Spring Issue 2023

Editors-in-Chief

Alyssa Chang

Jaeeun Park

Lead Design Editors

Andrew Kang

Reya Mehta

Clarissa Zuo

Technology/Media Managers

Andrew Kang

Jasmine

Wongphatarakul

Lead Copywriters

Noor Baber

Alice Xie

Copywriter

Julia Kremenetsky

Business Manager

Lauren Guss

Sports Writers

Patrick Grant

Ethan Lee

Colin Park

News/Sports Editors

Claire Chang

Lauren Guss

Vaneeza Lalani

News Writers

Raina Bae

Alyssa Chang

Alana Desai

Flora Dezen

Fiona Hardy

Inhyeok Hwang

Stephanie Khoury

Grace Lee

Kim Nguyen

Fahim Rahman

Stasha Waugh

Staff Page

Op-Eds Editor

Noor Baber

Op-Eds Writers

David Lee

Reya Mehta

Jaeeun Park

Clarissa Zuo

Features Editors

Kimberly Ayson

Gillian Bui

Features Writers

Sophia Ho

Andrew Kang

Oliver Kostich

Julia Kremenetsky

Esther Pack

Jasmine

Wongphatarakul

Alice Xie

A&E Editors

Minjun Kim

Isabella Truong

A&E Writers

Evelyn Lee

Daniela Lesmana

Alyssa Pascual

Anika Sachdeva

Pauline Santos

Table of Contents

Farmers Markets

On a breezy, spring weekend, the farmers market is just the place to be. Luckily, Santa Clarita has not just one, but two farm ers markets to choose from. The first is the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Library parking lot. The second is held on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the College of the Canyons parking lot, and run by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market (VCCFM).

Each market has unique vendors to visit, fresh produce to purchase and friendly faces that welcome customers back each week. For instance, Kimberly Gonzalez, owner of the

when you’re looking at the person who is growing [the produce].”

Although they have locality in common, each stand has their own individual message they hope to spread through their produce to their customers. Gonzalez described, “I want my

pastry stand Bake Up, emphasized her farmers market experience: “I love it, I love being part of the community, and getting to see all of the families and be able to buy from other vendors selling seasonal produce and highlight those in our baking throughout the year.”

Growers all around California put in hours of hard work in order to supply their customers, especially those who prefer to shop locally. “I think it’s really important to shop local and ev eryone here grows everything at home in their backyards; we all go out and pick our fruit,” Makayla, a stand worker at Ken’s Top Notch fruit stand at the College of the Canyons market described. “So I think it’s important to support us, especially compared to big stores. We feel like the hard work and effort

customers to be able to come every week and have something unique and special and be able to taste the difference of these fresh produce. Our strawberries are from Gutierrez Farms and today we’re doing a creamsicle bar with cara cara oranges. So I like them to be able to see the different ways that the produce that they’re buying here can be used and also let people know about all of the connections of our local food system.”

One of our own students, Maheen Haque, a sophomore at West Ranch High School, emphasized her love for the farmers market “because it is better for the environment in the long term and a more interactive way to get an everyday chore done.” Haque and her family love to get “fruit, dish soap and anything special for dessert” from our local vendors.

Cats, be sure to check out the local farmers markets. You will

“I want my customers to be able to come every week and have something unique and special and be able to taste the difference of fresh produce.”

-Makayla, Ken’s Top Notch Representative

OH SNAP!

Photographers at West Ranch

Click, shutter… snap! Behind every unique image is a talented photographer. West Ranch is home to many lensmen, each showcasing their distinctive artistic approaches. The Paw Print had the special opportunity to spotlight two skillful snappers: Nate Cervantes and Duc Dang.

Junior Nate Cervantes was inspired to take up photography three years ago, when he enrolled in a beginner photography class at West Ranch. His passion for skateboarding inspired him to start taking stylized snapshots of his friends. Later on, as he became more involved in the local music scene, he began photographing live bands, and his abilities took off from there.

Cervantes’ methodology to curating his shots are spontaneous. “I like things that appear out of nowhere. Everyday things. I bring a camera on me everywhere I go because that’s when you will need it the most,” he explained.

Although he mostly does street photography, occasionally, he organizes more formal photoshoots. Instead of relying on professional equipment, Cervantes utilizes his resourcefulness to achieve his desired look. “My favorite photo I’ve captured was a picture of my friend, Lily. I took it in her garage with a dollar store flashlight. It even had emojis on it, that’s how unprofessional it was,” he laughed.

Ms. Rush, the West Ranch AP Art teacher, described Cervantes’ artistic inclination. “First off, he has really good drawing skills. Every time I made comments about his pieces and offered constructive criticism, he was able to incorporate them into his work.”

She continued by saying, “He’s self-motivated and seems to have a true, genuine interest in art whether it’s drawing or photography. We’re working on a shoe series right now that focuses on different styles from realism to stylization to abstraction, and usually every kid likes one or the other, but he has done a fantastic job in all three stages. Overall, he’s an arty kid and I enjoy having him in my class.”

Cervantes is mostly inspired by the world around him. “I like to go on walks with myself and find beauty in the mundane aspects of life. I just love how you can capture the real world and turn it into fictional art,” he said.

Cervantes shared valuable advice to anyone looking to get into photography: “Take a bunch of pictures. That’s how you learn. It doesn’t matter what camera you have. The best camera is the one that makes you want to take more photos. Just make a bunch of stuff. Look around you and try to find beauty in normal things. That’s the only way you can get through life and enjoy it.”

Photos by Nate Cervantes IG: @photosbynate8p

Story by Gillian Bui

Photos by Andrew Kang and Esther Pack

Sophomore Duc Dang discovered his love for snapping photos while playing around with his dad’s cell phone, and learned he could edit pictures directly in the app. Amazingly, Dang has never taken a photography class, but is self-taught and has been refining his skills for the past four years.

Dang described his photo aesthetic as “not fine art, but more of a business and rap album cover style.” In terms of his subjects, he enjoys capturing his friends and tends to gravitate towards portrait photography, deciding to shoot “whenever the inspiration strikes.”

