The Paw Print October 2016 by The Paw Print

THE PAW PRINT October 2016 Vol. 6 Issue 1

hoco pg. 4 girls in stem pg. 10 jakku ren pg. 13 football preview pg. 23

T A B L E O F T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S Letter from the Editors

This is our first issue, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re incredibly proud of all of our staff: especially our editors. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together the stories that we believe you want to read, and we hope you enjoy perusing the newest edition of the West Ranch Paw Print. In this issue, you can read about Jakku Ren, the latest school policy changes, senior sunrise, and see exclusive pictures from Homecoming. Thanks for reading, Jaeun Park and Riley Villiers-Furze Oct. 2016

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STUDENT SERVICE? Story by Lauren Lee

In almost every class we had, there’s been a student just like us helping the teacher out. However, this year, there’s been an overt lack of these assistants. “Student service has not been removed completely, but the state passed a bill last year

that discourages students from “course periods without educational content,’”said assistan principal Audrey Asplund. Previous student service Nicole Hong said, “I would want student service back. It affected me because it gave me

good input on how I can utilize their teaching methods to others in the medical field if I pursue myself as a doctor.” While student service was a great elective opportunity for many students and a great help to teachers, it is time to say goodbye.

NEW CHANGES ON CAMPUS As of now, students are allowed to wear any hat they want, as long as it doesn’t advertise any inappropriate themes. With improvements in school security and pressure from students, Crawford decided to omit the long-standing rule.

THROWIN’SHADE Story by Jaesung Park & Ryan Factora

There are some things students should keep in mind before donning any old hat to school. Hats advertising violence or other unsuitable topics for school are prohibited. With this new policy, many West Ranch students are pulling out

Relief has come from the hot sun after 11 years; shade structures are being built around campus. Currently,these structures are being built in front of the ASB office and downstairs in front of the cafeteria. Although the structure

their favorite hats to add to their outfits. “I feel really great about the policy because I can wear whatever hat I want, not only outside of school,”said junior Hyunzee Lee, who donned a Harley Quinn hat. “I am free to express myself with my hat.”

on lower campus is incomplete due to some complications, the building on upper campus has been completed. The 14-by-14 structures will be more than large enough to protect Wildcats from the dry desert heat. “I think the shade

HATS OFF!

Story by Raylene Factora & Erica Gillespie

structures are an excellent idea, especially in Valencia where it gets very hot. I’m excited that there will be a shady place for me to stay during lunch and brunch,” freshman Kelsey Choe said. During your breaks, make sure to stay cool in the shade!

CLASS OF 2017

SENIOR SUNRISE: NEW DAY, NEW YEAR

Story and photos by Jaeun Park

The class of 2017 gathered on the football field early Friday morning for the annual Senior Sunrise; a West Ranch tradition that allows the seniors greet the new year with enthusiasm. “I got here at 5:45 a.m.,” said senior Matthew Go. The red sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon of the football field, casting his skin in a warm, orange light. Students were clumped together on the field, surrounded by beach towels, blankets, and fold out chairs. Many were talking, laughing, and eating the bagels that had been generously donated by Noah’s Bagels and Western Bagels. The experience was relatively relaxing and peaceful, and the brilliantly beautiful sky was the perfect photo backdrop. “Look at the Snapchat stories,” senior Irene Lee said, scrolling down the list on

her phone to illustrate her point. Every single one had a picture of the sunrise as their newest addition to their story. Some saw the event as a time to get hyped about graduation. “I’m excited to no longer be going to West Ranch,” senior Chandler Sutton said. “I’m looking forward to not playing during the graduation ceremony,” said orchestra member David Noble, who shuddered as he recalled playing for hours under the hot sun during everyone else’s graduation. Even

“

though the days have been scorching, the sun rose over the crisp morning. The members of the class of 2017 clumped together and posed for their first photo as a class. “Class of 2017!” the seniors cheered in unison, some throwing their hands in their air. Then they dispersed. Some headed to their cars to go down to Starbucks before class, while others went to their first period. All of the seniors were going toward a new chapter in their lives, and the beginning of the end of this chapter was marked by this memorable and fun event.

All of the seniors were going toward a new chapter in their lives.

”

HOCO 2016 Story by Raylene Factora Photo by Morgan Smith

A lush red carpet rolled into the entrance. Vibrant flashing lights darted around the doorway. The muffled beat of music resonated from the empty dance floor inside. A rainbow of colors, swirling satin, crisp white shirts, and sharp bow ties awaited a night to remember. On Sept. 17, students dressed to the nines and kicked off their Sunday shoes to boogie the night away at West Ranch’s decades themed homecoming dance. Although West Ranch students were born far after these iconic time periods were over (with the exception of the ‘90s), they still keep in touch with the culture, music, clothing and dancing of the past through parents and the internet, passing down the legacy through generations. “I thought that decades were a great theme because those were times with great music and good times, so it was fun to incorporate that into a dance in 2016,” said junior Josh Orris. The DJ did indeed play a number of classic songs on the dance floor in addition to today’s latest hits and a few of West Ranch’s very own Jakku Ren’s tracks. One thing music has in common throughout the decades is it keeps you dancing. “My favorite memory from last night was just being able to dress up and dance with my friends and to see everyone all dressed up and getting to catch up and dance with them as well,” said sophomore Angie Noblejas. “The music was great, the DJ got everyone pumped, and the Friends-themed photo booth was so much fun.” A spread of delectable desserts such as cookies, cupcakes, and candy awaited outside the dance floor in case students’ dancing endeavours left them famished. Besides showing off their polished (or unpolished) moves on the dance floor, Wildcats could showcase their perhaps unknown talent for singing or just go crazy screaming their lungs out with friends with a karaoke setup in a separate room. Many students chose to sing their hearts out to classic songs such as “My Heart Will Go On,” “Ice, Ice, Baby” and “Dancing Queen.”

If karaoke wasn’t your forte, you could just listen in on the fun while taking Friends-themed photos with your friends. Towards the end of the night, students took a dance break to make room for the homecoming court. Since the homecoming dance kicks off homecoming this year, the king and queen will be selected this week at the upcoming rally and football game. “It was such an honor to be nominated,” said senior Katie Jacobs. “I’m really excited that I get to walk with my dad at the homecoming game. Walking at the dance and standing on stage will be a really good way to remember the dance.” Going into their last homecoming week is a bittersweet ordeal for some seniors, but their last homecoming dance will be one of the last memories as a Wildcat that they’ll never forget. “As a senior, it’s kind of unreal,” said Jacobs. “I don’t feel like it’s my last year here and going through my last homecoming week ever is unbelievable but exciting.” Without the work of ASB behind the scenes, the dance wouldn’t have been possible. “The homecoming dance committee has been planning this for weeks now, and we have all been doing our own small tasks to make sure that everything runs smoothly,” said ASB member Danielle Hettinger. “I absolutely loved the dance. I thought that every aspect of it was perfect, and I would definitely say that it was everything we hoped for and more.” As the three-hour dance neared a close, the classic feel-good anthem “Don’t Stop Believing” blasted through the speakers, but it was drowned out by the voices of students unapologetically belting out verse after verse. The song was a great way to finish off the night with high spirits.

