11.05.15

Volume XXXVIII Issue 2 5 Nov 2015

theArrow 100 LAKEVIEW CANYON RD. WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362

www.westlakearrow.com

PHOTO BY RACHEL FINEGOLD

CROSS TOWN RIVALS: The WHS football team, along with defensive end Brandan Hall ‘16 (left), is preparing for its biggest game of the season under the leadership of Captain David Cisi ‘16 (right).

HEAD TO HEAD : WHS VS OAKS The game of the season

Rachel Finegold Sports Section Editor The WHS football team faces Oaks Christian High School in its final game of the season for the Marmonte League title at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6. WHS will play its biggest cross town rival, led by former WHS football Coach Jim Benkert. This game is undoubtedly the team’s most anticipated match of the entire season, serving as a triple threat game.

“When Benkert left and went to Oaks, we knew week ten was our biggest game,” said slot receiver Vincent Corso ‘16.

“Even though we try to go week by week thinking about the next opponent, we’re really excited about this last match and to prove that we are the better cross town rival.”

The game is already drawing an immense audience as it is arguably the most important match of the season. In addition to being a home game, the match will also be nationally televised as the Fox Sports West Game of the Week.

As game day draws closer, the intensity and excitement of the match continues to build for the players. “When you play at WHS, which is a [Division] 1 football school, there is automatic pressure, and our kids are used to that,” said Coach Tony Henney.

Although many players are trying to approach this game like

any other, the team is watching many films to create a strategy that will work and capitalize on Oaks’ weaknesses. The team has been working with extra intensity in both the weight room and on the field during practices.

“We have a lot of speed and agility [that] we plan to use against Oaks,” said wide receiver Theo Howard ‘16.

Tomorrow is Coach Henney’s first match against recently departed Coach Jim Benkert. “Playing Oaks and against our old coach makes the game a lot more personal and makes us want to try even harder,” said Howard.

Players agree that it will be a different feeling to have Benkert on the other side of the field, but they are more than confident that Coach Henney will help the team beat Oaks by calling the right plays and keeping the team calm and focused.

“I don’t know if my coaching style will have anything to do with [the game]; it’s what these kids do in between the yard lines that matters, and I can’t take that much credit,” said Henney.

However, Corso appreciates Henney’s ability to have fun with the players during practice, rally the team before games and keep the team focused and hyped throughout the match.

“They’re going to be excited [to play their former coach], but our players are smart enough to know they aren’t actually playing coach Benkert; they’re playing the guys on the field,” said Henney.

B e at ing Oaks is more than just proving themselves to their former coach. “I want to beat our old coach to show everyone that just because Benkert left doesn’t mean we’re done winning,” said quarter back

Grant Bunker ‘16.

WHS’ rivalry against Oaks has been standing for as long as many players can remember. With Oaks located less than two miles away from WHS and just recently added to the Marmonte League roster, the rivalry against Oaks only continues to grow.

“They don’t have as spirited of fans as we do,” said Henney.

WHS’ strategy against Oaks will remain a secret until game time; however, WHS plans to capitalize on its overall speed and agility to combat the size of some of the Oaks players. “We’re going to spread the ball around, play fast, and keep them on their toes,” said Corso.

Oaks plans on approaching the big rivalry just like WHS. “To prepare for Westlake we practice and we work as hard as we can to elevate our game,” said Oaks Christian Captain Seth Johnson. “When playing Westlake, we expect to be excited but relaxed.”

Both teams are fired up to go head to head in order to prove their superiority.

However, at the same time, they are trying to remain focused and play their best game as well.

“We have a never quit attitude, so whenever we are down, we can always come back,” said line backer David Cisi ‘16. “We never worry when we’re down on the scoreboard because we know we will still execute.”

Continued on Page 11

2 Letter from the editor

News theArrow New tech changes coming to WHS Alex Shi Co-Editor in Chief

Heidi Chiu Managing Editor

“T

Full STEAM ahead for Audrey Kao Kay Lim News Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

Welcome to the second issue of The Arrow. I mean, second is the best, right?

For this issue, the staff focused on the most anticipated football game of the fall season: Oaks Christian High School versus WHS, on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (that’s tomorrow).

I personally have never been to a football game in my entire high school career, but I’m actually contemplating on going to this game because there’s so much hype surrounding it.

If you somehow opened the newspaper without seeing the huge game story on the front page, don’t worry. You can always flip back and read the article. It’s the first time we correctly used a page jump, so you might as well as take advantage of it.

Creating a monthly newspaper entails a pretty significant amount of work. The time spent on writing and editing each article, in addition to creating a layout for each page, is time consuming, but also rewarding.

Every time The Arrow is published, I feel a sense of pride. It’s the kind of feeling when a non-athletic person (me) finishes a 5k. Or the kind of feeling when a person who sucks at math (me) gets an A on a math test.

Even though we stay at school until 5:30 for multiple days leading up to press day checking and double checking for typos, there are always a few mistakes that slip past our attention. But trust me, we really do proofread a gazillion times.

Thanks for reading!

Heidi Chiu, The bestest Managing Editor ever

In the late 1970s, Measure R, an $88 million bond, was passed to assist Conejo Valley high schools.

A year ago, a similar program called the Measure I Technology Fund was passed and schools throughout CVUSD received $197 million to integrate technology into the every day lives of students.

The Measure I Fund will only be used for the local district and cannot be taken away by the state.

Additionally, to confirm that the funds are spent effectively, an independent citizens’ oversight committee will review each usage of the fund and issue a report to the community each year. None of the funds will be used for administrative costs.

The basis of the fund is to maintain high standards inside of the classrooms and to reinforce modern learning standards.

With a portion of the bond, CVUSD will Changes have already begun to appear renovate and improve school facilities that are throughout WHS. The software in both the over 40 years of age. library and Warrior Lab have been modified, Additionally, the fund will not raise taxes and new computers, keyboards and mice have also been added. but will extend the current rate another 20 years.

Moreover, many During the 2014 changes are expected to his will allow new appear in the next few school year, WHS was programs to be months. granted $172,000 to The tech plan expects spend towards enhancing installed and altechnology. low students to use more high the addition of 95 teacher This plan is projected computers and 22 student powered programs. computers. to continue for the next 20 Two mobile carts years, in which WHS will receive similar funds each -Jason Branham will be purchased to allow teachers to transport and following year.

At least $51 million utilize technology in their will be dedicated solely to technological classes.

Continuing with the idea of incorporating improvements through the Measure I Fund.

The funds will be used to purchase new technology into classes, 40 laptops will be technology as well as improve and update purchased as well.

“The new technology is currently arriving current computers. “This will allow new programs to be installed and allow students on campus and being installed,” said Branham. to use more high powered programs,” said “We are confident that all materials will be installed and operational by winter break.”

Principal Jason Branham.

BLAST OFF: Kao’s winning design for the Science Technology Engineering Art and Math poster contest will be the official poster of the 2016 Ventura County Science Fair.

For the second year in a row, Audrey Kao ‘18, won the Ventura County Science Fair Poster Contest.

“I did it last year and this year I wanted to try again because I really like drawing,” said Kao. “I wanted to see what I can do this year with my ability.”

In previous years, the theme was STEM, an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.

However, this year the Ventura County Board changed it to STEAM, adding an “A” for art.

Kao’s poster addresses the theme “Full STEAM ahead” by depicting two students in a spaceship planting flags on an unspecified planet.

The flags display the acronym STEAM. “I wanted to show the two students bringing the ‘A’ to the planet where they already have STEM, which shows how they are bringing art into the acronym,” said Kao. Although there is no prize, her artwork will appear in county flyers, posters and packets, which will be distributed in conjunction with the Ventura County Science Fair in the spring of 2016.

“My artwork is considered the ‘logo’ for the science fair and every year it changes,” said Kao. “I am honored to win again this year. It is a great experience.”

The Ventura County Science Fair will be held on Wed, April 20, 2016.

To participate in the fair or to be a volunteer, registration is required. To enter as a student, a student permission slip is required on top of regular registration.

The deadline for entering the fair is Feb. 26, 2016. Forms can be found on the Ventura County Science Fair website.

5 Nov 2015

News

3

The calm before El Niño Feature Editor

Teen Truth to speak at fall assembly COURTESY PHOTOS

BRACING FOR THE STORM: (Above) The chart details the level of rainfall from past El Niños. This year’s El Niño is said to set unprecedented rain records.

(Left) Increased precipitation is scheduled to hit Southern California this winter.

did a site survey,” said Principal J a s o n Branham.

