Volume 63, Issue 4, February 10, 2023

T U D

H N E R BOLT

Volume 63, Issue 4

Millbrae Lunar New Year Festival

Rachel Cheng

With the start of 2023, many are eager to see what the new year has in store for them. For many, the new year also brings the holiday of Lunar New Year: one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in East Asia. To celebrate this beloved holiday, the city of Millbrae will be hosting their annual Lunar New Year festival to celebrate the year of the rabbit. The new year festival will be held starting on Sunday, January 29th and ending on Monday, January 30th. The celebration will occur from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, so don’t forget to set your reminders! With the wide amount of vendors, activities, and performances, this year’s festival will be located from 300 to 400 Broadway in downtown Millbrae. In addition, admission to the event is free, and all are welcome to participate in the festivities.

Another popular tradition for the Lunar New Year Festival is the lion or dragon dance. In the lion dance, the lion is operated by two people: one moves the head while the other moves the body. There are two forms of the dance, the Northern lion and the Southern lion, and the dance movements resemble martial arts and are performed to a drum beat. Meanwhile, the dragon dance is operated by a team of dancers with poles, and are believed to represent good luck and authority. At this year’s Lunar New Year festival, Millbrae will be hosting both traditional dances to ring in the new year and bring good fortune.

Some other things to look out for are the food vendors and activity booths around the festival. Attendees of last year’s festival recall that there were a wide variety of food stands, with items ranging from boba tea, coconut pudding, and matcha ice cream to Asian barbeque and other traditional Asian dishes. This year’s festival will have over 30 food vendors, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

Additionally, the Millbrae Cultural Committee has a multitude of activities planned for this year’s Lunar New Year Festival, including over 50 arts, crafts, and merchandise vendors. Mills High School Student Samuel Lam remarks that “Last year s Lunar New Year Festival was an amazing e perience that refected many hinese New Year traditions.” In addition, atelyn Lam recalls that last year s festival was “similar to the art and wine festival, but with different vendors and performances. The frecrackers were really cool and the keychains were cute too, and I enjoyed watching the lion dance performances.” Students reported that last year the activities and merchandise included face painting, bounce houses, clothing stands, fortune telling booths, and a kids show.

Overall, this Lunar New Year Festival is sure to be jam-packed with fun activities, delicious food, and cool merchandise for all of its visitors. Regardless of if you celebrate the holiday or not, come down to the festival to catch a glimpse of the cultural traditions and take part in the festivities!

Winter Formal Location Flooded

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uring the major storms of anuary , the set location for the Mills High School Winter Formal was made a victim of heavy rain water and fooding. The unknown damage at Devil s anyon Brewery in San Mateo has left many students who plan to attend the dance in question as to whether or not the Formal will happen or not. However, after an offcial interview with Ms. Dove, the Head planner of Mills School events, there seems to be more relief than discomfort.

As of anuary , the storm has calmed down and an interview with Ms. Dove had been arranged to see if the foods really did affect the plans for the Winter Formal. According to Dove, there has been no permanent or major damage to the location, and the restaurant is already back in business after maintenance. She mentioned that they were a brewery and that they needed to run business as usual so a logical answer to the situation would be that foods can t really put them out of business so long as the damage didn t disable the functions of the building.

Moving on to the bigger question of the matter Is the Winter Formal still happening? Yes, there have been no changes to the schedule and the dance is still happening, says Dove. It was surprising to hear, but as she had stated before, the building had not sustained any unf able damage. However, as soon as she had caught wind of the location being fooded she already had backup plans in mind. Had the brewery actually been put out of business by the food or the building permanently damaged and made unsafe for personnel, the Mills Winter Formal would ve just been moved to another site such as SM or the Hiller Aviation Museum. Other than the slight possibility of location change the dance is to happen on February th, with tickets available for purchase on Wednesday anuary , .

A lot of planning and preparation has happened to make the Winter Formal a possibility, making the work of Ms. Dove nothing short of remarkable. But a fnal detail in the interview from her e plained as to why the dance was so important despite the obstacles which had popped up so suddenly. Dove said that it had been such a long time to be e act, a total of years since an actual dance had happened outside of the Mills High School ampus, and that she was e cited to fnally have one. She also stated that if there was an event for Mills it was always run by her in a rather enthusiastic tone of voice. It is safe to say that students can be reassured thanks to Ms. Dove that the dance is still on schedule to happen.

In hindsight, the answer to all the impending questions wasn t really that complicated there are no further details other than what has been previously mentioned. Mills will have a Winter Formal on February , and despite the raging storm of early anuary the location is still set to have crowds of Mills students enjoying themselves in a dance.

Storm Surges in the Bay Area

Over the past several years, California has garnered a reputation for being devoid of water as it has been ridden with droughts. However, throughout the past month, California has battled a series of heavy rain and thunder, all of which has caused damage across the Bay. From fallen trees and powerlines to the fooding of houses and reservoirs and rivers as well as the washing away of piers in San Francisco, this wave of storms is causing mass havoc. This has caused many to take action across our state, but the question is how have they taken action?

On a statewide scale, there have been many initiatives to help combat this fooding. One instance is dealing with our reservoirs and man-made lakes. Several reservoirs have opened their dams and allowed water to run off in preparation for these storms, hoping to curb the fooding and hold more water within their bodies. Another initiative or rather policy that many offcials are pushing for is to do with levees. Levees are man-made embankments used to prevent a river from overfowing. The thought behind moving them farther back is to accommodate for the increase in water levels as well as allow more water to seep back into the underground aquifers. Due to the rapid depletion of aquifer levels due to recent droughts, this is much needed.

Now the question is, what can and have we, on the Viking ship, done to stay afoat during this time?

With foods raging, it is hard to stay safe and dry, even inside your home. One widespread method to attempt to stay dry is to utilize sandbags. These are readily available at your local hardware store such as Home Depot. There have also been instances where local Fire Stations offer places where you can fll your own sandbags for free. Placing these inside your house where water may potentially seep through, such as at the garage entrances and doorways is ideal. This prevents the fooding that many people have experienced to an extent. However, not completely, One extreme method is to buy a water pump, which as Mr. Wang has expressed, can be useful to pump out the unwanted water within your home.

Another issue when staying at home is the power. With winds and storms raging just on the other side of the wall, electricity is the one thing keeping you warm and entertained as you are stuck at home. However, powerlines and other electrical “funnels” can be fnicky in this type of weather and PG&E may run rolling power outages in order to preserve the electrical grid and system. So during this type of weather, power outages may be a common occurrence and may last anywhere from hours to days. The best thing you can do is prepare. Make sure to have some reserves of water as well as batteries, candles, fashlights, and your Uber Eats app readily available. Many residents across the Bay have these kits readily available but it is prudent to make one of your own.

