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The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
Online education and digital tools have become essential for students to manage their workflow efficiently. With increasing academic demands, apps like Canvas, Notion, and ChatGPT help students stay organized, track assignments, and enhance productivity. Integrating technology into learning allows students to balance their studies and personal lives more effectively. (Image courtesy of Freepik)
OUT ON THE WATER Senior William Sangmeister sails in Newport Harbor, practicing for upcoming regattas. After school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the sailing team practices for upcoming competitions. “I’m excited for the season as we have a lot of talent this year,” Sangmeister said.
PRECISION AND SPEED Sophomore Mia Games and junior Mia De Van Der Stein pose for a photo during varsity practice. Games is a goalie who alternates between both the JV and varsity teams, while De Van Der Stein plays midfielder on the varsity team. Both showcase exceptional talent and commitment towards the sport. “Defining success as an athlete is just putting 100% effort all the time,” De Van Der Stein said. “In my opinion, it also affects how you perform, it's okay if you don't perform at 100% all the time, but as long as you put your best effort and interest at heart, it's what counts at the end of the day, because it really means that you're trying, and eventually the success will be there.”
DEPLETING CREATIVITY The lack of sentiment towards daily situations is a big problem for many when it comes to AI due to its inability to communicate in the same capacity as humans. AI can take over the job of writing, making it unnecessary for people to write anything on their own. This is one of the main reasons why Sisifa disagrees with the use of AI. “I don't like AI because I think that it takes away people's creativity and imagination,” Sisifa said. Illustration by Victoria Cox
MORE THAN JUST GUITAR Seniors Katherine Allen and David Oswald play together in perfect harmony. The Guitar program is much more than just guitars, it also includes various other percussion instruments. “You can find guitars, pianos, drums, basses, tambourines, and many more [instruments]!” Gonzalez said. Photo by Cheyenne Torres
  • My School
    72
    Bishop O'Connell
    73
    Jan 20 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    84
    St. John Bosco
    88
    Jan 17 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    1
    St. John Bosco
    2
    Jan 17 / Boys' varsity soccer
  • My School
    5
    Foothill
    6
    Jan 16 / Girls' varsity water polo
  • My School
    1
    JSerra Catholic
    0
    Jan 16 / Girls' varsity soccer
  • My School
    3
    Santa Margarita
    0
    Jan 15 / Boys' varsity soccer
  • My School
    12
    Rosary Academy
    5
    Jan 14 / Girls' varsity water polo
  • My School
    83
    Servite
    68
    Jan 10 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    1
    Servite
    2
    Jan 10 / Boys' varsity soccer
News
TEACHABLE MOMENTS Honors Chemistry teacher Agnes Faltas helps students with a lab on chemical reactions. Classes like Hn. Chemistry allows students to both fulfill their science graduation requirements, and to challenge themselves with a faster paced honors-level course. Counselor Marybeth Nguyen emphasizes the importance of taking Chemistry before college. “Colleges really like to see Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, all three of those, in general, that tends to be the trend,” Nguyen said.
Thinking Ahead: Choosing Classes for Next Year
March 24, 2025

The future is exciting — but for some, uncertain. Every March, Mater Dei students in grades 9 through 11 can access their class lists for the next year through Aeries, the...

TIME IS TICKING TikTok is widely used by many Americans and Mater Dei students. However, there are many theories, including the safety of American users, that suggest it is not beneficial. All this controversy is leading people to choose sides and consider whether TikTok was ever a good app, or not.
What Impact does the Tiktok Ban have on Mater Dei
February 26, 2025

On Jan. 19, 2024 the popular app, TikTok, was banned nationally by the United States Congress for a number of reasons including theories about the app and its threats to national...

