High Tide: Sept 14, 2018

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Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA Sept. 14, 2018 Vol. XCXIV Edition 1

Adminstration and teachers discuss how an increase in rigor will be implemented this year page 8

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Scheduling screw-up

Counselor Tiffanny Straight explains this year’s scheduling dilemmas

by Martha Farah With the press of a button, the classes of over 3,000 students get scattered, creating the schedule which students receive at registration.

In spite of the counselors’ attempts to give students their first choices, alternative classes must be looked at sometimes, according to counselor Tiffany Straight.

At times, there may be an excess of students, but not enough to create another class. For example, a class may be capped at 35 seats, but there are 45 students who have requested the class, preventing a few students from enrolling in the class.

“It’s luck of the draw and it doesn’t go alphabetically. The majority get in, but if there’s not enough to offer a full other class, then it will be what we call ‘over-enrolled,’” Straight said.

Classes may also “conflict each out,” serving as another reason students may not get their first choices.

“AP Computer Science and AP Physics are both offered period one and three.

Then, let’s say you want to be in ASB, which is third period,” Straight said. “You only have two slots, but you’re trying to fit in three classes.”

Senior Hannah Morrison requested to be in AP Calculus BC and AP Literature, which are both periods two and four. She also asked to be in choir, which is only period four — leading her to pick two of the three classes.

“While I always prioritize academics, I was devastated because I didn’t want to not be in choir my senior year since I’ve been in the program for the past three years. I hold multiple leadership positions and consider it the most important extracurricular to me,” Morrison said.

Although seniors are usually prioritized, the majority of students get a master schedule with their first choices. However, it can be challenging to meet the needs of everyone.

“We have to remember that we do have

a lot of students that get a full schedule with what they requested,” Straight said.

“However, I definitely understand that it’s sad when students don’t get their first choices.”

There are different trends every year with the amount of students wanting to take a class. AP Computer Science has gained more interest recently, enlarging the program.

Students in past years have transferred out of AP classes, leaving more room to switch students in. However, not many students leveled down this year due to the reality of the competitive environment and pressure on students, Straight believes.

“AP Psychology tends to be fully enrolled, but then oftentimes you have students who will come in and level down, so we naturally see movements,” Straight said. “This year was strange because we didn’t really have anybody leveling out of AP Psychology. Those things are hard to predict.”

From the 11 years Straight has been at RUHS, this year’s scheduling has been the most challenging because of the increasing enrollment.

“We have more students. Our classes are opening at 35 and they used to open at 32, so you had a little more wiggle room.

In years past, we used to have English 11 every period,” Straight said. “If the student had to make a schedule change, I had all the other spots to work in. Now, we have English 11 in about four periods because we have [other types of] English classes.”

With more passageways for classes such as FTS or Financial Algebra, classes such as Precalculus/Trigonometry are being offered only certain periods. Many students chose Precalculus/Trigonometry this school year, but there were not enough seats.

“We started with some larger classes so the math department, the administration and counselors decided to give a diagnostic test,” Straight said. “Precalculus/Trigonometry should really be for the students that were strong A/B Algebra students.

This test would [help students see if] FTS, Statistics or something else would be a better fit.”

It is important that students give thought for their class choices in

the spring, according to Straight.

“Of students that came through registration, there were ones that legitimately didn’t get what they wanted, but then there were ones who changed their minds,” Straight said. “So first and foremost, when you make your selections in the spring, you have to really give it thought.”

If students have questions about their schedule during registration, they should talk to their counselor regardless of how long the lines are.

“By the time school starts, a lot of classes are full,” Straight said. “Also remind yourself that even though you may get really excited about a class, our classes all have rigorous substance and standards.”

Instead of shutting down if a student does not receive a wanted class, they should bounce back” and stay positive, according to Straight.

“It’s going to happen in college,” Straight said. “You may want to get a class, but you can’t get it for the fall term.”

Even with the schedule-making process starting in February, it is still challenging to meet the exact needs of over 3000 students.

“Someone may want P.E. in the morning, some don’t and all those random things,” Straight said. “At some point it’s like, ‘These are your classes.’ I think sometimes a small group of the students may forget that we have a great school with strong teachers. Maybe you didn’t get two of the three classes, but look at what you are able to take.”

WORSE THAN DISNEY. Students waited in a two hour sched-

ule-change line at registration due to various problems with their schedules including random free periods and missing classes. ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA ARSENEAULT

Beat the heat

Hot weather calls for air conditioning in all classrooms

by Yasmine Elahihaghighi Students and staff have been concerned about high classroom temperature for about a year now, but it is still common to find many classrooms with no form of air conditioning.

AP Environmental Science teacher, Gillian Moberg, addresses the issues she has seen first hand dealing with the extremely hot rooms.

“Students were finding it very difficult to concentrate and even a few parents visited because of the heat. Some of the buildings have windows that do not open, so when the sunlight comes in, it becomes like a greenhouse,” Moberg said.

According to Moberg a classroom “hotter than it is outside” is not fair to the students.

“It is difficult to spend almost two hours per class period in heat and so it was decided that it was in best interest to install air conditioning just to preserve the learning environment,” Moberg said.

Due to parents coming in and a lack of student concentration, the school tried finding alternative ways to cool down classes such as fans.

“The fans did not really do anything.

It was substandard. They were a cheaper solution, but they are extremely loud and did not have much effect,” Moberg said.

Although the district is aware of all these concerns, putting in air conditioning

has not been as simple to fix as other issues previously.

Moberg explains that how fast funds come in is determined by how urgent the problem seems to the district.

“When it comes to facilities needs the principle usually will not just tell us something like that they need new tables. We can recognize that issue at about the same time as the school because it is obvious, so funds are then given,” Superintendent of Business Janet Radella said.

When the needs of the school are not obvious, that is when funds take more time because the district has to decide how urgent the issue is based on what the principle tells them, not what they can clearly see.

“For other things (school needs) the principle has to let us know what is an issue, but even then, I do not know necessarily if it really needs immediate attention.

Everything depends on what we are presented with,” Radella said.

Even if funds take longer, funds for issues like the air conditioning will usually not be rejected.

“As long as the funds are available, we will work to provide them. When it comes to funds, they come from different places and are designated like pots of money for different things,” Radella said.

Other than a struggle with funds, a big

reason why air conditioning installment is being so stalled is the layout of the school.

“We applied for state money for the classrooms just built and in all likelihood, once we get that money we will then be able to finish the air conditioning. However, Redondo is a lot more complicated than doing elementary or middle schools,” Radella said.

Redella explains how in comparison to other schools, Redondo does not have a “cookie cutter” layout.

“The heating systems in other places are all the same and really easy to go in and knock out. For the highschool, the groupings of the buildings are similar, but the layout of each individual group varies.,” Radella said.

Due to the complications of the set up, the district has to call in an architect who can look at each different building.

“The science and industrial arts building compared to the 300’s building is a huge difference. The architect ends up having to do drawings for each individual wing of buildings,” Radella said.

It has taken some time, but the district is

continuing to work on the issue and “hopes it will be resolved soon.”

“We are trying to stay on top of everything and do each grouping at a time so it can get done faster,” Radella said. “As soon as those new five 900’s buildings are donewe will follow with the rest.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

NEWS

SEP. 14,2018 | HIGH TIDE

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fter a year of noise and construction, the 900s building was finally finished

in August.

English teachers Emily Krueger, Angie Yi, Cassandra Jones, and science teacher Salwa Sabet were chosen to receive classrooms in the new building.

“I love the new building. It is spacious and I love the high ceiling because it gives the illusion that the room is even bigger,” Yi said.

A notable feature, according to Yi, are the desks and chairs which both have wheels on the bottom, making them easily maneuverable.

“It’s almost revolutionary. I have them set up in groups of twos and threes so it’s really easy for me to tell students to have conversations with their group members and form bigger groups. The time that I save putting students into groups is really remarkable,” Yi said.

Another useful part of these new classrooms is the storage space, which is built in around the whiteboard at the front of the classroom. “It’s genius, very practical and saves space,” Yi said.

An added feature to the buildings are the giant projection screens powered by solar tubes, according to assistant principal Dargen However, there are downsides to the new building, according to some

by Analise Asaro

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students and teachers. While the large windows on these new classrooms are visually appealing, they can be “annoying because they let so much light in,” according to junior Tatum Davis who has a Multicultural Literature class in the new building.

“The natural lighting is great but I can’t wait for the curtains to come in because the sunlight shines on their chromebooks so they sometimes can’t see their screens,” Yi said.

Although Davis likes the new building, she believes it was “hyped up” to be more superior to the other classrooms than it actually is.

“Looking back on it, I was on the fence about taking two different classes but when I found out that one of them would be in the new building I picked that one,” Davis said. “I really like the class but I regret making a decision based on the location.”

Despite getting one of the new classrooms, Yi believes that what is most important is the people in it and the memories made.

“The main difference would be first world problems like air conditioning and rolling chairs and desks,” Yi said.

“At the end of the day, a classroom is just four walls. It’s the kids who really make it awesome and the comradery that we form.”

