Issue 4

VOL. XXXIX ISSUE 4 JANUARY 11, 2019

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

IGNITING DISASTER California fires affect lives across the state NEWS PAGE 1

DOWN WITH THE FLU

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Potential flu vaccine requirement sparks debate

Sophomore shares love of healthy food with others

Macfarlane advances to CIF State Finals for cross country

OPINION PAGE 5

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

SPORTS PAGE 11

California devastated by three major wildfires Tiffany cha and caitlyn lee

DAMAGE BY THE NUMBERS: 15,000+ homes destroyed* 200,000+ acres burned* 86 people killed*

Connor Tumelty / the pen

*According to california department of forestry and fire protection

Hundreds of thousands of people evacuated their homes as a result of the California wildfires in November that claimed the lives of 86 citizens statewide and burned close to 200,000 acres as stated in a report by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). In total, there were three fires: the Camp Fire, the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire. The Camp Fire alone caused more damage than the 2017 Santa Rosa Tubbs Fire, making it the most destructive fire in California history. According to the California Insurance Commissioner’s Office, the damage caused by the three fires collectively cost up to $9 billion, resulting in 28,500 insurance claims filed for the more than 20,000 structures burned. Unlike previous fires that originated from human error, these fires did not come from a definite source.

Despite total containment of all three fires by the end of December, the impact of the devastation and destruction is still being felt.

Senior Ben Aviel was personally affected by these fires after his childhood campsite, Gindling Hilltop Camp, was among the thousands of properties lost to the flames of the Woosley Fire. Aviel has been a camper there for the past eight years and was a dedicated camp counselor. For him, the fire was a reminder of how these kinds of tragedies are never believable until they happen.

“It was scary watching and hearing the progress of the fire as it approached the camp because your immediate instinct is to believe everything is going be fine, but then you are simply shocked when you hear that fire just destroyed everything,” Aviel said.

“It is hard sometimes because as a counselor, a lot of the kids come to me upset about what happened and they need me to help them feel better, but I am still grieving the loss of the camp and even memories because of the fire.”

In response to the Nov. 14 Camp Fire, Cal Fire issued a warning that evacuated dozens of districts, including schools, neighborhoods and college campuses such as the University of California (UC)

Davis due to toxic air qualities and their close proximity to the fire. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) faced a similar situation because of the Woolsey Fire, which neared the beachside community. The impact could even be felt in Palos Verdes, where there were occasions of ashy plumes on campus. Peninsula alumnus Makena Sumi, who currently attends UCSB, is now anxious for the future as the fire danger in California continues to grow.

“I just think that it is kind of unnerving that nobody really knows how the fires started,” Sumi said. “It makes you think if things will change in the future or if fires will continue to get worse and worse.”

Peninsula alumnus Rosemary Wu is currently a sophomore at UC Davis and was also among those affected by the fires.

“I am just not sure that we are getting the support we need to tackle these wildfires,” Wu said. “Once a few big media outlets cover the story, the world moves on, but we cannot move on, not with fires causing thousand of people to leave their homes and the federal government putting this crisis as a low priority.”

The San Francisco Chronicle estimated that the 153,000-acre Camp Fire discharged about 3.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Compounded with the increase in dry weather and lack of rain in Southern California, the change in climate urged the government to initiate an alternative warning system to combat the hazard of wildfires.

Although not operable to assist victims in the duration of the Camp Fire, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 833, standardizing emergency alerts and grant funding to be dispersed to fire-affected counties. To increase preventative measures, the government has cooperated with the National Weather Service to allow for the use of satellites to predict the path of wildfires. The government hopes to prevent future fires with these new safety measures.

UP IN FLAMES 2

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The elected members are all really different and come from different parts of our district. I think they will all have their own unique perspectives on improving our [schools].

-JUNIOR JAIME CROSS

DJ Parker and Ailun Shi The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) held elections on Nov. 6. The PVPUSD school board has five elected positions that serve four-year terms. The terms are organized so that at least two or three seats are open to new members each election. According to the Daily Breeze, the board serves around 11,400 students across ten elementary schools, three intermediate schools, two high schools and a continuation school. The PVPUSD school board works to improve the school system and the processes within it, such as managing the school district’s budget, fostering a relationship with teachers and students and approving field trips and fundraisers.

There were four candidates running for the three available seats this election cycle, including Megan Crawford, incumbent Richard Phillips, Matthew Brach and Jeannie Hahn. Crawford, Phillips and Brach were elected to the three seats.

Crawford received 28.3 percent of the total votes, which was the most among the four candidates. As a sixth grade math teacher in her fourth year of teaching at Parras Middle School in the Redondo Beach Unified School District, Crawford was also the sole candidate with a background in education.

Prior to the election, Crawford campaigned on a platform promoting balancing the district budget, adding resources such as counselors to help students cope with mental health issues to schools and reducing the district’s carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste.

“I ran for the PVPUSD school board because I wanted to make a difference in the community where I grew up,” Crawford said. “As a current teacher and former student in [the PVPUSD], I believed that I had a unique perspective that would be needed on the board in order to make our

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PVPUSD SCHOOL BOARD ADDS NEW FACES FOLLOWING ELECTION

schools even better than when I attended.”

While Phillips was the only incumbent to run and to be elected to the PVPUSD school board, this will be his first full term.

Phillips was previously appointed as a new member of the board following Malcolm Sharp’s resignation in January 2017.

