THE
ARROW
VOLUME XXXVI, ISSUE 1
\100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362
OCTOBER 7, 2014
For Homecoming itʼs a fantasy land Rachel Finegold Sports Editor
Class of 2015
S-E-N-I-O-R-S: (On the left) Matt Bennett rallies the senior crowd. The senior homecoming nominees walk the red carpet. (From left to right) Reno Dubriel, Maddy McClung, Daniel Davanzo, Lily Danzinger, Ryan Chen, Jamie Park, Jesse Cuccia, and Holly Cronin.
PHOTOS BY GREER NELSON
WHS students will enter a fantasy world for Homecoming 2014. Themes for this year’s homecoming dance are Tomorrowland for the freshman, Candyland for the sophomores, Neverland for the juniors, and Wonderland for the seniors. The homecoming dance is Oct. 11, from 8-11 p.m. The dance will be decorated differently from previous years focusing on décor for the senior theme, Wonderland. The gym will be draped and the bleachers up to make room for a lounge area with two hockey tables and a stage for the DJ and the homecoming nominees. The night will consist of dancing and hanging with friends, culminating in the announcement of the Homecoming Princes and Princesses. Senior nominees are Lily Danzinger, Jamie Park, Holly Cronin, Maddy McClung, Jesse Cuccia, Reno Dubriel, Ryan Chen, and Daniel Davanzo. Junior nominees are Annie Heyman, Cassandra Bateman, Kelly Fobes, Makayla Bush, Ryan Osborne, Trevor Burtzloff, and Noah Schwartz. The sophomore nominees are Mary Grace Weigel, Julia Feinbloom, Nicole Ship, Gigi Koonce, Zach Lorch, Tommy Perry, Andrew L‘Heureux, and J.R. Marquez. The freshman nominees are Anelis Heim, Hannah Brock, Alexa Kasparian, Jessica Samuels, Eder Poot, Tony Drabeck, Nick Silver, and Albert Zhang. Tickets are available at the student store for $45 with an ASB sticker and $50 without. Ticket can be purchased for $50 at the door. The week of the rally all classes should wear their class colors which will lead up to the lunch rally on Oct. 10. On Tuesday, freshman wear orange, on Wednesday, sophomores wear blue, on Thursday, juniors wear white, and on Friday seniors wear black.
Carpenter to serve as interim principal Heidi Chiu News Editor
in this issue Page 2 Saving Elephants
TIM CARPENTER will put vacations on hold since taking the job as interim principal for WHS.
Page 3 Teacher Vacations
Page 8 New Teachers
Page 11 Football
COURTESY PHOTO
Following Ronald Lipari’s June retirement, Tim Carpenter agreed to serve as the Interim Principal until the CVUSD chooses his successor. Assistant Principal of Instruction, Nicole Judd will share some responsibilities with Carpenter. As of now, he will serve as Principal until January, time to time in the few months after, and a couple weeks at the end of the school year.
Before coming to WHS, Carpenter actually retired in June 2013, after working in the CVUSD for 40 years. He has served in a variety of positions, including Sequoia Middle School teacher, Thousand Oaks High School Dean and Principal, Colina Middle School and Conejo Valley High School Assistant Principal, Redwood Middle School Principal, and Deputy Superintendent of Personnel. “WHS is a great high school. My goal is to keep the great traditions moving forward,” said Carpenter.
2
NEWS THE ARROW WHS welcomes new counselor OCTOBER 7, 2014
New counselor Greg Jackson is responsible for students with last names starting with Df to G. In high school, he was in Journalism for four years as sports editor, and senior year he was the editorin-chief. He graduated from USC with a degree in psychology.
Charity event to be held at Sherwood Country Club
Q: What previous experience do you have being a counselor? A: I spent the last two years at Calabasas High School and before that I was over at Agoura. Q: How is WHS different? A: WHS is such a phenomenal school from top to bottom from the athletics to the academics to the after school activities to the staff. It’s really one of the best schools not only in the state but the entire country.
PSAT to be held at WHS
The PSAT this year will be held on Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For juniors, the PSAT is an opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Results for scholarship will be announced next fall and winners will proceed to compete for the finalist position.
Students recognized as National Merit Semifinalists This year, 15 students were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. Current seniors who took the PSAT last year needed to score at least a 222 to qualify. This year’s National Merit Semifinalists are seniors Adrish Anand, Alec Cheng, Annie Cheng, Andrew Gourley, Benjamin Hannel, David Huang, Sumant Iyer, Amy Li, Frances Ling, Sophie Piao, Katherine Sham, Kevin Shen, Samantha Tsai, Timur Vural, and Maxwell Wang.
Club Rush to be held
Q: What do you like to do in your free time? A: I’m all about sports. I love watching them, playing them, and going to them. Q: If you had to choose three words to describe yourself what would they be? A: Honest, straightforward, and loyal.
GREG JACKSON begins his first year at WHS as a counselor.
Senior works to rescue animals Donahue inducted
into hall of fame
Michelle Choi
Max Wang
Julia Cohen ‘15 spent two weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand experiencing what it’s like to be a veterinarian at the Animal Rescue Kingdom dog shelter. Cohen, and her fellow volunteers were able to make a difference to the health and well-beings of these abandoned dogs by providing check-ups and cleanings, diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, and other veterinary treatments. Cohen also spent a week at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand, caring and feeding them. The Elephant Nature Park is home to over 40 elephants who have been rescued from trekking, logging, or forced breeding programs. “I’m really grateful for the experiences I’ve gained from Thailand. It was really relaxing and fun and it inspired me even more to pursue a veterinary route,” she said.
Social Science teacher and Coach Thomas Donahue was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame in his hometown, Hazleton, Pennsylvania for his achievements in playing and coaching basketball. Donahue was named MVP at his community college and Wilkes University before playing professionally for three years. Afterwards, Donahue coached basketball in Hazelton and Philadelphia, and has coached at WHS for 13 years. He has also been named Ventura Coach of the Year. Donahue said that he was very proud when he found out about his induction, because Pennsylvania is such an athletically competitive area. “The induction ceremony gave me an opportunity to see all my family members and friends, ex-teammates, players, coaches, all in one big area at the banquet. It was like a reunion,” said Donahue.
Opinion Editor
Experience the BEST, with a BONUS: rt place. LOVE Still my favorite yogu
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News Editor
COURTESY PHOTO
Club Rush is a yearly event that allows students to get involved with the school. This year it will take place on Oct. 24 during lunch in the courtyard near the amphitheater and wigwam. About 80 tables will be lined up to showcase participating clubs.
PHOTO BY HEIDI CHIU
The Helen Harrison Fine Art Aid for Children, Corp. is hosting a cocktail reception at the Sherwood Country Club on Oct. 22 to raise money for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. The organization was founded by Daniel Harrison ‘15 in memory of his mother. For tickets, contact harridan@verizon.net.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a counselor? A: When you help kids who didn’t think they could do it. Sometimes kids get into a pattern where they hear a lot of negativity and then they start to believe that negativity and they don’t believe in themselves and that they can do it. When you are able to reach them and help them see that they aren’t limited in what they can do and that they can really do anything they want, that is such a great moment for me.
