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
Layla Solomon

Layla Solomon, Writer

Women love me, fish fear me.

All content by Layla Solomon
Reading a book, an activity that requires thought and literacy, is becoming a dying art as technology craves short, dopamine-driven attention. From young children in elementary schools using phones and tablets to high school students, the attack on literacy levels is affecting more than just test scores: it's affecting your brain.

Easier read than done: The slow death of literacy among teens and tweens

Layla Solomon, Writer
December 10, 2024
The different childhood entertainment of Gen Z and Gen Alpha are representative of how technology like AI and social media affects each generation. For Gen Z, physical toys or education-based technology, such as Shopkins and LeapFrog, were popularly enjoyed by many children. For Gen Alpha, however, entertainment has shifted to being more technologically dependent. These relationships with media are formative in how both Gen Z and Gen Alpha react to technology in the present and the future.

How childhood entertainment affects generations’ technology use

Layla Solomon, Writer
November 6, 2024
Nov. 5, 2024, marks one of the most highly anticipated and pivotal days of the year: Election Day. After years of preparation, the stage is set for a historic showdown between two major political parties. As shown above, Donald Trump, with his running mate J.D. Vance, is leading the Republican ticket, while Kamala Harris, with her running mate Tim Walz, is representing the Democratic Party. This election is set to be a defining moment in American politics, with both candidates offering different visions for the nation's future. This series covers a range of ropics such the importance of swing states, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) students' opinions on the election, enviromental policy and much more.

2024 Presidential Election Series

Jane Kim, Layla Solomon, Bailey Basurto, Beatrice Barnes, and Ruby Jenkins
November 5, 2024
Erik and Lyle Menendez, famously known as the Menendez brothers, became part of the national spotlight for the murder of their parents on Aug. 20, 1989. Decades later, the brothers are still receiving attention through documentaries and Netflix series such as "Monsters."

[Photo] “Monsters”: The controversial story of the Menendez brothers

Lyla Huff and Madden Velasco
October 31, 2024
A visualization of several key rallies in the Trump Vance campaign, from early June to early September. This does not represent every rally or event by the campaign, updated as of Sept. 7, 2024.

2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Swing states and campaign trail

Layla Solomon, Writer
October 2, 2024
Veronica Muñoz from BG's Cafe, one of the five restaurants featured, served guests ladles of homemade lima bean and ham soup. Each guest was handed three lima beans to place their vote for their favorite restaurant dish.

Crops and community: Oxnard’s first Lima Bean Festival

Julia Brossia and Layla Solomon
September 18, 2024
With the dawn of a new school year comes new faces among the staff at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). Joining staff, Edward Gillet is a new English teacher at Foothill Tech. He attended the University of Florida and then later transferred to University of California, San Diego.(UCSD). There Gillet studied philosophy and taught at East Lake High School in San Diego.

Five of Foothill Tech’s newest teachers

Layla Solomon and Lyla Huff
September 4, 2024
Banning books is a rising form of censorship, especially in school communities. Often suggested by teachers or parents, information that is interpreted as inappropriate or controversial can be met with a subsequent book ban. In the 2022-2023 year alone, over 3,000 books were banned or challenged.

[Photo] Into the pages: Investigating the rising cases of book bans

Kalea Eggertsen, Writer
August 20, 2024
"I Saw the TV Glow" is a psychological horror drama film released by A24 on May 3, 2024. It was written and directed by Jane Shoebrun and stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. The film follows two young teens dealing with a variety of mental health difficulties, and their downward spiral following the cancellation of their favorite TV show. The film deals with a variety of themes, most notably mental health, identity and sexuality.

“I Saw the TV Glow:” A nostalgic, neon trans allegory

Layla Solomon, Writer
June 15, 2024
Technology is an integral part of students' school supplies. Chromebooks or other school-issued devices are constantly restricting arrays of information. Students' access to information, both useful and recreational, is subjectively blocked for being "controversial." However, most of these device parameters are overcome in order to play browser games to combat boredom in the classroom.

[Photo] Opinion: Censorship on school devices

Audrey Szijj, Writer
May 21, 2024
The Associative Student Body (ASB) at schools host and execute various events, such as Spirit Weeks, rallies and dances. At Foothill Technology High School, (Foothill Tech) events are often cancelled from lack of participation. While most ASB events are successful, the growing lack of school spirit towards the end of the year is a problem for attempted events.

[Photo] News Brief: Discussion on recent ASB canceled events

Bailey Basurto, Reporter
April 20, 2024
Despite great improvements in women's rights movements across decades of progression, modern society has been stagnant towards recent feminist movements. While the physicality of such past improvements can be seen, the long-standing psychological impact of stereotyped gender culture is the greater conflict to fight.

[Photo] Women’s History Month and the stagnance in gender progress

Jane Kim, Writer
April 11, 2024
Drug use, particularly vaping or smoking marijuana, is a prevalent issue among high schoolers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that 23.2 percent of 12th graders had vaped nicotine in the past year, and 29 percent of 12th graders had reported using cannabis in the past year, according to the 2023 NIDA Monitoring the Future annual survey. While drug use among teens is not rising dramatically, the dangers of doing so have. With deadly synthetic drugs like fentanyl contaminating drug supplies, drug use in teens has been more dangerous than ever before.

