October 2023

the arcadia quill @arcadiaquill

ISSUE 2 VOLUME 71

OCT. 2023

EST. 1952

AUSD Staff Appreciation Night arcadiaquill.com

ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL 180 CAMPUS DRIVE ARCADIA, CA 91006

By SUPRIYA THAPA Staff Writer AUSD orchestrated a remarkable Staff Appreciation Night on Oct. 12. It was filled with a fun atmosphere, showcasing the district’s love and commitment to their teachers and staff. Once the teachers had checked in, they received an event pass, food tickets, and a raffle ticket. Having done that, they were free to explore the many activities set up by members of the Digital Communications Internship (DCI). After the raffle ended, the staff made their way to the football field for more events that were planned to take part in.

Face painting, games, and camaraderie were the highlight of the tailgate. The staff’s children were huddled around the face painting table, while families engaged in friendly competition with games like Connect Four, Jenga, cornhole, and ring toss. Laughter filled

bilingual achievement [pg 04]

Photo courtesy of AUSD DCI

the air as footballs soared around in the game area as kids partook in interacting with each other, connecting staff in joyous moments.

Adding to the excitement, Chanos Tacos served delectable tacos along with various drinks throughout the night, ensuring everyone had a delightful meal. The raffle drew excited participants, with prices ranging from a Costco gift card to a $100 gift card basket from Foothill Credit Union. With those just being some examples of the prizes, it was a night filled with winners, as many staff took home generous prizes.

“Staff Appreciation Night means the world to us. It’s a tangible expression of the love and support we receive from DCI and the community. The effort that went into organizing this event is truly heartwarming,” expressed Hugo Reid Elementary teacher, Mrs. Kristen Cook Mora.

Freshman and DCI intern Allison Chen added, “Seeing the smiles on our teachers’ faces as they enjoyed the tailgate and the raffle

what's inside what’s up with those beige hoodies? [pg 13]

The 3rd Annual Bilingual. Achievement Ceremony honored students who have reached proficiency in acquiring the English language and celebrates their achievement. 268 students were reclassified as “Fluent English Proficiency.” Students across AUSD were recognized for their perseverance and hard Photo by CAROLINE LI work.

Beige hoodies embroidered with vibrant red “Arcadia” word art and the Arcadia Unified School District’s motto, “Imagine, Inquire, Inspire” have become quite the trend among AHS students, and the fact that they are inspired by Stüssy seems to only amplify its ongoing wild popularity.

made all the hard work worthwhile. It’s our way of giving back to the people who inspire us every day. Since it was my first time working at an event like this, it was truly meaningful.”

As the night progressed, anticipation mounted for the football game. Staff members walked through the tunnel before the football players, showing a sign of unity as they represented the Arcadia community. The stadium resonated with cheers and applause as the staff watched the game, supporting the students on the field.

From the tailgate to the thrilling football game, the Staff Appreciation Night was a night filled with glee and praise. It was a celebration of dedication and a testament to the strong bonds within the Arcadia community. Without our wonderful staff, nothing would be possible!

sthapa@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of AUSD DCI

2023 homecoming assembly [pg 12]

Photo courtesy of AUSD DCI

Music and chatter filled the Salter Stadium at the annual Homecoming Assembly, commemorating AHS’ Homecoming season.

Students of all grade levels packed the bleachers while wearing their respective class colors. Students returned to Salter Stadium that night for the Homecoming Game against Burbank High School.

POLICY 02

POLICY

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OCTOBER 2023

Editorial Board:

Editors-in-Chief: Michelle So, Chloe Wong, Madison Yee Campus Focus Editors: Justina Liu and Lorin Teng Arts & Entertainment Editor: Caroline Li, Kathy Wong News Editors: Clarissa Suryapranata, Annie Jiang Opinion Editors: Ellie Gladson-Pang, Michael Hum Features Editor: Harini Devaguptapu Sports Editor: Sophia Li, Sohana Sahni Media Editor: Lauryn Chao

General Staff:

Staff Writers: Sydney Chau, Colette Chen, Emma Chen, Julia Chen, Patrick Cheng, Ardy Chien, Christopher Chu, Richard Dai, Jayeesha Deb, Jose Gama, David Gerges, Ekam Gupta, Michelle Ho, Myriam Kabani, Juhi Kakarla, Ellie Kwan, Issac Leung, Lucia Lim, Ryan Parizadeh, Breeanna Pham, Sophia Ren, Landon Simons, Camelia Tang, Supriya Thapa, Lea Wang, Rachelle Witarno, Lucy Wu, Zita Zhu Media Staff: Chloe Bi, Caitlyn Chau, Arya Desai, Rachel Lee, Siddhi Karthikeya, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emma Wang

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OCTOBER 2023

By BREEANNA PHAM

OKTOBERFEST 03

Oktoberfest

Staff Writer

Oktoberfest has been an extremely well-loved celebration for many years now. However, not many people know how it originated. Oktoberfest originated in Munich, Germany on Oct. 12, 1810, to celebrate the union of Prince Reagent Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Although they got married on Oct. 12, the public festivities didn’t begin until Oct. 17. However, the birth of Oktoberfest is accredited to Andreas Michael Dall’Armi, who was a, “close aide of the then prince regent Ludwig of Barvaria,” according to, OutThere magazine.

For his achievements, Dall’Armi received a citizen’s gold medal for his invention of Oktoberfest, according to oktoberfest.de.

The year following the union, the public didn’t want the festivities to end.

So, the responsibility of planning the event went into the hands of Landwirtschaftlicher Verein in Bayern’ (Agricultural Association in Bavaria). These festivities went on for

two more years until the Napoleonic Wars in 1813. Afterwards, the festival was funded privately until it was made top priority in 1819. In 1850, The statue of Bavaria, the symbol of Oktoberfest and Bavaria State, was made; however, the people weren’t able to celebrate it due to wars and cholera.

In 1881, the first chicken outlet (or fried chicken stand) was opened and eating fried chicken became an annual Oktoberfest tradition.

The following years after the 1880s were quite peaceful; however, the event had to be canceled multiple times when two World Wars broke out. Additionally, on Sept. 26, 1980, a bomb exploded at the entrance of Oktoberfest and resulted in 13 people dead and 200 civilian casualties.

Despite the incidents in the past, Oktoberfest has been the biggest folk festival and 6 million visitors visit annually. In Munich, Germany, the festivities are open to all members of the public regardless of their age. However, if a child is 6 years old, they aren’t allowed in beer tents and catering establishments after 8:00 p.m., even if

accompanied by an adult. If a is between the ages of 6 and 16, then they are allowed to stay until 8:00 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. If they are, then they can stay until the end of the event. If an adolescent is over the age of 16, then they are allowed to stay until the end of the event without an adult. However, if they are in tents that serve alcohol, they are allowed to stay until 12:00 a.m.

However, as a warning, these restrictions on alcohol are only for people who are in Germany. In the US, the legal drinking age is 21 years of age. In Arcadia, CA drinking is only allowed for people over the age of 21. Moreover, the event took place in the Santa Anita Park from Oct. 14-15 as well as Oct. 21-22. There will be lots of music and entertainment. While people under the age of 21 aren’t allowed to drink, they are welcome to watch the horse races and join in on the other festivities.

Junior Colraine Ding, went to the event on Oct. 14. “It was really fun and I enjoyed immersing myself in German culture and spending time with my family,” Ding

stated.

For people under the age of 21, Oktoberfest can be celebrated at home as well!

In contrast to Ding, junior Edith Ung celebrated Oktoberfest a different way. She, along with her mother, made soft pretzels at home. “It was really fun and it allowed me and my mom to bond over our love for food,” said Ung. For other celebration ways, you can listen to German Polka, make soft pretzels, and so much more!

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04

NEWS

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OCTOBER 2023

MULTILINGUAL CEREMONY

By SYDNEY CHAU Staff Writer The 3rd Annual Multilingual Achievement Ceremony honored students who have reached proficiency in acquiring the English language and celebrates their achievement. On Oct. 4, 268 students across the Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) were reclassified as “Fluent English Proficiency.” Students across AUSD were recognized for their perseverance and hard work. These schools developed outstanding learners who demonstrated their commitment and language acquisition.

English Language Development teachers of AUSD demonstrated commitment to their students, working with them for countless hours to help them improve their English.

Ms. Kim LaBella, the English Language Development (ELD) teacher on Special Assignment states, “It is so great to be able to celebrate these students and publicly recognize their accomplishments. Achieving multi-lingual status and meeting AUSD’s rigorous reclass criteria is not an easy task and their hard work certainly does not go unnoticed. We are fortunate to have such a robust ELD program in the district and are grateful to all of the ELD teachers and general education teachers who have supported and continue to support these students on their academic journey.”

Students must meet a series of criteria known as the “Reclassification Criteria” in order to be eligible for reclassification. The list of requirements includes meeting the requirements for basic English skills, teacher observation and assessment, and English language proficiency standards. Depending on

the grade level, each criterion has a few specifics that change. A student is considered to have met the standards if they receive an overall score of 4 on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California, a grade of C- or higher in English, a grade of C- or higher in core academic classes, a grade point average of 2.0 or higher, and a standard score on the Star

Renaissance test. Students will be categorized as having “Fluent English Proficiency” once they have attained all of the listed standards.

Excited parents, educators, and students filled the Arcadia Performing Arts Center for the Multilingual Ceremony. Once the ceremony began, it immediately filled with liveliness as student after student

joined the stage with their certificate of recognition. Each student introduced themselves while parents responded with big rounds of applause, flashing cameras, and smiles on their faces.

