September 2011

THE September 2011

BOLT

20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Volume 12, Issue 1

A Talk With Thomas: A Welcome from Your President In this Issue...

Features:

Remembering a Day That Will Never Be Forgotten......2

Sports:

Girls’ Volleyball Ready for an Epic Season......................3

Arts:

All Dressed Up: An Interview With Ms. Blackwell..............4

Opinions:

You’re Funny...But You’re Going to Hell.........................5

School Life:

New Teachers........................6

Lifestyle:

Environmentalists Unite......7

Backpage:

Draw your favorite animal in 10 seconds..............................8

Natasha Sakraney ‘12 Front Page Editor The Bolt (B): What are you most excited about for this upcoming year?

Thomas Hague (TH): I am most excited to see kids get super involved and for us to have a great time while bringing meaning and change to the school.

B: How would you express the dynamic on StuCo this year?

TH: This year we have, by far, the best Student Council I have ever been a part of. The reason for this is that every member is there for the right reasons and truly has a passion for the work that they do. Although we still have lots of work to do, the whole StuCo deserves great recognition for the work they have done over the summer. StuCo doesn’t even usually work over the summer. I trust them fully to make decisions because they always make the right ones.

B: What changes have you implemented in the school?

TH: We’ve made a few new changes to keep students in the loop about everything that is going on at Sage. We have installed a flat screen TV in the Upper Humanities for announcement and pictures. We have also successfully organized the calendar board to make it easy for students to see all that’s going on at the school.

B: Could you explain a little bit about how the dances have changed this year? And how did you and the StuCo achieve the goal of making dances more affordable?

TH: As a student body president, I want to work to fix any problems that I find

Photo courtesy of:Thomas Hague

and make this school the best it can be.

To be quite honest, the dance prices were the main problem that I found. I talked to many students last year after Prom, and it became obvious that people did not want to spend hundreds of dollars on dances. It really shows how great our school is if one of our main problem is dance prices! With the help of many faculty members and administrators, we were able to significantly reduce the

The Bolt Goes Virtual

Heather Goldin ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Confused by our Town Meeting announcement at the beginning of the year? Don’t be confused--I’m here to clear things up! When I said, “The Bolt is going virtual,” I meant it. The Bolt can now be accessed digitally from the website Issuu. com (pronounced issue). Curious about how this idea came about?

Let me explain: Back track to Spring at Sage, where a junior took on an internship at the OC Register to gain some professional journalism experience. On her mind was her visit to Columbia University the previous November, where she read about the increasing technological improvements in digital journalism. How cool would it be to bring a digital aspect to our school newspaper, The Bolt?

A few days into my internship, I asked the features editor, who I was working with, if he knew about any good ideas or websites that I could use. My goal was that for the next school year, students would not only be able to access the school newspaper around school when an issue came out, but also online.

Online newspaper and magazines are becoming more common, and, as a result, becoming the main source of information. I followed my editor to the desk of Kevin Sablan, who works on the Register’s technical areas, which includes its website and other social media outlets. Sablan suggested a site called Issuu.com, which involves uploading the issues of The Bolt in PDF form for a nice, high quality online version of our own student-run newspaper!

cost of the dances. This shows StuCo’s and the administration’s commitment to making events accessible for all students.

B: Some people may say that academics and other things should be given higher priority than school dances? Why are you personally so passionate about the topic of Sage dances?

TH: Dances are an important opportunity for students to remind themselves that they are still kids. School is supposed to fun. Students can learn to find the balance between a strong commitment to academics and desire to enjoy themselves.

I personally have experienced some of my most valuable learning at Sage Hill outside of the classroom. Even though academics are extremely important, I think I have grown more outside of the classroom and want make sure that others can experience this growth as well. And with the new dance pricing, I just wanted to show that if a you see a problem, the administrators are willing to work with you and that you can enact change.

Fast forward to the start of this school year, I was finally able to test out the idea with an edition of The Bolt from last year. With a little experimentation, I successfully uploaded an edition of The Bolt to Issuu and voila! We have a virtual edition of the Bolt on our hands.

Our hope for the future of The Bolt is that, along with the monthly publishing of the paper, the online version will be linked in the bi-weekly Community E-News email, which is sent to both students and parents. The link will also be visible in the paper itself so it will be easily accessible.

One common advantage to online newspapers is the ease of sharing more visuals in addition to the text. The Bolt welcomes Megan Diaz ‘14 as this year’s photo editor, who will be in charge of a special section specific to the online Bolt. The new section will add more pictures related to the articles contained in the issue that month. The online version also means more photos in color, a previous limitation with print.

Another goal we are trying to reach is a complete online archive of all previous editions of The Bolt. Looking back through old Bolt newspapers is a great way to look back on Sage’s history, and with the recent 10-year anniversary, I know my curiosity about Sage’s beginning has been sparked somewhat. With the help of Nikki Imai, Director of Library Recources, all previous issues will soon be able to be viewed in an online database via the library section of Sage’s website, an archive that will continue to grow as we publish more and more issues of The Bolt.

B: How are spirit rallies going to work this year?

TH: Spirit rallies will remain class competitions. We will also try and recognize the athletes from our sports teams in spirit rallies. Although will be celebrating our individual classes, we also want to celebrate the whole school.

B: How do you respond when people say that Sage is losing its “Saginess”?

TH: I think that if Sage stays the same every year then it shows that the students are complacent. I think that part of “Saginess” is the desire to create your own unique year at the school. I think the senior class, as leaders of the school, plays a large role in shaping each year. Saginess will only die if the kids no longer care about it, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon!

B: What’s one piece of advice you would have for the freshmen class?

TH: Don’t be afraid to be a little weird.

Even if you might be a little weird, that just makes you incredibly special.

B: What’s your favorite thing about Sage?

TH: My favorite thing about Sage is that it’s a home away from home, a place where I feel comfortable to be who I am. I actually have a part this amazing place and the sense of responsibility that students have here makes it so unique. The list of my favorite things about Sage just goes on and on.

Welcome to the The Bolt!

Shannon Zhang ‘12 Editor-In-Chief

Welcome to The Bolt 2011-2012! It’s been almost a month of school and already some of us are counting down the days to summer.

As freshmen forge new friendships on the retreat this week, seniors prepare for the final stretch until graduation.

I can’t wait for another year filled with spontaneous all-school hugs and other moments found only at Sage.

The start of a new year also means the first issue of our completely student-run newspaper! After three years on The Bolt staff, I’m honored to serve as your Editor-InChief. This year, we’re lucky to have an extraordinary editorial board. We also welcome Miss Ehret, a new addition to college counseling office, as our advisor. She has extensive experience in both journalism and dealing with stressed out teenage writers—a skill that comes in handy during editing sessions!

