September Issue

LA VISTA Mira Costa

High School’s

S eptember 21, 2018 | I ssue 1, Volume 69

1401 Artesia Blvd.

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

@LaVistaMedia

LaVistaMCHS.com

GETTING THE AS-BEST OF US: Fences block off the Costa Library during the investigation of asbestos contamination. Many students have not been able to check out textbooks and cannot until the library’s reopening. Photo by Sheridan McKnight

Administration closes library after asbestos contamination

By Greta Nerad News Editor

M

ira Costa’s administration closed the library and three adjacent classrooms on Aug. 16 to investigate the illegal removal, handling and disposal of asbestos in the process of converting the library storage room to a functional workspace.

A sub-contractor damaged tile containing 5-6% Chrysotile asbestos in the storage room after using a power grinder to level the tile surface for the installment of new carpeting. At the time of the incident, students and parent volunteers were present in the library for registration and were eventually cleared from the area when library staff noticed the dangerous work being performed after approximately four hours.

“The incident led to a lot of panic throughout the freshman class because we had registration that day,” freshman Eve Macleod said. “I also wasn’t able to get the necessary textbooks.”

Enviromental Newtowork Corperation Inc. generated a new report at the beginning of summer per the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which requires local educational agencies to inspect their school buildings for building materials with asbestos, and confirmed that the library does have asbestos. Airborne asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs of those who are exposed, which can cause the development of fatal conditions, including Mesothelioma, lung cancer and other serious lung conditions in the decades that follow, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

“The fact that the district hired a construc-

Opinion

4

Look into La Vista’s opinion on the timelines for construction at Costa.

tion company that isn’t asbestos certified, knowing that there was asbestos based on these recent AHERA reports, shows total disregard for the health of anyone who goes into that library,” French teacher Lauri Resnikoff said. “It’s the law when you know there’s asbestos to have it properly abated, so blatantly disregarding the law is disrespectful, and it puts people’s health in danger.”

Following the investigation, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) issued notices to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District and the two hired contractors, KYA Group and Progressive Surface Solutions, for 27 violations each of SCAQMD and federal asbestos regulations. Legal penalties for improper asbestos removal include up to five years of jail time and fines of up to $250,000.

MBUSD representatives could not be reached for comment regarding the violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Miller Environmental, a contractor hired by MBUSD in 2014, for a general violation of Class II asbestos work, which includes the removal of contaminated wallboard, floor tile and roofing. The citation explicitly warned against the sanding of asbestos-containing flooring.

“I am worried that the administrators who are responsible for maintaining the asbestos that we know is here aren’t ade-

quately following the rules and procedures es. In addition to the asbestos-contaminatand protocols that are in place,” Manhattan ed building materials, any porous materials Beach Unified Teachers Association Presi- present in the library workroom, hallway, dent Shawn Chen said. “It is not very confi- south entrance and librarian’s office, at the dence-inducing seeing that the only reason time of disturbance, including books and they’re following the rules right now is be- rolls of new carpeting, will be removed cause there and disposed of as have been asbestos waste. multiple AQMD InThe only reason they’re complaints spector Michael following the rules right Haynes requested against them.” now is because there have been that the restrooms Upon testand janitor’s closet multiple complaints...” ing for asin the workroom -Shawn Chen hallway also be bestos in the library workMBUTA President decontaminated in room, ENcase the contracCORP found tors entered these that the shelving in the storage room conareas during or following their work. tained lead paint. Contractors uncovered the “Everyone should be concerned about their lead when they began work on the floors, health if the clean up procedure involves about and the shelving has since been removed, a hundred pages,” Resnikoff said. “That’s a reCosta Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. Though ally big deal, and it is very, very costly.”

Dale and Superintendant Dr. Mike Matthews The district is taking aggressive actions to collectively sent five emails to Costa parents remediate the storage room and surrounding addressing the asbestos in the library, none areas, Matthews said in an email to district mentioned the lead contamination. parents. The district has not disclosed the proDale and Matthews declined to comment jected date for the reopening of the library. on the failure to mention lead in the emails.

“We want to make sure everything that A properly licensed and registered as- poses a concern gets removed,” Dale said. bestos abatement contractor will perform The demolition of the Fisher Gymnasithe The Procedure 5 cleanup that the li- um is set to take place in November or Debrary must undergo for abatement purpos- cember of this year. MBUSD plans to hire a company to abate any potentially dangerous materials and notify AQMD about the hat is sbestos plans for abatement before beginning any work, Matthews said in his Sept. 11 district - Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil newsletter.

- It has been used in building construction materials for insulation “Any time you knock down a building, - The 3 major health affects are: asbestosis, lung cancer, & mesothelioma you have to abate it first, which was always - disease symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure part of the plan with the gym,” Dale said.

-United States Environmental Protection Agency More absestos info on pages 2, 8 and 9.

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In This Issue: The Highlights of La Vista Features

7

Read about four Costa students who traveled around the world to help others.

Arts

16

La Vista reviews the new LACMA exhibit, “Fantasies and Fairytales.”

Sports

12

Read about the football team’s 45-39 loss on Sept. 14 to West Torrance.

2

La Vista

News

NEWS FLASH ASB hosts annual assembly to highlight alumni success Members of Costa’s Associated Student Body host the annual Hall of Fame assembly today in the auditorium to honor Costa alumni and highlight their success following their graduation.

Former Costa students Ella Worner, John Jackson, Walt Turk and Barbara Fontana will share their career experiences at the assembly. Hall of Fame inspires students with the success of former Mustangs, Hall of Fame committee member and junior Mary Clare Powell said.

“We’re lucky to have alumni back to share their times at Costa and the impressive things they’ve accomplished in the years after,” Powell said.

“The speakers are good representations of Costa.”

Penelope Misceo

Costa puts on annual Back to School Night for parents Costa held its annual Back to School Night on Thursday, Sept. 13 for parents to meet their children’s teachers.

Associated Student Body members helped guide parents to classes where they spent ten minutes each to learn about the teachers and their expectations for the year. Teachers gave brief explanations of their courses this year and informed parents what will be taught.

“This night is a chance for parents and teachers to get to know one another face-to-face,” English teacher Diane Sieker said. “It’s nice to get to meet in person.”

Kimi Danaei

PTSA holds Friday Tailgate to kick off football season Costa’s Parent Teacher Student Association is holding the second annual Green & Gold Tailgate BBQ tonight at 5 p.m. in Waller Stadium to welcome in the new football season.

The tailgate raises money for the PTSA, which will be used to hold more events that benefit students. The PTSA wants to use this event as a way to bring the community together, PTSA Community Outreach Head Robyn St. Germain said.

“When I attended the tailgate last year, all I saw around me were smiling faces,” sophomore Madeline Bonanni said.

Faith Bolin

Editorial Follow Up:

Per teacher Michael Hernandez’s request for a follow up to the story “Following the Money,” La Vista submitted a public records request to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District in June regarding the financial history and donation records for MCHS Video.

On Sept. 12, MBUSD provided some financial documents to La Vista. After we received these records, we reached out to Hernandez as well as district officials to understand and analyze them, but we have not received a response.

Without a response from these sources, La Vista does not feel comfortable continuing the process of a follow up story to the “Following the Money” article published in June. Progress to follow up will be continued when a response is reached and La Vista is able to communicate with officials and those involved with the documents.

La Vista Editors

Many students, teachers are left without textbooks due to asbestos related closure of Costa library

By Kali Mashayekhi Staff Writer and Sheridan Mcknight News Editor

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ue to the closure of the library during freshman registration on Aug. 16, textbooks still are not available to many students for their classes.

Additionally English teachers Quincy Howerton, William Brown and Maddie Hutchinson, whose classroom are directly across from the library, had to relocate to alternate classrooms and buildings beginning on the first day of school due to potential of asbestos contamination.

“Because I was relocated and I was not in my own space, I felt like my students were not able to get an idea of how I run things in my classroom and were not able to get to know me on the first day of school,” English teacher Maddie Hutchinson said.

Manhattan Beach Unified School District administrators sent out an email to students and parents on

September 21, 2018

Aug. 17 warning students not to use their books during the first week of school.

The email noted that if students brought books home, they should put them in two plastic bags in case of contamination. Due to this many students could not access needed books in class and while doing homework.

“In almost all of my classes I needed to use my books to be able to do my homework and work in class,” junior Kaylee Unser said. “Because of the possible contamination of my books, I was scared to use them, which made it a lot harder to do my homework.”

Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale organized the relocation of teachers, finding temporary spaces for classrooms in the computer lab, the small theatre and the auditorium. Until Sept. 4 when inspectors deemed rooms 14, 16, and 20 safe.

“Teachers in the classrooms near the library moved for a few days, and the environmental consultants were hired to make sure everything was safe,” Dale said.

“As for the books, sophomore students who have concerns about their books may not be using them right now until further direction.”

Although some teachers and students did not have to relocate, the library clo-

STACKS OF STRESS: Many Costa teachers have to adjust their teaching curriculum until the library reopens. Textbooks could not be distributed due to possible contamination of asbestos.

Photo by Greta Nerad sure has affected the whole campus, as nearly all teachers had students without access to textbooks.

“The asbestos has not personally affected me, but it does cause some uneasiness among staff members as to trusting everything’s being done to make sure our campus is safe to work in,” English teacher Lindsay Valbuena said.

Teachers are struggling to teach their course curriculum without textbooks, Social Science teacher,

Aaron Kofahl said. Without access to textbooks, teachers are forced to find new, alternative methods of teaching the course material usually found in their textbooks.

“I have had to rework the class to teach thematically and to not rely on students to support their learning of the content at home by reading the texts and taking notes,” Kofahl said.

“This also means there has been no homework in this Advanced Placement History course.”

Costa pool reopens after closure due to reoccurring leakage, maintenance errors

Unexpected extension of pool closure prevents Costa aquatics practice for weeks.

By Kyra Williams Executive News Editor

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he Mira Costa pool reopened on Sept. 13 after undergoing repairs that beginning early August for a series of drain problems and leaks in the piping.

The pool was under repair for an overdue leak, Mira Costa Vice Principal Stephanie Hall said in an email to aquatics parents and athletes on Aug. 27. When the leak repair took place, the contractor found an issue with the drain, which also needed to be fixed to prevent further issues.

“The problem was discovered and fixed quickly but then broke again,” Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “This is because it was a bigger problem than we initially thought.”

Hall sent out another email Aug. 29 which explained that another problem emerged while fixing the pool.

MBUSD hired an outside contractor who repaired the expansion joint in the pool; however, when the refilling process began, the joint blew and the repair of the same part failed again.

“It was disappointing for all the

students and the coaches that the pool was not up and running for the start of school,” swim coach Andi Meeks said.

The district brought in another outside contractor who discovered that the expansion joint beneath the pool was worsened by the hydrostatic pressure.

They then used an alternative material to prevent this type of pressure under-

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It

was a bigger problem than we initially thought...”

- Dr. Ben Dale Costa Principal

neath the pool from reoccurring.

The contractor installed the elastomeric seal and water stop on Sept. 7

with the intention of preventing water from reaching the expansion joint. The pool restoration specialist believed the problem to be solved, Hall said in an email. The filling process of the pool began on Sept. 10 and contractors then treated, cleaned and heated the pool.

“I think the administration handled this problem well,” Meeks said. “No one knew the pool was leaking, so we had to drain it, the whole situation was just bad timing.”

While the Costa pool was closed, teams had to search for pools with availability for their practice. The boys waterpolo team practiced at nearby high school pools, including El Segundo, Redondo Union and Palos Verdes.

“The Water Polo team is especially inconvenienced, along with the other aquatic teams,” Dale said. “The initial fix would have happened quickly but, it did not hold.”

NO DIVING : Costa Aquatics teams are displaced due to complications in a pool repair. The pool was drained so that leakage issues could be fixed safely and effectively.

Photo by Greta Nerad

News

September 21, 2018

La Vista

Foreign cheating scandal takes place on reused SAT

SAFETY FIRST: Hermosa Valley School addresses safety concerns with new fence. It was installed over the summer. Photo by Sheridan Mcknight

parents began to create online petitions to invalidate the scores from the SAT. “The College Board should have never reused the same questions,” Siegel said.

“If these students have been exposed to the test before, their scores will not be equal to

By Sheridan Mcknight people seeing them for the first time.”

News Editor A week after the test took place, the College Board sent out an email to all test fter many of Mira Costa’s students takers. The email informed students and took the August SAT all over Los parents that parts of the test had been given Angeles, rumors that the test given was the internationally and foreign students flew to same exact exam given internationally in the U.S. to retake it.

October 2017 began to spread, which the “I was very angry when I found this out College Board later confirmed. because it is frustrating that many students The accusation of cheating began when took a test kids have seen before,” senior test-takers noticed Sydney Garmoe said. many of the students in “When I heard they the room did not speak may cancel the scores, English and were ushe College Board I was upset because ing Asian passports as should have never reused it meant I had wasted their form of identificafive hours of my Sattion. This claim raised the same questions...” urday studying.” concern because of the In response to the -Jade Siegel cheating the College unfair advantage these senior Board has promised students would hold if they have previously to cancel the scores of seen this test. anyone found cheat“I was really discouraged hearing about ing. Although many students are concerned [the cheating] because it was an unfair ad- on how the Board is going to identify these vantage,” senior Nicole Barnes said. “A lot students to make the test scores fair. of the other kids, including me went in to “We are going to run ‘comprehensive the SAT blindly and and tried their best.’ statistical analysis’ of certain suspect tests Almost immediately after students fin- to see if an unfair advantage was gained,” ished the test, social media posts began to the College Board said. “The overwhelmcirculate the web about the cheating that ing majority of students who had prior excould have possibly taken place, senior posure to the material will get away withJade Siegel said. Many angry students and out any penalty.”

Foreign students fly to U.S. to retake previously administered SAT exam.

HBCSD builds news fence A at Hermosa Valley School The district constructs a fence to ensure the safety and protection of students.

By Cassandra Kellum Staff Writer

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ollowing years of conversation about potential hazards, the Hermosa Valley School Board decided to build a fence around Hermosa Valley’s campus to address student safety and protect those on campus, starting construction at the beginning of the summer and finishing off mid-August.

Before the fence installation, Hermosa Valley was an open campus. The new fence surrounds almost the entire campus and is intented to keep unauthorized visitors out.

“The fence was mainly put up for safety reasons because parents and staff were concerned our campus was too open” fifth grade teacher Gretchen Vizzi said. “Based on what has been happening in the world

with active shooters, the district wanted to make our campus feel secure.”

After discussing the possibility of building a fence around the campus for almost 15 years, Hermosa Beach City School District decided on June 21 to put up the fence. Hermosa Valley staff and parents support the decision to put up the fence, HVS Principal Kim Taylor said.

“Hermosa Valley staff, including myself, needed to consider that our campus would be a much safer place with the fence,” Taylor said.

The district’s two fundraising organizations, the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation and Hermosa Valley Parent Teacher Organization raised the money for the project HBCSD funded the fence through donations and fundraisers, including Hermosa Valley’s annual Halloween Carnival and donations from parents.

“It is our good fortune to have two very active and dedicated parent groups at Valley that work tirelessly to raise funds for our students,” Taylor said.

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OPINION

La Vista

September 21, 2018

Editors’ Note

Journalists must be fearless in their pursuit of the truth Mira Costa High School 1401 Artesia Boulevard Manhattan Beach, California (310) 318-7337 ext 5233 September 21, 2018 Volume LXIX, Issue I www.lavistamchs.com Editors-in-Chief Claire DuMont Naomi Tsuang Managing Editors Michael Todd Alde Nguyen Copy Editors Kaelie Macaulay Madeleine Powell Brian Kaiserman News Editors Kyra Williams , Executive Greta Nerad Sheridan McKnight Opinion Editors Kareena Dhillon, Executive Garrett Allen Features Editors Josie Collier, Executive Bella Macleod Arts Editors Grace Dietz, Executive Skylar Jones Theme Editors Karli Wallace, Executive Emilee Ray Sports Editors Tess Whittet, Executive Cole Garvey Sammy Miller Jade Trejo, Online Photo Editors Sarah Toomey Photo Managers Julia Alley Drew Rohm Business Managers Tiffancy Feng, Executive Mailan Nguyen

By Naomi Tsuang Editor-in-Chief

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s veteran journalist Bob Woodward said, “if you interviewed 1,000 politicians and asked about whether the media’s too soft or too hard, about 999 would say too hard.” This statement rings true as I navigate the road of high school journalism and work to expose the truth, no matter the cost.

Woodward’s new book, “Fear,” details the White House in absolute chaos. Through interviews with unnamed Trump officials, Woodward’s book gives an amplified sense that there are serious concerns about our

Staff Editorial

President’s behavior and ability to lead the nation, as his administration actively works to counter what it sees as his most reckless decisions.

