Perennial | October 2022

Meet the 12 New Faculty Members Joining Pinewood

By VISHESH RANGANATHAN and KATHLEEN XIE, Staff Writers

EMILY CARDENAS

Classes: AP World History, Academic Coach

Favorite Show: “Friends”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Pampered Cat

STUART HAMILTON

Classes: Algebra 2 Advanced, Pre-Calculus

Favorite Movie: “Magnolia”

Favorite Hobby: Unicycling

CELINE SABATIER LACHER

Classes: French 1A, French 2, French 4

Favorite Show: “The Great British Baking Show”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Cat

JAVIER MARGARITO

Position: COVID-19 Coordinator, Athletic Trainer

Favorite Television: “The Big Bang Theory,” “Star Wars”

Favorite Hobby: Running

SKYLER NAZARIO

Classes: Algebra 1B, Algebra 2

Favorite Television: Disney movies, true crime documentaries

Favorite Hobbies: Spending time with family, board games

LAUREN ORTMANN

Classes: Geometry

Favorite Show: “Shameless”

Favorite Hobby: Spending time with friends and family

MOLLY PETERSON

Classes: 7th Grade U.S. History, 9th Grade WCR

Favorite Show: “Suits”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Giraffe

ANDREA SANCHEZ

Position: Office Manager

Favorite Movie: “A Walk to Remember”

Favorite Hobby: Spending time with friends and family

ARIEL SONG

Classes: Mandarin 2, Mandarin 4

Favorite Show: “Keep Running”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Eagle

KELLY SPICER

Classes: 7th Grade Writing, 8th Grade Literature

Favorite Show: “Doctor Who”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Capybara

CHRISTINE TRAN

Classes: Junior High & High School Computer Science

Favorite Show: “The Great British Baking Show”

Favorite Hobby: Being outdoors

SOPHIE WILLIAMS

Classes: American Government, AP U.S. Government

Favorite Show: “West Wing”

If You Could Be An Animal For A Day: Squirrel

Serena Williams: A Living Legend Pinewood Signs 40-Year Lease Renewal, Looks To Renovate UC

It certainly won’t feel the same to watch Grand Slams that don’t feature Serena Williams, but every amazing run inevitably meets its bittersweet ending. Instead of seeing her dominant serve and smooth forehand grace your TV screen, Williams will be investing more time into her personal business ventures and looking to expand her family.

Since she first picked up a tennis racket at the age of 3, Williams was destined for greatness, as she spent countless hours polishing her forehand and backhand techniques. At 14, Williams started her career as a professional and went on to win a total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, second to only Margaret Court.

Nevertheless, when looking back on Williams’ career, it was not the wins or dominance that won her the admiration of tennis viewers across the world, but rather the passion and fierce determination she played with.

“Her strength and power…is what [stood] out,” Pinewood tennis coach Craig Corfield said. “She just powered people off the court. Plain and simple.”

Outside of her awe-inspiring performances and years of domination, Williams’ strong sense of self, unwavering confidence, and flamboyant fashion sense has empowered little girls around the world for decades.

Through everything, Williams also remained true to her roots and where she came from. She embraced the challenges of growing up in Compton, California, and attributes her current success to her sister, Venus Williams, and her parents, Richard Williams and Oracene Price.

By KAAVYA MEHROTRA Staff Writer

Pinewood’s Upper Campus could see renovations in the future, thanks to a longterm lease extension administrators recently signed.

In the 1950s, Pinewood’s Upper Campus was an elementary school for the Palo Alto Unified School District. When enrollment decreased in the 1970s, the property was re-classified as “surplus property,” making it available for lease.

In 2002, Pinewood renewed the lease, expanding the administration’s powers to rent and make renovations to Pinewood. Last month, the lease was extended again, this time until 2063.Pinewood has historically only renewed leases in 10-20 year increments, making this 40-year extension unprecedented. Pinewood President Scott Riches and Palo Alto Unified School District Chief Business Officer Carolyn Chow worked on the renewal.

Chow said that PAUSD wanted to help Pinewood pursue a larger and more developed campus because of admiration for Pinewood’s environment.

“Pinewood School has been a valued tenant at the Fremont Hills site,” Chow said. “[Pinewood] is a respected part of the community and provid[es] a high-quality educational program.”

With the extended lease agreement finalized, the administration is now ready to brainstorm possible renovations and are working with the architect that designed Pinewood’s Middle Campus.

“The architect sent out a survey to the teachers to see their opinions,” Riches said.

Beyond general renovations, teachers also requested more modern and specialized classrooms, including updated science labs and a makerspace facility.

“From an administrative standpoint, some of the other key requests were improved parking and better traffic circulation.”

Riches said that he would like to see a robust cafeteria as well as a new Performing Arts Center.

Riches wants the Pinewood community to be involved in the conversation.

“We want to get more community input before [making] any final decisions,” Riches said, adding that things will take time. “It is not going to be a quick process, so just be patient as we develop the plans and we will update the community at the appropriate times on the next steps. We are super excited for this stage at Pinewood’s Upper Campus.”

PHOTOS BY MYLES FOX, AVERY HALL, RIYA KOLAPPA, MAKENA MATULA, SEIKA OELSCHIG

Sanchez: A New Face in the Office

By RACHEL FARHOUDI Staff Writer

Pinewood has welcomed a new office manager into our community. Now, Andrea Sanchez has taken up the post behind the office desk and is looking forward to the remainder of the school year.

Sanchez is a fun but not obvious pick for the position because she has never studied management of any kind. In fact, she went to school at San Jose State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in musical theater. So, the Pinewood Performing Arts will likely have an enthusiastic new audience member, and any seniors looking to major in the arts may have a new mentor behind the Pinewood office desk.

Sanchez works for Starting Arts, a local theater company, where she helps put on shows for children. This gig satisfies her theatrical passions. However, she has also always worked in an office environment, starting with a church where she helped with childcare. These two jobs offered her plenty of exposure to working with kids.

“I feel like Pinewood is a place where I can use all of my talents and experiences from the past and get to put it together,” Sanchez said. When asked about her impression of Pinewood so far, Sanchez gave a positive response.

