December 2016

The World Is Our Campus Volume 64, Issue 4

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA OPINION pg. 4 The Man Under the Chimney: A reflection on outgrowing the legend of Santa Claus and appreciating the true makers of Christmas.

Photo courtesy of CAPSWEB.ORG

NEWS pg. 2 Casualties of the Drought: More than 62 million trees in the state of California have died this year.

“I still asked for gifts from Santa but could not imagine elves making them for me in their workshops anymore. That Word document officially ended the jolly era in which I did not question the existence of Christmas magic.”

December 2016 Also in this issue:

Photo courtesy of THINLYSPREAD.CO.UK

CALENDAR pg. 18 A Little Sweetness: Try this recipe for sugar mice—they’re as fun to make as they are to eat!

FEATURES pg. 9 Rewind: Pow Wow puts together a timeline of this wild ride of a year.

PERFORMING ARTS pg. 12 Moves for Good: The Charity Dance Show was a major hit, contributing to the Joanne Domenici Memorial Fund.

STUDENT LIFE pg. 14 Holiday Music: Students weigh in on holiday music: is it overplayed or underappreciated?

“Echoes of Success” Resound

ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE Band looks to finish off its marching season by performing in the Rose Parade with 18 other bands from around the world. This year’s parade theme, “Echoes of Success”, honors those who help others reach success.

By HOLLY LUNG

I

Staff Writer

t’s been four weeks since the competitive marching band and field show season has ended, but Band and Color Guard aren’t ready to hang up their instruments and flags just yet. Despite the conclusion of their competitive seasons, Band and Color Guard have not ceased their preparation for performances coming up this month. With the Rose Parade, Band Fest, and the Spaghetti Dinner still to look forward to, these groups have continued their demanding practice schedule since they ended late November.

As Band and Color Guard look ahead to these next events, it is also important to note the wave of success they have ridden since their season began in August. Having excelled in competitions such as the Mt. Carmel Band Tournament, Ramona Field Show Tournament, Riverside King Band Review, and the SCSBOA Championships, the performances ahead may just be a continuation of their wonderful season.

“Overall, we did really well,” senior Caitlin Tran revealed. “Each competition we went to we steadily improved our performance, and once we got to championships we put our best ever performance onto the field which is the greatest thing we could ask for!” Senior Caleb Huang of Color Guard, however, believed

their routines “could have been improved in many parts” but ultimately found that “the moments [they] had with each other were more important than the placements.”

Despite some minor disappointments, the tide of success from this past competitive season certainly brings with it hope for excellence in these last few performances, particularly the Rose Parade. In order to prepare for this nationally acclaimed celebration, Band has been practicing by marching every day on Campus Dr. to its march song of the season, “Purple Carnival,” and its march song for the Rose Parade, “America,” both of which will be performed during the event on Jan. 2. With a few of the largest TV networks broadcasting the

Rose Parade across the nation annually, it is estimated that a 31.5 million viewers will focus their attention on our very own Band as it marches. The sizeable audience is a source of excitement for the Band members.

Sophomore Chazmin Tho said, “I’m really excited to perform in the Rose Parade. This is a great opportunity for our band to get more exposure and to show our entire year’s hard work to a larger audience.” Caitlin also shared that “performing in the Rose Parade is a huge reward in itself, and being chosen to perform in it just shows how talented and hardworking our band really is.”

The Rose Parade is indeed a great way to top off a great season, although it certainly is not the last event of the year. With the Spaghetti Dinner still to go for both groups, and Band Fest and Winter Guard still to go for Band and Color Guard respectively, these hardworking performers won’t be taking a break anytime soon. Band has been spending one day out of every week solely to practice its music for the Spaghetti Dinner, a celebratory event that allows family members and AHS alumni to see what music and routines it has worked on this year. Band has also spent every Thursday out on the football field doing runs of this year’s field show “A Rose By Any Other Name” just for Band Fest. Color Guard, on the other hand, has an entirely new season of Winter Guard to prepare for and is looking forward to the new competitions and performances that follow in the coming weeks.

Whether they are celebrating the near end of a successful season or raring for another set of competitions, Band and Color Guard have much to be proud of in terms of their accomplishments this year. As they move onto the Rose Parade, Spaghetti Dinner, Band Fest, and Winter Guard, it’s clear that their talents will continue to impress and entertain those of us on the sidelines. hlung@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of MR.ERIC SHEN, ARCADIA MUSIC CLUB

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NEWS

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Teenage Girls Launch First Nature Deficit Disorder Private African Satellite

By KAITLIN LEE Staff Writer

South Africa has not been the greatest innovator in space exploration, but a team of teenage girls from Cape Cod is aiming to change that. Despite their ages, they have already designed and built a satellite to scan Africa’s surface. The information it collects, such as data on agriculture and food security within the continent, will be used toward disaster prevention.

The satellite is set to launch into space in May 2017. If this is carried out successfully, it will be the first satellite to be launched from Africa by a private company.

“We expect to receive a good signal, which will allow us to receive reliable data,” exclaimed Sesam Mngqengqiswa, a student at Philippi High School. “In South Africa we have experienced some of the worst floods and droughts and it has really affected the farmers very badly.” Mngqengqiswa is referring to a drought induced by El Niño, which has led to a downfall in maize production in South Africa since April 2016. She hopes that this satellite will boost the economy by avoiding another similar accident.

The group of 14 is being taught by satellite engineers from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, as part of a program by South Africa’s Meta Economic Development Organization. The program hopes to encourage young women to join STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, especially astronomy. The girls had already programmed and launched small satellites us-

ing weather balloons before moving on to this project. They are using small format satellites, as they present a low-cost and efficient way of acquiring data. So far, tests have involved gathering thermal data that is then analyzed to detect floods or droughts.

Mngqengqiswa hopes that she will make her mother proud by becoming a space engineer or astronaut. “Discovering space and seeing the Earth’s atmosphere, it’s not something many black Africans have been able to do, or do not get the opportunity to look at,” she said. The schoolgirl is right, since no black African has traveled to outer space in the half century that space travel has existed. She wants to experience these things for herself and to show to fellow girls that they don’t need to limit themselves to housework, and that, for them, any job—even engineering or space exploration—is possible.

klee@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of CNN.COM

By SANDI KHINE Staff Writer

It is only recently that Southern California has had weather that actually feels like winter. With the seasonal drop in temperatures, our world is gradually becoming grayer.

These colder days are often spent huddled up in classrooms or at home with our eyes glued to various screens—phones, laptops, TVs. Because of this, we don’t pay attention to nature.

Recently, Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD), has become a buzzword. This phrase was coined

by Richard Louv in 2005, and it has stuck ever since. Although it is not an official medical condition, NDD’s effects on health can be worrying.

Not having contact with nature on a regular basis can lead to a decrease in mental health.

Since physical movement is in our biology, it is important that we move around and connect with nature instead of remaining sedentary inside.

However, Dr. Ross Cameron of Sheffield University noted that the little things that people notice in nature can help cure NDD. “Basically any interaction with green space seems to have some potential,” he said.

In short, despite the cold outdoors and the lure of the heater inside, it helps a great deal to just step outside the house and simply wander around the neighborhood for a bit. Instead of sitting and working on a computer all day, get outside and appreciate the beauty of the nature in our surrounding environment. skhine@apachepowwow.com

Fidel Castro (1926 - 2016)

By ATUSSA KIAN

Staff Writer

A sign reading “Viva Fidel!”, hangs from a Cuban government building located in the Cuban capitol. Fidel Castro’s death spews opposition, hope, and for some, sorrow.

On Nov. 25, Castro’s brother Raul announced the death of his 90-year-old brother in a televised statement, giving way to a strong clash of emotion as Cuban people across the world reacted to the death of their communist president of 30 years. In the meantime, jubilation rocked the streets of Little Havana in Miami, Florida as people took popped champagne, cheered, and danced in reaction to the death of the Cuban revolutionary.

Reporters swarmed the scene, prompting question after question, which extracted interesting stories that told how Castro’s re-

gime had affected individual Cuban lives.

“This is a celebration, but in a way, not a celebration of a death—but it’s a celebration, hopefully, of a beginning of liberty that we are all waiting for, for many years,” one reveler informed CNN. “The hope is that not just because Castro died, but also hopefully it opens up the people in Cuba a little bit more to go against what’s happening there.”

Castro’s deep interest and pursuit of a Marxist society led Cuba’s economy to a crippled state, while oppression ruled the nation.

Many Cubans were forced to flee to neighboring Florida, where they flourished under American freedom. Many believe that the fear Castro inflicted was one of the primary reasons why he was able to stay in power for so long.

Now, Cubans and Cuban-Americans look forward to the future. However, one key question remains: will Castro’s death benefit the Cuban economy and the country’s relationship with the U.S.? Now that Fidel Castro is dead, his brother Raul has taken full power after years of supporting his brother behind the scenes. Many insist that Cuba is still stable; thus, it is probable that the current Cuban system of government will not change.

One of the prime reasons why Cubans residing in Little Havana have chosen to take to the streets in order to celebrate Castro’s death is because the event is deeply symbolic of the diverse sentiments of an entire nation.

