Wellne" Center Story by Jessica Son
Where: Wildcat Wellness Center Website and Appointments!
when: Use the resources on the website anytime, and schedule individual appointments
who: Mrs. Phillips at the Wellness Center and the steering committee
How: website, zoom meetings, and more
All throughout the school year, the Wildcat Wellness Center has been hard at work to provide various selfcare resources and plan engaging activities for students. Because classes remain online during the spring semester due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, paying attention to mental health is more important than ever. As students are studying hard to meet their academic goals, the Wellness Center can be a great tool for mental health care and allows students to take a break from all of the anxieties of life. “I think the most important thing is really to be aware of how you’re feeling,” explains Mrs. Philips, the Wellness Center coordinator. “Sometimes you can drift into this abyss, but if you’re checking in on yourself everyday, you can sense when things aren’t going right.” The Wellness Center has planned a variety of activities to start off the new semester. “We have a bunch of interns coming from CSUN who are putting different workshops together,” Mrs Philips states. “They’ll be just a 45 or 50 minute session on different ways you can creatively control or relieve a little bit of the stress that you might be feeling.” In addition to those workshops, there will be two or three other workshops open to the entire district, along with Intersectionality Week, Financial Wellness workshops in April and another suicide prevention training. West Ranch’s Bring Change to Mind Club and Wildcat Wellness Center Committee are also planning on organizing wellness cohorts at the center and gathering a panel of graduate students to talk about their high school experience. The Wellness Center website is also a great resource for all students, including hotlines, journal prompts, links to wellness videos, Mrs. Philips’ online scheduler, resource support, podcasts and more. You can access the Wildcat Wellness Center website through the West Ranch website or through this url: https://sites.google.com/hartdistrict. org/wildcatwellnesscenter/home
As they dive into another online semester, mental health remains an important issue for students. They can experience feelings of isolation or mental health slumps as the pandemic continues. “We can’t offer quite the same things [online],” shares Mrs. Philips. Distance learning provides unique challenges and limitations, which can put foreign stresses on students. “The isolation, I think, can really strike people more intensely than others. That’s not good, better, or indifferent, that’s just how it is,” says Mrs. Philips. “You have to make that intentional move to make an appointment when it’s virtual like this, and so I think that makes it harder to get what you need. However, there are ways students can check in on themselves during difficult and unprecedented times. Mrs. Philips mentions mindfulness and gratitude as two ways for students to take care of themselves during their daily life. While some people may think of mindfulness as a very involved investment, Mrs. Philips explains that it can simply be “[taking] a second just to see where your mind is, to see where your head’s at, and if you’re feeling a little unbalanced.” She advises students to change their environment once in a while and keep connections, but with emphasis on the fact that they don’t have to do anything big. Finding a few reasons to smile every day can help individuals get out of their own head and increase their self-awareness. Even with virtual learning and the raging pandemic, students are not alone and the West Ranch Wildcat Wellness Center is a great resource to find mental health care. Through the website, virtual appointments, workshops, online resources and more, students can break away from daily pressures and focus on themselves and what they need. While the virtual setting is not ideal, taking care of one’s mental health is still an important task for students, and the Wellness Center is here to help.
" Through the website, virtual appointments,
workshops, online resources and more, students can break away from daily pressures and focus on themselves and what they need. "
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Story by Isabella Truong, Gillian Bui, Minjun Kim With coronavirus cases on the rise, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department opened five vaccination sites across LA County to increase vaccination efforts. One of these sites is the amusement park Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. Officials announced that frontline healthcare workers and residents over the age of 65 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine at this location.
Preparations
On Jan. 19, Six Flags Magic Mountain was specifically chosen to become one of the vaccination sites in Los Angeles County, due to its regional accessibility and its ability to handle large numbers of people.The amusement park has a vast amount of open area to bring in health care workers and residents over 65 according to the County of Los Angeles’ official website.
Getting the Vaccine
In order for any healthcare worker and senior over 65 to receive the vaccine, they are instructed to book their appointments online and indicate their official professional status. Cars are expected to line up across the streets and snake between Hurricane Harbor and nearby parking lots.
However, the type of vaccine an individual will take determines which site they will be funneled into. Those who have received their first dose of the vaccine will be later notified with information on re-registering for their second. According to the LA County’s official COVID-19 Vaccine Registration website , “Residents who received a vaccine at a location run by LA City Fire Dept., will receive an email and text from Carbon Health within the next two weeks with information about their second appointment. You will receive an email confirmation to book your appointment time.” Vaccinations are being distributed from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week. In an interview with The Signal, Jerry Certonio, manager of marketing and public relations at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor, stated, “We are prepared to provide our parking lot as long as L.A. County needs in order to facilitate vaccination efforts.” The COVID-19 pandemic created great uncertainty in Santa Clarita. However, with the help of Six Flags Magic Mountain, the LA County is extremely grateful to have officials and places to aid the fight against this pandemic.
For more information on how to register, check out this link.
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on the front lines Story by Iman Baber, Noor Baber, Brooke Johnston, Katie Luo, and Vanessa McLaughlin Graphics and Layout by Iman Baber
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Story by Jasmine Wongphatarakul, Alice Xie, and Katie Luo Graphics by Timothy Kang
Dear 2025
Dea
Oh man, that sound believe it! I was literall you know how long it I have got to help you.
It’s me, 2020. I’m a little embarrassed because of last year. Actually, to say I’m embarrassed would be an understatement — I am ashamed. A lot of people are mad at me, posting hate comments on social media and writing diss tracks about me. I don’t understand. I tried my best!
