The Shirley Review Issue 1

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The

SH I RLEY REVI EW VOLUME 01 | ISSUE 01

Windward School

FALL/WINT ER 2019-20

The student voice of Windward School

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Windward Cheer Makes its Debut How Taylor Hannan ’20 challenged norms and changed Windward tradition Juliana Bologna

We pull off our skins one by one:

Managing Editor

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. you can find the new Windward cheerleaders stretching, setting formations, and learning choreography on Foley Field or cheering on the sidelines at Friday varsity sports games. Cheerleading, which is a classic part of athletic culture and school spirit, has been missing from Windward athletics for the last 15 years. Now, the narrative is finally changing.

From its inception, Windward never had cheerleaders. When Windward was smaller, Shirley Windward believed in equity for both sexes and wanted to make sure girls were competing in sports and not just cheering for boys. Windward was not big enough to have girls participate in both sports and cheer, and at the time, people viewed cheerleading differently. Back then, people believed that cheerleading was not a competitive, coed, scholarship-producing, athletic activity.

About 15 years ago, when Windward grew in size, a parent who was a former Laker girl coached a cheer team. Interest in cheerleading surged

at that time, and the team lasted for a few years until interest waned and was no longer enough to support the program. Then three years ago, Taylor Hannan ‘20 came up with the idea to revive and improve Windward’s Cheer squad.

According to Hannan, it was a lways something she wanted to do because of her dance background.

Throughout her years at Windward, she came to realize she was not the only student who wanted to bring back cheerleading, as other students often commented that the absence of cheer on campus detracted from the typical high school experience. It was important for Hannan to make this wish a reality, so she turned to Athletic Director Tyrone Powell for help

and guidance.

Powell’s initial role was to work with Collegiate Dean of Students Kevin Coale and Prep Division Counselor Gail Holmes to determine whether Windward was going to have a Cheer team that competed in CIF-SS competitions or one that was based on community engagement and performances. Ultimately, they decided to keep cheer on Windward’s campus, which allowed for a flexible team and schedule.

Of course, no successful journey comes without setbacks. Two of the biggest challenges Hannan faced were finding a coach and then designing the uniforms, which was where most of the stigma originated.

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you have become a part of its culture.

You understand that academics are difficult and require hard work.

Imagine you come to Windward in 9th Grade. The friend groups, or cliques, are relatively set. Your classmates have already made the necessary academic and athletic transitions. Windward is different from your old school. The schedule takes some getting used to. The Pavilion has bagels, breakfast burritos, chicken tenders, a salad bar, sushi, fruit, ice cream, and so much more. What should you get?

Being new to Windward in any grade aside from 7th comes with a unique set of challenges. Not only are you expected to adjust to Windward’s distinct culture, but you also have to adapt academically, socially, and athletically. You have to learn

how to balance a packed schedule.

Various students spoke to this reporter about their experiences, illuminating both some of the challenges and positive aspects that came with being a new student at Windward. As expected, there

Crossing the Bridge New students describe their unique experiences at Windward as a challenge and opportunity Cayla Kallman & Aaron Goldstein Sports Editors

It’s the first day of 7th Grade Orientation, and you are 12 years old, surrounded by 90 other new classmates, none of whom know each other. You feel a sense of nervousness, but also excitement. You don’t know what to expect. Everyone is experiencing the same feelings that you are, but nobody is showing it.

Fast forward a few months. You have your set of friends. You’ve found your people. You understand the way Windward is run and, beyond that,

SKINS the first comes easily a pinched concord grape sucked between the lips; the second rips a little at the left eyelid, like an exquisite response to a deft dentist drill; the third resists, one edge caught between thumb and forefinger, forfeits nothing until pain, but tears at last becoming docile, transparent powerless as a discarded snake sheath; the fourth stings brow to armpit to belly, requiring two hands for removal, yet yields at last a strange skin, replica tough, unwilling to leave without a parting, even a deadly twist.

Now all lies naked the mirror speaks a truth from an unfamiliar face; a particle of peace hangs on the expression around the mouth and under that fresh, clear rose another skin is growing.

Shirley Windward

were initially some difficulties. A few students mentioned the academics were hard to adjust to, as many of their old schools did not assign the amount of homework that Windward does—at first, it was challenging Continued on page 3

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Student News

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Spirit High for Homecoming 2019 Community Rallies Together for Spirit Week 2019 Sofia Pirri

Editor-in-Chief

At Lunch on October 2, 2019, the booming sound of pop music and cheering made its way from the Bridge all the way to the Pavilion. If a curious bystander were to approach the scene, they would find a watermelon-eating contest and the surrounding four-person-deep crowd as the source of the commotion.

This contest was one of the many popular activities that SLB and parent volunteers held during Spirit Week in anticipation of Windward’s Homecoming game. While Spirit Week, is an annual tradition, it is difficult to deny this year’s celebrations had exceptional spirit and enthusiasm. What accounts for this shift?

That would be the hard work of SLB, Blue Crew, and parent volunteers.

