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The Cougar Press @the.cougar.press
Thursday January 27, 2022
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“You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.” - Hillary DePiano
No, even with the surge, VHS is not going online again.
With the surge of COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant in Ventura County, the current state of in-person classes at VHS is being questioned. “Amid this surge of cases specifically, I think that school should close, even if it’s only for a month. Just so we can see where everything is going,” said sophomore Kinda Meheal. According to the Ventura Unified School District’s COVID-19 page, “Any decision to close a portion of, or the entire school, would not be made without prior consultation with VCPH (Ventura County Public Health).” The page continues, depending on the school’s size and physical layout, “when at least 5 percent of the total number of teachers/students/staff are COVID-19 positive, we close that site.”
“In the event of a temporary closure of a classroom, portion of, or the entire school or District, parents/guardians would be immediately notified through ParentSquare and provided with options and instructions for distance learning,” the page continues. However, on the afternoon of Jan. 10, VUSD Superintendent Roger Rice sent an email out to VUSD staff with the subject line: “New isolation & quarantine guidance and more.” Rice answered the question: Why is VUSD not going to distance learning? He wrote, “As we have stated in the past, the ability to go to a distance-learning model was taken away from all K-12 public schools in California when we fully returned to inperson learning. The only way we can go back to a distancelearning option for all students would be if authorized by new legislation or a new executive order.”
Volume 74 Edition 04
What’s online?
VUSD has a plan to combat the new surge in COVID-19 cases, and VHS students have opinions. Avery Cameron
@thecougarpress
Photo by: Jezel Mercado
“I feel that my grades have been the best when school is taking place in-person. With the in-person setting, students are automatically put in a place to do work,” said junior Sophie Gonzalez. She, like others prefers school in person. Graphic by: Avery Cameron
Distance learning was a prominent part of current VHS students’ academic history. With classes being instructed online with the help of Zoom, Edgenuity and Canvas for over a year in 2020 and 2021. Results of a poll taken from the @the.cougar.press Instagram account Jan. 2 show over 70 percent of responders prefer in-person school over online school. On a poll posted on @the.cougar.press Instagram account which asked the question, “Which school setting do you prefer?” 47 students responded “online
school” while 127 responded “in-person.” Over 70 percent of polled students prefer online schooling. Many factors go into forming students’ opinions on this topic: grades, social life experiences, mental health and physical health for themselves and others. Junior Sinthia Cardenas, who prefers online school, said, “My grades maintained the same through both online and in person... once I got used to it I had no problem.” Continued on... thecougarpress.org
Senior Ball is being kicked around by COVID-19
Photo by: Graphic by: Jocelyn Wood Joseph Lombardo
Opinion: Which scary movie killer makes you scream most?
Will VHS students get the COVID-19 booster? COVID-19 vaccine boosters have been approved for people 16 and over, but what do VHS students think?
Alejandro Hernandez With the approval of COVID-19 vaccine boosters for teenagers aged 16 and over, a new question is raised. Will Ventura High School students receive the new booster? According to a poll of 115 VHS students on @the.cougar.press Instagram, 73 percent (84 votes) said they
were planning on receiving a booster shot, while 27 percent (31 votes) said they were not. Junior Sinthia Cardenas, who is planning to receive a booster shot, said, “To be as safe as possible and reduce my risk of getting seriously ill by COVID-19” According to cdc.gov, COVID-19 vaccine boosters are only approved for 16 and
Senior Benjamin Burchett said, “Boosters shouldn’t be mandatory for people. The vaccine was enough for now.” Graphic by: Alejandro Hernandez
17-year-olds if they received a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and only if it has been at least six months since their second vaccination. The justification for booster shots is that the initial vaccination series’s effects become less effective over time. This has been accentuated by variants such as Delta and Omicron. Senior Benjamin Burchett, who plans to get a vaccine booster (but not in the immediate future), said, “The point of a booster is to remind the immune system to fight against the virus. From receiving the vaccine about six months ago, in my opinion, the virus has not mutated into something for someone my age to worry about for my strong immune system to need a reminder.” According to the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic. org), “If you are age 16 or older, have been given both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and it’s been at least 6 months, you should get a single booster dose.” Sophomore Kalea Kenton said, “I’m going to get the booster because I believe in
order to get out of the situation we are currently in we need to do as much as we can to help it. Getting the vaccine, boosters, wearing a mask and limiting contact when needed.” The Clalit Research Institute in partnership with Harvard University performed the largest COVID-19 vaccine booster study as of Dec. 16. It determined that a third dose would reduce COVID-19 hospitalization by 93 percent and reduce death from COVID-19 by 81 percent, compared to only receiving the original two dose series. Kenton said, “Getting a booster means keeping yourself and others safe.” Vaccination sites for both initial vaccines and boosters can be found at vaccines.gov.
