Pony Express | December 2018 by Pioneer Pony Express

team for a promising season on the basketball court

page 3

Students Take on Peer Tutoring

›› Peer Tutoring Program thrives

as more students start attending, forming new knowledge and bonds

page 4

A Glue Factory Success With “Annie”

Photo by Natalie Sarsfield

›› Changes in coaching set up the

Photo by Cody Yick

Photo by Natalie Sarsfield

Girls Basketball Shooting for Success

››The advanced drama class performed a momentous show with the Glue Factory to produce “Annie” page 6

THE PONY EXPRESS Volume 59, Issue 3

Nguyen the News Emily Nguyen

News Editor As of this year, Californians experienced some of the largest fires in all of the state’s history. The Ranch Fire raged over the state consuming 410, 203 acres of land, the most in all of California’s fire records. In Paradise, the Camp Fire has destroyed 221 residences, 192 outbuildings, 2 commercial properties, and 75 vehicles costing roughly $11.3 million. While these fires were burning, leaving many injured and homeless, many students on campus celebrated a day off on Nov. 16 due to the air quality. In my own classes, over half of the students had an excused absence and returned the following week with an extension on any assignment that they had missed. The majority of which had no respiratory issues at all. Thousands of people have been suffering from these disasters and I think students could at least be helping them by donating provisions. Unfortunately, I only see students playing hooky. I don’t know if it’s just me, but staying inside at home is pretty much the same as staying inside of a classroom. The only difference is that going to school doesn’t undermine the suffering of those affected by the fires. Now that the smoke has cleared, my fear is that the emphasis on aid for those affected will also be forgotten. Just because the fire and smoke have stopped affecting us doesn’t mean people still don’t need the help. Donations are being accepted in Student Services until Dec. 20.

Pioneer High School's Student Newspaper

December 17, 2018

Closing Bathrooms to Shut Out Vaping

Administration tests numerous options in order to reduce nicotine usage at school

By Annika Dahlberg Editor-in-Chief

Youth vaping has recently been declared by the Food and Drug Administration as an “epidemic.” The “Stopping Appealing Flavors in E-Cigarettes for Kids Act,” also known as the SAFE Kids Act, puts stricter limits on commercialized flavors as well as health safety warnings to discourage teens from using the drugs, in an effort to reduce teen vaping. But as vaping problem continues to increase, schools are left to handle the issue. Last year 11 of Pioneer’s 21 suspensions were linked to vaping and tobacco usage, up two from 2017. As a result, the administration closed the bathrooms in the 200 and 400 wings of the school due to their remote locations and complaints about vaping inside. The administration blames the current and increasing epidemic on ease of use. Using products like Suorins, Juuls and wax pens, students can more easily smoke on campus. Principal Herbert Espiritu feels that the variety of flavors and quickly disappearing vapors that leave little to no trace make it harder to stop. “The new problem is just technology.” Espiritu said. “It’s a lot easier to smoke marijuana and nicotine and to vape now than it was 10 years ago.” For the administration, reducing the occurrence of teen vaping is a team effort. The Principal’s Coffee and Climate Committee meetings provide a platform for students and parents to be more informed on the state of the school and provide input.

On Wednesday Nov. 28 , the admin closed the bathrooms in 200 and 400 wings in an effort to deter students from using nicotine products. Photo by Annika Dahlberg English teacher Kathleen Quint is a member of the Climate Committee that meets monthly. The committee has been working on solutions to reduce instances of vaping on campus. “Clearly nobody on campus wants to see vaping here at school, so ideas about how we can reduce the opportunities for students to vape was the focus,” Quint said. The bathrooms are scheduled to be reopened as soon as supervision increases. The committee is looking into Fly Sense vape detectors to be installed in the closed bathrooms. At $995 per detector however, the administration is considering several other ideas to help deter

students from smoking or vaping. Class assemblies and supervision outside the bathroom are among some of the other provisions being enforced by the administration. “We’re looking at all options at this point to help remedy the problem,” Espiritu said. “We want to reopen them as soon as possible.” Assistant Principal of Discipline Tim Gavello is responsible for handling these infractions of school code. The possession of tobacco or nicotine related products on campus is a violation of Article One of California’s Education Code, and is punishable by suspension and in severe cases, expulsion.

Butte County Fire Forces Thousands to Evacutate

The Camp Fire has been recorded as California’s deadliest fire, killing 85 and leaving over 200 missing

On Thursday, Nov. 8 the fire in Butte County started “I have friends [in Chico who say it was cold and dark for weeks because the smoke was blocking out the sun,” Stamos said. By Nov. 9, the sky over Chico turns black with smoke. Photo Courtesy of Zoe Stamos

By Renee Boissier Staff Writer On Nov. 8, Paradise went up in flames when a spark set a field of dry vegetation ablaze which causing what KQED has called, “the deadliest wildfire in modern California history.” According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the fire consumed

over 153,336 acres of land, killed 88 people and burned 18,000 homes and buildings. “When it began, it was a business-as-usual Thursday morning. By nightfall, an entire city with 27,000 residents was reduced to ash,” said Pioneer grad Slavik Chukhlebov, currently a senior at California State University, Chico. “The following morning the sky was black and there was no sun.”

Many were able to leave safely during the evacuation, but for some, that was not the case. Class of 2018 Pioneer graduate and Chico sophomore Zoe Stamos was forced to leave the area. Fortunately for Stamos, she had a home to come back to. “When [my friend] was evacuating she was watching her house burn down. She’s homeless now, that’s the story of everyone who lived

in Paradise,” Stamos said. “Thousands are homeless and 1,500 animals have been displaced by the fire are in desperate need of help.” Even with the fire still raging on, many have gone back, however, the fire is not the only hazard to worry about. Typically, San Jose’s air quality ranges from 0 to 50, however in Chico, the air quality rating exceeded the Air Quality Institution’s cap of 500. “It’s not just a number. The acrid air outside burns the throat, nose, and lungs,” Slavik Chukhlebov said. “Prolonged exposure can cause permanent health damage. Proper masks are recommended, but neither masks nor air filters in buildings or cars can filter out 100 percent of the smoke.” Back home, Slavik’s brother Daniel Chukhlebov, 10, was frustrated by the disaster the fire has brought and the unstable environment his brother was in. “I was really concerned for his health because he had to stay there for family reasons as well as different school reasons which can both affect his health and potentially a huge monetary toll from the fires,” Daniel Chukhlebov said. Even with the ruin from the fire there is hope to be found in Chico. “The general mood in Chico has slowly been transferring from shock to depression,” said Slavik Chukhlebov. “I hope it won’t be too long before the community of Paradise is ready to start rebuilding.”