“We got a quote to hydroseed the hillsides, which is when they spray a green substance that creates a root system.” Run-off drains are also being unclogged so that rainwater can properly drain out and not flood the walkways.

Some classrooms may have experienced some “rain” in mid-October, but this water leakage is not the result of faulty roofing.

Intrusion points near student walkways allow water to invade the complicated, interweaving system of the buildings. The water gets swept up into the air ducts and ultimately ends up showering the students.

The gym and theater have also been taken into account. The Measure I Fund has given the CVUSD $197 million dollars for the next 20 years to refurbish schools.

WHS has been using part of it for “bricks and mortar and technology”, said Branham.

Because of WHS’ hillside location, weather threats like El Niño must be taken into account more so than at other schools located in more central locations.

Protocols for mud slides and classroom complications are already in place, keeping school days as normal as possible for students.

In the case of any complications, obstruction of any outdoor hallways or walkways will be blocked off, students will be redirected and teachers will be notified to give their students extra time to get to class.

The death of the Common App Andy Xia News Editor Many major colleges have come together and joined the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success to propose a new route high school students can take to apply to college.

Already incorporating prestigious colleges such as the Ivy Leagues, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University, the Coalition hopes to focus on helping students find their passions and ultimately pair them up with the most suitable college.

This means that the Common App will be used less in future years.

“Right now, the whole application process is too convoluting, and I think that something needs to change in order for students to efficiently and thoroughly present themselves to colleges through an application,” said Cynthia Hsu ‘16.

Opening up to public use in April of 2016, the Coalition intends to ease the application process for a wide range of students.

It focuses on removing any barrier that would prevent students from accurately reflecting themselves, and getting them to think about college as early as possible.

“One weakness that the Common App has is that it is poorly integrated and not the best in terms of organization,” said Nick Zhang ‘16.

The Coalition offers a portfolio in which students can store their accomplishments and samples of high school work. When the time comes for applying to college, students can simply access their portfolio for samples.

“It’s very inconvenient,” said Sophie Bachmann ‘16. “They try to make a universal way of applying to college, but they all have different supplementals.”

TEDx Youth begins auditions The annual TEDx Youth event will return to CVUSD. This year’s theme is “Lenses.” This event allows high school students to speak in front of hundreds of people regarding the specific theme.

Auditions will be held on Nov. 16. Those who are interested must prepare an excerpt and summary of their experiences.

Allison Mendoza

El Niño is expected to peak in Southern California in late fall and soak the state until the spring of 2016.

This phenomenon is known in California for delivering heavy rain and warm waters.

Doppler radar of the United States in 2015 looks strangely similar to those of 1997’s El Niño, when it rained as much as seven inches in Orange County on one day.

According to the National Oceanic and At mospher ic Association (NOAA), this year’s rains are expected to hit Southern California harder than in ‘97 due to below average temperatures and abovem e d i a n precipitation in the southern tier of the United States. As scenic as the sloping hillsides around WHS are, their bare dirt poses a risk to mud slides due to the lack of plants with deep roots to hold down the dirt against downpour.

Students who have made the trek from the student lot to the campus may remember the large amount of mud that washed onto the walkway earlier this school year.

In response to this, various measures are being taken to prepare the campus for worstcase scenarios.

“We called the District Office and maintenance and they came out here and

In brief

The Coalition provides a different take of this. In certain cases, instead of writing supplemental essays solely for the application process, students can turn in pieces of work they deem worthy from their portfolio. This saves students from tediously writing numerous essays for each college.

“It’s inconvenient that the activities section only provides 150 characters to describe each one, which forces you to be extremely concise with your descriptions,” said Zhang. “It limits your ability to accurately reflect yourself while concurrently putting unnecessary pressure on the other portions of your application.”

Additionally, the Coalition will also offer much more flexibility in its application method.

While the Common App has a restriction on the word count of essays and activities, the Coalition will allow much more breathing room in order for students to accurately express themselves and their desires.

This includes less emphasis on specific college essays and a wider variety of works that will give a better image of the students.

“I would rather see a piece of actual student work than another 500 word essay,” said Jeremiah Quinlan, a dean of undergraduate admis-

sions at Yale University, to the Inside Higher ED. To help students graduate from the best possible college they can get into, the Coalition only permits colleges with at least a 70% graduation rate. This will allow students to filter their range of desired colleges into a smaller scope, making the process of putting together their college list easier.

“When it comes to applying to colleges, I’m kind of lost because there are so many options to choose from, said Rebecca Jiang ‘17. “The Coalition’s plan to narrow down the options to provide the best possible college affordable will definitely help.”

Despite all these benefits, the Coalition still has its flaws. One major weakness that many have pointed out is the implicit exclusion of financially challenged students.

Although the Coalition claims to give financially challenged students an equal opportunity to attend the more expensive private universities, many still believe it would be difficult to manage the hefty tuition with the student’s income.

Many are skeptical of the Coalition’s idea of a portfolio, wondering whether or not thinking of college early could possibly backfire on the students.

“Some questioned whether the portfolios would add stress to high school freshmen by having them think about college admissions that early,” said Scott Jaschik, in his piece “Admissions Revolutions” for Inside Higher ED. Overall, the Coalition of Access, Affordability, and Success is an organization that will greatly alter the way students apply to college.

Mike Smith from Teen Truth Live will speak at the annual fall assembly held in the gym on Nov. 20. Smith, a self proclaimed “Professional Teenager,” strives to inspire teens of all backgrounds through skateboarding, music and art.

He started THE BAY and Skate for Change, two non-profit organizations. In addition to his two organizations, Smith is a motivational speaker for youth. Smith also spoke at WHS’ fall assembly last year.

WHS will be on the assembly schedule for that day.

Clubs rush to Club Rush Club Rush will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 in the quad during lunch. Seventy four different on campus clubs will set up booths displaying what the clubs are about. This annual event is an opportunity for students who are looking for clubs to join to find their perfect fit.

Grad Night to be held at Disneyland Grad Night will return to Disneyland on June 8. ASG changed the location to Six Flags last year due to pricing and availability, but due to high demand seniors will once again visit the “happiest place on earth.”

Attendees can freely hop between The California Adventure Park and the Disneyland Theme Park.

WHS students visit Europe this summer On June 22, teachers Luci Zazueta and Lauren Denchfield will take a group of students to travel throughout eastern Europe, including Berlin, Prague, Krawkow and Budapest.

The tour group will experience the sites of World War II. The cost is under $3,800, which includes a full-time tour director and round trip airfare.

Those who are interested should contact the teachers by email, phone or visit Zazueta in 42Z or Denchfield in 42K.

Blood drive returns to WHS The blood drive, held on Nov. 18 in the Mezzanine, allows students to donate their blood by appointment only. To qualify for the blood drive, participants must be age sixteen or older and must meet the height and weight requirements.

Appointments can be made at the Wigwam during lunch on Nov. 9 through the 15. More information will be given during the week of sign-ups.

CPR training for WHS freshmen and seniors WHS is providing a mandatory CPR training class for seniors and freshmen. This training will take place during the seniors’ Government and the freshmen’s Health classes.

The event will take place in the library on Jan. 5 - 6. The School Board is organizing this to promote hands on training of skills that all high school students should graduate with.

4

Opinion

theArrow

High school stress: the deadly cost Michelle Choi Co-Editor in Chief AP-Honors students are no stranger to anxiety and stress. When faced with a relentless onslaught of exams and projects, students can become overwhelmed, which can have deadly effects.

In 2012, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a semi-annual survey on youth risk behavior. In the United States alone, nearly one in six high school students have seriously contemplated suicide, while one in 12 students have attempted it.

Suicide rates have increased with academic stress and pressure. For example, South Korea’s national obsession revolves around higher education and success. The immense pressure has resulted in 43%-48% of students with suicide ideation. The country also has the highest suicide rate in the world.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District has a severe lack of support for academically successful students who are secretly struggling with anxiety or depression. There are intervention methods for “at-risk” students,

such as those who are struggling academically and with attendance. However, the help available for AP-Honors students is slim.

WHS is currently working with California Lutheran University’s School of Psychology to establish a therapeutic program. The logistics are still unclear, but the general premise is that a group of therapists will come on a regular basis to provide therapy and other psychological help for students. The projected date for the project is second semester, although no set date has yet been confirmed.

However, would the AP-Honors student be willing to sacrifice class time for mental health?

