LENT: WHAT IT MEANS TO US
By Elyza Lansang
Entering the Season of Lent
You know it when the colors in the Church begin to change to purple and the ashes given out on Ash Wednesday to signify the beginning of the Lenten Season Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving It’s a time for us to detach from our vices and bad habits, and grow closer to Jesus To prepare for the coming of Our Lord’s Resurrection in Easter, we must first prepare our hearts to make space for Him As Catholics, we are called to seek the Lord by reading Sacred Scripture, serving others by giving out alms and dying of ourselves by practicing self-control through fasting Lifting it Up to the Lord One of the most important parts of Lent is dying of yourself Dying of yourself is the act of denying yourself something you desire This is what we are called to do during Lent Giving up things like video games, social media, dessert, and more is that practice of self-control and taking these things out of hearts and making room for God,
However, Lent is a season to change our hearts One is not supposed to give up video games to only go back to hours of gaming on end once Easter comes Easter is not, “Oh thank God Lent is over, I’m going back to scrolling on TikTok for 3 hours” Easter is not only celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord but also, celebrating the creation of your
New Self! God is calling us to rely on Him and make more room in our hearts for Him When we do this, Jesus will transform our hearts to be filled with His Holy Spirit Instead of temporarily giving things up, let’s lift up the things of this world we are attached to the Lord and detach from it For example, if you’re giving up social media, when Easter comes around, instead of indulging in it, keep that good practice of self-denial by being on it for only an hour This may seem tough, but with God, nothing is impossible
Staying Strong During Lent
A huge temptation we all challenge with is going back to the things we gave up If you mess up, that’s alright, allow Jesus to pick you up, and continue on We must remember that we are spiritually cleaning out our souls so that we can receive the full joy and blessings in the glory of the Resurrection of Our King! If your heart feels tired, fear not, the Lord will console you As easy as it is to go back to the chips, video games, Insta Reels, God is calling YOU to journey with Him during this prayerful time
He Leadeth Me
If you’re looking for a way to spend this Lent hearing Christ’s sacred words, inspiring stories of the Saints, and spending this Lent surrounded by encouraging words of Catholics who are in it with you, I would love to recommend downloading the Hallow app and paying a small fee to journey with Hallow’s Lent Pray40 series,, He Leadeth Me! It’s a great way to embark on this spiritual journey to help deepen your relationship with Christ and grow spiritually!
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ICE Raids
By Gael Campos Junior, Editor
One of the most pressing issues seen time and time again in American history is that of the response to immigration Recently, however, a new wave of traffic has washed over the Mexican American border Only this time, it flows directly into the south In counties as nearby as Kern and cities as far as Chicago, locations heavily populated with Latinos of all origins, raids carried out by ICE, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have sent people,
regardless of race, into a crazed frenzy
Said raids have been known to occur in public spaces, especially worksites
According to Baker Hostetler, a highprofile law firm based in Costa Mesa, ICE’s main form of attack has involved targeting businesses suspected of hiring undocumented immigrants, usually going off of tips provided via an easily accessible hotline one can access with just a few clicks With the return of the Trump Administration and their promises to crack down on illegal immigration, the increasing intensity of ICE’s practices has drawn attention to the morality of their efforts as a whole Places of business big and small alike have received audits requesting reports on their employees, ensuring they have the necessary documentation and clearance, and smaller branches of law enforcement, like local police stations and sheriff departments, have reportedly been working alongside ICE to conduct smaller, more concentrated takedowns With this, it is obviously intended for any arrestees to be taken away, held in custody, and potentially be deported back to their place of origin The communities and environments this has affected have quickly voiced their opposition to such
St. Patrick of Ireland
By Elyza Lansang Senior, Writer
St Patrick’s Story
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the most well-known Saints
However, is associating leprechauns, shamrocks, and wearing green really what St Patrick is all about? Let’s take a look at the real Saint’s story St Patrick was not born in Ireland, he was born in Roman Britain When he was around fourteen years old, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raid He was taken by his captors to Ireland, where he worked as a slave to herd and tend sheep Even though young Patrick was in a land amongst Druids and pagans who served their false idols, Patrick clung closer to God He wrote all his experiences in his memoir, “The Confession” St Patrick stayed in captivity until he was twenty He escaped after receiving a dream from the Lord to leave Ireland by going to the coast There, he found some sailors who led him back home