Pony Express - Volume 59, Issue 3

News

Student Store Loses Pizza, Burritos and Funding The removal of hot food in the student store eliminates more than $40,000 in revenue from ASB budget

On Tuesday Dec. 4, Mika Perez, 11, sells snacks to a student customer while working at the student store. Photo by Ben Shiverdaker

By Ben Shiverdaker Staff Writer Hot foods have been a staple in the student store with pizza and burritos being a longtime fan favorite. As one of the largest sources of income for the ASB account, these foods were the revenue that helped fund many on-campus events. Under San José Unified School District

guidelines, foods similar to those being sold in the cafeteria create competition with Student Nutrition Services. To sell foods like pizza and burritos, they would need to be purchased from Student Nutrition Services and sold at an equal price. As of this year, these foods are no longer being sold. In the past, the foods would contribute $42,931 gross profit to the ASB account. The leadership class will now look at other means

of fundraising to compensate for this loss. According to ASB clerk Zoe Valenzuela, who handles the account, the profit contributes to rallies and Breaking Down the Walls. To make sure those events continue happening, leadership will now work to find other ways to fundraise. “We can only sell a list of certain items through the district and there’s not a lot on there. It’s mandated by the state of

California,” Valenzuela said. “The income goes to big events like Breaking Down the Walls and rallies. That money helps offset that cost for the students.”Due to hot food no longer being sold in the student store, they lost customers such as Julia Torrez, 11, who bought food there two to three times per week. “I don’t like the food at the cafeteria and I thought that the food at the student store was pretty inexpensive and good to buy,” Torrez said. “That was a lot of where I bought my lunch.” The leadership class is making the necessary adjustments to adapt to the change. ASB activities director Macy Valdez, 12, is teaching groups how to fundraise effectively. “We lost about 60% profit from the absence of hot food,” Valdez said. “We are currently looking for and thinking about different types of fundraisers that would work best for us.” Although the foods have been taken off the menu, Activities Director Michelle Mayhew assures that there will not be any less or lower quality events on campus. “It’s more of leadership knowing more of the budget and sticking to it and having a little bit stricter budget and being creative with what we do give them,” Mayhew said. “Creating their decorations rather than buying them and stuff like that. We’re trying not to take away anything, especially those that impact our campus so greatly.”

Profits Sliced by $20,000 as New Guidelines Roll In

Without the sale of pizza and burritos, the student store has seen a massive drop in revenue in the past year By Darius Parakh Staff Writer In the past year, Pioneer’s Associated Student Body store’s revenue has plummeted by over $40,000 due to the loss of its two most successful products — pizza and burritos. Without these pillars of profit, ASB will have to find new sources of income as decreasing sales limit their ability to fund school events. In the past July-June fiscal year, pizza and burritos accounted for over half of the revenue earned by the student store, collecting $42,931 during the yearlong period. With a profit of $1.40 per slice,

the pizza provided by Domino’s was undoubtedly the student store’s most rewarding product. ASB Treasurer Hadi Siddiqui has served as treasurer for the past two years and personally noticed the reduction in sales. In November, the student store’s revenue had fallen by a total of $1,000 when compared to the same month last year. “There is definitely a drop,” said Siddiqui. “Without any products that students want to buy, there is less motivation on their end to purchase food.” Senior class secretary Ben Urban has also noticed the drop but remains confident that ASB will cope in the long run. “Even if we were sold out of hot food,

people who came to the window would still purchase snacks,” said Urban. “Now, leadership will have to focus on discovering new ways to fundraise money.” Activities Director Michelle Mayhew was also optimistic that leadership would be able to recover. “There is definitely a difference that leadership will have to make up,” Mayhew said. “But new fundraisers will help make up the deficit.” Julie Madrigal, now the College and Career Advisor, was the ASB Bank Clerk two years ago. Under her command, the student store underwent a transition from selling food from the cafeteria to an entirely separate business.

“A percentage of the student store’s profit was originally split with the cafeteria,” said Madrigal. “Over time, we stopped selling items from the cafeteria in favor of our own privately purchased products.” According to Madrigal, and information provided by Mayhew, the burritos were the least profitable of the two discontinued items, selling at $3.25 a burrito, which is only 25 cents more than the $3.00 price for which the store bought the burrito. While the student store’s place as a constant influx of money has become uncertain, the leadership class is hopeful that they will be able to earn back most of their lost profits through new fundraisers and activities.

Shorter Budget Requires New Ideas from Leadership

Leadership strives to find alternative ways to fundraise money for upcoming activities on campus By Jamie Shimamoto Staff Writer Budgeting is a key factor when it comes to planning out various events and activities around campus. Recently, due to the decrease in funds coming from hot food purchases in the student store, leadership has been open minded about new ways to stay in their smaller budget. ASB Activities Director Macy Valdez and the leadership class have created numerous events and fundraisers in hope to raise money for their ASB account. “We didn’t have trouble funding ‘Breaking Down the Walls’ but we are working on different types of fundraisers to see what brings in the most profit,” said Valdez. Leadership teacher Amy Hernandez acknowledges the regulations of the district, and encourages the creativity needed to work around them. “We have absolutely no control over what’s allowed to be sold in the student store or not. We just have to adhere to [the policies] or our district will get cited. So we

have to get creative,” said Hernandez. “We have identified fundraisers that we think could be profitable.” ASB President Leo Michels, 12, finds that under the circumstances, school events have still been receiving the same effect after the changes of their budget. He sees this as a chance to be more unique and versatile when planning for school functions. “We haven’t had to make any drastic changes, but we’re just more aware of how we’re spending, and if there’s cheaper ways to spend our money on things that we can get the same effect,” said Michels. Pioneer Activities Director Michelle Mayhew finds that being more aware of the budget benefits the students in the leadership class. She acknowledges that it is useful for factors outside of the students’ lives off campus. “I think it’s helping them set up for being an adult, and handling their own finances. We all have a budget and we’re all very aware of the budget, and that just helps them,” said Mayhew. Budgeting more wisely has been a priority of the class when it comes down to

Pony Express - Volume 59, Issue 3

On Tuesday Dec. 5, Leadership teacher Amy Hernandez records fundraising ideas that the junior class proposes during the group discussion. Photo by Jamie Shimamoto planning larger events on campus. “We’re going to be getting multiple food trucks here in the front of the school,” said Hernandez. “We also want to start selling emergency kits for families to have in their house, teachers to have in their classrooms,

people to have in their cars, in the event that there ever was an earthquake.” Leadership aims to keep seeking new and unique ideas on how to raise money for the year since there is now a greater emphasis on planning and budgeting.

