Return to flip book view
SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIAAfter the shock of for-mer Principal Car-ter’s decision to part ways from San Clemente High, we were all left won-dering who could ll such big shoes. It was quickly an-nounced that Dr. Brad Bak-er would step in and he was thrilled to accept the honor of this position and return to his roots at SCHS.Throughout his career, Baker has taken on many dif-ferent roles on our campus from former student, to cam-pus supervisor, to father of an alumni and a current student, then vice principal, and nal-Kat Piantka | Head EditorCalifornia legacy admissions banned: taking a new pathContinued on page 4Continued on page 3On Monday, Septem-ber 30th, Governor Gavin Newsom made the groundbreaking decision to prohib-it legacy and do-nor preferences in college admissions at all universities across Califor-nia. As the second state to implement a sweeping ban on admissions pref-erences regarding alumni or donor status, California’s ban will specically impact elite private institutions, such as Stanford University and the University of Southern Cali-fornia. While Califor-nia’s UC (Univer-sity of California) and CSU (Califor-Triton Timesnia State University) systems have long since disregarded alumni and donor relationships in admissions decisions, many of the state’s private universities have a deep-rooted history of increased acceptance rates for legacy students. This is reected across the country, with Ivy League institutions and other preeminent universities showing a sig-nicant discrepancy between the lega-cy admission rate and the acceptance rate for those without family ties. With the end of legacy consideration in Cal-ifornia, many wonder if the state will serve as a trailblazer for change in col-lege admissions across the country.Many view this legislation as a shift in a positive direc-tion regarding the equitability of ad-missions. “College admissions should be focused sole-ly on the student,” explained senior Norah Colvin. “Legacy preferenc-es take away from the hard work of students and place the focus on aspects such as social status and wealth.” This change allows for increased access to higher education, placing academics and student success at the forefront of applications. How-ever, others feel that eliminating legacy preferences takes away from tradition and the tight-knit community devel-Just like many things at San Clemente High School, it’s fair to say that Homecoming has seen its own share of change. And, with attendance doubling from 900 to over 1800 students in the past ten years despite a decrease in the overall student body, it’s clear these changes have created a signicant shift in the culture behind homecoming.Activities director of San Clemente High School, Mat-thew Ried, depicts the event 10 years ago as being “so small that everyone could t in the Aux Gym”- something difcult to imagine for current outdoor-carnival-loving students. In fact, Ried claims that there was “no food, desserts, snacks, rides” or anything of the sort that makes the dance so rem-iniscent of a fair like it is today. With 2024’s homecom-ing dance marking the third year since the implementation of rides and the year before that having no dance due to COVID-19, it’s difcult for the majority of SCHS students to imagine a homecoming without its cherished rides. 1ly our fearless leader. However, the privilege of being selected as principal of a school that has been integral to his identi-ty has been one of his favorite careers thus far and he cannot wait for this chapter of his life to unfold. As principal, he has gained another perspective on why this school is unique com-pared to other schools. His ev-ident enthusiasm and pride for this close-knit community will guide the Tritons towards yet another exceptional year as he continues to emphasize the cul-ture, tradition, academic and athletic excellence characteris-tic of San Clemente High.NOvEMbER 2024FALL PRiNTDr. Baker’s return: from student to principalHomecoming’s stark transformation Carly Altman | Head EditorAudrey Folia | Head Editor2024 electionNew SCHSlibrary Class spotlights
For 38 years, Mrs. Westling has been a corner-stone of San Clemente High School, starting her teaching career here at just 23. With a pas-sion for literature and writing, Mrs. Westling strives to create a class-room environment where students feel safe and accepted.Throughout her time at SCHS, she’s taught everything from cre-ative writing to IB Lan-guage and Literature. “Creative writing was my favorite because it allowed students to take pride in their own imaginations,” she shared. However, she loves all her classes because they all “bring something special.” This open-minded ap-proach is part of what makes her so beloved by students.When asked about what she enjoys most about teaching, Mrs. Westling says it’s the “aha” moments. “I love watching students real-ize they can do it, that they are capable. It’s the lightbulb moments that remind me why I do this,” she said. Wheth-er it’s helping a student overcome a struggle or guiding them through complex literary anal-ysis, Mrs. Westling is dedicated to nurturing condence.Over nearly four de-cades, Mrs. Westling has witnessed the evo-lution of San Clemente High rsthand. From an open campus layout to today’s more structured environment, she has seen the school change signicantly. “There’s more Triton pride now. I think our students have a stronger sense of community,” she ex-plained.Despite the chang-es, the one thing that remains constant is her deep care for her students. “I want stu-dents to leave my class feeling condent, like they’ve grown,” she explained. “My hope is that they nd a love for reading or writing, or at the very least, feel smarter than when they started.”One of her favor-ite parts of her career has been watching for-mer students grow and eventually send their own children through her classroom doors. “I think it is super cool that I get to interact with a whole new gen-eration of Tritons, and it’s fun to see the traits that they have picked up from their parents which I remember from way back when they were in my classes.”Her decades-long career at San Clem-ente High School has left a lasting mark not just on the campus, but on countless stu-dents. Mrs. Westling’s dedication and passion have shaped her lega-cy as more than just an English teacher—she is a mentor and a role model. “I hope my stu-dents leave my class knowing they are capa-ble of great things,” she stated, a sentiment that resonates with the gen-erations of Tritons who have learned under her care.For the Triton com-munity, Mrs. Westling is a guiding gure who has touched the lives of countless students with her care, wisdom, and genuine love for educa-tion.Dear Readers,Welcome to the newest addition of the Triton Times! Our team here has worked hard to bring to you the latest on ev-erything that concerns San Clemente High School, from new sports to the upcoming election.On a high school campus, the nature of change is always dynamic. A new class of freshmen come in and an old class of seniors leave. Change is happening at every moment all around us. This print is dedicated to encapsulating the people, institutions, and trends that represent San Clemente High School’s experi-ence at this exact point in time. This issue intends to delve into the new things that progress the culture of our campus and the old things that continue to dene our school.That being said, the intention of a newspaper is not just to cover events, but to spark conversation. Creating change can-not occur without those brave enough to speak out. As you read these articles, think about what is going on all around us here. As you hear the voices of our writers, we en-courage you to think about your own. What legacy would you want written down here? With change happening all around us, what is your place in it? We thank you for reading and we hope you enjoy the fall collection of articles!Sincerely,Taylor Van Dijk & Michelle MonierEditors-in-Chief2LETTERFROMthe editorsA sweet dilemma: a sharp rise in sugar intakeEach year, when fall creeps in and the holiday season approaches, it is safe to as-sume that diets and health journeys are put on pause. The months of abundance, gift-giving, and eating into oblivion grasp us all. Sweet holiday treats are consumed to an unbelievably large degree. Based on the sugar content of these treats, it is clear that the brands proting off these items are simply in it for commercial gain.A popular way to get in the fall spirit at SCHS is by ordering off of the Starbucks Fall and Christ-mas menu. On average, venti siz-es of the fall beverage favorites contain 60 grams of sugar. For reference, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the consumption of no more than 