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Features

Interview with Dance Team Captain, Selena!

Selena is a senior in the final chapter of her time at CKM. She has been a dedicated member of the dance team since freshman year and is now the Varsity captain of the Mane Event Dancers.  Selena looks back on the time she has spent at CKM very positively, and she hopes to give other young dancers the support she cherished while dancing for our school. 

Next year, Selena will be moving on from captain to a new role as an assistant coach, so she can continue working with the team that inspired her passion for dance. In addition to dancing for CKM, Selena has also coached the Cal spirit team, helping potential Lions perfect their skills with her expertise. 

Besides dance, Selena is also familiar with other forms of the arts, like photography. She is currently taking a class on the subject but also takes pictures of the things she loves for her enjoyment. Sports photography has particularly become a love of Selena’s since she has been dancing at football and soccer games for CKM, often snapping pictures from the sidelines while she cheers the Lions on. 

Selena is thankful for all the people she has met through CKM dance, as she has some of her most precious memories at CKM with the friends she made on the team. Sophomore year, 2021-2022, was a particularly memorable year for Selena, as she feels like that’s when the team was the closest to each other because it was much smaller than it is now. She’s still really close with many of the people she met that year and appreciates the closeness between CKM dance members.

Selena is excited to stay local for college so she can come back to help with the team and the community. She feels that she gained a lot of important social skills through CKM that have prepared her well for a future career as well as just in her daily life. She appreciates the work she and her team have put into their improvement and she’s very proud of what she and the rest of the Mane Event Dancers have accomplished over the years, all with the help of amazing coaches who helped push her to do her best. 

She wants to tell future CKM dancers to enjoy their experience here and try not to take it for granted because it goes by all too quickly, don’t stress too much, and just enjoy learning a new skill and have fun. Since joining the team, Selena has found a passion for dance and now can’t imagine her experience without her time on the team; Try new things and take chances, and you might find a new self truly loving what you do!

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Cuisine and Recipes Features Opinion

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Review

The Prospector staff took a mini field trip to Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters on Freeport Blvd. Each of us tried something off the menu and have provided our thoughts:

3.5/5 stars

I ordered an iced “Mango Tango” tea from Chocolate Fish, this is my review:

I generally enjoy tea much more than coffee, so I opted for just that. Perhaps it was because I got it iced rather than hot, but I thought the flavor was bland. Not bad though, but for a drink called “Mango Tango” you’d expect more of a mango flavor. Overall it was very refreshing and I enjoyed it for what it was!

3/5 stars

Having passed by this place multiple times in the last few years and hearing many raving reviews from students, Chocolate Fish did not live up to its expectations for me. Maybe it’s because I’m not a big coffee nor tea drinker, but the only good thing about the place for me was the baked goods.

3.25/5 stars

I got an Iced Mocha and a Chocolate chip cookie, here are my thoughts: 

I usually like chocolate and coffee. When I first received my items I thought they would be really good. However, when I tried the iced mocha I thought it was too strong and bland. It tasted a little too much like just water and mocha. But I still enjoyed it sip by sip. Then I tried the cookie. It was good but I would’ve preferred it warm. Overall, it was good but probably won’t get the same order.

4.5/5 stars

I recently had the pleasure of going out for a coffee run with my staff from the Prospector, and we had a blast. We all had some laughs, cries, and maybe even some delicious coffee. However, I cannot review what Chocolate Fish is known for because I did not order a coffee and instead, I ordered a Matcha ice drink. And it was quite delicious and it was not what I was expecting coming from a matcha. Though I love Japanese food and culture, I do not consider myself a Matcha individual, but I wanted to try something new. The drink was delicious! Though most people do not like matcha, I would say to give this one a try.

3.5/5 stars

Chocolate Fish is a comfortable cafe that offers a variety of healthy snacks and drinks. Although I failed to capture pictures of my two other items, I remembered to take a picture of the avocado toast I had ordered. Based on looks, the cafe was modern and chic, the interior consisting of blue, gray, and white. Upon looking at the menu, I was confused and impressed with the healthy beverages and food they sold. It was cold out so I wanted to order something to warm me up.  I decided to get a hot cocoa with marshmallows and a blackberry scone. I never had a scone before, but I heard they were good. It was pretty dry, but overall alright. After my drink, I decided to get some avocado toast, which cost seven dollars. I was hungry so I decided to add an egg for an additional two dollars. Don’t get me wrong, it was tasty but not worth ten dollars.