AHS freshman Yosef Bryon Valdeavilla stated, “I feel like the ceremony was very

meaningful, with how it recognizes students and their efforts. Personally, I was surprised and excited when I found out that I was going to be reclassified. It made me feel like my hard work paid off, and that I am actually making noticeable progress.”

The Multilingual Ceremony not only celebrates those who have made significant progress in their language acquisition, but it also serves as a source of inspiration for future Arcadia students. It proves that through perseverance and hard work, students can learn to overcome language barriers and attain proficiency in a new language. More than that, students working towards English proficiency will be encouraged by their peers, knowing that it is possible for them too, to achieve linguistic fluency.

Arcadia’s Multilingual Ceremony celebrates students who have reached a milestone in their English-learning process. It recognizes the hard work of students from various Arcadia school sites who have attained “English Language Proficiency.” As Arcadia continues to celebrate and encourage the linguistic achievements of its students, it will also inspire future generations of Arcadia students to strive for linguistic excellence.

schau@arcadiaquill.com Photo Courtesy of AUSD DCI

Crystal Ball 2023-SMW

By BREEANNA PHAM Staff Writer Every year, USC Hospital (formally known as Methodist Hospital) has held a Crystal Ball to commemorate a fellow doctor as well as to gain funds for the hospital. The 34th annual Crystal Ball held by the USC Arcadia Hospital took place on Oct. 7.

The Crystal Ball is one of the biggest events Seniors of Merit at Work (SMW) volunteers at annually. At this event, various SMW members held different jobs that included welcoming/opening doors for guests, helping guests register, assisting with the auction, and much more!

The gala took place at the Pasadena Convention Center where they honored Dr. Heigner Vogelbach who is the Director of Cardiology at the USC Hospital and has been practicing there for more than 30 years. The Crystal Ball is a charity event where people get to participate in a silent and live auction. Additionally, guests get to experience a night of entertainment, fine dining, and a lot of dancing. All proceeds from the gala went towards USC Arcadia’s second state-of-the-art biplane imaging system, a tool

that allows for doctors to see a patient’s anatomy more in-depth.

Moreover, many famous artists that performed at the ball include the Kool & The Gang, Paul Anka, Kenny Loggins, The Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, and Foreigner.

When asked what the most memorable part of the event was, SMW member Genesis Morales stated, “The most memorable part of the ball would be the auction since it was my very firstwas like at the ball, SMW member Leah Taylor stated, “Relatively good for the most part!

I worked at the front, checking guests in, so it was good seeing all the different outfits on the red carpet.”

Overall, the event was a success. In addition to gaining some funding for a new surgical device, guests had a night that is definitely one to remember.

bpham@arcadiaquill.com Photo Courtesy of SMW

OCTOBER 2023

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NEWS 05

2023 Homecoming Assembly

By CHLOE WONG and LUCIA LIM Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer Music and chatter filled the Salter Stadium at the annual Homecoming Assembly, commemorating Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Homecoming season. On Sept. 29, following a week of spirit events and school pride, students of all grade levels packed the bleachers while wearing their respective class colors. The setting was a notable change from 2022, when the assembly was held in the North Gym, but didn’t allow the entire student body to convene.

Once ASB Executive President Joyce Lee kicked off the assembly, Arcadia Marching Band and Color Guard took center stage for a field show. As always, AHS’ other performing arts groups featured prominently: members of Pep Cheer tumbled, cheered and stunted on the turf, while Pep Song impressed with a sharp routine featuring a kick line. Orchesis Dance Company caught the audience’s attention by taking the field to Todrick Hall’s “Attention;” bedazzled in silver sparkles, the performers also collaborated with Pep Song for a second dance. “[Performing] was very nerve-wracking and intimidating at first, but after the first performance, I realized how exciting it was to be in front of the school,” said AHS sophomore and Arcadia Marching Band member Catherine Zhu. “My many hours spent [rehearsing] for band truly paid off in the end.”

“Every assembly I’m a part of is so fun

and I really enjoy the memories I create with my team. For this assembly specifically, I really enjoyed hearing the cheers from the crowd after our performance, but also cheering for the other performers during this assembly,” junior Pep Song dancer, Emily Son, shared.

Next in the assembly was the longawaited Homecoming Royalty Court, announced by ASB Vice President Henrina Zhang and ASB Spirit Commissioner Kelly Fong. The crowd roared in applause as Freshm a n Prince a n d Princess Christopher Tsai and Hailey L a m w e r e the first to enter f r o m the entrance. Next, Sophomore Prince and Princess Jonah Salama and Kaeden de Leon joined the two. Junior Prince and Princess Manuel Garcia and Grace Mccloskey tagged along as well, before Zhang and Fong eventually revealed the top three Senior Prince and Princesses. The first pair out of the three, Taylor Vo and Elizabeth Chan made their way to the field, followed

by Harry Hairapetian and Mahrie Bedjakian, and lastly, Kyle Soriano and Veronica Meyers.

The pairs of princes and princesses

then got ready for a relay game that consisted of a three-legged race as well as throwing balls into baskets. The competition went on for a couple minutes before the Freshman Court took the victory.

“Overall, this experience was super great!,” Tsai beamed. “Being part of the assembly made me realize how much work people go into making this possible and I had so much fun being able to participate in it.”

Once the applause died down, AHS students from each grade level went afield for an assembly game.

The rules w e r e simple: students balanced cups full of water on their heads, and transferred as much water as they could to the next person in line. In the end, the freshmen won this untraditional relay, dumping the most water into a bucket before time ran out.

“It was very fun to watch the game,” said AHS junior Kai Wetterau. “I had a lot of laughs watching people spill water on themselves.”

Between performances, AHS’ Fall Varsity sports teams made an appearance—Coed Varsity Cross Country, Boys Varsity Water Polo, Girls Varsity Golf,

Girls Varsity Tennis, and, of course, Varsity Football. Each team ran through the football tunnel before performing an individualized cheer. Girls Varsity Golf putted across the field, while Coed Varsity Cross Country ran through a makeshift finish line; Girls Varsity Tennis even tossed up a massive tennis ball.

After a final, fun-spirited dance by Seniors of Merit at Work, the assembly closed with a rendition of AHS’ alma mater. Students put their arms around each other, swayed and sang, then headed back to class with Pep Band playing in the background.

For some students, it was their first time experiencing a Homecoming assembly at AHS. For others, it was their very last.

“It was kind of bittersweet because I’m never going to experience [a Homecoming Assembly] again,” said senior Alysia Shang. On how it felt to watch the assembly, she added: “It was nice to see how much work the students put into their organizations—how much they care about [them].”

Plenty of AHS students returned to Salter Stadium that night for the Homecoming Game against Burbank High School. Dressed in scarlet to create a “Red Sea,” and riding the wave of school spirit from earlier that day, Arcadia secured a 59-14 victory against the Bulldogs. Go Apaches!

ing “long life” and “ranch” for “freshness” in Mandarin.

The benefits of having a supermarket

Senior Melody Chen expressed the convenience of having the 99 Ranch Market at the mall, but also recognized the down-

tion of people going to the supermarket causes even more issues in parking [and it] becomes an inconvenience,” said Chen.

She added, “The shopping cart stations added into the parking lot take up a [lot of] space… [and] stray carts could also become a large issue.”

Many people also feel that this new addition to the mall doesn’t blend in with the atmosphere of a classy shopping center.

Freshman Scarlely Chiu said, “I don’t think it should be in the mall because it causes a big inconvenience for people.

There’s [already] a lot of traffic there…

The mall is for shopping [for things] like clothes and accessories, not groceries.”

She feels that having a supermarket at the Santa Anita Mall weakens the entire shopping experience.

Nevertheless, the 99 Ranch Market is an exciting new addition to The Shops at Santa Anita. This authentic store is

at the mall are evident. After a long day of shopping, you can easily pick up a few components for dinner on your way home.

sides of this new store.

“With the already crowded parking lot of regular mall-shoppers, the addi-

cwong@arcadiaquill.com llim@arcadiaquill.com Photo by LORIN TENG

99 RANCH MARKET OPENING

By ELLIE KWAN

Staff Writer The 99 Ranch Market is a well-known Asian supermarket located all throughout the United States. They sell a variety of groceries, such as delicious vegetables, fresh seafood, and hard-to-find Asian products. The sixth location in the San Gabriel Valley area has rooted itself at The Shops at Santa Anita, in place of what used to be the lower level of Forever 21. It featured a ribbon cutting on the morning of Sept. 30, along with a lion dance and the cutting of a fresh bluefin tuna later in the afternoon.

Freshman Charlene Lei witnessed the grand opening from a distance away.

“From what I saw outside, [the store] looked nice. They were also giving out these giant inflatable Pocky sticks,” she said.

In 1984, Robert Chen, a Taiwanese immigrant, founded the first 99 Ranch Market in Westminster, California. He started this supermarket chain, which became the largest Asian chain in the U.S. Its name derived from the number “99” mean-

ekwan@arcadiaquill.com Photo by CLARISSA SURYAPRANATA

06

OPINION

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OCTOBER 2023

STOP BLAMING EVERYONE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

By SOPHIA REN Staff Writer As a child growing up in Los Angeles, undoubtedly one of the most metropolitan cities in the world, I first learned about the climate change movement in first grade. I was instructed to compost my leftover lunches, recycle my plastic bottles, and pick up ten pieces of trash whenever I was at the beach. I encouraged my peers and family to do the same, elated that I was making a difference in the world. But as I learned about climate change, I was forced to ask the question: who is really responsible for climate change? And contrary to popular belief, it’s not us ordinary citizens.