30 grams of added sugars per day. Therefore, in drinking one ven-ti Iced Chai with pumpkin cream cold foam--an extremely popular fall drink--at a sugar content of 87 grams, students are drinking 290% of their daily recommended intake.Ellie Martin, a junior at SCHS said that “she loves pumpkin bread, candy corn, and the fall-avored Crumble cookies.” Her favorite fall drink is anything “pumpkin avored.” She acknowledged that she is aware of the added sugars these treats have, but that they are “too good” and hard to say no to. . Virtually everyone is aware that sugar is “bad,” but what ex-actly does that mean? The health risks of excess sugar consumption go beyond the typical cavity warn-ing. Eating too much sugar can raise blood pressure, foster weight gain, and is known to be the num-ber one feeder of cancers. On a lesser level, it can disrupt sleep patterns, cause mood swings, and increase irritability. Escaping sugar this holiday season and beyond doesn’t have to be all that hard. For some, it could mean saying no to that daily coffee craving, for others, it could mean purchasing sugar-free op-tions, and for few, it could even mean cutting out sugar complete-ly. McPhinneaus-Holmes Selby, another junior at SCHS, believes the best way to curb sugar crav-ings is to “say no to fast food and eating out.” Whatever the case, health is a privilege we must not take advantage of.Sophie LeBourgeois | A&E EditorSophia Yeskulsky | Head EditorMrs. Westling’s continued in-uence on SCHS
As the 2024 presidential election is approaching, citizens of the United States are preparing to cast their ballots for the representative they see most t to run their coun-try. Voting has always been the American way of creating a gov-ernment that is of the people and for the people. However, in recent election years, it seems as a country we have strayed from these values and the meaning of voting has diminished.The electoral college system created in the US has recently raised the question as to whether or not an individual’s vote actu-ally matters in the overall election. Each state receives a certain Election time! A modern Harris campaign clashes against the traditional Trump campaignKamala Harris and Donald Trump embody contrasting political approaches that re-ect broader generational shifts in American governance. Harris’s poli-cies often focus on progressive issues, emphasizing social justice, climate change, and healthcare reform.For instance, her advocacy for com-prehensive immigration reform and efforts to address systemic inequali-ties signify a forward-looking agenda aimed at inclusivity and equity. This reects a growing societal recognition of diverse voices and a commitment to addressing the challenges faced by marginalized communities.“As a woman and a rst-time vot-er this is a very important subject for me,” states San Clemente High School senior Natalia Castaneda. “I support her position on abortion care and women’s health care overall.”In contrast, Trump’s policies large-ly resonate with traditional conser-vative values. His emphasis on de-regulation, tax cuts, and a strong nationalistic stance speaks to a desire to prioritize American interests and revive industries that have faced de-cline. His administration’s focus on border security and law-and-order issues underscores a preference for maintaining established social norms and economic structures. However, recent challenges, including ongoing legal issues and criticisms of his handling of key national matters, have raised questions about his effectiveness and leadership. Many critics ar-gue that his focus on isolation-ist policies and trade wars has led to economic uncertainty and strained international relation-ships.Senior Finn McGraw adds that Trump “allows for the elite that he scrutinizes to amass immea-surable wealth whilst placing blame on migrants, taking away some of the heat of other policy decisions in replacement for cul-ture war issues.”The divergence in their ap-proaches highlights differing views on the government’s role in society. Harris promotes a more active government role in addressing social issues, while Trump advocates for limited gov-ernment intervention, emphasiz-ing individual responsibility and market-driven solutions. This ideological divide mirrors a broader cultural shift. Harris appeals to younger, more diverse voters seeking change, while Trump resonates with voters who favor stability and tradition.Ultimately, the contrast be-tween Harris’s and Trump’s pol-icies illustrates a pivotal moment in American politics, where the tension between progressive and conservative ideologies shapes the future direction of the nation. Each leader’s approach reects their vision for America, with implications that could inuence the political landscape for years to come.3tritonhewsDoes your vote actually matter?number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress. States with larger populations have more electoral votes, giving them more effect on the outcome of the overall election. Further-more, the idea of swing states has a great impact on the importance and effect of an individual’s vote.A group of seniors at San Cle-mente High School expressed that after recently turning 18, they are “super excited to vote” in the up-coming election for the rst time. Senior Ally Williams explained that voting is “something [she’s] always seen [her] parents doing, and [she’s] excited to be a part of that.” While there is growing ex-citement around the new opportu-nity to become involved in their ountry’s government, even young voters have noticed that this act might not be as signicant as it once was.Williams, who lives in the state of California, noted that her “vote Sienna Miller | Head EditorDoes your vote count? Celia Mann | Social Media Editoroped between alumni and current students. Beyond legacy and donor preferences, the college admissions process has seen many changes in recent years. With changes in test-ing policies, the end of afrmative action, and more, higher education is shifting into a new landscape. “I think changes in favor of equi-tability are denitely for the better,” explained senior Madelyn Mitchell. “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to pursue a degree they are passionate about.” While California’s changes to legacy consideration will not go into place until September 2025, the college admissions system continues to adapt and develop both lo-cally and nationwide.Legacy admissions...Sugar on the rise: sweet problems Continued from page 1
4Over the last few years, the streets of San Clemente have been ooded with e-bikes. Since there are currently no regulations on age or qual-ication to be able to ride e-bikes, the roads are becom-ing increasingly dangerous as teens with no knowledge of trafc laws zip around on their bikes. In an attempt to bring more order to the cha-os of e-bike transportation, San Clemente High School has implemented a new e-bike permit system. Starting this year, students must go through an e-bike permit application process to be allowed to park their bikes on campus. To attain an e-bike permit, students must review a detailed bicy-cle safety presentation with their parents or guardians before lling out the appli-cation form. The presenta-tion outlines the school rules and expectations for e-bike riders as well as important rules of the road. With details about ev-erything from hand signals to the regulations regarding various classes of e-bikes, this presentation ensures that all e-bike-riding students, and their parents, will be well informed of the expec-tations and regulations for these increasingly prevalent vehicles. As opposed to the relatively unregulated free-for-all of e-bike transpor-tation in years prior, every SCHS student who rides an e-bike is now aware of all of the measures that they must take to keep themselves and those around them safe. Students can apply what they learn from the safety presentation to their jour-neys to and from school each day, making the roads safer for bikes and cars alike. After attaining her new e-bike permit, sopho-more Niki Paedon explained that while the process was slightly “confusing after not having to get [a permit] last year,” the safety presenta-tion provided helpful infor-mation that she could apply to her daily rides. Paedon expressed that “you have to be careful of drivers” in cars when riding to school, so having the exact rules and regulations clearly outlined in the presentation is crucial to ensure that one makes the right decisions when dealing with dangerous drivers. Although they are some-what comparable to park-ing permits, e-bike permits cost nothing except the time taken to ll out an applica-tion, unlike parking permits which are regarded as ex-pensive for many. While attaining a parking permit may prove