The Pen by The Pen Newspaper

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PEN

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School www.pvphsnews.com Vol. XXXVI

Issue 1

September 25, 2015

t n e m o m e h t f o t a e h c e h In t The schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new policy is designed to deter students from cheating. NEWS PAGE 2 OPINION PAGE 5

*Dramatization

New Beginnings Panthers are welcomed back to campus with numerous changes underway. FOCUS PAGES 6-7

Journey to Israel

Vroom, Vroom

Having returned from her stay in Israel, a senior recounts her time abroad.

A sophomore's passion for driving leads her to the race track.

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

SPORTS PAGE 11

NEWS

Punishment is now incremental

new cheating policy Annie Benedict According to a 2011 survey conducted by the Josephson Institute of Ethics of 43,000 U.S. high school students, more than half admitted to having cheated during the 2010 school year. However, at Peninsula, only 18 cases of forgeries and cheating were reported in the 2014-2015 school year, out of a student body of over 2,500 individuals. Does this mean, then, that Peninsula students stand out as a “pillar of integrity” when it comes to cheating? Not necessarily, according to teachers schoolwide. “Statistically, I could walk away and say that there isn’t a cheating problem,” Principal Mitzi Cress said. “But every time I have a forum with kids, or a summit with teachers, it’s always about cheating, that we have a terrible problem with cheating at this school.” As a result of this, a new cheating policy has been developed and adopted for the new school year. Created by a committee of 12 teachers at Peninsula, the policy is loosely based on those

• Zero on assignment/ test in which cheating is a factor • Referral, counseled, parent notified

Infraction points: 1

from local high schools and colleges. The policy assigns dishonest behaviors and appropriate penalties to a point-infraction system, in which more serious offenses inflict more points on the Student Infraction Record. Points imposed for a single incident range from one to four, with relative consequences for each incident. As more points are acquired, consequences increase in severity – from a zero on an assignment to being dropped from a class, and, in the most severe cases, suspension, arrest or expulsion. In contrast, the system currently used by the other high schools in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD), and by Peninsula until this year, allows students two instances of cheating throughout their high school career – whether minor or major, no distinction is made – before expulsion from a class with a failed grade. “I came to realize that teachers didn’t want to ruin kids’ lives,” said Cress. “That was why so few cases of cheating had been reported. But I think this [new policy] will work because it’s right for kids, and it’s a teaching moment, rather

• Penalties from 2, plus...

• Penalties from individual infraction incidents, plus... • Administrative council convened to determine consequences • Possible drop from class with an F/U • Possible behavior contract

• Penalties from 1, plus... • Saturday school to complete Integrity Packet/Trash pickup/ School service

Infraction points: 2

• Suspension • Possible arrest • Recommended for expulsion

Total infraction points: 5

Infraction points: 3

than this draconian ‘you are a bad person and I’m going to ruin your life’ notion from the old system.” The philosophy behind the new policy is that once a student errs and receives an infraction point, the student can learn from his experience and move on, without receiving heavy consequences for what may have been a minor mistake. Furthermore, teachers are more enabled to report all instances of cheating to school authorities, as they will not have to worry about their disciplinary action drastically impacting a student’s future, and will be able to allocate penalty where it is due. “I’m very optimistic about the program,” Associate Principal Michael Wanmer, Head of Discipline, said. “I hope students are getting the message that cheating in high school is very serious, but cheating in college means you can be kicked out of the school and cheating in the real world can lead to jail time. I hope we can teach them that here, before it gets too serious – that cheating is just not worth it.”

• Penalties from 3, plus... • Honor Society membership investigated • Impact on club/athletic eligibility • Ineligible for ASB elected positions

Infraction points: 4

due to serious offense

• Penalties from individual infraction incidents, plus... • Dropped from class with an F/U • Honor Society Adviser enforces policy • Probable impact on club/ athletic/election availability

Total infraction points: 6

District approves plans for new multi-use school courtroom Joseph Foard

Of all the places for a courtroom to be built, a high school may not seem to be the most likely choice — but on Sept. 9, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) Board of Education approved a move to build a courtroom at Peninsula. The courtroom, which will be situated in rooms S21 and S22, will primarily be used by Teen Court. The room is also projected to be used by other student groups such as Mock Trial, Speech and Debate and Model United Nations, along with parent and faculty groups such as the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and various Booster Clubs. Previously, Teen Court sessions held at school took place in the College Career Center (CCC). “We’d have to set the CCC up with 125 chairs, and it was very cramped,” Principal Mitzi Cress said. “My goal is to get groups

