24-25 Issue 5

STAFF LIST

ALYSSA KISZCZAK

Editor-in-Chief

ABIGAIL TRIPP-BULLOUGH

Editor-in-Chief

JOSEPH GOODNIGHT

Managing Editor

RILEY KEELER

Managing Editor

COOPER LESTER

Business Manager

ALAN KO

Digital Editor

JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ

News Editor

GEMMA SPRAGGINS

Opinions Editor

REBECCA GLAUBKE

Features Editor

JACOB BRADLEY

Sports Editor

KAILAH SPENCER

Assistant News Editor

ADDISON ANELLO

Assistant Features Editor

LILAH SWAVING

Assistant Sports Editor

STAFF

DORATHEA BURTON

SADAYA KEAYS

HAROUT KILEJIAN

TYLER LAPPIN

DORAN LAWRENCE

EMILY LIRA

MYA MESSERVY

SOPHIA MUNHALL

TARIK NOORZAI

JAXSON RECTOR

LAILAH SERNA

LIAM SMITH

Advisors

JOANNA OTEY

JON GOLD

The Lancer is the official school publication of Thousand Oaks High School, created and produced by students in Journalism.

The Lancer reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed inappropriate for high school publication. Guest editorials and “Letters to the Editor” are welcome, but must be signed and are subject to editing for length, libel, obscenity, and grammar. They can be sent to thelancer.tohs@gmail.com.

The Lancer is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NPSA) and NPSA All-American Hall of Fame. The Oct. 31, 2024 issue of The Lancer won 9th place in NPSA’s Best of Show contest in Philadelphia. Email: thelancer.tohs@gmail.com Instagram: @thelancermedia www.tohsthelancer.org

Center students win big

TOHS students attend Ventura County Science Fair to showcase year-long projects

JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ News Editor

KAILAH SPENCER Assistant News Editor

“The Public Perception of the Feasibility of Hippocampal Prosthetics” and “Facial Emotion Recognition and Social Competency in Thousand Oaks High School Students” are two of the projects scholars in The Center submitted into this year’s Ventura County Science Fair on Wednesday, March 19, at the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE).

At the fair, the public was invited to view over five hundred science projects from students across Ventura County. Only 35 of those projects were chosen to advance to the California Science and Engineering Fair, and out of those 35, 15 were from TOHS. A total of 19 TOHS students won category awards, five won special category awards, and one student, junior Natalie Yip, was selected to be a representative for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

Center scholars worked day and night on their projects since the beginning of the 202425 school year. For these students, this was the first step into preparing for their Advanced Placement Research (AP) exam; the projects helped them gain confidence sharing their research results with the community.

“It definitely helped me a lot,” junior Shiva Sadri said. “It was so stressful preparing, especially the poster board. But I feel really prepared for the real presentation since it feels like I did a practice version for the science fair.”

In order to get a good score on the AP test, Center students must be able to properly explain their research project to people ignorant of the topic. Sadri showcased her project called “Facial Emotion Recognition (FER) and Social Competency in TOHS students.”

“It’s mainly rooted in the idea of integrating FER learning into [social-emotional

learning] programs,” Sadri said. “I looked at standardized FER scores and self-reflected social competency to get a look into the role that FER can play on a person’s selfconfidence when it comes to their social skills and abilities.”

Junior Hilary Manalang presented her project on The Public Perception and Feasibility of Hippocampal Prosthetics, technological aid for memory loss.

“I asked people from three different areas of Ventura County to answer a survey regarding their knowledge and opinion of the prosthetics,” Manalang said. “They answered a four-part survey about their knowledge and opinion prior [to learning what the device is]...I found out that people throughout the area pretty much have positive perceptions [of the device].”

Along with communicating their results with members of the community, each student had to go through an interview portion of the

fair with judges. Despite how nerve-wracking the process was, the interview ultimately left students feeling confident about their project and public speaking skills.

“It was the anticipation, waiting and knowing that the judges were interviewing the guy next to me, that made me nervous,” Manalang said. “The judges were really nice, they didn’t look down on you or criticize the way you did things. They were very encouraging, so that made me comfortable talking about my project.”

After a long day of presenting and interviewing, students were overcome by a sense of relief, and hunger.

“My favorite part was definitely the celebration pizza after,” Sadri said. “I don’t think pizza has ever tasted that good.”

After their great experience, the Center students ate with friends and basked in the overwhelming sense of relief after their long anticipated day.

No need to sweat to get ahead

Local programs available for students to accelerate their studies,

TARIK NOORZAI Staff Writer

The Get Ahead Program is a summer program to help students accelerate their education and get ahead for the next year.

This program is only offered to high school students, and Thousand Oaks High School counselor Darla Scott explained a common confusion when it comes to “getting ahead.”

“The program is one offered by the Conejo Schools Foundation (CSF), but has nothing to do with the Conejo Valley Unified School District,” Scott said.

Researching the program, it’s really just earning credits towards graduation by taking a class ahead of your normally scheduled year. For example, if you’re going to be a junior, you could take U.S. History during the summer, freeing a period for a class of

your choice during the school year.

There are other major advantages when it comes to the Get Ahead Program, such as having more time during the school year to be able to have a part-time job without worrying about getting homework for another class finished, or even making time to focus on personal growth.

CSF not only offers help with school, but also with future careers. They offer mock interviews, internship opportunities and even help you build your resume. This program helps students boost their confidence to the max by encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and take on leadership roles.

Whether it’s a group project or a public speaking opportunity, students can develop great confidence from this program.

“The CSF Get Ahead Program course is one students must pay for, but there are free

Off Campus Pass

Trump’s support for Tesla

Special Olympics 2025 held in Italy

earn graduation credits

summer school programs out there, like Vista Real, IvyTech and River Oaks,” Scott said.

Many of the free programs offer remedial courses for retaking classes, but can help students get ahead because they also offer general classes for credit. The CSF Get Ahead Program might be less popular than other programs because of its cost, however, it is important to note that the free programs do not take every student who applies. Due to how popular the programs can get during the summer, they do not have resources to support all those who apply. Some free programs have specific criteria for admittance. Get ahead programs also offer help for disabled students unable to take classes on campus in the summer.

The get ahead programs offer training events, job seeking opportunities and interview preparation for all their students.

Education Department abolished

stating, “I

President Donald Trump turned the South Lawn of the White House into a temporary Tesla showroom on March 11, with praise for Elon Musk, the car company’s billionaire CEO. Trump released that “Lunatics” are “illegally” boycotting Tesla while announcing his purchase to Musk, resulting in a rise in stock prices and sales for Tesla. Trump was warned that supporting a private company could backfire and the success was short lived. Teslas are being vandalized both on the streets and in dealerships. Current Tesla owners have made a turn against Musk, with bumper

From March 8-15, 2025, the Special Olympics World Winter Games, the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event that occurs every two years, was held in Turin, Italy, for the first time. With more than 2000 volunteers, 100 nations, and 100 youth leaders, nearly 1500 athletes from 98 delegations competed in eight sports in an international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance and unity. The sports included Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, Dancesport, Figure skating, Floorball, Shorttrack speed skating, Snowboarding and Snowshoeing.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20, which called for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” effectively removing federal oversight that ensures equal education for all students, regardless of gender, race, disability status or economic background. The department awarded $120.8 billion in federal loans, grants and work-study funds in fiscal year 2024 to more than 9.9 million college and career school students, according to an unaudited annual report by Federal Student Aid.

SIDE BY SIDE - President Donald Trump walks with Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk before the launch of the test flight of the SpaceX Starship.

stickers

bought it before Elon went nuts.”

WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT BIG - TOHS Center students Camryn Cooper and Tatum Hanzeker, smile while holding their poster boards filled with the research they have been collecting since August.

Tasha Beaudoin - with permission

TOHS takes over district showcase Lancers speak out

Students exhibit their talents, knowledge and interests with others within community

JACOB BRADLEY Sports Editor

DORATHEA BURTON Staff Writer

As evening rolled around on Thursday, April 3, the inaugural Conejo Valley Unified School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student Showcase was underway at the Cal Lutheran University gym. It featured all four CVUSD high schools and two middle schools.

This showcase was a moment of pride and excitement as students from all around CVUSD shared their incredible skills and the knowledge they’ve been developing throughout the year with various displays. Thousand Oaks High School had the most participating students, showing off across 22 booths from Photography to Robotics.

The event also highlighted the importance of CTE programs such as the ETHOS entrepreneurship academy at TOHS. ETHOS had five business booths at the showcase: Sports Reach, Ecotrim, TUFWAX, Madison’s Boulangerie and Eclat Nova.

“I wanted to participate to spread awareness about ETHOS and what we do and how fun it can be,” junior Ava Kamoei said. “Even though it can be difficult sometimes, it’s a really good experience for the outside world.”

TOHS also had booths from various science programs including Health Science, Strength and Recovery, Sports Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology. The anatomy class, taught by Toni Young, was dissecting various organisms throughout the evening.

“In Anatomy and Physiology, we learn all of the parts of the body: muscles, bones and nerves,” senior Jose Luis Flores said. “I want to be in this field in the future, so knowing all of these things is vital for me if I’m going to be looking at people’s bodies through x-rays.”

The photography program was a strong presence at the showcase with four booths representing all three levels: beginning Photography 1/2 class, Art of Communications class and two AP Photography class booths led by seniors Brianna Strong, Adrian Sabana and Samuel Pantoja.

While there were multiple booths from elective classes, there were also booths for clubs that are not yet classes

at TOHS, such as the Robotics Club led by physics teacher Tyler Hernandez. Clubs offer students the opportunity to dive deeper into their passions and gain hands-on experience in fields not traditionally taught in the classroom. The presence of these clubs showcased the diverse range of interests at TOHS and allowed students to explore exciting opportunities beyond the core curriculum.

“I’m interested in learning how things are put together and seeing how things work,” senior Kael Seeley said. “Hernandez is a really cool teacher, and I know he could teach cool stuff. We don’t have anything like [robotics] on our campus yet, so it’s innovative and it’s new.”

An exciting addition to the electives list, Robotics is a district-approved class for the 2025-26 school year.

Senior Brandon Whitaker represented the video game design booth, a field he has been passionate about for several years. Although this is the first year that video game design was offered as an elective under Erika Rousseve, Whitaker’s experience in the subject goes far beyond the classroom. Having been involved with video game design for multiple years, he brought a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion to the booth, showcasing the skills he has developed over time.

“I think that it’s fun talking about something that you have a lot of interest in,” Whitaker said. “Talking about our display and sharing it with other people and then seeing them be interested in it was fun.”

Whitaker’s commitment to the field was evident as he shared insights about game development, the design processes and the creative challenges involved. He highlighted the exciting potential of the new class, offering both current and future students a glimpse into the world of video game creation and the opportunities that lie ahead in the growing industry.

The inaugural CVUSD Student Showcase was more than just a display—it was a celebration of the hard work, dedication and passion that students are pouring into their education. It allowed them to share their progress with the community and inspire others to pursue their interests and careers with enthusiasm and determination.

Off Campus Pass

U.S. Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine

Stock Market Drops Following Tariffs

Standing up against current leaders, students attend protest

JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ News Editor

On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump was officially elected to serve his second term in the United States presidential office. Soon after Trump’s inauguration came many changes, the most infamous being his renaming “The Gulf of Mexico” as the “The Gulf of America.” What spiraled the most controversy, however, was naming Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, as his senior advisor and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Saturday, April 5 marked the National Day of Action for Hands Off!, a national protest working towards fighting against Trump and Musk for threatening U.S. democracy. With hundreds of thousands of individuals all over America gathering and holding Hands Off! protests in their community, more than 2000 individuals, many of which traveled for miles, packed the street corners of Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.

“We were passing by and we saw what was going on. There were so many people, we pulled over into a parking lot and we walked over to support,” senior Greceldy Hau said. “I felt the whole community was very united. I’ve never seen that many people come out [in T.O.] to protest.”

Along with changes occurring within the U.S. government, areas including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and education are changing, sparking many to feel a lack of control and worry for not only their rights but the rights of friends and family members. It is due to the uncertainty of the future that many found the bravery to stand up for their country and the way they believe it should be governed to properly represent all people.

