05.11.11

In This Issue Office Manager Isla Steele enjoys her royal visit at the London wedding. See Page 3.

The VOLUME XXXIII, ISSUE 8

Richie Greentree earns his spot at the top.

See Page 11.

Award-winning choir returns from Florida festivals.

See Page 12.

Westlake High School

Arrow

100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362

May 11, 2011

Relay for Life Sets High Goals for Walk for Cancer Julia Shi

Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL (mgh): Chamber of Commerce members present Physics teacher Scott Holloway with a plaque.

Holloway Honored for Expansion of Physics Program Meini Cheng News Editor

JSA Attends Spring State Michelle Noyes Staff Writer

Junior State of America Club had the opportunity to attend Spring State over spring break.

The convention was held at the LAX Hilton on April 1517. It was for all high school JSA clubs in Southern California.

The theme was “Revolutionizing

Democracy” and there were activities such as Political Pictionary, Quiz Bowl, Challenge, Hot Seat, and a Debate Workshop.

“There were over 40 different debates and thought talks, ranging from tax cuts, to free speech, separation of church and state, to texting while crossing the street,” said Ashley Yonamine, Director of Public Relations Continuation on Page 2

Fourteen teams from WHS will be taking part in the Relay. Kristin Soucy ‘12 has raised $2,618 for the event, placing her third on the list for most money raised.

According to Bird, “One of the most moving parts of the Relay is the Luminaria Ceremony at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night.

“All the participants gather at the stage and we have a ceremony remembering those we’ve lost to cancer and honoring those who are battling the disease. We have guest speakers, a choir, and bagpipers who lead the survivors around a track lit by luminaria bags.” Bird described the event as “awesome and amazing.”

Donations to those participating can be made online at www.cancer.org.

Students Take Part in Future Leaders Day

financial aid resources to earn a BachTo supelor’s degree, port high acato help undemic achievederprivileged ment, the Fustudents beture Leaders of come positive America held a role models leadership day for the people on April 14. around them, This group and to instill recognized an ethic of some students civic responsistruggling with bility and the issues such as confidence to the lack of paractively parent involvement ticipate in the and limited civ- LEADING THE WAY: Students joined together last month to participate in real world to ic engagement. improve life a Future Leaders of America activity.

This orfor everyone. ganization The stuSanta Barbara, Los Angeles and stemmed from the desire to supVentura Counties, including dents involved find FLA not only port high academic achievement WHS whose program has helped helpful but enjoyable too. even when some students are “The Leadership Program many students develop the confistruggling with issues such as was fun because it got you out of dence and language skills crucial the lack of parent involvement class. We did group activities and to success. and limited civic engagement People involved, such as met new people from WHS and first recognized by Gilbert CueDean of Attendance James Mar- different schools. vas, a school counselor in OxOver all, it was a cool expeshall promote the three common nard, among many Latinos stugoals of the FLA: to compel stu- rience even though it was tiring. dents and families. dents to excel intellectually and Everyone should do it!” said VanToday the FLA is active in access college admission and essa Gerardo ‘14.

Gaby Breiter Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

Physics teacher Scott Holloway received the Teacher of the Month award for March. With the award, Holloway received giftcards, a savings bond, tokens from the Chamber of Commerce, and recognition from an assembly person and a state representative.

“I was very pleasantly surprised, and it obviously feels great to be recognized for your hard work. I am honored to be chosen among such a highly talented faculty,” said Holloway.

“He is a great guy and an excellent teacher, who has singlehandedly raised our AP Physics scores,” said Principal Ronald Lipari, who noted that the AP exam pass rate has jumped from a mere 19 % to an astounding 70%.

Three years ago, there were only 19 students enrolled in physics; now there are over 120. The physics program has expanded

from three sections to six in only three years.

“The physics program has grown tremendously,” said Holloway, who is currently teaching at WHS for his fourth year. When he first began teaching here, Holloway taught two AP Environmental Science classes and three physics classes, only one of which was an AP. He began the AP Physics C program and a second year AP physics class. Now there are six physics classes, five of which are AP. “It feels wonderful when your program is growing. I’m happy that students are taking more high-level science classes,” said Holloway. He has a true “impact on students’ future decisions with college, majors, and careers.”

“Since he started teaching here, the number of students in physics and our scores have gone up dramatically. We’re lucky to have him,” said Lipari.

The American Cancer Society will hold the annual Relay for Life on May 14 at 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on May 15 at Conejo Creek Park.

Staff member Leslie Bird is co-chairing the event. She has been going to the Relay since 1999, and enthusiastically expresses that she and other participants from WHS are “all looking forward to another amazing event.” Bird has a personal fundraising goal of $2000.

In addition to Bird, other staff members will also be at the Relay, including softball coach Lynn Baum, math teacher Lisa Ryder, and Counselor Susan

Wilson.

Members of FACT club will be in attendance as well. Each member has an individual goal of at least $100, and the team has an overall goal of $3,500.

Club president Nicole Winer ‘12 is optimistic about the fundraising, stating “The amount of money we have raised for this year’s Relay for Life is increasing every day. I have no doubt my team can meet that goal. This is my fifth year being a team captain for a Relay for Life team, and this year has definitely been the best.”

In addition to fundraising individually, FACT club has also been working together to raise money for the Relay by holding events like bake sales and a Sea Casa night.

NEWS

2

IN BRIEF Bowman Chosen for Top 25 Locals List

Freshman Breaks Pole Vault Record Luigi (Gino) Colella ‘14 broke the school’s pole vault record in April jumping a height of 14’ 7”. Colella also attempted the national record for freshmen of 15’, but he has not been able to clear the mark in competition so far.

“It was a lot of work, but it paid off,” commented Colella about his record jump.

Colella matched the record mark in the Marmonte League Finals, placing him first overall. The mark qualified Colella for the CIF meet later this month.

Colella is the son and student of former world-ranked pole vaulter and WHS pole vault and high jump coach Antonio Colella.

“It is difficult at times,” said Colella about working with his father. “However, I know him better than anyone.”

Gino hopes to break the national record and possibly clear 16’ by the end of this year.

Three Seniors Receive Star Scholar Awards Three WHS seniors, Pamela Guo, Lisa Ly, and Kevin Wang, were awarded the 28th Annual Ventura County Star Scholar Award. The recognition honors some of the top students of the class of 2011, selected by suggested criteria as GPA, school activities, and community service.

Senior Wins Ventura County Poetry Contest Katie Wurtzel ’11, took first place in the youth division of the Ventura County Writers Club Poetry Contest. Over 300 competed and more than 100 people attended the awards ceremony on April 12.

FBLA MemberS Score at State Finals

Meini Cheng

the various activities, such as the dances.

“I netWHS chapter worked a lot, and of Future Business met a bunch of Leaders of America people who are attended the state definitely going competition in Santo be influential ta Clara from April in the future. We 14 -17. can help each The students other advance who qualified to atand become leadtend were Allen Li ers in our respec‘12, Kevin Chian tive fields,” said ‘12, Jonathan Yan Li. ‘12, Frank Duan Through the ‘12, Juanna Zhai FBLA conference, ‘12, Joacin Gurrola the students ‘11, Helen Szeto ‘11, SWEET SUCCESS: Li poses with a 4th Place award in Computer Problem Solving. gained an eyeand Jane Chen ‘13. opening experiLi won 4th place in Computer Problem Solving and ence from interacting with young people from all over the state who are pursuing 5th place in Technology Concepts.

