Table of Contents

New Kids on the Block: Arts & Enterprise FAQ

Edward Chen, Kayalani Degrave, Grant Li

There’s No Place Like The Frida

Teah swartzon

New Teacher Feature

Samuel parigela, Lacole yang

A Sneaky, Spooky Look Into Scarefest

jessica hong

Upcoming Midterm Election: What Should You Know?

dash kaur

The Multi-Million Dollar OCSA Hotel

brie samaniego

OCSA Crates: Great or Hate?

kate um

A Handmade Halloween

selah sanchez

Stop, Drop, and Dodge!

molly jenkins

Pumpkin Spice and Buy Something Nice

Faith hochgeshang

Fall Crossword

Celeste valadez

Taylor Swift, Trader Joe’s, and Thrifting: Autumn Staff Recs

staff collective

How the OCSA Cookie Crumbles

fanny kim

Chairs. (Chairs)

James yi

Junior Year 101

ryan jeong

Savory Serbian Snacks

emilia djordjevic

Senioritis

caitlyn mason

Horoscopes

lauren kim

New Kids On The Block: Arts and Enterprise FAQ

Edward Chen, Kayalani Degrave, Grant Li

The Arts and Enterprise conservatory (A&E) is the newest conservatory to join OCSA’s roster of arts. With this addition to the student body, OCSA students from other conservatories are brimming with questions. What does the conservatory do? What are the classes like? How are we paying for this? This is Evolution’s guide to the newest branch of the OCSA family, Arts and Enterprise.

Why was this conservatory established?

Director Allison Bushman has always enjoyed the arts. Previously working in the administrative side of the school, her passion for the arts was palpable; yet, she felt that none of the conservatories quite fit her interests. With her love for business, arts and education, there didn’t seem to be a conservatory that cultivated a mixture of all three. With the announcement of a conservatory dedicated to the business of art, however, that golden opportunity presented itself.

“Take the risk or lose the chance” is Bushman’s mantra. She revels in the classroom environment when students experience “a-ha” moments and fall in love with their passions. Building this new conservatory from the ground up, Bushman aims to create business leaders who can apply real-world skills to develop their passions.

Who are the students in A&E?

Currently, A&E has students in only two grades: seventh and ninth. During the 2021-22 application process, students who did not get into their first-choice conservatory had the option to join A&E, resulting in a large influx of students who may have not entered OCSA otherwise.

These students are entering the OCSA community with an array of artistic interests, so the conservatory director and teachers work to foster innovative and entrepreneurial skills alongside their passions. Similar to the Integrated Arts conservatory, A&E students aren’t stuck in one box, but are encouraged to explore any interests that they may come across. Bushman shared that if students aren’t clicking with an art form, they are “invited to search elsewhere.”

What does an A&E class look like? 

With approximately 16-17 students per grade, A&E students take foundational arts skills classes with everyone in their grade. For ninth grade students, Monday entails Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which includes learning business, collaboration and setting up personal goals. Tuesday is for Fine Media & Arts and Performing Arts Exploration with training on acting, singing and dancing. Wednesday classes are Storytelling and the Biz, which includes creative writing and storytelling, and Business of the Performing Arts, which works on theater production. Finally, on Thursday, 9th grade students take a class on leadership skills.

One thing that A&E teachers found exciting is that there is no set curriculum for how instruction needs to be done—teachers can work together with their students to build a roadmap for how the conservatory will best run based on their students’ specific needs and interests.

How does A&E plan to participate in the OCSA community?

Andrew Pilger, teacher of Storytelling and the Biz and past tv producer, said that he hopes for A&E to be the “connective tissue” of OCSA to “facilitate other conservatories working together and collaborating on different projects.” Already there are plans for collaboration with both the Popular Music and Digital Media conservatories. In the Business and Entrepreneurship class, taught by Jooyun Kim, freshmen will have the opportunity to act as the public relations marketing firm for the Popular Music conservatory’s new music label, Orange Records, and help with the design of the logo, branding, and marketing strategies.

Rumors about the conservatory’s involvement in other conservatories’ productions and performances have been abound, but they are largely unfounded, says Bushman. Although the school-published 2021 promotional flyer for the conservatory claims that students “are invited to audition for select productions and showcases” by MT and IA, these are simply projections for future projects. If these opportunities do open for A&E students, they would be the result of cross-conservatory collaboration, and not of special audition privileges that A&E students hold.

In addition to cross-conservatory collaboration, students will also have the opportunity to participate in the broader local community representing OCSA. Through think tanks and incubators, students can look within their communities and collaborate with nonprofit organizations to propose ideas on solving various issues to create local change. With such resources, students will be able to get real world perspectives and experiences on both entrepreneurship and community service.

What makes A&E stand out?

Freshman Annie Chen (A&E ‘26) recommended new students to consider A&E as it is not solely focused on the performing arts, but the business side too. Not only are A&E students brand new to the conservatory, but most are also new to the entire OCSA campus as well. Pilger voiced that the fresh  energy and excitement of his new students has been his favorite part of teaching in the conservatory. He’s excited to see students take their passions and training in the future to apply them to an influx of careers coming their way!

