Crazy for Coachella By Serena Bhat '2 Edited by Viren Sharma '26
In this generation, music has become a significant part of our lives. It always has been, from artists like Madonna and Elvis Presley to artists such as Frank Ocean and Taylor Swift. Music helps people feel safe and comforted whether they are sad, happy, or experiencing other emotions. Music is for every moment, and people enjoy listening to various genres. Attending concerts and various shows can spark a love for a particular artist among people who previously didn't know or listen to them. Large concerts such as Coachella are excellent examples of how people gain listening experiences with artists they may have never heard of before.
Coachella has always been a well-known music and art festival. It is one of those events that is recognized worldwide. This is because multiple popular artists are invited to perform there every year, and from their entrances to their song lineups, every performance is executed in an inviting and exciting way. According to abcnews.go.com, Coachella is a music festival that occurs annually in Indio, California and takes place over two weekends: April 13-15 and April 20-22. The gates open at approximately 11 am. Performances take place on several stages and large tents located in various areas at the festival venue throughout the weekend. At Coachella, you will see live performances and large-scale art installations, a Ferris wheel, and food from some of the country's most renowned restaurants. There is so much to do and see at Coachella, and it is hard to get bored with the new activities happening at the venue. Often, various influencers attend Coachella and document their experiences. Everything from their outfits to their accommodations is perfectly lined up and organized, as this event is something they look forward to all year long.
People will go as far as camping on the grounds of the event to get to the front of their favorite artists' performance stages to fully experience the fun. Buying tickets is often difficult because so many people want to attend this music festival. Even though the festival itself is huge, due to its popularity, tickets often sell out very soon after they are released. This past year, tickets were released on January 5th, and just a few hours later, the event was completely sold out. This means that if you want to get tickets, you have to plan when and how you are going to get them, as people get competitive to reserve their spot at the venue.
Headliners for this year's event include The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and Eminem, who will perform both weekends on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Other popular performers include Lana Del Rey, SZA, Cardi B, Post Malone, and more. Coachella is a great event if you want to expand your music taste and get a better idea of what the music industry looks like today. It is a fun way to enjoy some music and find comfort in artists that inspire you. You may even find a new favorite artist by attending this event! Coachella has multiple concerts in one, and the fun is never-ending, which is what makes it such a popular event. If you are into exploring various genres of music, then Coachella is the perfect event for you. Music is for every type of feeling and emotion, and it helps us enjoy and express ourselves. Attending Coachella is the perfect way to experience the joy of music and to express our feelings, which is why I highly recommend that everyone go at least once in their life.
Welcome Back, Mr. Williamson! By Rian Ford '24
The Chaminade community is filled with enthusiastic spirit as Mr. Williamson returns after a hiatus. His absence was deeply felt by everybody who valued his presence.
During his time away, Mr. Williamson worked in marketing and sales at an event company. Despite the challenges that the transition presented, he discovered a newfound appreciation for the freedom and comfort of remote work. When asked about his experience, he said, “I won’t lie, it was nice working in a hoodie and sweats while having the freedom to come and go as I chose. Coming back, I must be much more thoughtful and organized as to how/when I can get things done outside of the confines of the classroom.” He also rediscovered his love for meditation during his hiatus and hopes to include it in his teaching life, as it allows for a calming balance between personal well-being and professional commitments.
Mr. Williamson has always been a firm believer in the value of family spirit and has been drawn to the Chaminade community. He met his wife here, and he always knew that he would send his children here. He wanted them to be surrounded by the qualities that Chaminade prioritizes, such as service, compassion, and social justice. He also always knew that he wanted to be in the English department. Even as a young boy, English was his favorite class by far! He said, “It was the only class I looked forward to attending. To say I struggled with math and science would be an understatement.” He loved that he could examine the human experience through the joys of literature. Returning to the English department, he is ready to rekindle his lifelong love of language and learning and is excited to rejoin the Chaminade community.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Mr. Williamson back to our community!
Sweet Nothings By Kenia Gallegos '24
As I mentioned in my last article, I am a romantic at heart. So here are a few romance books I hold close to my heart!
Firstly, a book that made me stare into the wall for a solid 30 minutes after reading it, "Alone with You in the Ether" by Olivie Blake. When I picked up this book my first thought was, “What the heck does ether mean?” As I learned, “Ether was what they called the air in the realm of the gods. A shining, fluid substance.” A small excerpt from this beautifully written book states, “Alone in everything. In time and space, in existence, in religion.” Blake tells this tale angelically. The dialogue between the charactersis fluid and realistic. This is a modern love story that will make you feel a plethora of emotions and either empathize with the characters or despise them for their complex emotions.