Following news of Woodward’s book, the New York Times published an Op-Ed by

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As

student journalists, we must continue to settle for nothing less than the truth.”

an anonymous senior official in the Trump administration corroborating key claims in Woodward’s book that advisors to the President are working to thwart his most danger-

ous impulses from becoming a reality.

Like Woodward and the NY Times, both professional and student journalists must remain fearless in their pursuit of the truth. I experience this firsthand as I strive to create a perceptive and truth-seeking newspaper.

The journalism I have studied and practiced in my four years on La Vista has severely changed. It’s no longer adequate for journalists to merely fact-check, interview and edit. Now, we must scrupulously investigate until all perspectives are brought to light.

As student journalists, we must continue to settle for nothing less than the truth. This year, I am confident that our staff at La Vista will strive to do the same as we tirelessly work to uncover the facts.

Admin favors construction over student well-being

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here always seems to be work being done at Mira Costa. Whether it is construction of the new field, repairs on the pool, or asbestos in the library, construction seems a higher priority than student learning.

As summer came to a close, Costa’s administrative staff began construction on the pool to repair a leak. What was initially supposed to be a hiatus of a few days eventually turned to a few weeks, leaving the boys’ water polo team without their own pool for the first month of the season.

Bouncing from pool to pool, finding time wherever they could, the team practiced at facilities all over the South Bay. Even coaches were left in the dark as to what the timelines were according to senior Hudson Carter, and were forced to negotiate with other teams to arrange practice times.

While the disorganization in renovating the pool had negative ramifications on student athletes trying to start their season, the library fiasco has had an adverse effect on the school as a whole.

Beyond teachers and students being left

uninformed as to what is happening with their textbooks, the library is still a heav-

Illustration by Natalee Park

ily restricted area. Caution tape and fences are outside and the front doors are blocked off. The teachers located across from the library had to relocate to rooms in the around campus, the library is unusable, and access to books is restricted. Teachers have had to adjust their lesson plans to

deal these issues, and have been forced to find new ways to teach students.

Another issue currently plaguing the Costa campus is the future construction of the new gym. Boys’ volleyball and basketball received word last week that construction will begin Dec. 4, leaving teams including volleyball and basketball without a home gym. These teams will be forced to relocate to either American Martyrs or the Aviation Gym. While this project will provide Costa with a new facility, the loss from this project will be harsh. These teams seniors have worked hard for four years, all to play out their last season away from home.

While it does seem as though there is some concerted effort toward fixing these issues, the administration does not do a suficient job in their execution. Whether it be lack of communication, lengthy timelines, or a failure to bring about their plans efficiently, many students feel as if their interests are marginalized in place of the interests of the school district, leading to frustration and outrage.

Assistant Online Managing Editors Linnea Wee

Voices of Costa

Adviser Keely Sweeny Editorial Board Claire Dumont, Naomi Tsuang, Alde Nguyen, Michael Todd, Kaelie Macaulay, Madeleine Powell, Kyra Williams, Greta Nerad, Sheridan McKnight, Kareena Dhillon, Garrett Allen Staff Writers Clare Beezhold, Sam Bell, Faith Bolin, Jillian Cherry, Mia Cho, Kimya Danael, Saul Droutman, Megan Garringer, Andonia Goergen, Ben Hacohen, Tess Heagy, Zoe Howard, Cassandra Kellum, Erin King, Mikas Marinos, Penelope Misceo, Taylor Philips, Soren Schauer, Sofia Schnurer, Doug Speicher, Maddie Tello, Kendall Tonne, Sophia Vaughan Disclaimer: LA VISTA is the student newspaper of Mira Costa High School, serving 2,700 students in grades 9-12. Content, which is the responsibility of the LA VISTA staff, is not subject to administrative approval. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the newspaper, while opinion columns represent only the writers’ views. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of LA VISTA. LA VISTA publishes 10 issues throughout the school year on a tri-weekly basis and distributes 3,000 copies to both Mira Costa classrooms and subscribers. LA VISTA is associated with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and welcomes signed letters to the editor on topical issues from the

MCHS community. They may be mailed to Keely Gabbert in the administration building mailbox or sent to lavistamedia@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please contact lavistamedia@gmail.com for any issues regarding corrections.

For ad rates, contact lavistabusiness@gmail.com Mission Statement: LA VISTA is committed to providing only the highest quality reporting while maintaining a strict standard of journalistic integrity and providing its readers with relevant content.

How does construction at Costa affect you?

Max Dayton

Cooper Dunlap

Sophomore

Freshman

I have not been able to get my textbooks, but my teachers have made use of the online textbooks.”

Junior

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The construction of the gym affects me because I play basketball at Costa and will have to move to different locations for our pracitces and games. It is a huge inconvenience.”

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While the pool and gym have not affected me at all, the library has somewhat affected me by relocating me to another English classroom for a brief time.”

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Kim Waller

Has the construction at the library affected your efficiency at school?*

No

Yes

Do you think Costa does a good job managing construction and hazards?*

Leila Hazen Senior

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I’m not personally affected by the construction from the gym and pool, but I know many people who have been inconvenienced by all of these issues.”

Yes

Yes

No

*La Vista surveyed 200 Costa students in regards to the construction on the Mira Costa campus

La Vista

OPINION

September 21, 2018

District fails to provide adequate textbooks to Costa students

By Kareena Dhillon Executive Opinion Editor

T

he 2018-19 school year began with new changes, including the math department’s switch to online textbooks for all Precalculus classes. This change has led to increased confusion and has caused a tiring political battle within the district. While the use of online textbooks could be very helpful for students and cost-efficient, it should not have been introduced as the last and only resort.

After teachers gained access to the online textbook, they introduced the platform to students around the third week of school.

Each student must make an account with Cengage, a digital platform to access textbooks.

Students have to link that same account with a website known as WebAssign to gain access to the e-book and any assignments.

In the past, Costa has faced problems with insufficient copies of books or students failing to return them by the end of the year. With an online textbook, students can access the material whenever they please. However problems surface when students do not have WiFi or large enough

screens to read the material. Software updates also pose challenges. Just this week while trying to use the textbook, I could not even pull up the book because my Adobe flash was not updated. After troubleshooting and updating the problem is still not fixed, making even a laptop useless—which is absurd.

Online books could be beneficial considering the current inability to check out books from the library. Now the district has amended the textbook allotment to barely 16 books per class, which will cause students to have to share.

The Precalculus online textbooks are free for students, and all textbooks legally must be provided for students. Online textbooks provide a cost-effective alternative to hardcover textbooks which can often cost the school and students hundreds of dollars.

However, in a study granted

by Cengage Learning comparing students’ preference of a printed textbook to a digital version, 75% preferred the former. Similarly, 60% said they would rather buy a low-cost print copy even if the digital book were free. Students today still prefer to be able to highlight and use their resources in a more hands-on mechanisms.

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Money should be distributed to other areas as well in order to ensure that Manhattan Beach is flourishing in many aspects.”

Although Math Department cochair Linda Gesualdi described the introduction of the online textbooks as a tedious process, a

continue in negatively impacting students as they try to learn the subject throughout the year.

Gesualdi stated it would be the

Illustration By Kareena Dhillon

savvy alternative is overall welcome in the math department.

However, Cengage has multiple flaws. For example, students are not able to look at the textbook and complete an assignment simultaneously. To do so they must open multiple tabs, which is difficult on some devices. This difficulty might impact the course curriculum and fluidity of Pre-Calculus classes. This will

most beneficial to have a complete class set, a textbook for each student to take home and an online textbook. In response, the Manhattan Beach Unified School Board stated that they could not afford to comply with this need, despite the Williams Settlement in the Williams v. State of California case of 2004 established a suficiency standard for instructional materials in all California

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public schools. The foundation of the case claimed the State was denying education by not providing materials to students, which can be compared and is completely relevant to the current situation here at Mira Costa. All students should have access to textbooks or instructional materials in four core subject areas for use in the classroom, and be able to take them home. This law does include digital materials so long as students can access them at school and at home. The district seems to be about politics, and students have not had a say in the matter.

Physical textbooks allow students to interact more with the actual text, which may contribute to an increased retention of the material and better exam scores. The introduction of the online textbook to Pre-Calculus is a new adjustment for students, and a valuable resource to have on mobile devices to take where large textbooks are not feasible. However action by the district raises the question as whether they are abiding by state law. MBUSD has catered to different departments of the school and renovations seem to be perpetual. However the question remains: has MBUSD drawn the line at supplying textbooks for every student?

