The Pen

the

PEN

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School www.pvphsnews.com Vol. XXXV Issue 1 September 26, 2014

What about body images?

STUDENT LIFE Page 6

Students weigh in on the issue of body image

STUDENT LIFE Page 8

what we...

A We NEWare LEADERSHIP

COACHING THE CONDUCT

WeMEETS are what we...

SCHOOL WORLD

NEWS Page 2

Coaches deal with the by-laws of the sidelines OPINION Page 4

Students share the impacts of who we are. global on 4their lives FOCUSissues Page FOCUS Page 6

A look at the things that define PVPUSD welcomes new who we are. superintendents FOCUS Page 4

A look at the things that define

PVPUSD WELCOMES new superintendents

SOPHIE GRAGG/THE PEN

On Sept.12, Ass. Superintendent Culverhouse (left) and Superintendent Austin (right) tour Peninsula’s campus with student guides after school.

BY ANNIE BENEDICT AND SONIA DESAIDAMLE

Beach Unified School District for three years, while Culverhouse worked as a principal for elementary, middle and high schools in s Peninsula students prepare for Laguna Beach. a new school year, Palos Verdes Austin plans to promote the Common Core Peninsula Unified School District program and find new ways to incorporate (PVPUSD) is preparing for new leadership technology into effective teaching methods. under Superintendent Don Austin and Ass. “In this new age of computers and tablets, Superintendent Joanne Culverhouse. it will be hard to find the right path toward On Aug. 23, Principal Mitzi Cress, a member absolute integration,” Austin said. “We have of a PVPUSD committee who helped hire the explored the ideas of using iPads and computers superintendents, met with the Cosca group, a in class without disrupting the process.” partnership of educational With the $5.3 million he clearly is a person who administrators that provides spike in the district budget, services to school boards, understands the importance Austin and Culverhouse to assess the candidates plan to reshape the control of academics and preparing for administrative accountability plan by positions. Searches for new students he wants them welL- enforcing more stringent administrators for schools supervision on the balanced AND INDEPENDENT and districts usually take allocation of money. months, if not years, to “We have the money to -PRINCIPAL MITZI CRESS complete, but the search do anything we want, just for Austin and Culverhouse not everything we want,” took only two weeks.

Austin said. “We will find solutions that will “I believe Dr. Austin will be a tremendous decrease the amount of wasted money.” asset to us,” Cress said. “He clearly wants to Austin and Culverhouse are also dedicated connect with people to try and do what is best to ensuring not only an intellectually stimulating for our schools.” environment at school but also one that is The acquisition of Culverhouse and Austin emotionally safe. is the district’s efforts to globalize and expand.

“It’s our job as adults to model what healthy This marks the first time in 20 years the school relationships should look like for students,” board has hired superintendents from outside Culverhouse said. “If you went home and asked the district. Austin served as the principal for adults what they remember most about high Huntington Beach High School for 11 years and school, they are going to most likely remember as the Ass. Superintendent for the Huntington the relationships they built with staff members.”

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Out-Smarting smartphone thieves:

NEWS

New California Bill aims to curb phone theft

92%

of Students Do not have a kill switch on their phones

14%

of students have had their PHones stolen in the past Year

*Survey taken out of 100 students.

BY SONIA DESAIDAMLE Senate Bill 962 is California Gov. Jerry Brown’s solution to the recent surge in cell phone thefts throughout California. Starting in July 2015, cell phone manufacturers will be required to equip all cell phones sold in California with a “kill switch” option that can remotely wipe everything from the device if it is stolen, then recover all of the information once the phone is found.

According to consumer reports, the number of smartphone thefts nearly

doubled from 1.6 million in 2012 to 3.1 million in 2013. In California’s largest cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, 67 to 75 percent of all burglaries involve the theft of smartphones. Gov. Brown insists that the kill switch will deter thieves from stealing phones since people can quickly and effectively render their devices useless.

Though it has become widely popular among consumers and wireless industry companies like Apple, AT&T and Samsung, the bill still faces opposition from groups like the

Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), who claim that hackers could find a way to use the kill switch’s technology to work their way into a smartphone’s code and use it to bypass built-in safeguards like logins and passwords.

Unfortunately, Peninsula is not immune to smartphone burglaries.

