The Nest ● Page 4
Power of the pause ● Pages 6-7
Meet the Rangels ● Page 9
October 2017
#VegasStrong Volume XXXII, Issue 2
The Las Vegas massacre is America’s deadliest mass shooting.
By Hannah Prince, Print Editor-in-Chief
Illustration by Ian Gutierrez
‘Shooter!’” Hepworth was unaware whether the shooter was inside the venue
“
...I thought that I was going to get shot in the back. ~ freshman Audra Hepworth
“
F
or many fans, the Route 91 Harvest Festival was like any other country festival, until it was not. It became the night of America’s worst mass shooting in history. 58 people were killed and nearly 500 were injured on Oct. 1. Among the fans attending the festival was freshman Audra Hepworth with her parents, sister and family friends. “On Sunday […] ev-
erything was completely fine until about 10 p.m.,” Hepworth said. Hepworth recalls the final performer, Jason Aldean’s performance to have lasted about four or five songs before three shots went off. Hepworth notes that, at first, the crowd reacted as if the shots were firecrackers or an issue with the sound system, but as Aldean continued to play, more shots went off and the country singer fled the stage. “My sister and I dropped to the floor […]; my initial reaction was to drop to the floor and cover my head,” Hepworth said. “It sounded like heavy machine guns that the army would use. I knew it was serious when everyone started sprinting and screaming,
or not, but regardless, Hepworth and her sister decided to run out of the closest gate and into the streets. For seven hours the girls were separated from their
parents, as they decided to go close to the front-left side of the stage to watch Aldean. The Hepworth sisters took safety in a fellow concertgoer’s hotel room with several others until the lockdowns were cancelled. They were reunited with their parents around five a.m. the following day. “If I’m being completely honest, I [thought I was going to die],” Hepworth said. “I was having an anxiety attack and couldn’t breath. When I saw people with wounds from gunshots around me, I thought that I was going to get shot in the back when running as well.” The gunman, Stephen Paddock, age 64 and a Vegas resident, had an arsenal of firearms in his hotel room on the 32nd-floor of the Mandalay Bay, overlooking the concert venue. In the hotel room, approximately 23 weapons were discovered, including ten... continued on page 2
Golden state dinosaur CA’s love for dinosaurs hasn’t gone extinct. Although few people know it,
By Margaret Driscoll, California isn’t the only state with News and A&E Editor and prehistoric representation. Now McKenna Sulick, Staff Writer among several states, including After 66 million years of dinosaur extinction, California finally gets its highly anticipated state dinosaur. People around the state are ecstatic to welcome the Augustynolophus morrisi to the California family.
Colorado, New Jersey and Texas, California also declares a state dinosaur. The Augustynolophus morrisi is now among the 30 different symbols for California. “I’m excited that California got a state dinosaur because it reminds
me of California’s history,” said senior Rania Saba. The Augustynolophus morrisi is a type of dinosaur classified as being a Hadrosaur due to its duck bill. The herbivore stood at 10 feet tall and 30 feet long and was the only dinosaur in the Late Cretaceous period that chewed its food. continued on page 8
Illustration by Hannah Walz
Fossilized - The Augustynolophus morrisi is presented on the CA flag.
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The Eagle Eye
Bringing awareness Students pledge to be drug free, but e-cigarette use continues.
By Hannah Prince, Print Editor-in-Chief
N
ational Red Ribbon Week promotes awareness of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse. This year, Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31. “If you continue to educate people, adults or students, on the downsides of using alcohol and drugs […] then they are less likely to be irresponsible with drugs,” said Jerry Holloway Dean of Students, Director of Campus Safety and Security. “Red Ribbon Week gives [that] information.” A Catholic community, called to
lords and drug trafficking - a game of power and control of illegal substances. In later days, the citizens in Camarena’s hometown of Calexico, California wore red ribbons in his honor, which is how the name is derived. This red ribbon became a symbol to reduce the demand for illegal drugs. High schools created “Camarena Clubs” and during the administration of President Bill Clinton, they grew nationally. Today, illegal substance abuse is still wide-spread in the U.S.. Narcotics and alcohol are prominent, but tobacco represents a third addictive substance, that is
are metals that users are inhaling into their lungs.” The health risks are unclear from e-cig consumption because they are composed of not only nicotine, but propylene glycol, glycine and flavorings. These liquids might not all contain nicotine, but are replaced with dangerous metals. In the previous weeks, vaping has become a reoccurring issue on campus. From bathroom breaks to sitting in cars, students have been secretly using their e-cigs. “Back in the day people smoked cigarettes, even though it was addictive, because it was a ‘cool’ thing to do,” Holloway said.
Photo by Jesse Casey
Drug use is life abuse- SMCHS students take a stand against drug use.
respect, love and promote human life, pledges to be drug free. The 2017 slogan is “Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free™.” The Red Ribbon Week campaign began after the 1985 kidnapping, torturing and murder of a DEA agent, Enrique Camarena, who worked undercover in search of a multimillion-dollar narcotics deal in Guadalajara, Mexico. After the Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, the U.S. media devoured the evidence. This murder exposed the world to drug
once again becoming popular. Tobacco use has evolved to include electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs or JUULs. These handheld devices recreate the feeling of smoking tobacco. The liquid within the e-cig heats up, generating an aerosol, or vapor. When inhaled, it is called vaping. “Users of vape will have health consequences no matter what,” said Nurse Rebecca Wood. “I went to a seminar about the constant changing chemicals in the juices and flavoring and [learned] there
the buzz, it is pretty hard to stop.” Recently, faculty and staff are talking more to students about vaping, using the drug dog to find nicotine products on students or in their belongings and sending out information on ETV2.0 to bring awareness to the student body. “We are not lurking in the hallways and putting video cameras in the bathroom, but we are trying to let kids know that nicotine products [on campus] will result in consequences,” Holloway said. The purpose behind Red Ribbon Week is to encourage students to stay drug free. The community at SMCHS tries to inform the student
“Smoking amongst teenagers was a ‘cool’ thing to do, so I am assuming it is similar to vaping.” According to some students, vaping is just an activity to do in their free time for recreational use - whether it be at social gatherings, at home or, possibly, on campus. “I vape because it’s fun and I like the buzz,” said a student who wishes to remain anonymous. “It’s become quite the social thing around SMCHS; everyone does it. I think some people think it’s a ‘kid’ thing, but once you’re hooked on
body of short and long term effects. Although use of prescription drugs may not be harmful when used correctly, effects will vary if abused. “Some drugs are good for you and you need them, but there needs to be awareness of side effects to a long-term use,” Wood said. “Anytime you put anything in your body, you should know what it is.” Next week, Oct. 23-31, red ribbons will be donned and hung around the campus in support for Red Ribbon Week.
#CountryStrong
continued from page 1
...semi-automatic rifles fitted with a “buttstock” device making them fully automatic, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department statement reported in The New York Times. Additionally, 24 weapons were found in the shooter’s car and home. When police broke into his hotel room, they found Paddock dead due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Paddock’s motive still remains a mystery, but his girlfriend, Marilou Danley, remains a person of interest. Investigators continue to search for a motive and uncover more evidence. “It’s so surreal reliving the incident by watching the news and video footage from that evening,” Hepworth said. “I’m just trying to put the past behind me and I was so incredibly blessed to get out of there safely and not have anything happen to my family.” Junior Devon Bowen had planned to attend the festival with her parents and friend, Ellie Shahriary, but the day before the festival, they decided to sell the tickets to family friends. “When my mom came into
Photo by Guitta Hepworth
Before nightfall- Audra Hepworth (left), Samantha Tan (middle) and Alyssa Hepworth (right) smile for the camera with no knowledge of what was to come.
my room and told me the news, I turned on the news [channel] and called and texted the group of my family friends,” Bowen said. Bowen then received the news that her family friend was killed as he threw his body over his
wife to protect her. His name will remain anonymous. Bowen’s family grieves, but expresses their love and support to their loved ones and other victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Out of the 58 deaths, 25 were
residents of Southern California. As this mass shooting becomes local, families, such as the Hepworths and Bowens, are grateful for the heroic men and women who risked their lives to save others on Oct. 1. Many of these heroes carried strangers out of the venue and protected people that couldn’t walk or move. “To think that thousands of people travel across the country to enjoy a weekend filled with music, friends and family and end up with a memory of trauma and horror engraved in their mind forever sickens me,” Bowen said. “Everyone is brought together with the love and passion they have for not only the music, but the love for their country as well and […] I am absolutely devastated for the great amount of deaths and injuries.” *The SMCHS community continues to ask for prayers for all affected, including alumna, Elle Gargano ‘12, who was shot in the head and underwent surgery. Also alumna, Shannon Muttram ‘15, was shot in the lower back, along with her boyfriend who was shot in the shoulder. All are recovering well.