Dang’s editing style varies, depending on who is being photographed. “When I edit my photos I know what look I’m trying to go for based on the shoot. For example, if someone is wearing interesting clothing and it reminds me of the 1980s or 1990s, I’ll edit the photo to make the colors look more rustic and vintage,” he explained.

Ms. Kornfeld, the Yearbook advisor and Photography teacher, commented on Duc’s positive outlook and natural abilities. “I would love to take credit for Duc’s accomplishments, but he is completely self-taught. He never took my class. He came in when he was a freshman and just said ‘I like taking pictures. Can I show them to you?’ Every week, I’d offer compliments, but not as many critiques because they were good as they were. He has developed himself, ultimately, on his own,” she enthused.

Currently, Dang professionally takes photos for a company called Way2Go Sports where he covers local youth sports such as flag football and basketball.

When asked for advice he would give to beginner photographers, Dang recommended prioritizing emotions and creativity. “A photo with pretty designs and a cool background will almost always be beaten out by a photo that has a bland background but makes you feel something, and causes you to stare a little bit longer,” he advised.

“Analyze the environment around you in which you are shooting, and see what aspects of that environment you can take advantage of to make a unique photo, whether that be smoke, a strange window, interesting lighting or a mirror,“ Dang concluded. “Even though flashy photos are still great, shooting for emotion is still key in improving and really understanding the goal of photography: to encapsulate moments and their essence.”

Photos by Duc Dang IG: @duckydangphotos

Student

Volunteers

Story by Alice Xie and Esther Pack

Photos by Esther Pack

West Ranch fosters an environment of personal growth and development, allowing students to become go-getters, trailblazers and changemakers. One way students embody the Wildcat motto of “rigor, relationships, and relevance” is by donating their time to partake in and support community efforts. Students such as Jeremiah Chun, Josh Kim and Ashmita Goel strive to make a difference on a larger scale through their dedication to volunteering at various organizations.

wildcats for the community

Jeremiah Chun

Jeremiah Chun, a West Ranch junior, is pursuing his desire to teach aspiring students how to code through a school club called STEM For Kids. As a student teacher, Chun dedicates an hour a week to teach the coding language Python to middle schoolers at Rancho Pico Junior High.

Chun began his STEM For Kids journey two years ago. He explained, “I have always been interested in the field of computer science and my brother was a co-founder of this club, so he encouraged me to join. I decided to join because I was very interested in coding.”

Every week at Rancho Pico, Chun exposes students to the basics of coding in order to develop their skills and expand their minds. Chun recognises the importance of technology, so he hopes that “through coding, people are more aware of the STEM field and its applications.”

By teaching Python to young students, Chun not only gets to spread his passion for and knowledge of coding on to the next generation, but also witness the direct impact his volunteerism has made. “I really like helping the kids because teaching foundational information is very important in the field of programming, and I like the teaching aspect of seeing them grow over time,” Chun said.

Throughout his experience with STEM For Kids, Chun has had the opportunity to watch his students advance and flourish under his guidance. And as for what he hopes will come from this program, Chun said, “I hope that the kids are able to grow developed minds to have a good foundation of coding and subskills.”

Josh kim

For two years, senior Josh Kim has maintained his once-a-week schedule of volunteering at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. What motivated Kim to start at Henry Mayo was a desire to help during the panic of COVID-19.

“During the pandemic, I was frustrated that everything was going downhill and I couldn’t do anything, so I applied to volunteer at Henry Mayo and it’s been a good experience so far,” Kim explained.

For his weekly shifts at the hospital, which last four hours each, Kim “perform[s] basic hospital tasks that don’t require medical knowledge. So for example, changing heart monitor batteries, restocking patient rooms, bringing down stuff to the lab and more tasks like that.”

Kim’s actions benefit more than just the patients at Henry Mayo. By taking over the smaller tasks, Kim allows for many of the nurses and staff to take a break from their already cluttered schedules. In fact, due to his regular presence and willingness to lend a helping hand, Kim said, “I’ve made close bonds with the nurses that I regularly work with.”

Even after the lockdown orders were lifted and COVID precautions have slowly dwindled away, Kim continues to show up week after week to finish his shift. To him, helping out at Henry Mayo is more than just a task, because, as Kim shared, “Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose, a reason and it has helped guide me to the career that I want. I hope that I’m helping the patients through the little things, such as wheeling them out, and that I make a difference in my community.”

Ashmita Goel

West Ranch junior Ashmita Goel has always enjoyed books and reading, so she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer for the Valencia Library on the Teen Advisory Board (TAB). As she put it, “I’ve always loved the library. I had done some of the activities [the board] planned and I found it fun, and I always wondered who planned them. It’s fun to now be on the other side of it.”

The Teen Advisory Board helps plan and host events at the local library for the community to partake in. To gauge what activities teenagers will find interesting, the Valencia Library’s TAB group focuses mostly on appealing to older students from around Santa Clarita. As Goel said, “we help by planning out and choosing events that take place for teens.”

Unlike many volunteering opportunities that cater to individual work, being on the Teen Advisory Board requires collaborating with peers. “I like working with the people there. [I like] to give back, I think it’s fun to plan and make friends. I think it’s always good to spread joy,” Goel commented.

By bringing ideas and events to life, Goel hopes to encourage students of all ages to utilize the library for its resources beyond just books. “I hope that other younger kids have fun and that they can enjoy what the library has to offer. That they’re not thinking it’s just for reading, but that there’s also activities like arts and crafts that are done there,” Goel said.

The Valencia TAB plans for a plethora of different events, whether it is the annual summer reading program or intermittent workshops for activities such as stargazing or origami. There’s something for everyone at the library, and as a part of the Teen Advisory Board, Goel hopes to unlock the creative side within all of us.

SUBURBIA

Story by Jasmine Wongphatarakul and Kimberly Ayson

Graphics by Lauren Alvarez, Nicola Ogdoc and Brianna Youn

Photo by Julia Kremenetsky

West Ranch’s literary magazine club, Suburbia, strives to showcase our school’s creative community. Every other Thursday, Suburbia gathers in collaboration to create its literary magazine — this year’s theme is “Maximalism,” an aesthetic of excess.