ANIMAL SAVER: Cohen helps mistreated elephants in Thailand.
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FEATURE
OCTOBER 7, 2014
THE ARROW Vacation Photo Archive
3
Jaisen Lim
Feature Editor
Math teacher Andrea Sansing, got married this summer. For her honeymoon, Sansing went on a cruise in the Mediterranean visiting countries like Greece, Spain, Italy, France, and Turkey over a 12 day period. One of her favorite places she visited on the trip was Barcelona, Spain. “Mrs. Carlisle made my cake and cupcakes for the wedding which was very special. They were delicious!” said Sansing.
S
ummer is a time for students and teachers to relax, spend time with family and friends, and sleep in. Teachers also don't have to worry about grading papers and lesson plans. Students might be surprised to learn about the many adventures WHS teachers had this summer.
Newlywed English teacher Danielle Mier spent the summer coordinating her wedding, which was held at a private ranch in Hidden Valley. “My favorite part of the summer was getting to throw a huge party (my wedding) and then going on an awesome vacation (to Catalina),” said Mier. The real honeymoon will be during winter break when the couple will travel to Bora Bora and New Zealand.
Ceramics teacher Missy Zuckerman taught at high school cheer leading camps throughout California, went to the beach, relaxed with family and friends, and played kickball. “I got started playing adult kickball about two years ago. Mr. Freed is the one who introduced me to this hobby,” said Zuckerman.
French and Spanish teacher, Colleen Darden, along with her two children, Troy and Chad, traveled to Michigan for three weeks and visited relatives in Ohio. “We went camping for four days at Jalama Beach. What a gem of a place!” said Darden.
Geometry and Career Prep teacher Richard Acton spent time last summer gardening and remodeling homes. He has completed various projects on his own home and those of his family. Between June and August, Acton traveled throughout the Caribbean on a weeklong cruise, visited Disney World, and saw his daughter get married. “The most significant thing in our family this summer was my daughter’s wedding,” said Acton.
Math teacher Chad Scott spent his summer attending Dodger games and scuba diving in Key Largo, Florida with family. Over the years, he has gone scuba diving in Hawaii, Cozumel, and Florida. “No summer would be complete without trips to Dodger Stadium with Mr. Korshavn. I’ve been to 16 games since the season began!” said Scott.
4
OPINION
THE ARROW
Monsters, Inc.
HUMANS of
WESTLAKE
Q:
OCTOBER 7, 2014
Pranav Kaygee Feature Editor
If you could choose any teacher to have as your companion during the zombie apocalypse, whom would you choose and why?
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE CHOI
Add Oculus VR to the long line of big-name companies (most notably WhatsApp and Instagram) that have been acquired by the ever so power-hungry Facebook. Soon enough, we will be enjoying virtual-reality Farmville with the Oculus rift, while Facebook monitors anything and everything we do. After Facebook cashed in a trivial sum of $1 billion in order to gobble up the world’s most famous photo sharing network, people everywhere were able to seamlessly connect to their favorite social media sites. Amazon was able to grasp its control over Audible. com, and even purchased shoe and clothing store Zappos. com for $1.2 billion. Recently, Comcast Cable shocked the world when it announced that it would acquire Time Warner Cable, one of the largest television companies in the world, for over $67 billion. Google, notoriously the most dangerous of super companies, has acquired over 160 companies and has its firm hold on Motorola Mobility and Android. What’s so bad about this? On the plus side, increasing numbers of smaller companies are being absorbed into larger ones. This allows people to have all their “stuff” in one place. In a way, this benefits users by allowing them to
effortlessly connect information from one place to another. The real downside is hidden behind-the-scenes. Facebook’s social networking site has a billion active users (and counting). This doesn’t even include the number of people using Instagram, Oculus Rift, Guitar Hero, or the numerous other products the company has stealthily purchased over the years. Facebook has the personal information of nearly 20% of the world population. Technically speaking, Facebook has more resources on population statistics than any state government in the world. This would be acceptable if Facebook were not known for conducting experiments and breaching into private data. Companies like Amazon and Google are continually absorbing small start-up companies. It is safe to say that these “super companies” own a large portion of the market share and have complete control of their acquired companies. This allows these large companies to monopolize certain products in their favor. The complete control over a diverse market can damage the success of other smaller companies. Borders, a once successful international bookstore and retailer, went out of business in 2011, due to Amazon and other online retailers. These super companies may not be building Skynet terminators in the near future, but their dominance in society will allow them to slowly take over the world.
WISE is wise
Neil Bhatia ‘15 “I would choose Mr. Holloway, because he is a genius physics teacher, and he can make a plasma cannon to defend against the zombies.”
program could either enjoy a longer lunch period or act as mentors for the new students. Those who sacrificed their precious time were given Those of us who experienced WISE last year have community service hours, allowing students to volunteer mixed feelings. For last year’s sophomores and upper in school and spend less time looking for opportunities classmen, it was a gift from God; We were blessed with elsewhere. shorter classes, CPT every Friday, and a 56 minute lunch. Last year, over 200 students attended the WISE meetBut for the incoming freshman guinea pigs, it was a con- ing hoping to become W.O.W. counselors over the summer fusing year with a 26 minute advisory period cutting into or WISE mentors during the school year. their lunch break. Before the 2014-2015 school year, WHS teachers voted Two years ago, the WHS teachfor the continuation of the advisory proers and staff voted to implement the gram. Despite receiving 65% approval, Westlake Intervention Student Ene might the program did not meet the minimum richment program. They wanted to cut of 70%, and was scrapped from the revisit it in schedule. help students with homework and later years. other aspects of school life. But don’t fret: this does not eliminate Though the staff and teachers The staff understands the the possibility of the WISE Program resucceeded, many of the students The WISE Program was a success need to help students who turning. with a GPA of 2.5 or lower, as well when it came to the betterment of student are struggling. academics. as the new freshmen, detested the program. “A lot of data showed that the num-Nicole Judd The time spent working on ber of D’s and F’s went down,” said Asstudy techniques and on getting sistant Principal Nicole Judd. “Grades into college proved to be too much improved.” for the WISE students. They complained about the futility “There are still small kinks in the program that need to of time spent doing schoolwork and studying instead of be worked out,” said Judd, “but we might revisit it in later meeting their friends. years. The staff understands the need to help students who The WISE Program was mandatory for freshmen and are struggling.” any other WHS student who had a GPA of 2.5 or below. The program was such a wise idea because it encourThe main reasoning behind this program was to proac- aged students to excel. The extra 26 minutes per day paid tively help students who were struggling and to welcome off with higher grades and GPAs. freshmen and allow them to feel as though they were a part Though the WISE advisory period had mixed reviews, of the school. it improved the school and its students. Hopefully, we will Students who were not required to be in the WISE see the return of this program in coming years.
Ashwin Rangarajan Feature Editor
Conor Richards ‘15 “Nigro. He’s not athletic.”
Wesley Zhang ‘17, Grant Cho ‘17, Stan Liao ‘17, Sara Peterson ‘17, Meggy Zhou ‘17 “Dale, because her vast knowledge of Euro will allow us to set up a stable government; Freed, cause he has a crow bar. Erickson would be able to help us find a cure, but he’d probably end up dying in the apocalypse.”
