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HOLIDAY FUN: Some holiday traditions and activities are not able to take place this year due to the severity of COVID-19. However, students and those who are involved in the Mater Dei community can still have a fun holiday season with these activities.
IN THE MOMENT: Sophomore Desiree Tran participates in her Art II class from home. As a remote learning student, Tran works at home and ask her teachers questions through email or Zoom. "[Remote learning] is beneficial since I can sleep in a lot and I can organize my own schedule," Tran said.
SINGING FOR JOY: Senior Reese Wineroth and junior Kimberly Pidazo sing the gathering song at the beginning of the Celebration of Life prayer service. Pidazo’s favorite song that she sang at the event was "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace." “I felt like it was very uplifting,” Pidazo said. “My favorite thing about singing is the connection I can make with people.”
CHOPPED: During a typical game of Among Us, two players are deemed “Imposters” and need to eliminate all the Crewmates in order to win. While you are the Imposter, you need to keep your identity a secret, which Freshman Lily Hirsch finds entertaining. “It
TESTING CENTERS CLOSE: Because of the risk of the Coronavirus spread, most SAT and ACT testing centers in the state of California have closed, leaving students with no choice but to travel out of state if they wish to submit a test score with their application.
Seniors working on College Apps with COVID restrictions
Seniors working on College Apps with COVID restrictions
January 12, 2021

At the end of their four years of high school, seniors are now beginning their next journey in life: college. In the fall semester, seniors start to apply to colleges...

EYES UP, MASK ON: Students sit at their desks with their masks on and listen to their teacher. During the Hybrid Learning program, students are required to wear masks at all times while on campus, and teachers like Mrs. Kitsinis feel that change the most in their classrooms. “There
Masks create social barrier between students and teachers
January 12, 2021

As this semester comes to a close, the first ever involving a mask mandate, some have noticed how face coverings have created a social barrier to traditional student-teacher...

IN THE MOMENT: Sophomore Desiree Tran participates in her Art II class from home. As a remote learning student, Tran works at home and ask her teachers questions through email or Zoom. "[Remote learning] is beneficial since I can sleep in a lot and I can organize my own schedule," Tran said.
Arts teachers, students find success in blended learning format
December 8, 2020

Although core classes are held mostly on campus and in person, most extracurricular classes are blended or remote classes this year. This means they are held online before...

STUDYING HISTORY WHILE LIVING THROUGH IT: Sophomore Willow Laws works on a history worksheet on her iPad at home on Oct. 13. Laws’ history class, taught by Justin Deskovick, is considered an asynchronous class where she is given assignments and assessments to complete on her own on time and is self-paced for students fully online. “I feel like I’ve gotten used to [online school] but it is still a little weird,” Laws said. “I only have Zoom classes for two of my classes [Religion and Spanish] so I haven’t really seen who my teachers are yet. I feel like I can make it work because all of my teachers are always emailing me and reaching out to me.”
As a precaution, students choose remote learning MD Online option
October 29, 2020
Now that most students have returned to school for in-person learning, safety rules have been put into place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep all students safe while being back on campus.
After contracting COVID-19, senior warns students to be careful
October 8, 2020
NO GYM NO PROBLEM: Friends and classmates meet together virtually for the daily workout. Natasha Hill leads Tabata body weight workouts three to four days a week for an hour. Natasha Hill “I joined the Zoom workouts because Natasha asked a bunch of us if we would be interested...I said yes because I wanted to exercise with a group of friends to have that support when working out.” Senior Lexi Tanghal said.
Lifting each other up without the weights
June 18, 2020
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Now that sports are able to practice both outdoors and indoors on campus, new safety measures have been put in place to ensure student athletes
Sports teams adjust to new environment with in-person practices
October 14, 2020
Multiple-sport athletes, like those who run both track and cross country, will have to find a way to balance their overlapping practice and competition schedules this year due to schedule changes as a result of the pandemic.
Multi-sport athletes encounter challenges due to CIF schedule changes
October 14, 2020
SAFETY FIRST: For teams to maintain a safe environment, school administration and the athletic department instated the following policies: Upon entering campus, students would have their temperatures checked, athletes would be required to wear a mask when they enter, but can take them off during socially-distanced drills. The athletics department posted a checklist and video on their Instagram explaining what the students need to be allowed back on campus.
Off-season sports practices start up, halt, then begin again
September 1, 2020
HOLIDAY FUN: Some holiday traditions and activities are not able to take place this year due to the severity of COVID-19. However, students and those who are involved in the Mater Dei community can still have a fun holiday season with these activities.
Stay in the holiday spirit while staying safe
December 22, 2020
CHOPPED: During a typical game of Among Us, two players are deemed “Imposters” and need to eliminate all the Crewmates in order to win. While you are the Imposter, you need to keep your identity a secret, which Freshman Lily Hirsch finds entertaining. “It
Video games, mainly ‘Among Us,’ distract, entertain students during pandemic
November 10, 2020
SAFELY SPOOKY: Traditional Halloween activities are some of the more high risk activities that are not recommended by the CDC. Trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and costume parties are all included in the high risk activities and should be avoided this holiday season, but students can still stay in the Halloween spirit.
Keeping Halloween fun but low-risk
October 30, 2020
USING HER VOICE: Senior Taylor Bruder poses with her “I Voted” sticker after voting in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Bruder posted her photo to her Instagram story to promote awareness of the election, which will take place on Nov. 3. “I’m going to vote because I’m concerned about our country,” Bruder said. “People’s rights are on the line. I’m voting to protect my rights and other minorities rights.”
Students can vote in election for the first time
November 2, 2020
READY, SET, GO: On Oct. 20, the all male kingsmen honors choir recorded the vocals for the upcoming virtual Fall Concert that will take place on Nov. 1. They all sing their song “Homeward Bound” with their mask on and while maintaining social distancing standards. Sophomore Benjamin Thai, senior Justin Vu, and senior Kenny Pham talk between takes of their song. “I missed the live audience from in-person concerts, but I was also less nervous singing for the virtual concert.” Benjamin Thai said.
Photo slideshow: Choir rehearses for Fall Concert
October 31, 2020
FACE THE MUSIC: As handbells practiced with Boomwhackers outside of the choir room on Sept. 17, senior Natalie Erhard gets ready to sort each instrument. Boomwhackers are hollow plastic tubes that are used as instruments. “We are using boomwhackers for a couple of fun pieces that are a little more casual for MD Unplugged,” Erhard said. MD Unplugged is an event showcasing the school’s soloists, small groups, and handbells which will take place on Oct. 17 at 7:30pm in the Grotto
Handbells group uses boomwhackers for performance
October 13, 2020
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The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School