The Student News Site of Ventura High School

The Cougar Press
The Student News Site of Ventura High School

The Cougar Press
The Student News Site of Ventura High School

The Cougar Press
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Adi De Clerck

Adi De Clerck

Adi De Clerck is a sophomore at VHS in her second year at The Cougar Press. She enjoys ceramics, listening to music, playing guitar and taking pictures.

All content by Adi De Clerck
Humans of Ventura High School 2023 was inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York project. According to Stanton on the Humans of New York website, “Humans of New York began as a photography project in 2010. The initial goal was to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers on the street, and create an exhaustive catalog of the city’s inhabitants. Somewhere along the way, I began to interview my subjects in addition to photographing them. And alongside their portraits, I’d include quotes and short stories from their lives.” Graphic by: Adi De Clerck

Humans of Ventra High School 2023

Adi De Clerck
June 8, 2023
The musical groups played a variety of musical instruments at the concert. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Honors perform

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, and Katie Rundle
May 26, 2023
Lacea said, "I think [this rule] will end up lasting because we’re trying to change the culture compared to what it was last year and [in] previous years.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Ventura High School implements new parking lot rule

Jocelyn Wood, Katie Rundle, and Adi De Clerck
March 21, 2023
The next Cougar forum is scheduled for late April or early May. The Student Forum Society has yet to decide on the topic for the upcoming forum but will do so at a meeting beforehand. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Cougar forum discusses potential incentives for student performance

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, and Jocelyn Wood
March 14, 2023
Konieczny pumping his rocket for launch. He said, “I chose the design to have a parachute because I thought it [would] really maximize my chance of winning.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Rockets launch at Ventura High School

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
March 7, 2023
VHS Music Department Executive Officer Kate Fallon ‘23 (left) said, “I think that I personally performed well. After doing it throughout all of middle school and almost all of high school, the nerves don’t really get to me anymore. I remind myself that they just want to hear music and I just want to make music.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

VHS Wind Ensemble Honors and String Orchestra Honors perform at the Honors Winter Concert

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, Jocelyn Wood, and Katie Rundle
December 6, 2022
Four musical groups performed at the Honors Winter Concert, two being from middle schools and two from Ventura High School. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Middle school and VHS musical groups perform at the Honors Winter Concert

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, Jocelyn Wood, and Katie Rundle
December 2, 2022
The Fall Food Faire, the first of two annual food faires, occurred at lunch on Nov. 18 on the senior law. Ventura High School clubs sold food items to raise funds for their respective clubs. Clubs that participated in the event organized tables from which they sold food. ASB’s student affairs committee organized the faire. ASB Student Affairs President Caylin Mobley ’23 said, “The purpose of the Food Faire is for clubs to raise money for their various expenses, as well as an opportunity for the school to come together and enjoy a fun Friday afternoon. Personally, I love the Food Faire. It’s one of my favorite events at [VHS], and the opportunity to plan it has been a blast. I love seeing everyone enjoying the food and hanging out with their friends — it creates a sense of community you can’t find anywhere else.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

VHS clubs sell food at the Fall Food Faire

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
November 18, 2022
Oregon State University Regional Admissions Adviser Grace Palmer said, “Broaden your horizons and just get to hear from different universities. Get more exposure for schools both in California and outside of the state.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Local high school students attend the Ventura Area College Fair

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, Katie Rundle, and Jocelyn Wood
November 5, 2022
The Ventura Area College Fair, which was hosted by Ventura High School in the Main Street Gym, provided college information to local high school students. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Annual Ventura Area College Fair provides students with college information

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, Katie Rundle, and Jocelyn Wood
November 5, 2022
Ventura High School students gathered to protest during period four near the Main Street Gym and the surrounding parking lot. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

VHS students walk out to protest teacher salaries

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, and Jocelyn Wood
October 25, 2022
VHS Instrumental Music Director Paul Hunt (center-left) conducts the wind ensemble. In chronological order, the concert featured performances by the studio jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble honors and honors symphony orchestra (string orchestra honors and wind ensemble honors). The studio jazz ensemble performed “Mas Que Nada,” “Bellavia” and “Spain.” The wind ensemble performed “Quixotic Episode” and “Oblivion.” The symphony orchestra performed “Appalachian Morning” and “American Landscapes.” The wind ensemble honors performed “Windsprints” and “Danzon No. 2.” The honors symphony orchestra performed “Song of the Universal for Piano,” “Strings on Fire, “Star Wars, The Adventures of Han” and “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.” Photo by: Adi DeClerck

VHS Music Department performs at the Fall Benefit Concert

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, and Jocelyn Wood
October 18, 2022
"I want to make sure my students know that my job here is to support them," said Honda. Photo by: Adi De Clerk

Who replaced Logan Norris?

