News

MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Published on Dec. 13, 2022

Story by Stephanie Cano

The holidays can be a time to feel joy and fun, but can also be stressful, challenging for those impacted by mental health illness. It can put a lot of pressure into people’s minds with so much going on. Some things are getting gifts ready, cooking food as traditions, going out with a lot of family, which can affect many people's mental health and sometimes lead to other illnesses.

Here are some suggestions that may help relieve plenty of problems, such as how you can reduce stress and maintain good mental health during the holiday season. Accept your needs, such as being kind to yourself. Always put your mental health and physical health first over anything because it is way much more important to take care of yourself first and prioritize yourself more than anyone else. Manage your time and don't try to do too much for other people. Make time and a schedule to help you make time for everything. Be stress free and not in a rush because that is one thing that can increase your level of anxiety. Practice relaxation, deep breathing, meditation and muscle relaxation. Set aside time for yourself and prioritize. Schedule time for activities that make you feel good, such as taking a walk, going to see a movie or spending time with friends and family. It is also important and healthy to take time off alone. Get your own space to give yourself time to think and let go of negative thoughts. Eating well is also another way to put your health first in order to take care of your body because at times people go into depression because of the way they see themselves and how they view their body. Eating well and exercising has a lot to do with this.

Most of the things listed really do help with the stressful problems people get, and it relieves so many things for them afterwards. Things can also get very stressful when family is around for the holidays and when it comes to having so many things going on at once so taking time for yourself to go over all of this will be worth it. After following all this advice, many people are less stressed and enjoy the holidays which gives them a positive mindset.

BULLYING 101

Published on Dec. 9, 2022

Story by Alaya Bell

Bullying has been happening for a very long time, varying in all grades and ages. Usually children and kids bully because of their own insecurities and life issues. Bullying can have so many negative effects on children, like anxiety, depression, PTSD and trust issues. Bullying can be a lasting trauma, and the bullies may never even remember it.

If you're being bullied, you can start off by telling a parent, friend or family member. It's always helpful to have someone to talk to. Next, go to an adult at school, and tell them about what's been happening. You can even ask the adult to keep your identity anonymous if you're worried the bully will retaliate against you. Lastly, ignore the bully. Bullies like to make fun of people to get a reaction. If you don’t give them the reaction they want, it won't be so fun for them anymore and they might stop.

To help someone who's being bullied, always say something, even if it's something as simple as “stop” or “that's enough.” A bully won't feel as confident being mean if others say it's not okay. Bullies usually like bullying for validation and they can't get that if others feel it's wrong and say something. So if someone is telling them to stop, the bully might feel embarrassed and listen. Don't stop there. Also tell an adult as well and let them know the situation.

Bullying is very hard, but if you take the right actions, you can stop it. If you don’t have anyone to talk to and need to talk, try the crisis hotline. Text “home” to 741741 and talk about anything you need. Thank you for reading and remember:

Be a Buddy Not a Bully.

THE TREE’S TRUTH

Published on Dec. 9, 2022

Story by Pablo Ramirez and Katie Arellano

With the holiday season being here already, we are happily now at the “best time of the year.” December is the most festive month out of the entire year. Being filled with holidays and most commonly the coldest month, December tends to be the most heart-warming. With holidays such as Hanukkah and most popularly Christmas, December is the most anticipated month of the year. It is always a thrill to put up your Christmas tree, hang the ornaments and turn on the lights. The meaning of the tree is often overlooked. But has it ever crossed your mind “Why do we have Christmas trees?” or “What does the tree mean?” With the questions come an historic past to solve our “what’s” and “why’s.”

The first record of a Christmas tree being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers in Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees being used as early as 1747. Author Judith Flanders, who wrote “Christmas: A Biography,“ explained how “‘the first decorated indoor tree’ was recorded in 1605, in Strasbourg [which was back then part of the Rhineland, now in present-day France], decorated with roses, apples, wafers, and other sweets, according to her research. Demand for Christmas trees was so high in the 15th century that laws were passed in Strasbourg cracking down on people cutting pine branches.”

The tall standing trees are an important part of the holiday season. The use of a tree was different in some cases. Some believed that evergreens would keep evil spirits and illness away. Others, such as believers in Christianity, believed in the use of a Christmas tree to represent the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The branches and shrubs are viewed as immortality and are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ.

With Christmas just around the corner, it is a thrill to see all the modern trees in happy homes. Today, we have natural, electrical, and even colored trees. Tree tech has come a long way since 1747, but it is always fun to set up, decorate and prepare the tree. This year, while hanging up your tree, now you’ll know the tree's significance, and in case anyone asks why people put up Christmas trees, you’ll seem like a real holiday historian.

FINALS WEEK ADVICE

Published on Dec. 9, 2022

Story by Stephanie Cruz

Finals week is the last week students need to take their final test for each course. This could include presentations or projects. Many students struggle with finals week. So, how can you do well during finals week? Let’s find out!

Finals week stresses many students. They have to study and catch up on any missing work. They also worry about their grades. Studying is very important for finals week because if you fail, it could bring your grade down. “I have to study a lot in order to pass the class or else I fail,” Reseda Junior Carlos Marin said. The grade you get will then determine whether you pass that class or not. If you fail, you may have to retake the class again in order to move onto your next suggested class or to graduate. Studying may be stressful, but creating a study guide of your own can help you be more organized and less stressed. You can also study with friends to test each other.

Procrastinating can lead to even more stress. This could be because many students do their missing work the week before finals week. “After procrastinating, you feel pressured to do everything fast and you don’t put any effort into it,” Reseda Junior Antonio Sibrian said. Catching up on any missing work is very important; although, students shouldn’t leave everything to do at the last minute. Instead, they should be organized and think through their decisions. Scheduling a reminder on your phone to do your work can help you build new habits. Daily reminders also help you stay focused and on task.

During finals week, students don’t get enough sleep. This is because they stay up studying or doing missing work. Getting sleep is a good thing because you are likely to perform better on tests. “You will be tired if you don’t get enough sleep and this can affect you when you’re taking the test because you can’t concentrate well,” Reseda Junior Nhi Doung said. Not getting enough sleep can cause your brain to not function properly during the tests. Sleeping prepares your body and brain to function better. So teachers encourage students to get enough sleep. Students should stay well-rested. Some may have difficulties sleeping early; therefore, they should make a sleeping schedule. Being on time to school is a big deal, so students should set up alarms so they won’t be late.

As much as finals week is important, you shouldn’t stress yourself out a lot. You’re just overwhelming yourself and it can cause you to not be motivated to do work. Get rest and try your best. Good luck on finals week Regents. You got this!

THE EFFECTS OF DRUG USE

Published on Dec. 9, 2022

Story by Ashley Rodriguez

Drugs have always been a problem in our world. They have affected people mentally and physically, and drug users end up hurting everybody around them.

Drugs are chemical substances that can change how the body and mind works. Illegal substances include heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Drug addiction is a serious brain disease that can cause someone to take drugs repeatedly, even if they cause damage to the user and the people around them. Addiction can manipulate the mind to act a certain way and taking drugs nonstop could lead to addiction. Drug addiction can last for quite a while to the point that if someone is in recovery, they are still at risk of taking drugs again even if it has been years for that person.

For some people, drug addiction can take a while after using a substance every day. For others, it may happen after just one time taking a drug to get addicted to it quickly.

There are signs to look for that may mean a person has a drug problem. The person might talk fast or say things that don't make sense.

They might be having problems at work or school and interacting with other people. They might not socialize with others around them, like family and friends.

Treatments for drug addiction can include counseling, rehab and medicines.

Medicines also can assist with withdrawals to help someone have good brain function and decrease cravings. Mental disorders along with addiction are called “dual diagnosis,” and it is important to treat both of those.

Call 911 if in immediate crisis or call this hotline 1 (800) 662-HELP (4357). Find treatment centers like rehab or hospitals to get counseling if needed.

We can help the people who we know that are tempted by drugs so they can have a better life and health by avoiding them.

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

Published on Dec. 7, 2022

Story by Lorenz Jimenez

The history of Christmas has a number of origin stories. Passed from families or created with imagination, the real historical past of the creation of Christmas is far more intriguing.

Christmas is celebrated worldwide by a number of people on December 25 and is considered both a sacred religious holiday and a day for love and grace. Since the start of the holiday, people around the world have been celebrating it with traditions and practices that are often religious. Christmas can include a variety of activities, such as exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, meals with family and friends, and, most

popularly waiting for Santa Claus.

Even though Christmas Day has only been considered a federal holiday in the United States since 1870, its origin goes farther back in history. The first ever recorded Christmas celebration was back on December 25 A.D. 336 in Rome. The first original Christmas was actually, according to history, created by Pagan and Roman cultures. The Romans were known to celebrate two holidays in December, one known as “Saturnalia” which was a two-week celebration that honored their god of agriculture Saturn. Then later, on December 25, they celebrated the birth of Mithra, the sun god. Followers of Christianity, however, celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth even though he was born in the spring. When the first Christain church was first established in Rome, the celebration of Jesus’s birth was moved to December 25 because there was already a holiday celebrating Mithra.

The history of the popular Christmas figure “Santa Claus” is traced back to a man named “St. Nicholas.” Nicholas of Bari was born in the year 280 A.D. Known as a kind man, his legacy evolved into a holly, jolly Christmas character after being deeply admired by people around him.

Christmas is not just a holiday Coca-Cola ads or the pretty bows on gifts but much more. Enriched with history, this holiday has been around since before getting someone the perfect gift was the most important thing. However, still to this day, the gratitude and the cheeriness that fills the air on day 359 of the year is still the same as it was at its very first celebration all those years ago. It is great to look back and recognize the raw and real historic truths of this popular holiday.

WORLDWIDE NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

Published on Dec. 6, 2022

Story by Julie Lopez

It’s about that time. The time when people celebrate a new year and make new resolutions. Many people celebrate New Year with friends and family. Some like to make a toast, kiss their partner, or hug a loved one. Many cultures from around the world do different things to celebrate it.

Ever since 1907, there has been a tradition on New Year's Eve in Times Square where a large sphere would be dropped from the flagpole on the building with the address One Times Square. Several Americans assemble in front of their TVs to see this ornate spectacle that has evolved from balls made from iron to today’s which has Waterford crystal triangles and LED lights. Adolph Ochs, the owner of the New York Times, started this event to draw attention to the paper’s new headquarters, and since then, it has become a yearly spectacle and one of the most well-known New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Brazil experiences summer when it is new year, therefore people frequently visit the beaches there. The tradition there is to leap seven waves and make seven wishes right after midnight.

In Spain, the Spanish eat 12 grapes that symbolize each strike on the clock. The tradition of las doce uvas de la suerte dates back to the late 19th century and is thought to stave off evil while increasing one’s chances of having a successful and fortunate new year. However, this will work only if the person manages to eat all of the grapes in a matter of seconds since they need to be gone by the time the clock finishes striking midnight.

Another way of celebrating was smashing plates. In Denmark, they throw old plates on the doorsteps of friends or family to bring good luck for the new year. Smashing plates is a Greek custom for celebrating. Along with smashing plates, another unique tradition is hanging onions outside one’s door. Believed to symbolize fertility and growth, the onion is hung on the door after church service on New Year’s Day.

