The Mustang

Olivia Olander

Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief

Olivia Olander is a senior. She likes news and boba.

All content by Olivia Olander
SDA received a threat Tuesday.

SDA Threatened on Social Media

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
May 17, 2018

SDA was threatened by a former district student over social media Tuesday, according to Principal Adam Camacho. The threat was unsubstantiated and “the school was not in any imminent danger,” according...

The custodial staff worked hard to make sure students and teachers could get into class.

SDA Locks Vandalized Once Again

By Olivia Olander and Anna Griffin
May 17, 2018

SDA was hit with another round of vandalism Thursday morning, when staff discovered more locks filled with a hard substance, according to Assistant Principal Katie Bendix. The event follows Monday morning’s...

Arctic Monkeys recently released their newest album.

Arctic Monkeys Release Sixth Album

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
May 15, 2018

Arctic Monkeys no longer want your leather jackets. They’ll take exclusively thrifty-looking tan summer suits, thank you very much.   The band’s new album, “Tranquility Base Hotel and...

SDA students participated in a student walkout Nov. 2016 to protest then President-elect Donald Trump.

SDA Administration Addresses Student Walkout

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
March 9, 2018

Some SDA students are planning to walk out of class March 14 in solidarity with the National School Walkout to prevent gun violence and school shootings. They will be joining high schools nationwide in...

Today at SDA: Flags at Half-Mast

Today at SDA: Flags at Half-Mast

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
February 15, 2018

The flag at the campus entrance waved at half mast today, the day after a deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla. The San Dieguito Union High School district emailed families this morning informing...

SOUL Charter School Not Coming to LCC

By Olivia Olander, Editor-in-Chief
February 15, 2018

The School of Universal Learning, the new charter school that opened at the Solana Beach Boys and Girls Club this fall, encountered some controversy in recent months from SDUHSD when they unsuccessfully...

Third Period Bell Incident, Explained

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
January 26, 2018

An announcement over the loudspeaker in third period Friday, which asked teachers to hold their students in their classes until further notice, was the result of a student who had written an assignment...

Wind Ensemble Winter Concert

By Olivia Olander, Editor-in-Chief
December 21, 2017

The SDA Wind Ensembles will perform in their winter concert Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. The performance, which is mainly winter-themed, according to senior Sam Goldsmith, will include CCA’s band...

School Board Decides on New Voting Boundaries

School Board Decides on New Voting Boundaries

By Olivia Olander, Editor-in-Chief
December 18, 2017

The school board unanimously voted Thursday to change the election of trustees from an “at large” election to one in which members are elected by small areas. The move was in compliance with the California...

One of several options for creating new voting boundaries within the district.

School Board to Vote on New Election Boundaries

By Olivia Olander, Editor in Chief
December 12, 2017

The school board will vote Thursday on whether to abandon the current election system, under which residents vote for all five members of the board, in favor of smaller districts where residents vote for...

Students evacuated the gym after the fire alarm sounded throughout the school.

Fire False Alarm Draws Homecoming to a Close

By Olivia Olander, Editor-in-Chief
October 30, 2017

This year’s homecoming dance ended with students evacuating the gym and the fire alarm replacing the typical high volume ‘00s dance tunes. Through a panel in the office that shows causes of alarms,...

Drama teacher Stephanie Siers, senior Emma Balda, junior Colin Gasperoni and senior Makena Garvey pose in front of the Calvin Berger set in the theatre.

[Photo] Homecoming Week Comes to a Close

By Taina Millsap, Staff Writer
October 27, 2017

Drama teacher Stephanie Siers, senior Emma Balda, junior Colin Gasperoni and senior Makena Garvey pose in front of the Calvin Berger set in the theatre.

Synchronized Swimming Brings Homerooms to the Stage

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
May 23, 2017

Students gathered in speedos and matching outfits for the “synchronized swimming without water” Homeroom Olympics event Tuesday. The event, which was organized by the Homeroom Olympics Committee, attracted...

Students Discuss Parking in Mini-Forum

Students Discuss Parking in Mini-Forum

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
May 18, 2017

A small group of students and administrators gathered in the ASB room to discuss parking solutions today at lunch. The “mini Forum” came two days after Principal Bjorn Paige announced that 50 spots...