First things first, 202 all pass and life will so hopeful. What has this home and spending m to relax and really enjo
I can see what they mean though. COVID-19 was a mess. I was finally about to get my time to shine — people even coined the phrase “2020 vision” — but then the coronavirus took the spotlight instead. Stores were closed, sports were postponed, and schools were pushed online. No one was allowed to have any fun! I’m sure tons of people were banking on me to be a good year, but I failed. I couldn’t meet their expectations.
Look on the bright s without an excuse, p there was a surge of Yellowstone’s supervo
Everything was canceled. Concerts, festivals, parties, you name it. Even I was canceled. #Cancel2020 was a trending tag on social media! What happened to canceling toxic cancel culture?! If I could start over, I’m sure I would do things differently. For one, I would try my utmost best to get rid of the virus instead of focusing on other things, like preparing for the Olympics or getting ready for Coachella. I’ve always dreamt about being written down in history books as one of the greatest years to ever come by. Now I’ll definitely be in the history books, that’s for sure, but not for the reasons I’m particularly proud of. I’ll be known for infamy: Map of the Soul Tour was canceled, so was Prom (TWICE), as were senior graduations, and not to mention our much anticipated, highlyappraised standardized tests. And of course, I don’t want to discount the tremendous tragedies and disruptions which blanketed the world, but come on! Did it have to be this bad?!
Besides, everything books, for good reaso space mission study i are being made to def vaccines, better testin proven that if humans anything. The COVID-1 all thanks to global co and treatments as well
Oh, here’s another find their passions. Yo themselves when befo know a lot of people hatred for you.
So, 2025, I’m looking up to you for advice and security. Promise me you will be better than I — I’m trying to be better, and you’re the only one I feel like I can confide in. Please help me out!
And lots of people They’ve learned to ma changed over the cour had on peoples’ attitud
- Dearest 2020
Remember mini-me you’ll have your time t everything will be and
ds pretty rough. Wait…that was me five years ago! I can’t ly the worst! I never want to go back to that time again. Do took me to learn, to grow, to IMPROVE? I struggled now... . I’m going to pass down all my knowledge to you, buddy.
20, you have got to stop looking down. One day this will oon return to normal. You have to keep being positive and s year allowed people to do? Everyone’s been staying at more time with their families. A lot of people have been able oy themselves instead of rushing through tasks and chores.
side: students and adults alike had the opportunity to relax people were doing a lot of much-needed introspection, f creativity being shared digitally, and most importantly, olcano didn’t explode.
could be a whole lot worse. Your name WILL be in history on too. New scientific breakthroughs such as the largest in history and digital contact tracing and interoperability efeat the coronavirus everyday. Masks with finer filters, new ng sites: it’s progress in the right direction. Your year has s come together with one mission in mind, they can tackle -19 vaccine was the fastest vaccine developed — and that’s ollaboration. You will become famous for the new vaccines l!
thing! You allowed people to try new hobbies and even ou opened the opportunity for people to really focus on ore they might have not been able to have the chance. I are mad at you, but one day, they might have a little less
have gained a new appreciation for everything they own. ake the best of the worst situations. Their mindsets have urse of 2020. The coronavirus will pass, but the effect you’ve udes will not.
e, everything is TEMPORARY. The virus will pass, and to show off. 2020 just wasn’t your year (or anyone’s). But, d is ALRIGHT.
- Your biggest fan, 2025
Where do you see yourself in five years?
ar 2020
“I see myself as a senior in a designer university. With my year coming to an end, I am preparing to, again, start a fresh journey in my life. I am working on my graduation project and re-organizing my freelance business so that I can balance my life out. Along with that, I am planning a short trip to Korea for myself as a mental break during the summer.” -Yelin Kim, 10th
“In five years, I plan to be in medical school preparing for my future career as a physician (hopefully).” -Jay Singh, 12th
“Transferring as a junior to a 4-year college after completing community college, hopefully anyway.” -Elisabeth Hoffman, 10th
“I see myself in my sophomore year of my undergrad at Harvard, studying political science, criminology, and English.” -Esi Otoo, 9th
“In five years, I would be graduating college and getting my undergraduate degree. I would be taking the MCAT and applying to medical schools. Additionally, in five years, I hope to be more confident in myself and grow as a better person. I hope to do this by finding more ways to help others or just simply trying to be kinder each day. I would work on my confidence by finding my strengths and discovering my faults, accepting all of that vulnerability with my whole heart.” -Jasmine Saroa, 11th
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Spotlighting West Ranch Staff Story by Brooke Johnston, Alyssa Chang, Jasmine Wongphatarakul, and Gillian Bui Graphics by Timothy Kang
Y u l e t h
J u l i e
Cambaliza
The overall wellbeing of our school is a top priority to staff members such as Mrs. Cambaliza. After 17 y of working as Lead Campus Supervisor, she became the Bilingual Assistant Principal Secretary on Januar Before COVID-19, Mrs. Cambaliza oversaw the other campus supervisors and assigned their schedule ensure students and staff were safe, she planned in case of an emergency and covered the health office e day when they went to lunch. Mrs. Cambaliza makes sure students are having all their needs met by supplying off-campus lunch pa work permits and NSLPs (free/reduced lunches). She schedules IEPs (Individualized Education Programs Saturday school. In addition, Mrs. Cambaliza does all the Spanish speaking and translating for West Ran Having three kids and twelve grandkids of her own, Mrs. Cambaliza has always enjoyed working children. She revealed that the most rewarding part of her job is “being a good role model for the kids learning other jobs in the school.”