Annika Lange, Katie Rundle, and Adi De Clerck
September 30, 2022
Chess Club President and founder Riley Simpson ´24 said, “We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch in the music room. We also are starting [chess] lessons on Wednesdays after school in the ASSETS program. Just show up. We have a lot of people participating this year. It's just something new to try. [Also] this Friday, [Sept. 23], we are holding a human/life-sized chess game, with people as the pieces and people playing as the kings.” The Chess Club collected names for a raffle (left) to decide on king players for their upcoming life-sized chess game. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Ventura High School clubs promote themselves during club week

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
September 17, 2022
The Ventura High School Neon Dance took place on Sept. 9 between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. in the Main Street Gym. The dance is a yearly event sponsored by ASB and is the first dance of the school year. Tickets for the dance were $8 and $5 for those with an ASB sticker. Photo by: Leslie Castro

Students sway at the Neon Dance

Alejandro Hernandez, Leslie Castro, and Adi De Clerck
September 14, 2022
Fall playlist

Fall playlist

Samantha Castañeda, Angelica Matehuala, and Adi De Clerck
September 7, 2022
The Ventura High School Drama Department hosted the "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" play at the Ventura High School auditorium. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

VHS Drama Department presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Avea Baker and Adi De Clerck
June 18, 2022
On June 1 at 11:30 a.m, the Dolores Huerta Unity Mural ribbon cutting ceremony took place at Ventura High School. The mural was created by Mauricio Ramirez after planning with junior Mateo Navarro. Photo By: Adi De Clerck

Dolores Huerta Unity Mural is unveiled at VHS

Adi De Clerck and Jocelyn Wood
June 11, 2022
In People v. Hayes, the defendant, Jamie Hayes, has been charged for the murder of security guard Lee Valdez. Hayes tries to plead that she was attempting to save her track teammate, Casey Barnes. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Court is in session

Isabella Fierros, Emily Nguyen, and Adi De Clerck
June 6, 2022
During "Film Critic" science teacher Lorilee Johnson, counselor Francisco Castillo, English teacher Elizabeth Mainz and senior Zach Lopez acted as a worm man, a princess, a villainous black cat and a funny frog. The plot was relived in Western, Spanish drama and slow-motion. Stefoni Rossiter, the show director said, "I just love laughing with the adults. I think it is really fun to watch the audience because the students get to see a different side of the faculty than they normally do." Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Teachers gone wild

Adi De Clerck and Brody Daw
June 2, 2022
TCP Broadcast 5/31/22

TCP Broadcast 5/31/22

Adi De Clerck, Brody Daw, Sophia Nacu, Jocelyn Wood, and Ava Mohror
May 31, 2022
Ventura High School's prom took place on May 9 at the Ventura Beach Marriott. After two years of being unable to hold a prom due to COVID, this is VHS's first prom since 2019. This year's theme was "Seas the night." The event offered dancing, a dessert bar, photos and two dollar caricatures. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

VHS students “Seas the Night” at prom for the first time in two years

Adi De Clerck and Ava Mohror
May 26, 2022
"I believe that Toby is real, not literally real, but what Toby actually is, and personally I believe it’s the spirit of every performer on stage," said senior Ryan Palmisano, who recently starred as Charlie Brown in the play "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown," which was put on the very stage Toby supposedly haunts. Photo by: Livia Vertucci

The ghastly ghoul that supposedly haunts the drama department

Livia Vertucci and Adi De Clerck
May 10, 2022
Senior Samantha Carr (left) protested, she said, "Our coaches this season have made huge strides for our cheerleaders, they've connected us to the community, to the school, and especially to other sports, like this year I've never been more proud to be a cheerleader." Photo by: Adi DeClerck

Photostory: VHS cheers for change, not sports

Avery Cameron and Adi De Clerck
May 5, 2022
On March 25 at lunch, the spring Food Faire took place. Food Faires occur once per semester, with the previous Food Faire taking place on Nov. 19. Junior Lilia Duque, who is ASB student affairs president, said, "ASB was behind the Food Faire! [The] student affairs committee is tasked with the communications between clubs and ASB, and plans Food Faire! McKale Bauerlerin, Thomas Anter and Caylin Mobley are the other members in Student Affairs committee. Food Faire is an opportunity for clubs to show what they represent through food." Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Food Faire comes for seconds

