Issuu

VHS Journalism www.thecougarpress.org Please Recycle

The Cougar Press @the.cougar.press

@thecougarpressvhs

@thecougarpress

“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” -Henry David Thoreau

May 27, 2020 March 13, 2020

Volume 72 Volume Edition 0608

Are VHS diplomas at risk? Charlotte D’Orsi Sam Hicks During the week of Mar. 23, Ventura High School will be undergoing an evaluation by the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association for Schools and Colleges, also known as the ACS WASC, or WASC. If VHS does not meet their criteria during this evaluation, student diplomas could lose their prestige and the school’s reputation could be at stake. According to their website, WASC is in charge elementary, secondary, adult and postsecondary institutions.” WASC encourages school improvement years and grants accreditation to schools that meet an “acceptable level of quality in accordance with the established criteria.” Accreditation is a type of quality assurance that ensures a school’s quality of education and continuous self-improvement. Without accreditation, diplomas are still given, but lose their merit and schools receive less government funding. Not all schools are granted the title of accreditation, so it is favorable for a student to attend an accredited school as potential employers and universities will take that into consideration. The process under WASC consists of multiple steps

Check inside for our Sex & Dating Edition!

of in-depth assessment in order to assure that only commendable schools are accredited. VHS has completed the lengthy process of self-assessment, which, as English “basically, a book,” which is over 200 pages long and “has chapters on all different parts of the school … Teachers are assigned to different groups to work on those different chapters, and then we trade them around.” Not much is left for the school to do other than “sprucing up its campus actual visit,” stated VHS language teacher, Sebastian Declerck. That’s not to say that Ventura is completely in the clear. component of the assessment that could make or break VHS’s application. In fact, in June of 2019, WASC threatened Camarillo High school’s accreditation due to dated instructional strategies and lack of communication between teachers and administration. This caused the on-site visit to prove their self-evaluation as, according to an article by the Camarillo Acorn, 5 largely incomplete and inaccurate. The upcoming on-site visit is VHS’s chance to prove all of the written statements in its self-evaluation to be true. The WASC evaluators will be talking to ‘stakeholders,’ meaning teachers, parents, admin and students mainly regarding VHS’s

administration, instruction, curriculum, assessment, school culture and ability to meet the goals document, you write a summary but you’re also supposed 1to so the visiting committee will evidence in action. So if we say something like ‘we do labs’ or ‘we do Socratic seminars’ they would want to go in the classrooms and see that sort of stuff happening.” Students are also involved in the process and many teachers have been asked to have their students complete6 a brief survey answering questions relevant to the parameters of the assessment. Student opinions prove to be important as one of Camarillo High’s weak points was that “the consensus of the students was that up to a third of teachers didn’t try in their lessons.”

The Cougar Press administered a poll on our Instagram account asking VHS students a similar question. The results showed that, out of a survey of 105 students, 50.5 percent said they feel that most teachers do not try during their lessons. While this statistic does not represent the sentiments of the entire VHS student body as a whole, it does give a glimpse of how the school might do in WASC’s student interviews. When asked how he felt the school would perform during the evaluation in March, Locher stated that he did not want to comment. DeClerck elaborated that “how we do this spring depends entirely on the nature of the visiting team that we have. Some teams are strict . . .”

Catch up and get ahead Caroline Marsden Greta Pankratz With schedule planning for the 2020-2021 school year approaching, many students are looking for options of acceleration or redemption in the summer semester. Some students may recall how in previous years, Ventura High School did not allow summer school for getting ahead, but instead only catching up. Within the last year, this has changed. Now, VUSD will be pairing up with Learn4Life to administer the on-campus courses. Learn4Life is a network that works to give students the for success. The summer program will be locally run and tuition free. Classes will be offered July 6 through July 31 and the Ventura High School campus for the uses of high school credit recovery, initial credit, and career technical education offerings, also known as CTE courses. CTE courses enable students to combine both college preparation and real-world workforce skills. VUSD claims

Dating opinions pg. 3 4

Coming Out stories pg. 4

Unsolicited Nudes pg.5

that the summer school process offers “more opportunities for [the] students and employees.” For students who are eager to enrich their transcripts, or those who need to retake classes, the 2020 summer session at Ventura College is also an option. This process takes many 8

a counselor, making an account However, if it is completed, VC’s many fully online and hybrid classes, meaning both on and off campus may be convenient. The window to sign up for these courses is mid April to early June. Summer school seems to have a bad reputation among students and as portrayed on TV, 10because oftentimes the intensity of the classes is dialed back and the educational opportunities are quick to complete. Senior Alanm Magana noticed the stigma, stating, “It isn’t bad like many think. It’s way better. There’s not that many people on campus which makes it easier to hang out with friends. Plus, classes are way easier and teachers can make it way more fun with less people.”

Spring musical pg.7 As of 2016, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 43 percent of high school students ages 11 16-19 attend summer school. So, Magana isn’t incorrect to state that many seem to have a negative take on the overall program and Washington Post, as of 2017, Americans had an all time low

my freshman year of high school. It was the two easiest A’s I’ve ever gotten. I took Career and Health, talked about her life, but it was a great class. I guess the system is effective because I got two A’s.” Summer school is an effective tool that some students seem to disregard due to its negative reputation. However,

Another student shared done summer school, going into 12

time to talk to your counselor about what is available to you and what would be wise to consider.

pg. 8 13

The Cougar Press Page 2

The Cougar Press Staff

Sam Hicks Editor-in-Chief

Tatum Luoma Editor-in-Chief

Miles Bennett Print Editor-in-Chief

Bella Young Managing Editor

Charlotte D’Orsi Broadcast Editor

Anna Guerra Online Editor

Yasmin Myers Online Editor

Julia Davies Social Media Editor

Alina Calamia Staffer

Shannon David Staffer

Juliana Jacobson News Lead

Jocelyn Lee Staffer

Connor Lynch Staffer

Caroline Marsden A&E Lead

Katie Medina Features Lead

Danny Ochoa Staffer

Greta Pankratz Staffer

Kole Petty Staffer

Riley Ramirez Sports Lead

Peyton Redmond Staffer

Jack Schatzman Opinion Lead

Letter from the Editors-in-Chief Sam Hicks Tatum Luoma We would like to thank you all for the support and positive contributions that you have sent our way throughout the school year. We are a completely student-run publication for the Ventura High School community and strive to present all sides of the story when covering an issue. We are here for you, to provide well-researched information in order to ensure you all are presented with accurate knowledge about what is going on within our school and community. Recent times have been wrought with extraordinary circumstances, but despite these challenges, thanks to your support and our staffs’ diligence, The Cougar Press persisted. This school year, we, the Editors-in-Chief, both

will be “graduating” this June, but The Cougar Press will be continuing in the hands of a group of hard-working and passionate individuals. We know that the press will continue to grow, evolve, and provide the community with the most current news in the most relevant ways. We encourage you to continue to keep an eye on our reporting throughout your years at VHS. Lastly, we want to thank you again for your support and your understanding of the importance of the free press. Room 105’s door is always open, feel free to stop by and get involved. The Cougar Press could always use an extra pair of hands to tell the abundance of stories that need to be told. Sincerely, Sam Hicks & Tatum Luoma Editors-in-Chief

Mission Statement

Do you have a knack for writing?

The Cougar Press is a student-run, community forum of Ventura High School and the surrounding community. As a publication, we strive to fairly report on the issues and happenings that occur throughout our community. We encourage involvment from our readers, as support from our community only improves the quality of our reporting. We can be contacted via email at thecougarpressvhs@gmail.com or through our various social media platforms.

Can you snap a photo like nobody’s business? Are you practically bursting with wit and creativity?

Then we want YOU in

VHS Journalism www.thecougarpress.org Please Recycle

The Cougar Press @the.cougar.press March 13, 2020

@thecougarpressvhs

@thecougarpress

“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” -Henry David Thoreau

@thecougarpress Volume 72 Edition 06

Contact your counselor or Check inside our Sex & the press via email andfor visit Dating Edition! Ms. Sellers in room 104/105 and next year for more info.

actual visit,” stated VHS language teacher, Sebastian Declerck. That’s not to say that Ventura is completely in the clear. component of the assessment that could make or break VHS’s application. In fact, in June of 2019, WASC threatened Camarillo High school’s accreditation due to dated

administration, instruction, curriculum, assessment, school culture and ability to meet the goals document, you write a summary but you’re also supposed to so the visiting committee will evidence in action. So if we say something like ‘we do labs’ or ‘we

Dating opinions pg. 3

The Cougar Press Page 3

Senior Speeches

(From left to right) Seniors Julia Davies, Taylor Vaughan and Eden Thasiah. Photo from: Eden Thasiah

Class of 2020, looking forward Eden Thasiah I’m writing this in bed, with my parents 20 feet away. Nothing about right now feels like 1) independence, 2) an “it was worth it” attitude or, 3) I’m ready remind myself (and my parents) day, something still has shifted. As we sit in limbo between the last four years and what comes next, I am reminded

looking back, I choose to look forward. What comes next is a new period of independence; we home but one thing is still true, Who we will be in this next chapter is completely up to us, and that is a gift. When we start our new job, or pack up and go to college there is a

our usual peers, families, and

we will be after high school.

break is what we signify when we

to look back full of gratitude

As I remember these years I am in awe of the number

With

sophomore

the Borderline shooting and now a global pandemic, at least we can say the class of 2020 will be remembered. Instead of

(From left to right) Seniors Tyler Andell and Luke Peek.Photo from: Luke Peek

my parents’ push-and-pull that has allowed me to assert myself, and make mistakes. When I stop, allow the quarantine panic in the back of my head to settle, I am able to see

High school was more than just classes and grades Luke Peek My four years in high

downs of

high school, and

are ready for their next chapter. What has come from this is a community of supporters, from Oprah, to strangers walking their dogs, old friends, and distant why this day is so monumental because we and our supporters

so far. My friends, the second family that has made knowing who I am just a little bit easier, my

memories. Many of them were bad, but some of my best memories come from Ventura High. I came to Ventura as a sophomore after hating my time as a freshman at Buena High School. I needed a fresh

as long as I was passing my classes. But, the thing that made VHS different was that there were teachers at this school that made me want to do well. respected my teachers as people, and not just because I had to. that to any degree at any other at my time at Ventura High School to appreciate what the school

will talk to for the rest of my didn’t necessarily enjoy most of my

time

high

school.

say my time at Ventura was a great experience for me, regardless of all the hardships that I experienced throughout my four years.

Ventura High School was a change for the better Odin Anthony

Ventura High School I had become infamous for acts of tomfoolery and shenanigans, this reputation among my peers of which had a tendency to treat me like a problem child. I started my career in

larger, and it worked. I began to acceptance came the need to do more. Needless to say, I rose to meet the standards, but as I came to do more extreme pranks and stunts, the bullying from some of my peers grew as well, leading to a decline in my mental state. exactly what was going on in my life, but did nothing, instead opting to use me as a scapegoat

started to cause problems with my parents, they fought more and more because of me, sometimes throwing around words like their cards down on the table when the school was threatening to expel me for joking with joke didn’t attack anyone, the person in question was sick at to warrant the school’s response. Instead of being expelled, my parents pulled me out of school and transferred me to Ventura High School where at much trouble before, but that crude way had become my way,

Senior Noah Laber. Photo from: Noah Laber

Make lower lot RIP: Students’ senior again Passion Noah Laber

Lukas Vivian

Sophomores and juniors need to stop parking in the lower

Schools should be more focused on learning, not points or

showed up ten minutes late, but that just means I need to park closer so that I can be less late than I already am. Right? I’m already grumpy enough after four years of waking up way too early, and seeing a cheery sophomore/ junior walking away from a prime parking spot as I am pulling in does not brighten my morning.

out so many worksheets, packets, and extra points that students could get answers online or from their friends, do poorly on the tests and still get a good grade in

park a car in between multiple a space when I get back from

Senior Odin Anthony (left center) playing a game of “Storyline” during the “What?” Improv Troupe’s Fall Backstage Cafe, with senior Lauren Sherman (far left), junior Abigail Martinez (right center) and senior Miles Bennett (far right). Photo from: Miles Bennett

of freshman year I had been cyberbullied when I got home, and had a plethora of people unfortunate circumstances lead I started out with small

broke out that had absolutely nothing to do with me, my parents would get a call and I been punching someone’s nose in. My mom frequently requested that the school counselor help me by talking to me about my mental

to my surprise, those around me reacted completely differently to my actions. My friends didn’t haze me or bully me for my

measures, they did what was proper for my infractions, and I spoke with the counselor more. Instead of being harmed, I was being helped thanks to Ventura High School.

Senior Lukas Vivian. Photo from: Lukas Vivian

parking spot for sophomores and juniors too. As long as I don’t

much of anything in the class. Also, why are we forced to spend an entire year taking a class no isn’t a way of testing out of certain required classes, so you’re forced to spend an hour of your life in these

especially

Students should be able to get classes that are easier for them out of the way, while they spend

from the upper lot, I’m happy. Is it not called the senior lot? I’m actually not sure

struggle with or become accelerated in subjects they’re passionate about. Otherwise, school

college applications like the seniors

because we’re forced to spend large amounts of time in classes we

but it’s the upper lot for you.

expectations other than attendance.

from

Catalina,

and

The Cougar Press Page 4

Arts & Entertainment

The curtain closes early, but the show goes on in their hearts Charlotte D’Orsi The VUSD school closures brought a cloud of mourning to Ventura High School students. Spring athletes mourned their sports seasons, months of high school, and the drama department mourned their remaining performances. The stay-at-home order has given VHS’s senior thespians upon their time spent on stage, behind the curtain, and in the dressing room, as well as cope with the fact that they will never be able to perform with the school’s drama department again. The 2019-2020 school year began with “The Anatomy of Grey,” a show that ironically revolves around the spread of a deadly virus. Seeing as the cast was the second smallest that VHS drama teacher, Stefoni Rossiter, had ever had, auditions were quite cut-throat, to say the least. Senior Daniel Metten, commented on the tense environment, “As you walk[ed] into the auditorium and [got] your scripts, you could feel the energy and anxiety in the room.” Senior, Ashlynn Vaglica added that “you get to audition with people as excited for the show as you are and, whether you get in or not, the auditions are really fun.” As for the performance

itself, students seem to have enjoyed working on this particular show and getting into character. Senior, Sophie Rocha explained, “I’ve always wanted to play a character that had a lot of depth and emotional weight and I’m so happy with how it all played out.” In a similar sentiment, Metten said, “I feel that my performance was great, the chemistry between the whole cast played very well and blew my expectations out of the water on stage.” Many of the cast members from “The Anatomy of Grey” also performed in last year’s “Night Watch,” a similarly exciting drama. Rocha explained, “They’re both very intense and draw the audiences in but where they’re different is that Nightwatch is extremely intimate and focuses on one character and her story whereas in The Anatomy of Grey, the main entire community which made it feel like a lot more was at stake.” After the fall play, the doors to the little theater opened for the Winter Showcase entitled “Willy Wonka’s Sweet Scene Showcase” which included a series of unrelated scenes written and performed by drama students and MC’d by three thespian oompa loompas. Students had a week to prepare for the performance and all scrambled to write scenes, memorize lines, build stage sets, and write lighting cues.