We are also thrilled to reveal some new additions to our program—Heather Goldin ‘12, our savvy Assistant Editor-in-Chief, writes about our online version in the article to the left. On the back page,

Yoon Cha ‘13 introduces her “Challenges of the Month” and debuts Ms. Orr’s monthly guest puzzles. Jenna Shapiro ’13, one of our fabulous Assistant Editor-in-Chiefs, says, “I am so incredibly excited for newspaper this year! We will be making history. Literally. I’m especially excited about the online version, which will allow our school to reach a broader audience. YAY!”

We decided to assign the new staff writers to a specific page as a support system for editors. Congratulations to all the new writers listed below! We also love guest writers, so just let us know if you want to write!

Front page: Elise Sugarman ‘ 1 3 a n d M o l l y Wa n g ‘ 1 3 Features: Joy Chang ‘13 a n d Vi c t o r i a G r i f f i n ‘ 1 3 Sports: Halland Mckenna ‘15 and Kavi Sakraney ‘14 Arts: Celeste Broderick ’14, Jeremy Dorne ’13, and Sidney Lee ’15 Opinions: Eric Zhang ’14, E r i k a Ly n n - G r e e n ’ 1 4 , and Sophia Falmagne ‘12 School Life: Brian Slaughter ’15 and Juliette Singarella ‘14 Lifestyle: Andrea Candelaria ’13 and Katie Bick ‘12 Editor’s note: It is with heavy hearts that the entire Bolt staff expresses our condolences for alumnus Geoffrey Burns’s family. It is never easy to accept the loss of someone of such admirable character.

He will always be in our hearts.

Page Two

Features

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

FEATURES

Remembering a Day that Will Never Be Forgotten Joelle Nanula ‘12 Staff Writer

Every year on September 11, we remember the notorious terrorist attacks that toppled the Twin Towers and took thousands of lives and we take a moment to pause and reflect.

This year, September 11th was a date of extraordinary importance; it marked the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

The decade mark was met with mixed emotions. For many, it was a day of profound sadness as they recalled the faces of loved ones who were lost in the attack. For others, it was a day of gratitude towards the firefighters, policemen, and civilians who risked their lives to save civilians. But no matter what memories and emotions the tenth anniversary of 9/11 brings back, it is clear that for every individual in the United States of America, the tragedy of September 11th will never be forgotten.

Ms. Pitassi, the new learning specialist at Sage Hill School, spoke during Town Meeting about her own experience

on 9/11. Here, she gives a more in- this event because they were so removed depth view of the impact that the from the event (due to age and location) event had on her, and of her plans and because there are members of this to get Sage Hill students involved. community who were directly impacted.

Joelle Nanula: How has 9/11 affected you?

Ms. Pitassi: Since I was living in New York City at the time, the horror of that day is something I will never forget. The fear and the sense of loss everyone felt at the time will be something I will carry with me forever. I changed jobs after 9/11 and I have spent more time helping others. I will never think about New York the way I did before the attacks and my connection to that city is much stronger because I lived through a defining moment of history.

Joelle Nanula: Why do you think it is important for high schoolers like us to understand this event?

Ms. Pitassi: September 11th was such a major moment in history and it had such a tremendous impact on our world. I think is it particularly important for Sage students to understand

The Genetics of Sage Jenna Shapiro ‘13 Assistant Editor-in-Chief What is Sage made of? One could say community, creativity, discovery…and any of the other words that adorn our colorful school banners. However, this past year, two Accelerated Biology classes took a fresh approach in answering this question. The classes spent the final semester of last year decoding the DNA of two types of sage plants on campus—Black Sage and California Sagebrush.

This research, tantamount to that of graduate-level research at universities today, has recently been published in an international scientific database.

The main objective of the research was to successfully decode the genetic sequence of a single gene found in sage plants. This gene is involved in the plant’s sugar breakdown. The students first had to isolate the DNA, a process that involved many advanced techniques used in scientific research worldwide. They broke down the cell’s membrane to obtain the nucleus and DNA, and then used bacteria to replicate the gene.

Over the summer, current seniors Zayd Simjee and Manuel O’Brien dedicated two weeks to determining the sequence of the gene.

Biology teacher, Tyler Zarubin, who led the research, explains that the data’s publication was an initial goal of the assignment. Though the research turned out to be a success, Mr. Zarubin explains that both he and the students were aware of possible failure.

Mr. Zarubin elaborated, “A goal has to be realistic. I explained to the class from the get-go that we may

fail, but that we might also discover something no one has [discovered] before.”

Exercising a deliberate laissezfaire approach, Mr. Zarubin would occasionally explain the protocol but left the real work and discovery to the students.

“I was a scientist for five years, so my goal was to give them as much of that experience as I could. I feel that by treating [my students] as scientists rather than just students, they came to develop a real love for science, too.”

For many students, this was definitely true. This year, an entire new course called Scientific Research has been designed for those students who felt inspired to continue with or get involved in work similar to the work done in Mr. Zarubin’s class. Senior Ava Soleimany, one such student, expressed her enthusiasm for both courses.

“I definitely want to go into scientific research in the future, so these kinds of labs give me, and all of us, a real advantage at this point. We are gaining knowledge and learning techniques that can be utilized in the real scientific world. The idea of research, the idea that every small contribution can add to the world’s realm of knowledge, is why I want to do this for a living.”

Throughout their research with sage plants, students managed to display even more about the genetic build of Sage Hill itself. Along with the values outlined on the banners, Sage fosters motivation. Students are willing and eager to take on assignments that have an impact on the world, and this motivation allows them to learn and grow.neighbors beyond our campus.”

Joelle Nanula: You mentioned that 9/11 inspired you to do more service work in your community. How can Sage Hill students participate?

Ms. Pitassi: I believe that performing service on 9/11 is a great opportunity to honor those who sacrificed so much that day. These acts of service can be small, but often the small act of giving oneself can have a tremendous effect on a community. On 9/11, everyone can talk to someone they don’t normally talk to, eat lunch with someone in a different grade, help a friend struggling to carry books, and say or do something nice to make a friend smile.

We could also participate in the “Pinwheels for Peace” project and the “Peace Pole Project,” which are both global projects that take a stand for world peace. 9/11 should be a day committed to thinking of others Thank you Ms. Pitassi and Mr. Disimile for sharing your 9/11 stories with the rest of the community. The blank columns at the left represent the World Trade Center.

Fiji Trip: Snorkels, Sharks, and Service Katie Bick ‘12 Staff Writer This past August, a group of Sage Hill students and four faculty members travelled all the way to Fiji on a science and community service based trip. They started their journey in the town of Voli Voli with scuba diving, kayaking, and meeting friendly Fijian people.

During their stay, the group visited a nearby open market, which mostly sold hot peppers, sour fruits, and kava roots. The students and faculty courageously tried the peppers and discovered that even ice cream could not cool their burning lips.

