Issue 1 by The Pen Newspaper

the pen

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXVII

Issue 1

September 23, 2016

breaking away

Students leave behind unhealthy lifestyles, social media and stereotypes Focus Page 5-6

Prized Principal

privacy protected

Picking up the pigskin

Principal Mitzi Cress ranks amongst top thirty in state

New California bill increases student privacy

Peninsula football initiates plan to return to former glory

News Page 2

opinion Page 4

sports page 10

news

2 WWW.PENPEDIA.ORG/PALOS-VERDES-PENINSULA-HIGH-SCHOOL/MITZICRESS-TOP30

TEMISHI ONNEKIKAMI / THE PEN

TOP 30 INFLUENTIAL PRINCIPALS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Rianne Aguas

Takes time off to care for children

1979

agents of change. He has as much affection for his students now as he did back then with Cress and her classmates. “It does not surprise me [that Cress became principal],” Maechling said. “She was a leader, an organizer, totally engaged in every project. My pride in her is something similar to the pride I feel for this school. Just considering the students on our campus right now gives me a positive feeling about the future. It puts a big smile on an old guy’s face.”

Promoted to Head Counselor

Begins to work at LBUSD again

Graduates Rolling Hills High School

1971

MITZI CRESS

photo COURTESY OF PSS IMAGING

Principal Mitzi Cress was recently named one of the “Top 30 Most Influential California High School Principals” in a list released by Mometrix Test Preparation. Mometrix ranked the principals based upon the number of points received from national and state awards, rankings, average SAT scores and college readiness. Peninsula has received many recognitions under Cress’ leadership, including the “5th Best Public High School in California” on Niche’s 2015 list and the California Gold Ribbon Schools award that same year from the California Department of Education. Rising to this title was not a short journey for Cress. After graduating in 1971 from Rolling Hills High School, the predecessor to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (PVPHS), she became a teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Soon after, she became a counselor in the same district. She then took a 15-year break to raise her children, but realized she wanted to return to counseling. “I noticed that I really enjoyed working with small groups, so I became a counselor,” Cress said.

“I felt prepared because I was very involved with my students. I felt like I really understood the high school age.” After returning to counseling, she worked at LBUSD for a year until a friend from Peninsula informed her that there was a job opening. She decided to apply, and got the job as a counselor in 1995. Two years later, she became the head counselor. In 2009, Kelly Johnson, the principal of Peninsula at that time, wanted Cress to take on principalship. She initially refused, due to her passion for counseling. However, after a year of Johnson’s persistent requests, she finally agreed. In 2010, she became the principal. The 2016-17 school year will mark her seventh year as the principal of Peninsula. “[Cress] had the same values that I did. She grasped the importance of why we were there, which was to serve kids,” Johnson said. “That is why I wanted her to be the principal. She has done a wonderful job, and is by far the brightest principal to serve at Peninsula.” Jim Maechling, a former teacher of Cress, is proud of her for coming this far and thinks that her success should inspire students to work hard. Maechling believes that, just like Cress, there are millions of gifted people all over the world ready to step up and be

1994 Becomes counselor at PVPHS

1995

1997 Becomes Principal Mitzi Cress

2010

school board sued for ALLEGED brown act violation Alison Kim A group of concerned Palos Verdes Peninsula (PVP) residents sued Palos Verdes Unified School District (PVPUSD) on July 18 for allegedly violating the Ralph M. Brown Act when the PVPUSD Board of Education discussed the installation of solar panels at several schools within the district. This lawsuit was led by Barry Hildebrand, a PVP resident. Last March, the district announced the installation of Partner For Many Generations (PFMG) solars in four schools. According to the Daily Breeze, the purpose of the solar panels was to save $6 million worth of energy over the next 25 years. Rolling Hills Estates attorney Jeffrey Lewis, who represents the PVP residents, filed a cease-and-desist letter on July 18. The letter claimed the Board of Education had not listed the agreement waiver of the solar contract on the closed-door meeting agenda and had added solar panels to an agenda for a July 13 meeting without proper 72

hour public notice. The letter provided a list of all the accusations made to the PVPUSD Board. According to the Daily Breeze, Lewis stated that this lawsuit’s purpose was to pressure the Board to follow its obligations under the law and make the necessary reports after closed sessions. PVPUSD Superintendent Don Austin does not feel that the district’s actions violated the Brown Act. Austin claims that there had been no vote on the solar panels during the closed door meeting; thus, no parts of the act were violated. Furthermore, Austin states the item for the July 13 meeting had also been properly added to the agenda on the PVPUSD website, which made it accessible to the public. According to the “Brown Act Allegations Document” posted on the

district’s website, the Board was justified in discussing legal implications in closed session to protect the interest of the district and taxpayers. Austin also conveyed confusion as to why the residents are still pursuing the lawsuit, even though the Board decided not to install the solar panels. “Sometimes I believe that there are some people that are constantly looking to be [unsatisfied] with [how the] school district [is run],” Austin said. “In this case, when the same people are [constantly] unhappy [with] the school district, [it indicates that the] problems [do not always stem from within the] school district.” However, some of the other PVP residents, who are not directly involved in the lawsuit, agree with Barry Hildebrand. “When [the Board] came out into

