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The Northwood Howler
REST AND RESET: Taking periodic academic breaks is crucial in prioritizing student mental health.
Skip the skip: Taking a mental health day
BROADENED LENS: Senior Sophia Xiong discusses the sociopolitical and cultural context of her family’s immigration to the U.S. with senior Wendy Seefeldt and juniors Zaarya Vaid and Tamana Maiwandi.
Why Ethnic Studies matters today
ALWAYS HARD-WORKING: Special Needs staff prep trash bags to collect recycling during tutorial to help fund the classroom.
Special education teacher contract protections
MADE WITH LOVE: No matter what, PBS Kids will always remain in the hearts of its viewers.
Can you tell me how to get to… a funded PBS?
CHOR-US: Junior Sonia Khot and senior Minnie Chi explain choir to an underclassman at kickoff night.
Cultivating connections with choir’s Big Bro Big Sis program
GAMING FOR GLORY: Junior Edon Deng celebrates a successful strategy against his second round opponent of the Clash Royale Tournament.
HSYAT hosts inaugural Clash Royale Tournament
MEALS SODA-LICIOUS: Selected lunch items from the cafeteria include a vegetarian burger and Kiwi Berry soda.
CA bill targets ultraprocessed foods in school cafeterias
SCIENCE SIMPLIFIED: Senior Michelle Hui uses Gemini Pro for clarification on a science topic.
IUSD provides all students and staff access to Gemini Pro
REGAL RECREATION: The iconic castle design of Northwood Community Park may see more structures, themed equipment and terraced landscaping.
City begins planning Northwood Community Park renovations
Portola Parkway - Orchard Hills Drive intersection
Irvine City Council approves extending bus service to Northwood
NINETY MINUTES, ENDLESS POSSIBILITY: Here’s how students make the most of their time when late start isn’t just a Wednesday occurrence.
Taking advantage of an open first or second period
DELEGATION OF HOSPITALITY: Northwood’s 2023 Language Ambassadors point to their countries of origin—diverse like the English Learner students the program began mentoring that year.
Northwood Family Forever: How the Language Ambassador program was born to accommodate
BEHIND THE NEWS-LE-TTER: Counselor Le keeps students informed by updating the weekly newsletter.
Meet Northwood’s newest counselor: Tiffany Le
THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE: Senior Winnie Wei visits Bowdoin College’s marine laboratory during her college visit.
Senior Winnie Wei is winn-ing in her STEM research
PRESERVING THE PAST: A preserved glimpse into Orange County history, Old Town Tustin stands as a gateway into early California architecture and history.
Historic spots in OC
GONNA BE GOLDEN: “KPop Demon Hunters” has skyrocketed in popularity to the point that it has its own instant ramen.
K-popping off with KPop Demon Hunters
GETTING THE ICK: Hot boy summer gone cold real quick.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” turned ugly
BACK TO BLACK: Wednesday returns to Nevermore Academy with new mysteries and a forever scowl.
Here we “woe” again: “Wednesday Season 2, Part 2”’s spectacular return
DEMON VERSUS DUB: With breathtaking animation, music and character design, Ne Zha 2’s English dub might just be worth the watch.
Ne Zha 2: A global phenomenon no one has heard of
PLAYING PERCUSSION: junior Yun Wen strikes the bars with four mallets during percussion ensemble’s performance at Jazz at the Oak.
Percussion ensemble lights up the night at Jazz at the Oak