On the last day in Voli Voli, the best swimmers of the group decided to swim to an island off the coast of the town, while a few others kayaked by their sides.

Clearly, Sage Hill students are overachievers.

The next destination was the village of Nativi, where the students and faculty stayed in homestays with Fijian families.

Mr. McNeill noted in his blog that they, “took tours of the farms, milked cows, drove oxen, and helped put together and ride bamboo ‘billy-billies’ [floating paddle boards].” They worked on the community center, constructing a cement floor, painting walls, and staining the wooden stage.

To the group’s surprise, the entire Nativi village joined in to help. The men helped move cement, the woman moved rocks, and the children helped paint.

The task was supposed to take three days, but they all finished in two days.

When the last patch of floor was filled with cement, the

Sage Hill group and the villagers spontaneously broke out into song and dance. They were able to use the community center the next night for a goodbye celebration filled with kava drinking and Fijian dancing.

After four days in Nativi, it was clear that the families had made the Sage Hill group part of their village. And after experiencing such a welcoming and compassionate village, the group knew that they would want to bring the Fijian culture back to the community of Sage Hill.

After all their hard work in Nativi, the Sage Hill group was able to kick back and relax on the beautiful island of Nacula for a few days. The students and faculty went on morning hikes, night-time snorkeling trips, and breath-taking dives.

On the group’s first dive, they were able to swim 60 feet underwater in the open ocean with lemon and reef sharks. The group also went on a cave dive exploring dark cave systems with a single flashlight.

To complete the trip, the

faculty devised a scavenger hunt filled with impossible math problems and daring tasks. Some tasks included: dressing up group members with organic materials to make the most menacing sea creature costume, selecting the fastest hermit crab to participate in a hermit crab race, and performing a few verses of “Ice, Ice, Baby” for the faculty.

Senior Shannon Zhang recalls, “Fiji was an incredible experience. I enjoyed bonding with my fellow Sagers and geeking out about all things science-related. My favorite part was definitely our last day when we left Nativi Village.

The warmth and generosity of my host family truly made this trip one I will never forget!”

Ultimately, the science trip to Fiji made an incredible impact on the Sage Hill group, and as McNeill noted, “Students talked about being grateful, being in the moment, appreciating the simple joys in life, and realizing the value of hard work.”

Photo Courtesy of Shannon Zhang

SPORTS

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

Page Three

Sports

Girls’ Volleyball Ready For an Epic Season Kavi Sakraney ‘14 Staff Writer This season, the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team is shaping up to be the best they have been in years.

With three senior captains in the prime of their high school career and three young, but talented, freshmen with program, the team looks stronger than ever. In the words of head coach, Dan Thomassen (“Dtom”), “This happens to be one of the most talented teams I have had.” Sage has played some tough games against some large schools in the preseason, but so far they have been able to compete and even beat schools such as Woodbridge and Irvine High School.

Lighting Varsity Volleyball consists of thirteen players: three freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors, and three seniors. Each player really has something to contribute to the team. Freshman Maddy Abbot or “Mabbot” (5’8”) is a skillful new setter who gets some quality minutes just joining this team this year as a freshman.

Freshman Halland Mckenna (5’7”), another great new athlete to Sage, plays outside hitter and possesses a strong arm helping to add some fresh power to the team. Freshman Kekai Whitford (5’8”), a talented middle blocker, adds spirit to the team with her competitiveness and will to win. All three young players are already contributing to the Lightning’s success.

Unfortunately for Sage, sophomore Sophie Gordan (5’9”) will not be able to compete this season due to a knee injury this season, and the team will miss her left-handed hitting and overall play. Sophomore Allie Mowrey (5’5”) returns to the team this year bringing even

more to the table, with developed skills as a hitter and an increased performance as a defensive player.

Also a large contributor to the team last year, Sophomore Claudia Noto (5’6”) plays defensive specialist and prevents some powerful spikes from hitting the floor. A new addition to varsity this year, Sophomore Juliette Singarella (5’8 ¾”), was brought up from Junior Varsity for her hard work and talent as a middle blocker.

It is Junior Maggie Danner’s (5’11”) third year on Varsity Sage Volleyball, and she has become one of the teams top outside hitters as she continues to rack up the kills.

Junior Brenna Van Hoogenstyn (5’10”) is a powerful player who contributes to the team as an outside hitter in her second year on varsity. Although Junior Dina Aluzri (5’0”) may not be able to add height to the team, she makes up for what she lacks in size with heart and strong defensive play.

Senior Captain Zoe Kreitenberg (6’1”) has played on the team for all four years of high school, and she has committed to continue to play volleyball in college at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Zoe is a passionate player, and on the volleyball court she is feared by all for her sheer size

as well as her power and skill as a middle blocker. Senior Captain Alayna Lewis (5’9”) has really been able to grow, develop, and really improve as a volleyball player in the Sage Hill program. Alayna played on the Frosh-Soph team her freshman year, but improved so dramatically that her sophomore year she made Varsity. Alayna is now a skilled player, captain, and the primary setter, a position she did not pick up until just this year!

Senior Captain Natasha Sakraney (5’9”) has been playing on varsity for all four years of her high school volleyball career. She is a skilled outside hitter and opposite

as well as an experienced and committed captain.

The team not only has a lot of individual greatness on the volleyball court, but the group of girls are really bonded together. Captain Natasha says “The depth in positions that our team has gives us a lot of strength and should contribute to many wins this season.” Captain Zoe agrees: “It is definitely my favorite of all the teams I have had at Sage,” and freshman Halland describes the team as “welcoming and like a family to me.” Of Halland and the other two freshman, Maddie and Kekai, “Dtom” says “It’s not that they are just talented but also they are all very mature and experienced volleyball players.” He agrees that “they gel well with the rest of the players.”

Coach Thomassen also compliments his seniors saying that “having Natasha and Zoe as four-year Varsity players as well as Alayna as a three-year player as our captains is really valuable.”

All the players as well as Coach Dan Thomassen agree that the team is really good this year, and that they have a good chance of going really far.

“Dtom” says “If we do things right and the girls are training the right way and getting better not just as volleyball players, it is a very realistic goal [to win CIF].” When I asked Kekai Whitford how far she and the team wanted and planned on going, she responded without hesitation, “All the way.” The Lighting plays St. Margaret’s at home on September 30th at 5:30, and support from the fans means a lot. This match is bigger than ever because last year, St. Margaret’s were CIF champions, a title that Sage plans on taking from them. Kreitenberg leaves Bolt readers with this message: “Come watch our games!”

Photo Credit: Natasha Sakraney

Coach of The Month: Mrs. Ray Sophia Falmagne ‘12 Staff Writer There are countless noteworthy features of Coach Amy Ray. As Sage’s Physical Education Department Chair and a member of the Sage team since its founding year in 2000, she has had huge role both as a P.E. teacher and a soccer coach.

