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The 2022–23 school year kicked off with an enthusiastic spirit week dedicated to reigniting school spirit at WHS which has been severely lacking in past years. WHS students prepared for a “TO Takeover” by not wearing green, the signature color of our rival school and crossing out the T’s and O’s across campus, because nothing screams school spirit like “aendance windw” and “healh ffice.”
These small acts were great ways to demonstrate WHS pride and build anticipation for the football game against Thousand Oaks High School that took place at the end of that week on Sept. 2. But, when that Friday’s rally came along, in which some of the activities included beating a TOHS piñata and slamming a dummy dressed in TOHS gear to the ground while everyone in the bleachers screamed, “Beat TO … Beat TO … Beat TO,” more than a few eyebrows were raised.
School spirit can be a positive way to bring students together and show support for school athletic teams, but some argue that school spirit crosses the line when it becomes too aggressive or even criminal.
It can be difficult to decide where the line is drawn when it comes to school spirit, but it really gets out of hand when other people are harmed or property is damaged.
High school rallies are notoriously chaotic and borderline safety hazards, as we have learned from the class of ‘23’s table incident last spring, where a table was broken but, fortunately, no injuries occured. The start–of–the–year rally on Sept. 2 followed the trend as screaming high–schoolers jumped up and down on the bleachers, fell over as Moses parted the sea of juniors or accidentally collided into unsuspecting individuals.
the rift that school spirit has caused between WHS and other schools, primarily TOHS. Some authorities were concerned that violent behavior would break out at the WHS vs TOHS football game, as physical violence between opposing teams or fans is not an irregular occurrence.
Fortunately, aggression was limited to words as some fans held up signs with creative insults against the opposing side, which most agree were just fun and games and not actually harmful. But sometimes school spirit, especially when it is in the form of bringing down or attacking the opposing side, can create tension and dislike between students of rival schools.
This “line” was inarguably crossed when the WHS stadium was vandalized not long after the first football game. It is uncertain who is responsible, what school they belong to or whether they are a student at all. However, those who caught a glimpse of the words spray–painted on the stadium wall and on the football field before they were painted over have assumed on the basis of school pride that one or more TOHS students are at fault.
The TOHS locker room was also vandalized at some point prior to the vandalism of the WHS stadium. Fingers were pointed at WHS and Newbury Park High School; however, it is unknown who was at fault.
Regardless of who vandalized the WHS stadium or TOHS locker room, both were acts of property damage and are illegal, with a potential fine and jail time as punishment. Anyone out there who has considered damaging school property should take that as a warning — vandalism is not a harmless prank and has serious repercussions.
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Although no serious injuries occurred and many students enjoyed the pep–rally and the rather aggressive “Beat TO” activities, it was certainly questionable because of how dangerously close it came to crossing the line.
What is even more problematic is
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Overall, it’s impossible to agree on where the line should be drawn when it comes to school spirit, if it should be drawn at all. Some prefer school spirit to be about cheering on one’s own school rather than bringing other schools down, and others enjoy some playful banter with rival schools. In the end, it’s important to keep school spirit respectful and civilized to avoid incurring serious damage to individuals or property. Simply speaking, don’t hurt others or break the law and you’ll be fine.
On Aug. 24, 2022, Joe Biden announced his plan for college loan forgiveness.
“When I campaigned for president, I made a commitment,’’ said President Joe Biden, according to whitehouse.gov. “I made a commitment that we’d provide student debt relief, and I’m honoring that commitment today.”
The Department of Education will provide up to $10,000 in debt cancellation and up to $20,000 for pell grant recipients, according to whitehouse.gov. In order to qualify, individuals must have an income less than $125,000 a year or combined $250,000 for married couples. Borrowers can potentially apply for loan forgiveness starting early October.
“The total cost to attend a public four–year university has nearly tripled in 40 years,” said Biden. “Instead of properly funding public colleges, many states have cut back their support . . . leaving students to pick up more of the tab.”
In the United States, the average cost of a four–year bachelor’s degree from a public university is $102,828, and the average from a private university is even higher at $218,004, according to educationdata.org.
With many already in a fragile position after the pandemic, the student loans forgiveness plan is intended, in part, to
provide people with a means of economic security or enable some to pursue education.
“It would be beneficial for anybody who doesn’t have the ability to afford college,” said Virydiana Flores ‘23. “It gives people an opportunity to attend college if that was not one of their main priorities due to financial problems.”
Attending college can also provide underprivileged communities an opportunity to attain economic stability. In fact, a study by Pew Charitable Trusts found that 90% of low–income families whose children graduated from college went up at least one rung of the economic ladder, a nationally measure Americans’
that may not fall under the band of $125,000.”
Some ask where the money for this policy will come from. Taxes resulting from such a policy, they argue, would be unfair to those who have not had the opportunity to attend college.
“They have not said who is going to pay for it,” said Mertel. “Ultimately, any federal policy is going to be paid for
So, this is a tax that is going to be absorbed by the taxpayer. It’s unfair to put that burden on people who never went
On Sept. 27, 2022, NASA’s Artemis I launch at the Kennedy Center in Florida was delayed on account of the Category 4 hurricane then sweeping through southern Florida. The first two launch attempts were also delayed due to technological difficulties, according to blogs.nasa.gov
However, despite potential benefits, some believe that the student loans forgiveness plan has drawbacks that cannot be overlooked.
“It’s a bad idea,” said Rebecca Mertel , College and Career Center counselor. “It’s not fair that there are students in the past that have paid off their loans, and there are people currently still paying off their loans
Biden’s plan, however, is still only in its beginning stages. A final plan has yet to be put forth, loans have not been cancelled and potential questions about who is paying for such an endeavor are still to be answered. The plan though, still demonstrates Biden’s committment to higher education and desire to help Americans.
“That’s what today’s announcement is about,” said Biden. “It’s about giving people a fair shot. It’s about the one word America can be defined by: possibilities.”
As global warming continues to worsen and climate changes all over the world become more extreme, countries like South Africa and Pakistan are facing the consequences of the climate crisis.
The Earth’s average surface temperature is consistently rising due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. These emissions are the result of human activities such as burning fossil fuels for transportation, using electricity and burning waste.
“We are already seeing the effects [of climate change] today with the droughts everywhere, and the temperatures [which] are getting a lot worse,” said Green Alliance President Richard Hoffman ‘23. “There are a lot of things that we aren’t doing to combat it and slow it down.”
In the past few months, countries all over the world have faced floods, droughts, wildfires and recording–breaking heat waves.
In April 2022, the east coast of South Africa was hit with one of the worst weather storms in the country’s history, with heavy rainfall that caused flooding and resulted in the deaths of more than 400 people. This disaster destroyed many homes and caused massive damage to the infrastructure of coastal cities.
“The worsening crisis and looming famine in the drought–stricken Horn of Africa shows how climate change can exacerbate water shocks, threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and destabilizing communities, countries and entire regions,” said World Meteorological Organization Secretary–General Petteri Taalas in a press release.
Devastating floods also occurred in Pakistan, with over one–third of the country underwater due to rainfall being 10 times heavier than usual, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Starting in June and as of September, the floods have resulted in 1.2 million destroyed homes, more than $10 billion
in damage and the death of more than 1,300 people, according to the Pakistani government.
“Pakistan is one of the worst–affected countries by climate change,” said Finance Minister of Pakistan Miftah Ismail in an interview with CNBC. “We have a very, very small carbon footprint — we don’t really produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.”
Pakistan’s food crisis and widespread hunger, which the country was hit with before the floods, is now even more dire. The floods destroyed two million acres of crops and hundreds of thousands of livestock, according to the situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This poses a major problem for the country and population in the near future with the upcoming wheat planting season in jeopardy if the grounds do not clear up and dry.
“Let’s stop sleepwalking towards the destruction of our planet by climate change,” said U.N. Secretary–General António Guterres in a video regarding Pakistan floods. “The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids [with] the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding … As we continue to see more and more extreme weather events around the world, it is outrageous that climate
action is being put on the back burner as global emissions of greenhouse gases are still rising, putting all of us in growing danger.”