The death of Castro signifies the end of a ty-

rannical regime while simultaneously representing new beginnings for the younger generations, which could lead to a brighter future of success for the country of Cuba.

Such a historical moment in the history of Cuba has certainly been met with strong, opposing reactions; Cuba is now caught in a web of uncertainty. Without a definite path to follow in sight, the nation faces a weighty decision that will dictate its future for years to come. Despite this, Cubans, especially young, forward-thinking citizens, are firmly optimistic about the future of their nation, while other Cubans around the world mourn the tragic loss of their past revolutionary leader.

akian@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of NBC.COM

December 2016

California’s Dying Trees

By REIKO INOUE Staff Writer

Although it is common knowledge that California has been greatly affected by severe droughts in recent years, the impact that the drought has had on our forests was unexpected.

Last month, the U.S. Forest Service performed a survey of California’s trees and found that 62 million trees have died this year—much more than the estimated 36 million. Now, the number of dead trees in this state has risen to 102 million. This number surprised even officials: according to Randy Moore, a forester for the U.S. Forest Service, the “scale of the dieoff is unprecedented in our modern history.”

The most desolate parts of our forests are in the Southern and Central Sierra Nevada regions. Trees have been dying off in Northern California as well. The Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas, and Lassen counties have been especially affected with this mass die-off of trees.

The continuing California drought is the primary reason behind this environmental crisis. For five years, California has been hit repeatedly by severe, dehabilitating droughts that put trees under immense stress and make them easier, more vulnerable victims for insects and parasitic animals. To make matters worse, this past summer’s high temperatures increased the trees’ already urgent need for water. Northern California has experienced a good start to its water year, but Central and Southern California are still trapped in what officials have called an “extreme” and “exceptional” drought. Max Gomberg, the climate and conservation manager at the State Water Resources Control Board, stated that the “staggering and growing number of tree deaths should be concerning for everyone,” because it “helps us realize just how intense and extreme this drought has been,” especially in the regions of Central and Southern California.”

Indeed, we should all be concerned about these dead trees, as they pose various dangers to our environment. They fall more easily than strong, healthy trees, putting the safety of humans at risk. In fact, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and formed a tree-mortality task force just last year. The U.S. Forest Service also distributed $43 million in California to perform restoration along roads, trails, and recreation sites for multiple safety reasons.

More worrying is the increased danger of wildfire. This summer, California was hit by numerous deadly wildfires. Some of these fires are said to have been caused by dead trees. Because of the fuel that fallen trees provide on the forest ground, fires burn hotter and damage the soil. Consequently, rainwater is not able to easily sink into the earth, creating the danger of mudslides and destroying root systems. When there is a fire, it burns the trees on the ground and climbs up to the crown of a tree. Once there, a wildfire can spread quickly across forests. Tom Vilsack, Secretary of U.S. Agriculture, stated that the “dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire, and complicate our efforts to respond...to fires when they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property across California.” rinoue@apachepowwow.com

December 2016

NEWS

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Trump’s Plans for America

By MARUKO MYINT

Staff Writer

On Nov. 9, the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, was officially announced as the 45th Presidentelect. Since then, a significant portion of the media has been centered around his future plans and decisions as the next Commander-in-Chief. Over the course of these past weeks, Trump has released strategies for what he wishes to achieve in office.

One of his plans is what he plans to do in the first 100 days of office, focusing mainly on his quest of “putting America first”. His main goals are withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, cancelling environmental restrictions, cutting regulations on businesses, increasing security against cyber attacks, examining visa programs to end illegal immigration, and enacting rules to ban certain officials for using government positions to benefit themselves. By targeting certain systems and regulations, the President-elect hopes to create job openings, increase national security, and promote the integrity of the government.

Trump has also begun assembling his cabinet, a group of important individuals that each represent a department of the government while also advising and working with the president on issues. His top choices for the various positions are Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Mike

Pompeo for CIA Director, Nikki Haley for Ambassador to the UN, Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary, Wilbur Ross for Commerce Secretary, Todd Ricketts for Deputy Commerce Secretary, James Mattis for Defense Secretary, Ben Carson for Housing and Urban Development, and Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State.

From these choices, some were former rivals during his campaign trail and others were dedicated GOP donors and loyalists.

So the question that remains is, “How does all of this affect us?” Although all of these policies and actions are occurring on the other side of the country and concern larger topics like economics and immigration, they still definitely affect our daily lives. Trump’s decisions that most directly affect Americans are his choices for cabinet. Betsy DeVos, his primary nominee for Education Secretary, is an education activist who is passionate believer of school choice and school vouchers. Trump’s pick for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, will control how current civil rights laws are enforced. With this position, he will have the power to make decisions on social issues including immigration, police misconduct, voting rights, LGBT rights, antitrust enforcement, and marijuana. President-elect Trump’s decisions will affect every American, but with his upcoming inauguration, only time will tell what will happen. mmyint@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of FLICKR.COM

Obama’s Last Medals of Freedom

By BRANDON CHEN Staff Writer

On Nov. 21, President Barack Obama awarded a Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 21 artists, sports figures, scientists, and philanthropists. President Obama has given out 123 medals, the most Medals of Freedom given by any President. He awarded many whom he thought would not receive one from his successor. Recipients were chiefly Democrats and people critical of President-elect Donald Trump. Among the winners were the Gates family, Tom Hanks, Robert de Niro, Ellen DeGeneres, and Michael Jordan.

Despite the differences between these honorees, they all have one thing in common. These Americans make our country a better place. President Obama stated, “It’s useful, when you think about this incredible collection of people, to realize this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth.

Not because of our differences, but because in our differences we find something in common to share.” All honorees of the Medal of Freedom have contributed to the national interests of the U.S., world peace, American culture, or other significant public or private endeavors. Every one of the honorees has impacted the world

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and shaped it into what we know today.

As always, the Presidential Medals of Freedom, unlike most other honors and medals, were presented in a quirky and haphazard fashion. President Obama was especially eccentric when presenting Michael Jordan with his medal. Being an avid basketball fan, President Obama beamed like a 10-year-old, calling him “the guy from Space Jam,” a 1996 film that starred Jordan with Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny. In the case of Bill and Melinda Gates, President Obama started off by mentioning the time Bill asked Melinda out, stating, “apparently Bill’s opening line was, ‘Do you want to go out two weeks from this coming Saturday?’

Fortunately, Melinda believes in second chances, and the world is better for it.”

President Obama went on distributing awards to many others in a similar manner.

During President Obama’s final presentation of medals, he was able to bring laughs, cheers, and whoops of appreciation. At the end of the ceremony, President Obama closed with, “Everyone on this stage has touched me in a powerful, personal way; these are folks who have helped make me who I am.” As President Obama’s term comes to a close, we can only wonder, who will be awarded next?

Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of The Apache Pow Wow editorial board. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com.

Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $250 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

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OPINION

By REIKO INOUE Staff Writer

A Word document terminated my faith in Santa.

I was in the sixth grade the winter morning I found the suspicious document on my family’s shared computer. I opened it to find a letter with blue borders that faded in, clip art of snowmen and snowflakes, and text in Comic Sans.

But most disturbing was the fact that it was addressed to me and signed “From, Santa” at the bottom. This was the kind of letter I received each year along with my Christmas gifts. This was the letter I found in my stocking just a few weeks ago on Christmas Day. I’d wondered why Santa typed with so many typos, and his words sounded almost uncannily like my mom’s. It dawned on me that the reason Santa wrote in the slightly awkward English that my mother spoke in was because she wrote his letters.

My parents must have g o tte n

theapachepowwow.com

me all those presents I got from Santa Claus.

Maybe there wasn’t even a Santa Claus to believe in. For all these years, I had believed in a lie! I miserably exited out of the computer window and started to go through a mini existential crisis, wondering what else in my life was false.

Christmastime felt a little less wondrous. I still asked for gifts from Santa but could not imagine elves making them for me in their workshops anymore. That Word document officially ended the jolly era in which I did not question the existence of Christmas magic.

I grew bitter and disillusioned. One winter day, my younger sister was talking with my mom about her Christmas wish list. I began to tell her not to expect much, because Santa was not real. Thankfully, my mom cut me off. She took me aside and asked for me to help keep Santa real for my sister. I begrudgingly agreed.

I reasoned that I was doing the right thing by opening up my sister’s eyes to reality. But really, I just wanted to make someone else feel the painful confusion that I had gone through.

Looking back on this, I’m glad

that I didn’t selfishly ruin Christmas for a young believer.

Recently, I’ve been wistful about my years of holiday innocence. The delight I got from asking for presents and actually getting them was enough to last me through a whole year of waiting. I thought back to the time I specifically requested for a stuffed elephant 45cm long to match with my stuffed turtle, which was also 45cm long. When Christmas came, I measured the elephant under the tree. To my surprise, it was the exact length that I asked for. Another year, my sisters and I left a bowl of cereal out for Santa’s reindeer and found crumbs strewn all over our backyard in the morning. There were even some hoofprints on the dirt and grass.

I remember standing in my backyard that frosty December morning, marvelling at how close I was to Santa’s magic. Something I never considered before came to mind: my parents did all of these things for us kids so we could believe in magic for a little while longer. I always assumed that Santa Claus took care of the cookies we left in front of the

Christmas tree and brought gifts that were exactly as we asked, down to the picky, minute details. But now, I saw behind the illusion of Santa and his magnificent powers with moments such as my Mom and Dad staying up to make our house seem like Saint Nick had arrived.

