Cub Bark April 2024 by Redwood Bark

Volume LXVI. No. 6

April 26, 2024 • Larkspur, CA

Leveling out the playing field in sports pg.10

bark

redwood

Feature

9 Advocating for nonbinary restrooms

Las elecciones de Mexico 19 Español

Sports 16 The lack of support for girls’ sports

CUB

Editors-in-Chief:

CoraChampommier

PeterDachtler

LucyJeffers

MorganSicklick

HeadCopyEditors:

ZoeGister

JaimeGlennon

BusinessManagers:

HenryBarker

BrooklynSaputo

MultimediaDesigners:

LilySkinner

TessaTuatini

SocialMediaManagers:

NinaBaker

LucyMiller

StaffIllustrators:

MaeMohr

NatalieVinogradsky

CopyEditors:

MadisonBishop

MarielGoodhart

LiamHealy

ChloeJennings

AngelinaPurvey

ElsaSherman

MegStevenson

AdelaTabak

EvanWang

AbbyWillian

CubBark2024Positions

RedwoodHighSchool

395DohertyDrive,Larkspur,CA94939

www redwoodbark org

Reporters:

LilyBell

JohnBlock

HilahBrekhus-Lavinsky

MelanieCanulChable

BrittonCota

LaurenDickerman

ElenaDillon

GabrielleFranklin

KaiGaultier

StoreyGerber

ElsaHoutkooper

SuzanneLawrence

GabrielleMcElreath

MatthewMilan

KatelynMorgan

ReeceMori-Prange

ScarlettMusgrove

JoseNoyola

MargaretParnell

SophiaRocine

KellenSmith

WilliamSteele

LucasTempero

CarolineVeley

NathanWeingart

OpinionEditors: KateBarker

EllieSmith

FeatureEditors:

MoColaco

PaigeEdelen

LifestylesEditors:

PaigeCatanese

ViviEndler

SpanishEditors:

OfeliaHuneeus

PenelopeTrott

SportsEditors:

RichardByrne

JakePost

NewsEditors:

BenMueller

PetraNovotny

ReviewEditors:

EvelynHarper

LeightonOlsen

SurveyManagers:

JacksonGurvich

ElleWilson

redwoodbark

Editorial teaser

... The rapid rise of social media in the past decade has produced drastic effects on young generations. As tired teens turn to their favorite apps to mindlessly scroll, their daily capacity for information is overfilled. platforms...

Continue reading on p. 6.

The Candy Store in Tiburon closes due to rising rent

By Lucy Jeffers Cub Reporter

The Candy Store on Main Street in Tiburon has served the community since February 1997 as a local attraction, garnering visitors from all over the Bay Area. However, The Candy Store will permanently close its doors on April 30, 2024, due to rent increase.

Senior Aidan O’Connor has been working at the Candy Store on Main Street for over a year. He feels disappointed that the rising rent on Main Street has resulted in the store’s closing.

“[The landlords] are raising [the] rent [by] 40 percent because they want new businesses downtown,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor’s boss, Jennifer Torres, has been keeping the store running. Torres has owned the Candy store since 2015 and refuses to give up without a fight.

“[Torres] has been trying to negotiate with the landlord here for the last couple of months, but it hasn’t worked out – it’s just too expensive now for a candy business in Tiburon,” O’Connor said.

Growing up, Tiburon resident Sadie Saavedra visited the Candy Store on Main Street frequently. Saavedra, who believes The Candy Store on Main Street has created a special place in the community’s heart, is devastated at the news of the store closing.

“When I heard the [Candy Store on Main Street] was closing, I was shocked and disappointed. You just don’t believe a store like that will ever close since it's been a part of everyone’s childhood,” Saavedra said.

The rise in rent in Tiburon has had a similar effect on many stores in Marin County, especially in recent years. A Strawberry ice cream store, Woody’s Yogurt Place, was another nostalgic stop for many of the same kids who visited the Candy Store on Main Street. It was open from 2001 to 2020 and was also forced to close due to the

landlord raising the rent price, until it was too high for the business to pay. In replacement of Woody’s Yogurt Place was another ice cream store named Noble Cow Creamery. However, the Noble Cow closed in 2023 because of the same rent issues, showing evidence of a repetitive cycle.

Laleh Zelinsky is a landlord who oversees many of the properties that surround the Candy Store in Marin. Zelinsky Properties own most of Ark Row, the street adjacent to Main Street, amongst other buildings. Zelinsky doesn’t own the Candy Store, but as

a Belvedere resident and a property owner, has spent time in the store.

“I am sorry to see the Candy Store closing. I know firsthand and from experience that nothing lasts forever. The Candy store used to be our tenant before our partition between my sisterin-law and myself in 2007. The town was a different place then,” Zelinsky said.

“Some people around here are organizing a fundraiser to help keep [the Candy Store] open, but I don’t think this will work,” O’Connor said. “Maybe short term but it just becomes way too expensive to stay open here. It’s also hard, especially during the winter. Not around Christmas, but in early December, there are entire shifts where no one walks in.”

The problem of increased rent affects the entire community. Following April 30, there aren’t any stores on Main Street for kids, taking away some of the family appeal the street once had.

“It’s sad that the rent has had such an impact on so many of our childhood stores when the landlords can easily compensate for the historic businesses,” Saavedra said. “It’s even more sad that kids today won’t get to experience the fun we had on those Friday Nights on Main.”

Students enjoy a lakeside view during 2024 Prom night

By Zoe Gister Cub Reporter

On Saturday, April 20, waves of party buses and limousines carried never-ending streams of sequins and dress shirts to illuminate the joy of Prom night.

Across the bay, students gathered under the glittering lights for a memorable night of glamor, festivity and celebration. Nearly 30 miles away, this years prom was held at Oakland’s Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill.

The venue spanned almost 13,000 square feet, with over 2,500 square feet

of outdoor space, but even so, Junior Devyn Johnson found the layout of the venue to be an issue.

“My only criticism is that I thought the venue was a little too small for everyone, especially while leaving… All of the hallways were long and thin, and there weren’t any big open spaces. So, while walking around we had to push and stop and apologize to everyone before continuing to shove our way through,” Johnson said.

Despite the venue’s crowded atmosphere, students still managed to steal the spotlight of the evening with their stunning dresses and outfits. One attendee, junior Zac Viola, commented that this was the best part of the night for them.

“My favorite thing was getting to see everyone dressed up,” Viola said.

Johnson also notes that prom is more than just a big party but an opportunity to spend time with the school community.

“Of course, it’s nice to get all dressed up, but the reason people like going to things like Homecoming and prom is just to have fun with friends. In those moments when you’re sitting down, and you may have just finished dancing or eating and you’re just spending time with each other is really where there’s the most value,” Johnson said.

Johnson adds that events like Prom may have more value for students’ mental health and well-being than it may seem.

“Junior year has been one of the most stressful academic years for all of my friends and [me], and everyone

else. Every week is filled with new tests or [assignments], and I think at that moment, just getting to be so carefree was so nice. To see each other just sing and dance, and especially see people from school who are normally shy and quiet, be so out of their shell, and be with their friends and having fun were the best moments of the night,” Johnson said.

As Johnson described, nights like Prom, the annual Back to School Dance, and Homecoming are imperative stress relievers for busy and burnt-out high school students. These opportunities give students an event to look forward

to, and a night to dance away all of the end-of-year anxieties.

All in all, the night went off without a hitch, with wonderful experiences for every student there. From a Dippin’ Dots stand to a slow-motion camera, this event was a necessary and welcome de-stressor for most upperclassmen, and students are already excited to see what next year’s Prom brings.

“I really needed it. I already can’t wait for next year,” Viola said.

JUNIORS EVELYN SPIEGAL and Larsen Johnson walk away from the silent disco dock. Photo by Zoe Gister

zgister@redwoodbark.org

STANDING IN LINE for the waterside buffet, students wait for the abundant bites from the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill. Photo by Zoe Gister

ljeffers@redwoodbark.org

THE TIBURON CANDY Store will be open to the public for sweet treats and delights until April 30. Prices throughout the shop will remain the same.

Redwood High School ● 395 Doherty Dr., Larkspur, CA 94939 ● Follow @theredwoodbark on socials ● www.redwoodbark.org

Photo by Petra Novotny

. Volume LXVI, No. 6 • April 26, 2024 • Larkspur, CA Read The Bark’s position on the importance of implementing media literacy in education.

CUB

Photo Survey

What is your favorite candy? “I like Nerds Gummy Clusters.”

Cole Frank Freshman

“My favorite is Nerds Gummy Clusters.” Lily Pirsch

“Gummy bears.”

Anders Layton Junior

“I really like Twizzlers.”

Caitlin Shaver Senior

Pro-Palestine protest halts traffic on Golden Gate

By Elle Wilson Cub Reporter

On April 15, the lives of travelers on the Golden Gate Bridge were put on pause when a pro-Palestine protest blocked access to the bridge. Protesters calling themselves A15 Action protested the war in Gaza and the US involvement in aiding the Israeli government. The protest lasted about four hours, keeping cars at a standstill including those commuting to work, school and appointments. The protesters chained themselves to parked cars, used pipes and locks to remain on the bridge for as long as possible.

Across the world pro-Palestine protests broke out, blocking traffic on Interstate

880 in Oakland, as well as traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. 26 protesters were arrested on the Golden Gate Bridge on charges including false imprisonment, unlawful assembly and conspiracy to commit a crime. The protesters have been released from jail with no immediate charges pressed. Many people were forced to put their plans on hold as they had been stuck on the bridge for hours. Schools like Saint Ignatius Preparatory were given the day off since many students were unable to make the commute over the bridge. Many people had work or school to get to, including one man on his way to perform a small surgery, according to Fox News.

Millicent Buxton was on her way to an appointment at UCSF for her pneumonia while also taking her husband to work where he planned to meet with his patient group when she got stuck in the blockage.

“From that standpoint [agenda being put on pause], it's a bummer. But, I understand people have the right to assemble.” Buxton said.

Buxton doesn’t stand with one group over another but feels frustrated, believing this was not the best way to forward their cause.

“I don't know what everybody else is doing here today, but everybody had something that

they were going to,” Buxton said.

As the investigation continues, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins encourages those held up at the bridge to voice their complaints which will help determine what these protesters would be charged with. In addition, Jenkins is offering restitution to anyone who suffered economic losses due to being stuck in the blockade. This is possible under California Marsy's Law, where a victim of a crime can receive

Uber introduces new Uber For Teens feature

By Ben Mueller Cub Reporter

On Feb. 29, Uber rolled out “Uber for Teens,” a new rideshare option that allows teens to take an Uber without a parent while allowing parents to track their children. This feature is already available in 257 cities throughout the United States and is coming to more soon. Uber for teens has specific safety features to ensure the well-being of teens while traveling as a passenger, such as access to only highly-rated drivers.

“Your teen will always be matched with highly rated and experienced drivers and couriers,” Uber stated on their website.

While Uber likely made this move to bring a new customer base onto the market, Uber driver and Redwood parent Charles Veley does not believe there will be a significant change in ridership.

“I think that teens in Marin generally take [Uber] anyway. They either have their parents' account or their own account. I give teens rides all the time,” Veley said.

On the other hand, for sophomore Ava Brown, the new feature could open up a world of opportunity and bring a new, young customer base onto the market.

“I think Uber For Teens will [bring new customers to the market] because you can’t really set up your own rides unless you have a license, and your parents don’t want to drive you around. I think having Uber For Teens will be really helpful,” Brown said.

Uber For Teens also advertises safety features such as tracking and selection of highly rated drivers, but Brown already feels Ubers are the safest mode

of transportation for unlicensed teens.

“I feel pretty safe, especially because I usually just Uber around Marin. I think I’d be a lot more scared if I was getting in a taxi, where they don’t have a 5-star rating.” Brown said.

While Brown and Veley disagree on the new feature, there is one matter they agree on.

As Uber attempts to make money by introducing new features, a tried and tested method of profit as seen with the introduction of Uber Eats, Uber drivers are unhappy with pay, leading to protests and strikes in many parts of the nation, as many believe Uber takes an unfair portion of ride fares. Some feel it is difficult to acquire a living wage working for the rideshare app.

“I understand Uber is taking more than 50 percent [of the fare] so in general of the money that I get, Uber would be taking more [than 50 percent] so I think I’m getting about 40 percent of an overall fare,” Veley said.

After hearing that Uber drivers only receive 40-50 percent of an overall fare, Brown realized pay might be unfair.

“I feel like [Uber wages] are not livable especially if [Uber] is taking half of the fare, and you’re not doing long drives or working for long periods.” Brown said.

In some eyes, the new Uber For Teens feature introduces an oasis of exploration for adolescents while retaining parents' control. Opinions about the feature differ between those on both sides of the new feature, especially among Uber drivers who are unhappy with pay.

compensation from the convicted offender.

In an NBC news article, legal analyst Steven Clark felt discontent with Jenkins's statement.

