MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. 57, NO. 1
September 24, 2021
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539 41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
Back to school: COVID-19 Safety Measures NEW SANITATION PROCEDURE S Currently, the faculty is following Alameda County safety regulations, which state that all school areas must be disinfected daily using US Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectants; custodial staff are in charge of disinfecting classrooms, bathrooms, and hightouch surfaces such as faucets, handrails, and doorknobs. Custodian Audrey Vilchez said, “We are [mainly] focused on making sure classrooms and cafeterias are cleaned and disinfected for students each day.” The custodial department is also in charge of looking after the hand sanitizing stations placed around campus to encourage regular sanitizing and cleaning. The district has also supplied each classroom with hand sanitizers and disposable masks.
By Anvi Kalucha, Naveed Shakoor, & Sakshi Umrotkar Sports Editor, Centerspread Editor, & Opinion Editor
In preparation for in-person learning in the 2021-22 school year, FUSD established numerous policies adhering to local and state COVID-19 safety mandates. To identify the procedures put in place to keep students healthy, the Smoke Signal collected FUSD’s 2021-22 safety protocols.
Social Distancing Policie s In accordance with the CA Department of Public Health’s policy, FUSD is discouraging unnecessary close proximity in classrooms and other closed spaces. By encouraging seating charts within classrooms, FUSD is aiming to further reduce close contact within students and faculty alike. Although in-person learning is safe to occur with minimal physical distancing and continual masking, students are encouraged to spend lunchtime and breaks in well-ventilated and open spaces to prevent possible COVID-19 transmission. In an attempt to maintain maximum social distance on campus, Campus Supervisor Brandi Bailey-Speier said, “We didn’t want any other people other than students and staff members on campus. [MSJ is still] a parent-free zone [during school hours].”
Self Screening Protoc ols
Staying Safe at School
FUSD’s daily self-screening documents allow staff and students to identify possible symptoms before entering the campus each morning. Posters with self-screening protocols are taped across campus as well. They can be found around school in places such as the BTQ and next to P5. Before coming to school each day, students are strongly recommended to fill out an at-home daily COVID-19 health screening found on the FUSD website. If they exhibit any of the listed symptoms, guidelines suggest they stay at home, contact a health professional, and get tested.
To protect students from contracting COVID-19, hand sanitizers are available in all rooms onsite along with wipes for school desks or other shared equipment. Adhering to FUSD’s mask mandate and bringing water from home instead of using the water fountains can also reduce the spread of the virus.
Vac cinations Vaccination is currently not mandated in CA for school employees, but all those who have not received their two doses are required to test for COVID-19 every week. Approximately 95% of all FUSD employees and 79% of individuals over 12 in Fremont are fully vaccinated, according the FUSD COVID-19 Safety Plan.
FUSD employee vaccination rates: VACCINATED UNVACCINATED
79%
95%
Fremont vaccination rates (over 12): VACCINATED UNVACCINATED
ON-Site C OVID-19 Te sting From 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesdays, COVID-19 testing for staff and students is available on campus outside of C120. Testing is also available at the District Office, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on a drop-in basis. A proctor observes the sample collection, which is self-administered through an anterior nasal swab, and results are delivered by phone or email within 24-48 hours. FUSD has partnered with Color Health, a company that provides software for health initiatives, to administer COVID-19 tests by scheduling appointments through the Color website. To reduce the possibility of exposing others, the district encourages everyone to get tested if they are experiencing symptoms. However, regular testing is not required for students. According to the FUSD COVID-19 Safety
ONLINE
THIS MONTH
www.thesmokesignal.org
Plan, monthly asymptomatic testing will be made available for students when case rates exceed 25/100,000 and as recommended by either the Alameda County Public Health Department or the CA Department TESTING of Public Health. C16-18
OUT OF 76 REPORTED POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES IN FUSD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, ONE CASE IS FROM MSJ.
LOCATION
C1-14
Ventil ation Recent improvements to the HVAC system, including adjustment of HVAC dampers, allow more outside air to filter into classrooms and other enclosed spaces on campus. FUSD has also worked on fitting updated MERV 11-13 air purifiers — high-efficiency filtration systems — wherever possible to maximize filtration along with the air purification units installed in all MSJ classrooms. Portable units have also been placed in non-classroom spaces such as the Flex Room and rooms where students may need to quarantine or isolate due to symptoms.
C120
B30-37 B1-B24
Data above is according to the FUSD COVID-19 Positive Case Data website. Last updated on September 16.
HOMSJ: RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING
SMOKIE PODCAST: SENIOR ADVICE
Watch students speak on their experiences returning back to school amidst the pandemic, from meeting old friends to COVID-19 precautions.
Hear four Smoke Signal seniors’ perspectives on school, extracurriculars, and college applications in this latest installment of the Smokie Podcast!
FOR MORE COVERAGE, VISIT www.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG
2 News
WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG
NEWS IN
BRIEF Compiled by Isabella He, Naveed Shakoor, Jackie Wong & Jerry Yuan Opinion Editor, Centerspread Editors & Sports Editor
LOCAL abcey.org The Fremont Festival of the Arts typically attracts over 300,000 participants and 650 artisans annually.
Festival of the Arts cancelled due to rising coronavirus cases. For the second year in a row, the Fremont Festival of the Arts, a two-day street festival that featured more than 650 artisans from all around California, is cancelled. Due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area, organizers at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce decided against its return in 2021. Instead, it has turned its attention to future Fremont events, such as the Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on December 7 and the 2022 Fremont Festival of the Arts.
NATIONAL Luis Alvarez/Getty Images An estimated two-thirds of eligible Americans will be fully vaccinated after Biden’s vaccine mandate.
President Biden issues vaccine mandates for 80 million Americans. On Thursday, September 9, President Joe Biden announced vaccine mandates that would push 80 million more Americans to be fully vaccinated. All employees from private-sector companies with more than 100 workers will be required to be vaccinated or be tested weekly. In addition, Biden has mandated shots for healthcare workers and issued an executive order that requires all federal employees to be vaccinated within 75 days. Because of new regulations, two-thirds of eligible Americans will be fully vaccinated.
INTERNATIONAL
macleans.ca
Flood victims from Tula, Mexico make their way to safety.
Tula, Mexico left submerged in water. The streets of Tula, Mexico are fully submerged in water as overflooded reservoirs continue to release water. Residents have been seen dragging furniture out from their homes while wearing plastic bags on their feet, both covered in a thick layer of mud. The majority of the damage in affected communities has been to small businesses and houses. Local authorities urged people in Tula and vulnerable areas to move to higher grounds; so far, there have been a total of 14 deaths caused by the flood.
QUIRKY marshfieldnewsherald.com Cow spotted in the backseat of a Buick.
Cow Spotted Going Through McDonald’s Drive-Thru in Wisconsin. On August 27, a cow was spotted in the back seat of a car going through a McDonald’s drive-thru in Wisconsin. Jessica Nelson, who saw the cow directly ahead of her, said “I thought it was fake at first. Who puts a cow in a Buick? Then its whole head moved.” Nelson’s video of the scene garnered 112,000 views on Facebook in just a few days. Nelson captioned the post, “A WHOLE FREAKING COW!!! Tell me you live in Wisconsin without telling me you live in Wisconsin.”
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
California Recall Election: Gov. Gavin Newsom triumphs in recall attempt Newsom survives recall effort and will remain in office. By Lily Oh & Joanne Park Feature Editor & A&E Editor
On September 14, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom won a recall election led by the Republican Party. This was the first gubernatorial recall election in the state since 2003, when Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. CA is one of 19 states in the US that allows voters to remove state officials from office before the end of their terms through a recall. For a recall election to proceed, the number of signatures in favor of removal on the recall petition must meet the threshold of at least 12% of the last election’s voters for the position the official holds. These voters must be from five or more counties. For Newsom, the number of needed signatures fell just below 1.5 million, and on July 1, CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber affirmed that recall supporters had submitted approximately 1.7 million valid signatures. All registered CA voters were eligible to participate, either through in-person or mail-in ballots, which were sent from the voters’ respective county elections offices by August 16. The ballot asked two questions: if Newsom should be recalled, and if so, who should take his place as the governor of CA. Voters were not required to answer both questions. Had a simple majority of voters said yes to the first question, Newsom would have been removed from office. The candidate that received the greatest number of votes for the second question would have replaced Newsom. 46 candidates ran in the recall
Newsom speaks to supporters during a campaign against the recall election.
PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES
to undocumented immigrants, high taxes and homelessness, opposition to the death penalty, and water rationing. Retired Yolo County Police Sergeant Orrin Heatlie, launched the recall attempt that resulted in the September election. While the petition initially raised similar criticisms to previous recall petitions, the campaign changed to focus on the 2020 French Laundry incident as its primary reason for Newsom’s recall: in November of last year, Newsom was seen dining maskless at the three Michelin star restaurant French Laundry despite discouraging Californians from gathering in close proximity to prevent further spread of the pandemic. The campaign took advantage Should Gavin Newsom be If Newsom is recalled, who of the public outrage, quickly gathering a recalled? should replace him as governor? large number of votes. On the day of the recall election, it was If over 50% of votes say that Newsom If a majority of voters say that Newsom should be recalled, then Newsom will be should be recalled, then the candidate with clear that Newsom was supported by a large turnout amongst Democrats. Though removed from office. the most votes becomes governor. election results will not be officiated for weeks, Newsom quickly pulled ahead in the YES LARRY 46.9% polls, prevailing in what may have made him 36.2% ELDER the third state governor in US history to be KEVIN removed from office through recall. “‘No’ is 9.8% PAFFRATH not the only thing that was expressed tonight,” Newsom said, “We said yes to science. We KEVIN 8.6% said yes to vaccines. We said yes to ending FAULCONER this pandemic. We said yes to people’s right BRANDON to vote without fear. We said yes to women’s NO 5.6% ROSS 63.8% constitutional right to decide.” ▪ election, including nine Democrats and 24 Republicans. Challengers included an eclectic mix of individuals, including YouTuber Kevin Paffrath, 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox, former Olympian and TV personality Caitlyn Jenner, radio host Larry Elder, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, and California State Board of Equalization member Ted Gaines. The recall attempt was one of the six total recall attempts against Newsom; the first one was initiated just three months after Newsom’s inauguration. Recall supporters censured Newsom’s accomodative approach
Graphs are based off of data from September 16, 2021, with an estimated 74% of votes counted.
FAQ: Infinite Campus By Larry Shi & Alina Zeng News Editors
Starting with the 2021-22 school year, MSJ adopted Infinite Campus as its new student information system (SIS). Infinite Campus, which was founded in 1993 as the first online SIS operator, replaced School Loop starting this school year. The Smoke Signal compiled answers to some frequently asked questions through personal interview and data from the FUSD district websites about the new online platform.
What Happened to School Loop ?
How can parents make an Infinite Campus Ac c ount ?
In early 2020, FUSD’s old student information system, Illuminate Education, discontinued its SIS services and provided school districts a year to find a new one. However, after incorporating Infinite Campus as the new SIS for schools, it was found that Infinite Campus and School Loop were not compatible.
Parents were able to access Infinite Campus since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, and will continue to be able to do so. To create a Campus Parent account, parents must reach out to FUSD for an activation key. If anyone has trouble creating an account, refer to the FUSD Technology Department.
Will other pl atforms be used in addition to Infinite Campus for students, parents, and facult y?
Will there be more information on how to ac ce ss and use Infinite Campus in the future?
No, Infinite Campus will be the primary form of communication between the administration, teachers, and students. There are no plans to add any other platforms or another SIS.
Yes, MSJ Infinite Campus Liaison and History Teacher Kim Mathis will communicate additional videos, instructions, and tips for teachers from FUSD administration when available.
Friday, September 24, 2021 The Smoke Signal
THE SMOKE SIGNAL Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 57, No. 1 | September 24, 2021 www.thesmokesignal.org 41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 510-657-3600, ext. 37088 MISSION STATEMENT The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the MSJ community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums. SCHOOL POPULATION 1968 students EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Megh Basu, Amanda Pang NEWS Larry Shi, Alina Zeng OPINION Isabella He, Sakshi Umrotkar FEATURE Lily Oh, Nithika Valluri CENTERSPREAD Naveed Shakoor, Jackie Wong A&E Joanne Park, Helen Tian SPORTS Anvi Kalucha, Jerry Yuan GRAPHICS Mingxin Wang WEB Tanisha Srivatsa, Jessica Yu TECH Bryan Xiong BUSINESS Jennie Wang CIRCULATION Angela Xiong ADVERTISING Rohan Bhagat, Steffi Zhou EVENTS Esther Lau WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sanah Bhardwaj Pratham Bhashyakarla Olivia Chen Ruhani Chhabra Charlize Chiu Shaily Desai Anandita Devata Chloe Gao Sahas Goli Jiyun Guo Chahak Gupta Jacob Han Karina Han Daphne He Christy Huang Selina Kao Ayushi Kashyap Elaheh Khazi Vedesh Kodnani Sarina Li Shelley Li Waylon Li Amy Luo Andria Luo Maryam Naseer Aditya Patil Julia Peng Esha Potharaju Daphne Senecal Priyanka Shah Hannah Shen Annika Singh Aaryan Suri Jason Tang Darshan Thirumala Nessa Tong Kaitlyn Wang Kaylee Wei Amelie Wu Annie Xu Elton Yu Aaron Zhou ADVISER Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@ thesmokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. For a chance for your artwork to be featured in The Smoke Signal, send graphic opinions to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to modify graphics for publication. To advertise in the Smoke Signal, email ads@ thesmokesignal.org. Advertising that is included on the pages of, or carried within, the Smoke Signal, is paid advertising, and as such is independent of the news and feature content. The Smoke Signal’s right to freedom of speech and press is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. To stay updated with our online content, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ msjsmokesignal. CORRECTIONS POLICY When factual and spelling mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff, corrections will be printed in the next issue’s corrections box. See the example below for styling. Centerspread Pg. 10: The California Youth Crisis Line should be the Crisis Text Line. DISTRICUTION POLICY The Smoke Signal is distributed to all students during Read period on the publication date for no cost. Subscriptions are $30 for 9 issues (US). To subscribe, email circulation@thesmokesignal.org. BYLINE POLICY All writers who contributed to the article will be listed in the byline in alphabetical order. All photographers or artists will be credited in the text below the photograph or spread.
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Isabella's InterpretatIons
Opinion 3
sakshI's solIloquy
Grand schemes > end results
Checking your mental health in a busy world
By Isabella He Opinion Editor
By Sakshi Umrotkar Opinion Editor
Goal: get all A’s this year. Goal: pass my Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) piano exam next month. Scrolling through articles on productivity, I read one tip again and again: set goals for yourself. It’s good advice — setting incremental goals has helped me keep track of my tasks as I work towards realizing my ambitions. Yet I’ve also come to the realization that goals can be counterproductive. Here’s why. When I started my junior year, I set a goal for myself to pass my Grade 8 ABRSM piano exam. My hope that my goal would give me a sense of accomplishment quickly turned to disappointment when I failed my exam. I began to realize that my end results with my goals didn’t reflect whether or not I should feel accomplished. Rather, my sense of accomplishment should reflect my systems — how I responded to feedback from my instructors, how often I practiced,
The end result is only a small part in the grand scheme of things, and we need to develop systems that reward continual, incremental improvement.