The root of anxiety and depression amongst these students results in an immense amount of pressure students place upon themselves. They strive to be valedictorians, to go to Ivy League schools and to find internships that will set them apart from the thousands of other applicants. In a class where 39/40 students seem like they’re effortlessly getting straight As, it’s hard not to feel inferior to those around you.

This pressure results in anxiety and depression which can affect school participation. Instead of paying attention during the lesson, these students may spend time over thinking and freaking out about their academic

“inferiority,” miss out on the lesson, and go home and stress out more about their grades. It’s a vicious, never ending cycle.

If the opportunity for therapy were available, students may not even take the opportunity, as it would interfere with class time. On one hand, missing one day of class for some emotional and mental ease might result in better academic results in the future, the lesson missed will have to be independently learned at home. It’s a catch-22.

One suggestion that many schools have implemented is a cap limit on the amount of advanced level courses that students are allowed to take. However, students who find ease in the capped limit may feel robbed of the challenge they desire.

There’s no simple solution for the stress and anxiety that students experience at school.

However, there are some steps students can take to find some solace despite their anxiety.

If the load of courses is too rigorous to handle, seriously consider lessening the load.

Many students interpret that colleges might find the lack of classes as a weakness, but taking four AP classes and getting straight As, is better than taking seven AP classes and getting Bs and Cs. Taking fewer classes can also be explained

Not your average Joe

Alex Shi Michelle Choi Co-Editors in Chief College applications are great. I know I’m the perfect college applicant, but I don’t like to say it bluntly; that’s trashy. I always get a kick out of seeing my stunning accomplishments, but at the same time, it’s a lot of work.

The most difficult part of the college application journey is narrowing down the countless achievements I’ve accomplished within the last four years of my youth.

The Common App only limits students to ten activities, but I have almost ten times the amount. I don’t want to sound pretentious, so I’m only going to list a few: 1. I served as Senator Bernie Sanders’ Youth Campaign Managerial Intern during the inception of his campaign. Senator Sanders (or as I like to call him, The Bernster) and we now often golf together on our weekends off.

2. I also performed a 12 hour lung-heartspleen-bowel transplant at a political prison in North Korea. The power constantly went out and I only had a butter knife and duct tape, but I made it through. My patient is currently recovering in the United Kingdom, after I smuggled him out of the country There is always a universal Common Application essay question. I chose to discuss my transition into adulthood. When I learned of the conditions of third-world countries, I knew I needed to make a difference. Thus, at the tender age of seven, I began a project to help assist numerous children throughout the world.

I first set up a base located at the North Pole. I then enlisted thousands of “volunteer” subjects who could help me with this experiment. In the spirit of Andrew Carnegie and J.D.

Rockefeller, I began to mass produce numerous presents to distribute to children who stayed “good” throughout the year.

Every day on December 25, my spirit of good will and gracious assistance blesses children throughout the world. I am currently retired from this job, but my legacy continues. I’ve passed my job onto an independent and holly jolly old man named Santa Claus.

Please don’t regard me as some super-humanoid type (even though I am); I still like to think that I’m a average Joe. I suffer from the same trials and tribulations as the common folk. I suffer from heartbreak over a love lost (my poor grades), and listen to My Chemical Romance as I build my budding lover a palace.

Being the perfect college applicant was no walk in the park. The worst part was the sleep.

In middle school I could get by with a decent amount of sleep each night. I usually got 20 hours on a good day and 15 on a rough night, with the help of my time travelling machine. In high school, things were different.

Freshman and sophomore year weren’t too bad. I managed 15 hours a night, with short 10 hour naps after school. Junior year was when things started to change. A typical night meant 0.001 hour of sleep, as I was juggling my two part-time jobs, working as an open-heart surgeon while acting as the CEO of a business firm.

Did I mention I also worked on a project to build a Hogwarts castle in the middle of Wyoming?

Of course, all of these achievement were completed in combination with writing APUSH DBQs, memorizing Shakespearian sonnets and learning all 200 (ish) calculus formulas.

W

When senior year began, I thought it meant more sleep. I thought I would sleep less in class and wake up feeling like a Disney princess.

I thought it would be less stress and less work.

I’ve lightened the load of extracurricular activities, but I‘m still giving my weekly orations to the Senate and conducting lung-heart-spleenbowel transplants.

However, the work I’ve dropped off has been replaced by an unstoppable force that all high school seniors eventually crumble under The Common App. Don’t get me wrong; I said it before and I’ll say it again, I love talking about myself.

But the Common App makes my life hard.

How am I supposed to find the time to win Iron Chef America and write about the time I adopted nine stray reindeer and named them Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, e’re all average Blitzen and Rudolph?

It doesn’t help that Joes who pos- the Common App is just a sess something vomit of basic information, special. achievements, test scores, essays, essays and more essays. Every time I hear the word essay, I immediately ask, 250, 500 or 650 words? At this point it’s not even a bad habit, it’s a way of life. In layman’s terms, college applications stress me out--a lot.

I guess I’ve realized that even if I’m in Mumbai, North Korea, Washington D.C. or even WHS, there’s always going to be stress.

However, it’s not just me. It’s all of us.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a super-humanoid (although it is nice), a college applicant, or even a regular student. At the end of the day, we all face similar struggles and plights. We’re all average Joes who possess something special.

We’re learning and adapting from our experiences. We’re discovering and trading ideas, beliefs and emotions. We’re all human.

through the miscellaneous section in college applications. It can make a student seem more grounded and logical than his stressed out, overworked peers.

Anxiety and depression are not exclusive to the AP-Honors student population. Whether stress stems from academics, family or other situations, anxiety and depression are serious mental conditions that shouldn’t be regarded lightly.

Society treats mental illness like a joke, minimizing the incredibly real and detrimental effects that these illnesses can have on people, both psychologically and physiologically.

“Sick days” are available to students and serve as a legal form of absence, but many of the students on campus do not take these sick days when experiencing mental health problems.

These sick days, however, should not be exploited.

The guidance counselors are always available to speak to students when they’re having emotional turmoil. There are also a plethora of hotlines available to contact for students suffering from anxiety or depression.

Mental health is a serious part of anyone’s wellbeing that should not go ignored. For more information, visit teenmentalhealth.org.

theArrow Editors-in-chief Michelle Choi, Alex Shi

Managing Editor

Heidi Chiu

Web Editor Pranav Kaygee

News Editors Steven Huang, Kay Lim, Andy Xia

Opinion Editors Clare Doyle, Jake Kim, Kylie Wexler, Amanda Yao

Feature Editors Dheekshi Arvind, Annanlee Chang, Isra Din, Kallyn Hobmann, Jaisen Lim, Allison Mendoza, Helen Shi

Sports Editors Rachel Finegold

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

5 Nov 2015

Opinion

5

‘Tis the season to be early Kylie Wexler Opinion Editor In the aftermath of Halloween candy wrappers and scattered decorations, I find myself watching my mom rush to put up the December holiday lights and other decorations, forgetting that Thanksgiving has yet to arrive.

She only has 30 days until December starts and three weeks until Thanksgiving arrives.

That’s definitely not enough time to decorate our home... Or is it?

Holiday decorating has become so competitive over the past decade that Costco starts selling its winter holiday decor in August, and Christmas lights are put up in early November.

Will it really be a holly jolly month of festive holiday decorations when they’ve been a regular part of your everyday experience for the past month? I think not.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at Christmas lights. It is not only fun, but also full of surprises from year to year.

There are three types of houses when it comes to Christmas decorations: the classic “I only decorate with green and red lights around my garage,” the “let’s make my house look like a gingerbread house” and lastly, the classic “I’m obsessed with reindeers.”

But what’s so fun about decorating so

“Have a Bad Day!” Amanda Yao Opinion Section Editor

early? People start remembering which houses have what decorations and the Christmas charm soon turns into an every day encounter.

Holiday decorations should be put up at most ten days before the actual holiday.

If my mom continues to decorate months before the actual holidays, we will be carving pumpkins during our summer break in Hawaii.

Or, we will be crowding around the fireplace drinking hot chocolate in the heat of an October

Indian summer.

Although some people enjoy getting into the holiday spirit early, it can take away from what makes the time so special. Remember, Halloween isn’t until the last day of October, and Christmas and Hanukkah don’t begin until the middle of December.

Mom, instead of working up a sweat trying to put up our holiday lights, sit back, relax and watch the pretty November leaves fall.

“Thanks” but no thanks...

Clare Doyle Opinion Editor It’s 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Looking outside my window, the early morning sky still drapes a dark layer over the streets. Everything seems silent and motionless. “Where is everyone?” I mutter aloud before registering the unfortunate early hour I’ve woken myself up to. The repercussions from last night’s food coma suddenly hit my body. There’s no going back to sleep now.

