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Pandemic life takes toll on teenagers

By Asheley Wi snd Zyra Urfano Coming-of-age movies, one reason we romanticize the idea of being a teenager. Movies such as “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Mean Girls, High School Musical,” and “16 Wishes” leave their mark on the young and creating unrealistic expectations for the years to come. Teenage years are meant to …

The James Webb Space Telescope: Why We Should Care

By: Mia Donatucci The Earth is one of 100 billion planets in our galaxy, the Milky Way. So far, we have only discovered 4,000 exoplanets. Our universe is a vast ocean of space waiting to be explored and with the help of the Jame Webb Space Telescope, we will be able to discover significantly more. …

The Breakfast Club is a movie you won’t forget

By Ariana Casas Saturday,March 24, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois. 60062. The 80s are yours, Shermer, Illinois, Saturday detentions--you are a student again.  From the start we get to know the main characters and their “true selves”; Claire--the princess, Bender--the criminal, Andrew--the athlete, Brain--the brain, and Allison--the basket case. However, as they are forced …

How we study matters

By Mia Donatucci and Rihaan Raj Whether it’s our teachers, peers, or parents, we have all heard that studying is important for our education. As students, we know that good grades are vital to graduate high school and to get into college. However, some students don’t seem to utilize this skill. There can be countless …

Video games: how much is too much?

By: Elianna Alcantar Vega, Zyra Urfano, and Asheley Wi Popular and ever-growing, video games have caught the attention of millions of people worldwide, especially teenagers. Games such as Minecraft, Rocket League, CSGO, Fortnite, League of Legends, Animal Crossing have been designed to capture a lot of attention and time from users. But, what really makes …

2021 Senior Wills

I, Kaelyn Kudo, leave my definitely good grades to my least favorite junior, Dean Clinton. I, Alexis Manalastas, leave my Computer Science memes to my wonderful Co-Prez, Roshini Rangarajan. I, R Quirarte, leave my trademark secret, the password that unlocks to the cool people of the incoming, junior, sophmore, and possibly the freshman class. I, …

Grammys needs an upgrade

By Brandon Myong A Grammy is an award given to a music artist to recognize their achievements in the industry, and is one of the big three music awards held annually. The Grammys, however, is the one that stands out the most, and most of the time, not in a good way.  Now, it’s obvious …

Sports are getting rebranded next year

By Naya Shah This past year, schools, small businesses, bars, restaurants and even amusement parks have been met with a challenging obstacle of shutting down. More specifically, students got to miss out on the majority of their sports season due to COVID and, because of that, many districts are trying to find ways for  students …

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

By Frank Diaz Jr. Tim Burton's 1990’s Edward Scissorhands is one of Tim Burton’s best movies, even better than Nightmare Before Christmas. This movie makes me want to go back and watch other movies made before I was born. So this movie takes place in Lutz, Florida where it’s really the “American Dream.” No one …

The elite of League of Legends

By Paul Shin In the pro scene of League of Legends, it is always difficult to state who the best team truly is simply because there are multiple different winners in each region. But, what if there was a tournament to truly find out which team is the best Ranging from North America’s LCS (League …

Tangled: an underrated princess

By Nary Park I’m going to tell you a story about a girl with impossibly long golden hair––locked up far away from the world she was meant to be born in––oh and of course, the guy who comes to rescue her from it all. I’m going to tell you a story about Rapunzul and Flynn …

The Curious Case of A Series of Unfortunate Events

By Kayla Huynh Hello, dear readers. I suppose you have come here to see what I have thought of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but I must warn you first: these stories are not what you expect. These stories are dark and twisted--full of corruption, greed, and, of course, murder. Lemony Snicket (a pseudonym for …

The Benefits of Indoor Plants

By: Yvonne Guu “20 years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world. Today, the real world is an escape from the internet” - Mahmoud Mousli (Instagram Creator) Following the outburst of COVID-19 clusters, the apparent dependence on technology to help adapt to unforeseen circumstances has left many, both young and old, at …

Review: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

By: Elianna Alcantar Vega “It feels like it belongs to someone else.”  In Avengers Endgame, Marvel fans were left pondering who will be the next Captain America. Before the movie ended, viewers were given an intimate scene where Steve Rogers, Captain America, hands the Falcon his Cap shield. Leaving the fans questioning whether Falcon will …

Jumprope: A Great Cardio Alternative

By Nicole Zhao For many, jumping rope evokes many nostalgic feelings. Orange plastic jump ropes were the hallmark of elementary school recess. While jumping rope is often associated with days of primary school, it can also be a great form of cardiovascular exercise. Running, cycling, and swimming are all great cardiovascular workouts, and there are …

Opinion: How schools should handle anti-vaxxers

By Joshua So As universities and K-12 schools alike look ahead to the fall semester for reopening, a debate remains open across the nation: what to do about unvaccinated students. Currently, vaccines use is not approved for children, although according to CNBC, Pfizer has begun trials as early as March. Generally, grade schools have remained …

Business Feature: Athenian Burger

By Presley Hendrix Coming up short when trying to make the most money you can for your family can be a huge struggle for many people. Taking up a restaurant and cooking for hundreds of people each day is how some people get through this struggle. Receiving generous amounts of satisfaction from customers each day …

