The Point, Issue 6, Volume 27 - April 14, 2023

Spring Musical “Something Rotten!” Will Crack You Up

By Amber Chen editor-in-chief

Bright lights, stage fights and a dazzling chorus — what’s not to love?

On April 14, the satirical musical “Something Rotten!” is opening at PVHS. Shows run until April 23.

Set in 1595, the 2015 Broadway hit is a parody to the standard musical, deconstructing the techniques of famous playwrights like Shakespeare. Numerous references to literature and other musicals are dispersed throughout the show.

“This show is really special because there’s a lot of aspects of classical theater, but it’s all updated and modernized in a really funny way,” senior cast member Neela David said.

With its variance in styles, the show reaches a broad audience.

“There’s a little adult humor, which I think will be enjoyed by the high school crowd,” David said.

“There’s also a lot of aspects of classical theater, like tap-dancing, and classical singing, which is usually enjoyed by an older crowd since it’s what they know. It reminds them of what theater was like in their youth.”

The show has a simple plot, following two brothers who struggle to compete against Shakespeare as playwrights during the Renaissance. Nigel Bottom looks up to Shakespeare, while his older brother, Nick, absolutely despises him.

Though it contains “lots of spectacle and lots of comedy,” the musical is really “a story about family at its heart,”

according to junior and lead actor Gavin Kresser

“It’s got a little something for everybody,” Kresser said. “It’s got humor, it’s got songs, it’s got tapdancing. And it really is a very heartwarming story at the end.”

After studying line after line, the actors have learned important lessons from the musical’s storyline.

“A big theme throughout the show was that people had been deceiving each other,” junior actor Jake Weyrick said.

“There were a lot of restrictions over what the characters could and couldn’t do. I feel that the main message of the show is just pure honesty — doing your absolute best, doing what you love.”

And on the stage, Weyrick is doing exactly what he loves. When he initially found out he

was cast as Nick Bottom, one of the lead characters, Weyrick “jumped with joy.”

“Not only is it a main role, but I just feel like he fits my character in the best way,” Weyrick said.

“I love Nigel’s honesty as that character — his innocence, his passion for things.”

As juniors cast into the leading roles, both Weyrick and Kresser cite the senior actors as their role models.

“Work ethic and positivity are two very important things,” Kresser said.

“It’s not like anybody ever sat me down and taught me those things, but just being around people who exude that confident, positive, go-getter energy makes me want to embody that more, and it makes everything run so much more smoothly.”

Having acted in the PVHS

Walther Won’t Falter

drama department for four years, David speaks of her admiration of the younger actors.

“There’s so much talent among the underclassmen,” David said. “Watching them do so well in their parts makes me feel better, because I know it’ll be such a good show.”

The entire cast, crew and pit are thrilled to finally see their hard work come into fruition.

Over the past three months, production members have made unforgettable memories together.

“The best part is always the people,” Kresser said. “You get so close just hanging out every single day, working on something you love and making art with all your friends.

“The bonds you make, that’s really what you’ll remember. It’s really the friends you make along the way.”

A glimpse into the life of PVHS icon Grant Walther

By Lucia Ruiz editor-in-chief

“You’re the man, Grant!” campus security guard Coach exclaimed, zooming past our interview in the golf cart.

Senior Grant Walther is The Man, two-time Scholar Quiz champion, Model United Nations Secretary General, Mock Trial attorney, Boys State , and the list goes on. Walther, also known as G-Money, has also been described as “brilliant,” “funny,” and “outgoing,” according to Associate Principal Dane Hill

“He’s eager to learn,” Hill said. “He’s constantly on a quest for knowledge.”

Of course, Walther could not have won the 2022 and 2023 Scholar Quizzes without this hunger for knowledge and 10 hour “Jeopardy!” binge the night before. Walther’s academic excellence is obvious, but he also has a secret talent.

“I’ve heard Grant is quite the dancer,” Hill said.

What an understatement.

Walther says that his favorite style of dance is “80’s dad’s

moves that your dad breaks out at every wedding.”

“I can get down on the ground, I can spin around a little bit,” Walther said. “It’s harder getting up, but I can get down there.”

When asked what animal would best describe him, Walther didn’t have an answer. Instead, self-proclaimed best friend and senior Marielle Sandler spoke up.

“Orangutan,” Sandler said, “because it’s fun-loving, wise, and kind of underrated.”

Another friend of Walther, senior Kieran Kearns, feels similarly.

“He’s very intelligent, but he’s also always the most fun to have in the room,” Kearns said. “He’s always down for a good singalong [or] dance. Party Grant is my favorite.”

“Party Grant” is a term of endearment coined by his peers to describe the side of Walther that comes out after he studies on the weekends.

“Party Grant knows all the words to all the popular songs,” Kearns said. “He can boogie. He can boogie a lot. He’s very

famous for his Prom and Formal exploits on the dance floor. He doesn’t come out all the time, but everyone loves Party Grant.”

However, Walther hasn’t always been the friendly and animated person everyone knows and loves.

“I had him as a freshman and he was squeakyvoiced, a little more introverted at the time,” Hill said. “Then I [taught] him again as a junior and he was a totally different person. He came out of his shell and became a lot more confident and outgoing.”

Now a senior, Walther is preparing to spend his next four years studying government at the University of Texas at Austin.

“He’s got a lot going for him,” Hill said. “I’ve seen him grow a lot these past few years and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes.”

Q: Any tips for future Scholar Quizzers?

A: Know your strengths. I was horrible at math, so I surrounded myself with math geniuses.

Q: How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?

A: First, I would try to find my family. If I couldn’t find them, I’d find a big grocery store and just lock myself inside.

Q: What if the zombies could make it inside?

A: Well, then I’m dead. I’d just accept my fate.

Q: Spotify or Apple Music?

A: Apple Music. I don’t understand the argument. My family has a sharing plan so I just use that. My parents are already paying for it so I might as well use it.

Q: What animal would you choose to be?

A: Bald eagle. No question. So I could fly. Plus, America.

Q: How many unopened emails do you have right now?

A: Yikes. 14,270 unopened emails.

Q: What would you do with 1 million dollars?

A: I’d invest it immediately.

Q: If you were a brand, what would your motto be?

A: I feel like I am my own brand at this point. But it’s got to be “The King of Money”

(Photo courtesy of Marielle Sandler)

(Photos by Chloe Choi)

PVIT Competition Season is Underway

By Sophie Stoddart reporter

PVHS’s highly successful PVIT program has entered a new competition season. Various teams of individual studentengineers specializing in branches such as robotics and rocketry will go head-to-head with other teams in California.

These teams have been rigorously preparing for competition season since the start of the school year.

“We start in August and September. . . . In the fall they are trying to learn skills and go over judges’ notes from the previous year’s competitions. Or they’re trying to teach new kids how to use the equipment. Then, once the competition comes out, they’re focused on the competition itself,” PVIT co-director Lorraine Loh-Norris said.

The First Robotics Team (FRC) placed fourth in their second Regional Competition, doing better in their competition than FRC has ever done before.