One of the MC’s, senior, Talia Walsh, expressed, “I thought the Willy Wonka theme was super cute. It was fun to dress up in those crazy costumes and sing weird rhymes.” Walsh even went as far as to temporarily dye her hair green, mimicking the oompa loompas from the movie. Senior Xzandalyn Kallstrom performed in two scenes which she helped write, “The History of Man” and “The Bruh Radio Hour.” Kallstrom commented on this being her of an audience, “The worst part was being behind the curtains and waiting for the scene before ours to end. Once I got up on stage I was not as nervous. ” Having helped write the scenes as well, Kallstrom explained what it was like to have her own writing be critiqued by the audience as she performed, “You never know what the audience will think of it, especially since they were both comedy scenes, it is harder to appeal to everyone’s sense of humor and when nobody gets the joke it’s totally awkward … Creating something that successfully makes people laugh

expressed, “Every line I spoke felt perfect in every way and all my friends who were also in the show were so supportive and made the whole experience even better.” This year’s “What?” improv troupe got to perform twice before the school closure cut their stage time short. Sinklier, who was a troupe member, explained,

one of my favorite feelings.” Senior, Jonny Sinklier commented that this year’s winter showcase was his favorite. Sinklier performed a monologue from “The Glass Menagerie,” he

a lot of new people to the drama department and although we had our rough spots, I think [we] had a very hilarious show this year.” Walsh, one of the troupe’s team captains, detailed her favorite thing about performing improv, “...When you are in a scene and you can just feel that it’s going well. Like the story is moving, it’s funny, you are getting a good audience reaction, and you just feel good about the performance you

like senior Quinn Gunderson, were surprised by just how capable their younger counterparts proved to be. “I would say the biggest triumph [of the year] was how well all of the freshmen and sophomores stepped up, because there are far less seniors than last year,” stated Gunderson, “They really became independent quickly and that made it a lot easier to get things done.” “We really focused on making the younger musicians feel like they had equal responsibility and encouraged them to speak up if they needed help,” continued Gunderson, “This year did not feel hierarchical and I think that really contributes to a friendly and productive team.” Hunt agreed, stating, “We had an outstanding freshmen class this year, everyone was hard working and brought their personalities to the group. These have been some of our most cohesive groups and their achievements would have rivaled previous years [at Nationals].” In regard to next year’s department, stated senior India Hill , “There aren’t too many juniors in the department this year, but I know that the juniors we have are more than capable of stepping into leadership roles.” When asked about the reasoning behind this year’s successes, all of the seniors interviewed cited the comradery present throughout the department. “I’ve truly created another family within the department and I’m so thankful for all of the memories and

moments I’ve gotten to create with everyone,” stated Matthews, “[Hunt] has created this space of safety and creativity within the school, and I really applaud him for letting us use this space to learn more about music and ourselves.” “I owe a lot to the department,” stated senior Myles Marr, “I’ve learned from the department. Hunt has encouraged me to stand up for myself, helped me stop procrastinating assignments, and showed me ways to look at life much more optimistically. He’s basically my second dad.” Hill had similar sentiments, stating, “Being in the department this past four years, it’s always been sort of a second family and a home away from home.” Even senior Henry Haffner, a long-time musician but newcomer to the department, immediately felt welcome.

are giving … Not every improv scene is super amazing and funny, sometimes you are in one where for some reason it’s just not really working and that’s not very fun.” The drama department does not solely revolve around its performers, an easily overlooked group of students are the technicians who work on lighting cues and stage direction. Senior, Max Bolle commented on the stress of a technician’s job, “There where you have to think on your feet but it’s so fun and rewarding that the stress doesn’t even matter in the end.” Senior, Cole Campbell, added that being a technician is “one of the hidden gems of the drama department.”

Student musicians tug at the heartstrings Miles Bennett The VHS Music Department’s pre-quarantine year according to its members and Music Department Head Paul Hunt. According to Hunt, some of the biggest successes of and the Chamber Concert. “The Chamber [Concert] was amazing. The students were in complete control of every aspect,”

stated Hunt, “And at the end, they all came on stage and partied. It was fun to see so much creativity.” Hunt also remarked had almost 1,000 attendees. However, the department’s accomplishments go beyond their performances on stage. “I’d say our biggest triumph for the whole department [has been] keeping everyone’s we’ve faced,” stated senior Myles Marr, “I know all groups in the

department have faced times where learning a part or song seems impossible and the current everyone. [But, throughout these rough times], the department has always found ways to keep people’s spirits up through a sense of family our proudest accomplishment.” “Overall, the whole department has worked so hard to make each and every piece truly amazing,” stated senior Malia

Matthews, “The sheer talent and perseverance that every single musician in the department exudes really speaks to the level of passion and enthusiasm each musician has for the music we’ve played.” “The symphony orchestra was phenomenal, performing West Side Story and Danzon 2 by Marquez,” added Hunt, “The Wind Ensemble Honors played the Lord of the Rings [which was great] and just about every piece we did in the Spring was gonna be awesome. Some upperclassmen,

“We were all just having fun, and I felt really lucky to be a part of that,” stated Haffner, “The music department was full of passionate people who really cared about what they were doing, and I always had fun talking to them and playing with them. Many music students attribute much of their success as musicians and the department’s friendly atmosphere to Hunt himself. “I can honestly say that joining the Music Department is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I’m forever grateful to Mr. Hunt and all of the students in the department,” stated Hill.

The Cougar Press Page 5

Digital Photography & Banner Bold

Photo from: Juan Carillo

Photo by: Max Friedman

Photo from: Max Friedman

Poetry: Here’s to it all Garrett Jaffe Heres To It All Heres to the sound of shoes pounding on the concrete; Shouts and sirens that were really nothing. Heres to midnight pigs without badges; The booming of blood in my ears. Heres to friends with notches out of eye brows and blue hair, Who swim in their skinny jeans. Heres to shaved heads and bad haircuts; Auburn mohawks and smiley faces. Heres to all my hyping and impulsivity. To not regreting a fucking thing. Heres to lying in streets at sunrise. Heart to hearts with hobos on halloween. Heres to walking the streets alone. And to madness and sadness and glass roses gifted to soon. Heres to cut out tounges and sewn lips; And to lessons unlearned.

New things and nice times. Heres to skipping sea side and kisses. Heres to regret and confusion; Grief and gratitude. To moving on and good people Im glad to have known. Heres to best wishes and Bradys. Heres to hospital visits; Dislocations and MRIs. To concussions and concrete; chaos and comradery. Heres to black markets and blacking out. Black gum on boxes and black ash. And to wheels singing as they skip across bricks. Heres to being out in it. Heres to not staying home. Heres to sleeping through days and waking through nights; living to let live and living yourself. Heres to to staring off for centries clicking pens like a crack addict. Teachers who think I don’t care. Realizing respect is earned not inherent.

Heres to brothers locking, and knocking, shoulders and heads. To homies and hynas. Green lights across bays and wearing two scarlet letters at once. Heres to saying things I shouldn’t. To speaking the truth.

Heres to locked bikes on bike racks and lost keys. To sweet hearted street vendors and silky sea breeze. To “choccy-milk” and moonlit muarding and to

Heres to winter and rain. Music and mystery.

Heres to the bullies I should I have lain out:

Photo by: Stacey Neace

Serial ball-kicking son of a bitch second graders; To the times I wish I’d been taught a lesson. Heres to burned bridges and bright futures; Knowing well we must make peace or part ways. To knowing what must go; Knowing turkey dinners are on the table. Heres to burger runs at 1:00 AM. Picnics and driving home at dawn. To marble counters like matresses. Out of body conversations with friends and Heres to pleasure and poetry; Passion and perfume. To jest fullness and gemstones; Sparkles on my face in hazy mirrors. Heres to whimsical people with wings of there own. Acceptance, and knowing what I want; To being glad others do too. And to the courage to walk away. Heres to Ford Rangers like rockets; Friends ripping through lanes like light from the sun. To back roads like blackholes and to turn pikes like wormholes. Heres to big scoops of vanilla moon; fun fungi And crystalline stars woven like wicker baskets. ...continued on bannerbold.org

India Hill Find x. When my Baboo ((bahboo) noun: paternal grandfather) passed away, he left me three of his collections: magic tricks, vhs tapes, and books. I was still in elementary school at the time and didn’t understand most of the books, unless they had pictures, but there was one that stood out. It had a red cover and red was my favorite color. The cover was faded and the spine creased from years of use. I pulled it out of the box and started reading it. I had always been quite competitive, and board games were my favorite pastime. I loved monopoly and chess, but most of all: scrabble. I had never been a huge fan of reading, but I loved to write songs and stories. The thing is, I knew my third-grade vocabulary wouldn’t get me very far. I needed to learn more words for two reasons: to write more songs and to win more scrabble. The red book was a dictionary. It had lots of words I knew, but so many more that I didn’t. I knew I didn’t have the attention span to read all of it— I barely made it through Harry Potter— but I needed more words. Eventually pages, not reading much at all, I made it to a page with very few words. X (‘eks) noun The 24th letter of the alphabet; An unknown quantity verb

To cancel or obliterate with an x unknown quantity, but I have always known that x equals eight. On any scrabble game, there’s a key. It shows the value of each letter, and x is one of the top four. Alongside it is J, Z, and Q. 8 is 23 and 8 is a Billie Eilish song and when 8 falls over, But perhaps most importantly, 8 was my age the year my Baboo seen my dad cry. Before his passing, Baboo and I would make jello and watch Disney movies on the VCR and he would blow my mind with magic tricks. He’d take me to the theater to watch plays and musicals, but my favorite were always the ones he performed in. He was where I found x. I don’t think he’s watching over me and I don’t expect to meet him again when I, myself, pass on, but I know that while I live, I will make him proud. Baboo was a passionate, creative, and humble soul who always knew how to make those around him smile. I am passionate when I debate at Youth & Government conferences, when I hold up my hand-painted signs at protests, when I speak to my peers and inspire them to engage with their community. ...continued on bannerbold.org.org

The Cougar Press Page 6

I Bequeath...

Aaron Palmisano: #20 to Thomas Anter

Carlyn Walker:

Aidan Moran: my toys to Aydan Jennings

Cassie Traver: Taylor Nichols

Alberto Zamora: deez nuts

Charlotte D’Orsi: my car to the

Grace Wagner: @ohisabellita

Graphics by: Yasmin Myers

comfortable in the school they senior year to my girlfriend,

Gwen Warnock: Lola Bobrow: da bench to

Odin Anthony: unto thee, my liege

Luc Le Vasseur:

Omar Espinoza:

Luke Peek:

Ravyn Limon:

Henry Haffner: the role of Alexander Cook: my will of sarcasm

Chase Cormier: the Saticoy Regional Golf Course to Nathan

India Hill:

Alysa Martin: Ruba’s classroom during lunch to anyone who is Chloe Escalante:

Izzy Tenison: my height to

Lulu Corbett: bad hearing and

whole year

Roman Verharen: Jacob Duarte: to Anna Grossi and Nathan

Malia Matthews: Rourke Rieman: student Section to Jordan Tanner Marisol Matehuala: my lactose Sage Luff:

Jade Morimando: Max Bolle: my senior stage

team

Max Friedman: my bad eyesight

Sally Niebergall: my farts to your mouth

Megan Campbell: my

Sam Hicks: bequeath to all classes to come

your friends while you’re young, before it’s too late and growing Jadon Cline: my shorts to Cade Jesse Carbajal: my absolute and (From left to right) Seniors Diego Carbajal, Diego Landeros, Miguel Lopez, Horace Johnson, Ivan Rodriguez, Dylan Manning and David Kelly. Photo from: Dylan Manning

Alyssa Cornwell:

Chris Beal:

Sean Silva: Megan Ditlof: Jessica Johnson: Shannon David: my 1997

Amaris Garcia: Andrea Garcia:

Clayton Mathews: my running shoes Cole Campbell: my

Angelina Aradi: Nico Aradi of 2023 Annalyse Verstraeten: the Art Room where I sat for lunch with friends

Colette Victorino: my amazing

Anthony Rodrigues: my

Cristian Ponce: my calc notes to

Eulenhoefer Jocelyn Quezada: tea time to Megan Findlay: Jordyn Wheeler: my enemies Josh Cox: a good year of music Joshua Rillo: my height to

Danny Ochoa: swag

Siena Lum: my thumbs to Jaye Talia Walsh: being a Jew named

Miles Bennett: Tatum Luoma: Molly Hammer: my duties as Taylor Vaughan: annoying

Julia Davies: Arlo Berger-Cahn: my

guess my way through tests to Jillian Zollar

Molly Sturgeon: Vocal Jazz to

Julianna Garcia:

Davon Nyholm: Carmen Ibarra

Ashlynn Velarde: I just want to Desirae Webster: for being the coolest junior I beyond the limits Ashlynn Vaglica: the mom mobile to Colin

Diego Garcia:

Audrey Doolittle: my good

Douglas Sandford: my earbuds to anyone who wants them

Ava Gallo: my tardy issue to Elizabeth Gallo :) heh Bella Young: ‘best dressed’ to Brandon Orozco: my signature Camille Dunavin: my shenanigans with the homies, the

Duffy Anderson: what’s left of my sanity to the freshman class Eden Thasiah: ditching to Diego Gorostiza Emily Dahm: Eric Edvardsson: what does bequeef mean?