and how I persevered through a difficult measure. Systems are about the continuous ways we work to improve; they represent the processes that lead up to a sense of achievement. As I iterated my systems and made small steps towards long-term improvement, I improved my piano skills beyond the level of a single accomplishment. The end result is only a small part in the grand scheme of things, and we need to develop systems that reward continual, incremental improvement. Think about this: do winners and losers have different goals? The answer is often no — when two opposing boxers enter the ring with a common goal, only one emerges victorious. However, regardless of the results, both athletes should feel accomplished for their systems: their commitments to practices, improvements leading up to the match, and more. Wins or losses shouldn’t dictate the value of the athletes; thus, results shouldn’t determine the value we derive from our goals, either. Goals dictate future events while systems are recurring processes dependent on our actions. We can’t control outcomes, only our actions. Instead of placing value solely on the outcomes of our goals, we should instead value the systems that we develop as we work towards those goals. ▪
During recent conversations with friends, I often find myself venting about school-related stress and the grueling nature of the college application process. But I’ve also noticed that I consistently conclude with a hasty “it’s not that important, though — others have it worse.” A lot of my peers seem to exhibit similar tendencies, talking about their troubles and then immediately following it up with offhanded dismissals. Returning to school in the midst of radical global changes has meant that we’ve all been exposed to, if not entrenched in, discussions about what’s happening worldwide. Whether it be about other countries’ vaccination rates or the recent Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, discourse is rife around campus and in classrooms. Talking about current events with my friends and classmates has shaped and expanded my worldview, but such conversations also make it very easy to slip into a mindset that focuses on irrational comparison as opposed to empathy. Putting yourself in others’ shoes and acknowledging the weight of their difficulties doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you trivialize your own problems along the way. As we learn more about acknowledging our privileges, it’s been difficult to not
minimize mental health issues and stress as students. I’ve spent a lot of time believing that my stressors dull in comparison to the stress that millions across the world face, and while objective comparisons would state that a lot of us are much better off than the people we read about in the news, letting this get to our mental state and affect the way we view our troubles only serves to harm us. Under the guise of “putting our lives into perspective,” we might end up discounting our own problems and belittling ourselves for being stressed. To combat this, we need to keep in mind that invalidating our own troubles isn’t a healthy way of expressing empathy. The amount of negative media we consume is rapidly mounting as our exposure to world events through the Internet and class discussions increases. As we continue, we need to remind ourselves that mental health isn’t a commodity meant for comparison — making broad comparisons between events that are beyond our control is not only a symptom of a flawed sense of empathy that approaches compassion with comparison but also a harmful way of trying to express it. As our exposure to world events and mounting pressures increases, keep in mind that the act of practicing empathy should never come at the cost of your own mental health. ▪
The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board
Transitions are never easy After returning to in-person learning for the first time in more than 17 months, the MSJ community is adjusting to a “new normal” — a foreign campus, new teachers and students, and unfamiliar social dynamics between friend groups. Walking around campus, it’s not uncommon to see students eating lunch alone, underclassmen and upperclassmen alike. Partner work and group discussions in classes also remain silent as students struggle to connect with peers they may not have seen in over a year. Although staying in touch with friends was easier when seeing our peers face-to-face every day, lockdown created issues for students who were struggling to fit in socially. During distance learning, many students found it difficult to connect with peers and engage in school activities virtually; as a result, many inevitably lost touch with
There are no expectations for students to be in the same place socially as they were two years ago. friends from before the pandemic. Going back to school in-person, most of us are cautiously navigating the unfamiliar waters of changed or distanced friend groups as well as the new learning environment. What does suddenly being back on campus mean for us? Are the friends that we ate lunch with two years ago still our friends now? And more importantly, do they still want to be friends with us? Such questions may plague our thoughts right now, and coupled with concerns over the rising coronavirus case rate in FUSD, can contribute to a sense of anxiety and loneliness surrounding the beginning of the school year. Many have a desire to revert friendship dynamics back to how they were pre-pandemic, often experiencing the distress that comes with such thoughts. We can’t restart our lives and continue from two years ago. While this may be difficult to accept, especially for students who were looking forward to reconnecting with old friends this year, it may help to know that others are treading through the same unevenness and uncertainty. Most students on campus are currently struggling with adjusting and making up for the time
we lost in the past two years. Both underclassmen and upperclassmen are navigating uncharted waters. The upperclassmen — the Class of 2022 left school as sophomores and are returning as seniors, and the Class of 2023 never experienced a full high school year. The underclassmen — the Class of 2024 have never been to the school they’ve been studying at for over a year, and the Class of 2025 missed out on the majority of their middle school years, a formative time when many make friends and establish social dynamics that typically last throughout high school. There are no expectations for students to be in the same place socially as they were two years ago; such changes in social dynamics are normal and nothing to be embarrassed of. Everyone can agree that distance learning was tough, and there is no shame in admitting that the shift back to inperson learning is just as difficult as well. Each learning environment has their perks and downsides, but now that everyone must brave through in-person school, it is better to face these difficulties head-on with a sense of unity. To that end, MSJ provides many school resources that can help students find a sense of community on campus. If you’re looking for someone to talk to, Peer Resource’s peer mentor program is a great way to meet other students and receive guidance throughout the year. The Mental Health Committee also provides mental health resources for students, such as the Wellness Center, which will soon be a great place to destress and relax despite the hectic back-toschool environment. Thinking about current academic and social positions, future goals, and actions to achieve them may be uncomfortable topics to touch upon, but students should know that no one has completely gotten the hang of this transition yet. You’re not alone if you’re having a hard time connecting with others and making friends during this return to school. More importantly, we’re all in the same boat — we got through distance learning, and we can get through this transition too. ▪
By Helen Tian A&E Editor
A&E EDITOR HELEN TIAN
4 Opinion
www.thesmokesignal.org
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
Should MSJ’s block schedule return? By Joanne Park & Alina Zeng A&E Editor & News Editor During distance learning, MSJ employed a block schedule which entailed having six classes on Monday and three 90-minute-long classes per day for the rest of the week in order to lessen the amount of time students needed to spend on Zoom. This schedule also included office hours, where students could meet with teachers for additional help or ask questions, and recommended that teachers incorporate asynchronous time into their lesson plans as well. Last year’s block schedule reduced stress for students since it entailed less daily homework, and gave students more time to pursue their interests. Conversely, longer periods have had negative effects on both teachers and students alike, due to the shift in teachers’ lesson plans and students finding difficulty in sitting still for an extended period of time. After a full school year of structured distance-learning, MSJ returned to in-person learning with its previous schedule with six classes a day as per the results of a teacher vote conducted by the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association. This sparked a discussion of the benefits and harms of the block schedule among the student body. To help inform our community in determining the best possible schedule for students, the Smoke Signal has delved into both sides of the issue.
To learn more about the MSJ student body and faculty's view of the implementation of a block schedule, the Smoke Signal surveyed MSJ teachers by sending out a Google Form. We went into and eight classes for a mix of all grade levels. The data is based on 32 teacher responses and 174 student responses.
MSJ Teacher Responses Do you prefer the bell schedule currently in use for the 2021-22 school year?
Have you ever voted for or against the implementation of a block schedule?
MSJ Student Responses
Do you believe the school should have continued with the modified block schedule from 2020-21?
Do you believe you would benefit from longer class periods?
PRO Upon MSJ’s return to school this year, the schedule reverted to the original bell schedule with 54-minute periods, six classes a day as per the results of a teacher vote. Other high schools in FUSD such as Kennedy, American, and Irvington High School have continued implementing block schedules following distance learning. The main two forms of block schedules implemented at high schools have either two block days a week with three regular days or four block days with one regular day. In a MSJ survey with more than 170 responses, 87% students reported that they had positive experiences with the block schedule. Having block days with longer periods allows for greater flexibility in a teacher’s lesson plans, allotting more time for labs and group activities, which usually require more time than what is given in a 6-period schedule. This in turn opens up more opportunities for teachers to branch out to attempt new activities that weren’t assignable due to time restrictions. This flexibility also allows teachers to better support different learning styles through individual student projects, more peer collaboration, and hands-on work. Students would have only three classes a day
with this block schedule, allowing them to concentrate on fewer subjects per day and delve into deeper concepts with their instructors. The American Psychological Association finds that having more time to study concepts further — such as spending more time on example questions, spacing out learning and studying sessions, or making sure that every student fully understands the concept rather than purely memorizing it — improves retention rates, increasing productivity and student success. Block schedule also grants time for longer office hours and allows teachers to give their classes asynchronous time, where students could meet with teachers, study, get an early start on homework, or rest, as 83% of MSJ students did over distance learning. This gives students less daily homework to be completed after class, which reduces stress and allows students to pursue their interests and extracurriculars outside of school. With block schedules heightening the potential for increased student academic achievement and productivity while also reducing stress, MSJ should implement distance learning’s block schedule going forward. ▪
Teachers were asked if they would like their comments to be anonymous. “It's important for educators and students to try it for one year because there must be a reason why many schools are transitioning to block scheduling. More importantly, if the students want it, then we should consider their opinion.” — Anonymous Teacher “Block scheduling would create a restructuring, to some extent, of past lesson plans created by teachers ... these are real challenges. However, I think much of this was started last year during distance learning and could be continually developed ... I strongly support block scheduling, despite the challenges in transition and the drawbacks that overall seem relatively minor.” — Anonymous Teacher
How did you typically spend asyncrhonous time and office hours?