unrelated to a college and career focus out of the College Career Center, because it’s kind of become ‘Hotel CCC’ — you go down there and there’s a PTSA meeting, an Athletic Booster Club meeting…it just got out of hand.” The courtroom’s creation was proposed by Superior Court Judge Steven Van Sicklen. The local bar association has pledged $18,000 to assist in construction. Given the very recent approval for the project, construction has not yet begun. The courtroom is expected to make Teen Court function in a more professional atmosphere and to help other groups such as Mock Trial practice for competition. “With the courtroom, we’ll be able to practice efficiently and effectively, since everything will be the exact same way it is at competition,” senior and Mock Trial member Rachel Oda said. Though the first teen court was on Sept. 23, and the courtroom was not yet ready for use, staff and students are optimistic for the future. “It’s really nice to have the administration’s support,” Tootell said, “and now the district’s support, and of course the community’s support in providing the donations to get it constructed. We’re just excited and ready to get in there.”

Newsweek Rankings William Maltz In the recently released Newsweek rankings, Peninsula High ranked number 72 out of the top 500 schools nationwide. Additionally, Peninsula scored 6th best high school in California, and best in the South Bay. This is in comparison to last year’s ranking, 294th in the U.S. and 37th in California. Peninsula was named a school that, nationwide, “does an excellent job of preparing students for college while also overcoming the obstacles posed by students at an economic disadvantage,” as per the Newsweek guidelines. The rankings were determined by factors including retention, graduation and college enrollment rates; AP, ACT and SAT test scores; and counselor-to-student ratios. The rankings consist of magnet, private, charter and public schools, many of which require entrance exams from potential students. Peninsula, as a public school, has no such selectivity. According to Newsweek, 99.7 percent of the students here at Peninsula are projected to graduate in the 2016 school year. The rankings are frequently used to catch the attention of incoming families and are seen by colleges nationwide.

Temishi Onnekikami/THE PEN

Former SMERT computer lab transformed into multilingual space for World Language Department Nile Minn

from AP Computer Science to Engineering Design and Development. With the induction of the new SMERT building and rearrangement of classrooms on campus, the world language department finally has a room to call its own. “I’m really excited about the collaboration this is going to entail within the department,” Valerio said. “I’m hoping to see the students feel more comfortable and speak with confidence.”

Maya tamhane/THE PEN

For years, students and teachers have grumbled at lack of computer lab availability. This year, a new world language computer lab has been created in H50 to accommodate foreign language classes, which have previously taken up considerable amounts of computer lab time for oral and audio practice, especially in preparation for Advanced Placement (AP) exams. “We’ve always wanted a language lab, one where we had the language lab type of software,” World Language Department Head Jacqueline Valerio said. “[The school] offered us a World Language computer lab and we’re ecstatic.” In past years, priority went to AP classes that were preparing for audio portions of the test. But with a new computer lab, foreign language classes of all levels will be able to use the lab, not only to practice listening to the language, but also to get used to the AP format. “[Students] need a lot of exposure to the language and lots of practice to understand [the language at the speed they’re talking], so having our own computer lab will help a lot,” senior and French AP student Christine Kim said. The new world language computer lab will include 35 sets of computers with new foreign language software downloaded onto to the computers, specialized for ease of access and use for students who need foreign language practice.

Students in the past have had trouble understanding certain dialects due to the outdated software and relative infrequency of computer time, but with the introduction of the lab, students will get the opportunity to improve their linguistic abilities with the new software. The lab was previously used by SMERT (Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Robotics, and Technology) teacher Hassan Twiet, who taught classes ranging

The World Language Lab will be used by all foreign language classes, and resides in room H50.

Opinion THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Lauren Lee Tunika Onnekikami Noah Werksman DESIGN EDITOR Jackie Uy NEWS EDITOR: Annie Benedict WRITERS: Joe Foard Nile Minn William Maltz OPINION EDITORS: Marine Fujisawa Zoe Willoughby WRITERS: Alison Kim Chris Chien FOCUS EDITORS: Phoebe Borsum Esther Chu WRITERS: Naya Allen Anne Lee Nina Li STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Amani Jalota Stella Yoo WRITERS: Saffy Laurio Emily McGinn SPORTS EDITOR: Chris Kong WRITERS: Jordan Chang Trisha Valukonis GRAPHICS Jessica Nye Temishi Onnekikami BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Isabelle Wang ADVISER Jaymee Johnson “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 Isabelle Wang at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or to Jaymee Johnson’s mailbox. Copyright © 2015

Design by Jackie Uy Photo by Maya Tamhane

4 editorial peninsula gears up for the new year editorial staff The Jackie Prindle Pool, the Kelly Johnson Fieldhouse, wireless Internet systems and new faculty merely touch on the long list of Peninsula’s additions in the past three years. Though countless, these additions did not proceed ignored. The news of Peninsula ranking #72 of over 26 thousand schools in the nation inevitably set new standards for Peninsula to uphold in the coming years. It is indeed a rare feat for a school to surge from #294 in the nation to #72; however, this nearly unbelievable jump is attributed to more than just the dedication of the principal or the student body. The entire community, including its contributions to the sum of improvements in the past few years, has propelled Peninsula to upper echelons of academia. The policies of the administration, from the reallocations of funds to the cheating policy, as well as its

transformation of the students’ daily schedule through Panther Time, work to nurture a challenging, but healthy academic atmosphere on campus. Because of all of these developments, the school is in an upward trajectory. Our strengthening academics parallel our school’s increased competitive nature, both in class and out of it. Though Peninsula has indeed excelled academically, a crucial portion of these additions focuses on the health and welfare of the student body. School spirit and a unique dedication to promote an entertaining school environment foster a certain unity and camaraderie. This active engagement ultimately empowers students to strive to learn better, score better and be better. Within the first few weeks of the school year’s start, senior Alexa Cha has gained a

loyal following of enthusiastic peers in a collective effort to place Peninsula among the most spirited schools in the nation; the ever growing Zoo cheering section allows students a healthy outlet in expressing school spirit while also supporting the various teams on campus. The Team Room, weight room, courtroom, SMERT building and World Language Lab will only contribute to Peninsula’s continuous, exponential growth. As witnesses to the immense improvements throughout the years, the Peninsula community will steadily advance far beyond the boundaries that have existed thus far. As the school year begins, we should each remember that we are gears in a machine, working together simultaneously to propel forward while focusing on being the best versions of ourselves.

jackie uy/The Pen

Peninsula not affected by APUSH controversy Alison kim

United States History Advanced Placement (APUSH) is a rigorous course that goes in depth in the understanding of U.S. history. On July 30, 2015, the College Board released a new edition of the AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description (CED). This curriculum is different in that it allows the teachers to focus more on general events that occurred in American history instead of trying to address many specific topics throughout the year. To achieve this, the College Board reduced the number of learning objectives from 50 to 19, grouping together the previous objectives into fewer, broader topics. In addition, the new curriculum now includes figures such as the Founding Fathers and focuses more on America’s role in World War I, World War II and other wars, which were omitted from the previous curriculum. “I definitely think that in APUSH we were time-crunched. If the number of requirements [are] lessened and the teachers go more in depth on each different aspect, I feel like that will help students better understand the material,” senior Jeffrey Tan said. The new edition of the APUSH CED allows students to think analytically,

centralizing the main ideas of history with multiple angles of opinion, while providing a curriculum that is easy to understand and allows teachers to personalize it by focusing on topics they believe are more significant than others. With a major emphasis on practical thinking, the new curriculum will develop procedures on how to perceive America’s identity, unity and self-governance. Discussing the objectives in many perspectives will therefore allow students to see more than just one side to a story. “[Both] the negative and positive [sides] are a part of our history. You have to look at both of them to really understand our history,” APUSH teacher Logan Tootell said. This new version also benefits the teachers by allowing them to structure their courses through focusing on major ideas. Furthermore, the revised CED allows teachers to select specific events and historical figures for the students to interpret and investigate while examining primary and secondary sources, a key concept in the new curriculum. This method gives more freedom to the teachers to decide how to interpret certain topics. However, critics argue that the writers

of this new curriculum believe in American Exceptionalism, the idea that America is uniquely different, implying that America is amazing and wonderful. They believe that the writers were supporters in this idea of American Exceptionalism, and were using their beliefs to dignify this country’s history. These critics supported this idea by pointing out that the new curriculum added patriotic figures such as the founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, as well as founding documents. The College Board refutes these criticisms, saying that the concept of American Exceptionalism is only included to explain the concept of national identity, and was not a central theme in the new curriculum. Overall, the new edition of the CED will prove to be more beneficial for students and teachers than the previous curriculum. By pinpointing the concept of breaking down major events and clarifying the framework as a whole, the students will be able to contemplate historical events more analytically. “The framework gave flexibility to teachers on what to teach and what they are passionate about [that] might be relevant to their students,” Tootell said.

New Policy ledges w o n k c A g n i t f o s a e e r g e e D h C y g in t a e c h C i l o P chris chien The school’s new cheat ing policy finally draws Association, University a distinction between the California, Davis profes extremities of copying sor Amy Novotney examine a friend’s homework and d data gathered from Un copying off of a test. In ited States military academies, previous school years, the where honor codes are re was a zero-tolerance ver y strictly enforced, the policy for any cheating, n determined that despi resulting in punishment te the harsh penalties, stude for any thing ranging fro nts who cheated throughout m sharing homework to their high school careers plagiarizing an essay. Ho continued doing so in wever, Peninsula teachers college. decided that the policy could be improved. There are other reason “We had a group of abo s why a student would ut ten teachers and cheat outside of a lenien two administrators makin t ch eating policy. According g this change,” Associat to the American Psycholo e Principal Michael Wanm gic al Association, a study er said. “We wanted to from Middlebury Colleg revamp the system e showed that cheating tendencies increased wh to create a policy en school or personal str ess that would prepare was affecting students. students for Moreover, in 20 05 Stanfo We wanted to revamp th rd e system to expectations in News repor ted that the y create a policy that wo college.” found cheating was mainl uld prepare y Some have raised cau sed by the stress of students for expectation concern that the s in college. obtaining higher grades. new policy may Th ese are much more like Associate principal mich ly encourage students ael wanmer causes of cheating. to cheat because “I wouldn’t say that the consequences people are encouraged by for offenses appear to be the new rules,” sophomo more lenient. However, re Jennifer Copeland said. Peninsula’s new cheating “I would expect the policy will not encourage motivation to be to try students to cheat in any and get a better grade.” way. Peninsula’s new cheating The new cheating policy policy will not encourage resembles policies students to cheat in any employed in many colleg wa y. Reputable research es. A point system based shows that some students on the extremity of the wi ll still cheat despite strict offense determines the honor codes, and there harshness of the punishm are ple nty of other motives ent for the cheating stu for students to cheat tha dent. At Peninsula, cheating pe n a mo re lenient school nalties are broken down policy. While cheating is into dif ferent levels of sev cer tai nly immoral and erity, with harsher penal should not be treated ligh ties for more serious offenses tly, harsh penalties are no . For example, copying t the way to combat it. Ins someone’s homework ear tead, preventive measures ns the student one point should be taken to ensur , but changing their test sco e that students will not res in the teacher’s grade cheat in the first place. book earns the student To teachers like Kristian four points. If a student Engle, the more concrete reaches six points or mo gui delines of the new re, he or she will be dro policy help them make the pped and failed from the class, pro per decision when and eligibility for clubs and punishing students who organizations will be lim che at. ited. “I do not see the cheating Research shows that har policy as more sher school policies do not lenient,” Engle said. “I see it as reduce the amount of ch more organized eating at a school. Acco and more conducive to rding to a 2011 article by the allowing teachers and American Psychological administrators to be on the same page.”

“

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Model/Ana Willoughby zoe willoughby/the pen

Offenses include but not limited to: 1. Copying or plagiarizing 3 assignments 2. Sharing information ab out a test or quiz 3. Not submitt ing authen tic work 4. Reproducing a test

5. Altering tests or assignm ents 6. Cheat ing during a test or quiz 7. Making up data 8. Working together on a oneperson assignment 9. Gaining unauthorized acc ess to tests

focus

As the new school year begins, there are many new faces and classes to look forward to.

New classes come to campus Anne Lee, Nina Li And Naya allen

esther chu/ the pen

of last year when parents of Korean Peninsula has always offered a variety students decided to take action by of classes. After several requests, creating a petition to include the class. Physiology Anatomy Honors and Korean After receiving about two hundred 1 are now included in the list of classes. signatures for the petition, the group of After the approval of the honors course, parents went to the Board of Education Physiology Anatomy regular teacher Kurt to gain approval for the new class. Barcenilla was asked to teach the class. Once approved, the class enrolled Although he uses the same books for approximately 60 students. both the regular and honors anatomy Because many students taking the classes, Barcenilla makes the honors course are second-generation Koreans class more challenging by adding more who are unfamiliar with the language, information at the end of each chapter, they want to expand their knowledge allowing students to apply what they about their ancestry. learn in the classroom to their lives As a second-generation Korean, outside of school. sophomore Madeline Kim shares her Physiology Anatomy Honors student interest in the new course that she is junior Keon Ghodrati said the class gives taking. him knowledge about the human body “There are many Koreans in the it what e rienc expe and opportunities to class, but there are also many is like to major in science. students of different ethnicities, “Although it has only been four weeks, and I thought it was really I already learned a lot that will hopefully interesting that they are willing help me when I go into the medical field,” to learn the language,” Kim said. Ghodrati said. “I look forward to the The new classes brought a lot greater diversity in Peninsula’s classes.” of excitement to students and In addition, a new world language class, teachers. Korean, is now offered at Peninsula. “I am enjoying every moment age Langu h Englis Transitioning from an here, for I am very happy Development (ELD) assistant teacher, to teach energetic students June Choi officially serves as the new who are eager to learn about Korean teacher. Korea and its language,” Choi Starting a Korean class was not said. “I hope the students acknowledged until the beginning enjoy learning as much as I do teaching.”

Starting her teaching career at Peninsula, Magali Blazevic returns to the school that she graduated from in 2004. Currently teaching English 1 and Honors and English 4, she established her passion for English in English teacher Tim Hall’s class. Because she helped students as a English tutor for the past five years, Blazevic had no difficulties adjusting to Peninsula, knowing the school curriculum well.

Before coming to Peninsula, Bettina de Guzman taught Latin, World History, French and English. She graduated with a master’s degree in classics and a bachelor’s degree in music, classics, English and psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and she currently teaches Greek and Latin. Her family, who have all had professions in academics, inspired her to become a teacher.

For the past eight years, Paula Borstel has taught at Miraleste Intermediate School. Currently teaching Chemistry 1 and Physiology Anatomy, she feels welcomed by the staff and students. Her passion for teaching stems from her love of science, which is why she became a teacher. In her free time, Borstel enjoys playing soccer, gardening and reading.

Photos courtesy of Principal's Update

Associate principal Lea Toombs returns to the campus where she began her career in Palos Verdes as a student-teacher. Experienced from working for Palos Verdes Summer Schools as an associate principal for two years, she is adjusting well. Toombs oversees and helps with the special education department and the administrative team which works with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Exchange student comes to Peninsula nina li Learning about different countries and about their cultures gives an insight to the lives that people lead, especially to junior Jada Broerse. From Amsterdam, Netherlands, she has traveled to many countries including Belgium, France, Greece, Egypt and Morocco. After her mother encouraged her to explore the world outside of Europe, Broerse signed up to participate in a one-year foreign exchange program offered at her school. “I think the more that I travel, the more it makes me self-sufficient and gives me experience by being on my own,” Broerse said. “If I get another opportunity to travel to a new country, I would definitely take part and learn about their ways of life.” The organization running this program places students in a host family by considering the students’ selected choices and the host families who are willing to house a student. Broerse was welcomed into a family that lives near Peninsula. “Everything is different, the people are different, the organization of classes is different and the way the teachers teach

is unfamiliar,” Broerse said. “Where I am from, all the kids dress and act mostly the same. Here, people wear sweatpants and have their own unique style.” She marveled at the extensive elective programs that Peninsula offers, specifically ceramics and digital photography, which are not available in Amsterdam because the schools focus mainly on academics. According to Broerse, being a new foreign exchange student, and adjusting to the life styles of an American teenager is hard. In her school at Amsterdam, Broerse would have a different schedule with courses selected for a specific week. “Students here worry about the grades that they receive while in Amsterdam, getting a low score does not affect them as much,” Broerse said. Despite the difficulties that Broerse has encountered while adjusting to Peninsula, she still values the things that she is learning. “Participating in the foreign exchange program has really opened my eyes into different cultures,” Broerse said.

Learning Center moves to new classroom anne lee The Learning Center has recently been introduced to a new setting in room H62. The Learning Center welcomes students who are experiencing learning difficulties, auditorial students, all other students who need work-help and students with an Individualized Education Program, also called an IEP. These students receive accommodations that give extended time and aid with tests such as having tests read or translated so that they can be understood. Accomodated students are those unable to take a test in a regular classroom environment who are sent to the center to complete the test individually. “It was primarily made for students with accommodations, but it’s actually open to everybody, any age and any grade are welcome here,” Giles said. The Learning Center has been

around for more than ten years and was recently renovated from room S24 to its new area in the Hawthorne building. This move took place because its former space had to be provided for specialized students with personal needs. The Learning Center is currently run by head of the Special Ed department Kisha Williams and advisors of the Learning Center Pam Trutanich and Theresa Giles. Teachers who oversee the room and the students find this transition a challenging adjustment, but something that they will be looking forward to. “It’s a work in progress because we’re still getting things hooked up and waiting for things to be done so that it’s a little bit more comfortable for everybody, but change is change and we make the best of it,” Giles said. “It is a nice classroom and it is just a matter of re-gearing ourselves in

the right direction.” Generated to provide a friendly environment to students taking exams, the new, smaller Learning Center may experience crowding on certain days. There are occasional days where “Social Skill” classes, a class where a group of students collaborate together to determine their social skills, take place, impacting the use of the center. Crowding may also be experienced on days when students are taking a major test they missed. According to Giles, the general students that stop by the Learning Center are still adjusting to the new location. Once everyone settles in, Giles hopes that the center helps students adjust to other changes. “The only thing you know for sure in life is change and you have to be ready for it,” Giles said.

