11.6.18

the

Arrow 100 Lakeview Canyon Rd. Westlake Village, CA 91362 Volume XLI | Issue 2 | November 6, 2018

Local flea market finds

The legacy of Queen

WHS teams compete in CIF

Page 5

Pages 8-9

Page 15

2

EDITORIAL

the

Arrow staff

editors-in-chief

FOR:

caelyn pender & milla wu

managing editor megan king

web managing editor prarthana kaygee

news section editor sydney schlesinger

26 5 2

against:

web masters-in-chief sona bhargava & connie shi

STAFF POLL

Recess died after elementary school, but high school students would drastically benefit from this daily break. With benefits ranging abstain: from improved mental health to higher academic achievement, recess should be a coveted part of the school day.

news editors jeff mendoza, sophie robson, bob xia & faith yellin

feature section editors

marc andrew choi & jamie lee

feature editors thomas brickman & quinn moss

arts & entertainment section editor katie reul

arts & entertainment editors kyra berg, brittney nial, avery pak, lauren pak, amber parrish, lindsey romano & abby thompson

opinion section editor alex li

opinion editors peter beer, taylor chen, angel lee & songhee lee

featured columnist

amanda ju

sports section editors akhil gutta & melanie zhang

business manager & photo editor michelle hang

graphics editor elliot kim

adviser karie lynch The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer.

www.westlakearrow.net westlakearrow@gmail.com @westlakearrow 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225

Cover photo by Caelyn Pender

Sources: cdc.gov, stanford.edu & time.com

by megan king, caelyn pender & milla wu the editor team We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Recess and to bid farewell to our dear, dear companion.

In elementary school, Recess was our night and day. We loved Recess, and Recess loved us. We played endless games of handball and four square. We played tag until we got in trouble for running on the black top. We played in the sandbox, digging as deep as we could (which was, disappointingly, not deep). We played intense games of Butts Up, soccer and Knock–Out. And then, Recess died! (gasp) Throughout middle school, we mourned the death of Recess.

We feebly attempted to revive him at lunch or at the end of PE. But in high school, try as we might, there is no reviving Recess.

Recess is dead, replaced by a poor substitute administration mockingly calls “Nutrition.”

Currently, nutrition gives students about 15 minutes to wait in the bathroom line OR to grab a snack OR to talk with a teacher. There’s simply not enough time to reap any of the benefits of recess, which include a more positive school environment and increased student engagement.

Research conducted by Stanford University shows that “schools with well–run and well–organized recesses feel better, safer and more engaged, which in turn was associated with improvements in overall school climate.”

The research was conducted through “teacher, principal and recess coach interviews, student focus groups, recess observations and a teacher survey.” Specifically, “female students felt more engaged overall (eighty–five percent [in pro–recess environments] to fifty–five percent [in lesser–recess environments]). Finally, an overall improvement in how students felt was recorded (ninety– one percent to fifty–nine percent).”

Recess also improves relationships among the students, and “student–to–student conflict [is] lessened” in pro–recess environments.

“Less bullying among students was found for schools with high–quality recess programs as compared to those with low– quality recess,” continued Parker.

In terms of the Stanford study, nutrition would be considered “low–quality recess” — a short block of time, no games to be played, and no recess–supporting adults. But as hard–working high school students, we demand a high–quality recess.

Even though we are no longer elementary school students, we still can benefit from the positives of recess.

“In the past 20 years, an increased emphasis on standardized testing as a metric for student achievement has led leaders in

GRAPHIC BY TAYLOR CHEN & CAELYN PENDER

some states and school districts to cut into recess in favor of more in–class instruction,” wrote Katie Reilly from Time magazine.

However, recess can be added without detracting from class time, and reviving our friend Recess in the form of a longer Nutrition would make it more valuable. If the school day was just nine minutes longer (and the passing period between periods 2 and 3 and between periods 4 and 5 was six minutes like the rest of the passing periods), Nutrition could become a 20–minute Recess.

During recess, students could walk around, nap, jump rope, play frisbee between buildings, do yoga and, ultimately, take a break from thinking about school.

“Recess serves as a necessary break from the rigors of concentrated, academic challenges in the classroom,” stated a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We know what you might be thinking: recess is unrealistic to fit into a jam–packed high school curriculum. However, there are schools who have successfully implemented recess, such as Montpelier High School in Vermont. The school has a 15–minute period each day called MHS Unplugged. During this time, students participate in student– or teacher–led activities such as meditation, yoga, art projects, frisbee, basketball, Quidditch and jam band. As part of the program, students leave behind all electronics to “unplug” for 15 minutes.

“We really make a point to say you have permission and you stop what you’re doing and do something totally different, something that’s mindful, challenging, something that creates community, something that creates generosity,” said MHS teacher Bill Laidlaw. “Sometimes by doing an activity with a kid who is having a tough time in your class, there’s a connection that’s made. It’s very powerful.”

Furthermore, the physical activity associated with recess can actually improve academic performance.

“There is substantial evidence that physical activity can help improve academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores,” stated a 2010 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “School boards, superintendents, principals and teachers can feel confident that providing recess to students on a regular basis may benefit academic behaviors, while also facilitating social development and contributing to overall physical activity and its associated health benefits.”

The best way to mourn Recess is to not mourn at all. There is still hope to resurrect Recess in the form of an extended Nutrition.

Not only will students benefit from reduced stress and improved academic performance, but they will also appreciate the break provided to recharge between classes and the improved sense of community. There are simply too many benefits to ignore.

So, in conclusion, give us Recess, or give us death!

3

NEWS

Climate change poses dire consequences by megan king & lauren pak managing editor & arts & ent editor The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report, “Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius,” on Oct. 6 outlining severe consequences the world will face by 2040 if it warms more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre–industrial levels.

Governments around the world use IPCC reports to make environment–related decisions. “[This specific report] will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change,” stated the IPCC press release.

“Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius,” which was written by 91 scientists from 40 countries, explains the environmental benefits of changing the limit for global warming. Previously, the IPCC set a goal to not let the world warm more than two degrees Celsius above pre–industrial levels. With the new report, the IPCC set a new threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“International cooperation can provide an enabling environment for this to be achieved in all countries and for all people, in the context of sustainable development,” states the report.

“International cooperation is a critical enabler for developing countries and vulnerable regions.”

According to a The New York Times article

by Coral Davenport , the authors of the IPCC report found that “if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate,” coastlines will be inundated with flooding, and droughts and poverty will intensify.

“Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to two degrees Celsius could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society,” states the IPCC report.

“Consequently, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is projected to reduce risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries and ecosystems and their functions and services to humans, as illustrated by recent changes to Arctic sea ice and warm water coral reef ecosystems.”

The new threshold for global warming would also help limit the rise of poverty levels in the world, reducing “the number of people both exposed to climate–related risks and susceptible to poverty by up to several hundred million by 2050,” according to the IPCC report.

If global temperatures increased by two degrees Celsius, crops like maize, rice and wheat will be destroyed, resulting in greater food

In brief Heart Screenings On Sat., Nov. 10, the Saving Hearts Foundation is offering free cardiac screenings at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center (1375 E. Janss Rd.). This is available to any person between the ages of 12–18 living in or near Conejo Valley. Interested students can go anytime from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Anyone can pre– register and receive more information from savingheartsfoundation.com.

Attendance The attendance policy is being strictly enforced this year. When students receive ten tardies or six truancies from one class, they will be dropped with a failing grade.

Additionally, college campus visits are not excused. Last year, students who missed twelve percent of the school year were not able to participate in graduation because of excessive absences.

Sources: ipcc.ch

shortages in much of the world, specifically sub– Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Central and South America.

By limiting global warming and subsequently limiting climate change, fewer food sources will be destroyed, fewer people will be displaced by rising sea levels and fewer people will die from deadly diseases.

“Any increase in global warming is projected to affect human health, with primarily negative consequences,” states the IPCC report. “Risks from some vector–borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, are projected to increase with warming from 1.5 degrees Celsius to two degrees Celsius, including potential shifts in their geographic range.”

Even now, consequences of climate change are impacting people.

“With sea levels rising [resulting from land based glaciers shrinking], people who live along a coast or on an island will [eventually] be displaced,” said environmental science teacher Jennifer Boyd. “With an increase in climate refugees, more wars over natural resources such as fresh water and arable land will occur. Some areas will have more rain, ... droughts ... [and] frequent and stronger hurricanes, while other areas will have more frequent fires.”

In order to prevent further damage, international cooperation is critical in enacting change.

“Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require rapid, far–reaching and

GRAPHIC BY BOB XIA

unprecedented changes in all aspects of society,” states the IPCC report.

Despite alarming statistics, students can make a difference to limit global warming.

“If we can slow down the rate of warming, or if we can limit the warming to a few degrees Celsius, we can limit the amount of damage done,” said Boyd. “The effects of climate change will be economically and socially devastating.”

Using reusable water bottles, carpooling or walking to school, reducing packaging use and eating locally grown foods are all ways students can easily help the environment.

By carpooling and walking, students reduce car emissions. Emissions from power plants, factories and vehicles, as well as waste production among other things, release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, consequently contributing to global warming.

“Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0 degrees Celsius of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8 degrees Celsius to 1.2 degrees Celsius,” states the IPCC summary report. “Global warming is likely to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.”

According to a discovery.com documentary Racing Extinction, “if every American skipped meat and cheese just one day a week for a year, it would be like taking 7.6 million cars off the road.”