Julia Schermer: a better senior year to Seanna Hellenbrand <3 Kailey Garcia: team to my daughters, may they Kaitlyn McAllister: to Julia Horstmeyer Kaja Boas: “Harry” the gold

Kambria Haughton: a normal senior year to the class of 2021 Kathryn Joyce: my mom duties Larissa Reyes:

Seniors Kailey Garcia (left) and Duffy Anderson (right). Photo from: Emily Nietz

Aliza, Carly, and the Edens!! Myles Marr:

Trevor-Kane Baum: lane 9 to Taylor Nichols Natalia Lopez: Rowley

Evelin Mendoza: Camrin Matarazzo: the gold glitter tradition I started 3 years ago on Dance Team Gavin Garrety: my red glasses, Candace White: bathroom seshes to Julia Horstmeyer

Garrett Jaffe: my big ole baggy

Laura Kemble: Laura SanGiacomo: Leilani Alvarenga: my weirdness and craziness to

Theo Warren: my absolute cannon to Ryan Augusta

Nathan Guerra: AAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

Valerie Valasquez: sandals to the underclassmen on dance team Xzandalyn Kallstrom: don’t try

Nathan Johnston: Zoey Rosin: my bad b**** energy to Julia Horstmeyer Noah Parra: a great high school

Aidan Moran: Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Sovich

I’ve always had a crush on...

Bella Young: Danny Supulveda

Danny Ochoa: Mrs. Sellers

Brandon Orozco: the librarian

Davon Nyholm: Jessica Johnson/Keala Starr (maybe)

Alberto Zamora: them ladies Alexander Cook: my boys from Cross Country LET’S GO!!!!

Camille Dunavin: that’s a secret I’ll never tell, xoxo

Kaja Boas: hahah nice try cougar press Kambria Haughton: Cade Ledesma

Desirae Webster: Thomas Gibson

Kathryn Joyce: Mr. Spellman

Diego Garcia: Andrea Garcia

Larissa Reyes: Mr. Sertich

Dorion Castillo: Val B)

Laura SanGiacomo: Henry Haffner

Emily Neitz: pita bread!

Myles Marr: Miles Bennett Natalia Lopez: <3Jordan Tanner<3 Nathan Guerra: Tatum Schmidt

Douglas Sandford: Mr. Castillo Eden Thasiah: Eden Thasiah

The Cougar Press Page 7

Nathan Marshall: Julianna Garcia Nehemiah Lefee: Tatum S. Odin Anthony: Carlos Cohen

Lauren Sherman: I’ve always had a “thing” for Jackson Morris Leilani Alvarenga: no one! I’m my only crush ;)

Eric Edvardsson: Amaris Garcia

Omar Espinoza: Erin Jones Owen Clobes: Gabe Bacon Ravyn Limon: Troy Bolton

Lola Bobrow: Gavin Cross Eva Connelly: They know who they are...

Rita Soriano: Nathan Luc Le Vasseur: Alyssa Cornwell since 6th grade

Evelyn Carranza: well … too many to remember

Lukas Vivian: Noah Laber

Gabriel Bacon: Owen Clobes

Luke Peek: Mrs. Volic

Garrett Jaffe: Carlos Cohen; only the top of his head though. Mmm oh yes!

Lulu Corbett: Marisol Matehuala XD

Roman Verharen: Tatum Schmidt Sally Niebergall: women Sandra Munoz: on one

Seniors Andrea Garcia and Digeo Garcia. Photo from: Diego Garcia.

Alysa Martin: Ventura boys ain’t it

Camrin Matarazzo: Jesus Carbajal

Alyssa Cornwell: Evan Moore

Candace White: Carson SEXY Willis

Amaris Garcia: Eric Edvardsson Andrea Garcia: Diego Garcia Angelina Aradi: David Dobrik

Carlyn Walker: Quinn Gunderson Chase Cormier: Kaja Boas, dont @ me

Angie Guillen: a guy Chase Currie: Natalie Portman Annalyse Verstraeten: Anthony Tabrizy

Grace Wagner: Cougie but the Cougie played by Carlyn Walker Gwen Warnock: the Campbells Soup trash can Henry Dalton: Madeleine Locher Henry Haffner: Mr. Stewart (Beef Stew) Inaya Mayorga: a football player

Chloe Escalante: Megan Campbell ;)

India Hill: you ;)

Anthony Rodrigues: girls like Josh Rillo

Chris Beal: Tatum Schmidt

Jacob Duarte: Erin Jones

Arlo Berger-Cahn: Mr. Tackett <3

Clayton Mathews: Tatum Schmidt

Jade Morimando: Emilio Gonzalez, my 2nd half <3

Ashlynn Velarde: Carter Jeffris and Brandon Plasch

Cole Campbell: Jonny Sinklier

Jadon Cline: Rourke Rieman

Colette Victorino: Siena Lum

Jesse Carbajal: Camrin Matarazzo (insert blushing emoji)

Ashlynn Vaglica: Ari Nelson Connor Bobis: Olivia Jacobson Audrey Doolittle: Gavin Cross

Sean Silva: Ms. Adamich, you

Seniors Julia Schermer and Josh Cox. Photo from: Julia Schermer

Lyiana Martinez: Ruben Lopez

Jessica Johnson: Brandon Plasch Jocelyn Quezada: Konner Macgregor Joey Smith: Ms. Sellers

Malia Matthews: Peter and Paul Kim Marisol Matehuala: LuLu Corbett <3

know I turned my books in late on purpose... Shannon David: Jack Schatzman Shayla Magdaleno: them thick boys Talia Walsh: Mollykins ;))))

Max Friedman: Raymond Mahr Megan Campbell-Smith: Chloe Escalante

Tatum Luoma: Laura SanGiacomo Tazhia Villasenor: Nick Jonas

Jordyn Wheeler: Nico Espacito Megan Ditlof: Camron Neville

Theo Warren: Shannon David

Josh Cox: Julia Schermer Megan Findlay: JOEL Joshua Rillo: Coach Triana Melanie Gonzalez: Mr. Miller

Trevor-Kane Baum: Emma Watson

Julia Davies: Carlos Miguel Lopez: Yalda K. Julianna Garcia: Timothée

Seniors Trenton Flores and Grace Wagner. Photo from: Trenton Flores

Julia Schermer: Josh Cox

Miles Bennett: my fellow gamer girl, Myles Marr

Kailey Garcia: Evan Moore

Molly Hammer: Bill Nye the Science Guy

Kaitlyn McAllister: Jadon SEXY Cline

Molly Sturgeon: Noah Laber

Valerie Valasquez: Ms. Verdades duh Xzandalyn Kallstrom: Doug Sandford

The Cougar Press Page 8

Aaron Palmisano: would only grow a couple inches Aidan Moran: would graduate Alberto Zamora: would graduate high school Alexander Cook: could skip somehow get a A+ on it ha ha ha Alex Orozco: would not be at school senior year Alysa Martin: would have my senior year taken away by a pandemic Alyssa Cornwell: wouldn’t have a graduation because of a virus Amaris Garcia: would wear a crop top Andrea Garcia: would be dating a wrestler

As a freshman I never thought I... Chase Cormier: would go from wanting to go to the Naval Academy to enlisting into the Marines Chase Currie: would be so humble Chloe Escalante: wouldn’t get a graduation. Chris Beal: would graduate Clayton Mathews: running was a sport Cole Campbell: would be Colette Victorino: would be graduating virtually ahaha Connor Bobis: four years on Edgenuity Cristian Ponce: would have to tell so many people I’m not

Ventura basketball game iykyk Henry Dalton: would be going to Oregon for college Henry Haffner: would get a C in math then never take an honors math class again Inaya Mayorga: would make amazing friends and be where I am today India Hill: would date a narcissistic sociopath Isabella Bucio: would have a super smart boyfriend Ivan Rodriguez: would miss my graduation and prom Izzy Tenison: would miss high school Jacob Duarte: would lose my virginity

(From left to right) Seniors Peter Castaneda, Alberto Zamora, Miguel Lopez, Christian Ponce and Oscar Delgado. Photo from: Miguel Lopez

Angelina Aradi: wouldn’t have a graduation Angeline Luna: would be close with the friends that I have now Angie Guillen: would be moving to VHS Annalyse Verstraeten: would be staying at home and using up all the hand sanitizer Anthony Rodrigues: would be stuck at home wanting to go back to school Arlo Berger-Cahn: would have above a 1.9 gpa Ashlynn Velarde: would meet so many people that would change my life throughout high school and that as a class we watched each other grow up Ashlynn Vaglica: would live to senior year Audrey Doolittle: a worldwide pandemic would stop me from graduating highschool Ava Gallo: would be Cougie or get bangs Bella Young: would be going to college with my bestie <3 Brandon Orozco: would like high school Camille Dunavin: would have my graduation ceremony as a Powerpoint presentation Camrin Matarazzo: that I’d be dancing for a team and be a captain as a senior Candace White: would be the Carlyn Walker: we would have

and a pandemic Cassie Traver: would have to cancel my trip to Europe after graduation Charlotte D’Orsi: would stop being ugly

actually gay :( Daniel Metten: would pull my pants down on stage Danny Ochoa: would get taller Davon Nyholm: would make a lot of friends in my time in high school Desirae Webster: would be stuck at home because of a pandemic... lol Diego Garcia: would place in CIF Dorion Castillo: would be on a dance team Douglas Sandford: would like anyone at school and I was right Dylan Manning: would grow Eden Thasiah: would blackout Emily Dahm: my senior year would end early due to a pandemic Emily Neitz: would have the friends that I love so much now Eric Edvardsson: would graduate Erika DeAnda: would grow as a person (literally I grew 4 inches) Evan Moore: would get suspended Evelin Mendoza: would have come so far and not be able to walk, go to prom, or other activities with my friends because of this pandemic going on Evelyn Carranza: was going to be single all four years Gavin Garrety: would be anywhere near who I am now Garrett Jaffe: would be as tolerant and accepting of different ideas and lifestyles Grace Wagner: would be in a long-term relationship with a guy who used to wear Minecraft creeper shirts to school Gwen Warnock: would

Jacob Hernandez: would be in a sport Jade Morimando: would fall in love so quickly Jadon Cline: would have a full beard Jasmin Acevedo: would quit volleyball Jayden Secor: wouldn’t have a senior year Jazzell Carrillo: wouldn’t have a graduation Jennifer Martinez: would miss out on a graduation because of corona Jesse (Jesus) Carbajal: would get out of my comfort zone and make awful friends ;) Jessica Johnson: would go to Sadies with Daniel Vargas.... OOF Jocelyn Quezada: would play basketball Joey Smith: would not have a graduation ceremony Jordyn Wheeler: wouldn’t be able to walk Jorge Villegas: I’d be a super senior Josh Cox: would get 4 concussions Joshua Rillo: would see my best friend Keoni leave me :( it’s all good though he ended up simping that’s why he left Julia Davies: would pitch so much money Julianna Garcia: Julia Schermer: would be attending the rival school of Kailey Garcia: would be going to college with my best friend Kaitlyn McAllister: would have worn a cougie costume at the

Kaja Boas: would spend the second half of my senior year at home :( Kambria Haughton: would accomplish what I did in high school Kathryn Joyce: would move to VHS Larissa Reyes: would have to host prom in my own room Laura Kemble: would be stroke seat of the varsity 8 Laura SanGiacomo: would run cross country Leilani Alvarenga: that high school would pass by so fast, but it went by super quickly Leonardo Cabello: would experience two natural disasters during my time in high school and take AP classes Lola Bobrow: people would compliment me on my shoes Luc Le Vasseur: would step foot into the wrestling room Lukas Vivian: would go to a school dance Luke Peek: would ball this hard Lulu Corbett: would get off pandemic Lyiana Martinez: would be joining school programs and enjoying them Malia Matthews: would cry in front of my music teacher Maria Vargas: would graduate Marisol Matehuala: would quit xc Max Bolle: would be a boy Megan Campbell-Smith: would change this much Megan Ditlof: would have none of the same friends by senior year Megan Findlay: my eyebrows Melanie Gonzalez: would love

Graphics by: Yasmin Myers

person I am today because I feel like I have changed over the past 4 years and they went by so fast Nathan Johnston: would burn my house down #ileftthetoasteron Nathan Marshall: would end up going to college Nehemiah Lefee: would care so little about my high school experience Noah Alexander Parra: would be invited to a party Odin Anthony: would join the military Omar Espinoza: would go to college Ravyn Limon: would become a cheerleader Raymond Sayles: would grow a foot taller during high school Rita Soriano: would join the cross country team Roman Verharen: would quit basketball my senior year Rourke Rieman: would come to school in a cutoff Sage Luff: wouldn’t have a graduation Sally Niebergall: would have a qui qui Sean Silva: would be taking online classes Shannon David: be on tennis Shayla Magdaleno: would “excuse” myself from class so much Siena Lum: would be cougie XD Sophia Schulfer: how much I would like high school Talia Walsh: that the second half or our senior year would be cancelled Tatum Luoma: would grow into my forehead Taylor Vaughan: would think of Uno as anything more than a card

(From left to right) Seniors Leah Sehati, Molly Hammer, Erica DeAnda, Larissa Reyes, Cassandra Traver and Kaycie Tackett. Photo from: Larissa Reyes

high school so much Miguel Lopez: would spark one with Dylan Manning Miles Bennett: would piss off half of the faculty because I factually reported on Mr. Reich being a sex offender and how neither the school nor the district addressed the numerous prior complaints about him Molly Hammer: would be in a drama showcase Molly Sturgeon: would live in the panic room Myles Marr: would ever miss high school Natalia Lopez: would graduate via Sims Nathan Guerra: would be the

game Tazhia Villasenor: I never would my high school education in the United States Theo Warren: wouldn’t grow taller Trevor-Kane Baum: would have to wear gloves and a mask to go into a store Valerie Valasquez: would miss being in a classroom Xzandalyn Kallstrom: would have a job at 16 and would get into Zahira Salas: would have made it this far Zoey Rosin: could be the annoying freshman

oof

no yike no bue s

ugh

why

se plea

My most embarrassing ouch onono n h o moment was...n what darn crikey egads crap

Aaron Palmisano: love is a typo

Chris Beal: that one time at band camp…

Aidan Moran: when my parents spanked me in front of the whole class

Clayton Mathews: getting hit by a parked car

Alberto Zamora: getting caught ditching class

Cole Campbell: every interaction with Mr. Hunt

Alexander Cook: speaking like a girl in drama class

Colette Victorino: the cardboard boat race

Alysa Martin: my outfits during freshman year

Connor Bobis: going to homecoming freshman year with Julia Davies

Amaris Garcia: when I ate s**t on the court in the middle of a Buena game sophomore year Andrea Garcia: falling down the stairs in the science building Angelina Aradi: when my ex poured BBQ sauce in my locker Angeline Luna: falling over a desk sophomore year in chemistry class Angie Guillen: falling in front of everyone in the middle of a test Annalyse Verstraeten: when I was Cougie Anthony Rodrigues: wearing track shorts Arlo Berger-Cahn: when I spent $3 on a sh***y slice of pizza from Dominos Ashlynn Velarde: when I was in my sophomore year I was walking to Spanish 3, Scovell’s class & my ring on my finger got stuck to the door & it yanked my body and everyone saw Ashlynn Vaglica: getting dumped over Google Docs Audrey Doolittle: playing volleyball and losing our Buena Ventura game Ava Gallo: smashing Izzy’s tail light out in front of everyone and driving away on the spot... hit and run Brandon Orozco: when I fell off the stairs Camille Dunavin: all of it, every single moment, ALL OF IT Camrin Matarazzo: when my friend’s 2 year old little sibling asked me, “Are you fat?” Charlotte D’Orsi: the entirety of sophomore year Chase Cormier: calling Mr. Chamaa a d*** while he was right behind me Chloe Escalante: kicking Valerie in the face during half time of the basketball game

Inaya Mayorga: I had an apple thrown at my neck during nutrition

ot epi

Nathan Johnston: February 16th iykyk

India Hill: crying in AP Euro almost everyday, wish I was kidding

Laura Tirado: my first day of classes because since I did not understand the language well and did not know anyone yet

Nathan Marshall: when I showed up to class in short shorts

Isabella Bucio: every frosh basketball game

Laura SanGiacomo: getting locked in a locker :/

Jacob Duarte: freshman and sophomore year

Lauren Sherman: accidentally calling my teacher dad but trying to play it off by calling him “daddy” which made everything 100x worse......

