Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913
VOLUME 112, ISSUE 5 JANUARY 29, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
OPINION
FEATURE
SPORTS
Tiger examines Trump’s departure from his “America First” policy in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. Page 6
SPHS is home to many original musicians and bands, three of which are highlighted by Tiger. Page 11
Tiger examines how the NFL’s erratic year has delivered a fresh change of pace that SPHS students seem to love. Page 15
The Middle School Families Night returns to SPHS
OPINION
Dangers of peptide use
STAFF EDITORIAL
THE CITY plans upgrades to Oxley Street’s community infrastructure.
SPHS Cheer performs at the beginning of Middle School Families Night on the Tiger Patio.
SPHS invited current eighth graders to the campus to explore their future school. STORY JULIA GILDERSLEEVE & KHLOE YUEN PHOTO MAC SHROPSHIRE
each year, ensuring incoming freshmen are well-prepared and exposed to a wide range of opportunities.
S
Eldred sets up the event by communicating with teachers ahead of time by asking them whether or not they are planning to participate in Families Night. The teachers participating then send him an informational paragraph about their course curriculum, so that when kids and parents read it at the middle school, they have an idea of what the classes offer.
outh Pasadena High School hosted the annual Middle School Families Night on Thursday, Jan. 22 for future high schoolers to explore the campus and classes. From 6:30 p.m. to 8:10 p.m., parents and students had the opportunity to visit classrooms and learn about the classes offered at SPHS. Parents and students hurried around campus, searching for the right room numbers. The night began with a performance from the SPHS Pep squad, gathering a large crowd of onlookers and setting an enthusiastic tone for the evening. A snack stand administered by SkillsUSA sold hot chocolate, donuts, and fresh popcorn as students and families passed by on their way to classes. “What I really want [students] to get out of [the event] is an excitement for high school, to understand that when they start registering with our counselors for their classes, they have an understanding of what we offer here,” SPHS principal John Eldred said. “I want them to be able to make an informed choice, and choose things that they really want to do, or maybe even experience something they hadn’t thought of before, so there’s a lot of opportunity for them to do all of those things.” The goal is supported by the planning and organization that go into Families Night
IN THE NEWS
“The most rewarding thing for me is to see the excitement that parents have because I think they kind of hear about stuff, but they don’t really understand until they’re sitting in a classroom,” Eldred said. School curriculums have changed from what most parents experienced during their years at high school. “Everybody has an idea of what they think high school is, and what they [parents] went through, but times have changed a lot, so I really like the excitement that the kids and the parents get out of it, and I like the fact that it builds community with the middle school and with the parents,” Eldred said. Several eighth graders said that the evening was beneficial in preparing for the transition to high school and its increased rigor. They noted that this event helped them familiarize themselves with the campus and provided them with a better
understanding of the classes they want to take. “It’s helpful to learn about the place and the campus, so it’s easier to travel,” Ryan Sung, an SPMS eighth grader, said. Sung’s mother mentioned the shift toward greater independence during high school and the increase in responsibility since teachers stop monitoring their students as much.
In the United States of America, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary body for the regulation of drugs. Notably, the FDA oversees the process of approval for commercial use. Drug companies must first conduct laboratory tests on the drugs and submit evidence to the Center of Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). The evidence is then reviewed by a team of physicians, chemists, pharmacologists, and statisticians. The drug can then be tested on humans. Once it has been determined that the drug’s benefits outweigh the risks of use, the drug is approved for commercial use. This process can range from months to years. Recently, there has been a concerning uptick in the marketing, and subsequent use, of non-FDA approved drugs called “peptides” on social media. See full story on Page 5
FEATURE
Revisiting the LA fires
The event also highlighted the major shift from middle school to high school for the students. “I think high school is going to be a lot more hands-off than middle school because, in middle school, you’re still kids that are out of elementary school, so you have the teachers hover over you more, but I feel like with high school it’s more up to you to do your work,” SPMS eighth grader Ava Nguyen said. The incoming freshmen look forward to new experiences at a new school, even with the decrease of teacher handholding. “I’m excited about the time that I’m going to spend with my friends, and to develop the skill set for college and my future job,” Nguyen said. Middle School Families Night allowed the incoming freshmen to meet teachers and explore their future campus.
WINTER FORMAL
ANNUAL CABARET
FREE AMERICA WALKOUT
The 2026 Winter Formal, Under the Northern Lights, will be at the University Club of Pasadena on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 8 to 11 p.m.
The freshman and sophomore Drama Cabaret will take place on Thursday, Feb. 5 in the Little Theater from 7 to 9 p.m.
Aligning with Free America walkouts across the country, students are walking out of class on Friday, Jan. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.
TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM
STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK ILLUSTRATION OWEN HOU In January 2025, a series of large-scale, incredibly destructive fires swept through the greater Los Angeles area. The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed areas of the Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Malibu, and foothill communities such as Altadena before they were contained in the tail end of January by teams of firefighters from counties across California. “I live almost up in Altadena, so the fire burned almost a block from my house, which was really scary. I’m definitely still dealing with that in my neighborhood. I remember just tracking the fire maps and thinking, ‘Oh my god, I could have left my house for the last time,’” senior Juliana Brown said. See full story on Page 10