THE SMOKE SIGNAL

Artist of the Issue: Sophie Mekelburg
Breeze Aguilar, Backpage Editor
Sophie Mekelburg is a senior at Hart and Co-President of Show Choir. She joined choir as a freshman, following in the footsteps of her older sister who she’s always looked...
Netflix’s Enola Holmes brings a new, feel-good twist to the Sherlock universe
Kyla Jones, Centerspread Editor
Over quarantine, I was introduced to the world of Sherlock for the first time via BBC’s Sherlock; I grew to love Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock and his faithful companion...
Letter From the ASB President: Chris Stoker
Chris Stoker, ASB President
To my fellow students, As your newly elected ASB President, I would like to welcome you all back to another year at Hart! To the freshman, I’m so sorry that your first...
Athlete of the Issue: Sabrina Sveiven
Bella Sandoval, Chief of Staff & Features Editor
Sabrina Sveiven, better known as “Beans” by her teammates and friends, is a senior on the girl’s volleyball team. Sveiven has played Hart volleyball all four years of...
Student Spotlight: Zoe Titus and the Sailboat Project
Nicole Felici, Editor in Chief
The Sailboat Project is a student-led organization founded by Hart High School senior Zoe Titus over the summer of 2020. Titus began the project with the goal to improve district-wide...
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe is the perfect mix of nostalgia and new content
Breeze Aguilar, Backpage Editor
When I heard Phineas and Ferb was producing another movie, I screamed with excitement. The Creators of the show, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh are creative geniuses....
The effects of partying during quarantine
Sophia Fierro, Staff Writer
As parts of the United States start to slowly open from months in quarantine, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has seen a large increase. A majority of these...

Political Issue of the Issue: Amy Coney Barrett

November 17, 2020 • No Comments

September 26, after the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett as a successor to the late Justice. This decision sparked controversy, as Democrats argued a Justice...

A coronavirus vaccine will not immediately end the pandemic

Andrew Hezel, Opinion Editor

November 10, 2020 • No Comments

The U.S. may be only months away from a vaccine, which could break the record for vaccine development. This coronavirus vaccine will not simply bring life back to normal again like Trump has stated at a news conference earlier...

President Trump’s tax history published by The New York Times

Shayna Tilles, Arts & Reviews Editor

November 3, 2020 • No Comments

September 27, The New York Times published their obtained tax information of President Donald Trump. The information, which spans over two decades, revealed large write-offs, debt and his struggling properties. It was also...

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Seniors

Kristen Quick Commits to Maryland for Gymnastics

Kathryn Supple, Editor in Chief

April 4, 2020

Kristen Quick is a senior who recently committed to the University of Maryland for Division 1 gymnastics. Quick has been doing gymnastics for thirteen years at Waller’s...

Isaac Kim commits to Pomona College for Baseball

Kathryn Supple, Editor in Chief

April 3, 2020

Hart senior Isaac Kim recently committed to Pomona College for baseball.Pomona College is a part of the five colleges that make up the Claremont Colleges. Kim has been on...

Hart Senior Commits to Biola University

March 30, 2020

Hart Senior Commits to Princeton

March 28, 2020

Quarterback Zach Johnson Commits to UC Berkeley

March 22, 2020

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Features

A tribute to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Breeze Aguilar, Backpage Editor

November 18, 2020 • No Comments

September 18, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at 87 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Her death devastated many, as she led a long, fulfilling political career....

Two Tips on Transitioning Into College Like a Pro

November 3, 2020

Piece of Hart: What advice do you have for other students during distanced learning?

November 3, 2020

Recipe of the Issue: Baklava

November 3, 2020

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Arts and Reviews

Artist of the Issue: Sophie Mekelburg

Breeze Aguilar, Backpage Editor

November 17, 2020 • No Comments

Sophie Mekelburg is a senior at Hart and Co-President of Show Choir. She joined choir as a freshman, following in the footsteps of her older sister who she’s always looked up to. “I remember watching her on stage and...