Jadon Cline: paraclete Jasmin Acevedo: when I fell in front of everyone when it was raining

Daniel Metten: pulling down my pants on stage

Jennifer Martinez: was hitting the fence while backing out

Danny Ochoa: yep, lots of those

Jesse Carbajal: hanging out with a toxic friend after they were exposed

Leonardo Cabello: when I found out I snored during a robotics regional, I was sleeping in one of the rooms and my roommates told me that I kept them up due to my snoring, needless to say I have been trying to sleep better to prevent that

Jessica Johnson: being the “team manager”

Lola Bobrow: Mrs. Bergfeld knows

Jocelyn Quezada: when my snap score reached 1,000,000

Luc Le Vasseur: being seen next to Natalia Lopez

Joey Smith: my car getting spit on :(

Luke Peek: Jaime stealing the drop

Jordyn Wheeler: as a freshmen not being able to find the same class in the beginning of the year

Lyiana Martinez: throwing food at the wrong person

Desirae Webster: breaking a glass at Senior Ball, when no one was talking Diego Garcia: my whole freshman year Dorion Castillo: every time I’ve fallen Douglas Sandford: getting in trouble in the locker room… Emily Dahm: one day at track practice it was raining really hard and we were doing warmups for shot put and I slipped on the Toe Board and fell flat into the muddy wet sand in front of my entire team, it was a great day Emily Neitz: “Hi this is Cal State Rent A Fence, how can I help you?” “Uh..... I’m looking to rent a fence.”

Jorge Villegas: being in a brace for 2 years Joshua Rillo: my friends making a song about me... created by Luc Julia Davies: when I fell down the stairs because I was playing Plants vs Zombies and fractured my ankle

Erika DeAnda: getting hypothermia while on a run Evelyn Carranza: I tried to jump a hurtle and got a concussion

Julia Schermer: when I was absent the day of the Dude be Nice awards

Garrett Jaffe: when I read a joke aloud in Mrs. Jones’ class for syntax practice and no one laughed, brutal

Kailey Garcia: the cowbell

Gwen Warnock: getting my dress/shirt stuck while performing at the BuenaVentura basketball game Henry Dalton: being called out by the whole track team about who I liked Henry Haffner: being in AP Calculus

Noah Parra: when I started screaming in the auditorium with like 100 or more kids in it Odin Anthony: the bottle at the back of Ms. Polo Dixon’s class Omar Espinoza: scoring on the wrong basket Ravyn Limon: peeing my pants while running the mile Raymond Sayles: getting scared when I went to the Refinery with friends Rita Soriano: probably all of freshman year Roman Verharen: bird pooped on my hand as I went to shake on a bet Rourke Rieman: never heard of him Sage Luff: Napoleon Ice-cream

Julianna Garcia: when I tipped over in my desk during Mrs. Zero’s freshman English class and she had to come over and help me while the whole class watched

Grace Wagner: being friends with Connor Whipple

Graphics by: Peyton Redmond

what YOLO meant until a few months ago

Cristian Ponce: face planting a couple times during a hurdle race

Davon Nyholm: when I was beat by Mr. Snyder in a 1 v 1 my junior year

The Cougar Press Page 9

Kaitlyn McAllister: when Cy hit on me in the freshman lockers all of freshman year Kaja Boas: walking around campus freshman year with nonexistent eyebrows Kambria Haughton: falling down the stairs freshman year in the rain Kathryn Joyce: my top coming down at the Neon Dance junior year Larissa Reyes: not knowing

Malia Matthews: falling off the stage during rehearsal Max Bolle: being in academic decathalon and not doing very well Megan Campbell-Smith: rallying at the first home football game of the season and falling on my butt really hard in front of the whole student section Megan Ditlof: attempting a backflip at Rourke’s house Megan Findlay: kicking Valerie in the face during half time of the basketball game Miguel Lopez: not qualifying for CIF Miles Bennett: the goose Molly Hammer: tripping over a speaker cord on the field at last year’s graduation Molly Sturgeon: is getting made fun of in Locher’s every day Myles Marr: drying off my clothes with a hairdryer in Hunt’s office Natalia Lopez: Jadon Nathan Guerra: my sophomore year I got in trouble in football and had to make the whole team do hella extra conditioning and by the end of it everyone was dead and mad

Sally Niebergall: when I fell in the mud on a rainy day on the senior lawn with crutches Sam Hicks: freshman year I ripped a silent but deadly so putrid I made someone barf… sorry Roman :/ Sean Silva: first half of senior year...Jesus, man, hahahaha Siena Lum: when someone clogged the toilet with paper so I tried to flush it but it flooded the bathroom Talia Walsh: in the musical freshmen year, I sprained my knee in the middle of the show, I was so embarrassed because everyone saw me crying backstage holding my knee Tatum Luoma: being temporarily convinced that I was a horse girl Taylor Vaughan: ripping my favorite jeans in public Tazhia Villasenor: trying out my english for the first time in the classroom Trevor-Kane Baum: that one time at band camp… Xzandalyn Kallstrom: I think I fell backwards into a planter once Zahira Salas: is when they ask how to pronounce my name and I say it correctly but they still somehow say it so wrong

College Map

The Cougar Press Page 10

Danny Sepulveda

Miguel Lopez

Camron Neville Carlyn Walker Omar Espinoza Xzandalyn Kallstrom

Alexander Cook Alyssa Cornwell Amaris Garcia Andrea Garcia Angeline Luna Angie Guillen Annalyse Verstraeten Anthony Rodrigues Ashlynn Velarde Audrey Doolittle Ava Gallo Brandon Orozco Camrin Matarazzo Candace White Chloe Escalante Claire Bova Clayton Mathews Cole Campbell Daniel Metten Davon Nyholm Dorion Castillo Douglas Sandford Eva Connelly Evelin Mendoza Evelyn Carranza Gavin Garrety Grace Wagner

Gwen Warnock Inaya Mayorga Isabella Bucio Izzy Tenison Jacob Hernandez Jade Morimando Jasmin Acevedo Jazzell Carrillo Jesse Carbajal Jocelyn Quezada Kambria Haughton Larissa Reyes Leilani Alvarenga Leonardo Cabello Lyiana Martinez Maria Vargas Marisol Matehuala Megan Findlay Miles Bennett Nathan Guerra Nehemiah Lefee Noah Parra Ravyn Limon Shayla Magdaleno Sophia Schulfer Valerie Valasquez Zoey Rosin

Chris Beal Gabriel Bacon Sean Silva

Melanie Gonzalez

Megan Ditlof Natalia Lopez

Chase Currie Erika DeAnda Joshua Rillo

Julianna Garcia Owen Clobes Taylor Vaughan

Duffy Anderson

Danny Ochoa Nathan Marshall Shannon David

Dylan Manning Kathryn Joyce Cassie Traver

Julia Davies

Zahira Salas

Lola Bobrow

Joey Smith Luke Peek

Diego Garcia

The

Max Friedman

72% 14%

Madeleine Locher

Sage Luff

14%

Data* 40% 28% 17% 1.3% 0.6% are staying in California for College

Odin Anthony

Josh Cox

are going to Community College

are going to a Public University

are going out of state for College

are going to a Private University

arenâ€™t sure what theyâ€™re doing yet

are enlisting in the Military

are going to a Trade School

College Map

The Cougar Press Page 11

India Hill

Malia Matthews

Lukas Vivian Max Bolle Tatum Luoma

Ashlynn Vaglica

Camille Dunavin Myles Marr

Laura Kemble Theo Warren Sam Hicks

Bella Young Charlotte Dâ€™Orsi Eden Thasiah

Kaja Boas

Connor Bobis Julia Schermer Molly Hammer

David Kelley

Chase Cormier

Alberto Zamora Alysa Martin Ivan Rodriguez Jennifer Martinez Kaitlyn McAllister Sally Niebergall

Laura SanGiacomo Jessica Johnson

Colette Victorino Garrett Jaffe

Megan Campbell-Smith

15%

are going to Cal State Universities

10%

Sammie Henley

Emily Dahm

18%

Evan Moore

Emily Neitz Kailey Garcia

of those going out of state are of those going out of state are going to attending a Public University a Community College or a Trade School

81%

are going to Universities of those going out of state are of California (UC) attending a Private University

are going to a Clown College or a Clownery-based Institute

*All of the data present has been derived from the 156 responses submitted to the 2020 Cougar Press Senior Survey. Percentages have been rounded up to be whole numbers.

Siena Lum

Laura SanGiacomo

Henry Dalton

Jadon Cline Jayden Secor

Arlo Berger-Cahn Henry Haffner

Bon voyage,

Cougars!

The Cougar Press Page 12

I hope my parents never find out ... Graphics by: Yasmin Myers

Aaron Palmisano: how many times I failed a test, and still managed to get an A in the class Aidan Moran: I spent most of my hours playing Pokémon in the library Alberto Zamora: what happened at... nvm Alexander Cook: I ditched school to go watch a Horror movie

Camille Dunavin: nothing, really I’m a good noodle ;) Camrin Matarazzo: how many tests I cheated on Candace White: what KC really means Cassie Traver: that the cameras don’t catch someone coming in through the garage Charlotte D’Orsi: I hope my dad

Grace Wagner: about the time I ditched school to watch Ratatouille Gwen Warnock: that I never actually did my science fair project junior year Henry Haffner: out of fear that they will see this I won’t say Inaya Mayorga: how I act at the dances Izzy Tenison: about February 1

Alysa Martin: what really happened on November 13, 2019

quote

Alyssa Cornwell: how many times I actually didn’t go to class

Chase Cormier: I was never doing my homework on my computer

Jade Morimando: I lie to them about doing homework on time

Chase Currie: what the armada is used for

Jadon Cline: what “Full Send” means

Chloe Escalante: what happens when they go on vacation

Jasmin Acevedo: I would sometimes ditch

Chris Beal: what happens when I go to Colby’s house

Jennifer Martinez: they know everything ;)

Clayton Mathews: that I went for runs in the middle of the night

Jesse Carbajal: what going to Aaron’s house really meant

Cole Campbell: about my addiction (TikTok)

Jessica Johnson: what happens when we sleep over at Rourke’s house

Connor Bobis: pad night

Kaitlyn McAllister: what staying at “Jessica’s house” really means

Nathan Johnston: what happens while camping

Kaja Boas: what actually went down on Friday & Saturday nights

Nathan Marshall: that a girl removed her top in a car in front of me and my friends when we were running

Kambria Haughton: my birthday Kathryn Joyce: when me, Nailah, & Kylee went to the club on a Thursday night and had school Friday

Laura SanGiacomo: where I was when I was “sleeping over at Tatum’s house”

Leilani Alvarenga: sometimes I would go places after school when he had early leave Lola Bobrow: what happened at Kayla’s house when the cops came Luc Le Vasseur: my Where’s Waldo tattoo (guess where ;)) Luke Peek: about the cranking

Lyiana Martinez: I’ve spent over $70 on beverages

Joey Smith: this lifestyle

Malia Matthews: I’m adopted

Angelina Aradi: how much I ditched

Danny Ochoa: I took two apples and an orange off the free cart one day. I was only supposed to take one

Jordyn Wheeler: what I’ve done in high school

Angeline Luna: that I took my mom’s car to go get ice-cream with a friend while she was out

Marisol Matehuala: I skipped class to get a tattoo (for legal reasons this is a joke)

Davon Nyholm: that I wasn’t tardy in Ms. Lange’s Math 1 class my sophomore year

Jorge Villegas: can’t say Joshua Rillo: the things I did in the locker room

Angie Guillen: that I hid progress reports sometimes

Desirae Webster: that I never actually did my homework

Annalyse Verstraeten: that I bought breakfast even though I had some already

Diego Garcia: the nights with the boys

Megan Findlay: about Quizlet

Dorion Castillo: I cheated on a math test

Melanie Gonzalez: how little effort I put into my school work

Douglas Sandford: that I am not their son

Miguel Lopez: what I yelled out at that dude at Cemetery Park that one night

Amaris Garcia: what actually goes down at Julia Davies’ house

Anthony Rodrigues: about that one time everyone booed at the dj for stopping the music when I got on my friends shoulders Arlo Berger-Cahn: there have been numerous time where I