I think about going on a run to start shaving off the pounds. In hope that no damage was done, I check the waistband of my running shorts: disappointment. A little more stretched out than usual...oh perfect.

Opening the fridge out of habit rather than hunger, I am greeted by the bloated shelves of leftovers: pumpkin pie, roasted vegetables, corn bread...a collection of my soon-to-be-schoollunch-everyday-until-January diet staring me right in the face. I crinkle my nose in disapproval. How could a family of five eat all of this? Why did we buy so much?

That seems to be the question on my mind year after year once “turkey dinner” is all said and done: why so much?

I try to imagine what it was like in 1621.

No refrigerators or Whole Foods “buy one frozen turkey, get one free.” Nothing to promote the idea of unnecessary excess (it’s really all about the grocery deals, isn’t it?). If 90 Pilgrims and Native Americans could be happy celebrating with just enough, why couldn’t we be too?

Originally, the idea of “Thanksgiving” was argued to have started in England and been brought over by the Pilgrims to America—the first country to make it a nationally recognized day. Now Britons unofficially celebrate “Britsgiving” and credit it to none other than the U.S., two nations reflecting the season’s spirit of sharing culture and ideas on a global level.

I shut the door of the fridge and back away with a sigh.

The murmur of broadcasted voices from behind me then catches my attention. I turn around to see my cousin asleep on the couch, remote in hand and crumbs lining the collar of his favorite holiday sweater.

The Macy’s Day Parade highlights are rerunning on TV screen. The balloons are proudly trailing by: Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Spongebob Squarepants, Santa Claus—Santa Claus?

Isn’t the whole month of December attributed to the Christmas craze? Sweaters, cards, lights, ABC’s 25 Days of Christmas movie special, yet in the Thanksgiving Day Parade one more day is given to praise winter’s coming, and a historical American festivity is ever so belittled.

I step away from the entertainment extravaganza, stick my headphones in my ears and step out onto the cold, hushed sidewalk. I start to run towards a local mall down the street.

Huff. What has become of “the season of giving?” Huff. I run faster. Huff.

Suddenly I find myself in front of Target, surrounded by a multitude of bodies lying bundled up on the ground. I stand shocked and confused. Why are they all here? I cautiously slip by the snoring obstacle course and drop a few

coins into several of the coffee cups open on the pavement. That is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Generosity.

“What kind of joke is this?!” rages a voice coming from the velvet quilt by the door. Suddenly the figure lying down has transformed into an angry soccer mom glaring between me and her now ruined pumpkin spice latte. Before I knew it, what appeared to be the homeless blossomed into grumpy woken teenagers and businessmen alike now rushing towards the automatic doors.

It’s now 6:00 a.m. and an announcer comes out over a loudspeaker: “Black Friday begins!

Buy big! Buy now!” I begin to panic.

Through the glass, a hurried Target employee fumbles with keys trying to unlock the door as the crowd pushes against the glass in anticipation. The doors open and chaos unleashes.

People topple over each other and sprint to the aisles full of red tags and bulk sales. I drop to the ground and attempt to crawl out of the turmoil. Suddenly my hand gets crushed and I feel excruciating pain.

CRUNCH. I abruptly wake up from my dream panting and clutching my hand.

It’s 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. I curl back up in my blanket. I think I’m going to stay home today.

I find every year that “Thanksgiving” in America can deviate from the traditional Plymouth celebration of “a good harvest” to a frenzy of shopping aggression occurring the days preceding and the days following the festival. This year, aim to think beyond the shopping sprees and the extra bits of this and that. Remember to just give a little thanks.

Every once in a while, I harken back to simpler times. Every Saturday afternoon, my mother, father, little brother and I would pile into the family minivan and drive to 99 Ranch Market (basically the Chinese equivalent of Vons) in Van Nuys for grocery shopping, the occasional haircut and—my favorite part—a dinner out.

As a child, my gastronomic adventures weren’t those of a typical eight-year-old. Instead of potato chips and dino nuggets, I was exposed to a variety of authentic Chinese cuisine with corresponding english translations that don’t sound particularly appetizing.

My absolute favorite thing to eat was a dish called “shui zhu yu pian” (don’t try to pronounce it; you’ll butcher it anyway), directly translating to “water boiled fish strips”.

See what I meant about unappetizing english translations?

But these “water boiled fish strips” are special. When cooked right, any awkward english translations can be overlooked.

I have highly specific requirements as to what constitutes properly cooked boiled fish strips. The fish should be boneless, skinless, and cooked for enough time so that the fiery spiciness of the sauce soaks in. There should always be a higher proportion of fish to yucky cabbage or bean sprouts in a serving. And as a general rule, the spicier, the better.

There is one particular restaurant my family frequented back in the days of weekly trips to 99 Ranch that made the best “shui zhu yu pian”. I don’t know if that restaurant still exists today; it’s been that long since the last time I ate those boiled fish strips in that sketchy little restaurant that always smelled a li’l funky.

This restaurant is forever ingrained in my memory for more than its excellent rendition of my favorite dish; I recall an experience that serves as an accurate metaphor for the current state of my life—a good day gone bad.

The year was 2008. It was a Saturday afternoon like any other. The grocery shopping was done and it was my favorite time of day: dinner time.

We decided to order takeout. As we left the restaurant, I clutched the iconic “Have a Nice Day!” bag that contained my precious spicy boiled fish strips in a loosely sealed styrofoam container. My brother ran ahead towards the car and I was determined to catch up. I sprinted down the sidewalk, plastic bag still in hand.

Suddenly, I was airborne.

Oh, what an epic slow-motion video this would have made.

Limbs flailing, plastic bag flying, both the cup and its contents exploding everywhere.

I looked up to see the plastic bag lying defeated in a puddle of sauce. But that smiley face on the bag didn’t look defeated at all. Its smile mocked me sardonically as I helplessly mourned my loss.

The image of that flimsy “Have a Nice Day!” bag in an oily, spicy pool sticks with me to this day. Why didn’t the lady hand me a “Have a Bad Day!” bag instead? What use were four words when faced with poorly paved sidewalks? What if every time someone said “Have a nice day!”, you had the complete opposite of a “nice day”?

Every year, on Nov. 19, “Have a Bad Day” Day is celebrated as a legitimate holiday. I appreciate this holiday because the irony of having a horrible day despite being told to “have a nice day” seems almost mocking, just as the “Have a Nice Day!” bag taunted me seven years ago.

The curse of the smiley face bag—a good day gone bad.

6

Feature Grease is the word Rachel Finegold Sports Section Editor

Hey all you gals and guys, a few words to the wise, get on your dancing shoes and head over to the Carpenter Theatre for WHS Drama Department’s production of Grease. “Grease is a time, it’s a place, it’s a motion, grease is the way we are feeling.”

The musical Grease, is set in the 1950s and follows the lives of a group of high school seniors made up of The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. The play features iconic characters such as Danny Zuko, played by Idan Morad ’16, Sandy Dumbrowski, played by Isabella Dake ’16, Kenickie Murdoch played by Matt Katz ’16 and Betty Rizzo played by Bailey Tait ’16. “Since we’re in drama and we focus on acting, the scenes will have a lot of depth and the musical will have more to it than just our singing,” said Dake.

To prepare for his role, Morad is constantly singing songs whenever he gets the chance, and is trying to develop chemistry with his onstage love interest, Sandy.

“I was really excited when I found out I got to be Sandy,” said Dake. “Grease is one of my favorite musicals especially because I grew up watching it.” To have the right interactions with the other actors and practice for her role as Sandy, Dake is focusing on the relationships she has with the other characters and how she fits into the bigger picture of the play.

Grease focuses on the characters’ different personalities and their resulting relationships with one another. “Being Kenickie I know that my abusive and hardcore relationship with Rizzo is supposed to act as a foil to Danny and Sandy’s cliché romantic relationship,” said Katz.

The story line in Grease strongly depicts high school cliques and character labels throughout the musical. “Grease depicts what every teenager goes through in high school even though the musical takes place in an earlier time,” said Lauren Katz ’16 who plays one of the Pink Ladies, Frenchy.

With various song and dance numbers, the play has many different elements to it. “We are constantly listening to our tracks to make sure we have the right keys,” said Tait. “We also have a lot of specific dance and fight choreography for the musical which takes a lot of preparation.”

