The Bolt

The BOLT

Lightning Strikes the New Year

Sage students make New Year’s resolutions to prepare for the upcoming year!

By Grant Franey

The beginning of 2023 allows for a fresh start and for new opportunities. It encourages everyone to reflect on their past year and set some new goals. Making New Year’s resolutions is a common tradition that helps inspire people to become the best version of themselves from creating goals such as learning a new skill, accomplishing a personal health goal, breaking a bad habit, or creating a balanced schedule.

Sage Hill students have begun tackling the second semester with resolutions and hopes for the new

year. Senior Arushi Chokshi said, “I hope to finish out my senior year strong.”

“My New Year’s resolution is to sleep more and prioritize my mental

health,” junior Carisa Koh said. While some students plan to make the most of the second semester, others want to learn new skills or refine old ones.

“My New Year’s resolution is to learn how to shuffle cards in bridge,” junior Jaci Lee said.

“I want to work on improving my poetry,” senior Alex Yoak said. Other students pursue more specific goals. Junior Anne Chen said she wants to read 30 books in 2023.

These New Year’s resolutions are excellent examples of students setting goals to better themselves in the upcoming year. It is never too late to set a new goal or start working toward a certain achievement, regardless of how big or small.

Creative Commons

A vision board accompanied by goals for the new year.

“My New Year’s resolution is to sleep more and prioritize my mental health.”

- Junior Carisa Koh

Managing Stress Pushing Through Second Semester

To Freshmen

Freshman year is overwhelming, and as many students have probably discovered, it can be really difficult. As we enter the second semester, you should remember there is more to life than an A+ in Patterns of Civilization. Academics are important but it’s essential to find worth in things outside of the classroom: whether that be in the Spring Musical, a new club or having a laugh with your friends during lunch.

Sage is a unique school because every person has the opportunity to find their niche. My tip for the second semester is for all of you to get out of your own heads. No one is expecting you to be anything other than yourself. Remember that you have time. Play football next year, start a book club, or say hi to your peer counselor! Whatever you choose to do, give yourself the space to fail and try again and be the best version of yourself.

—Noe Lee

To Sophomores

For some sophomores, it may feel like this year whizzed by at the speed of light. With a more rigorous course load than last year, many have much less time to worry about things beyond academics. While some may find this kind of schedule to be overwhelming, there are some ways to make your life easier.

Students may achieve a sense of “flow” that comes from being busy. Sophomore year is the year of adjustment: many will take their first AP courses, discovering their passion project, or intensifying their extracurriculars. But, after taking quiz after quiz, test after test, and project after project, you may end up finding a rhythm that both numbs you to the workload and also makes it feel maybe even fun at times. Taking breaks is an important part of staying productive and mentally healthy. However, for each person, taking a “break”

may need different approaches. For example, I usually get sluggish and unmotivated if I go for a couple days without doing anything academic. So, I’d always bring a book or practice problem along for my vacations so I can recover quickly after a break. Other times, when I’m feeling burnt out, I switch subjects and do something that’s easier and will give me a sense of accomplishment when I finish, which will motivate me to keep working on my next assignment. No student is the same, and you should find your own way to work.

—Grace Yan

To Juniors

For juniors, the start of the second semester may feel especially intimidating when you have to balance class assignments, extracurriculars, standardized testing, hobbies and sports. But, it’s important to find your motivation and start the new semester on the right foot. As we begin our journeys in the college admission process, time management skills, healthy habits, stress management, and a solid work ethic are crucial to success. Whenever I find it hard to focus, I try to push myself to finish my current assignment within a certain time limit, simulating a class environment and challenging myself to be more productive when possible. But the constant workflow can feel stressful; in moments like these, it can be helpful to complete a small task, whether school-related or a personal goal, to make the first step. Finding a creative outlet—whether it be drawing, singing, playing an instrument, cooking, or writing—can also help you relax and regain focus on the task at hand.

— Phoebe Pan

By many accounts, junior year is the apex of stress. As the spring approaches and the cram season prior to AP exams arrives, the stress often results in the opposite of being productive. TikTok and Instagram magically take on a new appeal the

more work there is. In order to avoid the last minute cram and panic, planners can help to visually sketch out your plan and schedule for the day. Within the schedule, purposely blocking out periods of break and relaxation is critical to avoid burnout. Equally important is maintaining a consistent sleep schedule which will help sustain stamina in several days of repeated studying. Additionally, the importance of a power nap should not be overlooked. With the constant barrage of notes, books and electronics, it’s also a good idea to change your scenery and relocate to another area to study after breaks.