Photo by: Brody Daw
Opinion: Do students feel comfortable being approached by military recruiters on campus?
thecougarpress.org
Photo by: Alejandro Hernandez
How do VHS students and staff get around?
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Flurona complicates the COVID-19 pandemic
Combination of flu and COVID-19 cause concern among VHS students and staff
Alejandro Hernandez Ava Mohror Flurona, the state of having both Influenza and COVID-19 at the same time. There is one confirmed case of the recent phenomena in Los Angeles County (there are no documented cases within the county of Ventura). With flu season coming up and the surge of COVID-19 cases, it will not be uncommon for individuals to test positive for both at the same time. Flurona is not the fusion of the COVID-19 virus and the Influenza virus, it is simply having both viruses at
the same time. Both viruses spread through the respiratory system; therefore they are caught the same way and can be caught at the same time. In a poll of 107 VHS students, 54 percent (58 votes) answered that they were aware of what flurona was. However, 46 percent (49 votes) answered they were not. According to Cedars Sinai, and epidemiologist Johnathan Grein, “It’s obviously not good to be infected with two viruses rather than one, but there’s no clear indication that this is a particularly bad combination.” Continued on ... thecougarpress.org
Sophomore Alexis Segovia said, “It [flurona] makes us truly aware of how much we don’t know about these threats to our families and community.” COVID-19 tests can be received at the Records window, with a student ID. Photo by: Ava Mohror
News
Is VHS teaching effective sex education?
Sex education sidelined during pandemic, but could come back stronger
Avery Cameron Sex education at VHS begins and ends freshman year in health class. However, with the limitations of online school, some health classes had to cut sex education out of their curriculums. “It [VHS sex education] must not be good since I can’t remember the class at all, I’ve learned what I have from the internet and friends at school,” said junior Ryan Hildebrecht. Sophomore Justin Lilse shared his experiences with sex education at VHS, “The sex education provided for us at school isn’t very informative and focuses on the wrong aspects of sex ed. The curriculum preached abstinence, but abstinence is practically a useless term… The content mostly focused on STI’s and how drastic the consequences of them can be.” This is a recurring theme within interviews; the content that was taught spotlighted STI’s and abstinence. Micheal Saltzman, who teaches health at VHS, has not been able to include sex education in the curriculum for the past two years because
Sophomore Yessenia Ferdandez agrees with 85 voters. Fernandez said, “I felt like I learned more about sex, STDs, self expression and etc. on TikTok than sex ed which I thought was kinda disappointing.” Graphic by: Avery Cameron
of the pandemic and online school. This means that many current sophmores and juniors have not gone through the sex education curriculum. However, Saltzman plans to continue teaching sex education this year. When asked about topics he focuses on regarding sex in health classes, Saltzman said, “If I do teach sex ed this year, the focus will be mostly on respect and appropriate behavior on and off campus. While it is important to understand the body and anatomy that goes with a student’s sexual education, making sure students understand how important it
is to treat classmates with the respect they deserve at all times is so much more important. Whether it’s cyber bullying or the way students speak to each other on campus and off, or whether it is how they treat a person they are dating or trying to date, behavior is critical to sex ed.” According to a poll posted on Dec. 9 on The Cougar Press Instagram account (@ the.cougar.press), 85 percent of voters believe that VHS does not provide enough sex education. Continued on... thecougarpress.org
Credit recovery course at VHS expands graduation opportunities Ventura High’s credit recovery class helps credit deficient students graduate with their peers
Elise Sisk With the fall semester coming to an end, final grades will soon be set in stone. This will be good news and bad news for students. The way that the Ventura High school system is set up, it is the semester grades that count on the transcript, so students need to have a passing grade in a class in order for it to count for graduation requirements. Fortunately, VHS offers an option to make up credits during the school year to help students graduate. Craig Carey, a new teacher at Ventura, teaches credit recovery. His class gives students an option to make up classes during the school year.
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“The class is basically an expansion of a classic study hall, but instead of just coming in and doing whatever homework you have for whatever class, it is specifically to recover the credit from classes that during COVID, or any other time in a students academic career they didn’t pass the class and earn the necessary credits,” said Carey. This is a class for any student who needs to make up credits in order to be able to graduate. “All the core classes [are offered], English, science, history, math, plus a lot of electives -- college and career -- and PE. There’s some honors and some other classes they can do if they discuss it with their counselor,” said Carey.
