Issue 5, 2016-2017 by The Lancer

the

LANCER

Volume LV, Issue 5 » Jan. 24, 2017 » Thousand Oaks High School » 2323 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 » www.tohsthelancer.org » thelancer.tohs@gmail.com » Circulation 2,304

Senior Bailey Gonzales does an arabesque during a recent practice. Stunt team tumbles into the spotlight as a new sport at TOHS. pg. 22 PHOTO » QUINCEY SMITHERS » THE LANCER

GIRL POWER

VIRTUAL ENTERPRISE

FROM MISSILES TO MATH

Many TOHS students attend Women’s Marches across Southern California.

After months of preparation, EThOS’ senior class competes in Bakersfield.

Computer science and math teacher Mrs. McNamara tells her career story.

pg. 05

pg. 12-15

pgs. 17

EDITORIAL

STAFF EDITORIAL

Hits and Misses

The nature of inclusion

What’s Up and Down with The Lancer Hit: Unfavorable reporting of Trump’s inauguration upsets White House press secretary. Why can’t we use alternative fact check?

Miss: The Chargers move to LA. You can ALMOST hear the fans over the sound of the increased traffic.

Hit: It rained in California: For the first time in five years, the mountains are green and people are driving at the speed limit.

GRAPHIC » REBECCA HEINZEL » THE LANCER

Should the district enforce Senate Bill 48? EDITORIAL BOARD

yes

abstain

Everywhere we look there are citizens of different backgrounds, orientations, cultures, religions, races and genders. Yet, according to some choice members on our school district board, not everyone should be accounted for. Legally speaking, it should seem simple enough that, when a law is put in place, it should be, enforced. But, in an incident not isolated to our district, the people in power ignored the legal obligations of the state. The law in question is California Senate Bill 48, which calls for the inclusion of different cultural, sexual and racial groups in history textbooks. In 2011, proponents of the bill felt the inclusion of new groups, including the LGBT+ community, was a necessity for an ever-changing social climate in California. When passed, the bill understandably raised some eyebrows. Opposition claimed the bill was not so much about educating California’s students, but more for agendaizing cultural inclusion and equality. However, in the end, the bill was passed because the majority prioritized inclusiveness. The statute of limitations on the argument has passed and their attempts at changing a clearly established and democratically proposed, passed and approved system were childish. Those particular members of the board cannot be justified in saying they have any interest in the students because it is no longer an issue of what material is and isn’t appropriate for textbooks. It’s an issue of the law. The bill was actually passed in 2012, with framework and curriculum finalized a year ago.

So, almost five years later, the bill should already be in place or, at the very least, be in the discussion stages of implementation. CVUSD, though, initially thought the bill didn’t apply to us. Because, apparently, as one of the richest counties in California with one of the highest ranked school districts, we are far above the law. Obviously, we are so successful already that there is nothing we can do to broaden our student’s horizons and educate them on the importance of diversity in America and the crucial role of people who aren’t all rich, white men. The board’s reasonings all stemmed from the lack of courage to bring LGBT+ history and culture to the Conejo Valley on the claim they didn’t want to bring up a topic that may be too sensitive for students. However, students are far from shy when it comes to discussing the topic. After all, the students were brave enough to bring the issue into the light and expose the school district for perpetrating their endless, selfish needs because those appointed to “serve the students” inevitably just serve themselves. Whether it be in hopes of scoring cheap points for reelection, or throwing in their one last say before their term limit is reached and chip in one last piece of their agenda to leave on the floor for the newly elected members to sweep up, such motivation is unacceptable. Students here, at TOHS and all across the district were capable enough to influence the board enough to initiate the law with a 5-0 vote. Those in defiance of Senate Bill 48 were nothing more than ignorant.

Miss: A California Highway patrolman attempting to rescue cars in the snow gets stuck himself. There’s snow place like being stuck at the bottom of a ditch.

Hit: The Women’s march reaches Antarctica. The long awaited sequel to the acclaimed, award winning “March of the Penguins.”

Miss: Extra! Extra! Shia Labeouf and Jayden Smith start a 4-year live stream to protest Trump’s presidency. They hope it’ll only last four years...

Hit: Trampoline park set to make home in the Janss Marketplace. Soccer moms are jumping for joy for a new birthday party spot.

THE LANCER STAFF 2016-2017 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Lee Jessi Soporito

Shraya Blaisdell Sebastian Maya

Cameron King Allison Medley Paul Moon

Carissa Lo Quincey Smithers

MANAGING EDITOR

OPINION

Sam Kallen

Andrew Chau Gavin P. Norton Sierra Waters

BUSINESS MANAGER Cameron Neel

NEWS Natalie Pagan Nate Swanson

IN-FOCUS Joyce Huchin Hannah Mercer

FEATURES Clarissa Kano Kylie Patterson

STAFF WRITERS Abbey Austin-Wood Emma Caudill Austin Gregory Sam Hwang Abby Kawaii April Sanchez Samantha Shapiro

ARTIST Rebecca Heinzel

WEBSITE EDITORS Blake Saari Cate Valinote

ADVISER Tasha Beaudoin

The Lancer is the official school publication of Thousand Oaks High School, created and produced by students in Advanced Journalism. This publication as well as additional stories can be found online at tohsthelancer. org. 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 Journalism Education Association (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

NEWS

7.1 percent of resolutions this year were to stop smoking

32 percent of people felt they were successful in achieving their resolution

32 percent of all resolutions in 2017 were weight-related

42 percent of all resolutions in 2017 were money-related

5.5

percent of resolutions this year were to work out more

RESOLUTIONS As the new year begins, many people make resolutions to improve their daily lives, but many will not follow through with them. 41 percent of Americans say that they usually make New Year’s resolutions. 42 percent of Americans say that they did not make one this year.

22.8 percent of resolutions were about romantic relationships

38 percent of people in their twenties achieve their resolution each year

42 percent

of people who make resolutions fail every year

6.3 percent of resolutions are to do more exciting things

People who explicitly make resolutions are

10x more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions

SOURCE » WWW.STATISTICBRAIN.COM

72.6 percent 58.4 percent 44.8 percent of resolutions kept through first week

PHOTO » CREATIVE COMMONS » WITH PERMISSION

of resolutions kept through first month

of resolutions kept through six months

SOURCE » WWW.AMNY.COM SOURCE » WWW.HISTORY.COM

BY » ABBEY AUSTIN-WOOD AND NATALIE PAGAN

NEWS

Continuation Seeks Residency Potential relocation of Conejo Valley High School to Thousand Oaks High School creates discontent in both communities. NATE SWANSON