As a global social effort, the climate movement is pushed upon all people, regardless of race and socioeconomic status. We are told to bike instead of drive, but those in low-income communities across the world don’t even have access to transportation. Leaders of the climate movement cannot possibly say that everyone must play their part when clearly some don’t leave as large of a carbon footprint as others. It is time to divert our attention away from pointless performative activism and forcing ordinary citizens to abide by little acts of recycling. Instead, the real issue is billionaires. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner take a thirty-

minute private jet ride to their destination two hours away, producing more than 8,000 tons of carbon emissions in a year, which is 1,184 times more than the average civilian in their lifetime.

According to Oxfam’s Confronting Carbon Inequality Report, the richest 1% account for over double the carbon emissions of the poorest 50% of humanity. The blame for climate change is not fairly allocated.

And when it comes to environmental footprint, government-approved projects and major corporate ventures are vastly more harmful than any individual alone. The United States recently approved the Willow Project by oil company

ConocoPhillips, which seeks to produce an estimated 239 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. This plan completely contrasts with the current U.S. efforts to reduce fossil fuels. ConocoPhillips prepares to refreeze the already melting Arctic Tundra to extract more fossil fuels and is expected to run for around thirty years.

Another group largely responsible for exacerbating our climate crisis are the very activists preaching a green world.

Activists order society to be more environmentally friendly, spreading that message on a mass-produced phone, wearing clothign made by money-hungry companies, and eating food from a plastic package. These clothing brands include SHEIN,

Forever 21, and ZARA. Although their impact on the environment is not as great as billionaires and corporations, their ignorance and performative activism is doing far more harm than good.

Due to their widespread movement, society has taken it upon themselves to harass someone for drinking out of a plastic bottle instead of a Hydroflask. Should we really be focusing on plastic bottles rather than the corporations and wealthy individuals that are doing irreversible damage to our planet?

As I am no longer in the first grade, I’ve come to the conclusion that we cannot singlehandedly fix climate change. However, that realization still needs to be addressed by countless environmental advocates, and society must start blaming the top 1% and greedy corporations, such as ConocoPhillips. We must take it upon ourselves to shift our focus to the ones truly responsible for our climate crisis today.

Average citizens can definitely work towards a better world, but we are not the ones with the greatest impact.

sren@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of FLICKR.COM

SHOULD SPEAKING SKILLS BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL?

By MYRIAM KABANI Staff Writer Oftentimes, schools focus on six main subjects to teach to children: English, math, science, history, the occasional language or elective, and physical education. While these subjects teach students so many life skills, our K-12 school curriculum should move to include one more necessary skill: speaking skills.

In today’s day and age, speaking skills have become some of the main traights sought out in the corporate workplace - an industry with over 20 million people. This is not only true for people currently employed in corporate, who require speaking skills to communicate and perform tasks like giving presentations, but also to secure that job in the first place.

Oftentimes, employers ask job applicants to come in for interviews, be it for the corporate workplace as aforementioned or virtually any job as a whole. Though applicants can gauge what they will be asked in an interview based on previous interviews (for example, “Tell us about yourself?” and “What makes you a great fit for this job?”) and prepare, there may be an unexpected question that the applicant may be asked. This alone would require you to have off-the-cuff impromptu speaking, a skill that, for some people, takes years upon years to cultivate. By incorporating speaking classes early

This alone would require you to have offthe-cuff impromptu speaking, a skill that, for some people, takes years upon years to cultivate. By incorporating speaking classes early on, students are able to get a “head start” on forming those speaking skills.

To have a more broad perspective as to the importance o f speech, we as humans must analyze why we talk to begin with: to express ourselves. And so if the reason we speak is to tell others about ourselves, our story, our morals, our values, and our ideas, shouldn’t we focus on being able to represent ourselves in an accurate manner?

And while some may say this is a skill that we can learn later on, scientifically speaking, should we really?

The National Library of Medicine states, “We investigated such learning across the life span, between 4–85 years of age with an implicit probabilistic sequence learning task, and

we found that the difference in implicitly learning high vs. low probability events - measured by raw reaction time (RT) - exhibited a rapid decrement around age of 12.”

To clarify, the human brain retains information best until around their teenage years, and from then, the rate of being able to retain information dwindles with age. are young, such as mathematical arithmetic or reading. This logically makes sense considering that you learn most of the foundational education practices when you are young, such as mathematical arithmetic or reading.

In the school system, age twelve corresponds to around sixth grade. And so, up until middle school, students would be able to pick up on new skills with ease. If we as a society move towards learning such skills at a younger age, children will be more prepared to function as adults. Though some may say this is already being taught through various English lessons, this is not enough to truly help the students practice public speaking proficiently.

Though some may say this is already being not

enough to truly help the students practice public speaking proficiently. Investing in such lesson planning is import-taught through various English courses, this isant so children are able to maintain what they learn, instead of utilizing it once in a while.

But how exactly would this work? At a younger age, around kindergarten to second grade, students could express their ideas simply—like discussing their favorite sport or their favorite book. As time went on, the children would then continue on to harder topics or at least supporting their opinions with evidence.

From sixth grade to around ninth grade, they can start discussing more controversial topics, and from ninth onwards, they can debate about historical and political topics, requiring deeper thinking, analysis, and explanation.

The utilization of such techniques would lead to mastery of public speaking skills by the time children reach the adult world, enabling people with one of the most essential tools to help them succeed. The only way we can get as close as possible to a 100% guarantee of this for everyone? If students have the resources needed to be able to practice that at school on a daily basis.

mkabani@arcadiaquill.com Graphic by RAWPIXEL.COM

OCTOBER 2023

OPINION 07 Having More Than Six Classes Is Beneficial opinion.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

Regional high schools such as Mark Keppel (MKHS) and Gabrielino (GHS) ofStaff Writer fer up to 7-8 periods for their students, allowWhen choosing my class schedule for the ing them to take more classes on a given day next school year, I find myself struggling and throughout the school year. Additionalto fit all the classes I want into the six pe- ly, each extra class is purely optional in both riods we were limited to. As a member of schools, Orchestra and Cross Country, I had to de- s o cide between sacrificing an academic class i m p l e or quitting an extracurricular activity. I was menting astonished when I discovered that many this sysother schools around our area gave its stu- tem into dents the option of taking an additional one A H S ’ s or two classes, in addition to their chosen c u r extracurriculars, totaling eight classes. riculum What if Arcadia High School (AHS) will be did the same and allowed students to broad- reasonen their range of learning and fulfill class able for requirements quicker by allowing students students an extra one or two classes? who are Students looking at AHS’s course cata- w i l l log might find themselves astounded by the ing to sheer number of classes provided at AHS. s p e n d However, when deciding which classes to e x t r a enroll in for the next school year, students t i m e . face a dilemma. Should they quit an extra- This exposure to a more diverse curriculum curricular course for an academic class, or would be helpful, not to mention making should they wait until next year to take it? the student appear more desirable to proThe option of extending the number of spective colleges. classes we can take may be a solution. AHS Angeline Chau, an MKHS student, offers a very robust academic program, but said that “the extra classes allow for stuthe limitations implemented in students’ dents to take electives that otherwise could course schedule forces them to choose only not be inserted into their schedule. Students a small number of the many classes avail- taking these extra classes are able to susable during the duration of their high school years.

For example, the average number of AP classes provided in high schools nationwide hovers around eight, meaning that in order to take a class not provided at their school, students will need to travel elsewhere to take it. On the other hand, AHS provides twenty AP classes, more than double the national average, giving students the opportunity to take classes at their own schools. However, due to the limited schedule, this option is not feasible unless students sacrifice any of their chosen electives or extracurricular activities, which can often be vital for college applications.

If students were given the option of taking a select number of extracurricular classes outside of the traditional 6-period schedule, they would have the opportunity to take additional classes in the free periods, as well as gain more credits towards graduation.

Sophomore Terrence Wu said that his “previous school districts had a seven-period day,” adding that “it allowed students to fit more credits in.”

Wu continued by stating that having an extra period in high school will give him a better opportunity to fit any additional classes needed for the graduation credits requirement.

By ISAAC LEUNG

tainably indulge in more chances to learn all while keeping their other electives and general education courses.”

Chau added by saying that she is in MKHS’ Period 0 Speech and Debate and Period 7 Advanced Orchestra, and “if these w e r e not outside the regular class times, then I would have to choose b e tween t a k ing my electives of web design a n d Mandarin.”

To compensate for the seemingly exhausting eight class periods, many schools such as MKHS divide Tuesday and Wednesday into block schedules, where classes rotate routinely. Periods 1, 3, and 5 will take place on Tuesdays, and periods 2, 4, and 6 will take place on Wednesdays. Period 0 functions the same way as a zero-period at

“What if Arcadia High School (AHS) ...allowed students to broaden their range of learning and fulfill class requirements quicker by allowing students an extra one or two classes?”

AHS, starting at 7:30 every morning, while period 7 takes place every day after 6 period ends at 4:30. For every other day, all seven or eight classes will be taken. This allows students to focus on subjects better during the school day and exposes them to a wider variety of subjects. But again, period 0 and period 7 are not mandatory, meaning that students have the option of only taking 6 periods as well.

Of course, we also understand that it is essential to maintain a healthy school and life balance. This may require additional resources from our school district to support over three thousand students at AHS, compared to MKHS’ two thousand and GHS’s sixteen hundred students. However, schools such as Granada Hills Charter High School (GHC) prove that this endeavor is feasible for large schools as well. Supporting nearly six thousand students, GHC manages to provide up to 8 classes for their students, despite the astounding student population. This may be a challenge for our smaller school district, but with additional resources, it may be feasible.