President and senior Nicola Ogdoc expressed, “We chose Maximalism this year because we wanted our theme to be more general so that there would be more submissions from students. In previous years, we did the decades, which were very specific. We were able to get many submissions this time from traditional and digital drawings to photography and poems.”

There is a lot of planning that goes into creating a literary magazine. One of the longest parts of the process is the waiting period that follows Suburbia’s call for art submissions from students. After receiving their submissions, Suburbia compiles and organizes them onto different pages, deciding which pieces fit well together. They then assign members to design layouts on their own time. Once all the pages are completed, the literary magazine is sent to print and then distributed to the whole school for students to see.

Suburbia’s advisor, Ms. Frame, told The Paw Print that her favorite part of the club is “Watching my editors’ leadership because they guide everyone. They don’t dictate and are super supportive. Overall, my favorite part is the collaboration.”

To successfully complete a hard-copy literary magazine, the members need to work together and meet certain deadlines.

“There’s a lot of due dates. I consider when people are available and set when members have to submit their pages,” Ogdoc said. “I also lead the creative direction of the magazine and communicate with members, asking for their opinions on ideas or activities. It’s a collaborative process.”

Outside the process of creating the actual magazine, Suburbia’s social media presence plays an important role in the magazine’s success. It serves as a direct link that allows the club and aspiring artists to communicate if any questions arise.

Social media manager and senior Lauren Alvarez described her role. “I control the [club’s] Instagram and manage all the posts. I’ll post stories to update people and if they have questions, I’ll talk with them.”

Once the submissions are collected and the layouts are made, printing the issue is the final step. Although Suburbia published last year’s magazine online, most of its previous publications have been printed.

“We have digital and printed issues. Our digital magazines can be found on Issuu (https://issuu.com/ wrsuburbia), and you can find our print copies of the magazine in the library.”

Suburbia creates a space for West Ranch’s vibrant arts community to flourish. “I love how it inspires people to share their art,” Alverez expressed. “For me, before, I would draw things and kind of keep it to myself, and I wanted a way to share it with people. I think Suburbia is great. It was good for me because you can share your art anonymously.”

Cats, if you have art you want to share or be a part of the magazine-making process, you can contact West Ranch Suburbia via email at wrsuburbia@gmail.com or through Instagram @wrsuburbia for more information.

- Nicola Ogdoc (12)

FASHION SPRING FASHION SPRING

SARA WALI

With spring comes the inclusion of different pieces in peoples’ wardrobes such as crocheted tops, knitted tank tops and playful patterns. Senior Sara Wali in particular loves spring fashion for its transition from fuzz and neutrals to clean and elegant outfits.

Wali described how equally important it is to utilize accessories such as jewelry and shoes to enhance any outfit. In particular, she explained that “When it comes to jewelry, I think wearing very playful bracelets and layering them adds a lot of character to an outfit, plus shoes are so important and I love seeing wedge platform sandals combined with jeans or skirts.”

Furthermore, Wali mentioned how her fashion sense is heavily inspired by Devon Aoki and her mom. She adores Aoki’s colorful, yet simple style, adorned by eye-catching jewelry. In terms of her mom, she loves how she uses very basic tops that truly showcase a clean spring look.

Story by Isabella Truong

Photos by Esther Pack

Graphics by Andrew Kang

RAYHANA SADA

As we enter the blooming season, junior Rayhana Sada takes advantage of the warmth and coolness of the weather in her outfits. In doing so, she highlights the fashion phenomenon of layering: using various forms of clothing atop one another such as long sleeves and puffer vests in order to heighten her attire.

“When it comes to spring, I love the fun colors and it’s enjoyable to see all the spring shades come together in a nice spring fit,” said Sada. Spring not only brings color back into peoples’ wardrobes, but also calls for the exchange of fuzzy boots for fun sneakers.

Sada adores pairing her outfits with colorful footwear such as her Nike Dunks or Jordans.

JOSEPHINE DOLCE

Around town, senior Josephine Dolce wears a variety of leather jackets, short skirts and blouses in order to show off her style in a sophisticated way. In addition, Dolce includes various forms of silver jewelry from layered necklaces to rings in each of her outfits.

Dolce described her style inspiration,“My fashion style changes very often, but European styles and vintage clothing are definitely a big inspiration of mine.” Like spring, fashion is incredibly free-spirited and allows for the syncretization of multiple aesthetics.

With spring comes hotter temperatures, and Dolce expressed, “I am excited for the warmer weather along with the more colors that can be incorporated into outfits.” Although winter is often surrounded by blues, blacks and whites, the slightly warmer season comes with the inclusion of both bright palettes and pastels, such as sunshine yellow or lavender.

In an age where movements for change are gaining popularity across the nation, many West Ranch clubs aim to make a difference on a smaller scale through local community efforts and campaigns. Initiatives such as the Housing Project, Girl Up and Unlikely Heroes are doing their best to tackle prominent issues by mobilizing the power of students and community partners. By hosting fundraisers and raising awareness on pressing topics, West Ranch students are actively stepping up and being the change they want to see in the world.

In big urban and suburban areas, such as Los Angeles, homelessness is a rampant issue that students at West Ranch aim to remedy through a club called the Housing Project. Sophia Sadaqatmal, a sophomore at West Ranch and president of the Housing Project, explained that the purpose of this club is to “raise money and collect different kinds of goods mainly for local homeless shelters and refugees.”

The objective of the Housing Project is to make monetary and material donations to places such as homeless shelters so that people in need have easy access to basic necessities. Besides hosting fundraisers at restaurants in Santa Clarita, the Housing Project has also participated in packaging products for shelters. “We’ve created little hygiene kits that we actually donated to Bridge To Home homeless shelter,” Sadaqatmal said.

Amy, an employee at Bridge To Home’s Temporary Client Housing Shelter, explained that the club’s donation of these hygiene kits, and all donations in general, “take a weight off of [the shelter] to try and beat the never ending pressure of getting enough funding,” and that local efforts “help everyone get back on their feet and into a more permanent living situation.”

Kayla Patel, the Housing Project’s secretary, explained why she volunteers her time to give back to those in need: “It’s really uplifting that I can help in some sort of way, whether it’s participating in fundraisers or making the hygiene kits, I think it’s helping my community in even the smallest way.”