Business Feature: With Love, Adelle

By Ashley Lee At a young age it seems like there isn’t much we could contribute to our society. However, through weaving delicate wires around colorful jewels, Adelle Amor has found a way that she could make a difference. It all began, November 2019, in her senior year of high school when a sudden spark …

Business Feature: Coffee Through COVID

By Bryan Hyun Daily essentials are becoming less available as Covid-19 continues to spread across the nation. From toilet paper shortages, to empty Walmart isles, the American consumer has faced tremendous difficulties throughout the past 11 months. However, amidst the pandemic there has remained a single elixir quenching everyone’s satisfaction: coffee. It’s a Grind Coffee …

Business Feature: Dabinscreations

By Hannah Chung Holding a crochet hook and surrounded by big colorful bundles of yarn, Dabin smiles as we start our zoom interview. Dabin, owner of “Dabinscreations,” is a 17-year-old residing in Cerritos who has amassed over 50 sales, and even has a social following on the app tiktok with over 5000 followers. What started …

Business Feature: What’s a phone without its case?

 By Zyra Danielle Urfano The creativity and personality of a certain individual can be expressed in many ways, either in the art they create, the music they listen to, or the clothes they wear.  Certain details within someone’s life can portray the most about who they are and what they may like. One of the …

Business Feature: As Sweet as They Come

By Nicole Gonzales As we enter almost one year in this pandemic, there has been an increase in small businesses and small shops, particularly with at-home bakers looking to share their skills and treats. As Sweet As They Come owner, 17-year-old Megan Martinez, has been way ahead of the game as her business making killer …

Business Feature: At Thai Cuisine, Family Style

By Yvonne Guu At Thai Cuisine, a family-run restaurant in Cerritos, serves a myriad of authentic and delicious Thai dishes that is made with only the best ingredients. Although this small business just opened at the beginning of 2020 and faced hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, its positive Yelp and Google reviews proves that there is …

Business Feature: Keeping it Sweet During COVID

By Elianna Alcantar Vega Craving chocolate covered strawberries? Or maybe chocolate crinkles cookies? Baking can be overwhelming and extremely difficult. So, why waste time on finding ingredients or finding the perfect recipe when, with one click of a button, you can order heavenly tasty desserts from Sofia.  Seventeen-year-old Sofia Soni began baking as a side hobby. …

Matias Fam Plants: A Backyard Plant Paradise

By Angelina Lee Walking into the Matias family’s backyard leaves you with surprise, quite literally. Coming in pots of all shapes and sizes, vibrant plants line the shelves of their backyard. The family’s shared love for gardening has led to the establishment of Matias Fam Plants, a small business offering affordable plants in adorable pots. …

Open Letter: “They don’t care about our mental health”—or do they really?

The disconnect between students and counseling offices is not what you think. By Anonymous Student On January 20th, a letter directed towards the ABCUSD school district was posted on Instagram. “This is not the first time you have heard of our struggles.” the author argues. “We have been shown time and time again no matter …

The Dada Podcast: An Experience of Happiness and Tranquility

By Zyra Danielle Urfano Two women from Ireland partnered up to provide a platform where they discuss their everyday life and give helpful tips that may be beneficial to the community. Moya Mawhinney and Lauren Fitzpatrick are two university students who decided to create a podcast which revolves around the idea of “wine chats,” where …

Grande’s ‘Positions’: both catchy and overrated

By NARY PARK  Music genres have changed over the years: from rock to r&b, from country to hip-hop. There have been new genres and old genres, all coming and blending together to make up a diverse industry. However, the most popular genre in recent years has been pop, with soprano singer Ariana Grande at its …

Code Jam: A Virtual Hackathon

By Angelina Lee Interested in learning or teaching coding? This year, the Code Jam team will be hosting a virtual hackathon from 8 AM to 8 PM on Saturday, February 27th. At the hackathon, you can code with friends and learn from professionals to have fun and level up your coding abilities. This event is …

Review: Warmly welcomed into the coffee cult

By Gabriel Oliveira Over Winter Break I was hanging out with a couple of friends and they went over to Starbucks and got themselves a drink.  Up to that point, I had never had Starbucks or any coffee as I was simply uninterested in coffee.  However, being pressured to order something from Starbucks, I got …

Star Wars Squadrons: Fun flying with a little motion sickness

By Adam Mahkorn Despite being a game with a couple drawbacks, “Star Wars Squadrons” is a game definitely worth playing. Many new and different controls have been added for to improve enjoyment, along with new options for voice chats. Several different locations have been added as well, leading to unexplored places for players to learn …

Review: Wonder Woman 1984 negates the promise of original

By Ashley Lee Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), also known as Diana Prince, came to save 2020 with a new movie, Wonder Woman 1984. Wonder Woman is a revolutionary character who proves that women are just as strong and brave as men. Being one of the most popular and first female superheroes, fans awaited for an …

Review: Get hooked with Wicked Tuna

By Caitlyn Hwang With their salty vocabulary and dressed personalities, the cast of ‘Wicked Tuna’ is not one you will forget. The show, which finished its ninth season last June, follows the competition between a group of bluefish tuna fishermen based in Gloucester Bay, Massachusetts.  It’s not hard to familiarize yourself with what goes on …

Student Opinion: What was your reaction to the storming of the Capitol?