CLUB RUSH DAY

Story by Lauren Lee Photos by Raylene Factora Just before the beginning of lunch on Sept. 15, students from over 40 different clubs on campus assembled themselves in the quad for a promising 45 minutes of recruitment during Club Rush Day. Different student organizations doubled-up in the afternoon heat, and sometimes even tripled-up with only 20 tables provided by ASB. Those unfortunate enough not to arrive early to claim a table moved to other benches in the quad. This annual event gives students the opportunity to see what clubs they’ll find themselves joining for year. Club officers and members were devoted to making eye-catching posters and preparing showcases of their club’s work at their tables. Some clubs focus on artistic expression, such as Open Mic. Junior Nathaniel Medina said, “In Open Mic we have performers, and food, at our meetings. We also offer several themed showcases throughout the year for our members to fully exhibit whatever talents they have. I’d want non-members to know that they don’t have to sing, dance, or perform in general. We need an audience just as much as we need performers.” Student worked hard in the scorching heat, holding up posters and using other methods to recruit members, like offering candy to those who joined their club. It all paid off, as most felt that the day ended successfully. While Club Rush Day was a good opportunity to join clubs, you can join clubs anytime during the year. If you can’t find a club you really want to join, join all of the clubs you are interested in and see which matches you the most.

to west ranch,

from, the world

Nadim Elejje Story by Alyssa Truong Photos taken by Dylana Edwards-Caputo

There are about 7.4 billion people on Earth, 4.4 billion in Asia, 205 million in the Middle East, 5.9 million in Lebanon, 1.1 million in the city of Tripoli, and out of all of those people, one of them is here with us as a senior at West Ranch. Nadim Elejje is an international Lebanese student who traveled nearly 7261 miles from Tripoli, Lebanon to attend school here in California. Taking three history classes this year in order to graduate, Elejje has a goal to go far in life. After high school, he plans on leaving the United States to extend his education. His desire to become an engineer was passed down by his father, who brought his family from Lebanon to California because he was offered a job here. “I want to go to McGill University in Canada to major in engineering. It’s the 25th best school in the world,” Elejje said.

Ever since Elejje crossed the border, he’s never forgotten what life was like back in his home country. “I love my country. I miss my friends mostly and speaking Arabic. In Lebanon, I used to go out almost everyday and hang out with my friends. Sometimes, we would play cards, but it’s not like the cards here. Our cards are different; they need more thinking, so it’s more fun. My friends and I would always find something to do.” Even though he’s been in another continent and country for most of his life, Elejje is similar to a lot of the people here in the United States. “I love football, but here, you call it soccer. It’s an obsession,” he said. He has an eye for fashion, and likes to shop at Abercrombie & Fitch for their “soft” clothes. Like most guys, Elejje likes all sorts of music and movies, but does not like chick flicks, like The Notebook. There are a lot of places that Elejje wants to visit here in California, and Six Flags Magic Mountain is at the top of the list for his love of roller coasters and thrill. Even though he’s from another country, he is very much like Americans. Nadim Elejje sacrificed many things to come to the United States – his friends, family, and memories. It’s been a long trip to travel here from Lebanon, where he had to leave most of his life behind, but West Ranch is welcoming him with open arms to the United States.

Story by Dylana Edwards-Caputo

It’s a crisp new morning at West Ranch High School and new senior student Emma Otera sits effortlessly styled in her Dr. Martens and babydoll dress, laughing out loud in the glowing orange sunrise as she chats with her friends. As she works through classes and hangs out with new friends, many observing students have no idea that Otera is only four weeks into her adventure as a foreign exchange student all the way from her home in Verona, Italy. She parades through the campus with confidence and excitement as if she’s been a Wildcat since the beginning with the rest of our Class of 2017. Students smile and wave as she walks by making it known that she has already made her mark on this campus. This is the first time she has done a program that has taken her away from home for schooling. She laid out the rigorous process of finally getting herself to California. “After you apply the program decides everything for you,” said Emma. “They changed where I was going many times, first Colorado, then Michigan, Washington, and finally California.” The transition between Los Angeles, California and Verona, Italy has so far shown to be nothing but a positive and overjoyous experience for Emma. “I feel like I’m living my dream because it was always my dream to come here,” she said, “I love America.” She’s already made herself a part of the action in our community and has proven that she does not plan on wasting a second of her time here. “Right from the start she’s wanted to get involved,” said Emma’s close new friend Kailey Clark, “Hip hop team, rallies, football games, and even seeing and visiting new places on the weekends. She does everything with excitement.” Opposed to many of us who find ourselves dragging through high school and our usual school activities, Otera sees every new event as something extraordinary.

“In Italy it is only school, we don’t have teams or rallies or school dances” Otera said, “here there is so much to do and so many things to experience.” Santa Clarita and Los Angeles have no shortage of fun events and chances to get involved and Emma is eager to be a part of it all. Otera explained her hardest adjustment being the change in social life between America and Italy. “There are a lot more rules here,” Otera said and laughed, “but I don’t think these are bad things at all. They are just habits I have to get used to.” With as many activities as she has planned for the year she has no doubt that it will take her no time to adjust. “I plan on living this year 100 percent. I want to do all I can do and go everywhere possible. Also have fun and learn English.” Homesickness has not hit her just yet. With a full class schedule and her days piled up with school activities and new experiences she explains that she does not have much time right now to think too much about home and let herself be sad. “I will for sure miss home and I miss my mom but I have so much stuff to do everyday I can’t think about it right now,” she said “so for now...no.” Otera’s eagerness and love for this life shines brightly to everyone around her “I’m really too happy to be here. It was my dream so I’m just so happy now.” She has an overflowing love for Los Angeles and appreciates the little things that life has brought her today leaving her nearly unable to pick her favorite Los Angeles feature. “I really love all of it. The sky in the evening and the trees,” she said, ”I love it here, I would like to live here.” Otera has made on this campus and our students will be felt long after her year here at West Ranch has ended. Her eagerness to live and enjoy every bit of her experience left in high school may be something we could all hold onto and benefit from as Wildcats.