Editors
Olivia McCullough described Carey’s credit recovery class as, “A community full of positivity.” McMullough said, “It’s a great opportunity to catch up on things I missed.” The class uses Edgenuity, an online schooling program that VUSD has been using since the early days of the pandemic in 2020. This program allows students to move at their own pace, and a real life teacher isn’t necessary. The credit recovery class lets students who have failed classes at any point in high school make up their credits for more than one class in order to be able to graduate. Continued on... thecougarpress.org
Managing EIC
Assistant Managing
Greta Pankratz
Caroline Marsden
Elise Sisk
Social Media
Broadcast
Online
Livia Vertucci
Avery Cameron and Sophia Nacu
Jocelyn Wood
“It’s a golden opportunity,” said Carey. His class gives students a chance to make up required classes to receive the credit that they did not earn during past school years. Photo by: Elise Sisk
Avea Baker Jade Buck Brody Daw Adi De Clerck Sophia Denzler Isabella Fierros Gisselle Garcia Halle Gentry Rachel Gonzalez
Staff
Alejandro Hernandez Belen Hibbler Olive Kranzler Joseph Lombardo Tyler Lopez Julian Martinez Ava Mohror Rowan Muñoz Emily Nguyen
Battle of the Languages
Features
Spanish, French, Italian: a feature on the VHS foreign language department
Sophia Denzler Students at VHS get to choose between Spanish, Italian and French offered by the foreign language department. One course of either a foreign language or performing arts is required to graduate, or two years of the same language to meet the A-G requirements and qualify for a UC/CSU. Ventura Unified School District also gives the option to apply for the California State Seal of Biliteracy for students who have completed the fourth year or higher with at least a B grade. Teachers in the language department at VHS choose to teach the language they love. Italian 1, 2, 3 and 4 teacher Claudio Lonardo said, “I know that’s a job for me but time goes by super fast, that’s because I do something that I love. Seeing those results like those Italian 3 and 4 kids, seeing them, listening to them, watching them grow. I have all my family in Italy so this is for me, to share my story, family, my culture, as long as the kids are interested, I am happy to share this story to them and it’s fun.” French teacher Olivier Cougard said, “I am a French citizen and I choose to teach French because I have always loved my native language. When I was a student, one of my favorite activities was to write essays in French. I studied journalism because I knew that I loved writing stories in French. I enjoyed writing articles for French newspapers, or reporting for French radio and TV. After 10 years as a journalist, I wanted to change careers but I still wanted the French language to
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VHS Instagram accounts take their stand Unofficial Ventura High Instagram accounts explained
Alejandro Hernandez
A collection in Ellberg’s classroom of students altars or “ofrendas” for Dia De Los Muertos. Learning another language, or even multiple, opens doorways to learn about other cultures or lifestyles. Some teachers choose to include parts of these cultures in their curriculum. Photo by: Brody Daw
be a prominent part of my job. So I chose to teach French. I think it is such a meaningful job, and I enjoy seeing my students making progress in French.” Spanish 1 and 2 teacher Grace Ellberg said, “I chose to teach Spanish because I lived in Spain, and am passionate about languages and culture. I tell my students that in addition to teaching them the Spanish language, it is important to teach them about the cultures that speak the language.” When asked about VHS’s foreign language credit requirement Cougard said, “To be honest, I don’t think it is enough. I think that each student should learn at least two foreign languages. The sooner you start to learn a language, the better you will be, so that’s why I think learning foreign languages should even start at kindergarten level.” Lonardo doesn’t think the credit is enough, he said, “Sometimes kids take classes just because it’s a requirement or for college but if kids start taking a language
for themselves, the way they learn over the world! It has inspired me to travel to every Spanish speaking country. It is the coolest thing to be able to chat with someone who is somewhere different!” Cougard said, “I can not emphasize enough how being able to speak multiple languages has helped me in my life. I would have never been able to get that job [foreign correspondent] without being fluent in Italian. Foreign languages have been the most important skill for me and it has had a tremendous impact on my personal life and my career choice. When you learn a foreign language, you also learn another culture. This gives students another perspective, helps them be curious, flexible and openminded, these are skills that you will need in any job.”
Continued on... thecougarpress.org
Ventura High School Instagram accounts, those which are not affiliated to the official school accounts (@asb_vhs, @vhs_college_ career_center, etc) are often led by an anonymous user, have increased in number. Since the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, several accounts have either been created or reactivated after a period of inactivity. Some examples of these accounts are @_vhs_shipordip, @vhscougiefanpage and @ vhsbathrooms. The owner of @vhs.tea.page, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “Honestly it was started as a joke, but we quickly gained a following and people seem to enjoy sending stuff in and interacting on the page.” One of these VHS accounts (@vhs.tea.page), shares “tea”. Tea is slang for gossip, usually involving students and teachers. @ vhs.tea.page said, “We have had a close encounter [of getting caught] with a teacher requesting to follow us
Sophomore John Marshall said, “I think it’s pretty funny.” Photo taken from @vhscougiefanpage on Instagram.
before.”