News Editor

Conejo Valley Uniﬁed School District sold the property where Conejo Valley High School (CVHS) currently sits. The property in Newbury Park is being rented back from the new owners. The issue is the district sold the property without a plan in place for relocating CVHS. Although the school board voted 4-1, back in October, not to temporarily move the school to TOHS, the Superintendent, Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, told the board on Dec. 13 CVHS would be moving. Logistics are not the only concern, students at the contnuation school are nontraditional learners who did not thrive in a high school environment. “There are many purposes for the continuation school. I think the most important, which is the case for many of the students at Conejo Valley High School, is to provide an environment because they did not feel comfortable, did not ﬁt, were not successful, at the comprehensive high school level and provide them with a smaller environment in which they can be really successful,” principal Lou Lichtl said. A comprehensive high school environment includes schools like Thousand Oaks High School, Newbury Park High School, Westlake High School, and most other schools in the Conejo Valley School District. The populations of these schools usually are in the 2,300 to 2,500 range of students—Conejo Valley High School has a student population of only 126 students. They have an 11 to 1 student to teacher ratio, and no teachers

with less than 3 years of teaching experience. “They have a strong record of students not only progressing through high school and graduating, but also accessing other programs which is important for all students today, but especially the students at the continuation school,” Lichtl said. Unfortunately, their stay at the Newbury Park location has run out, and the school board as well as the faculty of Conejo Valley High School have been looking for a new location. There was a list of possible locations including Waverly Adult School and Horizon Hills preschool, but the communities surrounding the candidates higher on the list were unhappy about the possibility of the continuation school moving to their campus and made their voices heard, so they were taken off of the list. Even with possible locations still above it, Thousand Oaks was chosen for the relocation, and the staff and community have reacted. English and Japanese teacher Kristen Benioff is holding teacher meetings to discuss and gain information on the process and how people can act to voice their opinions. “The point of the meetings are to pull us together so we can kind of have a coherent voice expressing our concerns,” Benioff said. There are many concerns among the teachers and staff of Thousand Oaks High School as well as the faculty and staff of Conejo Valley High School. One of the main concerns is where on campus they will be and how the parking will work with the different schedules

of both schools. The first idea of where to place their campus is the collection of classrooms that make up the A building and to move the special education program to different parts of campus and immerse them into the other departments on campus. “If the decision is made that Conejo Valley High School is to move here then we are going to do everything we can to accommodate them,” Lichtl said. The faculty has also expressed concern about the use of the word “temporary” in the report because some are convinced that the adjustments made will work well enough to the point where the board will feel completely comfortable and make the addition to Thousand Oaks High School a permanent solution. At the most recent staff meeting on January 20th, a new idea was presented to tell the superintendent, Dr. Bonitatibus, to wait one year before making the final decision to reconsider all of her options. She holds the final word on the transfer of Conejo Valley High School to the campus of Thousand Oaks High School. Although Dr. Bonitatibus and her staff hold the final vote for the transfer, the school board still holds influence. The school board meetings are important in the decision process because the community’s voice can be heard through the public comments portion of the meetings where people are invited to speak. The public comments section is when the teachers and staff of Thousand Oaks High speak, and when they plan to propose their idea at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

OUT WITH THE OLD—Conejo Valley High School sits on the oldest property in CVUSD while looking for a solution and location. PHOTO » NATE SWANSON » THE LANCER

NEWS

MARCH FOR A DIFFERENCE TOHS students take part in the Southern California chapter of the Women’s March, a worldwide event, held on Jan. 21.

PHOTO » KATIE O’SHEA »WITH PERMISSION

NATALIE PAGAN

News Editor

Hundreds of women, including several TOHS students, gathered in Downtown Los Angeles and Ventura on Saturday Jan. 21 to participate in the worldwide Women’s March. The march served as an opportunity for women to come together and have a collective voice for equality. “The Women’s March is a demonstration of unity to honor and defend human rights and equality for all. It is also a chance for us to voice our opinions on our President and his policies, which is what our country, a democracy, is all about,” junior Maddie Chetkovich said. Many marched as a chance to have their voice heard and to make a difference after the Inauguration on Friday Jan. 20. “I decided to go because I wanted to be part of the change going on in this nation and ﬁnally act on my beliefs rather than just talk about them,” sophomore Katie O’Shea said. “I wanted to show people that it’s not just talk.” The march began at Pershings Square in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. and ended at City Hall at 2 p.m. Many participants were interviewed and had their pictures taken for various news sources and by other participants at the event. “My group sat down in front of this giant glass building and a lot of people took pictures of us there. Having people interview us and take pictures was really cool opportunity to use to help inform people about our cause and try and get rid of the stigma surrounding it,” O’Shea said.

For a few of the TOHS students, this was their first march. All enjoyed the experience and want to take part in one again. “This was the first time that I’ve ever been to a march, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. It was a crazy experience, and a little overwhelming in the beginning,” O’Shea said, “but overall is inspiring and made everyone in my group really want to work harder towards making our ideas a reality.” Marches were held on every continent, including Antarctica. But the largest turnout was in Los Angeles with 750,000 people marching. Due to the large turnout, the march moved very slowly, but marchers were persistent in walking and being heard. “I was at the march for around four hours, but there were so many people that it was impossible to march that far,” Chetkovich said. “The experience was incredibly uplifting. I was surrounded by a bunch of like-minded people preaching love and unity for one another in our country.” Participants got to experience what it takes to gain equality for women—something that has been fought for all throughout history. Many say they will participate in more marches in the future to fight for what they believe in. “As a woman I am very passionate about keeping my human rights, something that we have not fully obtained until recently in history,” junior Gianna Tognarelli said. “Since these rights are being threatened by the new presidency, I found it imperative that I attend and show my support for basic human rights.”

PHOTO » MADDIE CHETKOVITCH »WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO » LAVENDER RUFFMAN » WITH PERMISSION

MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD—(Top) Juniors Maddie Chetkovitch, Violet Halub and Payton Adema march in the Los Angeles Women’s March on Jan. 21. (Below) Junior Gianna Tognarelli holds a sign she made for the Ventura march with several of her friends.

SUPPORTING EQUALITY— 1: Sophomore Katie O’Shea marches with friends while holding up signs in LA. 2-4: Various signs seen at the Women’s Marches in Los Angeles and Ventura.

ADVERTISEMENTS

PARENT MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION NIGHT • Hear the personal stories of teens dealing with mental health issues • Q&A with a board of professionals and experts • Short Film introduction • Learn the signs of mental illness in your teens and how to find the right help WHERE: Muvico Thousand Oaks The Oaks, 166 W. Hillcrest Drive WHEN:

February 6, 2017 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

WHO:

Parents, guardians, and teens

Seating is limited. Please RSVP at: www.toaks.org/youth or call 805-381-7362

ACCESS Ackerman College Counseling and Educational Support Services Helps Students: Develop Extra Curricular Activities Resume Compose and Edit Outstanding Admissions Essays Navigate Financial Aid Create an Appropriate list of Schools at which to Apply

For more information, contact Bill Ackerman (818).371.4956 accesscollegecounseling@gmail.com

Since 2001, ACCESS students have been admitted to: Princeton Harvard Stanford Chicago MIT Penn Cornell Washington University in St. Louis Notre Dame Georgetown UCLA Claremont McKenna Wesleyan Virginia Illinois UCSD and many, many more

Last year, his students were admitted to: Brandeis Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Carnegie Mellon Case Western Reserve Clark College The Cooper Union George Washington Georgia Tech Hofstra Indiana University

