December 2022

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Scotty Lapp Foundation featured in Leadership’s annual fundraiser

By Sydney Johnson

Leadership’s annual November fundraiser honors the late Scotty Lapp’s vision for a Tahoe City skatepark. Growing up in Marin and attending Redwood his freshman year, Lapp’s fearless and unique spirit touched those who met him. Lapp passed away in a skiing accident in February of 2022, but his legacy will be continued through the addition of a permanent skatepark in Tahoe City. The Scotty Lapp Foundation’s efforts have generated success, even setting up a temporary park while the fundraising continues.

A lover of skiing, skating and creativity, Lapp’s energetic and daring personality is greatly missed among the local communities he impacted. Lapp established lasting bonds prior to moving to the Lake Tahoe area, and long time friend and neighbor Eme Atherton reflected upon his journeys skateboarding through the streets of Tiburon neighborhood Paradise Cay.

“He was always skating around the neighborhood, down the huge hills and even barefoot; his feet were really banged up,” Atherton said. “Scotty always complained about not having access to a skatepark when he was in Tahoe.”

Atherton recalls Lapp’s imagination and ambition, and how the foundation is dedicated to making his seemingly impractical dreams become realities.

“Whenever a house would go on sale

in the [Paradise Cay] neighborhood, [Lapp] would always say we should buy it, tear it down and turn it into a skatepark. His dreams were definitely crazy and unrealistic when he was alive, but now these efforts represent who he was as a person and everything he would have wanted. It’s crazy to see that they’re coming true,” Atherton said.

Atherton noticed the benefits Tahoe City residents will be granted with the addition of the skatepark. The current closest skatepark to Tahoe City is a

40-minute drive, so the new park would be more accessible to local skaters. Atherton believes the park will be a space for the community to cherish and honor Lapp, and she sees the fundraising as an opportunity for Lapp’s legacy to last at Redwood.

“[The fundraiser is] great for students who don’t know his story. It’s important to keep his name alive,” Atherton said. “The skatepark continues his legacy, and it spreads who he was and all of his goals.”

Students had the opportunity to donate

News Briefs: Redwood and local events

Architecture class School redistricting Share911 app

By Charlotte Fishburne

On Dec. 10, architecture classes completed their participation in the third annual Norwich University Architecture and Design Competition, which involves a unique task each year. Winners receive up to $8,000 in scholarships to the university and any applicant is eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.

This year’s prompt was to design a versatile storytelling space that could accommodate both large and small groups within the same design.

Architecture students prepared by researching unique styles, finding inspiration, sketching rough designs, finalizing with online software and eventually crafting a variety of physical models out of materials, including wood, cardboard and metal. Senior Neri Landi researched kinetic architecture to incorporate movable panels into his final model that could adjust the shape and function of the space.

By Sophia Buckholtz

Community members and representatives from Reed and Cove schools participated in a highly anticipated forum at the Cove School on Nov. 30. This comes after the district boards of the respective schools failed to reach a consensus on the boundary lines dividing homes to each district.

Reed Union School District Board President, Liz Webb, revealed that her district has received over 70 letters of opposition to the petition that favors redistricting, and shared quotes from the community including one saying, “Redistricting would cause all three of my children to lose their entire support networks and dramatically set them back academically and socially.”

Within portions of the Reed and Cove school communities, especially those likely to be affected by the potential border changes, sentiments of this type are common.

By Michael Seton

One of the newly implemented safety procedures for staff this year is Share911, a mobile communication application. This software allows staff to instantly communicate with each other in emergency situations while simultaneously notifying emergency services.

This application has recently been rolled out on all Tamalpais Union High School District campuses, as well as several middle schools in the county.

The app was recently used by staff at Tamalpais High School during the Nov. 30 bomb threat, which prompted an evacuation from the campus. According to Redwood Principal Barnaby Payne, “This type of tool protects us and allows us to have a certain degree of freedom.”

In the event of future, potential incidents, the Share911 app will certainly play its role in emergency communications between both district staff and first responders.

cash in boxes labeled “Ski for Scotty” in their SMART classes for the duration of leadership’s November fundraiser, but donations are accepted online through the foundation’s websites or GoFundMe at any time. The raising of funds through the foundation’s sources has generated over $400,000, and the projected goal is $750,000-1,000,000. Senior Leadership Service Committee member Julia Ginsburg explained the process of choosing the Scotty Lapp Foundation’s for this semester’s fundraiser.

“It hit close to home for a lot of people. Tons of Redwood students were super close to [Lapp], and enjoyed his presence here,” Ginsburg said.

With the loss of a friend or peer, many Redwood students are confronted with confusion and sadness. To cope with such feelings, Ginsburg claimed Leadership’s fundraiser aims to connect the student body through remembrance.

“[The fundraiser] can gather the student body with a more united sense of comfort to ease grief anyone might be experiencing,” Ginsburg said.

Through sharing memories, donations and support, everyone can continue Lapp’s creative spirit, inspiring local kids to ski, skate, smile and enjoy being active outdoors.

As the efforts to achieve Lapp’s vision continue, supportive opportunities are available. In order to donate to make Lapp’s skatepark dream a reality, visit their page on GoFundMe under the Scotty Lapp Foundation.

sjohnson@redwoodbark.org

redwood high school ● 395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939 ● volume LXV, no. 3 ● december 14, 2022 ●

HOSTING A MERCHANDISE booth for the Scotty Lapp Memorial Skatepark, junior Ashley Martin supports the initiative.

Photo by Emily Block

“The skatepark continues his legacy, and it spreads who he was and all of his goals.”

Eme Atherton, junior

Dry outlook on drought poses new reality

By Matthew Marotto

Marin residents are parched for change in California’s water crisis. In the 2022 county elections, voters ousted the two incumbent Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) Board candidates, which the Marin Independent Journal deemed “one of the most sweeping MMWD elections.” This comes after a grand jury report found that the “MMWD has failed to place sufficient priority on development of drought-proof sources of water.”

Beyond Marin, historically low water levels in the Nevada reservoir, Lake Mead, have revealed submerged corpses, and areas in California now rely entirely on bottled water for hydration. Countless other issues, including wildfires, soil erosion and habitat change, have all accelerated under the drought’s below-normal precipitation patterns — with only one heavy rain season in the past decade: 2017.

While weather is uncontrollable, California is responsible for adapting to a drought entering its fourth year with little rain in sight. Countywide, next year’s MMWD Board of Directors, Ranjiv Khush, Larry Russell, Matt Samson, Monty Schmitt and Jed Smith, will hold a large share of local authority in responding to the water crisis.

mmarotto@redwoodbark.org

COP27 disappoints youth activists

By Michael Seton

The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) climate change global summit stumbled to a close on Saturday, Nov. 19, offering little progress in addressing the global warming problem. The most notable outcome was a spartan agreement to respond to poor nations’ demands for reimbursement of climate change related losses and damages.

In this compensation arrangement, the European Union and the U.S. conceptually agreed to pay for such damages. But negotiators left many questions unanswered, such as the dollar amounts involved, its enforceability and China’s role in this situation.

The “Loss and Damages” agreement does address a long outstanding issue for Asian, African and South American youth activists who had expressed frustration that this topic had not been addressed sooner.

“This is an issue that has been put aside in COP [meeting] after COP [meeting],” said Bruno Rodriguez, an Argentine youth activist, to the UN News. “It is a scientific fact that countries with the least economic resources and with barely any responsibility for emissions are the ones that end up suffering the most. … It is about reparation and social justice.”

According to a December Bark survey, 63 percent of students agree that wealthy countries should compensate poorer countries for climate change effects.

But COP27 produced no significant progress on its core objective of phasing out fossil fuels. Although delegates confirmed

be met.

“We need to take [greenhouse gas emissions] down more,” Stewart said. “In 2015, we said we would try to keep the change to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and it’s clear that’s not going to happen.”

Most scientists agree that the use of fuels, such as oil and gas, must be reduced significantly to reach the 2015 Paris Accord goal. CNN reported a number of large carbon-emitting countries and oilproducing nations, such as China and Saudi Arabia, blocked proposals to reduce emissions at COP27.

Junior Marco Lombardo, president of Redwood’s Climate NOW Club, considers

going to have to be spent,” Lombardo said. “There needs to be more done to prevent global warming instead of adapting to it.”

Several student activists fear conferences like COP27 are no longer effective in preventing climate change.

Famous Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg declined to attend COP27 for this reason.

“These conferences are now designed in a way which allows and even encourages countries and world leaders to cheat and use other loopholes to benefit themselves,” Thunberg said to Radio 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake.

Lombardo echoed Thunberg’s disillusionment with the lack of progress.

