EYE ON SJC/PAGE

CUSD Students Promote Diversity, Understanding Through ‘No Place for Hate’ Initiative

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

This coming December, students at Dana Hills High School will stand against discrimination in a unique way.

Kids on campus are welcome to create a holiday display that reflects a holiday personal to them, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, which will be displayed at the school during the first week of December. Members of the local community, in turn, are invited to come see the displays.

The cultural awareness project is one example of how students in the Capistrano Unified School District are working toward more understanding and less bigotry through the “No Place for Hate” initiative.

Numerous campuses in CUSD have pledged to take part in the national movement through their own individual school clubs. Students who participate under the guidance of an adult school supervisor take part in several activities throughout a given school year, which can include open discussions about topics such as biases and understanding cultural differences.

Schools can be designated as “No Place for Hate” areas by the Anti-Defamation League if they meet designated criteria through activities and events.

“One of the big things we like to touch on is inclusivity, and we work with our students in our special education department and make sure they feel connected to the school, as well as other students,” Dana Hills High student Sophia Anapoell said. “The pledge we take is about not using the ‘r’ word anymore and raising awareness on that.”

One activity that got a lot of people involved was supporting special needs students in a Special Olympics-style event, Anapoell said.

“During our 4th period, as many (students) as could filled up our football stands and cheered on the (special needs) students,” Anapoell said. “I definitely saw a lot more involvement and connection throughout the school. Everyone had a smile. I definitely saw a change.”

Kaitlin VanDerVeen, who is also in Dana Hills High’s No Place for Hate group, said they began training for the program last year over Zoom.

“Learning how to plan those events that can help promote inclusivity all around the school within all different types of groups of students was super-insightful,” VanDerVeen said. “I definitely find people a lot more aware of what they’re doing and the thing they’re saying. There has been a decrease in negative language around schools I’ve been around. That’s been a big change I’ve noticed.”

Anapoell said she has become more aware of her own words and actions, and how she connects with people, after taking part in “No Place for Hate”. She also realized she had implicit biases she wasn’t aware of before, and how to change those perspectives.

“It really reminded me that everyone is a person and we all just want to be treated the same,” Anapoell said. “It was super-helpful for me because now I’m able to communicate with everyone in the sense of them being a person.”

VanDerVeen said she’s learned how to include everyone and plan events to where everyone can participate in, and also how to set inclusive examples for others.

Sarai Torres is actively involved in the Dana Hills High “No Place for Hate” group as well, and said it helped the members learn how to “redirect” people when they aren’t being respectful or inclusive to others.

“Sometimes I’ll hear people say things and I’ll be, like, you can not say that’ or ‘Say it differently,’” Torres said. “That was really helpful.”

Sandy Mesa, activity director for Dana Hills High, acts as an adult overseer for the school’s chapter. Mesa said the program is a work in progress.

“We’re just going to continue to do the work on our end to create these opportunities to have an environment that’s equitable and inclusive of all students,” Mesa said. “It’s going to take time. We’re massaging it. We’re learning from it. I’m really thankful I have a great group of students in my leadership program that are 100% committed to doing that.”

San Clemente High School English teacher Sarah Kang oversees that school’s “No Place for Hate” group and said the national movement encourages schools to take ownership as far as their individual groups.

“Students come up with the activities. We have meetings they plan and come up with the ideas,” Kang said. “My job is just to help facilitate that on the admin level.”

San Clemente’s “No Place for Hate” had ties to other existing school clubs, including “Cool to be Kind” and the Black Student Union. San Clemente’s chapter started in 2019, and initially hosted activities online during the COVID-19 pandemic before students were allowed to fully return to campus in person.

“One of the things for ‘Cool to be Kind’ was this spoken-word poem called ‘To This Day.’ That poem was about hurtful words,” Kang said. “We got the kids to discuss it.”

Other activities have included watching and discussing informative videos and signing an anti-hatred pledge that includes vows of understanding people who are different and speaking out against prejudice.

Students also got to write down and discuss aspects of their identity and how that impacts how they go through life—and then linked up their writings through a connected garland hung up in the classroom.

“The most important thing is for the students to know is this is a welcoming and caring and inclusive place. It was really clear that students didn’t feel it—many students,” Kang said. “We just want to make sure that it is. One of the ways is to openly acknowledge that we’re working towards that. There’s no perfect school that has the most perfect place that’s caring and inclusive. It is a goal that we strive for and work hard at every day.”

“No Place for Hate” is a program that allows students, teachers, administrators and school staff to work together to create an inclusive environment, Kang said.

“No Place for Hate” provides an opportunity to openly express that and lets students know that we’re working on it and actively incorporating ways to build community on this campus,” Kang said. “It includes all groups.”

Administrators look at data from the California Healthy Kids survey regularly sent to students and then try to increase a sense of connection and caring based on the results, Kang said.

