La Costa Canyon High School
MavLife
February 2016
One Maverick Way, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Volume 10 Issue 5
Construction of Rail Trail Concerns Cardiff Residents
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proposition by the city upgrade to the city and with of Encinitas may create a increasing tourism, it will biking and hiking trail along create just another way to coastal stretches from downget out and enjoy the sights town San Diego all the way and sounds of San Diego to North County. But not County. In addition to this, it everyone is happy about this could potentially put a stop proposal. The area has been to late night loitering in the used as a lookout point and the area and create a more parking spot for many local peaceful environment. residences for years, but now “It will be nice to all of that could come to an finally see a positive change end. in a city that has not had In May of 2015, much in a long time,” Encinitas voted 3-2 in favor resident Sarah Bustamante of constructuction to create said. “I believe that it will the trail. However, each enhance the way that people community along the coast look at our city and make it would likely create its own more appealing to the eye.” pathway. It is likely Encinitas Local businesses could will begin construction on thrive from the coming the west side of the rain changes. Multiple morning tracks. This will pose a big breakfast and brunch problem for opponents locations such as VG Donuts of the project, who have and Bakery and Swami’s been using this spot to view Cafe are expected to gain Kalli Anderson sunsets, have lunch and profits once the rail trail is enjoy the view of Encinitas. It could also cut The area that the city has designated for the trail is west of the train tracks running along the 101 highway. complete. Due to the increase in population their homes with the sounds of bikes and conference. off access to the beach because of the fence along the rail trail, many local bikers and walkers. Another possible fallout could be the If the plan goes through, Encinitas will that would be built around the area, making hikers could be drawn to the businesses for a elimination of nearly 200 parking spots, that not be the sole community affected. The it difficult for surfers and beachgoers to have snack. would cause major traffic repercussions in a proposed blueprints take the bike bath all the easy accessibility. “You could tell something has been in city that is already becoming overpopulated. way to Oceanside, where a similar fall out is “I have lived on the edge of San Elijo the works for a while around here, there have In addition, it would also cause the need for beginning to brew. Due to the length of the and Mozart Ave my entire life, and to see the been whispers about this from residents for as extra horn blowing when local trains such as trail, it would likely take months to complete possible changes coming to something that I long as I can remember,” Peterson said. the Amtrak and Coaster chug by. the changes. With all of this being said, the have grown up with devastates me. It is going Either way, there will likely be both “This change is significant because, Encinitas City Council says that construction to create a real nightmare for anyone who has negative and positive outcomes from the would not begin until early to mid 2017, had the pleasure of enjoy the location before,” although it provides safer access at less cost, implementation of the trail and the changes federal regulations require more frequent meaning there is still plenty of time for resident Joan Peterson said. coming to the Encinitas and Cardiff area. horn-blowing with at-grade crossings,” protesters to persuade officials. Others who live along the area say Chad Crilley Encinitas Mayor Kristen Gaspar said in a press Supporters say that it is a much needed that it would disturb the peace in front of Staff Writer
Community Service Gives Students New Experiences Mavericks work hard and get involved in their communities in order to help others and better themselves in the process
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a Costa Canyon High School boasts nearly work with them,” Castillo said. “Then we have 2,000 students who are engaged in a a break, and then we go back to work.” multitude of diverse extracurricular activities. Castillo enjoys what she does for the Students are not new to the idea of communi- price she receives in return. ty service, and there are a lot of students who “I love to help out, and I like going to my spend their free time serving the people of old elementary school because it brings back the community. The students who volunteer memories, and I get to help [the students] provide a wide variety of community service out,” Castillo said to help those in need. Volunteering has affected Castillo as a Brenda Castillo, a sophomore at LCC, person, and she seems to take pleasure in her serves her community by being a tutor for work. her old elementary “I get to help little school. Her many hours kids, and that’s fun,” of community service Castillo said. “I also get inspire others to do the experience to help and same. teach them, so that’s cool.” “I go to Capri Hanna Wittmack elementary school to is also a sophomore and tutor little kids, and volunteers for a local [the student’s age range] organization that helps out is usually kindergarten children in need. to sixth grade, it just “We mostly work Sarah Wilson depends,” Castillo said. for a home called Casa de Castillo spends her Amparo for children with time at the elementary abusive families, with [the school about once a week. assistance of] Project Hope,” Wittmack said. “It’s usually every Tuesday of every Wittmack may only volunteer a few week,” Castillo said. “Depends if it is for first times a month, but in that time, she puts semester or second semester.” in a lot of time and effort into helping the Her average day consists of a lot of children. hard work dealing with troublesome kids. “We go twice a month,” Wittmack said. The unique thing about her service to the “We do about five hours of either passing out community is that she branches out from LCC food for Meals on Wheels, or baking a cake for and interacts with other schools. Casa de Amparo.” “[Our schedule] is, usually, we get Wittmack has been doing community together the big tutors from every different service for most of her life, and still proceeds high school, and the little kids come and we to do it up to this day.
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Kalli Anderson
Brenda Castillo (top) and Hanna Wittmack (bottom) spend their free time bettering the community.
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS 2
OPINION 4
Republican vs. Democrat
Get a deeper understanding of the political parties and current events in the world of politics.
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[Volunteering] changed how I see the world, and how I see people in general.”
FEATURE 8
SPORTS 10
Lacrosse Preview The boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams look forward to a new challenge in the 2016 spring season.
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EXPLAINER 13
“We’ve all been in this organization since kindergarten, so it was mostly like our parents led us into it,” Wittmack said. Sarah Wilson is a senior who helps her community by spreading awareness of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research. Her effective volunteering to help spread the word and knowledge of MS research helps the public raise awareness for this incurable disease. “We do walks that benefit and raise awareness for MS research, we do a bake sale to raise money and we do movie night,” Wilson said. “We try to raise as much money as possible. [MS research is] for multiple sclerosis, which is a neurological disease that affects your brain chemistry and function.” Wilson’s schedule for her community service is flexible, and her volunteer work can depend on certain aspects.
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ENTERTAINMENT 14
The Hungry Maverick
The MavLife staff tests out croissants to determine which local bakery sells the best pastries.
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Feb/Mar 25- 2 SPRING MUSICAL 1- 2 LATE START 7- 10 DODGEBALL 10 COMEDY SPORTZ
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PI DAY COMMUNITY DAY
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News
February 2016
Kalli Anderson
On February 10th, current LCC students and teachers welcomed incoming freshmen and their parents.The middle schoolers were taken to the meadow for the Mav welcome, which included socializing with LCC teachers and future classmates. On the left, seniors Ally Acquista and Melanie Stoops help a parent navigate through the campus. On the right, teacher Ron Lenc talks to a parent about the Shaping class.
LCC Welcomes Incoming Mavericks at Choice Night A
lthough second semester has just begun, the end of the school year is nearing. Seniors leave behind their legacy as they enter college and incoming freshmen face challenges much more strenuous than left behind by the previous class. Seniors graduate from high school and begin a new stage in their lives, passing down traditions that freshmen find themselves enticed to live up to. As the class of 2020 arrives to La Costa Canyon, the culture, connection and community that once set the foundation for the school will live on despite any ominous behavior that might arise. “I don’t really know how to feel,” Diegueño eighth grader Olivia Stephens said. “It’s weird coming into high school as an actual high schooler, but I think it’ll be fun.” On February 10th, Choice Night offered engaging and inviting experiences for students and parents alike. 8th graders came to visit LCC and accustom themselves with the school grounds. The event had three varying sessions, all held between 5:30pm and 8:00pm. The Mav welcome began in the meadow outside the 1300s. From 5:30-6:15pm, numerous clubs exhibited their expertise as families explored and became
acquainted to their surroundings. “I like the sports and all the clubs the school has,” Oak Crest eighth grader Emily Stevens said. “There are a lot of options. I’m not sure how I’m going decide.” The tour that introduced students to the pride and spirit of LCC, along with an informative presentation, began around 6:20pm. At this presentation, parents and future Mavs were explained the 2016-2017 bell schedule and later informed about requirements, various courses and their benefits to the future that the school offers. “I like the new schedule because you can take more electives or classes without needing to worry,” Stephens said. “I’m really excited to take the new BioMed class.” The class of 2020, while nervous for beginning a new chapter in their lives, are anticipating a bright future. Many prospective Mavs were enthusiastic about school sponsored events along with the forthcoming bell schedule. Meanwhile, current LCC students and teachers welcomed them with equal enthusiasm.
“We were happy to see the students asking questions over the wide range of programs available,” Spanish teacher James Teague said. “The new schedule provides more opportunities for different classes and students were positive about those opportunities.” At the end of the day, all efforts made by our students and school staff came together to make an impression that effectively established who LCC Mavericks really are. Choice Night served as a wonderful opportunity for future and current students to welcome the upcoming 2016-2017 school year. “I was lucky to run into several ASB led tours,” Teague said. “These students showed confidence as a lot of planning and effort went in behind the scenes. There were recurring themes about energy, spirit, and enthusiasm; it was a totally different format this year.” Jasmin Sani Staff Writer
Students Volunteer to Better the Community [continued from page 1]
Students do unique community service on their own time as a way to help others and their community “We try and volunteer every month, but depending on what events we have it could be more or less,” Wilson said. She volunteers for a lot of reasons. Her primary purpose is to raise awareness for MS, but also to help those affected by the disease. “It’s really important in my mind to support something that could help other people, and it’s a really good cause,” Wilson said. “It affects so many people.” Just like many others who volunteer, Wilson’s main motivation to perform community service is that it’s simply the right thing to do. “I don’t know why I do it, but it’s just something that appealed to me because it helps other people,” Wilson said.