Three from our Informer news staff share their reactions. Elianna Alcantar Vega I have been trying to write about the events that took place yesterday for the last couple of hours now, but there are no words to describe the way I am currently feeling. Someone once told me that the “writer’s brain is their …

Worlds 2020: The return of the LCK, and (most importantly) Damwon Gaming

By PAUL SHIN During the time of a pandemic, almost all sports organizations were respectively closed. Big names, such as the NBA and NFL, only recently opened up for the last half of their season and playoffs without in-person seating. One sport, however, continued to have strong viewership: e-sports. Large e-Sports games, such as League …

Kamala Harris’ Journey to the Number One Observatory Circle

By Elianna Alcantar Vega Kamala’s runway to the Number One Observatory Circle is already painted, but her journey wasn’t easy. Kamala is a profound woman with so many accomplishments, as a daughter of immigrant parents, she never fails to succeed in the “impossible.”  Kamala Devi Harris' story begins in Oakland, California, on October 20, 1964. …

Opinion: The Overlooked Importance of Returning to School Sports

By Joshua So “I don’t go to school for class.  I go to school to play volleyball, and I make it through 5 other classes.” High school sports have become a mere afterthought for everyone but student-athletes as schools have adapted to COVID regulations.  Naturally, we must prioritize some areas over others, given limited resources …

Club Feature: SBL

By Joshua So Ever wonder what sort of life skills you weren’t learning in school that would actually help you in the real world?  Of course you have.  Then, you must know that there are others like you and they are working to make a difference through the new Student Business Leaders Cerritos club, or …

YA Books: A Quarantine Lifeline

By Kayla Huynh As Youtube and Netflix have slowly dwindled down in the engagement factor, books have once again become my solace amongst the stress and anxiety of the pandemic. Curling up with a good book and steaming cup of tea just makes the world seem okay for a few moments. Not only that, but …

COVID-19 mutation means millions of minks to be killed

By Yvonne Guu Last week, Denmark announced that mutated coronavirus strains were found in minks, which has now allowed minks to both contract the virus and spread it to their human counterparts. In response to this discovery, Denmark—one of the world’s largest mink skin producers—has set out to cull millions of farmed minks to limit …

Presidential Election Poll Results

Club Week: Friday Curricular Clubs

Newspaper Club By Angelina Lee Want your voice to be heard? Then, Newspaper Club is the perfect place for you! As a member, you can publish your own news articles, opinion pieces, creative works, and feature stories. Not to mention, you’ll have the option to create your own podcast, photography, or comic series. Newspaper Club …

Opinion: Long Beach Gives shows us the power we all have in building up our community

By Joshua So On September 24th, Long Beach Gives will host a 24 hour online giving day to crowdfund for hundreds of non-profits and organizations in Long Beach and surrounding areas.     As I made my own peer-to-peer fundraiser page for the Casa Youth Leadership Program on the Long Beach Gives website, I found myself …

Club Week: Thursday Community Service Clubs

Octagon Club By Katelyn Chu Want to be able to give back to the community in a fun and positive light? Then join Octagon Club. Being able to give back to our community through volunteering and giving others inspiration for the future is what Octagon Club strives for. CHS Octagon Club is one of the …

Club Week: Wednesday Special Interest Clubs

Lighthouse By Joshua So Calling all Dons!  Join Cerritos Lighthouse club for a place of fellowship and community for Christians at CHS.  If you are interested in the club, don’t hesitate to try out a couple of the meetings. This club holds a series of recurring meetings where we vary between bonding activities, worship, and …

Club Week: Tuesday Cultural Groups

Taiwanese Club By Angelina Lee Want to learn more about Taiwanese culture? Taiwanese Club is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Taiwanese culture. They offer a unique approach “to [spread] awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the Chinese/Taiwanese culture through different events” Treasurer, Adrienne Truong said. Taiwanese Club has tons of fun events planned for …

Club Week: Monday Academic Clubs

Scientists of the Future (SOF) By Anoushka Adusumalli If you think that Scientists of the Future is a boring academic club with extra homework, think again. This club is so much more than just another science class.   One of the main events, Science Olympiad, combines the most interesting aspects of science classes to provide students …

2020 Senior Wills

I, Cindy Byun, leave my jokes to Madhuri Suresh, my laughs to Leilani Sison, and my badminton skills to Su Lee and Pranav Surampudi. I also leave the mole rat to my badminton team, you guys will do great next season! I leave my speaking abilities to my amazing period 1 freshmen, can’t wait for …

Schools and community adjust to uncertain times

By Joshua So     The most recent update from the Los Angeles County Office of Education has announced that they will close all school districts.  After Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the nation, announced today it will be suspending school, all other school districts in the county are now …

Frozen 2: story grows with us

By Grant Lee In 2019, we were gifted with another installment of the all-time favorite Frozen franchise. The film tackles issues relevant to its target audiences, such as sisterhood, acceptance of change, and love. Despite its lack of catchy tunes and life-changing soundtracks, Frozen 2 is a phenomenal movie that deserves to be etched into …

Winter Formal: Worth it?