“I honed my skills in logical thinking the same goals.

“Being immersed in a crowd of 1600 on the tests, and also had lots of fun socializing with diverse people from all around other young entrepreneurs just like myself was an unforgettable experience. I was able the state,” said Li. For all the team members, the compe- to network and discover an entire world of tition was a beneficial experience. Not only young business leaders whose ambitions did they apply their business skills in the inspired me to become even more and aim different competition categories, they also even higher in my high school career,” said spent time bonding while participating in Yan. News Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

Nancy Bowman, Advanced Anatomy and Honors Physiology teacher, was chosen by the Thousand Oaks Acorn as one of the Top 25 Local People, local residents who are “good, decent people who are working toward a common goal: a better quality of life.” Bowman’s Honors Advanced Anatomy program is “an experiment usually reserved for the first year of medical school. After nearly two decades there is still no other high school curriculum like it in the nation. Her innovation is unrivaled,” said The Acorn.

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

Freshman Elected Senator Continued From Page 1 California Division.

JSA members were able to participate in a variety of the activities at the convention. “Each day there were different blocks. I went to different debates where students were allowed to moderate them,” said Vice President of Conventions Sarah Gerlach ’11.

Besides the debates there was much more for the Junior State members to take part in.

“A big part of Spring State is our state and regional elections. As president I had to count and report everyone’s votes.

Besides the Spring State Debates there was chapter bonding,” said JSA President Lisa Peng ’11. Chapter bonding at Spring State was with other schools from the Conejo Valley.

Spring State attendant Andrea Teodorescu ’14 will be the next JSA President for the 2011-2012 school year. “I plan to educate the students about the current political issues in the world. I really want to encourage public speaking amongst the student body,” said Teodorescu.

First year club member Teodorescu was voted by her peers at the convention

for a position as senator for Southern California JSA. The freshman felt honored to be recognized. “I will expand our SoCal region by improving our communication,” added Teodorescu.

JA Wins at Entrepreneurship Challenge Brooke Garcher Staff Writer

The Junior Achievement Annual Student Entrepreneurship Challenge took place on April 29. The Junior Achievement club won awards for Outstanding Presentation Delivery and Overall Winner: Best Exhibit Fair Display. CEO Connie Sun ‘11 led the Deuces Wild to victory.

Deuces Wild is a plan providing discounts from numerous stores and restaurants in the Westlake area. It began in 2006 and continues to run strong today. The company includes Frank Duan ‘12, Ashley Lim ‘11, Allen Li ‘12, and Austin Shi ‘14, among others.

The competition included product exhibits and business plan presentations from over 20 student-led businesses and over 1,000 students. The students competing from WHS had competed with all Junior Achievements clubs in Southern California.

The competition provides inspiration for students, educators, sponsors and supporters, according to the Junior Achievement of Southern California Inc. During the event, students had the opportunity to present their business plans to a blue-ribbon panel of judges.

They represented Southern California’s prominent entrepreneurs and business professionals.

All students involved with Deuces Wild received an award of participation. For more information involving Deuces Wild, contact the Westlake Junior Achievement club. To join the Junior Achievement club, contact Laurie Looker in the office.

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OPINION

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

The Takedown The nation unites over the death of one infamous terrorist.

Alexa Lucas Staff Writer

A Dash of Sanity Dashiell Young-Saver Managing Editor

The SAT is the most ever made.

A) Arbitrary B) Capricious C) Frivolous D) Supercilious

test

Memorized vocabulary is the highest measure of intelligence. Smart people are not those who are able to assimilate large bodies of information and synthesize them in novel and constructive ways in order to find solutions to a diverse range of intellectually stimulating problems; but rather, those who memorize long lists of vocabulary. That is why the SAT is such a good measure of intelligence.

Take the sample SAT question above. One would choose C because, although all the words are similar and fit perfectly in meaning, answer C is the best choice because “C” is the most common answer on standardized tests.

The SAT makes students forget about the complexities of the English language and focus on the complexities of its own testing, which is really beneficial to the students, because life is the greatest test of all (much like the SAT’s questions, it makes sense if you don’t think about it).

So many other aspects of the SAT also apply to an intellectual’s life. Like the SAT essays, the world’s greatest essays have been written in 25 minutes or less. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his letter from Birmingham jail, which is regarded as one of the most powerful persuasive essays ever written, in 24 minutes and 54 seconds. The best literature is also written in short time limits. Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities in a little over an hour. Mark Twain wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 5 minutes just before he went to bed one night. Overall, the SAT is a good test of what students will have to do in their future lives.

However, some critics dare to attack the SAT because it gives the wealthy an unfair advantage. According to The New York Times, the discrepancy between the scores of the top and bottom salary groups of students who take the SAT is over 100 points in every section. Expensive SAT prep courses, like the modestly named “Elite” program, surprisingly do give the monetary “elite” the upper hand. However, this country was built on the principle that wallet size is more important than brain size. Favoring the rich should be celebrated because the wealthy truly deserve more, even if they are not as smart. There is a word for giving the poor equal opportunities and recognizing their talent: communism.

Lastly, some label the test “meaningless,” citing how the College Board changed the acronym “SAT,” which once stood for Standardized Aptitude Test, to mean nothing.

Apparently, the test is so good that it has exceeded meaning: its questions have gone beyond worth; its scoring has risen above significance; and its applicability to college courses and the outside world has overcome the shackles of importance.

In fact, the only part of the SAT which carries any meaning is its score’s impact on a student’s college application and future. In other words, the score is more significant than the test itself.

By measuring nothing, the SAT is the perfect measurement of the American education system.

The world’s most wanted terrorist is dead. He was captured and assassinated on May 1, 2011. For ten years, the country has been on a focused mission to track down Osama Bin Laden. Yet, the world was stunned on Sunday evening as President Barack Obama informed the country that Bin Laden had been located and killed in a fire fight.

That night, Americans all across the world rejoiced and celebrated the death of a man who caused the largest destruction on American soil by a foreign enemy, the Al Qaeda attack on New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.

Although Bin Laden’s death seemed unexpected, a lot of time and planning went into the detailed mission.

Early in August, U.S. senior intelligence finally discovered Bin Laden’s whereabouts after years of obscured information and obscured leads of his location.

According to LA Times, The Central Intelligence Agency was able to identify one of Bin Laden’s couriers from interrogations of the detainees involved with 9/11.

The most important information came from one of the 9/11 masterminds, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

After the U.S. intelligence subjected Mohammed to waterboarding and other interrogation methods, it was able to eventually discover the location of Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad.

“There wasn’t perfect visibility on everything inside the compound, but we did have a very good idea,” said a U.S. surveillance agent.

With the knowledge of Bin Laden’s location, President Barack Obama ordered National Security to form “several possible courses of action” for invading the Abbottabad mansion to successfully take out Bin Laden.

President Obama, along with his

National Security Advisor, monitored the operation from the White House situation room.