“They were trying to spread awareness and let their voices be heard,” senior Carson Lewis said.

The event was hosted by Indivisible Simi Valley, Indivisible Conejo and Women United for Change, who were protesting issues including climate change, women’s reproductive rights and immigrants’ rights.

“The goal was to show that [T.O.] as a whole is united and won’t give in to any policies that the Trump administration might want to impose on California,” Hau said. “It is important we speak up and show that we stand on our values and that we can’t be pushed around, because we are what makes America.”

The Hands Off! protest brought communities together peacefully to express their disapproval of current events and demand for change.

On Saturday, April 5, thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. and across the United States against President Donald Trump. Protesters gathered around the Washington Monument with posters and flags in response to Trump and Elon Musk’s effort to overhaul government and expand presidential authority. Protests and rallies took place at the capitols in all 50 states, plus Canada and Mexico. The protests covered immigration, tariffs, education and all of the institutions to which Trump has made drastic changes, with more than 150 activist groups signed up to participate. Locally, the protest at the intersection of Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive brought over 2000 people.

On March 3, President Donald Trump ordered the current suspension of the United States aid to Ukraine, including the aid that had already been approved by the former U.S. administration. Ukraine dependence on U.S. aid creates a sense of urgency from Europe’s efforts to support them. Ukraine will be losing GPS-guided rockets, causing a major setback. While Ukraine might be taking a step back, Russia seems to be taking this time to heal and not take advantage of Ukraine. As Ukraine continues to be without aid, Russia has an opportunity to take an advantage through its growing strength.

On April 2, Donald Trump announced the introduction of a ten percent baseline tariff for imported goods, an even higher tariff percentages for countries including Japan, China, the European Union and South Korea. This came as a shock to both foreign and domestic companies and lawmakers. Trump’s advisors claim that this will stimulate the domestic economy and bring manufacturing jobs to the United States, but stockholders aren’t so sure, with the stock market having its worst single day loss in years following the announcement. In the two days following the announcement, the stock market lost 6.6 trillion dollars as stockholders pulled out with fear of market collapse.

“MAKE AMERICA WEALTHY AGAIN” - U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks before signing an executive order on tariffs.

National Anti-Trump Protest

Creative Commons

HANDS OFF! - People in cities across the nation brought flags and posters for all causes to street corners on April 5.

EXPOSING ELECTIVES - Freshman Evan Lane shares work showcasing the darkroom and digital photography skills he learned in Photography 1/2.

Lisa Ravitch - with permission

INSIGHT INTO HEALTH - Students demonstrate their understanding of medicine by checking the health vitals of volunteers who pass their booth.

Dorathea Burton - The Lancer

PLAYER TO CREATOR - A student listens as Brandon Whitaker shares his knowledge of a career in video game design, a new class on campus.

Dorathea Burton - The Lancer

PROMOTING HEALTH - Senior Dominic Anderson sits as Senior Jose Luis Flores cuffs his arm to check his vital signs, a skill he gained in class.

Dorathea Burton - The Lancer

Creative Commons

TOHS alumni Max Muncy gets call of a lifetime

Almost four years after being drafted out of high school, alumni Max Muncy makes opening day roster for Athletics MLB team

JACOB BRADLEY

Sports Editor

Following a record-breaking high school career, Maxwell Muncy’s rise to stardom was just beginning. The infielder thrived on the varsity team as a freshman and finished his high school career with a .469 batting average as a senior. He was a key player on the 2021 CIF-SS champion team and was named Baseball Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Daily News.

After graduating from Thousand Oaks High School, Muncy, an Arkansas baseball commit, was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

“I wasn’t exactly sure if I was going in the first round,” Maxwell Muncy said. “My agent and I talked about a dollar amount and if it exceeded that dollar amount I’d pick that over college, and the day before the draft I raised that amount to push to go to

college and the A’s exceeded that offer and I couldn’t turn it down.”

Fast forward nearly four years, and Muncy got the call to suit up for the big leagues. After an impressive Spring Training, he was selected to the Opening Day roster for the Athletics in 2025, facing divisional rival Seattle Mariners on the road.

“They called me into the office to let me know how impressive my camp was and how they were not expecting me to make the team out of camp, but said they were impressed in my game and said I was going to play Opening Day, when I called my parents, that’s when I got emotional,” Muncy said.

fully realized until his call-up.

“Seeing how many people have reached out saying they’ve been watching shocks me and shows how

on how strong of a sports community there is where we are from.”

As Muncy reflects on his journey, he notices support from his high school community, a factor he hadn’t

many people support me even after high school,” Muncy said. “I only thought my family watched my games, but it means a lot and opens your eyes

Muncy’s path to the big leagues wasn’t without challenges. His first years in the farm system were filled with trials, but he steadily climbed the ladder, starting the 2024 season with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, the highest minor league level.

“Playing every day was definitely the hardest thing, especially at 18,” Muncy said. “You go from playing 30 high school games to 140 in professional ball. In my first year, I hit .230, the lowest I’ve hit in the minor leagues, and I’d go back to my room wondering if I’d ever get where I am today. Eventually, I decided if this happens for three years and I can’t hit, then that’s how it is, but I’ll give it everything I got.”

Muncy, the 25th overall pick in 2021, played with 2023 sixth overall pick, TOHS 2020 alumni Jacob Wilson in 2024 for the Aviators before Wilson was called up in August. Seven months later, Muncy earned his spot on the Athletics following an impressive Spring Training, where he shares the infield yet again with Wilson, this time in green and yellow rather than green and white.

“If you told me in high school that I’d be playing up the middle in the big leagues with [Wilson], I’d think it was impossible, especially this quick,” Muncy said. “It’s surreal and a little unbelievable we are both able to play this game at this level, and on the same team like we did in high school.”

In the season’s home opener, it was deja vu as Wilson flipped the ball to Muncy, who would complete the traditional 6-4-3 double play. Muncy got his first career MLB hit in his second game on Mar. 28 when he hit a 439-foot home run.

Acing the APs: Getting tips from teachers

AP testing is one of the most challenging and taxing steps a high school student can take. Many hours are spent reviewing in and outside of class to prepare for the test. With AP testing coming up in May, students look to their teachers for what they can do to better comprehend information and prepare for the test.

Luckily for students at Thousand Oaks High School, there is a long list of teachers to go along with the long list of AP classes who are ready to assist in preparing for the big tests this spring.

Kelly Abrams is an AP English Literature and Composition (AP Lit) teacher for seniors and although she has only taught the class for a few years, she knows what skills students need to practice to pass the test.

“One of the things for AP Lit that is

super useful is to go into the test with three to five pieces of literature that [you] are familiar with,” Abrams said. “Regularly reading and discussing what you’ve read helps get you ready to think about the arguments you’ll write about.”

Some students are skeptical about taking a seemingly high-stakes test, but Abrams thinks that if you are able to take the test, it is in your best interest to do so.

“Best-case scenario, [students] get some college credit for it,” Abrams said. “Worst-case scenario, you get some testing experience. I don’t see a downside to it.”

Along with AP Lit, AP European History (AP Euro) is another popular AP class at TOHS with one of the hardest AP tests a student can take, with a national pass rate of just 5459 percent. James Corbett has been teaching AP Euro for several years and has helped numerous students

pass the test, some even scoring a perfect five.

The AP Euro test takes around three hours, with more than half the test being written response questions, including an essay. With so many historic events to learn, they can all

“Ask for help, and understand that this isn’t something you have to do by yourself.”

JORDAN DAIGNEAULT

mix together and become hard for students to retain.

“The best way to study, for any AP test, is to study a little bit each night,” Corbett said. “There’s just too much information. So I always push [students] to keep on top of [the material] the best they can,

Working to protect valuable organisms

Junior moves on to next level, going to international science fair

Lailah Serna Staff Writer

After spending hours upon hours in the CoRE lab, researching and testing her science project, junior Natalie Yip was prepared to blow the Ventura County Science Fair (VCSF) judges away with her impressive and advanced research.

The annual VCSF was hosted on March 19 and was held at the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) in Camarillo, with almost five hundred projects entered by students in Ventura County, a handful being from Thousand Oaks High School.

Yip won first place in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the contest, earning the opportunity to compete and showcase her skills at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio.

ISEF is a prestigious competition where the best and brightest high school students

from across the world come to showcase their knowledge, and will take place from May 10-16. Winning first place

meant competing at this highstakes competition this year, representing the whole Ventura County.

“It was just constant spending time in the lab,” Yip said. “Working on my research project, perfecting it as best as I could.”

Her project involved the use of Aspergillus niger, which is

essentially a form of mold, and Hippodamia Convergens, more commonly known as ladybugs. Yip centered her research around potential risks and benefits that certain products pose to the environment and various organisms.

“I combined [two natural products] together in order to see if they would have potential as a natural pesticide,” Yip said. “I tested them on black mold [and] on ladybugs because they are important to the environment, and I want to make sure that [the pesticide] does not harm beneficial organisms.”

Yip wowed the judges, proving her advanced skills in the science field. Now, she has the chance to take her skills to a higher level at ISEF, hopefully continuing her winning streak at the high-stakes science fair.

After high school, Yip plans to continue the path she is on, majoring in biochemistry in college, to enter the medical field, working either as a doctor or a medical researcher.

study, keep current, build on their knowledge [and] review.”

Jumping into an AP-level course as a freshman brings just as many benefits as it does challenges. Jordan Daigneault teaches the AP Human Geography for freshmen and works to prepare them in every way he can.

“I think it is important that students that are first-time AP students ask a lot of questions,” Daigneault said.

“Ask for help, and understand that this isn’t something you have to do by yourself.”

Along with AP Human Geography, Daigneault teaches AP Psychology (AP Psych) to juniors and seniors.

For the AP Psych test, students must complete about 100 multiple-choice questions and are given twentyfive minutes to answer one article analysis question and one evidencebased question.

“I try to get students not to worry as much about their grades and worry

more about [what they are] learning,” Daigneault said. “The goal would be that [students] do a little bit of work every day, and don’t put it off until two or three nights before the test.” TOHS students have performed very well in the past with their test scores averaging between 80-100 percent across all tests, which is higher than most national averages. So, these teachers know a thing or two about what students need to pass. AP classes and coinciding tests can be very stressful for students trying to juggle their other classes, sports, hobbies and social lives. While it may feel like the end of the world during testing season, becoming familiar with small steps, study methods, and curating a sturdy and balanced routine throughout the school year could be the factor that makes the whole process less stressful, and earns students a passing score and college credit.

Out with the old, in with the new MPR gets needed face-lift over spring and summer breaks

Kailah Spencer Assistant News Editor

The multipurpose room (MPR) is a heavily used building at Thousand Oaks High School for lunch, Chinese School, summer school, team banquets and other community events. After years of consistent use year-round, it’s no surprise that the MPR needs a makeover.

“[The MPR has not been remodeled] since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here since the 2017-18 school year,” Principal Eric Bergmann said.

Starting this spring, contractors will begin revitalizing the MPR to create a more practical and comfortable space for students, staff and the local community who uses it.

The first step of the renovation process is window tinting, reducing glare and increasing privacy. Other renovation plans include the replacement of the floors, wall paint, updates to technology and newer lighting, to create a cleaner and brighter look overall.

The continuous use of the MPR does pose challenges for the renovations. Bergmann expressed the difficulty of shutting down the MPR, entirely since so many school activities take place there.

In the past decade, Measure I funding has allowed TOHS to upgrade different parts

of the school, such as the library, science building, CoRE and, last summer, the locker rooms. Measure I funding supports schools with significant investments for renovations, improvements in safety features and technology updates. The remodeling of the MPR will be TOHS’s final project with the current Measure I funding, which is being supplemented with donations from PTSA. The MPR was temporarily closed to students in early March due to excessive littering by students as administrators have reported seeing food and beverage waste left on tables, splattered on walls and covering the floors.

It has been made clear that the MPR could be closed again if behavior does not improve. However, Bergmann expects respect for the MPR to increase after the upcoming renovations.

“Mistakes happen,” Bergmann said. “If you make a mess, clean it up; this is high school.”