Junior Isabelle Rivera is against gossip accounts, “I honestly think it’s sad that people have to go so low to make themselves feel better than other people. It’s honestly really stupid that it has come to this point because honestly coming out of quarantine, we should be trying to make the most out of life and not bring people down.” Other than “tea” accounts, there are “shipping” accounts. Shipping accounts post different people and try to “ship” them (meaning they would make a good couple). Shippee sophomore John Marsh said, “I mean I was fine with [being shipped].” @vhsbathrooms, who was recently featured in this Cougar Press article about the devious lick challenge, posts pictures of VHS bathrooms and started in 2019. These can be clogged toilets, paper towel messes, graffiti, etc.
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@vhs.tea.page said, “Most of the things we post are satire or already known.” Photo from @ vhs.tea.page on Instagram.
VHS first lockdown highlights student safety concerns
After the first lockdown drill of the school year and all the new security changes, what do lockdown drills look like now?
Jocelyn Wood Livia Vertucci The purpose of lockdown drills is so that staff and students are prepared in case a real lockdown is ever held. Principal Marissa
Cervantes said, “VPD (Ventura Police Department) assessed and reported on areas of improvement and strength. VPD provided recommendations based on their noted observations (noise in classrooms, uncovered windows, etc). The information
Out of the 48 Ventura High school students who answered the poll on The Cougar Press Instagram @thecougarpress. “Do you take lockdown drills seriously?” More than 55 percent voted that yes they do take the drills seriously. Meaning most students take the drills seriously, its that the other 45 percent who mess around. Graphic by: Livia Vertucci
was immediately shared out to staff in moving towards improvements for future drills or a real situation.” Cervantes also said, “Coaching will be offered to individuals with areas of concern and training at a future staff meeting for VPD.” “We need teachers to be more serious about [lockdown drills],” said junior Burton Sessa. With the recent school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan lockdown drills and active shooter protocol are in the public eye. “[Lockdown drills are] important but they are not being implemented enough, we’re not getting actual lockdown practice,” said Sessa. Sessa had one solution. He said, “Maybe before a lockdown drill happens teachers could go over what students should be doing during the drill. Lockdown drills kinda just happen and no one knows what to do we kinda just close our doors.”
During lockdowns, students are instructed to turn off the lights and hide in their classroom to stay safe. Infographic by: Livia Vertucci
Distractions
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Graphic by: Avea Baker
Graphic by: Olive Kranzler
Wood vs. Mechanical Graphic by: Belen Hibbler
Graphic by: Jade Buck
Cougar Catnips
Alejandro Hernandez
Avea Baker
Belen Hibbler
Tyler Lopez
Let us play the dinosaur game
Ventura’s outdoor campus does not mesh well with the rain
The law is cool and all, but what about us??
What is so scary about enjoying a movie?
Your phone has just died and you’re in need of some entertainment. You decide to pull out your chromebook in hope of quenching that boredom. You realize that it isn’t connected to the internet, so you try to play the famous dinosaur game. One problem: “The owner of this device turned off the dinosaur game.” What kind of lame is running the chromebooks nowadays? Let us play it. It’s not like it’s a distraction (we are offline after all). They’ve clearly never experienced what it’s like to be seriously down bad for the satisfaction of a dinosaur jumping over cacti.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our campus. However, the one percent of the time that it rains here it’s a real inconvenience because campus is outside. Everywhere you go you get rained on, it is annoying. There is barely any cover that we can go under so it’s completely unavoidable to not get soaking wet. There is a constant fear of walking around too because of all the mud that comes when it rains. I always imagine myself falling and I hate that it’s a real possibility it could happen. These are times I wish Ventura was an indoor campus.
A later first period, this is great! Students can get more sleep and be better prepared to learn, but why now? They couldn’t have passed this law earlier, like when I was a freshman? I’m halfway through high school, next year I’ll be a senior. Since my freshman year I’ve wished that we could start later. I’ll only get to enjoy the luxury for one lousy year. Other juniors and seniors, since they’re graduating before the change, are with me on this. To be honest, I’m not a morning person, just ask my mom. Many students aren’t morning people either.