While there are things being done to help those who have been affected by the consequences of global warming, it will continue to worsen if steps are not taken to prevent the surface warming.
“Countries need to be held accountable for the waste they produce,” said Jennifer Rogstad, AP Environmental Science and Honors Physiology teacher. “[The] government needs to hold people and companies accountable for their waste [and] make us think more when we buy things.”
Large emissions reductions can only happen if major regulations and policies are taken world–wide. Though there are actions being taken in some places that are slowing down the production of greenhouse gases, there are also places that continue to generate large amounts.
“There is nothing natural about the new scale of these disasters,” said Guterres in a statement. “They are the price of humanity’s fossil fuel addiction. This year’s United in Science report shows climate impacts heading into uncharted territories of destruction … Yet each year we double–down on this fossil fuel addiction, even as symptoms get rapidly worse.”
Artemis I is the first of three trips NASA has planned for the moon, according to the New York Times. Artemis II is set to launch in 2024 and Artemis III in 2025. Artemis III will transport the first woman and person of color to step foot on the moon. These Artemis launches are being carried out in order to develop the technology that will eventually help NASA send the first person to Mars.
After the hurricane has passed, officials will inspect damages and determine the next steps to set a date for the launch.
WHS’s PTSA is accepting submissions for the annual PTSA reflections for the 2022–23 school year. This event was created by the Reflections Arts Recognition Program in order to recognize students who have an appreciation for the arts according to whsptsa.com
The theme for this year’s reflections is “Show Your Voice,” with students being able to express themselves through dance choreography, music composition, photography, film production, literature and visual arts. All submissions are due Oct. 11. For questions or more information, email ptsareflectionswhs@ gmail.com or visit whspsta.com
On Sept. 1, free public bus transportation was made available for students in Ventura County. This will last for the rest of the 2022–23 school year and applies to anyone enrolled in a school within Ventura County, according to goventura.org The driver will judge whether or not riders are students based on appearance; however, students who hope to take advantage of this program should plan to show a student ID to the bus driver. For more information or questions, visit goventura.org.
On Nov. 8, 2022, California will hold its midterm elections. These include state–wide elections for state governor, Senate, House of Representatives and Secretary of State, as well as elections for local governmental roles. People who are 18–years–old can register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov, or students 16–17–years–old can visit the website to pre–register. The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 8 midterms is Oct. 24.
With the start of the 2022–23 school year, WHS administration introduced a list of policies and rules regarding installation of vape detectors, bullying and harassment and students’ attendance.
“The thought behind it was kind of like a teacher reviewing a syllabus for a class,” said Principal Jason Branham. “As an [administrative] team, we got together and said ‘hey, what are the things we really want our students to be aware of as a whole?’”
The first topic that the administration addressed with students was the recent installation of vape detectors in bathrooms. These detectors analyze various substances in the atmosphere and begin beeping to alert administrators if certain vapors are detected.
“I hope it’s a deterrent for people that think they are going to try to [vape] on our campus,” said Branham. “We’ve already caught a number of students this year with things they shouldn’t have.”
Though the vape detectors have been effective, many students are not pleased with how disruptive they are during class time.
“I’ve been hearing it go off multiple times outside my class,” said Rubi De Alba ‘24. “It’s really disturbing students from learning, but I get the reason they’re there. I’d rather not walk into a bathroom and smell vape fumes.”
–There is a “no tolerance” bullying policy.
Tardy policy –Three tardies in the same class earns an after school detention. –Five tardies earns a Saturday Work School and the student will be placed on contract.
Vape detectors –Vape detectors are installed in all WHS bathrooms.
dropping out and things like that. It seems silly, but it affects your whole life.”
Another issue emphasized by administration is the bullying and harassment policy to ensure WHS remains a safe an inclusive school for everyone.
“No student or group of students shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to or commit hate violence against any other student or school personnel,” according to the CVUSD Board Policy 5131.2.
Though this policy remains consistent, the administration commented on the importance of its reinstatement.
Along with the addition of vape detectors, tardy and truancy policies were reintroduced as well. If a student receives three tardies in one class, then they will recieve an after school detention. If the same student is tardy five times, then they are given a Saturday Work School and placed on contract.
“We’ve always had the tardy policy and truancy policy, but we didn’t enforce it that much last year because the science building was so far away, and the passing period was too short,” said Branham. “Now that our passing
On Sept. 11, WHS lost a beloved member of its community — Jesus Garcia ‘23. Garcia was a member of LEAP, as well as an active participant in Conejo Valley Unified Sports.
“As he was able, Jesus was often seen around campus in the lunchroom, in elective classes and participating in our Unified Sports program,” according to Principal Jason Branham.
Garcia’s smile is remembered as being able to cheer anyone up, and his joy during his time at WHS could brighten the days of those around him.
“He had a great smile and it would light up a room,” said special education teacher Kathy Tinker. “He would see you coming and sometimes reach out [toward you].”
Garcia loved the comfort of being surrounded by members of his campus community, whether it be through LEAP or in Unified Sports.
“My favorite memory [with Garcia] would probably be bocce ball at Newbury — I was partnered up with him,” said Unified Sports president Presley Davis ‘24. “He had so many friends at Newbury, [so] he was ecstatic to just be there. He had a smile the entire day, and he had so much fun playing the game. He ended up winning our group.”
Along with participating in away games,
periods are longer, there’s no reason for kids not to be in class on time.”
The ramifications for truancies are also very similar to tardies. With three truancies in one class, the student will be assigned a Saturday Work School and will be put on contract. However, with five truancies, the student may be dropped from the class with an “F.”
“Regular attendance is huge,” said Assistant Principal of Attendance Kim Michaud “Students who attend regularly outperform their peers. If you’re not here, it can lead to
“The most important thing for me is the bullying and harassment [policies],” said Branham. “We can get away from those things and, quite frankly, empower students to believe in themselves. It’s not easy [and] I get that. If I was a kid at this time, growing up between 14 and 18, I don’t know how I would have done.”
Whether the rules are reincorporated from previous years or introduced for the first time, the WHS administration felt it would be important to revisit these policies in order to create a smoother transition for students.
“With COVID–19, we have so many students that haven’t had a normal year on campus,” said Branham. “Even the start of last year wasn’t normal. We’re coming back to a ‘normal’ year, so let’s just remind people.”
WHS will be hosting the 2022 CVUSD district–wide College Fair on Oct. 17 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. with hopes of increasing students’ knowledge of both national and international colleges and universities.
admissions,” said WHS counselor Emily Nelson. “We want all of our students to have access to quality college information.”
This year, WHS will be utilizing a website called StriveScan as a college resource, which allows students to register ahead of time for colleges they want to visit, enabling them to receive emails from colleges they are interested in.
Garcia also enjoyed taking part in other sports games through the program, including basketball and kickball.
“When we played kickball, his [paraprofessional] kicked the ball and ran him around the bases,” said Tinker. “He was just having such a good time. Unified Sports was a lot of fun for him.”
Garcia was a light on campus and will be greatly missed. Through his time in various WHS programs, he left a lasting, positive impact on many students and faculty.
“I will always remember his bubbly personality, his wonderful smile [and] his amazing energy he brought to the club [and] to the class,” said Davis.
The CVUSD college fair is a tradition in the district hosted by the CVUSD high school counselors with a goal of informing students about college options as well as how to apply for colleges. This is the first time in three years that the college fair will be held in person, giving students the opportunity to talk to admission representatives from over 120 colleges.
“[It’s great] that you don’t have to … visit all these schools and that you can get information about schools that maybe aren’t on your radar,” said College and Career counselor Rebecca Mertel
“What
I want [to do] is broaden [students’] possibilities.”
This year, the fair will be hosted outdoors with booths set up all around the school so students can talk to representatives and find out more about the admissions process in general.
