The Bolt December 2023

The

BOLT

December 2023 Volume 22, Issue 3 lightningboltonline.com Sage Hill School 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Newport Beach Commission OKs Middle School, Second Gym Project

By Isabella Palacio

Trinity Chen | The Bolt

Synergy Dance Ensemble opens the “Big White Room” show in the Kazu Fukuda Black Box Theater.

Dancers Dazzle in “Big White Room”

By Riley Robinson

Synergy Dance Ensemble, Sage Hill’s most competitive and highest level of dance class, presents two dance shows each year that are choreographed by Dance teacher Sydney Smith and leaders in the Synergy Dance Ensemble. This fall, Synergy performed their fall showcase, “Big White Room,” which encompassed “a series of stories told in a blank space.”

The show consisted of eight dance numbers and one monologue performed by senior Liesel Hartmann. Each piece had a different message behind it whether it was mercy, sisterhood or friendship.

Smith and Synergy members choreographed the dances which effectively showed student dancers’ talent and dedication. Students performed various dance styles into a cohesive and moving performance. Each piece was matched to music that enhanced the emotional impact of each routine which caused a range of emotions from the audience each night.

“My favorite part about being in the show was having the opportunity to dance

“

alongside my teammates. Their work ethic, talent and dedication inspires me to work harder and be a better dancer,” senior Isabella Palacio said.

“All of the Lights” was the last performance before the intermission, which had an upbeat and energetic atmosphere that made the audience want to sing and dance alongside the performers. A large part of what made this number so special in particular was the collaboration of the Reimagined fashion upcycling club led by junior Anna Yang and senior Sofia Jellen.

Reimagined works to “upcycle used clothing to advocate for fashion sustainability and improved labor conditions.” For this number, Reimagined was inspired by the concept of deja vu, ‘80s music, street fashion, urban graffiti and abstract art. As a club, students used spray paint to convey the feelings of free-spirited euphoria, and fabric paint that expressed a sentiment of individuality. Each performer wore unique colors and corresponding patterns that were hand-painted and designed by the Reimagined club, adding an extra ele-

It was great being able to share our culture since we haven’t had any Diwali celebrations

- Ananya Devkirti

Opinion, Page 2

Community, Page 3

ment of fun and creativity to the number.

“When Ms. Smith first asked us to upcycle the costumes, I was immediately inspired by the soundtrack of the dance and wanted to portray individuality through the intersection of fashion, music and dance.

Because I have a background in dance as well, it was incredible seeing the designs come to life on each dancer and how they each made it their own,” Anna said.

Synergy used their creativity, teamwork and love of artistry to collectively make the night memorable for everyone.

“It was blissful, meaningful and heartwarming. Seeing my students trust me, their peers, the audience and most importantly themselves when the curtain opened for the first time gave me a calm feeling of hope and love,” Smith said.

“Through all of the chaos, college applications, busy schedules and stress – I was so proud that my students could be present in the moment doing the thing that they love for themselves and sharing that with others.”

The Newport Beach Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve the development of Sage Hill’s middle school on Dec. 7, clearing a significant hurdle in the project’s path.

The three-story middle school building would increase Sage Hill’s maximum student enrollment from 600 to 750 students by adding the seventh and eighth grades. The proposed structure includes the construction of eight new classrooms, an outdoor learning courtyard, a new gymnasium, a café and improvements to the baseball field lighting.

“I think this is a fantastic project. I think you guys brought together a great application. We’re going to be supportive and wish you the best of luck,” Planning Commission Chair Curtis Ellmore told Sage Hill trustees, employees, parents, and students gathered in the Newport Beach City Council Chambers.

The project required a thorough traffic review and a biological resources study.

City staffers determined construction of the new building would not have a significant impact on the environment, including sensitive species and habitats.

Traffic engineers said additional car trips created by the project could be mitigated with an extension of the left turn pocket at Newport Coast Drive and the Coyote Canyon Renewable Energy Facility gate. Queuing motorists will see the turn lane extended from 100 to 550 feet long.

Additionally, the middle school would start at 8:30 a.m. to offset the possibility of traffic congestion on weekdays. High school classes will continue their normal 8:00 a.m. start time.

Senior Billy Ray voiced support for the project.

“I love the school and I hope the committee approves it,” Billy said.

Mike Bolen, Chair of the Sage Hill Board of Trustees and parent of Sage Hill alumni, told commissioners the middle school would maximize the property’s use.