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[Volunteering] has made me a little more out-going, and willing to go up and talk to people without having to be introduced.” Sarah Wilson
Volunteering has helped Wilson in many positive ways. “It definitely brought up my horizons,” Wilson said. “It’s made me a little more out-going, and willing to go up and talk to people without having to be introduced. It also changed how I see the world, and how I see people in general.” She welcomes any new volunteers who strive to help out with MS research, and the betterment of the community. Junior Josue Vasquez is another volunteer that helps out at Saint John’s church and at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. He helps the community as a whole and strives to improve it for the better. “I help out at my church, Saint John’s, and at the fairgrounds,” Vasquez said. “I’ve done ‘Christmas Baskets’ where I get to make baskets of food and toys. It’s for people who don’t have the money or can’t get the resources for the holidays.” Vasquez’s community service work is less hands on and more paperwork oriented.
Kalli Anderson
JosueVasquez (left) volunteers for Saint John’s church and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Sarah Wilson (right) helps her community by volunteering to help spread awarenesss for MS research.
“I’m either organizing papers or helping out people to get things ready for events,” Vasquez said. When Vasquez listed his pros and cons, he brought up a point some do not consider when volunteering, but is extremely helpful. “Pros are that you get to meet a lot new people and they can put in a good word for you for college or something else,” Vasquez said. “Even though it can take up quite some time, it’s worth it.”
Volunteering definitely helped Vasquez in a positive way. “It makes me look forward to something, and it’s a good feeling to help out the community,” Vazquez said.
Hunter McGahan Staff Writer
3 News New Electives are Added for Next School Year Students are given more elective options for the 2016-17 school year due to the optional seventh period
MAVLIFENEWS.COM
Kalli Anderson
At the entrance of the Learning Commons, students, Edie Uebelnor and Riley Martin, look at the blackboard with the list of all the electives for next school year.
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tarting next year, La Costa Canyon High School will have a seventh period. With a seventh period, students will be able to take more electives and enjoy new classes. Students will still remain on a block schedule, but the new seventh period will allow students to take more classes and learn more skills. Students will still be allowed to take six classes, because the seventh period, which occurs at the end of the day, is optional. The seventh period still fits into the rotating block schedule, and would not change or affect the span of lunch. However, with a seventh period, class periods will be shorter. With shorter class periods, teachers will be able to hold the students attention for the entire class period. “The average attention span is around 70-90 minutes and when classes go over that time frame kids kind of start to lose interest,” Principal Bryan Marcus said. A new bell schedule can allow students
to grow more, by allowing them to connect to the school and take new and more interesting electives. However, the seventh period will not be strictly for electives. “Students are getting confused with the new bell schedule because with a seventh period bell schedule everyone thinks that we are only offering certain electives seventh period,” Marcus said. “We are offering new electives in periods one through seven, it won’t be specialized to just first period or seventh period.” The new bell schedule is designed to allow current and new students to take more classes that they find fascinating or interesting. Another period gives incoming students more flexibility and allows them to fit more classes into their schedule if needed. “We designed a schedule so the kids would choose the school not based on the schedule, but on what is the best fit for them,” Marcus said.
With a new seventh period being added, new electives are necessary so students have more options to take advantage of the new schedule. “So what we are trying to implement is new courses and new things that are going to come up,” Marcus said. “Like BioMed [Biomedical Program], robotics, shaping or classes that we haven’t done in the past that we think kids would really want to take. The final piece is trying to make the classes more career and college focused.” Students at La Costa Canyon also had many opinions on the new bell schedule for next year. “I think the seventh period will be beneficial to LCC because students will be able to expand the classes that they take and get more credit for college,” sophomore Tatum Rolle said. However, not all students agree that the new bell schedule would be a good addition
for the school next year. “I am still just taking six classes,” sophomore Jesse Schroeder said. “The new bell schedule seems confusing and I would prefer to just take six classes.” With these new electives, students will be able to explore and learn while also enjoying a stress free class. “It’s not geared towards one specific period so you have flexibility,” Marcus said. “With the new classes this year it’s kind of like us as a family or community asking ourselves what new things we want to offer. We have some teachers that look at that and decided to offer those new courses.” New electives being offered this coming year include Music Appreciation, 20th Century Pop Culture, Social Justice, Fiction and Film, Writing for Social Media, and Chinese. A couple of new electives have already been added this year. One of the newest classes is the Biomedical class, which is being taught by Lindsey Geissler, who is also a chemistry teacher. “In science we had been looking at BioMed for a while because there a lot kids leaving LCC wanting to go into a science,” Marcus said. “So now with BioMed being offered, it’s kind of nice because it allows kids to prep for that more.” Although the seventh period is a new addition, students are not required to take an additional class. “If a kid decides to not take a seventh period it won’t affect anything,” Marcus said. “You can still go to a great college. The seventh period isn’t something you have to take to be more marketable.” Overall, with an additional seventh period, students will be able to expand their knowledge while experiencing new classes. Sophia Gambale Staff Writer
“Raising Resilient Teens:” How Technology is Interfering with Relationships
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n February 17, La Costa Canyon had the treat to hold a discussion, “Raising Resilient Teens,” led by Dr. Divya Kakaiya in the David H. Thompson Performing Arts Center. Dr. Kakaiya is a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist, and neurofeedback practitioner. Attending the event was targeted for both students and parents to gain knowledge about one another and how to stay connected with each other without wifi. Raising Resilient Teens focused on the impact of social media between users and how it affected their behavior. The discussion was not mandatory but some teachers offered extra credit for attendance. The audience was made up of parents and students to discuss and evaluate both sides on the parent-child relationship and how technology often third-wheels and gets between their connection. “There’s a direct correlation between the number of selfies you post, how much you hang on how many likes you get on Instagram and your self esteem,” Kakaiya said. “All of that is impacting your self esteem in a negative way, because what’s happening is that it’s more important for you to feel connected with what your peers think about you versus with what your parents think about you, so we’re losing that attachment with parents.” In an age where technology has dominated what dictates relationships and is a main source of communication amongst peers, it is often difficult for people to communicate in forms that may seem “old fashioned.” According to Pew Research Center, 74% of all people are linked into some kind of social media and 85% of American teens ages 13-17 have access to a smartphone. From the hour and a half discussion, Dr. Kakaiya touched base on many aspects, including the effect of how most teenagers have been getting six to eight hours of sleep. This negatively impacts not only their behavior, but their performance in daily life. Studies have shown that teenagers actually require nine hours a night to become well
Erin Sumabat
Dr. Divya Kakaiya spoke to parents and students on February 17th about how to stay connected with each other without the use of electronics and wi-fi.
rested. “The more resilient my daughter is, the more she’ll be able to deal with life’s troubles and setbacks,” parent Keith Eck said. “There was a combination of things that I think we can do a better job as parents. We were right about not letting her have her cell phone and computer in her bedroom at night, from a parent’s standpoint, it’s a nightly battle. I’ve been telling her she needs more sleep.” Dr. Kakaiya broke down the barrier between parents and students by highlighting the pros and cons in each relationship. She recognized the pressure on teenagers to get their life together, get into a good college by being apart of many after school programs and thinking about how to get a job at the ripe age of eighteen. “I always try to look at parenting from
a parent’s perspective and I understand why they’re kind of nervous and want the best,” senior Nicole Eck said. “If you can be strong, gritty and keep going in high school, it will really help you in adulthood.” Students spend around seven hours a day at school while parents attend to their respective duties during that time. It’s not uncommon for students to build some form of friendship or mentorship with a teacher they might have. Jill Lax, English and Senior Seminar teacher, wants to teach both her children and students the importance of resiliency. “Struggle, hardship and conflict are just a part of life,” Lax said. “My job is to be there and support them, but it’s also to give them the tools to be strong and to be able to withstand those things. I want them to be able
to stand on their own two feet and become independent, stronger and feel more worthy of themselves.” The message of resilience and maintaining an amount of strength in the world was instilled into the minds of the attenders. The spiritual encouragement, knowledge, and research Dr. Kakaiya presented during the discussion cultivated a presence to become more aware of the technology students use and how it may hinder a relationship by creating a disconnect they have with their parents and other important figures in their lives.
Erin Sumabat Staff Writer
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Opinion
February 2016
The Infamy of Cliques in High School A look into the social phenomenon that occurs in virtually every school setting of these groups are positive. Some people seek to join groups to “fit in” and to be popular, often with the sacrifice of previous friends.
Jack Stevens Staff Writer
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s children and teenagers grow into adulthood, they seek groups of friends that they know they can count on and go to for support during any difficult times. These groups are formed by meeting people with common interests or making new friends in classes and wanting to hang out together. However, not all motives to be a part of one
According to Encyclopedia.com, the definition of a clique is “a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.” The key words in that definition is “do not readily allow others to join them.” Cliques focused on being cool and perfect are unable to accept just anyone, and cause those who desperately seek popularity to change many things about themselves in order to fit in with the group. These groups are typically ruled by a cruel, manipulative leader who forces others to conform to their demands and do things they may be against in orderto not be kicked out. The members of the group are
usually extremely insecure about themselves, and use the clique as an identity to reassure themselves that they have people who accept them. However, they are only “accepted” because they obey the main leader of the clique and do not oppose them in fear of no longer having that reassurance. Of course, teen groups are not all bad. Clubs based on sports, extra-curricular activities, or just common interests are prevalent and are great to help people find friends that share the same passion that they do. Especially in high school, the people that they meet may continue to be in contact with them long after they have graduated from high school and college. Clubs are a great way for people to find people with common interests and friends, but cliques can be extremely damaging to a person’s friendships and self-image in the long run.
