2019-2020 Issue 6 (Feb. 18, 2020) by NPHS Panther Prowler

PANTHER

PROWLER

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 • Issue VI • Newbury Park High School 456 N Reino Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

2 Editorial 3 Athletes signing 4 VC Honor Band 5 Impeachment 6 Coronavirus 7 Valentine’s Day 8-9 College Stress 11 Caulfield 12 Choir Solos 13 Parasite 14 Wrestling 15 Vinni DeVetis 16 Decathletes

staff editorial Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Young voters should use their voice The California Presidential Primary Election is on Mar. 3. While most high school students are too young to vote in this election, a handful are 18 years old and can vote. According to the United States government, only 12.83 percent of eligible voters ranging from the age of 18 to 25 years old have registered to vote as of Jan. 3, 2020. As the group of people whose lives depend the most on the fate of the United States, how is this possible? The right to vote is taken for granted, especially by young potential voters, although they will be the most impacted by the decisions of our country’s leadership. Nobody should forget how hard oppressed groups fought to have their right to vote in the United States. Followed by strenuous civil rights movements lasting for decades, both women and minorities finally achieved their right to vote in the 20th century. However, people still do not utilize their right to vote. A common reason many young potential voters don’t vote is because they are unsure who to vote for. When it comes to political research, the media is the best and worst place to find a political stance a voter can support. Since it is difficult to find unbiased sources online, especially when it relates to politics, the best way to investigate what resonates with a voter is by looking at a range of sources to sculpt a viewpoint. While some potential voters do not feel confident in their stance in politics, others

simply do not care enough to vote or take any stance. They think: How can one vote be impactful in a sea of millions of other votes? Despite the common misconception that your vote on its own does not matter, it really does. The population of citizens that feel this way amounts to an entire group whose views and feedback for the United States will never be heard. Instead, these views will be thrown away, never to be used to improve the state of our nation. By not voting, you are missing out on an amazing opportunity to better your life. Every vote that you do not cast makes another person’s vote count more. Essentially, you are trusting your future in the hands of others. With only 12 percent of America’s youth voting, the outcome is not an accurate reflection of the wants of the American people. How can we agree upon what the majority of people want for the future when an abundance of the country’s population is not voting? We urge you to use your voice as a citizen of the United States. As the group who will be alive the longest into the future, one can argue that the votes of young people are the most essential. By voting, we have a chance to push the United States in a positive direction and improve the way we live.

Front Cover Caption: Stressed Out - As students anticipate the college application process, many feel the need to prepare the “perfect application” through a rigorous mix of academics, athletics, and extracurriculars Rahul D’ Souza/Prowler

For the record in Issue V... Steve Lepire is spelled incorrectly on page 3. Emily Augustine wrote the cats article on page 6. Prasheetha Karthikeyan is spelled wrong on page 6 Kevin Campos is quoted on page 10, not Kevin Lopez. Alex Adamson submitted the top photo and Matty Thomas submitted the middle photo on page 10. Carter Castillo and Marli Davis/Prowler

PANTHER PROWLER 2019-2020 staff Editors-in-Chief Emily Nagamoto Aditya Vunnum

Entertainment Editor Manas Khatore Copy Editors Emily Augustine Carter Castillo Prasheetha Karthikeyan Manas Khatore

Cover Editor Emily Augustine

DPS Editor Jessica Zhou

Features Editor Prasheetha Karthikeyan

Online Carter Castillo Rahul D’Souza Prasheetha Karthikeyan Jessica Zhou

Sports Editor Clarissa Shin Opinion Editor Carter Castillo News Editors Sarena Kabir Emma Schoors

Photographers Chief// Rahul D’Souza Reese Kelem Jacob Malone Jessica Zhou

Staff Writers Gwen Buchanan Abby Gorman Anna Johnson Adalia Luo

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed. The Panther Prowler is published every four weeks throughout the school year by Valley Press Publishing Co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org. The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below.

Adviser Michelle Saremi

Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

Graphic Artists Emily Augustine Clarissa Shin

news Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Senior athletes take charge of their future Sarena Kabir News Editor On Thursday, Feb. 6, NPHS hosted a signing event for senior athletes who had been recruited by colleges to commit to their school of choice. Carson Falksen, senior, had several choices of which college he wanted to go to. For baseball, he decided to sign for North Carolina State University. “I always wanted to go play baseball in the East or South because the atmosphere is completely different than being in the West. Being across the country will give me the opportunity to create a ton of new relationships and grow into the person I want to be in the future,” Falksen said. It was no easy decision for Falksen to choose which college to go to, he took several thoughts into account. “The coaching staff and program is great and have produced a number of league players. Also, the atmosphere of being in the South will be awesome,” Falksen said. “I felt like if I did not go to NC State, it would’ve been a big regret, since I have always dreamed of playing out there,” Falksen said. Tatum Quaker, senior, had been playing softball since she was eight years old. “I play softball and lacrosse. I play lacrosse inside of the high school, while I play softball outside of the school,” Quaker said. Quaker committed to Texas Woman’s University after she fell in love with it. “The softball program was amazing and I loved the coaching staff and players. I also fell in love with the beautiful campus,” Quaker said. “I also chose Texas Woman’s University because it felt like my home away from home.” Maile Kuo, senior, had been playing lacrosse for about ten years, following the footsteps of her brother. Kuo had recently committed to Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University at the signing event here at NPHS. Kuo chose this school after, “visiting the school and learning more about their academics. Meeting the team and the coaches also helped me in my decision.” Kuo said. Not only so, Embry was a great fit for what Kuo wanted. “ERAU has great academics, and the major I want to study, along with being located somewhere warm. I also chose this school because the coaches and the lacrosse team are very welcoming, and I think I’ll fit in with them,” Kuo said.

Sign here- Senior athletes get ready to sign to commit to college due to their athletic skills. The students thought long and hard about which college would be their perfect fit. Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Mamba deals with the loss of Kobe Bryant Manas Khatore Entertainment Editor Following the death of Kobe and Gianna Bryant on Jan. 26, Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park closed business for the week, reopening on Jan. 31. Originally called Sports Academy, the facility was purchased by Kobe Bryant in 2018 and had a strong reaction to his sudden passing. In an official statement released after his death, Mamba Sports Academy expressed their condolences for those affected by his death. “Kobe Bryant was so much more than a partner in Mamba Sports Academy. He was a caring father, husband, coach, and champion of youth sports,” the facility said. Riya Hundal, junior, frequently visited Mamba Sports Academy and was affected by the death of Bryant. She recalls even seeing Bryant at the facility while she was exercising. “It was (so) amazing to see my role model, like in reality,” Hundal said. She believes that the temporary closing of Mamba Sports Academy affected many of her classmates, making them appreciate Bryant’s work. “I think more students are going to appreciate what he stood for and why he did what he did,” Hundal said. In memorium- Flowers, notes and basketballs surround the entrance of Mamba Sports Academy. The sudden death of In response to the tragedy, the facility created the MambaOnThree Fund to support affected Kobe Bryant on Jan. 26 affected the facility and those that go to it. “I think more students are going to appreciate what families. To donate, visit MambaOnThree.org. he stood for and why he did what he did,” Riya Hundal, junior, said. Umang Patel/With Permission

news Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Panthers play in Ventura County Honor Band Aditya Vunnum Editor-in-Chief On Sunday, Feb. 9, 10 students from NPHS performed in the annual Ventura County Honor Band Concert (VCHB) along with musicians from 14 other schools in the county. The concert took place in the Ventura High School auditorium, featuring performances at the middle and high school level. “It is a band comprised of the best musicians in Ventura County,” Shelbi Sullaway, senior and three year participant said. “Its purpose is to give middle and high school students the opportunity to play in a more advanced ensemble than their school might provide.” Musicians were selected after auditioning in front of a panel of live judges with music that they had been practicing for a couple months beforehand. Steven Choi, senior and four year member, remembers the hard work that he had put

Spotlight- Under the stage lights in the Ventura High School auditorium, Steven Choi, senior, focuses on his music as the high school Ventura County Honor Band (VCHB) plays their third song of the afternoon. Choi, along with nine other NPHS students, participated in the VCHB, a selective group featuring students from around Ventura County. After their concert on Feb. 9, Choi, a 4-year participant, reflected on his favorite part and what he has gained from the experience. “My favorite part is how I can play with other great musicians and we all create amazing music together. Also I’ve made so many friends there and the experiences we shared together were invaluable,” Choi said. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

into his auditions, but was happy for the experience. “It’s made me become a much greater musician and person because preparing for that audition really takes a lot of time and commitment and it’s something you need to spend months on to get in,” Choi said. After being admitted to the band in January, the students attended weekly rehearsals, which for many offered a more challenging environment to grow in their musicality. Sullaway said that “it has helped me become better at the clarinet and the audition alone takes a lot of practice and taught me the value of hard work.” “VCHB is different because it’s at a higher level than your typical high school band,” Choi said. “We play music that’s fun and more challenging, and we get to learn from guest conductors who are experts in music and are well known for their musical expertise.”