Yet another thing to do is to stay informed. In every walk of life, being well-informed is crucial. Paying attention to the weather app as well as the news can allow you to properly predict and prepare for severe weather and possibly go and buy any of the above-listed items that could help you stay dry

The eturn of Indoor allies

Magdalene Ko

Pictures by Phoebe Zhang

heck out her account phobtos

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is off to an e citing start with the frst gym rally in years. With games and dances, this Pok mon themed rally garnered the support of all grades. heers echoed around the gym as everyone cheered for their class. Each grade represented a pokemon, with Freshman yellow as Pikachu, Sophomore green with Bulbasaur, unior red as harmander, and Senior blue as Squirtle.

Being inside allowed for leadership to have more control, as well as providing seating space for everyone. It was easier for students to see what was happening from the bleachers, instead of all grouped together on the feld. According to emi Palamo , this year s co ally ommissioner, “I thought this rally went really well and in my opinion it was the best one so far, especially because it was in the main gym”. Many students mentioned that they enjoyed the rally in the gym more than the previous outdoor ones, especially since most have never e perienced one before. It defnitely has a different energy to it, especially when everyone s screams reverberate throughout the gym.

Starting off with a fun video from leadership, where class council members waged a pokemon battle, the freshmen then followed up with an e plosive dance. Won by the uniors, the frst game was a live version of hungry hippo, with students sliding out on carts and grabbing foam balls with baskets. A beautiful dance from LMP came after, which led into the second game. This time, Sophomores took frst, in which students had a relay to shoot baskets and fip cups. Everyone was then amazed by the group of teachers who participated in a surprise dance, led by AP Ding. In the fnal game, representatives from each grade participated in a -point shootout.

Although the uniors ultimately claimed the rally stick, everyone had an enjoyable week. The outfts on Trainer Tuesday, Who s That Pokemon Wednesday, and Team ocket Thursday were all creative and on theme. This rally sets a fun tone to the rest of the year, with Winter Formal coming soon and Prom in the distant future, not to mention more rallies. A big thank you to leadership and Ms. Dove for putting in so much hard work to provide a week of fun for us

Features

Best Cafes In the Bay Area

The Bay Area has an array of fun cafes with unique ideas and delectable desserts and drinks. From hanging out with friends to enjoying the atmosphere of the cafes, many fnd these cafes in the Bay Area to be a fun experience rather than just a basic local starbucks. Many of the popular cafes are located in San Francisco and also are Asian-owned businesses, since most of the inspiration for these cafes are also cafes from Asia.

For instance, Smile House Cafe in Taraval Street, San Francisco, is a Hong Kong-style cafe including many Chinese-American fusion foods and desserts. “This casual yet fun cafe is a perfect place for many locals and includes big portions and a diverse selection of desserts which is really nice” says Rachel Cheng (12). Weekdays are not as busy as weekends and the wait time was not bad at all while the food came early. “I recommend the beef brisket and tendon noodle soup for anyone wanting to visit.” she says. The spacious dining area and delicious variety of dishes shows how Smile House Cafe is a must-go place in the Bay Area.

Gram Cafe located in the Stonestown mall in San Francisco, serves Japanese foods and their specialty fuffy souffe pancakes. With the cafe’s setting in a popular space in the mall next to many other fun shops, customers are drawn to this favored spot. With many seating arrangements and a variety of menu selections, people go there for lunch, brunch, or just some dessert for people with a sweet tooth. A local customer who is also a senior in Mills High School is Chester Ho who exclaims that “Gram is literally so good, the pancakes are so fuffy they feel like you are eating clouds.” He also speaks on how “even though they take a while to come out, it is still worth it!”. With the popularity of Gram Cafe, it is usually packed and people have to sign a waitlist most of the times you get there. With the wide variety of pastas, Japanese curries, tonkatsus and more, there are many options to choose from and they often have limited time seasonal pancakes as well. However, the original souffe pancakes are so popular that it is unavailable for customers to take it to-go and it is only available to eat there. Ho also shares “I love the atmosphere of the restaurant and the music choices played in the background are always great and the experience you have with the service and food is really nice.”

At KitTea Cat Lounge in Valencia Street, San Francisco, you can enjoy a fun time with tea, food, and with an accompaniment of cute cats. In this warm welcoming environment of cute felines and arrangement of food and teas, many fnd the place very relaxing and comfortable at this homey cafe. The 29 different cats roam around the cafe as customers come in and out and have a good time. The cats are very friendly so many are not scared of humans and will come up to people all the time. If any customers are interested in the cats, they are also up for adoption as well which is a nice way for people who want to buy cats to have a fun interaction with them before adopting. A student from Mills High has had the chance to visit the cafe before and during her visitation, covid restrictions were still prevalent so in order to keep the virus contained, they were unable to enjoy the food or drinks that were usually offered. This place is very unique and a fun experience, especially for cat lovers, and it is a very welcoming place in the Bay Area.

If you love board games, card games, and any other game possible that you can think of, Game Parlour in Irving Street, San Francisco, is a wonderful place for people who want to have a good time with a group of friends. This fun inviting place offers a selection of foods such as their popular mochi waffes, french fries, and even cute latte drinks with character designs on them. People of all ages are welcome and there are many fun and cool games that you can choose from and bring over to your table and enjoy with your friends. Some games to choose from include, Game of Life, Heads Up, Uno, Monopoly, Clue, Dungeons and Dragons, and much more. A customer of Game Parlour who goes to Mills High is Katelyn Lam (12) who shows her appreciation for Game Parlour. “Game Parlour had lots of fun games to choose from and I loved how they had a cafe attached too!”

With all the fun activities and foods provided in these cafes, they are a defnite recommendation from many Mills High School students.

Science courses, as well as a frst response EMT course that would act as an extension of the current Gateway to Health Careers course. However, she is still looking for student feedback, and would love to hear ideas from Mills students as to what courses could be added. Ms. Duszynski has worked really hard over the past couple of years, partnering with Skyline College to make her dream for Mills students come to life. Recently, her business partner at Skyline College has moved to the College of San Mateo (CSM), opening up doors for potential CSM courses to be brought into Mills as well.

GWC Pioneering Code for Kids

o start off the new year, Mills’ Girls Who Code (GWC) club launched a program called Finch Robots with Snap! Programming, in which members taught young children elementary age (K-5) how to use “Scratch,” a block-based programming website targeted towards young kids. The program spans over six weeks, where students learn how to execute basic coding actions to move characters on a screen, and eventually, Finch robots. GWC has been looking forward to these classes for a while, especially as this will be a big turning point for the club after emerging from the pandemic.

GWC is an organization that focuses on providing computer science opportunities for anyone who identifes as a female. Historically, women’s voices have been overshadowed or ignored in the tech world, so this club aims to build a safe and inclusive community that empowers women to explore their passion for STEM. In the club, members learn the basics of computer programming, as well as the features of the computer science industry.

President of the club, Hilary Kuang (11), has been a part of GWC since her freshman year. Coding has always held a special place in Kuang’s heart: “After having a small peek at what coding feels like in freshman year, I immediately fell in love…Having the ability to change nothing into something with just a computer and your mind is truly incredible,” she expresses.

Having been an integral member of GWC for the past three years, Kuang has seen the ups and downs of the club. A major time of hardship for clubs at Mills was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and GWC was among one of hardest impacted. “Our club had only 1-2 members that would attend meetings,” Kuang remembers, adding that GWC was even faced with the threat of shutting down due to the poor member turnout. However, Kuang and other members persevered to keep this community alive: “By trying our best to promote and participate in school activities for the whole year, our club fnally came to a better position. Now, we have an average of ten members who come to every meeting, and a total of forty students in our discord server.”

Currently, GWC is continuing to branch out with their latest program at the Millbrae Recreation Center. Similar to the hardships faced during the pandemic, the process of getting these classes approved was not easy. Working alongside Kuang, vice president Sarah Lam (11), provided insight into the workings of the program.

“We contacted Millbrae library, the Millbrae Recreation Center, and nearby elementary schools to see who we could partner with for these classes. But the recreation center seemed to be the best ft for what we had planned,” Lam explained. “It was a process with many email chains, meetings, and clarifcations regarding what the recreation center could provide and what our GWC board wanted the classes to look like.” Because this was the frst outreach program of its kind in three years for GWC, they also faced other challenges such as fguring out how to secure tech inventory and the unknown variable of how the kids would respond to the curriculum.

On January 13th, GWC’s hard work was put into action with more than ten members there to help supervise the 21 attending students! In the class, the students explored Scratch and learned to customize their characters and backgrounds, all the while guided by GWC mentors. Students also began to learn about motion blocks and degrees, ultimately resulting in their characters gliding and turning across their screens.

When asked about her thoughts on the frst class, volunteer Angela Yu (9) remarked, “I found that tutoring kids was actually kind of hard when they were so smart that it seemed like they didn’t really need you…but it was fun nonetheless.” On top of that, Yu’s younger siblings were also attendees at the class, and Yu remembers how enthusiastic they were about the program upon returning home. “My sister actually knew some of the material they were teaching, but she still really liked how they taught it and the energy in the class,” Yu shared.

As for the future of this program, Lam explained, “For now, this program is still a pilot and we don’t know how things will go along the road but if everything goes as planned and mirrors our frst class, I can see this as a recurring opportunity for GWC!” Having an annual or even semester-based program for members to volunteer in would be a highlight for GWC not only to extend their mission to Millbrae’s youth, but also to help members develop and engage their skills with coding through helping to run classes.

Although the volunteer positions for the recreation center programs are closed, GWC would like to extend a warm invitation out to anyone looking to become a member. Lam concluded, “You can get involved with GWC by attending our club meetings during lunch on Fridays in room 308. Anybody can come- you don’t have to be female, despite the club name,” with Kuang adding, “You can also talk to Ms. Dreyer in room 308 for more information!”

With the recreation center program running smoothly, we can expect a bright future for GWC. We are excited to see what they do next, pioneering the way for Millbrae’s female STEM community.

Mills’ Student Run Businesses

From selling fashion on Etsy to creating albums on Spotify, student-run businesses are on the rise, proving that age is just a number when it comes to entrepreneurs. What many thought these endeavors were far-reached are now achieved by these fve featured student business owners.

Adrienne Lee (11) is the owner of the instagram page (@adrienne.crystaldesigns) where she posts and exhibits genuine handmade gemstone jewelry that she makes in her free time. Adrienne’s jewelry business started out as a hobby where she enjoyed making bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and decided to sell on Etsy, a marketplace that focuses around vintage and handmade products. Adrienne got inspired to start this business because she “wanted to make money in my own way and share my hobby of jewelry making.” The biggest obstacles Adrienne faced while running her business was second-guessing herself and putting herself out there. “At frst, I was scared to market my shop on social media because I was worried about what people would think. However, I’ve since gotten over it and realized that it doesn’t matter because any criteria could ultimately beneft me.”

Tazu Luisi (12) takes pride in working with large minecraft animation channels as a content director and cinematographer. He started tinkering with motion and graphic designs in middle school and then eventually learning how to use blender, a 3D creation tool. Growing up and watching the success of people in the same place, Tazu knew there was a general need for 3D animators so he got in touch with a few minecraft animation channels that he had previously networked with before. When it comes to business he said that “networking and making new people connections is probably the most important thing to be successful. I would never be able to work with these large channels if I never introduced myself.” With being on the co-production team for various minecraft animation short movies, he had received a lot of support from fellow youtube creators for creating his own youtube channel @helios animation studio. With that, his channel grew to 12.9k subscribers as of today and continues to grow. Tazu’s business has not only allowed him to pursue his passion for animation and design, but it has also provided him with valuable skills and experience that he can apply to any future endeavors. His hard work and dedication have paid off as he is now able to work with some of the biggest minecraft animation channels in the industry and he continues to expand his business.

With the creator economy on the rise, Phoebe Zhang (12) who runs @phobsterz a day in a life vlogging youtube channel. With hobbies of videography and photography, she started vlogging her everyday life routines as a high schooler. With recently completing the Vlogmas challenge where a person vlogs every single day for 25 days until Christmas, her subscriber count went from 149 to 166 as of currently writing this article. She notes that consistency of having content uploads has defnitely pushed her content to a larger audience.

To the ocean, the moon, and back, Keanu Isip brings you into a soundscape to come alive with his music. With a versatility between making aggressive rap and making chill, ethereal, and bass-laden melodies, his tracks will have you grooving to the bass and falling in love with the tunes. He just had one of his frst experiences of musical success. One of the songs he made last year, as explicitly entitled, “killing mofos”, reached 50,000 streams last week.“I started uploading music during quarantine. I was alone and had a hard time expressing myself amidst these dark times. It sounded so bad at frst, but as I learned the next two years of making music digitally and learned how to market my music, I grew to love rapping and “singing” on modern beats. I was like a gas planet foating in space. One that decided to evince my inner being into a glistening star for all that proceeding from the pandemic. And here I am now, with a consistent monthly audience of about 2,500 people and wanting more for myself as a person. I’m still learning!”

On a personal note, after being inspired by many Tiktokers documenting their journey with dropshipping, I experimented selling print-on-demand products through Shopify and Etsy. I designed T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs with Printify, an on-demand-printing supplier, who ships my products designs directly to the customer. With dabbling into dropshipping, I found that it was incredibly convenient for my products to ship directly from the manufacturer to my buyers. With direct contacting social media theme pages for sponsorships and promotions, I was able to scale up my business within a few days. And to all the students out there, if you aspired to create your dream business, there is nothing like the present to start.