People have to stop rating horror movies by production value, scare factor and directors. A lot of movies are good because of those things but sometimes others just want to see a comical death that was supposed to be taken seriously. Movie fanatics jumping at the chance to attack someone for liking “Happy Death Day” (because of the comedy) or “Unfriended” (because the concept of teenagers not knowing how to just close their laptop is frustratingly funny) is unnecessary and annoying. Liking something shouldn’t need a reason or be measured by your knowledge on something, let people enjoy harmless things.
Sports
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Photo story: Varsity soccer, captured by Brody Daw and Halle Gentry
The team celebrating their win against Royal High with a final score of 3-1. Photo by: Halle Gentry
Ventura girls on the bench watching and cheering on their teammates. Photo by: Brody Daw
Senior Kai Sodergren taking the ball back from Royal. Photo by: Halle Gentry
A bit of shoving on the field as Buena and Ventura compete for the A Ventura and Buena player shoving for the ball. Photo by: Brody Daw ball. Photo by: Brody Daw
In the first half Buena and Ventura are tied, 0-0. Photo by: Brody Daw
Cat got their tail?
Ventura varsity girls soccer beats Buena, breaking a three-year losing streak.
Greta Pankratz Caroline Mardsen At the 5:00 p.m. game on Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Ventura High School girls varsity soccer team went into their game with Buena holding the three-year long winning streak. The game was lowscoring. Neither team scored in the first half, leaving the outcome still up in the air come halftime. With a long-standing school rivalry, both teams came
to compete. Early in the second half, Buena became the first to score. Ventura’s rival was then in the lead, but there was still time to change that. Much of the second half was spent with Buena holding onto their one to nothing lead. Not until there was only eight minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock did Ventura make their first goal, scored by number 17– senior Kalaiyh Brown. Brown said, “Honestly, it felt surreal. I couldn’t believe it at first. I
Varsity Ventura girls having their pre-game celebratory cheer. Photo by: Brody Daw
was happy for myself and my team.” With the game tied one to one, the outcome was once again uncertain. The game came close to its end, but Ventura was not done. With two minutes and 21 seconds left on the clock, VHS scored again. This time it was sophomore Jazzy Moreno, number nine. Ventura was in the lead. This is Moreno’s second year on the varsity soccer team at VHS. She said, “I started playing soccer at age 3 and have been in love with the game since.” She also recognized the role of the team as a whole. Moreno said, “Everybody was working hard and doing the best they could on the field to make our team successful. I remember Esja laying me off the ball. A defender was blocking the goal so I pushed the ball aside and took a shot and it went in. It felt surreal. At first I was shocked and then I felt pure excitement. Definitely a night to remember.”
Moreno plans to play collegiate D1 soccer. She said, “My dream is to play in the Pac 12. I’m going to keep pushing myself to get better so I can accomplish that.” Just before the final minute of the game, VHS scored for a third time. It was Brown once again. The score was three to one, Ventura, and it stayed that way for VHS to claim victory. Brown concluded her senior rivalry game by finalizing the team’s winning score. She said, “I think Buena talked mess and then ate their words when we won.” Moreno also added her feelings on Buena soccer, “Buena has always been a tough opponent, they put up a great fight. They took the lead early in the game and we knew we had to have a positive mindset and work hard if we wanted to win that game.” Brown had first started playing soccer at just
Mission Statement
three years old and has played for VHS all four years of high school. She said, “This season was definitely a bit different with COVID, but I’ve learned to make the best of all situations.” Brown does not plan to let her soccer journey stop at Ventura. She said, “I hope to play for a university. I’m working on getting all my highlights together at the moment.” Moreno gave some advice for next year’s team, “Enjoy every second of the time you have on the field. Work hard and put in the time, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to . Most importantly, have fun!” Ventura walked away from this year’s rivalry with a victory in girls varsity soccer. The class of 2022 has played through the effects of COVID-19 in the past couple seasons, but as for the crosstown rival, they couldn’t quite get this cat by the tail.
The Cougar Press is a completely student-run, public forum of the Ventura High School community. We strive to present all sides of an issue fairly and without bias while being as resourceful to our readers as possible. From time to time, we make an error. When this happens, we try to correct it as soon as possible. Students and community members are encouraged to write for The Cougar Press and to submit photos and videos. We welcome all submissions but may edit them for clarity and brevity. This public forum is only as good as the community support it receives.
Contact us at thecougarpressvhs@gmail.com
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Pick me, choose me, love me
Opinion
The issue with the “pick me girl” and the misogyny of it all
Avery Cameron A “pick me girl” is described by Urban Dictionary as “a girl who goes out of their way to impress boys and make them seem that they’re ‘not like other girls’... when you
group.”