The MPR is a crucial part of TOHS’s campus, and the revamping is intended to improve visual perception and student experience with a fresh, modern look. All renovations are expected to be completed during the spring and summer, in time for use in the 2025-26 school year.

Lailah Serna Staff Writer

TAKING THE FIELD - Max Muncy high-fives his coaches after a successful inning during Spring Training in Arizona.

Maxwell Muncy - with permission

POSING WITH PRIDE - Junior Natalie Yip shows off her awardwinning project at local science fair.

Tasha Beaudoin - with permission

Anti the anti-hate movement

Thousand Oaks needs to change overall approach to Trans-related hate, harassment

JOSEPH GOODNIGHT Managing Editor

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pro-hate, I don’t think that the abuse LGBTQ students like myself face on campus is warranted and I’d be the first to say I wish people would just leave me and my friends alone. But I think it’s time that we, administrators and students alike, admit the truth. The haters will never leave us alone.

I hope that one day there will be change and trans students like me won’t feel any different than anyone else, but a five-minute speech about kindness from an administrator won’t make that day today.

I’ve been openly trans since the seventh grade–almost five years ago–so I’ve heard it all. I’ve been called every name in the book, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been stared at, I’ve had inappropriate gestures and noises made at me and, at this point, it no longer phases me.

I’ve accepted harassment as a reality of life, and I vehemently believe that accepting that trans hate isn’t going anywhere is the only way to keep myself sane as a trans person in high school.

Being absorbed in the hate I see on campus isn’t doing me any favors, even if the obsession is with finding a way to stop it, because I won’t. Once I accepted that, was able to focus on to how to handle it and how much I would let it control my life.

When I first came out, I didn’t know how to handle aggressive harassment. Kids would call me “that thing” and would follow me around taking pictures. It absorbed my every waking moment on campus; I was afraid of what came next, I was afraid all day almost every day. So I did what I was told to do: I went to the administration.

It was obvious they cared and they wanted to help me, but I found out pretty quickly that the administration’s help didn’t make my experience on campus any better; they’d reprimand students for harassing me, but that made it worse.

Halfway through my freshman year here, I figured out I needed to make my experience on campus better, not by trying to get rid of hate but by finding joy in spite of it.

I made friends with people who understood my day-to-day life, other trans people who had gone through all the same things, and suddenly it didn’t seem so overwhelming. I was surrounded by people who were willing to hear about my experiences and wanted to share comparable experiences of their own.

The world soon seemed less awful and the hate I faced on campus seemed smaller, even comedic. The harassment suddenly seemed so ridiculous and pathetic that it boggles my mind that it ever bothered me.

Camaraderie and community is the only power we have over

hate and I wish I could force this into the minds of every LGBTQ student on campus but, sadly, I can’t. I see freshmen and sophomores doing the exact same thing I did, getting sucked into the spiral of hate obsession, and I think a major reason for that is the way teachers and

“I

hope that one day there will be change, and trans students like me won’t feel any different than anyone else, but a five-minute speech about kindness from an administrator won’t make that day today, I’m not even sure it makes that day come any sooner.”

JOSEPH GOODNIGHT

administration handle students’ hateful actions.

Many times, while talking to a friend about a stupid mean comment I got during lunch or after school, a teacher has overheard and told me that I need to report that student–as if reporting them does anything in my favor. Obviously, if a student is being physically threatening, I’ll bring it up to administration. However, in the case of some

random kid asking me if I’m “one of those ‘they/them’ freaks,” reporting them does me more harm than good because it requires that I linger on the issue for longer than necessary, negatively affecting my mental health. Reporting that student doesn’t make them regret what they did, it just makes them hate me even more. And, in the end, it’s a lose-lose situation.

I think this “report it” approach is what leaves so many kids feeling like the hate absorbs their every waking moment. It forces them to linger on every hateful interaction and that’s detrimental to their overall wellbeing.

I think it’s time administration takes a new approach to students facing hate on campus, with a central focus on getting them to a place where they can talk about their experiences with peers in a space that’s welcoming and understanding.

While the school already has some great spaces specifically for this, the administration doesn’t put nearly as much focus on them that I wish they did, especially the Wellness Center and the Gay-Straight Alliance club (GSA). Both are safe, accepting and open spaces for LGBTQ students to talk about the struggles they face on campus without judgment, in a way that focuses not on punishing the person who’s showing the hate but on healing the person who’s being affected by it.

The new age of partying

COOPER LESTER Business Manager

The allure of posting about a wild night out has overshadowed what parties should be about: Connection, music and a good time.

In the wake of the tragic incident on Feb. 9, where a 16-year-old boy lost his life at an Instagram “flyer party” at a Woodland Hills mansion, it’s shocking how quickly a community can move forward. The fact that such a tragedy can occur, as many continue to flock to these social media promoted events, speaks volumes about our values as a society. Young people seem to disregard safety in pursuit of an Instagramworthy night.

Have we become so desensitized that the thrill of a good post outweighs our well-being?

Growing up in an area like Los Angeles, I wonder what the next 10-15 years will look like once our generation starts taking over entertainment spaces like clubs, concert halls and theaters. As our generation begins to take charge of the hospitality and entertainment industries, what changes might we see? Will we continue down this path of superficiality, or will there be a renaissance of genuine experiences? We must reflect on what’s currently happening and analyze the direction we’re heading.

Gone are the days when people gathered to enjoy good music and have meaningful conversations. It feels as though the majority of teens and young adults are fueled by extrinsic motivations; they’re there to get intoxicated and curate the perfect social media feed. It’s not about having a good time, it’s about appearance.

If we genuinely care about the future of our social experiences, we need to advocate for a return to the values that have been lost in the party scene. Rather than joining “flyer parties” with 200-300 attendees, we should aim to create spaces that prioritize safety, connection and authentic enjoyment. The hospitality industry must foster environments that celebrate real interactions rather than just digital impressions.

THE THE JOUST JOUST through MY EYES

Guest columnists weigh in on effects of the way students dress

DAVIS HANN Guest Writer

I will cut it straight: I like wearing pajamas to school occasionally. They’re comfortable, and I happen to find baggy pants pretty stylish, too. While some may disagree, these are my personal preferences. Luckily, the district gives students freedom in what they wear, allowing us to show more personality and creativity than otherwise. In fact, students’ freedom of expression in the clothes they wear actually helps us feel confident, encourages our individuality and makes school a more welcoming place where everyone can indeed be themselves.

Take it from a student who was forced to wear a leather belt and tuck my shirt in daily: Schoolenforced uniforms are the most uncomfortable, ugly and expensive clothes you can wear. Thousand Oaks High School is incredibly lucky that the students don’t get detention because their shirts are untucked or they forgot a belt.

Allowing students to wear clothes of their choice, even if they can be controversial (such as tube tops, baggy pants, pajamas, etc.), gives students more freedom and permits them to focus more on their studies. Girls do not have to worry if the top they just bought fits some set of rules a middle-aged school administrator made up, which is a good thing. The same can be said about boys not worrying about their pant sizes. Freedom of clothing allows students to focus more attention on education, which is what school is truly about, and is by no means negative.

Problems only arise when uniforms are enforced or a stricter dress code policy is implemented. Plus, really, only teachers have a problem with students wearing pajamas.

JAMES HAYDEN Guest Writer

Some students may not have concerns regarding what they wear to school. If it isn’t a blatant dress code violation, then ideally it shouldn’t matter. However, there’s a chance of consequences outside of a possible write up from school faculty.

Should a student make a habit of wearing the same style of clothing they choose in high school, it may not bode well in the future. It is more often than not that a professional workplace’s dress protocol is much less lenient than a high schools. Some employers may even let an employee go if they don’t abide by the dress code. Even if there’s no need to be dressed for professional office work in a school setting, it’s helpful to have an outfit or two set aside for said occasions.

Since some styles of fashion include loose clothing, there is the risk of a wardrobe malfunction, which could lead to both very inconvenient and indecent exposure. Speaking of exposure, there is no denying that some individuals’ choice of clothing may expose more skin than others’. While this isn’t inherently a bad thing, and scant clothing can be considered more comfortable given how it is often warm in California, there lies the unfortunate reality that there is also an increased risk of sexual exploitation and/or harassment towards students who choose to wear outfits that don’t cover much of their bodies.

To put the subject into its simplest form, it may be the better alternative to not wear anything to school that you wouldn’t wear to a job, both for one’s own image, the comfort of surrounding students and teachers who don’t want to see a teen’s underwear.

GEMMA SPRAGGINS Opinions Editor

As a current junior who is almost done with high school, I don’t understand the obsession with peer approval.

Although no one enjoys being envied by their classmates, it truly doesn’t matter and shouldn’t affect anyone. High school is a great lesson for everyone when it comes to learning who you do and don’t get along with; it’s not one big group where everyone loves each other.

Going through high school, you’re going to find people who don’t like you. Which is the same when thinking about the people you don’t like. When you personally don’t like someone, the mature and appropriate way to deal with it is to not interact with them, which, logically, shouldn’t affect them. The idea that your personal opinions for someone affects their life is useless and unnecessary.

you’ll stay connected with. Looking for constant approval from strangers that sit in the same room as you five times a week is pointless, and a waste of effort.

“Gossip and rumors can define someone in high school, whether it’s their choice or not.”

GEMMA SPRAGGINS

Gossip and rumors can define someone in high school, whether it’s their choice or not. People who spread those rumors are only seeking attention through other people’s suffering. Maybe it’s because they are self-conscious and feel inadequate, and they believe pointing out others’ inadequacies will take the attention off them, and win the approval of peers. Even worse, those who continue to spread rumors past high school are stuck in the delusion that life stays the same after you graduate. To be clear, rumors are the same as gossip, because gossip is rarely accurate.

High school lasts four years, which is a very short amount of time. Once high school is over, your closest friends are most likely the only ones

The weight I carry as first-gen

First-generation American student feels pressures of navigating path to college, future

ALAN KO Digital Editor

On July 3, 2013, my parents and I left Taiwan for the United States, carrying just a few suitcases and the weight of my parents’ sacrifices. I was six years old, too young to understand what we were leaving behind. Hope. That’s what drives so many first-generation families. They hope their children will have more opportunities and their struggles and sacrifices will amount to something, and not be in vain. But hope is a heavy thing to carry when it comes wrapped in expectations. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in this in-between space between two cultures, two identities and two sets of expectations. At home, I was my parents’

bridge to a world they didn’t understand. At school, I was the kid who didn’t feel like he fit in. My classmates’ birthdays were filled with presents and parties, mine were just another day. They spent weekends at the park, while I spent mine helping my dad with bills.

Going into high school, I didn’t have any help picking classes or understanding what AP and honors courses meant. No one at home could guide me through the high school process because I had no older siblings who had walked the path before me. Every decision, every class, every extracurricular and every email to a teacher was something I had to figure out on my own.

Path to Secondary Education

Applying for colleges was an extension of that same journey, navigating an unfamiliar process and trying to piece together information that so many people take for granted. I applied to 31 colleges, many of which I knew I wouldn’t have gone to if admitted. I knew I wanted to stay in California because of the proximity to home, so I can help my parents when needed. Out of those 31 schools, I applied to 12 safeties (schools that I knew I would get into), 9 targets (schools that I might get into) and 13 reaches (schools I would have a low likelihood of getting into).

Every immigrant parent has the dream that their child will attend a big-name school so they

would be able to flaunt their child’s success to their friends. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents.

I would call myself an overachiever in high school; I attempted every single activity possible for me that would be relevant to my major in communications or business. I believed that I would have been able to at least stay in California and attend a UC school.

I was rejected by all of my reach schools, with the exception of getting wait-listed at Colombia and UC San Diego. I was disappointed and shocked. After years of pushing myself, I felt like I had come up short.

I looked into my target choices, trying to see them through fresh eyes—and that’s when Cal Poly San Luis Obispo started calling my name. It wasn’t the flashiest school on my list but something about it felt right.

I was worried that my parents would be disappointed, that it wasn’t a “big-name” school they could proudly share with their friends. But when I told them that was my choice, they were nothing but happy. They saw how hard I had worked, and they knew how much this opportunity meant.