“You guys are not afraid to talk to teachers, which I love,” Sanchez said. “I just like watching you guys bond with each other. It’s like a family.”

Sanchez has a lot of personality to share and wisdom to impart in her new position, and she hopes students will stop by the office to meet her.

“Just because I’m sitting in an office doesn’t mean that I’m not approachable,” Sanchez said. “I definitely want them to feel comfortable coming into the office and telling me how their day has been. Even if you just want to vent, I’m totally here for that. It gets pretty lonely in the office by myself.”

PSP Summer: An Exploration in Social Justice and Business

By ESHA JOSHI

Writer

In the week before the first day of school, many students were frantically searching for school supplies and adjusting their sleep schedules. Those enrolled in the Pinewood Scholars Program, however, spent the time exploring nonprofit organizations with their teacher, Michelle Gannon.

The Pinewood Scholars Program is a two-year social entrepreneurship course. In 11th grade, students work on group projects to improve their communities. In senior year, they create individual projects, which can be a completely new idea or a derivation of their group project idea.

The summer trip, called the “Summer of Leadership and Discovery,” began with a visit to Code Tenderloin in San Francisco, an organization that teaches the unhoused to code so they can get stable jobs.

Gannon said her favorite moment from the entire trip was when the students set up a table and handed out COVID-19 supplies, sanitation products, and flyers about Code Tenderloin.

“I think it was a really neat moment for us to realize that literally all you need is a table and a smile,”

both PSP and beyond.

Students visited three organizations on the third day of the trip: Hard Core Compost, which collects compost, the Homeless Garden Project, which employs the unhoused to give them work experience, and Swanton Berry Farm, where students learned about the farm’s fair practices. The group then camped at Costanoa, which was senior Carolyn Steeg’s favorite part of the trip.

“We enjoyed the sunrises and sunsets, bonding with our classmates, and creating lifelong memories,” Steeg said.

On the last day, students toured Pie Ranch and learned about sustainable farm practices.

PSP has since made two more field trips. During their tour of the Montalvo Art Center, the students learned about how the center is improving accessibility and how it supports artists. At the New Museum of Los Gatos, students viewed unique exhibits created by local artists.

Gannon said. “You can literally just set up a table and make a difference.”

At the end of the first day, PSP students visited the Ferry Building to learn more about food insecurity. On the second day of the trip, students gathered at Gannon’s house, where they wrote down intentions, reflected in journals, and created vision boards of their hopes for the future in

The trips that PSP takes, from the summer adventure to the short trips throughout the school year, educate the students about both the business aspect of organizations and pervasive social problems. Through the locations Gannon chooses for the trips, she has stressed the importance of becoming aware of social issues.

“Most of us live in a bubble,” Gannon said. “Learning about what’s actually happening outside of our door is important for us to be citizens of the world.”

Pinewood Battles Climate Change

By MEI MIYAHARA Staff Writer

Scorching wildfires, melting ice packs, destroyed environments, and cities ravaged by natural disasters are all outcomes of the universal issue of climate change.

Since 1979, arctic sea ice extent has gone down by 12.6% per year, according to NASA Climate. The consequences of climate change have only gotten more evident as time has passed, and this is visible through the increasing frequency of heatwaves, wildfires, flooding, tornados, hurricanes, and droughts around the world.

In California, we have witnessed similar effects of climate change. According to the California Department of Justice, California has the worst air quality in the United States. The Cal Fire website reports that in 2022 alone, there have been 6,473 cases of wildfires.

California has also been in a drought for around two decades, commonly seen on a smaller scale with water regulation on lawns and fields. Locally, heat waves like the one in September broke records in Palo Alto and reached around 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pinewood has not yet developed permanent largescale plans for climate action. However, clubs like the Green Coalition — Pinewood’s environmental conservation club, advised by biology teacher Monica Ventrice and chemistry teacher Sarah Prestwood — are participating in events like the recent San Gregorio Beach clean up.

“Hopefully as the school undertakes significant campus improvements in the next few years, sustainability will be one of the major factors involved in the planning process,” Prestwood said.

Most notably, Pinewood’s Snack Shack began selling reusable aluminum water bottles in place of plastic ones. Water fountains stationed around Pinewood also have a bottle refilling station.

“We are working on generating less waste at school wide events,” Prestwood said. “I am grateful [our day in room 19. For more information, contact Prestwood or Ventrice via email.

If the current rate of carbon emissions continues, sea levels will rise significantly and the ozone layer will grow even thinner, causing even more warming of the Earth and dangerous, cancer-causing exposure to UV rays. Now is the time to act, or else the effects of climate change will soon be irreversible.

Staff

PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE RICHES

PHOTO BY SEIKA OELSCHIG

ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL ARONSON

Margarito Hired as New Covid Expert, Athletic Trainer

By BRANDON GE Staff Writer

The fall sports season is underway, and the Pinewood football team has a new face in the athletic trainer position: Javier Margarito. As the new athletic trainer, Margarito is responsible for the health and wellbeing of the players, and for keeping them in top shape before every game.

“My role with the teams is to be a first responder should an injury occur or there’s a medical emergency,” Margarito said. “Once a situation is managed, the rehabilitation process begins to restore a person back to athletics or activities of daily living.”

Assistant athletic trainer and senior Garret Sablich is already impressed by the benefits Margarito has brought to the table just a month into the season.

“[He’s] utilizing our weight room for H period lifts for the football team [and he created] a whole new training room in Mr. Stimson’s old office,” Sablich said. “I’m excited to see what plans he has for the future.”

Football captain Daniel Blotter is also loving what Margarito has done for the team. During one of Blotter’s basketball practices, Blotter sprained his ankle, and Margarito was a big help to his recovery.

“He was super helpful after I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago and he had me ready for our next game,” Blotter said.

This appreciation from Pinewood’s athletes makes Margarito feel welcomed and loved. Head Coach Yong Kim

Freshmen Shine For Volleyball

By PEYTON SPINNER Staff Writer

The beginning of a new school year signifies the start of the fall sports season. For the second year with lifted COVID-19 restrictions, the girl’s volleyball team is back with daily after-school practices and weekly games. Head Coach Jennifer King leads a young team with an abundance of promising underclassmen.