Alvarez receives award for work with Special Education Emiily Augustine Front Cover Editor Anne Alvarez, Special Education teacher at Newbury Park High School, was awarded the Students with Exceptional Needs Human Rights Award by the California Teachers Association (CTA) for her work with special needs students. She will receive the award at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine on Feb. 29. “40 years to teach is really a long time, and (Alvarez) is totally eligible to retire if she wants to but she doesn’t want to. That’s a real testament to the type of human being she is. You know, she still has more to give,” Lucia Lemieux, English teacher and colleague of Alvarez said. As a recipient of the CTA Human Rights Award for LGBTQ+ Advocacy in 2018, Lemieux decided to nominate Alvarez for the award best fitting for her service to special needs students. According to the CTA, this award is given to a “CTA member whose activities have helped to achieve significant progress on behalf of equal opportunity for physically and/or mentally challenged students.” As one of the nine categories for individual awards, it serves to recognize educators who dedicate time and effort into promoting equal opportunity for groups who are typically oppressed. “The day after Special Olympics, I am glowing because it is such a fantastic thing to see the interaction between non handicapped kids and handicapped kids,” Alvarez said. As the advisor of National Honor Society, a service club of high academic achievers, she works with the club to put together events for special needs students such as the VIP dance, Special Olympics and Unified Sports. Another qualification for the award is “promoting equal educational opportunities for disabled students,” which Alvarez has displayed not only through the integration of non handicapped students in events for Special Education students, but also through her work with Cameo Carolan, the NPHS dance teacher. They collaborated to make an opening dance performance for Special Olympics that included special needs students. “(Carolan and I) worked together with my (special needs) kids, and (Carolan) finally said, I realize you don’t have to be perfect for it to be perfect,” Alvarez said, “She understood that to share it was the most important thing, not that it was done absolutely correct, and I’m getting more and more teachers to understand that.” NPHS has a Special Education cheer squad known as the Sparkles which performs at school rallies and some sports games.

Day of Play - Left to right: Jenny Finger, Sammi Stewart, Micheal Contreras, Lora Harney, Anne Alvarez, Rich Bradley, and Samantha Goldman; “I feel like what I have done is worth it, you know? I’ve accomplished something, and I made it better for the (students) as well, and I shine,” Alvarez said. Alvarez knew she got her award when the California Teacher Association gave her a call and told her. Sammi Stewart/With Permission

“Every single day, I learn from my students. They do something that makes me happy or they teach me how to be a better teacher. If I can’t help them learn something one way, I try another way,” Alvarez said. Before coming to NPHS twelve years ago, Alvarez worked with special needs children at Camarillo State Hospital, Redwood Middle School, and Oxnard. The day Alvarez will officially receive her award for her significance in NPHS’s Special Education program is also her birthday. As she recalls the experiences she has had at this school, she concluded, “I feel that Newbury Park does a really good job of not just tolerance or acceptance, but inclusion.”

news Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Donald Trump acquitted by Senate

Carter Castillo Opinion Editor President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Feb. 5, 2020 on both articles of impeachment. In order for the Senate to remove a sitting president from office, they must vote guilty with a two-thirds majority. The vote was 48 guilty to 52 not guilty on the charge of abuse of power and 47 guilty to 53 to not guilty on the charge of obstruction of Congress. All Democratic senators voted to remove Trump from office. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, became the first senator in US history to vote to remove a president from office who is in the same party, finding Trump guilty of abuse of power, but voting not guilty on the charge of obstruction of Congress. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on Dec. 19, 2020 on the counts of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges refer to an alleged quid pro quo between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the impeachment articles, Trump withheld military aid from Ukraine until the Ukranian justice department investigated Hunter Biden, the son of presidential candidate and former vice president Joe Biden. In Romney’s speech explaining his guilty vote, he stated, “As a Senator-juror, I swore an oath, before God,

to exercise ‘impartial justice.’ I am a profoundly religious person. I take an oath before God as enormously consequential. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the president, the leader of my own party, would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced. I was not wrong.” Romney continued by giving the Senate the specifics of what he found Trump guilty of: “The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a ‘high crime and misdemeanor.’ Yes, he did.” Romney then provided the evidence that he believed mad Trump guilty, “The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival. The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so. The president delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders. The president’s purpose was personal and political. Accordingly, the president is guilty of an appalling Jacob Malone / Prowler abuse of the public trust.” As Trump was not found guilty in the Senate, he will continue serving the rest of his term.

Sanders and Buttigieg battle for early Democratic lead Carter Castillo Opinion Editor Jacob Malone Back Cover Editor

Jacob Malone / Prowler

On Feb. 3, 2019 the Iowa state democratic party held the first nominating caucuses of the 2020 election cycle. After several complications, 100 percent of precincts are now reporting and Pete Buttigieg is in the lead with 13 delegates. The results from the Iowa caucus were delayed due to problems with the app that was supposed to speed up the counting process. The app was not reporting the full results, and thus the Iowa Democratic party was forced to go back and look over each vote at each caucus site manually with the paper ballots. Further adding to the confusion, the Party had to release three different statistics instead of the usual one, the total first round votes, the second round votes and the total number of delegates awarded. After all the votes were tallied, Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend Indiana, is projected to have gained 13 delegates and Bernie Sanders, Senator from Vermont, claimed second place receiving 12 delegates. Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts, received eight delegates, Joe Biden, former Vice President, received six delegates, and Amy Kloubuchar, senator from Minnesota, was the only other candidate to receive delegates from Iowa, gaining only one. However, both Sanders and Buttigieg are

calling for an audit of the results of the caucuses, as they are hoping to score an extra delegate to give them the advantage. The New Hampshire primary took place on Feb. 11, 2020 and unlike the Iowa Caucus, the votes were all accounted for with Sanders receiving 26% of the vote. Buttigieg followed with 25% and Klobuchar came in third place with about 20% of the vote. No other candidates received enough votes to gain any delegates. New Hampshire “felt the Bern,” as Sanders won the plurality of the vote and received nine delegates. Buttigieg also received nine delegates and Klobuchar received six. The delegate count from New Hampshire showed both SAnders and Buttigieg projected to gain nine delegates, and Klobuchar receiving six delegates. No other candidate received enough votes to gain any delegates. The California primary election is going to take place on Mar. 3, 2020. Currently, the RealClear Politics average, which is an aggregate of numerous different polls, shows Sanders with a five-point lead over Biden, followed by Warren as of Feb. 13. No other candidate is projected to have enough support to gain any delegates.

District hears from GSA clubs at all CVUSD high schools Emily Nagamoto Editor-In-Chief Instead of a normal Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club meeting last Friday, Feb. 7, CVUSD officials visited the club to hear from the students about their experiences. Lisa Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, Brian Mercer, Director of High School Education and Assessment, and Kenny Loo, Director of Middle School Education and Professional Learning, asked students at the meeting about times they felt supported by the school district and about when they did not. “We feel a responsibility to make sure that every student in our school district feels safe, and that there (are) places to go for support. And in order for us to do that, we also recognize that we then need to provide training and guidance to our staff,” Miller said as she addressed members of the club. “We need to hear

from you, as the students, about your experiences.” District staff visited GSA clubs at Westlake and Thousand Oaks high schools to receive confidential feedback from students of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. “The district approached us with this idea,” Lily Lindros, senior and club secretary said. “There’s a lot of harassment that goes on that is kind of not approached by administration on a normal case. So the district is coming to say, ‘how can we train teachers to be more inclusive and... to get student input on that.’” Micah Snodgrass, freshmen felt that the meeting accomplished what he hoped it would. “I liked the feedback, that it will be supportive to me and what it can be, and I’m really excited to see what comes of the future,” Snodgrass said. “I think it’s an important issue for the safety of people’s lives because I’ve

had friends who have been threatened or who have gone through a lot of harsh things throughout their life and I just don’t want that to happen to anybody else.” Club advisor Lisa Lemieux, English teacher, said that she believes “it’s a sign that the district is moving in the right direction.” GSA works throughout the year on finding ways to be inclusive of all students, and club members said they were happy for a chance to speak with the district. “We’re always advocating, whether it seems like we are or not,” Lemieux said. “We’re constantly talking to other kids saying, ‘Come on in, it’s safe,’ or we’re advocating on a higher level for change.”