This year, students and faculty alike noticed a difference in the quality of Spirit Week activities. Two years ago, the week was entirely student-run. While SLB worked with parent volunteers last year, this year the two groups were much more organized. “The issue with the year

before was that we had zero communication,” explains SLB member Samantha (Sam) Goldsmith ’20, “so we had no clue what was even going on and how we were supposed to help run it.” What made the planning process easier was meeting with the parents much earlier, before the 2019 school year even started.

SLB members and parent volunteers easily delegated their responsibilities. According to Jack Silvera ’20, “We run it; they provide the means.”

While parents provided funds, SLB and Blue Crew had a promotional role: making posters and posting on social media. Members of Blue Crew and SLB were also at the Bridge at Lunch to help facilitate the activities, including the popular watermelon-eating contest.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this year’s revamped spirit week was the class competition. Despite many 12th Graders complaining that this would be the first time the Seniors did not win, the Class of 2020 pulled through with first place.

Some may think it was Drake Wertlieb’s ‘20 astonishing plank-holding victory over Henry Hopper ‘19 that put the Seniors in First Place, but Silvera has another theory: “The Seniors won because we are the best.”

The triumph of Spirit Week culminated when Windward dominated Thatcher 38-12 in the football game.

The players were absolutely well-prepared, but the increased student spirit helped drive them to success.

Freshmen Lament New Phone Rules Will Less Phone Usage During School Result in More Frequent Face-To-Face Interaction?

Ryan Altman & Sasha Bernthal Copy Editors

For many Windward middle schoolers, one of the most exciting aspects of their forthcoming high school experience is potential phone usage during breaks on campus. At least, that was true for the Class of 2023 this past Spring.

Despite their understandable expectation for those oh-so-desir-

able cell phones, the administration announced during the closing weeks of the 2018-19 school year that incoming 9th Graders were to be without their devices during school hours this year, until Spring Break, at least.

The Prep Division team wanted students to focus more on their studies, and, perhaps more importantly, on each other. Garret Tyau, Dean of Students for the Prep Division, cites “ongoing research with regards to media usage among adolescents” as a primary motivator for the rule installation.

However upset the Freshman class was originally, it turns out that now the imposition has become more of a daily annoyance. The rule is viewed as unfair, as it was implemented on this specific class, while previous classes had been extended this privilege. As 7th and 8th Graders, the students did not have access to cell phones at all during the school day, so to the new 9th Grade, this devel-

opment was more of an adjournment than a punishment.

Although students were upset about the lack of cellular access during the school day, another concern they had was for their safety.

“an inconvenient opportunity to have a better education and be more socially active” What the Freshmen are referring to is an excerpt from the new policy stating that “in the event of an emergency, 9th grade students should alert adults on campus and may use a school phone to contact their parents/guardians.” The students believe that in an actual emergency, it would not be safer to find a member of the Prep Division to contact their par-

ents because typically emergencies are time-sensitive—alerting parents/ guardians from their personal devices would be a faster and safer system.

In response to that concern,Tyau mentioned that students are often misinformed during potential emergencies; potential misinformation for parents could also be very dangerous.

Despite some of those aforementioned concerns over safety and the mild annoyance of being “singled out,” the class of 2023 generally seems to believe the newly-implemented phone rule is beneficial to their Windward experience. The Freshmen view it as an inconvenient opportunity to have a better education and be more socially active; having your head stuck in a phone during lunch projects an air of “don’t talk to me,” and they know that.

Overall, students are content with the new rule and are now enjoying a more authentic high school experience.

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Cheerleaders Continued from page 1

Ultimately, she was able to compromise on an outfit after comparing the length and fit of the clothing to tennis uniforms. With the help of Lola Krueger ‘20, she designed a cheer uniform that fit in with the athletic community and represented Windward’s iconic colors. In the absence of a coach, Hannan, along with Ava Green ‘20, has assumed the role of Cheer Captain in order to temporarily run the practice as a coach would.

Windward’s cheer team was approved by the administration after six months of negotiations and compromise. Student advocates spent time researching and presenting their ideas to administrators with Windward’s values in mind. Windward is large enough that the School’s athletic teams did not lose players to the program, and the program is open to all Upper School students, which were important characteristics planners kept in mind throughout this process.

Next year, the team is seeking a coach so the sport will not be solely student-run. Hannan will also be appointing a new captain before she graduates in order to maintain student leadership roles.

Hannan hopes cheerleaders will have a reputable presence on Windward’s campus and will represent school pride throughout the year, not just during Spirit Week. She is hoping that with the right leadership, cheer will continue to be successful even after she graduates. She has already heard discussions amongst the middle schoolers about cheer-

leading, which they can look forward to joining in 9th Grade.

Powell is hopeful for the future as well, as Hannan and her team have put together a positive experience that will set up members to carry the program forward. According to Powell, “Taylor has been fantastic: she is organized, passionate, and truly wants this to be one of the marks

First Day Continued from page 1

to manage the workload in an efficient and effective way.