“I think people were comfortable with me having been on the board and demonstrating that I always act in the best interest of students,” Phillips said. “[Academic excellence, fiscal responsibility and student well-being] are the three paths that I will continue on over the four years.”

The third elected candidate, Brach, is a businessman and runs Brach Incorporated. However, in his free time, Brach volunteers to direct traffic and ensure that students get to school safely at Montemalaga Elementary School, which was part of his campaign platform. Brach plans to focus on ensuring campus safety and proper budget management. He also hopes to promote dialogue between board members and the community to establish transparency and enhance public trust.

“As a board member for the PVPUSD, I [will be advocating] for our district and our children when it comes to funding from the state and local level to make sure we have the resources we need,” Brach said. “[I also plan] to encourage a common path that provide our students with the best possible outcomes.”

Across the district, students and parents hope that the various backgrounds of the new school board members will bring fresh ideas regarding issues facing the schools.

“The elected members are all really different and come from different parts of our district,” junior Jaime Cross said. “I think they will all have their own unique perspectives on improving our [schools], and I think all those new ideas can change our district for the better.”

CALIFORNIA PIONEERS NEW DATA PRIVACY AND PROTECTION LAW Con

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The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), passed in the November 2018 midterm elections, grants consumers the right to request a business to disclose specific information collected about the consumer and the purpose of the information collected. The act will take effect starting January 2020.

The bill’s purpose is to extend privacy laws to allow consumers to make more informed decisions when certain companies and businesses collect their information. The act gives consumers ownership of their data, in contrast to the previous law, which stated that the data was the property of the company who collected it. At least once a year, businesses are obligated to disclose different types of information they have collected on users. Additionally, if a business decides to sell personal information, they have to list what categories of personal information are being sold and to whom.

Furthermore, if a consumer refuses to allow companies to sell personal data, under the CCPA, companies cannot discriminate against users by charging more or denying access to their services or changing the quality of the services. The bill even specifies that companies must clearly display a link at the bottom of their websites for users to opt out of having their information sold. The CCPA increased fines and penalties for violations in cybersecurity

standards in an attempt to hold businesses more accountable for breaches of user data.

“I agree that active users online have the right to know what data about them is gathered and used and companies should get consent before collecting it,” sophomore Jack Simmons said.

The CCPA also allows users to request their data to be deleted by businesses if they deem it necessary.

However, some are worried about whether consumers should have that much power, as it may affect people who have trusted certain businesses with their personal information.

“I do not think people should be able to ask businesses to delete that data after giving consent for it to be collected,” junior Aiden Hay said. “However, the act is a good idea in theory.”

After major social media platforms and online businesses such as Facebook and Twitter received criticism following their alleged role in foreign state sponsored influence on the 2016 presidential elections, the push towards further data privacy has grown into a worldwide movement with the European Union and other countries enacting laws similar to the CCPA. However, California is the first state in the U.S. to have such stringent data laws.

“After what happened with Facebook, I understand that people would be worried about their privacy as online consumers,” freshman Amanda Rucker said.

“Despite some obvious controversies regarding the act, it is definitely a step in the right direction.”

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Yaseen El-Magharbel and DJ Parker

After what happened with Facebook, I understand that people would be worried about their privacy as online consumers. it is definitely a step in the right direction.

-Freshman Amanda Rucker

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DESIGN EDITOR Connor Tumelty Alex Yoo NEWS EDITOR: Olin Osborne III WRITERS: Amira Belhedi Tiffany Cha Yaseen El-Magharbel Caitlyn Lee DJ Parker Ailun Shi OPINION EDITOR: Liana Korotzer WRITERS: Fiona Andersons Josh Kim Saffy Laurio Alexandra Perez Imogene Tomicic FOCUS EDITORS: Rianne Aguas Asumi Shuda WRITERS: Keila Bara Brianna Cho Kaitlyn Ho Minji Jeun Osame Osayande Fiona Yang STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Chris Guanzing Ana Willoughby WRITERS: Stella Caceres Jacci Engler Helen Huang Kristen Lu James O’Dea Christine Youn SPORTS EDITOR: Anne Lee WRITERS: Jacey Gibaldi Mitchell Lin Aidan Musgrave Tilly Safavian Aidan Sun Casey Syal GRAPHICS Josh Kim Rachel Liu BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Elana Ho Lina Kugaya 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 Elana Ho 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 © 2019

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Cover Design by Connor Tumelty

result, nine students faced expulsion and 15 faced suspension for a year and received a failing grade in the class. The rest of the students failed the class or failed the test. To avoid extreme punishments such as these, we must learn to approach education with integrity while still in high school.

Test grades seem important to us now, but the morals that we learn and stand by will last a lifetime. Not abiding by rules just because students can easily get away with breaking them and conforming to peer pressure are habits with broad implications and harsh punishments. With this in mind, as we enter into a week of final exams, we should take into consideration that the information we learn is more valuable than the grade that we receive.

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MANAGING EDITOR Alison Kim

As finals week approaches, students are studying intensely in order to maintain or raise their first semester grades. Many feel pressured to perform extremely well on their tests to do so, which can lead students to go to extreme lengths such as cheating to receive good grades.

In this often competitive environment, it can be difficult to maintain the mindset that cheating does more harm than good, especially when many students are able to successfully cheat without being punished.

During this time of heightened pressure, we must keep in mind the importance of our academic integrity by resisting peer pressure and understanding the impact of habits such as cheating.