The Call St Patrick lived in Great Britain with his family for a couple of years Then one day, he received a vision from God, which he wrote in his memoir which says "I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland His name was Victorious, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish' As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us'" St Patrick went off to become a priest and was ordained by St Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre
ambushes, referring to them as infringements upon their human rights Most notably, a swarm of primarily Mexican protesters flooded the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles, blocking all lanes of traffic Thousands of advocates have followed suit in places such as Bakersfield, Garden Grove, and even as local as Riverside On February 3, a number of small businesses, workers, and employees organized a “Day Without Immigrants” to demonstrate what an integral part of American society immigrants are Many were unable to participate, though, due to the fact that they could not bear to lose the income Some look on the situation with indifference, arguing that it does not concern them because they are rightful citizens, while others feel the need to bring up the topic of politics However, what is most necessary in times like these is compassion and open-mindedness As a reminder, per our nation’s constitution, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are guaranteed to all, no matter status
Serving in Ireland
After studying many years under St Germanus, St Patrick was ordained a Bishop and sent to Ireland to preach the Gospel He arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25th, 433, AD While there are many legends accounting for what St Patrick did, one prominent one tells that St Patrick was almost martyred by a Druid tribe By God’s miraculous intervention, St Patrick converted the chieftain and spread the Gospel throughout Ireland, ridding the paganism and building Catholic Churches everywhere He used the shamrock to teach on The Holy Trinity and would continue evangelizing for 40 years His holiday is to celebrate Catholicism coming to Ireland!
St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me Amen
Let’s make this prayer our own as we live our lives, striving to become more Christ-like
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March Madness Spring Sports
By Lubianca Gaitan Senior, Editor-in-Chief
Let’s be real, March Madness is one of the best times of the year for sports fans It’s not just basketball It’s an emotional rollercoaster that brings us together (and sometimes tears us apart) For three weeks, 68 teams battle it out in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the result is pure magic
What makes March Madness so special is the chaos No matter how much you study stats or follow basketball all season, there’s always that one
Dalton Knecht (Tennessee’s scoring machine) They’re not just playing for their teams, but for what they leave behind too
12-seed that takes down a 5=seed and ruins your bracket Remember last year when Fairleigh Dickinson, a 16-seed, knocked off Purdue? It was insane, and it’s why we tune in, because anything can happen Those moments when the little guy wins are what sports are all about
But it’s not just about the Fairytale stories March Madness is also where future NBA stars make their mark Guys like Steph Curry, Carmelo Anthony, and Kemba Walker became big names because of their tournament performances This year, keep an eye on players like Zach Edey (Purdue’s 7'4" giant) and
Of course, with all the thrill comes the heartbreak One bad game and your season is over That’s the beauty of games where one single elimination means you’re out One minute you’re winning a game and the next you’re watching your dreams slip away It’s brutal but it’s also what makes every game feel like win or lose
So as we get ready for this year’s tournament, here’s what you need to know: expect the unexpected Houston’s defense is scary good, UConn is looking to repeat as champs, and teams like Gonzaga and Creighton are lurking about But honestly, no one really knows what’s going to happen and that’s the fun of it
Grab your friends, fill out your bracket (good luck with that) and get ready for the madness Whether you’re a diehard fan or just here for the memes, March Madness is the one time of the year when everyone becomes a basketball fan!
Notre Dame, we offer many spring sports, such as JV and Varsity baseball, softball, track and field, boys’ tennis, and last but not least golf
Not one, but two of our spring sports are currently undefeated in league, Golf being 3-0 and Varsity baseball being 2-0 Let’s hope they keep up the good work and continue their winning streak
Track and field have yet to have their first game but let’s make sure we wish them good luck for their first track meet on 3/20 at Rialto HS
Our JV baseball team has had a tough start to their season however we have a very solid team, and I believe that if they stay focused and motivated things will start looking up for them So make sure you keep on cheering them on and supporting the team this season
A couple weeks ago, a very talented softball player, Teresa Avila, was shouted out and awarded a Jersey Mikes gift card for player of the week Teresa is a great example of a team player and is always very energetic on and off the field
We have amazing athletes taking part taking this spring season, balancing school and sports is not an easy task So, let’s take a moment to appreciate all the student athletes in all seasons of sports
What is the lowest-seeded team to ever win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and what year did they make history?
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AP Scholars!