Another difficulty was the adjustment to Windward’s culture. With “Ray Days,” W!T, calling teachers by their first names, Pancake Breakfast, four-day schedules, and so many more distinct events, days, and habits relating to Windward, the overall culture definitely takes some adjustment.

One student who came to Windward in 9th Grade spoke about the challenges he experienced relating to OneCards and working on iPads.

The student talked about how it was difficult to manage his own spending in the Pavilion and said that, during his first week, he bought eight packs of Oreos. As far as working with an iPad, he had never used one to do schoolwork before, so it was initially hard to forgo the idea of using paper to complete assignments.

Another student touched on the difficulties of forming friendships.

She talked about how it was difficult to find her people because friendships had already been formed and memories had already been created.

She mentioned it was hard to feel included when people reminisced about old trips, sporting events, and funny anecdotes for which she had not been around.

A student-athlete talked about how he felt the need to prove himself when first transitioning from the relaxed manner of middle school athletics to the intensity of high school varsity athletics, and he said he had to prove that he deserved his spot on the team.

Despite those challenges, the students we spoke with eventually adapted to Windward’s unique cul-

ture and have found places in which they thrive. In particular, one student said that finding a large group of friends made her transition smooth.

Another student said that playing a sport made it easier to find friends because they were part of a group that had a common, unified trait.

Although difficult at first, students generally adapted to the initially confusing schedules and were able to get into the groove of their routines.

Students also began forming study habits that suited them best as individual learners in their new academic settings.

Despite the initial challenges, students ultimately figure out how to balance all their time and labor-intensive activities in a way that works

that she leaves as a member of the Class of 2020. Our community is one of “doers” with our students actively enjoying the entire Windward experience.”

Now, if Hannan and the cheer team can successfully increase attendance at varsity games, it will be, as Powell says, “ A win, win!”

for them. They eventually find friends who share similar passions and who accept them for who they are. Lastly, students end up realizing that although academics can be very difficult at times, their Windward teachers care about their success.

So, to a new Windward student: please take a deep breath. You got this! We know that things may seem a bit overwhelming and stressful right now, but please have faith in the process. School will get better.

Stay true to yourself. As you may have heard before, “your vibe attracts your tribe,” and your authenticity will draw others to you. You will find your people. In terms of academics, please remember that one bad grade does not define you as a person or student. You will be able to turn things around and grow from your mistakes. If you need support, please lean on your teachers, coaches, counselors, parents, and friends; they all want you to succeed. Overall, just remember that Windward cares about you and values who you are as a person.

What are you doing still reading this? Go grab a breakfast burrito and meet someone new!

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Uriel Aguirre: The Public Face of Windward’s Nurturing Community An integral community member, Windward’s Head of Security Uriel Aguirre shares his story Sofia Pirri

Editor-in-Chief

It’s the middle of nowhere Texas. A lone sign reads, “Dust storm.

Remain seated and buckled in.” A man riding his motorcycle thinks, “Wait a minute, wait a minute: There are no seatbelts on my motorcycle.”

He shrugs, hopes for the best, but rides full throttle ahead.

A short, young boy plays the trombone in a California high school marching band competition known as SCSBOA. His school is the first L.A.U.S.D. school to win, and he’s elated. Few people would guess these two men are the same: Uriel Aguirre, Windward School’s beloved Head of Security.

Aguirre came to Windward five years ago after working security for a law firm down the street from school.

He started part time at Windward monitoring basketball games at the suggestion of his buddy, Jose. But Aguirre’s main job at the firm wasn’t working for him. “I can’t be stuck inside an office all day every day. I’m used to being outdoors.” Luckily for him, an opportunity came ringing.

Windward’s head of security, Tony Hale (who some may know as the man with the remarkably long beard), called Aguirre early one morning and asked him to leave his job at the law firm to come work for him. Aguirre has been here ever since.

As it turns out, Hale is not only Aguirre’s boss, but also his neighbor and good friend. “He’s a teddy bear,” says Aguirre. Back when Hale worked consistently at Windward, the two would carpool to work. Hale and Aguirre, however, prefer a different mode of transportation: namely, motorcycles.

“I’ve been fascinated by motorcycles since… jeez, I was a kid. So once I got a chance to go get my own, I took off, you know, like ‘Let’s go!’”

Aguirre bought his first motorcycle six years ago.“Is that it?” I ask, pointing to the bike parked under the small tent in the Sawtelle lot.

Aguirre gives a hearty chuckle.

“No, that’s my third one.”

His first bike was a Yamaha R6, and he bought both his second and

current cycles on a whim while browsing a Harley Davidson dealership with Hale. Aguirre guesses that he’s ridden around 70,000 miles total, including throughout California and in Ireland and Mexico. Last spring break, he and Hale rode 500 miles to Oklahoma in three days.

They brought sleeping bags for night, with the adventurous philosophy: “Wherever we crash, we’re crashing.”

