Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Video by Shane Mills Contributor SPHS math teacher Shane Mills released his song, “Twelve Seventy-Four,” about loss and moving on to the student body via ASB’s weekly announcements on Thursday, May 7. Mills found a connection between the song’s lyrics and the coronavirus’ quarantining implications on everyone. “The surprisingly […]
Cheryl Busick selected as new SPMS principal
Story by Adam Kwoh News Editor SPUSD introduced Cheryl Busick as SPMS’ new principal on Tuesday, Mar. 5. Busick’s new position comes after former principal David Kubela announced he would be leaving the position beginning on Apr. 30. Busick has led as Arroyo Vista’s principal since 2011. Previously, Busick has served as principal of Temple City’s […]
Students respond with mixed feelings to Joe Biden’s nomination
Story by Amber Chen Staff Writer Illustration by Nicholas Forman Staff Illustrator Many SPHS students were disappointed at the news of Bernie Sanders’ campaign suspension on Apr. 8, leaving Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic party nominee. Now, SPHS students are debating whether or not to support Biden in the upcoming general election. “I was so […]
Gym construction expected to continue during school closure
Story by Sofia Alva Staff Writer Photo by Ella Jayasekera Associate Photo Editor Construction on the SPHS main gym is still expected to be completed by August 31st, despite SPUSD’s school closures. Public construction has been deemed essential by Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, allowing work on the gym to continue throughout the lockdown. However, the […]
Teachers find new ways to interact with students during distance learning
Story by Zoe Schlaak Staff Writer Photo by Thomas Forman Contributor SPUSD’s school closures on Mar. 13 and L.A.’s safer-at-home order has left many teachers in an unprecedented situation, being forced to work with students outside of the classroom. However, some SPHS staff have found unique approaches to interact with their students using weekly video calls and […]
Kimberly Hsueh wins Commissioner of Academics in runoff
Story by Haelee Kim Associate Opinion Editor Photo by Oscar Walsh Photo Editor Junior Kimberly Hsueh was elected the 2020-2021 Commissioner of Academics in a runoff vote, as announced by ASB on Saturday, Apr. 25. As none of the three candidates for the Commissioner of Academics were able to secure more than 50 percent of the votes […]
Students band together to host LGBTQ+ Inclusivity event during quarantine
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator The SPHS Planned Parenthood Peer Advocates will host its online LGBTQ+ campus inclusivity panel on Tuesday, Apr. 21. The discussion will feature four experienced LGBTQ+ educators who will answer questions and advise participants on how to make their school more LGBTQ+ inclusive in […]
ASB reveals 2020-2021 Commission election results
Story by Haelee Kim Associate Opinion Editor Photo by Oscar Walsh Photo Editor ASB announced its 2020-2021 commissioners on Saturday, Apr. 18 after online voting closed on Friday. This year a total of 18 students competed for a commission position, each campaigning and delivering their speeches online due to L.A.’s safer-at-home order. Candidates began campaigning on Monday, […]
SPUSD faces ‘significant’ budget cuts as state reduces school funding
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Photo by Oscar Walsh Photo Editor South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) Superintendent Geoff Yantz is leading the district’s response to anticipated budget cuts to California’s education funding due to the economic downturn spurred by the coronavirus outbreak. Yantz is collaborating with other districts in Los Angeles County to collectively […]
ASB prepares to launch commissioner elections online
Story by Haelee KimAssociate Opinion Editor Photo by Oscar WalshPhoto Editor Candidates for ASB’s 2020-2021 Commission kicked off their week of campaigning on Monday, Apr. 13 in preparation for online elections on Friday, Apr. 17. In light of L.A.’s stay-at-home order, ASB officers have opted to digitize the traditional campaign week, posting recordings of Q&A sessions […]
Annual ‘Grad Nite’ officially canceled
Story by Kimberly Hsueh Staff Writer Photo by Jeremy Thompson Contributor The Grad Nite committee announced that its annual senior Grad Nite from June 3 to June 4, has officially been canceled. The eight-hour event originally planned to send seniors to Disneyland’s California Adventure, giving students free access to any functioning ride in the park to […]
Students advance to History Day state competition
Story by Cloe Maurer Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Alicia Zhang Staff Illustrator Juniors Miles Bernath, Zoe Albornoz, and Justin Toshima earned three of the four spots on the Los Angeles Department of Education’s (LACOE) Senior Historical Paper State Team. The three students competed against 230 other entries across the Los Angeles area as part of […]
SPHS counselor Marilyn Garcia returns from leave
Story by Adam Kwoh News Editor SPHS counselor Marilyn Garcia has announced her return to SPHS on Friday, Apr. 10, after taking a personal leave of absence in January. Her original replacement, Joyce Ku-Rodriguez, will remain in her position until the end of April. Garcia announced her personal leave of absence from the SPHS staff, originally […]
SPMS Principal David Kubela leaves for new position at Acton-Agua Dulce
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor South Pasadena Middle School (SPMS) Principal David Kubela announced he will be leaving his position effective on Thursday, Apr. 30, to fill his new role as principal of Acton-Agua Dulce Middle School. SPMS Assistant Principal Carlos Kassam-Clay will take over the position temporarily until the district finds a replacement. […]
School board passes emergency grading policy
Story and photo by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor The South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) School Board unanimously passed an emergency district grading policy in a special board meeting on Thursday, Apr. 9. The new structure impacts elementary, middle, and high school grades in addition to senior graduation requirements and the district’s late work […]
Superintendent Yantz hopes ‘to finish the school year on a positive note’
Story by Noah Kuhn Associate News Editor Photo by Helena Fu Contributor California’s decision to close schools amidst the coronavirus outbreak’s growing implications has left a trail of new challenges for the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) and Superintendent Geoff Yantz. As SPUSD faces a community-wide quarantine through the end of the school year, the district […]