What It Means

For so many first-generation students, applying to college isn’t just about us–it’s about making good on the sacrifices our families made. It’s about proving, to ourselves and to

them, that everything they gave up was worth it. It’s a silent kind of pressure, one that sits with you every time you do something.

Success isn’t just about yourself as a first-generation American. It’s about making sure the people who sacrificed for you see the return on their investment. It’s about feeling like you can’t afford to fail.

Every time you win an award, every time you step into a room where no one looks like you, every time you accomplish something that should feel like a victory but instead feels like another weight added to your shoulders, you must remember that you are doing it all for them, and for those who come after you. But I’ve come to realize that this isolating process shaped me into the man I am. The independence I’ve gained from figuring things out on my own, the resilience I’ve built from constantly adapting and the confidence I’ve developed in speaking up and asking for help, aren’t just skills for getting into college, they are life skills that will carry me far beyond.

Applying to college as a first-generation student was overwhelming. But it has also been proof of how far I’ve come. The weight I carry isn’t just a burden, it’s a stepping stone. And with every step forward, I’m proving to myself–and to my parents–that their sacrifices were not in vain.

The point of this is to show how, in the end, your high school life doesn’t matter. An existence that revolves around voicing your hatred for other people, just to seek approval, seems like a miserable life, that I hope no one wants. High school is only a part of your life that everyone has to get through before real life begins.

Littering Lanc ers

Students leave trash after lunch, have no sympathy for our campus

DORATHEA BURTON Staff Writer

Teenage boys are the worst, especially those who think being disrespectful and destructive is funny. I enjoy sitting down at lunch, taking in my surroundings and just relaxing. What I don’t enjoy, however, is having food thrown at me. The craziest part is that, at the time, I’d never even spoken to these boys or known who they were.

I’ve had apples and random pieces of trash tossed at me, and what’s even worse is that they don’t care enough or have the respect to clean up after themselves. After school, I like to sit in the same spot and I’ve noticed Spanish teacher, Eileen Moore , in room J-7, often comes over to pick up the trash left behind by students. She’s not obligated to do this, it’s not her job to clean up their mess, but she does it anyway, showing more responsibility and respect than the boys who created the mess. Moore has spoken to the administration multiple times about the issue, but they’ve done nothing but talk to the boys.

“They don’t respect the campus,” Moore said. At first, I assumed the boys didn’t mean any harm, that they were just having fun. But over time, I realized that their behavior is simply disrespectful.

“It’s easier to throw the trash on the ground,” one of the anonymous boys said.

Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they point fingers at each other. It’s both immature and disappointing, especially considering the standards they should have for their friends. It’s childish and they should be ashamed of their behavior.

“It makes me upset, because this is my school, too,” freshman Joshua Coates said.

It’s a sentiment that should resonate with all of us: We should be take pride in our campus, not treat it like a dumping ground.

GRADUATION #1 - Senior Alan Ko smiles with his kindergarten diploma.

Alan Ko - The Lancer

Students provide community

Volunteering is more than raising your hand in class, it’s taking action to better

the community

Looking to gain experience?

Skills? Connections?

Extracurriculars? Expand your knowledge and more?

Volunteering is a common source that many utilize, whether this be through clubs, local organizations or workplaces, this can be extremely beneficial no matter what life after high school looks like for you.

If you’re interested in attending college after high school, volunteering can make your application more appealing to admissions officers, as it can showcase experience in the outside world, your ability to put yourself out there and try new things that can be challenging and your involvement or impact in the community.

Volunteering in specific areas of study or workplaces you are interested in pursuing, shows you are passionate, committed, and reflects your character. Along with helping in the admission process, volunteering in workplaces can also help build your work resume and connections.

College is not a path for

everyone and if this is the case for you, volunteering can help ease your transition out of high school. Volunteering can help you understand what interests you, give you overall experience within the world and help you create useful skills that you can use in your everyday life. Connections and relationships made with other volunteers and leaders of the program or organization can possibly also help you obtain a job working for them, if it is something you are passionate about.

Everywhere you go, communication is key, volunteering helps you build skills with others and your community, as it involves you working for something bigger than yourself.

High school can be a very time consuming for many students, however luckily Thousand Oaks High School has many tools to help students interested in volunteering, offering clubs including Red Cross Club, California Scholarship Federation, Key Club, National Honors Society and the Majors program, which easily exposes students to volunteer opportunities and mentors.

Leynni Cruz

Leynni Cruz volunteers at Westminster Free Clinic where Spanish and AVID teacher Mrs. Sandra Martinez-Glavan brings the main manager of the clinic in to her classroom once a year to talk about the program opportunities.

“I was really intrigued my sophomore year so I decided to join and I really, really enjoyed it,” Cruz said.

Cruz takes down client information and translates for many of the Spanish-speaking patients. While this type of patient care isn’t something she sees herself pursuing in the future, she enjoys what she does right now.

“I enjoy patient care and I love helping other people, however, I’m more interested in the dental field right now,” Cruz said. “I’m doing an internship at Smile Design for ROP since I want to be a dental hygienist.”

Devyn Grecian

Senior Devyn Grecian has played volleyball for Thousand Oaks High School and currently plays for the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy (LAVA) West Volleyball Club in Thousand Oaks. Given her experience, Grecian decided to volunteer at Redwood Middle School, coaching the sixth grade girls volleyball team. She also coaches the LAVA fourteens elite team.

Grecian was asked by one of her teachers to help coach her teacher’s daughter. “Her daughter was on the sixth-grade team and we used to talk about it since I had her class last year. She asked if I wanted to help out, so I said yes.” Grecian said.

Grecian hopes to continue coaching in the future.

Cesar Mis

Cesar Mis volunteers at the Adalante food bank on Saturday mornings. and give out groceries, including meat, pastries and other staple food items. “I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they get their food,” Mis Located in Beyer Park in Thousand Oaks, Adalante’s mission is to bring to low-income families in need of support, but the program also aims to bring Latino community.

Moms, daughters bonding through service

TARIK

NOORZAI Staff Writer

The National Charity League (NCL) is a program dedicated to fostering relationships between mothers and daughters through leadership development and cultural provides young women with the opportunity to develop important life skills while giving back to their

“I’ve gotten closer to a lot of people and made a lot of new friends,” Thousand Oaks High School junior Kayden Studebaker said. “The NCL gives you the opportunity to volunteer for various different charities, I’ve had a good experience with it so

“The

The history of the NCL dates back to 1925, when it was founded in Los Angeles, California. Over the years it has expanded into a national organization with chapters across the United States.

seventh-to-twelfth grade, known as “ticktockers.”

Their mothers participate alongside them, mentoring and guiding them through the program. Each group partners with local nonprofit organizations, letting members do hands-on volunteer work.

Junior Gabriella Napoli, mentions three ways the NCL program has benefited her.

NCL gives you the opportunity to volunteer for various different charities.”

RYAN SHAFIEI

Junior Allison Shapiro, shared that her friends inspired her to join NCL.

“I had some friends who did it that were older than me, and they really liked it so that encouraged me to try it out,” Shapiro said. “I also plan on doing it next year, as next year will be my last year doing it.”

The NCL is a 6-year program structured for girls in

“I’ve been in the NCL since seventh grade, “ said Napoli. “I’ve gotten closer with my mom, made a lot of new friends, and I’ve done a lot of volunteering.”

The NCL is designed to strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters through collaborative work and quality time. By working together towards common goals, they build a stronger, more supportive relationship.

“I’ve made a lot of new friends and gotten closer with a lot of more people,” Shapiro said.

NCL doesn’t only build up mother-daughter relationships, but also builds great friendships. By directly helping out community needs, whether it’s volunteering at a food drive or organizing an environmental project, the direct engagement builds up a sense of responsibility and empathy.

National Charity League- with permission

JULIA PINEDADOMINGUEZ News Editor

community support outside classroom

Lindsay Castro has been volunteering at Westminster Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks since she was in the eighth grade.

“Two of my cousins [volunteered there] when they were in high school and now they are in college,’’ Castro said, “I found out about the opportunity through them and my mom because she was also a patient at their Healthy Hearts program because she wanted to learn how to keep a better diet.”

The Westminster Free Clinic isn’t just for medical care. They also have food distribution, a healthy hearts club and yoga.

“It’s helped me a lot and has been an amazing way to be a part of the community,” Casto said. “I am glad we’ve received so many new student interns that take this opportunity.”

Ariana Castro

mornings. His role is to help pack up items. Mis said. not only necessary resources bring voice to Conejo Valley’s

Tessa Whitman

Senior Tessa Whitman says that running the Youth Leadership Academy, an ongoing program that gives high school students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and become more involved in their communities, is a pleasure. She organized a group of people who wanted to help around Thousand Oaks.

“I thought about how big of a problem homelessness is and figured that it was a simple way I could help out,” Whitman said. Whitman specifically helps deliver food to the homeless through her church.

Another volunteer with Adelante food bank, Joseline Chavez helps to give necessities to low-income families. Much more than food is given out; items like diapers, formula, dish soap and other home supplies are provided for free as well.

Chavez has been with Adelante for four years. She started volunteering because she needed 15 hours of volunteer work for her participation in the AVID program, but ended up staying and liking the work she does.

“I really enjoy it,” Chavez said. “I’ve made some really close connections to the people there.”

Junior Ariana Castro first decided to become an Adelante food bank volunteer for her role in the AVID program, on the recommendation of her AVID teacher Mrs. Sandra Martinez-Galvan. Initially, she needed to volunteer to fulfill her requirement of 15 hours of community service, but she decided to keep her service to the program going. Her role in Adelante is to pack and distribute the food.

“It’s a really nice program,” Castro said. “I know a lot of people in the Conejo Valley can’t afford groceries, so it’s a very helpful program for families.”

Lancers giving, receiving at Los Robles

Lancers give back to the community while gaining experience and knowledge of the medical field and other social skills

JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ News Editor

From seeing childhood celebrities to being set up on dates by patients, the Thousand Oaks High School volunteers at Los Robles Hospital are filled with valuable insight that they gained simply by volunteering.

“It’s

Located on Janss RD, Los Robles Hospital offers a yearround volunteer opportunity for high school students over the age of 16, in which students get to interact with patients, help doctors and gain experience.

it clear to him that this was what he wanted to do after high school.

“It has made it more clear that I want a future in healthcare,”

Shafiei said. “You really get a good look into a nurse’s life when volunteering (specifically in a unit), and it was wonderful to see the community between them and the patients.”

an excellent way to gain experience in the world of healthcare.”

RYAN SHAFIEI

“It’s an excellent way to gain experience in the world of healthcare, and it makes you feel really good doing altruistic actions,” senior Ryan Shafiei said.

Joining his sophomore year, Shafiei is an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) volunteer, where he delivers items to and from nurses and doctors, monitors the cameras, allows visitors in, and restocks isolation caddies, rooms and printers. He has been volunteering for Los Robles for around three years, and this look into the world of medicine made

With a sixmonth waiting list, this volunteer opportunity is fairly popular, however there is more to it than just submitting an application. The hospital asks for a commitment of a minimum of four hours per week for 10-to12 months and needs individuals who can work mornings, days and evenings.

Similarly to Shafiei, senior Serene Panga joined the program during her sophomore year, realising later that going into the medical field, specifically into pediatrics was what she wanted to pursue. And despite the long commitment, she has found joy in working the long hours.

“My favorite part is the other people I volunteer with,” Panga said. “ I’ve

made really good friends and met so many people through the program, as well as being able to help and give back to people in my community.”

The program helps students create connections with other

had a few months of experience; however, the program has still left a lasting impact on her life and knowledge of the health industry.

“It made me realize that I definitely want to be a professional where I help other (AAPI), two clubs that she said helped her succeed and prepared her to transition into this program.

“Red Cross [Club] made me want to go more into the health field, because the Red Cross is very [helpful to] other people during disasters,” Weezer said. “[AAPI] is more about community, so I definitely wanted to be a representation at the hospital and hopefully help diverse.”

Lindsay Castro

Joseline Chavez

Chokee Weezer - with permission

FEATURES

Best

FRENCH FRIES in T.O.