Blanco
West Ranch’s Bilingual Attendance Technician Mrs. Julie Blanco has her days filled with taking phone and answering emails from parents about their child’s absences. When needed, she works on the D Bulletin and helps file and collect data for West Ranch. The attendance technician goes in-depth about her job by explaining, “There are different things we to do like on a weekly basis, your teachers have to submit everything they do with you per period and to turn those in to us. We have to make sure everything is collected for the district..” Mrs. Blanco’s priority has always been to put a smile on someone’s face every day, especially now du these challenging times for both students and parents. “Sometimes it’s hard to have a smile when things are different, but I try to think of a way to make a pe smile even if it’s just one person. As long as that one person smiles, I know I did something right.”
B e n Wobrock N a n c y
Phillips
Mr. Wobrock, an Assistant Principal at West Ranch, works tirelessly in administration so that all students their parents need to worry about is learning. According to Mr. Wobrock, his job involves “a lot of wo with kids, supervision, discipline, projects, and planning for things.” He explained, “A lot of what I’m doing now is preparing for students to return if we get that opportunity then I also oversee the safety part of that with COVID. For any COVID-related sickness or illness at sites w our community, I make contact with those people and I have to do all of the contract tracing, and those k of things.” His favorite aspect of his work is also the one he currently misses the most: people and students. De the hardships we all face now, he has many words of hope to offer. “I am so excited to actually get back to working with students! If it doesn’t happen this year, certainly I forward to next year when we can do this stuff in person,” he said with a smile.
The mental health and wellness of West Ranch students is the top priority for Wildcat Wellness Ce Coordinator Mrs. Nancy Phillips. As West Ranch’s wellness center coordinator, Mrs. Phillips works han hand with the district and interns from CSUN to provide support for students through these tough time Although the current circumstances of the pandemic are keeping students from interacting with Mrs. Ph in-person and utilizing the center during breaks, there are still four main ways to easily access the wel center: scheduling zoom meetings, contacting regularly through email, talking on the phone, and te back and forth. In addition to her constant support and thoughtfulness for students with emotional difficulties at Ranch throughout the pandemic, she adds, “I just want to look students in the eye and say ‘hang in t we’ll get through it!’”
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HOW TO BREAK
THE LOOP
Story by Ashley Park and Kimbery Ayson Graphics by Ashley Park
THE LOOP
Wake up. Open the computer. Work. Close the computer. Go to sleep. Repeat. The loop. Known by many names but all yield the same meaning: living the same day every day. When looking up “how to break the loop” almost every search result is from a blog or question site from people around the world living the same phenomenon. With the pandemic still gripping California and school back in session for the spring semester, students have fallen into a never-ending cycle of monotony. Student life nowadays feels straight out of “Groundhog Day” or “Before I Fall” without the existential crisis or lifelesson to be learned. Mrs. Phillips, the Wellness Center Coordinator, told the Paw Print that she has experienced the loop. “At the beginning of the pandemic we [had] a three bedroom house, all were occupied by people. So I did most of my work out of my bedroom and if there was ever a time where I felt like it was a loop it was then. It was like I would get up, I would get ready to go to work, I would come downstairs and have breakfast, and I would go back up to my room. It just felt like that was all I did.” West Ranch junior Grace Bakoo has also experienced the loop. “Right now, I just wake up, go to my classes, do homework and then go to sleep. For as easy as that sounds, it’s mentally exhausting to do the same things over and over again,” she said. The pandemic, quarantine and lockdown were a first for most—and we’re forced to reap the consequences of it. Now that all activities and interactions have been transferred to the screen, many find themselves staring at the computers all day, and conducting all business indoors doesn’t allow much room to do things differently. Prior to quarantine, most students and teachers found idiosyncrasies throughout
their days outside of their home, as each day brought a new experience. The loop has taken a mental toll on many. Whether this quarantine improved or weakened your mental and emotional health, the overbearing presence of the loop is undeniable. “I think my mental and emotional health has definitely declined only because I like being out of the house, and I’m drawn to adventure,” sophomore Aryah McVay reflected. “Obviously, staying at home and having the same day over again interferes with that.” Living in this loop can be very overwhelming for students, teachers and faculty. AP Psychology and AP World History teacher Mrs. Povletich offered The Paw Print insight into a teacher’s perspective of the loop. “We, as teachers, feel the same way as the students do. It feels very monotonous,” she said. “One of the great things about teaching is that every day is so different and on Zoom it’s not. Every day isn’t different. Because there is less interaction and you’re not getting to see students’ emotions and faces, it’s not the same. We lose so much of what makes teaching so enjoyable.” The pandemic has forced us into a lifestyle that leaves us limited to our daily activities in order to keep ourselves healthy and safe. As school has turned virtual, along with everything else, there is no choice, but to adapt to an online way of life. Though we’ve experienced the same confined daily routine for almost a year, many of us are just now recognizing how monotonous our lives feel as the one year anniversary for quarantine draws near. Luckily, we have the power to make each day special and different. The Paw Print is here to offer some assistance during these unprecedented times. Here are some ways to step out of your cycle.
BREAK THE LOOP 1 Look outside the loop: Take away this focus and fixation on one mindset or physical routine to look outside of the little bubble of your room and computer screen. Wellness Center Coordinator, Nancy Philips, vocalized some advice. “Just get out of where you’re spending most of your time during the work day or school day to break up that space. As much as you can, break up the monotony of being in front of the screen,” she suggested. “Even in between we have some passing time [for] you just do some wiggling.”