"Brooke Jenkins recognizes that there is a right to free speech, but at the same time you have to do that in a lawful way, and I think that by saying she wants people to come forward, she wants community involvement in this prosecution,” Clark said.

bark Page 2 • News April 26, 2024

bmueller@redwoodbark.org ewilson@redwoodbark.org

UBER FOR TEENS will allow teens to travel through cities alone with parental supervision. Photo by Ben Mueller LOOKING AT THE traffic, bikers take in the rare sight of south-bound highway 101 without traffic. Photo by Elle Wilson Sophomore STUCK IN TRAFFIC, cars wait to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Elle Wilson

Voices of Measure A

By Tessa Tuatini Cub Reporter

TUHSD holds first annual Students’ of Color retreat

By Melanie Canul-Chable Cub Reporter

On March 29, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) organized and held its first-ever Students’ of Color retreat. The retreat was held at the Jonas Center on the Indian Valley College of Marin Campus, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This retreat connected staff and students of all different ethnic backgrounds from the schools in TUHSD district. It was a celebration, community, conversation and laughter filled day where students were presented with activities and food. The event was organized and facilitated by Cathy Flores, the principal of San Andreas High School and TUHSD’s Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Students from all over TUHSD showed up to this event ready to learn and enjoy social activities embracing their racial and cultural backgrounds. This event not only brought minorities together, but it also gave them a space in which they could feel safe and fit in. Redwood High School (RHS) junior Sara Hernandez attended this event as a photographer and as part of the Salvadorian community. Hernandez expressed the sense of community that she felt while at the retreat due to the shared experiences with other students.

“I felt welcomed since I knew that all the adults and students understood the struggles of being a person of color and somehow we connected through that. The overall experience was great,” Hernandez said.

Many students attended the retreat and

CIRCLED UP, STUDENTS learn new grounding techniques at the Students’ of Color retreat.

shared much in common, including how they felt about the event. Redwood senior Jacob Abuhalawa was present at the retreat as part of the Middle Eastern community and expressed feelings similar to those of Hernandez’s.

“I loved the event. I loved how we all came together and shared our different background stories and how we were grouped up with the people from our same cultures which gave me a sense of home and belonging,” Abuhalawa said.

This event was a safe space for Abuhalawa, where he felt comfortable with others and what was discussed. Many conversation topics arose throughout

the retreat, ranging from stereotypes to student’s lived experiences.

“I love how there was a balance of having fun and seriousness, not just the speakers making us feel depressed talking about racism. I’d love to participate in something like this again before I graduate,” Abuhalawa said.

This event has evoked thoughts and feelings about racial dynamics within the TUHSD community and has the potential to be a building block for larger, more impactful TUHSD events and programs in years to come.

bark www.redwoodbark.org Page 3 • News

UPPERCLASSMEN JOIN together

to expand their knowledge on culture.

TUHSD

at the Student of Color retreat

mcanul@redwoodbark.org

Photo courtesy of Sara Hernandez Photo courtesy of Sara Hernandez

opinion opinion

The influencer effect: Content ties to consumption

By Zoe Gister Cub Reporter

On Sep. 12, 2023, TikTok finally joined the long list of social media sites with integrated e-commerce or digital stores. Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and now TikTok all have links and digital check-outs built into their app. Every update seems to come with more ads, sponsored content or algorithmic marketing to manipulate viewers into emptying their wallets. It’s extremely effective, too. With the amount of free time people seem to spend scrolling on these apps, it’s easy to imagine how effective the stores would be.

According to Pew Research, 43 percent of consumers reported shopping on one of these social media stores. In a society driven by capitalistic ideals and endless consumerism, modern social media’s pervasive influence on users’ consumption rate seems almost criminal. It’s time we, as a society, acknowledge how the continuous influence of social media has impacted consumption patterns as a whole.

It has been nearly 30 years since the first recognizable social media platform was released, immediately taking the world by storm. Whether through images, messages, or videos, the global community became hooked on the convenient level of connectivity. The entire idea of these apps was to provide authentic communication for people across the globe. MySpace, a popular social networking website of the early 2000s, even boasted the tagline,

“A place for friends.” Compared to today’s overflowing product placement and purchase links, it’s hard to find the transition from MySpace’s authenticity to this new-age advertisement.

This digital shift seems to trace back to the unsuspected “Mommy Bloggers.” Their paid advertising of products was so inconspicuously effective that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) eventually passed a “Mommy Blogger” law in 2012, which enforced the disclosure of paid endorsements within the first line of any blog. The problem is that this law solely applies to “blogging” or written endorsement, meaning it is irrelevant when it comes to any kind of video or photograph, as is the case with most endorsed media today. This loophole is what inevitably produced the modern influencer.

Arguably, influencers have been around since the beginning of civilization. Tracing all the way back to the 1760s, the Queen of England promoted a specific medicine, artist or potter to the entire nation, driving all nobles and elites to their business. How is this any different from the modern influencers today? In a way, the famous, rich influencers of the modern era are nobles and follow the centuries-old product endorsement pattern.

The difference between endorsing products in a royal court and online lies in the numerous differences in audience. When the Queen decrees that she is endorsing a product, it’s solely to a room of the most elite members of society,

holding maximally a couple of hundred people. However, a modern influencer’s advertisement could reach millions or even billions. These modern influencers have much wider audiences than ever before and are much less forthcoming about their brand deals. For the first time in history, people are making income from viewers purchasing their promoted products. A survey conducted by CBS News states that over 49 percent of modern consumers rely on influencers for purchases. Payments from businesses to creators for these product promotions yield thousands of dollars in “brand deals.” Even influencers who claim to be unbiased in their marketing of products are still making money off of their endorsement. Oftentimes, these products are sold out for weeks, if not months, just because of one video promotion. Lon Safko, the author of “The Social Media Bible,” even goes as far as to describe this new social media format as having “a serious lack of credible, truthful and unbiased sources of information.”

The issue isn’t only in the manipulative tactics of brands and creators, but the effect on the world around us that overconsumption has. Factories pump out exorbitant amounts of remarkably cheap clothes. Massive cargo ships then haul these products from sweatshops to warehouses and malls all around the globe. Even the collection of these material masses destroys forests and pollutes oceans. In fact, 80 percent of the world’s

Level out the college admissions playing field

By Lily Skinner Cub Reporter

For most seniors, their last year of high school is the culmination of their four-year journey, a time to savor their final year. For many, this time can be tainted by the stress of countless hours applying to college and anxiously awaiting acceptance letters. Yet there are always a select handful of student-athletes who do not have to endure this uncertainty as they have essentially been promised admission as a recruited athlete, the only class of talented students awarded this privilege. Granting admission advantages to athletes only – ignoring other talents – creates inequality and undermines the principles of fairness in college admissions. In addition, prioritizing athletic ability over academic merit compromises the academic integrity of institutions and, perhaps most importantly, neglects underrepresented communities for whom the process was supposedly initially designed.

While colleges eagerly recruit students under par for reasons involving sports, we don’t see similar admission routes for students with other skills. Expertise in dance, art, music, computer science, math and journalism are equally impressive as sports, yet they don’t get the same treatment for talent and hard work. At Redwood, the average varsity team practices for an hour and a half to two hours six

days a week. Performing Arts Academy of Marin’s (PAAM) competitive dance team practices for four to five hours a day, five days, not including weeks leading up to a competition. Dancers put so much commitment into their craft and are not rewarded similarly to athletes regarding college admissions. In addition, those pursuing art, music, computer sciences, and other aptitudes are typically admitted to the relevant department set on a trajectory for their skills. In contrast, athletes get accepted into schools and majors with little to do with their recruited expertise. One of the reasons colleges have said that they give an advantage to athletes is to create opportunities for talented and dedicated underprivileged kids and minorities.

privileged. The NCAA released data showing that out of the Ivy League and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), 61 percent of athletes they recruited are white. Within that, sailing recruitment was 100 percent white. There’s under twow percent black representation in field hockey, rowing, and ice hockey. The question is, are the students getting into colleges as recruited athletes really the ones who need a leg up? Or, do they get a leg up because they’ve been born into families that can pay for and pursue the cost of these elite teams and equipment that are simply unattainable for most kids?

There is no doubt that getting recruited is a fantastic opportunity. There are countless stories of how recruitment has changed lives. The Blind Side is an excellent example. It encouraged Micheal Oher to become a better student, change his mindset, and set goals.

Yet, without his athletic talents, Oher likely would not have gotten into the University of Mississippi. So athletics can inspire kids to get their grades up to meet the school’s expectations for athletes, but if a student can get in without recruitment, shouldn’t they undergo the same process as all the other candidates?

natural resources have been used for only the top 20 percent of the global population.

While the chance of reverting to a preindustrialized consumption rate is unlikely, we can still make changes to correct the damages caused by overconsumption. It may seem impossible to start lessening your consumption, but there are steps we can all take to improve our lives for the better. Try to look at purchases from a different mindset, viewing your closet’s quality before its quantity. Think about what you like and who you are outside of the constant influence of revolving door trends. Before buying another product, think carefully about why you want it and if it’s worth the detrimental effects of the item’s production.

As the final whistle blows on the debate around colleges providing advantages to their recruited athletes, the evidence points overwhelmingly to the unfairness of the process. Colleges practice systemic bias and inequality to benefit strong athletic teams without considering all students’ well-being or right to the best academic experience. Hopefully, colleges will admit these flaws, reevaluate their system and level the playing field.

lskinner@redwoodbark.org

Want another perspecive on the college admission proccess? Scan this QR code to read Meg Stevenson’s opinion for the Marin Independent Journal below!

Page 4

Illustration by Zoe Gister

zgister@redwoodbark.org

IllustrationbyNickSkinner

Healthy looks different on everybody

By Brooklyn Saputo Cub Reporter

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through social media, losing yourself in a swarm of food videos? Eat this, eat that. How to make a low-calorie sandwich: cut the turkey, lettuce and tomato. If you eat the bread, you will meet your calorie maximum of the day. These videos range from ramen and junk food mukbangs, to how to get skinny in 3 weeks by eating nothing but celery. Through adolescence, children are susceptible to believing false information by trusting the authority of an adult. Food influencers on social media, such as Victoria Minell and Steph Grasso, often spread negative perceptions of food for susceptible teenagers. As a teenage girl, I’ve personally been influenced by videos of adults saying, “Do you see other girls at school and want to look like them?” or,“Here are some healthy recipes that you can use to lose some pounds and be ready for summer!” These videos have significantly harmed my body image and relationship with food, and the impact can be shared by other teenage girls.

The social media trend “What I Eat in a Day” has increased the popularity of unsafe eating habits. No one wants to be perceived as unhealthy or imperfect, so they post that all they’ve eaten that day was a salad. The reality is that most of these people are consuming more realistic diets than they let on in their videos, full of fast food, desserts and salad dressing. The world isn’t always what we see on camera. Teenagers watch these videos with aspirations to fit into a picture-perfect beauty standard of a

flat stomach and thin legs.

According to a study found by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, at age six to ten, girls start to worry about their weight. By age 14, 60 to 70 percent are trying to lose weight. TikTok, a platform that most teenagers consider a resource, can turn into a place where receptive kids learn unrealistic dietary restrictions and perceptions of what they should eat and look like. But the reality is that everyone’s body is different. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and not all food restrictions are helpful. One influencer can’t depict what every person should be eating in order to meet the standard of “healthy.” Healthy looks different on everybody.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders also found that eight percent of 15-year-old girls significantly restrict their diets, and their risk of developing an eating

disorder is 18 times greater than their nondieting peers. These diets are typically influenced by what they see on the internet. Skinnier bodies on TikTok receive envious comments, full of validation on their physical appearance. If the same influencer posts a video about substituting pasta with zucchini noodles, it might influence that kid to think that’s what he or she has to eat in order to look like them and receive that same praise from society.

According to children’s specialty physician, Dr. Sarah Stromberg Sobalvarro, some of the most common signs or symptoms of an eating disorder are refusal to eat high-sugar, high-fat foods, fear of gaining weight, and overall restrictive food intake. These restrictive tendencies that teens obtain are found directly from the phone screens that they view for hours

Although platforms such as TikTok can be helpful resources to learn about nutrition, there should be a source on these apps that warns kids that who they are listening to is not a professional. These social media platforms should censor fake information that is fed to adolescents every day, such as false advertisements about food. In addition, influencers like Spencer Barbosa should be promoted. Barbosa promotes eating habits that are realistic and differ when it comes to body types.

It’s understandable that being healthy in the sense of having the right amount of nutrients to fuel you for the day is important. Some people might truly believe that the information they are obtaining about food from TikTok is helpful. However, the way each person obtains that is different. Not everyone should do an all-kale diet for 5 days or eat harmful weight loss drugs just to achieve a certain body type. People with such popular platforms should not be promoting dieting to young, easy-toinfluence children because at the prime of youth is when most brain paths and routines are made, and eating disorders are incredibly deadly. They are often the result of outside influences on weight loss and eating habits. TikTok and other social media platforms need to fix this problem if we want to decrease disordered eating and improve the eating habits of children by properly educating them and letting them pick what they put in their bodies. bsaputo@redwoodbark.org

School lunch system has students hungry for change

By Henry Barker Cub Reporter

Students bustle through the lunch line after a long morning of classes, yet their expectations are often dashed by the lackluster offerings that await them. As they sit down to eat with their friends, their dissatisfaction with school lunches becomes very evident. The portions barely dent a student’s appetite. Despite Redwood receiving $4.70 per lunch—nearly a dollar more than the national average—the food offerings often fall short, leaving students hungry for a change. These are not just culinary grievances; they’re symptoms of a more significant issue plaguing our school lunch program. With the surge of nearly $15 billion in state and federal funding for school lunches across California, the question emerges: why haven’t we made significant strides in improving the quality of our school lunches?

