12.13.16

Volume XXXIX Issue 3 13 Dec 2016

theArrow 100 LAKEVIEW CANYON RD WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362

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Student artists shatter expectations Katie Reul Feature Editor Decking the halls with art of all forms, the AP Studio Art, AP Art Media and Intermediate Life Drawing classes invite students, parents, teachers and staff to the first ever Winter Art Showcase on Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 32E. At least one art piece from every student will be featured on the display tables along with a collaborative centerpiece of all three classes, providing observers with an opportunity to see a diverse spectrum of individuality.

Teachers are welcomed to bring their classes to room 32E from periods two through seven to partake in the provided refreshments and admire the various artwork.

“It’s important to practice talking about your artwork and hearing other people’s comments so you can build up your confidence and justify what you’ve worked on for so long,” said Julia Bush, AP Art Media, AP Studio Art and Intermediate Life Drawing teacher. “It also gives people a chance to look at something personal to you. When you hear what other people think, you become a more well–rounded artist.”

AP Art students receive a new project each week in order to develop their portfolios, experiment with new styles and have their work critiqued. The showcase is another educational experience for participants to hear commentary outside of a class setting.

“I’m just excited to present my art to people because I [usually] don’t like to showcase it,” said Hee Eun Chung ‘18. “This

gives me a platform to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and introduce people to my [art].

I’m kind of nervous at the same time because I’m worried people might not like it as much as I do.”

The showcase is a great opportunity for some students to step out of their comfort zone and present their creativity and hard work in a comfortable engaging environment.

Because all students will display at least one piece of artwork, a wide range of artistic styles will be presented.

“We’ve been working a lot on constructing our portfolios,” said Asianna Valdellon ‘18. “There’s just a bunch of different pieces of conceptual art… I’m sure you’ll see a lot of different styles–very abstract. A lot of the artists in this class have their own style that’s very different from each other. It’s like this coherent mix of incoherent art.”

One such example would be the centerpiece of the gallery, which is a hanging light installation made with chicken wire and metallic paper. The center piece is also an important artwork that displays the cooperative effort of all three classes.

While artistic talent comes naturally for some, students of all levels can enter the WHS art classes.

“My passion started with the doodling on the margins and became much more,” said Ruby Liu ‘17.

By taking art, students can learn skills that the standard academic classes can not teach.

“Everybody can create art, and that art challenges you in different ways that other subjects may not reach,” said Bush.

GRAPHIC BY LO YARNALL

Art students at WHS use creativity as a release from the pressures of schoolwork and extracurriculars. This year’s first Winter Art Showcase is sure to exhibit the collective passion of each and every participant.

“I think the best thing [for students to take away] is just to free your mind, because I see some of the students in here,” explained Valdellon. “We talk about tests we have next period, how we’re so stressed about school. But then we just get to that quiet point where we’re just working hard to create something, and it really just captures the essence of how when you’re isolated, letting no outside factors control you, you can create something so beautiful.”

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: (1) Art Media student Colette Lemieux’s ‘20 untitled piece is a colored pencil drawing done on paper. (2) Intermediate Drawing student Alyssa Cabral’s ‘18 untitled piece is a charcoal drawing done on blue paper. (3) “Parrot” by AP Art Studio student Victor Aguilar ‘17 is a paint and shading drawing done on paper. (4) “Baby Pig” by Intermediate Drawing student Natalie Nitzche ‘19 is a etching done on black-to-white scratch board. (5) “Fireworks and Palm Trees” by AP Art Portfolio student Asianna Valdellon is a watercolor pencil drawing done on watercolor paper. (6) “Land” by AP Art Portfolio student Lauren Lefitz ‘18 is a pen drawing done on paper. (7) AP Art Portfolio student Hannah Currey’s ‘19 untitled piece uses a mixture of alcohol marker, colored pencil, watercolors and gel pen on cardstock paper. (8) “Watercolor Mountains” by Art Media student Malia Proudfit ‘20 is a watercolor painting done on watercolor paper.

2

News

theArrow

Holiday concerts light up WHS PHOTO BY KYLIE WEXLER

Letter from the editor

SPREADING THE JOY (above): ACA members Ananya Muralidharan ‘17, Shayon Torabian ‘17, Gwynne Stevenson ‘17 and Caiden Babbitt ‘17 sing “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by *NSYNC in their final winter choir show.

RHYTHMS AND DYNAMICS (top right): Dylan Jarvis ‘19 concentrates as he plays a piece for Wind Symphony on his tuba.

Wind Symphony played pieces such as “Secret Agent Santa.”

The orchestras played many had yet,” said Josh Chess ‘18. “But I pieces that included “The Labyrinth thought it could have been improved and the Mad King,” “Flamenco if we started working a lot harder a Fantastico” and “Adoration.” lot sooner...We had a wake up call Many orchestra students recently that we weren’t really at the appreciate the artistic freedom that level we should have been.” they are allowed at these concerts.

Each member of band had to “It is play their part much earlier t’s the work... and make sure in the year below the water that it fit in with so we get to the rest of the line that is what band. experiment a little bit more “We must makes it so amazing what with musical learn how to these kids do.” styles and how acoustically we’re supposed celebrate the –Alan Rose d e v e l o p m e n t , to play,” said Helfman. tension and The WHS jazz band played resolution of the music that makes for pieces including “Jingle Bells,” “Let a great musical story and subsequently It Snow,” “Winter Wonderland” and a great experience for our audience,” “What Nothing” in their performance said Brian Peter, Concert and Jazz on Dec. 7.

Band Director.

“I thought it was...probably Band held the final winter the best performance [studio] has concert on Dec. 10.

“I

California to raise minimum wage in 2017 increase in labor costs to employers may result in an increase in layoffs.

“I don’t think this will hurt the shops too much,” said Lindsey California currently holds the sixth Marcus ‘17. “Once they start raising highest minimum wage in the country. their prices, it will balance.”

Small businesses already struggle California state senator Jerry Brown is anticipating a one dollar increase to to keep their shops going. Raising the minimum salary of workers creates eleven dollars on Jan. 1, 2017.

Increasing the wage will create an additional financial burden that both positive impacts and negative may lead to bankrupcy or the closing of the business. impacts.

A higher Economic hey won’t m i n i m u m benefits include putting the have to work wage means relative position as long to that a third of American of the wage back support their families.” workers will to the spot it was be able to cut in in 1960, which means there will –Michelle Way down on their work time and be less of a wage put more time gap.

The smaller wage gap will mean into their families.

“They won’t have to work as that more families will fall under the long to support their families,” said middle–class instead of lower–class.

The benefits will also go to the Michelle Way ‘18, “For example, my federal government as well. Currently mom works at night and in the day, so 53% of Americans rely on the federal if she’s making more, that means she government to aid them with basic won’t have to work two jobs and I can necessities such as housing, money see her more often.”

The social benefit of having this grants, Medicaid and refundable taxes.

However, Los Angeles has the increase will allow single or low– third highest poverty rate. Raising the income parents to handle one job wage may also cause an increase in rather than two.

This will give 28 million people this poverty level.

Hours of each worker’s a greater opportunity to spend more employment will decrease. An time for their loved ones and families.

Isra Din Web Editor

“T

PHOTO BY MILLA WU

See you in 2017!

Amanda Yao Co–Editor–in–Chief

WHS featured an array of concerts in December, hosting choir concerts, an orchestra concert, a jazz concert and a band concert.

Choir’s “One Magic Holiday” concert dazzled the audience.

“What you see is the top of the iceberg,” said Choir Director Alan Rose. “It is the work...below the water line that is what makes it so amazing what these kids do.”

Getting ready for the concerts required an immense amount of dedication, with rehearsals starting back in August. “[To prepare], we practiced everyday in class; then we rehearsed in quartets outside of school,” said Penny Daurio ‘17, Vocal Ensemble and A Class Act (ACA) singer. “I practiced an hour a night [individually].”

The show included songs such as “The New Gift of Love,” “Christmas Kum Ba Ya,” “Goin’ on a Sleighride,” “Jingle Bells” and “At Christmas.”

“I really love the Christmas concert because we get to do both classical and more mellow songs,” said Daurio.

The concert’s goal was to honor the festivities of the holiday season and it included songs celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas and a finale honoring several returning alumni.

Additionally, the WHS orchestras held their holiday concert on Dec. 6.

“It’s a lot of practice, both in class, out of class, individual work [and] sometimes sectionals that we organize outside of school or lessons with teachers...just to get to the tiniest details of the music,” said bass player Lucas Helfman ‘17.

PHOTO BY CAELYN PENDER

Guys, we made it. We survived the worst three weeks of the school year—that horrid time between the end of Thanksgiving break and the start of winter break, a never–ending onslaught of tests, quizzes, projects and meaningless homework assignments. And now, we’re home free!