The immensity of the situation hit me. All around the world in places where Santa Claus is believed in, parents must be doing the same things as my Mom and Dad. They must be searching for the perfect gifts, hiding them in the house, eating the cookies in the wee hours of the morning, and stuffing stockings, all without recognition from their kids. Parents are the real heroes of Christmas, not Santa. They are the true makers of Christmas magic. I was able to believe for so long because of my parents’ efforts. They protected me from the real world so I could stay in a fantastical make-believe one, and I could not be more thankful.

Under These Masks

By CAMILLA LEONARD Staff Writer

Narrated by Camilla Leonard (myself), who recently played the White Witch in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”.

The lights dim. The stage clears. The murmurs of the theatre fade as actors enter their dressing rooms. Congratulations are made; laughs joined; hugs exchanged. I stare at the mirror, a white face gazing back at me. The White Witch. The familiarity of her face, that face, my face. I take off her crown. I pull off her wig, tussling the hair bristled with sweat, worn for weeks upon weeks, and now, never to be worn again. Grabbing a makeup wipe, I softly brush, sweeping the white creams off my cheeks, until pieces of my own skin show again.

There’s something sad about a show ending. You can never return to a show once it’s done—the moment’s over.

I’m no longer the Queen. I’m back to just Camilla again, a little teenager who enjoys morning gardening and watching The Office on the weekends. I’m just me. No embellishments. No white makeup drowning my skin, no dramatic eye creases accentuating my face.

Sometimes I think I lose a piece of myself whenever I play a character for too long. It’s the

uncanny feeling of a loss of self.

Who am I, really, without this mask on? Without this character, a front put up, to cover my own feelings and self? Aren’t we all like this? Putting up walls to mask our true selves? Attention constantly deflected from the entirety of ourselves. Putting up words, falsities collected around ourselves, like blankets warding against the cold. What are we so scared of, I wonder. Being judged? Being embarrassed? I feel like it’s something more than that. It can’t just be a universal collective insecurity. More than just merely caring about other people’s opinions.

I walk through the set, disassembly already taking place. The roars of applause live in these walls. I brush against the set, sanded wood towering above me in stairs.

The set is taken down in a matter of minutes.

A bursting cloud of sawdust litters the stage. And, almost as abruptly, a fleet of brooms cleanse the stage once more. It’s blank again. A blank canvas for something new. Maybe we’re all just blank canvases, ready to be saturated with something new, something unique and profound, even. cleonard@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of CREATIVECOW.NET

December 2016

rinoue@apachepowwow.com

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OPINION

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December 2016

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By NOELLE NATIVIDAD Staff Writer

MAHAL KO DIN YUNG KULTURA KO Mabuhay.

To describe my

one word: life.

cultural upbringing, I give you

Filipino culture, this has come to mean much

more than the simple idea of living, but it has

come to be used as a greeting, as an iconic phrase to for me, it has come to symbolize

In the

my heritage.

denote the friendliness of the Filipino community, and

TADHANA

It’s there, written in block letters on the airport wall, welcoming

me home after so long away. I am surrounded by the language as I walk along the cramped corridors. People pass and fragments of conversations reach my ears, and I understand. Outside, the air is stifling in its humidity, but there’s

comforting

something

about listening to the traffic and loud Filipino accents calling to arriving loved ones.

A piece of me will always understand Tagalog better than any language I learned after, but it truly makes my heart swell to hear words that I cannot translate into English, words that I only

understand but cannot explain.

cerity in those words, as I imagine where they must have come from.

extreme feeling of elation.

There is depth and sin-

Nakilig, for instance, is a word that loosely translates to an

It comes from other people, when people make you smile and laugh until you feel whole. Its

beauty is that it covers a feeling that the English language has yet to put a name to, so it’s a word that comes from the heart.

Tagalog is very different from English and from many Asian languages as well. I grew up listening to my family, speaking along with them when I lived in the Philippines, but I never thought to imagine

a world without it. When I was younger, I

hoped and wished with everything in me that I wouldn’t be so different. I wanted to be like everyone else around me. I wanted

what a

MABUHAYNA KAKAIBA to eat pizza for dinner, and I wanted my mom to make me chicken noodle soup for lunch. Only now do I realize

waste

those years were. I was given my culture so that there was something

na kakaiba about me, something

that made me different, but good just the same. I wasn’t any less for my culture and for knowing a language, but I was more of who I was meant to be.

Tadhana, it’s a word meaning meant to be, something along the

lines of destiny but with a hint of something deeper that I can’t fully explain in English. That same day, I sat around my family and there wasn’t anything more I wanted. Suddenly, Tagalog had become

more than mere words, but one of my only remaining ties to my culture. Even

na nabuhay ako nasa when I was away from my family, from the food and people, I still had something.

I had something to hold onto. Just the same as I love my family,

mahal

ko din yung kultura ko. I also love who my culture has made me to be.

nagpapasalamat ako, I am giving thanks, na nabuhay ako nasa buhay nito, that I was

So

NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO given this life.

Mabuhay

tadhana

NAKILIG

nnatividad@apachepowwow.com

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By ANABELL XU Staff Writer

When I stepped into the halls of AHS for the first time, I was absolutely floored. Long gone were the days when I could identify the faces of everyone who passed by me in the hallways. There were too many hallways to walk through, and too many people to know.

With these new students came the realization that among 3,800 faces, I was no longer noticeable. Maybe I was before, but now I’m just another annoying freshman. I had always been told to “be outstanding so that your parents won’t think of you as a disgrace.” It’s a high standard. Amidst thousands of other people all trying to stand out, it’s hard to get noticed.

Everywhere I look, there are geniuses who win full scholarships to the most prestigious colleges in the world. We have athletes who will go on to compete in the Olympics, musicians that will play in the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

And as always, there are people who are 6’2”, and I’m literally standing in their shadows.

That wasn’t as troubling to me. I’m no good at sports and smarts and music, so I decided to focus on one thing: debate.

As it turns out, that’s pretty hard to get noticed in as well. Not only are there 130 people on the team, but some of them are absolute beasts. And that’s when I started stressing out.

Sure, I was okay at debate, but what was “okay” compared to the greatness that these beasts radiated? I knew that their talent ensured that I would never be able to stand out.

I hated it. A storm of emotions was brewing—I was salty, bitter, and jealous. I was so insanely jealous of these amazing, brilliant people, who would be able to stand on that pedestal and be proud of themselves. But is that really what I wanted to strive for? Standing on that pedestal? Having people admire me—just because I craved validation? Was my inner turmoil worth my time? Let me tell you, it wasn’t.

Even if you’re the next Usain Bolt, think of it this way. Bolt’s almost superhuman when it comes to running. He wants to play soccer, though. After his sprinting career is over, he plans to train and play for Manchester United.

Bolt shows that whenever you reach your peak, there’s a higher standard to achieve. There’s always something else, something unattainable, no matter how good we are right now.

Society has raised us to think that our efforts are only worthwhile if we make it to the top. But we need to know that it’s okay not to be the best if it means that we’re still happy in the end. It’s hard to accept that. But if you just focus on the best that YOU can be, life will get a lot easier and become much more meaningful.

It all comes down to this: are you becoming who you want to become? In ten years, will you look back on your dedication and be proud of yourself no matter where you end up?

We may not need to stand out among the halls of AHS. But if we can take a step back and accept that we’ve done our best, the masterpiece that is life will become much more meaningful and beautiful. axu@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of CANVA.COM

FEATURES

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By CAMILLE MARQUEZ Staff Writer

By ALYSSA RAVE Staff Writer

December is a month that many look upon with glee, as it often means a holiday celebration for most students. Although many citizens around the globe follow the tradition of giving presents to each other during December, different countries have their own unique Santa Claus tale that children are raised listening to.

A popular tale widely followed is that of Father Christmas, first a jolly spirit who then evolved into a man who bears many similarities to modern day American Santa. Father Christmas is known for his role in the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol, which depicted the original version of the spirit who traditionally brought happiness. Father Christmas later became a character of physical gift giving, and is believed in within the UK, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, and other countries around the planet.

When December rolls around in countries such as Bosnia, Poland, Russia, Macedonia, Ukraine, and Serbia, residents find themselves reciting the legend of Ded Moroz. The legendary figure is often found with his Snow Maiden granddaughter and sports a look similar to that of Mr. Claus, a red robe and long white beard.

Ded Moroz is told to travel by a traditional horse sled and arrives on New Year’s, handing gifts out to children to make up for the ones he had wronged in his wizarding days.

A less jovial Christmas myth is popular in Italy, telling the story of La Befana. La Befana rides atop a broomstick with a bag of gifts, but

dislikes being witnessed by others and will strike anyone who peeks at her. Her past describes her as the woman who welcomed and sheltered the Three Wise Men while they were on the way to visit baby Jesus. The character is said to come down the chimney and leave presents or coal depending on the behavior of children, much like Santa Claus in the U.S., but tidies up the floor before heading on her way.