“The main takeaway from [COP27] was the loss and damage fund,” Lombardo said. “But they ignored fossil fuels and didn’t make any big promises with that,

“How do you practice sustainability?”

Placement Environmental Science teacher Joe Stewart expressed skepticism that this target would

“My family follows the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. By recycling paper, we save trees.”

Fiona Carney-Skytt Freshman

“We have a greywater system. We recycle water and use it for our plants.”

Dylan Ridgway Sophomore

Nancy Ritchey

Junior

“We use solar energy, and we tend to drive to destinations instead of flying.”

DEMONSTRATING AT COP27, youth activists protest in support of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

Photo courtesy of Sustainability

8 billion impacts

The human population surpassed 8 billion on Nov. 15, 2022. 12 years earlier, the population reached 7 billion, and the United Nations (UN) projects that in 15 years, another billion will be reached. Despite slowing growth rates, the current abundance of human activity will continue to impact the environment and all aspects of life on Earth.

“This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates,” said UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres. “At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another.”

Living Earth and Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher, Kelsey Kniesche, has discussed the exponential growth of the human population in both of her classes, to understand the human population’s ability to avoid typical limiting factors. Although the human population reaching

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8 billion was predicted many years prior, she still recognizes the event to be “significant.” When envisioning solutions to adapt to the large human population and preserve essential ecosystems, Kniesche starts local.

“Looking at the resources we’re using: What do we actually need versus what do we want? What comes with affluence, consumerism and consumption increases our environmental impact, taking away resources from those who don’t have equitable access,” Kniesche said.

The reality that Earth is a finite planet, not expendable for human interests, is made apparent with the recent population milestone that has promoted concerns around resource scarcity. Greater worldwide consumption of water, food, space and energy, calls for expanded conservation efforts. Senior Holden Hitchcock, a year two Sustainable Agricultural student, recalls the class’s focus on optimizing food production in tandem with protecting the environment and available farmland.

“Despite the fact that many can be ignorant of the problems that face humanity, there are people that are constantly on the edge of innovation and are looking to help out with the problems of today,” Hitchcock said.

He recognizes that with the growing

population, there will be a larger effort toward addressing the environment it affects. Among these innovators, Hitchcock himself is interested in pursuing plant sciences. Career paths along these lines exemplify some of the actions Kniesche considers vital for a sustainable future.

“That eco-anxiety is real: to feel the burden and the weight of [today’s environmental crises] and to feel like just one individual out of 8 billion people,” Kniesche said. “It's [easy] to feel like our actions really don't have meaning, but it just starts with one — it starts with the individual.”

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Story and Infographic by Aanika Sawhney

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Students motivated to vote in the U.S. midterm

By Pasha Fooman

On Nov. 8, 2022, the U.S. held the midterm elections. People across the country responded to the vote, flocking to the ballots and exercising their constitutional rights. Regardless of who they voted for, each and every one of them

voted for a reason. For students that were old enough to participate in the vote, what issues motivated them to go to the polls?

To some voters, the privilege of voting is enough motivation itself; this was certainly the case for senior Ashley Morris.

“When I turned 18, one of the first things I realized was that I had the

opportunity to vote. It is something all U.S. adults should do to get their voices heard and make a change in the community around you,” Morris said.

Beyond the inherent value of the vote itself, Morris cited some specific propositions on the midterm ballot that drove her to the polls.

“One of the propositions on [the ballot] that I had the opportunity to vote on was about keeping abortion legal in California. I felt that it was important for my voice to be heard, because there are probably other girls out there who are relying on my vote,” Morris said.

Along with issues of reproductive and human rights, another point pushed senior Calum Wilson to the ballots: a desire to make a change with his Constitutional powers, in opposition to the use of fear and division by radical elements.

“Another issue that was important to me is the radicalism that we can continue to see in our political parties. I wanted to look for moderation because, with radicalism,

we bring more chaos, and the country doesn’t need that right now,” Wilson said.

It was the connection between human rights and radicalism that further influenced Wilson to try to make a difference with his vote.

“Radicalism only leads to more dangerous paths. The more we let it into our political system, the more likely these human rights will be infringed on,” Wilson said.

Like many others across the country, the inherent value of the vote certainly plays a role in convincing students to cast their ballots. These students, who now have an entirely new power upon adulthood, are eager to utilize it. Combine this with the myriad of issues facing the nation, and the result is a young generation grateful to have a say in the politics they previously watched from the sidelines.

pfooman@redwoodbark.org

Missed a test? The testing center is open for business

Story and Inforgraphic by Sam Sumski

Testing centers reopened on campus the week of Nov. 14 before and after school Monday through Thursday. After a pause since last year, students now can make up missed tests due to absences and other reasons. Funding originally came from state-provided COVID-19 funding, and is now supported with recent grant money.

The center accommodates all academic subjects. The teacher whose test was missed supplies the test to the teacher running the testing center that morning, who administers the test to the student. Math teacher Grace Heard is grateful for the testing center’s return, as she can now separate the students who need individual help in SMART from students who need to make up tests.

“For the past few months, SMART period has been crazy. Everybody needs me at this time and there is only one of me and there could be up to 30 students in my room,” Heard said.

SMART period is intended for students to receive assistance from their teachers, varying from homework help, test

corrections and general confusion. Heard emphasized that with her attention focused on the students who need help, students taking tests in the same room are more able to cheat.

“While my attention is focused on helping a student, I can’t be on the other side of the classroom monitoring the students taking tests,” Heard said.

This is one of the main reasons why the testing centers have reopened: to improve the experiences of students and teachers by separating testing and teaching during the tutorial period.

Math teacher Allison Kristal expressed many of the same perspectives as Heard. She runs the testing center in her classroom at certain times during the week, and has

found that the testing center genuinely helped her and the students.

“The testing center is a really great way to provide the students with a quiet testing environment as opposed to the SMART period,” Kristal said, “This has also helped me become more organized in the SMART period by helping all of my students.”

Considering the testing center’s impact thus far, Kristal is optimistic that its benefits will continue.

“The center is here to stay for the rest of the year and, hopefully, for a long time after,” Kristal said.

ssumski@redwoodbark.org

FOCUSING ON THEIR work, students in room 258 make up tests on Monday morning that were missed in the week prior.

Photo by Sam Sumski

AFTER THE OVERTURNING of Roe v. Wade, abortion became an even more critical decision on the ballot especially among young voters.

Photo courtesy of Newsweek

When I turned 18, one of the first things I realized was that I had the opportunity to vote.

Ashley Morris, senior

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Food waste is eating away at our environment

ggehrman@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Calla McBride

Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org

Editors-in-ChiEf Chloe Bishop Kelly Chuang Sam Kimball Shyla Lensing

hEad Copy Editors Stella Bennett Ella Kharrazi

editorial

POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.

Keeping it kosher

Combating antisemitism with education

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), in 2021 there were 2,717 antisemitic attacks, the most since 1979. While antisemitism may seem like another looming issue on the world stage, the prevalence of antisemitic behavior in our own community is alarming. Temples and synagogues continue to be surrounded by police and security during high holiday services. Covered with metal detectors and flashing police lights, these instances show how Jews have had to adapt to the rise in antisemitism to ensure their communties’ safety.

Fueled by the radical left and right political movements, as well as instigation on social media, this rise in hateful occurrences has become apparent on campus, with multiple instances of antisemitic behavior at Redwood. Such incidents include a list of Jewish students resembling those made during the Holocaust and Nazi symbols in graffiti. The district responded with community forums and sent out emails condemning the behavior. However, while these emails were sent out explaining how the issue was being handled, there was nothing included about Redwood’s plan to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its Jewish students. While emails continue to be sent in response to such events, they aren’t acknowledged by students and are not enough to provoke an understanding of Judaism and its history. Moreover, antisemitism continues to be present in our community, as a December 2022 Bark survey revealed that 67 percent of Redwood students have heard of antisemitic incidents on campus this school year. With antisemitism being a prevalent issue, Redwood needs to update class curriculums and strongly encourage teachers to educate students on the topic.

Education is key to regulating outside sources’ abilities to influence students’ perspectives and provide them with accurate information. Although some English classes at Redwood briefly cover antisemitism, only specific teachers teach the topic to its necessary extent. Thus, not all students receive the same level of education on the topic. English teachers have the ability to select which books their class will read; therefore, not all underclassmen read books that cover the Holocaust.

To make education on antisemitism more consistent, Redwood must revise its English curriculum to require books focusing on its history, which will help establish a classroom environment to further examine current-day antisemitic events. In addition to modifying the English curriculum, the history lesson plans need to be reconsidered to ensure that students are learning about World War II from the perspectives of Jewish people. Teresa Drenick, Deputy Regional Director at the ADL, stresses the need for Holocaust education.