While Aguirre may have the desire to roam with his bike, he still lives close to home. He grew up in Los Angeles, “in between K Town, midcity, pickle union, and South Central,” he says. He now lives in Inglewood, but doesn’t mind the commute. It may take an hour in the truck, but on the motorcycle, he claims, it’s about fifteen minutes.

Aguirre is the middle child in his family with four brothers and a 19-year-old sister, Karen. He’s closest to his older brother, Dennis: a marine, very mellow, the “one everyone comes to” in the family. “We went to school together, we did everything together,” Aguirre explains, his voice tinged slightly with nostalgia.

But his family is still close-very close. In fact, Aguirre’s younger brother, Raùl, started working at Windward this year. “You know the young guy that’s been doing crosswalks these past couple weeks? That’s my little brother.”

It isn’t always easy working with family, though, and Aguirre mentions a time when he had to explain to Raùl, “Work is work, and family is family. So if you’re not doing something right, I will say something.”

The conversation occurred after Raùl showed up late a few times . “He’s on time now.”

I chuckle. Aguirre does not. Brotherly disputes aside, Aguirre is content with his security team at Windward.

“All my guys are great. Hard-working...I [can] go home, and I know that my guys are taking care of it the same way I would take care of it.” The Windward security team’s dedication to their work and, particularly, to the people they work with, goes far from unnoticed.

Aguirre himself is a fixture in the community. Juniors and Seniors cheered vigorously during his appearance at a Monday Morning Meeting early in the year, and his dependable warmth and optimism charm each

All the Wright Moves: Kijani Wright ’22 Talented Sophomore receiving national attention for his skills on and off the court

Cayla Kallman & Aaron Goldstein Sports Editors / The Dream Team

driver who enters the Sawtelle lot.

Mateen Rosenblaum ‘20 remarks that “Uriel literally waves good morning to me everyday… and you can tell he truly likes the students.”

Aguirre’s genuine friendship with the students grows increasingly evident throughout our interview, as Seniors returning from off-campus lunch trips collect their OneCards and exchange greetings.

Seniors Ben Knepper and Ally Lopez have gotten to know Aguirre quite well. “He is my favorite person at Windward,” says Knepper. (Sorry, teachers!) “There have been a few times where I have stayed late after school and would have a great conversation with him on the way out.”

Lopez is similarly affected by Aguirre’s warmth. “[He] will always say good luck before basketball games and ask how we did afterwards… and he always has good jokes.” Aguirre is, in the ever-laconic words of Berkeley Goldschmidt ‘20, “[the] GOAT.” But he has some attributes with which Windward students certainly aren’t familiar. When I ask Aguirre to name an aspect of himself that most students would not know, he volleys back a question, “You’re into music, right?” (It’s a further testament to his rapport with the students.) It turns out, Aguirre played the trombone for eight years and drums for a short while. “In high school, I did two years of marching band and we won--what was it?--a gold medal for SCSBOA. We were the first band in LAUSD to win that.” His admission of this accomplishment is so subtle that I almost don’t realize its significance.

Aguirre’s road to musical success was, strangely enough, affected by his height. He originally wanted to play the bass, but his mother thought he was too short. “She goes, ‘You’re gonna look goofy, the bass is going to look bigger than you! No, go give the drums a shot.’” Earlier, when Aguirre played the trombone in middle school, he had trouble reaching the C note at the end of the instrument.

“My music teacher actually made fun of me and put me on the baritone horn until I grew.” He tells these stories with a chuckle, laughing at himself. Because his mother pushed him to play, Aguirre has a “love-hate” relationship with music. “Eventually, when I had the chance to slip off and go play football, I did that.”

I conclude our interview by asking Aguirre what he’s looking forward to most in the coming months.

He mentions the holidays because he can get together with family. But something Aguirre isn’t looking forward to is losing his family of Seniors: “I wouldn’t say the end of the year because that means that you guys get to move on. It’s like, ‘ah, bummer, those are my Seniors.’” After talking to Rosenblaum, Knepper, Lopez, and Goldschmidt, it’s safe to say the Seniors feel the same way.

Uriel Aguirre may be a trombone player. He may be a friend of the enigmatic Tony Hale. A motorcycle enthusiast. An adventurer. But he is also an integral part of the Windward community. And for his optimism, his daily ‘good morning’ waves, and his genuine interest in the students, we are all grateful.

Imagine being 16 years old and receiving offers from schools like Stanford University, USC, UCLA, and more. You’re only a lower classman in high school, so you have to keep your head in the right place and continue working hard regardless of any attention you may be getting. You have to keep pace academically while continuing to improve your skills on the court.

The need to stay focused on your craft, while balancing academics, is the reality for many athletes across the country who aspire to take their game to the next level. Kijani Wright (Kij), Class of 2022, has earned offers from seven top-tier schools to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level.