Sports

Rebounding in the Upcoming Season

Nat’s Changes in coaching set up the team for a promising season on the court Stats

On Thursday Dec. 6, Coach Rob Zaccheo discusses play strategies with the team during a timeout against the Santa Teresa High School. Photo by Natalie Sarsfield

By Katherine Rowe and Sara Stamos Staff Writers The varsity girls basketball team is looking forward to what will hopefully be a successful season. Rob Zaccheo has been an assistant coach for girls basketball in the past, and after taking a break from coaching at Pioneer for a few years, he is thrilled to return and take

on the responsibility of being head coach for the first time. With the new season, Zaccheo is hoping that the team will put in the work and effort necessary for an impressive season this year. “The number one thing I’m looking forward to is getting the team to play together, to be a family, to build relationships with the players, to help them through the ups and downs of the season, and just competing,” Zaccheo said.

After playing for Holy Names University last year, Pioneer class of 2017 graduate Kaitlyn Johnson assumed the role of assistant coach this year and can not wait to see what the season holds for the team. Johnson is new to coaching basketball, but has experience as a former player for the team. “I think the main thing I’m looking forward to is seeing the girls grow,” Johnson said. “I had a lot of growth when I was here with myself, so I think it’ll be fun to see it from a different perspective.” With higher expectations, the girls are planning work together to reach their goal. Captain Mikayla Bush, 12, trusts that the girls will work hard to get to the championships. “We’re a team and we’re working together. We’re not individual players, everything we do affects the team and how we play as a whole,” Bush said. With a new and dedicated coaching staff and a persistent attitude, the girls varsity basketball team is confident they will have an excellent season this year. “We always want to win, winning’s always a great thing, but knowing that we’ve tried to reach our goals and worked hard enough, I feel like that’s success enough,” Bush said.

Health Hazard Hinders Athletes’ Season

Bad air quality restricts outdoor activity for CCS and most winter sports By Dani Chang Staff Writer

having a gym, a home, and a school to go to despite struggling to recover from a cold as the bad air quality remained. “I think at first people were a little angry that our games were canceled. But soon we were reminded of things we should be grateful for instead of complaining. People don’t have homes anymore and a whole city had burned. I think that when you choose to focus on your blessings instead of what’s been impacted, the situation gets a little bit better,” Barlow said. The girls basketball team had to cancel two preseason games. Girls soccer had to practice passing in the mini gym. CCS was postponed three times and had changed locations to avoid the smoke. Both indoor, outdoor, and CCS alike were affected by the bad air quality despite being hours away from the fire.

Former Mustang Returns to the Mats Wrestling program alumni joins the team in his first season as a head coach By Ben Shiverdaker Staff Writer

The wrestling program has a new addition, a coach who looking to bring a fresh coaching style and perspective to the team. Class of 2012 graduate Chris Lopez was hired as coach for JV and varsity starting this year. While he came to the program without coaching experience, he brought an eager attitude and high hopes for his new team. Lopez believes wrestling comes from a self-drive within the players. He plans to build upon the team by having the more experienced players help the newer players. “I want to improve upon the culture. Building a strong program starts with athletes wanting to be in the room,” said Lopez. “Top wrestlers push the pace in the room and sets a good example for young wrestlers to emulate.” The players on the team range from experienced players to beginning wrestlers. First-time wrestler Krish Shenoy, 11, finds Lopez to be supportive and determined to aid him on his path to becoming a better wrestler. “He doesn’t let anything slide. Whenever I’m messing up, whenever I’m

On Monday, Dec. 10, J.T Forbes, 11, and Brenden Given, 10, partnered up to practice wrestling techniques for upcoming Saturday tournaments Photo by Natalie Sarsfield doing a move wrong, he takes the extra time,” said Shenoy. “I’m not a very good wrestler, but he takes a lot of time to talk to me doesn’t stop till I get it right, he’s persistent.” Captain RJ Cho, 11, is excited to be able to take on a leadership role on the team and learn alongside his new coach. He feels that having a new coach and being a new captain will be a good learning experience for both himself and Lopez.

“With a veteran coach they know what they want you to do, they know what they’re going to do, and you just kinda serve your role. Having a new coach, there is an element to it where we’re sort of working through it together,” said Cho. The players are excited for a new season with a new coach as they look to learn and improve alongside him. Their first dual meet will be Jan. 3 at Pioneer against Andrew Hill High School.

Sports Editor Sports are always something that I’ve tried to follow. But now, I have noticed the very essence of it warping. The integrity of sports as a whole has become more for the entertainment of others, a competition to see who can be the most flashy, the one that can be the most famed and garner the most revenue. Sports used to be something that was separate from the golden and sparkling, but corrupt Hollywood. Now, people like Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Katie Ledecky are all involved with the mess that is show business, no matter how hard they try to stay out of it. Their personal lives are torn apart, compared to each other for the amount of gold disks they have had around their necks, demolishing the friendly but fiery competition that is embedded in sports since its beginning. We need to leave the integrity of sports alone and appreciate the amount of hard work these athletes put into their craft, not sidetrack them from it. We should encourage improvement, not try to stop it by shoveling other unnecessary drama upon their already heavy shoulders.

Athlete of the Month Photo by Jamie Shimamoto

The Camp Fire, which first began in Butte County, became the biggest wildfire in California history. The smoke, which carried over 200 miles, had an impact across the Bay Area, restricting outdoor activity. Though San Jose was not directly impacted by the fire, student athletes were forced to practice inside as the smoke from the fire continued to travel. With CCS continuously rescheduling due to the bad air quality, head coach of the cross country team Kristen Miksch, took her athletes to a nearby gym for the very first time to stay in shape. “I’ve never really had to use any gyms

around us. We really haven’t had an issue that lasted for a week straight. It was pretty cool cause we were able to get some training in outside of running outdoors,” Coach Miksch said. For an outdoor sports, the constant postponing and rescheduling became frustrating. Varsity soccer player Sonja Ryser, 12, was disappointed that the school had decided to continue practice for winter sports even when it was hard to breathe normally. “I’m not sure if the school really tried their hardest to put student safety ahead of sports. Schools are being closed for the week but we still have practice outside. They should realize that we are all competitive people,” Ryser said. Captain of the girls basketball team Lindsey Barlow, 12, learned to appreciate

Natsumi Hirano

By Jamie Shimamoto Staff Writer

Being quick on your feet is an important part of soccer. For Emily Keller, 12, it is something that has always come naturally to her. As goalkeeper, Keller understands that her role is vital in the sport, especially when it comes to defense on the field. “I think it has helped me become a more understanding person, and find where people’s strengths and weaknesses are,” said Keller. “Especially in goal, I have to talk to people and understand where they excel and where they struggle and talk them through things.” Stopper Sonja Ryser, 12, sees Keller as someone who encourages the team to improve while also maintaining that excellence herself. “As a goalkeeper, Emily has a lot of responsibilities and is always in the goal leading us and trying to get us to be our best,” said Ryser. Coach Randy Worthington, someone who has seen Keller’s best moments on the field, finds that in games, her role on the team is essential. “She was voted Goalkeeper of the Year as a junior, in the A-Division, which is very rare because it usually is a senior that gets that honor, she kept us in a lot of games,” said Worthington. Keller looks forward to keep pursuing soccer after high school, as she heads into her last season for Pioneer.

