Back to School Issue by The Fourth Estate

NEWS ADVICE LIFESTY SPORTS OPINION 04-08 09-17

18-26

28-31

32-35 THE COVER

PHOTO BY CARINA TEDESCO

FEATURING SOPHOMORE BEAU GLAZIER

YLE S N

STAFF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Aura Carlson Rose Houglet Carina Tedesco MANAGING EDITORS Kailea Hieshima Caylin Zimmerman SENIOR ADVISOR Jack Stein CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sonya Kotler BUSINESS EDITOR Amanda Skinner WEB DIRECTOR Sydney Edgecomb WEBSITE DESIGNER Jules Bernard NEWS EDITOR Julia Fay FEATURE EDITOR Julia Fay LIFESTYLE EDITOR Kendall White OP-ED EDITOR Kailea Hieshima SPORTS EDITOR Kelly Bickett COPY EDITOR Jackson Hurley SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Ava Morouse

FROM THE EDITORS

Dear Readers, Welcome back to school! Yes, saying that does make us a little sad, but we hope that this issue helps make coming back to school a little bit better. This summer, the editors tried something completely new for The Fourth Estate: we created a summer issue, focusing on things that happened this summer as well as looking forward to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to come in the new year. We hope you enjoy and have a good start to your new school year! -The Editors-in-Chief

Calenda mon.

04 sept.

Labor Day/ School Offices Closed

wed.

06 sept. thur. 07 sept.

fri.

Trips

Gr. 8 to Bay Area Learning Experience

Gr. 5/6 to Camp Whittier Gr. 7 to White’s Landing

Gr. 8 to Bay Area Learning Experience

Gr. 9 to Pfeiffer State Park Gr. 10 on CIMI Gr. 11 on Service Trip

Gr. 12 to El Capitan Canyon

tues.

05 sept.

Gr. 9 to Pfeiffer State Park Gr. 11 on Service Trip

School US Special Schedule Gr. 5-12 First Day of School Gr. 5, 7, 9 Orientation Gr. 7, 8, 9 & New US Students Tech Boot Camp

08 sept.

Sports

Girls Varsity Volleyball Dave Mohs Tournament

4 NEWS

sat.

09 sept.

Testing ACT

Sports

Girls Varsity Volleyball Dave Mohs Tournament

10 sept.

sun.

Weekend

ar mon.

OF THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL

PAGE DESIGN BY ROSE HOUGLET

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LAGUNA FLICKR

11 sept.

School Locally Grown Lunch Service Begins MS/US 2:30 PM Gr. 5-12 Ice Cream Social

tues.

12 sept.

Sports 3:15 PM Girls Varsity Tennis @ Home

13 sept.

14 sept. fri. 15 sept.

thurs.

School

Sports

3:15 PM Girls Varsity Tennis @ Thacher

3:00 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Away

Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Away

4:00 PM Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball @ Home 5:00 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Home

sat.

16 sept.

wed.

sun.

17 sept.

Weekend

7:00 PM Boys Varsity Football @ Cuyama Valley

5 NEWS

BY JACK STEIN

Now more than ever, Santa Barbara has been rocked by natural disasters that devastate our small community. Between the ever more frequent fires and the recent flooding, many residents of Santa Barbara, and even some Laguna students, have had their lives changed by natural disasters. But why do these events happen, how exactly do they affect the people of Santa Barbara, and, more importantly, why do they seem to be getting more and more frequent?

6 NEWS

FIRES It’s hard to miss the plumes of smoke that regularly pour into the Santa Barbara skies. Between the dry air, high winds and proximity to hundreds of thousands of acres of flammable brush in the mountains, fires have always presented a serious threat to Santa Barbara and all of Southern California. However, due to the drought that has plagued all of California for the past several years, there has been drier air and less water around Santa Barbara county. These conditions have provided a breeding ground for large wildfires, many of which have come dangerously close to the homes of the people of Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reports that 52,900 acres were burned in Santa Barbara County in 2016 alone. The county also lost $1,744,745 due to fire, and most of it was because of damage to structure and property.

AT THE END OF THE DAY

FLOODS

But fire hasn’t been the only result of the recent dry spell. When the state was finally relieved of some of the pressure of the drought in 2017, the heavy rains brought flooding to the lower areas of Santa Barbara. In fact, my house was among the places affected by the Santa Barbara flooding. My family spent hours bailing buckets and buckets of water out of our driveway and garage. Like many houses in the Santa Barbara area, ours was not built with flood conditions in mind. Our driveway, garage and parts of our house were flooded, and we weren’t the only ones. In late January 2017, Santa Barbara received a flash flood warning. Homes and vehicles were washed away by flooding and mudslides caused by a climate so unused to water that the sudden rainfall proved devastating. Roads were closed and people were evacuated from their homes. While the rainfall provided much-needed relief from the drought, the subsequent flooding proved that the drought’s effects are still being felt across California, and specifically in Santa Barbara county.

GRAPHICS & PAGE DESIGN BY JACK STEIN

Between water restrictions, wildfires and future droughts, the lasting effects of the drought will surely be felt for years to come. Fortunately, measures are being taken to help protect from future droughts, such as the proposed desalination plant, and, while the fires continue to spread, firefighters work tirelessly to protect Santa Barbara from the devastation they can cause.