“We’ve been studying this project diligently for the last four years, it will largely complete the vision of the founders when we get it done,” Bolen said.

” Athletics, Page 4

Voices, Page 6

Entertainment, Page 8

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Opinion

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

Opinion: Understanding the Voter Turnout Slump

By Sophie Kramer

Knowing how elections work is as crucial as understanding who we are voting for. Grasping the infrastructure of our election systems is vital to high school students because soon, we will be participants in the democratic process.

Throughout history, various minority groups have experienced disproportionately lower voter turnout, profoundly influencing the outcome of decisions shaping our nation’s future. Low voter turnout stems from people feeling disinterested in politics, encountering barriers like complicated registration processes or the belief that their vote won’t make a meaningful impact. A lack of interest in political candidates and ballot measures also drives down voter participation.

Notably, even down-ballot elections witness low levels of voter engagement. Because of this low voter

turnout, many minorities are underrepresented among likely voters. The Public Policy Institute of California’s study of voter demographics in California for 2022 states “likely voters are disproportionately white.” Likely voters were also reportedly older, more educated, affluent and homeowners. This means that elections that influence our future do not represent a diverse percentage of the population. Many young people do not participate in smaller elections like midterms and are seen as “dropoff voters.” However, vote-by-mail registration helps ensure more consistent participation among our diverse population. This is still not enough, though: Even with the introduction of mail-in ballots, there are not enough active participants in the democratic process.

Another aspect of presidential elections that voters typically do not understand is the difference between the electoral college and the popular vote. The New

York Times writes, “When Americans cast their ballots, they are voting for a slate of electors appointed by their state’s political parties who are pledged to support that party’s candidate.”

Many do not realize that voter participation ensures that the popular vote represents the preferences of the majority. It is more accurate and reflective of the entire community’s choices, which makes the democratic process stronger and more reliable. Recognizing that underrepresented communities’ lack of participation ultimately affects our generation is important when we all begin our journey as voters. Voting allows young people to shape the future and have a direct impact on the decisions that will affect our lives.

Ensuring that our voices are heard and represented is becoming ever more important in our evolving world.

Flik Backpack Emergency!

Cartoon by Jesse Lew

Opinion: Consumerism Mars Holiday Spirit

By Arya Rawal

During Christmas, people spend hours online or in stores, searching for presents for their friends and family. While buying gifts for your loved ones might seem like a intrinsic tradition during the holiday season, Christmas was not always centered around gift-giving. The tradition was inspired by an old folktale and began when French nuns started giving presents to poor children in the 12th century during the weeks preceding Christmas. This practice spread throughout Europe rapidly, becoming a norm in the celebration of winter holidays. Today, people annually spend an average of nearly $1,000 on Christmas gifts. Last year, overall holiday spending reached almost $900 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, and it seems that the holiday focuses more and more on gift-giving each year.

Many people find issues with the rise of consumerism during Christmas. Since the holiday revolves around buying decorations and shopping for gifts, consumers are pressured to buy more expensive items to gift their loved ones. Some people feel that giving an inexpensive item may seem less thoughtful or caring. To prevent affection and love from being measured in terms of money, many are advocating for a shift in focus from gift-giving to spending time with family and friends or enjoying time off from work or school. Others want to find deeper religious or spiritual connections to the holiday.

Despite the advocacy for change, most people still continue to participate in the practice of gift-giving during Christmas. However, the new perspectives on how Christmas should be celebrated raise questions about the true meaning of the holiday.

Creative Commons

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he Bolt is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. Opinions expressed do not represent the views or beliefs of Sage Hill School and its administration. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editors from members of the Sage Hill community which may be posted as comments at lightningboltonline. com, or addressed to Editors-in-Chief Phoebe Pan, Alia Sajjadian and Anne Chen and put in their mailboxes on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion.

Editors-in-Chief Phoebe Pan (Bolt), Alia Sajjadian (Bolt) & Anne Chen (Online) Editorial Board Minha Oh, Trinity Chen, Yasmin Dennis, Madeleine Carroll, Ava Eimani, Grace Yan, Grant Franey & Ceyda Shamsai Writers Priya Bhakta, Maya Desai, Mika He, Mirabelle Jiang, Jesse Lew, Taite Nicholson, Arya Rawal, Riley Robinson, Suri Yaghmai, Katelyn Yeh, Nate Yoo & Sophia Zhou Photographers Amy Choi, Sarah Huang, Sophia Jacinto, Jenny Li & Sophie Wang Adviser Daniel Langhorne

Scan this QR code to check out our online edition or find us at lighningboltonline.com for the latest news!