MavLife 2015-2016 Staff Editors-In-Chief: Aneleise Frandsen, Cassie Amundson Design Editor: Jade Harabedian Feature Editor: Kailey O’Connell Sports Editor: Connor Hines News Editor: Emily Brown Assistant News Editor: Brittany Bloom Graphics Editor: Daniel Stuart Opinion Editor: Cooper Gee Entertainment Editor: Reilly Tiglio Photo Editor: Kalli Anderson Social Media Manager: Kara Gibson Copy Editors: Kailey O’Connell, Brittany Bloom Adviser: Stacy Hardcastle
Cooper Gee
Does Technology Actually Disconnect Us? Taking a stance on the non-stop debate for and against technology and its uses time we are sitting on the floor laughing at our screens or sitting on opposite sides of the room, dead silent, and looking straight at a tiny screen.
Sophia Imparato Staff Writer
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odern day technology has taken over most students lives, with the functions to do or search anything at the press of a button. I feel as though technology has made us forget how to contact a person without the push of a button, or has given an even more antisocial alternative-- hiding behind a computer screen waiting for someone to reply. Walking around campus, I see students looking directly at their phone, ignoring all possible human interaction. Students and people in general life have been so attached to their phones, they often find themselves alone and occupied with their technology instead of being occupied with a person, face to face. As I have experienced, more people, including myself, would rather talk to someone behind a screen than make eye contact with the person they would want to talk to. Technology is advancing faster and faster each day, making it easier to talk to people online, but without actual human interaction, teens and adults can feel alone. For example, my friends and I spend time together all the time, but half the
“ Using
interaction skills will be needed later on in life, whether it’s for a job or just meeting a new person.”
or waiting for a person to text back can in many ways perpetuate how different or alone you may feel in that moment- or in any given moment. I feel as though technology can make people feel alone, and that liking a picture is not a good enough for alternative for true human interaction. In conclusion, technology is needed in many ways but it also disconnects us from the real world, which has the potential to damage society as a whole. Hopefully, teens and adults, off and on campus, can find a balance between technological communication and genuine human interaction.
Although many, myself included, feel as though technology can keep us connected to our friends and family, being attached to your phone or computer screen can create a lonely feeling versus the feeling of actually interacting and talking to your friends and family. Using interaction skills will be needed later on in life, whether it’s for a job or just meeting a new person. Being attached to a small device is not always positive, as looking at other people’s life in a tiny digital square Cooper Gee
@mavnation
Senior Staff Writers: Kennon Aarnes, Gillian Chaffer, Chad Crilley, Bryce Gallagher, Soren Gregory, Danielle Lee, Amanda Mester, Calvin Zeljack Staff Writers: Trevor Ferguson, Sophia Gambale, Claire Granich, Jenna Husong, Sophia Imparato, Sydney Kay, Hunter McGahan, Jasmin Sani, Samantha Sinatra, Acacia Southwell, Jack Stevens
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avLife is the student newspaper of La Costa Canyon High School. LCCHS student media products are public forums for student expression. Students are responsible for their work in print publications, online content and video broadcasts, as well as in other products, none of which are subject to administrative approval. Students make all final content decisions. Media programs follow Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Student Press Law Center standards. In addition, student media programs work to follow all copyright laws and avoid libel, slander, and infringing upon the rights of others. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the editorial board, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective. Advertisements do not necessarily represent the newspaper’s views.
Opinion
MAVLIFENEWS.COM
Editorial: Are We Entering the Era of Wall-E?
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A staff discussion on the positive and negative benefits of integrating techonology into school classrooms
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tablet and a textbook sit before you, and you are asked to decide which one you prefer. The tablet offers a world of accessible knowledge and programs, but the book provides the comfort of tradition and a sensation of handheld accessibility. This is the conundrum our school campuses face- but many have made their decision to end this informational divide.
menting the 27% who said they use them 6 hours or more a day. This does offer ample evidence towards the theory that formatting lesson plans and homework assignments to work with portable devices will increase productivity- as students are typically on these devices for a few hours a day already.
On many elementary school campuses in the EUSD district, specifically Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary and Mission Estancia Elementary, textbook usage has given way to the usage of tablets and cellphones to access everything from lesson content to research for projects. In this major transition, there was a level of mixed reception towards the new method information was to be proctored to students, as there was excitement in the portability that comes with a handheld device, however there was a definite dissonance towards the fact that a substantial portion of information would no longer be administered to students orally- to which is the traditional method. This issue has taken hold on our campus, and the integration of in-class technology has already begun, trading out the hefty textbooks that have streamlined the school curriculums in this decade and many prior. In a high school environment such as this one, students have been trained to “learn by the book,” as the traditional method of proctoring information and supplying homework problems has remained an integral part of our education. In the event of any major change such as this, there are positive and negatives that may become apparent as this future integration plan comes into play. Starting off with the positives, prioritizing technology usage in the classroom does offer a more familiar platform for accessing information, as according to a survey conducted on our website mavlifenews.com asking how many hours are typically spent using technology during the day, 53% of responders said they use electronics 2-3 hours a day, comple-
Lesson Plan
Another positive lies in the idea that, by utilizing technology on a more edumandatory level, the new method will teach students how to more to more practically use technology, which goes hand in hand with the accepted concept that we now live in a “digital world”. When thrusted into the posteducation world, many are expected to be able to properly utilize technology to make anything from a spreadsheet to
Anaylzing why school districts are banning literary classics
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Kennon Aarnes Staff Writer
round the US, schools are banning books from various libraries and English classrooms. Hitting closer to home, some of the curriculum-based books we read at LCC such as The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye have been targets of this outrage. The cause of this is overconcerned parents, as well as some violent scenarios that are too violent for some to handle, like the scene where dogs attack people viciously in The Call of theWild. If seventeen year olds are allowed to get into an R-rated movie with visible blood, violence and death, they should be able to read the same content in a book as well. Students should be able to read whatever they want, not what their parents think is suitable. If it is legal to see
a rated R movie, why not an “R-rated” book? Some parents have even called the English teachers here at LCC to complain about the language in The Catcher in the Rye. Just because a book has a death scene, a smoking scene or explicit language, doesn’t mean the book should be completely banned. They are a part of our literary culture and most books have history that no one should ever forget. Most books also have a lesson to be learned that is within the book.You can learn from the characters and their mistakes and with those books banned from the schools, those lessons and themes will never of been learned. Such as the idea of human equality that Scout and Atticus Finch teach us in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. According to bannedbooksweek.org, the classic book, The Call of the Wild, was banned for being too violent. What high schooler thinks that dogs behaving violently is too much for us to handle? These targeted books are too important and historical to be banned from schools. Even the well known and loved
TheWizard of Oz has been banned from schools across the country, because it contained supposed witchcraft in it. There has been little to no backlash regarding the novel, and it has continued to be a cherished classic to many, so why does it deserve a ban? Along this same line, the Harry Potter novels, which remain a classic in the hearts of many children and adults, were targets of bans and criticism. If we are to ban novels that have continuously resonated with us as the audience, there is potential that the upcoming generations will not have access to these same stories. In conclusion, books are very important and have taught me many a myriad of lessons such as practicing equality, empathy, and morality. Therefore, they should not be banned based on mature content.
Jumping into the negatives of this change, it is important to also look at the more casual side to technology that is highly pervasive in many campus cultureschecking Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media website. While integrating such technology may promote productivity, it may also promote more time to casually browse. Casual usage of technology is something that can be combatted, however, by potential deadlines set on online assignments or even programming said technology to only access academic resources and related content. Finally, the negative factor that may impede on the learning environment that is fostered in the classroom setting is the lack of interpersonal interaction that goes on during assignments such as presentations or experiments that promote and at times force students to work with their peerswhich can develop two things instantaneously- a campus culture and social skills.
Daniel Stuart
Why Do We Ban Books?
a full-blown presentation, and with this new electronicallycharged curriculum in play- these expectations will hopefully be met years before.
A classroom streamlined for technology usage does provide accessibility on a whole new level, but it also may turn students off of turning to their peers to help figure out a problem or come up with a new creative idea. This potential lack of peer interaction can be combatted, however, by tailoring a technologically-run classroom to feature group assignments that do promote peer socialization and brainstorming. While changing our focus side to side, in between the accessible tablet that lies before us or the textbook that is all too familiar to us, we must consider the positives and negatives of both. The Mavlife staff wants to encourage finding a balance in the issue, as if we are to integrate technology in a deeper level on campus we must keep in mind how it will impact us, our work, and our campus. In finding a balance, we will find a plausible solution.