“I have a budget which is used to run this school, and there is never enough money to do everything I want for Peninsula.” - Principal Mitzi Cress

open session, they did not tell anybody what they discussed about solar [panels],” PVP resident Joan Davidson said. “[It was not] until July 13th when [the Board president Malcolm Sharp] said, ‘[the Board] should have talked about it a few weeks ago, so we are going to tell you tonight.’” The residents will proceed with the lawsuit, and the district has no choice but to hire an attorney to defend itself using the funds of PVPUSD schools. Austin believes that the money could have been utilized for funding lab experiments, installing updated computers and genuinely improving the learning environment for students and teachers alike. In addition to Austin, Principal Mitzi Cress has also expressed frustration in this matter. “I have a budget which is used to run this school, and there is never enough money to do everything I want for Peninsula,” Cress said. “In situations like these, the district is forced to use funding that should go directly to the schools. That is where it impacts me as a principal.” brian mo/the pen

caaspp scores reach new heights Ana Willoughby Last year, juniors took the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The CAASPP was developed to be different than previous standardized tests such as the Standardized Testing for the Assessment of Reading (STAR) testing because it focuses on the new Common Core Standards. With the inclusion of critical thinking and application of real life scenarios, the CAASPP incorporates a different style of questions than the styles of previous standardized tests. This new format contains material to prepare students for future educational courses as well as the real world. “[The test] definitely included more writing, and [it] wanted [students] to explain [their] choices and why [they] thought things were right,” senior Rose Becker said. “I liked how the math was more thought-provoking.” The CAASPP testing employs the updated Common Core Standards as the new curriculum. Thus, the prompted questions now test students on their

proficiency of the current standards. Compared to the previous standardized tests, the CAASPP avoids questions based on straight memorization. Conversely, students are required to explain how they came to their conclusion on a question. This way, they can fully comprehend the new material and eventually apply new methods of problem-solving to real-life situations. Peninsula’s high scores can be attributed to support and preparation from English and math teachers alike, as they took it upon themselves to ensure that their students would be ready for the new testing. “[Our school did so well on the testing] because we focused a lot on preparing for it, and [the teachers] taught us how we should answer the questions,” senior Cat Phillips said. According to the Pasadena Now Newsmagazine, 77% of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (PVPHS) students met or exceeded the state standard for the English and Mathematics sections, and had a 1.99% increase from the CAASPP results from the previous

year. Peninsula students worked hard to ensure that their results would reflect an improvement from the previous year and took pride in the overall score improvement. “I think we have always held ourselves to a high standard. It can be a very competitive atmosphere, but I think that [the] competitive attitude [at] Peninsula also makes people strive to do better,” senior Joey Black said. “[The students] are putting more effort into doing well on the test and in their classes. People know that the test does not directly impact themselves, [but] the school will [be affected by it].”

opinion 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Annie Benedict Marine Fujisawa MANAGING EDITOR Esther Chu DESIGN EDITOR Temishi Onnekikami NEWS EDITORS: Nina Li Nile Minn WRITERS: Rianne Aguas Alison Kim Ana Willoughby OPINION EDITOR: Chris Chien WRITERS: Anne Lee Asumi Shuda FOCUS EDITORS: Emily McGinn Zoe Willoughby WRITERS: Liana Korotzer Adrian Tai STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Phoebe Borsum Jordan Chang WRITERS: Saffy Laurio Ailey Suzuki SPORTS EDITOR: Stella Yoo WRITERS: Haris Rao Zain Riaz GRAPHICS Ciro Fidaleo Two Laurio Brian Mo BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Isabelle Wang Sung Gyung Lee 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 © 2016

EDITORIAL

redefining patriotism in the wake of Controversy Editorial staff Conflicting opinions are nothing uncommon. Most recently, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stirred the nation when he refused to stand up for the national anthem before the Aug. 26 49ers-Green Bay Packers Game. Through a sweeping influx of backlash, accusations and threats, Kaepernick has stated that he will not stand for the flag of a country which allows such abuses against African-Americans and minorities in the United States. While it is certainly within his rights as a United States citizen to exercise this decision, and is admirable to use his social influence and position to bring attention to a severely pressing issue, outraged critics have called his actions disrespectful and unpatriotic. They are appalled at his refusal to honor a country that is one of the most, if not the most, democratic in the world, a nation whose people have fought and died for its freedom. Patriotism has always been an essential tenet of our nation’s identity; from its founding, American citizens have possessed a strong faith in the ideals and strengths of