to be a nancial burden for many families, e-bike permits remain free of charge, making them readily available to all stu-dents. Since e-bikes are the primary mode of transporta-tion for countless students, especially those with work-ing parents and siblings and different schools, it is signif-icant that the permit process remains free of charge. In addition to the nan-cial stress weighing on them, students must nd ways to balance increasing-ly busy schedules occupied by homework, sports, clubs, and more. With little time to spare, it is important for many students that the per-mit application process be smooth and not excessively time-consuming. Freshman and dedicated student-ath-lete Pearl Holmes-Selby noted that the process of at-taining her vital e-bike per-mit was “pretty easy” and did not signicantly disrupt her busy schedule. She ex-plained that “it’s just a stick-er” and was “not a big deal” to acquire. As someone who relies on her e-bike to get to and from school each day, Holmes-Selby was thankful to nd the process so simple. In response to the rising e-bike chaos in the streets, SCHS has chosen to inform their students and turn them into safer, more educated riders, rather than placing harmful limitations on this mode of transportation uti-lized by countless students on their way to school. The enactment of the new e-bike permit system demonstrates a response of the school to the new trends it is affected by. Adapting to new trends and occurrences, the school must make many new deci-sions, such as implementing the e-bike permit system, to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff.studentlifeDr. Baker’s Return... Onrush of e-bikes: New PermitsFor these reasons, San Clemente High could not have chosen someone “more invested” than Dr. Baker who is beyond qualied for this posi-tion as he hopes to carry on the legacy of former Principal Carter who served San Clemente well for nine years. He will continue to foster the motto “One Town-One Team” representative of the culture of San Clemente, a small town cen-tralized around this high school that thrives off of support from the community.One of his main objectives is to build rela-tionships with students on campus and to be seen as a friendly face that students can talk to if they need guidance or support. He wants to be “remembered” as a principal who cares about his students and school. Since Dr. Bak-er has had “probably 8 different positions [on campus]” throughout his career, this allows him to be knowledgeable on the needed changes and extremely invested in this school’s success. He hopes to create a safe environment for students to learn in and create lasting friendships and memories as a Triton. These different perspec-tives and additional insights have motivated him to start the “Principal Advisory Council” as he aspires to hear the “voice[s]” of the student pop-ulation and gain their feedback on their personal experiences.While it may not seem like it to current students, Dr. Baker describes how SCHS has changed since he graduated high school, with a more welcoming facade, additional buildings such as the P-Quad and K-Building, and new technology that has made an astronomical dif-ference in learning. While many students ar-gue that the classrooms are very outdated and have not improved, he expresses his awareness of these concerns and is working alongside the Educational Foundation to “upgrade the class-rooms with new technology this summer.” Some of these technological improvements could be new sound systems, AV (audio video), and pro-jectors in classrooms. Technology, changes in teaching style, and higher rigor continue to el-evate instruction and overall academic success at SCHS. However, he is particularly excited about these improvements which he hopes will continue to impact the learning experience at San Clemente.Dr. Baker cannot wait to watch the rest of the year unfold as he is “excited for every day” as he can continue to get to know students and remark on the dazzling programs ranging from drama, dance teams, athletics, clubs, and more. But, more importantly, he hopes to extend out-reach to students less involved on campus and wants them to witness from his perspective how “tremendous” this school is and hopes to encourage them to partake in these opportuni-ties. Dr. Baker’s mission is to impact as many students as possible at SCHS. He hopes that through his outreach many will realize that there is an abundance of opportunities available, with a place for everyone on campus, they just have to have the courage to apply themselves and get involved.Make sure to smile and wave whenever you see Dr. Baker on campus and introduce your-self. I hear he has snacks in his room too!Sedona Sweginnis | Sports EditorThe takeover of e-bikes on cam-pusAbyss cards rule the schoolContinued from page 1
5A major component that most students tend to think about is where they will eat. As the school year goes on, many students have desig-nated eating areas so they can meet up with their friends. Looking back to the past years at San Cle-mente High School, these lunchtime locations have changed frequently.Sometimes eating areas can be separated by class. In the past, the location called “The Cages” was known to be a lunch area for the freshmen class. It was called “The Cag-es” because on opposite sides was a fence wall, with the other sides to be walled with lockers. With wheels on the bottom, the fence was able to tempo-rarily close off the area, which was usually not done during school hours. However, a few years ago the cages and the tables in this area were removed, which made it so no one was able to eat lunch there anymore.The principal of San Clemente High School, Dr. Brad Baker, explained that the area led to misbe-havior due to the “look of a prison or jail. And when an environment looks a certain way, kids behave a certain way.” The cages were known to be a lo-cation where ghts took place as well. It seemed like the only way to stop this behavior was to get rid of the lunch area alto-gether. The lunchtime atmo-sphere is crucial to a stu-dent’s comfort at school. Sophomore Vice Presi-dent, Evan Potwora, can advocate this idea. “It is important to students’ mental health, and it is the one time of day that gives time to talk to friends. It is a time of day to be a kid, not a student,” he stated. The cages were a part of San Clemente High School’s culture as a cru-cial place for freshmen, so it is sad to see the removal of this iconic location.San Clemente High School now requires students to obtain ‘VIP’ wristbands to get into the student section at foot-ball games, and not everyone will get one. Lines for the student section at San Clem-ente are longer than ever as it stretches from the stands to the weight room and the school has decided to change the way the student section has been for decades. In the past, all you needed was your student ID and some school spirit to get into the student section. Now all you need is to pay $250 for an ABYSS card to have it guaranteed you get a wristband for the student section.Junior and ABYSS card holder Hanalei Marshall says she feels she has an unfair advantage over ASB card holders because she can get in with a “short line” and “get a wristband” no matter what.In an eort to keep stu-dents at the games longer the high school ASB sta made the entrance times later and required a wrist-band to get into the student section. ese wristbands are very limited and most students who don’t pay for the $250 ABYSS card do not get one.San Clemente High School sophomore Brittnay Beh thinks ASB cardholders should get a fair share of the wristbands because they all still “spent money on cards.” Brittany also says this makes her “want to go to games less” because she doesn’t re-ally have a chance of getting into the student section.Parents have also com-plained that this is an “eq-uity issue” that needs to be solved. Since many of the students can simply not af-ford the ABYSS card.e ASB sta needs to x this problem because soon they won’t need to be wor-ried about people staying longer, they’ll need to wor-ry if people will even show up or not. Sooner or later the stands will empty and we will end up like most schools: no spirit.lifeThe takeover of Abyss cards Library gets modern faceliftThe ‘Rage Cage’ disappears from campusOur beloved San Cle-mente High School is 60-years-old this year! Ever since the cam-pus was founded in 1964, the library has been a fun-damental piece for students, teachers, and all those in our Triton community. While providing a calm and warm space for students to study, the outdated library held old nicky computers for students to use in clunky and uncomfortable wooden chairs. The large open space was not being utilized to its full potential.The 2023 remodel put in