[Photo] Investigating student drug use at Foothill Tech

Ella Asher, Reporter
March 29, 2024
House sparrows are one of the most common birds to see in North America. They nest in all manner of buildings, both backyard and in urban environments. Despite their adorable appearances, house sparrows are invasive and damaging to native species. They're also extremely territorial and injure or kill other birds, and even hatchlings.

Satire: Foothill Tech’s hidden metropolis of menaces

Layla Solomon, Writer
March 14, 2024
"Lisa Frankenstein" adds a new twist onto the classic tale "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, bringing a modernized take on the story for teens. It's a fun horror, comedy and romance mash-up, reminiscent of old '80s and '90s movies as it follows a young goth girl Lisa and her developing relationship with a reanimated Victorian corpse. Follow writer Layla Solomon as she reviews the film.

“Lisa Frankenstein”: Eclectic, striking and camp

Layla Solomon, Writer
March 6, 2024
Car clubs from over Ventura County, Calif. gathered to share their cars with glittering rims, smooth paint jobs and unique decorations.

Lowriders of Ventura County: Cars and culture

Layla Solomon, Writer
February 18, 2024
Ghost kitchens operate in delivery apps, allowing companies to host multiple restaurants within one building. The food is made in the same kitchen but delivered in slightly different packaging.

Ghost kitchens of Ventura: Is it all … Denny’s?

Layla Solomon, Writer
February 8, 2024
2023 was a year to remember! Join the Foothill Dragon Press's writing section as they discuss popular topics such as movies, concerts, video games, books and fashion, along with year-shaping events at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). The Best of 2023 series has everything from old favorites to newcomers.

Best of 2023: A year in review

Ruby Jenkins, Camilla Lewis, Isheeta Pal, Beatrice Barnes, Julia Brossia, Amber Duhs, Paula Gonzalez, Emilie Huovinen, Kelly Quinn, Layla Solomon, Audrey Szijj, Kalea Eggertsen, and Jane Kim
January 1, 2024
2023 was a compelling year when it came to movies. Hollywood was booming, with "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" taking over the summer and "Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse" setting the bar high for animation in the early half of the year. Ranging from comedy to horror, theaters to streaming, movies were at an all time high in 2023.

Best of 2023: Movies

Camilla Lewis, Layla Solomon, Amber Duhs, Kelly Quinn, Paula Gonzalez, and Julia Brossia
December 31, 2023
Foothill Tech's annual Winter Formal began on Dec. 16, 2023, with an enchanting Yule Ball theme. The venue was decorated in icy blue and stark white lights, glitter, balloons and candles on every table.

Dragons have a magical night at the 2023 Winter Formal

Layla Solomon, Writer
December 17, 2023
As one of the many full-time laboratories of the Ventura Wastewater Treatment Facility, scientists are constantly clocked in to sample and monitor the city's water quality.

The intricacies of Ventura’s water treatment

Layla Solomon, Writer
December 13, 2023
Hot chocolate was offered in free ceramic toilet-shaped mugs, which attendees could take home as a souvenir from the event.

Celebrating World Toilet Day

Layla Solomon, Writer
November 24, 2023
Birds are a common sight around the world, with 11,118 species of birds existing around the world. Around our town of Ventura, we have a variety of species of which nine are brought up in this article. The nine bird species that are covered are the Cooper’s Hawk, Brewer’s Blackbird, Black Pheobe, Brown Pelican, Dark-eyed Junco, Eurasian Collared-Dove, House Sparrow, Turkey Vulture and the Sanderling. Jane Kim and Layla Solomon decide to research and show off these nine birds, sharing facts about each of them in turn with individual drawings to display the birds.

Why we may be living in a mass extinction and a casual guide to birds of Ventura

Jane Kim and Layla Solomon
November 13, 2023
Proposition 28 (Prop 28) is an upcoming funding stream based on enrollment per school, totaling close to $1 billion statewide. The money will be used to expand arts and music education in public schools.

Proposition 28: Arts and music in schools

Layla Solomon, Writer
November 11, 2023
Mitski's seventh studio album, "The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We," features many nature symbols, along with poetic lyrics. This album is preceded by "Laurel Hell", the sixth album from the singer, which received acclaim from critics. "The Land is Inhospitable and So are We" has received unanimous praise from both fans and critics alike, as well as being home to "My Love Mine All Mine," which is Mitski's highest performing song to date.

A dissection of “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” by Mitski

Layla Solomon, Writer
October 4, 2023

Hey! Friends shows Ventura why shopping locally matters

Audrey Szijj and Layla Solomon
September 19, 2023
Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, Iced Apple Crisp Oat Milk Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Baked Apple Croissant are all highly recommended drinks and pastries that are included in the Starbucks seasonal menu.

Satire: Starbucks menu ushers in the official “fall era”

Layla Solomon, Writer
September 11, 2023
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Layla Solomon