2 Take time to try out new routines, habits, systems and practices: Exposing yourself to something new every day by changing up the way you usually do something or implementing a completely new habit helps in keeping you out of a repetitive cycle. Mrs. Povletich advises, “When you feel yourself getting into that loop, change your environment.” She continues, “Go and do your Zoom class outside. Move into a different room. You can change your environment by redecorating or moving things around in your room. Whatever you can do to make things different is going to help quite a bit.”
3 Write it down: Writing down or making mental notes on the big and small things in your life that you want to change are also reminders of your presence in the loop. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center website, “Journaling helps to control symptoms and improves your mood by: helping prioritize problems, fears, and concerns; tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them.” Pinpointing exactly what needs to change in your life will further push you to initiate that change.
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As the pandemic has caused barriers for those looking for employment, West Ranch students prove their unbreakable drive in bringing home a paycheck. While many have acquired new hobbies of baking, binge-watching Netflix, or hiking, many juniors and seniors decided to dedicate their extra quarantine time to finding a job and working. The Paw Print was able to interview and get to know the zealous students at West Ranch who have taken up different forms of work at traditional companies to private employers.
Alahna Duplantis
Alahna Duplantis is not your typical high school senior. Like some of her classmates, she has a job but does not limit herself to just one. Duplantis demonstrates her spectacular versatility as she takes on two different forms of work. Duplantis manages two jobs: babysitting and being a personal assistant. She started babysitting at the start of her senior year and added personal assistant to her resume at the beginning of the second semester. Babysitting for Duplantis means watching over three children when she is needed. As a personal assistant, she fulfills different responsibilities such as yard work or other household chores - errands per her boss’ request. With her classes at West Ranch all online, Duplantis added work to her plate smoothly and found, “iIt was a lot easier for me to work during the pandemic than before. I have a lot more free time and a flexible schedule, so I’m able to be more available to work,” she continued, “Before the pandemic, I was busy everyday with lacrosse practices and club meetings so I would not have been able to work as much.” Even in the face of the pandemic, Duplantis still absorbed all learning experiences in her times of work. She emphasizes “the value of communication and boundaries” and how in standing up for herself she learned to “put [her]self first.” She was surprised by the change in interactions as she felt that she was consulted as an adult by her superiors and appreciated being treated as an equal. In assimilating each of her experiences and its lessons, Duplantis is able to please both her employers and be a successful, working student.
Ben Watson
Ben Watson apprised the Paw Print of his persevered journey to employment. The ambitious junior first took initiative and started applying to jobs back in July of 2020, in hopes of starting to work in the summer of his sophomore year - taking advantage of his new legal age. The pandemic set up weighty barriers for adults looking for jobs, leaving teenagers to reap the same consequences in the search for employment. After facing the challenges of rejection, he acquired the key of persistence along with an offer to work. Watson began to share his experience with the Paw Print, “I definitely wanted to get a job. I ended up getting rejected from a lot of places because of the pandemic. I kept interviewing-- I did four or five -- and I finally landed a one in October,” Watson concluded surely. The learning curve concerning the specifics of his job was short-lived while he actually found broader and more importance in the learning curve with the addition
of his job, apparent in his personal schedule. Watson developed a keener sense of time management because of the new structure of his schedule. Previously having an identical schedule per day, the addition of his job inclined Watson to manage his time strategically to get all his timedemanding school and extracurricular work done. He responded positively to working as he assumed working denoted serious professionalism at all times, but in turn found relaxed, leisure moments throughout his days. Watson explained that he “often chats with [his] coworkers and developed almost friend-like relationships with [his] bosses,” finding a genuine work environment, reliving any apprehensive concerns he had. Watson impressively juggles the academic pressure of a junior whilst managing a job, among other volunteer and extracurricular activities. There is no telling how much he can achieve!
Alliana Serrano
West Ranch junior, Alliana Serrano entered the workplace of retail as her first step into the job market. Serrano began as a brand representative at Hollister Co. in October of 2020, fulfilling the duties of customer service, inventory control and organization, handling cashiers, and using store technology for online orders. Like many businesses, Serrano deals with the troublesome maintenance of the amount of customers within the store, and making sure all COVID-19 safety protocols are met on both mellow weekdays and hectic weekends. Though staying consistently optimistic, the start of her school-work schedule was not absent of struggle. Serrano told the Paw Print, “In the beginning, I found myself barely having anytimes to enjoy doing the things I like, which was unmotivating at times. I had to figure out how to make time for myself so that I actually feel productive and satisfied with my day.” However, distance learning during the duration of her job, so far, has positively impacted her working schedule. Although online school enables its own set of difficulties, Serrano has focused on the extra time and extended due dates it has offered her. After a time of adjustment, she was able to find the balance of work, school, and activities she enjoyed doing in her free time. Serrano’s first job at Hollister has been, as she describes it, “tremendously eye-opening” and has “provided [her] with an understanding of how precious time is.” Now with newly gained insight, Serrano looks forward to going to work during the week. As she continues to learn new techniques pertaining to time management and studying after a long day of work, Serrano continues to grow and thrive with her job during this pandemic.
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What movies and TV shows have students been watching over quarantine? By: A&E Team Design by Isabella Truong & Kimberly Ayson One of the ways students have busied themselves during this pandemic is by watching a variety of both TV shows and movies. Quarantine has allowed an array of new entertainment to hit streaming platforms, so The Paw Print decided to interview a series of students asking them what they have watched:
ADMIT ONE
Tiger King
“It was this huge, weird, wacky phenomenon where basically everyone decided to watch it for some reason. The show itself is pretty funny, but the best part was the quarantine bonding moment people had because of it.”
