The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

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The student website of Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, California
The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

The peculiar nighttime spectacle of dreams continue to confound us with their fleeting, mystifying images.
Dreamland discoveries: The secrets behind our dreams
Dreams are a bizarre phenomenon that continue to puzzle humanity with their elusive nature, but research shows that dreams may contribute to memory formation and other forms of psychological healing.
By Abigail Kim, Staff • Apr 17, 2024
Wolves pitcher Joel Enciso (#3) prepares to pitch to the opposing team.
Baseball dominates the Hunters with two home runs
By Isabel Valles, Athletics Editor
The boys baseball team battled against the Canoga Park Hunters on Thursday, April 11 and squashed them 7-5.
Debuting on Broadway in 1975, “The Wiz” readapts the classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” against the backdrop of African-American culture. It was recently revived on Broadway, pictured here, in early 2024.
Traveling beyond the Yellow Brick Road: “The Wiz” and its lasting impact on black culture
By Max Sandoval, Staff
From Broadway to the silver screen, “The Wiz” has changed lives and shaped American theater culture for generations to come.
 DAZED & CONFUSED The i-Ready has been criticized for adjusting lesson plans for students based on their performance on the diagnostic test. Many never go back on the website to actually take those courses.
i-Ready or not, here it comes: LAUSD’s new standardized test kindles controversy
By Baron Kim, Staff
The i-Ready exam has frustrated many students and staff over its length and irrelevancy.
From L to R: Jonathan Kim, Joshua Murphy, Lucca Riley, Aidyn Kinchen and Devin Brown huddle together and quickly talk strategy after scoring a point.
Boys volleyball trash San Fernando in three sets
By Jaden Gervacio, Staff
On Monday, April 8, boys volleyball battled against San Fernando High School, who are currently in last place in the Valley Mission League, and defeated them with ease, winning in three sets.
CANDIDATE CONUNDRUM With the presidential election coming up in November, new voters are presented with two choices: Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Unfortunately, due tot he issues that both candidates pose, many voters feel dissatisfied with the choice they are going to have to make and wish they had better options instead.
Lack of candidate choices concerns student voters
By Mia Ramirez, Staff
The 2024 election is driving young people to the polls, forcing them to choose between two candidates that aren't fully up to the task.
The nearby Saint Elizabeth Church has put up a sign prohibiting skaters and other solicitors from hanging out around the premises of the church.
Locked out: Exclusionary tactics in urban design
By Delmis Vaquerano, Staff
Hostile architecture is a design technique employed in urban environments to guide, discourage or outright exclude certain behaviors or individuals, resulting in detrimental social effects for the surrounding community.
In spite of the severity of the conflict, the Israel-Hamas War has been viewed by social media as just another trend to cycle through. Many are posting inaccurate information in an effort to keep up with the fad.
Trending: The Israel-Hamas War
By Mia Ramirez, Staff
The presence of the war in Gaza on social media has evolved into yet another trend that many throw aside despite its severity.
Bridget Biddy Mason was an enslaved African-American woman who pledged for her freedom in San Bernadino and received it in 1856. She would later move to Los Angeles and use her wealth to support the local Black community until her death in 1891.
HERSTORY: Biddy Mason’s Los Angeles legacy
By Abigail Kim, Staff
Born enslaved in Georgia in 1856, Bridget "Biddy" Mason was the first African-American woman to own property in Los Angeles. After receiving her freedom, she would go on to found one of the largest Black congregations in Los Angeles. 
Starter JV outside hitter Yeerdlee Miranda (#10) spikes a ball against the Panorama Pythons at a home game on April 3.
Boys volleyball dump Panorama Pythons out of their den
By Chioma Chiawa, Staff
On Wednesday, April 3, boys volleyball scourged the Panorama Pythons, ravaging them with a score of 3-1.
Varsity right fielder Leah Torres glances over at the pitcher from Monroe High School, making a last minute decision as to whether or not she should swing her bat. This was the Wolves season opener.
Trying to turn it around
By Rogers Levitt, Staff
After a winless last season, the softball team is focusing on communication and improving skills. It's paid off with two wins.
Alumni athletes: Following up with their past successes
Alumni athletes: Following up with their past successes
By Isabel Valles, Athletics Editor
The school has made itself home to many talented athletes. We followed up with four who graduated to see if they continued with their sports in college.
Player Cara Decathong protects the ball from the opposing teams player.
March Madness takes over the Big Gym
By Jaden Gervacio, Staff
On Monday, March 11, Senior Board began hosting a March Madness event for the first time in the Big Gym.
Scoreboard
The Armenian Club sold zhingyalov hats, a flatbread filled with herbs, vegetables and spices, during Multicultural Day.
A day of diversity: Multicultural Day
By Lindsay Han, Staff
On April 12, 2024, the school hosted Multicultural Day, an event that granted students an extended lunch break and a chance to experience different cultures as presented by various clubs.
From L to R: Jake Champana, Reynold Finnegan, Dwayne Famenia, Jasmine Varkey, Yanitzy Alatorre, Jaima Murshed and Adrianna Bean (and Diego Serrano, not present in the photo) make up this year’s award winning VNHS JSA Speech and Debate team, taking home seven Best Speaker gavels.
Chasing championships: JSA
By Adrianna Bean, Staff
JSA, or Junior State of America, is a non-partisan youth organization focused on Speech and Debate and Civic Leadership. Students battled it out to not only convince the audience of their argument, but also to win the coveted “Best Speaker” gavels, awarded to the audience’s favorite speaker of each debate.
Back Row L-R: Elizabeth Hernandez, Mr. Joseph Agruso, Yanci Alba, Farah Alsibai, Andrew Salazar, Anthony Sanchez, Mario Rodarte and James Herrera. Front row L to R: Adrian Hernandez, Jonathan Cristobal, Io Gaytan, Sebastian Spiridon and Francisco Pastor.
Chasing championships: SkillsUSA
By Delmis Vaquerano, Staff
Every April, California hosts the SkillsUSA championship alongside the State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC). Beginning at a local chapter level, competitors progress through district and regional competitions.
Why didnt we get glasses during the solar eclipse?
Why didn't we get glasses during the solar eclipse?
By Jalyn Bautista and Daimler Koch
During second and third period on April 8, 2024, the Wolves experienced part of a solar eclipse that traveled across the nation. We asked students what they thought of the rare astronomical event.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swifts relationship has, for better or worse, brought together fans of both into a world neither group could have imagined.
Swiftly shaking things up
By Adrianna Bean, Staff
The era of Swiftiedom has arrived in football, making some wonder whether or not the pop singer’s relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce, had anything to do with the team’s stunning victory in the Super Bowl.
Modern art has distilled artistic quality, integrity and skill into a vague mess of paint splatters, household objects and, occasionally, food, as depicted here in Comedian by Maurizio Cattalan.
Why modern art sucks
By Lindsay Han, Staff
While we live in the modern age, it’s inevitable to be exposed to the trends of modern art. This so-called “art,” however, is a sham.
The coquette aesthetic and reclaiming femininity
The coquette aesthetic and reclaiming femininity
By Viktoriya Khanliyan, Staff
Coquette was the biggest internet aesthetic of 2023, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
While both artists have traded blows in their clash, Minaj is currently taking the matter way too far with her song Big Foot.
Megan’s Law: The feud between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion
By Lindsay Han, Staff
The two rap artists have been squaring off on social media and through their music.
ATURDIDOS Y CONFUNDIDOS El i-Ready ha sido criticado por ajustar los planes de lecciones de los estudiantes basándose en su rendimiento en la prueba diagnóstico. Muchos estudiantes nunca vuelven a la sitio web para tomar los cursos proporcionados.
Listo o no, aquí viene: El nuevo examen estandarizado de LAUSD incita controversia
By Baron Kim and Delmis Vaquerano