7 NEWS

From Juniors to Mentors BY JACK STEIN

PHOTO: AURA CARLSON

SCHOOL TRIPS ARE A TRADITION AT LAGUNA

Blanca. Every grade takes a trip the first week of school—“trip week”—and these trips give students a chance to reconnect and bond with their classmates before the school year officially starts. Regardless of the trip itself, it’s hard to find a student that can’t find something to enjoy on the trip. Starting in the 2017-2018 school year, however, Laguna is taking a new approach with the 11th grade trips. Instead of all juniors going on one cohesive trip together, a section of the students will be accompanying younger grades on their trips as student chaperones. Interested students were allowed to apply for a spot as a chaperon on one of the trips for the lower grades. The trips available were those of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades, with destinations ranging from San Francisco to Big Sur. The idea behind this wasn’t simply to split up the 11th grade — it was to promote bonding between grades and to bring rising juniors into their roles as campus leaders. It is easy for students to distance themselves from their younger peers, but it’s important in so small community as ours for the different grades to coexist and be friendly with each other.

The idea behind this wasn’t simply to split up the 11th grade — it was to promote bonding between grades. With the increasing class sizes, having student chaperones along for the trips will also help the teachers keep younger students as happy and safe as possible. The chaperones won’t just be along to monitor: they’ll play a key role in mediating arguments, helping teachers come up with daily activities and helping to make sure that every individual student is having a good time. If teachers have to watch every student, it makes it hard to cater to the needs of the individuals, and that’s where the juniors can come in. But not everyone is excited about the new ideas for the trip. While it may seem like an exciting opportunity for some, to others it can feel like a burden. Senior Jackson Hurley “strongly disagree[s] with the decision to split up the junior class in the first week,” going so far as to claim he would be “appalled if [his] trip week separated [his] class, and rendered [them] babysitters.” While the idea of splitting up the class may be divisive, it will definitely have its upsides. Getting the opportunity to teach younger students and spend time with them will be a chance for juniors to make friends outside of their own grade and get a little perspective about Laguna Blanca as a whole.

8 NEWS

frances carlson, 8th grade “I think this program is a great idea for a couple reasons. One is that it creates bonds with middle and upper schoolers, which then creates an even stronger community at Laguna. I think this is really important because it’s always nice to see a familiar face around school for both the younger and older students. As well as this it is obviously a big help to the teachers and chaperones to have more help (especially in a place like San Francisco). In my opinion there aren’t many downsides, except that the juniors might miss out on their own class adventures. I think this program is perfect for this particular trip because in such a large city like San Francisco, I think it is so helpful to have extra eyes to make sure no one gets lost and everybody is on task.

DEAR

LAGUNA, In the spirit of the new school year, our editors gathered advice on how to survive the next nine months. Think of this as your own “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.”

PAGE BYJACK STEIN & CARINA TEDESCO PHOTO: CARINA TEDESCO

9 FEATURE

FRESHMEN

DEAR

BY JULIA FAY, CARINA TEDESCO & CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN

PAGE BY ROSE HOUGLET

Dear incoming freshmen,

Welcome to your first taste of the next four years of your life! I’m sure that each and every one of you have heard the “miseries” that high schoolers have to endure during school and the “horrors” of studying for hours on end. Sure, there have been times where I’ve stayed up all night on the verge of a mental breakdown just trying to finish my homework or study for a test; but there have also been times where I’m almost bored at home because I have no work to do. In this first year of high school, don’t worry too much about taking the hardest classes and getting the most perfect grades possible. Of course, you should be working hard and striving to be a good student, but this year is also important for finding yourself in high school and taking part in the things that interest you. Freshman year may seem daunting at first; you’re the new kids, not yet acclimated to the structure of high school. But just know that the memories and friends you make during the course of this year may very well last a lifetime, and by the end you’ll be sad that it’s over. This year will fly by. It’s a time of self-discovery and newfound maturity. You’ll be forced to step outside of your comfort zone, but trust me, it’s for the best. You don’t need to be friends with the “popular kid,” because, thankfully, high school is nothing like how the countless TV shows and movies depict it as. At Laguna, there are no stereotypical “jocks,” “nerds” or “popular kids.” There is no one label that’s stuck to you here; you’re not simply an athlete or a musician, you can be both if that’s what you choose. At Laguna, everyone knows everyone else, and there’s always room to make new friends and bond as a class. Take advantage of this: of being able to recognize the faces you see as you walk through campus because there’s a large chance that once high school is over you won’t have this luxury. My biggest advice to you all is to not be afraid. I remember being a freshman and cowering as I walked past the seniors on my way to the library. Don’t be that person. There is no need to be scared of someone who is only a few years older than you. Honestly, they are a great place to go if you ever need help throughout the year because they have been through what you’re going through now. Try new things and experience school in a way that you never have before! This means being open to different things and being involved with your school’s extracurricular activities, because you may find something you enjoy that you never would’ve thought would be interesting to you. As for actual schoolwork: focus in your classes, get a study routine that works for you, and ask teachers for help early. Good luck and don’t take this year for granted! Sincerely,

Julia Fay, Senior

Tips from Seniors: on Freshman Year

laguna blanca

LOCKER SURVIVAL

GUIDE

Anton Homeniuk:

Enjoy it. It just gets worse and worse.

Mia Waters:

Remember anything bad that happens during your freshman year doesn’t mean your life is over. People will forget, and in the grand scheme of things, it won’t matter.

Sasha Hsu:

Be a kind, respectful, and helpful person to all of your peers and the staff because instilling good relationships early on will help you develop them throughout high school and they will provide many amazing opportunities and connections.

Camila Lemere:

Don’t post so much on Instagram. You will regret it in the future.

Jack Fry:

Play football... we need more guys.

Jackson Hurley:

Never complain to an upperclassmen about how difficult your schoolwork is. You have no idea how much they don’t want to hear that you have two whole essays in one week.

Tiffany Yabsley:

Don’t be afraid to walk in the halls alone; It’s not weird!