by Katelyn Chu The sun is hiding behind the clouds and the flowers are starting to bloom. Winter is basically over as one might say, but for Cerritos High School, Winter Formal is the closure of this cold, windy season. For some people, Winter Formal is such an exciting event for all grades where they …

Teacher personalities could appear on your report card

by Anoushka Adusumalli Your grade in a class almost entirely depends on who your teacher is. The difference between teachers can be the difference between passing and failing a class. For the same class, multiple different teachers have a variety of different expectations and standards for their students. Nowadays, getting top grades is becoming more …

Opinion: Newspapers should not endorse candidates.

by JOSHUA SO In a time where American confidence in the mainstream media and the integrity of journalism has been shaken, the New York Times endorsements of presidential candidates is exactly what American citizens need to be sure that their national news outlets are delivering equal and unbiased coverage of news.  The New York Times …

The better chicken sandwich: a most heated debate

by TESS U-VONGCHAROEN For the longest time, Chick-Fil-A has been the go-to restaurant for chicken sandwiches. However, on August 12, 2019, Popeyes became a fierce competitor. People were willing to wait hours for a chicken sandwich and fights even emerged from the new craze. As Popeyes chicken sandwiches increased in popularity, a heated debate emerged …

Science Olympiad continues this month

By ANGELINA LEE Back-to-back tournaments marked the beginning of the Science Olympiad competition season, one of which was Cerritos High School’s very own invitational. In only its second year, the CHS Science tournament, which was held on December 7th, welcomed around 30 teams from all over Southern California. The CHS Invitational allowed participants in Team …

California’s New Law on School Time Change

By REBEKAH KANG During the past several years, there has been lots of conversation of changing the starting times of public middle and high schools. Now, California has passed a new law in which most middle schools and high schools across California will start no earlier than 8:30 AM. This law was signed on October …

Understanding the Hong Kong Protests

by Joshua So Endless images of streets on fire, destroyed buildings, and massive mobs are spread throughout the internet under flashy headlines centered around the current Hong Kong protests. It is only natural that some people unfamiliar with the situation see these images of violence and question their necessity. However, it is crucial that everyone …

Knott’s Scary Farm: A First-time Review

By KATELYN CHU Hear the screams ring the ears of walking bystanders and the thundering sound of the squeaky, old Ghost Rider roller coaster. It is Knott’s Berry Farm, but in this case, it’s October, the season of pumpkins and the howling sounds of wolves in the distance. This means that the fun-loving Knott’s Berry …

Girls’ Volleyball Advances

By JOSHUA SO On Thursday, October 24th, Cerritos High school students, parents, and supporters packed the stands to cheer the Cerritos High Dons Girls' Varsity Volleyball team in its first-round CIF victory over the Santa Barbara Dons.  The Cerritos Dons, who had just finished their league 10-0, are ranked 155th in California compared to Santa …

Senior wills: Class of 2019

I, William Park, leave all my love and support to my younger brother, Minsoo Park. I, Mauro Alaman, leave my high quality love to my old soccer team. I, Uriel Vera, leave my personality and pencil to my favorite junior, Arline. I, Alyzza Cipriaso, leave my confusion and air-head qualities to Alyssa Sarigumba. I, Sami …

Track and Field athletes recognized

By Olivia Jaime The year is coming to end which means that sports seasons are ending as well, including track and field. Last Thursday night (May 30), at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel, Cerritos Track and Field team held their banquet where friends and family gathered to receive awards and recognition. The night started off with …

Boba Review: Update #4

The fourth stop on our boba journey is 7-Leaves in Artesia, California. Although 7-Leaves is relatively new with its first opening in 2011, the franchise has been able to make a name for itself across Orange County and eastwards to Nevada and Texas. Unlike local boba shops, the 7-Leaves in Artesia consists of a drive-thru and …

Sports recap: 2018-2019

Badminton Boys' and Girls' Badminton had a near-perfect season, going 14-0 in league and a 19-1 overall. Cerritos was able to “bagel” (win 21-0 in a game) against Whitney, Gahr, and Loara but unfortunately lost to undefeated Diamond Bar in CIF. Track Track also made a big presence in league, winning every meet. All levels …

DMV experience: obtaining a learner’s permit

By Chris Amaro Biking, walking, taking a bus: these are all forms of transportation; however, none of them compare to driving. Being able to go where you want whenever you want is something most people can obtain. The process to obtain a driver license is a  long one and for good reason. Driving is dangerous …

Boys’ Volleyball advances

Cerritos Boys’ Varsity volleyball defeated Burbank in the first round of CIF Tuesday night, 3-1.  After Burbank won the first set 25-22, Cerritos rallied to win the next three sets (25-21, 25-23, 28-25) to win the match.  Junior Jagger Uy led in kills (points), Junior Ethan Reyes in assists; Senior Dillard Wong helped the rally …

League Prelim results

by CHRIS AMARO (Top 8 runners in each event qualify for league finals) 1600 meter qualifiers: GFS: Tara wang: 6:16,  Nary Park: 6:21 BSF: Anrei Giordano: 5:08, Bryce Hojo: 5:11, Jayson Malhi: 5:14, Kevin Hamakawa: 5:19, Gary Zong: 5:20, Eric Perez: 5:22 GV: Jaide Lin: 5:41, Sofia Vasquez: 5:56, Samantha Chang: 5:57, Emma Yang: 6:01, …