She got her B.A. in psychology from the University of Southern California and, during her time as an undergrad, she was a four-year soccer player with eight school records. She has received many awards in her athletic pursuits—for example, she was titled “Coach of the Year” in the Academy League for the 2003-2004 soccer season.

However, Mrs. Ray is much more than a list of facts and her impact extends much further than the soccer field.

In addition to volunteering at a battered women’s shelter, she is a devoted advisor and influential figure at Sage Hill. One of her advisees, Natalie Kobsa-Mark ‘12 says that “Mrs. Ray is…extremely caring…and has such an

amiable personality (Amy-able! Haha). During advisory she is always ready to give great advice and makes us laugh with entertaining stories of her children. She is such a positive and friendly person.”

The positive attitude Natalie speaks of is especially apparent in Coach Ray’s love for Sage and the students she works with each day. She says that she loves when her advisees “come in with great stories or just want to chat about nothing.” About Sage students in general, she declares warmly that they are entirely “creative, driven, passionate, mature and smart.” It

schedule as well as my academic is truly inspiring to be around someone who loves her job and classes. It was after graduation from USC that I knew I wanted to stay in doesn’t take life for granted. the fitness or sport field for work.”

Highlights from an interview with Coach Amy Ray:

How do you deal with teenagers on a daily basis?

“Dealing with teenagers is fun What’s it like to work at Sage and funny! I often laugh at myself sometimes because I remember Hill? being a teenager, and when I hear “I definitely have the coolest what kids are chatting about in job ever! I get to work with the locker rooms or what kids are great students who have great obsessed with, I crack up. My attitudes, I get to workout at work, and I get to play sports all obsessions in high school were LA Gear shoes, wearing two pairs of the time which I love!” scrunchy socks (different colors of course), pegging my pants, side What made you want to become a high school coach? ponytails, huge bangs, florescent colored clothes (which I can’t “I was always into sports growing up and I was the most believe are back), skateboarding, passionate about soccer. I played Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, Tiffany, Cindy Lauper, crimping my hair, soccer at USC and through that experience I realized how and driving around in my 1985 important proper exercise and Volvo.” fitness really is. We had the most intense training sessions at USC both on the field, in the weight room, and in the Photo Credit to: Mrs. Ray classroom. I learned so much about fitness, being a true team player, and, most of all, balance.

I had to balance a crazy soccer

Page Four

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

ARTS

Arts

All Dressed Up: An Interview with Ms. Blackwell and incredible school reviews, so I thought it would be a good opportunity for the ensemble girls to perform their choreography and show their hard work in a more formal event.”

Savnnah Gardner ‘13 Arts Editor

After taking an amazing dance class full of tough work-outs and beautiful combinations from our dance teacher and former Laker Girl, Meki Blackwell, I got the chance to sit down with her and find out the inside scoop on what is going on in the dance world at Sage Hill. Ms. Blackwell’s grace and elegance not only shows through in her dancing, but also in the way she talks about dance at this school and how passionate she is about it. She is very popular amongst the students who participate in the dance program because of her eagerness to teach technique and bring out emotions through dance.

As most of you probably know, the informal dance show at Sage has always been held in the dance room, where there is not much room for the audience, let alone the performers. Because the shows are usually a lot more casual, the short performance always leaves the audience wanting more. Ms. Blackwell therefore asked, Why not go big this year? A few of the dance ensemble members

S.G: “Is working at Sage like you expected when you first started teaching here?”

M.B: “No, it’s a lot more work in a wonderful way! There is a big advising and counseling aspect to the job, you’re not just building dancers, you’re developing people as human beings, trying to teach life lessons through trial and error and through conflict. You are definitely teaching more than just dance so it’s more than I expected but in an amazing way and I’m so glad I got the job.”

get a chance to challenge themselves and choreograph for two big shows this year, which Ms. Blackwell is extremely excited about because they get to practice their choreographing techniques. The featured choreographers for the show are the seasoned student choreographers, Taylor Lipman, Chelsea Roth, Lizzie Geocaris, Ashlee Queathem, Becky Wilson, and, of course, Meki Blackwell herself. Because so many dancers have joined the program, I

Neon Indian-Era Extraña Jeremy Dorne ‘13 Staff Writer

In 2009, Neon Indian, a one man music project created by Alan Polamo, helped jump-start a movement towards bedroom electronica in the independent music scene.

Neon Indian’s quirky synthesizer’s and pop aesthetic created a sub-genre for itself. This sub-genre, coined bedroom electronica or “chill wave,” uses a uniquely single minded approach, since it is created and produced on a single laptop. The rise of Neon Indian saw a plethora of imitators, each trying to leave his or her mark on the genre. The following year, Polamo experienced backlash due to the rapid rise of the genre he helped create.

What had sounded so unique just a year before became trite just a year later.

Era Extraña marks a turning point in the musical style of Neon Indian. The sophomore release departs from the quirky pop sound that characterized the previous album. Its apparent that Polamo makes an effort on Era Extraña to make a grander album, one with a deeper and darker sound. Stylistically, Neon Indian still keeps some defining aspects from its first album such as long, drawn out vocals and 8-bits electronic notes that sound as if they were out of a video game. Polamo

tries incorporating his previous styles with other styles more foreign to him like alternative rock.

On a couple of tracks off the front half of the album, the alternative style is used with not much success. These tracks incorporate an unruly amount of reverb, and even if there was something great in the alternative tracks, one would not be able to hear it behind all the reverb used.

Neon Indian is at its best when using its synthesizers as a base. In “Polish Girl,” Neon Indian incorporates sprawling high notes mixed with a strong beat to create a solid pop song.

“Suns Irrupt” is the stand out track on the album. At 5 minutes and 28 seconds, it is also the longest track, but never sounds too long. The male vocals of Polamo on the track and multiple synthesizers along with a female vocals make the song grand in way unlike the rest of Neon Indian’s work. “Suns Irrupt” serves as a promising indication of where Neon Indian may be going in future work.

Overall, the Era Extraña lacks the complexity that Alan Polamo has envisioned while creating the album. While it possesses some bright points, the overwhelming majority of the Era Extraña doesn’t seem to excite or inspire and becomes a drab affair after a couple listens.

wanted to hear from Meki and see how she is doing as a new and fantastic addition to Sage Hill.

S.G: “The dance program has definitely expanded since you have joined our Sage Hill Community.

What are your hopes for the upcoming year?”

M.B: “That I can continue to stay as focused training each individual so I can build on improving everyone at the same pace and be effective at teaching one student at a time. I hope that more Sage Hill dancers will aspire to be strong and progress in the dance program.”

S.G: “What made you chose to make the informal show a Black Box event?”