GRAPHICS: JACK STEIN

SOPHOMORES

DEAR

BY JACK STEIN

PAGE BY ROSE HOUGLET

Jack Stein’s Thoughts On Sophomore Year Freshman year of high school is exciting and fun. It’s your first year of high school, and everything is crazy and new. The workload isn’t too bad, and it’s a great time to get to know your friends and school. While junior year has a difficult workload, you know that it will be worth it when it comes time to apply to college. Also, junior students finally all have their driver’s licenses! And finally, senior year may be the most important year of all of high school: applying for college, your final year at school, your final year living at home, and the time that most high school students really become adults. There’s one year missing from that list. When it comes to monumental years of a student’s high school career, sophomore year usually falls to the wayside. It’s harder than freshman year, but it doesn’t feel like it has the same driven purpose as junior or senior year. A few kids can drive by the end of the year, but not enough for it to feel like a real accomplishment. You’re not quite an older student, but you feel too old to hang out with freshmen. Yes, sophomore year feels like the awkward middle sibling of high school, doomed to spend its days in obscurity. But at Laguna, it doesn’t have to be that way. Below are tips to make sophomore year more than just another year of your life, because it has the potential to be one of the best!

Tips Junior Stella Haffner: “Sophomore year, logically, should be your least stressful year of high school. You don’t have to deal with the difficulty of acclimating to a new environment, and you don’t have to begin seriously worrying about colleges. That being said, this year will be as easy or as difficult as you make it. Both your choice of rigorous courses and your academic downfalls will factor into this difficulty. Know that if you want to be a happy student, you need to be pre-meditative and able to prepare for assignments and assessments before they come down on you. Although it may not feel like it, almost everything you do as a student is in your control. If it feels otherwise, find a teacher to talk to — DO NOT wait until you’re drowning in your course work.”

Junior Hayley Bankhead: “My advice would be: procrastination is inevitable but if you try to stay on top of your workload your year will be more fun in the long run.”

Sophomore Memories from the Junior Class Stella Haffner:

GRAPHICS: JACK STEIN

Hayley Bankhead:

Senior Jackson Hurleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tips: Sophomore year. Right in the thick of it. You are free from the oppressive freshman status, and likely not yet burdened by the work that is junior year. You are a high schooler now, as much as ever, so enjoy it. Sophomore year is what you make of it. Then again, life is what you make of it. You may choose to hate high school and claim that it is making you miserable, or you may choose to embrace it. Life is not getting any easier. So learn appreciation, and appreciate learning. Your classes might challenge you, and all sorts of things might stress you, but it is entirely in your power to be successful, confident and happy in this high school life. Understand that traumas, challenges and sufferings much greater than the late nights of homework or studying which face you are daily faced by people who nevertheless are happier than you. This has everything to do with disposition. It is fashionable for us high schoolers to comment on our current position in life with the greatest distaste, as though we were doing our time, serving some sentence after which our life may begin. Such a mindset, that of dissatisfaction with the status quo, however, is unlikely to go away in college, or even after college. You are living now, and though it is prudent to work hard for a better future, if you cannot manage to be happy in high school by choosing to look positively upon life, you will not be happy in the future (though, I may have to concede that college is patently better). You have in your campus and hometown a paradise for your enjoyment. You have in your teachers mentors who love you. And you have in your classmates an automatic community that supports you. Enjoy your classes, and do not complain about their work, but appreciate their ideas. See your teachers not as cruel and punishing tyrants but as the friends and caring mentors they are. Learn to appreciate pain and difficulty as tests of your character, and at the same time take advantage of the opportunities that Laguna offers. You may never get to play organized sports again. You may never get to play a major role in a play ever again. You may never again on a whim join a singing group, throw pottery, learn photography. You will certainly never again go to your homecoming or prom. This crazy high school life is your life. Live it.

JUNIORS

DEAR

BY AURA CARLSON, KAILEA HIESHIMA & ROSE HOUGLET

PAGE BY ROSE HOUGLET

Kailea Hieshima’s Thoughts on Junior Year

I’m not going to sugarcoat this — junior year is extremely difficult. There are going to be days when the most sleep you get is none. Days when you studied so much that you remember nothing. Days when everything from putting on your shoes to sitting through an entire block period just feels impossible. But there’s also going to be days when you realize that you already finished tomorrow’s essay last week. When you walk out of a test feeling accomplished instead of sad and dead. When you feel energized and ready for an hour and twenty minutes of calculus. But the question is: how? The obvious answer: time management. Do homework and studying first, then binge watch the Office on Netflix. Ironically, I always seem to do the opposite... Anyhow, more importantly and less obviously, put things into perspective. Yes, school is very important, and, yes, junior year will have an impact on where you go to college, but don’t spend all of your time shut in your room poring over APUSH notes. As important as grades are, take some time for yourself. Go outside, take a run, hangout with your friends, meditate. I don’t care. Just know that school should not be your entire life, and if it is, that’s a huge problem. And I’m not saying that you should stop caring altogether, I’m just saying that you can relax a little bit. Stop worrying about getting A+s on everything. It’s OK, I promise. No matter who you are, you will succeed — even if you get a B on your Chem test. If, at 3a.m., the only reason you’re awake is that you’re trying to do English homework after seven hours of studying for something else, trust me, it’s not going to work. Go to sleep. If you’re sitting in your room crying and having a mental breakdown because you don’t understand one problem, stop. Take a break, ask for help, move on. School is going to be a major part of your life, there’s no denying that. But no matter how difficult it is, how many APs you’re taking, how much sleep you’re getting, you should be happy. So if you’re crying every single morning and every single night, you’re working way too hard. Don’t be unhappy or depressed now because you think it will be better in the future. There’s always going to be challenges that you will have to work to overcome, so balance yourself. Live in the moment, enjoy yourself. Because how you feel right now is just as important as how you will feel in the future, and don’t let anyone, even yourself, tell you otherwise.

