Work Samples
The following work samples from the 2015-16 school year are published through my high school paper, Highlights, either on print or on the web at beverlyhighlights.com
Dropping Enrollment Enigma
For this investigative article about dropping enrollment in our district, I co-wrote, gathered information from online research and conducted interviews. This was published in the print edition of Highlights.
To read the full article, click here: https://issuu.com/beverlyhighlights/docs/may20_pdf
*The article can be found on pages 4-5.
To read the full article, click here: https://issuu.com/beverlyhighlights/docs/may20_pdf
*The article can be found on pages 4-5.
Enrollment is on the decline. Whether this issue has taken the form of students rallying at board meetings in March to save classes in danger of elimination or teachers donning badges in May to protest proposed K-3 class-size increases, it is one that repeatedly attracts city-wide attention. Accordingly, over the last two months, Highlights has investigated this decline in order to uncover the trend’s root causes at a time when its effects are increasingly visible.
The Causes of Declining Enrollment
The effects of declining enrollment in Beverly Hills Unified School District are most evident at the high school level. Whereas enrollment levels at BHUSD’s four K-8 schools have experienced an overall increase of 27.4 percent since the 2011-2012 school year, the high school’s rates have undergone a decrease of 15.7 percent in the same timeframe.
Board of Education President Howard Goldstein believes some of this slump can be attributed to the Board of Education’s 2010 decision to eliminate the out-of-district permit program.
The Causes of Declining Enrollment
The effects of declining enrollment in Beverly Hills Unified School District are most evident at the high school level. Whereas enrollment levels at BHUSD’s four K-8 schools have experienced an overall increase of 27.4 percent since the 2011-2012 school year, the high school’s rates have undergone a decrease of 15.7 percent in the same timeframe.
Board of Education President Howard Goldstein believes some of this slump can be attributed to the Board of Education’s 2010 decision to eliminate the out-of-district permit program.
Tennis player serves a 'yes' to UMass Amherst
This article features a senior tennis player to had recently committed to University of Massachusetts, Amherst for tennis. For this article, I wrote and interviewed. This was posted on beverlyhighlights.com.
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/12/03/tennis-player-serves-a-yes-to-umass-amherst/
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/12/03/tennis-player-serves-a-yes-to-umass-amherst/
Top 15 or higher in her age divisions throughout her years in Southern California? Check. Playing number one on Beverly’s team for three consecutive years? Check. Consistently ranking as a top national player? Check.
With 10 years of experience, for she started at the age of seven, in the sport of tennis under her belt, senior Martina Bocci has signed the National Letter of Intent to join the women’s Division I tennis team at University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst) for fall 2016.
“When I finally committed to UMass Amherst, it felt great. I felt relieved that I’d found the right college and that it was the perfect decision for me. Since I was offered a full scholarship, I felt that I was wanted to be part of their team, and that’s always a good feeling to have,” Bocchi said.
With 10 years of experience, for she started at the age of seven, in the sport of tennis under her belt, senior Martina Bocci has signed the National Letter of Intent to join the women’s Division I tennis team at University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst) for fall 2016.
“When I finally committed to UMass Amherst, it felt great. I felt relieved that I’d found the right college and that it was the perfect decision for me. Since I was offered a full scholarship, I felt that I was wanted to be part of their team, and that’s always a good feeling to have,” Bocchi said.
Dancer makes ‘pointe,’ takes position as trainee for professional ballet company
This feature article is about a senior ballet dancer who had decided to move to Salt Lake City, Utah, to join a professional dance company. For this article, I wrote and interviewed. This was posted on beverlyhighlights.com.
This article placed third in the 2016 California Press Women: High School Communications Contest for feature writing.
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/11/16/dancer-makes-pointe-takes-position-as-trainee-for-professional-ballet-company/
This article placed third in the 2016 California Press Women: High School Communications Contest for feature writing.
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/11/16/dancer-makes-pointe-takes-position-as-trainee-for-professional-ballet-company/
Her eyes were fixated on the screen as she was entranced by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s ballet party in the movie, “You’re Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Ballet Party.” This moment 12 years ago defined the beginning of a dream she would never cease to chase.