 Although Arts and Enterprise is new to the OCSA community, bringing in this young wave of students may be “a chance to teach students the kinds of skills that they could apply to not only a creative career, but really any other kind of career that they might end up taking on,” as Pilger said. As the director and teachers steer the young A&E conservatory towards its future goals, Bushman hopes to craft a learning environment where students influence collaboration and take action to “do good and better the world.” Who knows? These kids may be your future bosses!

There’s No Place Like The Frida 

Teah Swartzon

The Frida Cinema in the Santa Ana Arts District has long been a cultural staple for OCSA and local communities. The cinema is nostalgic for many who grew up in viewing films in theaters, and enticing for those who prefer the traditional movie-viewing experience, before the domination of streaming services. 

Located at 305 E. Fourth St. Suite 100, the Frida is Orange County’s only non-profit arthouse theater. Executive director and founder Logan Crow started the theater more than 8 years ago and defined the Frida as a “mission-driven, community-focused arthouse cinema dedicated to enriching, connecting and educating communities through the art of cinema.” 

“Growing up, arthouse theaters were a home away from home,” Crow said. “Non-profit arthouse cinemas like The Frida exist for the love of the artform of cinema, and not merely to rake in dollars by presenting the latest Hollywood hits.”

The theater “curates from within,” and thus has not been suffering from the “lack of product” that traditional theaters have been experiencing since the pandemic. However, “the Frida Cinema cannot operate and sustain and grow our mission, without support from individuals who value the arts in their community, and who believe in the connective and enriching power of cinema.” 

After 15 months of closure, that the theater is still open is “a testament to the support we have received from our community,” said Crow. 

As much as the cinema has been supported by the community, Crow also emphasizes giving back by “offering free opportunities for our community to enjoy cinema outdoors in parks, on parking lot rooftops and right on a closed-off downtown street.” 

“We're proud to provide these opportunities, whether it's to those who could use a break after a long day, or who simply want to whisk away into a new world for a couple of hours,” Crow said. 

OCSA’s Film and Television (FTV) conservatory is largely connected to the Frida. Director of Film and Television Aaron Orullian takes his Film History class “to the Frida to watch a film on the big screen,” and the conservatory hosts their “senior film showcase” at the Frida every fall. 

“The Frida has been a great partner with FTV for many years,” Orullian said, “[FTV] has a tradition of alumni and students volunteering over at the Frida” and is a “great opportunity for some of [FTV’s] students to get some job experience.” 

Orullian also cites the theater’s ability to “program a lot of things that may be difficult, commercially, to screen,” which can introduce people to a variety of “films and cinema.” 

Likewise, film and screenwriting teacher for the Creative Writing and Integrated Arts conservatories Dawn Nguyen Spranger takes her classes to The Frida. On the big screen, “the aesthetics are more apparent,” Spranger said. “I teach film, so I obviously like all the aesthetics.” 

As someone who frequented movie theaters during her childhood, The Frida is “very similar” to the theaters Spranger grew up in, unlike modern chain movie theaters. 

“Theaters played a significant part of my upbringing,”  Spranger said, “[They] were my babysitter.” 

The Frida also plays an inextricable role in the lives of many OCSA students, including Creative Writing senior Colin Kerekes. Kerekes fronted the “Save the Frida” movement, helping raise over 30,000 dollars for the cinema. 

“The theater gives off a comforting, very welcoming atmosphere and is super dedicated to screening a diverse set of films that appeals to a wide range of audiences,” said Kerekes.

 The “home away from home” environment of the Frida pushed Kerekes to organize a fundraising event to “save” the cinema, hosting a viewing of five “essential teen movies” at the cinema. 

“The event went on the entire day of July 13th this past summer, and consisted of both OCSA students and dedicated Frida moviegoers,” to help recuperate “losses from the pandemic,” said Kerekes. 

The Frida Cinema intertwines film, nostalgia, and opportunity, providing a safe and artistic space for OCSA students and the surrounding community. It allows artists to explore the creative sides of their identity, and highlights film as an art form. It is a welcoming and authentic venue for aspiring filmmakers, artistic individuals, and local residents alike. 

There truly is no place like The Frida Cinema. 

New Teacher Feature

Samuel Parigela and Lacole Yang

Four bright individuals have recently been inducted into the OCSA hivemind. To ease the introduction of new psyches into the conglomeration, we gathered some fun facts about them. 

Paige Acuña

Paige Acuña, the counselor for high school students with last names Ki-Me, is ready to brighten up your day with lollipops and advice. She stayed local for college, attending Fullerton College and CSU Fullerton, and she later earned a master’s degree in Educational Counseling. The one-on-one style of counseling called to her, and she eagerly recounted, “I loved learning about how to help a student in their unique situations.”

Before coming to OCSA, Acuña was curious how school spirit would thrive without sports. After walking around campus, Acuña could tell the performing events, like MT’s “Les Miserables” created tons of excitement. She looked forward to seeing students on stage.

Her passion for art also extends to interior design. To find inspiration, she makes Pinterest boards and strolls through Ikea. Acuña shared that she liked “big, bold colors, and tons of houseplants. You walk in, you’re like, ‘I don’t even know where to look.’ You want some pizazz and excitement.”

For students looking to talk to Acuña, she can be found before school starts, and her office hours are during lunch.