In Japan, decorations include multi-tiered bamboo shoots that represent heaven, earth, and humanity. These decorations are thought to attract the gods and draw in good spirits. The gods stay in the pine until January 7, when they are expelled and returned to “their world” by having the decorations burned at the temple.

When you go out to celebrate your own new year's tradition, maybe try some of these out. They might bring you good luck :) Have a Happy New Year from The Regent Roar!

ELON MUSK’S TWITTER TAKEOVER

Published on Dec. 2, 2022

Story by Angelica Villa

On October 27, 2022, Elon Musk officially bought Twitter for $44 billion after beginning the process in early April 2022. After taking control of the app, Musk began to fire multiple Twitter staff members in a bid to cut costs. He also laid off employees who spoke badly about the company and the new owner.

Musk launched “Twitter Blue” which gave users the opportunity to purchase a verification mark. This ended not too long after launching because users were taking advantage of this update by impersonating popular celebrities and spreading false information.

Many Twitter users are not happy with the decision of Musk becoming the owner of the platform because of the changes and chaos being formed. Musk allows Twitter users “freedom of speech but not freedom of reach,” but any hate speech will be harder to find by Twitter users.

The founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey has been supportive of Elon Musk taking over Twitter. He believes that Musk could make great changes. When news broke out about a large number of employees being laid off Dorsey, released a statement saying, “I grew the company size too quickly. I apologize for that," claiming responsibility for many employees losing their jobs.

Currently, Musk has emailed the remaining Twitter employees an ultimatum stating that they could either commit to "working long hours at high intensity" or resign. This caused hundreds to thousands of employees to leave the company and refuse to follow along with Musk’s plans.

The future of Twitter is unknown as of now with the losses and changes to the company.

THE EVOLUTION OF THANKSGIVING

Published on Dec. 1, 2022

Story by Stephanie Cano

English settlers weren’t the first to celebrate a Thanksgiving feast. Many people have said that according to Texas Society Daughter of the American Colonists, the first Thanksgiving was observed by some guy named Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who was a Spanish explorer and came along with 1,500 men in armor. Coronado left Mexico City in 1540 and marched north to search for gold. As the company camped in Pablo Duro Canyon in 1541, Padre Fray Juan de Padilla called them for a feast, prayer and “thanksgiving.”

Thanksgiving has many important holiday traditions that have evolved over almost 400 years. The year 1621 was the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which was celebrated by Pilgrims and Native Americans and known as a “harvest feast” to them. The first Thanksgiving for settlers of Massachusetts Bay Colony was on July 8, 1630.

Established in 1941 by United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, every year on the fourth Thursday in November, millions of Americans nationwide gather for a Thanksgiving Day filled with feasting, family and football. People dine on traditional dishes, such as roasted turkey and gravy, stuffing, candied yams, corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, and family and friends come from far and wide to gather around the table to give thanks and get “stuffed” at this annual meal.

This national day of thanks and prayer was declared by America’s first president, George Washington in 1789. However, the Thanksgiving Day as many know it today was proclaimed an official federal holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, who referred to it as a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” From the earliest fall feasts to the first Thanksgiving football game to the Macy's Day parade.

Parades and football games also have long associations with the holiday. In 1924, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was held. This year was the ninety-sixth annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 1934, the Detroit Lions played the Chicago Bears at University of Detroit Stadium in the first National Football League Thanksgiving Day football game. This year there were three NFL games happening on Thanksgiving Day.

Nowadays, Americans celebrate it every fourth Thursday in November. Family and friends gather for a feast on Thanksgiving. Traditional dishes served in America often include turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie. Be grateful and give thanks to the Lord.

HALLOWEEN PALOOZA

Published on Nov. 30, 2022

Story by Alaya Bell

The Halloween Palooza was held on October 31 in the auditorium. It was super fun and something everyone should experience at least once while being at Reseda High School.

Tickets were sold in advance for $5 in homerooms the previous week. As students entered, they received a wristband in exchange for their ticket.

Upon walking in, it was absolutely so cool and definitely had lots of Halloween vibes. It was pretty dark inside, and they had some students dressed up to scare people as they walked down the walkway to get their snacks! Once they got to the tables, the students working at the event first gave out candy. They then gave a choice of Oreo cookies or gummy bears and a drink of choice between sodas and water.

Once done, the students went up the Auditorium ramp and to find more snacks! They gave out chips and lastly a few more pieces of candy!

I paid $5 to get inside the event, and I definitely got my money's worth of snacks plus a fun experience!

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE

Published on Nov. 29, 2022

Story by Victor Merino

Depression can lead to a world of sadness and loneliness like no other and make one feel like they don't deserve to live, causing something terrible to happen: suicide. Those who have struggled with depression and overcome it can say that it caused them pain and sadness, which also had an impact on those around them. A person at risk gets the sense of not wanting to do any activity that might have been enjoyable beforehand because of depression. Beating depression can be a challenge, but it's not impossible when one finds and gets the proper help needed to overcome it.

Depression has many symptoms. Major depression is characterized by a persistent sense of sadness or loss of interest, which can result in a variety of behavioral and physical symptoms. People who are depressed may have a lack of energy and want to sleep all the time or can’t sleep at all. There are noticeable changes in the way they behave on a daily basis, including eating habits. There can be a drastic change in their weight, either gaining or losing. They may have difficulty focussing and have a lower self-esteem.

A person's mood during depression is also affected. The person could feel extremely guilty, hopeless, anxious and sad. The person can feel happy at one moment and sad the next and cry excessively. The person might not be interested in activities that they used to enjoy and start not to care. People can recognize these changes in mood because the person might get very irritable and might isolate themselves from others. Also, a person who is depressed might find it hard to relax and feel like they have to move around a lot. It all varies from individual to individual. Some could experience low to moderate signs of depression, while others can experience a high level of depression, which can be really dangerous because it can lead to suicide.

Depression is not the only mental health condition that can lead to suicide. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two of these conditions. Substance abuse may put someone at a higher risk for suicide. Environmental factors contribute to this problem. Family problems, bullying or harrasment and relationship issues can increase the chances of one committing suicide. Major life crises like financial problems, unemployment, divorce and loss of a loved one are usually risk factors. Experiencing traumatic brain injuries or chronic pain might lead to suicidal thoughts. When a person knows someone else who has killed themselves, they are more likely to do it too. The third most common cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 is suicide.

A shift in behavior or the development of completely new habits are things to watch out for when worried that a person might be suicidal. If the new or altered behavior is connected to a traumatic incident or loss, this is of particular concern. Most suicidal people show one or more warning signals, either by their actions or words; however, frequently, those who have these ideas don't seek assistance or try to hide their feelings. People who have depression and are having suicidal thoughts usually talk about how they’re a burden to others and how they have no reason to live. Additionally, they can speak of feeling trapped, experiencing extreme pain, and killing themselves. Actions can also be altered when going through this phase of depression. Those who are depressed and experiencing suicidal thoughts may exhibit behaviors such as increased alcohol or drug use as well as searching up ways to end their life. Some people with depression may call or visit people to say goodbye and may even give away treasured items that belong to them.

If you or someone you know is going through depression and think you or they are feeling suicidal, get help. It might seem hard to open up to someone when you just want to be alone but it will benefit you in the long term. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number is 988. Save someone's life before it’s too late.

REGENT SPIRIT WEEK

Published on Nov. 18, 2022

Story by Jose Cruz and Stephanie Cruz

Spirit Week at Reseda Charter High School has encouraged many students to participate in dressing in a certain theme. Many schools do this to show how much school spirit students have. Spirit Week is a way for students to express how proud they are of being at their school. This is a way for students to create memories of their high school experience.

Spirit Week happens multiple times a semester. All the students of Reseda Charter High School love this event. Spirit Week gives the campus life and positive energy creating a fun environment for all. During Spirit Week, there is always at least one pep rally. This lets everyone see the current sports teams. Activities are also provided at these pep rallies giving the students the opportunity to be involved. Some of the school programs come and show off. For example, the after school program ARC shows up these days with either popcorn, snow cones or candy.

One of this week's themes was pajama day. Students love this theme because they get to feel comfortable in the clothing they decide to wear. During this time of weather, students feel more warm and comfortable wearing their pajamas. Pajama day is the easiest spirit day to do since all you have to do is wear what you go to sleep in. You also don’t have to put a lot of effort into getting ready. Students find pajama day fun because they get to wear something similar to other students which makes them feel joyful. They also get to see all the different styles of sleepwear.

The final event of Spirit Week is battle of the classes. Each student has to wear the respective color for their grade: seniors being green, juniors being blue, sophomores being yellow and freshmen being purple. This activity is a perfect way to involve every single student from new to old and show what grade has the most pride.

Participating in Spirit Week can be a fun and great thing, but a big reason people don't participate is because they are unaware of it as a whole. A great way to stay informed is to follow @rchs_asb_ on instagram. They have all the current information on any events present or future. Another way to stay informed is to merge your school calendar with your phone calendar. The way to do this is get the Schoology app on your phone, log in, go to the calendar and there will be an option to merge it. We from The Regent Roar proudly say it shows school spirit!

HELP THE ANIMALS!

Published on Nov. 18, 2022

Story by Ashley Rodriguez

Some people often treat animals as objects, like depriving the poor animal of food, water and shelter as well as beating them. Sometimes animal abuse can be part of some type of gang activity, such as running a business like dog fighting. The amount of cases people have reported of abusing animals is shocking. Almost 65% of animal abuse are dogs.

When an animal experiences abuse, it might feel fear towards any human it comes across. It gets more aggressive to protect itself. Raising a hand at the abused animal for no reason will cause it to flinch. The trauma leads to overly submissive behavior, like following anything it is told to avoid getting hit.

Animal cruelty can cause the poor animal physical and mental pain as well as lead to their death.

Some red flags that could mean an animal is being abused are severe matting and open sores. Another thing to look for is when its bones are visible for an eye to see. If it is limping or unable to stand while being severely shy, those are other warning signs. It is really important to contact anybody who is willing to help, like the police department or an adult who is responsible.

LA Animal Services announced that anyone who abuses or abandons any animal will be guilty of a misdemeanor. So help the animals in need. A report can be anonymous, but be sure to get that animal justice it deserves so it can have a healthy life.

Don’t ignore the need to help an animal. Contact (888) 452-7381 or visit the Department of Animal Services, 221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90012.

POLICE ACADEMY CONNECTS WITH LAPD AT ANNUAL FORMAL INSPECTION

Published on Nov. 18, 2022

Story by Julie Lopez

Formal inspection is a grand event that allows the LAPD to meet RCHS Police Academy. All students in the Police Academy get ready to be inspected by officers. This year's formal inspection happened on November 10, 2022. The students had to have their shoes shined, pledge cards memorized, uniform shirts ironed and more. Each class made a chant that showed how unique their grade is. They had a competition to see which chant was the best; the judges were Chief Michel Moore and Chief Steve Zipperman. This year, the seniors won, but everyone’s chant was good. Throughout the formal inspection, the captain, Kevin Sumale, had the students stand at either parade arrest or attention. The students stood for two hours for the whole formal inspection.

