Issue 6 by The Pen Newspaper

the pen

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXVII

Issue 6

March 17, 2017

Belle of the Ball

Junior works as fairy tale maiden Belle in her free time STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

FAREWELL

TRUMP VS. TRANS

The Panther family says goodbye to two Peninsula administrators

Trump takes away federal protection of transgender students to choose bathrooms

NEWS PAGE 3

OPINION PAGE 5

WATER POLO WIN Girls Water Polo Team takes home CIF Championship for the first time

SPORTS PAGE 11

News

The reign of rain

Photo Courtesy OF Sophia Wang

California’s severe storms helps state’s ongoing drought

“We cannot rely on the fortunate events of severe rain to be able to replenish our water system ” - Biology teacher chris mullen

August

100 percent of the state was in a major drought as of Aug. 28, 2016 *

California

65 F

January

Los Angeles received 7.67 inches of rainfall, 2.51 inches above average **

Los Angeles

52 F

*According to USA today

84 F

**According to the weather channel

The three-year drought in California was partially uplifted by weeks of severe rainstorms and snowstorms. Most of California was hit the hardest on Feb. 17 by rain and powerful winds that reached up to 49 mph in the Torrance. According to United Press International, the rain brought disastrous aftermaths, including the deaths of five people due to drowning, electrocution from a collapsed power line and a traffic accident from the flooding of Interstate 15. According to Ryan Mau, meteorologist for WeatherBell Analytics, during the week of Feb. 15 to Feb. 22, 10 trillion gallons of rain were dispersed among every inch of Californian terrain, averaging 3.3 inches of rain. Biology teacher Chris Mullen thinks that other measures must also be taken in order to sustain California’s water supply. “We cannot simply rely on the fortunate events of severe rain to be able to replenish our water system,” Mullen said. “We need to figure out a more sustainable organization method and it is going to include conservation, how we deal with runoff [water], how to hold onto and gather water—whether it is large industries, agriculture, or cities—and see what [the state] needs.” One of the biggest impacts from the series of rainstorms was the Oroville Dam crisis in Oroville, California. The Oroville Dam is the nation’s tallest dam and is connected to Lake Oroville, California’s second largest reservoir. The reservoir, which was dry for over two years, was quickly restored by the pouring rain. On Feb. 7, the main spillway suffered severe erosion. The California Department of Water Resources identified a hole and immediately stopped the flow of the water. Four days later, for the first time in its history, the emergency spillway was utilized

so the water would not overflow the dam. Through this process, approximately 200,000 people living near the Oroville area were forced to evacuate their homes from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14. In addition, approximately 50,000 Los Angeles county residents suffered power outages throughout the week, with some lasting for hours. According to Mercury News, residents in Rolling Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes suffered power outages as well. On Peninsula’s campus, the aftermath of the rainstorm affected many of the athletes who were unable to use their practice grounds to its full extent. On Peninsula’s tennis courts, player’s practice time was limited because the damage left the courts in a unusable condition. “When the courts are wet, the lines get wet, which makes it dangerous for us to play on the court,” varsity tennis player and sophomore Serena Ko said. Track and field members, especially pole vault members, continually stress the importance of . practicing in a safe environment. Wet conditions are never ideal for pole vaulters or other runners to practice in because of the many dangerous hazards. “The rain made the ground very slippery and muddy so it was a bit difficult to run as fast as we normally do without risking injury,” pole vaulter and sophomore Sara Fang said. “[Because of the rain] we did not vault that day.” Mullen believes water rationing is still a major issue that the state faces. He believes that it will be years until water usage does not become a continuous problem. “I do not think we will ever be at a level of comfort,” Mullen said. “Water is still a premium, so we can never be comfortable unless we address some of the major issues of water usage, how we use water, where that water is coming from and how we are conserving it and replenishing it.”