JOSEPH GOODNIGHT

Managing Editor

Which fast food place has the best French fries has been a debate for years, with many feeling their personal choice is the only right answer in a sea of people who are just plain wrong. Is there a best fry?

In a blind taste test, the Lancer staff compared Taco Bell Nacho Fries, McDonald’s classic fries, straight fries from Carl’s Jr., and Chick-fil-A waffle fries to see which would once and for all receive the title of Best French fries.

Many on the Lancer staff came in with personal biases, with the loudest being pro-Taco Bell Nacho Fries, but even their unwavering support couldn’t save them from being the first eliminated. Staffers described the fries as simultaneously over seasoned, and underwhelmingly flavored.

The taste test was just one major upset after another with McDonald’s taking third place. Staffers described the fries as overly salty, not as crispy as they would have liked and requiring multiple fries to get a good taste.

The fight between the remaining two wasn’t even close, with Carl’s Jr. taking first place by a landslide.

Chick-Fil-A was the expected winner before the taste test, but when the waffle fries’ were compared with the others, the staff felt that even though the fries were the perfect crispness, their flavor didn’t stack up against the Carl’s Jr. fries.

Carl’s Jr. fries were near perfect, with the perfect balance of saltiness and crisp, leading them to a near unanimous victory, and The Lancer’s choice for Best Fries in T.O.

Cabo San Lucas

Aside from the scenic views and stunning beaches with crystal clear waters, Cabo offers an endless list of activities like snorkeling, zip-lining, ATV tours, and boat trips to see the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Plus, the nightlife heats up at the many clubs for those who are 18.

Hawaii

The beaches and hikes on any of the islands are one of a kind with warm, clear water and beautiful forests. During the day you can surf, hike, relax on the beach, and much more. In the evenings, you can enjoy a luau on the beach and experience traditional Hawaiian culture.

Florida

Although it is a long plane ride, Florida is a great place if you love beaches and warmer weather. With temperatures typically ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s, it’s perfect for the many outdoor activities available as well as the ample beaches.

Mammoth

If you’re reluctant to leave winter in the past and enjoy the spring vibe, head to the mountains for the last bit of snow, hiking and bike trails. The temps here will be cooler, and the serene beauty of Mammoth makes everyone feel closer to nature.

Palm Springs

Although the area is a beautiful mix of desert and mountains, during our break, temperatures will be up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which is too hot to do anything outside. However, there is a lot to like about Palm Springs including the golf courses, concerts and shows at the casinos, and tons of shopping.

After a five-year wait, the enigmatic Playboi Carti resurfaces with I AM MUSIC. This return is marked by a blend of new experimental sounds and familiar hooks that both intrigue and divide millions of dedicated fans. Much like his previous work Whole Lotta Red which was released in 2020, I AM MUSIC has sparked both controversy and fascination. I AM MUSIC carries remnants of Carti’s previous works, while pushing into new territories. Highlights of the album include standouts “Olympian” and “I See You

Baby Boi,” which capture the energy and flair of the LP. After a successful release with The Weeknd with the single “Timeless,” the two reunited again on track “Rather Lie,” hooking listeners with signature vocals. The album’s production is innovative, featuring contributions from a wide range of producers. Notably, some of my favorite tracks carry the distinctive touch of producer DJ Moon behind “A Great Chaos” with Ken Carson, injecting a unique blend of gritty and refined sounds into the mix.

What are you listening to?

New trends: Fashion or fugly?

Fashion becomes a sensitive topic with new and reappearing trends

as they originated in the 90s, the popularity came in waves.

little bit then it came back,” Flores said.

“But I think it’s timeless.”

Fashion trends have escalated in the past few years. Covering all decades, the 202425 look is a combination of every style.

A popular aspect among teens and young adults is oversized clothing. While some find them stylish, others find them unclassy and difficult to look at. Specifically during summer, the 90’s jorts have come back into style in their own way.

The evolution of senior Brianna Strong’s style started in 2023 when she got into wearing jorts. Liking baggy clothing, she enjoys wearing jorts to the beach and believes they go well with any event.

“I style them with a tank top and Adidas high tops,” Strong said.

Due to the controversy, Strong thinks that jorts will continue to go in and out of style,

When asked her opinion on the negative controversy, she believes that “you can wear whatever you want,” Strong said. “I think anyone can wear jorts.”

Following the idea of baggy shorts, oversized jeans and sweats have consumed high school students. The idea is that the pants have to be large enough that not even a belt will help keep them above the waist. Causing controversy, the pants are either a staple in students’ lives or an avoidance. When wondering what people like about style, it’s always better to hear directly from the source.

Senior Jose Luis Flores started wearing baggy clothes as a skater and kept the style because he likes the comfort and security they provide.

“It’s a trend because it went away for a

Flores believes that baggy clothes are perfect for skating and enjoying time at home. Flores doesn’t worry about the negative comments surrounding baggy clothes, believing that everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

The label of baggy clothing being laid back and casual is not something that Flores agrees with.

“Everyone is themselves, to just call it laid back and what not is too much,” Flores said. “Some people wear extra large clothes and some wear fitted stuff; it’s expression through fashion.”

Style seems to be a sensitive topic with controversial ideas and opinions from outsiders. The theme for the 2025 is to dress as yourself and be comfortable in the clothes you choose to wear.

2025 Prom Fashion Guide: Dresses, trends and shopping tips

From classic elegance to modern edge, here’s everything you need to know for the upcoming prom

With Prom 2025 just around the corner, Thousand Oaks High School students are searching for the perfect outfit to match this year’s James Bond-themed night at the Camarillo Airport. The countdown to May 17 is on. Will it be sleek sophistication or a bold, head-turning statement?

Finding the right dress can be overwhelming, but students have plenty of options. Online retailers like Tiger Mist, Hello Molly, Oh Polly, Beginning Boutique and Windsor are go-to spots for trendy modern prom looks.

Men’s Wearhouse, ASOS, SuitShop and Express are solid choices for classic tuxedos or stylish alternatives. Many rental services also offer affordable, high-quality suit options for those who don’t want to buy.

However, shopping in person has its advantages. “So many dresses look different

online than they do in real life,” senior Serene Panga said. “I found my dream dress online, but when I tried it on in-store, the fit was off. I’m glad I checked before buying!”

The same goes for suits. When fit is everything, trying on different cuts in-store can make a big difference.

If you shop online, make sure to read reviews, check sizing charts, and order early in case alterations are needed.

Prom 2025 is all about classic silhouettes with a modern twist. Expect to see corset bodices, sparkling embellishments, and structured designs taking center stage.

“Corset dresses are everywhere this year,” employee at Windsor Natasha Flores said. “They give that perfect hourglass shape and they’re so flattering.”

For those looking to make a statement, jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and ruby will be a hit, while pastel shades provide a softer, elegant vibe. The traditional black tuxedo is a safe and timeless option, but bold

choices like velvet blazers, patterned suits, and jewel-tone colors are making waves this year. Another rising trend is monochromatic suits, where the shirt, tie, and jacket are all the same shade for a sleek, high-fashion look. Meanwhile, those who want to keep it traditional can still add personality with fun pocket squares, unique bow ties, or even patterned dress socks.

The right accessories can elevate any prom look. Statement earrings, sparkly heels, and sleek clutches are all must-haves for the perfect Bond-inspired look. Cuff links, tie bars, sleek watches, and well-polished dress shoes are small details that make a big impact for a masculine look.

With May 17th quickly approaching, now’s the time to start shopping, planning and perfecting your look. Whether you’re channeling vintage glam or modern edge, one thing’s for sure: Prom 2025 is set to be a night to remember.

BECCA GLAUBKE Features Editor

SYDNEY PALOSI senior song: Quit Playing Games by: Backstreet Boys favorite artist and why: Backstreet Boys because they give a variety of music.

SERENE PANGA senior

ROGER HIGAREDA junior SABRINA GONZALEZ sophomore

JAYNELLE LILLY-WHITE freshman

song: Love You for a Long Time by: Maggie Rogers favorite artist and why: Noah Kahan because he’s cool.

song: Nokia by: Drake favorite artist and why: Drake only because his old music is good.

song: Espresso by: Sabrina Carpenter favorite artist and why: Sabrina Carpenter because she is a good singer.

song: Scared Love by: Rod Wave favorite artist and why:

SADAYA KEAYS Staff

GEMMA SPRAGGINS Opinions Editor

THE LANCER’S ENERGY DRINK BRACKET

With March Madness in full effect, The Lancer staff tested eight popular energy drinks to determine the best flavor

C4: Midnight Cherry

Celcius: Wild Berry

Reign: Valencia Orange

Alani: Strawberry Sunrise

C4: Midnight Cherry

Bang: Rainbow

Unicorn Bang: Rainbow Unicorn

C4: Midnight Cherry

Alani: Strawberry Sunrise

Rockstar: Lemonade

Red Bull: Pink

Rockstar: Lemonade

C4: Midnight Cherry

Rockstar: Lemonade

Monster: Original

AROUND T.O.WN

Mountains 2 Beach Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K

Nordhoff High School, Ojai

Sunday, April 13 6:00-11:00 am

The Marathon on Sunday starts in Ojai, finishing 18 miles later near the Ventura Pier. The Half-Marathon starts in Oak View, following a 13.1 mile path to Ventura. A 10K is also taking place on Sunday.

Santa Barbara Fair & Expo

Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara

April 24 - May 4 4:00-9:00 pm

Featuring carnival rides, farm animals, live entertainment, petting zoo, kids’ carnival, the expo also showcases local food, wine and beer. It will also include a Cooking Contest and interactive exhibits.

Simi Valley Street Fair

Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley

Saturday, May 3 9:00 am-4:00 pm

The event in the Simi Town Center includes talented vendors showcasing artisan crafts, delicious food, and innovative services, live entertainment and a beer and wine garden. City expo, free Kids’ FunZone and more. Free admission.

Community Swap Meet

Rancho Santa Susana Community Center parking lot

Sunday, May 4 12:00-5:00 pm

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has its “Junk-in-the-Trunk” Swap Meet which is open to the public with no admission fee and over 46 local vendors to satisfy your savvy shopping needs. Bring cash!

48th Annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off

Conejo Creek Park, Thousand Oaks

Saturday, May 5 12:00-5:00 pm

Entrance to the Chili Cook-Off also includes a Car Show and Craft Brew Festival. The family friendly extravaganza will take place at the Conejo Creek Park. With over 40 chili tasting booths, general admission is $25 and kids 10 and under are free. The event includes over a dozen food trucks and beverage booths, live music, a free kids’ fun zone and the best Classic Car Show in Ventura County.

Westlake Village Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk/Run 10K/5K

Westlake Village City Hall, Westlake Village

Saturday, May 24 8:00-11:00 am

10K and 5K timed runs and walks begin at 8:45 am and the Kids Fun Run is at 10:30 am. Register early as fees will increase. 100% of proceeds go directly to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer research.

Sports betting becomes student vice

High school students bypass age restrictions to gamble for their favorite teams, chasing the thrill while ignoring the high risks

ALAN KO Digital Editor

In 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act outlawed sports gambling across the United States, except for in a few states.

On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court found the law unconstitutional in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, opening the door to allow sports gambling to rise to fame. Sports gambling became increasingly more popular with the creation of apps such as ‘PrizePicks’ that make gambling quick and easily accessible. The hobby has now trickled down to teens.

High school students are finding ways to bypass age restrictions, diving into the world of sports betting through apps that make gambling as easy as ordering fast food.

According to the National Council

on Problem Gambling, 60-80% of high school students have gambled in the past year, and 14-19% either fit the criteria for having a gambling problem or show signs of losing control. With the rapid rise of sports gambling apps, the activity has gained traction among younger audiences, particularly teenage boys.

Online Sports Betting

An anonymous senior, “Jeff,” who is turning 18 in April, began placing prop bets on football during his junior year. He used apps such as Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks—popular daily fantasy sports platforms that allow users to predict player performances and win money if their picks hit.

“I’d throw five bucks on a parlay with guys I knew,” Jeff said. “If they went off that night, it felt like I won the game too.”

On these platforms, users typically

choose 2 to 6 players and predict whether they’ll achieve “more” or “less” than a stat line set by the app such as LeBron James scoring over 27.5 points or Patrick Mahomes throwing for fewer than 2.5 touchdowns. The more correct picks a user hits, the greater the payout. A perfect six-pick can multiply a small bet by 25 times.