During this year's annual formal inspection, there was a cadet whose father was inducted into the Hall of Fame for bringing three kids into the Police Academy program and becoming a police officer with the help of all the knowledge they gained in the program. This officer’s name is Miguel Camarena. Camarena along with other officers were inducted to the Hall of Fame of Reseda Charter High School. During the inspection, the cadets had the chance to talk to these officers and get to know them a little bit before having to recite a chant.

Many students had different experiences during the formal inspection. Corporal Mayeli Portillo stated, “To me, I was just making sure I didn’t faint or move, so I guess my experience was to be as perfect as possible and get everything right and not mess up, so I guess it was stressful but inspiring.”

Sergeant Angelina Hovsepyan stated, "Overall, I was very nervous during the beginning of the inspection and very exhausted. I really enjoyed it when the officers came up and inspected us because it felt nice to talk to them and confidently respond to their questions. I was very relieved when it ended because everything went smoothly.”

Lastly, Captain Kevin Sumali stated, "Well, my formal experience was the most stressful event I have ever done in my entire life due to the fact you’re giving commands to over 200 cadets and in front of two police chiefs as well as being broadcasted on live TV."

These cadets enjoyed a variety of experiences throughout the event and had the chance to meet excellent officers with whom they could have courteous conversations. Many people might not think formal inspection is a big deal, but in the Police Academy, it's a chance to recognize our police officers, and the classes collaborate to create a chant that fosters relationships between upperclassmen, lowerclassmen, and classmates. Overall, it was a great experience, and cadets are looking forward to next year’s formal inspection.

ARC EVENT

Published on Nov. 9, 2022

Story by Lorenz Jimenez

ARC is an after-school program that benefits by providing financing for after-school activities and trips to foster a sense of community. One recent event was on October 19 when tacos were distributed to students which led to the gathering of several athletes.

“Yes, it helped me talk to folks I don't usually talk to,” many students said like senior Jose Cruz.

“Yes, it helped me connect with my XC team and make new friends while being able to do something I enjoy with them," Jeffrey Galdamez said.

“The best part is getting to attend an occasion that strengthens my friendships…My two closest friends and I were able to spend time together, and we just relaxed," stated Katie Arellano.

Therefore, these activities aid in bringing our school's community together. Activities among the school community can help children today receive a better education while also assisting schools in meeting requirements set by federal and state education standards. Studies have shown that students who are involved in school activities have a better academic education. “Lots of studies have been conducted on the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance, and they all show that students who participate in them have higher grades, more positive attitudes toward school, and higher academic aspirations,” according to a study in “The Excellence in Education Journal” in 2019. Additionally, these activities might encourage students to step beyond their comfort zones, equip them with the skills to communicate with a variety of people, and develop self-assurance.

Many of the students who attended the ARC event participate in sports for Reseda High School. These sports include softball, baseball, soccer, and cross country. This event helped all of those students come together and get to know each other. They talked about each other's sports as well as what other foods they would like to see at future events.

According to Victor Merino, Katie Arellno, Yamille Guzman, Jose Cruz, Keria Gonzalez, and Jeffery Galdamez, some of the dishes they would want to eat are pupusas, chilaquiles, burritos, tamales, enchiladas, quesadillas, pho, chow mein, hamburgers, pizza, and Thai food.

ARC supports its school in various ways and enjoys bringing everyone together. It demonstrates that students may have a connection despite living in different neighborhoods, coming from diverse backgrounds, religions, and cultures, and supporting various sports teams. Participants understand that creating a sense of community will enable them to better appreciate one another and engage with strangers who might find it challenging to put themselves out there. Ultimately, those taking advantage of the ARC program concur that going to a high school event is a positive, enriching, and enjoyable experience.

MONUMENTAL MOVIE MOMENTS

Published on Nov. 9, 2022

Story by Jose Cruz

The evolution of horror movies has changed drastically throughout the years with the first ever one coming out in the mid 1890s, and the most recent coming out Oct. 6. Cinematic techniques have been created and reused in order to make the new hit or catch the eyes of people.

The pioneer of horror movies was a three-minute silent film in black and white called “The House of the Devil” about a man's transformation into a bat. This was said to be the first ever horror movie first shown in 1896. George Méliès, a French illusionist, was the creator of this masterpiece.

The next movie to make history was the “Curse of Frankenstein'' in 1957. This was a major advancement in horror movie history due the sole fact that it was the first ever horror film in color. This was ground-breaking for horror movies worldwide. It gave the directors the capability to express their art in their movies. “Curse of Frankenstein” was another pioneer among horror movies.

In 1973, the horror industry had a monumental moment with “The Exorcist.” This movie was a major hit throughout the United States keeping kids and adults up at night in fear. With its major popularity, it made history being the first horror movie to win an Academy Award. To this day, it is still considered to be one of the scariest movies of all time.

Throughout the years, horror films popularized movie icons that the world has come to love. Some of the best icons are Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger, Chucky, LeatherFace and many more. All of these characters came from their own respective movies with Jason and Freddy even having a crossover called ¨Freddy vs Jason.¨ All of these movie icons have shaped the horror industry and set the standard high for future films.

The highest grossing horror film is Andy Muschiette´s film “IT,” which is an adaptation of Stephen King's famous novel. On opening week, according to Nash Information Services, the movie was said to have made about $117.2 million in the U.S. Not only is this a great achievement on its own, but as of now, the movie is said to have made a total of $700,381,759 million.

From the beginning to the present, horror movies have accomplished their own milestones, constantly creating new iconic movies and characters making history. The cinematic world has forever been changed since the introduction of horror movies.

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

Published on Nov. 4, 2022

Story by Ashley Rodriguez

Halloween, October 31, a day when you wear costumes, trick-or-treat, watch scary movies and go to festive gatherings. When we think of Halloween, we think of candy and costumes, but we don't know how Halloween evolved.

Halloween originated back in the ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain, which is pronounced as (sow-in). Samhain is a religious festival that is celebrated from October 31 to November 1. People who celebrated Samhain believed that the walls between the human world and spiritual world would break down, making it possible to have an interaction between humans and the spiritual world. In A.D. 43, the Roman Empire started to rule the majority of Celtic territory. The Roman Empire combined two of the festivals that were similar. One of those festivals was a day in Feralia, in late October, when the Romans traditionally remember the dead. The second festival was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Pomona is the symbol of apples, and this celebration was combined with Samain. This is where the tradition of bobbing for apple came from during Halloween. May 13, A.D. 609, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon, which used to be a monument for Roman and Greek gods, and changed it to honor all of the Christian martyrs. Pope Gregory III then expanded the celebration to have all saints included along with the martyrs from May 13 to November 1. In the 9th century, Christianity began to influence Celtic lands, which caused the belief systems to combine together. In A.D. 1000, the church then made November 2 to honor the dead, which is called “All Souls Day.” All Souls Day was similar to the tradition of Samhain. They had bonfires, parades and even the tradition of dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The traditional name of Samhain in the Celtic religion was beginning to be called Hallows Eve, then eventually Halloween. However, not all Americans had celebrated Halloween yet. Halloween started out being common in Maryland and the southern colonies. The second half of the 19th century, America had a large increase of new immigrants. They brought from Europe the popularity of celebrating Halloween.

Americans decided to follow European traditions by going to people’s houses and asking for money and food while wearing costumes. Later on, the tradition would just be asking for treats instead of money and food, calling it “trick or treat.”

Scary Halloween movies are very popular. There are the old old ones which started all the way back to 1978. The classic would be “Halloween” which features a serial killer who wears a white mask and a blue jumpsuit.

When people talk about Halloween, they think of candy, costumes and festivals. This is the backstory as to how Halloween evolved.

CALIFORNIA BECOMING A SANTUARY FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH

Published on Nov. 1, 2022

Story by Anonymous

With the signing of a new bill on Sept. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom makes California a safe haven for families with transgender children.

The new law, Senate Bill No. 107, will take effect in January. It was written by Senator Scott Wiener in response to conservative states, such as Texas and Alabama, passing laws that outlaw parents or guardians from allowing their children access to gender-affirming healthcare including hormone treatment, surgery and mental health treatment. Many governors and conservatives proclaim that such procedures qualify as child abuse.

After the passing of SB 107, healthcare providers and law enforcement are prohibited from sharing information on behalf of a subpoena, or summons to court, from another state regarding transgender children receiving gender-affirming care. Additionally, law enforcement is prohibited from assisting in the arrest of a parent or guardian for providing their child with gender-affirming healthcare. California courts must settle custody rights regarding parents and guardians of transgender children in their own courts and cannot pass such cases to other states.

Families at risk of being prosecuted in such conservative states can travel to California to ensure the custody and safety of their children. However, there are also many families that are unable to travel for a variety of reasons. For example, money, work and loved ones may prevent them from being able to move.

Gender-affirming healthcare is essential to transgender youth because of the gender dysphoria that comes with puberty. Gender dysphoria is the discomfort that a transgender person feels when their behavior, appearance and body do not align with the gender they identify as. The cause of gender dysphoria is currently unknown.

Gender dysphoria worsens during puberty because of the sex-specific changes that occur in the body. Transgender individuals might feel discomfort with both primary and secondary sex characteristics, as well as the way they are perceived in society including their clothes and the pronouns assigned to their biological sex.

Experiences of gender dysphoria vary between transgender people. At its worse, severe gender dysphoria can cause severe mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. People with gender dysphoria are at a higher risk of substance abuse and suicidal ideation. Additionally, according to a 2016 review, 50% of transgender youths below the age of 20 in San Francisco have attempted suicide.

The best way to decrease gender dysphoria is for a person to change their body, appearance and behavior to align with their gender identity, or the gender with which they describe themselves.

However, opponents of this law claim that children are too young to make such decisions about their body. Surgery and hormone replacement therapy, two ways in which transgender people modify their bodies to better match their gender identity, can irreversibly change one’s body. This can be incredibly detrimental to a child later in life if they regret medically transitioning and choose to detransition, or return to presenting as the gender they were assigned at birth.

Regret after surgically transitioning is few and far between; in a 2016 study of over 22 thousand patients who had undergone gender-affirming surgery, only 62 people expressed a desire to detransition. Reasons ranged from a change in gender identity, alienation from family and loved ones, difficulty in finding partners and chronic pain after surgery.

It should be noted that not all transgender people undergo hormone therapy and surgery. There are many different ways transgender people might alleviate gender dysphoria. These methods include changing the way they dress, performing temporary body modification (like binding for transmasculine people and tucking for transfeminine people) and selecting a new name and appropriate pronouns.

Even with the strides in progress being made regarding transgender rights, transgender people are disproportionately discriminated against.

In a 2021 study, 75% of transgender people have been verbally harassed and 68.8% have been discriminated against. Only 6.3% have never experienced any sort of victimization. Additionally, less than half of transgender people who report hate crimes to law enforcement say that the police believe their stories. Over 53% of the people surveyed had law enforcement mishandle their case.

Furthermore, per a study published in June of this year, the life expectancy of transgender people is seven years shorter than that of cisgender, or non-transgender, people. In every age range studied, transgender people had a significantly higher mortality rate than their cisgender counterparts.