News
The end to bullying By AJ McGregor, Staff Writer Every year bullying happens on campus in some way, shape or form. This year is no different. Bullying affects the lives of students throughout the Santa Margarita community in negative ways. At SMCHS, bullying typically takes place, especially online, within groups of people. There have been instances of students excluding others and spreading rumors. Bullying has long-lasting ramifications to the victim and even to the person who is bullying. Religion teacher John Wood feels that bullying is truly harming the Catholic environment that our school provides for its students. “When people bully they are excluding and dehumanizing others,” Wood said. “That kind of attitude contradicts the true self and what we are called to be. Jesus calls us to be compassionate and people can’t grow when we don’t have that compassion.” Although bullying occurs, the Santa Margarita community chooses not to be bystanders. Jerry Holloway, Dean of Students and Director of Campus Safety and Security, wants to ensure that school is a comfortable and accepting environment for all students. “Every time we get a report of [bullying], we certainly take action and look into what we can do,” Holloway said. “Our purpose is to make this campus safe and comfortable for everybody. If there is somebody bullying another person then we want to make sure it stops. We want to make sure that the victim feels safe while they are here at school.” Holloway believes that the first step in solving this problem is to educate our students on the effect bullying has on others. “Some kids may have no idea that they are bullying somebody,” Holloway said. “In their mind they are ‘making fun of somebody’ and they don’t think of it as bullying. In reality, the victim of bullying feels terrible about what is being said to them or about them. It forces them into social isolation.” The dean’s office does everything in its power to resolve this issue and make the school a positive learning environment. “There is a lot of harm in bullying and as a school community we just cannot tolerate it,” Holloway said. “From the dean’s office perspective, we will not tolerate it, so we are going to try to get it to stop. If it doesn’t stop, then we will increase the consequences.” Holloway encourages students to speak out if they are a victim or witness to any kind of bullying. “If you see bullying, step up, tell somebody and don’t let it happen,” Holloway said. “Bullying is never good; it never makes for any positive feelings. I think we just have to keep talking about it and making our students aware of what it is and then appeal to their sense of morality and integrity not to [bully].”
Opinion
Please stand up
The Eagle Eye Staff T
Staff Adviser Debra Barbre Print Editor-in-Chief Hannah Prince Web Editor-in-Chief Rachel Tetreault Copy Editor Riley Davies Managing/Opinion Editor Ian Gutierrez News/A&E Editor Margaret Driscoll Feature Editor Kendal Orrantia Sports Editor Ryan Dunker Photo Editor Jesse Casey Staff Writers Olivia Hernandez Gillian Steffy Rachel Do Emily Redd McKenna Sulick Lauren Danke Brittany Kaplan Austin McGregor Mia Ross Member of these organizations:
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The Eagle Eye
NFL athletes need to stand before the flag. By Rachel Tetreault, Web Editor-in-Chief and AJ McGregor, Staff Writer
here is no excuse for not paying respect to the national anthem. Recently, due to the remarks of President Donald Trump, athletes have been following the trend of former NFL 49er's quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, by kneeling during the national anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner". The national anthem commemorates the brave men and women who have made our country what it is today. Although America is many people's dream country, we still face cases of racial injustice. It is a problem that we need to bring awareness to and overcome as a country. However, taking a knee during the national anthem is not solving it. The only thing it is doing is creating a larger divide in an already divided nation. NFL players are given the ultimate public platform. They have the opportunity to use their multimillion-dollar salary and fame to make a real difference in communities that are affected by racial injustice in our society. However, some athletes are abusing this privilege by taking advantage of their viewers and disrespecting the flag and anthem. We strongly believe in the First Amendment, but these professionals are disrespecting those who fought and died to give them that right. The national
anthem was written to pay respect and recognize the power of America as an independent country. NFL players set an example for many athletes and fans across the country. Professional athletes have a huge responsibility to act as rolemodels for the younger generation of athletes. If the professionals disregard the national anthem, it influences the younger athletes actions as well. It's a trickledown effect. Recently teams from youth football organizations, such as Pop-Warner, have been blindly following the professionals’ footsteps: kneeling during the anthem. Keep in mind that these Pop-Warner teams range from the ages of four to 13, so it is doubtful they even know the significance of their actions. We respect all citizens right to practice freedom of speech and point out a social issue, but we disagree with using an athletic platform to blatantly disrespect our flag and soldiers. They are not solving this social issue. These players should use their millions of dollars to start organizations, educate people and donate to the communities affected by racial injustice rather than kneeling in front of the flag that people have fought and died for. We need to come together
as a nation and work toward abolishing racial injustice. The only solution to this problem is if we work together, as a united nation.
Illustration by Mia Ross
A soldier stands up- A country wide uprising has resulted from NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.
They kneel united Kneeling during the national anthem is not offensive, but racism is. By Mia Ross, Staff Writer There is nothing more American than the right to peacefully protest against injustice; it is an integral piece of the First Amendment. This was Colin Kaepernick's intention when he first kneeled during the national anthem in 2016. He was not protesting Donald Trump: he was protesting racial injustice. In recent years, acts of police brutality against innocent black men, women and children have caught the attention of the American public. Hundreds of unarmed black people have been shot and killed by on- and off-duty police officers, including, but not limited to: Tamir Rice (age 12), Michael Brown (age 18), Philando Castile (age 32), Freddie Gray (age 25) and Alton Sterling (age 37). Kaepernick and other NFL players who chose to kneel during "The Star Spangled Banner" are not disrespecting the flag and our troops; our troops died for our right to protest peacefully, and these players are publicly exercising that right. They are raising awareness about our country's broken justice system and how black people suffer from it. Spreading awareness is
essential to solving social issues, such as racism, and when NFL players kneel in front of millions of people, it opens up the eyes of the uninformed to what is happening to African Americans in the United States. Since Kaepernick began kneeling, other athletes have followed this precedent. After Trump stated that athletes who kneel should be fired, participation in the protest increased. Athletes from the Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and other NFL teams have been kneeling in solidarity with Kaepernick. Even all members of the Dallas Cowboys, including their manager, kneeled during their game against the Arizona Cardinals this season. Clearly, Kaepernick's protest is making an impact. It is truly honorable that so many athletes have followed Kaepernick's example. When athletes kneel together, they draw attention to an issue in hopes of inspiring major social changes. They are asking for social change through their protest: changes in legislation, changes in society and
changes in this country we call home. There are many logical solutions that have been proven to reduce police brutality when enforced by police departments. According to the Use of Force Project, implementing clearer policies on the use of force are known to reduce police killings. Some of the most effective rules include requiring an officer to use all other means of force before using a gun and requiring detailed reports of any and all arrests made by an officer. When enforced by police departments, these two policies alone reduced the number of police killings by more than 25 percent in one year. These changes are free, easy to implement and safer for both officers and citizens. No amount of money could possibly replace Tamir Rice, Michael Brown or another one of the countless victims of police brutality. But if we come together and push for legislation that would protect other citizens from the same fate, they will not have died in vain and their families may eventually find peace with their losses knowing that this will never again happen to an
innocent black man, woman or child. So the next time you watch a football game and see athletes kneeling during "The Star Spangled Banner," remember the names of the victims killed by police officers and the grief their families experience every day. Remember the brave men and women who died to protect our rights as American citizens. Most evidently, remember that in the grand scheme of things, kneeling isn't offensive, but racism is. Courtesy Illustration
A right to protest - The First Amendment protects athletes' right to kneel.