Mariam Zaki

The trilingual Mariam Zaki divides her time between teaching, spending time with her family and learning to play the piano. She grew up in Egypt, and her first language was Arabic. She has a Master’s in French from Egypt, while her master’s in Teaching is from National Louis University in Chicago. Currently, Zaki teaches AP French and French III Honors. Comparing OCSA to previous schools she worked at, she said that OCSA’s foreign language curriculum focuses on ensuring students can speak fluently, which is more useful for real life than simply teaching grammatical structures.

Shopping, volleyball, singing and playing piano are some of Zaki’s hobbies. “Since I was little, I just started and stopped, started and stopped learning the piano,” she said. She enjoys playing slow, classical music, one hand at a time.

Zaki wanted to say, “I’m really happy I’m teaching at this great school. I always tell my friends and family that I love this place. Everyone here is very welcoming.”

Josh Bourg

Josh Bourg has been here since January of last school year, but this is his first fall semester here! Bourg went to Saddleback College and transferred to UCI for his bachelor’s in physics. He went back to UCI for his master’s in education. 

Originally a history major, he stumbled across some physics articles and immediately fell in love with the subject. He says that he loves the problem-solving portion of the subject. “It really changes your outlook on the world, understanding through a lens of physics.” 

Bourg is an avid gamer, and has a custom gaming rig he built. Bourg also has a dog, Zuzu, who he picked up about a year ago as a puppy. She loves fetch and is obsessed with hugs!

He says that as his room in the DMS gets particularly cold, he recommends students keep jackets or even blankets in their lockers. 

Having gone to last year’s Season Finale, Bourg is hoping to be able to see more performances as the year progresses. “Everyone here is a pretty amazing and incredible student.” 

Daniel Huynh

Having previously taught in Garden Grove for four years, Daniel Huynh joined OCSA staff this year! He went to UCI to earn his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and returned for his master’s in education. 

Huynh recounts how he loathed physics in high school, but added that as he kept studying physics, it started to come easier for him. Soon, he decided to explore the subject further in college. 

He loves the application aspect of physics, especially since it incorporates math. Huynh states that he likes the subject enough to teach it to others and make them like the subject as well. He teaches CP Physics and AP Physics 2 here at OCSA. 

When he’s not at home playing video games and relaxing, Huynh likes to travel and try new foods. During the summer, he’ll often catch a flight and visit different states or national parks.“You’ll probably find me out in the street eating, or traveling and taking pictures with nature,” he remarked. 

If you see them on campus, say hello, as this will further connect the hivemind.

A Sneaky, Spooky Look Into Scarefest

 As we come closer to Halloween, we start to notice that a certain chill haunts the campus, shrouding the buildings in thick fog with wails of ghosts hanging around during the night. But amidst the ominous howls, you might hear busy footsteps shuffling near the Symphony Hall and soon, a loud rumble of laughter from the theater. 

Every year, the Creative Writing conservatory hosts its Scarefest, a three-day Halloween-themed event dedicated to fun and lively performances from students. Students who participate in the event come together from different conservatories and form teams, creating exciting dialogue and catchy punch-lines that make the audience erupt into laughter. There are two roles students can take in Scarefest, a writer or performer. 

This year will be the second year, Lola Suleiman (CW ‘22) performs for Scarefest. She took multiple roles as a performer and a fellow writer with her friends in the creative writing conservatory, Elora Sparnicht, Ashley Park, Caitlyn Mason. As a writer, Suleiman said that Scarefest “was definitely a helpful exercise for [her] to be willing to put something out there that might not [be] completely perfect.”

“Scarefest was my first chance for me to write comedy, and made me feel rewarded. I had a lot of fun being part of Scarefest,” said Suleiman. 

The tight schedule for Scarefest challenges writers to come up with ideas and the script on the spot. Writers pick a random prompt from a hat for their script and collaborate with actors to rehearse within two to three days and celebrate their work on stage. For Ashley Park, her role as a writer and performer for the last four years makes her a Scarefest veteran. 

“It was definitely difficult for me and my group to write the play, recruit cast members and rehearse all in the allotted time we had, which was about 48 hours. But during the limited time my group had, I found it fun to be in that pressure because on the last day of Scarefest, we get to perform our finished piece on stage” said Park. 

Scarefest is open, and students from all conservatories and ages are encouraged to participate. The three-day event unleashes the creative minds of students and gives them an opportunity to perform their creativity and hard work on stage.

Upcoming Midterm Election: What Should you know?

Dash Kaur

The Constitution originally declared that only white men over the age of 21 may vote, but has since been changed to any citizen over 18 to fairly represent the citizen's votes. It is our responsibility to take advantage of this, especially with another midterm election coming our way in November. This is because in our democracy, the most direct way for an adult citizen to be represented is through voting.

If you hold the belief that your vote will not matter, the case of George Bush’s presidential election may change your mind. Bush won Florida by a 0.009% margin, coming out to 537 votes. If around 600 people voted for the other candidate, Al Gore, the results of the election may have been very different. 

During the midterm election, 35 seats for the Senate and all of the House of Representatives seats are up for battle. Currently, the Democrat party is leading both chambers, but this may change. As said by Gary Nordlinger, a professor of politics at George Washington University, "Whoever controls the House or the Senate controls the agenda." The majority party will have more influence than the other, which stresses the importance of voting.