By Sarah Castillo and Jaeun Park Illustrations by Jaeun Park Many students hope to go into the STEM (Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering) field after high school, and West Ranch works hard to develop classes that will help students reach those goals. For example, this year the new “Intro to Engineering” and “AP Computer Science Principles” classes were offered for the first time, and students were quick to capitalize on them. Students like senior Jennifer Wong were very excited about the opportunity to get a head-start on the types of classes and concepts they would encounter later in college. Wong herself is taking both Intro to Engineering and AP Physics C, a rigorous senior year schedule, to help prepare her for her planned college major: Engineering Physics. Despite West Ranch’s attempts to expand the scope of the school’s STEM field with the implementation of Intro to Engineering and AP Computer Science Principles this year, there still seems to be a crucial element missing in these classes: women. “In my engineering class,” Wong’s classmate, junior Christine Hernandez said, “there’s only five girls to 35 boys. There’s a big gender gap.” AP Computer Science teacher Dan

Doggett recognizes the same trend in his classes. “There’s definitely a significant gap between the boys and girls that take my class. I’ve got 43 students taking AP Computer Science, and about six of them are girls.” “In Physics Club last year,” Physics Club President Ryan Yoo said, “There was only one female member. We really would like to see more.” Unfortunately, this problem is not unique to West Ranch alone. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2003 a mere 11 percent of the engineering workforce are women. Worst of all, aspiring STEM females recognize this as a fact of life. “I wasn’t surprised,” Wong said. “It’s not discouraging for me, because I like the subject. But it might be for other girls.” Even with Wong’s optimism, the gender gap is nevertheless apparent. “It’s different, but it hasn’t been discouraging. Sometimes boys have a lot more to say than the girls,” said Christine Hernandez, the sole female junior in Intro to Engineering and an aspiring aerospace engineer. Many see the problem in the stereotypes of the classes and professions in math, engineering, and technology; stereotypes that have been ingrained in our society for decades. “It’s all the years we’ve heard people say ‘Girls aren’t good at math’--an absolute fiction--but it’s what we’ve

heard, ” Doggett said. “When people think about tech careers and think about programmers, there’s the stereotype that is out there on who the programmer is. That has little reality to do with the skills involved or doing the job. But the stereotype holds some girls away from exploring it to see if they really enjoy it.” AP Statistics teacher Michelle McCormick was one of the girls hesitant from exploring the STEM field due to false perceptions. She viewed STEM careers, specifically engineering, in a negative light. “I think a lot of people associate engineering with boring and dry and on your own. I don’t think women realize how much creative problem solving, how much you have to be able to not only come up with a creative solution to a problem, you have to communicate your solution,” McCormick said. “I mean, that’s why I didn’t go into engineering -it just seemed so boring. I wanted to do something more interesting. Despite the very low number of girls in STEM classes, teachers note no difference in performance among gender. “Not in one slight. None whatsoever,” said AP Computer Science Principles teacher Casey Burrill without hesitation. “If anything, the ladies are in there to compete and do better, and prove they’re just as good computer warriors as anyone else.” Despite some discouraging gender

ratios in these STEM classes, West Ranch is making an effort to close the gap. “Teachers are aware of it, school districts are aware of it, the U.S. government is aware of it,” said Burrill, “and now we’re seeing a big push to encourage females to get involved in the STEM career possibilities out there. We’re seeing classes like the AP Computer Science Principles class being developed to push a larger cross section of society into that industry and that field.” Last year alone, the Hart District hosted a Women in STEM event to expose female students to the field. Women from notable companies such as NASA JPL visited West Ranch to speak with girls regarding their careers. In Doggett’s AP Computer Science class, he encouraged female students to apply for NCWIT Aspirations, a nationwide organization that recognizes women for pursuits in computer science. With events like these, progress can continue to be made in these underrepresented fields, and West Ranch is already beginning to see changes. For example, the AP Physics I class, a recommended prerequisite for AP Physics C, has an almost one to one ratio of girls to boys. “Right now, there are 35 girls in AP Physics I,” AP Physics I teacher Tom Gavin said, “And 37 boys.” The improvements in West Ranch’s own science classes are being reflected on a global scale as well. According to the National Science Foundation, since

1970 the percent of bachelor’s degrees earned by women in science and engineering have increased from 28 to 50 percent; a huge achievement in equal representation in the STEM field. Society is shifting its perception on not only the stigma of STEM fields, but on the role of women as well. “There’s a lot of societal attitudes that have changed in the last fifty years about the woman’s role in society, and in gender norms,” AP Physics C teacher Matthew Stanich said. “We’re seeing more and more women in those fields, which is great as they kind of change their roles from more of child-rearing homemakers to being breadwinners and having professional lives.” West Ranch teachers and students alike are optimistic about the future role of women in STEM: the physics majors like Wong and aerospace engineers like Hernandez, who not only contribute to the workforce but represent women in closing this gender gap. “I think females are some of the most creative people I’ve ever been around. And that’s where it comes from. It’s the big ideas,” said Burrill. “Plenty of people can write code, but it’s about who’s got the fresh, new ideas, and there’s no reason those ideas can’t come from women.”

an interview with a female neurosurgeon By Erica Gillespie Provided by Albany Medical Center

Dr. Julie Pilitsis Interview, Albany Director of Functional Neurosurgery, Assistant Professor How did you become interested in medicine, and more specifically, in neurosurgery? I actually was accepted out of high school into a medicine program. This was great because I didn’t have to take the MCAT, I just had to maintain a certain GPA. I did two years of undergrad and then went to medical school. I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, actually, right about your age (16), and I was considering being a lawyer or an engineer or going into business, but I thought the one that best captured all the aspects of my skill set and my personality, as well as the opportunity to help people, was medicine. When I got to medical school, I thought the brain was the coolest organ. I got a research position at a neurosurgery lab. I was actually looking for a neurology lab because I never even thought about doing surgery, but I ended up in the neurosurgery lab. I met all the residents in training and they took me to the operating room, and I was hooked. What are some challenges you faced as a woman becoming a neurosurgeon? I think, still to this day, everyone stops me to ask if I’m a nurse instead of a doctor. So I think there’s still a public perception. Even if I walk around with a male resident, they’ll look at me and think the man is the lead person. You

kind of deal with that all the time, but you somehow get used to it. I always try to make a joke about it and diffuse the situation. There are certain advantages, though. I could always make rounds faster than any of the guy residents could because no one even realized I was a doctor. I was very lucky because I went to a neurosurgery program where there were women faculty and residents. So even though I started my training in 1998, being a woman wasn’t a novel concept in their program. There’s more female residents than there ever were, so we’re headed in the right direction. It’s a society thing, but I think it’s changing a little bit. In PubMed, I saw that you were a coauthor of a study looking at female neurosurgery residents. You found that while only 5 percent of males dropped out, 17 percent of females dropped. What do you think is the cause for this disparity, and what should be done to improve the situation? Nobody really knows the answer. But in my mind, surgical training is something that was developed by men, so there’s kind of a mantra of ‘see one, do one, teach one.’ And that has changed a lot over the years because we have regulations in place, but I think while that may work well for some people that have a certain amount of confidence,

that does not work for everyone. Men are much more apt to learn that way than women are, so I think a lot of the teaching we do is biased to begin with. I also think that women tend to like a more supportive environment, and surgery is often not that, so that can be hard as well. Also, you want some place that you can fit in. Gender is just one factor in that, but that can be something that is hard for women as well. There are other pressures in your life where you decide you want to do something else, and that’s reflected more on one side of the spectrum. What would you like to tell girls who are interested in becoming a physician or even a neurosurgeon? It’s very important to keep your eye on the ball. Make sure if you have this goal, that you keep after it and don’t let too many things get in the way. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it. It’s important to plan along, so if your goal is to get into medical school in five years, what do you have to do between then and now? You have to get into college, do reasonably well (better than a 3.5), do well on your MCAT, make relationships with teachers that will write you a strong letter of recommendation, and make sure that you are dedicated to medicine either through research, being an EMT, or volunteering.

