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PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 1, VOLUME 29 - OCTOBER 10, 2024
GSA Celebrates 20 Years on Campus
By Olivia Kao and Ella Sherry co-editors-in-chief
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of PVHS’ Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). The club was founded in 2004 to create a safe space on campus for LGBTQ+ students and their allies. Two decades later, the club is still standing. The establishment of the club was no easy feat, however. “Back then we had to be very reactive because [of] the environment we were in,” founding president Ryan Falck said. “Our context 20 years ago is so different from what it is today…our struggles very much surrounded that naked, blatant homophobia and bullying.” “There were students who were not supportive, not kind, and there were grown ups who were not supportive,” long-time GSA advisor Christina Varela said. “[But] we’re still here.” One of GSA’s long standing traditions, the Day of Silence,
began to stand came out, in solidarity with teachers who individuals who had never come feel pressured out to [Day of to hide a part Silence] were of their identity there,” Varela that may not said. “It was a be accepted by beautiful thing.” those around Despite the them. Day of Silence’s “There was just significance in a lot of confusion past years, GSA and frustration is not planning to between the take part in the faculty and Day of Silence students,” Falck this year. said, recounting “Instead we’re the first Day of going to do Silence. something else, On the Day of GSA’s unity circle in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Christina Varela) because now is Silence, LGBTQ+ is held during lunch once a year, not the time to students, staff and their allies where members of the LGBTQ+ be silent,” co-president Lauren vow not to speak, representing community on campus and their Colton, senior, said. “It’s the time how many members of the allies gather in one large circle to speak up and be active.” community feel silenced. at Sea King Park. During the Despite this new change, Over the years, the Day of 2019 Day of Silence, however, the club has other events and Silence has evolved from a day teachers and faculty created activities planned to celebrate of “confusion and frustration” to a second circle around the the LGBTQ+ community at one of beauty and unity. students, signifying their support. PVHS. The Day of Silence unity circle “Custodians came out, security According to co-president
Be The Change Hosts Red Ribbon Week By Isabelle Tholan reporter Red Ribbon Week (RRW) takes place every year in October to highlight living a drug-free lifestyle and staying healthy. The Red Ribbon symbolizes that you are committed to living a drug-free life. At PVHS, BTC and ASB set up many fun games, activities and rallies for us to help encourage students to fight for having a healthy lifestyle, and promote a drug-free lifestyle. Red Ribbon Week helps people stand up against drug use and keeps students safe as much as they can. The importance of RRW follows many different reasons but some of them are to spread awareness of drug use, and to educate others on the dangers and how it impacts our society. Overall there are many reasons on why RRW is so important to our community. BTC member Brynne Rhodes said that RRW is very important to our school for a variety of reasons. “RRW is important to our school because it helps inform students on difficult and dangerous topics,” she said. BTC has a massive impact on our school and “helps to make sure students feel more safe and aware on and off campus. “The whole [BTC] class and team makes a big difference to our school and helps everyone feel welcome and safe.” As a community, this week is taken very seriously for all sorts of reasons. Students commit to living a healthy, drug-free life and some people who have lost loved ones to drugs and want to honor them and various other reasons. Some history around RRW is that back in 1988, the first National RRW had become
organized by the National Family Partnership (NFP). Each year across the world over 80 million young adults and people celebrate RRW, and show their commitment to living a healthy lifestyle. RRW is a great way to show the freshmen a deeper dive into it other than what they have seen in middle school, and to show them a different experience and different understanding on why this week is so important.
Top right: PVEPD demonstrates the dangers of drunk driving with special DUI (driving under the influence) goggles. Bottom photo: BTC hands out pamphlets during lunch. (Photos by Cynthia Mindicino)
Julie Stein, senior, GSA plans on educating students about important LGBTQ+ figures who have made an impact on the community. In addition to new changes planned for this year, GSA also has a new advisor, art teacher Matthew Jaurequi. “It’s nice to see…students that want to...be a part of something bigger than themselves,” Jaurequi said. “We’re gonna work to make sure that we’re loud and proud… and have a strong healthy presence on campus.” Despite the pushback LGBTQ+ students and staff have faced in the past, the 20th anniversary of GSA has left a lasting legacy. “I hope that that legacy continues, and that GSA can define itself on its own terms,” Falck said. “It speaks to the necessity of the organization and promoting equity, partnership, and understanding is something that 20 years on we need now more than ever.”
Now Open: Kings Corner
The PTSA hosted its October 8 meeting in Kings Corner this past week. (Photo by Eason Kaewprasert) By Eason Kaewprasert and Valerie Villegas reporter, news editor
The new Kings Corner, which opened the first week of October, is a place where Sea Kings are encouraged to study, work on group projects, hang out with friends and socialize with others during their free time on campus. Open after zero period into school hours, the corner provides a space for students to go during their free time in school. Located in Room 304, where the computer lab used to be, the Kings Corner offers a new workspace different from the traditional classrooms and library. The welcoming and inviting environment, which includes a variety of couches, stools, and swivel chairs and table seating which encourages students to spend their free time there. “In talking with the Booster Club...one of the things we talked about was that we wanted to have an additional space on our campus where students could meet and hang out together in a less formal space; a place that doesn’t necessarily have to be super quiet like the library,” Principal Dr. Trista Ramirez said. The vision of Kings Corner came to life with the support of the Booster Club. What once
was a room lined with rows of computers is now transformed into a new workstation. Room 304 has made a name of its own in the few weeks it has been on campus. “When students usually enter a classroom, the first thing that’s on their mind is getting to work, whether it be upcoming tests, quizzes…but the Kings Corner, that’s a completely different environment. You walk in, you don’t think of a class immediately,” senior Jason Lee said. “Instead, you just see all the comfy seating and the bright colors on the room, and it’s just this is a place where I can just relax and calm down.” Even Sea Kings who haven’t been to the Kings Corner await their next opportunity to hang out in the area. “I’d probably go there if I had friends that don’t have a 3rd or 6th period and go hang out with them,” sophomore Lucas Burwell said. The Kings Corner would not have come to life without the support and donations or ideas of student families. “We owe a huge thank you to the Booster Club, which is our parent community, for helping fund [the Kings Corner] and making sure that this was an opportunity that we were able to provide to kids,” Ramirez said.