opinion Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Stop using Coronavirus as an excuse to be racist

Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Adalia Luo Staff Writer Regardless of how much you know about the Coronavirus crisis, you know it exists. From there, the ignorance and miseducation surrounding it ranges from simple misunderstandings to the exacerbation of Coronavirus’ severity. The Coronavirus is not a tool of justification for your shameless racializing. Whether manifested in your racist jokes disguised as “dark humor,” or in the influx of hate crimes against Asian people in America, none of it is, and has ever been excusable, and especially not by the Coronavirus. Let me clarify: it is not my intention to trivialize the crisis in any way. There is no doubt that this outbreak of the Coronavirus is a public health emergency, or has the potential to be, and I encourage everyone reading this to take a moment and stay safe. That being said, if you start only taking these checks when you realize you’re in close proximity to an Asian person, we’re going to have a problem. Recently, UC Berkeley, a public college in California, which also happens to have one of the largest Asian student bodies in the United States, released an informational pamphlet two weeks ago about “Managing Fears & Anxiety around Coronavirus.” Listing feelings and reactions described as “regular,” such as anxiety, worry, panic, and helplessness, this innocuous pamphlet would have stayed that way had “Xenophobia: fears about interacting with those who might be from Asia,” not been at the bottom. Since then, the college has released an apology, but the fact that an institution with an Asian population as significant as UC Berkeley’s ever even considered that an acceptable thing to say only serves to reflect the deep-rooted, and mostly unaddressed, racism that people of Asian descent face in the United States. Demonized, racialized and blamed for eating wild animals,

Emily Augustine/Prowler

Asian populations have been forced to face an unreasonably significant rise in racist abuse. Western media outlets calling Coronavirus one of the most extreme virus outbreaks in all of history are only fueling the amplification of anti-Asian sentiment. These headlines that incorrectly profile the issue have only resulted in one thing: unnecessary mass hysteria. I get it: the coronavirus is scary, it’s serious and it’s important to fight. But that will never, ever give you the right to make me worry that sharing the same airspace as you might incite a racial attack, just because of my face. It will never, ever, give you the right to shout “dirty ch*nk” at me from your car, or on Twitter to your two followers. And it will never, ever, give you the right to ignore a dying Chinese man on the street because you thought he had the virus. Every single Asian person you see walking the streets isn’t a carrier of the virus. You’re just racist. Get it together; people are dying. Spread love and masks, not hate.

Girl Scout cookies bite my heart Clarissa Shin Sports Editor Ever since I was five, sweets have always been my favorite food, more specifically cookies. Girl Scout cookies were first introduced into my life during my elementary school years, and looking back as a senior in high school, I can say with confidence they remain my favorite brand of cookies. As the cookie-selling season for Girl Scouts runs from January through April, I have plenty of time to stock up and enjoy my favorite treat. Lemonades, Samoas and Thin Mints are three staples in the Girl Scout cookie chain and are my go-tos when I have an opportunity to get my hands on some. First, Lemonades bring the perfect balance between tangy

Jessica Zhou/Prowler

and sweet, giving the cookies a “kill two birds with one stone” nature. These cookies are my number one and are not only appetite pleasing, but provide a cute imprint of a face of a lemon on the top. I love being able to crunch into these perfectly sized cookies to satisfy my sugar cravings. One of the next best Girl Scout cookies is the Samoas. With the caramel, chocolate and coconut shave coating, these cookies have the ideal balance of sweet and savory. These cookies taste delicious alongside a glass of milk and compliment every snack or meal I eat. Thin Mints are probably the most iconic and well-known Girl Scout cookie out there. Their simplicity allows people who eat the cookie to focus on the minty crunch, as well as the thin layer of delicious chocolate. Thin Mints are light and do not weigh down on you after you eat them, so every cookie you can walk away guilt free. Along with being a fan favorite, these cookies have been a primary factor in helping young girls learn money management and social interaction skills. Girl Scout cookies can be eaten on various occasions, such as with friends, while doing homework or as an evening treat while binging your favorite show. I love how consistent the Girl Scout cookies are in that each year I buy them, I can always purchase my favorites without worrying about them running off the menu. I have grown up with these cookies, and am looking forward to eating the Lemonades, Samoas and Thin Mints for the rest of my life.

Time flies by, spend it wisely Jacob Malone Back Cover Editor As I enter the second half of my senior year, I am able to reflect on not only my high school experience, but my childhood as a whole. With college looming over me, I cannot help but worry about leaving my family to study in an entirely new place. Sure, a change in scenery will be nice, but saying goodbye to my childhood? That’s a whole other story. I have been truly lucky throughout my childhood. My mother and father are happily married, and I have two awesome younger brothers that I can joke around with; not to mention, I have a furry sixth member of my family: my dog, Scout. I took all this for granted throughout the majority of my childhood, never really putting any thought into everything that I have going for me, and how lucky I am to have all this. However, in roughly 8 months when I embark to further my education in college, everything I have will be different. My family and friends will still exist, but I won’t be able to be with them daily. Sure, FaceTime will still let me “see” my family, but being with them in person is far superior. I most recently thought about this during the holiday season. I realized that this Christmas would be the last Christmas in which I am a kid living at home with my parents. Growing up can really sneak up on you. I remember my eighth grade “promotion”, when I believed that high school graduation, college and the adult life was so far away, yet here they all are now, lined up right in front of me. I know that everything I’ve done throughout my childhood and the lessons I’ve been taught have all led up to this point, but I am terrified to leave behind the routine that has been established as I’ve grown up. Despite my concerns, I am aware that independence is necessary, and I cannot live my entire life within the confines of my family. Until I leave for college I am going to savor the remainder of the time I have left with my family and friends. For those of you who think graduation is far away, it is coming faster than you think. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting among your peers with your graduation cap wondering how time went by so fast. Adulthood will be liberating, but childhood is a finite period of everyone’s life that should be cherished before it’s gone.

opinion

Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

What’s not to love about Valentines day?

Love is in the air for me, for you, for all Stupid cupid, stop picking on us Anna Johnson Staff Writer

Reese Kelem Photographer Carter Castillo/Prowler

On February 14 this year, some were greeted with flowers, chocolate and lots of treats. Lovers rekindled their connections and children ran around with a sweet tooth for Valentine’s candies. Valentine’s Day, a classic Hallmark holiday, brings joy to those young and old, single and taken. Valentine’s Day is centered on love. Many people can get so caught up in everyday life that they forget to focus on their relationships, but Valentine’s Day allows couples to tune back in by creating a romantic night with flowers, chocolate, and love. Although this Hallmark holiday is centralized around love, it can also be great for those not in relationships. This holiday creates memories that people will remember and love for years to come. I remember one of my favorite parts of Valentine’s Day was getting to decorate a shoebox as a “mailbox” for valentines, in which every student would bring candy for everyone and put it in their box. This nostalgic moment can always bring smiles to the faces of the many that got this experience as a child. One important rule of this tradition

Carter Castillo/Prowler

was that if you were to bring a treat, you must give one to everyone, avoiding the problem of anyone feeling left out. In creating this tradition, platonic love is spread through the classroom environment and students feel included and cared for. Some may feel depressed or angry on Valentine’s Days due to reminders of past relationships but they are offered a unique opportunity in vengeance. The El Paso Zoo held an annual event called “Quit Buggin’ Me” where the zoo names a cockroach after your ex and they fed it to the Lemurs during the Valentine’s Day weekend. Their feeding was on live stream throughout the day as well and people participated by going to their website and submitting a name with or without a donation. For children, couples and singles, Valentine’s Day can spread joy all around as a Classic Hallmark Holiday.