2/5 stars

I got the green tea from Chocolate Fish. Here is what I thought about it: It wasn’t really my cup of tea, literally. I tried to sweeten it a little, but it didn’t make any difference. I don’t really enjoy regular tea and coffee like that only if it’s sweet tea or from Starbucks. But, my snack which was a croissant was really very good! I love croissants. I would’ve rather it heated or something but it still was good.

4/5 stars

I got a blended mocha and banana bread, which were both delicious. Here are my thoughts:

I wanted something sweet, so I opted for a blended mocha because I figured it would be like a frappuccino. It was not as sugary as I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it. The banana bread was my favorite part of the meal. It was heated up after I ordered it and had a subtle banana flavor, which complemented the chocolate chips in the bread too. Overall, my two choices paired very nicely and I had a great experience.

4/5 stars 

I got a macchiato with caramel and banana bread. These are my thoughts on my order: I’d say the coffee was a 10 out of 10 with no doubt. I was kind of going for a Starbucks type of drink and it didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t too sweet, but it wasn’t too bitter or strong either. I’d say it was just right.  On the other hand, I thought the bread would have more flavor, don’t get me wrong it did have flavor but not what I was expecting. It had something green in it, not sure exactly what that was. There were also chunks of bananas which I was not so big of a fan of. Overall it kinda disappointed me. I’d say I would go back for the coffee but for sure not the banana bread.

4/5 stars 

I got the iced white mocha, and I was pleasantly surprised! I usually absolutely hate white chocolate, but the syrup they used didn’t really taste like white chocolate. It gave the coffee a nice creamy flavor, and it wasn’t too sweet. Plus, coffee usually gives me a stomach ache, but not with this drink. Overall, it was really good!

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Features

Senior Q&A

As the school year is passing by, and the summer is getting closer by the day, the seniors here at C.K McClatchy High School are beginning to either get more antsy to end the year or are beginning to dread graduation.

Many students don’t want this year to end. Ending this year would also end their childhood as leaving high school begins the journey into adulthood. Becoming an adult gives a lot more challenges compared to being a high school student. I understand the grief of those who don’t want their high school experience to end. 

I had the chance to interview some seniors here at McClatchy, asking them many questions regarding graduating and how their year is going. 

Here is what was said:

“Do you think that high school is preparing you for your future and how you will turn out for college?”

“I guess so, I get a lot of really basic classes here and hopefully I won’t have to take them again in college.” 

“How do you feel that you are graduating this year?”

“It’s hard to believe. I did not think that this day would come honestly, but it is, and it’s scary.”

“Do you feel that now that you’re an adult there is a lot of pressure on you?”

“Not really, I mean not like from my parents or anything, but I do get more responsibilities. Like I can vote and that sort of puts a little pressure on me.”

So overall I had gotten a bunch of mixed feelings from the seniors here regarding their future and graduating high school. Many students were scared of graduating and could not believe that they were graduating. Many were excited to get this part of their life over with and continue on into adulthood. 

Although, I feel that deep down they were still worried like the rest because graduating and becoming an adult is a scary thing to do.

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Features News

Finals week Q&A

Finals are one of the most feared things among high school students. They happen to determine whether or not you’ve been paying attention in class, or just to cause a headache, as said by some students. We went around the school interviewing students and some teachers about the grave week to come. 

Mx. Herold, the regular and AP Biology teacher here at McClatchy, was asked, “So Mx. Herold, how are you as a teacher prepping for finals week?”

“How I’m prepping for finals week is I’m making sure that all of my students have a solid idea of what’s on the final. We’re doing review assignments in all my classes, but there are different types of review assignments for my AP bio and bio classic. The final test for my AP bio is basically already written, but this is actually my first year that I have given a final to my regular bio students since the pandemic. So that has to be completely rewritten from the ground up! So that’s what I am going to be doing for the rest of the week.”