Not only does the Housing Project intend to donate essentials to those who need them, the club also hopes to spread awareness on the rising issue of homelessness. “I want to be able to raise not only money, but awareness in general on this topic. I’m doing it to help other people feel better; it’s not just about me,” said Housing Project vice president Mahati Dharanipathi.

Dharanipathi hopes that all students will consider joining the movement to create change. She described her own mindset on being able to make an impact on the lives of others: “When you are young, you are able to do just as much; I know that I can still do a lot of change right now. I know that I have a lot of privileges in life and I really hope that I can give back to people

who don’t have the same privileges that I do, that I might not even consider privileges in my head.”

The Housing Project’s mission will take time, as the club hopes to create a long-lasting mark on the community. In the meantime, the officers of the Housing Project encourage students to stay committed and involved. “Just know that you’re doing this for some sort of purpose. You want to be mindful and purposeful as to why you’re doing something like this” Patel concluded.

Unlikely Heroes strives to educate and encourage student involvement in raising awareness on human trafficking. Unlikely Heroes club President and West Ranch senior Jonathan Dolce explained that “through Unlikely Heroes, my goal is to inform our school about the closeness of human trafficking and help us all realize that resources are within our grasp to continue that awareness to help those that may need it.”

Dolce recounted that a personal discussion with a friend about human trafficking and doing his own research on the topic is what inspired him to create Unlikely Heroes. “I noticed that I–like most other people I knew–had a severe lack of awareness and understanding of human trafficking. So, I sought a means to change that.”

Unlikely Heroes meets biweekly on Mondays to inform their club members and peers about current information about human trafficking as well as to discuss current and upcoming events to promote awareness.

Dedicated club member and West Ranch senior Sally Rabadi discussed the club’s current schedule of events taking place. “Last semester we did a lot of club meetings where the [club] officers educated and informed students about different types of human trafficking,” Rabadi remarked. “This semester I participated in our fundraising. We also have a guest speaker coming in. Stephany Powell, a former LAPD officer who is now the Vice President And Director of Law Enforcement Training And Survivor Services at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation will come to our school to educate students and spread awareness about this topic.”

Every day is a learning experience for all the club officers and members as they begin to feel the magnitude of their activism.

Human Trafficking is an issue here in Santa Clarita as much as it is a global one. Education of the signs of human trafficking to look out for and the stories of survivors are fundamental tools for students to use in the case of an emergency.

Rabadi shared that the awareness that Unlikely Heroes raises relates to her on a personal level. Her parents’ awareness of human trafficking made them fear the world for her. “This could’ve taught me to live in fear, but instead it made me want to make a change for all the parents that worry for their daughters and children from danger. I want to encourage

Story by Alice Xie, Kimberly Ayson and Julia Kremenetsky

Photos by Jaeeun Park

parents to instead make the world less dangerous so kids will not fear the world but instead to embrace it.”

The Girl Up club aims to empower girls and to highlight gender inequality and discrimination. Senior Jessica Schreier, vice president of the Girl Up club at West Ranch, explained that their main goal is to “raise awareness, not only for the problems that we face in this community, but ones that other women face in other parts of the world and environments.”

Emma Liao, a senior at West Ranch and Girl Up club president, explained how the club works in an effort to “make sure that girls all over our community have equal opportunities and feel like they have a voice.” She added that the club “always tries to look for new ways to help the community, so it’s nice to have a lot of different perspectives and ideas all together to help with that.”

In recent club events, Girl Up has effectively been collaborating with other campus clubs, like the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Black Student Union (BSU) to highlight and gather various perspectives from young female leaders in the community. In recognition of Black History Month, the club invited members of Black Student Union (BSU) to speak about the change they strive for and plan to achieve as black women.

Another event the club recently organized was a fundraiser to sell shirts, with all proceeds being donated to a Los

Angeles homeless shelter, specifically to their center for women and single mothers. Fundraisers and projects similar to these help ensure that young individuals can make a difference, regardless of their age.

Since club members are young activists with limited experience and abilities, Esi Otoo, junior president of Girl Up, advised that “the first step to making a big change is always making people aware of what’s going on. They may not see those issues on their own, so it’s more important than trying to force change upon people who don’t want it.” Otoo hopes that by starting small and expanding your individual knowledge on current global issues, you can stay educated and affect bigger future changes.

Being a member of an organization like Girl Up gives students a sense of direction and provides them with inspiration to make small changes in their everyday lives. Despite the fact that many members are under 18, eligible members are encouraged to go out and vote for what they believe in and to continue in making their voices heard.

Although the club currently consists of all girls, Schreier concluded by encouraging all young activists who believe in standing up for equal rights and change in their community to join Girl Up: “[We] want to eliminate the stigma that only women can join this club, because you don’t have to be only a

California is known for producing a variety of popular films; however, many are unaware of the TV shows and movies that are filmed right here in Santa Clarita. Evan Thomason, Santa Clarita Film Office Representative, addressed the reasons why our town is a filming hotspot. Santa Clarita has “the ability to double as anywhere in the world and gives a variety for the camera in just a short distance or drive for the production,” Thomason said. In addition to the diversity in filming locations, production in Santa Clarita benefits the local economy and provides jobs for those involved in the filming industry.

“Filming is an important part of our local economy here in Santa Clarita. Last year alone the estimated economic impact was over $38 million. That is not money paid directly to the City, but rather money that is spent renting locations, on lumber for set building, catering, equipment rentals, and much more at local businesses,” Thomason said.

The Paw Print has compiled a list of some of the movies and tv shows filmed around Santa Clarita Valley. Here are a few of them:

Iron Man

“Iron Man” is the first in a series of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies that became globally popular. This movie was filmed in various locations, one of them being right here in SCV. Blue Cloud Movie Ranch was used as a filming location for “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 3.” This 250-acre studio has a Third World Town set up on the ranch, which was used to shoot a scene in the town of Gulmira, Afghanistan. Many that live in Santa Clarita Valley see new and old areas that provide the opportunity for filming in any setting. This is the case for “Iron Man.”