How Music Connects Us
A discussion on the connective power of music on campus
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Gillian Chaffer Senior Staff Writer
veryone listens to different genres of music. Many individuals identify themselves by the type of music they enjoy listening to, whether that is pop, rock, country, rap and so many others. There is a multitude of various categories of music that are yet to be discovered or pursued by many people of the world. In other countries, the population appreciates plenty of melodies that may not be welcomed by those in America. In schools, however, music can determine a friend group, and even be a factor in one’s popularity and reputation. When a student likes a certain type of music, others who have the same taste as them tend to gravitate towards that individual. This will bring people together to develop strong friendships and bonds based on common interests. La Costa Canyon
even has clubs for these certain types of music groups--places where people can discuss their favorite genres. These clubs not only let students participate with others who enjoy music, but also can help people find friends. Unfortunately, some music-lovers are discriminated and judged by those who do not like the same tunes as them. Of course, this does not happen as much, due to the fact that high schools, like La Costa Canyon, are becoming more and more accepting of others and their respective interests. Music can bring people together, and can connect individuals in a way nothing else can. With social groups budding through the use of musical representation, the obvious difference in music taste can be obvious. One person who only likes, for example, modern rap, may be friends with someone who enjoys modern rap, but also likes rock and pop. Though friends will always have some differences in musical taste, these differences may be a main concern for students who do not want to be too individualistic or seen as different from their closest friends. In the end, having a vast taste in music is always the best option; this way, individuals will develop tight bonds but still discover new
musical interests. There are many stereotypes for different music groups and the people who identify with these genres. These ideas are widespread. Some examples include the labels given to people who listen to metal or rock, that they are all sad, depressed, or angry. Of course this is not true. I, personally, enjoy rock and metal the most, and am a generally very happy, upbeat, and caring person, regardless of the music I listen to. Rap music might be connected to disrespect, even though this is not true either. Of course, these stereotypes might apply to some people, but not the majority of listeners. Many times, someone may like a genre of music that you would not expect them to find interesting. In conclusion, music is a way of expression. It is like its own language with absolutely no barriers separating individuals. It can be an escape, a distraction, a hobby, an activity. Without music, the earth would be quiet.
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Opinion
The Dilemma Behind Anchor Babies
February 2016
Discussing the widely debated issue of babies born to immigrant mothers and what rights they deserve California is known for generally have a larger support of immigrants, through the law and a greater number of supporters. Any school-age children that live in California cannot be denied a free public education, regardless of citizenship status.
“Any school-age
Danielle Lee Senior Staff Writer
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he term “anchor baby” comes from the idea that undocumented immigrants come to America to have their children and take advantage of the birthright citizenship policy, seeking to gain citizenship for themselves. Constraining illegal immigrants and stopping them from entering America is a controversial debate, considering that their U.S. born children gain access to education, healthcare, and other benefits. At age 21 these people can apply for legal status for their undocumented family members, which is why they are often referred to as “anchors.” While in recent years the number of children born each year to illegal immigrants has decreased, these numbers still place strains on society. The number of children of illegal immigrants entering schools has placed a financial and logistical burden on some school districts. The influx of children is taxing schools and most of these students are on free or reduced lunch programs and need specialized English Language Learner programs, which places further strain on schools and is part of the reason why many argue against these immigrants and their parents coming into the country. Out of the estimated 5 million English Language Learners, California enrolls the highest amount of the nation with almost 1.5 million according to the 2011 Mega-States Report by the National Center for Education Statistics. This is an estimated $12.3 billion per year spent by the state on the education of undocumented immigrants.
children that live in California cannot be denied a free public education, regardless of citizenship status.”
subjected to consequences of the decisions that their parents have made. It wasn’t their choice, but are they still to blame? Do they deserve the rights they were born into? Do they deserve an education? I believe that they do. Their family made a decision to come to America, typically with their children’s best interests in mind. The children didn’t make this choice. They were born into their rights as citizens of the United States. If they decide to take these benefits for granted then maybe they don’t, but I do think they should be given the opportunity first. How they handle the consequences of this decision and what they decide to contribute to the country is up to them. How they make the most of their lives here and the benefits they receive as citizens is on them. It’s unfair to stereotype the children of undocumented immigrants simply because what they possess from being born in America is not a choice of their own. Instead, it’s simply a result of what their parents thought would be best for them.
Unfortunately, many undocumented children suffer from the migration due to deportation, detention, and separation in families. The stress from living with their families in America illegally can cause stress and thus cause barriers between these children and others their age, restricting them from sharing and relating with others about experiences that are defining in a childhood such as getting a first job.
However, they should appreciate the opportunity that can be present in America versus their homeland. What they decide to do for themselves and what contribution they decide they want to make to society is their own choice, but I think having the awareness of what they’ve been privileged to gain should be kept in mind when they grow up in this country and are entitled the rights that come with being an American citizen.
What we have to ask ourselves is whether we do have a social obligation outside of their rights as citizens to help these children of illegal immigrants. Their parents did come here illegally, but they did so at a risk in order to help their families have access to better opportunity. If you were living in a country surrounded by poverty, violence, and abuse, wouldn’t you want to do whatever you could to help your family if the opportunity presented itself?
by a B
Aside from the controversy surrounding illegal immigration itself, the question that remains is whether U.S. born children of illegal immigrants should be
MavLife Staff Valentines Confessions
Daniel Stuart
Staff members share their fantastic and fun-filled adventures on the day of love we all celebrate.
“My real Valentines Day was February 15th, when I went to CVS and bought twelve large Hershey’s Kisses.”
Erin Sumabat - Staff Writer “On Valentine’s Day, I was at my aunt and uncles’ house with my cousins and we made pink heart pancakes in the morning. We went to the beach for a little bit and then my girl cousins and I went and got our nails done, and then I wanted to go home so I took the train home for three hours sitting next to a grandma who was knitting by herself.”
Kara Gibson- Social Media Manager “I woke up and my grandma got me this really cute teddy bear- so that was exciting. My friend and I wanted to get lunch somewhere fun that we don’t usually go to downtown. Everywhere was an hour and a half wait. When we walked down there, there were all these couples sharing milkshakes everywhere, and I was like ‘ok we’re not doing that because that’s annoying.’”
Reilly Tiglio - Entertainment Editor
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GENERATION
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with them. This was often portrayed through gradual, subtle adaptations such as the shift from a family house phone with a cord to wireless cell phones. So, at what age did kids from this generation start wanting mobile electronics of their own? “I asked for my first iTouch in sixth grade,” sophomore Clay Wescott said. “At that time, I wanted to use it for games and music because we didn’t use social media back then.” Like Wescott, most children wanted smart devices for similar reasons, or, additionally, to contact family members or friends in the case of an emergency. Now, however, younger and younger children will desire and often times receive such devices earlier on in life. “I got my first electronic when I was in kindergarten,” Spencer Crilley, a third grader at Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary (OPE), said. “It was an iPad.” Crilley is a member of Generation Z, which consists of individuals born approximately from the year 2000 through 2025. He’s also one of the many elementary school students who now use technology as their main resource for textbooks, educational videos and digital worksheets at school. As the push for technology increases, so does the drive for resources such as links for online textbooks like Overdrive, a website for digitally borrowing books from each school district. Older students, however, look at this as a disadvantage. “I really like to look at the textbooks because I feel like our generation is always stuck in front of a screen,” sophomore Jill Carter said. “It’s nice to get a break because it allows you to be able to physically turn pages, touch and annotate if you have to.” Often, physical books can be pricey, outdated and difficult to replace, whereas electronic books are often cheaper and able hold way more materials. Despite this, some believe going digital wouldn’t promote learning the say way. “Getting rid of textbooks would contradict the whole idea of trying to get people to communicate and be together in the same environment,” Carter said. In contrast, younger students who’ve experience online learning prefer it to any other form of learning. “I have never used a textbook before,” Crilley said. “I’m only used to using the online books through the iPad, but I like it a lot.” Many elementary schools are adopting smart devices like iPads or Tablets into their curriculums. To find out just how long students think they spend using electronics each day, MavLife conducted a poll from OPE teacher Stacey Warburton’s fifth grade class. Out of of 26 students, roughly 36 percent responded that they use some sort of electronic for two to three hours a day.
Jill Carter @jillcarter I really like to look at the textbooks because I feel like our generation is always stuck in front of a screen. It’s nice to get a break because it allows you to be able to physically turn pages, touch and annotate if you have to.
So, with the increasing exposure of younger children to technology, it’s only a matter of time before textbooks become digital. Shifting to mobile devices has brought about more questions than what to do with textbooks. Today, eBooks aren’t the only thing kids are scrolling through—social networking has taken over.
#ProfilesWithAPurpose
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ith a couple gentle taps on a small bright screen, the entire world can know. Whether users are celebrating a new car, going out to dinner with friends, or just posting because they feel like it; uploading, tagging and hashtagging everyday actions has become the norm. Through the use of mobile devices, sharing thoughts, photos and more has never been easier, but can too much online interaction be dangerous? Now, over 70 percent of the United States population has a social networking profile. These online platforms, however, are undoubtedly dominated by teenagers, with 81 percent using some form of social media regularly. Is this use unhealthy, or can social media ultimately be beneficial?
#Evolution The first cellular phone, created in 1973 by Motorola employee Martin Cooper, began the steady transition made by U.S. citizens to mobile devices. As the Millennials—the generation of children born from the year 1982 through 2004—grew older, a strong presence of technology grew
Beginning in 1997, the first official social media website, Six Degrees, a platform for users to make profiles, friend other people and connect (sound familiar?), the internet had begun to evolve. As more people logged on, the web started to focus more on chat rooms, blogs and instant messaging networks to keep people connected. The 2000’s brought about MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn, finally leading to Twitter in 2006. Before long, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and many others were created, and the social media era was in full force. From La Costa Canyon, out of the 47 students who participated in a MavLife poll regarding which social media app each person uses more often, 50 percent reported that they use Instagram the most. On this site, users can upload pictures as well as videos to share with followers, but why is it favored by the majority? “First of all, scrolling is fun,” Kight said. “I like seeing what other people are doing. I like the day after Formal, when everyone is posting their pictures from that night.” While some users simply like staying in the know, others use social media platforms to showcase their talents. Wescott and Carter both have active online accounts dedicated to photography. “I want as many people looking at my stuff as possible, so I like to keep [my account] public,” Wescott said. “I’m constantly in touch with people on social media, whether it’s Instagram or Facebook, and it lets me network a lot with different groups of people.” Instagram especially presents opportunities for the promotion of accounts like these to receive more views. “If other photographers have a contest I tag myself to get noticed and gain followers,” Carter said. Students like Wescott and Carter are just two examples of individuals who use digital platforms to self-promote. Although the majority use social media casually, there are still others who choose not to use it at all.