A popular tale for kids within Dutch communities in U.S. Pennsylvania, Germany, Austria, and Argentina, is that of Belsnickel. Belsnickel is a disciplinary figure that is usually described as a cautionary and feared man who scares naughty children into behaving well.

He accompanies the classic tale of Santa Claus but does not travel with him, instead lurking about the mountains decked in fur and an occasional mask with a long nasty tongue. No stranger to unfriendly legends, the Krampus is an additional figure who sticks with a version of Santa to punish the bad kids. Krampus is a devilish creature that beats and tortures sinful youth and is believed among Hungary, Austria, and Germany.

The globe is home to a plentiful array of stories for Christmas time that demonstrate the similarities within the heart of the human race.

No matter the holiday students find themselves celebrating. In December, the back stories being spoken around the world during this time create interesting legends for all to enjoy. arave@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of CACHE4.NET and WPCLIPART.COM

The artist Banksy needs no introduction. The identity of Banksy remains anonymous, even after 20 years of being involved with the street art scene.

Thus, it is easy for him to strike at any location to create another marvelous, introspective piece. His often political-themed graffiti sparks conversation, curiosity, and controversy. But who is the man behind the art?

Banksy was born in Bristol, England around 1974 and started his art career in the 1990’s. After being involved in a graffiti crew named DryBreadZ in Bristol, he partnered up with Inkie, another notable street artist.

At 18, Banksy was caught vandalizing public spaces; he hid beneath a garbage truck to avoid police while his crew fled. In this moment, he had discovered stencil letters on the truck. Banksy was then inspired to switch from freehanding his work to using this new medium, after looking for a faster way to paint.

In the early 2000’s, Banksy relocated to London, the place where he owes his acquired fame and the popularity of his international exhibits. He traveled to Palestine and the West Bank where he gained major internet attention from nine images he stenciled on the Bethlehem wall. His street art

December 2016

pieces are created not only with spray paint, but he also takes into account the whole scenery and background of where his stencil will be shown. He utilizes the objects near him, such as street signs or fire hydrants, to add to his creations.

Around this time, Banksy broke into commercial business, which immediately turned the status of his graffiti from acts of vandalism to highly sought-out paintings. In 2010, Banksy had gained enormous success and interest after the release of the documentary he had written and produced, called Exit through the Gift Shop. The film was nominated for an Academy Award after being premiered in the Sundance Film Festival.

Many theories have been made regarding Banksy’s identity, one including an idea that Banksy may actually be several artists.

Banksy’s anonymity is so closely maintained that even his family is unaware of his true identity.

There is not much information known about Banksy, due to his refusal of being interviewed or photographed. The curiosity around who the person behind these masterpieces may be put off for a while. This may be because Banksy’s anonymity allows his audience to focus on the messages his art portrays rather than the person who made them.

camarquez@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of QUORA.COM

By CINDY TSE Staff Writer

Toys are meant to be creative. Whether it be because of a functional and unique design, or a visual appeal, toys have a lot more thought put into them than we’d think. However, some of the most popular playthings were created solely by accident. In fact, their inventor’s original intent was often for something far more mundane and commercial.

1. Slinky The Slinky is a long compressed spring that can perform many tricks due to its light weight and the effects of physics on its structure.

Richard James, the inventor, was an engineer who was doing research on how to create the ideal spring for navy ships, as the rough seas often made it difficult to calibrate and maintain sensitive instruments. Though the military was not quite receptive to the spring, James and his wife realized that marketing the product as a toy could be more worthwhile. They officially unveiled the Slinky in 1945 with their company selling more than 300 million units in the span of 60 years. It continues to be a bestselling toy worldwide.

2. Play-Doh Play-Doh is a colorful dough that is fun to squish and safe for kids. In the 1930s, the soap company Kutol Products came out with a new wallpaper cleaner created by Noah McVicker. Simple and easy to use, it was soon discovered that the soft substance could also be handy as a non-toxic modeling clay children could use for arts and crafts. McVicker’s nephew, Joseph, realized the marketing potential in this wallpaper cleaner and decided to rename it Play-Doh, to be sold to educators and department stores. While the Play-Doh formula has changed over time, it remains a favorite of millions.

3. Silly Putty Stretchy, bouncy, and strangely sticky, Silly Putty sure lives up to its name. James Wright was an engineer tasked with finding a cheap replacement for synthetic rubber. Instead, what he got was a bizarre material that was ultimately not useful for its intended purpose. A businessman, Peter Hodgson, noted the putty’s popularity as a novelty item, inspiring him to sell it as a toy. Packed in bright Easter eggs, they were valued at a dollar each. Today, Silly Putty has found both practical uses, such as being used to remove dirt and lint, in addition to being an entertaining toy that anyone can enjoy. ctse@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of TOYHALLOFFAME.ORG

December 2016

FEATURES

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By RACHEL LEE 2016, another spectacular, momentous year, is rapidly coming to a close. Take a moment to refresh your memory on this year’s highlights.

Jan. 6: Star Wars: The Force Awakens became the highest-grossing movie in domestic box-office records.

Jan. 10: Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant.

By TIFFANY LUO

Feb. 3: President Barack Obama visited his first U.S. mosque to chastise the unforgivable prejudice against Muslim-Americans.

Feb. 17: Apple CEO Tim Cook objected to the FBI’s orders to unlock the phone belonging to a San Bernardino gunman.

I believe everyone should be confident and think positively of themselves.

However, there is an extent. What’s the limit? There are words to describe individuals who go beyond this line: “egotistical”, “narcissistic”, “boastful”, and so on.

Every person has most likely come across someone who fits this description. They boast about how multi-talented they are, yet they are not as capable as they claim to be. These individuals suffer from illusory superiority.

This is commonly referred to as the Dunning Kruger effect. Although the effect may apply to a wide range of people, it typically refers to those who are of low intelligence—this is based off of their IQ. They tend to show the largest miscalibration of their logical abilities. A study was done to determine what the reason was for their overestimation. Those who were tested into the 12th percentile were asked to guess where they might be placed relative to their peers without any prior information about their ranking. Their averaged estimation was in the 58th percentile. For those who are uninformed ofhow percentily works, the number correlates to the percent of people taken from a group that have scored the same or below. Therefore the higher the number, the higher in ranking. When applied to the results, the study indicates their estimations had far exceeded their true placement. After careful consideration and numerous experiments, the study concluded that whether the task itself is difficult or the person lacked the ability to understand the task, the individual tended to be overconfident about their abilities in comparison to others. Due to their incompetence, they have an inflated self-assessment.

However, the effect works vice versa.

People who are proven to be above average through multiple tests, tend to be modest. The researchers determined that those who were well-prepared or knowledgeable about the task typically questioned their ability to properly execute it. However this concept does not apply to every person who fits the criteria. Some may be overly confident, but would be considered highly capable; or there may be people who have lower IQ’s that believe they are far worse than they actually are. Either way, it is interesting how the majority of low-skilled individuals believe they are better than most others while those who deserve the title view themselves as inferior.

We should take into consideration that the study focused mostly on people’s assessment of their logical abilities. Therefore, although an individual may lack in one aspect, they can excel in another. It is imperative for people to be confident in themselves, but with reservations.

Mar. 2: NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko returned back to Earth after spending 340 days in outer space.

Mar. 22: ISIS claimed responsibility for Brussels terror attacks that left at least 34 dead and 190 injured.

Apr. 6: A baby boy was born with DNA from three parents, revolutionizing modern science and causing controversy.

May 21: EgyptAir MS804 flight from Paris to Cairo mysteriously crashed in the Mediterranean, killing all 66 people on board.

May 28: Harambe, Cincinnati Zoo’s gorilla, was shot after hauling a little boy around who fell into the enclosure. This sparked public backlash and uproar, with many criticizing the parental lack of responsibility and awareness.

June 7: J.K. Rowling and Jack Thorne’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered in London’s West End. June 9: President Barack Obama publicly endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

June 12: In Orlando, at the gay nightclub, Pulse a gunman pledged allegiance to ISIS and opened fire, leaving 49 dead and 53 injured. This horrific event has been recognized as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

June 23: In the impactful Brexit referendum, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The value of the pound decreased immediately thereafter.

June 28: A deadly terrorist attack involving suicide bombs and gun attacks at Istanbul Atatürk Airport left 41 dead and 239 injured.

July 5: FBI released an investigative report concerning Hillary Clinton’s private email server, causing conflicts to shadow Clinton throughout the presidential campaign.

July 6: Niantic released a real-world interactive mobile game named Pokémon Go. July 12: In New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in his speech.

July 31: The long-awaited Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

by Jack Thorne and J.K. Rowling was officially released worldwide on midnight.

Aug. 5: The 2016 Summer Olympics had its opening ceremony in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aug. 13: U.S. swimmer and 28-time Olympic Medalist Michael Phelps announced the end of his career at 2016 Rio Olympics and continues to hold the record as the world’s most decorated Olympian.

Sept. 7: The 2016 Paralympics officially started in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Sept. 28: Hurricane Matthew left a path of destruction from the Caribbean to Southeast U.S. Oct. 7: Controversial videotape released by Washington Post of Donald Trump’s inappropriate boasts of sexually assaulting women went viral and sparked major debate.