—Alia Sajjadian

To Seniors

Though not typically the most difficult year of high school in terms of coursework, senior year is oftentimes still very overwhelming due to the college applications process. The stress of waiting for college admission decisions that may last well into March or even April.

In times like these, it is important to adjust your mentality. Don’t let your entire life revolve around college applications. When you are just too tired, continuing to work is ineffective and inefficient. Take time off for yourself and do something you enjoy, even if it may seem unproductive. Keep in mind that you do not want to overwork your applications. Your personal statements should be thorough and well thought-out, but more refined does not always equal better. Write about the things that come most naturally to you. It will not only come off as more genuine, but also take a lot of strain off your shoulders.

—Xinyi Xie

With the new year quickly rolling in, there are so many things to look forward to in our second semester: winter formal, prom, Spring at Sage and much more. But sometimes, things can get a bit difficult; we all have our ups and downs, but we

THE BOLT

The Bolt is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editor from members of the Sage Hill Community which may be posted as comments to our website, lightningboltonline. com, or addressed to editor-in-chiefs Lauren Chung, Noe Lee, or Xinyi Xie and put in their mailboxes on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion.

Priya Bhakta

Carter Bryant

Claire Casey

Anne Chen

Ryan Choi

need to endure these challenges and push through the last bit of our senior year.

I have learned that it is necessary to find balance and to take care of my mental health. When times get hard, I love to alleviate my stress by going to the gym. For me, the gym encourages me to push my physical limits and focus on working on myself. However, I’ll find myself a bit lazy to go to the gym sometimes, but I always find relief and comfort at home with my dogs.

—Lauren Chung

When thinking back on the fall semester, the word that comes to my mind is stress. But to any juniors reading this with wide eyes, don’t worry! I promise you it’s not as terrible as everyone says.

Many of us have a tendency to circulate a sense of competitive stress. For a while, I fell into this cycle: constantly complaining about my lack of sleep or how I was “failing” my classes. It may seem like a victory to gain sympathy from your peers, but there is a line between confiding in others and competing with them for a sense of superiority.

My advice for my fellow seniors – and all other students – is to stay in your lane. You are on your own track to success that may not look like your classmates’. With college decisions coming out, I urge you to be excited for your peers: congratulate the people you may not always speak to, celebrate with friends, and make memories in your last year at Sage. Seniors, we have a little over four months left before we walk across the stage and high school flies into the rearview. In the coming weeks, find peace with yourself and come together to support each other as a graduating class.

—Noe Lee

Mirabelle Jiang

Fiori Lee

Jesse Lew

Jianing Li

Arya Rawal

Editors-in-Chief Lauren Chung (Bolt), Noelani Lee (Bolt), Xinyi Xie (Bolt), Phoebe Pan (Online)

Editorial Board

Isabella De Leon, Yasmin Dennis, Alia Sajjadian, Roya Yaghmai, Grace Yan

Advisers

Jennifer Kucera, Daniel Langhorne

Aidan Chung

Carson Green

Grant Franey

Sophia Sun

Brooke Thomassen

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a photo caption under “Gene Expression Taught by Gene Simmons” on page 6 of the November 2022 edition misidentified science teacher Derek Shapiro. The Bolt regrets the error.

Teacher SpoTlighT : geT To K now clay Ton h aTfield

By Isabella De Leon

As the English department chair, Clayton Hatfield embarked upon his 11th year teaching at Sage Hill at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. Currently teaching English III and AP English Literature, Hatfield has also taught English 1, English 2, and Adventure Literature.

An alumnus of the University of Southern California, Hatfield majored in creative writing with an emphasis in poetry. Hatfield had never “envisioned [himself] in the classroom” while in college, and originally thought he would work in theater productions. After seeing an opening for an English teaching position in a newspaper advertisement, Hatfield began his teaching journey at Desert Christian Academy. He arrived at Sage Hill in 2012 after teaching at Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim. In addition to teaching, Hatfield has held an array of administrative positions, including: college guidance counselor, academic dean and federal grant writer. However, while working in other areas of education, Hatfield “missed engaging with wonderful students.”

Hatfield says he enjoys the Sage Hill community’s students who are “willing to dig into poetry and literature and think of it in a very real way.” Similarly, Hatfield’s favorite aspects of teaching include “helping people find

what they enjoy to read and explore” and “finding works that impact him throughout his life.” “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway, a reading requirement for AP Literature students this year, is a book that has left an imprint on Hatfield. The Hemingway classic holds complex lessons in a “seemingly simple” novel.