 The main advice Carolina Osorio, an AP Government and Macroeconomics teacher at OCSA, gives to those interested in voting is that “you need to know the issues before you determine how you are going to act.” She advises youth to be well informed by listening to NPR/news podcasts, reading established news resources, and looking at both sides' points of views before coming to a final decision.  

The general requirements to vote are being 18 on or before Election day, being a U.S. citizen residing in a U.S. territory, and being registered to vote beforehand. There are other rules according to state laws too. In California, you must not be convicted of and be imprisoned for a felony. You can register to vote online through the form on covr.sos.ca.gov. You can also print out the National Mail Voter Registration Form and mail it to your local election office. 

Regan Mading (IA ‘23) and Toby Izenberg (CW ‘23) are also offering pre-registration for OCSA students! Regan is a fellow with Dr. Asif Mahmood, a Democrat running for Congress, specifically the 40th district of the house. Their focus is to register 18 year olds. Once it is the voting period, they will notify you to vote. On his website, drasifmahmood.com, he states that “Politico reports that Orange County is ‘Where control of Congress will be won.’” So, the county will act as a pivotal in who has the power in Congress these next two years, with a lot of seats that may “flip”. Check them out on @asiahmoodca40 on Instagram. Even if you are underage, there are ways to pre-register yourself in California. If you are 16-17, you can pre-register on registertovote.ca.gov so that your registration will be active once you are 18. For more information, Toby is hosting a pre-register drive from Oct. 17th-19th at OCSA, focusing on 16-17 year olds. Check out his instagram @ocsavotes for more on how to register.

After registering, you can vote by mail or in person. Once approved, you should be mailed a ballot to fill out, then mail it back to your county’s election office or drop it into a drop-box. To view where you can vote, look at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Remember that if you are a first-time voter, bring some form of valid ID just in case they ask for it.

If you missed the voting deadline but still wish to vote, California allows you to register and vote within 14 days of an election, better known as Same Day Voter Registration. You can do this at your county elections office, vote center or polling place (find your polling place on sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place). 

The result of this election will heavily affect all parts of the federal government, not just the Legislative Branch. The power held by the leading party will make it easier for certain laws - usually aligning with that party's beliefs - to pass. Your influence can affect this, but only through voting. With such a small margin of the Republican party needing five more seats to take a majority of the House and only one for the Senate, it is up to us to determine this outcome.

The Multi-Million Dollar OCSA Hotel 

Brie Samaniego

Culinary Arts and Hospitality may be making the school millions of dollars with the help of a newly hired teacher. 

Kevin Brown currently teaches global management for the Culinary conservatory and gained this job by pitching a potential multimillion dollar hotel run almost entirely by the culinary students. 

He called his project “Hotel Isadore”, paying tribute to Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Brown’s personal mentor. 

Hotel Isadore would be a boutique hotel of around 60-150 rooms that would be open Fridays to Sundays over the academic year. During the rest of the week, the empty hotel would be used for classes to give culinary students a hands-on learning experience. While students are on summer vacation, the hotel would be open full time, operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day. 

As for the student hours, Brown estimates about 6 hours every Friday and even more on the weekends, including normal conservatory hours. 

He anticipates a total of 100 million dollars to fund the hotel provided by grants, the school, and his partnership with Marriott and other potential partners. 

In an interview, Brown said his ultimate goal is to provide an “opportunity to train the next generation of truly refined hotel people.” He hopes to take advantage of the large tourism economy in California and create more opportunities for the students in the area, starting with OCSA. 

Brown seeks to provide an alternative option for students as opposed to spending four years at a university, potentially moving across the country, and spending thousands of dollars just to enter the workforce at a beginners level. His vision is to get students to work at this hotel and train them just as if they were in any other hotel so that they can enter the workforce straightaway into their job of choice.

For most people, staying in a hotel run by a bunch of teenagers is not their idea of a dream vacation. Brown recognized this fact saying that, “[p]eople will come to a hotel run by students, because of the why.” The “Why” is the opportunities that are being provided to the students who might not otherwise get them. 

With the high potential of Hotel Isadore, Brown gives an estimate of around $2 to$3 million a year in profit from the hotel. This money will first go to OCSA directly, then later to other places such as scholarship endowments or even other branches of the school, with the ultimate goal of reaching as many students as possible to provide them with new opportunities. 

The entire foundation of Hotel Isadore is based on providing as many students with the best culinary and hospitality education possible. Despite the extensive planning Brown has done on Hotel Isadore, the hotel is nothing but an idea at the time of writing. 

Concluding the interview, Brown said “There is, somewhere, somehow, a teaching hotel that we're going to put together for the benefit of our kids.” 

OCSA Crates: Great or Hate?

Kate Um

The blue containers, embellished with spirited OCSA colors, have been a questionable campus addition to us all. While these steel habitats are fully occupied during resting periods, some students confess to its improvable aspects. 

Although intended to provide shade for students, a common complaint was the space’s incapability to be a cooling refuge area, as one or two sides are completely cut open to the obstinate sun. A similar issue arises in seating space as Ashley Tai (IM-J ‘24) explained, “You can’t fit that many people in a storage container without it being cramped.” Another student considered long term sanitary implications. “The wood floors also create issues with bugs as they are not easy to clean. There are critters absolutely everywhere over there,” said Abbey Fusco (PD ‘24). The OCSA-themed chairs are also transported each day by staff, which is another task to consider. 