February

53 percent of California is no longer in a drought ***

California Ciro fidaleo / The Pen

***According to the mercury news

Alison Kim

$1 million grant given to immigration advocacy groups

Connor tumelty / The Pen

RIANNE AGUAS On Feb. 24, Los Angeles (LA) Councilman Curren Price announced that over $1 million in grants will be split between three immigrant advocacy groups. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) will each receive $500,000, while the Black Alliance for Just Immigration will receive $25,000. Each group aims to help immigrants facing legal matters and deportation and plans to use the proceeds to support these issues. According to the Daily News, Price will be taking the money from his South LA school district’s funds, which are usually used to fix simple needs such as trimming trees or purchasing new trash cans. The groups will use the grant to help with their immigration legal services, naturalization study classes and to pay for legalization application fees, which can reach as much as $700. The grant also aims to satisfy those who are not in favor of immigrants who enter the United States through illegal ways. Many argue that a system needs to be established to ensure that immigrants who illegitimately come to this country are not provided with the same benefits that legal citizens are, and problems similar to these are trying to be reduced by the organizations. Some also believe that those who break the immigration laws encourage future immigrants to enter the country illegally; however, with the grant aiding in the payment of application fees, these problems may be solved. Freshman Judy Dominguez immigrated from Puerto

Rico in 2013. Dominguez is thankful for CARECEN since the group will be helping immigrants coming from around her home country. When she came to America, she had to learn a new language and culture, which was not an easy transition for her. She thinks that the funds will make the immigrants feel more welcome and let them know there are people who support them. “If I were in those immigrant’s situation, I would feel super grateful that [Price’s funds] are supporting me since there were not as many people who supported immigrants when I came,” Dominguez said. Sophomore Nikita de Vleeschouwer, who recently came from Belgium, thinks that this grant will improve issues regarding illegal immigrants, such as immigrants coming out from hiding or not being questioned at the airport. She believes the constant threat of deportation will make the immigrants afraid to live life in public. “People’s lives are more important than materials,” de Vleeschouwer said. “The grant should help the immigrants [who are scared to come out], and hopefully make them start working again and overall live more productive lives.” Geometry and pre-calculus teacher Henry Chou came to America from Taiwan in 1998. Chou thinks that immigrants now are lucky to be getting support like this and he thinks that people should be inspired by Price’s actions of fighting for immigrants’ rights. “It is important to stick up for other people because deportation and even traveling has become a really big issue,” Chou said. “Since America has so many different cultures, we need to keep our immigrants here to save the [eclectic] culture.”

Panthers say farewell to two administrators ANA WILLOUGHBY On March 1, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) announced leadership transitions that will be occurring at the end of the 2016-17 school year. Among the list of retirees is Peninsula’s current principal, Mitzi Cress. Cress described the rewards of being principal and how it has impacted her outlook of not only the school, but of students in it as well. “Every single day that I have been given the privilege to come to this school to humbly serve as the principal [is my favorite memory],” Cress said. “[I am able to] watch the things you do, talk to a new student, help somebody or learn something. Every day has been a great day, so all the moments are all equal right up to June 30, 2017. It is going to be as grand of a day as the first day that I became principal.” Cress described how she always comes to school excited for a new challenge to face. She continued to say that the students have taught her so much during the time she has been principal. Cress also understands that the students’ opinions should be considered when making changes to Peninsula’s campus. In addition, Associate Principal Micah Farrell will return to Rancho del Mar High School this time as

principal. Farrell shared what he will miss most about his job at Peninsula throughout the past four years he has worked here. “I enjoyed daily interactions with students the most,” Farrell said. “[I was able to] see students achieve unbelievable feats and accomplishments athletically, academically, personally and socially.” Farrell will be transitioning from working with a large student body to a smaller group. When he transfers to Rancho Del Mar, he wants to help students with their academic load and hopes that all students attending will be proud to go there. Former Ridgecrest Intermediate School principal and current principal of Miraleste Intermediate School Brent Kuykendall will be taking over Cress’s position starting in the 201718 school year. He looks forward to his transition from the principal of a middle school to high school in PVPUSD. “I have some [experience] at the high school level and I think it is important to say I am looking forward to reconnecting with the students I have known from past jobs,” Kuykendall said. “There are also a number of staff [members] at Peninsula whom I have worked with or known over the years whom I am looking forward to be working closely with to continue to support a school that is already amazing.”