“[Having students] get to know admissions representatives could be advantageous for college
“It’s the first time we’ve ever [used] it [because] it’s faster for you, faster for colleges and it’s free,” said Mertel. “You’ll get an email the next day from every college you’ve ever wanted information from. They’ll send you whatever information you need to help you find the right colleges.”
Including various colleges from many types of regions in the college fair helps students find out about smaller colleges that they may not have heard about or thought
“My hope is that students talk to colleges they hadn’t considered,” said Nelson.
“I would definitely [recommend] that they talk to more [schools] than [they’ve] applied to [so far].”
BY JUNIOR RENDONThe fair is beneficial for more than just seniors as it enlightens students from different grades on prospective opportunities for their future as well.
“I hope students realize that college is right around the corner and [that the fair gives] a clear perspective,”
Lauren Dawson ‘24. “I hope that my options become more open as well.”
GRAPHIC BY SUMMER NICHOLSThe first ever Homecoming dance took place in 1914 with the sole purpose of commemorating the first football game of the year. Now, more than a century later, Homecoming has become a high school tradition, and at WHS its celebration spans a whole week dedicated to school spirit.
WHS welcomes its own Warriors, as well as students from other schools, to take part in a fun–filled night in the stadium, celebrating the beginning of a new school year. The homecoming dance will take place on Oct. 8 from 7–10 p.m.
To kick off spirit week, WHS students and staff joined together for a Homecoming rally on Oct. 3. Following this event will be the Homecoming game on Oct. 7 and the dance on Oct. 8.
“I’m excited for the rally, the football game and everything leading up to [Homecoming] and just having a good time together,” said 2022–23 emcee Ethan Bolger ‘23.
The other 2022–23 MC, Izzy Glonek ‘23 is in charge of spirit week, preparing to deliver a fun week for students. The themes were class colors on Monday, Oct. 3, tropical/ beach day on Tuesday, Oct. 4, BBQ dad vs. soccer moms on Thursday, Oct. 6 and a black–out on Friday Oct. 7.
“I’m in charge of spirit week so you can expect nothing but the best,” said Glonek. “[My hope] is that everybody participates [in spirit week] because it is a part of your high school career. Nobody is going to make fun of you, and it’s so much fun to participate.”
Old Hollywood was the era that dominated the film industry, introducing sound films into filmmaking. Thus, movies like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and Singin’ in the Rain were created and are now dubbed as “The Classics.”
according to Sydney Elias
With a blast from the past, the Homecoming theme this school year will be Old Hollywood, paying homage to the Golden Age of film, which brought forth stars such as Clark Gable, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe.
“We’re playing off the glitz and glamor of the past,” said ASG president Avrey Tokuyama ‘23. “We’re located so close to Los Angeles, so that’s where we pulled the inspiration from.”
The location of Homecoming will be outside in the stadium this year.
“I’m excited to see what it’s like this year because it is outside,” said Glonek. “I’m excited to see if it’s different from last year and also see
if it’s more enjoyable than the years in the gym.”
Although the transition from remote learning to in–person classes has allowed for more “normal” high school days, and homecoming in 2021 had the “normal” aspect to it, school spirit hit an all–time low. Tokuyama along with the whole ASG board, hopes to bounce back with 2022’s homecoming and achieve a spirited week of fun.
“We’re just hoping to accomplish a successful week for the entire student body,” said Tokuyama. “I know that the past couple of years have been a bit of a dud because of COVID–19, so I think we’re just hoping to replicate that pre–COVID–19 fun homecoming experience for everybody.”
Medical Explorers, a new club dedicated to the exploration of diseases, medical conditions and treatments, had its first meeting on Sept. 22
“We’re exploring diseases and illnesses and how they can affect people,” said club founder Plara Paik ‘25.
Meeting in room 43D every two weeks, Medical Explorers enables and encourages student members to foster passions for medicine by exploring current treatments for illnesses through collaborative discussion on
“We have access to public case files and we
Days for Girls meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. in Room 43F to create reusable menstrual products for women in underdeveloped countries.
“We have students sew, trace and cut fabrics to create pads,” said club founder and President Daniel Kim ‘24.
Members of this club contribute to the international chapter that aims to provide sustainable and accessible menstrual products for all people with periods.
“We hand [the menstrual products] over to a chapter in Los Angeles,” said Kim. “We make
these pads to give to girls in underdeveloped countries, enabling their education.”
When their menstrual cycle begins, many girls without access to pads, especially younger teens, often feel unsanitary and do not attend school due to a lack of hygiene items. Providing access to menstrual products goes a long way towards enhancing both women’s health as well as gender equity.
“Companies try to profit off Days for Girls,” said Kim. “[But] we need to stay true to our meaning: this is our service as a non–profit.”
will discuss them,” said Paik. “We don’t want this to be a [lecture] style, classy style thing, but rather, a ‘share your ideas’ thing.”
Paik continues to promote awareness about medical issues among her club members through their discussions at meetings. In addition, she hopes to truly inspire her fellow peers to pursue a future education, career and passion for medicine and other health–related professions.
“I want people to be inspired to do something in the medical field,” said Paik. “We need more educated medical professionals and
While hoco–posals can be quite the spectacle, going to Homecoming with a date is overrated. Attending the dance with a group of friends is definitely a slay.
Attending an afterparty is a great way to continue your Homecoming night ... after the dance. WHS puts a lot of effort into planning a fun night of dancing and games. Skipping the dance is a nay.
2021’s Homecoming on the field was, well ... interesting. The space is too big, causing students to clump together in groups instead of socializing as a whole. Homecoming in the gym offers a more personal experience when enjoying games, music, dancing, food and more ... definitely a slay.
On Aug. 19, 2021, WHS student Georgia Butler ‘23 received the news that no one ever wants to hear — a diagnosis of a rare type of cancer, B–cell leukemia.
B–cell leukemia is an aggressive and fast–growing type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and damages bone marrow. The recovery from B–cell leukemia is a long and arduous road as research in this specific form of cancer has only progressed significantly in the last 20 years.
“I was very shocked in the beginning,” said Butler. “It was really unexpected, especially because I seem like a healthy girl and all of a sudden I was diagnosed with cancer. It was scary [because] I didn’t know what was going to happen [and] there was so much unknown.”
Butler’s friends and family also felt the shock and heartbreak of her diagnosis.
“It was so unreal when I first found out,” said Dante De La Pena ‘23. “You hear about people getting cancer all the time, but for it to happen to someone you actually know is just hard to register.”
Having a strong support system is often crucial for cancer patients’ speedy recoveries. For Butler, having her friends and family beside her through these hard times has brought her closer to them.
“[My friends] have definitely helped me get through all the hard times … and were just there for me to support me,” said Butler. “[My family] definitely got very close with everything going on as there were some very scary moments.”
B–cell leukemia is an unpredictable disease, resulting in Butler having to undergo several procedures, as well as multiple rounds of painful chemotherapy.
“I honestly was very anxious because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Butler. “[Having] a rare type of cancer ... made it even scarier.”
In such a scary situation, Butler’s doctors were honest and upfront with her, creating a trusting relationship and environment.
“I was able to kind of relate with [my doctors], and they would actually tell me
directly, and not through my parents, what was going on with my body and what was going to be happening,” said Butler. “They would talk to me like I was an equal.”
Although she was surrounded by negative things, Butler still persevered and focused on the positive aspects of her situation.
“I think what gave me hope was mostly the doctors … inspiring me and just telling me that
it was going to be okay,” said Butler. “My friends … were all telling me the same thing — that [it’s] going to be okay, [and] you’re going to get through this.”
Being a patient at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles caused Butler to miss out on her junior year, and her absence was definitely taken into account by her friends.
“It made me sad to know that she wasn’t going to experience things that everyone else was getting to participate in,” said Luca De La Pena ‘23.
Despite being surrounded by family, Butler still missed going out and having fun because she could not put her health in jeopardy with the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic.
“I was really lonely,” said Butler. “I wasn’t able to see anybody because of COVID–19 [and] my [immune] system was weakened for a long time. I was in the house all the time, in the hospital all the time and was only [able to see] my parents.”
