The Trojan Oracle Vol 3
October 2023
A few things...
Yearbook
- Seniors ads can now be bought online. Instructions here
- Yearbooks are now on sale @ yearbookforever.com
ASB
- Grad Nite Tickets for Seniors are on sale now in the ASB for $335, limited tickets are available. The deadline to purchase Grad Nite Tickets is January 31, 2024 because Disney needs a count of how many students from CPH will be attending Grad Nite.
Winter Break December 18th - January 9th
Student Life🥳
College Apps Season for UC and CSU's Has Come and Gone
Being a senior is a transition and a time of self growth. Senior year carries lots of responsibilities and emotions! It can be very challenging when preparing and applying for colleges. It is a whole other level of stress and pressure added onto the school year deciding majors and writing personal insight questions for the UC system! Juggling all this while maintaining work for school can be a handful and definitely a process. However, this is a chance to embrace new experiences and opportunities.
Senior Pedro Aguilar who is interested and would like to major in environmental sciences was one of the students that applied to four different CSUs. CSU Northridge, CSU fullerton, CSULA and CSU Long beach. He also applied to the UC system; UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, UC Merced, and UC Riverside. A lot of students are scared to apply to UCs because they require essays. One of the PIQs that Pedro asnwered was the one about leadership experience. His response reflected on his time as a Track and Field student athlete. He describes these college applications as overwhelming. He says that one of the things that helped him throughout the whole process was definitely talking to people who had already gone through the whole application since they offered him advice and a helping hand. His sister's girlfriend supported him the most, since she is one of the only people around his age that are currently going to college. Some piece of advice he would give to underclassmen would probably be to ask for help and don't procrastinate.
Senior Jianni Estrada also applied to four CSUs. She describes college applications as stressful. What helped her out the most was setting aside time to just focus on the application where she could just solely work on them. People who were there to support her through the process were her parents by walking her through it and the information input. She mentions how her friends also morally supported her with this. Advice she would give to underclassmen is to figure out what schools you want to apply to before, to not procrastinate, and making any progress can take a lot of stress off.
Another hardworking Trojan who decided to apply to college is senior Cecely Velasquez. Cecely says that dedicating time for working on the applications helped her the most. Her mom supported her the most throughout this, paid for her applications, talked her through the stress, and was there for every step. She applied to UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine and UCLA. Cecely wants to major in environmental engineering and apply to law school when she finishes undergrad. Procrastinating in her personal insight questions was her hardest task because she knew once she submitted them, she knew she would have to plan the next chapter of her life. Advice she gives to underclassmen is to start them early, write down a list of activities you have done or participated in, and attend any college presentations you have the opportunity to go to even if it's a school that is not on your radar; any information about college and the application process can be useful.
Senior year is meant to be fun. It's our last year as high students, but it can also be a huge balancing act of school work, social life, and planning our future. As one can see, it is great advice to ask for help from those with experience, reflect on career/college options, get started early, and chip away at these apps little by little. Seniors who applied to a UC and CSU we are proud of you! Underclassmen, it's never too early to start planning for the real world after high school because it comes in a flash.
By: Princess Franco
Making a Positive Impact in the Community
We are proud to introduce the Culture and Climate Club, a significant initiative at our school. In our conversation with Mrs. McDaniel, the advisor of the club, we wanted to comprehend the club's objectives and reasons for student involvement.
Mrs. McDaniel articulated that the fundamental goal of Culture and Climate is to influence the perspectives and sentiments of students, staff, and the broader Castle Park community. Students are encouraged to join because the club is designed for their benefit—it fosters a sense of belonging within the community so that students feel safe, have a voice, and like they belong in here at Castle Park high School.