“W
Although the majority of teachers approved WISE for the current school year, it did not reach the minimum cut of 70% and did not pass. The Arrow asked 171 WHS students if they supported WISE.
Emily Dale “Definitely Mallen. She’s my friend and is also extremely clever. She would be able to get us out of tough situations. Also, instead of having one distinct leader, we would be equals. I’m pretty sure that she would also be okay with killing me if I was bitten.”
Juniors Seniors
Sophomores
OPINION
5
THE ARROW
OCTOBER 7, 2014
Senior confessions
Mara Rothbard Opinion Editor
Every high school student is asked three common questions: 1) “What college do you want to attend?” Going into freshman year, I was told that I should join clubs, be in a sport, get involved with the school, and achieve good grades in order to be accepted into college. I did not do any of that. As a freshman, I did not worry about preparing for college because I still had three years left. Right now, as a senior, I wish I had. But now I wonder if I wish I had because I actually wanted to, or if I am afraid that colleges will not accept me. College is always something people are talking about, and I’ve learned that I have to be able to deal with that fact. It is exciting to look to the future, but it should not be the only topic of discussion. 2) “What’s your GPA?” I confess I want to know “who is smarter.” But I hate this question at the same time--especially since a GPA doesn’t define a person. Nevertheless, it has become the overwhelming measurement of a high school student. Especially when we are surrounded by students who have 4.0+ GPAs. 3) “What do you want to do with your life?” At each grade level the question stuck with me. It’s hard to know what I want to do with my life when I have barely lived. And also, does it really even matter? Your life isn’t defined from a career anyhow. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you can change it whenever you want. I think it’s completely normal to not know what you want to do with your life. We’ve all wished that we could start over: I wish I had done better on the SAT or raised my GPA or tried harder. Sometimes, the idea of starting over sounds nice, but its also important to accept the place you are at now and not let these things run the way you live.
THE
ARROW
Editor-in-chief
Frances Ling
News Editors Heidi Chiu, Max Wang
Opinion Editors Michelle Choi, Mara Rothbard, Helen Shi, Amanda Yao
ILLUSTRATION BY PRANAV KAYGEE
The race for colleges Pranav Kaygee Feature Editor
Colleges love diversity. It is every university’s goal. A statistic to show the world that they care about everyone and anyone… or do they? Many universities tout a “holistic approach” to their admissions. This “approach” claims that admissions officers look over GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars and pool these factors into admissions. While these “factors” are important in a college admission, multiple reports claim that admissions officers have biases when it comes to the ethnicity or race of the student. Two years ago, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights had investigated complaints concerning a discrimination against Asian-American applicants of Harvard and Princeton The complaints suggest that colleges expect higher SAT or ACT scores from Asian-American students than those of white students. Harvard University’s senior
Feature Editors Kallyn Hobmann, Pranav Kaygee, Jaisen Lim, Ashwin Rangarajan, Alex Shi
Amanda Yao
Matt Donovan, Rachel Finegold
Staff Writer Jerry Song
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 and is published monthly. The opinions expressed in these 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. Please send submissions to westlakearrow@gmail.com. 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225
CONTACT US! Scan the link to find us on Facebook, or email us at: westlakearrow.com
consideration helps maintain a more diverse school, and provides an advantage to students who need it, opposed to those who can be successful elsewhere. But colleges concerned with reaching out to needy students and achieving racial diversity may be passing up talented students in order to achieve a goal. A top Hispanic or African American student from a high school located in a low-income community has a better chance than an Asian-American student (with better grades and more money) buried beneath a pool of other equally intelligent students. These racially influenced admissions show a keen policy to help students who are at socio-economical disadvantages, but may severely cripple chances for competitive students to be successful in their application. “Although I am against any system that ignores the tangible merits of a student, I still believe that a better system could be developed to provide collegiate opportunities for less qualified students who are still marginalized in the American school system,” said English teacher Peggy Schlehner.
Does pressure mean success?
Opinion Editor
Sports Editors
communications officer, Jeff Neal, denied these allegations in an e-mail. “Our review of every applicant’s file is highly individualized and holistic, as we give serious consideration to all the information we receive and all of the ways in which the candidate might contribute to our vibrant educational environment and community.” A spokesperson of Princeton University also rejected the charge of bias: “Princeton treats each application individually and we don’t discriminate on the basis of race or national origin.” Despite the claims from several universities, colleges still advertise their racial diversity and “international outreach” claiming to take people from “all corners of the world,” as well as famous child-stars and actors. Colleges often overlook a serious potential candidate in order to fill their spots with flashier international students and the scions of famous celebrities. Nevertheless, the argument for race consideration in admissions is controversial and there are factors supporting both sides of the argument. Some critics state that race
“Can we please discuss anything besides SAT prep, college, and success in general?” I huffed in that stereotypical teenage manner to my defeated parents. I mean, I understand the whole we-careabout-your-future thing; but honestly, I was more concerned with finishing the endless pile of math homework and hopefully going to sleep before 11 p.m. on that Sunday night. These days, the lives of high schoolers are constantly filled and influenced by the all-encompassing P-word-- Pressure. Constant pressure to succeed academically, athletically, even socially, stemming from peers, parents, and the individual-- it makes you ask, “Can you not?” Juggling AP and honors classes, extracurriculars, and trying not to be too sleep-deprived at school each day is a constant struggle for high school students everywhere. Oh, and I almost forgot, putting together an impressive resume is essential for college applications-meaning constant involvement in clubs, a
good amount of community service, and basically anything to make yourself look extra-exceptional among the masses. Just thinking about it makes your brain want to shut down and enter sleep mode. And some sleep would be quite nice, thank you very much. When parents intimate a conversation regarding anything about the “distant, but not really distant at all” future, don’t we all zone out and insist upon thinking about something, anything, stress-free? Even though we all (hopefully) care in some degree about our futures, most of us would rather not concern ourselves with anything that requires extra studying and
“P
ressure allows me to push myself harder and helps me to motivate myself. -Michaela Browner
effort, or at least until it becomes absolutely necessary to cram. Perhaps pressure could empower and motivate students instead of
being regarded as something to put off and ignore. “It [pressure] allows me to push myself harder and it helps me to motivate myself,” said Michaela Browner ‘15 Procrastination never helped anybody, and although right now it seems that refreshing your Instagram feed every two minutes is a much more desirable option than actually bothering to legitimately review for that quiz tomorrow, when you’re cramming the class period before and wondering why you don’t remember anything, I hope you’ll know why. If we can use pressure as motivation to succeed, then wouldn’t we all be more successful? Instead of sulking and shrinking into that hole of denial and sloppy excuses, remember that your high school career is what you make of it. For fear of sounding like some wannabe motivational speaker spewing the worst of all those cliche sayings, to put it into simpler terms- put in effort, and find success in one of its many forms. If you just don’t really care, there’ll probably be some job openings at the local McDonald’s every once in a while. The choice is yours. “Seize the day” as they all say, because hey, why not?