Many competitive students will see this as an opportunity. While such a schedule is not for all students, it will definitely benefit by encouraging commitment and dedication to those who are willing to try. ileung@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of AUSD

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FEATURES

arcadiaquill.com

OCTOBER 2023

THE BEAUTY OF UPCYCLING

By BREEANA PHAM Staff Writers Upcycling is defined as recycling an item in a way that gives the person the ability to resell it for higher than its original value. According to rts.com, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 75% of all waste is recyclable. Additionally, according to The New York Times, Americans throw away more than 12 million tons of furniture each year.

Given how astronomical these numbers are, it is no wonder why so many people have opted for more environmentally friendly ways to shop for their favorite household items. In doing this, many have prevented well loved furniture from ending up in landfills and creating more greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.

When buying furniture second hand, one gets a unique piece of furniture that will become the centerpiece of their home.

Furthermore, extra wood pallets can be upcycled too! They are very versatile and can be used to make unique bookshelves, herb gar-

dens, tables, and so much more. Other things that can be upcycled include old instruments, jars, and old terracotta pots.

Sophomore Edith Ung is a huge supporter

up being thrown away. [For example], I have upcycled my old clothes to make clothes for my dog,” she stated.

Fast fashion was very popular in the late

to Good On You. This is most likely because the price of clothing items are really low which is a huge pro for teenagers and young adults living on tight budgets. However, not only does fast fashion exploit people in poverty and endorse human trafficking and slavery, (according to Pebble Magazine) but it also poses great environmental impacts. This is because most clothes made by fast fashion brands have plastic fibers in their clothing and toxic dyes according to the United Nations Environment Program.

A substitute for that would be thrifting!

Some local thrift stores in Arcadia include Goodwill, Savers, and The Salvation Army. In these stores, trendy clothing items can be found, most likely made of much better material than those from fast fashion. Additionally, many designer items (albeit rare) have been found at thrift stores.

All in all, upcycling is a beautiful thing that not only helps the environment, but encourages people to be more mindful of what they spend their money on.

of upcycling. “Upcycling is a very creative and fun way to reuse items that would have ended

1990s to 2000s, and then regained popularity in 2021, grossing about $91.23 billion according

bpham@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FREEPIK.COM

PASSIONS PROJECTS: TEENS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY

By SUPRIYA THAPA Staff Writer In a world where we are often faced with negativity, there is a bright and hopeful movement amongst us. Across the globe, teenagers are stepping up and becoming advocates, leaders, and change-makers within their communities. These young people are showcasing their passion in meaningful initiatives that tackle pressing issues and make the world a better place. With that being said, here at AHS, we see a big community of change-makers.

One inspiring teenager is Disha Ramanujam, a senior at AHS. Ramanujam started her own passion project alongside senior Judith Banuelos. The duo started their own club organization called “The Period Poverty.” The mission is simple yet inspiring: to raise awareness about menstruation while raising funds to make care packages to donate to local centers like Foothill Unity Center that support women and girls who cannot afford these products.

“Through projects like these, I have been able to see smiles on the faces of many women who have never had the opportunity to be in possession of these materials due to the highcost rate,” Ramanujam explained.

“When we receive the thank you from these centers, it just feels right,” Banuelos added. “Knowing you’ve helped people who truly needed it just makes you realize you are a part of the big efforts to make a difference.”

Additionally, one of the most remarkable

aspects of these passion projects is the tangible impact they make. From organizing local cleanups to volunteering for shelters, awareness is launched, and changes are made for the better.

Through clubs like Evergreen, the community we walk in has become cleaner, and there has been an increase in satisfaction as teens donate and raise money for good. Clubs like Evergreen meet up to clean local parks in exchange for volunteer hours.

This not only makes the community a better place but is also able to bring students who have similar goals t o g e t h e r.

Furthermore, teenagers are taking roles that are traditional to adults and are becoming better activists.

Teenagers have been choosing diverse topics to focus on which has been making a big difference. For some, they choose to advocate for climate actions, for others, they take an interest

in topics of inequality. With that being said, it is evident from duos like Banuelos and Ramanujam that these passion projects don’t run solo.

Instead, they are successful because of a collaborative effort. Teenagers have formed groups or clubs to help get more people who are interested in these topics to make a change.

An example of these groups or clubs is the Amnesty International Club, which is present here at AHS. Vania Ahamdi, a junior started this club as a chapter of the organization.

It is a club where students can write letters to Congress and federal executives to focus more on human rights as they tackle other political issues. Another example is Medical Marvel, which is a student-led nonprofit organization that focuses on shining light on medical topics and helping students who want to pursue a job in the medical field.

“Nothing can be done alone,” Banuelos

shared. “If it wasn’t for the collaborative efforts Disha made alongside me, then this passion we had to make this idea a reality wouldn’t have happened. It made us realize that for these passion projects to come true, we would have to collaborate through thick and thin.”

“Working alongside Judith has made me realize how hard it would have been alone,” Ramanujam responded. “She has helped me so much [to] brainstorm ideas, and without her, it wouldn’t have been possible. Together we have managed to accomplish too much and really work to make the world a better place. In the future, I hope to see passion projects like the one Judith and I came up with here at AHS as it really is a thrilling experience.”

The passion, dedication, and resilience of these young activists are inspiring. They are proof that age is not a limit to making changes in the world. As they continue to pursue their passion projects, they remind everyone that positive change is possible no matter how young or old you are. Teenagers are not just leaders of the future, they are the leaders of today who are shaping the world into a compassionate, equal, and hopeful place. with new knowledge about what to look out for in products at the store, go out there and be your confident, shining self (vegan style)!

jdeb@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Annie Jiang

OCTOBER 2023

features.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

FEATURES

Foothill Unity Center: 2023 Golden Plate Award

By SOPHIA REN Staff Writer Foothill Unity Center has been a significant helping hand as homelessness rates rise throughout the U.S. Founded in 1980 by Josephine Anderson, Foothill Unity Center is San Gabriel Valley’s largest agency in assisting neighbors in need, offering programs such as food, health, housing, job development, and crisis case management. Anderson started the organization out of a church closet in Monrovia, now seeking to promote self-sufficiency through a variety of resources to neighboring communities, such as Arcadia and Pasadena.

On Sept. 28, Foothill Unity Center held their largest fundraiser of the year: the Golden Plate Awards. The event took place at THE NOOR in Pasadena, with the theme “Changing Live Together”. Attendees gathered to celebrate the impact made on different communities.

On top of a night of conversation and festivities, commemorations were bestowed upon recipients. The Heart in Hand Humanitarian Award was given to Donald and Maria

Schweitzer, the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Youth Service Award granted to the Asissteens of Arcadia, and Lois Gaston receiving the Carl Foote Legacy Award.

Foothill Unity Center has achieved many f e a t s throughout the years, with notable ratings and recognition. They received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the largest U.S. charity evaluator, only awarding the most responsible organizations with 4-stars.

They are also considered a top-rated charity and received a 5-star rating on Great Nonprofits, an organization focusing on bringing attention to nonprofits throughout the country. In addition to

their awards, The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank considers The Center to be the top food pantry in the county. Throughout the years, they have received the Arcadia Strong Award by the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce due to their work locally.

J u nior Swarit Srivastava recalls his experience volunteering with Foothill Unity Center. “ M y family and I donated food cans in one of their drives. I felt that the Center is an integral part of our community, helping disadvantaged citizens throughout Arcadia.”

The Foothill Unity Center team consists of volunteers, donors, Board of Directors, spon-

09

sors, and hundreds of work trainees. Together, they carry out the ideals of supporting neighbors in need. Their Food Program distributes 3 million pounds of food annually, giving out daily bag lunches and hygiene kits to those going through homelessness. Grocery deliveries are common to elderly homes, and emergency family food and pet food are also issued. In addition, they host health clinics, teach health education, and assist in navigating the healthcare system. The center also has services for domestic violence, food stamps outreach, housing programs, transportation, and job development.

There is no doubt that Foothill Unity Center greatly impacts the lives of those who reach out. They emphasize the importance of participating when struggling, as they are able to ease difficulties that come with finding resources.

With a successful gala complete, community members await a hopeful year ahead.

sren@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER

Lapse: Everything You Need to Know

By LUCIA LIM

Staff Writer Over the years, camera apps have gained a tremendous amount of popularity, including familiar favorites such as BeReal or Locket.

Launched in August, Lapse has also started to make its way up, ranking #1 on the App Store’s chart for the Top Free Photo & Video Apps as of Oct. 10.

The app itself is formatted similarly to a disposable camera combined with social interaction. Each photo is taken on a digital roll with 36 shots each ,and just like a real camera, the photos take from one to three hours to “develop” from the “darkroom” before the final picture is revealed in a film-like filter.

Lapse’s motto is “More Life, Less Likes,” encouraging its user to “stay in the moment.”

Since the app is invite only, it emphasizes the idea of focusing on sharing moments with your friends as opposed to worrying about followers who might judge your posts. Moreover, the “social media” component of the app allows users to comment on their friends’ pictures without receiving any likes, relieving the pressure of “likes” that comes with other social media apps.

If Lapse sounds familiar, that may be because in March 2021, Dispo was launched with similar features. However, Dispo was mainly focused on the disposable camera components, rather than the social media aspects. Lapse,

on the other hand, takes the camera quality of Dispo, along with the social part of BeReal, and becomes its own phenomenon.