Peninsula’s policy regarding plagiarism and cheating involves an infraction point process based on a cumulative point system. The consequences can range from receiving a zero on the assignment or test to getting a referral and parent notification. As a student accumulates more infraction points, the consequences become more severe and can result in punishments such as being dropped from a class and receiving a failing grade.

While some students intentionally cheat, others are unaware that their actions violate the cheating policy. Simple acts such as asking peers about the

form of a test before taking the exam is considered a violation of academic integrity.

However, it is widely viewed as acceptable among students. Although the infraction system has been in place since 2015, many students still do not understand—or choose to ignore—the rules. In order to combat the widespread cheating issue, we must make an effort to understand what constitutes an act of dishonesty.

However, with the continual usage of technology, it is improbable to fully monitor the information students receive regarding assignments and tests. When students receive such information, they are given an advantage over others, most likely resulting in a higher grade. If the class is based on a curve, this can be very detrimental to other students’ grades.

It is the students’ responsibility to resist sharing information concerning tests and assignments to classmates. This comes as a great challenge with close friends because it can feel as though there is a social obligation to “help” another student.

Developing cheating habits due to stress can not only hurt an individual in the present, but also in the future. In college, students who cheat can suffer more severe consequences that will affect them for the rest of their lives. According to Business Insider, in 2007, 34 students at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business were caught collaborating on a take-home exam. As a

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Nina Li Emily McGinn

editorial staff

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27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

STUDENTS MUST RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF CHEATING

ADMINISTRATION ASKS STUDENTS TO VACATE THEIR CARS Liana Korotzer, emily mcginn and alex perez Recently, some juniors and seniors have been going to the school parking lot during lunch to socialize in their cars. Several of these students have been caught vaping, which has led associate principal Michael Wanmer and security personnel to ask students to leave their cars regardless of whether or not they were using e-cigarettes. This has sparked controversy among students because many believe that students who are not vaping should be free to sit in their cars. While students should never vape on school campus, administration should take an approach targeting only students caught vaping rather than unnecessarily kicking students out of their cars to try to combat the issue.

While vaping is explicitly forbidden on school campus, as stated on a sign in the parking lot, students simply spending lunch time in their cars is not. If students are vaping or have a prohibited device, a school official has the right to ask them to leave their cars since they are breaking a school rule. However, students who are not vaping should not be told to vacate their vehicles since they are not doing anything wrong.

“I think [seniors] should be allowed to hang out in their cars because it is one of the only breaks they get besides Panther Time,” senior Cristina Acuna said. “[If they are abiding by school rules], they should be able to relax in their cars.”

Teachers and faculty members have the right to be concerned about students’ safety on campus, as illegal activities like vaping have occurred all over campus. Vaping is an

epidemic that continues to spread among teenagers. According to The Wall Street Journal, 20 percent of high school students have tried using an e-cigarette. When students bring this habit onto campus, it is reasonable that the administration is worried and should enforce consequences such as suspension or Saturday school. “[My] main concern is what activities could happen [if students are in their cars]

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THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

i think [the school] needs to understand the point where the line is drawn. there has to be a better course of action.

-senior charlize boushehri and the fact that there are big groups loitering where they could get hit by other cars,” Wanmer said. “We just want students to be safe. They can go somewhere else or they could come back [on campus], but the parking lot is not their locker.”

Last year, the administration attempted to combat the vaping issue on campus by shutting down bathrooms, but the effort was ineffective because students found other locations on campus to vape.

Since closing bathrooms on campus was unsuccessful, there is no reason to think that a similar effort such as kicking students

out of their cars in the parking lot would prevent vaping either. Instead of focusing on closing down hotspots for e-cigarette use, the administration should focus on enforcing more consequences for individuals caught vaping rather than trying to implement measures that take away students’ rights.

In addition, if students are asked to leave their cars when they are not doing anything wrong, it could lead to confrontations or issues between students, their parents and the administration. This could result in hostility between students and faculty members, which can create a negative school environment that inhibits learning. Rather than causing unnecessary tension between the student body and the administration, school officials should focus solely on punishing students who have been caught by continuing to suspend them and enforce a rehabilitation course. In this way, the administration is sending a clear message to students that vaping has a negative impact on their school lives while avoiding issues with the rest of the student body. It is unnecessary and unfair to ask students to leave their cars if there is no clear sign of vaping such as smoke or a visible device. The entire student body should not be punished for the actions of a small group of individuals who partake in illegal activities.

“Teachers and staff have responsibilities for their students to a certain extent,” senior Charlize Boushehri said. “While I commemorate their actions toward keeping our peers safe, I think [the school] needs to understand the point where the line is drawn. There has to be a better course of action.”

opinion

GIVING HEALTH A SHOT

Controversy arises over necessity of flu shots in schools

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Fiona Andersons On Nov. 29, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed the first death as a result of influenza this season. Last year, there were 278 reported deaths from the flu virus in Los Angeles County alone, the highest number ever recorded. Because the 2017-18 flu season had such a high number of deaths, it is vital that students understand the risks that come with not receiving the flu vaccine. In response to the prevalence of the highly fatal flu virus last year, particularly Influenza A (H3N2), states such as Connecticut and New Jersey have implemented mandates requiring children to receive the flu vaccine in order to attend preschools, day care centers and elementary schools. Although some feel that vaccines lack effectiveness, it is crucial that flu shots become mandatory for students attending public schools, as influenza can become a life-threatening virus that affects regularly healthy students.