“Every single day that I have been given the privilege to come to this school to humbly serve as the principal [is my favorite memory].” - Principal mitzi cress

Anna Chang / The Pen

Principal Mitzi Cress gives A speech to students during the 2017 Walk for Life ceremony

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 Connor Tumelty 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 © 2017 Cover Design by Connor Tumelty Temishi Onnekikami

temishi onnekikami / The Pen

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

4 EDITORIAL Subjective standards Editorial staff From mid-March to early April, colleges around the country release admissions decisions, ending the yearlong wait for Peninsula seniors. Some open their decisions to see a “Congratulations!” while others face a dishearteningly different message. As the college a student chooses can dictate the next four years of his or her life, this time period is an anxious time for many. Yet, since the choice of college appears so significant to many students, curiosity tends to get the best of people: the day after a popular university sends out admission offers, classes buzz with conversations concerning who got in and who did not. Of course, the post-

acceptance excitement is justified. After countless hours spent studying to maintain a proficient GPA and years of extracurricular and leadership activities, seniors find validation in being accepted to the schools of their dreams — and even in being accepted to their backup schools. Nonetheless, while sharing admission decisions — both positive and negative — among friends is a source of support and encouragement, seniors must remember to be conscientious when sharing or asking other seniors for this information. The topic is sensitive for many, especially those who get rejected or wait-listed by their top choices. Some will be accepted to these schools and have the luxury to

turn them down. Though they might not be the top choice of these lucky few, it is important to be sensitive when publicly talking about these schools, especially in an unappreciative or condescending way. Even if privately these colleges may not fulfill a personal quota or meet a set of standards, this is not the case for many other people. Thus, tactless offhand comments about colleges have the potential to sting and to unknowingly hurt other people’s feelings. And it is not just for colleges

that this tenet holds true; this can be applied to classes, internships, competitions and so on. What one person may regard as anticlimactic or not a big deal may be the culmination of hard work for another. It is important for us to be aware of the differences in standards and expectations each person holds, and realize that not one set of standards is necessarily “better.” While we have every right to celebrate a college acceptance, we should always remain conscious of how those around us may feel.

teacher recordings spark controversy Anne Lee

The smartphone has become a staple in the daily lives of students, and many often look for ways to take advantage of this privilege. This has led to the issue of teachers being recorded by their students rising to national attention. Videotaped class lectures have become a common resource for students when studying, and students have taken to uploading recordings on social media apps such as Snapchat for peers to see. The act has become commonplace and often goes unnoticed, so students often forget to consider their teachers’ privacy. However, with the exception of students with disabilities, federal law prohibits any person — including a student — to use an electronic device to record classroom activities without their teacher’s consent, and any violators are to be properly disciplined. Although there is merit in allowing students to record their teachers for educational purposes, privacy laws should be more strictly enforced, because videotaping teachers can affect their teaching methods and cause students to develop inefficient studying skills. Although it may be useful to record a lecture during class as a study tool, students can

also be negatively impacted by this convenience. Allowing students to record lectures cause them to become more easily distracted during class, as they could rely on their recording to learn the material later. In some cases, students who record lectures will only play back select parts, missing the full context of the lesson and losing out on the classroom experience. On top of that, there are many other ways to learn the material efficiently without relying on recordings — ones which do not jeopardize the privacy of teachers. For example, simply taking notes and paying attention to lectures during class time can help students better soak in the material and build muscle memory, which helps during exams. “I think [recording teachers] opens a door that should not be opened,” biology and chemistry teacher Robert Snodgrass said. “Students these days should be taking notes by hand and if they were to record, they would zone out.” Some argue that absent students could use recordings of lectures to make up material that they missed. However, other methods of getting that same information without potentially invading the privacy of teachers should be explored

first. “Absent students can learn from a recorded lesson, but first, there are numerous ways to get the information from friends, notes and online sources, and those students experience a small temporary harm from missing one day of school versus the teacher that now lives in constant apprehension of being recorded,” junior Atul Jalan said. However, the issue varies for different subjects, such as foreign languages. French and Spanish teacher Jazz Thompson believes that while potentially unnecessary for other courses, recordings can be very useful, especially in pronunciation, to have a recording to listen to when learning a language, as pronunciation takes repetition to fully learn. “I have no problem with students recording teachers, but I think the teacher has to be notified first,” Thompson said. “In a foreign language class, I let students [record] for lectures and maybe for pronunciation purposes, [but] it depends on the subject matter.” Not only could recordings interfere with studying habits, but they would force teachers to be constantly monitor what they say. If a teacher makes an off-the-cuff comment that unintentionally offends