SB 107 aims to create a sanctuary for transgender children to be their true and authentic selves. More countries, such as Malta, Canada and Portugal, have legislature that protects LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. With the increasing awareness of LGBTQ+ identities, as well as new laws being made in different states and countries to protect LGBTQ+ people, it seems like the world as a whole is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, there will be a future where people of all sexualities and gender identities can express themselves freely and safely.

HOMECOMING 2022: REGENTS AND THE WONDERLAND

Published on Oct. 31, 2022

Story by Alaya Bell and Pablo Ramirez

Homecoming was truly a night that Reseda students will remember forever. The night started with a long line to check bags which was a bit of an inconvenience, but it went by pretty fast.

Once everybody walked in, the line was definitely worth it. Regent Hall was decorated beautifully with the Regents In Wonderland theme all throughout, which was inspired by Alice In Wonderland. The tables had pretty, bright green leaves and colorful flowers all over. They had a photo booth set up with a flower-themed backdrop and funny, pretty and creative props to add some fun to the photos. There were even disco lights with a DJ, who was playing the best songs all night. The music was very good.

Once everyone got settled, they headed to the dance floor. Everyone was having a fun time with each other dancing, laughing, and messing around. They even had a free food table serving water, chips and pizza.

Homecoming was great and all for most people. It was definitely only for some people that like to get out there, dance and have fun with friends.

Ultimately, you need to embrace homecoming and maybe just be more sociable to enjoy it. Go and try it. You'd never know if you're going to like it if you don't. Some people that didn’t go regretted it. Some were glad they didn’t. It's all a matter of preference.

HALLOWEEN PRECAUTIONS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Published on Oct. 31, 2022

Story by Katie Arellano and Pablo Ramirez

Halloween is a spooky time, not only because of goblins, ghosts, and ghouls but because of the dangers. As children and people in general of all ages go around to enjoy the cheery holiday, Halloween isn't as safe as we believe. The dangers of Halloween vary from candy danger or stranger danger, but both lead to the same conclusion that Halloween isn't as sweet as the candy we get. Throughout Halloween night, trick-or-treaters walk around door to door receiving sweets from strangers, but who's to say the person behind the door has good intentions? Is it really the best idea to accept candy from a stranger you have never met? It is important to take factors into consideration.

Speaking of strangers, how safe is it to wander at night? While some treaters may walk with supervision, who watches over the younger unsupervised treaters? Halloween is a big night for children with the promise of a sweet treat. According to Romper.com, an online magazine for mothers, the most appropriate age for children to venture out on Halloween without an adult is ages 10-11. However, this could be controversial depending on the parents of each child.

Northern Eastern University’s studies show that violent crimes go up 50% on Halloween night. Therefore, staying home might be the safest call.

Trick or treating is fun and all that, but the candy people get isn’t always safe to eat since there are drugs that go unnoticed but can kill in an instant. On the Drug Enforcement Administration site, it is said that “Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder." There are tons of drugs just like fentanyl that can kill a person, and it's being put in some of the candy everyone loves this year.

Drugs can be deceptive and misleading, so everybody needs to be very safe about them. Similar to drugs, people have and might put razor blades in candy, so take certain precautions this Halloween.

HOW DOES SCHOOL CAUSE ANXIETY?

Published on October 27, 2022

Story by Julie Lopez

School causes students to be stressed which may lead to anxiety. Students have a bunch of homework, then sports and clubs. Students are overloaded with schoolwork. They have 4-6 classes and in each category, teachers give them homework. Sometimes students don’t have time to finish the work due to family problems/situations. This may cause anxiety.

There’s also social anxiety that school may cause. A new school year is frightening for students with social anxiety. New classes, new teachers, and new routines can all be stressful for students and take time to adjust. The feeling of being put in a class where you know no one is scary. Some kids may already have social anxiety, and making new friends terrifies them.

Grades play a big part in stress related to school. Students are often pressured to do well in school. This makes students have anxiety because they are pushing themselves to get good grades. Sometimes teachers make students feel anxious. Students get even more stressed when they see their work not being graded. They don’t like seeing “0” or “missing,” even though the teacher just hasn’t graded it.

A few ways people deal with anxiety are by slowly counting in their head, focusing on one thing, or just taking a break. If you feel too stressed about assignments, ask your teacher for an extension or help. Don’t stress yourself too much. Take a break when you need to. Take care of yourself.

Reach out for help with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:

1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

The NAMI Helpline can be reached Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

POLITICAL VIEWS HISTORY

Published on October 26, 2022

Story by Yamille Guzman

The country's main principles rely on these political parties: Republican, Democrat, Green, and Libertarian. Most seniors will be eligible to vote in primary elections. This is the history of these political parties and their views for when you chose to vote. The most influential and oldest parties are the Democrats and Republicans. In the late 19th century, the Republican and Democratic parties switched ideologies.

The Democratic Party is one of the most well-known political parties, especially in Southern California. Andrew Jackson created the Democratic Party in 1828. The Democratic Party generally represents left-leaning, liberal, and progressive ideological values, for example, reversing climate change, making health care more accessible, and closing the rich-poor gap.

The Republican Party is also one of the more well-known parties. The Republican Party was created in 1854 by Martin Van Buren and Horace Greeley, Henry J. Raymond, Francis Blair, and Alvan Bovay. The Republican Party is known to support right-leaning ideologies of conservatism, social conservatism, and economic libertarianism, among other -isms. Some examples of what they have issues with are: illegal immigration, regulating gun ownership, increasing taxes, and the government providing health care.

The Green Party is the youngest out of all the parties listed here. The Green Party was built in 2001 by co-founders John Rensenbrink and Howie Hawkins. The party promotes green politics, specifically environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice, participatory democracy, and grassroots democracy. These are some of the things they wish to accomplish: opening borders, ending the war on drugs, banning fracking, and creating new nuclear treaties.

The Libertarian Party is the most unknown party according to The Regent Roar polls. The Libertarian Party was created in 1971 by David Nolan. It is a political party in the United States that promotes civil liberties, non-interventionism, and capitalism. It also works to limit the size and scope of government. They believe the government should just defend people’s rights, stop nation-building and being the policeman of the world, end the failed war with drugs, legalize marijuana, and support small businesses.

Now that you know the basic information about these parties, you can pick the one that aligns most with your views and do more research on that political party, especially you seniors. Even if you are seventeen and you are going to turn eighteen the same year as the elections, you can pre-register. Eighteen-year-olds can even register at the polls on the day of the election on Tuesday, November 8.

CLUB RUSH BONANZA

Published on October 25, 2022

Story by: Victor Merino and Katie Arellano

It's no joke that joining a club can help you make friends, push yourself outside of your comfort zone, get some school benefits, and collaborate with others. During the Club Rush, The Regent Roar had the opportunity to interview a few people so they could briefly describe their clubs. The Academic Decathlon, Model UN, Environmental Club, and other clubs were among those interviewed.

We began by asking Ms. Lauren Davis about Young Life and the focus of this club. In response, she told us that Young Life is a Christian organization that welcomes everyone who attends. When asked "Why should people join this club?," she replied, "This club is for people who want to make friends, meet new people, hear about a religion's point of view, and it's generally just for fun." For anyone interested, this club meets every Friday during lunch in the auditorium.

Following that, we spoke with one of the Environmental Club's members about the club's goals. According to the Environmental Club’s president Jiselle Paz, the primary goal of this club is to "help make the school a better place." She continued by saying that a school garden has been planted and that recycling is practiced around the campus. After that, she added, "People should join this club because it's generally pretty fun." If you are interested in joining the Environmental Club, you can find them Mondays and Fridays during lunch in S2.

After that, as part of our ongoing investigation, we spoke with Tyler, a student and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) member. He told us that the purpose of this club is to spread the word of God through youth and welcome students, athletes, or anyone in general to this club. He explained that by joining this club, people "can find a purpose in their life and they can connect with other individuals." When asked what the most enjoyable aspect of this club is, he replied that the competitions that come with playing sports are the most fun.

We then spoke with the Model United Nations Club's vice president Nikita Motchenko, asking him questions about the club. He explained to us that in Model UN, students visit universities, like UCLA and USC, to debate other students on real-world issues, like drug and firearm trafficking. People should join this club, he continued, because "it's a great way to learn how to talk better, how to be more confident in yourself, and win people over in debate." This club meets on Thursdays at S21 during lunch for those who are interested in debating and are longing for a confidence boost.

Lastly, we spoke with Jaden Nguyen from the Academic Decathlon. He explained that this club participates in competitions against other schools as an academic club. This club is ideal for students who want to advance their high school careers, attend selective colleges and universities, or even raise their GPA. According to him, the highlight of this club is the competition. He encourages individuals to join in order to determine whether they will enjoy it, and if they do, to remain with it because there will be significant long-term benefits.

The Regent Roar gained a great deal of knowledge about these clubs and their objectives. Although joining a club can seem intimidating and frightening for some, it can also be rewarding and enjoyable in the long run. So, if you're willing to take that first step and join a club, do it. Otherwise, you might miss out on great opportunities throughout your high school experience.

WELL BEING CENTER IS OPEN TO HELP!

Published on October 17, 2022

Story by Angelica Villa

Did you know Reseda Charter High School has a Well Being Center? The Well Being Center offers a variety of resources available to students. It is located in Bungalow 20, open Thursday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They also have a Planned Parenthood clinic located inside, open on Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., which is 100% safe and confidential. The center is considered a safe place to turn to when you need resources that you may be afraid to ask about.

There is a Teen Call Line, and students can use it to get their questions answered and find out more information. It is available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

They offer information and help with relationships, sexuality, drugs, anxiety, depression, and other health topics. For those struggling with substance abuse or trying to quit vaping, there are plenty of resources in the center. When you walk in, there are many handouts with a variety of topics like healthy relationships, recovery assistance, and sexually-transmitted disease prevention.

They have a peer advocate group of students from Reseda High that are teaming up to make a difference in the community. The peer advocate program is a great place to be if you are interested in helping others and informing the community about health and much more.

The staff of the Well Being Center are completely friendly and trustworthy, so don't be afraid to stop by, get to know them, and ask questions about any concerns you may have.

Contact information

Email: Elivia Santillan, ESabrillan@ph.lacounty.gov

Instagram!: @wellbeingcentersla

Teen call line: (844) 810-0052

EARTHQUAKE PREPARATION

Published on October 17, 2022

Story by Jose Cruz and Ricardo Hernandez

Earthquakes have been around since the beginning of time. They are not preventable nor are they stoppable. All we can do is prepare for them ahead of time. Some earthquakes have been devastating, but with proper preparation, this can make sure everyone is ready and safe for any upcoming earthquake.

According to the government, everyone should have an earthquake kit prepared in their homes. What should be in these kits consists of water that can last you up to three days, food that can last you three days, a first aid kit for any injuries, flashlights with extra batteries, power packs for phones, medication, a whistle, a Swiss army knife, copies of your personal documents, and cash.

Earthquakes have impacts all over the world. The most common area for earthquakes to occur is along the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The most recent earthquake was on September 19, 2022, in Mexico City, with a magnitude of 7.6. Sadly, there were two lives lost. The damage was devastating, destroying buildings, causing power outages, and leaving Mexico City residents in a mass panic.