Mind your manners: A T-wolf’s guide to campus care
Mind your manners: A T-wolf’s guide to campus care
Welcome to Northwood: Comprehensive Campus Guide
Welcome to Northwood: Comprehensive Campus Guide
Senior highlights
Senior highlights
Etiquette in the age of distraction
Etiquette in the age of distraction
Northwood Q&A
Northwood Q&A
HOLDING BACK THE TRUTH: Free speech is the new “fake news.”
Democracy under autocracy: Infringement on free speech
NOT SO BIG AND BEAUTIFUL: Fissions and obstacles ravage the very systems that comprise our country’s foundations.
Learning to loans: What the Big Beautiful Bill means for education
SAFETY, NOT STARES: Gym policies must be reformed to protect the safety of all people, including female-presenting individuals who dress for comfort, not attention.
Beyond fear of falling weights: Women’s reality in fitness
A MEANINGFUL GIFT: Sometimes even cleaning up desks can make a teacher feel appreciated.
Recognizing and appreciating teachers year-round
OPEN UP: Experimental discussion among peers is crucial to ensure an environment full of diverse perspectives and speech.
Experimental thought in school is the point
CONSISTENCY IS CORE: After a five-minute run, sophomore Keanna Anell practices crunches to warm up the abdominal muscles. Both cardio and strength training are core components of calisthenics.
Calisthenics: Brains and brawn
STRATEGY IN MOTION: During drills, assistant girls flag football coach Steven Plette helps break down routes to sharpen the team’s game.
Coaching with relatability: Steven Plette
TOE TO TOE-CHDOWN: The Northwood football team prepares an offensive play against Woodbridge.
Varsity boys football scores second W of the season
Legacy of the Pack: Athletes give back
Legacy of the Pack: Athletes give back
Fast Splash: Northwood swim surges at PCC finals
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
September Howler Volume XXVII - Issue II, September 29, 2025
September Howler Volume XXVII – Issue II, September 29, 2025
August Howler Volume XXVII - Issue I, August 2, 2025
August Howler Volume XXVII – Issue I, August 2, 2025
June Howler Volume XXVI - Issue VIII, June 2, 2025
June Howler Volume XXVI – Issue VIII, June 2, 2025
April Howler Volume XVI – Issue VII, April 21, 2025
March Howler Volume XXVII – Issue VI, March 19, 2025
How to ride the Irvine CONNECT
PLANK PARTY: Junior Alice Baik (left) and senior Caleigh Nystrom (right) hold plank during warmup in preparation for the first Spring Show rehearsal.
Behind the Scenes: Northwood’s dance show
A look inside Winter Guard’s season
Passions of the Pack: Leadership on Campus
From Sunrise to Sunset: A day in the life of students in Ramadan
Passions of the Pack: Leadership on Campus
FOSTERING DIALOGUE: AP Government teacher Steven Plete engages with a student students
Teaching AP Government during an election year
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
PLANK PARTY: Junior Alice Baik (left) and senior Caleigh Nystrom (right) hold plank during warmup in preparation for the first Spring Show rehearsal.
Behind the Scenes: Northwood’s dance show
From Sunrise to Sunset: A day in the life of students in Ramadan
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
How to ride the Irvine CONNECT
A look inside Winter Guard’s season
Introducing California Colleges
Introducing new staff at Northwood
Introducing new staff at Northwood
Inside T-wolf Thank Yous
The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
The Student News Site of Northwood High School