BEST UNDERRATED LUNCH SPOTS

Java Station Close to school and good for working (it has WiFi), Java Station is the perfect place for a lunch where you need to finish/start some homework or study for the test next period. Make sure you know which street to turn on in Hope Ranch (Via Presada) or you might miss the fastest route of only five minutes. Once you’re there, we recommend the bagel melt with provolone on a plain bagel and an iced tea!

Whole Foods

Plaza Deli

Having an abundance of options ranging from sliced pizza to packaged sushi, Whole Foods is a great lunch option. It’s close to school and has a variety of different (often very healthy) foods and drinks. We recommend going to the cheese gallery and testing some cheese to spice up your day. You can even make your own juice and grab a salad if you are feeling the more healthy route.

If you are into basic lunch food like sandwiches, go get yourself a nice sandwich, and while you are waiting for your food to be made, gaze around the room for entertainment. You can create your own sandwich or look at some of the fan favorites on Yelp.

AP Chem - Clare Ogle: “Make flash cards, don’t procrastinate, and always read the entire lab packet because you don’t want to leave out anything, ever.” APUSH - Clay Rodgers: “Learn to do your textbook notes efficiently because if you overdo them, you’ll drown” AP Psych - Maddy Lazarovits: “Don’t miss too many classes. There’s not much homework, so be attentive in class and only take it if you have a genuine interest. Otherwise, it’s just not worth it. But if you do want to be there, you’ll do fine and have fun. Enjoy it.” AP Eng. Lang - Abby Corpuz: “Don’t slack off. Get the work done early. Ask Dr. Donelan for help, because he’s always willing to help!” AP Calc AB - Alex Furukawa: “If you actually do the homework, you’ll be fine” AP Calc BC - Helen Yang: “Finish your homework on time and talk to Mr. Ary whenever you have a problem.”

GRAPHICS: JACK STEIN

Jeannines

Public Market

Although it is on the more expensive side, Jeannines never fails to provide quality food and drinks as well as a nice atmosphere to eat in. We recommend trying out the chicken pesto sandwich or breakfast burrito as well as one of their delicious pastries such as their scones.

A little further away from school, with a ten minute drive, the Public Market is perfect if you have a free period right before or after lunch. Just like Whole Foods, it provides a variety of food options — from fish and tacos to ice cream and cupcakes. We recommend sitting on the patio and getting Pad Thai from Empty Bowl with an ice cream scoop from Rori’s.

AP Physics - Merith Velasquez: “Definitely keep up with the work load since there is new material every class. Mr. Moore does give you a lot of practice that you can do at home in Swoop Drive, so if you want to go over stuff or get ahead a little bit you can take a look. For tests and quizzes, all problems come from past AP exams so it’s good practice to research some practice problems online and do some beforehand so that you’re not surprised. A lot of the stuff you have to figure out on your own (even if he says it’s on the notes) so don’t be afraid to ask for help from either your peers or Mr. Moore himself.” APES - Sasha Hsu: “To be successful in APES I recommend taking clear and concise notes in class ... [and] actually read[ing] the textbook when doing your homework instead of simply taking the definitions for vocabulary. The surrounding information is highly informative and will help you get the full concept of the topic which is necessary if you want to do well on tests. Lastly, ask questions when appropriate and attend all of the extra credit opportunities.”

SENIORS

DEAR

BY AURA CARLSON, ROSE HOUGLET & CARINA TEDESCO

PAGE BY ROSE HOUGLET

Dear Class of 2018,

WE MADE IT ... almost! We’ve come so far — from climbing the endless stairs of Yosemite and playing kayak games with X to paddling ten miles in blazing heat on the Colorado River. And now here we are heading off to El Capitan to work on COLLEGE ESSAYS (YAY)! Senior year seemed so far away as freshmen, and the seniors then seemed so much older than we feel now. So, take a breath. We’ve just barely made it through the “hardest year in high school,” and now it’s time for us to enjoy our last year together! Let’s enjoy the spirit of our class (because, let’s be honest, we are the best class). It’s highly unlikely that you will be able to go to the middle of nowhere with our class again to sing “Harraganda,” tell ghost stories, and poop in “Groovers.” Let’s appreciate how small Laguna is (even though it can drive us crazy sometimes). Most likely, there will never again be a time when you can recognize literally everyone at school. Go talk to your teachers and appreciate Laguna’s close student-teacher relationships. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t had them for 2-3 years — just go hang out and enjoy their presence before we’re gone. Appreciate being a part of a grade that complains so much but also can get a s**t ton done. Have fun playing your last year of high school sports and enjoy those high school rivalries. What other time will we get to beat Cate? And even if you aren’t playing a sport, come watch as many games as you can! Try to attend or participate in all the school plays and performances — you know everyone on that stage, so make sure to enjoy seeing your friends perform. Be thankful that at Laguna, athletes can also be actors and vice versa. This is our last year of high school, and our last year with a lot of the people we’ve grown up with and have gotten to know for 6+ years. Even in high school we’ve grown so much, and our class could not be the same without the people who joined even just a year ago. Don’t stress too much about college — you’ll end up going somewhere and even if it isn’t your first choice, college is college, so you’ll have a good time. Yes, the beginning of this year is going to be chaos, but hey, we’ve been through hell and back already, so it’ll be okay. And try not to let senioritis hit too soon. This is our last chance to enjoy all that the Laguna community has to offer, so clap for Ace during assembly, go hard at school dances (even though the music may be sub par) and appreciate running those last laps with our class at Jogathon while holding the 12th grade flag. We are the oldest (and wisest) now, so let’s make the most of it. We can do this,

The Senior Staff Members

Stephen McCaffrey ‘15 “Simply put, slow down and make the most of it ... With college right around the corner, it might seem like you’re already one foot out the door, but do yourself (and your parents) a favor by living in the present because there is so much to look back on and appreciate about this year in your life. You only get senior year once — hopefully — slow down, smell the roses, and have fun.”

