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
Lauren Ng

Lauren Ng, Staff Writer

As a Staff Writer for West Signals, Lauren Ng is excited to engage, entertain, and educate readers through the platform of writing. This is Lauren’s first year with Signals. Currently a West High sophomore, she has a passion for dancing, playing the piano, cooking, and eating the food that she cooks.

All content by Lauren Ng
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

May 25, 2021
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Competing in South Bay Championships, Varsity Cross Country runner Megan Gonzalez (12) keeps the pace quick in the 3200m race at West on Saturday, May 15. Gonzalez has been a member of the cross country team for all four years and has consistently won in her events, breaking PR (personal record) after PR. She expressed how running “has shown me that hard work really pays off, and through it I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. It’s made my high school career immensely better and I couldn’t imagine high school without it.”

Senior Spotlight: Megan Gonzalez

May 25, 2021
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Ending the school year with a Spring Show, West’s Dance Department put on a marvelous performance that left a profound and meaningful impact on the virtual audience. A member of Advanced Dance and one of the Teacher Assistants for Beginning Dance, Hanna Blair (12) expressed how “Intermediate's hip hop brought an instant smile to my face while the Advanced senior soloists brought me to tears.

WHS Dance Puts Their Heart and Soul Into Spring Show “20-21 And Done!”

May 7, 2021
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The seemingly endless line of shelves in West High’s library are filled with books of all different shapes, sizes, and genres. As the West High librarian, Mrs. Puccio’s passion for reading is shown through the multitude of books she provides for students. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Puccio.

Unsung Heroes of West: Mrs. Puccio

May 4, 2021
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Right after her 16th birthday, Paityn Yamasaki (10) made it a priority to get vaccinated. She explained how getting a vaccine is a simple procedure: “It’s a very easy process and can go by quickly depending on how busy they are. Make sure to bring your school ID and birth certificate so they can identify you.”

Why Students Should Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

April 25, 2021
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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

April 2, 2021
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Seconds away from the finish line, Amor Jones (11) gives it her all in a battle for first against the Palos Verdes sprinter in the varsity girls’ 200m race. On Saturday, March 20th, West High Track & Field kicked off their season with a friendly dual meet against Palos Verdes High School. Jones described her feelings about returning to the track for races once again: “I can admit I was nervous, but me being nervous I feel made me more prepared... while I was running it felt like I was floating in a way.”

West Girls’ Sprints Team Kicks Off Season at PV High

March 27, 2021
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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

March 17, 2021
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A rally was held on February 20th at Los Angeles State Historic Park to magnify the recent violence targeting the Asian community. Anti-Asian and Pacific Islander attacks all over the country have significantly increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times.

West Must Stand Against Asian and Pacific Islander Racism

March 17, 2021
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Mrs. Rippeto has been a secretary at West High for 23 years, working behind the scenes to ensure school matters run smoothly and to support West families. Mrs. Rippeto said the best part of the job is when parents “call me back or send me an email just to tell me how helpful I've been, and to thank me and show me their appreciation. Those are the kinds of things that make the day worthwhile.

Unsung Heroes of West: Mrs. Rippeto

March 15, 2021
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West High’s Boys’ Cross Country athletes gather on the track of Fred Peterson Football Stadium on the morning of February 20, listening as Coach Druten speaks. Masked and distanced, the team prepares for their first race against El Segundo High, kicking off the 2021 season.

West Cross Country Wins First Race of the Season

March 8, 2021
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Friendship is in the air as CSF’s Big Buddy program pairs members with younger Little Buddies to spend time with. Playing online games and making crafts over Zoom are among the multitude of activities students participate in. CSF’s Vice President of Tutoring Riya Thakre (12) shared that some members creatively construct “little obstacle races in their home and race their Little Buddy online.”

From High School to Elementary: Forming Friendships with CSF’s Big Buddy Program

March 2, 2021
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An anti-vax protester criticizes the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Dodger Stadium vaccination site. She is one of many demonstrators who participated in a protest on the afternoon of January 30, assembled by the organization Shop Mask Free Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times.