CON MSJ has returned to its regular in-person schedule after a year of distance learning. CA's required instructional hours for high school students had been lowered from 360 to 240 hours for the 2020-21 school year, which allowed for greater flexibility online with daily office hours and more asynchronous time. A block schedule also reduced the amount of time that students would need to spend on Zoom, causing it to work as the best schedule for online school. However, without office hours and asynchronous time, our regular schedule with six periods a day works best for in-person school. Teachers voted in favor of this schedule over the summer, due to the long 90-minute instruction period that would come with a block schedule. This would require students to focus for a long period of time and for teachers to alter their lesson plans to accommodate these longer periods as well. Teachers would be required to fit more material into one period, since classes would meet fewer times a week, making the class fasterpaced. However, student attention spans may not be able to handle longer and fast-paced class peri-
ods. According to Brain Balance, an average high schooler has an attention span of 32-48 minutes. After a year of online school and quarantine, student attention spans have likely lowered even further due to the frequent distractions at home. This makes it difficult for students to keep their minds on a topic for 90 minutes at a time, making it harder to learn and retain new information. Additionally, it is more beneficial for students to take classes such as math, foreign languages, and PE daily. Having PE daily, for example, meets the Centers for Disease Control recommendation that children should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily—many students get their hour of physical activity in through inperson PE. Daily classes cause students to engage better with the subject. Taking classes daily prevents learning loss and immerses the student in the subject. Though there may seem to be many benefits to transitioning to a block schedule, it may not produce the educational benefits people expect. MSJ should continue with its current schedule rather than transition to a block schedule. ▪
“I hear it [block schedule] would help AP students, but if we look on the other end of the academic spectrum, why should students with special education have even more difficulties to face? If your attention span is heavily taxed in an hour long class, how is a longer class going to benefit? When mental health is used to justify this change, I can only see this as a challenge to our teachers to more adequately and appropriately assign work and plan lessons that are not contributing to the stress levels we have always faced and now face more than ever. ” — Special Education Teacher Jess McCauley “I have worked both in American High and at Kennedy. I don't support five days block schedule like Kennedy here. For science it works out well as we can do contents and labs/ activities on the same day. Teachers from other courses struggled to keep students engaged meaningfully for 90 minutes every day.” — AP Biology Teacher Arshiya Sultana GRAPHICS BY OPINION EDITORS ISABELLA HE & SAKSHI UMROTKAR
Friday, September 24, 2021
The Smoke Signal
WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG
Guide to
New Clubs
Since the beginning of distance learning, students have created many clubs, covering topics ranging from science to linguistics. The Smoke Signal interviewed leaders of new clubs to gather information for MSJ students to reference. Some of the featured clubs are still in the process of being approved.
MSJ FBLA
By Amanda Pang, Tanisha Srivatsa & Sakshi Umrotkar Editor-in-Chief, Web Editor & Opinion Editor
MSJ Linguistics educates students about linguistics and its intersections with other fields, such as computer science, by teaching introductory concepts and inviting guest speakers to give informational presentations. Members are also encouraged to take part in local competitions and the North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition.
MSJ BAStA
MSJ Calligraphy & Crafts
MSJ Radio Club
Contact: Sammie Huang
MSJ Students for Rare Diseases
MSJ INNO
MSJ Chemistry Club
MSJ Chemistry Club hopes to educate students on a variety of chemistry-related topics and prepare students for chemistry competitions beyond just what is taught in general science courses. The club is also affiliated with the American Chemical Society and will be hosting events throughout the year in collaboration with professional chemists. MSJ Generation She MSJ Generation She, a chapter of the national Generation She organization, is a club that seeks to close the gender gap in business and technology fields through holding entrepreneurship makeathons where students innovate new products and ideas and providing a sense of community for women and gender non-conforming individuals. Contact: Ani Zhang
Contact: Allen Chen MSJ Best Buddies
MSJ SportsHi MSJ SportsHi aims to increase sports engagement at MSJ through In an increasingly dangerous sports seasons introductions, which are world, MSJ Self Defense provides season-specific conventions where coaches students an opportunity to hone and team captains can help new students their self-defense skills with learn more about each sport. Over the past disciplines including Taekwondo, year, the club hosted virtual interviews with Judo, and Aikido. Experienced black MSJ alumni pursuing professional sports – belts lead workshops, where students something they look forward to continuing both learn and perfect their skills. this year as well. Contact: Ethan Lai
MSJ Youth4Climate MSJ Youth4Climate is a climate science and engineering club that uses disciplines such as computer science, math, and engineering to educate others on the severity of climate change and investigate mitigations, including sustainable technology and innovation. Students have the opportunity to participate in the High Altitude Balloon Launch Program and their own 3rd Annual Climate Conference.
MSJ Warrior Training
Contact: Inimai Subramanian
MSJ Warrior Training utilizes the abilities of MSJ athletes to train students, ranging in age from transitional kindergarten to middle school, in sports. The club hosts these training sessions at various sporting venues, where members will coach basketball and soccer and earn service hours in an effort to give back to the community.
MSJ Best Buddies focuses on closing the social barrier between neurodivergent and neurotypical communities, specifically for students who dealt with isolation over distance learning in the past year. The club hopes to schedule activities and events that help forge friendships that encourage inclusion and opportunity for all.
MSJ Self Defense
Contact: Nithika Valluri
Contact: Sahiti Alladi
Contact: Rachel Wing
Contact: Saranya Singh
MSJ Radio Club seeks to help students improve their communication skills in an approachable way through radio. Each month, based on their performance in a mock radio show, one member is selected to accompany the officers to broadcast in front of thousands of people on 92.3FM, an opportunity exclusively provided by the officers who are official radio jockeys.
MSJ INNO, a chapter of the nonprofit INNO Biotech Incorporated, is a club that hosts competitive biotechnology opportunities for teens through guest speakers, workshops, and curriculum. At the end of the year, members have the opportunity to take part in the Innovation Development Conference, where they can pitch self-designed biotechnology pro -ducts to professionals in the field.
MSJ Students for Rare Disease, affiliated with the National Organization for Rare Diseases, is a club dedicated to shedding light on rare disorders and fundraising money toward organizations and research initiatives that help diagnose and treat these rare diseases. Contact: Kanishk Kapoor
Contact: Jiya Gupta
Contact: Elaheh Khazi
MSJ Calligraphy & Crafts was founded to help students explore their creativity by combining calligraphy and lettering with other art forms. The club plans on first teaching members the basics of calligraphy, which can then be used for future card-making projects.
Contact: Anvi Kalucha
MSJ Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) exposes members to the intersections between business and other disciplines, such as computer science, medicine, and politics, through mentor feedback sessions and mock conferences. The club prepares members to attend conferences where students can compete in events of interest and gain experience in career technical education.
MSJ Bay Area Student Activists (BAStA) brings students together to advocate for and bring awareness to prominent issues such as Black Lives Matter and politics. Members engage in informational meetings and seminars and have the opportunity to attend Lobby Day, where students can talk to politicians and lawmakers.