The Queen’s Gambit “My thoughts on ‘Queen’s Gambit’ was that it had a powerful storyline and development throughout the episodes. It is a very different show compared to what I’m used to, but I found the new perspective very entertaining. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something new to watch!”
Emily Doi, 11th
Caroline Dolce, 10th
Palm Springs
The Wilds Wandavision
“During quarantine, ‘Palm Springs’ provided an escape to a desert paradise with its bright colors and love story. Plus, I went to see it at the drive-in movie theater with my dad and that was really fun!” Riley Blaugrund, 12th
Enola Holmes “‘Enola Holmes’ is worth watching because it shows the sister of Sherlock Holmes, when it’s usually Sherlock Holmes that everyone knows about. Compared to other movies I’ve seen, I liked how comedy, romance and mystery were all put into one movie.” Danielle Kay, 9th
“I thought the show was great! I especially liked how it delved into each of the characters that were stuck on the island. This allowed the watchers to relate to each of them in a small way. It was really interesting how their experience on the island helped them cope and grow from what they were put through, expressing a lot of character development.”
“I thought it was interesting how they combined some of the three most popular TV shows of the similar style for the 1st to the 3rd episode! For that reason it really stood out to me. It was definitely a plus that they happen to be my favorite shows which took place in the 50-60’s, which mashed in a blender to get the perfect combination. The shows I’m referring to specifically are: ‘I Dream of Jeannie’, ‘Bewitched’, and ‘I Love Lucy’.”
Funmi Idowu, 12th
Samantha Bea, 12th
Soul
Wonder Woman “While the plot was a bit scattered, I enjoyed the acting and I thought the soundtrack was absolutely brilliant and it paired really well with the movie. I quite liked the references to the original ‘Wonder Woman’ T.V. show and comics. I don’t know that I would recommend the movie; however, if someone were to tell me that they wanted to watch it I wouldn’t talk them out of it.”
“When I first watched this movie, I didn’t really know what I was expecting. ‘Soul’ is unlike any movie Pixar has ever made; it brings together so many important and interesting topics such as what makes people passionate and what makes life important while still keeping the movie lighthearted and funny. Something that I really liked about ‘Soul’ was how it represented black characters and black culture. It was great to see black families and community on the screen, along with black music such as jazz and soul. I also really liked the animation style that gave the movie a futuristic feel.”
Abby Vasquez, 11th
Sabella Habtemariam, 9th
Onward “I really liked ‘Onward’. I felt that it was a very creative idea with all of the mythical creatures like unicorns, centaurs, and goblins, but it was also really relatable because it was about a high school kid. I also like the relationship between the brothers because even though Barley is obnoxious, Ian wouldn’t have made it anywhere without him and when Barley does leave, Ian realizes he needs him. I would recommend this movie to others because of the amazing story, comedy, and the journey these two brothers take together.” Siddharth Sudan, 10th
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Story by Emily Yoon and Gaby Lesmana Graphics by Gaby Lesmana
Though schools, parents, and even YouTube advertisements have been stressing the importance of wellness ever since stay-at-home restrictions were implemented, it’s hard to balance a sustainable self-care routine with loads of schoolwork. The Paw Print has provided seven concrete tips to make your days at home more productive and manageable. Get dressed and ready for the day. While being at home and not seeing anyone in real life might be a discouragement, changing out of pajamas and doing some sort of morning routine will help you feel put together and ready to take on the day. It is likely to increase your motivation to work and supply a boost of self-confidence. Incorporate movement or simply step outside in between classes. Taking a breath of fresh air boosts oxygen supply to the brain and refreshes your mind. Activities such as taking a short walk or jog outside make a big impact on your focusing abilities throughout the day. This will leave you feeling ready to take on the next subject and bring up your mood and enthusiasm.
Breakfast is your best friend. Not only can breakfast improve your physical health, it also sets your daily routine on a path to success. Ditch the caffeine for one of our favorite protein-and-plant-packed morning meals: banana and protein powder smoothies with milk or milk substitute, granola with berries and yogurt, and avocado toast with a fried egg are all reliable, yummy picks.
Write a daily checklist. Though you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of assignments you have to complete, a checklist will help you compartmentalize and schedule which assignments to complete each day. Make a fuss-free digital version in Google Keep or the Apple Notes app, or purchase a small whiteboard from Target or Amazon to keep by your desk as you complete assignments.
Create a study playlist. Though 2000s pop punk and high-energy hip-hop might be what you listen to normally, catchy, upbeat songs can actually be a distraction when it comes to schoolwork. Lo-fi study beats, classical music, and even instrumental movie soundtracks can give you something ambient to listen to while focusing on your schoolwork.
Organize your online classwork into folders. With almost a year of online school work sitting in our Google Drives, it’s become a hassle to sift through all your documents every time you need to reopen an assignment. Consider creating a Google Drive folder for each of your classes. This makes assignments more accessible and even allows for organizational flair via color-customizable folders.
Take full advantage of your online resources. Beyond Quizlet and SparkNotes, there are a ton of free online resources designed to help you retain information! - Getcoldturkey.com is a browser extension that blocks distracting social media and gaming sites when you’re working. - With Canva’s boundless array of graphics, text and backgrounds, you can take your class presentations to the next level. - Though Crash Course is known mainly for science and history-based content, the lesser known Crash Course Literature videos provide an animated chapter-by-chapter breakdown of classic novels like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Lord of the Flies.” - Because we’re looking at our screens for hours every day, Eye Care can help you manage your screen time in order to protect your eyes. The free Chrome extension reminds users to look away from the computer screen for 20 seconds every so often on a customizable time interval. Working from home doesn’t have to be tedious and dreary. By implementing these tips into your daily tasks, motivation and productivity may come easier. Keep working hard Cats, we can make it through the rest of the online semester!