Senior Dominic Collins, the president of Culture and Climate, shared insights into his motivations for joining and to discuss events that the club has organized and hosted. Dominic explained that his interest in the club was piqued when he learned about it from Mrs. McDaniel the previous year. His primary motivation was to actively contribute to the improvement of Castle Park, transforming it into a more positive environment for everyone. Regarding the most successful event organized by the club, Dominic pointed to the Haunted Trail, describing it as both enjoyable and aesthetically impressive. Notably, it had significant attendance from families within the community, further solidifying the club's impact. Most recently the club hosted their 2nd annual Winter Fest, an opportunity to have talented groups perform for the CPHS community. He stated that the pics with Santa (Adrian Gomez) were a hit. Check out some of the photos above. He hopes that underclassmen step it up and jon the club so that future generations of Culture and Climate Club participants can continue to contribute to the great environment that is the CPHS community.
By: Evonnie Velasco
Trojan of the Month
Junior Jordan Juarez was nominated for Trojan of the Day by Mrs. Miller for performing such an amazing role in the play “The Crucible” and she thanked him for bringing entertainment to the show. Jordan expressed how he enjoyed reading The Crucible and enjoyed the dramatic plot and the intensity behind the book. He also shared what makes the book even a crazier story is how the book is based on true events. Jordan explained that it was very entertaining for him to be part of the play and he feels he acted his heart out during the show. Jordan says there is a slight chance he could be seeing himself as an actor in the future but mainly focusing on art and animations. Acting is definitely something he considers, it's somewhere he can be outgoing, loud and just himself.
Junior Nancy Villanueva was also nominated by Ms.Mosti for being an outstanding student, she takes her academics very seriously and never fails to impress her teachers. She manages her time wisely which contributes to her great academic success. Nancy goes on to say “I always try to finish everything I can during school and the rest I can do it at home. If I manage my time wisely then it lets me have as much free time as I want later.” For nancy it is academics first and fun later, we can all do a better job at taking this advice a little more serious.
Thank you teachers for nominating students. Please continue to do so and will highlight two students each issue. keep up the good work Trojans!
By: Natalia Orozco
Staff Standouts
Behind the Scenes in Sports and Admin
Mr. Eddie has been working at Castle Park for 3 years now. He loves the overall culture of the school between the academic and athletic side of things, making it an interesting as well as fun place to come work at. Plus he gets to see both sides of individuals; as students, and as athletes playing the sports they love. Challenges Mr. Eddie is sometimes faced with are long hours and multiple tasks. Due to being the Sports Medicine teacher, and the Athletic Trainer he tends to be here late, more often than not, covering games and working with all our sports teams in addition to his general class load. Advice Mr Eddie would give to students who want to be successful at Castle Park is figuring out what works best for them between studying and extracurricular activities. Be willing to branch out, because you never know what you’ll end up enjoying the most while here at CP.
Ms. Walker has worked at Castle Park for 4 years. She started in 2020 during the pandemic when there were no students in person. Ms. Walker finds enjoyment in the staff and students’ sense of family at CP. She thinks the students at CP are very nice and good kids for the most part. Handling pressure that she puts on herself, and additional that just comes with her responsibilities is probably the hardest thing about about Ms. Walker's job. Her goal is to make sure things are always done right and for the best interest of the teachers along with the students. A piece of advice Ms. Walker would give to someone who wants to be successful at CP is, be true to yourself. There’s too much noise out there, meaning no matter what your peers are doing, no matter what social media is putting out, no matter what expectations are put on you by anybody, never let that stop you from finding yourself in this big chaotic, confusing, and complex world. If you really know yourself and are true to yourself, wherever you go you will find your way by not letting that noise follow you.
By: Alyx Navarro
Fall Athletes of the Year
Lana Roche
Sophomore Lana Roche was awarded Offensive Player of the Year for the Flag Football team. We asked her some questions on how she felt and what contributed to her success. Lana stated “It felt really great to be honored, but to be honest I thought I was going to get MVP. Still, getting Offensive Player of the Year was amazing. It means a lot for it being my first year and getting this award presented to me. I feel that being a multi-sport athlete contributes to me being better at specific sports. I look forward to being better in soccer and basketball since it is my first year in soccer and my second in basketball.”
