Human Rights Club Mobilizes for Coin Wars - La Reina High School

LA REINA 

Volume XXIV, No. 3 106 W. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 March 2010 

Herald 

Human Rights Club Mobilizes for Coin Wars 

The Human Rights 

Clubs holds the school’s 

first “Coin Wars” to 

raise money and awareness 

for women’s rights 

in our community and 

around the world. 

contributed by Rachel Foster ’13 

This year, the Human Rights 

Club has decided to focus their 

humanitarian efforts on women’s 

rights. The club members chose a 

fun and easy way to raise funds and 

awareness for three causes that deal 

with the rights of women. 

Coin Wars is a school wide competition 

in which all grades compete 

for the greatest amount of points 

and a prize. The “war” involves students 

using coins and paper money 

to gain and lose points. Coins are 

considered positive and earn points 

Inside the Outsiders 

Regent Performers prepare 

for their upcoming production, 

The Outsiders, based 

on the novel by S.E. Hinton. 

by Alanna Datona and Caitlin 

Campbell ’13 

Spring is nearing and so is the 

seasonal play. Each spring, the Regent 

Performers act out a new show, 

and this year’s will 

be The Outsiders, 

on April 23 rd , 24 th 

and 25 th . This play 

is based on the book 

by S.E. Hinton, 

which is read by the 

8 th grade each year. 

“The Outsiders” 

takes place in Tulsa, 

Oklahoma in 

the mid- 1960’s. It 

is about two rival 

gangs, ‘The Greasers’ 

and ‘The Socs 

(Socials)’, growing up in hard 

times with few opportunities for 

success. As a result, they constantly 

fight against each other to 

protect their territory. 

“I think the play will be really 

successful this year,” says Allegra 

What’s 

Inside? 

Noorean Gill ’10, Jenna Collins ’10, and Colleen Murphy ’10 man the Coin Wars booth while Steffi 

Chen ’12 watches Annie Pierce ’10 put thirty dollars in the Junior class jar. 

Iezza ’13. “A lot of people have 

read the book, so more people 

will want to come and watch.” 

The actresses involved are now 

preparing for this upcoming event. 

They are already dedicating their 

time and effort to making this season’s 

play enjoyable for everyone. 

“The Outsiders has dominantly 

male roles, and girls will 

be playing all the male parts. It 

Skye Privat ’11, Charlotte McGill ’13, and Emily 

Gilbert ’11 perfect their lines for the spring play. 

MARIANA GREEN ’10 

is the greatest challenge for an 

actor to play the opposite gender, 

so it will be really good,” 

says actress Remy Bessolo ’13. 

Skye Privat ’11 will be playing 

Ponyboy. “I am going to 

watch the movie, read the book, 

and study the mannerisms of 

my guy friends,” says Privat 

as she prepares for the play. 

Patricia Pichardo ’10 is 

playing Two-Bit. This will be 

her fifth and last performance 

w i t h R e g e n t P e r f o r m e r s . 

“I am psyched because I 

get to play a boy for my last 

performance,” says Pichardo. 

“It’s going to be EPIC!” 

The anticipation of this book 

being adapted to the school stage 

has not only excited the actresses 

involved, but also students 

who are willing to come 

and watch their performance. 

“All those girls who have 

parts will be working hard to 

make sure they do well, and 

I’m sure the play will be amazing,” 

says Kelsey Veloso ’12. 

The Regent Performers have 

a reputation for putting on 

memorable plays every year, 

and with support of the school, 

they can have another successful 

year to add to their legacy. 

“The Regent Performers are 

ready to take on boy roles,” 

says Mrs. Robin Privat, the director 

of the play. “This play 

is a challenge within reach.” 

Lenten season begins with 

Ash Wednesday liturgy 

NEWS FEATURES EDITORIALS SPORTS 

Mrs. Coe retires 


for each grade. However, paper 

money is considered negative and 

it cancels the positive points from 

the coins. Each grade attempts to 

gain as many positive points by putting 

coins in their jar while putting 

paper money in other grade’s jars 

to subtract their points. 

Coin Wars raised over $1500 for 

three great causes! The money will 

be allocated to three causes: one 

international, one local, and one 

school-related. The international 

cause is the Nepalese Youth Opportunity 

Foundation. One hundred 

dollars can free a Nepali girl from 

bondage and pay for a year of her 

education. The local cause is the 

Good Shepherd Shelter in Los Angeles 

where the money will go to 

help provide aid to battered women 

and children. The school related 

cause will use the money to create 

a pen pal system with our sister 

school the Notre Dame Academy 

in Uganda. 

The school celebrated the beginning of the Lenten 

season with an Ash Wednesday mass led by Fr. Bob 

Garon from Our Lady of Assumption in Ventura. The 

theme of the liturgy was “returning to the Lord” and 

it reminded students to turn their thinking back to 

God during Lent. 

Mock Trial Update Delta Smelt Debate! New softball coach 

CAITLYN HARDY ’10

La Reina Herald March 2010 

NEWS 

Robots roll to worlds 

The Robotics Club gets 

ready for its first international 

competition. 

by Stephanie Larratt ’13 

Six girls from the Robotics Club 

will represent the school at the 

VEX Robotics World Championships 

in Dallas, Texas, from April 

22nd through April 24th. The six 

team members are Victoria Thomas 

’11, Alice Zielinski ’12, Elly 

Shao ’12, Katie Carolan ’13, Em- 

Emily Castillo ’13, Victoria Thomas ’11, Genesis Sandoval ’13, Claira Castillo ’11, 

and Doriane Wilcox ’11 critique their robot for the upcoming competition. 

50% 

ily Castillo ’13, and Genesis Sandoval 

’13. Also making the trip is 

the team’s well-designed 18-inch 

robot. 

Mrs. Marilyn Usher, the Robotics 

Club moderator, explains how 

robotics competitions work. 

“You have to play a 

game which is scored according 

to a set of rules. 

You are part of an alliance 

with another team 

or two, which can 

help or 

handicap 

you 

depending 

on 

h o w 

good the other teams 

are,” she says. 

In an earlier competition, 

the team was fortunate 

enough to be paired 

with a group sponsored 

by NASA; they hope for 

similar luck at Worlds, 

though the team will 

ALICE ZIELINSKI ’11 

(with student ID) 

12/31/10 

2 

make the best of any situation. 

“My goal is to have a fun experience 

whatever happens, win 

or lose. It won’t matter because 

the fact that we got this far is an 

accomplishment in itself!” says 

Sandoval. 

The Robotics Club is entering 

one robot which they have been 

working hard on since August. 

“The hardest part is definitely 

designing the robot. 

The whole group struggles 

to find the most 

ideal design. We sit 

at the drawing board 

for days, but eventually we 

settle on a design and set about 

building it. Then we bring it to a 

competition and realize the flaws 

so we change the design again!” 

says Thomas. 

This year, the team has worked 

together to make sure they reach 

their goals. Everyone is excited 

about their upcoming endeavor. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing 

all the different designs that qualified 

for Worlds. I want to see the 

designs that all the other parts of 

the country developed; there is so 

much diversity,” says Carolan. 

Each of the girls enjoys different 

aspects of robotics. 

Castillo says, “I like the competitions! 

They are a lot of fun and 

you meet a lot of new people.” 

For her students and herself, Mrs. 

Usher finds robotics fulfilling. 

“I enjoy watching the students 

solve the challenges and have an 

‘a-ha’ moment,” says Mrs. Usher. 

The Robotics Club is looking 

forward to testing their skills at 

Worlds, but it is the friendships 

made along the way that will keep 

the club members coming back. 

“Robotics is something for everyone 

to join. It is a great educational 

experience as well as an 

opportunity to meet new friends!” 

says Sandoval. 

Science for change 

Eighth grade succeeds 

in science fair 

and prepares for 

higher level competition. 

by Daniella Marietta ’13 

The eighth grade science fair 

this year was a big success. It took 

place March 3rd through March 

5th in the cafeteria. Students prepared 

and explained a project that 

Jacqueline Munoz ’14 and Alexee Naumann ’14 practice 

their informational speech which they presented to 

science fair judges on Wednesday, March 3rd . 

they had been working on since 

the beginning of the school year. 

“I have been preparing for the 

science fair since the first week of 

school,” says Megan Resnik ’14. 

The eighth graders put hard 

work and effort into preparing 

for the science fair. They created 

a binder that contains everything 

they use for their project. They 

then made a display board for the 

judges to look at and gave a short 

explanation about their project. 

“The eighth grade science fair 

is a convention where eighth graders 

showcase their intelligence and 

interests in science,” says Tatum 

Koval ’13. 

Students had chosen to do their 

reports on a variety of different 

topics. The topics ranged from 

experiments with fingerprints, to 

the effects of watering plants with 

gasoline. 

“I really think that the science 

fair will be a 

great educationalexperience, 

and it 

will be cool to 

see everyone’s 

projects and 

posters,” says 

Maddie Sickle 

’14. 

The students 

can also opt to 

go to the Ventura 

County Science 

Fair. It is an 

opportunity for 

students from all 

over the county to 

compete against 

DANITZA ROMERO ’12 

each other. 

The county science fair gives 

students a chance to meet new 

people, make new friends, and to 

learn more about science. 

“I went to the Ventura County 

Science Fair last year. It was a 

good opportunity for me to expand 

my scientific knowledge, speak 

in front of people, and share my 

ideas,” says Stephanie Larratt ’13.


NEWS 

HOBY inspires young leaders 

Lacey Marie Smith ’12 has 

been chosen as the 2010 

HOBY representative, with 

Emily Foster ’12 as the alternate 

representative. 

by Marnie Vaughan ’13 

Deepak Chopra once said, “There 

is always one moment in childhood 

when the door opens and lets 

the future in.” HOBY, the Hugh 

O’Brien Youth Leadership, is that 

door for sophomores around the 

globe, giving them a chance to be 

great leaders in their schools and 

communities. Founded in 1958, 

HOBY has a mission to develop 

the global community of youth and 

volunteers. 