Juniata Loyola Marymount Loyola University of Chicago Macalester College Michigan Rice UC Irvine USC University of Washington Tufts

ENTERTAINMENT

Vintage and vinyl revival Recently, playing vinyl records has come back in style among teens and helps the enthusiasts preserve the past. The upsurge of vinyl-use reflects the overall increase in secondhand shopping and ecological awareness. CATE VALINOTE

Website Editor

Sometimes it’s tricky to keep track of what the hipsters are up to. With their born-in-the-wrongera band tees and man buns, young people caring a little bit more than most about their “aesthetics” are notorious for changing the tide and rocking the boat of the mainstream. The critics complain that these trends have already run their course, but hipsters value what this fast-paced culture often forgets: the treasures of the past. Flashback to the 1940’s, when the original hipsters were white teens following the underground jazz scene, stepping across racial boundaries in berets and pinstripe suits. Then there were the Beatniks, and the Brooklyn bohemians. No matter how many times this melting pot of styles and culture transformed, one thing was certain-- the hipsters kept the alternative style and music scene alive in their day. Today, this subculture can be found in vintage jackets and second-hand jeans, sifting through records. With the growth in popularity of clothing resale curators like Buffalo Exchange, grandma sweaters seeking a new life in the Goodwill suddenly take on a trendy appeal. Even the ratty flannels and ripped boyfriend jeans in Urban Outfitters have adopted the worn-in vibe only naturally found in the thrift store. As for the resurgence of vinyl, young collectors shop at hole-in-the-wall finds like Record Outlet on Thousand Oaks Blvd. According to Billboard, vinyl accounted for 6.5% of all album sales last year. With 13.1 million sold, 2016 marks the eleventh year that record sales have been on the rise. Even Barnes and Noble and some Whole Foods Market stores boast vinyl sections.

OFF THE RECORD — Old and new meet as a Twenty One Pilots record, Blurryface, plays on the record player and a Ray Anthony record, Fox Trots, awaits playing.

So why is it worth noticing picky shoppers accenting tasteful hard copies of their favorite albums with recycled clothing? Well, in an increasingly global economy, consumers turning their noses up at massed produced apparel fresh from the factories see thrift shopping as more than just an inspiration from Macklemore’s 2013 hit single. Not only is shopping secondhand more affordable, but promotes sustainable living. Instead of viewing castoff materials as waste, ethical shoppers are willing to seek out used attire and tailor it to their style, even mending their findings if necessary. At many secondhand stores, like Zoe’s No Fleas Market on Thousand Oaks Blvd, part of the proceeds go to charitable causes like animal rescue, clothing the homeless, or helping disabled veterans. Sophomore Lauren Faciana wears clothes from thrift stores and flea markets as a way to embrace her creative style. “The main thing I love about thrifting is the uniqueness of every piece,” said Faciana, “I won’t see another girl wearing the same shirt I am and that really boosts my confidence in my outfit.” Like Faciana, vinyl junkies also see their collections as collages of the past and present. In the music world, young fans appreciate one of the remaining tangible mediums in the increasingly digital world — the record. Like the thrifters refuse to waste clothes another’s closet castaways, these collectors are not ready to send record players and vinyl to the dumpsters along with telegraphs and pagers just yet. With the increasing demand for vinyl and used clothing in the vintage-centric community, more teens are taking to the dusty racks and shelves. Though Goodwill has responded with climbing prices, this shopping realm is still much more affordable compared to their corporate apparel counterparts overflowing the shopping malls. Vinyl can be increasingly expensive too, but is worth the splurge for the eclectic shopper. Whether a vintage or vinyl seeker opens their wallet voting for sustainable living or original style, their choices challenge the role of the conventional consumer. Somehow, they have managed to create a time capsule of music and mode. While the mainstream obsesses over the Kardashians or the newest iPhone, hipsters preserve what is otherwise forgotten. Thanks to them, dusty David Bowie records and ‘90s jelly sandals are here to stay.

PHOTOS » SEBASTIAN MAYA » THE LANCER

NTS:

RESE RIAN P

AWK My birthday was last Sunday, not that it matters at all nor does it particularly relate to this story, but it was an eye-opening situation for me. It made me realize that being sung the happy birthday song is one of the most terrifying and awkward situations ever. Everyone just stands around you and sings while you have no idea what you’re supposed to be doing for the next 26 seconds except kind of smile and nod your head. You can’t even sing along because you’d be telling yourself happy birthday, and that’s just sad. I soon realized that my days are filled with so many reoccurring awkward situations, so here’s a list of a few of them: - Holding a door open for someone but they’re way too far away so I end up standing there longer than a comfortable amount of time. - When I’m walking in the hallways and someone is directly in front of me so I go left but they go left too and it turns into a frenzied shuffle of left and rights until one of us just powers through straight-forward. - Seeing someone walking that I think I know so I yell their name, but they turn around and I discover I was wrong and they just look at me like I’m crazy. - Making eye contact with the person next to me at a red light and the other person continues to maintain eye contact. - When a class is having presentations, and one of the presenters is desperately unprepared so I’m forced to sit through 6 minutes of absolute cringe. - When Dr. Swanson roasts me in front of the entire class out of nowhere. - When Dr. Swanson tells a dad joke. - When the waiter brings me food and says, “enjoy your food,” and I proceed to reply with, “you too.” - Calling out someone’s name but they don’t hear. - Saying a joke and thinking that no one heard me so I repeat the same joke but it turns out that it just wasn’t funny. - When someone calls my name and I get excited but they’re actually calling for my friend Ryan and not me, Brian. - When someone asks me, “So what are you?” when referring to my Asian heritage. - When I go to handshake someone but they go in for a fist bump or high five. - When I’m in the bathroom and someone chooses the urinal directly next to mine even though he had like 7 other choices. - Tripping in public and looking around to make sure no one saw. - Saying bye to someone but we end up walking in the same direction. - Thinking someone is talking to me but they turn their head and they have a bluetooth earpiece in. - Waving back at someone but they’re actually waving to the person behind me. - Fumbling around trying to put change into my wallet after I’ve bought something and I’m panicking because there’s an extremely long line behind me. - Pushing on a door that says pull or vice versa and everyone around is giggling. - Trying to make small talk with an Uber driver. -When a friend says they can’t hang out because they have family stuff or they’re busy, and I see them hanging out with other people on someone’s Snapchat story. - When you’re the friend who said you couldn’t hang out because of “family” and you get called out for it. Yeah, life is real awkward. —Brian Lee

ENTERTAINMENT

FIRING UP:

Janchi Korean BBQ

Opened two weeks ago, Janchi Korean BBQ in the Janss Marketplace does not live up to its potential as the new Asian cuisine in town. The mediocre BBQ does not compare to the restaurant’s knowledgeable staff. High priced, low quality food will leave its guests very unsatisfied.