How Often Do Students Use Electronics Daily?
#Positivity Clay Wescott @claywescott I want as many people looking at my stuff as possible, so I like to keep [my account] public. I’m constantly in touch with people on social media, whether it’s Instagram or Facebook, and it lets me network a lot with different groups of people.
#BecomingUnplugged
Small acts of kindness like this have the potential to indeed revolutionize the way people interact, especially on social media. This Instagram page may leave a lasting legacy of positivity for years to come, setting an example for online users even outside the school district. Like the @ca.hs. compliments account description suggests, maybe more users should continue to “spread the love.”
What App Do Students Use Most? 50%
snapchat 27%
Other 7%
facebook 2%
Tessa Kight @tessakight I’ve been trying to live in the present more, and to not always be worrying about what I want to post. I think that’s something we should all work on.
Anonymous Owner of @ca_hs_compliments I hope a lot of people spread more positivity and love throughout this community. I just want to remind people that they’re important, that they’re here and we know that they’re here. I think that it will make the world a better place.
7%
Despite the 92 percent of teens who go online per day, some believe social networking can be detrimental to one’s daily life. Becoming fed up with their online obsessions has caused students to choose to delete one, a couple or even all of their social media applications. Over the summer of 2015, both Kight and Carter deleted several of their applications. “I was really mad, and I felt that [social media] was consuming me,” Kight, who deleted Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, said. “It’s sad that the only entertainment you can have is on your phone. I almost wish I never had one.” Along with social networking comes the desire of wanting more followers, more likes, more retweets — whatever it may be depending on the app. But how healthy is this? “I realized I didn’t know half the people who were following me,” Kight said. “I would get 300 likes on a picture, but half those people don’t even know me.” Out of the five million photos uploaded to Instagram every day, how many reflect their users accurately? “Social media doesn’t define someone,” Carter said. “The presence that we often create online doesn’t represent who we actually are in real life.” Often times, an individual’s followers can dictate one’s entire account. Users will choose to post or not to post something based on the certain response it will incite. “My friends will say, ‘I want to post this, but what if so-and-so sees it?’” Kight said. “It’s your account. Post what you want.” Posting freely, however, should be done with caution. With each new social media account comes an element of danger regarding one’s personal privacy. “My Instagram is private, but my Twitter is public,” Kight said. “I don’t really care if people see what I say on Twitter, but I don’t want strangers seeing where I am on Instagram. I always forget to take off my geotags, so if someone clicks on where I am, it’ll show up.” Ultimately, having a private profile may be be both a safer and healthier online habit. “I made a new Instagram account, and now I have only 200 followers,” Kight said. “It’s just my close friends now and I like it a lot better that way. There’s some people you just don’t want following you, and it’s okay if you don’t let them.” When individuals use social media excessively, they are likely develop a mindset that revolves around their social networking accounts. “I’ve been trying to live in the present more, and to not always be worrying about what I want to post,” Kight said. “I think that’s something we should all work on.”
Social media may be capable of doing some damage, but it also creates opportunities for individuals to do something positive. The Instagram account @ca.hs.compliments, whose owner prefers to remain anonymous, is a page solely dedicated to complimenting students not only from La Costa Canyon but from San Dieguito Academy, Carlsbad and Torrey Pines High School as well. Other users are invited to send personalized compliments to this account via direct message, which the owner will review and, if it’ll truly uplift someone’s spirit, post on the site. But why start this account in the first place? Apparently, these schools were missing an important connection. “It started out as an idea that I should start an account to spread positivity and to keep the schools connected,” the anonymous owner said. “I was observing schools around the district, and I noticed that they weren’t really close. The senior classes last year were out of touch with everyone.” Surely, the account was designed to bring students together regardless of which grades they’re in. Through compliments, users recognize individuals or a group of individuals for an achievement, or for just being themselves. “I thought that I should just give it a try and boost someone’s confidence,” the owner said. “I feel great whenever people send me their compliment requests, and then I post them and it makes everyone’s day.” A couple months ago, this account featured a picture of senior Lindsey Maryon, along with a long, sincere message. Some of the kind words included, “This right here is one of the friendliest and most outgoing people I know through ups and downs. I have never seen a moment where she isn’t there by her friends’ side when they need her.” “First, I got the notification on my phone, and I thought it was really nice,” said Maryon. “It made me feel really good about myself.” Maryon is one of many students who’ve been recognized so far. Kind, anonymous messages have the power to generate
feelings of gratitude and appreciation that can transcend campus boundaries. “I think whoever runs the account is a very good person who wants to make everyone feel special,” Maryon said. Symbolically, the Instagram account’s profile picture depicts a collage of the Mustangs, Mavericks, Lancers, and Falcons all pieced together, united as one. “I hope a lot of people spread more positivity and love throughout this community,” the owner said. “I just want to remind people that they’re important, that they’re here and we know that they’re here. I think that it will make the world a better place.”
Kailey O’Connell Feature Editor Jade Harabedian Design Editor Claire Granich Staff Writer
Sports
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February 2016
Mavericks Commit to Play at NCAA Level, Sign Letters of Intent
After visiting the Hall of Champions to make it official, seniors are poised to make an impact
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or any high school athlete, there is nothing more thrilling than getting the chance to play at the collegiate level. However, this dream is something that only a select few athletes have the opportunity to live out. According to the LCCHS Athletic Department, only two percent of high school student-athletes receive an athletic scholarship. La Costa Canyon has over 1200 student-athletes on campus and on average only ten of them get a chance to play at the next level--and that’s just getting the opportunity to play. Some students don’t have the luxury of playing and attending school for free. The process of getting recruited isn’t a short one. It’s long and complicated, but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. “High school counselors really help with the NCAA process of student-athlete eligibility,” athletic director Kari DiGiulio said. “It is a lot more complicated than waking up one day and saying ‘I think I want to play in college.’”
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High school counselors really help with the NCCA process of studentathelte eligibility.”
Kari DiGiulio
Senior field hockey commit Nina Randolph (Stanford) as a part of the RUSH club team at the Festival showcase in Palm Springs.
Nina Randolph
Athletes begin to get attention from college scouts well before they need to make their decision. Recruitment has become a long process that can last at least a couple of years. In fact, many student athletes even get attention from colleges before their junior year. “My sophomore year I went to a recruiting tournament,” senior field hockey player and Stanford commit Nina Randolph said. “That was when I first started getting in contact with them.” Randolph is excited for the challenges she will face at such a prestigious university such as Stanford.
“I’m going to have to work super hard to gain respect from the coaches and other players and earn a spot on the field,” said Randolph. “And the school, academically, is just amazing and I fell in love with the campus.”
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I’m going to have to work super hard to gain respect from the coaches and other players.”
Nina Randolph There is nothing more exciting for a student athlete than to receive a scholarship to play at the Division I level. Randolph said that she received her first scholarship offer during the summer before her junior year. There is nothing more thrilling as an athlete than knowing that your hard work has given you an opportunity to play at the next level, but deciding where to play over the next four years can end up being a life changing decision. For some athletes, the decision of where to play can be tough because of the various schools’ academic rigor. “My final choices were Berkeley, Cornell, Syracuse and Stanford,” Randolph said. “I committed [to Stanford] during November of my junior year.” While some athletes make up their mind well before they need to, others take more time to ponder the opportunities and choose which school they truly believe will be the best fit for them. Senior football players are required to decide by the first Wednesday of February, known as National Signing Day. For many fans and athletes alike, this day can become one of great importance. “I told the coach ‘I want to play for you guys’ the Friday before National Signing Day,” senior offensivelineman Carson Sutherland said.