“It is a book I can return to and find something different about how to approach life every time I read it,” Hatfield said.

In corroboration with the large Shakespeare cut-out in his room (H209), Hatfield says that Shakespeare’s works have been the most impactful pieces of literature he has read, as “every facet of human emotion” can be found in them.

Outside of the classroom, Hatfield enjoys playing tennis, which he played in high school and recently re-started. In the future, Hatfield “looks forward to traveling and seeing more of the world” – maybe even to South Korea to see the Korean Pop band Black Pink that he was recently introduced to by an AP Literature student. Hatfield also “encourages everyone to find literature that speaks to them,” as “there is so much great writing out there … if something doesn’t speak to you, find something that does.”

ARGENTINA, MESSI JUBILANT AFTER WORLD CUP WIN

By Carson Green

From the masses appointing Lionel Messi as the greatest soccer player of all time to Morocco upsetting Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to the semi-finals, one could say that FIFA World Cup 2022 had it all.

After beating Iran and recording draws with England and Wales, the U.S. National Team reached Round 16, where they lost to the Netherlands 1-3. After their strong performance, the U.S. National Team is now ranked 13th in the world, over notable countries Germany, Uruguay, and Mexico.

Projected to win by many fans, the highest-ranked country in the world, Brazil defeated Serbia, Switzerland and South Korea before they were upset by 2018 World Cup runner-ups, Croatia. Led by one of the world’s best players, Neymar da Silva Santos, Jr., Brazil had a goal difference of five. During their run, Brazil’s striker Richarlison de Andrade’s bicycle kick against Serbia was voted Goal of the Tournament.

Morocco’s improbable run highlighted the parity in today’s inter-

national soccer. Asian underdogs, Japan and South Korea, defeated traditional powerhouses Spain, Germany, and Portugal.

Off of the pitch, the soccer world lost a family member. U.S. soccer analyst and journalist Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm in Qatar on Dec. 10, 2022. Flowers and a picture of the journalist were placed at his assigned seat, where he was supposed to watch the England vs. France quarter final match.

France’s young phenom Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot, as he finished with eight goals. After leading his nation to the finals, Mbappe and France lost to Lionel Messi and the Argentinian National Team in a penalty shootout. Messi cemented his case as the greatest soccer player of the modern era, as he beat Christiano Ronaldo in the race to win the highly-coveted World Cup.

Aidan Chung | The Bolt Mr. Hatfield helping senior Isabella De Leon in AP Literature.

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Lionel Messi celebrates during the Argentina - Mexico match at FIFA World Cup 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Winter

Girls’ Basketball Starts Strong at League Opener

By Arya Rawal

This winter sports season kicked off with an exciting win by the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team, totaling out to a score of 63 to 49 against Brentwood School. Amalia Holguin, one of three freshmen on the state championship-winning varsity team, helped lead her teammates to victory by scoring a total of 21 points. The team continued to win against teams such as Bishop Montgomery, Ontario Christian, Liberty, and Mount Miguel. During this journey, juniors Annabelle Spotts and Emily Eadie were selected for the Beach All-Tournament Team hosted by Redondo Union High School. Together, they earned a total of 117 points.

Later in the season, the team participated in festive activities including Secret Santa and a holiday-themed sleepover before traveling to Phoenix, Arizona for the NIKE Tournament of Champions. At the tournament, they went up against some of the best teams in the country including St. John’s High School, Miami Country Day School, and St. Mary’s High School. Both the players and coaches agreed that this tournament showed them how to grow when faced with adversity.

On January 3rd, Girls’ Varsity Basketball team had their Pacific Coast League

opener against Irvine High School, where they had a dominating lead of 76 to 45 points. Currently undefeated in league matches, the team has shown not only their talent, but also their teamwork, dedication, and love for the game.

While the girls have had a busy schedule, the season has been filled with fun and excitement.

“The best part of the season has been traveling with the team, Amalia said.

Freshman Alyssa Cuff agreed, saying she enjoys “when we have team bonding so that we have a great relationship on and off the court.” Similarly, Emily noted that she was most looking forward to “team bonding, bus rides and just spending time with everybody.”

It will be exciting to see how the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team improves this season as they continue to develop their abilities, hone their skills, and form friendships.

Jenny Li | The

Zoie Lamkin (#13) charges down the basketball court alongside Emily Eadie (#1) during a home game against Beckman.

Grace Bori (#4) taking a shot against Beckman.