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the December issue of The Arrow. It’s funny to think that this is the final issue of 2016—our next issue will be in the new year.

2016 has been a roller coaster of ups and downs and twists and turns—it’s a year that will be recorded in history books, that’s for sure. Check out our center spread for a year–in–review. We included everything from the Pokémon Go fad to the election of the first Cheeto-colored president.

Just kidding (but not really).

Other items in the Feature section will get you pumped for the holiday season, in case you aren’t already. Looking for a last minute gift idea? We’ve got you covered.

Are you on the lookout for the next movie to watch on a lazy evening at home over the break? Look no further!

Now for my personal favorite section—Opinion. We have a wide variety of topics this issue, spanning from the possibility of introducing intramural lunchtime sports at WHS to more hefty issues, like the disturbingly prevalent culture of cheating. Of course, we had to inject some holiday cheer into the body of the Opinion section. For some extra humor, check out the latest installment of “ODD or StEVEN” for a student’s sarcastic parody on holiday caroling.

In the News section, find everything you need to know about what’s going on at school.

Our front page features a variety of WHS student artwork that will be displayed in the Winter Art Showcase. We also covered the Music department’s annual winter performances. And get pumped for the upcoming Winter Formal in January. We have all the latest information.

Last but certainly not least, get updates on winter sports, including water polo, basketball, soccer and wrestling in the Sports section. Also look for a compilation of all the athletes who commited to a school on Signing Day–find out more about their future plans and why they chose the schools that they did.

I hope you all enjoy this final issue of 2016. A lot of work went into producing this paper, and both myself and my fellow co– editor, Jaisen, are incredibly proud of all the staff members. A huge shoutout to our wonderful Adviser Mrs. Lynch—we really couldn’t do anything without you. (Literally.)

Have a wonderful, safe and fun–filled holiday season!

Caelyn Pender Milla Wu Feature Section Editor News Editor

Their music pieces consisted of “Celebration,” “Shadow Waltzes” and “Sleigh Ride” among others.

Some of the musicians’ favorite part of the concert was getting to listen to other bands perform.

“I like hearing all the other bands that I don’t normally get to hear because I’m not in them,” said saxophone player Tyler Kuecks ‘18. “In concert band, just hearing everything come together is really good.”

Band’s main goal was to bring the music to life.

“A successful performance is when you make the ink on the page... come to life and connect emotionally with an audience,” said Peter. “A great concert is when the audience experiences the intended diverse emotional experience and journey throughout the performance.”

These are the final concerts for many seniors, making it bittersweet.

WHS reinstates winter formal Sona Bhargava Marc Choi Feature Editors After six years without a winter formal, WHS is reinstating the long– awaited event on Jan. 21 from 8:00– 11:00 p.m. at the Camarillo Airport Museum.

Previously, winter formal was held in the WHS gymnasium and was cancelled due to a poor turnout.

However, because other schools in CVUSD such as Thousand Oaks High School and Newbury Park High School host this event, students at WHS advocated for the return of the dance.

“A lot of students came up to me and asked if we were going to have another dance, ” said Activities Director Heather Godfrey. “This is giving us another reason to dress up and hang out with friends. It was really a push from the students.”

Winter formal grants students the opportunity to dress up in formal attire and surround themselves with peers in an elegant environment.

“I believe winter formal is more of a date and couples thing than homecoming, but less formal than prom,” said Godfrey. “It’s kind of in between homecoming and prom.”

For the weeks of Dec. 5 and Dec. 18, tickets are $50 with an ASB sticker

and $60 without one. From Dec. 19–Jan. 8, tickets will be $60 with an ASB sticker and $70 without one. It will be $80 all throughout the week of Jan 9.

“We’re going to sell for three weeks and if there are still tickets available after then we will open it up again,” said Godfrey. “It is a limited space with a 700 person max.”

The dance is an informal vice, meaning that girls ask guys. However, the point of the dance is for students to have a night out with their peers.

“It’s not mandatory for it to be a girls ask guy dance,” said ASG member Andrew L’Heureux ‘17. “We thought vice would be fun.”

The venue is a World War II museum. The props from the museum will be on display, providing a unique activity for guests to enjoy.

“Since the place is also a museum, we will have access to look at all the cool stuff like airplanes there,” said ASG Adviser Krystle Sundberg. “The place itself is already super cool and decorated.”

Because the dance is right after finals week, ASG and administration believe that winter formal will reduce the stress and anxiety from first semester.

“We want it to be another successful dance and give WHS another opportunity to have a dance,” said L’Heureux. “We want to show students we care about them.”

13 Dec 2016

News

3

In briefs

Organics recycling becomes mandatory

PTSA toy drive

Helen Shi Managing Editor Schools are facing a new environmentally friendly change and it is about time.

According to CalRecycle, California’s educational services dispose of around 562,442 tons of waste a year. These wasteful actions not only hurt schools’ budgets, but also contribute heavy damage to the environment.

“Right now, there is a lot students can do to help the environment, but with the overwhelming lack of awareness in the student body, it makes such action hard,” said Sherry Huang ‘17.

On Sept. 28, 2014, Assembly Bills 32 and 1826 were passed in order to combat this issue.

The efforts are mandated to begin by April 1, 2016. The bills require commercial and public entities such as schools and businesses to divert their organic waste into recycling or reusing programs.

The purpose of Assembly Bills 1826 and 32 is to decrease the amount of organic waste sent to landfills in hopes of reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG). When waste is broken down in landfills, methane is excreted as a byproduct.

Methane then either travels to the atmosphere or mixes in with the soil.

This contributes to global warming and climate change, which in turn leads to many negative impacts on the environment, such as rising sea levels, destruction of natural habitats and droughts.

With a decrease of organic waste sent to landfills and more use of composting, the hope is to eventually see a decrease in GHG and eventually global warming.

“I’m in AP Environmental Science this year and we learned a lot about how the environment is deteriorating, and anything we can do to help it is good,” said Ben Harris ‘17.

There will be a phasing in process where

The WHS Toy Drive will take place Dec. 12–16. Student donated toys will be collected by PTSA members on Fri., Dec. 16 and distributed to less fortunate children across the state.

Toys must be in new condition or sealed packaging in order to be accepted.

Students should deliver toys to their fifth period classrooms.

The generosity of WHS students’ donations can make an astounding impact on the children who receive the donations.

Organics Recycling

New final exam schedule This year, WHS will implement a new finals testing schdule. Semester one finals will begin Wed., Jan. 18. The final exam schedule is below.

GRAPHIC BY HELEN SHI

schools that produce a certain amount of organic waste will be required to have arranged recycling services in order to divert the amount of organic waste produced. Schools that produce larger amounts of waste will be required to start recycling their organic waste first.

The plan begins with schools that produce eight or more cubic yards of organic waste.

These schools were required to have organic waste recycling services by April 1, 2016.

The next phase includes schools that produce four yards of organic waste. These schools are required to implement organic waste recycling services by Jan. 1, 2017.

The final phase requires schools that produce four cubic yards of commercial waste to require recycling services by Jan. 1, 2019.

Commercial waste differs from organic waste as it includes all types of waste produced by businesses.

“It’s a slippery slope of what you can restrict and not restrict and what you can enforce and

not,” said Harris. “But I think that this is one thing [having organic waste recycling services] that can and should be enforced.”

The Sustainability Division of the Public Works Department for the City of Thousand Oaks is currently working to implement a program in order to aid the schools in the Conejo Valley School District with the bills’ requirements.

The Sustainability Divison also assists businesses with subscribing to commerical recycling services and provides free waste assessments.

However, despite the efforts of the Sustainability Division, the real solution to the problem relies on the students. The law requirements can only be met if students actively participate and promote the efforts of organic recycling.

Joanna Yang ‘18 said, “Students should educate themselves about the process and then spread the knowledge, in order to make a difference.”

Wed., Jan. 18: Periods 1, 2, 7 7 a.m.–2:06 p.m.

Thurs., Jan. 19: Periods 3, 5 8 a.m.–12:20 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 20: Periods 4, 6 8 a.m.–12:20 p.m.

Dance team conference WHS dance team will go to the NUVO Dance Convention in Anaheim from Jan. 13–15.

NUVO is a dance conference that hosts 30 tours in nine months all across the United States. WHS will send 13 soloists and five team routines to compete in hip hop, contemporary, jazz and lyrical.

This will be the third year the dance team goes to a NUVO Dance Convention.

In addition to a competition, dance team members will attend classes that are instructed by professional teachers and judges.