Two students were arrested last year for stealing phones, according to Discipline Administrator Jim Small.

“Students have to understand they can’t leave their belongings unattended,” Small said. “There are

potential thieves everywhere.”

Most thefts occur during sports practices when athletes leave their bags unattended on the field or track or in the locker rooms. Two sheds were built beside the track so students could lock up their belongings, but even that precaution is not foolproof.

Students still forget to lock the door after storing their belongings.

“With the rise in smartphones’ popularity, this challenge has become increasingly more difficult to combat.”

Assistant Principal Micah Farrell said.

“Students have to be more careful.”

Counselor Colin makes return to Peninsula BY esther Chu

SOPHIE GRAGG/THE PEN

Each new school year brings new faces–students and staff–to campus.

Former Peninsula basketball coach, math teacher and counselor Pat Colin, who worked at Peninsula (then Rolling Hills High School) in 1984, returned this year to join the counseling staff.

One of seven, Colin will help students with both their academic and social needs.

Colin began working as a counselor at Peninsula in 1996. After three years, she took leave to care for her three children. In 2007, she resumed work as a counselor at Palos Verdes High School. In August, Colin finally decided it was time to become a Panther again.

“We are excited to have Mrs. Colin back because she is wonderful at what she does and is very student-centered,” counselor Mary Fournier said. “She is so familiar with the school environment and is

such a great addition. We are very appreciative towards the Parent Education Foundation (PEF) for making the decision to bring in another counselor.”

This year, Colin will counsel freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

Seniors are unaffected by this change, however, because the administration decided that it would be only fair for the seniors, who need recommendation letters from staff familiar with them, to finish off their final year with their original counselors. According to Fournier, a seventh counselor “lets us spend more time with students.”

Colin is delighted to be back at Peninsula to “help kids with what they need” and to work with familiar staff members, including her husband, English 4 Literature AP teacher Bruce Colin. Three of her children also attended or attend Peninsula, including junior Dane Colin.

Counselor Pat Colin meets with a students during lunch to discuss a schedule change.

“We have worked on the same campus together in the past,” Bruce Colin said. “It feels natural because this is how we started.”

Colin admits that she was nervous coming back as a high school counselor as she did not know many students. A

familiar system and her tenure at Palos Verdes High School put her a bit more at ease.

“I have been met with lots of smiles from many people,” Colin said.

“Peninsula was like a family to me, so it feels like I have come back home.”

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PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Uswah Shabbir

NEWS EDITOR: Noah Werksman WRITERS: Annie Benedict Esther Chu Sonia Desaidamle OPINION EDITORS: Lauren Lee Alex Bologna WRITERS: Zoe Willoughby Marine Fujisawa FOCUS EDITORS: Chris Kong Sama Shah WRITERS: Amani Jalota Christopher Lee STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Jina Kim Florencia Park WRITERS: Phoebe Borsum Stella Yoo Annie Tyler SPORTS EDITOR: Tunika Onnekikami WRITERS: Christopher Chien Jenna Henry GRAPHICS Yasmine Kahsai Jackie Uy BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Isabelle Wang ADVISER Katherine Crowley “The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced journalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Advertising Manager Giselle Velasquez at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editors, which may be accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or Katherine Crowley’s mailbox.

Copyright © 2014

Front Illustration by Angela Song Design by Angela Song

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sports Etiquette

Coaches deal with the by-lines of the sidelines and how to appropriately compose themselves on and off the field.

BY ALEX BOLOGNA After repeated violations, a Fullerton Union High School baseball coach recently left the school open to legal liability for his use of explicit profanity. As a result, an uproar of protest erupted from parents and administrators over sports etiquette policies.

Reports say that during a team huddle, the coach allegedly used a derogatory term for gay people to refer to a 16-year-old player, describing a graphic sex act with the high school junior. Since the incident, athletic directors from around the South Bay have looked at how their head coaches conduct themselves both during practices and on game day.

According to Peninsula High’s Athletic Code of Ethics, coaches and players should refrain from the use of profanity, vulgarity and other offensive language and gestures.

Despite these rules, violations still occur, which puts stress on Athletic

Director Wendell Yoshida as a result. “[Coaches] should conduct themselves professionally like teachers [and] set an example with mature and classy behavior,” Yoshida said.