CELEBRATION IN FAITH AND UNITY Chaplain Father Mark Cruz gives his homily on bringing together a community of people blessed with Catholic education. Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is for celebrating how Catholic education has changed our lives. “I believe Mass plays a huge role in CSW because it reminds us how crucial faith is to our everyday lives,” Delaney said. “During CSW not only should we thank our faculty and staff, but also [remember] that CSW is centered around our connection to God.”
The Catholic Schools Week Celebration
February 25, 2025

Catholic Schools Week is a dedicated week during the school year that is nationally celebrated each year in the US. This week-long celebration began in 1974, and normally...

Features
GOAL GLORY: The Mater Dei Varsity Boys Soccer Team gathers on the field celebrating a wonderful match. With determination and teamwork, the athletes showed Servite the spirit of competition and school pride. “It was a tough game for us,” Pham said. “Coach Ganey and the team prepared for this game carefully, so that is the main reason we had a wonderful victory.”
Boys Soccer — The Experience
March 18, 2025
LIVING OUT THE WORD Father Mark Cruz reads the Liturgy of the Word during Mater Dei’s 2024 Ash Wednesday Mass. This allowed him to share the word of God to the student body, helping students to prepare for the upcoming Lenten season. The Monarch community participates in the Mass, growing in honor, glory, and love. “Ash Wednesday reminds me that life is fleeting, but faith is eternal,” senior Duong Nguyen said. “Today, I walk forward with gratitude, seeking renewal, growth, and a heart closer to God.” Photo by Angelin Tran.
Ash Wednesday: Mater Dei Reflects on the Significance of Lent
February 25, 2025
MAKING WAVES Junior and driver Ayla Ackerman shoots the ball while an opposing player attempts to guard her. The Mater Dei Varsity Girls Water Polo Team faced off against the Laguna Beach Breakers on Dec. 13 in a legendary match. The Monarchs won the game with a final score of 12-6. Not only did these girls demonstrate their shooting accuracy, swimming speed, and excellent teamwork, they displayed their passion and dedication for the sport. “I would say [water polo has taught] me perseverance, resilience, discipline, and to trust my teammates and coaches,” senior Mia Sullivan said. Photo by Paige Deiparine.
Treading on and off the deck: Girls Water Polo Feature
February 19, 2025
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News briefs
News Briefs for Apr. 1
March 31, 2025
News Briefs for Mar. 28
March 25, 2025
News Briefs for Mar. 25
March 25, 2025
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Sports
COMPLIMENTARY COMPANIONS Seniors Niko Manapat and Josh Sumbong sit together on the bench after working hard together and constantly lifting their teammates up. Sharing a nonstop train of compliments helps them to make sure they feel confident even during high pressure moments. “I keep myself and others motivated by keeping a positive mindset and focusing on the next play instead of focusing on past mistakes,” senior Niko Manapat said. Photo courtesy of
What Inspires Mater Dei Athletes
February 5, 2025
LAST DITCH EFFORT Freshman Max Chyczewski chases after sophomore Phoenix Dickinson, who has the puck, to prevent her from scoring. Defense is an important part of a hockey team, and being able to chase after a player with a puck and stopping them from scoring is an essential part of that role. “Something that can be really rewarding [about playing center/forward] is being able to have more chances to score,” Dickinson said.
Preparing For Another Season – Ice Hockey Feature
November 13, 2024
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Sports
COMPLIMENTARY COMPANIONS Seniors Niko Manapat and Josh Sumbong sit together on the bench after working hard together and constantly lifting their teammates up. Sharing a nonstop train of compliments helps them to make sure they feel confident even during high pressure moments. “I keep myself and others motivated by keeping a positive mindset and focusing on the next play instead of focusing on past mistakes,” senior Niko Manapat said. Photo courtesy of
What Inspires Mater Dei Athletes
February 5, 2025
LAST DITCH EFFORT Freshman Max Chyczewski chases after sophomore Phoenix Dickinson, who has the puck, to prevent her from scoring. Defense is an important part of a hockey team, and being able to chase after a player with a puck and stopping them from scoring is an essential part of that role. “Something that can be really rewarding [about playing center/forward] is being able to have more chances to score,” Dickinson said.