After teaching at Palos Verdes High for the past ten years, Jeff Mirosavich has joined Peninsula’s English department. He will be teaching English 4 and English 3 Honors. He discovered his passion for teaching when he volunteered to teach adult literacy and GED preparation. Knowing that Peninsula is one of the top schools in the state, he is excited to see how the school runs on a daily basis.

Student Life

r e h t n

e d i s t Ou rECOUNTING HER FIRST TASTE OF INDEPENDENCE, HANNAH WEINSTEIN dISCUSSES hER eXPERIENCE iN iSRAEL

S n r a Le

s e n i L e h t

cOURTESY OF hANNAH wEINSTEIN

While exploring the Old City of Jerusalem, senior Hannah Weinstein, far right, poses with friends on the trip abroad. Weinstein and her class were visiting the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall, a holy sight in Israel where people go to pray.

Saffy Laurio According to several scientific studies, today’s teenagers often lack independence and are too dependent on their parents. Senior Hannah Weinstein got a taste of independence last year while studying abroad in Israel for five months. Weinstein was given the unique opportunity through her a Jewish summer camp she attends. Leaving her home, school, friends and family for Israel was an entirely new experience for Weinstein. “I kept in contact with my mom every day and tried to calling them as much as I could,” Weinstein said. “It was also really hard keeping in contact with my friends because it’s a ten hour difference, but I think it strengthened my friendships.” Despite the anxieties of leaving home, Weinstein’s desire to learn more about herself and the world helped her gather the courage to travel. “I’m Jewish, so I thought it’d be amazing to learn more about my culture and about everything that happened over there more in depth,” Weinstein says. During her time abroad, Weinstein took classes Sunday through Thursday for twelve hours each day. Along with keeping up with usual high school subjects, Weinstein learned 3000 years of Jewish history and became nearly fluent in Hebrew. In addition to academic knowledge, Weinstein feels she has learned many life lessons and experience. According to Weinstein, her social skills greatly improved after coming home from Israel. “A big thing I learned was how to interact with people [from] living with three other girls in a dorm [and] switching roommates,” Weinstein said. “It definitely helped to think about what college is going to look like.” Weinstein also became self-reliant while spending time on her own.

“I learned how to get work done on my own, and not have my mom or dad there telling me to do my homework and get myself organized,” Weinstein said. “I had to learn to cook my own food and how to clean. You get to make your own choices, and you definitely get to learn how to do your own thing and not have someone on your back.” Senior Jordan Karpin studied abroad in the same program two years ago. She was there for only four months, but took away similar life lessons. “I think it definitely taught me how to be more independent. I see that a lot now too.” Karpin said.

“At night time our commander

would take us and play music for us. They taught us how simple and meaningful life could be. Senior Hannah Weinstein

”

“You do not have to do things the conventional way. There are a lot of ways to learn. I mean, I chose to leave school for four months and still got all my credits, and it all worked out.” The culture shock of being in a new country surprised Weinstein in particular. “You definitely get to learn how different other countries are from the United States,” Weinstein says. “I thought it was very different. The people are more laid back. You can see how different European cultures are, especially when I went to Poland. That was different from the United States and from Israel. Just seeing how everyone interacts with each other. Even how parties are, they’d be held at a bomb shelter instead of someone’s house.”

Different from Weinstein’s surprise of the new culture, Karpin knew much about the culture before going. “I didn’t have a lot of culture shock because I know a lot of Israeli people,” Karpin says. “They’re really fun people, so I was ready for that. I do really like the culture there. The food there especially is really good. It’s just a fun place to be young.” Because of the common threat of war and violence in Israel, Weinstein and her group were put through a simulation of an army boot camp. “When you are eighteen in Israel,” Weinstein explains, “you are sent to the army. You don’t have a choice. It is [about] four percent that don’t go, so we got to do a boot camp to see what army life was like. Being in the tents and having to wake up at 5 A.M. to have to shoot guns was intense, but with our commander it was really nice because they were supportive. At night time our commander would take us and play music for us. They taught us how simple and meaningful life could be.” While studying the Holocaust, Weinstein and her classmates were flown out to Poland to tour the concentration camps. “When we went to Auschwitz, [it was] breathtaking. It was so incredible being there, knowing everyone that you are with had one family member in the Holocaust,” Weinstein said. “One camp they took us to, which was called Majdanek, if you set up [the gas chambers] correctly, they would be working again. When I went through the chambers, I felt death on me and felt sick, but being able to see that was so incredible. It was so emotional.” Weinstein learned many different things about herself that she will help her for the rest of her life. She encourages anyone and everyone to take a chance and study abroad and experience the incredible journey that she got to.

Cha Creates a Moving Memory

AMY SUZUKI/The Pen

emily mcginn

Senior Alexa Cha takes video of students and panther mascot for Pen’s Most Spirited video. Cha asked students to come to the amphitheater at lunch to be featured in the video.

Soccer pictures and slideshows made by her father planted the seed that grew into senior Alexa Cha’s interest in video production and photography. She began to show an interest in watching YouTube videos and eventually began to make short Instagram videos. Cha taught herself how to take videos and photographs by trial and error in order to gain the video production and photography skills that she has today. She took her video production interest to the next level when she produced her first professional video, the Peninsula People Project, for her ASB Commissioner of Technology application. The video, posted on Apr. 9, has more than 1.5K views on YouTube. “When I did not get the ASB position that I tried out for I felt like that was a failure and it was really disappointing and I was heartbroken,” senior Alexa Cha said. “The experience of the Peninsula People Project helped me realize my passion so ultimately what I thought was a failure was a huge success.” More recently, Cha has produced a video this September to enter into the America’s Most Spirited High School Contest, a national contest in which high schools compete and display their school spirit. After her lacrosse coach, Paula Borstel, forwarded an email to Cha about the contest, Cha met with Principal Mitzi Cress to share her ideas. She proceeded to receive permission from Link Crew to film during Freshman Orientation, and Associated Student Body members Adam Reece and Jag Whitten, aided her in organizing a crowd of students at lunch to add to the video.

ASB Zookeepers Dale Pyoun and Kyle Adams used their influence to hype up the Zoo, a cheering section at Peninsula High, to show school spirit at the first home football game, while Sogigie Sherfa wrote an essay about Peninsula’s school spirit for the contest application. Cha made a video that was about one minute and twenty-six seconds long to enter into the contest. The video has accumulated nearly 2.6K views on YouTube after being posted on Sept. 6. “It was really fun because I feel like it really brought the school together and it was a great way to start off the year and show off our spirit,” Cha said. Her lacrosse teammates, her parents, her teachers, and Principal Mitzi Cress have all supported Cha in her video production and photography. “Sometimes we do not pay as much attention to the arts as we should,” junior Camryn Bush, one of Cha’s supporters, said. “It is really great when someone like Alexa comes and helps show how powerful creativity can be.” Her website, alexacha.org, is an outlet where she displays photographs, offers photography sessions and posts prices for these sessions. Inspired by the quotation, “Do what you love, love what you do,” Cha also produces videos for her YouTube channel and for programs at school, such as Link Crew and the broadcast journalism program, Eye of the Panther. “I think the primary reason why I like to make videos and take photos is because I feel like it creates a memory,” Cha said. “I hope to share that memory with other people and hopefully they can feel the same way that I was feeling when I was in the moment.”

panthers lend helping paws

NILE minn

Galdones said. Woodland’s company currently has six After two months of blissful summer vacation, tutors, all of whom are juniors at either Peninsula returning to school can be a difficult transition. or Palos Verdes. The sessions are held at the However, for some students, the school year Peninsula Center Library. is a chance to help others improve in academic “Ranger’s company has made me take a subjects ranging from biology to Advanced leadership role in life, not just as a student but Placement Spanish. as a role model and teacher,” junior tutor Sam Ranger Woodland Tutoring is a tutoring Shafiee said. “With all the obstacles in junior company that was started by junior Ranger year, this company helps me second guess myself Woodland, in order to before making wrong help those who struggle decisions and instead Ranger’s company has made me with their classes or want makes me choose the take a leadership role in life, to get ahead in certain right path to being a subjects. Woodland’s strong not just as a student but as a responsible, company officially student.” launched in July when With a new school role model and teacher. Rack Labs, a coding year come new goals and company based in Los a drive to become a new Angeles specializing in web and improved student. design, created a tutoring Through his company, homepage for Woodland’s company. Since then, Woodland has had to be a leader in different Ranger Woodland Tutoring has grown in size and situations. is becoming more familiar with students through “I’ve had to be a leader for the kids I tutor, the social media. parents of the kids I tutor and the high school “Ranger’s tutoring company seems [like] a tutors,” Woodland said. great way for students who do not get work Ranger’s goal is to change both himself and done in class have a chance to improve their those who are tutored by his company into understanding of certain subjects,” junior John academically stellar students.

junior sam shafiee

Gino abrajano/the pen

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During a tutoring session, junior Ranger Woodland helps a student understand important concepts. Woodland assists students in a variety of subjects.

Panthers Take a Stand: student athletes save the fire trail

Claire Kim-Narita/The Pen

nILE mInn

Two runners jog on the Paseo Del Sol Fire Trail on Sept. 22. Along with other community members, cross country athletes wrote to the city in a successful effort to save the trail they frequently use.