Despite its delights, Valentine’s Day does not carry the true meaning it is marketed to have, its’ origins messy and its’ present state even messier. Way back in Roman times, Valentine’s Day was celebrated under the name of Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility. That meant a bunch of naked Romans drinking, eating, whipping women and auctioning them off in a lottery. Yes, women willingly lined up to be whipped, believing that it would boost their fertility. Then the men would pull names from a cup, and the woman they drew was theirs. Later on, the Pope decided to replace Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day, who married off soldiers in secret even though it was against the law. He was caught and executed by the emperor, so the Pope honored him with this holiday, leading to today’s mass commercialization and distaste. As of last year, $20.7 billion was spent on the holiday’s merchandise alone, due to the incredible pressure industries place on people to spoil their significant other with lots of gifts. According to a recent study by Plenty of Fish, an online dating app, 60 percent of Gen Z and 52 percent of Millenials struggle

under the heat Valentine’s Day brings, the major forces being societal expectations, social media influence and commercialization. Our generation already deals with enough stress from school, social relationships and enough hormones to drive us crazy, we don’t need another element of stress to worry about. Thanks to the vast commercialization across television, social media and all over local stores, we are constantly reminded that we either need to find a date, buy them gifts, go out and celebrate or all of the above, which of course costs money. Yes, the holiday has a great purpose to it: to spread love to significant others, whether that be friend, family, or romantic partner. However, this is lost in the present, forcing young couples to believe that love is measured in money, and that love can only be felt with boyfriends or girlfriends. Love is being misinterpreted by the masses to mean the amount of dollars spent, not how much you care, all thanks to the money hungry companies who wish to make a quick buck from customers they belittle until they buy. They say actions speak louder than words, but I hope you saved your money this year.

Why am I still watching the Oscars? Anna Johnson Staff Writer Although Janelle Monáe thought the Oscars were a good time to “come alive,” the long, boring show did the exact opposite. Monáe wanted the audience to get excited for the show that was supposed to honor everyone present, but her strange song that transitioned from “A beautiful day in the neighborhood” to an intense, confusing rock ballad seemed to scare the audience away. Personally, it felt like a weird fever dream that I desperately wanted to wake up from but was being held down by Monáe until I sang along. Even without a host, celebrities managed to drag on the awards show as long as possible, determined to make the audience laugh at their unfunny jokes, go on a political spiel they know nothing about, or give their whole life story in their acceptance speech. Many felt the need to introduce someone who was then supposed to introduce the nominees. It took away the honor and excitement that was to be given to actors and producers who worked too hard for an audience who was already bored before they could even receive their award. Of the many performances at the Oscars, Idena Menzel singing “Into the unknown” was beautiful and breathtaking. By

incorporating all the voices who played Elsa all over the world, Disney was able to honor all the actresses who worked just as hard to provide magic to the entire world, mesmerizing the audience with numerous harmonies, inclusivity, and beautiful decor. The worst by far was Eminem’s performance of “Lose yourself ” that had poor audio and vocals. The poor man could hardly catch his breath, and on top of that I could barely hear him. Yet the academy gave him so much time to wheeze his way through a song, reinforcing just how long and useless this show is. Worst yet, the producers gave Joaquin Phoenix a solid ten minutes to go on a rambling speech about how evil it is to eat meat and Renée Zellweger to ramble on about her heroes and those she’s thankful for, but cut the cast of Parasite off after two minutes of them saying their actual meaningful thanks. This did not shed a good light on an academy that is already known to be horrible at inclusivity. Overall, the Oscars was a big waste of time, torturing its audience with painfully long acceptance speeches, and introductions. Save the comedy and preaching for yourselves. Clarissa Shin/Prowler

College Stress

Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Students shoot for athletic scholarships

Jessica Zhou DPS Editor Abby Gorman Staff Writer Emily Augustine Front Cover Editor Gwen Buchanan Staff Writer

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The impact of education Let’s play a game. In a short 1,460 days, you must become captain of a sports team, president of eight clubs and take every AP and IB class on campus, all while getting straight A’s and a perfect score on the SAT. That’s just the beginning. Get ready to spend the next four years of your life attending an Ivy League college, not to mention all the while balancing your flawless social life. Easy, right? Wrong. Dangerously wrong. As students get closer and closer to graduation, high school stress exponentially increases. Those without a clear plan for their future are scrambling to choose a career to put on their college applications; and those who are more prepared are using 20 out of the 24 hours in the day to make themselves become exceptional in every way. One contributing factor to this stress is the idea that the SAT/ACT will make or break the acceptance of all college applications. This fear of facing the possibility of failure through a test score is horrifying, and many students struggle with the idea of a loss of intellect and with it identity all because of a low test score. Because of this pressure, Katie Wu, junior, has been preparing for the SAT and ACT since her freshman year. She joined a SAT boot camp in the summer of her first year of high school and has participated in an ACT bootcamp every winter break. “I think there’s just so much pressure on students to get an amazing score on the ACT or the SAT and have a perfect GPA while maintaining their social lives and all their sports activities, “ Wu said. The pressure on students to become the ideal, well-rounded student to get into elite colleges has weighed more and more on students, despite the tolls this can take on other aspects of life. “Students are having to sacrifice their social life and very often their health and sleep, in order to conform to this expectation of what a student needs to be in order to get into college,” Cynthia Gao, a junior and full IB candidate, said. The courses today’s high school students choose to take for their years in secondary school often feel like the determining factor of their future. Because of this, when it comes time to choose courses, many students opt to take International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, Advanced Placement (AP) classes or a combination of the two. IB is a two-year program regarded as one of the most rigorous academic pathways in the world, with an emphasis on preparing students for college through critical thinking and analysis. Made to feel that these curriculums are a necessity, the pressure on these students only grows more intense as they ascend into higher grade levels. The extreme lengths that are believed to help ensure a successful future often mean students must sacrifice what they truly enjoy. Even though they may not find the program interesting, students will feel compelled to participate solely because of the weight colleges put on them. “I think many students tailor their academics and extracurriculars to what they believe colleges want them to do, rather than what they actually want to do,” Gao said.

With a similar narrative, Justin Lagala, junior, also pushes himself with the challenge of many rigorous courses. “I feel like I’d been doing so many more things that I would enjoy doing if it wasn’t for college,” Lagala said. “I enjoy the things I’m doing now, but it’s not exactly the best I could be doing. The classes I’m taking, they’re interesting, but they are really stressful.” Lagala said. Nearing the end of her senior year, Pranati Denduluri, senior, has put in hundreds of hours towards achieving her aspirations for college, through SAT prep classes and a range of extracurricular activities. Like the others, Denduluri recognizes the strain that college prep puts on students, especially as the deadline rapidly approaches. “It’s too much pressure at once. Everyone tends to start looking for internships and extracurriculars and awards in junior year as they realize they have to do something to get into college,” Denduluri said. Despite the effort that these students put in, it can often feel like there’s no payoff. “I think the more stressful part is waiting and knowing that even after putting so much time and effort into writing a particular essay, I can still be deferred or waitlisted or rejected from the college,” Denduluri said.

National SAT Average Score

Along with academics, clubs, friends and family, athletics are yet another stressor in high school students seeking entrance into college. Luke Taggart, sophomore on the JV football team, has been playing for five years and says that his experience so far has helped him learn to manage his time. “Football practice goes long so especially the first half of the year it is strenuous on your academic needs. The coaches always tell you school first and you kind of learn how to prioritize things,” Taggart said. One benefit of sports to high school students is giving them the opportunity to apply for an athletic scholarship. Many teenagers plan on receiving athletic scholarships from their freshman year or earlier. “If I get a scholarship, even if it’s a small one, to play football in college, that would be a great opportunity for me.” Taggart said. Daniela Guyette, sophomore on the girls’ varsity lacrosse team, is a student who is also heavily considering an athletic scholarship for her plan after high school. “Lacrosse is the main way I’m looking to get into college, besides that it would be a lot harder for me to get into the college I want,” Guyette said. In addition to athletic life, those who play sports must also focus on their academics, especially if they want to pursue college after high school, “I’m really just trying to push myself in these harder classes so that I can better my chances of getting into the college I want to.” Guyette said. Athletic and sports participation in high school often impacts student’s searches for college. Jace Aschbrenner, senior, participates in track and cross country, leading to an athletic scholarship as a major factor in his college choice. “Cross country and track, it’s kind of a big door opener for me and allowed me to, first off have a little bit more security in the college decision making process,” Aschbrenner said. “And also gave me more opportunities to make it more financially viable.” However, the desire for athletic scholarships play a lesser role for some students than others. Shaelyn Rashoff, senior, has been playing soccer competitively for ten years, and mainly chose her college based on academics. “The [athletic] scholarships didn’t really have a huge impact because, for me, it was where I saw myself, and where I thought my future would be the most beneficial,” Rashoff said. In addition to scholarships and guidance, sports are beneficial through reinforcing the importance of a student athlete’s education. “The academic support through athletics is incredible, and I think that’s something that’s really overlooked in the college process, how your athletic team will support you through college,” Aschbrenner said. Although athletes in high school do have the advantage to seek athletic scholarships and college guidance, it means that they must work hard and learn to manage their time in high school to achieve it. “I don’t have a lot of time,” Guyette said. “It’s a lot but I think it’s worth it.”