The Tower of Nero satisfyingly concludes Rick Riordan’s Camp Half-Blood Chronicles November 3, 2020
The Social Dilemma provides insightful and relevant commentary on the danger of unregulated Big Tech November 3, 2020
Nintendo and Microsoft collaborate to add Minecraft’s Steve to Super Smash Bros.’ character roster November 3, 2020
Netflix’s Hubie Halloween is full of heartwarming and spooky fun November 3, 2020

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Important News!

The Hart School District will not be reopening this semester. Students will continue with distance learning until further notice.

Homecoming Court

Homecoming King: Chris Stoker
Homecoming Queen: Maddie Westbrook
Homecoming Court (boys):
Danny Lawson, Lucas Robinson, Evan Shumaker, and Malachi Soqui
Homecoming Court (girls):
Diana Boggs, Camille Dolphin, Ava Kirchmann, and Jensen Shrout

Opinion

What’s happening in Armenia?

Andranik Soghomonian, Staff

November 20, 2020 • No Comments

After World War II, the Soviet Union split up its land making multiple independent countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan being two of them. However, a small piece of land was disputed by these two newfound independent states. This land is called Kagnro Karapagh,...

The Great Debate: Which utensil is best?

Nicole Felici and Marissa Soto

November 10, 2020 • No Comments

Nicole: Three items of food are placed before three people: a slice of cake, a bowl of soup and a steak. The one who wields a spoon is able to enjoy the cake and soup easily, but is unable to eat the steak as his spoon cannot cut through it. The one...

The Greate Debate: Which aesthetic is best?

Nicole Felici and Marissa Soto

November 10, 2020 • No Comments

Nicole: I would definitely have to say that academia is the best aesthetic there is. Not only is it the most versatile, but literally anyone can live by it. In life, we are always in a state of learning no matter who we are. Why not dress the part? Academia...

The president doesn’t have as much power as you may think

November 6, 2020

You shouldn’t care who’s president. At least, not as much as you do. This may seem like a shock to...

High school teaches more than academics

November 3, 2020

One of the biggest criticisms people have about secondary (high school) education is how it fails to...

Representation in Hollywood is improving, but is still not ideal

November 3, 2020

Diversity in Hollywood is, ever slowly, growing. With each new piece of media being made, representation...

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Polls

What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Baking or cooking with family (33%, 1 Votes)
Eating, of course! (33%, 1 Votes)
Playing games (33%, 1 Votes)
Watching movies (0%, 0 Votes)
Having leftovers the next day (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 3

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Polls Archive

Sports

The Dodgers end the drought and take home the World Series win

Marissa Soto, Editor in Chief | November 10, 2020

The first Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason games of 2020 took place September 29 with only 16 teams competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy and the title of World Series champions. With a shortened season of only 60 games, it was a much different process for getting to and through the playoffs than a traditional season. Games were played in different playoff bubbles rather than in the...

Athlete of the Issue: Jason Lucero

Bella Sandoval, Chief of Staff and Features Editor | November 3, 2020

Jason Lucero is a senior on the cross country team and track and field team this year at Hart. Lucero has been running for four years, starting back in eighth grade at Placerita Junior High. In track and field, he runs the 3200m, 1600m, 800m and occasionally the 4x400m. With cross country usually being a sport that starts at the beginning of the school year, their season has been pushed back to...

After a delayed season, the Los Angeles Lakers secure the 2020 NBA championship

Bella Sandoval, Chief of Staff and Features Editor | November 3, 2020

The first game of the NBA finals took place September 30. The Los Angeles Lakers took their first win of the series with a final score of 116-98. The Lakers success continued with another win over the Miami Heat with a final score of 124-114. However, Miami was able to come back in game three with a 115-104 win over the Lakers, making the series 2-1. In game four the Lakers beat the Heat 102-96. The...

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