Compiled by Marc Choi and Matt Zhang

4

Opinion

ODD or StEVEN

PHOTO BY KYLIE WEXLER

‘Tis the Season Steven Huang Opinion Section Editor Christmas, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the season to be jolly, and it’s the end of fall – la – la – la – la – la – la – la – la. There’s a lot of things I love about the Christmas season: the beautiful lights that adorn every street, the warm pajamas that I can finally wear and the dreams of a white Christmas and Santa on his sleigh.

But the best things about this season aren’t the chestnuts roasting on an open fire, they’re the songs that fill the air. I’m talking about Michael Buble playlists and voices singing “Let’s be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly.” So this Christmas season, whether you’re naughty or nice, here’s three songs for your holiday cheer!

It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot like Christmas It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ev’rywhere you go; you can hear the kid with the pen, sniffling once again with tissue box and real warm socks in-hand.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas coughs in ev’ry class, but the prettiest sight to see, is the heater that will be within those class doors.

A pair of hopalong boots and sweaters and suits is the wish of Cody and Ben; gloves that will warm, and will ward off the storm is the hope of Jerry and Jen; and the school nurse can hardly wait for sum’r to start again.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ev’rywhere you go; there’s a breeze in the freezing air, that passes through all you wear, the icy kind that isn’t kind like snow.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas; soon the colds will start, and the thing that will make them well is the warmth that can swell right within your heart.

Twelve Days of Homework On the twelfth day of Christmas my teachers gave to me: 12 vocab words 11 chaps o’ reading 10 reading notes 9 tear drops dropping 8 textbook problems 7 practice quizzes 6 tests a’ coming 5 study guides 4 labs o’ doing 3 FRQ’s 2 take home essays and a project and a worksheet Joy to the World Joy to the bell! Our class is done.

Now we can enjoy our breaks!

Let ev’ry kid prepare his heart because Santa’s coming soon on his sleigh with Rudolph too, with presents and sacks of coal for bad kids too.

Joy to the world! Winter is here.

Now we can build snowmen!

Let ev’ry kid wear real warm clothes because the snow is come with loads and loads of fun, with snowballs and snow angels for parents too.

theArrow

Cheating haunts WHS Albert Zhang Feature Section Editor A new epidemic is spreading throughout WHS. Every student in every grade and class is susceptible to this disease. This disease has always lain dormant; however, due to recent outbreaks it has blown up, drawing school–wide attention from teachers and administration.

This epidemic is academic dishonesty.

CVUSD defines academic dishonesty as “a deliberate attempt t o disrupt t h e learning process by misrepresenting another’s work as one’s own.”

It also includes “communicating or obtaining prior knowledge of test content.”

This kind of cheating takes place daily on campus as pictures of homework float around through hundreds of texts constantly. While this can be a helpful tool for students stuck on homework problems, the photos can also be copied by students who don’t even attempt the work.

An even more serious issue is cheating on tests. Traditionally, students could pull off all sorts of tactics, from eyeballing a neighbor’s paper to writing notes on fingers. But now students have a new and improved way to cheat tests. They work together to find and share test questions and answers before they take the test.

These leaks spread like wildfire and soon the whole class has a copy of the exam on test day. When one test is found, it often opens the door to all of the other tests for the entire year.

This is every teacher’s worst nightmare. These teachers have used the same testing system for decades. When the tests are found, the entire system collapses and teachers have no choice but to rewrite every test.

Another issue that arises from test leaks is that teachers can’t differentiate the honest from the dishonest. This leads to complaints about unfairness within the classroom. Teachers will often give another test, which hurts the students

who didn’t cheat.

There are a lot of incentives for kids to turn to cheating. Many students have to fight for every point in the gradebook to reach the grade they want in the end. A poor grade on a test can crush a GPA, and students b e c o m e worried that it may jeopardize their future

after high school.

Sometimes, even when students study for hours, they fail to perform on test day. For some, this is incredibly frustrating because they put in the hard work but don’t see the results.

Therefore, students are quick to jump at the opportunity to ensure a high grade in the class, while taking off a lot of stress.

Putting an end to this kind of cheating is extremely difficult. In order to put an end to their nightmare, teachers can come up with new ways

to prevent test leaks. The first way teachers can prevent tests from getting out is to write their own questions. If the test is from the web, it is easy for students to find it.

Another solution to end this type of academic dishonesty is to implement more severe punishments. For example, one teacher threatened to increase the difficulty on all the tests if the culprits did not come forward. He also claimed that the culprits would be denied from all colleges. In the end, this was effective and the p r o b l e m quickly came to an end.

H o w e v e r, this entire issue ultimately comes down to the students.

Many times teachers put trust into their pupils, and students should maintain integrity.

Sometimes, students are allowed to take copies of the tests home to study their mistakes. Because they are given this liberty, they should respect the system.

In addition, using test leaks does not prepare students for the future, especially in AP classes. Students tell me that they regret cheating on tests because they were not prepared for the actual AP exam.

Although it is difficult to avoid the temptation, studying the material is more beneficial. The satisfaction of a high AP score is well worth it.

In addition, many students have been caught using study guides and tests from the year before. Many people turned in the same work, and lost many points for it. What was supposed to help their grades, ended up destroying them. As A’s dropped to D’s, tears began to leak.

My advice to students is that it is better to learn the material for the long run. Ultimately, school is about learning, not a mark on a report card. A test should be an indicator of how well a student has learned the material of the class. Students who commit academic dishonesty are only wasting their own time and their privilege of education.

In the end, cheaters are just cheating themselves.

Where’s the spirit in spirit week?

Elliot Kim Opinion Editor Spirit, the exhibition of pride or enthusiasm for one’s country, family or community, is one of the most significant aspects of high school. All over the world, students display their pride for their school by showing spirit.

Rallies, sports games and spirit weeks allow students to show their spirit. During these events schools, such as Thousand Oaks High School and Agoura High School, display great amounts of spirit, indicated by the large enthusiastic audiences that fill the stands.

For instance, at AHS’s CIF home football game against Santa Barbara High School, there was a massive amount of students cheering for the team, despite Santa Barbara holding a 23% higher season win/loss ratio. On top of that, the game was during Veteran’s Day weekend, on a day in which there was no school.

On the other hand, WHS is quite different.

Although there are some students who display strong warrior pride, WHS is notorious for having a relatively unspirited student body, One example of this was on Oct. 7 at the football game against Calabasas, where an embarrassingly small amount of students showed up.

Even though WHS football had a tough season and Calabasas was 6-1, a spirited school

facepaint to represent their school pride.

“Our school is very spirited,” said Ted Jang, a senior at TOHS. “We have a lot of days where all students dress up and there is even a mom and dad day.”

Not many people dress up for spirit days at WHS. As far as I can remember, there have rarely been any day where a noticeably large student population participate in dressing up. Even during the scarce days where there are many students participating, generally the amount of spirit shown has not been very impressive.

This is no secret: most, if not all students are aware of the fact that WHS is home to a relatively unspirited student body.

The fact that WHS does not have school spirit may not seem so bad.

After all, there are many more seemingly important priorites students have, such as academics, athletics and, of course, college admissions.

However, showing spirit and love for one’s school is what makes a school a community. Having pride for one’s GRAPHIC BY CAELYN PENDER AND ANDY XIA school can make the four grueling years of high school a bit more fun.

It is never to late to start. Dressing up would have had a large amount of attendees, for a spirit day is a great easy way of showing regardless of the chances of victory.

In addition, dressing up for spirit days can one’s support. Try going to the next home help raise awareness for meaningful things, such game or school rally. It is through these as a historical event, a large-scale school event events where you can enjoy different sides of or simply be an activity for a fun holiday, such high school.

After all, WHS is arguably one of the best as Halloween.

At TOHS, students dress up for a whole schools in the state, not to mention the nation, week when there is a rally, and almost all of the and that is something that everybody can be students wear green colors and sometimes even spirited about.

13 Dec 2016

Opinion

5

Oh no! Cat is out of the bag Sydney Rosinski Feature Editor Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nick or Kris Kringle, is an iconic symbol of Christmas who is said to bring gifts to well-behaved children on Christmas Eve. A visit by Santa Claus is a much anticipated part of the holiday. But for those who believe, he is more than just an icon. For most kids, staying up for Santa is the best part of Christmas Eve, even though the urge to stay awake would always result in falling asleep well before “Santa” came to deliver presents.

There were times when I swore I heard Santa set down the glass of milk on the coffee table and I perceived the remaining cookie crumbs as evidence of his visit.

The next morning I was overjoyed when I saw all the sugar cookies had disappeared.

But here’s a little secret: Santa isn’t real, reindeer don’t fly and my mom and dad ate all the cookies.

Most people discover the hard truth about Santa at an early age and are able to accept it and move on. Well, that was not my case.

I believed in Santa until I was 12 years old.