Wow, they have a lot on their hands!

Anonymous student 1, Junior:

“How are you feeling for finals week?”

“I’m really stressed out, but I’m trying to go over everything on what I don’t understand the most.”

Anonymous student 2, Junior:

“How do you plan to organize your study schedule leading up to finals week?”

“Well regarding that I don’t really study ever, but this will probably be one of the times where I would study. Most of my teachers I have finals in are letting us use notes, so I would just go over the notes that I’ve taken and write the gist of what I remember.”

Anonymous student 3, Junior:

“Are there specific subjects or topics you find challenging and might need extra review on?”

“Probably French and forensics.”

Anonymous student 4, Freshmen:

“Have you discussed your study plan with teachers or classmates to gather different perspectives?”

“I have discussed it with other classmates and my friends to get different opinions to find out what works for them so I can do it”

Anonymous student 5, sophomore:

“When taking study breaks what do you do during them?”

“Eat, just whatever the vibe is.”

Mrs. Abdo, U.S. and AP U.S. History teacher at McClatchy:

“Mrs. Abdo, how do you manage stress during high-pressure weeks like finals week?”

“Time management, making a list of things I need to do, organizing myself and making sure that I am organized before the stressful week comes up.”

Anonymous student 6, Senior:

“Have you reviewed any past exams or assignments to identify areas you can improve?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because once I’m done with it, it’s gone I don’t revisit things”

“Alright..”

Anonymous student 7, Freshmen:

“Are you planning to get enough rest and maintain a healthy routine leading up and during finals week?”

“I will try.”

The students and teachers of McClatchy have a stressful week ahead, but we all shall wish luck upon them as they prepare to take their finals. Good luck lions!

Categories
Features News Photo Series Sports

McClatchy vs. Kennedy Varsity Boys Basketball

Yippee Ki-Yay! The Wild Wild West was the theme of Friday’s home varsity boys’ basketball game, with McClatchy facing off against Kennedy. The energy in the gym was full of life as many students came out to support the team by wearing their best Western attire.

I had a chance to speak with a player from McClatchy’s team before the game to get some insight. Wearing jersey number 4, Daniel Ecks-Estes, a junior at the Clatch, has been playing basketball since about sixth grade and enjoyed playing because it was fun.

“So Daniel, I know your game starts in a few. Most would say that they’re nervous, but how are you feeling going into this game?”

“I’m a little nervous, but I would say that I am a lot more excited than nervous.”

“Yeah, that’s understandable. Do you have any sort of strategy of your own besides the gameplay your coach made?”

“Just to play aggressive and not let the crowd influence me in any negative way.”

“Sounds like a plan. Thank you for your time and good luck!”

The varsity boys started off the game with a call-out for the five starter players for the first round of the game. The cheers from the audience went wild as each starter player was called. Then, like that, McClatchy got the ball first on the tip-off, but it was not long before Kennedy made the first score, which the Lions quickly followed up with one of their own. Each team moved swiftly across the court. Kennedy threw up an impressive sidecourt shot, gaining another point, but the Lions’ team captain, Kendall Andrews, easily put up another layup, putting the score at Lions 6 and Kennedy 5.

The scores went back and forth for a while, with each team going neck and neck with scoring points. The Lions were down by one in the second round of the game, but with an impressive shot made by player 1, Eugene Castillo, the Lions went up by 4 points. New score: Kennedy 20, Lions 16. The Lions were playing quite aggressively, having 3 fouls on the scoreboard. As the game continued, Kennedy made it hard for the Lions as they scored 3 points. Eventually scoring 5 more, the new score being Kennedy 28, Lions 23.

With less than 20 seconds left on the clock in the 2nd round, Kennedy had the upper hand on the Lions with 33 points. The teams broke for halftime, while the fierce McClatchy step and dance team gave a spectacular halftime performance, giving the Lions time to strategize and hopefully come back on top in the third round.

Round three commenced as the Lions were still down by nine, with a scoreboard check of Lions 25 and Kennedy 34. They gained some points with an impressive shot by player 4, Daniel Ecks-Esteces, who we spoke with earlier. Until Kennedy swiftly followed behind with a score. The crowd grew frantic as the Lions were still down, but the boys had heart and weren’t giving up that easy, rushing to gain points.