Into the future. 1. The new 900’s building offers tons of useful stoarge all over the classroom. 2. Students particpate in an english activity in one of the new classrooms. “I love the new building. It is spacious and I love the high ceiling because it gives the illusion that the room is even bigger,” Yi said. PHOTOS BY JUNINHO PANIOUCHKINE

New sheriff in town

Marvin Brown goes from a special education teacher to assistant principal

by Angie Tait After teaching for nine years in RBUSD as a special education math teacher, Marvin Brown was promoted this year, becoming Redondo Union’s newest assistant principal.

Brown is taking over the position of former assistant principal Jonathan Erickson, who transferred to fill the principal position at Parras Middle School.

“As assistant principal, I’m responsible for a couple of the departments on campus, those being Special Education and Career Technical Education. I’m also involved in AVID, PTSA and RBEF. I participate with SBAC testing, summer school and School Site Council,” Brown said.

Brown entered the school district in 2010, working for two years as a special education algebra and geometry teacher at RUHS. He then worked on a special assignment at Adams Middle School for two years before transferring back to RUHS for another four years of special education math.

“My mother taught special education for 34 years, and I have a brother who has Down Syndrome, so he kind of inspired me to get involved with special education as well,” Brown said.

According to current RUHS principal Jens Brandt, part of what makes Brown such a valuable addition to the administrative team is his “greater passion and purpose with regards to the need for spe-

cial education,.” according to principal Jens Brandt.

“As long as I’ve been here, and this is my eighth year, we haven’t had anybody on our team with a specific background in special education,” Brandt said. “That’s really imperative for us, because not only does he bring the operational knowledge in terms of how IEP meetings work, in terms of modifications and accommodations, but he also has those great relationships with teachers in the special education department.”

Brown was not always set on a career in education, though. After graduating from Northwestern University, Brown began working as a commercial real estate broker for Insignia SG. “I represented office tenants in Downtown Chicago, and I did that for about four years. I loved what I did, but I just missed home, so I wanted to get back to Colorado,” Brown said. “When I did go back, I was a head basketball coach and assistant football coach, and that’s when I initially started teaching.”

Brown’s total 12 years of teaching between Redondo Beach and Pueblo, Colorado are what have made Brown such a “calm, caring and enthusiastic” educator and, according to Brandt, will play a big role in establishing better relationships between students and administration.

“I think that the best educators are

Standing Proud. New assistant principal, Marvin Brown stands outside of his new office.

PHOTO BY JUNINHO PANIOUCHKINE

those who think deeply, critically and creatively and can also show an abundance of trust, care, support and respect for young people and colleagues,” Brandt said. “If we can have that balance of effective and cognitive domains, I think our school will be a better place. I’m excited to have him on board.”

Using his own high school experience for inspiration, Brown hopes to pose as a

resource for the student body, as well as to help them “feel connected and positive” at RUHS. “High school was the foundation of my self-esteem and who I became as a person.

It was truly the foundation of me moving on and being successful in life because I had such a quality experience in high school,” Brown said. “I want other students to experience what I did.”

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NEWS

SEP 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

On top of the world Junior Christina Owen attends HOBY World Leadership Conference

by Austin Nunis

HOBY, which stands for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, aims to empower high school students to be global leaders through seminars and workshops. The primary goal of the HOBY conference is to transform intelligent students into empowered leaders. RUHS junior Christina Owen left with a revitalized idea of what it means to be a leader.

“I think I’ve always had an idea of what a leader is. It never really was something that perplexed me,” Owen said, “but I’ve always been the type of person that likes to take on everything by myself. I don’t like to ask for help. I used to think it makes you look weak or incompetent.”

Without knowing anything about the conference, Owen was nominated by RUHS teachers to apply. After submitting an application, a resume, and interviewing in front of a panel of RUHS counselors, Owen was the only student from the school selected to participate in the conference.

We were asked if we knew of any sophomores that really stood out to us as future leaders and hardworking people with a lot of potential. Christina immediately came to mind,” RUHS AP Gov teacher and Mock Trial advisor Mr. Henges said.

From the start, Henges knew that Owen would be a standout participant at the conference.

“Everywhere she goes, she makes an impression, and she really dominates any Mock Trial competition she’s ever been a part of; and outside of school she’s always recognized or given the awards so I know it’s not just my opinion, but a lot of other people’s too. So in that way, I knew she would be recognized with whatever she did with the organization.” Henges said.

The first step in the process was spending three days at Cal Poly Pomona where Owen attended HOBY LA. After excelling at the local confeence she was chosen to represent Los Angeles at HOBY’s week

long World Leadership Congress in Chicago. Owen described the conference as “half Girl Scout cheers, half keynote speeches and workshops on how to improve your leadership skills, with a couple service projects thrown into the mix”.

“I don’t want to [seem] ungrateful, but at the local conference nothing really resonated with me. At the WLC, [the material] was a lot more specific and applicable, and they put a lot of emphasis on global citizenship and diplomacy,” Owen said. “I also didn’t really connect with anybody at the local conference. I kind of just sat with people because I didn’t want to sit alone, not because they were my close friends- I guess that is also in conjunction with being shy; in Chicago, I really broke out of my comfort zone and connected to people, some that I still talk to everyday.”

Though she didn’t know what to expect from the conferences, Owen felt prepared thanks to her time in RUHS’s Mock Trial Program. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was a lesson in vulnerability.

“When we did group time, we had to share our opinions, and that’s not an issue for me-- I have tons of them. What was difficult,however, was sharing with so many people and not fearing judgment, which was something I definitely learned. It really taught me how to be vulnerable with other people and actively listen to what the other person was saying in order to understand them regardless of their political views,” Owen said.

For Owen, the environment of the conference really allowed her to flourish and become more personable.

“It was like first grade or kindergarten again, where everyone wants to be your friend. I never expected myself to be so close with people I’d met in a week, but everyone was so supportive, and that made leaving incredibly difficult,” Owen said.

Owen credits a change in her way of thinking to her success at the conference.

“I went in with a different mindset. I thought, ‘you know what, you got picked for this for a reason. This wasn’t by accident, so you’re going to do it, you’re going to make the best of it. And you’re going to do what you would if you weren’t afraid’,” Owen said.

No matter her success, Owen’s experience at HOBY meant much more to her than just a leadership conference. Owen claims that life as she knew it started to “unravel” last March after someone very close to her passed away.

“I fell into a bit of a slump. I don’t want to give [the conference] all the credit, but everything was falling apart for me and HOBY kind of brought me back. It reinstilled that light I had before: my purpose,” Owen said. “I made a promise to myself that everything I would do from that point on would be to honor the person [I lost]; and branching out at the conference was what they would want me to do. Maybe that’s not all HOBY, but [my] experiences definitely contributed to that.”

It was having someone “other than her mom” believe in her that really encouraged Owen to make the most of these conferences.

“I really owe a lot of my experiences to [Mr. Henges], because I think this is the classic story of the shy kid going rogue after freshman year. There are some teachers that come and go, but others that truly make a difference, and Mr. Henges is that

one for me,” Owen said.

“You never know how much someone

FIFTEEN COUNTRIES WERE REPRESENTED AT THE WORLD LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (WLC). IRAQ AND IRAN WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO THE TRAVEL BAN. AT THE CONFERENCE, AMBASSADORS PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS, LISTENED TO KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND PANELS AND DID COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH GLAMOUR GIRLS AND HUMBOLDT PARK. THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE, AMBASSADORS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN CREATIVE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SERVICE, SPOKEN WORD, LITERATURE, CHOIR, AND VISUAL ARTS.

can impact your life, and I’m incredibly thankful for it.”

Following the map that leads to R(U)HS Link Crew uses RUHS Maps at freshman orientation compiled by Christina Owen

Q& A

Why do you think that RUHS Maps was an effective tool for freshman orientation?

“Link leaders encouraged their freshmen to download the app primarily to get around but also to give them a taste of RUHS spirit, like, “look, our students made an app.” It also demonstrates that you can get involved on campus in ways you never imagined.”

- Barbara Bein, Link Crew Advisor

THE “MAP OF RUHS” PROVIDES A NUMBERED MAP THAT CORRESPOND WITH BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES ON CAMPUS. EACH LOCATION INCLUDES A A DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPICAL CLASSES THAT OCCUPY THE BUILDING.

Q& A

Did you personally utilize RUHS Maps with your Link Crew group?

“My partner and I showed our freshmen the RUHS map app; however, we didn’t use it during the tour. I think it was helpful for the freshmen who may have forgotten where their classes are or of certain buildings on campus.”

-Maddie Castle, Link Leader

Q& A

Did you use RUHS Maps to navigate campus or install the app?

“RUHS Maps is very helpful for the first couple days of school; I used it frequently to find my classes and get around campus.”

- Tyler Lee, Freshman

WHEN YOU OPEN THE RUHS MAPS APP, YOU ARE ABLE TO SELECT A MAP OF CAMPUS, REGISTRATION OR LOCKERS.

OPINION

SEP 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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Does the dresscode ensure that students “dress for success”?

Yes. The dresscode enables students to prioritize education.

by Maia Ward The enforcement of a dress code is important because it helps students understand why certain clothes are more appropriate than others for places like school.

One of the dress code’s most important rules is the one against clothing or accessories that attack someone based on their religion, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, etc. This rule ensures that no one feels it is acceptable to wear anything that threatens their peers and classmates.

Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions, but there have to be rules that ban hostile messages at school.