Yes, 12 years old. The worst part of it was that my whole family was in on it, including my younger (much younger) cousin who pretended she believed in Santa whenever she was around me. (I think she should be on his naughty list.)

My suspicions about Santa’s existence began in fourth grade when I fatefully walked downstairs on Christmas Eve and caught my mom filling up the stockings. Most people no longer believe in Santa by that time, but hey, I

theArrow

Editors–in–chief

Jaisen Lim, Amanda Yao

Managing Editor Helen Shi

Web Editor Isra Din

Graphics Editor Caelyn Pender

News Editors Kay Lim, Milla Wu, Lo Yarnall, Albert Zhang

Opinion Editors Steven Huang, Elliot Kim

Feature Editors Sona Bhargava, Marc Choi, Michelle Hang, Megan King, Katie Reul, Sydney Rosinski, Connie Shi, Kylie Wexler

Sports Editors Andy Xia, Matt Zhang

Adviser Karie Lynch The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School. The opinions expressed in 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 or our website at www.westlakearrow.com.

100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225

Contact us at: westlakearrow@gmail.com Find us at: www.westlakearrow.com Twitter: @westlakearrow

GRAPHIC BY KYLIE WEXLER

still had a couple of years to believe left in me.

I immediately ran back upstairs and decided to pretend I didn’t see anything, all while assuring myself that maybe she was just adding a few things that she had bought.

Afterall, Santa was still real... right?

Two years later everything I had believed in was about to crumble. The reason: Elf on the Shelf. Elf on the Shelf is an elf doll that “flies back to the North Pole every night and reports good behavior to Santa Claus.” But in reality, my parents would move the elf every night to a new spot in my house.

One morning, I came downstairs only to find that my elf hadn’t moved. I immediately went up to my parents’ room and filled them in on the “elf situation.” They exchanged a look and my dad began to deliver the heartbreaking news,“We’ve been meaning to tell you something...There is no such thing as Santa Claus.” I immediately bursted into tears, screaming “No!” while running into my parents’ bathroom to throw myself down on the floor.

Remember, I was 12 years old, a big girl.

After my meltdown I had one question for them, “So now you’re going to tell me there’s no

such thing as the Easter Bunny?” My parents just nodded. Signaling for another round of tears that resulted in me storming out of their room and a whole lot of door slamming. After I finally found out the truth, my older siblings and younger cousin were relieved their acting role was finally over.

My family still likes to revisit that tragic day. The day I like to refer to as “The Death of my Childhood”.

So that’s my Santa Claus story. It’s only been four years since I found out and maybe I’m still not over it just yet… And maybe I never will be.

Intramural sports: giving non-athletes a chance to showcase their talents Lo Yarnall News Editor In middle school, I remember the golden days when schools offered recess and group sports during lunch.

The gym was open for anyone to play basketball or volleyball. There was a mini basketball league for co–ed teams to compete in short games for a pizza party. A flag football league invited students to form teams and not only learn the game, but also to play against each other for glory. Soccer balls were always available for those who wanted to play on the grass and dunk contests were the talk of the school.

Why did all of this disappear as soon as I entered high school?

High school spirit thrives around sports. The air is electric and students are practically glowing with Warrior pride. The feeling after seeing your team succeed at crushing a rival is pure joy. The whole week is built up with anticipation for those Friday night games.

There are only so many games you get to experience in four years of high school. What if there was a way to make that atmosphere available every day, not just on Fridays?

For my sport, every week I’m on the field for at least two hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, three hours on Monday, five hours on Wednesday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Sounds insane, right? Not only do I play varsity softball, but I also play travel softball. All of the hours of commitment are what it takes to play a varsity sport.

I know I’m not the only one with this insane sport schedule. Soccer, track and cross country, swim, water polo, volleyball, baseball, dance and basketball are perfect examples. All of these are sports that have club or travel teams as well as high school teams.

Student athletes nowadays are forced to pick a sport and dedicate their entire lives to it.

A multiple-sport student athlete is practically a myth. Yes, they exist and are a rare breed, but the amount of time management and organization required to play multiple sports just isn’t realistic.

As we get older, our schedules get more

GRAPHIC BY ISRA DIN

difficult, and we have more choices to make about how to spend our time. In elementary and middle school, I played three sports: soccer, basketball and softball. As I got older, my parents forced me to pick just one because playing all three was simply too much money.

If WHS offered intramural sports during lunch, it would provide an environment for students to learn how to play a sport without spending any money or sacrificing hours out of their day. Intramural sports teams build school spirit while keeping everyone healthy, not to mention they’re fun.

It’s understandable why the faculty could be concerned about the addition of intramural sports. Campus supervisors would need to be watching all games, taking them away from their other jobs during lunch.There’s a possibility of more disciplinary violations if playing gets rough on school campus. The school as a whole would have to dedicate time to organizing the sports.

An easy fix is to have students and parents sign a waiver before the student participates in the activities. Also, posters could be made by

ASG clearly stating the rules of intramural sports and be posted around the gym and the field.

WHS currently doesn’t allow students without an off–campus pass to go past the portable classrooms during lunch or nutrition.

Intramural sports during lunch would open up fields for multiple sports to be happening at once. With the new fence closing off the baseball and softball fields, only a few campus supervisors or teachers would be necessary to watch the field area.

The gym is the perfect place to hold other indoor sports. It’s close to the classrooms so there would be no excuse for students to be late, and all of the borrowed equipment would stay inside of the building.

Only good things could come from intramural sports during lunch. The sense of school community would be boosted tremendously. It would give students a place to stretch after hours of sitting in desks and relax their mind for their final classes of the day. Let’s bring the intramural sports back and revive the multiple–sport student athletes.

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2016: Pieces

1

Global Terror

Three suicide bombings occurred in Belgium in March, resulting in 35 deaths. When Omar Mateen walked into a gay Orlando nightclub on June 12, he shot 49 people and wounded 53 in the worst U.S. terrorist attack since 9/11.

Mateen later pledged allegiance to ISIS. In Nice, 86 people were killed and 434 injured when a truck was driven though crowds by Mohamed Lahouaiej–Bouhlel. ISIS also claimed responsibility for this attack.

2

In Memoriam

The year of 2016 marked the tragic end of some well– known public figures. On Jan. 10, artist David Bowie died at age 69 after battling with cancer for a year and a half.

His albums Aladdin, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs popularized his music. On April 21, pop icon Prince overdosed on opioid drugs. Fans continue to play his hits like “Little Red Corvette” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover” in remembrance.

After a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, boxing star Muhammed Ali passed away on June 3. The Voice singer Christina Grimmie died at age 22 after being shot following a concert on June 11.

3 4

Pokémon Go

On July 7, Pokémon Go became the number one downloaded app in the United States. Niantic’s app for iOS, Android and Apple Watches uses the players’ location to place Pokémon in their vicinity.

Olympics

The action–packed 2016 Rio Olympics featured fresh faces, new records and an international incident.

The U.S. made a strong showing at the Olympics, with athletes taking home 121 medals in total. Out of of 554 athletes, over half were women. Ryan Lochte shocked the world when he claimed that he and three other U.S. swimmers were held at gunpoint in Rio and forced to pay for their release. When Rio authorities investigated, they discovered that the swimmers had vandalized the restroom at a gas station and asked them to pay for the damage they caused.

Humans of Westlake “To [expand] my variety of friends and be more respectful to a lot of other people; I want to get to know everybody at WHS.”

Simona Lucchina ‘20

Thomas Brickman ‘19

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Chicago Cubs

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2016 Election

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Music

After 108 years without a World Series win, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8–7 in Game Seven of the World Series. The game featured a 17 minute rain delay, a few home runs and a huge win. The Cubs won the National League Central to advance to postseason and defeated the San Francisco Giants and then the Los Angeles Dodgers to take their first National League Pennant in 71 years.

After Donald Trump’s unexpected win for the presidency, supporters of Trump celebrated, while others protested. Even though Clinton won the popular vote by over 2.5 million votes, Trump gained the majority of the electoral votes, winning the presidency with Mike Pence as his running mate. Trump’s campaign promises to “Make America Great Again,” and his policies include reducing taxes and replacing Obamacare with Health Savings Accounts.

The band Twenty One Pilots increased its fanbase with the release of the album Blurryface in May. The album features popular songs such as “Stressed Out” and “Heathens.” Drake went on his Future Summer Sixteen Tour and released his album Views, which includes the mega–hits “One Dance” and “Controlla.” One of the most influential artists of the century, Beyoncé’s Lemonade contributed to her success in 2016 with songs like “Formation” and “Hold Up.”