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Opinion
The Eagle Eye
Plan for a sustainable planet We can always do more to reduce our carbon footprint. By Jesse Casey, Photo Editor and Mia Ross, Staff Writer
M
ost people are aware that currently, the environment is in big trouble: the tipping point for most environmental events (like global warming) was 20 years ago and the amount of damage we are doing to the environment is constantly increasing. We can recycle, reduce our water usage, drive less and even eat more sustainable foods (such as local produce that is in season) —but by no means
can we completely reverse the environmental harm society has done within the last few decades. At this point, all we can do is damage control to hopefully slow down the effects of climate change. Producing less trash, using less water, producing fewer greenhouse gases and incorporating more sustainable practices into our everyday lives can all help reduce our carbon footprint or the amount of
Photo by Rachel Tetreault
Recycle- Recycling at school is important for sustainability.
greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. As a private school with nearly 2,000 students and faculty, we have a massive carbon footprint. All of our daily activities produce these harmful gases: driving or riding the bus to school, using our tablets and even buying food on campus. So, how can we make Santa Margarita more sustainable? First, we can approach the issue of recycling. SMCHS' current recycling policy is not as enforced as it should be. Most classrooms do not have a recycling bin, so water bottles and soda cans are often just thrown in the trash. The majority of maintenance crews do not sift through waste to separate recyclable material from regular trash because sorting isn’t their job. Properly disposing of the trash we create is our responsibility and we need to get better at doing it. We propose following the lead of other schools in the area by placing blue plastic recycling bins in each classroom. It's a cheap option that would benefit the school in the long run. Recycling is a great way to raise money for the school and it's much better for the environment. The only place on campus where we have an appropriate amount of recycling bins is in the lunch shelter; we need them in the classrooms so students who bring their drinks to
class can dispose of them properly. If we were to take a more aggressive approach, we could hold school recycling drives for service hours. Ladera Ranch Middle School did this and gave one hour of service for every 50 bottles students brought in from home. Some students even went around asking their neighbors for used bottles and cans to contribute to the drive. It was a great incentive to recycle and it raised LRMS more than $16,000 in a year. To put it into perspective: a plastic bottle can be redeemed for $0.05 to $0.10 if you recycle it. If every SMCHS student contributed 50 bottles to recycling drives just once a month, we could raise anywhere from $42,500 to $85,000 in just one year. That money could be used for endless possibilities: updating facilities and technology, contributing to the arts, granting to departments and more. These are just a few easy, cost-effective ways we can alter our behavior at SMCHS that will have a beneficial effect on the environment and on our school. If we all come together as a community of students, teachers and faculty, we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment. Mother Earth sustains us and it is our duty to return the favor and sustain her.
Photo by Rachel Tetreault
Reuse - Hydroflasks are popular ways to sustain on campus.
Keep the print The Eagle Eye editorial board stresses the importance of print journalism. By Hannah Prince, Print Editor-in-Chief and Riley Davies, Copy Editor Amidst a surge of instant media and online news at society’s fingertips, newspapers remain. Without print journalism and newspapers, the media wouldn’t exist. The Eagle Eye Staff has five main points on why print journalism is so important. One - We cannot forget the roots of journalism. Since the 18th century, newspapers are the primary medium of journalists. From daily to weekly papers, each category of a newspaper educates the public. The categories range from arts and business to entertainment and politics to weather, sports and more. Rather than clicking around on a confusing website with too much content, as long as it is done right, a newspaper give you everything you need in a multiple page spread--without confusing ads or clickbait articles. Two - Journalists report on current events at local, nationwide and international levels. Unlike online news, print can go deeper than web. Print journalists follow leads, investigate the facts, break new stories and find creative angles to cover a story to its full capacity. Older generations value the novelty of holding a paper and
having all the news in one place. Younger generations have grown up with technology controlling what they see and read. “Papers have been downsizing for years, and that affects all of us,” said political commentator and host of Last Week, John Oliver. “Facebook, Google, Twitter are repacking the work of newspapers. And it is not just websites, but TV news ends up citing print sources too.” Web users share news stories (usually broken and developed by print journalists) on social media and web has the advantage of making stories interactive. The younger generation needs to recognize that these stories originated through the hard, investigative work of print journalists. Supporting print journalism allows newspapers to continue to produce investigative pieces necessary to our democracy. Three - Print journalism unites the community. It becomes a part of its readers’ day as it educates and informs with credibility and trust, engaging them with the currency of events. There are more details and more faces to the story. Human interest flourishes in print because on web it can just be a picture of the subject losing
an essential part of the story; but in print, the journalist can expand more giving the reader a more impactful story. You put words to a face, not just a caption below the picture. Four- There is less possibility for fake news. Each story is investigative and professional journalists have a responsibility to fully represent the truth. Editorial boards guard the reputation of the paper as a precious
object. Online, sources may be paraphrased, videos selectively edited and specious sources are rarely checked by viewers. The entire web site, as well as the article for the reader, might be falsified or entirely fake. Online, you can be steered to an official looking yet unreliable site-giving the reader completely false information. Five - Most news networks and websites simply don’t spend
money on investigative reporting anymore. They are repeaters more than reporters. The editorial make-up of newspapers like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe, have investigative teams that dig, source and produce information that broadcasters share. Print matters. “The media is a food chain that would fall apart without local newspapers,” Oliver said.
If you would like to advertise your business or service in The Eagle Eye... Contact: ian.gutierrez@smhsstudents.org
Fall frights Opinion
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The Eagle Eye
The year’s best horror movies may just scare you to death.
By Brittany Kaplan, Staff Writer
F
rom freaks to phantoms, killers to clowns and dolls to demons – 2017 has been a year of notable horror movies, for better or for worse. Remakes, debuts and sequels are big trends in Hollywood this year. We watched Jordan Peele wow American audiences with his comedy-horror mashup and directorial debut, “Get Out,” laughed at Finn Wolfhard’s quick-thinking humor in the remake of Stephen King’s “It,” witnessed M. Night Shyamalan stir up controversy with psychological horror film “Split” and rolled our eyes as Ramona and Beezus’ Joey King bored viewers in teen-scream flop “Wish Upon.” From the plethora of fright flicks that played in theaters and streamed on Netflix thus far in 2017, only a few have proved October-worthy. The first major horror movie of 2017, “Split” survived the pressure of setting the horror mood for the next 11 months. Immediately after its release, director Shyamalan (think “The Visit” and “Devil”) received criticism for portraying the mentally-ill antagonist as a violent, literal beast, as though one character represents the millions of Americans who experience mental illness. James McAvoy as the villain suffering from multiple personality disorder (now called dissociative identity disorder) portrayed all 23 personalities as though they were played by 23 different actors. Another strong act-
ing point of “Split” was its portrayal of real human reactions. When McAvoy kidnaps the three girls at the beginning of the movie, they don’t wallow around hopelessly as though their fate is decided the moment they wake up in an unfamiliar room. They display believable reactions, making the movie feel plausible (with, of course, the exception of a 23-personality-man who can physically transform with each character). Not only was I wowed by the strong acting, the movie itself was terrifying and I felt as though I was held captive there myself. Watch if: You value good acting in a horror movie. Avoid if: You dislike movies centered around mental illness and childhood abuse. Though audiences raved over
Illustration by Brittany Kaplan
Spookiest of them allIt is time for these characters to haunt your nightmares.