Dodger Stadium “Scamdemic” Protest: A Controversy Over Rights and Freedom

February 19, 2021
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Reaching for a book in the textbook room, Mrs. Tehrani flashes a quick smile under her mask. You don’t have to see her warm grin to feel her radiant energy. West High is lucky to have such a spirited presence: “I like working in the school because I like the kids. The kids are fun, they’re funny!... I love what I do.”

Unsung Heroes of West: Mrs. Tehrani

February 17, 2021
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The fried chicken sandwich wars heat up as contenders release new sandwiches on their menus. From left to right: Chick-Fil-A®️ Deluxe Sandwich, Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, Jack in the Box’s Cluck Sandwich, McDonald’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

Food Fight: The Fried Chicken Sandwich

February 7, 2021
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Ms. Kahlon was one of West High’s first teachers to provide on-campus education for students this school year. Despite the modified learning environment, she observed that it has “helped a lot of kids. I see that students' grades have improved.”

Unsung Heroes of West: Ms. Kahlon

January 26, 2021
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It’s time to write your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021. Faith Shortridge (12), a West High student who makes resolutions every year, recommends to “keep growing every day and try your best” with yearly goals. With the help of psychological tips, you will be able to not only create realistic resolutions, but maintain them as well.

New Year’s Resolutions and the Science Behind Them

January 14, 2021
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Skye Zeledon (12) demonstrates the plank position for the WHS Dance Department’s annual plank challenge. Zeledon and fellow Advanced Dance member Stephanie Bernal (12) planked for an astounding 42 minutes. Zeledon shared,“Knowing that Steph and I worked hard to create a record that is going to be in [the Dance Department] for a while makes me really happy.” Photo courtesy of Skye Zeledon (12).

Plank Power

December 29, 2020
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Kayla Luis (12), West High Varsity Football’s backup kicker, sports her jersey as she poses in front of West High’s Fred Petersen Football Stadium. She voiced one of the inspiring lessons playing football has taught her: “I believe there will be challenges in anything you do, but if you aren't willing to overcome them it will stop you from achieving what you really want. Being the only girl on the team, I struggle to keep up with the guys, but it allows [me] to push beyond my limits and get better.”

Trailblazing Women of 2020

December 20, 2020
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As the days of online learning play on repeat, students such as Eva Reyes (10) wonder when in-person school will return. She expressed, “online [school] is getting tiring as it’s hard to sit and look at a computer for a long time and learning feels the same for every class.”

When Will We Go Back to School?

November 17, 2020
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Volunteers can donate cans and boxes for the weekly bags of food distributed by the Volunteer Center’s Food For Kids program. Ms. Myers, President and CEO of the Volunteer Center, emphasized that “we encourage people to think about how many people had normal lives... and then COVID hit, and they may have lost their jobs.”

How to Spread Kindness

November 17, 2020
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The Los Angeles Dodgers swarm the field on Tuesday, October 27, following pitcher Julio Urías’s final strikeout of the ninth inning. Overjoyed, the Dodgers celebrate their hard-earned win as Game 6 of the World Series comes to a close. Photo courtesy of Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times.

A 32-Year Awaited Victory

November 8, 2020
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The virtual school year has its ups and downs, but many people choose to cherish the bright side of things, as they finally have the time to do things like simply sitting down and enjoying breakfast with their family before work or school.

Breakfast Pandemic-Style

November 3, 2020
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Customers enjoy dinner at HopSaint Brewing Company’s socially-distanced outdoor patio.

Local Restaurants Amid the Pandemic

October 21, 2020
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Like other athletes, Varsity Girls Tennis Captain Ashelyn Tablan (12) is glad to be back at practice, working hard and following COVID guidelines.

The Return of Athletics to West High

October 21, 2020
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Mr. Eddy in his office at West High.

Mr. Eddy: West High’s New Assistant Principal

October 14, 2020
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Parents could tune in to a live meeting or watch a pre-made video, such as this video recorded by English and AP Language teacher Mrs. Cunningham.

Back-to-School Night: Adapting to Change

October 4, 2020
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As the California wildfires rage on, organizations including the American Red Cross work hand in hand with local fire departments to provide shelter, meals, and delivery services for those in need.

What You Need to Know About California’s Wildfires

October 4, 2020
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20401 Victor St.
Torrance, CA
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