Calories are very important for a developing teenager because they fuel their bodies for mental and physical function. The school lunch at Redwood requires each student to get one entrée and

one fruit or vegetable. However, a juice box, considered a “fruit,” hardly contains any nutritional value. The average entrée at Redwood contains around 413 calories, with an added 60 calories for a juice box. A slice of cheese pizza, chocolate milk and a bag of carrots barely scrape 495 calories and are well below the 750-calorie minimum of a meal mandated by the National School Lunch Program for high school students. Furthermore, a Center for Disease Control (CDC) survey shows that three out of four American high school students skip breakfast. This makes a nutritious lunch even more critical because so many calories are missed at the beginning of the day. High schoolers are supposed to get 55 percent of their calorie intake from breakfast and lunch. However, when breakfast is skipped and only a single school lunch is consumed, an insufficient calorie intake can harm both academic performance and athletic performance in after-school sports.

Meals served through school lunch programs must meet specific nutritional standards, such as adhering to a sodium

limit of 1280 milligrams, according to the California Department of Education. This rule was issued in July 2023, transitioning from less than 1480 milligrams. However, according to the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) Recipe Nutrient Composition Summary, nine meals in the Redwood cafeteria exceed this newly enforced limit. High sodium intake is associated with numerous health risks, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which can have long-term consequences for students’ well-being. In the future, Redwood must adjust to the new guidelines following United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) protocols.

But it’s more than just meeting caloric limits and adhering to nutritional guidelines - it’s about recognizing lunch’s vital role in a student’s success. A different study from the CDC showed that healthier lunches lead to increased attention and focus in the classroom, which has proven to lead to better test scores. A 2020 study published in the journal, Nutrients, examined 502 school lunch programs and discovered that adolescents who ate meals at school demonstrated increased academic achievement, better attendance, and generally better health. A healthier cafeteria at Redwood would help students focus on their afternoon studies and keep them well-fed for extracurriculars after school.

During the 2023–2024 school year, all students are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch as a result of funding provided to Nutrition Services by the State of California. Redwood also offers the option of a second serving for six extra dollars. To some, this might seem like a viable solution to the issue. If one school lunch isn’t enough, why not just buy another? The underlying fact is that

not only is the school lunch insufficient — it just isn’t good. Simply adding another subpar meal to the mix does little to address the root problem. Additionally, some students might not have the money to buy a secondary lunch if they are hungry.

According to the March 2024 Bark survey, 42% of our student population does not enjoy the food provided by school lunch. Moreover, only 14% like school lunches while the remaining percentage are neutral or haven’t tasted school lunches.

If Redwood truly aims to prioritize its students’ well-being and academic success, it must commit to revamping its lunch program. This means investing in fresher, healthier ingredients and adhering to nutritional guidelines more rigorously. Other schools in California have pursued healthier school lunches. Vacaville Unified students enjoy Strauss Family organic yogurt, chipotle chilaquiles, and regeneratively raised pork sandwiches. Shandon Joint Unified School district in San Luis Obispo procures whole wheat onsite to make bread and pasta.

It won’t be easy. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and TUHSD does not make money off of meal programs. Not only are they not allowed to, but in addition to costs for meals, they also have equipment expenses such as the $12,920.51 spent in July for new ovens at Redwood. That is almost the value of two thousand staff meals. While we might not be able to fund a complete revamp, there are certain steps we can take to improve the quality of our school lunches, starting with the removal of highsodium meals. Our students deserve meals that fuel their potential and support their growth, and Redwood should make it a priority to do so.

bark www.redwoodbark.org Page 5 • Opinion

Illustration by Cora Champommier

hbarker@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Cora Champommier

editorial

Swipe right on reality.

All students need media literacy training

The moon landing was staged and Apollo 13 never happened. QAnon. PizzaGate. Holocaust deniers. These are just a few of the endless conspiracies that accompany social media’s bottomless index, and one of the most dangerous digital issues today. Conspiracies like these spread like wildfire, consuming and overtaking readers on every platform. The problem isn’t necessarily social media outlets themselves, but rather, people’s daily passive consumption of misinformation.

While constantly scrolling on social media, you might have heard the term media literacy. It might not be as interesting as the video of a puppy, but it is more important, especially in the technologically advancing world around us. Social media is not a reliable source of information, which is media literacy, or the capability to critically analyze media and text to determine credibility, is such a vital skill for high school students. To make this change, our school must take action to increase awareness of media literacy in the student population through educational programs and resources.

applications, everything except hate speech and discriminatory language is allowed to be posted for the world to see. The social media app has the right to take a post down that it deems harmful or unfactual because of their status as private companies.

Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other platforms, has faced backlash due to the abundance of misinformation spread on his apps. For example, when Holocaust deniers were spreading fake news, Zuckerberg came forward to acknowledge the growing problem on his apps. However, he only offered a partial solution to this problem.

But it’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent [social media] from being used for harm as well [as good].

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of

review review

SoMa StrEat Food Park:

Family-friendly dining steps away from your favorite stadiums

By Zoe Gister Cub Reporter

Nestled within Mission Bay, San Francisco runs a food court like no other. SoMa StrEat Food Park presents an opportunity to truly experience the colorful and cultural diversity that lies within this city. Unlike any other sit-down restaurant, this is the perfect place to gather with family and friends to enjoy a bright spring afternoon or evening after a Giants game at Oracle Park. Spanning two blocks with over 150 rotating food trucks, this park allows communities to come together over fresh food and fun. SoMa StrEat Food Park spared no expense to make the experience enjoyable for the whole family. From dog-friendly vending machines, photo booths, an outdoor mini golf course and countless vegetarian and vegan options, there’s something for everyone.

Gyros on Wheels

Gyros on Wheels is one of 16 permanent vendors at SoMa StrEat Food Park and seemingly one of the most popular. This Mediterranean truck offers a variety of falafels, gyros and appetizers. The falafel was soft, light and perfectly fried without being greasy. The peppery, warm falafel paired perfectly with fresh vegetables and complementary pita. Coming in at a total of $15, this was not the cheapest option. However, if you’re willing to pay, it’s worth a try.

Mora Taco Truck

As one of the many rotating vendors, it may not be easy to find this truck most days of the week, but if you do, it’s a musttry for sure. They offer the usual array of Tex-Mex, traditional Mexican dishes and a variety of meat choices, as well as at least one vegetarian option per category. When it comes to price, Mora Tacos just might win the race; for only $4, you can buy two overflowing tacos and a side of salsa. This might just be one of the best deals in the park, and you definitely get your money’s worth. It took less than ten minutes – and some excellent customer service – to prepare this divinely comforting meal. These tacos are perfect for any occasion.

Mitchell’s Ice Cream

As most S.F. locals would tell you, this ice creamery is a city favorite. Known for its creative flavors and indulgent desserts, it is common to find Mitchell’s ice cream with a line around the corner. Luckily, this little truck holds up to a high standard. Along with the general chocolate and vanilla, they serve around 6 flavors at a time. Some customer favorites include dulce de leche and grasshopper pie. There are even a couple of options for dogs! It seems their only downside is the high prices. A Basic single scoop started at $6.35 and a double for $8.90. Small additions cost around $1. It’s difficult to justify such a cost and may not be the most budget-friendly option in

the park, but it’s definitely delicious. Their ice cream is made fresh every day and sells out just as fast, so grab it while you can!

With its convenient location, being no more than 10 minutes from both the Chase Center and Oracle Park, this food park is an ideal spot for any post-game or pre-concert meal. Offering a widely diverse selection of delicious food and drinks, and over 150 rotating vendors, it’s an essential destination next time you’re in San Francisco.

Marin’s hidden gems: The best local thrift stores

Evelyn Harper Cub Reporter

In recent years, thrift shopping has surged in popularity as a sustainable way to find diverse clothing brands at discounted prices, often with items in likenew condition that appear for a fraction of their original cost. As awareness grows regarding the environmental effects of traditional shopping, such as heightened carbon dioxide emissions and increased landfill waste, turning to thrift stores is an excellent alternative for individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Below are a few local stores you should consider visiting.

Sugar Magnolias Powder Room

Situated on Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur, this charming thrift shop

welcomes visitors with lively music and friendly greetings from the staff. While this store caters primarily to women with an extensive collection of clothing and accessories, Sugar Magnolias Powder Room also offers a smaller selection for men. Most items in the store are between $20-$60, which is on the more expensive side when compared to other thrift stores. If you are searching for unique items and don’t mind paying extra for quality finds, this shop is a must-visit destination.

Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop

Also located on Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur, Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop offers a spacious and inviting shopping experience. Thanks to its larger size, this shop has the most extensive array of items compared to others nearby. From CDs and vinyl records to homewares, shoes and clothing for all ages and genders, Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop serves various needs. While homewares dominate the collection, there is still a modest but noteworthy selection of clothing. Most items are priced between $1 and $5, making Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop a prime destination for budgetconscious shoppers who desire variety and affordability. Make sure to visit Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop if you are looking for an assortment of items for a very affordable price.

Grace’s Thrift Shop

Grace’s Thrift Shop, nestled in Fairfax, is appealing due to its small, intimate atmosphere. The staff is friendly and goes above and beyond to assist customers in finding exactly what they need by explaining aspects of certain products and ensuring they fit customers’ needs. The shop offers an array of clothing for women, men and children, as well as a wide range

of home goods. The pricing was very reasonable, at $5 to $15 for most items. Despite its quaint size, Grace’s Thrift Shop surprises shoppers with its extensive selection, ensuring there is something for everyone to explore.

Thrift shopping offers a chance to find unique items at a discounted price and contributes to sustainability. Marin County has various local thrift stores, each with unique aspects. Whether you seek quality items at Sugar Magnolias Powder Room, diverse products at Saint Patrick’s Thrift Shop or a cozy and welcoming shopping experience at Grace’s Thrift Shop, there is something for everyone. Next time you want to go shopping, consider exploring these stores.

Page 7

GYROS ON WHEELS’ is one of sixteen permanent venders at SoMa StrEat Food Park. Photo by Zoe Gister Photo by Zoe Gister

EXPLORE SAINT PATRICK’S Thrift Store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays for affordable treasures.

Photo by Evelyn Harper

eharper@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Zoe Gister MINI GOLF PARTICIPANT consumates their game by searching through the array of food trucks. EXPERIENCE THE CHARM of vintage items at Sugar Magnolias Powder Room. Photo by Evelyn Harper CUSTOMERS HAVE THE option to order one of eight rotating Mitchell’s ice

zgister@redwoodbark.org

cream flavors.

Restaurant rivalries: Best off-campus lunch

By Liam Healy Cub Reporter

On grueling school days, the build-up to lunch is immense. A 35-minute lunch period plus a ten-minute passing period allows for relaxation and time to recharge. The anticipation of reconnecting with friends you don’t have classes with and that sickening feeling in a hungry stomach is something to look forward to daily. However, the limited choice of food in the Redwood cafeteria leads many students to venture off-campus in search of other options. Three of the most popular restaurants for students are Red Boy Pizza, Philly Cheesesteak and El Torogoz.

Red Boy - Pepperoni Pizza

The cheapest option for a filling lunch is Red Boy Pizza where each slice costs around five dollars. The slices available are pepperoni and cheese, pepperoni costing just $0.50 more than a slice of cheese, sitting at $5.25. The enticing aroma wafts around you as you walk through the bustling crowd of students filtering into Red Boy Pizza. For this review, I ordered the pepperoni pizza slice. The original pepperoni pizza slices oftentimes have a pleasant tangy taste that leaves you wanting more with each bite. The sauce is flavorful and plentiful but not to the point where it’s overwhelming.

A flaw with Red Boy is the consistency of the quality. Sometimes, it’s incredible and has you thinking it’s some of the best pizza you have ever tasted. Other times, it’s plasticlike and topped with an abundance of grease. In addition, Red Boy is the only place on this list that inconveniently does not accept Apple Pay, limiting the amount of student customers that can eat there. The inconsistency with Red Boy definitely makes it the lowest on this list. However, when taking into consideration the affordable price tag and those moments where the pizza really hits the spot, Red Boy is definitely worth checking out.

Philly Cheesesteak - Classic Philly Cheesesteak

A few doors down from Red Boy Pizza is Philly Cheesesteak, a more expensive but delicious option for lunch. The most popular item on the menu is, as the name suggests, the Classic Philly Cheesesteak, costing around

$14. Philly Cheesesteak has an abundance of different cheesesteaks, including limited ones such as the meatball sub cheesesteak. To complement these meals, student customers who order a large cheesesteak get a free drink on the side. The cheesesteaks served at this establishment are comparable to Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, with the option to add sweet peppers or hot peppers to go along with creamy cheese that melts in your mouth.