Pony Express - Volume 59, Issue 3

Features

Peer Tutoring Fosters a New Learning Environment Tutoring program thrives as more students start attending voluntary tutoring sessions with their peers

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Justin Neff, 12, explains a challenging math problem during peer tutoring to Ishan Grewal, 10, in the library during S period. Photo by Cody Yick

By Cody Yick Staff Writer Many students need and want academic aid that they don’t have access to or are not

comfortable getting. With an extra program, students have the opportunity to take advantage of the help being offered. Peer Tutoring is a way for students to get the support that they need from other

students, and sometimes teachers, around campus. Assistant Principal of Instruction Brendan Simon oversees the program and makes sure the program is benefiting students. “I asked teachers to give me recommendations and then I just met with students one on one and asked of they were interested,” said Simon. “I also said that this is not only an opportunity to help your peers at Pioneer, it is also a opportunity to community service hours as well.” For students like Jacqueline Herrera, 11, the program promotes a safe and beneficial atmosphere allowing students to get the most out of tutoring. “I would describe it as a way of getting help on questions and material you don’t understand,” said Herrera. “The program allows you to ask questions without feeling intimidated or rushed. It is very peaceful and people are there because they want to be there.” Emily Hatheway, 11, one of the tutors in the program, feels as though students being tutored are not the only ones gaining an

advantage from the program. “It is also the students that are helping the tutors explore their capabilities and broaden their horizons,” said Hatheway. “Every student involved is a type of silent hero.” For some tutors it feels rewarding to be able to teach other students. Unlike other programs, Peer Tutoring provides different outcomes for both students. “There isn’t another experience out there that compares to when you help someone or teach something to someone who needs it,” said Hatheway. “It’s like a warm feeling in your heart when you know that you made someone’s day a little better.” Peer Tutoring gives students a outlet to tutors that they are comfortable approaching. From math to English, all core subjects are offered Monday through Thursday from 3:20 - 4:20 p.m. in the library. “If anyone feels like they need tutoring, make sure they reach out to me or they can just show up,” said Simon. “I have only heard positive reviews from students, so I just want to continue this program and give students some support.”

Collaboration Brings Mindfulness to Mental Health

Bring Change 2 Mind club and Interact club come together to bring awareness in a three day event on campus By Dani Chang and Colin Smith Staff Writers

Nearing the end of the first semester, Interact and Bring Change to Mind came together in an effort to bring awareness of the anxiety and stress within students on campus. Started by Jamie Shimamoto, 12, president of BC2M, and Naomi Liu, 12, president of Interact, the two clubs hoped to remind students that everyone is fighting their own mental battles and to not be so harsh on themselves. The Mustang Mindfulness event happened from Dec.

5, through Dec. 7, consisting of activities and fundraisers in the quad during lunch to help break the stigma around mental illness. Janet Holt, 12, the vice president of the BC2M club, wanted to spread more positivity around campus through this event. “At this time of year, with finals coming up, the majority of our campus is stressed. We wanted to not only show people that they are not alone in this, but to also give them an outlet to de-stress and remind themselves of what is good in their lives,” Holt said. One of the board members of the

BC2M club, Ashley Bonfoey, 12, had high hopes for the third day, which included an event of writing worries or negative things you want to let go of on bio-degradable balloons and releasing them. She wanted students to feel less stressed especially since the holidays and the end of the year was approaching. “We believe it’s important to take a moment to relax and focus on one’s wellness, especially among all of the college application deadlines and the upcoming winter finals,” Bonfoey said. “Our main goal is to just let students feel happier through a fun event on campus, as well as bring awareness to the importance of

maintaining one’s mental health.” Liu hoped that students become more proactive and involved in their clubs after this event. “I want to help inspire people to take more action within our school. I want them to feel a need to do something. We should have a community of everyone supporting each other. I hope to impact people in this positive way,” Liu said. With a successful close to the event, both clubs were proud of what they have accomplished. They believe that they were successfully able to spread the awareness of self care, positive mental health and overall wellness to students.

Pre-Med is Making a Splash in Medical Knowledge

Following last year’s success, the club is working on spreading medical skills across the campus By Darius Parakh and Colin Smith Staff Writers The Pre-Med Society is gearing up to travel to Stanford University for the second time in the past two years to learn an assortment of medical practices and engage in thorough lessons. Since its beginning, they have enrolled in several medical seminars under the program Stanford Splash. It offers not only an in-depth look into the medical field but also numerous opportunities for students to work hands-on with professionals. The Pre-Med Society was founded with the goal of improving medical knowledge. Weekly student-led lectures make up most of the meetings, as the club leaders attempt to give the school a better understanding of the medical field. Stanford Splash has provided the Pre-Med Society with a variety of courses that meld with the vision of their club. Club president Chloe Duckworth, 12, enjoys the experiences that the program offers to the club members. “We tend to take the biomedical classes. Last year, there was an amazing cadaver lab in the Stanford Med School where they showed us the various parts of the body,” said Duckworth. “It was really fascinating to have conversations about medical fields.” Every year, hundreds of students apply for a chance to enter the program. Tapping into the college’s passionate student body, the program utilizes their supply of potential

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Angie Harutunyan, 9, Ashley Sullivan, 9, Rachel Toombs, 12, and Chloe Duckworth, 12, stand in front of Stanford’s chapal on their way to their class about the intersection of science and faith. Photo Courtesy of Chloe Duckworth educators to teach a variety of courses to high school students. The club advisor, Steve Boyd, is impressed by the variety of skills that the Pre-Med Society offers to students interested in the medical field. “They share what it takes to enter medical school, and the hardships associated with it,” said Boyd. “The club aims to gather people

Pony Express - Volume 59, Issue 3

of like-minded medical interests together and assemble them for debates on fascinating topics.” Newer students also have plenty of opportunities to learn from veteran members. Valerie Lima, 12, joined Pre-Med Society this year to help her prepare for a future in nutritional medicine. “My favorite part is our debates, which

allow us to widen our knowledge on topics,” said Lima. “So far, we’ve discussed stem cell research, basic hospital procedures and careers in the medical field.” As the club continues to grow, they are excited about discovering similar opportunities that will help the campus become more educated on the topic of medicine and health.