6 La Vista

FEATURES

September 21, 2018

Milosevic teaches neuroscience to Grand View students

By Bella Macleod Features Editor

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unior Mia Milosevic dedicates her time to teaching the fundamentals of neuroscience to Manhattan Beach elementary school students.

Milosevic used her knowledge of neuroscience to teach first and second grade students about the brain at an after school enrichment program at Grand View Elementary last spring.

“There are countless mental disorders that people deal with later in life, and I feel like if you have more knowledge about the brain early on, [it] allows you to be more aware of these possibilities,” Milosevic said.

Milosevic became interested in neuroscience in her freshman year biology class. Milosevic also founded Costa’s Neuroscience club her sophomore year, where members compete at the Los Angeles Brain Bee, a program that allows high school students to test their knowledge on the brain. This past summer, Milosevic coded and analyzed data from a research study through an internship at the Creativity institute at the University of Southern California, where she found her inspiration for the neuroscience classes.

“At the [Brain and Creativity Institute], they taught me a lot, especially on adolescent development.” Milosevic said. “Since I’m teaching younger kids, it’s helpful to have worked at a place that focuses on this.”

Milosevic reached out to MBX administrators and was able to

Brain Games: Junior Mia Milosevic and volunteer Ella Scalabrini posed with Grand View students after completing their class (left). Milosevic’s after school enrichment program participant drew on a styrofoam head and practiced the location on parts of the brain (right). Photos Courtesy of Mia Milosevic. get an interview with Manhattan Beach Unified After School and Summer Enrichment Programs Director Nancy Rosenburg. From here she received a spot to teach her class once a week at Grand View. She then began advertising the class on Grand View’s website and hung flyers around the school.

“My main intention is to introduce younger generations to a field that not a lot of people get the chance to learn about since it’s rare for kids in elementary schools to learn about the brain,”

Milosevic said.

Milosevic teaches her students about the different functions of the brain with an emphasis on the concept of memory through interactive activities. In one activity, Milosevic has students draw a neuron on a large sheet of paper and roll toy cars with messages inside them to each other. This taught her students the concept of synapses. Milosevic also conducted an experiment with the students to see if they could remember words better through different kinds of music or silence.

“Every class covers a different subject of neuroscience, and I pretty much have a set plan for how each [class] is going to be,” Milosevic said.

Illustrated by Lucy Nickerson

Milosevic taught a class of ten first and second grade students in a five-week long session every Monday afternoon. Milosevic will begin her classes again in January and hopes to expand to other elementary schools in Manhattan Beach.

“We played a lot of games, which made the kids feel like they weren’t doing neuroscience but just having fun,” Milosevic said. “It made the overall experience really enjoyable because we spent very little time sitting in the classroom.”

Tran conducts ovarian cancer research at City of Hope Hospital

Curing Cancer: Senior Tamara Tran conducts a lab for ovarian cancer research at the City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, California. Tran extensively researched ovarian cancer over the summer during an internship. Photo Courtesy of Tamara Tran.

By Josie Collier Features Editor

S

enior Tamara Tran traveled to the heart of ovarian cancer research at the City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, California this summer.

Tran reached out the City of Hope Hospital to participate as

a full-time intern in a cancer research study. The lab that Tran participated in focused specifically on ovarian cancer and other women’s gynecologic cancer.

“My teachers have helped generate my interest in science,” Tran said. “I have Mr. Nodado for my biotechnology class and through that class, I was exposed to different research opportunities and

internships.”

Last summer, Tran studied the effect of using sRNA gene therapy to silence genes causing drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Tran and her research group began two different experimental models on chicken eggs and mice to target the Twist protein regulated in ovarian cancer. After the group targeted the Twist protein, they gave the subject chemotherapy and concluded that their method of chemotherapy worked better than other methods of chemotherapy, Tran said.

“I always loved science, but high school made science more rigorous,” Tran said. “I challenged myself more, and biotechnology encouraged me to look for research opportunities and brought about my scientific horizons.”

Tran’s research focused on using nanoparticles to deliver sRNA gene therapy on duck eggs. The research team applied the chemotherapy drug directly on the nanoparticles to deliver it to the tumor, which ultimately reduced the side effects of the treatment.

“The nanoparticle delivery mechanism with the sRNA is moving onto clinical trials at the City of Hope hospital,” Tran said.

“This is pretty big because it usually takes research a long time to move on before it can be used on humans.”

Tran’s lab group wrote and published an article on their discoveries called “Nano Medicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine,” which became a very popular medical article in Japan. Tran also wrote an article by herself focusing on the negative results in her lab that may be published in the future. Tran’s research group will edit the paper and try to send it into publication, according to Tran.

“Usually, as a high schooler, the work you do doesn’t have much of an impact, but I had a really good opportunity to work in my lab this summer because once [I was] able to prove that [I] had knowledge, prior research and experience people started to trust what I said,” Tran said. “I really got to contribute and do actual work and not only do that work,

but, in this case, I was able to apply what I learned and write a paper by myself.”

Tran spent Monday to Friday every week at the hospital and saw the first-hand impact that medicine and research can have on patients. Tran plans to continuing her internship throughout the school year and pursue a career in biology or biomedical technologies in the future.

“My grandfather passed away at the beginning of the summer to stomach cancer so this summer was just an impactful experience as a whole,” Tran said. “Being present at City of Hope and seeing how my research could have an impact on people that are struggling with cancer brought a new purpose to everything I was doing and it gave me a more intensified commitment to my work.”

Ovarian Cancer Research Fast Facts

RNA: protein used to regulate cellular processes an

produce more proteins Nanoparticles: tool used to transport antibodies,

drugs, and other substances to certain parts of

the body to fight infections Chemotherapy: treatment used to fight diseases

and infections Genes: hereditary characteristics passed down Courtesy of britannica.com

September 21, 2018

FEATURES

La Vista

7

Costa students lend helping hands around the world this summer Barberi builds houses in Houston

Barberi the BUilder: Senior Barberi builds homes in Texas with junior Sarah Hoffmeister (left). Photo Courtesy of Liam Barberi

By Zoe Howard Staff Writer

M

ira Costa senior Liam Barberi helped rebuild Houston, Texas one

house at a time.

Barberi and a group of South Bay high school students from Journey of Faith Church traveled to Houston for a week in June to build homes for Hurricane Harvey victims. There Barberi tore out housing installation and constructed wooden frames for the damaged houses.

“The trip stood out to me because I remembered hearing about how badly the people of Houston were affected and [they] needed help and love,” Barberi said.

Taub teaches students in Cambodia

By Zoe Howard Staff Writer

F

or most Mira Costa students, summer consists of relaxing on vacation; junior Cami Taub however, instead spent her summer helping the less fortunate.

Taub traveled to Cambodia to work with The Children’s Project, through the Rustic Pathways program. During the 18 day service trip, Taub spent her time exploring

There’s no ‘I’ in team: Junior Taub poses with volunteers. Taub stayed in the Kampong Cham village. Photo Courtesy of Cami Taub Cambodia’s capital and teaching children how to read and speak English.

“They were so excited to learn,” Taub said. “If you asked them if they wanted to play or learn they would say learn.”

Smith travels to volunteer in Mongolia

Diprizito volunteers at camp in Malibu

By Zoe Howard Staff Writer

By Josie Collier Features Editor

M

ira Costa junior Payton Smith traveled to Mongolia to explore the

Smiles on Smiles: Junior Smith (left) plays with students. Photo Courtesy of Payton Smith

culture and participate in the community service.

From July 25 to August 15, Smith went on service trip to Mongolia. She traveled to Ulaanbaatar, Sogoog and camped near the Russian River with her volunteer group. Smith helped members at the Sogoog village with fixing their houses, distributing food supplies, and teaching English.

“While I was there and especially now, I realize how grateful I should be for all the things I have,” Smith said. “[When] coming into contact with people who have less than we do here in Manhattan Beach, it inspired me to want to do more for other people and for people in that country.”

S

ophomore Isabella Diprizito volunteered at Camp Harmony to help homeless children build their self-esteem.

Camp Harmony is a non-profit organization with the mission of giving homeless children confidence and hope for a brighter future. Diprizito volunteered at this organization from August 19-26 in Malibu, California. During the day, Diprizito and her group went to the pool and beach, hiked and completed different arts and crafts activities including tyedying t-shirts with the kids.