A BARK to the finals grade calculator. Looking forward to getting an 107 percent on our finals!

A BITE to Charli D’Amelio’s new song. We won’t hesitate to mute “if you ask me to.”

A peppermint BARK

A BITE to the flu. We might make the (s)naughty list this year.

A BARK to Cocoa and Cram. More like cocoa and cry.

A BITE to the boys’ bathroom. We are missing the holiday spirit this year.

A BARK to Boudin. That

“The problem is that schools are teaching [about the Holocaust] less, [and] Holocaust survivors are aging out of our world. … If that history is being lost, and young people have to learn that history from a video, it does not have the same impact,” Drenick said. “It is important that teachers are trained in how to teach about the Holocaust so that the lessons of history don’t fade away.”

Although implementing Holocaust education is a starting point, junior Mika Amir, an involved Jewish student, believes Redwood needs to take additional steps to expand its curriculum to include the current oppression Jewish people are facing.

“It’s not just about the Holocaust. There is more to antisemitism. The inequalities that [Jewish] people face today are worth learning about,” Amir said. “That’s what affects the local Jewish community. … Instead of just talking about why antisemitism is an issue, we need to encourage action against antisemitism and speak up against it.”

While altering the curriculum may be a complicated process requiring district wide commitment, it is undoubtedly an imperative step. Curriculum adjustment is a form of social change and requires understanding and support from the community. Furthermore, for systemic curricular change to occur effectively, staff must have the proper training to address these issues.

According to assistant principal and former curriculum council member, Lisa Kemp, courses of study are mandated by law and revised every five years. However, to increase students’ feelings of safety at school, teachers must be trained on the proper ways to discuss such a topic.

“[Students] need to speak out to ensure [they] are heard by [their peers and] the administration because [they] have an absolute right to feel safe on campus,” Drenick said. “If students do not have a sense of safety and security, it affects everything from their ability to learn to their ability to want to go to school. It is [every student’s] right and it is [the administration’s] obligation to make sure campus is a safe place.”

Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in the Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to the Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They may also be emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org.

soup was good from my head to-ma-toes.

A BITE to not getting Taylor Swift tickets. It’s really hard to shake that one off.

A BARK to caffeine. Without you we would all be depresso.

A BITE to finals week. This is definitely not the most wonderful time of the year.

A BARK to it finally being socially acceptable to play holiday music. Time to bring out the hot chcoclate, gifts and Bublé wrap.

A BITE to Stress-Less Week. We’re still anxious about our

89 percents.

A BARK to the Grinch. We like our grades as much as you like Christmas.

A BITE to holiday shopping for our siblings. Please just tell us what you want.

BARKS and BITES are the collective opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.

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“It’s not just about the Holocaust. There is more to antisemitism.”

The reality of a cashless world

By Emily Block

One of my most cherished memories as a child was being handed a crisp $5 bill by my parents, and having complete freedom to buy whatever I wanted in a store. I’d firmly grip that cash and make sure not to lose it. To me, that $5 bill felt like the most valuable thing in the world. Now, I can’t even recall the last time I carried cash with me. Whether I want to buy ice cream, a new shirt or perhaps pay back a friend, all of it is done with the simple tap of my phone. And it’s not just me. Over the past decade, a large population of Americans, especially teenagers, have turned to online transaction apps like Venmo and Apple Pay for all of their payments. While relying on technology for payments, it’s important to recognize that Venmo and other digital platforms have desensitized us from understanding the transactional nature of money, thus making it even more critical for teenagers to learn financial literacy. If sending a friend $25 for lunch is as easy as liking their Instagram photo, we’ve lost the ability to develop stronger, more responsible economic thinking.

Online payment transactions emerged in the early 2000s, and have grown to become the preferred mode of spending and transferring money. One benefit of online payment transactions is that they make the lives of consumers much more convenient, as users are able to quickly make purchases and send money. Online transactions can be used to pay for practically anything; coffee, a new sweater or even monthly rent. Consumers don’t have to worry about handling cash, because

their money is in one place at all times. A study by Pew Research corroborates this as roughly 61 percent of Americans who have ever used PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Cash App say a major reason for doing so is because of the convenience and ease. With this in mind, the simplicity of these transactions is exactly what makes it a

program that provides lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship, 54 percent of teens say they are worried about financing their futures. This feeling of unpreparedness among teenagers has worsened with the new advancements in transactions. With the digitalization and technological change

these apps will create changes that can solve the problem. Instead, it is important that teenagers become financially intelligent. That way even if these apps exist, younger users at least know the importance of budgeting their money. Locally, schools should implement a requirement to teach financial literacy. Redwood has classes such as Social Issues which teaches students about sexual and mental health, but there is no required program that teaches students about finance. Even if it was just a short unit of teaching, this would set a base for students’ understanding of money and spending that would hopefully lead to more awareness as the growth of these online transactions continues. Yes, spending money is okay, but spending more money just because it’s easier, that’s where we should draw the line.

emilyblock@redwoodbark.org

Let’s break from hustle culture

By Erica Block

“The grind never stops.” Most people have heard a phrase like this at

of hustle culture, but they are relatively different. While stress can be the result of having too many tasks on your plate, burnout can be the experience of lack of

competence. Absence of motivation can lead to reduced personal accomplishment and pleasure, more specifically when an individual feels that their work is insufficient. In turn, this declining energy has the ability to cause even more counterproductivity down the line. In fact, Healthy workers only have a productivity loss of 26 percent. On the other hand, fatigued workers have a 66 percent rate of lost productivity due to cognitive decline and inability to focus. By simply giving yourself that break from work, you can refuel your energy, focus on what you are doing, and then work more efficiently. When stressing the importance of taking a break, we must recognize that the problem with hustle culture is that it has established a connection between feeling guilty for taking a pause in work. Often, hustle culture has created an environment where a break is correlated with a sudden flood of unpleasant guilt, forcing people to become a prisoner inside of their own freedom. So, in order to avoid counter-productivity, one must first push themselves beyond the preconceived notion that a break is counterproductive.

Harvard Business Review

One recommendation to help mitigate the effects of toxic hustle culture is to get more sleep. An article by the Harvard Business Review found that only one to three percent of the population can sleep for only five to six hours each night without the lack of sufficient sleep affecting their performance. It is definitely possible but very unlikely that you are among that one to three percent, so getting an adequate amount of sleep is crucial. Also, it is important to not just rest at night, but to set time in your day to do activities besides work. Taking a break from work for as little as 20 minutes can be extremely beneficial in helping to return your mental and psychical systems to their typical functions. Lastly, take a step back from your work and redefine your success. Before throwing yourself into an unhealthy cycle of productivity, ask yourself these questions: what does success look like to me? Not what’s expected from parents, friends or teachers, but what are my true goals?

Tying your self worth to your productivity can be dehumanizing because progress is not always linear and success is subjective. A schedule that works for you may not work for a friend. By the same token, what you deem as “success” may be different from someone else’s beliefs. With this in mind, it’s crucial to take a break from hustle culture, on your own terms and in whatever way works for you.

We have been taught from a young age that productivity keeps us progressing towards our full potential. Although this is valid, productivity does not always mean more work or more time. “More work equals more efficiency” is a common mentality that can have a negative influence on how students work; however, this falls into the trap of quantity over quality. Instead, slow down, give yourself a break and cherish time with loved ones.

Illustration by Calla McBride

Illustration by Calla McBride

Less than five percent of the population can sleep fewer than six hours without affecting their perfomance.

feature feature

Expressing and sharing life stories through tattoos

By Stella Bennett

“Tattoos are becoming prevalent [in workplaces] … A lot of companies are starting to, or [have] already [realized] that diversity and inclusion are meant to be broad — it is not just about race or gender, it is about [welcoming] people from all walks of life,” Phillip Huth, Komodo Health’s vice president of sales, said.

After a couple hundred dollars and a few long hours of discomfort, a body is permanently marked with a tattoo. People frequently go through this process because tattoos can tell a story.

“My third tattoo has a lot of meaning. Spelled out, [the tattoo] is ‘;IGY6’ and [the teal] semicolon is for mental health. Teal blue [represents] mental health for veterans. And the ‘IGY6’ [stands for] ‘I’ve got your six,’ which in military terminology means ‘I have your back.’ … I got that after one of my friends came home from Afghanistan and thought about taking his life. Now, that tattoo means a lot to me and other veterans,” Huth said.

be meaningful, they are often negatively perceived in some environments. Additionally, this art form is not always appreciated in professional fields. Redwood parent Seth Steinberg, a sole proprietor at his own law practice, understands the notion that tattoos can contribute to an unproductive work environment.

environment, when you see a lot of [tattoos], it can be distracting — it doesn’t matter if you find them appealing or not — [the tattoos] take away from doing business,” Steinberg said. “Traditionally, more aggressive [tattoos can] indicate that an employee might not take being a professional seriously.”