The production will include musical numbers such as ‘Summer Lovin’, ‘Grease Lightning’, ‘You’re the One that I Want’ and ‘We Go Together’. “If the whole cast is completely committed to singing and dancing and has a lot of energy, which we do, then the whole audience will love to be there just as much as we do,” said Dake. Grease performances are on Nov. 18-21 starting at 7 p.m. each night, with a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. Tickets are for sale online, in room 21K or at the door. Prices are $12 for students and $15 for general admission.

From Elvis to Ylvis Pranav Kaygee Web Editor Leave the bombastic glamour and synth filled excitement of the 2010s and flash back to the good old 50s. The decade famous for the rebirth of Victorian domesticity and babies galore had a lot more excitement than the history books depict.

The decade brought about the baby-boomers, a new generation of children that ballooned the American population and now contributes to the nation’s aging population.

The surplus of children, new conservatism, and plenty of downtime in the household brought about a new medium of entertainment: the television.

By the end of the late 1940s more than 90% of all American households had T.V. sets, complete with subscriptions to music

Question: What is your favorite decade?

C and entertainment channels. While the number of channels were slim, the advent of “pop culture” was made canon in this momentous decade.

Television played a huge part in the turning of musical styles.

Jazz, the primary genre of American music since the roaring 20s, saw a new competitor.

The young and reckless rock-and-roll, publicized by the newly ubiquitous television sets, brought in a new type of celebrity: one based off pomp, fashion, and charisma. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly headlined the new age of music. All three artists gained insane popularity, not only within the U.S., but also internationally.

While their charisma and charm shaped their fame, artists like Elvis were constantly criticized by for their “unconventional” and “sexualized” lyrics and dancing. Critics claimed that these new rock-and-roll artists corrupted the youth and would lead to a society depraved of morals.

This “new celebrity” introduced in the 50s inspired a trend that continues to this day and age. From N.W.A to Miley Cyrus, “controversial” celebrity musicians have ruled the charts and used negative criticism to their advantage. In modern contemporary art, controversies like Kanye West’s infamous “imma let you finish

speech,” and Eminem’s profane and violent lyrics have helped (as opposed to refrained) many artists succeed in their respective industries.

The fifties also introduced the first cultural identity of the “greaser.” The popular look, speech, and style, heavily promoted by Presley and other pop culture icons of the decade, remains as one of the most memorable subgroup of the older baby boomers. Greasers were identified by their signature gel-slicked hair and quiff, heavy leather jackets, thick accent, and were primarily found in poorer white-dominated suburban neighborhoods.

The most notable effects of the greaser subculture can be found in today’s “hipster” population, a contemporary postmodern set of people identified by their unique and vintage clothing, and their role in indie art. The greaser have also brought about heavy inspiration into the realm of musicals. Grease, the popular 1971 play by John Farrar revolves around the greaser culture of the 50s, and since its debut, has made its way through Broadway and the Hollywood film industry.

Elvis, television, greasers and mass homogenous culture: the 1950s marked the post-World War II shift that changed public perception of arts and entertainment, bringing about a revolution of music, theater and culture whose presence can be felt today.

“I grew up in the 60s, so that’s when I was growing and learning and having the most fun.”

- Dwight Maygren

“The 90s because of th and the slang... like ga rap and how they talk.”

- Misael Aguilar ‘17

theArrow

7

TICKETS $12- Students $15- General

Compiled by Kallyn Hobmann and Pranav Kaygee

A stylish transition Kallyn Hobmann Feature Section Editor The post-World War II economic boom in the 1950s marked a turning point in the world of fashion. Without the need for rationing, clothing saw more and more varieties of patterns, fabrics, and styles. With this change, high school teens gradually developed their own unique looks.

Although the poodle skirt is one of the most iconic and memorable styles from the time period, there were countless other fashions that found popularity with teenage girls as well.

Full and pencil-line skirts were highly popular, although pedal pushers were also seen. These calf length pants were often paired with a tucked in button-up blouse or a collared shirt under a sweater.

Dresses were commonly worn as well and typically had short sleeves, no sleeves, or halter tops. Party dresses had lots of chiffon and tulle unlike today’s more slim and sleek dresses. Dresses were

he style angster

“The 70s because the popular music during that time was better.”

- Griffin Hutchings ‘18

typically paired with gloves and heels for more formal events.

Teen girls wore the classic black and white saddle shoe, or loafers with white socks. Flats, ballet slippers, and slingback slippers were also a noticeable shoe style.

Thin scarves were a popular accessory, along with hats, handbags and spectacles with small pointed wings on the outside corners.

Makeup worn by teenagers became acceptable in the 1950s.

Girls wore foundation or face powder, and lipstick colors were rich and intense. Eye liner and eye shadow became popular as well.

With the 50s also came the emergence of tube mascara with a wand, and it was a favorite with the girls and women alike. At the start of the decade, eyebrows were dark and strong, but they gradually became softer, penciled in more for shape than for color.

From the 1950s on, makeup has increasingly become a major aspect of a typical teenage girl’s style. Over the years, its variety of colors and materials has greatly increased, providing teens with more ways to express themselves and their own unique styles.

Eyebrows have become a major area of focus as girls work to shape and darken their eyebrows to perfection. Blush and bronzer are now used to lighten and enhance facial features while giving them a natural glow.

Marlon Brando in the 1953 film The Wild One set the look for

“The 2390s. I figure by that time, the technology will be sufficient to travel to any other decade.”

- Simone Liao ‘16

the iconic “Greaser.” These teenage boys typically wore loosely fit jeans with button-up or plain white shirts tucked in.

The black leather jacket was a classic look for the Greasers, although work jackets and Levi denim jackets were worn too.

Black Biker Motorcycle Boots, cowboy boots, army boots, and Converse tennis shoes were the usual footwear.

Teenage boys were known for gelling back their hair, as depicted in classics films like Grease.

Boots and Converse are just as popular among teenage boys today, along with Vans tennis shoes and Sperry’s.

There was also the “Preppy” look for teenage boys. This look consisted of clothes similar to that of the Greasers, only more nicely made, and letter sweaters were worn in place of the leather jackets. Long sleeve button-up shirts were worn with sweater vests, and everything was always pressed and tucked.

To more formal events such as school dances, boys often wore nicer suits and jackets inspired by the “Teddy Boy” look that originated in Britain.

The 1950s was an era full of new developments in teenage fashion. From the makeup girls put on to the jackets boys wore, the teens of the 50s created a unique sense of style that is still remembered today.

“The 80s because of the fashion and the shows. It seemed like a cool time to live.”

- Daisy Jones ‘19 Compiled by Annanlee Chang

8

Feature

theArrow

Lunch time madness Robotics Club revs up for competition Clare Doyle Opinion Editor

PHOTO BY JAISEN LIM

HOPING TO TAKE FIRST PLACE: The Physics Club’s robot is under construction for the upcoming competition.

To be or not to be, that is the Philosophy Club Jaisen Lim Feature Editor Philosophers, like Locke and Nietzsche, often debate how the world works or why something is the way it is. The WHS Philosophy Club is the high school hub for future philosophers.

Meetings are held in 42X every Friday at lunch.

It is run by President Nate Young ‘16 and Advisor Danielle Ellis, the AP Psychology teacher.

Philosophy Club holds group discussions and interactions among its members. A philosophical question or statement is usually written on the board and the members present their opinions and debate about the answer. It is also one of the oldest clubs on campus.

“Sometimes it’s serious; sometimes it’s downright ridiculous, but it’s always a good discussion,” said Young. Every year, the club features an annual secret winter and summer break topic for members to debate. The only way to discover the subject is to join the club.

The club aims to recruit students who are interested in philosophy. “Philosophy Club is my favorite club on campus. I enjoy discussing the topics. I enjoy standing up there directing the meeting, and I enjoy giving people the opportunity of a meaningful discussion, or nonmeaningful discussion,” said Young.

Philosophy Club is in the process of developing a service project. The date is undetermined as of now, but it will be decided upon at a future meeting. New members, as well as returning members, can go to the service event to learn more about the club and its philanthropic views, as well as get to know other people.

Philosophy is also hosting a Wacky Topic Day on Nov. 13. Members will gather to discuss an unusual topic that is not pertinent to actual philosophy.

This thought-provoking and brain-stimulating club is a source of numerous open debates during lunch. Philosophy Club is still accepting new members, and it welcomes students who have an interest in philosophy and its ideals and creators.

Curtains rise for Bazooka Music Club cians.”