The season is already halfway through, but King believes the team will continue to improve.

“I think we are going to have a solid season,” King said. “It’ll be fun to see where we can go and what we can do. I’m seeing some really cool skills develop during practice. I can’t wait to see it happen in a match.”

Possibly the most exciting aspect of the season has been the emergence and involvement of many of the freshman players. In particular, middle blocker Mailey Wang and setter Caitlin Yamaguchi have been able to make large impacts on the court. When asked if this change has been difficult, both girls shared that being “Evergreens” and playing middle school volleyball together at Pinewood have made the transition much easier. King shared similar sentiments.

“I believe that given they were already on campus last year, they already knew how it’s going to be in the program,” King said.“I coached them in Junior High, and they already knew the expectations… They are doing a great job!”

The freshmen players’ quick

describes the relationship between Margarito and the Pinewood community as a wholesome and loving one.

“He’s already integrated himself into the Pinewood community, where students feel safe and taken care of,” Kim said. “They trust his knowledge and love his empathetic attitude.”

Sablich agrees that Margarito has incorporated himself wonderfully into Pinewood, and that he has created some strong bonds with the students and faculty.

“He has already picked up the nickname “Javi” and has athletes stopping by his office to say ‘Hi’ or just sit in the air conditioned room,” Sablich said.

Margarito’s assistance has greatly aided the football team already, but he looks forward to doing the same for all the athletic teams later this year.

“[The students] trust [Margarito’s] knowledge and love his empathetic attitude.”

“I am looking forward to setting up an athletic training program and elevating the athletic teams by contributing when and where I can,” Margarito said. “It’s not going to be an easy process, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.”

improvement has impressed the coaches.

“[Yamaguchi] has come a long way from the beginning of the year,” King said. “She’s trying to learn a position that requires a lot of strategy.”

For Wang, King was impressed with ability to serve.

“The best part is that she is so bubbly on and off the court,” King said.

As the team has spent almost two months practicing together, bonds and chemistry have been built between the girls. They continue to improve every single day, and the results are showing.

Corfield: A Presence On & Off The Court For Eighteen Years

By DHRUV GUPTA Staff Writer

Do you ever see the faculty around Pinewood and wonder who the mysterious man dominating the tennis courts is? It’s Craig Corfield, who has been coaching boys and girls tennis at Pinewood since 2005. Corfield has not only been an outstanding coach during his tenure at the school, but he has also had a positive impact on his athletes as well as the Pinewood community in general.

Through experimenting with different sports at a local country club, Corfield eventually discovered his talent for tennis at a young age. “Pretty much full time when I was 8 and I’m 67 now so we’re talking 60 years,” Corfield said.

Originally, Corfield coached a girls team, which got him into coaching high school. Soon enough, he found a coaching opportunity for teaching both boys and girls on the tennis court at Pinewood.

“I had an awesome bunch of girls who really sort of helped me to get comfortable coaching high school tennis,” Corfield said. Corfield said that after coaching that group of girls, he was able to coach the boys team easily. In addition to being an experienced coach and tennis player, Corfield also encourages his players and creates a fun environment to compete in.

Some of Corfield’s best players also echo

this sentiment. “Craig is very funny and friendly,” boys tennis captain Jason Rowe said. “Craig has created a fun environment for the team, and everyone has a great time in practice.”

Corfield’s tenure at Pinewood has many players admiring and respecting his coaching style.

Sally King, the captain and leader of the girls tennis team also agrees with this.

“Craig has been a force at Pinewood for ages,” girls tennis captain Sally King said. “He is the father of the high school tennis teams.”

As “the father of tennis at Pinewood,” Corfield has inspired countless potential athletes to pursue their tennis passions at Pinewood. Freshman Lara Parikh commented on Corfield’s leadership.

“He always gives everyone concrete tips and tricks to help them play to their best abilities,” Parikh said. “He instills confidence and always has a smile on his face,”

Corfield has been an iconic and impactful member of the Pinewood community for almost two decades, and his joyous personality combined with his skillful coaching techniques benefit the entire Pinewood community.

PHOTO BY MYLES FOX

PHOTO BY GABBY YANG

PHOTO BY ROSE XU

Javier Margarito is the new athletic trainer

FRESHMEN PHENOMS Mailey Wang (left) & Caitlin Yamaguchi (right)

Craig Corfield has been coaching tennis at Pinewood since 2005

By HARRY YANG Staff Writer

In the past, monarchs were the elite of the elite; they were the most powerful people in the world due to the resources and manpower at hand. However, in recent centuries, many monarchs have lost power and become a public figurehead. One of the only monarchs to avoid this fate was Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, she became one of the most influential monarchs in England’s history by leading the United Kingdom from impending decline to one of the most powerful powers in Europe.

Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. As she grew up, World War II shook the globe. During the war, Britain was experiencing devastation during the Blitz. The Blitz was a period of time where the Germans bombed the United Kingdom indiscriminately. To help with the negativity and pessimism that the blitz incurred, Elizabeth went onto the radio to help increase the spirits of the children. This was her first experience in the public eye, and she demonstrated a calming and brave persona that people look up to. She assumed the title of Queen on Feb. 6, 1952. During this time, England was experiencing the decolonization of the British Colonies and recovering from World War II. At this point, the United Kingdom could have fallen apart, but the Queen united the isles and stood strong. She became the figurehead of the United Kingdom and oversaw a period of stability for Britain. Unlike other monarchs of the U.K., she involved herself into the political atmosphere of Europe. With this involvement, the United Kingdom transi tioned from a power over seas to a power at home. The Queen represented un ending public support for the monarchy and brought a sense of calm and stability. Through times such as decol onization, Brexit, and Princess Diana’s death, the Queen stood firm.

The Monarchy Should Be Overthrown

By SIMON BRAUN Staff Writer

My public opinion is that I don’t want King Charles III dead. My private opinion is private. The royal monarchy of Great Britain is one of long standing consequences. It has overseen the fall of the kingdoms around it, discovered the new world, and eventually separated from it— all under one kingdom.