Duffy Anderson: about that night at Lucy’s

pants

Dylan Manning: what going camping means

Ashlynn Velarde: what happened the night after Sadies of 2018 Ashlynn Vaglica: about after prom 2019

Eden Thasiah: how wide my window opens Emily Neitz: about baby jhope

Audrey Doolittle: “Staying at Kayden’s”

Erika DeAnda: nothing...I’m an innocent child

Ava Gallo: about our ditch-freeperiod-Friday’s that turned into most days (land ho)

Gabin Garrety: anything

Brandon Orozco: I ditched

Garrett Jaffe: why I love The Grateful Dead song “Friend of the Devil” so much

Megan Campbell-Smith: what spending the night at Chloe’s means Megan Ditlof: about Halloween 2019

Miles Bennett: literally anything that happened in or near the boys dressing room at any given time

Seniors David Kelley (left) and Josh Maier (right). Photo from: David Kelley

Julia Davies: what going to Connor’s means Julianna Garcia: that I’m in a car prank war with Sean Kailey Garcia: about what sleeping over at Duffy’s house meant

Roman Verharen: about alI the plays me and peek made in LA

Lauren Sherman: the day I got my license I drove around my friend

Jocelyn Quezada: how fast I drove out of the parking lot

Daniel Metten: I’m bi

Ravyn Limon: why I love sleeping over at Chloe’s

Jacob Duarte: a lot of things

Lulu Corbett: that they called the police on me

Cristian Ponce: I ditched work to go get lit

Odin Anthony: they found out Omar Espinoza: pad night

Larissa Reyes: I ditched 6th period almost every Friday when I had a math test

Joaquín Monrroy Roa: my secrets

Seniors Nailah Shakur (left), Angie Aradi (middle) and Kylee Vantantwerp (right). Photo from: Angie Aradi

Noah Parra: I say no no words

Molly Hammer: how many times I lied about “being on top of it” Molly Sturgeon: what happens backstage Natalia Lopez: what going up to the property really meant Nathan Guerra: that I would sign myself out of school to hangout with the homies

Seniors Molly Hammer (left) and Izzy Tenison (right). Photo from: Izzy Tenison

Rourke Rieman: what happened when they went to the boat Sage Luff: how much I didn’t do homework Sally Niebergall: about the night that my friend @ CodyBeansBallahBlack and I spent in my kitchen trying not to die Sean Silva: why should I tell you? Shayla Magdaleno: 2/1/20 Siena Lum: the amount of times I somehow left my phone in the bathroom Stephanie Dominguez: where I’m actually going when “I’m going to Bella’s” Talia Walsh: the pre-show drama/improv traditions Tatum Luoma: where I was when I was “sleeping over at Laura’s house” Taylor Vaughan: hi mom :) Trevor-Kane Baum: that I skipped school to surf Xzandalyn Kallstrom: I’m not actually that good at math Zoey Rosin: what going to Kaitlyn’s house actually means

My Biggest Regret is...

The Cougar Press Page 13

Graphics by: Peyton Redmond

Aidan Moran: the bathrooms Alberto Zamora: no ragrets Alexander Cook: not getting the chance to say goodbye to everyone Alex Orozco: not doing stuff like I should’ve, also I regret not wearing shorts whenever I would go to games in the really hot gyms Alysa Martin: not getting my license earlier... I still don’t have it #corona Alyssa Cornwell: not being able to say goodbye at graduation Amaris Garcia: dating a sexy man, these girls have no boundaries and letting my best friend cut my bangs, but it’s okay I’m kind of blonde now Andrea Garcia: not spending my last day of high school better Angelina Aradi: not playing a sport Angeline Luna: not being involved in extracurricular school activities Angie Guillen: not joining a sport Annalyse Verstraeten: not going to any of the dances Anthony Rodrigues: not going to any school dances until senior year

Cassie Traver: letting Izzy drive Charlotte D’Orsi: not taking Journalism sooner Chase Cormier: being too lazy to do my homework Chase Currie: any of the things I’ve done at pad nights Chloe Escalante: always procrastinating to the last minute Chris Beal: not studying as much Clayton Mathews: not joining cross country sooner Cole Campbell: junior year second semester Colette Victorino: not going out of my comfort zone and trying new things Daniel Metten: going to El Camino Danny Ochoa: pushing away good friends Davon Nyholm: not working harder in Math 1 during my sophomore year Desirae Webster: telling Alysa she looks like a fish in Jones’ class Diego Garcia: not being social at all freshman year Dorion Castillo: not doing homework Douglas Sandford: not gluing a penny over every keyhole on

Seniors Megan Campbell-Smith (left) and Ravyn Limon (right) during the homecoming football game. Photo by: Juliana Jacobson

Arlo Berger-Cahn: losing my inhaler that one time... it was stressful Ashlynn Vaglica: not using the red couch before it was gone Ashlynn Velarde: March 16, 2018 Audrey Doolittle: allowing myself to let other negative people into my life Ava Gallo: nothing, I told myself freshman year I’d try to go to as many different events/ games as I could and try things I wouldn’t normally do, that was the best decision especially now with Corona Bella Young: not checking Life360 that one day... Brandon Orozco: not going to prom junior year LOL Camille Dunavin: absolutely nothing #yolo Camrin Matarazzo: not joining the Dance Team as a freshman Candace White: not going to prom junior year Carlyn Walker: taking everything so seriously longer than I wanted

classroom doors Duffy Anderson: not throwing a gnarly sweet 17 Emily Dahm: not going to junior prom, because now I will never get to attend a high school prom Emily Neitz: one cursed Monday night Eric Edvardsson: going here Erika DeAnda: going to Sadies Evelin Mendoza: not taking certain classes that I was into Evelyn Carranza: only going to one dance Gavin Garrety: squandering my time Garrett Jaffe: not being reckless and impulsive enough (or not, not thinking) Grace Wagner: not making a move on Xzandalyn Gwen Warnock: not trying out for more things (plays/ musicals/etc) Henry Dalton: not getting out more with my friends, not taking the risks and losing the chances, falling out of touch with close friends Henry Haffner: being nice to

the wrong people Inaya Mayorga: not going to a lot of school events India Hill: 2/3 of my relationships...you know the ones Isabella Bucio: not doing a musical Ivan Rodriguez: not asking my girlfriend out sooner Izzy Tenison: not going to more sport games Jacob Duarte: not spending more time with friends whenever the opportunity arrived, and deciding I’d just take a nap instead Jacob Hernandez: not participating enough Jade Morimando: projecting my own insecurities onto other people at school Jadon Cline: Natalia Jasmin Acevedo: not doing activities, and joining clubs Jennifer Martinez: being too shy to talk to Ivan Jesse Carbajal: waiting for things to happen Jessica Johnson: asking Jadon if I can grind on other guys Jocelyn Quezada: not ditching our “last day” to fly out to vegas before it closed Joey Smith: not appreciating everything Jordyn Wheeler: taking in high school more Joshua Rillo: worrying too much about consequences Julia Davies: dating Julianna Garcia: not taking a drama class Kailey Garcia: not joining the Theatre Department until my senior year Kaitlyn McAllister: not taking JV powderpuff seriously Kaja Boas: taking a math class my senior year when I didn’t even need the credit Kambria Haughton: caring too much about dumb stuff as an underclassman, and not having as much fun as I did junior and senior year Kathryn Joyce: wearing a strapless top to the neon dance junior year Larissa Reyes: having to wait in the girls bathroom line instead of hanging out with my friends Laura Kemble: slacking on school spirit Lauren Sherman: dating people in high school Leilani Guadalupe: not finishing certain things when I started them, like being a part of ASB or taking more AP/ honors classes, being in a play, etc... just being a little more involved Leonardo Cabello: my entire freshman year Lola Bobrow: having a crush on a guy just because he sold Supreme Luc Le Vasseur: I wish I started wrestling my freshman year Lukas Vivian: never dancing with Mr. Murphy Luke Peek: chasing Lyiana Martinez: forgetting my login emails Malia Matthews: drinking a 16 fl oz energy drink before a rehearsal

Max Bolle: not just doing what I want and thinking too hard about stuff Megan Campbell-Smith: having blue hair Megan Ditlof: Halloween 2019 Megan Findlay: thinking high school music would be as good as high school musical

Omar Espinoza: squash Ravyn Limon: never dancing in the middle of the mosh pit Raymond Sayles: missing parties and dances Rita Soriano: taking some things too seriously Roman Verharen: not talking to girls

(From left to right) Seniors Juliana Jacobson, Marisol Matehuala, junior Abigail Martinez and senior Kaja Boas. Photo from: Marisol Matehuala

Melanie Gonzalez: not becoming even more involved in the school Miguel Lopez: not streaking at the Buena Ventura football game Miles Bennett: Not joining the Music Department Molly Hammer: planning all of the senior events for the end of the year instead of the beginning Molly Sturgeon: not taking enough breaks Myles Marr: not spending more time on the robotics team Natalia Lopez: becoming friends with Luc Le Vasseur Nathan Guerra: not going to the dances, I didn’t go to that many Nathan Johnston: not making it a great day Nathan Marshall: not going to any parties Nehemiah Lefee: being too shy and not meeting new people Noah Parra: not joining wrestling Odin Anthony: the bottle at the back of Ms. Polo Dixon’s class

Sally Niebergall: caring too much about superficial things to make others see me as something that I am not, and being too scared to show people who I am Sean Silva: not tackling Mr. Webster to the ground Shannon David: skinny jeans Shayla Magdaleno: being too nice Siena Lum: not seeing that girl’s weave get pulled in that fight Talia Walsh: when I made a really bad turn into the parking lot and the whole right side of my car got scratched, I got in A LOT of trouble for that Tatum Luoma: Liam Wulff Taylor Vaughan: Aidan Moran Tazhia Villaseñor: I never went to a dance Theo Warren: not doing Sovich’s homework Trevor-Kane Baum: not kissing a girl my freshman year Xzandalyn Kallstrom: not taking all honors and AP classes all four years Zahira Salas: freshman year Zoey Rosin: not going to more parties

(Left to right) Seniors Colette Victorino, Izzy Tenison, Larissa Reyes, Erika Deanda, Siena Lum, Shayla Magdaleno, (lower left to right) Ava Gallo, Molly Hammer and (top) Cassie Traver. Photo from: Colette Victorino

The Cougar Press Page 14

My favorite teacher is...

Graphics by: Peyton Redmond

Aaron Palmisano: Mrs. Jones

Chase Cormier: Mrs. Jones

Gabriel Bacon: Ms. Bergfeld

Laura Tirado: Donnelly

Nathan Johnston: Mrs. Jones

Aidan Moran: Mr. Spellman

Chase Currie: Mr. McEntyre

Garrett Jaffe: Mr. Schmidt, Mrs. Jones and Mr. Raney

Laura Kemble: all of them :)

Nathan Marshall: Mr. Cruz

Alberto Zamora: Mr. Gallo

Chloe Escalante: Mrs. Nevison

Laura SanGiacomo: Ms. Bergfeld or Mrs. Reynosa I can’t decide

Nehemiah Lefee: Mr. Bogdanich

Alexander Cook: every teacher throughout the schools I’ve gone to because I had fun with every single one and I miss all of them, even if I disliked them they’re still all my favorites Alysa Martin: Mr. Rubalcava

Chris Beal: Mr. Culp and Mrs. Sellers

Grace Wagner: Mrs. Jones, the cow to my calf

Noah Parra: Mrs. Reynosa Lauren Sherman: Tackett

Gwen Warnock: Ms. Nevison

Odin Anthony: Mr. Miller

Henry Dalton: Ms. Bergfeld

Omar Espinoza: Mrs. Jones

Henry Haffner: Mrs. Reynosa and Mrs. Jones (I can’t choose)

Ravyn Limon: Mr. Miller

Clayton Mathews: Mr. Hess Cole Campbell: Gatcha because he’s more laid back than my Lazy Boy chair

Raymond Sayles: Mr. McEntyre Colette Victorino: Mr. Tolkmitt and Ms. Hernandez

Inaya Mayorga: Miyata Rita Soriano: Mrs. Reynosa and Beef Stew

India Hill: anyone but Hunt Connor Bobis: Scovell Cristian Ponce: Mr. Steward

Isabella Bucio: Mr. Larson and Lonardo

Roman Verharen: Ms. Sellers

Daniel Metten: Ms. Rossiter

Ivan Rodriguez: Mrs. Jones

Danny Ochoa: Ms. Sellers

Izzy Tenison: Mr. Tolkmitt

David Kelley: Mr. Rubalcava

Jacob Duarte: Mr. Schmidt or Mrs. Minadeo

Leilani Alvarenga: Mrs. Nev my dance coach, she’s so funny and gets along with everyone that comes her way

Jacob Hernandez: Mr. Gallo

Leonardo Cabello: Mrs. Reynosa Lola Bobrow: Mr. Steward

Diego Garcia: Mr. Diebolt

Jade Morimando: the legendary Mr. Mark Tolkmitt, he keeps it real you feel?

Dorion Castillo: Rivera

Jadon Cline: Uncle Timmy

Lukas Vivian: Ms. Bergfeld and Mr. Pacula

Douglas Sandford: Mr. Gallo

Jasmin Acevedo: Mr. Gotcha

Angeline Luna: Mr. Spellman

Duffy Anderson: Sr. Reynolds

Jayden Secor: Mr. Gallo

Angie Guillen: Ms. Versace or Mr. Culp

Dylan Manning: Mrs. Reynosa

Jennifer Martinez: Tolkmitt

Eden Thasiah: Jones

Jesse Carbajal: Mrs. Reynosa!

Emily Dahm: Mrs. Jones

Jessica Johnson: Ms. Johnson

Malia Matthews: anyone but Hunt :)

Anthony Rodrigues: Mr. Locher

Emily Neitz: Mrs. Jones

Jocelyn Quezada: Hess

Maria Vargas: Pimentel

Arlo Berger-Cahn: Mr. Culp

Eric Edvardsson: Chamaa

Joey Smith: Mr. Larson

Ashlynn Velarde: Alicia Verdades, thank you for being the sweetest teacher I knew, you have a good heart.