Nearly 9,000 students are selected 

by their schools to participate in the 

annual HOBY program, according 

to www.hoby.org. The students 

are provided with unique leadership 

training along with servicelearning 

and motivation-building 

experiences. 

According to their website, HO- 

BY’s overall vision is “to motivate 

and empower individuals to make 

a positive difference within our 

global society through understanding 

and action based on effective 

and compassionate leadership.” 

Lacey Marie Smith ’12 has been 

chosen as the 2010 school representative 

with Emily Foster ’12 as 

the runner-up. Lauren Hearne ’12 

is attending HOBY as an alternate 

on behalf of the Los Angeles 

Mrs. Coe says adieu 

After twenty-seven years 

of dedication and service 

to our school, Mrs. Coe 

decides to retire. 

by Shannon Colvin ’13 

After twenty-seven years of 

dedicated service, Mrs. Cecilia 

Coe is poised to hand over 

the helm of 

La Reina, 

after serving 

six years as 

the first lay 

principal in 

the school’s 

forty-five 

year history. 

During 

her tenure, 

M r s . C o e 

h a s c o m e 

to appreciate 

the many 

traditions of 

the school. 

She finds 

especially 

t o u c h i n g 

the graduationtradition 

of the seniors with yellow 

roses processing down 

the steps of the school and 

the KAIROS senior retreat. 

Students’ learning through 

community service is another 

tradition Mrs. Coe hopes will 

continue. 

Her fondest memories 

include the camaraderie of 

the faculty and staff. For example, 

Mrs. Coe enjoys “listening 

to Mrs. Potts’ funny 

stories” and “Mr. Hirsch’s 

sense of humor.” Although 

the staff has become like a 

family to her, Mrs. Coe’s 

most special moment came 

when she had the privilege 

of handing her granddaughter, 

Kelli, her diploma at 

graduation last year. 

Mrs. Coe listed a few 

things she was looking forward 

to when her working 

days are 

over. 

“I am 

anxi 

o u s 

t o 

h a v e 

m o r e 

t i m e 

to pursue 

other 

interests 

like travel 

and Graphoanalysis 

(the 

study of 

handwriting) 

and 

the op- 

Mrs. Coe hugs her granddaughter, Shannon portunity 

Colvin ’13, during her last year as principal. to wear 

jeans every 

day!” Besides missing 

the faculty and staff, she 

will also miss the “energy 

and enthusiasm” of the 

student body. 

She will also miss the 

ability to see me, her other 

granddaughter, on a daily 

basis, especially after 

school when I have stopped 

by her office for a delicious 

treat of jellybeans. 

I know this granddaughter 

will miss seeing her smiling 

face every day! I love you, 

Ahma! 


3 

community. Smith was nominated 

for her outstanding leadership skills 

and devotion to helping the community, 

and she is proud to participate 

in the upcoming HOBY seminars. 

“I’m so excited to represent [our 

school] at HOBY. I’m looking 

forward to a life altering experience 

that I will never forget,” says 

Smith. 

The school has been involved with 

HOBY since 1986, sending one 

to two representatives each year. 

HOBY participants are called to be 

very successful students due to the 

amazing opportunities presented at 

the conference. 

Christina Burcelis ’10, 2008 

HOBY representative, feels that 

HOBY has been a life changing experience 

that she will never forget 

because of all that she has learned 

from the experience. 

“At HOBY, we were all able to 

come together and become friends 

through an organization that inspires 

sophomores to become leaders,” 

says Burcelis. 

Friendship is one of the many 

things gained at a HOBY seminar. 

Because it is an international program, 

Burcelis has made friends 

from Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Germany 

and Nigeria. HOBY has given 

her the privilege of international 

friendships, ones that will last her 

a lifetime. 

The next HOBY conference will 

be taking place from July 23rd 

to July 30th, 2010, at the World 

Leadership Conference in Los 

Angeles, CA. 

“We can do no great things, only small things 

with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa 

The La Reina High School Parent Guild says 

“Thanks” to our many volunteers! 

Spring happenings 

Sarah Pearson ’10, attending the University of San Francisco, Tara Blanchard ’10, attending the 

University of Southern California, and Mary Thompson ’10, attending Seattle University, have 

each signed NCAA letters of intent in track and/or cross country for next year. 

Mackenzie Johnson ’10 and Kate Grode ’10 give back to the homeless community of 

Ventura by making sandwiches at Catholic Charities during Senior Service Learning. 


CAITLYN HARDY ’10


EDITORIALS 

WHAT'S COOL IN SCHOOL 

Ending the Vending 

Students miss the convenience 

of a health food 

vending machine. 

Michelle Zins ’13 

RIP, CRUNCH, AHHH: 

the satisfying taste of a 

healthy nutrition bar from 

the vending machine helps 

energize an athlete for her 

upcoming basketball 

game against Oaks 

Christian. 

But the vending 

machine is no 

longer here to 

provide food 

and drinks 

for students 

and visiting 

teams, caus- 

ing some disappointment 

~MJ~ 

because many people 

came to rely on it. 

“[Bringing back] the 

vending machine would 

be very beneficial for 

athletes, and the school 

would make money,” says 

Annalisa Chesser ’13. 

The food from the vending 

machine helped ease 

the athletes’ hunger and 

provide energy and nutrition. 

Students miss having 

the vending machine during 

their sport season. 

Renee Byrne ’11 says, 

“Lots of parents and players 

from visiting schools 

have asked me if we sell 

snacks.” 

The machine was a new 

Girl Talk 

Fergalicious 

by Fergie 

Sarah McGough ’10 

Love Story 

by Taylor Swift 

Maggie Oaks ’13 

It’s a Small World 

from the Disneyland ride 

Hannah Roberts ’11 

addition to the school this 

year, but it didn’t last long. 

It was suddenly taken away, 

leaving students with concern 

and confusion. While 

it was located outside of 

the cafeteria, it was not accessible 

during lunch, and 

to prevent it from being a 

target of vandalism, it was 

enclosed in a metal 

case. 

Kelly Garcia 

’13 thinks the 

school should 

bring back the 

vending machine 

because “after [a] 

long hard practice, 

athletes are hungry and 

need food to reenergize.” 

Students such as Brooke 

Tarver ’14 say it would not 

be beneficial to them personally 

to have a vending 

machine, “because we already 

have a snack shop.” 

When she was on the volleyball 

team she never used 

the additional snack provider. 

Even though we have 

a snack shop open after 

school, it closes before 

sporting events are over. 

The vending machines can 

provide healthy food and 

drinks long after the snack 

shop closes. 

“The healthy food being 

sold in the vending machine 

would be useful to players 

and might help their performance 

later in the day,” 

says Emily Gilbert ’11. 

Songs that get stuck in our 

heads during tests... 

Courtesy of The Herald staff 

Day N Nite 

by Kid Cudi 

Mariana Green ’10 

Horchata 

by Vampire Weekend 

Ali Trout ’10 

Empire State of Mind 

by Jay-Z 

Hannah McGough ’11 

Jessy Foster ’13 

106 West Janss Road 

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 

(805) 495-6494 

Staff 

Kelsey Carroll, Mary 

Clyne, Steffi Chen, Annalisa 

Chesser, Megan Gray, Bess 

Grode, Delaney Kaupp, 

Ally Martinez, Maggie 

Oaks, Ariana Peschke, 

Bailey Rohlfing, Maddie 

Thorpe, Hannah Roberts, 

Hanna Winter 

Student Forums 

German playwright Johann 

Wolfgang von Goelthe 

once said, “Thinking is easy, 

acting is difficult, and to put 

one’s thoughts into action is 

the most difficult thing in the 

world.” Based on interviews 

from students, this seems to 

be the case with the overall 

effectiveness of the student 

forums. 

In reviewing the school 

calendar to determine how 

often student forums take 

place, a look back to 2009 

indicated that these forums 

were held once for the junior 

high in 2009, with 

none scheduled for the high 

school. A look forward to 

2010 shows there is only 

one scheduled for the high 

school and none for the ju- 

Photographers 

Elizabeth Epstein, Danitza 

Romero, Alice Zielinski 

4 

nior high. Since student forums 

occur rarely, this means that they 

are very important when they take 

place. Are these student forums 

an effective way to make changes 

necessary for our school? 

Lauren Young ’10 says, “I don’t 

believe enough people know 

about the student forums and take 

the time to comment and participate 

in them.” 

Many people seem to agree 

with Young on this topic, including 

Emily Zolfaghari ’10: “I think 

that the action taken to the complaints 

brought up in the student 

forum is not effective.” However, 

other students disagree with Zolfaghari 

and Young on this topic. 

Gabrielle Tricolli ’13 offers a 

refutation: “I think the student 

forums are effective because they 

bring the teacher’s attention to 

what the students believe should 

be improved upon.” 

The La Reina Herald 

Editors in Chief 

Kate Grode 

Sarah McGough 

Section Editors 

News: Jacy Bessolo 

Rhistyn Burke 

Features: Hayley Garrigus 

Ali Trout 

Editorials: Hannah McGough 

Sports: Alyssa Mallory 

Photography: Mariana Green 

Katie Williams 

Graphic Art: Sonia Tagari 

Graphic Artists 

Mackenzie Johnson, Elly Shao 

Caroline Brennan ’13 

also states her opinion on 

this topic saying, “I have 

heard that these forums 

actually change what goes 

on in the school.” 

In conclusion, it appears 

that Tricolli said it 

best when she reasoned 

that students bring their issues 

to the teachers; however, 

many needed actions 

generally fall through. It 

could seem that organizing 

a follow up forum with 

both teachers and students 

would assist in putting resolutions 

of these problems 

into action. 