The score was now Lions 34 and Kennedy 43. The Lions needed to play their all to score nine more points. The crowd went wild as the Lions caught up to Kennedy with a score of Lions 42 and Kennedy 46. Player 0 scored a point, but Kennedy followed up with a layup, and so did the Lions! Scoreboard check 45-48. Kennedy scored two more points, but with two perfectly executed penalty shots, the Lions followed behind only needing 4 more points to surpass Kennedy.

With a minute and twelve seconds left on the clock, the Lions were struggling to gain the points they needed as Kennedy threw up another two points. Fifteen seconds left and the Lions were down by six. Now with five seconds on the clock, Kennedy scored four more points, making it clear that tonight was not the night for the Lions. The boys gave it their all, played aggressively, and didn’t give up. They might not have won, but they walked off the court with their heads held high!

Photos from the game by Francisco Escobar:

Categories
Entertainment Features

Romeo and Juliet Cast and Tech Interviews

The VAPA theater students presented their fall performance last week, featuring William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. It was the classic tale of the fateful star-crossed lovers with an alternative flair. Uniquely cast and styled, the 2023 production of Romeo and Juliet was a post-modern arrangement of a classic told a hundred times before.

Contessa Gonzales, a senior who played Juliet Capulet, said the play needed a fresh take, a different post-modernist view of the story that wasn’t related to the 1996 Luhrman interpretation. She tried not to look at any other renditions of her character so she could be original in her interpretations of the script. Contessa compared this production to the aesthetic of Tim Burton, but others have described it as having pop-punk styles, costumes, and music.

Contessa also expressed that the emphasis on Juliet’s age was very purposeful in her portrayal of the character. Juliet’s emotions are intense, and her immaturity is apparent throughout the drama, as she and Romeo make rash decisions that end in their demise. It’s important to note that many interpretations of the original play believe it was a cautionary tale, considering all the tragedy that ensues.

Dallas Murphy, who was the head of the lighting production, said that the color was very representative of the different eras and settings of the play, with orange representing the Montagues and pink symbolizing romance. Contessa, too, said that the colors of her costumes were coordinated with the events in Juliet’s life; for example, she would always wear red during a death scene.

Myari Adams, the student director of Romeo and Juliet, said her time with the VAPA team was awe-inspiring. She felt that her role as a student director allowed her to get to know everyone on set and even become closer to the people she already knew. She is thankful for the opportunity to work backstage as well as an actor in other productions. If you are interested in theater but not necessarily acting, consider joining the tech team with Dallas and Myari for their next show this school year.

There was a wonderful turnout at every show, and they would like to thank everyone who loyally came to their showings in the fall. If you enjoyed the show, auditions for the winter production, Little Women, are currently taking place for its later performances.

Categories
Advice Features

Best Places to Chill, have a Picnic, or Study!

Are you trying to find some new places in the Sacramento area to hang out or study? Well, I’d be happy to tell you about some of my favorite places in this town to hang out and do activities like picnics, studying, and rocking out! 

The first place on this list is the one and only Plaza Cervantes Park located at 2115 11th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95818. I love this place so much because everyone that goes is super chill and super kind. They pick up their trash whenever they are finishing a sandwich from The Sandwich Spot across the street and in general, the park is great to visit and bring pets on weekends. 

I have had some great mornings there sipping coffee. It is overall a nice place to hang with friends and even practice music. I usually bring my Acoustic guitar out with me to the park and write some tunes there. The best times to be there are most definitely in the mornings because you have the park to yourself most of the time and can sit with a still mind. 

While you are there, say hello to the statue standing proudly in front of the park. Fun fact: the statue used to stand inside or near the plaza area. Where the defunct downtown plaza once was and now where DOCO exists. 

Now one of the best places in all of Sacramento is Five Sips Coffee and Tea located at 2104 11th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95818. A bonus is that it’s located right next to Cervantes Park. A wonderful park next to a wonderful Coffee shop? Yes, please! Five Sips Coffee to me is the shrine of all coffee shops because everyone there is like family. Even if you haven’t visited it and you decide to check it out, you’ll leave having had a welcoming and enjoyable experience.