“We have a lot of movie studios with sound stages and a lot of movie ranches,” explained Thomason. “Santa Clarita is also close to Hollywood and other studios in Los Angeles and we are located in the 30-mile zone, which is a geographic designation that makes filming less expensive. We also have a variety of distinct locations that offer productions many different looks in a small area.”

The ranch also has caves, crash sites and military vehicles to help make the scene more realistic. For those interested, Blue Cloud Movie Ranch offers scheduled tours and virtual tours on their website for viewers to see the movie set.

Star Trek

“Star Trek” is a science fiction classic with a multitude of renditions over the years. One of the most iconic scenes in the first “Star Trek” movie was the fight between the main character, Kirk, and his enemy, Gorn. Vasquez Rocks, a scenic trail on the outskirts of Santa Clarita that mimics a barren and rocky planet, was used to film the fight scene at the time. While this fight between Kirk and Gorn might be the most famous, there were many other scenes filmed in Vasquez as well, since the empty land was perfect for recreating different alien planets. This landmark is also featured as Vulcan in the Star Trek reboot.

ZOEY 101

The iconic Nickelodeon classic follows Zoey Brooks as she transfers to a previously all-boys boarding school in Malibu. Viewers watch as Zoey and her friends explore new romantic opportunities and experience girlhood in a lighthearted manner. In season three, the production moved their filming to Mann Biomedical Park, a business center in Valencia that strongly resembles a college campus. Originally, “Zoey 101” was filmed at Pepperdine University, however, production was unable to continue within the campus during the school year. Luckily, they were able to film the last two seasons of the show successfully in SCV. All four seasons of the show are currently available for streaming on Netflix and Paramount+.

ATYPICAL

“Atypical” follows Sam, a young adult on the autism spectrum, who navigates through difficult waters as he transitions into adulthood. In the show, he attends Denton University in Connecticut, but in actuality, it was filmed at College of the Canyons. The majority of filming was done in Santa Clarita, with various sets in the show easily being recognized as Bridgeport Park and a local restaurant, Olive Garden. Sadly, the show has been discontinued. At this time, all four seasons of “Atypical” are available to stream on Netflix.

CSI

“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” is a television series that follows a group of forensic investigators who solve crimes at Las Vegas Crime Lab. The show was originally filmed in Rye Canyon due to its similarities to the outskirts of Las Vegas. However, after only eleven episodes, the show moved its location to Santa Clarita Studio.

As an action-packed show, there are many resources needed to properly execute each episode. Similarly, other movies and TV shows require proper permits and planning to accomplish the effect they want.

“There’s a wide variety of special effects that could include mock gunfire or explosions that we need to consider carefully,” Thomason said. “We have been able to permit everything from a plane landing on Valencia Golf Course (for the show 911) to elephants in our neighborhoods.”

“CSI” is frequently filmed in locations around town such as College of the Canyons, Golden Valley High School and the Vista Valencia Golf Course. Occasionally, the show uses Las Vegas as its secondary location; however, Santa Clarita remains the main filming location for this show.

Santa Clarita Diet

“Santa Clarita Diet” is a Netflix show about an ordinary suburban family whose lives take a turn when their mother undergoes a transformation and she begins to crave human flesh.

This horror-comedy series took viewers across Santa Clarita as the family tries to balance work and their secret. The family’s house is located on Weeping Willow Dr., which is right across the street from Valencia High School.

Unfortunately, after three seasons the show was canceled. However, the series is still available on Netflix for viewers to enjoy.

Switched at Birth

“Switched at Birth” is about two families who find out they share a deeply intertwined connection when they receive news that their youngest daughters were, in fact, switched at birth.

In the show, one of the main character’s houses is located in Kansas City, but it was actually filmed about five miles from Six Flags Magic Mountain. Additionally, a school for the deaf in the show was actually filmed at a business park in Valencia.

Furthermore, the show has been filmed in various locations throughout Santa Clarita, capitalizing on the opportunity to use billboards in Newhall and film scenes of a few characters’ houses in Valencia.

West Ranch Film club member Abigail Hodge said, “The vastness of SCV gives a wide variety in set designs for film productions.

Nope

Nope is a horror-science fiction film that follows two siblings who discover an unusual phenomenon in the sky, right above their horse ranch. The movie takes place on Haywood Ranch, which is actually Firestone Ranch, located just outside of Santa Clarita. While there were also other locations used in the movie, this ranch was the primary location for the majority of the filming. The ranch is located in Agua Dulce, which is where many other scenes were filmed. Although the movie has left movie theaters, it’s now available on the streaming service, Peacock.

From a suburban facade to a western front, the city of Santa Clarita provides a large array of possible filming locations. “For a lot of residents, there is a sense of pride seeing our community featured on television and big screen. Santa Clarita is one of the most filmed communities in California,” Thomason expressed.

The next time you watch one of these movies or TV shows, look out for places you’ve seen around Santa Clarita. “Films being produced in my own hometown are so interesting because I see the sets on an everyday basis as just normal surroundings, but then seeing it transformed on the big screen makes it compelling,” West Ranch Film club member Hodge articulated.

The West Ranch varsity basketball team has skyrocketed both their success and popularity during the start of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Currently holding a 29-3 record, the Wildcats are ranked sixteenth in the nation, according to MaxPreps.

This past preseason, the Wildcats competed in many competitive tournaments, such as the Providence Tournament, Tarkanian Classic and Classic at Damien. It was in these tournaments that the Wildcats proved to their fans and competition that they were a powerhouse. West Ranch stormed through teams like Village Christian, Mater Dei and Bishop Gorman before facing their toughest competition: Notre Dame. In the two encounters against Notre Dame, the Wildcats had to play against four and five-star players Dusty Stromer and Caleb Foster. Despite difficulties, both games ended in a single-digit win for the Wildcats. Tough games like these reminded the team that this journey would not be easy, but such experiences also opened their eyes to the potential they had.

As the Wildcats headed into the Foothill League season, there was lots of pressure surrounding how their season would play out. The Wildcats came in as the undefeated Foothill League champions of the past two years, and the team was not looking to give up the title any time soon. “We expect to win league. We don’t expect to lose any games,” captain Andrew Meadow expressed early in the season.