Boba Update #3

By TESS U-VONGCHAROEN Our third boba shop is Ding Tea in Artesia, California. Founded in 2004 by Mr. Zu Wui-zinag, he prides his consistent quality throughout his franchises throughout China and the United States. Located in a small plaza, Ding Tea is one of the less busy boba shops in Artesia. Boba lover and Senior …

Scenes from the Prom Premier

Photos by Riddhi Patel

Q & A: Mr. Pak

By Isabella Garcia Where is your family from? Korea. How old are you? Old enough. Whats your favorite thing about you? I am a nice guy. If you could survive off of three types of food for the rest of your life, what would they be? Rice, meat and vegetables. What hobby is your favorite? …

Opinion: Let’s really celebrate Black History Month at CHS

BY Juelle Ford February is coming to a close, meaning that Black History Month will have had it’s 43rd celebration in the United States; however, since it began as “Negro History Week” in 1926, many people have opposed and questioned why it is observed at all. Carter G. Woodson, Harvard University graduate and noted scholar, …

Boba Ratings: An Update

BY Tess U-Vongcharoen The next stop on my boba journey is ShareTea, one of the most popular boba shop in Cerritos, California. Originally established in Taipei, Taiwan in 1992, ShareTea has internationalized its franchising by branching over to 18 nations, ranging from the United Kingdom to Australia. ShareTea lover and Junior Minh-Thy Vo visits the …

Boys’ Basketball CIF 2/8/19

BY Chinemerem Nwanze Friday, February 8, marked the beginning of the CIF basketball season for the Dons, who were matched up against Paraclete High School from Lancaster. Despite the pressure and school-wide anticipation surrounding the game, the team hoped to play their best. “We’re ready to come out and fight for a win,” said William …

Preview: Boys’ Basketball CIF begins tonight

BY Peter Shin Coming into CIF playoffs, the Cerritos Basketball Boys hold a record of 16-11. The boys won their first league title in almost 22 years. Now they are headed to the first round of CIF-SS against Paraclete High School. Paraclete High School seems to be a tough team that holds a record of …

Seniors celebrate final regular season win

BY Peter Shin Jan. 31, 2019 marked Senior Game for our Cerritos Dons Boys’ basketball team as they matched Oxford Academy..  The Dons started down 0-5. After being subbed out, the original starting five came back in and expanded the lead to finish the first quarter up 21-13 lead. They ended the quarter with a …

Opinion: Finals should be before Winter Break

BY Devina Muni 2:45. The last bell before the start of winter break rings. Everyone is ecstatic, including teachers, to enjoy the next two weeks off. A time to spend with loved ones while taking a mental break from all the pressure and work at school. If this is what break is supposed to feel like, then …

Why Dr. King matters in 2019

BY Chinemerem Nwanze On the third Monday of January every year, schools and workplaces are closed to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., arguably one of the most influential activists during the civil rights era of the 1960s. While we may know of him based on his famed “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King’s messages are …

Boba: A Series

BY Tess U-Vongcharoen If you live on either the East Coast or West Coast, you should be familiarized with the popular drink: boba. But maybe you're wondering, “What is boba?” Boba are balls of tapioca that are found in drinks, ranging from smoothies to teas. The drink was originally created in the 1980s in Taiwan, …

Five Under Five

BY Liz Luan We all love the holiday season… until it comes to emptying our wallets on something that probably won’t even go to good use. It’s safe to say that a majority of the high school students on campus don’t have a steady income, let alone any. With tight budgets, it’s quite difficult to …

Play equal ‘piece’s entertaining and ‘heart’breaking

BY DEVINA MUNI From Nixon’s speech to the firing of shots to honor those who served, Cerritos High School’s production of A Piece of my Heart will leave you speechless. With two female dominated casts (Black and Gold), the play highlighted the gender inequality that persisted in some fifty years ago. This difficult journey of …

Thursday is the Friday

BY Tess U-Vongcharoen Thanksgiving is a time of giving and thanks; but right after the turkeys are cut and bellies are full, thousands of people rush to department stores and outlets to get the best deals. Although Black Friday marks the start off of discounts, more stores have been opening their stores on Thursday night. …

Cal-Nev-Ha District of Kiwanis International- Pediatric Trauma Program

BY Riddhi Patel The charitable entity of the Cal-Nev-Ha District of Kiwanis International, created in 1994, is supported solely by voluntary contributions placed behind their Pediatric Trauma Program. These granted funds go towards developing local projects which reduce the amount of children in the Kiwani’s three-state District whom are killed or affected by trauma. The …

Seniors Kuo and Gomez: Leading Together

BY Tess U Vongcharoen Seniors Patricia Marie Gomez and Yvonne Kuo are not your ordinary high school students. Not only are they honor students, but they also hold the title of Secretary Generals for Model United Nations and Presidents for the National Honor Society Club. Their journeys to these positions were taken on different pathways. …

Chicken Vs. 치킨

BY ISABELLA GARCIA It’s that time of year when we eat with our families and engage in the many questions about our lives that no one wants to answer. Such things can lead to the casual family arguments or something that can turn ugly. But, Thanksgiving foods, make it all worthwhile! Turkey, Mashed potatoes, and …

Feature: Mia Hathaway

BY OLIVIA JAIME Senior Mia Hathaway is currently involved in MUN, Educators Rising Program, and is Captain of Varsity Yell. Hathaway has participated in Varsity Song since her freshman year. With a background in competitive All Star cheerleading and gymnastics, Hathaway joined Varsity Yell for her junior year.  She had been doing gymnastics for eight …

Opinion: Is an elite college really your ticket to success?