“It was a really fun and really great

experience, but at the same time it was very traumatizing to hear a lot of stuff about what the kids go through at home,” Diprizito said.

made with LOVE: Sophomore Dipritzo makes shirts for an arts and crafts activity. Photo Courtesy of UnitedinHarmony.org

8

September 21, 2018

THEME

La Vista

CSI Mira Costa:

M

ira Costa, along with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, failed to follow the proper procedures for working on areas containing asbestos on Aug. 16 before and after sanding and removing the tile located in the library, according to a notice of violation issued by the SCAQMD. Since then, the Environmental Network Corporation (ENCORP) has conducted three investigations on Costa’s library, 900 student textbooks have been quarantined and SCAQMD, MBUSD, general contractor KYA Services, and sub contractor Progressive Surface Solutions have each isued 27 violations to Costa.

“The violations stem from a complaint received by SCAQMD alleging that asbestos-containing floor material was being disturbed in a textbook storage room in the library,” SCAQMD said in a press release. “According to the complaint, the work took place while some students, parents and staff were present for registration.”

According to a newsletter released by MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews on Sept. 11, the library will not be reopened until SCAQMD determines that it is safe. They have yet to determine when that is.

“We have been hit by many different unanticipated maintenance and operations issues as we have opened the school year. Some of these have involved contractors, and some have involved our own staff,” Matthews said. “All of these issues, the library, the pool, and the mold in our classrooms, are unanticipated costs that will be a hit to our budget. “ In addition, MBUSD plans to remove 2- 35% Chrysotile asbestos from Fisher Gym before its demolition on Dec. 4. The District passed Measure EE in 2016 in order to pass a bond to reconstruct Costa’s 65 year old gym.

“We will notify SCAQMD regarding our abatement plans well in advance of any activity, inspectors will observe the abatement process and regulatory agencies, contractors, and licensed consultants will work together to ensure that the process is carried out safely and in compliance with all safety protocols and procedures,” Matthews said in an email.

Case 01: Asbestos

• Perform an asbestos survey 10 days prior to the sanding asbestos contained material floor tile • Notify the AQMD ten days prior to renovations • Use proper removal procedures • Remove asbestos conatined material prior to renovations • Collect and place all asbestos contained material in a leak tight container • Handle asbestos contained material carefully • Encapsulate asbestos contained material • Provide proof of California Contractors State License Board licensing or California Occupational Safety and Health Administration registration • Dispose of ACM at a landfill • Clean work area of a ACM • Have onsite supervisor with training • Place ACM in bags that are inaccessible to the public • Label and mark ACM bags • Prepare ACM shipment records • Maintain recordsof ACM removal • Hire a supervisor and workers with certified asbestos training

the library was closed on aug. 16 after the sanding forced the evacuation of students, parents and staff.

library work room After Sanding of asbestos tile on 8/16/18

Photo coutesy of ENCORP

08/16/17

ENCORP conducts a three-year asbestos hazard emergency response act re-inspection workup and reports that there is asbestos in many of costa’s facilities.

The state of California’s Division of occupational safety and health sends a notification of penalty to environmental consultant Miller Environmental and to Mira Costa’s address concerning asbestos.

Mira Costa, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, KYA Services, and Progressive Surface Solutions failed to…

Compiled by: Karli Wallace/ Executive Theme Editor, Emilee Ray/ Theme Editor, Sarah Toomey/ Photo editor

library work room prior to sanding on 8/16/18

05/07/14

THE VIOLATIONS

Photo coutesy of ENCORP

07/02/18

ENCORP cleaars library and workroom for re-occupancy following abatement.

06/25/18

In a limited assessment analysis, ENCORP reports that 2 square inches of tiles contain asbestos, and that the cabinets in the library contain high levels of lead that that exceed regulatory standard.

08/21/18

SCQAMD cites 27 violations towards Mira Costa and MBUSD

08/16/18

Non-asbestos certified workers associated with progressive surface solutions used a power grinder to remove a wax seal on the asbestos infected tile. the grinding releasesd asbestos fibers while students, parents, and staff were present.

12/04/18

MBUSD plans to abate fisher gym of 2-35% chrysotile asbestos before its demolition.

08/22/18

SCAQMD cites 27 violations toward kya services and progressive surface solutions.

9

10 La Vista

FEATURES

September 21, 2018

Cross country competes in Oahu, Hawaii “I was pretty happy to get third place against some fairly tough competition.”

The girls varsity team ran the 5,000 meter race after the boys, with senior Brooke Inouye placing third in 18:78, freshman Dalia Frias placing fourth in 18:23 and senior Lucy Atkinson placing seventh in 18:45.

“All of our teams did an amazing job at this meet and swept every race in the

By Madeline Tello Staff Writer

M

ira Costa’s girls and boys cross country team sprinted their way to victory in the Hawaiian Hills.

Costa competed in the Iolani Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 15 in Oahu, HI. Costa’s varsity girls and boys teams both placed first in the 5,000 meter race.

“I’m really impressed with how the team performed,” senior Cy Chittenden said. “We had several varsity guys step up and run personal bests to help us win the meet.”

The meet began with the boys 5,000 meter race in which senior Cy Chittenden placed third with a time of 15:29. Junior Thomas Velvin placed ninth with a time of 16:06 and senior JP Soares placed tenth with a time of 16:06 in the race.

“I knew the top two guys were national caliber runners, so I figured I was going to have to run much of the race chasing after them,” Chittenden said.

Win

Overall

2 Football Girls Volleyball 12 Boys Beach Volleyball 7 Girls Tennis Boys Water Polo Girls Golf

meet,” Velvin said. “The junior varsity boys and girls, and varsity boys and girls all worked really hard to win all of their races.”

The meet continued with the boys 5,000 meter open race, where senior Russell Blakey placed fourh with a time of 17:09. Sophomore William Beck placed 6th with a time of 17:33 and sophomore Colin Beale placed seventh with a time of 17:33.

ALOHA TIME: The girls varsity Cross Country team poses with their medals and trophy at the Iolani Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 15 in Oahu, Hawaii. Both of Costa’s teams placed 1st overall in the 5,000 meter race. Photo Courtesy of MCXC

StTeama Records m peasde S tats of September 21 Sport

8 4 3

Streak

Loss

Tie

2

-

Lost 1

4

-

Won 4 Won 7

-

Won 3 Won 1 Lost 2

0 2 2 3

-

“We trained hard for this race,” Blakey said. “Our coaches, as well as our teammates, helped us step up to the line and be mentally prepared and confident going into the race.”

The race concluded with the girls 5,000 meter race open, where senior Ali Doyle placed first at 19:35.

Senior Anna Graves placed second with a time of 20:00, and sophomore Julia Vazquez placed third with a time of 20:07.

“We didn’t know what to expect of the course’s terrain or of the other teams, but we felt very accomplished when we came out with a win,” senior Anna Graves said. “Despite the muddy course, everyone was able to do their best.”

The Mustangs will compete next at the Masters University Invitational on Sept. 29 at Central Park in Santa Clarita.

“For the next race, the [goal] is to bring our times down,” Blakey said. “This race was excellent preparation for our upcoming meet and also for the State competition.”

The Rundown Girls’ tennis defeated Palos Verdes High School on Tuesday in a match at home with a score of 10-8.

Boys’ Beach volleyball was victorious against Redondo Union on Sept. 16 at Dockweiler wih a score of 2-1.

Water Polo defeats Peninsula High School, 14-5

By Tess Heagy Staff Writer

T

he Mustangs threw Peninsula’s winning streak out of line and into the deep end.

Mira Costa boys’ water polo defeated Peninsula 14-5 on Tuesday, in the first home game of the season.

“Costa was just ready to play and ready to win,” sophomore Dillion Clifton said. “[We] had their hopes high and were ready to beat Peninsula.”

The first quarter started with a missed shot from Costa, but the Mustangs quickly recovered with goals from seniors Diego Almendariz and Troy Gleason. The quarter ending with a goal by sophomore Jake Carter, putting the Mustangs ahead 3-0.

“It felt good to score as a younger player on the team,” Carter said.

La Vista 11

SPORTS

September 21, 2018

Costa continued their momentum in the second quarter, with a goal from senior Hudson Carter. Costa scored an additional three times with four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Despite surrendering two goals to Peninsula, the Mustangs still had a 7-2 lead at halftime.

“I was really excited to have scored a goal in the first game,” sophomore Paolo Riveren said “My job is to score goals and that’s what I did.”