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Post-Covid
C
Bucket List
so u st p
Story by Emily Yoon and Vanessa McLaughlin Layout by Minjun Kim
The coronavirus has brought many novel experiences to the comfort of our own homes (We’re looking at you, Ratatousical). But as the one-year anniversary of COVID restrictions nears, we couldn’t be more tired. Instead of moping around the house aimlessly and turning on a movie only to fall asleep scrolling through Instagram, here are some things to look forward to. Although these activities may not become a reality for many months as the population slowly becomes vaccinated, there’s certainly no harm in See a movie in theaters planning ahead. Get out a paper, pen Although new and your imagination and make these home releases like “Soul” 11 fantastic additions to your and “Wonder Woman 1984” have Post-Covid Bucket List. been a nice touch during the pandemic,
Host a party
We don’t even need to preface this one: COV has left us all yearning for interaction. Be the host with t by turning up a playlist of you discovered-during-quarantin wearing that outfit you’ve bee to show off in public and le loose without the fear forgetting your mask
nothing beats the feeling of walking into a movie theater and having the smell of butter envelop your senses. We’re especially looking forward to the Edwards rollercoaster montage, tubs of freshly-popped popcorn and the feeling of leaving a movie and finding out it’s night.
Museums/art galleries We can’t wait to Monet the day away at some of LA’s beloved museums: The Getty (and Getty Villa), MoMA, LACMA, the Museum of Natural History and so on. Or make the drive down to Venice Beach to check out the small art galleries and perhaps even purchase in support of small creatives.
Posta trip to You’ll be for iconic Mickey Be there is all w
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Escape rooms Though it isn’t much fun being stuck inside during a pandemic, trying to maneuver your way out of an escape room is a whole different experience. Several escape rooms in SCV can give you all the thrill of a heist or horror flick without the long drive there: Arcane Escape Rooms, Unlocked Escape Rooms and All Locked Up are three great options for locally-based fun!
Concerts and Live Theatre
After months of holding ear-shattering olo concerts in our rooms until our parents tell us to top, we’d love to leave the performing to our favorite professionals.
Picnic at the beach
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Itching for a Pinterest board-worthy outing? Look no further. A simple picnic at the beach is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature, soak up the California sun and capture a few precious moments via camera. Go for a refined European ambience with sparkling water and charcuterie boards, or simply enjoy In-N-Out burgers and shakes as the sun sets for the classic SoCal experience.
Physical contact You’ll be able to share a smooch with your significant other or a new flame without fear of contracting a deadly disease! In fact, get excited to hug, receive high-fives (and even the lesssatisfying low-fives), and fistbump to your heart’s delight.
Disneyland
It wouldn’t be a -Covid Bucket List without o the happiest place on Earth! able to satisfy your cravings c foods (like the Dole Whip and eignet), go crazy on every ride s, and wave at parade floats, without wearing a mask.
Farmer’s market
We sure miss shopping locally and sustainably in the California sun. ot only is the farmer’s market a way o show support to your community’s small farms, but it also can be part of a fun outing!
Trying on outfits Shopping is not as fun if you don’t get to try on the items that you want. These days what you pick is usually what you take home because we are not allowed to try them on in the store or it is a no-return online store. After the pandemic, you can finally go to malls and try out any outfit and return it if you change your mind.
Vacations by plane Airplanes and airports have been dangerous hotspots for contracting the coronavirus, but once it’s all over we can finally travel long distances. Road trips are nice occasionally but you can’t go to Europe by car. Going on family trips and sightseeing is a perfect way to celebrate the end of quarantine.
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As the spring season of sports is just around the corner, many in the Santa Clarita Valley are looking forward to the baseball season. Foothill League baseball can be one of the most competitive local high school sports scenes and has given many athletes the opportunity to play college or even professional baseball. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become much more difficult to get noticed by coaches at higher levels of play. West Ranch Baseball Head Coach Casey Burrill, who played baseball for the USC Trojans as well as minor league teams in the Atlanta Braves’s system, told The Paw Print, “The pandemic has made it challenging for high school baseball players to receive scholarships for a few reasons.First, in order to be evaluated by college coaches you need to play baseball in front of them. Obviously, COVID-19 has made this impossible. Many of our players have traveled out of California to play. Streaming video services and recorded video have been used to help in the recruiting process. Second, traveling out of state successful 2021 season,” Coach Burrill stated, before breaking down the standouts in each position group. “Our pitching staff is considered to be one of the strongest in the state. We return several experienced arms. Look for big performances on the mound from seniors Scott Bauman, James Hepp, Trent Huff, Ryan Lang, and Austin Puett. Other arms expected to contribute are Ty DePerno, Mathew Lloyd, and Jake Schwartz. Returning position players include Jake Callahan, Logan Mandel, Phillip Sawyer, Blake Schroeder, Trey Topping, and DJ Tsukashima.” Due to these talented players, West Ranch Baseball is a top contender to make a run at the league title and a deep CIF playoff run. “If given the chance to compete, we like our chances. The West Ranch players continue to practice, workout, and study the game. We are very proud of our players and their families during these trying times,” Burrill finished. Good luck to our Wildcats as they get back on the diamond this season! to play is expensive, placing a strain on family budgets.” Burrill then continued to describe another issue at the college level, where “senior college baseball