What held 300 years 

ago still seems to be the 

case today: “Putting one’s 

thoughts into action is the 

most difficult thing in the 

world.” 

S*TAG 

Roller Backpack Fiasco 

by Sonia Tagari ’11 

The Herald is published 

five times a year by a 

student staff. Letters, 

cartoons, columns, and 

reviews are the opinions 

of their authors and are 

not necessarily those of the 

newspaper. 

The Freshman Class is 

responsible for the major 

portion of the writing and 

reporting of this issue. 

Moderator 

Mrs. Carol Stanley


EDITORIALS 

WHAT'S GOING DOWN IN TOWN 

The Delta Smelt Debate 

The smelt is swimming 

its way into our water 

supply and ruining the 

community’s irrigation 

system. 

by Alyssa Mallory ’11 

In 2007, a federal judge ruled to 

reduce state and federal water pumps 

from the areas of the San Joaquin 

Valley to drier areas by approximately 

a third. This ruling was to prevent 

further damage from occurring to the 

endangered delta smelt population, 

which is predicted to be extinct in 

two decades. 

However, the decision to cut water 

pumping from the San Joaquin Valley 

has repercussions for the people living 

not only there, but in all of California. 

Many people concerned with the 

agriculture business in California are 

questioning whether it is worth it to 

protect the delta smelt. 

By cutting water pumping to one 

of the most fertile agricultural areas 

in California, protecting the delta 

smelt puts farmland out of business 

and causes a large increase in grocery 

prices, especially after the past two 

dry years for the agricultural season. 

Certainly, the agricultural business, 

one of the main sources of California’s 

economy, should take precedent over 

an unbeneficial species of fish. 

We all scream for...Frozen-Yogurt? 

Will the sudden obsession 

with frozen yogurt obliterate 

the presence of cherished 

ice cream parlors? 

by Hannah McGough ’11 

The new trend in soft-serve is frozen 

yogurt, and justly so: unlike its 

creamy cousin, ice cream, “fro-yo” 

is low in fat and offers enzymatic 

benefits to aid digestion. It’s no surprise 

that frozen yogurt is preferred 

over ice cream, but those of us who 

still enjoy ice cream as a guilty pleasure 

are disillusioned by the gradual 

replacement of ice cream shops with 

frozen yogurt franchises. 

Years ago, frozen yogurt seemed 

POLL 

Emily Chancellor ’10 

Regardless of this threat to the state’s 

economy, water pumping from the 

Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley to 

areas such as the Westland Water 

districts—dry, desolate deserts that are 

also the nation’s largest irrigation districts—has 

been insured for the next 

25 years. Even though this pumping 

has caused fisheries to decline drastically, 

the Central Valley irrigation 

districts are 

still signing 

federal 

contracts to 

protect their 

water supply. 

The rights 

of California 

citizens 

should take 

precedence 

over the 

survival of 

a species of 

fish that has 

no apparent 

benefit to its 

ecosystem. 

Despite the 

harms to the 

delta smelt 

“If you’re an avid music fan, go to Hollywood 

and shop at the Grove, then see a concert--a 

great venue is the House of Blues.” 

because of water pumping, the consequences 

of cutting back on irrigation 

are much greater to the people and 

economy of California. 

scarce in local shopping centers, 

which homed the occasional Pinkberry 

or Golden Spoon, but now one 

can hardly find a place outside of 

the grocery store to buy ice cream. 

Recently, the long-standing Cold 

Stone Creamery in the Westlake Village 

Promenade became Menchies, 

proof that frozen yogurt is taking 

over society. 

“Where did all the ice cream go? 

Since when is sugar such a threat 

to the American public?” questions 

Hayley Garrigus ’11. 

...Well, since the obesity rates 

in America have tripled in the past 

thirty years. But it is the responsibility 

of the consumer, not the 

The smelt is a slender, silverbodied 

fish of about 2-3 inches in 

length (5-7 centimeters) 

It is found ONLY in the San- 

Joaquin Estuary 

Because it only lives one year 

and has a limited diet, it is environmentally 

sensitive 

Its population fluctuates with 

the amount of outflow from the 

Estuary (which varies annually 

due to precipitation and water 

management) 

ALL information derived from The New York Times, LA Times, wordpress. 

com, delta.dfg.ca.gov, water.ca.gov, earthjustice.org, recordnet.com 

The smelt is vital to predicting 

crucial ecological 

trends, and should be 

protected. 

by Sarah McGough ’10 

So why should we, as humans engaged 

in our own Darwinian struggle 

for survival, pay the slightest attention 

to this tiny 

fish, a mere five to 

seven centimeters 

in length? 

Let’s take a look 

at our ecosystems 

for the answer. 

An ecosystem, 

nature’s ecological 

community 

bursting with 

plant and animal 

growth, undoubtedly 

depends on 

the cooperation 

of the environment 

to continue 

its existence; if 

some cosmic shift 

of the poles, for 

instance, sends a 

lack of rainfall to 

the swamplands, our swamps start 

looking more like dehydrated wastelands. 

But presuming it is an alarming 

geographic pole-swap, scientists will 

ice cream companies, to lead balanced, 

healthy lifestyles. So why is 

the community taking away our ice 

cream stores? After all, while fro-yo 

is low in fat, it is high in calories and 

contains much more sugar than the 

average ice cream. 

While popular demand seems high 

for an unnecessary abundance of 

frozen yogurt sellers, many people 

feel burdened by the ever-presence 

of these joints, the subtle reminders 

that society needs to be more healthconscious. 

“Do [yogurt companies] want to 

heighten our insecurities by implying 

that we can’t even enjoy the 

simple pleasure of a creamy, sugary 

5 

easily identify the culprit of such 

grand-scale ecosystemic failure. 

The problem exists when change is 

virtually undetectable. 

That’s where our friend the delta 

smelt exhibits its importance. The 

delta smelt is what scientists call an 

“indicator species”: its population 

and general abundance reflect the 

overall health of an ecosystem. 

Because of its miniscule size, it is 

only natural that it be the first to 

receive and show warning signs of 

an environmental crisis. In this case, 

red flags arose when in 2005 the 

entire population dropped in abundance 

by 97.6% from a previous 

measurement a decade prior. The 

delta smelt is extremely sensitive 

to shifts in environmental conditions, 

and reacts to sudden external 

shifts with a change in its spawning 

cycles, which have been occurring 

later and later than normal. This, 

combined with the rapid water 

outflow of the delta for the sake of 

agricultural irrigation – averaged at 

15.1 million acre-feet annually (1 

acre-foot = 325,851) – indicates that 

the Sacramento-San Joaquin River 

Delta is in for a lot more than just the 

extinction of one small fish. 

We have a responsibility to 

preserve our ecosystems – and the 

first step in this is protecting the 

delta smelt. 

Chocolatine 

The Herald Review--Edition 1 

“Bonjour!” is the 

greeting one gets when 

entering Thousand 

Oaks’ very own French 

bakery: Chocolatine. 

The aroma of the tiny 

Hayley Garrigus ’11 

slice of heaven is a sweet 

mixture of chocolate and sugar. The walls are 

pleasantly decorated with French posters, pictures 

and dainty decals. 

Even more aesthetically pleasing are the display 

windows showcasing an array of gourmet 

chocolates, tarts and delectable French pastry 

goods. Nothing is left unadorned, yet at the 

same time there is a sense of authenticity that 

prevents the bakery from going from simple to 

gaudy. 

Chocolatine is the brain child of French 

couple Hugo and Sabrina Barthe, who both 

immigrated to the United States in the 1980’s. 

The couple can now be found charming the 

customers with their French air at the front of 

the shop, or can be found baking away in the 

back. 

While one’s preference to chocolate varies, I 

can assure that all are up to par. The pastries are 

also delectable (I would recommend the Raspberry 

Tart – the plate was even garnished with 

candy swirls and small chocolates). 

If you’re in the mood for savory rather than 

sweet, don’t despair. Their gourmet sandwich/ 

pannini selection makes the perfect meal. The 

turkey, tomato and cheese had a great flavor 

and satisfied my hunger without making me 

feel bloated, and the presentation equally enjoyable: 

the sandwich itself was cut into the shape 

of a heart and served on an elegant plate. 

As for beverages, I suggest ordering the 

homemade hot chocolate. What better place to 

get delicious hot cocoa than a French chocolatry? 

Overall, the service was beautiful. With the 

owner throwing out French pleasantries, you 

could mistake the little corner bistro to be in 

France instead of Thousand Oaks. 

Chocolatine is located at 2955 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, off of the 

Hampshire exit take a left and then left onto TO Blvd, and it’s on 

the right. There’s parking out front as well as a small parking lot in 

the back. 

What are some fun things to do in the area for Spring Break? 

Monica Bermudez ’11 

“Go to the Rollerdome in Thousand Oaks 

or Simi Valley and skate with a group! It’s 

great exercise and really fun.” 

~MJ~ 

ice cream cone?” says Kelsey Carrol 

’11. 

Avid frozen yogurt fans, such as 

Steffi Chen ’12, disagree. “I prefer 

frozen yogurt. I like that it’s tangy 

and light; I don’t like the creaminess 

of ice cream and that it’s too sugary,” 

she says. 

Although Frozen Yogurt makes 

a vivid alternative to the hum-drum 

offerings of ice cream parlors, 

soon the public will be seeking ice 

cream shops to return color to their 

yogurted-out palettes. I scream, you 

scream, we will ALL scream for ice 

cream. 

Information derived from the New York Times, AllBusiness.com/Franchises, 

and WiseGeek.com 

Kaitlyn Cruz ’15 

“You can go rock climbing in Westlake. I go 

with my family.” 