“We’ll ask students how they feel San Clemente is doing now, and to be constantly self-reflective and inward about this process,” Kang said.

Other CUSD campuses certified by “No Place for Hate” include San Juan Elementary School and Oso Grande Elementary School. CD

Students at San Clemente High School list aspects of their identity on strips of interlinked paper as part of an activity for “No Place for Hate,” an initiative intended to improve cultural understanding on campus. Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Brislen

Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo Returns to Fanfare for 20th Anniversary

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

After a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo celebrated its 20th anniversary on Aug. 26-27 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. Western enthusiasts filled the spectator stands dressed in cowboy hats and boots to watch competitors ride bulls, compete in roping and strive in other contests.

THE WINNERS

Bareback Riding Tilden Hooper Steer Wrestling Jesse Brown Team Roping Kaleb Driggers, Junior Nogueira Saddle Bronc Riding Jake Watson Tie Down Roping Shane Hanchey Breakaway Rickie Engesser, Cheyanne Guillory, Joey Williams Bull Riding Trevor Kastner

GUEST OPINION | Health & Nutrition 101 by Gina Cousineau

Know Your Cholesterol Numbers

With September touted as National Cholesterol Education Month, it provides me with yet another opportunity to remind my readers of the critical importance of their heart health, and my desire each month to provide continuing education on how to move toward a healthier lifestyle.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death around the world, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, including four out of five of these deaths because of heart attack.

Humbling statistics, to say the least, given that we actually can reduce our risk with modest behavioral changes.

FIRST, KNOW YOUR RISK BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: 1. Family history of heart disease and/or high cholesterol 2. Type 2 Diabetes 3. Being older and/or being a male 4. Being overweight or obese 5. Previous history of high cholesterol

NEXT, KNOW YOUR BLOOD LIPID NUMBERS (AFTER A 9- TO 12-HOUR FAST): 1. Total Cholesterol. While 200 is the upper “normal limit,” 150 ml/dL is optimal. This number is derived from LDL, HDL and VLDL (related to triglycerides) combined. 2. LDL Cholesterol. About 100 mg/dL is considered optimal. Often considered the “bad” cholesterol, because it can build up in your arteries, leading to heart disease or stroke.

3. HDL Cholesterol. Equal or greater than 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women is considered optimal. Deemed the “good” cholesterol, it can help reduce cholesterol buildup, but often too much weight is given to a “high” level being protective. All lipid values matter. 4. Triglycerides. Optimal levels are typically less than 150 mg/dL.

So, let’s talk about the importance of understanding your personal cholesterol numbers. As a dietitian, many of my clients have blood lipid numbers that are out of range, but they are not concerned, for a number of reasons.

I am here to raise your level of curiosity, and more importantly, your ability to shift behaviors that can increase your longevity and decrease years of disability.

Now that you have evaluated your num-

Photo: Courtesy of Jonathan Borba/Unsplash

bers, if you have hyperlipidemia, meaning one or more of your lipids are out of range, you have too much fat in your blood, and we must heighten our concern, adding into the mix your overall health plus other risk factors, including smoking and/or high blood pressure, which elevate the threat.

HEALTH AND On a positive note,

NUTRITION 101 BY GINA COUSINEAU we can lower cholesterol levels, which will dramatically reduce this tremendous health burden.

While prevention will always be my goal, we can both halt and reverse CVD.

HERE IS HOW, ACCORDING TO HEART.ORG: 1. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Most diet approaches are about weight loss and not health gain. As a matter of fact, the multibillion-dollar health and fitness industry is proof that the almighty goal of lowering the number on the scale is potentially harmful to our health, with all the pills, powders, potions, and quick-fixes at our fingertips. By the way, you cannot out-train your bad diet. Simply add more plants into your life, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, paired with nonfat/lowfat dairy, and lean animal proteins. 2. Become more physically active. All major health organizations recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. A walking program is a wonderful place to start. 3. Quit smoking. Smoking cessation can lower LDL and increase HDL levels.

4. Losing weight. Losing as little as 5-10% can help improve cholesterol numbers.

This month, I am offering a complimentary preventative care screening appointment. Simply email me at mamag@mamagslifestyle.com to receive an application to become eligible for this 50-minute private session.

Gina Cousineau is a local nutrition expert who specializes in weight loss and helping her clients improve their health. As a trained chef with her BS in Dietetics and MS in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, her goal is to help her clients enjoy every morsel they consume, learning how to move with ease in the kitchen while using their “food as medicine.” Subscribe to her weekly newsletter for complimentary cooking classes, recipes, webinars and more at mamagslifestyle.com, or reach her at mamag@mamagslifestyle.com and 949.842.9975. CD

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com. 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 thecapistranodispatch.com

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 20, Issue 17. The Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (sanclementetimes. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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