SEBASTIAN MAYA Entertainment Editor First, let me just say that I am no expert in Korean BBQ restaurants. Second, even if I were an expert, Janchi would still score relatively mediocre on my list. Korean BBQ is a form of restaurant in which one can have food served or make it his or her self. When first walking into Janchi, it feels bare, cold and somber. The dark lighting, lack of decoration, and high ceilings made me feel disconnected within the gray-and-blue-toned restaurant. Although Janchi claims to be a family restaurant on its website and menu, it failed to meet the average aspects of a family restaurant (take notes from Applebee’s). The atmosphere didn’t have the warmth or the playfulness I’d imagine from a lively restaurant. The menu also gave me some mixed signals. Some of their meals were priced as high as $65, but others were as low as $7. While there are low prices on the menu, there is a big jump from the low end to the high end with no middle ground. As we looked away from our menus and ordered our food, it was quick and easy. The waitress was extremely helpful. She took time to explain all the foods and answered all our questions with ease. The waitress helped us cook our meals and gave us tips for the next time we go to a Korean BBQ. Once we placed our order, chicken and beef (called brisket) to grill, Soon tofu soup, and tofu salad. Janchi only took two minutes for the sides and the salad to arrive — a record in my book. The side portions were small, and the salad was plain. The entrees were a mix of quality. The Soon tofu soup was thick, sweet and savory, a definite recommend. The chicken came per-salted and greased, it had a prominent mouth-watering taste of salt and pepper. However, the beef did not have the same quality as the soon tofu soup and the chicken. The beef, called brisket, came in small thin slices in only a modest portion. When cooked, half the beef turned into fat. Not the healthiest item to eat on the menu. Janchi is a mixed pot of quality, flavor and prices. For a high school audience, Janchi would be a skip — we miss TGI Friday’s.

2.5 stars

ALL PHOTOS » SEBASTIAN MAYA » THE LANCER

address 165 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

phone number (805) 370-1777

hours Monday-Friday/ 11:30 AM-2:30 PM, 5-10 PM Saturday/ 2:30 AM-11:30 PM Sunday/ 2:30 AM-9 PM

busiest hours 12:30 PM-1:30 PM 12 PM-2 PM 6:30 PM-8PPM

average price $$$ janchibbq janchibbq.com CRACKING UP — (Above) Janchi waitress serves her table. (Below) Junior Entertainment Editor Shraya Blaisdell cracks an egg into her Soon Tofu soup.

ENTERTAINMENT

STUDENT ARTISTS TOHS students show their love of art through their drawings. Using different mediums, each artist brings their ideas to life.

Hannah Mackay, grade 11 “Spirited Air”

Sarah Poff, grade 9 “The Necromancer”

James Nauert, grade 9 “More Hair, More Trouble”

OPINION

Interests

Habits S PHOTO » SIERRA WATERS » THE LANCER

Since the beginning of the school year, Acacia Elementary reinforced a policy with the intent of encouraging the pursuit of their student’s individual interests by not requiring homework completion. Although school officials limited the effort to one school, the apparent success of the program has led many to believe the initiative should be spread throughout higher level schooling. Is the new no-homework policy initiated by Acacia worth replicating throughout the district?

YES

No homework would allow more time for student growth

Homework is necessary to learn and form good habits

SIERRA WATERS

Opinion Editor

Ever since we, the student body, were young children, adults have been telling us to “follow our dreams.” Yet here we are in one of the key developmental stages of our lives and we have no time to pursue those things because we are tied down to the system with pointless homework. How can we be expected to reach our potential when our schedules are packed with worksheets? Homework wastes our time and prohibits us from excelling. The Acacia policy is a big step in achieving the education we deserve. I understand we’re not in elementary school anymore, but that is precisely the reason why the policy is relevant to us. Homework’s purpose is to help students dive further into specific subjects and help them understand the material. However, it’s doing the exact opposite, especially in high school, because teachers give an excessive amount of busy work. It has lost its purpose. Most students only do their homework for a grade instead of a study tool, as opposed to classwork which is more targeted at learning. That means that homework assignments aren’t done well and the only thing the student learns is how to cheat the system. Students come to school exhausted and stressed — not wanting to learn. Homework burns us out and keeps us up at night. It’s one of the main reasons we don’t get the recommended ten hours of sleep a night and why we come to school ill prepared to learn new material. Another problem is that students are becoming so busy with extracurriculars that homework becomes a burden. Students don’t just do outside activities to excel on college applications, but because they’re trying to do something they love. Whether it be a playing a sport, creating art or working outside of school, we’re trying to broaden our horizons and take this time to do something new. Extracurriculars are a huge part in finding out who we are. In addition to enhancing our world view, it’s important for students to find a balance in their lives. Our existence can’t revolve around school, nor can it revolve around extracurriculars. Instead there needs to be a balance between those two things, students’ social lives and time with family. The excessive homework forces students to undermine that balance and focus all their attention on school, but there is more to life than just that. If there is going to be homework, then it should be centered around the class’ interest. For example, if a biology class is studying the cardiovascular system and the digestive system but the students are more interested in the cardiovascular system, then the homework should be more centered around that. That way the homework is done for the purpose of learning the material, and students are more excited to learn. Homework needs to help reinforce the classroom lessons in a way that keeps students wanting and prepared to learn. The concept of homework has lost its purpose. It can be beneficial if used to help students be more engaged in their studies, but right now it’s only damaging students’ well-being, which needs to be put first and foremost.

GAVIN P. NORTON

Opinion Editor

Not every student in CVUSD is an elementary schooler. Although high schoolers and kindergarteners are commonly mistaken for one another, it makes simple sense they should not be treated the same ... or even similarly. The reason a no-homework policy wouldn’t work for a student above the fifth grade is the same reason playgrounds aren’t installed on our campus; high schoolers and middle schoolers may sometimes act childish, but they are not children. So, teachers are deciding to remove the need to work at home. And, frankly, even though they claim their new technique is to become “self-directed learners,” the approach seems lazy on the part of the teachers. When no longer required to complete work on their own time, how can a student expect to find enough intrinsic motivation to even complete any work that was aimed to be completed in class? Motivation comes from the psychological process of conditioning a child. A teacher conditioning a child away from having to complete his homework is dangerous. When a student still receives rewards in class the next day, he may be more likely to refuse to do his chores or listen to his boss when he gets a job. Think back to when you were being raised with an allowance and household chores. Our parents set expectations for us. Each week we were meant to take out the trash or unload the dishes from the dishwasher or help with breakfast. Such chores may have seemed odd to us at the time, as we thought our parents to be perfectly capable of doing the job, but we now realize that the little bit of extra work each day as a child served to create a type of work ethic and, at the very least, structure. The same basic model is true for homework. Elementary schoolers and high schoolers alike should never be put off from the track to a positive, fruitful life. Something as simple as homework allows students to learn time management, gain at least some familiarity with the material and practice having responsibility. Yet, the argument for niche learning and no homework stands. Although some claim children should stop receiving general education, and opt in favor of self-chosen career paths, the truth is that general education is necessary to offer children as many options as possible. Even narrowing the scope of class possibilities in high school can deter a student from reaching his or her full potential because tastes change throughout life. The purpose of college is to engage students for their careers of choice; they intentionally make this choice when they are educated enough in various subjects to make a proper decision about their own futures. On the contrary, elementary school is designed with the interest of broadening the child’s field of knowledge. Even entire family dynamics can be changed with the reduction, or even elimination of homework. Families whose culture or dynamic favors a hard work ethic towards education will lose interest in engaging their children with public school work and their standards will be lowered. Teachers and parents need to continue assigning and encouraging the completion of homework because without it, healthy habits will not be formed.