With earthquakes being common in California, it's good to stay informed about the actions that should be taken during an earthquake. According to the government, if you are indoors, you should stay there and get under a table to avoid anything directly falling onto you. When finding where to go, avoid kitchens, windows, and heavy furniture. In the event that you are outside, immediately go for an open area away from buildings or any falling hazards. If you are driving, come to a complete stop and try to get to a safe space that is away from falling hazards.

Earthquakes are going to happen no matter what. Best way to avoid fear or anxiety about this potential natural disaster is to make sure you and your family are prepared.

ARE ELECTRIC CARS TAKING OVER?

Published on October 7, 2022

Story by Ricardo Hernandez

As we all know, gas prices have risen and are now in most places over six dollars a gallon. Google claims that electric cars like Teslas are more popular than ever, selling more than 200,000 cars in the last month only in California. With electric vehicles doing well, other brands have tried to make full electric cars or electric versions of the cars that they have developed. Dodge has announced their full electric Dodge Challenger to be released in 2024, but muscle car enthusiasts are questioning if it can even be considered as such. However, because of the fuel prices, Dodge thinks it is a better way to have a fast car and save money on gas. But are electric cars taking over?

There are three types of cars: fuel-powered, hybrids, and full electric cars. Google states that the first ever hybrid car was made by Porsche in 1899 called the Lohner-Porsche Mixte. It is so fascinating that hybrid cars have existed for 123 years now. Even though sales for the Porsche were low according to Google, that idea of Ferdinand Porsche innovated the car community. The most popular hybrid car today is a Toyota Prius.

Nissan presented the first fully electric car in 2010 which was the Nissan Leaf, but currently, the most popular electric vehicle is the Tesla created by Elon Musk. Google states that the first Tesla ever created was in 2008 being the first of many full electric cars being made by that name with the most popular being the Tesla Model 3.

But with electric vehicles getting more popular, there are some drawbacks to owning an electric vehicle. For example, if you need to charge your car, you have to look for a charging station, but there is a website called chargehub.com to help you find charging stations in the area. Another disadvantage is you need to buy a charging station to charge it at your home, and it affects your electricity bill.

“Electric cars are cool. I like them because you can save money on gas. I feel like electric cars are going to be more popular in the future because of fuel prices. The charging station at home is useful but costs a lot of money because you need to install it, and the energy bill is high, but you can charge your car at home without having to look for a charging station on the street,” Reseda junior Jael Rodriguez said.

“I feel like they are not good, and they mess up the power grid since they have to be charged. They can say that it runs on green energy, but it can be powered by coal plants. Honestly, between electric cars and fuel powered cars, fuel powered cars are better,” Reseda junior Jonathan Marez stated.

In conclusion, electric cars might be taking over, but they are still not at their full potential. So most people think that fuel-powered cars are better than electric cars. However, it is a person's decision if they want an electric car or not. In all reality though, electric cars may be the future.

BABIES IN NEED

Published on October 3, 2022

Story by Ashley Rodriguez

Baby formula has been running out since the outbreak of COVID-19 nationwide. It has caused multiple mothers and families to worry over what their children will eat tomorrow or how they will get the nutrients they need. This issue has threatened the health of infants.

Families are still struggling to find baby formula, but at the moment, some families are better off than they were a month ago.

The thing that caused this whole chaos started at the beginning of the pandemic. The ingredients used for the baby infant formula have been unsanitary and have been contaminated. That has led manufacturing to shut down. There have been multiple shortages in stores for brands, like Gerber, Enfamil, and Similac.

Here is this one story about a mother who has a three-month-old and lives in Nebraska. One day on May 15, 2022, Natalya Renteria was having trouble finding baby formula, Enfamil, the one her baby usually drinks. So then she decided to go for a brand she had not used before. Just from one bottle, her baby started to have rashes covering half her body, so she had to take her baby to see a doctor.

When she went to the hospital, her baby Adelina had stopped breathing, her throat swelled up, and later the doctors gave her allergy medicine. Turns out she was allergic to the eggs and safflower in the formula. Doctors at Chi Health are advising families to check with their physician and see if they can have a formula change.

Here's what we know in the U.S. about the shortage. In February 2022, the Abbott plant had to be shut down because there was bacteria found in some of the formula. It may have caused the death of two infants and put two others in the hospital. The facility had cracks and roof leaks. By May 2022, about more than 40% of formulas ran out of stock in shelves in the U.S. By June 2022, the Abbott plant was still shut down due to floods throughout Michigan. The shortage went to 22.4% of formula out of stock on shelves.

In July 2022, the Abbott plant reopened and began production. The lowest supply of baby formula in the U.S. was at the end of July 2022. It has been very slow and hard to recover from this shortage.

Here are some ways families can access infant baby formula. If you have family members who are struggling to feed their babies, ask them if they are on the WIC program. They should contact their local office who can help parents find alternatives. Another tip is to look in smaller stores instead of the big box stores, like Target and Walmart, which may be out of stock. Also, search online for ways to buy it.

Families have asked if they should make their own formulas, but they should not because it can lead to the infant being allergic to the ingredients or the ingredients may not be measured correctly.

The U.S. has been having trouble with this formula shortage problem since the pandemic started in March 2020. Parents have struggled finding formula. Also, because the price increased, families were not able to afford it. Families were getting scammed because they were so desperate to get what their babies needed. Right now at this moment, the country is trying to recover from the crisis. Some families are better off than they were a month ago, but it will take a while to go back to normal. Caregivers need to stay strong and focus on the future.

ROGUELIKES VS. ROGUELITES: HOW ARE THESE VIDEO GAME GENRES DIFFERENT?

Published on September 29, 2022

Story by Pablo Ramirez

Roguelikes have this sort of simplicity and pure action feeling, while roguelites are the casual way to play since they are just easier than roguelikes. The roguelike franchise has tons of classics and fun interactive games, like Risk Of Rain 1 and 2, Hades, Hollow Night, and Dead Cells. You can say the exact same thing for roguelites, even though I haven't played many of them. They are significantly less known, and it’s not a “real” genre of video games. The “roguelite” genre is a fan-made genre of video games basically saying it’s an easier way to get a similar experience of a roguelike.

When you play a roguelike, your entire game is in the hands of each and every monster you come across. When your health drops below 0 you start completely over again. The reason roguelikes are so enjoyable for some is because of the rush you get when you're at the levels, dungeons, room’s boss and you get low on HP, which are health points, then you hit that last shot on the boss and it dies, then a rush of relief and happiness runs across your mind. Roguelikes have made so much money off giving players this experience. Hades, a very popular game which sold more than 1 million copies, only cost 20 dollars to make, and yet everyone who plays it pays 20 dollars. This shows the overwhelming profit generated, and it’s not even the most popular roguelike. However, The Binding of Isaac, which is the most popular roguelike, made over 3 million dollars in revenue!

When you play a roguelite, you progress through the story, unlike a roguelike. There is basically nothing to follow in a roguelike. Just play it over and over. Playing roguelites allows progression by having players actually follow a story and having things, such as dialogue from characters, that roguelikes don’t have. When you play a roguelite, you start to gain skill slowly, as opposed to roguelikes that are easier to master due to the repetitive nature of them.

The infinite possibilities and achievements of roguelikes are randomized which is the aspect of the game that captivates players the most. Some people hate the randomization, but when you play the game over and over, there has to be some new, different, and fun part every time. The people that don’t like the randomness of a roguelike can play roguelites, which are also very random, but there are permanent elements that consistently appear. The simplicity of the game is also captivating for some.

While roguelites don’t sell as well and have less of a platform in general, they are still popular and massively played worldwide. Roguelikes sell more and have more of a platform on social media. You will most likely hear of them at one point if you play video games. Roguelites may be less known, but there is definitely a niche for them in the gaming world.

YOUR MAJESTY

Published September 29, 2022

Story by Yamille Guzman and Ricardo Hernandez

The former Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, was the longest reigning monarch in England's history. She reigned for 70 years and 215 days. She was the queen of 32 sovereign states in her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, and died on September 8, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair, London and was the first child of King George and Queen Elizabeth. She was homeschooled until she had to serve her duties during World War 2. In November 1947, she married the former prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip, and was married until his death; their marriage lasted 73 years. Within those years, they had four kids, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. In February 1952, at 25 years old, Queen Elizabeth II became queen of not only the UK but seven other independent commonwealth countries.

Early Life

Once Elizabeth was born she was baptized in a private chapel in Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth did not and was not expected to be queen as she was third in line for the throne. She had her uncle Edward and her father in the line of succession. When her grandfather passed, Edward became king. Later that year, he was antiquated, meaning he gave up his titles. That is when Elizabeth's father became king. As she was the eldest of two girls, it became very likely that she would become the queen at some point as she was now first in the line of succession. Elizabeth went to private school and was homeschooled along with her younger sister Margaret. As her father's health declined, instead of her father, she started to make more public appearances. When she was on tours visiting countries, they had an accession declaration in case the king died while she was traveling. She had just got home from a tour in Kenya when the news broke that her father had passed. So at that very moment, she became queen.

During Her Reign

During her reign as Queen, she had her silver, gold, diamond, and platinum jubilee. Silver stands for 25 years, gold stands for 50, diamond stands for 60, and platinum stands for 70 years of being Queen of the UK. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was an acceleration of decolonization in Africa and the Caribbean. When that occurred, more than 20 countries gained their independence from Britain. As this was happening, the government was getting weaker by the day, so they sought entry into the European Community. On November 24, 1992, in a speech to mark the Ruby Jubilee of her accession to the throne, Elizabeth called 1992 her annus horribilis, which means in Latin the horrible year. On the day of 9/11, the U.K. played the American national anthem. This was historical as they were not allowed to play a national anthem other than their own.

The End of an Era

On September 8, 2022, at around 4:30 GMT, it was announced that the Queen had passed. After that happened, Operation London Bridge began with a 10-day mourning period. The operation included the announcement of her death and the details of her state funeral. The queen died in Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her body was then transported to Westminster Hall where her body lay for 4 days with lines as long as 5 miles to see the Queen. On September 19 in the King VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor, the Queen’s funeral had begun. Once that was finished, the Queen’s body was then carried 25 miles away to Windsor Castle where her body was lowered into the royal vault next to her husband Prince Philip. The monarch of the UK is now King Charles III. This is a quote from the end of his first speech: "May flights of angels sing to thy rest" ending the speech about his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

JROTC ceremony commemorates Reseda students

Published Jun 1, 2022

Story by Nicolás Lugo

On May 20, 2022, Reseda JROTC organized a ceremony at Reseda to highlight students for good behavior, impeccable uniform standards and those who rose in rank in the military-based program.

JROTC helps students learn how to be leaders while also learning a little about the history of the United States Navy. JROTC students can improve their physical fitness, thanks to the push-ups, squats, sit-ups and running done in class.

At the ceremony, awards were given to students for having good discipline, leadership, physical performance and a good academic level. Students also participated in a raffle with prizes including five Visa gift cards, two pairs of AirPods and a Nintendo Switch.