Sebastian Lozano
Sebastian Lozano was awarded CP Fall Athlete of the year for Football. We requested him to answer some questions about how he felt hearing his name being called out and what helped him get this award. Sebastian responded with “I felt honored and pleased to win that award, I was really proud of myself since it was my first time winning an award. I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself to stay disciplined to my sport and I make sure if I'm going to do something I stay committed to it. Honestly, my coach and my teammates motivate me to improve myself. I joined soccer and I'm having so much fun with coach Vargas. Shoutout to my mommadukes for the support.”
Princess Tacla
Princess Tacla was awarded CP Fall Athlete of the Year for Field Hockey. We asked her about the emotions that were going on and what helps her succeed so well. Princess expressed “I felt shocked and confused because when I heard my name I was like who was that, then I realized it was me so when I walked up and received it I felt so happy and proud of myself because I worked so hard to get Athlete of the Year. I feel like my teammates and my coach contributed to my athletic success because without my teammates I wouldn't have gotten better. Also my coach because he was always there for me and he always supported me. I'm looking forward to doing better in lacrosse because I want to use that as an opportunity to earn a college scholarship.”
By: Alessandra Cabrales
Club Spotlight
Photography with Mrs. Bradley is one of the many visual and performing art classes we have at Castle; it also offers an after school club hosted every Tuesday and Thursday. Photography class inspires its students to express themselves through their work and push themselves out of their comfort zone. We asked Mrs Bradley what her class represented and who the ideal students would be, here is what she emphasized: “It allows you to be creative with yourself, and that's something I love to share. There's just so many opportunities that you can unlock with this skill under your belt, It's all about presentation and that's something that’ll always come in handy. Everyone can hold a camera, anyone can take a picture, it's just a matter of students being open to learning. The class is great for introverted students who want to be a part of the bigger events at school but are too shy to. The camera works as a sort of catalyst to experience those big events without having to be too involved.” At the end of the day it seems like anyone can be great fit for this class/club.
Students in the class/club were asked what the most common misconception about photography and they replied as a collaborative, that picture-taking can be done quickly; but you have to be patient. Most students thought that taking photos was just about pushing a button, but it is a lot more than that. So far photography has done a lot of cool projects, but one huge benefit of the class and club are the field trips they go on. The students also expressed they are looking forward to Six Flags Magic Mountain, a reward for their hard work this semester, and Universal Studios, for their end-of-the-year trip.
Fun in and out of the classroom seems like a win for me, sign me up! If you have any more questions, please see Mrs. Bradley in room 709/710 and talk to your counselor.
By: Ixchel Montellano
Academic Spotlight
CTE Construction
We offer a lot of great classes on campus and one of the many is CTE Construction. We interviewed Mr. gamez and some students to learn more about this course offering where students can immidiately apply what they learn to their real life.
Mr. Gamez:
"This class is intended to teach technical trade skills for beyond high school and for the students to use later in life, for residential and commercial construction. I have been teaching since 1999 but this specific course I've been teaching since 2011, spending 13 years of my life doing something I love and passionate about and also teaching kids skills they could teach their kids and so on. My favorite thing to teach my students is the relationship between the core classes and our CTE classes. For example, we use a lot of math in construction, what students learn in core math classes they use in this class. Most of the student's classes emphasize rigor, here we get the relevance. Students apply what we learn immediately to their projects."
Angelica Godina, 12:
"When joining this class I because I didn't have an elective, but I feel like now my fellow classmates and I are more like a family. Something that I have learned from Mr.Gamez is having respect and not taking everything too seriously and to enjoy and have fun with the activities I am working on. I have learned a lot from Mr. Gamez over this past year and I would like to shout him out for teaching me life lessons and being like a father figure for me and I have enjoyed every minute of it."
Alan Reyes, 11:
"When joining three years ago I thought I wouldn't like it and it wouldn't be for me but after working with other people and with Mr. Gamez it made me realize the different personal skills and traits I can learn for my future career. I have also enjoyed the projects I have been assigned and working with different people as a team. I have learned many things over these years, but one thing I think I will use in the future is plumbing. I now know how to fix sinks, toilets, and the different tools and pipes needed to accomplish this. Mr. Gamez has welcomed me to his class and my shout out to him would be that he is a really cool teacher and funny. I look forward to continuing to work with him."