When Butler reunited with her friends, they made sure it felt like no time had passed.
“[The] first [reunion] with [my friends] was really, really special,” said Butler. “They all would bring me gifts, and I remember the first time I saw them after the hospital they were just there for me. We just talked and talked, and they caught me up on all the drama.”
Butler’s journey in battling cancer has been long and formidable, but she remains grateful for her health and recovery.
Treatment and doctor visits remain normal for Butler, but she has been able to enjoy her senior year on campus. Hospital visits are minimal and Butler reamins in good spirits as her health progresses.
“[Coming back] has been great,” said Butler. “Everyone has been so understanding of what I’ve been through [and what] I’m still going through. I’m just very glad to see everybody again.”
Being a senior includes many fun events, such as Prom, Homecoming and GradNite. However, the cost of these activities quickly adds up, and the total can be a shock for many seniors and their parents.
Attending various events and celebrations is one of the biggest highlights of senior year. It involves going out and, most importantly, making memories with friends.
“I feel like throughout my high school [experience] I didn’t go to many events, and I need to compensate for that by going to senior events,” said ASG member Colin Wertz ‘23.
member Trisha Ravish ‘23. “For people who don’t get to participate, I feel bad, and I hope we find a different way to bring people together.”
Despite the total cost, many students feel as if it is still worth it to attend fun outings with their friends.
“I think the fun would outweigh the cost,” said Ryan Palmquist ‘23.
why we do all these fundraisers. If we do more fundraisers and get more people to show up, [we can] lower the cost, hopefully making it more affordable for
“Also, most of my friend group is going, so I’d feel left out if I didn’t go … It’s senior year so I want to make the most of it.”
the cost, hopefully making it more affordable for everyone.”
To save money, many students take advantage of discounts such as buying event tickets early which are offered by WHS throughout the year.
“I bought the ASB sticker because I plan on going to homecoming and all the [football] games,” said Palmquist. “I was going to buy the [homecoming] ticket the first week [of sales], too.”
While many students make it a priority to attend senior outings, ticket purchases can be expensive due to expenses such as DJs, props, staff and catering.
“It’s not very fair to a lot of people,” said ASG
–Trisha RavishHowever, not everyone is able to afford these events and go out with their friends. On top of practical limitations, such as curfews and transportation, being able to purchase tickets is not feasible for some students.
“I definitely think it’s not accessible for everyone, and I think our senior class needs to do a better job of fundraising so we can offset that cost,” said Ravish. “That’s why we do all these fundraisers. If we do more fundraisers and get more people to show up, [we can] lower
At the end of the day, a primary factor in deciding to attend events is making a choice on whether or not the experiences are worth the money.
“I do [think these events worth attending],” said Wertz. “You can only do it a couple times in your life, and I think you can always make your money back. Even if [you have] a bad experience … you will always have the memories, even if it [might be] a bad one. You can be like, wow, I remember how good or bad that [event] was.”
Fans have anticipated Taylor Swift’s 10th album Midnights since the release of her latest original album evermore in 2020.
by andy lynch opinion section editorIt’s Aug. 28, 2022, and you’ve just sat down to watch TV as famous music artists take to the stage at the MTV Music Awards. As you scroll through your TikTok feed, glancing up to the TV occasionally to glimpse at each artist, your ears catch Nicki Minaj announce, “the VMA goes to Taylor Swift!” The theater, packed with hundreds of stars, erupts in cheers. Dressed in a homage to her silver gown worn 13 years ago, Swift accepts the award and reveals to the world her new upcoming album, Midnights
The 12–time–grammy–winning artist Taylor Swift has paved the way for country and pop artists over the course of her 16–year-career. Swift has continuously reimagined and developed her musical image by releasing groundbreaking albums with new themes and ideas, shaping the image she transforms her stories into. Just like her first released country pop album Taylor Swift in 2006, as well as her 2012 rock and pop album 1989, Swift’s upcoming album, Midnights, releasing Oct. 21, has caused uproar among the public.
“It’s her music and I think it’s very screwed up that someone else is getting the profit and owns her art,” said Mossalaei. “It’s very personal to her; she wrote these songs from her own experiences.”
Swift spent years fighting for the full rights of her first six albums, but it seemed hopeless in 2019 when Scooter Braun bought BMR and acquired the masters to her music until the “synchronization license” was introduced in 2020.
“This license is also the reason why Swift is legally permitted to re–record her masters without being sued for infringement of copyright … In addition to this synchronization license, what proves advantageous to Swift is that the clause, barring her from re–recording her songs in her 2005 agreement with Big Machine Records, has also reportedly expired,” stated FirstPost journalist Rhea Rao in the article “Why Taylor Swift is rerecording her studio albums, and what it says about copyright battles with mega music labels.”
“Her music is great and I absolutely love it. She
Finally able to own her own music, Swift can continue releasing her own albums, exploring friendship, romance and creativity through a storytelling lens, and helping fans feel seen and understood by her music.
is a role model and always says the right thing and is a great person to look up to.”
–Sonia Mossalaei
Swift made her start in 2006 by releasing her first album Taylor Swift at 15–years–old under the label Big Machine Records, which introduced a female country voice for many fans, especially young girls, to look up to.
“[I’ve been a Swift fan] since I was little,” said Sonia Mossalaei ‘23. “The debut album came out when I was a few months old, but Fearless and Speak Now were when I actually got to understand [her music] and really became a Swiftie.”
Swift’s contract promised Big Machine Records to release six of her albums, but she couldn’t officially own any of the songs with CEO Scott Borchetta taking the credits to her music.
“[Swift’s] storytelling is really interesting and entertaining,” said Samantha Elsley ‘24.
“[Songs like] ‘mirrorball’ from Folklore show that even though she’s a celebrity, she can still have all these problems that normal people have.”
Swift’s music is a beacon of positivity for her fans, also known as her “Swifties,” with many young girls relating to her form of storytelling in her albums as well as connecting with one another through a shared love for her image and message.
“Because I lived [in Chile], I wasn’t very exposed to American music,” said Bernardita Riffo Olivos ‘23. “My cousin from [America] came to visit, and she showed me [Swift’s music], and I was like ‘I love this.’ 1989 has a special place in my heart because that’s when I became a fan.”
Swift is known for announcing albums unexpectedly, with her new album Midnights continuing the streak as she revealed it to the public at the 2022 MTV Music Awards and shocked her fans.
“I’m so excited,” said Riffo Olivos. “I literally asked for the day off of work to dedicate that day to listening to Midnights. I really like the aesthetic of it, and I think it’s going to be something new. It’ll have the same songwriting [style] but in a new type of sound because she’s still experimenting.”
The announcement for Midnights was so monumental to fans because at the same awards show 13 years earlier, Swift had been cut midway through her acceptance speech by rapper Kanye West and publicly humiliated.
“I was so excited when I heard [Swift’s Midnights announcement],” said Elsley. “I wasn’t even watching the VMA’s, [but] I heard about it on TikTok and was like ‘woah, no way.’ I was so proud that [all of us fans] thought something was going to happen and the fact that it was thirteen years after the Kanye [incident].”
Swift has continuously reimagined her music throughout her career with her recent discography proving her impact on her fans.
“[Swift] is my favorite person ever,” said Mossalaei. “Her music is great and I absolutely love it. She is a role model and always says the right thing and is a great person to look up to.”
Harry’s House , Harry Styles’ newest album, debut on May 20, 2022. After already performing in various United Kingdom cities, Styles has finally made his way to North America.
He kicked off his North American Love On Tour itinerary on Aug. 20, 2022 with 10 dates in New York City at Madison Square Garden, followed by 10 more dates in Los Angeles, CA at The Forum beginning on Oct. 23. The next stop on Style’s tour is two dates in Toronto, Canada at the Scotiabank Arena.
He will conclude the tour with five dates in Austin, TX at Moody Center and five dates in Chicago, IL at United Center. As opposed to performing in a multitude of cities for a night or two, Styles decided to hit a few major cities for a longer period of time, transforming iconic venues into Harry’s House.