Peele’s “Get Out,” the whole movie felt very thrown together. It’s as if Peele wrote down five or six bullet
points on a whiteboard, conjured up an ending and sloppily connected the dots with plot holes and fill-in scenes. Admittedly, the first half of the movie set the scene quite well. Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams roped in audience members as a normal-yet-interesting couple, Chris and Rose, incorporated relevant current events (prejudice against interracial partners, misconceptions about African Americans, etc.) with a modern-day love story that any young adult could wrap his or her head around. The buildup was intense and the peculiarity of supporting characters hinted at an ending that would make sense out of everything.
Unfortunately, this tell-all ending never came, and I exited the theater wondering how any of the movie’s events were connected. Watch if: You like your horror served with a side of dark comedy. Avoid if: You think too hard about storylines. Another box-office hit was “It.” Director Andrés Muschietti (think “Mama”) took on a cult classic whose reputation extended far beyond himself and ran with it. Having watched the disastrous 1990 version, I had high hopes for the remake, which Stephen King himself tweeted his approval of. The cast was colorful in personality and each young actor added a uniqueness that the other could not. Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise terrified me, relying less on jump scares and more on a looming creepiness-factor that made any existing jump scares all the more frightening. Pennywise did not hold back in any way, exposing and exploiting each character’s personal weakness while chipping away at his own. Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie) and Wyatt Oleff (Stan) provided much-needed comic relief, lighting up the theater with laughter while remaining true to their characters’ more concrete traits. Watch if: You’re okay with a movie lingering in the back of your mind for a couple days. Avoid if: You’re impatient or rely on pure gore and guts. So slip on those $1 Target Halloween socks, light a couple Bath & Body Works fall-themed candles and pop in a horror movie DVD – it’s time to get spooky.
Love for the nest The student body fills the Nest with spirit and passion. By Kendal Orrantia, Feature Editor We scream until our voices go raw. We stand, jump and stomp until our legs give out. We clap, chant and sway until the last whistle blows. We are the Eagle’s Nest. The Nest is a student section unlike any other. For years, students have been cheering along to “Ricky-Ticky-Tumba” and “Eagles in La Casa”, buckling up for the rollercoaster skit and parting the crowd for Moses and the Red Sea. They have appeared in costumes ranging from the Pope to Mother Mary, carrying the Spirit Stick and banging the band drums. No matter what seniors leave, others rise to the occasion and the legacy remains. Since my freshman year, I’ve dreamed of leading the student section. I’ve stood in the last row of the stands with fellow underclassmen, straining my ear
to hear the chants and looking in admiration at the seniors in the front. As years have passed, I’ve slowly made my way from the back to the middle of the bleachers. It wasn’t until this year that I got to fulfill my dreams of standing in the front row as a senior leading the infamous Nest. Leading an entire section of students is not easy. It requires lots of energy and the help of over 10 seniors, all with different roles and chants to scream. It takes effort to excite freshman in the back of the bleachers and even more to coordinate over 200 people in a clapping sequence. But all the hard work is worth it. The title of “#1 Student Section in Orange County” is motivation enough. The Nest has appeared on OC Varsity’s top student section list many times in the past, but always as number two, five,
or six. This year, myself, fellow seniors and the thriving student body will stop at nothing to earn the top spot. Of all my years at SMCHS, my fondest memories have been cheering alongside friends in the screaming, clapping and jumping crowd of the Nest. The characters, chants and emulation of school pride all hold a dear place in my heart. The Nest is the reason I paint my face in blue and gold every Friday night and the reason my voice is gone on Saturdays. It is the reason my closet is filled with white tights, a nun costume and blue hair spray. It’s the reason I love my school so much and even the reason I’m applying to colleges with football and school spirit. As I continue my senior year, I look forward to the next adventure in the front row of the bleachers,
cheering on our boys. As we bang drums, throw baby powder and yell in unison, I know that we will not only make memories to last
a lifetime, but earn the number one title that the Nest so greatly deserves.
Photo by Ally Georgagi
Loud and proud- Fellow students cheer their hearts out to show their school spirit at sport events and social gatherings.
Talon Theatre creates a play to raise awareness of teenage suicide. Illustration by Kendal Orrantia
By Margaret Driscoll, News and A&E Editor
W
Photo courtesy of Talon Theatre
Getting ready- Performers Loessberg (left), Webb (middle) and Browning (right) prepare for their impactful show in the Thespian festival.
hat started as the Collaborative Project assessment in the IB Theatre class has evolved from a very rough draft to a legitimate play with an immense impact on the community. It began when IB Theatre teacher, Amy Barth, presented seniors Griffin Webb, Hannah Billups, Hannah Loessberg and Raiya Browning with a photograph of refugees on a boat. She told them to create a show that captured the feelings from the picture including isolation and loneliness. From there, “Semicolon” was born. The students designed the show around one central question: What could make your life so unbearable that you would leave everything behind to escape it? While the first draft of the show was poorly and frantically written to meet a deadline, the final product is something that has touched many audiences. “After the first draft, we revisited our starting question and each chose a different topic that would make our lives unbearable and scratched the whole thing, opting to write in a more realistic and raw fashion,” Browning said. Eventually, “Semicolon” became a portrayal of four individual story lines depicting high school students struggling with life changing events and considering suicide. It shows how each person’s story affects
another’s while touching on mature and sensitive situations faced by people around the world. The students worked with a stage and four chairs to make their show. With the chairs facing outwards, it symbolizes the characters going through their individual struggles thinking they are alone. In reality, the chairs are close together and the students learn that they are not
“
The play examines the importance of reaching out and supporting people who have either anxiety or depression related to their circumstances.
” Amy Barth
alone but have people they can turn to in their suffering. “The play examines the importance of reaching out and supporting people who have either anxiety or depression related to their circumstances,” Barth said. The title stems from Project Semicolon, an organization formed
on the premise that an author uses a semicolon when he or she could have finished a sentence but instead chooses to continue it. Although the show is not directly working with Project Semicolon, they want to bring light to this organization. Once the students completed the first draft, Barth presented them with the opportunity to perform their show at the International Thespian Festival in the free style theatre competition. This began five months of dedicated work and five revisions. “We are committed to the show and want to see it through,” Barth said. The hard work and determination paid off when the students got to perform their show in front of an audience, but ran into difficulties. “It is honestly a God sighting that people showed up to the show, as our time slot had been moved up and wasn’t on the official schedule for the correct time,” Browning said. All of the students involved had high hopes for the show but were unsure what the turn out would be. “We hoped to reach people young and old with the feeling of isolation,” Billups said. “We also wanted to bring attention to one of many amazing organizations for suicide prevention.” Immediately, the show was a success. Billups recalls one young girl that was so touched by the show and
spoke to the cast after it. Several teachers and students approached Barth asking if they could perform the show at their own schools because of the impact it had on each of them. Barth began to help her students with the publication process for the show. Barth brought drama writer Nick Pappas into the project to help the students refine the play. The goal is to publish “Semicolon” royalty free and give other high schools the chance to perform it themselves. “From the start, we wanted the show to evoke thought, consideration and the realization that you can help those around you, just as others can help you,” Browning said. The impact that the students desired was successfully reached. A girl in the small audience at the show came up to the performers after and told them this show was what she needed to see. Immediately, the group knew that they had reached their goal and “Semicolon” was something to be proud of. “This show, which started as a haphazardly formed project, grew into a message that’s touched the hearts of the small audiences we have performed for,” Browning said. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to spread a positive message through art.”
Photo courtesy of Talon Theatre
The cast - (top row left to right) Webb, Billups, King, Farmer, (bottom row left to right) Browning and Loessberg get ready for their performance.