#1 Mixtape

From the kid who brought you 4 Leaf Clover, KYLO, Joo Man, and Genesis.

Story by Kulsoom Hasan

You may recognize him as the extrovert: the

spontaneous, slightly eccentric, sociable student known for his prowess on the basketball court and variety of extracurriculars. Or, you may know him as the introvert: the mysterious and unfiltered creative mind of Jakku Ren, who produces mixtapes with a uniquely authentic musical style. These are the two sides of Suren Aghazadian, a well known senior here at West Ranch. His accomplishments in the classroom and on the court as the captain of the boys’ varsity basketball team are rivaled only by his musical genius as an up-and-coming SoundCloud artist. Suren Aghazadian initially decided to start creating mixtapes after hearing other local artists in the Santa Clarita Valley. “I heard these other local artists, and I was really disappointed by their musical choices, so I became motivated to create tapes that would be enjoyable to everyone and that would poke fun at the other musicians.” When compiling his album, the West Ranch musician and his friends collaborate in creating unique and original beats using electronic equipment and computer software. They do this by combining a fun and fresh mix of sounds, rhythms, and lyrics. Together, these elements form a unique style for which the student-turnedartist is known. “I would say my friends are my biggest supporters. They help me create new albums and they listen to them, give me feedback, and help me make them better.” His mixtapes are influenced by icons like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and A$AP Rocky. Chance The Rapper is also a major inspiration for this West Ranch social media artist because he also started making music in high school by creating his own genre. He, too, doesn’t sell his music for money but instead posts them online without a formal music label. “All music is inspirational; any sound, any beat, any rhythm is a different and unique form of expression. Rap lyrics, for example, are very intelligently poetic and have unlimited potential for meaning,” says Aghazadian.

By taking advantage of the connectivity and “energy” of platforms such as SoundCloud and Twitter, the West Ranch senior releases fresh material under the pseudonym of “Jakku Ren.” “A new song just dropped on Aug. 29 and a new tape will come out sometime within the month of September. My next release is going to be a solo album, which will be a change from my albums where I collaborate with other SoundCloud musicians. My next work will also incorporate both slow and party raps, especially those with unique flow and beat. In the more distant future, I have a collaboration album coming up with the artist, Dewrad.” Being the legendary Jakku Ren is not where the story ends. Aghazadian is a committed basketball team captain, aspiring to lead the West Ranch boys’ varsity basketball team to league championships, as the team almost made championships last year. He is also the vice president of the chess club here on campus, but the list also doesn’t end there. As a future finance major, he has a passion for entrepreneurship, starting his own clothing business, Renegade USA, with his friend, Chris Kodama. His hardcore work ethic has aided him to achieve numerous accomplishments, such as his internship as a sports writer, membership in the National Honors Society, and a score of 2320 on the SAT test. Although he has no future plans for a professional career in music, he plans to continue composing mixtapes for his many fans as well as himself. “Making albums is something I do as a hobby; I enjoy it. Although I really appreciate it when people come up to me and tell me how much they liked my album, at the end of the day I do it for myself,” says the musician. He wants to set an example for others that “anyone can do anything.” Despite the lack of formal music training, he has become musically successful locally and at West Ranch, proving this to be a fact. “Everyone started from somewhere. It’s most important to do what you love for yourself, and if you follow that, you’ll always be successful, no matter what.”

“At the end of the day I do it for myself.”

Photos by Jacqueline Hofmann

AMERICA THE GREAT O Story by Minjoon Kang America. Land of the free. Home of the Brave. However, ranked 14th in education. Ranked 21st in providing basic human needs. Ranked first in military spending. Instead of focusing on purely statistics to form an opinion, let’s take a step back for a moment and think of a world without the United States. Where would we be living? What kind of governments would exist? Democracy, the very ideal that lays its foundation on the people. What would happen to it? Let’s look to World War II and what would happen if America was taken out of the scenario. In North Africa, the invasion of North Africa, which was occupied by Germany, would not have occurred without the troops the U.S. provided. This would have allowed Germany an open path towards France and Italy. The pacific scenario is very similar; Japan with its military strength have trampled through the South Pacific. After the war, Europe would be having a difficult time recovering without U.S. assistance. Overall, World War II would have been worse without US contribution. The international communist movement started by the Soviet Union was carried down to Korea. Korea was split into two countries, with the U.S. democratically influencing the South while communist ideals took over the North. If there was

no US action, there would be no democratic South Korea today. By countering communism by spreading democracy, the U.S. managed to staunch the flow of these ideals. Without the US, the international communist movement would have influenced areas all over the world, leading to a very scary world. . On June 25, 1950, North Korea declared war on South Korea. When the US finally took action, it was when the South had been pushed all the way to the bottom of the country

“Without the US, the international c o m m u n i s t movement would have influenced areas all over the world, leading to a very scary world.” Many people may mention the many failures we have in the foreign policy department. He mentions how we ended up raising dictators, and laying the foundation of ISIS. However, this still does not detract from the fact that in a world without U.S. presence and leadership, we would be in a worse state. First off, strong countries such as Russia and China, who do not share the interests of the US, would become the world’s dominant power. The world would become one of no respect towards human rights and built on corrupt governments.

O R

AMERICA THE FAKE

Why is America the greatest country in the world? It’s not. And most of the standard metrics we could consider to qualify a country as “being great” would corroborate that statement. We’re 17th in education, eighth in human development, 13th in overall happiness (World Happiness Index), 38th in infant mortality, 31st in life expectancy, fourth in labor force, and sixth in median household income. The only things that we can be considered the greatest in is the number of people we have incarcerated in prisons (outranking North Korea) and the amount of money we spend on our military where we outspend the next ten countries combined.

“ How can America be great if its citizens are ranked 13th in overall happiness?”

The Black Lives Matter movement and the ensuing debate over the institution of racism in this country show how deeply flawed our country remains. The trend toward racial politics has revealed deep inequalities, such as how AfricanAmericans are ten times more likely to be incarcerated for the same drug offenses than whites. America has a history of struggling with the concept of universal rights. Before 1865, African-Americans were treated as property. Until 1920, women weren’t even allowed to vote.

Story by Jong Hak Wong Even now, we struggle with that question. The 2016 Social Progress Index indicates that we’re 19th in general political rights, 17th in tolerance for homosexuals, 38th in discrimination and violence against racial minorities, 49th in religious tolerance, 28th in tolerance for immigrants, and 30th in freedom over personal life choices. Minjoon says that America is great as a result of our heavy-handed foreign presence and the influence we are capable of exerting overseas. However, his argument blindly overlooks that we have as many failures as successes. In 1973, we overthrew a democratically elected president in Chile and replaced him with a military dictator who went on to oppress Chileans for decades after. In the Middle East, we made friendly with dictators who committed atrocities against their people. We routinely send drones into these countries in a reign of terror where we kill innocent civilians. Minjoon may think that America is great. A 12-year-old Pakistani boy who’s had his arms and legs blown off in a drone strike will beg to differ. Although his campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again,” Donald Trump has yet to clarify to what version of America that he’s harkening back to. When was this supposedly “great” era?