Community

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

3

Freshmen Trained as Bleeding Control First Responders

By Mika He Sage Hill’s Safety and Security Manager Adam Patterson recently presented to the freshman class in the Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium about first aid and methods to “Stop the Bleed,” training students to be first responders in cases of life-threatening bleeding.

Uncontrolled bleeding is a major cause of preventative deaths with about 40% of trauma-related deaths worldwide linked to bleeding or its consequences, according to the American College of Surgeons. A person can bleed out in three to five minutes, which is often faster than paramedics and emergency medical technicians can respond. The rise of gun violence in schools and other public places has given first responders a new urgency to educate the public, Patterson said.

“Everyone can be the first responder,” Patterson said at the Nov. 29 event. “It is the first person that can take immediate action on a person, and that is often the most important time of saving a person’s life. So it is crucial to teach kids, not only adults, about this first aid information because the first responder can be you.”

The “ABC” is a simple method of bleeding control where you first alert 911, then find the wound and finally put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding until medical professionals arrive.

“Today, I learned how to control bleeding and to be a first responder to an emergency,” freshman Jonathan Yii said.

The students were also given the opportunity to receive a hands-on “Stop the Bleed” certification, where they used a tourniquet and gauze on a dummy.

“I learned how to tie a tourniquet and stop bleeding by stuffing gauze into the wound,” freshman Audrey Reynolds said.

COURTESY OF SAGE HILL SCHOOL

Safety and Security Manager Adam Patterson instructs freshman Adam Pirnazar on how to use a tourniquet on Nov. 29.

Artist Spotlights Women’s Rights at Feminist Club

By Suri Yaghmai

Among the various Sage Hill student clubs is the Feminist Club which focuses on educating the school community about intersectional feminism and female empowerment.

Junior Aava Ghorbanian, the club’s head of arts, hosted Mojan Mozaffari to speak at the club’s Iranian Women’s Rights Seminar on Nov. 16 to help fellow students learn more about the state of women’s rights in different parts of the world. Mozaffari is an Iranian activist who uses potent art and speeches to

educate others on how Iranian women are confronting oppression by their country’s regime.

Specifically, she spotlighted the jailing and alleged rape of protesters; at least one woman lost her eye to an injury she endured while protesting.

“It was a valuable opportunity for our club, as our members were able to ask questions and gain insight into the situation in Iran both historically and currently,” Feminist Club president Nancy Xu said.

Other club members state how it was a very informational

yet heartfelt experience that they are grateful for.

“It was really interesting to have a Persian [activist] come to talk about the troubles she had been through, and it just helped us to learn a lot more about the situation regarding women’s rights,” freshman club member Shawn Huan said.

After one of the most successful and popular seminars hosted by a student-run club, the Feminist Club is excited to host more influential speakers in the future.

Courtesy of Nancy Xu

Artist Mojan Mozaffari presents her works to the Feminist Club on Nov. 16.

Diwali Celebrated on Sage Center Day

By Arya Rawal

On Nov. 15, the third Sage Center Day of the school year kicked off with a presentation from the South Asian Affinity Group to celebrate Diwali.

Diwali is a Hindu holiday, sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights, and is the largest holiday celebrated in India. Dressed in traditional Indian clothing such as saris for women and kurta for men, members of the South Asian Affinity Group shared their traditions and customs for Diwali.

Although the traditions came from various regions in India and had different names, there were overlaps between the customs.

The most common form of celebrating was lighting lamps known as diyas, which symbolize the triumph of good over evil and light over dark. Additionally, many students noted that they created rangolis, an art form that uses colorful powders to create intricate designs and is typically made on the floor.

Sophomore Shaurya Mittal said that he and his family celebrate by “hosting Diwali parties with other people who celebrate, where we do a lot of dancing and spend quality time with each other.” He also noted that he “loved sharing an important part of my identity with my school community, as well as the historical and

cultural significance of it.”

The showcase ended with a traditional Indian dance performance from professional dancers, who had notably been featured in the popular Netflix show “Never Have I Ever.”

“Although we met a couple of times during lunch to plan out the schedule and script, the parents were the ones who coordinated the desserts and dance performance,” sophomore Ananya Devkirti said.“It was great being able to share our culture since we haven’t had any Diwali celebrations before, especially since a lot of people at our school celebrate Diwali.”

