The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
HARP TO HEART: Sophomore Bia Yoo practices the harp during lunch to prepare for Northwood’s winter instrumental concerts
Northwood taps into unique musical strengths
READY, SET, BRAWL: Northwood freshmen Kevin Chen, Manvir Kalra and Evan Jung plan their strategy for the next round of the tournament
HSYAT hosts brand new Brawl Stars Tournament
GIVING BACK: Senior Katherine Jiang donates cans to the canned food drive bins outside of the SAC.
Thanksgiving food drive competition
DANCING INTO THE FUTURE: Northwood dance students practice in 2003 (left); Dance Theatre sophomore Mirabelle Wang and junior Madison Chang perfect their choreography during rehearsal, preparing to bring their routine to life on stage (right).
Then vs. Now: How Northwood’s dance program all began
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Northwood Girls Flag Football team celebrates after winning the first ever CIF Division II title.
Girls Flag Football wins CIF championship
SWITCHING SYSTEMS: Heritage Park Regional Library is one of many libraries in the city that will soon join the Irvine library system.
Irvine to transition to city-run library system
MENDEZ IS MANDATORY: Mendez v. Westminster, a key yet underrated case during the Civil Rights Movement, is now to be taught in all California schools.
Mendez v. Westminster headed for Statewide instruction in California
DISTINCTLY DECORATED: History teacher Greg Guy's advisement won the Advisement Door Decorating Contest.
A Doorway to School Spirit: Advisement Door Decorating Contest
ADVANCING ACCESSIBILITY: Senior Erica Zou walks along the newly-modified accessible sidewalk near the front office.
Howler Investigates: Sidewalk Renovations
GEARED FOR CONVENIENCE: The new racks sit almost full in just their first week open allowing students a new, more convenient place to park their bikes.
New bike racks at Northwood
CRUNCHWRAP CRUSH: Finals week desperation leads to some less-than-tasty test-taking troubles.
How to Fail Your Finals: Finals week horror stories
CHEW ON THIS: Chew chows down on Le Shrimp Noodle Bar’s Cantonese-Japanese fusion dishes at their new Irvine Spectrum location.
Wok-hei meets ramen at Le Shrimp Noodle Bar
READY FOR LUNCH: Nutritional services associate II Cesily Hadley takes inventory of the leftovers from the morning break before clearing them out in preparation for the lunch rush.
What happens to cafeteria leftovers?
BARREN BLACK FRIDAYS: A changing consumer culture alters how Black Friday is celebrated.
What happened to Black Friday?
BAKING LESSONS, HISTORY AND BITES: Senior and Global Baking Club President Joyce Zhang shares a lesson on the recipe and rich history of cornbread while handing out fresh samples during this month’s meeting.
Global Baking Club’s sweet influence on culinary delights
CAPTURING THE SPIRIT: Sophomore Matthew Chan brings Christmas spirit to life through the South Coast Repertory’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol.”
Bringing Holiday Magic to Life: Matthew Chan’s journey in “A Christmas Carol”
WAYS TO BE "WICKED": Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) stun audiences with their musical performances.
“Wicked,” you will be popular
TENSION INCREASING: Grief and anger spark changing dynamics between Vi and Jinx.
A visually stunning sequel to “Arcane: League of Legends”
LUXURIOUS LANGSON: UCI curates a museum of American Impressionist art.
Local art museums to explore during Northwood’s first full Thanksgiving Break
MELODIES AND MEMORIES: Sameer Gadhia of Young the Giant joins Northwood Chamber students for a quick picture after their performance.
A Giant Harmony: Chamber performs with Young the Giant at IPSF Gala
Looking back with staff
Sock-Tober: Appreciating the smaller luxuries
Sock-Tober: Appreciating the smaller luxuries
Blast to the Past: Looking back on childhood favorites
Blast to the Past: Looking back on childhood favorites
Learning to let go
Learning to let go
We're all in this together!
We’re all in this together!
BATTLE OF THE ADVISEMENTS: during a student forum meeting, 15 individuals from different advisements volunteer to play a game of musical chairs in order to win a pie party.
Student Forum’s under-appreciated benefits to campus
CALENDAR CONFUSION: Students struggle with the awkward time between winter break and the new semester.
New Year, New Me… But Not Yet: Break between the semesters
HOLIDAY HISTORIES: While Thanksgiving can be a time to celebrate family traditions, it’s equally important to recognize the history behind it.
Acknowledging the past of Thanksgiving with holiday spirit
YA LIKE JAZZ?: Northwood’s Jazz Junction showcases their musical talent with an improvisation led by Junior Sooho Cho (center left) and Senior Drew Maragay (center right) at Northwood’s Club Rush.
Niche gave Northwood activities a C+ rating. Respectfully, we disagree
Celebrating Wimptober
Celebrating Wimptober