Photo courtesy of Talon Theatre
Making a difference - Two cast members embrace and take pride in their show: “Semicolon.” Illustration by Kendal Orrantia
info from afsp.org
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Feature
The Eagle Eye
Never ever give up Through the NEGU foundation, Shaya Rees, continues her sister’s dream of sending joy to children battling serious illnesses. By Gillian Steffey and Rachel Do, Staff Writers
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ver the years, “Never Ever Give Up” has encouraged countless children with serious illnesses to keep fighting. The NEGU foundation was started by Jessica Joy Rees after she was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in March 2011. DIPG is an extremely rare form of cancer and currently has no cure. After she was diagnosed, Jesse began receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and was put on clinical trial. At CHOC, Jesse met many other children with serious illnesses. She learned that some of the children had to stay at CHOC for months or even years depending on their treatment plans. “Jessie asked a question that my dad likes to say changed the tapestry of our lives, she asked ‘How can we help them?’” said Jesse’s older sister Shaya Rees. Shaya is currently the Regional Joy Coordinator of NEGU, as well as Jessie’s proud big sister. She is also an SMCHS alumna and came to talk about NEGU at the homecoming and fall sports rally. Her job as the Regional Joy Coordinator consists of managing and coordinating NEGU’s relationships with hospitals in California, Oregon, Washington and
Arizona. Shaya also treats families with three day trips to Disneyland, known as Breakaway Adventures. “I remember so clearly the little weekend trips we would take as a family while Jessie was fighting,” Shaya said. “These times allow the families to create and make new memories to tell for years to come.” Shaya also equips the Child Life staff with JoyJars to hand out to their patients. The idea of JoyJars was born when Shaya’s parents realized that Jessie was serious about helping other sick children who spend the majority of their time in hospitals. “Jessie’s middle name being Joy fit perfectly with jars, so we started calling them JoyJars,” Shaya said. “Since that day, JoyJars have evolved like crazy.” During Jessie’s 10 month and two day fight against DIPG, she handed out over 3,000 JoyJars. Since then, NEGU has sent over 165,000 JoyJars to all 50 states and various other countries. These jars remind children of what NEGU stands for. “The Jessie Rees Foundation’s mission is to ensure every kid fighting cancer that they have the support they need to never ever give up,” Shaya said. The foundation achieves this by
starting a relationship with every family and child through the JoyJars. Each jar contains information on NEGU’s Year of Joy program. They also include various toys for the kids and “love.” “When a child signs up for the free Year of Joy, we get to come alongside the whole family and encourage them through eight different boosts of joy,” Shaya said. These boosts of joy include different JoyJars, a Power Pack to decorate their hospital room, a Family Fun Pack for a movie or game night and sibling blessing boxes. NEGU also provides many opportunities for students looking to volunteer for the foundation. Volunteers can work in the Joy Factory and help fill and prepare JoyJars. Students can also volunteer to help at NEGU events by checking people in, sealing jars and packing JoyPack boxes. “NEGU is incredibly important organization with some very dear ties with Santa Margarita community,” said Christopher Barry, Associate Director of Activities. “It was important for us to make sure that faculty, staff and student body do whatever we can to support the organization.” Barry revealed that the school will
be continuing to work with NEGU throughout this year, especially with the athletic teams. He said specific plans for the teams are still in the process, but he assured there will be a lot of involvement with different approaches. “We are actually trying to start a NEGU Club, so students will be welcomed to join the club,” Barry said. “Once it gets established, the club i t s e l f will be helping the Jessie R e e s
Photo by Troy Terany
Life of a bl gger
Jessie’s wish lives on - Jessie expresses her joy for life with a simple smile.
Students share their personal experiences and ideas through blogs and vlogs. By Kendal Orrantia, Feature Editor and McKenna Sulick, Staff Writer
In the glow of her laptop screen, she picks backgrounds, rearranges pictures and writes content for her next post. In the front seat of her car, she gathers her thoughts and talks into a camera screen about her day’s adventure. For sophomore Grace Caspino and senior Audrie Miller maintaining their self-made blogs and vlogs is a part of every day life. Caspino began her fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog “Styled in Pink” in April 2017. Since then, her pink-themed site has taken off. “Everyone always asks me where I get stuff, so I thought I’d create a blog to share all my fashion tips and opinions,” Caspino said. Caspino’s blog took several weeks to organize and it went through a number of people’s edits, two titles and lots of research before it was officially published. Keeping up with her blog is nearly as difficult as keeping up with everchanging trends. “I try to post one to two times a week, but because I’m on the Song team and a few other dance teams, I definitely take advantage of the weekends so I can get caught up before my week starts to get crazy,” Caspino said. As for her future, Caspino intends to keep “Styled in Pink” an integral part of her life and hopes to pursue writing as a career while still incorporating fashion into her life. “I love when people come up to me at school and tell me they read my blog- it makes it feel like what I
do is worth it,” Caspino said. Like Caspino, Miller’s favorite part of vlogging, or video-blogging, is receiving feedback from friends and followers on the Snapchat app. “The best part is when someone remembers something that I vlogged about and asks me about it at school,” Miller said. Miller began vlogging on Snapchat in March of 2016. Her first vlog was a simple trip to the grocery story, but the reaction from some of her peers encouraged her to continue. “I did it as a joke and then it just kept going,” Miller said. “Now two years later, I consider myself a vlogger.” Miller often vlogs whenever she goes to Disneyland, meets an interesting person or has
Photo by Paige Clark
Living colorfully - Caspino keeps her blog as colorful as her life.
Photo by Emily Redd
Nothing but smiles - Miller can always be found with a smile and a camera.
something strange happen to her. She tries her best to put up content that is interesting and engaging, knowing what her viewers want to see. “If I’m having a really boring day, then I know people don’t want to see that because I know I don’t want to see that,” Miller said. Despite her initial nerves, Miller enjoys putting herself out there for her Snapchat audience. She likes being “real” with her viewers and doesn’t put many filters on her vlogs. “More times than not, what I put on my story, I just press record and send it,” Miller said. “I think its funny and I think its refreshing, too.” In addition to her vlogs, Miller shares parts of her life on other
foundation through a variety of ways including financial and volunteering opportunities.” Shaya expresses her feelings on NEGU and how the organization shaped her life and taught her some valuable lessons. “To me, NEGU is courage, bravery and faith,” Shaya said. “It is taking on everything life throws at you and knowing there is a bigger picture and you have the strength to keep on going. NEGU applies to everything in life and it has become a continual reminder that I am not alone. I love encouraging others to take this motto to heart and believe in themselves because we each hold so much power and strength to give the world.”
outlets of social media. On her Youtube account, she puts together videos about her many travels. On her Instagram account, @audr.eats, she shares her vegan lifestyle by posting pictures of vegan recipes she makes. “People always asked me ‘What do you eat as a vegan?’” Miller said. “I like to cook and I think it’s fun to watch other people cook, so I started posting about it.” Whether it be sharing recipes and adventures or fashion and beauty tips, both girls tell their interesting stories for the public to watch and read. They go out of their comfort zone to pursue passions of writing and communication with others. “Standing out is a hard thing to do,” Caspino said. “But it’s definitely all worth it.”
Student Blogs Audrie Miller’s snapchat blogs @audriemiller Grace Caspino www.styledinpink.com Camille Wold www.everywearblog.com Kendal Orrantia www.happpygal.com McKenna Sulick blueyedview.weebly.com/ Life at the Nest Blog http://smchsstudentlife. edublogs.org/
Dinomite continued from page 1 The fossilized remains of the dinosaur were first found in Northern California around Fresno County in the 1940’s, but it took 77 years for archeologists to be sure that the remains were not found in any other place. On Sept. 24, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill making the Augustynolophus morrisi the official state dinosaur of California. “A state dinosaur is essential to California’s society because it nurtures an educational opportunity for the youngest Californians to become interested in paleontology,” said State Senator Richard Bloom. Crews from the California Institute of Technology originally thought the fossils belonged to a previously known species, but after intense investigation, the remains were credited to the Augustynolophus morrisi. California is a rare place for fossil remains to be found, so when this was discovered, it had to be honored properly. “After being discovered in 1939, I was disappointed it took so long to finally get Augustynolophus morrisi as the state dinosaur,” said senior Pelin Ensari. Regardless of how long it took, many students and teachers alike are appreciative of the California dinosaur and love the deep history it provides. “From an educational stand point, I think it will help young students enjoy science that much more, because hopefully they will get to talk and learn about this dinosaur and what made it so unique that even 66 million years later after it lived we are still discussing it,” said biology teacher Brittany Adame.