Marisol Matehuala: Mrs. Jones, DeClerck, Chef Hernandez

Erika DeAnda: Mr. Steward (beef stew)

Jordyn Wheeler: Steve Strong

Sage Luff: Jones

Mrs. Reynosa. Photo by: Katie Medina

Alyssa Cornwell: Mr. Cornwell Amaris Garcia: Raul Rubalcava Andrea Garcia: Mrs. Scovell Angelina Aradi: Ruba and Reynosa

Annalyse Verstraeten: Ms. McKee

Davon Nyholm: Mr. Chamaa/Mr. Larson Desirae Webster: Mr. Steward

Jorge Villegas: Coach Garcia Josh Cox: Mr. Hunt

Ashlynn Vaglica: Ms. Rossiter, thank you for everything!

Joshua Rillo: Mr. Stew AKA BEEF STEW!!!!

Audrey Doolittle: Lauren Minadeo

Julia Davies: Mrs. Sellers and Mrs. Minadeo

Ava Gallo: Mr. Tolkmitt, Mrs. Jones, Mr. DeClerck, Mrs. Reynosa, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rivera, Mrs. Minadeo...okay seriously that’s a hard question Bella Young: Ms. Sellers & Mrs. Minadeo Brandon Orozco: Mr. Rubalcaba Camille Dunavin: Ms. Bergfeld Camrin Matarazzo: Mrs. Reynosa Candace White: Mrs. Litten Carlyn Walker: Dipalo Charlotte D’Orsi: Prof. Lonardo, il migliore

Julianna Garcia: Mrs. Jones Julia Schermer: Mrs. Sovich Kailey Garcia: Mrs. Jones Mr. Chamaa. Photo by: Riley Ramirez

Eva Connelly: Ms. Verdades Evan Moore: Bergfeld

Kaitlyn McAllister: Ms. Reynosa Kaja Boas: Mrs. Jones and Mr. Locher (: I can’t choose

Evelin Mendoza: Ms. Pimentel, because every time I needed advice or someone to talk to about personal things, or even a friend I know I could always count on her

Kambria Haughton: Mr. Tolkmitt and Mrs. Larson

Evelyn Carranza: Donnelly

Larissa Reyes: Mr. Chamaa because he’s soooo good at teaching

Gavin Garrety: Ms. Rossiter

Kathryn Joyce: Maestra Scovell and Rossiter

Mrs. Jones. Photo by: Tatum Luoma

Luc Le Vasseur: Mr. Locher

Luke Peek: Mrs. Minadeo

Sally Niebergall: Ms. Sellers Sam Hicks: Ms. Sellers Sammie Henley: Mr. Tolkmitt & Mr. Larson Sandra Munoz: Mrs. Gaeta Sean Silva: Gallo I guess Shannon David: Ms. Rossiter Shayla Magdaleno: Brainly, Quizlet, and YouTube

Lulu Corbett: Mr. Tolkmitt Lyiana Martinez: Ms. Mckee

Max Bolle: Ms Rossiter! Max Friedman: Mrs. Jones Megan Campbell-Smith: Mrs. Reynosa!

Mr. Steward. Photo by: Lola Bobrow

Stephanie Dominguez: Mr. Larson

Megan Ditlof: Mr. Hunt

Talia Walsh: (In no particular order) Rossiter, Locher and Jones

Megan Findlay: Mr. Hess (love that guy)

Tatum Luoma: Ms. Sellers and Mrs. Jones

Melanie Gonzalez: Mrs. Reynosa

Taylor Vaughan: McEntyre (Field studies squad)

Miguel Lopez: Mr. Rubalcava Miles Bennett: Ms. Sellers Molly Hammer: pretty much all of the teachers I have this year Molly Sturgeon: anyone but Hunt <3 Myles Marr: Paul Christopher Hunt Natalia Lopez: Reynosa Nathan Guerra: Mrs. Verdadas

Tazhia Villasenor: Mrs. Mckee Theo Warren: Mr. Jaquette!! Trevor-Kane Baum: Mrs. Pimentel Valerie Valasquez: Mr. Raney Xzandalyn Kallstrom: Mr. Gallo Zahira Salas: Chef Hernandez Zoey Rosin: Mr. Culp

The Cougar Press Page 15

Graphics by: Peyton Redmond

Aaron Palmisano: my friends Aidan Moran: the bathrooms Alberto Zamora: are the memories I made Alexander Cook: the friends that I’d see everyday Alysa Martin: the burritos on Wednesday’s Alyssa Cornwell: the memories with all the people I’ve met Amaris Garcia: Buena vs. Ventura games and my besties Andrea Garcia: the science building Angelina Aradi: not being able to see my friends everyday Angie Guillen: lunch breaks and football games Annalyse Verstraeten: the teachers Anthony Rodrigues: is all the friends I made and people I got to share time with while I was at VHS Arlo Berger-Cahn: Mr. Tackett <3 Ashlynn Vaglica: Ryan Palmisano Ashlynn Velarde: the people, the football games, dances, volleyball games, just sports in general Audrey Doolittle: the teachers

Connor Bobis: the parking lot Cristian Ponce: the peeps and track Daniel Metten: I’ll miss performing on stage the most Danny Ochoa: Ms. Adamich David Kelley: Larrabee Stadium Davon Nyholm: a lot of great experiences and friendships Desirae Webster: is the dumb arguments I had with my friend about getting Wendy’s or not Diego Garcia: the bond I had with my 2020 class Dorion Castillo: the community Douglas Sandford: burrito day on Wednesday and Friday Duffy Anderson: the senior lawn Dylan Manning: the sports Eden Thasiah: Palermo runs during second Emily Dahm: the Ventura High track team, especially my thrower family, and all of the people within the music department Emily Neitz: our ASB family :( Erika DeAnda: my friends :( Eva Connelly: football games, dances, showcases, all the fun after school events, and all the funny people

Seniors Aidan Garza, Luc Le Vasseur, Natalia Lopez and junior Devin Larsen. Photo from: Luc Le Vasseur

Ava Gallo: lunchtime tailgates and the Gallo, Tackett, Koontz, Verdades hallway <3 Bella Young: journo Brandon Orozco: the people Camille Dunavin: going off campus for lunch, what a luxury Camrin Matarazzo: the teachers who actually care about their students Candace White: bathroom seshes Carlyn Walker: the atmosphere Cassie Traver: tailgating at lunch with my friends Charlotte D’Orsi: the constant mud stains on my shoes Chase Cormier: walking down the hallway and hearing Tackett screaming in the distance Chase Currie: the Taco Bell across the street Chloe Escalante: performing and the football and basketball games Chris Beal: my friends Clayton Mathews: the running program Cole Campbell: all of my close friends performing on stage Colette Victorino: the people

Evelyn Carranza: teachers Evelyn Mendoza: my teachers and counselor that I had previous years, friends that are and my coach Mr. Anderson Garrett Jaffe: seeing all the people and teachers I’ve known throughout the years and getting to remember times with them every time I pass them by Gavin Garrety: everyone, especially all the people I never lasting relationships with Grace Wagner: is Mr. Murphy Gwen Warnock: my dance team and the dance program Henry Dalton: study sessions in the library, recovery runs with the cross team, and my friends Henry Haffner: being able to see my friends on a day to day basis Inaya Mayorga: being with all my friends and the support I had there India Hill: the music department :) I love y’all Isabella Bucio: my friends and nutrition break :( Ivan Rodriguez: chilling in the

parking lot Izzy Tenison: lunch and dances with my friends Jacob Duarte: my friends and my teachers and being on swim team every spring Jacob Hernandez: my team Jade Morimando: is hearing Mr. Gallo talk about his favorite music in comparison to our sucky “music” we have today which I think is utterly horrible and burnt out Jadon Cline: yelling at the refs Jasmin Acevedo: all the memories and friends Jayden Secor: hanging out in the upper lot with the boys Jazzell Carrillo: friends Jennifer Martinez: the people that will turn into strangers Jesse Carbajal: the loving teachers who love their jobs <3 Jessica Johnson: yelling “HI MOM” across campus everyday Jocelyn Quezada: the parking lot Joey Smith: walking around with my pen and my earphones in looking at all the crazy people Jordyn Wheeler: seeing all my friends Josh Cox: music dept Joshua Rillo: leaving class to talk to Triana for 30 minutes Julia Davies: nutrition in the armada Julianna Garcia: the cross country and track team Julia Schermer: Buenaventura games Kailey Garcia: the teachers Kaitlyn McAllister: Jaime calling me “trouble” when I walk past Kaja Boas: the track team :’) Kambria Haughton: Jaime and Trianna Kathryn Joyce: cheer and Larissa Reyes: lunch with the gorls in Cassie’s truck Laura Tirado: I think I will literally miss everything Laura Kemble: Mrs. Minadeo’s energy, the football games, Mrs. Jones’ cow shrine Laura SanGiacomo: calc class shenanigans and the track team Laura Sherman: I’ll miss the improv troupe mostly Leilani Orellana: the food, energy, and the teachers I would get along with. The memories we created as a school and as little groups of friends. I’ll also miss how proud we were to be a Cougar. I’m glad I went to Ventura High School Leonardo Cabello: most of the people that I have met during my time here, as well as all the teachers that I have met Lola Bobrow: the upper lot at night Luc Le Vasseur: Coach Gacha without a doubt Lukas Vivian: having lunch with my friends in the student lot Luke Peek: the baddies Lulu Corbett: taco sticks Lyiana Martinez: the teachers but not the work Malia Matthews: Sydney/Nathan Long and my band family

Maria Vargas: talks with Danielle Marisol Matehuala: is Biller’s classroom Max Bolle: that random swarm of bees that goes over the track sometimes Megan Campbell-Smith: the

Omar Espinoza: telling Jaime I forgot my parking pass Ravyn Limon: the seagulls Rita Soriano: my friends especially FART 1 Roman Verharen: the baddies Rourke Rieman:

Seniors Kambria Haughton, Megan Ditlof, and Sage Luff. Photo from: Maddie Huot

hike to the upper lot Megan Ditlof: Egbert Megan Findlay: talking to Mr. Favero everyday Melanie Gonzalez: the community, it really is a huge family over there Miguel Lopez: the people <3 Miles Bennett: my pals and the press Molly Hammer: all the Buena games and ASB events Molly Sturgeon: “I’m going upstairs” Myles Marr: “WHAT IS THIS?” Natalia Lopez: Jaime Nathan Guerra: seeing everyone I know and all my friends at school because you never know the last time you will see them or laugh with them, also the thing I will miss the most is football because we had a bond that will be unique in so many ways, but the number one thing we had was a ride or die mentality for each other and love that stuff Nathan Johnston: making it a

Sage Luff: the beach lifestyle Sammie Henley: Buena Ventura rivalry games Sean Silva: old friends Shannon David: the costume room Shayla Magdaleno: are all my friends and the memories we’ve made Siena Lum: seeing all of my friends, oh wait that’s already happened Sophia Schulfer: seeing my friends everyday Talia Walsh: at lunch Tatum Luoma: calc class and Uno Taylor Vaughan: lower lot activities Tazhia Lorena Hernandez: my friends Theo Warren: Jabroni basketball Trevor-Kane Baum: swim team!!!!!!! love you Shmidtyyyyy Valerie Valasquez: my team Xzandalyn Kallstrom: the

(Left to right) Junior Ryan Palmisano, seniors Jonny Sinklier, Talia Walsh, Ashlynn Vaglica, Odin Anthony, Abbey Eads, Lauren Sherman, sophomore Joseph Lombardo, freshman Owen Hawthorne, seniors Molly Sturgeon, Cole Campbell, Daniel Metten, (bottom left to right) senior Sophia Rocha and sophomore Nicola Blunt. Photo from: Angie Flum

great day because the choice is mine Nathan Marshall: all my friends and teachers that helped me become a good student and person Noah Parra: the basketball courts Odin Anthony: all of my good buddies and pals

teachers and when we have days where we all just joke around all day with the teachers and our classmates. Also watching young Justin Bieber live videos in Mr Gallo’s class Zahira Salas: the crappy lockers Zoey Rosin: the familiarity

The Cougar Press Page 16

In 10 Years... Graphics by: Peyton Redmond

Aaron Palmisano: I’ll be a doctor Aidan Moran: I’ll either be dead or not dead Alberto Zamora: I’ll be 21 Alexander Cook: I’ll still be here living, learning, loving Alex Orozco: I will be rich Alysa Martin: I hope to have traveled the world Alyssa Cornwell: I’ll be traveling the world and going to my dream school Amaris Garcia: Eric Edvardsson and I will still be together

Clayton Mathews: I’ll still be running marathons at midnight Cole Campbell: nobody will remember my senior quote Colette Victorino: who knows Connor Bobis: I will be the biggest baller in the office

Seniors Chase Currie (left) and Connor Bobis (right). Photo from: Connor Bobis

Seniors Amaris Garcia (left) and Eric Edvardsson (right). Photo from: Amaris Garcia

Angelina Aradi: I hope I’m rich Angeline Luna: I want to be in the midst of my dream career and traveling all over Angie Guillen: I hope I’m not broke Annalyse Verstraeten: I hope this pandemic is over and I can work my dream job Anthony Rodrigues: I’ll be doing something Ashlynn Vaglica: I’ll be living in a comfy cottage with my wife and our three dogs Audrey Doolittle: I’m gonna be successful as hell

Seniors Audrey Doolittle (left) and Gavin Cross (right). Photo from: Audrey Doolittle

Ava Gallo: I’ll finally have a dog Bella Young: I’ll be living in Europe Brandon Orozco: I’ll be 27 Camille Dunavin: I’ll be in a wannabe cover band of Green Day and Pearl Jam. Green Pearl, or perhaps Day Jam, either way, I get dibs on playing the kazoo Camrin Matarazzo: I will have a damn dog Candace White: I hope to still have all ten brain cells Carlyn Walker: I hope to not regret anything I’ve done and to not regret not doing something Cassie Traver: I definitely won’t remember graduating virtually Charlotte D’Orsi: I’ll probably be in debt Chase Cormier: I’ll either be a total chad, homeless, or KIA Chloe Escalante: I’ll be living my best life Chris Beal: I’ll be working most likely Claire Bova: who really knows?