BY DEVINA MUNI If you go to a good college, then and only then, will you be successful. This is a common phrase every kid has heard at some point in their life. Within recent years, getting into college has become more competitive and difficult to get into as their average “requirements” keep increasing. But …

Club Spotlight: Black Student Union

Pictured: Officers Michael Anaya, Kennedy Howell, Myra Anigbo, Audrey Anigbo, Gyasi Harper, Brooklyn Kemp Advisors: Mrs. TreAna Marbrey, Mr. Joshua Calhoun By Chinemerem Nwanze Cerritos High School has always promoted diversity, so it is no surprise that a Black Student Union finally exists to educate students on African-American culture and to encourage discussion. Mrs. Marbrey and Mr. Calhoun, who …

Shadows or Scandals?

  photo courtesy of Google Images By: Olivia Jaime Lights. Camera. Action. Youtube is among the world's largest platforms in which one can share all ones creations and ideas. Although it has benefits such as fame, fun, and money, it also comes with the price of drama and vulnerability. Recently drama started to stir up …

Goodbye, Plastic Straws

By Tess U-Vongcharoen The removal of plastic straws could possibly mean the removal of boba shops. As of July 2019, restaurants and shops in San Francisco will no longer be distributing plastic straws to their customers. Although this is an environmentally effective action, boba shops, such as Boba Guys, are in jeopardy of losing their …

Best friends lead Octagon

by Isabella Garcia Imagine running a club with your best friend; wouldn’t that be an ideal situation? Well, it’s a reality for Gizelle Verduzco and Aline Pham. After personally getting to know both of these bright young ladies, one can see that their friendship is one that’s going to make it in the long run. …

Amazon to pass Apple

by Riddhi Patel In the race to be worth one trillion dollars, publicly-listed Amazon runs-up right behind Apple inc. Amazon’s shares traded have been as high as $2,050.50; the online retailer’s expected to obtain a revenue growth of 32 percent for 2018, in comparison with Apple’s revenue to jump 14.9 percent. With Amazon being an …

iPhone updates reveal minor changes

by Chris Amaro iPhone XS/XS max This year apple decided to change up the standard naming system for the iPhone. Instead of going with the iPhone X plus they went with the iPhone XS max yet, it is still unclear why the name switch was warranted. There are two iPhone XS models: the 5.8-inch XS …

August SAT Angers CHS Students

by Andrew Song Hundreds of thousands of students are enraged over a potential cheating scandal on the SAT that occurred on August 24 across the nation. Collegeboard has been confirmed of being guilty of reusing the international 2017 Asia test, allegedly giving some students an advantage and even a handicap large enough to give somebody …

The Miseducation of US History Students (Opinion)

by Chinemerem Nwanze In 2017, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) released a report titled “Teaching Hard History: American Slavery” as part of the Teaching Tolerance Project. The study yielded stunning results about how slavery is discussed - or better yet, not discussed adequately enough - in American schools. Among the shocking results were: Only …

Anticipation for Fallout 76

  by Oscar Guerrero      In Bethesda's latest addition to the Fallout franchise players will be able to explore an apocalyptic Virginia as a dweller from vault 76 which has purposefully been opened for the reason of human civilization being rebuilt after the nuclear destruction of an atomic war. The newest and greatest change to the …

Dons Football joins new 605 League

by Juelle Ford Cerritos High School’s varsity football team has stepped into a new league this year, now competing with an entirely new set of teams. The team is led by its new captains Jayden Alderete (11), Tye Anderson (12), Alex Flores (12), and Matt Ryan (12). Joining a new  league gives the team newfound …

Class of 2018 College Map

See where our Dons are going to college!

Senior Wills

I, Elizabeth Abalon, leave my amazing Japanese skills to Adriene I, my inability to get a date to Kwantip Tachasooksaree, my common sense to Eva De La Rosa, and my lack of fear in asking for help from others to Vanessa Velasco. I, Darshana Pandey, leave my well articulated Spanish skills (kind of) to one …

CAASPP measures you and your school

  BY DEVINA MUNI The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, better known as CAASPP, is a standardized test that all juniors are required to take. But what’s the point of it? Many students feel like the test is unnecessary and won’t count for anything so they don’t try as hard as they should. …

Khan Academy saves grades

  by Andrew Song As students, we all know the one website that saved our grade right before finals in a class that we really didn’t understand. Khan Academy has been saving students’ grades since 2006 by providing students with full access to online courses in unbelievable numbers. Ranging from chemistry to language to calculus …