four brand-new plastic roll-ing chairs for each of the 12 new tables. Along with new computers for all of the stu-dent’s printing needs, and a few groups of raised chairs surrounding circular tables perfect for group work. The space also ts a snak-ing couch on the left side, two-person benches along the front wall, and cushions for more seating, all in our school spirit colors. The newly renovated library had all of the important resourc-es for a 2024 learning envi-ronment.Both before and after the reconstruction of our library many parent volunteers would devote their time to organizing, cleaning, and shelving the many books in our collection. Our commu-nity of volunteers has con-tinued over to the modern library, even adding a few parents. While the library has always been a warm and inviting place for students it had not been used for all it had to offer. With the new more comfortable seating and table arrangements stu-dents, “like to go in there more because now it feels more inviting and open” mentions Gabby Parrish, a San Clemente High School junior. The library is now a vital hub that many students use daily.While this reconstruction did take over the library for a few months our educators made it a priority to com-plete as much of this job as possible during the summer, to not interfere with our ed-ucation. The head librarians, who help hundreds of stu-dents every day were very important in the stylistic decisions made, rightfully so as it is their workspace. The head librarian, Jennifer Moffroid, shared that “The more spacious, naturally lit environment in the library draws more kids in and shifts it into a nicer more friendly space.” The new library is a popular place among stu-dents and now that it has been modernized to t our school’s needs many more students use it, creating a more positive learning envi-ronment in and around it.BRING IT BACK: The Cages abandoned at lunch. (Taylor Van Dijk)Marlie Langer | Student Life EditorColette Moroid | A&E EditorKylie Drunasky | Writer
6Chrismtas in October: is it too soon to decorate?As the leaves begin to change and the air starts to crisp, many people look forward to the cozy feelings of fall and Halloween’s spooky spirit. However, it’s often hard to ignore the early appearance of bright festive lights in stores.It’s only the beginning of October, yet Christmas dec-orations are already taking over store shelves, leaving little to no room for Hal-loween and fall spirit. Shim-mering lights and glittering ornaments are taking over the aisles that should still be lled with fall leaves and pumpkins. While some people en-joy the early dose of holiday cheer, others feel the rush to deck the halls may be steal-ing the magic and think the Christmas spirit should wait its turn. Stores like Walmart, Target, and Costco roll out holiday items right after back-to-school sales, frus-trating students who prefer to savor each season. So the question remains: is it too soon to put up the twinkling lights and shimmering tin-sel, or is this just a way to stretch the Christmas cheer longer? Sophomore Ryan Cuen-ca is one of many who nd the early presence of Christ-mas unnecessary. “I went to Walmart to get some Hal-loween decor and there were Christmas lights right next to the pumpkin section,” said Cuenca, “It felt weird. Can we please at least nish Halloween before we move on to Christmas?”A recent study by the National Retail Federation found that 40% of consum-ers begin holiday shopping before Halloween, causing stores to nd it irresistible to begin their display of Christmas decor as early as possible. Some even go as far as offering a limited-time “Christmas in July” online shopping event, as seen with Dollar Tree. For many students, the premature display of Christ-mas decor makes it dif-cult to appreciate the limit-ed-time joys of fall–apple picking, pumpkin carving, and Thanksgiving gath-erings. The phenomenon, known as “Christmas creep,” has developed a rather neg-ative connotation. The early arrival of the holiday season not only steals the spotlight from other just as important fall holidays but also affects how students perceive the Christmas holiday itself. Sophomore student, Evan Potwara, expressed concern, emphasizing how “it’s im-portant to enjoy each holi-day, one at a time.” Potwara continued to warn, “If we celebrate the winter holi-days too early, it just won’t feel the same when Christ-mas nally comes. I’ll just be worn out by then.” Despite such concerns, some students embrace the early festivities. “I actually like seeing the early pres-ence of Christmas decora-tions in stores,” said soph-omore, Emily Saw. “I like the warm and cozy feeling. Plus, it allows me to get ahead on gift shopping.” In the past, stores have traditionally waited until after Thanksgiving to begin the spread of holiday cheer. Now, it is not uncommon to see twinkling lights and Christmas trees sharing the shelves with Halloween costumes and pumpkins as early as October. What once felt like a season dedicated to gratitude and harvest is now overshadowed by early Christmas cheer. As the debate over early decorations continues, stu-dents remain divided. Some will welcome the premature holiday celebrations, while others will urge Christmas to wait its turn and call for a return to the traditional holi-day calendar. Despite the mixed feel-ings, one thing is certain: as long as people contin-ue to support the demand for Christmas decorations, retail stores will naturally exemplify their presence. Whether you are a fan of the extended holiday sea-son or believe stores should wait until after Halloween, it seems that “Christmas in October” is here to stay.Ried justies the move from the Aux Gym to the eld because of both the desire to rent carnival rides and because of the increased attendance. He illustrates the overcrowding in the space as making it feel as though it was “about a thou-sand degrees.”Regarding the beloved spirit week in which students take part in fun dress-up days, such as pajama day or twin day, Ried stated “the only thing that was here was our Top Five assembly.” However, even Top Five has seen its fair share of modications. One year Top Five took place in the gym with a slideshow that featured the Homecoming Court, but it was moved back to the front of the library the following year after it became apparent that nobody was willing to walk that far to witness the event. But, despite the near evolution that Homecoming has ex-perienced, SCHS students can take comfort in the relative consistency of something that truly unites San Clemente as one town one team: the Homecoming parade. Though it is true that decades ago, according to Ried, “the classes did whatever they wanted,” concerning what type of car their oat was on, it has long been the case that the class oats are all on the same kind of truck following a cohesive theme. The only minor new change is the inclusion of other groups that might not be part of a sports team, like clubs. Thanks to the hard work of both students and faculty alike, Homecoming has been elevated from just a dance to a memorable night that students are sure not to miss out on.homecoming...Makenzie Drunasky | Writerfeels less impactful” because she doesn’t “live in a swing state” where the outcome of the popular vote is unknown. Swing states are specic states that are competitive, and either political party could win the popular vote. Other states, such as California, are known to support a specic political party in every election, causing voters of the op-posite party to feel as though their vote doesn’t carry any signicance, or that there is no point in even voting in the rst place. This furthers the question as to whether or not your vote counts towards the election, and to what extent voting in states like this is even necessary.While every vote in larger states or non-swing states doesn’t appear to hold much value, the opposite is true for the states with fewer electoral votes and a smaller popu-lation. In states like this, every vote counts towards the few electoral votes awarded, or towards causing the state to swing towards one party in comparison to the other. Williams furthered her opinion by expressing that “our votes are not even close to properly represented. Espe-cially for bigger states, one elector could be representing over 500,000 people,” leading to a skewed outcome that doesn’t properly express the votes of each person.Overall, the value of each vote solely depends on which state you’re representing, considering the factors of sev-eral electoral votes, swing states, and population. Voting remains an important act for the people of America to have their voice heard within the government, but should a bet-ter system should be considered to properly represent the voice of each citizen?does your vote count...