“I love how [Lapse] ‘develop[s]’ photos and adds a filter to them to make them cuter.

I also love how you can choose which photos you want to share with others or keep private to yourself,” junior Kimberly Ng added.

The name “Lapse” itself proposes that the

photos are taken over a course of time. Unlike camera apps like Snapchat that focus on maintaining your “streaks” with others, Lapse has a more relaxed approach, suggesting that users take pictures that are “photo-worthy” when the moment is right, instead of pushing them to constantly be active on the app.

“I would use it,” junior Brianna Yanez admitted, after hearing about the app. “[I like]

how it is only being sent to friends and you don’t need to worry about other people who you [don’t] know viewing the pictures.”

While some students relish over the endless possibilities of Lapse, others are apprehensive.

“It takes too long to get into the app,” junior Samantha Vo shared. “I can’t believe they make you add like 8 friends in order to take photos.”

“The app is confusing. It says it wants its viewers to ‘live in the moment’, but then encourages them to take photos during those moments,” freshman Estella Lim disclosed.

With any new app comes plenty of mixed opinions—even Lapse has flaws, as stated above. In addition to adding previously known friends, the app has a feature that suggests mutual friends based on your current friends. This can lead to unknown accounts requesting to add you, devaluing the app’s regards on safety, according to the parents on Bark App Reviews.

However, considering that the app was built without the virtual worries of likes, followers, or edited posts, overall it has received a huge amount of support. Whether Lapse is the app for you or not, it has proved itself to be an innovative way to communicate with friends.

llim@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM

10

TEACHER

arcadiaquill.com

MONTH XXXX

Teacher Feature: Mr. Trent

By RICHARD DAI Staff Writer As the 2023–2024 school year begins, many new teachers have arrived on campus and are now joining the supportive community here at Arcadia High School (AHS). This year, the Careers and Technology Education department welcomes Mr. David Trent with his unmatched enthusiasm and spirit of exploration.

Mr. Trent grew up in Hardesty, a small rural town located in Oklahoma with a population of 205. He graduated from Hardesty High School in 1992 and went to Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Growing up in such a remote environment, Mr. Trent never had opportunities at his school like those offered here at AHS. As he put it, “The school I went to didn’t have any [STEM] electives. If you asked me when I was a senior ‘what is an engineer,’ I would have had no clue!”

Due t the lack of STEM electives, Mr. Trent’s pathway to becoming an engineering teacher was an unusual one.

As he recalled, “I went to college for journalism originally, and I took a couple years off from college. I didn’t graduate right away, and when I went back, the journalism degree was no longer offered. So I had to change my degree. This was like the early 90s, and I said, “Well, I like computers. They’re really cool.” And the pathway to engineering just kind of led from there.”

After Mr. Trent graduated with his degree in computer science, he never considered a career in education until he worked for a few years. According to him, “I worked in the business sector for several years and I didn’t really like my job. I didn’t really enjoy the whole office aspect and sitting in a cubicle. And it was high stress, high pressure, not very satisfying. I didn’t feel like I was doing much other than just pushing buttons. At the time, it was important to me to leave a legacy behind. Because my wife was a teacher, my mother was a teacher, and my mother-in-law was a teacher, and they really enjoyed their job. I thought, that’s great.

I would love that. I’m interested in that.”

A big reason why Mr. Trent chose to come to AHS was because of a childhood dream.

“Since I was about 17, my life, literally my lifelong goal has been to move to California.

It’s been my dream. I really like Southern California, and the whole of San Gabriel Valley is really nice. Just exactly my cup of tea. Arcadia just has such a reputation for being an excellent school with having high achieving students

and having supportive staff and having all these wonderful attributes that I’m interested in.”

Previously, Mr. Trent taught engineering classes at Western Heights Middle School in Hagerstown, Maryland and Palmdale Aerospace Academy in Palmdale, California. He also taught history classes at those schools. As he explained, “I got my history certification, [but] I have absolutely no formal background in his-

In the classroom, Mr. Trent focuses on providing his students with hands-on learning experiences. In his own words, “We’re not afraid to fail. They say that Thomas Edison failed a thousand times on creating the light bulb filament.

But we don’t look at his failures and define him by his failures, we look at his success and all those failures led to the success. So with a lot of the hands-on teaching we do here, we cel-

tory. Zero. I took no history classes in college.

But in Oklahoma, if you are able to pass a test called the OSAT, the Oklahoma Subject Area Test, you can teach that subject. I’m very interested in history. And I read a lot of history on the side just for pleasure. So I knew enough about it that I was considered to be expert enough to pass the test and certified to teach history.”

ebrate success but we also learn from failure.”

In addition to helping students see science happening before their eyes, Mr. Trent also places a heavy focus on collaboration. In Engineering Design and Development, for example, “We have breakout groups working on different aspects of an overarching team project. You’ll have a group of two or three that

have a drill in their hand and they’re trying to fabricate something out of boards. You’ll have a group of one or two and they’re on the computer, they’ll be doing CAD. And so the team works great because everybody gets to pick something that they’re passionate about and be part of something that their skill set is good for.

Everyone pulls together. Everyone is very supportive. And I couldn’t be happier with them.”

Outside the classroom, Mr. Trent has a plethora of interesting hobbies as well.

As he describes it, “I’m always interested in just a multitude of things. For a while it was gardening and board games and I like horror movies and I like traveling.

I like computer programming. It’s fun. I like reading, learning. I just have so many passions that I want to pursue, I just don’t have enough time to do all the things I’d like to do, but constantly feel like I’m being pulled in different directions for my limited time for entertainment, but there’s never a bored moment with me, there’s always something I can find fascinating that I’m interested in doing.”

When asked about the biggest goal Mr. Trent wanted to accomplish here at AHS, he replied that he wanted “to start a cyber security class here. Students would be hacking virtual machines, cracking virtual passwords, breaking into personal email accounts so we can learn the ethics of [cyberattacks] and learn how to prevent it and how to patch those things up.”

When asked about one general piece of advice he would give to students, Mr. Trent’s reply was simple yet powerfully motivating.

“You get one go on this merrygo-round. Life is so short. Just enjoy every moment. Develop yourself now while you’re young, because if you wait until you’re older, you’re just missing out on opportunities.”

With such an optimistic and enthusiastic teacher joining our community here at AHS, the future students are lucky to have Mr. Trent as their teacher for engineering and related classes. Once again, the AHS community extends its welcome to Mr. Trent. And we are excited by the positive impact he will leave behind.

rdai@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Richard Dai

news.arcadiaquill.com

MONTH XXXX

FEATURES 11

Teacher Feature: Mr. Gonzalez

By RICHARD DAI

Staff Writer As the 2023-2024 school year begins, many new teachers have arrived on campus and are now joining the supportive community here at Arcadia High School (AHS). This year, the Science Department welcomed Mr. Andres Gonzalez as a new teacher for both Chemistry and Physics. With unmatched enthusiasm and dedication to science, Mr. Gonzalez now begins his journey at AHS. Mr. Gonzalez grew up in Riverbank, a small town located in Central California.

He attended UC Merced for his bachelor’s degree and UC Davis for his master’s degree. Growing up, he was not very interested in the sciences.

It was only until he attended UC Merced that he was inspired by a biology professor of his, which led to his interest in studying the natural sciences.

Reflecting upon his professor’s teaching style, Mr. Gonzalez commented that it was so effective that he “would never miss a class.”

Even after Mr. Gonzalez became interested in the sciences, he was not sure of a career in education until his final year before graduation. While working alongside his professor, he developed a better understanding of teaching as his professor “started sharing a lot about what he does in terms of education, especially teaching science.” And from there, Mr. Gonzalez said he “developed a desire to really become a teacher and share [his] knowledge with other people.”

Coming to AHS, Mr. Gonzalez noted that everything seemed bigger, especially the size of the campus and the number of students he is now working with. As he noted, AHS was

“nothing like what [he had] been used to since it is a really big school and a little intimidating.”

Previously, Mr. Gonzalez worked at a very small school, with only around 800 students overall. Compared to AHS, it was a “very small community and everyone knew each other.”

A large reason for coming to AHS was the fact that Mr. Gonzalez had planned to move to the Los Angeles area. His decision to teach here became “more driven based upon what [he] saw.”

spectives, and we can just grow from there.”

Outside the classroom, Mr. Gonzalez has a plethora of interesting hobbies as well. He has recently picked up rock climbing and regularly visits the Hangar 18 Indoor Climbing Gym here at Arcadia. He got a new dog named Chorizo.

And he was a competitive ballroom dancer for seven years, starting in sixth grade. Besides his personal hobbies, Mr. Gonzalez also participates in various student activities to further his

In the classroom, Mr. Gonzalez focuses on providing his students with handson learning experiences. In his own words, he wants his students to “visualize what they’re learning, whether that be through a lab, a demo, or maybe a simulation.”

In addition to helping students see science happening before their eyes, Mr. Gonzalez also places a heavy focus on collaboration.

When students work together, he commented, “We share different ideas and different per-

connections with his students. This year, he is the club adviser for the Indian Culture Club.

When asked about the biggest goal Mr. Gonzalez wanted to accomplish here at AHS was, he replied that he wanted his students “to come back and just tell [him] that they enjoyed [his] class.”

He also wanted to encourage more students to take science courses like chemistry and physics, and if possible, to encourage more students to take the honors or AP variants of those courses. It’s very important to

him that the “students are very motivated” and acknowledges that while those classes are sometimes not the easiest, students would still be interested if teachers made it fun.

The three most important traits Mr. Gonzalez would look for in a good teacher are consistency, equity, and spirit.