Features

Taking Action to Combat Teen Anxiety

Chats “Angst” provides information and insight about the mental state of students With Nat Natsumi Hirano

Features Editor

On Thursday, Dec. 6, crisis counselor Mauro Garcia, counselor Lori LeBlanc, crisis counselor Elizabeth Bahn, and marriage family therapist Diane Moore answer questions and comments that the audience have during the discussion. Photo by Emily Dao

By Emily Dao Design Editor With mental health being one of the top issues in adolescents, the admin are taking measures into their own hands by providing viewing opportunities to watch the IndieFlix Original documentary, “Angst.” The documentary, which was shown during flex, discusses teen anxiety and how to help people cope with it. Assistant Principal of Guidance, Elizabeth Brush, wanted to screen the documentary because she knows that anxiety is an issue that many students struggle with in their life. “We just feel that there is a lot of pressure on kids,” Brush said. “We just wanted to bring attention to that and talk about it and it’s a way to get help for all the kids that are struggling.” Bring Change 2 Mind Club secretary Ashley Bonfoey, 12, initially wanted to

watch the film to learn more about anxiety in depth. After attending the screening, Bonfoey felt that she understood more about the definition of anxiety and the effects it had on someone. “The documentary was effective in conveying the difference between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder as well as how having an anxiety disorder can inhibit one’s life.” Bonfoey said. Bring Change 2 Mind Club treasurer Maddie Smith,12, has had personal experience with anxiety and wanted to watch the film to learn more about other people who have dealt with similar situations as her. “A lot of the time I feel like it’s just me struggling through these day-to-day challenges,” Smith said. “Although I already knew that many people struggle with anxiety, it’s really intriguing to hear and learn about other people’s stories and really

go deeper in the meaning of ‘anxiety.”’ After the end of the screening, there was a discussion panel that is made up of psychologists and counselors that answer any questions that the audience may have about “Angst” or about anxiety in general. The documentary was shown during FLEX on Dec. 5th and 6th and at 6 p.m to 8 p.m on Dec. 6th in the PAC. Teachers who were interested in showing the documentary to their students could do so during their class periods. Bonfoey encourages students who are hesitant to watch the documentary to view it at least once as it effectively described anxiety and the effect it has on teenagers . “To my fellow peers, I would like them to know that it is a very relatable documentary,” Bonfey said. “The majority of those interviewed were around the same age as us and dealing with similar problems involving school and stresses.”

I’ve always been the person that’s never known what they wanted to be career-wise. My interests stray and have always changed with the seasons. From wanting to become a police officer to becoming an accountant, my interests have flickered to one career option to another. Most people may know if they are more of an “English person” or a “math person” and choose their path from there. Unfortunately, I do not know if I am more of a math person or not, writing and English have always fascinated me but math has also been easy to understand for me as well. As a junior, we get emails left and right. “You’re on out list!” “You’re perfect for this campus!” all I can do is read them and hope the notification icon goes away. How does one know if they are perfect for a campus? How do people find the perfect jobs for them? The only answer seems to be to explore. We as people need to explore more, look for experiences, look for things to do no matter if you “know for sure” you won’t enjoy it. We never know. For those people with college looming over them, trying to decide what major to choose and what path to walk down, for those that are scared to apply undeclared because they think it is harder to get into the school they want, for those that are still wondering who they are and what they want to do, I’ve been wondering the same. I’ve been surrounded by the people that seem like they know just what they want to do since the day they were born. the people that followed one part for their entire lives. But, there will always be a career for you, there will be something that lights your fire, there will be something out there that excites you, I hope you find that, you and me both.

Painting a Pop of Color Into the Lives of Students Senior brings idea of painting utility boxes on campus into a reality as part of a project for Girl Scouts By Katherine Rowe Staff Writer With the addition of murals around campus, the school will be brightened with more color as the start of a new project is planned to be completed by the end of the school year. Helping provide the National Art Honors Society with a means to get community service hours, Catherine Roberts, 12, plans have the utility boxes around the school along with the two large metal doors by the PAC painted with designs for her Girl Scouts Gold Award project. Though this process of painting the boxes are expected to take this entire school year, Roberts hopes it can be completed by the start of May. “I think this project will affect the campus in a positive way, it should brighten up our rather dull campus and make it a more fun place,” Roberts said. “I hope it would instill more school pride so we feel proud of where we go to school.” NAHS member Nikoo Rajai, 10, is excited to work on this new project and feels that it will make our school more colorful, while giving the students more pride in seeing the campus with work they took part in making. She also feels this project is more inclusive as well, because people can work on different aspects that suit their personal skills better. “Personally, I don’t really paint much, but that’s why it’s awesome to have so many people helping,” Rajai said. “Everyone gets

On Wednesday, Dec.5, Catherine Roberts, 12, shows preliminary drafts for the murals that will be painted on the boxes. After being approved, the designs can be finalized and completed as art boxes that will be located on campus. Photo by Renee Boissier to help out with what they’re good at.” NAHS advisor Annie Tobin feels that these boxes will help showcase the art that students do, and give it a longer lasting effect. “We do a lot of art in the classroom, and it never gets out there, or it doesn’t get out there for very long, but this is permanent,”

Tobin said. “It just shows that we care about the arts, we care about our campus, we care about the community.” Roberts believes that in the future, more students and classes can participate in this project, by allowing it to be changed to relate to new events and what is current. “In years to come, the art club can build

upon what we do and create new designs reflecting how the school and society evolves over time,” Roberts said. These ‘art boxes’ should reduce the graffiti on our campus, brightening it’s colors and beautifying it, while giving students something to be a part of and be proud of on our campus.