8

Zika Virus

In July, the Center for Disease Control confirmed that the Zika virus causes microcephaly in the babies of infected pregnant women, a condition that leads to abnormal brain development resulting in an unusually small head. Mosquitoes transmit the disease and were threats in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Center for Disease Control also found in a study in Brazil that babies born with heads in the normal size range can later develop signs of microcephaly.

“To put even more effort into my school work and into my social life by putting myself out there a little bit more to meet new people and have new experiences.”

Question: What

Marcella Giuffrida ‘18

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s of the past 9

Westlake High School

Kicking off the 2016–2017 school year with a Newsweek ranking of 15th high school in the state and 119th nationally, WHS had a memorable year. Named a National Blue Ribbon School in October, WHS continued its year full of highlights. This year also saw the establishment of the Kelman Kindness Award with the award going to our very own Rick Kelman.

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Celebrity Breakups

11

Technology

12

Hurricane Matthew

The biggest breakup of the year was that of Brangelina, actor Brad Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie’s relationship. With a messy breakup involving their six young children and after a decade of being a couple, Jolie filed for a divorce against her husband Pitt on Sept. 20. Following her breakup with singer Calvin Harris, Taylor Swift underwent another breakup with actor Tom Hiddleston in the summer. Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend Casper Smart are currently off after splitting this past year once again.

Apple released the new and improved iPhone 7 on Sept. 7. The most notable feature of this newest model is that this new phone has no headphone jack. The world was also introduced to the first version of the Apple Watch, a smartwatch that emphasizes health and aids the wearer in his or her everyday life. Among the new Android phones released, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone made headlines when some began spontaneously combusting. Samsung recalled the phones, following 35 reported occurrences of the event.

Hurricane Matthew, a Category 5 Atlantic Hurricane, hit the southeastern United States from September to October near Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina. The hurricane created mass disaster in Cuba before reaching the United States in late September. It caused four deaths in Florida and five in Haiti.

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Movies

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Harry Potter

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Fashion

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Trends

The highly anticipated sequel to Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, featured familiar and new sea creatures this year when it premiered in June.

In August, Suicide Squad assembled a dynamic team of former criminals including Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang in order to save the world from imminent threat.

From a new book to a prequel film, Harry Potter fans across the globe were delighted upon the release of more additions to their wizarding journey. In late July, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child hit the stage and stores, following the next generation of wizards. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them premiered Nov. 18. This spin–off introduced new characters and brought the beloved wizarding world to 1920s New York. J.K. Rowling confirmed four additional films, where Johnny Depp will star as Gellert Grindelwald, set to be released starting Nov. 16, 2018.

Bomber jackets, short unisex jackets often worn with jeans, were a staple wardrobe piece of 2016 often in the colors of army green, black or mustard yellow. Chokers have made a comeback, adding detail to a new look. They come in different styles, including ribbon and bandana. Classic Adidas superstar sneakers, black–and–white colored shoes with lines going down either side of the foot, surged in popularity.

The mannequin challenge rose to fame on social media when people began posting videos of themselves frozen to the song “Black Beatles”

by Rae Sremmurd. Another fad of 2016 was water bottle flipping to the song “Ultimate” by Denzel Curry. Across the nation, people attempted to flip ordinary plastic water bottles into small spaces and other difficult situations.

COURTESY PHOTOS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Compiled by Sona Bhargava, Connie Shi and Kylie Wexler

t is your New Year’s resolution?

“To be a better person and be nicer by holding the door open and complimenting other people.”

“To do really well in school so I can get into a good college and work hard second semester.”

Adam Bynum ‘17

“To get closer to my cats and build a closer connection with them, especially my youngest cats.”

Lauren Denchfield English Teacher

Compiled by Sona Bhargava and Connie Shi

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Relax and take a stay–cation

WHS students often complain about the lack of holiday-themed activities in the Westlake/Thousand Oaks area. There are the obvious places to celebrate the season, such as malls decked out with holiday décor and Christmas trees convenient for photo–ops, but what else is there to do for students who have lived in the same place for years? Fortunately, there are more activities to do during the holiday season than what initially meets the eye. With winter break rapidly approaching, here are some of the most festive attractions and holiday–worthy places that the Westlake area has to offer. From “sleigh” rides through neighborhoods filled with the glow of holiday lights to ice skating, there is plenty to do to celebrate this winter season.

Parade of Lights

The Nutcracker

Holiday Ice Rink

The Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights occurs on Dec. 16 and 17 from 6-9 p.m. This year, it is set to celebrate 100 years of the U.S.’ national parks.

Complete with fireworks, a boat parade, live reindeer and Christmas carolers, this is a great place to celebrate the season.

The classic story of The Nutcracker has become a ballet to see around Christmastime.

The Civic Arts Plaza offers many different performances of this show performed by various local dance studios. Ticket prices range from $20–$46.

The Lakes Holiday Ice Rink, located conveniently up the road from WHS, runs until Jan. 31. Enjoy skating followed up by dinner at one of the Lakes’ many restaurants, including California Pizza Kitchen and P.F. Chang’s. Tickets cost $15 and skates are available to rent.

Ventura Harbor “Sleigh Rides”

Snow Los Angeles Located an hour and 15 minutes from WHS, Snow Los Angeles consists of nine acres of snow, synthetic blizzards and over 10,000 square feet of snow tubing lanes. Ticket prices range from $8–$24. Visit their website, www. snowlosangeles.com, to learn more.

Ventura Boat Rentals is offering boat rides for families to enjoy the holiday decorations of the harbor. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $12 for children. Boats depart at 5:45 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 9–15 and Dec. 18–31.

Compiled by Caelyn Pender and Albert Zhang

Sona Bhargava Sydney Rosinski

Deck the halls with holiday movies As the holidays approach, holiday–themed movies and shows become more prominent both on television as well as on sites such as Netflix and Hulu. Such films range from classics to modern adaptations and romances to comedies—there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy. These movies provide entertainment and uplift spirits for the season of joy and friendship. Make sure to enjoy these movies with family and friends over winter break.

Courtesy photos of public domain

Graphic by Marc Choi and Katie Reul

The Santa Clause is a family drama that follows Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, and his life after inadvertently becoming Santa Clause one Christmas Eve. The movie opens with Calvin running late to meet his former wife who is dropping off their child, Charlie, for Christmas. However, he arrives to see his ex’s husband explaining to Charlie that Santa doesn’t exist.

Later in the night, a mishap occurs and Calvin ends up having to take on the responsibilities of Santa by delivering presents.

The film progresses through the new year portraying Calvin’s struggles to maintain the relationship with his son while slowly transforming into Santa Clause.

The film, despite coming out in 1994, maintains its popularity through a strong comedic, yet familial, presence. Audiences of all ages can appreciate this classic.

Sleepless in Seattle is a romantic–drama comedy in which recently widowed Sam Baldwin, played by Tom Hanks, and his son Jonah, played by Ross Malinger, move to Seattle after the loss.

The show kicks off on Christmas Eve, as Jonah calls into a live radio broadcast to help his father find a new wife, only to have the host probe Sam to share his feelings on the air. Annie Reed, played by Meg Ryan, hears his broadcast across the country in Baltimore, entranced by Baldwin’s bittersweet recount of his wife.

With his skyrocketing popularity, Annie takes it upon herself to write a story about the widow dubbed Sleepless in Seattle. The more she searches, the more she finds herself falling in love with this mysterious individual. The classic film follows the separate lives of these two people. As for if the two will ever meet? Viewers must watch to find out.

White Christmas is a romantic musicalcomedy that stars Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace and Danny Kaye as Phil Davis. The 1954 classic opens with Wallace and Davis as soldiers in Europe during World War II, and they perform a Christmas singing act. They soon learn that their commanding officer, General Waverly, was relieved of command and say a final farewell.

The film then follows the veterans’ singing and performing career. Their success eventually takes them to an inn in Vermont run by their former commanding officer. Wallace and Davis then go through a number of adventures to help Waverly with the lack of guests by hosting performances, and they surprise him by reuniting his former division for Christmas.

This film offers a memorable bonding experience with family, friends or a special someone.

Compiled by Jaisen Lim and Helen Shi

13 Dec 2016

Feature

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Holiday traditions around the world Kwanzaa

Sona Bharagava Michelle Hang Feature Editors People around the world have a variety of traditions and holidays during the winter months.

While Christmas and Hanukkah are well–known in the United States, other holidays and traditions come from various corners of the world.

Christmas On Christmas morning, almost every child looks forward to opening his or her presents and searching the stockings for little goodies.

Christmas traditions start as early as November when people begin decorating Christmas trees with ornaments and tinsel and hang lights around the house. To welcome Santa, families set out milk and cookies for him to enjoy while delivering his presents. The holiday focuses on getting together with friends and family. In Louisiana, families along the Mississippi River light bonfires to help “Papa Noel” find his way during the night.

