THE
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PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 2, VOLUME 26 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
PVHS Drama Takes the Spotlight with “Peter and the Starcatcher”
By Amber Chen opinion editor After two months of diligent work behind the scenes, the PVHS Drama Department is ready to put on another series of stellar performances, with six in total. On Nov. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14, the talented cast will be enacting their stunning rendition of the musical “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students, and may be purchased online at www. pvhsdrama.com or at the MPR door if seats are still available. “Peter and the Starcatcher’’ tells the backstory of the legendary Peter Pan before he became a hero. In the beginning of this play, Peter is a nameless orphan only known as “Boy.” Because of his deep distrust towards adults, his only acquaintances are the orphan
boys Prentiss and Ted. As they are shipped off from Victorian England to a remote island, they encounter Molly Aster, a clever and self-assured starcatcher-in-training. Starcatchers are individuals hand-selected by the Queen to protect “starstuff,” a powerful and magical substance that must be kept out of evil hands. Molly leads the boys on a mission to protect a precious trunk of starstuff from the fearsome pirate Black Stache and his crew. After he loses his hand, Black Stache is renamed as the infamous Captain Hook. “I think this play could reach every demographic,” junior and Black Stache actor Caiden Falstrup-Finney said. “The jokes in this play and the references are really funny for the youth group and older adult people as well. I myself really enjoy the show because of the type of humor it has. It’s very out
there and very tongue-in-cheek.” Senior Michael Sprengel, who formerly has acted in TV shows, is excited to be starring as Peter in his first musical theater production. “The really cool thing about this show is that everyone is on stage, all the time,” Sprengel said. “The ensemble plays a big part this time, because [they are] on stage all the time, so they’re always being watched. Everyone’s a part of every scene.” The cast thinks the ensemble really adds something unique to the production. “Our version of this show is much more real and compact, because we have such a small cast,” Falstrup-Finney said. “Some people are playing multiple characters. You really get a sense of homeliness and you feel a close relationship with each individual character. For a play, you really want that
connection with each individual character and where they’re at in the story.” Many of the cast members have learned noteworthy lessons from the plot, whether it’s from the overall storyline or from embodying their characters. Falstrup-Finney, for example, feels that he has faced the same flaws as his character Black Stache, but has learned from the encouraging messages of the play nonetheless. “I’ve learned that things might not go your way, but you can find opportunities to change your views and what outcomes happen in your life,” FalstrupFinney said. Likewise, portraying the headstrong character of 13-yearold Molly Aster has helped junior Neela David grasp her own flaws and address them. “[Molly] grows throughout this story and realizes that not everything has to be done her
way, and that she can learn from others,” David said. “That’s something I’ve also dealt with. Especially throughout the show, I’ve learned from so many other people and I feel like I’ve learned more about myself as I’ve learned more about my character. I think I’ve grown along with Molly.” At the beginning of the play, the characters are emotionally distant and unfamiliar with each other, but as they overcome obstacles together throughout the show, they grow into a family. “I think that’s the most important thing I’ve noticed, because we actors can relate to it,” David said. “Every single time we perform together in a show, we always learn. It makes me happy to see how I’ve grown, how other people have grown and how people in the story have grown. It’s just so parallel.” Continued on page 4...
New Interim Principal to Begin After Thanksgiving By Aidan Sun editor-in-chief After serving PVHS as interim principal throughout the fall months, Carter Paysinger is returning to retirement. He is to be replaced by familiar face, Dr. Trista Ramirez, a former
associate principal and counselor at PVHS. Students and faculty were informed on Nov. 3 of Paysinger’s departure by Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss who offered his thanks and appreciation towards the outgoing administrator. “In his short time here
[Paysinger] has made a huge impact on our staff and students,” Cherniss said in a statement. Ramirez has served 22 years within PVPUSD, the majority of which was spent working at PVHS administration. Currently, Ramirez, who has a doctorate from the University of Southern
California, serves as PVPUSD’s Coordinator of Student Mental health and Support. The district also followed with an announcement that PVHS will not have a permanent principal until the 2022-23 school year. Instead, Ramirez, whose tenure is to begin on Nov. 29,
right after Thanksgiving Break, is set to remain as the interim principal for the remainder of the academic year. Despite the delay in selection of a more permanent hire, PVPUSD promised that “staff and community will be deeply involved” in the selection of the next PVHS principal.
NEWS
California Mandates Vaccine For Students
By Reddin Kehrli reporter All California students ages 12 and older are legally required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 1 to attend California public schools. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the new mandate at a San Francisco high school on Oct. 1. This new development is sparking controversy and has been met with a range of responses. Recently, California has had some of lowest COVID-19 rates in the nation but continues to issue mandates for healthcare workers, students, educators and state employees. Superintendent of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) Alexander Cherniss said the school district intends to enforce the new mandate “as required by the law.” “It is our understanding that the school term following full FDA approval of the vaccine the law will require vaccines for all grades 7-12 and all staff,” Cherniss said. Across the state, school
districts have different feelings about the new mandate. “I think the vaccine is a good idea but no one should be forced to get it,” junior Ainsley Schmitz said. “The mandate scares me in the sense that the government is getting involved in a health issue when it has no business being there.” For students who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination, an independent study course at home will be available across the state. Circulating through the media was a state-wide peaceful sitout for students, parents and educators in opposition to the vaccination mandate. This sitout, on Oct. 18, was organized by a political group, Mothers For Liberty. They demand the freedom to make decisions such as vaccinating their children. Thousands of students across the state missed school that day, putting their position on the law into action. Many students and teachers question if anything will change at PVPUSD schools. “I don’t foresee any change,”
Cherniss said. “We have vaccine mandates already in place for other diseases. This will be no different.” There will still be on-site school testing and other guidelines to ensure the safety of all students. Schmitz adds, “I don’t feel any safety concerns, however, if everyone was vaccinated it would be nice to be able to return to a sense of normalcy.” Although the new law is required for all students 16 years and older, there is a potential loophole that could prove to create an easy-out for those who wish to remain unvaccinated. In the law, there is an exception for those whose vaccine goes against religious or ideological reasons. This exception could be taken advantage of in the future for those against COVID-19 vaccinations. Cherniss would like to remind all students of the Palos Verdes school district that, “vaccine mandates have been a common part of public school for decades.”
LA Port Backlog Causes Supply Crisis
Information from covid19.ca.gov and California Department of Health. (Graphic by Reddin Kehrli)
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint By Natalie Wang reporter
Cargo ships anchored outside the Port of LA (Photo by Andrew Carpenter)
By Andrew Carpenter reporter The Port of Los Angeles is experiencing a ship backlog that is having major effects on the national supply chain. The backlog of ships only continues to grow because the ships cannot be unloaded in time. This backup has had noticeable changes in recent months. Senior Chris Salas is on the sailing team and has spent lots of time around the port. “In early 2020 there were a few ships parked outside the harbor,” Salas said. “Starting this past summer the number of boats has exploded. Now it seems like there [are] more and more everyday.” James Walsh, a contractor for the Port of L.A., has been working at the port and has witnessed the issue firsthand. “There are multiple reasons for the backlog of ships,” Walsh said. “The first reason being the supply chains were fractured during the pandemic. Coming
out of the pandemic there was a quick increase in demand for shipping from overseas. There are more reasons than just the sudden increase in demand. A shortage of workers has impacted all aspects of the supply chain.” Boats, trains and trucks cannot be unloaded fast enough to process the amount of containers that are coming into the country. Approximately 40% of all cargo coming into the U.S. comes through the Port of L.A. With the backlog putting strain on many imports coming into the U.S., everyone from regular consumers to business owners has felt the effects. Tyler Kennedy, who works for Dion and Sons Marine Fuels in Long Beach, CA, has felt the effects first hand. “We run a tackle shop and a mechanic shop out of my dock and we have been low on stock because it is still stuck on the ships,” Kennedy said. “We haven’t been able to get all of the products we need to sell so that backs up our business and leads to our customer base [to look] for other suppliers.”