Caty Lafitte ‘14

Allie Towbes ‘14

“Don’t be afraid to go with your gut when deciding where to go for college because if you have a strong feeling deep down, it’s probably the right choice for you.”

“Invest time in your family, because it’s a transition time for them, too ... Talk about the adjustment with your parents or guardians, siblings or anyone else you live with, because they know you better than almost anyone else and can be a huge support system.”

Katie Pointer’s Pointers On Letters of Recommendation If you can find a teacher who taught you twice, that’s best. If not, a teacher who is also a coach, or a teacher who is also your advisor are good options too. It helps us show growth in your letter b/c we have known you for longer or in multiple contexts. I also recommend having at least one teacher from your area of interest even if it was a class you didn’t necessarily get an A in. Some of the easiest letters for me to write have been for students who are passionate about a subject even though it’s a real challenge for them. And I think it’s important to have more than one academic discipline represented -- it speaks to your different gifts or how your gifts translate into different areas. Give teachers at LEAST 3 weeks to write your letter. Let them know as soon as you know if you are applying early action or early decision. Some of us have 10 - 15 letters in one year. If 8 of those are applying early it makes for a busy Sept/Oct. Don’t be the student who forces a teacher to find time the week of to write another letter. In addition, be mindful of your behavior in and out of class during the fall of your senior year, especially if you are in class with the teacher who is writing your letter. Main point here: You want us to LIKE you while we are writing. A thank you card is a MUST. It’s ok to do more, but that is the bare minimum and it should be written by you, NOT your parents. These letters take us anywhere from 2 to 6 hours a piece. Yes, it is an expectation of the job, but that does not mean that you don’t say thank you. The timing isn’t important; the saying thank you is. In addition, be sure to tell us when you get in somewhere even if it is your backup safety school - we don’t care where it is, we just want to know you have an option. We actually worry about you all during this time so help us out and tell us when you get in. We so want to be excited with you.

Shane Lopes’ Tips to Escape Senioritis Reflect on those who have helped you along the way. Make sure you enjoy your time with them and show them how grateful you are for their guidance and support. Pass it on to the younger ones. Just as others have helped you, be inclusive to the younger students by hanging out with them and giving them advice on how to navigate through the challenges of being an upperclassman. Have fun through school spirit. Seniors have a great influence on the morale of the student body and can set a positive tone when they express their school spirit.

Matt Struckmeyer’s Tips on Choosing the Right College Many students choose a college based upon physical characteristics, glossy brochures ... Go deeper! Start by asking: “In what kind of environment will I learn best?”

GRAPHICS: JACK STEIN

As the Fiske guide suggests, “Ask yourself: are these my kind of people?” To find out, consider spending a day in classes, going to the dining hall, or even taking an overnight visit.

El Capitan

Ignore the rankings in USNews and World Report, but pay attention to statistics about freshman retention, on-time graduation, and most popular majors; data like this reveals a lot about a college’s actual abilities, as opposed to its perceived prestige. For all the tips go to thefourthestate.net

18 LIFESTYLE

Summer Vacation Destinations

Here are some of the places Owls flocked to this summer.

PAGE B Y

AURA

CARLS

19 LIFESTYLE

Which

TEACHER Are You Most Like?

1. What is your most dominant personality trait? a. Organized d. Loyal

b. Inquisitive e. Interested

c. Kind

2. The worst part about summer is ________ ? a. It gets light too early c. Traffic e. Deep cleaning

b. No-see-ums d. The last day

3. What is your dream summer getaway?

a. Anywhere with white sand beaches and crystal clear water b. Minnesota c. Amongst forested mountains d. Fiji e. Ventana Inn

4. What is your favorite summer activity? a. Traveling b. Fishing c. Camping d. Going to the beach with my family e. Ocean swimming and trying to avoid sharks

5. If you could create an ice cream or popsicle flavor, what would it be?

a. Salted Caramel Coffee Toffee b. Raspberry Mocha Chip c. Coffee Croissant d. POG (passion fruit, orange, guava) e. Mint Chip Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

6. What is your go to summer store? a. CVS (the summer aisle) c. Trader Joe’s e. McConnell’s

b. Zups d. Home Depot

7. What is your favorite quote?

a. “Only connect.” - EM Forster b. “Have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.” c. “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” d. “Always stay true to yourself” e. “To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.” -Walker Percy

GRAPHICS: JACK STEIN

BY CARINA TEDESCO & CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN PAGE BY CARINA TEDESCO & CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN

Caylin Zimmerman

YEARBOOK

all

ite

Kendall White, Aura Carlson, Carina Tedesco, Caylin Zimmerman, Rose Houglet

JOURNALISM vs YEARBOOK Sandcastle Competition

JOURNALISM

PAGE BY ROSE HOUGLET PHOTOS: CARINA TEDESCO

22 LIFESTYLE

re Cla

Some of our editors headed out to Leadbetter Beach to compete against the La Honda Staff (in this case, just Clare Ogle) to build the best sand castle possible. After two hours of work, we created these two sand castles. Check them out on www.thefourthestate.net and vote for the your favorite!