Thanks to Meki Blackwell for M.B: “For the most part it was a student request and I thought that it taking the time to speak with me; it was a spectacular idea because the was a pleasure! spring show was so enjoyable and Photo Credit to Meki Blackwell it got such a great audience reaction

Music for a Cure Darren Chen ‘13 Features Editor

Each year the Studio at Sage Hill gives all students the opportunity to express their respective passions in the arts.

This year, on Saturday, October 22, I will be giving a solo recital benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The afternoon program will include exciting and dramatic classics

by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Liszt. Now I know what you are all thinking: classical music is lame. The majority of you will undoubtedly have this mindset. Statistics show that only about 2.8% of people in the United States have classical music integrated within their lives. This despairingly small number includes musicians and mostly people over the age of sixty. The other 97% is where most people fall. If you do not play an instrument and are not balding, you most likely treat classical music as if it was the plague.

However, I believe everyone should learn to appreciate classical music. This is where the roots of all pop music come from. Most of the prominent song writers today obtained their ideas by studying classical music. That catchy tune you heard yesterday on the radio probably sounded catchy because of the chord progressions used by the performers. Even

the rhythms employed in rap music today have origins from classical music. With an understanding of classical music, people can appreciate modern day music so much more. Classical music has so much to offer to every single person in the audience. It conveys emotions, genius, and flair all at once. I strongly urge everyone to come and watch the performance to get a sense of the beauty and power which classical music holds.

My hope is that this performance will raise a significant amount of money to benefit St Jude. St. Jude concentrates its research on pediatric terminal diseases and cancers which affect young children throughout the world.

As a great diva once said, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” Along with guest performers Alex and Paul, we will be using our personal musical abilities to give back to the community around us and hopefully inspire other students to do the same through music, art, or any other means.

The performance is set for Saturday, October 22 from 2-3PM at the Black Box Theatre in the Studio at Sage Hill. Guest performers senior Paul Chang and

sophomore Alex Sun will also be performing in the concert.

Admission is completely free and tickets do not need to be bought before. Feel free to bring the entire family. There will be donations boxes at the door to benefit St. Jude’s. They are committed to finding pediatric cures and treatments for children around the world. Sponsors are also welcome to donate before the performance, and names will be recognized on the program if checks are received by September 30.

Contact 13chend@sagehillschool.org for more info on donating. I encourage every student and faculty member to bring along their friends and families to enjoy an afternoon of music and company. Did I mention there will be free food afterwards?

It’s only a one hour program and you never know; you might enjoy it.

OPINIONS

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

Opinions

Page Five

You’re Funny…But You’re Going To Hell Ashkan Khayami ‘12 Opinions Editor

On a fine August weekend, after working hard on an English paper, I planned something special for my mother and I. A few nights ago, I had told her that Lewis Black would be performing at the Anaheim Grove the upcoming weekend and so we got tickets for his show titled, “In God We (T)Rust.” When we arrived at the theater, we saw a huge cluster was formed in front.

As we walked over to the entrance with tickets in hand, some very concerned folks obstructed our path to the ticket booth.

In front of us stood picketers holding huge signs on which “GOD says” were written in bold. They shouted at the attendees that the “holy spirit” had proclaimed that the show was supporting the abuse of prescription and recreational drugs, on top of encouraging obscene behavior in general. Mind you, young children were entering the theater too, but apparently the group of nine or ten picketers didn’t discriminate. Treating it as a zoo, I asked my mother if I could go debate with them about “my god what he says about their god,” but she… probably wisely… instructed me to just ignore them—needless to say I

was disappointed. After a five-minute run through the crowd of picketers we arrived at the ticket booth. But what amazed me was that they were still condemning us; even the 80 year old handicapped men were declared sinners—I guess there’s an elevator to hell for the physically challenged.

My mother and I sat through the

tion to IPhone Apps, but, ironically, not religion. As the show came to an end my mother and I returned outside and were surprised to see the picketers gone. By the time we returned home at midnight, both of us collapsed in our respective bedrooms.

But for the next few days, as the comedy show began to fade in my

comedy show, which lasted about an hour and a half. The night was one filled with laughter. Topics ranged from Kohl’s, to the Tea Party to abor-

mind, the picketers stayed etched in my mind. It had dawned on me, that for the first time in my life I was told with absolute certainty that I was going

Tumblr vs. Blogspot Whilst perusing Facebook you may have seen a link to a site called Tumblr. Many Sage Hill students have turned to Tumblr to satisfy their blogging needs. While most just reblog their favorite photos of celebrities or funny animated GIFS, Tumblr is a unique way to send viral Internet items. On the other side of the Internet blogging spectrum, there are sites like Blogspot, which are more personal and textual.

From what I’ve observed, Tumblr and Blogspot have different Internet goals. While Tumblr’s mission is sharing GIFS, picture, and even music, Blogspot strives to be a longer and more personal blogging version of Twitter. My experiences show that Blogspot is often used by fashion bloggers who want to blog about new looks and trends and add their own input. Tumblr redefines the term ‘blogging’, while Blogspot remains old school.

On Blogspot, there is no reblogging or sharing of images or text like on Tumblr. The differences in the two sites attract two different groups of users.

Personally, I prefer Tumblr to Blogspot. Since I’m not a fashion blogger or someone who has enough time or material to share on Blogspot, Tumblr is the perfect blogging site for me. And let me tell

you, it is insanely addictive.

I could look at funny hipster jokes, Rupert Grint fan blogs, and cute animal photos forever.

Additionally, Tumblr is easy to use and organized, even for the most technologically challenged. One of my favorite features is that if I need to vent about something, I can write a post and then save it as private, like a diary entry that only I can see. Another thing I like is that I can have more than one blog and moderate them without ever having to log out. I share a sleeping cat blog with my friend Maggie Ann, and we are working our way up to the Tumblr-top.

The freedom that Tumblr allows internet-users makes it easier for anyone to become a blogger.

On the other hand, I do occasionally use Blogspot.

Some of my favorite fashion blogs are on Blogspot, and I like to read through them from time to time; but I would never think of getting an account on the site. The layout of Blogspot is both off-putting and intimidating; there seems to be pressure to write long entries. While Blogspot may be acceptable for hardcore bloggers, Tumblr is a better fit for mainstream Internet- surfing users like me.

Photo courtesy of Orbitcast.com

Perspective on the Dance Budget Shannon Zhang ‘12 Editor-in-Chief

Carlyn Kane ‘13 Lifestyle Editor

to hell and that there was no forgiveness for what I had done. I wondered: did these demonstrators really have a grasp on what they were saying? Mr. Black didn’t even talk about religion or drugs for that matter, so why were they sure that everyone attending the show was going to hell? How did they know? Did a small voice tell them?

Well I don’t have any problems with small voices; I love small voices, and my favorite is the one that wakes me up, shouting: “Wake up, you Gorilla!

It’s 6:30! You’re gonna miss the bus, you idiot!” Voices are fine, they’re part of one’s conscience. But it frightens me to think that some people’s consciences tell them to picket a comedy club and tell everyone there that they are going to hell.

