The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

West High’s Summer Workshops will offer five different enrichment opportunities on campus for students between mid-June and early August. Theater Director Ms. Orabuena encourages students to give her workshop a try “if you think you might want to be involved or you just want to come back to school and have fun for a couple weeks.”

West Teachers Offer Free Summer Workshops

Lauren Ng, Co-Editor-in-Chief May 25, 2021

   Just 11 more days, and summer break will have officially arrived. As the school year comes to a close, the doors of summer opportunity begin to open. Five of West’s teachers are offering free workshops specializing in a variety of skill sets –...

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As finals week approaches, it’s crucial to take time to take care of yourself. Co-Vice President of Tutorial club Michelle Fong (12) notes how she recharges during this stressful time: “Whether [it be] self-care stuff like just making yourself something nice to drink [or] doing a face mask, I find that that really helps me relax for a bit and find my motivation again to just power through with that last assignment or whatever I have to get done.”

A Stress-Free Finals Week

Alexssa Takeda, Co-Editor-in-Chief May 25, 2021

   Although a year of COVID has been full of unexpected obstacles, many of the challenges of school have remained the same, including finals. Even if the last week of the semester is known for frantic flipping of flashcards and haphazard scanning of...

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Following a TUSD board meeting discussing the full reopening of Torrance campuses, disdain from teachers and students for the district’s decision-making process grows louder.

TUSD Board Democracy

Alexssa Takeda, Co-Editor-in-Chief May 11, 2021

   On April 26th, a Special TUSD Board meeting was called to debate on changing the current hybrid schedule this year. The Torrance Unified School District’s (TUSD) Board of Education came to the consensus with a three to two vote, that since the...

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As a month of AP testing continues, students prepare for online exams by taking practice tests. Riyana Roy (10) notes how she plans to study for her AP World History exam: “Since world history is about remembering facts, I’m [going to] use active recall where I ask myself questions about important topics to see if I can remember them. I’ll probably create notes for every unit too, and sort them into various world history themes which would be useful on the DBQ (Document Based Question) portion.”

Conquering AP Anxiety

Westley Kim, Staff Artist May 11, 2021

   The stress of a clock counting down until a final deadline, the anxiety of a pass or a fail, a five or a two. It’s AP season.    With a seemingly infinite number of ways to study, however, it can be helpful to have a little guidance. Robbie...

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Since the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions in California, businesses such as movie theaters are slowly beginning to reopen. But after Governor Gavin Newsom announced the elimination of capacity limits in these theaters, some movie-goers wonder if it will remain safe.

It’s Showtime! But Is It Safe?

Alexssa Takeda, Co-Editor-in-Chief April 30, 2021

     On April 6th, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California could lift most state-wide COVID-19 restrictions by June 15th. Along with scrapping the color-coded tier system, capacity limitations in businesses including movie theaters will be...

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Netflix Documentary “Seaspiracy” tackles the controversial fish market and the impact it has on the world’s oceans. The fishing industry is accused of wiping out fish in the sea, destroying habitats, and illegally hunting for whales. The filmmakers have expressed a desire to save the oceans from the fishing industry, but they have also come under fire for presenting a sensationalized version of the truth.

On Demand: Seaspiracy Takeaways

Shrutika Ezhil, Staff Writer April 30, 2021

   Quarantine may be coming to an end, but our hunger for binge-worthy content isn’t. One of the effects of social distancing has been an increase in viewership of streaming services, and Netflix is no exception, releasing new movies and series to...

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On April 12th-14th, tryouts for West High’s Speech and Debate team were held. Team captain Jana Abulaban (11) expresses what she got out of being a part of the team: “Once I joined, I understood the broader concept of Speech and Debate and really understood what I wanted to gain [from] it: that feeling of being part of a really supportive team...I have learned to publicly speak more and be more confident with it.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to this Debate

Alexssa Takeda, Co-Editor-in-Chief April 27, 2021

   During this year of concerning social issues and rapidly evolving political environments, it seems that a rising number of outspoken leaders are taking a stand. Despite the pandemic, West High’s Speech and Debate team continued its goal of bringing...

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Students returned to West High’s campus for the first time in months as COVID restrictions were loosened in Los Angeles County. Hallways decorated with posters and signs remind students to wear a mask and socially-distance. Blended student Gaby Nieraeth (10) notes how “staircases only go one direction...when walking around campus, some pathways point a certain way, so I had to find alternate paths to get to my classes.”

A Day in the Life of a Blended Student

Lauren Ng, Co-Editor-in-Chief April 2, 2021

On March 25th and 26th, West High welcomed back about 70% of its student body – one year since the last 2:57 dismissal bell. But what are the new changes to campus and classroom life, and what remains the same? A few of West’s Blended students give...

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West High’s ASB threw themed events for each class using the GooseChase scavenger hunt app. Anika Agarwal (10) participated in the St. Patrick’s Day themed event, noting how one event included collecting as many green items as she could find to photograph: “it was pretty fun, especially [when] asking my family to [help].”

The Hunt Is On!

Alexssa Takeda, Co-Editor-in-Chief March 25, 2021

   With most of our social interactions being limited to awkward breakout room encounters and afterschool Zoom calls, it isn’t uncommon for students to feel disconnected. ASB is working harder than ever to bring students together by hosting activities...

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Elementary Schoolers have been returning to school. To minimize danger to students and staff, meetings are only twice a week. In addition to this, the students are distanced in the classroom.

What Returning to School Looks Like for Elementary Schools

Shrutika Ezhil, Staff Writer March 25, 2021

   With middle and high schools on the verge of opening back up, elementary schools have been in-person for about 2 weeks now (some grades longer than others). So as you take time to understand what reopening schools will look like, let’s learn how...

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As stricter COVID-19 restrictions are eased out and vaccinations become more widely available, more schools around the country are beginning to open up. Teachers at West are preparing their classrooms, stocked with COVID precautions, alongside normal supplies, to ensure the safety of students and fellow staff.

Teachers Prepare For School As Reopening Approaches

Lauren Ng, Co-Editor-in-Chief March 17, 2021

   March 13, 2020: The COVID-19 shutdown was initially scheduled for a two-week duration, allowing students to return to campus by the end of the month. A year later, it remains true that students will resume in-person schooling in March ― just not...

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