2023: a rainy new year

january began with both the fash of freworks and lightning alike. california experienced one of the worst storms ever recorded, resulting in foods, mudslides, and one very dismal new year. celebrations persist nonetheless, new year’s being soon proceeded by lunar new year festivities.

superstitions & symbolism of the rain

how the weather afects mental health and motivation

how diferent cultures celebrate lunar

Should ChatGPT Be Allowed In Schools?

The use of advanced language processing models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 (which is the model behind ChatGPT), in educational settings has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach teaching and learning. However, before we fully embrace this technology in schools, it is important to consider the potential implications and address any concerns.

One potential beneft of using GPT-3 in education is the ability for it to generate highly engaging and personalized content for students. For example, GPT-3 can generate engaging and accurate explanations for complex topics, creating a unique learning experience for each student. Additionally, GPT-3 can assist in the creation of interactive learning materials, such as quizzes and exercises, which can be adapted to the needs of individual students.

Another beneft of GPT-3 in education is its ability to enhance the efciency and efectiveness of teaching. With GPT-3, teachers can quickly and easily create high-quality lesson plans, assessments and other teaching materials, allowing them to spend more time engaging with students and providing individualized instruction. GPT-3 can also be used as a tool for formative assessment, providing teachers with real-time feedback on student understanding and identifying areas that may require additional support.

However, it’s also important to address the potential drawbacks and concerns. One concern is that the use of GPT-3 in education could lead to a decline in critical thinking and creativity among students. As GPT-3 can generate highly accurate and polished content, students may be less inclined to use their own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, if students become too reliant on GPT-3 as a learning tool, they may struggle to apply what they have learned in real-world situations.

Another concern is that GPT-3 could exacerbate existing inequalities in education. For example, schools in low-income areas may not have the resources to access and implement GPT-3, further exacerbating the achievement gap. Furthermore, GPT-3 could be used as a substitute for teachers, which could lead to job loss and negatively impact teacher morale.

Lastly, there is a question of ethical concern, as GPT-3 is a highly advanced AI model, it can generate highly coherent and persuasive text, which can be used to spread misinformation and disinformation, making the teacher’s job of providing a critical thinking exercise even harder.

In conclusion, the use of GPT-3 in education has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach teaching and learning. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential implications and address any concerns before fully embracing this technology in schools. It is important to strike a balance between the benefts and drawbacks, and to ensure that the technology is implemented in a way that is inclusive, equitable and supports the development of critical thinking and creativity in students.

Did you like that article? Because it was written in its entirety by Chat GPT with only the simple prompt of: “Write a 500-word opinion piece newspaper article sharing your opinion about ChatGPT being allowed in schools”.

“Overall, human beings are always going to fnd ways to make tasks easier, such as the computer and calculator. ChatGPT could also be looked at in a good light, with cool ways for students to critique it.

“ I don’t think it should be allowed in school, but as a senior, students don’t have the time to write a 700word essay, and will resort to ChatGPT”

“Writing in school gives students the opportunity to create their own style, and asking a computer to write takes away that opportunity”

-Noor Abdullah (11)

“Students will consequently be doing more writing in class, but ChatGPT cannot succeed in using essay templates to write.”

-Mr.Lira:

Student Opinions on FLEX

With every even block period comes FLEX time; essentially a free period for students to go to a classroom to do work, get help from a teacher, or make up a test accordingly. Or so that is what FLEX is described as. However, with the majority of students spending their time in FLEX not doing what FLEX is intended to do, this raises the question: is FLEX time really necessary? Should changes be made to it, or should it be rid of entirely?

In theory, FLEX time is a great idea. Students are able to use this time to go get help in their classes and makeup any work that they need. However, from a Junior perspective and from personal experience, most students treat this time as a mini hangout for the hour of time it occupies. Students fock together in friend groups to classrooms to, in the end, accomplish absolutely nothing. Of course, this isn’t the habit of all the student body. There are some students that do actually use this time productively, many could argue that they could simply be doing it at home, where the rest of us would much prefer to be. The general opinion, which includes myself, is simply to get rid of FLEX. Another approach is to convert one FLEX into ofce hours, at the very least. This would mean having it after school, whilst the other FLEX is done as normal once per week instead. By reducing the amount of time wasted and time spent at school, everyone serves to beneft. Students are still able to get what they need by going to the ofce hours that their teacher ofers, while teachers can still help accordingly. All in all, everyone would get a break. And of course, the students that don’t need FLEX at all, including myself, can simply use the wasted time to be, again, put into other more productive uses. Some students have jobs, extracurriculars, or sports after school that they could prepare for with extra free time. Personally, I could defnitely beneft from the extra time to do the assigned work at home, on better internet, or prepare for work at my job after school without having to rush. As many students can strongly agree with me, the FLEX system needs a change.

Student Opinion on Tardy System

Near the end of last semester, the Mills Administrative Team began to enforce a new system that would enforce timeliness and presence with the students. Their new strategy is to leave an automatic message every time a student is late or tardy to the parents and guardians of not only absences, but tardies as well. There are several opinions on it, however, most don’t fnd it necessary and want it removed or altered.

On Nov 16, The Mills Administrative Team sent out an Aeries message, notifying parents, guardians, and students about the new system. They stated in the Aeries message, “We want to encourage all our students to attend class on time so they are present for the most learning opportunities as possible.” Although the setup was created with a positive intent, a lot of students and parents are having mixed feelings about whether or not it is genuinely useful.

The process of the auto phone dialer, in this case, is that when a student is absent or tardy as well, the system will automatically call the student’s guardian’s number that is connected to the student’s information in the district’s system. The auto phone dialer simply states whether they were late or tardy and which period(s) they were late or tardy in. The calls usually come in after school hours and before nightfall. Although adding the new tardy automated message had good intentions behind it, several students agree that it’s either pointless or unfair. A sophomore claims, “I think that it’s useless. It’s highly likely that a lot of parents are busy. They should just remain with the texts and drop the calls because the majority of the time, my parents don’t mind, and I think other students’ won’t either.” Another student confesses, “I think that it’s unfair to notify parents when they’re only like one minute late, it just seems a little pointless since that’s the case most of the time.”-

In addition to students, a parent of a sophomore placed their opinion on the matter. They stated, “I think the absence reminders are fne. However for the tardies, I don’t think it’s useless, I just don’t think it’s necessary. It’s a bother and I believe that the students should be treated more like young adults; not every little thing needs to be reported.”