Despite these current disturbances, the area remains a popular and highly versatile spot. One can simply remain inside the containers to converse, but this lot can also become an academic space. Better shade and diverse furniture add-ons can maximize focused studying for all students, but this can overall be elevated with a stable internet access. Robert Norman, a Classical Voice conservatory teacher, had brought his classes outside for end-of-year parties. He considered it from an instructional standpoint and said,  “Sometimes, for students they’re great, but if you’re going to have a class there, it doesn't have the infrastructure to do that.” He further suggested a closer internet access if containers are occasionally used for a classroom space. 

Amidst both sides, the containers may feel out of place against OCSA’s established features, as if spawned into randomness. When asked what they would construct if they could replace the containers, students envisioned utopias of a student store with snacks and stationary, outdoor student art displays, or even a student accessible gym. However, most emphasized an overall free and comfortable atmosphere, or as one student, Lula Buckle (MT ‘24), said, “to make the containers fit in the space better, rather than look like an unfinished project.” 

With all feedback in mind, the majority still acknowledge its usefulness and necessity compared to the previous empty parking lot. Perhaps to quench satisfactions, students must witness OCSA’s construction metropolis unfold, but until then, adding more cleaning processes, decorations, and universally acknowledged shade will prove to be a great temporary solution.

A Handmade Halloween

Selah Sanchez

It’s that time of the year. The leaves are changing color, pumpkin spice is in and seasonal stores are opening in every derelict Toys r Us. In other words, Autumn has returned! With Autumn comes the college application season, the academic and conservatory year in full swing and, of course, Halloween! It’s no secret that at OCSA, Halloween is a respected tradition. Being an art school, many costumes are hand-made, sometimes very far in advance. So, to get in the spirit, here are two students previewing their costume plans, and talking a little about their history with costume design! 

In between college prep and academic classes, Haven Hanson (PD ‘23) and Elizabeth Pittoors (PD ‘23) are immersed in their sewing hobbies. Both are also well known for their homemade costumes in past Halloweens such as Hanson’s Jack Skellington or a Pittoors’ mermaid , and Pittoors has even sewn her own dresses for school dances.

This year they are working with relatively new materials. Pittoors was willing to share some plans, saying “I want to do a recreation of Wonder Woman’s costume. The new one. I’m really hoping I have enough time to complete it because it’s kind of a big thing, and it’s all armor, which I’ve only worked with once.”

Hanson is also using armor. “I don’t want to get too specific if I can’t end up doing it, but I want to replicate an armor set from a movie… I have to look into the resources– where I’m going to get certain parts to produce because I don’t have the machines to produce [them].”   

Both have been sewing for years now, and get their inspiration from different things. Pittoors likes browsing Pinterest boards, she added “A lot of it is just my imagination. I’ll think of something then look online and find pictures,” wherein she’ll “put them all together to make [her] own idea.” Hanson is inspired by materials. “Usually I will see something that sparks an idea in my brain. It could be fabric, it could even just be an image, and I go ‘oh, I know exactly how I would make that,’” he said. 

Both students have their own side businesses. Pittoors owns an Etsy shop called Art N’ Function, selling blue jeans and jewelry. Hanson owns a website, StitchxHaven, where users can commission him to create outfits. Though Autumn is notoriously busy for senior students, they have both continued dedicating time to their passions, focusing on the projects that they look forward to completing. 

When asked for any advice for aspiring costume and set designers, Pittoors suggested, “Give yourself enough time to do things, and research how, especially for cosplay and armor. Research how to use the materials because a lot of them are very expensive.” Haven said, “Thrift stores are a really, really great place to look… you have to really put yourself out there… and it’s kind of hard because people are scary. But you have to push through and you have to be open-minded.” 

Hanson and Pittoors have worked with and outside OCSA to design costumes for performances, and Haven also works to design sets and props for local theater companies. So, make sure to keep an eye out for their work in the future, especially come Halloween!

Stop, Drop, and Dodge!

Molly Jenkins

After a long school day full of stress and work, the DMS courtyard is set to launch for OCSA’s annual dodgeball tournament. The scene is set with the most popular early 2010 music hits blaring as the announcer hypes the crowd up with countless jokes while naming off the various team names. The teams wait in their custom shirts, prepared on the sidelines aside an anxiously watching crowd. The red rubber dodgeballs glisten in the sun, waiting to play their first match. 

Friday, Nov. 18th is the perfect day for the long-awaited fall dodgeball tournament. This tournament is a long-lived OCSA tradition, where many alumni can still recall their glory days on the DMS grass field. Hilariously, many students joke that our dodgeball tournament is the closest thing OCSA will achieve to experiencing a traditional high school sports game.  Who needs a football team when we have so many spirited dodgeball players ready to leave it all on the court!

“I’ve been playing in the tournament since seventh grade, and every year I have so much fun,” said Milo Karnes (IA ‘24), a member of last year's dodgeball team, Allergic to Rubber. “I get to throw dodgeballs at people. What's not to love,” exclaimed Karnes. 

Another member of the Allergic to Rubber team, Levi Sternshien (ACT ‘24), added that he “played fall in the semester and I had so much fun.” As well as he “recommends joining the tournament to anyone who is interested in playing.”