But, modern day has brought with it light that no enlightenment ever brought. We have discovered ourselves as human beings and learned about democracy, freedom, and unalienable rights of humans. The British monarchy doesn’t fit in. If you were to ask a British citizen what the monarchy provides, the responses would vary significantly, whether they be economic, sentimental, or anything in between.

However, in my opinion, both of these points are moot. First, to argue that removing the monarchy would lead to a loss of government funding from Great Britain is ridiculous. The British monarchy spent 102.1 million pounds maintaining itself, and while the British monarchy makes the country 269 million pounds from tourism, the removal of the British monarchy

wouldn’t erase the historical sites of Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey. They would still make millions of pounds of wealth for the British government, while avoiding some of the cost of maintaining the British monarchy.

But, the true issue is the sentimentality that comes with the idea of the British monarchy. Let me make this

clear: The British monarchy contributes nothing to the British government. In technicality, the British monarchy has the power to approve ministers, approve new laws, and preside over the opening and dissolving of Parliament. In reality, you could replace King Charles with a mop, which resembles the feel and texture of his head, and would also do as a more intelligent replacement.

Additionally, when the Crown did have power, things didn’t go well for others, especially indigenous individuals of other nations. Take for example, basically every country where Britain set foot. India, North America, South America and the Caribbean, and Africa are all examples of places where you can smell tea and blood on the pages of history.

Whole continents worth of people have been slaughtered by the British monarchy. The idea that the monarchy is in any way a cultural benefit to the people of Britain is absolute poppycock. There is no reasonable argument that can separate the Crown from blatant racism and the horrible treatment of hundreds of millions of people. The colonizing, slaughtering empire of Britain has fallen, but here lies its skeleton, still trying to move. For reference, see King Charles.

Ratatouille’s Hidden Message About Life Queen Elizabeth II’s Legacy

By JAMIE BURTON Staff Writer

What divides the world? Status, wealth, race? Let me take you to a society where none of it matters. Where creatures of every status, every class, and every creed coincide in beautiful harmony. This utopian society is found in none other than Pixar’s “Ratatouille”. And what lies in the plot, is quite possibly the blueprint to becoming better human beings.

maybe you won’t. But if you never try to throw some new ingredients in the soup before you leave, you may never find out.

a new friend. But regardless, the film foreshadows the wonderful outcomes that come with being open-minded and curiously indulgent.

Her death felt like the end of a century. She out lasted 14 presidents and 13 U.K. prime ministers. Accord ing to Insider, 80% of U.K. residents weren’t even alive when Queen Eliza beth ascended the throne. This demonstrates the length that Queen Elizabeth reigned and also the num ber of people she influenced in her lifetime. Queen

Elizabeth was a monarch who will be remembered. She was a queen who came into power during a time of uncertainty, ultimately becoming a household name. She will be remembered by the British people for generations to come.

At its core, “Ratatouille” entertains one foundational question: Should we as a people choose ignorance or empathy? In the film, rats are stigmatized to only be troublemakers, and humans to only be killers. But, Remy the rat makes a different choice. Freed from his human entrapment, Remy decides not to flee, but stays to help the bumbling Chef Linguini. In life, it is easier to flee from our issues and not contest the biases we are born with. But if we take a moment to question those barriers that divide us, in search of genuine connection, we often become better people because of it. Because whether you are traversing the slippery slope of race and politics, or aspiring to be the greatest rodent who ever cooked, take a page from Remy’s book. Instead of scurrying back to the prejudiced sewers below, openly immerse yourself in different ideas and cultures with an open-mind. Maybe you’ll find something new and magnificent, and

In cooking, diversity brings new favors; it is what makes a dish great. In the real world, we often struggle to realize this. We often struggle to realize that our different flavors make us a better dish overall.

The art of cooking, at its best, is a perfect blend of different classes and cultures. It is free of prejudice. In cooking, diversity brings new favors; it is what makes a dish great. In the real world, we often struggle to realize this. We often struggle to realize that our different flavors make us a better dish overall. However, the leading culinary duo of “Ratatouille” accepts this concept with open arms. A major motif in the film is customers wanting something different, something offthe-menu. It is these new dishes, not the bland presets of before, that send the customers home with full-stomachs and broader perspectives. Even the famous Ratatouille dish, that satisfies the unsatisfiable critic Anton Ego is not a meal that meets the restaurant’s exclusive standard. Contrarily, Ratatouille is a dish enjoyed by peasants from all-over rural France. It could be a new flavor, a new dish, or

Now you could completely argue that I am drastically over-analyzing a children’s movie, and maybe I am; but I believe that “Ratatouille” is a test, for all ages, designed to make us better people. Because if you can believe me just for a second, believe that this fictional children’s tale is actually something more than what meets the eye, then I believe “Ratatouille” has fulfilled its purpose. Because if any ounce of you can go against your preconceived notions about the simple Pixar movie and discover a new perspective, what stops us from doing that in life? What stops us from finding meaning in other cultures and worth in other people? Critic Anton Ego aptly reasons at the end of the movie, that a magnificent artist can originate from anywhere. Because if “Ratatouille” shows us anything, it is this: the only bad dish is the one that chooses to stay bland. But a dish that challenges its flavors, and experiments with new seasonings, is no longer a dish, but a masterpiece.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXAR

ILLUSTRATION BY AERON LO

Correlating Cones: Connecting Calculus to Life

By SAMANTHA HSIUNG Editor-in-Chief

A month ago, out of boredom, I picked up a copy of physicist Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time.” In short, it documents the complexities of space and quantum physics. And there’s one concept that he uses to explain event causality, called “light cones,” that I find so fascinating and can’t claim to completely understand — but I’ll try to describe it.

It goes like this: imagine the ripples in a pond after a stone has been thrown in. Each ripple births the next and is larger than the last, like an echo. Now, imagine each of these circular ripples piled atop one another as rings of light, from smallest to largest, forming the shape of a cone.

The tip of the cone is a single event (let’s say event “P”), or a singular flash of light at a present moment — and the rings of light expanding outward from it fall into a “future light cone,” which contains all the other future events that event “P” could possibly affect. And everything that leads up to the single event “P,” or the first spark of light, is constructed within a “past light cone.”