Moving on to a light and fluffy romance book, "Love and Other Words" by Christina Lauren. This book got me out of a reading slump because it is fast-paced and keeps you entertained in every chapter. The romance was a roller coaster without a doubt. Lauren goes through tricky relationships with friends, love, and missed opportunities. The author expertly manages to keep the reader engaged. My heart was full, crushed, and repaired in a matter of 2 days and it was just what I needed to pull me through. This is the book to reach for when you need an easy read, entertaining read, and a break from the rest of the world.
Finally, a love story, told through poetry, "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair" byPablo Neruda. Originally, I read this book in Spanish, and it truly crushed my soul. Then because apparently itwasn’t enough the first time, I decided to read it in English. The translation was amazing, mainly because it wasn’t the Google Translate version. No, this translated version found words that had the same impact on the reader that Neruda intended. This poetry book glides through a love story and ultimately takes you to that last song of despair. “Here I love you and the Horizon hides you in vain,” love, sorrow, pain, loss, and desire. Neruda is a master in inflicting emotions on the reader. So, if you need an afternoon filled with passion and affection, Neruda is the author for you. Most of these books made me cry, which is in fact not hard to do, but I hope they make you cry as well. I hope they make you feel love and I hope they can be your escape from reality.
Rainy Day Activity Suggestions By Brooke Mendes '24 Edited by: Isabella Haedo '27
These past few weeks have been filled with a lot of water. There are floods, tornado warnings, and many more events that have made it unsafe to go out. On Monday the 5th some schools decided to close with the hope that it would help the safety of their students who drive or are driven to school.
While no one was complaining about the day off, for once I felt like I had nothing to do. I did not have a lot of cellular services and had already completed my homework. I started thinking,maybe there were other people as well who alsohad nothing to do since they could not go outside dueto the unusual rainy weather.
Here are some things that you can do at home to keep yourself occupied! - Start a new book or TVseries.
- Here are some links if you wantto find a good book.
- Build a fort! You can use pillows, chairs, fairy lights, and more.
- Bake something! Find a recipe so you can have something delicious to eat while watching a movie with your family. - Play games with family in your built fort! Uno, Monopoly, and Exploding Kittens are some popular games that my family loves! That’s all I have for what I would do in my house during rainy weather without any homework to do! Ifnone of these things pique your interest there are lots more ideas and you can search on Google. Have fun and stay safe!
What's Hot, Nade? By Remi Spiegel '24
As we journey through the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, there are a lot of interesting topics that are trending at Chaminade. Let's take a look at some of the most popular trends that are circulating around campus right now.
First up, Ugg slippers. This winter season, Ugg has been dropping so many new styles, which seem to be liked by many of our students. As you walk the halls around campus, you'll see at least two students wearing a pair of Uggs. These shoes are known to be stylish, while also bringing extra warmth and comfort during these cold months. Taylan Takac ’24 says, “I wear my Uggs to school because it’s super cozy. Also, when I’m walking from the FA buildings to the Condon Center, I want my feet to have maximum support.” The most common style that seems to be spotted the most is the Ugg Tasman’s, in all different designs and colors. These shoes, pictured below, are the perfect combination of warm, yet supportive.
The next topic that is trending is seniors going to Chipotle on 1:30 days. As a senior myself, I have never seen so many Chaminade students all at one restaurant coincidentally. While the trips to Chipotle are never planned, you always end up seeing a friend or two when you go on these days. Chipotle is very close to school, and somehow it has become a place that is filled with students at least twice or three times a week. I’m not sure if its because the burrito bowl is just that good, or if its because of the location and the forming “tradition.” However, it is always nice to run into people and end up having lunch with them unexpectedly. My most recent visit to Chipotle, last week, had two full tables completely taken up by Chaminade seniors. It is always crazy to see how much one school can pack a restaurant!
