The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
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Cartoon 113: The season of college applications

Byline photo of Karli Riehle
Karli Riehle, Illustrator • 110 Views
December 11, 2023
Karli Riehle
With college applications coming to a close, so does this wave of stress and pressure. Some students get ahead of the deadlines, writing their applications early. Though mixed with school work college applications often leave quite a few students scrambling to meet the deadline with well-done work. It can feel overwhelming, application upon application to get done. It emphasizes the hurried pace of college applications, resulting in a thankful wave when they are finally done and over with.
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As Valentine's Day rolls around again, it's time to step back from a day that has been widely considered a romantic holiday and think of others you love. One popular way to celebrate Valentines is through doing a "Galentines," where instead of romantic company, you focus on just hanging around with friends and enjoying each other's company. It's a time to appreciate everyone you love, from family to friends, to future love, there is a place for everyone to celebrate Valentine's.
Cartoon 118: Valentine's Day
Falling on January 29, 2025, Lunar New Year is the holiday following the second new moon after the winter solstice. Lasting 15 days, celebrations from different cultures typically corroborate one of the 12 Chinese zodiacs; 2025 is the year of the snake. Associated with general qualities of an enigmatic and uncanny personality, depending on the time of year and conditions of the child’s birth, superstitions may point towards what the child’s personality may be like in the future. During the holiday however, Lunar New Year celebrations will be centered around snake imagery in cultures that support the 12 zodiac signs, also including the traditional exchange of red envelopes and grand festivities that occur otherwise. Common celebrations may include lion dances and dragon dancers, performed by crews of two for the lion and nine for the dragon. There may be fireworks and lanterns hung on the streets, plus a variety of other decorations as each family sees fit to celebrate.
Cartoon 117: Lunar New Year
Celebrated officially on the last Monday of May each year, the origins of Memorial Day trace back to May 5, 1868. Three years after the end of the Civil War, an organization of veterans from the Union side gathered to lay flowers on the graves of the war-fallen. The first declaration of the day of decoration was made by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, who announced that it should be May 30. In the same year, 1868, the first large gathering of this event was held at Arlington National Cemetery, where flowers were left on both Union and Confederate graves in the cemetery. However, there were still small, local observances before this event. Such as on April 26, 1866, when a group of women decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers lost in the battle at Shiloh. Union graves were also present, however, ignored due to them being the enemy of the time. Disturbed by the bare graves, the women set flowers on their graves as well. However, this was not the only instance of claiming to be the first to have a decoration day ceremony, as 25 other instances tie for the title of the original Memorial Day celebration. By 1900, states had adopted proclamations recognizing Memorial Day as an official day, with the Army and Navy taking on regulations to observe this day properly at their facilities. After World War I, the day began to encompass all deaths in American wars and then was officially declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971. While the national date remains on the last Monday of May each year, many southern states also have separate dates to honor the Confederate soldiers who died. Mississippi has its Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Georgia on April 26, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and North and South Carolina observe the day on May 10, while on June 3 Tennessee and Louisiana recognize the date as Confederate Decoration Day. Virginia claims the last Monday in May as Confederate Memorial Day, while Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Jan. 19. A small tradition emerged from Memorial Day, and that is to place small American flags on each grave. As well, in Dec. 2000 the U.S. Congress passed an act named “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” that encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day and have a minute of silence as they honor and remember those who have passed in service of their country.
Cartoon 116: Memorial Day
Lunar New Years is a time for celebration recognized in various places throughout the world. Following the setting of the second new moon after the winter solstice, Lunar New Year in 2024 begins on Feb. 10. After the initial day, the new year period lasts until 15 days later when the next full moon rises and a lantern festival is held on the final day. With celebrations recorded back as early as the 14th-century Shang Dynasty, it's said that the celebration originated from a battle against a Nian, a dragon that would prey on villages and livestock. The Nian would come down to the village once a year, until an old man had advised the village that the Nian was afraid of bright lights and loud noises, along with the color red. The village had hung red banners, lanterns, and decorations of all kinds on their houses as well as lighting firecrackers, then performing a very loud lion dance accompanied by a long dragon dance. When the Nian arrived to attack the village, it was scared off and retreated to where it had arrived from. Now to keep the Nian at bay, every year the Lunar New Year is celebrated. Associated with the lunar new year are the 12 Chinese zodiacs, which work in a 12-year cycle. The order of the zodiacs was decided in an old folk tale of a great race between the 12 animals to get to the Jade Emperor, the order decided by their place in the race. The rat is the first zodiac, as it finished first place in the race by riding along the ox’s back and jumping off at the last second. In last place was the pig, marking the end before a new rotation is started. Lunar new year in 2024 is the year of the dragon, the fifth animal to finish the race. With the dragon as Foothill Technology High School’s mascot, this year is sure to bring good luck and prosperity to the students.