Courtesy of Sage Hill School

The South Asian Affinity Group (SAAG) after their performances on Sage Center Day on Nov. 15.

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Athletics

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

Girls’ Flag Football Program Launches in 2024

By Ceyda Shamsai Sage Hill will start a girls’ flag football team this fall, adding another opportunity for girls to display their athleticism and talent.

In February 2023, the California Interscholastic Federation approved flag football as an official sport in California. Just a few weeks later, the Irvine Unified School District decided to add girls’ flag football to its high schools’ athletics programs. This decision gives female student athletes the opportunity to compete in this physical and intense sport. Sage’s flag football team will compete in the Pacific Coast League against other recently established girls’ flag football teams.

“It is a thrill to be on the cutting edge of a sport rapidly growing at high schools and beyond. I am so happy to support our female student athletes to have a passion for flag football and I cannot wait to see how the Sage Hill Lightning will bring their very best to the field,” Director of Athletics Megan Cid said.

Practices for the season will begin in August, prior to the start of school. Sage students can potentially participate in two sports during fall season, one of them being flag football, to guarantee that all interested female students are given the chance to be part of the team. There will be a varsity team, but could offer lower level teams depending on student interest, “I’m really looking forward to playing on the team and to watch the program develop,” junior Haley Li said.

Preparation for the season is well underway as the search for a head coach continues. The goal is to find a coach for this spring to start working with student athletes interested for the fall season.

Female athletes looking to play in the fall season should consider participating in the upcoming schoolwide flag football event on Jan. 26.

Courtesy of Sage Hill School Each grade level will assemble a Middle school girls practice during a flag football camp on Ramer Field in July team of girls and compete against 2023. each other.

Kicking Off the Season with Girls’ Soccer

By Taite Nicholson and Katelyn Yeh

Freshman Gracie Joiner passing the ball to her teammates during a match against Century High School on Nov. 28. The Lightning won 2-0.

Continuing their winning streak, Sage Hill girls’ soccer swept their third game, defeating Oxford Academy 5-0.

Both teams kept points off the board for most of the first half, demonstrating strategic offense and resilient defense.

Junior Cambria Thomas put Sage on the board by scoring the first goal of the game with eight minutes left of the first half. The Lightning dominated throughout the game’s remainder, adding four more points to the scoreboard by the end of the second half, three of which were scored by freshmen Fiona Flynn and Gracie Joiner.

“It was a great result,” Head Coach Issac Sierra said, adding that he was proud of the clean win and it’s important for the team to understand the value of not being scored on. He is particularly proud of watching the team “compete for each other.”

As for this season’s objective, the team hopes to make playoffs and demonstrate their skill by playing well.

Freshmen on the team continue to prove themselves by offering strong performances on and off the field. Already coming into the season with a solid foundation built in years prior, they will only continue to improve at their time at Sage and continue to successfully contribute to the team.

Seniors, most of whom have played on this team since their first year at Sage, are cherishing their last season together.

“Some of the girls I have been playing with since middle school,” senior Sami Lee said. “It’s sad that it’s my last season...it will be a good season to end on,” Sami said.

Not only is it the seniors’ last season together, it’s also their last season with their coach. Sierra notes how it feels to watch the players through the years and “enjoy their moment” this semester.

“Everyday, it almost feels like it could be the last time that I watch [this team] play. Embracing these moments with them [will be] fun,” Sierra said.

By Madeleine Carroll and Ava Eimani The Sage Hill boys’ soccer team has started strong this season.

So far, they’ve earned a record of two wins, zero losses and one tie.

Throughout the season, each player has been refining their individual skills to bring their all onto the field, ready to bring home another win.

The coaches have been essential in inspiring the soccer team to reach their highest potential and develop a strong work ethic.

an epic goal in this game, scored by Jake. That goal tied Sage Hill with Western, leading to the undefeated record the team now has.

During the season thus far, the boys have become a close-knit team, making long-lasting memories and working together in order to secure more wins. Each player on the team, along with the coaches, are working towards their goal of winning CIF. “Our goal is to reach CIF. Our

coach has even promised us to get Ronaldo Nazario’s haircut if we make our goal a reality!” junior defender Ben Welford said.

On Dec. 1, the boys’ soccer team went up against a new opponent: Capistrano Valley Christian High School.