a student, having a recording of the incident could lead to the situation being blown out of proportion by parents, administrators or district officials. Thus, being recorded limits the freedom of a teacher to express personality and humor. Beyond that, recordings can be found by parents and misinterpreted into thinking the teacher was unfairly biased, causing unwarranted criticism towards the teacher. “It is essential for teachers to be able to teach knowing that what they are saying will not be broadcasted to the world,” Jalan said. “Of course, most times teachers are recorded, the video will not be put up for the public to see; it will most likely be exchanged simply among classmates. But, the video has been created and has the possibility to be published.” Fortunately, Peninsula has not faced serious problems with teacher recordings, and students who have been caught are not severely punished but are given small warnings instead. However, students must remember that teachers deserve their privacy and freedom. Without recordings, studying skills could potentially improve and a teacher’s confidence would grow, creating a more comfortable and welcoming environment.

LGBT bathroom protections removed asumi shuda Since the election of President Donald Trump, many individuals in the transgender community have feared that the human rights progress made by the Obama administration will be undone. Although more and more have opened up to the idea of accepting transgender people into society, there are still many who hold bias against them. This societal rift has driven many transgender individuals to speak up about the struggles they face in regard to their gender identity, including the daily discrimination that they face, in the hopes that they will be able to bridge the gap between them and transphobic individuals through mutual understanding. One of the most contentious lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) policies of the Trump administration has been revoking federal protections for transgender students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. Previously, under the Obama administration, the departments of Education and Justice issued a joint guidance directing schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, but the guidance has since been rescinded by the departments following Trump’s inauguration. This action was heavily supported by Trump and conservative parent groups across the nation; on the flip side, it has caused outrage among progressives and the LGBT community. “All that [revoking transgender protections] does is make everyone afraid,” junior and transgender student Steven Halling said.

“Not only is this affirming the fear that transgender people are dangerous, but it is also making transgender people afraid for their lives.” Allowing bathroom usage in correspondence with gender identity has many inherent benefits. For LGBT individuals, just the simple act of choosing which restroom to use can be a very difficult decision. Forcing transgender students to use the restroom of the gender on their birth

“All THAT [revoking of transgender protection] does is makE everyone afraid.” -Junior Steven Halling certificate could lead to uncomfortable interactions with other students, especially if the student is already further along in their transition. If the majority of students at some schools are unhappy with this solution, gender-neutral bathrooms should at least be provided as a compromising option for transgender students. “I think gender-neutral bathrooms may be a necessity for

some, [even though] I prefer using the men’s bathroom.” junior and transgender student Asher Ewing said. “For students who do not feel comfortable in their own skin, gender-neutral bathrooms can be a solution.” By getting rid of federal protections, the Trump administration has allowed state legislatures to pass laws that could force transgender students to use the restroom that matches their birth gender, especially in more conservative states. Putting these students in this position could lead to unintended psychological harm and further ostracization by their peers. In addition, students will now have to use the same restroom as people who identify with the opposite gender, an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. “I feel like I have been solving a huge math problem for 15 years, and I finally found the solution when I came out,” Halling said. “The hardest part for me was, and still is, not letting the opinions [that others have] about the validity of my existence affect the way I think about myself.” Simple life activities like going to the bathroom, showering and even looking at themselves in the mirror can be difficult for transgender teens, and their lives are becoming even harder because of the Trump administration’s new policies. Instead of enacting laws that could lead to increased separation for the LGBT community, the federal government should instead work to protect human rights on school campuses. Providing transgender students the freedom to choose which bathroom to use will result in less discrimination against them, and policies that encourage acceptance can lead to a society in which transgender rights are no longer a controversial issue.