Emily Zolfaghari ’10 

“I volunteer at the Los Robles Hospital; it’s 

a much more rewarding experience than vacationing 

in the Caribbean.” 

PHOTOS BY HAYLEY GARRIGUS ’11

“I was a science nerd. Now I read 

ancient Greek, dig stuff up, and put 

pots back together,” says Sarah Giffin 

’06. 

During her time in high school 

Giffin was interested in biology and 

traveling. She was accepted into 

UC Berkeley and had decided on 

studying molecular toxicology. Taking 

her traveling interests to a new 

level, Giffin has visited the ancient 

Greek islands, such as Mycenae from 

Homer’s Illiad, and immersed herself 

in the classical cultures she had been 

studying. 

“I found out that I wanted to be 

a classics major after I randomly 

decided to take an intro course in 

Greek archeology my sophomore 

year,” Giffin says. 

She is currently majoring in classical 

civilizations with a concentration 

in art and archeology. This includes 

taking ancient Greek and Latin so 

she can read the various cultures’ 

writings. In one class, she has read 

the original Homer’s Illiad just as it 

was written in 700 B.C. 


6 


FEATURES FEATURES 

Successful Stars Spotlighted 

MIT is recharging research 

Amanda Turk ’08 and 

a group of fellow MIT 

students help ad to the innovative 

energy-resource 

industry. 

by Maggie Oaks ’13 

It’s around 8:00 p.m. at the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

campus and Amanda Turk ’08 

makes her way to Sloan Laboratory 

as she does on any average Monday 

night. The only difference is that 

what Turk and her team of 30 fellow 

MIT students are doing is anything 

but average. 

During her freshman and throughout 

her sophomore year at MIT, Turk 

has been involved in the Electric 

Vehicle Team, a group of students 

who have been working to design 

a battery that has the capability to 

charge rapidly. This research could 

ultimately result in the ability for a 

car battery to charge in 10 minutes, 

rather than 8 hours. In doing so, a 

shift could be made from cars being 

powered by gasoline engines to 

cars being powered exclusively by 

electric motors, which would make a 

huge dent in the elimination of green 

house gases that presently harm the 

atmosphere. 

Already, Turk and her team have 

successfully converted a gas depen- 

Giffin goes to Greece 

Science guru Sarah Giffin 

’06 makes her mark on 

ancient Greece. 

by Bess Grode ’13 

dent motorcycle into a fast charging 

vehicle. They have done the same for 

a 1979 Porsche 914 and currently they 

are experimenting on a midsize Sudan, 

the Mercury Milan. 

Turk became involved in this study 

through the Undergraduate Research 

Program, or URP. The URP is a pro- 

“The term classical civilizations 

applies to the Ancient Greeks and 

Romans who lived during the Classical 

Period (around 400 B.C.) but it 

is not limited to this period of time 

since the Greek civilization, and 

even pre-Greek cultures have been 

living in Greece since before 3000 

B.C.,” according to Giffin. 

However, the concentration in 

arts and archaeology means that 

she focuses on the material culture 

of the classical civilizations, such 

as their paintings, sculptures, and 

architecture. 

As part of her studies she has 

been to Greece twice. Her first visit 

was a vacation while visiting the 

archeological museum of Athens 

and the island of Crete, along with 

many different archeological sites. 

Many of these places seen in different 

pieces of Greek literature, such 

as the Odyssey. 

This last year however, Giffin 

went with a professor and six other 

undergraduates to the island of 

Mycenae, where Agamemnon in 

the Iliad is from. Her job was to sort 

through debris, clean frescoes, and 

map out sites in 100-degree climate. 

Though the work was tedious and 

the weather hot, Giffin was very 

excited. 

rigorous courses of calculus, chemistry, 

biology and physics. Even though her 

classes were more science oriented, Turk 

found that her high school education in 

writing has prepared her most for her 

college studies. 

“Our school sure can teach how to 

write!” exclaims Turk. 

The teachers 

are more 

than proud of 

Turk’s work at 

MIT. Even as 

a high school 

student she 

excelled academically, 

and continued 

to be active in 

other school 

activities such 

as Mock Trial 

and Campus 

Ministry Core. 

Also, she was 

the Herald’s 

editor-in-chief. 

“She always 

led by example,” 

says Mrs. Carol Stanley, the newspaper 

moderator. 

While this research is being conducted 

over in Massachusetts, the conclusions 

produced could affect the way of transportation 

here in California and possibly 

the world. Compared to present day 

conventional combustion engine ve- 

Amanda Turk ’08 sits in the MIT Electric Vehicle showing off 

her technologicly advanced skill set that could change the 

future of automobiles. 

gram that permits students to participate 

in research for class credit. 

“It is an incredible opportunity to 

explore something you love,” says 

Turk. 

In her case, that “something” that 

she loves is science and engineering. 

For her first semester at MIT, she took 

“To put pots together, we would 

dump out big bags full of pieces (about 

600 per bag) and go around to each 

pile of pieces, of which there were 

about probably 12 (which means about 

7200 pieces) and try to find another 

piece that would go with it. Rarely 

you’d find enough matches to make 

something that resembled a pot or cup. 

But despite all of this, I had a blast. I 

realized that I really do want to go into 

archaeology as a career when I grow 

up,” Sarah explains. 

hicles, the new electric battery driven 

cars have the ability to dramatically 

reduce the amount of carbon dioxide 

release into the atmosphere, which 

some people believe has affected the 

condition of our ozone layer. 

From analyses, the MIT student 

team has seen a decline in energy 

consumption by 50% and greenhouse 

gas emissions up to 60%. Greenhouse 

gases are gases that have been released 

into the atmosphere and absorb radiation. 

“If this can save the planet, I think 

this is really important and something 

that we need to do,” says Emily Castillo 

’13. 

Even though the research has covered 

enormous ground in the electrical 

car world, to convert the gas-guzzling 

cars into complete electrical automobiles 

has presented some problems. 

First of all, acceptance from the general 

public to make the switch could take 

some time. Secondly, converting the 

gas stations into stations equipped to 

recharge a car would require a giant infrastructure 

shift throughout America. 

Even so, Turk and her team are on 

their way to drastically changing the 

way we view the automobile world. 

“My favorite is the crazy number 

of learning opportunities that exist; 

it is incredible and incredibly fun!” 

says Turk. 

Facts from http://web.mit.edu/evt/ 

index.html 

Sarah Giffin ’06 excitedly 

points at a column 

of the Doric order from 

a temple in Ancient 

Corinth, Greece while on 

an exhibition scoping out 

archaeological sites. 

After graduating college, 

Giffin plans on studying 

abroad in Turkey. Afterwards, 

she wants to return 

to Berkeley, get a job, and 

study for the GRE, or Graduate 

Record Examinations. 

Then she hopes to do a year 

of post baccalaureate study 

in Greek and Latin at UCLA 

to prepare for grad school. 

After that, she plans on getting 

a Masters/PhD in Mediterranean 

archaeology. 

Giffin loves studying other 

cultures. Although not doing 

what she initially planned, 

she is very much enjoying the direction her 

studies went. 

Giffin offers advice: “A note to those entering 

college: even though you think you 

may be majoring in a specific subject, keep 

your mind open to new things. Look at me, I 

entered in molecular toxicology and am leaving 

as a classics major. Don’t limit yourself 

by focusing on what everyone else is doing, 

or what everyone else wants you to do. Take 

this opportunity to study something that you 

really love.” 

Esha is seen here with a Rotarian who is very respected 

in the community. They went to a gurduwara 

(Sikh Temple) together. 

A young boy is shown here giving a dose of the oral 

polio vaccine at a local clinic. Polio vaccinations can 

be given to children at any age to prevent the crippling 

disease from taking over. 

“God grant me the serenity to accept 

the things I cannot change, the courage 

to change the things I can, and 

the wisdom to know the difference.” 

-Anonymous 

“These words that I learned at La 

Reina absolutely guide my work on 

the farm. I cannot accept hunger and 

sickness in the face of such abundance. 

Working to directly provide all members 

of my community with fresh, 

organic produce and educate folks 

about problems in our food system is 

my effort to change what I cannot accept,” 

says Erynn Smith ’99. 

Smith began as your everyday 

schoolgirl, playing soccer, participating 

in Mock Trial, camping with 

friends and family, and growing up in 

Camarillo. However, she stepped 

into the spotlight after a move to 

Cuenca, Ecuador, that changed how 

she perceived the world around 

her and encouraged her to begin a 

career in agriculture. 

For a while Smith pursued a degree 

in journalism in Los Angeles 

but then moved to Cuenca to teach 

in a bilingual elementary school, 

finding that teaching truly allowed 

her to connect with her students 

and use her skills in a way that 

challenged her while still being 

enjoyable. There she learned about 

feria libres, or farmer markets, and 

enjoyed getting to know the farmers 

and their produce as well as all the 

new and exciting adventures. 

“My roommates and I were all 

able to connect over food shopping 

together, cooking together, 

and learning from the farmers and 

vendors how to use new things from 

the feria libre. I started thinking of 

farming and food as means of developing 

community,” says Smith. 

Polio in India 

Alumna Esha Chhabra ’04 

has traveled a long way from 

Thousand Oaks; she’s made it 

all the way to India. 

Esha Chhabra ’04 has gone on 

to change the world. She has taken 

school teachings and combined them 

with her individual gifts to make a 

contribution that helps others across 

the globe. Her work is an example 

of a “valiant student faithful to 

our call.” Last February, on a trip 

to India, she helped to immunize 

infants and children against polio. 

Chhabra was able to save lives with 

her tremendous contribution of time, 

effort, and knowledge. 