This club offers many opportunities to improve one’s musicality, stage fright issues and Feature Editor personality. People with many different backgrounds gather here to share their passions for Boom goes the music! Bazooka Music music. “[The club] provide[s] an opportunity for Club is an enlightening experience that allows students to embrace their musical talent in a musicians at WHS to build confidence in playsafe and supportive environment. Anyone of ing their instruments in settings like retirement any musical level or passion can join, including homes,” said Treasurer Alana Rangitsch ‘17.

Bazooka Music band, orchestra, choir, Club performs two to and even theater. e get more mu- three times a month. The The club is a nonsical experience club plans to broaden its profit organization that picks a diverse selection and encourage horizons by performing soon. of performers to play our fellow musicians. at hospitals As of now, its next and give back to the performance will be at community.

Bazooka meets ev-Casey Monahan ‘16 Atria Retirement Home on Nov. 8. The club is ery other Wednesday in still open to anyone who room 42R. It is lead by President Casey Monahan ‘16, Vice President may be interested.

Out of the loud, hectic routine of the high Katherine Ho ‘17 and English teacher Dinah school student, Bazooka gives solace to anyone Emmons.

“We enjoy sharing our music together in want of relaxation and peace.

Not only that, but students will be able and treating ourselves to fun parties after every concert,” said Monahan. “[We] get more musi- to experience the varied cultures of the world cal experience and encourage our fellow musi- through the sound of music.

Jake Kim

“W

The WHS Robotics team is setting its goals high this year for new and old team members alike.

The Robotics team is a branch of Physics Club, which holds meetings every Monday in room 31E. The team also holds “build sessions” on Fridays after school, but opens its doors for voluntary work days Monday through Thursday.

Last year the team participated in ten statelevel competitions, reaching finals twice, semifinals six times, and quarter-finals two times.

Additionally, the club won various prizes such as the Judges Award and the Robotics Skills Award. The team hopes to triumph as state champions this year, but its ambition is set to a higher standard.

“Our goal is to qualify for the World

Championships,” said Vincent Torossian ‘17, one of the competitive robotics team leader.

Each year the team is challenged by a new game. This year, the objective is to create a robot which will propel small, sponge-like balls in an efficient, systematic method.

“Our robot is designed to effectively launch multiple balls at a time using extremely fast rotating wheels,” said team president Jeffrey Tsang ‘16. “[The wheels] rotate up to about 200 to 300 rpm (revolutions/minute). If you were to touch them, the wheels would shred your skin.”

In order to raise money for the parts, the team hosts fundraisers around the school campus. Its most recent event was the “Haunted House.” It was open to students and staff in the spirit of the Halloween holiday weekend.

With the building plans set, this year’s team has made an effort to recruit more new faces to maximize its potential for success.

WHS Robotics welcomes anyone who is interested or has a talent in the robotics field.

Ethics and experiments: Bioengineering Club at PBS Biotech, and Pradeep Ramesh, a Caltech graduate student and WHS alumni, were invited to visit the club and give bioengineering presenFeature Editor tations.

The club will continue to invite guest Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a bacte- speakers to hold lectures for those who are inria that glows from splicing jellyfish genes into terested in pursuing a major and/or career in the bacterium DNA! Bioengineering Club is a biological engineering.

Not only does the club partake in discusreturning WHS club that meets to spark interest in the field of bioengineering. sions and presentations, but it also has off-camThe student-run club meets in 43J every pus activities. Last year, many members of the Thursday. The president is Catherine Ruan ‘17 club went on a field trip to visit Kinamed Incorand the advisor is biology teacher Kirsta An- porated. Kinamed is a corporation that designs and manufactures ordrews. The Bioengineerreplacements ing Club was founded t gave us real life experi- thopedic and neurosurgery dein the 2013-2014 school ence of how these kinds vices in Camarillo, CA. year by former WHS stu“It gave us real dent Kritin Karkare. of companies work. life experience of how Biological engineerkinds of compaing, otherwise known -Aditi Goyal ‘18 these nies work,” said Aditi as bioengineering, is the Goyal ‘18. “The experiapplication of concepts and methods of biology to solve real-world ence throws things in a perspective of how small problems related to life sciences. It is a popular these companies actually are, even though they major among many colleges such as UCSD and produce such amazing products.”

The club plans to visit other companies this Stanford.

The club involves group discussion in bio- year to learn and interact with the processes and ethics, the study of controversial ethical issues careers of the bioengineering industry.

As one of the newer clubs at WHS, Bioenbrought by the advancement in biology and medicine, and student presentations about bio- gineering Club has managed to establish a presengineering. The group discussions range from ence on campus and increase its member pool.

Students who are interested in a future profestopics such as cloning to gene therapy.

Guest speakers such as Daniel Giroux, the sion and major in biological engineering are Vice-President of Research and Development recommend to visit and join the club.

Jaisen Lim

“I

SAGE Club advocates gender equality Helen Shi Feature Editor SAGE is a club that promotes gender equality in a way that allows members to express their opinions and hold informative discussions.

SAGE stands for Students for the Advancement of Gender Equality.

Meetings are held in room 12F, with Emily Dale acting as the club advisor. The three presidents working together are Douglas Shao ‘17, Lily Guo ‘17 and Amanda Yao ‘17.

“We started SAGE because all three of us agree that a serious social issue in today’s society

is gender equality,” said Guo. “Although women have definitely made great strides in terms of achieving equality, there is still a gap between women and men. SAGE aims to promote awareness of this gap, open up discussion about it, and hopefully take steps to gradually lessen the gap.”

There are roughly 25 active members, with more anticipated to join.

Many members attended a Womentum conference at Channel Islands on Oct. 24. A variety of speakers at the conference promoted female empowerment in the workforce and families.

SAGE meets every other Tuesday. Listen for future meeting dates during fifth period announcements.

5 Nov 2015

Feature

9

Culinary Arts cooks up a feast Helen Shi Dheekshi Arvind Feature Editors

COURTESY PHOTO

The culinary arts class is currently preparing for this upcoming Thanksgiving.

All five classes will make a Thanksgiving feast over the course of several days before Thanksgiving break, and at the end, they will enjoy it together.

“We have a Thanksgiving at home, and we have a small Thanksgiving at school with friends,” said Harry Daniels ‘16.

The class is led by Culinary Arts teacher Maria Scirone who has been teaching for 20 years, with 15 of them at WHS. To her, cooking has always been an essential part of her life because of the way she was raised.

“Because of my ethnic background, since I am Italian American... food is very important to me. I grew up cooking with Grandma, Auntie and cousins... it’s just kind of a way of life,” said Scrione.

Every year Scirone tries to get the largest

ADVANCED CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS plan to cook and eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

turkeys she can find for each of her five classes: a total of five turkeys, averaging 23 pounds each.

Apart from the classic turkey, the classes will also make pumpkin pies, stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and ice cream for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Both Ameryst Friscia ‘17 and Herbert

Farfan ‘17 admit that it is difficult to pick a favorite recipe when making so many different meals. Both Friscia and Farfan agree that making vanilla ice cream was the best experience of all.

Despite the constant bustling noises of cooking utensils and the shouts from students

for ingredients, there is a time for silence.

“The cutest thing is when they sit down in front of the food, and some kids will have a silent prayer,” said Scirone. “They will...have some side conversations without their cell phones.

Then the whole room gets quiet because they are just enjoying the meal they made themselves.”

Apart from the annual Thanksgiving feast, the class also takes on various projects throughout the year to hone its cooking skills and learn more about the culinary arts.

“We learn about other cultures and the meals...we go over Chinese and Italian food,” said Daniels.

The class also prepares students for a future culinary career. Students will receive a Food Handler’s Card or a Food Manager’s Card that offers a wide range of job options.

“I think Scrione is a great instructor and [cooking] is a very useful skill to have as we transition into adulthood,” said Daniels.

Scrione puts her love for cooking into the class.

The outcome: a place where students can enjoy and appreciate the art of cooking and indulge in the spoils of their labor.

Putting a twist on traditional recipes

• 9-10 graham crackers • 8 ounces of softened cream cheese • 1 can of canned pumpkin

Stuffing muffins

Instead of the typical rich and creamy pumpkin pie, try switching it out with a light and fluffy alternative. The no bake pumpkin cheesecake is a spin-off of the traditional pumpkin pie, and it is a refreshing dessert after a heavy Thanksgiving meal.

Simply blend the graham crackers, butter, and sugar together until they become crumbs.

In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, canned pumpkin, pumpkin spice and nutmeg.