Like light, we spend our own lives always searching for more renditions of light — more accomplishments, more feats, more work. And when we’ve finally found more, we feel as if we’ve reached the happiness version of ourselves. We have tunnel vision for our goals, basing our self-worth in the amount of light we’ve cultivated, the milestones we’ve passed, the events we’ve overcome.

We become so obsessed with chasing that we forget about living, until moving backward becomes the only way forward. We sleepwalk, never remembering the root of our aspirations, but somehow find ourselves in the middle of doing them anyway, with no idea how we got there.

I’m guilty of chasing light, too: juggling sleep deprivation and school, fitting 25 hours of work into a single

The light that hasn’t yet reached us, that is so distant in our future light cones, reminds of our infinite potential to do more, but it makes us prone to convergence — staying on track, meeting a goal, reaching a destination.

day, flooring the gas pedal at the speed of light in hopes that everything I’m doing will lead to everything I want and more. At the end of May, I was only half-awake, telling myself that all the all-nighters, migraines, and eyebags in preparation for my exams would pay off. In school, I was sleepwalking, with everything around me — my friends, teachers, relationships — distilled into mere echos, blurred into silhouettes that I clambered

around in avoidance. And when it came time to unveil my scores, I did well and was happy, in the light, weightless and flying — for ten minutes. That flicker of light did not eclipse the rest of my problems, and it slipped through my fingers in less than 1% of the time I had spent preparing myself for it to appear.

But if there’s one thing I’ve realized recently, it’s that light appears in front of us when we need it the most, without us searching for it — like in Calculus class.

I sat in the front row, watching my math teacher draw a double cone on the board that I thought was a light cone. But instead, she intersected different points of the cone with lines drawn by an expo marker, asking us to envision the cone as one made of paper — to pretend her marker was a pair of scissors, or a geometric plane. Straight through, vertically: a hyperbola. Straight through, horizontally: a circle. Straight through, at an angle to the base: an ellipse. Straight through both halves, excluding the apex: a hyperbola. Then, straight through the apex: a singular point. The concept she was teaching: conic sections.

Life isn’t about convergence. It’s about everything in between and beyond — an infinite spectrum, like the catalog of shapes discovered when slicing through a cone. There’s no reason to always be searching for light that is so far away when all the light that we need is here, right by us, waiting to catch a glimpse of us.

And even if we’re stuck on the path to wanting more, the path doesn’t have to be one-dimensional, but rather an ever-expanding array of circles, shapes, possibilities. In this infinite universe, we can be weightless, like photons traveling through time, like the sound of the rain, like a sliver of the moon shining through the curtains, late at night.

ILLUSTRATION BY SKYLAR CHUI

“Never Have I Ever” Through The Lense of an Indian American

By PRISHA MOHAPATRA Copy Editor

Never have I ever watched a show that I could relate to more. Netflix’s teen romance-comedy “Never Have I Ever” encompasses the essence of what it is like to be an Indian-American teen. The plot follows the journey of Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation teen in America facing the highs and lows of high school.

When I first came across “Never Have I Ever” on Netflix, it was number one in the United States. However, I failed to believe it could be as relatable as it is. I had low expectations and expected it to be like any other stereotypical show about a super religious, smart, and flawless Indian girl. I was extremely wrong. The show has a perfect balance of comedic satisfaction and genuine insight into the experiences of an Indian-American.

As the daughter of immigrant parents from India who moved to England, where I was born, then to California, I have often grappled with

the question: am I too Indian, or not Indian enough?

While watching “Never Have I Ever,” I realized that I am not alone in the feat to answer that question.

In the past, I disregarded my Indian heritage, but I later realized that there is no use in throwing out my culture and that I could find a balance. Although I am not the perfect, religious Indian girl my grandparents may want me to be, I learned that there are other girls my age who also face the same dilemma. For the first time, I saw a girl who was not stereotyped as an ordinary Indian girl in the media, but a girl in whom I

I constantly hear: “Oh my gosh Prisha, has anyone ever told you that you remind them of Devi from Never Have I Ever?”

could see a bit of myself. Devi, too, was trying to keep up with her schoolwork, many extra curriculars, and a social life — and I could not have related to this more.

“Never Have I Ever” also has an extremely diverse cast that not only highlights the struggles of an Indian-American teen, but also explores the ideas of sexual-

ity, religion, and ethnicity. From a half Latina, half African-American girl — Fabiola Torres — struggling with her sexual identity, to a Japanese-American hearthrob — Paxton finding a balance in his life between relationships and his future — there is truly something for everyone in this show.

My initial reaction is always this: “It’s because I’m Indian-American, isn’t it?” However, if I see so many similarities between myself and the teenage protagonist, others must see it as well. Whether they say it because I am of Indian origin or because they do see similarities between us, I know that Devi has helped me further embrace my cul ture and allowed me to continue to search for this balance in my life.

The light that we see is from within us, radiating outwards, ever so fulfilling — and isn’t that beautiful? Serena

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Her desire to be the best possible mother for her daughter, who she was two-months pregnant with when she won the Australian Open, likely stems from the laudable example her parents set for her.

“I just love being a mom…[but] being a mom is not easy…I am so proud and inspired by the women who do it day in and day out,” Williams said.

Admittedly, Williams had doubts of becoming a

mother due to the implications a hiatus like that would have on her body and career, but what she gained from motherhood was far greater than what she could have imagined.

Her courage to return to the game of tennis after giving birth epitomized her toughness and reaffirmed everyone’s veneration of her. It also showed other women that it was possible to be a mother, businesswoman, and world-class athlete all at once.

Williams will no longer be hitting aces on set point or sporting her diamond-studded leather jacket and iconic catsuit.

However, she is still adding to her long list of accomplishments by continuing to promote Serena Ventures, her venture capital firm, and S by Serena, her clothing brand that celebrates the smart, sophisticated, and stylish qualities in every individual.

To no surprise, her influence and legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.

“I have never liked the word retirement,” Williams said. “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution…I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NETFLIX

PRODUCTION CLASS BRINGS DIGITAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

By LARA PARIKH Staff Writer

This past year, Pinewood has added a new course to their curriculum: The Audio and Video Production class.