Jenny Li | The Bolt

Sports

Soccer Battles Through Rainy Weather

By Brooke Thomassen

With winter sports well underway, the Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer teams have been competing in pre-season and conference games with other Orange County high schools since the start of December. Leading up to finals week, junior varsity and varsity played in games every Tuesday and Thursday, with practice every other day after school. While most students went home to rest after the last final exams were given on Dec. 15, the soccer players, like many other winter sport athletes, stayed for practice. The boys even played a match the next day. Luckily, with half of the winter break to recharge, the girls’ and boys’ teams came back ready to play their first league games.

Head Coach Issac Sierra said league has been challenging and rainy. He added that the team has “had a lot of fun competing,” taking the “great opportunity… to build comradery and learn how to dig deep” with each game. He also said that “as [they] continue through the season,” they strive to “learn and… fight for one another.”

The rain has certainly been challenging to outdoor winter sports, especially to the soccer teams who have played many games during the rainstorms in early January. As the rain floods the field, players run in two inches of water, squinting to see through the raindrops and kick

a soaked soccer ball that weighs much more. These teams have taken this added challenge and are persevering.

Junior Sofia Jacinto, a junior from the Girls’ Varsity Team, said that the season “started with exciting games due to this year’s competitive league.”

The Boys’ Varsity Team season has been “drastically different from last season due to the new coaching staff,” senior Max Welford said. He also said the coaches “have brought a new culture,” improving the “team morale and performance.” Max continued to say that he is “super excited to… grow both as a player and teammate this year.”

Junior Ryan Williams from the Boys’ Varsity Team said that the new coaching staff “provide [the team] with hope, drive and a better understanding of the game.”

With many more games to play in February, the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams, expect they will continue to build team chemistry and grow as individuals and teams during their first year in the Pacific Coast League.

Senior Elaine He (#9) balling out against Laguna Hills on January 24.

Aidan Chung | The Bolt

Max Welford (#8), Ben Welford (#2), and Mikhail Vasilevskii (#18) during their home game against Whittier.

Aidan Chung | The

Vietnam: Celebrating Around the World

By Fiori Lee

Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, is one of my favorite dishes. However, I am embarrassed to say that pho was the only thing I knew about Vietnam until recently. In December, I had the chance to visit Vietnam to learn about its people and culture.

When we landed in Hanoi, I first noticed the inescapable sound of hundreds of vehicles honking. Since many people in Vietnam cannot afford cars, over 55 million motorcycles navigate the country’s roads. I saw many creative Vietnamese transporting huge boxes, numerous pots of plants, and caged chickens on their motorcycles. Astonishingly, people even carry their water buffalos on their motorcycles. With such a high number of motorcycles on the roads, combined with cars, buses, and trucks, it can be challenging for foreigners to cross the street. Rickshaws are a popular mode of transportation that tourists can ride on, although experiencing the narrow streets with other vehicles going in different directions can be intimidating. One can see many rickshaws streaking the streets as the drivers coax tourists to ride. I had the opportunity to ride one, and to say I was scared is an understatement. The streets are narrow and other vehicles were driving in different directions, crossing and cutting each other off. Numerous times, motorcycles came at high speeds right toward our rickshaw and swerved around us at the last second.

Alongside the roads, trees and flowers adorn doorways and sidewalks creating an aesthetic atmosphere for residents and visitors. I didn’t expect to see numerous

public workout equipment sprinkled in the city. From our hotel, we had a clear view of some nearby equipment and I was surprised to notice older people constantly exercising, even as early as 5 a.m. The level of exercise activity among Vietnamese elders is strikingly high compared to that of their counterparts in the United States. Another sight, also vastly different from the United States, is the presence of vendors lining the streets with small, low stools and tables, serving food to locals, and passing pedestrians. Vietnamese of all ages had no trouble sitting on the stools so close to the ground. It was a stark contrast to the culture I was familiar with and I was amazed at how quickly the vendors were able to cook and serve their dishes.

After leaving Hanoi, I boarded a cruise and sailed along Ha Long Bay. It is home to 1,969 islands and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new seven wonders of the world. The Cua Van floating village is located in the heart of the bay and visitors can kayak or take a traditional row boat tour to observe the daily lives of the fishermen and families who live there. Boating is a central part of Cua Van culture, and all village residents own boats. Children are taught to row before they learn to read, and many locals have learned how to row with their feet and simultaneously use their hands to fish.