While student safety is a major problem addressed by the dress code, other rules specifically discuss what kind of clothing is inappropriate to wear at school. The Student Parent Handbook bans “strapless tops, bare midriffs, off the shoulder or low cut tops” and requires shorts and skirts to be “as long as your thumb when hands are placed to your side.”

Students can show they are ready to learn at school when they present themselves in a professional way. When they take time to consider how their clothes reflect on how they’ve prepared for school, students show they understand that learning is a priority. Students’ choices demonstrate how they’ve chosen to present themselves at school, and certain outfits are too exposing for school. Listing what kinds of clothes are to be enforced gives students a standard for what clothes they should consider as the best fitting options for school.

Although it is important that the school has a dress code, the biggest issues with the dress code now are how it is enforced and certain rules that should be updated.

Certain students feel singled out when they are punished for wearing the same things as other students who face none of the same or lesser consequences. In one specific case, two school administers went to a student’s sixth period to ask her to cover about an inch of her midriff that was showing. If one student is going to be specifically called out by administrators for a small infraction of the code, the school has to be sure to address the more obvious violations as well like unnecessarily short cutoffs or plunging v-neck tops.

Specific rules that should be updated are the ones against “strapless tops” and “off the shoulder...tops.” These exaggerate exposed shoulders more than is necessary. Short shorts and exposed underwear are reasonably banned, so that students present themselves responsibly at school. Showing their shoulders, however, is harmless and not distracting to others. Including it makes other rules seem less reasonable and more confusing by comparison. For the dress code to be followed, each of the rules should be reviewed and reconsidered to ensure that they are fair and justifiable.

Instead of becoming an arbitrary, unfair set of rules for students to resent, the dress code needs to be reinforced as a way to prioritize students’ safety and stress how important it is for them to present themselves appropriately for school.

No. The dresscode must be adapted to fit modern standards.

by Molly Cochran Historically, a dress code has been in place in schools worldwide to promote a healthy learning environment with minimal distraction. However, the dress code has shifted to target those who choose to dress in “feminine” clothes; and clothing with offensive or inappropriate connotations often goes unnoticed and is rarely ostracized by administration.

This year, administration has declared that they’re “cracking down” on dress code.

They say something similar every year, but this year, they have legitimized their threats, actually enforcing their policy their stricter policy.

Dress code is generally problematic for a number of reasons, but perhaps the most offensive reason being that certain clothes can be “distracting” to a learning environment. I’m not referring to big flashy glasses or light up Christmas sweaters that are actually distracting; I’m referring to the exposed bra strap or half inch of torso.

There’s an argument that says that biology makes it impossible for heterosexual male students to keep focus around exposed skin which seems like a problem that is not for the female students to deal with. It’s nonsensical that female students should conform to standards of modesty because men can’t learn to control themselves.

Senior Erika Zlatkin feels that her decision to wear a tube top shouldn’t be labeled as a “distraction.” Are male students going to jump out of their seats and tackle girls at

the sight of a bra strap? Are they going to get a lower grade because a belly button is too attractive to keep focus? No. It seems like common sense to most of us that animalistic instincts in men aren’t triggered by a tiny bit of skin; so why doesn’t admin see it that way? Even if girls were physically attacked for their exposed bodies, it wouldn’t be their fault.

Telling girls they need to cover up to stay safe pushes a dangerous idea that the treatment and worth of a woman is determined by her modesty. Why are we teaching girls to dress so that they aren’t attacked, rather than teaching boys not to attack?

Personally, I’ve seen students wearing “spaghetti” straps who were dress-coded, while a person a few feet away displaying drugs on their shirt, was not dress-coded. It’s also ironic how admin claims to be “cracking down” on drugs as well this year, yet they’re more concerned with exposed shoulders.

Obviously I’m not advocating for gross unprofessionalism in clothing, but a belly button is no longer outrageous; we live in the twenty-first century.

The punishment for dress code also includes wasting students’ class time by making them change into PE attire to wear for the rest of the day. In addition to this being incredibly unnecessary for most dress code violations, administration also submits students to being shamed.

I’m not suggesting the dress code be completely abolished because I agree that it has some validity (especially in the case of clothing with gang or drug reference, or clothing that reveals ridiculous amounts of skin). All I ask is that the dress code is revised for twenty-first century standards of fashion and modesty. Times are changing, and our rules need to change with them.

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OPINION

SEP. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

EDITORIAL

HIGH TIDE

Our no vacation nation

Staff

Americans critically need more time off Imagine lying on a sunny beach on vacation, soaking in the salty ocean air. Then, someone’s phone rings. A man answers it, sighs, and gets up to head back into work.

Chances are, that man is American.

“The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or federal or other holidays. These benefits are matters of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee’s representative),” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

While this piece of legislation was crafted to allow flexibility and personal choice in the workplace, it may very well be killing us. The United States continues to be the only industrialized nation without legally mandated annual leave. As a result, Americans are working longer hours than their counterparts in the developed world.

Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers. Despite the longer hours, American companies continue to lose millions due to inefficiency in the workplace, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).

This inefficiency is, in part, caused by

the health problems assocciated with overworking. Stress from work can release a hormone called cortisol with heart damaging effects. Too much of this hormone can increase one’s risk for stroke, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, according to healthline.

With that being said, people struggle to merely survive the 9-5 routine’s toll on their body, let alone get any work done.

Lack of time off coupled with stressors from the workplace can drive people to the point of minimalicy. In other words, they’ll only do what is required of them since they are forced to work longer.

Taking time off signals a lack of commitment to many American employers.

Research indicates that many Americans who receive time off still don’t take it because of workplace pressures. Many employers express preferential treatment to those who work longer hours, further discouraging Americans to take their essential vacations, according to a BBC commentary on the issue.

Unfortunately, the problem is rooted deep into the American way of life and can’t be fixed with legislation alone. It’s safe to say that money is a big part of our culture. Many Americans value monetary success and associate it with happiness, forcing them to work longer hours despite exhaustion.

Given current media coverage, Americans have a construed perception of acceptable circumstances and tend to believe

they are lazy if they ask for better conditions, especially after being compared to countries with more lenient labor laws such as Mexico and China.

This mindset of ruthlessly letting people go for minor induscretion, like taking time off, is toxic and counterproductive.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Federally mandated paid leave would have many benefits in the workplace most notably, increased productivity and sharpness.

To see the effectiveness of paid leave, look no further than Europe.

The European Union’s (EU) workers are guaranteed at least 20 paid vacation days per year according to the EU’s Working Time Directive. To the surprise of most Americans, this additional time off doesn’t translate into lower productivity.

In 2015, nine of the 10 most productive countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), measured by GDP per hour worked, were in Europe. In this ranking the United States came in sixth. Five countries with more time off than the U.S. still ended up being more productive.

Vacations are vital for replenishing the body and sharpening the mind. When we escape our routines, we gain a changed and healthier sense of thinking. Vacations can also lead to innovation in the workplace.

Creative ideas come out of people who escape their day to day.

It’s time for us to stop letting greed and uninformed employers get in the way of our well-being. As Americans start to take more vacations, employers will need to humanely adjust their standards. Congress do you hear us? We need a break.

1.9 MILLION

705 MILLION

TOTAL UNUSED VACATION DAYS ANUALLY

POTENTIAL AMERICAN JOBS CREATED BY AMERICA’S UNUSED VACATION

Editors-in Chief Mia Berger

Ben Brill

Kylie Yorke

News Editors Analise Asaro, Lorraina Scolaro

Opinion Editors Adam Sayad, Christina Owen

Features Editors Martha Farah, Miriam Farah, Alexis Mesa, Grace McGonigle

Entertainment Editor Alex Dang

Sports Editors Yasmine Elahi, Maia Ward

Photo Editor Eden Millan

Copy Editors Molly Cochran, Alexander Clark

Writing Editors Reem Chamas, Molly Cochran, Lauren Kim, Kate Ripley, Angie Tait

Online Manager Summer Saad

Online Editors Justin Pioletti, Ben Yepez

Staff Writers

Meghan Jacob Ansel Reyes Nadia Bidarian Anthony Ganis Nicole Sandoval Austin Nunis Sangjun Lee Derek Stoetzer Sara Stienecker Ella Son Sarah Falahahwazi Gabe Berger Sydney Nguyen Grace Molinero Taylor Quaye Heather Lee Trina Kolas Hunter Shank Rebecca Bloch Kiera Patterson Nicholas White

Photographers Malena Buffagni Danielle Sestak Shawna Joseph

Haseeb Kahn Juninho Paniouchkine Gracelaina Horn

Illustrators Emma Arseneault, Sophie Fleming

Hits&Misses

This is a wholly student-managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on the school and community.

Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist.

Air Con for all

No moment of silence

Air conditioning has finally been been installed in every classroom, campuswide. Stay cool seahawks!

Unfortunately, the morning announcements either forgot or ommitted the annual moment of silence to remember 9/11.

Love wins, yet again!

Nike ad outrage

India’s ban on consensual gay sex was lifted unanimously by their Supreme Court on Thursday. #loveislove

Protesters burned Nike products in response to an ad featuring Collin Kapernick, increasing Nike’s stock in the process.