Personally, as a student, I think that the new system is slightly unfair towards students and not necessary. Many teachers, including mine, will mark the studentst late if they are not in their seats when the bell rings. It sounds like a reasonable way to mark students tardy, but this rule includes being marked tardy even if their bag is already there, and they are using the restroom. People may argue that since the break or passing period is plenty of time to use the bathroom, but there are several cases in which students are held back from the previous class and had to get items from their locker as well. Not all teachers have as frm of a rule as the one I stated before, but even being less than a minute late is enough to be marked tardy for most classes.if a student is in that situation and is marked tardy, many can agree that it is , just a little over the top. To me, the only thing the tardy calls and texts do are make students get questioned by their parents for an extra minute at home. It passes quickly, as there’s no real way to clear tardies like that.

In the end, it seems as if the new tardy system isn’t the most favored, however, I believe that it is something everyone will eventually get used to, and complaints like mine will fade after time. Additionally, the new system doesn’t seem like something that will be altered, so students should attempt to be late as minimal as possible.

“Students flock together in friend groups to, in the end, accomplish absolutely nothing.”

Quads are Back; Lady Vikings Dominate

Joshey Alcantara, Sta Writer

Friday the 13th would mark the frst quad of the 2022-23 season for the Mills Vikings. An away game in Burlingame Panthers territory would capture the attention of many local students from schools all over the district. Each row of seats was squished with as many students as physically possible. With each side of the gym screaming and shouting for their representing team, you could barely hear the person next to you. This week’s theme for Mills was an all blackout theme, while Burlingame represented their spirit with camo themed clothes. To show school pride, each side of the gym would constantly battle each other in chants and cheers. By the third quarter, students have already lost their voices from pouring an almost endless amount of school spirit. As the season goes on, the crowd will only become louder and more creative. As quad games are spoken about throughout the campus, new ideas are being presented by supportive students on how else we can cheer on our athletes.

With the resurrection of our beloved quad games, the question has been foating around campus: “Why were they gone in the frst place?” Due to the sudden pandemic that started January of 2020, indoor sports had to be regulated to ensure the safety and health of athletes. One of these regulations being that games were not to have any sort of crowd or audience. This would guarantee social distancing, but deprive students of the privilege to represent their school during basketball games.

John Huang (12), boys varsity basketball player, stated that playing his last quads felt bitter sweet. In other words, with every laugh and feeling of enjoyment, comes a worry of stepping onto the court for the last time. Not only has it been a mental battle for players on the court, but also playing through injuries throughout the team. Due to constant injuries, the team is currently 5-9. Regardless of the lack in size, the boys continue to work on their physicality and aggression towards the game. Huang explains that aggression may be their missing piece in the team.

On the other hand, it seems as if our girls varsity basketball team has all of its pieces fgured out. Dominating their season, the girls varsity team beat the Capuchino Mustangs to make their record 4-0 in the league. Throughout the frst and second quarter, both teams were neck and neck. Struggling to prevent turnovers, Mills lost their lead by the end of the third quarter. For a short while, an opposing player was tearing through the defense to keep the Mustangs with a slim lead. However, during the fourth quarter, our Vikings showed their inability to be discouraged and completely took over the game, ending the game on a 20 point lead.

Both of our boys and girls teams have shown that they will not back down without a fght, and will continue to cherish the opportunity of quads fnally coming back. Go Vikings!

Top Tier Track Coach Returns

Hanson Han, Sports Editor

The new year has started, which means big changes for the Mills Track and Field team. With winter conditioning underway, Coach Lawrence Cappel has made some crucial additions to the coaching staff.

Coach Cappel has brought back Coach Pat Lewis as Mills’ throwing coach. Coach Lewis was a phenomenal throwing coach for Mills in the past, guiding many young throwers to championships and college offers. Coach Lewis has a lot of experience under his belt, coaching 20 years at Oceana High School, 15 years at Jefferson High School, and 10 years here at Mills. After his 10th year at Mills, he stepped away from coaching for a few years. However, in a turn of events, Coach Lewis has decided to come back to Mills and help restore its throwing team to what it used to be.

In his 10 years at Mills, Coach Lewis helped create a dynasty for the Mills throwing program. A testament to what Coach Lewis can do, would be in the 2016 PAL (Peninsula Athletic League) Championships, made up of 17 total schools. In the top 6 for men’s shot put, 5 of them were from Mills. Mills also placed frst and second in the women’s discus.

Just a year later, in 2017, at the 48th Annual Pacifc Grove Rotary Invitational, Mills took home all three podium spots in both women’s discus and shot put. Tulouna Langi, Julia Gibbs, and Taina Livai were all named Athletes of the Week in the San Mateo Daily Journal for their accomplishments. Langi was later named the San Mateo Daily Journal Girl’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Another example of how Coach Lewis helped dominate the league was with Erik Kramer and Tevita Lataimua, who were league champions for all four years of their high school career. In their senior year, both throwers qualifed for the state championship, a feat that is much easier said than done.

Ever since 2003, Mills has had 178 medals at the PAL championships, 49 of them being gold. The majority of these medals came from the throws. With all of these accomplishments all within the high school time frame, let’s look at the opportunities that these feats have created post-Mills.

Throughout her high school career, Sabrina Mendoza made 3 trips to CCS and 2 trips to state. This caught the attention from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which subsequently offered her a scholarship to attend its program. She is now a Track and Field Coach for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Another stellar athlete from Mills was Josh Uikilif, who went on to CSM and Cal State Stanislaus, where he became a two-time Division II All-American. This title is arguably the highest achievement an athlete can earn.

But what does this mean for the Mills throwing program today? With the return of Coach Lewis, the foundation for what could be another dynasty is in place. The cornerstone has been laid, with the only problem being the number of athletes needed to build around it. A message to all would be to just give a shot. Putting yourself out there and giving it a go never hurt anyone. This upcoming season will be one you wouldn’t want to miss. Go Vikings!

SPORTS Student Success in Non-School Sports

Julia Xia, Sta Writer

The sports section of the Mills newspaper focuses exclusively on the sports played at school. While this is to be expected, the fact is that many students play sports outside of school, yet they don’t get any coverage. Students who play other sports outside of school are often overlooked or even forgotten. It’s essential to showcase the talented players at Mills. Sports such as dance and gymnastics are just as important as basketball, although they aren’t discussed as often. The students who participate in activities outside of school deserve to have their hard work recognized.

Ari Sanchez (12) is the President of LMP Ballet Folklórico, a type of dance created in 1954 that celebrates Mexican culture through its dances, outfts, and music. Ballet Folklórico requires the dancer to concentrate mainly on their leg and arm movements. Moving their arms to the music while maintaining a smile on their faces takes a lot of time to perfect. Sanchez started when she was a freshman, but due to Covid-19, she couldn’t perform until her Junior year. Now she is a Senior and leads her teammates in a supportive and caring manner. “The dancers never put each other down, and it’s a very welcoming environment, especially to someone who hasn’t been there long.”