The flu season begins in October and can continue until May, which is the main time students are in school. According

to school nurse Wendy Keller, hundreds of students can miss school for weeks at a time due to the flu each year, affecting students’ performance in class, work and athletics. Not only may being absent from school affect the students’ work, but it could also negatively impact the school, causing losses in funding and possibly lower scores on standardized tests. With so many of their students missing class due to an easily preventable virus, public schools should implement mandatory flu vaccinations to keep students in school and learning efficiently.

“It is hard to catch up or try to do work [after being sick from the flu] at home, and a physically healthy body leads to a mentally healthy body,” Keller said.

There are also many sick students who disregard their illness and go to school. Potentially missing work could have negative effects on students’ grades, incentivising them to attend school despite how they are feeling. Being in close proximity at school with students who may have the flu can lead to the rapid spreading of illness. Without proper rest, attending school itself can increase students’ risk of becoming more sick, and public schools should be taking every step possible in order to ensure that sickness will not spread in their facilities.

Despite the obvious dangers of the flu, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that only 37 percent of adults in the U.S. received the flu vaccination last year. By implementing flu shots as mandatory vaccines, schools will not only decrease the students’ risk of falling ill to influenza, but will also raise awareness and kickstart the vaccine’s acceptance within communities.

“It is unbelievable that there are so many dangers of influenza that go almost completely unnoticed by the general population,” senior Brianna Shepherd said.

“People need to understand the true risks that they are facing when they skip out on the flu shot, and our government-run public schools should be the first step in ensuring the education and protection of their citizens through enforcing flu shot use.”

According to CDC officials and researchers, many people choose not to get the flu shot due to myths that the vaccine is not effective or will increase their chances of contracting sickness. Others disregard the true dangers of the flu or are simply misinformed about how the vaccine works.

“I have personally never been sick with the flu, but I have never gotten the flu shot before,” sophomore Paulina Garmute said. “Yet I have seen friends and family members become sick despite getting vaccinated. I am also hesitant to start getting [it] because [its] effectiveness is determined by predictions about the [upcoming flu strains]. Therefore, [it] could be ineffective depending on how accurate [the predictions] were.”

However, this is one of many misconceptions about how the vaccine works. According to the CDC, in seasons when the vaccine was well-matched to the virus, the risk of becoming sick because of influenza decreased by 40 to 60 percent.

It is also nearly impossible to become sick because of the vaccine, as the virus particles are no longer able to actively cause disease. Although the flu shot does not always completely prevent the flu, it can significantly decrease its effects as compared to possible death without vaccination.

“With the public school system, parents and the population in general should have the security and reassurance that the place they send their children to every day will not compromise their health,” Shepherd said. “Preventing the endangerment of the future generations of our society should be of the utmost importance, and requiring the flu shot for public schools is a major and necessary step in doing so.”

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BEAUPRE LEADS SHOES FOR ATHLETES PROGRAM ON CAMPUS Shoes for Athletes (SFA) is a nonprofit organization that holds annual drives to collect and provide athletic shoes for students in need.

Junior Kelly Beaupre began serving as head of the Peninsula branch of SFA on July 24, after founders and Peninsula alumni Brent and Mackenzie Jordan appointed her to the position.

SFA, which was founded in 2013, donates collected shoes and cleaning supplies to Midnight Mission in Los Angeles and Kelso Elementary School in Inglewood. Brent and Mackenzie Jordan were inspired to create the organization when they realized many students would most likely throw out usable shoes at the end of their track season.

They began collecting athletic shoes and donated them to students in less affluent areas, giving them the opportunity to participate in sports with better equipment. Though they have already graduated from Peninsula, Brent and Mackenzie Jordan inspired individuals like Beaupre to continue their legacy.

Once Beaupre was selected as the head of this branch, she began preparing for her first drive, which took place from Nov. 5 to Nov. 16.

In order to spread the word about the drive, she spoke about it with individual students, put announcements in the school’s daily bulletin and placed flyers in teachers’ mailboxes. Through the SFA drive, students had the opportunity to donate lightly used and new shoes to less fortunate athletes.

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Brianna Cho and Minji Jeun

I [wanted to be] a part of something big to help others in need.

-JUNIOR KELLY BEAUPRE

Junior Olivia Gray was one of many students who donated their shoes to SFA through the drive.

Beaupre personally spoke with her about donating shoes. “[The donation process] was easy and I felt better knowing that my shoes were going to help people,” Gray said. “Without the kindness of the people who started the drive, many shoes would

go to waste instead of being put to good use by people who would really appreciate them. If I outgrow any more shoes, I will gladly donate again.”

Beaupre hopes to manage the program as efficiently as Brent and Mackenzie Jordan did. She will continue to lead SFA at Peninsula until the end of the year and hopes to lead SFA on campus next year as well.

“Brett and Mackenzie had a desire to help those less fortunate and promote an active lifestyle,” their mother Madeline Jordan said. “It is a very rewarding experience to get involved and help those in need. I am happy to continue SFA as long as there are students motivated to encourage a healthy lifestyle.”

Beaupre also hopes for a successful future for SFA and considers the drive she held to have been a success. Now that she has planned the first of many shoe drives at Peninsula, she hopes students will continue to aid athletes in need.

“I [wanted to be] a part of something big to help others in need,” Beaupre said. “Peninsula is a good place to start because of the [supportive] student body.”