Bezos gives back

Parrots Extinct

Keep in touch with

Jeff Bezos commits $2 billion dollars to nonprofits that will help low-income neighborhoods fund more preschools.

Blue Macaw Parrots like the character “Blu” in the 2011 film “Rio” have been declared extinct in the wild by Birdlife International.

@ruhsmedia

Letters to the Editor The High Tide encourages greater input of opinions from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at

hightideonline@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.

Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.

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OPINION

SEP 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

7

Americans need to be more aware of U.S. military spending

by Kate Ripley The American lack of understanding when it comes to our money and how we spend it poses a dangerous threat to the productivity of our country and creates issues of disrespect toward our troops. Military budgeting may seem expensive but it’s necessary for the development and protection of our country, as well as for other operations around the world.

Americans need to reassess their understanding of not only budgeting in the military, but what the Armed Forces do as a whole. I will not deny that there are places for improvement in the military budget, but the automatic assumption that all

taxes are going to improper spending on machine guns is ignorant and false, and there is reason such a large portion of the national budget goes to the Military.

The military budget has been growing steadily since 2000 because of the need to develop technology, in order to replace those missing due to the shrinking rate of enlistment. In 1990, there were 2,065,597 active-duty service members. In 2015, there were 1,340,533, according to the Pew Research Center, and the enlistment number continues to drop. As my father, a 22 year veteran and current consultant for the Airforce, put it: there are less people willing to sacrifice for their country nowadays.

To be fair, the United States is not at war, and the decline of military personnel could be seen as carried over demilitarization following the Vietnam war.

Even though Congress hasn’t declared war, most American citizens — regardless of whether they agree on its necessity —

understand we continue to have a military presence worldwide. Involvement in incidents like Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terror have furthered our need for additional funding and personnel as the Armed Forces play a pivotal role in U.S. diplomacy. Maintaining these operations and peaceful relations around the world demands a large price.

But the majority of this money is not spent on weapons and technology to counteract the decline in enlistment. Procuring new weapons is, fiscally speaking, third on the military’s list-- with only 90.4 of the total 496 billion dollars in the 2015 budget being spent on this.

About 67 percent of the 2015 budget was provided for operations, maintenanceand military personnel, according to Business Insider. Over half the budget goes to filling cars with gas, paying for personnel and dependent health insurance, salaries and other tasks needed to keep the military — and the country — running.

PROJECTED 2026 U.S. BUDGET BREAKDOWN MEDICAID: $642 BILLION

In addition, the military (especially the Air Force) is involved in many humane projects, disaster relief and other aid projects. Remember Hurricane Katrina? The relief was organized by the U.S. military.

Despite the underwhelming support for Puerto Rico this last fall, the majority of U.S. effort was performed by servicemen and women, led by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan. Operations like these cost money.

Even more so, the military runs a multitude of operations whether or not the country is involved in conflict. For example, the coast guard works on defense, ocean rescues, drug busts and other necessities. The Air Force works on development of GPS, satellites, and communication technology.

With a better understanding of our military spending, Americans can turn their attention to the rest of our budget and become aware of gross overspending in other departments. While it’s important to be skeptical, we all need to do a little more research before we jump on blaming the military for economic issues.

DEFENSE: $719 BILLION EDUCATION: $125 BILLION ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE FLEMING SOURCE: BUDGET.HOUSE.GOV

S I H T IP ON

S

A little more care is needed before we #stopsucking on straws

by Alex Dang

S

top sucking — that’s the slogan of the newest environmental movement, eliminating the use of plastic straws. The United Kingdom and Taiwan both intend to ban plastic straws within the next decade, while stateside cities like Seattle, San Francisco and Miami Beach have already passed legislation to ban them. Locally, Manhattan Beach banned dispensing plastic straws in bars and restaurants in April.

While I do admire the intentions of these recent bans, a little perspective and prudence should be shown before we declare all-out war on plastic straws.

Reducing our plastic waste total is certainly pivotal to protecting our planet, especially with plastic consumption being out of control: in 2014 alone, Americans threw away over 33 million tons of plastic, most of which was not recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But plastic straws are merely a symp-

tom of our reckless consumer choices.

They make up a tiny fraction — 0.03 percent, as estimated by Bloomberg News — of the total mass of plastic waste, globally.

Proponents of the bans argue that focusing on doing away with plastic straws will lead to a decreased use of other plastic items. But why depend on straws to act as some kind of gateway item? Why bank on the chances that consumers will suddenly transform their lifestyle choices because Starbucks baristas won’t stick a plastic straw in their frappuccino anymore?

But anti-plastic straw activists should admit that a complete ban of plastic straws would be a cruel and uncaring act of environmentalism. Some people with significant disability depend on bendable plastic straws to drink independently. For people with Parkinson’s, alternatives like metal and bamboo straws can cause injuries because the materials are too strong. Additionally, because these people can take

longer to drink, paper straws can serve as a choking hazard considering they deteriorate and become soggy, unlike plastic.

While there is a very real and concerning human side of the issue, there is also an economic one.

Paper and compostable plastic straws, which generally cost between seven to 20 cents per piece, are considerably more expensive than single-use plastic straws, which only cost one to three cents per piece. The economic effect is large when taken into account the amount of straws stores dispense; in San Francisco, businesses hand out more than two million straws annually, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. This adds up to $340,000 more spent each year on straws.

And who can forget the poor boba shop owners? The wide straws that are needed to suck up the tapioca pearls are scarcely produced in alternative materials, and even when they are, the legislation passed may prohibit them (such is the case for boba shop owners in San Francisco, which has banned both plastic and the cornbased polylactic acid straws).

To the delight of anti-plastic straw activists, major corporations, including McDonald’s and Starbucks, have committed themselves to phasing out plastic straws within the next several years.

While mega corporations can afford to switch to more environmentally-friendly alternatives, it is unfair for local governments to force small business owners to make the switch away from cheap plastic straws. Phasing out plastic straws should be an environmental choice, not a regulation; it should be a decision made out of conscience or brand awareness or at the very least, as a result of consumer demands.

The pop artist Andy Warhol once said, “I love plastic. I want to be plastic.” While I doubt we consumers wish to be plastic, our straws better be.

STRAWS ACCOUNT FOR

.03 PERCENT

OF THE 8 MILLION METRIC TONS OF PLASTICS ESTIMATED TO ENTER THE OCEANS IN A GIVEN YEAR.

WE USE OVER

500

MILLION

STRAWS EVERY DAY IN AMERICA, AND MOST OF THOSE END UP IN OUR OCEANS.

COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC STRAWS ARE

NO BETTER

THAN REGULAR STRAWS WHEN THEY GET INTO THE OCEAN

SOURCES: BLOOMBERG, STRAWLESSOCEAN.ORG

8 SEPT. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

IN FOCUS

INCREASING

RIGOR THE

Teachers are altering their teaching methods to increase critical thin

by Lauren Kim

Around Redondo Do you think RUHS should increase class rigor?

“

“I think over the years it has gotten a little bit harder. But, I think the important thing is just that I’ve been able to keep stay on top of it.

It hasn’t affected me that bad, but it’s noticeable. I want more hands on stuff because. I feel like they throw a lot of worksheets and stuff at us and not any real things Julia Mattson, where you learn from experience.

Junior That’s important.”

“ “

“

“It shouldn’t be harder, because for some kids, it’s already hard.

There’s no point in making it harder for an AP class that’s supposed to be college level. The teacher themselves should change. They should explain stuff more. They can go at a faster pace but with more understanding and more examples.”

“

Jacob Chavez, Senior

“

“I know in a lot of my AP classes, it’s more about taking notes and repeating ideas like ‘What’s this and this and this?’ instead of actual student collaboration or projects. It’s all notes and homework assignments.

There should be more student collaboration.”

“

“

Zainab Alali, Junior

With the start of the 2019 school year, the RUHS admin- need to be closed, try to understand deeply what the definiistration will focus on increasing rigor to allow students to tions or theorems are telling us,” Baumgartner said. “We start reach their “maximum potential” and learn at the “highest looking at some of the more subtle aspects of the concepts level,” according to the emails sent out and by revisiting it over the years, they do to all students. get a deeper understanding of those ideas.”

This increase in rigor, according Teachers think that this push to into English and Math department crease rigor stems from the school’s SBAC “I hope that they would chairs, Stephanie Geil and Timothy scores, with a mere 59 percent of students feel better about themBaumgartner, respectively, is not meeting or exceeding standards on the selves after being in about assigning more homework; English section — a huge drop from the 77 a rigorous course. I rather, it means increases in critical percent in 2015. Competing schools have thinking and diving deeper into the much higher numbers; Mira Costa with 83 feel like if you know curriculum. percent in 2018 and PV Peninsula with 81 that you’re being chal“I think as a department, we’re percent. lenged, you naturally looking at ways to structure our tests Baumgartner believes the attitude stuexpect more of yourself. differently, and the questions and dents have towards SBAC tests need to how we phrase them,” Geil, AP Engchange in order for scores to improve.

