National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists
By Olivia Pocat
The National Merit Scholarship is an award given to the top 50,000 performers on the PSAT, to qualify as semifinalists or commended students. This year, Shirina Agrawal, Eerav Kandikattu, and Eeshan Kandikattu all received the prestigious award of semifinalists for the state of California. In February, these three students have the opportunity to qualify as finalists in order to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship, an honor only given to 15,000 students. Commenting on their feat, twins Eerav and Eeshan exclaimed, “I am very grateful for this opportunity.” Make sure to congratulate these semi-finalists on their accomplishments!
Fun Facts About Westmont High
By Cynthia Andary
- Westmont first opened in 1964.
- Westmont is the only school in San Jose with an AG department.
- The first issue of The Shield printed in 1966.
- Alumni current staff: Jason Miller (principal), Elizabeth Jarrett (social studies), Denise Picard (AP Psychology), Matt Schembri (Special Ed).
- Traditions include camp Westmont, senior sunrise, homecoming, homecoming court, prom, spirit week, rallies, lipsync, and the Powder-puff game.
- Westmont Avenue used to be Harriet Avenue.
- Mr. Laurence J. Hill convinced the city to change the street name to Westmont Avenue, which made us the Warriors.
Upcoming Halloween Events
By Faith Gonia
Westmont Theatre’s Fright Nights: Support local theatre and Westmont students in their frightening Halloween production! Dates: October 28 – October 29, 2022.
Great America’s Tricks and Treats: Ditching their thrilling, crowd-favorite Halloween Haunt, California’s Great America opts for something more family-friendly this year. Attend in costume, go on your favorite rides, and explore both the Land of the Treats and the Land of the Tricks! All ages can visit this fall festival. Dates: September 23 – October 30, 2022.
Fear Overload Scream Park: Choose between two walk-through haunted houses — the horrifying Blind Asylum or the otherworldly Undead Underpass. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Dates: October 7 – November 5, 2022.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s Fright Fest: Complete with Haunted Attractions, Scare Zones, shows, and rides, Six Flags’ Fright Fest is sure to spook even the toughest. Check out the Slasher Circus for a clown-themed zone of terror — Yikes! I might pass on that one. Fright Fest is recommended for ages 13 and above. Dates: September 24 – October 31, 2022.
Unhinged: Nightshade’s Curse by the Winchester Mystery House: Venture through the historic and eerie Winchester Mystery House, following the stories of Madame Nightshade and the spirits she has provoked. Outside of the tour, enjoy the Spirit Carnival with food and games. The show is recommended for ages 13 and above. Dates: Select evenings from September 30 – October 31, 2022.
This Day in History: October 13
By Olivia Pocat
- 1792: Construction of the White House begins
- 1903: First baseball World Series (Boston Americans vs Pittsburgh Pirates)
- 1925: Margaret Thatcher is born
- 1947: First NHL All-Star Game
- 1958: Paddington the bear makes his debut
- 1960: Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate on national TV
- 1966: The Jimi Hendrix experience debuts
- 1967: First ABA (American Basketball Association) game played (Oakland Oaks vs Anaheim Amigos)
- 1986: Reba McEntire wins 20th Country Music Awards
- 1987: First US military use of trained dolphins
- 2019: Simone Biles becomes the most decorated gymnast in history winning her record 25th medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany
Homecoming Recap
By Lily Bourne
Happy homecoming warriors! These past few weeks have been filled with activities, spirit days, and of course the final hoco game and dance! Students and staff showed up and showed out for every spirit day of the week; airport attire, tacky tourists, class colors, and Westmont gear.
The week leading up to the dance brought some of the most popular lunchtime activities of the year: power puff and lip sync. With the Seniors and Sophomores winning power puff and the Seniors clinching a close victory against the Juniors in lip sync, the class competition has grown even fiercer since last homecoming. For our first indoor rally since before Covid, the ASB classes stepped up their decoration skills to create beautiful corners and banners with the Juniors triumphing in both aspects. The homecoming football game was incredibly spirited and the Warriors pulled out a huge win over Sobrato.
The dance was amazing, and showcased some beautiful dresses and some….less than beautiful dance moves! This homecoming season was truly an unforgettable experience! For upcoming Westmont events, mark your calendars for October 14th (Fall Fun Fest) and October 21 (next home football game)!
We Are The Table
Last April, Westmont’s very own rock band, The Table, performed for the first time at the district-wide Battle of the Bands. Originating as a jam group from Westmont Cross Country, the band is set to release their first album, We Are, by the end of this year. The Table really emphasizes their “community,” according to Senior guitarist Ojas Joshi. Drummer Bennett Kelly loves that the band has brought him “a great group of friends” to “hang out and joke around with while creating some unique music.” The band has shared some fun insight into their origins, inspiration, upcoming releases, and more:
Read on for the exclusive interview here:
MIA in MA
A beautiful state, filled with a charming juxtaposition of urban cities, picturesque towns, and breathtaking scenery Massachusetts proves an amazing place to explore. I wish I could be MIA in MA more often!
Here’s what I recommend seeing on your trip:
- Boston: Truly unique for its revolutionary roots complimenting the urban landscape, Boston boasts architecture dating as early as the 1600s beside towering skyscrapers. Whether you wander the pristine streets, explore the freedom trail, or dive into the local dining scene, Boston encompasses a tapestry of history, cultures, architecture and atmosphere unparalleled by any other city.