OPINION

You say tomato Although the differences between biological sex and gender identity are hard to define, we need to understand the nuances of the debate to move forward and make a better society for everyone. ever been as controversial as now. Our current society is trying to understand and define what it means to be We all know that a tomato is a fruit. trans. We’re trying to figure out where and how it apBut, would you put a tomato in a smoothie? Or put plies to our lives, and that’s important for the commutomatoes in your fruit salad? (the correct answer is no) nity as a whole to come to a consensus on. No matter what arguments you bring to the table, the It’s common for cis people to not understand the nudebate over whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables is ances and inclinations of trans people, but that doesn’t fundamentally flawed because the argument discusses invalidate the latter’s gender. It’s important for us as two completely separate definitions. the American population to remember that Biologically, there is no room for dewe move forward as a society through civbate about whether tomatoes are fruits or “We absolutely cannot il argument, which leads to general convegetables: they are the seed-bearing part sensus and agreement. argue, for example, And although some don’t grasp the conof a plant. They are fruit. Likewise, in culinary terms, there is no of genderfluid or nonbinary people, that being born with cepts debate about whether or not tomatoes are we as a community need to understand vegetables. A tomato’s biology has no im- XX or XY chromosomes what we’re debating about. pact on its use in a kitchen. Tomatoes are We absolutely cannot argue, for exdiscredits gender ample, savory, not sweet. They are in entrees, not that being born with XX or XY desserts. They are vegetables. identity because that’s chromosomes discredits gender identity Depending on the context, tomatoes because that’s arguing over two separate can be either vegetables or fruits, but arguing over two sep- definitions of what gender is. It’s an inherthey’re never both. At any given time, arate definitions of ently flawed argument. only one of the two definitions is valid, so Biological sex doesn’t impact gender arguing between the two inherently leads what gender is. ” identity. They’re two separate definitions, to an irreconcilable dispute over nothing. and debates between the two are pointless. It’s like trying to say that there is only Rather, our arguments should focus on the one valid way to define what gender is. question of “Under what circumstances do the identity Hopefully, you’ve already realized that this article and biology definitions of gender apply?” isn’t about tomatoes (it’s an analogy). Sometimes the answer is clear: in medical cases, it Throughout most of human history, we’ve only ever is important for the doctor to know a patient’s sex ashad one definition of gender — it was an all encom- signed at birth. A trans woman, for example, will still passing definition. A person’s gender described both be at risk of prostate cancer, so it is crucial for a doctor his or her anatomy and social position. The binary titles to know her biological gender. of male and female were efficient and effective. In other cases, the answer is more ambiguous. CastNow, in our current American culture, the social er Semenya, a South African runner, encountered roles and responsibilities of men and women are fad- controversy for being intersexual. She was born with ing. No longer do we follow strict Victorian standards a medical condition, hyperandrogenism, that causes where men and women have completely separate so- her body to produce three times the testosterone as a cial spheres that rarely coincide. Women can live as normal woman, but she is biologically female and she independently as men. It’s common for both parents in identifies as one. Should Semenya and others like her a family to work, which contrasts with the traditional compete with men or women? breadwinner male and housekeeper female. Is biological sex or gender identity more relevant? In social terms, gender is decreasingly important. When and where do we acknowledge each respective On the contrary, human anatomy hasn’t changed much. definition? It’s hard to determine, but these are the The biological definition of gender is still relevant. But questions we need to ask. now, we also have new terminology for gender: we So next time you engage in a debate about the genhave terms for people who identify as genders besides der’s place society, remember that it’s not an argument just male and female. about whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables: it’s an Throughout western history, gender identity hasn’t argument about where each definition applies. ANDREW CHAU

“Fish are friends, not food.” —Bruce, “Finding Nemo”

Opinion Editor

NUMBERS:

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The Lancer polled 250 students about their opinions on gender, gender identity, and its place in society.

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GRAPHIC » ANDREW CHAU » THE LANCER

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Our parents told us a lot of things when we were small that we no longer take to heart. They told us to always eat our vegetables and that Santa Claus was real. However the biggest cautionary tale they told us was to never, EVER, talk to strangers. Different parents had different ways of talking about it. Maybe they’d put on an educational cartoon, had you on a child leash or maybe tried to scare you with “Dateline” episodes (just my family?). Yet here we are, online dating and kik-ing and tumbling and tweeting. It just sounds like a bad western film. It’s fascinating honestly. “Stranger Danger” was a phrase coined by the 1960s Gen X parents everywhere, yet we’re the generation who totally threw that away. I bet we all have one friend that we met over the internet, and I’m being generous; I’m sure for most of you it’s more. Say what you will, but the truth is that we have no idea who’s on the other side. We watch shows like “Catfish” and we laugh because we don’t ever think that could happen to us. Next thing you know you’re the victim all over “Dateline” that my parents used to scare me off the internet. I don’t want to hear that speech again, so I would appreciate you not getting kidnapped for my sake. I’m not saying I’m innocent of all this — I’ve had my fair share of “let’s be emo like the rest of the Tumblr kids” moments — but one day I realized it all stemmed from a sense of loneliness (yikes this chick just got DEEP). So after realizing how sketchy talking to people on the internet can be, I took a step back and was like, “Alright, there’s gotta be another way to fill the void.” Then it hit me, instead of talking to strangers on the internet, let’s talk to strangers IRL! Reader, talking to strangers on the internet is immature. But talking to them in real life is bold; it’s where the real magic happens, and I’m not talking about your Tinder experiences. It starts with something as easy as a compliment, and sometimes that’s all it takes. There’s nothing better than seeing the smile on a stranger’s face when you compliment his or her coat. And who knows? You might even learn a thing or two. For example, my father and I were touring USC, we saw this guy wearing a jacket that said, “I got 99 problems.” My dad stops him and goes, “Hey, man, nice jacket. That’s really neat! I mean, why just have 99 problems?” The guy wearing the jacket laughed and thanked us, and he and I made brief eye contact thinking the same thing. Even if he or she turns out to be a jerk, you still gain confidence and swagger like Beyonce, and that’s all the really matters. Eventually you’ll make someone smile, and you’ll become a stronger person each time you do it. It sounds cheesy, reader, but I’m right and you know it. Also, consider this mind blowing idea: all of our friends were strangers at one point. Some of my best friends are the direct result of awkward small talk. I mean, isn’t that how all of the best romantic comedies start? The girl is in the elevator and the guy runs in, obviously in some kind of hurry, and then they sit there until he says, “Sooo…” Soon they’re married, someone’s pregnant, and they’re living happily ever after (not necessarily in that order). That could be you one day! All you have to do is channel your inner Ryan Reynolds or your favorite smooth talking celebrity and speak up! You’re probably much cooler than you think you are. — Sierra Waters

IN-FOCUS

Entrepreneurship STEPS TO VIRTUAL ENTERPRISE COMPETITIONS Assign:

Brainstorm:

- Both senior classes brainstorm ideas - (i.e. Double sided toothbrush, never ending soap, etc)

STEP ONE STEP TWO

Vote:

-Individual classes vote on two companies to pursue -Ruby Cases and Youth Cosmetics

-Students apply for their desired position -EThOS teacher Ryan Thompson conducts professional interviews and assigns leading roles, such as VP, CEO, AND COO -Chosen leaders conduct separate interviews and decide who they want to employ

STEP THREE Pitch:

STEP FOUR

-Companies pitch their business ideas

Create:

-Companies create their image -Design color pallet, logo, company card, website, and letterhead -Make marketing and business plans

STEP FIVE STEP SIX COMPETITION!