I think most kids would lish Language and 11th grade Amer“I always remind my students that rise to that. ican Literature teacher, said. “I think their attitude is doing themselves and the -Stephanie Geil, that there’s a place for the facts and school a disservice. the tests that way, so I don’t think We want them to care English teacher that [our summer reading tests] will enough to make the ef“We also wa change. I think we would probably fort to give us answers sure that o change study guide questions, our esand realize that, even say prompts or maybe group work, and maybe make things though it’s not going to show up as their are able to more applicable to the outside world as well.” letter grade, it does impact the school. It atively bec For Baumgartner, a precalculus/trigonometry and Calcu- does play a role in our school’s reputareally mov lus BC teacher, making his classes more rigorous means going tion when college admissions people are world of in more in depth with each of the concepts. looking at those complete applications,” “In my classes, rigor is becoming more formal with some of Baumgartner said. into more o the definitions that we look at. That Although the school is now working tual age whe type of formality lets the towards improving SBAC scores, RUHS are asked students know we’re is not focused on merely improving its looking at different numbers — educating students is still vators, entr possible loop- its top priority, according to RUHS staff. influen holes that Teachers are using this push for more -Jens Brand critical thinking as a way to improve their curriculum and teaching methods.

“I think that as a school, we’ve never decided

“I want to see more classwork than homework to keep stress off the students when you’re outside of school so you can do better overall which would help in every aspect of student life.”

Kwess Vega, Senior

“

“

“The increase in rigor is necessary. It helps you develop better study habits and helps you learn more. “I’m an independent learning kind of guy. So I think the way it is right now is fine. Just to do it on your Caleb Cappasola, own.”

Senior

“

PHOTOS BY HASEEB KHAN

PHOTO BY MALENA BUFFAGNI

SEPT. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE 9

IN FOCUS

R

nking and SBAC scores

just to teach to a test, which I appreciate, and I think all of us teachers and students [do]. I think that it is something that we hold ourselves accountable to, but we can’t be slaves to,” Geil said. “I think just freshening your curriculum is always good.”

In addition to improving SBAC scores, both teachers agree that increasing rigor will benefit students by pushing them to work harder.

“I think for the most part, we have students that will rise to the challenge,” Baumgartner said. “There are some students that would just look for the easy way out, but I think for the most part, we have a good motivated student body. By exposing them to those possibilities, we’re hoping that people will choose the better path.”

Michael Smith, who teaches AP Statistics, Precalculus/ Trigonometry and FTS, says that the school’s revamping of the curriculum and teaching methods will better prepare students for the competitive job market.

“We want to make sure that our students are getting the best jobs possible,” Smith said. “And to get those high paying jobs, you really have to be a good problem solver and critical thinker.

The [question] is how do we teach stuant to make dents to think of the big picture and be our students problem solvers for the things that are going to come up in the real world? I o think crethink that’s why the school is pushing cause we’re it is because they want you know the ving from a teachers prepare them for those types nformation of jobs.”

Overall, all three teachers believe, of a concepregardless of the work that they put ere students into motivating their students to be cuto be innorious and hard-workers, students must meet their teachers halfway by makrepreneurs, ing an effort to become improve. ncers.”

“At the end of the day, I think it’s dt, Principal really up to the students. They have to find a need for why school’s valuable to them,” Smith said. “It’s kind of like that corny analogy: you can take a horse to the river to get water, but it’s up to them to drink it. I would be like, ‘How do I get everyone to pass’ and would stress about it all the time, but then I realize that it really is up to the students to make that big jump. Obviously, the teachers can take you from C to B, but it really does come down to the students.

Are they putting in the work?”

Brandt believes an increase in rigor will improve SBAC scores and classroom instruction The change in curriculum will take place mostly in CP classes “Yeah, [low SBAC scores] probably stems from those kids that are not academically as motivated. I would argue the main reason AP courses are so rigorous is because those teachers are abundantly aware of the expectations of AP exams,” Brandt said. “In visual performing arts, in CTE courses, SPED courses, we’re really working on creating those more rigorous assessments because that’s going to change the instructional environment in those classes.”

SBAC Scores: RUHS vs. Local High Schools ELA ELA

Math

ELA

71%

72%

Math

Math

59%

55%

RUHS Met or Exceeded

83%

Mira Costa HS Met or Exceeded

66%

South HS Met or Exceeded

INFORMATION COURTESY OF RUHS ADMIN

Brandt wants to push more important and meaningful work for students “I think that what’s incumbent upon us as instructional leaders and teachers is that we are creating rigorous yet relevant learning experiences, right?” Brandt said.

“Is it something that students will care about in terms of a sense of purpose or passion? Are you as a teacher, engaging your students in rigorous learning opportunities that are also relevant to them as young people? And that’s a work in progress.”

With the increase in the difficulty, Brandt wants to ensure that students who feel overwhelmed or overworked feel supported by their teachers “Having support systems is really important to me because I know some of our students, parents and teachers will say it’s good to raise rigor. But what if students are really challenged by that rigor, and they’re not able to reach those expectations in the moment? We want to make sure that we have systems of support for those students, whether it’s accommodations, modifications or differentiated instruction,” Brandt said.

FEATURES

10

A journey down under Teacher Kelly Lewis takes students to Australia and New Zealand

by Reem Chamas It’s an activity that requires breaking barriers — the barriers of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s an experience like no other — a marine adventure people travel the whole world to see.

Lewis and his students spent about three days in Cairns and Sydney, Australia and to New Zealand.

In flew into Cairns, Australia the group went snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef as well as a few scavenger hunts and a museum where prisoners were once kept.

Biology teacher Katherine Mauss also participated in the trip as a teacher chaperone.

“Getting to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef was super cool,” Mauss said. “ It was a life dream of mine, that’s why I originally signed up for the trip.”

The Great Barrier Reef was a highlight of the trip, according to most students and Mauss, due to its abundance of colorful and unique wildlife.

“Australia was my favorite place because of the Great Barrier Reef,” Junior Varduhy Minasian said.

“I have this big place in my heart for wildlife, so it’s crazy that the animals were right below my fingertips.”

In both Australia and New Zealand, the group was able to visit different cultural villages including an Aboriginal village in Sydney and a Maori village in New Zealand.

“There was a village where Maori people still live today where everything is geothermal, so they cook all their food with hot springs,” Mauss said. “They wrap their food in tin foil, and put it in a place they dug in the ground and it cooks their food for them.”

Of the many destinations, sophomore Omri Chbarbi particularly enjoyed the New Zealand segment of the trip because of the adventurous opportunities.

“We did extreme activities in Velocity Valley like going on a sky swing, indoor skydiving, and ridng the fastest boat in the southern hemisphere,” Chbarbi said. “In a place called Ogo we basically went in a hamster ball and rolled down a giant hill.”

World Travelers. Lewis and his students experience new land and cultures in the Southern hemisphere PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY LEWIS

Growing up, Lewis debated living a nomadic lifestyle. He wanted to “see the world” by getting different kinds of jobs. Now, he plans summer trips to gain those experiences.

“I’m really close to my family, and wanted to stay close to home, so I became a teacher where I can kind of have just a normal routine job,” Lewis said.

“But then I just wanted to get out and push my comfort zone, which I certainly do in every trip.”

As a biology teacher, Lewis chooses travel destinations with high biodiversity, adventure and activities before weighing the pricing.

“I look at over 100 different destinations when I’m trying to figure these things out,” Lewis said. “It’s 100 different itineraries, and I try to weigh out the pros and cons of all of them, which takes me about two or three months to figure out.”

Since these trips are meant to be fully engaging, Lewis begins planning for them almost two years in advance. In fact, he’s already planned for the 2019 summer trip and is currently working on 2020 plans.

Lewis is willing to take on the extra work because he feels rewarded by seeing the students “build character” on the trips.

“My favorite part of traveling is pushing the kids out of their comfort zones.”

Lewis said. “I really like seeing the kids overcome hurdles that they were scared about and build confidence in themselves. I like watching them grow and seeing them interact with each other while making new friends.”

The extensive planning of these summer trips is worth it because of the unforgettable learning experiences both Lewis and his students encountered.

“It’s a lot of planning and a lot of work. It’s a lot of liability and responsibility,” Lewis said. “At the end of the day, I’m getting to explore the world with students I enjoy hanging out with and I get to learn with them and help them learn through experiential learning.”

FEATURES

SEPT. 23, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Marching to the Beat

Marching Band members Quevedo and Dahl participated in Drum Corps International’s summer program

By Grace McGonigle Junior Julian Quevedo and sophomore Tyler Dahl are RUHS’ very own boogie woogie bugle boys after enjoying a noteworthy summer performing with Drum Corps International (DCI), an organization which pushes young musicians to expand their musical and physical abilities.

The program, spanning two months, consisted of learning and rehearsing a marching band routine for a competition in August.

Quevedo played the contrabass bugle, more commonly known as the marching tuba, with the Vanguard Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps to push himself to improve his marching skills and technique.

“Drum Corps is all about doing a lot of things at the same time. You’re focusing on your posture, marching technique, air support, tone quality and a lot of other things while getting a lot of information thrown at you all the time,” Quevedo said.

For Quevedo, the pressure he put on himself to become a better musician was difficult.

“The hardest thing about Drum Corps is getting up every day and improving in every single way; it pushes everybody mentally and physically. Every second you

have to think about what you’re going to improve on, and I wanted to improve on everything,” Quevedo said.

Dahl also played the marching tuba but with the Golden Empire Drum and Bugle Corps.

“This opportunity means a lot because everyone involved with it was putting everything they can into it. It’s a great opportunity that most people never get,” Dahl said.