“We had a lot more people on hand so we were able to build a really good robot compared to some years,” FRC lead programmer Daniel Chu, senior, said.

Their team placed extremely well in their first competition given the work that still had to be done.

“At the Ventura County Regional, we still had lots of testing to do still, but we were able to do really well,” Chu said.

“We [collaborated] really well with our teammates and ended up placing 19th out of 46 teams.”

After considering improvements that could be made after their first competition, they were incredibly successful in their second.

“At the San Diego Regional, we were a top five team in terms of scoring, and although we weren’t ranked overall, we made it to the semifinals and were able to win. Just one step from the finals,” Chu said.

Two VEX Robotics Teams also qualified for the California State Championships.

“We ended up placing 16th out of 50 teams at states,” VEX team member junior Ransom Liu said.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced as a team was not having enough

time. After we qualified for the State Championship, we had roughly a month to come up with a better design for our robot before states. With only two weeks left we started building our robot, and we finished building three days before the State Championship. So we only had three days to tune everything else.”

The ROV Team has yet to compete.

“This year we’re expecting more teams to get back on their feet from COVID,” ROV team member senior Cynthia Ho said. “So we’re expecting more serious competition.”

The team is currently working on their robot and is looking forward to their season.

“The competition is in four weeks and we don’t have a robot, but it’s always been a tight schedule,” Ho said.

“I’m hopeful—our team has a history of doing really well, so I think we have a chance at Internationals.”

It’s clear that PVIT teams and individuals have excelled this year.

“I’m super proud of the creativity that they have within the program, of how they’ve learned to work together and how they’ve learned to solve problems together,” Norris said.

From

40 units to 20: Dual Enrollment Policies Change

By Enna Hosoi reporter

Dual enrollment has been offered for many years and has become popular as a method for students to take classes on their timeline.

There are a variety of classes students can take through the process.

Students are given the opportunity to take courses that may not be offered on campus during the school year, but some will sign up for core classes over the summer that are mandatory in order to get ahead or to open up their schedules.

Many community colleges participate in the dual enrollment opportunity, such as El Camino, one of the most wellknown colleges that students from PVHS take classes from.

Junior Karen Hori is one of the many students that have taken an online course at El Camino.

“I took AP US History over the summer last year because it didn’t fit in my schedule for the school year,” Hori said.

“I signed up for it in May and got my course request approved and then enrolled into the class when it opened

online.”

Previously, students were allowed to take up to 40 units worth of classes, but some changes have been made this past year.

“The new change is that you can take 20 units per discipline,” associate principal Jason Ito said.

The school board made this new policy because, according to Ito, it’s “hard to validate the legitimacy of the classes when they are taken online. We are seeing that oftentimes students taking these online courses over the summer are not prepared for the next level course that they take during the school year.”

Limiting the amount of units students can take per discipline will benefit students in the future.

Now, students can only take 20 units per category, but they can always submit more transcripts outside of the school district, exceeding the 40 unit limit.

Taking these summer courses could make it more challenging to learn and retain the necessary information to succeed in school.

The district is enforcing this new policy to prevent students from struggling in the future.

Flow on the Go!

PVOW fundraiser puts period products in bathrooms for first time

By Eva Mayrose opinion editor

If you are someone who frequents the three main girls’ bathrooms on campus, you may have noticed the recent introduction of free period products in each restroom.

For those who may not know since they don’t use these restrooms, PVHS club Palos Verdes Organization of Women (PVOW) has successfully held a menstrual product fundraiser in order to have inclusive healthcare in girls’ bathrooms.

The fundraiser, which took place in March, resulted in a multitude of products including pads, tampons and other menstrual necessities.

“PVOW has been talking about some way to provide our bathrooms with free period products since last year, but it wasn’t until this year that we took initiative to devise a plan,” PVOW President senior Ella Brinderson said.

“We started by mapping out our timeline and decided we wanted to start at the beginning of March, which is Women’s History Month.”

Other organizations on campus helped out with the effort.

“We started a donation drive in partnership with CSF that ran for about a month,” Brinderson said.

“We ended up collecting an overwhelming amount of supplies that we predict will last us through this year and into next if this project continues.”

Though this may not seem like a big deal because there are period product dispensers in most public restrooms, it’s normally required to pay for a product.

PVOW is setting a precedent by acknowledging that people with periods exist and attend PVHS and that they should not be denied basic healthcare products, even if it means the organization has to take matters into its own hands.

“We are currently keeping track of the inventory of the bathrooms to stay on top of restocks, and to hopefully use this data in the future to support an argument

for why our students need access to free period products,” Brinderson said.

Since implementing these period baskets, people using the girls’ bathrooms have become more comfortable when experiencing period symptoms.

These free products have already helped many students on campus: many students enjoy not having to carry products around in backpacks all day and not having to bring a pad or tampon with them to the bathroom during class.

Members of PVOW think it is important to start the precedent of providing these commodities at school to support students with periods.

“I think this project has set a good precedent for future members of PVOW to continue and improve it after I graduate,” Brinderson said.

“It gives younger classmates a chance to get involved to improve our school and I believe it has the chance to have a longlasting impact on our campus and serve girls at PV High for years to come.”

PVIT’s FRC team at a competition. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Loh-Norris)

Free period products in girls’ bathrooms at PVHS. (Photo by Eva Mayrose)

BTC’s Diversity Week Brings Appreciation and Celebration to Campus

Sea Kings enjoyed celebrating and acknowledging their differences this week with events such as the Buddy Basketball game, multicultural food fair, and writing letters to senior citizens. The week ends with the Day of Silence on Friday, April 14 in honor of the LGBTQ+ community.

Biden Administration Approves Willow Project

By Sophie Sun reporter

Crude oil company

ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project, a massive oil drilling project in Alaska, was recently approved by the Biden administration despite the huge environmental consequences of the project.

After its approval, the Biden administration faced much blowback from indigenous, environmental and student activists alike—online petitions and social media campaigns arose in response.

The state claims that the Willow Project will generate thousands of jobs, boost domestic energy production and lessen reliance on foreign oil. It is estimated that the project will generate enough oil to release 9.2 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said “[Alaska is] now on the cusp of creating thousands of new jobs, generating billions of dollars in new revenues…and improving quality of life.”

Through the Alaska Permanent Fund, an investment fund that invests surplus revenue from oil and gas reserves into annual dividends for eligible Alaskan citizens, the Willow Project will also directly benefit each Alaskan citizen and help revitalize the US economy.

However, beyond the Willow Project’s projected economic benefits, it is clear that the project will also cause much harm to Alaska’s valuable environment.

AP Environmental Science teacher Marie Kuhn explained that when these operations are set up, people end up building roads, infrastructure and pipelines

Obesity Rates in U.S. Reach Dangerous Heights

By Zara Deen reporter

Teen obesity rates have been increasing rapidly over the last 50 years, with 17% of the 42 million teens in the U.S. classified as obese, or about seven million obese teens.

This is a huge difference from teenage obesity rates in other countries, due to the difference in the quality and quantity of food available.

Even in school lunches, nutritional values are no comparison to other countries.