Ask any student on campus if they’ve heard the term “pick me girl,” and they’ll all say yes. As a high school girl myself I feel obligated to share the misogynistic root of the term
Example of the term “pick me” in teens vocabulary. Making fun of a girl for her choices. Graphic by: Avery Cameron
see one, you’ll know she’s one for sure. She usually does this to be accepted by boys and be considered ‘one of the good ones’ if you say one of these things, congratulations! Nobody likes you.” The internet loves to hate these girls, and so do high school girls. The term “pick me girl” encompasses many different behaviors, according to senior Kayla Poole, “A pick me girl is basically a girl who acts out for attention or for acceptance or approval of a
in order to diminish it from our vocabularies. The term is rooted in misogyny, hating women, young women in general, for being a product of their society, the product being the excessive need to please men. I’ve already shared definitions for the term but the one that encapsulated the misogyny behind it is from the article “Women Who Hate Women: Dissecting the Trend of the Pick-Me Girl” from A Little Bit Human by Allia Luzong: “A pick-me girl
is a woman who defines her identity by separating herself from the traits and interests that conventionally feminine women exhibit. While the pick me girl often actually enjoys the ‘masculine’ hobbies she engages in, like video games and sports, what makes the pick-me girl so infuriating to other women is her ‘betterthan-thou’ attitude about not being feminine.” The acts a pick me girl exhibits are rooted in insecurity of not being able to fit the structure of traditional femininity. “The pick-me girl is a reaction, a defense mechanism to protect herself from the realization that her personality traits, interests, and habits are seen as unattractive in a woman,” Luzong says in her article. According to the inside hook article “The Problem With TikTok’s “Pick-Me Girl” Trend Is More Complicated Than You Think” by Logan Mahan, other examples of behaviors of a pick me girl may be; “promoting herself as the cool, laidback chick who’s ‘not like other girls’”
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This is better than revenge
Taylor Swift’s newest album release is part of a long-term mission to take back the credit she deserves
Sophia Nacu Greta Pankratz
calls them, “from the vault.” Essentially, these are songs that never made it on the albums at their original release date. In the “RED (Taylor’s Version)” album, the song “All Too Well” is included as a remake from the 2012, but most notably, it now has a 10-minute version, along with a short film. The 10-minute “All Too Well” has created a lot of media attention. Even those new to Taylor Swift can enjoy it. Junior Synthia Cardenas expressed her support for Swift, despite not being as hard of a swiftie as others, “She [Swift] gets a lot more hate than she deserves, she’s very talented.”
Eleven-time Grammy winner, Taylor Swift, released her newest album, “RED (Taylor’s Version),” on Nov. 12 2021. The album broke the record for most streams in a day on Spotify, a title already held by Swift, with 90.8 million streams. It’s no wonder that this album performed so successfully as it is the rerecorded version of her 2012 hit album, RED. This is Swift’s second “Taylor’s Version” album so far, with “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” being the first. The “Taylor’s Version” albums Continued on... both include songs, as Swift thecougarpress.org
Scooter Braun stole Taylor Swift’s music without her knowledge and consent. Flash-forward to Swift reclaiming and reproducing her music today. Drawing by: Belen Hibbler
The Truth About Fast Fashion BMI: Outdated and outrageous Sustainable and safe clothing is important. Let’s dive deeper.
Julian Martinez One main problem the public faces today is that we are so concerned with what’s next in the media and in our personal lives. Fast fashion is playing an immense part in this phenomenon. We have been wrecking our environment only to forget about what we consumed even weeks after consuming it. The fashion industry’s overconsumption comes directly from fast fashion, producing low-quality designs to fit what is trending. It’s harmful. How is fast fashion affecting us?
fashion. There is an extreme price for the environment to pay when we buy this lowcosting clothing. Is TikTok making fast fashion faster? TikTok trends have a big influence on fashion cycles, from the rise of popularity to rejection. Social media is perfect for the acceleration of trend cycles. Venders use this to market their stolen designs to their targeted audiences. These are such short-lived trends. These trends could be considered micro-trends. Micro-trends fall faster than
Poll answered November 23, 2021. Graphic by Julian Martinez.
Junior Mia Coral said, “I’ve heard that fast fashion is bad for the environment because of the fumes it puts into the air.” This is true. Dyes, fertilizers and pesticides are common pollutants in this industry. Pollution is a huge problem when it comes to
they rise. Fast fast fashion relies on these trends which are specifically advertised and promoted through social media. Continued on... thecougarpress.org
Do the physical requirements for California’s Fitness Test have a negative impact on students’ body image?