Quevedo and Dahl first auditioned for their respective corps in January. Weekend camps began after auditions, but the most intense part occurred when both dealt with “blistering” heat at rehearsal.

“We were suffering in the heat, but our director said that everybody was hot, and it didn’t matter because we were all going to suffer together. Then, I went on to have the best run of my show ever,” Quevedo said.

The program ended with both corps competing in the Open Class; Vanguard winning first place and Golden Empire placing 11th.

“I got to perform and rehearse with my closest friends. I got to know them extremely well, so the program was essentially just being able to do my favorite thing all day, every day for the whole summer,” Que-

vedo said.

For Dahl, the best part of this experience was also the people he marched with and the relationships he created.

“It taught me that people really need to value the time they have with those they care about and the experiences they have. I can’t really talk to any of the people I was in the corps with anymore in person, so I think everyone needs to really value the people they care about,” Dahl said.

This experience helped Quevedo become a better musician and “a better person.”

“I discovered that I’m a lot stronger than I thought. I could perform doing my absolute best without being crazy nervous,” Quevedo said.

Although Dahl plans to participate next summer, Quevedo does not. However, they see their time with DCI as a high note that didn’t fall flat.

“For me, being in Vanguard was a huge dream.

I thought about all the time throughout my freshman and sophomore year,” Quevedo said. “It’s definitely a serious thing about maintaining your level of achievement and pushing yourself to get better.”

The intern

Students Khorasani and Hu participated in internships last summer

by Miriam Farah Senior Nasim Khorasani interned at the Harbor UCLA medical center at Los Angeles Biomedical Research institute for the cardiology department under Doctor Matthew Budoff for eight weeks during the summer. She inspected alternative CT scans, obtained specific values needed to complete the study, and checked for any abnormalities in the scans.

Q

What was the coolest thing that you did?

&

A

Q

When we finished preparing the document for printing a 3D model of a heart, we waited six hours for the heart to print. Afterwards, I had to carve out the supports that had been printed with the heart and make it ready for presentation.

Nasim Khorasani, 12th

How do you think this internship will help you in the future?

&

In the future, I am planning on pursuing a career in the medical field. By doing this internship, I experienced many new things, and I got to observe and do things that I never had done before. This internship helped me realize how delighting it is to be a part of the medical team and experience the mysteries of medicine.

Nasim Khorasani, 12th

A

Senior Yuxuan Hu interned in Professor Walbot’s lab at Stanford University for eight weeks this summer. The lab focused on plant genetics research working with the professor and a post-doctorate. She helped the post-doctorate on her research of ocl4 gene expression in pre-meiotic maize anthers and cloning while conducting basic experiments such as staining, dissections, confocal microscopy, PCR and gel electrophoresis.

Q & A

Q

What skills did you learn?

I learned how to accept failure.

Unlike the labs I’ve done in high school science classes, the experiments I performed there were not always successful. In fact, I would fail to get desirable results most of the time like every other member in the lab. I learned that science is all about how to identify your mistake and improve, over and over again.

Yuxuan Hu, 12th What is your favorite memory?

&

A

My favorite memory was the weekly lab barbeque, during which all members of the Walbot lab gathered for lunch. I always enjoy our time together because we would talk about anything ranging from the weather in India to the latest scientific discoveries.

Yuxuan Hu, 12th

EXPERIENCE 85%

OF EMPOLYERS SAY THAT HIRING INTERNS WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

86% OF STUDENTS POLLED SAID THAT THEIR INTERNSHIP WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

29% OF INTERNSHIPS LED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OFFERS 40% OF STUDENTS WHO HELD INTERNSHIPS ACCEPTED FULLTIME EMPLOYMENT OFFERS

INFORMATION BY WWW.INTERNSHIPS.COM, WWW. CAREERSERVICES.AVEMARIA.EDU AND WWW.STUDENTAFFAIRS.UNT.EDU

11

ENTERTAINMENT

12

No answers. David (John Cho) searches for his missing daughter in Aneesh Chaganty’s “Searching”, which is presented through the screen of a computer. PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

A dark web in dark times

"Searching" is an innovative thriller for the age of social media

by Sydney Nguyen

Living in a digital world, people have the power to express a side of themselves that would otherwise be hidden from the world. Through a distinct and fresh way of storytelling with a computer screen, Aneesh Chaganty’s “Searching” highlights the two-sided aspects of social media, allowing people a platform for their own voice while also introducing many dangers.

A computer screen opens up as the movie starts, taking viewers through memories of the Kim family. Little, everyday moments are captured and displayed through a camera in the computer, introducing us to the main characters David Kim (John Cho) and Margot Kim (Michelle La).

These happier times, however, halt once Margot does not come home from a study group one night. Desperate, David attempts to help the police by commencing an investigation of his own, scouring the Internet for clues leading to Margot’s whereabouts. Along the way, he discovers a hidden side of the daughter he thought he knew so well.

The Kim family has already faced a

traumatic experience when Margot’s es in the investigation, making it seem as mother, Pamela (Sara Sohn), passed away if they are doing the searching themselves. two years prior from cancer. There is a disViewers are able to follow David and connect that forms between Margot and see whatever he is searching up and David, one that David chooses to ignore, watching on the Internet, his text messaginevitably leading to his ignorance of the es and FaceTime calls. Bringing this digital new life his daughter leads. aspect into the movie further emphasizes With “Searching” beits point of how much ing Chaganty’s first full influences

'Searching' really technology film, he did a great job our lives and society. creating a film that lived involves audiences in the Presenting the enup to its role as a thriller investigation, making it tire movie on a commovie, leaving viewers puter window was a eager to see future work seem as if they are dorisky move considerChaganty will produce. ing the searching theming it might be hard Audiences are bombardto keep the viewers ed by new evidence and selves.” attention while crenew theories at moments ating enough suswhere the case seems to be coming to a pense throughout the movie to keep them close, keeping them guessing and coming hooked. However, Chaganty excellently up with ideas of what could have hap- crafted and planned the movie so that pened just as David experiences it. viewers would not get bored watching a Instead of being a traditionally filmed computer screen the whole way through. movie, this film tells the story through a This concept of storytelling through a computer window, giving viewers a feel- computer has been seen in the 2015 horror ing that they are in on the investigation film “Unfriended”, although “Searching” alongside David. It really involves audienc- succeeds in providing audiences with the

“

adequate suspense along with offering an unconventional new point of view, while “Unfriended” was unable to provide an ample amount of terror and suspense in their scenes.

The movie had a spotlight around social media and the Internet, displaying that although the Internet can allow people to express different sides of themselves online, it also presents various dangers, namely, how easily people can create a fake reality for themselves online and surround themselves with fake friends and how oblivious people can be about what their loved ones are doing on the Internet.

With its original concept of storytelling through a digital perspective that reflects our technologically dependent society, “Searching” is able to exhibit the light and dark sides of the Internet, leaving audiences questioning the nature of their own digital “reality”.

SEARCHING

ANEESH CHAGANTY

Rice Things is a hidden treat

by Sarah Falahahwazi

A Japanese dining festival lies in the last place you would expect: on the edge of an unremarkable plaza, right next to a quaint nail salon. With its casual atmosphere and affordable food options, Rice Things is bringing more things than just rice to Redondo Beach.

The low prices and modest exterior of the restaurant can be deceiving; after all, a combo order with two or three entrees, rice and a house salad for under ten dollars seems almost too good to be true. But Rice Things does not disappoint its eaters, for the wide-ranging Japanese menu includes a gold mine of quality seafood and rice bowls.

Perhaps the most savory dishes they have to offer are the staple foods of nearly every Southern California Japanese restaurant: sushi rolls. Consisting only of rice and seaweed wrapped around rectan-

gular slices of cucumber and the raw fish topus. of your choice, the simple yet delectable While Rice Things certainly excels in flavor of the roll is accentuated by the few the seafood department, their non-fish ingredients wrapped within it. teri- yaki bowls tend to be chewy and, in Thinly-sliced, fresh and completely some cases, bland. For instance, raw, the sashimi is yet another entree that while the steak teriyaki is laced impresses customers with its with a blend of sweet and smooth, buttery texture. meaty flavors, it unforAlthough the dish costs tunately lacks any sort of around $8, which is tenderness, a problem that more expensive than much of the non-seafood meat what the restaurant suffers. There is one dish, howusually serves, it does ever, that utterly disappoints come with a side of soy customers. Tough and sauce, cucumbers, pick- ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF PIXABAY sorely lacking anything led gingers, watercress and resembling pungency, the wasabi, which makes for a pleasant flavor chicken teriyaki is outclassed by literally circus. Moreover, the menu offers a wide any other entree the menu has to offer. variety of sashimi, ranging from salmon to Granted, this is no high-end gourmet shrimp to — this may turn the stomachs of diner, but it is a great place to get an exthose who are less used to the idea — oc- ceptionally large portion of food for a fair

price. That being said, the lack of service makes the sit-down experience a bit underwhelming. While the servers themselves are polite and knowledgeable, their presence is difficult to notice. Most customers would be better off coming here for take-out as opposed to dining in.