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Junior Vardhin Manoj to Play Soccer at Harvard University is also the first Indian player Manoj said of the Harvard Crimson program. to play on the Harvard men’s “Tommy went there last year, and the men’s soccer team. soccer team had made it to the NCAA “I tournament eight times during I think this is a big step the last ten seasons.” think this is a big step As Manoj steps onto the for Indian soccer players for Indian pitch, he will be expected to in America. I am just so make an impact right away as soccer players in one of the top attackers in the proud of myself.” America,” San Diego county. Manoj said. “Last season they didn’t Vardhin Manoj “I am just have a goal scorer, and their big so proud of forward is leaving, after next myself.” year so they’re bringing in another forward Many may say that Harvard that can score,” said Manoj, who hopes to live is fortunate to land the fourup to such a great expectation. star recruit, who was also For Manoj, who has already met with considering the likes of Stanford, the team and coaching staff, he will expect to UCLA, UCSB, and SDSU as play as a freshman, despite a high number of potential options. redshirt freshmen. “I wanted to go to a place On campus at La Costa Canyon, Manoj’s where I know I’ll start as a name may not be one that is often heard; Freshman,” said Manoj, who Manoj is not allowed to play on the high began touring college campuses school Varsity team due to his involvement last summer. “At Stanford, with the San Diego Surf competitive program. they’re national champions, so it “Surf takes up eleven months out of the would have been hard for me to year, so you need dedication,” Manoj said. “I’ve make my way onto the team.” been on Surf for three years, and it’s the best Junior Vardhin Manoj will become the first individual of Indian descent to play for Harvard’s men’s soccer team when he attends in the fall of 2017. Kalli Anderson academy in San Diego.” s the spring semester gets underway, upyoung age,” Manoj said. “They would come Though viewed as underdogs in the In fact, Manoj has been quick to perclassmen athletes at La Costa Canyon to my showcase games every year, so they NCAA men’s soccer race, the 2017 freshman credit the San Diego Surf coaches, many of begin to commit to their respective collegiate got to see me progress as a player, and junior class at Harvard is shaping up to be the whom have experience at the collegiate and programs. While many are seniors, one junior year they felt I was ready.” strongest in a long time. professional level, with aiding him in the particularly stands out among the rest. Of course, Harvard is far better known “They’re bringing really good players college recruitment process. Junior soccer phenom Vardhin Manoj has for its outstanding from the 2017 class, and we have a real Though he cannot directly be a part of committed to Harvard University. academics than They would come to my possibility to win it all,” Manoj said, as the Maverick Soccer program, Manoj would “It’s a big accomplishment for me, as its athletics, and have appreciated the opportunity to play in showcase games every he is looking to help Harvard Soccer I was the first one to get recruited for this the academic capture its first National Championship the green and gold. junior class,” Manoj said. challenge was year, so they got to see since 1930--and the expectations don’t “I feel like it would have been a good Holding a national ranking of 85 for the no different for end there. experience, playing high school, but Havard me progress as a player.” 2017 soccer class, Harvard was the right fit Manoj, who Manoj plans to either major in wants me to progress as an individual player,” for the junior all the way around. scored a 2240 on Law or attend the graduate business Manoj said. Vardhin Manoj “I felt like Harvard was the school for me the SAT and holds school and continue to excel at the As a player who is nationally ranked academically; it’s a Division I school, and has a close to a 4.0 academic level. within the top 20 for strikers in the 2017 really good sports program,” Manoj said. grade point average. Harvard athletic programs have been on recruiting class, junior Vardhin Manoj hopes to The added pressure wasn’t anything new “They wanted me to keep a 3.8 GPA and the rise in recent years, as La Costa Canyon’s make history and continue to excel in the next to the young soccer star, as he was exposed to they wanted me to score at least a 2000 on the class of 2015 saw basketball point guard chapter of his athletic career with the Harvard the intensity of the recruitment process at an SAT, so I could pass through the admissions Tommy McCarthy commit to play for the Crimson. early age. department,” Manoj said. Crimson. Trevor Ferguson “I played two years with the Surf Not only is the junior superstar the first “It’s an up-and-coming sports program, Staff Writer academy, so recruiters saw me at a really player to be recruited in the 2017 class, but and their basketball team is really good,”
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Winter CIF Competition Heats Up as End of Season Nears T
hey’ve done it! The Mavericks have won and girls’ basketball teams are coming the CIF Championship! into the tournament holding the top two Those are the words that every student spots in the Avocado West, with the girls athlete longs to hear. With the CIF playoffs taking the number one spot with one win for winter sports already underway, LCC’s over Vista and the boys tied with Vista for students are looking to show San Diego what second. Both teams started this season with they have got. All of the remaining winter most expecting an average season from the sports for LCC are top contenders for the Mavs, at best. However, these Mavs have championship, with Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer, definitely exceeded such expectations. along with Girls’ “Last year there were a lot Basketball leading the of individual players and this With all the teams Avocado West League year since the beginning we’ve wanting to beat us, with Boys’ Basketball been talking about being the best ranking second overall in LCC history.” senior competition is going to team and Girls Water Polo Dustin Demkiw said. “I think we doing very well. can come out with a win.” be tough.” “I think we’ll go Likewise, the girls are ready Hayley Mayne to win as a team. into CIF pretty strong,” senior Danielle Goad “The team we have this said. “We’re number year is not so much of a team, one in league right but a family” sophomore Kaylee now so we’re all hoping to do pretty well in Berry said. “Everyone is always supporting CIF’s again.” each other and that’s what I believe is a big This being said, the girls are coming off factor in keeping us together.” an outstanding state championship win last And just like that, the Lady Mavs are year and are looking to repeat history. coming out on top with a record of 18-8 “We won last year so I know we’re going and 7-1 in league. to have a target on our backs,” senior Hayley “Hopefully we’ll make it further than Mayne said. “With all the teams wanting to a lot of people expect us to, just because of beat us, competition is going to be tough.” the way we look in size.” senior Michelle And just like the girls, the Boys’ Soccer Gould said. “We’re going up against a lot of team will be going into the tournament teams that are bigger in size. We’ll surprise leading the Avocado West with a record of a lot of people.” 9-6-3. With senior stars Sean McGuire, Josh So with the Mavs at the top of the Trup, and Matt Leonard leading the way, the Avocado West, all of them are looking to Mavs are looking to come into the tournament bring home the gold. stronger than ever before. Bryce Gallagher From the field to the court, the boys’ Senior Staff Writer
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Left: Freshman Alexis Machain evades a defender. Right: Danielle Goad gets some air.
Maverick Lacrosse Looks to Build off Previous Years’ Successes
The Lady Maverick lacrosse team prepares for the 2016 year.
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he girls’ lacrosse team looks to be in for a revolution when the 2016 season begins. With the departure of a great amount of talent from last year, the question remains whether or not the Lady Mavs will be able to continue their success from last year. “Every year it’s kind of the same thing, we lose the seniors and we think it’s going to be scary,” sophomore Tessa Bass said. “But we work really hard during the offseason and a lot of it has to do with the mental capability of our team as we are really mentally tough, and we are always prepared for the next challenge. The Mavericks will have seven returning starters after losing five seniors last year, including four of their five leading scorers. Several of those seniors are currently playing lacrosse at schools across the country, including last year’s leader in assists, Genesis Lucero, who is playing at Stanford University. The goal every year is, of course, to capture a CIF Championship and this year is no exception. While the Lady Mavs are looking for their fifth consecutive CIF title, other goals remain evident for the team as well. “Beating Torrey Pines is another main goal as well,” senior Chandler Waldal said. “Since we did lose a lot of good players, if we can overcome that and have each other’s confidence in our team, then we can keep winning.” The Lady Mavs will be guided under the
Kalli Anderson
leadership of Casey Rector who will be entering her fifth year as the Mavs’ head coach. The players have nothing but praise for Rector, who played her college lacrosse at the University of Oregon. “Coach Rector, along with Coach Wilcox are two of the most amazing people in my life,” Junior Ella Boyce said. “Confidently, I can say that I would not be anywhere on or off the field without them.” While the girls’ team will assume a revolutionary role in 2016, the boys will meanwhile look to evolve and continue their momentum off last year’s success. The boys’ team is coming off two consecutive CIF titles--one in Division I and one in Open Division play. Despite the two titles, some of the players were evidently dissatisfied at missing the Open Division opportunity. “Being in the Division I playoffs last season was kind of brutal, as there were a bunch of circumstances that just didn’t go our way,” senior Jake Mclean said. “This year we have a chip on our shoulder so we can get back after it and not end up in that same position.”
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Kalli Anderson
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FROM PAGE 10
“I was considering Stetson University, Azusa-Pacific and Idaho State, and I really had to think about it.” Sutherland is headed to Idaho State next fall and hopes to achieve both as an athlete and as a student.
“I want to win a lot of games, I
want to be successful, I want to start my freshman year and get bigger, faster, and stronger.” Carson Sutherland
“I want to win a lot of games, I want the team to be successful, I want to start freshman year and get bigger, faster and stronger,” Sutherland said. “School-wise, I want to earn my degree, be successful in the classroom and overall make friends and have fun.” Many athletes choose to play at the collegiate level because they have shown that no matter how hard it is to be a student athlete, they will continue to be successful and carry themselves at a rank that will make their respective program proud. Carson Sutherland and Nina Randolph exemplify two of many hard working studnet athletes on the La Costa Canyon campus and throughout the San Diego community, which has historically been a breeding ground for superior student athletes. According to the San Diego UnionTribune, for the 2015-2016 recruiting year, baseball and softball prove to be the most popular sports, with each having over thirty recruits from the San Diego area. As of February 2016, a total of thirty senior Mavericks have committed to compete for NCAA athletic programs. To see a complete list, visit MavLife Sports on www. mavlifenews.com.
Portland State University
February 2016 University of Wisconsin Illinois Wesleyan University
Idaho State University
Hartwick College
University of California, Davis University of California, Berkeley
Villanova University Towson University
St. Mary’s College of California
University of California, Los Angeles Biola University California State University Long Beach University of California, Irvine Loyola Marymount University
California State University San Marcos San Diego State University
Dixie State University
University of Colorado, Boulder Kansas Wesleyan University Miami University
Above: LCC senior athletes have committed to a total of 21 different universities. (Source: UT San Diego; only scholarship/commits shown. Graphic: Dan Stuart) Below left: Idaho State commit Carson Sutherland (#54) goes in on a tackle on August 28th against Desert Vista of Phoenix, Arizona. Below right: LCC senior and soccer player Capri Goldsmith (#12) dribbles down field. Goldsmith will play at Dixie State University. Photos: Kalli Anderson
Calvin Zeljak
Senior Staff Writer
Girls’ Varsity Basketball Finishes Strong on Senior Night, Moves on to CIF Postseason Action
T
he LCC Maverick girls’ basketball team battled Vista High School Wednesday, February 17th and celebrated Senior Night. They have lived up to high expectations with a record of 20 wins and eight losses. LCC had
“
It was so cool to be recognized by the team and the school. It was a unique opportunity that we got.”