Many players tend to start their basketball journeys at the young age of two or three with a little plastic hoop in their backyard, but Kijani started playing basketball when he was 11 years old. The first time he picked up a ball, he immediately fell in love with the game. While other

kids were playing hop-scotch, on the monkey bars, or chatting with friends, he recalls working on his mid-range jump shot during breaks in elementary school. When he first started, he was “uncoordinated in ball-handling and shooting,” but as he began applying himself and really putting in time and effort, he realized that he had a unique skill set and felt driven to maximize his potential.

Kijani joined his first club team, BFT (Basketball’s Finest Training) at age 12. Within a few years, after

attending various trainings, camps, and practices, he tried out for and made the Compton Magic Elite team, a prestigious basketball organization in the Los Angeles area that has featured the likes of world-class players including Aaron Afflalo, Jalen Hands, Allen Crabbe, Jules Bernard, and T.J. Leaf.

His recruiting process started after joining the Compton Magic program, around the time Kijani was a Freshman. Since then, he has worked on improving many aspects

of his game, particularly his strength and perimeter shooting. While most players his size are limited to scoring in the paint, one of the ways in which Kijani sets himself apart is with his outside jumpshot.

On the court and in life, Kijani’s 6’8” frame is hard to miss. He impacts the game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

He is a versatile player, as he has the ability to play three positions successfully and effectively, a feat that most Continued on page 8

New Club Ponders Life’s Biggest Questions An Existential Conversation with Guest Speaker Tom Lysaght Ben Knepper Staff Writer

How can we optimize the extent of our knowledge of the world using interdisciplinary philosophy and science to guide us in this pursuit? This guiding question provides the framework for Windward’s SophoScientia Club (“Sophos” being the latin root of “philosophy” and meaning wisdom, and “Scientia” being that of “science” and meaning knowledge) in which members analyze abstract questions and phenomena.

As the founder of this club, I organize meetings and discussion topics. Most recently, we have been discussing perhaps the most fundamental question of them all: Is there a meaning or purpose to life and the universe? To provide an interesting outside perspective on this conversation, I invited writer, philosopher,

and member of the Bahá’í Faith, Tom Lysaght, to be a guest speaker.

In the meeting prior to Lysaght’s special appearance, members of the SophoScientia Club watched “The Time Lapse of the Future,” a 30-minute video that illustrates scientific predictions of how our universe will progress and eventually perish.

Lysaght initiated the discussion with a comment regarding how most people viscerally react to witnessing such an existentially threatening prophecy: “One of the—some people can say—depressing things about this movie...is that it shows how over millions of years, the planet that we are most familiar with is not going to be as it is now.”

In our materialistic society, Lysaght claims, we often equate the fulfillment of life with the preservation of our assets. Medicine is a perfect example because we use it to maintain our body for longer and longer.

However, Tom proposed to the group that this somewhat pessimistic view may not be entirely accurate or deserved; it is, in fact, “creative sacrifice,” not preservation, which guides the laws of nature. Consider the sun.

It expends millions of tons of itself every second, which, in turn, affords us light and the ability to live. The sun’s sacrifice, in other words, is the necessary impetus for our own gain, unbeknownst to it.

Even in this sun example, the SophoScientia members noticed the interplay of the sciences and the arts. In order to describe this situation as a whole, one must comprehend the general chemistry behind the sun’s natural death and the way in which we personally experience it. Lysaght denotes this cumulative description of the universe as “cosmology,” a story that “entertains the mystery of existence, realizing it is this happy combination of the physical and non-physical.” As Kit Foster ‘20 pointed out, it seems as though

Science and Philosophy will always coexist as we attempt to narrate the enigmatic nature of our existence.

As the discussion neared its end, Lysaght left the group with a friendly request. In the midst of our rigorous attempt to decipher our own purpose and that of the cosmos, Lysaght asks that we all consider having a “noble goal.” This goal does not have to be strictly religious, scientific, or philosophical, but can instead be any motive which we strive to uphold that serves as a path upon which we can walk with the mystery of the universe. For example, it can be to study and learn as much as possible, to have as much pleasure as possible, or to make as much money as possible. None of these are intrinsically wrong, and what matters most is the way in which we direct our lives; perhaps in this framework, we can all give off light the way the sun does.

And so I ask you all, what is a purpose for which you are willing to sacrifice?

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Driving to School: Restrictions Apply Windward’s driving policy can seem inconvenient not knowing the reasoning behind the rules

Russell Jacobs Features Editor

As soon as students get their driver’s licenses, they’re thrilled at the prospect of being able to drive to school. Driving means independence. Students with a license do not have to rely on parents to drop them off on time or worry about being embarrassed when their parent shouts, “Love you, honey!” at the curb. Driving is one more step toward self-reliance. However, what students should know is that getting a license isn’t just a free pass to drive to school. Driving to school comes with responsibility and many things to be aware of. Here are some things to keep in mind when driving to and parking at school.

We’ve all heard the words “conditional use permit” mentioned during a conversation related to parking guidelines on and off campus, but not a lot of us actually understand what it is or what it really means. So, I sat down with Kevin Coale, Dean of the Collegiate division, to get a better understanding of what Windward’s conditional use permit entails.