The administration’s counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan told news officials the wait was “probably one of the most anxiety-filled periods of times in the lives of the people assembled [there] yesterday. Minutes passed like days.’’

About three hours later, Obama was informed that the Al Qaeda leader was shot to death.

Sunday night, Americans rejoiced with the surprise of the death of a man who has caused so much distress for Americans across the country.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the news hit circuit in the midst of a PhilliesMets game. As the fans looked at their phones, they began to chant “U-S-A, U-S-A!” reported the Daily Journal.

Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House, was lined with people and posters joining together in chants, beaming with pure pride and nationalism.

In New York, Americans covered the grounds near Ground Zero, where the World Trade Centers came crashing down ten years ago.

Obama explained in his address to the country that we “did not choose this fight.

It came to our shores. And started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens.”

The President informed the citizens that the death of Bin Laden does not signify the end of the terrorist effort.

“The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to,” said Obama.

Obama has been ensuring American safety since the death of Bin Laden to protect any attacks by the terrorists as revenge for the death of their leader.

Although the U.S. must now increase security, Americans will continue to rejoice as the man who caused such an immense scar on American history is no longer a part of the Al Qaeda terrorist mission.

Royally Obsessed:

Why we care so much about the wedding?

Orly Greenberg Feature Editor

A marriage is one of the most special moments of a couple’s relationship, with 400 million of their closest family and friends watching as they start their new life together. While 400 million may seem a little excessive, the number is perfect for Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, as E Online reported that millions tuned in on YouTube’s livestream coverage to watch their nuptials on April 29.

As news outlets prepared for the big day and royal fanatics sobbed while knitting puppet versions of royal family (a skill taught in the book Knit Your Own Royal Wedding by Fiona Goble) one has to wonder: why does anyone really care?

Yes, Prince William is indeed a royal heir, but he is not next to the throne. Kate may very well never be a queen to William’s king. America’s interest is particularly baffling, since over 200 hundred years ago, we rebelled against the British monarchy, only to celebrate its offspring’s wedding in present day. So really, what is all the royal fuss about?

For one, the wedding provided a glimmer of hope during a chaotic point in the world. In a time of political turmoil, where news is based primarily on corrupt dictators and violent revolutions, the royal wedding gave the world something trivial and joyful to look forward to. In other words, it was a welcome distraction from the news of the day.

According to Fox News, “...Britons celebrated the royal wedding Friday with brass bands, baked goods, and red, white, and blue bunting at traditional

neighborhood parties.” Citizens of Britain could forget about all of the economic and political pressure that is rapidly increasing across the globe, and instead focus on the simplicity of a young couple’s love, at least for a day.

Additionally, William and Kate’s courtship is something of a modern day fairytale. The idea of a commoner meeting and falling in love with a prince has a distinct Cinderella feel, and women across the world can’t help but swoon at the storybook ending.

New York Times reports that “more than 4 in 10 women who are 40 or older” followed royal wedding news somewhat closely. It appears that women of all ages were fascinated by the nuptials, as it tapped into some female citizens’ desire to have their own fairytale story.

But besides providing hope and a fantasy element, the royal wedding had political significance as well. Prince Charles, William’s father and next in line to become king, is notably unpopular. His divorce from the wildly beloved Princess Diana and affair with his eventual second wife Camilla Parker Bowles helped to turn public approval against him.

CBS reported that “Prince William is preferred as the next monarch by Britons…

47 percent say that he should be the next king, while 34 percent think Charles should inherit the throne.”

William’s marriage to Kate symbolizes his adulthood and maturity, showing that he is ready to inherit the crown, giving hope to Britons that they could have a king they actually like—and one that the rest of the world, based on the viewers for the royal wedding—doesn’t seem to mind either.

Obama Outtrumps Trump

3

Shannon Reiffen Feature Editor

Goodbye, White House! Hello White House Hotel. Donald Trump is ready to take his next steps—no, not a new high-rise, or another installment of The Apprentice, but a bid for President. Yes, you read correctlyDonald Trump wants to be President.

The Apprentice showed Mr. Trump’s ability to make stressful decisions in short amounts of time. I was on the edge of my seat watching last week’s episode—I can’t even imagine how trying it was to decide to let go of La Toya and Mark.

We can note his cheerful laugh during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as the President playfully poked fun at him. Oh wait, there was no laugh; merely a stoney-faced Trump, clearly showing his inability to laugh at himself.

Mr. Trump went on several news shows, such as CNN and Fox News, and made comments that have been taken the wrong way by, well just about everyone.

Trump made heavy claims that he felt President Obama was not from the United States, and demanded the President release the long form of his birth certificate.

When it was finally released, instead of apologizing and admitting he was wrong, Trump said that he was to be thanked by the people for the newfound information about their President. Now, Mr. Trump does not believe President Obama got into Columbia and Harvard fairly, as he told the press that word was the President was not a good student. Yes, because the President definitely paid someone off to get into college, and got away with it. Nice logic.

So are we ready for Viva la White House? Probably not. And after the events of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, or the “Trump Roast” as some called it, it does not look like Mr. Trump will get much support.

Trump may want to try out his campaign first with his wives—both present and past..

THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

ARROW

100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 westlakearrow@yahoo.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa Battaglia MANAGING EDITOR Dashiell Young-Saver NEWS EDITOR Meini Cheng OPINION EDITORS Woody Chung, Zak Kukoff FEATURE EDITORS Nicolette Blatt, Anita Gao, Orly Greenberg, Vivian Hu, Julia Model, Shannon Reiffen, Ethan Reul, Vivian Xu SPORTS EDITOR Brian Chang ADVERTISING MANAGER Alexandra Biston CARTOONIST Gaby Breiter ADVISER Caron Battaglia STAFF WRITERS Katrina Brewer, Jacob Cavanah, Lauren Chin, Brian Danziger, Kelli DaRin, Alex Farkas, Brooke Garcher, Yangzong Guo, Monica Huskins, Stephanie Kim, Alexa Lucas, Alana Model, Michelle Noyes, Ari Sadwick

The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School and is published monthly. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty, or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer, though names can be withheld by request in the publication. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E. For The Arrow online, visit whswarriors.com and click on Activities menu.

4

OPINION

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

Misprinting Japan’s Misery Brian Chang

Opinion Editor

SKEWED SPECULATION: The media distorts views on the recent Japan disaster

First, Fukushima’s plant was scheduled to close down due to its age in a week prior to the accident. The fact that this date coincided with a tragic and rare accident is unfortunate, but the likelihood that a nuclear reactor closing down in a week is affected by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake is very slim.

Second, the media has been amplifying

CARTOON BY STEPHEN GERKEN

When tragedy occurred in Japan, instant media attention focused on the disaster. The earthquake and tsunami were a shock to the world, because Japan had been thoroughly prepared for such disasters.

The outcomes were, regardless of Japan’s readiness, enormous. The 8.9 earthquake as well as the following tsunami took thousands of lives, and even more are missing. What used to be developed cities are now inundated with water and chaos.

And then there are the nuclear plants.

Fukushima’s nuclear plants have exposed radiation because of a loss of coolant inside the reactor. The heated reactor faced a partial meltdown, and many are still being evacuated from the site. Now, a group of scientists known as the Fukushima-50 has risked their lives in order to fix the meltdown.