While Americans anticipate the annual winter break to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day, Vietnamese do not get either day off from work or from school. Instead, they celebrate the Lunar New Year, called Tet in Vietnam, which can be between January and February depending on the Lunar calendar. Vietnamese will

have eight to 10 days off for the occasion.

It is a significant celebration for the country, as families come together and honor their ancestors. The streets are bombarded with parades and performances.

Looking back on my travels, I am grateful to have experienced Vietnamese life and culture. Seeing the lifestyles that greatly contrast with my own life in

California, such as that of fishermen living on an isolated floating village, makes me appreciate simple things, such as grocery shopping. Sitting on a small stool along the streets gave me a sense of local life, and watching the constant bustling streets never grew old.

Student Club Boosts Sustainable Agriculture

ly tapped into. I think we provide a great opportunity for people who are interested in environmental sciences to take their interests and expand it to actual action and see what the future of green technology looks like,” he said.

The club hopes to educate others about sustainability issues pertaining to food in our modern society, helping the Sage community make more conscious decisions to reduce our impact on the environment. Gabe hopes to highlight to fellow students’ unsustainable consumption, as commercial goods are often more harmful to the environment than one may assume.

“It’s not just the resources that go into growing the crop that could be wasteful. It’s also the transportation methods, whether you’re shipping it, refrigeration… it’s a whole chain of unsustainable activity,” Gabe said.

By Phoebe Pan

The Sustainable Agriculture Club is a student-led group focused on the incorporation of environmentally-aware agricultural techniques into the everyday lives of Sage Hill students through the practice of sustainable farming. This club provides unique opportunities to participate in STEM-related activities at Sage while also having a community-centered message of sustainability that is relevant beyond the student body.

Senior Gabe Tsai founded the group as an extension of his Service Learning project after noticing how the garden space was neglected, taking the opportunity to use his interest in environmental science and agriculture to contribute to

the school community.

“I eventually realized that a lot of the garden fell into disuse because people weren’t taking care of it… I thought it would be a good opportunity to kickstart the garden again and teach the community more about sustainable agriculture methods,” Gabe said.

The club promotes a hands-on approach to science by encouraging students of all experience levels to take part in the group’s projects and help maintain the garden. In particular, senior Derek Chang explained that this group is a great way for those interested in the sciences to apply their knowledge from the classroom.

“There’s a really big environmental science passion at Sage that isn’t real-

The Club combats these issues through the introduction of alternative farming techniques which save resources and are easily replicated at home. A central aspect of the group’s program is educating others about environmentally-sustainable food sources. They emphasized that this project can empower students to see how each individual can make a difference in creating a more sustainable community.

“One of the main goals of our sustainable agriculture club is to show smallscale, local, community-level ways to grow food. Produce sustainability can be done really easily with simple materials…It doesn’t have to be anything complicated, you can do it yourself,” Gabe said.

Derek also mentioned his family’s decision to install solar panels similar to the ones in Sage’s garden, emphasizing how students can make environmentally-conscious changes at home using their knowledge from the Sustainable Agriculture Club.

Currently, the club oversees multiple sub-projects, including an aquaponics system, the chicken coop, a solar panel system, and their outdoor classroom space, among other more traditional farming areas. Senior Arman Sajjadian expanded on the details of the aquaponics system, explaining, “What’s nice about our system is it limits the amount of water that can escape from evaporation…it’s all going through tubing and the plants are collecting what they need; none of it runs off into the environment.”

Arman mentioned that this system also incorporates fish to produce nitrate-rich water which is used to grow plants as opposed to industrial farming tactics which are extremely wasteful.

“We also want to add a compost [system] so that we can use the chicken waste and some of the dead plant material to put that back into the garden,” Arman said.

However, they also hope that the garden project can gain greater attention throughout the student body, becoming a central part of the community which everyone is involved in. One main way to increase participation by the students is through the use of the “outdoor classroom,” which is a project that the Sustainable Agriculture Club has developed to benefit the community.

“Instead of being driven by Dr. [Todd] Haney and the leadership that we have here, we wanted to turn this into a thing that people look at and are inspired to do more with the garden and... add their own twist to it,” Derek said.

The Sustainable Agriculture Club welcomes any feedback or project ideas, and any students who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to participate! Meetings are usually held in the garden area on Tuesdays during X Block, but students are invited to help out in the garden at any time.

Fiori Lee | The Bolt

Motorcycles flood a downtown Hanoi street in December.

Grace Yan | The Bolt Sustainable Agriculture Club president Gabriel Tsai (right) and Arman Sajjadian discuss an idea for new hydraulic system.