This year marked a lot of learning and difficulty for everyone in JROTC, but this ceremony was unforgettable for everyone, especially the seniors who stood out from the rest.

Total lunar eclipse creates blood moon

Published May 24, 2022

Story by Sivan Bendor

The first full lunar eclipse in three years was seen with a reddish hue in Reseda on Sunday night.

The total blood moon lunar eclipse lasted from May 15 at 7:15 p.m. PDT and ended on Monday, May 16 at 7:50 a.m.

According to NASA, a blood moon lunar eclipse happens when the moon is in the earth’s shadow, or the umbra. When the moon is in the umbra, green and blue light are more easily dispersed by particles in the atmosphere, which make red and orange appear more vibrant.

The total lunar eclipse had people mesmerized at the sight. The moon glowed red and orange, and, for some people, it was their first time in many years seeing an eclipse or first time seeing one at all.

Emma Lyushtra, a freshman at Reseda, witnessed the total lunar eclipse and was amazed.

“Seeing it was so cool,” she said. “Since I've never seen a total lunar eclipse that was a blood moon too, it was something out of a movie.”

The next time anyone will be able to experience another total lunar eclipse will be on March 14, 2025.

For those who were lucky enough to catch it, the blood moon was a sight worth seeing.

Reseda Charter Middle School students learn the value and importance of helping others in Helping Week

Published May 19,2022

Story by Sofia Romero

May 16-20 is Helping Week, part of the Spirit Week series at Reseda Charter Middle School.

Each day holds a different theme or activity in which students must show school spirit, demonstrate the value of kindness and help others.

Monday’s theme was “Happiness is helping.” Students were shown a video about helping others then participated in a class discussion.

On Tuesday, students made an ¨Importance of helping¨ poster to show the importance of helping others.

Wednesday was “Help a teacher” day. As a kind gesture for their teachers, students asked how they could help them in or outside of class.

Before the week ends on Thursday, students will “Help a friend” with a kind and helpful gesture to their friends or by asking how they can show support.

To end a fun week of helping, on Friday, students will “Help keep our campus beautiful” by beautifying the campus or tidying up their classroom to show the importance of caring for their community.

The week will end full of acts of kindness that teach students that one of the most important values is to help others.

Middle School Academic Pentathlon medals in annual competition

Published May 16, 2022

Story by Sofia Romero

Reseda Charter Middle School won a whopping 88 medals between team and individual awards at the 2022 Academic Pentathlon Competition.

The 6th grade teams won gold and silver in their division, while 7th grade won 2nd and 3rd place in theirs.

Some students at Reseda Charter Middle School are lucky enough to participate in Academic Pentathlon, a class and competition.

Five subjects are covered – Literature, Mathematics, Fine Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences – and students also write an essay about a novel.

Each year, the competition has a specific theme. This year’s was water.

Preparation lasts all year, and students use the first semester and half of the second to study and prepare for the competition.

According to the United States Academic Decathlon website, the competition allows middle-school students to get scholarships and become more academically advanced.

The students are guaranteed novels and resource guides. During the first semester, it is necessary to research, read and work on those resource guides to understand each subject.

While they prepare, they study with games so that the information is internalized by the students and so that studying stays fun.

“We are a team,” expressed Mrs. Braverman, middle school teacher, softball coach and the Academic Pentathlon Coach. The students and teacher strive to reach Nationals.

Reseda Middle School has two class periods dedicated to Academic Pentathlon. To join the class, students must take a survey expressing their interest. Next year, there will be three classes: one each for 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

In the words of Mrs. Braverman: “Students can build discipline, improve their reading and writing skills, plus improve their teamwork skills.”

Academic Pentathlon is more than a class. It is a team.

Students should take precautions this Friday the 13th

Published May 13, 2022

Story by Vanessa Zelaya

Students having bad luck this May might have Friday the 13th to blame.

Friday the 13th is rooted in our culture and folklore. According to Wion News, The fear of the number 13 is called “Paraskevidekatriaphobia,” and some people believe that 13 is an unlucky number because it is associated with death and tragedy.

It is known to be a day of bad luck because it is believed that Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 guests at the Last Supper before the crucifixion.

In pop culture, slasher film “Friday The 13th” is named as such because Friday the 13th was the date of villain Jason Voorhees’ death.

But the date is associated with other sinister implications, and many “unexplainable” events in history. March 13, 2020, was the first official day of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996 and the Andes Flight disaster on October 13, 1972 resulted in death and cannibalism. According to NASA, an asteroid will come within 20,000 miles of earth on April 13, 2029.

Good luck today, Reseda students. Hopefully a black cat doesn’t also cross your path.

Students at Reseda take AP Exams

Published May 13, 2022

Story by Sivan Bendor

For the last two weeks at Reseda, students were taken out of classes to take AP Exams. Students study all year in preparation for one test.

AP Government, Chemistry, and Spanish Literature were on Monday, May 2, AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology were on May 3, AP English Literature was on May 4, AP Macroeconomics was on May 5 and AP US History and AP Art History were on May 6.

This week was the final week of AP testing. AP Computer science and AP calculus were on May 9, AP English Language was on May 10, AP Biology and AP Spanish Language were on May 11 and AP World History and AP Physics 1 were on May 12. The last exam was AP Physics 2 on Friday, May 13.

The Regent Roar knows all AP students at Reseda did well on their exams. Good luck when scores come out this summer!

Mask mandate lifted in LAUSD schools

Published May 11, 2022

Story by Vanessa Zelaya

As of March 23, 2022, LAUSD has lifted their indoor mask mandate. Some students continue to wear them, and others decide not to, which is now completely optional.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, wearing a mask, regularly washing hands and social distancing are still recommended by the Los Angeles Public of Health Department.

Despite health organizations’ recommendations, since the beginning of Covid-19, many have complained and actively expressed their discomfort with wearing masks, with some claiming that it is “harder to breathe” when wearing one or that it makes them “uncomfortable.”

According to “Psychology Today,” wearing a mask can prevent younger children from understanding emotions and feelings other children express. However, “a recent study found that infants and toddlers do not have difficulty understanding familiar words when spoken through a normal surgical mask.”

Pillar Fisher, a junior at Reseda, said that she actually prefers to keep her mask on because she feels “uncomfortable” and “self conscious” about her facial features, while another student, Izaiyah Farmer, takes his off to “breathe better” and talk clearer.

As of May, 2022, there is a 0.52 COVID positivity rate among students and staff in LAUSD. However, The Regent Roar encourages students to keep wearing their mask, not only to protect themselves, but also to protect others and prevent the spread.

LA Beach Bus opens to all again

Published May 5, 2022

Story by Brandon Pleitez

With COVID safety regulations slowly being lifted, the LA beach bus is back to take beachgoers down to Santa Monica.

The bus ride is only $1 or 50 cents for seniors with disabilities.

The bus travels to the Santa Monica Pier and also stops at Topanga Beach and Will Rogers State Beach.

The bus runs three times a day at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:55 p.m. from Owensmouth Ave. and Oxnard St., the closest departure location. Riders can also catch the bus at 9:39 a.m., 1:09 p.m. and 3:44 p.m. from Topanga Canyon and Ventura Blvd.

Returning times are from 10:45 a.m, 2:15 p.m and 4:50 p.m. from Expo Line Santa Monica Station.

Car rides to Santa Monica Pier can take 30 to 40 minutes, while the bus takes about 2 hours.

“I think the beach bus is worth using,” said Reseda student Justin Calpe. “It can be useful in situations where no one has access to a car. Instead of just taking a route involving multiple buses, you could just take a single bus straight there.”

When asked if the bus ride was enjoyable or not, Calpe said, “The ride to the beach was pretty relaxing. Seeing the city and all the different places on the way was really nice as well.”

With summer almost here, there’s no better time to take a trip to the beach, and the beach bus allows anyone to get there. Students interested in riding the Beach Bus can find more information with the full schedule here.

Reseda seniors get CPR certified in hospital occupations course

Published April 27, 2022

Story and Photos by David Perez

On March 23, 2022, Reseda High School seniors received CPR certification in their hospital occupations class.

These students had to take different online courses and quizzes to be able to get their certifications.

For the final step in CPR certification, seniors had to go on a Zoom link and prove that they were ready. Many of the students had different experiences, thoughts and reactions about CPR certification.

Two seniors, Anthony Lopez and Cesar Montecortez, were asked about their process of CPR certification.

“It was easy,” said Lopez, who added that there was “a lot of science behind it.”

In contrast, Montecortez said, “It was difficult because you have to keep the three steps in mind and apply them properly.”

“I really liked how depending on the situation it would change,” said Lopez about what interested him in learning CPR.

Lopez added, “The idea that I'm learning how to save a human's life if needed.”

Both seniors have different interests and reasons for knowing CPR, but both have good intentions for if or when they plan to use CPR.

But some aren't sure if they are ready to have the responsibility to save someone's life if needed.

“I would not feel exactly ready to perform CPR on a human because I don’t want them to depend their life on me, but I know what must be done just in case,” said Montecortez.

Lopez relates to Montecortez and shared, “I do not feel ready, but at the same time, if I was the only person, I would definitely try.”

The Regent Roar hopes these students will never need to use CPR on anybody, but if they do, these Regents will be ready thanks to their hospital occupations class and their teacher Ms. Gita Amon.

STEM is the future: Students from the Science Magnet biomed pathway visit LAMC

Published April 25, 2022

Story and Photos by Mallory Blake

STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, is incorporated into Science Magnet classes at Reseda, no matter the pathway.

Students who attended the STEM Symposium on March 18 at LA Mission College had the opportunity to hear from a variety of professionals who have jobs in nursing, biotechnology, athletics and chemistry.

That Friday, students in the Science Magnet visited LA Mission College (LAMC) in Sylmar where they attended the third annual STEM Health and Fitness Mini Symposium where alumni, educators and current staff talked about their experiences, jobs and lives in the STEM field.

Taryn Fowlds, a LAMC alumna, who later attended Mount Sac College and graduated with two associate’s degrees, spoke first. Fowlds is now an ICU nurse who is training to become a charge nurse at Ronald Reagan Hospital after transitioning from a Certified Nursing Assistant in 2016.

Although Fowlds didn’t originally want to become a nurse, she realized it was her best option because of the course credit she had. Her advice to the audience: “Take the basic courses if you want to become any sort of medical professional. That allows you to get your foot in the door and spend time figuring out what exactly it is you want to be.”

Single parent Odet Alfaro attended college part-time to become a nurse but eventually switched to biotechnology. Tresha San-Martin is an athletic trainer at LAMC who makes sure players get the proper and adequate care needed. Jesus Iniguez was raised by a single mom and became a PhD student in Organic Chemistry. When he attended LAMC, Iniguez discovered his love for science after taking physics classes.

These speakers prove that students can find a career within just about anything they are passionate about.

STEM provides students with countless job opportunities for companies like Apple, Google, Amazon or even Tesla. Science opens up the door to traveling around the world and can allow people to receive scholarships or financial aid for research purposes. The future is in this generation’s hands.

Freshman Gianna Kristen Miranda’s favorite thing that she learned during the field trip was “learning about the awesome jobs people have and what they do in their day to day life.” She said, “It allowed me to get a visual of my future because I plan on becoming a nurse.”

