Author: Angela Swartz

  • Narwhals volunteer: Key Club decorates Rose Parade floats

    Annually, the Key Club assists with the Rose Parade decorations at the Phoenix Decorating Center in Irwindale. Along with other Key Clubs in the surrounding counties, members spent the whole day on Dec. 23 decorating the floats as instructed. “We help decorate floats funded by companies such as Western Asset to bigger companies like…

  • College acceptances on social media don’t define you

    “Harvard ‘22!” “Happy to say I’m going to USC next year!” Splattered over social media every year are college commitment announcements. Pictures are taken, posts are made and bios are changed. Sure it is a happy milestone in one’s life, and social media users just want to share their accomplishments with others. It’s the…

  • Be open about what you want for presents

    I’m not going to beat around the bush: buying gifts sucks — a lot. Sure, it’s a romanticized concept: going to the local store to purchase something your loved one will open up and smile at with glee. However, this is not the case, especially when you are unaware of what to get them…

  • Panther Pals form friendships with special education students

    Every Tuesday at lunch, 25 Panther Pal club members congregate at the lunch tables near the E building with special education students by their side. The Panther Pals eat lunch and spend quality time with these students. “I personally think it is important because otherwise these kids would be secluded at our school, so…

  • Spend more time with friends

    After school? I was studying. Weekends? I was studying. Summers? You guessed it, I was studying. Ever since I can remember, I have spent all my free time on school and extracurriculars. Even when it was unnecessary, I found myself staying at home in attempt to get further ahead and study more (even though…

  • English 11 teachers deal with the disappearance of “Salinger”

    As a followup to reading the famous novel “Catcher in the Rye,” in English classes, juniors are shown the documentary “Salinger” about the author J.D. Salinger. The movie details Salinger’s life and legacy on the literary world, and is considered by Vanessa Denchfield, English teacher, to give students a deeper understanding about the book…

  • Men’s choir gains new voices

    As the new year rings in, Men’s Choir has brought in new members and a new practice schedule. Unlike regular choir programs, Men’s Choir is a separate program during lunch and after school, allowing students more flexibility with their classes. This group is also unique as it trains the singers in barbershop, which is…

  • Ambassadors shine as the face of school

    As representatives of the school, the Ambassadors serve as welcoming faces for visitors. At events such as Back to School Night, Future Freshmen Night and College Night, Ambassadors greet and talk to newcomers to make them feel more comfortable with the school environment. “We are here to represent our school in a positive way,”…

  • SBAC Scoring Increases

    Last year, due to an increase in the number of participants in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), the school’s overall score increased compared to prior years. 96percent of students signed up to take the test, five percent more than the previous year. Two years ago, enough juniors opted out of taking the SBAC…

  • Shadowing their future

    Wearing bright pink scrubs, senior Priya Jhingan gets a peek at what her future may look like. Although only in high school, she already has experience in the medical field and has seen what being a doctor is actually like. Over the summer, she job shadowed a physical therapist, pediatric dentist, and a pediatrician.…