Costa continued to dominate the game in the third quarter, with Hudson Carter adding two more goals for the Mustangs. Peninsula was able to sneak in a goal but couldn’t keep up as the third quarter ended 11-3.

“In the third quarter we pretty much knew we had them beat,” sophomore Memphis Tate said. “When the score is 11-3 there is no hope for the other team.”

The Mustangs scored three more goals in the fourth quarter. Peninsula managed to score two more goals, but fell short 14-5.

“In the fourth quarter Penninsula started to get tired and we didn’t,” sophomore Matthew Fry said.

The Mustangs are now 4-3 overall and 1-0 in Bay League. Costa will next play on today and tomor-

row in the AFC Invitational in San Diego. The team is ready to win more and work harder for the rest of the season, Riveren said.

“This game was a good motivator for looking forward at the rest of the season, and we’re looking forward to the Coronado tournament this weekend,” sophomore Rex Robbins said.

CROSSING IT: Junior Abi Anorve passes the ball on Tuesday against Peninsula. The Mustangs won the game 14-5, ending Peninsula’s winning streak. Photo by Sarah Toomey

T O P P E R F O R M E R S

Freshman Hailey Hyunh Girls’ Tennis Hyunh won two sets 6-2 and 6-3 on Tuesday against Palos Verdes in a home game.

Senior Nick Carpino Football Carpino led the team despite a loss on Sept. 14 against West Torrance at home.

Senior Hudson Carter Boys’ Water Polo Carter scored 5 out of Costa’s 14 goals on Tuesday against Peninsula at home.

Senior Brook Inouye Cross Country Inouye placed third in the 5000 meter varsity race on Sept. 15 in Oahu, Hawaii.

Senior Klara Nagy Girls’ Golf Nagy shot a 35, just under par, against Diamond Bar on Sept. 12 in a home match.

12

SPORTS

La Vista

September 21, 2018

Football falls short 45-39 to West Torrance High School West Torrance defeats the Mustangs at West during Costa’s fourth game of the season.

By Sophia Vaughan Staff Writer

D

ug

Do

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er ch ei

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a st

Vi

espite putting up a tough fight, the Mira Costa Mustangs suffered a crushing defeat against the West Torrance Warriors.

The Mustangs lost to the Warriors 45-39 on Sept.

14 at West Torrance High School. Costa faced difficult referees and a strong West defense that shut down the Mustang offense, senior quarterback Nick Carpino said.

“It’s tough but the referees are part of the game, so we just have to deal with that stuff and move on because we can’t control them,” Carpino said.

West started out the first quarter strong, using an efficient run game to their advantage. After a few successful runs, the Warriors managed to score on a quarterback sneak taking a 7-0 lead after their first drive. Costa’s offense answered back with a field goal, making the score 7-3. Costa closed out the quarter with a special teams play from junior cor-

nerback Luke Weaver who blocked a punt.

Junior safety Jack Donahue recovered the ball and took it back for a Mustang touchdown, giving Costa a lead 10-7 going into the second quarter.

“I was just happy that we executed our punt return the way we drew it up and I was lucky enough to pick it up and score,” Donahue said.

The second quarter proved to be a challenging one for the Mustang defense as they struggled to defend the quarterback keeper and West’s screen passes. After two unanswered West touchdowns, the Mustang offense broke through with a pass to the endzone from Carpino to sophomore wide receiver Danny Millea for a touchdown ending the first half with West in front, 28-16.

“I knew our team needed a big play to stay in the game, so when Nick gave me a perfect throw I just had to make the play,” Millea said.

Early in the second half, senior running back Cole Trejo ran for a touchdown, cutting the Warriors lead to 28-23. However, West quickly responded with a touchdown, field goal, and followed with an interception of Costa’s ball.

The quarter closed with West leading with a 38-23 advantage.

“I knew we had to score to stay in the game, so I wanted to run hard and score,” Trejo said.

CAN’T CATCH CARPINO: Senior quarterback Nick Carpino (above) runs away from West’s defenders in an away game on Sept. 14 at West Torrance High School. Sophomore wide receiver Brody McKinnon (left) catches the ball mid-air on a run during the game. The Mustangs struggled defensively against the Warriors offense, resulting in the Mustangs loss 45-39. Photo by Doug Speicher The Mustang defense continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, as they allowed yet another West touchdown. The Mustangs responded with a touchdown pass from Carpino to Trejo. In the final minutes, the Mustangs fought their way back into contention with a receiving touchdown from sophomore wide receiver Brody McKinnon, and a field goal by senior Jack Aus-

tin. Unfortunately it was not enough, as the game ended with West on top 45-39.

The Mustangs are now 2-2 overall and will face South Hills High School at home tonight in their final non-conference game of the season.

“Hopefully we can compete on a new level because the competition will be a lot tougher next week, “ Donahue said.

SPORTS

September 21, 2018

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13

Fonoimoana leaves Costa to join the USC coaching staff

USCoach: Eric Fonoimoana (second from the left) is pictured in the top row with the his senior Mira Costa boys volleyball team in 1987. Fonoimoana will coach at USC this season for girls beach volleyball. Photo Courtesy of Mira Costa Yearbook

By Sammy Miller Sports Editor

E

ric Fonoimoana is transitioning from a Mustang to a Trojan on the sand this year.

Fonoimoana coached the Mira Costa girls’ beach volleyball team for six years, but recently accepted a job to coach girls beach volleyball at the University of Southern California.

“Being an Olympic Gold medalist he has more knowledge than you could need,” junior beach volleyball player Kate Reilly said.

“You really can’t get any better than having Eric Fonoimoana as your coach.”

Fonoimoana won an Olympic Gold Medal for beach volleyball at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) named him the Most Valu-

able Player in 2002, and he has been a part of the AVP Tour for 16 years. He has won all of the AVP major opens and was inducted in to the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) Hall of Fame in 2013.

“I remember the experience of being in the Olympic village and I was in awe that I was amongst the best athletes in the world,” Fonoimoana said.

Fonoimoana is the owner of

Elite Beach Volleyball Club in Manhattan Beach, and he dedicates much of his winnings and free time to his foundation, Dig for Kids, which helps kids in inner cities excel in volleyball and academics.

“I started Dig for Kids because I wanted to make a difference in kids lives who are less fortunate than [me],” Fonoimoana said.

Fonoimoana is a Costa alumnus who won Costa’s Athlete of the Year award as a senior in 1987.

He went on to play volleyball at University of California Santa Barbara and was a Hall of Fame All American in 1991 and 1992.

“I’m the youngest of six kids, my mom and dad graduated from Costa, and all of my siblings graduated from Costa, so I bleed green and gold,” Fonoimoana said.

Under Fonoimoana, Mira Costa girls’ beach volleyball team has won 87 consecutive matches and two State Championships, earning seven Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League (IBVL) titles.

“I enjoyed teaching the girls the sport I love,” Fonoimoana said.

“Each team was different but I enjoyed putting different partners together so we could have a good chance to win championships.”

In his time at Costa, Fonoimiana has impacted many players and helped countless girls earn division one scholarships, by pushing the players to compete at

the highest level, Reilly said.

“Eric Fonoimoana is special because he has always been a hard worker and mindful of how he prepares and trains his athletes,” girl’s beach volleyball Olympian Holly McPeak said.

USC’s girls’ beach volleyball is a championship team, and won back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in 2016 and 2017 and captured a fourth place finish in the NCAA Championships.

“The team is solid, I’m looking forward to winning a championship,” Fonoimoana said.

STRIKING GOLD: Fonoimoana is pictured with his 2000 Olympic Gold Medal under the Manhattan Beach Pier.

Photo Courtesy of Elite Beach Volleyball

Seniors Duckworth, Drandell place fourth at Rowing Nationals Duckworth and Drandell competed at the 2018 Youth National Rowing Championships at Lake Natoma

By Cole Garvey Sports Editor

S

eniors Jessie Duckworth and Michelle Drandell rowed their way to an impressive finish at the 2018 Youth National Rowing Championships.

Duckworth and Drandell competed in the 2018 Youth National Rowing Championships from June 8-10 at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, California. The girls raced three times during the weekend in the Women’s Varsity 4x event and placed fourth in their time trial, first in their heat and fourth in the grand final.

“I trained super hard for this event,” Drandell said. “Many mornings we woke up at four

a.m. to practice. All of our extra hours of training and dedication paid off and we placed fouth in the nation.”

The Youth National Rowing Championships was hosted by the Sacramento State Aquatic Center and included 1,500 athletes, 350 crews and 150 teams, who all came together at Lake Natoma to compete in one of the top rowing events in the country.