The Northwood Howler
Ashley Lee

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor

Ashley Lee is a Northwood senior and the A&E Editor for The Howler. She enjoys watching Kdramas, hiking and eating green tea ice cream. But her ultimate dream is to sit on top of the Golden Gate Bridge with Baymax.
All content by Ashley Lee
CREATIVITY AT ITS CORE: Senior Kate Hudson mixes three pieces—River by Leon Bridges, Twilight by Elliot Smith and The Greatest by Cat Power—to express her emotions of graduating and starting a new life.

Sharing “My Storybook” at Coffee House

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
May 30, 2022
Thriving amidst the unknown

Thriving amidst the unknown

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
May 27, 2022
Timby Origin Story

Timby Origin Story

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
April 18, 2022
STANDING UP WITH COURAGE: Fairy in the Mirror junior Catie Jamieson (right) lifts Ashgirl senior Sofia Partridge (left) from the ground, encouraging her to believe in herself instead of looking to magic.

The Ash Girl: A fairytale for the times

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
April 11, 2022
WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS: Making someone smile is the simplest way to make a difference in someone’s life.

HowlerHow: 3 ways to make other people smile

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
March 20, 2022
A tale untold: The hidden crew

A tale untold: The hidden crew

Ashley Lee and Arya Bhattacharjee
February 10, 2022
Junior Adam Harper dodges a defense player from Big Bear to score a touchdown as junior Ryan Kesler blocks another player.

Northwood wins its first CIF game

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
November 9, 2021
MOMENT OF FRIENDSHIP: In one of the only hopeful scenes of the series “Squid Game,” players Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong play a round of marbles after spending time sharing their life stories.

Analyzing Squid Game: A down-to-earth reflection of human nature and capitalism

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
November 2, 2021

S1 Episode 3: Recognizing cultural diversity and finding a path towards acceptance

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
October 18, 2021

Around the World: Movie Edition

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
August 19, 2021
Irene Lee performs with NYO

Irene Lee performs with NYO

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
August 19, 2021
BORN TO LAX: Senior Ethan Koers propels the ball to a teammate as the long-stick midfielder in a game against Edison High School.

Ethan Koers becomes Northwood’s first NCAA lacrosse recruit

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
May 22, 2021

Raya takes off on Disney

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
April 23, 2021
April 2021

April 2021

Richelle Gunawan and Ashley Lee
April 23, 2021
THE SUCCESS TO FARMING: After rejecting an offer to purchase a divining rod to find water, Jacob teaches his son, David, where they should dig for water, which is needed for farming.

Minari: A forgotten voice waiting to be heard

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
March 3, 2021
REWIND: Junior Mihir Joshi visits the Vital Link desktop browser after the College and Career Fair to rewatch one of the workshops that he missed.

IUSD students and parents attend the virtual College and Career Fair

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
February 26, 2021
TRANSPOSED: Protagonist Joe Gardner allows himself to perform “in the zone” when he first rehearses with Dorothea Williams.

The latest Pixar film fails to reach everyone’s “Soul”

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
January 25, 2021
People continue to cast their ballots in-person during the primary election despite the pandemic.

The relevance of voter suppression in 2020

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
November 22, 2020

Challenging beauty standards

Ashley Lee and Rachel Gima
November 15, 2020
In 2010, "Alice in Wonderland" generated over one billion dollars in ticket sales.

Disney’s transition from animation to live-action films

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
October 10, 2020
How to tackle 2020: movie edition

How to tackle 2020: movie edition

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
August 20, 2020
A&E Tips to Relieving Stress

A&E Tips to Relieving Stress

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
August 20, 2020
A WAR ON TWO FRONTS: Armed men wear masks to patrol the streets of Sanaa, Yemen, during a 24-hour curfew, as concerns regarding COVID-19 grow.

Crisis in Yemen: In the Midst of COVID-19 and a War

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
June 29, 2020
LET ME TALK: Northwood graduate Tori Oriola uses a megaphone to amplify her voice, as she spreads awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement in one of the rallies she attended.

Tori Oriola on Black Lives Matter: “Your voice matters”

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
June 11, 2020
TEST PREP: A student attempts to solve practice problems to prepare for the SAT.

University of California Suspends SAT and ACT for Admissions

Ashley Lee, A&E Editor
May 26, 2020
What’s your spirit Pokémon? Teacher’s edition

What’s your spirit Pokémon? Teacher’s edition

Ashley Lee and Anlon Zhu
March 10, 2020
Ban the backwards Body Mass Index

Ban the backwards Body Mass Index

Kathy Chun and Ashley Lee
March 10, 2020

Charmed: finding luck in life

Nawal Abdul and Ashley Lee
March 6, 2020
THE PERFECT DUO: Juniors Samridi Iyer and Sean Yan perform the song “Jealous” by Labrinth on stage.

Akustikoff: performing beyond the notes

Cameron Arcand and Ashley Lee
February 13, 2020
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