Cristian Ponce: I’ll hopefully be alive idk Daniel Metten: I’ll still be broke Danny Ochoa: It will be the year 2030 David Kelley: I could be working as a teacher in the school district Davon Nyholm: I might be a coach for basketball or be a designer (cosplaying?) Desirae Webster: I hope I’m proud of the person I’ve become, and still have my dumb sense of humor Diego Garcia: I’ll be living in a beach house in San Diego Dorion Castillo: I’ll be a gamer Douglas Sandford: I will be vandalizing the school due to harsh memories Eden Thasiah: I’ll be Mrs. Rovelli Emily Dahm: I will have a great teaching job, I will hopefully be happily married and starting a family of my own

Junior Anuhea Reed (left), senior Kaja Boas (middle), and senior Emily Dahm (right). Photo from: Emily Dahm

Emily Neitz: I’ll be teaching! Eric Edvardsson: Ima be good Eva Connelly: I’ll be living in Ireland

Gwen Warnock: If I’m not dead, I’ll be tiktok famous Henry Dalton: I wish to be connected with my best friends, and reconnect with old old ones lost Henry Haffner: I will be 27 :) Inaya Mayorga: I’ll have a successful job and be out of California India Hill: I hope our president isn’t a r*pist Ivan Rodriguez: I hope to have a successful career Izzy Tenison: I want to have a solid and high paying job Jacob Duarte: I’ll be taking a pilgrimage to Israel Jacob Hernandez: hopefully found my career and proud of what I’m doing Jade Morimando: I would like to have an internship, and I hope my career one day will be one that drastically helps the world go around or even changes it for the better Jadon Cline: I might actually wear the right shirt size

Omar Espinoza: I’ll be a tank in Scandinavia Ravyn Limon: I will be 28 Raymond Sayles: I hope to have traveled to at least two different countries

Seniors Shayla Magdaleno, Nailah Shakur and Kathryn Joyce. Photo from: Kathryn Joyce

Larissa Reyes: I will be 28 years old Laura SanGiacomo: I’ll finally have a corgi Lauren Sherman: I will probably kick down your door and yell “FBI! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” Leilani Alvarenga: I’ll be hopefully making progress in my career of being law enforcement Leonardo Cabello: I will be an electrical engineer and be responsible for helping with construction and wiring Lola Bobrow: I want to be making shoes for Nike Luc Le Vasseur: I’ll have a PhD in Kinesiology and be getting married to Elice Delong

Seniors Raymond Sales, Jeanne Florentin, Juana Egus and Liam McGee (from left to right). Photo from: Raymond Sales

Rita Soriano: I guess we’ll see what happens Roman Verharen: I’m gonna be making plays Rourke Rieman: I will be 28 Sally Niebergall: I hope to own a lot of cats and surf in my free time Sean Silva: I will have had tackled Mr. Webster to the ground Shannon David: I hope my car is still running and I’m a milf Shayla Magdaleno: It will be 2030 Siena Lum: I plan on being alive :0

Seniors Senna Togneri, Kaitlyn McAllister, Sammie Henley, Jessica Johnson, Jadon Cline, Kambria Haughton, Tatum Schmidt and Alyssa Cornwell (from left to right). Photo from: Jadon Cline

Jasmin Acevedo: I will have my own business Jayden Secor: I’ll be on the big stage playing guitar Jennifer Martinez: I want to be in Italy Jesse Carbajal: I want a damn bird Jessica Johnson: I better still be fit Joaquín Roa: I will either be living with my best friend in Santa Barbara or somewhere else and we both are doing our own things or maybe I’m gonna be independent and off in New York or Alaska, I’m gonna be a psychologist Jocelyn Quezada: I’ll drive a Lamborghini Joey Smith: I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be Jordyn Wheeler: I’ll have a family of my own Jorge Villegas: I’ll be out of Cali Josh Cox: I’ll be an airline pilot

Seniors Aaron Funez, Claire Bova, Eva Connelly and junior Ronnie Holbert (from left to right). Photo from: Eva Connelly

Evelin Mendoza: I would be working and achieving my goals to be more successful in life Gavin Garrety: I won’t even remember what I wrote in this box Garrett Jaffe: I’ll either be a successful writer, a journalist, or a teacher/bartender with rental properties, most money gonna go to traveling Grace Wagner: I’ll probably be in a lot of student debt

Kaitlyn McAllister: I best still have my booty Kaja Boas: we’ll see. . . Kathryn Joyce: I will have survived COVID-19

Senior Josh Cox (left). Photo from: Josh Cox

Joshua Rillo: I’ll hopefully own a house in the Ventura Julia Davies: I will be an FBI agent and I will have three dogs Julianna Garcia: I’ll still be “chopping wood” and “carrying water” Julia Schermer: I hope to be doing my residency

(Left to right) Junior Tyler Miller, and seniors Aidan Garza, Diego Garcia, Luc Le Vasseur and Riley Beeson. Photo from: Luc Le Vasseur

Luke Peek: Ima buy this school Lyiana Martinez: I will be a bit stressed but relaxed Malia Matthews: I’ll know which one is Peter and which one is Paul Max Bolle: I will be living in a cottage in the middle of the woods Megan Campbell-Smith: I’ll be 27 Megan Findlay: my mom still won’t be 50 Melanie Gonzalez: I want to finally have my life together Miguel Lopez: I’ll be playing professional soccer Miles Bennett: I’ll have fallen and will be unable to get up Molly Hammer: I’ll be a powerful business woman living with my seven dogs in our LA mansion Molly Sturgeon: you can catch Jaidyn Sellers and me in NYC Natalia Lopez: I’ll finally be 5’5 Nathan Guerra: I can’t predict the future but ima do my best Nathan Johnston: I will still be quarantined Nathan Marshall: I will be living by myself without my parents Nehemiah Lefee: I want to have traveled and experienced other cultures Noah Parra: I’ll be an elementary school teacher and I’ll have a family of my own Odin Anthony: It will be 2030

Seniors Colette Victorino (left) and Siena Lum (right). Photo from: Siena Lum

Sophia Schulfer: I hope to be a wildlife photographer Talia Walsh: hopefully I will have a job and no student debt Tatum Luoma: I will still be editing PDFs

Seniors Bella Young (left), Eden Thasiah (middle) and Tatum Luoma (right). Photo from: Tatum Luoma

Taylor Vaughan: hopefully we aren’t dead due to climate change Tazhia Villasenor: I want to finished my university and have my dream job Trevor-Kane Baum: I’ll be a marine biologist and photographer living in Hawaii Valerie Valasquez: if it’s not corona it’ll be global warming so... Xzandalyn Kallstrom: I’ll be a forensic detective and work on my PhD in chemistry or forensics Zoey Rosin: I better be rich

The Cougar Press Page 17

Staff Letters Christian Gallo Ventura High School Class of 2020, In this time, it’s hard to

AP English 11 and ERWC teacher Erin Jones. Photo from: VUSD

Erin Jones Hi Seniors, So one of the traditions I have on the very last day of class is to say a pledge. Picture this: your whole class is standing, facing the front of my classroom. I am standing facing you all, standing on my orange chair (since I am too short and need to see all your faces!). So, if you have been in my class (as a Junior or Senior) do the last-day pledge with me. Yes, right now. Raise your right hand. Seriously. Do it, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, (insert your name), do solemnly swear, to always observe Humpday, to Cite or Die in my papers in college, to continue telling weekend stories, to “carpe diem. Seize the day and make [my] life extraordinary,” (Dead Poets’ Society) and to know that I am loved and appreciated by Mrs. Jones as a student and as a person today and always. Thank you for your hard work, participation, laughter, and memories. Love always, Mrs. Jones

Sebastien DeClerck Dear seniors, “And, as I think of it now, school itself was a distraction. Although I have become, among other things, a teacher, I am skeptical of education. It seems to me a most doubtful process, and I think the good of it is taken too much for granted. It is a matter that is over-theorized and overvalued and always approached

overly wrought with cliches and platitudes, but I really admire the class of 2020. Believe it or not, there are life lessons to be found lying beneath the rubble that has become the last few months of your senior year. What a memorable and eventful four years it has been. The class of 2020 is truly one for the ages, and one that will certainly not be forgotten.Think about it (sorry, this is the history nerd in me shining bright), Ventura High School has been around since 1889. I know you probably don’t

AP Government teacher Christian Gallo. Photo by: Avenlea Russian

really care at this point, but you are one of many classes throughout the history of our school that has had to endure and survive various national and global events. World The Great Depression, World War Two, The Vietnam War and the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. All of these, as well as others I probably omitted, had major effects on the world as well of them come to anything. There is an incredible waste and clumsiness in most efforts to prepare the young. For me, as a student and as a teacher, there has always been a pressing anxiety between the classroom and the world: how can you get from one to the other except by a blind jump? School is not so pleasant or valuable an experience as it is made out to be in the theorizing and reminiscing of elders. In a sense, it is not an

as our nation and on the young people caught up in these times. The current global pandemic we The commonality found in all these events is disruption, chaos and change to the existing status quo. Everyday routines of life were altered and societies existing comfort zones were altered. But one thing that comes out of these types of shake ups (at a macro or micro level) can be positive change and growth. Every generation that has had to endure events like this has survived and adapted. And what history tells us, and why I think understanding history is so vital, is that society and individuals must adapt and learn from history. Society must use the events of the time in order to move forward in a positive manner and utilize these as tools for change and inspiration. Whether you adopt this pandemic as a positive event in your life is up to you, and time will tell, but generation will be stronger because of this. I really do believe this. I’m bummed we didn’t all get to spend an entire year together and I miss all of the energy and excitement that you bring to the end of the school year. Going forward I implore you to always work hard and have a kind sense of humor. Get out in the world and do something fun and innovative with your life that you bring yourself and those around you joy. I wish you the best and will always remember the class of 2020. To quote a hero of mine, Pete Seeger, take it easy, but take it. Christian Gallo agendas--agendas of testing and

no substitute for experience or life or virtue or devotion. As it is handed out by the schools, it is only theoretically useful, like a randomly mixed handful of seeds carried in one’s pocket. When one carries them back to one’s own place in the world and plants them, some the ground, some are sterile, some are not seeds at all but little clods and bits of gravel. Surprisingly few

experience at all, but a hiatus in experience.” -Wendell Berry, 1965. We have let you down. We silenced you in our classrooms. We encouraged you to set aside the important things--love, friendship, of your world and your place in it-and focus on more urgent matters-your grades, the next test, the next assignment, the next project. We--your “educators”-rarely thought to set aside our

Stefoni Rossiter Dear 2020 Seniors, I will always remember this class so fondly! In addition to all the fun memories we shared over the years, I have been so impressed with your resilience. Between the Thomas Fire and now the Covid Quarantine, in addition to navigating all the challenges of growing up, you have shown such strength, support and encouragement for one another. Although none of us could ever have imagined spring semester 2020 would end this way, I hope that the time we were able to share was as meaningful for you as it was for me. You should all be proud of the theater community we have built at VHS. From actors, singers, dancers, and technicians, to our beloved audience members who come out to support our productions, you are all an integral part of our drama family! I have loved watching

know ourselves better. For you who are disappointed in yourselves, no need to worry; you will not always be whom you are today. Some of you stepped up, not just in these moments of hardships, but in the challenges that schooling, often unfairly, imposed upon you. You spoke up despite our protests. You walked out. You got angry. You spoke to your peers, to your teachers, to authority and you challenged them and their impositions. You

larger picture as much as you thought of your own well-being. Some of you let us down. You did not speak up in class, did not demand of us that we buck the system and teach you, did not have the courage to point out that there is more to be learned from TedTalks than the classroom. Some of you opened your books, did your work, did not question. You did not grasp and cling to those few, golden moments when you could see outside the water. You did not push us and you did not push yourselves hard enough. You contented yourselves to make the grade, earn the points, or just get through another day, another term, another year. Too many of you, more concerned with the points of the dead history in books than the living history alive and around you, came to school when you could have gone to experience life, seek adventure. That’s OK, you still have the chance to get it right. Like it or not, history will judge you by whether or not you do. The choice is not always yours. The choice is ours. You are not alone. Life will beat some of you down to the point that you will not be able to get up on your own. You will need others to reach out and lift you. I advise you only two things: if you are down, call out for help, reach up; and, if you are passing by, be the person who helps the other get back up when they are unable to do it on their own. We are in this together. The only solution I know of is the one Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse-5, offers: “You’ve got to be kind.”

sedateness. In moments of crisis, you thought of others or of the

We love you, Mr. DeClerck

and presentations--to provide you a far richer learning experience, the experience of the real world. Filled with our self-importance, or panicking at the thought of looming deadlines, too lazy to tackle the paperwork involved, or fearful of people getting the wrong idea: for any number of inexcusable reasons, we buckled down in our academic fortress and failed to recognize, to paraphrase Twain, that schooling was getting the way of your learning. But the world and history, in the form of the Thomas Fire and Covid-19 came raging into our lives and imposed themselves upon us. In those moments, I suspect, you learned more than in all your hours in our classrooms. I hope we did, too. How you responded to those moments speaks to our characters and our identities, ours, because of our age, a always look back on these moments of struggle and consider how we

French teacher Sebastien DeClerck. Photo by: Charlotte D’Orsi

Drama teacher Stefoni Rossiter. Photo by: Sam Coats

artistry, and your organizational and communication skills. I have cheered when you tried something new, and beamed while you succeeded where you never thought you could. I have loved laughing with you when you were silly, and have been honored to be there with you through your challenges. In the theater it is said that an exit is always an entrance elsewhere, (you remember…...we call this the “world offstage”), and so as you exit high school my wish for you is that your world offstage presents itself to you in all the ways your hearts desire. May you always remember to speak clearly and with intention, make the other person look good and move off the bench, honor your commitments, and to smile if you love me…... if you know what I mean. I’m so proud of all of you. Congratulations Class of 2020! Love, Ms. Rossiter

English 10H and AP Lit. teacher Jay Locher. Photo from: Bella Young

Jay Locher Dear Ventura High Class of 2020, When you entered as freshmen in the fall of 2016, I taught some of you in English 9H (the only time that I have taught that class in 23 years at VHS). The next year, we survived the tragedy of the Thomas Fire together, and we are still supporting each other as people continue to rebuild homes. Then, at the end of your sophomore year, we lost Cameron Helmer, a pain that we were reminded of when Antonio Calderon passed away in the fall of 2019. Now, we sit at home due to the coronavirus school closure, and we mourn the missed opportunities to celebrate during your senior spring - sports, awards nights, parties, senior picnic, photos, graduation, etc. All of these experiences over the past four years have shaped your character and deepened your understanding; you will draw on this strength throughout your life. It has been an honor and a pleasure to be part of your lives during your journey as Cougars. I am proud of you and will never forget the class of 2020. Always remain Cougar Strong! Peace, Mr. Locher

The Cougar Press Page 18

Sports Recaps

Boys and Girls Girls Cross Basketball Country Hoops, they did it again

Who run the world? Girls

Photo from: Aaron Palmisano

Photo from: Bill Tokar

Riley Ramirez

The varsity boys and girls basketball teams had well accomplished seasons.