Sustituyendo la evaluación STAR de la plataforma educativa, Renaissance , los estudiantes de LAUSD han estado tomando este examen de forma rutinaria desde 1998. La evaluación i-Ready se administró a...

A pesar de la gravedad del conflicto, la guerra entre Israel y Hamás ha sido vista por las redes sociales como una moda más. Muchos publican información inexacta en un esfuerzo por seguir la moda.
Tendencias: la guerra Israel y Hamás
By Mia Ramirez, Maya Diaz, and Delmis Vaquerano
La presencia de la guerra de Gaza en las redes sociales se ha convertido en otra tendencia que muchos desechan a pesar de su gravedad.
Donna Hubbard fue la primera directora femenina del preparatoria de Van Nuys High School. Se unió a la facultad como profesora de español en 1920 y  continuó trabajando su camino hasta convertirse en la vicedirectora de las estudiantes femeninas en 1924, antes de ser la directora de toda la escuela en 1935. Aquí es la vicedirectora de las chicas en 1929.
LA HISTORIA DE ELLA: El legado de Donna Hubbard en el instituto Van Nuys
By Abigail Kim and Maya Diaz
En este Mes de la Historia de la Mujer, Donna Hubbard destaca como la antigua directora del colegio, madura, sabia y compasiva.
DIVERSIÓN AL SOL Amelia Probst (izquierda) y Emily Chavez muestran su rueda de premios del stand de Womens Make Change en el acto del Día Internacional de la Mujer. El objetivo de WMC es empoderar a las mujeres, animándolas a defenderse por sí mismas y dándoles las oportunidades para hacerlo.
Del pasado al presente: Mes de la Historia de la Mujer
By Olamide Olumide and Maya Diaz
El club Women Make Change (WMC) ayuda a las mujeres a encontrar su confianza interior y les enseña sobre importantes figuras femeninas. Los miembros del club participaron en el acto del Día Internacional de la Mujer el 7 de marzo.
Conan Grays newest album Found Heaven explores the rollercoaster of emotions he felt during his first known relationship and breakup.
Conan Gray’s “Found Heaven" seeks peace after heartache
By Max Sandoval, Staff
Superstar Conan Gray’s third and latest pop album, “Found Heaven,” is leaving fans wanting more of his heartbroken tracks.
The MCU has lost much of the magic touch that made it a cinematic staple for over a decade. However, with the influx of independent films and blockbusters, this is nothing but a bittersweet advantage for the average cinemagoer.
Marvel's fatal fall from grace
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
The entertainment powerhouse has left behind a vacuum that allowed independent films and other blockbusters to create their own hype.
What type of bender would you be in Avatar: the Last Airbender?
What type of bender would you be in "Avatar: the Last Airbender"?
By Maya Diaz, Associate Online Editor-in-Chief
Take our personality quiz to find out if you have what it takes to become the Avatar.
Devon Martinez points to two cast members, as they practice in their outfits for the play.
The blade is getting sharper: Sweeney Todd week nine
By Madison Thacker, Arts/Entertainment Editor
During tech week, the most dreaded rehearsal week of all, the cast and crew of “Sweeney Todd” dedicated over 30 hours after school in a single week to finally put every aspect of the show together.
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