Carrying their momentum, the Wildcats swept the Canyon Cowboys 80-50. Next up were, the Saugus Centurions, and unlike. Unlike other games, the matchup between the two teams waswould be physical. Despite altercations, the Wildcats proved once again that their size was no match, defeating the Centurions 95-59. In the game against their Foothill League rival, the Valencia Vikings, West Ranch players Jaqari Miles, Isaiah Fields, James Evans and Andrew Meadow would score double digits, ultimately

Senior forward Isaiah Fields credited their success to the team’s chemistry both on and off the court, stating, “We have been playing very well as a team these past couple of games.”

With a lossless regular season, the Wildcats are now three-time Foothill League champions. After the final league win against Castaic, Coach Bryant explained the adversity the team had to endure: “It takes hard work, dedication and sacrifice. I think a lot of our guys sacrificed a lot this year to get this moment and we want to make the best out of it.”

Looking back on the win, Isaiah Fields believed that “[League games] were beneficial in order to work on our stance and get a good rhythm going into playoffs.”

Without any sign of slowing down, the Wildcats played their first CIF playoff game against St. John Bosco. What made these playoffs special for the Wildcats was the division. This season marked the first time West Ranch would qualify as an open-division team. In the first half of the game, the Wildcats struggled offensively. Despite multiple offensive looks, they struggled from beyond the threepoint line. However, after a few fast break dunks, as well as Meadow scoring near the basket, the Wildcats were back in the game. Although St. John Bosco made a last-minute run, the Wildcats still pulled out a 55-53 win. “First open division playoff game feels good because this is the highest level of high school basketball, so being able to come out here and protect our home court, it feels good,” Coach Bryant explained after the win.

Senior guard Jaqari Miles explained, “All the hard work we put in since the beginning of the season is finally paying off. Now it’s just time to show how much we deserve it.” Despite their win against St. Bernard, Harvard Westlake was able to defeat the Wildcats 59-50. Another loss to St. Augustine, 60-63, would officially end their historic season.

Story by Colin Park, Patrick Grant and Ethan Lee Photos by Colin Park and Esther Pack

Spring Sports

Story by Patrick Grant, Ethan Lee and Colin Park

Photos by Alyssa Chang, Patrick Grant and Jaeeun Park

With spring well on its way, athletes around West Ranch are gearing up for their respective sports seasons.

Whether it be baseball, volleyball, golf, swim, tennis or lacrosse, the Wildcats boast strong rosters across all of their athletic programs. Here are some names to look out for in competition this spring.

Billie Issa

After seeing immense success last season, senior Billie Issa heads into his final year as a Wildcat less than a second away from school history.

The 3200 meter West Ranch record is 9:02.03, and Issa is well in striking distance with a 9:02.59.

“I only missed it by .5 seconds, so I think I got it this year,” Issa said.

That confidence will not only help him get his name enshrined in the track and field lore, but it will also go a long way toward helping the Wildcats win the Foothill League.

West Ranch is surrounded by quality teams. It will take a combined effort from the entire roster to topple Hart, Valencia and Golden Valley, who all look strong on paper.

But Issa believes he and his teammates can do it.

“We’re all really close. We all practice together everyday, run together and it’s really nice having them there for support,” he said of his team.

Issa was dominant in his cross country season last fall. He’s hoping to recreate some of that magic this spring.

Savannah Gatewood

Following a difficult 18-11 season last year, West Ranch’s girls softball team is looking for revenge.

In the season prior, the Wildcats cruised past some of Foothill’s competition, but ran into some trouble with Valencia and Saugus.

It all boiled down to a 6-6 record in conference play, which got the girls a fourth-place finish in the league.

A league title is the top priority for this softball team this year, and one of the key contributors will be junior Savannah Gatewood, who put up great numbers in her sophomore season, and is looking to build off of them to lead West Ranch to the promised land.

Gatewood put up an outstanding batting average (.462) last year, and this time around she is looking to further improve her numbers.

“I want to try to beat records, other titles that have been held in past years and my own batting average,” Gatewood said of her personal goals.

The girls softball team is at an interesting crossroads. “We’re all just really excited for a new season,” Gatewood explained. “We have a lot of new girls coming up filling big spots on the team so we’re excited to work together.

Caden Soule

The boys varsity volleyball team is in the midst of an unprecedented dynasty, having won a stunning seven League Championships in a row and nurturing consistent winning rosters in that span.

But continuing the tradition looks to be harder than ever this year, primarily due to the volume of graduated seniors last year.

Luckily, new addition and junior Caden Soule is here to help keep the team fully loaded.

“I need to improve my serving accuracy, get better at reading the other team’s plays and be a positive leader and role model for my teammates,” Soule said.

“There are only three returning varsity players this year, so we have to work super hard to rebuild and keep our seven-year streak going,” Soule explained. “We have some talented new players who are eager to contribute and help us achieve our goals.”

With Soule’s help, West Ranch can compete for another league title and extend their reign of dominance one more time.

Jared Admiraal

After a trip to CIF last year, senior Jared Admiraal is looking to follow it up with another successful season.

“We’re very energetic and pumped up for the season. I think we’ll do very well; we have a great team.”

As a senior, he is now the captain of a varsity tennis team that is no stranger to success over recent years. But according to Admiraal, a relationship with longtime teammates is just as important as a title itself.

“We have a really tight bond,” he said of his team. “I’m going to miss them.”

But before he leaves, there is unfinished business. The big West Ranch rivals are eager to spoil his final year, but Admiraal has proven that he is capable of defeating teams like Valencia and Hart in the past.

“I hope we do great this season—let’s keep up the hard work, and let’s win.”

Ty Deperno

As a senior entering his final year, Ty DePerno isn’t shy about his goals.

“I would love to win the league title, and another goal of mine is earning MVP of the Foothill League,” DePerno said. “But mainly I’m aiming for another year of first team nomination.”

Considering DePerno’s caliber as a player, these pursuits aren’t completely out of reach. He has recorded exceptional batting averages (.330 and .333) over the course of his West Ranch baseball career, and his superb numbers have garnered him acceptance to the United States Naval Academy and a spot on their baseball team.

Deperno has been a key player and a strong leader as catcher and shortstop for the Wildcats, surrounded by teammates he has gotten to know well.