Starbucks, specifically on Platt, has also become a hub for Chaminade students. Most mornings, you will catch a line out the door of students waiting for grilled cheese, bacon, and gouda sandwiches, frappuccinos, refreshers, etc. While most of the action typically occurs in the morning, you will even catch students there after school hours. Some are there to study, while others are getting a new drink or a snack. Haley Sharp ’24 says, “Starbucks is a great pick-me-up on three o’clock days, especially on the mornings that I have Student Council.” I went around Chaminade surveying students asking what their favorite drink is from Starbucks. I found that 50% of people said an iced chai tea latte was their favorite, while the other 50% leaned more towards the strawberry acai refresher. It was interesting to see that two specific drinks are being favored, rather than a big pool of drinks.
One thing that we do as a Chaminade family is support each other in extracurricular activities. This semester, I have seen a huge increase in people showing up to sporting events, plays, recitals, etc. Before we went on Christmas break, we already had many students coming to support these events, although, this semester specifically there has been an even bigger amount. This past week, at both the Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer senior nights, the stands have been almost full. There are signs, people chanting, and people even getting involved in the games from the stands. You can hear students, parents, siblings, etc. all cheering out of support and assisting the teams from a distance. Watching our community come together, during after-school hours, to be there for other students has been amazing to see. Overall, the energy at these events has risen and they have become events that people look forward to going to weekly.
Lastly, the chicken and rice bowl has been a cafeteria favorite for around the last three years. If you talk to any Chaminade student, they will tell you how good the chicken and rice bowl is and that they eat it very often for lunch. There are many options for lunch, including daily specials, but the chicken and rice bowl still seems to sell out every day. Recently, students have been raving about the chicken pesto sandwich. Hearing students talk about a new lunch item they love, even more than the chicken and rice bowl, caught me off guard. This sandwich is on a whole-grain bun, consisting of chicken, pesto, arugula, and tomatoes. The option isn’t offered every day so when this one hits the menu, it is known to sell out and gets a good reaction from our students. Overall, Chaminade does an amazing job at providing us with different meal options so everyone can find something that works for them.
These are just some of the popular things at Chaminade High School right now. While these are the most trending topics, many other different things are up in conversation as well. Each grade seems to have a “trend” specific to them, and some of them are included above. It will be very cool to see the new trends that continue to go around Chaminade as our year progresses.
2023 Top Fantasy Book Recommendations By Kenia Gallegos '24
Throughout all of last year, what seemed to be the most popular and the most in-demand were fantasy books. Most if not all the book recommendations I received were fantasy books. Personally, before last year fantasy books were not my first pick neither were series and usually, when you read a fantasy book it is a part of a series. However, with the amazing fantasy book I read last year, I can now say that I will reach for a fantasy book when I find myself in a slump.
Now for the recommendations, firstly Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros this book was recommended to me by one of my most trusted book recommender friends. I will be completely transparent; you do have to get through the first 50ish pages of world-building and information. This is completely normal for a fantasy but ultimately you will appreciate this later. This is one of my current favorite recommendations because the world is so immersive, and the characters are so well thought out. The story flow is absolutely seamless and very easy to keep up with. Most of all it will make you believe in love. Honestly, truly I fell in love with the characters' love story. There is so much to unpack and learn from the characters as they learn it themselves. In short, there are dragons, training, love, betrayal, friendship, enemies, power, and expectations, in all this book has been said to have raised the expectations for fantasy books as a whole.
As I previously mentioned this is a series and currently, there are 2 books. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros deserves as much as a mention that Fourth Wing does, while usually there is a dull book in a series there has yet to be one in this series. Iron Flame is an amazing second book and it keeps the reader just as engaged as the first book because the more you read the more the world unravels as well as the characters. Plot twists and a real depiction of relationships as a whole, the ups and downs of everything, of course with a magical twist. Just when you thought you understood the world and the characters everything changes.
Lastly, a book that is breathtakingly beautiful and tragic is A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber. This book is the third and final book of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. This book is more focused on love and has a sort of fairytale spin to it. Definitely still a fantasy but leans more on the romantic side of fantasy, where in the Fourth Wing series there is sword fighting in A Curse for True Love there is fighting against true love. These three books take you on a confusing journey where you never know who you can trust. This journey takes you all over the world and lets you meet so many people and creatures. Jacks, one of the main characters is the cause of many of these feelings. At some points, you will wish you knew Jacks and at other moments you’re glad he’s words on paper. However, this book will make you laugh, blush, and ugly cry all in the same book.
While I do love a good fantasy book, I have always been a romance girl at heart, so look out for my next article where I will be sharing my top 3 Romance recommendations of 2023!