Coaches and players were ready to implement new strategies, plays and techniques to beat their rival. They represented Sage Hill with pride on Athletics Showcase night at Ramer Field and came through with the win.

Sofia Jacinto | The Bolt

Boys’ Soccer Shoots for the Stars “I like the team spirit and the community I now have. I love the coaches’ training philosophy and the way they analyze the sport as a whole. They are very intelligent coaches who know how to unify the team,” junior Jake Pirnazar said.

On Nov. 17, the Lightning were ready to face their first opponent: Western High School. All the hours spent working hard in practice and in improving their soccer skills paid off when the boys were able to secure

Voices

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

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Biden Skips Opportunity at UN Climate Talks

By Sophia Zhou

Marc A. Hermann | Creative Commons

President Joe Biden speaks about the Inflation Reduction Act at a Long Island, N.Y. event in January 2023.

By Anne Chen

While many international leaders met at the COP28 summit in Dubai, the 28th annual UN climate change conference, President Joe Biden was notably absent.

The White House cited other ongoing crises as the reason, as he is attempting to help hostages from the Hamas-Israel conflict and continue aid to Ukraine for its war against Russia. Instead, Vice President Kamala Harris attended the summit and delivered announcements regarding a new United States pledge towards the Green Climate Fund.

Biden’s presence at the summit could have been an opportunity to demonstrate how his administration prioritizes climate change. Biden has both led initiatives to fight climate change and taken actions that are a step back in terms of environmentalism. He signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided more than $370 billion worth of subsidies into climate-positive industries. He also re-committed to the Paris Agreement. Despite this, he has also supported many new oil projects, such as the new Willow oil project, a huge drilling project in Alaska, and exported record amounts of gas to Europe to alleviate the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis from the Russia-Ukraine war.

Domestically, many Republicans disapprove of Biden’s pushes for more funding towards combating climate change, believing that he is restricting American energy production with his policies, while many environmentalists do not take his efforts seriously as they believe he is not pushing enough for

green initiatives. Biden’s absence from the summit has furthered many environmentalist’s convictions that his environmental track record is spotty. This could prove to be an issue for his reelection campaign in 2024.

Several environmentalist groups have questioned the effectiveness of the climate summit, as Greta Thunberg was notably absent. However, Biden’s absence seems to be due to other reasons, namely too many other conflicts vying for his attention. Altogether, Biden faces criticism from both sides domestically, while his administration attempts to balance climate policy with energy production.

Though Biden has made progress in combating climate change, if he does not stop pushing new oil and fossil fuel projects, it will not be sufficient. The goal of the UN to keep global temperature changes beneath 1.5 degrees celsius appears unreachable if the US, second in the world for carbon emissions, continues to try and promote both climate and fossil fuel initiatives. We already see many impacts of climate change, such as wildfires and flooding, and 1.5 degrees would be a turning point for many of the more devastating impacts of climate change. As members of the younger generation, global warming will become a very real issue for us in the coming years, and current policymakers cannot ignore the future of our nation.

Green policies are incompatible with fossil fuel initiatives, and now is a crucial point for Biden to decide which America should choose.

New Orleans: A Creole Culture Capital

A city richly infused with oldtimey jazz melodies and beignet powder, New Orleans embodies a culture so distinctly unique that it’s unlike any other I’ve seen before. From its urban life defined by Creole culture to its neighboring bayous, the city truly boasts a vibrant scene.

This past Thanksgiving break, everywhere I turned was a new discovery: brass bands stationed in the middle of the road, street artists setting up shop on each corner, carriage horses next to patinated architecture.

Dubbed as “The Big Easy,” it’s a place where the slow-paced life is the life. The loose rhythm of its street jazz translates to the lives of locals who never seemed to be in a rush, but simply enjoying the rhythm of each moment.

For a city so distinct, it never actually had its own native culture.

Rather, it’s a city based on a fusion of different heritages. The Creole community is one mixed of French, African, Spanish and Native American ancestry. It’s a community that has built up the culture of Louisiana even before its establishment as a U.S. state. Although “Creole” was commonly a term referring to racial background and class systems in America, the evolving Creole identity in New Orleans is a term that now refers to its collective culture.

As the birthplace of jazz, the city celebrates Louis Armstrong and the French Creole roots of the beloved musical genre. At a lively intersection in the French Quarter, a jazz band played as tourists and locals gathered around. Across sat a poet, hovered over a rusty typewriter and a cardboard sign that read: “Poetry, Any Topic, Any $$$.” I asked for a poem about the city, and he immediately started pattering away a love letter for New Orleans. Artists, musicians, writers — they see the city as their muse.