Chhabra served as student body 

president as a senior, went on to 

Georgetown University, and interned 

with CNN and CBS Evening 

News. She then went to the London 

School of Economics and Political 

Science to study international development 

and global politics. Chhabra 

received the Distinguished Alumnae 

Award for 2010. Chhabra does an 

excellent job of using her talents 

and working with her time to help 

others in the world. 

H a i l e y B a r a b ’ 1 2 f e e l s t h a t 

Chhabra is a great role model. 

“Having somebody like Esha rep- 

While attending California State 

University Channel Islands for a 

bilingual teaching credential, she 

connected with The Abundant 

Table, an on-campus ministry liv- 

ing by Jesus’ examples of love and 

peace, focusing on food justice. The 

founders wanted to begin a program 

on a farm for young adults to work 

resent my school makes me feel 

proud to go [here] because she 

has made such a great impact. 

It is a really nice thing to know 

that each person going to the 

school is able to follow in her 

footsteps.” 

Students also believe that 

school gives them the values 

they need to become successful 

in helping others throughout 

their lives. 

Elizabeth Pode ’10 says, “My 

goal is to inspire people in any 

way possible and have fun while 

I’m at it. [The school] has given 

me the tools I need to become 

confident, dedicated, and true to 

my individuality.” 

Alex Rolland ’13 agrees with 

Pode. 

“[The school] helps me to always 

believe in myself and also 

shows me that perseverance and 

hard work will always pay off in 

the end,” she says. 

When Chhabra was asked what 

she wanted girls to know about 

helping others, she replied, 

“Think bigger, think beyond the 

high school, beyond the community, 

and most importantly 

beyond yourself. Be part of 

something larger. Those are the 

kind of experiences that are most 

rewarding.” 

the land and connect to their faith 

while working to make the community 

better. 

Smith decided to become an intern 

at their Join the Farm Project 

to work hands-on in the fields of 

Oxnard. 

“Having gone from a communitybased 

food system in Ecuador to our 

7 

Here are two of the children that Esha and the rotary help get vaccinated. Esha 

and other volunteers give litle visors or a whistle to the children after their vaccinations. 

Esha is with a young girl who teaches at the school practically for free (she 

gets a very small stipend); the girl believes that teaching is her ‘farz’ - the 

Urdu word for “my duty.” 

Local agriculture meets learned alumna 

Erynn Smith ’99 spreads 

awareness about locally 

grown food. 

by Mary Clyne ’12 

by Rachel Foster ’13 

Erynn Smith ’99 hands fresh produce to an elderly admirer. Smith’s knowledge 

about vegetation makes her be a more than capable future farmer. 

large and impersonal food system in 

the States, I really started thinking 

not only did our food system not 

make sense- it is unjust. People 

going hungry, such as in Ecuador, 

while we overproduce crops 

which go to waste, is unjust. 

The fact that cheap, processed 

foods, which can make us sick, 

are more available in some of 

our communities than fresh 

produce is unjust,” she says. 

At Join the Farm, Smith assumed 

the role as farm educator. 

In this way she worked with the 

many students ranging from 

preschool age to college students 

learning on the farm about 

harvesting, plant life cycles or 

direct marketing models. This 

was a role that fit her perfectly: 

she was teaching, nurturing a relationship 

with God, and encouraging 

a connection between the community, 

their food, and the farmers 

who produce their food. 

Presently, she is working with 

projects such as Coastal Alliance 

United for a Sustainable Economy 

to present surveys to Santa Paula 

and Oxnard in order to work together 

to improve healthy food 

throughout Ventura County. 

She also works with Neighborhoods 

for Learning to provide 

local, healthy food for the families 

that need it. 

People may describe her as “peppy” 

and “perky”, and she is fully 

energetic about her cause. Although 

on the inside, she considers herself 

to be the same “funny”, sunburned 

kid from the soccer field, she now 

has a cause to teach others about 

eating locally and healthily.


FEATURES 

Dominating duo 

Marnie Vaughn 

Parents support their 

daughters every day. Students 

share positive feelings 

for their parents’ 

jobs and their own futures. 

Some jobs have educational 

value. The father 

of Caroline Brennan ’13 

works at a well-known 

college that many graduates 

attend. 

“My dad works at USC 

[University of Southern 

California] as Assistant 

Dean of Admissions,” 

says Brennan. “I am very 

proud.” 

Even though she wants 

to pursue a different career 

than her father, he 

influences her plan for 

college. Brennan wants 

to take advantage of her 

dad’s workplace. 

“I want to go into science,” 

says Brennan, 

“which doesn’t have to do 

Marnie Vaughn ’13 and 

Katie Gerbasi ’13 dominate 

speech compititions with the 

enchanting “Witches” skit. 

Freshman year is the year of 

finding one’s niche, exploring talents 

and seeing where they lead. 

So far for Gerbasi and Vaughn, 

their speech abilities seem to have 

led them all the way to the top. 

This duo has dominated consistently, 

demonstrating that success 

does not always require much experience. 

“This team is successful because 

they believe in their piece. 

They have great characterization 

and really make the piece of literature 

come to life,” says Emily 

Zolfaghari ’10, debate captain. 

This duo team has already 

won first place at Cal State Long 

Beach, broke to finals at Cal State 

Fullerton, took another first place 

at University of California Los 

Angeles, and grabbed third place 

at California Lutheran University. 

This team’s secret for success 

Heintz’s dad works with 

music every day as a form 

of employment, while Heintz 

only practices music as a 

hobby or form of entertainment. 

Heintz says, “I want to be a 

vet, but I do play music, like 

my dad.” 

seems to be serving them well. 

The team performs a script 

containing experts from “The 

Witches,” by Roald Dahl. The 

children’s classic provides Gerbasi 

and Vaughn with humor, 

diversity of characters, and opportunities 

to incorporate abstract 

“blocking” that set them above 

the rest. Gerbasi takes on the role 

of the grandson, while Vaughn 

captures attention with her roles 

as the grandmother and Grand 

High Witch. 

“Marnie and Katie incorporate 

some of their own personal characters 

in the script. In real life, 

these are two people that one can 

easily connect with, and in their 

speeches, their personalities make 

the audience want to be able not 

only to know the characters, but 

also the ones performing it,” says 

Victoria Zolfaghari ’12. 

These girls dedicate enormous 

amounts of time and effort to 

achieve this level of performance. 

They practice outside of school 

for hours, as well as during the 

7th period speech and debate 

class, where they can be critiqued 

Parents’ Professions 

Students are proud of 

their parents’ jobs and 

the work they do for 

their community. 

by Stacey Bachellor ’13 

BESS GRODE ’13 

by Elizabeth Hribal ’ 13 

a pilot because not a lot 

of people’s parents are. 

I like how my mom [reports] 

news because she 

can always tell us what 

is going on in the world 

and always knows what 

the weather is going to be 

like that day. 

Claira Castillo ’11 

appreciates her father’s 

line of work 

through an interest 

in his profession. 

“My dad is in 

the FBI, the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation. 

I am sure my 

dad would be very 

proud if I followed in 

his footsteps, but he 

doesn’t really care. I 

am very much interested 

in going into the 

FBI when I am older 

though,” says Castillo. 

Devin Walton ’12 

says, “My dad is a 

Santa Monica Mounted 

Police Reserve Officer. 

[The officers] basically 

help with parades and 

crowd control. They 

can help evacuate for 

fires. I want to help 

the community like him 

Ally Adams ’13 is proud of Mrs. Rebecca 

Adams, who has taught at her alma 

with [his] job, but I want to mater for 25 years. 

go to USC.” 

[when I grow up].” 

Many students appreci- 

Many students have par- Audrey Hair ’15 recognizes ate their parents in preents 

who are involved in the her parents’ unique careers paring for their future. 

music and film industry. and the benefits that come Hair exclaims, “[My par- 

Nina Heintz ’14 says, “My from them. 

ents] shape my possible 

dad is a musician. He is pret- “My dad is a pilot and future, by telling me to 

ty cool. He gets to work with my mom is a news anchor. I be whatever makes me 

famous people.” 

think it is cool that my dad is happy.” 


8 

and aided. 

Even though triumph seems to 

follow this team wherever they 

go, the girls are not letting it get 

to their heads. 

“We recognize that we can always 

improve no matter what. 

Our competitors are just as dedicated 

as we are and we need to 

continue going into our rounds as 

we have been with determination 

and concentration,” says Vaughn. 

Vaughn and Gerbasi demonstrate 

practice methods, presentational 

skills, and characterization 

that can be applied to fellow 

teammates’ speeches. 

As enjoyable, fun-filled, and 

valuable this activity is, many 

girls strive for statewide recognition 

and this team now has the opportunity 

to do just that. With so 

many victories in the bag, breaking 

to state might just be on the 

agenda. 

“The reason that this team is a 

threat comes down to perfection; 

both of these girls are in it to win 

it, and one can see that through 

every performance they give,” 

says Genesis Sandoval ’13. 

Fashion companies go 

green by using organic 

materials to keep 

the environment earth 

friendly. 

by Marisa Orlow ’13 

Eco-friendly apparel contributes 

to living an environmentally-conscious 

life. No longer is it 

limited to harsh, rugged ‘hippie 

wear,’ but it has branched out to 

many alternatives. 

Whether it is bamboo fabric 

or organic cotton, the benefits in 

comparison to synthetic clothing 

are significant. The manufacturing 

of eco-friendly apparel has a 

much less harmful affect on the 

environment than chemically-treated 

clothing. Many 

organic fabrics do not 

require extensive pesticides 

and use minimal 

water. (www. 

buzzle.com/) 

“I think by wearingenvironmentallyf 

r i e n d l y 

clothes, others 

will catch on 

to the new 

trend,” says 

Emily Zolfaghari 

’10. 