I really only have two hopes in life: One, that one day, despite our beliefs and our opinions of others, we can learn to keep our faiths—as in dictionary definition of beliefs with little evidence—aside and respect others. Second, if I am going to hell, they better have a soccer field there.

$19,000. Quite a sum of money. More than half of a full Sage student’s tuition. A large enough amount that it’s hard for an average kid to appreciate. The amount allocated by the administration to Student Council over the summer for this year’s dance budget. The first two dances are completely free, and prom and formal prices have dropped significantly, as result. Dances are more affordable now. So what’s the problem?

There’s been a thriving, yet disappointingly subdued, negative discussion on this topic since the start of school. I’m sure we’ve all noticed, or even participated in, that ostensibly blasphemous denunciation of Stuco’s efforts outside the locker rooms, or in the Sapphire line.

We, the student body, elect Student Council so that they can make difficult decisions. However, it’s impractical to expect that they represent every one of the 440 opinions on campus.

There isn’t a “correct way” or a “wrong way” to think, thus dissent is expected and, dare I say it, beneficial.

It’s easy to champion the new changes as triumph of Stuco. However, there are plenty of students who remain cynical. From a financial standpoint, it seems there are far more important issues the school needs to address. Students report that classes have not shrunken in size, as advertised. In fact, class sizes have continued to grow, even for upperclassmen electives.

The whole issue of the dance budget really comes down to this fundamental question: Why do I go to Sage? Do we attend Sage to build friendships and enjoy school life? I’m sure the answers vary—from the generic “my brother went there!” to the eccentric “I must have block schedule!” We each have a unique reason for why we show up to the hill every morning. Of course: that’s where our catchword of community originates. Dances are just one way to

foster such relationships.

However, in order to supplement one sector of school life, we compromise elsewhere. The amount of money allocated could have just as been easily utilized for some other need—perhaps to help multiple independent service learning projects, or to start a dance fund specifically for those receiving financial aid. We must reconcile with this concept of cause and effect in the context of our own priorities.

What many students identify as the issue, however, is not the amount of money, or its purpose. They understand the money is more of a grant from the administration than anything else; it was bequeathed with an attached purpose. Many actually lament the fact that Student Council did not consult with the students before making decisions. I approached our Student Body President, Thomas Hague ’12, to discuss any controversies he may have caught wind of.

Thomas knew very little of the disagreement among the students. He and the Student Council had, in fact, contacted various members of our community over the summer for advice.

The fact that no one is willing to confront him now about the matter is disheartening. He expressed that he is completely open to talking to anyone about the budget and this coming year.

Sage prides itself for its atmosphere of open interaction and friendly disagreement. It is unfortunate that we start out either skirting, or muffling, a rather touchy subject. Considering the other side’s perspective doesn’t mean we need to change our own views. It actually only makes our views that much stronger.

So my advice to you is to feel and think and express. Approach Thomas, Student Council, your friends and teachers, about something you dislike, or commend them for their efforts.

Perspective helps us differentiate, but more often than not it can help us to understand.

Page Six

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

School Life

SCHOOL LIFE

New Teachers Yoon Cha ‘13 Backpage Editor Just like any other year at Sage, we extend a big, warm welcome to the new members of our community: the freshmen class, transfer students, staff, and, of course, the faculty. This year we have seven new faculty members in the History, Science, Dance, Spanish, and Theater departments. Unfortunately, I happen to be in none of their classes, so I decided to go meet a few of our new faculty during conference.

At 1:45pm on Friday (it was Assembly Schedule), I walked into Mrs. Bradshaw’s room in the first floor of the H building. I knew Mrs. Bradshaw from her U.S. History class, which I had to switch out of because of schedule conflicts. From the few days I was in her class, though, I can tell that there’s much to look forward to if you are in her class this year. Ms. Bradshaw first started out majoring in Biology at UCLA. In a constitution history class, however, she found her passion in history and graduated with a B.A. in History and a minor in Economics.

Mrs. Bradshaw has been teaching for six years. She first began teaching after college, when she found teaching on her top list of a career test. Eventually, the path brought her to Sage, where she is now teaching U.S. History and AP American Government.

Ms. Bradshaw at her wedding After talking to Mrs. Bradshaw I went searching for other new faculty. After about ten minutes of wandering around, I walked into H106, where I found Mr. Thomassen, Mr. Zarubin, and two unfamiliar faces– Mr. Lee and Ms. Fieberg–, both in white Sage T-shirts. I, hoping to interview the new science teachers, approached them, but was soon stopped by their conversation. “Well, this is how I taught standard deviation…” Mr. Lee jotted down some figures on the whiteboard. “Hmm... there’s this really good method I used…” Ms. Fieberg took another marker to demonstrate her teaching style. Their conversation carried on, and it’s hard to explain how happy I was to see our new faculty so passionate about teaching. In fact, they were so

Sage-Arr Dance Joelle Nanula ‘14 School Life Editor

Last weekend, a much-anticipated annual event was met with trademark Sage enthusiasm: the Back-to-School dance. Next to Winter Formal and Prom, The Back-to-School dance is one that many look forward to. The first real school-wide event of the year, it makes for a great way to wind down after the crazy hype of getting used to classes and teachers. The eagerness and the excitement that students bring to the Back-to-School dance is then carried into athletics, studies, and overall participation in the Sage Hill community. Moreover, the Back-to-School dance is a particularly important event for freshmen. It marks their very first “high school dance.” For a few, it may even be their first dance ever. Such an important milestone should not be taken lightly. Most of all, the dance is simply an easy, fun-filled way for Sagers to gather with friends, both new and old, and celebrate the start of a new year of their lives.

This year’s dance was held in the quad outside the lower level of the H building. The theme, a Sage version of Pirates of the Caribbean dubbed “Pirates of the Hill,” was an immediate hit.

Part of its success was due to the many variations on “pirate” that a student could assume. Some went simple, wearing nautical striped shirts and bandanas; others donned full costumes complete with eye patches, boots, and hats that Jack Sparrow would be proud to own. The music was equally well-received. Alumnus Mattias Russo-Larson returned to DJ the dance, bringing back his famous Sage spirit that he channeled into his alter ego, “Bolt Boy.” Says sophomore Nicky Boulos: “[The

dance] had a great theme and a very electrifying atmosphere about it.” Another high point of the dance was the fact that it was free. Due to some hard work and string-pulling

by Student Council, every student was able to attend, free of charge.

However, like any event, there were certain aspects of the dance that could have been improved. Many students mentioned the size of the location. Sophomore Kiana Jodeiry commented that “the space was too small,” and that she and her peers could have had a better time if there had been more room to dance. But the overall feedback was extremely positive.