0.3% of

the united states population is transgender*

90% of

transgender students have heard derogatory remarks frequently at school*

87% of

transgender students have been verbally harassed *

39% of

transgender students have heard negative remarks from faculty *

Temishi Onnekikami / The Pen

*according to a glsen survey

Focus

Students discover new ways to cope with stress liana Korotzer Many Peninsula students can probably recall a time of stress and anxiety due to school, sports and other activities. One study conducted by New York University in 2015 found that stress levels of high school students have increased rapidly in recent years and persist through college. Prolonged stress can lead to mental health problems, social issues and inability to succeed academically for students; excessive stress can also cause heart problems, high blood pressure and strokes due to abnormal heart rhythms. Sophomore Natalie Wong experiences daily stress as she struggles to balance being Sophomore Class President, playing on a sports team, working a part-time job and maintaining high grades in challenging classes. Wong copes with her stress by finding time to relax and put her thoughts together.

“I found this Google Chrome [application] called Momentum that gives you a different screensaver everyday with an option to make a to-do list appear on your screen,” Wong said. “I always feel so much better when all my thoughts are visually organized in front of me instead of floating around in my head.” Wong also copes with her stress by spending time with her friends and other classmates at school. “When I am at home at night cramming for a test or trying to write a paper, sometimes I feel like I am the only one who is struggling,” Wong said. “It makes me feel less stressed when I come to school and see supportive people who are most likely going through the same thing I am.” Although students from all grade levels are stressed, seniors are especially stressed during their first semester as they apply to colleges while also

maintaining a difficult course load. They can also experience pressure in February and March when colleges send out acceptance letters. “The [college application] process itself was pretty stressful and I worked on it for a good two months or so,” senior Sasha Sudo said. “However, I think getting enough sleep is much more important than having to stress over classes [and other obligations].” Counselor Patricia Colin sees many students struggling with anxiety and pressure to succeed in school. “It can be overwhelming to kids,” Colin said. “We see kids who end up missing school because they are feeling sick because they are so overwhelmed.” Colin believes that the most important way for students to cope with their stress is through balancing their busy schedule with enough time for sleep, family and friends while also

focusing on school and extracurriculars. “We encourage [students] to eat well, exercise every day, sleep and keep up their other health factors,” Colin said. “We also encourage talking to people and seeking help from the school or a professional outside of school if [students] need it.” In the upcoming school year, Peninsula plans to open a new wellness center, which will aim to lower the stress and anxiety levels of students. The school hopes to have a full-time counselor at the center to whom students can go for help, support and education about mental health. There will also be various health programs and guest speakers. Colin hopes that the wellness center will assist Peninsula students in learning to lead a healthier lifestyle. “The hope is to help lower the stress levels and improve the mental health of the students,” Colin said.

Senator proposes to adjust school start times Adrian tai

only 15 percent of teenagers reported sleeping 8.5 hours each night.*

Teenagers require an average 9.25 hours of sleep each night.*

*According to the national sleep foundation BriAN MO / The Pen

Sleep deprivation has become an increasingly prevalent problem for students. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need eight to 10 hours of sleep to function best, but only 15 percent are getting 8.5 hours of sleep on school nights. This leaves 85 percent of teens not getting adequate sleep, impacting their ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. To counteract these negative effects, California Sen. Anthony Portantino proposed a new bill, Senate Bill 328, which prevents schools from starting any earlier than 8:30 a.m in the 20172018 school year. Advanced Placement Psychology teacher John Wheeler, senior Jasper Kim and junior Kenji Matsuda support this proposal and believe that its implementation will have positive impacts on students’ successes in school. “I feel that this proposal is very reasonable and beneficial to both students and teachers,” Kim said. “It can really assist those who lack sleep and help them focus and function more properly.” According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, too little sleep causes loss of concentration and can lead to memory impairment and compromised physical performance. Chronic sleep deprivation can also cause mood swings and hallucinations. Both Kim and Matsuda experienced a lack of focus in zero period as well as in later periods in the day. They believe that a lack of sleep negatively impacted their

in-class performance and attention span. “I definitely prefer not having a zero period because I had a zero period freshman year and always felt very sleep-deprived. Every day in class, I would feel tired and it harmed my academic success in that class,” Matsuda said. “If I barely get any sleep I will get drowsy and moody throughout the day, so sleep has a really big impact on how I am feeling.” Wheeler has been able to see a clear contrast among students in his zero and