BY CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN AND KENDALL WHITE

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

SNACK

WORKOUT

Banana and almond butter on wheat toast

Chicken and arugula salad with lemon dressing

Carrots, celery, and hummus

Run or walk two miles

Greek yogurt with berries and granola

Turkey and kale wrap

Apples and peanut butter

CorePower Yoga Sculpt class

Avocado Toast with a poached egg

Turkey burger protein style

Almond butter energy balls with chia seeds

Go for a bike ride

Steel cut oatmeal with walnuts and raisins

Chicken with brown rice and vegetables

Kale chips with olive oil and salt

Paragon Kickboxing class

Kale, spinach, and pineapple smoothie

Open-faced turkey and lettuce sandwich

Trail Mix

Rest day

Apple and cinnamon overnight oats

Chicken tacos with black beans and cilantro

Dark chocolate nuts and sea salt Kind Bar

Go on a hike

Scrambled eggs and raspberries

Grilled salmon with vegetables

Strawberry, banana and spinach smoothie

CorePower C2 class

YOUR SUMMER INSTAGRAM POSTS

Pineapple Kale Smoothie 2 Cups Kale 3/4 Cup Coconut Milk 1 Banana 1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt 1/2 Pineapple 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter 2 Talbespoons Honey

Cantaloupe Kabobs Fresh Mozzarella Cantaloupe Prosciutto

Homework Snacks BY CARINA TEDESCO

PHOTO: CARINA TEDESCO

Watermelon Pizza Watermelon Slices Coconut Yogurt Berries Mint

27 LIFESTYLE

BRING ON SUMMER! Summer activities you can do all year to bring you back to those amazing summer days.

Spikeball

Spikeball is a seemingly innocent backyard game, but in reality, it is an incredibly fun and competitive sport. It’s a great way to have easy, affordable fun. The game is fun for both beginners and more experienced players. The game is simple, described best as a mix between handball and volleyball. The gist of it is that there are two teams each having two players. Each team can have three contacts to hit the ball onto the net. Players try to hit the small, rubber ball into the net and the other team tries to return it. If it can’t be returned, then the team who hit the ball scores the point. You can play it pretty much anywhere, which makes it one of the easiest activities to enjoy all year long. I guarantee that this will bring you back to some of your most fun summer memories of Spikeballing it up at the beach all day every day.

Pierce O’Donnell & Chandler Aubery

Caylin Zimmerman

Hot Yoga

Bubbles

This is a very underrated activity. Blowing bubbles anywhere instantly makes the moment more magical. Whether it be while frolicking through a park or doing your homework late into the night, pumping out some sparkling soapy bubbles is sure to make you feel better. Pro tip--order yourself some Candylicious bubbles from Amazon and reward yourself for studying with some edible bubbles.

Doing anything, much less yoga in temperatures as high as 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity is intimidating for most. However, at the yoga studio while in the room, you don’t even feel hot. You will sweat more than you have ever sweat in your life, but you won’t feel overwhelmingly hot. Also, don’t worry about being judged by everyone by how much you’re sweating because no one cares and everyone is sweating just as much as you. Yoga is all about achieving your personal best and is not a competition whatsoever. This is a great way to get in shape and have fun while doing it! Make sure to drink a ton of water the night before as well as the during the day after taking your class. Hydration is so important as you practically sweat out 100 percent of the water in your body. The sweat makes you feel disgusting, but you feel so good about yourself when it’s over!

28 SPORTS

Biking

Toss a Frisbee

I know when you think of biking you’re thinking of sweat and work and ew, but you don’t have to take routes that rival the stages of the Tour de France. Between your study sessions, dust off your old bike in the garage (you know, the one with pink streamers still intact) and leisurely bike through your favorite places. Even if you can’t get to the beach or park from your house, throw your bike in the back of your car and head out.

Whether it be tossing to your friend or to your dog, tossing a frisbee is always fun. You don’t need to join an ultimate frisbee league or spend money for this one. All you need is a friend (or a dog) and a big empty space. Beaches, parks, deserts, or fields are all perfect places to toss a frisbee. You could even turn simple frisbee tossing into a competitive game. Extra points to your partner for catching you long distance throws, or extra points awarded for in the water catches. The possibilities are endless for this game!

From a Science Teacher

Tubing

Wake Sports

Julia Fay

Inner-tubing is thrilling activity sure to give you and your friends an adrenaline rush. Inner-tubing began with people sitting in donut-shaped tubes and free floating while being tugged by a boat, but it has quickly intensified into a much more action-packed sport since. The goal of inner tubing is to hold on to an inner tube (which is basically a raft that can come in many different shapes and sizes) and stay on it while a boat pulls it in all different directions. The difficulty of staying on is entirely dependent on both the driver and the choppiness of the water, so if you’re looking for a thrilling ride make sure to go on a windy day.

If you have a boat available, there are a wide variety of fun sports you can try, such as: wakeboarding, waterskiing, and wakesurfing. It may take a few tries for a new beginner, and for those who are physically weaker... it may take more than a few tries. Once you get good at wakeboarding, where your feet are strapped in, wakesurfing is the next step up. Wakesurfing is a little harder as your feet aren’t actually strapped into the board, which requires you to need more strength to pull yourself up. For extra difficulty and fun—try two people on a board. It’s a difficult start, but a hilarious ending.

Kendall White

BY KELLY BICKETT, JULIA FAY & CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN

PAGE BY JULIA FAY & CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN

29 SPORTS

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30 SPORTS

reseason a sport’s preleague conditioning, strengthening and skill learning before actual league starts for the sport. Every school sport has preseason practices to get players familiar with the sport again if the players have not played in a while. Preseason ensures that the players are fully prepared and feel confident about his or her skill-set. Preseason also builds team chemistry which helps a team be successful during league because everyone is comfortable with each other, and can communicate well on the court or field. Here is what each fall sport does during preseason practices.

