10 FEATURES
Thousand Oaks High School
The Lancer
What makes a Lancer a Lancer?
Culture is what defines us, how we behave, how we relate to one another, and the way we think about the world, so what did students say is the culture of Thousand Oaks High School? Compiled by JOEY GOODNIGHT, Editor-in-Chief
How do Lancers relate to one another?
How do Lancers describe campus culture? The Lancer learns from students what it is like to be a Lancer and the things they believe contribute to the culture at Thousand Oaks High School
The word
Leilani Carmona Hernandez, senior:
Online spaces have a big impact on student relationships.
44.7% Agree
There is a strong sense of community in extracurricular groups or clubs.
“If I could define this campus in one word it would be comfort. I find a lot of comfort here; the programs that I’m in that take up a lot of time. The people I’ve met all have been so nice and I don’t think I’ve ever been mistreated at TOHS. It’s very much a live and let live situation; I don’t want to be made fun of, and neither do you, so we both just respect one another. I feel like there are a bunch of small communities here on campus; the programs I’m in are all very community based, they are all really inviting. I think the social culture here is very much based off the extracurriculars you take, like the football kids hang out with each other and the theater kids hang out with each other. We all have our little cliques, but I don’t think anyone is ever really opposed to hanging out with people who do different stuff on campus. We have our cliques yes, but it doesn’t refrain us from being friends with other people.”
Makenzie Cox, senior:
chill
was used by over 20 different students Charles Singer, junior:
“I feel like a lot of the people here are super nice and inclusive, this school barely has any real bullying or even teasing. Everyone in all of my classes is super nice. You don’t need to worry about any of that classic high school stuff here, people are super nice here and it’s very relaxed, you will make friends…it’s definitely chill here.”
“I would say that Thousand Oaks High School is pretty clique-y. There are obviously people who can move between groups, but those are that kind of people. I think to some degree school is a deciding factor in who you hang out with… personally that is a big deciding factor to me; football people hang out with football people, soccer people hang out with soccer people–that’s what I think might create the cliquishness. It’s the same with AP classes and CP classes; most of my friends are in the same AP classes as me, most of the CP kids are friends with other people in their CP classes. Depending on what program you join it’s welcoming, but I think some of the programs here are what create the cliquishness like our Pathways, Center or ETHOS programs. Due to the time commitments, those programs create that kind of culture and definitely limit who you hang out with, and makes it difficult to branch out.”
What do Lancers value most from their high school experience?
44.4% Agree
Academic level (CP/AP) and grades are a big factor in social groups.
Native language and racial make up of TOHS 30% Disagree
The languages we speak and the cultures we come from end up being a large part of the groups we create with our peers, who we socialize with Race/ethnic make up of TOHS
Culture/ethnicity/race is a big factor in social groups.
28.8% Disagree
1.2% Black
7.5% Other languages
4.9% 5.6% Asian Biracial
39.7% Hispanic 46.8% White
Languages Lancers speak home
27.7% Speak English and Spanish
7.6% Spanish
57.6% Speak English