He said that maintaining

“unless the words

are dehumanizing or [critical], i think all words are okay to use

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Design Editor Angela Song

Jackie uy/thepen

COPY/ MANAGING EDITOR Fatima Siddiqui

-senior maddie dollinger sportsmanship is important, but “swearing on the sidelines in a game or at practice is not appropriate and does nothing to help.”

Yet, with September temperatures soaring, both coaches and players get caught up in the heat of the moment.

“I don’t agree with excessive profanity but I must admit that I believe that some profanity is acceptable due to the nature of the game. As a society, we are so desensitized to profanity that it is almost commonplace,” head football coach Michael Christensen said.

Christensen states that he is not trying to excuse the use of profanity on field, but that it is not a concern of his.

Yoshida has attempted to maintain the official high standards by taking an active role in managing coach etiquette.

“I try talking to the coaches and players when they have done something they shouldn’t have. We show accountability for our actions,” Yoshida said.

As a preventative measure, the Code of Conduct should be taken more literally, and vulgarity should be kept to a minimum no matter the situation.

Editorial by uswah shabbir To deny the extremely positive outcomes of the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge would be to deny the obvious.

The challenge, which was introduced this summer, has participants dump a bucket of ice water onto their heads in order to spread awareness about the fatal disease ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Participants then must nominate three other people to complete the challenge. If these nominees choose not to participate in the challenge, they are asked to donate a minimum of $100

to ALS, or another charity of their choice. The participants are then encouraged to upload their videos or pictures to social media websites to spread the word. Three million people donated to the ALS Association because of the Ice Bucket Challenge, including Mark Zuckerburg and Bill Gates.

Skeptics often question whether simply “dumping a bucket of water on your head” can actually have any headway in curing the disease. According to the ALS Association, however, over $100 million, an increase of 3,500% of last year’s donations, has been raised by this social media challenge. These donations are now being used to fund

research to help find a cure for the disease that affects over 30,000 Americans a year.

“I did the ice bucket challenge with fellow Zookeeper Jordi Adoumie after we were nominated by Palos Verdes High School Red Tide leaders,” senior Max Shafer said. “Even though we completed the first part of the challenge, Jordi and I decided to also donate $100 on our own behalf.”

The Ice Bucket hype, like other trends, eventually faded.

Though donations to ALS are gradually decreasing, the great progress that has been made with ALS will not be forgotten.

Before the challenge was created, the ALS Association

had surveyed around 1,000 people known to donate to philanthropic causes. Though almost everyone knew about diseases such as HIV/AIDS, less than half were aware of ALS. Now, new research and donation opportunities have been created for the ALS Association and those who suffer from the disease.

The major lesson of this ALS Ice Bucket challenge is the fact that social media can be a powerful tool. Going viral can make a positive impact, reaching both high school students in a small town like Rancho Palos Verdes and also some of society’s most well-known individuals.

OPINION

Jackie uy and yasmine kahsai/thepen

do they see what i see

New Facebook messenger application exposes users to unwarranted and questionable surveillance

BY LAUREN LEE In recent months, the Facebook Messenger application grew from an optional messaging guide to an irritating requirement forced upon many of Facebook users worldwide.

However, as infuriating as it seems, the Facebook Messenger Application currently occupies first place on the Apple and Android Mobile Application Store’s top charts. Although it is believed to be the most popular among its users, the app itself accumulates a grand total of one out of 10 from a wide variety of its users.

Many families and students alike are appalled at the security prerequisites the application requests prior to downloading.

Several privacy concerns sprang from these specific invasive requests, such as accessing contact information and

activating the audio through cell phones’ microphones, which enables Facebook to eavesdrop on various personal conversations. However, people continue to download the application despite realizing this invasion of privacy.

“Facebook has been all over the news as an invasion of privacy, so maybe now they can pay more attention [to the logistics of it], but I think that [young people] are still very uninformed when it comes to how [applications] work and how they actually access all of your stuff,” Cyberpatriot club member and junior Janeline Wong said.

According to the Facebook’s Social Advertising platform reports in January 2014, there are 9.8 users between the ages of 13 and 17. Several of these

users fail to see the invasiveness of each precondition offered.