Essentially, the permit ensures that Windward maintains a healthy

relationship with its neighbors. You may be wondering how the conditional use permit relates to us or to your ability to drive on campus.

Because the conditional use permit ensures that Windward and its neighbors get along, it dictates parking policies to ensure that traffic in the area remains relatively light.

Given this, only Juniors and Seniors are allowed to drive to school. Sophomores who have their licenses are not permitted to drive to school––this is only because there would not be enough parking should Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors all drive themselves to school. So don’t fret, Sophomores, you’ll be driving to school in no time!

Juniors and Seniors are allowed to park on campus if they participate in a carpool. At Windward, a carpool is defined as having three or more “occupants” in the car. This means a minimum of two passengers accompanying the driver, but the more the

merrier. This year’s carpool policy changed from two to three occupants to further reduce traffic in the area and abide by the conditional use permit. Kevin Coale offered some advice for maximizing your chances at getting a spot. Get your license as soon as possible. That way, your license will unrestricted, meaning you can drive others and can park on campus as early as your Junior year. Begin planning your carpool ahead of time. Ask your friends. Go through the student directory. Find students who are willing to participate in your carpool so that by the time you plan to enter the raffle, you will have a reliable carpool and therefore, a better shot at obtaining a spot. Windward prioritizes drivers with the greatest number of occupants in order to reduce traffic and emissions.

If you can’t find a carpool because your license is still provisional or picking up students does not fit in your schedule, you can still drive to

school––you’ll just have to park off campus. Yes––parking off campus is definitely harder. The best advice for finding a spot off campus in designated areas (i.e., Palms, Sawtelle, and McLaughlin) is to arrive at school early. With a cushion of about 10 minutes, you won’t have to worry should you be circling around Palms or Sawtelle a few times before finding a spot. Remember that Sawtelle and McLaughlin have street cleaning, so be sure to plan ahead of time.

And while parking on McLaughlin may be far, sometimes it may be nice to get a brisk walk in and clear your head before that test in first period.

Just remember that there is street cleaning on both.

Yes, these are a lot of things to consider. Driving to school comes with numerous responsibilities on and off the road, and the conditional use permit has numerous guidelines.

But ultimately, now that you have a better sense of what the conditional use permit is and what it says, you will be better prepared for when you drive to school. And if you’re ever a bit stressed about finding a parking spot, try to remember that driving to school is exciting. Listen to a playlist that gets your energy going or a podcast that interests you while you drive. You get to be independent and keep track of your schedule, and that’s a big deal.

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Teachers Showcase W!T Outside the Classroom Windward teachers unleash their inner immaturity for annual match Sofia Pirri

Editor-in-Chief

Melanie Arias, PhD, flaps her arms like chicken wings, squawking something unintelligible about spaghetti. Bowtie-wearing science teacher Kevin Kloeker poses beside her, back arched and eyes wide. Junior Casey Hartman stirs an imaginary cauldron while oscillating between an Italian and vaguely Transylvanian accent. The opposing team and audience, comprised of students, parents, other faculty, and Tom Gilder, watch in a mixture of laughter and abject horror. Ah yes, the W!T faculty match is afoot.

Windward’s high school improv troupe began the season with the much-anticipated faculty match.

Students delighted in seeing their favorite teachers put on the spot, acting as immaturely as students long suspected they did. Teachers enjoy this unique opportunity to be understood beyond the scope of the classroom. The faculty lineup in the October 11 match included Carrie Creighton, Tyrone Powell, Simon Huss, Tessa Weinstein, Kevin Kloeker, Melanie Arias, Sarah Clarke, and JP deGuzman.

W!T’s manager, Kit Foster ’20, notes that even though “It’s Windward, and we don’t usually have seri-

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ous relationships with our teachers,” the faculty match is still a chance “to see teachers in other contexts.”

If anything, the faculty match serves as a great exercise in strengthening community, something on which Windward certainly prides itself.

Foster says that W!T’s involvement of teachers is a longstanding tradition. “My brother did it, and the people before him did it, too.” Historically, the faculty match has been Windward Improv’s most popular event besides the alumni match.

But avid followers of W!T may have noticed a break from tradition: This match was the first time that students and faculty played in mixed teams. Previously, the two groups had always played against one another in “a classic trope,” as Foster remarks.

The idea to evenly disperse teachers and students on teams came from the success of last year’s first ever parent match. Students wanted to play with their parents rather than against them, and the team found that this set-up boosted morale. After all, the only thing better than watching teachers make fools of themselves is doing it with them.

Not all of the interactions were foolish, though. Kit Foster was astonished at some of the faculty’s skills: “JP deGuzman is weirdly amazing at Improv. He connects with people really well. It’s something that I find hard to do.” Perhaps students can learn from their teachers both in the

classroom and on the stage.

While the audience found ample hilarity in the match, particularly from an exasperated Ava Weyland ’19 at her wit’s end, the humor extended well into the rehearsals. Kit Foster reminisces on his favorite moment from practice: “Melanie comes in as a gremlin, with a high-pitched, squeaky voice. It’s very funny. Then it cuts to Tyrone, and he has to copy all the mannerisms that Melanie did.