Freshman Kieran Mital says that the dance “gave [him] a good chance to get to know all of the freshmen other than [his] friends, and some other upper classmen.” One of the purposes of the Back-to-School Dance is to create an opportunity for students of all ages to come together, get to know one another, and celebrate the year ahead. So far, it looks like it’s going to be a good one.

absorbed in their discussion that Mr. Thomassen had to jump in to let me interview them.

This year is not his first time at Sage for Mr. Lee. Last year, he had visited Sage to do a demo about recent earthquakes in a freshman Scientific Inquiry class. Mr. Lee is excited to officially join the Sage community.

Mr. Lee was originally interested in philosophy, but he found science to be a “well developed method” for understanding the world. From the conversation we had, his passion in physics was evident. “I like the weirdness,” he says.

Mr. Lee had never thought of becoming a teacher until he first began teaching at graduate school. It turned out that he actually liked teaching much more than he imagined. He says he loves leading his students to their “wow moments”.

Ms. Fieberg grew up in Laguna Niguel and majored in Marine Biology and Environmental studies. She had heard about Sage in high school, but it was at Sawdust Festival one summer, that she really got to know Sage while talking to Ms. Talbot. What stood out the most about Ms. Fieberg was her wide array of talent. In addition to her knowledge in Biology, she

Note: Another article will be out next month featuring more new faculty members.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Bradshaw

Senior Bucket List Natalie Kobsa-Mark ‘12 Features Editor

Before I begin, I can’t help but smile at the fact that I am FINALLY a senior. And as cheesy as it sounds, I still remember walking as a freshwoman through the halls my sophomre year after transferring from Uni, not yet knowing anyone and looking up at the upperclassman. Ironically, now my senior year has come and I still look up, but this time at the unusually tall freshmen.

Senior year. This is the year everything is supposed to happen: the fun, the craziness, and of course accomplishing our crazy senior bucket lists. In the broad sense, the bucket list is something that stems from our inner imagination. We fantasize about things that we would love to do, had we the time. Perhaps we are drawn to bucket lists because the listed items are things we wish we could do are immediately, yet we tied down by other commitments in our life.

While I was swamped with work at the end of junior year I would often fantasize about the things I would do during summer when I had all the time in the world. I would write down a long list of activities, which included #15 go horseback riding and #22 overnight on the beach and also importantly #31 Re-read all the Harry Potter books before the 7th movie came out. All in all, this list included going on about 50 different adventures, watching films and reading various books, most which I never even got to.

And this is a great spot for me to mention John Lennon’s wise words, “Life is what happens, when you’re busy making other plans.” While we are wasting our time writing down the things we wish to do in our lives, we could be using that time to experience them. This irony seems to draw a modern day parallel with Waiting for Godot

Photo courtesy of Facebook

also specializes in organic gardening, plays variety of instruments (including ukulele, mandolin, violin, and guitar), paints, and draws (using watercolor, ink, and colored pencil). I suggest that you also pay attention to her jewelry, because chances are that she made them herself.

Ms. Fieberg will be advising the environmental club this year and helping to improve Savannah’s Organic Garden. She has taught organic gardening at college level, and specializes in pruning orchards.

Sounds like we now have a green thumb to help grow Sage Hill.

Meeting some of our new faculty this year was more than enough to make me excited for this year. The enthusiasm and positive energy of these new teachers are sure to invigorate the Sage community.

However, there are still four other staff members I have not had the chance to meet.

No worries, I am sure I will get to know them soon; as Mr. Lee said, Sage is a very “close community.”

by Beckett, and even more so on another level that I am wasting time writing an article about the ironies of bucket lists when I could be #27 learning to sail or #52 teaching myself to do a back flip. This procrastination is so inherent in our manner that we even put off the things we would love to do.

Although we seniors are already feeling the flutter of those butterflies in our stomachs when thinking about college application, we often forget that we still have a whole year of high school ahead of us. And when we pick up our pencils to write down a new goal, or make a mental note, why not be spontaneous and just go #31 order “the usual” at a restaurant or # 39 talk in a New Zealand (Kiwi) accent for a day.

Bucket lists are great, but they cannot be a means to store and forget about the adventures and plans we’ve been looking forward to. And according to my fourth grade music teacher, “If you don’t have time, you need to make time.” Now, why don’t we make some time to accomplish these exciting goals? And with this, I invite you all to # 17 play hide and seek in IKEA, #24 hike up to the Hollywood sign, and #32 go skydiving with me. What are we waiting for?

LIFESTYLE

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

Lifestyle

Page Seven

Environmentalists Unite!

Natalie Kobsa-Mark ‘12 Features Editor

Hello there, I am the leader of Sage Hill’s Environmental Club. There are unlimited ways to do your part in the environment, whether you are interested in getting involved on campus or are just glad to see Sage going greener, I know I am!

1) First of all, Clubs Fair is coming up and we will have a booth set up. It would be great if you could stop by our booth and say hello!

2) I am happy to announce that we have a fabulous new club advisor, Ms. Fieberg. She is a new teacher this year who teaches Scientific Inquiry and Biology. She has had extensive training in Environmental Science, Organic Gardening, and more, basically she’s the coolest person ever and SUPER Eco Friendly!

Go talk to her.

3) Last year’s Eco Fair will be happening again this year. BUT, it will no longer be a Service Learning Group; it will be solely run by our club! Which means more involvement for everyone and more cool stuff to plan!

4) We will be working along with the Savannah’s Organic Ranch Service Learning Group on Campus (watering, pruning, and eating delicious tomatoes).

5) We will start a Home Organic Garden Growing Project where we will spend

weekends creating organic gardens and starting composting at each other’s houses.

If you’ve always wanted to start an organic garden at your house, then this is great for you! You will need to volunteer time to other people’s gardens and others will dedicate time to creating your garden.

6) We will be planning a Back-toSchool Fashion Swap (great for people who love shopping!) where we will encourage people to trade, recycle and

Hitting the Beach vs.

Hitting the Books Elise Sugarman ‘13 Staff Writer

Sitting in the scorching sun, watching the seniors receive awards, you find yourself staring at the clock and counting the minutes until it’s finally summer vacation. You think of what the summer has in store for you—while your best friend is going to summer school, another friend is backpacking across Europe, all the while a different classmate is working as a camp counselor at the local day camp. Though all very different pursuits, these choices lead each Sage student to their own version of happiness.

While some people may question the statement that summer school makes students happy, other summer school attendees disagree. Upon talking to Junior Quinntin Ruiz, who has attended summer school for the past two years, he argued that although he had class every morning for five weeks, he had the entire afternoon to relax (after finishing homework, of course). Plus, because Sage students have a longer summer than most, students attending summer school still have a few weeks of complete “summer vacation” before and after course completion.

In addition to having summer, Junior Jacqueline Luke commented that even though she didn’t want to give up part of her summer to attend summer

reuse clothing. “Leftovers” will of course be donated to Goodwill.