our country. This nationalistic feeling has aided the United States through numerous times of trouble, supporting the army in the World Wars and helping the country pull itself out of the Great Depression. And we have reason to be proud. As the world’s oldest standing democracy, the United States endures as a beacon of morality, a guardian of human rights. America is a land of innovation, leading the world in Internet advancements, music, movies and more. Our universities are some of the best in the world, and we have continuously striven to ameliorate the standard of living of our population as a whole. Within the United States, we are given innumerable liberties we take for granted but which are considered radical in some parts of the world. While we have one of the shortest histories among other firstworld countries, America has quickly established itself as a pillar in many areas of life. However, stereotypes such as “barbaric” and “lowbrow” have surrounded the country since its beginning. This stereotype has evolved as we have grown as a nation. Despite America’s progressive human

rights record compared to the rest of the world, we are not exempt from condemnation: the struggles of sexual, religious and racial minorities affirm that discrimination remains rampant in our society. With such differing views, it is no surprise that the issue of patriotism can polarize our citizens. When one thinks of the word “patriotism,” one may imagine a person who only sees the good in the country, someone ignorant to the truth and who embodies the very ignorant ideals that vex many. Many Americans want to support and respect their national identity, yet refuse to take its criticisms seriously and may be offended on a personal scale when they feel its virtue is being attacked. On the other hand, people can focus on the weaknesses of our nation and thus overlook its strengths; they may take actions that can be viewed as disrespectful or ungrateful to those on the opposite end of the spectrum. But patriotism does not have to be such a polarizing concept. There is a certain objective balance associated with being a responsible and informed American, one that we must uphold regardless

temishi onnekikami/the pen

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

of our political alignment or set of ideals. It is important to see our country for what it is, and not to simply dismiss what does not hold true with our personal views. We must redefine patriotism. We must be cognizant of both America’s strengths and shortcomings in order to grow as a nation. Kaepernick has made his stance clear. He, joining other athletes such as several WNBA players and the NBA’s Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, still refuse to stand for the flag. They use their status to make a social statement and to underscore human rights violations towards minorities. In the wake of repercussions, however, Kaepernick has taken a more respectful position: he kneels during the anthem, honoring the flag yet protesting the injustices within the country it stands for. It is important we follow this example.

Pef raises suggestED donation amount for families ANNE LEE Donations are made every year to the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) in order to improve Palos Verdes public schools by enhancing and developing curricula, clubs and after-school events. PEF funds many programs such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs and more. The money provided by the state is not enough to implement these enrichment programs; thus, PEF aims to apply the funds received from families to compensate for the lack of funds received by the state. In previous years, the suggested donation per student was $500. After much discussion on the topic, the requested amount for the 2016-17 school year has been raised to $750, with the goal of raising $3.5 million. The rise in

the suggested donation price for the 2016-17 school year would only provide benefits to the school and give parents more opportunities for involvement with the PEF community. With the previously suggested donation amount of $500, PEF has struggled to help Peninsula reach its highest potential. The amount of funding received from the state is specific to each school. Peninsula currently receives $49 per student each school day, which is very little considering the upkeep of provisions such as faculty, enrichment programs and textbooks. PEF is currently working to provide more technological equipment, programs and teachers to run these programs, which influenced its decision on raising the suggested donation amount. An increase in donations to PEF would also allow more

families to become active members of the Palos Verdes Peninsula (PVP) community. On average, only around 25 percent of PVP’s population donates money to PEF every year. Although the donation price for this school year may seem overwhelming, it remains a suggestion and PEF urges families to see what their donations can do for the school and the education of the students. “The mission of PEF is to engage and inspire our community in support of wstudent success in our local schools,” Executive Director Christine Byrne said. “PEF supports programs and positions that keep our schools among the best in the state and the nation. It is our goal for this year to successfully attain our pledge so that we can continue to meet the needs of our

amazing school district.” Principal Mitzi Cress believes that this action would benefit the school drastically. She expresses her gratitude toward the families who have participated in the donation, and hopes to see donations from other families in the future. Through managing a site budget, she realizes how much PEF truly does for the school. The programs that PEF funds adds up to close to $250,000. PEF does its best to fill in the gaps where state funding simply does not reach. With the help of generous and involved Panther families, those involved feel that this goal is highly attainable. “The important thing is that we are working as one to keep our schools strong and ensure the best possible education for our children and for future generations,” Byrne said.

new privacy bill will protect students -Assembly Bill 2097

--Signed by: Jerry Brown on Aug. 25, 2016

-Author: Melissa Melendez --Schools cannot collect personal information from students without federal or state law.

