Eja Fromm
Co Editor In-Chief

An introduction to MVHS’s UNICEF: an organization that works toward providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children and young people worldwide!

     Mission seniors Kendall Eulo (president), Katrina Simon (vice president), Sarah Hobiera (secretary) and Kiana Farahani (treasurer) organized the club to be recognized: UNICEF. 

     UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children. Founded in 1946, they helped many children and young adults thrive while working with them to fulfill their full potential. 

     The club at Mission was organized during the pandemic when most of the school was online. President Eulo mentioned, “I started it junior year after the pandemic started because I wanted a way to help somehow. UNICEF was focused on covid relief in underdeveloped countries who don’t have access to healthcare and sanitary supplies.”

     It wasn’t possible to hold meetings in-person, so the club leaders hosted zoom meetings. The purpose of the meetings was to raise money to donate towards the non-profit organization, along with informing the community about humanitarian problems around the world. 

     During the meetings, the leaders of the club informed students apart of UNICEF about human trafficking issues, the syrian crisis, and other world issues. 

     Eulo started the club because she was, “looking more into UNICEFs purpose and wanted to inform and advocate for them so that our school is more aware about humanitarian issues people suffer from daily.”

     UNICEF advocates for more people to participate in the club because then the organization will have a larger impact. They are recognized on a national level as they work with communities and governments to bring education to children who live in poverty stricken or underdeveloped areas. 

     Unfortunately, covid restricted the club from hosting events. Instead, they hosted a UNICEF virtual movie night in February 2021! The movie Soul was watched via zoom while the club leaders opened up a link in the MVHS webstore to directly donate money to UNICEF. 

     Before Winter Break, UNICEF hosted their first in person meeting. Everyone met during lunch to make holiday cards that were donated to local children’s hospitals. It was a big success as many students showed up to support the cause. 

     The organization partners include global brands such as Ikea, Lego, and Microsoft. They give resources that aid towards driving innovation to help children. Additionally, they have strong connections between governments, NGOs, civil society, and private sectors to make their work possible. 

     UNICEF needs all the donations and partnerships that they can get. For instance, durin the Yemen crisis, approximately 2.3 million children are suffering from malnutrition. Furthermore, 10,000 children have been murdered amid the violence, 2 million children are out of school, and 11.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. 

     They are on ground in Yemen to help save children’s lives, and to help them cope with the impact of the conflict. They have been supplying therapeutic needs such as food and medical care. Partners have helped them rehabilitate damaged schools and establish safe learning spaces. Additionally, they have provided covid 19 vaccines and safety supplies to the community. 

      Amid the new year, UNICEF plans on admitting 360,000 children for treatment due to malnutrition, giving 2.5 million women and children access to healthcare, giving 5.9 million people access to WASH sanitary supplies, and to help 6 million women and children access gender-based violence mitigation, prevention, and response. 

     In order to accomplish these goals, they will need approximately 484.4 million dollars. Overall, UNICEF has aided towards helping many through humanitarian crises and has high hopes for the future of the organization. 

Shayan Pour Teimour
Staff Writer

I was diagnosed with the coronavirus and was forced to quarantine for 10 days. This is how it went.

     On Thursday, the 6th of January, I woke up feeling extremely sick. Little did I know, I was burning up with a 102 degree fever. Later in the day, I took a covid test to see if I actually had the virus. I had tested positive for COVID-19.

     My first 5 days of quarantining were absolutely terrible for me. I had a very high fever- although it was brought down with the help of over-the-counter medications thankfully- a very itchy and raspy cough, stuffed nostrils, headaches and dizziness, extreme fatigue, or loss of energy, and loss of appetite. The worst parts of that list were definitely the loss of appetite, the fatigue, and the fever. 

     The loss of appetite had got so bad to the point where I was force feeding myself dinner because I hadn’t eaten anything all day. The fatigue, however, goes hand in hand with this. The reason for this lack of food entering my system is because I was sleeping most of the day for 5 days straight.

     Even though my fever was brought down with medicine, at night it still worsened, no matter the medicine I took. It would even disallow me from sleeping, waking me up 3, 4, even 5 times in one night, in a sweat.

     You might be asking yourself why I didn’t mention my loss of taste and smell in the list. That’s because I, fortunately, never lost my taste or smell.