Other than its influence on jazz music, Creole culture is especially pervasive in the city’s cuisine. Admittedly, my initial impressions of Creole food originated from “The Princess and the Frog,” but finally tasting its unique palette completely surpassed my expectations. Gumbo, a traditional Southern stew of French and West African roots, is a warm, tangy hallmark of New Orleans eats. Beignets are also a beloved French-Creole deep-fried pastry topped with a thick layer of powdered sugar. The sugar layered on this quintessential dessert is so excessive that many shops even have a sign that prohibits customers from bringing them inside.

Walking the streets of New Orleans at night was lively to say the least. The easygoing nature of “The Big Easy” became far more fast-

Anne Chen | The Bolt

A carriage ride passing through the French Quarter in November 2023. paced. On every block, local drummers introduced a dynamic ambience that could only be found at night.

Families gathered in drum circles, belting out strong melodies. There

were even skilled drummers as young as seven or eight years old capturing the attention of tourists like myself.

It’s truly a scene you can’t ever recapture anywhere else.

6

School Life

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

“You Got This!”: Teachers’ Finals Advice

By Nate Yoo

Ms. Anauld: (English): “For finals, I recommend that students reflect on what they need to relearn and make a plan to ensure success. I encourage students to actively study and set time limits for each class. It’s also important to be realistic in what they are trying to achieve. I hope students know that their teachers are here to support them and want them to be successful.”

Courtesy of Elizabeth Anauld

Ms. Angotti (Math): “I recommend that students go through their notes or book before finals and make a list of the topics/ types of problems that were difficult for them this semester. Then, they should see their teacher to ask about, discuss, [or] practice these topics. As the student is studying, they should make sure to revisit these difficult topics often during study sessions to make sure they are solid on the information.”

Jenny Li | The Bolt

Ms. Bradshaw (History): “​I would suggest that students communicate with their teachers to see if there will be a study guide, [and] also ask if the test is a unit exam or cumulative. I would recommend using your Conference wisely these next few weeks to go over past tests so you can focus on concepts that you may need extra review.”

Courtesy of Sage Hill School

Dr. Brophy (World Languages): “Get a good sleep to allow your brain to process the information. Please remove distracting devices (no, it is not the time to talk to your best friend about anything). You will have plenty of time to do it after finals. Take breaks to hydrate.

No drinks with sugar. Water!! Work with a classmate and write out practice test questions. Correct each other’s work, and inspire and encourage each other! Remember that it is essential to breathe and tell yourself that you got this!”

Jenny Li | The Bolt

Dr. Dodson (Arts): “The best way to do it is concentrated practice or studying overtime…That means not cramming, but maybe doing 20-30 minutes every day going into finals. Even…on the weekend or [during] finals, you could do short studying sessions multiple times a day. It’s the same things that we do when we practice instruments: You want to do short, concentrated sessions.”

Nate Yoo | The Bolt

Mr. Langdale (Science): “I would go through all of the material and I would look at everything that I felt confident that I am able to do, and I would skip that. I would go to all of the things that I am not confident in and review, because you already learned all of the material. A lot of people spend too much time going through everything.”

Finals Schedule: Tuesday, Dec. 19

Nate Yoo | The Bolt

Wednesday, Dec. 20

Friday, Dec. 22

Morning Math 8:00 a.m. McNeill Merz Loft

Thursday, Dec. 21

Science

World Languages

AP Psychology, Conflicts

Afternoon English 1:00 p.m. Gym Floor

History

AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP Economics, Conflicts AP Music Theory, Conflicts McNeill Merz Loft

- Precalc, Accelerated Precalc Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - AP Calc BC, Linear Algebra Gym Floor - All other math classes

- English I, English II: World Lit, English III: American Lit Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - Accelerated English III Instrumental Room - AP English Lit and Composition

Gym Floor - Accelerated Biology, Accelerated Chemistry, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, Chemistry Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: E&M, Organic Chemistry McNeill Merz Loft - AP Biology Gym Floor - AP American Govt, AP Art History, AP US History, AP World History, Modern World History, U.S. History, Patterns of Civilization Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - Mrs. Ball’s Modern World History and Patterns of Civilization classes Instrumental Room - Mrs. Berg’s AP US History

Gym Floor - French I, II, III; Latin I , II, III; Spanish I, II, III Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - Chinese I, II, III

Gym Floor - AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science Instrumental Room - AP Music Theory

Lipman Family Lobby (Upper Gym) - AP Psychology

- AP Economics

School Life

By Grant Franey

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

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Students Represent Sage Hill at Diversity Conference

From Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, six Sage Hill student leaders traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the 2023 Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC).