Students and counselors collaborate

1059 National ACT Average Score

20.9 National overall average GPA

3.0 Marli Davis/Prowler

Signing day- Camille Lee, senior, signs to University of Utah to play beach volleyball. Participation in athletics is just one of the many factors that students use to make themselves more competitive when applying to colleges. “There’s an overwhelming sense that colleges want you to have be a well rounded student, yet also want you to “stand out” among other applicants,” Cynthia Gao, junior, said. Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Well rounded- Many students believe that they need to excel in a broad range of subjects in order to get into a good college, oftentimes diving into difficult AP and IB classes. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

When it comes to college, the counselors have the resources and wisdom to help. Tina Coleman, counselor, provides guidance to students on a daily basis. Naviance, a tool used frequently by counselors, is a website designed to help plan a student’s post-secondary school plan and connect with educators. “There are a lot of different interest surveys, career planning tools, and resources on Naviance that can help them forge a path, and to meet with (the counselors), and definitely going over to the College and Career Office,” Coleman said. “(Counselors) have mostly confirmed it, as a lot of my advice came from adults and they gave me a lot of the same advice, but in a refined way,” Andrew Young, senior, said. He is attending Arizona State University next year as a finance major. Students change their plan for the future “from ninth grade to their senior year. Some of them have a path that they stay on and others will change, so it just varies,” Coleman said. Despite the misconception that students should have a plan set in stone by the time they are freshmen in high school, plans are likely to change and there should not be a stigma around it. “There is a whole lot of holistic reviews of students for college acceptance, especially at more competitive schools. Of course they are looking at your grades, your courses, the rigour of them, the test scores. They are also looking for involvement and leadership, and passion,” Coleman said. Passion is reflected by activities that a student genuinely enjoys, meaning the events or extracurriculars will be most impressive if the student is a happy participant. “I think that for some students their interests and paths may be more of a vocational program, and I still consider it an education,” Coleman said, “It may not be a university education, but it is still furthering their route, so I still think that there is something for everyone after high school.” Alternate routes after college include entering the workforce right away, enrolling in a trade school and serving in the military. “My favorite piece of advice was just to hang in there and keep working at school. It’s just nice to have some support,” Young said. For any confusion, there is a simple solution. “One of the hardest things I have seen students do is actually ask for help, whether it be in class, whether it be at home, whether it be in here,” Coleman said. “Not only asking for help but understanding it is okay to ask for help. Take away the stigma of saying it’s bad to ask for help.”

College Stress

Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Students shoot for athletic scholarships

Jessica Zhou DPS Editor Abby Gorman Staff Writer Emily Augustine Front Cover Editor Gwen Buchanan Staff Writer

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National SAT Average Score

Students and counselors collaborate

1059 National ACT Average Score

20.9 National overall average GPA

3.0 Marli Davis/Prowler

features Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Orchestra students play at Carnegie Hall Manas Khatore Entertainment Editor

Bravo- Orchestra students stand up during a performance at Carnegie Hall. Through the Honors Performance Series, seven NPHS students were able to perform at the institution and interact with musicians from around the world. “I think their biggest accomplishment is being able to see all the top players from around the world who are their age, equally as passionate about, you know, playing their instrument,” Tina Huang, orchestra teacher, said. Ambal Kailasam/ With Permission

Performing at Carnegie Hall is a dream for any musician. Several NPHS students got the opportunity to experience this dream as teenagers. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, seven orchestra students traveled to New York City to perform at the prestigious

venue through the Honors Performance Series. Tina Huang, orchestra teacher, has sent many students to Carnegie Hall over the past five years. “We consistently have had students go to Carnegie Hall, but this year has been our largest number of participants,” Huang said. Students who are selected to perform are typically those with much more experience than their classmates. “All the students who get in typically have been playing their instrument for more than five years… so they’ve already achieved a high level of personal accomplishment,” Huang said. Tara Avetisian, junior, has been involved with music for several years. “I have been playing violin for seven years and I have been doing school orchestra for six years,” Avetisian said. She was inspired to audition over the summer after seeing classmates go to Carnegie Hall in years past. She explains that students have to undergo a lengthy process in order to be accepted into the program. “I had to get a teacher recommendation for the program… I received my audition information in the mail and had to send in an audition recording and a written application over the summer,” Avetisian said. Applicants found out whether or not they were accepted in late December. Ambal Kailasam, freshman, plays the violin and received a teacher nomination for the program despite being new to the orchestra. She recalls the moment that she found out she was invited to Carnegie Hall. “I was really happy. I found out

around lunchtime one day, and then my dad found out before I did… we were all really happy,” Kailasam said. Once they arrived at Carnegie Hall, students intensely prepared for the upcoming performances. “We only had a couple days before the performance to actually rehearse with the whole group. But it was really long rehearsals… from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon,” Kailasam said. Before the performance, Avetisian was promoted to serving as the concertmaster for the entire program. This position entailed certain responsibilities and leadership. “As concertmaster, I (made) sure that everyone in my section (had) the same bowings, and (I was) also in charge of tuning the orchestra at the concert,” Avetisian said. Although students had to perform, not all of the trip was devoted to practicing and rehearsals. The group ventured throughout New York City to make the most of their experience. “I liked the sightseeing the best. I mean, that’s like why a lot of people go to New York… (we also) saw a Broadway show,” Kailasam said. Huang believes that those who are accepted and attend the program leave as better musicians. “I think for them, that was really an eye opening experience to realize (that this) is how you should be when you’re expected to play a [at] professional level,” Huang said.

Students share talent in Panther Pageant Reese Kelem Photographer

Lights. Camera. Action. On Feb. 13, several Panthers took to the stage to participate in the annual Panther Pageant, formerly known as Stud Pageant. This event was organized by the NPHS Key Club in an effort to raise money for the Pediatric Trauma Program. Naya Luney, senior, president of Key Club, described what the night is like. It started off with introductions: “Everyone gets to kind of strut their stuff and answer questions like ‘What are three things about you?’” Luney said. Up next is the talent portion where “people can do anything they want that’s special or

unique to them,” Luney said. Finally, the audience gets to vote for their favorite Panther, determining the winner. Luney also expects a lot of change from last year’s show. “I’m really just looking forward to seeing new faces because last year it was all seniors. So, it’s going to be a totally new dynamic this year,” said Luney. Several students of all grades participated in the event on Thursday, including the pair Kian Alamir and Zak Logie, seniors. The two were encouraged to join through friends in ASG and have prepared a dance routine for their performance. “We love making people

laugh so hopefully [we’ll] put a good show on for our friends while we’re up there,” said Alamir. Zak Logie has had more experience with the pageant, having done it the previous two years. “It’s a cool thing to raise money for charity, I did it sophomore and freshman year and it was fun,” Logie said. The boys, though little preparation, are eager to perform a dance routine to the song, “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira. The only concern the boys have is “That I’ll have too many girls chasing me afterwards” Logie said.

Just Dance- Kian Alamir and Zak Logie, seniors perform a dance routine to the song, “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira at the Panther pageant on Thursday, Feb. 13. Panther Pageant was set up by Key Club in order to raise money for the Pediatric Trauma program as well as to give a great show to the students of NPHS. “Its guys performing what girls usually would be doing and so it’s kinda funny to see that,” said Naya Luney, president of Key Club. Reese Kelem/ Prowler

Summersgill places first in Special Olympics for swim Abby Gorman Staff Writer Shine- Nathan Summersgill, junior, (right) proudly accepts his first place medal for the 25 meter breaststroke at the Southern California Special Olympics. “It’s just a cool opportunity for the kids to hang out together and have a great time. It’s just really about allowing kids of varying abilities to experience this,” Scott Summersgill, Nathan’s father said. Scott Summersgil/ With Permission

Last June, NPHS student Nathan Summersgill, junior, got the chance to show off his swimming skills after being invited to attend the Southern California Special Olympics at Cal State Long Beach. Participating in three events, he walked away with first place in the 25M breaststroke. Swimming has been one of Nathan Summergill’s major passions since childhood. “When he learned to swim he was probably seven or eight years old, but he’s always loved the water,” Scott Summersgill, his father, said. The games last summer were Summersgill’s first experience swimming competitively,

but he participates in swim meets throughout the course of the year. Anne Alvarez, who is one of Nathan Summergill’s teachers, recalls the day that she heard about his accomplishments at the games. “I was so excited for him, especially to see the excitement on his face,” Alvarez said. “He brought in his medals, he brought in a video and showed it to us. I was really excited because he was so proud.” Aside from swimming, Nathan Summersgill enjoys spending his time going to amusement parks, hanging out with his friends, and playing on the multiple unified sports teams here at

NPHS. But above all, he is known for the uplifting spirit he spreads to those around him. “In many ways Nathan has a much better grasp on what is really important in life, finding joy and happiness in everything he does,” his mother, Margaret Summersgill, said. “This attitude rubs off on everyone he meets, especially his friends and family.” “Nathan has shown us what it means to be accepting of everyone and to show more compassion for those in special situations,” his mother said. “Nathan will always be a kid at heart; which keeps us young.”

features Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

with

Lorena Caulfield

Anna Johnson Staff Writer

Lorena Caulfield, sports medicine teacher, recently won the January 2020 Teacher of the Month award from the CVUSD. She is known to be a passionate teacher who is eager to help students progress in a field she genuinely enjoys. This award allowed her hard work over the course of her teaching career to be recognized. What is your favorite part of teaching?

