The Lancer

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The Lancer

TOHS Theatre Flies Among the Stars
TOHS Theatre Flies Among the Stars
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • November 21, 2023

With opening night of “Peter and the Starcatcher” on Thursday, November 16th, and closing night on Saturday, November 18th, the cast has...

Boston Journalism Convention goes in all the ‘write’ ways
Boston Journalism Convention goes in all the ‘write’ ways
Aandrea Pineda-Dominguez, News Editor • November 6, 2023

With a stinging chill in the air, professional writers and aspiring journalists gathered in Boston, MA for the annual JEA/NSPA Fall National...

Should schools have a block schedule?
Maximus Cover and Christian-Isaiah Aguilar November 3, 2023

Fall Sports Round-Up
November 3, 2023

No red flags for Girls Flag Football
No red flags for Girls Flag Football
Lilah Swaving and Riley Brown October 28, 2023

Former Thousand Oaks High School varsity head football coach Mike Leibin took on a new yet somewhat familiar challenge: TO girls flag football...

Lancers tie for Canyon League title
Lancers tie for Canyon League title
Jackson Kurtz, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

Q&A THE LANCER: What challenges did you have to overcome in your first season?” MCENROE: “Every job is unique and there’s no such...

Lakers Preview: Title No. 18?
Lakers Preview: Title No. 18?
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • October 28, 2023

With LeBron James entering his 21st season in the NBA, he only has his eyes on winning his fifth championship and, for the Lakers, their...

AROUND T.O.WN
Rhiannon Hendershot, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

Reign of Terror 275 N Moorpark Rd East, Thousand Oaks, Sept. 29-Nov. 4, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Walk through various bone-chilling rooms and exhibits...

Preserving the human aspect in the age of AI
Preserving the human aspect in the age of AI
Joseph Goodnight, Opinion Editor • October 28, 2023

With the ever-changing scope of technology, we as a generation constantly have to accept new ways in which artificial intelligence is integrating...

Día de los Muertos Dance strives for increased inclusivity
Día de los Muertos Dance strives for increased inclusivity
Kimberly Jerez, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

The Latino Connection Club at Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake High have come together to host their annual Día de los Muertos dance,...

OFF-CAMPUS PASS
Momo Sonoda, Editor-In-Chief • October 28, 2023

Unanimous GOP vote elects Rep. Mike Johnson for House Speaker More than three weeks after the historical outsting of the Speaker of the House,...

Cheers, Starbucks: a new staple in TO
Cheers, Starbucks: a new staple in TO
Kailah Spencer, The Lancer Staff • October 28, 2023

“Can I get a Lancer Frappuccino?” was something Starbucks manager Miguel Medina heard a lot of following the opening of the new store...

TO welcomes college visitors
Alyssa Kiszczak, Managing Editor • October 28, 2023

Throughout the year, TO provides students with college visits from many schools across the nation. They usually consist of an informational briefing...

Orchestra starting the year off on a good note
Orchestra starting the year off on a good note
Aandrea Pineda-Dominguez, News Editor • October 28, 2023

The instruments are finely tuning, patience is running out, and the maestro is preparing to orchestrate another musical masterpiece. Thousand...

Science Rooms gets a Facelift
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • October 28, 2023

On the first day of the school year, TO forensics teacher Michael Flores watched his class experience science in a whole new way. As...

Restoring Our School Wildlife Refuge and Habitat

Restoring+Our+School+Wildlife+Refuge+and+Habitat

In 2012 a patch of land between the C and B buildings went through a marvelous transformation. The area, once home to a group of nonnative trees, was adopted by Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Denise Powell and turned into a wildlife refuge. Unfortunately in the years since Mrs. Powell has left TO, the habitat has fallen out of shape. The pathways once occupied by students are now filled with weeds, the native plants dried up, and the rock river clogged with trash.

This year Mrs Farrell, the new AP environmental science teacher, and sophomore Marina Zernick plan to restore this space to its former glory. This past Sunday, October 7, was the first official habitat cleanup day of the year. Zernick, along with four other volunteers, focused on weeding and picking up trash. The next step in the ongoing project is getting a new irrigation system.

“The biggest issue that was preventing us from doing any real work in there was the water”  said Farrell “once we can get a watering system in there then the plants will come back”

Once these maintenance jobs are completed and the habitat is cleaned up, Zernick plans on working to make it a place for students to directly learn about the environment. “I’m hoping to make an educational booklet on all the plants and possible lesson plans to help teachers use it and be more involved” Zernick said. These additions would help the habitat fulfil its original intended purpose as an outdoor classroom.  

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Beyond the plans she has for the habitat, Zernick has a much broader goal. “I just really hope to spread awareness to more people so they can get involved in helping the environment.” Zernick said “a lot of people don’t even realize the reality of the problems we’re facing.”  

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Restoring Our School Wildlife Refuge and Habitat