Feature
9
The Eagle Eye
Road to recovery
Support and love surround Carolyn Bien as she battles a brain tumor. By Hannah Prince, Print Editor-in-Chief
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any might have noticed a missing presence on campus - Carolyn Bien, Assistant to the Director of Activities. She is the one behind the daily announcements and the face of Activities. She has been missed due to a serious brain tumor. In March 2017, Bien began experiencing frequent headaches which resembled a “brain freeze.” Bien simply thought it was from stress and overscheduling herself. Two months later, the headaches became more intense, causing her to stumble forward and experience off-balance sensations. Her doctor suggested an MRI. In June 2017, the MRI revealed abnormal results—a small “mass” was located in the middle of her brain, preventing fluid from being drained. She was then diagnosed with hydrocephalus, also known as water on the brain. Bien went from being “stressed out” to needing a neurosurgeon. “That was the scariest thing I have ever gone through in my whole life,” Bien said. “But I had prayer warriors here and I believe 100 percent everything is meant to happen for a reason.” Bien’s brain surgeon, Dr. Ched Nwagwu at Mission Hospital,
confidently performed her first brain surgery. Nwagwu rerouted her cerebral spinal cord and was able to take 50 cc of fluid out of Bien’s brain, revealing a tumor. The tumor was in an area of the brain, so dangerous, that only two or three doctors in the world could perform the surgery to remove it. “Carolyn [went] into the first surgery with hope for a full and speedy recover, with a ‘Let’s Do This attitude,’” said Bien’s daughter, Alexis Weddingfeld. “She [was] in the hands of the best doctor for the job and, more than anything, with extreme faith in God knowing that he is the almighty doctor and is with her every step of the way.” Bien immediately decided to seek a higher level of medical attention. Her son, Geoffrey Bien, works in cancer research and was able to connect her specialists at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, CA, which is affiliated with the John Wayne Cancer Institute and UCLA Hospital. The new doctors, Drs. Garni Barkhoudarian and Matthew Kelly, confirmed that they could complete this procedure. As Bien is a die-hard Michigan alumni, it was a coincidence that Barkhoudarian was also an alumni of the Michigan Medical School and baptized in the same church in
her hometown. This comfort and connection to her roots reassured her decision to pursue the next surgery. In the six and a half hour procedure, the neurosurgeons retrieved half of the tumor, preventing the cancer from spreading and sparring Bien’s life. “After surgery, I wasn’t waking up very well, but I remember my husband holding my hand and my family telling me they love me,” Bien said. “Someone asked me if I wanted my husband to stay, and I yelled, ‘Yes!’ as loudly I could.” This tumor qualified Bien to be a candidate for a newly developed chemotherapy pill. Along with the pill, she will continue to do radiation and chemo in Los Angeles every morning for the next six weeks in hopes to return to full health. “I am just very blessed it was me in my family and not my husband, children or grandchildren,” Bien said. “This experience was so surreal; I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.” Weddingfeld set up a website, called CaringBridge.org, to send out updates on her mother’s health throughout the weeks. The latest update confirmed her method of radiation—a brand new machine
called “Edge”—and began the week of Oct. 2. With the support of family and friends, especially cards with words of encouragement and hope, Bien continues to recover. Bien strives to be full-time again by late December. “I cannot even begin to thank this SM community enough,” Bien said. “They made me want to fight.” Through her trust in God and
her support system, Bien is ready to come home after a long journey to recovery. She is ready to enjoy the senior class of 2018 and make a difference on campus for her 12th year. “[SMCHS] is a family and you need to be in the moment here because these people will be with you the rest of your life,” Bien said. “I cannot say ‘thank you’ enough.” Photo by the Bien family
Family first - After operations, the Bien family (left) Geoffrey Bien, Jenna Bien, Carolyn Bien, Jason Weddingfeld, Alexis Weddingfeld and Chuck Bien enjoy a meal together to celebrate Carolyn’s life and battle.
Mee t the R a n g e l s The couple finds a place of employment and a sense of community. By Emily Redd, Staff Writer It has been nine years since Caitlan Rangel graduated from SMCHS. In those nine years, she met her husband, Ian Rangel, graduated and received her Master’s Degree in Theology: Master of Divinity from Notre Dame and became the mother of two children, Thomas and Elizabeth. Looking back, Caitlan did not imagine her alma mater would become her workplace. “When I graduated from college, I knew that I wanted to go into working with people,” Caitlan said. “I love the concept of serving others.” After graduate school, she began looking for jobs and saw that SMCHS had an opening for Assistant Coordinator to Christian Service. Hesitant at first, Caitlan soon saw the benefit that came with working at a high school. “There’s so much going on during this time of life; you’re thinking about where you want to go to college and who you want to be,” Caitlan said. “I love to see the passion that high schoolers have around what they’re doing.” Along with working at her own high school, Caitlan is now able to work alongside her husband, Ian, as he became the Director of Alumni Relations and Stewardship starting this school year. Though the couple’s positions focus in different aspects of the school, they both enjoy the changes working
together at SMCHS has brought them. “As parents of young children, it’s crazy when it comes to meal time,” Ian said. “To be able to take ten minutes and sit with Caitlan at lunch and catch up on things is great.” Besides spending time together
at lunch, Caitlan also appreciates the impact working together has had on their faith life. “Much like meal time, Mass for us is craziness,” Caitlan said. “I like being able to go to Mass at school together and have some quiet time.” One thing the couple does
realize about having the same place of employment is how careeroriented their conversations can be outside of work. “We definitely have to limit how much we talk about work at home,” Ian said. “If we both could, we would talk about SMCHS families and students all night long.”
Photo by Emily Redd
“High School Sweethearts” - After meeting at Notre Dame, the Rangels, (left) Caitlan, Thomas, Elizabeth and Ian, are happy to call a new Catholic school their second home.
Because of how proud they are to talk about SMCHS, the duo truly values everything their workplace has to offer. “It’s a real feeling of community,” Caitlan said. “I think that’s how it should be, feeling like you are supported and want to be involved in the community. It is work, but you’d do what you would be doing even if you didn’t have to.” Although Ian is not an alumni, he knows that SMCHS has played a key role in both his personal and professional life. “Our family wouldn’t be as strong if it weren’t for SMCHS providing Caitlan the chance to nurture her faith and be that spring that led her forward,” Ian said. Since her graduation in 2008, Caitlan has been able to understand and reflect on how SMCHS shaped her life. “[Being at SMCHS has] impacted my life in ways I didn’t recognize at the time, but I wouldn’t be the person I am today without going here,” Caitlan said. As she walks into work every day, Caitlan is reminded of her past through her surroundings, but also sees the manifestation of her present and future through the people around her, especially her husband. “I never would have thought I would come back, but I am really happy to be here,” Caitlan said. “It was definitely a God moment.”
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A&E
The Eagle Eye
Choosing love
Talon Theatre hopes to inspire students to be more tolerant of others.