All these efforts are extremely courageous, and Fukushima is indeed a disaster equal to that of Chernobyl. Had this disaster occurred in a less prepared nation, the effects would have been exponentially worse.

It is true that the reactors have caused a disaster; the people who are risking their lives to fix the problem are indeed noble.

The harm caused by the plant is a horrible tragedy. However, that does not mean that all nuclear reactors, as some groups proposed, are in risk of a meltdown like Fukushima’s.

the effects of nuclear “disasters.” For example, FOX News is notorious for its daily rants on how Japan’s nuclear cores have been the source of all of radioactive traces in Japan. Many are quick to claim that the nuclear meltdown is causing radioactive fish to form, affecting people who eat them.

Unfortunately, this allegation is not

entirely true. According to Time Magazine, Tokyo Electric Power Company poured 11,500 tons of low-level radioactive materials into the Pacific ocean. Thus, it wasn’t the meltdown that caused the fish to be contaminated, it was the companies.

Naturally, the companies had some cause to react to the disaster by putting contaminated water into the ocean.

However, this “cause” is no where near justified to dump radioactive material into the ocean.

Unfortunately, people seem to deduce that because radioactivity was introduced into the ocean, the meltdown itself caused all the problems. In reality, the meltdown was just the opportunity to cause disaster the humans were the actual source.

The Fukushima accident itself did not cause all the problems in Japan like the fish contamination. The companies’ inability to take cautious actions contributed to the issues. And in a personal light, building nuclear reactors in an earthquake heavy area is in no way a smart choice on the government’s part. A nuclear reactor should be built in an area without natural disasters causing the potential risk of a meltdown.

Many things can go wrong with a nuclear reactor if we do not make the right choices. However, with careful consideration and awareness of what are actually causing the problems in Japan, nuclear reactors can be a clean, efficient, and permanent solutions to the energy crisis that the world faces today.

Ramen: Saving Japan While Breaking Stereotypes Woody Chung Opinion Editor

Courtesy Photo

What comes to one’s mind when thinking of a superhero? Rippling muscles, super abilities, or nerves of steel? For a growing number of people, the image of a superhero is taking an unlikely form: broth, vegetables, spices, and noodles. A new protecter is in town: ramen. As the underdog cast aside as the jester of the food court, this simple meal reminds students and the world that objects can break the stereotypes and labels of everyday perceptions.

Recovering from a 8.9 magnitude earthquake, a tsunami created from that earthquake, and the breakdown of nuclear reactors, Japan was recently plagued with the ever-present question that all humans face: how will we get food?

In response to the food crisis, a coalition of ramen chefs joined forces to present these noodles to those most affected by the horrors of the recent accident.

“It’s a great idea [to feed ramen to Japan’s hungry],” said Ivan Orkin, the chef and owner of two ramen shops in Rokkakoen, a residential neighborhood in Tokyo. “I don’t know if it’ll be a really

organized thing or if it’ll be ad hoc. Right now it’s very grass roots, there’s a lot of passion and desire.” In a crisis so devastating that thousands are without homes, instant ramen, a food so uncomplicated that it requires the minimum amount of ingredients and preparation, has rallied the hopes of a grief-stricken nation, and illustrated the raw compassion of humans at their best.

Like the versatile ingredients that eventually orchestrate into a bowl of ramen, so have the countless Japanese people of all different backgrounds unified through ramen into a melody of friendship, compassion, and hope.

And perhaps, along with helping to save Japan, this seemingly simple food can also serve as a reminder to us students. In a society so inclined towards stereotypes and misconceptions, it is often difficult to look beyond the surface of the individuals in our school. As we often cast aside ramen as a trivial snack, we also dismiss many students under generalized labels.

“When people call me a simple Asian, it makes me feel one-dimensional and constricted,” said one sophomore. Ramen’s aid to those in Japan illustrates that people are not confined to their “social images.”

Cuisine Compassion: Tsunami victims find comfort in ramen noodles.

Rather than limiting one’s abilities to their social molds, why not expand our expectations and allow others to surprise us? The nerd could be a great musician, the jock an artist. The “ra-men” of our school ecosystem may be true-men underneath.

Electronic Education

Therefore, as Japan benefited after accepting ramen’s social and nurturing value, we students can prosper from liberating our perceptions from the boundaries and stereotypes that society usually instills.

Budget cuts have prompted many schools to turn to online AP courses. Is it worth investigating?

Monica Huskins Ari Sadwick Staff Writers

The competition to attend the top universities in the country is at an all time high, so many high school students are jumping at the chance to enroll in extra Advanced Placement courses to set themselves apart.

However, excessive budget cuts on national and state levels and the added expense of employing well trained AP teachers who specialize in these elective subjects have caused schools to limit the amount of AP classes students are allowed to take. Luckily, some states have given students the opportunity to enroll in extra online classes.

Twenty-seven states throughout the

country are offering online AP courses, but only 0.5% of the students taking AP courses do so online. A setback to online AP courses is high price, with students paying more than $400.00 per class per semester.

Another challenge that students would encounter through online classes is the risk of distraction. Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging have all been proven to take up a large portion of teenager’s time, so many worry about the constant diversions.

In a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, one student shares her secret to avoiding being sidetracked by saying, “I tell myself that when I get through X number of things, I can allow myself 10 minutes on Facebook.”

In the face of these obstacles, however,

the advantages of taking online courses make them a viable option for many looking to get ahead. College courses equivalent to those offered online can cost thousands of dollars, so students would end up saving money in the long run.

According to The Wall Street Journal, studies show that “about 90% of U.S. colleges and universities award college credit to high-school students who pass the program’s rigorous subject-matter tests.”

This would lead to less time spent in college, meaning less money spent on dorms and other expensive aspects of college life. Also, although AP courses are meant to simulate classes actually taken by college students, the reality is that they do not compare.

“Taking a course at Moorpark College

is not the same as taking an AP course at Westlake,” Elizabeth Matusov ’12 commented.

For the first time, incoming freshmen will be allowed to take AP Human Geography next year, a recent change at WHS. The Class of 2012 will be the last class that will take this elective exclusively as seniors, with few exceptions.

“The opportunity to take any AP course offered by the College Board, whether or not your school offers it, is worth taking,” Matusov added.

Students enrolled in online AP courses do as well as those who take the same course through a public high school, if not better. While an online substitution is not suitable for all, it is worth considering, especially for those looking for any edge.

Hoaxes of History

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

FEATURE

Other False Historical Myths...

The realities of the past

have often been glossed over.

Centuries of distortions have altered historical truths. What

• People in the past rarely washed themselves.

-People seldom took baths, but they still cleaned themselves.

we have always considered “common knowledge” may not be so valid after all.

• Napoleon was very short.

-Napoleon was 5’7’’—taller than most French men in the 1800s.

Nobody Dressed the Way We Think Anita Gao

Feature Editor The Perception: It is pretty clear that photos from ancient periods are not available, so people have to guess what past humans wore.

A common misperception about the Medieval times, for example, is that the ninja dressed in all black.

The Reality: The ninja outfit is inconsistent with the assassin’s job. He is expected to blend

SPOT THE NINJA: Historically, the ninja would have wanted to blend into the crowd.

in, and it’s hard to do that by dressing in a black bodysuit that screams “ninja” from a mile away.