“When you play with money on the line, it just adds extra incentive to the game,” Jeff said. “Instead of just rooting for my favorite team, I’m also rooting for the players that I bet on.”

This mindset is common among high schoolers experimenting with gambling. The National Council on Problem Gambling notes that adolescents are two to four times more likely to develop a gambling problem than adults and that early exposure significantly increases the odds of addiction later in life.

Late college decision stress

Students are shocked by rejections from UCs due to rise in applicants

RILEY KEELER Managing Editor

As more and more colleges announce decision dates, seniors anxiously await their acceptances throughout March, with some students not getting their college decisions till April 1, unless they applied for Early Action or Early Decision.

The anxiety and hopefulness that comes with getting answers back is unmatched. These decisions can change students’ lives and set the pathway for their careers. Waiting to see where one will be going to college is not for the weak, as some have less than a month to commit by May 1, leaving little time to thoroughly think about where they want to spend the next four years of their life.

Most decisions came out in the middle of March or, if a senior was lucky, slightly earlier. This year, most of the UC schools came out in middle to late March, UCSB on March 18, UCLA on March 21, UCSD on March 16, UCB and ivy league universities on March 27. The CSU schools typically admit in waves, which leaves some students feeling worse, having not been

admitted in the first wave and seeing their friends getting accepted. San Diego State University and Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo are two CSU schools that released in waves this year, the first rounds being acceptances, then wait lists, then rejections. Many knew their fate without even getting their decisions back.

“There’s no doubt it’s super competitive and that can be very frustrating,” senior Jordan Tilles said. “I am really proud and excited for my peers who have gotten into some amazing schools. They deserve it and I can’t wait to see what they do.”

The competitive nature of getting into college was worse this year due to the record number of births in 2007; almost every UC had a record number of applicants, along with other schools outside of California. Students with outstanding GPAs and a long list of extracurricular activities were rejected from UC’s and CSU’s.

The competitiveness mixed with the cost of college means that some seniors could only afford to apply to a few colleges, and getting rejected from those can be devastating and disheartening for many.

Education in the outdoors

TOHS juniors and seniors accompany middle school students to Ojai

RILEY KEELER Managing Editor

All middle schools within the CVUSD take turns going to Outdoor School. From February to April, one middle school goes every week to Camp Ramah in Ojai, and juniors and seniors are allowed to apply to chaperone the kids attending.

Outdoor School is an amazing opportunity for the sixth graders to get out in nature for hands-on learning. While at Outdoor School for four days and three nights, students go on hikes, play games, and learn about different plants and animals while bunking with their friends in cabins–all under the watchful eyes of high school counselors.

“I’m pretty excited and looking forward to it,” senior Luna Plummer said. “Since I enjoyed my time last year, I definitely wanted to [be a counselor] again.”

Tom Hoegeman, who runs the whole outdoor school process, comes to the high schools to interview students who want to participate as camp counselors in the program. Outdoor School has been a recurring trip in the district for 47 years. During COVID school closures, students were not able to participate when they were in middle school so they took the opportunity to experience it as a counselor.

“My favorite part was interacting with the kids and being able to see how the new generation of kids is living,” senior Julia Conti said. “I loved talking to them and giving them advice and also just seeing how they interact with each other.”

The middle school students spend four days outdoors with naturalists who take them on hikes and teach them about different plants, animals and constellations. On top of spending four days away

from their parents, students get to stay in a cabin with their best friends, play different games with their trail groups and make a skit to perform on their last night for all the campers and counselors.

“I think definitely the hikes were a highlight of the trip, and doing a skit with the kids,” senior Andrea Pacheco said. “Being with the kids for so long was a test of my patience for sure, but they are pretty mature or sixth graders, so it wasn’t too bad.”

This experience is different from every other middle school in California; the amazing learning opportunity gives students more knowledge about what is living and growing in the world around them and how it impacts them. Also, it’s a great time to learn how to live without technology or social media for a short time, for the middle and high schoolers alike.

Jeff is down $70 in sports betting, but still sees it as just entertainment and not a financial risk.

PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy technically require users to be 18 or older, but enforcement is limited. Fake birthdays, borrowed IDs, and even using a parent’s name are common workarounds. Once inside the app, there’s little to stop underage users from betting regularly.

The combination of accessibility, peer influence and excitement is potent.

In group chats and on social media, teens share bet slips, celebrate wins, and bond over near-misses. Some even treat their betting history like a stat line, bragging about “hitting a 5-pick for $100” or “hitting a green slip.”

Expert Opinions

This thrill-seeking mentality is what drives many teens to gamble, often without fully understanding the

consequences. While some see it as a casual pastime, experts warn that early exposure to gambling can lead to longterm financial and psychological risks.

Dr. Shane Kraus, a gambling disorder researcher and professor at the University of Nevada, spoke with the American Psychological Association Speaking of Psychology podcast about access to gambling.

“Gambling disorder is classified as a behavioral addiction because it involves cravings, loss chasing, and an inability to stop despite consequences,” Kraus said.

For teens like Jeff, gambling may feel like just another game where a few dollars and some friendly competition fuel the fun. But as the lines between entertainment and addiction blur, experts caution that what begins as a harmless thrill can quietly grow into something far more damaging.

GEMMA SPRAGGINS Opinions Editor

All it took for junior Kimberly Negron was talent, a friend’s wish and determination.

Negron has been doing makeup since seventh grade. Taught by social media and her older sisters, she quickly realized she had a talent for doing her own makeup.

“I get inspiration from Douse Mendoza,” Negron said. “I get a lot of tips from him and his videos.”

It started when she did senior Gwyneth Harris’s makeup for fun, and for prom in 2024, Negron got the suggestion of starting a business since she has a special talent for makeup.

“This year I’m charging people about $65, which isn’t bad for doing people’s makeup,” Negron said. She promotes her makeup by sharing her stories with friends and acquaintances.

Negron focuses on makeup because it comes easily to her. With around a year of experience watching tutorials online and doing others’ makeup, she has been able to adapt to people’s suggestions and become more proficient in her business. With a greater variety of people who ask her for help, she can practice more makeup styles, improving her talent and gaining more skills.

“Some people want more natural makeup, and then other people want really dramatic makeup which is cool to do,” Negron said.

It’s not only about the money for Negron. With her passion for makeup and spending time with her friends and family, she finds joy in completing someone’s dream look for their big day, such as prom. It is through her business that she expresses her love for makeup while helping people feel their best for events most important to them.

Junior’s hobby turns into business for prom season

MIRROR, MIRROR - Kimberly Negron practices her makeup in her room to be ready for her clients during prom season, often taking a picture to remember the look.

Kimberly Negron - with permission

COUNSELOR FUN - The high school volunteer counselors pause to take a photo with their favorite naturalist “Milkweed.

Venice Chichester - with permission

Zombie Prom: The musical takes over PAC

Theater program puts on highly anticipated performance for students, faculty, parents

From March 27-29 Thousand Oaks High School’s theater program performed their spring musical Zombie Prom four times, each show more exciting than the last. Zombie Prom, set in 1950s America, follows the hectic story of Jonny Warner, a high school student who fights to get back with his ex-girlfriend Toffee, but there’s a twist—Jonny isn’t a regular teenage boy. He’s a zombie. Zombie Prom is a story of forbidden love and resilience, with eerie, rock-and-roll elements.

Production began in Jan. 2025, with the cast rehearsing three times a week for two and a half hours. As the show dates drew closer, rehearsals occurred more frequently throughout the week, the time increasing to three and a half hours.

“In a typical rehearsal, we would get there, and we would warm up

vocally, because it’s a musical,” junior Emily Esau said. “Then, we would also do a few stretches, especially if it was a dance rehearsal that day, which our choreographer, Rochelle [Hultgren], would lead.”

Following necessary vocal warm-ups and stretches, cast members would run through different scenes of the play each night, ultimately running through the entire play as opening day neared.

Preparing for a musical isn’t easy work.

Having to memorize both speaking lines and entire songs doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but senior Luella Thompson, who played Coco, shared her hack to success.

over again helps so much,” Thompson said. “Repetition is truly the key to memorization. For other shows where

the performances are about having fun and enjoying the process of being with creative individuals.”

“Listening to the soundtrack over and

I had more lines, I would use Quizlet. I wouldn’t let myself get stressed, though, because at the end of the day,

On top of memorizing lines and lyrics, the cast had to prepare themselves for the most significant part: performing. Three months of rehearsing, at school and at home, led to four shows that each required maximum energy.

“I think the biggest challenge for me was making sure I kept the same amount of energy while rehearsing,” Thompson said. “The entire musical is told through singing and dancing, so I had to make sure I was always energetic while on stage.”

Senior Charles Bergholtz, who portrayed curious reporter Eddie Flagrante, was also part of the tech crew tasked with creating the set for the show.

Dancing through New York: Spring dance show

Dancers

and coaches put on memorable show not just for audience, for dancers too

BECCA GLAUBKE Features Editor

It’s Friday night, and dancers from different classes, teams, and levels are preparing for opening night. The dancers come from various groups such as the beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes, as well as teams like the Redwood Middle School dance team, the TFT dance team, and the Varsity dance team. They all gather together before the show to warm up, stretch and focus on the performance ahead of them.

The theme of the show is New York, a concept that challenges coaches and student choreographers to create dances that embody different aspects of the city. Dances are inspired by “Newsies,” the Bronx, Brooklyn, the Botanical Garden, and even the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration. One of the standout performances is the Varsity team’s prop dance, where dancers construct a metal box on stage resembling the Empire State Building while others perform on top of it.

The dancers have worked tirelessly all

semester, pouring their effort and passion into perfecting their routines. It’s a labor of love but it’s not just the dancers who are putting in the work. First-year dance department director Jordan Jones also faces the challenges of her new role. As she navigates the responsibilities of directing the concert, Jones demonstrates dedication, compassion, and diligence. Her leadership has earned her the admiration of her students, who recognize her commitment to their growth and success. The night promises to be a celebration of both the dancers’ hard work and the strong leadership guiding them toward their best performance yet.

Every year this show is a huge success as the energy in the gym is tangible when the dancers take the stage. The well-thought-out choreography, the creativity of the theme, and the seamless coordination between the

teams leave the audience in awe.

As the final bows are taken, the dancers and coaches are met with a standing ovation. The success of the show is not only a reflection of the talent on stage but also the teamwork, commitment, and leadership that made it all possible.

TOHS choir ends action-packed year strong

Choir finishes 2024-25 season with achievements, experiences and stronger bonds

This year, the choir at Thousand Oaks High School had some amazing events, including annual concerts in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), an overnight trip to Anaheim for the Forum Festival and to the Southern California Vocal Association festival (SCVA).

Choir consists of vocal ensemble, concert choir and treble choir, and each section works for months to attend the Forum and SCVA festivals to compete and gain recognition and awards.

The students started preparing in August, but stopped in November to learn the music for their winter concert. Starting back up again in January gave them just a few months to get back to the fast pace of things.

In the end, all the pressure and hard work they had put into learning the material paid off, as all choir classes received prestigious Superior scores at SCVA, closing their season with the same energy that defined their journey.

Along with many new students to prepare for the annual competitions, the choir gained new leadership with senior Emma Riss taking over as choir president for the 2024-25 school year.

“It’s a lot of uniting with other choir members and making sure we are prepared and know choreography,” Riss said.

Despite having to help new and veteran choir students during concerts and competitions, Riss is content with her position because her involvement with others has created a community.

“It’s all about preparing for something special that you have worked so hard on with a lot of your best friends,” Riss said.

Community within the choir is a big focus for the students and while they may bond over the long hours practicing, they also work hard to continue traditions.

“We decorated pins and would try to pin everyone around us,” Riss said.

“We had a lot of fun doing that.”

“I made some of the set pieces, which, honestly, was the most difficult,” Bergholtz said. “I have been in enough shows before this to where I’ve gotten used to the process of memorizing the lines; that’s not anything too hard. I think it was actually making the show that was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.”