To try out Philly Cheesesteak, I decided to go with the safest option, the famed Classic Philly Cheesesteak. This cheesesteak had a fantastic ratio of cheese, meat, onions, and both sweet and hot peppers. Based on how good it tasted, I would rank this in the middle of the pack, but keep the higher price in mind.

El Torogoz - Pollo Asado Burrito

Lastly, El Torogoz is a Salvadorian and Mexican restaurant. The menu has a variety of traditional Salvadorian and Mexican choices including tacos, quesadillas and most notably, burritos. For this review, I tried the Pollo Asado Burrito. It included black beans,

Beyoncé whas been releasing music for almost 22 years; her first song featured successful rapper Jay-Z, whom she married six years later. She is known for her unique R&B/Soul music, making her the sixth most popular artist in the world, but in her new album “COWBOY CARTER,” she incorporates a country theme into most of her tracks. Beyoncé says that the idea for this album came after her appearance at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards, where she didn't feel welcome and received a lot of racist backlash. After this experience, she did a deeper dive into the history of country music and eight years after the incident in 2016, her country album was finally released. The most popular song on the album, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” has already reached 250 million streams. Its upbeat, catchy tune has helped the song gain a huge amount of attention on TikTok, with 1.2 million posts. Other notable songs on the album include “II MOST WANTED,” featuring Miley Cyrus. The third most streamed song on the album was a remake of “Jolene” by legendary singer Dolly Parton which came out almost exactly 50 years ago. Overall, this album is an iconic moment for Beyoncé fans and will be remembered for years.

Bark Beats

By Leighton Olsen Cub Reporter

guacamole and warm chicken. Each part of the burrito complements the other parts in a tasty way with every bite being a warm and flavorful explosion. This burrito has a variety of flavors that are distinguishable with each bite, making it unique from other burritos on the market. This incredible combination makes this burrito very memorable among the different meals that were eaten.

I recommend the Pollo Asado Burrito for many reasons. For one, it costs only $11.50, though more charges will be added when adding different ingredients. However, this burrito is so tasty and well put together that it takes the number one spot on the list.

A flood of Redwood students leave campus for lunch every day, and most of them journey to one of these three widely admired restaurants. All three options have positive and negative aspects to weigh in when deciding where to eat for lunch. No matter the rank, it all depends on personal interest and mood depending on the day. All of these restaurants are excellent options for off-campus lunch. Support your local businesses!

After over a decade of Metro Boomin being a head producer for most of Future’s discography, “We Don't Trust You” was released on March 22nd. It is the first official project between the two Hip Hop and Trap artists from Atlanta. Their friendship began in 2013, when Metro produced the song “Karate Chop” on Future's 2014 album “Honest,” a track that peaked at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their connection can be felt in the first half of the “We Don't Trust You” album, starting with two fiery tracks, “We Don't Trust You” and “Young Metro,” which represent the theme of the album, not being able to trust anybody. These songs will likely turn out to be the most streamed songs of the album. After this, the album starts to wind down with the following two tracks, “Ice Attack'' and “Claustrophobic,” which sound like the classic Metro-produced Future tracks we all love. This album features many rappers such as Travis Scott, Playboy Carti, Kendrick Lamar, and Rick Ross, who all help to tie this album together. Overall, this album was a pleasant listen and is great for any activity. Some listeners believe that the best tracks should have been mixed in better with the filler ones, but who knows how the duo will change it up when they release part two of the album on April 12th.

The widely known Colombian pop singer Shakira is the world's 21st most popular musical artist. Her musical expertise is shown in her newest album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” her first release since 2017, easily reaching the number-one spot for Latin Albums. “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” directly translates to “Women No Longer Cry,” which is a reference to her recent divorce from her long-time husband, soccer player Gerard Piqué, after a cheating scandal. After the divorce, Shakira released the song “BZRB, music session #53,” dissing her exhusband. This track is considered one of the best songs in the album. “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” combines Mexican and Reggae genres with computer-generated sounds to electrify her new style. Shakira is known for limiting her use of swear words, but in this album, she starts using more vulgar language. Other notable tracks from this album were “Puntería,” featuring Cardi B and “Cohete,” featuring Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, which ties this album together nicely. After Shakira fans waited seven years for an album release, they were left satisfied with how it turned out.

bark Page 8 • Review April 26, 2024

POPULAR, THIS

was ranked the worst.

THOUGH

Red Boy Pizza slice

Photo by Liam Healy

CARTER” Beyoncé

“COWBOY

Records “WE DON’T TRUST YOU” Metro Boomin & Future

Photo Courtesy of Columbia

Republic Records

Photo Courtesy of

“Las Mujeres Ya Lloran” Shakira

leightonolsen@redwoodbark.org lhealy@redwoodbark.org

Photo Courtesy of Sony Music Latin Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky

feature feature

Advocating for non-binary inclusion in high school restrooms

By Storey Gerber and Brooklyn Saputo Cub Reporters

Non-binary students seek recognition every day, in every space they occupy. The “women” and "men” signs on public restrooms force people to conform to a limited selection, which believe it or not, can sometimes result in dangerous outcomes. One bathroom at a time, the administration can solve this issue and create a safe space for anyone and everyone. Adolescence is a time of figuring out who you are, and high school is a never-ending playground for the exploration of identity. Freshmen entering the corridors of the Redwood campus expect a welcoming space for all but students may not feel as accepted as they should in a school setting.

Nex Benedict was a 16-year-old student living in Oklahoma. He identified as transmasculine but was using the women’s bathroom on Feb7 at Owasso High School. He was minding his own business when three girls physically assaulted and injured him so badly that he had to be taken to the hospital. The day after the incident, Benedict collapsed at home and was later pronounced dead. The motivation for Benedict’s beating and eventually ruled murder is clear: his open identity as part of the LGBTQ community. He didn't fit their box of what they considered “normal” and as a result, violence ensued.

Nicole Graydon, a physical education (P.E.) teacher at Redwood, talked about how it made her sad to see this happen at a high school and how anyone should be able to use the bathroom. Within the story, Graydon described how the school didn’t call 911 right away.

“It's just completely ridiculous that they didn't follow protocol and that they didn't care for the student enough. The stuff I read almost sounded like they were blaming the kid. Like you were there. You caused this drama with your pure existence,” Graydon said.

Even the main officer on the case added that it would be a shame for any of the female students to have to deal with a criminal situation for "something so minuscule," though Benedict had disclosed that he had experienced bullying for a year prior to this attack. Graydon described how she saw the article and decided to re-post it on the social media app Instagram.

“I thought it was important to repost as a teacher and also as a human to show support for our non-binary and transgender humans in the world,” Graydon said.

This repost sparked a conversation between her and her students.

Instagram is a platform where Graydon allows students to follow her, and she wanted to use the platform as a way to spread

awareness on these issues. Graydon said that a lot of kids brought it up to her. She had numerous conversations with students that are unable to fit a normal-sized backpack. This has created problems in the physical education program.

that due to this he has to go from the theater wing all the way to Wellness just to relieve himself. For this reason, Watson says that he and a lot of the other LGBTQ+ students would benefit from a bathroom in the art building or the 700s. In the case of changing clothes, there needs to be a separate gender-neutral space with changing stalls to promote comfortability.

Although there are consequences for bullying set in place, such as getting locker privileges revoked, the problem is how do students who experience this harassment deal

“We have more than nine kids who need that facility, [and with only nine lockers] they can't each have their own, they can only use it for the class period so they're stuck carrying around their P.E. clothes all day,” Graydon said.

There has been an ongoing battle on how to obtain an easier bathroom situation for these students. There have been many requests for a trailer or use of the closet at the front of the big gym, but each time they were deemed to not be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

If you’re in the women’s locker room, then you feel like a woman. If you’re in the men’s room, it’s unsafe.

Kage Watson, sophomore

The school Maintenance team deemed the space not sufficient, but Graydon pushed for reconsideration given the circumstances.

“I was like, ‘I'm well aware it's not good enough but it's better than what we have.’ ” Graydon said.

The reality is that these changing facilities fall far short of satisfactory, and are evolving into areas of harassment. Spencer DeWoody, the head of the Wellness department, mentioned that he was worried about the safety of students in certain bathrooms.

“I’ve heard from a lot of LGBTQ folks that the [Wellness] bathroom feels the safest. So I'm a little wary about some of the other places. I’ve heard in other bathrooms that people make comments or bang on the door,” DeWoody said.

DeWoody also describes how some kids walk all the way to the Wellness bathroom to change for P.E.. For example, a transgender student named Kage Watson describes how he has to do that exact walk and always finds himself late for class.

“If you're in the women's locker room, then you feel like a woman. If you're in the men's room it's unsafe. So you have to always pick and choose,” Watson said.

Because of this, Watson goes to Wellness to change. There is also the problem that most of the non-binary bathrooms are often locked so students can't utilize the space. Watson says

The Spahr Center in San Rafael was a source the Wellness Center used to help students. They hosted a weekly meeting called Q Group, which was a place for LGBTQ students to come during SMART on Fridays and talk about their experiences at Redwood or in life in general. Unfortunately, the Spahr Centers programs were indefinitely suspended as of Feb 16 due to ongoing financial difficulties. All staff were laid off and the clinic was closed. This was a huge loss for the LGBTQ+ community. Fortunately, one of the previous staff members is remaining and continues to work with Redwood, so the LGBTQ community will have that space and service for the remainder of this year but likely not in the years to come. According to Watson, he felt very safe in counseling and Wellness due to everyone being extremely accepting.

“[I felt safe] especially with Wellness’s once-a-month Clinic [Q Group]. That's really helpful because they all know about LGBTQ issues and it's very accepting there. It’s a place where students have this community of people who understand some of the challenges they face with people that they can relate to,” Watson said.

Now that Q Group will be gone next year, Redwood must step up and make a change. Other schools in the Tam District such as Tam High School have five nonbinary bathrooms, that is one more than Redwood currently has. The district needs to follow the example Tam has set considering that so many students are part of the LGBTQ community. One more bathroom isn't enough but it is a start.

To read the full article, see “Advocating for non-binary inclusion in high school restrooms” at redwoodbark.org.

To visit Redwood’s anonymous tip line, scan the QR code.

Page 9

Infographic by Brooklyn Saputo Illustration by Cora Champommier

bark@redwoodbark.org

Leveling the playing field: shooting

Gender balance in Tam District sports

By Nina Baker Cub Reporter

Since they were created, sports have been a major source of entertainment, accumulating worldwide audiences that become captivated by determination, pride, and teamwork. However, male sports teams have generally received preferential treatment over female sports teams. Whether they are getting more media attention, higher wages or larger budgets, it hasn’t been equal. Within the past couple of decades, this issue has materialized as athletes fight for more equality.

Athletes like Alex Morgan have spoken out against discrepancies in pay between male and female athletes. Morgan, a top-performing women’s soccer player, published an article in the Cosmopolitan about her complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In the article, Morgan explains the motivation of her fight towards equality.

Although a shift in social equality is important, it is only achievable if civil rights laws like Title IX are executed to their full capacity. Title IX is a federal civil rights law put in place to prevent sex-based discrimination in any educational space, including school athletics. In addition to mandating equal opportunities for males and females to participate in athletics, it ensures equal access to field space, coaching, equipment, and other resources associated with athletics. At Redwood and in the Tam District, this means that all athletes are entitled to equitable treatment and allocation of resources.

When we treat people equally, then people continue to believe in themselves and do big things.

Nicole Graydon, P.E Teacher

“We have dedicated our lives to this sport and our country…We think it’s time for U.S. soccer to truly address the inequality and do what is right,” Morgan said. The U.S. Soccer Federation recently settled to equalize pay between their male and female players. While this does show progress, there is still a long way to go. Aside from everyday wages, there are inequalities present in larger events that gain considerable amounts of media attention. For instance, in 2019 the total prize money of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was $30 million, compared to the $400 million total prize money of the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2018 — a $370 million difference.

Beyond the pay gap, issues with overall funding for sports teams have surfaced on a more local stage: the collegiate level. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), reported that in 2020, men’s programs received over double the allocated resources as women’s programs at the Division One level. However, they also found a positive trend in the percentage of participation opportunities in collegiate sports for females. In 1992, 26.4 percent of participation opportunities were for women compared to 47.1 percent in 2020. That means after 28 years, there were 20.7 percent more opportunities for women. Change is slow-moving but it is underway.

Leslie Harlander, the president of the Tamalpais School District (TUHSD) Board, recalled an issue that was brought to the board a couple of years ago about a disparity in funding.

“We became concerned about the consistency [of funding] and what sorts of parameters there were,” Harlander said. This concern soon translated into action as new guidelines were set with less gray area that could lead to an imbalance in funding. They were set in collaboration with school organizations like Benchwarmers, ensuring contributors to the funding process both understood and were in agreement with

Jessica Peisch, the Redwood Athletic Director, provided insight on the updated management of resource distribution in our district and at Redwood. TUHSD has set parameters for what they provide each team with —uniforms, officials, coaches’ compensation, league dues and equipment—are provided by the district. Anything beyond that, such as parkas kept by the school, or buses Monday-Thursday for outof-county, non-league games (one per team per season) could be funded by the Redwood Benchwarmers. When teams fundraise for themselves individually, that money goes towards things like custom practice wear that can be kept by team members.