Over the years, Styles has developed a unique and prominent style expressed through
both his clothing choices and performance manner. He is notorious for performing decked out in sparkles, boas, pearls and every color imaginable. There’s no need for backup dancers since Styles travels across the entire stage, dancing and singing in each and every corner.
“Harry [Styles} makes it a really energetic show, and the audience always creates a welcoming environment,” said concert attendee Julia Guss ‘23.
Opening with a fan–favorite titled “Daydreaming” and
finishing with “Love of my Life,” this setlist has fans losing their minds. Followed by a short encore, Styles is expected to perform four original songs, including a fan–favorite titled “Medicine.”
“I’m most excited to experience the moment live, especially ‘Daydreaming,’ said Sophia Garcia ‘24. “It’s a comfort song to me, and I want to experience it live so that it’s engraved in my head forever.”
BY ALYSSA JOOIn addition to his one–of–a–kind personality and unique setlist, Styles always puts enormous effort into transforming his concerts into more than just a musical performance.
comfortable,” said Garcia. “He has even helped a lot of people come out of the closet.”
Styles has also decided to donate a portion of his tour proceeds to help combat the gun epidemic the United States is currently facing.
“In the wake of recent mass shootings across the U.S. ... Styles will be donating proceeds from the tour, with Live Nation matching, equaling over $1 Million to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund — the education, research and litigation arm of the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country,” according to livenationentertainment.com.
arry [Styles] makes it a really energetic show, and the audience always creates a welcoming environment.”
“[Styles] makes everyone
–Julia GussTickets are limited but still available on various platforms, such as Ticketmaster , Stub Hub and Vivid Seats . If a person is unable to attend, they can view live streams of these events posted on social media in order to help remote viewers experience Harry’s House from home.
“HTAYLOR SWIFT PHOTO BY PICASA CC BY-SA 2.0
Bright lights surround you, and the only audible sound is coming from overpowering speakers that drown out everything else. You sing along with your favorite artist right in front of your eyes. Even though there's only a few songs left before the concert ends, you know the memories will last a lifetime.
Concerts of various genres can be a source of entertainment for people of all ages as they watch their favorite musicians perform live. However, as technology advances and prices rise, new struggles present themselves for those wishing to see live music.
Ticketmaster , among a large group of similar applications, is a website to purchase and resell tickets for many events, such as concerts. Though its purpose is to make it easier to buy tickets, the website still has many flaws.
“ Ticketmaster is the main website that I use, and it's honestly not the best,” said Naydelyn Rodriguez ‘23. “A lot of people log on around the same time that tickets go on sale, … so it starts crashing, and it makes it difficult to get tickets.”
In addition to the website freezing and crashing, it can be hard to find tickets in what most consider to be a reasonable price range.
“When it’s [tickets for] seats … that’s so much more difficult because you are trying to get the section you want, and if you don’t get that, you have to compromise somewhere else, and they go so fast,” said Brooke Beck ‘24.
Though Ticketmaster aims to make purchasing tickets easier, it doesn’t remove the towering fees and expenses of concert tickets, especially for high valued performances.
The high cost often causes severe financial burdens in addition to the incapability of young adults to pay for tickets.
“Usually, there’s a set price on what the tickets are, but as more people start buying tickets, prices start to rise,” said Rodriguez. “Normal seats that would be $50 rise up to maybe $100 or up to $500.”
Spending money on tickets is just one of the ways concerts can be an expensive outing. Even inside the venue, food and merchandise add extra costs.
“Money is stressful for people and sometimes everything is overpriced,” said Sara Targum ‘25. “Water is like $10, and you don’t want to spend money on that, or you just can’t.”
Especially for popular artists, stadiums can fill to maximum capacity and be very crowded, causing excessive lines and waiting. To avoid missing parts of the concert, people often arrive early or stay hours after just to stand in merchandise lines.
“There’s usually a ton of long lines,” said Rodriguez. “I try getting to the event maybe five hours prior to when the doors actually open, just so I have time to buy merchandise and wait in line.”
However, crowds aren’t necessarily bad and can even elevate the experience for some.
“Honestly, I think [crowds] make it more fun,” said Aishwarya Miglino ‘25. “If there’s not that many people around you, it's awkward. I feel like everyone [else] makes you want to dance and be in a better mood.”
Some might be able to relate to the appeal of big crowds, but there’s also more personal reasons why concerts might peak one’s interest. For Adam Niemenn ‘26, concerts give him a chance to bond with his dad when they go together.
“Seeing what [my dad] likes in music and interpreting it into what I like [in] music was really interesting,” said Niemenn. “It was a cool experience.”
Concerts can be a lighthearted and cheerful way to have fun with friends or family. However, music can have a deeper meaning to a lot of people, and going to a concert can bring this to life.
“Music just helps me focus, even if it's just in the background,” said Seth Geer ‘24, who went to a Tyler the Creator concert. “It helps shape how you grow up and the actions that
you make and your moods … [The concert I went to] was definitely a morale booster.”
Concerts might not be the best activity if one is aiming for a simple, straightforward event. Among the high prices, difficulties in obtaining tickets and extensive lines, it can be overwhelming and stressful. However, the many positive aspects of concerts can make them a memorable occasion.
“There wasn’t one open seat [at the venue],” said Sara Blauser ‘25. “It was kind of crazy to see how many people were there … You're not always going to get the best seats, but it's worth the experience.”
The year 1900 brought the television, 1975 brought the computer and 1992 brought the smartphone. Thus began the information age.
Social media, marketed as a place of self–expression, has set the societal standard for beauty and culture in the 2010s and onward, taking on a leading role in many high schoolers’ lives. Social media is now setting the precedent for body image issues, social stigmas and the loss of a traditional childhood.
“I think social media can be positive and negative because you can express yourself,” said Erina Park ‘25.
“I think it can be negative because people are raising the beauty standard, which can create unrealistic standards.”
Social media allows a younger generation to compare themselves to unrealistic selfies and pictures of friends laughing together, according to an article titled “Social Media
& Self Image” on thespark.org.uk. The article explains how most users put filters on their posts, contributing to a disconnect between the artificial reality of social media and reality.
“Social media has had a negative effect because it creates a standard that not everybody knows [is impossible],” said Alexander Vallejos ‘24.
Children are maturing faster today due to peer pressure from social media outlets, according to Victoria Woollaston on The Daily Mail
In fact, 70% of children are searching the web without supervision, and because of this, 40% of parents find it frustrating that their children’s influencers and friends have more control over their children than themselves.
“Sometimes people are growing up way too fast,” said Park. “For example, I’ve seen many middle schoolers wearing very exposing clothing and full faces of makeup.”
Though, behind these new standards are the megacorporations controlling most mainstream social
media platforms. Meta controls Instagram and Facebook, Amazon controls Twitch and Google controls YouTube, resulting in competition between the corporations.
“I think the competition says more about the megacorporations behind the social media platforms [than the social media platforms themselves] because it’s really just competition between monopolies,” said Vallejos.
As this competition is happening, however, there is a multiplatform influencer who has taken over the mainstream: Andrew Tate. His videos and opinions have been highly controversial in the public sphere as many people argue that he is pushing a misogynistic agenda and is creating a bad influence for many in younger generations, calling into question the impacts influencers’ opinions have on viewers, especially younger audiences.
“He is setting a bad influence because little 11–year–olds are looking up to that,” said Logan Williams ‘24.
Beyond the influence of Tate, YouTuber Valkyrae has been questioned for her prior support of the skincare corporation for blue light RFLCT. The company made false claims about the detriments of blue light on the skin, according to Nathan Grayson on The Washington Post. This issue illustrates the power of scientific facts as opposed to the power of social media influence.
“The power of influencers has a lot more value to society than science because they tend to be more enjoyable to watch,” said Vallejos. “People don’t always want to hear the truth; these influencers give them an easier truth to swallow.”
Ultimately, social media creates bigger concerning precedencies, and has several negative effects that call constant usage should into concern.