REALigion Story and Photos by Skijler Hutson Yes, I am Christian. No, I am not bigoted, sexist, racist, homophobic, close mined or hateful. But I am interested in how this label is interpreted against me and how it is being portrayed today. I have repeatedly been called out for religion’s involvement in my life. I was told that any association with it was negative. I quickly learned that this part of myself should not be shared without serious consideration. Christianity had context and association that could be used against me. I thought that someone’s immediate internal response would be to put an anti-gay, immigration or abortion propaganda sign in my hand. I would be called a close-minded individual even though my actions showed differently. I found myself hesitating when asked about my faith. “Are you Christian?” “Well ... yes. No. Maybe? But I am not religious though!” Before I had completed my answer, I had already tried to explain it. Part of my hesitation was I didn’t know how I felt about the secular stances of others who called themselves Christians. If I called myself Christian, did that mean I was inherently the same as those whose opinions conflicted mine? I decided the best answer would come from the collection of varying ones. I held a panel of nine people representing different religions and one atheist. We talked and debated about religion in our lives. We recognized its beneficial role in each of us but also acknowledged its institutional downfall. Primarily, I wanted to hear other people’s reason for religion; why is it worth anything? “I think that without religion, a lot of religious people could be happy. They are fine with themselves, but they see religion. They see the beliefs, and they say, ‘Wow, following those rules, I can make myself so much better. I am happy now, but I look at myself, and I am still a sinner,’” said sophomore Patrick Basore, a practicing Catholic. “You see those standards and you say, ‘If I can be like that, I could be the best form of myself.’” I have witnessed the self-betterment religion models, but I am still unsure of

of the Latter- Day Saints, it is religion’s comfort that has guided and relieved her in some of her most difficult times. “I have needed [religion] in my life; there have been several times where I have had a struggle with a lot of things. I actually, just this summer, was in the hospital ... I was in so much pain, and I was so frustrated that that was happening ... I believe that we can pray to God, and he will answer us, and I prayed and I just felt better. It didn’t go away, but I felt comforted. I think that sometimes that is really what I need most, is the comfort.” I have seen the good religion is capable of, but it would be naive of me to not acknowledge its downfalls. These failures lie in that which goes beyond religious denotation and toward worldly If I called myself Christian, did interpretation. that mean I was inherently the It may be that religion itself is bad at the social level yet good at the individual. same as those whose opinions Many people on the panel shared how conflicted mine? religion had benefited their own lives. But as a whole, we failed to show the points of religion that were tailored for the use of human society. Religion, as it institution. These critiques must be is meant to be, provides guidance and focused. comfort, but often when it goes past that I have no problem with those who — into the secular world — it fails horribly. choose to live without religion or Now I think that if it wasn’t religion, it criticize it, but they should allow their would be another human institution. same freedom of choice to others. As Human hate is larger than its facilitator. an atheist, sophomore Sedona Vivirito is able to find this respect for what she Therefore, we shouldn’t blame religion as a concept or an idea but how it is opposes. carried out by humanity. “I don’t like organized religion that “I believe religion is not the problem at much, [but] I believe that all people all. Without religion, I feel like I wouldn’t should have the right to do what they be the person I am. I am trying to set want, practice what religion they want high standards for myself, be the kindest to ... I think that a lot of people need person [I can be], [and] always trying to religion. I think that some people need work hard,” said sophomore Zain Khan, it, but personally I don’t need it. I get a practicing Muslim. that there is a need in some people, The dynamic between secular and that they are lacking something or [they religious; temporal and spiritual; worldly have] a negative outlook that they need and divine is often hard to balance. The religion [to fill].” extent of my faith is questionable, and This respect comes with the I am constantly questioning its borders intelligence to discern primary aim from in my life. Whether or not I stay a part the various interpretations of religion. of Christianity or any religion for that It means to see the good it does for others and to not deny them of this joy. matter, I am grateful for what it has given me so far. “I, for a period of time, was an For sophomore Abbey Walters, a Atheist, and I feel personally, gaining my member of the Church of Jesus Christ

the extent I allow religion to influence my life. What I choose to accept is that religion has shaped me: either for the good or the bad. I went to a private Christian school for six years and attended Sunday school regularly. I can never fully deny Christianity’s impact in my life. It has played too large a role. Therefore, when people denounced religion, they were also attacking a part of me. If someone decides to comment on religion, they need to understand that a blanket term of “religion is the source of hate in the world” or “organized religion must be abolished” does not apply only to the great monster of human

Judaism and my religiousness back has helped me a lot emotionally because it gives me hope, and it gives me a sense of community. I go to a Jewish summer camp. I have Jewish youth group, and I feel a lot more connected to these people because I share this common struggle, and we all have the same faith,â&#x20AC;? said senior Hila Oz. I believe, more than anything, in the

intention of religion: the community, comfort, values and good it provides. It disheartens me that religion has become a scapegoat for human nature. I accept those that find fulfillment without religion, and I fully see the logic in it. I also understand the very much valid arguments against religion. It is not the criticism I want to stop. It is the broadness of the attack. One cannot

attack religion without considering the very real people it includes. People must either separate the two or stop attacking either. To check out the student features on religion, visit wrpawprint.com.

Religions of West Ranch

Leila Bathke, Sophomore, Bahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i faith

Hila Oz, Senior, Judaism

Patrick Basore, Sophomore, Christianity

Sedona Viverito, Sophomore, Atheism

Alisha Mehta, Sophomore, Hinduism

Aarja Pavarde, Sophomore, Sikhism and Hinduism

SPORTS - THRASHER WR EDITION

DAWSON Q&A

w/ Varsity Athlete & Skater

SOUISA

When was the first time you picked up a board? I was in the third grade. My older brother skated and I used to copy everything he did, so that’s what got me into it. Do you prefer skating alone or with friends? I prefer skating with friends because it influences me to try stuff I normally wouldn’t and laughing at each other fall is usually the best part. What do you think about while skating? When I skate, it’s the only thing I think about. That’s what makes skating super fun for me because I get to take my mind off of any worries or issues I have in my daily life and just focus on landing a trick. How has skateboarding influenced your life? Skating and the whole culture behind it is super influential for me. It gets me to go outside, enjoy the outdoors, and see the world from a different perspective. Where is your favorite spot to skate? My favorite skatepark to skate is Sheldon Skatepark about 15 minutes out of Santa Clarita and my favorite skate spot is a small curb outside of a doughnut shop in Castaic. It’s super simple, but always fun. When did you start playing basketball? First Grade. This will be my third year on Varsity here at West Ranch. About how many hours a week do you practice for basketball? Including the time spent in the weight room, I practice over 12 hours a week. Where do you find time to skate in between practices? I usually skate right after school because practice is in the evening or on weekends when there’s no practice. What are your plans for after high school? After high school, I have no concrete plans. I’ll be applying to colleges soon, but at some point in the four years at a university, I’d love to live out of a van and travel North America with a friend or two. Do you take part in any activities or hobbies aside from basketball and skating? I like to ride my bike, hangout with friends, and basically just be outdoors. My friends and I are pretty active and adventurous. We don’t sit around much, so there’s always something for me to do. Shout outs to INT and F 11.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Story by Harneet Aurora