ON PAR FOR SUCCESS: Senior Captain Annabelle Wong completes her swing, intently watching the ball’s trajectory down the fairway
Driving to Victory: Girls’ golf celebrates a stellar season of success
NO BIG SHOT: Sports tryouts really aren’t as difficult as they seem.
How to survive your first sports tryout
BE(LEE)VING IN YOURSELF: Flag Football Coach Harry Lee delivers feedback to his team at practice.
Harry Lee: Building a coaching legacy
BRUNSON’S GUARD GAME: Junior Jacob Whang mimics his favorite player Jalen Brunson’s three-point celebration.
Tip-Off Talks: Northwood students share their NBA picks
TEAMWORK AND STRATEGY: Players meet for a 2:30 check-in with coaches in the theater to finalize their game plan.
A behind-the-scenes look at Northwood’s varsity football team’s game day experience
BRAINROT TO THE MAXX: Attention Based Learning techniques prove to be anything but beta.
Northwood implements Attention Based Learning on campus
Comic: Birthdays during testing season
Comic: Birthdays during testing season
TERRIFIC THEMES: The Met Gala will never fail to amaze audiences with outfits in accordance to these themes.
Majestic Met Gala theme ideas
FROM BURN BOOKS TO TEXTBOOKS: Teens tackle trigonometric equations instead of tribulations, chasing career aspirations, not devious schemes.
Beyond the Cliché: Exposing Hollywood’s high school myths
CRIES ALL AROUND: Charger conveys their utter misery owing to the departure of their one and only true love.
Devastated charger sends a tearful goodbye
Nov/Dec Howler Volume XXVI – Issue IV, December 16, 2024
Nov/Dec Howler Volume XXVI – Issue IV, December 16, 2024
October Howler Volume XXVI - Issue III, October 31, 2024
October Howler Volume XXVI – Issue III, October 31, 2024
September Howler Volume XXVI - Issue II, September 24, 2024
September Howler Volume XXVI – Issue II, September 24, 2024
August Howler Volume XXVI, Issue I – August 20, 2024
June Howler Volume XXV, Issue VII - June 3, 2024
June Howler Volume XXV, Issue VII – June 3, 2024
SETTING THE STAND: Freshman Class Council members Carson Lv, Bella Shim, Abbie Kim and Mischka Rajula set up their Cake Pop Stand during lunch.
Class councils celebrate the holidays
Reconnecting during the holidays
Reconnecting during the holidays
IN THE DEEP END: Varsity water polo goalkeeper junior Sidney Francisco De Paula Junior contests against El Toro High School as he lines up for a strategic throw.
Northwood’s fall sports in full swing
STAY IN THE LOOP: Senior Valentina Nguyen works on intently her next crochet piece, a red hat, which she is making as a commission from her Instagram account @valentinacrochets
Unique hobbies at Northwood
BACK IN THE ACT: Northwood alum Katherine Paladichuk performed "Shrek" at Northwood during her high school career.
Katherine Paladichuk: Former Northwood acting star to Broadway performer
BACK IN THE ACT: Northwood alum Katherine Paladichuk performed "Shrek" at Northwood during her high school career.
Katherine Paladichuk: Former Northwood acting star to Broadway performer
Take it from us: Senior gives advice
Make Your World Better: an interview with Sandy Banks
Make Your World Better: an interview with Sandy Banks
Hispanic Heritage Month: An interview with Joey Cabrera
Hispanic Heritage Month: An interview with Joey Cabrera
Profiles in Science: Northwood science teachers dish on how they discovered their passion for science and their journey to Northwood
Profiles in Science: Northwood science teachers dish on how they discovered their passion for science and their journey to Northwood
SETTING THE STAND: Freshman Class Council members Carson Lv, Bella Shim, Abbie Kim and Mischka Rajula set up their Cake Pop Stand during lunch.
Class councils celebrate the holidays
IN THE DEEP END: Varsity water polo goalkeeper junior Sidney Francisco De Paula Junior contests against El Toro High School as he lines up for a strategic throw.
Northwood’s fall sports in full swing
STAY IN THE LOOP: Senior Valentina Nguyen works on intently her next crochet piece, a red hat, which she is making as a commission from her Instagram account @valentinacrochets
Unique hobbies at Northwood
PRECISION IN EVERY STRIKE: Sophomore Sophia Chen hits the keys on the vibraphone during marching band’s morning practice.
Beat by beat: A behind-the-scenes spotlight on Northwood’s marching band
TEAMWORK AND STRATEGY: Players meet for a 2:30 check-in with coaches in the theater to finalize their game plan.
A behind-the-scenes look at Northwood’s varsity football team’s game day experience
Introducing California Colleges
Introducing new staff at Northwood
Introducing new staff at Northwood
Inside T-wolf Thank Yous
The Northwood Howler presents Northwood beauty secrets
The Northwood Howler presents Northwood beauty secrets
Inside the Irvine Unified Council PTA's Student Advocacy trip to Sacramento
Inside the Irvine Unified Council PTA’s Student Advocacy trip to Sacramento
The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
Rhea Gupta