6
FEATU OCTOBER 7,
University of W
COMMENTARY
Our own standards Do standardized tests reflect student intelligence? Helen Shi
Opinion Editor Standardized testing is the bane of every high school student’s existence. Before, I had only associated standardized testing as the annoying and too frequently found tests every student has to take eventually. Yet, as high school progresses, standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are starting to loom ahead of me. Students are intimidated by the sheer idea of these tests is because said tests are some of the major keys to college acceptance, which, in our society, is starting to equate to success in life. Standardized testing is designed to test students’ college readiness and their ability to apply the knowledge they’ve gained in school. Sadly, it has become a primary criteria for judging the success and failure of students. With a test of such huge importance, it would be disastrous if it did not accurately carry out its purpose. So, sadly disaster is upon us as these tests have failed to carry out their motive. First off, students,must ask themselves whether one exam can accurately estimate a person’s intelligence. It is impossible for one exam to estimate someone’s intelligence. The most these exams can do is to just evaluate one’s test taking ability. Due to the standardized testing format, which is largely multiple choice, hugely important aspects of human intelligence are restricted. With only one right answer available, these tests eliminate one’s creativity and critical thinking, as well as not taking into account his or her thinking process. As students live in the present world, they have to deal with real life situations. It is fair to say that standardized tests do not
show what students are capable of in the real world: whether they are able to act instantly when there’s an crisis. According to Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist and a professor at Harvard University, there are seven distinct intelligences, including logical/mathematical, kinesthetic, musical, and linguistic. However, standardized testing only incorporates one to two of these intelligences, presenting those who possess another type of intelligence with a major disadvantage. Standardized tests are also biased. Standardized tests, like the SAT and ACT, are expensive, not to mention the almost invaluable prep courses and tutoring that go along with the whole package due to the desperate attempt to prepare for these daunting tests. This is a problem with those who have a low income rate. The average price for a prep course can cost thousands of dollars and the actual tests are around $50, not to mention the costs of private tutors, according to Allen Grove, a college admissions expert, and the College Board website. A study by the College Board total group profile 2013, prove that on average, students from families with a larger income rates get higher scores on the SAT. There is class-ism between the rich and the poor, due to standardized tests, and because these tests are so critical in our educational system, it will affect the future outcome of the students’ lives. With tests that have so many crucial faults as well as a huge impact in our lives, students are simply just trapped in this deadly cycle. Students’ time, concentration, and sometimes even their lives are completely wasted on these standardized tests. So, why should schools use tests that do not accurately fulfill their own meaning of existence? The answer is simple. They should not.
How do you know Pranav Kaygee Feature Editor
Max Wang
News Editor Since 1901, College Board and its standardized test, the SAT, have been terrorizing students across the nation. However, more than fifty years ago, a new challenger arose to torment students in a slightly different manner. The ACT, first offered in 1959, has recently surpassed the SAT for the first time. The number of students taking the SAT has only increased about 66% since 1986, compared to a 128% increase for the ACT. Though both tests involve torturous hours of practice and preparation, taking one test is often better than the other because the tests have very few similarities besides their shared goal of making people’s lives miserable. While the SAT is seen as more of a trick reasoning test full of misleading questions and obscure vocabulary, the ACT is generally more straightforward in its questions and essay prompts. While the ACT essay prompt asks something such as “Describe your stance on whether or not yearlong school is a good choice,” SAT essay prompts are more philosophical, such as “Describe the correlation
between true love, democ and burritos.” The ACT als ing, while the SAT penalize wrong answer, making gue However, this escape mind games comes at a pr advanced math concepts, t ometry, algebra. The timing of the test both tests feature about 3.5 is broken up into four sectio SAT. Thus, test takers unus time would be better off ta SAT. When the final scores scored on a 600-2400 point the less precise 1-36 scale, for the optional essay secti ent grading scales, there is to convert SAT scores to AC claim to now equally weigh As of 2014, the ACT ha ularity; both tests claimed o year, but the ACT first ove relatively narrow margin Though this change is mos
7
URE 2014
Westlake
which one to take?
cracy, the meaning of life, so does not penalize guesses a quarter point for every essing hazardous. from the SAT’s diabolical rice: the ACT features more testing on trigonometry, ge-
ts is also different; though 5 hours of misery, the ACT ons, compared to ten for the sed to long blocks of testing aking their chances with the
s are released, the SAT is t scale, while the ACT is on with a separate 1-36 score ion. Because of these differs no perfectly accurate way CT. However, most colleges h the tests. as overtaken the SAT in popover 1.6 million victims last ertook the SAT in 2012 by a of around 2000 students. stly due to the 12 states that
now require and pay for all high school students to take the ACT, it is evident that the more straightforward style of the ACT is attracting more and more students. The national average scores on the SAT and ACT are 1490 and 21.0, respectively. However, the ACT has recently experienced a much higher rate of people receiving the perfect score; 0.08% of students received a 36 in 2013, up from 0.06% in 2009. Though it seems like a low percentage, lower than the 0.1% that the ACT is aiming for, it is still higher than the rate of students receiving the perfect 2400 on the SAT which is around 0.02%. Thus, top students looking to hit the elusive perfect scores stand a much better chance of getting it on the ACT. So, when picking out which monster test to duel, the main point of consideration should be the content of the tests. If you aren’t a super test taker aiming for the elusive perfect scores, the average SAT and ACT scores are basically equivalent, and colleges no longer weigh one higher. Despite some myths, you won’t gain any magical extra points just by switching tests. Also, in the end, practice and understanding of the tests will lead to a higher score, not strategic picking of which test. Except if you don’t understand SAT vocabulary questions. Those are deadly.
COMPILED BY PRANAV KAYGEE, ASHWIN RANGARAJAN DESIGN BY MICHELLE CHOI
8
Feature
The Arrow
October 7, 2014
Ten new teachers join WHS staff Aug. 27 was a new start for not only the class of 2018 but also some teachers as well. The Arrow would like to welcome all of the school’s new staff.
Kristi Herrmann
Lauren Denchfield
Subject(s): Biology and Physiology
Subject: English
PHOTO BY MICHELLE CHOI
Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: My grandfather
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching? A: My favorite thing about teaching is helping students learn.
Q: What is your favorite book? A: Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran
Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: My 11th grade English teacher inspired me to become a teacher. Q: What is your favorite book? A: My favorite is always the book I am currently reading. Right now it is JFK: An Illusive Hero.
Q: Favorite movie? A: Hook and Phantom of the Opera
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching? A: Being able to talk about and do science all day!
Q: Favorite historical figure? A: Leonardo da Vinci. The man did everything!
Marianna Orsini
Q: Favorite movie? A: Jaws PHOTO BY FRANCES LING
Q: Have you taught anywhere prior to WHS? A: Chicago, then Newbury Park High School
Q: Favorite quote? A: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” -Albert Einstein
Subject: Math
Q: Have you taught anywhere prior to WHS? A: Thousand Oaks High School
Q: Have you taught anywhere prior to WHS? A: I taught for eight years in Illinois. I taught from 1998-2005. Then I was lucky enough to stay home for nine years with my kids. My family and I recently moved to CA (we moved early 2013). This is my first year back in the classroom since 2005.