Michaela Gonzalez (11) is also a dancer. She is a member of the LMP Dance Program and a tap, jazz, and ballet dancer. She began dancing when she was fve and quickly fell in love with it. “When all my friends began to quit ballet, I realized that I really loved it and how my body likes to move.” She dances to express herself in a way that makes her happy. Gonzalez believes that everyone should be able to have a creative outlet that lets them express themselves. While many sports focus more on the game rather than the training, dance is centered around training, and the time it takes to perfect everything for the audience. “Ballet is a very beautiful art form that focuses on the person because the person is the art.”

Another sport many students participate in outside of school is gymnastics. One student, in particular, has been doing gymnastics for years. Theresa Bruce (10) is known for her talent in gymnastics, having been at the competitive level for fve years. She started doing gymnastics ten years ago to get stronger both physically and mentally. Learning gymnastics takes time and dedication since the athlete has to learn many complicated moves and perform them in a minute without fail. With the minimum practice time being four hours a day, fve days a week, the sport is not for the faint of heart. “It also gives you perseverance to not give up on things easily, which applies to daily life.”

While it is natural to give preference to students who play sports at school, we can’t forget that many students pursue many different sports outside of school. It is important to represent all the students and all of the activities that they participate in; these students deserve the same amount of attention and praise as other students.

The Toxic E ects of Gym Culture

Nicole Lee, Sta Writer

The new year is upon us, and with that means new year’s resolutions. The most common among them being getting into shape. As more people purchase gym memberships and gyms become increasingly crowded, people look to social media for inspiration. Apps such as Instagram and Tik Tok have fueled a surge of bodybuilding and weight lifting that has infuenced both men and women to participate in. On Tik Tok, gym related videos have accumulated billions of views, since the short videos allow people instant access to tips and tricks when working out. The gym community has grown fast in recent years due to social media’s infuential effects. However, as unhealthy health fads join the mix, the ftness world has created a toxic gym culture.

On social media, it is easy to photoshop curves and muscles onto oneself which advertise fake workout methods. This could include unrealistic workout routines, false health advice, and unsafe diets that are causing many to rethink joining the ftness community. Instagram models faunt their perfect hourglass fgure with small hips and a round butt, when in reality many have been exposed to having body altering surgeries. With most of the adolescent population on these platforms, it is unhealthy and damaging to their body image. It is reported that over half of all children experience body-dissatisfaction and body dysmorphia. With the infux of unrealistic body standards it is likely these statistics will increase.

The changes within a person takes months to see, so many should be celebrated on their journey. But in reality, many just continue to compare themselves to other infuencers. Aiden Adeva (12), an avid gym goer, described how he would constantly compare himself to other people, especially when it came to their progress. He continued his statement saying, “I admit it’s hard not to make comparisons, but people need to discover their own bodies and fgure out what is right to achieve your own goals.” What many fail to realize is that not everyone’s body is alike, and not all routines will have the same effects. Everyone’s body metabolizes differently and gains muscle at a different rate. Instead of taking one’s time, some instantly rely on eating disorders and even go as far as to taking steroids or harsh supplements, which will only the body. Certain performance enhancing drugs can cause hair loss, acne, mood swings, liver damage, and even cancer. The effects of taking drugs are not worth it, nor is starving yourself to reach a limited amount of calories. Working out is supposed to promote healthy bodies and brains, but toxic gym culture does quite the opposite.

Toxic gym culture can also change the reason many choose to workout in the frst place. It is common for people to want to become healthier for the new year, hence the phrase, “New year, new me.” However, people take this too seriously when they strive for the “perfect body.” People tend to become competitive rather than focusing on one’s health and use the gym as a way to compare their appearance to others. Many who are trying to get into ftness commonly complain that gyms are overwhelming and scary, as many newcomers feel they are being looked down upon. Tiffany Huang (12), Mills’ASB Climate and Culture Commissioner, shed light on the struggles she faced in the beginning of her gym journey. “I was putting myself out there and stepping out of my comfort zone in a public gym flled predominantly with older men.” She went on to explain how bigger, more muscular men would watch and critique her form and how she felt like she was being sized up everytime she stepped foot into her local gym. Eventually, with exposure from her peers, Huang was able to create a routine that was right for her and embrace being a part of the minority of women at the gym. However, she hopes others can feel supported and comfortable rather than intimidated when starting their own ftness journey.

Gym culture perpetuates the idea that going to the gym requires one to look the part, meaning you must already be in shape. This can really hurt people as it focuses on their insecurities and creates a discriminatory environment. The gym should be a space for everyone to focus on self-improvement in a healthy way. Social media can be a great tool to learn and experiment with new techniques, but when it becomes a method for body shaming, it becomes extremely damaging.

“Avatar 1” Versus “Avatar 2: The Way of Water” “Avatar 1” Versus “Avatar 2: The Way of Water”

Avatars, the 10-foot tall blue alien-like fgures, are dominating theater screens and TikTok “For You” pages. The craze started with the frst Avatar movie, released in 2009, and has come back with the latest movie released this past December.

The frst flm, which was simply named “Avatar”, started the saga, introducing the Na’vi people of Pandora. It all started in the year 2154 when the Resources Development Agency (RDA), a human organization from Earth, was determined to obtain resources found on the moon of Pandora. They were having trouble as the atmosphere on Pandora was toxic for humans whilst the Na’vi, an advanced, warrior species that called Pandora home, were mistrusting of the Earthly newcomers. The RDA solved this problem by creating Avatars, human/Na’vi hybrids that were vessels for a human mind to inhabit and control. Due to an unfortunate accident, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic, fnds himself in an Avatar with blue skin, working legs, and a mission from the RDA: to get close to the Na’vi and convince them to leave their resource-rich lands they call home.

Jake strays from his commitment to the RDA and begins questioning their orders when he falls in love with the Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). When a battle comes and the humans threaten the Na’vi way of life, Jake sides with the Na’vi. He permanently marks his place with the Na’vi by disregarding his human from for his avatar and becoming chief of the clan.

The second movie, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released on December 16, 2022 and takes place around 15 cinematic years after Avatar. We are back in Jake and Neytiri’s lives, except this time they share the screen with their own kids. The golden child and oldest son, Neteyam, is played by Jamie Flatters. The second son, Lo’ak, was rebellious but loyal to his siblings, and he is acted by Britain Dalton. Tuk, the youngest daughter, was acted by Trinity Bliss when she was just seven years old. The most fascinating casting decision was that of Kiri’s, Jake and Neytiri’s adoptive daughter who was biologically Dr. Grace Augustine’s child; actress Sigourney Weaver played Dr. Augustine

AVATAR: The highly anticipated Avatar sequel released 15 years after the frst flm. in Avatar and once again acted in the saga by playing her on-screen daughter Kiri. Lastly, close friend of the Sully family Spider was acted by Jack Champion. Jamie Flatters (Neytam) summarized the casts’ feelings of working in the Avatar saga saying, “The fact it was Avatar and to work with James Cameron’s team made life feel like fction.”