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor

Rhea Gupta is the Viewpoint Editor of The Howler with an extreme obsession with coffee, not for the caffeine but for the taste. If she isn’t spending her time taking a nap for over 2 hours, you can find her chefing it up in the kitchen (with the select few meals she can make), dedicating her time to OC SASA or eating vanilla sponge cake (which she definitely did not make herself).

All content by Rhea Gupta
EXPLORING THE PISTACHIO WORLD: The dessert possibilities are endless with pistachios.

2024 is NUTS for pistachios

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
June 3, 2024
SIMPLE STUDYING: Students now feel compelled to take the SAT with the recent changes.

Standardized tests are the best baseline

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
May 6, 2024
HANDS-ON HUES: Junior Ashley Nguyen gets a spider painted on her hand during Night of the Arts.

Fine Arts Week: A blend of talent and creativity

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
April 18, 2024
TAKE COVER: A Northwood student takes shelter from the rain under an AP Enviro sanctuary.

Northwood innovates to combat unbearable weather conditions (rain)

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 4, 2024
LOVE ON THE BRAIN: Bold teen relationship hot takes you need to hear

Howler hot-takes on teen relationships

Rhea Gupta and Courtney Lee
February 14, 2024
EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT: Senior Harshil Verma tutors senior Burhan Lukmanjee after school.

TutorHigh: Shining high for Irvine one lesson at a time

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
December 20, 2023
HEADLINE OR PUNCHLINE?: Hasan Minhaj’s comedy can cross the boundaries of journalistic integrity.

Where do we draw the line for comedians to embellish the truth?

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
November 28, 2023
THE BIG PICTURE: "Even though it’s a fun game-like simulation, it helps students take a moment to seriously think about how they should spend and save their money. They have to think not only about themselves, but also their spouses and children." — parent volunteer Jim Leung

A “Bite of Reality” into our financial lives after high school

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
November 9, 2023
MELTING DOWN ICE: ICE teacher Nicole Midani engages with her students to explain how students can help stop climate change.

Melting traditions with ICE

Jaycee Hendrickson, Sports Editor
September 19, 2023
BHARATANATYAM TAKES THE STAGE: Senior Ananya Badari and Woodbridge Junior Shrinidhi Sriram perform a Dhanashree Thilana.

“Any Body Can Dance”: OC SASA takes the stage

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
May 23, 2023
DIVERSITY IS DELICIOUS: Cultural foods and healthy eating are not only delectable and comforting but can hold the same nutritional value as the normalized Western diet.

Analyzing cultural diets in relation to healthy eating

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
April 11, 2023
COLORFUL CANDY FOOTWEAR COVERED?: A change in M&M shoe choice covered on outlets intended to report on more pressing matters.

Stop the Outrage: Cable news sensationalism of non-problems

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 13, 2023
VAXXING TO STOP SLACKING: New senioritis vaccine could prevent further disease transmission at Northwood.

IUSD approves new senioritis vaccine just in time for Prom

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 12, 2023
4.0 ALERT: Senior Aditya Hari and junior Sahithi Allam connect instantly thanks to Timber over their transcrizzpts.

Meet Timber: Northwood’s new dating app takes campus by storm

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
February 14, 2023
New Year, New Laws: 2023 California state laws now taking effect

New Year, New Laws: 2023 California state laws now taking effect

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
February 14, 2023
TWO-TIME CIF Champions: Running back senior Adam Harper clinches the championship plaque as the team excitedly rallies him on. (One in a Million Shot)

FIRST TIME EVER: Football to state finals

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
December 9, 2022
CASE COUNTS: California Teacher of the Year Ben Case describes the different types of cadences to his class.