“Sleep has a huge role in students’ success and productivity, and the impact zero periods have on students needs to be recognized.” -Junior kenji matsuda first period classes and students in his other classes. Due to the early time at which the first few periods begin, the performance levels differ greatly. “[The students] are really unresponsive in terms of answering questions. They seem as if they are not awake yet,” Wheeler said. “Generally, they do not participate as much and I think a main part of the problem is that it is 7 [a.m.].” As a psychology teacher, Wheeler acknowledges the many benefits this proposal will bring about and how

sufficient sleep can positively impact students’ performance in school and other activities. “There have been places [across the country] where this sort of rule has been implemented and has been highly successful,” Wheeler said. “There have been positive results in terms of test scores and students were more involved and invigorated.” Along with more sleep, an adjusted start to the day would also give students more time to eat breakfast, a meal commonly skipped among students with zero periods. When Matsuda had a zero period, he never ate breakfast because it was too early in the morning and he felt he did not have enough time. However, without a zero period, Matsuda clearly feels the benefits of a later start to the day. He now feels more rested and energetic with an extra hour of sleep and has more time in the morning to complete homework and eat breakfast. If this bill is implemented statewide, the proposal is expected to help many students suffering from lack of sleep develop healthier habits and improve their well-beings. “Overall, I think this proposal is an excellent idea and I would love to see it become a reality in middle schools and high schools,” Matsuda said. “Sleep has a huge role in students’ success and productivity, and the impact zero periods have on students needs to be recognized. This proposal accurately addresses the problem and offers a very viable solution. I believe if it passes, it will be very successful.”

[

H E A LT H

Students gamble with their health through the consumption of edibles, a lack of sleep and a buildup of stress

liana Korotzer Marijuana edibles, food items infused with cannabis, are rapidly becoming popular in high schools throughout the United States. They are especially dangerous because of their high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which causes hallucinations, distorts sensations and impairs memory. A study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2015 also found a link between the use of THC in adolescents and increased risk for a form of testicular cancer in males. Marijuana can be found in many different food and beverage types including brownies, cookies and candies. Prepackaged edibles are easier to distribute among students compared to other drugs because they are disguised as food and drinks. However, they contain more concentrated doses of THC and can take longer to affect the user than through smoking marijuana. “The marijuana industry as a whole is subjected to minimal regulation, with no guarantee of accuracy in the THC levels published on dispensary product packaging,” school nurse Wendy Keller said. “Students ingest the edible and they can suddenly be at a toxic level [of THC].” Recently, there have been multiple incidents involving marijuana edibles at Peninsula. Two students were hospitalized after eating THC-laced edibles at school or during school events. Keller believes that it is important for high school students to learn coping skills for stress rather than turning to drugs, and that they should have a plan to decline any offers of drugs from other teens. “It is a matter of having a ‘script’ ready for such an occasion [when a student is offered drugs],” Keller said. “It

really does not matter what is said [from one student to another who is offering drugs], whether it is the truth or a lie, as a long as the message of ‘I do not do that’ is communicated.” Principal Mitzi Cress is deeply concerned about the use of edibles throughout the school and held two assemblies to confront the incidents involving marijuana. “We almost lost a student because of [edibles], because they were passed out and laying in such a way that the oxygen was cut off,” Cress said. “Fortunately, we were able to find the student and take them to the paramedics.” Additionally, there was a situation on Feb. 4 at formal where students ingested marijuana and were rushed to the hospital after they lost consciousness in the bathroom. Cress hopes that the informational assemblies and emails helped to bring attention to the serious issue. “I think [the incidents] started a discussion, and that is important,” Cress said. “If we all know [about edibles], then maybe next time a student has them there will be a friend to say ‘Hey, I really do not think you should do that’ or to call the paramedics if they see someone go down.” Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology and AP Statistics teacher Vararat Chaiyont believes that education is the most important factor in preventing the future use of edibles among high school students. She hopes that through education, students and parents will better understand the consequences of drugs, which include the possibility of death. “The problem is that marijuana is legal in many states now, and people think it is safe, so students are more likely to do it,” Chaiyont said. “We need to educate the students who are not realizing how dangerous edibles [and other drugs] are.”

amber carandang / The Pen

Edibles invade peninsula

Student life 8

Once upon a time... Junior Shayli Reagan works as Disney princess saffy laurio Since the release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” in 1937, Disney princess movies have been bringing joy to people of all ages. To help spread the happiness that Disney princesses bring, junior Shayli Reagan decided to work as a princess for hire, attending children’s birthday parties, tea parties and parades. When working, Reagan plays a variety of different princesses and interacts with children while holding character. “I am typically sent out to events as Belle or Elena of Avalor, but on a rare occasion I will go as Elsa or Aurora, which is a struggle because I have dark eyebrows,” Reagan said. “At the events, I get to interact with kids, read them stories and pose for pictures.” Reagan books jobs through the princess companies Princess Prestige and Second Star Entertainment. When Reagan’s friend Kirk Stefferud opened Second Star Entertainment, he contacted Reagan since she was commonly cast as a princess in theater productions. “It takes a very special performer to bring an iconic, beloved character to life and make people really believe she is the real deal,” Stefferud said. “When [Reagan] plays Belle at parties she is not [Reagan] anymore; she really is Belle. She really truly cares about each of the kids she interacts with.” In addition to interacting with children, Reagan has played Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” in three productions and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” in two other productions. After spending a significant amount of time performing as Belle, Reagan feels a special connection to her. “I feel like I spend 75 percent of my life in a Belle dress,” Reagan said. “Getting to play her onstage back in January at the Warner Grand in San Pedro is when it really clicked with me how much I love telling her story. Whether it is to a sold-out theatre of a thousand people or just to a little girl or boy that I interact with while working, it is just always a joy. She is arguably the most real and authentic Disney princess, and I love that about her.” To convincingly play the princesses, Reagan must stay in character for hours at a time and know all the minute details

photo courtesy of shayli reagan

of each princess, such as the character’s songs, likes and dislikes. Interacting and responding to children is completely based off of Reagan’s capabilities to improvise. “No matter how young the kids are, they know everything,” Reagan said. “I worked an event at a special education camp as Snow White once and I was singing with this little boy who moved my hair away from my ear and went, ‘Snow White, why are you wearing earrings? You do not wear them in your movie.’ I quickly just said that the dwarves had found the jewels in the mines and made me earrings for an engagement present.” Reagan often feels rewarded by connecting with children and seeing their reactions when meeting them. Despite the positives, her job is hard work; while Reagan is good at balancing her job with school, she often has issues balancing her job with theatre. “One weekend in December I had a Christmas event on Friday, then on Saturday I had rehearsal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., went straight to a birthday party for Prestige as Elena of Avalor and after that worked a three hour event as Belle at Alpine Village for Second Star,” Reagan said. “I woke up at seven on Sunday to do a parade as Elena, and walked three miles in a ballgown, which is not as easy as it looks!” Reagan hopes to pursue musical theatre as a future career, but would also be very happy to continue working as a princess at Disneyland. “It has always been a dream of mine to work as a princess at Disneyland,” Reagan said. “However, I am 5 feet 8 inches, and 5 feet 7 inches is the tallest they hire for princesses. They sometimes make exceptions, and if I go to college locally I will definitely try to look shorter and get a job there. I definitely hope to check a couple more Disney princess roles off my list.” Reagan finds that one of the best aspects of the job is bringing joy into the lives of so many children. “I love working with kids. The fact that I get paid to play dress up and connect with little kids is totally unreal,” Reagan said. “Nothing compares to seeing a little girl or boy elated because they finally got to meet their favorite character.”

All Dolled Up

Junior Emma Needham launches doll business on Etsy Handmade Scented Crochet Dolls

$10.00 COLOR blue SCENT

eucalyptus

ADD TO CART

Ailey Suzuki

ON AVERAGE, It takes Needham two weeks to to crochet AND PERFECT each doll. Needham sells her products on etsy under the username “agowilt abnormalities.”

Needham customizes each doll, making some creepy and others more traditional.

Needham scents her dolls with essential oils such as orange, vanilla, lavender and eucalyptus.