Nov. 8: In the most shocking, unpredictable election yet, Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States, beating Hillary Clinton by 74 electoral votes. This is the fifth time a presidential candidate has won the election while losing the popular vote.

Nov. 25: Fidel Castro, a Cuban revolutionary leader, died at 90-years-old.

With the New Year advancing, we can embark on a fresh journey to discover what 2017 has in store for us. rlee@apachepowwow.com

Graphics Courtesy of BENABLOGS.COM, HYPABLE.COM, PNGTO.COM, POKEMONGO.COM, REDBUBBLE.COM, and USWEEKLY.COM

Staff Writer

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enjoying the

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

By MARUKO MYINT

Staff Writer

The holidays are interpreted differently by everyone, but it is undeniable that festivity can lift even the lowest of spirits. Some may cherish this time of year as a religious holiday, but others view it as a festive celebration to spread holiday cheer and family love. In the weeks preceding the holiday season, families, stores, and neighborhoods outfit their places with holidays decorations, turning them into winter wonderlands. Families often organize special meals, inviting relatives over for delicious food and also exchanging gifts with them. Our students have shared their takes on the memorable holidays, sharing their favorite activities during the season and the traditions they have with their family and friends. mmyint@apachepowwow.com

“My family and I always decorate the tree together while listening to Christmas music. We also go to our relative’s house and open each other’s presents on Christmas Eve. With my friends, we always decorate gingerbread houses together and go ice skating. I really love the holiday season so much because you can snuggle up in your cozy blankets and watch Christmas movies.” — Catherine Esguerra, 10

December 2016

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holiday season 11

“I get together with my whole family and eat a huge lunch. The food isn’t your standard holiday food and it’s more culture food, but I think that’s what makes the holiday season special to me.”

— Jace Kwan, 9

“At my church, [Operation Christmas Child packs] normal necessities like toothbrushes, shoes, pencils, etc, into shoeboxes. After all the packing, we send them to developing countries for children who aren’t as privileged. It’s a really rewarding experience.”

— Gabriel Han, 10

“My family is American-Jewish, [so] we celebrate Hanukkah around the traditional holiday time! I celebrate Hanukkah with my mom’s side of the family and Christmas with my dad’s side, so it’s always lots of fun and a great experience.”

— Lauren Awaya, 12

“On Christmas Eve, I usually enjoy the day with either family or friends until noon, which is when I start getting ready for the annual Christmas play at our church. After the play, my family gets ready for mass [and spends time with my grandma] and cousins.”

— Thomas Nguyen, 11

Graphics courtesy of VECTEEZY.COM Photos by JOSIE CHEN, FRANCES CHEUNG, LUKE JIA, KAITLYN LEE, HOLLY LUNG

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PERFORMING ARTS

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December 2016

By CAMILLE MARQUEZ Staff Writer

Every year in December, multiple dance groups come together in the PAC to present an emotional, entertaining, and energetic show.

This year, the Charity Dance Show showcased all the AHS dance groups as well as outside companies, including Glendale All Male, Project 21, Junior Hit List, Evoke Dance Company, and many more. The show also acted as a tribute to Joanne Domenici who will be remembered as a person of great passion for dance and devotion to her family and students. A fraction of the profit from ticket sales were donated to the Joanne Domenici Memorial Fund to provide scholarships for student dancers.

All performers of the Charity Dance Show are constantly reminded of the countless factors that are accounted for to perform an excellent show. It is the use of facials, engagement of the audience, awareness of space, amount of energy, and passion in each step, that makes each dance special. No matter the skill level, all are taught the important rhythm, timing, and most importantly, dynamics.

Each dance was carefully planned to show a specific message or culture. Some were integrated with Chinese folk dance while others are influenced by different time eras. There were styles of hip-hop, ballet, jazz, and contemporary shown throughout different pieces that kept the dances compelling and unpredictable. All performances were split into two or more sections to give an appearance of layers and roll-offs. The choreography was precisely fitted with an exact song; it matched up with crescendos and diminuendos, lyrics, accents, and instrumental changes. These elements all came together to form a showcase that left people excited and spirited!

Of course, there was also the fascinating stage production. Stage crew members were an essential part of making the Charity Dance Show so excellent. These individuals were in charge of the operation and display of lights; they added and exaggerated the feeling of each and every dance. Behind the curtains, stage crew was managing the dancers as well, keeping them organized, quiet, and focused.

The show was captivating and a major success. It demonstrated the amount of effort everyone had contributed to make this production as wonderful as possible. The Charity Show was a performance that left everyone in awe.

cmarquez@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM , CLIPARTKID.COM, and CLIPARTPANDA.COM Photo courtesy of THEATERPLAYHOUSE.COM

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

Most ballerinas and people who are familiar with the art of ballet have most likely heard of, been a part of, or seen The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet holiday classic that originated from Russia and has dated as far back as the late 1800s. Because it is a story centered around holidays and Christmas, many ballet groups and studios choose to perform this particular production near the end of the year. However, while many students and audience members attend these dazzling shows, admiring the grace and skill of hard-working ballerinas, many aren’t familiar with the actual plot line and the history of this show and its music.

This show dates back to over a hundred years ago in 1891 when famous music composer Peter Tchaikovsky was appointed to compose music for Alexandre Dumas’ adaption, originally named, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. In terms of art and music history, this particular period of time is classified under the Romantic period, which most likely explains why the gentle and welcoming tunes of music from this production give audience members a warm and sweet feeling as they listen. When this show was first performed in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, surprisingly, it recieved a lot of hatred and dissatisfied comments from viewers. But since then, it has gained a massive amount of love and popularity from people around the world

today.

The actual story revolves around a young girl, Clara, who receives a beautiful nutcracker toy from her godfather at her family’s Christmas party. Jealous of the gift, her brother breaks the toy, which is later fixed by her godfather once again. Worried that her gift would be damaged a second time, Clara holds her toy under the Christmas tree, but to her surprise begins shrinking to the size of the nutcracker itself. After defeating the mouse king, the nutcracker transforms into a prince, and together they go on an adventure meeting the Sugar Plum Fairy, and traveling to enchanted lands, such as the Land of Snow and Land of Sweets. The production ends with Clara waking up under the tree, realizing that it was all a magical dream.

Now that it’s the holiday season, you’re bound to encounter the chance to attend and watch this show in person. Even if you’ve never attended a ballet production before, who knows? You might enjoy the story and show like many others have. Grab some friends to enjoy this century-old ballet. Also, don’t forget to have fun and add to the positivity and spirit of the holiday season! fchueng@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM and JAXNUTCRACKER.ORG

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STUDENT LIFE

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By CHRISTY QIU Staff Writer

By JOSIE CHEN Staff Writer

Christmas is a holiday full of joy and cheer. One of the many traditions that occur during the celebratory season is the exchanging of gifts with friends and family. With Christmas right around the corner, students of AHS have begun to think about what they would like to receive this year.

“For Christmas, I want a motorbike from Amazon so that I can ride to school.”—Kirti Madireddy, 9 “I want Minions because they are cute and cuddly.”—Lillian Wang, 10 “I want sporty and comfortable clothes. I would want them in black and white, so it can match with anything I wear.” —Jenny Namkoong, 9 “For Christmas, I would like to get a kitten.” —Grace Hong, 9

jchen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

The holidays are unquestionably one of the most festive times of the year. For some, this time of the year inspires joy, but for others, the festivity may be a bit too much. Christmas music is a conflict for this divided audience. Many mainstream artists have dedicated entire albums to holiday songs. A couple examples include Justin Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe and Ariana Grande’s Christmas and Chill. Even more remarkable, this Christmas festivity has broadened to East Asia, as illustrated in the K-pop boy band EXO and its album, Miracles in December.

If there are albums dedicated to December holidays, why aren’t there any dedicated solely to Thanksgiving or Halloween? AHS students have varied views when answering this question.

Junior Shubhita Verma exclaimed that there is a reason to the success of Christmas-dedicated albums, as “Christmas is special.” However, she understood the views of those who think the festivity can get a little overboard. She contends that “if Christmas music is playing before Thanksgiving, then it is overrated, because that’s just killing Thanksgiving.” However, the truth is that many radio stations play holiday songs even during the first week of November.

Junior Emma Huang revealed, “I don’t listen to the radio station.” As someone who doesn’t hear Christmas music starting from the beginning of November, Emma appreciates the vibe of Christmas music, stating that it “helps put everyone in a more festive mood, and it makes everyone more excited for Christmas.”

Many AHS students agreed that Christmas music deserves its own genre. One such student is junior Armine Kasabyan who blatantly stated, “Christmas music is amazing.” Moreover, she argued that “there should be albums dedicated to all holidays.” After all, a festive spirit for only two months of the year is not enough. Other students, such as junior Chi Tsai, thought otherwise. Without a second of hesitation, she argued that Christmas music is “overplayed and overrated” and that she does not “want to hear the same Christmas songs on the radio so many times.” Still, the majority of AHS students agreed that Christmas music is enjoyable and special.

Students seem to always be listening to music, whether it is secretly in class or at home while doing homework. Music plays a large role in AHS, as seen through the school’s renowned band and exquisite orchestra. So, as people who seem to understand music well, AHS students have developed their own views on Christmas music. Overall, regardless of opposing views, enjoy listening to Christmas music as long as you want.

cqiu@apachepowwow.com

"What do you call a bagel that can fly?