Jessica Curtis already lost to Vista on February 3, losing only by two points; in this way, the Lady Mavs were extra hungry for a win. The Senior Night starting lineup consisted of four of the seniors on the team-Cassie Amundson, Sarah Wilson, Jessica Curtis, and Michelle Gould--plus junior Margaux Eibel. “It was awesome. It was so cool to be recognized by the team and the school. It was a really unique opportunity that we got,” senior Jessica Curtis said. The first quarter ended with the Mavs down by a single point, with the score 14-15. Yet, they came back in the second quarter and by the fourth quarter were dominating. All the seniors were put in at the end of the game and in the end, the Mavs were able to defeat the Panthers 70-54, clinching the Avocado West league title. Each senior was recognized at the end of the game, walking with their family members through a tunnel of cheerleaders, flowers in hand. “It was amazing. It was a really good way to end our league,” senior Sarah Wilson said. “Getting a league title and having senior night on the same night was an awesome
opportunity.” Each senior had a speech that they had written which was read by the announcer. “I didn’t realize how emotional I was going to get; Just the thought of how fast high school moved and came. It was super fun and the whole game was exciting, very bittersweet, but it was fun,” senior Michelle Gould said. Senior Night signifies the wrapping up of an amazing season and a time where the seniors really begin to reflect on their high school basketball career with their teammates. “The seniors this year are actually really close,” Curtis said. “We’ve had struggles in the past with coaches and teammates that were selfish or just hard to get along with but this year it’s really great because we’re all so supportive of each other.” They reflected on the past couple years and the growth they’ve all shared. “This season was full of team dinners, bus rides, and listening to Taylor Swift on a three hour bus ride home,” Wilson said. The 2016 team has also developed different traditions along the way. “We pray before every game, we have a huddle, and we have pep talks. We are kind of superstitious about our warm ups and plays that we do,” Curtis said. The Lady Mavs are set on the road to CIF in the next two weeks and then continue on to State. All the seniors are making the most of this, as it is the last of their time on the team. CIF playoff brackets will become available on www.cifsds.org Saturday afternoon. For complete score recaps, news and the latest updates on the winter CIF action, follow @MavLifeSports on Twitter and Instagram.
FROM PAGE 11
The boys came into last season as defending Open Division champions but after a frustrating year filled with heartbreaking losses, the team was moved down to play in Division I for last year’s postseason. With LCC being viewed It’s expected of us to do well every year, as one of the premier lacrosse programs in San Diego, but it is up to us to outperform our one would think such a disappointment would get to the expectations this season.” players, but the players take the Jake McLean challenge and try to maximize their potential. “It’s expected of us to do well every year, but it is up to us to outperform our expectations this season,” McLean said. “People look to us to beat Torrey Pines, have a winning record, end up in the CIF playoffs, and win CIF.” Ultimately it is up to both teams to fulfil their ultimate destiny, but one can expect that fan support will continue to play a crucial role in the 2016 spring season.
“
Soren Gregory Senior Staff Writer
Sammy Sinatra Staff Writer
The boys’ and girls’ lacrosse continue to prepare in winter practice.
Kalli Anderson
MAVLIFENEWS.COM
The Explainer
13
The Race for the Presidential Candidacy: Explained General Views of February 1st, 2016: Each Political Party * Disclaimer:These are general views of each party, and do not represent all individuals associated with the party.
Republicans • • • • • •
• For legal abortion • For increased legislature of conservation efforts • Large central government • In favor of increased gun control • For same-sex marriage • In favor of immigration
Against legal abortion Larger military force Small central government Believe in Second Amendment Against same-sex marriage In favor of immigration restrictions
KEY TERMS CAUCUS
a system of local gatherings where voters decide which candidate to support and select delegates for nominating conventions.
statewide voting PRIMARY aprocess in which voters cast secret ballots for their preferred candidates.
HOT TOPICS
*Look for these topics to come up in the next presidential debate Immigration Abortion Gun control Economy Middle Eastern foreign affairs Health care Race relations Climate change
The day when the American people begin flexing their democratic rights, coming together to decide how the United States will be run in the future. Who is going to lead the country next? What values do the citizens believe in? Well, this answer is up to none other than the people. And February 1st, 2016, is when the people of this country started making these ever important choices as to who should be on the ballot for the 45th President of the United States. It all began with the Iowa Caucuses. With a win here and inherently gaining momentum as they travel across the rest of the country, it was a key evening for both parties.
How does it all work?
The people of Iowa attend public meetings in places like libraries and gymnasiums in order to vote for their desired candidate. Compared to a primary, the caucus process takes much longer to complete than a primary. And each party completes the procedure differently. On the Republican side, people campaign for the candidate of their choice before they write on their ballots. The ballots are then counted up. The Democratic side is a bit more complicated. Rather than immediately writing their response on a scrap of paper, supporters of each candidate spread out across the room where people can go “join” their group. If undecided, the people join a group appropriately titled “uncommitted.” In order to “move on” from this first round, a group must have a definite amount of support, somewhere around 15% of the caucus turnout in that precinct. After this is tallied, any group that does not have this amount of support has the opportunity to move to a group that has passed the first threshold. In summation, the Republican caucus process implements a secret ballot, while the Democratic side does not.
So what happened?
Democrats Democratic Candidate Support by Age Group Age 18-29
83%
66%
Age 30-44
54%
Age 45-64 45%
Age 65+
16%
32%
45%
54%
Bernie Sanders Hilary Clinton
Do Republicans want a candidate that is experienced in politics? Other
No 48%
Yes 47%
Well, in simplified terms, the night was an exciting one. By the end of the evening, it was too close to call the winner between Senator Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton for the winner on the Democratic side. By February 2nd, there was enough votes tallied to conclude that Clinton won the Iowa Caucuses, gaining 49.9% of the votes. Senator Sanders had 49.6%. Even though Clinton was the winner, it was not expected that Sanders would lose by such a miniscule margin. This has sparked a rejuvenation of support for Sanders. The Republicans saw an upset occur on Monday night. Businessman Donald Trump, leading the polls for months, did not come out on top. Rather, it was Senator Ted Cruz that proved victorious, obtaining 28% of the votes. Trump ended the night in second place, receiving 24% of the votes. Another surprising conclusion from the evening was the performance by Marco Rubio, who was behind Trump by a mere one percent, having 23% of the Iowa vote. For both parties, New Hampshire was the next stop. The primary in this state provided an opportunity for candidates to make the statement they failed to make in Iowa. Historically, New Hampshire tends to give more insight into the eventual nominee for each party. The voting in New Hampshire took place on February 9, and the results proved to not be quite as exciting. Both the Democratic and Republican parties had candidates win by sweeping margins. Senator Sanders beat Clinton by a landslide of 60.4% to 38% for the Democratic side. And although businessman Donald Trump won the primary with 35.3% of the votes, John Kasich’s performance was unexpected. Governor Kasich came in second place and received 15.8% of the votes. The next two states to complete the voting process, Nevada and South Carolina, were huge for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Before the Nevada caucuses, both Clinton and Sanders were in a virtual dead heat, with Sanders at 47% and Clinton at 48%. The Nevada Democratic caucus took place on February 20. Clinton took the win in Nevada with 52.6% of the votes, while Sanders finished with 47.3%. The Republican caucus in Nevada will take place on February 23. As the Democrats voted on February 20, the Republicans had their South Carolina Primary on the same day. Donald Trump was in the lead prior to the Republican South Carolina Primary, and came out on top. Trump finished the day with 32.5% of the votes, and Marco Rubio came in a close second to Ted Cruz’s third place finish (22.5% and 22.3%, respectively). Jeb Bush came in fourth, with 7.8% of the vote, but opted to suspend his campaign after his struggles to gain a significant amount of votes. The Democrats will be conducting their own primary in South Carolina on February 27. The month of February has brought exciting events in the world of politics. The candidates have narrowed down to just seven total. It is time for the American people to decide who will be in the running as the future leader of the United States, and it will be thrilling to see who eventually comes out on top by the time November comes around.
Aneleise Frandsen and Cassie Amundson Editors-in-chief
Information from CNN.org
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22 us 20
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14
cancer 6/21-7/22
February Horoscopes
Entertainment February 2016 Teacher vs. Student
scorpio 10/23-11/21
Pisces (2/19 - 3/20)
Y
ou are feeling confident this month, Pisces, take it all in. Use this newfound confidence to socialize with those around you are you will create many new bonds and add pisces 2/19-3/20 to bonds already created.
James Teague
Aries (3/21 - 4/19)
Y
our bold personality brings socializing to a new level this month. Get involved Aries, and you will soon develop new friendships. Be your decisions thisgemini month, and Aries rational with taurus if you make any big ones, make sure you are 5/21-6/20 3/21-4/19 4/20-5/20 100% in on them.
Hope McQueen
cancer 6/21-7/22
Taurus (4/20 - 5/20) ou are trying to find balance this month,
Y
Taurus, and this is good. Make sure you remember to see the bright side of things when situations way. Rememleo virgodon’t go yourcancer libra gemini taurus 7/23-8/22 ber, communication 8/23-9/22 9/23-10/22 5/21-6/20 is key! 6/21-7/22 4/20-5/20
Gemini (5/21 - 6/20)
D
scorpio 10/23-11/21
Question
1. How many times does an
on’t let stress get the best of you this average human heart beat in month! Jupiter is in orbit to help you out, butcapricorn you need to put in effort as well. The saggitarius aquarius pisces a day? virgo scorpio libra next couple weeks are going to require a lot cancer gemini 11/22-12/21 12/22-1/19 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 8/23-9/22 10/23-11/21 9/23-10/22 but you are strong, Gemini, 6/21-7/22 5/21-6/20 of perseverance 2. How old was the youngest and you can push through.
pope?