By Lubianca Gaitan Senior, Editor-in-Chief
Although there are many classes here at Norte Dame, for this issue, we‘d like to recognize those students who go above and beyond in the most rigorous courses offered here at Notre Dame: AP classes AP Classes are offered to students starting their sophomore year
Starting off with Mr Freeman and his AP literature class Two students that have shown excellence in his class are Sebastian Bou Harb and Lubianca Gaitan (top right), both seniors in his first period Mr Freeman shared, “They both work hard and always participate whether with reading aloud or simply putting in the work in class They are always exemplary”
Mr. Johnson
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Moving onto Ms Liu’s AP Chemistry class, she has chosen to recognize two wonderful students, both of whom are in her fifth period class: Elyza Lansang and Adrian Chavez Lopez (bottom left) They both push through this rigorous course that sometimes leaves students questioning science as a whole
Last, but not least, we have AP World, which is probably the first AP class many students take here at Notre Dame during their sophomore year For this class, Mr Garcia has chosen sophomores Minh Lai and Victoria Rosales (not pictured) He shared with us, “On a daily basis both students exemplify what it means to be a model student and excel in their writing skills It is an absolute pleasure to have both of these students” Well Titans, make sure to keep up the good work for a chance to get featured!
St. Patty’s Food
By Doug Cube S
The month of March, is quite honestly, a very bland month It comes right after the hype of new years and valentine’s day, and realistically, it’s a very sad month, as AP tests and the end of the year linger around the corner, students spend their time in the books, leading to the month to correlate with its very gloomy weather However, within the middle of the month is the small holiday: Saint Patrick’s Day To celebrate this day of the Irish, many food places have special drinks to celebrate this fun and random holiday
Perhaps one of the most iconic saint patrick’s drink: The Shamrock Shake, is sold at McDonalds The Shamrock shake is an
annual drink that has become very popular over the years The milkshake has a minty vanilla flavor, which provides a good balance of sweetness and mintiness
One more food place i’d like to talk about is Krispy Kreme This year, they’re releasing a line of 4 donuts:St Patty’s Swirl, Over the Rainbow, Pot of Gold, and ChocóShenanigan, all of them with an leperchuan theme The donut is also selling a unique green donut, which is spread with its signature glaze, creating a unique eating experience In conclusion, you will be finding me partaking in all of these different sweet st patty’s treats
For this week’s issue, we are presenting a special member of Notre Dame’s faculty Mr Johnson, who has been hard at work behind the scenes and contributing immensely to administration and student life, will be answering a few questions on our behalf
Q: “Could you give us a rundown of your position here at Notre Dame and what you do?”
A: “I do all sorts of things, but my primary responsibility is being the Assistant Principle of Student Life and that encompasses the area of discipline at our school, creating a positive and Christ-centered culture, coordinating fun activities with ASB and Peer Ministry, and also focusing on how to get Notre Dame involved in our greater community so that we can extend Christ’s love and serve the Church My focus is enriching the students’ experience, giving them what they need in mind, body, and spirit, and figuring out what to do to make the high school experience better And, of course, the discipline part ensuring that people follow rules, are doing what they’re supposed to do, and are treating each other well is my task”
Q: “If you weren’t the Assistant Principle, what other career would you pursue?“
A: “In high school, the same question was pretty much asked, and I always said I always wanted to be an archaeologist I’ve always been fond of history; that’s what I majored in at UCR Or I’d be involved in museum curation
Q: “If the faculty were to describe you in one word, which word would they pick?”
A: “Creative I think they’d say that I’m creative”
Q: “Last question: do you have any pet peeves you have about the students at school?”
A: “Shoot, I could go on for days but a recurring one is when students come to school incredibly late and with Starbucks or some other drink in their hand Also, I get it when people make mistakes or don’t know the rules, but then once you have that conversation with someone, feel like you have some sort of understanding, and then a few seconds later, they’re breaking the rules again that just shows you they don’t care, and that, for me, is one of the bigger pet peeves I have”
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Cabaret Cafe
By Doug Cube Sophomore, Editor
On March 7-8, Notre Dame’s Theater Guild held a one-of-a-kind performance: Cabaret Cafe! Similarly to One Acts, we had many smaller performances done by many students showing off their many talents, whether it was by singing a song, performing an act from a musical, or sharing their musical skills through instruments Although this was similar to One Acts in the sense of being a sort of showcase, it differed and surpassed any initial expectations For starters, Cabaret offered two different types of tickets, General Admission and a VIP ticket of sorts that offered better seating along with a full course meal Aside from this, snacks were also sold at any time and special mocktails were offered The mocktails included a special drink called Cabaret, which consisted of Cranberry Juice, grape juice, lemon juice, and sprite Another drink offered was Babie Hawie, in recognition of our beloved
Mrs Hawley’s newborn baby, and also the reason she is out at the moment
For the meals themselves, bread and butter were offered to each table as an appetizer as they awaited their meals Those students who were part of Cabaret but not performing at the time would go around as servers for each table, giving the upmost excellent service
Benson Boone
By Matthew Baculo Senior, Music writer
Hey Titans! Who watched the Grammys a month ago? If you watched the Grammys last month, you that would mean you saw one of this generation’s rising musical stars, Benson Boone, performing his most popular song, “Beautiful Things” His musical journey began in high school when he performed at a Battle of the Bands with his friends He had never been interested in music or singing until he discovered his talent and decided to pursue a career in it Benson early in his career, even decided to go on American Idol but decided to separate from them to make his own legacy Benson performed “Beautiful Things” at the Grammys but let’s look at his other songs, shall we?