Bergholtz, who appeared in various TOHS productions–most recently, Our Town–was happy with his performance following the shows, but completing the performances was an equally great feeling.

“It was my last show, which sucks, but I feel like there was a sort of relief after it was over,” Bergholtz said. Whether they’re rehearsing their lines at home or giving it their all on stage, the theater students’ love for the art is evident in their work. Zombie Prom was the final production of the 2024-25 school year, but the thespian talents of TOHS can be seen once more at the annual Theater Senior/Theater 3 Showcase on Thursday, May 29.

Baskets of spirit

Teachers and students entertain rally with tense basketball game

COOPER LESTER Business Manager

The annual students vs. teachers basketball game is a clash of personalities, jump shots, and dad-strength defense. This year’s annual showdown brought out the best in both teams, and rocked the gym with an infectious energy.

The entirety of the game is some of the best entertainment you’ll ever watch but one particular moment had the whole gym cheering: science teacher Melissa Rimpa’s three-pointer.

“I kind of just threw [the ball] up and hoped,” Rimpa said. “I didn’t think it was going in.”

But it did. And when it hit nothing but the net, the gym exploded.

“Rimpa sank a three-pointer, which was crazy,” said junior Hayden Vercher. “That was the best moment.”

Others were impressed as well.

“Honestly, Miss Rimpa surprised me,” senior Bryson Saint said. “She made some impressive shots.”

Coming from two players who were diving for balls, launching deep shots, and attempting to dunk five times in a row, that’s saying something. For Rimpa, her three-pointer was also a moment of connection with former and current students in the stands who cheered for her.

“It was kind of nice to feel like, ‘Oh, they do like me,’ you know?” Rimpa said.

The game itself was a nail-biter. The teachers kept it close the entire time, proving they’ve still got it, even against students less than half their ages. U.S. History teacher Robert Haar stood out with what several players called his “dad strength,” locking down defense like a brick wall with a grading policy. While the student team took the win by one point, the real victory was the energy in the room, the cheers, the laughter, and the memories.

So, for anyone on the fence about joining next year? “Definitely try,” Rimpa said. “Even if it’s out of your comfort zone. It was worth it.”

She’s living proof. One shot. One moment. One game that reminded everyone that the best plays happen when you just throw it up and hope.

CURTAIN UP - Jake McDermott (left) Madelyn O’neill (right) share the stage.

Jaxon Rector - The Lancer

The choir’s bond through dedication and hard work is visible every year.

PITCH PERFECT - Choir students pose together with the competition plaques they won with blood, sweat and tears.

Ryder Killian - with permission

ADDISON ANELLO Assistant Features Editor

LOCKED IN - Robert Haar focuses for his free throw.

Colby Simpson - with permission

Jaxon Rector - The Lancer

MOVING WITH THE MUSIC - Joy Brueckel (top left), Addison Anello (top middle), Ione Monney (top right), Juliana McIver (botton left), Linnea Hubble (bottom middle) and Bayla Klaidman (bottom right) end their dance with a newspaper toss in their “Newsies” dance.

ADDISON ANELLO Assistant Features Editor

KAILAH SPENCER Assistant News Editor

New tradition fuels team

Swimmers Adyson Brown, Emmanuel Gonzalez lead chants before meets

them for their races, giving the swimmers a boost of excitement and determination.

Lancer Man and Lancer Girl stood up on the diving blocks, their voices getting louder as they rallied their team. Dressed in capes and masks, they threw green water into Camarillo High School’s pool at the Scorpion Relays meet.

Junior Adyson Brown and sophomore Emmanuel Gonzalez represent the Thousand Oaks High School varsity swim team as Lancer Girl and Lancer Man for their pre-meet cheers to hype up their team and prepare

“You have to get them fired up,” Gonzalez said.

“You just have to find a way where everyone will feel the same energy that you feel, and it’s contagious. Once the leaders are hype, then the team gets hype.”

Bearing the weight of being the ones to hype the team up before a meeting carries a lot of responsibility for being the most excited and bringing the most energy.

“The best part is seeing

everybody smiling and everybody being happy when I look back at all the pictures that were taken of the cheer and the chant,” Brown said. “Everybody is laughing and having a good time; that’s the best, that everyone is excited.”

Camarillo High School has been the top rival to the Lancers when it comes to aquatics, and winning the Scorpion Relays meant more than words can describe for the Lancers. It is always their most memorable race, and they weren’t about to go down without a fight.

Brown knew exactly what it meant to the team and herself to win these relays and she knew that it was up to her and Gonzalez to

“Everyone was intimidated by us, and everyone knew who we were.”

ADYSON BROWN

get everyone’s adrenaline pumping and their determination to win through the roof.

“The Scorpion Relays was the most memorable

race so far because it was very hype and there were ten other schools,” Brown said. “Everyone was intimidated by us, and everyone knew who we were. It was more exciting than the other one that we had because Manny [Gonzalez] dove into the water and everybody cheered for us, even the other teams that were there. We also got the best cheer for that relay, and Westlake High School was recording and said, ‘Oh my gosh it’s them!’ We are known for our cheer.”

Junior Charlotte McAuliffe knows what the hype is all about and is here for it.

“The pre-meet rallies are really fun, and it gets us all hype and excited to race because we all have so much fun cheering each other on, and it’s always a big extravaganza,” McAuliffe said. “Especially this year because we added more stuff with Lancer Man and Lancer Girl and they pour green water into the pools.”

The Lancers hope to replicate last season’s success, which saw the first aquatics CIF title in school history.

Unified game ends in draw

Lancers host festivity filled Unified Basketball game against Westlake

On a crisp Thursday morning in March, Westlake High School arrived to take on Thousand Oaks High School in a highly anticipated unified basketball match up that filled the gym with students, parents, and teachers. The game was set for a 10:30 a.m. tip-off, but following pregame entertainment tip-off was moved to 10:50.

The TO Vocal Ensemble Choir opened the festivities by performing the national anthem, which was immediately followed by an electric varsity dance team performance. The energy didn’t stop there as the Sparkles team, led by advisor Jennifer Jeziorski, brought even more excitement to the packed gym with their dance performance.

The atmosphere was charged as senior and unified athlete Harout Kilejian recited the unified anthem. The crowd was fully engaged, ready to support their team filled with the athletes and their partners.

“I loved seeing Gigi Bartolone extend her arms out for a hug and partner June Neale returning the hug in front of her peers,” coach Melissa Martin said. “I also loved the high fives and willingness of all the partners to help the athletes make baskets.”

The Lancers started strong, with senior Brady Richardson scoring the game’s opening basket, Richardson would go on to score the first points of the second half as well, causing an uproar from the enthusiastic crowd. Sophomore Delilah Reppert took on the role as ‘Minister of Defense’ in the opening minutes, making sure Westlake felt the Lancers full force defense. “Unified Sports is

growing nationwide thanks to Special Olympics; the students and the athletes learn through the various sports we play how sports can be a vehicle to foster inclusion,” Martin said.

In the stands, the Lancer students began the historical wave, which spread throughout the gym, hyping up the team even further. The energy in the gym was so contagious that it wasn’t long before a loud chant echoed through the stands: ‘We want Paul!’, the crowd had their wish granted as senior Paul Staples was substituted in for the Lancers, receiving cheers and claps from the crowd as he stepped onto the court.

and scored the game’s tying points with under three minutes remaining. The energy from the crowd and the heartfelt performances made it a day to remember, marking a historic moment for TOHS and their unified basketball team in the 54-54 tie with Westlake.

Jake's Journal

JAKE BRADLEY Sports Editor

It was an early morning—5:22 AM on Friday, March 14, to be exact—and we were wheels up and rolling out of Thousand Oaks, heading to Arizona for Spring Training. The Cactus League was in full swing, and Arizona was the place to be for every baseball fan.

Each year from mid-February until late March, 15 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams head off to Arizona for the Cactus League while the other 15 teams head to Florida for the Grapefruit League as the league gets in their Spring Training before the regular season’s opening day that was on March 27th.

With more than 10 stadiums spread across the valley, from Surprise to Mesa, fans can hop between games and catch several in a day or weekend. This allows for a rich baseball experience while seeing multiple teams play in one trip.

for the long season ahead as they were about the fans experiencing the joy of baseball in a non-competitive, low-stress setting. Whether it was witnessing a top prospect like Jacob Wilson, TOHS class of 2020, of the Athletics launch a home run or watching a veteran like Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals simply work on his swing, spring training brings out the pure love of the game.

Rather than seating 35,000 fans on a Summer night, the Cactus League stadiums bundle up a few thousand seats, displaying not only die-hard fans of the home teams but baseball fans in general.

At the half, Westlake held a narrow 20-18 lead. During halftime, TO took a moment to recognize their unified athletes and partners graduating this June, with five athletes and seven partners being honored in the senior recognition.

After trailing 46-36 late in the game, junior Jorge Narvaez helped the Lancers claw back into the game

“The model of play we presented today is recreational for fun and involves partners keeping the game moving and helping the athletes score points,” Martin said. “It was great the game ended in a tie, the games are more about providing an opportunity for a student with disabilities to experience sports and representing their school than it is about winning and losing.”

The Milwaukee Brewers play in Phoenix over 1,800 miles away from their home stadium in Milwaukee. Yet, the Brew Crew sees sellout crowd after sellout crowd featuring hundreds of fans spending their Spring Break away from Milwaukee to watch their home team.

Throughout this period, the games were just as much about the players getting into their rhythm and preparing

Spring training in Arizona offers an unmatched combination of excellent weather, proximity to players, and a laid-back yet competitive atmosphere that makes it a one-ofa-kind experience. Fans can see the stars of tomorrow while enjoying the comfort of small stadiums, a beautiful desert setting, and the chance to meet fellow baseball lovers By the end of the trip, there were plenty of takeaways—unique hats, familiar stars, prospects barely older than me, players competitive but laid back more than the regular season, a strong fan base of each home team, yes even the Athletics, a lot of autographs, and a sense that the season was just about to take off.

Clark ignites women’s sports fans

SWAVING Assistant Sports Editor

In the world of sports, superstardom often feels like a rare, fleeting phenomenon for female athletes. For years, icons like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Diana Taurasi held the spotlight in women’s sports, inspiring millions. But in 2023, something extraordinary shifted the landscape of women’s basketball forever. A new star emerged, one who not only dominated the court but also shattered barriers, redefined what it meant to be a superstar, and elevated the visibility of women’s sports in a way never seen before. That star was Caitlin Clark.

The 2023 NCAA Tournament was a tipping point putting Clark on the map for millions. As Clark’s Iowa team made a historic run, her matchups with stars like LSU’s Angel Reese captivated audiences. Her games became must-see TV. Millions of fans flocked to watch women’s basketball. The viewership numbers shattered records, with over nine million people tuning in to watch the

championship game.

Major networks dedicated more airtime to women’s sports, and coverage was no longer limited to occasional highlights. Women’s sports were becoming a regular part of the sports calendar, and the stories of women like Caitlin Clark were being told in primetime. When Clark declared for the WNBA draft in 2024, she was selected as the number one overall pick to the Indiana Fever, it wasn’t just a victory for her; it was a monumental moment for the WNBA and women’s sports. The immediate coverage of her draft transcended the sports world, with celebrities, influencers, and even politicians expressing support. This wasn’t just about basketball anymore. It was about the rise of a cultural icon. Her superstardom broke the mold, and in doing so, she became one of the most influential athletes in the world — changing the game of basketball and reshaping the way we think about women in sports. As the 2024 rookie of the year’s career continues to unfold, there’s no question: Caitlin Clark isn’t just a star; she’s the future of women’s athletics.

Columnist reflects on exciting trip to Spring Training

LILAH

WNBA’s Caitlin

LIFTOFF - Lancer leaders head pre-meet rally at Camarillo.

SOPHIA MUNHALL Staff Writer

FAST BREAK- Senior Anusha Ghosh races to the Lancer basket.

Alan Ko - The Lancer

JAKE BRADLEY Sports Editor

Michelle Majors - with permission

SPORTS ROUND-UP

TRACK AND FIELD

Coach: Marlene Wilcox

2023-24 Record: Boys 4-0-1

2024-25 Record: Girls 4-1

Top Players: Junior Lucas Schneider, senior Alexander Karsten, senior Madison Thai

Inside Story: After tearing his hamstring during the off-season, senior captain and sprinter Alexander Karsten has worked his way back and is ready to compete at his highest level, with his eyes on gold.