Anything not provided by the district is either up for funding from the Benchwarmers or from individual team fundraising. Peisch furthered her explanation of the district and Benchwarmers’ involvement in the funding process. Predicted costs are accounted for, with additional needs being addressed with coaches as they surface.

“I meet with Benchwarmers every month and present our athletic team funding needs. We align on how best to allocate funding,” Peisch said.

Besides the logistical parts of athletic funding, equality in high school sports is very significant to Nicole Graydon, a physical education teacher and track and field/cross country coach at Redwood. She addressed the “dream gap,” where by five years old, girls stop believing that they can be presidents, professional athletes, or have other big careers.

“When we treat people equally, then people continue to believe in themselves and do big things,” Graydon said.

The Redwood Girls’ basketball team did just this, winning MCAL and moving on to win the North Coast Section (NCS). Maya Saibel, a junior on the team, expressed her value of having equality in sports.

“Gender equality in sports uplifts the entire sporting community at school, [benefiting] everyone [by] feeling equally valued and empowered from that,” Saibel said.

The movement towards gender equality in sports is prominent, with increased attention being drawn to the issue. The pursuit towards total equality will require many more years of work, but it is reachable.

“Sports are such an empowering force for women and without the contribution of any marginalized groups, the world would not be what it is,” Graydon said.

If you are interested in learning more about Title IX in the TUHSD, you can visit the district’s website at www.tamdistict.org, under the “About Us” tab.

Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky

vbaker@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Cora Champommier

shooting for gender equality in sports

Opinion: The lack of support for girls in sports affects us all

By Paige Edelen Cub Reporter

Every year, the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championship boys’ basketball game occurs, attracting crowds from all over Marin. Students, teachers, parents, siblings, friends and even extended family members come to watch. Varsity cheerleaders hype up the crowd and t-shirts are handed out. Who doesn’t want to see the most exciting basketball game of the year, at prime time on a Friday night?

Even though this high school game brings the community together, a persistent issue has created a discrepancy in athletic attendance.

If games are supposed to bring us together, it seems unfair that the girls’ varsity basketball team is consistently disregarded.

basketball team is just one example of the local and global gender imbalance. To combat this, Redwood needs to set an even scale between boys’ and girls’ games by changing game details, and as a whole, the community will be more inclined to attend games and support both genders.

If this isn’t a community that builds up and supports all people regardless of gender, it’s not fair to truly call that a community.

Paige Edelen, Sophomore

Although it may seem like a jumble of subtle differences, things are more unequal than one might think, and the girls’ varsity

One factor that points to inequality is the time slots given to these games. The definition of “prime time” is referred to by the Oxford Language Dictionary as the regularly occurring few hour period in the evening when most people are expected to be watching. This is most commonly between the hours of 7-10 p.m. or 8-11 p.m. While the boys’ varsity basketball team is familiar with this time slot, the girls’ team has been given time slots that work around prime time rather than within it. Both teams played six out of eight MCAL games at home during Jan. and Feb. of the 2024 season. However, for the boys’ team, each of these games was at 7 or 7:30 p.m., during prime time. On the other hand, the girls’ games were all at 6 p.m., with the exception of one matinee game on a Saturday.

This is a pointed example of gender inequality in sports at Redwood. Women’s sports are routinely scheduled around men’s sports rather than with them, and this is evident in the gender split of allocated time slots.

The girls shouldn’t have to play each of their games earlier than the boys and instead should share an equal

Additionally, there is an inconsistency with regard to our cheer squads. The junior varsity cheerleaders cheered for every girls’ MCAL game, which is great, but don’t the varsity girls players deserve the spirit, hype, and elite acrobatics that accompany the

However, the game times and the cheerleaders are not the only aspects that are to blame for the poor attendance. While these are components that bring crowds, it also lies on the responsibility of the community to support all Redwood sports teams. If this isn’t a community that builds up and supports all people regardless of gender, it’s not fair to truly call that a community, or at least a welcoming

one. We should all put in a better effort to attend not only boys’ games but also girls’ games and cheer enthusiastically for both.

This lack of support is especially concerning considering how far the girls’ team has progressed this season. The team had seven wins during the MCAL season, won North Coast Section (NCS) in Division II and got to the second round of Northern California (NorCal) Division II. Meanwhile, the boys’ team had six wins and two losses during the MCAL season, and lost in the first round of NCS Division II. This provides evidence of why the girls’ team is more than worthy of our support, and the praise that they’ve received from our community has been severely underwhelming.

According to the March Bark survey, 65 percent of students are more likely to attend a boys’ sports game instead of a girls’ sports game at Redwood. Evidently, going to a high school basketball game can be an opportunity to socialize and have fun, and missing out could defeat the whole purpose.

I love going to games because there are always peers and fun people to talk to, whom I might not see outside of school. However, I’m also really busy, as is the community. I may not have time to go see multiple, two-hour games in one day, but if we as a community don’t try to go to a girls’ game, the inequality will never improve, and we will be stuck in an endless loop of poor attendance at girls’ games.

Thus, a few ways to increase support for the girls’ varsity basketball team are to change game times, have the varsity cheerleaders cheer for their games and work as a community to attend more games. This team of accomplished varsity athletes deserves a greater level of support than we have provided them thus far.

pedelen@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky

Is hookup culture progressive or detrimental?

Story and Illustrations by Jamie Glennon Cub Reporter

“Sex, because it is such a vulnerable thing, can open up all of these tender and vulnerable parts of us. Those who don’t have a strong and secure emotional connection with their partner may not be equipped to manage all of those feelings that are coming up. So, they may either run, or cling,” Jessica Engel, psychotherapist and dating coach said.

This fight-or-flight mode response is familiar to many teens today. With high academic pressure, stress can overshadow well-being, propelling teens to seek escape. Alongside monotonous classes and busy work, it’s no wonder that people need to let loose on the weekends. The long-term effect, however, is much more bleak than ideal: this euphoric release often takes shape in a short-lasting manner, quickly fizzling into a mud bath of emotional consequences. This new normal may be rooted in the stressful lifestyles that many high schoolers have constructed. With hookups, teens can impulsively contact someone and engage in mutually satisfying touch, with little long-term commitment. Balancing the large commitments of day-to-day responsibilities, the choice to hook up may be easy when compared to the more effortful development of relationships. Thus, accumulated stress is often combatted using the easiest fix: a perpetual one-night stand fueled by ravaging hormones.

In the March 2024 Bark survey, 37 percent of students with school-associated stress experience this stress five to seven days per week. This school-caused stress provides reasoning for peoples’ inclination to hook up. With this in mind, the discrepancy of joy associated with teenage experiences may be due to ranging levels of experimentation, which is detectable in the hookup culture that has revolutionized the idea of one-night stands into consistent

thrill exploration. Unfortunately, the thrill of experimentation tends to be short-lived, and Redwood students have not been left unscathed.

Out of the 277 people sampled, only six percent reported feelings of embarrassment while hooking up. However, when asked if they had experienced embarrassment after their encounter, 15 percent replied yes. While 22 percent of students felt excited during their hookup, only nine percent associate excitement with their hookup today. This decline in students’ thrill shows the negative emotional impact that brief physical entanglements can have on modern teens. Further, the number of people who feel uncertain about their hookup increased by 34 percent in the weeks after their encounter. These emotions paint a picture of adolescents who have built a habit they don’t know how to stop. In grad school for counseling psychology, Engle used drama therapy to help people relinquish themselves from their comfort zones, and soon created The Bay Area Dating Coach, an organization with a mission to foster meaningful relationships. Through her work in the local community, Engel has worked to teach an integral lesson: finding comfort in being uncomfortable.

can feel impossible to do. If a friend is engaging in sexual encounters, one might feel pressured to give hookups a try, even if their gut is telling them to stay away. Regardless, teens should feel empowered to make their own decisions and follow paths that are healthiest for them.

“I think that allowing yourself to go after what you want is going to lead you [forward] with much less regret and many more meaningful experiences that match your values,” Engle said.

Additionally, as social media has popularized a culture of always being “in the know,” hooking up may seem like the entryway into the social climate. Teens have seemingly developed an immunity to the detriments of a virtually connected world.

This anecdote of the social pressure to have an ideal amount of sexual experience often feels unattainable for today’s youth, and unfortunately, it doesn’t stop after adolescence.

“There’s this emotional risk that can be taken when you’re engaging in something like sex. There’s a double standard that [women] live in, [who] are taught to ride this very fine line of being the good girl and not being the prude, [while also] not being the slut,” Kachur said.

When there’s pressure coming from all angles to experiment, people may have to scatter their morals to stay afloat. Unfortunately, students like Ainsley sympathize with this feeling as they wonder whether or not the hookup is worth the residual impacts that often accrue.

“I get kind of attached; so, I don’t love hooking up because then I think the guy is like ‘Oh, great, thanks, bye’ and then I’m like ‘Oh, boyfriend, question mark?’” Ainsley said.

When asked how hookup culture affects one’s ability to build relationships in the future, Ainsley hypothesizes that it gives certain demographics an excuse to have fun without emotional commitment.

It’s really important to know yourself and allow yourself to deviate from hookup culture if it does not match your needs.

“It’s really important to know yourself and to allow yourself to deviate from hookup culture if [it] does not match your needs. This can take a lot of courage, and you may find that other people are still aligned with hookup culture,” Engle said. With current popular culture, this

As teens are being stimulated with a virtual flow of information, their peers’ choices become central to their sense of self-worth. Ultimately they may feel a desire to make up for the difference with meaningless sexual encounters. At the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rachel Kachur researches how to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Through her research, she has discovered that current teens are lacking an integral aspect of sexual development.

Jessica Engel, psycotherapist and dating coach

“Hookup culture takes away from relationships because guys don’t need to make you their girlfriend [in order] to hook up with you — they kind of get the goods without having to buy you dinner,” Ainsley said.

“What is making it hard, at least from the research that [the CDC has] been doing for [today’s teenagers], is that so much sexual education is being taken out of schools, and not being replaced [by better education]. Instead, what’s replacing it is access to so much pornography, and that’s not sex education — it’s not even realistic sex,” Kachur said. “If people are going to porn for education, then we’re setting up people for failure and [in effect] perpetuating violence and a hierarchy in sex.”

This theme of a world revolving around porn may seem too far-fetched for what today’s teens are up to. However, porn culture and hookup culture are closely related due to the commonality of teens desiring pleasure. In the privacy of one’s home and self-gratification, it can be possible to achieve the same euphoric effect as a hookup. Euphoria, among other desires, seems to be fueling a culture that is best understood in these hookups. Redwood sophomore “Ainsley,” who prefers to remain anonymous, provides perspective on ever-evolving teen desires and the stigma of sex culture, helping to break down this taboo topic.

“I don’t think there should be this weird stigma around [hooking up],” Ainsley said. “[It seems] like if you don’t do enough, you’re a prude and not experienced enough. If you do too much, then you’re a slut.”

It can be difficult to be a teenager without having culture-promoted experiences. When lacking peer validation, one can feel left out, producing an exhausting lifestyle all around. Amplified by the virtual connection of today’s world, some may find it difficult to create meaning in their interactions. Whether or not this is due to the popularity of virtual conversation and the chat rooms people have enclosed themselves within, it is clear that people are developing coping mechanisms that will either have positive impacts or leftover negatives. It is integral that every individual feels empowered to follow their morals and reach their goals in a way that suits them best. Whether you choose to engage in hookup culture or not, Engle encourages consideration of the grand scheme of adolescent decisions.

“For people interested in dating and relationships, who don’t get started because of fear — or are sort of taught by family or culture [to prioritize] academics and work over dating and relationships — I think that they end up feeling like they missed out on a key part of their lives [and] a key part of their development. Then, there’s often actually some grief to go through when they haven’t been able to have those typical teenage experiences,” Engel said.

This feeling of exclusion from teenage norms is unavoidable, but as long as teenagers conduct themselves safely and deal with consequences responsibly, hookup culture may have the potential, after all, to be a healthy stress outlet.

To read the full article visit https://bit. ly/TUHSDhookup.

bark Page 12 • Feature April 26, 2024

jglennon@redwoodbark.org Information obtained from March 2024 Bark Survey

sports sports

Our future is not a game!

The negative effect of school sports on academics

By Cora Champommier Cub Reporter

As I walk in the hallway with my giant Redwood Soccer parka, I look up to see Sabine, a freshman who performs well in my math class; I know she will be a reliable source of information for what I missed in the previous class due to a soccer game.

“I don’t know what you’re going to do,” she says, after recapping the confusion of yet another lesson I didn’t receive. I frantically look at TeamSnap, only to see that I have games on the next two block period days as well. Considering I don’t play a lot in these games, it not only jeopardizes my academics but also frustrates me. Schools should limit the amount of classes students miss due to rigorous sports schedules because it can result in added stress.

Having survived the varsity soccer schedule for 3 months, it has been a constant struggle to decide my priorities. Often, I have to wonder whether I am a student-athlete or an athlete-student.

According to a March 2024 Bark survey, 46 percent of students experience increased stress as a result of playing a school sport, which supports that athletic schedules are amplifying teen stress.