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching? A: A student enjoying and learning from one of the MANY lessons that are tediously planned
Q: Favorite movie? A: Forrest Gump Q: Favorite quote? A: “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” –Oscar Wilde Q: Favorite historical figure? A: Mark Twain…I love that man!
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching? A: I. Love. Kids. And I love my subject matter. I love making math fun for students. Even if they don’t love math, I hope that the year is fun and that they learn something new. Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: I just loved math. I always did well in math classes. So I kept taking them in college. And taking them and taking them! I didn’t know what I would do with all that math knowledge. Then, I volunteered at a preschool one year in college, and loved working with kids. So I took my love of math + my love of kids = teaching!! Q: What is your favorite book? A: My calculus book by Louis Leithold.
Lupe Miller
to pursue a higher education. It is that strong sense of family and the desire to help others that has led me on a path of public service. However, with age and experience also comes the definitive knowledge that I have chosen the correct path for the right reasons-- simply stated-- I love what I am doing. My goal is to not just to teach the content, but to foster a sense of community and that which has been the substance of my own life—the sense of “la familia”.
Subject: Spanish
Q: Favorite movie? A: I don’t have any one favorite. I love Sci-Fi or Action Adventure films such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy, and of course, Lord of the Rings. Q: Favorite quote? A: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela PHOTO BY AMANDA YAO
Q: Have you taught anywhere prior to WHS? A: I have been teaching in the CVUSD for the past eight years. Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching? A: The never ending pursuit of an education. Every day is filled with something new to learn. Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: I come from a Hispanic background where the power of “la familia” is an essential part of living. It is the pulse that has shaped who I am and influenced my aspirations. It is a way of life that has been passed down through each generation. As migrant workers, my parents
Q: Favorite historical figure? A: Mark Twain
received only an elementary education; however, they instilled in their nine children a passion for learning and a desire
PHOTO BY FRANCES LING
PHOTO BY FRANCES LING
Q: What is your favorite book? A: She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Q: Favorite quote? A: “Be the change you want to see in the world” -Gandhi
Kate Pellettiere
Subject: English
Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: My love for reading literature and creative writing has brought me to this occupation. Education has been a part of my life for many years now. I want to share my learning techniques and life experiences with my students. The most efficient type of learning occurs when both student and teacher can make connections within their real word environment, thus creating an applicable lesson throughout the period. This motto serves as the basis for my NEED to always want to learn!
Q: Have you taught anywhere prior to WHS? A: I taught at Thousand Oaks High School and Los Cerritos Middle School
Q: Favorite movie? A: Forrest Gump or Bridesmaids Q: Favorite quote? A: Go Big or Go Home!!! Q: Favorite historical figure? A: Pythagoras, Newton, and Leibniz.
New teachers not featured in this issue Danielle Ellis Psychology Meghan Georgio Math Erin Gordon Special Education Tara Krisch Math Brian Rogers Social Science
Feature October 7, 2014
9
The Arrow
A TRIBUTE:
In June, Principal Ron Lipari and English teacher Caron Battaglia retired. The Arrow recognizes their contributions to education and WHS.
Lipari takes leave after years of dedication Max Wang
News Editor Ronald Lipari, former principal at WHS, retired abruptly over the summer after 15 years of service. During his career as principal, WHS earned National Blue Ribbon status, and consistently ranked very high in the U.S. News and World Reports as a top academic school in the state and nation. First arriving in 1999 from a career at Burbank, Lipari wanted to come to a school with high potential to be one of the top academic schools in the nation.
His goals for his work at WHS had four parts: to hire the best staff, ensure effective classroom instruction, offer more competitive classes, and provide top cocurricular programs including sports, art, and clubs. At the beginning of his career at WHS in 1999, the school administered 800 AP tests with a 70% pass rate. In 2014, his final year, WHS offered over 2200 tests with an 86% pass rate. In order to provide the best curricular programs, Lipari started the orchestra program, now consisting of three ensembles totaling over a hundred students.
COURTESY PHOTOS
WHS is now also home to over 60 clubs, 24 varsity sports teams, and numerous performing arts groups in music, dance, drama, and vocals. Lipari counts the numerous accomplishments and awards won by the curricular programs as some of his most memorable moments. Besides his goals to improve the education offered at WHS, Lipari sought to improve the campus as well. He was often seen carrying a trash can during lunch not only to keep the campus clean but also to talk with the students. “He was a good guy to work for and we all liked him,” said Social Science teacher Mike Lynch. “Whenever you had a problem, he would fix it immediately. Lipari will be sorely missed.” Though he has retired, Lipari said that the WHS administrators have to “recognize the need to provide intervention to students who are not being successful… Implementing another intervention program would be an effective next step for the staff.” In his retirement, Lipari plans to travel and spend time with his grandchildren. “I do miss all of the staff, students, and the PTSA. I wish everyone the best and I am confident the school will continue to
THANK YOU: Ron Lipari served as WHS principal for 15 years.
grow under the leadership of the staff and administration as WHS continues to be the top school in Ventura County as well as the state and the nation,” he stated.
THE FINAL DAY: Ron Lipari spends his last day at WHS in his office.
Battaglia bids farewell English teacher Caron Battaglia also served as the WHS journalism adviser for 32 years, and this article written by her is a final farewell. The Arrow would like to thank Mrs. Battaglia for all her dedication, support, and guidance.
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THE BEGINNING: Caron Battaglia began teaching at WHS 32 years ago.
field of study. Receiving a first place award from the Ventura County Star Best of High School Journalism competition last May was a special recognition. The responsibility for the newspaper is now
PHOTO BY KARIE LYNCH
I started teaching in 1976 at Fairfax High School in West Hollywood, CA. I began in January as a student working on my teaching credential through the UCLA Education Department. Although my UCLA instructors warned me early in the program that there were few jobs available in the teaching profession, I wanted to have a credential as security—especially since I did not know what else I was going to do with an English major. I was the replacement journalism adviser at Fairfax High, and am self-taught in all aspects of the field. When I first started, the print shop at the school did the printing using letterpress plates. The students in print shop set the type letter by letter. I have witnessed many changes over the years. I have watched the transformation to desktop publishing with more awe and appreciation than most people. Computers, software programs, and now online publishing—these have been the most radical changes I have seen
in my career. Observing the trend of students choosing to replace reading with technology—whether it is social media or games just to name two “distractions”— is disheartening to someone like me who feels that much of our humanity is found in the classics. I have found answers to some of life’s most profound questions through reading and teaching literature. Of those questions, the existential ones (Why am I here? What is my purpose in life?) are the most problematic. I was fortunate to find the answers for 35 years in my role as a high school teacher. I came to WHS in 1979, one year after it officially opened. I am not considered one of the original faculty members, but very close. I was hired to teach English and Journalism. Over the 32 years at WHS, I taught English grades 10-12, both CP and Honors/AP, and advised The Arrow newspaper for all those years. I enjoyed preparing students for college by providing them with qualities I did not have in high school—a solid education, highly developed critical thinking and study skills, an awareness of current events, and the importance of being an informed citizen. I feel inspired when I hear that my graduates enter college feeling prepared for the rigors of the college curriculum, able to write clearly and concisely in their chosen
SAY CHEESE: The Arrow staff poses with Caron Battaglia during her visit back to WHS.
in the hands of other people. I confess to some emotional turbulence. Letting go has been difficult. My years at WHS are filled with innumerable memories; choosing one is impossible. However, receiving the Ventura County Teacher of the Year award in 2003 is certainly high on the list. It was
“I
learned life lessons and a great deal about human nature from being able to discuss great literary works with extremely intelligent students. -Caron Battaglia unexpected, and I felt extremely honored to be recognized. Many more high points have been to watch so many of my students reach similar recognitions (at earlier stages of their lives). To be even a small reason that a student receives an award, college acceptance, scholarship, or job is one of the greatest joys I have experienced throughout my teaching years. I will miss sharing these moments with students.