Preparing For Another Season – Ice Hockey Feature
November 13, 2024
ONE TEAM The Mater Dei athletes and coaches prepare for a competitive game with a team huddle to motivate the girls and review their plays. The Girls Varsity Volleyball Team geared up for a tough game against Mira Costa. Hosted in the Meruelo Athletic Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, these two teams played it out until the end. “My goals are always to make sure that the team is playing as one,” O’Dell said. Not only did Mater Dei dominate this game, the team will forever be known as a fantastic group of players that always works together.
Girls Volleyball: Expectations for the Season
October 4, 2024
Culture
A YEAR IN REVIEW Between Nov. and Dec. 2024, 57 respondents voted for their favorite songs, artists, and albums. Every category had multiple options, and each one faced tight competition as the artists Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish battled for the top spots. Students like senior Payton Bauer encourages others to check out other popular singers, if they haven’t already. “I would say [listen to Carpenter] if you're [wanting to] feel good about yourself,” Bauer said. “Or maybe you just want something to work out or dance to. [Her music is] really fun.”
Mater Dei Wrapped: Which Artists and Songs Did Students Enjoy The Most?
February 5, 2025
GAME TIME: Students enjoy the action packed gameplay that mobile games provide for them as they play “Brawl Stars”. Games allow students to collaborate and create stronger bonds in the Monarch community. Whether it's a small game that is familiar between a close group of friends, or a popular game everybody knows, students share a collective interest and strengthen ties between each other. Photo by Kenny Smith, Staff Reporter for The Scarlet Scroll. GAME TIME: Students enjoy the action packed gameplay that mobile games provide for them as they play “Brawl Stars”. Games allow students to collaborate and create stronger bonds in the Monarch community. Whether it's a small game that is familiar between a close group of friends, or a popular game everybody knows, students share a collective interest and strengthen ties between each other. Photo by Kenny Smith, Staff Reporter for The Scarlet Scroll.
The Rise of Mobile Games
January 10, 2025
TRICKY TRIGONOMETRY Math Teacher Eugene Hung carefully goes over a recent unit test with his Honors Precalculus class, guiding students through key concepts in hopes to improve their understanding. Hung wishes his students to not only understand mathematical concepts, but also gain effective test-taking strategies. He encourages students to learn from each question in order to gear up for future exams. “This helps me to make sure that I’m not including extraneous content in the review because I don’t want students spending time studying things that won’t show up on the test,” Hung said. Photo by Stella Pham.
How to Ace your Finals Week
December 10, 2024
Multimedia
HOT COCOA IN COLD WEATHER Seniors Kalani Kunimura (far right) and Dalton Bulowski (second right) celebrate the holiday season with a cup of hot cocoa, handed out by the Parent Association Council during upper lunch. On Monday, Dec. 2, Monarchs kicked off the Christmas Spirit Week, transforming the campus into a Winter Wonderland with festive all-white snow day outfits. “It’s awesome to celebrate Christmas culture with the Mater Dei community,” Bulowski said.
Christmas Spirit Week
January 23, 2025
The Surfrider Foundation works to combat ocean pollution and make tangible changes through state legislature.
Celebrating Earth Day
April 24, 2022
WITH WIDE ARMS: Senior Kira Imhoff, in the role of Ariel, yells as senior London Coco Griffin, playing Prospero, looks on with pride. Throughout the play, Imhoff performed musical solos as Prospero’s servant spirit. “It felt so refreshing to return to in-person plays,” Imhoff said. “Having an audience to interact with made theatre feel like theatre again. I felt so blessed to be doing live theatre with an amazing cast and crew. Everyone killed it and I was so happy to work with them. You should have seen Mrs. Slay, [she] was so enthusiastic and pumped to get back.”
Photo slideshow: Theatre holds Shakespeare in the Grotto after two year hiatus
October 29, 2021
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