STEM The STEM–Equity Manufacturing Tour is taking place on Thurs., Dec. 6, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. The tour is available to female students.

During the tour, students will listen to female speakers involved in the manufacturing business to get a sense of the field’s career opportunities.

The Girls in STEM club meets every other Tuesday in room 22G. The purpose of this club is to boosts girls’ confidence in themselves and encourage them to explore STEM. Contact the Girls in STEM club for information on how to sign up.

JSA Junior State of America’s first convention takes place on Nov. 10–11 at the Woodland Hills Marriot. JSA is a student–run organization that encourages critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills. The club meets on Tuesdays in room 43V and attends conventions where students participate in debates.

Winter Showcase On Sat., Dec. 1, the WHS Dance Team will perform its Winter Showcase at the Carpenter Family Theatre. Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The show includes solos, competition routines and student choreographed routines.

All student choreographed routines will be performed to holiday music.

Compiled by Kyra Berg

4

NEWS

Clearing the SMOKE

Because of an increase in e–cigarette use among teens, the Food and Drug Administration responds directly to retailers, online sellers and stores via warning letters and civil money penalities. by jeff mendoza opinion editor

actions in recent months.

“The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end,” said Gottlieb in a statement threatening to pull e– cigarettes off shelves. “The FDA cannot tolerate a whole generation of young people becoming addicted to nicotine as a trade off for enabling adults to access these products.”

This is why on Sept. 12 the FDA gave companies like Juul 60 days to prove how they will combat the selling of their products to minors.

If they fail to do so, products for which companies have been unable to produce a viable solution to the newest epidemic will be pulled off shelves.

According to a poll by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, only 13.2 percent of teens

GRAPHIC BY JEFF MENDOZA

Juul, MarkTen, Vuse, Blu and Logic control ninety–seven percent of the e–cigarette market, a market that has been fueled by controversy due to a recent increase of minors using the devices.

In an effort to address the problem of minors illegally acquiring these products, the United States Food and Drug Administration responded with its single largest enforcement action in the administration’s history, directly focusing on retailers and online sales of e–cigarettes.

“We sent more than 1,100 warning letters to stores for the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to minors,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a statement on the growing epidemic. “In addition, we issued another 131 civil money penalties to stores that continued to violate the restrictions on sales to minors.”

These efforts in September are the most recent in the war against growing numbers of teen users; they follow an earlier warning issued in April, emphasizing a zero–tolerance policy to manufacturers.

“I hope that this sends a clear message to all tobacco product manufacturers and retailers that the FDA is taking on this issue with

urgency,” said Gottlieb. “If kids are flocking to your product, or you’re illegally selling these products to kids, you’re on the agency’s radar.”

The actions of the FDA intend to stop a new generation of cigarette smokers and to increase awareness regarding the health consequences that come with smoking. The efforts could help save many lives that are lost on account of health problems related to smoking such as lung cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

While many manufactures claim flavors help adults transition to presumably healthier vaping, the FDA states that flavors like birthday cake, crème brûlée and strawberry shortcake could lure kids in to try products rather than appeal to adults looking for a smoking alternative.

“We know that the flavors play an important role in driving the youth appeal,” said Gottlieb.

“In view of the trends underway, we may take steps to curtail the marketing and selling of flavored products. We are actively evaluating how we would implement such a policy.”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, teens who vape are nearly thirty– one percent more likely to smoke cigarettes after six months of use than those who do not use e– cigarettes. This increase has fueled the FDA’s

know that nicotine is actually in vape products, meaning 86.8 percent do not truly know what they are inhaling. This could lead to teens inadvertently developing serious addictions to nicotine.

Brain development peaks during adolescence, and, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine, is also at its peak period to foster addiction.

This slippery slope could lead to a new generation of smokers and tobacco users.

5

FEATURE

HA NG

Los Angeles is full of new trends from vegan cafés to flea markets. If you ever have a free weekend, go out and explore. You never know the treasures you might find.

L EL CH MI

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Y PHOTO B

Make a CHOIce by marc andrew choi co–feature section editor

Do you ever find yourself leaving school after your last class and searching for an establishment to satisfy your ravenous hunger? Look no further: JOi Café is the place to go!

This vegan café provides a variety of food and drink selections that are able to appease anyone’s hunger.

JOi Café is a popular café described as an ambient and spirited location. The café serves organic, plant–based and gluten–free dishes, and allergens are labeled on the menu for customer convenience. It is located at 2588 Agoura Rd., Westlake Village in the Village Glen Plaza. Hours of operation are 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday– Saturday and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. on Sunday.

describing the choices. They are also The average price of a dish is $12.

The ambience of the café is very efficient in service as food and drinks bright. There is seating both inside are brought out in a timely manner.

The staff is and outside, including small Oi Café is truly a very friendly and genuinely tables and longer hidden gem. It is a care about community– style tables. Find haven of healthy and each individual c u s t o m e r ’s a satisfactory guilt–free foods and drinks experience. table and wait The food for the food to that provides a pleasing meal. served at this be brought out establishment after ordering at –Sophie Robson is fulfilling and the designated exquisite. With counter. A large glass wall allows shimmering light to the food being plant–based, gluten– flood the room, creating a relaxed and free and preservative–free, this is the perfect choice for a person with clean setting.

The café staff is very courteous food allergies or restrictions. There and kind. They are obviously passionate are various organic food entrées, about the food that they produce, as including enchiladas, pizza, tacos shown through their enthusiasm when and a specialty soup. As well as

The Topanga Vintage Market is not too far from Westlake Village, located near Pierce College on Victory Blvd. and Mason Ave. in Woodland Hills. It is open on the fourth Sunday of every month from 8 a.m.–3 p.m.; however, the date and time is subject to change. The market has hundreds of booths like the Itty Bitty Vintage Shop, For Sense Candles and Desert Dreamin’ Vintage.

There are also food trucks and live music. Admission is $3 (children under the age of 12 are free), and pets are not allowed inside the market. For upcoming dates, visit the website: topangavintagemarket.com.

Artists and Fleas has a few locations around the United States, primarily in New York.

However, from Oct. 20–Dec. 21, Artists and Fleas will be open every Saturday at the Westminster Avenue Elementary School at 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. It is open from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and admission is free.

Some of the vendors include Deck and Stringer, Succulents for Haiti, Farm Fresh To You and Made in Claremont. At the market, one can find unique clothing and handcrafted goods.

For additional information, visit the website: artistsandfleas.com/la-venice.

review by sophie robson news editor

“J

nourishing your hunger, the food also nourishes your conscience by being vegan and guilt–free.

One of the more popular dishes offered is avocado toast. It is a slice of gluten–free bread topped with fresh avocado, kale pesto, purple cabbage, pumpkin seeds, microgreens and sprinkled with sumac, a ground fruit used as a spice, with a side of hummus and lime. It is delicious and flavorful while not being over– salted, and the fresh quality of the microgreens added a subtle crunchy texture to the meal. It is the perfect flavor combination.

JOi Café is truly a hidden gem.

It is a haven of healthy and guilt–free foods and drinks that provides a pleasing meal. I can assure you that you have made the right choice of where to eat if that choice is JOi Café.

Flea markets around Los Angeles

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FR ED ER I C KS

The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held on the second Sunday of each month at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. in Pasadena. The market is open from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

General admission is $9 (children under the age of 12 are free). For six dollars more, you can enter a few hours earlier to avoid the crowd.

In addition to the D hand–crafted goods OF Y ES RT and vintage clothing, U O PHOTOS C there are also a variety of food and beverages available. Some of the vendors include Funk Forest, The Whiskey Hotel and Vamvas. For more information, visit the website: rosebowlstadium.com/events/fleamarket.

AW

Melrose Trading Post is open every Sunday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. It is located at Fairfax High School at 7850 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. The trading post works with Greenway Arts Alliance, a non–profit organization, to bring communities together through art, education and enterprise.

Admission is $5.

Inside the market is an array of handcrafted goods, vintage fashion and antique furniture. While there is not much to eat at the trading post, there are many restaurants in the area. The market has hundreds of vendors.

For additional information, visit the website: melrosetradingpost.org.

Compiled by Michelle Hang & Prarthana Kaygee

It’s finally November. The leaves are changing colors and falling, and the weather has dropped to a freezing 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oh, I guess Thanksgiving is also in November, but to be completely honest, I really don’t like Thanksgiving.

Aside from the relaxing five days off from school (which should really be an entire week), the entire holiday makes me feel sad.

Don’t get me wrong, the massive dishes of mashed potatoes and turkey never fail to provide me with one of the biggest and happiest food comas of the year.

However, I find the holiday extremely stressful, and most of my stress comes during the hour– long ride to my aunt’s house when my mind is fixated on the age–old question: What are you thankful for?

Every year, I try to come up with a creative answer to this generic question, and I fail miserably, giving a pretty cliche answer like, “I’m thankful for having food on the table, clothes in my drawers and a loving family.”

While I am genuinely thankful for this, I feel saying this answer for the last couple of years makes me sound ingenuine.

This problem isn’t unique to my family but is the norm in the majority of families. I constantly hear students complaining about their parents or gossiping about their friends behind their backs. Is it bad to not outwardly show gratitude?

Turns out, showing gratitude not only affects another person’s day but yours as well.

According to multiple studies, showing gratitude is linked to increased satisfaction, energy and motivation. With senioritis hitting earlier than expected, showing gratitude may be my cure to senioritis.

So this Thanksgiving is going to be different. Instead of psychoanalysing how I am going to answer “the question” or avoiding opening myself up, I’m going to be more outward with my emotions (hopefully this will also give the motivation necessary to finish out college application season strong).

As I fly away from the nest, I hope to spend some quality time with my family and show my appreciation for their continuous support through the rough times in my life.

6

FEATURE

As the season of gratitude and good food approaches, The Arrow decided to take a closer look at other cultures and their Thanksgiving traditions. Below, we’ve outlined how other countries have similar celebrations and how some WHS students honor the American holiday with pieces of their own culture. If you want to experience some of the diversity for yourself, just scan the provided QR codes for recipes on traditional dishes from each country.

In honor of a successful corn harvest in Massachusetts in November of 1621, the pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe celebrated with a feast. Using Native American spices and cooking techniques, bounties of food were prepared. At the time, smaller fowl and shellfish, such as lobster, were more likely the foods being served. Now, tradition dictates a different menu.

“I always celebrate with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes [and] gravy,” said Claire Robbins ‘19.

“Every year we have a huge dinner, and [we invite] all our friends and family to celebrate.”

Although Colombia does not celebrate Thanksgiving, Adriana Rendon ‘20 celebrates her culture at the Thanksgiving dinner table by eating traditional Colombian food, specifically lechona and tamales, which are usually eaten at Colombian family gatherings and feasts. “[Lechona] is a stuffed pig with three types of meat,” said Rendon. “It’s a Colombian tradition. Colombian tamales are also different from Mexican tamales because they are bigger and wrapped with [banana] leaves.”

Scan the QR code to learn how to make mashed potatoes at home.

While there are no holidays similar to Thanksgiving in India, its culture has many traditions involving food like Pongal, a four– day celebration in South India. The first three days honor important figures, and the final day is a family wide demonstration of gratitude for a successful harvest. Abhinav Pomalapally ‘19 celebrates Thanksgiving with his family and friends by eating traditional Indian food, such as pappu, chole and gulab jamun.

“One of [my favorite] foods my family eats is chole, which has chickpeas [and] a bunch of spices,” said Pomalapally. “You can eat it with bread or rice.”

Scan the QR code to learn how to make chole at home.

If your phone is running iOS 12, simply open your camera and focus on the QR codes to scan them.

Scan the QR code to learn how to make lechona at home.

China celebrates the Mid–Autumn Festival, a holiday similar to traditional American Thanksgiving.

The Mid–Autumn Festival takes place in the middle of September and is the second grandest festival in China.

Before the holiday was created, the ancient Chinese noticed that the moon had a close influence on the changes of the seasons. To express their thanks, they present offerings to the moon during the Autumn season.

“My family eats Peking duck, [which is] basically a traditional Chinese duck dish. We’ve been doing [the tradition] since I was really little,” said Jerry Shi ‘21. “It is served with steamed buns and the crispy skin part comes separate from the meat.”

Scan the QR code to learn how to make Peking duck at home.

Similar to American Thanksgiving, Korea celebrates the Chuseok Harvest Festival, a three day celebration that pays homage to a family’s ancestry and shows gratitude to a plentiful harvest. Isabella Lake ‘21 honors her South Korean culture in the United States by eating a variety of both traditional American and Korean foods such as japchae on Thanksgiving.

“We kind of combine American and Korean [foods],” said Lake.

“We’ll have a turkey and all, but we’ll also have japchae, yams and kimbap at the same time.”

Scan the QR code to learn how to make japchae at home.

Compiled by Elliot Kim, Jamie Lee, Songhee Lee & Katie Reul

7

FEATURE

Diving into the

WHS students navigate the ups and downs of independent business ventures

James Ge ‘20

Christian Gomez ‘20

Moorea Ramessar ‘21

Daniel Yao ‘20

Sharide: “[Andy Jin ‘18, Pranav Pomalapally ‘19, Gideon Tong ‘19, Jane Zhang ‘19 and I] created a business called Sharide, and it would help connect students that needed carpools to places who couldn’t drive to get to their other extracurricular activities.”

CGF Alerts and day–trading stocks through a custodial account: “I do my technical analysis, … and I aid people in [deciding when to buy or sell their stocks] … It’s like a private subscription service ... My parents gave me $1000 [to begin trading with] because they saw I was super passionate about it … I knew it was something that could make a lot of money in the future, and so I’m here now.”

As of right now Charlotte Barnett ‘21, Trevor Gadsby ‘21 and I are trying to form a health application to help people [with] medical issues or [allow people] to reach medical help faster and make it more organized so the waits are less.”

N2Oh Inc: “We specialized in manufacturing and, to a limited extent, design of coolant — like coolant systems for certain computing technologies, specifically quantum computing systems … and [for] a couple other very early starter companies in the quantum field.”

What inspired you to create this company?

“My team all couldn’t drive, and we all had really busy extracurricular activities, and our parents were too busy to get us to places. We wanted a way for us to match up ourselves with other students to get to places and to just make it easier for everyone.”

What advice would you give to those looking to go into business as high schoolers?

“Even if it sounds stupid and outlandish or no matter how crazy your idea is, I think you should just stick to it and to change it along the way. If you put in the dedication and the time, you can make anything work.”

What do you think is your greatest accomplishment involving your company?

“In a pitch competition, we actually won a design award for our company.”

What would you say is the accomplishment you’re most proud of?

“I helped my parents buy their second home recently, so I’m getting some money back from that, and [also] just the way that I’ve been able to be profitable.”

Any advice for other high schoolers who are looking to get into business while they’re still in school?

“Don’t focus on the money, focus more on learning something because once you learn the skill and acquire that skill, that’s when you’re able to make money from it. The money is a byproduct of your success and learning, not something that you should focus on.”

Do you have any advice for other high schoolers who want to get into business?

“You have to be very passionate about what you are doing. You have to be into it; you have to be definitely dedicated [because] it’s a lot of work.”

What made you decide to design your business around medicine?

“We chose to do [medicine] because … right now the medical field is a big deal, and we realized we could help connect physicians to other people so it would be more convenient.”

What do you think is the best part of being in business at a young age? “[You’re] work[ing] with teams ... and you’re coming up with different ideas. The fun thing is when you’re arguing with each other … and then you come up with a solution.”

40years

Celebrating Catherine Ricafort is a WHS alumna and Broadway actor. She has played roles such as Karen the Computer in Spongebob Squarepants and Mahi in Honeymoon in Vegas.

What activities did you participate in in high school?

“I was part of the choir when it was [taught by] Mr. Rose. We didn’t really have a drama production except for my sophomore year [when] they did Bye Bye Birdie. And [as for] other activities, ... I was president of Habitat for Humanity … I was really involved with choir. I choreographed a lot … I did [the talent show rally] a couple years, and it was really fun because my senior year, I did it with my brother. We did a hip hop duet. It’s actually on YouTube. It has a lot of views weirdly ... It looks like it’s out of a movie ... because we’re a fairly big school, so [we] have to sit on both sides ... Because I was a senior and he was a sophomore, we faced the senior and sophomore side [respectively], but in the video you can see the whole freshman and junior section. So that was really fun.”

What is your favorite high school memory?

“Probably that one. Yeah, it was just really special because in high

school, especially if you have a sibling, sometimes you’re like, “Oh I’m cool, I’m not really going to talk to you at school.” But that was a really great moment for us as siblings to come together, especially because of the way the seating arrangements [allowed] that we could both face our respective classes and do this number together. He was suddenly the most popular guy in school, even among the seniors. He came out of obscurity after that. But that was a really fun, special moment ... It was very ... High School Musical … Usually at school I was just in nerd mode and just always studying and working on getting ready for the APs. That was fun to have the whole school see what we like to do for fun.”

Do you have any advice for current high school students?

“I would say take advantage of any opportunity to be creative.

What I remember most about my time at [WHS were] the chances to be creative and to take on leadership roles for sure, because later in life when you do those things, the consequences and the responsibility gets bigger and bigger, and it gets more scary, so it’s good to explore that and experiment with it in high school because it’s a safer space to do it. You have the support of teachers, and it’s not the big stage of the real world yet — it’s just within your school. So it’s really important to discover the leader in you or the creator in you. For me, it was choreographing and teaching numbers to students. And for the talent shows for choir, what really brought me the most joy was teaching dance and choreography to people who didn’t really

What are some obstacles that you faced taking your business to where it is now?

“I think just overcoming the social barrier between [being a] kid and [being] the CEO of a manufacturing company is something that’s more difficult to overcome. ... It takes a little bit of an added push. You have to prove yourself before you can have adults do anything for you.

Gaining that reputation is really hard.”

What inspired you to create this company?

“It’s such a burgeoning field, so just entering that and getting an investment early in the game is great. I did what I could and applied myself.”

What do you think is your greatest accomplishment involving your company? “[I sold the company for] about $650,000 and then I got about a thirty–five percent dividend.”

Compiled by Quinn Moss & Faith Yellin

An interview with

Catherine Ricafort ‘05

do it yet ... I remember we had a talent show in the fall, and I did a big production of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” ... We had a lot of people who asked to be in the number that I didn’t think of at first because they weren’t “the dancers,” but that was what I got the most joy out of, was really teaching other students something new that I could share with them from my knowledge ... It taught me that I really enjoy doing that, so I’m still teaching and choreographing a bit now.”

What are your favorite roles that you have played on Broadway?

“Definitely Karen the Computer in Spongebob [Squarepants] because it was very zany and weird and comedic, and it’s cool to play the villain … I’m a computer who was created by this villain, he’s named Plankton ... He made me, and I’m his wife, so it’s so weird but so funny, and they’re just bickering all the time, so it’s so fun. And this is a big franchise, and people know the characters already before, and they get extra excited when they get to see the characters come to life ... My other favorite show [is] definitely not as famous of a show, but it was called Honeymoon in Vegas, and it was cool because it was the first time I played a big part on a Broadway stage. I got to sing a solo and I had lines, and my character was a lot of people’s favorite.”

To read the complete interview, visit westlakearrow.net.

Interview conducted by Caelyn Pender

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8

ARTS & ENTE

Music throughout the 60s and 70s by amber parrish arts & ent editor Modern music is heavily influenced by rock music from the 60s and 70s. Bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin form the foundation for many artists today. With songs full of iconic drum solos, guitar riffs and meaningful lyrics, these bands set the tone for the modern era of music.

“Through the mid–sixties, American rock was defining its own ambience and style,” said Rolling Stones songwriter Jon Landau. “Through the flirtation with folk music in the early sixties, many musicians found a unique source out of which to mold a new kind of rock and roll, something distinct from what British bands were offering.”

These famous tunes, including classic bops such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, still have a huge fan base.

According to an article from The Guardian, Queen was the first UK rock band to sell six million copies of a single album.

Their first music video was a promotional clip for their hit song “Bohemian Rhapsody.” That video helped to jump start the creation of their iconic narrative music videos.

“I really like [Queen’s] music videos and they have unique and

different types of songs,” said fan Emmy Keipert–McCann ‘21.

In addition to Queen’s music, songs like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin broke the barriers of stereotypical production by adding innovative sounds and lyrics.

Led Zeppelin is known for “intense, fast, almost trance–like drumbeats,” according to Kennita Leon Rose, a writer for Groovy History.

“Led Zeppelin was formed at a time when the world hadn’t seen a hard rock band that was very successful,” wrote Rose. “Rock n’ Roll was in its beginning stages and hadn’t carved out a significant portion of the consumer market as of yet.”

“Stairway to Heaven” sold a total of 37 million copies. According to This Day in Music, it was one of the most sold records in history at that time.

“I was holding a pencil and paper, and for some reason I was in a very bad mood,” said singer–songwriter Robert Plant about the day he wrote the song. “Then all of a sudden my hand was writing out the words.”

70s music has not only revolutionized musical production but also who was playing it.

Until the late 60s and early 70s, the majority of rock singers and band members were men. Stevie Nicks, a female rock artist, was part of a popular rock band called Fleetwood Mac that started in 1967. Her fame and music inspired many other female singers to be committed to what they can do despite the heavy concentration of males present within the industry.

BBC Music states that Carole King became the first ever female recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song because of her 1971 hit album Tapestry. King recieved the prize in 2013.

Overall, the songs produced by some bands from the 60s and 70s have made a lasting impression on listeners of all generations. Even now, many of the top selling albums in America include music produced in the 60s and 70s.

“One of the most influential bands of their era, Led Zeppelin, [has] inspired countless copycats during the past four decades — some of whom have taken their Zep worship to brazen (and borderline actionable) extremes,” said Rolling Stone writer Dan Epstein. The author cites the rock bands Heart, Aerosmith, Whitesnake and Kingdom Come as examples.

The best–selling album in American history is from the American rock band The Eagles. The album, Their Greatest Hits, is composed of songs the band produced in the 70s. The album sold a total of 38 million copies according to the Recording Industry Assosiation of America.

Music of the 60s and 70s has shaped many styles and artists today. From the barrier–breaking of girl bands to the iconic sounds of the most–sold album ever, this era in music history still has a lasting impact on the world of music today.

Champions now, forever and beloved band, Queen’s legacy lives o opened on Nov. 2. The film details th the band’s legendary front man, Fre by abby thompson arts & ent editor

“We are the champions, my friends.

And we’ll keep on fighting till the end.”

These words begin the chorus to one of Queen’s most popular songs: “We Are The Champions.” The song’s lyrics not only represent the struggle that the band went through before reaching fame, but also the legacy it left behind for its fans.

The English rock band formed in the 1970s with four members, each with a different talent: lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, drummer Roger Taylor, lead guitarist Brian May and he reason we’re bassist John Deacon. successful, The band’s first album, titled Queen, Queen darling? My was released in 1973. overall charisma, of course.”

However, their music was not immediately popular, and it took –Freddie Mercury two more albums for the band to eventually hit the radio in 1974.

Despite its seemingly quick rise because he was bisexu to success, Queen took several risks lifestyle choices without involving the unique sound of its songs.

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GRAPHIC BYGRAPHIC ABBY THOMPSON

BY ABBY THOMPSON

UEEN

9

ERTAINMENT

always. Even after 20 years without new music from the on. Twentieth Century Fox’s new movie Bohemian Rhapsody he history of the revolutionary hard–rock group Queen and eddie Mercury.

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The movie stars Rami Malek, and it recently opened in theaters on Nov. 2.

Aside from Queen’s musical influence on listeners during the 70s and 80s, Mercury was also influential to many who lived in fear of their own sexuality ual and embraced his t regret. y’s acceptance of his s a large part of who because of it, he was l to many people who fear of coming out. in who he was and own from his true self do the same. fidence both on and muscians memorable

As for the continuation of its music, characters and a thrill to watch in concert.

“I have fun with my clothes onstage; without its lead singer-songwriter, Queen it’s not a concert you’re seeing, it’s a fashion was unable to charm audiences as it once show,” said Mercury of his performances had despite efforts to replace Mercury with singer Paul Rodgers, formerly of during live concerts.

Although the rock band had several rock band Bad Company, in the 2000s. memorable performances, one of their most Rodgers performed as the lead singer with Queen famous is their Live Aid on many occasions, Concert at the Wembley always knew I was but fans missed Stadium in London on a star. And now, the the flamboyant July 13, 1985. stage presence that According to his rest of the world Mercury had always fellow bandmembers, seems to agree with me.” brought to the show.

Mercury was responsible In 2017, for the impactful 20 minute show.

–Freddie Mercury surviving members Brian May and “That was entirely Roger Taylor down to Freddie,” May joined singer Adam said in a later interview, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. “The Lambert in a worldwide concert tour that rest of us played okay, but Freddie was out ended in 2018. The tour consisted of 78 shows, with 42 in Europe, 26 in North there and took it to another level.”

The decline of the band came with America and 10 in Oceania.

Queen’s music serves as its legacy, Mercury’s death due to bronchopneumonia and it continues to be played decades complicated by AIDS in 1991.

In 1992, Brian May, Roger Taylor after Mercury’s death. Their rise to fame proves to people that hard and their manager Jim Beach created work and passion lead to success. the Mercury Phoenix Trust to honor As for “We are the Freddie Mercury. The organization Champions,” the song’s message aims to help fight the HIV/AIDS crisis.

The foundation has donated $16 can be applied to daily life. It not million for the cause in the last 21 years. only represents a celebration accomplishments, It mainly gives to grassroots organizations of that educate young people in developing but also a praise of perseverance and countries about the disease.

Queen also created Freddie For A Day in endurance through hardships 2010, which is typically celebrated on Sep. 5, the Mercury’s birthday. On FFAD, people dress up until success as Mercury, act like him and raise awareness is finally reached. for AIDS in his name.

Compiled by Megan King, Brittney Nial, Amber Parrish, Caelyn Pender & Abby Thompson

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The word “indie” is a shortened form of the word “independent,” functioning as a term to categorize entertainment that does not belong to or is not affiliated with any major company or label. More colloquially, the term defines underground entertainment. Below, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite independent films and videogames.

The Messenger (2018) Get Out (2017) The Messenger tells the story of a nameless ninja. Demons are assaulting his village, and the only way to defeat them is with the help of a great warrior, to whom the ninja must deliver a message.

The game features a movement system and a time travel mechanic that separates it from other platformers. The ninja has an ability called cloud–stepping in which, after an attack, he can jump for a second time, encouraging more reckless and aggressive tactics. The time travel is not only used for puzzle solving, but to physically alter the world. The past is given eight– bit graphics, while the future is given 16–bit graphics. to aid in the ninja’s travels is also a shop which can supply upgrades. The dark humor found in the interactions between the ninja and the shopkeep is a standout element.

When Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), an African American youth, visits his girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, the tension over their interracial relationship is tangible, but it becomes rapidly apparent that this tension runs much deeper than racial differences.

The film is revolutionary in that it is quite literally a horror movie about the horrors of racism. The elements of fear were tasteful, and the characters in the film are intelligent, making for a more thoroughly developed plot. In a controversial and terrifying depiction of the entitlement of white power advocates, the film surpasses the slasher flicks that generally define its genre.

Director and writer Jordan Peele made history being the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for this film.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

Cuphead (2017)

Presented in a non–linear narrative format, 500 Days of Summer takes a spin on the traditional romantic comedy by introducing each scene with what day it is in non–chronological order. Greeting card writer Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls head over heels in love with his new administrative assistant Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), a woman who refuses to believe that true love exists.

The film follows Tom’s reflection of their fleeting 500 days together. With an talented cast, humor–infused drama, and a distinctive soundtrack with songs such as “Sweet Disposition” by the Temper Trap and other alternative hits, the movie remains a popular today. Commonly misconceived as a typical love story, the film’s tagline proves otherwise: “This is not a love story. This is a story about love.”

Cuphead is an homage on two fronts. From a gaming perspective, it is inspired by retro co–op action platformers such as Contra and Gunstar Heroes with its high level of difficulty.

In style, it is a throwback to the early days of Mickey Mouse and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Additionally, the jazz–inspired soundtrack makes every encounter with bosses reflective of the art style. The bosses vary wildly in design from giant birds, to pirates, to the devil himself, all of which have their own strategies to stop the eponomous protagonist. The developers even had to mortgage their home in order to perfect the animation. Weapons and accessories are useful, and having players experiment creates a system where every player has a unique experience. An addition to the formula that Cuphead adds, is the timeline, which shows how far players have gotten in the encounter.

Juno (2007)

SUPERHOT (2016)

A mixture of drama, romance, comedy and everything in between, Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a teenage pregnancy case, opting to have the baby and put it in the hands of new parents.

During the process, she selects a wannabe rockstar (Jason Bateman) and his wife (Jennifer Garner) to be the guardians of her child, developing strange relationships with them on the way.

Starkly raw and filled with emotion, Juno contrasts the pressure of adulthood with the attempt to preserve innocence, tackling an issue prevalent in society with a lighthearted approach. Paired with a bright color scheme and a soundtrack compiled by various independent artists, this coming–of–age film is distinctively unique in every aspect, down to the protagonist’s trademark jug of Sunny–D and notedly angsty, yet mature outlook on the world.

SUPERHOT serves as both a deconstruction of first person shooters and an entry into the genre with a special gameplay feature. A friend of the player sends them a copy of a video game from the dark web, and it slowly attempts to mind control the player, forcing the player to fight back. The game’s simple graphics and near non–existent soundtrack adds to the intentionally unfinished feeling. There is a twist, though: time only moves when players do. Because players die in one hit, SUPERHOT becomes a first person shooter/puzzle game as they need to consider the direction of bullets once fired, when it’s safe to throw a gun and when to watch it play out. The game also sports an endless mode which thrusts a continuous wave of enemies on players, as well as a feature where one can view his or her performance in the level in real time.

Compiled by Thomas Brickman & Katie Reul

Teacher Edition What is your favorite throwback song?

Mr. Irmas

English 9H & 11CP

Spanish 2 & 3CP

Mrs. Denchfield

“Sunday Morning” No Doubt

“More Than a Feeling” Boston

English 10H & 11CP “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” Stevie Wonder

Mrs. Ballard

Mr. Harris Algebra 1B & 2CP “Baby” Justin Bieber

Compiled by Kyra Berg & Lauren Pak

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Rowling supports readers’

mental health

by brittney nial arts & ent editor The world of Harry Potter has been going strong for 21 years, charming children and adults alike with whimsical adventures and deep, underlying messages.

One such message is illustrated through blood status — the belief that wizards with non– magical folks in their family history have “dirty blood” and are somehow inferior. J.K. Rowling uses blood status as a symbol for racism.

The symbol extends to reveal the harmful effects of parents’ biases on youth. As adolescents, Pureblood Draco Malfoy and his Pureblood foil, Ron Weasley, end up fighting on opposite sides of a war based on blood status.

Another metaphor comes in the form of dementors — soul sucking monsters that assault victims with terrible memories and cold loneliness. The creatures symbolize depression, and the spell that beats it, a Patronus charm, is activated by happy memories. And the metaphors don’t stop with dementors.

The books are filled with inspiration for people struggling with mental health illnesses.

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” says mentor Albus Dumbledore in the third book of the series.

“Thoughts could leave deeper scars than almost anything else,” says school healer Madame Pomfrey in the fifth book of the series.

The messages Rowling sends about overcoming depression have touched fans with the disorder.

“Thanks to Rowling, I had a way to escape my mind,” wrote fan Courtney Heathfield for The Mighty. She had picked up the Harry Potter books around the time she was diagnosed with depression. “Thanks to her I had something to cling to, a mystical, wonderful world that taught me all I needed was love and people who support me and determination to keep myself going, and that helped me more than I think anything else at the time besides my medicine. Her books saved my life, and I never could thank her enough for that.”

Fans have even reached out to Rowling for support. In 2016, a fan in Brazil tweeted Rowling, asking her for advice on “how to scare the dementors that have been living under [her] bed,” according to Time magazine.

“They’re bothering a unique, valuable human being who deserves happiness,” replied Rowling. “Ask for help. Don’t fight alone. Big hug.”

Another fan asked Rowling for advice in 2015, saying, “This may get lost in the noise… but what would you say to someone who has failed to find meaning and wants to finally give up?”

Rowling responded with a stream of heartwarming images accompanied by a message: “Look at this. And this. And even this.

And I’d say, the world is full of wonderful things you haven’t seen yet. Don’t ever give up on the chance of seeing them.”

Rowling is known for responding to her fans,

especially when it concerns mental health. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this lies with Evanna Lynch, the actress who played Luna Lovegood.

Before Lynch was cast as Luna Lovegood, she was in a clinic battling anorexia. During that time, the 11–year–old was a big fan of the Harry Potter series, and she reached out and became a pen pal with Rowling.

“Anyone who’s had an eating disorder knows it completely takes over your life,” said Lynch to People magazine. “And the only thing that could actually take my attention apart from that was the Harry Potter series… [Rowling’s] books, and her kindness really made me want to live again.”

Fans suffering from mental health disorders often turn to Rowling as a role model because she has been through the similar circumstances. While she was writing the Harry Potter series, Rowling struggled with depression and contemplated suicide. “[My baby daughter and I] were as skint as you can be without being homeless, and at that point, I was definitely clinically depressed,” Rowling told HBC Protocols. “All the color drained out of life.”

It was in a flat in Edinburgh where she began to heal.

“These stories saved their author, too,” Rowling wrote on Twitter, as reported by the Huffington Post, in response to a thank-you by a fan with depression. “Nothing makes me happier than to think that they went out into the world to do the same for other people.”

(In RELATION TO the united states) 1990: J.K. Rowling creates idea for Harry Potter on a train ride

july 2, 1998: harry potter and the chamber of secrets is published

july 8, 2000: harry potter and the goblet of fire is published

nov. 15, 2002: harry potter and the chamber of secrets movie is released

july 4, 2004: harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban movie is released

july 30, 1997: Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone is published

july 8, 1999: harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban is published

Nov. 4, 2001: harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone movie is released

july 21, 2003: harry potter and the order of the phoenix is published

july 16, 2005: harry potter and the half blood prince is published

nov. 8, 2005: harry potter and the goblet of fire movie is released july 11, 2007: harry potter and the order of the phoenix movie is released july 21, 2007: harry potter and the deathly hallows published

june 8, 2010: the wizarding world of harry potter opens in orlando, florida

july 15, 2011: harry potter and the deathly hallows: part TWO movie is released

april 7, 2016: the wizarding world of harry potter opens in hollywood, california

july 15, 2009: harry potter and the half blood prince movie is released

nov. 19, 2010: harry potter and the deathly hallows: part ONE movie is released

july 8, 2014: diagon alley added to the wizarding world of harry potter in orlando, florida

july 30, 2016: harry potter and the cursed child play opening night july 30, 2016: Harry potter and the cursed child published

sept. 1, 2017: 19 years later from harry potter and the deathly hallows epilogue

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Compiled by Amanda Ju, Avery Pak & Lindsey Romano

nov. 18, 2016: fantastic beasts and where to find them movie is released nov. 16, 2018: fantastic beasts and where to find them: the crimes of grindenwald Movie is released

Compiled by Avery Pak & Lindsey Romano

12

OPINION

Amandatory Reading

5–Star Students: five star idea, one star app by elliot kim

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In defense of being pretentious by amanda ju featured columnist “Pretentious? Me? Why ever would you say that?” I sigh theatrically, gently shrugging my faux–fur stole off my shoulders to reveal the lace– trimmed dressing gown underneath as I drape myself across the lid of a grand piano strewn with glistening white rose petals while a Lana Del Rey vinyl plays softly in the background.

Okay, slight fake news there. I’m not nearly rich enough to make that happen. But don’t get me wrong — having the money to buy a fainting couch would be nice, but being pretentious doesn’t come with a price tag. It’s an art form.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “pretentious” as “expressive of affected, unwarranted or exaggerated importance.” I say phooey on that malarkey. And I’m here to show you how you, yes, you, can be just as obnoxiously pretentious as I am and gosh darn happy about it, too.

First of all, being pretentious is completely different from being a snob. Snobbiness doesn’t have anything to do with how highbrow your interests are, just feeling the need to justify what you like by invalidating the interests of others.

I see being healthily pretentious as less of an act of dishonesty and more of a state of mind.

(And, of course, worshipping Dave Eggers, the patron saint of self–aggrandizement.) Like, you take yourself too seriously, but you’re self–aware and you laugh at yourself about it.

To illustrate: there’s a difference between scoffing at someone for wearing a Twenty–One Pilots t–shirt versus ironically bedazzling that t– shirt and wearing it to read Allen Ginsberg while sipping cold–brew at your local open mic.

I think that we need to stop putting labels on different kinds of art or lifestyle choices based on how obscure or expensive they are.

If you genuinely love classical, it’s way more fun to melodramatically stare out your bedroom window while listening to Rachmaninoff at 2 a.m. (which I say, um, definitely not from experience) than to shove it in other’s people’s faces. Nothing screams “I haven’t had fun since the Battle of Hastings” then spouting hogwash like “Rihanna isn’t real music.”

I found this quote graffitied by the Strand Bookstore in NYC: “In a society that profits from your self–doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act.” And that was the most aggressively hipster sentence I’ve ever written, but it’s true.

As long as you’re not hurting anyone, liking what you like makes you plenty special.

And since loving yourself is harder than ever before, if it’ll make you happy, what’s stopping you from rocking a beret and being the lovably extra dingus that I just know is slumbering under a white satin duvet deep within you?

And I swear by Dave Eggers’ lifetime supply of pretentiously disheveled polo shirts that if I ever get rich, the first thing I’m going to buy is a red velvet fainting couch.

PHOTO BY CONNIE SHI

BY TO PHO

With technology playing such a large role in society, it is only natural for schools to start adopting technology in and out of the classroom. Recently, WHS has decided to utilize tech for a different cause: student participation.

That’s where the 5–Star Students app comes in. At the start of this year, WHS decided to use the app, according to MC and ASG member Ryan L’Heureux ‘19, to “incentivize participation [by] expanding the class competition of the rallies to incorporate school involvement.” In other words, students are rewarded for attending and participating in various school events.

These rewards are currently handled by the Westlake Fan Club, a team run by Michael Shahidi ‘19 and Bella Shahidi ‘21, that gives prizes to students. Last year, the Fan Club gave out prizes such as Hamilton tickets and included a grand prize drawing at the end of the year for $5000. This year, it has expanded to include more people by adding weekly staff drawings of $50 Wood Ranch gift cards and student drawings of $50 in cash.

Points will also go towards one’s class. The four classes will compete with each other for the highest amount of 5–Star points.

“We [wanted] a Hogwarts–like class competition,” said Scott Pugh ‘19, MC and senior class vice–president. “Admin found the 5–Star app to be the best way to achieving our goal.”

Additionally, the app will be used for student participation in elections, most notably voting for the homecoming and prom courts and voting for future ASG officers.

Honestly, I think having an app like this is a great idea. After all, using an app on your phone to vote is much more convenient than having to go to a booth during lunch or checking your school email. Adding a competitive aspect to school participation is genius — it allows

CASHING OUT: Michael Shahidi and Bella Shahidi present Emma Kirksey ‘21 with this year’s Fan Club Prize at the Homecoming Rally on Sept. 15.

students to compete with their peers for prizes, all while supporting the programs at WHS. However, the actual 5–Star app itself is, ironically, not an app I would rate five stars.

There’s no other way of putting it: it’s pretty bad.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the interface is complicated. There are many more buttons than is necesesary, considering that many of the menu items, notably “News,” “Behaviors” and “Activities,” don’t even show anything. Tapping the “School Page” does not even go to the WHS website. There are no colors in the app besides black, white and blue, and all of the menus look exactly the same. I can’t help but wonder how many students have been put– off by the fact that using the app is super boring.

The usability of the app is also poor. Opening the “Upcoming Events” menu lists all school events in the next month in a grocery–list format, even though the icon shows a calendar, which would have made reading the events much easier.

Navigating to the “School Activities” section lists all the activities offered at WHS, including

clubs, art and athletics, but contains absolutely no information about any of the programs.

The greatest disappointment, however, is the part with the most potential: the “Leaderboards.”

When I saw the icon for the leaderboards, I envisioned a ranking of the most active people in the school, where students would fight to have the most points. Instead of displaying students’ names, it just shows how many points the people in the top 10 positions have. You can’t even check your position in the school leaderboard. To do that, you have to go the “Points” section, then tap on “Points by Period,” a menu I guarantee most students will not even check.

Obviously, the issues with the user interface are the app developer’s fault, not the administration’s or ASG’s, and despite all the issues, I still think the app is a great concept, it just needs a lot of improvement for it to truly fulfill the role it is meant to play. Some usability and design improvements would go a long way in making the 5–Star app an application that students use on a regular basis.

Participation controversy sweeps WHS

by angel lee opinion editor Participation points and bathroom points are two of WHS’s most brutal systems. Teachers see participation as the measure of a student’s attention and productivity, supporting their decision to randomly call on kids throughout the period and give loads of group work. Some teachers turn unused bathroom passes into extra credit points that prompt students to delay nature’s call.

In a response to said teachers, these two structures should be abolished because one fosters unnecessary anxiety, while the other unethically prevents students from relieving themselves.

The process for participation is simple — students will raise their hand if they know the answer to a question for the sake of contributing their knowledge. Despite this obvious behavior, teachers still agitate students and force them to respond even if they do not have an answer.

Social anxiety, not fully acknowledged as a true disorder by some people, is the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people. Being called on in class for a person with social anxiety is a nightmare as the fears of being judged become a ball of nerves. According to Elements Behavioral Health, twenty percent of teenagers suffer from social anxiety, and the rate is still rising. In an ideal world, classrooms would encourage student participation to take place when students are comfortable.

Though merely seen as hand raising and public speaking, participation points can also count

as group work and projects. Specifically in science their upsides as it allows for students to share classes, labs and group work are main devices for their original thoughts. As for group work learning and communication with others. In a and projects, it teaches cooperation and TED Talk by Susan Cane titled “The Power of collaboration, so in instances of disagreements, Introverts,” Cane emphasizes that introverts will people gain insight of different perspectives and work better independently than in groups, pleading respectfully come to a consensus. Bathroom that schools stop urging so much group work. The points compel students to use the restroom separate category for participation points forces during nutrition breaks so that they are introverted students to talk to their peers, creating present for the entire lecture in class. Despite a stressful and nervous atmosphere. the positives of the participation points, it Some teachers will give out paper bathroom imposes unnecessary anxiety and forces passes that offer extra students to collaborate he idea of in credit if unused and will uncomfortable deduct participation bribing students circumstances. Bathroom points for a trip to the points cause students to with extra credit think twice to weigh what restroom. The idea of bribing students with if they do not use the restroom matters more: points for extra credit if they do not a slight grade bump or during class is unethical and relieving themselves to use the restroom during class is unethical and damaging to the health of prevent future health issues. damaging to the health Instead of having points those who hold ‘it’ in.” systems for participation, of those who hold “it” in. According to Quality –Angel Lee teachers should allow Health, the dangers of students to speak at their holding in urine for too own will and work in an long include urinary tract infections and kidney independent style if preferred. Without point damage, so when nature calls, there should be deductions, students would be able to use the no delay of a trip to the restroom. The newly restroom at their own calling without any penalty. enforced rule of banning bathroom use in the Let introverts thrive in their own little world, first and last 10 minutes of a period adds to the because that is where they are most productive pain of holding in pee. With the cafeteria and and the least anxious. Let students pee when they second floor bathrooms rarely open during must instead of enforcing bathroom points and nutrition, there is not enough time for everyone designated times for restroom use — or else we to go, so students utilize class time to make a run. may unapologetically relieve ourselves in your However, participation points have classrooms. How unfortunate.

“T

13

OPINION

Park–HOPPING away from day passes

Your MonthLi Dose

by michelle hang

ZH A

NI E

For those who know me, maybe it’s obvious why I am writing this article, but for anyone that doesn’t, I love Disney. I have an annual pass and go to Disneyland at least once a month.

The main reason why I have an annual pass is because living in Southern California means that the commute time is short, and I have the opportunity to experience every aspect that Disney has to offer. A common question I’m asked is, “Is it worth it to buy a ticket for the day?” and, surprisingly, I would say no.

Disneyland is a magical and memorable place, especially for holidays and celebrations. With the 60–foot Christmas tree decked out in holiday decorations, it is sure to be an awesome experience.

Disneyland is known as the happiest place on earth, but it’s also the busiest place on Earth.

With the newest additions at Disneyland and Star Wars Land and Marvel Land opening within the next two years, it gives the park an excuse to increase ticket prices every year. The company knows attendance won’t decrease, so the park is able to take advantage of raising ticket prices.

Comparing prices from last year to this year, prices increased. In 2016, Disneyland changed its system to sell tickets in three categories: “value,” “regular” and “peak.” Peak days are days in which the parks are most crowded, like the holidays and school breaks, and value days are days in which they expect the attendance to be lower.

In addition, people choose whether they want a one–park or Park Hopper ticket. Ticket prices increased up to nine dollars for day passes.

The only exceptions for increased ticket prices

NG

business manager & photo editor

P

Y OB HOT

LA ME

Codename: CEO by alex li opinion section editor

GRAPHIC BY MICHELLE HANG

are the “value” tickets for one park and Park Hopper tickets which decreased during the off– season days.

Locals have found a solution to high prices by buying annual passes for their Disney visits.

Even though the price may seem intimidating, starting at $369 and ranging up to $1,149, getting an annual pass presents an opportunity for extreme savings for those people who want to attend the park multiple times a year. The annual pass price is equivalent to about four one day tickets to Disneyland and includes additional savings such as discounts on food and merchandise.

Based on my frequent visits to the park, I agree that going to Disneyland for one day is challenging. The park is usually busy. Parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot takes at least 30 minutes as families are waiting in line to pay

for parking. Then it takes about 15–30 minutes for security and riding the tram to finally get to the entrance of the parks.

Lines for attractions are unnecessarily long.

Luckily, fast passes are available for people to maximize their time. Even food and restaurants have lines where people might have to wait up to 20 minutes just to get their food. When Pixar Pier opened, Disneyland became even more populated. Because pass holders have the opportunity to go as much as they want, with the exception of the blockout dates, they drive the attendance even higher.

Yes, Disneyland is a happy and magical place, but the prices are not justified for the day.

I want everyone to experience the same joy I feel at Disneyland, but unless you have an annual pass, I can’t see it being worth it.

Christmas music is for every season

Holiday music is for December only

The weather starts to cool, and walking outside brings a crisp breeze and swirling leaves falling from the trees. Soon, colorful lights on the petite houses along the street will brighten the wintery night.

While strolling along, sounds of laughter, love and sweet music fill the air. It’s the holiday season, and everyone can’t help but hold on to the finite joy that will surely cease the minute the new year rolls around.

While many become upset at the end of the holiday season, one way to carry the spirit on is through holiday music. Although many believe holiday music is only appropriate for the season it portrays, there is nothing wrong with all–year holiday music to keep the spirit alive.

Holiday music allows people to recall the memories associated with the time of year. Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Rhonda Freeman stated in an article by NBC News that the reminiscent feeling brought about by holiday music releases relaxing chemicals within the body such as dopamine.

Listeners remember the exhilarating experience of gift giving, the love surrounding meeting with family and maybe even the joy of getting involved in local charities brings. Similar to how certain songs act as a reminder of an event or a person, holiday music symbolizes the holiday spirit.

Furthermore, seasonal music is typically pulled into the same category as twinkle lights, decorated trees and snow days, making it almost odd to listen to during any other time of year. However, it is often overlooked that holiday music is a genre just like country or rock. While some people can’t help but break out in dance and song when they hear country, others would much rather listen to pop, rock and even holiday music.

On top of this, because so many new variations continue to be released, the songs have stayed relevant for a long period of time. While top hits may last a season at best, many classic holiday songs have been around for decades, only modified to the changing times. Because holiday songs have maintained their prominence, they are easy go–to tunes that won’t be last year’s news.

Essentially, holiday music has so many advantages for one’s emotional state as well as a strongly established selection, so it only makes sense that it should earn its rightful place all year long.

It’s October. You’re joyously searching the aisles at Target in order to stock up on Reese’s and Kit Kat bags, all thoughts centered on the upcoming holiday: Halloween. You cannot resist the force that lures you to binge countless movies on Freeform.

Time passes, and it is now November. The table is embellished with abundant servings of fluffy stuffing, a perfectly bronzed turkey and ruby– red cranberries.

Finally, the year rolls around to December. Every plaza is adorned with a surplus of Christmas lights. Numerous renditions of “All I Want for Christmas is You” are cycled on the radio.

We’ve reached the final quarter of the year — quite arguably the best quarter of the year. Each month involves so much festivity of its own, which maintains an appropriate balance between them. It only makes sense that Halloween movies stay in October, Thanksgiving meals stay in November and holiday music stays in December.

According to clinical psychologist Linda Blair, playing Christmas music unseasonably can have negative effects on listeners: stress inducement.

Mental health can be significantly impacted by turning on holiday tunes early because it reminds listeners of holiday busy–ness.

In fact, many retail stores begin playing holiday music two months before Christmas Day. According to a survey completed by the Tampa Bay Times in 2017, Best Buy played holiday tunes as early as Oct. 22, and Sears, Kmart and Michaels began on roughly November 1.

Every year, many people purchase advent calendars in order to build up the anticipation leading up to Christmas Day. For those who celebrate other holidays (such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) or simply like to enjoy the festivities of December, crossing Nov. 30 off on the calendar initiates the anticipation and excitement of December.

Thus, it is unfitting to begin such anticipation too early by listening to holiday music before Thanksgiving. In doing so, the excitement of the holidays is drawn out for far too long.

There’s nothing like hitting that “‘tis the season!!!” playlist on Dec. 1, when the time is right.

Written by Lindsey Romano

Written by Avery Pak

Many celebrities don’t wear the same dress or suit more than once in public. They have countless stylists and people obsessing over the perfect red carpet look. I only have myself in the mornings, and it takes a lot of effort to turn this mess into something presentable. I turn my whirlwind of a closet into seemingly coherent outfits — but not without careful deliberation.

Yet there are people out there like Mark Zuckerberg that sport the same gray t–shirt and jeans everyday. Even fashion designer Michael Kors ironically wears the same black “uniform” everyday. It all comes down to efficiency for these pioneers of industry; why should they worry about their outfits when they have multi– billion dollar companies to run?

Channeling my inner Steve Jobs, Zuck and Kors, I embarked on a journey to find the CEO inside of me. I wore the same minimalist outfit for an entire week: black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and white shoes. Below are my observations from the experiment.

Day 1: Woke up late, skipped breakfast, walked into first period late — not very CEO– like of me. If I had to think about what I was going to wear, however, I probably would have missed the start of my AP Art History quiz, so maybe Zuckerberg knows what’s up.

Day 2: Rally day worked out well for me, as I was conveniently wearing black already. I was comfortable, but do CEOs usually get this hot? By the end of the day I was sweating up a storm. Are my sweat glands just not built like a CEO? Maybe this life wasn’t meant for me.

Day 3: I got dressed today — looking very CEO chic if I might add — but I realized it was Tourist Tuesday, so I threw on a beach hat and walked out the door. I’ve never been more efficient in my life. I’m expecting Microsoft and Uber to hit up my phone within the next 24 hours if they’re looking for a new CEO. Day 4: I got to school early today, but I managed to fall asleep during my first period and chemistry test. Maybe Jobs is looking down on me with a smile, remembering the same struggle. At least I was warm and comfy in my CEO attire as I drifted to sleep...

Day 5: Woke up to my alarm and slipped on my blackout uniform. I feel like I could do this for the rest of my life. The day was smooth and uneventful, but CEOs can’t change the world everyday. Still waiting for my call from Microsoft though.

As you can all see, I deserve to be CEO of some company in the near future.

I channelled my inner Zuck and felt my efficiency and productivity skyrocket. I only took four naps throughout the week — that’s legitimately impressive if you ask me.

My days of the CEO uniform are over, and I’ll miss the ease of gettind dressed in the morning, but at least I can wear my purple Crocs again.

14

SPORTS

Regiment plays at speed of sound

by connie shi & milla wu co–web master–in–chief & co–editor–in–chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVe DRABECK

WHS regiment is playing strong, building on its talent despite the demands of this season.

“Over the years, our strength has been our music,” said band director Brian Peter. “This year is no different.”

Regiment consists of the marching band, color guard and drumline, which includes both the pit sections and battery. All members work together to coordinate and seamlessly blend their routines.

This year’s theme for their performance is “Speed of Sound,” which is conveyed with faster tempos and visual movements resembling sound waves.

This year’s marching band and color guard are substantially smaller than last year, with 94 people total compared to 114; additionally, over 20 seniors graduated last year.

“One thing with a smaller team is that the instructors get more one–on–time with each individual, so we’re able to get more attention from them, get more feedback [and] focus on improving ourselves,” said pit section leader Annie Wong ‘19.

“Having less people allows us to dial in specifically on the clarity and have less clutter.”

The pit consists of stationary mallet and auxiliary percussion as well as synthesizers.

“At its core, the pit’s function in the marching band is to embellish and enrich the existing musical colors of the band as well as carry harmonic, melodic and percussive interest of their own,” said head percussion instructor and WHS alumni Phil Idell ‘08, who also participated in regiment under Peter.

The smaller team size also means that

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Along with marching and playing, regiment choreographs routines for its shows.

Performing at football halftime shows helped prepare regiment for performance season.

WHS has switched divisions, which are based on population; WHS now competes in Division 3A instead of Division 4A. “Last year we were at the very beginning of 4A, so that put us at a disadvantage,” said Chloe Brill ‘19, horn sergeant and baritone/euphonium section leader.

“This year we’re more mid/top range of 3A peoplewise, so that gives us a bit more of an advantage.”

The team has also been doing more Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association competitions, which are more local than the Western Band Association competitions from previous years.

“SCSBOA is Southern California only, [while WBA includes California, Arizona and Nevada],” said Wong. “We won’t have to

travel as far, and I do think this will allow for more rehearsal ‘cramming’ right before the championship performance, which will help with getting ourselves in the right mindset.”

Regiment first started practicing during band camp two weeks prior to the start of school, during which members were taught basic foundational techniques, as well as introduced to the music involved in the performance.

“In band camp, … we do a lot of section bonding where we do a lot of group activities as a whole ... so we’re able to connect,” said senior drum major Leo Roberts ‘19. “Being able to start that social aspect early really helps [freshmen] a lot.”

This early start has been instrumental in

building an interconnected, supportive team.

“It doesn’t matter if they have a bad show or bad rehearsal, they show up the next day with the desire to get better,” said battery instructor Mietron Shahbodaghloo.

On Oct. 27, regiment won first place for visual performance and music overall at Simi Valley High School; they followed it up with a first place overall band in division 3A at the SCSBOA Hart Rampage Tournament, but are still looking to “increase consistency between rehearsals and competitions,” according to Wong.

“Just in the last two weeks, I’ve seen battery improve exponentially,” said Katie Reul ‘19, drum captain and center snare. “All of the marching looked a lot better, the bass drums sounded more solid and the high drums sounded a lot more cohesive as a unit.”