To find more information about STEM programs and view available majors, visit www.lamissioncollege.edu.

The Sunshine Protection Act might save the light in people’s lives

Published April 20, 2022

Story by Matan Bendor

On March 15, 2022, the Senate approved the Sunshine Protection Act, which preserves daylight savings. If passed, all states will keep the hour time change that some, like California, usually make for daylight saving time — indefinitely.

Daylight saving time has been around since 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted it to be year-round. The policy lasted until 1945, according to NBC Chicago.

It only again became a standard in the US in 1966 due to the Uniform Time Act. Every year on the second Sunday of March, clocks move an hour ahead to daylight saving time and move back on the first Sunday of November.

Most people take this opportunity to enjoy more time in their day with more sunlight. A study showed that electricity use decreased between two in the afternoon to five in the evening, as explained in the Washington Post.

Reseda junior Ivan Hernandez states that daylight saving time helps him “get more work done” and says that he is happy to have more light in the day because it gives him more energy and keeps him active.

On the other hand, The Gainesville Sun reports that the result of keeping daylight saving time “was long, dark morning hours come wintertime.” Since there is more light during the day when it is wintertime, there is less light in the morning.

American Home Shield poses a benefit: that it “lowers the incidence of traffic accidents.” But this may be true only at night. The Gainesville Sun reports that “eight Florida schoolchildren died in predawn car crashes.”

Lighter afternoons signify darker mornings and make drivers more accident-prone prior to sunrise.

In addition, American Home Shield explains “that robbery rates after daylight saving time fall an average of 7 percent, with a much larger 27 percent drop during those light-filled evening hours that didn’t exist before the time change.”

A junior, Arissa Carabeo, enjoys the start of daylight saving in the spring and says, “I love being able to stay up longer with more light because I can walk around feeling safer.”

The Sunshine Protection Act would permanently institute daylight saving time starting March 2023 and make the time change year-round and permanent.

Los Angeles gas prices continue increasing amid crisis in Ukraine

Published March 18, 2022

Story by Matan Bendor

Gas prices in Los Angeles have been increasing since early 2022 and show no signs of stopping.

Currently, prices are at an average of $5.83 per gallon in Los Angeles. A month ago, the gas was at an average of $4.77. a week ago, $5.51; and only March 14, $5.82. This shows an increase of 32 cents in a week.

A photo taken on March 10 for NBC News shows that the gas price at the Beverly Center in LA was to be $7.35 for regular gas.

The Los Angeles Times says that experts blame the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reseda students weighed in with their thoughts about the gas price hike. Junior Darren Labrenz expressed his frustration with profanity and called those who gouged oil prices “a bunch of greedy pigs.”

Another Reseda High School student, Ryan Paymani says, “They really need to lower the gas prices cause it's really annoying having to pay like five or six bucks for, like, a gallon.” Paymani explains that he needs gas to get to and from his job and sometimes to school.

How can anyone afford the price of gas if the cost of a gallon is equal to minimum wage? Gas prices should be lower so that people can go to and from work and pay for gas without worrying about finances

Students like Paymani who have part-time jobs need to be able to afford gas to get to work. Many students have jobs, and high gas prices might force people to choose to stay home over going to work.

The Regent Roar hopes gas prices will fall and stay at a reasonable price. For now, the future is unknown and might depend on how things play out in Eastern Europe.

COVID spreads again early this semester, affecting Reseda Charter High School

Published March 7, 2022

Story by Sofia Romero

In January 2022, COVID-19 spread again with the contagious Omicron variant, and Reseda Charter High School was affected with high numbers of COVID in students and staff.

In the first week of January alone, there were on average 734,200 daily reported cases in the United States, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

116 students and staff at Reseda tested positive and were quarantined the first week back at school.

English teacher Ms. Ana Caal explained that the school follows all measures the district deems necessary and that the school has extra resources to keep students safe on campus, like everything that students and teachers need for hygiene and to protect themselves from the virus.

“We are doing extra here at Reseda to protect our Regent family,” she expressed.

Students, faculty and staff have all been affected by the virus, either from personal experience or from someone close to them who has had COVID.

“The virus has affected everyone in some way or another,” Caal said.

Caal shared one of the hardest things she experienced at one point as a teacher: hearing her students say that they lost loved ones to the virus.

For Caal, it was very exciting to see her students again this year and to be able to hear them, although it is still somewhat difficult to teach with masks and social distancing.

Recently, cases have decreased, according to the LAUSD COVID Report Card. As of today, March 7, total cases district-wide are 1,059, much lower than the 44,710 cases in January, and cases continue to decline.

“When you hear the COVID cases rise, it gets scary,” Caal said, but school still feels like a safe place when proper security measures are taken.

“Twosday” 2/22/22 kicks off 9 consecutive palindrome dates

Published February 22, 2022

Story by Sivan Bendor

The first international palindrome date since Nov. 11, 2011 is this Tuesday, or "Twosday," Feb. 22, 2022.

Today’s palindrome date is special because it can be read forward and backwards everywhere in the world. The next international palindrome date won't be until March 3, 2033, meaning that 1st graders today will be seniors in high school when they next see one.

Sunday was the start of 9 days of palindrome dates for those in the U.S. who write their dates as month/day/year.

Reseda High School’s Theater Club readies for next big play

Published February 17, 2022

Story and Photos by Brandon Pleitez

With the year halfway done, Reseda High School's Theater Club has something cooking: a brand new play they’ve been working hard on.

Many of the Theater Club members are busy as of now, but Jonathan Rivas made time for an interview for the Regent Roar to gain some insight on their new play.

“It’s called ‘Peter and the Starcatcher,’” Rivas explains, which is the Theater Club’s newest play. Jonathan and the rest of the Theater Club have been rehearsing this play “since the beginning of this semester.”

It is the first play the club will perform after their last one was canceled in Fall 2021.

“COVID has definitely affected the way things are done as there are certain precautions you have to take. So obviously, we had to adjust our play in that manner as one play we were about to do was going to be done in very close proximity to the audience. But obviously, that can’t be done due to safety reasons,” Rivas said.

Rivas also believes that “a lot of people should give theater a better chance despite what people may think of it.”

“It is an activity that requires a lot of dedication and can really test you, as it's not just memorizing lines per se, but it's also working with everyone around you, interacting with them, and obviously you have to be dedicated,” he says.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” will be shown on March 31, April 1 and April 2.

“So be ready for that!” Rivas added. “Theater is pretty fun, and a lot of people there are pretty fun, too, so come check out our play!”

ASB hosts Kindness Week

Published February 15, 2022

Story and Photos by Jenny Puban

Starting, Monday, Feb. 14 or Valentine’s Day, ASB is hosting “Kindness Week” to encourage students to show their kindness toward others.

This week, students will wear the colors of each day to show school spirit.

Monday, Feb. 14 was R Cupid’s Chase Day. ASB hosted club rush and there were Free V-Day grams at the auditorium lawn. Students wore red to symbolize love.

“My plan for Valentine's Day is bringing candy to school for my friends,” said junior Molly Sandridge.

Tuesday, Feb. 15 is Friendship Day. Students will wear yellow and make a friendship bracelet with their friends at the Reggies, grass patch in front of FA2.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 is Random Act Of Kindness Day where students will wear blue and make someone’s day with a random act of kindness inside and outside of school.

Thursday, Feb. 17 is Earth Day. Students will wear green to show their support for nature conservation and make posters at Reggies, grass patch to beautify the school.

Friday, Feb. 18 is Giving Day. Students will wear purple and create a community chain out of construction paper at reggies grass during lunch.

This week, participate in school activities to show support and school spirit!

Reseda High School perseveres through tragic loss of former student Dranel Rhodes

Published January 21, 2021

Story by Matan Bendor and Giselle Benitez

Dranel Rhodes, former football player for Reseda High School and graduate of 2020, tragically passed away on Friday, Jan. 7.

Rhodes, a mentor, son, brother, and friend, will always be remembered and mourned at Reseda. He was truly the definition of a Regent; he was proud of his accomplishments and inspired many on his way up.

Rhodes was undeniably humble, a sweetheart, affectionate, and companionable to many at Reseda, and his legacy will live on.

On Jan. 11, the flagpole was surrounded by flowers and candles in a memorial at the front of the school. Candles spelled out the number 5 in honor of Rhodes’ football jersey number.

Daily Pass complications cause long line in front of school on first day back

Published January 21, 2022

Story by Jared Hernandez

On the morning of Jan. 11th, a line filled with students formed at the front of the school.

Multiple complications with the Daily Pass caused students to be late to class on the first day of school coming back from break. Some didn’t have their Covid test results yet, and the Daily Pass website became overwhelmed before 7:30 with the volume of students trying to access it.

The LAUSD Daily Pass ensures students are safe by only allowing Covid-negative people and those with no symptoms on campus and keeps track of possible exposures to Covid.

Covid cases increased during the winter and at the beginning of the semester. Students were excited to see their friends, and teachers were excited to see their students.

Safety always comes first. If students and staff are not feeling well, they should stay at home and get tested. Stay healthy this semester, Regents!

The police academy has its last big inspection of fall semester

Published December 15, 2021

Story and Photos by Sofia Romero

Senior student Lesly Diaz shared what the police academy at Reseda Charter High School has been up to the past several weeks.

Diaz, a member of the police academy, shared what the academy teaches students: to be respectful, responsible and determined, apart from what the police force does.

"I feel like everything I'm learning will help me in the future sooner or later,” she expressed.

As with any class that requires discipline, teachers must be strict with uniforms, respect and, above all, the discipline that is taught to students that help them to be better people.

Diaz shared ¨We keep each other motivated, and it help us stay positive.¨

For her, the police academy is like a big family that when it is necessary to help or motivate each other, they are all there for each other.

Others may see them as only classmates, but they are a family.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, the police academy had their annual formal inspection.

Different officers and sheriffs from the police department came to test students on what they have learned during their time as apprentices, inspect that their uniform is clean and that they use it correctly, that they know how to answer the questions that are asked about the police,as well as show good discipline and respect.

This inspection is carried out every year, and all the members of the academy are expected to demonstrate everything they have learned.

Diaz describes this latest inspection as fun, as it is one of the first times this event has been held outdoors, which was useful and more relaxing.

LA River Swells amid heavy rain

Published December 15, 2021

Story and Photos by Sivan Bendor

On Tuesday, Dec. 14, heavy rain caused the LA River to flood and nearly overflow. The river was back to normal by the morning of Dec. 15.

NaNoWriMo inspires those who love writing

PUblished November 13, 2021

Story by Jenny Puban

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is the month where people participate in writing a 50,000-word novel between Nov. 1 and 30 every year. It started in the US in 1999 with 21 participants and is now open to the world to participate with 552,335 participants in 2020, according to its website.

Since NaNoWriMo is for people who already love to write, the rules are straightforward:

1. Writing starts at 12 A.M. on Nov. 1 and ends at 11:59:59 P.M. on Nov. 30.

2. Starting early is not allowed, and the challenge will end exactly at the end of November.

3. Novels should have at least 50,000 words before November 30th in order to win. The words can be a complete 50,000-word novel or the first 50,000 words of the novel.