Editors-in-Chief Alycen Kim Aidan Sun Adviser Cynthia Mindicino
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According to The White House, President Joe Biden met with the leadership from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to discuss the actions they are each taking to address the backlog. The Port of Los Angeles has expanded to a 24/7 operation and has begun fining shipping companies for idle containers. Many international companies and retailers have commited to increase operations to help ease the supply chain backlog. Walmart, UPS, FedEx, Samsung, The Home Depot and Target are currently increasing operation hours and are moving more containers out of the port to make room for more containers coming off of ships. If you have ordered anything online that has shipped from overseas you may have noticed the extreme delay in shipping. Consumers have been advised to start gift shopping early to ensure that they will arrive in time for the holidays.
One issue that has been a “hot” topic over the past few decades is climate change. Climate change on a global scale refers to a change in the overall weather patterns of the Earth over a long period of time. However, it can also be used to describe the recent rise in the Earth’s temperature, or global warming. Global warming doesn’t just mean hotter summers, it can have other effects on the Earth as well such as the rising of sea levels due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and more climate extremes such as droughts and floods. So, how do humans play a part in global warming? Evidence strongly suggests that human activity is the cause of global warming in the past several decades. Ever since the industrialization of the world, levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide continue to rise because of the burning of fossil fuels that power our homes and cars. When people think of greenhouse gases, they usually think of carbon dioxide. However, methane is a major contributor to global warming. Even though it occurs in smaller amounts, methane is 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the Earth.
Editors & Leadership News: Vikesh Dheeriya Features: Lucia Ruiz Opinion: Amber Chen Sports: Jonathan Liu Design: Andrew Carpenter
Photography: Sierra Namvari Online: Ella Sherry Social Media: Kelly Donahue and Reddin Kehrli
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Although the current situation seems dire, scientists have some good news. Everyone can do their part to help save the planet from global warming. Some of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions are from transportation, agriculture, and electricity. Consequently, by walking to school instead of driving, or even carpooling often reduces greenhouse gas emissions and thus global warming. Another way is a change in diet. Livestock, particularly cows, not only have a larger carbon footprint (a greater emission of carbon dioxide) but also produce lots of methane as well. Plant-based foods tend to have 10 - 50 times less carbon dioxide emissions than animalbased products so eating a few vegetarian meals every week can help mitigate some of the pollution as well. Reducing electricity also decreases global warming. More than half of the world’s electricity is powered by the burning of fossil fuels, which results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Using lights only when needed, and unplugging unused electronics are obvious ways you can save electricity. Even though these might seem like small things, if everyone does their part it can make a huge difference and slow if not stop the steady march towards an uninhabitable Earth.
Staff Luka Ardon, Chloe Choi, Isabella Firmani, Naomi Gan, Quinn Kearns, Eva Mayrose, Victoria Nolan, Aaron Paik, Meeka Rahimi, Sophie Stoddart, Ayla Torres, Natalie Wang
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NOVEMBER 4, 2021
NEWS
PVFA Continues Fight For Proper Pay PVFA Salary Comparison With Other South Bay Districts
By Victoria Nolan reporter The Palos Verdes Faculty Association (PVFA) is in conflict with the district regarding faculty contract negotiations. For over a year, the PVFA has been advocating for a new labor contract. According to members, however, the district is not being very cooperative. As a result, the faculty says they are dealing with pay that is lower than any of the neighboring districts. “The difference in what a teacher makes in Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach could be up to 10-20 thousand dollars more a year,” PVHS teacher Allyson Klabe said. The low salary at Palos Verdes High School has been an issue for several years. “I think historically PVPUSD teachers have not been compensated competitively towards the other South Bay school districts and it is a constant battle...and you know having to do that every year or every other year is a little demoralizing when we’re just fighting for our livelihoods,” Klabe said. “Prices of things increase— inflation, cost of living—but we
Data from wearepvfa.org (Graphic by Victoria Nolan) haven’t received an increase in salary to make up for those differences.” According to the PVFA, the salary for teachers and other faculty does not match the amount of work they do and they are having to pay more out of pocket for health insurance than nearby areas. “We’ve done more work for less and on top of that teachers and staff pay more out of pocket for our health benefits than any of our neighboring districts,” Klabe
said. At the most recent bargaining session on October 22 there was no settlement. Desperate for change, the PVFA decided to take on an action plan. In this plan, the teachers across the district will not hold club meetings or reply to emails outside of school hours. They are hoping this stop in working outside of their contact responsibilities will bring attention to parents and students. “I hope it does raise awareness
for people to understand what we’re asking for and what the constant battle is in our negotiations,” dance teacher Kathleen Mastan said. “And I hope that the parents speak up and contact the school board and let them know everything the teachers do for their kids.” Teachers hope that this matter will be fixed sooner rather than later. “What members of the community can do is go to wearepvfa.org to find a
powerpoint presentation that was presented at the recent PVFA town hall for the community members from the PVFA president, Tim Coleman,” Mastan said. The powerpoint shows most recent offers and salaries in comparison to other school districts, as well as other data highlighting the problem. “And from there they can contact the district and school board to let them know their opinions,” Mastan said.