“Our senior class has been together for the past four years. We are super close and the bond is just unbreakable,” he said. West Ranch is looking strong as they head closer to conference play.

Lucas Venditti

Now in his third year on the roster, West Ranch junior Lucas Vendetti hopes to take his golf game to the next level.

“I need to put up low numbers so my team can win league. Anything I can do to help my squad is a win enough for me,” he said.

In the three years he has spent in the program, Venditti has become a staple of the team. And now that he has worked his way up from rookie to veteran, he can establish himself as the heavy lifter of West Ranch’s title-hopeful squad.

“Our team has some great young prospects that have truly shown their commitment and put up some great numbers, and our veterans are ready to lead the team to a league championship. It makes us a great group. Chemistry is a very important thing in sports, and we’ve got some of the best.”

The boys varsity team just won a title in 2021—their eleventh in school history. With Venditti’s help, they can do it again.

Emily Fairbanks

Over the course of her four years of track experience, senior Emily Fairbanks has asserted herself as one of West Ranch’s best sprinters.

She has created a strong resume with her 100 and 400 meter times, and her 14’2” long jump snags a spot inside West Ranch’s all-time top 15.

But this year, Fairbanks wants to dabble in other events.

“A personal goal of mine is to adopt a stronger mindset as I’m doing events I’ve never done before,” she shared. Fairbanks is looking to explore the 800 and 1600 meter races, which start to hover around “distance” territory.

Along with trying some longer runs, Fairbanks also wants to treasure her final season, especially after she suffered an injury that kept her out of many of last year’s meets. Spending time with her longtime teammates has become a high priority for her.

“I consider my teammates my family as I spend most of my time with them and they’ve become a huge reason as to why I keep doing what I do,” she said.

Jonathan Gim

Coming off a league title victory just last year, the varsity swim team heads into the season with considerable momentum.

Even though they lost some strong athletes last summer, they can hold their heads high knowing they retained phenom Jonathan Gim, a West Ranch senior who was recently awarded a scholarship to Brown University in the wake of a dominant career.

Gim set a West Ranch record in the 100 yard backstroke last year and will be the backbone of a roster primarily filled with newer talent.

“We’re excited to go out with a bang. We’ve got some new fast guys, and I’m ready to work with them and go fast,” he expressed.

In terms of personal goals, Gim wants to continue doing the same thing he has always done: smash records and destroy league opponents.

“I would like to set some new records for the school myself, and hopefully win the league title this year.” Gim said.

The swimming world will have its eyes on Gim, and as the face of the team, his performance will be the difference between a loss and a hoist of a league title trophy for the second year straight.

Karina Hartounian

The varsity girls are heading into the swim season with one goal in mind: beat Valencia and Hart at league.

“This year we have a better team than last year for girls. So there will be better competition.”

According to Hartounian, this girls team is tight-knit. “Everyone is close, everyone cheers for each other. It’s a great environment. At league [finals] last year, everyone was cheering for each other; I think if we keep that up it will be good.”

Hartounian heads into the new season as the cornerstone of this girls squad. With her at the helm, the varsity girls will be contenders for a league title, further fueling the fierce rivalries between West Ranch, Valencia, and Hart.

Emma Liao

Following a 10-7 league winning campaign last year, the varsity girls lacrosse team heads into the new season looking to maintain control over the Foothill League.

Senior and midfielder Emma Liao will be a big factor in helping the team get there as one of their three captains. “We are heading into this season ready to work hard but also have a lot of fun. We’re all really excited to be playing. This year, I want to continue to better myself, but more importantly build up my younger teammates,” Liao said of her season aspirations.

“The whole team has gotten really close between all the practices and team bonding events. We’ve become good friends even off the field,” Liao explained “Now that it is my final year, I definitely want to work as hard as I can.”

Last year the team went 5-1 in league play, and would have gone undefeated if it weren’t for a late-season hiccup against West Ranch’s arch rival Valencia.

This year, the Vikings are the first Foothill opponent the Wildcats will face.

“What is your favorite song?” may be the single most crisis-inducing question you’ve ever been asked.

You mentally flip through the tracks you’ve listened to that week, lingering on the most loved, until you realize that they are the songs on your playlist that you wouldn’t put on speaker around other people. You respond instead with the title of a pop classic — something you listened to a few times last week. That’s not a lie, and it should be safe, sparing you from judgment.

People have always defined themselves by their preferences, whether they be in hobbies, fashion, shows or the more mundane, like if you break or bite into a KitKat first. Music is only increasing in relevance as another way to categorize people, to assess the kind of person they might be and fit them accordingly into a box.

We all fall into this trap. We’re constantly looking at the music we like through someone else’s eyes, trying to determine what people can discern by scrolling through our playlists. Is something too niche or too mainstream? Is it overly upbeat? Is it not upbeat enough?

Making playlists has become a craft, and in a time where Spotify and Apple Music reign the industry, even private playlists are curated meticulously in order to depict a specific aesthetic.

Senior Caden Lee shared one of her favorite playlists: “I have a playlist called ‘Sparkling water’ — extra carbonated. It’s hyperpop. There’s Machine Girl, this one sort of bleeds your ears a little bit, it hurts. It’s called ‘Sparkling water’ because it tastes like sparkling water. Or, it is sparkling water. You can feel it, it’s carbonated, it bubbles in your blood.”

Nowadays, music platforms like Spotify are another form of social media. With listening activity showing exactly what songs your friends are obsessed with, it can add pressure to cultivate a certain image for the outside world. Will you change the playlist settings to public or private? Do you want to be known as the Mitski-girl or the Playboi Cartiwannabe?

Aside from the inevitable labeling you will experience, sometimes it feels too intimate to share your favorite songs with someone else. Music taste is a big part of what makes you you.

According to West Ranch AP Psychology teacher Mr. Varner, “Music is a form of language. It’s a part of human evolution, and it’s deeply embedded into our brains. It tells a story about who we are, our likes and dislikes. It shows the depth and scope of interests and appreciation for things.”

In today’s era of aggressive acceptance and self-love, society knows how judgment affects the behavior of people — we fear rejection, and we want to avoid such a thing for something so connected to our identity.