The girls cross country ran very well this season. Dominating through the regular season, they eventually made

team and improved from when we started playing in the beginning of the season. [Some of my highlights] were the Buena games because of the energy you feel in the gym,” said senior Nathan Johnston. They ended with a victory against Buena High The varsity girls made their record shine 23-7 and ended

Photo from: Gene Dunn

Anna Guerra

Boys cross country

The girls had a great had an overall successful season.

second place, scoring 45 points.

The girls then worked their

were sure to put on their game faces for the Buena rivalry game. When senior Dane Kapler was asked about his overall thoughts and highlights, Kapler commented, “The highlight of

“This past season was probably my favorite out of all four years. We had a great group of girls and it was nice combining the team with the guys as well. Our biggest achievement was

“Some of my favorite memories were the summer Mammoth trip as well as breaking 17 minutes

Matthews, “[My favorite moment was] going to Mammoth to train during the summer and growing as a team, [and] seeing the progress through the season in each runner.” Senior Josh Maier shared, season, even though we didn’t make it to state like we had hoped it was very successful. Special shoutouts to all of the younger guys who stuck with it through the season and drove everyone to do better. Also, [shoutout to] Nathan Ayala for being the best team mom we could ask for.”

to hype. There was so much energy behind that game and it We really played our best football as a team and it felt good to help keep the trophy at home.” ranking 2746, with a record of 6-6, and a win-loss streak of 3-2.

Girls Tennis Girls Volleyball Boys and Girls VHS girls jumped, spiked,

Girls tennis makes a racket for and served their way into the 2019/2020 season 2020

Photo from: Tracie Currie

Photo by: Katie Medina

Waterpolo

A senior season that went swimmingly

Yasmin Myers

Boys soccer also had a good season, placing fourth in the

showed their strength throughout

for the girls volleyball team. This year, they brought home 3rd in

Boys varsity waterpolo remained undefeated in their league games and lost

the the Westlake High School team. Senior Amaris Garcia was

Senior Brandon Plasch shared that he will miss, “The boys for sure.” Senior Evan Moore shared that his favorite moment was,

because it was a super fun group of girls,” said senior Ava Gallo. “We all got along super well and we were always having fun on the court. We worked hard until the end and even though we were

11 wins, eight losses and two ties. with their heads held high and the team is keeping an optimistic of how all the especially after starting seniors said senior

girls stepped up losing so many the year before,” Astrid Dalton.

senior Gabby Sheldon was awarded Garcia said, “Some of the best parts of playing volleyball were the spaghetti dinners before the Buena games, Senior Night and being able to play with some of my best friends.” Garcia also commented that she is most proud of being captain and her teammates

staff would like to congratulate the girls volleyball team on their success this season and wish them the very best in their future.

lot,” said freshman Belen Hibbler. and playing with them overall.” Apart from making make a lot of new memories “The most memorable [moment] would be when our coach would bring frozen Gatorades to our matches and we’d all smack them against the trees or the ground. We’d look really dumb and weird but we got refreshing Gatorade slushies out of it.” season, the girls look forward on

Boys and Girls Wrestling Wrestling pinned down a great season

Photo by: Logan Wilkov

Julia Davies

more about working together and building as a team. Some highlights of mine would be the tournament in San Bernardino, our team dinners, winning our

Photo by: Anna Guerra

Jocelyn Lee

Katie Medina

also shared, “My favorite moment would be scoring against Buena this year, especially because my dad watched me score that goal.” Girls soccer placed third

Girls golf was a swing and a hit

Photo by: Juliana Jacobson

Peyton Redmond

wins, 12 losses, and four ties. “The season didn’t go as well as we planned but we learned from it,” said senior Horace Johnson, “my favorite memories from this season have all been in the locker room before the games.”

Girls Golf

when any of my teammates do.

that was a big goal of mine.”

Cougars score another great season

Riley Ramirez

The Cougars tackle their way through the 2019 seaason

the season. Although there were a

because we didn’t make it last year,”

Boys and Girls Soccer

Photo from: Mason Jekogian

Football

Finals where varsity girls won

“We faced a lot of adversity this season but we pulled champs and made it to the second round of division 2A playoffs,” said senior Sammie Henley. Henley’s favorite part of the season was, “having a

Boys Cross Country

pool.” Moore additionally shared that he will miss, “Tournaments with the boys, and game days.” won all their league games, totalling shared, “My favorite game was tournament when my team and lots of fun playing together.” Senior Megan Ditlof shared that her favorite moment of the season was “losing the Just because we were so close and it was kinda cool to know we could have gone that far.”

Photo from: Riley Beeson

Yasmin Myers The

girls

wrestling

only

one match all season. They also have the highest stats out of every high school girls Boys wrestling also triumphed over opponents. and

won three tournaments. Senior Diego Garcia shared that he thought that the most memorable moment of the season as a team was, “When we were all able to clench the league title together as a family when we beat Buena.” Garcia shared that he will additionally miss, “All the the sport and the adrenaline you get right before a match.” shared that his favorite moment was, “the overnight tournaments. Our whole team had a blast at the hotel and around the town we were in.”

The Cougar Press Page 19

Sports Recaps

Cancelled, but not forgotten Bella Young

Sports, one of the quintessential parts of high school, a time for student-athletes to join together, enhance their skills and participate in a series of games against other schools, has been taken from this year’s senior class, among other things. However, it is more than a game. For students, the sports season is a time

for bonding, personal growth and a sense of achievement. Senior year especially is the year most athletes look forward to, the year they are captain or leaders to their teammates. For some, it is the last time they will playing the sport they love. It is the last moment to make memories they will never forget. The sports that did not have a season were swim, baseball, softball, boys golf, boys tennis, Senior and four-year swimmer, Evan Moore said, “I

normally dread swim everyday, but now I am missing it. It sucks, I will never get to see how fast I could have been this year after working very hard my previous three years on the swim team.” History teacher and swim coach, Mark Schmidt admitted he was, “incredibly disappointed that the season was cancelled this year.” Schmidt continued, “We had a really strong group of captains, three of which were seniors, and all of which were great role models for the younger swimmers. I was anticipating a really strong team effort in a year where we were going to be

challenged in Pac View League and in Ventura County Championships, and I was really excited to work with the captains to accomplish that.” When asked what he would say to his seniors, he stated, “Carpe Diem! Seize the day! As disappointing as this is for the season, and graduation, and the ‘senior experience,’ this experience can be a reminder to live every day like it might be your last, stay positive, and make the

most out of the times you have. Sometimes they’re taken away.” In addition to these sports, the softball season was also cut short. Captain and senior Sabrina Wilson commented, “Since I am a senior this year, this would have been my last year to play high school softball. Learning that it had been canceled honestly broke my heart because I’ll never have the opportunity to play next to the girls that I’ll value for the rest of my life, or see any of the coaches who have pushed me to be the athlete and person I am today. I am never going to be able to enjoy

my last year of high school again.” Like his classmate, senior baseball player, Aidan Garza also endured sadness about the loss of their seasons, “It is sad that the season ended so early this year because I feel like I didn’t appreciate it until it all ended. I wish I could go back and redo the season so I can play with all my teammates and make more memories.” However, Garza, like other VHS students, is committed to a university to continue his athletic career. He will be attending Saint Mary’s College with a baseball scholarship to further his passion. In addition, boys

volleyball player Danny Sepulveda said, “It’s really disappointing sports were canceled because we had a great team and based going to have a great season.” Like his peer, Noah Labor, a boys tennis player, also felt mournful about his last sports season, “I’m bummed that we didn’t get the chance to play because our team was looking strong and we had a disappointing end to the season last year.” Reminiscent of his years of playing tennis Labor continued, “It was fun to be on the team for four years and winning CIF sophomore year.” Tennis coach Tracie Currie stated, “We are very upset to not be able to play our 2020 season. This is what we had been working towards. After winning Div. 3 CIF their sophomore year, we put Ventura High School tennis on the map. We were bumped up to Div. 1 last year and about to be bumped up to the Open Division where we were ready to battle it out with the 7 other top schools in Southern Cal. Our boys knew they had something special and wanted to do this not for themselves but for their teammates and for Ventura High School. They did it all 4 years and it was fun!” To her seniors, Currie claimed, “I watched our seniors mature mentally, physically and emotionally over these past four years that have had many challenges. They have all become smart, athletic, genuine, and respectful young men. I am so proud of them and know they are going to be successful in everything that lies ahead. Additionally, math teacher and boys golf coach Bradley Steward commented, “I was terribly disappointed that our golf season was stopped when it was. The boys had been practicing a great deal throughout the off-season and were poised to have a really great year.” Steward continued, “Seniors Thomas Hadrys and Elijah Harnar had broken into the varsity lineup through all their hard work and were playing the best golf of their lives. Both of them have a love for the game and will continue to play throughout their lives. I watched them progress from rank beginners to skilled players. It’s been an absolute delight! They’ll have more chances to play. In fact, golf courses in Ventura County are back to being open for play.” Elijah Harnar stated, “Even though this year was cut short, I feel so lucky to have played golf with such a fantastic group of guys and some fantastic coaches. My time spent on Ventura’s golf team has given me some of the best experiences of my life.” Kory Anderson stated, “My initial reaction is to feel really let down,

especially for our seniors, who, along with their teammates, worked so hard and were very diligent to prepare for a great season.” He continued with an uplifting sentiment, “At the same time, I am very impressed with their resolve, and continued love for one other, as well as their uplifting positive attitude about a situation that was out of their control.” Senior Kaja Boas, thrower and one of the captains

With the graduating class in mind, Anderson continued, “For the seniors who have been here for four years, my heart goes out to them. They put so much into our program to help build it up. The effort will not be for nothing though. What we build here together is something that will last a lifetime.” He continued, “You are loved...I look forward to being able to hang out with you, have dinners with you,

“I’m super sad that we never got

you! I miss you all, and I am sorry

a season this year, but I’m glad we got to at least a few meets before the school closures. I miss everyone a lot, and even though this year has been harder than most, I know our [team] is really special and those who will be returning for next year’s season are going to kill it,” Boas continued.

about the missed opportunities, but just because we missed what we were aiming at doesn’t mean that we didn’t land someplace great! We are still together and

the year stating, “Although this year didn’t play out according to plan,

or new circumstances, oftentimes those are the times that reveal the most about ourselves. I am hopeful that over the course of time this circumstance will be something that helps our Cougar Family.”

Lastly, Coach Steward addressed all of the students, “Something I would share with all the athletes that missed their season this year is that there will be another season. I hope that the lost opportunities of 2020 become hope and determination in your preparation for better opportunities down the road. I hope that you understand that you need to take advantage of the new opportunities that will present themselves in the future.”

22 1. VHS students at a Rally. Photo by: Felix Cortez 2. Juniors Cade Ledesma (number 34) and Caleb Gilbert (number 33) block a Rio Mesa Spartan from making a pass. Photo by: Riley Ramirez 3. Senior Kiu Rabago lifts up junior Alex Pineda during the Black and Gold Wrestling Event. Photo by: Connor Lynch 4. The Hip-Hop Team performing during halftime. Photo by: Juliana Jacobson 5. Homecoming king and queen, seniors Alberto Zamora and Shayla Magdelano. Photo by: Audrey Flynn 6. Vocal Jazz members, sophomore Carly Froelich, freshman Aliza Barroca, senior Molly Sturgeon, sophomore Eden Harnar and sophomore Eden Shoemake. Photo by: Miles Bennett 7. The Varsity Cheer Squad hypes up the crowd. Photo by: Caroline Marsden 8. Pep Band at the Buena v. Ventura game. Photo by: Greta Pankratz 9. Seniors and Asian Invasion Club members Diego Garcia, Sienna Lum, Gabriel Bacon and Peter Kim. Photo by: Riley Ramirez 10. Seniors Olivia Jacobson and Connor Bobis. Photo by: Julia Davies 11. Seniors Sally Niebergall and Anuhea Reed. Photo by: Miles Bennett 12. (From left to right) Seniors Miguel Lopez, Jenny Martinez, Brandon Orozco, Andrea Garcia, Christian Ponce and Nathan Ayala at the Buena v. Ventura football game. Photo from: Miguel Lopez 13. Varsity cross country runners (from left to right) senior Julianna Garica, junior Taylor Sovich, seniors Madeleine Locher

and Samantha Prehn. Photo from: Ventura track and field Facebook 14. Volleyball team members, senior Amaris Garcia, senior Addison Weeks and junior Aryssa Ozuna. Photo by: Katie Medina 15. Members of the Cyber Security Club. Photo by: Riley Ramirez 16. VHS girls soccer. Photo by: Gene Dunn 17. The â€œWhat?â€? Improv Troupe. Photo by: Jess De Los Santos 18. Seniors Camron Neville, Aidan Garza, Aaron Palmisano, Omar Espinoza, Nathan Johnston and Raymond Sayles after winning the annual cardboard boat race. Photo from: Aaron Palmisano 19. Senior Chase Cormier, senior Anthony Rodriguez and junior Ryan Augusta. Photo by: Malia Gutierrez 20. Wide receivers, junior Cade Ledesma (number 7) and senior Zach Rodriguez (number 80), attempting to get open for the pass. Photo by: Logan Wilkov 21. Homecoming royalty, seniors Jacob Duarte and Larissa Reyes. Photo by: Juliana Jacobson 22. Seniors Bella Young, Taylor Vaughan, Tatum Luoma, Eden Thasiah and Laura SanGiacomo. Photo from: Tatum Luoma 23. Girls Waterpolo players thwarting a would-be goal from Oxnard. Photo by: Riley Ramirez 24. VHS students in the lead at a Cross Country meet. Photo from: Bill Tokar 25. Seniors Sam Hicks and Danny Ochoa filming the Cougar Press Broadcast. Photo by: Miles Bennett 26. The student section during the Buena v. Ventura game. Photo by: Greta Pankratz