Trevor Rinzler

Chris Chien A new California bill signed by Governor Jerry Brown on Aug. 25 will limit the personal information schools can collect from students. Spearheaded by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, Assembly Bill 2097 (AB 2097) prohibits school districts from collecting sensitive information such as Social Security numbers from students except when required by federal and state law. The bill comes six months after a 2011 lawsuit by two nonprofits against the Department of Education forced schools to turn over student records. The ensuing controversy eventually caused the judge to overturn her original decision. While not a perfect solution, AB 2097 does represent a great step forward for the privacy and protection of California students, which should take precedent over any reason that is not lifethreatening. For the sake of our safety, it is imperative that our confidentiality rights continue to be preserved. To understand the full qualifications of AB 2097, one must first look into the controversial January court ruling that sparked the debate of student privacy rights. Two nonprofits, the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association

and the California Concerned Parents Association, sued the Department of Education for violations of specialeducation laws among various schools, demanding access to student records in order to prove wrongdoing. The data given to the nonprofits included names, Social Security numbers, addresses and other information specific to each student. Judge Kimberly Mueller ruled in favor of the nonprofits and ordered data of over 10 million students to be turned over, but the decision caused so much outrage from parents that she reversed her decision on March 1, before anything was released. “It alarms me that I as a parent have no say in the release of my daughter’s and my family’s private information to these strangers,” English teacher

Sandra Sidella said. “I am not oblivious to the fact that personal information is no longer truly personal, but to give nonprofits power to take personal information of students when those organizations have no credentials is not a viable move.” It is unfortunate that such a measure had to be taken in the first place, but AB 2097 does a lot to right the wrongs of the nonprofit fiasco. It is imperative that the standards of the Federal Educational and Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) are adhered to, and whether or not the nonprofits had legitimate claim to the data to begin with is questionable. However, by preventing school districts from collecting Social Security numbers and other personal information unless explicitly ordered to by federal or state law, AB 2097 alleviates the fears of

“I am not oblivious to the fact that personal information is no longer truly personal, but to give nonprofits power to take personal information of students when those organizations have no credentials is not a viable move.” - Teacher Sandra Sidella

Two Laurio/THE PEN

parents and guardians that their child’s privacy will be breached. It minimizes the risks put on students should their records be turned over legally by the government or unintentionally leaked. Also, it allows nonprofits and other organizations to collect necessary data without accessing sensitive information, thus creating a desirable outcome for all parties involved. However, there are some that think AB 2097 does not cover the important issues that are endangering student privacy. Rather than not allowing the data to be collected at all, critics believe that school districts should instead be prohibited from releasing the information in the first place. “I think that the bill misses the real problem,” junior Ishan Gaur said. “The real problem is not that schools have students’ Social Security numbers or other personal information, but rather that the government has the jurisdiction to force schools to make it public.” AB 2097 is not a foolproof bill, and some of the arguments against it do hold merit. But in terms of getting closer to a safe privacy standard for students, it is still a much-needed improvement, and helps prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Focus

LE T T I N G students see benefits in a healthy lifestyle Emily mcginn and zoe willoughby Having an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to many negative mental and physical health consequences, potentially affecting performance in class. Common bad habits include not eating well and not sleeping enough due to numerous activities and classwork. Therefore, health organizations encourage students to break away from destructive habits by making better nutritional choices and devoting more time to sleep. To maintain a sound lifestyle, diet is a key factor. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is imperative for adolescents to maintain a healthy diet in order to develop and grow properly and to avoid other health issues such as obesity, iron deficiency and osteoporosis. Confronting malnutrition, First Lady Michelle Obama enacted the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requiring schools to meet a certain dietary balance. Regarding personal efforts,

students may also try to break away from harmful eating habits by switching to vegetarianism, pescetarianism, veganism and other alternative diets. “I definitely did not think that a diet could affect my life in the way that it did,” junior Cathy Kim said. “The major difference [between] before I was vegan and now is feeling more mindful in my everyday actions.” Another aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet is trying to avoid eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. However, breaking away from these conditions is more difficult than simply changing a diet. Therapy and clinical treatment are often required to successfully treat these disorders. The National Eating Disorder Association states that 35 to 57 percent of adolescent girls engage in fasting, crash dieting, diet pills, laxatives or self-induced vomiting.

Eating disorders can lead to many health problems and eventually death, if not addressed. “A variety of biological, social and psychological factors can contribute to the onset of an eating disorder,” school nurse Wendy Keller said. “A person’s productivity may decrease [causing] weakness and the brain does not function as efficiently with the lack of nutrition.” Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule helps people stay away from unhealthy habits. During the school year, many students lose sleep by trying to balance extracurricular activities, homework and jobs. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a healthy sleep range for teenagers between 14 and 17 years old is eight to 10 hours every night. Lack of sleep can impede upon students’ abilities to think clearly and work productively in school. To manage their workload, some students choose not to take a zero period in order to have extra time to

sleep. “I think not having a zero period has provided needed rest that helps me concentrate more in school,” junior Nisha Nirmal said. “Less sleep definitely affected my concentration and ability to learn, which led to more time doing homework because I was not able to fully understand the concepts in the classroom.” According to HealthDay News, more than 80 percent of teenagers have unhealthy nutritional habits or are physically inactive. These factors can affect teenagers’ overall physical and mental healths and alter their lifestyles as well. “Students need to establish a healthy lifestyle [when] they are young, for it is much harder to start a routine as an adult,” Keller said. “Students need good nutrition, hydration and sleep to work at an optimal level. This gives them the best chance at doing well in school and in sports.”