Compete:

-State Business Plan- Los Angeles -Semi-finals- Bakersfield -International- New York

Submit:

-PR submits color pallet, logo, and letterhead -HR is given and least two weeks to submit business and marketing plans to the Virtual Enterprise portal

Senior EThOS students find that creating and managing a company can present both challenges and rewards at the same time.

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IN-FOCUS

LETTERS TO THE TEACHERS

Dear Ms. Ehret, For these past few months that I have known you through EThOS, you have been nothing but kind and welcoming. I wish there were more people like you who could relate to my pet peeves and deal with my perfectionist attitude. From the day I first met you through one of my friends, I was instantly excited to have you as my teacher. So far, this year has been far better than I expected it to be, and you never fail to make me laugh and boost my mood. From telling us what to draw on the back of our tests, to me arguing with you over an A+, you’ve been so amazing. Thank you for pushing me to work my hardest and for listening to me rant about stupid things from time to time. You have literally been my rock when I was stressed about Bakersfield or worried about my grade being bumped up from a 98 to a 99 (in which you laughed in my face). I don’t think I could ever get tired of talking to you! Easily, my favorite trait of yours is how you’re able to connect to all of us. I see you as more than my teacher and I am really thankful to have you as a role model. I could go on for hours about how amazing you are, but to summarize, thank you for helping me be the best person I can be! -Athena Sales, Ruby Cases COO

Dear Mr. Thompson, I want to express my gratitude to you for these past three years. Thank you for always believing in me and supporting me in my education and business career path. High school would not have been the same without having an awesome teacher like you in EThOS. Taking your classes has given me a clear understanding of what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’ll take the skills I learned in Entrepreneurship, Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Virtual Enterprise with me in everything I do. I am especially grateful for the fact that you understood how badly I wanted the Virtual Enterprise position of CEO. Being CEO taught me more in one semester than I ever could ever imagine, and that’s all because you believed in me enough to grant me the position. I have so many memories from our class projects, presentations, and field trips. Your mentoring has taught me the proper skills to successfully run a business, and I think you were meant to teach kids about entrepreneurship. You are the only teacher I’ve ever had that I actually feel comfortable talking to. I look forward to coming back after graduation to catch up. -Madison Castiel; Ruby Cases CEO

Dear Mrs. Moore, As a teacher, the compassion you show for teaching, coupled with your immense amount of patience, has always left me astounded. Whether it was teaching a confusing grammar lesson or dealing with an overly rowdy class, you continue to be an inspiration for not only me, but many others as well. No matter the question, I can count on an honest and straightforward answer from you. You manage to always make time for students and you go above and beyond when helping to make the EThOS program a pleasurable experience for everyone. By expanding the knowledge of others both inside and outside of class, you continue to be a mentor to all those you come in contact with. As a person, you are truly amazing. To find time in between your many jobs to help out a single ordinary student such as myself is extraordinary. If I needed help on a big project outside your class or some SAT problems were giving me trouble, you would go out of your way to help me out. You do everything in your power to make my life, as well as others’ lives, easier, and you do so much for all your students and ask for so little in return. I do not believe it is possible to thank you enough for everything you do. However, on behalf of all EThOS seniors, I will try now. Thank you so much Mrs. Moore- my Thousand Oaks High School experience would not have been the same without you. -Asher Waldman, Yüth Cosmetics COO

Dear Mrs. Chase, I may never be able to explain how grateful I am for you in actual words. All of the countless laughs, all of the “therapy sessions,” the pep-talks, and finally, for all of the times you’ve believed in me, even when I did not! Looking back on the last three years of my high school career, I could not and would not want to imagine it without you! You have given me a clear understanding of history lessons while relating them to entrepreneurship in unique ways. You have helped me through experiences, and “slumps” that I considered to be the end of the world with such grace and such kindness. Having a class at 7 a.m every morning definitely was not the easiest some days, but you made sure to do everything in your power to keep my spirits lifted and eager to learn. The memories I will take from your class, games, and projects will stay with me, and I cannot wait for all of your incoming students to experience everything that I have. Thank you for being my mentor, teacher, and good friend. I cannot wait to catch up with you after graduation and sell you my official “Sensi-Skin” products. -Jessica Bloomquist, OZ Wax COO

IN-FOCUS

Create a business JOYCE HUCHIN

In-Focus Editor

Seniors experienced six months of leadership, teamwork and creativity. Throughout the semester, the graduating class of the EThOS Entrepreneurship Academy created and prepared four companies with original products for the 2017 Virtual Enterprise Trade Show and Business Plan Competition in Bakersfield. Each company is lead by a CEO and COO, who run the project as if it were a real business. “Your junior year you take Sports and Entertainment Marketing and do intense projects that prepare you for Virtual Enterprise, which you do your senior year,” senior Ruby Cases CEO Madison Castiel said. “With virtual enterprise, we split up the class into companies, and the whole semester we prepare for Bakersfield.” Each company sells a unique product. At the beginning of the school year the two senior EThOS classes have a large brainstorm for product idea. Then, they narrow down their ideas to four products, which they use to form their companies. Castiel and Ruby Cases COO senior Athena Sales lead a company that focuses around making a product to protect banking information. “Ruby Cases is is an armed RFID blocking phones case. Credit cards and banking apps on your phone like Chase and Wells Fargo have these things called RFIDs, which allow access into your banking or personal information. There are RFID scanners that can be bought off the shelf that people can use to scan your information,” Sales said. “Last year, I had four hundred dollars stolen from me and that inspired me to start this company. Our product is a wallet phone case with a copper foil lining on it that blocks RFID, so it protects your banking apps on your phone and your physical credit cards as well.” Resc-UAV CEO senior Karla Honorato and COO senior Chance Crawford designed a company to sell drones that facilitate search and rescue missions. “Resc-UAV specializes in search and rescue. We have a drone with a thermal and IR camera. Someone will control it to fly out and search for a missing person. When it finds the person, it will land and let go of a package with ready to eat meals, a first aid kit, water, a satellite phone, and a survival knife,” Crawford said. “The people controlling the drone would then tell the fire department exactly where the missing person is, so they don’t have to send search parties out. On average, it takes a search party three or four days to find someone. We believe this drone will knock that time in half.”