A plain bagel!" —Wesley Kam, 9 "Why do fish hate Fridays?

Because it's FRYday!" —Erika Luu, 11 "If everyone loves Christmas so much...

Why don't they just Merry Christmas?" —Rose An, 11

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

As the end of the semester is quickly approaching, there’s a lot of stress for both students and teachers to complete tasks and assignments on time. Now, with finals happening before winter break, first semester is ending quicker than ever. Many students are giving their last burst of effort in order to raise their grades to the highest possible before the semester ends. As students work hard in school, teachers have to finish their recommendations for particular students, grades, and writing finals for classes they teach. With so much going on, it’s hard to find time to take a deep breath and just relax for a bit. Here are a couple jokes, puns, and quotes that students gave for some light hearted laughs in spite of whatever you may be going through. Enjoy!

"Who is Santa's favorite singer?

Elf-is Presley!" —Katie Wen, 10 "What did the cat say to the other cat?

All I want for Christmas is mew!" —Karen Thai, 11 "What do you call Santa's elves?

Subordinate Clauses!" —Arianna Togelang, 11 fcheung@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of ICONARCHIVE.COM

December 2016

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ACADEMICS

By ROSELIND ZENG Staff Writer

As the chill creeps up on us with the coming holidays, we brace for the final barrier preventing us from reaching winter break. Our teachers try the best they can to prepare us, putting special emphasis on the word “study”. But if it only were that easy, with the few spare hours we can muster on our measly weekends. Most students have a minimum of four subjects and chapters upon chapters of material to cover, and even if we had the time to sleep, we wouldn’t rest very easy. But here are some tips to optimize your potential and ace your finals!

First off, think about your work environment. Is it cluttered? Too dark? Too small? Too cold?

These are all things to consider. If you are made physically uncomfortable by the things around you, then your brain has a tendency to focus on those things instead of the matter at hand. Think about maintaining the optimum place to start studying. Avoiding loud environments, making sure that you’re comfortable, and preparing all the tools required beforehand can make studying less of a hazard for your sanity. It also doesn’t hurt to turn off your phone. Of course, you can argue that the little piece of glass and metal infused with light-emitting diodes is essential to maintain your vital functions and that deactivating it would lead to your mental breakdown. But all of the things you can do on a phone can be transferred to a computer, which poses less of a distraction and has a bigger screen, making it less of a strain on the eyes. In short, find a quiet place, and get rid of all the things that could give your mind a negative influence.

Another point worth mentioning is to figure out what type of learner you are. You’ve most likely heard about it before—do you learn better with pictures and patterns, or do you absorb material more

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

On Nov. 19, History Bowl won 1st and 2nd place in the San Diego Fall History Bowl (SDF), one of three regional history bowl competitions held annually. National History Bowl is a buzzerstyle competition in which teams of up to six players win points by answering toss up questions and categorical questions.

The National History Bowl Organization strives “to promote history education throughout the U.S., and around the world.” In both Varsity and Junior Varsity divisions at high school levels, teams of varying backgrounds and abilities dive deep into the study of human development in an effort to provide participants with a historical background that will serve them well in the future.

In that spirit, co-captains senior Donna Sayphraraj and junior Roger Lin carefully arranged the team into three subsets (A, B, and C) in order to best utilize veterans while simultaneously preparing newcomers to carry on the legacy.

A team, made up of Donna, Roger, junior Matt Forster, and sophomore Andrew Hoagland won 1st in the Varsity division at SDF. Meanwhile, B Team, featuring seniors Alan Lu and Kevin Hsu and juniors Jacob Glass and Xiaoke Ying, ran a close 2nd. The SDF competition also allowed C team, consisting of sophomores Calvin Nguyen and Cindy Qi and freshmen Rekha Liyanage and William Lee, to test the waters of the Junior Varsity competition and grow accustomed to the intensity of actual competition.

Though the team’s triumph is an impressive achievement, it is not unexpected. Since its founding in 2010, AHS’ History Bowl team has consistently ranked as the best in Southern California and has often sent players to national level competitions. Of course, the continuous accumulation of trophies and accolades isn’t an inexplicable phenomenon; it results from intensive preparation and a true passion for the activity.

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easily from a textbook? How do you organize things while you’re learning? You might want to think about flashcards or a special technique you can use to memorize facts or word definitions. Associating concepts with objects, making a story, and creating mind maps are all great ways to get started.

Using these tools to your advantage can help to cut back on the amount of time and effort it takes for your brain to process the information you present it.

And finally, we get to studying. Don’t waste your time mulling over every single word in the textbook; instead, have a purpose to what you’re trying to find. Know what your weaknesses are, and branch off from there into unfamiliar territory. Try out new methods and see if they improve your understanding. Make an effort to start earlier in the year so that you don’t have to feel the stress of cramming. That way, you can give yourself more time to ask questions about the things you don’t understand. Creating your own study guide can help you find all of the basic things you should cover, but if you want to ace things, look up the obscure and the complex information, and add that to your arsenal of knowledge. Trying these things out with a friend or a group can help ease the tension, and they might try a different approach on some things that just might work. But always remember: don’t push yourself to the brink of a caffeine-infused madness and stay up until the wee hours of the morning. Sleep is crucial to school performance, and so is taking breaks, which help you regain your focus.

There are many ways you can set up your success for the finals. But finding more innovative ways to boost your learning, as well as eliminating the problems that may surround you, can help you power your way to that ‘A’. Happy studying! rzeng@apachepowwow.com Graphic by ANDREA LIU

Alan recounted that the team “didn’t have many tense moments” during the competition “except during a round against Los Alamitos” likely due to its extensive practice. As Calvin put it, “History Bowl is a seriously competitive team that encourages you to study and learn things on your own accord...It is very difficult.” The training regime consists of weekly meetings, practice exams, mock tournaments, and dedicated self-study. Andrew remarked that, during practice, “sometimes, the pressure gets to me. The buzzer is hard to press when my palms get sweaty.”

In the end, as Alan recalls, competition had “more funny moments” featuring “hilarious responses that worked” than intense ones.

Yet despite the inherent difficulties and long hours spent maintaining the standards of the team, History Bowl members find passion in their strenuous pursuit. Having joined out of a natural love for history, Calvin sees History Bowl as “a great learning opportunity” where “every detail you learn is important” because even the smallest of things can change the outcome of a tournament. Similarly, Andrew chose to join after “Quiz Bowl had piqued [his] interest in this style of competition”, and he gradually “fell in love with the topics.”

Now, he “[looks] up to the individuals who defined history.”

From ancient Egypt to modern day, military doctrine to sports and entertainment, History Bowl is a testament to the vast diversity of experience that permeates human development. In devouring historical texts, study guides, and practice packets on the road to competition, History Bowl members gain a fundamental understanding of the human experience that is hard to replicate and well worth the effort.

Congratulations to History Bowl and best of luck down the road! wwang@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy TERENCE YUQIAO ZHAO

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sports.powwow@gmail.com

December 2016

KICKING OFF STRONG: BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER

By COLLIN GAJA Staff Writer

The Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer seasons have just begun, and it looks like both teams are having a great start. The teams have chosen their players and are already starting off practice for the intense season they have ahead of them. Though it might be tough, with time and effort they’ll fly through the competition.

When starting the season, one big goal was always to maintain last year’s success or even improve. Boys Varsity Soccer started off better than last year thanks to the way it’s been

practicing hard for the upcoming season. Sophomore Alex Yen believed that “the team has been doing pretty well recently. We only lost to Pasadena High School (PHS) and it had an amazing season last year.” Alex also stated that “for the future we have to win more games, so we have a chance to make it to CIF.” To maintain how the team plays, one key factor is for the “midfielders do well, if they do well then our whole team does well,” stated Alex.

To improve its play, the team is working on communicating more and sharpening passes. Alex shared that the team has to “freshen up on [its] switches and [has] to get outside backs to go up the field.” This year, the team believes it should to have a better record than last year,

BREAKAWAY The team demonstrated their quick skills as senior Harrison Siefke passed the ball to his teammate, while Glendale struggled to catch up.

BACK TO BASICS Boys Varsity Soccer has been working on tightening up the fundamentals, to sharpen the team’s game.

and its goal is to make it to CIF. In order to achieve this goal, the team has to be able to “take a lot of shots and get crosses into the box. If we can get those to work we’ll win more games,” stated Alex. So far, the season looks promising, and with hard work and effort, the team can certainly achieve its aspirations and goals.

The Girls Varsity Soccer team is also looking forward to another strong season, as its start has been even better than that of the boys. The team has been training since the beginning of the school year to beat its competition this season. Winning its first game against PHS with a strong score of 4-0 was just the beginning of the team’s promising season. In

order to improve even more, the girls are working on communicating more with teammates, improving the defense, and maintaining accurate passing. The girls are definitely looking to guard their title as League Champions, and with their training and spirit they can surely go far in CIF. So far, both Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer have had fantastic starts to the season. They’re prepared to meet strong competition, and while the season ahead may look tough, with time and effort these teams can achieve great results.