students cut social media from their lives Liana korotzer For most teens, social media is an assumed part of daily life. However, freshman Cate O’Day, sophomore Josh Zeitlin and junior Jamie Kim restrict their usage, for they feel that social media has too many negative impacts. For example, O’Day restrains from using popular social media outlets such as Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. “[Social media] is very distracting and it can take away from getting good grades Also, it is just another [platform for bullying],” O’Day said. “It is just one more form of pressure in our society to look a certain way or act a certain way.” O’Day believes that safety is also an issue. She highlights the fact that posts on the Internet are permanent, and teens might post recklessly, potentially jeopardizing their futures. According to a recent study by CNN, the average Facebook user is on the website for over six hours every week. Many people, including Zeitlin, view extensive social media usage as a waste of valuable time. Zeitlin emphasizes that

the long hours spent on social media detract from socializing with one another in person. “The reason I think [social media apps] are negative is not [because of] the specific app [itself] but the amount of time it takes out of your life,” Zeitlin said. Zeitlin does believe that social media has some positive effects such as allowing easy communication with others and serving as an outlet to showcase art, but he feels that these positive aspects are overshadowed by the negative ones. Kim has never used any social media applications or websites other than Snapchat, which she views as less distracting than others. “I think [Snapchat] could have less of a negative effect because Snapchat is more of a communication [system] than Instagram and Facebook,” Kim said. “I

would say Instagram and Facebook are more of exploring outlets [than Snapchat is]. Maybe that is why people have more of an urge to use it.” Kim also said that social media can negatively impact self-esteem and thoughts about body image, causing people to feel insecure about changing their appearance. “On Instagram, I would think people tend to choose the best photo of themselves,” Kim said. “This picture does not always reflect who they [really] are but the outsiders looking at the pictures might think that [it displays the person’s true self].” Many studies have also shown that celebrities, models and advertisements promoted through social media damage teens’ self-esteem. A potential result of exposure to these unrealistic expectations is developing an eating

“[Social media] is just another way to get bullied. It is just one more form of pressure in our society to look or act a certain way.” -junior Cate O’day

disorder. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 69 percent of fifth to 12th graders reported that pictures of models in the media influenced their idea of the perfect body shape. In another study, seven out of 10 women were more upset and angry after viewing these types of photos. Other studies have found that unrealistic body types on social media cause students to aim for an unhealthy body weight. Models weigh about 23 percent less than the average person, and when teens attempt to match these body types, they may feel anxious and helpless, as social media inundates teens with normalized pictures of unrealistic bodies. Social media can help people connect with family and friends. However, taking a step back can have positive effects such as more free time to spend with family, more social interactions amongst peers and removing a source of unhealthy body images from their lives. “Social media is great,” Kim said. “But we should be careful not to overuse it.”

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Athletes Steer away from false stereotypes Adrian tai Stereotypes can often debase the true value of a person and fail to reveal who he or she really is, but Peninsula students are determined not to let stereotypes that typically plague high school students define them. Juniors Hope Reveche, Miho Tanaka and Payton Chi know all too well the stereotypes that are commonly associated with them because of their sports, but they make sure not to let stereotypes affect them. Song captain Reveche says that others make inaccurate assumptions as to what type of person she is based upon the characteristics that have been promoted by TV shows and movies. Cheerleaders are shown as cruel, vain or vacuous girls, while jocks are usually shown as dumb, buff or bullies. “Cheerleaders and spirit squads are usually portrayed in movies and TV shows [as vain and airheaded], so the image has been adopted over time,” Reveche said. “In general, when I say I am on Pep Squad or am a Song captain, people may tend to think that we are just

those loud, spirited people on the field at football games and an exclusive group of girls off the field.” In reality, however, this is not the case. Outside of Pep Squad, Reveche is quiet, studious and hard-working. She takes rigorous classes at school and volunteers outside of school, characteristics which contradict the image of a typical cheerleader. “The stereotype of cheerleaders having lower than average intelligence is completely untrue,” Reveche said. “Most of the ditzy characters in books, shows and movies are exaggerated for comedic effect.” Along with knowledge, Reveche also values kindness, a conflicting value with the perceived brutality that some people believe spirit squads have. Cheerleader Miho Tanaka also believes kindness and consideration to be the keys to every person’s character. “I believe everyone should be kind and courteous to others, and being a cheerleader does not make you any more special than others,” Tanaka said. “Just because we play a certain sport

does not mean we are excused from common human decency.” Similar to how cheerleaders are stereotyped in books and on television, football player and wrestler Chi also had to deal with overcoming stereotypes regarding the sports he plays. While Chi was judged because of his small stature, he continued to work hard to play the sport he loved. “I was only about 5 feet and 100 pounds as a freshman, so I was much smaller than the other players,” Chi said. “I overcame these stereotypes by not caring about [other people], and instead just enjoyed the sport and tried my best.” Chi believes that his size does not necessarily affect his athletic abilities as much as other people might believe. “People are often surprised when I tell them which sports I play, because football and wrestling are usually sports played by bigger guys,” Chi said. “A typical football player is tall and fairly muscular depending on position, and wrestlers are usually on the bigger side too.”