Rice Things is by no means authentic Japanese cuisine, but it would not be fair to call it Americanized either. Rather, the dishes are simplified from their traditional counterparts. But this only adds to the uniqueness of Rice Things; it is a place where affordability is combined with a charming simplicity that has locals coming back for more.

RICE THINGS

NORTH REDONDO

ENTERTAINMENT

SEP. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

13

Releases of the summer

Notable delights and duds from summer 2018

1

by Alexis Mesa

CRAZY

RICH

ASIANS

STARRING: CONSTANCE WU, HENRY GOLDING, KEN JEONG DIRECTED BY JON M. CHU When the release of a mainstream romantic comedy starring an all-Asian cast hit the media, some were excited and some were skeptical. Asians have always been mistreated by Hollywood; either replaced by PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. white actors, as seen in “Ghost in the Shell” with lead actress Scarlett Johansson, or completely disrespected, like with Long Duk Dong in “Sixteen Candles.” Finally after years of the film industry disrespecting an entire race of people, “Crazy Rich Asians” has done it right.

Based on Kevin Kwan’s novel of the same name, “Crazy Rich Asians” follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a Chinese-American professor at NYU. She accompanies her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) to Asia for a family wedding where she discovers that he is a member of the wealthiest family in Singapore. There, he must combat his overbearing mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) to be with him.

Themes of family, duty and love cross and clash at one point or another in the story like they do in other romantic comedies, but the Asian characters make the film unique. Traditionally in western society, a family would not revere a member of the older generation to the extent of those in an Asian household. In “Crazy Rich Asians” when the matriarch enters the room, everyone rises to their feet. The film works not only to diversify entertainment, but to educate as well.

Hollywood frequently depicts Asians as terribly misrepresented stereotypes, but "Crazy Rich Asians" reaffirms the uniqueness of Asian culture.

While the film may not cover every specific Asian family in the world or solve the lack of diversity in the film industry, it certainly is a step in the right direction.

2 3 4 THE MEG

STARRING: JASON STATHAM, LI BINGBING, RAINN WILSON

DIRECTED BY JON TURTLETAUB

No summer is complete without a shark movie that scares beach goers into fleeing out of the water and onto the sand. Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” succeeded in it’s purpose of frightening the public over 40 years ago. Now, “The Meg” attempts to do so but struggles to stay afloat.

When a research team opens a ravine on the ocean floor, they find themselves being attacked by the infamous “megalodon,” the largest shark to ever live on earth. Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), an ex-rescue diver who is thought to have hallucinated in a failed mission ruined by a megalodon years prior, is tasked with saving them.

What follows is a series of cliché and cringe worthy moments, that are similar to those in “Sharknado.” Yet "The Meg" manages to surpass the Syfy film in quality tenfold simply because of its larger budget.

The film has the same cheesy one-liners and predictability that many action movies have, but what really solidifies it as overdone is its set of characters; including racially stereotypical comic relief and “sexy” female geniuses.

The film's plot includes a cringe-inducing love story between the main character and the underwater research facility head’s daughter (Li Bingbing).

The two leads have absolutely no chemistry.

The megalodon is not terrifying enough to salvage the film. Whenever the shark is lurking underneath powerless swimmers, a bloodbath was expected; it never comes.

Ultimately, "The Meg" is a poor attempt by big production companies to get money out of summer moviegoers, unlike other blockbusters which can be, at the very least, entertaining and bearable.

The film wields every trick in the book to attract an audience but disregards any which can satisfy one, unlike “Jaws” which successfully did both with a dysfunctional mechanical shark.

Though the great white and the megalodon differ dramatically in size, it is clear Bruce will always reign supreme.

HIVE

MIND

ALBUM BY: THE INTERNET GENRE: R&B, FUNK, HIP HOP

With a new era of music being ushered into the modern world by young artists, more traditional styles tend to be left behind. However, the Internet reinvents old funk for the new age in their fourth studio album, “Hive Mind.”

When Syd Tha Kyd broke out of Odd Future (a collective of California music artists which included Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator) she and her new band members formed the Internet. Specializing in R&B, funk and soul, their tracks rose on the Billboard top charts despite the group’s separation.

“Hive Mind” further proves their legitimacy as their own band. From the sweet vocals of Syd Tha Kyd on “Come Together” to the soft yet prominent bassline of Patrick Paige II in “Bravo,” they are a force to be reckoned with in the R&B community.

Throughout the entire album, the instrumentals are fueled by passion.

The percussion is ambitious: varying in style often, at times bold with cowbells, maracas and snares, or subtle with soft cymbals. Additionally, Steve Lacy provides Prince-like guitar playing which swims with Syd’s voice on every track.

It is no secret that their lead vocalist is one of the most attractive aspects of their music. On “Stay the Night,” Syd is alluring with her voice restrained to almost a whisper. She is secretive, seducing the listener with her every word.

Although stunning in every other aspect of their craft, the Internet tends to bore lyrically. Commonly used plotlines among musicians, like pining over a woman known as a “shorty,” are used repeatedly by the group. They can adapt a line like “shorty, would you be mine” in “Next Time / Humble Pie” to their own style, but it still leaves you yearning for deeper lyricism.

With groove that can be felt by listeners in every song, “Hive Mind” is worthy of being played on heavy rotation. The Internet has crossbred modern R&B with vintage funk and soul so well that it has created a pathway into a different musical world for all generations.

SWEETENER

ALBUM BY: ARIANA GRANDE GENRE: POP, R&B

After giving a mediocre performance of “A Natural Woman” at Aretha Franklin’s funeral, one wonders where Ariana Grande found the confidence to perform such a powerhouse of a song in the first place. The series of events are understandable if you note the release of her highly anticipated fourth studio album only two weeks prior, as [Grande] is “Sweetener” is good no longer releasenough to ing songs which rightfulwere created for ly fill the 25-year-old rebellious middle singer with schoolers, but pride.

E v e n instead ones that those who are deeply intido not seek G r a n d e ’ s mate.” music have most certainly heard “God is a Woman” at least once within the past week.

The song is overplayed and nowhere near as excellent as the other tracks on “Sweetener”.

Just like the album cover, which shows a vertically flipped photo of Grande, she has turned her own music on its head. She is no longer releasing songs which were created for rebellious middle schoolers but instead ones that are deeply intimate.

After the bombing at her concert in Manchester, she uses “Sweetener” to heal herself and her fans.

However, she also recognizes it as an opportunity to get political. On “The Light is Coming”, which contains a sample of a man yelling at Senator Arlen Spector, Grande urges American citizens to unite after being politically divided, but the constant bellowing pairing with Grande’s repetitive chorus annoys.

Grande uses “Sweetener” as a different medium for an autobiography, addressing her love life, appreciation of her fans and her beliefs concerning the country we live in. It is a satisfying breath of fresh air for Grande, and we, as listeners, can feel every exhale with her.

“

"Kamikaze" is a blow to Eminem's career

by Ben Yepez

Despite his lyrical prowess, Eminem’s repetitive flow and delivery makes for a boring product. Kamikaze, the Detroit MC’s tenth studio album was released, unannounced, on Aug. 31, less than one year after the artist released Revival, which was critically received as one of his worst albums. Eminem’s hopes of reputational redemption were riding on this surprise 13-track record.

Eminem’s widely known frustration with the current generation of “mumble” rappers is evident in his angry deliveries and various disses which gave the album such viral status, with the likes of Lil Yachty and Lil Pump being on the receiving end of Slim Shady’s harshest lines.

In addition to voicing his concerns about the current state of hip hop, Eminem targets those in the industry he has beef with. He targets media personalities such

as Joe Budden, DJ Akademiks and Charlamagne Tha God, as well as rappers Tyler the Creator, Drake and Machine Gun Kelly.

While relatively lackluster in terms of features, production from the likes of RonnyJ, Mike WiLL Made-It and Tay Keith, Eminem himself gives the album some star power. Although Eminem wrote almost all the songs on Kamikaze, writing credits were given to Kendrick Lamar for “Greatest,” and Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez for “Good Guy.” “Normal” offers a personal glimpse into the rapper’s life, with Eminem rapping over a bass-heavy, slightly electronic beat.

Although the song’s lyrics offer a change of pace from the album’s aggressive braggadociousness, Eminem’s gritty voice and inability to sing lowers the emotional appeal of what could have been a beautiful track.

On “Fall,” Justin Vernon’s vocals demon-

strate what tracks like “Normal” and “Stepping Stone” could have been like if Eminem had not delivered the chorus. The album can be clearly split into two types of songs: ones that indulge his ego and those that discuss Eminem’s personal struggles, specifically with relationships.

His “emotional” songs prove why he is a rapper — the simple production is not enough to make up for his lackluster singing voice. When discussing his failed relationships, songs that should have been emotionally moving, Eminem merely comes across as a whiny ex.

“Stepping Stone” is arguably the worst song on the album: the chorus is merely a jumble of guitars and static that ends with Eminem’s singing voice, which should be reserved for the shower.

The ego-feeding songs, although lyrically impressive, all sound similar in beat and

cadence. Though there are exceptions to the monotony of Kamikaze, Eminem sees himself as the defender of a genre which has ideals that no longer align with his.

While lyricism was valued heavily when Eminem first blew up, times have changed. Now, audiences are more partial to artists who are more experimental, whether it be production-wise or lyrically.