Companies 

all over the world are working 

to promote this new fashion 

trend. Some manufactures 

even go beyond: Andira Rain 

Katie Gerbasi 

Fashion find 

earth in mind 

BESS GRODE ’13 

Tee, a clothing line, makes only 

100% organic apparel, but also 

donates school supplies to youth 

living in endangered rain forests 

across Central and South America. 

For every “Rain Tee” sold, a 

child involved in “Kids Saving 

a Rainforest” in Costa Rica receives 

a tree to plant to replace 

those that have been destroyed. 

(greenloop.com) 

Another possibility to 

promote eco-friendly fashion is 

to simply recycle used clothing. 

“I often take something I 

don’t like, and cut it up until I 

like it,” says Korin Alpers ’13. 

Alpers says, “I think being environmentally 

friendly is essential 

because we live in this world, so 

we need to take care of it.”

Mock 

Trial 

Fact Box 

Students in grades 9-12 portray 

each of the principals in the cast 

of courtroom characters. 

Characters include an Official 

Timekeeper, a Courtroom Journalist, 

and even a Courtroom Artist. 

Mock Trial teams study hypothetical 

cases, conduct legal research, 

and get guidance from volunteer 

attorneys in courtroom procedure 

and trial preparation. 

200 attorneys from Ventura County 

volunteer to serve as judges for 

Mock Trial. 

8,000 students participate in Mock 

Trial across California. 500 Ventura 

County students participate. 

Winners of the County Competitions 

go to State Finals in March. 

Winners of State Finals go on to 

the annual National High School 

Mock Trial Competition in May, 

involving teams from 54 states 

and territories. 

2006-2007: La Reina placed 1st 

at the County Competition, and 

placed 3rd at State Finals. 

2007-2008: La Reina placed 1st 

at County, placed 1st at State, and 

placed 25th at Nationals. 

2008-2009: La Reina placed 2nd 

at County. 

The La Reina Mock Trial Team 

is superstitious—they knock on 

wood whenever anything about 

winning is mentioned. 

Sources: 

-www.nationalmocktrial.org 

-www.crf-usa.org 

-www.vcoe.org 


FEATURES 

Attorneys work toward excellence 

The members of the Mock 

Trial team worked hard 

to compete in the Ventura 

County Competition. 

by Lena Melillo ’13 

Scripts were put away, every 

sentence was perfected, and practices 

were lengthened. Natalie 

Harlacher ’10, Alyssa Mallory 

’11, and Katie Williams ’10, this 

year’s dedicated Mock Trial attorneys, 

continually worked late 

into the night. 

“Every moment I’m not working 

on school work, I’m working 

on Mock Trial,” said Harlacher, 

captain of the prosecution team. 

Each attorney had numerous 

scripts to memorize and objections 

to learn. 

This year the attorneys were 

“double-cast.” This means that 

they had to perform both sides of 

the trial. 

“It’s pretty difficult to be double 

cast as an attorney. However, I 

believe that our duality is what 

makes us the best debaters—we 

can understand each issue from 

every side,” said Williams, captain 

of the defense team. 

Although understanding both 

sides of the argument is absolutely 

Defense Attorney Katie Williams ’10 shakes hands with a reporter at the end of a 

round at the February Ventura County Mock Trial Competition. 

Comedian found guilty of murder 

This is the winning article 

written by Sarah McGough 

’10, who placed first in 

County in the Mock Trial 

Journalist Competition. 

by Sarah McGough ’10 

VENTURA COUNTY – Inside 

the Ventura County Courthouse 

on Monday, February 22, 2010, 

Hollyville local comedian Jordan 

Bratton was found guilty of firstdegree 

murder under California 

Penal Code 187. Bratton had 

been a chief suspect in the slaying 

of entertainment critic Preston 

Palmer on April 13, 2009. 

After overseeing two hours of 

tense, back-and-forth sparring 

between the prosecution and the 

defense, Presiding Judge David 

Hirsch determined Bratton’s 

guilt primarily from the scope of 

evidence that conclusively linked 

Bratton to the murder. 

“The evidence is largely circumstantial, 

but the prosecution 

has proved that when viewed in 

totality, [it] does point to Bratton’s 

guilt beyond a reasonable 

doubt,” he stated in his verdict. 

Ms. Jordan Bratton, a oncepopular 

comedian in Hollyville, 

California, experienced a sharp 

downturn in her career after receiving 

a scathing review from 

Palmer in early April 2009. 

When Palmer’s body was found 

strangled on her driveway just 

days later, all signs pointed to 

Bratton, whom authorities suspected 

of killing the critic to exact 

revenge for the career-destroying 

review. 

“The defendant had motive, 

essential in developing new arguments 

and being able to think on 

your feet, it also adds to the 

workload of the attorneys. 

“I have twice as much to work 

on and memorize. It’s hard to go 

from one side to the other,” said 

Harlacher. 

Not only did the attorneys have 

more to memorize, they also had to 

balance challenging schoolwork. 

“It’s extremely hard balancing 

ELLY SHAO ’12 

by Kate Grode ’10 

Congratulations to the Mock Trial 

Team, which placed fourth at the County 

Competition. The Oxnard High School 

Team placed first, Newbury Park Gold 

Team second, and Trinity Pacific Team 

third. 

In the final rounds, the team went up 

against the two most competitive teams 

in the county. The team went up against 

means, and opportunity for the 

murder,” pronounced Prosecutor 

Jennifer Zhao. 

Brown cotton fiber discovered 

near Palmer’s body was identified 

as a match to the fiber of a pair of 

brown cotton gloves in Bratton’s 

possession. In addition, a Sony 

FB100 microphone cord in Bratton’s 

car matched the identified 

weapon of strangulation. 

The defense, however, maintained 

that the prosecution had 

oversimplified a largely complex 

murder case. Though telling, the 

evidence could not be definitive. 

“The prosecution’s claims are 

based on pure speculation,” noted 

Defense Attorney Katie Williams. 

“There isn’t any reliable physical 

evidence tying Ms. Bratton to the 

murder.” 

9 

homework on top of Mock Trial. It 

takes prioritizing and time management,” 

said Mallory. 

On top of working on their own 

performances, Williams, Mallory, 

and Harlacher inspired and helped 

lead the entire team. 

“They do a good job of making 

things seem positive, but [they] 

don’t lose sight of the main objective, 

which is to prepare, memorize, 

and ultimately do well in the 

Update the person who discovered the 

the Newbury Park Gold Team in the first 

round where they lost by half a point. 

In the second round of finals, our 

school’s team went up against Trinity 

Pacific, where they came out on top. 

The scoring of the competition was 

changed this year from total points 

earned in finals to the point difference 

won in each round of finals. 

Ashley Lawrence ’11 received first 

for her portrayal of Morgan Bernard, 

The defense brought forward 

Dr. Peyton Flenderson, a professor 

of criminal science at the University 

of California, Hollyville, 

to discredit the prosecution. Dr. 

Flenderson testified that the view 

of the prosecution was “too narrow” 

given the scarce evidence; 

no traces of DNA had been 

left at the scene of the crime to 

overwhelmingly place blame on 

Bratton, and cotton fiber and cord 

marks alone could not identify 

her as the killer. 

“[Bratton’s] Sony FB100 cord 

is consistent with the marks left 

by the murder weapon, but so 

are many other cords,” said Dr. 

Flenderson. 

Prosecution witness Detective 

Kendal Malone, however, 

brought to light further evidence 

crucial to the case. Detective 

competition,” said Jennifer Stahle 

’13, member of this year’s Mock 

Trial team. 

Although the attorneys had a lot 

of work to do, Hannah Young ’12, 

an expert witness on the team, 

MARIANNA GREEN ‘10 

believed that they 

are very capable. 

“The attorneys 

are the best 

speakers in the 

entire speech and 

debate program. 

They are so talented 

and put so 

much time and 

effort into memorization, 

delivery, 

and objections,” 

she said. 

After the 2009 

Ventura County 

Competition, the 

Mock Trial team 

broke their fiveyear 

winning streak 

with a defeat by 

Newbury Park’s 

Varsity Gold Team, 

who beat them by less than half 

a point. 

“The team that wins is the team 

that wants it the most, and we 

want it more than anyone else,” 

Williams said. 

body, whom she performed as an 

obsessed stalker much to the enjoyment 

of all in the courtroom. 

Sarah McGough ’10 received 

first place for her article reporting 

the murder case. 

Janet Lee ’10 received third 

place for her portrayal of Dani 

Levinsohn, the comedy club owner. 

Great job Regents! 

Malone, an expert in tire track 

analysis, proved that tire tracks 

left behind at the scene of the 

crime were a “perfect and unique 

match” to those of Bratton’s car, 

a maroon Buick Century. Given 

a recent rainfall and consequent 

soft ground, Detective Malone 

placed Bratton at Palmer’s house 

the night of the murder. Bratton’s 

tire marks, according to Malone, 

served as “definitive footprints” 

tying the comedian to the crime. 

Judge Hirsch found this discovery 

vital when combined with the 

scope of evidence. He declared 

Jordan Bratton guilty in the murder 

of Preston Palmer. 

“We’re very pleased,” remarked 

Prosecutors Jennifer 

Zhao and Jessica Lerma in lieu 

of the guilty verdict. “Justice has 

been served.”


FEATURES 

The war hits close to home 

Mrs. Moore and Mrs. 

Green share experiences of 

sending their family members 

to Afghanistan. 

by Stefania Kononenko ’13 

Many families are affected by the 

ongoing battle in the Middle East. 

Relatives, including Mrs. Anita 

Green and Mrs. Karen Moore, wait 

for the men and women of their families 

to return home. Mrs. Green’s 

husband and Mrs. Moore’s nephew 

are both in Afghanistan fighting for 

the country. 

Raquel Katch ’13 says, “I am 

glad that Specialist Scout Greg 

Whitehead, Mrs. Moore’s nephew, 

and Major Bill Green are doing 

such a wonderful thing to protect 

our country, but I’m worried because 

they are risking their lives in dangerous 

places.” 