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Entertainment

The Glue Factory Adopts a Historic Cast of 76 Orphans The advanced drama class performed a momentous show with the Glue Factory to produce “Annie” By Anvi Damani Staff Writer For the first time ever, advanced drama students and the Pioneer community members join forces to create a musical following the story of an orphan. From Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, the Glue Factory and the advanced drama class made history with the classic “Annie.” While the Glue Factory consists of volunteer alumni, teachers and parents dedicated to fundraising for the program, the students worked with them to bring the beloved show to life. By uniting two groups to produce a memorable performance, they hoped to raise ticket sales to support the class. Pioneer, being one of the only schools to have a self-sufficient drama class, does not require students to pay a fee in order to be a part of the program. Retired teacher Steve Dini was invited back to direct “Annie” by current drama teacher Ashley Coleman, who decided to join two groups together to increase overall funds for the program. “It definitely boosts ticket sales. The more

people you have on cast, the more you can sell tickets. I think every performer would agree with me that you perform better when you have more people in the audience,” Coleman said. “When adults can motivate students and students can motivate adults, that creates a wonderful climate. They are inspired by the students and are happy to support. Without them, we wouldn’t have our principals in the show.” English teacher Kathleen Quint, a Glue Factory veteran, was driven to join by her passion for acting. “All the ticket sales go to the students so that students do not need to pay for costumes, t-shirts or activities,” Quint said. “Other schools charge a fee to the students to be in the drama department. Our school provides everything, so it’s easy access for all students.” Ramsey Osborne, 9, believed that uniting these two groups lifted up their spirits. “They actually add great quality to the show. I love having people who are experienced and know what they are doing,” Osborne said. Megan Arnold, 12, has been in advanced drama for the past two years. She thought

On Tuesday, Nov. 27, the cast mock lead character Annie, played by teacher and Pioneer alumni Alisabeth Bacon, over a new coat that she was given . Photo by Natalie Sarsfield that joining the drama class and the Glue Factory together would impact Pioneer greatly. “Combining Pioneer drama and Glue Factory will be the better call for both casts,

and it will help the program grow a lot more,” Arnold said. “Now we are not just bringing in the kids’ parents, we are bringing in the Glue Factory’s friends, children, family, and loved ones from both sides.”

Band Brings Old Beats Back In “A Brief Inquiry”

The 1975 integrates modern issues in their new album, influencing new conversations in the media By Emily Nguyen News Editor As the world continues to revolve around controversial topics, many artists are bringing more serious conversations in their music. The 1975 has been one of the top indie rock bands to connect to the primal emotions of heartbreak with popular songs like “Somebody Else” and “A Change of Heart.” The album, “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships,” holds truths that are becoming increasingly more important while taking an in depth look at socially controversial topics, delving into the minds of the nuisance youth.

After a two year wait, The 1975, lead by Matt Healy, finally released their new album on Nov. 30. It discusses the age of cell phones and electronics, where more love stories are written on screens than in real life. Although they are known for their love songs, the band addresses a large range of issues of today such as suicide, drug usage, politics and social media. I have to admit, there are some hits and misses within the album. Songs like “The 1975” and “How to Draw/Petrichor” are way too produced and autotuned with sub par dubstep. I thought that it went overboard in every aspect, showing

how this new style just doesn’t seem to fit with their typical of integrating jazz in their music. I give Healy credit since he produced the album along with the band’s drummer, George Daniel. Considering their lack of experience, I commend the effort for trying a new genre, however, it’s definitely not my cup of tea. Taking a more classic approach to their style, the band’s song “Sincerity is Scary” is one of my favorites. It opens with the intense lyric of “And irony is okay, I suppose, culture is to blame/ You try and mask your pain in the most postmodern way.” Although it is one of the more upbeat songs on the record, it

revolves around the heavy topic of putting up a facade out of insecurity and anxiety in a relationship, which always leads to confusion and conflict with others. It specifically touches on the social norm of sincerity being ridiculed through ironic and slightly cynical lyrics juxtaposed with a lighthearted track. Within a single album, Healy incorporates many attributes of today’s detrimental standards of social norm that need to be brought to light. Conversation is becoming more important as society often divides us, especially with technology pushing people farther and farther away from each other.

The Band is Ringing and the Orchestra is Stringing

The music department successfully performed the annual Winter Concert, kicking off the holiday season

On Monday Dec. 3, Phillip Kim, 10, plays his French horn while rehearsing new music with the rest of the third period jazz band. This ensemble is made up of solely brass intruments and are preparing for the Winter Concert. Picture by Emily Guerra

By Emily Guerra Staff Writer On Dec. 12 and 13, the band and orchestra programs performed the Winter Concert in the PAC, where they showcased their hard work and spread cheer through their love of instruments. All bands and orchestras at Pioneer

had been preparing since October in preparation for the upcoming concert, which was free and open to the community. The winter concert is the favorite of trumpet player Justin Neff, 12, who feels that music is a large factor in getting people in the Christmas spirit in December. “The holidays are an important time for

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a lot of people, and I think that music plays a big role in them. The music we play holds nostalgic or sentimental value for many people and it’s fun to play that music for everyone during the holiday season,” Neff said. The music department has a seemingly endless library of musical selections. Trumpet player Jakob Reinwald, 11, had

trouble picking just a few pieces with his jazz band to perform, but was happy to see people there to celebrate the festive season. “The hardest part has been trying to narrow down which songs we want to play because there were a lot of ones we wanted to do, but we didn’t have time to prepare all of them to be concert ready,” Reinwald said. Paige Steffler, 10, struggled to find the time to practice the cello with her busy schedule, but played a successful concert full of holiday spirit. “The hardest part of preparing for the winter concert, and any concert in general, is finding time to practice, and to practice correctly. As high schoolers, I feel that a lot of us have tons of extra curricular activities outside of school as well as school to worry about,” Steffler said. Steffler wanted people to see her orchestra’s hard work and come out to support the music department, especially during the holiday season. Although admission was free, donations to the program were greatly appreciated and encouraged. The funds collected the night of the concert will go towards the general needs for the bands and orchestras, including new music selections. “People should come see the show to support our orchestra program and all of the students who work hard every day in order to share something. We don’t do it just for us, we do it because music is special and it brings people together,” Steffler said.