Essential Oils

Lavender

Although most teenagers no longer play with dolls, junior Emma Needham has found a way to keep in touch with her childhood. Needham spends her free time imagining, creating and selling art pieces on Etsy, an online marketplace for individual vendors. Needham chose Etsy because she liked the fact that an individual could sell customized items of any medium. She has recently begun to expand her variety of products to include stuffed animals, acrylic and watercolor paintings, cartoon inking, prosthetic horror art, stories, felting critters and resin art. Needham also has a “Story of the Month” sign-up where she writes a story on a specific genre. Although she describes her style as “creepy-cute,” she has the ability to range her projects from adorable to gruesome. Along with selling dolls, Needham also sells “Surprise Stories,” which are mini decorative books that contain a mystery short story. Customers can choose a story from a variety of genres including science fiction, horror, and fantasy. Prioritizing her crafts over profit, Needham sells these for five dollars each. Needham originally started her business to pay for her family car repairs. She also wanted to make extra money on the side while doing what she loved. “[I sell dolls] to make extra money for the family and to get my work out there so that I [can] have a

fighting chance to [be accepted] into an art school,” Needham said. To ensure complete customer satisfaction, Needham welcomes even the most elaborate requests of any medium. She loves when her customers are happy with the end product, and she is determined to overcome any obstacle during the process of creating an original art piece. Although there have not been many customers yet, she hopes to broaden and expand her shop so that many of her peers can experience and enjoy her one-of-akind art pieces. Junior Adam Lazarus was one of the first customers to purchase from Needham. He bought a tan voodoo doll with a black face, black heart and button eyes to resemble an old African indigenous tribe mask and a monochrome Nosferatu doll for 10 dollars each. He describes her art as wonderfully unique and plans to buy more from her in the future. “[Emma’s] art is a pleasant balance of macabre and cute,” Lazarus said. “I think [what she does] is so cool.” Needham is thankful that her business does not affect her school or social life. She claims that her business has yet to monumentally impact her life, but that it gives her an opportunity to make art in a confident way. “[I have] always relied on my crazy imagination to take me places [in terms of art],” Needham said. “I pride myself in being able to make most visions a reality.”

Want to advertise with The Pen? Contact us at thepen.business@gmail.com for more information.

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sports

we are the champions Girls’ water polo secures CIF Championship zain riaz The girls’ water polo team made Peninsula history by ending their season as CIF Southern Section Division 4 Champions. The Panthers gained this title after beating Canyon High School, the No. 1 seed, with a score of 9-4 on Feb. 25. This is its best overall season record since the 2013-14 season. Senior captains Kiersten Hazard and Meghan Mahoney said that the team’s first-ever CIF

379 total season points

senior lily hopkins takes a shot at the el dorado tournament on dec. 2.

average

8 .4 per game

Photo courtesy of kurt jupin

overall record

With the game tied in the second overtime, Abele’s fifth goal gave the team the win with a score of 8-7. “I think the moment we realized we could really win CIF was the last overtime of the [Laguna Hills] game because we were able to overcome setbacks and come back from behind and shut down the other team on defense,” Abele said. “That win really fired us up and definitely gave us a spark for the next games. We saw our great teamwork come out in that game and we realized what we could do when we all played our best.” While the team did not win the Bay League title, winning the CIF title proved to be a much larger reward. “I wanted to win League, but honestly nothing can beat winning CIF,” Hazard said. “[Winning CIF] was surreal. I feel so blessed to end my four years of water polo at Peninsula by making history. I would not trade my experiences and memories crafted in the pool as a Panther for the world.”

“I feel so blessed to end my four years of water polo at peninsula by making history. i would not trade my experiences and memories crafted in the pool as a panther for the world.” - senior kiersten hazard

goals

20-7

Championship title was largely due to the seniors’ extended experience on the team. “Since I have been at Pen, [the varsity team] has only [had] either one or two seniors,” Mahoney said. “This year, there are four seniors, and we have all been playing together since freshman year. Our team has always had great chemistry, but this year everything just clicked.” The quarterfinal game against Laguna Hills served as a vital juncture in the playoffs. The team was trailing behind the opponent by one point after the first overtime; this had never occurred before in the playoffs. “With less than a minute left, Coach Albert called a timeout and we ran a play that we had practiced over and over in practice all the week before,” junior captain Lucie Abele said. “The play worked perfectly, and I was able to score the last goal thanks to the time spent in practice and the team’s coordination.”