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
March 31, 2022
On March 18, ASB and the College and Career Center held a career fair at Ventura High School, which took place during period 5 and lunch. College and Career counselor Patricia Roberts said, “This year our career fair was designed around our career technical education pathways. At Ventura High School we have nine different pathways, so all the organizations represented here fit within one of those pathways. Those pathways include our building and construction pathway, our agricultural business pathway, we have a performing arts dance pathway, an information technology robotics pathway, a welding pathway, and a patient care pathway." Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Career Fair 2022 is held on the senior lawn

Alejandro Hernandez, Adi De Clerck, and Belen Hibbler
March 24, 2022
Senior Jayla Ramirez came up with the idea of “capture the flag” as a lunchtime activity. Ramirez said, “My committee [ASB] and I thought [capture the flag] would be a lot of fun.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Capture the flag intramural sport held at Ventura High School

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
March 23, 2022

Broadcast 96 03/14/22

Rachel Gonzalez, Sophia Nacu, Ava Mohror, Rowan Munoz, and Adi De Clerck
March 14, 2022
The artists are Xaiver Rain (breathe), Finn Thompson (both of the flower panels), Alexis Segovia (blue VHS), Samara Arroyo (Snoopy), Jade Beltran (sun) and Ruby Strunk (pink VHS). Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Previously unseen hallway art placed on campus

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
March 3, 2022
Russo-Ukrainian War FAQ

Russo-Ukrainian War FAQ

Alejandro Hernandez and Adi De Clerck
February 28, 2022
Humans of Ventura High School was inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York project. According to Stanton, “Humans of New York began as a photography project in 2010. The initial goal was to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers on the street, and create an exhaustive catalog of the city’s inhabitants. Somewhere along the way, I began to interview my subjects in addition to photographing them. And alongside their portraits, I'd include quotes and short stories from their lives.” Our everyday lives are surrounded by different people with their own story and experiences. Hearing and seeing others' experiences gives us a better understanding of how others impact each other and build relationships. Each photo in this project will be captioned with the person’s picture name and a quote from their interview. Following Stanton’s vision we wanted to interview the VHS community and develop an understanding of the uniqueness and diversity of our campus. We interviewed individuals at VHS and asked them a few questions relating to their past experiences. Graphic by: Adi De Clerck

Humans of Ventura High School

Adi De Clerck and Brody Daw
February 19, 2022
The Ventura High ASB dedicated the week before first semester finals to wellness. From Jan. 18 to 21 a new type of spirit week made its way into VHS. Instead of the focusing on school spirit, this week focused more on the individual student's. The grand finale of the week was a campus petting zoo. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Petting zoo comes to VHS for the end of the semester

Adi De Clerck and Rachel Gonzalez
February 11, 2022
Principal Cervantes answering student questions about the tardy policy. Photo by: Adi De Clerk

Cougar Forum; success or failure?

Avery Cameron, Brody Daw, and Adi De Clerck
January 24, 2022
VHS Girls JV basketball team cheering to finish the second half of their game against Birmingham High School on Nov. 23. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Girls JV Basketball jumps into action

Adi De Clerck
December 13, 2021
Sophomore Cody Verdries on JV water polo says “A good team player, someone who sticks up for his teammates, even when they’re looking down. When they are down in the fourth quarter, even if it's down by 20, they’re playing as hard as they can ‘til the very end. Someone who doesn’t give up until the final whistle and they still don’t give up but then they’ll go back into practice the next day and try even harder.” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Girl’s Water Polo makes a splash this season

Adi De Clerck
November 30, 2021
Parent's take the streets protesting against the possible vaccine mandate for schools. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Parents take it to the district

Adi De Clerck
November 15, 2021
Parent's take the streets protesting against the possible vaccine mandate for schools. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Protesters take it to the district over mandates

Adi De Clerck, Rowan Munoz, Rachel Gonzalez, and Alejandro Hernandez
October 22, 2021

Fall Crossword

Adi De Clerck
October 14, 2021
Ms. Ulvang welcoming her students in her classroom. Photo by: Adi DeClerck

Lauren Ulvang joins Ventura High staff

Adi De Clerck
October 8, 2021
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