MSJ Linguistics
Feature 5
Contact: David Lin
MSJ Women in STEM
MSJ Women in STEM was founded with a mission of empowering and inspiring women in historically male-dominated fields. Students can take part in hackathons, guest speaker presentations, and workshops throughout the year. Contact: Aditi Chhangani
MSJ Boldly Me
MSJ Boldly Me, affiliated with local nonprofit organization Boldly Me, works to create presentations that teach FUSD elementary school students MSJ GIDAS about self-care and stress management. Having already partnered with teachers at MSJ Genes in Diseases and Chadbourne Elementary School to host Symptoms (GIDAS) aims to create presentations over distance learning, MSJ more discourse surrounding the topic Boldly Me looks forward to hosting of genetic diseases to MSJ by teaching in-person events this year. students how to navigate online resources such as large databases to familiarize Contact: Allison Bai themselves with genetic research. Their goal this year is to educate the student body on biotechnology and genetic research in computational biology. Contact: Harshita Bathina
GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR LILY OH
6 Centerspread
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The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
Friday, September 24, 2021
The Smoke Signal
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Centerspread 7
Field Guide to MSJ By Anvi Kalucha, Amanda Pang, Mingxin Wang, & Jessica Yu Sports Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Graphics Editor, Web Editor
C2 Wellness Center MSJ’s Mental Health Committee is currently working on unveiling the C2 Wellness Center, including furnishing and decoration being among their last steps. As a safe space for students to relax and destress, the Wellness Center will have areas for lounging to play board games and relax. Students will also be given the chance to speak with counselors. The center is on track to open later on this year.
C120
Student Store
Flex Room
Located in the BTQ, the Student Store is the best place to find snacks, such as chips, slushies, iced teas, and Dippin’ Dots, as well as school supplies like planners and locks. Run by L2’s Student Store Committee, the store serves as a centralized hub for students’ needs.
The Flex Room, located in the A-wing, is the primary location for Peer Resource, staff, and various club meetings, as well as events hosted during advisory.
For students stepping onto campus for the first time in 16 months, MSJ is an unfamiliar place that they're learning to navigate as they find their classes, search for a lunch spot, and make new friends. The Smoke Signal compiled a list of helpful tips, featured important resources, and included a campus breakdown to provide students with a guide to reference.
The Wings
From council to club meetings, C120 is one of the main locations where events are held. The annual Mental Health Panel, counseling presentations, and Leadership 2’s (L2) Charity Fashion Show utilize C120’s sound system, stage, and theater style seating to make it one of the best spots for presentations.
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BTQ The Bell Tower Quad (BTQ), located at the center of the campus, houses one of MSJ’s most distinctive features: the Bell Tower. During lunch, the BTQ is packed with hundreds of students buying lunch from the cafeteria and snacks from the Student Store. L2 events are often held here as well, with activities such as karaoke and musical chairs.
Library Found right next to the BTQ, the Library is a popular place to check out books and study. Aside from the diverse assortment of books available for checkout, the Library also houses printers and iMac computers with many programs to finish assignments, conduct research, and print papers. Because of its vast resources, teachers will bring their classes here to complete lengthy assignments. Keep in mind that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the library has added additional precautions to limit the number of students present. Students must receive a pass to come during class time, check in, and use hand sanitizer upon going in, and distance themselves from other groups. These policies help ensure that students have access to information and resources while keeping the community safe.
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The Gymnasium is used for many different events throughout the school year, including Multicultural Week and sports assemblies. After school, the Basketball, Volleyball, and Badminton teams can be found practicing in the gym or hosting home games.
Amphitheater
Food at MSJ Due to the recent change in CA’s lunch policy, all public school students can now receive free breakfast and lunch. There are two main cafeterias on campus, one in the B-Wing and the other in the C-Wing. There are also snacks available for purchase at the Student Store, C-Wing cafeteria, and also at vending machines scattered across campus.
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Gymnasium
The Amphitheater, with murals sprawling across the stage, is often used for MSJ’s most spirited events. Whether it’s Homecoming or L2’s Friday events, students can be found performing onstage and cheering loudly from the grass.
Many of the social sciences, math classes, and two English classes belong to the expanse the B-Wing covers. It is composed of one large building with a cafeteria. The B-Wing is also home to The Thinker statue, which is located between B16 and B17.
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College & Career Center The College & Career Center, located next to the Library and beside the Student Store, operates from 7:30 a.m to 3:45 p.m. Here, students can explore colleges and the admissions process, learn about scholarships and financial aid options, and sign up for standardized testing and parttime jobs. To help students navigate their higher education, the College & Career Center also hosts college representatives, who give informational presentations both during lunch and after school. For information about the College & Career Center or advice, contact Ms. Castillou.
A
The A-Wing, located closest to Palm Ave. and directly across from the B-Wing, consists of three classrooms dedicated to the math department. Here, students engage in a variety of math-related courses: Statistics, Precalculus, and Geometry.
The C-Wing, which spans the length from the BTQ to C120, primarily consists of science and math classrooms. As a result, many of the C-Wing classrooms have lab tables and science equipment for students to engage in hands-on experiments.
The E-Wing houses English and Fine Arts Departments, with Art, Music, and Photography classes all located here. Students can also find the Yearbook room in classroom E1B and the Book Room in classroom E5, where students can check out and return textbooks.
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The M-Wing, surrounded by the amphitheater, library, and gymnasium, hosts a diverse assortment of classes, ranging from World Language to Health. Here, students will find the Smoke Signal classroom in M2 and the band and orchestra room in M4, M5, and M6.
The N-Wing, located near the Horseshoe drop off, is a popular place for freshmen to hang out with friends during lunch. It contains classes from multiple fields — World Language, Science — and N7, the home of Leadership 1 and 2.
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The P-Wing sits at the back of campus near the basketball courts and the track that also includes portables facing the N-Wing; it houses a range of classes including Special Education, English, and Spanish. The wing is composed of a two-floor building and two blocks of portable classrooms placed near it.
Helpful Tips “Sometimes it’s just as important to take a step back and enjoy what you’re doing. You are who you surround yourself with, so if you want to be a better person out of high school, surround yourself with great people who motivate [you] and are passionate about similar things.” — ASB President Alvin Wang, 12
“The most important thing to do is [to] get to know the people in your classes. It’s [also] really useful to have a Facebook account so that you connect with and reach people easily.” — ASB Vice President Amulya Harish, 11
“Be as involved as you can! Join clubs and meet new people, but don’t overload yourself with too many extracurriculars. High school is only four years so don’t spend the whole time studying and stressing out.” — ASB Secretary Lindsey Wen, 12
“Instead of focusing too much on the negatives, tests, [and] assignments, it’s a lot better taking the day one step at a time and appreciating little moments, like with your friends. After a year of distance learning, we all definitely need to appreciate these moments more.” — ASB Activities Coordinator Warren Chang, 12
For students new to campus, ASB Treasurer Senior Jonathan Tao stressed the importance of paying attention to announcements posted around school, stopping by N7 with questions, and using school resources like Peer Resource and Link Crew.
“Find an interest in a club or anything outside academics, and then get involved with it. Create friendships and don’t think you are alone. If you do that, you will have a much better four years at MSJ.” — Activities Director Ben Breazeale
8 Feature
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The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
DieHard TryHards:
Laser Tagging By Megh Basu, Larry Shi, Jackie Wong & Jerry Yuan Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Centerspread Editor & Sports Editor
In the first in-person DieHard TryHards since 2020, four Smokies visit the newly reopened Laser Tagging Inc. in Newark to test their laser tag skills in a free for all challenge. Read on to find out how each of them fared!
Jerry
Megh
Larry
Jackie
A lack of familiarity with laser tag, my poor hand-eye coordination, a long losing streak with DieHard TryHards — there are a lot of factors pointing towards my failure at this particular game. Nevertheless, I am always up for a good challenge, especially one with a dress code. With tons of black clothing in my closet, I’m sure, if nothing else, I can put up a good fight. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain — everything being the title of being crowned the champion of laser tag.
Taking a field trip to my local arcade with my fifth grade class and getting to play laser tag for the first time is a memory I’ll never forget. Something about putting on that vest and aiming at my friends gets my adrenaline flowing and my competitive juices going. Although my experience is somewhat limited, I know I can definitely outrun and outhit my opponents. Hey, just because I suck at League of Legends doesn’t mean laser tag isn’t my thing, right?
My experience in laser tag is limited to a fourth grade birthday party, and the only thing I remember is slamming straight into a stranger and getting shot immediately afterwards. So, it’s safe to say I’m going into this challenge blind. Nevertheless, with an alarming number of crime show marathons on my side, I can only hope I've absorbed the skillful aim and coordination of my favorite fictional FBI agents. This is my chance to “shoot” my shot and redeem myself.