After finalizing their ideas, EThOS teacher Ryan Thompson interviews those who applied for leadership positions like CEO and COO. “You fully dress up, give Thompson a resume and he interviews you for that position,” Sales said. “This year he formed four companies. Thompson assigns the leading roles like the CEO and COO, then as the department chairs we interview and decide who we want in our company.” Once they form their companies, students complete various assignments. Competitors submit their materials through the Virtual Enterprise Portal, an online platform. They have various deadlines to submit materials like a sales catalogue and employee manual before the in Bakersfield competition. “Virtual Enterprise is an international competition, and when we went to Bakersfield there were 64 other companies. Those were all high school companies across Southern California,” senior Ruby Cases COO Athena Sales said. “We competed in multiple categories that made up all aspects of starting a company.” The months leading up to the Bakersfield competition present various challenges for each company. “Going into this, Sales and I understood that as CEO and COO we were going to be the leaders of our company. Since all of our employees are our peers, it was hard for them to respect us as their bosses,” Castiel said. “That took a lot of trial and error for how to run a company and how to gain their respect but also make them know that we respect them as well. At the end, I think we were pretty successful at that and we figured out the way to get through it all.” Another challenge was the size of the companies. It was hard for two leaders to motivate and manage a group of 16 students. To solve this, Resc-UAV implemented a grading system and divided their company between the CEO and the COO. “We pretty much split it in two, but Karla and I still communicate,” Crawford said. “It made it easier because employees didn’t have to work as hard to get the attention of the person grading them.” Despite the obstacles, participants consider the project a rewarding experience. “I’ve learned a lot of communication and management skills,” Honorato said. “We definitely grew up from this experience because we realized that we had to do things on our own. We are seniors and we are going to graduate soon, so we have to learn how to be on our own.”

EThOS through the years Freshman Sophomore Guest speakers and field trips

Job shadow

Junior

Senior

Mentorship

Virtual enterprise competition

CAREER TRAINING —(Left) The Ruby Cases company shows off their third place trophy in the category of creative booth at the Virtual Enterprise Trade Show and Business Plan Competition in Bakersfield. (Above) Michelle Lopez presents on behalf Yüth Cosmetics, a company that sells mascara that also turns into a face mask.

FEATURES

SHE WAS A SK8R GIRL

Senior Haley Isaak expresses herself through skateboarding and uses her talent and passion to connect with her peers. KYLIE PATTERSON

Features Editor

The expectation of female skaters is a mix between just wanting to make a fashion statement and knowing a few simple tricks. Senior Haley Isaak takes this stereotype and defies it in every possible way. Isaak stumbled upon her passion for skating by chance, through a video game she and her friends played. With her interest piqued by the skateboard simulation, she decided she wanted to take a shot at the real thing. “My friends and I started skating because we are into video games and there is this skateboarding video game that we were playing made us want to try skating in real life,” Isaak said. “It was some Tony Hawk video game and it was pretty fun.” Isaak had no trouble getting into the groove and picked up on the fundamentals of skating quickly. “It came to me pretty naturally. Eventually I was skateboarding all day every day, so I got a lot of practice in,” Isaak said. Skating soon became what Isaak put all her time into, while also trying balance soccer and her academics. “School is more of a priority than skating, but they don’t really conflict. Only soccer conflicts with skating,” Isaak said. “Sometimes I’ll have soccer tournaments when I want to go to a skate competition instead, and I get really bummed. I always choose soccer because I made a commitment.” Southern California’s state of consistent sun allows Isaak to skate whenever and wherever her heart desires, but due to the recent much-needed rain, she’s had to find ways around the obstacle of weather. “I have one main skateboard that I use, but I have a trash board that I use when it rains,” Isaak said. “It doesn’t rain that often, but recently it’s been raining a lot so I’ve been using it.” Thousand Oaks doesn’t have much of a skate culture, so Isaak has to go to places like Simi Valley to find skateparks, and has even resorted to building a halfpipe in her backyard.

“My and brother and I built it two summers ago. We built it out of wood,” Isaak said. Skateboarding provides Isaak with a way to express herself, the same way an artist might express themselves through a painting. “It’s a good creative outlet, it allows me to be creative and think of different tricks that other people haven’t done,” Isaak said. “It gets my adrenaline pumping. It’s a fun sport.” Being a girl, Isaak is challenged by the difficulties of being a part of a predominately male sport, but finds in most situations that other skaters are very supportive. “If I go by myself to a skate park and you walk in and it’s all guys there, it’s a little intimidating because you know they’re all watching you,” Isaak said. “But, normally they’re pretty supportive about it because they know that there aren’t very many girl skaters. They’ll try to encourage me.” Through skating, Isaak has made many connections and formed new friendships. Some of these friends are very well-known in the skating world and are considered professionals. “I’m actually friends with some pro-skaters. I don’t really freak out when I see them,” Isaak said. “There are a lot of skaters around here. Simi, Los Angeles. This is where they all live pretty much. They are really good at skating. I’ve just met them and hung out with them before.” Isaak also competes in competitions on her days off, if she considers them worth her time. She won the best trick contest at Street League, the Tampa Am competition and the Vans Park Series. In the future, Isaak plans to continue doing skating as a hobby. She feels skating has improved the way she approaches challenging situations in her life. “It’s made me a much more resilient and confident person because you make a lot of mistakes skateboarding,” Isaak said. “You fall a lot, but every time you just get back up again and try to succeed. It’s good to translate that into your life.”

CAPTION—(Top Left) Isaak does tricks in her backyard. (Top Right) Isaak models her new shoes on her mini ramp. (Bottom) Isaak skates a rail at a local skate park. Some of the new tricks she is teaching herself are the mctwist, dragon flip, and bar spin. PHOTOS » HALEY ISSAK’S INSTAGRAM » WITH PERMISSION

FEATURES

updated_SERVER(); Computer science and calculus teacher, Mrs. McNamara, balances her lifelong passion in programming work with competitive sports.

PHOTO » CARISSA LO » THE LANCER

KYLIE PATTERSON CLARISSA KANO

Features Editors

Since high school, computer science and math teacher Patti McNamara’s love for mathematics and technology has carried her into various careers as an adult. After graduating from USC with her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, McNamara took her credentials and almost immediately got a job with Hughes Aircraft Company as a computer programmer. “The defense industry was hiring like crazy so I got a job without any problems,” McNamara said. “At the time, they were a huge company so they had a lot of different divisions all over the place.” McNamara worked in radar systems for ﬁve years, then transferred to missile systems. McNamara’s job at The Hughes Aircraft Company consisted of creating mock war situations to test missile systems. During her time as a computer programmer, McNamara found that teaching came easy to her. “Teaching was actually in the back of my mind for the last couple years that I was a software engineer,” McNamara said. “There would be times where I would be working with somebody and trying to explain how something was working, and somebody said, ‘You explain things very well. You should be a teacher,’ I just kind of laughed and said thank you but that really stuck with me.” After working with missile systems for three years, her division decided to move to Arizona. They gave McNamara the option to move with them, ﬁnd another job with the company, or go back to school for another profession that interested her- all expenses paid for. “That was my fork in the road where I decided I was going to move away from software engineering and get a teaching credential to see if I could get a job as a