7Makena Wood, a senior at San Clemente High School, embodies a balanced approach to the high school experience. Her senior year has been marked by active involvement, particularly as a wide receiver on the girls’ ag football team, where she has cher-ished the friendships formed during the season. Re-ecting on her time at SC, Makena shared, “Meeting new friends and getting to experience it all while liv-ing by the beach” as highlights of her journey. Out-side of football, she remains dedicated to club soc-cer and is excited to continue her athletic career at Chico State, where she will play Division 2 soccer. Having navigated the challenges of high school aca-demics, Makena has adopted a proactive strategy for managing her workload, often completing homework during TIDE sessions and attempting to steer clear of the common pitfall of senioritis. As she looks to the future, Makena aims to leave a lasting positive im-pression on her school community, all while valuing the friendships she has built along the way.Penelope Johnson, a freshman, is full of ener-gy and eager to get involved. She’s already active in ASB, lacrosse, and clubs such as Helping Paws, which she says are the highlights of her school ex-perience so far. “Lacrosse and football games have been really fun,” Johnson shared, emphasizing her passion for sports and leadership roles. Penelope ap-proaches her schoolwork with a structured mentality, writing down her tasks throughout the day and tack-ling them once she gets home. For her, balancing ac-ademics and extracurriculars is manageable, and her early mornings, including zero period, make it easier. Over her next four years, Penelope hopes to remain involved in ASB and lacrosse, maintain good grades, and, most importantly, leave a legacy of kindness and compassion at SCHS. Although only a few years apart, Makena and Pe-nelope represent the diverse perspectives that shape high school life at SCHS. As an upperclassman, Mak-ena observes the freshmen with a mix of amusement and understanding, noting, “They have so much to learn and gure out. It’s fun to see their energy, but they seem a bit immature.” She appreciates their en-thusiasm but recognizes they’re still navigating the challenges of high school. On the other hand, Pe-nelope admires the seniors from a distance, feeling a blend of respect and nervousness. “Most of them seem really nice, but they also feel a bit intimidat-ing,” she conded, highlighting how welcoming yet overwhelming they can appear. In the end, this mix of youthful curiosity and seasoned wisdom is what makes the high school experience here at SC both ex-citing and memorable for all students., seniorsandfreshmenSenior v. Fresh-man Why is attendance dying at half-time?Football season at San Clemente High School has always been a time to showcase the vibrant school spirit that unites students. Through themed games, the latest trending music, and a shared love for football, energy builds as students ood the Thalassa Stadium, with cheers, chants, and laughter. However, as the game pro-gresses, the once-packed student section begins to dwindle, leaving the once lively and roaring crowd dead. In recent years, the SCHS Loud Crowd has earned the ironic reputation of being quieter than ever, lacking both attendance and enthusiasm, leading many to wonder: Why are students leav-ing football games early and where are they going after halftime?On December 9, 2022, In-N-Out opened a new location in the Pico Plaza, just under ½ of a mile from the school, becoming a hot location amongst the San Clemente community, specically the SCHS students, as a popular after-school hangout spot. When the 2023 fall football season kicked off, students started a new halftime tradition of leaving early to grab a good burger and chat with friends. With its short distance from the school, the appeal of social aspects, and cheap prices, In-N-Out became an alternative to watching the sec-ond half of the football game. What used to be an evening lled with football, friends, and fun, has turned into a pit stop before heading to In-N-Out.Junior Reese Tremper expresses her disap-pointment, explaining how she “wish[es] students would stay for the whole football game” as “our student section looks so good when it’s packed”. When fans leave early, cheers and chants led by SCHS Varsity Cheer and Loud Crowd leaders lose their energy, as their voices disappear in thin air without the help of the Loud Crowd. Without the full support of the student section, the football team is left with a quiet atmosphere, opposite to the enthusiasm they deserve.This newfound lack of enthusiasm within our empty student section is unfair to our football team. Instead of celebrating our fellow Tritons and repping school spirit, students indulge in greasy burgers and trash the nearby In-N-Out, shifting the focus from the football game itself into an off-campus social event. In-N-Out’s new location has caused students to lose the motive behind at-tending football games. Students are there to have fun and cheer on our Tritons and staying the full game will provide our football stars with all our support.“Lacrosse and foot-ball games have been really fun!”“The best is meeting new friends while liv-ing at the beach”Charlotte Yeskulsky | Head EditorGabby Miller | WriterPenolope Johnson, 9Makena Wood, 12senior spotlight: Makena Woodfreshman spotlight: Penolope Johnsonthe old vs. new mentalities
8school bands can feel en-couraged to and hope to head for the same heights that our very own talented alumni has accomplished.rough an online mes-sage and upon my asking for a share of advice for these aspiring artists, Ey-dress had thoughtfully re-sponded and generously oered guidance to young individuals who were cur-rently at a stage in their musical upbringing that he had similarly once experi-enced.rough a random poll of ve SCHS students, all ve were familiar with Eyedress’ top song, “Jeal-ous,” yet none knew he at-tended their school and were shocked to hear it. One of the students, junior M.J. Shalvoy, said it “is so cool knowing that [she is] walking the same halls of someone that became so famous”.Many others would feel likewise if they knew of this popular alumni’s rather un-derground upbringing. e success of previous grad-uates of their school moti-vates individuals to follow their passions and take a shot at pursuing them as a career. Who knows, maybe your name will end up in the praise of a SCHS news-paper article one day too.Beneath the suc-cessful musician, with over 17.4 million monthly listen-ers on Spotify, is a hum-ble beginning right here at San Clemente High School.Idris Ennolandy Vicuña, more commonly known by his stage name of Eyedress, moved to San Clemente from Phoe-nix, Arizona at the age of 13 and started out play-ing bass in a punk band while attending SCHS.Later, through the de-velopment of his unique alternative/indie style, and in early 2020 when his album “Let’s Skip to the Wedding” was re-leased, Eyedress made a name for himself. His in-uence dominated social media during this time as his top song from the album reached over one million features on Tik-Tok videos.For our school’s stu-dent bands, though in-spired by a myriad of mu-sic genres and inuenced by a diversity of styles, Eyedress’ shared origins can inspire them to pur-sue their musical hobbies as a future career. Not let-ting their attempts at suc-cess end at participation in Battle of the Bands, Musical evolution: classics to todayThe world was an ex-tremely different place in 1974. A pres-ident resigned from ofce because he was about to be impeached, Muhammad Ali punched everyone, and the A’s beat the Dodgers in the World Series.However, the craziest thing that year may be the music everyone was jam-ming out to.Leading the list near the top is the karaoke favor-ite, “Kung-Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas. Yes, that was one of the best-performing songs in 1974. Joining it at the top is the song reborn 40 years later by the hit mov-ie Guardians of the Galaxy, “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone. This song is part of a large trend of older songs used in video media like movies and TV shows that experience a revival, bringing in a new generation of fans. A prime example is “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush thrust back into the mainstream by Stranger Things.However, the number one song in 1974 was “The Way We Were” by Barbra Strei-sand. This song was writ-ten for a movie of the same name starring Streisand and Robert Redford but has since faded from the public eye. This musical masterpiece is slower, and it’s about a lover lamenting how her relation-ship fell apart and if it could reignite with all of the trau-ma still there. Nowadays, music is a faster-paced industry, both in tempo and success. Instead of top songs by year like in 1974, music today is listed as top songs by the weeks or even days. People today change their music tastes so constantly, that songs have to adjust their style to keep public attention for more than just a few days. Junior Caiya McAlister regrets how she “gets tired of new songs so fast”. Some songs are built to be summer hits, like “Espresso” by Sabrina Car-penter, while others rely on the singer’s existing stardom to push them to the top like “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Be-yonce. McAlister also notes how she often “never listens to the whole part…just the famous part” of most songs, another challenge modern songs have to overcome. Music is always chang-ing, like everything in life, and it is fascinating to see how different it is from 50 years ago to now. It will be interesting to see how it evolves in the years to come!A&EAre they monsters? Inuence of Eyedresslady gaga’s appealEyedress as for-mer SCHS studentRyan Bautista | News EditorSienna Stone | Writer
9With the help of so-cial media, the newly released crime drama based on the Me-nendez brothers has skyrock-eted. While the case is partic-ularly sensational, what’s truly appealing to the case is the at-tractiveness of the brothers to the mass population, as well as the actors who portrayed them (Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Erik and Lyle Menendez, respectively).Ryan Murphy, the pro-ducer of the new crime dra-ma, “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story,” helped launch the new media sensa-tion,n although he thinks of the boys as deviants. Murphy also jokes, “The Menendez brothers should be sending me owers. They haven’t had so much attention in 30 years.” The Menendez brothers’ trial is a haunting chapter in American criminal history that raises critical questions about justice, mental health, and so-cietal perceptions of crime. In 1984, the brutal murders of the boys’ parents, Jose Menendez and Kitty Menendez, shocked the community. What unfold-ed in the courtroom, howev-er, was equally disturbing. Though they were convicted and sentenced to life without parole, 53-year-old Erik and 56-year-old Lyle led a habeas corpus petition to vacate their convictions in May 2023, cit-ing new evidence that claimed they acted out from years of sexual, mental, and physi-cal abuse. However, the legal system has wrestled with how to interpret their actions. At its core, the trial underscored the complexities of childhood trauma. Many people fail to understand how deeply in-grained abuse can manifest in violent behavior, particular-ly when it comes to children raised in toxic environments. A San Clemente High School student disagrees, saying, “you just don’t kill your par-ents regardless, [its] inhu-mane.” Yet, The Menendez brothers’ defense hinged on a narrative of survival, one that implied that their horric actions were a desperate re-sponse to prolonged suffering. The jury struggled to reconcile this defense with the brutality of the crime.This trial exposed a glaring inadequacy in our judicial sys-tem: the failure to effectively address mental health issues. The Menendez brothers were not the rst individuals to When did Lady Gaga become such a joke? In 2008, her debut album, The Fame, featuring hits like “Paparazzi” and “Poker Face”, propelled her to pop icon status. Beyond music, her roles in American Hor-ror Story and A Star is Born have also made her inu-ential in the acting indus-try. During the peak of her fame, she became a house-hold name for her bold fashion statements, which sparked debates about per-sonal expression while si-multaneously making Gaga a polarizing gure among pop culture addicts. Despite this massive rise in fame, Lady Gaga’s star has diminished since then since then. In the last month, she starred along-side Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux and re-leased a partnering jazz al-bum, Harlequin. The sequel to Joker (2019) was widely hyped. However, it opped mas-sively. Junior Luke Brown, a Joker (2019) superfan, ex-pressed his enormous disap-pointment with the sequel, saying Lady Gaga ruined the plot with her “constant singing” and that he and his friends “left the theater in the middle of it.” This opinion is not un-popular. Joker: Folie à Deux scored 33% on Rotten To-matoes and an overall 1.8-star approval rating from audiences and is projected to lose $150-200 million. Gaga’s album, Harle-quin, had a more successful debut, but it’s evident that she has lost her popularity among young people. Her album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts and top 5 in overall album sales, however, this seems to be the doing of her loyal fan-base more so than the album being extremely popular.When asking pop cul-ture fanatics at SCHS like juniors Avalon Davis and Grace Owens, they both said they had “no idea” she even dropped a new album. Fifteen years ago, it would have been unheard of for a Gaga album to y under the radar like this. With her recent embar-rassments, it’s safe to say that Lady Gaga is becoming irrelevant to the younger generation, and even “ru-ining” a sequel many were looking forward to. Maybe this is a sign that we are moving on to a new gener-ation of pop stars and celeb-rities, and those like Gaga are being left behind.Do teens care about Lady Gaga?The Menendez Brothers: are they monsters?commit violent acts in the name of self-defense or re-sponse to trauma. Still, their case highlighted a systemic problem: our courts often lack the tools and understanding needed to fully grasp the psy-chological scars left by abuse.Moreover, the sensational-ist media coverage surround-ing the trial added another layer of complexity. The portrayal of the brothers as monstrous gures overshad-owed the critical discussion about the impact of childhood trauma and the social respon-sibility to protect vulnerable youth. The public’s appetite for scandal often eclipses the need for empathy and under-standing.Ultimately, the Menendez brothers’ trial should serve as a wake-up call. It prompts us to examine not only the ac-tions of individuals, but also the societal structures that al-low abuse to persist. By fos-tering a more nuanced under-standing of mental health and trauma within the legal sys-tem, we can strive for justice that acknowledges the human experience, rather than mere-ly punishing its most desper-ate manifestations.Emmerson Cattich | Opinion EditorKyla Currie | Opinion Editor
10The new faces of the FNL broadcastIn 2004, three San Cle-mente High School football coaches de-veloped a live broadcast-ing program for the varsi-ty football team that was able to be streamed on the internet for free called Friday Night Live (FNL). Former coaches Richard Corder, Ben Villa, and Rodney Runulfson start-ed this successful project when there was no other way to watch the football games live.Unfortunately in 2013, beloved coach Villa sud-denly passed away, fol-lowed by the retiring of Rodney a few years lat-er. Thankfully, Corder’s new partner, Frank Kling, saved the broadcasting by joining the crew in 2013. Corder described Kling as “instrumental in mak-ing the Friday Night Live the outstanding and well-known broadcast that it is today.” While this shift in the crew continued the broadcast, the latest change to the team im-proved the quality and ex-perience of the game. As of last year, the remaining two coaches decided to retire and hand over the broadcasting under stu-dent leadership.Corder chose at the time freshman Timoth-ee Bernardin-Bigle--also known as “Frenchy”--in 2022 and two years later found current junior Ma-son Steinorth to run the video computer and live chats during the games. Both students love being a