Rachel Liu / The Pen

FRANDSEN AIDES IN SURF THERAPY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Kaitlyn ho and osame osayande Junior Ada Frandsen has been working with an organization called A Walk On Water (AWOW) to provide therapy through surf for people with disabilities. AWOW, an association formed in 2012, aims to allow people with disabilities to experience the therapeutic effects of the ocean while also gaining confidence and social skills with the help of trained surf therapists. The program has helped thousands of children and adults with disabilities across the U.S. through surfing events centered in Southern California from March to November.

“My favorite part of working with the organization is getting to know all of the different people,” Frandsen said. “I think organizations like these are important because of how much they help disabled people.”

Frandsen’s family became interested in AWOW after her father discovered the organization through a friend. Now, they are directly involved in the program, helping to regulate the surf therapy sessions both on the beach and in the water.

Frandsen’s father and older sister are surfing instructors and help the participants catch incoming

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waves. Frandsen and her younger brother help ensure that participants are safe in the water and on the beach. Her mother and younger sister volunteer at the art station, where AWOW members take part in drawing and painting sessions. Along with these responsibilities, Frandsen’s family and the other AWOW volunteers help the attendees better assimilate into society. “[AWOW] gives a lot of [its participants] a clear mind and lets them develop better social skills overall,” Frandsen said. “For me, being part of the organization is important because it allows me to have a different perspective on life and makes me feel more grateful [for what I have].”

Sophomore Julia Gazdik is also a member of AWOW who helps guide participants into the water. To ensure that they feel comfortable going into the ocean, she helps the athletes jump over small waves and engages with them through activities in the sand. “[Working with the kids] has helped me see how fortunate I am in my life,” Gazdik said.

“Once I was able to talk to them, I was able to get to know them and see how happy and loving

they are.”

Executive director of AWOW Sean Swentek emphasizes that the program helps people with disabilities become more involved in society. He also advocates for equal treatment of people with disabilities.

“Volunteering for AWOW has become a really big part of my life,” Frandsen said. “It gives me a chance to get away from everyday [life] and spend some time doing what I love and helping others.”

Frandsen and other AWOW volunteers also benefit from partaking in the surf therapy events. Although managing the program and its participants can be challenging for those involved, it helps the volunteers take their mind off the hardships going on in their own lives. In the time spent at AWOW, both the participant and the volunteer benefit from the experience. “[Volunteers from this program] get to see that not every child is the same, yet we all have the same desires to enjoy life,” Swentek said. “In the end, [volunteers] are able to learn how to treat others, especially those who are different from us.”

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our community

MURPHY TWINS CREATE MOSAIC FOR THE LOCAL LIBRARY KEILA BARA AND FIONA YANG For the past two years, sophomores Madison and Makenna Murphy have been carefully creating a 4-by-6 foot mosaic to be showcased in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library. Although the mosaic began as a required project for them to complete for their Girl Scout Silver Award, the twins feel that they have created a project with meaning and purpose that aims to promote a sense of community at the library.

The twins wanted to make the piece more personal and connected to their own experiences so that the project can be more impactful not only for them, but also for other viewers.

“We wanted our mosaic to inspire anyone who sees it, [especially because] our mosaic [represents] kindness, integrity and compassion,” Makenna Murphy said.

The mosaic, titled Community Strong, depicts an apple tree with each apple enveloping a word that relates to the idea of community. The art piece was created by connecting colorful tiles together on a surface to form a large image. Materials such as mortar and tiles were required to make the mosaic, and they also used clay to construct the apples in the design.

Additionally, techniques such as silk-screen printing, during which a mesh cloth is laid over a design and written on with a stencil, were needed to write words

on the apples. The mosaic was finished in November and will be placed on the wall by the library’s entryway staircase in hopes of leaving a profound impression on the people who view it.

“The library is a place where everyone comes together as a community [and it represents] education and art,” Madison Murphy said. “It is the [perfect] place to inspire others [through our mosaic].”

The twins were able to draw inspiration from their aunt Mina Barnes, who owns a mosaic art gallery.

Barnes supplied the twins with both resources and knowledge during the creation of their mosaic.

Madison and Makenna Murphy have met with the Peninsula Center library director on several occasions, set up multiple meetings and spent over 200 hours on the entire project. They dedicated every Sunday to finishing the mosaic and had to drive to the Visionary Artware Gallery and Studio, their aunt’s mosaic studio located in Long Beach, to work on it. Their mother Tahereh Murphy has been supportive of her daughters’ endeavor and recognizes the hard work they have put into this piece.

“Out of their entire Girl Scout troop members, they were the only two that decided to make the [mosaic],” Tahereh Murphy said. “They looked at this as an opportunity to do something different, something that would have a lasting impact on the people around them. I think that is why they wanted

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Throughout the project, the twins faced several challenges, especially as they approached the final stages of the project. In addition to the mosaic being time consuming to complete, they also needed to be cautious while handling the last few steps, as they had to clean each individual tile to remove any residue or glue. Otherwise, they would have had to spend more time repainting the mortar.

Despite these difficulties, the twins are grateful for the experience. “[We had] fun while making it, so I would choose to do this again for my Silver Award if I could,” Makenna Murphy said.

By creating the mosaic, Madison and Makenna Murphy feel that they have received experience in the field of art as well as a sense of involvement within the Palos Verdes community. Through the creation of the mosaic, they communicated their message of kindness to people at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library.

“We do not only want to make people feel more inspired [by our mosaic],” Makenna Murphy said. “We also want to promote participation in the community and encourage [the expression of] art.”