players have been approved to return to their college for a 5th season of play. This has created a backlog of college players. Coaches have too many players and are finding it difficult to add new players to their already full rosters.” A key factor for the recruitment hopes of West Ranch’s many promising players is a spring high school baseball season. “We are hopeful that we will play some kind of season this year,” Coach Burrill predicted. “My gut tells me we will at least get a 15 league schedule in around the month of May.” In the meantime, West Ranch Baseball is hard at work. “We practice for West Ranch 6 times a week, but I try to get practice in every day,” West Ranch freshman shortstop Ethan Yim told The Paw Print. Yim noted that due to COVID restrictions, West Ranch players must only practice with a partner and cannot scrimmage or do multi-person drills. When the baseball season does resume, West Ranch has high expectations. “West Ranch Baseball is set to have a very
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SUPERBOWL SUPERBOWL SUPERBOWL SUPERBOWL
2021
Tampa Bay Kansas City Story by Noah Neri and Zach Singer Graphics by Andrew Kang
On Feb. 7, 2021, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV by a score of 31-9, earning the franchise’s second NFL championship, their first since 2003. The key to the Buccaneers surprising win was a dominant defensive performance. With both of their starting offensive tackles injured for the game, the Chiefs offensive line fell victim to an aggressive Tampa Bay pass rush. Leading that pressure were stout defensive lineman, Ndamukong Suh and Shaq Barrett, who each compiled 1.5 sacks by the end of the game. The Buccaneers stifled 2019 MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, constantly pressuring him and forcing three sacks and two interceptions. Though Tampa Bay’s defensive performance was one to remember for the ages, the offense showed up when it mattered most. Tom Brady controlled the game’s tempo, spreading the ball around the Buccaneers’ extremely talented receiving core. All Pro TE Rob Gronkowski led the way recording six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, in route to another historic Super Bowl performance. However, the Buccaneers
showed their vast diversity on offense as well. The running game shined brightest with Leonard Fournette coming up in a big way. The former Jaguar totaled 16 carries for 89 yards, and a touchdown to go along with it. The amazing effort by Head Coach Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers allowed legendary quarterback Tom Brady to outduel Patrick Mahomes and secure his unanimous spot as the greatest quarterback of all time. Brady threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-29 passing, winning his seventh NFL title and fifth Super Bowl MVP award. Overall, the NFL has to be satisfied with their 2020-21 season. Despite many COVID suspensions and game cancellations, there was no need for a “week 18” emergency season extension and the playoffs went by without major stars having to sit out due to COVID protocols. Super Bowl LV was even held with 25,000 fans in attendance, including 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers the NFL invited. We can expect the NFL to return next season as usual, perhaps allowing even larger numbers of spectators.
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Story and graphics by Reya Mehta and Jaeeun Park “Late-start Wednesdays”: these were once magic words that brought joy to tired high school students and staff. These weekly breaks allotted extra hours of rest as school started at 9:15 a.m. for all classes. They served as motivation through Monday and Tuesday, helped people recharge and prepared them to face the rest of the week. Wednesday mornings were when every West Ranch student could relax more and prepare before the hustle and bustle of the school day. Some hurriedly finished homework due next class, while others indulged in breakfast and enjoyed the morning. With the start of distance learning came the end of the cherished late-start Wednesdays. Remote learning brought with it many challenges, and many aspects of the schedule were changed in order to better accommodate the times. However, that does not make the loss any less painful, especially for those who are occupied with first period classes; this year that only applies to ASB and journalism. Ella Shin is a tenth-grade member of ASB who felt a big change with the development. “Before this year, I really enjoyed and looked forward to late-start Wednesdays. A late-start was really helpful for me because it was a great way to sleep in and recharge for the rest of the week.” Shin elaborates that the special schedule allowed for her to eat breakfast, which she normally had to forgo. “Not having late-start Wednesdays was a bit of a difficult adjustment. I no longer had the opportunity for extra sleep, but asynchronous classes have made Wednesdays easier to manage.” Sophomore Caden Lee, on the other hand, has never had a first period. Regardless, latestart Wednesdays gave her more time to rest and study afterwards. Lee also used the time to “have a good morning and even eat breakfast.” However, she wasn’t moved by the sudden loss. “I mean, I’m a little bit disappointed, but it didn’t affect me very much, so I don’t feel much of a loss.” Mr. Smith, West Ranch’s AP Biology teacher, also gave his opinion on late-start Wednesdays. “Initially, I think I was resistant to having a late
start Wednesday, probably just because it was something new and different,” he says. “But after we had them last year, I thought it was a good way to get teacher business done without having to tag it on at the end of a long day.” Smith continued on how the loss affected--or rather, didn’t affect--him. “You know, there have been so many other adjustments, not having that wasn’t really a big deal. Other things, [like] changing [the] curriculum to an online format, was a much bigger job than missing the late-start Wednesdays,” he states. So while some grieve and others remain stoic, the fact remains that late-start Wednesdays have bid us goodbye. When asked about the future, Principal Mark Crawford expressed, “Our plan is to again have our Late Start Wednesdays when we come back to full in-person instruction.” Someday, they will be reinstated into our weekly schedules, allowing the current freshmen class to experience their glorious wonder. But for now, farewell, late-start Wednesdays. You will be dearly mourned and missed.