St. Lucia Day The Scandinavian holiday St. Lucia Day is celebrated in honor of St. Lucia, one of the earliest Christian martyrs who died for her faith.

Young girls place a crown of candles on their heads and wear white dresses with a red sash to imitate the dress of St. Lucia. St. Lucia Day is on Dec. 13, which is also the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. A typical food eaten on St. Lucia Day is Lussekatter, a saffron–flavored bun filled with raisins.

From Dec. 26–Jan. 1, Kwanzaa is celebrated in honor of African heritage and principles. Each of the seven days represents a different, valued character trait: unity, self–determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Symbols such as the candleholder, the unity cup, the mat and an ear of corn represent the heart and soul of the holiday.

Kwanzaa ends with the feast of Karamu, which occurs on Dec. 31 and includes foods such as sweet potatoes and peanuts.

Ganna Christmas in Ethiopia is called “Ganna”. It is celebrated on Jan. 7. In the morning, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians go to church, and then to a feast in the afternoon. The traditional dress of the holiday is white, toga–like clothing called a shamma. Foods include a spicy meat and vegetable stew called “wat” served on a flat bread.

Timkat Another winter holiday celebrated by the Ethiopians is Timkat. Beginning on Jan. 19, Timkat is a three–day celebration in which Ethiopians honor the day that Jesus was found in Bethlehem. The Tabot, a symbol of the Ark of the Covenant, is covered in cloth and carried through each city. People wear the Shamma, a traditional garment and Ethiopian priests hold decorative umbrellas while walking in a parade.

Boxing Day Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand celebrate Boxing Day on Dec. 26. The

GRAPHIC BY ANDY XIA

holiday acts as a recovery from Christmas and the beginning of post–Christmas sales. The tradition began when people distributed collections of boxes to the poor. Today, some people still collect boxes containing food and money for the poor.

Boxing Day is also largely associated with sports such as horse racing.

Hanukkah All around the world, people of Jewish faith celebrate Hanukkah for eight nights. This year Hanukkah takes place from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1. The holiday revolves around a nine–branched menorah.

Each night a candle is lit after sundown. The ninth candle is used to light all of the other candles during the eight days. During this ritual, celebrators recite blessings and display the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder of the miracle of the Maccabean Revolt that inspired this holiday. Foods

such as latkes, fried potato cakes, are traditional to the celebrations. Other activities include playing with dreidels and exchanging gifts.

El Día de Los Reyes On Jan. 6, people in both Spain and America celebrate Three Kings’ Day, or the “Feast of the Epiphany,” to honor the day the three wise men gave baby Jesus gifts. Celebrations include the “Rosca de Reyes” parade in Mexico City.

Another tradition is for children to put their shoes outside their doors for the wise men to fill with gifts. Since camels are said to leave a trail to the children’s gifts, families set out boxes of grass for camels to eat. Food includes “Kings’ Bread,” which has a baby Jesus figurine hidden inside. Whoever has the piece with the statuette inside must make tamales for everyone on Feb. 2, the Day of the Candles.

‘Tis the season for baking

DIY Gifts

Seasons greetings! With the holiday season upon us, it’s a great time to make some festive treats. Theses recipes are sure to make a lasting impression on all your friends and family.

The stress of gift giving will not be a problem this holiday season with the help of this guide. These unique gifts will be sure to please anyone on your list.

Hot chocolate cookie mugs

Homemade bath bombs

Reindeer cupcakes

Chocolate frosting recipe: 1. In a medium bowl, sift together 2 3/4 cups of confectioners’ sugar and 6 tbsp of cocoa and set aside.

2. In a bowl, cream 6 tbsp of butter until smooth, then gradually beat in the sugar mixture alternately with 6 tbsp of milk. Blend in 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.

Gift Wrap Ideas: 1. Wrap bath bombs with cellophane and tie the package with a festive ribbon.

2. Make a spa–themed gift basket including the DIY bathbombs and the recipient’s favorite spa essentials.

Supplies: 1 cup baking soda ½ cup citric acid ½ cup cornstarch ¼ cup dry milk 3 tablespoons epsom salt 1 teaspoon water 3–4 teaspoons almond oil 15–20 drops rose oil (or any scent) Dried rose petals and glitter (optional) Intructions: 1. Combine baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, milk powder and epsom salt, adding in the rose petals afterwards.

2. Stir together the water, almond oil and rose oil in a separate bowl.

3. Combine the two mixtures, testing if it’s ready by squeezing to see if it holds its shape.

If it’s too dry, add 1–2 splashes of water.

4. Shape the mixture in plastic molds.

5. Leave to dry overnight before removing.

Gingerbread cookie mix

PHOTOS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

PHOTOS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Supplies: chocolate cupcake recipe white, brown and red M&M’s pretzels Nilla Wafers

Instructions: 1. Follow the directions of your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe, then let them cool completely.

2. Prepare the reindeer faces by using the frosting to stick the red and brown M&M’s on Nilla Wafers. Then, melt a few chocolate chips and add dots of melted chocolate chips onto white M&M’s to make the eyes.

3. Frost the cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

4. Place the Nilla Wafers with M&M’s on cupcakes.

5. Lastly, add the pretzel antlers.

PHOTOS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

PHOTOS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Supplies: sugar cookie dough mini muffin tin heavy whipping cream hot cocoa mix candy cane mini marshmallows festive sprinkles (optional)

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Put 1 tablespoon of the sugar cookie dough into each of the 24 greased mini muffin tins.

(Make it funfetti by mixing festive sprinkles in with the sugar cookie dough.)

3. Bake for 12–14 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.

4. Make the chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a slow boil.

5. Stir in the hot cocoa mix.

6. Pour the hot cream over the semi–sweet chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the ganache is smooth.

7. Break off the rounded part of a candy cane to use as a handle.

8. Melt the chocolate and use it to attach the candy cane handles to the cookie cups.

9. Spoon the chocolate ganache into the cookie cups and top with mini marshmallows.

10. For best results, store the hot chocolate cookie cups in the refrigerator.

Gift Wrap Ideas: 1. Write down baking instructions and meaasurements on a gift tag/card stock and attach to the jar.

2. Add a cookie cutter with twine or ribbon.

Supplies: 1 quart–sized glass jar with a lid 3 ½ cups all–purpose flour (divided) 1 tablespoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon allspice ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar Instructions: 1. Combine combine 3 cups of flour, ginger, cinammon, baking soda, cloves and nutmeg, making even layers in the jar.

2. Layer the brown sugar and the remaining ½ of flour.

3. Put a lid on the jar and add decorations, attaching a cookie cutter to the front (optional).

Compiled by Michelle Hang , Katie Reul and Sydney Rosinski

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California’s winter wonderlands

Southern California is known for its heat and sunny weather, so where can you find snow? Frazier Park, Mountain High, Big Bear and Idyllwild are relatively close to WHS and have winter snow.

Only about an hour and half from Westlake, Frazier Park is one of the closest places to simply enjoy the winter snow. Mount Pinos, right off Lockwood Valley Road, is a close place to hike and play in the snow. Located in the Los Padres National Forest, Frazier Park receives anywhere from half an inch to two feet of snow several times a year. Make sure to check the snow forecast before planning a trip!

About two hours away from WHS is Mountain High, a perfect place for skiing and snowboarding. The popular ski resort has three parts: the north, south and east side. All sides consist of a variety of lifts for all levels of experience. Lift tickets range from $69 to $74 depending on the day, time and hours. The North Pole Tubing Park is on the north side. Tubing prices range from $20–$25.

Big Bear is a popular retreat f o r skiing and snowboarding at the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Resorts. Lift tickets vary in price from $73 to $89 based on age and holiday and weekend rates. Only two and a half hours away, all ages can play in the snow and enjoy winter sports. Magic Mountain is a popular attraction where people can enjoy a scenic lift ride up a mountain and a bobsled ride back down for $6 per ride. Snow is usually piled around Big Bear Lake, making it a great place for pictures, snowball fights and snowman making.

Idyllwild is a small town located in the San Jacinto mountains.

This breathtakingly beautiful area provides a peaceful way to enjoy the snow, sled or simply make snow angels. Three hours from WHS, Idyllwild makes for a perfect long day trip or a short overnight trip as there are many inns, camping resorts and restaurants. To hike on the amazing trails at nearby Mt. San Jacinto State Park, one must pick up a free hiking permit from the ranger station as well as an adventure pass.