Brody Daw Triggers for eating disorders should not come from our education system. As a requirement from the State of California Department of Education, our Physical Fitness Test requires Body Mass Index (BMI) testing for students in grades five, seven and nine. BMI is a determination of health using your height and weight. A proven ineffective method. The BMI test is 200 years old. 200 years ago, women had little to no rights, Missouri was just being admitted as the twenty-fourth state and white wigs were still in style. Yet, we continue to use this obviously dated scale. “It’s not a perfect test,” said Ventura High physical education teacher Sierra Myers. She said that although it might be flawed she still believes BMI is important. The general definition of an eating disorder is abnormal or disturbed eating habits, meticulously restraining food intake or the lack of restraint at all. It could be a way you see yourself, whether this is a bone structure or the image in the mirror. According to the American Academy of Chilrd and Adolescent Psychiatry, in the United States, one in ten teenage girls suffer from an eating disorder. This occurs with boys as well but less often. There are 2,303 students at Ventura High School. If half of
the students are girls, this comes out to about 116 girl students who potentially have eating disorders. The BMI test could be harmful to these students if you are recovering from an eating disorder, numbers on a scale damage mental health or
safeguard with BMI, ensuring that they can ethically address questions about health and loudly report a number to a group of kids. Students like freshman Avry Girtsman believe, “BMI is not an accurate representation of health.”
BMI has been proved again and again to be useless, yet our state continues to use these outdated worthless standards. Information from CDC.gov. Graphic by: Brody Daw
self-perception. Myers has an alternate opinion claiming that understanding a student’s BMI is, “how we set goals for our students and as a department.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a physician, not school officials, should only conduct BMI. This testing conducted by teachers starts in fifth grade. Imagine being told your weight is too high at such a young age, and you need to “lose some pounds” to stay healthy. The adverse mental effects of this should outweigh the desire to obtain this information. There is no
Dena Cabera, the clinical director of Rosewood Center for Eating Disorders said, stress initiated by school is overwhelming “Having to perform, measure up, be graded and fit in can be difficult, and this can lead some young people to turn to unhealthy and dangerous behaviors as a way to cope.” The last thing schools should be doing is promoting that your weight is a massive factor in your health. This could lead students who already feel they are lacking in some areas, down a path that is difficult too return from.
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A&E
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Performers of Ventura County Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” are en pointe Ventura County Ballet’s annual Nutcracker: Behind the curtain
Sophia Denzler Brody Daw Each year, Ventura County Ballet puts on “The Nutcracker,” a traditional ballet
The velvet curtains were drawn at 7 P.M. at Rancho Campana High School in Camarillo to begin “The Nutcracker.” There have been countless dancers in each role
As the Grand Finale begins to take place, characters from all parts of the story join together on the stage. Photo by: Sophia Denzler
performance that happens around Christmas time. The two-act ballet consists of five main characters: Clara, The Nutcracker, Drosselmeyer, The Sugar Plum Fairy and The Mouse King. The globally known ballet follows the story of Clara’s dream as she befriends the Nutcracker and wages a war against the Mouse King in a fantasyland. This year, Ventura County Ballet performed on Dec. 11 at 2 P.M. and 7 P.M. and Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 P.M.
before, each performer adding their own interpretation to this age-old play. This wordless performance requires dancers to use fluid movement to express emotion and the actions of their role. This year Ventura County Ballet included a bit of modernized dancing into the roles such as, the floss, the worm and a bit of disco dancing leaving the audience roaring with laughter. During “The Nutcracker” season,
performers sacrifice much of their time after school, and on the weekends. VHS senior Quinn Ferguson said, “Nutcracker rehearsals range from three to six hours on Saturday, sometimes Sunday rehearsals are required as well. We basically give up our Saturdays in the fall, but I think it is worth it in the end.” Being a senior, this year’s Nutcracker is her last, “It is bittersweet when thinking that it is my last nutcracker and all the friends I have made, but it is definitely a major stress reliever to have it over with.” “We are very pleased to bring you this year’s Nutcracker with global ballet stars and nearly eighty local, professional, pre professional dancers and aspiring little snowflakes. These are the dancers of tomorrow,” said Cheryl Sills, Ventura County Ballet board member, as she introduced the beginning of “The Nutcracker,” “this is an outreach to those who otherwise could not experience dance.” Attending “The Nutcracker,” is a tradition for many, but staring in “The Nutcracker” seems to be a tradition for junior Olivia Roman, who played the role
Graphic by: Elise Sisk
of Arabian this year, and has been dancing since the age of two. Roman has been in 13 Nutcracker productions. “I’m always pretty nervous before I step out on stage because I just want to do my best and make the people watching proud. But, as soon as I walk onto that stage, my nerves disappear and it is then my happy place” Roman said. She continued, “I do plan on dancing until I
graduate! Nutcracker always has a special place and I absolutely love dancing with my friends and performing every year.” Junior Ella Aullrich who performed Spanish, Waltz of the Flowers and Snow said, “The end of “The Nutcracker” is very bitter sweet.” Continued on... thecougarpress.org
VHS Alum’s Journey to New Beginnings Apparition Coast releases their debut album “To New Beginnings”
Alejandro Hernandez On Dec. 10, alternative rock band Apparition Coast released their debut album “To New Beginnings.” One of the members of Apparition Coast, Gage Burgi, is a Ventura High School alumni (class of 2012). Other members of the band include AJ Herrera, DJ Martinez, Josh Columbus and Joshua Salvatierra. According to their Spotify description, “Hailing from Ventura, California, Apparition Coast is an alternative rock band that blends melancholy lyrics with a sound that echoes their rock, indie, and alternative musical influences.”