If I’m being completely honest, I was expecting a lot worse. Well, maybe not a lot worse, given that I finished second-to-last. But, hey, at least I beat Jackie. As a note for the future, though, I think I should stay away from endurance-based activities. By the end of the mere fifteen minutes we were playing, I was exhausted and sweating an embarrassing amount. In the room itself, though, I was running on heightening fear from Jackie’s screams and adrenaline from the ominous music. My 6% accuracy rate can probably give you a good idea of how panicked I was every time I came face-to-face with one of my opponents. One thing is for sure: if I do ever find myself playing laser tag again, I’m going to work on getting on Jerry’s level.
Well, second place isn’t too shabby, but I can’t lie and say I didn’t want to be first. Running down all the ramps and stairs was exhilarating, especially when I followed Jackie’s screams to aim for her. Even though I sometimes didn’t notice when someone was following me, I did notice Jerry’s mirror shots, and quickly shot him down afterwards. By the halfway mark, my sweat and wet mask were enough for me to run away from my opponents and shoot blindly backwards. But brilliantly enough, this strategy did not fail; it seemed like every corner I turned, I could successfully target Megh. While my truce with Jackie lasted no more than two minutes, I feel proud to know that I finished in the top 25% (in a sample of four people, I know).
I know, my score is embarrassing, but I can’t say I’m surprised. The moment we stepped into the dark room, everyone kicked into fight mode and sprinted away while I proceeded to lose my sense of direction. Finding my way up to the second story, I spent the majority of the time helplessly fleeing from Jerry and the sound of his terrifying footsteps (you would have screamed too). By the halfway mark, I was panting with exhaustion when I saw Larry, equally as exhausted. We formed an alliance, but when he ran ahead of me and I saw the tempting glow of the targets on his back, I couldn’t resist and shot him before desperately running away. His sigh of defeat was worth it. Granted, this fleeting attempt didn’t earn me first place, but at least I left without feeling betrayed.
My arm bruises and half-sprained ankle were totally worth the first place finish. My strategy of ducking and crouching worked wonders — I was practically invincible — even though that may be more so due to everyone else's inability to aim. But who knew practicing duck walks and footwork for eight years at badminton training would come in handy for laser tagging? I even hit a few mirror trickshots, but everyone was too busy screaming to notice. Megh and Jackie might berate me for continuously following them during their five-second target cooldown, but I just call that pure strategy and mind games. My key takeaway is that I should continue spending countless hours pointlessly preparing for challenges; the results don't lie!
3rd place
2nd place
4th place
1st place
Megh
Score: 5600
Score: 6575
Score: 3800
I’ve played laser tag four times, which basically makes me a grandmaster relative to my competitors. Now, after hours of studying online guides and the layouts of the Newark laser tagging location, I've developed the perfect strategy to secure the most points. Besides going crazy with electric tape on my clothes to hide every bit of possible fluorescence, I'll spend the entire match crouched down with minimal movement, guaranteeing me the least exposure and vulnerability. I've memorized the map and all of the nooks and crannies with the best security and vantage points, and you can bet I'll be nonstop shooting the targets to maximize my score. Hopefully, all my preparation doesn’t go to waste.
Score: 8025
PHOTO BY OPINION EDITOR ISABELLA HE, GRAPHICS COURTESY FEATURE EDITOR NITHIKA VALLURI, NEWS EDITOR ALINA ZENG, CENTERSPREAD EDITOR NAVEED SHAKOOR.
Friday, September 24, 2021
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The Smoke Signal
Arts & Entertainment 9
C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R
Lorde’s Solar Power Fails to Shi ne By Naveed Shakoor Centerspread Editor Ever since her last appearance with the critically acclaimed sophomore album, Melodrama, Lorde disappeared entirely from the public’s eye. The exhilarating, electropop record documented the state of solitude Lorde experienced following her first breakup. Now, four years later, Lorde introduces fans to a new side of her, one that’s basking in the joy of self reflection, through her 12-track studio album Solar Power. Solar Power has a mission: to dismantle superficial wellness culture and bring awareness to issues regarding climate change. To describe the infectious craving for summer, Lorde initiated the Solar Power era through a stream of singles: “Solar Power,” “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” and “Mood Ring.” The singles mark a thematic and sonic shift from those of her previous albums. Using a guitar melody for the first time in her career, Lorde introduces listeners to a completely new soundscape. In “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” her shift in lyrical content is especially evident as she paints herself grappling between the identities of Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor and the pop sensation Lorde. Unfortunately, the singles played key roles in shaping the public’s primarily negative perception of the album. Fans and critics are somewhat right — the singles showcase the restricted musical variety that Solar Power offers. Lorde takes multiple approaches to virtually the same sound: guitar riffs, folksy vocal lines, and layered harmonies. The writing feels scant on certain tracks like
gamebytes: butterfly soup By Tanisha Srivatsa Web Editor At a competitive STEM-focused school nestled in a primarily Asian American neighborhood, many MSJ students struggle to see themselves represented in media. That’s not the case with Butterfly Soup, a visual novel created by MSJ Class of 2012 Alumna Brianna Lei. The game follows the story of Diya, an Indian American teenager struggling to figure out her identity both as a high school student and a lesbian. With three friends — jock Min-Seo, nerd Noelle, and extrovert Akarsha — she joins the school baseball team. Here, she finds an outlet to express herself and meet new people. The game, centered around these four girls and their friendship, succeeds thanks to its relatability. Students can see themselves represented from the struggles of the main characters, from not fitting in as a second-generation immigrant to balancing a challenging workload at a cutthroat high school. Although the dialogue is dated and juvenile at times, the game aptly captures the highs and lows of teenage life. In terms of the game’s aesthetic appeal, Butterfly Soup delivers visually and audibly. Butterfly Soup’s animation features key school landmarks, including the Bell Tower Quad, horseshoe, and Gym Quad. Lighthearted as the pastel-themed animation and buoyant soundtrack are, the game doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, tackling issues such as racism, homophobia, and domestic abuse. However, it addresses these complex topics in a meaningful way, both validating the characters’ struggles and offering support. Free to download on Mac, PC, and Linux, Butterfly Soup’s a threeto-four hour investment whose brilliance lies in its writing, animation, and representation. Plot: 9/10 Animation: 8/10 Soundtrack: 8/10 Overall: 8.3/10
Halsey’s If I CAN”t Have Love Brings Power to Themself By Nithika Valluri Feature Editor
IMDB.COM
“Dominoes,” while others, like “Big Star” and “The Man with the Axe,” lack momentum in their production. Although Solar Power charms with its subtleties of lush harmonies and sound effects (such as the beeping in “Fallen Fruit” and cicada samples in “Solar Power”), sometimes the choices Lorde makes feel too understated to make any type of statement. While Solar Power has its faults, it makes up for its weakest moments through a consistent narrative on celebrity culture, wellness trends, and the state of peace she reached in the outdoors. In “The Path,” Lorde urges listeners to look to nature rather than public figures for a sense of hope. “Now if you’re looking for a savior / Well, that’s not me,” is an impactful line that looks into the harmful idealization of celebrities. Another standout track in the album is “Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All),” as it does a fantastic job at incorporating all of the major themes in this album. While Lorde fans desperately hoped to hear a “Ribs” 2.0, Lorde gave them
a response instead. The track calls on central motifs from her past projects: growing up (Pure Heroine) and a house party (Melodrama). The first verse depicts Lorde finally giving up the party from Melodrama and then transitions into reassuring the 16-year-old who wrote the verses to “Ribs.” At the end of the track, Lorde touches on topics of climate change with the outro, as Swedish musician Robyn narrates, “The temperature is unbearable until you face it.” Although critics and fans believe that Solar Power is a step in the wrong direction for Lorde, it truly feels like a redirection towards her new musical comfort zone. Hopefully, as Lorde continues working on her artistic evolution, she will offer more versatile production and instrumentals that were lacking on this project. Nevertheless, Solar Power is a great start to the next era. Production: 6.5/10 Lyrical Content: 8.5/10 Vocals: 7/10 Overall: 7.3/10
September 2021 Student Faves MOVIE: Doctor Strange — Mruthika Praburam, 10 TV SHOW: The Devil Judge — Natasha Chang, 11 ALBUM: ZERO: FEVER Part.3 by ATEEZ — Charleen Pan, 9 BOOK: Less by Andrew Sean Greer — Nihar Duvvuri, 12 GAME: Pokémon GO — Chris Ge, 11