By: Jared Perez
Winter Sport Offerings
Join A Winter Sport
There are many reasons why sports are a great way to get involved in high school. From keeping you busy after school so you don't doom scroll on social media to making new friends. Here at CPHS we offer an array of sports to choose from. It is not too late to join a sport. Read what some of our very own winter sport athletes have to say about why students should join their sport:
Girls Soccer:
Sirene Rivera, 11- "I think students should join soccer because when you join the team, it feels like a second family, you can make new friendships and everyone is supportive. The coaches are supportive as well as the girls and it doesn’t matter if you are new to the sport or not, they’ll treat you the same!"
Boys Soccer:
Israel Zabala, 11-"Students should Join soccer because when you’re on a team, it encourages you to maintain your grades. You also have lots of fun playing against other schools and teammates."
Girls Basketball:
Noemi Alvarado,12- “The team is like a family, and a way to meet new people and make friends. I play basketball as a way to relieve stress and focus on my game. This sport is like therapy, in the way that I can talk out my problems with teammates and coaches, and leave the drama off the court.”
Boys Basketball:
Elijah Green, 12- “ This basketball program is so inclusive and definitely a family away from home. It’s like a brotherhood to me. Basketball has definitely introduced me into so many new people, as well as making new friends. It's a great way to stay active and connected with Castle Park.”
Girls Wrestling:
Jazmine Coronel Sanchez, 11- “Students Should join wrestling because it can teach you new skills and challenges you to become a better person by making you stronger physically, but also your mindset.”
Boys Wrestling:
Emilio Surposa Buendia, 11- "I believe wrestling helps you overcome challenges you face just as if it were real life. It teaches you that no matter what the situation you're put in, if you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything."
Girls Water Polo:
Andrea Loaiza, 12- "The pros of joining waterpolo this winter is it's a fun sport and if you like swimming and being in the water it is a bonus. You learn how to be a team and you become like a family and meet new friends. Oh and don't worry, the pool is heated.”
Roller Hockey:
Iris Miranda, 11- “I feel like roller hockey is an exciting sport to play. It may look violent, but it is the least violent sport you can play and also it is a good alternative for people who don't like to run you can get a good cardio workout just by roller skating."
Community- New Facilities Update
Our Reactions
Concessions and Restrooms video
Above you will find video renderings of the new stadium that is schedulued to break ground at the end of the spring semester 2024. We asked staff and students to take a look at these and provide us their feedback. Check out below to see the comments.
CP Coaches
Mr. Vargas
"The new stadium will improve the experience on the field because student athletes will play on an even field that will have permanent lines to help out the players performance. Also they will be able to play in all kinds of weather. The fields will look nicer all year long and encourage more students to join sports."
Coach Chris
"As the Girls LAX coach at our school, I am happy to now be able to host playoffs since we can't play on a grass field for playoffs. Once we have a luxurious stadium it will attract more students in our community to want to attend their home school."
ASB
Mrs.Acosta
"This facility will definitely improve the student body experience because it's going to be a nice big environment, it'll be a flawless concession experience especially for the hard working ASB students, and everything will be conveniently close by.
Isabel Gurganious, 9 - ASB Student
"It definitely will be easier now that students will be able to work together and will decrease the conflict over the unsanitary area."
Mrs. Wendy- ASB Representative
"The facilities will be closer to each other meaning everybody will have easy access to the ticket stand, the concession stand, and bathrooms. ASB workers will now be able to visually watch games with a good looking layout."
Athletes (who play a sport on the field )
Sirene Rivera, 11- Girls Varsity Soccer Player
"The part of the new stadium that stood out to me the most is how the field is going to be even now (without holes or dips). What I am not going to miss from the old stadium is how the old field is not the safest to play due to how unpredictable the field condition can be."
Eduardo Sanchez, 11- Boys Varsity Soccer Player
"The part of the new stadium that I like the most is how spectacular the new field will look. Overall what stood out to me the most is the brand new turf field. What I’m definitely not going to miss is the uneven grass and how the stadium currently looks outdated."
By: Brandon Reyes and Xochitl Ruiz