Tyrone--for a solid ten seconds-stops, thinks about it, scratches his

chin, and then speaks. His voice goes so much higher and more crackle-y than anyone expected. The room just breaks out laughing because it’s…

Tyrone.”

Without a doubt, Windward faculty will continue to participate in such mirth for years to come. But this is only because the audience enjoys it so much. Foster explains the golden rule of Improv: “I’m okay.

You’re okay. We’re okay. Let’s have fun.” And that is precisely what the students, faculty, and audience did.

All About Art: MOCA’s Teen Program Art museum teen program engages students in the world of fine art

Sep

ROC ROC is a noodle house on Sawtelle with limited seating that offers a menu of Chinese specialties. They are

Chipotle If you want taco Tuesday every day, look no farther than Chipotle, a short drive down Sepulveda. As as another fan favorite of Windward Seniors, you can often see their signature brown bags during lunch. Senior Jeremy Markovitz enjoys grabbing a carnitas burrito at least once a week because he is able to drive there and back in under 45 minutes.

How to Get There

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Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf The Coffee Bean wins first place in terms of convenience, given that it

Whole Foods Whole Foods is the second most popular spot for seniors to grab lunch because they have a wide variety to choose from, it’s close by, and there is lots of parking. For some, like Leila Williams, it is the only place she goes because of the distance. She loves taking advantage of the salad bar, and fresh-pressed juices.

OFF-CAMPUS EATS

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Although we are lucky enough to have a wonderful CulinArt staff that provides great food on campus, going off-campus is a right of passage and privilege to which manyWindward students look forward.

After discussing with Seniors and Juniors that go off-campus, we found that most go every other day, sometimes every other week. Some choose to stay on campus for lunch and extended breaks out of convenience, or fear of losing their parking spot.

As Juniors wait to get the opportunity to leave campus this upcoming spring, Seniors have already found their go-to spots, many of which are popular places for the Class of 2020.

best known for their soup dumplings and chive pancakes. Many Seniors love that it is close by, although it is hard to eat during a 45 minute lunch period since it is a sit-down restaurant. However, there are a few people who have a free period and are able to find the time to go. Senior Matt Kessler doesn’t go often, but when he gets the chance, he loves getting chicken soup dumplings.

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Managing Editor

is just across the 405 on Sepulveda. Many students choose to walk instead of drive so they won’t lose their parking spot, or to get extra steps in. If you don’t see any students getting their coffee pick-me-up during lunch, you can almost always find someone from Windward waiting in line before or after school.

Wa shi

Juliana Bologna

Page 7

I have always loved going to different museums in Los Angeles, familiarizing myself with different artists, finding my way through different galleries. However, I never thought I would have the opportunity to curate an art exhibit myself.

This all changed when I began working part time at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of their Teen Program.

As one of the leading contemporary art museums in Los Angeles, MOCA embraces the inevitability of change in the art world by

exposing the public to a wide range of contemporary artists’ perspectives. MOCA has two collections in different locations in Downtown Los Angeles: MOCA Grand and MOCA Geffen. MOCA Grand, the flagship location, houses MOCA’s primary permanent collection as well as a few temporary exhibits.

MOCA Geffen, a former police car warehouse in Little Tokyo, was renovated by architect Frank Gehry into what is now 40,000 square feet of exhibition space. Both these spaces offer opportunities to view various modern art collections, each housing their own permanent collections and temporary exhibits.

The MOCA Teen Program hires twenty high school Juniors and Seniors with the purpose of encouraging other teens to involve

themselves in the fine arts. As a MOCA Teen, I help plan frequent events throughout the school year for the public—particularly teens— to engage in conversation about different contemporary artists.

To get the position, I first wrote a few essays explaining why I value contemporary art, and I identified a painting by Roy Lichtenstein as a piece of work that influenced my overall perspective on contemporary art. I later interviewed at the museum over the summer, during which I had to walk through the gallery space and choose a specific piece of art that spoke to me and explain why.

Something I have come to appreciate working at MOCA is having the opportunity to visit various exhibits around Los Angeles with the other teens in the program. One

of my favorite exhibits was one in Koreatown by Iris Yirei Hu titled hands are full blue. Hu describes this exhibit as a collaboration between herself, other artists, and the environment around her. She is extremely conscious of her environmental footprint, choosing to use only natural pigments in her work.

As a MOCA Teen, I also collaborate with my peers to put on Teen Night, an evening in which MOCA’s exhibits are open exclusively to teens after dark––for free. Teen Night is a great opportunity to explore MOCA’s permanent exhibits to learn about contemporary art.

My experience working at MOCA so far has been an incredible way of engaging with other teens who are as passionate as I am about promoting access to art.

W Sports WINTER UPDATE

TEAM RESULTS Girls Tennis: 3rd in League Girls Volleyball: 20-11 Football: 11-0, CIF-SS Champions Royal MS Football: Champions

Girls Cross Country: 4th in League Boys Cross Contry: 3rd in League Boys Basketball: 9-0...