It was best they dressed in a way that would not draw attention. So they disguised themselves as common people— beggars, workers, monks, merchants; anything that looked as un-ninja-like as possible was the perfect disguise. This way, they could sneak around unnoticed, day or night.

The ninjas can thank the theater, for their stereotypical black attire. During the Edo period of theater (which came about

one hundred years after ninjas were around, playwrights needed a trick to show how sneaky ninjas were on stage, as well as a way to make them appear as “invisible” assassins.

The stagehands already dressed in all black, so the audience had long been used to ignoring them since they weren’t part of the play.

Actors playing ninjas started dressing up in all black as well, so the whole audience would jump when one of them would leap

George Washington Never Chopped Down a Cherry Tree Vivian Hu

Feature Editor

IT’s A DRAW: Showdowns like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral have been distorted by the movies.

Gunfights Rarely Occurred in the Wild West Vivian Xu

Feature Editor The Perception: A gloriously mustached man sits at a card game in an old saloon, surrounded by envious cowboys and swooning Southern belles. He looks up; he notices that the player opposite him is hiding an extra card up his sleeve. He calls him on it: “Cardshark!” And the word yellow is pronounced “yeller.” Soon they are facing off in the town square.

The cardshark hastily reaches for his hip holster, but he’s not fast enough.

Quick as a striking rattlesnake, the gambler draws his revolver and shoots the cheat dead between the eyes.

A hundred years of movies have taught people that this is how one lived and died in the Wild West. The quicker draw lived to gunfight another day. It was essentially a roving, single elimination tournament that ended only with death.

The Reality: How many murders did these western towns see a year? Imagine the bloodiest, biggest, baddest cattle town with cowboys

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on each corner quick-drawing at high noon every day. A hundred murders?

More? How about five? That was the most murders any Old West town saw in any one year. Ever. Most towns averaged about 1.5 murders a year, and not all of those were from shooting. One was more likely to be murdered in Baltimore 2008 than in Tombstone 1881–the town’s most violent year ever because of the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Body count: three.

Additionally, most Wild West men labeled as “gunfighters” rarely fought or killed as many men they were recognized for, and some never killed at all. They were reputed “gunfighters” because of either one particular legendary instance everyone engraved into memory or from a collection of rumors and speculations. In most cases, their status was solidified merely by exaggeration and self-promotion.

For example, Wyatt Earp’s fame only came from the gunfight at O.K. Corral.

And although he was said to be involved in hundreds of gunfights, the Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters cites only five incidents throughout his entire lifetime.

Yet people still believe such nonsense.

Why? Because infamous gunfighters like Billy the Kid want us to. According to sources that aren’t Billy the Kid (New Mexico Tourism Department), his lifetime kill count was nine, a mere fraction of his supposed murders.

Criminals inflated their kills for the same reason gamblers exaggerate their winnings—it made them look cool.

The Perception: As children, we were told George Washington came into possession of a hatchet and went about chopping up everything he saw.

One day he came upon his father’s prize cherry tree and without so much as a second thought, chopped it down— presumably because it was a monarchist.

Upon being questioned by his father, Washington proudly admitted he was the culprit due to his inability to lie.

He then went on to become the first president of the United States.

The Reality: George Washington has constantly been elevated to the status of some kind

• Van Gogh sliced off his whole ear in an act of remorse.

-In reality, Van Gogh sliced off a portion of his left ear by accident.

• Men could beat their wives with a stick as long as it was no thicker than their thumb.

-There has never been a law that stated this.

Source: Noivedya Juddery, journalist

of deity, partially thanks to a man named Mason Locke Weems.

Weems was the author of the cleverly titled biography The Life of George Washington, with Curious Anecdotes Laudable to Himself and Exemplary to His Countrymen.

Weems recalled many fantastic stories about Washington, particularly emphasizing his overwhelming moral fortitude and infallibility.

The cherry tree tale is of particular importance since it demonstrates Washington can easily destroy things, yet he chooses not to.

According to Weems, “At the sight of him, even those blessed spirits seem[ed] to feel new raptures.”

That’s right, even angels swoon at the sight of the handsome Washington.

Curiously enough, Weems waited until Washington was dead before publishing the late president’s memoir.

Still, the story survives, possibly because of the central message which still resonates deep within patriotic, American souls: “It’s much easier to tell the truth when you’re the one holding the axe.”

Prom: A Night

Danielle Ferrari Katie Porush

Michelle Noyes

“You don’t need a date in order to have fun; you should go regardless because Prom is once in a lifetime.” - Nick Saremi ‘11

To Remember

Nicolette Blatt

FEATURE

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Second Rate Celebrities Miss the Mark Nicolette Blatt Orly Greenberg Feature Editors

The 1950s marked the first decade that Hollywood produced celebrities who remain icons to this day. Nearly 60 years later, the celebrities of 2011 strive to imitate icons while becoming ones themselves.

With a new crop of stars already emulating 1950s icons, Hollywood has proved once again that history repeats itself.

An actress epitomizing 1950s Hollywood glamour, Grace Kelly is still idolized for both her acting skills and beauty.

Even modern British pop star Mika praised her poise, singing “I want to be like Grace Kelly.”

Kelly starred in blockbusters such as “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” and “The Country Girl.” A modern woman who embraces Grace Kelly’s elegant demeanor is Charlize Theron, who is hailed for her acting abilities. Her most famous role is her Academy Award winning performance in “Monster.”

Even in the 1950s, the pressures of fame harshly affected many stars. Judy Garland, a celebrity first famous for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” later gained notoriety for

Heath Ledger

her struggles with drug addiction. Garland recognized her own deterioration and sadness, asking, “If I am such a legend, then why am I so lonely?”

Similarly, Disney star Demi Lovato was first recognized for her roles in “Camp Rock” and “Sonny With a Chance.” However, she violently assaulted one of her dancers, and was recently released from rehabilitation for emotional distress. Following in the turbulent footsteps of Judy Garland, Demi Lovato struggled with self mutilation, according to People Magazine.

A tragic pattern has emerged in Hollywood with the deaths of young and talented actresses, often indirectly due to the mounting pressures of being a celeb-

Elizabeth: ATalent Missed Elizabeth Taylor

Nicolette Blatt Feature Editor

Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most famous actresses of the 1950s, died on March 23, 2011 of congestive heart failure. She was born on Feb. 27, 1932 in a suburb of London, England. Taylor’s first major role was starring in “National Velvet” (released in 1944) which made her a star. According to msnbc.com, “Her more than 50 movies included unforgettable portraits of innocence and of decadence.”

Taylor was known to lead a scandalous life. Married eight times with a total of seven husbands and four children (she had two boys with Michael Wilding, one daughter with Michael Todd, and one daughter with Richard Burton), Taylor was known to be a tabloid favorite.

Taylor won Oscars for, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Butterfield 8.” She received Oscar nominations for “Suddenly Last Summer,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and “Raintree County.”

Taylor won two Lifetime Achievement Awards as well, one from the American Film

Institute and the other from the Screen Actors Guild.

