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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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
Back-to-school season highlights a growing issue within our society: overconsumption. With social media trends coming and going in a matter of weeks, the demand for the newest water bottle or backpack rises each year. Students often forget that the purpose of back-to-school shopping is to restock, not pile up.
High school hauls: Dragons’ back-to-school essentials
With a new school year comes many changes, including staff. During the 2025-2026 school year, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) welcomes two new Spanish teachers, Marisa Brown and Pamela Perez. Brown started her teaching career at Foothill Tech in 2002, where she taught Spanish and math classes, taking time off once she had her kids. She has also had experience in teaching art at Juanamaria Elementary School (Juanamaria) and teaching Spanish at Balboa Middle School (Balboa). Perez has been teaching for two years, and will be teaching Spanish 2, Spanish 4, Spanish Native Speakers 4 and AP Spanish 4 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Foothill Tech welcomes two new teachers to the Spanish department
"Wishbone" is the fourth album released by American song artist Conan Gray. Released on Aug. 15, 2025, the album reflects on Gray's most recent failed relationship, diving in to reveal an honest and intimate look into his mind. He had been working silently on the album over the previous two years, and announced the album on May 22, 2025. The album primarily features pop and pop rock music, with a track list of twelve different songs that all provide the listener a different perspective into Gray’s thoughts.
Album Anatomy: "Wishbone"
"Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married," is what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce posted to Instagram on Aug. 26, 2025, to announce the long awaited next step in their relationship — engagement. As of Aug. 29, their Instagram photos of the beautiful proposal, showcasing their engagement ring, have reached 34 million likes and 10 million shares. This development has taken the internet by storm — Swift fans screaming with joy, some even describe feeling emotional and teary. According to Ed Kelce, Travis Kelce's father, his son popped the question to Swift almost two weeks before the pair announced it. Ed has said he's never seen his son happier than he is with Swift, showing that they have a bright and happy future ahead of them.
When the country singer dates the football star
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.