Note: Halsey uses she/they pronouns. After the release of their fourth studio album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power on August 27, Halsey let the horror of the body, of the mind, of mortality radiate outward in their 60-minute concert film on Moment House streamed on August 29. Their self-produced film was also released in IMAX theaters on August 25. Although it grossed $735k globally and sold out in 70 of 122 locations in North America, Halsey’s film also brings them unnecessary criticism for working during their pregnancy, when instead their incredible strength and motivation to produce content through the process should have been applauded. Rather than being beaten down, Halsey said in an Instagram post, “My body ... is my means of reclaiming my autonomy and establishing my pride and strength as a life force for my human being.” But that’s not all — the concert film for If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power shows a whole new side of Halsey’s resilience, strength, and power. Halsey kicks off the concert with “The Tradition,” debuting the first song of their 13-track album. The high production quality with well-executed performances truly wows the viewers as it closely replicates the concert feeling. Seamlessly changing outfits on screen, Halsey steps into a bathtub for the next song, “Lilith.” Letting out their armpit hair and showing off their pregnancy, Halsey boldly breaks gender norms while proudly showcasing their identity. It is evident how much thought and effort went into executing the film, seeing how each costume, background, and prop is cohesively planned to match the vibe of the song. Between each song are eye-catching transitions with perfected cinematography, not allowing the viewer to look away for a moment. All that keeps the
IMDB.COM
show from feeling like an in-person concert is the absence of a screaming crowd, unable to be replicated with a live chat. However, the lack of a live audience did not take away from the brilliance of Halsey’s performance. After blowing their virtual audience away with three stunning new songs, Halsey performs “You should be sad” from their third album, Manic. Fans immediately flood the live chat with comments of “Bad at Love,” “Gasoline,” and “Without Me,” hoping Halsey performs their favorite throwbacks next. With red lights, a forest theme, and thick eyebrows, Halsey makes yet another statement with their distinct look in “Nightmare.” Exploring their creative direction in “honey,” Halsey effortlessly continues singing as honey drips down on them. Last but not least, Halsey finally grants the fans’ wishes and concludes the concert film with a hit from Badlands, “Gasoline.” Fans are left speechless and shocked at how quickly the hour passed as Halsey brought backto-back power-packed performances. Whether virtually or in theaters, it’s safe to say Halsey’s album and film drop will leave a lasting impact on the fanbase. Vocals: 7/10 Lyrics: 8/10 Cinematography: 9.5/10 Audience Engagement: 9/10 Overall: 8.4/10
Shang-CHI and the Legend of a Breathtaking Film
IMDB.COM
By Jerry Yuan Sports Editor Released in theatres on September 3, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marks the latest installment to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe with Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead. Few of Marvel’s films ever disappoint, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is no exception as it masterfully combines traditional Chinese culture and values into a fresh superhero origin blockbuster. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film follows Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), the son of Xu Wenxu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung). Centuries ago, Wenxu discovered 10 mystical rings that granted him special powers and immortality, resulting in his becoming a power-hungry warlord. After spending many years in present-day San Francisco hiding from
his father out of fear, Shang-Chi, accompanied by his friend Katy Chen (Awkwafina), returns to China where he reunites with his sister, Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), and is forced to confront his father. With a predominantly Asian cast and crew, the film pays special attention to elements of Chinese culture and representation, from computer-generated creatures of Chinese folktales to a large portion of the captioned Mandarin dialogue. The storyline itself hinges on traditional Chinese values like ancestral grief and family legacy. However, the constraints and formulas of a Marvel superhero film restrict the proper exploration of these themes, especially when nearing the climax, where these ideas are pushed aside for typical Marvel good versus evil combat. In addition, as meaningful and gravitating the film’s countless flashbacks and backstories were, they were liberally scattered around
the film, slightly dragging the film’s pacing. Yet the world-building, inspired by accurate depictions of ancient Chinese culture, more than makes up for those shortcomings. As expected from Disney and Marvel Studios, the visual effects and score of the film are immaculate and carefully consider Chinese culture. The film’s incorporation of traditional martial arts like Wing Chun and tai chi makes its action sequences engaging, creative, and intense. The contrasting nature between the vigorous, fast-paced style of Wing Chun and the graceful, dance-like state of tai chi helps illustrate the internal struggles of both Shang-Chi and his father. However, it’s the film’s excellent cast that truly sets it apart from any typical blockbuster. While Liu perfectly encapsulates both the relatable Asian American young adult and the awe-inspiring martial artist per-
sonalities, Leung’s take on Wenxu steals the show. A juggernaut in the Chinese acting industry, Leung captures the grief and desperation of both a father with a broken family and a power-hungry warlord, adding a human depth to his antagonism that is uncommon in typical Marvel supervillains. However, Awkwafina’s character — though humorous at times — felt out of place and often cut the tension of intense plot progressions. Even with its faults, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a fresh, masterful blockbuster that is making strides, not only in Hollywood’s superhero genre, but also in Asian representation. It is a mustsee for audiences of all ages.
Acting: 9.5/10 Cinematography: 9.5/10 Setting: 9.5/10 Plot: 8.5/10 Overall: 9.3/10
SMOKIE PLAYLIST: MEGH: “Graceland Too” by Phoebe Bridgers | AMANDA: “pass you by” by Alaina Castillo | LARRY: “17” by Pink Sweat$ | ALINA: “Hello” by Clairo, Rejjie Snow
HONEY AND GLASS | ISABELLA: “Stand By You” by Rachel Platten | SAKSHI: “Solar Power” by Lorde | LILY: “The Assignment Song” by Lee Mujin | NITHIKA: “Waves - Robin Schulz
Radio Edit” by Mr. Probz, Robin Schulz | JACKIE: “Overdrive” by Conan Gray | NAVEED: “Eternal Sunshine” by Jhené Aiko | HELEN: “Stand Out Fit In” by ONE OK ROCK | JOANNE: “Comfort Crowd” by Conan Gray | ANVI: “Cover Me in Sunshine” by P!nk, Willow Sage Heart | JERRY: “All Mine” by f(x) | MINGXIN: “Yellow” by Coldplay | JESSICA: “care less” by LANY | TANISHA: “Don’t Shut Me Down” by ABBA | MRS. COHEN: “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
10 Arts & Entertainment & Sports
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RESTAURANT REVIEW: DUMPLING HOURS By Larry Shi & Jessica Yu News Editor and Web Editor
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
Opened a month ago, Dumpling Hours, the branch of popular San Francisco-based restaurant Dumpling House, specializes in traditional Chinese dumplings. The Smoke Signal took this opportunity to taste a few of their acclaimed dishes, including their variety of award-winning xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. You can visit Dumpling Hours at 1389 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, CA, 94596, a 35-minute drive from the Fremont area.
AMBIENCE: 8.5/10
VALUE: 8/10 Soup dumplings, the restaurant’s specialty, cost between $7-24, while other main courses were typically in the mid-$10 range. In contrast to American dining, which has guests order a separate dish for each individual, each plate at Dumpling Hours is meant to be shared amongst the table, a custom in traditional Chinese cuisine. However, for shared dishes, the portions are slightly lacking in respect to the prices, and the price per dish is greater than most restaurants in the area. Dumpling Hours is an upscale establishment that is suited to special occasions, rather than everyday outings.
Located in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, Dumpling Hours provides both indoor dining and outdoor seating under tall trees. However, the outdoor dining experience was marred by the busy road just behind the six tables. With cars frequently passing by behind, it makes for a minor noise inconvenience for outdoor diners. Newly opened, the restaurant uses all new equipment and silverware, elevating the experience. With a lounge and waiting area f illed with seats on the side of the restaurant, Dumpling Hours goes beyond typical standards to increase guest satisfaction.
FOOD: 10/10
SERVICE: 9.5/10 Since its opening a month ago, Dumpling Hours has had long waiting lines, and Sundays are no an exception. Alhough it takes about 30 minutes to get seating, immediately upon entering, servers welcome their guests warmly, making small talk and introducing the special of the day. They answer any questions with the utmost patience and knowledge, and the atmosphere created between them and the customers make the restaurant feel warm and friendly. Dumpling Hours’s hosts also visit tables frequently to check in with customers, asking for ref ills and about the quality of the food. Most dishes arrive within 20 minutes, always carried by the server with a smile.