When the final round is played, it does not matter how many teams saw defeat, kids were struck in the head, shirts that were sweat through or how many people got turf burns. One team will take home the trophy and win the ultimate prize of bragging rights. Save the date in your calendars! This year, OCSA will hold their iconic dodgeball tournament Friday, Nov. 18th, so make sure you don’t miss it!

Pumpkin Spice And Buy Something Nice

Faith Hochgeshang

Fall has been commercialized by products like the Pumpkin Spice Latte, pop-up Halloween stores, and household-name, big-business candy brands, but have you harvested the reward of trying these season-appropriate products brought to you by small businesses around OCSA?

Unlisted:

Located on the east end of downtown Santa Ana, this home and lifestyle store is the perfect place to find unique art, books, pins, clothes, and more. Through the end of October, Unlisted houses its own Halloween Collection which can be browsed online and in-store. Make your attempt at getting on OCSA Fetch Fashion by adding a few personal favorites to your autumn aesthetic including an “All My Friends Are Dead” Casper the Ghost Patch, Grim Reaper socks, and a glow-in-the-dark jack-o’-lantern crossbody bag.

Website: https://shopunlisted.com/collections/halloween

Store Hours: 

Tues-Sat 12pm-7pm

Sun 12pm-6pm

Address:

305 E 4th St #104

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Daily Kombucha:

For a healthier addition to your fall fun, start your walk to the seventh floor off right with a Daily Kombucha. These naturally-occurring red, orange, and yellow $12 beverages came to Santa Ana at the height of the pandemic. This small business should be spotlighted for its rotating menu, curating flavors targeted toward the younger generation, and drinks that are too fresh to have long shelf lives. They can be found in Yerba Mate Mint, POG, Calamansi, and five other fall-colored flavors. 

Website: https://dailykombucha.com

Store Hours:

Tues/Thurs 12pm-2pm

Wed 1pm-5pm

Fri, Sat, Sun 12pm-5pm

Address:

201 E 4th St

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Hidden House:

Hidden House has been a favorite of OCSA students since its Santa Ana location opened in 2017. This veteran-owned coffee shop prides itself on its involvement from sourcing (and selling) beans to making drinks. Their coffee-based drinks perfectly reflect the present season, with tasting notes credited to Blackberry Jam, Almond, and Dark Chocolate. In these next few months, be sure to take advantage of Hidden House’s seasonal Halloween pastries including jack-o’-lantern cookies and fall-colored cupcakes.

Website: https://hiddenhousecoffee.com/
Store Hours:

7am-5pm Daily

Address:

511 E Santa Ana Blvd

Santa Ana, CA 92701

The United States generates billions of dollars from Halloween each year. So remember to shop small and enjoy this spooky season sustainably.

Fall Crossword

Celeste Valadez

Taylor Swift, Trader Joe’s, and Thrifting: Autumn Staff Recs

Music

• Either/Or album by Elliot Smith – Felix Brem (CW ‘23)

• Evermore album by Taylor Swift – Kayalani DeGrave (MT ‘23)

• “My Girlfriend is a Witch” by October Country – Sammi Thomas (IA ‘23)

• The Mamas and the Papas – Tabitha Finamore (IA ‘23)

• “Is There Someone Else” by The Weeknd — Melody Wu (VA ‘24)

Movies

• Fresh – Caitlyn Mason (CW ‘23)

• Coraline – Emilia Djordjevic (IM-P ‘23)

• Dead Poets Society – Brie Samaniego (CAH ‘24)

• Corpse Bride – Selah Sanchez (CW ‘23)

• Hocus Pocus – Sammi Thomas (IA ‘23)

• Gone Girl – Melody Wu (VA ‘24)

• Everything Everywhere All At Once — Lacole Yang (CW 24’)

TV

• Over the Garden Wall – Selah Sanchez (CW ‘23)

• Gilmore Girls – Kate Um (CV ‘24)

• Haunting of Hill House – Elise Park (FTV ‘24)

• End of the F***ing World – Tabitha Finamore (IA ‘23)

Food

• Pillsbury pumpkin sugar cookies – Molly Jenkins (IA ‘24)

• Trader Joe’s pumpkin bread mix – Sammi Thomas (IA ‘23)

• “Nothing screams 'fall' more than the return of Trader Joe's easy-to-make comfort food Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.” — Felix Brem (CW ‘23)

• Iced chai lattes with pumpkin cold foam – Celeste Valadez (BR ‘24)

Books

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt – Caitlyn Mason (CW ‘23)

• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – Felix Brem (CW ‘23)

• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – Lacole Yang (CW ‘24)

• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – Celeste Valadez (BR ‘24)

• “AMSCO APUSH” by Jessica Hong (CW ‘24)

Places

• Tanaka Farms, for pumpkin picking! – Brie Samaniego (CAH ‘24)

• Thrift stores – Teah Swartzon (IA ‘23)

• Fullerton Arboretum – Faith Hochgesang (IA ‘23)

Activities 

• Friendsgiving! – Molly Jenkins (IA ‘24)

• Disney Channel Halloween episode marathon – Kayalani DeGrave (MT ‘23)

• Baking fall sweets for friends — Brie Samaniego (CAH ‘24)

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” Poll

The age old debate, the philosophical conundrum of our time: is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or Christmas Movie? The Evolution staff is here to put the question to rest once and for all.