Facebook Whistleblower Reveals Privacy Concerns By Ayla Torres reporter Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen unfolded the truth behind the happenings inside the tech giant. As the former lead product manager at Facebook, Haugen stepped down after two years of what she says was immoral management and failure to properly address multiple privacy issues. “During my time at Facebook, first working as the lead product manager for Civic Misinformation and later on Counter-Espionage, I saw that Facebook repeatedly encountered conflicts between its own profits and our safety,” Haugen said in her statement released on Oct. 4, 2020. Meaning, when the company was fully aware of Facebooks’ dangers and harmful content, they chose to continue what made them profitable rather than reforming into a safer space. Specifically, Haugen admits her reason for publicizing this issue and putting her name at risk is to achieve her ultimate goal — change. While she believes social media has the potential to be used for the better good, the current issues and lack of attentiveness to the safety of Facebook users outweighs the good. “The result has been a system that amplifies division, extremism and polarization — and undermines societies around the world,” Haugen said. “In some cases, this dangerous online talk has led to actual violence. Their profitoptimizing machine is generating self-harm and self-hate — especially for vulnerable groups, like teenage girls. These problems have been confirmed repeatedly by Facebook’s own internal research.” Ignorance is not the issue here but rather the absence of morality. Facebook’s plethora of collected data reveals the harm of their platform and yet
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
they purposefully withhold taking action against it in fear of a decrease in their profits. “Facebook became a $1 trillion company by paying for its profits with our safety, including the safety of our children,” Haugen said in disagreement of Facebook’s inefficiency. After her statement was released, Haugen testified before a Senate subcommittee, arguing her previously stated concerns. However, this was not an easy fight as current Facebook employees counteracted her statements with proof of their filtered political content. Founder, chief executive officer and controlling shareholder Mark Zuckerberg disagreed. “It’s disheartening to see that work taken out of context and used to construct a false narrative that we don’t care,” Zuckerburg said. However, Zuckerburg failed to see the prominence of this issue from the start as he had full access and knowledge to the harm of his platform yet did not change the ways of the company. If his intentions were pure and focused on Facebook being a safe space, vulnerable groups would not have fallen victim to Facebooks’ addictive and toxic effects. An issue so prominent and relevant to our youth offers the question, how are we to trust social media and those in power of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. knowing their harm? Lauren Thompson, a senior at PV High expressed her concern saying, “I would definitely be a lot more careful about what I put online.” Being a person of the targeted “vulnerable group,” Thompson’s concerns are nothing short of rational. The reformation of Facebook is crucial to the safety and well being of our youth, democracy, and users of social media.
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FEATURES Meet the Student Support Specialists By Naomi Gan reporter
The return to campus this fall has brought about excitement, joy and renewal, but has also resurfaced a lot of anxiety and stress. For students, all these emotions can be difficult to process alone. This is where our student support specialists come in. Megan Babcock and Jodie Shurtleff are both on-campus Sage therapists at PVHS who work with students to discuss mental health. It is evident that Babcock and Shurtleff have a deep passion for providing support to students as they navigate the challenges of being a highschooler. “I want to be able to provide therapy where students need it most, at school,” Shurtleff said. “I work with high schoolers because it is such an important, fun, and formative time of life,” Babcock said. “I pursued a career in therapy because I love walking alongside people as they heal, grow and explore.” To Babcock and Shurtleff, providing a safe space in which students can freely express their thoughts and feelings is key.
“My main goal is to provide a safe, warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space for students to process tough experiences and emotions,” Shurtleff said. Through therapy sessions, they wish for students to feel validated and empowered. They want students to walk away with confidence knowing they are capable of dealing with difficult emotions. “Ultimately, I just want students to know that they matter and are worthy of the space to pursue healing and growth in areas of mental health,” Babcock said. The two student support specialists are essential to the Sea King community. In classrooms, Shurtleff and Babcock spark important dialogues about mental health awareness and mental health resources. Through their one-on-one therapy sessions, they offer a welcoming space open to all students. “Seeing a Sage therapist is free, confidential, and we are easily accessible, which is important to me because I know cost and access can be barriers in receiving mental health services,” Shurtleff said. “I feel very fortunate to be a resource at school for students struggling with mental health concerns.”
Student Support Specialists Megan Babcock and Jodie Shurtleff (Photo courtesy of Cynthia Mindicino)
“Peter and the Starcatcher” ...continued from front page
Sprengel outlines the aspects he finds most crucial for members of the production to take away from the experience. “The most important quality is definitely teamwork and being able to work well with other people, and also take directions from them,” Sprengel said. “Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say.” Two lesser-recognized sectors of the play’s production are the crew and the pit orchestra. The crew runs many behindthe-scenes processes to keep the show running smoothly, including cueing lights and imperceptibly supplying props to the actors. They also help move heavy stage props between scenes. Stage Manager and junior Scarlet Bailey has many intricate responsibilities as the crew’s supervisor. “I have to make sure that lighting is cued properly and on time during the show, that every prop and set piece is where it’s supposed to be,” Bailey said. “I’m in charge of making all those checklists, fixing and making any props needed and tracking the movement of props— who has which prop when, and who needs to give the prop to the actor. Stage managing is a lot of work, and you’re on your feet constantly doing stuff, but if you love having a busy job like that
then it’s perfect.” While the cast members perform on stage, the pit produces live music. Since both the crew and the pit take cues from the actors’ lines, they must remain flexible and adapt to whatever happens on stage. The pit, crew, and cast all have to be able to make decisions on the spot based on the situation. “The hardest part of performing live is the fact that every performance is going to be very different,” junior and pit conductor Johannes Eberhart said. “In musical theater, there’s a lot of factors involved with there being actors and actresses. Sometimes their cadence might be different from day to day, so [the pit and crew] have to adjust to that. Especially as a conductor, being able to adapt to that is definitely difficult.” According to Falstrup-Finney, “No one’s more significant in a show than anyone else. You just really have to learn to respect your peers.” All members of the production share this same notion. “No matter what role you have in the theater, you’re still equal to one another, whether you’re in the pit or cast or crew,” Bailey said. “You depend on each other so much that there’s no room for ego.”
(Graphic by Quinn Kearns) PAGE 4
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NOVEMBER 4, 2021
FEATURES
Music to Our Ears
Concerts are Back, Exciting Many Students By Kelly Donahue social media editor Attending concerts is a popular pastime that many enjoy. The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 forced all concerts to be canceled indefinitely, which was disappointing news for concert fans. One such concert fan, junior Emma Islava, was supposed to attend a 5 Seconds of Summer Concert in June of 2020. “I wasn’t really surprised at that moment because everything was getting shut down, but I was looking forward to the concert because I remembered the ones from the year before,” Islava said. After more than a year, artists have started releasing tour dates and many have jumped at the opportunity to see live concerts again. “I decided to go to the Luke Bryan concert kind of last-minute because I saw him playing at the Staples Center and just decided to go,” junior Jenna Ho said. Similarly, when senior Hannah Goharian saw some of her favorite artists — Chase Atlantic and Dayglow — release tour dates, she quickly bought tickets. “I loved getting to hear the music live and see the singers in person,” Goharian said. After attending the concerts, Goharian and Ho are both enthusiastic about the possibility of attending another concert in the near future. “I would definitely love to go to another concert soon. Concerts are super fun and most of them require proof that you are vaccinated or a negative [COVID-19] test to enter, which makes me feel a little
safer,” Goharian said. Although she has no current plans to attend another concert, “If there are [any artists] that go on tour soon I will be attending their concerts,” Ho said. Although Islava’s 2020 concert got cancelled, she was recently able to attend a Rolling Stones concert which she had been anticipating excitedly. “My dad has always loved the Rolling Stones,” Islava said. “It was the first concert he ever went to and they raised me on that music. We listened to those songs all the time so I know all [of them] already and this is possibly their last tour so we had the opportunity [and we] said ‘Let’s do it.’” Although concerts are returning, going to a concert now is different from preCOVID-19. Along with showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, masks are required to be worn at many concert venues. “The first concert I went to, Dayglow, said on their website that a negative covid test or proof of vaccination was needed to attend, but nothing was actually checked,” Goharian said. Contrary to the Dayglow concert, “the second concert I went to required all people to be vaccinated, and every person was checked to make sure they had their vaccination card or a picture of it before entering the theater. If you had it, they’d give you a stamp and you could go in,” Goharan said As COVID-19 case numbers lower and concert dates increase, people are enthusiastic and excited about their renewed ability to attend their favorite artists’ concerts.