One of the reasons for this is the lack of fresh ingredients in the U.S. In European countries, lunches often consist of fresh salads and meat is not always red.

This differs from U.S. school lunches, which are often packed with foods void of nutrition, as they stay edible longer.

This factor, combined with the portion sizes of lunches, leads to American students consuming up to 200 hundred empty calories more than other countries.

This doesn’t only apply to cafeteria food.

“On my trip to Paris, we were underwhelmed by the amount of food they gave us at restaurants, as we were used to the huge American portions,” freshman Nirvana Khaleeli said.

The normalization of large portion sizes can lead to ultimately unhealthy lifestyles.

“Because of our portion sizes in the U.S., teens become so used to this it expands the average amount they should be able to eat,” Dr. Omer Deen said.

“However, their bodies do not need as much food as they think, causing a lot of this to be stored as fat.”

If teen obesity continues to increase at this rate, nearly one in three U.S. teens will

be obese by 2030.

Contrary to popular opinion, obesity is not a cosmetic issue but rather, a lifethreatening problem.

A study done by Harvard University found that “Obesity increases the risk of several debilitating, and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.”

People struggling with obesity have a lowered life expectancy of 5-20 years. The average person lives up to around 75 years, but obesity can cause a person to only make it to around 50 years.

U.S. food companies and restaurants tend to value their revenue over their customers’ health, done by supplying consumers with large amounts of nonnutritious “empty” foods designed for customers to need more than necessary to feel full.

People are consuming more calories than their bodies need, resulting in more weight being gained.

Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year.

that disrupt the pristine environment and disturb wildlife.

“They have their migration patterns, they have their feeding grounds, they have their reproducing areas and now we’re just going to build roads and infrastructure in those areas,” Kuhn said. “It’s alarming because it’s adding to our climate crisis. It will impact animals that live in the area, and it’s disrupting pristine parts of the Earth that we really want to preserve.”

The project has divided Native Alaskans into two sides—on one hand, the project will create jobs and bring an influx of funding for schools, public service and infrastructure in Native communities.

On the other hand, the project will infringe upon Native Alaskan land, bringing cultural loss and health complications to communities situated near the drilling site.

Kuhn’s advice is this: “If it’s going to happen, the main thing we can do is speak with our vote. We want to continue to support candidates that are promoting green energy that are embracing the fact that we are in a climate crisis and that’s the strongest thing we have right now is our vote.”

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

(Graphic by Zara Deen)

(Photos by Lucia Ruiz and Sophie Sun)

By Aidan Shen reporter

The United States is a melting pot of cultures due to a high immigration rate. Secondgeneration immigrants are those who were born and raised in the United States but have parents who were born and raised elsewhere.

Unlike their first-generation immigrant parents, who struggle to integrate and pick up a new language and culture, they have a unique experience.

With a new experience comes challenges, like managing their cultural traditions and values with those of their parents while adjusting to living in a different nation with foreign cultural customs.

The pressure for secondgeneration immigrants to adapt into American culture while making sure they don’t lose their cultural identity is one of the toughest obstacles they are faced with.

Many second generation immigrants feel conflicted between adjusting to the

American way of life and sticking to their parents’ cultural expectations.

For instance, children of first generation immigrants could experience pressure to perform well academically while their friends might place more importance on sports or socializing.

As a result, they may feel alienated from their classmates, losing both their connection to their original country’s culture and American culture.

However, some Sea Kings don’t feel the same pressure that many others do. Junior Mark Lin, whose family is originally from Taiwan, China, said that although he experienced the difficulty of socializing with others and crossing the cultural barrier between friends, “adapting to the environment is more important [to me] than sticking to a culture stubbornly.” This is not to say that one shouldn’t embrace their culture fully, but to keep an open mind to make the most of your experiences.

Language barriers may

Q and A with Chadwick Transfers

By Aaron Propst reporter

Q. What are some of the main differences between Chadwick and PV?

A. Sophomore Caroline Chu“One [of the] main differences is the class size and how that really [impacts] the overall school environment.”

A. Sophomore Anish Chowdhury - “Chadwick has a standard based grading that is really opinion based, especially in math and science. It is not a matter of right or wrong, even if you get it right they will mark you points down because of the teacher’s opinion and standards of how to show work.”

Q. Are you happy with your decision to come to PV?

A. Chu - “I am really happy with my decision to come to PV. I feel like the environment is more fitting for me.”

A. Chowdhury- “I feel like just in general the teachers want you to succeed here much more and [they try to] help you get an A. I have enjoyed the community here.”

Q. Was the transition to PV hard for you?

A. Chu - “In the beginning the transition was a little bit hard as there was a lot of anxiety coming into a new school, especially [because of] the much bigger class sizes.”

pose challenges for secondgeneration immigrants. They may not be as fluent in English if they grew up speaking their parents’ native language, which can lead to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns.

Furthermore, language barriers may make it difficult for them to maintain cultural bonds and familial relationships.

Second-generation immigrants may face discrimination and prejudice as well. Because of their ethnicity or cultural upbringing, they may be perceived as “foreign” despite being born and raised in the United States.

Luckily, Lin also stated that he has been to places considered more conservative and still didn’t experience prejudice or hate due to his ethnicity.

Second-generation immigrants have several advantages and strengths growing up with two or more additional examples of culture in their life.

Growing up in a multicultural

atmosphere may broaden their perspectives and make them more tolerant and welcoming of others.

Being bilingual or multilingual is useful in the current globalized society.

Immigrants of the second generation usually serve as a bridge between the generation that their parents came from and the bulk of American society.

They might be able to speak for their communities and inform their peers on customs and practices unique to their groups.

Also, they might be able to find a balance between their aspirations and their parents’ expectations, creating a unique identity that includes both their cultural heritage and American identity.

A great example of a Sea King who speaks for her own community through her experiences as a second generation immigrant is senior and president of BTC, Ainsley Schmitz

“Becoming [BTC] president was so rewarding, being in a position

How Cultural Identity Defines An Immigrant’s Experience From Physics to Sax, Max Colomer Does it All

to give back… and raise more awareness for people of similar backgrounds,” Schmitz said.

The experience of being an immigrant in the second generation is unique and challenging, but it is also one that is full of opportunities and positive traits.

They must strike a balance between their cultural identity and the linguistic challenges, bigotry, and expectations of American society.

But their multicultural upbringing might have encouraged them to adopt more hospitable and understanding perspectives.

They also serve as a bridge between their parents’ generation and the majority of American society by supporting their communities and infusing their cultural histories into their identities.

Given that the United States is a nation of immigrants, it is crucial to comprehend the viewpoints of second-generation immigrants to build a society that is more diverse and inclusive.

By Chloe Choi centerspread editor

Whether it’s leading the FRC team to victory, playing music with his friends, or studying advanced physics, senior Max Colomer does it all.

Colomer is the lead electrical engineer and captain of the PVIT program’s FRC team, a robotics team that designs and builds a robot to participate in competitions. As a captain, Colomer took on many new responsibilities this year and learned some valuable lessons.

rhythms. Playing with my friends in a small group and playing songs multiple times and trying out different things and seeing what sounds good is fun. It’s a way to express myself in a new way instead of talking,” Colomer said.