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he co-ed cross country team started their preseason practices Aug. 7; however, most of the team has been running since the beginning of summer. For preseason, the cross country team starts out with a light one mile run. Then, they make sure to stretch before they go for a two to six mile run on the trails of Hope Ranch. Stretching is important because pulling a muscle could mean that a teammate is out for a couple weeks, therefore hurting the progress that has been made. The cross country team didn’t compete in any preseason competitions, but will be fit and ready to run once league meets begin.

et’s just say the football team puts in an extraordinary amount of effort into the sport. The team usually starts preseason practices that are spread out throughout June and July, but start having more frequent practices in August. The football team starts their strengthening and conditioning as early as April and May. Many of the players get up early on school mornings to go workout in the high school training facility then after go to their first period class. Most of the practices for the football team during the summer are also outdoor conditioning and strengthening. They also start doing tackle drills and start learning the different plays. Most of these early practices the players don’t wear pads or helmets so they can practice safe tackling without helmet to helmet contact. The worst week for the football team is called hell week. Hell week is the first week of August where it is double days, the players wear pads, and the temperature starts to hit 80 or 90 degrees. This week the team conditions for hours on end while also practicing plays. If the team can make it through hell week, they can make it through any football game in league. Hell week helps the boys get into really good shape for league and for the preseason football games.

he boys beach volleyball team also start in mid to late August holding preseason practices at the Laguna beach courts. The boys condition in the hot sand running back and forth to strengthen their legs for the upcoming season. It is important that the boys have gotten used to the different environment that playing in the sand brings. Preseason is important for them to get used to the wind, the sun, and the sand. Beach volleyball is way different than indoor due to the natural elements playing into the sport. So, for preseason its important to practice a bunch outside to get used to the way the elements play with the ball. As the boys get used to the sand, the coach usually figures out who will play with who for the upcoming season as the boys tryout. Usually after much conditioning the boys start to play double queens and skill-based drills to prepare them for the hard league ahead.

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or the girls volleyball team, preseason starts Aug. 15. First, there is a week of tryouts, and when the varsity and JV teams are picked, real preseason starts. The first week of practices consists of double days. Double days are when there is one practice in the morning for two hours and then another in the afternoon for another two hours. Most Double Day practices consist of conditioning, strengthening and skill-based drills. As the weeks continue practices slowly change from conditioning, strengthening and skill-based drills to actual six man volleyball drills, hitting drills, and scrimmages. Near the end of August, the team usually plays a few friendly matches against other high schools to build confidence before the season starts.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

TENNIS

irls tennis usually start their preseason practices in the middle of August. More than 30 girls tried out last year for the girls tennis team, so preseason is usually a time for the coach to figure out the varsity and junior varsity teams. The tennis girls go through conditioning and skill-based drills in the clinic the tennis coach holds in August. The girls do a conditioning drill everyday to warmup and then the girls play mini matches against each other. Preseason is a time to distinguish doubles teams and singles for league play. Usually the girls split up on to two different courts: one with skill-based drills while the other has girls playing mini matches. The tennis team also plays a couple preseason friendly matches against other high schools to get the girls prepared for league.

FOOTBALL

BOYS BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The Jellyfish Apocalypse BY JULES BERNARD

GRAPHIC: JULES BERNARD

A bold title for the small benign jellies we can see on the shores of our Santa Barbara beaches, but jellyfish pose a real threat to everyone on the planet.

32 OPINION

s our oceans intake more and more of the carbon we produce, through a process of molecular bonding, the oceans’ pH lowers. This means that the oceans are becoming more acidic, the chemical makeup of the water changes. This change negatively affects elasmobranchs, a category of predators including sharks that I have talked about in previous articles, and animals with exoskeletons, including crustaceans, turtles, and molluscs. In fact, almost every animal in the oceans will be negatively effected by the increased acidity, except jellyfish. It’s not necessarily that they enjoy acidic water itself, it’s the set of conditions that accompany it. Jellyfish polyps can sit dormant for decades, cloning themselves continuously, waiting for the perfect conditions. To really understand the true dangers the jellyfish pose, we first have to start with the basics. Let’s talk about reproduction. When a male jellyfish reaches sexual maturity, he releases sperm into the ocean that swim into the mouth of the female jellyfish to reach her eggs. After being fertilized, the eggs turn into microscopic larvae that drift through the ocean until the find a hard surface to cling to. That larvae then turns into a tube that creates stacks of baby jellyfish. Each tube creates more than one baby jellyfish, the tubes, technically called polyps, then continually clone themselves to create more and more baby making machines. This may seem overwhelming, that every two jellyfish can create millions of cloned baby jellyfish, but the good news is that polyps don’t reach the stage where they turn into stacks of baby jellyfish unless conditions are just right. This may have kept populations from booming in previous years, but, unfor-

or where there is no food because some jellyfish have adapted to grow their own food. In a freshwater landlocked quarry in Florida, jellyfish have adapted to live off single celled algae they grow on their tentacles and underside by floating upside down to expose the cells to sunlight. In fact, there are only five states left in the united states that haven’t had their freshwaters infiltrated by jellyfish species, according to National Geographic. We

Help!

What to do if you get stung

DON’T

tunately, the “perfect conditions” for the mass discharge of jellyfish that has been building up, aligns perfectly with the effects of climate change. We still don’t know nearly enough about jellyfish, but what we do know is that polyps prefer to bloom into jellyfish when the water is warm, one of the biggest effects climate change has already had on the ocean. We are creating safe havens for these dangerous creatures by dumping and allowing fertilizers to seep into the seas. When fertilizers runoff into the waters around them, the phosphorus and nitrogen chemicals, that help plants grow on land, encourage rapid algae growth on the ocean’s surface. The algae then uses up all the fertilizers’ nutrients and then it dies and decomposes. This creates hypoxic conditions, which means there is less oxygen in the surrounding waters than is needed for organismal survival. In dead zones, little life can survive the decreased oxygen content, but jellyfish find these areas to be ideal breeding grounds. With more than 405 dead zones classified around the world by Scientific America, they are the ideal bloom zone. Blooms are thick pulsing carpets of jellyfish, like the scene in nemo except with possibly millions of one type of jellyfish, instead of the hundreds depicted on screen. With no natural predators, jellyfish are free to reproduce as much as they can with no casualties. You may think, so what if jellyfish can live there, it’s not like anything else can? Unfortunately, jellyfish are able to survive in all ocean climates. They have an ability to store oxygen within their bells that allows them to live near hydrothermal vents and in dead zones. They can live in areas with absolutely no other animals can

