The BOHS Wildcat Volume 86 Issue 2

Wildcat brea olinda high school

volume 86 issue 2

BREAK THE GLASS Ceiling

December 2016

A look at the trailblazing women of Brea.

PG 16

2

online

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by Sarah Burris

Toy Drive

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NHS Installation

by Stacy Uhm

Opinion

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Arts

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index

CONTENTS 6

9

10

21

Take a shot

Sink afterschool lectures news

by Sarah Burris

Tablets over textbooks

Strike a pose: Adrianna Harris, senior, performs in Dance Production for the Dance Concert.

opinion by Sarah Burris

Bilingual education opinion by Anabel King

Brenda Greenbank

feature

by Samantha Magpantay

24

Women in government

29

Trinity Key

30

Sleep deprivation

40

Hannah Wernli

Banding together: Juniors Christian Roberts and Ally Laird look over music sheets.

centerspread by Anabel King

arts

by Neha Sharda

lifestyles

sports

by Nicole You

by Samantha Magpantay

photos by ANNICE LEE and JULIET ISLES

The perfect shot: Senior Sam Lee takes photos for Yearbook class.

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4

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Wildcat brea olinda high school

volume 86 issue 1

October 2016

news

5

A drive to help the community New rules for UCI’s blood drive

B

lood is constantly in critical circulation.

Not just in the human body, but throughout hospitals worldwide. However, since blood cannot be created in a lab, hospitals rely on blood donations from willing donors. In effort to help hospitals and to save lives, BOHS hosted a day-long blood drive on Nov. 17.

The event, organized by ASB, accumulated a fair amount of donors, primarily juniors, seniors, and staff. Overall, the drive collected around a total of 49 pints of blood, which is enough to save around 147 lives.

According to Anne Marie Rivera, a representative for UC Irvine’s blood drive, high school students should donate blood because it really does “save lives”. “I believe that donating is a great community service project. It’s a good thing to do to help out someone in need. [Most hospitals] use around one thousand blood products a month, so whatever they do not collect on their own through

donation drives, they have to purchase. So, as well as lives, when you donate you are also helping the hospital,” Rivera said.

But while the turnout was an “overall success”, participation fell well short of the 2015 Blood Drive results, which saw approximately 125 donors donate blood. The reason for the sudden drop in donation amount is due to the recent change in the BOHS drive’s sponsorship.

According to Pam Valenti, assistant principal and coordinator of ASB, the school completed a much-needed switch of blood drive hosts. For nine years, BOHS has used the American National Red Cross (ANRC) as a sponsor for the blood drive.

This year, however, Valenti decided on a more reliable and less complex host..

“Red Cross was way too complicated; there were so many problems with their system. On the day of the drive last year, we hit way too many complications from them,” Valenti explained.

Instead, , BOHS opted to use University of Irvine’s Medical Center as the host of the 2016 blood drive.

But while UCI’s process was more efficient than that of the ANRC, it also restricted the amount of eligible BOHS donors. UCI’s blood donor standards exclude anyone younger than 17 years old, resulting in the turning away of 16 year old juniors, who made up a sizabe portion of last year’s donors. “We did expect the [donor amount] to be [significantly lower] this year due to the new age requirement.

It is [now] practically a whole age grade level that can’t be taken into consideration during [donor] recruiting,” Vivian Kim, senior and ASB student coordinator of the blood drive. “Unfortunately,

nothing was done about the age restrictions. Simply because nothing could be done.”

According to Rivera, the 17-year age requirement is not meant to reduce the amount of eligible voters, but to increase the safety of the youths who donate. As the center liable for its donors, UCI operates on the strict standards in order to reduce any donor complications.

“We just feel that the donor that is 17 is a most suitable candidate for blood donation. A 17 year old

New rules for UCI must be 17 years old must be 110 pounds no medication for 72 hours no travel to areas with Malaria is a little more mature for the process. [In a more direct sense], we also tend to see less reactions from 17 year old donors,” Rivera says. Nonetheless, the BOHS blood drive was a success credited to ASB and the students who donated. All 49 pints of blood now go to the UC Irvine’s Medical Center blood bank. Rivera, along with all other staff members at UC Irvine, express their gratitude towards all donors, saying that the donations “helped to save the lives of many in need.”

ASB hosts annual canned food drive

I

n partnership with the Brea City Emergency Council (BCEC), BOHS and other schools within BOUSD are hosting a can drive from Nov. 28 to Dec. 15. Along with the earnings of the Coin Drive held on Nov. 15, which contributed over $450 to the annual can drive, all donations will be collected 0 period in all classrooms on Dec. 15. The donations will supply families in need of food.

“It helps [us] serve our families in need right here in our own city,” Pam Valenti, assistant

by SARAH BURRIS & CHOYUN LEE

photos by ANNICE LEE & JULIET ISLES

principal, said. “It’s a great way to help the people in our local community.”

According to Vivian Kim, the ASB Social Welfare Commissioner and supervisor of the organization of the drive, the plan this year is to “minimize the number of turned away families” by collecting enough donations to support everyone in need.

With about 200 families contributing every year, she hopes to reach the school’s goal and support the Brea community.

6

news

SINK OR SWIM: STEPPING UP TO APUSH

by SARAH BURRIS

photo by JULIET ISLES

W

ith only a 22.5 percent passing rate for the Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) national exam, according to totalregistration.net, AP US History is one of the most challenging courses that high school students can take. For that reason, Jeff Sink, history teacher, has taken it upon himself to provide extra study sessions after school to assist his students in grasping the 450 years that the APUSH course covers.

“I do after school sessions because, with AP, there is so much curriculum to teach. And, because [BOHS] starts the school year late, the occasional after school sessions [are critical in order to] prepare students for the AP exam in May,” Sink said.

For this specific reason, Sink makes it a point to focus his afternoon sessions on clarifying classroom material and lectures, answering student questions, and helping with test preparedness.

Sinke works the meetings around the schedules of BOHS athletes and band students. His goal: to ensure that all students have the opportunity to attend and learn. He is driven by his intent to invoke in his students a dedication to and passion for learning.

“I believe that if you are teaching AP, you should be dedicated. If the students [see] that I am dedicated, [they] sort of piggyback on top of that and they become more dedicated,” Sink says.

According to junior Bianca Guzman, Sink’s after school sessions are extremely effective.

“I not only learn a lot in class every day but [I love the fact that] I get to learn even more during his sessions,” Guzman said.

She also elaborates that Sink’s afternoon meetings give students a greater ability to “understand and keep up” with the material covered in class. The standard 55 minute AP class is already filled bellto-bell with note-taking and lectures, so the extra sessions after school allow students to fully grasp the information. Guzman also mentions that Sink does an outstanding job of delving deeper into the context, meaning, and importance of major historical events.

But what also seems to really draw students into attending the sessions is the atmosphere of the study

22.5%

was the national pass rate for APUSH exams in 2016.

SINK’S STEP-UP: APUSH teacher Jeff Sink makes his best effort to make history lectures as refreshing as possible to get his students to step up to the final exam in May.

group itself. He maintains classroom energy with engaging stories and occasional reenactments of historical battles. Students familiar with Sink regard his teaching style in the classroom as “eccentric”, and his methods outside of school hours remains the same. Which is why students look forward to attending the monthly meetings.

Guzman explains the positive attitude student have towards the sessions saying, “[They aren’t]

and regular history classes, find time to experience his after school lectures. Because of their growing popularity, Sink’s sessions often create an overpacked classroom, in which case some students will opt to sitting on windowsills or the floor.

Because of the positive feedback he gets from his students, Sink genuinely enjoys hosting the meetings. He admits that they are “not odorous tasks at all, as they are [something he] enjoys.”

“I believe that if you are teaching AP, you should be dedicated. If the students see that I am dedicated, they piggyback on top of that and become more dedicated.” something that feel like a chore. History can be pretty boring for me, but he makes it fun which is why I choose to go.”

Even students not enrolled in Sink’s APUSH class, including students from other APUSH classes

3rd

is APUSH’s rank as the most popular AP subject in the nation.

Filled with rambunctious historical demonstrations and furious note taking, Sink’s after-school study sessions add a hint of “enjoyment and ease” to one of the most challenging high school courses available to students.

3rd

is CA’s rank in the nation for highest AP test scores.

Sources: prepscholar.com & scribd.com

opinion

7

A foreign affair

Should schools require bilingual classes?

¿Deben las escuelas exigir clases bilingües?

Les écoles doivent-elles être bilingues?

Xuéxiào xuyào shuangyǔ kè ma?

Moeten scholen tweetalig lessen nodig?

Ar chóir cheangal ar scoileanna ranganna dátheangacha?

“Y

by ANABEL KING

ou come to America, you speak American.” This phrase is no stranger to the bilingual speaker. And even though “American” is not a language, even though English is not the official language of the United States, this one sentence not only demonstrates the intelligence level of its speaker, but it also reflects society’s attitude to foreign languages in America.

Over the past 18 years, California schools were required to teach English-only classes. As a result, students who spoke a different native language fell behind and bilingual teachers left the state. But with the passing of Proposition 58, public schools in California now have the power to begin nonEnglish instructional classes again, which will take into effect next July.

Critics of bilingual education claim that by emphasizing a foreign language, it “delays children’s ability to read, write, and speak proper English,” according to NPR. Others claim it is unnecessary or a waste of time and money. But California’s move for bilingual education is not only beneficial, it’s long overdue.

America may be an advanced Western nation, yet our education system is embarrassingly flawed when it comes to teaching students foreign languages. In Europe, for example, 50 percent of the population speaks English, while 25 percent

can speak three languages, according to the LA Times. In America, only 20 percent speak another language. In addition, only 10 states require high schools to offer foreign language classes, and even then only 19 percent of students are enrolled in a foreign language class.

As a cashier at the mall, I interact with customers who speak a different language, and sometimes ones who don’t know English at all. On some occasions, customers have approached me speaking a different language and there were times where I couldn’t even identify it. There’s a brief, awkward moment where I have to explain that I don’t understand them, and they in turn explain that they don’t understand me. We essentially are reduced to communicating with slow-paced words, dramatic hand gestures, and detailed facial expressions. And it’s in moments like these where the language barrier is more evident than ever.

My initial response is not, “You need to speak English if you’re going to live in America and shop in an American store.” My first reaction is wistful regret that I am not educated enough to know the words of other Americans. It is a cultural embarrassment that I never bothered to learn a language other than my native one. Even though it’s my fourth year studying high school French, it’s still not enough.

America is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, and beliefs, and it is a true disservice to

the 20 percent of Americans who aren’t Englishnative speakers that our education system does not prioritize the importance of foreign languages among today’s students.

There is no official language of the United States

Teaching two, three, four languages to today’s children will bring cultural respect and appreciation because there is no need for one. We are a nation of immigrants, of different cultures, of different tongues. The idea that a single, official language will instantly unify the American people will work no better than the idea that California’s official state bird will bring harmony to Californians.

If anything, teaching two, three, four languages to today’s children will bring cultural respect and appreciation, a concept seemingly lacking in our political world -- a concept that could truly bring us one step closer to a unified nation.

opinion

8

Community Service Incentives

Community Service Incentives

Point: Community service incentives prove beneficial to hopeful college applicants

by ANABEL KING

M

illustration by GIZELLA LONTOC

ankind is selfish. That’s neither an insult nor a complaint, but simply a universal truth.

The entire premise of mankind’s existence relies on the idea of performing duties that ultimately serve ourselves. Man discovered fire because he wanted to be warm, and man flew to the moon because his planet wasn’t enough. During a time where college education is imperative and thus the admissions process competitive, the young, ambitious students of today must often perform community service in hopes of “rounding out” their college applications. While it may seem counterproductive, even unethical to incentivize community service, such a practice is actually beneficial.

When a student performs community service simply because they will be rewarded, it encourages the behavior of “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, youth between the ages of 16 to 19 years old have the highest volunteer rate compared to any other age demographic. Considering that American teenagers are stigmatized as lazy, self-absorbed, and ignorant, this statistic is surprising, but ultimately encouraging. If a higher proportion of teenagers are cleaning up beaches, fundraising for charities, and feeding the homeless, it shouldn’t matter what incentive they were given if their acts are in the interest of the greater good. In the end, society is left with cleaner beaches, successful charities, and less hungry people. How could anyone be upset with that outcome?

Sure, teens volunteer because they expect something in return: a prestigious title, a reservoir of service hours, or the pretentious ability to say that they perform community service. Some school clubs and organizations require service hours (like BOHS’ National Honors Society and Rho Kappa Society) while some schools will grant special recognition at graduation (like BOHS). Nevertheless, community service is community service. Beachgoers don’t care if a trash-filled beach was cleaned because the volunteers are rounding out their college applications -- they care that the beach is cleaned.

Take the annual BOHS Coin Drive, for example. The classroom that raises the most coins gets a donut party and all the donations go toward helping families in need. Is that unethical? Maybe.

Does it matter if it’s unethical? Not by a long shot. The goal of a coin drive is to donate coins. Any method of soliciting those coins is acceptable as long as it is legal and no one is harmed.

To believe that all citizens of today’s age will perform community service out of the goodness of their hearts is a naive way of thinking. It is better to pop that bubble of ignorance and capitalize on the “What’s in it for me” perspective that lies at the instinctual core of every human being.

Many people do not give back to their community out of sheer humility and kindness -- some do, but many don’t. Instead, people will help others if they are helped in return, and there is nothing ethically wrong with exploiting that natural behavior. The true injustice in this matter is pretending that such a behavior does not exist.

During a time where college education is imperative... the young, ambitious students of today must often perform community service in hopes of “rounding out” their college applications.

opinion

9

Counterpoint: Community service incentives ineffectively encourage students to log in hours simply for recognition

by SARAH BURRIS

I

n youth, partaking in volunteer work with a primary intent to serve has taken its place on the back burner. Well-known volunteer hubs including public libraries and soup kitchens are noticing a spike in young volunteers who possess covert and negative incentives for volunteering.

The main culprit of such volunteers are youth ranging from 12 to 18 years old. These young volunteers have an upstanding record of turning what is supposed to be a selfless act into a selfish mission. Large amounts of youth aimlessly sign up for any volunteer groups that will accept them in order to complete their service requirements. This has become such a “norm” that volunteer organizations are now printing off “Proof of Service” forms for their volunteers who request them.

For example, Bread of Angels Soup Kitchen used to give out their Proof of Service forms at the beginning of the volunteer day.

However, they had to settle on dispensing them at the end of the day when they realized volunteers were leaving with their form before their work was done. It is youth volunteers like those who set the precedent that encourage negative incentives. Truth is, most youth only volunteer because they have to. This is not to say that all youth who volunteer are lacking benevolent purposes; they simply sign up as volunteers because it is their looming obligation.

But the youth are not to blame for their selfish incentives. Instead, the brunt of the problem stems from schools, groups, and organizations that require service hours. BOHS included.

The high school “encourages” students to accumulate 100 service hours to receive special

recognition at graduation. (Yes, the choice lies within the student on whether he or she wants to participate; but nowadays, most students strive for academic excellence, and the word “encourage” is not taken lightly). This encouragement places students under the pressure of accumulating a large number of hours, which results in a mass of student volunteers more focused on an extra cord at graduation than helping those in need.

Understandably, BOHS established such a reward for service-hour completion in hopes of creating students who’ll be involved in their community. However, their good intentions are being undermined by student volunteers who have tunnel vision on seeing a checked box on their requirement form than seeing what their actual service is accomplishing. By aiming to get high school requirements out of the way, youth see service projects and opportunities as “easy hours” rather than a way to serve their community.

The USBLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) found that teenagers showed a significantly lower “returning” rate when compared to adults. As students sign up to be volunteers at such charities, their only goal is to accumulate the required hours and leave as soon as possible. Their work as volunteers is done as soon as their obligations are filled. This creates mindless volunteers chasing “hours” whilst ignoring the service.

In order to change teenager incentives for volunteering, there needs to be a complete and radical shift. High schools, including BOHS, should ditch the service system of “if you do this, we’ll give you this.” Instead, high schools should be challenging students to share their own testimonies of how service changed them as individuals. Volunteer work should inspire students to focus on their community instead of service hour trophies.

Truth is, most youth only volunteer because they have to. This is not to say that all youth who volunteer are lacking benevolent purposes; they simply sign up as volunteers because it is their looming obligation

10

staff ed

THE WILDCAT since 1930

Vol. 85, Issue 01 October 2016 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Anabel King BUSINESS MANAGER Stacy Uhm MANAGING EDITOR Samantha Magpantay NEWS EDITOR Choyun Lee FEATURE EDITOR Sarah Burris OPINION EDITOR Nicole You LIFESTYLES/ART EDITOR Matthew Moon source: salon.com

THE BEGINNING OF A BREAKTHROUGH

O

ften in the discussion of feminism there arises the argument that the status of women in today’s society is already equal to that of men -- that women have already achieved equality, at least in industrial nations.

The argument that sexism no longer exists in the United States or that the gender wage gap is made up or that the glass ceiling was shattered years ago or that sexual discrimination is illegitimate -- these arguments are but a feather in the boulderous weight that sexism carries even in a nation as modernized as the United States of America.

These unfounded arguments are not sufficient to discredit the conclusive arguments that women are too emotional to be leaders or that a raped woman should’ve kept her knees together or that women deserve lower pay for equal work for selfishly taking time to give birth to a baby.

Sexism exists. And yes, race plays a factor into the degree of sexism, along with sexuality, gender identity, economic status, and religion.

We had originally planned this female empowerment issue with the assumption that a female president would have been elected in time to publish this supplementary issue. But on Nov. 9, as our mostly-female staff walked into the classroom, there was a sense of defeat and despair -- not just on the fact that our issue was now irrelevant, but on the pervading questions: Have women really made progress in this modern era we live in? How can we publish an issue about women in power when the most powerful office in the United States was just denied to a woman?

We then realized that a woman may not have broken the Ultimate Glass Ceiling, but that women have already broken glass ceilings across the nation and they still continue to break them to this day, even in the city of Brea.

And so this issue serves as a showcase -- a spotlight -- on the talented, hard-working, and powerful women that reside in our own city to demonstrate that the fight for true female quality is not over -- it is just beginning.

PHOTO EDITOR Annice Lee PHOTOGRAPHER Juliette Isles STAFF WRITERS Neha Sharda Jasmine Serrano ILLUSTRATOR Gizella Lontoc The Wildcat is published by the students of Brea Olinda High School’s Newspaper class.

The purpose of the publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as highlight campus life and student achievement.

The Wildcat encourages expression of reader opinion in the form of letters to the editor.

Letters must be signed with a name and submitted to bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail. com. Opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the staff. Bylined columns reflect the views of the writer.

the Wildcat

Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821 bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com

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opinion BOHS

11:50 AM

100%

BOHS should Tech over Why replace outdated

text

by SARAH BURRIS

e live in a world reliant on technology. Nowadays, it’s easier for people to pick up a cell phone and Google a topic than it is for them to flip through the pages of a book. Society as a whole is rapidly growing into the technologically advanced world that the future promised. Yet, as the digital era continues to advance and evolve, today’s school students are still being bound by the shackles of old-fashioned learning, by the use of old-fashioned textbooks.

The Los Angeles Unified School District was the first local district to acknowledge this problem, and spent around $1 billion dollars to place tablets in the hands of thousands of students across 38 LA campuses. Orange County Unified school districts noted LAUSD’s technological transition and began to follow suit. Both Tustin Unified and Santa Ana Unified have provided their students with educational devices. Other unified districts, like Placentia-Yorba Linda, Orange, and Laguna Beach, have introduced the Bring Your Own Device system.

But, in the midst of the whirlwind of technological advancement, where is BOHS? The answer is: behind.

With the OC school districts implementing more technology in their classrooms, BOUSD struggles to keep up with its fellow unified school districts, leaving BOHS with the risk of becoming

W

textbooks with new tablets

outdated and denying its students the highest quality of education.

However, BOHS’s advancement process is not at a standstill. Over the past few years, BOHS has introduced a moderate amount of new technology to classrooms. Each teacher now has his or her own MacBook Air laptop; and in 2014, the high school adopted Google Chromebooks for teacher and student use.

However, according to Principal Jerry Halpin, the school implemented the Chromebooks to accommodate state testing more efficiently, not to “catch up” with other schools. But, Halpin did explain the classroom changes he’s noticed since their introduction, saying, “We have seen a huge increase in the number of classrooms using them.”

So, with this in mind, wouldn’t it be beneficial for BOHS to take one step further and institute a personal learning device for each student? Doing so could improve the student body’s academic proficiency , and their outlook on learning in general.

The interactive nature of digital study creates a unique learning environment catered to each student. Joy Cordia, BOHS’s assistant principal, believes, “[tablets] may open the door to more current information [and] would allow students to develop proficient technology skills”.

And, even more than proven educational benefits, tablets have plenty of useful features literally built into them.

“They [would] allow students to study

more current material [and provide] credibility in their sources...based on the research and information at their fingertips,” explains Cordia. If given tablets, BOHS students would have more convenient access to information. And, as technological tools, the tablets remain “current”, undergoing continuous updates, a feature that outperforms textbooks.

According to the Federal Communications Commision, textbooks are generally seven to ten years out-of-date (the current AP U.S. Government book depicts President Bush’s decision to go to war as “an event to be debated by future historians”).

And, although BOHS received funds to purchase new Calculus textbooks this year, the school plans to use these textbooks continuously for 10 years and, in that time, the books’ spine will be worn and overused, as well as their information.

So, while BOHS technological advancement is not at a standstill, it is certainly not progressing fast enough.

No progress to establish student use of personal learning devices has been made.

There is no longer question about whether these digital tools should be introduced. But will BOUSD acknowledge and act upon the proven digital benefits and set a transition, or will cost and disinterest remain a deterrent

11

12

feature

W MEN IN G

by MATTHEW MOON

13/196

have chosen a women to serve as their head of state.

54% 24%

of US voters were women in 2008. Yet only of state legislators are women.

Male U.S. House of Representatives raised about

$196,281

more than women incumbents in the House of Representatives in the year of

6/50

state governors are women.

The US is ranked

99th

2008

in the world for the number of women in government.

source: www.dailykos.com & catalyst.org

feature

13

GOVERNMENT

8

The number of women that President Obama appointed to his cabinet. It was the most in American history.

However, as of 2016, women are still outnumbered in the presidential cabinet.

Women Representation in the 114th Congress

19.3% 20.0%

Representation rates for women in the HOR and Senate, respectively.

98

80.0% 80.7%

Representation rates for men in the HOR and Senate, respectively.

countries in the world have more women representation in the legislative branch than the U.S.A.

***flags are not completely accurate

2 :1

14

feature

Lunch with...

In this monthly series, Wildcat editors enagage BOHS staff members at lunchtime. This month, Feature Editor Sarah Burris sits with Marti Repp, administrator of Curriculum and Instruction.

by SARAH BURRIS

photo by JULIET ISLES

The sounds of

clicking and whispering students, rustling

papers hum throughout the BOHS office. Staff members beeline their way around on urgent missions to deliver messages or help students. The BOHS office, responsible for overseeing two thousand students and directing 160 staff members, is regularly overloaded with busy activity. Nonetheless, the office manages to function productively, under the provision of ‘70 BOHS graduate Marti Repp, administrator of curriculum and instruction.

Dubbed the “gatekeeper of the office,” Repp is the first BOHS employee visitors see upon entrance. From assisting students and visitors to filing the school’s most important paperwork, she works tirelessly to keep the BOHS office flowing smoothly. And while coworkers and students recognize Repp as a diligent secretary, few know much about the secretary beyond her career and work ethic.

feature Born and raised in the “Brea Bubble”, the majority of Repp’s life has existed within the 12 square miles of the city.

She laughs, saying, “I’ve basically been here all my life, I love it. There’s a reason I never left.”

In fact, most all of Repp’s schooling and career positions have been within the BOUSD. She graduated from BOHS’s former campus in 1970, though unaware that she would return to her alma mater 24 years later to work as a staff member. After high school, Repp attended Fullerton College for two years and graduated with an AA degree. From there, she entered the

she now shows her pride as a staff member, and not a student.

When asked about her favorite aspect of working at BOHS, Repp credits the students. As an office employee, she has gotten to know a majority of the student body. Some stop by just to say hello, and Repp knows frequent visitors by name.

Another aspect that Repp says she “personally enjoys” about her job is that her position not only offers her a career she loves, but it also provides opportunities to support her alma mater outside of the office. A fanatic of all things performing arts, she always find time to attend BOHS performances. Repp

Born and raised in the “Brea Bubble”, the majority of Repp’s life has existed within the 12 square miles of the city.

She laughs, saying, “I’ve basically been here all my life, I love it. There’s a reason I never left.”

Marti Repp, administrator working world and started her career as a secretary.

Her first position was at the BOUSD office. She worked there full-time for five years. Eventually, she reduced her hours in the office in order to focus on being a full-time mother.

Explaining that her own mom “was hardly around”, Repp’s primary purpose was finding time to “be with and raise her children.”

A few years later, after her children started school, Repp returned to her full-time job at the district office. It was during that time, however, that a position opened at BOHS. “I thought [working there would be] a great opportunity.

And I was already familiar with the school, so I thought, why not?” Repp said, explaining her reason for transferring to the high school.

In the fall of 1994, Repp filled the position for Guidance Specialist in what is now known as the BOHS Career Center.

Working there for seven years, Repp acquired a feel for her alma mater’s new campus and also experienced, for the second time, the pride of being a BOHS Wildcat. But in 2001, Repp’s assignment switched, as did her placement in the office.

Rather enthusiastically, she took on the role of the BOHS front secretary, now her current and “most favorite” position.

After a number of years of holding her position at BOHS, Repp’s children enrolled at the high school.

“It was funny because I would always see [my kids] around campus. They couldn’t get away with anything,” Repp laughs, though she is convinced her kids secretly enjoyed their mom’s presence at their school. As of now, all of Repp’s children are BOHS graduates and working adults. And though her kids have moved on from the high school, Repp is still a Wildcat. Except

especially enjoys choir, and she makes sure to stay up-to-date with all of the UCB happenings, including the seasonal shows like Fall and Winter Magic.

But even still, the high school holds a deeper meaning to Repp than just a job-site and a place to indulge in choir performances. BOHS is also the place in which she met her husband, Bill Repp.

“He was in my Spanish 1 class freshman year. I thought he was looked like [singer and actor] Ricky Nelson. He was cute, but so I was too [nervous] to talk to him,” she said. So Repp graduated high school never having talked to him. (To this day, both her and her husband laugh about Repp’s timidity.)

But luckily, fate had more in store for the couple than a common class in high school. While in college, the two ironically met again at, what Repp calls, an infamous “Brea Party”. From there it was, “love at first sight”. As of now, they have been married for 41 years. The story of her and her husband is one Repp still tells to close friends, a tale which she always ends with a “happily ever after”.

And while Repp has lived in the “Brea Bubble” most all her life, she says she is “grateful” for the opportunities and people that the city has blessed her with. “I’m happy, and I am happy with my life,” Repp expresses.

Unfortunately, the secretary also mentions she is “ready for retirement”. While Repp has not mentioned anything regarding a specific time of retirement, she explains she has been in the workforce for a “long time.” Nonetheless, as long as she works for BOHS, she continues to be a crucial asset to the office. And while Repp is proud to be labeled BOHS employee, the high school is equally proud to have her on their staff.

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centerspread

Capit l achievement

by ANABEL KING

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photo by ANNICE LEE

merica may not have her first female president. But that doesn’t mean the fight for gender equality ends there.

The rise of talented, hard-working women in positions of power is just beginning.

And in Brea, Calif., female power not only exists, it thrives.

In Brea’s 99 years of existence, December 2015 marked the first time two women served on the top two council chairs: Christine Marick as City Mayor and Cecilia Hupp as Mayor Pro Tem -- the only two women on the five-member City Council. That same week, Fullerton and San Juan Capistrano elected a female mayor and mayor pro tem: Jennifer Fitzgerald and Jan Flory, and Pam Patterson and Kerry Ferguson, respectively. In Huntington Beach, women have served in those two positions seven times since 1974.

Eleven of the 34 Orange County cities have female mayors (a ratio of 32 percent), which is almost double the national rate of female mayors across America -- 18 percent, according to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). In conservative Orange County, it

seems, there is no glass ceiling.

“Women were in the minority when I attended business school, and we were in the minority when I worked in investment management,” Mayor Marick, who is now the fifth female mayor in Brea history, said. “At the local government level, women are well represented in City Councils and other regional governments. But there is a clear trend that women move up to state level politics at a lower rate than their male peers unless they

live close to the state capitol such that commuting home is easier.”

Marick served as Mayor Pro Tem for two years prior to her election as Mayor of the City Council last December. With an undergraduate degree in economics from Georgetown University and an MBA from UCLA, Marick works with the current Mayor Pro Tem and the City Manager to set agendas for two City Council Meetings per month. The Mayor is the figurehead leader of the

2016 firsts for women

Kamala Harris first Indian senator CA’s first black senator spent 6 years as CA’s attorney general

Catherine Masto first Latina senator former Nevada attorney general granddaughter of Mexican immigrant

Tammy Duckworth first disabled female veteran senator first Thai senator first woman to fly a combat mission in Iraq

Pramila Jayapal first Indian House Representative endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders civil rights activist

Ilhan Omar

Stephanie Murphy

first female Somali Muslim lawmaker former refugee from Somal lived in Kenya camp

first female Vietnamese elected to Congress daughter of Vietnamese refugees first gen. college student

centerspread

WHO RUN THE WORLD: (from left, top row) Cecilia Hupp, Christine Marick, Shannon Buckels; (bottom row) Gail Lyons and Anne Flesher pose together.

city and represents Brea’s interests on regional boards.