Colomer is most known for his passionate love for the study of physics.

This love story began during his sophomore year when he was taking Physics 2, which was combined with Einstein Physics that year.

“During my sophomore year, Einstein Physics was a class full of seniors doing a fourth year of physics. They would learn more advanced physics

to do physics in college. Taking Einstein Physics this year has really helped me learn how to do things on my own since it’s a selfstudy class and it’s gotten me really excited to learn physics.”

All of these experiences have shaped Colomer into who he is today and he will continue studying physics at Yale University.

Colomer’s biggest piece of advice for underclassmen is as follows.

“Explore different interests that you have and ask more questions. Ask more questions to your teachers and people that are there to help you. There are a lot of things you can learn when you have the ability to ask better

A. Chowdhury - “For the first week I was a little nervous just like anything that is new to a person. [It was a little difficult] getting to know the classes and understanding the system, but I got used to it.”

Q. Is there anything that Chadwick did that PV should try to do?

A. Chu - “Chadwick had really great opportunities to meet up with teachers outside of class time, called office hours. [I think] it would be really beneficial to the students at PV if they are confused or they do not really understand the subject.”

A. Chowdhury - “Chadwick has really great food. They had sushi, Ben and Jerry’s, fancy vending machines, Gatorades, and a lot more options.”

“[Leadership] was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I’ve learned to make decisions quickly when I’m speaking to people and to be confident in what I’m saying. This experience also taught me to look at the bigger picture outside of the small tasks that I’m doing. Now it’s easier to look at big things that I have to do in my life where I can map things out and organize them better,” Colomer said.

To unwind from the stress of his rigorous schedule, Colomer enjoys playing jazz with his friends.

“I like being creative with what I play and exploring different melodies and

topics and make presentations on those topics. Although I didn’t understand all of the topics, I would connect some of them to what we were learning in Physics 2,” Colomer said.

“That was really cool to me and sparked my interest that I wanted

questions. I’ve learned to ask questions in class when I really don’t understand something and it helps you understand. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something because people are there to help you.”

(Photo by Ollivia Kao)

(Photo courtesy of Caroline Chu)

(Photo courtesy ofAnish Chowdhury)

The Rise of Hit HBO Series “The Last of Us”

By Eva Mayrose opinion editor

So, you’re on your daily afternoon TikTok scroll and it seems as though you’ve been thrown down the rabbit hole after liking one video about the hit HBO series “The Last of Us.”

Now, every other 15-second reel you scroll onto is a flashy, slightly provocative edit of the show’s lead actor Pedro Pascal. Before you know it, you can’t get enough of that one line he says in the film “The Kingsmen,” you know the one.

Though many have only recently been acquainted with Hollywood’s silver fox, Pascal has been in the spotlight for over a decade. However, it was the videogamebased series “The Last of Us” that solidified his fame and fan base.

“I’m a huge fan of Pascal’s work, ranging from Game of Thrones to The Mandalorian. I really like the way he portrayed Joel from the uptight dad to Ellie’s protector,” said junior Melina Acuna.

Acting alongside rising co-star Bella Ramsey, the two illustrate life in a dystopian world after almost all life is wiped out by a fungus that drives people to insanity and turns them into real-life zombies.

The main characters of the show, Joel (played by Pascal) and Ellie (played by Ramsey) are originally videogame designs created by Neil Druckmann while he was still attending Carnegie Mellon University. The story idea was eventually bought off by “Naughty Dog,” a game developer who

launched “The Last of Us” in 2013 for Playstation.

“I think what makes the show so different is the fact that it’s based on a video game. Typically you see “based on the book …” [but you don’t see] “based on the video game production …,” [as often], which makes it really unique. They are staying close and true to the game since no one ever likes it when the show/movie strays too far from the original,” said Acuna.

The video game is categorized as an “action-adventure survival horror game” by Wikipedia, and the series lives by that description. With incredible special effects topped with a talented cast, creative director and co-creator Craig Mazin along with Druckmann were able to bring this previously 2D world to life on screen.

“My favorite part of the series are the fungus monsters. They’re disgusting and nasty looking zombies that are really hard to kill,” said

Students Participate In Tradewinds Slam Poetry Night

By Sierra Namvari photo editor

The Tradewinds Literary Magazine 2023 Slam Poetry Night took place on April 7.

There was a large turnout of parents and students who came to support the poets of the night.

Slam poetry is a form of expression, mainly found from topics that an individual feels very passionate about. This can stem from human rights, ethnic backgrounds, sexuality, mental health, or any other topic.

Students had been working on these projects for months.

“At the moment there was a lot going on in the news about the overruling of Roe v. Wade and a lot of stuff in general about the Willow Project in Alaska and everything seemed really overwhelming,

so I started thinking about our future. Instead of it making me sad, it just made me really angry,” junior Daniela Rusich said.

“I felt like nobody was really listening so I took all of those emotions and put them into a poem.”

They all brought emotion to their performances and really touched the audience. Some people even decided to partner up in order to create a more powerful presence on stage.

This was projected really well especially considering how new some of the poets were to creating something in duets.

The event was very empowering and it was exciting getting to see how people planned on expressing their feelings in front of a bigger audience for the first time this year.

self-proclaimed critic and social science teacher Louis Harley.

The storyline follows Joel, a smuggler, and Ellie, a 14-year-old orphan whose lives are intertwined by the formidable conditions they have to face in order to

survive. Though the show is filled with villains, plot-twists, scientific anomalies and monsters, the main aspect of the story that really captivated viewers was the bond between the two main characters. Joel and Ellie grow to have a father-daughter relationship and their loving relationship is what keeps them hopeful and going despite continuous setbacks.

“Pascal and Ramsey did a fantastic job portraying their relationship on screen and made it feel so genuine. I loved watching them despise each other from the beginning to becoming fiercely protective and devoted to each other at the end of the season,” said Acuna.

Though the show has accumulated a large fan base made up of fans of the video game and newer viewers, not everyone thinks the series is perfect.

“My biggest criticism of the series is that although it’s a [fictional] sc-ifi story, it defies all reality. Eating 20-year-old cans of Chef Boyardee? Driving across the country 20 years after an apocalyptic event using 20 year old gasoline?” said Harley.

Fortunately the show’s praise outweighs the criticism significantly and people are already anticipating theories for the second season, anxiously waiting to see what Pascal and Ramsey have in store for their characters.

“Each episode was entertaining, wellwritten, and had everyone on the edge of their seat, and I think the next season will be just as thrilling,” said Acuna.

(Photo courtesy of Karen Kostrencich)

(Graphic by Eva Mayrose)

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Speak Your Truth: Sea Kings

“I used to eat cow tongue as a kid because my parents would make it and it’s actually pretty good, everyone assumes that its gross but it’s not. I think Fight Club is very overrated. Everyone talks about it and I had higher expectations for it but ended up being disappointed.”