A key part of regiment performance is the synchronization of all sections, including the color guard and marching band.

“There is a moment in this year’s show that is a ripple of color guard rifle tosses, and behind [the color guard], the band is doing body visuals to compliment these ripple tosses to create a sound wave effect,” said color guard coach Rob Guzman.

“If [the color guard] miss[es] their mark, it could affect everyone.”

SCSBOA averages out all the competition scores and the teams with the highest scores are eligible to qualify for SCSBOA finals.

Regiment’s next competition date is Nov. 10, during which they will perform at both Moorpark High School and Oxnard High School in two competitions.

Assistant drum major Ethan Gillis ‘20 said, “I’m definitely looking forward to championships and seeing all the other bands as they progress.”

Warrior recruits reach new heights De’Gabriel Floyd ‘19, University of Texas Inside linebacker, kick returner and runningback De’Gabriel Floyd chose the University of Texas, Austin, earlier this year. Taking official visits, Floyd knew it was the right choice instantly.

“I felt really comfortable when I took my trips,” said Floyd. “It was just a really good feeling being out there with my family in a good environment.”

Now, Floyd is looking forward to finishing his WHS football career strong and working towards his new career as a Longhorn.

“I’m looking forward to making memories,” said Floyd.

“Hopefully I’ll be a part of a dynasty at Texas.”

Jen Trephan ‘19, Sonoma State University Jen Trephan, co–captain, setter and opposite, will continue her volleyball career into college. Trephan will attend Sonoma State University, playing alongside her older sister.

“I visited there over the summer, and I really liked the coach and the vibe I was getting for all the players,” said Trephan with a smile. “My sister is also on the team, so I’m excited for that.”

Now that Trephan has decided on her future, she can solely focus on school and gives thanks to her former coaches.

“I had this coach, Tim Jensen, who was super helpful,” said Trephan. “I only had him for one year, but he was super inspirational to me in this process.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Toni Sottile ‘19, University of San Francisco Girls golf captain Toni Sotille made the decision to play at the University of San Francisco.

Choosing to stay in California was a simple decision for the four–year varsity player.

“The first thing that attracted me was the location,” said Sotille about the Bay Area school. “Once I talked to the coach, that was what locked me in.”

Committing is just one step in the process; however, it allowed time for her to focus on her interests without the stress that every other WHS senior is tackling at the moment.

Sottile said, “It was so nice to just focus on school and golf without constantly worrying about college.”

Ashley Webb ‘19, Washington and Lee University Ashley Webb, co–captain, setter and opposite, will also continue her volleyball career at Washington and Lee University.

Choosing W&L was easy for Webb, having an avid interest in history and receiving support from her close friends and family.

“The school is very historical with a lot of Civil War history surrounding it,” said Webb. “My sister helped in my decision because she goes there. My mom and dad were super supportive in general.”

After committing, Webb has no regrets and excitedly awaits her next steps.

“I was so relieved.” said Webb. “Everything has settled down, and I’m happy with my choice.”

Compiled by Akhil Gutta & Alex Li

15

SPORTS

Girls volleyball (6)

The girls only lost twice the entire season, but their run was cut short on Oct. 18 in the first round of CIF against Redondo Union High School.

“We had one of the nation’s longest winning streaks going into our last game,” said head coach Ernest Rittenhouse. “Certainly, we remain Ventura County’s top volleyball program.”

Compiled by Connie Shi & Melanie Zhang

Winter sports preview: athletes to watch

As fall sports come to a close, winter season is just around the corner. Here are four key athletes to keep an eye on who will play an instrumental role in WHS’s upcoming winter sports.

Boys soccer: Colin Iversen ‘19 What’s your favorite part about soccer?

“I love being part of a community that feels the same way about soccer that I do.”

What are you looking forward to this season?

“I want to see our younger kids match up with other teams that have way more seniors than we do. Hopefully we can keep up with the rest of the league.”

Who’s your inspiration, and why, professional or otherwise?

“Coach Bill Propster. He’s a great inspiration. He’s dedicated to the team; no matter how good the team is—he never gives up on us.”

Boys basketball: Kyle MacLean ‘20 What’s your favorite part about basektball?

“I love the competitiveness and the feeling when we win. I play to win and compete.”

What are you looking forward to this season?

“I want to see how our team looks, but the goal is obviously going undefeated.”

Who’s your inspiration, and why, professional or otherwise?

“I love Stephen Curry. My role is to make shots, and he’s one of the best to ever do it, so I model my game off him.”

What’s the best pregame hype song? “‘Biggest Alley Oop’ [by] Quavo”

Girls soccer: Sarah Upton ‘19 What’s your favorite part about soccer?

“I love playing at night under the stadium lights.”

Who’s your inspiration, and why, professional or otherwise?

“Both my brothers play professional, so it’s easy to look up to them. I’ve grown up with them, and they’re much older than me, so they’re a big part of my life.”

What’s the best pregame hype song? “‘Fight Night’ [by] Migos” What’s your pregame snack?

“Belvita bars for sure.”

Girls water polo: Caroline Oates ‘21 What’s your favorite part about water polo?

“I’ve been playing the sport for six years now, and with every team I’ve cycled through, I love the teammates the most. It’s a really special bond that we have because we really have to communicate to work well together.”

What are your personal goals for this season?

“I’d like to make First Team All–Marmonte this year after I got Second Team last year.”

What’s your pregame snack?

“I like to eat peanut butter a lot. I don’t know why…”

Compiled by Akhil Gutta, Alex Li & Connie Shi Photos Courtesy of Cornerstone Photography, Kyle MacLean & Sarah Upton

girls

Record: Girls–1st, Boys–3rd Next meet: Nov. 9 at Riverside Golf Course Location: Riverside

Field hockey ootball F Golf ennis T

Record: 2W–11L Next game: Season Over

boys

Placing third in Marmonte League, the boys water polo team played against Sergestrom High School on Oct. 30.

“We started off this season pretty hard, but ... it didn’t really show,” said Will Hollister ‘19.

“In league games we definitely started working together. I think [in the last game] we just had a bad game.”

C

ross country

Record: 7W–3L Next game: Season Over

girls

Boys water polo (5)

Toni Sottile ‘19

Jen Trephan ‘19 Jenevieve Weissman ‘20 Ashley Webb ‘19

6

(as of Nov. 5)

Record: 7W–2L Next game: Season Over

girls

The girls dominated this season and are fighting their way to Division I Finals, playing against San Marino on Monday in Quarter Finals.

“Our underclassmen have been our secret weapons,” said co–team captain Lia Robbins ‘19. “[They] are all very good additions to our team.”

Rachel Sherrill ‘22

Kamren Fabiculanan ‘19

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WEBB

Girls tennis (4)

2 PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSS FULGENTIS

Girls golf (3)

The girls team competed in the Individual Finals CIF competition last Thursday. Toni Sottile ‘19 is the only player from WHS who will advance to the individual WSCGA on Nov. 8 which will determine whether she will play at State.

“I’m definitely [nervous], since I’ve never been this far before,” said Sottile. “But I’m more excited.”

Jack Sweet ‘20

4 PHOTO COURTESY OF LIA ROBBINS

After losing to Los Alamitos High School last Friday, the football team wrapped up its season in third place in Marmonte League. “[The season] had its down parts and a rough ending, but overall, it was a good season,” said Kevin Garand ‘19.

Drake Nienow ‘19 Adam Burroughs ‘21 Owen Kobett ‘21

5

PHOTO BY JEFF MENDOZA

Boys football (2)

1 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF STONE SHI

Both teams are advancing the CIF-SS prelims this Friday. The girls team hopes to make it to state, while the boys team hopes to finish in the top 10 at CIF–SS Finals.

“Team packing and running close to each other is a really good strategy that can lead to success in the postseason,” said head coach Chad Scott.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TED SILVERBERG

Cross country (1)

Record: 17W–1L Next game: Nov. 5 vs. San Marino Location: WHS

Volleyball

girls

With the end of fall, many of WHS’s fall sports are gearing up for the California Scholastic Federation postseason (as of Nov. 5).

Fall Sports Stat Box

Record: 33W–2L Next game: Season Over

Water polo

boys

contenders

WHS’s

Record: 11W–15L Next game: Season Over

For the latest sports updates, stories and scores, visit the WHS athletics website at westlakeathletics.net.

Compiled by Marc Andrew Choi

16

PHOTO ESSAY

On Nov. 15, WHS AP Studio Art students will participate in a show at California State University Channel Islands. From 6–8 p.m., guests can attend the collective at Napa Hall to view art on mediums such as painting and photography that students use to express themselves.

ART COURTESY OF MORGAN MAY (DETAIL)

ART COURTESY OF NATALIE NITZSCHE (DETAIL)

ART COURTESY OF CADEN MCQUEEN (DETAIL)

Caden McQueen ‘19

Natalie Nitzsche ‘19

Morgan May ‘20

“Lots of the art world is very nebulous and fancy and high–concept, and it’s not really that accessible. I think the show is definitely going to do a lot to bring it down to earth.”

“I’m excited to hear feedback, especially because I’m taking this class again, by choice ... I want to do better than I did last year, so I’d love people to let me know [what they think.]”

“[My project is] inspirational, creative and ... dark. [I’m excited] to share my artwork. [I am nervous about] not getting a good grade on it or maybe [people] don’t like it.”

Compiled by Sona Bhargava, Jamie Lee & Quinn Moss