Run by teacher Rob Bergenstock, this class has become the studio for the new morning announcements. Previously, the morning announcements were given on the loudspeaker every Tuesday during Advisory, and before that, they were presented via a pre-recorded video. Both of these methods ended, but an even bigger and better idea has come through the collaboration of Principal Gabriel Lemmon and Bergenstock.

“Mr. Lemmon has been wanting to do the morning announcements live on video for a long time since he came to Pinewood. He knew I had some audio and visual skills and he said he thinks that I might be the guy to make this happen,” Bergenstock said.

The morning announcements went live because it provides better entertainment for the viewers, and the visual aspects make it easier to follow along. Bergenstock says that he plans on keeping the announcements live for as long as he can. The morning announcements will be held every Monday during second period, where information will be given about sports games, upcoming events, the weather, and the weekly “funny video of the week.”

Now, what really goes on behind the scenes?

“We’ve got a two-camera setup with a green screen for the background,” Bergenstock said.

“Those cameras feed into a video switcher which controls which camera is live at that point. That feeds into the computer and then we use a program called OBS which handles all of our graphics and backgrounds.”

“We also have something called lower thirds which puts the name of the person underneath, and while they’re speaking that’s all handled through OBS,” Bergenstock said. Then, we stream out the OBS output to a zoom webinar which then everyone can log on to.”

Of course mistakes are prone to happen, but a lot of hard work goes into making the morning announcements enjoyable for the student body. With that being said, be sure to expect your daily dose of Pinewood’s upcoming news every Monday, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

VR Headset Glasses: No More Bulky Experiences

By IAN HSIAO Staff Writer

Stanford and NVIDIA researchers have revolutionized bulky VR headsets into slim glasses through new, cutting-edge technology. NVIDIA is a technology company that specializes in graphic processing chips, and Stanford researchers joined with the company to tackle one of the biggest challenges of the metaverse: the bulky headsets that make the experience feel unreal. Regular VR headsets are bulky because they contain a microlens that zooms into a small display. However, for this to work, there must be distance between the lens and the display — hence the use of “pancake lenses.” Pancake lenses consist of many curved lenses folded together to make a singular lens, allowing for light to bounce within the lens to condense an image into its correct size.

Through this new method, researchers were able to shrink the heavy, uncomfortable headset into slim, easy to wear glasses. These holographic glasses are only a prototype. The glasses can be used to display flat images or holograms.

“[We hope to] achieve a monocular FOV [field of view] of up to 120 (degrees),” NVIDIA and Stanford

researchers said meaning that each lens would provide 120 degrees of vision of the world — straight ahead with 60 degrees either side. However, the glasses currently have less than 120 degrees which is not enough, considering that a normal human’s monocular FOV is roughly 170 degrees. Still, the researchers are hopeful that these prototypes can lead the way into a future with holographic glasses as a norm.

This accomplishment is groundbreaking in the realm of virtual reality. In the last few years, companies like Facebook, WhatsApp, Microsoft, Amazon, and Snapchat have been progressively more interested in the metaverse, claiming that it is a future way of communication and world building. Now that holographic glasses are in the picture, the worry of setting up a virtual reality playroom is no longer a problem because a user can rely on the glasses to easily access games, check social media, or video chat.

“With our design and experimental prototypes, we hope to stimulate new research and engineering directions toward ultra-thin, all-day-wearable VR displays with form-factors comparable to conventional eyeglasses,” NVIDIA researchers wrote.

From Online To In Person: Updates to Pinewood’s Tech

By ANDREW WANG Staff Writer

The Tech Club and the Robotics Team, two of Pinewood’s STEM-focused groups, have begun preparing for the inevitably busy school year. At the club fair held on Aug. 31, both clubs recruited new members.

Advised by computer science teacher Haggai Mark, the Tech Club is a student-led group that meets twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. Last year, members made a spirit points tracker that displayed the overall points for each grade.

“The tracker is just a hub to see upcoming events and who is winning among the grades,” Tech Club co-president Rosalie Wessels said. “To find it, there is a link on Veracross.”

Wessels also expressed excitement about the club’s agenda for the semester, as she and other members tackle a new project.

“With Ms. Siegel, we are going to be working on a website that will show summer camps and programs

that Pinewood students have attended,” Wessels said. “Students will be able to view the opinions of those who have taken them and maybe even enroll themselves.”

wood School during various tournaments throughout the build season. As the largest student-run club, it is divided into many sections, which fosters deep technical skills that are used to benefit the community.

“With Ms. Siegel, we are going to be working on a website that will show summer camps and programs that Pinewood students have attended.”

The Tech Club will also participate in Hackathons, 24-hour events where participants create an app or website that solves a given prompt.

Advised by parent Will Rees and coaches Dean Reece and Leslie Peters, the Robotics team represents Pine-

Co-captain Carolyn Steeg said that she has hopes for the future.

“Over the past few years, the robotics team has had relatively few active members,” Steeg said.

“This year we have a lot more freshmen, which is great because that means Robotics can continue after the seniors graduate.”

The Robotics season officially begins in January, but before it starts, the team uses the prior year’s robot to compete in an off-season tournament called Cal Games. During the second semester, they compete in one major tournament, as well as various local events.

Both the Tech Club and Robotics Team have a busy year ahead of them, but, with the addition of several new members, their lineups are stronger than ever.

ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES CHANG

Photo courtesy of Audio and Video Production Class Jason Rowe and Seika Oelschig discussing morning announcements

Fall Play, “Mr. Burns,” Coming Soon

By MICHAEL SHTROM Staff Writer

The Performing Arts department is rehearsing its fall play, “Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play,” for its premiere in November. The play follows a group of actors who try to distract themselves from their post-apocalyptic world by staging classic episodes of “The Simpsons.” Over the course of three acts, these performances evolve from mediocre plays to quasi-religious rituals.

Director Katie Linza appreciates the purpose behind using “The Simpsons” in this play.

“[“The Simpsons”] is so much a part of [American] culture because it’s been around so long,” Linza said. “The point ... was to pick a show that everybody knows, and everybody knows those characters.”

Quite unconventionally for a play, “Mr. Burns” heavily features music as the characters use it to remind themselves of their past lives, which Linza finds intriguing.