Entertainment

New Pokémon Aims to Catch Old Fans

Game developers change the formula for the latest entry for the Nintendo Switch

Starring Sars

By Riley Fink Staff Writer

Natalie Sarsfield

After the staggering success the Pokémon Company had with “Pokémon Go” in 2016, it makes sense that influence from the mobile hit would carry over to the next entry in the series. This speculation proved fact when “Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu” and “Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee” released on the Nintendo Switch on Nov. 16 of this year. The new game replaced the traditional battles with wild Pokémon to a system closer to “Pokémon Go,” allowing you to catch, but not fight them, via the system’s integrated motion controls. Many other changes were made to streamline the experience, such as giving the player each of the original game’s starter Pokémon, establishing the installment as a mix between the main series and “Pokémon Go.” Opinions on the changes are typically positive among the loyal fanbase, but the game is clearly designed to be more simplistic than the main series to bring in those who became interested due to “Pokémon Go.” Tala Broadwell, 10, a long time fan of the series, explains the app’s influence on the new entry. “I don’t think ‘Pokémon Go’s’ influence is as bad as people feared,” Broadwell said. “Some things were simplified, as it is a gateway game, but the catching system is fun and the battles are still great too.” This focus on simplicity doesn’t rest well with the entire fanbase, however. Many

Entertainment Editor

On Monday, Dec. 3, Shawn Barnwell, 10, attempts to catch a Spearow, one of the original 151 Pokémon brought back for the new pair of games released on Nov. 26. Photo by Riley Fink fans, such as Eric Penunuri, 10, are skipping this entry due to changes to the traditional formula. “As a fan of the strategic team-building gameplay found in the main series games, I’m not very interested in ‘Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee,’” Penunuri said. “It puts less of an emphasis on choosing moves that work well with the Pokémon’s stats and abilities.” The developers of the game, Game Freak, predicted backlash for these alterations, revealing their plan to release a game closer

to the mainline titles in 2019. With the reinvigorated fanbase “Pokémon Let’s Go” hopes to achieve, Game Freak is going all out on this new entry, exciting those who chose to skip the new game. “I expect this game will be accessible for new players created through ‘Pokémon Let’s Go’ and old fans of Pokémon alike,” Penunuri said. “This new game could be a milestone for Pokémon that serves as a great follow up to the very inviting ‘Pokémon Let’s Go.’”

The Ultimate Smash Battle for Everyone

The fifth “Super Smash Bros” installment adds new characters, stages and modes

“Rainy Days” is my current pride and joy filled with a collection of songs spread across different genres and organized by increasing tempo and happiness. Rainy days can sometimes be a drag and representative of seasonal depression heightened by the stress of both the holidays and finals. Personally, I love the rain and it has always been my favorite weather. Nothing makes me happier than enjoying a coffee when it is pouring outside and dancing in the rain with my friends. It is almost therapeutic. When crafting this month’s playlist, I decided that I wanted to combine both my feelings towards rain and also the more depressing outlook into one. Rain for me can represent the extremes of both emotions. That’s why these 10 songs are increasing in tempo, just like the ups and downs of emotions during this rainy season. Whether you like rain or not, there’s a song on here for you to get through this season and into second semester on a strong start. California is far from stormy, yet this season is still so stunningly beautiful. The leaves are changing to an aesthetic array of oranges and reds, the sky is wet, and all is well. As I sat in my fourth period journalism class, I forged this playlist trying to keep both concepts in mind in simply 10 songs. It starts off slower and a little melancholy and then gradually builds up to joyful music, almost like the sun is coming out or like the rain is beginning to pour, depending on your perspective. Stress sometimes gets the best of us but it is crucial to remember to be able to let yourself let go of it, even if it’s just for a little snippet of time, and go outside to dance in the rain.

Rainy Days 1. Life The Walters 2. Parachutes Coldplay 3. come out and play Billie Eilish 4. before i close my eyes XXXTENTACION On Sunday, Dec. 9, the newly introduced character Ridley executes a powerful attack on “Super Smash Bros” series veteran character Fox McCloud in the stage Battlefield as part of a one-on-one smash battle to claim victory. Photo by Will Majors

By Will Majors Staff Writer Masahiro Sakurai is at it again with his biggest, most substantial and best entry in his world-renowned fighting game franchise “Super Smash Bros.” It is a gigantic collaboration of Nintendo franchises like “Super Mario Bros,” “The Legend of Zelda,” “Kirby,” “Pokémon” and “Metroid” and so many more. Sakurai brings his latest offering “Super Smash Bros Ultimate,” a colossal celebration of the series as a whole with every character returning from the previous four entries from Link or Kirby to more obscure smash characters and even new characters that were requested in the past. Also returning from older installments is a huge single-player story mode.

This time dubbed “World of Light,” the story revolves around all the characters within the series going up against a new malicious being known as Galeem seen controlling hundreds of Master Hands as it pulls a Thanos and vaporizes all the “Smash” series characters with the exception of Kirby who miraculously escapes on a warp star to a remote and unaffected spot. It’s up to Kirby, the lone survivor of the annihilation, to save the rest of the characters and vanquish Galeem in order to bring peace. Another new factor inserted into the game is Spirits Mode. Spirits are an upgraded version of trophies since they are more interactive and have far more functionality rather than just being an inanimate feature just to be collectible. Primary spirits can be equipped to fighters

to grant more strength to not only you but the spirit as well. Secondary spirits can also be added to give special effects like stronger attacks or reduced damage. The player can also equip up to three support spirits to give even more effects to your primary spirit like boosted attack or higher jump or even more abstract effects like making everything foggy. This entry is shaping up to make “Super Smash Bros” series history with its whopping roster of more than 74 characters, more than 103 stages assuming omega and battlefield forms aren’t counted and over 800 musical tracks. With a $59.99 price tag, this game is well worth your hard-earned money and shows how much effort was put into this one game alone. To rate this game, I would give it a 10 out of 10.

5. Idle Town Conan Gray 6. Cigarette Daydreams Cage the Elephant 7. Sweater Weather The Neighbourhood 8. Habits Of My Heart Jaymes Young 9. Underneath the Streetlights in the Winter Outside Your House Wallows 10. Cough Syrup Young the Giant

Pony Express - Volume 59, Issue 3

Opinion

Motivating Mental Health Discussions The Pony Express Editorial Board For a topic once ignored, teen mental health has made its way into conversation in recent weeks. With a three day event named Mustang Mindfulness and a showing of the recently released documentary “Angst” in the PAC, several activities were introduced in the week of Dec. 3 in an effort to give students an opportunity to learn more about the topic. The documentary, which featured interviews from teens and researchers, was aired in schools like ours to educate people about teen anxiety and depression. The lunchtime event, hosted by the Bring Change to Mind and Interact clubs included fundraisers, activities and positive notes that the two clubs used to educate and offer support in regards to the mental health issues. Now that the end of the semester is coming, exams and final grades continue to weigh on students. The academic standards forced on students creates a competitive dynamic within the school that many just

aren’t prepared for. From societal pressures, college applications, deadlines and due dates, high schoolers continue to struggle to meet expectations. Even the current vaping and addiction problem at our school is likely due to the need to cope with the mental pressures faced teenagers, through the use of depressants like marijuana and nicotine. It is relieving to see that the concern for the student’s mental health is becoming a priority. The students and staff on campus have taken a step in the right direction to create a more positive and safe campus for everyone. Though students don’t particularly like to voice their struggles, the Interactive days provided by “Mustang Mindfulness” and the pressure-free film environment creates safe places for students to talk more openly about their individual needs and struggles. With that said, there is still much work to be done. The staff as a whole needs to work more closely with their students year round to create a safer environment where students feel free to communicate to others when they need help. More events like