Although overcoming stereotypes may have been difficult, Chi has been able to positively grown as a person and as a competitor. “I think [breaking the stereotype] has really helped me, and I have learned not to care too much about what others think,” Chi said. Tanaka also believes that letting go of stereotypes has helped her become who she is. “Being a part of such a welcoming team of cheerleaders helped make me [more] comfortable expressing myself,” Tanaka said. “I was able to break away from cheerleader stereotypes which helped me gain a lot of confidence in who I am.” These students are able to show their true talents and athletic abilities by separating themselves from the stereotype of their sport. “I think it is very important to not let stereotypes define who you are, and to continue to be the best version of yourself that you can be, no matter what others say or think about you,” Reveche said.

student life 8

Seniors win national debate championship saffy laurio This past June, seniors Raam Tambe and Jerry Wang won first place at the National Speech and Debate Association Championship. The Peninsula representatives traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to compete against other pairs of students in the policy debate category, the most research-intensive and prestigious form of debate. Tambe and Wang were the first all-junior team in the history of the competition to win first place. Preparation for the competition was an intense and time-consuming process for them. Even though the topic for the championship was given a year in advance, it was stressful for the team to balance their time between school and

for one side of a topic and he takes the debate. other.” “Our preparation before the In the days before the tournament, tournament, and especially before the Tambe and Wang spent hours working finals, was pretty intense,” Wang said. with Scott Wheeler, their debate coach, “We revised our blocks and speeches to try to find the best ways to present for hours at a time.” their argument. According to Wheeler, Tambe and Wang prepared for the Tambe and Wang work championship by attending a seven“Debate has not only enhanced well together because they have their own week summer my sense of logic, argumentation opinions, but they also debate camp last year. During the and critical thinking, but has are willing to listen to other. school year, they also taught me a great deal each“You get an spent four to about the world we live in. The intellectual stimulation five hours every day conducting skills that i have acquired from and satisfaction that you do not get from other research on their debate are universally relevant things,” Wheeler said. topic. The debate and applicable in every context.” “[Speech and debate] causes kids to read books topic was the -Senior jerry wang or articles they would United States’ never read. It helps them use of domestic get to the point where they are sort of surveillance. Tambe and Wang won ahead of other students in all classes based on their argument that medical because they get time to develop all of surveillance should end due to the these skills.” negative effects it has on soldiers’ Tambe and Wang first worked mental health. together freshman year. Working “[Jerry] and I divide the work evenly,” Tambe said. “I am in charge together was initially difficult, for the two often have different of doing the work

opinions on political views. However, said differences make the two a more effective team, since a broader range of views are covered. Both Tambe and Wang have been involved in speech and debate since sixth grade. They are passionate about the activity and feel that it has taught them many life skills and has better prepared them for the rest of their lives. “Debate has not only enhanced my sense of logic, argumentation and critical thinking, but has also taught me a great deal about the world we live in,” Wang said. “The skills I have acquired from debate are universally relevant and applicable in every context.”

Senior Jerry Wang presents his argument at The National Speech and Debate Association Championship in June. He and Tambe prepared for this event for over a year.

Seniors Jerry Wang and Raam Tambe stand with their first place award. They are the first all junior team to win this award in the history of the competition. two Laurio photo courtesy of Jerry wang and raam tambe

Peninsula alumna competes in Rio Olympics saffy laurio This past summer, Peninsula alumna Whitney Engen was chosen to be part of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team and competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Engen has had a very successful career, and was most recently a player on the winning U.S. team during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Engen first started playing soccer when she was only four years old. However, she did not consider herself a very strong player, and spent the majority of her youth on the bench during games. “I did not enjoy [soccer] at first,” Engen said. “I was a very late bloomer, and would only go to practice because our coach would bring candy. [However], I loved the team environment that soccer provided and [decided to] keep with it.” Engen, who graduated from Peninsula in 2006, played on the girl’s varsity soccer team during her freshman and sophomore years. She was named the Most Valuable Offensive Player as a freshman and Most Valuable Player as a sophomore. However, during her junior year Engen suffered injuries that prevented her from taking part in soccer. Luckily, she recovered at the start of her senior year, and decided to focus on club soccer. Engen’s success came as no surprise to Peninsula soccer coach Scotte Massey. He says that during her time on the team, Engen was very hard-working, focused and a natural leader on the field, both verbally and purely through action. “Whitney had a way of making her teammates better players, which is a