Facebook recently released statements regarding the concerns of other application users.

According to these statements, Facebook claims that these preconditions are solely designed to create a more positive and modified experience for its users. Facebook also further elaborates on the actual uses of each condition.

However, Advanced Placement Computer Science teacher and Cyberpatriot club adviser Hassan Twiet feels that Facebook should not have the right to access personal contact information, cameras, microphones or location settings on our personal devices.

Twiet further explains that the primary role of an invasive

application development, such as Messenger, is marketing.

Facebook monitors the activities of its users online while using the application as a “medium” to understand the buying habits of its users to increase its popularity. However, the idea of personal information used as a “medium” for better business judgments was not stated in the Messenger application prerequisites, making the ethical viewpoint of the application questionable.

“Using their medium gives them more private information that I do not even want to share,” Twiet said. “Facebook wants to take information and grab as many users as other leading competitive companies and they want to force their medium on us. That’s the thing I am against.”

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HOME IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS Peninsula students reflect upon current crises unfolding in their home countries and these crises’s impact on these students’ families in the U.S. and back home.

OZIOMA AND NNEOMA OGELE

Adrienne sheh/the pen

PHOTO COURTESY OF OBIOMA OGELE

Ozioma Ogele, age 13, and Nneoma Ogele, age 10, pose for a family photo in Lagos, Nigeria

MARIYA NADBEREZHNHA

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Photos courtsey of Mariya dberezhnha

Adrienne sheh/the pen

Mariya Nadberezhna, age 3, explores a field near Radynka, Ukraine.

Nigerian students discuss a legacy of hardship in Nigeria

BY CHRISTOPHER LEE Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, has nurtured a history rich in both cultural and political development. Recently, however, the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa and threats from Islamic extremist group Boko Haram have propelled Nigeria into the media spotlight.

Freshman Muyiwa Wallace moved to the United States with his mother in February 2014 in search of greater educational opportunities. He recounts the brutal conditions that Boko Haram wants imposed on innocent Nigerians.

“I’m from West Nigeria, and Boko Haram is from the North,” Wallace said. “Boko Haram does not want [to promote] education, so its leaders told the government to [halt formal] education. The government says it cannot do that because it wants everybody to be educated.”

Boko Haram condemns the spread of secular education in Nigeria. In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 primarily Christian girls, sparking worldwide outrage. In August 2014, a state of emergency was issued in response to Boko Haram’s acts of violence and aggression.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s monetary growth deepened the economic divide between members of different socioeconomic classes. Despite Nigeria’s macroeconomic success, Nigerian villagers often have trouble supporting their families. Jobs are scarce, and

according to the World Bank, unemployment hovers at 24 percent. According to the CIA World Factbook, Nigeria’s food and water supply is at a high risk for contamination and disease, an unfortunate situation that has led to the severe Ebola outbreak.

Senior Ozioma Ogele, who was born in and frequently visits family in Nigeria, recalls the regrettable conditions of Nigerian villages.

“At the time, [the village where my dad grew up] was a very poor area, and the roads there were made of sand,” Ozioma Ogele said.

While millions face destitution, Nigeria’s wealthy reside in posh states, such as the oil-rich Delta State, where multi-million dollar housing and business developments are being established. The residents of these affluent cities are primarily oil barons, politicians and former militants with access to government revenues, and the fate of Nigeria’s impoverished rely chiefly on the generosity of these prosperous elites.

“The big cities [of Nigeria] look sort of like [American cities],” freshman Nneoma Ogele, Ozioma Ogele’s sister, said. “The roads there are not as wellbuilt as the ones here, but they are nice. Then there are the villages, with terrible roads and houses.”

However, despite the media image, Nigeria is a country largely centered on community.

“The children usually stay outside and play with all their friends in the village, and it is nice that the whole community knows each other and comes together,” freshman Nneoma Ogele said.

Focus Survey taken out of 100 students.

Percentages based on 78 students with relatives in various countries.

7 % of students have relatives that live in africa.

3% of students have relatives that live in australia.

10% of students have relatives that live in countries in north america, excluding the U.S.