What is one of your guilty pleasures?

“My favorite thing about teaching is I really enjoy seeing kids get excited to learn about things and finding their way. I really love seeing kids find their way.”

“Chocolate chip cookies.”

How did it feel to be recognized as the teacher of the month for CVUSD?

If you could do anything, what would you do? “Live on a lake. Career wise I often thought that had I known about orthopedic tech, I would’ve done that, where I could’ve helped put casts on people or help in surgeries. Also, becoming a registered dietician.”

You’ve taught a lot of classes, what has been your favorite class to teach? “Sports medicine because I’m a certified athletic trainer so to be able to teach kids about my passion is very lucky and fortunate.”

What’s your favorite food?

Reese Kelem/Prowler

“It felt like winning a SAG award. That’s the only thing I can think of. To earn that honor, you’re nominated by your colleagues, and so it still was very humbling and emotional. It’s an honor to be given that because most of us don’t have this job because we’re trying to earn awards, we’re doing this because somehow or other we found this passion and we’re here just to, I don’t wanna be cliche and say ‘mold the youth’ but it’s just so neat to see. I was just writing letters of recommendation, and it’s just so fun to talk about the students that you get to know, and that sort of thing. It was just so humbling, I can’t believe that my colleagues felt that I was worthy of that honor.”

“Chocolate chip cookies.”

Girl Scouts gain experience Jessica Zhou DPS Editor

Sarena Kabir News Editor Sweet- Katie Wu and Katelyn Truong, juniors, sell Girlscout cookies to people around our school and community. The cookies are only a small part of the Girl Scouts program, which is centered around helping the community as well as teaching life lessons to young women. “It’s a really empowering program and encourages girls to take over and be leaders,” said Wu. Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Everyone knows about Girl Scouts, whether it be from their cookies or service. They have worked hard and long to foster a welcoming and healthy environment for young girls across the nation. Katelyn Truong, junior, has been in Girl Scouts since first grade. As one of the older troops, Truong’s troop often plans camp events for the younger scouts. “One camp is called Wildwood, and it’s for juniors and under. Within the people who are there, they break off into smaller groups where we plan activities. Sometimes there’s a science activity, there’s a cooking activity and an outdoors activity,” Truong said. Truong recalls the moments in which she was able to recreate an experience similar to hers for the younger scouts. “When I was little I went to Wildwood one time and my favorite activity was called the counselor hunt where all the older Girl Scouts who plan the event would go hide around the campsite at night and then the younger girls would bring the flashlights and try to find them. Now that I’m an older Girl Scout, I really like hiding because I can give the same experience that I had when I was little,” Truong said.

As Girl Scout cookie season comes around, boxes of cookies are always seen carried around on campus. For Girl Scouts, selling these cookies is an important fundraiser and also develops their “go getter” spirit. “Most of the time the proceeds go to funding the camps, but also we get I think we get around $1 for each box that we sell. So this year, I’m using my proceeds specifically to go to my Girl Scouts world project, kind of like the Eagle Scout award,” Truong said. Due to Girl Scouts, Edyn Stepler, sophomore, has grown as a leader and as an individual. “Girl Scouts is an incredible organization that has influenced my life in so many ways… I have grown into an incredible leader, filled with amazing experiences that have influenced how I live my life. It has especially helped me with my confidence, as now I’m proud of my capabilities and achievements,” Stepler said. These scouts do not get time off during the summer, as they still keep going strong on helping out the community. “Every year I look forward to the summer camps, like Sequoia Day Camp and Camp Conejo. At those camps, I help the younger Girl Scouts learn and experience new things while developing their leadership and character qualities,” Stepler said. “These camps also give me the opportunity to see the next generation of girls learn about the world around them and about their incredible capabilities.” Katie Wu, junior, has also taken part in leading one of the camps held during the summer. “I’ve led a group of about eight to twelve energetic elementary school girls with my friends and participated in lots of fun activities with them, from making bracelets or playing games to singing a bunch of silly Girl Scout songs,” Wu said. Wu has been in Girl Scouts for as long as she can remember. “I’ve been in the same troop for all 12 years and I’ve been with all my troop members since third grade,” Wu said. “Girl Scouts is a very broad organization where you really make it your own experience. You can be casual and work on a couple of badges and go to camps, or you can be extremely involved and do everything Girl Scouts offer,” Stepler said.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Singers at solo night strike a chord Adalia Luo Staff Writer

Prasheetha Karthikeyan Staff Writer

Sing- Kyla Kowalewski, senior, sings “You’ll Be Back,” a song from the musical Hamilton, for this year’s choir solo night. The best part of solo night, according to Kowalewski, was”the end of my song when I had the audience singing along with me and I belted the last part, finishing with a look to the distance in character” she said. “I also loved being in costume and seeing everyone’s reactions to my cloak and crown, that was really fun.” Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler

This past Friday, Feb. 7, the choir program had their second solo night of the year. Held in the Panther PAC, the 18 groups sung their hearts out on the big stage for their friends and family. A long-time member of choir, Kyla Kowalewski, senior, performed twice in one night, singing a solo and in a triplet. “I

chose to sing ‘You’ll Be Back’ from Hamilton,” Kowalewski said. “While it wasn’t the most challenging, it allowed me to portray a fun and engaging character, sing in a theatrical manner, and just perform a piece I already knew and loved for my senior year.” Solo night has held a soft spot in Kowalewski’s heart after her years in choir. This year, her aspirations were just to have fun. “Performing at these nights allows me to sing those styles of songs that we may not normally get to. It really was just a chance for me to have fun and do something I love for others and share my voice,” Kowalewski said. Post-performance, Kowalewski was over the moon. “I was really proud of how I portrayed my character, both through costume, action, and voice. I was relieved for sure that my voice didn’t crack, but I had a lot of fun and I thought that my solo went pretty well,” said Kowalewski. For another long time choir member, Ricky Perez, senior, this was his very first solo night. “On stage in those first few moments, I was terrified beyond belief because I thought I would do horribly since it was my first ever solo performance,” Perez said. Despite being a member of Chamber, Concert, Mens, and Barbershop Choir, Perez has been working on conquering his fear of solo performance. “What inspired me to do it was me, my goal, and those around me. I often wanted to do a solo but what kept me from doing one was my nervousness,” Perez said. “I was able to push past it though and perform at solo night.” One of the last people before intermission, Perez’s performance was memorable. “The best part was honestly after my solo; I got a lot of compliments from everyone I knew. It was amazing to hear that people thought my voice was great,” Perez said. For him, the performance was a clear milestone. “I felt relieved afterwards, and proud,” Perez said. “I was finally able to do something I’ve been telling myself to do for years.”

Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler

Concert Choir member Joah Ditto, sophomore, is a seasoned solo night performer. Playing “Stitches” on guitar for another act and singing “Santa Fe” from the Broadway show, Newsies, Ditto was a hit. “I felt like I was able to perform however I wanted; I usually tend to let the message of the song drive my performance and act through that,” Ditto said. Giving a heartfelt rendition of the classic, Ditto’s interpretation of the piece was well-received. “I felt really good and it’s always fun doing those solo nights,” said Ditto. “I would say that the best part would be watching my friends perform their solos and showcasing their voices and styles.” A positive experience for all of those involved, this year’s spring solo night was one to remember. “We really were just having a fun time together,” Kowalewski said.