tribute to her unselfish nature and a team-first mentality,” Massey said. “She is a prime example of what I like to pass on to all of my players in terms of the success and satisfaction one can find when they can harness some intrinsic motivation and remain dedicated to reaching their goals. Whitney is as quality a person as she is an athlete, and all of the good things that come her way are well-earned and deserved.” Engen’s success as a soccer player has inspired current Peninsula soccer players. Junior Clara Deley wishes to follow in Engen’s foot steps. “[Whitney’s success] is motivating for me as a soccer player at Peninsula

coach will select the appropriate number of people to represent the team,” Whitney said. According to Engen, being part of the U.S. Women’s National Team is a full time job. The players constantly conditioning by taking part in training camps throughout the year. She had to overcome many obstacles in order to get to the position she is in today, one of the biggest being that she did not make the 2012 Olympic team. However, Engen was able to use this as fuel to push herself towards working even harder to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “I was beyond ecstatic when I found out that I made the Olympic Team,” Engen said. “It was a lifelong dream come true and it is difficult to put it into words.”

because I know that I can be successful [and make it] as a soccer player,” Deley said. “Her example makes me want to live up to her standard and follow her path.” Engen’s aspirations to play for the U.S. National Team led her to pursue a career as a professional soccer player. She played on a rookie team for a short time, then was drafted onto the National Team. “[Being a member of the team] is a constant evaluation process and when it comes time for a major tournament, our

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC

“I was beyond ecstatic when I found out that I made the Olympic Team. It was a lifelong dream come true and it is difficult to put it into words.” -Whitney Engen

ailey suzuki Sophomore Orion Askinosie has been in the entertainment industry for most of his life. He was inspired to perform seriously when he watched a documentary of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson performing. He currently takes acting, singing and dancing classes as he is planning to continue performing as a career. “I have always wanted to have a positive impact on people ever since I was young,” Askinosie said. “Performing [has helped me do this] by letting me be myself.” His career began after he won a talent search contest called iPop Kids. Askinosie currently works with an agency called Osbrink Talent Agency, one of the top five youth talent agencies

in Hollywood. Since then, Askinosie has booked a variety of jobs, ranging from acting in commercials to singing and dancing in music videos. One of his most memorable experiences is performing with other Disney stars in front of 10,000 fans at the Citadel Outlet and shooting a commercial for Skyrocket toys. “I am especially proud and grateful to have won the talent search contest,” says Askinosie. “I am also so happy with the amazing results from managers and agents.” When asked about the future, Askinosie stated that he aspires to change and shape the world with his music and performing. He also aspires to model for Calvin Klein one day. “I know that making it in the

entertainment industry is going to be hard,” Askinosie said. “However, being able to be doing what I love and enjoy is all that matters.” Askinosie says that he has learned not to dwell on the jobs in the past that he didn’t book and to focus on the future. “One must have an open mind about everything since no matter where you go, you will be faced with liars and rejection,” Askinosie said. According to Askinosie, the stress and pressure of booking jobs is tough. Getting a job is not easy either, especially with the enormous workload from school. “Not booking a job is always hard,” says Askinosie. “But it just reminds me that I need to work harder next time. And in the end, I am just grateful that I am doing what I love.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF orion askinosie

Sophomore Orion Askinosie takes on the entertainment industry

sophomore orion askinosie signs with osbrink talent agency. Osbrink is one of the top five youth agencies in hollywood.

zain riaz

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“Through hard work and determination, [the players] have overcome what was a sour note and turned it into a bright spot this year.” - Head coach David Young

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24 new members on varsity and 31 on the freshmansophomore team

16-18 hours of training a week during the summer and school year

a new school record of 5 interceptions in a game

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After finishing last year winning two of 10 games, the football team took full advantage of the off-season time to begin the 2016 season with a strong start. Peninsula beat John Glenn 48-6 in week one, Sotomayor 48-8 in week two and Torrance 45-17 in week three. “It has been a buy-in by the boys, and they have rallied behind each other to support one another,” head coach David Young said. “As a football team they have figured out a way to become successful together. Through hard work and determination, they have overcome what was a sour note and turned it into a bright spot this year.” Students and the Peninsula community were left shocked and disappointed last year when the football season was abruptly canceled due to a dwindling number of players and potential health risks. Since then, the team and school administration have been working to recruit more players and improve their techniques. “Last year was so tough but I am almost glad it happened because it lit a fire under our butts and gave us the sense of urgency we needed as a unit to get better and strive for more,” senior linebacker and fullback Marco Merola said. During the off-season, Young brought in a new playbook that emphasized football fundamentals and helped the players get into optimal football shape. “Our preparation for our season started immediately when Coach Young was hired back in January,” junior and quarterback Aidan Kuykendall said. Summer training was rigorous and followed strict weightlifting and diet regimes. During training, players practiced with scrimmages and watched videos of past games to identify areas in which the team could improve. “We worked really hard to get stronger, faster and be in