To him, consistency means keeping your promises to students. If you promise them something, “[make] sure that you hold up your end of the deal and any promises you make and try to meet them.”

Equity to him means “making sure that every student is receiving the same opportunities in terms of their learning.”

And lastly, spirit means a teacher needs “fun spirit” and “be awake and be ready” for your students.

When asked about one piece of advice he would give to students who are struggling academically, Mr. Gonzalez’s reply was simple yet powerfully motivating.

“Never say you’re not good at something until you’ve tried. And if you fail, you try again. And if you fail a second time, you try it again. Because eventually, you will get it.”

With such an optimistic and enthusiastic teacher joining our community here at AHS, the future students are lucky to have Mr. Gonzalez as their teacher for chemistry and physics.

Once again, the AHS community extends its welcome to Mr. Gonzalez. And we are excited by the positive impact he will leave behind.

rdai@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Richard Dai

12

A&E

By LEA WANG

arcadiaquill.com

OCTOBER 2023

Popular Whitewashing and Limited Asian Representation in Teen Media

Staff Writer Undoubtedly, Jenny Han is the creator of all time teen favorites like The Summer I Turned Pretty series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved before series, and Netflix screen series XO, Kitty.

The second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty completely took the media by storm. According to Amazon, where the show was streamed on, season two of the show drew more than double the viewers compared to season one in just its first week. The Summer I Turned Pretty, like much of Han’s work, provides a limited amount of Asian representation.

Originally all the characters were written as White and it was only during the casting that Han changed Belly and her brother to be Asian-American.

“I really enjoyed watching The Summer I Turned Pretty [TSIP], but I do believe that it [the show] should feature more Asian cast so that we can get that variety,” said sophomore Phoebe Tran.

Belly Conklin (Lola Tung), is an innocent girl who spends the summer with the rich Fisher family whom they are close friends with in Cousins. Except she’s matured beautifully over the past year and starts attracting boys, including the Fisher sons. Sound familiar yet? The Fishers are

completely loaded, live in a luxurious beach house, and are a part of a country club that Steven, Belly’s brother, will be working in. These seemingly similar parts of the storyline are displayed in other whitewashed TV shows like Surviving Summer, Outer Banks, and The O.C..

The iconic To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, starring American actress Lana Condor talks about a teenage girl who writes letters to all of her high school crushes, when unfortunately her letters find their way into the hands’ of her five crushes. Even though it is an all time favorite amongst teenagers, Han is receiving backlash for not writing or casting any one of the crushes actors as Asian.

However, Han is not to be blamed for the limited Asian representation in all her books and TV shows. Hollywood has often adhered to a traditional casting norm, where White or Caucasian actors have been casted in lead roles. According to a chart from Statistia.com 68.7 percent of male actors and 64.2 percent of female actors appeared in the top 100 highestgrossing films in 2022. Which is around 5 times higher than Black actors and around 10 times higher than Asian actors, according to the chart mentioned above.

According to a pdf OSI.io by casting actors catered towards the White demographic,

production houses have a minimized economic risk by investing in films that attracted a larger audience.

In fact, Hollywood goes to an extent where they cast white actors for non-white roles. In the 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany’s

White actor Mickey Ronney played I.Y. Yunioshi, a Japanese character and wore a yellowface. Or in the film A Mighty Heart where White actor Angelina Jolie plays Mariane Pearl, who is from Afro-Cuban descent. ‘“I’ve noticed a lot of teen Netflix do not star Asian actors,” stated senior Angelina Chai. “It does make me think that the film industry is a little questionable.”

The historical stereotypes of Asian men in Western media also play a huge role in shaping filmmaking stereotypes. Asians

Olivia Rodrigo GUTS Album and World Tour

By JAYEESHA DEB Staff Writer As a rising pop artist, Olivia Rodrigo has released albums wildly popular amongst her audience and is currently preparing for her 2024 World Tour.

Before she became a pop sensation, Rodrigo played prominent roles in Disney series such as Paige Olvera in Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

However, her popularity skyrocketed when she released her debut album SOUR in 2021, gaining 385 million streams on Spotify within the first week.

“Olivia’s debut album SOUR really amazed me. I love all the lyrics and the beats, and I have been a fan since 7th grade,” said freshman Grace Truong when asked about her opinion on Rodrigo’s music.

Rodrigo released her second album, GUTS in September 2023, and so far it has been at the top of Billboard 200. Her leading single for this album is Vampire, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 soon after it was released. Fans (affectionately dubbed “Livies”) have been thrilled about the new album and have pushed it up to 60.9 million streams on Spotify.

With a different style of music than Sour, GUTS has been a hit amongst her audience. GUTS displays a more poppunk and rock style than shown in SOUR. People love this new change, as stated by junior Angela Tan. "I like how the songs in her album combine the genres of rock and pop music

and experiment with instruments from older pop-rock styles,” Tan said.

Additionally, Rodrigo’s music allows her audience to connect with her, and many identify with the experiences she shares through lyrics. Freshman Wendy Wu shares why she relates to some of Rodrigo’s new songs.

“I relate to some of the lyrics to ‘get him back!’ because I have a friend who was literally the guy in the song. At first our friendship was really rough and I wanted to ‘get him back’ for how he acted but eventually things got better and we’re really good friends now,” she said.

The versatility in the song lets people perceive it in their own way. Although Rodrigo wrote “get him back!” about an ex, Wu related to it in the term of friendship.

Rodrigo’s songs reach out to her fans in different ways, and everyone feels some of the emotion she conveys through music.

Fans have been excited since GUTS was released, and their energy only ramped up when Rodrigo announced that she would be going on her GUTS World Tour in 2024. Livies are eagerly anticipating the

day when they can hear “get him back!” and “bad idea, right?” in person.

Rodrigo’s tour will start on Feb. 24, 2024, and the first city she will be performing in is Palm Springs, California. As of now, the GUTS tour will take place across America and some cities in Canada, totaling 75 performances.

Some cities she is touring include Miami, FL, Dallas, TX, Chicago, IL, Columbus, OH, Boston, MA, and New York, NY. Within California, Rodrigo will be performing at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 2, along with Kia Forum in LA on Aug. 13, 14, and 16. Some of the many talented openers Rodrigo has selected for her GUTS tour are The Breeders, PinkPanthress, Chappell Roan, and Remi Wolf. Fans in California are waiting for the opportunity to grab tickets to a concert.

“I’ve loved Olivia Rodrigo since she released SOUR, and it was really exciting to see her release a new album. I really hope I can get tickets as soon as they’re released and go to her LA Performance,” said freshman Sofia Avendano.

were historically portrayed as “villains,” with huge buck teeth, big glasses and squinty eyes. Such stereotypes stick and reinforce negative stereotypes when trying to cast Asians as male leads in rom-coms.

K-Pop and K-dramas that portray Asian male actors through a feminine lens have caught the attention of the Western media.

Many posts and comments on Reddit agree that White media auto assumes Asian men as feminine and short because of K-pop groups.

While Jenny Han hasn’t released a statement to why all her books seemly focus on White characters, neither has anyone other book author, screenwriter, producer, etc.. The issue of a lack of diversity in literature and films should call for greater diversity and inclusion in the whole entertainment industry. So instead of criticizing authors or film makers for the lack of diversity in their works, we should address the lack of perpetuation of stereotypes in our media. For as long as these stereotypes stay prevalent, we as an audience will continue to see such a trend in media across the globe.

lwang@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FLICKR

Although tickets aren’t available online yet, they can be purchased on her website once in stock. The approximated price ranges between $49.50 and $199.50.

Rodrigo also has “Silver Star Tickets” available for $20, although these will come in a limited amount. They will be available closer to the date of her tour.

It would be an amazing experience for long standing fans to be able to support Rodrigo at her world tour concerts.

Aside from tickets and trailers, GUTS merchandise is also available on her website so people have things to wear to her concerts or to simply have as a keepsake. From her store, you can find crewnecks, crop tops, and the GUTS ring set Rodrigo herself can be seen wearing on the album cover.

Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour is an exciting event that her many fans will look forward to. She is a talented musical artist who is on her journey of success and further accomplishments.

jdeb@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FLICKR

A&E 13 What’s Up With Those Beige Hoodies?

OCTOBER 2023

ae.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

By MYRIAM KABANI

Nowadays, it seems to definitely be having a resurgence, so we used that to flip the script and...to say Arcadia on it,”said Mr. Peter Vo, the ASB advisor.

Being classified as a luxury brand, the standard Stüssy hoodie costs around $130. Meanwhile, A H S ’ ASB has given students the opportunity to display their Apache pride combined with a popular style at a much more cost-effective price of $35.

But just how popular exactly is it? “In total, we bought 500, and at this point, I think we only have around 250 left,” stated Mr. Vo

Staff Writer The beige hoodies at Arcadia High School (AHS) embroidered with vibrant red “Arcadia” word art and the Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) motto, “Imagine, Inquire, Inspire” have become quite the trend among AHS students, and the fact that they are inspired by Stüssy seems to only amplify their ongoing wild popularity.

Stüssy is a luxury fashion brand founded by Shawn Stüssy around four decades ago in the early 1980s. Inspired by the popularity of surf culture during that era, 13-year-old Shawn Stüssy’s original goal for Stüssy was to sell his handmade surfboards in Laguna Beach, California. Fast forward a couple of years later, and he’s begun the process of enlarging his brand and eventually establishing it not only as a local surfing brand but as a worldwide brand for non-surfers, too.

Rather than surfboards, AHS’ ASB was inspired to offer these hoodies to students for a different reason.