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) hosts this conference every year.

This year’s theme was “Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Radical Optimism, Transformational Joy, Resilience, and Brilliance.” The conference helps students develop cross-cultural competency, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.

Sage Hill students joined nearly two thousand high school students from across the country to engage in diversity, equity and inclusion work. Conference attendees participated in a multitude of activities and discussions. A large amount of time was spent in “family groups,” which provided students with the opportunity to share stories and thoughts in smaller units.

“One of my biggest takeaways from the conference was that everyone has different expe-

By Mirabelle Jiang

riences and struggles, which makes everyone’s opinions and feelings equally important and valid,” junior Noah Jimenez said.

SDLC gave students the space to discuss amongst their peers ways to promote inclusivity in schools. Adult leaders guided students through discussions on current social issues while allowing time for each student to share personal experiences.

“Though total agreement rarely accompanied discussions, in listening to others’ reasoning, I was able to nurture a sense of curiosity that will aid me in my never-ending journey of personal growth,” junior Courtney Tetteh-Martey said. “The process of listening to others discuss their lived experiences was enlightening, as it helped me see worlds different from my own.”

Attending SDLC opens students to a wide variety of perspectives. The conference encourages young people to take charge of efforts for change in their communities. Each year, Sage Hill student attendees return to campus ready to share new ideas with the entire community.

Courtesy of Sage Hill School

(From left) Juniors Luke Wu, Rodin Zarrabi, Noah Jimenez, Sophie Kramer, Raquel Rybakova and Courtney Tetteh-Martey at the 2023 Student Diversity Leadership Conference in St. Louis.

Teacher Spotlight: Get to Know Ashlie Berg

From aspiring FBI agent to counselor for survivors of sexual assault, History teacher Ashlie Berg explored a wide variety of fields before joining the Sage Hill faculty as a history teacher in October 2021. She teaches AP United States History, AP Government, and English III, and her

started looking for jobs as a counselor.

While she studied Education and Mental Health Counseling for her master’s degree at Boston University, Berg volunteered as a counselor for North Shore Rape Crisis in Lynn, Massachusetts. There, she did community education, individual therapy,

“Your life is really long, so try not to take everything so seriously.” - History Teacher Ashlie Berg. favorite part of history is World War II because of its “black and white” nature.

A native of Massachusetts, Berg never intended to become a teacher. Instead, she majored in history in college, planning to study law and pursue a career as an FBI special agent.

This choice stemmed from her “patriotic” nature and answering the call to “protect the Constitution.” However, after working as a summer camp counselor for high schoolers, Berg discovered her passion in mental health and working with students and

and group therapy sessions for survivors of sexual assault.

Later, Berg also served as an advocate with Voices Against Violence, where she helped familiarize and support victims of domestic abuse with court cases. However, her passion for working with students motivated her to return to education and take up a position at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2014. Though she initially intended to work in mental health at high schools serving underprivileged communities, Berg soon realized that she had found

the right fit for herself.

“I saw that mental health awareness in more prestigious schools was even lower because they assumed that people with money don’t have mental health issues,” Berg said. “So, I realized that maybe my presence in those settings was more valuable than I thought.”

While working at Santa Margarita, Berg heard about Sage Hill from her colleague Meredith Schumacher, an English teacher who is married to Sage Hill’s Stephen Schumacher. Berg first came to Sage Hill as a substitute history teacher in 2019. She officially joined the Sage Hill faculty in 2021.

In her free time, Berg enjoys playing piano and running. She started playing the instrument when she was four, and on the weekends, she volunteers as a piano accompanist for the children’s choir at her church. Berg is also a competitive runner.

This past April, she participated in the annual Boston Marathon alongside Tanya Lerch, Sage Center Assistant Director for Service Learning and Outreach.

The two are also on the same running team, the Poppies. Yet compared to her experience with piano, running has occupied a significantly shorter duration of her life, as Berg only picked up

History teacher Ashlie Berg. the hobby after she had her first child.