In January of 2016, senior Elizabeth “Lizzie” del Rosario will be moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, to train with the professional dance company Ballet West. Having been dancing for almost her entire life, del Rosario was initially motivated by her mother, in addition to watching the Mary Kate and Ashley movie.
“I started dancing when I was five. I watched a Mary Kate and Ashley ballet party video, and I said, ‘I want to be one of those dancers.’ My mom was also a dancer when she was really young, but she got scoliosis. I said that I want to be like my mom, as like every other girl. My ballet teachers motivated me too because they said that dance is an art form, not a sport. Your body is art, and that really just stuck to me,” del Rosario said.
In January of 2016, senior Elizabeth “Lizzie” del Rosario will be moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, to train with the professional dance company Ballet West. Having been dancing for almost her entire life, del Rosario was initially motivated by her mother, in addition to watching the Mary Kate and Ashley movie.
“I started dancing when I was five. I watched a Mary Kate and Ashley ballet party video, and I said, ‘I want to be one of those dancers.’ My mom was also a dancer when she was really young, but she got scoliosis. I said that I want to be like my mom, as like every other girl. My ballet teachers motivated me too because they said that dance is an art form, not a sport. Your body is art, and that really just stuck to me,” del Rosario said.
'Save our Summer, BHUSD' petition gains support, causes community discussion
This news article focuses on the timely petition, which urged for a later start date for schools, that circulated throughout the Beverly Hills community. I interviewed sources and wrote this article. This was posted on beverlyhighlights.com.
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/09/14/save-our-summer-bhusd-petition-gains-support-causes-community-discussion/
To read the full article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/09/14/save-our-summer-bhusd-petition-gains-support-causes-community-discussion/
Unhappy with the date on which school starts, and hoping to push back the first day of school, a petition, called “Save our Summer, BHUSD” was begun anonymously on Aug. 31.
With 552 supporters as of Sept. 14, this petition claims that starting school in the first week of August is too early. One of the main reasons is that summer programs, which generally span from mid-June to mid-August, and summer vacation, which is from late May to early August, do not align.
The petition states, “Most quality programs begin at the end of June and go to mid-August…This is about the kids. It’s about not blocking them from participating in programs (educational, recreational and developmental) that have been proven to be integral to child development.”
With 552 supporters as of Sept. 14, this petition claims that starting school in the first week of August is too early. One of the main reasons is that summer programs, which generally span from mid-June to mid-August, and summer vacation, which is from late May to early August, do not align.
The petition states, “Most quality programs begin at the end of June and go to mid-August…This is about the kids. It’s about not blocking them from participating in programs (educational, recreational and developmental) that have been proven to be integral to child development.”
Infographic: The Zika Virus
I created this infographic through Canva. This graphic highlights the most important details about the Zika virus. This was posted through the Twitter account for Highlights.
Infographic: UC Freshman Admission Statistics
This infographic shows the percentage of undergraduates from California at each UC system school. I created this infographic with statistics gathered from the official UC website. This infographic accompanied my article regarding the UC system's plan to increase the number of freshman applicants from California.
To read the entire article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/11/03/uc-system-to-increase-acceptance-rate-of-in-state-applicants/
To read the entire article, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/11/03/uc-system-to-increase-acceptance-rate-of-in-state-applicants/
Multimedia: Normans promote pride
This video was a part of a multimedia package, Normans promote pride, which focused on school spirit at Beverly Hills High School. I filmed a part of the A-roll for this video. The entire multimedia package was posted on beverlyhighlights.com.
To view the entire multimedia package, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/10/23/normans-promote-pride/
To view the entire multimedia package, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2015/10/23/normans-promote-pride/
Multimedia: Going to college? Think out of state
This video was a part of a multimedia package about seniors and which colleges they will be attending this fall. For this video, I shot all of the B-roll. This video was posted with the multimedia package on beverlyhighlights.com.
To view the entire package, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2016/05/06/going-to-college-think-out-of-state/
To view the entire package, click here: http://beverlyhighlights.com/2016/05/06/going-to-college-think-out-of-state/