They have so many yummy options to choose from and the inside has unique artwork to purchase from very talented individuals. I recommend the White Chocolate Mocha, It’s delicious! I love their chocolate pastries and cinnamon rolls as well. They also offer discounts to high school students. So if any of you want a place to have some delicious coffee to go with your study sessions, I recommend Five Sips Coffee! The owner, Michael, also has so many funny stories to tell and loves to present magic tricks. 

The next place I like to hang out and get work done is Sacramento City College’s campus located on 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822. Where to hang out in this place is near the trees. I feel a sense of community, it being a community college no pun intended, but I really do like it there and most of my old friends go there so most of the time I´ll randomly run into them. 

It is also a great place to skate, I don’t skate as much as I used to but there are some cool curbs to hit and some great spots to film your next edgy skate-clip video. There is also a parking garage where you can get a great view of the city from afar. I love seeing it at night when all the lights are up and you can see them all beam from the garage roof. 

There is also the city cafe area in the college for when we get summer temperatures. You can hide there in the shade and take a breather from the heat. The light-rail station is also located inside the campus so you can always take the light rail afterward if need be. 

This one is not a shocker, but the next location I’ll mention is our own C.K. McClatchy High School. Why? Because after hours it’s a great place to walk around, and the view of the sunset from campus is so pretty. But also the track is a nice place to get some good exercise and it is a public park and historical sight so it is nice to go on walks with friends. Sometimes though, interesting things happen there. Since it’s the spooky season I will tell a spooky story: 

One night I went on a walk to Marie’s Donuts. And well I do not recall why I decided to do this, maybe because I wanted to go on a night walk. But after I got some delicious donuts, I visited McClatchy´s Campus. Everything seemed normal at first glance. Until after walking around for a bit, I saw a group of kids laughing. They looked like normal average teenage kids, no different from me. I was walking back and I heard this vibrating noise almost like an airplane in the sky. I turn around and right where you can see the D Wing and the Gym. I saw a big, blue ball of light absorbing the campus buildings. After a couple of seconds, all the power on the campus goes and it is pitch black where I was standing. I heard a scream in the distance after the lights went out. It was probably the most mysterious paranormal encounter I have ever witnessed, whenever I bring it to staff or to my teachers, no one believes me. 

Finally for the last entry on my chill and cool places to visit list, well this is a rocky one, but trust me it is a favorite of mine. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. This place has everything from delicious vegan tacos to the heaviest bands to have ever played there. 

People should go there because it exposes you to new, unique genres of music and you can support local bands while you’re at it. I have played there dozens of times and as a musician, their sound is amazing. The soundboard technicians are great at their job and are willing to make sure you can hear yourself, even if your bass player wants more monitors or your drummer is tuning a snare. 

It is also a great place to support locally owned businesses and a chance to support some local artists. They have plenty of metal shows but on occasion, they will host diverse bills with Indie/rap bands. I have had some of the greatest memories at that place and have met some great personalities. Everyone there is super chill and the mosh pits can get gnarly for all the metalheads/grindcore/hardcore/straightedge readers. Some come to check it out and see for yourselves because I cannot write a paper long enough about how amazing the place is. 

These are all based on my personal experiences and opinions, but I hope these were helpful for anyone wanting to connect with the community more. What are your favorite places in this city?

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Features News

Vapa’s Fall Concert: Wonder

The VAPA student orchestra is showcasing their latest composition in their fall concert, Wonder, “an evening of music dedicated to the dreamers, romantics, and optimists.” The event included three poems by Annette Wynne which set the tone for the following songs that were played throughout the show. The concert was hosted on October 26, in the CKM auditorium. If you missed it, be sure to catch their winter show to take place later in the school year!

The concert was very diverse in the music that was showcased, including not only the VAPA orchestra but multiple songs with the jazz band, as well as a few songs with a full choir. The latter was the most surprising, but all parts of the showcase were equally impressive. 