“Stüssy, realistically, that’s a brand that I definitely grew up with in the 90s.

regarding the number of hoodie purchases.

The motivation behind the purchases of these hood- ies falls mainly under two categories: their eyecatching design, and the Stüssy style. “ I like [the hoodies], I like t h e contrast o f the beige a n d the red,” said freshman Chloe Chan.

“I really like the design of it, it’s a lot different from other Arcadia merch,” added junior Clara Youssef. Regarding its aesthetic appeal, she said, “I really like the colors...the Arcadia symbol, it looks

good, it kinda reminds me of the Stüssy hoodies.”

Various people have wondered whether or not they will be able to purchase the hoodie in other colors in addition to the beautiful cream and scarlet red the hoodies currently feature.

“I think moving forward with some of these designs, it’s just gonna be a one-anddone design,” Mr. Vo said. “And so maybe it will come back in another colorway [the various sets of colors a single design has].

I know some people are requesting some black hoodies because it’s standard, but I like the idea of just selling something out and then moving on to the next design.”

Highlighting the well-received support of the Apaches, the future seems bright for everyone’s favorite hoodie as more and more people continue to showcase their very own (a number that is only set to increase as the design gains more and more traction).

Apaches—grab your hoodies before they sell out!

mkabani@arcadiaquill.com Graphic by Caroline Li

SZA is the Best Female Artist Right Now

By LANDON SIMONS Staff Writer In the past few years, SZA has skyrocketed her way to the top of most billboards for music. SZA is an R&B singer-songwriter but includes many elements from other subgenres such as soul and hip-hop. She is a personal favorite of mine, and I’m very excited for where her career will go from here.

My favorite song of hers would have to be “Kill Bill.” SZA takes the story about an ex-bride getting revenge on her boss and applies it to her own life, to magnificent appeal. However, many won’t connect the song to the Quentin Tarantino film that I love which is Kill Bill. Besides sharing the same title, they also share a similar storyline.

In the Uma Thurman led film, her character sets out for vengeance on her boss and his team of assassins after they do something that makes her feel her own vulnerability. SZA also expresses this same vulnerability as her lover is slipping away from her throughout the song.

My second favorite of hers would have to be “Nobody Gets Me.” I regularly listen

to SZA’s interviews, and one in particular piqued my interest. The clip was from a London interview and was part of the U.K. leg of her SOS tour in which SZA

spoke about one of her failed relationships.

The failed relationship actually sparked in London.

SZA said, “I never told anybody, but like, my boyfriend cheated on me in this city before.” That was so heartbreaking to me because I could hear the heartbreak in her voice. SZA says, “This song (“Nobody Gets Me”), is a story about my ex-

fiance, and how we went through all these arguments and ultimately broke-up.” She adds how hard it is to overcome that sadness initially, but how her fanbase is helping her take a step in the right direction.

For my third favorite song, I am going with an underrated pick and that of “Snooze.” This song I feel is very underappreciated as nobody is talking about it in comparison to her other songs.

The main theme of this song couldn’t be more true and that being that love is a dangerous game. SZA portrays her lover as someone who is involved in a lot of illegal activities. She compares her relationship to a fire that she is willing to face for him and that makes her feel like Scarface, another great movie reference I love.

However, the most important theme of “Snooze” is empowerment. SZA sings that she can’t lose when she is with her lover and that he makes her feel more important than when by herself. Through her journey though, she learns she is her own day one, and all she needs is herself.

I found those lyrics so profoundly beautiful.

SZA also loves her fans dearly and deeply thanks them for all the love and support. She is a true modern-day icon, and I can’t wait to see what she does next. lsimons@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

14

SPORTS

arcadiaquill.com

OCTOBER 2023

Frosh-Soph Volleyball Varsity Boys Water Against Burbank Polo vs. Burbank

By ARDY CHIEN Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Girls FroshSoph Volleyball team won 2-1 against Burbank High School (BHS) on Oct. 5, making their all game record 12-2. BHS was a formidable oppo-

really used to using in games and in practice.”

Burbank, with an entirely new plan up their sleeve, had an impressive fight. Motivation and cheering from the bench and parents definitely helped the opposition in this set. With better defense and callouts, Burbank was able to secure the second set at 16-25. With both teams

nent towards them, as they had tricky plays that were able to shake up the team. However, AHS stood strong and was able to come out on top.

The game started with Burbank in the lead at 2-4, but Arcadia decided to step it up a notch and bring it up to 8-4. Both teams had incredible ball placement, serving, communication, and defense were definitely AHS’ forte to stay on top of their game.

With the first set already looking great, AHS continued to accelerate. Both sides of the gym cheered on endlessly. Their cheers echoed

tied at 1-1, the game moved on to the third set.

With the start of the third set, AHS was able to start out very strong. Starting out at 12-1, Burbank was definitely in a tight corner.

Not only was AHS’ serving very strong, so was Burbank’s. Burbank was able to bring themselves up to 12-10, only until AHS was able to close it out at 15-10.

AHS was impressive, “thriving with [their] serves, sets, and strategies,” said freshman Leana Lo, who plays libero and defensive specialist. “We came back, destroying them in

throughout, causing teammates and opponents to be motivated. AHS reached up all the way to 16-10, which was a massive difference for both teams. With Burbank being left behind, Arcadia brought the lead to 25-13, thus giving the set to AHS. “In the first set, we handled it.” said FroshSoph Volleyball team Coach Jose Gonzalez.

“It’s the personnel and the rotations that we’re

the end and receiving our win.”

Multiple key features in this game came to fruition with hours of practice. With a few more games to come, we wish them a smooth rest of their season. Go Apaches!

Staff Writer

archien@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Ardy Chien

By SUPRIYA THAPA Staff Writer In a high-intensity showdown, the Arcadia High School (AHS) Varsity Boys Water Polo team secured a win against a known rival Burbank High School (BHS) on Oct. 5 with a final score of 13-10.

The rivalry between these two teams has been quite a challenge, with some past matchups having less than favorable outcomes for Arcadia. On Thursday, the tables were turned as Arcadia brought home the win. They showed that perseverance, teamwork, and unwavering

commitment can come a long way.

As the game started, both teams had an aggressive control of the ball. Early on, it became clear that this match would be a nail-biter as Arcadia was struggling to get past Burbank. However, Arcadia proved that with a small point difference, they could keep up the good work.

With exquisite playmaking and solid defense, Arcadia could not only block off Burbank’s attempt to win but also score many points. By the time the game stopped for halftime, Arcadia was winning 11-9, but they stayed composed since anything could happen at the last minute.

Through inspiring words delivered by the coach to carry on, the boys cheered “1, 2, 3, ARCADIA” and went back for a nice round.

As the final quarters took place, the defense shined, holding back Burbank from any further efforts of scoring. Credit can be given to senior Will Garcia, the radiant number 1 who stayed at the goal to block many great attempts made by Burbank.

The match ended with a victory on Arcadia’s part with a score of 13-10. “We knew this game would be a tough one, considering our history with them. But our players are confident and ready,” said Coach Janice Clark. “They pulled through and performed well.”

With a great performance delivered by the team, Varsity Captain junior Jaden Joemtree added, “We hope to keep up our streak and keep

up the good work we have been showcasing this season. Hoping to win the league if anything.”

As the sun set on the aquatic center, the AHS Boys Varsity Water Polo team left the deck with a win, adding to their impressive 17-2 winning streak. This hard-fought victory will undoubtedly be remembered as a source of inspiration for the team to continue and strive.

Overall, with being first in the Pacific League with a 5-0 record, they currently hold the top spot. They are also ranked 3rd in the Southern Section Division 4 Water Polo Ranking, just below the Canyon Comanches Varsity Boys Water Polo team, who are ranked 2nd with a

17-4 record and a ranking of 20.27 compared to Arcadia’s 19.12. This sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting remainder of the season as AHS vies for the top position.

sthapa@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Supriya Thapa

SPORTS 15 VARSITY BOYS WATER POLO: SENIOR NIGHT

OCTOBER 2023

By HONGJI DAI

sports.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

Staff Writer

Adding to their already impressive five-game winning streak in Pacific League this season, the Arcadia High School (AHS) Boys Varsity Water Polo team secured a landslide victory against the Pasadena High School (PHS) Bulldogs on Senior Night, Oct. 3, with a final score of 20-1.

As Coach Janice Clark explained, this final score did not come as a surprise to the team, as Pasadena “had let [the team] know ahead of time that they would not have a [Junior Va r s i t y ] t e a m . ” “And so that meant that some of their players, who would have been on a JV team if they had enough bodies, were playing with varsity teams. So it wasn’t going to be a strong competitive game for us.”

AHS won the sprint at the start of quarter one and gained control of the ball.

At the start, PHS came in with an aggressive playstyle, moving fast to intercept and block passes from AHS. Despite this tactic, Arcadia scored four goals in just the opening minutes.

As the quarter continued, they carried the momentum gained from this strong start and achieved a final score of 8-0. This impressive result of strong teamwork and coordination was also helped by the excitement for Senior Night.

The pace of the second quarter was slower for both AHS and PHS, as both teams adjusted their strategies and played more carefully. AHS focused on long passes between the goalie and players, and frequent passes in front of the goal to confuse the opponents and maintain momentum. This strategy enabled AHS’ success, and quarter two ended with 14-0.