Pack the crumbs into the bottom of a cup topping them with the pumpkin cheesecake mix. Then place the cups in the refrigerator for three hours, until the mix is firm. Garnish with whipped cream and enjoy.

Stuffing, sometimes considered inferior to the rest of the Thanksgiving meal, has no definitive shape or form and is often overlooked.

However, stuffing can be shaped into something better: muffins.

The stuffing mix can be a family recipe or store-bought. Butter the muffin tin and pack the stuffing into each compartment. Bake for 25-30 minutes and the stuffing muffins will be done.

The muffins can be iced with mashed potatoes and drizzled with gravy on top. Add a sprig of thyme for embellishment.

This unique side dish will not only decorate the Thanksgiving table, but also give this classic dish a whole new look with the same great taste that is bound to be a family favorite.

• 1/2 cup sugar • 18 ounce tub of Cool Whip topping • 1 teaspoon nutmeg and pumpkin spice

COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

Ingredients:

Pumpkin cheesecake

Ingredients: • 1 pound cubed croutons • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 cups finely chopped leek or onion

• • • •

Sprig of thyme (optional) 1 cup finely chopped celery 2 large eggs, well beaten 1-1.5 cups chicken or vegetable stock Compiled by Helen Shi

10

Feature

theArrow

Redesigned SAT/PSAT— the new era of standardized testing Annanlee Chang Isra Din Feature Editors The SAT standardized test has undergone significant changes that will be effective as of March 2016.

The PSAT has also undergone changes to prepare students for the changes in the SAT. The first revised PSAT exam was administered on Oct. 14. Versions for younger students were released earlier this year.

The new SAT’s design is headed by David Coleman, the creator of Common Core, and is heavily aligned with the Common Core testing.

The design is meant to be less tricky and more straightforward, both in language and content.

The current SAT test is worth 2400 points, with three sections (reading, math and writing), each worth 800 points. The new SAT is only worth 1600 points, with a larger emphasis on the mathematics sections; half of the points are from math alone.

There is also no fifth answer choice and no point penalty for incorrect answers. On the old test it was beneficial for students to leave questions blank if they could not eliminate answers, but guessing on the new test does not have a negative effect on raw scores.

“The new version [of the PSAT] is better,” said Felicia Wang ‘18. “I didn’t have to worry too much about time and I could guess freely.”

Wang took the PSAT on its first release in October.

The new SAT’s math sections are split into two categories: one with a calculator and one without. Overall, it requires more critical thinking skills and mental math.

In the calculator math section, the questions are designed to test students’ ability on efficient and productive calculator use.

Unlike the old version, which went up to algebra two, the new SAT expands to include portions of pre-calculus. Instead of just knowing tactics to solve problems, students will be tested on conceptual knowledge as well.

“Students can’t just memorize formulas and plug numbers in. They really do need to understand the concepts,” said C2 Education program director, Hannah Park. “It’s testing students’ understanding on a deeper level.”

The writing/reading section of the SAT has also changed to include more reading comprehension skills, with more non-fiction passages (such as Founding Father documents) that discourage skimming. The new inclusion of

charts and graphs in this section is part of the Common Core alignment and has primarily been seen on the ACT. The new SAT eliminates sentence completion questions along with the more complicated SAT vocabulary, with a larger focus on real-world applications.

The reading sections will include collegelevel passages from history and literature, similar to an AP English Language test. Like the mathematics section, the reading/writing portion of the new SAT also requires more analysis and conceptual thinking.

“Students need to understand the reasoning behind the authors’ choice of words and what tools the authors are using to make their argument, and if their argument could have been presented in a better way,” said Park.

One of the biggest changes to the SAT is that

the essay is now optional (although it is highly recommended that students choose to take this option). Students are now allowed 50 minutes instead of the previous 25. While the old SAT prompts were generally broad statements that allowed a student to take a stance and support it, the new SAT is geared more towards analysis.

Students will be required to analyze a large body of text and examine what tools the author has used to present his or her argument.

The rubric for the new SAT is broken down differently and is comprised of new vocabulary, such as assessing the student’s “command of evidence” and “expression of ideas.”

Overall, the new test includes more analysis and comprehension and less strategically worded questions that require tactics to solve quickly. The test is based on applications and skills more prevalent in real-world situations.

PSAT 10 The PSAT 10 is the same test as the PSAT/ NMSQT, but is geared towards 10th graders. It is administered in the spring, before the student takes the PSAT the following fall.

The test takes place during school hours, and schools can choose a date between Feb. 22 and March 4. The main difference between the PSAT/NMSQT test and the PSAT 10 is that the latter is not considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

PSAT 8/9 The PSAT 8/9 tests the same skills as the SAT, PSAT, and PSAT 10, but at a level appropriate for eighth and ninth graders. It is meant to measure students and their readiness for college as they are entering high school.

The test is administered at the same time as the PSAT/NMSQT during school hours.

SAT timeline of changes

Support the WHS newspaper!

Take an ACT, new PSAT, or new SAT Diagnostics Test at C2 for $20 All proceeds will benefit The Arrow C2 Education - Thousand Oaks 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Unit P Westlake Village, CA 91362 Tel: 805-379-2300 Email: thousand.oaks@c2educate.com

Please email or call to schedule a diagnostic test, and mention The Arrow.

SAT testing dates: ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

November 7 December 5 January 23 March 5 (new SAT) May 7 June 4

The PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 spring testing period is administered from Feb. 22 - March 4, 2016.

5 Nov 2015

Sports

11

Last chance to be Marmonte Champs On Oct. 23 WHS faced Moorpark High School at home in WHS’ homecoming game and had a close point game to the very end with a final score of 25-21.

This close point game against Moorpark came as a surprise to many as WHS was predicted to have taken the lead early in the game.

When comparing our final score of 25-21 to that of Oaks final score of 56-7 when they played Moorpark, Oaks evidently had a much stronger game.

“We like to underestimate other teams and we saw the negative effects that had on our level of play throughout the game against Moorpark, so we are going to make sure that we go into every game ready for anything,” said Bunker.

The team’s captains are Cisi, offesnive lineman Jake Montoya ‘16, and line backer Brock Baldwin ‘17. The captains are expected to help organize the team during practices and keep teammates focused during games.

“They lead by example and I’ve seen them take guys to the side and steer them in the right direction,” said Henney.

Captains need to make sure

their team stays on track and focused as well as “keeping the knuckleheads on track,” said Cisi.

At an away game on Oct. 28 the team went head to head against St. Bonaventure High School and faced a crushing defeat with a final score of 24-28 after having the lead 24-21 with only 2:44 left in the game.

This loss changes the stakes of WHS’ final match against Oaks.

Oaks will be coming into the game undefeated while WHS will have two losses to carry into the match.

Therefore, a win would result in a three way tie for the Marmonte

title and a loss would result in third place in and no chance of moving on to CIF. “We are coming into the game more fired up and focused because we had to gather ourselves from the Bonaventure game to make sure we are ready to win,” said Ho.

However, the team plans to learn from their mistakes in past games throughout the season to rival Oaks in tomorrow’s game.

“We have to have the right mindset because we know we’re a great team and we can play with anyone,” said Corso.

“For the first couple of league meets it’s been kind of rocky and we weren’t able to compete to the best of our abilities. For our first League meet we didn’t have a scoring team,” said Richman.

The WHS cross country team has reached the end of its season. The team only has one more opportunity at the Marmonte League Championships to raise its placement before the CIF qualifiers begin.

The girls cross country team is currently fourth out of six teams in the Marmonte League. They need to place within the top three to move onto the CIF Prelims.

Now that the injuries have healed, the cross country team looks to improve its standings with a filled roster.

“Although we’ve been through a shaky start and we’ve had many people drop out, I really think we can do well if we just work together and tried our hardest,” said Claire Robbins ‘19.

Despite being affected by injuries, the cross country team benefits from a strong new group of freshmen. Robbins and Jennifer Ruffing ‘19, constantly lead the WHS roster by consistently placing near the top alongside Richman and Morgan McLaughlin ‘16.

“We have a lot of strong freshmen, so our team will definitely be strong as the years progress,” said Robbins. “At the last meet we were only nine points behind the next team, so we can still

definitely qualify for CIF.” At the Ventura County Championships, the girls varsity team placed eleventh in its group out of the twenty teams competing at the tournament. WHS was six points away from beating Agoura. Additionally, three WHS runners, Robbins, Ruffing, and Richman, all made it to the course top ten for the Marmonte League Championships.