While it is Eminem's prerogative to dislike the current wave of hip-hop, if he wants to remain relevant as a musician he must understand that music genres are evolving and changing constantly. Eminem can either evolve with hip-hop or watch his career go extinct.

KAMIKAZE

EMINEM

14

SPORTS

SEP. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Starting off right. Kyle Aldover picks up the ball looking for someone to pass to. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ALDOVER

Fired up Waterpolo has high expectations for this season after their head coach is replaced

by Justin Pioletti

D

efeating Wa l n ut High School 9-8, boys water polo looks to carry that momentum into their upcoming season.

“Beating Walnut was really important .

It helped our rankings going into the season,” junior Gavin Pierce said. “We played them last year in CIF finals and won, so beating them again was definitely a relief.”

According to junior Camilo Munoz, the team’s success from last season went to their heads. The boys went into the game as-

suming that the win w o u l d come easy, but Walnut surprised them.

“I definitely think we could have gone into the game with a better mindset.

There were a lot of shots that I should have blocked, but they saw that I was not blocking lobs and played me,” Munoz said.

“Luckily the other guys backed me up, so we ended up winning anyways.”

Gavin and Riley Pierce were leading scorers in the game against Walnut as well as, during the Long Beach Poly Tournament in August. Largely due to their dynamic, the team took first place.

“Riley and I have played really well together so far. There’s been a lot of assists between me and him,” Gavin said. “He’s young, but I know what to expect from him in games.”

While chemistry is strong between the Pierce brothers, the boys are going to have to come together to accomplish their objectives. The team collectively is looking to defeat Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Peninsula High School in order to win Bay League.

“We’ve got our eyes set on winning Bay League. Our relationships with each of the teams are a little different, though.” senior Logan Lewis said. “A lot of us are friends with people on Costa, which is cool. Palos

Verdes needs to be put in their place. We want to beat them, hard.”

Big changes in coaching have also been made within the team. Head coach Chris Murin left the team earlier this year, with former assistant coach Skyler Ulrich filling in. According to Lewis, this transition has lead to drastic changes in gameplay. However, it looks as though the change might bring advantageous results.

“There’s now a different sub-rotation where there’s groups of three or four people going in every few minutes, opposed to one or two players going in maybe once a quarter. This lets a lot more people play, which has really helped.” Lewis said. “This season will definitely be interesting.”

Redondo’s Rocky Start Boys football wins showcase game in Florida after a rough beginning to the new season

All the way up. 1. Grant Brugma’s teammates hold him up after he scores a touchdown. PHOTO BY LILLY LOPEZ

Bring it back now ya’ll. 2. Quarterback John Lynch protects the ball from the offensive team. 3. Oh no. Kaden Martin gets ready

Scores

to pass the ball as the Linemen hold off the opposing team. PHOTOS BY LILLY LOPEZ

28-7

51-20

Loss @ Crescenta

Loss vs Villa Park

42-7

Loss vs Sierra Canyon

30-14 Win @ East Ridge

SPORTS

SEP. 14, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

15

Starting Off Strong Girls Cross Country placed fifth in invitational last week

by Kiera Patterson This past Friday, Girls Varsity cross country ran in the Cool Breeze Invitational, placing fifth against around 30 teams.

“We had both Molly Hastings and Isabella Landry who got out really fast which was great because we were able to follow them. Then there was a pack of four which included Domenica Villegas, Kasey Boheny, Shelby Bender, and I. Just being in that pack greatly benefited us in the race,” senior Peyton Heiden said. “[There’s] intimidation in numbers, when you have a bigger pack and they pass [a] single person running they’re going to be scared.”

The girls’ success has much to do with the amount of time and preparation they put into their team. With six practices a week, for two to three hours each day, eight mile runs every other day, three mile runs on their “easy” day, continuously eating healthy, getting the right amount of sleep, and drinking plenty of water before meets, they perform at their coaches’ highest standards.

Not only does physical preparation have a huge role in competing well, being able to mentally prepare before the race has a huge impact on the outcome.

“To mentally prepare, it’s good to talk to the other girls because every-

one is feeling nervous but we talk about the specific things we want to do in our races. Music also helps to prepare for racing; playing the right songs to get you motivated during the warm up can help you get in the racing mental state you need,” junior Kasey Bohney said.

The girls’ success in competing has been boosted significantly by the bonds that they create with one another. The girls are not only together after school during games and practic-

es, but also in school where they hangout in Mrs. Ferron’s room. They also frequently hang out together outside of school.

“You don’t want to disappoint your teammates while you’re running, but they are some of your best friends so it makes it easier,” sophomore Monte Allison said.

Running has become a huge part of the girls’ lives. It’s something that they can turn to on their bad or good days knowing that they will have their teammates by their side.

“Running impacts my life pretty intensely because it takes up so much time.

Along with school it’s a main focus in my life, so even when I’m not running I’m thinking about the next race, workout, or long run. It also impacts my life because [I’ve] made lifelong friends from [the team],” Bohney said.

As of now the girls look to continuously improve on everything and hit all their goals. Through it all, they know that they will have their teammates by their side whether the problem is running-oriented or not.

The girls hope to make it to CIF finals and state finals, and from there to the Nike Cross Nationals.

“I’m really excited about the Redondo team this year, I think we’ve got a lot of potential and [we’re] going to be good competition for the other teams. We’ve had a young team for the past couple of years and now the team is getting older and maturing so I think that’s going to show in our racing this year,” Bohney said.

Happy to run together. Sophomore runners enjoy well deserved success after their events.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB LEECH

They Shoot, They Score

Score recaps from this past week Girls Golf

Girls Volleyball

Varsity won against North on Tuesday, Sept. 11 NORTH

REDONDO

291 : 248

Girls Tennis Varsity won against Culver City on Tuesday, Sept. 4 CULVER CITY

REDONDO

7 : 11

A job well done. Varsity players celebrate a well deserved win against St. Teresa’s Academy on Sept. 8. The team won 3-2, and their next game is scheduled for Sept. 13 against Leuzinger. Go Sea Hawks!

PHOTO TAKEN BY MALENA BUFFAGNI

FEATURES

MAR. 23, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Kalea Avery is diagnosed with a brain tumor in the posteria fossa region.

Light in the darkness

THE

JUNE 8TH

Finding

by Lorraina Scoaro

JUNE 11TH

Kalea undergoes surgery to remove her tumor. She begins chemotherapy shortly after.

JUNE 21ST Noah Avery is taken to the hospital after headaches, and doctors find a mass in the same area as Kalea’s.

JUNE 25TH

Noah undergoes a 6 hour surgery, successfully removing the tumor.

C

ancer is a tough enough battle on its own, but when it attacks your kids, a time full of darkness can become even darker. Sometimes, however, rays of light may emerge beyond a child’s recovery.

With support from the community, surf coach Duncan Avery and his wife Nohea have been touched by these rays.

“One thing that makes us so lucky is that my wife and I, grew up in the area, and we’ve had so much support behind us that it makes the journey a little bit easier,” Avery said.

Ever since word broke about the Avery’s two kids and their diagnosis with medulloblastoma, an aggressive tumor in the brain, people from all over have flocked to help. Many have donated to the family’s GoFundMe page, helping to raise $202,106 out of the $250,000 goal.

Others like Cameron Chacker, Kendra Scott and a few of Avery’s former students have set up their own events to help fundraise for the family.

“It’s just humbling, you know,” Avery said. “that there’s so many people out there in this community to help us raise money for our family.”

Avery finds it hard to accept all the money from everyone, but as it is a time of need for his family, all he can do is thank everyone.

“We’re just so appreciative of what everyone is doing for us,” Avery said.

To show his family’s appreciation, Avery and his wife are working with school administrators to start giving a $1000 scholarship to a senior who battled cancer sometime in his or her life.

“We hope to do this for the South Bay,” Avery said, “It’s our plan to to give back to the community and give back to Redondo.”

Their oldest child, six year-old Kalea was diagnosed on June 8th and just 13 days later, their four year-old son, Noah, was diagnosed with the same form of cancer, a scenario unseen by many medical professionals. Kalea is scheduled to start 11 months of chemotherapy in a couple of weeks and Noah is scheduled to start round three of chemotherapy soon.

“They’re doing as well good as they can,” Avery said, “It’s hard for them to understand what they’re going through and what exactly they have.”

To maintain positivity, Avery just keeps faith in the doctors and the belief that his kids will make it through.

“They don’t really grasp the concept of cancer a lot of the time,” Avery said. “They just know that they can’t do a lot of things they wanted to but they’re handling it the best they can.”

For now, Avery and his family just focus on the small victories such as seeing their kids laugh and play, enjoying life to the best of their abilities.

“They still have many fights left,” Avery said. “We’re just praying that they’re going to be able to survive this.”

$250,000 GOAL

$202,106

JULY 11

RAISED OVER

2 MONTHS

Kalea undergoes her first session of radiation therapy.

THE AVERY’S GOFUNDME PAGE HAS OVER

6,000 SHARES

SEPT. 4

Noah was supposed to start round 3 of chemotheraphy, but complications have postponed the treatment.

THE AVERY KIDS WERE DIAGNOESED WITH

MEDULLOBLASTOMA.

500

AROUND CHILDREN IN THE US ARE DIAGNOESD WITH IT EACH YEAR

15