Also learning that many previous Arrow staff members have chosen to pursue journalism careers—writing not just for such prestigious college papers as The Daily Bruin and the Harvard Crimson but also then working for Reuters and the Los Angeles Times—has been rewarding. Teaching AP English Literature and Composition for 27 years, I learned life lessons and a great deal about human nature from being able to discuss great literary works with extremely intelligent students. I will miss that intellectual interaction. I am in the process of shaping my retirement plans. As of now, retirement feels very new. In fact, at times I feel a bit uprooted, leaving a classroom where I spent 34 years—longer than any home I lived in. So far, I have extended my summer vacation by a few weeks, following a relaxed schedule of sleeping in, walking the dog, reading the paper, and discovering works of fiction I could never get around to reading because I was too busy working. Since I live in Westlake, I would like to stay connected with the school. To paraphrase the words of the great Shakespearean actor Laurence Olivier, for a brief moment I tried to do my best.
10
THE ARROW
FEATURE
Halloween Thrills
OCTOBER 7, 2014
What are WHS students doing on All Hallows’ Eve? Going to a party
Trick-or-Treating
44%
27%
Scary Movies
17%
Spooky times at Westlake High Kallyn Hobmann Feature Editor Halloween is for all ages and the teachers at WHS have definitely always known how to spend the holiday. “When I was seven, I dressed as Raccoon Mario from Super Mario Bros. 3. Best costume ever!” said math teacher Chad Scott. Although he no longer goes trick-or-treating, he still enjoys passing out candy and putting up decorations. One year, his family took its decorating skills to the extreme and “[had] pumpkins, tombstones, cobwebs, eerie music, and a realistic zombie.” English teacher Joe Nigro also participates in decorating since Halloween is his wife’s favorite holiday. “Our tradition is to put up the decorations on Memorial Day weekend so that they are up for almost two months,” said Nigro. He also appreciates October for the season changes and the weather cools down with more chances of rain. Graphic arts teacher Joseph Lang has made incredible costumes such as “a 10 foot yeti suit, working Daft Punk helmets, a Megaman suit with a functioning blaster and a bunch of others.” He loves the “spooky” feeling in the atmosphere during October. “I love the idea of ghosts and monsters all over the place,” said Lang.
ASL teacher Tina Carlisle is a definite pumpkin enthusiast. “Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin handsanitizer, and pumpkin candles. I love anything pumpkin!” said Carlisle. She used to enjoy scary movies as well. “I once had a Nightmare on Elm Street movie marathon, watching the first three movies back-to-back. Later that evening, my friend snuck up to the front of my house and started scratching the front window, just like Freddy Krueger. I almost died of a heart attack, and I haven’t watched a scary movie since.” AP Environmental Science teacher Jennifer Boyd has always loved the month of October. “I love how the light changes in the morning due to the sun being at a lower angle. Coming to school in the morning is so beautiful with the golden glow of fall. The birding is also better in the fall as many species start to [migrate],” said Boyd. The best costume she has ever worn was a plastic bag monster, a costume she made out of 500 grocery bags to show how much plastic goes to landfills or ends up in the oceans. Even during special occasions Boyd continues to inspire others to help the environment. She is most excited for next year’s Halloween. “I can’t wait to dress up my baby in a cute costume and eventually
take her trick-or-treating,” she added. The students of WHS also appreciate this time of year. “I [love] all the scary decorations and movies as well as Horror Nights. I always carve pumpkins and go out to do shenanigans on Halloween,” said Dean Robinson ‘15. From trick-or-treating to going to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, Robinson always enjoys getting into the Halloween spirit. Ever since she was little, Mia Mormino ‘17 and her family have gone full-out for Halloween with complete costumes and makeup. “A few years ago my dad dressed up as Edward Scissorhands and [he] is an actor so [he’s] always [being] [his] character. We were crossing the street and it was a red light... and all the cars were just lined up and he [walked] by himself, stood in the middle, and just had all the cars [stop] and stare... people started clapping and I thought it was really amazing how well he was playing the part and the [authenticity],” said Mormino. From watching favorite movies to creating unique costumes, numerous exciting events and activities fill the month of October, all leading up to one of the most anticipated holidays. As Halloween draws closer, the teachers and students of WHS continue to prepare for the spookiest time of the year.
Other
12% Based on a poll of 175 students
Memorable Costumes “Kissing Booth” -Grace Delsohn ‘16 “A dad dressed as a chef and the baby was dressed as a lobster” -Jake Zenner ‘18 “Perry the platypus” -Karen Guzman ‘17 “Spice Girls” -Annie Heyman ‘16 “Miley Cyrus” -Madi Wells ‘17 “Barney” -Matthew Franklin ‘15 “A giant baby” -Marilin Hernandez ‘17 “Math textbook” -Sydney Schalk ‘16 “Ostrich” -Noah Hollander ‘18
Prepare to scream at two terrifying events
Movies to watch on Halloween night The Exorcist The Shining Psycho Poltergeist Insidious The Silence of the Lambs The Blair Witch Project Rosemary’s Baby Halloween The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Shaun of the Dead A Nightmare on Elm Street Compiled by Kallyn Hobmann
Jerry Song Staff Writer
Those who love the fear and horror associated with Halloween will embrace two of the most popular, bone-chilling events of the year. Named one of the best walk through haunted houses in Southern California, the local Reign of Terror Haunted House has made major adjustments to continue scaring even those who have survived the experience in the past. This year, the biggest change to the event is the addition of an extra section named “Quarantine,” which is designed to be a frightening, cutting edge post-war laboratory. Other sections of the Reign of Terror include the Asylum, the Blood Manor, the Miner’s Revenge and the classic Haunted House. “The Reign of Terror is your typical walk-through haunted house with stuff popping out at you at every turn,” said Jack Biwer ‘16. “[The] attempts to scare me were more comical than terrifying, but all in all, it was a fun experience.” The Reign of Terror Haunted House will be open from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays until Nov. 1 at the Janss Marketplace. It is open from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and on the day of Halloween.