Track and Field Scoreboard

  Mayfair Bellflower La Mirada John Glenn Artesia Norwalk Girls F/S  Win Win Win Win  Win  Win Boys F/S Lose Win Lose Win  Win  Win Girls Varsity Lose Win Win Win Win  Win Boys Varsity Win Win Lose Win  Win  Win League Most Valuable Runner: Justin Kim (11th) All-League Placement:  Girls Frosh-Soph: 1st Boys Frosh-Soph: …

Boys’ Tennis defeats La Mirada again

CHS tennis defeated La Mirada at home 15-12 in a closely played match on April 17.  The match was played on a particularly cold day. "I honestly did not know what to expect from this game," Senior Jonathan Tah said.  "La Mirada has one of the better teams in the district.  We thought they were …

‘Love, Simon’: a film for this generation

BY NISA SYED *Warning: Spoilers Coming out to family and friends provides the utmost of relief for teenagers and adults; however, the decision to follow through with it is difficult.   Love, Simon, a film directed by Greg Berlanti, is based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda written by Becky Albertalli. The …

Dark sides of Addams Family delights

BY DEVINA MUNI As a nominee of the MACY awards which recognizes and awards high school musical theatre students and productions, the Cerritos High School drama production of The Addams Family did not fail to impress. The Musical production, under the direction of John Zamora, did a spectacular portrayal of the Addams Family with a …

3/14 Walkout: A Success?

Minal Patel, 12th grade Q: Did the walkout seem successful? A: Yes, because people driving by were honking and acknowledging our cause, and nearby pedestrians stopped to take pictures of our efforts. The purpose of the walkout is to show that students at Cerritos are aware of circumstances and as high school students we can …

Images from the Walkout

A collection of photos from the news staff. Photos by AARON SEO Photos by ANDREW SONG Media by LEANNE PICHAY Video by ANNIE LIN

Women’s rights are more than a day

BY NISA SYED International Women's Day praises women for their hard work and reminisces the achievements of important female figures throughout history. Since the 19th century, women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cody Stanton have fought for women's suffrage through the organization of the National Woman's Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage …

Opinion: ‘Mentally Unstable’ not good enough

by IRIS LIN Another school shooting on the news.  Pictures of victims and heroic stories of saviors.  A sad loss of innocent lives at the hands of a cruel, psychotic teenager.  Right?  Wrong. Stop simply labeling kids as “mentally unstable” when the news doesn’t tell the full story and no one cares enough to find …

A few changes can improve grades

by NISA SYED Going into second semester can be bittersweet. It's the time to weigh losses from first semester, but its a clean slate that enables students to work harder. There are a lot of expectations second semester, but with a few fixes, it can be easier to handle. First, having a positive attitude enables …

Lessons from an opening night

by OLIVER CLARK Last Thursday opened "The Last Jedi," and I was there to see the second installment to the newest trilogy first-hand. It was an exciting night, but due to my many mistakes, it was also a stressful one. But with every mistake comes a life lesson, and as Yoda says: "Pass on what …

Estrada shines at wrestling

by GUS ESPINOZA Senior Desiree Estrada is one of our school's standout athletes.  As a member of the CHS Girls’ Wrestling team, Estrada has gained a solid reputation in league matches for the skills she executes on the mat.  The uniqueness of a sport like wrestling is the individually challenge in presents when it's just …

A Double-Double with…hot cocoa?

by SHREYA SHANTHARAJ and ANNIE LIN To many of us living on the West Coast, In-N-Out has served as a staple in our diets for years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many were shocked when the company announced its newest addition to the menu: hot cocoa. Even more noteworthy is the fact that there hasn’t …

Lessons from an opening night

by AARON SEO Last Thursday opened The Last Jedi, and I was there to see the second installment of the newest trilogy first-hand. It was an exciting night, but due to my many mistakes, it was also a stressful one. But with every mistake comes a life lesson, and as Yoda says it: "Pass on what …

20 Gift Ideas for the Holidays

by BRIANNA KATSUDA The holiday season is all about happiness and giving. However, it can also come with the stress of what to get for your friends and loved ones. If you are someone who doesn’t know what to buy, we are here for you! This article compiles three gift lists for your mom, dad, …

Cerritos’ NMSQT semi-finalists

by DEVINA MUNI The National Merit Scholar test, better known as the NMSQT, is a standardized test taken by tenth and eleventh graders that is administered by the College Board. Approximately 3.5 million students take it annually. It is an academic competition used to earn scholarships and recognition by attaining certain high scores. The PSAT …

Healthy mind, healthy life

by BRIANNA KATSUDA  Rising numbers of high school students are experiencing anxiety and depression from increasing pressures from school, family, and social media. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 2 million teenagers in the United States are experiencing depression that affects their day-to-day activities and 6.3 million have an anxiety disorder. …

Trick or Treat, give me 840 hot dogs to eat

by ANASTASIA HAN Sweaty hands in gloves were set to make 840 hot dogs from 3:30pm to 5:00pm inside Artesia Park’s kitchen on Halloween. The trains of aluminum foil never ceased to end until the enormous plastic bags of buns were empty. Mountains of steaming sausages piled onto large, deep, silver trays and were placed …