As the evening went on, the audience enjoyed pasta along with a yummy dessert that varied each night
The show started out with an act from the Musical Cabaret and then students got to share their musical abilities Those courageous students that got up on stage consisted of Amanda Martinez, Doug Cube, Daphne Egizi, Diego Gonzalez, Kip Castillo, Serena Waked, Michaela
Rodriguez, Sofia Navarro, RyanEmily Kimble, Malinali Avila, Mario Cabral, Nichless Calderon, Tawney Haluskey, and Joshua Wooten We’d also like to recognize the amazingly sweet Mrs Bri who helped out with the food throughout the night on both days Now, a word from the one who came up with the idea to begin with, Daphne Egizi, “Directing Cabaret Cafe was so much fun and I really enjoyed getting to participate in theatre from a different perspective Theater can’t exist without a bunch of different things that we don’t even see on stage so I’m really happy that I was able to put together something new and different for Notre and I hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it”
Spring Steam Sale
Slow It Down
A heartfelt song about trying to save a relationship before it falls apart
Ghost Town
Talks about the pain of a relationship ending and knowing when it’s time to let go
Sugar Sweet
A fun and upbeat song about how exciting a new love can be
In The Stars
A touching song about missing someone who has passed away
Benson Boone has quickly become many people’s favorite artist due to his heartfelt song lyrics, wide vocal range, and entertaining performances! Give some of his songs a listen and I’ll see you next time Titans!
y Lubianca Gaitan nior, Editor-in-Chief
Imagine getting one of your favorite games for less than the price of a movie ticket or building an entire gaming library without breaking the bank For PC gamers, this isn’t a dream, it’s the magic of STEAM Sales! These sales are basically like Black Friday for PC gamers, offering amazing discounts on thousands of games But what makes STEAM sales so special?
STEAM, the popular digital platform for buying and playing PC games, hosts massive sales several times a year and are infamous for their amazing discounts The biggest events are the Summer Sale and Winter Sale, where games are discounted by up to 90% Smaller sales, like the Halloween Sale or
Spring Sale, also pop up throughout the year During these events, gamers can snag everything from indie games to well-known games such as God of War or Mortal Kombat
Why are they so popular and how can you get ahead of the game?
Games usually drop to 5080% off For students and casual gamers, these sales make
games more accessible than ever
Add games you want to your STEAM wishlist, and you’ll get notified when they go on sale It’s easy to get carried away, so decide how much you’re willing to spend beforehand
STEAM Sales aren’t just about saving money, they’re a win-win for gamers and developers alike
Gamers get to get more games, while developers see a surge in sales It’s a celebration of gaming that brings the community together,
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The Family
By Lubianca Gaitan Senior, Editor-in-Chief
The Manson Murders remain one of the most chilling and famous crimes in American History In the summer of 1969, the peaceful vibe of the 60s was ruined when followers of Charles Manson, a selfproclaimed cult leader, carried out a series of brutal murders that left people in shock The victims included actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and several others who were tragically caught in the crosshairs of Manson’s twisted way of being Decades later, the case continues to surprise and horrify, serving as a reminder of the dangers out in the world
What made the Manson Family so terrifying was not just the violent nature of the crimes, but the
charisma of Charles Manson himself Manson was a master manipulator who preyed on vulnerable young people, convincing them to abandon their families and follow him His followers, usually referred to as the “Manson Family” were so devoted that they carried out his orders without question, even when it meant committing unspeakable acts of violence Now, although Manson himself never actually killed anyone, he did orchestrate the murders committed by the family and is still considered an infamous serial killer
Now, a new Netflix documentary,
Chaos: The Mansion Murders, goes deep into this story The film goes about exploring the case from fresh angles, sharing details that are lesser known and examining the cultural and social factors that let Manson become so well known With never-beforeseen footage and interviews, Chaos sheds new light on the investigation, the media, and lasting impact of the murders For true crime enjoyers and history buffs alike, this documentary is a must watch
