By Arman Zadeh and Robert Katz, Staff Writers
Nine months ago, we were all nine months younger than we are now. More importantly, the 2011-2012 school year began, and now it is over, almost as quickly as it started. In even less time, Beverly Highlights’ first semester online has come and gone, so, before the Highlights staff begins its annual summer sweatshop in order to pay for the cost of print, it would be a good idea to consider the school year in review.
Athletics
This was a historic year for Beverly athletics. For starters, Beverly basketball reached a milestone not previously reached in almost 50 years. For the first time since 1962, the varsity basketball team, carried by seniors Austin Mills, Frank Brown, Mike Lanier, Willie Green and Brodric Smith, reached the CIF semi-finals, where their season met its demise against Pasadena. As a very wise car commercial once told me, “It’s not the destination that matters, but the journey that makes it memorable.” The team’s “journey” this season included a season saving buzzer beater, a winning record and a historic run.
You can view Smith’s amazing shot in the quarter finals of CIF here: Smith’s shot
Mills as he prepares to face Pasadena in the semi-finals of CIF.
On another note, both the track and cross country teams proved we have the fastest legs in Southern California. Cross country proved their skills as both the boys’ and girls’ teams took first place at the Ocean League Championships.
Representing the track team was Alex Rohani. Rohani placed first in the 400 meter race in the boys’ state championships with a time 47.34 seconds. He held the fastest time in California.
The Arts
Beverly’s most inexplicable honor was a visit from former London mayor Duncan Sandys, who arrived at campus to invite the marching band to the London 2013 New Year’s Day parade. It was a sure sign of the band’s recent improvements that were reflected in their Halloween homecoming marching show, which, while not particularly frightening, was their most advanced show since Bill Bradbury’s arrival as band director.
Tough Spots
The most problematic topic of the year was the debacle over the school’s fire alarms, which, for some truly strange reason, became the most popular way for students to harass their peers. As a result of their spike in trendiness, the pulling of fire alarms, at its peak, could be heard multiple times in a given day and sometimes more than once in a single period. The false alarms forced both students and teachers to give up valuable class time for fire drills along with being a general annoyance. As a result, precautions were taken and, although some students were punished, there hasn’t been a single false alarm since. At least, not until next year.
For a time, our school campus was transformed by the digging-up and refilling of the front lawn in preparation for the long-rumored and now-confirmed installation of a subway underneath the school (still possibly moving through litigation). As the earth was surveyed for fault lines, students were forced to attend a school that, at times, felt like a construction site. However, while construction of the metro (and the accompanying controversies) should continue into the near future, the chasm that we called our lawn was neatly filled back up by the end of May, just in time for seniors to graduate, and wonder if they’re all standing above a sink hole, in the traditional spot.
Honors
Finally, Highlights was recognized as seventh place Best in Show for newspapers 9-12 pages at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention. Schools from all over the country, and a few from around the world, were present at the convention. Special thanks to Highlights advisers Gaby Herbst, Katie Murray and, now former, editors-in-chiefs Nathan Ong and Mallika Sen for all of our shared success.
With the end of a rather interesting year for Beverly, one filled with record-setting successes, divisive controversies and unexpected visits, it’s time for BeverlyHighlights to sign off for the summer. We’ll be back next year with more writers, more multimedia content (that means original videos, photos and possibly even a podcast) and more integration with print Highlights. So, even if you have a couple weeks less to not think about it, look forward to the new school year. We are. In homage to Anchorman, stay classy, Beverly.
“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson