Editor’s Note
Welcome back to school and into this year’s first issue. This year is quite different for us, as we have had to say goodbye to our past adviser and welcome a new one.
The main focus of this issue is to remember the life and legacy left behind by Eric Johnston. We interviewed students, staff and his children to share bits of their relationships and the influence he bestowed upon them.
In this edition we also highlight the welcoming of new administrators, a junior varsity dance team and football coaches. We talked to students who had the chance to experience unique travel opportunities over the summer. Over the summer months, many new movies and albums were released. Our reporters reviewed a few of them and tell whether or not they think they are worth your time. On top of this, the thing on most students’ minds has been Megalunch. Good? Bad? Well, we had two students go head to head and share their thoughts.
We are proud to present our first issue and hope you enjoy it.
Sincerely,
The Editors-In-Chief
On The Cover
Green Valley mourns the loss of esteemed journalism adviser.
Co Editors-In-Chief: Joshua Berson
Kinsley Priebe
Section Editors: Feature: Eddi Hager
Sports: Laura Villanueva
A&E:
Kennedy Milton
Opinion: Michael Steffen
Photography: Angelina Santos
Reporters: Paige Brown
Julieta Cadario
Madelynne Cotton
Shaena Cozo
Brook Moore
Brenna Nelson
Madison Rose
Violet Vazquez
The InvestiGator is a student-run and operated news magazine. All opinions and views expressed within are those of the author and not of the student body or staff of Green Valley High School.
Letters to the editor or staff may be delivered to room 825 to Mrs. Cvetnich or emailed to her at cvetnnm1@nv.ccsd.net
Green Valley High School 460 Arroyo Grande Henderson, NV 89014
In Loving Memory of Eric Johnston
Angelina Santos
SHOW TIME -During the halftime of a varsity football game, senior Abigail Green performs with the color guard.
Angelina Santos
Kinsley Priebe
News in Brief
Megalunch
In previous school years, lunch has been split into first and second lunch. It has been based on a student’s 5th and 6th period. Now, it has changed to one lunch, nicknamed Megalunch, that includes the whole school. Rumors about this lunch started spreading around the end of last school year and summer. Because of this recent change, two lunch lines in the cafeteria have not been enough, so there
are now around 4 lunch lines because of the new addition of the school catering food. Food from various restaurants are also available daily from Rivas, Chick-Fil-A and Panda Express. This gives students and staff a faster time to get lunch and more options for food. For students, this allows them to hang out with friends and not have to worry about not having lunch with them. Because of there only being one lunch, students are now allowed in the space that is near the doors that go into the hallways. On the second floor, tables have been added for more seating.
Phone Pouches
Cell phones are a prominent part of many students’ lives. Oftentimes they are the center of classroom discussion, as teachers have to constantly tell their students to put them away during instruc tional time. In response to this, Clark County School District has issued a new policy to reduce the use of phones in the classroom. Each classroom from grade six to 12 has a new phone pouch that is military de signed and blocks the phone’s signal. This helps students not check their phone in the middle of class when a notification pops up. This is aimed at helping in crease attention and fo cus on the class material.
Since the phones will be in these new pouches for the entirety of class time, students will not be allowed to have their phones when going to the bathroom. The only time phones are allowed to be used will be passing periods and lunch. If staff or an administrator sees a phone outside of the allowed time, it will get reported and there may be repercussions that follow.
Joshua Berson
Construction
A massive construction project began in June and will continue for the next two years. The school opened in 1991, so the building is due for updates. The main problems come from
and flooring in the gym, and a new robotics lab in the back of the school.
“We’ve always had a big school spirit here, and one thing I kept saying is ‘we’re in jeopardy of losing
rooms to be moved into other vacant classrooms and new portables.
The construction includes tasks like ripping off walls and floors to get to the problem, and then putting in new floors and walls. The construction is expected to be an 18 month long process which will take two school years. Some other updates around the school are the bleachers
never seen it,’. We will be fighting very hard to get that back,” Assistant Principal Heather Coleman said. Some areas will be finished before others which gives a chance to this year’s students to experience events like assemblies in the gym instead of the field. All of this construction will give the school a new look and updated material for students to use and have a better school experience.
Heather Coleman “
We’ve always had a big school spirit here... we will be fighting very had to get that back.
Admin addition Two alumni step into new roles
By Paige Brown
Anew school year comes with many changes, this year’s is the addition of our two newest disciplinary administrators: Assistant Principal over discipline Christine Dzarnoski and Student Success Instructional Facilitator Tiffany Cerrone.
With a new position comes new responsibilities. For Cerrone, her responsibilities include preventing behavior and disciplinary issues whenever possible. For Dzarnoski, all her duties fall under discipline.
“If there’s disruptions in class or things that are happening around campus, I investigate the situations. If students need to be RPC’ed or suspended, I take care of those things on my end,” Dzarnoski said. “I speak with the parents, and also make connections with students; that’s really important for me. I supervise during passing, before school, after school, school events and activities.”
Dzarnoski originally received her degree in elementary education and went back to school to gain a master’s degree in administration. She is entering her ninth year of administration, previously having worked at an online high school where the only
real behavior issue was cyberbullying. On the other hand, Cerrone has taken a huge step in her career with this new position.
“The majority of my teaching experience is in self contained autism. First I was an SPTA in an autism classroom at one of our behavioral schools in town and then became a teacher, and went back to work at that school. Then I was briefly at a middle school during the fun COVID year and then here at Green Valley,” Cerrone said.
Both having explored many areas of education, the two women have decided to settle on administration. Dzarnoski chose this when she was just two years old, with plans on becoming a principal and working towards that goal ever since. She not only loves to work with all the students but with the staff, families and enjoys the accessibility to everyone in education. Similarly, Cerrone’s background allows her to better understand the responsibilities she has taken on.
“My experience with special education really helps in this new area. There’s a lot of laws related to schools, but there’s even more laws related to special education,” Cerrone said. “Those students have behavior and
Tiffany Cerrone “
I’m happy to be a Gator again.
discipline concerns as well, and then also just having some knowledge and background and dealing with the behaviors that come along with that, I think that’s what’s most helpful.”
Their work days are anything but normal. Cerrone mentions that while they have a to do list, they are always pulled away from projects to deal with students or behavioral concerns. It is a new and busy experience for the both of them.
“It’s dependent on the day. I come in around 6 a.m. since my morning supervision starts at 6:30 a.m. so then I’m downstairs supervising. If there’s meetings I have, I go attend them. I have conversations with students and parents; if there’s any situation I
need to investigate, that’s my time to do that. I do classroom observations and we just did presentations to ninth graders since they’re new to campus,” Dzarnoski said.
A unique aspect of both is that they are Green Valley alumni. Dzarnoski could not help but come back due to this school’s ‘excellent’ reputation that still stands from when she was here. When she saw the position available, she applied here and nowhere else. Cerrone feels this is also where she is meant to be.
“I wasn’t as involved when I was a student as I am now that I’m a teacher, but I loved it,” Cerrone said. “I was proud to be a Gator then, and I’m happy to be a Gator again.”
Joshua Berson
TYPE - Dzarnoski (bottom) and Cerrone (top) work at their desks. Both of them are located in the Student Success Office.
Fresh moves
New JV dance team steps into the spotlight
By Violet Vasquez
For the first time in Green Valley history, a junior varsity dance team has been added to the Performing Arts department giving the dance program a chance to shine a spotlight on fresh talent.
The JV team represents a new opportunity for underclassmen on campus to learn from experienced dancers and gain invaluable performance experience.
Not only is there a new dance team on campus, head dance coach Alexandra Harrsion is on maternity leave, and two new coaches have stepped in to lead the teams in her
absence.
Acting head Coach Makenna Pittman is teaching dance as a long-term sub along with coaching the varsity team in Harrison’s absence.
The newly minted JV team is being led by a Gator alumni, assistant coach Taya Peoples, who graduated from the school in 2023.
Peoples offered her help to coach the young dancers hoping to pass along her passion and love for the sport of dance.
“There are a lot of good dancers. A lot of talent comes in every year for auditions, but I think the mindset and confidence is something that really lacks. I mainly wanted to become a coach, so I can [pay it forward and]
just thank my coach for being the amazing coach she is always pushing us past our limits,” Peoples said. “So I’m not very experienced, but I went through stuff that made me very strong minded. I feel like dancing made me very structured now, and [that helps] going into the outside world,” Peoples said. “I want to pass that onto other girls coming in, especially freshmen.”
With a new team and new coaches this year, getting to know each other and forming strong bonds is more important than ever.
Peoples, who is passionate about boosting morale through communication and actively building relationships is a natural fit for the role she
will fill.
“Being able to be in the same place where I felt, so safe and alive [made me feel] like I could be vulnerable without being judged.”
The addition of the JV squad not only gives underclassmen the chance to explore the connection and friendships that come from being a part of a team. It is also aimed at allowing young dancers the time and practice it takes to develop and better their craft.
This new team has afforded many new faces, new opportunities.
“[Something I want to improve is] being sharp with my movement, and learning choreography quickly,” freshman Peyton Rose said.
Riley Lantow
POMPOMS - Rose cheers on the JV football team.
Adventures abroad
Senior Mikeala Savoy cherishes European cities
By Joshua Berson
During the summer school is out, which means time for vacation and trips. There are plenty of vacation spots in the country, spanning anywhere from California to New York; however, some students got to vacation out of the US, opening themselves up to a wide array of experiences.
Near the end of June, senior Mikaela Savoy had the opportunity to go to Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Her schedule was busy each and every day, filling her days with experiences in a whole new world, outside of Las Vegas.
“[The first place we were at]; we were there for two days, and then every other place, we were there for about a day and a half because we had to travel by bus,” Savoy said. “The itinerary was absolutely jam-packed. There were a lot of different walking tours and getting to see the whole city.”
Out of all the events that Savoy was able to experience, the culture and history excited and intrigued her the most.
From the structure of a museum tour to random activities, she was able to see a different way of life.
“The highlights are definitely the museums. I really enjoy seeing older things. One of our bus rides, I looked out the window and there’s just these giant fields of sunflowers which was amazing because I love sunflowers,” Savoy said. “One of our days during personal time, someone was just playing some music, and there were
a ton of people that lived there and some tourists dancing in the streets. We joined in too.”
Being able to experience a different country brings new standards, culture and food. All of this is able to show how each country is different in how the citizens live each day. Some traditions that America has could be different in another country. A tourist would have to get used to that way of living and can be a big culture shock.
“No one jaywalks; there were crosswalk signs, and it was about to turn red, but the majority of our group had already crossed, so we just went to cross, and a local person yelled at us to stop and wait,” Savoy said. “Their food is also very different from ours. It’s a lot of delicacies, and pastas are not as heavy as they are here. Everything is rich and filled with nutrients even their junk food isn‘t as bad.”
All of this was able to open Savoy’s eyes to what it is like around the world.
Traveling has been a large part of her life, and it has widened her perspective on culture.
It shows how one country can be next to another but be totally different.
For the future, she is planning on another trip to Europe, and a trip to Germany with her family.
“It broadened my perspective of the world; I’ve been to 18 different countries, but I love seeing what is in the world outside of the walls of Las Vegas,” Savoy said. “Every place is completely different from the next.”
Mikeala Savoy, 12 “
It broadened my perspective of the world.
Mikeala Savoy, 12 “
The itinerary was absolutely jam-packed. There were a lot of different walking tours and getting to see the whole city.
POURING - Savoy poses in the rain on June 27. She was in Old Town Square in Prague.
courtesy of Mikeala Savoy
Tile by tile Senior Jayda Powell aids communities
By Kennedy Milton
Imagine traveling the world not only to explore new countries but also spend time with the local communities and help build classrooms for their students. Senior Jayda Powell spent almost three weeks this summer doing just that in Ecuador.
“The purpose of the trip is to help build additional classrooms for a school in Cuenca, we worked alongside the local community, to help build for underfunded and overpopulated schools for three to five year olds,” Powell said.
Not only did Powell take on a new country, she did it with a group of teenagers from all over America who were strangers to her. Everyone meets for the first time during their flight to Ecuador.
“I went with a group of 23 people, and I didn’t know anyone that was there, so it was completely random strangers from all over the country that I had just met,” Powell said.
Learning new hands-on tasks, and actually building the classrooms took a lot of manual labor. Powell learned skills used at most construction sights, something she was not
exposed to prior to her trip.
“We were building an extra classroom so we painted a lot of walls, threw concrete, weeding in their yard area and painted so many roof tiles,”
Powell said.
Along with the hard work her and her group put into the schools they
had an equal balance of exploring the island and indulging in its culture, especially the food.
“One of their delicacies is guinea pig, we had cooks and they brought it to the worksite on our last day,” Powell said. “It was just this pig on top of potatoes, and it tasted like roasted chicken, it honestly wasn’t that bad.”
One of the most impactful aspects of the trip was the connection made with the local community. Despite the language barrier, Powell found ways to communicate and learn from the people she met.
“Getting to meet all the members of the community and talk to them was great. Even though they spoke Spanish, there’s a lot of translation going on, and it was so cool to hear their stories, and they invited us into their homes,” Powell said. “It was cool to see how they lived and what they believed in.”
The trip, a one-of-a-kind experi
ence, is something Powell would recommend to her peers. With locations all over the world and hundreds of students participating each summer. Building your social circle and exploring new places.
“I would definitely recommend it to others. It’s just a good way to gain some perspective,” Powell said. “You don’t have your phone for the whole two and a half weeks, so it is a good break and recharge from your everyday life.”
The experience was not just about helping others, it was also about personal growth. Learning to appreciate the aspects of her life at home while still appreciating the culture she surrounded herself with.
“I think it just made me realize more what I had, and made me more grateful for that and how privileged we are to live here,” Powell said. “It also was cool to see how grateful and humble the people in Ecuador were.”
UNDER THE SEA - Powell poses with a mural painted on a new school in Ecuador. She and her peers were tasked with painting the wall.
coutesy of Jayda Powell
Dangerous dating Student speaks out on dating violence
By Madison Rose
Up to 19% of teenagers report that they experience dating violence in their relationships. Another 65% report psychological abuse according to the American Psychology Association.
Dating violence has become exceedingly prevalent in today’s generation, and with the recent release of the movie adaptation of the popular book “It Ends With Us,” this issue is being brought to light more so than before.
Dating violence is defined as a violence committed by a person who has been in a social relationship of
My message would be that it is not your fault whatsoever.
Emma Keeney, 12
a romantic nature. This can include abuse that is physical, emotional or verbal. The offender typically only wants power over the victim; it is never out of love.
“He was just very aggressive when he was mad at me,” senior Emma Keeney said. “He’d yell at me, punch walls and things of that sort. Something that he really loved to do was that he would speed up really fast and threaten to crash the car.”
In the beginning, the signs can be nearly invisible. It can be masked as a perfect and loving relationship, but can take a turn for the worse in a matter of seconds. Some signs include isolation, manipulation or even playful seeming threats. This lets the abuse to continue.
“There are a few things that I would notice,” counselor Kanesha Matlock said. “If it looks like the victim has neglected all their friends and only hangs out with their significant other, that is a red flag. I also look for the demeanor; they are always walking with this person, but that does not mean that there is a smile on their face. Another important one is to see how the conversation flows and to evaluate the genuineness.”
Relationships like these can leave a profound impact on the individual. Experiencing violence in romantic relationships can impact not only fa-
milial connections, friendships and future romantic relationships, but also take a toll on one’s mental health due to the continuous degradation they experience.
“It gave me a really bad self image,” Keeney said. “I was being told every day that I was worth nothing, and that I was not going to go anywhere, so I was pretty much nothing without him. So really I felt like I had no purpose.”
Social media also plays a role in the victim’s experience as it can either intensify the stigma that comes with being abused, or it can allow them an outlet, as they are able to see others come out and break the silence. There can be examples of story times shared on platforms about their experience that can help others. On the other hand, people can start blaming victims. Social media comes with paradoxical consequences and has the power to influence situations like domestic violence.
When it comes to reporting abuse, there is often a mental hurdle. The partner has made the victim afraid to go to anyone that would be able to assist them. A common action of abusers is to make their victim feel like they are nothing without them or even threaten harm upon themselves if they speak out. Despite numerous available resources like hotlines,
websites and support groups, with threats, it can make the victim terrified to address the situation and seek help.
“If someone were to report it to me, it is actually twofold,” Matlock said. “It is considered a disciplinary issue as shown in the Hands Off policy. On the counselor’s side, we do suggest that they speak with a therapist or someone they know in regards to those matters.”
It needs to be understood that physical abuse is not the only type of abuse in domestically violent relationships. Physical abuse can be easily identified, but psychological and emotional tactics are used to maintain control over the victim and can be just as harmful. It is important that these topics are discussed, especially to the younger generation, in order to teach them the relevant signs and tools in case the unthinkable happens.
“I think my message would be that it is not your fault,” Keeney said. “Your confidence is below zero. You are completely trapped and you feel like there is nowhere you can go because of the threats they use against you. I think a lot of people, when they get out of those relationships often blame themselves for not leaving earlier. So my message would be that it is not your fault whatsoever.”
Eddi Hager & Madison Rose
Stadium to school Raiderette steps in as substitute
By Eddi Hager
From the field at Allegiant Stadium, Raiderette Mckenna Pittman pivots into a new role as interim head coach for the dance department.
She heads the varsity and JV teams along with class level dance.
Essential skills of being a Raiderette require rigorous work and determination. Pittman’s time performing alongside the team has led her towards an interest in taking on the chance of coaching as the position opened.
Being an example for the community is something she strives for, and both roles allow her to achieve that.
“Raiders fans are die-hards, so I love going out into the community,” Pittman said. “I love getting to meet people and kid events. The kids love me, so it’s a mutual feeling.”
Pittman went on a path to become a professional dancer through her intense passion and constant practice. She began dancing at a young age and gained a great plenitude of experience which helped her to start as a full-time performer.
Many do not realize the sheer amount of time taken up by rehearsals, appearances and game day productions to meet the requirements of being a Raiderette.
This did not deter Pittman, and she debuted on the team in the fall of 2022. She is currently in her third career season.
“You become a Raiderette with lots of passion for dance and cheer combined. I have a lot of dance experience,” Pittman said. “I’ve been dancing since I was three. After I ended college, I wanted to take a leap of faith and audition, and that’s all it takes.”
Taking a gamble and trying out to be on an NFL cheerleading team is no easy task; however, for Pittman, this was something she felt well prepared for.
On top of that initial obstacle, there are many things that are up in the air for athletes as they are reliant
on themselves, both physically and mentally, to compete and practice their sport. For Pittman, that includes an injury that occurred earlier this year. It has since led her to physical therapy in order to become stronger for the upcoming, fourth season. She hasn’t allowed this experience to define her career and is ready to bounce back.
“I actually dislocated my shoulder
this past May, so that’s definitely been a setback,” Pittman said. “I’ve been overcoming lots of physical therapy, lots of stretching, lots of pain and tears, but I’ve overcome it so we are good to go.”
Pittman is thankful for this opportunity she has earned and experienced. She plans to carry the skills and knowledge she attains with her through her future seasons as well as
through her life.
“Becoming a Raiderette was always a dream of mine. Achieving that dream is, well, a dream come true. I’ll take life lessons from it like how to react or interact with people in the community, talk to people and just share my joy of dancing and cheering with others,” Pittman said. “It’s very fun because I’ll probably stick with dancing.”
courtesy of Mckenna Pittman
POMS UP - Pittman waves to fans in the stands at Allegiant Stadium.
Legacy in memoriam
Beloved teacher, adviser, coach is remembered
By Kinsley Priebe
Some people will always be there. In their classroom, on the other end of the phone, at home. They will always be somewhere within reach. That is what it feels like at least, and there is no world in which one would imagine having to live without them present.
This was the kind of feeling that surrounded Eric Johnston.
He always made himself available to his students in a way that far exceeded what a teacher is required or expected to do. For many, his classroom became a place of safe solace on the best of days and a work room full of constructive criticism aimed at helping students become the best version of themselves they could be the rest of the time.
“I think the thing with him is there is no standout memory. So there’s not one thing. I mean, I’m sure if I talked to him, I’d be like, ‘Oh, remember when we did this?’ I would do that all the time,” counselor Kimberly Mahan said. “Just his little keys jingling as he walks down the hallway. Or, if I would be here and he’d be in the office in the morning, I’d walk in, he’d be like, ‘Oh, look who showed up to work today.’ Just those little things. He’s present and he’s there, and you can always depend on him. It’s like clockwork.”
Johnston played an absolutely integral role amongst his colleagues and students for the 14 years he taught at Green Valley. He was multifaceted, as he taught English, Journalism Foundations, coached women’s varsity basketball and varsity softball, advised the newspaper, as well as picking up the yearbook four years ago.
One thing remained constant throughout all of the professional endeavors Johnston undertook. His work ethic. It separated him from being just another teacher on a students eight class schedule or another colleague teacher shared a hallway with. Johnston took immense pride in everything he did and only put forth his best effort, always striving for the best result.
“He’s just that guy who had no off switch, when it came to putting out the best product possible. I mean, [his students] know, [they have] been around it. He was going to do everything possible within, you know, 24 hours, or in the day, that we’re all given to make the student newspaper, back then, because that’s all he was in charge of, the best it could possibly be,” Principal Kent Roberts said. “He was a unique blend of somebody that was highly intelligent, very passionate about his work and about helping his students be the best version of themselves.”
No matter the background a student came from, Johnston gave them equal opportunities and held them to his high standards, while keeping them accountable for themselves and the work that they produced. This did not come to a halt when he began advising his daughter Bailey Johnston during her years in high school.
“He was strict to the point where he was like, ‘I’m being hard on you guys about school and stuff like that, because I want you guys to be better than how I was when I was your guys’ age.’ He always wanted us to be better than how he was,” Bailey Johnston said. “When I got to high school, that’s when [our relationship] developed into a teacher,
coach and dad relationship. I was like, ‘dang, he just put them all together.’ He was good at separating them at certain times, but a lot of the time he always wanted us to be on top of our homework, and he always wanted to make sure that if we were doing anything school related, it needed to be done.”
Even for those who stopped by his classroom for a makeup photo or an errand for another teacher, Johnston could always find a common ground of connectivity. These connections would range from knowing a sibling who had graduated or talking about any given sports event that took place professionally or on campus. These quick, small interactions would keep students coming back in to say hello or continue a conversation with him as he stood in the hallway during a passing period. He was the kind of teacher who truly recognized, saw and remembered the students who came through his door.
These relationships only grew stronger and deeper for those who had the privilege to be one of Johnston’s journalism students. This is true for Violette LaMela who was a part of the newspaper staff her entire high school career, until she graduated in 2023.
“Our relationship was very father daughter-like, I would say. It sounds really weird to say out loud, but that’s the best way that I could be able to even describe it. I never had a father figure in my life, and there weren’t a lot of men that I was ever able to look up to and kind of trust, but he was always one of them,” LaMela said. “I don’t really think he was similar to another teacher that I ever had. I feel like teachers are usually very kind and very thoughtful and they want you to be better. He took it to a whole new level. When I was going through a lot of stuff, at home, and I had nowhere to go, he would bring me lunches and give me fake tasks to complete after school so I could stay in the air conditioning longer. I feel like that exceeds just the usual teacher’s kindness.”
Johnston had a gift for recognizing qualities in students that they themselves could not.
If a student did not believe in themselves, he would push and encourage them until they could see the potential he saw.
“That Disneyland trip that we went on years ago, when me and Bailey were extremely little. For some reason I didn’t want to go,” Milo Carpenter said. “Then somehow, someway, he convinced me,
Angelina Santos & couretsy of Isabella Pupo
by saying stuff like ‘hey, it’s fun, don’t worry about it.’ So we went for the entire weekend, I think it was for Halloween, and yeah, he was right. I had a lot of fun.”
Along with being influential at home and in the classroom, Johnston served as head coach of the women’s varsity basketball team for 10 years. During this decade, he coached alongside math teacher Reynaldo White for a few of them, and together they created the largest women’s basketball tournament in Nevada: the Gator Winter Classic. Starting in 2012, schools from all over Nevada have come together to compete in the annual tournament.
“It was great, because he was a great guy, but he did enjoy being the bad cop, and I am very fun and easy going, and so I played the good cop role, and it actually worked out perfectly. On all the decisions we made, we were always on the same page, and worked great together,” White said. “He did a lot for women’s basketball in that there’s always a ton of tournaments for boys sports and boys basketball, but there wasn’t much out there for girls. And we created this girls only tournament. He started it, and then I continued it.”
While balancing his coaching, Johnston worked tirelessly on both the newspaper and yearbook. He could oftentimes be found out on the field, under the lights of a Friday night football game or sitting on the gym floor to capture a volleyball game, and everywhere in between.
“When you look around in the counseling lobby, you’ll see there’s a bunch of framed pictures
of graduation. Those are all his pictures,” Mahan said. “He would take these pictures, and he never thought they were that good. So I told him, ‘these are really good. Can I use these?’ I would just print them. I would put them on pretty much anything where I think they would be pretty. We always joked about copyright and stuff. We would always make some jokes that I’m stealing his stuff. He added me to his Google Drive, so he didn’t mind.”
Within the last year, Johnston took a special interest in expanding his photography capabilities. He furthered his passion by taking freelance photos for other schools and sports programs as well as capturing events on campus; he promoted and posted his work on his website: Johnston Photography. With every new camera, lens or light he bought, he did not hesitate to offer it for his students to use or miss up an opportunity to use them for entertainment.
“He was really delving into photography and whatnot last year, and I was slowly getting into the cosplay scene. One night, I was just hanging out, playing video games, and he came into my room and asked, ‘Hey, do you want to get into one of your cosplays? Then we can take a bunch of photos and try out my photography equipment?’” Carpenter said. “ I said ‘Yeah, sure, let’s do it.’ The one cosplay I had at that time was Henry Cooldown from ‘No More Heroes’. He took a bunch of photos, and we kept some of the best ones.”
Growing up in the midwest, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnston embodied the idea of small town values. There are many interpretations of what those values
are; although, for him it was very clear. He carried himself with honesty, dignity and a kind of absolute sincerity. He did not seem to care too much for what could be considered the ‘finer things in life.’ At his core Johnston was proud to be a father, put his family first and be someone that not only they could rely on, but he also outstretched his hand to students and colleagues alike.
“That is the unique part about him, to be so selfless and so unassuming,” Roberts said. “To be just the person that deserved a lot more accolades and deserved to be celebrated all the time and just never wanted any of that.”
Johnston attended the University of Iowa after high school, despite getting a near perfect score on his SAT, as he did not have the opportunity to travel out of state for education. He carried his school pride with him long after his graduation. His room was decorated in Hawkeye memorabilia and he always knew the latest about their football or basketball teams. He was also an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks.
Many teachers and students share jokes and laughs in a classroom setting; however, for those in the classroom with Johsnton, nobody was safe from his biting, sarcastic humor. For students who fostered close relationships with him, he had an extremely open line of communication that expanded beyond the typical realm of classroom talk. He was the kind of person who never took anything too seriously; therefore, he had the best jokes.
“We always had playful banter. We would give each other nicknames, among the staff, and he would give them back. I’d always joke around about his golf club, and things like that,” LaMela said. “We would draw him on the white board, and he would see then ask ‘do you think that looks like me? It’s not even funny? Is this how you see me? My feelings are hurt.’ And then he would draw us back, and it’d be like, the ugliest thing you ever saw. It’d just be squiggles. He wasn’t even trying. He just wanted to make something that looked bad in response.”
The school, the 800s hallway and the lives of so many will never be the same after the loss of Johnston. He had a way of filling the room, not in an overly egotistical way, rather in a way that was comforting and secure. For many he served as a person to turn to for anything that they needed, from school questions to personal issues or even to crack a joke with. He is beyond comparison to anyone else.
No amount of words seem to be enough to encapsulate the memory and life led by Eric Johnston. He is survived by his three children who will continue to carry his spirit with them for years to come: Milo Carpenter, Bailey Johnston and Blair Johnston.
“Just talk about him. Keep his memory alive. Always talk about him. Always go to Einstein’s and get bagels,” Bailey Johnston said. “He always wanted his students to do the best that they could, no matter what he always was. He was so proud of all of his kids. He was always so proud of all of the kids that he worked with, and he always wanted to make an impact so that they knew: it doesn’t matter where you come from. You can always do better, and you can always make yourself go above and beyond, even though you didn’t think you could at the beginning. You can always do that.”
Runnin’ start
UNLV men’s basketball begins season
By Riley Lantow
On Sep. 23, UNLV men’s basketball held their first official, open practice of the upcoming season.
This practice gave fans their first look at some of the newcomers to the team and how they will fit in this year with those who are returning to the team.
“I just transferred from a junior college. At the Division I level, the players all around me are better. Everyone’s good, not just a few guys here and there,” junior Jeremiah Cherry said. “You have to fight every day for your spot here. I want to win the Newcomer of the Year Award for the Mountain West, and hopefully make it to March Madness.”
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger is entering his fourth season as the team’s head coach. He is the reason many of the incoming transfer athletes and freshmen chose to attend UNLV.
“He’s very mellow, and that’s why I wanted to play for him,” Cherry said. “He is not a wild guy, he’ll come up to me willing to teach and coach, not just scream in my face. He’s just a great guy.”
Three of the players on the team are from the Las Vegas Valley; graduate student Jalen Hill attended Clark High School.
“It means a lot. My family and friends are here,” Hill said. “So just being able to represent Vegas and Clark, playing in front of friends and family is the most important thing to me. I want to make it to March Madness and doing that for my hometown would be great.”
Hill, like many other players, comes from a different state in the country. He played four seasons at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to UNLV.
“Vegas is definitely different from Oklahoma, just the speed of everything, the pace of life. Everything out
there was a lot slower, more ranches, more country,” Hill said. “But I’m from Vegas though so I was happy to get back out here and back to what I know. This is all much more familiar to me. I think out here there is a better vibe all around though.”
Kruger was hired after a rare losing season for the program that saw a
7th place finish in the Mountain West Conference.
Since Kruger was named head coach in 2021, the Rebels have not had a losing season.
“He has been very chill with us, but he also knows how to be intense during games and practice. He’s a great guy and someone who’s really
fun to be around,” sophomore Dedan Thomas Jr. said. “We have really stepped it up as a program these past few years and that definitely is because of Coach Kruger. I am making it a point to win the Mountain West tournament. After that I hope we can get to March Madness and win as many games as possible.”
Kennedy Milton
DUNK IT - Freshman Pape N’Diaye makes a shot during practice.
Men’s and Women’s
Tennis
The men’s and women’s tennis team is looking forward to a fresh start.
Junior Brooklyn Cox would like to make it farther than she has before.
“I would like to make it to the playoffs this season. It would be really great considering it is my last season with the team,” Cox said. “I would love to at least know we tried our best and it worked out in our favor.”
Women’s
Soccer
Kicking goals into this upcoming season, the women’s soccer team has already acquired three straight wins thus far in the season.
Junior Juliana Lopez has a drive and one overall goal for herself this season: to win.
“I’ve always loved playing soccer, it can be very competitive at times, that’s my favorite part about it. Scoring a point for myself or for my team is always exciting,” Lopez said. The team lost their initial game against Sierra Vista on Aug. 20 by 1-0.
However, they have since secured six wins; their season score currently stands at 6-2-2.
Unlike many other sports teams, the men’s and women’s teams practice together, as one. Although they do this, their matches are scored individually.
The men’s team was able to secure a win against Shadow Ridge on Sep. 17 in a tie breaker; however, the women’s team has yet to come out on top. Both teams are optimistic for more wins as the season progresses.
Running miles to make records, the varsity cross country team is looking forward to keeping their streak alive coming into the new season.
“I want to push myself harder this season. I know my limits and I’d like to reach new times not only for myself. But for my team as well,”
Football
The varsity football team quarterback is looking forward to the season and to prove himself as a leader. Senior Ben Parker has goals for himself and his team.
“I enjoy being a quarterback because I am a leader. It’s the position I’ve always wanted,” Parker said. “It’s a smooth position and I like leading myself and my team to better plays
Men’s and Women’s
Cross Country
senior Andrew Poirer said.
Beginning his fourth and final season, he has reflected on what being a part of this team has meant for him and the opportunities that have come his way.
“The people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve built are what I love most about the sport. The communi-
ty I’ve made is something I’ll always have with me,” Poirer said. “I’ve learned to overcome obstacles on and off the track.”
The team recently competed in the Basic Weekday Meet at Basic Academy on Oct.1. The men’s team placed first overall, whereas the women’s placed third overall.
in order to win games.”
Despite losing 24-20 in their first home game against the Wayne Hills Patriots, Parker held the team down and threw 240 yards and two touchdowns. This career moment brought him to a higher level of stats for himself and the team.
Coming off of a loss, the Gators played the Basic Wolves on Sep. 6
for the annual Henderson Bowl. The team was able to secure their win and trophy with a score of 25-24, winning in overtime. Their season record is currently 3-1 overall.
“I would like to go to state championships this season with my team,” Parker said. “As for myself, I would like to get a college scholarship for football.”
Ean Carcamo, Jayla Jones, Kailey Jones, Riley Lantow & Natalie Monroy
Fall Sports previews
Volleyball Women’s
The women’s volleyball team is expecting to attack their upcoming season.
Senior Trintiy Hou is a defense specialist on the team, and she plans on making a great impact for herself and her team this season.
“My favorite part of playing defense is passing the ball and
setting up plays for my teammates,” Hou said.
She seeks any opportunity to get points for herself and her team. They began their season with two losses, but have since bounced back and won over the Cheyenne Desert Shields on Aug. 16; the score was 2-0.
Men’s
Soccer
The men’s soccer team started off the season with a bang, and they expect to make this season an epic one.
Sophomore Colton Schuchmann has one goal on his mind: for this season to be different from the others.
“I just want to be the best I can be this season. I feel like I’ve changed a lot and grown. I have seen that
change into how I play soccer as well,” Schuchmann said. “I really want to win games for myself and to see that progress, but for my team also.”
The team lost this season opener on Aug. 21 against the Las Vegas Wildcats by 5-2. After that, they bounced back with two subsequent wins against Sommer Sky Pointe and Shadow Ridge.
Women’s
Golf
The women’s varsity golf team plans on making this season an ace.
Varsity golfer, junior Elizabeth Tomkowski, is one of five players on the team who has competed.
The team typically practices at Legacy Golf Course. Although, they have been temporarily relocated to either the cafeteria or gym for a portion of their season.
“I like golf because it is an
individual sport. It’s very peaceful,” Tomkowski said.
All of the teammates attend competitions together.
They compete and are scored individually. Their scores do not affect an overall score at the end of a match.
“The only thing I am focused on is punting the golf itself,” Tomkowski said. “Nothing is distracting me.”
Powell’s playbook Football team welcomes new coaches
By Shaena Cozo
After months of hard work and dedication, the football team is ready to bounce back for the 2024 season with a new head coach planning to lead them to victory. With aims to make it to state championships, head coach Bill Powell does the best he can to ensure his players are giving their all.
“Coach Powell brings a lot of intensity. He takes things very seriously, it makes everything more challenging yet entertaining,” senior Richard Aiono said.
Adapting to a new head coach was a difficult change for the program; however, after weeks of constant playing and time spent together, the team is more consistent and cooperative. Powell has bonded with his players more over time, which has allowed them to build trust in their new coach.
“When he first made an appearance during spring ball, it took us as
a team a bit of getting used to. It was a difficult transition from last year’s coach to Powell, but as we spent more time with each other, working together became easier,” Aiono said.
Powell’s intentions are not only to help these athletes improve on the field but also to prepare them for obstacles they will face later in life.
“Accountability and responsibility is a big thing for me. I think that occurs not only in sports but also later on in life. It has been one thing I have been trying to tighten up, not only in school but out there on the field as well,” Powell said.
Powell has brought his team together through his own experience, by implementing what he knows and did himself into his practice itinerary.
“Powell took a while to get used to. Last year’s coach was very laid back, while Powell is the complete opposite. He is an older coach as well, and that gives him more first hand experience that helps us understand and improve,” senior Theodore Edquilang
said.
A new coach means new dynamics and rules. As a head coach, filling a former coach’s shoes will always pose a struggle, but every day is a new day to learn and bond more deeply with fellow coaching staff as well as the players.
“It took a bit of time to get used to having coach Powell here, especially with his new dynamics of practice. Overall I think that his play style and coaching will improve our team in a tremendous way,” senior Ethan Mckenzie said.
Powell’s transition from Northern California to the valley stumped him when planning his practice schedules. Rising heat in Nevada has caused new protocols to be put in, which limits his time spent on the field coaching his athletes.
“The implemented heat protocols that are being enforced this year have been a struggle to work with. Having practices pre-planned, finding out we are not able to practice at that time,
then having to change the times unexpectedly, just trying to balance everything out,” Powell said.
Responsibility and mannerisms are characteristics noticed on and off the field. Coaches realize this, and strive to lead their athletes not only athletically but socially as well.
“We want to instill a more disciplined structure, which includes holding the boys accountable for their grades and behavior in the classroom,” quarterback coach Robert Hendricks said.
Powell and Hendricks strive to be the best that they can be.
Powell’s former high school football coach inspired him to become one, and he wants his athletes to have that same type of passion and mentality.
“Powell is very passionate about this sport. He always tells us to not pay attention to the tone of the message, but the message itself,” Edquilang said. “We need that in a coach because it helps hold us accountable.”
Kennedy Milton
LOCK IN - Hendricks (left) and Powell (right) coach on the sidelines. The Gators won against Legacy 38-35 in overtime.
Feel it, chase it Wild storm hits movie theaters
By Brenna Nelson
Aviolent storm took over this summer with the new movie “Twisters” (2024).
There were thoughts flying around in the minds of many fans, ready to see the new release. The popularity of the original certainly helped drive the high box office numbers.
“The plot of ‘Twister’ (1996) was really original and gave a good explanation of how tornadoes form,” junior Vanessa Forgione said. “Twisters (2024) was a remake of the first one, but it felt too similar and lacked originality in what a remake should be”
Even with the popularity of the new movie many fans believe the remake does not stack up to the original. The originality and creativity of the plot of the movie “Twister” (1996) is what sets it apart from most other movies. The writers of the movie: Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin added an incredible storyline with great lines from all the characters.
They wrote exciting twists and turns in the movie that shocked the audience and ultimately made it the
second highest grossing film of 1996. This achievement was also thanks to the directing of Jan de Bont who won the “Benelux Film Award” for his skills.
“The “Twister” (1996) movie was iconic and very well made and directed,” junior Lillian Whitaker said. “I do not like the new movie because it was very boring and the acting felt fake. It did not feel easy to relate to.”
Both movies have helped spread awareness on the dangers of tornadoes. They show the horrors of the real life tragedies that happen to people all the time. Many people that live in Nevada and similar states that do not experience tornadoes, cannot fully understand how dangerous and serious they are. This movie shows how damaging and threatening tor-
Vanessa Forgione, 11 “
It felt too similar and lacked originality.
nados can be. In the movie “Twisters” (2024) they go more into detail about how these natural disasters affect communities and the people in them.
“‘Twister’ (1996) made me realize that tornadoes are scarier than we think and showed me how serious they are and what to do in a tornado,” Forgione said. “It showed how predicting tornadoes can help communities by letting them leave quicker so they do not get in the tornado.
“Twisters” (2024) has been incredibly successful, grossing $123.2 million to date. Be-
tween the plot, the soundtrack and the actors, this movie has something for everyone, which has contributed to its popularity and helped unite fans of the original with a new generation.
Even though the movie may have left some fans of the original yearning for more, it left an impression with moviegoers who never saw the original.
“Twisters” (2024) was very well made, but in comparison to the original it just did not meet the mark.
“Twister” (1996) will always be a fan favorite and now a younger generation can enjoy “Twisters” (2024) too.
Nanase Kimura
Brat Summer
Charli XCX takes over with new album
By Julieta Cadario
Anew Charli XCX album was released this summer leading to a “brat summer” for fans. The album is a mix of electropop and hyperpop, a genre not many fans listen are familiar with. Despite this, the album sold 71,738 copies in the first month in the US, ranking #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Even the democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris featured the brat summer theme when launching her campaign in July. Harris promoted her campaign on TikTok, where many people were familiar with the album. Using the “brat” theme helped make the campaign launch a success.
All 15 tracks on the album have a similar sound and rhythm, which caused some listeners to describe the album as “boring.” The lyrics are not inspirational and moving, mainly because of the electropop nature of the album. The beats did stand out giving the same vibes as 2012 recession pop.
2012 recession pop came out of the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. 2008 time when people thought the
world was going to end.
This gave
people the mindset of “party hard” and feeling good during difficult times. Clubbing was extremely popular causing music to be based on that, as the lyrics were not a main focus. The beats got people up and dancing. This is what the Brat album is all about, which is evident when Charli XCX performs DJ sets taking people back to 2012.
Every summer there is new lingo used to describe the mood of the moment.
The Brat
album blew up quickly, securing it’s mood as the vibe of the summer.
“I liked how feel-good it was, I didn’t relate to like half the songs on there, but it was just great to listen to.” Junior Daylen Brown shares.
The popularity of the “brat” trend has even moved over to some gaming communities, such as Roblox. A game known as “Dress To Impress” is one of Roblox’s most popular games. It is a dress up game where players try to win a fashion show. A recent collaboration between Charli XCX and Roblox includes in-game items promoting the album, such as clothes with the brat logo on it. This update has been successful with more than 250,000 people playing continuously when it was released.
“Brat” summer connotes a grittier, messier vibe than its predecessor, last year’s “Barbie” summer, but the overall message of female empowerment remains consistent. The album and the feeling it creates both represent a type of bold, audacious realness that seems to be driving many trends this year.
Brat summer may be ending but do not fear, Charli XCX released an extended “Brat” remix“Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” with 11 new songs. Brat Fall anyone?
Kennedy Milton
BEST
Adaptation recieves backlash from fans
By Madelynne Cotton
The new movie “It Ends With Us” took a powerful turn after its release in early August.
Colleen Hoover’s wildly popular novel, “It Ends With Us” has held a spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list for 131 weeks since its release in 2016, and currently sits at the top. When the fan favorite was adapted for the big screen, anticipation was huge, but a swirl of controversy and mixed reviews followed.
Rasavong said. “I also think that there was just a lot about the movie that could of have been better executed, including the casting, outfit choices and the way it seemed they rushed through the movie leaving out a lot of things.”
Kennedy Milton
Much of the controversy centered around the movie’s promotional efforts, which some said glamorized domestic abuse. Speculation and rumors surrounding the relationship of the film’s costars, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni also fueled controversy.
Many fans of the book were left disappointed in how different the movie version was.
¨I felt that the movie left out a lot of key points that the book held like important quotes,
Lily Bloom’s journaling, her tattoo and so much more that were relevant to the whole
story itself.” sophomore Gracyn
A key element that was omitted from the movie is the main character’s internal dialogue, which was showcased through her journaling in the book.
This was such an integral part of what reader’s loved about the character of Lily Bloom, and its absence was noticeable in the film.
Despite the various controversies highlighted on social media and fans’ complaints about the adaptation itself, the film is the highest grossing romantic drama since 2018’s “A Star is Born.”
Ultimately, the film version of “It Ends With Us” has something to offer fans of the book and viewers new to the story, and is worth the watch. Just tune out the online noise before you head to the theater.
“Social media platforms were a big part,” Rasavong said. “I wouldn’t have even known much about the controversy in the first place without everything people were posting.”
Back to school hauls Spending cycle creates waste
By Brooklyn Moore
Back to school shopping is one of the most exciting things about beginning a new school year.
Many look forward to filling shopping carts with new supplies, clothes and shoes. This is a cycle that is likely repeated year after year with old supplies being replaced by new because many are influenced to buy whatever is the latest trends demand.
Back to school hauls gained popularity around 2016 on YouTube. Many popular lifestyle influencers would either vlog themselves shopping or sit down and record a video of all the new things they bought.
Over time, this tradition came back every year and the hauls would keep getting bigger and bigger.
The influence haul culture has on back to school shopping is huge. It is almost like everywhere you look there is a different thousand dollar online shopping haul to watch. While these videos are entertaining, it gets to a point where it can influence negative spending habits as well as waste problems.
One of the main problems with back to school hauls is the overconsumption of clothing, shoes and school supplies. There are many videos online of hauls costing thousands of dollars, each creator showing all of their new school supplies.
In reality it is unrealistic and unnecessary. A research organization known as Greenbins has revealed that 77% of school supplies end up in landfills
The clothing bought during these major back to school hauls are also usually from fast fashion companies such as Shein, Forever 21 and H&M. These companies use unethical means to produce their clothing items. This causes harm to not only the environment but also the people working at these companies.
Haul culture also promotes negative spending habits. The need to buy all the trendiest items for back to school is made to seem like a necessi-
ty to most. This mindset causes most to grow up and still feel the need to have whatever is trending at the moment, all for the trend to die out and the product they bought to become obsolete.
The main media promoting these hauls now is TikTok. Just by going into the search bar and searching up “Back to school hauls,” hours of back to school hauls show up to scroll
through. This is how the influence of items gets so widespread because it feels almost like in every video there is a new item needed for school.
There are even videos of people asking “What clothes are we wearing this year?” as if the type of clothes they buy have to be bought just because everyone on TikTok is saying it is a necessity.
Haul culture has proven itself
to be a harmful trend that is setting unrealistic expectations for back to school hauls. While it promotes over consumption, there are ways to make sure in the future, waste probability is reduced by being more mindful of what is included in the cart for back to school shopping and making sure it is really necessary. This will help prevent waste and to make more ecosystem conscious choices.
Paige Brown
Scheduling smarts or Combined lunch brings community
By Michael Steffen
Among the many changes in this new school year, one of the largest is the removal of first and second lunches in favor of a combined lunch, which has been given the moniker Megalunch. While this may be an uncomfortable change for many students, there are clear benefits to this new style of lunch.
In past years, students would agonize over whether or not they would have lunch with their friends. Oftentimes, students would find themselves in a lunch with no familiar faces. Megalunch has solved this issue.
“There were many reasons Mr. Roberts decided to [combine the lunches]. The first one was for students: so you can see your friends and not have to worry about schedule changes,” Assistant Principal Matt Mayhood said.
While the students get to enjoy eating lunch with their friends, teachers also get to eat together. This allows teachers to plan and relax together without worrying about each others’ schedule.
“Most teachers and departments eat together. They want what’s called a PLC, a professional learning community. They can plan cooperatively with them during lunchtime,” Mayhood said.
Another benefit of Megalunch has been the new meal options. Specifically, catering became a popular alternative to the usual hot lunch. Students can now enjoy a wide variety of quality food from restaurants like Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express and Rivas. This both shortens the lunch line and provides a fun new meal option.
“Part of it was to give [students] more options, so that students can eat what they want, and staff too. It also does give relief to the kitchen so their line isn’t completely massive,” Mayhood said.
One of the many concerns among students has been the amount of time to get food. While the line is definite-
ly longer, it is still very quick, and it is by no means taking half the lunch period.
“At no point [were] there students who were not served. The line has only been taking about six minutes, which before it took four minutes, so it’s a really well run system in [the kitchen],” Mayhood said.
Seating can be difficult to find for students, but with the recent additions in the upstairs area and more on the way, seating will be readily available for all students.
“Once construction is done,
there’s going to be new fencing in the building, so there’s going to be more outside places for people to sit at,” Mayhood said.
While the old schedule did have its perks, skipping was a major issue with the two-lunch schedule, but switching to Megalunch has reduced it significantly.
“Skipping was a pretty big occurrence. Kids would go to lunch and [be] gone for 20 to 30 minutes, and at 30 minutes, you get marked absent,” Mayhood said. “With all students at lunch at the same time, there’s no
need to skip to see friends anymore. [There was a] huge drop in single-period absences.”
Change can be worrisome for both students and staff alike, but as time goes on it will improve. Other schools including Foothill and Centennial have implemented a single-lunch schedule, and both have seen success with it.
“In the beginning, it was different, but, just like any change that occurs, once we work through the processes, it becomes really smooth,” Mayhood said.
Shaena Cozo
chaotic catastrophe? Crowded lunch disturbs students
By Angelina Santos
Having just one lunch period for 3,000 students sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Imagine everyone rushing to the cafeteria at the same time — the lines would be overflowing with students. By the time they get their food, half of their lunch period is already gone, and they can no longer find an available seat anywhere. They are forced to scarf down their food and head to their next period without having a break during what was supposed to be downtime during the day.
The introduction of a singular lunchtime for the new school year has raised many problems for students, mainly due to the crammed lunch lines and extended wait times. Although managing students’ schedules with one lunchtime is easier, it has caused the cafeteria to become jam-packed with students waiting in line to receive their meals.
“It’s awful. There is nowhere to sit because the lunch room is too crowded and in the quad there’s so many people. The only time I’ve been able to find a seat is when I’m early,” sophomore Carter Priebe said. “I don’t like waiting in the lines. Even the vending machines have long lines now.”
An offered alternative solution is providing food options, like having vendors such as Chick-fil-A and Panda Express available during lunch. However, this is not a viable option for many students who rely on the free meals provided by the school. For these students, the only solution is to ensure that the cafeteria can adequately serve them in a reasonable amount of time.
Then when considering the factor of having over 3,000 students during a single lunch period, the chaos is no longer about not being able to find a seat but the overwhelming noise level. The cafeteria becomes so loud that having a conversation with friends is nearly impossible.
“I don’t like Megalunch. People get too pushy, and it’s hard to find
your friends because of how crowded it gets everywhere,” sophomore Heidi Costello said. “Then there’s no room to sit once you get together with them.”
Another challenge posed by having just one lunch period is that it limits students’ opportunities to engage in other tasks such as meeting with teachers for make-up assignments or to get extra help on an assignment. Well, that’s if you can even have any luck getting into the
hallways once the bell rings. With everyone on the same schedule, finding the time or space to do these things is nearly impossible
A time to decompress is important for students to have through a long day. The rushed environment contributes to hassle and anxiety, preventing students from using their lunch break to recharge. The overcrowded cafeteria makes it nearly impossible to find a seat, forcing many to eat in uncomfortable conditions
once they receive their food from the lengthy lunch lines. The noise levels in the overfilled cafeteria make it difficult for them to enjoy time with their friends. Lunch should be a time to relax and recharge, not another source of stress in an already demanding school day.
“It’s very different from when we had two lunches last year,” junior Elisha Llana said. “It’s still chaotic and disorganized even with the additional seating they’ve added.”
Nanase Kimura
Forward with purpose
By The InvestiGator Staff
It was with a bereaved and heavy heart that we began this year without our adviser of more than a decade.
He and the institution he built within the journalism program will never be the same again. With his guidance and dedication, there was a sense of constancy and security granted within it.
We have suffered this loss alongside fellow students and faculty who also had the opportunity to know him. Nonetheless, as he would have wished, we work everyday towards producing quality work. In hopes that it would meet his high marks.
We have not only met this great calamity with anesthetized sorrow and desolation, we have also taken it as an occasion to make him proud, even if he is not here to say so.
It is immensely important that we strive, with every photo we take and story or caption we write, to
honor and remember the guidance we were granted. This magazine and every one to come is no longer under his instruction; however, it is in his memory. Because of that, we feel
a noticeable hole in our program, but also led to the introduction of a new support system. On top of our new adviser, who has stepped up for us, we have had increasing support from
Most of us can only ever dream to have such an impact as he did. “
a greater responsibility to increasingly exceed expectations and value the quality of our work as he once did.
The loss of our revered adviser left
counselors and teachers who understand what it means to lose such an influential person to so many people.
In this time, we not only grieve
but we recognize the path that still lies ahead. Although no one thought we would ever be in this position, we unfortunately are. The only way to move forward is to do exactly that, with his memory alive in our minds.
He always told students who showed apprehension to go on an interview that people love to talk about themselves. It is easy to get them to talk to you. The hard part is telling their story. This is where we feel we have fallen short.
How do we sum up the life he led in a few hundred words? We simply cannot. We can only hope to share a few tidbits of the extraordinary person he was and how he transformed the lives of so many.
As we continue to deal with our grief, we also look to open new doors and continue to carry his legacy as we write, photograph and connect with many other lives. Most of us can only ever dream to have such an impact as he did on a singular person, let alone countless.
Who is the best teacher you have ever had?
“Ms. Fergen because she has done the best at teaching me about English and has actually helped.”
Preston Hayes, 09
“Mr. Panik, he was able to teach me a really hard subject. He made physics actually fun.”
Mason Andrulis, 11
“Ms. Wu, she’s a really fun teacher. She always has a story to tell.”
Elisabeth Julien, 10
“Mrs. Rasmussen, she’s the best teacher ever. She makes class fun and enjoyable.”
Peiyan Wu, 12
STEAL THE MOON
The student section cheers for the varsity football team, dressed as Minions. The Gators lost to Wayne Hills by 20-24.
ANGELINA SANTOS | PHOTO