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
Elise Fauni

Elise Fauni, Opinion Editor

Returning to the staff for a second year, Eli Fauni is the Opinion Editor of West Signals. After a year of growth, collaboration, and lots of writing, she is beyond excited to continue sharing untold stories and giving a voice to the community. When not writing, Eli loves capturing memories with her camera, attending concerts, and geeking out over her favorite music artists.

All content by Eli Fauni
Congratulations to Mrs. Chambers for winning Teacher of the Year.

Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Chambers

Elise Fauni, Opinion Editor • June 26, 2023
West students celebrate the school’s annual Homecoming dance, an event tied to the decades-old tradition of Homecoming King and Queen. Photo courtesy of Marina Soen (12).

Homecoming Court and LGBTQ Inclusivity

Eli Fauni, Opinion Editor • November 16, 2022
Filipino Culture Club (FCC) President Kayla Dadivas (12) speaks to a circle of attendees about new club events and board members. Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 was the first general FCC meeting, filled with authentic Filipino food, music, and important information for this year. Club members can look forward to new merch designs, and bonding with branches of FCC at other South bay schools. This month is especially important for the club since it is the Filipino American History Month. The board members took this opportunity to inform attendees of the importance of recognizing the history of Filipino-Americans who paved the path for future generations.

Filipino Cultural Club and Filipino American History Month

Eli Fauni, Opinion Editor • October 19, 2022
Our seemingly simple city of Torrance was able to shape one of today’s famous science fiction writers, Becky Chambers. Chambers is currently working on a new novel, but in the meantime, readers can also look forward to her next release in July: Prayer for the Crown Shy, a novella serving as a sequel to another one of Chamber’s novellas, A Psalm for the Wild-Built. Photo courtesy of Other Scribbles.

Traveling the World of Science Fiction: Meet Becky Chambers

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • June 13, 2022
WHS Dance runs through their perfected performances after adapting to last minute changes. Despite the added difficulty, choreographer Ray Pham (11) expressed, “Everyone has been trying their best to overcome these challenges and it’s been amazing to see the team work harder than ever!” The dancers successfully persevered through all of their troubles, bringing another spectacular show to the West High Performing Arts Center.

How WHS Dance “Continued to Thrive” Through May Show

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • May 16, 2022

Embracing Asian Representation: Turning Red

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • April 24, 2022
The Enviro Club is showing how yard sales can be used to help the environment! It can be very green to resell items instead of buying from bigger industries because it reduces waste. Reselling items also reduces carbon emissions from large transportation vessels.

Sustainable Shopping: Enviro Club’s Yard Sales

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • April 22, 2022
On March 25, the gym was transformed into a new world as glowing, fluorescent colors filled the otherwise dark room. Freshman ASB President Angelina Quiroz (9) remarked, “Promoting class spirit is basically our whole job as ASB, so having a Glow Rally with so many bright colors, decorations, paint, grade competitions, and more surprises would really help with that!” Art/Photo courtesy of Ayane Kawanishi (12).

West High Glows Brightly in the Spring Sports Rally

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • April 13, 2022
Joining West High as a College and Career Coordinator, Ms. Stover has certainly gone above and beyond at the College and Career Center. As a former English teacher, Ms. Stover expressed her preference for being able to help students rather than create pressure from grading assignments: “Coming from a teaching background, I like not having to evaluate their work but really just be there to listen to students and help with whatever it is they have questions about.”

Preparing for the Future with Ms. Stover!

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • February 28, 2022
Talent show participants cheer as first place talent show winner Sarayu Kocharlakota (10) makes her way up to the front to receive her award. West High’s Choir Department hosted the West High’s Got Talent show on Thursday, February 10 in the Performing Arts Center. Kocharlakota shared what singing means to her: “Singing is my stress-buster; It’s the only thing that makes me forget about everything else. It fills me with happiness and helps me connect with people all around.”

West High’s Got Talent

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • February 17, 2022
Members of Filipino Cultural Club prepare for their signature Tinikling and hip-hop dance performance. After a year of virtual Multicultural Day, FCC President Astrid Fontanilla (12) expressed the club's excitement to “have the opportunity to meet in-person and have an in-person and intimate performance for the school.” Photos courtesy of Kayla Dadivas (11).

Getting Ready for Multicultural Day

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • February 14, 2022
On January 13th and 14th, students from the West High Dance Department, including Choreo Club worked to put together an amazing performance. The January Dance showcase (Jan Show) was an outstanding success with 20+ extravagant performances varying in music genre and dance styles. In regards to her final Jan Show, senior and advanced dance student Rebecca Yan (12) expressed, “I am proud of all we were able to accomplish these past few months.”