In fact, the article “Too Busy for School? The Effect of Athletic Participation on Absenteeism” found that “Athletes are missing an average of 1.9 class periods per week or roughly the equivalent of one school day every 3.2

weeks.” Comparing students who don’t play sports to those who do, the study found that non-athletes are absent from class roughly 50 percent less than studentathletes. Additionally, 56.7 percent of students participate in a high school sport, which suggests that the majority of high school students are negatively affected by sport-related absenteeism. In response to complaints from both student-athletes and parents, the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) has switched to a “round robin” form of athletics for the duration of the 2023-2024 school year for various sports. With each school team playing each other only once, instead of twice, the amount of time spent away from class is decreased, which emulates schedules used in previous seasons.

Furthermore, in 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom mandated that schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., pushing school later into the day, which

consequently, delays sports. However, these changes haven’t affected the number of games, but have instead resulted in more games outside of the county.

While some may argue that balancing academic and athletic schedules teaches students time management, there is a fine line between life skills and overwhelming stress. When signing up for a sport, students should not have to factor in such an immense impact on their other commitments. Truly, playing sports should be an outlet for stress, not a cause for it. Still, I often find myself thinking about the class I am missing during warmups, or planning my nighttime schedule down to the minute to ensure I have enough time to study for a test the next day.

Mother nature’s hand also doesn’t nudge the school towards a potential solution. Earlier sunsets in the winter also contribute to the problem. Having minimal natural light and no stadium lights makes

Setting the standard: Positivity in

By Caroline Veley Cub Reporter

As the warm Spring weather approaches, many indoor volleyball players look for an alternative sport to fill their schedule while enjoying the sun. Luckily, Redwood has a club beach volleyball team that specializes in learning and developing skills while also having fun.

Chris Glave grew up playing high school beach volleyball in Santa Barbara, California and continued to play when he moved North to Marin. He went from coaching to playing, starting at Tamalpais High School with the boys’ team, before ultimately coming to Redwood to coach the girls’ beach volleyball team. As the coach for the Giants for seven seasons, Glave gets the most joy from seeing his players learn and develop.

“Bringing in excitement to the game [as a coach makes] players want to come back, play more and want to learn more. It’s always exciting when someone is just learning because [once] they've been [outside] a little bit, they come back for more and then they play in college and then it leads to continuing friendships,” Glave said.

No matter the weather, encouraging positivity trumps all aspects of the game when it comes to Glave’s coaching. Despite winning or losing, the overall attitude and energy of his team is what he focuses on while coaching. Glave believes it is important to have a good time on the sand no matter how many wins and losses. He instead focuses on the overall energy and attitude of his team.

“It doesn't matter about the success of wins and losses. It's a success [for] them

scheduling games quite difficult. Academic counselor Jeff David has explored a possible solution of students taking fewer classes, which would get them home earlier and provide balance in their schedules.

“Culturally, as a school, we can encourage our students to be more mindful, and to be good to [themselves]; and if [they] are playing sports that are demanding, [they should] consider taking six classes,” David said.

This is hard as an underclassman, as most have a full class schedule with seven periods, but working within current district policies poses little room for alternative proposals. Not only do these demanding schedules hurt student-athletes, but numerous others in their lives as well.

With early games on weekdays, many working parents aren’t able to attend, and loads of class time is missed. In addition, teachers must put in extra work to communicate with the students who may require individual help. Personally, each of my teachers have been accommodating, but decreasing the number of players with little playing time who are pulled out of class as well as moving games to weekends would improve sport-related stress levels beyond teachers’ control. Nonetheless, students shouldn’t have to choose between supporting their team or themselves. When the 2024-2025 athletic schedule is created, action should be taken to combat the stress resulting from student-athletes juggling many parts of their life.

beach volleyball

FRESHMAN HALEY BOYARSKI extends her arms to block a spike.

to have confidence to keep trying. Not everybody plays on the sand and many come from indoors. [When] they get used to being outside, with sunshine, wind or rain, it might be toes in the sand that leads to the excitement of being out there. The players just get out of their comfort zone and start to try a little harder and work a little harder,” Glave said.

Recently, the team traveled to Glave’s hometown of Santa Barbara to play against three different high schools. Junior Sophia Mauro remembers the nerves that came with playing in these matches.

“[Playing in Santa Barbara] was really fun. We were nervous because it was raining and every single match [we played] we lost at the first location. None of us were in a bad mood about it. We all bounced back and won our first match of the [tournament at the next location],” Mauro said.

The players could keep a positive mindset despite initially losing matches,

which led them to win two of the matches during their time in Santa Barbara. Glave took the wins as a huge success.

“This is the first year that Redwood has won any of the matches down there. We still talk about it a month later,” Glave said.

Treating each other with kindness while being themselves allows the team to feel like a family. Mauro explains how her relationship with the coaches affects her playing.

“My favorite thing about beach volleyball is the connection with your teammates because it's only two on two,” Mauro said. “You get close with your partner [and coaches] and it feels like a family alongside being outside in the sun, which is always a bonus.”

Page 13

cchampommier@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Kim Wagner Illustration by Cora Champommier

cveley@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Kim Wagner THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL team after a big win in Santa Barbara.

Marin Rowing revs up for competition season

By Lily Skinner Cub Reporter

For many, spring means gorgeous weather and longer days, but for the junior members of the highly decorated Marin Rowing Association (MRA), spring marks the beginning of intense preparation for the racing season. After spending the fall concentrating on distance and endurance, spring training focuses on shorter races, increasing stroke rates and rowing together as a unit. If anyone knows how to train hard and come together as a team, it’s the Marin Juniors — roughly 125 high schoolers from throughout Marin County — who currently hold seven world records. U16 member, Dean Wozniak recalls last season and acknowledges what needs to be improved to make this season equally as successful.

“There are a lot of changes that need to happen for eight people to work well in a boat. We take the strengths and weaknesses

Since its inception in 1968, the Marin Juniors have been a force to reckon with, clinching an impressive 23 national championships and 30 regional team titles. The 2022 and 2023 seasons were particularly remarkable, with the Men's JV 8+ boat and the Women's U16 8+ boat each securing first place at the USRowing Youth National Championships. The women's youth 8+ made a splash by winning the main event, earning the title of the nation's fastest women's youth boat.

Although MRA strives to be the best they can be, Sandy Armstrong, the executive director for 33 years, the coach of the U19 girls’ team and a Redwood rowing alumni, preaches the importance of being true and kind to yourself and others. While coaching students in rowing, the program also values the development of critical teamwork skills.

WORKING UNDER THE

and sport of rowing,” Armstrong said, “it takes management to keep everybody on the same page in terms of this philosophy.”

“On top of [winning], we have our organization's goal, the philosophy: work hard and be nice, do your job, make sure we're following the mission to teach the art

CHEERING ON THEIR teammates, Marin

On top of winning, we have our organization’s goal, the philosophy: work hard and be nice, do your job, make sure we’re following the mission to teach the art and sport of rowing.

Sandy Armstrong, Executive Director of

Marin Rowing

Dual sport athletes use track to sprint ahead

By Lucy Miller Cub Reporter

For kids who hope to play sports at the highest level possible, sports specialization seems like the only option, even when professionals advise against it. Now more than ever, younger generations are playing one sport year-round. While this might not seem like an issue, it has detrimental effects on future athletes. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), sports specialization can lead to increased stress, injuries, and burnout, which can cause athletes to quit earlier altogether. Redwood sophomores Sydney Middleton and Ben Vaughn are getting ahead of this issue.

Ben Vaughn plays Varsity Football in the fall and decided to do track and field to stay in shape and get stronger this spring.

“I signed up for track and field so I could work on footwork and strength but I was surprised how much fun I would have. Everyone is so supportive, and even in practice, when we go against each other, everyone cheers each other on,” Vaughn said.

Multi-sport athletes like Vaughn can experience mental and physical benefits, like reducing the chance of overuse. Overuse is very common for people who play a single sport year-round; being a direct cause of early retirement. Being a multisport athlete creates a versatile

Their philosophy has helped them earn impressive titles. After placing first with a 13-second lead at last year’s USRowing Youth National Championships, Wozniak attributes his team's success last year to their unwavering commitment.

“We were committed as a group to fight to be better. We wanted to hunt down the boats that were even faster than us or at a higher age group. We were just always committed, every practice,” Wozniak said, “When we won, I was happy and glad to know our work throughout the year paid off.”

Wozniak thanks his coaches for really pushing him and his team and attributes it to part of the association's success.

“I love how seriously they take us. I know sometimes coaches who teach kids will allow them to slack off because they’re young, but our coaches keep us to a very high standard and expect nothing less, and that’s important,” Wozniak said.

The season officially started in March with the Fault Line Face-Off. Go Marin!

player. Even when playing a different sport, improvement in coordination and footwork is occurring. Different forms of activity train muscles in a new way, which can contribute to the prevention of overuse injuries seen by athletes who only target specific areas in their training. All of these positive aspects far outweigh the

According to the National Athletic Trainer Association, “Burnout is a response to chronic stress of continued demands in a sport or activity without the opportunity for physical and mental

This results athletes feeling trapped in a pool of responsibilities, both academic and athletic. Many do not believe in burnout and wonder why athletes don't just take a

break, or even quit if they experience it. Many athletes feel that they have something holding them back, such as a scholarship, a starting spot, or just their love of the game.

Sophomore Sydney Middleton, a varsity soccer player and track athlete, experienced burnout early in her athletic career.

“Whenever I’m mad, tired or just don't want to play anymore, I will think; I'm just going to quit, but I almost feel like I can’t. It would make all these years feel like a waste of time,” Middleton said.

It's a difficult decision for an athlete to quit when they have spent countless hours working to improve, only to have everything come to an end.

“I played soccer from kindergarten to 6th grade before I had to take a break for a few years because I developed bad knee

Burnout is a response to chronic stress of continued demands in a sport or activity without the opportunity for physical and mental rest and recovery.

National Athletic Trainer Assocation

pains probably from playing 6-7 days [a week], and [soccer] was no longer fun. If I hadn't taken those years off, I wouldn't be playing anymore,” Middleton said. Athletes of all ages struggle with burnout and overuse. It's important to continue or begin playing multiple sports while having fun doing so.

bark Page 14 • Sports April 26, 2024

Rowing takes first place. Photo courtesy of Sandy Armstrong

lskinner@redwoodbark.org

sunrise, Boats A and B practice by Mount Tam. Photo courtesy of Sandy Armstrong HOLDING A BATON in hand, sophomore Sydney Middleton runs in the 4x100 race.

lmiller@redwoodbark.org

Photo courtesy of Sydney Middleton Photo courtesy of Ben Vaughn

Sports Spotlight: The Solle show

By Jake Post Cub Reporter

Rex Solle is a familiar name among Redwood students and local baseball fans. As a senior, the varsity baseball player is looking to add to his already prestigious accolades. Following an incredible junior baseball season in which Solle placed first team Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) as a pitcher and third baseman, Solle is continuing his lasting legacy in his final year with Redwood baseball.

Solle gained interest in sports at a young age, specifically baseball. He attributes his enthusiasm and focus towards the sport to his dad, who has always pushed him to try his hardest.

“My dad and I would always play [baseball] when I was kid. When I decided to play my first year of baseball, I found early success which made me grow a passion for the game. I always wanted to win too,” Solle said.

Solle says that his successes come from maintaining strict principles that his dad prioritized at a young age.

“My success is from dedication and grind. I just have to stay strict to the process, and that’s how I see results,” Solle said.

Solle impressively announced his

The determination he found at a young age has never flickered out, and varsity was playing 3rd base against Tamalpais High School. I made a great play

the semi-finals, and two years prior, they devastatingly lost to Marin Catholic in the championship on a walk-off home run.

“[Winning a championship] is 100 percent in the picture. We are a strong young team with lots of high aspirations. I think this is our year, and then past that, North Coast Section championship,” Solle said.

Solle, a highly desired prospect, went through the rigorous college recruiting process and feels lucky to have received the interest he did.

“I was just hoping to attend somewhere in Southern California; that’s always been my dream. I wanted somewhere that fit me as a person, and I got that with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I ended up in the perfect spot,” Solle said.

He is excited to continue his pitching career past Redwood, as UCLA ranks in the top 25 in college baseball in 2024 and has the number one recruiting class. With his hard working attitude, there’s no doubt that Solle will thrive in the college environment.

“I’m very excited to get to the next level. I’m just looking to play a role however I can, just trying to help support the team and win as many games as possible,” Solle said.

STARTING AT ORACLE Park, Solle throws a fastball towards home plate. Photo by Graham Weir SOLLE SIGNS HIS national letter of intent to play baseball at UCLA, as a part of the top recruiting class in the nation.

jpost@redwoodbark.org bark www.redwoodbark.org Page 15 • Sports

Photo courtesy of Rex Solle

Crickets in the crowd and playing in the shadows

By Novotny and Lucy Jeffers Cub Reporter

Friday rolls around, and the anticipated boys’ varsity basketball game is only hours away. You can hardly wait to scream at the top of your lungs with your friends in a sea of red and black. As you walk in half an hour early to beat the expected crowds, the atmosphere is electric. Sweaty seniors are jumping up and down as the whole school echoes the electric chants. The bleachers are packed beyond its capacity, as your eager classmates spill into the stairwell.