Steinberg also recognizes that the acceptance of tattoos varies among

different religions and ethnicities.

“Traditionally, [tattoos] were not seen as something favorable [in certain religions]. In Jewish traditions, once you scar your body [with tattoos], it changes where you go in the afterlife or how you’re seen at death,” Steinberg said.

Similar to Judaism, some sects of Christianity and Islam also view tattoos with distain, believing they are sinful to the body. However, Huth observes tattoos differently, focusing on the meaning the art provides rather than society’s perceptions.

“I am married to a Native American woman, so that affects my outlook on body ink. But, I think there is something tribal about [tattoos]. The art

tattoos. If [employees] do not fit into [the company’s] culture, then the tattoo becomes an easy excuse to question that person,” Huth said.

“I’ve always said, ‘Rules are for people they do not like,’ so the company will break rules if they like you. [Businesses] will let you get away with all of the tattoos you want.

If the company doesn’t want you around, they will find a reason to get rid of you … Tattoos quickly become an excuse to look into [employees] further.”

Former Chief Executive Officer of DNAtrix, a biotech company working to advance virus-driven immunotherapies for cancer treatment, Jeff Knapp reflected on rare job applicant interviews with tattooed candidates.

“If a [prospective employee] has excessive visible tattoos, I probably wouldn’t hire them. I [don’t] personally care, but the people they are going to interact with — the public, investors and medical physicians — do not largely accept tattoos,” Knapp said. “[However], I would never say something to someone unless I was surprised and [the tattoos] were inappropriate [for] the setting we were in.”

has not noticed a difference in the way people perceive her. However, the tattoo is located on the side of her ribs, meaning the public rarely sees it. Although some workplaces do not permit tattoos, Johnston is not concerned with her body art affecting prospective employers.

“I don’t want to work in a place that wouldn’t hire me because of a tattoo [as] that is not the kind of [work] environment I want,” Johnston said. “Also, unless I lift up my shirt, [employers and colleagues] won’t be able to see [my tattoo].”

Johnston believes stereotypes surrounding tattoos will decrease as they become more common. According to a December 2022 Bark survey, 46 percent of Redwood students want a tattoo when they are older. Additionally, TeamStage reported that over 90 percent of employers believe that work environments are concerned with tattoos compared to a decade ago. Due to the large number of young people receiving tattoos and a less traditional work environment, tattoos may become more prevalent as society progresses.

40 percent of employees in the U.S. workforce have tattoos, and about 76 percent of people think visible tattoos can hurt an applicant’s chance in an interview. Similarly, Huth believes tattoos can be used to invalidate employees.

“If [employees] are performing and doing well, nobody will question their

Knapp characterizes his industry as “fairly conservative” and because of this, he does not often see tattoos on display in job interviews since current employees would not recommend further advancement in the hiring process.

“At my level, people [with visible tattoos] barely get to me for face-to-face interviews … the [interview] system won’t allow it,” Knapp said.

Senior Hilary Johnston got her first tattoo shortly after she turned 18, and

“[Tattoos will become more popular] because everybody has a story to tell, and a lot of people want to tell their story, [and] they don’t have to do it verbally — they can express themselves in a thousand ways. Your body can be [your] canvas,” Huth said.

Huth describes how he has spread a message and shared his story through his own body art, and would never think to change his decision.

“The art on my body tells a story about where I’ve been and who I am, and I am okay with putting that out to the world,” Huth said. “If you don’t like my tattoos, that is your problem.”

sbennett@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

The art on my body tells a story about where I’ve been and who I am.

Phillip Huth Vice president of sales

Illustration by Calla McBride

Drawing the line between

By Matthew Marotto

The prevalence of hate symbols and speech is far from new, but with 2020 hate crimes reaching a decade high, their place in society has come under increasing scrutiny. Nationally, disputes over allowing hate speech and symbols in theaters and classrooms has sparked conversations amongst artists, educators and audiences, posing the questions: What qualifies an object or phrase as hateful and where is it acceptable? As this debate continues, identifying hate symbols and speech and understanding their appropriate place in society remains an important task.

Theater

For their winter musical, Redwood’s Ensemble Production Company decided to perform “Cabaret,” a musical set in 1930s Germany. The show tells a love story shattered by the rise of the Nazi Party.

In accordance with the original script’s stage directions, student-actor and sophomore Alexander Berkowitz wore a swastika armband to portray his pro-Nazi character. To avert discomfort, he separated his role from personal beliefs.

“I wasn’t uncomfortable [wearing a swastika] because I understood it’s an act. I was playing a character portraying that [the Nazis] were not good people,” Berkowitz said. “[The play is] supposed to leave the audience thinking: ‘We need to do something about [oppression] … We can’t just stand to the side.’”

In “Cabaret” and other plays about sensitive topics, storytelling is often reliant on hate symbols. “The Sound of Music” famously depicts a family’s journey to escape Nazism, which was recently produced by San Anselmo’s Stapleton School of the Performing Arts. A member of the cast, Morgan Hunt, played the pro-Nazi character, Rolf, and employed similar acting strategies to Berkowitz.

“I had to wear an armband with a swastika on it [and] heil a couple of times, [but] as an actor, when you’re on stage, you’re in a different world. The most uncomfortable parts about it were offstage [when] walking around with my Nazi uniform on,” Hunt said. “It’s [my] job to do things I would never do in real life [to show] the Nazi intrusion into Austria … and that’s the point of ‘The Sound of Music.’”

By associating hate symbols with antagonists, a character’s actions are separated from the play’s morality; Berkowitz attributed part of “Cabaret’s” success to this, as it avoided “rationalizing” the actions of negative characters.

Junior Calla Hollingsworth found this distinction plays an important role in another musical, “Heathers,” which discusses dark issues in a high school setting.

“I don’t condone shouting slurs, but I was playing [the antagonist], Heather Chandler, and she would [shout them],” Hollingsworth said.

Nationwide, however, some schools are taking a different approach. A high school in New York omitted hate symbols from their satirical production of “The Producers,” which mocks the Nazi party and Adolf Hitler. Their superintendent, Bob Pritchard, gave a statement to Columbia Broadcasting System equating hate symbols in the theater with those etched “on a desk.”

“There is no context in a public high school where a swastika is appropriate,” Pritchard said.

Another New York high school, LaGuardia High School

of the Performing Arts, experienced similar conflicts in their production of “The Sound of Music.” Attempts from their administration to exclude all swastikas from the musical were met with strong pushback from actors and parents, limiting their removal to those on costumes.

Aligned with the administration’s efforts, the December 2022 Bark survey found that nearly one-in-four students believe hate symbols should never be present in theater productions. Contrary to this perspective, Hunt considers including hate symbols essential to avoiding revisionist and whitewashed storytelling.

“For historical accuracy, [hate symbols] are valuable. In order to accurately portray the danger of fascism, you have to include symbols that were used in terrible ways,”

between censorship and hate

Classroom

Beyond theater, the intentional use of hate symbols and speech is also common in classrooms. Hate speech, which the United Nations defines as “offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics (such as race, religion or gender),” is particularly relevant to certain class materials.

English teacher Danielle Kestenbaum formerly cotaught Humanitas, an interdisciplinary course in history and English. In the class, while forms of hate were present in the history portion, students often interacted with hate speech on the literature side. Instead of shying away from works involving such rhetoric, Kestenbaum approached hate speech with a focus on understanding history, which

book commonly taught in high schools, and its removal was demanded by dozens of parents at a school district in Virginia.

“[By teaching this literature], we are validating that these words are acceptable and they are not acceptable — by no means. We don’t need [the N-word] in the school system,” a parent told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In Philadelphia, a high school followed through on calls to exclude the book from the curriculum, effectively banning it. In the Bark article “Reading into book banning,” Natalie Weber, a librarian at the Marin Civic Center, made the case that students deserve access to all books — even as a record-setting 1,597 books were challenged or banned in 2021.

“In the library world, we believe deeply in intellectual freedom, which means access [to any book] for pleasure or for education,” Weber said.

To achieve this, Kestenbaum finds there is a crossable path between promoting the messages associated with the N-word and teaching lessons that include it.

“In terms of the N-word, I’ve spoken to many different academics and students, some of whom are Black. Some are impacted by the term and think it should never be used, and some see it as a reclamation of empowerment,” Kestenbaum said.

observable in many books, including “Maus,” “All the Light We Cannot See” and “Sula” — all of which are taught at Redwood.

Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which mentions the N-word 219 times, is another

Even with the uncertainty surrounding phrases of hate speech, in Kestenbaum’s class, the N-word is never verbally expressed, and content warnings precede “triggering or traumatic” topics. However, these policies vary with each teacher, and hate speech, including the N-word, has been verbalized by Redwood staff and students for academic reasons.

Although students rarely opt out of assignments due to excessive discomfort, many still consider content warnings essential to secure learning. According to the December 2022 Bark survey, 42 percent of students believe that hate symbols and speech should only be present in art forms with a content warning.

With the appropriate measures, hate symbols and speech in classrooms seek to educate, while not simultaneously promoting negative messages.

Conclusion

In recent years, developments show that proponents of maintaining hateful references look to avoid censorship and whitewashing. Conversely, opponents call for the elimination of hateful content on the grounds that it normalizes harmful ideas. Currently, the purposes and effects of hate symbols and speech, whether on stage or in a classroom, are not fully realized. However, it is clear that the prevalence of hate symbols and speech will not diminish as literature and theater evolve. Considering this, their presence must be employed properly, ensuring that these works fulfill their purpose of educating.

Marotto and Ava Razavi

Illustrations by Carsen Goltz and Calla McBride

I approach my classes with honesty and the avoidance of censorship.

Danielle Kestenbaum, English teacher

Art repatriation Returning works to their origins

seen by large sums of people. With no clear legislation, art enthusiasts and curators are left to argue among Senior and APAH student Avery McGovern claims art stripped from its original home would be a “nightmare” to see

“Taking a walk through the British museum would be a reminder of the violence and oppression that so many cultures had to endure as a result of colonialism. It should be no secret that artwork played a huge part in Europe’s dark history and [in order] for us to start anew, we should be returning all of these artworks,” McGovern said.

bark@redwoodbark.org

Illustrations by Calla McBride and Carsen Goltz

review review

It’s beginning to look a lot like landfill...

By Charlotte Fishburne

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But, it’s also the most wasteful. Thankfully, there are small steps everyone can take to reduce the environmental footprint of holiday cheer. To aid you in making these eco-friendly choices, here is a guide to some of the easiest changes to implement in the upcoming holidays.

Holiday lights

The holidays wouldn’t feel right without the shimmering strings of lights while driving through neighborhoods. There are ways to reduce the environmental impact of such a huge use of energy. By putting holiday lights on a timer, you can avoid unnecessary lighting and save money on the energy bill. Another solution is to upgrade lighting to more sustainable options. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if everyone replaced their conventional holiday light strings with LEDs, 9.9 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, saving $850 million each year. With

more efficient usage of holiday lighting, everyone can enjoy the holiday sparkle with a clean conscience.

Eco-wrapping

Gift wrap is the number one producer of waste during the holidays. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, bows, bags and other holiday materials add one million tons of trash to landfills each week. While ripping open presents and tearing through tape and ribbon adds to the gifting experience, there are alternatives that can preserve the essence of traditional gift-giving while cutting down on waste. One option is to make wrapping paper out of paper grocery bags or old newspapers. This can be enhanced with drawings or messages to give the gift a more personal touch. Another possibility is to invest in reusable wrapping for the future. Fabric scraps, old napkins or tablecloths can be cut into perfectly sized eco-wrap. The easiest way to collect gifting material is to save and reuse boxes and ribbons previously received from others.

Gifting experiences instead of objects Physical gifts carry the obvious sustainability costs of manufacturing, but

they also carry hidden environmental costs when the items are returned. Returning gifts can often be just as wasteful as throwing the gift away. According to Retail Dive, five billion pounds of returned goods end up in landfills each year, which is equivalent to the trash produced by five million Americans. The process of returning items uses 1.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel and creates 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Gifting an experience is not only more environmentally conscious, but it can also make the recipient feel as if more effort was put into the gift. Some ideas include tickets to a concert, a museum or a sports game. When shopping for someone who wants to learn a new skill, set up a way for them to try something new, like through cooking, yoga or pottery classes. Spending quality time is equally valued when looking for a meaningful gift without breaking the bank. This can be achieved by setting up a picnic, hike or special adventure.

Being sustainable during the holidays doesn’t have to mean turning into the Grinch. With a few smart steps, you can be just as festive without ending up on Santa’s eco-naughty list.

cfishburne@redwoodbark.org

Artículos en Español

Infographic by Sarah Goody

Winter Watches

‘Glass Onion’

By Justine Fisch

On Nov. 23, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 murder mystery masterpiece, “Knives Out,” was released. As someone who loves a good murder mystery, I had high expectations for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (“Glass Onion”), and I must say, although the movie did not exceed the original, it was certainly unexpected.

Although “Glass Onion” definitely offered some memorable performances, it was overall inferior to the original. Unlike “Knives Out,” “Glass Onion” features more flashy, influential and rich (literally) characters.

To read more of this article, scan this QR code.

‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’

By Gemma Favaloro

On Nov. 17, 2022, the Sex Lives of College Girls (SLOCG) returned for its second season on HBO Max. Set at fictional Essex College in Vermont, four suitemates embark on their journey into adulthood while balancing a rigorous college schedule, a new party scene and emerging identities. Season one was light-hearted and funny, while shedding light on typical issues that affect students, ranging from sexual assault to affording college tuition. The series encapsulates the college experience and the awkward transition into living independently.

To read more of this article, scan this QR code.

‘Donut’ worry, you will find a favorite treat at Bob’s Donuts

Image courtesy of Netflix jfisch@redwoodbark.org

Illustrations by Calla McBride

Haga clic aquí para ver los artículos escribieron por estudiantes en Español. Kylie Collins escribió un artículo sobre Diego Rivera. Adriana Trigueros Reyes, Jordan Parco y Samantha Carrera escribieron un artículo de como celebran días especiales en sus culturas.

Foto por Kylie Collins

It is now the time of year when people all over the world are listening to holiday music. Genres that attract the most listeners during the holiday season include traditional, pop, country and a capella.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey is one of the most popular songs around the holiday season. Its upbeat tempo, bell chimes, background vocals and synthesizers allow Carey’s voice to shine through at ideal moments.

“Take Me Home for Christmas” by Dan + Shay is an original country song by the duo. Dan’s catchy guitar baseline and Shay’s incredible vocals combine for a sweet sounding blast of holiday spirit.

“Candlelight” by the Maccabeats is an extremely well done and exciting song. Presenting the story of Hanukkah, the Maccabeats are able to capture the holiday in a bottle.

“It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas” by Thomas Rhett is a brand new cover of the original song by Meridith Wilson in 1951. Its upbeat tempo and untraditional swing adds a nice tempo to the slower original track.

To read more about Bark’s holiday favorites, read Sam Sumski’s article on our website.

Looking for more festive song suggestions? Scan this QR code for Bark’s holiday playlist!

Have a heavenly holiday season with these recipes

Optional: dash of vanilla extract

holiday season, the amount of parties rapidly increases, filling up calendars quicker than ever. It becomes quite a tedious cycle, scrolling through the same basic recipes and scrambling to find which dish to prepare. Well, look no further for both unique and easy recipes! Here is a cookbook guide to festive dishes you can make this holiday season.

peppermint bark is a hot commodity. While the basic peppermint flavor may be a delicious dessert, try mixing it up to make the dish more festive. Instead of just chocolate, throw in some crunchy toffee for the perfect holiday treat.

Ingredients

Toffee

2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled and cubed 2 cups of brown sugar

3 cups of white or dark chocolate 6 candy canes or peppermints crushed up

Directions Melt butter, sugar and salt into a saucepan, and allow the mixture to boil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the saucepan to 285 degrees and pour the mixture into a pan lined with a baking sheet. Let the toffee cool before pouring on melted chocolate, then immediately sprinkle on the peppermints. Set the bark in the fridge

Cauliflower gnocchi walnut salad

Pasta salads are delicious any time of the year, but putting this tasty seasonal spin on it will definitely impress your dinner guests.

Ingredients

1 bag of Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi ½ cup of walnuts

1 ball of mozzarella cheese cubed

1 cup of cherry tomatoes

Balsamic vinegar Olive oil

Directions

Prepare the gnocchi according to instructions on the bag, then let it cool. Chop up the walnuts and slice the tomatoes and mozzarella. Place the prepared ingredients onto a plate with the gnocchi. Drizzle the mixture with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then eat!

Sweet potato casserole

The classic sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving delicacy. Take it to the next level by swapping out marshmallows for a crumbly nutty topping, which will allow you to eat the dish all winter long.