Torrey Pines Teen Shot by Police

Torrey Pines Teen Shot by Police

By Olivia Olander and Julia Shapero
May 8, 2017

A Torrey Pines student was fatally shot by police early Saturday morning following a call to 911 reporting a 15-year-old boy standing outside the high school, according to a news release from the San Diego...

Metal Mustang Rides Again

“Metal Mustang” Rides Again

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
April 27, 2017

The iconic “Metal Mustang” now rides again on Santa Fe Drive, after being reinstalled April 27. The statue had been up for decades before it was removed during track construction and held by the school...

SDA Student Approached on Bonita Dr

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
April 7, 2017

A female SDA student was approached on Bonita Dr yesterday around 4:00 p.m., said Principal Bjorn Paige in an email to parents and staff. According to Paige, “The man is described as a Hispanic male...

Registrar Named San Diego County Classified Employee of the Year

Registrar Named San Diego County Classified Employee of the Year

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
March 24, 2017

SDA Registrar Bridget Sabin was named Classified Employee of the Year for all of San Diego County this month. Sabin, who has been working in the district for 20 years, is the first classified employee...

Girls Soccer Plays Mission Bay for CIF Semi-Finals

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
March 2, 2017

A CIF championship is only one game away for the varsity girls soccer team, who won in the semi-finals Wednesday. The Mustangs beat the Mission Bay Buccaneers at home 3-0 in a game that at first seemed...

A Look Into the Actions of Darrell Issa in Congress

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
March 1, 2017

Post-inauguration hubbub has mostly focused on President Donald Trump, but what’s going on in Capitol Hill? Here’s a small sample of how North County’s Darrell Issa, a Republican representative,...

Ratajkowski in her 2009 senior yearbook photo.

SDA Graduate Emily Ratajkowski Defends Melania Trump

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
February 16, 2017

SDA alumna, activist and supermodel Emily Ratajkowski called out a New York Times reporter via Twitter on Monday for “slut shaming” First Lady Melania Trump. Ratajkowski described an exchange wherein...

Ava Lilie-Junior

Ava Lilie-Junior

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
December 15, 2016

"I would say that one of my top two best moments of 2016 was going to formal with a guy who I had liked for a while, but the one that I am most proud of is working on a patient for the first time for my...

Candidates for  senior directors Parisi, Whalen and Noyes, juniors, gave speeches at the nominating convention.

Candidate Speeches Given at Nominating Convention

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
December 9, 2016

Candidates for next year’s elected ASB positions gathered in the gym during homeroom this morning to make the case for their appointment. The nominating convention was optional this year, so students...

DREAM Workshop Preview

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 29, 2016

Two immigration information workshops for undocumented students, students with undocumented parents, and students who fall under the DREAM act (which protects undocumented young people) will be held on...

Incumbents Re-Elected for School Board

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 9, 2016

Incumbent candidates Joyce Dalessandro and Beth Hergesheimer were re-elected to the San Dieguito school board last night over three challengers -- Republicans Lucile Lynch and Randy Berholtz, and independent...

SDA Reacts to the Election

SDA Reacts to the Election

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 9, 2016

Students across SDA today reacted to Republican nominee Donald Trump’s unprecedented presidential win and the total Republican majority in Congress, both decided in last night’s election. The results...

CA election update

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 9, 2016

As final votes are counted throughout California (46% reported at the time of publication), it appears that Californians have voted to legalize marijuana and ban plastic bags, among other measures, according...

Fire Alarm Set off During First Period

Fire Alarm Set off During First Period

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 4, 2016

A fire alarm cut first period short this morning when it rang through San Dieguito Academy just before 9 a.m. It was caused by employees cooking in the transportation office near the bus parking lot, said...

New Charter School May Open in District

New Charter School May Open in District

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 22, 2016

A plan to open a new charter school in the San Dieguito Union High School District was presented to the school board Sept. 15. The school aims to open in fall 2017, but will first need to be voted on by...

A New Year of ComedySportz

A New Year of ComedySportz

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 9, 2016

ComedySportz kicked off its first game Friday, and featured new captains among some familiar faces. The day before the match, club president Jack Salz and lead acting coaches Mateo Schmidt and Daniel Magnuson...

A Look at Construction at SDA

A Look at Construction at SDA

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 9, 2016

Construction has eased forward this year at SDA, with small projects being completed and adding up to major changes on campus. The new two-story building in the middle of campus is on schedule to open...