Russia-Ukraine conflict touches the Panther family the Northwestern side of Ukraine, an area that has been spared from the worst of the violence. But other In late 2013, conflict erupted in Ukraine when members of her family, including some of her cousins President Viktor Yanukovich announced an and extended relatives, live in the village of Radynka, abandonment of a trade agreement with the European located in the Southeastern area of Ukraine, and are Union (EU) in favor of developing relations with being called out to join the army due to the Russian Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian invasion. police, empowered by Russian support, have violently “It worries me,” Nadberezhna said of the conflict. suppressed protesters who favor the EU trade “My parents and I always Skype call my grandparents agreement. On December 1, activists seized Kiev’s in the southern parts and they update us on how our Independence Square. are doing. I see posts I see posts on Facebook and relatives In February 2014, Ukrainian on Facebook and pictures of my politicians voted to remove pictures of my relatives going relatives going out to war.”

President Yanukovich.

Each year, Nadberezhna returns out to war.

Following this impeachment, to her birthplace to visit her family. tensions between parties that However, this year’s trip was - Mariya nadberezhna canceled due to mounting tensions in supported a relationship with Russia and parties that were Ukraine. against the formation of this “The canceled trip prevented me from seeing my alliance developed. Violence erupted, destroying cities family and that worries me even more,” Nadberezhna throughout the region. said.

The military conflict caused the majority of displaced Nadberezhna is just one of many who suffer from Ukrainians to seek refuge in Russia, and, in March, situations like the one in Ukraine. Even though the crisis Russian troops approached the protest capitol of appears distant, people close to the Panther family Crimea. endure the consequences every day.

This conflict has international effects, and students “Any international crisis in our global world is going on our very own campus have been touched by this to have connections,” Model United Nations Advisor pressing issue.

Jim Dimitriou said. “You might have students [in Palos Sophomore Mariya Nadberezhna moved from Kiev, Verdes] that are from the affected areas and these Ukraine to the United States when she was three issues affect those students and the rest of us because months old. Most of her extended family still lives on we are all, to a degree, global citizens.”

BY Amani jalota

10% of student have relatives that live in South america.

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55% of students have relatives that live in asia.

yasmine kahsai/the pen

15% of students have relatives that live in europe.

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Teenagers

Perey fights to dispel negativity on body image

AND

tiaras

By JINA KIM

63% say yes

Are you currently satisfied with your appearance?

37% say no

Senior Camille Perey stares at her knees as she gathers a reply to the interviewer’s question; one wrong answer would prevent her from competing in the Miss Teen Los Angeles pageant. For most, the words “beauty pageant” conjure up images of beautiful women with wide smiles, standing tall and ready to be judged based solely on their outward looks; for Perey, a pageant competitor, it is a combat zone where she can fight the unhealthy body images that plague present-day society.

For the final assignment of her english class, Perey decided to incorporate her experience in pageantry in her opinion essay “Be Your Best Barbie.”

In the essay, she expressed her disapproval of using Photoshop to alter bodies and facial features to unrealistic standards.

She instead promoted positive body image.

“When I was younger, I was a bit bigger than most girls,”

22%

17%

27% 34%

Perey said, admitting to a struggle with insecurity.

Perey began pageantry to build her confidence and her dedication allowed her to make her way into the top tens, and eventually, third place in the Miss Teen Los Angeles pageant.

“Once I started doing more and more pageants, I gained a bigger support group,” Perey said.

Because of Perey’s firm belief in the importance of inner beauty, she prefers to compete in pageants that factor in qualities such as academic excellence and commitment to the community.

“A lot of people think pageants [are] all about just how you present yourself on the outside, but it’s also [your] hidden talents, your low-key smartness and your personality,” Perey said.

Perey’s passion for promoting a healthy body image has led her to create an advice blog, website and forum to support girls who suffer from negative body images.

MEDIA

HOME

What most influences your view of your appearance?

SCHOOL

OTHER

*Survey taken out of 154 students *Survey taken out of 186 students

*Survey taken out of 153 students

2 out of 5 students admit they have been criticized soley based on their looks.

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STUDENT LIFE

Not disheartened, junior copes with cardiac abnormality

Junior Tobi Ibraheem poses on the football field.

now he has to watch what he eats.

Ibraheem can’t train as rigorously as used to either.