The analysis of intervals: Music theory with Ben Case

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
December 9, 2022
Members of Namaste Northwood and Muslim Student Association draw intricate henna designs in a collaboration with Art Club.

Connecting with Culture at Northwood: A student speak

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
November 30, 2022
MAJESTICALLY UNDER A SPELL: Queen of Fairies (Areesha Suhail) along with her fairies in service tend to an animal.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream review

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
November 17, 2022
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Sophomore Eleanor Wu calls on President Biden to act on recent Iranian injustices.

Student activists stand with Iran through protest

Rhea Gupta and Megha Kishore
October 31, 2022
Timby’s tips on maintaining a fursuit

Timby’s tips on maintaining a fursuit

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
October 31, 2022
Centerspread: California Propositions

Centerspread: California Propositions

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
October 31, 2022
THE DIRTY TRUTH: By ignoring the shame WOC have endured for wearing these same features, this “effortless” aesthetic, that draws inspiration from WOC culture, has brought to attention that society has equated “clean” to fair skin.

The “Clean” Girl trend is WOC Culture

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
October 3, 2022
Many social media influencers like Andrew Tate use their platforms to disseminate discriminatory ideas, and quickly gain a popular following off of hype.

Justified censorship of online extremism

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
September 26, 2022
Crossword of Tennis Terms

Crossword of Tennis Terms

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
September 26, 2022

How likely are you to survive in an NHS class

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
September 26, 2022
THE LIGHTER THE BETTER?: The stigma against dark skin perpetuates harmful relics of the Indian caste system and British colonial rule in South Asians.

Colorism in South Asia and its impact on Irvine’s community

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
May 28, 2022
HSYAT’s 28th annual Teen Summit event was put together by the hardworking subcommittee comprising YAT staff and high school volunteers.

HSYAT Teen Summit Event

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
May 20, 2022
READING BANNED BOOKS: These titles are a few out of the many enlightening banned books.

The forbidden knowledge found via banned books

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 28, 2022

Exposé: Looting leprechauns steal time

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 11, 2022
TOO SOON TO GO MASKLESS: Senior Abby Sepulveda reaches for a mask to wear indoors in accordance with the school mask mandate.

Drawbacks to removing school mask mandates

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 10, 2022

Discussing the Capitol Insurrection in schools

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
February 10, 2022
PARADING THE STREETS: Members of local fraternities were part of the motorcade that included antique cars and leaders in the Black community, from state senators to kickboxing champions.

42nd Black History Month Parade

Rhea Gupta and Rachel Yokota
February 10, 2022
DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN: Freshman Caitlyn Tran excitedly talks to sophomore Anika Aloni in their cat costumes.

Winter guard’s first competition of the season

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
February 9, 2022
Consistent care: Hearts Against Hate is now on their fifth cycle of creating care packages for Asian American elders.

Hearts Against Hate

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
December 9, 2021
This or That?

This or That?

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
December 8, 2021
CHAMBER TAKES THE STAGE: The Chamber Singers perform on Concordia’s grand stage as part of the Concordia festival.

Northwood choir performs at Concordia festival

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
November 12, 2021
How Do Sports Adapt to Weather Changes?

How Do Sports Adapt to Weather Changes?

Rhea Gupta and Rachel Yokota
November 3, 2021
FILTERING THROUGH FEEDS: Students are exposed to social media everyday, making regulation critical.

The necessity of holding social media companies accountable

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
October 28, 2021
Pocket discrimination and what it says about equality

Pocket discrimination and what it says about equality

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
October 16, 2021
How schools should address politics in the classroom

How schools should address politics in the classroom

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
September 29, 2021
Downfall of Democracy

Downfall of Democracy

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
September 29, 2021
Dance 2 students end the Wednesday night show with “Come Alive” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Showcasing Northwood’s dancers after a hard year

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
May 13, 2021
LOCKED UP: Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Former police officer Derek Chauvin found guilty for George Floyd’s death

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
April 29, 2021
WE ARE NOT A VIRUS: America’s youth speaks up during a Stop Asian Hate protest organized by Melanated Youth.

Asian hate crimes must be eliminated

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
April 13, 2021
A trip to Cancun: Sen. Ted Cruz escapes to Cancun amid a crisis in Texas

Ted Cruz’s great escape

Rhea Gupta, Viewpoint Editor
March 12, 2021
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