This is the start of a brand new season for West Ranch’s very own girls’ tennis team. Last year, they placed second in foothill, but their journey to the CIF Championships ended after falling short in the second round to the first place team. Now, as they enter a new season, the bar is being raised one step higher in hopes of continuing their success and to constantly keep growing. “My goals for this year’s team is to win our Foothill League,” said Coach Dina McBride. “And now we’re in Division 1 so hopefully we can get around in Division 1 in this area.” The girls have been training very hard everyday since tryouts in hopes of exceedingtheir coach’s expectations. The junior varsity coach, Dody Garcia and varsity coach, Dina McBride, have selected the best of the best to play as Wildcats. “We have a very talented team and they

are very motivated to succeed and achieve our two year promise to win the League Championships,” McBride said with confidence. Every player earned their spot and that truly makes the team stronger than ever. With the motivation and strengths of a vital player and captain, Brittany Waugh, the team is ready to take on multiple challenges. “I’m excited. We have a lot of new freshman that are really good and our varsity is definitely stronger this year. said Waugh. Our biggest competitor is definitely Valencia, and

I believe that we can beat them this year.”

unior, Danielle Hettinger, who plays alongside Waugh, has been on the varsity

Story by Sarah Ziskind

West Ranch’s girls’ golf season is now underway. Last year proved to be very successful for the girls, who achieved a record of first in league and fourth in CIF team playoffs. Mack Bailey, junior, Ashley Mayhall, senior, and Kate Caffrey, 2016 alumnae, all advanced to CIF individual playoffs as well. The overall 2016 season has set the bar very high for this year’s players. Though the team achieved first place in league they still continue to focus on their weaknesses and are finding ways to improve them.

“Our toughest challenge was ourselves,”

team since her freshman year. She was a major contributor to the tennis team’s success in the past two seasons and has yet to be apart of a first place tennis team at West Ranch “I’m so confident in our team this year,” Hettinger said. “This is the hardest we have ever worked in my opinion and I know that our hard work is going to pay off.” In high hopes of accomplishing their goals, Coach McBride plans to build on the same strategies used in the past seasons. “We have been building on the strategies that we have been developing the last two years which is staying aggressive, staying confident, and having a good time ,” adds the tennis coach. With all of this in mind, now it’s time to put their skills and hard work to the test. Come and show some support for your Lady Cats! Good luck on the upcoming season!

GIRLS’ GOLF

said girls’ coach Holen. “We did not play consistently as a team. We would

have one or two players play well and the others would struggle.” To eliminate this lack of consistency the team has been practicing nonstop to ensure each player will have the muscle memory and motions nailed down. With all of the hard work and effort being put in, the team hopes to advance even further into playoffs this year, for they were only two strokes away from advancing into the second round. There is no doubt the team will be able to achieve their goal with the help of Mayhall and Bailey who were crucial to last year’s success. “It’s my last year golfing here at West Ranch so it’s a very bittersweet experience for me,” said Mayhall.

Photo of Ashley Mayhall

“My goal is to win CIF individuals this year. That way I can go out with a bang.” With all of this in check the team will definitely have another great season in store. Good luck out on the course Cats!

Volleyball

Story by Jasleen Arora

This season the West Ranch volleyball team hopes to come out strong and on top with the help of coach Brandon Pank. “We bettered our record, winning over 500 games and ending third in league.” he said. The team plans to meet their goals with the help of many experienced seniors as well as a volleyball program that is very dedicated to being one of the best teams in all of Southern California. “We want a reputation that people know about when we walk in the gym. We want the reputation to be that we are hardworking, that we are classy, and that we show up with our strength.” he said. In addition to talented seniors and returning players, the team has gained multiple new players, including freshmen Allison Jacobs.

Photos By Andy Song “It’s really nerve-wracking because there is a lot of pressure and it’s really hard sometimes. I have to live up to a standard and everyone thinks that I am really good and when I don’t live up to their expectations, it’s kinda scary,” said Allison. “But overall I embrace the pressure and embrace being a freshman on the team and it is really satisfying when I do well.” The varsity volleyball team also welcomes back senior Katie Jacobs. “We want to win league. Our goal is to get the best record that we can. Instead of focusing on the big picture, we need to take it one game at a time.” said Katie.

Alison and Katie hope to be a great sister duo this year. “Yes, I absolutely love playing with my sister because it’s a once in a lifetime experience. While we have our conflicts, when we get on the court during game time everything seems to be gone and we just play our game.”said Allison. In addition to many talented players, the team has been practicing everyday after school to prepare themselves for the upcoming season. Let’s have another great season Cats!

Cross Country Story by Andy Song

Provided by Margaret Reilly-Bates Both the Boys’ and Girls’ team are coming off very successful season last year, with the Girls’ team placing fourth in league and the Boys winning CIF and finishing seventh in the State Championships. Continuing this high level of success will be no easy task for new head coach Sarah Soltani, but, she remains confident in her team’s physical abilities, and expects their hard work and investment to pay off. “I have been training this team since late May, and they have been going

nonstop for seven days a week. It has been strenous, but they have put in the work ethic,” said Soltani. And with the high level of practice and preparation the team has invested, expectations for the season remain high. “I don’t think the Boys were satisfied with their results ... their goal is to make it to the podium (top three) this time,” said Soltani. “The same with the Girls team...the goal is to finish, in my opinion, second place behind Saugus.” “We accomplished a lot last season,

but we also had potential to do more. I think all of us on the team know if we work hard and stay disciplined, we have the potential to win state,” said senior runner Justin Sherfy. With these new goals in mind, along with the team’s As with any other sport, running is both a mental and physical sport, and the Cross Country team has focusing in on this aspect in conjunction with their physical training. “They have to stay highly motivated; running is very hard. The ultimate goal is to stay committed and positive throughout the entire season,” said Soltani. With these new goals in mind, along with the team’s impressive amount of time and effort invested into the upcoming season, our Cross Country

Football Story and Photos by Bryce Fenenbock After a season full of its highs and lows, Wildcat Football has finally returned after its grueling nine month wait. It’s hard to beat around the bush when analyzing the 15’-16’ season; It was flat out ugly. Whether or not injuries were to blame, being outscored 46213 in league matchups aren’t signs of a productive team. Something had to change. That is exactly what Coach Varner, a championship winning coach at Canyon, thinks he can bring to the table. He believes the team has more untapped potential than any other in league, and is ready to prove it. “Our biggest strength is the talent this team has. All the team needs is to believe that they have insane potential and we can achieve great things,” Varner said. “What this program, and school, needs for success is an attitude change in regards to football. I’m not here to win ‘x’ amount of games and score ‘x’ amount of points, it’s too subjective to things out of our control. What we can control is being driven and staying positive throughout the season.” The team is viewed as a longshot by the league to make a run at a top three finish, a main reason why quarterback Wyatt Eget is so driven to win. “Everyone’s mindset is ready to go and ready to prove so many people wrong. We know there aren’t many people foreseeing us having a successful year, we see that,” Eagett said. “What those people don’t know is the mentality of this team. We have been training for three hours a day on the turf since January. We have done so much to be in the position we are and know we are going to turn heads.” The team definitely carries a dark horse vibe with them his season. They are ready to translate every second of training into results when the time comes. It’s time to let go of the past Cats. A new era of West Ranch Football has begun.