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ERICA WAN DOCUMENTS HEALTHY AND BALANCED MEALS Sophomore Erica Wan created an Instagram account in eighth grade to express her passion for and spread awareness about balanced eating. Instagram food accounts such as @ rachaelsgoodeats, @shutthekaleup and @ rachlmansfield motivated her to become healthier by changing her diet and exercising.

The accounts influenced her to start following healthy recipes online and she eventually began experimenting with different ingredients to create nutritional recipes of her own. As Wan accumulated original recipes, she began to post them on Instagram in order to show others that they could lead a balanced lifestyle too.

As people started to take interest in her recipes, she received questions about the tastes of different dishes, how she prepared them and how she made time in her schedule to cook.

Most of her recipes include peanut or almond butter, fruit and oats because they were her favorite ingredients to practice with when she began cooking.

Wan’s account, @peanutbutter_wantonn, has gained more than 1,000 followers over the last two years, and in November she was featured on @humansofpeninsula, an Instagram account that showcases the diverse talents of Peninsula students.

“My foods are healthy, but they also taste delicious,” Wan said. “A lot of people think if it is healthy, then it must taste bland. I make sure my meals have a balance of good flavor and

nutrition because that is what makes me feel best.”

Wan is grateful that her friends and family have supported the work she has done as she continues promoting a balanced lifestyle.

Sophomore Kate Martino, a friend of Wan, feels that Wan’s posts positively affect others by encouraging and teaching them to delve outside of their comfort zones.

“The time and passion [Erica] puts into her account shows her commitment,” Martino said.

“Her posts motivate me to better my eating habits and pursue my passions.”

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be using to cook the next day. Her experience from the account has also taught her to share her opinions and give people an opportunity to voice their own thoughts about healthy dieting.

She has gained inspiration from people’s ideas and suggestions and believes it is an important aspect of her growing platform.

“I learned to accept everyone,” Wan said.

“People will have different lifestyles and it is important to let people share their opinions and to learn [from] them.”

Sophomore Nicole Siembieda, another one of Wan’s friends, is proud of the account and how Wan is using it to impact others.

Siembieda believes that Wan’s platform is extremely powerful because she uses it to reach not only students on campus, but also others who lead similar lifestyles.

“It is truly inspiring [that] Erica finds time throughout her day to make healthy meals,” Siembieda said. “It is amazing that she [takes] the time to share it with others.”

Wan appreciates that her account has been able to inform people about healthy lifestyles and inspire them to make changes to their diets. She hopes to continue expanding her platform and bringing attention to the importance of healthy eating habits by starting a food blog and a YouTube channel in the future. Wan also plans to further pursue her passion by becoming a dietitian.

“I want to help everyone have a balanced lifestyle and [do] what is best for them,” Wan said. “I hope my account shows that anyone who has the passion to change their eating habits is capable of doing it.”

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Stella Caceres

I HOPE MY ACCOUNT SHOWS THAT ANYONE WHO HAS THE PASSION TO CHANGE THEIR EATING HABITS IS CAPABLE OF DOING it.”

-SOPHOMORE ERICA WAN

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Wan’s social media presence has allowed her to improve her time management and organizational skills. Through her account, she learned how to plan meals and manage a posting schedule. Wan balances participating in daily activities with making food and taking pictures for her account by planning ahead. She creates meal ideas over the weekend and buys any ingredients she will need for the coming week.

Each night she prepares the ingredients she will

Photos courtesy of Erica wan

christine youn In January, a season of “It’s Time to Talk with Tony Thompson,” a show produced by sophomore Aidan Callanan, will be published on the Higher Dimension Studios website. In June 2015, he created Higher Dimension Studios, a group of students who collaborate to create films and shows, to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Callanan not only produces and directs shows, but he also manages the camera and lighting for films and shows as a cinematographer.

Callanan has always been intrigued by filmography. In fifth grade, he created a short commercial with his elementary school friends and entered it into the Doritos Superbowl Halftime Commercial Contest. Although they did not win any awards in the contest, this became Callanan’s first step toward his dream of having a career in filmography.

“Our [first] set was pure chaos,” Callanan said.

“We taped a green screen to a fence and it was flopping all over the place, but [this experience] sparked my love for filmmaking. The video is fun to laugh at, [even] to this day.”

Callanan regularly creates commercials, infomercials, shows and short films with his studio staff members including freshman Tyler Schmitz, sophomore Ashley Ward, sophomore Brian Hulbert, sophomore Saquib Rawda, junior Cyrus Khaleeli, senior Cameron Plaszewski, senior Kyle Brundige and senior Tony Thompson. They all worked together to produce “It’s Time to Talk with Tony Thompson.”

“It’s Time to Talk with Tony Thompson”

is a comedic talk show hosted by senior Tony Thompson. This show includes creative segments such as “Hot or Not-Animals Edition,” “Ranting about Random Objects,” “Predicting the News” and “Conspiracy Theories” that strive to make the audience laugh. Senior Cameron Plaszewski, the assistant director of this production, believes that the show will be a success due to Callanan’s outstanding skill.

“The idea of taking a high school student such as Tony Thompson and combining it with the style of a late night talk show, such as Jimmy Kimmel [or] Conan O’Brien, was both genius and hilarious,” Plaszewski said. “With the directing experience of Aidan and the charisma of Tony, I am absolutely sure that this show is going to become a great hit.”