Taylor not only left a lasting impression on cinema, she also was very involved in charity. According to the Huffington Post, in 1985 Taylor was one of the first high profile celebrities to become involved with helping find a cure for AIDS. She worked to raise money and awareness to the end of her life, helping to establish The American Foundation for AIDS Research. Taylor was the chairwoman of AMFAR and she visited Capitol Hill to get the government to spend $1 million a year to help people with AIDS. Taylor was one of the highest paid actresses in the film industry.

For her most famous role as the title character in “Cleopatra” in the 1950s, she earned over $2 million. ”If someone’s dumb enough to offer me a million dollars to make a picture, I’m certainly not dumb enough to turn it down,” said Taylor. At the time of her death, Taylor had an estimated worth of $600 million.

Taylor left a lasting imprint on the film industry. She was more than just a Hollywood actress; she was an inspiration to those affected by AIDS and an influential historical figure .

rity. James Dean, a rebellious icon famous at young age, died at 24 after a car crash.

Dean was widely known to struggle with his fame.

“Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world.

You are all alone with your concentration and imagination, and that’s all you have,” said Dean.

Heath Ledger, another enormously popular actor, met his untimely demise in 2008.

One of his final performances was the deranged Joker in the film “The Dark Knight.” Before dying of a drug overdose months before the movie debuted, Ledger noted, “[The Joker is a} psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy... Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night. I couldn’t stop thinking.

My body was exhausted, but my mind was still going,” as quoted in the New York Times.

From the rise to fame to the spiral downward, celebrities in the 21st century have attempted to channel icons from the 1950s. And although these stars can have no way of knowing if their idols approve, they might get a hint from some advice from Judy Garland: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

Mistaken for Role Models Nicolette Blatt Feature Editor

Society expects stars to be positive role models for young impressionable children and teens. But so far in the media they have been the complete opposite.

Taylor Momsen, recently fired from the CW show Gossip Girl and lead singer of the band Pretty Reckless, has shocked the world with her profane quotes and risque attire. From exposing herself during performances to posing in lingerie, (all at the tender age of 17), Taylor has proved time and time again that she is nothing but a negative influence.

In fact, Momsen couldn’t agree more. OK! quoted the starlet as saying, “I didn’t get into this to be a role model. So I’m sorry if I’m influencing your kids in a way that you don’t like, but I can’t be responsible for their actions.”

Another teen star, Miley

Taylor Momsen shocks with Goth makeup on the red carpet.

Cyrus, has been constantly criticized for her poor choices as a role mode. In response to her infamous salvia smoking video, E!online brought up a valid point, asking,“but do you really think it was a mistake? Obviously college kids your [Cyrus’s] age all over America are smoking bongs with a lot more than salvia in them.”

While Cyrus seemed to understand the consequences of her actions, the pop star later made light of her drug use while hosting Saturday Night Live, listing several unsavory things before singing sarcastically, “Don’t both of these things seem worse than a bong?”

While both Momsen and Cyrus began their careers as idols for young girls to worship, their desire to be thought of as mature adults has translated into reckless decisions that prove that they were mistaken for role models after all.

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FEATURE

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

Revolutionizing School Food Again Restaurant Concept Michelle Noyes News Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is returning for a second season.

The first season of the show was nominated for an Emmy.

In the six-part season which premiered on April 12, Oliver traveled to Los Angeles, continuing his goal to fix the obesity epidemic in America.

“My message is really clear: teach people about food and they will make better decisions,” said Jamie Oliver in an interview on his website, jamieoliver.com.

To start off the season, he approaches the Los Angeles Unified School District.

When he criticizes the school lunch nutrition, he suggests ways to make it healthier; however, the district rejects his help.

“Ultimately, whether you’re American, Chinese, Greek, Turkish or English, people don’t like change and they react very strongly,” added Oliver in the interview.

His next mission is opening a kitchen in Westwood to help adults and children make healthy food choices.

However, this attempt also fails, so he then tries to create a

with lunch at school.

Over the next 10 years, $4.5 billion will be funding healthy meals at schools across the nation.

Oliver is also an author and has written 14 books, which include 30 minute meals and books including native American, Spanish, MISSION IN-PROGRESS: Jamie Oliver continues and Italian dishes. to raise awareness about healthy eating and proper In his American nutrition in schools. book, he reviews his experience in Los healthy menu at a local drive-thru Angeles, Wyoming, restaurant.

Montana, New York, Louisiana, “The impassioned chef is Georgia, and Arizona. taking on obesity, heart disease When writing his book, the and diabetes in the USA, where people he met in Los Angeles were the nation’s children are the first more inviting than when he was generation not expected to live as filming his show- they welcomed long as their parents,” said ABC. his ideas and drive to transform com. unhealthy lunch menus.

“His [Oliver’s] Food While in Los Angeles he Revolution campaign in the finds a couple of healthy recipes.

United States collected more California offers him recipes to than 650,000 signatures and the Mexican Street Salad and helped pass the Healthy Hunger Gordita’s&Salsa.

Free Kids Act of 2010,” said The second season of Edwin Baudyhallee in an article Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution about Oliver’s effort to change continues to advocate healthy America’s eating habits. eating and living. He stays On Dec. 13, 2010 President passionate and continues striving Barack Obama signed the Healthy for transformation.

Hunger-Free Kids Act which will The show airs at 8 p.m. on provide low-income children Tuesdays on ABC.

Recipe For Success As busy teenagers, students often neglect certain essentials--showering and sleeping, for example. The one necessity that they place above all others, however, is food. Whether or not they order in or plan a date at a restaurant, food plays an important part of every teen’s life. With the dizzying array of restaurants, it may be difficult to decide where to eat for different occasions. Staff writer Orly Greenberg compiled the top five places for delivery, dates, and more.

CPT:

With an hour to spare during CPT, grab a quick and delicious breakfast at Champagne French Bakery Café. Located in the Promenade, this European styled bakery takes barely five minutes to get to by foot, and offers tasty treats such as omelets, crepes, and oatmeal.

Date:

Located on 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Rustico boasts classic Italian dishes such as risotto, gnocchetti, and ravioli.

The menu even offers more traditional dishes such as steak, fish, and chicken. The homey, yet classy atmosphere makes it the perfect date location, from an impressive first date to a special six-month anniversary.

Delivery:

Not quite old enough to go off campus for lunch, but tired of brown bagging it? Fresh Brothers, located in the Promenade, offers delivery service for pizza, salad, and wings directly to Westlake, so the freshmen and sophomores who can’t go off campus for lunch can still enjoy freshly made pizza.

With a variety of appetizers, salads, and pizza, Fresh Brothers is the perfect choice for a quick and inexpensive lunch to share with friends. Students can conveniently order online as well.

Off Campus Lunch:

After obtaining an off cam-

pus pass, it’s time to put it to use at one of Westlake’s best sushi bars. Sayka, located at 1125 Lindero Road (directly next to Rustico) offers price friendly lunch deals and appetizing a la carte options.

If you’re short on time, call in your order and Sayka is happy to have it ready for pick up. From traditional Japanese meals to modern sushi dishes, this is one location you should take advantage of.