Roles announced for New School Play

Roles announced for New School Play

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 3, 2016

Commotion, nerves and screams of excitement filled the PAC courtyard Friday as the cast list for SDA’s first theater production, “Boy Meets Girl” by Sam Wolfson, was announced. The one-act romantic...

Kennady Tracy-Sophomore

Kennady Tracy-Sophomore

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
December 17, 2015

I went to a concert back in September and it was one of my favorite bands opening for another one of my favorite bands. The opening band [LANY] wasn’t very big, so I was really the only person singing...

Julie Daughters-Sophomore

Julie Daughters-Sophomore

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
December 17, 2015

The best moment of my year this year was the Twenty One Pilots concert. Towards the end of the concert, Tyler, who’s the singer, was on the stage, but when a song [ended]... the lights turned off. He...

Students Evacuate For the Second Time this Week

Students Evacuate For the Second Time this Week

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
December 3, 2015

Fire alarms rang over SDA for the second time this week, waking students from first-period drowsiness and forcing them onto the field. The alarm was triggered in the gender-neutral bathrooms by the...

Another Possible Bathroom Fire at SDA

Another Possible Bathroom Fire at SDA

By Olivia Olander, News Writer
November 30, 2015

A fire alarm went off early in the afternoon today at SDA, bringing students out of their third period classrooms and onto the field. This was not drill, but was caused by a smoke detector that went off...

Changes coming to UC Admissions

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 20, 2015

University of California officials announced yesterday that their colleges will admit 10,000 more Californian students over the next three years across the system’s nine campuses. This is part of a...

Senior Ditch Day Brings Financial Repercussion

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
November 4, 2015

One hundred forty-four seniors did not attend school on Monday as part of a planned “senior ditch day,” according to Assistant Principal Jeanne Jones. This is many more than the daily average of 50...

Back Track for Backpacks

Back Track for Backpacks

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
October 22, 2015

This year’s homecoming assembly will bring some changes to policy in an effort to ease traffic and crowds in the gym. Students are being asked to leave their backpacks in their first period room, rather...

Love for the Lottery?

Love for the Lottery?

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 10, 2015

The majority of the San Dieguito Union High School District school board supported keeping the current lottery process for the Academy during a community meeting that lasted over three hours on Monday,...

Students Evacuated to the Field. Find out Why

Students Evacuated to the Field. Find out Why

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
September 8, 2015

A fire alarm startled many students during fourth period today when it went off at about 2:30 p.m., prompting evacuations to the field. Principal Bjorn Paige said over the loudspeaker that there was a...

Enrollment Workshop Preview

By Olivia Olander, News Editor
August 31, 2015

The San Dieguito Union High School District is holding a meeting today at Carmel Valley Middle School at 6:00 PM to discuss options for the high school enrollment process in the future, and their findings...

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Passion Pit Concert Review

By Olivia Olander, Staff Writer
May 19, 2015

  After what seemed like days, the lights finally went down in the Observatory North Park on May 17. Amid a roar of cheers, Passion Pit took the stage, led by frontman Michael Angelakos. Several...

April Forum Report: 4/29

April Forum Report: 4/29

By Olivia Olander, Staff Writer
April 30, 2015

"Green” practices on campus, Exhibition Day , and a possible homeroom “fair” were all points of discussion at The Forum on Wednesday, April 29 in room 93. This was the second to last Forum of...

Third Times the Charm

Third Time’s the Charm

By Olivia Olander and Sarah LaVake
April 27, 2015

Junior Cameron Sippel, who placed third in a statewide speech and debate tournament on the weekend of April 17-19, didn’t expect to have a career in the subject before he came to high school. “I...

Mustangs Across the Pond

Mustangs Across the Pond

By Olivia Olander and Sarah LaVake
April 17, 2015

After 5,178 miles and what junior Margot Leach described as “a super long flight,” a group of 15 SDA students touched down in Cork, Ireland. This was the beginning of an almost 10-day trip that covered...

Middle School Students Tour Campus

Middle School Students Tour Campus

By Olivia Olander and Taina Millsap
February 25, 2015

The delicious smell of chocolate ganache wafted out of the Culinary Arts room as a tour full of nervous 8th grade students approached it one day last week. “He’s sold,” said one parent to another,...

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