3 cups mashed sweet

cup brown sugar

eggs, lightly beaten

teaspoon vanilla

cup milk

cup melted butter Pecan Topping

cup brown sugar

cup melted butter

Directions

Heat your oven to 400 degrees. While it is preheating, line a baking sheet with foil and bake the sweet potatoes for about an hour, or until soft and tender. Let the potatoes cool before peeling their skin. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees for cooking the casserole later.

In a large bowl, add the cooked sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk. With an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Add in butter and beat the mixture again until well-blended. Pour in a buttered 9-inch by 13-inch casserole dish, and smooth out the top with a rubber spatula. Set the pan aside.

Mix together the brown sugar and flour. Then, add melted butter and pecans, and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle the pecan blend on top of sweet potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until browned. Slice into pieces and then serve.

nwelch@redwoodbark.org

Infographic by Sarah Goody

This new film will leave you shaking, ‘Bones and All’

By Gabriella Rouas

While watching “Bones and All,” a new film directed by Luca Guadagnino, the horrifying meaning of the movie’s title becomes apparent. The sound of a human finger being crunched clean off within five minutes of the opening scene prepared me for a gory, bloody film that I would watch with my hands over my eyes. Trailers and clips online had prepared me for a terrifying movie with romance as a side note. Instead, “Bones and All” is a powerful love story portrayed by Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet. It delivers

a tear jerking and symbolic narrative worthy of a second watch. The chronicle of a first love pushes all the gore aside and entraps the audience in the mind and souls of the two lovers.

“Bones and All” explores the concept behind cannibalism as “feeders” with no choice in eating humans. The trait has been passed down genetically through generations, and even if “feeders” don’t want to eat people, they feel the physical desire to do so. They differ from cannibals we think of today, who find sick pleasure in eating other humans. Instead, the guilt over their condition consumes them. “Bones

and All” follows 18-year-old Maren Yearly (Russell) in her struggle to find her birth mother. Yearly grapples to understand her urge to “feed” on humans and embarks on a journey to find the answer when her father leaves her. While on the road, Yearly meets fellow “feeder” Lee, (Chalamet), and the two connect over their broken homes and develop an unbreakable bond. In some sense, this movie is a coming of age film. Two broken souls come together to travel across the country, learning about each other and themselves.

Russell’s portrayal of Yearly is shockingly eerie. She perfectly embodies the identity of a teenage girl struggling with a secret. Russell has a mesmerizing ability to portray her inner thoughts and emotions on screen simply with her face; no dialogue is needed to understand her intensity and passion. It would be hard to imagine anyone but Russell portraying Yearly, and her acting in this role should be critically acclaimed.

Chalamet also perfectly embodies and executes any character he portrays, so his stunning representation of Lee is no surprise. His acting forte is an angst-filled teenager, which is exactly the character of sarcastic, yet tortured Lee.

The stunning visual aspect of this film ties together the exemplary acting and script. Within practically every gory scene, there are terrifying but impactful stills of the aftermath. The cinematography of the landscape brings to life the road trip aspect of the movie. A perfect shot of Yearly and Lee looking out across the landscape is used twice, and has a similar emotion and visual to Elizabeth Bennet’s cliff scene in “Pride and Prejudice.”

Costume designer Guilia Piersanti dressed the characters in authentic fashion

that mirrors their unique situations. Yearly is sporting the same white tank top throughout the entire movie. At the start of the film, it is slightly tiresome, but realistically portrays a young girl who left home with nothing but the clothes on her back. All of the choices are intentionally made to portray the desperation that the characters feel. A main focus of this movie is blood, as it is the by-product of the hungry characters. The use of blood in this film creates impactful shots, especially when a character is completely drenched in it. The combination of the simplistic setting and costume choices combined with the graphic aspect of the movie creates fascinating and diverse cinematography.

How well

By Alex Coe

do

acoe@redwoodbark.org

Kestenbaum,

Who used to live in Australia?

Who used to run cross country at University of California, Santa Barbara?

Who has participated in the “Running of the Bulls?”

Who was babysat by Charles Schulz (Snoopy creator) as a kid?

Who advises the Mycology Club?

Who used to play the bass and be the lead singer in the band “Ashkira”?

Who wears a fedora almost every day to school?

Who has a black belt in Taekwondo?

SURROUNDED BY A picturessque landscape, Lee (Chalamet) and Yearly (Russell) come to a crossroads in their relationship.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

To view the trailer of “Bones and All,” scan this QR code.

Hart, Minhondo, Schneider, Adams, Hettleman, Payne, Maxwell, Summary, Graydon, Brown, Stewart, Chapman, Mastromonaco Across

sports sports

Harvard commit Grace De Vita is no oar-dinary rower

By Mayson Weingart

“With rowing, you’re the one with the power. You get to decide whether or not you want to be successful, because you really have to push yourself to have good technique and [to] get stronger. If you really want something and have the mentality to keep working, you see results. Watching your hard work pay off is the best feeling,” senior Grace De Vita said.

Beginning her career on the Novice team in 2019, De Vita has been competing at the Marin Rowing Association (MRA) since she was in eighth grade. Working her way up over the years, she eventually earned a spot on the womens’ varsity boat as a freshman, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation during the fall of 2022.

“My first year on varsity I was randomly put into the top boat for a really big race called the Head of the Charles, where about 130,000 people came to watch,” De Vita said. “[It] was huge to me to be on the boat with these older and skilled athletes that were 18 years old, while I was only 14. It was super inspiring to compete with them, because I had always looked

up to their talent and dedication.”

In addition to competing in large races such as the Head of the Charles which is held annually in Boston, De Vita has been to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships three times. With her extensive experience and dedication to the sport, De Vita was voted to be head captain of her team this year. Sandy Armstrong, who has been De Vita’s coach since 2019, recognizes several aspects of her personality that have contributed to her

which is how she has become captain,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong has contributed to De Vita’s athletic growth in past years, and admires how she prepares for big competitions.

“Every athlete prepares for a competition in their own way. Sometimes people can be so nervous that they’re hard to be around, and they’re so scared that they can have a negative

going into competitions because of her eye-catching demeanor, positive attitude and excitement at trying to perform at

In addition to De Vita’s coaches, her teammates also appreciate the lightheartedness and commitment she brings to every practice and race. Quincy Stone, a senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, is co-captain of the team and has been rowing alongside De Vita for

“[De Vita] is a great role model because of how experienced she is. She’s been rowing for so long, and you can tell by how she prepares for races. She’s very calm, internal and focused. On our team, she really brings this kind of lightness. She’s able to get everyone on the same page to work together, which really takes the anxiety out of

high stress situations,” Stone said.

De Vita’s dedication and hard work has paid off, as she is committed to the Division I rowing program at Harvard University.

She credits her close relationship with Armstrong and her teammates to a large part of her success, as well as her own dedication to pushing herself to be the best she can be.

“I’ve been at this program for so long that I feel like I’ve kind of grown up here. All of my coaches have been inspiring, but [Armstrong] has been especially important. Ever since I was young she believed in me and constantly told me that I have potential, but that I need to work hard. Being a great athlete was never going to come easily, and she always encourages me to keep showing up, keep proving myself, keep learning and keep putting in the work,” De Vita said.

Armstrong is grateful to have such a natural leader on her team, and looks forward to seeing De Vita continue her career at Harvard.

“She’s just a lovely human being, and a very good athlete. I’m super proud of her that she is moving on to Harvard, I think that is the perfect fit,” Armstrong said. “She will bring her positive spirit to that team, and they will be very lucky to have her.”

Photo courtesy of Barbara Kinney

Opinion: The World Cup needs to aim for a better ‘goal’

By Gabriella Rouas

For decades, the bright lights, roar of the fans and swish of a soccer ball into a goal have brought 32 nations to one destination, the World Cup. In order to select a host country for the event – which

tournament. However, the exciting and powerful atmosphere of the World Cup should bring people together – not tear them apart. Although players may have dedicated a lot of time to practicing, this is not an excuse to support a homophobic country responsible for hundreds of deaths.

homosexuality as “damage in the mind.” These offenses have sparked outrage and questions towards FIFA, who has promised that, “There is no risk; [people in the LGBTQ+ community] are welcome to express themselves; they are welcome to express their love for their partners.” Despite this message, multiple fans have exposed officials for preventing them from entering the stadiums when wearing rainbow bucket hats and shirts. European nations planned to have their team captains wear “One Love” rainbow armbands, but ultimately decided against it after Qatar said they would be punished. It is clear that no matter the reassurances that FIFA gives fans, nothing will trump Qatar’s resistance to cultures outside its own.