Mrs. Green, seventh grade science 

and religion teacher, is the mother of 

Mariana Green ’10. Major Green has 

been in Afghanistan since January 

6 th and will return in March. Major 

Green is a USAF C- 130 tactical pilot 

in the California Air National Guard. 

Teaching runs in 

the Bessolo family 

Freshman Remy Bessolo 

is this year’s student 

choreographer for the 

junior high dance team. 

by Katie Gilmour ’13 

With the stress of school, home 

life, and extra-curricular activities 

coming down on the shoulders of 

the students, some members of the 

junior high find time to relax and 

express themselves through the art 

of dancing. 

For certain girls, the junior high 

dance team is a great way to do 

what they love: express themselves, 

and “experience the moment” with 

fellow class members. 

“I always had an interest in 

dance. It took me a while to join 

because I was shy, but everyone 

was welcoming,” says Melanie 

Walsh ’15. 

Other girls were excited about 

joining a team atmosphere for the 

first time. 

“It looked like a lot of fun. Everyone 

on the dance team was like 

a family, and I wanted to be part 

of it,” says Emily Learned ’14, a 

member of the team. 

Junior high dance moderator 

Mrs. Robin Privat had a specific 

girl in mind to lead the team, Remy 

Bessolo ’13. 

“Remy told me how much fun she 

has dancing and choreographing. 

I thought that it would be a good 

fit for her. She has all the right 

components for a good teacher,” 

comments Mrs. Privat. 

When the girls found out that they 

would be having a fellow student 

teaching them, they were excited 

and curious to see what Remy had 

to offer. 

This is his fourth time in the Middle 

East. The reason for this is because 

Major Green is a pilot in the National 

Guard and has a civilian job he must 

serve back home; this, therefore, 

shortens his deployment period. 

“Although it is a short while,” says 

Major Green, “time away from family 

is challenging, and the missions 

are demanding.” 

Every day Major Green is in 

danger. 

“My aircraft is generally based at 

fairly safe locations, though there 

is always a risk, so we take precautions 

to limit our exposure to the 

threats,” he explains. 

When Major Green was deployed 

to Afghanistan he said he wasn’t too 

distraught. 

“I was excited at the opportunity 

to serve in the capacity in which 

was trained,” he explains. He also 

describes himself as a travel-lover 

who is eager to see and experience 

new things and new people. He says 

that his days are often busy, especially 

when they are flying, but at 

the same time, that is when the day 

goes by faster. 

He says, “[On flying days] I am 

“Remy makes everything a lot 

more carefree and we can just be 

ourselves during practice,” says 

Learned. 

Various practices include warmups, 

choreographed dances, and 

some free time towards the end. 

“Remy is creative and makes 

the practices a lot of fun,” says 

Walsh. 

Remy shares her talent of dancing 

as well as her overall kindness 

and understanding with the girls 

every day, whether it is through 

a new dance, or through lifting 

the girls’ spirits with encouraging 

words and praise for their 

hard work. 

Emma Chisholm ’15 says, 

“Remy makes the dances easy and 

fun to learn. Being on the team 

with her has helped me feel more 

confident about myself.” 

For Remy, dancing is the perfect 

way to escape from her everyday 

troubles. 

“I have been dancing forever 

and I love how it can just take you 

to another world. I can completely 

lose myself in the routines and 

it is something I really enjoy,” 

she says. 

Having a fellow student guide 

the junior high dance team provides 

a new leadership experience 

for her. 

“She understands our challenges 

as students, like feeling stressed 

over homework, and is very flexible. 

Since she is a fellow student, 

she knows what we go through 

and is very nice about it,” says 

Chisholm. 

“The girls can really relate to 

Remy. I think it makes them feel 

accepted and more acclimated,” 

agrees Mrs. Privat. 

focused on accomplishing my mission 

quickly and safely.” 

Mariana worried that her dad 

wouldn’t be able to attend her graduation 

due to his deployment. 

“Fortunately he switched with 

another soldier so he would be able 

to make it to my graduation,” she 

says. 

Major Green calls his family 

every night. “He calls and tells us 

what he did that day and tells us he 

is safe,” says Mariana. 

Mrs. Moore’s 27-year-old nephew, 

Specialist Scout Whitehead, 

is located in Afghanistan and has 

been there since July 2009. He will 

be returning home this July. This is 

Specialist Scout Whitehead’s first 

time in the Middle East. Specialist 

Scout Whitehead is a Special Scout, 

which means he goes ahead of the 

rest of the troops to make sure it is 

safe, a very risky job. He is currently 

in the Helmand Province. 

He says, “It is really hot during the 

day, and freezing at night.” 

Mrs. Moore has a range of feelings 

about her nephew’s deployment. 

“I have a very emotional reaction, 

a mixture of every emotion. I 

The most charitable 

place on this earth 

Disney’s Give a Day, Get 

a Day allows people to 

receive a free ticket by 

volunteering. 

by Ally Adams ’13 

When most think of Disneyland, 

the word “expensive” 

comes to mind. With 

the cost of a ticket, food, 

transportation and souvenirs, 

one has probably 

spent at least $100 

to visit the “happiest 

place on earth.” 

However, with Disneyland’s 

new Give 

a Day, Get a Day 

program, people can 

receive a Disneyland 

ticket completely free 

by volunteering at one 

of their participating 

venues. 

There are many different 

volunteer jobs 

for people of all ages. 

Packaging food for the 

homeless, driving 

the elderly, 

and watching 

over kids 

at the YMCA 

are some of the 

services one 

can perform to 

receive the free 

ticket. 

“Disney [utilizes] 

pure motivation with 

this program. I feel people 

surprise themselves 

with the service they perform. 

They find out more about 

10 

Mrs. Karen Moore and Mrs. Anita Green sit by the boxes Mrs. Moore 

sends to relative Greg Whitehead and friend Jay Duffy, who share 

them with their fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan . 

experience, pride, fear, and love,” 

she says. 

In her class, Mrs. Moore has begun 

a donation of goodies from students, 

teachers, and herself to send to 

Specialist Scout Whitehead and his 

fellow soldiers. There are two boxes 

in her room, where students toss in 

anything to send to Afghanistan. 

In the boxes there are many things 

that people in America would enjoy, 

such as magazines, gum, eye drops, 

candy, mints, DVDs, sunscreen, tissues, 

Valentine’s Day letters from 

themselves and the gifts God has 

given them,” says Mrs. Sue Reyes, 

Christian Service 

Moderator 

a n d 

Reli- 

If interested go to http://disneyland.disney.go.com 

MARIAnA GReen ’10 

her scripture classes and more. Mrs. 

Moore says that Specialist Scout 

Whitehead is very thankful for the 

goodies. 

“He sends letters saying he and 

his fellow soldiers get really excited 

when they get a box,” she says. “They 

are touched that people back home 

think of them.” 

Many are grateful for the two men 

risking their lives. 

Hannah Young ’12 says, “It is 

admirable that they are serving their 

country in such a profound way.” 

gion 10 teacher. 

This program also aids those 

families that are struggling in today’s 

economy, giving them a way 

to have an enjoyable day without 

spending money. 

“This opportunity will enable 

people that are not as economically 

fortunate to give their children an 

experience they will never forget,” 

says Maggie Oaks ’13. 

While some consider this 

volunteer work to be of equal value 

to a Disneyland ticket, others 

do not view it as genuine and 

adequate Christian service. 

Mariana Green ’10 believes 

that Christian service should be 

spontaneous and come from the 

heart, not for a reward. 

“By the looks of the website, 

people have to sign up through 

the Disneyland website, so basically 

the only reason people are 

signing up to do this volunteer 

work is strictly for the ticket 

to Disneyland, which does not 

seem like a truly charitable act,” 

she says. 

Marnie Vaughn ’13 thinks 

this service work would be 

a fun experience to share 

with friends. 

“I would love to be 

a part of this wonderful 

opportunity to go 

to Disneyland with my 

friends!” she says. 

Dani Sommerhauser 

’14 shares why she would 

be willing to take part in this 

program. 

“I would consider participating 

because you get two things 

in one package: a free ticket and 

performing [a] service,” she says.


SPORTS 

Softball strives for success 

The softball team 

hopes for a triumphant 

season with 

a new head coach. 

by Alex Roland ’13 

There is a new man 

on campus! Coach Bob 

Creamer, who has been 

involved in softball for 22 

years, has begun his new 

job as the varsity softball 

coach. When the seasoned 

coach, Bob Sisco, stepped 

down from the position, 

Coach Creamer accepted 

the spot. The softball 

team has already won five 

CIF titles. With the addition 

of a new coach, they 

are hoping for a sixth! 

Although he has only 

been coaching the team 

for a couple of weeks, 

Coach Creamer has already 

been well received 

by the players. 

“The first thing he told 

me was [that] ‘We are 

going to have fun on 

this field’ and so far, it 

has been just that,” says 

Genesis Sandoval ’13. 

Coach Creamer ’s style 

of coaching mixes hard 

work with fun. Motivation 

is key to success 

this year because the 

team is trying for another 

CIF championship 

title. 

A new softball coach 

means that there is a 

Dancing to a new beat 

Student dance teachers 

lead the junior high 

dance team to new leaps 

and bounds. 

by Caroline Brennan ’13 

The junior high dance 

team, led by student teachers, 

is a non-audition dance 

group exclusive to the junior 

high. At the moment, they 

are working very hard every 

day at lunch for their upcoming 

performance in the 

Spring Showcase. 

Ev- ery Wednesday 

at lunch, all 

of the 

dance 

r s 

come 

into 

t h e 

d a n c e 

trailer 

for practice. 