The frst Avatar movie was remarkably successful and to this day holds the record for the highest grossing movie in history, having earned nearly $3 billion in ticket sales. But what made the flm so successful? The effort that was put into these movies was clear with a thrilling and emotional script, as well as impressive animations that left viewers on the edge of their seats. But the most shocking parts of the movies were the CGI and animations. The frst movie was 60% CGI and the second is nearly 100% CGI, with only two shots in the flm containing no visual effects. The producer James Cameron set the new standard for CGI when the frst flm came out and has spent many years on improving his already impressive animations. The flming of Avatar: The Way of Water began in 2017 and was completed in three years. Cameron has spent the years since then perfecting the way the characters and Pandora looked on screen. He also improved the way the actors’ expressions appeared on their CGI’ed characters by flming with new skull caps fxed with cameras that closely monitors their eyes, mouth, and movements.

The story of the flm is also noteworthy: although the movie is entirely fction and follows blue aliens on a far away moon, it also covered a variety of relevant topics. It depicted race relations through the relations of the humans with the Na’vi, and the destruction of natural habitats for the sake of greed as the humans pillage Pandora of its natural resources. Overall, the Avatar saga presents the true nature of humans and as we see it largely from the view of the Na’vi, we can understand how violent and ignorant humans appear with their treatment of other beings and environments. With the new cast, improved CGI, and dramatic plot, does Avatar: The Way of Water have a chance of beating its predecessor and taking the title of highest grossing flm? Only time will tell but the flm’s future is looking hopeful as it has already raked in $1.5 billion in the month since it was released. James Cameron’s saga continues to draw in millions of viewers and those who have watched the frst two movies can expect to be back in the theaters in December 2024 when the third Avatar movie is set to be released.

How to Dress Eco-Friendly on a Rainy Day

How to Dress Eco-Friendly on a Rainy Day

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Since Oct. 1, 20.13 inches of rain have dropped in San Franci sco, according to the National Weather Service, making it the seventh wettest water year on record to date,” states the S.F. Chronicle. What seemed to be just a light shower has turned into nearly 3 weeks of relentless rain. Our dry soil, however, is practically jumping with joy. Starting the new year with a rather wet January, we must retire our “socks and sandals” combo to instead opt for shiny rain boots. An umbrella is our immediate thought after looking out the window at the pelting rain. However, carrying around a dripping umbrella isn’t ideal. Instead, selecting a practical rain coat or hooded down jacket may be the better option. The question arises though: down jackets and fur lined coats are no doubt your warmest choice but are they eco-friendly? Living in a world where fast-fashion companies are constantly pumping out new “trendy” clothing items, it’s hard to shop sustainably. There are tons of alternatives available you can fnd on the market, with some research of course. The beloved puffer jacket. The comfest and warmest piece in our closets. The obvious pick when a rainy day or days present themselves. Nevertheless, the plush feathers that stuff said jackets are from birds like ducks and geese. In some farms, they are being defeathered alive, leaving them with stinging and irritated skin. “Eye witnesses found live geese are being plucked on farms linked to responsible down suppliers,” states a corporate manager at PETA. Rather, a cheaper and more animal friendly alternative material is synthetic down. Performing almost identically to animal down, its synthetic counterpart is less expensive, maintains insulation even when wet, and is cruelty-free. Rare gems exist in the eco-friendly rainy fashion industry, if you do a little digging. Brands like Matt&Nat or Everlane are quality choices for environment and animal friendly fashion whilst staying warm and dry this winter. Synthetic down and other renewable materials like faux fur are commonly used by vegan brands, Matt&Nat being one of them. When a drizzle quickly turns into a heavy downpour, synthetic down will continue to keep your body warm and sheltered from the cold rain. “We have and will forever be committed to not using leather or any other animal based materials in our designs. Each season, we continue to explore and utilize innovative ways to improve our sustainable and eco-friendly ways, while still producing high-quality and timeless products,” states the all-vegan brand, Matt&Nat. With the desire to bring us into the next generation of fashion that is kind to the environment, Matt&Nat are experimenting with various recyclable materials like nylons, cardboard, rubber, cork and even windshield resins. Perfectly embodying eco and animal friendly principles, their annual recycle rate is equivalent to 9 million plastic bottles in the form of their

products. Check out Matt&Nat who ships online around the world!

While many favor their trusty puffer jacket, classic raincoats and rain boots are just as effective. Surfng the online shopping scene, you are met with thousands of options that seem like just too good of a deal. Having said that, thrift store racks are also flled with countless sustainable options when in need. If you’re looking for a nearby thrift location, Goodwill in Burlingame and Savers in Palo Alto are defnitely worth a visit. This makes buying practical and fashionable rain attire easily attainable. The wide web of fashion continues to evolve and grow every single day, and it can be diffcult to keep up as a company. Unfortunately, this can lead to mass-produced goods which in turn create more factory pollution. A chain reaction of events follows and soon the fast-fashion industry has grown to new heights. As customers, we can choose sustainable and practical pieces while still considering animal welfare and preventing future environmental issues. Keeping warm and staying sustainable are both within reach, so this rainy season stay dry and eco-friendly!

The Crisis Behind Curtains

The Crisis Behind Curtains ENTERTAINMENT

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ook up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s another tragedy! After years of performing as Superman, Henry Cavill on Wednesday, December 14th, revealed to fans that he will no longer return as our favorite blue boy scout.

Henry Cavill began his acting career on June 14, 2013, with the lead role in Man of Steel. Earning a Rotten Tomato score of 56%, the flm received mixed reviews, but nonetheless produced sequels and laid the foundation for future flmmaking. Cavill’s fnal performance as Superman was a surprise cameo appearance in the end credits of Black Adam, which was released on October 21, 2022. Black Adam, which was originally created in 1945 by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck from Marvel Family Comics, and later bought by DC Comics, depicts the original archenemy of Captain Marvel/ Shazam. It has been recently made into a movie starring Dwayne Johnson. Cavill’s cameo opened up potential plotlines for future projects. However, with Cavill stepping down, those plots will now cease to progress. According to James Gunn,new director for the DC Extended Universe, a younger Superman should carry on the mantle for future flms. DC Studios wishes to retcon the Man of Steel made by the former teams at Warner Brothers. As of now, it is still unknown as to who will be the new Superman.