Little Known Treasure:

Hidden in the Water Court at Westlake on 900 Hampshire Road, this Thai find offers amazing service with food to match. Pookie, the owner of the restaurant, is enthusiastic and witty, memorizing the regular customer’s names and peppering the menu with comedic quips. The food is traditional thai, with soups, noodles, rice, and curries. Nestled in the back is a welcome surprise: Thai styled sushi.

Weekend Dinner With Friends:

The Landing, located on 32123 Lindero Canyon Road in Suite 109, offers an unusual variety of food which fuses two unlikely styles together: sushi and grill items. The menu includes sushi staples, and as well as traditional grill food that provide everyone with something to eat, The beautiful view of Westlake Lake provides the perfect atmosphere for chatting and dining.

Turns Reality

Julia Model

Feature Editor

Interested in eating a new and inventive cuisine?

A new take on soul food, Soul Daddy’s New Home Cookin’ is the winning innovative restaurant concept that will open on May 2.

Four investors hosting NBC’s hit TV show, America’s Next Great Restaurant gave 21 delectable restaurant concepts the chance to open in Hollywood, Minneapolis, and New York.

According to NBC Universal Media Village, the four accredited investors funding the restaurant concepts were Bobby Flay, Chef and restauranteur, Curtis Stone, internationally renowned chef, Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle; and Lorena Garcia, executive chef and restaurateur.

Vying for this opportunity were 21 people coming from all walks of life, who had, what they believed, to be a great idea for the next best fast-casual restaurant chain.

The investors are were in search for a new, and unique concept that they thought would be the most successful addition

to the fast-casual restaurant business.

11 concepts got cut in Episode 1, and of the top three remaining in last week’s episode, Soul Daddy won in the battle to turn a dream into a reality.

Jamawn J. Woods, is a cook/ caterer from Detroit, Michigan who has always dreamed of becoming a restauranteur.

The top three restaurant concepts featured modern Indian food, saucy meatballs, and wings & waffles (Soul Food).

Soul Daddy will offer family-style home cooking with a healthy twist on all the soul food classics.

The remaining restaurant ideas have created delicious dishes, logos and food trucks, and put together appetizing menus (including kids’ menus) that were hopeful in striking interest amongst the judges- as well as the public. Concepts that didn’t strike the judges as new and unique were eliminated each week.

May 2 was the grand opening of the new fast-casual restaurant.

Go to Hollywood in the Hollywood Center and try the new cuisine for yourself.

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May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

11

SPORTS

May 11, 2011 • THE ARROW

Individuals Find Lane to CIF Prelims Katrina Brewer Staff Writer

PHOTO BY SHANNON REIFFEN

TAKE OFF: Adam Lazar uses his one-of-a-kind technique to win the boys long jump event in a meet against Thousand Oaks High School.

Swimmers Glide to 1st Michelle Noyes Staff Writer

Kelley Helps Golf Place1st Stephanie Kim Staff Writer

Brandon Kelley ‘13 has risen as a promising athlete in boys golf. Recently featured in The Acorn, Kelley was noted as one of the “standout underclassmen.”

Kelley shot 68s at the Los Robles Greens Golf Course in Thousand Oaks, proving his importance to the team, as well as for himself.

His rigorous practice schedule consists of frequent Marmonte matches and individual practices during spare time.

“During our season we play two or three matches a week so there’s not really a lot of time to practice...I can only practice about ten hours a week during season.

During off-season, I practice 3035 hours a week,” said Kelley.

Playing golf for the majority of his life, Kelley hopes to keep professional golf in his future.

“As I got older, my main goal is to play on the PGA tour so I can compete against the best players in the world,” said Kelley.

“I do want to ply college golf but I don’t know where yet.”

New coach, Rick Naranjo, praises Kelley’s performance, as well as that of Sean Crocker ‘14. According to The Acorn, both Kelley and Crocker have “determination,” said Naranjo. He comments on their “unbelievable practice ethics,” noting that they are “continuously practicing every day and going to different places.”

Boys golf continues to excel in Marmonte League, with a record of 12-1. Golf secured first place with a 24-stroke lead against second place team Royal High.

Greentree on a Roll Alex Farkas Staff Writer

Determination, experience, hard work, sweat—all describe Richie Greentree's '11 passion for tennis.

As a member of the varsity tennis team for four years, Greentree works his hardest everyday during practice and during matches to prove that he is one of the top players in the Marmonte League.

"I put the time in on the practice courts everyday during the year to improve my game," said Greentree. As a freshman, Greentree started as a varsity doubles player, but as a senior, he has worked his way up to succeed as a top singles and doubles player and to prove to Coach Connie Flankerda how he has improved.

Greentree's doubles partner and teammate, Adam Kane '11 states that "he is not only a great tennis player, but his laid back and calm personality helps to balance the team." Greentree enters

every match confident that he is one of the best players on the court.

Greentree has had a phenomenal senior year as a co-captain and as a great asset to the WHS Tennis Team.

In the fall of 2011, Greentree will be attending the University of Arizona where he would love to play tennis for the Division I college team as a walk-on or for a club team on campus.

"We have made a lot of memories over the years that I will cherish when I’m gone," said Greentree. He is excited to move on to college but will miss the WHS tennis team; however, he will leave his legacy at WHS. Greentree and Kane are seeded third in the Marmonte League Finals at Moorpark High School for doubles this week and will be competing in CIF on Wednesday at Troy High School.

plished last year, is quite impressive.”

Nicki Ghazarian ‘12 pushed the pace in the distance races such as the 3200 meter run. Mary Case ‘11 returned after a two-year injury. One of the top long jumpers in the league, she pole vaulted a personal best this season of 10’ at the Ventura County Championships.

In the finals, the girls 4x100 relay team advanced to the CIF Preliminaries with a time of 49.73 (the second fastest time in school history).

The team consists of Rachel Maurer ‘12, Deja Webster ‘14, Breawna Piper ‘12, and Brooke Edell ‘14. Aryana Azmoudeh ‘11 took second in the girl’s triple jump with a distance of 33-05.25 and advanced to the CIF Prelims.

Boys distance ranked sixth in the 4x1600 meter relay. The CIF preliminaries will take place Saturday, May 14, at Moorpark High School.

With certain lead runners and jumpers from previous seasons unable to participate because of injuries, other individual performances helped salvage the season. season.

PHOTO BY STEVEN PARO

WHS came in First Place overall at the Marmonte League Swim Championship held at the Rancho Simi Pool in Simi Valley.

Girls and boys varsity both accomplished a first place win out of seven Marmonte teams. Junior varsity girls as well as boys won first place for their level.

This is the first time since 2006 WHS has taken four first places at League Championships.

The meet started off strong with the varsity boys in the 200 medley relay.

“In the 200 IM relay we got first and got an automatic time for CIF so we are going to go to competition for sure,” said David Sommers ’12.

“It was an honor to be the anchor,” said freestyle relay swimmer Zach Miller ’11.

“We weren’t expecting the other teams to be that fast. We thought we would be way ahead of them. They surprised us,” added Miller.

Another highlight of the last meet was the varsity boys 200 freestyle. “I went a personal best time of 1:46.1 minutes and I got 4th place,” said Sommers.

To conclude the season Scarlett Lund-Sidi ’13 also swam a personal best in the 500 varsity girls freestyle. “I dropped three seconds, so my time was 5:40,” said Lund-Sidi.