-

Parham Seyedshakeri (12)

“I’m the black sheep here, because I don’t like most modern music. I think it’s overly vulgar. I think songs like “WAP” are excess for the sake of excess. Songs should be there [for you] to enjoy yourself to, not just spew the most vulgar and obscene language that you could possibly have. I can say that for not just Cardi B-- I think Drake is talentless, mumble rappers suck… I’m really an unpopular opinion walking around, aren’t I?”

- Lucas Coleman (12)

“I think pizza is overrated. I think it’s still good but I hear a lot of people saying it’s their favorite food and I don’t understand all the love. Also, I think Drake is overrated. Just like pizza, I think he’s a great artist but I don’t think he’s as great as everyone says he is.”

- Owen Traina (11)

“I love math and a lot of people hate math. There’s straight answers to a lot of things, like in English the answers are more open-ended. I like to have straight answers to my questions. And it’s really fun and interesting. A lot of people don’t think it is, which I get, but that’s not me.”

- Hayden Greene (12)

“I don’t like In’n’Out shakes because they taste like butter and fat. I feel fat after drinking the shakes, I feel like there is a film around my mouth after drinking one. I don’t get that crisp satisfaction of chilled a chilled beverage after drinking one.”

Petra Riggs (11)

“I don’t like Taylor Swift because I don’t really listen to her music. I also don’t like eggs because they smell bad and the texture is gross”

“Ian Somerhalder, the guy from The Vampire Diaries, is not attractive. His eyes bother me, they don’t fit his face. They’re very squinty, and his eyebrows are very aggressive. I hate the song “Boy’s a Liar” by Ice Spice and PinkPantheress on TikTok. I don’t like how repetitive it is. Her voice annoys me.”

- Lauren Colton (10)

“Pineapple on pizza is good - perfect mixture of sweet and savory.”

- Rylee Rodriguez (9)

Kings Share Their Hot Takes

“I really hate KFC. I think their chicken is very low quality and it’s never good...The Office is lowkey mid. It’s super boring and way too overhyped.”

- Chris Lachowicz (11)

“I think hot dogs are sandwiches. It’s a piece of meat between two pieces of bread, therefore it’s a sandwich...Senior year is not that easy. Everyone says senior year is the easiest and most fun year, but that’s not true at all.”

“I’m not a big fan of grapes. It’s not about the taste or anything, it’s just like in elementary school a bunch of kids would step on them and it would be all over the black top and it would just unsettle me. I’m not a fan of grapes anymore. Whenever I would eat grapes it would be associated with it being squished on the floor and baked in the sun, crusted over the blacktop. It really rubbed me the wrong way.”

“Schoolwise, I think that math is the color blue and English is the color red. It’s really hard to explain, but I know I’m right.”

“I thought Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance was boring. I like Super Bowl performances with unique combinations of artists and I wanted to see different types of artists interacting with her. I like Rihanna, but I just wanted to see some interesting combinations. I liked the colors and obviously she’s a great performer, but meh, I just expected better bands and performances.”

“Taylor Swift should have stayed in country music. The Red album was her only good one and I haven’t listened to a song of hers since. [She] is overrated and hasn’t made a good album since 2014.”

“Bacon is not that good. It smells great but the texture is what throws me off the most. The flavor of it is also pretty disappointing.”

Kylie Welcher (12)

“People only like the terrible taste of coffee and dark chocolate because they want to think that they have a complex palate but it just tastes bad. “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift has gotten on my nerves so much because people keep playing it. I don’t really like her music that much but Anti-Hero specifically gets on my nerves.”

- Mattias Eberhart (10)

- Vytas Vitkus (11)

- Ms. Mogilefsky (English Teacher)

- Grace Moore (11)

- Alex Donell (12)

- Connor Bradley (11)

OPINION Hyper Inclusivity in Classic Literature

The problem with editing books for modern times

By Ella Sherry news editor

“Fat,” “ugly,” “crazy,” “mothers,” “fathers”—these are all words in Roald Dahl’s books that have been edited out or changed for not being inclusive enough.

In February, Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House in the UK, decided to edit some of Dahl’s novels in an effort to “ensure that [the books] can continue to be enjoyed by all today.”

After a large amount of backlash from the public, the publishing company announced that a classic collection of Dahl’s novels, “The Roald Dahl Classic Collection,” would be published without the previous changes. Fans of Dahl’s work have been divided over the controversy; some think the changes are undoing the progress our society has made while others argue that the new text is for the best.

Salman Rushdie, an Indian-born novelist who has been threatened repeatedly by the Iranian government for “blasphemy” in his writing, called the edits “absurd” despite Dahl’s reputation for being “no angel”: the children’s author was a known bigot, anti-Semitic and racist. But do these changes really benefit the readers, and are they actually necessary?

Words, language, laws and social standards change over time—racial slurs common years ago are unacceptable now

The Importance Of Dual Immersion Schools

By Luka Ardón centerspread editor

Dual-Immersion schools are bilingual schools teaching in English and another language. These schools can be a great opportunity for children to become bilingual fairly easily.

But for students in the U.S. who don’t speak English, these schools can be crucial to the students’ learning and future.

A UCLA study on english language learners shows that “English learners who were reclassified in later grades had higher dropout rates than those who were reclassified in the early grades: 33 percent dropped out if they were still classified as ELLs in high school, 22 percent of those reclassified in grade 5 or sooner dropped out, while 15 percent of students who got reclassified in grade 2 or earlier dropped out,” accordng to Lesli A. Maxwell, the Managing Editor for Education Week.

Imagine if these English learners could not just be classified as “EL” but actually be taught in their native language and English.

In the PV School District, 11 percent of our students are classified as English language learners. Of these English language learners, 30 percent speak Japanese and 19 percent speak Mandarin.

So, these students will especially benefit from learning in their first language and English.

When people think of Dual Immersion schools they think of the benefits of being bilingual with learning Spanish or another language.

and racist ideas about different ethnicities are looked down upon. Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of California only 15 years ago, in May of 2008; the Civil Rigths Act was passed 59

years ago, in 1964; women were given the right to vote in 1920, 103 years ago. Society changes, sometimes drastically, over centuries. It makes sense that books written years ago have different vocabularies, characters, themes, dialogue and ideas, even if our current culture is focused on being diverse and inclusive.

Dahl’s books, and similar ones, were written during a time that had different ideas and standards. This doesn’t excuse

Dahl’s beliefs: his comments are impudent and impermissible.

But if we try to edit out every single non-inclusive word, scene, character, theme and plot, we won’t have any classics.

Numerous classical novels are racist, stereotypical, insensitive and plain offensive: those opinions are still a part of our world’s history and it’s impossible to completely eradicate them from all works of literature.

We can’t erase history, no matter how uncomfortable it is—understanding social norms during different time periods is necessary in order to grow as a society and make positive changes.

We’ve come a long way since the beginning of the 20th century and literature highlights that. Instead of trying to rewrite older stories, why don’t we look back at creative works and celebrate the progress we’ve made?

The TikTok-ification Of The Music Industry

But for English learners, being bilingual is a necessity.

The importance of being able to speak both English and Spanish is amplified for the Latinx community because they are the largest racial group in California, making up 39 percent of the population.