A New Addition to the Pig Family
By Gael Campos Junior, Sports Editor
It was less than three weeks ago when the entire social media world was taken by storm with the announcement that Mummy Pig of the infamous Peppa Pig television series was expecting her third piglet in the bunch Since then, the proudly awaiting mother has been seen sporting a new lump under her iconic orange dress and preparing for the arrival of the series’ newest cast member In a post pinned on the show’s official Instagram account, “June 2025” reads on a makeshift sign next to a sonogram, presumably belonging to Mummy Pig herself Unfortunately, with an event as big as this for a family with such a following like the Pigs, there is bound to be malice within the media and its perceptions For example, speculation has risen regarding whether Daddy Pig is the legitimate father of the baby, with some reports pointing to
infidelity Recently, a photoshopped image depicting Mummy Pig and the rest of the family in a hospital room while she holds what most would believe to be an infant pig has circulated on various social media platforms, leading spectators to believe the birth of the baby had already taken place This, however, is not true and serves as a clear example of the lengths to which the media will go to slander an innocent family’s name while they are in the middle of experiencing a drastic change even
As we revisit dark chapter through Chaos, it’s important to remember the victims and the lives that were tragically cut short The Manson Murders are more than just a true crime story, they’re a story about how powerful influence can become and the dangers of blind devotion Whether you’re a true crime junkie or just curious about this infamous case, Chaos: The Manson Murders on Netflix is sure to leave you both captivated, unsettled, and with opened eyes
if it is a joyous one For those few who may not be familiar with Peppa Pig, it is an English children’s show that centers around the life of Peppa, her family, and all those living alongside them in Peppatown The series has proven itself to be a timeless classic, continuing to entertain youths with each generational cycle It is especially popular in the US, with there being a completely Peppa Pigthemed amusement park in Florida that is frequented by children and adults of all ages As the years pass by, a loyal audience will remain for the fun The Titan Times team wishes Peppa and her family the best in this exciting time and cannot wait for her to meet her youngest brother and friend
Unpopular Opinon, but...
“People overreact too much about things that aren’t that important”- Anonymously by a Senior
“Soda”- Teresa Avila, 9
“Ice cream”Anthony Elias , 10 “All beverages but water”Audrinna Patterson, 11
“Starbucks”Anika, 12 “Daily fasting from sun up to sun down” - Mr Avila, Theology Teacher
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Behind the Scenes
People Featured (from left to right, going down):
Elizabeth Kluge (9), Ventura Renteria (10), Sebastian Trujillo (10), Mr Nolte (Theology II), Thalia Gutierrez (9), Troy Soares (10), Ryan-Emily Kimble(10), Doug Cube(10), Sean DeSagun(11), Diego Gonzales(12), Zoey Johnson(10)
Advice Archives
Q: I’m really struggling to balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and my social life. I feel like I’m always behind and don’t have time for myself. What should I do?
A: Balancing everything in high school can feel overwhelming, but it’s definitely something that everyone experiences in high school (Unless you really don’t do anything at all) I think you should start by creating a schedule or using a planner to map out your week- you don’t have to go all out, the notes and calendar app work just fine Prioritize your tasks and focus on what’s most important or due soonest. And I think that the most important is to not be afraid to say no to extra commitments if you’re already feeling overwhelmed It’s also okay to ask for help from teachers, coaches, or friends if you’re struggling Remember, it’s important to take time for yourself, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day to relax or walking around your neighborhood. You’ll feel and be more productive and less stressed if you take care of yourself too! Try it out:)
The Titan Times
notredameriverside org/titantimes
Editor-in-Chief
Lubianca Gaitan
Moderator
Mrs Arguelles
Editors
Jude Cramer
Gael Campos Minh Lai
Sydney Cramer Doug Cube
Staff Writers
Elyza Lansang
Matthew Baculo
Sebastian Bou Harb
Sofia Navarro
Nichless Calderon
Social Media
Doug Cube
Photography
Lubianca Gaitan
Xitllali Ortiz
New Issue bi-weekly on Tuesdays
Questions regarding the Titan Times should be directed our email at titantimes@ndhsriverside org