This final event was the culmination of seven other qualification regional championships around the country.

“It was a tough crowd and we raced the best crews in the country, so coming out with fourth place is an amazing accomplishment,” Duckworth said.

Duckworth and Drandell both row for the Marina Aquatic Center (MAC). MAC is one of the most competitive rowing programs in the Los Angeles area. MAC pulls athletes from high schools such as Mira Costa, El Segundo, Brentwood, Redondo Union and Palisades Charter. MAC helps its

Youth Rowing National Championship 2018 Rankings 1st: Connecticut Boat Club (Connecticut) 2nd: Row America Rye (New York) 3rd: Dayton Rowing Club (Florida) 4th: Marina Aquatic Center (California) 5th Deerfield Rowing (Massachusetts)

GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM: Seniors Michelle Drandell and Jessie Duckworth (from left) row on June 8-10 in the 2018 Youth National Rowing Championships at Lake Natoma in Sacramento. Drandell and Duckworth’s four person Team placed fourth against the 149 other teams that competed in the championships. Courtesy of Mike Duckworth rowers progress to the next level, as MAC alumni compete at 45 universities throughout the United States. MAC has been competing in competitions around the country since 2007 with most important races taking place in San Diego.

“MAC has been super influential in my life,” Duckworth said.

“I’ve not only met some really incredible people, but I’ve had opportunities to travel all over the country for races, competing against the top junior programs.

MAC is and always will be my second home and second family.”

In the final race of the season,

the girls faced off against four of the best rowing teams in the nation. The race was close throughout, with many lead changes in the first several meters. In the final minutes of the race, Connecticut Boat Club proved to be the clear winner, easily holding off Row America Rye a club from Milton Harbor New York for first place.

“Nationals was such an amazing experience, and I loved racing against the fastest crews in the country,” Drandell said. “I’ve learned that in order to compete at a high level you must be willing to sacrifice things and be 100 percent dedicated.”

Dayton Rowing Club is a located in Miami, and MAC was neck and neck at the end of the race, both vying for the third place spot. MAC eventually fell 2 seats behind Dayton, yet still battled for position. Dayton barely edged past MAC, taking the third place medal in the tournament. Although MAC finished fourth and just off the podium, they were extremely proud of their performance.

“This season, my team and I are hoping to repeat last year’s success,” Drandell said. “We are going to train harder, get faster, and improve everyday to be the best that we can be.”

14 La Vista

ARTS

September 21, 2018

‘Don’t Shoot Me Down’ provokes powerful emotions through art

By Grace Dietz Executive Arts Editor

S

hockBoxx’s latest exhibit, “Don’t Shoot Me Down,” engages viewers with the relevant topic of gun violence but fails to provide multiple perspectives in the gallery.

The “Don’t Shoot Me Down,” Sept. 1 and 2 popup show presented vibrant and diverse artwork, but the ideas of gun reform behind the pieces lacked diverse viewpoints, which made the gallery one dimensional and unoriginal.

The gallery included pieces that highlight the National Rifle Association (NRA) and United States Congress’s failure to protect citizens from gun violence in public schools nationwide, as over 230 school shootings have occurred in the past 20 years.

The art gallery supports gun control campaigns, such as March for Our Lives and the Brady Campaign, both of which protest gun violence and demand gun reform. The exhibition featured artistic mediums including sculptures, acrylic paintings, water color paintings, cross stitch embroidery and collages.

The exhibition visually appealed to viewers with a variety of reflective depictions of gun

violence in America. Unlike other exhibits that ShockBoxx has previously hosted, “Don’t Shoot Me Down” incorporated a greater variety of art, including links to videos through QR codes, more sculptures, threedimensional pieces of art and cross stitchings of celebrities assassinated with guns. The pieces allowed spectators to

Illustration by Kaelie Macaulay

see the need for gun reform in America, as countless citizens have died due to gun violence.

Bernard Fallon’s scuplture, “Click, Click,” cleverly demonstrated the topic of gun violence using cameras. In this context, the word “shoot,” which is prominently featured above a target, applies to both guns and cameras. Fallon’s haunting choice to glue old cameras to a human target in a gun range makes his piece extremely powerful and

personal. Fallon explained on a notecard next to the potrait that he was a victim of an armed robbery himself.

Chia Schuler’s painting, “Checked Out” focuses on the devastating effect that gun violence in America has on children.

In the painting, a little boy reads a Pokémon book, and hanging on a wall behind him, papers displaying gun violence and world catastrophes are present. Schuler’s intricate painting shows the chaotic world in which children live in and how gun violence is eroding their innocence.

One of the most heartbreaking and profound pieces was “From Columbine to Parkland” by Ellen Cantor. The piece included a list of shootings that have occurred in America since the Columbine shooting in 1999. The list took up a full wall in the gallery, powerfully examining the extent of gun culture in America and analyzing the number of shootings that have unfortunately occurred since Columbine.

Although “Don’t Shoot Me Down” included a myriad of pieces, the discussion over gun control presented through the pieces was entirely one-sided, lacking diverse perspectives.

The exhibit focused entirely on criticizing the NRA, but none of the pieces actually brought atten-

Load, aim, click: When photographer Bernard Fallon hears the word “shoot,” he typically thinks of a camera, but with his piece “Click, Click,” Fallon creatively illustrates the world of a photographer whose work is strongly influenced by gun violence. Photo by Grace Dietz tion to other causes of shootings in America, such as the mental illnesses that the shooters often have. Due to this narrow-minded thinking, the exhibit seemed entirely shallow and biased.

ShockBoxx’s latest exhibit included many intense artworks, but it failed to cover all aspects

of gun reform in America. Nevertheless, the gallery incorporated immensely creative and genuine pieces of art.

ShockBoxx is located at 636 Cypress Ave in Hermosa Beach.

For information on future art exhibits and sales, visit www. shockboxxproject.com.

September 21, 2018

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ARTS

‘Age of Summer’ entertains local South Bay residents as a heartwarming beach film

Mira Costa students star in the locally filmed movie about lifeguards in the South Bay

By Skylar Jones Arts Editor

T

he coming of age film, “Age of Summer,” released on Sept. 7, depicts the struggles of a young Junior Lifeguard in Hermosa Beach, inspiring and moving audiences of all ages in the South Bay. “Age of Summer” is a heartwarming story for teens who live in the Beach Cities. The movie takes place in Hermosa Beach and Palos Verdes, and the costume design approximates with the attire of the 1980s beach life. Despite the movie’s uplifting themes, the overall storyline is choppy and difficult to follow.

Bill Kiely directed the film, David B. Harris wrote the screenplay, and Joseph McKelheer produced it. The film features several Mira Costa students, including juniors such as Malia Balzer and Megan Seth, seniors Ryan Manick and Charlotte Sabina and alumni Hali Honea and Shane Balzer.

The film depicts the life of a teenage boy named Minnesota, who recently moved to Hermosa Beach. He joins the

Junior Lifeguard program in the summer of 1986 and makes new friends in the program. Minnesota faces ordinary teenage challenges throughout the film, such as fitting in with friends and finding himself in a new community filled with many strangers.

Throughout the entire movie, the plot feels complicated to viewers, as it frequently skips back and forth between conflicts. The chaotic storyline makes it hard for the audience to follow. Many scenes seem random, such as one that included a missing person sign of a man who was non-essential to the film at all.

“Age of Summer” contains many problems that are left unresolved. For instance, Minnesota’s bike is stolen and in the process of looking for it, he meets the “Rock God,” but he never actually finds his bike. Another unresolved feature of the film is Minnesota’s chase for his “dream girl,” an issue that is also not settled by the end of the movie. This aspect left viewers confused and unsatisfied, with no clear resolution.

The actors’ lack of acting experience is apparent throughout the film and results in awkward and overdramatic scenes.

Several scenes and conversations feel overly-scripted and tense, making for a cheesy and unnatural storyline which periodically bores viewers.

The frequent profanity throughout

Q & A WITH MALIA BALZER c What part of filming was most interesting?

“Creating a bond with the cast members and dressing up in costumes because it felt like we were in the 80s.” c When did you film?

“The majority of the shoots took place during school, and the night shoots were later in the day and would sometimes go until three in the morning.”

“Age of Summer” adds to the authenticity of the film in general and viewers can relate to the way the actors speak. Additionally, the young actors are powerfully vulnerable as they put themselves out there and portray raw emotion through their advanced conversations.