Breaking Down the Walls and grade level assemblies are needed to promote continued dialogue between students and staff to create a deeper level of understanding. If this message were to be continued, there could be an open conversation that could be more beneficial to the entire campus. Students have access to both academic and behavioral counselors in the library, but the stigma created around counselors and getting help continues to leave amazing resources unused. Their availability should be public knowledge, easier to access, and more accepted. Students don’t deserve to be pushed until they are broken and should be able to access the help they need whenever they need it. Students, staff and the administration may have taken steps to create a safer environment at school. Success in high school should be encouraged but not demanded through perfection. It needs to be shown school is for learning and growing as individuals and not for being the best on day one. A competitive environment can quickly turn toxic if not monitored properly by the adults at our school.

Suffering While We Are Doing Nothing Anvi Damani

Staff Writer On Sunday, Nov. 25, the United States took the drastic step of firing tear gas at the U.S. and Mexican border. Due to growing violence and political issues in Honduras, a caravan of people began moving north, through Mexico, to the United States. The size of the group has fluctuated, sometimes with mere hundreds of people, while other estimates have been putting the number in the thousands. Under the orders of President Donald Trump, America launched tear gas over innocent families seeking legal entry into the country. This shameful act has not only jeopardized many people’s future, but also questions the power of humanity. Despite that lives are at stake, America turned

away instead of helping once again. There is nothing more harsh than terrorizing families and making one doubt the certainty of safety. According to Trump, “Nobody is coming into our country, unless they come in legally.” This group did not intend to come to the U.S. illegally and have the right to ask for protection. It’s important to step in their shoes and understand that it is nearly impossible to flourish in Honduras. They have the right to ask for asylum procedures because it’s for the well-being of refugees traveling with the caravan group. It is sheer cruelty to turn away all those people and leave them to suffer. This is by far one of America’s most disgusting acts yet. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees writes that nearly 64 percent of women in Honduras are at a risk of assault and other threats and seek help in the U.S. As poverty is increasing and border control has become more rigid, migrants barely have any chance to step on trusted soil. At least for the sake of humanity, I think it is the duty of America’s to give asylum and not idle

around with peoples wellbeing at sta. There have sadly been many cases in history when the US has ignored human rights to “protect” itself. Take JapaneseAmericans for example. During World War II, Americans segregated the Japanese and sent them to harsh internment camps. If Americans did not make false assumptions towards the Japanese, this act would have never been considered a disgrace. It is ironic how history books today label that incident as a “shameful past” while the present is currently reinforcing the same horror. While we all strive to accept and understand each other, discrimination against this latest group only makes circumstances worse. While it is our responsibility to learn from our own mistake, the government made an impulsive decision to repeat history. To be honest, it is beyond my understanding as to why we can’t allow migrants to come to the U.S., but our country is definitely letting everyone down. What guarantee is there that America won’t do this to us in the future? Safety in America is quite questionable and I cannot live in peace knowing that I could be kicked out someday too.

Transgender Drag Queen Drags RuPaul Cody Yick

Staff Writer “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is known for featuring the finest, most dramatic, handpicked, drag queens from around the world to compete in one of the most exhilarating TV shows of all time. Recently the cast of the next season, All Stars 4, was released. This season differs from a normal season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” because the cast is made up of queens who have competed on past seasons but did not end up winning. This season of “All Stars” is even more anticipated because it includes drag queens that made it to the top in their season but did not win. Unlike others, this will be the first season to feature a queen that has fully transitioned from a man to a woman. Gia

Gunn, featured on season 6 of the show, identifies as female and has received breast implants and surgeries that make her look more like a “feminine” woman would. Ru has said that he is not sure about letting a transgender woman compete on the show because that alone undermines the integrity of the show. Personally, I think that drag is a form of art that allows someone to be who they want to be with no limit or ceiling. Drag can be taken as a man dressed up as a woman, a woman dressed as a man, or a human dressed as something with no sexual identity whatsoever. There are so many ways that the word “drag” can be perceived. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” represents the traditional type of drag of a man dressed a woman, and because of that Gia Gunn’s inclusion in the show has brought about controversy. I think that despite the traditional definition of drag, she should be included in the show because the underlying message of the competition is inclusion. If she is one of the most legendary names in drag race herstory, and the people that she is competing against in this season are legends as well, then a breast

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implant and a surgery should not be able to stop her from competing on the show. Gunn posted mad shade on social media talking about how she feels unwelcomed by Ru on the show and threw insults clearly attacking RuPaul. The person that made her relevant in the first place. I think that Gunn has been given the second chance that not all queens receive, and she should be grateful for being on the show. RuPaul is obviously willing to change, otherwise Gunn wouldn’t even be invited on the show, and I think that she is being petty and immature by throwing shade at Ru for including her in the show. Being a transgender woman is not the problem with Gunn being on the race. It is her personality that should be the main concern for RuPaul. All in all, it would be beneficial if they both open up. RuPaul needs to accept queens on his show if they have charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, not based on who or what they identify as. As for Gunn, she has clearly been given the chance of a lifetime that shows that RuPaul is willing to change, and needs to stop harassing RuPaul when she owes a large portion of her fame to him.

WE HELP FUND THE PONY EXPRESS! We are the Pioneer High School Education Foundation and we raise funds for: • • • •

Student Service Learning NHS Banquet/Scholarships Classroom technology Academic programs

ATTENTION PARENTS: We meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month in the Media Center and we’d love to have you join us as we support PHS students in their academic endeavors. We are searching for parents to help raise funds in support of technology and educational needs of the school. Visit us online and make your donation today using your credit card. It’s fast and easy. Go to www.pioneerhigh.org and select the Education Foundation link. Questions? Email us today at educationfoundationphs@gmail.com PHSEF is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization

The Pony Express wants to hear from you. Send us your thoughts, comments, criticism or praise, and we’ll potentially print it here. Letters should be exclusive to the Pioneer Pony Express and preferably 150-200 words. Contact the Pioneer Pony Express at ponyexpresseditors@gmail.com. Anonymous letters will not be considered for print.