The band “Dayglow” is on tour again after having to cancel concerts due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Goharian)
5 Must-Read Young Adult Books
By Ella Sherry online editor
“Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli
“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger
“Inside Out & Back Again” by Thanhha Lai
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs
“Stargirl” is a coming-of-age novel about being different at school (and in other aspects of life). The story idea is simple—the new girl at school is unique and so different from the norm that students feel uneasy and uncomfortable in her presence, except for one boy who is increasingly intrigued. The novel also deals with teenagers discovering themselves, and who they are in the world. It’s a well crafted story with charismatic characters and an important message.
“The Catcher in the Rye” is a coming-of-age novel that was published in the 1950s. The main character, Holden Caulfield, recalls leaving his boarding school in Pennsylvania. He decides to go to New York on his own before going back home. The book tells of his adventure. It’s an interesting and engaging read, with entertaining characters, but some of the scenes may be inappropriate to some readers. The eccentric writing style also may be confusing to some readers. Overall, it’s a great book and will definitely interest some readers with its themes of loss of innocence and teenage angst.
This novel, inspired by the author’s experience in the United States, is written completely in verse (poetry), and won multiple awards, such as the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and a Newbery Honors award. This book tells the story of a girl who was forced to flee Vietnam due to the Vietnam War with her family, and her journey to Alabama, where she lived with her mother and brothers. The novel is well-written and interesting, but the writing style might be difficult for some readers to understand.
This novel, following a teenage girl in her experiences through high school, is, at its core, a story about racism in America and one teenager’s struggle against it. It’s a very of-the-moment book, and has gained a lot of popularity since it was published. It has an engaging plot and well-developed characters, and teaches about racism through the eyes of a teenager, which can impact young readers more than if it were written primarily for adults. Although some scenes may be inappropriate and the novel has profane language, it’s an important book that has a vital message.
This book, the first installment of a 3-book series, is a fantasyadventure novel. The story is about a group of children at an orphanage who exhibit special “powers”—such as super strength and the ability to float, among other things. They are constantly in danger of being discovered by hollowgasts, monsters that are determined to hunt down peculiars. While it’s a unique idea and an intriguing story, it may scare some readers.
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“Sea King” to the Com National Charity League
Students share what t volunt
“The main objectives of NCL are to better our community and create meaningful bonds with other NCL members. We are required to do a minimum of 40 hours of volunteering a year, but many of us do 100 to earn our Presidential Awards. I like volunteering with the NCL Peninsula Chapter because I have made a lot of friends through the organization and have had a lot of meaningful experiences volunteering for important causes. It’s also nice that it’s a mother-daughter organization because I rarely get to spend such quality time with my mom.” - Kelsey Turnbull (11)
PV Assembly
“The two main purposes of PV Assembly are ballroom etiquette and civic engagement. Assembly teaches different styles of ballroom dancing and etiquette for manners. Community service is required and it is 20 hours a year. What I like about Assembly is that if you are behind in volunteer hours, they give a lot of opportunities to catch up at any volunteer events like food drives, candy drives and the South Bay Botanical Garden.” - Sam Malekzadeh (12)
PV Land Conservancy “The mission of PVPLC is to conserve and restore habitat for the education and enjoyment of all. We also lead guided nature walks and teach the public about conservation. We do various types of things to protect threatened native species and restore local habitats, such as removing invasive weeds, closing unauthorized spur trails, and planting native shrubs. I enjoy being able to work in the outdoors and helping our wildlife.” - Hannah Goharian (12)
Los Hermanos
“At Los Hermanos, we volunteer at various places and help out anywhere we can. Some of my favorite memories come from volunteering at the Valmonte Garden. I enjoy helping the community the most. It feels good to give back to a place where you grew up.” - Oscar Park (11)
o Do Good in mmunity
they love most about teering Community Helpline “Community Helpline is a suicide prevention phone line run by volunteers. People from all over the United States can call in and discuss their issues. The main goal of Helpline is to give people a space to talk. As volunteers, we are there to listen and ask the right questions. I think my favorite memories are whenever a caller is super grateful and thankful for the helpline. It makes my volunteer time feel worth it.”
Luna Peak Links “The main goals of the Luna Peak Links are to support the Luna Peak foundation and to find our own pathways to support our community. We have about 17 active members, the majority of whom are from PVHS. What I enjoy most about volunteering with the Lunar Peak Links is having the freedom to organize our own events. We have meetings every month or so to disucss all of our ideas for what we may do later in the year and execute the ones we like the best.” - Luke Rafijah (11)
- Mia McCauley (12)
Los Amigos “Our organization helps little kids in hospitals. Some things we do are go to different locations nearby and help kids. We recently made blankets to give to little kids in hospitals. One of my favorite memories was volunteering at the Dodger Stadium for a summer event.” - Matthew Liu (10)
Rescue Bae/ Carson Animal Shelter “Rescue Bae takes in abandoned, sick, injured, old and young animals to save them. I fostered kittens for Rescue Bae to have a good home to help and nurture the animals until they could go up for adoption. Carson Animal Shelter takes in all types of animals and keeps and medically treats animals that do not have homes until they can be adopted. I have fostered for many years with the Carson Animal Shelter and I take the kittens who are too young to be at the shelter alone without their mothers. It makes me so happy to see the cats go off to new homes- it’s sad, but it’s also so nice to see that they’re healthy and well loved.” - Siena Snure (11)
National League of Young Men “The program involves boys and their moms and promotes the development of young men into community leaders through leadership involvement, charitable and community service, cultural experiences, and protocol education. I enjoy being able to help out the community and others in need alongside some of my friends.” -Gunnar Kehrli (9)
OPINION
Lost in Translation: Dubbing vs Subbing
The Reasons Why Subtitles Take the Dub Over Dubbing By Alycen Kim editor-in-chief Subtitles
Hundreds of struggling adults compete against each other in a series of twisted children’s games (think red light, green light and tug of war) for the ultimate cash prize: the equivalent of 38 million U.S. dollars. The only catch? If you lose, you die. Thousands of viewers tuned in for the premiere of Netflix’s “Squid Game” in early September, skyrocketing it to the top of the Netflix charts and causing a mass craze on social media, bringing its actors into critical acclaim and cultivating a loyal fan base. Netflix announced that the show is on track to becoming the most popular original series on the platform, set to top even favorites such as “Bridgerton” and “Stranger Things.” This will also make it the first time that a South Korean show would take the number one slot globally. With any popular foreign show, however, comes a heated debate about how the show should be translated. In the case of “Squid Game,” many fans were dismayed to find that American viewers were watching the show with English dubs, instead of watching it with the original Korean audio and English subtitles. Subtitles translate the original dialogue into another language, and the words appear on the screen in sync with the spoken dialogue. Dubbing is a post production
Dubbing
(Graphic by Alycen Kim) process that replaces the original actors' voices with voice actors who translate the dialogue into an alternate language. Subtitling is the best option when it comes to preserving the actors’ performance and best understanding the film. Without the voice of the original actors, viewers listening to the dubbed version of shows are not able to hear intonations and tones that are used in the context of the scene. Some people complain that the words in subtitles “move too fast” for them to read. But, the lack of synchronization between the dubbed voices and the actors mouth moving is equally as distracting. Additionally, dubbing is a longer, costly process compared to subtitling; whereas subtitles only require a trained translator, dubbing requires that and several professional voice actors, a recording studio, and specialized editors. This debate also points to a bigger problem when it comes to foreign media in America. Foreign language films are often seen as the “other” movie