Ibraheem’s heart condition has It was late July. With heavy affected the Peninsula football team steps, junior Tobi Ibraheem walked too-it lost one of its best players. away from the hospital, trying to “[The coach] was like ‘we lost hold in his emotions. He could a good player,” Ibraheem said. “It’s not believe what he had just been always a big deal when you lose a told: His doctor had diagnosed player. You kind of have to change him with cardiomegaly, an enlarged everything and find a new player. It heart. He would not be able to play was kind of hard for the team but football during his junior year. For they figured it out.”

Ibraheem, a school quarterback Despite not being able to play who has on the field, dreamed of EVERy disappointment is Ibraheem being a NFL continues to football player a blessing in disguise weight train, since the fifth morally support grade, not his teammates -juinior tobi ibraheem being able to from the play hit hard. sidelines, and “Playing junior year is probably attend training sessions. Ibraheem the biggest year because this is also tries to be optimistic about this when colleges will be looking at situation. you,” Ibraheem said.

“Every disappointment is a If things had gone as planned, blessing in disguise,” Ibraheem said.

Ibraheem would have committed “I know that out of this something to a college his senior year. Despite good is going to happen. ” the uncertainty of his future, he Although it is still unsure about believes that God will help him the severity of his condition, he when senior year comes. hopes to be well enough to play his For the next six months, senior year.

Ibraheem’s doctor recommends “This condition does not change low aerobic exercises and a healthy my dream,” Ibraheem said. “I still diet. love football and I am always going In the past, he ate junk food, but to love football.”

By FLORENCIA PARK AND PHOEBE BORSUM

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JENNY LEE/The Pen

"larp"-ing unites the peninsula community

By JINA KIM Medieval weaponry and battlefield attire are not just meant to be read about and illustrated in history textbooks.

Team-based activities such as “Capture the Flag,” “Capture the King,” and live-action role-play, commonly referred to as “LARP,” provide healthy competition and athletic entertainment to students in Palos Verdes.

Senior and Associated Student Body President Ian Sun discovered this activity through alumnus Nick Meyers, who kept several homemade weapons in his room for role-play events.

Later, when Sun read friend and fellow senior Daniel Foltz’s post on Facebook about the activity, the two effectively collaborated to make “LARP” a reality. After two days of planning the rules and set-up of the event, Sun and Foltz gathered approximately one hundred Panthers, Sea Kings and their siblings to attend the LARP event on Sept.

1 at Ridgecrest Intermediate School.

“It was honestly just a personal endeavor [and] something fun that I wanted to plan and enjoy,” Sun said.

“I think everybody had a good time, including myself, so that means it was a success.”

After the unanticipated popularity of the event, Foltz, seniors Griffin Day, Carlo Paez, Ian Axberg, Marcello Martinoli, Cairo Smith, Harrison Ho, Danny Gold and junior Zack Gold, have formed the Council of Nine, with Sun as an honorary member, to regulate the game.

Despite large turnouts that may result in the mismanagement of Ridgecrest’s field, the group pledges to keep the easily accessible Ridgecrest campus clean after its events.

They intend to schedule other “LARP” events around vacations and finals to give everyone the opportunity to participate.

“LARP originally started off as a one-time thing, that students participate in every year,” Zack Gold said. “It is usually just the seniors, but Ian Sun changed it so that underclassmen can actively participate.”

Role-play may raise some safety concerns for school officials as some students may bring weapons that could potentially be hazardous to the safety of other participants.

Fortunately, the Council of Nine has created an extensive list of regulations and posted it on Facebook so that everyone knows the rules of the game.

Additionally, the Council of

Nine will check all of the weapons before the game to reduce the risk of injury.

“LARP is an activity that is very much based on the honor code,” Foltz said. “The type of kids that [LARP] attracts are the ones who are going to follow the honor code.”

This student-run activity’s purpose is to give participants the opportunity to meet other members of the community while enjoying a dose of friendly competition.

“It’s tons of fun, tons of exercise, and not nearly as nerdy as you would expect,” Foltz said. “Anyone would be welcome.”