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ights, camera, action. Talon Theatre is excited to say these words for their upcoming fall musical: “Godspell.” Although they may not have their own theater, Talon Theatre is still able to perform at a high level often earning them high recognition in the arts community. “Godspell” is a musical originally composed by Stephen Schwartz. This musical is a series of parables that try to incorporate the “Gospell” of Matthew. Over the last few years, Talon Theatre has performed one musical a year, but due to especially high levels of talent it has allowed them to perform two this year. Talon Theatre is run by Amy Barth, who overlooks the production and helps students, such as senior Hannah Loessberg perform their best. “Mrs. Barth is the one who makes all the decisions about where people go, what people do and all that jazz,” Loessberg said. “In my personal experience with Mrs. Barth, she has been not only a teacher but a mentor. I would not be the artist I am today without Mrs. Barth.” This musical has a unique aspect due to the fact the actors and actresses in the show do not have official roles. There are 12
By Olivia Hernandez, Staff Writer main actors which all follow the main role: Jesus. These actors include: Loessberg, senior Drew Schlingman, senior Alec Melosini, senior Griffin Webb, junior Emma Smith, junior Ella Lao, senior KC King, senior Eric Renna, freshman Savannah Jimenez, senior Brian Reyes, senior Devon Hunt, sophomore Brendan Reeves and senior Elyse Angel. Although Talon Theatre wants its show to be extremely successful, members realize that portraying the meaning of the show and trying to teach the audience about homelessness during the play is
the number one priority. “Homelessness is a circumstance and it does not make up an individual,” Loessberg said. “In Godspell we are hoping to encourage people to look at a homeless person not as lesser but as an equal. We are all humans and we all have worth.” Unfortunately, being homeless is a harsh reality for some Americans. Talon Theatre is hoping to shine a light on some of these hardships to bring more awareness to the community. “Our goal for theater this year is to become overall more accepting
and aware of the communities of the world no matter what race, religion, class, or sexual orientation,” Loessberg said. “We are all a part of the human experience; choose love no matter what” Rehearsals for theater are every week; they not only memorize lines but also learn more about the characters they are going to be portraying. Practices are held after school and if they’re lucky, they get to go on field trips where they either help out the community or learn more about theater. “It is amazing what being in your
Photo by Shelly Angel
Practice makes perfect- (From left to right) Loessberg, Lao, Jiminez, Schlingman, King and Angel run through a rehearsal of “Godspell”.
own bubble can do to calm your nerves,” Loessberg said. “There is nothing better than sipping on hot water and clearing the mind before a show. When I get really nervous, I meditate on the calm app and I just breathe in four counts, hold for four counts and release for four counts.” Loessberg is excited to be doing another musical and hopes they get a lot of students to see them perform and for the performance to go well. In order for this to happen, each show has to run smoothly by having the props and tech correct. Having tech run smoothly helps actors and actresses feel more comfortable knowing all they have to do is perform at their best. “Our techies and designers are incredibly important,” Loessberg said. “There would not be a show without them and they are pivotal to the success of the show. For this show we have all student designers, I am lead costume designer, which has been a lot of work and a challenge being in the show and being a techie as well.” “Godspell” runs from Nov. 2 to the 5. Tickets go on sale Oct. 11 starting at 8 a.m.. Loessberg and the rest of the crew hope to see everyone there and hope everyone takes something away from it.
Picture perfect Halloween Trivia Senior Riley Hess achieves her childhood dreams with her new modeling career. By Riley Davies, Copy Editor
Although she is in online advertisements, models clothing and walking the runway, her emerging modeling career has humble beginnings. Senior Riley Hess was first scouted to model at the 2016-17 beginning of the year football tailgate. She was approached by Stephanie Auriemma, a SMCHS alumna and the owner of local store, Sunshine Girls Boutique, who asked Hess if she would like to model for the boutique. As modeling was a childhood dream, Hess accepted the offer. Then, her first photo shoot helped jumpstart her career. “There’s other models that worked for her and I found out what agencies they worked for and
took it from there,” Hess said. After Hess signed with her agency, Willow, she was eager to begin her career. “It was a lot to learn because it moves really fast, you have to do a ton a photoshoots to build your portfolio so you can get jobs,” Hess said. “There’s no time to waste.” Hess spent the majority of her summer in Los Angeles attending castings and talking to clients. “Clients look at my portfolio and based off what they’re looking for, they’ll either have me come in for an interview and fit me for clothing or book me directly,” Hess said. Social media has played an important roll in Hess’ career so far. Her follower count on her Instagram, @rileyy.hess, has
rapidly grown to nearly 1000 followers since she made the account in June of 2017. She is able to instantly post pictures for potential clients. Hess has become a specialist in ecommerce modeling, specifically modeling for clothing for online websites, and has already received multiple job offers. Her work ranges from modeling clothing to opportunities to attend castings to appear in music videos, like artist Nick Jonas. However, Hess still says that Sunshine Girls has been her favorite job and attributes her beginnings to Auriemma. As for the future, Hess hopes that she is able to continue growing her modeling career throughout her senior year and into college.
Eagle Eye staff challenges its readers to Halloween trivia. By Lauren Danke, Staff Writer
1.) What is the color order on a piece of candy corn? a) Yellow, white, orange b) Orange, yellow, white c) Yellow, orange, white d) White, orange, yellow 2.) Where does Halloween originate from? a) Greece b) France c) Russia d) Pre-Christian Celtic 3.) Halloween is also known by other names such as all of the following EXCEPT for… a) All Hallow’s Eve b) Samhain c) The Day of the Dead d) Halloscream 4.) Halloween is correctly spelled in which way? a) Hallo-ween b) Hall-o-ween c) Hallowe’en d) Halloween
Photo by Megan Taylor
7.) In Hollywood what item is banned from 12 a.m. Oct. 31st to 12 p.m. Nov. 1? a) Masks b) Face paint c) Silly String d) Toy guns 8.)What country had the first written record of children using the phrase “trick or treat”? a) United States b) Canada c) Ireland d) Britain
Answers: c- Yellow, orange, white, d- Pre- Christian Celtic, d- Halloscream, c- Hallowe’en, a- 93%, b- Owl, c- Silly String, b- Canada
Striking a pose- Hess in action building her portfolio for clients.
5.) What percent of children go trick-or-treating each year? a) 93% b) 87% c) 100% d) 90% 6.) Which popular Halloween animal was once thought to be witches? a) Black cat b) Owl c) Werewolf d) Dog
Sports
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The Eagle Eye
Running up north The cross country team travels to Portland, Oregon for the Nike Invitational. By Ryan Dunker, Sports Editor
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n September, the cross country team raced in the Nike Portland XC Invite against teams from all across the nation. They traveled up the coast to Portland, OR to compete against some of the nations top teams, while bonding with their teammates. It was a new experience for both the girls and boys cross country teams. “I was super excited when I saw Oregon on the schedule because that course is famous,” said senior McKenzie Shulman. “I heard from those who went to Oregon in the past that it was fun and a great experience.” The team had raced at a league prelims three days prior, but the thought of traveling to Oregon helped motivate the teams. The trip lasted three days and although the team wasn’t able to spend much time in Portland, many of the runners were able to make lasting memories and grow together as a team. “I was nervous because my legs were pretty tired,” said senior Hailey Franzen. “But I was excited because our team had just done so well at the league meet, so I had a boost of confidence.” One of the most notable events during the trip was the team’s visit to the Nike Company Store, where they took advantage of deals and
Photo by Ryan Dunker
Taking home gold - The boys and girls cross country team celebrate after varisty girls place in the Nike Portland XC invite.
exclusive merchandise. Many of them stocked up on shorts, running shoes, shirts and fanny packs for their season. “We got to go to the Nike employee store and much of our time apart from the meet was spent either in the vans listening to music or all of us hanging out in a hotel room talking,” said junior Cade Myers. The cross country team also
reunited with a past coach and a fellow runner. Alumna, Sam Walsh, and former coach, Teresa Apodaca, visited the team during their trip. Apodaca hosted a pasta dinner the night before the race as a way to reunite with the team and fellow coaches. Sam Walsh, who attends the University of Portland, met up with the team for the pasta dinner and cheered on former teammates as they ran in
the Portland Meadows. “I was so happy to see Sam and Coach [Apodaca] for the first time in a while,” Franzen said. “It was cool to see them both doing so well in Oregon.” The Portland Meadows, the location of the meet, is a horse track. Many runners said they were not used to the hay bales and small hills. The hay bales throughout the course gave the runners the
Thinking pink
option to leap or step. There was also a section called the “whoop de doos”, which were several small hills chunked together. “The course had lots of obstacles that made the whole race more fun and interesting,” Myers said. “Two cool features were the hay bales we had to hurdle and the small, steep, rolling hills that we had to climb.” Overall, varsity girls placed first in their division and the boys placed in the top 15 of nearly 40 schools. The JV teams also did very well, even with intense rain and mud. The race was a 5k which differs from a three-mile race by about 250 meters, so times may have been slower, but the uniqueness of the course made up for it according to the runners. “As a team, we all did amazing-taking home first place for division three, a new plaque and some really cool backpacks,” Franzen said. Altogether, the trip to Portland, OR proved a memorable experience to the cross country teams as well as an opportunity to bond as a team and compete against top teams across the nation. “The trip was great because it was so much fun with the team,” Shulman said. “I love bonding over trips such as these and it is great to watch everyone race such a difficult course.”