A unique feature of the film is its location, mainly filmed on local beaches and the Strand. The cinematography of the film entices viewers with the upclose scenery of local Hermosa Beach and Pa-

Photo by Skylar Jones

los Verdes’ coastline and pier, appealing to South Bay residents.

In all, “Age of Summer” is an uplifting film, relatable to viewers with its nostalgic authenticity. Although the storyline is disorderly and the acting awkward, the overall idea of the movie is entertaining for viewers, making it a must see for local residents.

Released on Sept. 7, “Age of Summer” can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.

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ARTS

La Vista

September 21, 2018

‘Commentary on Land’ exhibit inspires locals to help improve the environment

By Madeleine Powell Copy Editor

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n a world of technology and increasing urbanization, the natural world falls further into the back of people’s minds.

However, the newest exhibit at the Manhattan Beach Art Center, “Terra Firma: A Photographic Commentary on Land,” reminds visitors of nature’s true beauty.

The exhibit features entertaining interactive elements, impressing viewers with its variety of perspectives and juxtaposition of modern and historical pieces from the 19th century.

Cultural Arts Director Martin Betz created the exhibit, which features the works of artists such as Robert Glenn Ketchum, Lowell Nickel, Jacalyn Lopez Garcia, Nicholas Caesar Colon, Anita Bunn and Fatimeh Burnes.

Opened on Aug. 17, the exhibit comments on the current state of the environment and inspires visitors to protect their habitat.

Ketchum’s works are highlighted throughout the exhibit and his photography has helped create 11 designated wilderness areas in Alaska, prevented a

Flower power: Robert Glenn Ketchum displays the beauty of nature with his photograph, “Fall Frost at the River’s Edge.” It depicts a lively area of various plants and flowers at the edge of a river. Photo by Madeleine Powell proposed mine from being built and placed 250,000 acres into conservation easements.

Ketchum’s most dynamic works in this exhibit are four kaleidoscopic photos of natural landscapes, which are dyesublimated onto aluminum and cut into distinct shapes. At first glance, the images appear to be a collection of colors and lines, but further examination reveals

natural settings reflected to create symmetrical pieces which perplex and impress viewers.

“Terra Firma” features handson-works such as Nickel’s “Faux Stone Project Rocks,” realistic rock sculptures that visitors are encouraged to pick up. Inside the hollow rocks are smaller objects which clink together within the sculpture, providing both texture and sound

and engaging visitors.

The various works throughout the exhibit provide a unique viewing experience as well as numerous artists’ perspectives on the state of the environment.

Anita Bunn’s bright pastel prints feature softer elements of the natural world, such as flowers and trees. Conversely, Nickel’s works are darker both in color and message, featuring a depic-

tion of the future of the world’s consumerism and population.

This contrast ensures that visitors are thoroughly enticed due to the change in color and opinion throughout the exhibit.

“Graceful Branch Movement,” an embroidery panel created by multiple unnamed artists, hangs from the ceiling and is the most admirable work in the exhibit due to its impressive attention to detail. The two-sided panel features vibrant hues of gold, orange and green woven together to form a sheer, glittering fall tree. The colors of the piece shift and change depending on how the light hits it, creating an intricate and remarkable double-sided image.

“Terra Firma: A Photographic Commentary on Land” features a number of unique perspectives on the natural world, both modern and historical. The exhibit highlights numerous mediums while allowing visitors to interact with certain works.

The Manhattan Beach Art Center is located at 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Admission to “Terra Firma: A Photographic Commentary on Land” is free, and the exhibit closes on Oct. 14.

‘Fantasies and Fairy Tales’ entices visitors with ancient human myths Some artworks illustrate horrifying myths, exuding terror so poignant that exhibit-goers are genuinely moved by the artworks. ith a pinch of imagination and The Ahmanson Building in LACMA mysticism, Los Angeles County served as an artistic setting for “FantaMuseum of Art’s latest exhibit, “Fanta- sies and Fairytales” due to an introspecsies and Fairytales,” blurs the line be- tive setup. With ambient lighting, the tween reality and fiction with a range of atmosphere of the exhibit elegantly adds pieces, each with distinct emotions. to the theme of fairytales and myths.

LACMA’s newest installation, “FantaClips of fairytale films directed by sies and Fairytales,” brilliantly investi- Lotte Reininger and Charles Bryant gates the role of fantasy and the reoc- are included in the exhibit and provide currence of popular myths, legends and a contemporary outlook on the subject fairy tales in graphical pieces from the of fantasy storytelling. However, the 1900’s. Each artist presents a distinct oddly-placed television near the enperspective of the world that transcends trance to a separate room has viewnaturalistic representation. ers crowding into the small area to The exhibit mirrors the catch a glimpse of the video. ideals of Max Klinger, a GerDespite the minor misplaceman artist who published “Malment of the film presentaerei und Zeichnung.” Klinger tion, LACMA’s newest disbelieved painting should depict play produces an engaging beauty and nature, whereas printmakexperience with an assorting and drawing should represent illued range of art, as well as a sory states such as fantasy. stunning representation of culThe exhibit consists of various tures. “Fantasies and Fairytales” prints and drawings each pushes the boundaries of realvarying in style, from monoity and creatively illustrates spiritual chromatic prints to abstract transcendence. drawings. The variations “Fantasies and Fairy Tales” is Illustration by Kaelie Macaulay of style and artistic mediavailable for viewing until Feb. ums demonstrates different culture’s in- 3 in the second floor of the Ahmanson terpretations of fairytales and introspec- Building at LACMA, located at 5905 tively presents the legends that belong to Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. each society.

“Fantasies and Fairytales” features a Upcoming LACMA variety of books packed with colorful depictions of myths and legends, as well Events as meticulous calligraphy. The inclusion Rauschenberg: In and About L.A. of the books broadens the exhibit and August 11, 2018–February 10, 2019 provides a cultural aspect, as each piece is from a separate region.

Shahn, Mooney, and the Apotheosis of AmeriThe selected artworks provide for a can Labor vibrant display with an assortment of July 22, 2018–November 25, 2018 pieces with unique emotional connotations. Although each piece possesses a 3D: Double Vision common theme of fantasy, each artwork July 15, 2018–March 31, 2019 evokes complex, passionate emotions.

By Kaelie Macauley Copy Editor

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the Rebirth: Biagio D’Antonio incorporates religion into his painting, “The Story of Joseph.” He creatively depicts the son of Jacob in the Old Testament with vivid colors. Photo by Madeline Tello

‘All that Glitters’ exhibit at the Getty portrays life in the Renaissance Era Another prominent sculpture in the exhibit is Conrat Meit’s “Head of a Man (Possibly Portrait of Cicero).” This sculpture shows how ancient philosophers intehe Getty Museum’s latest exhibit, grated back into Renaissance life through “All that Glitters” showcases fasci- conversation, education and art. The acnating art and luxury items from the Re- ceptance of Greco-Roman philosophers naissance and creatively displays items and their teachings began to grow during that brilliantly emphasize the wealth and the Renaissance, and Meit’s sculpture disextravagance that the royals possessed plays their popularity. The piece is one of during the Renaissance. the most captivating works in the exhibit The exhibit includes a variety of because it was made out of lighter colpieces, such as glassware, paintored stone than other sculptures, which ings and textiles that relate to the catches the viewers eyes. themes of royalty and wealth.

The gallery includes a substantial mix The extensive descriptions that of paintings and sculptures that keep accompany each piece of artviewers enticed. However, due to work, along with organized disits narrow pathway at certain secplay rooms, keep the art engagtions, the exhibit is hard to navigate Illustration by Kaelie Macaulay at times and is not a suitable exing and easy to follow.

Antoine Caron’s “Dionyhibit for large groups. sius the Areopagite Converting the Pagan “All that Glitters” is an entertaining Philosophers” is a prime piece of art that exhibit for those interested in Renaispresents religion and individualism, two sance art and is guaranteed to impress ideals that people living in the Renais- viewers with fascinating antiquities and sance strived to balance. The painting vibrant artwork. The exhibit is filled with portrays popular theologist, Dionysius artwork that is both intriguing and inforthe Areopagite, standing in the middle of mative, making it the prime exhibit for a group of pagan Greek philosophers as people looking to learn more about arthe preaches Christianity to them. The art work in ancient times. piece is painted with contrasting colors The Getty Museum is located at 1200 and captivates viewers with the attention Getty Center Dr. “All that Glitters” is to detail within the painting. open until Dec. 2.

By Madeline Tello Staff Writer

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