How the OCSA Cookie Crumbles

Fanny Kim

Chairs. (Chairs)

James Yi

An average rating for OCSA chairs as given by eight interviewees was 6.7/10. Now here’s how that happened:

First consider the I.Q. Series Sled-Based Stack Chair, one of the most common types of chair at OCSA. It is rigid, has a hard, bumpy texture, and the back is curved somewhat like a narrow S.

“The chairs are there in body but not in spirit. …It’s too hard,” said anonymous student (PD ‘23) as he gave several suggestions for improvement. “I think the chairs should be more artistic for an art school…We get stools, we get rocking chairs. More comfortable seating. Just sit on the floor.”

The average rating for this chair was 6.25/10.

The second item is the SitOnIt Seating Rio Series Four Leg. The chair is hard, has a smooth back, and has smaller bumps across the bottom. The most prominent characteristic is its ARC (Active Rebound Control) feature, which essentially allows it to flex. “The bendiness of the back is perfect so you can lean back on them,” said Sain Kim (CAH ‘25).

The flexibility also comes with consequences. It appears to sacrifice the durability of the chair, causing problems over time. “Some of them are too bendy,” said Kim. Another result is squeakiness, which accompanies leaning back and forth. There was also an incident in which I sat in a chair and it fell apart. I am pretty heavy, but not that heavy.

Julie Lim (IA ‘23) had very poor opinions of the bendiness of the chair. “Solid 1/10. They’re so bendy …they cannot support me. My back hurts so bad.”

The average rating for this chair was 5/10. The name of the third chair, best described as a cousin of number two, is unknown. It is from the same company and series, and even the same type, color, material, and curvature. The chair received mixed but overall positive reviews.

The two reviewers’ opinions on the chair’s level of comfort were completely different, with one side saying it is too hard while the other saying it is comfortable.

They also disagreed on the height, though at least they seemed to agree that low is good. “I like how low to the ground they are, but that would be a con to anybody tall,” said Winner. “I kind of wish my feet were on the floor,” said Thompson.

The back was decent. “It’s got an OK curve …It’s kinda comfy for [lower back] support,” said Thompson.

One key difference between this chair and the previous is that the back is supported by columns, decreasing its flexibility. “I like …How it has a little bit of bounce to it,” said Winner.

The average rating for this chair was 7.5/10.

The last item on the list is the orange chair. The name is likewise mysterious. The chair is known for being the most comfortable chair in OCSA. It was discovered at T500 and is rumored to exist in the second floor of the Annex.

“They’re comfortable,” said Yael Campos (FTV ‘24). “I like the way it’s shaped …I like the material,” said Mario Berestetsky (ID-BR 24’).

There were few complaints. “Maybe they could have cushions. I feel like the back part of the chair is a bit too short to support my back,” said Berestetsky.

The average rating for this chair was 8/10, showing that it is deserving of its reputation.

A common complaint for OCSA chairs is the lack of comfort and back support. Reasonable, since common traits of OCSA chairs are being made of hard plastic, short enough to barely cover half of your back, and curving backwards. “Because there’s such a curve in the back …to keep upright, I tend to not use the back as much. So, if anything that makes me slouch more,” said Winner.

Staying in a hunched posture for too long can teach your muscles that hunched shoulders and a bent neck is natural. The posture, other than impacting your appearance and body language, causes stress in your shoulders, neck, and upper and lower back. 

The effects of a hard frame are nearly as bad. It may not provide enough pressure points to support the back and may lead to poor circulation, pinched nerves and muscle deterioration. It is hoped that our school’s chairs be reformed to be deserving of a higher score.

Junior Year 101

Ryan Jeong

The class of 2024 are at the halfway checkpoint in your high school career, the climax of what is going to be one of the most influential years of your high school life. 

We’ve all been there and heard the stories- 

the tales of horror of sleepless nights of studying for your AP’s while balancing your extracurriculars, rubbing elbows with your potential letter-of-rec teachers, and building up what you want to do for college that will probably determine the rest of your future. 

Yet besides the pressure, there is something redeeming about junior year- it can be a time to start afresh, meet new people, and get invested into your academic lives.

Observing the next class of  Junior Year, I am fascinated by  members of the class of 2024’s achievements and academic dedication. Every single year, thousands of students place their optimism into getting straight A-s, putting that 5 on their AP exams, having stunning extracurriculars, or maybe doing something big like starting a non-profit. 

However, getting to that level of academic success takes sacrifice: it takes allocating time that could be spent on leisure activities for more less appealing purposes, it takes late night studying, and it takes caffeine. 

Something that I wish I knew in Junior Year was that organization is your friend when achieving academic rigor: organization, when done right, can be satisfying academically. Some Juniors often find that “decorating my planner and planning out my day before is therapeutic” (** 24’).  Oftentimes, we forget to take care of ourselves and miss out on our health, and in a difficult year like that of Junior Year, it is especially imperative that our wellness isn’t being neglected and that our physical health is ready to take on the workload: this means mental health days, days where you simply catch up on your academic work.  