A Step in the Right Direction: Adopt, Don’t Shop

by SHREYA SHANTHARAJ California has officially become the first state to formally ban the pet store sale of puppy mill dogs. Puppy mills are largely known as commercial dog breeding operations where profit is held at a higher status than the actual well-being of the animals. Most puppies that come from puppy mills are usually …

Armstrong in China back in the day

by GUSTAVO ESPINOZA  Cerritos High history teacher Steven Armstrong was fully aware of what sort of new world he was entering when he crossed into Hong Kong to teach in August of 1982. After decades of isolation, the most exotic part of the Far East had opened.   “Everyday, living in China was fascinating and …

To the Moon and Back — Homecoming in Review

by LEANNE PICHAY and ANNIE LIN On Saturday, October 21st, 2017, the senior class took the school on a journey to the moon and back at our annual Homecoming Dance. With decorations that transformed the school gym into a mystical getaway and music to keep the mood going all night long, it was yet another …

Good Society or Better Society? (Opinion)

by ANDREW SONG *Beep Boop Beep Boop. How can I help you today?* When we hear these sounds, we automatically think of something that is helpful. After all, the only legal option that engineers have is to program robots as being harmless. As a matter of fact, we often even depict them as harmless and …

DACA: When dreams turn to nightmares (Opinion)

by LEANNE PICHAY If I were to tell you today to leave everything—your life, your home, your family—for a land you hardly know, what would you do? For undocumented citizens, this question is a looming burden, haunting them from the moment they wake and guiding almost every decision made. The repercussions of deportation are well …

Band: Meet the instruments

by DEVINA MUNI The Cerritos Regiment of Gold at Cerritos High is an award winning band looking to earn another championship this year. Band members commit a good amount of their lives to band and try their hardest, but that makes one wonder certain things like: With so many choices, what is the best instrument …

Stories behind a teacher’s desk

by NISA SYED The common notion is that relationships are built by communication. Socializing is a fundamental part for the majority, without a doubt.  Making conversation with our teachers is easier for some, difficult for others. Situations vary between teachers and students; it can be  easier to have “real talk” with a teacher when a …

Walker’s senior year

by ALINA DAS Senior year is not only special for the Class of 2018, but for Mr. Walker as well. Being principal comes with a busy schedule, yet Mr. Walker took time out of his day to talk about his experience as principal of Cerritos High, for what is now his fourth year. Mr. Walker …

Get the scoop: New study hacks

by SHREYA SHANTHARAJ As high school students, test-taking is a part of our everyday life, but what if there were ways to make this dreaded task a little bit easier? Well, according to studies, there are “hacks” that’ll make studying for a test a bit more bearable. To start off, you need to realize what …

Student feature: Nethmi D’Alwis

by SETU PATEL The Distinguished Young Women Program, also known as DYW, was first founded in 1958 to honor high-school girls by rewarding them with scholarships for college. This year's Cerritos-Artesia DYW competition was held on Sunday, April 30, at Whitney High School. At that competition, Senior Nethmi D’Alwis won the official title and proceeded …

Teacher feature: Mrs. Marbrey

by DEVINA MUNI TreAna Marbrey (still known by many as Ms. Hundley) is a fun, puppy-loving, caring counselor and track coach here at Cerritos High. Her passion for running dates back to her four years of track while attending Gahr High School, where she was also homecoming queen her freshman year. Marbrey grew up the …

Cauldron: A new scoop

by NISA SYED “Gai dan jaan” is the Cantonese term, but we know it better as the puffle cone. The puffle cone originated in Hong Kong as an addition to sweet and savory foods, such as ice-cream and fried chicken. The puffle cone is similar to waffles in that it is made with eggs and …

To the moon and back: Homecoming Premiere

by BRIANNA KATSUDA On September 27th, the senior class released the theme of this year’s homecoming theme and announced the Top 16 girls during lunch in the quad. With a starry backdrop, the homecoming committee held a skit based off of the greek mythology of Selene, the goddess of the moon. Selene is a goddess …

CHS welcomes an abundance of new clubs

by IRIS LIN From Chikara to Octagon to World Vision to HOSA, Cerritos High School’s enthusiastic club representatives kick off yet another school year with the annual Club Week.  Taking place in the quad during the week of September 18, this celebratory occasion gives students the opportunity to learn about the variety of clubs offered …

Excuse me, ridiculous excuses coming through

by ANASTASIA HAN Teachers always hear the “I left it at home” and “I forgot,” but on occasion they hear completely absurd excuses. Throughout their careers, teachers encountered interesting and ludicrous responses to students’ absences, tardies, and homework. English teacher Mr. Hind, discussed a particular student who did not do his homework in a previous school …

Cross country team takes on Oregon

by BRIANNA KATSUDA The cross country team began their season with a great start by sweeping District and traveling to Oregon for the Three Course Challenge. A group of sixteen athletes from the team traveled to Oregon from September 20-24th. They visited the Nike campus, saw animals at the Oregon Zoo, went to the Saturday …

America’s nephew: North Korea (Opinion)

by AARON SEO As the unfolding of recent nuclear tests has demonstrated, North Korea is armed, dangerous, and more rogue than ever. But rogue states aren’t only third-world countries with authoritarian governments; in fact, the greatest rogue state also happens to be the greatest democracy. Let’s get this straight, though: it is undoubtedly true that …