“Body image and cyberbullying are big problems [for social media],” said Williams. “Though, a good thing is trends and childhood impact because as people see what people are doing on the Internet, it starts a chain reaction.”
Tate
“I have to go to work today. Change your language — I get to go to work today.”
“Consistency, effort, perspective and time. You got this!”
After a long and grueling six hour school day full of note–taking, classwork and other typical activities, most students look forward to heading home to wind down and relax.
by sydney elias featured columnist
Parents often think they know it all. “I was a teenager once too, you know,” they say. “I’ve experienced everything you’re going through.” But that’s the thing: they haven’t.
A new world is utterly consumed by technology, social media and the constant societal pressure always lurking in the distance like a dark cloud, while vital years for growth were taken away by the pandemic. It’s all too much.
The psychological space between adults and the youth seems to grow with each generation to come, and understandably so. With time change comes mindset change, and that is not always easy for people to accept. While it is not to say life wasn’t difficult for past generations, it definitely hasn’t been any easier for us.
Older generations never had to experience harsh comparison on social media. Unattainable beauty and lifestyle standards are constantly portrayed as “normal,” leaving many teens questioning their worth on a daily basis: Am I skinny enough? Am I pretty enough? Am I doing everything perfectly so that I won’t be susceptible to the judgment of my peers?
With mental illness being much more commonly recognized in our generation than in our parents, it can be hard for them to understand and help us cope. While that is not necessarily the parents’ faults, it can be damaging to some teens because it forces them to go through their struggles feeling isolated and misunderstood.
Moreover, societal norms were very different in past decades. Opening up about sexuality and gender identity was far less acceptable when our parents were children. Because of this reality, many parents don’t understand and fail to adjust to the nuanced thinking of today’s youth.
Social pressures consume our generation like never before with pressure to fit in, sexual orientation, online activities and the constant pressure to succeed. Youth can only contain these pressures for so long until they all become too heavy, especially if they don’t have someone to vent to.
I refuse to believe that this is just the way life is. Just because our grandparents’ generation didn’t understand our parents, and our parents don’t understand ours doesn’t mean that one day we won’t understand our own children. Many parents make the conscious decision to take the time to fully understand their children and listen to their perspectives. People need to continue to do so in order to ensure that generations to come are not ostracized from the rest.
Time changes everything. It is essential for all to be understanding and adapt to new generations, concepts and ideals. We are not the lost generation. Just because we think differently doesn’t mean we are wrong. We are not lazy or irresponsible — we are simply misunderstood.
However, this year many students and teachers are upset to find that they need to stay nearly an hour longer due to WHS’s new bell schedule. The new schedule was put in place in response to a California Senate Bill 328 that now requires high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. with the exception of an A period class.
This new bell schedule has made it hard for many WHS students and staff members to manage their time throughout an already busy school day.
School now gets out 40 minutes later than it has in the past. This difference in dismissal time has led to a rather drastic change in scheduling that no current WHS student has seen before. Students now have to deal with a completely different end time than they are used to, which may conflict with after–school schedules involving sports, work and other commitments.
With school ending at 3:28 p.m., students have even less free time outside of class, with only a maximum of six hours of non–school time in order to maintain the recommended 9–10 hours of sleep.
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in a national sample, 72.7% of high school students reported regularly not getting enough sleep on school nights. By further limiting the amount of after–school time students have in their days, this statistic will likely increase.
Additionally, the new schedule includes a shorter lunch, now 35 minutes long, as
opposed to the previous 40 minutes. Whether it be socializing with friends, making up a test or meeting with a teacher or counselor, students may find that they don’t have as much time to do these things as they have in the past.
A longer lunch break can lead to reduced stress and higher grades, as students have more time to relax and refresh before heading to their next classes, according to kingcounty.gov. By limiting the amount of time students have, the amount of time they also have free from their classes is reduced as well.
While the new extended eight minute passing period gives students more time to get to their classes, especially considering the length to walk to Building 6, for most classes this time tends to end up being much longer than necessary. Many students are forced to just sit in their seats and wait for class to start for the majority of that time, which could otherwise be spent as actual productive class time.
However, this new schedule isn’t all bad and does still deserve some credit for its multitude of benefits, such as longer class periods for teachers that often rush to get through their lectures, as well as longer passing periods that still serve their purpose in giving students enough time to get back and forth from Building 6.
Since the schedule has both ups and downs, a potential rework would be the best course of action rather than keeping the current one or bringing back the old schedule. By cutting back passing periods by a minute each or lowering class time by a few minutes, the extra time could be allocated elsewhere, bringing about a better balance throughout the school day.
Since the bell schedule is something that affects all WHS students and faculty on a daily basis, it should be something that works for everyone.
Getting up and asking the teacher to use the bathroom can be stressful enough on its own, but WHS’s new bathroom passes have only added to that stress.
With students returning to school after COVID–19, new disposable bathroom passes were implemented as a way to combat germs and prevent students from wandering campus unpermitted. However, the rules for using these passes aren’t always consistent, as the use differs per teacher.
Because of these varying rules, passes are often unchecked, which leads to students losing class time to fill out passes they won’t even need. Administrators should address
In recent school years, vaping has become a more prominent problem, and the WHS administration has implemented a new solution. Vape detectors were installed in all bathrooms to help deter students from vaping and smoking.
In theory this sounds effective, but that is not the case. The detectors are loud enough to disrupt the surrounding classrooms during lectures and discussions. Along with being a distraction for teachers and students, the vape detectors also aren’t always reliable or accurate.
There is typically at least a handful of students in each bathroom so it can be very hard to pinpoint who the culprit is, which could cause an innocent person to be mistakenly accused.
Although the vaping issue does need to be addressed at WHS, the vape detectors might not be the most effective solution for this problem.
You rush into the bathroom after a long class period and quickly realize you’ve run out of menstrual products. You remember there’s a dispenser in the bathroom and let out a sigh of relief, but when you press the button for a pad or tampon, nothing comes out.
In the 2021–22 school year, menstrual product dispensers were installed in all the women’s bathrooms as well as in one men’s bathroom on the WHS campus.
“Public schools ... shall stock the schools restrooms at all times with adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all women’s restrooms … and one mens restroom,” according to the sign above each dispenser.
Despite what the sign promises, the dispensers are almost always empty, leaving many students in stressful situations. Ensuring that the machine is always stocked is an easy solution to end the unfortunate reality for WHS students.
by vivian stein co–editor–in–chief
A phone buzzes loudly from the back corner of the classroom. Five students have laptops in front of them with answer keys, textbook problems or a Google Doc open. A few others are on their phones, thumbs dancing across the screen at a rapid rate. Even the teacher is at her computer, typing out emails before lunch.
This is a common occurrence in the classroom and is just one example of technology being integrated into classrooms at a swift rate. Especially since the COVID–19 shutdown, when students and teachers were forced to shift to entirely online learning platforms, the digital world has become even more drastically involved in education.
Although some may argue that the rise of virtual learning tools may bring about more distractions and consequences than benefits, the world is changing to include more technological components, and it only makes sense that schools are incorporated into the digital age.
Technology is integral in education as it enables students to grow accustomed to digital resources early in life, allows teachers to aid students in the most effective ways possible and leads to more interactive
lessons and opportunities through the use of immersive programs.
Over 70% of U.S. public schools reported teachers using technology for classroom instruction and activities on a regular basis, with almost half of these schools reporting that teachers receive training on how to properly use these digital resources, according to a 2020 study conducted by the National Center of Education Statistics. Many of these teachers agree that technology is quickly becoming a crucial aspect of education.
“Through the use of technology inside and outside the classroom, students can gain 21st–century technical skills necessary for future occupations,” according to American University’s School of Education Online Program.
By actively using technology at a young age, students in both primary and secondary schooling can grow accustomed to utilizing these resources, allowing them to be comfortable handling technology throughout life. With so many occupations now incorporating digital aspects, as well as the surplus of technology based, work–from–home opportunities, fundamental experience in the digital world allows students to easily adapt in the workplace.