genre. For example, award shows like the Golden Globes usually have a separate category for foreign films. Streaming platforms like Netflix group all films that speak in any language other than English under the “International” category. This partitioning of international films and Eurocentric films show Americans’ aversion to anything “foreign.” Instead of appreciating the wide range of culture and diversity in international films, the automatic choice is to block out the original language and replace it with the “default” language, erasing that culture’s significance and identity. It is important to reiterate that both subtitling and dubbing are helpful for viewers with disabilities. But, for people who can, subtitles are the way to go for a more immersive and culturally rich experience. As Bong Joon Ho, the director of the Oscar-winning Korean film “Parasite,” advised, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
We Lost Petito ... We Also Lost Our Decency By Aidan Sun editor-in-chief Catching a whiff of potential virality, social media was taken by storm in a seemingly undying craze after the disappearance and murder of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. The frenzy has for months been closely tracking the murder’s investigation and subsequent search for her fiance and accused killer, Brian Laundrie, with corporate interests and amateur sleuths alike descending on quiet North Port, Fla. to get a taste of the disease that turns tragedy into clicks, likes and follows. Relentless harassment of the Laundrie family and Brian-look-alikes seem to be a primary symptom. Teenage girls, inspired by their favorite true-crime series, have been a permanent fixture at the Laundrie residence. They film Laundrie’s father mowing the lawn or his mother gardening in the yard and post their videos on Snapchat stories and TikToks, raking in thousands of swipe-ups and likes. Drops on Twitter (“Potential Laundrie sighting, location TBD”), which endanger regular people with an unfortunate likeness, were retweeted like no tomorrow. Apparently, content and relevancy must be pursued relentlessly at the expense of rational thought and human dignity. Further fueling this fall from decency, theories that Laundrie faked texts from Petito, that Laundrie was hiding underneath a backyard flower bed or that the Petito case is a massive distraction from the Biden presidency have become so bizarre and plain stupid that they’ve attracted the attention of QAnon believers. The nonsensical obsession
hasn’t stopped since the discovery of Laundrie’s body on Oct. 20 either. Unsatisfied with the anticlimactic nature of the discovery of his remains and devastated at the possibility of falling off the FYP, many commentators grabbed the spotlight and put it back on themselves by expressing their unfound “disbelief.” “I am a multiple time convicted [felon] . . . this is my theory,” one TikToker began in a video with 5.3 million views. Apparently, prior misdemeanors make you a CSI because she then proceeded by claiming the FBI was “super sus” for not finding the body earlier using “drones and all of this technology.” I can already hear the ridicule of some pious Tucker Carlson monologue. I suppose the theorists got something right — it has all been a major distraction. Hundreds of thousands of people go missing each year, many of whom are never found. The amount of disproportionate attention (i.e. more algorithm-feeding misinformation) the Petito case received did nothing but highlight how poisonous appetites for attention have become. Whether it’s TikTok creators over-analyzing grainy video of a drone flyby, or Twitter users calling to arms against the Laundrie family, or 8kun cyberwarriors conjuring their newest tie-back to Donald Trump, it’s increasingly ironic and sad how Petito, an aspiring feel-good content creator, became the subject of prolific toxicity through online click-baiting and wild conspiracy. To fill the internet with this filth is a mockery of those actually trying to solve the case and the family that deserves clarity, not to mention it’s outright disrespectful to the memory of Petito.
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A Letter From the Editors Let’s Do Away With the “Devious Licks” Trend Amid the re-adjustment to inperson schooling comes a new challenge: school bathroom closures. TikTok’s latest trend, “Devious Licks,” has had longterm (if not criminal) effects on our campus. “Devious Licks” began after a TikTok user posted a video of himself stealing a box of masks from his high school. The video went viral, with the harmless prank escalating quickly into students all over the country stealing everything from fire alarms to ceiling tiles to car doors. Unfortunately, this craze has reached PV High, causing the on-and-off weeks-long closure of two boys bathrooms after sinks, toilets and soap dispensers were deviously “licked” from our campus, forcing male students to trek across campus just to use the restroom. It’s appalling that after a year and a half off-campus, students at our school seem to have forgotten how to act, not only engaging in behavior disruptive to students’ bladders, but also behavior that could warrant arrest. News flash: unlike TikTok trends, criminal records don’t go away after a week. Disgraceful is the fact that our custodians have borne the brunt of consequences, having to spend time cleaning up feces-trashed restrooms
and restoring toilets and sinks to their former working-order. Any student perpetrators, it appears, have evaded any punishment. “Devious licks” isn’t the first trend to bring out the worst in students. Last year, teachers were forced to take extra precautions to protect their virtual classrooms from “Zoom bombers.” Even after clear warnings from administration, law enforcement, and the social media platform, itself, the harmful fads don’t seem to end. Is it really that hard to ask students to discern between toxic TikTok trends like these and harmless ones? TikTok is the perfect place to find salmon rice recipes, learn trendy dances and watch funny videos. Senior year backpacks, in which students wear children’s backpacks (think Paw Patrol and My Little Pony), are the perfect example of positive, school-related trends. But, the platform cannot continue to be a breeding ground for mischief. Students, especially at a school like Palos Verdes High, should be able to use their better judgement before engaging in trends like “devious licks” and should think about the effects their actions have on both faculty and fellow students.
Extroverts, Please Leave Me Alone
An Introvert Living in a World Made for Extroverts By Eva Mayrose reporter
alone in their room. Sometimes, it even seems like the education system as a “Wait, are you new? I’ve never whole is working against those seen you before.” of us who weren’t born with the “I didn’t know you could talk!” natural ability of being completely “What do you mean you’ve comfortable with excessive never been to a party?” human interaction. From the Apologies, I didn’t mean looming importance of “getting to inconvenience you by not involved” in busy extracurriculars appearing on your popularity for college, to oral presentations radar but yes, I did learn basic worth half of our grades, it can phonics and have actually only feel like the world was made for been in your class for the last extroverts. five years so I don’t expect you Well, I’m here to say that there to have any idea who I am, me is a place for your more reserved being part of the social outgroup personality too. Just because and all. you’d rather go home to your If you’re on the shyer side cat and books doesn’t mean of the social spectrum, you you should feel less important or might recognize some of “cool” than your peers heading to those classic one-liners used a mildly overstimulating football when extroverted people don’t game after school. know what to say to someone So yes, I would rather stay who isn’t as enthusiastic as home on weekends and watch themselves. Maybe you picture Netflix than stay out late, and yourself coming up with a clever maybe I do wear headphones comeback on the spot but in while walking through the halls reality, you’d probably stand there just to avoid social interaction, awkwardly waiting for someone but I’m still a person with real to change the subject. emotions, which I know sounds Between group projects, class like rocket science to extroverts participation points, seasonal who need visual demonstrations school events and weekend of our emotional responses. parties, surviving high school as Regardless, it’s important an introvert comes with facets to remind our spirited school of dilemmas. Simply weaving community that introverts can through the halls packed with be equally as amicable as lively students and trying to enter our assertive and sometimes a conversation can be a struggle gregarious counterparts, once for someone whose favorite given the chance to express pastime is listening to music themselves on their own terms.
