The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
TEACHING RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY: Federation of Jewish Students co-presidents junior Adiv Yair and senior Tom Per- el discuss the traditions and significance of Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday celebrated in mid-October that focuses on repentance and atonement.
Federation of Jewish Students fosters belonging
Honoring the deceased for Día de los Muertos
Honoring the deceased for Día de los Muertos
IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S VIRAJ: Senior Viraj Kadakia toggles with the controls in an airplane before his flying class starts. He is practicing his take-offs and landings in preparation for his pilot's license examination in November.
The sky’s the limit for pilot Viraj Kadakia
LITTER-ALLY RECYCLING: The army of alumni architects assiduously assign areas to apply the assorted artifacts (what a mouthful!).
Lost and Found items are hard at work (literally)!
DISHONORABLY DECOMMISSIONED: Nobody exactly knows what will happen to the physical form of Siri Alexa Bixby, but we can assume that he’ll get what he rightfully deserves in the end
AI counselor given the pink slip and shut down
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
Student Speak: Which science is the most challenging?
Student Speak: Which science is the most challenging?
SELF-EXPRESSION IS IN STYLE: During club rush, senior fashion club president Dae Truong and other members pass out fliers and candy to students, telling them about the club's agenda and mission in order to advertise their club.
Love & Lace brings Northwood fashion a new flair
PROTECTING THE PETS: ASPCA board members junior Emily Tamura (left), junior Emily Huang (middle) and senior Urika Tandiono (right) announce upcoming volunteer opportunities at animal shelters in a club meeting.
ASPCA’s pawsitive impact on animal rights
CRAMMING ON CAFFEINE: Senior Santi Vanegas sips on a honey lavender latte, one of the house species from The Mugs menu, while working on his schoolwork.
Not your cup of tea? Try The Mugs
NO MATTER HOW LO(W), HE'S HERE HELP: Northwood Mental Health Specialist Steve Lo talks to a student in his office.
Managing Mental Health: Meet Northwood’s mental health specialists
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
DANCING WITH SERENITY: Sophomore Grace Li refines her moves in her fourth period dance choreography class.
Flow Into Formation: Expressing creativity through student choreography
A PLUM OF SUSPICION: Professor Plum receives a mysterious envelope from Mr. Wadsworth, setting the stage for a night of intrigue and deception in Northwood’s production of “Clue."
Northwood’s “Clue” on stage served up murder and mystery at its finest
CRAFTING CLUE: Costume head junior Kaylee Fernandez perfects Wadsworth’s mustache for Clue play’s dress rehearsal.
The Heroes Behind the Capes: Northwood’s costume team
INKING IT IN: Junior Nathan Tuason carefully transfers his design onto a shirt, guided by screenprinting teacher Robert Stuart.
Screen Print Design’s impact on artistic vision
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!
March 2024 Centerspread
March 2024 Centerspread
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
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE: Choosing the military over the conventional college path can have its benefits.
Silver and Navy to Red, White and Blue: College vs. the military
CELEBRATING TRADITION: Elders from the Gabrielino-Tongva, Acjachemen and Oaxaca tribes pose in traditional attire.
From Erasure to Empowerment: The purpose of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
CLUBS, CLUBS AND MORE CLUBS: Local students are overwhelmed by the vast quantity of clubs on campus.
There are too many clubs on campus
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
GAME DAY ENERGY: Northwood’s JV Pep Squad kicks off the home game by energizing the frosh football team from the sidelines.
Behind the cheer: Northwood’s pep squad
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
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
April Howler Volume XXV, Issue VII – April 17, 2024
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
Introducing California Colleges
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
Day of the deadines
Day of the deadines
Introducing new staff at Northwood
Introducing new staff 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
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
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
Connecting Eras with Art: AP Art History Teacher Zane Pang talks about the importance of understanding world history through art.
Gallery: Elective Expo
DESK: Junior Issac Lee and Senior Bharathi Kaliraj open the first Fine Arts Assembly and NTV Broadcast since before Covid-19.
Looking back on the fine arts assembly
Step 7 - Distribution: The paper is finally printed and it’s ready to be shared with the school
Behind the scenes of the Northwood Howler
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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