The use of technology not only provides students with an introduction to the digital world, but it also enables teachers to provide help best fitted to specific students, as some might require different learning tools and resources, both at school and at home.
“Platforms that use data analytics can
pinpoint the areas where each student is having [the] most difficulty,” according to an article from futureeducators.org. “Performance information allows [educators] to quickly adjust teaching strategies and the syllabus according to data gathered and analyzed.”
Having students take tests and do activities online can allow teachers to actively see what certain students need most help with. Some educational tools, such as Canvas, even allow teachers to monitor active test–takers in order to prevent cheating. Online applications allow teachers to provide learning opportunities for students that may not be otherwise attainable.
With virtual labs and field trips, online study resources and other technological assets found in the digital world, students are exposed to educational opportunities that simply are not possible just flipping through a textbook.
“Technology has been shown to scale and sustain instructional practices that would be too resource intensive to work exclusively in–person learning environments, especially those with the highest needs,” wrote Saro Mohammed with brookings.edu
However, with students staring at screens during class, they often miss out on chatting with a peer or remembering to ask a teacher questions instead of just looking up the answer. Although risks to the social aspect of school are
a significant downfall regarding the rise of technology in education, the advantages of utilizing this rapidly growing resource far outweigh any negatives.
The growing use of technology in education offers a surplus of benefits, including an advanced technological skillset for technology at an early age, best suited help for each student and opportunities that are only possible through virtual assets.
Having access to a world of information at the click of a mouse is something that would have seemed impossible to people a century ago. Since American public schools now have access to these digital services, it only makes sense to integrate technology into one of the most important aspects of society, education.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, students have become even more reliant on technology. While some believe that this dependence on technology enhances learning, others believe that it serves as a deterrent rather than an aid.
by harrison weinberg graphics editorYESAs technology evolves from a useful tool to an integral staple of daily activity, schools such as WHS have been directing traditional lesson plans through digital platforms. Tools such as Canvas allow students to easily access information from teachers and submit assignments. The use of devices in the classroom makes task management simple and convenient.
However, the benefits that technology provides also come with adverse long and short term effects which stunt the effectiveness of the classroom.
While many people believe that technology in classrooms helps make managing classwork and lectures easier, it actually does the complete opposite, subversively affecting the learning capabilities and attention spans of students.
Most notably, the blue light emissions from electronics are found to interfere with students’ abilities, especially when exposed for long durations. A study from the PEC University of Technology found that prolonged exposure to blue light has adverse effects on mood, memory performance and even attention span, according to eyesafe.com
As these devices are frequently used for multiple classes, the blue light they emit can weaken students’ ability to learn and pay attention in class.
Students are generally comfortable using technology, which allows them to easily navigate
away from class and, for example, check their message inbox during a lecture. This allows for infinite access and exposure to gratifying content that appeals to short attention spans.
brain to develop a dependence on technology to satisfy its desire for entertainment. This poses as a constant tease for the brain–diverting students’ focus from the classroom.
smartphones and tablets is that they have the tendency to increase our absent–mindedness, [as well as] reduce our ability to think, remember, pay attention to things and regulate emotion,” said Sharon Horwood, a senior lecturer at the School of Psychology at Deakin University, according to have our phones within arm’s reach. Even the possibility of a message or a call or something happening on social media is enough to divert our attention away from what we are doing.”
instead of spending more time on them, students can work on counteracting this instant gratification desire and focus more on lessons in class.
reliable and can cause problems with students’ work. Technology can be unpredictable, leaving students helpless in the event of a malfunction. For instance, disconnecting from the internet or a dying computer battery results in students unable to follow along with the class and match what the rest of the students are doing.
than on a computer and turning in papers in–person rather than online.
Technology may make classes easier to manage, but it’s time to slow down before classrooms become too reliant on it.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CC BY-NC-ND
During a sports event, the fans and their attentions are often directed towards the players. With every scored point, every missed opportunity and every victory and loss, the team is subject to celebration or criticism. However, there is one key component that many tend to undervalue in creating these positive or negative outcomes: the coaches.
Coaches must constantly remain in control of every aspect of their team, both during and outside of games. Even with all of this responsibility, many underestimate the impact that coaches can have on the team’s success as much of their guidance happens behind the scenes, outside of spectator view.
A large factor in determining whether a team remains average or achieves greatness is its level of commitment, specifically commitment from the team’s coach.
“If I’m expecting my players to give me all they have, then I’m going to give them all I have,” said Josh Budde, varsity girls basketball head coach.
Players also recognize and benefit from their coach’s commitment to a team.
“[Budde] pours a lot of his heart and soul into the program,” said Alyssa Jackson ‘23. “You can tell that he spends a lot more time in the program than he would necessarily get paid for.”
Along with devoting this extra time to creating a successful team, coaches also make
COACHES SUPPORTING PLAYERS: Varsity assistant coach Dominic Shihabi comforts varsity tight–end Mason Charles ‘25 after Charles broke his thumb in the game against Sierra Canyon High School.
sure to prioritize individual success, which can be just as important as building a team as a whole.
“[The coaches] will do skill work for individuals,” said Jackson. “[They] break down personal achievements or things you need to work on for the success of your team.”
To create this desired success, a coach’s relationship with players is crucial as well.
“A good relationship outside of the sport
is really important,” said boys cross–country runner Ruvan Aluwihare ‘25. “To be able to communicate with you in the sport, you have to have a good relationship outside of the sport.”
A strong player–coach relationship not only helps the team overall, but also builds a sense of trust between individuals.
“[Budde] is like a second dad to me,” said Jackson. “On campus, he’s someone I can go to and talk to about anything, and I trust him with everything in my life.”
However, WHS athletes have also spoken out about the negative influence that some coaches have on players, specifically involving a player’s self–esteem.
“They will have us in one play and then automatically take us out if we do something wrong,” said girls basketball player Dayna Woodford ‘24. “I feel like I’m not wanted in the sport and that I’m a bad player.”
A lack of encouragement is not the only aspect that can hinder success, but playing favorites amongst players can weaken the team’s chemistry and lower morale.
“If you start having favoritism, you can have a negative impact on the rest of the players,” said Budde. “You’ve got to treat them fairly but not always equally because you coach each player differently.”
Ultimately, successful athletic teams will involve coaches that are firm yet considerate towards their players.
“I feel like you need balance,” said Woodford. “You need a coach that is strong and will put you in your place, but you also need someone who is understanding and will be there for you.”
While many sports at WHS are separated by gender, more sports, such as swim, wrestling and lacrosse, are becoming co–ed friendly.
The WHS wrestling team is co–ed, meaning both male and female athletes train together.
“Wrestling is the girls’ highest growing sport in America, so they are really trying to be inclusive and diverse,” said varsity wrestling co–captain Mackenzie English ‘24.
The wrestling team only has two female athletes this year, but small steps are important to create change in the long run.
“I was a little intimidated to join because it was a mostly all–boys team,” said Lauren Dawson ‘24. “But I knew Mackenzie prior, and she inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. She’s a really great wrestler, so I look up to her a lot.
Having a co–ed team does not stop English and Dawson from participating. For them, gender provides little to no difference in the sport.
“I just practice with everyone else,” said English. “I compete in tournaments against guys; once you’re on the mat it’s not really ‘boy and girl’ but just ‘wrestler and wrestler.’”
Although some people enjoy participating in co–ed sports, it should also be noted that some prefer to have single–sex sport teams because of physiological differences, specifically in contact sports.
Anatomy of men and women differ in that males often have more muscle mass, bone mass and a lower percentage of body fat, according to physiology.org. These anatomical differences mean that male builds will sometimes be larger than females, which can make some male
athletes uncomfortable or concerned in going against females during contact sports, for fear of causing injury.
“I don’t think we should train together because of physical differences,” said varsity wrestling co–captain Evan Vallens ‘23.
Despite some concerns over physical contrast, many believe lack of gender barriers can improve athletic culture in sports.