One third of California Latinos are foreign immigrants who speak Spanish as their first language. For some, they only speak Spanish.

Being able to speak to a majority percentage of the population is a great advantage.

Being bilingual has cognitive benefits as well.

“A 2004 study by psychologists Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin-Rhee found that bilingual youth were more successful at dividing objects by shape and color versus their monolingual peers who struggled when the second characteristic (sorting by shape) was added.

“This suggests the bilingual experience improves the brain’s command center, thus giving it the ability to plan, solve problems and perform other mentally demanding tasks. These tasks include switching attention from one thing to another and holding information in mind, like remembering a sequence of directions when getting ready for school in the morning or, for adults, driving a car,” Tracy Trautner from Michigan State University said.

The implementation of a Dual Immersion school has benefits for all students, from children who are still learning English as well as children who will gain the benefits of being bilingual by learning Spanish or Mandarin as a second language.

By Olivia Kao reporter

Steve Lacy, a popular indie artist who has been a big name in the R&B scene for years, released his single “Bad Habit” in the summer of 2022, which soon after reached number one on the Billboard Top 100.

The hook of Lacy’s single has been used for over half a million TikTok videos and the song has been streamed over 600 million times on Spotify since its release. Despite the unprecedented success of “Bad Habit”, Lacy is no stranger to the music industry, and shouldn’t be considered an artist who is only famous for having music that went viral on TikTok.

However, a recent video of a Steve Lacy concert shows the crowd’s shallow knowledge of his music. While performing “Bad Habit,” Lacy pointed his microphone towards the crowd,

in hopes that they would sing the second verse of the song. You’d think people who attended his concerts would at least know the lyrics to some of the songs.

The crowd loudly sang the hook, which (uncoincidentally) was the snippet that went viral on TikTok.

Nevertheless, an awkward silence filled the stadium once the second verse began, leaving Lacy annoyed, and rightfully so.

If you’re going to go to a concert, shouldn’t you at least know more than seven seconds of only one song?

The adoration artists like Lacy receive online doesn’t necessarily seem to be reflected in person.

However, having only the most viral bits of your music identify you as an artist isn’t the only issue that comes into view regarding TikTok and the music industry.

With the rapid growth of

popularity for social media platforms’ short-clipped videos (i.e. Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, etc.), many artists have complained that the industry has become too reliant on apps like TikTok.

Writing, producing, and recording music seems to be enough of a busy schedule for an artist and their team.

Despite this, many artists nowadays are expected to create social media content in addition to their chaotic calendars in order to promote their music in such a fast paced industry that is only becoming more and more dependent on technology.

In spite of many artists finding success on the platform, TikTok is more detrimental than beneficial to the music industry.

Artists like Lacy are certainly worth more than the number of streams, hearts, or likes that they receive on social media.

(Graphic by Ella Sherry)

(Graphic by Olivia Kao)

A Letter From the Editors

Journalistic integrity is one of the first things we learned in high school journalism. Principles like honesty make up the very foundation of fair news reporting.

While we students prepared to enter the professional world abiding by these standards of integrity, huge media outlets turned corporate and absolved their morals instead.

While media giants like Fox News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and the L.A. Times are not comparable to a mere high school newspaper, they should be held to the same moral expectations.

One of the issues that plagues these news sources is the fact that they are owned by billionaires with agendas of their own.

90% of the media is owned by just six corporations: AT&T, Disney, Viacom, CBS, Newscorp and Comcast. What are their motivations? Why do some billionaires want to capitalize off of what we consumers read? How is it possible to drive out corruption in corporations that are spread so thin that oversight is neglected?

The only people that benefit from media privatization are the few who can afford to control it. Billionaire and former president Donald Trump came under fire for paying the National Enquirer

The iPad Kid Epidemic

By Quinn Kearns social media editor

for the rights to a story about his affair with model Karen McDougal. In a practice known as “catch and kill,” the story never saw the light of day. By buying the rights to the story, no other news sources were permitted to publish about it, proving that people with money have the power to censor the media.

Not only does this influence the political climate, but one could argue that it violates the American right to freedom of the press and our right to knowledge of the truth.

To students who have been taught the importance of covering stories from all angles, professional journalism seems like a moral step backward. It feels hopeless to try so hard to uphold our integrity while mainstream news is now just a pawn in politicians’ game.

Journalistic integrity is not an entirely lost cause, though. Certain news sources such as the Associated Press and NPR are reliable, timely and most importantly, publicly owned. These public media outlets show significantly less bias and report any relevant news without censorship.

Subscribing to news outlets like these will support the effort to bring back transparency and de-privatize the media.

Have you ever seen a child at a dinner playing games on their mom’s phone?

If you have, you’ve witnessed a future iPad kid in their natural habitat.

When their request for a real phone is denied they turn to the next best thing… a slightly bigger and less conventional iPhone.

Now why should we be so scared of literal children, you may ask?

The answer is quite straightforward. Simply because we can’t control them. They are not only willing to talk back to adults but they add a little bit of language and attitude.

These elementary schoolers are learning the burdens of laziness and refusal to go outside, something we only see in high schoolers and some vampires.

The only efficient way to tame these children is by either banning them from watching Cocomelon or banning them from their iPads all together.

Not only are we seeing this behavior in children, but in adults as well.

This obsession of iPads has spanned out to parents of all generations. The dinner table has become a sanctuary for spawning dragons and crushing candy.

The more iPads purchased for children, the more parents that

get converted.

You may be asking why this is a problem, but when you think about it the more adults use iPads the more likely they are to begin watching Instagram Reels and TikTok.

So the next time you ask your parents if you can have an iPad, think not only of the consequences of possible addiction but of your parents understanding your “advanced” humor.

PVHS Needs Some Updates: Looking Into The District’s Lack Of Funding

By Eva Yancheson reporter

The “Main Event”, a local auction with parents and other PV residents, is the biggest source of outside revenue for the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District.

Admission is 175 dollars a ticket for a night of dancing, eating, and performances.

Around 200,000 dollars is raised every year at this event, but why does the district have to host it in the first place?

The money raised at this event makes up a part of the 1 million dollars expected in donations from PV residents and other local companies to the district over the year, opening the discussion on why so much money from the community needs to be raised.

To give some background, the biggest source of funding from the government is state income tax, due to Proposition 13. California spends an average of 4,000 dollars on each student per year, 1,000 less than the national average of 5,000 dollars.

Furthermore, this funding was drastically cut when enrollment

started to go down in 2013.

Mira Costa, a high school part of the Manhattan Beach School District, spent 67 million dollars on extensive renovations on their baseball field, lunch benches, classrooms and landscaping in 2015.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Just in 2019, they spent another 38 million dollars solely to build a new gymnasium.

Mira Costa is a 65-year-old school, which is almost tied with Palos Verdes as a 62-year-old school.

This is not to say our school doesn’t get any funding for renovations. We had a few electrical, sewer, gas, and other safety related updates back in 2000 and 2005. There is also a “Facilities Modernization Project List”, which outlines plans for future renovations. However since

Editors-in-Chief

Amber Chen Lucia Ruiz

Adviser Cynthia Mindicino

then, it’s been crickets and tumbleweeds.