On Oct. 26 it will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. General admission is $17 and VIP tickets range from $25 to $35. More information can be found at http://rothauntedhouse.com. Another thriller is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. This year the theme of Horror Nights is “More Dead Than Ever!” filled with mazes and walkers, as well as everything one would expect from AMC’s nationwide phenomenon “The Walking Dead.” This year, Universal Studios will offer seven new mazes, five new scare zones, and a new terror tram designed to give everyone a terrorizing experience. Halloween Horror Nights is open from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. every Friday and Saturday, along with occasional Thursdays and Sundays until Nov. 2. General admission tickets range from $52 to $79 depending on the date. Front of the line passes and VIP experience passes are also available for purchase. Visit www. halloweenhorrornights.com for more information. Costumes and masks are not to be worn at either event as a safety precaution, and the hosts of both events suggest that thrill-seekers attend earlier in October because the lines get longer near Halloween weekend.
Sports October 7, 2014
11
The Arrow
Football faces tough competitors
Matt Donovan
Sports Editor WHS football is on pace to have a good season after starting the season with two wins and one loss. The team held Canyon High School to 17 points while they put the pressure on and scored 44 points. In the season opener quarterback Malik Henry ‘16 threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Chase Jasmin ‘16 ran for a total of 159 yards and Oaks Christian transfer, wide receiver Theo Howard ‘16 caught two touchdowns for the day. “It’s a great feeling when you go out there and put in all your effort and get the win, especially the first game of the season,” said Henry. In the following week the team traveled to Mesa, Arizona to take on Red Mountain High School. Both teams battled back and forth, putting on an offensive
game. The Mountain Lions held Henry to only 147 passing yards, but they watched Henry rush for two touchdowns. Jasmin rushed for another three touchdowns in this game and had the game winning touchdown in the final minute to put the Warriors on top 34-27. The team then traveled to play against the number ten team in the state on their home turf. They took on a fierce Long Beach Poly team in week three. The game was a nailbitter with touchdowns scored from both teams. Kevin Robledo ‘15 kicked a 27 yard field goal to put the team ahead 17-14. The Jackrabbits then were unstoppable in the third quarter and scored 13 points. The Warriors tried to rally in the fourth but still lost 34-27. Henry threw for 268 yards and one touchdown to Howard, who had 114 receiving yards. Jasmin ran for 137 yards and a touchdown. The team had a bye week during week
Changes mix up Marmonte League Matt Donovan Sports Editor
The Marmonte League faced another shake-up. No longer is it comprised of the eight teams-- WHS, Newbury Park, Agoura, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Royal and Simi Valley-- that the community had grown comfortable with over the years. The change occured because some high schools in the Marmonte League repeatedly complained that certain schools always dominate the league and their schools can never make playoffs. As a result the MCC Football Assosiciation dismantled the former league and created three separate leagues for football, expanding the number of schools to 12. The change allows schools other than WHS and Oaks Christian to have a chance to make the post-season and to give WHS and Oaks Christian greater competition for the league title. “Some schools would prefer to play a lower caliber of teams to end a season with a better record, to provide a more positive experience for their athletes, and to make the playoffs,” said Athletic Director, Christina Harrison. As a result, the new Marmonte
League includes WHS, Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure, and Moorpark. The Camino League consists of Newbury Park, Royal, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo. The Canyon League includes Oak Park, Agoura, Calabasas, and Simi Valley. “The MCC Football Association was created to create parity in league play. Each league within the division will send teams to playoffs, but in different divisions,” said Harrison. Two teams from the Marmonte league will make the Pac-5 for playoffs, two teams from the Camino League will make the Northern Division for playoffs and two teams from the Canyon League will make the Western Division for playoffs. For every other sport, the leagues are different. The Marmonte League will have WHS, Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Oaks Christian, and Calabasas. The Camino League, has Moorpark, Royal, Simi Valley, Oak Park, and Camarillo. Calabasas will, however, compete in the Camino league for aquatics only. These two leagues will be redrawn in 2018. “When Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure won their lawsuit, we had to find a way to put 12 teams into leagues based upon competitive equity,” stated Harrison.
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
ON THE FIELD: Running back Chase Jasmin runs into the end zone for a touchdown.
four and took on Dominguez High School in the home opener in week five. In the first home game Henry threw for 303 yards and four passing touchdowns, two of which were to Howard, who had 110 receiving yards. Jesse Cuccia ‘15 had a big game with 104 receiving yards and one touchdown. Sean Carter ‘15 contributed to the 4114 win with a touchdown catch. Jasmin rushed for 88 yards and one touchdown to add to his total of five rushing touchdowns. Robledo was two for three for deep field goals. His long of the day was from 48 yards out, and he made another from 42 yards. His attempt from 49 yards missed wide right by a matter of inches. Robledo is ranked third in the nation for kicking according to maxpreps.com. Robledo will be the first WHS player to participate in the U.S. Army All American Bowl Game on Jan. 3 in the Alamodome in San Antonio. After the first four games, Henry and Howard seem in sync. Henry has made Howard his go-to man. The duo has connected for five of eight of Henry’s touchdown passes. “We have started the season strong and need to keep playing the way we are now,” said Howard. WHS football lost 2827 to the number one ranked team in state, Mater Dei at home on Oct. 2. Mater Dei blocked Robledo’s potential game-winning field goal. The team has performed well considering they were missing some key players. They are currently missing Fred Wise ’15. Cooper Weiss ‘15 returned from an elbow injury in week five. In Weiss’ first game back, he returned to the starting lineup as defensive tackle and long snapper. He had six tackles and was seven for seven on long snaps. University of Washington commit Andre Baccellia ‘15 also returned in week five after having hernia surgery prior to week one but was very limited with two kickoff returns for a total of 43 yards. “It feels good to be back on the field, although it was limited, it’s still a step in the right direction for my recovery,” said Baccellia.
FROM ABOVE: $16 million was spent to upgrade the field.
Football field stripped
Matt Donovan Sports Editor
At the end of the school year the football field was stripped down to the foundation. All the memories associated with the legendary field are terminated. No more Nick Isham ‘11, Nelson Spruce ‘11 or Justin Moore ‘13 moments. But that’s the past. New images of Malik Henry ‘16, Theo Howard ‘16 and Andre Baccellia ‘15 moments will replace the old. These moments will be created under the night sky with the field surrounded by students on a Friday night. What’s better than going to see your friends play a two-hour game under the lights? All of this contributes to breaking in the new field. “There is nothing more exciting than playing on a brand new field,” said Henry. With the season underway, the team seems to be happy to play and to create a legacy the new field. The team hopes to bring a championship back to the school to thank them for remodeling their field. The field that was stripped was built nearly 15 years ago, and the new field will have to last that long. In order to keep the field nice, the student population needs to take care of it. The new field consists of the football lines as well as the soccer and lacrosse lines. “I am excited to win CIF and kick game-winning field goals and play on a sick field,” said kicker Kevin Robledo ‘15.