“I think sometimes there are unfair rulings between different genders or biases towards one,” said varsity swimmer Leo Deng ‘23. “In the end, we all understand that different genders have different capabilities, but we still respect each other.”
On top of gender not being an obstacle for athletic performance, the culture and socialization of co–ed sports can improve by including all athletes, regardless of gender.
“I feel like [being co–ed] brings the two
genders together and allows them to compete in a rivalry–type sense,” said varsity swimmer Zac Miller ‘25. “They are able to compete in practice and getting timed against each other.”
Competitiveness in any sport incentivizes improvement. In fact, it’s commonly argued that having a rival in any environment can push people further than they would go without.
“The energy created in a good rivalry helps us focus our efforts and foster rewards, whether in personal benefit or material gains,” said conflict consultant David W. Angel in the article “The Benefits of a Good Rivalry.”
With competition taking the forefront of focus for most athletes, it is fairly common for co–ed athletes to not think of gender as a dividing factor.
“I don’t think [co–ed sports are] as much of a big deal as other people make it to be,” said Dawson.
It’s Friday night. The stadium lights are shining, and the student section cheers louder than ever as the WHS varsity football team takes the field. Players are sweating and the pressure is on. It is time for the Homecoming game.
On Oct. 8, WHS plays St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. in the WHS stadium.
With expectations high after last year’s loss to Valencia, the players are focused on one thing: the win. By having a positive mindset, the team members can be attentive in their preparations.
“We all take it seriously,” said varsity kicker Nathan Alexander ‘23. “It’s obviously a big deal [because] you always want to win your Homecoming game. After we took the loss to Thousand Oaks High School, we’ve definitely turned up the intensity.”
When having this optimistic mindset, the players can focus on the important aspects of the game and not succumb to various other pressures.
“We put in a lot of hard work during the off–season,” said quarterback Jacob Poley ‘23. “The first couple games haven’t gone the way we wanted them to, but [we] are very excited, working day–in and day–out.”
By maintaining a positive mentality, players have an easier environment to remember their strategies and have a clear mind.
“You can’t really have that [negative] mindset,” said Poley. “You have to stay locked in with what you know and what you learn.”
According to the players, this year’s team is stronger than ever. With COVID–19 restrictions last year, it was harder to connect with the other players and bond as a team.
“It’s changed because we get to do a lot more things this year as a team,” said running back
Conner Nekovar ‘24. “This year’s team bonding is way better. I think we all communicate really well and we’ve all become brothers.”
Since team bonding is a priority, the coaches make sure that everyone is involved, even in the small things.
“We do a lot of stuff together,” said Mark Servé, varsity and JV football coach. “We’re trying to emphasize the importance of knowing the guy that you’re running with. I think that really goes a long way because the kids are believing it.”
Coming into a new school with new people can be intimidating for the freshmen on the team. Seniors make sure to guide them and welcome them to the team, creating a safe space in a new environment.
“This bond had definitely helped them feel more comfortable and confident on the field,” said Poley. “It’s our job as seniors to mentor [underclassmen] and give them everything they can to be successful.”
Varsity and JV are being coached by the same set of coaches, ensuring that both
PHOTO BY KALIA BELL(as of Oct. 3)
ootballboysF
Record: 2W-4L
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. St. Bonaventure
Location: WHS
teams are practicing together to gain a shared mentality and skill.
“We practice on the same field,” said Servé. “I believe that gives us a chance to help with JV because our coaches have coached both the JV and varsity, which makes a big difference. So when JV is practicing defense, varsity is practicing offense and vice versa.”
Going into the game, Servé is emphasizing that the players keep a positive mindset and focus on the present while maintaining consistency with their routines and regimes.
“[St. Bonaventure] is very well coached,” said Servé. “They have a lot of athletes, but I believe in our guys. I believe in what we do ... I believe that our players believe in what we’re doing.”
The WHS football team is aware of the importance of the Homecoming game, and they want to come out strong.
“You want to get a win at the Homecoming game in front of your home crowd,” said Alexander. “Getting the win is just the most important thing.”
A multitude of all–time great athletes have withstood the test of time, continuing their passions and legacies within the professional sports world. However, as the next generation of athletes creates new stories and rises to fame, prior generations hang up their jerseys and conclude their professional careers.
Over their long–lasting careers, both baseball legend Albert Pujols and tennis legend Serena Williams have transformed their respective sports. Nonetheless, their legacies extend beyond solely their accomplishments within the sports domain, and they can continue to impact society after their professional stories have come to a close.
In 2022, both Pujols and Williams are expected to step away from their professional fields.
“As a sports fan, it makes you feel sad because you want them to keep playing forever,” said Anaheim Angels announcer Mark Gubicza. “You’re inspired by them, you’re inspired by their work ethic [and] you’re inspired by their competitiveness, but we always say [that] ‘Father Time always wins.’ No matter what, you’re going to have to walk away at some point.”
Not only are Pujols and Williams connected by their off–the–field contributions to society and their status as legends within the sports world, but they are also connected to each other through a coincidental statistic arising back in 2001, dating
back to Pujols’s rookie season with the Cardinals.
On Aug. 29, 2001, Pujols hit a home run and Williams won a match at the U.S. Open. Similarly, on Aug. 29, 2022, amidst Pujols’s final season with the St. Lewis Cardinals, he hit a home run, while Williams once again won a match at the U.S. Open, according to NBC Sports
“When you look at both of them [and] their work ethic, you just don’t achieve [that],” said Gubicza. “Kobe Bryant was the same way: … focused … To be that good, you have to have that drive, and that’s what kept them going for all these years.”
Over the course of Pujols’s 22–year career in the MLB, he has recorded a batting average of .296, over 3,300 hits and an on–base percentage of .379 according to Baseball Reference However, many sports fans believe Pujols’s most impressive statistic is his home run count.
Throughout the final stretch of the MLB regular season, Pujols was inching closer and closer to the massively esteemed 700 Home Run Club. Only three players in MLB history have ever reached this monumental milestone. With the clock ticking, sports fans from around the world were watching with anticipation to see whether or not Pujols would accomplish this goal before retirement. On Sept. 23, Pujols hit both his 699th and 700th home runs at Dodger Stadium, where his children watched from the stands.
“[It was] a special night. [I was able] to have my family here in town and do it here in Dodger Stadium, where I think my joy for this game came back last year during the postseason,” said Pujols in the postgame press conference.
In terms of Williams’s tennis legacy, she has the professional tennis record of 23 grand slams over the course of her career, 24 singles titles and over $94 million in prize winnings, wtstennis.com.
“[Serena] put tennis on the map,” said Gubicza. “There [were] always great tennis players … but with her, it went to another level … I have no problem saying [she is] one of the best athletes in the history of sports.”
Both Pujols and Williams continue their positive influence outside of sports. In terms of Williams’s societal contributions, she has most notably aided in the construction of numerous schools across Africa according to UNICEF
“I think it’s really cool to see someone using their money and their resources, [as well as] their influence on the public in a good way,” said girls varsity tennis player Megan Sun ‘24.
In 2005, Pujols started the Pujols Family Foundation, which aims to help those with Down Syndrome, serious illness and those living in low socioeconomic status in the Dominican Republic, according to pujolsfamilyfoundation.org.
“He’s just a great guy, he’s a good teammate [and] he’s a good role model,” said varsity boys baseball player Kaden Youmans ‘24. “Last year when he was with the Dodgers, [he would] hug everybody when they came in … It just shows you how cool of a guy he is. He is a true leader.”
Cross Country
Record: N/A
Next meet: Oct. 8 vs. Santa Clarita
Location: Santa Clarita
Record: 11W-5L
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. San Marcos
Location: San Marcos
Record: 14W-0L
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Calabassas
Location: WHS
girlsVolleyball
Record: 8W-9L
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Newbury Park
Location: Newbury Park
Record: 3W-2L
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Thousand Oaks
Location: Sterling Hills Golf Club
For the latest sports updates, stories and scores, visit the WHS athletics website at westlakeathletics.net.
Compiled by Shane Douglas