better shape so we could finish the game strong,” Kuykendall said. “We worked so much harder than previous summers.” Although Young finds room for more improvement, he is optimistic about the potential the team has. “We are still fumbling the ball and throwing interceptions and could correct those by making better decisions in practice and being a little bit more cautious with the ball,” Young said. “There is a lot of potential out here that has yet to even be cracked. Some guys don’t even know how good they could be because they have not pushed themselves to that level yet.” Kuykendall expressed how the offensive line has shown improvement in the first couple games. “The line is the most important part of a football team, and Gabor Nemeth, Jason Augello, Luke and Zach Denney, Andres Park and Spencer Ness have done such great jobs and are huge parts of our team’s success,” Kuykendall said. Kuykendall says that in addition to improved play, the team’s chemistry has changed drastically this year. “Compared to last year, the mood in the locker room has become a lot more energetic and we have really come together as a team,” Kuykendall said. Coach Young believes that the commitment of the players has helped lead the team into the early success it has had so far. “We have become so close, not just as a team, but as a family,” senior center and nose guard Nemeth said. “We all work together very well and have developed good team chemistry, which is something that I feel has been lacking in the program for a while. Football is the ultimate team sport, and that is why we are going to be that much better this year.” The team looks to continue their success as week four of the season nears. “We have to continue to work hard and improve as the season goes along,” Kuykendall said. “I am excited to see where all our hard work will get us this season.”

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Pen football rebounds after an abrupt ending to last year’s season

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BACK IN THE GAME

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SPORTS

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW zain riaz and stella yoo

girls’ volleyball Varsity girls’ volleyball plays its first regular season home game against Mira Costa on Sept. 22 and hopes to have a strong start with a new team. “We lost 10 seniors, so this team is pretty much new,” captain and junior Sophia Stenzel said. “We really had to adjust playing in general because we have a whole new team with different players.” Although 11 of the 16 players on the team are first-time varsity players, the team still has high hopes for this season and will continue to practice diligently. “I think our expectation is to hopefully get to CIF and win the first game,” Stenzel said.

boys

girls’ golf Varsity girls’ golf is looking to have a successful year under Coach Glenn Van Enk this season. “I think as a whole, we are a lot more focused this year,” captain and senior Nicole Suppelsa said. “[In the summer], a lot of our girls played in local and state junior golf tournaments which really helped them gain skills and experience golf outside of high school to help boost their confidence.” In the South Bay Classic golf tournament on Sept. 16 at the Los Amigos Golf Course, sophomore Momoka Sasaki, junior Hana Kodaka and Suppelsa represented Peninsula as a team of three and placed first by ten strokes with a score of 237. “[Winning the tournament] was super exciting because our team had not won a match, let alone a tournament, in a long time,” Suppelsa said. “A lot of success in a short period of time is always a great way to pump up a group of girls to play better golf every time we play a match.”

boys’ cross country

girls’ cross country

Varsity boys’ cross country is looking forward to a promising year with a good mix of new and seasoned runners. “There are definitely some new members who are expected to make an impact on the team in the next couple years,” head coach Chris Foster said. Junior Chris Alon is also optimistic about the new season. “I think our cross country team really stepped up from last year,” Alon said. “The amount of effort and commitment we put into our workouts really show in our races, and I am looking forward to a great season with my teammates.”

The girls’ cross country and boys’ cross country team will be practicing together this year for the first time in Peninsula history. “It was just the way the program worked out this year with staff,” head coach Chris Foster said. “Also, we have seen the girls benefit a lot from running with the boys, and the boys get pushed by the girls as well.” New varsity freshmen members are expected to provide an edge for the team this year along with returning runners such as junior Jessica Nye, who has been making great strides early in the season. Nye placed second in the Girls Blue Division at the Woodbridge Classic race on Sept. 17. “[At first], I did not know how fast the competition was going to be so I went all out with a faster pace to see if anyone would follow,” Nye said. “It was exciting to place because that was a new strategy I had not used before, and there was a really good outcome.”

boys’ water polo

graphics team

Boys’ water polo has started off at a slow start this season with a 0-3 record. “Since I am a new coach for varsity, I need to build this team together, which means working on fundamentals,” head coach Brad Silver said. “We are continuing to learn more about our players and how to help one another to make things happen both offensively and defensively.” Silver is still optimistic about this season, hoping the team can make it to CIF. “I expect [the team] to get better with every game,” Silver said. “Every game we have played so far, we do something better than we ever have before.”

girls’ tennis Varsity girls’ tennis has started with a 2-1 record this season, losing to San Marino on Sept. 20. The team is looking at some big changes after losing leading players this year, but it is expecting a strong season nonetheless. “We lost four of our starters, but that will just push us to work harder,” co-captain and senior Tia Elpusan said. “We also have two amazing freshmen who I know will be very successful in their matches.” Elpusan hopes that the team can win the Bay League title and defeat Palos Verdes and Mira Costa later in the season. “[The PV Match] is the most important match in my opinion because they have really stepped up their game, so I think it will be an interesting match,” Elpusan said. “The Mira Costa match is also important because they are also a strong team, so we will need to play our best in order to win.”

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