12 Rachel Finegold Sports Editor
SPORTS
THE ARROW
OCTOBER 7, 2014
Dance team moves to the top
COURTESY PHOTO
“Fun, fresh, and fierce,” said Paige Ingles ’15 to describe the WHS dance team. The team practices three hours a day, four to five days a week to prepare their routines and perfect their technique. The student body can expect to see hip-hop and jazz dances at rallies and football games to pump up the crowd and show off the team’s technique. The WHS dance team is setting its goals high for the upcoming year. Head dance coach Kristen Volk has three main goals this year. These goals include inspiring the team to be the best dancers they can be, being able to have the dancers walk off the stage confident in their performance, and having at least three routines make it into the finals at nationals. With these goals in mind, the team has eight new members: Isabella Aldridge ‘16, Sarah Finegold ‘18, Paige Higham ‘18, Taylor Magon ‘18, Caitlin Mead ‘17, Courtney Park ‘18, Cassidy Petroccione ‘18, and Dani Saputo ‘18. The Dance Team captains are Maddy Pakka ’15, Paige Ingles ’15, and Kelly Fobes ’15. The captains’ duties include leading warm up, planning team bonding events,
BOP TO THE TOP: WHS Dance Team poses for a picture before a football game.
teaching absent teammates choreography, and being responsible for team morale. This is Ingles’ fourth year on the dance team, and she will perform a contemporary solo. She prefers lyrical or contemporary dance “because it is so new and different from strict ballet styles.” It is also Pakka’s fourth year on the team with a contemporary solo. Her goal is “to get as many dances to nationals as
possible.” Three-year member Fobes’ will perform a lyrical solo. Her favorite part of being part of dance team is that she “loves building a relationship with all the girls on the team because they are my second family and make it possible to do what I love with people that I love.” “The captains have exceeded my expectations so far this season by leading
the team with positive, motivational, and productive attitudes. The three captains are not only talented and hardworking dancers, but also great role models for their teammates inside and outside the dance room,” said Volk. “The coaches and girls set a really good environment to improve as a dancer,” said Mia Mormino ’18 who dances 11 hours outside of the WHS dance team. Many of the other girls put in extra time at dance studios as well. The team’s practices consist of cleaning, reviewing, and learning choreography for upcoming performances, and working on team jazz and ballet technique. The team’s biggest competition is Newbury Park High School and the team’s two assistant coaches Lexi Howerton and Katelyn Miller along with Volk are helping to prepare the team to beat NPHS. “Newbury Park is our biggest competition because their dances are so unique and sweep the judges off their feet,” said Ingles. Dancing since she was three years old, Volk has been coaching the WHS dance team for four years. The highly accomplished coach also started her own high school’s dance team which, within four years, became nationally ranked amongst the high school competition circuit.
Alumnus outperforms in first full season Matt Donovan Sports Editor
Volleyball prepares to defend Kallyn Hobmann Feature Editor With the season well underway the WHS girls volleyball team continues to work hard and practice everyday. Coach Ernest Rittenhouse “has helped by working [the team] hard at practice and by constructing a lot of scrimmages over the summer,” said Allison Webb ‘16. With practices everyday, the Warriors constantly prepare and condition for the remainder of the season. Their hard work paid off as they came in first place at the Pierce College Round-Robin Tournament held on Sept. 3, defeating Rio Mesa in three successful matches. On Sept. 11, they lost against Hart High School 1-3 and on Sept. 23, they beat Taft High School 3-1. The team continued to dominate, defeating Royal High School with a final score of 3-0 on
Sept. 24 and a final score of 3-0 against Agoura High School on Oct. 2. “Oaks Christian is going to be tough because we haven’t played them before and don’t know what to expect. They are also a cross town rival. TO is another one since they usually have a solid [team],” said Webb. The Warriors will play Oaks Christian on Oct. 10, and Thousand Oaks on Oct. 14 in the WHS gym. Although the team has numerous strong competitors, they are prepared for the intense games coming up in the near future. “I like that if we win or lose, we do it together. It’s no one’s fault either way,” said April Ball ‘17. Ball hopes that the team can have a successful season and win the Marmonte League. The Warriors’ next home game will be on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 against Newbury Park High School and Thousand Oaks, starting at 6 p.m. in the gym.
IN THE BOX: Alumnus Christian Yelich bats for his team the Marlins.
COURTESY PHOTO
WHS alumnus Christian Yelich ‘10 has opened all eyes with a memorable season for the books as the Florida Marlins’ lead-off hitter. With rumors of a new contract up in the air, Yelich needed a great year to start making the big bucks. In his first official season, he had a total of 165 hits out 582 at bats for an average of .284. The speedster had 12 stolen bases, 94 runs, and was caught stealing seven times in his shortened season of 144 games. Late in May, Yelich was placed on the disabled list for an injured ankle and didn’t return until late June, missing a total of 18 games. This injury didn’t seem to stop Yelich’s game. Yelich played in 69 home games with 81 hits, two home-runs, nine stolen bases, 20 RBIs, 45 runs, and a .297 average in 273 at bats. In away games he had 309 at bats, 49 runs, 84 hits, seven home-runs, 34 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and an average of .272. With 15 games left in the season, the Marlins were holding on to a slight hope of making the playoffs. Although they
have a losing record (73-76), they were only trailing 13 games to the Nationals, and, surprisingly, were only six games back of the 2nd wildcard spot. The Marlins were counting on Carlos Stanton to get them to the playoffs, but due to a fractured face, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season. The Marlins needed Yelich more than ever due to Stanton’s injury. Without Stanton the Marlins lost their go to long shot homer-run hitter. In the last month of the season, Yelich had 29 hits, six doubles, seven RBIs, five stolen bases and a .261 average. The Marlins finished the season fourth in their division with a (77-85) losing record. “It’s cool to watch a guy that you know and have seen play on our baseball field on a consistent basis make his name famous,” said Timothy Burtzloff ‘15. If Yelich’s MLB debut was a couple weeks later last season, he would have been considered a “rookie” player this year. “It would’ve been really sick to see Yelich win rookie of the year, especially since I remember seeing him hit home-run after home-run into the basketball courts at every high school game he played in,” stated Bryce Vitt ‘15.
Girls golf swings into season Kallyn Hobmann Feature Editor The WHS girls golf team began its season with three strong victories and no losses in the Marmonte League, which consists of eight teams. The team continues to train to improve their skills and bond with each other as they push further into season. The team practices Mondays through Thursdays for one and a half hours at the Westlake golf course. This year’s team has five returning starters and one new player. According to coach Rick Naranjo, the two strongest players are junior Claire Thompson ‘16, and freshman Kristen Chen ‘18. All the team members work hard so they can continue to be successful in each of their matches. “Our coaches are super helpful. [During] summer, we worked on a specific area of our game daily. [They] are always ready to help us,” said Sanjana Kurapati
‘16. Her favorite part of being on the team is her teammates who are fun to be with and are there for each other when they need help. “Even though it’s technically an individual sport, being a team makes it a whole lot better,” said Kurapati. This season, she is looking forward to having fun and trying to qualify for CIF. With matches every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the team’s most intense competitors include Oaks Christian High School and Newbury Park High School. The Warriors went up against the Panthers on Oct. 2 and won by three strokes. The team will compete with Thousand Oaks High School on Oct. 9, and will battle Oaks Christian on Oct. 14. Both matches begin at 2:30 p.m. Naranjo’s favorite part of coaching the girl’s golf team is “to see [the] players improve from one game and one match to the next.” He provides consistent support and assistance as the Warriors continue to strive for a victorious season.