PHOTO » PATTI MCNAMARA » WITH PERMISSION

teacher,” McNamara said. “It was sort of the push that I needed.” To get her teaching credentials, McNamara attended Cal State Northridge and ﬁnished in a couple of years. She then got interview and hired as a math teacher here at Thousand Oaks, and a few years later took over the computer programming classes. “She’s very open to questions, so she’s not intimidating at all, which is great,” Junior Madison Ragone said. Ragone is in McNamara’s Computer Programming 1 class, and didn’t know what to expect. Yet, she feels the challenge has been worth it and continues to soar above her own expectations.. “I’ve learned that my knowledge of computers is none, so that kind of humbled me,” Ragone said. “I learned that there’s much more complex structures than I thought. There are lots of easy mistakes to make.” For the last few years, McNamara has also been teaching the AP computer science class. “In that class, the goal is a little different. It’s preparing the students for the AP exam so there’s a lot of material to be covered, so I’m just moving through it as quick as possible,” McNamara said. She has found that technological knowledge is more prominent among students nowadays than it’s ever been, leading to her Computer Programming classes gaining popularity. “It seems like even really young kids nowadays have already become exposed to programming,” McNamara said. “There could be a time where I’m teaching only programming classes. That could happen in a foreseeable future.” While balancing a full schedule, McNamara ﬁnds it important to take time for herself and indulge in her own passions and interests. “If I’m not doing stuff related to my job, whether it’s

creating lessons or grading tests, my passion is tennis,” McNamara said. “I play a lot of tennis. Sometimes I feel like my job gets in the way of tennis. When I’m supposed to be grading things, I just want to be playing tennis instead.” McNamara has been a member of the Westlake Athletic Club for a little over two years. When she first joined, she went to clinics, but she soon was able to play competitive tennis due to receiving an invitation to be on another player’s United States Tennis Association (UTSA) team. “It’s a lot of fun and I’ve met so many nice people through playing tennis and while I’ve been at the club,” McNamara said. She doesn’t plan to quit tennis any time soon because she finds that while it’s something she loves to do, it’s also very good for her preserving her physical health. “For as long as I’m teaching, I’ll continue to play tennis because it’s a good balance for me. I felt that prior to tennis I really wasn’t doing a lot of exercise,” McNamara said. “I didn’t belong to a gym or anything and at my age, you start to think about your health and taking it for granted is not a good thing.” McNamara is looking forward to seeing how her students and the industry of computer science as a whole progress. She is especially interested in the changes women are currently making and will continue to make in the future. “Computer science always interested me and became my passion, so it’s so great that I can come here and share that with young people. I love it when students, especially girl students, get into it because it is a pretty male dominated field when I started working at Hugh’s many years ago,” McNamara said. “I would love to see that change and get more women in that field because I think they would be really good at it.”

“Computer science always interested me and became my passion. It’s so great that I can come here and share that with young people. I love it when students, especially girls, get into it because it is a pretty male dominated field.” —MRS. MCNAMARA CODING CLASS— (Top) Mrs. McNamara helps students in her period 6 Computer Science 1 class. (Right) McNamara and her 3.0 team that she captained last year. The team advanced to the National Championships and played in Surprise, AZ in October. They did not advance to the finals, but still had a great time.

FEATURES

Future in Drone Tech

PILOTING FLIGHT— (Top) Fetch displays his project. (Below) Two photos of Fetch’s other drones.

The Lancer interviews Junior Christian Fetch, a student who is focusing his year-long research project on drones. KYLIE PATTERSON

Features Editor

THE LANCER: What made you join the Center? Christian Fetch: Actually, the Center program was part of why I decided to come to TOHS. The concept of being able to research whatever we wanted and have the independence of college level classes was really appealing, and even though I didn’t have a large idea of what the program actually involved, I wanted to try something that would stand out. Unfortunately, we are not allowed the level of freedom I anticipated because our lab only has equipment for biology and some chemistry projects, but I am still able to emulate it to some extent through simulations. The small learning environment also seemed like a good idea, and that’s definitely one of my favorite aspects about the program. Being able to know and be good friends with everyone around you really creates this sense of community that’s hard to find in any other class. TL: How did you find your project idea? CF: My final project in AP Seminar involved lead content in aviation fuel, and how to find an alternative that contained no lead content and was safe to use in piston engines. I was able to find a lot of information on the topic, so initially I was going to continue that into AP Research. However, it turns out that the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) had by that time almost found an alternative, voiding the purpose of the project. I had to come up with a new idea. I’ve always been into engineering, and I definitely knew I wanted to do a project in that field. My past/present experience with drones/UAVs sort of set the stage for me, so I figured I should do something along those lines. Initially, I wanted to build a drone and physically flight test it (to find best efficiency/ flight time), but that was shot down pretty fast due to safety concerns and not having the adequate lab environment. Fortunately, I was able to find simulation programs that could account for real life testing and preform a theoretical project. TL: What is the goal of your project? CF: The goal of my project is to design a fixed-wing UAV/drone for surveillance applications that has a significantly long flight time (around 40-60 minutes). TL: What kind of simulation are you using? CF: I am using two different simulation programs to complete the project. ECALC is an online and free UAV electronics calcula-

tor that contains a vast motor database. It calculates variables such as electric current, thrust-weight ratios, and most importantly, flight time. I am also using a program called XFOIL, which is an MIT-developed console-based program that simulates 2D airfoils and returns lift and drag predictions as well as many other, more specific properties. TL: Who is your mentor and how have they helped you? CF: My mentors are both from the company Aerovironment, which builds and supplies UAVs for the military, government, and police force. I speak with my main mentor, Scott Davis, over email, and he helps me with aerodynamic issues and concepts, as well as recommendations for motor types and other values. TL: How did you find your mentor? CF: I actually found my first mentor, Ed Hammerslag, because he lives in my neighborhood. We had talked to him a little earlier in the year, and he mentioned his job, which was perfect for my project. He was able to connect me to Scott, who has been key in the project. TL: Do you want to pursue in college/the future? CF: I want to major in aeronautical engineering in college, so yes, I do want to continue this kind of work there and in the future. What inspired you to get into this field? For my 12th birthday my dad got me an RC glider, and ever since then I’ve been hooked on anything aviation related, especially drones and UAVs. After that, I started building all kinds of different model planes in my garage, and I created a Youtube channel based on them (which was actually featured in The Lancer a few months ago). I am currently working at DroneFly, a company that sells and repairs all kinds of multirotor drones (I work in the repair dept.). TL: How do you think drones will affect our lives in the future? CF: I think drones will become a large part of everyday life--at home, in the government, and especially in the film industry, assuming the FAA doesn’t add more restrictions to their use. Right now the entire hobby/profession is exploding in popularity, from small 500g racing drones and races to large, 8 rotor beasts carrying cinema-quality cameras to weapons/surveillance drones used by the military, I don’t see any signs in the near future of the community slowing down.

PHOTOS » CHRISTIAN FETCH » WITH PERMISSION