The boys varsity team placed fourteenth in its group out of the twenty three teams and Luke Calubayan ‘17 placed within the top fifty. Although this place is considered to be low in rankings, they still look to place in the CIF prelims.

“Right now we’re training hard and we’re bringing ourselves up to where we should be. We’re just going towards third which will allow us to take a CIF prelim spot and a spot for potential finals,” said Calubayan.

The team has to look out for Agoura High School as they try to work their way into a spot to place at the CIF prelims. “This year Agoura High School is looking really good in our league, so I want to give them a run for their money,” said Remy Mitchell ‘17.

“The varsity girls and boys teams have been strategizing the course (Agoura High School’s home course) and pinpointing specific locations to surge,” said Richman. “If we work hard, CIF is definitely in the realm of possibility.”

GAME TIME: (Left): Grant Bunker sprints the ball down the sideline, dodging his opponents.

(Below): Shane Ho leaps off the ground in an attempt to catch the ball in the endzone while being tackled out of the air.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL FINEGOLD

Continued from page 1.

WHS has made some mistakes throughout the season that the team is trying to clean up before tomorrow’s match against Oaks.

“We are way too inconsistent,” said Corso. “We know our level of play and our potential is outrageous, but sometimes we start off too slow or too fast and t h a t ’s re a l ly s om e thing we are trying to work on.”

Wide reciever Shane Ho ‘16 agrees that it’s the little things the team needs to clean up because those are the mistakes that can cost the team the win.

Tomorrow WHS has senior night and their last home game. With the season coming to an end, the entire WHS team agrees that throughout the season the team has bonded and become closer to one another more than last year.

“Our team has grown, we’ve come together and they enjoy playing with each other and as coaches we’re having a lot of fun with them,” said Henney.

Cross country sprints towards a seat in CIF Finals Steven Huang News Editor The WHS cross country team is on track for a spot in CIF after a tough start to the season. WHS looks to finish within the top three in Marmonte League and advance to CIF prelims today, Nov. 5 at the Marmonte League Championships at Agoura High School.

The team’s 2015 season was marked with a number of injuries and illnesses that caused key players to be unable to compete in important races.

This diminished the full potential of the team as many star athletes including Graham Peeples ‘16 and Karina Richman ‘17 were unable to compete.

Girls volleyball strikes down opponents to win league title Dheekshi Arvind

Theo Howard accepts Semper Fidelis Award Rachel Finegold Sports Section Editor On Oct. 8 at a ceremony with the entire football team and faculty present, wide receiver, Theo Howard ‘16 was presented with his jersey to play in the Semper Fidelis All American Bowl in 2016 for the West team. Although this ceremony came as a surprise to Howard, he was aware that he had been chosen for the award back in August and is very excited to have been given this opportunity.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to represent my family, the team, and Westlake,” said Howard. “I feel like they were looking for kids who are not only great athletes but also great kids off the field.”

Although he had many offers, Howard has

committed to play football at UCLA and he plans to play in the NFL after his college career.

“I am very excited for him, and I think it is a great honor for him individually and for the team because he has teammates that push him during practice to be better and better every day,” said Coach Tony Henney. “It’s a great honoring of one of our teammates and everyone appreciates that.”

The goal of the Semper Fidelis All American Bowl is to demonstrate the Marine Corps’ commitment to reinforcing core values of honor and courage in order to provide an opportunity for the players and Marines to practice and work together.

The West team will hold practices from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 to prepare for the West vs. East game on Sunday, Jan. 3 at the Stub Hub Center.

The game will be broadcasted at 9 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

The WHS girls Volleyball team has won the Marmonte league championship in the past two seasons and again this year.

During the season, the girls played Calabasas High School, Agoura High School, Newbury Park High school, Thousand Oaks High School and Oaks Christian High School. The team ended their season with a record of 9-1.

One of the most intense games the girls played was on Oct. 13 against TOHS, when one of WHS’ key players, Natalie Anselmo ‘16, was injured and the team lost in five sets to TOHS. “It wasn’t like we couldn’t win without one of our best players, but our morale was plummeted,” said Jenny Ferin ‘17.

Since then the girls have played Agoura on Oct.20 and won the match 25-7, 25-16 and 2518. Makayla Bush ‘16, Allison Webb ‘16, and Kennedy Copeland ‘17 each had seven kills throughout the game.

The girls then defeated Newbury Park with a 3-1 victory and then triumphed over Calabasas with a 3-2 victory in their last few games of the season.

WHS faced TOHS for the second time on Oct. 29, for the Marmonte League title. During the game the girls quickly gained momentum

PHOTO BY DHEEKSHI ARVIND

COURTESY PHOTO

ALL AMERICAN ATHLETE: Theo Howard accepts his award at his ceremony on Oct. 8.

Feature Editor

AT THE NET: Peyton Sper ‘17 attempts to block the ball at the net as April Ball covers her.

and won the first set 25-18. WHS maintained its advantage for the rest of the match and earned the victory.

Now that they have won the Marmonte league title, their next focus is to advance as far as possible in CIF however, they have been eliminated in the first rounds of CIF the past two years. “We have worked very hard to win the Marmonte League and now we have to have the same focus and drive to advance in CIF and get as far as possible,” said April Ball ‘17.

The team secured its title with consistent blocks from Ferin and Ball and numerous kills from Anselmo, Copeland and Ball.

12

Feature

theArrow

Use good fashion sense to prepare for a wet winter Allison Mendoza Feature Editor

PHOTOS BY ALLISON MENDOZA

El Niño has put Californians in a bind: the long avoided coats, thick sweaters and rain boots are now necessary to combat this year’s harsh winter.

Since the majority of residents have acclimated to California’s “Never Ending Summer,” all measures to keep warm must be taken.

However, high schoolers have anything but a large budget, and the most prestigious winterbrands like North Face and Columbia reside in the “Over-$100-No-Man’s-Land.”

But this does not mean Californians have to settle for layers of t-shirts and the same two college sweatshirts.

Several online and local retailers provide warm, affordable clothing that follow this season’s trends. Online retailers for girls include Tobi, Lookbook Store and Lulus, as well as Fifth Arrow, a clothing website created

by WHS students Sophie Sehizadeh ‘16 and Pardis Shahamat ‘16.

“We’re planning to get some guy’s clothing, hopefully this fall season,” said Sehizadeh.

“We also want to get some hoodies, t-shirts and outerwear clothing like military style jackets, but we still need to talk with our manufacturers.”

Although both girls are seniors, they plan to continue the site when they leave for college.

“We both want to stay in California so we’ll probably be relatively close to each other,” said Shahamat. “We may need to meet up once a season to renew our stock, but we can probably keep merchandise in our dorms and ship it out from there.”

Stores like Frank & Oak, Jack Threads and G by Guess also have fashionable and affordable fall clothing for guys.

At the Oaks Mall, Abercrombie, Pacsun and the new store Azkara have warm coats,

MAKE IT RAIN: Ryan Gebhardt ‘16 and Lauren Katz ‘16 stylishly prepare for El Niño.

sweaters and jeans for reasonable prices. The shops frequently have store wide sales for both men and women. With clothing from these stores, teens can navigate El Niño in style while staying within their tight budgets.

Additionally, this season’s trends can still be used when it starts to warm up again. For the ladies, peasant blouses, sleeveless blazers and denim skirts are all “must haves” for fall 2015. With the right fabrics and colors, a blouse

can pair just as well with jeans and flip flops, or the denim skirt with a tank top or t-shirt in the summer. For guys, button down shirts under sweaters go great with shorts in the spring, and thick jackets are perfect for chilly spring evenings and drizzly June gloom.

These clothes also work well when students go off to college outside of California where they may find themselves confronted with extreme weather conditions. Even the south-east has

foreboding winters in comparison to California.

Interview outfits can also be saved from the storm. A long-sleeve shirt and tall boots can replace a lady’s breezy blouse and opentoe heels. Guys can keep warm and stay professional with a sweater over a shirt and a military-style coat.

Students can embrace this season’s styles without embracing the prices.

Must have looks for the coming seasons

Forever 21 $6.90

H&M $80.00

H&M $10.00 American Eagle $44.95

Lookbook Store $32.00

G by Guess $24.00

Land’s End $24.00

Zara $89.90 Lookbook Store $50.00 American Eagle $49.95

Macy’s $30.00

Macy’s $62.30

Abercrombie $58.00

H&M $60.00

American Eagle $50.00 Old Navy $80.00

Forever 21 $12.90

H&M $49.95

American Eagle Abercrombie $60.00 $40.00