The 400-freestyle relay from League Finals also had a CIF qualifying time. The relay included Hunter Householter ‘11, Sommers, Michael Wen ‘13 and newcomer Yubin Kim ‘14. It was one second off the school record time.

The CIF meet will take place on Fri. May 13 at Bellmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Track season drew to a close during League Finals on May 6, at least for the team. Overall, the team excelled in many areas, despite being plagued with illness and injury. Where previous leaders could not participate, others picked up the slack and rose to the occasion.

In the triple jump, the performance of Adam Lazar ‘11 was notable, reaching a personal record 38’, 8’’. In the long jump his record is 20’, .75’’.

“He helped out tremendously this season,” said Coach Chad Scott.

During finals, Brian Brousseau ‘11 took third in the high jump and advanced to the CIF preliminaries.

Other losses included frontrunner sprinters Brooke Edell ‘14, and Sara Schwartz ‘14, who were unable to compete during some of the season due to injury.

They, however, returned for finals, on May 6. Edell took first in the 100-meter dash and has the fourth fastest time in school his-

tory. She tied for second in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.63, which is the second fastest time in school history. She advanced into CIF preliminaries in both events.

New addition to the pole vault event, Luigi Colella ‘14, impressed all the coaches, including his father, Coach Antonio Colella, who has been at WHS for many years. On April 14, Luigiset the school record. Vaulting 14 feet, 7 inches, he was placed first in the state for freshmen and 26th for all state levels. Colella took first in the pole vault at finals and advanced to the CIF preliminaries.

In the distance divison, frontrunner Jonny Miller ‘11 was out ill for the majority of the season; however, Tim Snyder ‘11, Ryan Chu ‘11, Michael Lacey ‘13, and Martin Arreola ‘11 all ran very well and helped save the season. Lacey tripled in the distance events, taking first in the Frosh/ Soph 1600, 800, and 3200 meter runs.

Coach Scott commented, “It is difficult to qualify for all three distance events. But to win all three, a feat Michael also accom-

THE “CHARIZARD” GOES HARD: Richie Greentree hits a backhand against Moorpark on May 5.

W HAT

A FEELING !

Choir Dept. President Zach Skovold ‘11 talks about the choir’s triumphs in Florida.

Arrow: So what do you have to say about Women’s and Vocal’s win?

Zach: Well, I have to say, we did a great job.

I’m really happy about our win. Since this was our first Disney World competition, I didn’t expect us to win and place top, but we did, and I’m glad.

Arrow: What do you think contributed most to the win?

Zach: I think it helps that [Vocal] is really well-rounded, because we do classical and show choir, so our tone is good, but so is our dancing. It really leads to a good result.

Arrow: Anything else?

Zach: We’re also pretty well-disciplined.

I feel Vocal is very professional, and takes things extremely seriously, just because we understand how important the competitions are to us.

Arrow: How did it feel when you got the scores?

Zach: When the scores came, I was standing in line with Veronica Robinson ‘11, and when we got called up for the awards, I… I was crazy happy.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe it.

Arrow: Do you think you deserved it?

Zach: In the beginning, Mr. (Alan) Rose had to push some people a lot and tell them to focus. But in the end, I think we deserved it. I mean, our performance wasn’t good enough for us, Vocal, but it was good enough for everyone else.

Arrow: How much work did you guys have to put in?

Zach: There were definitely a lot of out of class practices, but I think it was really down to the individuals. We were all really motivated, which helped, but it really depended on if each singer went home and worked on the basics, like dynamics and notes, and just setting down the base, so in class, Mr. Rose could mold us into how he wanted it. At home, we got it ready. At school, Mr. Rose helped us make the song musical, and follow the taste of the director.

Arrow: Speaking of the director, Mr. Rose, how does Mr. Rose work with you?

Zach: Well, he’s stricter with Vocal, but we’re fine with that because otherwise we wouldn’t do so well. Whenever we slack off and he encourages us to focus, we really take it to heart, and try to work harder. He knows what he’s doing, and he knows what he wants. And what he wants is the best sound possible from us.

Arrow: How much fun was the trip?

Zach: The trip, as in Florida’s Harry Potter World and Disney World, was awesome, and amazingly fun. The competition, being in front of the judges and showing what we had worked so hard on, was really gratifying, but it really wasn’t that different from a performance. But it was amazing to have someone professional appreciate what we were doing, and come and talk to us to explain how we could improve.

Compiled by Vivian Hu

CHOIR FINDS MAGIC AT FESTIVALS 9 Gold/Superior Awards, 3 Best of Class, 2 Gold, and 1 Bronze Mickey.

What does it mean?

Vivian Hu

Staff Writer

It’s been about two weeks since Women’s Chorale and Vocal Ensemble went to Florida and returned with “9 Gold/Superior ratings, 4 Adjudicator awards, 3 Best in Class Mickeys, 2 Gold Mickeys, and 1 Bronze Mickey.” So what exactly did they win?

Choir Director Alan Rose explained the numerous awards and honors to eliminate confusion. Choir performed on April 15 in two festivals, Heritage Festival and Festival Disney. For

each festival, Women’s Chorale and Vocal Ensemble did two shows, one classical and one show choir, featuring soloists Courtney Allen ‘12, Anica Stemper ‘13, and Megan Chew ‘13. The choir’s top group A Class Act (under the name of Madrigal) competed once at Heritage. With everything totaled, WHS competed nine times in one day.

At the Heritage festival, WHS performed classical (Women’s, Vocal, and Madrigal) and show choir (Treble Makers for Women’s and Premiere for Vocal). Each of the groups scored an average from the three judges of 90 points or above, winning them their first five superior or gold rankings.

Four of the five received adjudicator awards, honoring an average score of 95 points or higher.

These groups were Vocal, Madrigal, Women’s, and Premiere. They also managed to win Top Choral group and the Choral Sweepstakes for the Top Choral Program.

At Festival Disney, Vocal, Women’s, Premiere,

SHOWSTOPPERS: Choir’s song and dance selections featured many high energy numbers: (top left clockwise) Vocal Ensemble’s “Mambo Italiano”; Jessica Evaristo, Zach Skovold, Veronica Robinson, Matt Ferrin in “A Little White Hen”; solo by Courtney Allen in “Mambo Italiano”; Devin Milligan and Nick Saremi in “Trouble.”

(All photos courtesy of WHS Choral Music Department.)

and Treble Makers all received superior rankings again.

Vocal Ensemble received a Best in Class Mickey Award for Concert Choir, which is awarded to the best concert choir overall, excluding the school size factor. Women’s Chorale and Premiere also received Best in Class Mickey awards: Women’s for Best Treble choir, and Premiere for Best Specialty Choir.

Vocal received the first place award, the Golden Mickey, for being the top choir in the festival, competing against over 30 other choirs.

Premiere received a Golden Mickey for being the top specialty choir, and The Treble Makers received a Bronze Mickey for third best choir.

Choir members were also able to enjoy Florida’s many theme parks, including Harry Potter World, Animal World, and Disney World.

Shannon Chen ‘11 said, “I’m really glad that [Vocal] ended the year so strongly, especially for seniors, since [Florida was] our last competition.”