“ Our biggest strength is the

talent this team has. All the team needs is to believe that they have insane potential and we can achieve great things.”

GIRL POWER It’s hard to describe Erin Meottel without being contradictory. Despite the incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm she possesses, people around her feel calm and laid-back, though they definitely recognize her optimism. “She’s always got a smile on her face,” Meottel’s best friend, senior Rheana Patterson said. Even with her bubbly and vivacious personality, Meottel easily proves that she can be intelligent and serious when the situation calls for it. “Erin is outgoing and she gets along really well with everybody. She knows how to maintain peace, and she’s very sweet. She’s just a great student,” said her AP U.S. History teacher, Kathleen Barr. Outside of her classes, Meottel has plenty of extracurriculars including soccer, track, ASB, and several volunteer organizations like Special Olympics. With her busy schedule, second semester will be hard for her. “During the high school soccer season, we’ll be having our games on the

same day as basketball games, but we usually finish in time for me to make it to [basketball]. I’ll just change really quickly and head on over,” said Meottel. “It’s my last year and I really want to represent the Pack and go to every single game that I can.” Even though she knew she would be

everybody, and with how much spirit I have.” Meottel, though she is excited to have her position, definitely feels the pressure of being the first female to lead the Pack. “I have high expectations to meet,” Meottel said, “But I’m really excited to go all out for all the themes, all the games, all the spirit days, and I’m willing to do [anything] to prove myself to everybody, so that we can be just as spirited as everyone else is.” This year, alongside Mita, Josten, and Bui, Meottel is hoping to lead the Pack with positivity. “We’re really trying to promote West Ranch Pride and bounce back from everything that happened last year,” Meottel said,” and show all of the great things that West Ranch does have to offer rather than highlighting the negatives, which you know they did last year, and we’re trying to promote how awesome West Ranch High School is.”

busy, Meottel was still excited to be chosen by Mr. Arrowsmith. “One day, Mr. Arrowsmith came up to me and said, ‘We have chosen you because we want the first female pack leader and we’ve heard that you’re very spirited, and we think that you’d be a great fit,’” Meottel said. “Mr. Arrowsmith said that I was the first girl that has really Story by Allison Alben and Jaeun Park stood out with my willingness talk to

Story by Aerin Choi

B A N D

Photo

Story by Kiana Quick

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Story by Megan Chang

Marching band’s bigger events don’t start until October. The annual Wildcat Classic is on Oct. 22 at Valencia High School, and the Rampage is on Oct. 29 at College of the Canyons. The Rampage is viewed by band members as the largest event of the year. West Ranch has constantly been earning top scores at this competition, so this year should prove to be no different. “Improvement at our level is pretty small. The students are already doing so much right,” said marching band director Jason Marshall. “So, we look for little things to tweak. Little areas to improve the process. Little ways to make the playing better. Little ways to make the marching better.” This 103-member family puts in countless hours in order to make the band the best it can be. This year should be yet another year filled with success for West Ranch Marching Band.

Samanth

THEATER

Photo by

Molly Peters, the director of the choir program, is proud to lead a new group of talented singers this school year. “We have great singers, a positive attitude. We’ve been in school for less than two weeks, and we’re already tackling the music,” she said. This year could be even more busy than the last. In April, choir will travel across the country to New York for a mass choir at Carnegie Hall. To raise money for the large trip, choir students will sell tickets to and host a dinner concert fundraiser on Oct. 20. Choir’s busy schedule is anything but easy with the singers juggling the program, schoolwork and other commitments, but Peters has faith in their ability to stay dedicated and make the choir as best as it can be.

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“Each year, we produce four main stage plays out of the two Advanced Theatre Arts classes. In the musical theatre class, we’re doing ‘Into the Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim. In the other advanced class, we’re doing ‘Letters to Sala’ by Arlene Hutton,” said theatre teacher Christopher Cook about this upcoming school year. The diverse range between these two shows has students thrilled for what is coming this year in theatre. “I’m really excited about the shows we are doing this semester. I’m especially excited for ‘Into the Woods’ because it just looks like such a fun piece to perform,” said junior theater student Levi Adams. With multiple shows planned for the year, theatre students are expected to put multiple hours and dedication into each one. Actors focus on rehearsing lines, songs and choreography. Stagecraft students work on the set, lighting, sound, makeup and costumes.

Raising the Bar Story by Kiana Quick & Mary Waugh Photos provided by Mia Lachman

t two years old, a child’s brain has not even developed language skills or simple thinking skills. A two year old is learning to take simple steps, a skill we today may find easy. But for two-year-old Mia Lachman, she went straight from footsteps to pliés. “My mom put me into ballet when I was two years old. She did it just for fun and to see how I would like it,” said now 14-year-old sophomore. Mia’s parents tells us that she decided it all on her own and she never wanted to miss a single class. As we can see, dance quickly grew on Mia and so she started classes at Santa Clarita Ballet when she was four, and she has been putting in at least two hours of vigorous dancing a day since. “I do not think people realize how hard it is because professional dancers make everything look easy. Some people may not consider it a sport either, so they might think of dancers as weak,” said Mia. But in reality, dancers struggle with many diverse obstacles when rehearsing or trying out for certain roles. “I think the hardest part about ballet is how you have to make everything look easy even though it isn’t easy at all. Also, many ballet companies have specific looks and body types they prefer, and you have to learn to accept that you aren’t going to get

into certain places because of those things,” said Mia, who is nearly five feet tall. According to the Dance Informa Magazine, the average height for a professional female dancer is five feet and four inches. And some companies even have a minimum height of around five foot and seven inches.

“Dance

has made me a lot more brave because you have to take risks in order to improve and become stronger.” “Sometimes it is an obstacle because typically dancers are supposed to have long legs and extensions. I’ve learned to work with what I have, and there are so many professionals who are short and have inspired me to keep going. I won’t let it stop me.” One of these professionals would be Misty Copeland, a dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, stands as five feet and two inches.