Among Callanan’s past productions within his studio are a commercial for Freedom4U, a nonprofit public benefit corporation that helps at-risk teens, and short films including “What the Bird Told Me,” which tells the story of a man who discovers the beauty of life as he considers suicide. As Sam Mizrahi-Powell, former student and creator of “What the Bird Told Me,” worked with Callanan to produce this show, he witnessed Callanan’s genuine appreciation for the art of film. He greatly respects Callanan for how carefully he works to make the production fit the intent of the writer.

“I am out of high school and working full time as a filmmaker, but even [now], I still go to Aidan for help with my projects,” Mizrahi-Powell said.

“Although he is only a sophomore, he never considers an idea too ambitious and is always

willing to do what it takes to get the work done.

Aidan teams up with you because he loves the craft. It is not about awards, it is not about money, [but] about creative fulfillment.”

Callanan believes that his studio will continue to thrive as time advances. He plans to study film or broadcasting in college and hopes to pursue a career at National Broadcasting Company Universal.

“I eagerly await the [future] to see what comes,” Callanan said. “I will definitely continue working on my own films and building up the reputation and portfolio of Higher Dimension Studios.”

student life

CALLANAN PRODUCES AND DIRECTS TALK SHOW

Rachel liu / the pen

IT’S TIME TO TALK WITH TONY THOMPSON

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aidan sun

Jacey Gibaldi and casey syal

The varsity girls’ water polo team feels that it has high standards to meet after the team won the Division IV CIF championships two years ago. This year will be the girls’ second year competing in Division III after moving up one division before last year’s season.

The season began with two losses against Long Beach Poly High School on Nov. 15 with a score of 12-2 and against Downey High School on Nov. 27 with a score of 9-5. Sophomore Charlotte Edler feels that these losses resulted because the girls are still in the midst of finding their harmony and learning how to play as a team. “[Our] main goal this year is to try to build the team,” Charlotte Edler said.

“The team is very similar [to last year’s team] but [also] very new, especially [since there is] a new coach. We are still figuring out how [to] work as one.”

The team’s new coach, Bryan Weaver, previously coached only the varsity boys’ water polo team. However, after the previous girls’ water polo coach left, he became the coach for both teams.

Senior and captain Rachel Rhodes believes that this year’s season is more of a transitional season rather than a competitive one as the team is focusing on preparing the younger team members for future years when competing in Division III will be more viable.

“This season, [we are] finding out the individual skills of each player while also trying to see where they fit best in the pool,” Rhodes said. “This year is more about having a good time. [We are] not as strong as other teams in Bay League, but we enjoy the sport and value the competition.”

The team placed sixth in the Benson Cup tournament on Dec. 1 and teammates, including senior and captain Gracie Edler, are feeling more optimistic about this season.

“Due to a lot of new girls, we are creating a new team energy and finding the best ways to work together,” Gracie Edler said. “With experienced freshmen and in sync upperclassmen, we have the potential to play really well.”

The new season brings many changes to the dynamic of varsity wrestling. Phil Trujillo filled the spot of Mike Liebig, who retired this past season.

According to senior and varsity captain Daniel Ahn, the team’s goals this year center around training the next generation of Peninsula wrestlers. With only four members on the varsity team, the upperclassmen have the responsibility of training the younger wrestlers to take over the program when they graduate.

The number of inexperienced wrestlers creates a challenge for Ahn and his teammates, but they are willing to put in the work to ensure the future of the wrestling program.

The team previously only had one girl, but they have welcomed five new girls to the team this year. Sophomore Jessica Ho explains that as the only female on the team last year, she had been treated differently in the beginning. However, as the season went on, she feels that she slowly bonded and became close with her male teammates. Ho believes that with more girls on the team, the culture has changed surrounding female wrestlers at Peninsula.

“At first, it was tough being the only girl because there were a ton of misconceptions about a girl wrestler,” Ho said. “The environment was a little uncomfortable, but I soon began to blend in.”

Even though the team welcomed many new wrestlers this season, their training will remain the same as previous years.

“We are just going to do the same as always,” Ahn said. “Just go out there, work our butts off and most importantly, have fun.”

Trujillo’s goals for the season revolve around building the team’s strength both mentally and physically. He has only been in the head coaching position for a few weeks, but he is already confident about the team’s success this season.

“To reach [our goals], I need every kid to show up every day ready to work and give their very best,” Trujillo said. “The team is getting better every day and I am really happy to see the results. These kids are going to be successful.” yoo alex

TILLY SAFAVIAN

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

/ t he

p en

tilly safavian and aidan sun This year, Peninsula’s varsity surf team has taken in an influx of The varsity boys’ soccer team surfers. Physical Education teacher began the season with the South and swim and surf coach Brian Bay/Westside Tournament on Nov. Helmrich has welcomed all interested 27. The team is preparing for a highly students onto the surf team, resulting in competitive season as they plan to the team totaling about 30 surfers. defend their title of Bay League champions.

“The new amount of people will allow for more support “We are starting off a bit slow, but we have a lot for the team and a variety of surfers with different skills,” of talent on the team and I am sure that we can succeed sophomore Aidan Flynn said. this year,” senior and captain Rohan Brar said.

Flynn explains that the wide range of techniques being According to Brar, the soccer team has lost used will increase the team’s chance of success. The team has several key members. However, many new players who already won two competitions and hopes that the momentum bring new skills, like sophomore Nick Constantino, have will carry to the rest of the season. joined varsity this season.