It is clear that Qatar is a discriminatory presence that threatens LGBTQ+ lifestyles, but FIFA is in the shadows, hiding and promoting this dangerous behavior. FIFA should change the qualifications necessary

for host countries in order to make sure these potential host countries have the proper infrastructure to hold the event and are respectful to all the different lifestyles of soccer fans.

When expressing this view on Qatar and FIFA, I have heard countless people say, “It’s not the players’ fault!” and “People just want to come together!” but whenever I turn on the television, I see a different story. I see the huge stretch of green lawn surrounded by the massive stadium. I see the blood, sweat, hunger and immense amount of death that went into creating an event that was supposed to be positive. I see the lies, greed and mismanagement that is behind the massive entity of FIFA. So I pick up the remote, and I turn it off.

grouas@redwoodbark.org

Students skate onto competitive ice hockey teams

By Maddie Sofnas

While many students choose to play more traditional West Coast sports such as football or basketball, select athletes veer towards a less common sport: ice hockey. In Marin, there is no ice hockey team or rink. Thus, players have to travel great distances, whether that is San Francisco, Southern California or the East Coast, just to play.

Senior Max Oppenheim has been playing hockey for 14 years and started playing in Philadelphia at the age of three. Oppenheim recognizes that it is much easier to find a team on the East Coast versus the west. When he moved to Marin, his selection was scarce, but he ended up joining the San Jose Junior Sharks and played there for six years. Now, Oppenheim is on both Golden State Elite Hockey, located in San Francisco, as well as the Sonoma County Flyers, where he practices and competes in tournaments at least five days a week. Oppenheim has had to learn how to balance his time between hockey and academics, as he has taken 13 Advanced Placement classes.

To continue reading about Oppenheim and two other Redwood hockey players, visit the Bark website.

“We absolutely match up with East Coast teams. We’ve done very well when we’ve traveled across the country,” Oppenheim said. “Yes, there are fewer people here in Northern California playing hockey, but the development programs here are more centered.”

“I used to play on a guys’ team because there weren’t enough girls in Hong Kong. When I came to the U.S., it was so much better because I started playing with girls. When playing with guys I didn’t feel like I was on the team because the guys talked to each other and I [felt excluded],” junior Ava Dubow said.

“I want to play at a level where I get paid. It doesn’t matter if it’s the National Hockey League (NHL) or a minor league team, [but] I just want to make a living off of it. I want to be the best that I can possibly be,” freshman Charlie Pickart said.

Photo courtesy of Ava Dubow

Photo courtesy of Charlie Pickart

Photo courtesy of Max Oppenheim

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Infographic by Sarah Goody

lifestyles lifestyles

Izzy Landry on ‘her own stride’ towards her dreams

By Cameryn Smith

Junior Isabelle (Izzy) Landry has been training with the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (Sea Cadets) for nearly three years. Based on Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay, this naval development program welcomes everyone ages 10-18 and gives aspiring cadets the opportunity to train at the military level. The Sea Cadets program consists of drills occuring every two Sundays where members meet to practice drills and organize future participation in parades and memorial services.

From a young age, Izzy has never given up, even after joining a strenuous program that tests her physical and mental strength. Not only has her work ethic been evident as she’s progressed through the program, but also from the start. Ever since listening to a teacher’s story in sixth grade, she’s known she’s wanted to go to the Naval Academy.

“My [math teacher’s story] was what kicked my interest in [going to a military academy]. I started talking to people about [the program] and found out more information. With more information, I got more interested,” Izzy said.

Before entering the program and becoming a member of the Sea Cadets, one must go on base to see if they are physically and mentally able to do the program. Once Izzy was committed to joining the

program, it was mandatory for her to attend basic training without electronics and with real military leaders. Despite how rigorous the training was, Izzy felt accomplished afterwards.

“You’re physically stronger after [the training], which is really great,” Izzy said. “You feel like you’re on top of the world.”

gets older and has more schoolwork. Kristina Svendsen Landry, Izzy’s mom, is constantly impressed by her drive in every aspect of life.

“Izzy takes things on and she does them well,” Kristina said. “She doesn’t just go in halfway. … She’s always putting everything into [her commitments].”

training in Rhode Island as part of the Sea Cadets program. These training camps are an opportunity to gain instruction on numerous skills ranging from culinary to hunting. Izzy is currently meeting the excellent standard for her physical test, so she won’t have to prepare for her training like members typically would. Meeting this standard multiple times has given Izzy recognition in her work.

Izzy has earned a variety of medals and ribbons all signifying different achievements, whether it is for meeting the physical standard or maintaining a high grade-point average. All these medals are placed on her uniform after she earns them. Through this unique program, Izzy has found her passion and her confidence has increased.

“She’s found her own stride,” Kristina said.

Constantly impressing everyone around her, Izzy has shown perseverance through everything she does and will continue to follow her dreams, all the while remaining humble.

“I just want to be seen as just a normal girl who’s doing what I’m able to do [with the Sea Cadets program] and show other people that they can do this program too,” Izzy said.

Izzy’s effort and persistence has not gone unnoticed, especially as she csmith@redwoodbark.org

This month, Izzy will attend an Emergency Medical Service (EMS)

Madison Herrero’s trip across the globe

By Mayson Weingart

Halfway across the globe in Johannesburg, South Africa, lies the African Leadership Academy. Currently enrolled in their Ethics and Leadership program, junior Madison Herrero, who attended Redwood for her freshman and sophomore years, has committed to challenging herself in a new and exciting way by spending a semester abroad in their program. After completing an extensive application process — including four essays, teacher recommendations and acquiring a visa during the summer of 2022 — she received her acceptance.

On Aug. 27, she boarded a plane to New York to meet 17 other high school students in the program, and, from there, they traveled to South Africa.

“I get really nervous about first impressions, and I knew I was about to meet everyone that I would be spending the next semester with,” Madison said. “[The program] really taught me how to put myself out there socially and

make new connections with people. I never had to stress about people liking me or my personality because everyone else was looking to make friends too.”

The academy is devoted to “developing a powerful network of young leaders who will work together to address Africa’s greatest challenges, achieve extraordinary social impact and accelerate the continent’s growth trajectory,” according to their website. They offer A-level classes, equivalent to Advanced Placement classes, that require dedication and commitment from their students.

Although Madison’s mother, Meghan Elfsten, was doubtful of the semester-long program, she has found it easier to adjust to living without her daughter because of how happy Madison is at the academy.

“She’s a very motivated kid. She’s not afraid of hard work, and the school is a great fit for her because they are very academically driven, but are still able to find a balance and not get burned out,” Elfsten said. “I think that

now she trusts herself and knows that she doesn’t need a parent to take care of her. She’s become independent and confident, which makes me so proud.”

Madison’s twin, Mason Herrero, is also thrilled that Madison gets to experience something so unique as a high schooler.

“I’m so proud of her for stepping outside of her comfort zone and venturing into a culture that she had no knowledge of. She’s working harder than anyone else I know, and the best part is that she’s the happiest she’s ever been while she’s doing it,” Mason said.

While pushing herself through this foreign program, Madison has been able to learn more about political science and international relations, which are the two fields that she hopes to major in in college.

As her entire semester has been dedicated to learning about ethics and leadership, she has received several assignments challenging her to consider all opinions, ethical situations

and motivations when it comes to global issues and leadership decisions.

“Right now, we’re working on a project where we choose an issue in our home community and attempt to solve the problem. I chose to focus on the public school system in Marin and San Francisco, and how it has hurt low income communities in those areas. I’m working right now on starting a tutoring program that will hopefully help students academically and give them resources,” Madison said.

Through opportunities like this, Madison has been able to immerse herself in a new environment.

“An experience like hers is truly amazing, and I think it really opens up your world before college,” Elfsten said. “We’re kind of in a bubble here, so for a high school kid to go out and challenge themselves to do something like this is amazing and an experience that I think everyone could benefit from.”

HAVING RETURNED DEC. 10, Madison will attend Redwood for the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year.

Photo courtesy of Madison Herrero

Photo courtesy of Izzy Landry

WELCOMING CIVILIANS ONTO the boat for fleet week, Junior Izzy Landry (right) waits with Alondra Ordonez, another Sea Cadet.

ATTENDING A MANDATORY two-hour study period after classes, Madison Herrero (back, second from right) dedicates the majority of her time to her studies.

Photo courtesy of Madison Herrero

Astronomy Club TikTok soars into space

By Ben Choucroun

Though created last year, the Astronomy Club has already become one of Redwood’s most popular clubs. Founded and led by senior Bayanni Rivera, the club is a place for students to learn about astronomy, build model rockets and stargaze.

Rivera, who is fascinated by astronomy, founded the club in order to share this passion with his peers.

“I know there is already an astronomy class, so I wanted to make the club different. My club is a lot more about current events and findings in the field. I wanted to share my findings with others and have a space with a lot of people who like a topic and want to talk about it,” Rivera said.