Quotable: “I’ve been a sprinter for the last three years, and it has been a lot of fun because Marlene [Wilcox] is a really good coach, and I enjoy going to the practices along with hanging out with my teammates, it has been fun,” senior Alexander Karsten said.

Notable: Junior sprinter Caleb Romeo transferred from Chaminade High School heading into the 202425 school year. His addition is huge for the Lancers.

MESERVY Staff Writer

BOYS

GOLF

Coach: Robert Jacobus

2023-24 Record: 7-2

2024-25 Record: 1-3

Top Players: Sophomore Tyler Malchow, junior Dash Springer, junior Merrick Jacobus

Inside Story: At the team’s Spanish Hills tournament, a golfer launched his first swing and the ball hit another competitor. After looking back and realizing the golfer was safe, it was a moment for the team to laugh and bond.

Quotable: “We have a much stronger bond this year than last year because of the coaches; it makes the team have a lot of connections and be friends,” junior Dash Springer said.

Notable: The team has welcomed in its third different head coach in the last three seasons. The previous two were teachers at TO, but the new coach is star Merrick Jacobus’s father, Robert Jacobus.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Coach: Seth Burnham

2023-24 Record: 16-16

2024-25 Record: 16-12

Top Players: Junior Jayson Hill, junior Zachary Kochel, senior Jack Hadvina

Inside Story: At one of the team’s overnight tournaments, a player’s room had a death alarm and it got stuck on for 10 minutes late at night not turning off for any reason, leaving the team scared and confused, until they turned it off and laughed about it the next morning before winning their tournament game.

Quotable: “The team bond is way stronger this year because we’ve all played together for a full year now because we were with each other last year and a lot of us are friends outside of volleyball so now we have more experiences to together,” senior Jackson Ross said.

Notable: The team spends most of their time together away from volleyball practices hanging out and playing at the pickleball courts as seniors Bryson Saint and Jackson Ross run the school’s pickleball club. Senior Jack Hadvina is also involved in both the volleyball program as well as a huge contributor in the volleyball club.

Casillas sets standard

Senior Morgan Casillas captains three sports in last Lancer campaign

DORAN LAWRENCE Staff Writer

Senior Morgan Casillas’ legacy and leadership at Thousand Oaks High School will be remembered long after she graduates. Over her four years at TOHS, she has brought an energy that can be felt from miles away. Her competitive spirit has been a driving force, uplifting her teams when they needed her the most—whether it was on the gridiron for flag football, on the court for basketball or on the softball diamond. In her final high school season, Casillas served as a team captain for all three programs, solidifying her role as a leader

“Being a captain is definitely fun, it gives me the responsibility of taking care of my team and making sure I help them grow and lead them to higher levels in the game, and in the sport in general,” Casillas said.

football until high school, but I’ve always loved the sport because my family has always been passionate about [football],” Casillas explained. “My dad coaches, he played football in high school, and so did my brothers.”

In her senior year, Casillas helped lead the girls’ basketball team to the CIF-SS playoffs for

coachable. We wanted a captain who the entire program could look up to and rely on whenever needed.”

Casillas embraced this leadership role and, in addition to what she accomplished on the court, this past fall, Casillas led the girls flag football program to their first playoff appearance in their second overall season and she is currently leading the softball program at a historic trajectory.

Casillas continues a legacy passed down by her family. One of her brothers, Payton Casillas was part of the TOHS class of 2021 and a football standout, and her father Christopher Casillas is a former head football coach at TO and longtime history teacher in D-4. The Casillas family has long been a staple at Thousand Oaks High School. For Morgan, her contributions helped shape the programs into what they are today. “I didn’t start playing flag

the first time since 2019. Despite a first-round loss to Ventura, the achievement was a remarkable accomplishment for the talented young roster she guided.

“Morgan shows great leadership qualities and is very assertive; she is someone who wants to help and better others, and someone you can count on,” said head girls basketball coach Ashley Ontiveros. “Morgan doesn’t have to be told what to do—she just does it, whether it’s starting practices or organizing team events. She has a strong work ethic and is extremely

“She sets a good example on and off the court, she excels in the classroom and goes above and beyond to know everything she can on the court,” Ontiveros said. “If a player ever has questions they can always go to Morgan for help and she will always be able to help them whether it’s a play, new drill or extra guidance learning new concepts.”

Casillas has led teams to many victories, with amazing plays and unforgettable bonds.

“I will never forget the time Morgan hit a ball over the fence off of a tee, which is an incredibly hard thing to do—and she did it while batting right-handed, as she normally bats left-handed,” softball coach Heather Spohr said. “Morgan is truly one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached. Her ability to read a defense and find a way to get on base is unreal. She takes mistakes in stride and learns from them.”

BOYS TENNIS

Coach: David Dewing

2023-24 Record: 7-11

2024-25 Record: 5-7

Top Players: Senior Trevor Overton, senior Adam Drori, sophomore Hudson Middleton

Inside Story: The entire ride to Carpenteria for a game in March, the team blasted music, singing their hearts out.

Quotable: “This year is by far the best team we’ve had in my time here and probably before that too,” senior Trevor Overton said.

Notable: Despite losing the team’s top player from the 2024 season, the Lancers have found their way around improved overall for the 2025 season with numerous new freshmen in the program.

Lancer cheer squad gets passionate new coach

Serafin-Zacarias

SOPHIA MUNHALL Staff Writer

In his second semester at Pierce College, Edel Serafin-Zacarias tried out for the Raider Birds cheer team. After the tryout, he eagerly checked the results, knowing that making the team would change his life forever. SerafinZacarias earned a spot on the squad. Soon after, he received an opportunity to cheer at Boise State University, where he embarked on a career in coaching. After eight successful years at Marshall High School, he was offered the coaching position at Thousand Oaks High School.

Before beginning cheerleading, Serafin-Zacarias had been involved in soccer as a child and dabbled in water polo and swimming during high school, continuing in Pierce College. The tryout for the Raider Birds cheer team changed everything, thanks to the program’s desire to recruit male athletes for their squad.

Serafin-Zacarias’s time as a college cheerleader solidified his passion for the sport, which drove him to pursue coaching. He spent eight years coaching at Marshall High School in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy of excellence. He takes immense pride in the team he built and the accomplishments they achieved together.

“[My favorite part is] watching my athletes’ reactions when all their hard work paid off and they were crowned league champions or announced as winners when we were at cheer competitions,” Serafin-Zacarias said.

“It is a priceless moment, watching them hit their stunts or learn the dance that they have been struggling with at

practice, and the moment it clicks, it’s a great thing to witness.”

He is driven to spread his knowledge to the TOHS program to help it grow and excel more than ever.

“Cheerleading is something special,” Serafin-Zacarias said. “And now with stunt taking over the country, it’ll only continue to make me love this sport even more.”

The goal is to build the cheer program from the ground up and make it better than he found it. He truly believes that the program has potential.

“TO reminds me of Boise in the aspect that it’s very communityoriented,” Serafin-Zacarias said. “And that helps build something magical. The athletes need to remember to respect the program and always, always, trust the process.”

Not only will Serafin-Zacarias be working to become more competitive in the sport, but he cares and wants to build stronger and better athletes.

Jaxson Rector - The Lancer

MYA

DEEP DIG - Senior Soren Klem gets a deep dig in the March 14 home victory against Oaks Christian.

GOING FOR GOLD - Junior Taylour Falk heads for the finish during her race at the annual Thousand Oaks Invitational

Marlene Wilcox - with permission

STUNT MASTERY - Coach plans to build the teams to excellence one stunt at a time.

Camilla Pacheco - with permission

HEADING HOME - Morgan Casillas eagerly waits on her teammate at bat to take off for home to score for the Lancers.

Morgan Casillas - with permission

LANCERS AT WORK

Students revisit their first, worst, or most hilarious work stories

Sponsored by:

ALYSSA KISZCZAK Editor-in-Chief

When you look at a map of Thousand Oaks High School and the surrounding area, you will find several businesses looking to hire students to fill basic roles. For senior David Romero, the goal was to find a job adjacent to the school so he could walk there to some extra money.

In his junior year, Romero applied to multiple businesses nearby, and Little Caesars was the first to respond and catch his attention. Soon after being hired, he completed an online food handling training and was soon behind the register, getting inperson experience.

“It’s a basic minimum wage job at Little Caesars, where I take care of the register, the food in the back, and boxing the pizza,” Romero said.

Like any other register job, Romero has to deal with a steady stream of customers, both good and bad, while multitasking.

From oblivious ladies on Super Bowl Sunday and a pet chihuahua following her owner’s commands to customers refusing to give out their names, Romero has truly seen it all.

“There’s this guy called Rob Bob that comes in, and he’s in his 50s or 60s,” Romero said. “He has this trained chihuahua dog that he walks in with, without a leash, and she follows him everywhere and his every command. She will bark when he tells her to, and she will do spins at his command,”

Romero said.

“This guy used to come in, order a pizza, and when I would ask what the name for the order was,” Romero said. “He would ask, ‘What’s your name?’ then tell me to put my name down for

the order. So when I called out my own name, he’d know.”

Romero was skeptical about being able to talk confidently to others, but with first-hand experience and hours of practice, he can confidently say that he gets less nervous now when talking to customers at the register and especially over the phone.

“My first manager told me that I had to get over it,” Romero said. “I kind of did, so that was helpful.”

After high school, Romero plans on attending trade school to study oil rig welding, which is a true passion of his that will bring in dough quite the opposite of what he works with now. While Romero doesn’t plan to stay in his current role forever, his time at Little Caesars has taught him many life skills and created many memories and stories about customers to share.

EASTER TRIVIA

1. While the Easter Bunny brings children eggs in the U.S., what sort of critter delivers the goods in Westphalia, Germany?

2. About how many chocolate bunnies are produced each year?

3. What’s the most popular Easter candy in America?

4. How many jellybeans do Americans consume each Easter?

5. When were Cadbury Creme Eggs introduced?

6. How many Peeps do Americans eat during each Easter season?

7. Most Americans bite off what part of a chocolate bunny first?

8. From what is the filling in Cadbury Creme Eggs made?

9. What color jellybean is the most popular?

10. What egg-shaped candy was illegal in the United States?

What’s up and what’s down with The Lancer?

We list the hits and misses of the month.

Every Lancer Has a Story

If you were to fail your driver’s test, which part would it be and why?

“I would probably fail the parking part because I’m not very good at it”

If you were invisible and could spy on anyone, who would it be and why?

“I would spy on LeBron James because I would want to see what his day to day life is like.”

If you could time travel, would you go back to the past or the future and why?

“I would want to go into the future because I want to see if I got a mansion or not.”

College basketball fans were on their toes keeping up with March Madness and their own bracket bets. While the month was full of spring cheer for most, those following games experienced “madness.” Congrats to Florida Gators, NCAA 2025 champions!

School spirit on campus has completely plummeted. It was a sad beginning with poor attendance at sports games and now students don’t even participate in spirit weeks. Is it really that hard to throw on a jersey, certain color, or design? C’mon T.O. do better!

Everyones favorite fast food chain, McDonald’s, introduced Minecraft themed Happy Meals (both adult and kids versions) inspired by the new live action Minecraft movie. Head to your nearest McDonald’s to collect the limited edition figurines!

The NCAA is cutting several sports teams across the nation due to budget reductions. In most cases, teams are having to make roster cuts rather than fully disbanding a team, however, what exactly does that mean for upcoming recruits and future classes?

TAKING ORDERS - Senior David Romero takes an order while working a shift at the Little Caesars on Moorpark Road.

David Romeo - with permission

BILLY ERHARDT

KAMERON WITKOSKY

BRENDAN ESCOVEDO

Compiled by Doran Lawrence

A fox; 2. 90 million; 3. Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs; 4. 16 billion; 5. 1963; 6. 1.5 billion; 7. The ears; 8. Fondant; 9. Red;

10. Kinder Surprise