Illustration by Hannah Walz
Fall sports teams show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. By Gillian Steffey, Staff Writer
Over 25 years ago, October was marked as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in order to bring attention to the disease. Since then, numerous fundraisers and organizations have been established to raise money towards finding a cure. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, every two minutes one in eight women in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. However, today there are 3.3 million women who have conquered breast cancer. As the years progress, more and more professional athletes are wearing pink during the month of October to bring awareness to breast cancer. On campus, fall sports such as football, ice hockey, girls tennis, song, cheer and girls golf show their support in similar ways. During October, the football team honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink gloves, socks and tape for their games. They also wear the traditional breast cancer ribbon on the back of their helmets. This is especially meaningful for varsity football player, junior Nate Clay. Before his freshman year, Clay’s mom was diagnosed with breast
team who supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month because the more recognitions it gets, the closer we get to finding a cure,” Lee said. “It is important because it is a reminder to pray for women all over the world who are struggling to fight this cancer.” On the ice, many hockey players can be found with pink tape on their equipment, such as their hockey sticks. “The pink tape on the stick is not much, but the idea behind it is much larger,” said junior varsity hockey player Will Howhannesian. Howhannesian finds joy in Photo by Kendal Orrantia
Pink out - The Eagle’s Nest supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month at a football game.
cancer. “It gets hard sometimes, but I keep playing and learning for [my mom] in order to pay her back someday,” Clay said. Every October, Clay shaves his head for all women who have been diagnosed or are survivors of breast cancer, especially his mom. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is important because it reminds us that not everyone in this world is promised another
day,” Clay said. “I feel honored to be supporting it and that we can come together and work for a common goal in helping those who need it more than us.” Athletes, like freshman varsity tennis player, Jenna Lee, shine a light for Breast Cancer Awareness. Girls varsity tennis supports breast cancer awareness by wearing pink ribbons in their hair during their matches. “I feel proud to be a part of a
supporting all the women fighting against breast cancer through his sport. Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month through sports or any fundraisers has a big significance on the progress to finding a cure for the disease. “Breast cancer sadly affects a large amount of women and there needs to be steps taken to bring about awareness in others,” Howhannesian said. “Athletes can help out tremendously by reminding people of the importance of October and the ways to prevent and detect breast cancer.”
Unmasked
Sports
12
The Eagle Eye
The spirited faces behind the Eagle mascot are revealed.
By AJ McGregor, Staff Writer
T
hroughout school history, the mascot has been a spirited asset to the athletic teams. Many people know the Eagle, but may not know the Eagle’s identity. Senior Renny Cribbin, junior Rachel Morris and sophomore Charli Espinoza share the role of being behind the face of our school spirit. Senior Chadi Tarazi believes that the Eagle mascot brings a unique presence to games. Although overlooked at times, it gives the Eagle’s Nest a sense of unity and leadership. “The mascot matters to the student section,” Tarazi said. “I think the mascot is always important to the attitude of the student section. They provide a liveliness that no other person is able to bring to the students.” Morris feels that the Eagle is more than just a costume— it signifies school spirit. “The mascot resembles how far a school can go to cheer on their team,” Morris said. “I have seen other schools play and they have barely any fans cheering. However,
when I look to SM’s football games, I see the Eagle’s Nest cheering on football players and a mascot on the sidelines … pumping every fan up in the stands.” The Eagle mascot requires students with outgoing personalities who are not afraid to
“Being the Eagle is definitely not easy,” Cribbin said. “It requires the physical ability to jump around in the suit and it can get pretty hot. You need to be able to get outside of your comfort zone and show hardcore
“
They provide a liveliness that no other person is able to bring to the students.
Sophomore Charli Espinoza
~ senior Chadi Tarazi
”
show it. Espinoza believes that the mascot sets the tone for fans. “To be the mascot you have to have energy and not care about what other people may think,” Espinoza said. “The only way that people are going to have fun is if you have fun.” The Eagle mascot demands an aspect of physical ability in addition to a lively and friendly personality. Cribbin emphasizes that being the Eagle is a lot of hard work but, in the end, it is worth it.
school spirit.” Cribbin likes the unanimous aspect that the Eagle has. It gives her the opportunity to represent something bigger than herself through her actions. “My favorite part of the mascot is being behind the mask in a good way,” Cribbin said. “People may not know who I am but when you are the mascot it doesn’t matter. It gives you the opportunity to show your school spirit in a way that is unique.”
Senior Renny Cribbin
Junior Rachel Morris Photos by AJ McGregor
CeleBIRDY - The Eagle mascot leads the Eagle’s Nest through cheers and chants.
Adrenaline junkies
Students take on the risk of running the flags before the football team. By Ryan Dunker, Sports Editor
photo by Russel Photography
Leading Eagle - Derek Brajevich leads the flag runners and football team prior to the game.
It’s just about game time and the team is prepared to take the field, cheers and excitement buzz in the background. Then, several flags take flight as flag runners rush onto the field. Followed by football players, these runners spur excitement both on and off the field as they mark the beginning of the Eagle’s Nest’s cheers and chants.
“When I run the flag I get a huge adrenaline rush,” said senior Kaden Jacobs. “Being able to feel connected and spirited at the football games is very important to me.” According to the runners, flag running is a huge adrenaline rush and energy booster. They are the first ones on the field and are there to excite the crowd after every touchdown. Many of the flag runners explain that running a flag is harder than it looks. “Have you ever heard the song Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins? It feels like that,” said senior Instagram: @smchseagleeye Derek Brajevich. Website: www.smchseagleeye.com
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Amidst all the excitement on the field, whether it’s cheerleaders or song members performing their routines or the football team making a play, the flag runners are there through it all, adding extra excitement and cheers to the game. “Getting to pump up the student section after a touch down is scored keeps the Eagle’s Nest excited and alive,” Jacobs said There are seven flag runners that each have their own flag. Five of the flags spell SMCHS, and two others with different meanings. One of these other flags is the American Flag, which Brajevich can be seen running with. “I have the privilege of getting to run out the American Flag,” Brajevich said. “I love this country and the other flag runners have been cool enough each time to not dispute when I immediately choose it every time.” Another distinct flag is the eagle. Jacobs follows the pack with the eagle flag during most games. “I chose the flag with the eagle because its our mascot and it shows my pride in my school,” Jacobs said. “Out of all the other flags that are just a letter or the American flag, I think mine is the most spirited.” Senior Ryan Marks can be seen running right behind Brajevich as the second runner and the first S in SMCHS. “I like being in the front so I have a slim chance of the football team catching up to me and running me
over,” Marks said. Being a flag runner has some perks and benefits, including field access. They have a front row view and can experience the energy of the football team next to them and the cheers from the Nest behind them. “I think being on the field is a completely different experience than being in the nest. I get to see just how excited all the football players are and it rubs off on me,” Jacobs said. Flag running is a unique way to
participate in school events and initiate energy for both fans and players during a football game. It’s a huge adrenaline rush and even though runners may have less than a minute in the spotlight, they spread school spirit and love the adrenaline and energy. “I feel so much adrenaline rushing through my body when I run onto the field,” Marks said. “I feel super excited sharing my spirit with everyone and it is a great way to represent your school by proudly running a flag.”
photo by Russel Photography
Spirited students - Ryan Marks (left) and Derek Brajevich (right) run the flags at a pink-out football game.