(St. Monica Tournament Champions)

Windward School

- est.

Page 8 1971 -

One Game, Seven Years How one game was a microcosm of this decade of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball Ryan Altman Copy Editor

Aaron Goldstein Sports Editor

On October 9, 2019 the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Washington Nationals 7-3 in 10 innings.

The win sent the Nationals into the NLCS, baseball’s Final Four, and handed the Dodgers their seventh consecutive season-ending loss. For Dodger fans, the loss was even more devastating than it should have been because of what it represented: the past decade of Dodger baseball that included individual success and hope, met with disappointment. We are attempting to demonstrate how one game encapsulates one decade.

The Dodgers have demonstrated an aptitude for regular season success, as they have enjoyed the fruitful combination of young talent and veteran stars. Despite strong individual performances, the team as a whole has not been able to produce the same level of success in the playoffs. They haven’t been able to win a World Series despite leading baseball in regular season wins during this seven-year window. Here’s how Game 5 represented a decade’s

worth of success and heartbreak for Dodger fans, encased in players and decisions, and how game 5 is a microcosm of a decade’s worth of underperforming in postseason play.

The superstar youngsters The 2010s: Los Angeles has garnered two Rookies of the Year (Corey Seager and Cody “Belli” Bellinger) and had several other top-three finishes for the award. The young talent on the field is a testament to the team’s draft strategy and fruitful player development program.

Game 5: The young Walker Buehler, a former homegrown top prospect, dominated Washington hitters to cap off his second consecutive year of fiery postseason success.

That Clayton Kershaw guy The 2010s: The legendary lefty is inarguably the best regular-season pitcher of our generation (3 Cy Young Awards,1 MVP award, a career ERA of 2.44, 68 career WAR, and 2,464 career strikeouts in 2,274 ⅔ innings pitched), but he has undeniably struggled in the postseason (including some epic collapses against the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros). However, it must be mentioned that the Dodgers would not have had this level of sustained success without their ace, number twenty-two.

Image Courtesy of CBS Sports

Game 5: Kershaw relieved Buehler in the top of the seventh inning with 2 runners on and 2 out. The Dodgers held a 3-1 lead in this win or go home game at Chavez Ravine. While Kershaw retired Washington right fielder Adam Eaton to end the threat, he gave up back-to-back home runs to Nationals sluggers Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto the next inning. While the attending fans were in total disbelief, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed Kershaw from the game. The Dodgers proceeded to lose the game and their season.

Free agent flop The 2010s: The Dodgers are infamous for acquiring players on large financial deals; many have not worked according

Wright

Continued from page 5 athletes are unable to pull off. Kijani’s favorite feeling on the court is locking down an offensive player with tight defense and creating an easy opportunity at the other end of the court. He also loves that feeling of effortless chemistry when the ball moves from player to player, involving everyone and making the game feel smooth and fluid.

From the outside looking in, it may seem like Kijani has it all, with his offers and valuable height.

However, just like any other athlete who aspires to be great, he has had to face his own variety of challenges.

In terms of friendships and relationships with other people, Kij has had to navigate the obstacle of determining whether someone wants to be in his life because they care or simply because they want something from him. In short, not everybody has his best interests in mind. Due to the attention he is getting, he personally has to figure out whether people have selfish intentions when

they talk to him or whether they simply want to use him for their own personal gain.

While Kijani is a very talented and competitive basketball player, he

is also just a normal teenager with typical teenage interests. He loves eating at Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack, watching cooking shows, hanging with friends, and custom-

to plan. (Hi there, Scott Kazmir!)

Though they have not committed copious dollars in recent years, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman flipped the script by signing streaky relief pitcher Joe Kelly to be a potential setup man to star closer Kenley Jansen.

Game 5: Joe Kelly allowed a go-ahead grand slam to former Dodger Howie Kendrick in extra innings, dooming their season again. Okay, that’s enough misery for one day.

While the loss will sting for a long time, Dodger fans should have hope for the future. The team has an innumerable amount of potential “superstar youngsters” waiting to bring a championship to Los Angeles.

izing Vans for fun. Although Kij is a highly sought after and well-accomplished player at this point in time, he still has two more years left in high school--two more years to develop, open new doors, and work hard to become an even more dominant and relentless force on the court.

Kijani excels in the classroom as well as on the court. In particular, he enjoys Algebra 2 Trigonometry with Mya Caruso, as he takes pride in challenging his mind in order to find various ways to solve complicated equations. According to his English teacher, Damon Van Leeuwen Kijani thrived in his most recent unit on Othello where he took on the role of Othello in a classroom performance. According to his classmates, his command presence was very convincing.

Kij, we are so proud of how hard you have worked in order to get to this point in your life. We hope only for the best in terms of your next steps after high school, in college, and beyond. Please always stay true to yourself because you are special both on and off the court. We are always rooting for you!