part of the team and appre-ciate how it opens up more doors of opportunities to them. Bernardin-Bigle says that one of the main reasons that keeps him going each week is that he is able to “give back to the community.” What he means by that is by creat-ing this free broadcasting program, families can still come together and support their Tritons despite dis-tances; anyone is able to keep up in live time. It is important for families to be there for each other and this support will ultimate-ly result in better playing time for the Triton and for the whole football team.Adding on, Steinorth includes the fact that it is a way for players to review their “highlights” and nd “ways to improve.” Max-ing out the team’s poten-tial is one goal of many and it starts with this feed-back by the broadcasters.Aside from the outside appeals of the broadcast-ing team, Steinorth also mentions that the “friend-ly faces behind the booth” makes it more “homely and fun” since the “sense of connection makes it all worth it.” The whole pro-gram nurtures a healthy community and mindset and is effectively dis-played by these two stu-dent leaders. As a “One Town, On Team” school, the FNL broadcasting team has denitely t into the criteria of making an-other family while con-necting others.TritontimescrosswordAcross3. Good to throw on the re9. Gathering food from the elds10. Head warmer14. Delicious roast oen served at events17. migratory bird18. What you use to tidy up aer the leaves fall.19. Warm indoor footwear21. You need these when puddles appear22. Use to make gin24. Fruit or veg25. Month29. Go to sleep until spring30. Great outdoor contests rely on these.32. Keeps you warm33. Make it while the sun shines!34. One way to dispose of dead leaves.35. Mycelium forming fairy circles38. Goes back in October39. Large squash associated with Halloween40. Lies on the ground in early morning42. What we gain when the clocks go back43. like a thorn45. Strange46. A spidery creation47. a game or re starter49. Get the eld ready for a crop51. tasty and juicy autumn fruitDown1. e coldest wind direction2. Delicious, baked with dried fruit4. Month5. Colour of leaves6. Tasty root veg7. We burn them in memory of Mr Fawkes8. Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness11. Starts to fall during Autumn12. American name for season13. A warming snack or meal15. I agree16. Tool to get rid of weeds19. What happens to the length of Autumn days20. Frozen water23. We feel this in the air26. Colour of leaves27. Colour of leaves28. What happens to the length of Autumn nights31. We need it but we usually moan about it!32. Is it still to early to mention this?34. Now’s the time to plant these for spring36. e sound of walking through fallen leaves37. When it’s thick it makes driving dangerous40. hand warmers41. Used to make an apple treat44. Delicious baked or mashed48. ey love to come indoors50. Poor chap usually gets burnedMegan Lander | Student Life EditorStaffMr. Miller.................................AdvisorTaylor Van Dijk............Editor-in-ChiefMichelle Monier...........Editor-in-ChiefKat Piantka...........Newsroom ManagerCarly Altman.......................Head EditoAudrey Folia......................Head EditorSienna Miller......................Head EditorCharlotte Yeskulsky...........Head EditorSophia Yeskulsky...............Head EditorKeely Cabatuan.................Photo EditorRyan Bautista....................News EditorLiam Dillbeck...................News EditorMegan Lander.........Student Life EditorMarlie Langer.........Student Life EditorSophie LeBourgeois...........A&E EditorColette Moffroid................A&E EditorEmmerson Cattich.........Opinion EditorKyla Currie....................Opinion EditorCarson Neuhausen............Sports EditorSedona Sweginnis............Sports EditorCelia Mann............Social Media EditorGabby Miller.........Social Media EditorLucia Bybee................................WriterKylie Drunasky...........................WriterMakenzie Drunasky....................WriterBella Hirtzel................................WriterSarah Houston.............................WriterElla Kittler...................................WriterEmily Ota....................................WriterSienna Stone...............................WriterEmma Sutherland........................WriterCatarina Wilfong.........................Writer
As of October 16, the San Clemente High School Girls Flag Football team has of-cially wrapped up their im-pressive inaugural season. Girls Flag Football was ofcially sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) in Febru-ary 2023. With San Clem-ente High School’s delayed participation until the 2024-25 season, our girl’s team started a whole year behind other schools in terms of technical development and team chemistry. Unfortunately for those other schools, a year is not enough time.The Tritons started their season out insanely strong with a 4-1 record. As the season progressed, the team traded wins and losses un-til they reached their 9-10-1 nal record. Combined with their 4-5 league re-cord, some might make the mistake of dismissing the team too early as a threat in the league. But, the Tritons girls seem to grasp the con-cept of nishing strong. The team not only ended their season with an absolute blowout against Capo Val-ley, but they also clinched their rst CIF playoff ap-pearance in a close play-in game against Dana Hills. The ofcial bracket for CIF playoffs comes out on Oc-tober 19, giving you time to clear your calendars and prepare for a Triton battle. That’s right, with the CIF playoffs kicking off, it is a crucial time for the stu-dents and parents of SCHS to show school spirit. Senior Charles Childs has attended most games and noted that, “It is super important to show appreciation towards a growing sport and team.”As ag football begins to take its baby steps with-in high school sports, the responsibility to raise its positive atmosphere falls upon everyone associated with the school. Childs also admits that, “The main rea-son I went was due to Ella Katzenbach. She was al-ways telling me how they were doing great and how I should come to watch their games.” Ella takes pride in her team and also agrees there should be more of a turnout at the games. The players are straining to ad-vertise their games to the school, now we just have to buy in with school spirit. The future for the San Clemente High School Girls Flag Football team is bright. To ensure the growth of this new sport is exponential, it is crucial to encourage the next gen-eration to also participate. When asked if she has any words for the girls inter-ested in joining next sea-son, Katzenbach exclaims, “DO IT! If you have never played before, just try it out and see if you like it.” Of course, ag football is not strictly about the games. Katzenbach frequently mentioned how much the team means to her, saying, “My teammates and I are all friends outside of the eld too. I think that’s what makes our team so special. We all care about each oth-er and lift each other up.” As Ella is referring to, ag football has become a posi-tive environment for all the girls, creating new friend-ships and hobbies for every single one of them.If you’re a girl at San Clemente High School, looking for a new passion, try picking up ag football; who knows, you might like it.Girls Flag Football CIF debut11sportsThe San Clemente High School surf team is one of the most dominant high school surf teams in the nation, known for its consistent success and deep connec-tion to the community. Over the years, the team has evolved into a power-house, winning numerous National Scholastic Surf-ing Association (NSSA) state and national champi-onships. With 12 state titles in the past 15 years, San Clemente has maintained its dominance through strong leadership, passion-ate athletes, and a unique team culture.One major shift in the team’s history is the move from being competitive regionally to becoming a national force. Since the late 1990s, the team, led by Coach John Dowell, has been a dominant force, cap-turing titles year after year. Austin Harper, a junior on the varsity surf team, men-tioned how even with the dominance of prior years, “people can do things to-day that people back in the 90s wouldn’t even think is possible.” The surfers not only compete individual-ly but earn points for their team, which is unique in a sport typically focused on solo competition.The surf culture in San Clemente plays a big role in the team’s suc-cess. Many team members grow up surng on the lo-cal beaches, making it a way of life from a young age. This lifelong passion translates into success at competitions, where San Clemente consistently out-performs other schools. In 2024, the team celebrat-ed its 15th NSSA state championship, showcasing its continued dominance. However, the team is not just about winning. The ca-maraderie and family-like bond among team mem-bers is a signicant aspect of their strength. They surf together nearly every day, building their skills and a close-knit community. An-other SCHS varsity surfer, Kai Finn, mentioned how “we’re all friends” and that “no one is superior to any-one.” This team dynamic is seen as one of the reasons for their ongoing success.San Clemente’s surf team remains a symbol of both excellence and team-work, deeply ingrained in the town’s surf culture and high school athletics.Surf team historyCarson Neuhausen | Sports EditorLiam Dillbeck | News EditorSCHS FNL broadcastingThe rise of ag football