Striving for Greatness: The Choreography of January Dance Show

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • January 31, 2022
Successfully avoiding the opposing team, forward Zachary Mercieca (11) scores yet another goal in a game against Palos Verdes. Mercieca has been playing on West’s Varsity Soccer team since his freshman year, showing amazing plays with every returning season. Coach Shimizu of Boys’ Varsity Soccer described Mercieca as “a devastating player who a single defender cannot stop.” Photo courtesy of Zachary Mercieca (11).

Athlete of the Week: Zachary Mercieca

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • January 13, 2022
Candy Cane Lane residents were back to going all out with their holiday themed lights and decorations! “It’s a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit!” Rakza Srivanitchayakun (11) expressed. Photo courtesy of Tommy Nguyen (11).

‘Tis the Season For Candy Cane Lane!

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • December 27, 2021
Having served in the military and now as a Computer Science and Math teacher at West, Mr. Reyes decorated his classroom with posters reflecting his life experiences. He hopes to “live up to expectations of the wars of the past, live by example for the wars of the present and hope to be used as a model for the wars of the future.”

Honoring Our Veterans: Mr. Reyes

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • November 20, 2021
West High Entertainment Unit’s first-place win at their competition on October 23 showed a lot of progress since their first show at South Bay Invitational. Their score rose from roughly 60 points to nearly 70 points, and the show incorporated more music, choreography, and drill. Overall, the band’s win, though out of two bands in their division, was representative of hard work on the part of the students and staff.

West High Entertainment Unit Wins First Competition of the Season

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • November 10, 2021
Varsity Golf member Kami Kwong (12) delivers another one of her perfectly precise swings on the challenging golf course. Kwong has played golf her entire life. She recently celebrated her commitment to playing golf for Hawaii Pacific University. In regards to the recent payoff for her dedication, Kwong explained how “Golf is such a big challenge and it makes you keep wanting to do better and better. I just want to strive to keep improving more and more."

Athlete of the Week: Kami Kwong

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • November 2, 2021
Kaiawe Miyasato (12) can almost always be found with a pair of drumsticks and a set of drums. Though he’s been playing since childhood, Miyasato gained a love for performing through his experiences at West High, and hopes to continue performing the drums after graduation. Photo Courtesy of Kaiawe Miyasato (12).

Senior Spotlight: Kaiawe Miyasato

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • October 25, 2021
Izzy Fujimoto (11) is currently making a costume of Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer by hand. Crafting the individual pieces proves to be a difficult task. However, Fujimoto confirms that the process is worth it in the end: “It just kind of feels better when you make your own costume and get to wear it!” Photo courtesy of Izzy Fujimoto (11).

Halloween Costume Creativity at West

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • October 25, 2021
At their first meeting, Sending Love Club members show off their hand-crafted heart boxes as they prepare for a year full of heart shaped crafts. Photo courtesy of Allison Tsai (11).

Sending Love from West High

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • October 16, 2021
​​Bringing the club back to West High after a one-year hiatus, GSA/SAGE board members promise a safe, judgement-free space for LGBTQ students in school. ICC Representative Rachel Pham (11) encourages LGBTQ students of West High to join: “SAGE creates an environment for those who need to connect with people that are in similar situations. Fellow LGBTQIA+ students can help each other out by joining!” Photo courtesy of Bethany Shim (11).

Creating LGBTQ Safe Spaces in Schools

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • October 13, 2021
Preparing for this year’s Fall play, Play Production members Taylor Gulbrandsen (11), Jade Leone (11), and Natalia Torres (11) study their lines as they prepare for rehearsal. “I’m excited to have an in person audience,” Leone expressed. “It’s been a while since we have been able to have people watch [the plays] in person!” West students, staff, and families will be able to enjoy the show live in the West High Performing Arts Center on November 18, 19, and 20.

A Closer Look Into Play Production

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • September 21, 2021
For the West High Girls’ Tennis Team, First Serve was an event filled to the brim with suspenseful games. During their first set, Sarah Han (11) and Jasmin Cuaresma (11) played to a tiebreaker against Rosemead. “It was super stressful, but we were still proud of ourselves since we put up a fight,” Cuaresma said.

West High Girls’ Tennis Team Victorious at First Serve

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • September 14, 2021
West High students made their way to their classrooms on the first day of school. Recalling the exhilaration, Isis Kim (10) said, “I was so excited to meet my friends I haven’t seen in a year!”

The Return to In-Person School

Elise Fauni, Staff Writer • September 4, 2021
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