Good luck on the rest of the season!

cgaja@apachepowwow.com

Photos by BRANDON CHEN

READY TO MAKE A SPLASH

By CHRISTIE WANG Staff Writer

The Girls Varsity Water Polo team started off its season by crushing the opposition, a sign of more victories to come! On Nov. 22, the Lady Apaches played a game away from home against La Salle High School (LSHS) at the Arcadia County Park. The final score on the board was 15-1, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. With such a decisive first win under their belts, the girls are confident and ready to conquer League, then hopefully move on to success in CIF. Junior Susan Harrison exclaimed, “Our game against LSHS was a great start to our season and even though we have things to work on, I have very high hopes for the future!”

This year, the team’s roster has seven seniors making up half of the team. As a result, they have more pressure than ever to do well and end their final seasons on a high note. Senior Loreny Valdez remarked on this year’s members: “This year, our varsity team consists

MAKING A SPLASH Girls Varsity Water Polo won its three opening games, but lost to South Pasadena High School in its fourth match of the season. of mostly returning seniors, so we all want to do well. Our goal is to make it as far as we can in CIF.” In addition to the seniors on the team, other returning members bring experience and strength to the team.

Not only does the Girls Varsity Water Polo team have the experience and skill to achieve their goals, the players have the hard work and attitude to back it up. The team has been practicing late and coming in for early-morning

weight room in order to get ready for the rest of its tough season.

Susan reflected on the progress of the team and said, “I would say that our team has vastly improved from the beginning of the preseason and everyone on the team has a great attitude.”

Loreny also added, “We all made mistakes, but these things can be worked on as the season progresses.” Last year, Girls Varsity Water Polo had an overall record of 4-8, a disappointing result well below expectations. Out of the overall record, which includes tournaments, the girls’ League record was 3-2. As in its season opener, the 2015-2016 team defeated LSHS, but with a score of 18-3. But while this season’s win against LSHS may be a flashback to last year, the girls are hoping for different results in their other games.

With a promising start to the new season, the team is determined to improve and do well within its league. With the team’s hard work and determination, anything is possible.

cwang@apachepowwow.com Photo by SARAH WANG

December 2016

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By BRADFORD YAU Staff Writer

Winter season has just begun, and that means that a number of sports are starting to kick back into gear, including Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball. Basketball is commonly known as “the most popular sport in the world”, as many different countries have been inspired to try and pick up the physical yet technical sport of basketball. Right now, our Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams are getting ready to get on the right track for a successful season.

Boys Varsity Basketball, despite its less than perfect record last year, has improved throughout the post-season to hopefully turn its losing record to a winning one. After finishing off its intense schedule last season, the boys hit summer league play and tournaments to help sharpen team chemistry and gain experience overall. The team’s most significant game was against Chino Hills High School, which is currently ranked number one in the nation. Although Arcadia lost by quite a margin, it gained valuable experience by playing a highly ranked team that has won multiple tournaments, not to mention playing against skilled players such as the well-known “Ball Brothers”. Junior Jay Yoon described this experience as “great to learn from, as we got to see real time players

SHOOTING FOR SUCCESS (left to right): Sophomore Ashley Lee and junior Clarissa Kiyomura practice dribbling on the court. that we can try to emulate.”

Looking ahead to the season, many of the team members believe that great things are to come, since many experienced players are returning. New additions bring fresh energy to the team with their arrival this year. Junior Josh Ma stated that, “although our team is new and we are still trying to sort out chemistry, our endless supply of energy will be what helps us win.” The boys are off to a very solid start, beginning the season at a modest 3-1 record. Boys basketball

is on the rise, and AHS has a lot to be excited for.

Girls Varsity Basketball also started the season on a high note. After putting in a good amount of hours last year, the girls have come back very hungry for not only a good record overall but also a possible berth to the CIF Championship. The last few years for the team have not been the most promising, as last season they finished with an overall record of 1513 with a record of 7-7 in League play, but the girls are looking for this season to help bolster their claim of being one of the best sports that AHS has to offer. So far, the girls have started with a 4-2 record, and are hoping to improve throughout the season.

Overall, the basketball program of AHS is steadily on the rise, with high expectations that they are working hard to reach. Both teams are ready and excited to put in the effort to achieve their dreams. With their hard work and perseverance, the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams should be excited for a good season ahead of them. Girls Varsity Basketball is kicking off its League play with a home game on Jan. 3, so make sure to come out and support them! AHS wishes the team good luck.

byau@apachepowwow.com

Photo by NATHAN GUO Graphic courtesy of CLIPARTPANDA.COM

GIRLS XC TAKES STATE

By HOLLY LUNG Staff Writer

HIGH STAKES AT STATE This fall, Girls Varsity Cross Country qualified to State for its third season in a row.

With thousands of miles under its belt, the Girls Varsity Cross Country team has finally finished its grueling season. With training beginning in mid-June, the season lasted a long six months, ending in late November with the team’s last and highest stake race, the CIF Championship State Meet held in Fresno, CA. The prestigious state meet allows the best

cross country teams across California in each division to compete for a place on the podium and a spot in the annual Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), the race that determines the national champions. Senior Joy Huang explained that ¨it has been the girls’ dreams to compete at the national level at NXN since [her] sophomore year.¨ After coming in 3rd at the State meet last year and missing an invitation to NXN by just one place, this year, the girls made it their ultimate goal for the season. Individually, junior Eryca Yamane revealed that many of the varsity girls ¨just wanted to improve their times and places from last year.¨ Given all the expectations these AHS runners had for what was possibly going to be their last race of the season, tensions and nerves ran high as they took the line. With four seniors, two juniors, and one sophomore in the starting blocks, the Apaches took off, averaging a 5:45 first mile.

They continued to make their way up in the race through the second mile, which featured a large hill, and gave it their all in the last mile, just as they had planned. The team’s top five scorers ultimately came in 22nd, 32nd, 50th, 60th, and 66th place out of a total of 819 athletes competing in the meet. Despite their

best efforts, the girls came in 4th as a team, failing to make it to NXN yet another year.

The season as a whole may have been rocky for the girls, but it still managed to be a memorable and fun time, which junior Jasmine He cited as her reason for joining cross country in the first place. ¨I love running because I love going to practice and laughing with my friends for miles on end. The millions of conversations and jokes we’ve had in the hundreds of hours that we’ve spent running makes every race, failure or victory, a success,¨ the runner said, reminiscing. It’s clear that to these girls, running is much more than just winning a race— it’s friendship and a lifelong bond.

Although they fell short of their ambitious goal of NXN, the runners are far from disappointed in their season as a whole. After dominating the Pacific League for yet another year, and placing in the top five teams for nearly every top notch invitational, Girls Varsity Cross Country has a lot to be proud of. There is no doubt that these girls will continue to chase their dreams of NXN and finally reach them in the years to come.

hlung@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of KEVIN HSU

By ASHLEY LEE & CHRISTIE WANG Staff Writers

RACING TO VICTORY Senior Holly Lung has competed on the Girls Varsity Cross Country team for all four years at AHS. Another great season for the Girls Varsity Cross Country team has come and gone.

This past season, they ran thousands of miles and beat dozens of records. AHS’ runners are known for being amazingly talented and remarkably driven, and senior Holly Lung is no exception. This year, Holly was bestowed the incredible honor of Pasadena Star-News Runner of the Year. Holly’s new title, as well as her victorious running season, carries on Arcadia’s proud tradition of excellence in cross country. Holly is just as ecstatic as one would expect, exclaiming “I guess I’m pretty surprised that I was chosen because my season last year was actually a lot better than this year’s. I’m really happy that they chose me as Runner of the Year and it’s definitely nice to have this on my resume when talking to prospective college coaches!”

Being on the Girls Varsity Cross Country team alone is hard work enough, let alone being outstanding enough to earn such a high community accolade as Runner of the Year.

Just what makes Holly such a phenomenal athlete? In her case, hard work and dedication are the answer. Holly joined the team in her freshman year and has participated in many races since then. Countless hours of practices were put in, with plenty of after school workouts. During this year’s season, Holly ended her final year on the team as a Pacific League Champion while also finishing 4th in State.

Holly’s passion for running has led her stay on the team for all four of her years at AHS, from start to finish. During that time, her running accomplishments will have surely caught the interest of potential college coaches. Although her high school cross country career may have just come to an end, Holly herself looks toward the future and says, “Yes, I definitely plan on running in college!” Running is her passion and while this achievement is only one honor, we look for more to come as she moves on to achieve even greater things. Go Holly!

alee@apachepowwow.com cwang@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of CLIPARTBRO.COM

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theapachepowwow.com

December 2016

By KAITLIN LEE

By CHRISTIE WANG

Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again! Neighbors are bringing out those outdoor holiday decorations, and everyone is merry in the spirit of the holidays. Need to spice up your living space with holiday cheer?

Here are some low-cost, DIY decorations you can make!

Make Your Own “Tree” Use yarn or string to create a mini tree on an empty wall. Add sparkly, paper circle ornaments to decorate your tree and secure it with tape. Instantly, an empty space can be brought to life!

Use Garlands Hang up any greenery with Command hooks around the house. This can bring a festive air to a deserted mantel or stairway. If you bought too many ornaments, you can even add them along with berries for a pop of color to the greenery on a doorway or banister.