Compiled by Michelle Hang and Megan King

Season essentials Snow sports in swinter Lift ticket ($80–100) Helmet* ($30+) Hat/Beanie ($5+)

Hand/Foot warmers (8 for $10) Ski/Snowboard boots* ($100+)

Goggles ($20+)

Skis* ($300+) or snowboard* ($170+)

Polarized sunglasses ($10+)

Ski poles* ($20+)

Neck warmer ($10+)

Sunscreen ($5+)

Long underwear ($20+)

Chapstick with SPF ($2+)

Fleece/Sweater ($30+)

After snow boots ($35+)

Waterproof ski jacket ($60+) Boot bag ($20+) Ski pants ($40+) Map (free) Long socks ($10+) Gloves/Mittens ($10+)

*Can be rented Compiled by Caelyn Pender and Connie Shi

Caelyn Pender Connie Shi Feature Section Editor Feature Editor Despite California’s swinter weather, the existence of snow during the holidays in certain places makes skiing and snowboarding ideal winter activities. In 2015, over 21 million Americans skied or snowboarded in the United States, according to Statista.

“The thrill of being able to go 50 plus miles an hour and have total control over what you’re doing [makes skiing exciting],” said competitive skier Ned Jacobs ‘19.

Skis were initially invented as an easier method of transportation through snowy landscapes several thousand years ago, but now skiing has evolved into a popular sport and pastime. Today, there are over 460 ski resorts in the United States.

One notable resort in California is Mammoth Lakes, located about five hours away from Westlake Village.

“It’s an outstanding mountain,” said Jacobs.

“Just the size of the mountain, the amount of skiable terrain [and] the friendliness of all the employees [makes it great].”

Other notable ski destinations include Lake Tahoe, located on the border of California and Nevada, and Big Bear Lake, which is home to many ski resorts.

“It’s a lot easier to start as a skier, then go to snowboarding,” said recreational snowboarder Piper Watts ‘19. “It makes it easier to transition.”

Snowboarding was invented in 1965 when Sherman Poppin tied two skis together for his daughter to “surf ” down a hill. Since then, it has become a widely popular sport.

“[Snowboarding is] a blend of all types of sports, like...skating [and] surfing,” said competitive snowboarder Conner Weir ‘18. “It makes me feel free.”

Most of the equipment needed to ski or snowboard can be purchased at sports stores or skiing and snowboarding resorts themselves. Basic equipment required includes skis or a snowboard, a helmet, ski goggles, warm and waterproof clothes and ski or snowboard boots. Many resorts offer lessons for all ages and skill level. Prices start around $150.

“It’s a big commitment, but you have to start somewhere,” said competitive skiier Conner Staley ‘18. “[Beginners] need the drive to keep going forward. If they fail, [they should] keep trying to succeed.”

Ski runs start at the basic level, denoted by green circles. More difficult slopes are indicated by blue squares, double blue squares, black diamonds and double black diamonds.

“What does it mean to be a snowboarder?” asked snowboarder Shaun White, two time Olympic gold medalist and X–Games record holder.

“It’s about having fun, with your friends or by yourself. It’s about pushing yourself to try new things and do the unexpected. Finally, and most importantly, it’s about being creative.”

Starting to ski or snowboard m a y seem like a daunting task, but with the right instructions and a lot of practice, it can be accomplished.

“If you really want to learn, you’re going to fall a lot,” said Weir. “You really have to be determined.”

With time and effort, skiing and snowboarding can become second nature.

“Be patient because it takes time to get good,” said Jacobs. “It can be really frustrating at times, but don’t assume that you’re at your limit because it’s impossible to know your limit when you’re just learning.”

13 Dec 2016 Sports 11 College bound: Student athletes officially commit Many student athletes often devote countless hours to their sport in hopes of achieving an opportunity to advance their academic and athletic careers. On Nov. 9, 2016, 13 students officially signed to commit to playing their sport at their respective colleges.

Matt Wolff

Cody Lin

Sport: Golf College: Oklahoma State

Sport: Tennis College: Yale

Future Plans: “I’d like to be a pro golfer, but if that doesn’t work out I’d like to pursue something in sports management or business.”

Bo Jelinek

Sport: Baseball College: University of San Francisco

Why San Francisco?: “I chose San Francisco because I felt it was a good fit for me a c a d e m i c a l l y. T h e baseball program and its coaches take good care of its players.”

Alexander Faille Sport: Volleyball College: UC Irvine

Future Plans: “I want to win a Big 10 title in college and a NCAA singles title for Indiana.”

Sport: Beach Volleyball College: Loyola Maramount Why LMU: “I chose LMU because it has good coaches and I wanted to stay in California. They gave me the oppurtunity to help build up a strong program, which I liked.”

Kennedy Copeland Sport: Beach Volleyball College: South Carolina

Why Harvard?: “I chose Harvard for the support system that came as a result of the strong balance between softball and academics.”

Future Plans: “I want to win the SEC championship and the national championship at South Carolina. Go Cocks!”

Athletes Not Pictured: Keefer Meehan, Baseball, LMU; Peyton Sper, Cal Poly SLO, Beach Volleyball

PHOTOS BY CAELYN PENDER

WHS girls varsity water polo won all four league games this season.

The team kicked off its season with “hell week,” a week of morning and afternoon practice to condition the team before the start of the season. “[Hell week is] sort of exhausting, but you feel good after you’re done with it, except it’s cold,” said Sophia Lake ‘18. “But the good thing about it is you get to know your team more because you see them at literally five in the morning.”

The girls practiced from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the week of Nov. 14. This combination of practices continued into the beginning of the season with the exception of Friday morning practices.

In addition to practice throughout Thanksgiving break, the team scrimmaged against WHS alumni on Sat., Nov. 26. The game is a tradition where WHS water polo alumni come home to play one more game with the varsity team.

“It’s kind of a way just to bring everyone together,” said Alexandra Campbell ‘17. “But like always, the alumni beat us.”

Girls water polo has its sight set on making CIF championships this season.

“Last year, we had to play Newbury Park to see if we could make CIF, but we lost that game, and the same thing happened [the year before] and the same thing happened the year before that,” said Selena Cherfane ‘17. “We always almost make it, but I don’t remember the last time that we made CIF.”

LOOKING FOR THE PASS (top left): Fiona Watkins ‘19 passes the ball to a teammate in the game against NPHS. BLOCKING OPPONENT (above): Leah Sachs ‘17 blocks an oncoming NPHS player.

DEFENSIVE PLAY (left): Lewis prevents a NPHS player’s pass.

The WHS water polo program has had a different head coach for each of the past four years. Former JV coach Mike Artega is head coach this year.

“I think because we have a new coach [and] we’ve switched coaches every single year … brings us together more,” said Cherfane.

Through long days of practice, strong communication and close friends, the players have found a working bond that leads to success in the pool.

“We work really well,” said Rayne Gifford ‘17. “We listen to each other and water polo [is a] really big teamwork kind of sport, so you need to have a relationship with each person.”

Not only does the team support each other, but it also works hard to bring the team together and maintain their close bond.

“We’re like another family,” said Kennedy Bretherton ‘17. “We offer rides for each other. We all want each

Caden Gustafson

Sport: Baseball College: Colorado Mesa Future Plans: “I want to eventually get drafted into the professional league.

If that doesn’t work, I want to do computer programming.”

Andrew Whitehouse Sport: Tennis College: Cal Poly SLO

Future Plans: “I want to be an impact player in college. Eventually, I want to be good enough to turn pro and be a top 10 player in the nation.”

Compiled by Sydney Rosinski, Kylie Wexler, Andy Xia and Albert Zhang

Girls waterpolo presses opponents Megan King Feature Editor

Future Plans: “After college, I want to live in Germany for a bit and eventually work as an occupational therapist.”

Morgan Bogust

Future Plans: “I chose Irvine not only because of its strong criminology program, but also because I have family there and it is close to the beach.”

Sport: Softball College: Harvard

Sport: Tennis College: Indiana

Sport: Swimming College: UC Santa Barbara

Why Yale?: “I chose Yale because I wanted to get futher from home and be more independent. Yale also offers a tightly knit and unique student body and one of the strongest alumni networks.”

Morgan Melito

Brandon Lam

Elena England

other to be where we need to be or could be. Like a team dinner…we offer rides to get as many people there as we can just so they can enjoy it. We tried to take someone to get their physical.”

Before home games, the team tries to get together and have a dinner at a player’s house to simply have fun.

After beating Adolfo Camarillo 12–8 at home on Tues., Dec. 6, WHS beat Moorpark High School 9–8 on Thurs., Dec. 8. “[The season’s} been going really good, actually,” said Tallulah Lund Sidi ‘17. “We had kind of a slow start, but we’ve been winning all of our games.”

After winter break, WHS plays their rival Agoura on Jan. 3 and Thousand Oaks High School on Jan. 5.

“I expect to have a lot of fun [this season],” said Giselle Lewis ‘19.

“There’s a lot of really great girls on the team. I love them, and I expect to do well. I hope we all work together really well and we all try hard and make it happen.”