“Music can be seen as a form of expression that binds us like a social glue in a way that language doesn’t,” Mr. Varner continued. “We often form an immediate emotional bond when we meet someone that has the same taste in music. This is especially true if the genre of music is not as mainstream but more specific.”

The opposite is also possible. Sharing a piece of yourself so emotionally significant can feel daunting — the doubt creeps in, the fear that you will be laughed at.

“I do feel self-conscious about my public playlists, especially when I edit them. Like when I make a playlist for someone, it has to be public, but I can’t delete it because they won’t have access to it anymore — I don’t want everyone seeing it,” expressed Senior Jaena Danaram.

This helps explain why people are so attached to the

minutiae of their creations. Each aspect of a playlist could have specific relevance, from the order of the content to the cover image.

Many popular playlists on Spotify feature grainy, toneddown cartoon images with aesthetic value. The description box is another prominent feature. Some people choose to write full essays in the text box, creating prose for lucky viewers to enjoy, while some choose to cater to possible listeners, formulating lists of songs that share a somber mood or upbeat tunes for people to change how they feel or sink more deeply into their emotions. Others elect to leave the box an empty void.

Danaram elaborated, “I put random photos that I feel fit the theme of the general playlist, and then I name it after random food, because I can’t think of anything. Sometimes I just name it the title of the first song if it matches the vibe of the overall playlist, and I only put a description if it’s a collaboration playlist.”

A big factor in this whole dilemma is self-view. People listen to music that appeals to the values they like, but that doesn’t always fit with the image they want to cultivate.

“We like to believe we are each so individualistic, but everyone is trying to fit in with some group. Humans have a great ability for adaptation, and when you are aware of the type of music your friend group enjoys, it’s not unusual for you to begin listening to it as well,” reassured Varner.

One’s dedication to establishing a brand should only go so far. We should listen to music we enjoy, regardless of what we think we should listen to, because in the end, music exists for us to appreciate.

Your hesitation to share your playlist is completely valid, but most others likely feel the same way. Be unapologetic in your choices. Listening to music is supposed to be fun — don’t take that away from yourself.

“I used to be self-conscious about my playlists, like ‘that’s a Tik-Tok sound, I’m embarrassed for other people to see that,’” Lee confessed. “But it’s just music! Music is all beautiful, it’s all made by someone. It’s all art.”

“A large part of memory takes place in the unconscious mind. Implicit memories are our unconscious or automatic memories — riding a bike, or remembering a song when some-one starts singing it. Explicit memory fades when we stop using it, while implicit memory may last a lifetime even without consistent use.”

-Mr. Varner, AP Psychology Teacher

Story by Noor Baber Graphics by Noor Baber

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

The mainstream womens’ rights movement has a long history, spanning over 100 years. From early suffrage protests, to the emergence of Riot Grrrls in the punk music scene of the 1990s, the movement has influenced generations and united women from all walks of life to challenge patriarchy and inequality. Over the course of decades of activism and demonstrations, there is no denying the progress feminists have made.

Perhaps the most well-known achievement of the movement was the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave women the legal right to vote. This significant victory for the suffragettes came after countless protests, demonstrations and petitions. Gaining the right to vote allowed many women to gain independence in an important way, through participating in democracy, voicing their ideas, and opening the door for future generations of activists.

The Equal Pay Act, according to the Department of Labor, was passed next in 1963, and the Education Amendments in 1972. The Family and Medical Leave Act went into effect in 1993, and several important Supreme Court decisions throughout the century significantly expanded women’s rights and freedoms in other important ways.

Although much of this legislation has been in place for decades, even today, it remains extremely important that we honor these strides, and celebrate past women’s rights activists.

Senior Erin LaQuay expressed, “I think it’s important to study and celebrate the history and accomplishments of feminism today because it reminds us where we came from and what previous generations fought for. It gives us a chance to reflect and be grateful for what we now have but also become inspired to keep fighting for ourselves and our rights.”

Throughout history, generations of activists have risked their lives to fight against gender inequality and to encourage inclusivity. As explained by Smithsonian Magazine, in the fight for the right to vote, early suffragettes often had to resort to civil disobedience to raise awareness about their cause, staging mass protests while risking imprisonment and punishment. Later trailblazers during the 1960s and 1970s demanded a further expansion of women’s rights, forming advocacy groups and protesting to bring awareness to the fight for equality.

There have been countless activists, who, due to their courage and fearlessness, have earned recognition

as the most prominent trailblazers of their times.

“Even after death, Ruth Bader Ginsburg inspires me,” LaQuay explained. “She fought for gender equality to be protected by law. Her sheer determination in her career and accomplishing her goals inspires me to fight for what I believe in.”

The late Associate Justice, dubbed “The Notorious RBG,” quickly became a vocal advocate during her time on the Supreme Court, well known for her fiery dissents, legal prowess and tireless work to eradicate discrimination.

“I believe activists are people with platforms, and can be artists or musicians,” senior Caden Lee added. “Raveena, an R&B musician, inspires me because through her music, she shares her past abuse and creates it into empowering queer, feminist art. She shows that through the divine feminine, you can rise past trauma and work towards greater goals both in spirituality and feminism.”

Women’s History Month is an extremely crucial month to honor the successes of activists like these. It is an important time to reflect on and remember the women of history who shattered the glass ceiling, and changed the lives of future generations for the better. It acknowledges and commemorates how much women’s rights activists have achieved over decades. It reminds us of the sacrifices previous generations made to lay the groundwork for inclusivity, equity and justice.

LaQuay finished, “Personally, I think it’s important we celebrate women’s history month because it reminds us the fight isn’t over. It helps unite women across the country and helps educate those who wish to learn more about what we’ve accomplished and what we wish to accomplish.”

Women’s History Month is a reminder of how far society has come toward the goal of eradicating discrimination, and how decades of protests and activism have changed societal views on issues surrounding gender inequality. It is an opportunity to raise awareness on these issues, while acknowledging that without these courageous women, many of the opportunities we have today would not exist. Today, it is an opportunity to encourage and empower generations of girls and remember the determination and hard work of women who left an extraordinary impact on society.

So, this Women’s History Month, I encourage you to take time to learn about the impact women have left on society, and celebrate their stories and successes.