Use vinegar to rinse off tentacles Apply heat Use seawater to rinse off tentacles Pee on it Scrape off the tentacles Apply ice

also know that with jellyfish species living in the arctic waters as well as the Indian Ocean, temperature is not a limiting factor in all jellyfish migration, but poisonous jellyfish do prefer warmer waters. Jellyfish cannot be stopped by any climatic or habitat factors. So, how will all of this affect us personally? We all fear sharks, but jellyfish have a

far higher death toll. According to the US National Science Foundation, in the Philippines alone, box jellyfish kill 40 people per year. In Hawaii, the much loved Waikiki beach is a breeding ground for Box Jellyfish. Box Jellyfish are more poisonous than other jellyfish stings. In June, the monthly swarm of thousands that occurs eight to ten days after the full moon, was particularly bad. The first day, 88 water goers were stung, and the next day 63 were. Box Jellyfish stings require hospitalization, and the excruciating pain can last for over a month in certain cases. Our beaches and lifestyle will dramatically change as poisonous, warm weather jellyfish, migrate farther up the coast. Beach goers must become more wary of their surrounding as these monsters continue to become a more real, and painful, threat. It sn’t just our recreational lifestyle that will have to change. In the United States, most of our energy comes from power plants of some type. Whether it’s nuclear, coal, or hydroelectric, all require influxes of water. In 2005, the water that was used to cool down a Swedish nuclear plant’s reactor became full of jellyfish and caused it to shut down. In 2013, a similar incident occurred at the same plant. In 1999, the Manilla Power Plant’s cooling facilities became blocked by a bloom of jellyfish. The coal plant had been supplying power to 40 million residents and for 10 hours the area had a complete blackout. This year, Israel’s Electric Corp. power plants, that draw their coolant water from the Mediterranean, almost suffered massive failure because a jellyfish bloom was clogging the intake areas. These jellyfish are becoming real threats to our lifestyles, and the Jellyfish Apocalypse has begun.

33 OPINION

ME & THE SUN

he typical California stereotype includes surfing, board shorts, and a nice dark tan. I don’t fill any of those, especially the tan part. I was practically raised at the beach, under an umbrella and coated in a thick layer of sunscreen. As I got older, my friends’ favorite pastimes included tanning at the beach, tanning at the pool, and you guessed it… tanning anywhere and everywhere. I’ve never been proud of my skin tone. Both of my parents and my older brother are tan, and out I came, a white, little snowflake. I’ve never been complimented on my skin tone. The best compliment you can receive amongst my friends is, “Wow! You look so tan!” And the worst insult… you guessed it again, “you’re looking a little pale.” Despite my seemingly bad relationship with the sun, I love the way the sun makes me feel. At school, one can often find me laying out in the sun during free periods, lunch, and any breaks between classes. No matter how bad of a day I’m having, a little soaking up of vitamin D is always exactly what the doctor ordered. Once I get home and look into a mirror I finally realize what all that sun soaking did to my body. Patches of fiery red cover every part of my body that was exposed to the sun, and the pain is almost unbearable, yet whenever I see a sunny patch of grass, I don’t even hesitate before basking in that area. While I may get a sunburn now and then, like most people, I will do everything in my power to stay as safe as possible when enjoying the sun. After all, the sun does do some good. It kills bacteria, lowers cholesterol, lowers depression, lowers blood pressure, and so much more. I love you sun, but I will never again spend time with you without sunscreen!

BY CAYLIN ZIMMERMAN

PAGE & PHOTO BY AURA CARLSON

Looking on the Bright Side 34 OPINION

Can one get sunburnt when it’s cloudy out? Of course! When it’s overcast, 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can actually pass through the clouds. You either tan or burn from the radiation of the sun not just direct contact with the sun, so when it’s cloudy out make sure to still apply that sunscreen.

Why is it difficult for pale people to get tan? It’s harder for pale people to tan because some people, especially people with ginger or blonde hair, produce more pheomelanin (the pigment that makes you red) than eumelanin (the pigment that makes you tan), therefore burning rather than tanning.

Do you get more exposure to the sun inside or outside of the water? Inside! Although it may seem like the sun can’t get to you because you feel protected by the water, the sun actually reflects and refracts when in contact with water — magnifying it’s intensity. Even though it may be water resistant, sunscreen wears off more easily in the water, demonstrating even more why it’s very important to reapply sunscreen while swimming.

SUN FACTS 1,000,000 Earths could fit in the sun. Light from the sun takes 8 minutes to reach Earth. About 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun. The sun is about 4.6 billion years old.

35 OPINION

“EDMUND BURK SAID THERE WERE THREE ESTATES IN PARLIAMENT; BUT, IN THE REPORTER’S GALLERY YONDER, THERE SAT A FOURTH ESTATE MORE IMPORTANT FAR THAN THEY ALL. IT IS NOT A FIGURE OF SPEECH, OR A WITTY SAYING, IT IS A LITERAL FACT. PRINTING, WHICH COMES NECESSARILY OUT OF WRITING, I SAY OFTEN, IS EQUIVELANT TO DEMOCRACY: INVENT WRITING, DEMOCRACY IS INEVITABLE.” - THOMAS CARLYLE, 1841