“Although we only have a varsity team, “Everyone is close and it is a fun we are excited about being competitive in environment whenever we are all together our league and hope to beat South High this and playing soccer,” Constantino said. “I season,” Helmrich said. feel our team just needs to improve on our jacey gibaldi and mitchell lin To work toward this goal, the team chemistry and communication.”

The boys’ chemistry and attends a 6:15 a.m. practice at Torrance Like the varsity boys’ team, varsity girls’ basketball its prospects Beach. This timing allows them to catch the soccer has also received an influx of new team is for this best possible waves while still being able to players. Out of the 21 girls on the team, five currently 3-0 season. return to school to attend their classes. For are freshmen, nine are sophomores, four in Bay League He believes that many on the team, what sets this year are juniors and three are seniors. and won in its most recent experience has turned apart is the enormity of the waves.

Junior and captain Kelly Beaupre game against Compton High them into better players “I am excited for the bigger waves this feels that the relationships between School on Jan. 8 with a score of and into a more solid group. winter and for the fact that we have the players are key. She believes 75-41.

The girls’ basketball team is “I really like what we have,” Kim said. had a few really good surfers that the more the girls are able 2-1 in Bay League and has also defeated “A lot of us have been playing with and join,” sophomore Henry Houle to tell what one another are Compton High School with a score of against each other since we were little, so [it said. thinking, the better they are 68-32 on Jan. 8.

Both boys’ varsity coach is] pretty cool that [we are] all together now.”

In the past month, the likely to perform.

Ryan Quinlan and girls’ varsity coach Natalie The girls believe that communication will waves have reached 10 Following weeks Kelly expressed strong desires to build on their remain crucial to their success this season. Kelly is to 11 feet due to the of pre-season training, respective teams’ current strengths throughout excited about the team’s potential for this year and continuous rain. the girls’ team has the year. beyond.

“The best time to arrived at one win, surf for us is when Quinlan credits the team’s closeness as a factor for “Half the team is underclassmen and the other half is four losses and the waves are his optimism about the team this year. The players are seniors,” Kelly said. “This team has a lot of potential and two ties. They barreling,” Flynn friends both on and off the court, and he believes that this we just [have not] put it together yet, but I know [we will] are eager to said. “It is fun motivates them to play as a unit throughout the season. continually get there. Given more practice and game experience, I believe to try to see “Every year you lose some guys, but we pride ourselves on that they will be ready to compete very soon.” improve how long having a lot of the younger guys playing well,” Quinlan said. “We their The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will play their next games we will also have a lot of confidence in the guys who are returning.” skills. against Redondo Union High School on Jan. 11 and Palos Verdes High last.”

Senior Justin Kim echoed similar sentiments regarding the team’s School on Jan. 15.

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sports

EWAN MACFARLANE PLACES IN CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Casey syal Sophomore Ewan Macfarlane advanced to the CIF State Championship Finals this year for the boys’ cross country team after placing no lower than fifth in the first three qualifiers. After clocking a 15:01.2 time in the Southern Section Division Finals for a fifth place finish, he progressed to CIF State Championship Finals at Woodrow Park in Fresno on Nov. 24. Facing off against 204 other runners, he placed 30th against the top runners in California.

“Qualifying for state made me realize that I could compete with the best runners,” Macfarlane said. “Now, [as I go] into track and CIF next year, I will have more confidence.”

This is Macfarlane’s second year on the varsity team, but he began running competitively in sixth grade, attracted to cross country due to its correlation between hard work and success.

“It is a brutally honest [sport],” Macfarlane said. “If you are not willing to put in the effort, you will not succeed.

But even if you are the worst runner, [putting in effort] will lead to some kind of success.”

According to Macfarlane, the road to the state championships required consistent top performance at every

stage. Since the varsity team did not qualify for CIF as a group, Macfarlane relied on his top-five individual position in the Bay League to secure his spot in postseason competition.

After finishing in second place in the Southern Section Preliminaries on Nov. 9 in Riverside, he advanced to the Southern Section Finals.

His fifth place finish there qualified him individually for CIF State Championship Finals, making him one of five runners from Southern California to advance to the state competition. Macfarlane believes that his experience led to his success.

“The amount of training I did this year improved my times and made me a stronger runner,” Macfarlane said. “[Because this was] my second season as a varsity runner, I knew the courses and the competitors.”

Macfarlane admits that he never thought he would get as far as the CIF State Championship Finals. He hopes to continue running in college and beyond, as he believes that running is a sport he can participate in for the rest of his life. However, his goals do not revolve solely around his individual performance. Macfarlane also hopes that the whole varsity team will be able to run with him

next year in the CIF postseason, as some of the highlights of the season for him are team victories. “[One] memorable moment [from] this season was winning the Mt. San Antonio College [Cross Country Invitational] as a team,” Macfarlane said. “It is such a nice feeling to have worked all season to achieve something.”

According to junior and captain Diana Kalantar, the team has benefited from Macfarlane’s strong performance. “[His] performance inspired the team and showed others how our cross country team [will] continue to grow stronger,” Kalantar said.

Cross country coach Chris Foster sees a work ethic in Macfarlane that he believes leads to his success.

“More than anything, I think he is willing to push himself harder than other people,” Foster said. “I think [this year] he has gotten a lot of much needed confidence that he can run with the best in the state.”

Foster believes that accumulating more experience is the key to more success for Macfarlane. He feels that this year’s CIF performance will only help Macfarlane improve.

ewan macfarlane

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