The news of Cavill’s leave as Superman came as a tragic blow to fans, “I feel a bit conficted because everyone really liked him as Superman, and now that he is being kicked off is a bit upsetting,” lamented Brendan Phimsoutham (12) a Senior from Mills High School. Many had become accustomed to seeing Cavill in the role, similar to how fans grew attached to Andrew Garfeld’s portrayal as Spider-Man. Perhaps one could dream of a day when Cavill may make a similar reappearance as Garfeld did for “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. “Honestly I don’t really respect this decision, but I respect James Gunn, so I have to accept this change and I hope that the next Superman in line reaches the same or hopefully more hype than Cavill did.” Although many have had a hard time accepting this change, Gabe Solano (12) another Senior student from Mills retains certain optimism towards James Gunn, a well reputed screenwriter who directed the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and the Suicide Squad reboot in 2021. That may bring out equally or more intriguing candidates for Superman. The Man of Steel has long brought entertainment

to the big screen, but even the hardest steel rusts in the ravages of time.

Other than Cavil’s “retirement”, the DC cinematic universe is soon to expect a reboot in its continuity. Recently, DC flms have gone through a roller coaster of reviews, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe has received more positive attention. Examples for the DCEU’s disorganized storytelling are the remakes of movies– not as sequels, but as replacements. Movies including Justice League, released in 2017, received approximately 39% on Rotten Tomatoes; the flm was later remade by director Zack Snyder into a four-hour flm in 2021. Suicide Squad, made in 2016, was also victimed to the remakes in 2021 when James Gunn directed The Suicide Squad. The remake received a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes whilst the original a 26%. Besides the erratic storytelling, controversies surrounding Ezra Miller’s allegation of violence against women and drug abuse smeared their representation of the Flash, which was supposedly going to pilot a new direction for the DCEU.

Miller’s many controversies certainly negatively affect a franchise that is intended for children. Miller was arrested due to disorderly conduct at a Hawaii karaoke bar, had a restraining order against them by a couple of neighbors who they threatened “to bury,” was charged with second-degree assault after throwing a chair at a female, “grooming” a little Native American girl in North Dakota, was accused of harassing yet another minor, was arrested for burglary, and lying to the police regarding a mother and her three children who were staying at his farm in Vermont. They have recently vowed to commit to some serious treatment for “complex mental health.”

The recent failure of releasing Batgirl makes it one of the most expensive scrapings of all time. The movie, which reprised Michael Keaton as Batman, was apparently so bad that Warner Bros was too embarrassed to release it, opting to shelf it instead. The move attests to a culture of production of DC movies that neglects artistic endeavor for unimaginative, trite, insipid, and formulaic renditions. A good story usually starts by pulling its audience closer to the plot, and the further they consume its content, the more they crave it. In order to compete against the success of the MCU, a reboot is necessary to bring out new talent and entertainment.

The DC reboot has proven challenging as reintroducing all characters has become repetitive. While in comics each character or plot line is unique, the making of a 90-minute cinematographic interpretation must follow the same steps, which may lead to fops such as Batgirl. Regardless, the DC reboot has allowed for new talent to fnd exposure, and so it is with much rue that we see the departure of Cavill.

“Puss in Boots: The Last

Eleven years since his frst appearance on the big screen, Puss in Boots made his highly-anticipated return to theaters on December 21, 2022 in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The flm instantly saw huge success, both critically and commercially. It quickly surpassed its $90 million budget, grossing over $215 million worldwide. Critics were quick to praise the flm, many claiming the movie’s superiority over the frst flm. Being Dreamworks’ third top rated flm, it sits at a 96% critics score and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. These high ratings were a surprise to many due to the large time gap between the flm and its predecessor, and questioned if a sequel was even necessary. Shortly after the launch of the frst flm, Dreamworks started working on the sequel and planned to release it in 2018. But due to restructuring, Dreamworks shelved the project for several years. At last in 2019, the studio confrmed the flm was underway.

The movie revolves around Puss in Boots, a ferce, daredevil cat, who discovers that his adventurous life has taken its toll and he’s at the last of his nine lives. In hopes of fully restoring his nine lives, he goes on a journey to fnd the mystical Last Wish for the Wishing Star, that will grant him any singular wish that he desires. In a race against other well-known fairytale characters– Goldilocks,the Three-Bears, and “Big” Jack Horner– Puss partners with a shelter dog, Perrito, and estranged ex-girlfriend, Kitty SoftPaws, to fnd the Last Wish, all the while trying to outrun the character Death. Staying true to the prequel’s original cast, Anotonio Banderas and Salma Hayek return with exceptional vocal performances as the voices of Puss In Boots and Kitty Softpaws respectively. There are also plenty of new voices, such as Florence Pugh, who plays Goldilocks, and John Mulaney as Jack Horner, who along with other newcomers fully embody their new roles.

Along with its thrilling plot, the flm especially shines through its animation style and quality. While staying true to the classic, photorealistic 3D animation that Dreamworks has been using since 1998, it also incorporates 2D aspects that make the flm look more like a fairy-tale. The flm’s animation is often compared to that of Sony’s Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and the Japanese flm Akira (1988)- which was cited as a source of inspiration. Joel Crawford, the director of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, want-

Wish”

Movie Review

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” Movie Review

ed to incorporate more personal touches of hand drawn animation that is typically found in traditional anime, as he was trying to reduce the use of computer animation. He adopted a more painterly style design which proved effective; much of the flm’s praise has been for its artistic decisions.

The trailer depicts the movie as light-hearted and comical in tone, but within the frst few minutes of the flm, it becomes clear that there’s much more being dealt with than just some crazy adventure towards fnding a magical wish. Very early on in the movie, it’s clear that Puss grapples with his mortality, struggling to come to terms with the inevitable end. He spends the movie running in fear from Death, desperate to restore the lives he once lost. In his own selfsh desires, he puts his friendships on the line, willing to lose them if it means he can live his life as a famed hero once again. However in a change of heart, he learns to face Death head on, pushing aside his one chance at immortality. While Puss lives to see another day after his battle with Death, he comes to terms with his mortality that he once dreaded. He embraces life as it comes, learning to focus on the beauty of the present. And while the movie mainly focuses on Puss and his run from death, it isn’t afraid to dive into the motives of the other characters. The turmoils of Kitty Softpaws and Goldilocks are explored and we learn that these inner struggles are also what fuels their desire for the last wish, which they all plan on using in their own selfsh ways in hopes to alter their lives for the “better”. Similarly to Puss, they fnd peace with the life they have and the people they’re with. The characters’ stories collectively convey the idea that existence is to live with awareness of our inescapable end, but we continue on due to the memories we make along the way. After watching the flm, it’s safe to say that the movie absolutely lives up to its success. It’s a refreshing new addition to Dreamworks and could possibly set the path for visually more unique flms within the company. The movie is both action-packed and humorous, yet especially touching in several aspects. Following years of an undeniably strenuous development process, every bit of labor proves worth-it, as it’s clear to see the pure passion put into every second of the movie. And while Puss is at the last of his several lives, it’s evident that his story is nowhere near over.

- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

“Once upon a time, our wishes fell from the sky...”

“Once upon a time, our wishes fell from the sky...”