Why is the class of 2025 letting spirit days op? The week before Homecoming is supposed to be a time of vibrant school spir-it, student enthusiasm, and buzzing excitement for up-coming weekend events of the Homecoming parade, football game, and dance. Called “Spirit Week,” ASB organizes events, activ-ities, and the annual tra-dition of dress-up days. This year’s daily themes were class theme, twin day, BBQ dads vs. soccer moms, Adam Sandler, and PJ day. Student participa-tion in these days has his-torically been inconsistent amongst classes, but usu-ally the senior class carries the excitement and dedi-cation to the themes. This year however, Class of ’25 is falling short, and par-ticipation amongst lower classmen is miniscule.So why is Spirit Week opping, and why is the Class of ’25 letting it?One would rst assume social pressure, and a fear that participation in Spir-it Week events would be viewed as lame. But with seniors walking around with kindergarten de-signed backpacks, includ-ing Lightning McQueen and Disney characters, that seems unlikely. The fear of conformity decreases by senior year, so a possible answer is that the seniors this year are simply unin-terested in the event and not wanting to give up their usual styles. Around cam-pus, seniors chose to wear their typical clothes over dressing up, and seemed impartial to the belief of doing everything “one last time” for senior year. Stu-dents’ dress is an important part of self-expression, so they are choosing to con-tinue wearing outts that express themselves over adhering to the themes. However, many stu-dents did not choose an all or nothing approach, and instead opted for picking and choosing only some of the days to participate in. Senior Payton Blake chose to participate in class theme, twin day, and soccer mom vs. BBQ dad, but had no interest in the Adam Sandler or PJ day. This method seems to be synonymous with a vast majority of Class of ’25, and Blake believed it is because “people dress up for the days that align with clothes they already own and feel comfortable in; so the days that require more niche clothing have lower participation because peo-ple want to dress in clothes that still align with their styles and identities.”Even ASB started see-ing the decline in pop-ularity and tried to add incentives to encourage greater participation and statements of school spirit. Each day of spirit week had an online competition via social media, and a daily winner for “best dressed.” Students had to take a pho-to with Principal Baker while in their themed outt and post it on social media to be eligible. However, this didn’t counteract the decline as much as originally hoped, and senior ASB coordina-tor Julia Sipelis believes ASB has promoted dress-up as best as possible, but “it’s hard to negate the pre-established belief that showing school spirit and wearing something for a school event instead of yourself is embarrassing.” This trend can be seen past Spirit Week dress-up days, as it has become a commonality between se-nior participation in a wide array of school events: sports, dances, and senior events. But with a whole year of school spirit events ahead, there is still time to reverse the trend. It is time for us, the Class of ’25, to leave all reservations behind and make every spirit day and event count because it really is the last time for the class of ’25.OpinionWhat hap-pened to every-one going to dances?Michelle Monier | Editor-in-ChiefThe decline in school dancesTaylor Van Dijk | Editor-in-ChiefDuring all of the planning of pic-tures, dinners, and dates surrounding school dances, the period before these events is dened by the undeniable buzz cir-culating in the air. With almost every student on campus seemingly in-volved with the festivi-ties of SCHS dances, it is shocking that there was a considerable decline in ticket sales in the 2023-2024 school year. The onset of the Winter For-mal “Snowball” dance in February highlighted the stark decline in dance at-tendance, raising the ques-tion of why students have strayed away from attend-ing school dances while maintaining the event’s rituals.Junior Emily Ohman stated she “didn’t attend the dance because the price was really high, it was pretty out of the way, and the dance itself seemed similar to prom, which led me and my group not to attend.” While the jus-tication for attending dinner, pictures, and an afterparty remain in place, many lose motivation to buy a ticket, drive to, and attend the dance, especial-ly with most of their peers and friends electing not to attend. While ticket sales were bolstered by teenag-ers’ inherent fear of miss-ing out, the ip side is now being realized as more and more decide not to go. Students have stated price and location as fac-tors in choosing not to at-tend, but there is also an underlying issue of this mass “bandwagon” — es-pecially amongst promi-nent groups of usual dance attendees — that intensi-es this issue. While the price, location, and time conicts might be valid reasons behind some stu-dents’ choice not to at-tend, the masses assume the same mentality as their own as more and more students choose not to go. Furthermore, when an event is no longer viewed as worthwhile in the pub-lic eye, it loses its appeal and relevance to those who would have otherwise chosen to go. These trends contribute to a self-perpet-uating issue that is detri-mental to the success of all school dancesAs this trend has al-ready been instituted at San Clemente High School, what can students and staff do to counteract it?It is difcult to nd a venue locally to host the capacity of an event like Winter Formal and also supervise it, but looking to make Winter Formal a more minor, more “inti-mate” event with less em-phasis on sheer size and less out-of-the-way might attract more students to-wards going. Also, to dis-tinguish the event from Prom and Homecoming, coordinators should con-sider making the dance more laid-back rather than with the same large dance oor, DJ, and lights com-bination. Although poten-tially unfeasible, if ASB could nd a way to host the dance at a cool lo-cation like an aquarium, theme park, or museum, more people might be at-tracted to it from the lo-cation alone. If the formu-la for the dance location were switched up, it could encourage juniors and se-niors to lead the charge in ticket sales, which would reverse the issue of ticket sales in this event. There are endless pos-sibilities for what coordi-nators can do, but at the end of the day, the only rea-son that ASB can fund and justify putting on dances is through ticket sales and dance attendance.Without students choosing to go, SCHS will eventually stop putting on the dances, taking away the opportunity for festiv-ities of pictures, dinners, and after parties. Regard-less of the reasoning and justications, the students are the ones that make or break a dance. Reversing this trend and preserving the integrity of high school dances starts with you, so as Winter Formal ap-proaches, make sure you are rst in line for tickets.12