     By day 7 my sickness had finally calmed down. Fever had almost completely gone away, and I was finally getting my energy back. My sniffles were pretty much gone and I had no more headaches. The cough and lack of appetite were still stubborn as ever.

     Fast forward to today, almost 3 weeks later, I am completely symptomless except for one thing. Appetite. It is normal, however,  to not regain your appetite for multiple weeks after contracting COVID-19.

     If there is anything I could say to people out of school sick due to COVID or other things, it would be this: Do your homework.

Madelynn Foulkrod
Staff Writer

 As December approaches, the craze of Christmas shopping does too. Although this is an exciting holiday season to many, it’s safe to say that Christmas gift shopping can be very stressful.

  Each winter, the people who celebrate this holiday search frantically for the perfect presents to give their loved ones. Even though thinking of what to get a loved one may seem like a chore, it surely doesn’t have to be.

  As they say, “It’s the thought that counts.” This quote caters specifically to the giving of gifts. Even though some do have their expensive tastes, most people will be appreciative for practically any gift. 

  DIY-ing a simple Christmas card or baking goods for a loved one are just two of the cheapest and sweetest gift options for your loved ones. Decorating a card sweetly with arts and crafts materials like buttons, macaroni, glitter, and Christmas colored trinkets can really make a card pop and reflect the effort put into it. 

  Making a dessert for someone could also be delightful, but it is advised to ensure the person receiving it doesn’t have any sort of allergies that could be triggered by the treat. Some good dessert options are cake, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, or candies. 

  If choosing to bake a dessert for someone, making it Christmas themed could be a fun idea to evoke some joyful Christmas spirit. Just a few interesting concepts for a Christmas themed dessert are gingerbread-man cookies, candy canes, or pastries in the shapes of stockings, trees, and other Christmas themed objects. 

  But if arts and crafts or baking isn’t an option, there are other just as great alternatives. These ideas may require a bit of spending money, but if this is an issue there are always less costly choices available.

  If shopping for a certain person, keep in mind what their favorite things are. For example, if they like a certain TV show, get them a piece of merchandise for it. 

  Maybe even give them a blanket of their favorite color, or a piece of clothing that suits their fashion style. Making a gift sentimental is one of the best ways to make someone happy on Christmas day. 

  There are more generic gift ideas, though. Purchasing a loved one something that they may not be able to afford often or have the time to enjoy could be a nice gesture.

  Candles, bath salts or soaps, perfumes, lotions, and other luxury items may be an exciting present for someone who doesn’t get a lot of time to spend caring for themselves. 

  What the best thing is to give someone for Christmas really depends on that person’s unique personality. However, as long as there is thought, effort, and care put into a gift, it will be special and make Christmas a wonderful experience for them.

Judd Karn
Online Editor

A comprehensive guide of what you can eat within walking distance of the school.