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SPORTS

Summer Brings No Breaks

Summer is a season of rest for most athletes-but not for all. Peninsula athletes Natalie Hill, Robbie Martin and Ena Shibahara give snapshots of their rigorous yet prestigious summer athletic achievements.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBBIE MARTIN

The Rose Bowl Water Polo Team poses for a photo after winning the Junior Olympic National Championship. The team, which is ranked eighth in the nation, includes seniors Robbie Mart.in (top row, third from left) and Natalie Hill (top row, fourth from left).

Water polo players make a splash: Hill and Martin succeed at Junior Olympics

By JENNA HENRY On Aug. 3, 2014 at Stanford University, seniors and water polo players Robbie Martin and Natalie Hill and their club team, Rose Bowl Water Polo Club, defeated the San Diego Shores to claim the Junior Olympic

National Championship.

Because three previous tournament appearances resulted in fourth place finishes, Martin and Hill did not expect to win. In the tournaments leading up to the Junior Olympics, the Rose Bowl Water Polo Club usually placed second or third. Going into the tournament,

Rose Bowl was ranked eighth in the nation.

“I did not even think of the championship as an option,” Martin said. “[It] shows that expectations are not reality.”

Rose Bowl was the only team to go through the tournament undefeated.

Martin describes the win as surreal, not realizing the magnitude of the win until the Junior Olympic Champions yard sign was put up in front of her home.

Two weeks before the tournament, Hill and Martin attended a training camp in Europe, where they practiced each morning and scrimmaged against Greek and Spanish teams in the afternoon. They found the experience highly rewarding.

“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Martin said.

Martin and Hill are currently the water polo team captains and have developed their own methods to keep the team motivated. Throughout the Junior Olympics, however, they found that their leaders inspired them to improve their own leadership skills.

“They were always pumped up,” said Hill. “They showed us that that kind of attitude rubs off on other players.”

Hill emphasizes individual player development. Martin builds on Hill’s philosophy by working with their girls after practice to improve their skills.

“I try to earn whatever authority I have on this team by demonstrating commitment to it,” Martin said.

Last year, they led their team to CIF, but lost in the first round to the eventual champions. This season, they plan to go back to CIF and win.

“We are going to have to work hard,” Martin said. “It comes down to individual responsibility and who is willing to put in the extra minutes.”

Big Fish, Little Pond: Shibahara makes her international debut at US Open Juniors

By TUNIKA ONNEKIKAMI

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played both singles and doubles.

Her brother Shuhei served as her mixed doubles partner and the two barely missed qualifying for the main draw of the U.S. Open.

“I think we were a little bit inexperienced,” Shibahara said.

“The other players were great but we could have done better, so we are going to try again next year.”

The next week, Shibahara faced defeat in the first round of the singles competition by the player who would win the entire tournament.

“I did not play as well as I thought I would. I know I could

Shibahara stands in position, ready to return a shot at the U.S. Open Junior Tournament.

play better,” Shibahara said. “I think the nerves just got to me.”

With this in mind, Shibahara has set lofty goals for herself as well as Peninsula’s team.

“There are so many other

photo Courtesy of Ena Shibahara

From a childhood dream to the national stage, junior Ena Shibahara has maintained a love for tennis despite the pressure.

At 16, Shibahara already ranks among the best female tennis athletes under age 18; her No. 1 state and No. 6 national rankings are a testament to her years of work and dedication.

“It feels great. I have been playing tennis for so long and all the hard work has been paying off,” Shibahara said.

Senior tennis player Kenadi Hance believes that Shibahara’s hard-working personality

and aggressive game style contributes to her success.

“She is a solid player with a sweet personality,” Hance said.

“She is going to get us a lot of wins [this year].”

By putting more work and effort into her game than the year before, Shibahara earned a wild-card to compete in the main draw of the U.S. Open Juniors, which was held in New York from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8.

“It was really exciting. It was just a [different] experience,” Shibahara said. “[There were] referees on every line and ball kids, just like the pros.”

At the tournament, Shibahara

great players [in the country]. I am obviously not the best, so it motivates me to say ‘I want to beat those players,’” Shibahara said. “I need to improve more to do that.”