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BODY GOALS. How should we be talking about our bodies? Graphic and story by Emily Yoon
Content warning: weight loss, eating disorders I’ve been struggling to write this editorial for weeks. Ideas appear to me in a variety of elusive forms: sometimes a critique on diet and fitness culture, other days an analysis on how capitalism affects the ways we view our bodies. There are so many facets to this issue we all face: a cruel irony when desires to conform to society’s beauty standards lead to envy and resentment. Exercise companies obsess over the “Before-andAfter” instead of a lifestyle of healthy habits. Media outlets relentlessly pick apart celebrities, dissecting their photos in vapid articles that constitute a change in weight as “good” or “bad.” Why is it so difficult for people to maintain a sense of respect, or at the very least, neutrality, towards the appearances of others? I believe body positivity, or at the very least, body neutrality, still needs to be something we strive for. Eating disorders occur in 9 percent of the population (ANAD.org), and according to nationaleatingdisorders.org, over one-half of girls and a third of boys admit to using unhealthy weight loss tactics, such as laxatives and skipping meals. Americans only add fuel to the fire by obsessing over weight, prompting waves of vicious fatphobia that manifest themselves at every turn: fat has become synonymous with unhealthy and gluttonous, despite the fact that “[u]sing a government health survey, researchers found that nearly half of overweight U.S. adults were “metabolically healthy” according to WebMD. The entire quest for outer beauty reeks of a rat race. Beauty standards and the companies perpetuating them always cater to something people either don’t naturally possess or can die trying to. Whether it’s the “Insta baddie” slim-thick figure of the past few years with its full hips and tiny waist, the athletic, aerobicized Valkyrie of the 80s, or today’s classic, tall and thin “runway model” body, it’s the unattainability and changing nature of beauty standards that keeps them in place. But what about self-love? Isn’t insecurity the product of a negative mindset, something that can be “loved away” by accepting that your body is perfect just the way it is? In short, yes and no. Of course a positive mindset towards one’s looks is ideal. But to claim that the reason people do not “love
themselves” is a fault of their own psyche, is frankly insidious in its own right. Beauty standards exist because people’s insecurities towards their bodies are seen as commodities. The companies who profit off removing stomach fat or giving someone an upturned nose are the very entities pushing these standards in the first place. To claim otherwise would be to set an unattainable standard unto itself: a prize of total self-love exists if only you learn to block all negative thoughts. The self-love movement doesn’t account for the fact that beauty standards seep into our consciousness through a constant stream of media, through the comments and thoughts of those around us, amplified by social networking sites. In fact, self-love has been commodified in and of itself, used to sell exercise machines, perfumes, stationery, and television specials marketed to today’s millennial and GenZ women. “Self-love” now translates to selfindulgent: prioritizing market over mindset; and equating the temporary rush of dopamine associated with a purchase to actual self-devotion. It’s scary, and rather dystopian, that the corporations setting the body standards are also offering pseudoremedies to low-self-esteem. And commodifying things you can’t put a price on, as we’ve seen with global warming and the sky-high rates of eating disorders stemming from an unattainable “body goal,” brings about nothing but destruction. How then, should we alter our attitude towards body positivity? Not only should we find community in the fact that bodily self-esteem issues are universal, we should actively support media that positively portrays diverse body types, oppose legislation that actively targets overweight people, and push against weightbased bigotry in our own communities. We need to campaign for better mental awareness and accessible treatment for those with eating disorders. We need to reform our society to show support, respect, and love to people, regardless of appearance. It is our civic duty to work to make our earth a safer place for all bodies. Liberating all people from the confines of beauty standards should be as much an activist movement as an introspective journey. The concept of self-love, while crucial to one’s mental well-being, does not nearly suffice as the preeminent form of bodily acceptance. While this world may never be a truly welcoming place for people of all body types, our “body goal” should be to make it so.
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Zoom In Review
Ms. Barr
By Ricky Rojas and Jessica Son Photos by Ricky Rojas
The more this goes on the more I’m not a fan of it, but the more I’m thankful that we have it
West Ranch has been on distance learning for nearly a year. Most students haven’t been on campus since March 11, with the pandemic stretching on for much longer than most expected. As the months have blurred together and flew by, the way distance learning has worked has changed significantly. Though it seems insane now, most teachers didn’t have google classrooms set up before distance learning much less use Zoom. Throughout April and May, we didn’t have mandatory Zoom meetings nor interaction with our teachers. Students had to adapt to microformat AP tests and a whole new system of learning. Thankfully, this year was much better structured, mirroring traditional school much more closely. Despite this students and teachers alike struggled to adapt to our new normal. In our interviews with both teachers and students, many missed the personal connection that just really isn’t possible. Junior Adam Kajganic felt that there is, “a certain level of connection between people that you just can’t get over Zoom.” Ms. Barr, a history teacher at West Ranch, felt similar saying, “I think that as time goes on, I miss being able to interact with students, I miss the ease of just looking over their shoulder and saying, ‘Hey, what about this?’ and checking in that way, I miss that kind of one-on-one connection we make with students in the classroom.”
Another common feeling was that online learning made the learning process much less effective. Sophomore Veronica Pirog said, “When I started Zoom classes, I struggled to take in information during meetings and utilize my time wisely during them.” Kajganic echoed this sentiment saying, “I don’t know how many people can properly learn over a video screen.” As our journey with distance learning progresses, we also have to look to the future when we will finally return to campus. When asked Ms. Barr said that, “I would say hybrid [learning] will be a good thing as students will be able to come back to the classroom and it will be a return back to what we’ve been used to all these years. It will be great being in a classroom and being able to administer tests while not having to worry about cheating. I think just being able to come back to the classroom and interact with each other I think it’s going to be great.” Though we aren’t anywhere close to being completely done with the pandemic there is a light at the end of the tunnel as we hope to get back into the classroom soon.
Adam Kajganic Veronika Pirog There’s nothing I’ll miss about Zoom classes when we go back to campus
The smarter long term learning choice is definitely in-person
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