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
OPINION
An Influencer’s Life for Me
A Satire on Unrealistic Beauty and Social Standards Portrayed by Social Media will know if I edit it well and claim it’s all natural, right? I fix my hair as I walk to I wake up to a million try and play it cool notifications from dozens of because pretty girls different apps. I scroll through are perfect and don’t all my social media accounts have insecurities. I before rolling out of bed at the would pay a college last minute to get ready for the tuition just to look day. I spend ages picking out the like everyone else. perfect accessories and making I have begged to myself beautiful before going to get fillers, brow Starbucks for my breakfast. lifts, and laser hair On the way to school, I don’t removal for years, say a word to my chauffeur, I but my parents say mean mother, because I would it reminds them too rather look at pictures of people much of handsome I will never meet than talk to my Squidward. own family. I sit down in my chair and I I walk through the halls, eyes groan, realizing we are being locked on the fake people on put in randomized groups for my phone. Halfway through first a research project. The group period, I decide that the teacher’s project is to research marine words aren’t as important as life and how they’re affected by making another TikTok so I make climate change. the excuse that it’s another That’s good, I care more “female emergency”, even though about turtles than my friends. I I’ve already used that excuse use metal straws— I’m a good three times this month. person. The other working group After I am satisfied with my members are annoyed at me mediocre dancing I return to for being lazy since I am not class to edit the video before actively researching the ocean or posting, because who puts their whatever. I’m sorry— I can’t type true self online? I use an app with my four-inch nails. Sorry you to slim my body and to give bit yours off, Andy. I tell them that myself some fake abs, so I can I’ll make the presentation with look just like all the social media their research at home. influencers I worship. No one I sit with my friend for lunch
By Chloe Choi reporter
(Graphic by Chloe Choi) while I eat my salad. Everyday before I eat I have to send a picture of my greens out to the world since everyone needs to know. My parents always tell me to just eat my food, but c’mon Dad, everyone cares these days. I end the day with a sweaty unappealing class called. P.E. Is it pronounced PEE? The coach gives me an F and claims it’s for my lack of participation in literally any exercise, but I can’t risk chipping my nails, messing up my hair, or wearing those gross gym clothes. I’m sorry, but that’s just not hot. I don’t even know why I go to school when I can just become an influencer.
Liberate Women in Pop Culture By Sophie Stoddart reporter Teens and adults today have become accustomed to the frequent sexualization and objectification of women in films, music videos and on social media. Although it is already 2021, we still face the same problems concerning the liberation of women in pop culture, as in the past. Many believe that today, women have complete control over how they present themselves to the public. However, that is untrue considering that women face overwhelming social pressure to dress and behave a certain way to receive validation and approval from the public. Studies show that the normalization of sexualized images in the media can cause self-objectification and appearance anxiety in young women and girls. There is very obvious and persistent sexualization of female actresses in TV shows and movies. Unfortunately, not only do adult female actresses experience this, but child actresses do as well. Actress Natalie Portman has spoken out about her career, and admitted the toll being a young Hollywood actress had on her mental health and self-image, exacerbated by the
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knowledge that adult men were sexualizing her even when she was thirteen. She believes actresses should have more say in their portrayals, and that there should be more women with positions of power in the entertainment industry to achieve equality and social justice. The only way to improve this issue is by giving actresses more control over how they are presented on camera. With more female voices in the production process, the entertainment industry would be able to support the notion of actresses having a say in their costumes and stage depictions. Not only is the recurring sexualization of women seen in film, but it is also prevalent in the music industry. It is seen in the rap and pop genres, such as with artists like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B., Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé and Britney Spears. Society has taught performers that revealing outfits and provocative dancing is the easy way to draw attention to their music, as if their sheer talent is not enough. On the other hand, some women also believe that this is a form of empowerment. “It’s a complicated issue,” ethnic studies and psychology teacher Christina Varela said. “The music industry has a history of objectifying women for the male gaze. On the other side, there are women who say they choose to dress and perform this
way as a form of empowerment. Although, how much of it is your choice? In your subconscious, were you not initially taught to do this?” Nonetheless, it would be much better for artists’ mental health if they could dress and dance however they would like, as long as it is their choice and they do it because they feel it truly represents them, not because that is what the industry expects of them. To those who say that sexualization of women in pop culture is solely for entertainment purposes, and that these women enjoy this aspect of their careers, how would they feel if it were their mother, sister, or daughter portrayed on the television screen? Would they still feel the same way? Think about the impressionable young women who are exposed to the media everyday, and how they feel trying to adhere to a gender norm of dressing provocatively. “It starts with changing how we socialize our children,” Varela said. “Due to gender norms, we put everyone in a little box, which limits who we can be. It starts when we are very little.” This issue has been occurring for decades, so the world has become blind to it. We must put in plenty of effort in order to liberate women from the oppressive double standard pop culture and society have set for them.
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SPORTS
PVHS Quarterback Commits to Western Kentucky
By Isabella Firmani reporter For PVHS senior, Turner Helton, the football field is no unfamiliar place. He first began playing football when he was only four years old, and he grew up with all of his family either playing, coaching or cheering on from the sidelines. “Basically my whole family has been involved in football,” Helton said. “My dad, uncles, and grandparents all coach, so it’s almost like a family tradition.” Helton is a current captain and the quarterback for the PVHS Varsity football team and adds a lot to the environment on the field. Sky Shaw, a fellow Varsity captain alongside Helton, is a good friend of his and says they have been playing together for three years now. As his teammate, Shaw recognizes all of the contributions Helton adds to make the team what it is today.
“Turner does a great job of getting the younger kids in line,” Shaw said. “He always sets the team up for great games each Friday.” Coach Guy Gardner also adds to Helton’s attributes to the team. “He brings leadership, competitiveness, and work ethic that is contagious,” Gardner said, “[and] he is very knowledgable and intelligent in the game.” Recently, Helton committed to playing Division One football at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Though not formally announced until recently, this was a decision Helton had been working toward for a while. “[The recruitment team] contacted me during my junior year after I went down to a camp at the school,” Helton said. He returned this September as a senior and made his final commitment after receiving an official offer.