What makes the Astronomy Club unique from others is its popular TikTok account. Run by Rivera, the club’s TikTok profile (@astroclubrhs) has millions of likes and over 150,000 followers.

The TikTok account releases weekly videos on topics in astronomy. These videos are often inspired by different sources.

“Initially, I started making content covering basic topics in astronomy. As time progressed, I started to cover more

breaking astronomy news. Right now, my content is either breaking news in the field or covering a really cool space topic, like [one of] Jupiter’s moons,” Rivera said.

“I have my own Google account dedicated to astronomy, so my YouTube feed is completely filled with astronomy-related news and ideas. When I see a cool topic, I’ll say ‘I can make a video on this’ and I’ll put my own spin on it.

Or, if there’s a video I don’t like, I’ll be like ‘I can make this better.’”

Another contributor to the TikTok is senior Sophia Acker, who helps Rivera brainstorm video topics and gather notes.

“We would normally think of interesting topics that other people would like to learn about, even if they’re not interested in astronomy. We wanted to keep our videos more general so that everyone can enjoy them,” Acker said.

However, there is more to the Astronomy Club than its viral TikTok page. In addition to holding events outside of school, such as stargazing events known as “star parties,” the club also has a strong community centered around learning and friendship. According to the club advisor and astronomy teacher Elise Rubio, the Astronomy Club has great

chemistry.

“[My favorite part of the club is] how excited everyone is. Sometimes they build rockets, sometimes they talk about black holes [and] sometimes they watch their own TikToks. No matter [if] it’s a super hard or super easy [activity], they are all excited to be there,” Rubio said. “It’s a really kind group of students — everyone is welcome — which is refreshing to see.”

Acker urges more students to join the tight-knit Astronomy Club community.

“We’re open to everyone. You don’t have to come every week, you don’t have to come to all of the star parties. You can just come, hang out, talk about astronomy and help build a rocket,” Acker said.

To learn more about astronomy and other topics in space, come to room 225 on Wednesdays for the Astronomy Club’s weekly meetings or follow their TikTok.

bchoucroun@redwoodbark.org

Max Gilberg leaves his mark with just a few clicks

By Gil Ladetzky

Redwood has produced many successful figures, including Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks head coach, Robin Williams, a world renowned actor and Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California. One that is not as well known is Max Gilberg, a 2019 graduate. Gilberg has been living in Canada for the past five months, filming with his best friend, Scottie Barnes, the National Basketball Association (NBA) 2021 Rookie of the Year and a former first round draft pick. Together, the two have started a YouTube channel that gives a behind-the-scenes of an NBA player’s life. Since the release of their first episode, the account has blown up and gained thousands of subscribers.

While Gilberg was growing up, he always knew he had a passion for film but never saw a real opportunity to pursue it. It was not until high school that he finally found a way to work toward his passion.

“I was always into film as a kid. In middle school, I went to a private school in San Diego which had a film program.

I took the class and was really good at it,” Gilberg said. “When I got to high school, I started filming a lot and was a part of Redwood TV. I found a passion for filming [sports] games and knew this is what I wanted to do in life.”

After high school, Gilberg attended San Diego State University for one year before deciding to take a gap year. During his gap year, he went back to Marin and was lucky enough to cross paths with an NBA trainer named Packie Turner. At the time, Turner was training players during the offseason to help them prepare for the upcoming year.

“I met [Barnes] through [Turner], and that’s how we became friends. I filmed all his workouts during the summer he was training with [Turner] in preparation for the draft. We became really good friends off the court, and it made sense that we wanted to work together going forward.

I also got to film Jordan Poole, Stephen Curry and Trae Young. The experience was awesome,” Gilberg said.

Gilberg has always had a passion for helping others, and he saw filmmaking as

a way to inspire other young kids to pursue their dreams. Since Gilberg graduated in 2019, he has inspired many current Redwood students to pick up filmmaking, including junior Liam Ghalam. Ghalam was introduced to Gilberg’s videos while scrolling through social media.

“I saw [Gilberg’s] video on the football team a few years ago on YouTube and thought it was awesome. I knew at that moment that I wanted to film too,” Ghalam said.

Ghalam has since filmed a few workouts for his friends but plans to take bigger strides during the summer and continue his passion for videography. Ghalam knows that getting to Gilberg’s position will take a lot of work, but because of Gilberg’s recent success, Ghalam knows that it is possible to achieve his goals.

“[Gilberg] put a lot of hard work and dedication in to get where he is today, and it truly has paid off. For me, I am going to need to work a lot harder, but I am ready to face the challenge head-on,” Ghalam said.

After his gap year at home, Gilberg decided to go back to school for a semester

at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, he was able to film for the sports teams and players, but Gilberg noticed a difference between working with collegiate athletes and professional athletes right away.

“I started working with the athletes at my school, but it wasn’t the same level of what I was used to. Before, I was working with these crazy professionals, but when I got to school, I was working with college athletes on a much lower tier,” Gilberg said.

To read more, scan the QR code below.

CAPTURING THE PERFECT shot, Gilberg aims to obtain a photo of Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins.

Photo courtesy of Max Gilberg

gladetzky@redwoodbark.org

Illustrations by Calla McBride

WITH 155,000 FOLLOWERS, the astronomy club TikTok has gained an incredible amount of followers over the last year.

Photo courtesy of TikTok

From clay to the kiln

Students share the power of ceramics

By Sam Kimball

With every press of the pedal and every chisel of the clay, a story is told and a perspective is shared. Glazes and tools galore, laughter and chatter fills room 514 as beautiful artistic pieces are not only created, but a period of self-reflection and self-expression is clear. Currently led by teacher Bradford Butler, the ceramics program consists of 178 students across all four grade levels, but only 14 students make up the Advanced Placement 3-D Art & Design program.

Two of those students, seniors Kevin Castro and Eli Grandy, have been part of the ceramics program for four years, committing countless hours to their craft. With an abundance of work on full display throughout his time at Redwood, Castro recognizes what has influenced him, emphasizing the resilience and patience needed in ceramics.

form takes time to master,” Castro said. “Ceramics is a way of expressing the big things I want to do in life. I have big hopes and big goals, so I [make] big vases to

Both Castro and Grandy reiterate the importance of self-expression, using the program to develop their skills and indulge in the meaningful connections between and art. For Grandy, ceramics also serves as a much needed break from reality and creates time for

“I have fallen in love with ceramics and the process of it. … Nowadays, a lot of people don’t [have opportunities] to express themselves,” Grandy said. “[People may be] caught up in social media and technology, so [getting] away from that by doing art is important.”

Grandy also highlights the free-flowing nature in ceramics, pointing out how that has contributed to his ability to express himself.

“Ceramics has a lot of movement in it. From vases going out and up, to getting really skinny, [I have been able to] express myself through the movements and forms, as well as the outside, glazing and tapestry,” Grandy said.

Hand-in-hand with selfexpression, creativity plays a major role in the art of ceramics, giving freedom to students to make their art unique in the way they want it to look. Castro values the flexibility within the program as well as the notion that making mistakes is perfectly acceptable, referencing how ceramics allows for experimentation.

“I love to be creative with what I make. [I’m] always looking for ways to experiment with the glaze and shapes.

I like simplicity, but I challenge myself too. I admire how it is [acceptable] to be imperfect in ceramics,” Castro said. “[There is no use] of the word ‘perfect’ due to the process and creativity. Ceramics helps you find your inner voice and express yourself in ways that you can’t do through writing or speaking.”

With creativity in mind, Grandy creates his ceramics to truly resemble his life, using acrylic paint pens to illustrate the outside of his pieces. Frequently drawing objects that evoke meaning in his life, Grandy connects the pieces emotionally, displaying his ideas in different forms.

“My favorite piece is [a] teapot which I titled ‘Be Free,’” Grandy said. “[I created this] because my main piece ‘My Lyfe’ has different words and images that represent my life and are important to me. The word ‘free’ is on the ‘My Lyfe’ piece, so I took ‘Be Free’ and expanded that onto my teapot, letting my mind flow. [The teapot] represents the creativity of ceramics.”

Butler sees a bright light in Grandy and Castro as they continue their ceramics careers. Throughout their four years, Butler has been proud of their work ethic, collaboration and creativity, always looking forward to what they will create

“Making art and expressing yourself is more important than the art object itself,” Butler said. “Learning how to evaluate yourself, evaluate your feelings and then turn that into something tangible such as a ceramic piece is the most important part. For me, [Grandy and Castro] have been wonderful

skimball@redwoodbark.org

Kevin Castro

Pottery by Eli Grandy