This overpopulated, intense and eccentric scene is not replicated at the girls’ basketball games, whose audience usually consists of loyal team parents, some student fans, the JV cheerleading team and younger kids. There is not the same attitude to show up early to get an ideal spot. Instead, you are welcomed by the lonely student section, banners above representing countless Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) titles, with no respective student population cheering beneath it. What is the real reason for this extreme difference in attendance?

Basketball aside, the student attendance at boys’ sporting events triumphs over the girls’ teams consistently. Robbie Morrow, a sophomore athlete, feels that boys’ games are more sought after than girls’ games. “Boys games in comparison [to girls games] are in a different league. The boys’ games feel more like a school-wide event.” His opinion is supported by the data. In the recent Redwood Bark Survey filled out by an even number of girls and boys, data found that 65 percent of students are more likely to attend a boys’ sport game, compared to 13 percent for girls and 22 percent for neither.

Morrow additionally notes how program success can increase its popularity. “The boys’ [basketball] team is also usually very good which I think contributes to their student attendance,” Morrow said. Morrow’s claim is supported by the facts, as the boys’ team has brought home numerous MCAL titles, especially in recent years. However, it can’t go unnoticed that the girls’ team is doing the same and debatedly more. This year, girls’ basketball boasted an NCS victory, in addition to a narrow loss by three points in the 2024 CIF State girls’ basketball semi-final. This is a significant contrast to the boys’ season, who came up short in the MCAL finals and suffered a loss in the first round of the NCS playoffs.

According to MaxPreps postseason stats, the boys’ basketball team ended

being ranked #122 in California, and the girls’ team finished their season ranked #68 in California. While rankings don’t say everything and respective competition differs greatly, they provide a general idea of the skill level of the teams in the state. If rankings did determine student attendance, then the girls’ teams should be generating significantly more popularity amongst students. But despite the girls’ incredible success, they received little recognition or attendance during their deep playoff run.

Another aspect differentiating the attendance in boys’ and girls’ sports is the game time. The girls’ games are usually at 6 p.m., compared to the boys’ playing regularly at 7:30 p.m.. These times do not switch every other game. Students are busy after school, whether juggling homework, jobs, sports and everything else. It is more likely that a student will be free to attend a basketball game later in the evening, especially when the later games are a sought-after social event.

Sophomore basketball star Kitty White can feel the indifference when playing.

“In most games, the stands were pretty sparsely filled. The student section started with around 10 people, and by the end of the game, it was more than 45. But this is because the boys play after us,” White said.

Student attendance wouldn’t even matter if it didn’t affect the athlete’s mood. To be a student-athlete is nothing short of a silent struggle. Between morning practices and afternoon lifts, practices and games, you battle to complete all your assignments while securing enough sleep to wake up and do it the next day. This incarcerating cycle doesn’t even include the added pressure to succeed athletically, which often looks like significant work outside of practice. The non-stop work of student-athletes is rewarded by the community’s attendance and appreciation.

“I feel the difference when the crowd is loud. It can be great motivation when the atmosphere is very energetic and spirited,” White said.

Other athletes at Redwood share White’s view on how crowds can impact the mood of the game, and help to be a motivation. Boys’ basketball player Leo Centeno shares a similar feeling about motivation.

“It’s always fun to play when people are watching. It feels like an added motivation to do your best,” Centeno said.

The data and student opinion overwhelmingly support the difference in attendance varying for boys to girls, but what has yet to be addressed is the true reason why it occurs in our sports community. It doesn’t have to do with the talent of the respective teams, as girls’ basketball dominates the league all while drawing in a fraction of the boys’ viewers. So, what is it about boys’ sports that have an amazingly larger audience pull?

“I believe that the boys’ [basketball] team is more popular because it is more interesting. With their height and speed, they just have more capabilities, such as dunking. You don’t see that in the girls’ games,” White said.

“I think advertising for girls’ sports could be better. The problem is that sometimes the girls’ sports aren’t talked about enough days before the game the way boys’ sports are,” Morrow said.

Ceneteno poses a similar perspective as Morrow.

“Part of the reason I never see girls’ sports is that I never know when they are,” Centeno said.

Girls’ sports games are publicized via Instagram, and occasionally on Redwood TV, just the same as the boys. However, they aren’t ever really made into a big school event the way boys’ games are. This past fall, boys’ basketball

participated in “Game Night,” with the boys’ water polo team. This night was well publicized, from T-shirts to food vendors to posters decorating the halls for weeks prior.

Morrow, who attended this event recalls it as “A fun night spent with friends cheering on the basketball team.” It’s a shame these event experiences aren’t replicated for the girls’ team.

Regardless of the sport, both boys’ and girls’ teams are extremely talented, bringing home countless regional and state titles. Many hours of tedious practice and long afternoons of dedication, on top of schoolwork, shouldn’t go unnoticed by both girls and boys alike. As an engaged student at Redwood, it is vital to be a supportive viewer in all accomplished teams to help motivate athletes and create a strong community throughout the school. In conclusion, every time you see a poster in the hallway or hear an announcement on the loudspeaker encouraging the student body to attend everyone’s favorite boys’ sports team, be aware and remember your fellow female athletes who are working just as hard, possibly receiving higher titles with less recognition.

bark Page 16 • Sports April 26, 2024

bark@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Matthew Knauer Photo by Matthew Knauer Petra REDWOOD STUDENTS OVERFLOW the bleachers for the MCAL championship game versus Branson. THE FOREST STUDENT section packs the gym, dressed in all white in support of Morgan’s Message. Infographic by Lily Skinner

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Oddcha: preparar creaTÉvidad

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Situado en una pintoresca casa victoriana de San Rafael, Oddcha es una experiencia de boba deliciosa y única. Fundado durante el verano de 2023, Oddcha ofrece una multitud de tés de leche y fruta, así como batidos que muestran la buena calidad de sus ingredientes. Oddcha debe su nombre a dos palabras. Odd que significa único, y Cha que se traduce como té en Tailandia. El objetivo principal del negocio es crear una nueva experiencia de boba en Marin County y también crear un sabor diferente. Cada bebida en Oddcha está diseñada para llamar la atención con sus colores brillantes tanto en las bebidas como en sus tazas.

Thai Twister

La primera bebida que probé fue el Swirling Brulee Cream con té con leche tailandés. El Thai Twister es delicioso y sorprendente como su nombre y es perfecto para personas que les encantan las cosas dulces. Sin embargo, la crema brulee es el sabor principal, así que si buscas algo sin sabor al brulee, Oddcha también ofrece otros tés con leche tailandesa. Una característica distinta para mí fue la forma en que todas las bebidas que pedí venían en tazas reciclables no en el típico plástico. Las tazas tenían una tapa con un tapón para cerrar el orificio de la pajita. Aunque Oddcha también usa plástico, el diseño de las tazas hace que no se doblen tanto como en otras tiendas de boba que he visitado, lo que hizo que fuera mucho más fácil beber de ellas.

Oddcha Matcha

El siguiente sabor que decidí probar del menú fue el Oddcha Matcha, uno de los batidos de Oddcha, que combina matcha de primera calidad con crema Oreo brulee. Igual que en el Thai Twister, la matcha en esta bebida es más bien un sabor de fondo, mientras que el sabor a Oreo ocupó el lugar central. Esta bebida muestra el toque único de boba que Oddcha se esfuerza para ofrecer en todos sus productos.

Twilight Taro

Por último, pedí el Twilight Taro. Esta bebida lleva taro cocido a fuego lento y batatas moradas. Tanto como el Thai twister, esta bebida es una de las más populares del menú de Oddcha. Está bebida es perfecta para los menos golosos, la adición única de boniatos morados le da a la bebida un intenso color morado. Con su menú diverso, Oddcha es el lugar perfecto para pasarse a tomar algo. Si el viaje a las tiendas es demasiado largo, Oddcha también ofrece servicio a domicilio a través de servicios como Doordash, Ubereats y Grubhub. Los vasos de Oddcha, resistentes y de alta calidad, los diferencian de sus competidores y hacen que la experiencia sea más agradable. Para los fans de la boba o para los que quieran ampliar su paladar, el menú de Oddcha hará que vuelva por más.

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Las elecciones presidenciales de México

Empezando el 2 de junio del 2024 se abrirán los centros de votación en todo el estado de México, para que el público pueda votar por su nuevo presidente que estará a cargo por los próximos seis años. Este año hay tres candidatos, quienes son: Claudia Sheinbaum, Xóchitl Gálvez y Jorge Álvarez Maynez. Todos estos candidatos están en una posición de poder ser presidente pero ¿quién de ellos sucederá al presidente Andres Manuel López Obrador? Este año es un año muy especial en México porque por primera vez en la historia del país hay una posibilidad de tener una mujer como presidenta.

Karen Ochoa, es una mujer mexicana de la comunidad del Colegio de Marín quien ha estado atenta a las noticias de la elección.

“Es la primera elección en que podría ser posible que una mujer pudiera llegar a ser presidenta, porque México es un país muy machista,” Ochoa dijo.

En México, en el pasado no había muchas mujeres en posiciones gobernantes.

“Los hombres tienen puestos importantes, por ejemplo, en la policía y al alto rasgo, pero ahora, en esta elección, las mujeres podrán tener [más] poder,” Ochoa dijo.

Los tres candidatos tienen programas distintos. En su campaña, Jorge Álvarez Máynez se enfoca en derechos laborales y derechos de maternidad. Álvarez Máynez también apoya a la descriminalización de ciertos tipos de drogas. Ahora Álvarez Máynez está en tercer lugar en la campaña electoral. Él no tiene mucha chance debido a que su partido, “Movimiento Ciudadano”, que es un partido joven y no tiene mucho apoyo público. Más que nada, su campaña ha sido menos para ganar el puesto de presidente y más para atraer la atención del público para elecciones en el futuro.

Xóchitl Gálvez, otra candidata, tiene un programa que consiste en aumentar impuestos para los adinerados. Gálvez busca una relación más fuerte con los Estados Unidos, además de más inversiones en seguridad nacional. Gálvez se opone a López Obrador y ha dicho que no apoya al partido de gobierno: El Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). Para ella, ambos son ineficaces. Ahora ella está en segundo lugar en la campaña electoral. Aunque sus convicciones son fuertes, Claudia Sheinbaum está en primer lugar.

Sheinbaum, está en primer lugar en las elecciones nacionales, fue alcaldesa de Ciudad de México de 2018 hasta 2023 y pertenece al partido más grande de México, “Morena". El programa de Sheinbaum se basa en la continuación de las políticas de su partido. Además, Sheinbaum quiere brindar su experiencia como alcaldesa de la Ciudad de México a la presidencia. Ella fue muy exitosa como alcaldesa, particularmente en áreas de la seguridad y la policía.

Debido al hecho que Gálvez y Sheinbaum están en los primeros dos lugares de la elección, es muy probable que una de ellas pueda ganar. Si ésto sucede, sería un gran cambio cultural para México, y un apoyo grande para el movimiento feminista que busca más póder en el país. En el tema de cambio social y política, Ochoa es optimista.

“En México los presidentes son marionetas que dan la cara y todo el trabajo está por detrás pero este año es diferente porque tenemos dos mujeres y son las favoritas.,” Ochoa dijo.

Aunque Claudia Sheinbaum sigue al frente no sabremos quién va ser el nuevo presidente de México hasta el 2 de junio de 2024.

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PREGUNTÁNDOSE QUÉ SABORES probar,

clientes

Página 17

Penelope Trott Cub Reporter Por Ofelia Huneeus Cub Reporter y Melanie Canul Chable Infografia por Indah Herzenberg y Tessa Tuatini Arte por Cora Champommier BRILLANDO BAJO LA luz del sol, el exterior decorado de Oddcha invita a probar su comida Foto por Penelope Trott los navegan por el menú de Oddchas Foto por Penelope Trott

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Coastal advocacy and youth involvement: Students partner with Surfrider Foundation

By Estelle Smith Cub Reporter

On the first warm sunny weekends in Marin, families, high school kids, dogs and surfers alike all flocked to Stinson Beach to have some fun in the sun. People in Marin love the beaches and are fortunate enough to have them right in their backyards. It hits Marin residents close to home when our oceans are being polluted with plastics and waste.

The Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit organization, works to fight these trends by conserving the coastline through its large outreach, community donations and volunteer efforts. Volunteers worldwide participate in programs like beach cleanups, the Blue Water Task Force and ocean-friendly restaurants and gardens. The organization celebrates 40 years of activism this year.

The organization is split up into chapters located in primarily coastal cities. The Marin Chapter was founded in 1998 by Scott Tye and Bill Guthrie after they

FRESHMEN SABINE KHAN, Anastasia Lazarenko and Lillian Merrill devote a Saturday to cleaning Stinson Beach.

learned about the work of the Surfrider Foundation in San Diego, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Scott Tye, former lifeguard and founder of the Junior Lifeguard program at Stinson Beach, was the Marin Chapter chairman for 16 years and is now the Vice Chair.

“For years we were kind of on a beer and pretzel budget. We had $83,000 in our bank account,” Tye said.

They started very grass-roots, gaining traction and volunteers from fellow beach lovers.