Remy Bessolo 

’13, Katie 

Carolan ’13, Katie 

Gilmour ’13, 

and Caity Carlson 

’13 blast the music 

while most of the 

seventh grade comes 

in to watch. 

After their performance 

of “Thriller” by 

Michael Jackson at the spirit 

day pep rally, the dancers 

are pumped and ready for 

their next performance. 

In the upcoming Spring 

Showcase, they will perform 

an original dance, 

choreographed by Bessolo, 

for the song “Sweet Dream 

(Turn the Lights On)” by 

Beyonce. 

Chantal Bishara ’14 says, 

“It’s going to be amazing!” 

After working hard for 

several weeks, all of the 

girls feel they are prepared. 

Sophia Brennan ’15 says, 

“Everyone is confident and 

full of energy. I know we 

will do fantastic.” 

Not only do the girls 

know that they are ready, 

the teachers know as well. 

Bessolo ’13 says, “The other 

day we had a practice and 

it’s all coming together. I 

was like, this is 

going to b e 

awesome.” 

All the 

girls are happy 

and a little 

relieved that stu- 

dents are their chore- 

Katie Grubaugh ’14 

ographers this year. 

Godecki ’15 explains, “It’s 

more fun because there isn’t 

as much stress.” 

Along with Godecki, Kaitlyn 

Cruz ’15 says, “Student teachers 

know more of where we are 

coming from. They are also 

very intuitive with the songs.” 

All of the helpers agree that 

the girls on the team are very 

fun and energetic. Gilmour 

’13 says, “When they perfect 

it, it’s going to be spectacular.” 

All the girls dance around 

and have so much fun. This 

energy even spreads to the 

girls sitting along the walls 

watching. 

The helpers make dances 

just as exciting as the girls 

in the group. 

Photo by Bess Grode ’13 

Coach Bob Creamer instructs the softball team 

in hopes of bringing them to victory. 

Swimmers stroke toward the finish line 

11 

new teaching style. 

“Coach Creamer likes 

to coach by teaching 

through examples 

and making little critiques,” 

says Megan 

Garcia ’11, who has 

been involved in the 

school softball program 

for three years. 

“His coaching techniques 

provide a larger 

success rates in games 

and practices.” 

Coach Creamer has 

played and coached a 

variety of demanding 

sports, and the skills he 

has acquired while doing 

so add a whole different 

dimension to his 

coaching. Kelly Garcia 

’13, a newcomer to the 

softball team, feels his 

experience in other sports 

benefits the team. 

“Because of the experience 

[Coach Creamer] has 

with multiple sports, he 

helps us excel in all the 

different aspects of softball,” 

she says. 

The softball team is very 

excited to have the rest 

of the season with Coach 

Creamer. With him as a 

coach, they have more potential 

to succeed. 

“I’m excited to get to 

know Coach Creamer and 

also all the other girls on 

my team,” explains Danielle 

Marietta ’13. “I hope 

that with Coach Creamer, 

we can bring in our sixth 

CIF championship.” 

Bridget Carney ’10 and her fellow swimmers practice their techniques in the pool at Cal Lutheran University 

during seventh period to prepare and train for the upcoming competitions. 

The swim team is starting 

out the new season with 

the help of new coaches 

and a seventh period. 

by Cierra Visage ’13 

Softball Team Home Games 

3/9 Notre Dame 3:30 

3/11 Nordaff 3:30 

3/16 Santa Paula 3:30 

4/13 Oaks Christian 3:30 

Heads bob in and out of the 

water, as legs kick and arms 

paddle furiously. The swimmers 

slice through the water, 

advancing on the competition 

with every stroke. The swim 

team is ready to dive into a 

new season. 

The swim team began 

practicing in the last week of 

January in order to get a head 

start on the competition. 

This year, many new and 

valuable people have joined 

the swim team making the 

team stronger than ever. Once 

again, much is expected from 

the team and with the new 

season beginning, excitement 

CAITLYN HARDY ‘10 

is in the air. 

Many of the regent swimmers 

expect this year to be the best 

yet. 

“This year is going to be great!” 

says Rachel Foster ’13. 

About thirty-four swimmers 

joined the team this year. Most of 

the girls who joined were either 

on a club team or just enjoyed 

swimming. 

Many are enjoying the new 

team moderator Mr. Joel Conary 

and Coach Kathie Duncan. 

“She has great workouts and 

drills,” says Helen Eloyan ’13 of 

Coach Duncan. 

During the practice, the girls 

mostly use kick boards and flippers 

to build strength in their 

legs. The main strokes that the 

team swims are freestyle, breaststroke, 

and butterfly. 

Practices start at 2:30 p.m. every 

day, end at 4:30 p.m., and 

take place at the California Lu- 

4/15 Fillmore 3:30 

4/27 St. Bonaventure 3:30 

5/6 Oak Park 3:30 

5/13 Santa Clara 3:30 

DANITZA ROMERO ’12 

theran University community 

pool. Most days a bus comes 

and picks up the girls at 2:15 

and takes them straight to CLU. 

Fortunately for the swimmers, 

a seventh period has been added 

that provides the team with 

time for swim practice. 

Like usual, there will be 

many exciting and invigorating 

swim meets for students to 

attend through the swim season. 

This year the school will 

be competing against many 

schools such as Oaks Christian. 

The first meet will be on 

March 17, starting at 3:00 p.m. 

at Santa Paula. 

“I’m excited for the first meet 

because we have been practicing 

and preparing for it since January,” 

says Ariana Peschke ’11. 

“I can’t wait to see the skills 

our team has already developed 

because they will only improve as 

the season progresses.”

Seniors to play on a new field 

The soccer team must 

give a fond farewell 

to five of its devoted 

senior team members. 

by Brooklyn Castillo ’13 

For seniors Jenna Collins, Brooke 

Ellias, Caitlyn Hardy, Molly Magill, 

and Mary Thompson, playing soccer 

for the school has been an unforgettable 

experience filled with 

lasting memories. 

“Tying Oaks Christian was one of 

my favorite moments while on the 

varsity team,” says Ellias, starting 

sweeper. “I loved being able to put 

them in their place. Even though 

they have a much more talented 

team than us or anyone around here, 

our team, which is composed of 

girls who play with soul and drive, 

can tie an opponent that is considered 

much greater than us.” 

With the end of their high school 

careers approaching, the girls enjoy 

Molly Magill ’10 

S*TAG 

Mary Thompson ’10 

Brooke Ellias ’10 

PHOTOS BY MARIANA GREEN ’10 

their final season together. 

“The last year of soccer is always 

special for the seniors. We know 

that this will be the last time that 

we will all play together and for 

some of us it is the last time we 

will play soccer. It is precious time 

and we cherish every minute,” 

says Team Captain Collins, right 

fullback. 

Thompson agrees. “I will miss 

the team the most! This team is 

filled with wonderful girls and I’ve 

met some of my closest friends 

through soccer,” she says. 

The senior soccer players are all 

thinking about playing intramural 

soccer in college so they can focus 

on their schoolwork. 

“It hasn’t hit me yet that this 

is my last year,” said Magill, left 

fullback. “I will miss being with 

the team when I leave the school. 

There are so many amazing and 

fun girls on the team whom I will 

miss being around.” 

Caitlyn Hardy ’10 

Jenna Collins ’10 


SPORTS 

Seniors Noorean Gill, Taylor Cobleigh, Mackenzie Johnson, Mary Kate Jankowski, and Julia Violano 

enjoy their quality time with their fellow teammates for their final season. 

Basketballers make their last free throw 

The five departing senior 

basketball players look 

back on the memories of 

previous seasons. 

by Tatum Koval ’13 

Some may describe it as “trust” 

or “love” but others call it “an unbreakable, 

long lasting friendship.” 

Mary Kate Jankowski, Julia Violano, 

Taylor Cobleigh, Mackenzie 

Johnson, and Noorean Gill, the five 

seniors on the basketball team, all 

have a special, unique bond with 

each other. 

Jankowski, the oldest of the 

five, has been playing basketball 

for as long as she can remember. 

Jankowski’s dedication, not only to 

her sport, but to her family, is apparent 

to all. Likewise, her family 

constantly provides their support 

for her. 

“Jack, her brother, and Jankowski’s 

parents are always at her games 

12 

with smiles on their faces,” says 

Hannah Heitzig ’12. 

Violano, starting guard and captain, 

has been playing basketball at 

the school since she was in seventh 

grade. Julia is a hard worker and 

loves to help others. 

“Even though I am on junior 

varsity, Julia still loves to give 

me pointers,” explains Shelby 

Haskell ’13. 

Taylor Cobleigh ’10, also known 

as “TCobbs” by her teammates, 

has been playing basketball since 

second grade. However, despite 

her experience, she has decided to 

enjoy college without basketball. 

“I don’t think I’ll play in college. 

I feel like college is a chance to 

try something new and broaden 

my horizons,” says Cobleigh. 

Cobleigh is one of the powerhouses 

on the team. She is always 

cheering and smiling for the success 

of her teammates. 

“She has a great personality 


overall! I love playing basketball 

with her!” expresses Monica Posadas 

’11. 

Johnson, starting guard, is either 

known for her loud voice or her 

strong bond with her sister and 

fellow teammate, Harper Johnson 

’12. 

“It’s as though they have ‘sister 

telepathy,” says Haskell. “They 

always know when and where each 

other will be on the court. It truly 

is a joy to watch.” 

Gill, after taking a break for a 

year, has come back stronger than 

ever. 

“You can always tell she is 

working her hardest, leaving 

everything on the court,” says 

Posadas. Noorean, or “Noonie,” 

can also always find a way to make 

someone laugh. 

“She can turn a very serious situation 

into a funny one by whispering 

something hilarious under her 

breath,” says Haskell.

Human Rights Club Mobilizes for Coin Wars - La Reina High School

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