Since 2001

Tel. 310.541.8222/8333

www.VeritasAcademyPV.com Helping Students Achieve Their Full Potential Since 2001

Today, getting accepted into distinguished universities relies on much more than high SAT scores and GPA’s. Veritas Academy seeks to identify our students’ strengths and talents, while dramatically reinforcing and enhancing their skills. Our number one priority is to maximize our students’ potential and guide them on the most efficient path to success.

Math Program [2-12] Join our competitive math program! Our students have gone on to win numerous competitions such as Math Field, Math Counts and AMC 8, 10, 12. Our students are also often invited to AIME. Math & Science Gym [4-12] Math Gym is small group class. Students can work on math homework, SAT/ACT math, AMC, CAML. Math Gym is for any student who needs extra help with math or would like to accelerate their progress in math.

Math Gym Math & Bio & Chem

4-5:30pm

M-F M&W&F

7:30-9pm

Biology and Chemistry Gym Biology and chemistry can be challenging and overwhelming courses. Our teachers have experience with local school curricula.

Classes will be separated based on level and the particular school’s curriculum/syllabus.

College Counseling

The college admissions process can be a daunting task. Veritas provides comprehensive counseling: College search, planning extracurricular activities like internships and community service, transcript review, class selection, standardized tests, college selection, college application/essay preparation and review, interview preparation, scholarships, graduate school apps, postundergrad/career planning, and more...

SAT & ACT Preparation Class Veritas provides the overall understanding of the test and important strategies for improving scores.

Fri: 3:30-10:30pm, Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 2-5pm

Computer Programming & Robotics Learn tools for scientific research, robotics, and computer programming. These classes are taught by an award-winning coach (Ph.D) with 20+ years of experience.

V – Core English Group Class [4-12] This 72-week (2-hr per week) course covers the fundamentals of English Language Arts. Not only to better prepare for high school and college English classes, but also for PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

New classes forming now!

Sun: 1-3, 3-5pm, Sat: 9-11am, 11am-1pm, 1-3pm, Fri: 4-6pm, 6-8pm

USA Computer Olympiad Winner International Gold: Wonsik Kim (MIT) National Gold: Andrew Z. (MIT) National Silver: Kijung K., Sion C. (Columbia), Esther J. (Cornell), Chris H. (Johns Hopkins), Sophie K. (Stanford)

Congratulations Veritas Robotics Team!

Come join “2014 FLL League”!

FLL 2013 Venice QT Robot Design Award 1st place FLL 2011 LA Teamwork Award FLL 2011 3rd & 9th place in LA FLL 2011 14th place in State Championship FLL 2010 LA Region Judges’ Award

Book & Writing Club [K-12] Aimed to provide holistic education in writing and core reading assignments.

Our students don’t just lounge around…

We stimulate enlightening discussion and analytical essay writing.

Taught by professional writers (UCLA, Columbia, USC).

Science Research Our students aim for major science competitions: Intel ISEF, Siemens, Google, 3M, etc.

Tutoring for All School Subjects [K-12] Test Prep: AP, SAT I & II, CTY, ISEE, SSAT etc.

ART [K-12], Movie & Debate [4-12], Speech [K-12]

Also offered: Shakespeare Club [6-12] Explore Shakespeare’s masterpieces and required reading in high school.

Ask us about Career Interest/Skill Survey & College Plan Academic Aptitude Test - Strengths Screening Assessment

“Your success is our success. Grow with us.”

- Dr. Soo H. Kim.

President, Veritas Academy Ph.D., Seoul National University Gifted Education Specialist / Curriculum Specialist Math & English Grammar Instructor of 20+ years Korean Daily Columnist / Academic Consultant

TCS (Total Care System)

- Year-round consulting program

60 Peninsula Center, Rolling Hills Estates CA 90274

Boarding/Prep School Counseling 310-541-8222/8333

Successful Students of Veritas College Application Program

Alex D. Harvard

Sophie K. Stanford

Kevin S. Columbia

Jenny L. Berkelee, Boston

Joseph C. Carnegie Mellon

Bryance O. CalTwech

Veronica E. Princeton

Sarah Y. UC Berkeley

Rachel D. Dartmouth

Kevin K. UCLA, USC

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Premier SAT & ACT Tutoring – Perfect Scorer, Princeton Graduate, www.rktestprep.com. Call, text, or email for free 30 minute session, 610-350-1335 or info@rktestprep.com.

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