“Then, we started getting these big donors…and we were no longer beer and pretzels anymore,” Tye said.

Once the organization started gaining some money and recognition, Surfrider clubs started forming in schools all over Marin, at Archie Williams, Tamalpais High School, Marin Academy, Redwood and more.

Former Redwood student, Daniela Schwartz, became interested in Surfrider in 2016 and attended chapter meetings. She described that Marin’s chapter for a long time had been run by “old surfer guys.”

“They needed a bit more youthful energy to know what’s going on and be involved with the happenings that we are more familiar with,” Schwartz said, “I’d gone to a couple of the chapter meetings, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m the youngest person here. There needs to be more young voices included in these discussions.’”

This motivated Schwartz to start a club at Redwood when she was a sophomore.

“It was a really great way to create a group of like-minded individuals who wanted to protect the ocean. It got us involved in activity in Marin, outside of just Redwood…it was a good first step into the environmental space,” Schwartz said.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 caused a significant decrease in individuals in the club when Schwartz was at Redwood.

“There was a moment where it was

thriving and everyone was really involved, but then after COVID, it was hard to start that up again,” Schwartz said, “I think it’s a great outlet for students to expand their horizon on what environmentalism can look like.”

The freshman leadership class chose to partner with Surfrider as their non-profit organization for the year. Freshman Jane Scheuring is a leadership student who takes on a big role in managing Surfrider communication and planning the beach clean-ups for the class.

“I pushed really hard for Surfrider [when we were choosing our non-profit] because it’s super easy to get involved with and it’s a really good organization,” Scheuring said.

Similar to what Schwartz touched on, Tye said the most rewarding part of the chapter was the increase in youth involvement, such as that of Scheuring.

“We had our monthly meeting in

March of 2020. There were 20 people at the meeting, and 14 of them were high school kids…I’m an old guy, we used to be just a group of surfer old guys. To have 14 people from four different high schools show up was incredible. It was like, ‘We’ve succeeded, we’ve engaged the next generation,’” Tye said.

Currently, the Marin Chapter has about 600 members. They are focusing on big blue sea walls, pollution, coastal armoring and educating people on sea level rise and water testing. Not only that, but they lobby for certain regulations that would prevent the degradation of the beaches and work with Tye to organize frequent beach cleanups.

“[The clubs are] really just symbolic. It’s to make you feel good. And it’s to show that you have an impact, but it will never stop the flow,” Tye said.

Tony Harvey: The man that keeps the scoreboard running

By Tessa Tuatini Cub Reporter

Those who attend the many sporting events here may not think about the work behind the scoreboard. However, behind the ever-changing numbers displayed on the screen is a dedicated alumnus of Redwood, Tony Harvey. One of Harvey’s many jobs is to control the scoreboard for varsity softball, baseball and football games, except his efforts don’t just stop at that. His dedication and fun nature have lasting effects on the sports teams and the community.

As a 1987 Redwood graduate, Harvey has lived in Marin for over 50 years. After being on the track and field team for a year, he decided to surround himself with a different array of athletes and then began to help out with the varsity baseball, football and softball scoreboard.

“I think going out of high school, I didn’t really know what I was going to do for work for a while. Nine to five jobs are just not for me. This is fun, you get to come out and get out in the sun,” Harvey said.

Harvey has been a part of Redwood sports for 30 years since then, his favorite part being the constant chaos and excitement. Harvey greatly assists the varsity softball team

every season. Emily Atkinson, the head coach of varsity softball, is a testament to his helpful nature.

“[Harvey] does a great job creating and helping the community with the parents, which I don’t interact with as much because I’m coaching. He’ll go out during games and talk to [the parents] and everything else,” Atkinson said. “I call him the mayor of Redwood softball because he hangs out and socializes with the parents and

Gia Meyers, a sophomore on the varsity softball team, comments on Harvey’s dedication and commitment to the

“He is always there, no matter if it’s a home game or an away game. Even if it’s two hours away he always brings the energy and is laughing,” Meyers said.

Not only does Harvey control the scoreboards, but he also helps out during practice and with game preparation.

Whether it be preparing the softball field, bringing foam rollers to players, mowing the lawn, or conversing with parents, Harvey does a little bit of everything.

“It really depends on what’s going on that day,” Harvey said, “I was down [at the softball field] early to mow…, and then the scoreboard was coming apart, so I got somebody to fix that.”

A friendly face you often see in the parking lot, on the field, or around the halls, Harvey’s easygoing nature and fun quirks make him approachable and easy to talk to. Atkinson remembers many of Harvey’s characteristics and memories during his help with the softball team.

“He loves wearing his cowboy boots to playoff games and to San Francisco games; his playoff boots… he loves to show them off,” Atkinson said. “He loves being at Redwood. He loves being involved with the kids, he is very social and loves talking and being around people. He is an adopted uncle to a lot of these girls.”

Whether you are a student-athlete or not, Harvey always rocks a radiating smile and welcoming demeanor. Reflecting on the connections he has made with students throughout the years, the simple interactions Harvey has are often the most rewarding.

“When I see [students] in the hall they’re all like, ‘Hey Tony!’. I’m gonna keep in touch with some of the graduates… they pop in and see us now and then,” Harvey said. “I follow [the players] a little bit in college. We have got a girl playing for Dominican right now and one girl playing for Williams College.”

Regardless of all the hustle and bustle of activities around campus, Harvey always manages to be a friendly face that radiates through the community.

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Photo by Adriella Marcus HANDING OUT CLEANING supplies, freshman Sammy Chew works behind the Surfrider Foundation table. Photo by Adriella Marcus

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The double-duty life of Dr. Melanie Baskind

By Paige Catanese Cub Reporter

Melanie Baskind knows how to make an impact both on and off the field, from assisting student-athletes to saving lives in the hospital. A pediatric hospitalist at night and a varsity assistant coach by day, Baskind has an extensive background that inspires the next generation of players. Her story begins at Harvard as being a Division I women’s soccer and lacrosse player. But she wasn’t just an average player; Baskind was also a captain.

“I had a pretty unique college experience. The first part is being at a place like Harvard, which has a big brand to it and also playing two Division I sports, which is pretty different from most people’s college experience as well,” Baskind said.

Baskind lived 30 minutes from Harvard’s campus growing up but never visited the school because she believed it to be too lofty of a goal. That was until Baskind began her recruitment process for Division I soccer. Being at Harvard inspired her to start a career in the medical field.

“I do credit going into healthcare and being a doctor with my experience at Harvard, just being surrounded by a lot of passionate, motivated and smart people. That environment is so important to the person that you become,” Baskind said.

After graduating, Baskind takes on her career as a pediatric hospitalist, typically working night shifts or 24-hour shifts. As a pediatric hospitalist, she works with babies and children needing medical attention.

“I work full-time in the hospital. I take care of babies, well babies, sick babies, premature babies and any kids who need to be in the hospital. I work overnight or 24-hour shifts rather than a typical nineto-five like a pediatrician typically does,” Baskind said.

This mobility in her schedule has allowed her to continue her passion for soccer through coaching. Baskind was varsity girls soccer's first assistant coach, leading the team to the Marin County Athletic League championships with Ivan Bandov, the team’s head coach.

“One person dealing with 23 teenagers isn’t always a walk in the park, so it's important to have a second set of eyes and ears. Especially [Baskind], who has played [soccer] at Harvard and works in the medical field,” Bandov said.

Three-year varsity player Ava Walkeryee spent most of her time with Baskind on the sideline because of her knee's torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Baskind is a great role model for her because, like Baskind, Walkeryee wants to go into the medical field later in life.

“[Baskind’s] life path is very inspiring to any student but especially for me because I want to go into the medical field,” Walkeryee said.

Besides Baskind’s unique soccer and healthcare experience, she brings much more to the team. Being limited to a male coach on an all-female team comes with restrictions, as Bandov expresses.

“[Baskind] got on with the girls really well and it's almost like a big sister kind of feeling, which I believe is good, especially at a high school level. There are some things they aren’t [going to go] to a male

coach about that they can go to her about,” Bandov said.

Baskind's unique perspective, coming from a younger age group and approaching coaching as a player rather than a traditional coach, has had a profound impact on the team. Her coaching strategies, which are helpful and understanding, are unlike any other coaches Walkeryee has had previously. This unique approach has intrigued the team and enhanced their performance and knowledge of the game.

[Baskind] got on with the girls really well and it’s almost like a big sister kind of feeling...

Baskind's impact on the team is undeniable. As a huge role model to the players and a great assistant coach, she has set a high standard for the team. Looking ahead, Baskind has ambitious goals for the team's future. Her vision and dedication to the team's success are sure to motivate further generations of players, leaving the audience hopeful and excited for what's to come.

Ivan Bandov, Head Soccer Coach

“[Baskind] also understands what it’s like to be a player. Her feedback was really specific and the ways she explains things are really helpful,” Walkeryee said.

“Thank you to all the girls and [Bandov] for welcoming me this season. I am so grateful that people are happy to have me even though I can’t be there for every practice or game,” Baskind said.

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LAUGHING ON THE sidelines, Melanie Baskind and Head Coach Ivan Bandov flash a smile. Photo courtesy of Melanie Baskind DR. MELANIE BASKIND began working at Marin Health in 2022 and Redwood High School in 2023.

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Photo courtesy of Melanie Baskind

Jonny Moseley explores the slopes of life: Olympic medalist and Redwood parent

By Hilah Brekhus-Lavinsky Cub Reporter

1998 Olympic gold medalist and skiing legend Jonny Moseley gracefully navigated the slopes of parenting, bringing the same fitness and determination to raising his children as he did to the world of freestyle skiing. Jonny Moseley explores different paths in life, along with raising two boys.

Jonny Moseley moved to Marin when he was two years old. His parents shared their love for skiing with him and his brothers.

“[Skiing] was for fun, there was never a notion that ‘this is going to be a profession for you,’” Jonny Moseley said.

At 15, Jonny Moseley realized he had the potential to go further than originally expected. He wanted to make his love for skiing a profession, which he did postgraduation.

Jonny Moseley graduated high school in 1993. Following that, he moved to Tahoe to pursue his skiing career. Jonny Moseley won a silver medal at the X-games and a gold medal in the 1998 Olympics in Japan, making him the first skier to win a medal in both competitions. After competing in the 2002 Olympics, Jonny Moseley returned to Tiburon.

“My roots kept pulling me back [to Tiburon]. I had been on the road since I was a teenager. I missed the mountains, redwood trees, the bay, the community, my friends and the culture,” Jonny Moseley said.

After his last Olympics in 2002, Jonny Moseley hosted Saturday Night Live and was drawn to the business of television. He has made countless appearances on screen, the most notable being his iconic Toyota commercials.

In 2006, Jonny Moseley married Malia Rich. In 2007, he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and had his first son, Jack Moseley, and his second son, Tommy Moseley, in 2010.

and give them that opportunity to genuinely feel like they want to be skiers and we were fortunate enough to go down that path,” Jonny Moseley said.

As an adolescent, Jack admired his dad, Jonny.

“I did [want to be a professional skier], especially when I was younger. I wanted to be a skier and follow him through skiing, ” Jack Moseley said.

Like his parents, Jonny Moseley has let his kids pave their own paths when it comes to their chosen extracurriculars.

“[Jack and Tommy] have both chosen to focus more on baseball and that’s amazing. We dig skiing but we [also] dig baseball,” Jonny Moseley said.

As a Redwood sophomore, Jack Moseley is currently playing his second season of varsity baseball.

“I wanted to expose [Jack and Tommy] to skiing from a young age

“I found more of a passion in baseball and realized that skiing wasn’t something that I wanted to pursue,” Jack Moseley said.

Jonny Moseley and Malia Moseley went to The Branson School in Ross.

“I loved [Branson], but Jack wasn’t really interested in it in the way I was [and] I respected that,”

Jonny Moseley said.

Jack Moseley’s reasons for not attending his parents’ alma mater were similar reasons to other kids who were debating between the public or private high school route.

“I felt that Redwood was going to give me a different experience

and help me make a better choice for college,” Jack Moseley said.

Though Jonny Moseley is well known, being in Marin also helps him stay down to earth.

“I’m not so well known that I can’t operate in a normal manner. They know me. They know my family. They know what I’m like, which is great,” Jonny Moseley said.

Nostalgic about his competition days, Jonny Moseley remains in the ski industry.

“I really miss that sort of goaloriented time in my life,” Jonny Moseley said.

Jack Moseley expresses heartfelt gratitude for his father’s illustrious career.

“[My dad’s popularity has] given me a lot of unique opportunities that I am grateful for and also a couple of things that make me different from other kids,” Jack Moseley said.

Though fame was not what Jonny Moseley was originally shooting for, he is thankful.

“I went off and did this skiing thing and it went well and one thing led to another and it gave me this whole life. That’s something I am very grateful for. It’s been very cool,” Jonny Moseley said.

Not only is Jonny Moseley grateful for his past, but excited for the future.

“In general it’s a working document…we are working on it together,” Jonny Moseley said.

CLICKING POLES, JONNY and Jack Moseley share a father-son moment before taking off for a run.

hbrekhuslavinsky@redwoodbark.org

Photo Courtesy of Jonny Moseley Photo Courtesy of Jonny Moseley