanced Placement (AP) World History teacher Corin Greenberg regularly invites her students to take advantage of library resources.

“We have a lot of guest speakers, so we use the library space to host them. We also use the library for team-building projects and fun activities,” Greenberg said. “I regularly see many of my AP students in the library collaborating and helping each other. It’s really an area that fosters academic development.”

The library continues to be a space for students to promote intellectual growth, while also facilitating social interactions. Looking towards the future, Savastano plans to continue her exceptional work in the library.

“I love my job. I love being responsible for the library and trying to keep it as nice as possible,” Savastano said.

aleifer@redwoodbark.org

SOPHOMORE ZARA BHANDARI and junior Jennie Liu study together in the library’s side room.

Photo by Tessa DeLay MRS. SAVASTANO IS very organized with checking in and out Redwood’s library books.

Photo by Alex Argov STUDYING IN THE library, junior Charlie Scott enjoys the peaceful environment.

Photo by Tessa DeLay