Cancer (6/21 - 7/22)
Teague
McQueen
90,000
45,000
Although Teague was close to getting this one, both contestants didn’t guess correctly. The heart beats over 100,000 times a day. JT: 0, HM: 0
22 years old
Once again, Teague was close to getting the right answer but unfortunately close doesn’t cut it. The youngest pope was 11 years old. JT: 0, HM: 0
Nuts
Honey is the only food that doesn’t spoil on its own. Both contestants had worthy guesses but the right answer is what they need. JT: 0, HM: 0
45 minutes
Maybe our contestants need to rethink their sleep schedules because both were off on this question. It takes the average person 7 minutes to fall asleep. JT: 0, HM: 0
Butt
Teague gets one this time! Looks like we have a winner. Congratulations, Teague.
12 years old
M
ars, Pluto, and Saturn together create a time for you to resolve any problems capricornwith loved aquarius pisces ones or love interests this month. scorpio libra 12/22-1/19 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 help you make any decisions that you cancer This will 10/23-11/21 9/23-10/22 3. What food never spoils? cancer geminiCancer, Aries have beentaurus holding out on. Remember, 6/21-7/22 6/21-7/22 5/21-6/20 3/21-4/19 everything will always work out for the best. 4/20-5/20
Beef Jerky
11 years old
Honey
Leo (7/23 - 8/22)
Your dominant leadership skills come into others, Leo. This is a month of aquarius play with pisces teamwork for you. This is also a time of har1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 scorpio mony in the love department. Whether leo virgo libra you 10/23-11/21are in a relationship or looking for love, this cancer 7/23-8/22 8/23-9/22 9/23-10/22 gemini taurus is smooth sailing. 6/21-7/22 4/20-5/20 month5/21-6/20
4. How long does it take the average person to fall asleep? scorpio
10/23-11/21
7 minutes
21 minutes
Virgo (8/23 - 9/22)
A
Feet
ny bad feelings from last month are long
gone now. Virgo, you are much more pisces saggitarius realaxedcapricorn and in the zone now.aquarius Make sure to 2/19-3/20 11/22-12/21 1/20-2/18 focus in12/22-1/19 onlibra communication because without it virgo scorpio things 9/23-10/22 can get sticky. cancer 8/23-9/22 10/23-11/21 gemini 6/21-7/22 5/21-6/20
Libra (9/23 - 10/22)
Y
Answer Over 100,000 times
5.What body part do butterpisces 2/19-3/20 flies use to taste their food?
Feet
JT: 1, HM: 0
FINAL SCORE = Teague: 1 , McQueen: 0
Spring Musical: The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee
ou are a busy bee, Libra, and you like to keep yourself occupied. Don’t take on more than you can handle thispisces month, or you capricorn aquarius a Costa Canyon’s that are technically will end up very overwhelmed. Remember to 12/22-1/19 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 own theatre correct in acting. These cancer scorpio libra stop and smell the roses occasionally and you production, cancer Almost techniques are known as gemini 6/21-7/22 10/23-11/21 Aries 9/23-10/22 taurus will be fine. 6/21-7/22 Maine, recently types of method acting,” 5/21-6/20 3/21-4/19 4/20-5/20 won the prestigious Alvarez said. “The California Educational current role I have has a ou have been on edge recently, Scorpio, Theatre Association specific way of speaking and this month you will figure out why. award for their amazand it takes a little bit to Remember to focus on people you care about, ing performance. get used to.” aquarius pisces will be the ones to bring joy to scorpio because they Following this Alvarez will be 1/20-2/18 cancer leo virgo you. 2/19-3/20 scorpio theatre gemini libra taurus 10/23-11/21 achievement, playing Donna Panch. 6/21-7/22 7/23-8/22 8/23-9/22 10/23-11/21 5/21-6/20 9/23-10/22 4/20-5/20 students started to Although the prepare for their new show is a comedy play, The 25th Annual overwhelmed with his month will feed your knack for Putnam County laughter, an immense impulse and impatientness, Sagittarius. Spelling Bee coming amount of hard work and Instead of getting frustrated, try taking a new out February 25th. dedication is needed. pisces approach to situations that are thrown at you. Putnam is a “Every time I saggitarius capricorn aquarius pisces 2/19-3/20 virgo scorpio libra cancer gemini musical comedy in perform on stage I put 11/22-12/21 12/22-1/19 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 8/23-9/22 10/23-11/21 9/23-10/22 6/21-7/22 5/21-6/20 which every character my hand over my heart Kalli Anderson has their quirks that to feel my heartbeat, say a make the play hilarious Junior Jacob Reiss performs in the role of Lead Coneybear for the musical. prayer, and connect with ou are a saver when it comes to money, to watch. La Costa Canyon students were given an opportunity God because I know he’ll make me succeed everytime,” Alvarez Capricorn, it comes naturally to you. said. February is a month where you have room to to get a sneak peak during the last pep rally. They performed a 3 minute musical scene that included a lot of complex Contributing to the theatre atmosphere and recent awards a little, whether it be pisces on yourself or capricorn splurgeaquarius choreography and acting. is the theatre teacher for this year. someone special. scorpio libra 12/22-1/19 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 “Every show will be different because there’s some “Mr. Golden has made theatre an environment where we 10/23-11/21 9/23-10/22 scenes that involve audience volunteers so those scenes will be feel free to bounce ideas on how to improve the show so we all different,” senior actress Casey Sawyer said. contribute to the final product,” Sawyer said. “He has a true love Sawyer will be playing Rona Lisa Peretti in the upcoming and passion for his work and that motivates us all to rise up and our attitude has changed since last month, show. match his enthusiasm.” Aquarius, and you are much more calm Theatre students practice for numerous hours a day during The play has been performed on February 25, 26, 27, and now. This feeling of peace will stay with and after school to perfect their distinct roles. All theatre will continue to run for March 2, 3, and 4. It begins at 7:00 aquarius you throughout pisces the rest of the month. New students have separate methods and techniques in which they PM. Audience participation is involved. friendships and possible relationships are 1/20-2/18 2/19-3/20 use to prepare for their part. Amanda Mester blooming for you, embrace it. “There are different types of ways you can prepare a role Staff Writer
Scorpio (10/23 - 11/21)
Y
Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/21)
T
Capricorn (12/22 - 1/19)
Y
Aquarius (1/20 - 2/18)
Y
L
MAVLIFENEWS.COM
Entertainment
15
16
Entertainment
February 2016
The Hungry Maverick Chocolate Croissant Edition
The Hungry Maverick is an evaluation done by the MavLife Staff, to find the community’s best tasting food, drinks and desserts. For this issue, MavLife staffers were in the mood for some chocolate croissants from around Encinitas and Carlsbad! We decided we needed to grab some from your favorite shops Champagne Bakery, Darshan Bakery, Isabelle Brien’s French Pastry Cafe, and St.Tropez Cafe. See who won below!
Reilly Tiglio Entertainment Editor
Darshan Bakery
RATED: 5/5
949 2nd St Encinitas, CA 92024 (760)-436-1337 arshan Bakery is known for its authentic Indian Our staff had nothing but great things to say Chai and a wide variety of breakfast foods that about this chocolate croissant. The appearance and are sure to satisfy both sweet and savory cravings. taste had our staff’s mouths watering for seconds To most staff members our croissant test was the and even thirds! Darshan Bakery was the winner of first time they had both ever heard and tried an this challenge! item from this delicious bakery, and the results were surprising to everyone. “The flaky layers of the croissant melted in your mouth,” junior Danielle Lee said. “The “This croissant is baked to perfection,” chocolate wasn’t overpowering but just enough to sophomore Kennon Aarnes said. “I want a lifetime create a balance.” supply of these.”
D
RATED: 4/5
Champagne Bakery
162 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) -633-2290 hampagne Bakery is no stranger in our “Eating this croissant was an absolutely magical classroom. Our staff has tested their pumpkin experience.” pie and other pastries as well as some of their delicious breakfast and lunch items but we knew Although the majority our staff enjoyed the that the chocolate croissant would be the ultimate croissant’s taste, some thought that it was not a test. Although Champagne Bakery didn’t win our very “chocolate-y” chocolate croissant. contest it was a strong competitor to our winner. “This croissant would be the winner if it was “I ate it so fast I don’t even remember how not a chocolate croissant competition,” junior good it was,” senior Kailey O’Connell said. Jade Harabedian said.
C
Isabelle Briens French Pastry Cafe
RATED: 3/5
127 N. El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 942-7891 ince 2006 Isabelle Brien’s has been serving our Unfortunately not everyone shared the community great tasting pastries and treats. same opinion toward the croissant’s taste and Located off of El Camino Real our MavLife staff appearance. Students were dissapointed by the thought it was only fitting that we test out their flavor of this croissant and felt that it didn’t stand chocolate croissants. out amongst the crowd.
S
“I hope my child has similar features to this croissant,” senior Erin Sumabat said. “It is flakey but polite, does its own thing from the other croissants and is buttery smooth.”
RATED: 0/5
J
St. Tropez Bistro 947 S. Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 633-0084
ust a quick walk up from Moonlight Beach, St. Tropez is a great morning stop for breakfast such as crepes or eggs benedict before heading to the beach. But the staff decided to put their pastries to the test against the other croissants.
Sadly, the chocolate croissant from St. Tropez Bistro was not picked for the favorite by any staff members. Many complained about the texture and after taste the croissant left when done eating due to the overpowering amount of chocolate.
“It has a very plain taste,” senior Cooper Gee said. “The croissant itself is not very interesting and it also has a very strange aftertaste.”
“The croissant was too squishy,” freshman Sophia Imparato said. “When you bite into it deflates and all you get is a mouthful of chocolate.”
“You can’t see much chocolate from the outside so it is a lot less appetizing,” junior Brittany Bloom said. “The texture is too chewy and it tastes too buttery.”