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Local businesses and students combat holiday overconsumption
Introduction Overconsumption is excessive production and producing of goods, resources and services leading to environmental and social issues. According to an article by King’s College London, seasonal purchases fill our homes and amplify the holiday spirit; however, they come with hefty physiological and environmental costs. Local businesses like Project ReWear and James Storehouse, as…
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Local libraries foster curiosity and knowledge for students
Those who stand in the children’s section of any public library for long enough would likely see several children keeping the place abuzz, falling in love with a novel or a comic book. What most people do not see, however, are the hands guiding these moments, librarians who spend their days nurturing curiosity, learning…
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Local escape rooms create a magical world of wonder
The Oaks Mall is home to a little-known joy of Thousand Oaks, a place of wonder, imagination and an activity to foster childlike whimsy. 101 Escape Rooms at the Oaks, founded in October of 2022, is home to five escape rooms: “Popstar Revenge,” “Purgatory,” “Wrecked,” a seasonal Christmas room: “Rudolph’s Winter Adventure” and most…
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Lemonade and hot chocolate stand caters to students
As the winter months approach, the local lemonade stand on Reino Road transitions to a hot cocoa cart. Sarah Smith, along with her 9-year-old daughter Andreen Smith and 5-year-old son Elliot Smith, sells beverages in order to raise funds for Miracles for Kids. Miracles for Kids, a non-profit based on the West Coast, provides…
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Arth Dalsania balances his junior year
In high school, most students have to choose between academic rigor or their social life and oftentimes it is difficult to balance the two. For Arth Dalsania, junior, this was simply another equation for him to solve. Dalsania is a committed student at NPHS interested in math and science, who is also finding time…
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Student nutrition gains the wings to grow in CVUSD
Food is essential for fueling students’ bodies and brains, and the Conejo Valley Unified School District’s [CVUSD] nutritional staff is dedicated to delivering healthy and diverse meals for all students on campus, free of cost. From planning the menu to seeing the food appear in each school’s kitchen, Sarah Phillips has taken the reins…
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European holiday festival celebrates culture and community at the Oaks
On Dec. 6, the Oaks Mall was transformed into a historical winter wonderland, representing European holiday culture and offering a traditional marketplace experience packed with authentic foods, unique vendors and live entertainment, all supporting non-profit organizations. Traditional European cuisine was scattered across the “Festive Garden” and “Le French Quarter” centers, offering warm beverages like…
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ASL teacher is more than just a teacher outside of the classroom
The Newbury Park High School [NPHS] American Sign Language [ASL] teacher, Brigid Ryan Keady, took a turn in her education after high school; she decided to take an ASL class, where she fell in love with the language. When Keady decided she wanted to continue her educational career after high school, she chose to…
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Student tutors teach responsibility beyond the classroom
Four days a week, a multitude of Newbury Park High School [NPHS] student tutors donate their time and knowledge to offer help to their peers in every subject. From science to languages, these students provide support through the tutoring centers around campus. During lunch every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the math tutoring center is…
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Walnut students learn by caring for chickens
At Walnut Elementary School, students are not just learning about animals from a textbook, they are helping to raise them. What started as a small classroom project to hatch chicks has grown into a schoolwide effort to bring agriculture and hands-on science to campus. Soon, chickens hatched by fourth and fifth graders last year…