“[Incorporating music] is something I really love doing, and this play was a natural fit,” she said.

With the incorporation of music, the rehearsal structure for the fall play has been altered from past plays.

“We’re treating rehearsals like [we would for] a musical; our rehearsal period is a little bit longer for this show because there is so much music and choreography,” Linza said.

Despite the change in rehearsal structure, junior Kaelyn Smith still commends the rehearsal process for its positive and efficient atmosphere.

“We get a lot of stuff done,” Smith said. “It’s not a very big cast, so I feel like we’re more focused.”

Similarly, stage manager Julianne Ting is excited for rehearsals.

“I’m really excited to watch the cast members deliver their lines,” Ting said. “It’s so much fun to see how much life they give each character.”

The play reflects on pop culture’s impact on society, something that was a deciding factor in Linza’s choice.

“Entertainment is such a powerful part of our lives,” she said. “It helps us define who we are, and it helps us tell our stories.”

“Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” will be at the Pinewood Upper Campus theater at 7:00 p.m. from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5.

Clothing at a Cost: How Inherent Privilege Plays a Role in What’s Trending

By KATIE MAIER Staff Writer

In a generation immersed in social media and buffeted by erratic trends, an up-to-date wardrobe may feel necessary in order to keep up. Many people, however, cannot afford to fund such a fluid style — namely, people in marginalized communities such as Black, Brown, Native, and LGBTQ people. The correlation between marginalization and poverty is shocking, and it highlights the disadvantages these people face on an everyday basis. It also explains why niche fashion often emerges from and prospers in oppressed communities: the people in these communities do not have access to the same expensive clothing in the same large amounts that generally privileged social media influencers do.

According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2021 findings on poverty across races, non-Hispanic white people are the race that experience the lowest poverty rates: a mere 8.1% compared to the 19.5% of Black people and 24.3% of Native Americans, the two groups with the highest poverty rates. Sexuality and gender identity also contribute to higher rates of poverty, as shown by a study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles in 2019. The study found that LGBTQ people had a poverty rate of 21.6% and transgender people 29.4%, whereas only 15.7% of cisgender heterosexual people experience poverty.

Since at least the year 1990, the U.S. Cen-

Meet Katy Wells, Director of Communications

By ADDISON PARENTI Staff Writer

Since she was hired in 2019, Director of Communications Katy Wells has been an integral part of Pinewood’s online presence. Not only has she worked to revamp the school’s social media and website, but she’s also a beloved member of the community.

When Wells first came to visit the school in 2019, she was surprised by the strong community spirit because her re-

search on the school had been limited to the website, which, at the time, did not reflect the energy found on campus. It became her goal to digitally convey the Pinewood experience through a rejuvenated website.

For the past few years, Wells has worked to create a clean and fresh online presence. Through new content and strategies, she has launched new campaigns to engage viewers. Starting second semester last year, the communications team has allowed Upper Campus students to do Instagram takeovers, where they can use the Instagram account to post about their experience.

“I think there’s nothing better than students sharing the Pinewood experience from their own perspective,” Wells said.

Students have done takeovers for field trips like the Pinewood Scholars Program field trip and the Steinbeck Country field trip. Wells and Director of Student Life Kyle Riches have also focused on athletics, creating promos to garner interest and attendance at games.

Aside from enhancing communications across the Pinewood community, Wells enjoys reading in her spare time and has befriended teachers Sarah Prestwood and Ellie Pojarska through their mutual love for books. They frequently discuss books over text and Goodreads. Pojarska and Prestwood describe Wells as gracious, caring, and engaged.

“Pinewood is like a big, colorful quilt,” Wells said. “At a glance, you’ll see a vibrant and cohesive design. Zoom in, and you’ll find countless individual pieces of fabric and thread, all working together to form that big, beautiful picture.”

sus Bureau’s surveys have also illustrated a clear difference between the poverty rates of men and women. Though that difference is only 2.1% as of 2021, women have retained a higher poverty rate for a minimum of thirty years.

Poverty is evidently more common among those who face systemic discrimination, and trendy clothes are expensive. Urban Outfitters, PacSun, Lululemon, and other popular stores are certainly not cheap enough for someone shopping on a budget, so places like Target, Old Navy, and SHEIN are more realistic wardrobe suppliers. The issue with most affordable brands is that they stock outof-style pieces, support fast fashion, or both, as is the case of the three brands previously listed. Those with less money are stuck with unethically produced or unfashionable clothing, which makes it harder to dress the way society wants them to.

Because of this, some people in poverty turn to alternative styles like punk or grunge, which are historically based around looking unique in cheap and durable clothing. Due to the high price tags and immoral practices of trendy clothing brands, people of color, LGBTQ people, and women experience fashion in an unconventional manner. It is important to keep in mind how limited these people’s clothing choices are and that judging them for eccentric or ethically questionable style choices only serves to marginalize them further.

How SZA’s Album “Ctrl” Defies Stereotypes Against Black Women in the Music Industry

By DERRICK HARRIS Staff Writer

This summer was the fifth anniversary of “Ctrl,” the groundbreaking album released by famous rhythms and blues singer SZA. With the album, SZA defied stereotypes regarding Black artists in the music industry and exceeded expectations when everyone expected her not to.

“Black women are only allowed to be one thing: sexualized or heartbroken or empowering … Why can’t we be perceived as multidimensional?” declared British online magazine “gal-dem.”

SZA displays this multidimensionality through “Ctrl,” using innovative lyrics and experimental production to show listeners that being a Black woman is not a defining trait.

Frequently, young Black women are hypersexualized. With songs like “The Weekend,” SZA shines a light on this. Starting with the lyric, “The feeling’ is reckless of knowin’ it’s selfish,” while also building up to the confession-like lyric, “Give me what I want,” further explores this idea. Another song, “Normal Girl,” high lights the unattainable standards of what a Black woman must be. The

transition from “I wish I was a normal girl” to “I’ll never be” acknowledges that this sense of being normal does not exist and confronts the “normal girl” stereotype often used to degrade Black women.