Cartoon 115: Happy Lunar New Year!
As the students of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) leave the festivities of winter break behind, finals approach, a looming presence over the return to classes. Foothill Tech will soon be filled with anxious students cramming to remember coursework from before winter break.
Cartoon 114: Finals looming
Now that the season for Halloween is over, it’s time to decorate for… Christmas? There is no doubt that Christmas is one of the most popular holidays of the year, with millions of people choosing to celebrate the holiday, and it’s easy to see why. Along with its religious context as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas has also become a holiday where you can come together and gift presents to the ones you love. With the increasing excitement each year towards preparing and decorating for the oncoming Christmas season, companies and businesses aren’t afraid to jump in on the wagon. You might have seen Christmas decorations being sold as early as October, and maybe even the rare house or two decked out with icicles and Christmas lights way before Halloween even started. And of course, who could forget about poor Thanksgiving? Sandwiched between two very heavily decor emphasizing events, it’s easy to forget about decorating for Thanksgiving, as it’s decorations lean more on simple fall decor and color palettes than anything extreme, but Thanksgiving still remains a very big event, even if it may be a bit off putting to see a Christmas snowman on the counter top. In all, it seems that the Christmas spirit is arriving earlier and earlier each year. With Christmas cementing its place as one of the most popular holidays in the world, this trend doesn’t seem like it will stop anytime soon.
Cartoon 112: It's time to decorate for... Christmas?
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Ventura residents are split over the future of Main Street Moves. For some, the car-free downtown has created a lively gathering space. For others, the closure has left property owners and businesses struggling. That debate will come to a head Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, when the Ventura City Council meets to hear public comments and cast a final vote on whether to keep Main Street closed or reopen it to cars.
Follow up feature: What does Ventura think about Main Street Moves?
On the night of Sept. 11, 2025 the Foothill Tech Dragons circled up together before their first league game. With the crowd cheering for the Dragons, they brought high intensity and energy no matter the circumstances during the game. However the Dragons lost in four sets.
Girls volleyball defeated in first league match against Laguna Blanca
The Telegraph Road Resurfacing Project is hoping to improve safety and accessibility to commuters and visitors alike. The project is funded by California’s SB1 Gas Tax - Road Repair and Accountability Act - and Ventura’s Measure O local sales tax, and was given to Toro Enterprises, Inc. to complete. Construction is expected to go on until January 2026, temporarily slowing down students’ daily drives to school.
Cars and cones: The causes and effects of the Telegraph Road Resurfacing Project
On Sept. 10, 2025, conservative activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a public debate event on the campus of Utah Valley University. Kirk was a nationally recognized figure, best known for founding the youth focused organization Turning Point USA and for his active presence on social media. He often promoted conservative and Christian-oriented perspectives on culture, politics and education. His close alignment with President Donald Trump and outspoken positions made him an influential but also controversial figure in American politics. Kirk's assassination drew strong reactions, from both followers and critics potentially furthering the divide America.
Foothill Tech reacts to the death of Charlie Kirk in a moment of reflection
Caitlin Clark, the emerging basketball star known for her exceptional scoring ability and leadership on the court, found herself in the center of a heated debate after not receiving the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for the 2024 season. Instead, the award went to A’ja Wilson, a two-time MVP whose formidable performance helped lead the Las Vegas Aces to another memorable season. Although Wilson’s consistent excellence and defensive prowess made her a deserving recipient, many fans and analysts contended that Clark’s record-breaking numbers, game-winning moments and ability to carry her team to success warranted the honor.
Caitlin Clark: A generational impact to the WNBA
Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) celebrated Spirit Week from Sept. 2 2025, to Sept. 5, 2025. Though this was a short week, Foothill Tech's Associated Student Body (ASB) went above and beyond with decorations and activities to welcome students into the school year. Seen above painting faces is Sofia Isabel Garcia ‘28, who is a part of the Associated Student Body (ASB) at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). She was in charge of a raffle event held during Foothill Tech’s spirit week, where Dragons had the opportunity to spin a wheel and potentially win prizes. Sidney Friedl ‘28 (right) receives glittery face paint as a prize.
Chasing the Stars: Foothill Tech soars into the first spirit week of the year
About the Contributor
Karli Riehle
Karli Riehle, Illustrator
Class of ‘26 | Senior illustrator, trying to blend in among the iPad artists as a PC painter.