The first half of the concert began with the poem, “I Like to Wander off Alone”, by Annette Wynne, which describes curiosity for nature and the world. The songs that followed the poem continued this theme, beginning with “The Bird” by F.J. Haydn and Matthew Moreno and finishing with “Sonata for Flute & Piano” by Francois Poulenc. The sonata seemed to be a highlight of this half of the show, since a few people almost started to clap in the middle of the song, despite it never pausing for applause. Whether this was enthusiastic or accidental, it showed the audience’s appreciation of the show. 

After a short intermission, the second half of the show began with the orchestral song, “Afterburn” by Randal Standridge, only to be followed by a performance from the jazz band; It was quite the switch, but the jazz band was so well organized that it flowed smoothly. Songs played during the jazz section of the show were also accompanied by vocals from Cara Taylor, which complimented pieces like “S’Wonderful” by George and Ira Gershwin very well and gave more excitement to an already lively performance. 

The second part of the last half of the show was marked by a final poem, “You Can Measure a Steeple” by Annette Wynne, which was followed by songs like “Moonlit Skies” by Sean O’Loughlin. This song in particular was accompanied by a screen that rolled down during the song to display pictures of the moon. This song was the only one to have a visual aid, but it complimented the piece well, making the whole performance feel very calming. 

To finish the concert, the entire orchestra played a rendition of Katy Perry’s “Firework”, a familiar song to those who go to football games as that’s the only other place it had been performed before. With the lyrics performed by brass instruments, the show ended on a very playful note, as opposed to the incremental style of previous songs. 

At the end of the show, it was announced that the orchestra would be auditioning for some bigger performances later this year, mentioning that it is important to get some quality videos for their performances for that reason. Hopefully, this concert will allow the VAPA music team to get many more opportunities in the future. Keep up with their newest concerts via their Instagram, @ckmvapa, or future announcements like this!

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Features News

Capital Park/Museum/Things to Do

Sacramento’s capitol is a beautiful place to visit and hangout. With its great green landscape and calm atmosphere, It’s definitely somewhere you should think about visiting.

According to “assembly.ca”, Sacramento capitol has a museum where you can visit and experience California’s rich history and witness the process of modern law making. 

Besides this, there are lots of trees around and great spots to find shade and lounge. It’s about 40 acres of land, around the area there are different species of trees. Capital park is an amazing place decorated with beautiful and colorful flowers.

The Capitol park is a nice place to be because you can be with your family while getting shade and maybe having a snack. With that being said, right next to Capitol Park is the California State Capitol Museum where you can learn about the history of Sacramento and see artifacts you’ve probably never seen before. It’s definitely a place I would take my family, they even have amazing restaurants in the area you can enjoy afterwards.

Capitol Park is a great place to be with lots of shade and many surrounding businesses. At the California State Capitol Museum, you can learn about Sacramento’s history with modern law. It’s also great if you have kids and want them to understand the background of the historic city they’re growing up in.They probably don’t know how Sacramento went and got through modern laws but they will learn it there, also that Sacramento is the sixth state capital.

Capital park is supposed to remind us of the history and natural beauty. They have statues of firefighters and peace officers. It’s considered one of the most beautiful parks in the nation. They even pay respect to the Civil War that took place from 1861-1865.

There are plenty of restaurants if you get hungry or even wanna go for a nice dinner. Next to the beautiful capital park. They even have an art museum right next to everything. If you really wanted to you can schedule tours to visit the California state capitol during weekdays.

There are a limited number of people so it is first come first serve so try and be the first to book, so as to not miss out. You do not have to pay either, it is free. It’s usually an hour and a half long according to “capitalparktour.com”.

They have amazing activities nearby as well for the children or even adults to have lots of fun after learning about the great history. Activities such as laser quest, escape rooms, paintball, and even movie theater.

Sacramento is known for being California’s state capital, but also for the swimming and boating, Sacramento has great lakes to take a boat to and cruise around. Sacramento has a banquet of activities.

Sacramento also is in a spot where many people pass and stop by, the nightlife of Sacramento can be casual but highly energetic or somewhere in between according to nightlife “sacramento.CA”.

Categories
Entertainment Features

Homecoming Game: McClatchy vs. Burbank