     Earlier this school year the faculty announced that any student who has no period after lunch, no matter the grade, is able to leave campus. This means if you don’t have a 6th period you can go off campus Tuesdays or Thursdays, even if you normally couldn’t; so if you are going to go off campus, where should you eat? There are so many great options to choose from and although you may already have one that is your go-to, it is good to branch out. So with that being said, here’s a roundup of a variety of places to get a bite to eat.
    TK Burgers
    TK Burgers is seen by many as the go-to place, and it’s understandable: they have a lively tiki-themed interior and high but fair prices, clocking in at $8 for their much beloved signature TK Burger and fries; although that is what they are known for, they also have many an abundance of other sandwiches, whether it be their homemade veggie burgers, ribeye steak sandwich, chicken sandwich, ahi tuna sandwich or impossible burger; not a burger person? The burger joint also serves chicken strips, salads, tater tots and an entirely different menu for breakfast, they are bound to have something that you would like.
    Besides the prices, the only other drawback there is is how busy it gets during school lunchtime, you have to leave right after class to head there and come back right after eating or their is a chance that you won’t make it back in time, even with the fast cooking times (considering nothing is pre-made).
    Beach Hut Deli
    Just over the bridge you’ll find Beach Hut Deli, another tiki-surf themed establishment. Inside you’ll find each booth has a surfboard for a table with a TV. As assumed by the name, they have a wide selection of sandwiches, with their most popular item being the Surfin’ Bird, a turkey, bacon, avocado, cream cheese, mayo, mustard, pickles, tomatoes, onions, pepperoncinis & lettuce french roll sandwich.
    Their sandwiches are extremely appetizing but not many students rush to the deli due to their wait times and prices, coming in at $11 for a regular 6 inch sandwich with chips and a drink. Although they do have a great chip and drink selection, with shelves of chips and a 100+ flavor Coca Cola Freestyle machine, it just takes too long.
    Using myself and Yelp reviewers as data I found that the average time was 20 minutes, which is perfectly fine when you’re going on a weekend or for dinner but is not great when you have a bit over 40 minutes to walk over, order, eat, and come back. So although a great restaurant, I would not recommend it for an off-campus school lunch.
    The Empanada Maker
    Overlooking the train tracks you can find the restaurant based around the vastly popular Spanish cuisine, The Empanada Maker. The empanadas are priced at $3.50 each, with 16 empanadas always in and limited time empanadas going in and out of rotation. The combo that you would most likely choose for an average sized meal is combo #2, coming with 2 empanadas, a regular side, and a medium beverage all for $11, the same price as Beach Hut Deli’s signature meal.
    When students were asked what their favorite empanada was at Empanada Maker, many replied with “The Diablo”, an empanada, named after our mascot, coming with spicy barbeque pulled pork, cheddar cheese, onions & cilantro; the great thing about The Empanada Maker is their variety. Although, besides salads & soups, the only main dish they serve is empanadas, their many different flavors cover anyone’s liking. Along with the variety of flavors is the wait time, the pastries are usually pre-made and left hot and ready to be ordered, which is a great benefit to Diablos who have such a limited timeframe.
    Paradise Donuts & Deli
    Yet another sandwich restaurant with an island theme, although Paradise Donuts & Deli does it a bit different. Instead of an elaborate ambience the restaurant has more of a hole in the wall type feel, with no decorations, a couple chairs inside, and a patio outside. All 6 inch sandwiches come in at somewhere in the $7 range and come with a donut and a drink, a pretty great deal compared to the other restaurants around.
    As for the taste of the sandwiches, they are delicious! I personally love them and Yelp reviewers too, “Paradise is my favorite place to eat in California. I know it’s a big state, but I’m serious. Sandwiches are one of my favorite foods and Paradise does it right.” declares Andi T.
    Sometimes the deli will be busy but every time I have gone there during school lunch, no matter how busy they are, I am able to be on campus before the first bell rings. Overall a great place to eat for the price and the hidden gem of the 7 restaurants.
    Ronaldo’s Taco Shop
    On the corner Muirlands and La Paz sits Ronaldo’s Taco Shop, a classic Mexican taqueria. One of the most popular items on the menu is the $9.25 carne asada burrito. Served with guacamole and salsa this burrito is nothing to write home about but also is not terrible, and from the students I interviewed and the yelp reviews I have looked over they all have come to a consensus that Ronaldo’s Taco Shop is decent, nothing too good, nothing too bad.
    The wait times are usually around 15 minutes which is not bad but something to consider and usually do not get too busy during lunch time.
    I will say that, although they’re portion sizes are probably the biggest out of any of the restaurants reviewed, they are still too pricey for the quality of food that you get. I would much rather go to The Empanada Maker and get something for the same price for a, arguably, better meal in, usually, a faster time.
    Taco Bell
    The food tastes the exact same to that of other Taco Bells you would go to, expect fast food level Mexican food. The one major problem I have with it is the size and how busy it gets, it gets absolutely packed at lunch time. If you are planning on ordering something inside, good luck trying to get back to school in time.
    The good thing is the prices are cheap so if you really want to go off campus and have a small amount of money to buy something you can try to go here, although at that point I would just get one of our lunches that are free to everyone. So I would just say to avoid Taco Bell as an option for off-campus school lunch.
    Starbucks
    Then there’s Starbucks. I would recommend this to anyone who does not really want something to eat, maybe they only want a pastry or something, but mainly wants some coffee to re-energize them. This Starbucks does usually get packed during lunchtime but you should be able to easily get through it by lunchtime.
    I do not really see Starbucks as an actual contender as a place if you would actually want to eat something as their sandwiches are very light and pretty pricey. It is much more cost efficient to order your desired beverage from Starbucks and then go to whatever restaurant to get the rest of the food, although depending on the restaurant it may be hard to do both before the bell rings.
    So the verdict on Starbucks is, if you really want a drink from there, get it, but if you want something else I would highly encourage you to go somewhere else afterwards or in general.