“Bad Boys For Life” isn’t actually bad Rahul D’Souza Chief Photographer The familiar scene with a Porsche racing down the street, Mike Lowery at the wheel, his partner Marcus in the passenger seat. Usually, this would evolve into a gunfight of some sorts, but not this time. This time, Marcus Bennet is arriving at the birth of his first grandchild. That scene should be enough to explain how old the “Bad Boys” stars have gotten. Lowery, played by Will Smith, used to be a daring, suave cop who didn’t care for the rules. Bennet, played by Martin Lawrence, is an absolute fool as a cop but a good family man at heart. In “Bad Boys For Life”, Lowery is still trying to be that same cop, despite his receding hairline screaming at him to stop. Bennet, on the other hand, knows he is “too old for this s***.” After someone tries to kill Mike, he and his partner work with AMMO, an elite group of younger cops who are more tech-savvy then they are trigger-happy. The shoot first, talk later attitude that

Alyssa Boedigheimer/Prowler

Lowery and Bennet work with doesn’t blend well with the methods of AMMO. The action scenes dominate less of the movie than in past installments, but that might be for the best. Without Michael Bay directing explosions left and right, the action scenes aren’t as gripping. The witty banter and chemistry between Smith and Lawrence doesn’t need directing however, and is as hilarious as ever. After 17 years of the two being apart, it is refreshing to see them together. Overall, the film isn’t amazing, but no “Bad Boys” film is meant to be Oscar-worthy. However, unlike the past two films, this one doesn’t rely on camera action to make it interesting. It offers some depth to the characters, humanizing them in a way that hasn’t been seen before in the franchise. It is by no means a family movie in any way, but it is definitely worth watching, if only for the nostalgia.

Music Corner! Emma Schoors News Editor

January was a huge month in the world of alternative and rock music, with tons of new singles, albums, and tours scheduled from widely-loved bands. The start of the year has been a hit for My Chemical Romance, who sold out three UK stadium dates within mere minutes of each one going on sale. The New Jersey based rock band, who reunited on Halloween in 2019 after a six year hiatus, has been selling out massive worldwide venues left and right. Their most recent announcement has them touring in twelve US

cities, most notably selling out four nights at the Forum in Los Angeles. Similarly, The Strokes are creating their long-awaited first album since 2013’s “Comedown Machine,” with highly anticipated dates scheduled in LA, Seattle, and Vancouver. They kicked off this exciting new era by playing at a Bernie Sanders rally in New Hampshire on Feb. 10. Both of the bands have huge, dedicated fan bases and their returns have been extremely positively received. New music has been flooding in throughout the past month.

Up and coming alternative rock group Courier Club released “We All Want To Be There” on Jan. 31, which is the band’s fifth single since forming. Their second single, “Liza”, racked up over 300,000 streams on Spotify, showing the rapidly growing interest that listeners have in the band in such a short amount of time. 2020 is shaping up to be a great year for music, and it can only get better from here.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

“Parasite” ler ow

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The plotline of “Parasite” is extremely well-developed and original. The movie is made in a way that it is able to transcend multiple genres, so we had no idea what was going to happen next throughout the movie, and various plot twists are incorporated keeping us on our toes. There were many complex subplots and details that were introduced during the first leg of the film, but they all melded together to form an enriching, complicated story. The performances from the actors were impactful and made “Parasite” come to life. Each character is multi-dimensional and offers moments of comedy, notably Yeon-kyo’s gullible personality as the mother of the Park family. We clearly felt the struggles that the Kim family dealt with in the last half of the film because of the tension and stress that the actors displayed. We would say more, but as Joon-ho said on the Tonight Show, “Parasite” is best when you walk into it cold. This movie was so mind-altering that it is hard to put our thoughts into words. Trust us when we tell you to be prepared for a two hour roller coaster and to not take the R rating lightly. Buy tickets or stream “Parasite” as soon as possible; if you don’t, you have missed out.

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“Parasite” has grabbed attention for being the only foreign film to have won “Best Picture” at the Oscars. The South Korean movie, directed by Bong Joon-ho, seemingly rose from the dark and has earned critical acclaim, currently holding a 99 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. After watching the suspenseful trailer, we entered the movie theater with absolutely no expectations. It’s safe to say that “Parasite” is the most intense film we have ever watched, deserving every award it receives and more. “Parasite” starts out as a comedy, as we were introduced to the unemployed Kim family. The opening scene features the whole family frantically trying to connect to free Wi-Fi from a local cafe. Ki-woo, the son of the family, is visited by a college friend, who tells him that he needs someone to take his position as an English tutor for the wealthy Park family. Ki-woo takes the opportunity and is amazed by the Park family’s affluence, eventually duping them to get his whole family employed. From there, the movie morphs into a horror film, as a series of unfortunate events makes life a living hell for the Kim family.

Manas Khatore Entertainment Editor

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Clarissa Shin Sports Editor

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sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Wrestlers work the mat Anna Johnson Staff Writer

Wrestling, one of the most daunting sports, is one of the manty winter sports offered here at NPHS, and the players worked hard to make this past season great. Brett Philbrook, senior, first started wrestling in his sophomore year after quitting baseball. “I spent my whole life not wanting to wrestle and playing baseball, regretting it and hating it. Then I gave wrestling one day and it changed my life forever.” But contradictory to popular belief, Philbrook says wrestling is not a good way to release pent up anger, as, “If you wrestle angry, then you wrestle stupid. It’s more strategic and it’s calm.” Rigorous work goes into practice, consisting of running, weight lifting, wrestling, climbing ropes and pulling tires Monday through Friday. Henry Newberry, sophomore, said he sweated off seven pounds in one practice. “At the end of the day, you’re basically brain dead because of all the hard work.” Newberry said. Wrestlers have to watch their weight constantly, which requires dieting and lots of exercise. Philbrook himself doesn’t follow the strict dieting, but explained what it consisted of: “So what wrestlers would do is they’ll eat clean all throughout the week so they’ll lose as much body fat as possible, and then a few days before (a match) they throw on as many layers as they can, and just run and sweat off as much of their body fat as possible.” As for the matches, Julia Richey, junior,

said, “every opponent is different, they have a different style and I really work on adjusting my technique to go out and dominate the match.” Richey’s accomplishments in wrestling are vast, winning around 40 matches throughout her career. “This season I’ve won

15 matches and haven’t lost a match to a girl. I took second place in a boys tournament as well,” said Richey. Philbrook said that wrestling has improved his grades as well: “It teaches a lot of life lessons in the sense that you have to be on time, you have to be good with your work, you have to be very precise.” Not only does wrestling help in academics and athletics, it also builds strong relationships within the team. “The wrestling team is like one big family. We’re all very close and tease each other just like siblings do.” Philbrook even said, “they’re like my second family. I see them everyday and they see me and you just have this special relationship with them. I can say stuff that only they would get and do things that they’d get.” Wrestling is a tough but rewarding sport, but it’s not for everyone. For those interested, Newberry would recommend joining. “It’s a great way to know kids and it’s a lot of fun, especially when you’re out on a mat.” Hustle- Kamran Memarzia competes against another wrestler from Buena High School. Kamran is one of the many players on the varsity wrestling team who made it to CIf championships this year. “It teaches a lot of life lessons in the sense that you have to be on time, you have to be good with your work, you have to be very precise,” said Brett Philbrook, a senior on the team. Kamran Memarzia/ With Permission

Flaherty’s fencers fight for fun Gwen Buchanan Staff Writer

Abby Gorman Staff Writer

Every Wednesday and Thursday after school, the members of the fencing interest group come together to dress in much-needed safety gear and report to the balcony between the B and C building, where they can be seen taking on each other in duels in a sport that is more than 700 years old. Sean Flaherty, adviser and founder of the interest group, has been coaching fencing since the late ’80s in South America. However, the group was not created at NPHS until he noticed the existing interest on campus. “I put the word out and then some students approached me, they were taking fencing where I used to at the Conejo Recreation and Park District and then two of them started the club with me,” Flaherty said. Ever since its creation, the fencing interest group has caught the attention of students across

campus from all backgrounds and experience levels. Samuel MunozVignes, sophomore, has been in the group for two years as well as having prior fencing experience from middle school. “I had a background in middle school, and I took a little stint over the summer,” Munoz-Vignes said. Since then, Munoz-Vignes has used the interest group as an opportunity to perfect his skills. In contrast, Alexander Adams, junior, joined the interest group at the start of this school year with no prior experience. “I was given basically a one-week crash course, just kind of basic training,” Adams said. “And from there, you just get to fence people until you kind of learn a bit more by experience.” This year, the group hopes to expand its participants. “Right now we’ve got a hardcore group of maybe eight or 10 people who are generally

part of it, but it would be nice to have more people come in,” Flaherty said. Despite the small size, the members of the fencing group take joy in the practices. “You get stabbed a lot... a lot a lot. It’s good stuff though, it’s fun,” Munoz-Vignes said. “Never before is being stabbed so much fun.” NPHS is home to all sorts of interest groups that cater to many unique interests, allowing students to connect with like-minded individuals or provide a chance to try something new, and in this case, exciting. Spanish teacher Sean Flaherty is the host of the interest group and has fenced since he was 18. “There was a class in the Conejo Recreation and Park district, and this old man who had been to the Olympics twice started a class, and so I was his very first student,” Flaherty said.