African-American Athletes Before Jackie Robinson Nazi Germany. Jesse Owens at the time was the fastest man on the planet. Jesse Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 Most Americans know the Berlin Olympics. story of Jackie Robinson, the He was the first American to first African American player in win four gold medals for track the MLB. But what about the and field at a single Olympics. first two African American men Owens broke records in a who were in the NFL? Or the country that was ran by Nazi, first African American boxing people who believed he wasn’t champion? equal to white people. There are so many African Owens proved not only that American sport icons who aren’t he was equal but in four different known to the general population. events that he was the best in Through all of that and more, the world. they still climbed to the top of Owens, in the Long Jump their sport. The perfect example event, literally rose the American of this is Joe Gans who had flag above a flag that is still to compete at a lower weight a representation of hate and than others. He fought his way racism when Owens won gold to the top becoming the first and a German man won silver. ever African American boxing 24 years later Wilma Rudolph champion in 1902. paved the road for African Gans while boxing inspired American women in the 1960 many African Americans one Rome Olympics. being Muhammad Ali who many Rudolph won three gold consider the greatest boxer of all medals becoming the first time. Two other African American American women to do so. Even athletes who broke the color in before Rudolph there was Alice sports were Fritz Pollard and Coachman who was the first Bobby Marshall in the NFL. black woman to win an Olympic Before 1920 there wasn’t a gold medal. single person of color in the She won it in the high jump NFL. Now as of last year, 70 in the 1948 London Olympics. percent of players in the NFL These pioneers should never be are people of color. It was these forgotten. brave men who took the first Even though they faced step. Pollard later became the racism, hatred, and death first African American head threats these brave men and coach in the NFL. women risked it all for the sport Yet, Pollard isn’t a known that they loved. name. He’s a man who gets “It is essential for all people of some recognition but still color to know and understand deserves so much more. that the color of your skin Another athlete was a man shouldn’t be a restriction to what who was brave enough to you can or cannot do in life,” represent and run for the US in senior Ava McCoy said.
By Luka Ardon reporter
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Aside from the opportunity to continue playing the sport he loves, Helton also acknowledges the other aspects of Western Kentucky University that made him confident in what his next four years will bring him. “The campus was really nice,” He said, “I made a lot of great connections with the coaches and it just felt like the right fit for me.” For both the coaches and teammates who have seen Helton grow in his football career, this commitment comes with a lot of pride and excitement for his future. “He’s so determined and focused,” Gardner said. “For me, it wasn’t if he was going to play at [the collegiate level], but it was where.” “I am really happy for him,” Shaw said. “We’ve always talked about playing at the next level, so it’s cool to see him make his dreams come true.”
(Photo courtesy of Turner Helton)
Fantasy Football Can Frustrate Fans Game Affects Fans’ Viewing Experience With Many Ups and Downs By Jonathan Liu sports editor As the 2021-22 NFL season is underway, a yearly tradition for most NFL fans is back as well. The game has grown so much, as there are 40 million fantasy users that play on ESPN’s system in the United States. The game has expanded to out-of-country enjoyers, as around 20 million people in India play on ESPN’s Fantasy app. Other platforms outside of ESPN’s are used as well such as Sleeper and Yahoo Sports . Fantasy football is a game where fans are “owners” and general managers of their own team. Teams are created as drafts are gone through, to have teams set. In some leagues, “punishments” are common, as teams want competitiveness and want players to continue to stay engaged with the 18-week season. “My league has a punishment that makes the season competitive,” sophomore Will Jorczak said. Teams consist of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, team defenses/ special teams and kickers.
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Standard leagues are usually called “standard PPR,” meaning that running backs, wide receivers and tight ends would get one point per reception. Basic scoring includes one point for every 25 passing yards, one point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards, one point for each reception, four points for each passing touchdown, six points for each rushing or receiving touchdown. Real-life free agency is incorporated in the game as well with the “waiver wire,” with players who aren’t on fantasy rosters but can be picked up any moment as players go down with injuries, or player’s level of production increases or decreases. As fantasy football week by week consists of the lows of deciding who to start and bench depending on favorable matchups, and the highs of making blockbuster trades. There is nothing like watching the slate of games glued to your phone waiting for your players to do well. Week by week, fantasy players often have to watch Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football when up or down by a number of points rooting for their players or against the opponent’s players hoping for an off-performance to either lift or break their mood for
the night. “I have never been heartbroken by bad performances by my last players, or good performances by his player, but I have definitely had weeks where my players’ performances are underwhelming,” Jorczak said. Rooting against your favorite players can be tough pills for fans to swallow, as the excitements of real life success could haunt your fantasy success. “I had to root against my favorite player Patrick Mahomes, when he played the Buffalo Bills,” sophomore Michael Clemons said. “I started the Bills defense, which led to me rooting for them over Mahomes.” As fans are invested in their NFL team’s success, fantasy is a second priority, as audiences put players on other teams in the back of their mind. “Every time the Baltimore Ravens aren’t playing, I mainly watch games for fantasy, to see who is doing well for my team or my opponents,” Jorczak said. As viewers follow with the ups and downs of their own real-life NFL team’s season along with the rollercoaster experience of the fantasy football season, fans can realize that watching football cannot always be as fantasizing as it seems.
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
SPORTS
The History of PV’s Athletic Dominance Over Peninsula
By Vikesh Dheeriya news editor
Palos Verdes High School has always been considered the “sports” school in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD), but really how accurate is this generalization? According to the statistics, PV dominates. For most sports, PV usually ranks multiple CIF divisions higher than Peninsula (Pen), but is required to play against them because of the Bay League rules. These rules state that each sport must play schools within our league no matter the division to compete for a Bay League Championship at the end of the season. The Bay League high schools are Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Redondo Union, Mira Costa, Culver City and Santa Monica. So no matter the CIF division, usually sports will have to play these teams at least once or twice a year. These rules cause the biannual rivalry matchup of PV vs Pen in every sport. As the most popular high school sport, PV football dominates Peninsula. PV has won every single game played in the past 12 years by an average of 32.7 points. On the Oct. 29 PV
vs Pen football game, the 34-0 blowout served as a reminder of this historical dominance. Because boys water polo and lacrosse are the highest ranked sports at PVHS, nobody is surprised at their dominance against Peninsula . Water polo has won 17 straight games against Pen by an average of 8.4 goals. Lacrosse has won 11 of their last 12 games by an average of 11.4 goals. This Sea King superiority also extends to the Sea Queens. Girls volleyball has only lost one set to Peninsula in the last five years, winning 11 out of their past 12 matches by an average of 2.3 sets. PV’s winning attitude transfers to boys soccer who has only lost two of their past 17 matches to Peninsula. However, scores become much closer when the Kings and the Panthers step on the basketball court. Peninsula has won 18 of the last 22 matches by an average of 6.9 points. Peninsula has also historically beaten PV at swimming and are usually at the top of Bay League. Palos Verdes and Peninsula High School both excel academically, but when it comes to sports, the stats don’t lie.
Statistics above (from left to right): Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Boys Water Polo, Boys Soccer, and Boys Lacrosse. Statistics from Max Preps. (Graphic by Vikesh Dheeriya)
Braves Beat Astros in World Series By Aaron Paik reporter The Atlanta Braves shut out the Houston Astros 7-0 to win the 2021 World Series 2021 on Tuesday November 2. It was a long road for both teams, to get to this point from the start of the playoffs. The Houston Astros first defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-1 in their respective American League Division Series. The Atlanta Braves then eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers as they advanced to the National League Championship Series. The Astros and Boston Red Sox battled it out in the American League Championship Series. In game 1, Carlos Correa hit a clutch home run in the bottom of the 7th to put the Astros up by 1. This was enough for the Astros to win Game 1 5-4. Games 2 and 3 were both blow out wins by the Red Sox. Houston then responded by winning 2 blowouts in a row to lead the series 3-2. The Astros then won 6-0 to advance to the playoffs. Much to the disappoint of many Angelonos and Sea Kings, the Los Angeles Dodgers were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. After amazing performances from players such as Eddie Rosario, the Braves were able to secure a spot in the World Series after game 6. The Braves took Game 1 in fashion against the Astros in the World Series, despite an early Charlie Morton injury.