The final important thing to take into consideration is to refrain from being too hard on yourselves: many students go into junior year as perfectionists with high-reaching goals. It is normal for some of these goals to never be fully realized and accepting that we each have our own limitations. There are problems that we will never be able to address and events that are beyond our control and the acceptance that that is fine will provide a good mindset into taking on further challenges. 

The most terrifying aspect of Junior year is its unpredictability and many juniors are working against time to get to that level of prestige. While none of us can do anything to stop the race of time that will spin our hard-working juniors into all-nighters, frantic test-studyings, and unpredictable obstacles that are out of our control, I sincerely manifest that all the Juniors will have their dreams come true and that I hope all of you get into an ivy league of some sort. 

Savory Serbian Snacks

Emilia Djordjevic

Hey OCSA, who doesn’t love a new recipe? To get you excited about the coming holidays (and to introduce you to my heritage), I challenge you to bake cheese rolls, also known as kiflice in Serbia and across the Balkans! Families in all parts of Eastern Europe have this pastry as a customary food, bringing out our slavic pride and good tastes. While most fill these pastries with feta cheese, some also try them with spinach or jam. Happy baking! 

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour (non-bleached) 

• 2 cups organic milk 

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 1 tbsp cane sugar

• 1 tbsp sea salt

• 1 tbsp dry active yeast, or ¾ tbsp instant yeast 

• 200 g feta cheese (crumbled)

• 1 egg yolk 

• sesame seeds (optional) 

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Bake Time: 35 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. 

2. Use a medium sized bowl to add the flour, milk, oil, sugar, salt and yeast. With a spoon or plastic scraper, mix the ingredients together. Do this for 2-3 minutes; the mixture should be a wet mass, no dry bits inside. 

3. Place the dough on a clean counter. Using any method, knead the dough for 6-8 minutes until the gluten looks solid. If the dough needs longer, continue this step. 

4. Roll the dough into a ball, then place it in a mixing bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap or foil and keep it at room temperature for about an hour, or at least till it doubles its size. 

5. With a pastry cutter or bench scraper, cut the dough into four sections. 

6. Use your palm to flatten the dough, then place one ball in front to roll out. The rest of the dough can be prepared later, so leave them for now. The dough you work with first should be rolled to about 35 cm and 5 mm thick. 

7. With a pastry cutter or sharp knife, divide the dough into eight flat wedges. Next, place a teaspoon of feta cheese near the end of each wedge (remember to have eight wedges in total). 

8. Take the corner a wedge and pull the dough over the cheese. Once done, press the ends together; this seals the wedge in. Repeat this with the seven that remain. 

9. Roll the dough towards the wedge’s top until it makes a cylinder. Finally, place all eight rolls on parchment paper laid across your baking sheet. Steps 7 and 8 must be completed with the remaining three dough balls. 

10. When all four dough balls have been flattened, cut, filled, rolled and placed on parchment paper, brush the newly made rolls with beaten egg yolk. If you’d like, you may also sprinkle the top of each roll with sesame seeds. Note: I tend to make a mix between rolls with and without sesame. It’s your choice!

11. Bake the pastries at 350 F. Wait for 35 minutes to check on their progress. If they haven’t reached a golden brown color, let them stay in the oven a little longer.

12. When finished, take the rolls out for a cool down. Give them 5-8 minutes, and voila! 

I hope you find baking these pastries fun—it’s certainly a treat you can snack on with friends and family, share at parties or other festivities, or enjoy alone. Either way, it’s sure to impress someone! 

Senioritis

Caitlyn Mason

Remember when “23” was just the number stacked behind your name in a school-assigned email? When everyone thought they were destined to attend Harvard? When people told you things like, “you’re too young to be worrying about that”?

Long story short, people don’t say things like that anymore. In fact, when you’re a senior, you can bet money on someone asking something along the lines of, “what colleges are you applying to?” or, “what’s your major?” or, my personal favorite, “what will you do with that degree?”

Suddenly, 2023 is months, not years, away, and I, like many others, have come to the realization that senior year is upon us. 

If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent too much time wondering whether or not you’ve done enough. Have the 8 to 5 school days been worth it? There, honestly, is no real answer. But whether high school was the time of your life, or you’re already regretting not joining every club on 10th Street, there is not much more to be done. You have made of these four years what you could, during “unprecedented times,” nonetheless. 

And trust me, I know basically everyone talks about the “unprecedented times,” but I feel like not addressing it would be to ignore an elephant in the room. It’s okay to feel like you spent freshman and sophomore year in a state of in-between. While I commend those who started nonprofits from their bedrooms, I also commend those who took things one day at a time, who coped in ways that worked for them. 

Suffice it to say that I think every senior, to some extent, is overwhelmed. Emphasis on “every.” We’re all trying our best, whatever that looks like, and there is something to be said for that. Whether “trying your best” looks like making spreadsheets or taking senior year day by day, I challenge you not to compare your best to anyone else’s.

It’s hard to believe that this is the beginning of the end, but honestly, I’ve been trying not to think about it, at least not in that way. After four years, 28 conservatory classes, and more than 400 lunchtimes with my friends, this is the beginning of a new chapter of my life. And I encourage you to do the same: reflect on the things you’ve learned, the people you’ve encountered, and everything in between, but don’t let it hold you back from the new things that are coming. 

October Horoscopes: Iconic Horror Characters x Y/N

Lauren Kim