Outside of Brea’s political offices, Brea’s economic offices also see a trend of female-held positions. Mary Ann Railey is the Vice President of the Brea Chamber of Commerce officers, and Judy Randlett is the Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission.

Railey, who transacts business between meetings of the Board Directors of the Chamber,

works with Placentia Olinda Hospital. With over 23 years of experience in healthcare, Railey makes sure the hospital has accurate service lines for the community.

“I got my position with the value that I bring, the expertise, and the experience,” Railey said.

“I feel a sense of accomplishment every single day. I truly feel when I walk out the door, I feel that I have accomplished something, that I have contributed to the community.”

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Even though women make up 51 percent of the U.S. population, only 23 percent of government offices are held by women, and Congress is only 19 percent, according to CAWP. But as Brea’s public service offices continue to increase in its representation of women, educational positions see an increase in women as well.

The Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) Board has three female board members of the seven positions, led by Board President Gail Lyons and Vice President Nicole Colon. The other female board member is Carrie Flanders.

BOUSD Vice President Colon has experience with the business world and the investment community along with a business degree from Redlands University. When it comes to gender representation among the Board, Colon believes equal representation is essential.

“There should absolutely be a balance of men and women [as Board members],” Colon said.

“Especially when running a public entity, it’s important for everyone to have a voice.”

In some occasions, however, women’s voices fail to be heard simply because of their sex. According to the Association of Women for Action and Research, as more women have joined the workforce, reports of gender discrimination have also increased. Often reported in the media are illustrations of rape, assault, and molestation, but even subtle instances of sexism still run just as rampant, if not more.

“I have had an instance where someone didn’t respect my direction because I was a woman,” Colon said. “It was when I was on a campus, and we had a vendor who wanted to drive his vehicle on campus when kids were around. I told him that he wouldn’t be allowed to do that and he clearly wouldn’t listen to me because I was a female. But

List of powerful women in Brea CHRSTINE MARICK

Judy Randlett

Kristin Risberg

Laurel Batchelor

Missy Leonardo

Mayor of Brea

Cultural Arts Commission

BJHS Asst. Principal

BOHS English Dept. Chair

BOHS Performing Arts Dept. Chair

Cecilia Hupp

Shannon Buckels

Karen Vandine

Jennifer Collier

Delaina Hofacre

Mayor pro tem

BOHS campus officer

Arovista Principal

BOHS Math Dept. Chair

BOHS Visual Arts Dept. Chair

Gail Lyons

Joy Cordia

Trish Walsh

Nadia Fox

Carrie Flanders

BOUSD President

BOHS Asst. Principal

Country Hills Principal

BOHS Foreign Lang. Dept. Chair

BOUSD Board Member

Nicole Colon

Pam Valenti

Heather Bojorquez

Jessia Dombrowski

Cindy Russell

BOUSD Vice President

BOHS Asst. Principal

Laurel Magnet Principal

BOHS Health Dept. Chair

Admin. Services Director

Anne Flesher

Becky Marchant

Daryn Coburn

Krissy French

Julie Smith

Asst. Superintendent

BOHS Lead Counselor

Mariposa Principal

BOHS Life Skills Dept. Chair

CS Supervisor

Mary Ann Railey

Kelly Kennedy

Theresa Stevens

Andrea Ramos

Chamber of Commerce, VP

BJHS Principal

Fanning Principal

BOHS Science Dept. Chair

Kathie DeRobbio

Econ. Development Manager

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feature

In the spotlight

With such a high number of women in positions of power, it may seem like the women of Brea have already paved the way for the next generation of young girls. when the male employee came to say the exact, same thing that I had said, [the male employee] was listened to, whereas I wasn’t.”

S

ubtle examples such as this are rarely reported or even discussed, but it is not uncommon. Society’s attitude toward women in positions of power has changed over time.

“It depends on the industry,” Railey said. “It has changed quite a bit since I was young. It has opened up doors for women to be in that position but I still think women have to prove themselves a little bit more or have the ability to move up. Men and women are very different and how they lead are very different.”

According to an article by Helios HR, an Equal Opportunity Employer, this belief is factually true.

The article, written by Bryan Krinzman, found that female leadership focuses more on tasks, promotes cooperation and collaboration, prefers a flat organizational structure (valuing integration over experience), and involves indirect communication.

Male leadership, on the other hand, focuses on performance, prefers a hierarchical structure (valuing seniority over skill), and involves direct communication. The significant differences in leadership style, Krinzman claims, are essential in high-power positions that require diverse leadership in order to progress.

“A woman will bring a different perspective than a man,” Railey said. “It’s important to have diversity. Sometimes women communicate [much] better. Women see things differently and take different approaches. It’s very important to be in tune with your audience. Women are good at that.”

Mayor Marick also shares the same beliefs.

“Women in power are often held to different standards than their male peers. I don’t believe it is deliberate; people don’t even realize the double

standards, but they are there. Men and women operate differently in a board environment. And the City or School District or corporate Board of Directors functions better with women and men in the room.”

But not all women believe gender plays a role in achieving a position of power. Anne Flesher, BOUSD’s Assistant Superintendent, Personnel and Educational Services, believes attitude and effort factor more into one’s success.

“The roles of any individuals, men or women, in positions of authority and responsibility are to conduct themselves in a manner which earns them respect from those with whom they work,” Flesher said. “One’s actions are the determiner of their success. I have always believed in the adage, ‘What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying.’ In each of my roles, I have worked with an incredible team of students, teachers, and support staff that brought us accolades and recognition as a team.”

Flesher has spent 35 years in public education with a Bachelor of Science degree and teaching credential from Northwestern University, and later a Master’s Degree and an Administrative Credential. “I am a fairly confident individual, and I do not allow myself to view any negative interactions as purely sexist. Varying cultures, perspectives, and perceptions of individuals one encounters along the way are not attributed to sexism, but instead, a lack of understanding or tolerance on the part of the individual. I cannot say that I have felt victimized for my gender any more than I may have perhaps been viewed differently because of my being raised in a very Greek home environment. The point is, we move forward and approach all situations with the attitude and effort we control and do not let the attitudes or actions of others prevent us from achieving our goals.”

In regards to female representation, Flesher values quality over equality. “I believe quality representation is important in higher-level positions, and that males and females are equally

Christine Marick Mayor of Brea

Cecilia Hupp

Mayor pro tem of Brea

Gail Lyons

President of BOUSD

Anne Flesher

Asst. Superintendent

Shannon Buckels BOHS campus officer

competent to perform any position of responsibility and receive equal compensation for doing so.”

R

egardless, female representation has certainly left its mark in Brea schools.

At BOHS, two of the three Assistant Principals are female: Joy Cordia and Pam Valenti. Co-Lead Guidance Counselor Becky Marchant leads a six-counselor team with five women. And six of the eight academic department chairs are held by female teachers: Laurel Batchelor (English), Jennifer Collier (Math), Andrea Ramos (Science), Nadia Fox (Foreign Languages), Missy Leonardo (Performing Arts), and Delaina Hofacre (Visual Arts).

Other Brea schools boast a high representation of women in power as well, with six out of the nine Brea schools run by female principals: Principal Kelly Kennedy and Assistant Principal Kristin Risberg at BJHS, Principal Karen Vandine at Arovista Elementary, Principal Trish Walsh at Brea Country Hills Elementary, Principal Heather Bojorquez at Laurel Magnet, Principal Daryn Coburn at Mariposa Elementary, and Principal Theresa Stevens at Fanning Elementary.

With such a high number of women in positions of power, it may seem like the women of Brea have already paved the way for the next generation of young girls from City Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to BOUSD Board President and School Principal.

The “ultimate glass ceiling” in America’s political history may have not shattered, but its cracks continue to grow larger and larger in the city of Brea.

g

feature

irl on fire Brenda Greenbank, ‘07, started at the Brea Fire Explorers Program and is now a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

by Samantha magpantay

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feature

FIGHTING FIRE WITH FRIENDSHIP: (from left) Firefighter Walters, Greenbank, and Rodriguez pose for a photo on Greenbank’s graduation day ceremony, which was held on April 28, 2016. Walters and Rodriguez were Greenbank’s peer groupers in the Drill Tower.

D

ark plumes of smoke enveloped the air as the growing fire swallowed all in its path. Determined to quell the stubborn blaze, numerous groups of firefighters swarmed the vacant single family dwelling. ‘07 BOHS graduate Brenda Greenbank, stationed at the rear of the building, took a rotary saw, and started cutting through the security bars of the windows. She paid no heed to the sweltering heat, thick smoke, and her rising adrenaline; she had to get the job done. The engine unit inside the dwelling would need a way out in the possibility the house would collapse. Only until the fire was completely snuffed did the scene cool down. The firefighters began the routine process of post-control overhaul, checking every nook and cranny that could contain signs of fire extension. Others began to reel back in the hoseline to the fire trucks. It was just another day in their line of work. But that day in particular was one that Greenbank would never forget. Her first fire was a stepping stone towards her lifelong dream of being a firefighter.

I

n seventh grade, Greenbank was required to shadow a career for a school report. She chose firefighting to write about since her cousin was a firefighter; it’d be an easy A. Unexpectedly, her choice in shadowing deeply ingrained a curiosity in Greenbank towards the occupation.

This curiosity led Greenbank to join the Brea Fire Explorers program when she was 16 years old. There, she was exposed to the various challenges

and operations of a firefighter like throwing ladders, medical runs, and pulling hoses at Station no. 2 on Brea Blvd.

Greenbank remembers one day in particular in her stint as a Brea Fire Explorer. It was the first day practicing throwing ladders, and they started with the lightest one, the 14 ft roof ladder. She experienced the most difficulty of her peers; she couldn’t even raise the ladder off the ground. Greenbank went home, disheartened with her failure. But her inability to raise that ladder ultimately made Greenbank realize firefighting was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“After that day, I went home with so much determination that the next time I came to a meeting, I would be able to throw that ladder. That changed things for me. I realized I better get in shape. [Being a firefighter] is something I want, so I better work hard for it. Since then, it has been an ongoing challenge to be successful in the different tasks that make up being a firefighter. And the challenges it put me through day in and day out made me want that dream more and more,” Greenbank said.

After three years as a Brea Fire Explorer, Greenback was hired on with the volunteer fire department La Habra Heights. She knew that working there would provide “great experience and training” while she tested at different fire departments for a permanent position.

In the meantime, Greenbank tested at approximately 40-50 fire departments, ranging from Orange County Fire Authority to Oakland Fire Department. Originally, Greenbank had no intentions of working in Los Angeles. She was an Orange County native; naturally, she expected that she’d work there too. But when the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) offered her a spot in their twenty-week fire academy, the Drill Tower, she jumped at

feature the chance.

The Drill Tower was “physically and mentally challenging.” Fortunately, Greenbank’s years at La Habra Heights gave her a distinct advantage over those in her class that had no experience whatsoever.

With hard work and perseverance, Greenbank graduated fourth overall in her class of 48 on April 28, 2015. She was specially awarded the “Golden Rung” for placing first in Truck Operations. And on that day, she became an official probationary firefighter of the LAFD at station no. 94 in Crenshaw.

Greenbank then made up the three percent of females hired on with LAFD. (Of 3,200 firefighters at Los Angeles, only 100 are female firefighters).

“My most memorable moment was LAFD graduation at the Drill Tower.

It was a relief to graduate, but even to this day, I’m still in disbelief that I actually got hired, that I’m actually on the floor, and that I’m actually a firefighter. I tested for eight years, and I’ve been wanting this dream since I was 16, so it’s been a ten year long journey. That moment of success, when I realized that I actually did it, was so real I can barely still believe it,” Greenbank said.

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GRADUATION DAY: Greenbank receives her graduation honors as her uncle, who is also a firefighter, places it on her uniform. Greenbank graduated in the top four of her class, in an historic class that only enrolled five women.

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s a LAFD probationary firefighter, which is essentially “the bottom of the totem pole”, Greenbank works three 24-hour shifts a week with four days off. “Always on her feet,” her morning responsibilities include getting housework done, brewing coffee, putting the flag up, grabbing the newspaper, and assuring the station is clean to start the day. Probationary firefighters also do inventory on the engine or truck to ensure that all the tools and equipment are in their proper place. She, along with the other firefighters, will clean the bathrooms, locker rooms, hallways, and captain’s dorms. In addition to her probationary duties, Greenbank finds time to look at different tools, train, and respond to calls.

But no matter how exhausting firefighting can be, Greenbank believes being a firefighter for the LAFD is the place where she truly belongs.

“Honestly, being a firefighter is exhausting sometimes. There are just some days when I’m so tired. What makes me come back everyday is my love for the job. I love just being at the station. The guys are your family and after you’re there on probation for a few months, they treat you like one of them. Also, helping people is a good feeling. You are there when someone calls 9-11, and they’re relying on you; they trust you. There are calls that you go on where you truly know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. And those moments make being a firefighter really worth it,” Greenbank said.

GIRL POWER: Greenbank stands with her fellow graduates on her graduation ceremony on April 28, 2016 with the only four other girls graduating from the Los Angeles Fire Department Drill Tower 81 with Fire Chief Terrazas.

I

n the future, Greenbank plans to finish her probationary period and be promoted to an LAFD engineer after four years. She also aims to come back to BOHS as the JV cheer coach, which Greenbank put on hold when she was hired on at LAFD. “She was a good student and was always engaged and interested in learning more about the human body. I would like to say that my class sparked her interest in emergency medicine and got her more involved with her interest in fire and EMT. After graduating, she came back to work for the school as a cheer coach. She worked well with the cheerleaders and always maintained a fun, safe and caring environment. Her dedication and perseverance has been the driving force behind her success in becoming a firefighter,” Ken McCall, sports medicine teacher, said.

CUTTING IT CLOSE: Greenbank and her fellow firefighter Garcia cut the hood of a vehicle with a rotary saw during auto-extrication day at the Drill Tower 81.

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feature

BUCKEL UP Meet the new BOHS campus officer Shannon Buckels

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY

A

fter the retirement of former school resource officer (SRO) Dan Moon, Shannon Buckels, has taken over in his place for the new school year.

She applied because of her desire to work with juveniles and see them go on to become successful members of society. To Buckels, helping a student get onto the path to become a productive member of society is “the most gratifying job anyone could possibly have.”

Her primary goal as SRO is to bridge the gap between students and law enforcement.

“The negative stories about law enforcement in the media are overwhelming and it’s easy to form a negative opinion about ALL police officers.

It goes against human nature to admit when we make a mistake and take responsibility for it. Our job as police officers is to hold you accountable if you make a bad decision, so that compounds the negativity. I want to be an example to the students at BOHS that police officers are human beings trying to do the best job we can in very difficult circumstances,” Buckels said.

For the most part, Buckels’ job as SRO is unpredictable. She starts off the work day by arriving at the Brea Police Department, putting

on her uniform, and checking out a patrol car.

If a major incident occurs, Buckels will assist until there is enough police personnel to handle it. Usually, she will spend her day on the BOHS campus, handling crimes like stolen property or

as BOHS SRO because of the staff and students around her.

“My favorite part of being at BOHS is the people. The staff has been so nice and supportive to me being the new SRO on campus. The students

I want to be an example to the students at BOHS that police officers are human beings trying to do the best job we can in very difficult circumstances. if students bring drugs, alcohol, or weapons onto campus.

Buckels plans to end her career with the Brea Police Department after she completes five years as the SRO. She will then qualify for retirement and concentrate on being a full-time mom.

But until then, Buckels is enjoying her time

are taking a little longer to warm up to me. The first week, only a few students approached me to introduce themselves, which I very much appreciated. Now, I hear a lot more ‘Hi Ofc. Buckels’ as I’m walking around the campus, and that makes me happy. I had no idea how nice this position would be and how the kind the students and staff are.”

a&e

JUST DANCE photos by ANNICE LEE

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(from bottom right corner clockwise) “Next to You”, choreographed by Ashley Belknap; “Don’t Let Me Down”, choreographed by Missy Burns & Chihiro Takebayashi; “Golden Coast”, choreographed by Missy Burns w

24

arts and entertainment

On the Arts Entertainment Reviews

Fantastic Beasts - a creative revival on the Harry Potter series

Doctor Strange

“A mindbending hit”

source: youtube.com

source: youtube.com

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY

Doubling as an adventure into J.K. Rowling’s pre-Harry Potter era and a feature revealing the troubles of a society full of bigotry and fear, Fantastic Beasts will undoubtedly leave you spellbound.

In 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York on his way to Arizona. There, he finds himself accidentally exposing the world of magic to a No-Maj (Muggle) named Jacob by misplacing his suitcase, which hosts fantastic beasts that then escape in the city.

At a time where the fragile balance between No-Maj and Maj is on the verge of being torn

apart, Scamander’s escape of magical beasts not only threatens the Statute of Secrecy, but it also coincides with an invisible, destructive menace that is wreaking havoc on New York’s 5th avenue.

Scamander is a refreshing main character with an inescapable, quirky appeal. His devotion to the protection of magical creatures is unlike any other in the Harry Potter series and highlights his uniqueness.

This loyal love to magical creatures is ultimately what makes the film so magical in the first place as it is what ties Fantastic Beasts together.

Moana - not the traditional Disney princess story

source: twincities.com, CNET.com, & kaskus.com

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY

Disney’s latest princess movie, Moana, is a refreshing musical take on the classic feminist empowered stories that the company is known for.

Answering the Ocean’s Call, Moana Waialiki, daughter of the Motunui tribe chief, sets sail on a journey to save her people and the island from a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson). The only way to alleviate the course is to have Maui return the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, which he originally stole to give man the gift of creation. Moana later befriends Maui, and together they journey on a voyage along the treacherous ocean with dangerous

monsters and even more dangerous odds. And during this adventure, Moana not only follows in the footsteps of her ancient ancestors, but she also learns who she really is.

The songs of Moana, all composed by Lin Manuel Miranda, really helped to bring the story alive. “We Know the Way” and “How Far I’ll Go” are definitely the highlights. The former introduces the tribe’s past while the latter reveals the internal conflict that Moana has felt throughout her entire life.

The combination of the great storyline and the music is what makes Moana a must see for the holiday season.

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY

With stunning graphics, dry humor, and action-packed plot, Dr. Strange is in the running to be one of the Marvel films of the decade.

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a talented neurosurgeon who thinks highly of his skills and even more highly of himself. Everything changes when a car accident damages the most important part of a surgeon: his hands. Strange then embarks on a journey for a miracle cure after modern medicine fails him, and he is soon drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

But after acquiring his cure through the use of magic, he is forced to choose between going back to his former life as a normal neurosurgeon or living for something beyond himself as the worthy defender of the magical world that is in peril.

Overall, Dr. Strange has kept consistent with the Marvel trend of visual masterwork. In fact, the theme of mystic arts has amplified the quality of their usual production.

However, what makes Dr. Strange stand out against other Marvel movies is the unpredictable charm of its main character, Dr. Stephen Strange. Cumberbatch brings to life a character that one cannot help but admire from the beginning despite his cocky nature.

Strange’s journey from a cocky neurosurgeon to the most powerful sorcerer in the world truly reveals the goodness of human nature. Marvel’s combination of the life lesson of self-sacrifice and the film’s beautiful graphics is strangely perfect.

sports

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BOHS receives first NATA Safe Sports Award

by ANABEL KING

photo by JULIET ISLES

What are the requirements for the award?

Create a positive athletic health care administrative system Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions Provide or facilitate injury intervention Create and rehearse venue-specific Emergency Action Plan What made you apply for the award?

I wanted our school to be recognized for everything that I have done to create a safe and successful athletic training program here at BOHS.

and reapplying after the 3 year award expires, student athletes, parents and visitors can be comfortable knowing that BOHS has done everything possible to create and maintain a safe environment for athletics.

Has BOHS ever received a title like this before?

This is a relatively new award established by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) in 2013. I started completing all of the requirements and paperwork last spring and submitted the application over summer.

This is the first time BOHS has been recognized with this award. To me the significance is the fact that I have met all of the mandatory requirements for a second team award and also met the additional requirements for the 1st team award. It makes me feel good about the job that I have done here to create and provide a safe environment for athletes to practice and compete.

How has your position as BOHS Athletic Trainer affected your view of the safety of our school sports?

What future effects will the award have on BOHS sports?

By maintaining the requirements of the award

It has made me proud of what I have created over the past 13 years as an employee. A lot of the requirements for this award were already met by what I have implemented here at the high school. It has also made me work to create and implement a few things that I hadn’t done before.

Anything else you’d like to share about this accomplishment?

I am not a one-man band and I am very fortunate to work with fantastic and supportive athletic directors, administrators and coaches who help create a fun and safe environment for our student athletes during practice and competition.

Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities Continue to collaborate with high quality healthcare providers to provide a network of professionals for our student athletes to have access to Student athletes need to follow recommendations from healthcare providers regarding return to play when injured or ill Practice and competition facilities need to be maintained Coaching staff and administration needs to continue to maintain current CPR/AED and First Aid certification

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sports

XC places 6th at state Coming from a 1st place title in state last year, boys’ cross country finished sixth in the 2016 CIF Cross Country State Championships on Nov. 26 in Fresno, Calif.

by SARAH BURRIS

C

photographs courtesy of JOHN DEMPSEY and BEN CRAWFORD

IF Cross Country State Championships: the prime target for all California high school runners. Teams across the state train for months, building endurance, stamina, and strength. Just to be eligible to participate is an

accomplishment in itself.

But to the winners goes a towering trophy and the honor of being called the Best in the State. Fresh off first place in League Finals and 2nd place in CIF finals, the BOHS cross country team arrived to the State meet at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 26 with aspirations of

placing in the top 10. “[The team was] prepared. Throughout the season, we were doing 60 to 70 miles per week. [And as we got closer] to the race, we tapered out to about 50 [miles],” Tommy Valenti, junior, said.

Still, as prepared as they were, the team knew that their State Championships race had to be one of their best. Their past two races, League Finals and CIF finals, had presented BOHS with a rival: West Torrance High School. BOHS had barely scraped by to beat West Torrance in League, and lost first place to them in CIF. To BOHS, the state championships presented the cross country team with a chance to reclaim their state championship title from last year.

Valenti described the boys’ cross country team’s determination, saying they “were hungry for another state title, and didn’t want to leave without it. [I feel that everyone] had that same sort of mentality.”

However, the results of State Championships presented the BOHS team with some bittersweet emotions.

At the end of the racing day, the boys’ varsity cross country runners left Fresno with a sixth place overall title. The team, though happy to place in the top 10 in California, felt somewhat dejected to not have left with another title.

“We just knew we were capable of much more,” John Dempsey, junior and boys’ varsity team captain, said.

Unfortunately, BOHS lost, coming up behind La Costa Canyon High School. Rival West Torrance finished in second place behind Cathedral Catholic who went home with the trophy.

But a sixth place state title leaves BOHS cross country team with hope for the upcoming track season.

Dempsey plans to utilize the results of the November state championship race as a learning experience. This is in order to motivate the boys’ varsity cross country runners who will soon be running on the track team. “[We] want the returning varsity members to remember this result and [try harder in order] to not have the have the same [outcome] for next year’s season when we compete for another state title. We were not disappointed because we know that we had accomplishments within this season that made it a solid one. We know that we performed as a top team of the state,” Dempsey said.

sports

RACE READY The boys’ varsity cross country team huddles together before their race at the 2016 CIF Cross Country State Championships on Nov. 26.

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holidays

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50 THINGS

1

for

WINTER BREAK 15

Sleep In

While this is a given, make sure to take advantage of the break to get some extra Z’s before school starts again.

2

Starbucks holiday drinks

7

Visit Disneyland or Downtown Disney

What better place to go to than the Happiest Place on Earth? Disneyland and Downtown Disney are always overflowing with holiday magic and spirit.

3

8

Have fun slipping and sliding at the ice rink, skating with your friends.

Be sure to grab at hot chocolate.

New Year’s resolutions

Of course we all know that you won’t stick to them, but have fun coming up with them anyways.

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4

Donate blood

The holiday season is all about the giving, so what about donating some blood?

Build a gingerbread house

5 6

Christmas playlist

Make sure to add some Buble and Carey to that.

Plan gifts

Instead of rushing on Christmas Eve, take the time to plan out all your gifts to friends and family.

All you need is some chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows, and a warm fire.

21

Visit Aquarium of the Pacific

Try Starbucks’ signature holiday drinks such as Caramel Brulee Latte.

Go ice skating

Make s’mores

14

Eggscellent eggnog

Enjoy the holidays with the symbolic Christmas drink. Be sure to add some ice!

9

Bake a batch of brownies

A great and delicious way to get into the holiday spirit. Extra credit for decorating.

11

Build a snowman

13

Christmas movie marathon

Cut some snowflakes out, hang up some ornaments, and spice up that bedroom with some Christmas cheer!

16

Make hot chocolate

17

Christmas toy drive

18

Volunteer at a soup kitchen

Give the gift of a donation by participating in the toy drive.

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Go caroling

Spread Christmas joy with your friends by caroling around your neighborhood.

Host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party What’s more festive than an old-fashioned Ugly Christmas Sweater party with your friends during the holidays?

Lend a hand to all the people in our community that don’t have a home to return to on Christmas.

Obviously not here in Brea. Drive up to Big Bear or Mount Whitney for the snowy conditions.

Grab some popcorn, get a blanket and sit down on the couch. Enjoy Christmas classics such as Home Alone, Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf, Santa Claus, & The Grinch.

19

Visit the Los Angeles Zoo Lights

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Snowball fight

No rocks please.

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Roast chestnuts

Toasty and good!

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Christmas train!

holidays

25

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Visit a science museum

It sounds a little odd but many science museums have special holiday themed exhibits that are exclusive to this winter.

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Visit an art museum

Art museums this time of year have special Christmas exhibitions and winter-themed art pieces.

Secret Santa

Secret Santa gift exchanges are a great way to get involved in the gift giving spirit of the holidays!

White Elephant

For those that are more competitive, these exchanges offer a more exciting alternative.

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Coffee shop reading

Whether its Coffee Bean or Starbucks, a coffee shop offers a warm retreat from the chilly outdoors, making it perfect to read your favorite book. It you can’t go, Spotify has a coffee shop playlist.

29

31 Ride its a Small World Holiday at the Disneyland Resort

What better place to go to than the Happiest Place on Earth? Disneyland and Downtown Disney are always overflowing with holiday magic and spirit.

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Relax at the beach

Sunny California weather means that the beaches aren’t as cold.

(A bonfire also sounds nice.)

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Say “I love Spend the day in you” and Christmas PJ’s mean it

Instead of saying “I love you” out of habit, say it with love.

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Decorate a Christmas tree

Grab some decorations and spice up that bedroom with Christmas decorations. Turn on carols while you’re at it.

Be lazy and festive! Go crazy on the different colors and patterns, and the softer the better.

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Tour the Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is historical ship where tourists can visit on the holidays.

Watch the Christmas boat parade at Newport Beach

The Christmas boat parade at Newport Beach is an annual holiday demonstration of boats and ships.

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Plan a bonfire at the beach

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Visit Eagle Decorate your Hills room Eagle Hills is a neighborhood that is known for all the Christmas lights and decorations.

Grab some decorations and spice up that bedroom with Christmas decorations.

While you’re at it, make sure you turn on some carols.

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Make snow angels

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The open fire will warm you and your friends as you sit together at the shore.

Even if there’s no snow in Southern California, get creative.

Take a hike

Get some exercise when you enjoy all that nature has to offer during the winter season.

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Stay up as late as you want

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Download ElfYourself

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Don’t look at the time. If you stay late enough, you can enjoy the sunrise.

Gather up to five pictures of your family or friends and see them transform to dancing elves.

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Take a Christmas themed family portrait Whether it’s with your friends or with your family.

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Go to the movies

Who else is excited for Sing?

Have a Secret Santa Gift Exchange Enjoy your extra Monday

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Watch the Make a pillow ball drop fort Unleash your childlike on New and create the Year’s Eve spirit biggest, best pillow fort Countdown as loud as you can, and watch the fireworks explode.

ever! Make sure to bring your favorite stuffed animal and your laptop so that you can watch Netflix inside.

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holidays

Holiday gift guide Need a last minute gift? Check out this useful gift guide to help you find the perfect present. Choose from the four categories of: Experience, Wear, Edibles, and Unique.

Wear

Edibles coffee lover?

by STACY UHM

PJ’s?

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer $9.99

Experience/ what they can do

Do they like wild activities?

Yes

Yes

No

guys

girls

tomboy

No

IKEA coffee press $9.99

classic DIY water marble mug

jeans graphic tee

train trip

Yes

scarf character onesie

hipster

dandy

cardigan

fun photoshoot

go cart

ballcap Japanese candymaking kit speedboat

hoodie flannels

wristwatch

casual chinos

holidays

Unique

Yes

Do they like sci-fi?

DIY?

Check out thinkgeek.com

No Check out uncommongoods.com

No

Yes

6.

Do they like plants?

No

Meals/ savory

Sweet treats

If they enjoy lying down, check out Bed Prism Spectacles

No

Yes

5.

DIY succulent plants

DIY?

Photos for DIY/Gift ideas 6.

Dominos gift card

No

movie night in a basket with hot chocolate

Macarons

5.

Chocolate

Cake

Merely Sweets

2.

Yes

Godiva

1.

3.

1.

Hanging gingerbread cookies

3.

Bake at 850

2.

DIY Pinecones

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Snowflake pretzels

4.

Bake at 850

4.

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final shot

Every drop counts Hannah Towbin, senior, gets her blood drawn by a UC Irvine Healthcare worker at BOHS’ annual blood drive on Nov. 18.