From the f irst dish, garlic green beans, that arrived at the table, the unique smell of herbs and a blend of spices f illed the air. The savory taste of the dumpling’s soup combined with the rich braised beef gave indication that the cooks seasoned every dish well. Every tantalizing bite of the juicy pork bao and beef xiao long bao reflected the time-honored values of traditional Chinese food. The food’s texture, aroma, and color brought every last piece of Chinese culture to the meal. PHOTOS BY NEWS EDITOR LARRY SHI & WEB EDITOR JESSICA YU.
OVERALL: 9/10
With its distinct, bold flavors of traditional Chinese cuisine, adequate ambience, and dining experience, Dumpling Hours lives up to its instant popularity in the area. Despite the long drive and high prices, the restaurant is an experience worth your while and next time you’re in the Walnut Creek area, do yourself a favor and visit Dumpling Hours.
Coach Spotlight: Martin Munoz By Helen Tian A&E Editor With more than 20 years of water polo
was not very strong, so I wanted to change
coaching under his belt, Martin Munoz re-
that,” Munoz said. However, colleges weren’t
cently came to MSJ as the new Varsity Girls
in need of any water polo coaches, so in the
Water Polo team coach and has led them to
late 90s, Munoz returned to James Logan
make many improvements this season.
High School as Varsity Girls Water Polo head
Growing up in Union City, CA, Mu-
coach to contivnue his career.
noz’s first memory of water polo was when
For the 2011-12 water polo season, late
he joined the newly created Boys Water Polo
MSJ Varsity Girls Water Polo Coach Joseph
team at James Logan High School in 1997. As
Martinez convinced Munoz to come coach
Munoz played in high school, he grew to love
MSJ Varsity Boys Water Polo. During that
the sport and continued in college, where he
time, MSJ water polo was at a high point,
realized that he wanted to go into the sport
as the Girls Varsity Water Polo was on their
professionally. When Munoz’s seven-year
seventh straight trip to the NCS playoffs. Al-
younger sister began playing the sport, it
though Munoz enjoyed his experience with
moved him to become a coach rather than a
the student body and athletic department,
professional player. “I was like another father
Martinez suddenly passed away in 2011, and
figure to [my sister]. At the time, the high
Munoz took a break to start a family. Since
school and college girls’ water polo program
Martinez’s passing, the MSJ Girls Varsity Wa-
Coach Munoz and the Girls Varsity Water Polo Team pose for a picture. Front Row (left to right): Junior Via Das, Sophomore Kira Clark, Senior Jessica Lu, Senior Anika Potnis, Sophomore Veda Jadaprolu, Freshman Anushka Kirpekar, Senior Megan Zhang Back Row (left to right): Varsity Girls Water Polo Coach Martin Munoz, Senior Josie Warner, Junior Tanvi Karkera, Junior Saira Hamid, Junior Nicole Pham, Sophomore Lucina Tonoyan, Sophomore Sharvi Verma, Freshman Mei Wan
ter Polo team has not won any titles. In hopes
helped us this year,” Varsity Girls Water Polo
of honoring Martinez and bringing the Var-
Captain Jessica Lu said. Recently, on August
sity Girls Water Polo team back to their for-
31, MSJ won 15-10 against the Castro Valley
mer glory, Munoz decided to return to MSJ
High School Girls Varsity Water Polo team,
after previous coach Juan Madrigal left. Mu-
whom they have lost to for the past two years.
noz said, “I hope to be that bridge [because]
Despite the achievements Munoz has ex-
I don’t ever want [Martinez] to be forgotten.
perienced and brought to many water polo
[I want] people to understand who he is and
teams, he stays humble and loves the game
why the pool was named after him.”
and his players. Munoz said,
Now that Munoz is at MSJ, the Girls Varsity Water Polo team has been showing signs of success in their practices, scrimmages, and games. “[He gives us] one on one feedback that … not only points out what we did wrong, but also what we did [well], which has definitely Coach Munoz shows his players proper water polo techniques.
“Forget about the wins and losses. It’s the relationships that you develop while coaching and the relationships that [the players] develop with one another that are forever.” PHOTOS BY A&E EDITOR HELEN TIAN. GRAPHICS BY CLIPARTKEY.COM
Friday, September 24, 2021
The Smoke Signal
WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG
Sports 11
JIANZI Derived from an ancient Chinese ball game cuju, jianzi is a traditional Chinese sport commonly referred to as “shuttlecock kicking” or “foot badminton.” The objective of the sport is to keep the jianzi in the air by striking it with the legs, predominantly with the feet. In competitive-level matches, players face off in courts similar to badminton courts with a net in the middle. With the goal of winning two sets of 21 points, players apply shooting techniques from sports like soccer and football to kick the jianzi over the low middle net. At the recreational level, players in groups of 8 to 10 often gather in a circle and kick the jianzi around to keep it in the air. Beyond its immense popularity in China, jianzi has gained a following in Europe, US, and more.
MUAY THAI Muay Thai, which translates to “Thai Boxing,” originated from the ancient battlefield tactics of the 19th century Royal Siamese Armed Forces. It is also known as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because it makes use of eight points of contact — punches, elbows, knees, and kicks — to mimic weapons of war. For instance, the hands represent the sword and dagger while legs and knees represent the axe and the staff. In Muay Thai, two competitors are pitted against each other in a boxing ring, and the objective is for one fighter to either knock out their opponent or win by accumulating more points from clean strikes such as punches or kicks. As the national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai has grown over the years to become a combat sport practiced all around the world.
A Look Into Cultural Sports By Isabella He & Jackie Wong Opinion Editor & Centerspread Editor While mainstream sports like football and basketball are well known around the world, sports deeply rooted in historical traditions deserve just as much recognition. Each sport represents centuries of cultural history that native populations take immense pride in. The Smoke Signal has compiled descriptions of four sports with diverse cultural backgrounds.
SUMO Sumo wrestling, the national sport of Japan, originated as a form of entertainment and ritual for the Shinto religion, the native faith of Japanese people, but now is a competitive sport. Wrestlers are fitted with topknots and mawashi, a thick fabric belt wrapped around the body, in preparation for their match. To begin the match, two wrestlers mount a dohyo, a ring made of clay and sand, and perform a cleansing Shinto pre-match ritual, which includes tossing salt into the ring and rinsing their mouths with chikara mizu or power water. Each match usually lasts only a few seconds to a minute, and the first wrestler to step out of the ring or fall to the ground loses. The sport has widespread popularity throughout Japan; of the six tournaments each year, three are held in their capital city, Tokyo.
PATO Meaning “duck” in Spanish, Pato is an intense Argentinian sport played on horseback. When it was first invented 400 years ago, the game was played with a dead duck wrapped in a leather bag. Today, teams of four play over six periods of eight minutes as they compete for possession of a leather ball and score by throwing the ball through a netted hoop at the end of a grass field. The team with the most goals after the six periods wins. Despite being the national sport of Argentina, 17 other countries also compete in the International Horseball Federation, including China, Australia, and Spain.
GRAPHICS BY CENTERSPREAD EDITOR JACKIE WONG, SPORTS EDITORS ANVI KALUCHA & JERRY YUAN
Want to keep track of MSJ sports teams’ results and upcoming games? Check out Sportsbytes, coming soon on www.thesmokesignal.org!
12 Photo
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The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 24, 2021
Meet the Editors 2021-2022
The Chip Aisle Fri-ture
NEWS
Larry Shi & Alina Zeng
OPINION
Isabella He & Sakshi Umrotkar
CENTERSPREAD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
GRAPHICS
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Jackie Wong & Naveed Shakoor
Mingxin Wang
Helen Tian & Joanne Park
Amanda Pang & Megh Basu
FEATURE
Lily Oh & Nithika Valluri
SPORTS
Jerry Yuan & Anvi Kalucha
WEB
Tanisha Srivatsa & Jessica Yu
PHOTOS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR MINGXIN WANG. GRAPHICS BY GOOGLE.COM, STOCK.COM, DAFONT.COM.