Wrestling aims to pin down CIF title

much more than just focusing on individual achievements. The team is shifting their focus into creating a more synthesized team.

“Even though it’s mostly an The WHS varsity wrestling individual sport, we need each other team returns with strong aspirations to cheer each other on,” said Daniel to advance to and win CIF this Leyva ‘17. “We are close together upcoming year. and are always traveling together; if In order to perform better than members don’t like each other then previous years, the team focuses on it wouldn’t be fun.” working harder especially during The WHS wrestling team plans practices. This motivation is a result to integrate more synergy in order of increased competition within the to establish bonding and overall league. coherence within the team.

“During practice we work on As returning wrestlers, seniors a variety of workouts; including Furton and Leyva have primary conditioning and packaging,” roles in leading the new wrestling said head team to victory at coach Phillip tournaments. nstead of doing Nazario.

“Instead of “ Te a c h i n g drills, we are doing drills, we this year is are enhancing enhancing what will make us wonderful; I’m what will make us better better personally,” able to give back to young personally.” said Furton. “We students in a are focusing sport they love.” on fine tuning –Alexander Furton ‘17 the team for The team officially began performance.” the season on The team Dec. 3. The wrestlers traveled to the members ultimately plan to take Newbury Park Invitational, held at advantage of this new in–practice Newbury Park High School, where attitude and apply it to their goal of they placed 17th out of 26 teams. winning the CIF title.

“As a team we hope to make From intensified workouts to state championships, and everyone periodic weight measurements, the hopes to make it to that level,” said wrestlers must be willing to put in Alexander Furton ‘17. “This year we maximum effort to succeed. have a new coach, and even though The next match will be on he’s hard, he tells us what we need to Dec. 17. The team will travel to and do and where we need to be.” compete against Bishop Amat High However, the team needs to do School in a tournament.

Matt Zhang Sports Editor

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Boys basketball shoots to rebound Andy Xia Sports Section Editor

RUNNING THE POINT (above): Howard does a crossover to lose his defender against San Gabriel Academy. Howard curruently leads WHS in assists, with 4.0 per game.

IN FOCUS (center): Adam Bynum ‘17 mentally prepares himself to shoot a free throw during a game against the La Canada Spartans.

CRASHING THE GLASS (right): Fassu goes up for the defensive rebound against San Gabriel Academy. Fassu is averaging 7.4 rebounds a game this season.

eyes set on improvement this year. The team hopes to capture the Marmonte League title and advance deep into the CIF playoffs.

“This team this year wants the Marmonte League title a lot more than last year,” said Fassu. “This year’s team is a lot better.”

Last year, WHS lost in the first round of the CIF playoffs against Highland High School. This year, the team hopes to earn a playoff berth during the regular season and ultimately win a CIF championship.

“In the playoffs, we’re going to do all that we need to do in order to win that ring.” said guard Bryce Howard ‘19.

The WHS varsity boys basketball team kicked off its season with four straight wins in the Burbank Winter Varsity Tournament. In each of those wins, WHS beat their opponents by an average of more than 30 points.

WHS suffered its first loss of the season against Oxnard

WHS Winter Sports Summary

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JANET WOODARD

The WHS varsity boys basketball team is looking for a fresh start with a young roster and a new head coach. After placing fifth out of the six teams in the Marmonte league standings last year, WHS has started the season 6–4 with new head coach Kyle Kegley.

Kegley played the guard position at Thousand Oaks High School where he broke the school’s scoring record (since surpassed by Matt Hauser in 2015) his senior year in 2001. A talented player, Kegley had his playing career ended prematurely after he suffered a serious back injury that required surgery to repair.

“Once it was apparent that I was no longer a player, I tried coaching and immediately got totally into it,” said Kegley.

While he could no longer play, Kegley remained close to the sport as a coach. At the age of 18, he started his coaching career as the frosh–soph coach for Oak Park High School. He would later go on to coach at Cal Lutheran University, TOHS and WHS. “Coach Kegley is a lot stricter, which is good for our development,” said forward Bing Huang ‘17. “If you’re late to practice, you’re going to have to make up for it by running. His intensity and focus will definitely help us get better throughout the season.”

Kegley’s coaching philosophy has the team playing to its strengths, while minimizing its weaknesses and flaws. One strength the team has is its close synergy and team chemistry.

“We have really good team chemistry and this is definitely one of our biggest strengths,” said Hess. “It lets us play together more like a team and a unit as a whole.”

However, the early season success sometimes gets to the team’s head. Early game leads and conservative game decisions often results in the team getting lazy and letting up on the defensive end of the ball.

“We got really lazy and didn’t play good defense against Roosevelt High School,” said forward Kevin Fassu ‘18. “If we want to beat stronger teams, we’ll have to improve that.”

After a tumultuous season of ups and downs last year in which the team went 3–7 in Marmonte League play, WHS has their

High School during the tournament despite 17 points and seven rebounds from Hess. The team got back on track with a 63–47 win against San Gabriel Academy behind a big game from Fassu.

Fassu had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds in addition to four blocks.

A close victory over Chatsworth High School pushed WHS to 6–1 overall, before the team suffered a loss to Oak Park High School, the number 11 team in California.

“Oak Park and Oxnard are both tough teams, but every team in the Marmonte League is very strong,” said Kegley. “Every team is a rival game, and we will be playing opponents like Thousand Oaks and Oaks Christian.”

WHS will continue its season on Dec. 16 with an away game at Buena High School. League play starts Jan. 6 at WHS’s home opener against TOHS.

(as of Dec. 11)

Record: 6W-4L Next Game: 12/16 @ Buena High School

Girls Basketball Record: 5W-2L Next Game: 12/14 @ Royal High School

Boys Soccer Record: 1W-3L Next Game: 12/14 @Home

PHOTOS BY ANDY XIA AND AMANDA YAO

Boys Basketball

RUNNING THE FIELD (far left): Sydney Sharts ‘20 participates in dribbling drills during practice.

INTERCEPTING THE BALL (center): Kennedy Mori ‘18 traps the ball to prevent a goal.

ON DEFENSE (above): Kristen Enriquez ‘17 defends the goal during a practice scrimmage.

Girls soccer strives to defend Marmonte League title in the final third and speed of play.”

Because the team has multiple girls that are close to six feet tall, the girls have a height advantage over other schools. WHS has been known in recent years to have an advantageous throwThis year the varsity girls soccer team aspires to become in. Sharts is known for her deadly throw–ins as she was named Marmonte League champions for the second year in a row last year’s league MVP. “I definitely think set pieces are going to be our greatest with a current record of 2–0.

Because the majority of the team is made of returning strength,” said Sharts. “They were last year and I think this year students, the team has already formed strong relationships and we will be even more deadly on them.”

Because the players are fortunate enough to not suffer has higher hopes of achieving their goals this year.

“Everyone is super motivated this year,” said team captain any noticeable injuries, unlike last year, the team has no major weaknesses in ground play.

Hannah Sharts ‘17, whose position is “[We] have a few weaknesses but center back forward. “Everyone is really hope that they none that can really affect us for the whole glad to be back, and I think that’s going to show on the field.” have a great expe- season,” said Sharts. though they won league last After a 12–2–3 record last season, the rience on and off year, Even winning back–to–back titles is no girls season came to an end last year after a 1–0 the field.” easy feat. The majority of the team expects loss against Corona Del Mar. This close game Newbury Park High School (NPHS), motivated the girls to strive towards competing year’s runner up, to be their toughest in CIF again and go even further than last year.

–Frank Marino last opponent for the upcoming season.

“I think we have more depth and “[NPHS has] a lot of good players, and are healthier than last year,” said Frank they have a really good coaching staff,” said Marino, girls varisty soccer head coach.

The girls started the season with a 3–0 victory in a scrimmage forward Elle Lindeluab ‘17. “They always just want to beat us.”

WHS plans to beat NPHS by playing their style and dictating against Buena High School. On Dec. 3, the girls took home a victory against El Camino Real, winning 3–2. Additionally, the the pace of their game that will improve as they play together longer.

“I hope that they have a great experience on and off the girls took home a 2–0 victory against Valencia on Dec. 5.

“They played okay, [but] we have some areas to improve,” field,” said Coach Marino. “[I hope they] build relationships that said Coach Marino. “Our possession needs to be better, decisions last forever and we have success on the field.”

Marc Choi Feature Editor

Girls Soccer

Record: 2W-0L Next Game: 12/14 @ Moorpark High School

Girls Water Polo

Record: 5W-1L Next Game: 1/5 @ Thousand Oaks High School

Wrestling Record: 0W-0L Next Match: 12/17 @ Bishop Amat High School Compiled by Andy Xia

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