Now, rumors are floating around about some new AC units. These are outlined in the

a boiling classroom.

Many upperclassmen, including myself, are disappointed that after our wish has finally come true, we will have already graduated.

There are a few other telltale signs of how our school is funded, or lack thereof.

building shakes” when you walk around.

One of the biggest problems with the facilities in our school is parking.

We have made efforts to fix this problem, but we still have students parking in illegal spots just so they don’t have to park on Paseo del Mar, or all the way down below the football field.

Facilities Modernization Project List, and are projected to be installed in the next few years. As of right now, only a few sections of classroom pods have working units.

As a junior, though, I have to laugh at the time frame. There hasn’t been a fall semester where I didn’t curse the heat and all the inconveniences it brings, especially when trying to learn in

Editors & Leadership

News: Ella Sherry

Features: Kelly Donahue

Opinion: Eva Mayrose

Sports: Jonathan Liu

Photography: Sierra Namvari

A trip to the lower half of campus shows a dated gym, with even older looking locker rooms. The whole pod surrounding the gym is in dire need of renovation, or at the very least a paint job. Both the football and baseball fields are extremely nice, however, their sister buildings should match.

Though still functional, most of the lower half of campus is like a flashback from the 70’s.

Other complaints are sourced from some of the 500 portables, as they look like they’ve never left the 60’s, some students explaining that “the whole

Centerspread: Luka Ardón Chloe Choi

Online: Ella Sherry

Social Media: Quinn Kearns

The situation always gets worse in the spring, as more students get their licenses and start driving to school. The conversation regarding parking is a tired one, as many of our staff have made great efforts to try and fix the problem.

These areas of campus are in obvious need of renovation, so when donations come in for places like the stage in Sea King Park for renovations when they are not necessary, it raises questions.

We need donors to consider fixing things in need rather than give money for campus beautification projects.

PV High School is located in one of the most beautiful areas in California, so I only ask that our facilities match the prestige that the rest of our campus holds.

Staff

Zara Deen, Enna Hosoi, Olivia Kao, Hailey Kim, James Lew, Aaron Propst, Aidan Shen, Sophie Stoddart, Sophie Sun, Christopher Vasey, Eva Yancheson

Follow us on Instagram!

@pvhspoint

(Graphic by Quinn Kearns)

Entry to the girls’ locker room. (Photo By Eva Yancheson)

PVHS Senior Katie Lannon Commits to Westmont College

By Kelly Donahue features editor

At the end of 2022, senior Katie Lannon committed to playing Division One soccer next year at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

Lannon started playing soccer at a very young age when she was three years old.

“My dad wanted both me and my sister to play sports. We tried almost every sport but soccer was the one I loved most.”

Playing soccer in college was not a hard decision for Lannon to make.

“I knew I wanted to play in college when I realized how

much time and effort I put into playing all my life and I didn’t want to give it up after high school,” Lannon said.

“I love the sport and want to play as long as I can.”

Similarly, the decision to play soccer specifically for Westmont was another easy decision for Lannon to make.

“The school had sent me a brochure in the mail and the location is what really caught me,” Lannon said.

“I wanted to stay close to home and be [near] my family. The people at Westmont are very welcoming and made me feel at home. It feels like family already,” Lannon said.

Lannon’s commitment process went by pretty quickly.

“I started the commitment process by just filling out a recruitment form for the school and I sent it in,” Lannon said.

“They answered back

and asked me to come out to visit the school. I was given a tour of the campus the first day and met the coaches [and] the team. I got to go to classes [and eat] lunch with the team.

“I also got two days of practice with the team to get evaluated. After the second practice I talked

one on one with the coaches and then with my parents. After that the head coach reached out to me over email to set up a zoom and offered a scholarship and asked if I was interested in playing [there] and I committed.”

Lannon feels as though being committed has taken away so

much of the stress that comes with college applications.

“It was so easy [since] this school was the first one I looked at and got an offer from,” Lannon said.

“I haven’t had to apply to any other schools. It’s been a stress free senior year.”

Mackiewicz to the Finish Line Girls Lax to the Max

Junior Mikey Mackiewicz clears the competition on the track

By Chris Vasey reporter

Junior Mikey Mackiewicz is a cross country and track star.

He started cross country in middle school as a way to condition for soccer, baseball, and basketball.

“Initially, I didn’t expect running to be my main sport,” Mackiewicz said.

“But after running for a year I realized that I was kinda good at it and chose to stick with it.”

Aside from competing, Mackiewicz also enjoys the atmosphere of the track and cross country meets.

“It’s a really fun atmosphere, everyone wants each other to succeed, and it motivates me to train harder to be the best,” Mackiewicz stated.

Although track and field and cross country are mostly individual sports, Mackiewicz enjoys the team and how close they have gotten as a group.

“It’s a great group of guys and we all connect really well,” Mackiewicz said.

“We want each other to succeed and we’re always having fun during our meets.”

Mackiewicz’s favorite part

PVHS Girls Lacrosse dominates spring season

of his cross country and track journey is all of the friendships he’s made along the way.

“I’ve created lasting friendships with guys I’ve met over the years that still go to PVHS, and friendships with friends that are now going to college,” Mackiewicz said.

Mackiewicz was inspired to help his younger teammates after receiving mentorship himself from prior teammates.

“Will Kirk has influenced me to always give 100% and I look up to him as a big role model for my running career,” Mackiewicz said.

“He taught me that I’m not going to have a good race every time, so I need to learn from my bad races and use that to become the best runner I can be.”

Mackiewicz has had a very successful junior year campaign after recovering from a broken toe earlier in the year.

“When I broke my toe it was tough to run through the pain but I had to be resilient. This year I ran a 2 minute 800m which is a CIF qualifying time, and I’m finally wearing the coveted stripes,” Mackiewicz said.

By Quinn Kearns social media editor

As the spring sports season is underway, the PVHS girls lacrosse team kicked off their season with a meaningful game.

After a long preseason, the girls started out strong with a huge win in their Morgan’s Message game against Mira Costa.

The game went into double overtime, resulting in an exciting 9-8 victory.

“The Morgan’s Message game was a game against Mira Costa where we dedicated it to a former Duke lacrosse player Morgan, who took her own life,”

sophomore Kallista Wang said.

“Morgan’s message was made to spread awareness of athlete mental health. Winning that game was important to our team’s position in Bay League and after winning we were able to recognize our true potential as a team all together.”

Even with early season struggles, the team is still figuring out ways to win.

As of April 12, the team has a winning record of 9-6.

“I would say the biggest challenge through preseason was keeping everyone motivated and committed because preseason can be long and hard and can be easy to lose sight of the season,”

junior Riley Padian said.

“We persevered by reminiscing on our successes from the previous season that was a result of our hard work through preseason.”

Although there were some notable lowlights, the team has also had a variety of highlights. With a huge 19-3 win against Peninsula, the girls have improved their Bay League record to 2-1.