“My body is very different from most of the dancers I dance with. My hair is different than most I dance with. But I didn’t let that stop me,” said Copeland in an interview about her success as a professional African-American dancer. Mia and Copeland share similar struggles but both still reach to be the best. Let’s take it back for one moment and remember throughout all of these practices and auditions- Mia is still a high school student. She still has homework and tests. And many of us know what it’s like to have an essay and a science test tomorrow but practice tonight. “It can be very hard to balance to balance school and dance,” said Mia, but as experienced as she is, she has learned to manage her time and priorities. “But after doing it for so long I am used to it, and I just have to make sure I set aside time for both.” Her parents, like many others, put school as the top priority. But from their daughter’s persistence and dedication, they know that Mia is capable of taking any challenges that life throws at her and use it to make herself a better person. “Ballet is a very disciplined form of dance and I feel like it has helped her be disciplined in her academics,” said Mia’s mother Elissa Lachman.

Despite the slight struggle in balancing different aspects of her life and landing certain roles, Mia’s love for dance continuously grows. “I think the first time I performed I knew I loved dancing. I realized I wanted it to really be a part of my life and future when I went away to a summer program in Boston in 2014. I learned different techniques and made new friends who shared the same passion as me.” For Mia’s father Jake Lachman, he knew how important dance was to Mia when she came out of an exam crying because she thought she had made a lot of mistakes. She was only eight years old. “I saw the dedication, passion, and love she had for ballet. She received distinction on the exam, the highest mark possible,” said her father. In this case, you don’t even have to be someone who was there to experience those moments to tell that ballet has changed Mia’s life. You can tell Mia’s love for the art from watching her talk about it. You can see that light in her eyes that tells you that it’s something she is deeply passionate about and something that makes her really happy. “It’s the most amazing feeling to be able to perform or do something really well in class. The best part about performing is the feeling you get after you perform because you put so much time and effort into the show, and you finally get to show the audience what you love and have been working on.” Mia sums up her feelings toward dance in one sentence, that dance is simply “fun.” It is easy to tell that for this Wildcat, dance is an influential force that has ultimately changed Mia forever for the good. “Dance has made me a lot more brave because you have to take risks in order to improve and become stronger.” Mia hopes to take her love all the way to a professional career, so make sure to remember her name.

West Ranch Welcomes

AP Art History

“The new course is way more exciting because it gets more contemporary.” This year AP Art History has been added back to West Ranch’s courses. When West Ranch’s student population decreased, the school lost several teachers, including the AP Art History teacher, who is now at La Mesa. But last year when the student population increased, Sally Rush, the AP Studio Art teacher, urged the administration to hire another art teacher, so new and interesting classes can be offered. With the addition of a new art teacher, Rush, who has a minor in Art History, is able to teach a passion of hers apart from Studio Art. Last year AP CollegeBoard redesigned the AP class so that the course contains an equal distribution of artworks. Now, students will be learning 50 percent European and 50 percent global, whereas before it was 75 percent Eurocentric and 25 percent works from other parts of the world. In

addition to changing which art should be studied, the College Board has also reduced the amount of information about the art pieces. Students are responsible for knowing 250 images instead of 500 to 1000 images. “The new course is way more exciting because it gets more contemporary. It’s 250 images, but they have much deeper analysis of the work so they’re going to be talking about and looking at the content of the work,” said Rush. From the 250 artworks, AP Art History students now have to know about the content, formal qualities, context and the function of art works. Although College Board has reduced the number, many are concerned that limiting the amount of art works will include less diversity and be less exciting. “They’re learning less pieces but learning more about the work instead of rote memorization.

Story by Erica Lee

Now we get to really talk about the work and what’s going on with it,” said Rush. Sometimes she dresses up as an artwork and the students have to guess what it is. The last couple of weeks, she wore all black and wore a costume to make her students figure out which artwork she was. She implements creative ways to help her students learn information. She also brings slides and short video clips like Art 21 and PBS videos. To help students fully retain the content of the art pieces, Rush wants students to critically think and discuss, which means incorporating group work and collaborating with one another. “I work so hard at this. I want it to do so well,” said Rush. The class is much more than another AP course for students because not only is the material engaging, Rush’s teaching process creates an energy that excites the students.

Photos provided by Sally Rush

RUSHING TO ART “I like when students make work that they didn’t think that they could make and I love being able to talk about art with students all day. I get to do what I love everyday.” Story by Christine Joo

s the youngest and only child fascinated by art, Sally Rush had always helped her brother’s art projects and eventually grew closer to art. “That’s all I wanted to do. I did a lot of art.” Her passion for art was sparked by Quentin Tarantino’s, “Reservoir Dogs,” which affected her perspective on art. “It had a huge impact on me. I saw it when I was in college, at 20, and it came out in this little art house theater in Chicago. I had never seen anything like it.” Rush has always loved and appreciated art. She especially loves Arturo Herrera’s, a Venezuelan artist, abstract work.“My favorite piece would be one of his pieces, I don’t know if I would be able to just choose one, but he’s definitely my favorite artist.” Her life revolves around art and the people that surround her definitely influence her love for art. “Art is who I am. My husband is a graphic designer, teaching at California Institute of the Arts, as the head of the Graphic Design program. My friends are all graphic designers or architects or they teach art. My best friend teaches printmaking at University of Pittsburgh.” When Rush is not teaching at West Ranch, she loves traveling with her husband. “We were just in Berlin, my favorite place, and love visiting art museums everywhere we go, so art is a big part of who I am. I teach who I am, not something that I do.” Although Rush loves to venture out to foreign cities, she definitely loves taking advantage of Los Angeles’ diverse art. “We live in a commercial building in Los Angeles that we’ve converted so we have a studio that’s bigger than our actual living space and we spend a lot of our time in there. It’s great that we live in Los Angeles, so we have access to the great art museums.”

Rush likes to discover new forms of less popular, high quality art that Los Angeles offers her. “There are so many great museums in L.A. like the Getty Center, Getty Villa, Los Angeles County of Art (LACMA), Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and The Broad. The LACMA is nice because it’s so big it can really bring in a lot of historical and contemporary art.” Aside from the big and popular museums, Rush definitely likes the smaller local museums that have a little bit more character to offer. One of her favorite museums in L.A. is The Hammer Museum which is under the University of California, Los Angeles. “It’s a smaller museum, but they can take chances on younger, emerging artists, where a bigger museum, like the Getty can’t do. Bigger museums tend to do more established artists. The Bergamot Station in Santa Monica has some vibrant galleries and Culver City has some more, as well as Chinatown.” As an art teacher, Rush has times when she wants to put her paintbrush down and get out. She enjoys working out, surfing, beach bicycling, doing yoga on her surfboard, and her favorite activity, next to art, is snowboarding. Her creativity started to spark when she was a young girl. She loved trying new things and had loved making desserts. “I invented the Dairy Queen Blizzard before Dairy Queen came out with it. I would take vanilla ice cream and Chips Ahoy cookies and mix them. A few years later, Dairy Queen came out with the Blizzard and I realized I could have become an ice cream maker.” Rush is a popular amongst the students and faculty on campus. She loves teaching art as the fun part of her life, rather than as an academic subject. Her favorite part of teaching at West Ranch is interacting with her talented students and discovering her students’ secret artistic talents. but

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