4. Detailed planning and recording are allowed, but no content can be written before Nov. 1.

5. Novels can be any topic, genre or language.

Organizers say the goal is for people to start writing by using deadlines as their motivation. Participants have to write an average of about 1,667 words per day in November to achieve their goal of 50,000 words.

NaNoWriMo is impressive as it can be a great tool for motivation, and the NaNoWriMo community is open and communicative to all participants. Each year, NaNoWriMo has a new list of sponsors rewarding winners and participants with great discounts and prizes.

ASB plans winter events to involve student body

Published December 7, 2021

Story by Flor Rivas

ASB is Reseda’s student government and is in charge of organizing events to encourage students to have fun and get involved. ASB also brings attention to sports teams and clubs at Reseda High School and helps with funds for equipment or other needs.

Through its events, ASB creates a platform where the student body can communicate, learn and have fun.

In December, Reseda Charter High School has many upcoming events planned by ASB.

On Tuesday, Dec. 7, the Sophomore Winter Party will be from 4pm to 6pm. If students want to buy tickets, they can buy them in Room FA2.

Club & Sports Photo Day is also on Dec. 7, while the Middle School Winter Dance is on Friday, Dec. 10.

On Dec. 17, ASB will host the annual Holiday Show, which will close out a Holiday Spirit Week.

ASB helps with most of the events at Reseda High School to make them wonderful and fun for students. Show some school spirit and participate in ASB’s last events of the semester!

LAUSD requires COVID-19 vaccine for students and teachers

Published November 19, 2021

Story by Maria Orellana

LAUSD has required the COVID-19 vaccine for all teachers and students.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Oct. 15 deadline for teachers was moved to Nov. 15. 100% of on-campus employees had been vaccinated as of Tuesday, Nov. 2.

LAUSD is requiring all students 12 and older to be vaccinated by Jan. 10, 2022, per the district website. The last day students can receive their first dose and be fully vaccinated by spring semester is this Sunday, Nov. 21.

History teacher Mr. Santiago thinks the vaccine mandate is a good thing because he will not get sick and feel more safe coming to work.

Mr. Santiago says that it is important to get vaccinated "to limit the spread of COVID-19 and just be safer.”

“At the same time, very healthy people are still getting sick," he adds.

Freshman student Daniela Trigueros’ opinion is that it is necessary to be vaccinated to avoid the virus at an early age.

"I feel safer with the vaccine to have avoided getting infected with COVID-19," Trigueros said.

In Trigueros’ opinion, "all children under 15 years of age should be vaccinated because health comes first.”

"If you work with a lot of people, a large group of people, in close settings, meaning in classrooms, it is necessary to get vaccinated,” Santiago says. "It must not be political because it is not a political problem — it is a health problem."

Renovations underway at Reseda Charter High School as part of modernization project

Published November 18, 2021

Story by Flor Rivas

The construction at Reseda Charter High School will change many things both inside and outside of the school. The construction began in summer 2021, but there are many renovations that are still in process at Reseda Charter High School.

According to The Daily News, “Los Angeles Unified School District board approved a modernization plan for Reseda Charter High School to demolish outdated facilities and construct several new or retrofitted classrooms in a $171 million project slated for completion in 2026.”

Among these facilities are the administration building, library, and a brand-new middle school area, which will be demolished and built over the course of several years, with construction predicted to be completed in 2026.

As stated by The Daily News, the classrooms not undergoing modernization will receive minor interior improvements. The project also will upgrade and replace aging infrastructure while improving disability access and providing new landscaping.

According to the digital pictures of the final product, the entrance will have a yellow awning for a modern feel. There will be seating in front of the main entrance for students to sit and wait for their parents to pick them up.

The color of the buildings will be light brown to grey, with the facade of some buildings made of glass, like the library.

The changes that are going to be made are impressive but exciting at the same time. The students and teachers will be able to learn and teach in a beautiful new environment, and Reseda can’t wait for 2026.

ASB hosts their annual Halloween Palooza

Published November 8, 2021

Story by Ada Garnica

As a high school student, joining a club is an amazing experience and opportunity to make new friends and learn new things, and looks good on college applications and student resumes when looking for a job.

On October 29, ASB held the Halloween Palooza Club Rush for students with over 20 clubs and organizations in attendance.

The Regent Roar interviewed Abigail Velasquez from Yearbook and asked, “What kind of people are you looking for?”

In response, Velasquez shared “We are looking for hard working and independently motivated people to join Yearbook.”

“We would love to have a full class of students. The more students available, the less we each have to do individually. It also makes it more fun,” Velasquez relays about how many students yearbook would like to recruit.

Yearbook is not only a fun club, but it can also help students even after high school.

Velasquez shares that, “Yearbook is a really good program if you are trying to get into college, it gives you real life experience, it's basically a job. It is a lot of hard work, but it can be a lot of fun. You get a lot of freedom and independence, but you do have to be focused.”

Next semester, join a club! Students don’t know what's in store for them until they try.

Mysterious smell at Reseda prompts investigation

Published October 22, 2021

Story by Matan Bendor

Throughout this school year, rumors have drifted through the halls, much like a mysterious smell.

Students can sometimes smell it near the lunch tables, the basketball courts, and many other places in the school. Teachers speculate that it may be skunked, as there are many around the school. The smell is also possibly caused by the LA River, which is just next to the school’s football field.

A poll conducted on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 showed that roughly 67% of 56 students smell something in the air around the school, but 32% of those surveyed do not.

The results suggest that many students frequently smell something odd at school.

But the question still remains: what is the mysterious smell? Is it a skunk, the LA River, or, as many rumors suggest, could it be the smell of marijuana?

To this day, no one is sure about the origin of the mysterious smell. Most speculate that the smell originates from the many skunks around the school or the LA River since the smell seems to linger.

Regardless of what the mystery smell actually is, the students and staff of Reseda High School may never know.

TikTok’s “Devious Licks” trend encourages students to vandalize schools all over the U.S.

Published October 19, 2021

Story and Photos by Jared Hernandez

Trending videos, called “Devious Licks” on TikTok, originated on Sept. 1, 2021 after TikTok user @jugg4elias posted a video showing a box of disposable masks they claim to have stolen from school.

Once the first video went viral, TikTokers started posting videos with the same name of “Devious Licks.” Soon, these videos also started going viral, with students stealing things such as soap, mirrors and paper towels. Students were making a mess inside the bathrooms until schools condemned the acts and the platform TikTok banned the videos, but that didn’t stop students from vandalizing school campuses.

According to WUSA9 News, the trend “Devious Licks” already has multiple teens in Stafford County, Virginia facing consequences for their actions. The same day teens were caught, six students snuck off Stafford High School’s campus during lunch

The Stafford County Sheriff's Officer said that he spotted a group of teens vandalizing the park bathroom after ditching school and reports that one of the teens aggressively ripped the soap from the wall and damaged the door. Only one teen from the group is facing criminal charges, and all six are facing punishment for leaving the school, WUSA9 also reports.

“Again, we encourage parents to talk to their teens about social media and the seriousness of vandalism to school property,” the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office wrote on a Facebook post.

WUSA9 News also warns that there is a TikTok list challenge for every coming month in the school year:

“October: Smack a staff member on the backside.

November: Kiss your friend’s girlfriend at school.

December: Deck the halls and show your chest.

January: Jab a breast.

February: Mess up school signs.

March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria.

April: Grab some 'eggs' (another theft challenge).

May: Ditch Day."

Examples of these videos are hard to find as TikTok is banning these videos and schools are trying to get the trend to stop.

“We’re removing content and redirection hashtags and search results to our Community Guidelines to discourage such behavior,” TikTok tweeded on Twitter, and added, “Please be kind to our students & teachers.”

Michael Danho, a teen who goes to Reseda Charter High School, states that he has seen the trending “Devious Licks” videos and missing mirrors and soap dispensers in the boy’s bathrooms. “I feel like it became funny at the beginning but stupid at the end. Kids on TikTok were posting videos at the end that weren’t funny in school and outside the campus.”

Trends are trends. They don’t last forever, but “Devious Licks” went too far. If students see someone vandalizing school bathrooms, harassing others or damaging school property, they should report it immediately so this trend can end as fast as possible.

Homecoming Spirit Week celebrates first Homecoming game and dance since 2019

Published October 14, 2021

Story by Jenny Puban

Last week marked the beginning of a euphoria-themed Homecoming week and the first dance since 2019 at Reseda Charter High School.

Homecoming Spirit Week is a fun-filled week of games and activities. Students celebrate school pride by dressing up and competing in a special Spirit Week contest. The objective of Spirit Week is to heighten the sense of school spirit on campus.

This year, Monday, Oct. 4 was Tie-Dye Day, where students showed off their tie-dye merch and enjoyed some snow cones, while Tuesday, Oct. 5 was Twin Day, where students vibed to some music with their “twins.” Wednesday, Oct. 6 was Decades Day, where students showed off their clothing from different decades and enjoyed some popcorn. Thursday Oct. 7 was Class Colors Day, where students watched or played in the teacher-student soccer game wearing class colors, and Friday, Oct. 8 was Black Out & Neon Day, where students enjoyed the Euphoria Rally with black out/neon merch.

Students enjoyed a “Euphoric Night Out” on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. At the football game versus Panorama, there was a Homecoming parade and show during half time.

On Friday, the Reseda varsity football team won the home conference game against Panorama with a score of 40-10.

One of the best activities of the school year is preparing for the big dance for homecoming. And this year, the dance was even more special as it was the first time the student body was gathered together after over a year and a half of social distancing.

The homecoming dance, themed “A Euphoric Night,” was Saturday Oct. 9 from 7-11 p.m. at the senior and auditorium quad.

For the Homecoming court this year, the school had gender-neutral crowns to fill: two Royals from the senior class and two Regents from the juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

Sophomore Mallory Blake was the one of the nominees for homecoming and one of the crowned Regents. She expressed her feelings about being nominated for Homecoming Court : “It feels amazing. I feel so honored to be nominated that my peers think that I can win. They believed in me. They want to see someone in the court that they know or their friends.”

Later, she explained what it would mean to her to be a Homecoming Regent: “For me, it would mean I’d be representing the school — my grade — and not a lot of people get to do that. It’s only two people per grade so I would feel responsibility on my shoulders to keep them all smiling.”

She proposed to all Regents, “Just keep positive. If you don’t win this year, maybe you can run again this year.”

On Saturday, Oct. 9, the Homecoming Court winners were revealed:

Yoshi Espino and Jasper Mattox won as Freshman Regents, Mallory Blake and Joshua Beza won the Sophomore Regent crowns, and Easton Satin Shaw and Abigail Rodriquez were named Junior Regents. Aidan Le and Sheryl Juarez won the title of Senior Royals.

Blake shared her final thoughts on becoming Homecoming Regent: “I think it was an amazing opportunity for me to grow as a person, and I’m receiving a lot of support. And in my life, I feel like I gained a bunch of friends from this, and I feel like it's good for me.”

This year’s events are special to students as it's been over a year and a half since the pandemic began. Everyone enjoyed the homecoming game and dance. Let’s look forward to the rest of this year's events.