TV Show Review: Wednesday

Spooky, Kooky, and Altogether Ooky

By Anne Chen

Snap, snap! Everyone’s favorite deadpan daughter is back again in Tim Burton’s rendition of “The Addams Family”. Only this time, the morbid Wednesday Addams takes on the dreaded teenage years in a packed season of mysterious homicides, secret societies, love triangles, and mother-daughter relationships.

Netflix released “Wednesday” during Thanksgiving week and the series attracted an overwhelming amount of attention. The dark comedy accumulated a total of over 750 million watch hours just 12 days after its release, becoming the fifth most-watched show ever on Netflix.

Set in Jericho, Vermont, the series begins with Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) transferring to a boarding school for outcasts and weirdos. In her first weeks, she scarcely escapes death from a falling gargoyle, recruits a walking hand as her loyal servant, and sneaks out from a therapy session. Meanwhile, a homicidal monster embarks on a killing spree all over town, and Wednesday makes it her mission to uncover the string-puller behind these attacks.

The show also played into the spirit of the national holiday by capturing family gatherings, while still acknowledging the country’s history of subjugating minorities and outcasts. The “normies vs

outcasts” trope in the series fuels much of Wednesday’s awakening to her psychic powers. Through her visions, she learns that her ancestor was burned by Jericho’s founder. And with the colonizer’s intentions resurfacing, Wednesday must fulfill the prophecy of facing her foe, and to put it simply, stop an outcast genocide.

At a glance, “Wednesday” is every other ridiculous supernatural teen comedy. However, Ortega’s performance brings an appealing dimension to the character that combines Wednesday’s stoicism with typical teenage experiences. Ortega introduces Wednesday through a coming-of-age journey, as she struggles to find a place in her mother Morticia’s (Catherine Zeta-Jones) alma mater. She brings a touch of vulnerability and teen angst to the character while maintaining an unblinking, soulless stare. Wednesday’s experiences with high school, friendships, boys, and dances attract a generation of viewers who grew up with Ortega’s role in Disney’s Stuck in the Middle.

In comparison with Christina Ricci’s interpretation of Wednesday from “The Addams Family” (1991) and “Addams Family Values” (1993), Ortega can certainly hold her own. Beyond Netflix, her character has taken the internet by storm. Ortega’s stellar perfor-

mance in her self-choreographed dance to “Goo Goo Muck” became a viral sensation on Tik Tok, with millions of users recreating her eccentric scene. Many creators have also attempted to imitate Ortega’s unblinking performance, which she maintains throughout the entire series.

“Wednesday” is a chaotic work filled with ubiquitous teen tropes, mysteries, spooky twists, and

January Crossword

many other subplots. Yet, what made this predictable show a sensation was none other than Ortega. With season two approaching, it is with no doubt that despite the pressure of reviving Wednesday Addams, Ortega not only had her breakout role but also redefined the beloved character.

Photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer/Netflix Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

Guess That Teacher

In the spirit of the New Year, match Sage Hill teachers with their baby photos. See page 2 for answers

Opinion: 15th Time is the Charm

By Alia Sajjadian

When Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R - Bakersfield) finally took the podium as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, he banged the gavel twice before facing his colleagues and quipped, “I thought we’d never get here.”

Despite the 14 previous failed attempts to secure the position, McCarthy remained unruffled as he finally finagled enough votes to secure a slim majority and to achieve his career goal of leading the House. McCarthy addressed the weary House in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, communicated his commitment to work with all members of Congress, and reiterated his goal to find common ground to pass legislation on issues that the American people care about.

If the process of his appointment foreshadows the effectiveness of his leadership, the American people should be very concerned. The unwillingness of a handful of members in McCarthy’s own party managed to derail and delay a formality of Congress by several days. Although these members knew that McCarthy was the likely winner of this race and did not attempt to offer a different nominee, they instead opted to simply stall the formal

business of lawmakers.

Perhaps to force the concessions to advance their own agendas, McCarthy negotiated to convert foes to votes in his favor as the night lagged on. As a new generation of voters watch, this debacle exemplifies that little coordination can be expected from

Congress to even address pressing issues such as climate change and gun reform legislation, let alone take decisive action. Ironically, McCarthy idealistically used the analogy of rowers in a boat, working in unison to steer the vessel across a river, when in reality members of Congress are at best

rowing in different directions. This display unfortunately reinforces the narrative of stagnation and discohesiveness that disheartens voters who are eager for change.

Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks at a Trump rally in Goodyear, Ariz. in October 2020. Photo by Gage Skidmore