As of April 12, their 2-1 record ranks second in Bay League. With only a select amount of games remaining in the regular season, the girls have a great opportunity to make the CIF playoffs.

(Photo courtesy of Katie Lannon)

(Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

(Photo courtesy of Ed McClure)

The Terrific Taj Whitehead

By Jonathan Liu sports editor

As many different high schoolers spend their four years trying to figure out their interests and passions, there are some who have been set on their goals for years.

One is junior Taj Whitehead, a superstar water polo player who has displayed his talents for many years.

“I started playing water polo when I was 10 years old,” Whitehead said.

“I started taking the sport seriously when I was 13 years old because I really wanted to make the national team.”

Whitehead ultimately met his goals as he got selected for the national team in 2021.

“Playing with the national team was a lot of hard work, but it was fun to play internationally and have some stronger competition,” Whitehead said.

“My favorite experience from the national team experience was traveling to Hungary and roaming Budapest. It was fun playing against strong opponents. I always like playing the best of the best. I learned that there is always someone better than you at something”.

With Whitehead, his hard work and mindset influences the ones around him.

“Taj has taught me a lot about hard work and discipline throughout the six years playing with him,” junior teammate Alex Cacos said.

“We both push each other to become better in the pool. We become very competitive with each other during practice and work out together in the weight room

and are always trying to see who can lift more.”

Along with being a teammate that pushes others, he’s been one to be respected by his teammates while leading by example and being a great teammate.

“He’s a really talented player who is always looking to make an impact in our

The MLB returns with New Rules and a Surprise Contender

By James Lew reporter

The MLB regular season is underway. Many fans around the country are excited about the MLB season to begin and to watch their favorite teams compete for the World Series.

The favorites to win this years World Series are the defending champion Houston Astros, followed by the New York Yankees led by superstar Aaron Judge.

The loal Los Angeles Dodgers are in the mix again, as core players Mookie Betts and Freedie Freeman are returning to lead the team.

On the other side of Los Angeles, Shoehei Ohtani and Mike Trout are leading the Angels in what is a playoff hopeful season.

“I think the Angels are an underdog team to be good this year since they added lots of depth and have the two best players in the league,” said Nicholas Yanney

This season, the MLB has incorperated many different rules. One of the biggest rule changes this year is the new pitch clock.

This pitch clock is a way for the games to speed up and keep fans more interested in the games.

The rule has it so if no one is on base,

the pitcher can get 15 seconds before he throws his next pitch.

With runners on base, the time goes up to 20 seconds.

“I think the pitch clock is good for the game because the games are more sped up which makes them more entertaining,” Yanney said.

Although some fans are in favor of the pitch clock, some think that the MLB overdid it.

“I feel like the pitch clock was the right idea, but they overdid it,” Nicholas Oreb said.

“I think that they should give the pitchers and batters a little more time”.

Along with the pitch clock, the MLB has incorperated bigger basses to try to decrease collisions while offensive players are sliding in the act of running and stealing bases.

The bases previously have been 15 inches squre, but now will be 18 inches square.

As of Monday, April 12, the Tampa Bay Rays are off to a 11-0 start which is the best start of any Major League Baseball team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros have not lived up to their championship reputation so far as the Dodgers as of April 12 have a 6-6 record and the Astros have an under .500 record of 5-7.

BOY'S

GIRL'S LACROSS VS ELSEGUNDO

BOY'S TENNIS VS MIRA COSTA

plays,” senior Kieran Kerns said.

“He always keeps it light and he has a great sense of humor. He really knows how to make people laugh. My favorite memory with Taj was when he scored six goals in our game against Santa Margarita.”

BOY'S LACROSSE VS WESTLAKE

BOY'S BASEBALL VS CULVER CITY

(Photo courtesy of Taj Whitehead)

(Graphic by Chloe Choi)

Introducing the New 2023-2024 ASB Executive Board

Palos Verdes High School is excited to introduce its new ASB Executive Board for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. The new board members, who were appointed without an election process due to the absence of other candidates, shared their thoughts on their new roles and what they hope to accomplish.

By Hailey Kim reporter

community extends beyond ASB, as she is also a part of Varsity Song and will be the President of Project Runway next year. Additionally, she is involved in Sea Queens and serves on the board for Heal the Bay. Colaruotolo expressed her love for giving back to the community and PVHS and hopes that she can encourage more people to love the school as much as she does throughout her presidency.

“I want everyone’s feedback so we can make it the best year yet!” she added.

year is going to be an amazing year,” Gardner said.

Similarly, Decker was inspired to join ASB to meet new people and create a better PV High for everyone. He has been involved with ASB for three years and is excited to continue his journey. His favorite ASB memory so far is this year’s formal.

Outside of ASB, Decker plays football and baseball, and he expressed his passion for increasing school spirit, saying, “Something that I’m passionate about that I hope I can bring to ASB is getting bigger crowds at all sporting events and uping PVHS spirit.” He is eager to make the upcoming year a memorable one for all students by bringing more support and enthusiasm to school events.

storming the football field after they beat Peninsula High. Stender hopes to bring the school spirit back to everyday school days, making them something to look forward to.

“I am most excited about the football games for next year and class comps,” Stender said.

Current junior Mia Colaruotolo, the newly appointed ASB President, was inspired to get involved in ASB when she was a freshman during the pandemic, longing for the school spirit of high school to impact her life. She loved it instantly and has since made many memories and friendships, describing ASB as her second family.

“So far in ASB, I have had an amazing experience,” she shared. “I work hard in my commission, which is Spirit this year, and seeing the way people come and support the rallies I plan makes me feel like I am making a difference in the school.”

Colaruotolo’s goal is to make everyone feel included and extra spirited this upcoming year, and she is excited to start this new journey.

“I want attendance at everything we put on during the year and new ways to get involved,” she emphasized.

Colaruotolo’s passion for the school and

“I thought it would be a great way to get involved with the school and school spirit,” Gardner said.

She has excelled in her role as class president over the last two years. Her dedication and enthusiasm for the role allowed her to be successful in leading her class. Being a three-year member of ASB, Gardner hopes to get more people involved in supporting all of the different events, sports, and clubs at school. “Next

Danny Stender, the incoming ASB Treasurer, believes that he can make a difference at PVHS. He shared, “the thing that inspired me to get involved the most was that I know I can help make the school a better place.”

Stender has had a great experience in ASB so far, and his favorite memory was

Junior Jacob Reis, the new ASB Secretary, was inspired by the activities that were already going on in the school that he wanted to help run and be a part of.

“I’m hoping to directly bring new ideas into already existing activities that ASB runs,” Reis said.

Reis’s favorite ASB memory was helping to set up and participating in the class comp. “When I think of next year, I think of another year to make the school more exciting for everyone,” he said.

The ASB Executive Board is looking forward to a great year ahead and hopes to make PVHS an even more welcoming and spirited community.

(Photos courtesy of Mia Colaruotolo, Cynthia Mindicino, and Danny Stender)

Pint-Sized Stories: Earth Week

Juniors Katherine Gardner and Michael Decker are the new ASB Co-Vice Presidents. Gardner joined ASB during her sophomore year after an online freshman year.