AHS had a strong beginning in quarter three by scoring a goal in the opening minutes of the

quarter. While AHS tried to breakthrough, PHS shifted to a strong defensive strategy which stalled the momentum AHS has had with its streak of goals. Because of this, PHS was able to play offensively, using long passes between players to quickly approach AHS’ goal. While they attempted a few shots on the goal, none of those attempts were successful, and AHS was able to counterattack afterwards. Eventually, the quarter ended with a score of 16-0.

backhand throw. Just four seconds before the end of the match, PHS managed to score their first goal of the game. The game concluded with a final score of 20-1.

As this match coincided with Senior Night, Coach Clark explained it was “really special this year that [the team] had seven seniors, which is how many people play at a time in a water polo game.” “With those numbers, we

In the final quarter of the game, AHS’ sprinter once again secured control of the ball like the previous three quarters. PHS maintained a strong defense against AHS’ persistent attacks.

After the final three minutes of the game, one player from AHS was ejected from the game.

This meant that PHS now had six players against AHS’ five. In response, AHS decided to switch out the players in the water for a new team. Despite this change in the team, AHS broke through PHS’ fierce resistance and scored yet another goal against PHS through a series of passes.

With the clock only 90 seconds away from the conclusion of the match, AHS stepped up its offensive efforts. Senior wing player Peter Zheng soon scored the 19th goal of the game.

Senior wing player Karthik Villavan then built off the momentum of the previous two goals and scored the 20th and final goal of the game for AHS with a powerful unconventional

were able to have all of our seniors play at once and be a total senior team.”

The increased number of seniors on the team also meant that more players would be leaving AHS next year.

Coach Clark commented that “having seven graduates this year, [AHS] would be sorry to see them go, but it also will make a little more space for people who are on their way to move up [to Varsity].”

For some players, this year at AHS represents their last time playing competitive water polo.

As Villavan explained, “I think I’m gonna say goodbye to the sport. Because although I love it, it’s not suitable for me because I gotta focus on other stuff [during college].”

Goalie Will Garcia was concerned with losing the team aspect of water polo.

He noted that he was “planning on playing in college. So [he] won’t be missing the water polo aspect of it, but [he]’ll be missing [his]

team.”

For both the Varsity team and the coach, unity of the team was the big theme this year. Coach Clark commented that the team’s strength this year was not “just because of seniors because some of our starters are not seniors.” “But it’s strong this year because the group has been working together for two, three years now. We’re just hitting that real point where everything’s just clicking for people in the group, and we’re off to the best start in the league that we’ve ever had right now.”

As they depart next year for college, Villavan and Garcia left the younger players with some words of wisdom.

For Villavan, it was important to keep a good mindset.

“Sometimes we get in each other’s heads, and we let other teams get in our heads.

We should be very competitive.

We need to win our games. But the team needs to be one, and we need to be a collective, because we have a collective goal,” said Villavan.

For Garcia, it was important for the younger players to have fun and enjoy the sport. “If you take [water polo] so seriously, you’ll get tired of it. You’ll get worn out of the sport. But if you find the enjoyment of something you’re doing, you won’t get tired of it. So finding enjoyment is the important part,” he voiced.

Congratulations to the AHS Boys Varsity Water Polo team for a well-played match against the Pasadena Bulldogs and bringing another thrilling match to the 2023-2024 season! With this landslide victory demonstrating their determination, hard work, and unity this year, the crowd wishes good luck to all the departing players and is eager to see the team play in their next game! hdai@arcadiaquill.com Photo by Lauryn Chao

16

BACKPAGE

cf.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

OCTOBER 2023

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HALLOWEEN? “MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE GONNA GO TO

“I WILL BE WATCHING SCARY MOVIES

“PROBABLY STAY AT HOME AND WATCH SCARY

THE HAUNTED HOUSE THAT THE SCHOOL IS HOSTING ON THE 21ST.“ - FRESHMAN LAURA WU

AND EAT CANDY“

MOVIE WITH SNACKS, OR JUST DRESS UP FOR

“THIS YEAR, I AM GOING TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

SCHOOL AND MANAGE TO BAG SOME CANDY. “

BY VOLUNTEERING MY CHURCH’S HARVEST

- SENIOR ALLEN HU

FESTIVAL, A CHRISTIAN WAY OF CELEBRATING

- JUNIOR MANUEL GARCIA

“MY FRIEND ANUSHKA AND I HAVE BOUGHT

HALLOWEEN. “

“I WILL BE ATTENDING A

COSTUMES FROM THE LORAX WHERE SHE IS THE

“MY FRIENDS AND I ARE GOING TO PARADE AROUND A

- FRESHMAN BERNICE DENG

HAUNTED HOUSE EVENT WITH

ONCELER AND I AM THE LORAX, WE ARE ALSO

HALLOWEEN STREET IN SIERRA MADRE IN COSTUMES THAT

GOING TRICK OR TREATING “

I HAD MADE FOR ALL OF US REFERENCING CREATURES

- SENIOR DARREN LEE

FROM MY ART. NONE OF THE COSTUMES ARE CHARACTERS, JUST BEAUTIFUL COMBINATIONS OF FACELESS COSTUMES. CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES WITH US AS

“I PLAN TO GO TO MY BOYFRIENDS HOUSE,

WELL AS ADULTS. WE MIGHT EVEN DO A COUPLE SCARES.“

WHERE HE IS HOSTING A

- JUNIOR ANASTASIA JORNIAK

HALLOWEEN PARTY.

FRIENDS.“ - SENIOR AMY ZHUANG

“I MIGHT BE GOING TO A HAUNTED HOUSE OR DRIVE AROUND, LOOKING AT HALLOWEEN DECOR. I MIGHT

“I’M GOING TO GO TRICK-OR-TREATING

DRESS UP.“

AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY

- SENIOR DONOVAN LEE

FAMILY!“ - FRESHMAN LAURA WU

WE MIGHT GO TRICK-OR-TREATING BEFORE IT

“I’M GOING TO PLAY A TENNIS TOURNAMENT

GETS TOO LATE SO WE CAN GET SOME FRESH

“THIS YEAR, MY FRIEND AND I ARE PLANNING

SOMEWHERE IN ORANGE COUNTRY,. I’M GOING

AIR, EXERCISE, AND CANDY TO BOOT.“

TO DRESS UP AS TWO GEESE, BUT OTHER THAN

TO PLAY WITH MY FRIEND BECAUSE IT IS A

- JUNIOR MANUEL GARCIA

“IT’S MY BIRTHDAY SO I’LL JUST CELEBRATE

EATING A LOT OF SWEET TREATS, THERE WON’T

DOUBLES TOURNAMENT. “

BE MUCH ELSE!“

- SOPHOMORE ANDY YU

TREATS THIS YEAR. “ - SENIOR LAYLA EMARA

- FRESHMAN GRACE TRUONG “I’M GOING TO DRESS UP AND HAVE

WITH MY FAMILY! I’M NOT REALLY PLANNING

FUN AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD

TO GO TRICK OR TREATING AT THE MOMENT

“DRESSING UP AND TRICK OR TREAT-

BUT I MAY CHANGE MY MIND IF MY FRIENDS

ING WITH BUDDIES. “

WITH MY FRIENDS!“

- SENIOR JOSHUA KANG

- SOPHOMORE AVERY GU

ARE GOING.“ - FRESHMAN ESTHER CHENG

“USUALLY MY FAMILY GOES OUT TRICKOR-TREATING TOGETHER, SOMETIMES IN DOWNTOWN ARCADIA OR MONROVIA! WE ALWAYS DECORATE THE HOUSE WITH SPOOKY SEASON DECORATIONS AND HAVE A TRADITION OF CARVING PUMPKINS TOGETHER.“

“I WILL BE DRESSING UP AND GOING TRICK-ORTREATING WITH MY FRIENDS..“

“I PLAN TO WATCH SCARY MOVIES, COME TO SCHOOL IN SOME MAKEUP, AND MAYBE GO TRICK

- FRESHMAN SYDNEY CHAU

“I WILL BE TRICK OR TREATING WITH

- FRESHMAN IRIS LOONG

MY FRIENDS! “ - SENIOR KATHERINE RETTIE

“I WILL BE DRESSING UP AND GIVING OUT

OR TREATING, DEPENDING ON IF MY YOUNGER

CANDY TO MY CLASSMATES.“

COUSINS ARE AVAILABLE.“ - SENIOR EZER MANINANG

- SENIOR MAYRA GRANADOS “NO IDEA, BUT I MIGHT GO TO UNIVERSAL OR KNOTTS BERRY FARM WITH SOME FRIENDS“

“I WILL BE HANGING OUT AT CAMINO GROVE’S

“I’LL BE ESCORTING A FAMILY FRIEND’S SON WHILE HE TRICK OR

- SOPHOMORE LUCAS XUE

TRUNK-OR-TREAT AND VISIT SOME OF MY

“I PLAN TO DRESS UP AS A GRIM REAPER (IF NOT THEN I’LL BE THE GUY IN A MASK AND A GREEN SWEATER).

I AM ALSO GOING TO TRY AND COLLECT AS MUCH CANDY AS POSSIBLE AND THEN GIVE OUT AS MUCH

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS WITH MY FRIENDS!“

AS POSSIBLE. AND SINCE I WILL TURN 15 THIS MONTH,

- JUNIOR ARIEL LEW

HALLOWEEN MAY ALSO BE PART OF MY CELEBRATION. “THIS YEAR, I AM PARTICIPATING IN AHS’S HAUNTED HOUSE.“ - FRESHMAN ELLIE KWAN

I ALSO PLAN ON GOING TO THE HAUNTED HOUSE JUST FOR EXPERIENCE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR. “ - FRESHMAN ANKUR MARRI

Images by RAWPIXEL.COM