En-garde- Mason Lowry and Sampson Varion, sophomores, dual it out at their fencing practice. Mr. Flaherty, a spanish teacher at NPHS founded this group which practices every Wednesday and Thursday after school. “You got to analyze different things, and there’s strategies involved, and so mentally it’s more of a game than physically in some ways,” Flaherty said. Flaherty started fencing when he was 18 and has even taught fencing to students in South America. Reese Kelem/Prowler

sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Vinni DeVetis swims his way into the waters Sarena Kabir News Editor Vinni DeVetis has loved swimming ever since a young age. As years passed by, he grew more and more fond of the sport, leading him to swim competitively. DeVetis was introduced to swimming through his family. “My two older brothers, Anthony and Dominic, swam before me. We have always just been that swim family. I started competitively swimming when I was 4 years old and learned how to swim right

here, at NPHS in the summer,” DeVetis said. Swimming has always been something DeVetis has had fun with.“ The thing I really enjoy about swimming is definitely the competition and making new friends from different swim clubs and high school teams,” DeVetis said. “When you make friends from different teams, it makes the competition a lot more exciting and fun for not only you, but the people spectating as well.” DeVetis divides his time between the two teams he plays on: the Pleasant Valley Swim Team, as well as the NPHS swim team. “Every week I swim at Adolfo Camarillo High School because that is where my club team, PVST, practices. I swim with PVST all year, while I practice with NP during the spring,” DeVetis said. Robby Doherty, junior, has known DeVetis for a

while and clearly sees his passions. “Vinni is most passionate about two things. One, his religion. He is very involved in his church. And two, swimming. He is the best swimmer I know,” Doherty said. “He definitely has his future planned out.” Due to his friends, DeVetis has much support. Hitesh Benny, junior, has known DeVetis since the beginning of elementary school and has developed a close bond with DeVetis. “Vinni and I have supported each other for so long that sometimes we know each other even more than we know ourselves. We know whenever the other one is in need of support and we are there,” Benny said. Benny has witnessed the passion DeVetis has implemented into swimming. “A sport (swimming) which he has turned into a craft. It is said that to be a master at something, it must be completely natural. Vinni has honed his craft, through years of hard work and determination, so that he no longer needs to consciously try, he just does it,” Benny said. While DeVetis does love swimming, it is not something he sees to be a part of his future. “I don’t know where my future of swimming is going to go after high school. I definitely plan on becoming a priest and entering the seminary right after high school,” DeVetis said.

Early morningsmornings Pushing through the water, Vinni Devitis, junior, practices his breaststroke for the upcoming swim competition season before school. Devitis practices mostly in Camarillo after school with the Pleasant Valley Swim Team, but also with the rest of the NPHS team in the early hours before first period starts. “I do occasionally go to preseason morning practices, thanks to Declan Debler, who picks me up at 5:52 exactly every morning I go,” he said. Devitis and the rest of the team will start their season on March 6, their first match against Rio Mesa. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Boys’ Tennis prepares for season Gwen Buchanan Staff Writer

Anna Johnson Staff Writer

The spring season is here and one of the sports practicing their game is the boys’ tennis team, under the direction of head coach Richard Kick. Awaiting the start of the season, the boys arrive in the NPHS courts after school to practice. Many of the boys on the team have been playing tennis for years. Jared Gillespie, sophomore, has been working a racket since he was eight. “ I tried swimming and soccer and then I tried tennis and I really liked it so I decided to stick with it,” Gillespie said. “I think it’s just a good ability to hang out and play tennis with the people out here” Eugene Cho, a sophomore on the team, said. Coach Kick started playing tennis after college, “I played in leagues and actually did a United States Tennis Association (USTA) league, where we went to the state championships and won, and then went to the national championships,” Kick said. “I enjoy looking at students who come out here with almost no background, very little experience, and by their senior year, they’re very good, competitive tennis players,” Kick said. “(It) is really rewarding to see.” Gillespie describes his experience on the team as very welcoming. “It’s a really good environment, all the guys

are super nice and supportive, and there’s a lot of good people in the league so you get a lot of good practice.” Kick believes that this bond formed between his players is due to the challenging tasks they encounter together: “We go through difficult circumstances and under the toughest circumstances you find out when people are really trying to help you.” Before practice, the players like to get themselves pumped up and prepared for their game: “Sometimes I listen to music, not really anything in particular. I just think about my strategy and if I know who I’m playing I think about what I can do to nullify their strengths,” Gillespie said. During practice the boys play each other to increase their skills and prepare for their opponents. “We usually play matches. We have a lot of people and not that many courts, so we usually do doubles. Occasionally we get to play singles,” Gillespie said. Even though practice is fun and full of exercise, Cho said, “going to the practices is very time consuming and there’s a lot of other things I could be doing.” The players do enjoy the sport, but time management is key to conquering all aspects of academic and social life. According to Kick, tennis is appealing to anyone. “(Tennis is one) of the very few sports that you can play when you’re tiny, five, and you can play when you’re 95. There aren’t many sports like that, so I’d definitely recommend it to everyone,” Kick said. Wham Jared Gillespie, sophomore, jumps up to hit a tennis ball with his racket. WhamBoys tennis recently started their preseason practice at the NPHS tennis courts. “I like how it’s just yourself, or if it’s doubles its only you and one other person so its not a whole team where you’re only a small part of it and if everyone else messes up then you still lose, it’s all upon your own shoulders to do well,” Gillespie said. He has been playing tennis since he was eight and loves the individualism that comes with the sport. Sarena Kabir/Prowler

sports Panther Prowler • Feb. 18, 2020

Going for Gold Emily Nagamoto Editor-In-Chief

As track season runs in at full steam, there is another team that has been competing all year: the Panther Decathletes. The club is operated by members of track who wanted to participate in 10 events: 100 meter, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meter, 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meter. Let’s see what they have been up to.

Swinging forward- Kyle Wonders, senior, moves around the throwing circle as he prepares to throw the discus, a weighted frisbee-like object. Discus is just one of the 10 events Wonders trains for, both for meets in and out of CIF like the California Winter State Championships in the Pentathlon, which he and Steven Kitchell, junior, competed in on Feb. 8. “This was a really cool experience because not only did I get to compete alongside the best multi-event athletes in the state, but I was also able to hold my own, taking home 5th place overall,” Wonders said. Track season is just starting in CIF, but the decathletes attend their events mostly in the summer. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Ready to throw- With the javelin in her hand, Naomi Walling, sophomore, runs across the field at Peppertree Park, ready to throw it. Although relatively new to being a decathlete, Walling originally joined after being approached by Kyle Wonders, senior, and Steven Kitchell, junior. “What made me join was realizing there is no other time to do something like this,” Walling said. She says that her favorite events are hurdles and javelin. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Sprint- Naomi Walling, sophomore, rounds the curve of the track as she practices running the 400-meter event. Walling and the decathletes practice with the rest of the track team, going to the same meets as well as their own. “Our meets are really fun! Everyone helps each other out and we all hang out and support each other,” Walling said. At decathlons, the points received from each individual event are totaled, and the person with the highest total wins the overall event, with winners from each category as well. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Up and over- In the cool February air, Kyle Wonders, senior, leaps over the hurdle and continues sprinting down the track. Wonders has been training and competing in decathlon events since his sophomore year, and to him, track means more than running, jumping and throwing. “Being a decathlete has become a lot more than just doing these 10 events, it has become something that is a part of me,” Wonders said. “We have grown together as a family since we began competing in decathlon and it is this aspect that has made being a decathlete so impactful for me both on and off the track.” Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Dash- Sprinting down the track, Steven Kitchell, junior, practices his 100-meter race. As a decathlete, Kitchell alternates practicing for his 10 events. Since there is not one coach to teach him everything, he goes to different sections of track practice during the week. “The freedom of our track team to go to different events on different days is what makes it possible for us to be decathletes,” Kitchell said. Kitchell also says that he has begun practicing twice a day to fit in more exercise and skill refinement. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

2019-2020 Issue 6 (Feb. 18, 2020)

Articles inside

13 Wrestling 14

Impeachment

Coronavirus

Athletes signing

VC Honor Band

Caulfield