7) Who doesn’t love fashion & art?

We’ll be creating a recyclable fashion show for the Eco Fair and even designing a “Project Runway” type of activity at the fair.

8) We’ll be hosting an informational “Being a Vegetarian” seminar that will be open to whoever wants to attend. If you are interested in the subject, feel free to attend.

9) We’ll present that “What to Recycle, Compost and Throw Away” Town Meeting Skit we never got to last year!

And of course get composting up and running!

10) We’ll have movie showings open to the public and watch cute little baby animals being eaten by lions. Just kidding. Sort of.

11) We’ll be doing tons of nature hikes and outdoor activities. Who loves kayaking? Skydiving? Okay... so maybe not extreme sports.

12) I am exited about getting together a “Careers in Environmental Topics” lecture that we can host at Sage. I will get into contact with Sage parents, UCI professors and Al Gore.

13) We’ll have a mass “Thermoses & Canteens–– Not Waterbottles” movement.

14) And of course.... the Earth Day celebration, which will be Sunday April 22, 2012!!! But of course, it’s Earth Day EVERY day, boys and girls. (I’ve always loved that line).

Now does this sound awesome or what?! Yeah that’s right, come join the club at Clubs Fair!

Photo courtesy of Savannah’s Organic Ranch

Fashion’s Night Out Abeer Al-Saud ‘13 Guest Writer

school, her attendance opened up more class options and was definitely worth the time. Ms. Orr, a math teacher at Sage, says that summer school is just another chance to pursue your passions and get ahead in a subject you enjoy. But students still worry that summer school will prevent them from having a “real” summer. Junior Allie Barke commented, “I think summer is meant for taking a break from school. Summer school defeats that purpose.”

Some students, like Allie, are simply unwilling to give up part of their summer to spend their time in school, a place they attend for nine months of the year for the same reasons.

But there are other ways to spend your summer “productively” as teachers and college counselors would like to see you do, while still enjoying yourself. The summer can be spent exploring your passions or pursuing leadership opportunities. Senior Heather Goldin did both of these when she worked as a blogging specialist at Camp Ramah, a Jewish overnight camp in Ojai.

For nine weeks she got to do what she likes best everyday: write! Heather not only had the experience of a lifetime, but also showed colleges another positive side of her that she has to offer.

The idea of Fashion’s Night Out began as simple promotion, marking the beginning of New York Fashion Week. In only a matter of three years, this annual event blossomed into a glamorous tradition celebrated in cities all over the world. The festivities include special gift promotions, music, and food.

Typically, stores are open later than normal, leaving more time for the shoppers to browse around and enjoy the atmosphere. Some of the bigger soirées include an elite guest list filled with the names of infamous fashion icons, designers, editors, celebrities, and even athletes. This year, Fashion’s Night Out was the biggest it’s ever been. Stores across the world not only planned an amazing evening for their guests, but also offered coveted products exclusive to attendees only this one celebratory day of the year.

This year, Orange County enthusiastically participated in the international event. Fashion Island was filled with pink balloons and even had several DJs playing throughout the shopping center. The event boasted a catwalk, for the Neiman Marcus fashion show. After hours of strolling through Fashion Island, the guests left with gifts and samples along with their purchases.

Even though Orange County’s celebration of Fashion’s Night Out was not as extravagant as that of New York City’s, it still managed to increase our appreciation and promote the art of fashion.

Photos courtesy of Google Images

Page Eight

The Bolt ♦ September 2011

BACKPAGE

Challenge of the Month:“Draw your favorite animal in 10 seconds”

(ABOVE) 2nd place: Lorenzo Orozco (‘14) JAGUAR (LEFT) 3rd place: Thania Arizmendi (‘14) ALL NON-MAMMALS & A PLATYPUS (TOP) 1st place: Jacqueline Luke (‘13) ALPALCA

Ms. Orr’s Crossword Puzzle:Welcome to Sage Hill!

Answer key will be printed on next month’s Bolt

Across: 1. UCI teahouse 4. Locked (up) 8. Monday’s ____ meeting 12. Square ____ 13. Creme cookie 14. Fast runners 16. Skin condition 17. Lo-cal 18. Clear the boards 19. Slime 20. Pro’s opposite 21. Dreaded exam

23. Mom-and-pop group 24. Booth or Burton 26. Beaver’s work 28. Girls’ athletic director 30. Cushion 32. Probabilities 36. Reason to cram?

39. Dentist’s request 41. Best subject?

42. Poem of praise 43. Terra ____ 45. Also 46. It comes to mind

48. Flower part 49. Notre ____ 50. Spanish teacher, ____ Olivia 51. Kid’s question 52. Greek letter 54. Golfer’s gadget 56. Stuco president 60. Charged particle 63. Sage Hill gym 65. Sage teacher and USC alumna 67. Put to work 68. Mock ____ 70. Type of EM radiation 72. Author Roald 73. Novotny greeting 74. Vomit 75. December 24 and 31 76. Suggestive look 77. Change for a five 78. It may be driven Down: 1. Hot chocolate 2. Sage Hill’s ___ code 3. Chowed down 4. Game played in water or on horseback 5. Senior co-chair 6. Butterfly catcher 7. Little piggies 8. Symbol used for angles 9. Paddle 10. Envelop 11. Cozy home

12. ___ to riches 15. Ocean 20. Vital force of Chinese medicine 22. Tack on 25. Alternative to SAT 27. Parental unit 29. ____ Ishii 30. Sage quarterback 31. Start the pot 33. Facts and figures 34. Sage VB coach 35. Sole supporter?

36. Work hard 37. Choral music teacher 38. Observed 40. Spice girl Beckham 44. Electric current unit 47. 24 horas 51. Part of WWW 53. Timid 55. Noted blind mathematician 57. “Ava the ____” 58. Theater employee 59. Snakelike fish 60. Part of T.G.I.F. 61. Kind of surgery 62. Cairo’s watrway 64. Type of marker 65. Garden tool 66. Affirmatives 69. Blvd.

71. More than a jog 72. Holiday mo.

The Bolt Staff Editor-in-Chief ....................................................Shannon Zhang ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief..................................... Heather Goldin ‘12 Assistant Editor-in-Chief........................................Jenna Shapiro ‘13 Features Co-Editor ......................................Natalie Kobsa-Mark ‘12 Features Co-Editor ..................................................Darren Chen ‘13 Sports Editor....................................................Sophia Herzlinger ‘12

Arts Editor ......................................................Savannah Gardner ‘13 School Life Editor...................................................Joelle Nanula ‘14 Opinions Editor ................................................Ashkan Khayami ‘12 Lifestyle Editor.........................................................Carlyn Kane ‘13 Backpage Editor......................................................Yoonseo Cha ‘13 The Bolt Advisor...............................................................Miss Ehret