The Centerpiece Every dining table needs a focal centerpiece! Take a clear, cylindrical vase often used for displaying flowers. Fill the vase with assorted wrapped candies which may include Christmas-themed Hershey kisses and peppermint candies. Tie a decorative bow around the exterior of the vase. Not only is this centerpiece an inexpensive option for the table, but it may also serve as a treat during the holiday season!

Dressing those Candles Some of those scented candles that you bought in previous years sit around the house year-round, not even being put to use! During this holiday season, you can dress up those plain and clear candleholders with holiday ribbons. When placed on the mantel next to the Christmas tree, they can tie a whole room together!

Christmas Card Display You know those family Christmas cards you get from friends and family? Time to put them to use!

Because of the assortment of colors, display them on a cork board with holiday lights. The cards can add color to a room. Best of all, you don’t even have to make them yourself!

cwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of PINTEREST.COM

Staff Writer

Sugar mice are traditional Christmas treats from our friend across the pond, the United Kingdom. You might have heard of them from the Harry Potter books or from the song “Sugar Mice,” by the band Marillion. They are eaten with coffee or tea and can be easily purchased in any British market. However, there is also a recipe to make your own sugar mice; it’s so easy, even little children can make it.

What You’ll Need: 2 bowls A whisk Paper towels 1&1/4 cups powdered sugar 1 egg Food Coloring (used to add color to the mice but not necessary) Flavor Essences (used to add flavor but also not necessary) Chocolate Chips/M&Ms (to make eyes) String or Ribbon (for the tails) Steps: 1. Since the yolk isn’t needed, you will need to separate the egg whites from the yolk. Beat the whites until they are bubbly, but not stiff.

2. Strain the powdered sugar into a bowl and add the egg whites slowly, mixing them until they have a firm, dough-like texture and can be kneaded. If the mixture becomes too wet, just add more powdered sugar.

3. At this point, you can add a drop or two of food coloring or flavor essence. This isn’t a mandatory step.

4. Separate the dough into parts the size of mice. You should most likely have eight of them.

5. Then roll each piece into an oval shape, pinching an end to form a nose.

6. Lay them out on a paper towel to avoid sticking. At the end of the unpinched part of each mouse, add a piece of ribbon or string. This will form the little tails of the mice and will help you eat the mice without getting your hands dirty. You can also add “eyes” by using chocolate chips, M&Ms, or any other spherical-shaped sweet. Usually, the eyes of sugar mice are little drops of food coloring, but I think candy adds character.

7. Leave them out to dry and then enjoy this unique holiday treat with some nice tea or coffee!

klee@apachepowwow.com

By MARUKO MYINT

Staff Writer

Every year, November and December bring the start of the holiday season; a time to snuggle under your cozy Christmas decorations, drink hot chocolate, and of course visit Disneyland! The theme park has been a family favorite since 1955, with its happy atmosphere, familyfriendly attractions, and memorable characters. In addition to these wonderful attributes, with the holiday season, “The Happiest Place on Earth” only gets happier! From the middle of November to the beginning of January, the park gets a major Christmas makeover, turning Main Street, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and several other parts of the park into a Christmas wonderland. Once you take your first step into the amusement park, you’ll be immediately taken aback by the masses of string lights and garland decorating the shops and street. A main centerpiece that lies on Main Street is the tree itself, with

a whopping height of 60 feet and hundreds of ornaments covering its every inch. Simply walking into the area will surely brighten your day and bring Christmas spirit!

Certain rides also undergo a Christmas makeover to truly put its guests into the the spirit of the holidays.

“Haunted House Holiday” is a result of two memorable holidays being combined, with the Tim Burton movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, as the backdrop to the ride.

It follows the plot of the film and is a fan favorite among numerous of visitors, causing very long lines throughout the night. Jungle Cruise has also transformed into the “Jingle Cruise”, where there are several decorations strewn throughout

the attraction. The skippers, the boat-driving narrators, also tell Christmas jokes, incorporating the holiday season into their classic humor. Another ride is “It’s a Small World Holiday”, when the ride is shifted more into a “Happy Holidays” theme, and everything from the theme song to the props are changed. The exterior is also decorated with Christmas lights, making the ride even more attractive and appealing.

If you ever get hungry throughout the day, trying to make it from one holiday-themed ride to another, make sure to rest and get one of Disneyland’s exclusive and limited-for-theseason holiday food! Some of the more well

known ones are the yule log from the Plaza Inn, peppermint stick ice cream with crushed candy cane waffle cone, turkey pot pie bread bowl, and the pumpkin spice bread pudding.

Another festive part of Disneyland during the holidays is the Christmas Fantasy Parade. It has six parts featuring Mrs. Claus, Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Max, the Disney Royal Couples, toys from Toy Story, and of course Santa Claus! It’s definitely an essential part of a Disneyland Christmas day, so make sure to line up and watch it!

Disneyland is truly one of the best places to be during the holiday season, with its merry atmosphere and exciting attractions, you’re bound to make great memories.

So grab a family member or a friend and enjoy the Christmas spirit of Disneyland!

mmyint@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPART.COM and SIMPLECRAFTS.COM

December 2016

calendareditor.powwow@gmail.com

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

Small. Obscure. Comfortable. Nest Tea House truly lives up to its namesake. Nestled in the corner of the plaza on Las Tunas Drive, this tea spot offers a relaxed atmosphere with boba tea.

In a day and age when boba places try so hard to differentiate themselves, some may argue that Nest Tea House isn’t trying hard enough. However, Nest Tea House can surprise you. There aren’t any overly exotic tea flavors or a spectacular, Instagram-worthy wall to take pictures with. The drinks don’t come in mason jars, and they definitely don’t light up.

You’ll walk in and see a modern, minimalistic design: wooden panelling on the floors, simple tables, black cushioned chairs, a counter and some novel decorations occupying the right side of the room. That’s it. That’s Nest Tea House. And far from not trying hard enough, Nest Tea House is doing exactly the right thing when it comes to taking the laidback approach in this time of boba tea madness.

After all, a nest is a home, a place where people can feel comfortable, and Nest captures that ambiance well. It’s a great study environment for someone trying

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to find the balance between a library, which can be too stifling and Starbucks, which can be a bit too energetic.

Nest even offers free wifi, a small patch of outdoor seating, and plenty of sunlight during the daytime. And, because they don’t serve any themselves, you can feel free to bring in outside food.

The drinks here are not the best, but they’re good enough for the price (which is generally less than $5). My personal favorite is the green milk tea, no boba.

It’s clean, simple, and refreshing.

I’ve heard great things about their Hokkaido line of drinks, but stay cautious because Hokkaido can be a bit too sugary. Fortunately, if you don’t have much of a sweet-tooth, Nest offers customizable levels of sugar. All in all, if you’re already well-versed in tea house menus, ordering at Nest should be a familiar experience even as a firsttimer.

It’s not the flashiest, and it doesn’t have the best tea around, but it does a good job creating a unique atmosphere. So, if you’re looking for a nice place to study or relax, try Nest Tea House.

wwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM

By JOSIE CHEN Staff Writer

Golden Wonder is a luxurious bath bomb infused with cognac and lime oil. It brightens your mood with its sweet, orange scent and its cute present shape, coated with gold shimmers.

Butter Bear is moisturizing and nourishing, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth. It contains vanilla, butter, and cocoa that dissolves in the water and melts onto your skin.

Father Christmas is a festive bath bomb in the shape of Santa Claus. With a fragrance of cotton candy, it has a burst of green that appears as the red and white fizz away when used.

Mistletoe is a bright pink and blue bath bomb that fizzes into a beautiful purple. It has a jasmine scent that helps to soothe and relax your mind by relieving stress.

Stardust is a star-shaped bath bomb that fills your bathroom with a mix of vanilla, rosewood, and bergamot scents.

As it fizzes away, your bathtub will be left shimmering and sparkling, while leaving your skin silky soft.

So run to a Lush store near you and pick up a few bath bombs for this festive season. Soak in the sweet aroma and enjoy your time of relaxation.

jchen@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM

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December 2016

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

A new beginning. A new year in the upper-left hand corner. A new thirst for success. As the city brightens with decorative lights and holiday spirit permeates the air, ambition comes alive; New Year’s Day is on our doorstep. 2017 opens the door to new opportunities, renewing motivation to succeed. For AHS students, a new year is a new semester. It’s prime time to achieve more, study better, and bridge the gap between dream and reality. 2017 is also a particularly special event for seniors. As their high school story enters its final act, they cherish their final moments as Apaches while looking forward to new beginnings beyond AHS. Good luck to all in 2017!

“I think this year I want to get an adequate amount of sleep and do activities I actually enjoy this year.”

—­­­­Jeffrey Zhang, 12

“My goal for this year is to work on procratinating less and being less sarcastic all the time.”

—­­­­ Angela Lui, 11

“My resolution is to handle my priorities and tasks better! It’s definitely been challenging this year, but if I work hard now it’ll be smooth sailing later!”

—­­­­Tiffany Zhu, 10

“This year I want to try and do something cool in a volleyball game and make as many friends as I can in the class of 2020!”

—­­­­ Ethan Vuong, 9 Graphics courtesy of TRIPADVISOR.COM Photos by ELLIE LEE