“Sometimes we might think that our paths in life are set when we’re young, but that’s not

Mirabelle Jiang | The Bolt true,” Berg said when reflecting on her late start to running.

“Your life is really long, so try not to take everything so seriously,” she said.

8

The Bolt December 2023 Sage Hill School

Entertainment

Librarian Outsmarts “Jeopardy!” Board

By Maya Desai

The television murmured through the house as her parents walked in. Inside, their daughter and future Sage Hill librarian, Michalle Gould, watched “Jeopardy!”.

Although no one realized Gould’s future in this game at the time, she would go on to play in “Jeopardy” twice and win $20,000.

Since childhood, Gould had a talent for picking up a wide variety of facts. She was a hardworking and academic-driven student that loved to learn.

“It seemed like it would be really cool to be on ‘Jeopardy!’”, Gould said.

To fulfill her childhood wishes, Gould auditioned for the show as a teenager for the first time. Although she did not pass her written test that time, Gould continued auditioning: a total of four times.

In the 2010s, Gould auditioned for her second time in Texas. Over the years, she accumulated a broad expanse of knowledge, and she passed her online test easily. Then, she had an in-person audition in Dallas. For the audition, she played a mock game that the interviewers conducted, and she was placed in the contestant pool. A contestant stays in the pool for 18 months and can be called at any time to participate in “Jeopardy!”.

Although Gould was not picked from the contestant pool after this audition and a third one in Los Angeles, she was finally chosen after her fourth application.

Gould taped on Inauguration Day, Jan. 19, 2021, and her show aired that March. As someone who had wanted to be on “Jeopardy!” her whole life, Gould said the taping was nerve-wracking.

“It is scary because you want to do well,” Gould said.

Courtesy of Michalle Gould

“Jeopardy!” Host Ken Jennings with school librarian Michalle Gould at the show’s Culver City soundstage on Aug. 18.

Because Gould was more riskaverse and relied more on knowledge than strategy, she did not play on many of the Daily Doubles, which would have helped her with points, and she did not win her first game of “Jeopardy!”. However, she was later chosen to compete in the Second-Chance Tournament.

“Jeopardy!” hosts a Second-Chance Tournament where contestants that have lost previous games have the chance to compete again. In the episode aired on

Sept. 26, Gould competed against two other contestants and won her game. She then competed in the finals against the other winners of the week, placing second in these finals and winning $20,000.

“It felt pretty good. I was really excited,” Gould said.

With her winnings, Gould plans to take an Amtrak sleeper car from Los Angeles to New York and participate in a week-long camp that specializes in one of her hobbies.

Gould reflects on how “Jeopardy!” played a significant role in her life and society.

“It just shows that there is some kind of value that ‘Jeopardy!’ holds, and there is a reason that people are interested in it. Organizations like ‘Jeopardy!’ are not that common where you feel like there is something that really rewards loving to learn. I think that is what makes ‘Jeopardy!’ hold such a special place in society.”

Review: “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” leaves audiences hungry for more

By Priya Bhakta

Many “Hunger Games” fans have eagerly anticipated the release of the new movie, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which is a prequel to the popular “Hunger Games” series. The movie tells the backstory of Panem’s president, Coriolanus Snow. It documents his rise to power in the Capitol and explains how he becomes the notorious villain of the series.

I enjoyed how the movie brought the book to life and stayed true to the major plot points of the novel. I believe that the two main actors, Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth, played a major role in this, as they did a great job of maintaining their character’s personalities and essences.

Specifically, I believe that Rachel Zegler’s characterization of Lucy Gray Baird was one of the major aspects of the movie that makes the viewer feel as if they are in Panem. Although she has received public scrutiny in the past, one cannot deny that her acting and vocal

talents are perfectly suited for this role.

Her performances of many songs were entertaining and captured the essence of her character and the environment very well. I also enjoyed how the song lyrics were identical to those in the book, helping to bridge the gap between author Suzanne Collins’s artistic vision and the reader’s interpretation.

Blyth also portrayed Coriolanus Snow’s change into an authoritative power driven individual incredibly well. I particularly enjoyed his acting at the end of the movie during Lucy Gray’s disappearance, and how the rest of her story is left to the viewer’s interpretation.

Overall, I think “The Ballad of Songbrids and Snakes” did an amazing job of adapting the novel to the big screen, and that “Hunger Games” fans would definitely enjoy the movie.

Courtesy of Murray Close

Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) face off in “The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”