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
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After a tough loss, the Astros bounced back with a win of their own in Game 2. In Game 3, Eddie Rosario was able to score off an Austin Riley double. This was all that was needed for the Braves to secure the win to go up 2-1 in the series. The Astros started off hot in Game 4 with a Jose Altuve home run. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler were both able to hit home runs for another Braves victory. In game 5, the Houston Astros pulled a crucial 9-5 win in order to stay in the World Series. In Game 6, the Astros were unable to score due to an amazing performance by the Braves. This would allow Atlanta to win the game 7-0. Evidently the Braves were able to win the World Series 4-2. One of the most notable players from the playoffs included Kike Hernandez of the Boston Red Sox. He had hit two homeruns against the Rays while maintaining a .450 batting average. Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers, regarded as one of the best catchers in the MLB, also had two homers this postseason. Eddie Rosario of the Braves had wwthree home runs this postseason. Many Los Angeles natives were upset by the early departure of the Dodgers; however, many also took a liking to the Atlanta Braves. “My favorite team in the playoffs were the Atlanta Braves,” sophomore Nathan Yakubik said.
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FEATURES
The Famous Pets of PVHS
Mr. Harley and his tortoise, Pascal (Photo courtesy of Louis Harley) By Sierra Namvari reporter
We all know and love our class pets on campus and Zoom, but have you ever wondered what they are like around their owners at home? Not everyone will remember the infamous campus tortoise, Pascal, but he has continued his journey into the Harley family. “He used to live here at school with [science teacher Pat] O’Brien, and in between breaks he would be in a little pen outside where kids could feed him,” history teacher Louis Harley said.
Mr. Hill, his wife and their dog, Crash (Photo courtesy of Dane Hill)
“When O’Brien left, I took Pascal home, and that was just for the summer during quarantine. Now he’s still with us, and we wanted to bring him back to school, but our problem is that we don’t know where to put him because he’s gotten so big.” “He’s about five years old. He can live to around 80 though, and he’s an African tortoise meaning he doesn’t hibernate.” “His favorite types of food are those big heads of lettuce and he loves fruits and strawberries. In our backyard, he also loves hanging out with the rabbits, but they get scared of him.”
For now, Pascal will be staying under the watchful eye of the Harley family until a plan can be made to get him either back at school or into a more permanent home. On Zoom, we all got to enjoy many moments with physical education teacher Kathleen Mastan’s wonderful Bojangles. “Bojangles is named after a famous tap dancer named Bojangles Robinson,” Mastan said. “He is now nine years old and I’ve had him for all nine years. As my students know, Bojangles was very Zoom-famous; he loved
Ms. Mastan and her cat, Bojangles (Photo courtesy of Kathleen Mastan) being on camera.” “Everytime I started a Zoom he would come and sit next to me, or if I was doing yoga, he would do it as well. “I consider him a cat that’s like a dog, he can do tricks like sit, stand, highfive and chaines (turns).” Seeing Bojangles and his many attempts at logging Mastan out of Zoom classes was a fun experience that we will miss dearly. History teacher Dane Hill’s dog, Crash, is quite the influencer on Instagram. Crash has over 2k followers, and posts constantly.
“Crash just turned two, and he’s a mini goldendoodle,” Hill said. “My wife runs his account and she loves to post a lot. He’s really smart with knowing a bunch of tricks, he’s a very good retriever, he can sit, shake, spin, stands, and he’s just generally a really good boy. For Halloween my wife and I dressed up as Starbucks baristas and Crash was a pumpkin spice latte.” Students will continuously have love in their hearts for all of our teacher’s pets as they either stay at home, or with their fellow students.
After COVID-19 Hiatus, Foreign Exchange Students Come to PVHS
By Lucia Ruiz features editor
Often, students take for granted how lucky they are to study in such a great educational system in the United States. Students come here from all over the world to spend a year in exchange programs for the American educational experience. One Palestinian student who decided to spend a year studying as an exchange student on campus this year is sophomore Saji Askari. “I’m trying to blend in and make friends here,” Askari said. “I want to see everything and I think it’s a once in a lifetime experience. I am trying to go to games, parties and try everything.” However, moving across the world from Palestine to the U.S. has not been all fun and games for Askari. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, Askari had to embark on a long process to become an exchange student. “We had to do a lot of paperwork,” Askari said. “It was very difficult. [I had to be interviewed] and take a test. The interview and test were not that hard, but you had to sign [paperwork] and a lot of things to make sure that when you come here you are going to be safe.” As Askari said, there was loads of preparation that went into his admittance into the exchange program. “First, there’s a small test with simple English and if you pass
that then you get to do another test,” Askari said. “And then you have to wait. I waited for like a month to get the results. And then there’s an interview with [State Department] officers so that they know that you can speak English. That was the most important [interview] because if you did not pass that one, you cannot continue.” Askari was inspired to become an exchange student because of his brother. “My brother went to an exchange year like eight years ago so he encouraged me to go to try it,” Askari said. “My brother was placed in Virginia. He really liked it. Also just watching [American] movies and shows, I wanted to try it and be here.” Junior Yurii Holub, an exchange student from Ukraine, also noted that his exchange program, Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), was different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “People who were in 10th grade last year did not come, so it’s kind of sad,” Holub said. “They had online school but it’s [not the same]. They had American online school but it’s different.” Similarly to Askari, Holub went through a rigorous process to become an exchange student. “This year, it was an online application,” Holub said. “Last year, you went to school and in all countries there is a [testing site] and on the first day
you take a test. On the second day, if you did [well] on the first test, you go to write an essay in 45 minutes. It’s kind of difficult. If you did well, you do the same essay in the winter. This year it was kind of different, you just have an application and you have one month to write [another] three essays but then in the winter you write a [timed] essay for 45 minutes. It was easier this year because you’re in your home, chilling and writing an essay. It didn’t feel like a test.” Now that Askari is here though, he found that it was all worth it. “I’s beautiful here,” Askari said. “What I like here is that I can be responsible for myself.” While Askari is enjoying his time in America, he also misses things from back home. “It’s hard [adjusting],” Askari said. “I have a twin sister too. I am going to leave her for a year so that’s going to be hard.” In Palestine, school is very different from American schools. “High school in my country is simple I think,” Askari said. “It’s like the same thing from first grade to 12th grade. And we have a test at the end and you test for every subject. That grade will say if you go to college. [It determines] if you go to a medical college or engineering or whatever. Here there is Google Classroom, all of these things.” Askari and Holub feel very lucky to be able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and PVHS is even luckier to meet them.
Askari (left) and Holub (right) pose in front of their new school (Photo courtesy of Heidi Hiatt)