Gage Burgi at Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood on Dec. 9, 2021. Apparition Coast commonly performs in the southern California area. Photo by: Trevor Sena.
According to Apparition Coast, their name comes from the way beaches in Ventura look on a foggy night. The band was originally formed in 2016, but the current lineup was finalized in 2019. Their first EP “Bite your tongue, read my lips” was released in 2017, but was later scrapped and re-recorded for their first album “To New Beginnings.” Sophomore Mason Bilby said, “I like their guitar and drums.” Burgi said, “I was super shy and introverted during my freshman and sophomore year at VHS, but I really came out of my shell by junior and senior year. I was in the theater program for all four years so I had an amazing community to fall back on.” He also played a part in several cover bands before Apparition Coast, including the graduation band. VHS theater instructor Stefoni Rossister, (and Burgi’s mother,) said, “Gage was interested in music very early on. He was drawn to the piano before he began talking. He used to make little melodies on the piano when he was four years old; he called them ‘patterns.’ He would play them over and over again on the used piano we bought him. That old piano is still in my living room, and when he visits he still plays it.”
Burgi said, “I’ll never forget being in the VHS production of “The Music Man.” It was the last show of my senior year (class of 2012) and I played the highest tenor in the barbershop quartet. Truly one of the best and most magical shows I’ve been a part of which has produced so many great times with amazing friends!” During Burgi’s sophomore year, he wrote his first song “Drowning.” “It was the only song I loved so much that I kept it in my repertoire up until forming Apparition Coast and now it’s the fourth track on our album. Insane! From junior year onward, I took a long break from songwriting until my freshman year at Cal State Northridge. From that point I never looked back,” said Burgi. He is the founder of Apparition Coast, in addition to being a singer, pianist, guitarist and songwriter. Burgi offered his advice for current high school students. “I say live in the moment and enjoy these times while you can. It may suck sometimes, but you’ll never re-experience these memories with these friends ever again. Follow your passion. And DON’T I repeat DON’T let ANYONE tell you there is only one way to success,” said Burgi.
AJ Herrera, DJ Martinez, Josh Columbus, Joshua Salvatierra and Gage Burgi (left to right) before their performance at Whiskey a Go Go. Gage Burgi said, “I’m the original founder, head songwriter and one of the lead singers & front men of the band.” Photo by: Trevor Sena.
Apparition Coast founder Gage Burgi said, “I feel really connected to “Relentless.” I just love playing the guitar riff for that song.” Graphic by: Alejandro Hernandez.
VHS On: Favorite Slang
Sophomore Nadiya Duncan:“Vibes.” Photo by: Ava Mohror
Senior Dane Dathrego:“ROFL.” Photo by: Belen Hibbler
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Senior Alizet Zapoteca “Understood the assignment.” Photo by: Gisselle Garcia
Senior Charlie Dwyer:“Gucci.” Photo by: Sophia Nacu
Senior Clay Eidson:“Schlatt.” Photo by: Rachel Gonzalez
Sophomore Alex Saenz:“What’s up DAWG.” Photo by: Livia Vertucci
Senior Micheal Hanna: “supercalifragalisticexpialidocious.” Photo by: Sophia Nacu
Senior Carmen Ibarra:“Lit.” Photo by: Sophia Nacu
Junior Eva Lechner-Hill:“Mother trucker.” Photo by: Livia Vertucci
Senior Clayton Lee: “Finna.” Photo by: Joseph Lombardo
Senior Joey Golden:“Y’all.” Photo by: Sophia Nacu
Sophomore Emily Sevaaetasi: “Purr.” Photo by: Rachel Gonzalez