“Ctrl” experiments with R&B pop and lo-fi, adding unique rhythms that match with each unique song. For example, in her song “Broken Clocks,” a clock-like beat is played in the background; times and dates such as “Got a shift at 10 a.m” are cleverly used to reflect this. This album explores music in an innovative way. The pure emotion conveyed through lyrics showcases her immense talent.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATY WELLS

The Future of Pinewood College Counseling

By VIOLET NEGRETTE Staff Writer

To most students, one of the most integral parts of an education is finding the ideal college that fits their interests and properly prepares them for the adult world. This places a lot of pressure on teenagers. Bearing this in mind, college counselors Carolyn Siegel and Marvin Coote have adapted Pinewood’s college counseling program to focus on every aspect of preparing for college, for all grade levels.

“Our hope with the grade level meetings was to draw sort of an arch of progress,” Siegel said. “With ninth grade, it’s an open buffet of choices and you should be making them and not be afraid. In tenth grade, [it’s] the idea of narrowing in. In eleventh grade, focus on refining. It’s really about having a continued conversation.”

Since Siegel is now a full time counselor alongside Coote, this leaves plenty of opportunities for the expansion of college counseling programs. The hope of the two counselors is to continue the tradition of annual grade level meetings to offer consistent support.

On Aug. 30, the first of the meetings took place for the freshman class to discuss their initial hopes for college and how to be creative in exploring extracurriculars and clubs. While freshman year is the beginning of high school, it is still imperative to balance out the academics.

“I thought they would tell us to do a lot more and put a lot more stress on us, but they said to take the freshman year easy,” freshman Billy Lloyd said. “And they told you to focus on things that you like.”

On Sep. 9, Siegel and Coote held a meeting

for the sophomore class to discuss focusing and exploring electives, extracurriculars, and sports to narrow down potential interests as the workload increases.

“It [has] started me to think a little bit more about [college],” sophomore Jonathan Detkin said.

For the juniors, the session was focused on balancing mental health and refining the path for college. The pressure is on when applying for colleges, so it is critical to find harmony between the anxiety of academics and valuing well-being.

“They were mostly focused on mental health and not stressing about the college process,” junior Kaelyn Smith said. “I think it was good to hear that everything is going to be ok … even if you’re a B-student.”

Siegel and Coote’s goal was to communicate as much as possible and to demonstrate their constant availability to the students.

“We definitely want to continue doing programming and we want that flow of questions to keep coming,”Siegel said.

New Year, New Clubs

By CHRISTINA TANASE Staff Writer

This past September, four new clubs made their debut at the annual Pinewood Club Fair: the Kenpo Karate Club, the Girls Who Code Club, the Finance and Business Club, and the Pinewood Clicks Club.

One of the newest additions to the fair was the Kenpo Karate Club, led by Spanish teacher Aurora Collantes and freshman Lara Parikh. The club’s main objective is not only to teach students key skills on how to defend themselves, but also self respect and confidence.

“I just want people to feel safe and secure in their own skin,” Parikh said.

Similar to the Kenpo Karate Club, Girls Who Code seeks to teach students life skills that they can use now, or in the future. Advisor and com puter science teacher Christine Tran, along side freshman club leader Soha Budhani, hope to teach underprivileged girls how to code so that they may have more job opportunities in the future.

Another extracurricular that was introduced at the club fair was the Finance and Business Club, whose advisor is literature and social studies teacher Michelle Gannon and is directed by juniors Ethan Roh and Rohan Parasnis as well as sophomores Koh Taradash, Alakh Kapadia and Kathleen Xie. Club members aspire to learn to make smart investments, pitch a business idea, and host guest speakers who can further their knowledge in the realm of finance and business.

“I want them to be able to approach problems with a creative mindset and integrity,” Gannon said.

The final club established this year was founded by art teacher Joy Blalock, with the support of sopho

Hello, London!

By ARJUN KELKAR Staff Writer

As the school year resumes, Pinewood students are already anticipating their next holiday. Luckily, Pinewood is holding a trip to England in the summer of 2023. For 10 days between June 20 and June 29, students will be treated to a combination of exciting city life in London, and majestic countryside in cities including Bath and Stratford.

Junior high literature and writing teacher Holly Phillips will be chaperoning the trip for Pinewood. Although geared towards those seeking to explore literature in England, Phillips is adamant that anyone is welcome.

“There is something for everyone on this trip,” Phillips said. “From theater to history to local cuisine, we do it all.”

For an all-inclusive price of $4,300, the trip will be facilitated by Explorica, an international travel agency specializing in school groups. When students first arrive in England, they will be greeted by a professional tour director who will be with them during the duration of their stay.

The trip begins in London, and on days two and three, students get the opportunity to see the city by visting the Victoria and Albert Museum, London’s historic West End Theatre, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and Museum. Additionally, students have an authentic fish and chips dinner at a local pub.

On day four, students will make a day trip to Cambridge, where they will see the University of Cambridge and do a Jack the Ripper walking tour.

“The [Jack the Ripper] tour is really the number one tour for teenagers” Phillips said. “It’s late at night, walking through spooky London, it’s fantastic.”

After a two and a half-hour bus ride, the group will arrive in Bath, where students will stay on days five and six. Day five includes a visit to Highclere Castle, where filming for “Downton Abbey” took place, as well as a trip to Stonehenge. The next day, students will be granted a free afternoon, allowed to do as they please.

Day seven will contain a trip to Stratford, where students will see the cottage of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, and visit the birthplace of The Bard himself.

“It’s such a thrill getting to see Shakespeare’s life up close,” Phillips said excitedly, “He’s the greatest poet that has ever lived and the greatest writer the English language has ever known.”

Students will then explore Lake District, a popular vacation destination, during days eight and nine.

Finally, on day ten, the group will travel to Manchester International Airport and make the 14-hour journey home.

Although the trip is for enjoyment as much as it is for education, Phillips hopes those who choose to partake in this adventure can take something meaningful from it.

“England really brought all my education to life and I hope to share that with faculty and students at Pinewood,” Phillips said.

more leaders Trevor Chin and Bill Long. The Pine

Illustration by SKYLAR CHUI

Photo courtesy of Pinewood English Department

Change in Counseling College Counselor Marvin Coote looks over senior Nate Martin’s work.

Photo by Raghav Ramgopal