On Sept. 10, the City Council of Palos Verdes Estates addressed a proposal to change the Paseo Del Sol Fire Trail into a set of goat steps, which would have made jogging on the trail difficult. The proposal was met with strong opposition from some Peninsula runners and residents of Palos Verdes Estates. “I’ve run on this trail for much more than my four years of high school, and it represents the Palos Verdes community because of the diversity of people who go to experience the view,” senior cross-country captain Davis Quan said. “Someone trying to close that down is going against the Palos Verdes lifestyle and state of mind.” Quan and approximately 50 other cross-country runners wrote letters to the Parklands Committee of Palos Verdes Estates to protest the closing of the trail, which the team uses frequently for training purposes. “The [fact] that [Peninsula’s] cross country [team] weighed in with 50 to 60 letters boiling down to what the fire road meant to them was very instrumental in defining how this

application didn’t work,” Carl Mortiz said, the urban forester for the city of Palos Verdes Estates. The members of the cross country team tried their best to ensure their beloved trail stayed accessible to the general public, and went to the meeting on Sept. 10 to support their goal. In attendance were professional tri-athlete and boys cross country coach, Chris Foster, members of the cross country team as well as residents and people who use the trail just as frequently. The opposition to the change was so strong that a unanimous decision was made to deny the plan and keep the Paseo Del Sol Fire Trail open to the general public with no changes. “If the proposal had gone in the way of the [adjacent] homeowners, the trail would have become nearly [impossible to run on], and it would have rerouted my team onto Via Del Monte which is a horrible road for running on.” Foster said. “I’m happy [because] I think it showed how many people love that fire trail and how many people love running in Palos Verdes.”

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Sports

Patel to the metal: Sophomore Takes the wheel

ares el prep , t a P a l f 14 Shay omore e age o uns in h h t p t o a s l , whee hat r egins ctice b g behind the racing, one t a r p r e h in auto Before ince first sitt ion for s s a S p . r f ajo hersel ad an m h s a h l Pate ily. her fam

Each year,

female auto racing drivers compete in NASCAR.

Auto racing driver Danica Patrick made

$13.5

million last year.

The earliest California students can get a driver’s license is 16. But unlike most students her age, sophomore Shayla Patel has already been driving for two years. She started driving a Nissan GTR and a Porsche Panamera when she was 14-yearsold. Inspired by her father, Patel gained an interest in racing at the age of five. “I love the adrenaline rush I get when I’m on the track,” Patel said. “High-speed racing helps me relieve stress from school and life in general.” Her father was the first member of the Patel family to get involved with the sport of race car driving. After a friend of his took him to an actual car race, her father got a racing license and passed down his passion for racing to his daughters. “I feel more connected to my father because we share the same hobby,” Patel said. Patel races on average one weekend per month at the Button Willow Race Park in Kern County and Chuck Walla Valley Raceway in the central desert. This summer was the first time she raced her car in a group with other competitors. She is not able to race in official competitions, as strict regulations require her to have both a regular and racing driver’s license. She is able to race non-competitively by registering as a minor under her father’s racing license. However, at 15-years-old, she is the youngest driver in her racing group, which mostly consists of men older than 20. “I enjoy going to races for fun because I don’t feel pressure to win, but I would love to race officially one day,” Patel said.

When she was first introduced to the world of racing, she closely watched professional racers at the track to learn the meanings of signals as well as how to remain confident on the track. In addition to observing, she had to take a day-long class to learn the basic rules of racing. She has shown her parents that she is responsible enough to drive a race car by showing confidence and maturity at car shows and competitions. “At first, I was scared of the risk of going off track,” Patel said. “I also have to maintain complete concentration and watch my surroundings.” Patel is one of the few females involved in car racing. Only two other women race with her, including her 22-year-old sister. Only 25 percent of members of the Sports Car Club of America, the largest club for car racers, is female. According to data from NASCAR, only 15 women have started in races. Despite these facts, Patel has an inextinguishable passion for racing. She hopes to continue racing with her family for the rest of her life, as it is a shared passion of her parents, sister and cousins. “Though I am the youngest to start racing, I have plenty of relatives who love to race,” Patel said. “It’s a huge family event where we all camp out with RV’s and enjoy the sport together.” Patel has ambitious goals for her racing career, and hopes to improve her own skills and encourage other girls to race. “My goal is to move up within the different skill level groups and become ranked,” Patel said. I hope to continue this unique sport and see more girls involved with it.”

At the age of

19,

Johanna Long was the youngest professional female driver to start a race.

There are

professional female auto racing drivers in the world.

There are

professional female auto racing drivers in the U.S. *Data from Nascar.com

Temishi Onnekikami/The Pen

Maya Tamhane/The pen

Jordan Chang