The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
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Webb’s 2022 Holiday Party

Kaylynn Chang and Taya Sibichenkova
December 16, 2022
Kaylynn Chang (’23)
Despite the cold, winter night, the Holiday Party lights up the room with a warmth that Webbies feel through laughter, hot cocoa, and live performances. A chance for the whole community to gather and bond, the week ends with a perfect touch of the Christmas spirit.

 

As the days get colder and the nights grow darker, the Webb campus gets ready to welcome back the cheer with touches of the holiday spirit. With only three weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break, the prefect council has been working hard to keep the joyous mood going strong. 

From the Giving Tree in the dining hall and cheery lunch donations to the enthusiastic charity dances at the loop, the prefect council has been keeping in mind the giving spirit amongst the holiday fun. Partnering with the Foothill Family Shelter, San Antonio Foundation, Well Connected, Isaiah’s Rock, and HOPE Partners, we seek to give back to the local charities in the area, extending the spirit to the community. 

“We’ve been donating to local charities this week along with the Toy Drive, which has been a tradition since 1990,” said Will Allan, co-Head Advisor for Dorm Prefects and humanities faculty. 

With the giving spirit brightening up the week, the culmination of these highlights is the annual Holiday Party. Caroling, cocoa, and Christmas come together; the party falls on a Sunday night, giving a chance for students and faculty to experience the classics of holiday celebration together. From competitive gingerbread house contests, the appearance of Webb’s band, The Tonics, and to Dr. Brendan Beikmann, science department faculty taking the spotlight dressed up as Santa once again, the night is filled with unmistakable excitement as everyone embraces the festivities of the holiday season. 

albert taylor hot cocoa
Kaylynn Chang ('23)
Albert Taylor (‘26) enjoys a nice cup of hot cocoa before the party starts, loading up on the whipped cream. With a hot cocoa bar, cookie decorating stations, and plenty of candy, the night was filled with fun food festivities.
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Annalise Centeno (’26) and Ella Berg (’26) peacefully sit on Huntington Beach with the company of Dr Nguyen’s corgi, Ein. Although the weather was foggy, the beach was still filled with other corgis and attendees. “I really enjoyed relaxing on the beach near the ocean, along with the company of so many puppies,” Annalise Centeno (’26) said. The event was a huge success.
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The College Guidance Office, hidden between the trees of lower campus, with a table and chairs outside providing a quiet place to work, is where students receive advice and support while preparing for and applying to college. “I think it's hard because it's two counselors supporting 100 students,” said Emily Thornton (’25). “I think you can feel really unsupported.” Only having two counselors for so many students might lead to a lack of knowledge for students about the college process.
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Frequent Cafe 1175 visitor Daniel Xue (’27) purchases a jasmine milk tea and a choco bun after patiently waiting in a long line during X Block. The cafe offers savory and sweet breads, ordered from 85º Bakery every morning, along with a choice of coffees, teas, and refreshments. “One of my favorite items to purchase is the Arizona [tea],” said Daniel. Cafe 1175 offers a variety selections that students enjoy and is looking forward to new additions of foods in the future.
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In Advanced Studies Anatomy & Physiology, Marc Zambrano (‘26), Isamar Theobald (‘25), Pristine Thomas (‘25), Geniya Parker (‘26), and Berklee Antecol (’25) work on making a muscle microanatomy booklet to help them study. Working on projects like this helps students learn more about the subject. “There is less emphasis on tests and there are more projects,” said Geniya. “It makes learning more fun and engaging, so I end up learning the material better.”
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Female cat Fuego –– “Fire” in Spanish –– belongs to Susanna Linsley, Director of Experiential Learning. Fuego waves at the camera, welcoming you to hear her story. The name “Fuego” was suggested by Dr. Linsley’s kids, as they liked the idea that it is one of the threats California constantly faces; naming their cat “Fire” symbolizes their kitten is the fierce protector of their realm. Along with her brother Oso, Fuego is the one of the two first kittens adopted by Dr. Linsley and her family. “We knew we wanted two of them because I had two kids,” said Dr. Linsley. “I also think everybody needs company.”
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Dorm prefects Chelsea Wei (‘25), Lucy Troendle (‘26), Sophie Lin (‘26), Natalie Au (‘26) and Samantha Wang (‘26) gather moments before starting the Webb haunted house to take a photo dressed as scarers. Scarers participated in the haunted house from 8:30 to 10 p.m. “I enjoyed screaming at people and even though I felt tired, I’m glad I experienced being part of the haunted house,” Natalie said. After hours of preparation, prefects put their planning into action by scaring students in the Old School House.
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Webb campus buzzed with rounds and rounds of Homecoming proposals in the days preceding the dance. Friends were around and helped with posters all in preparation for these special moments before the dance. “I think it's a great way to bond and a fabulous way to develop relationships,” Jessica Lu (‘27) said. She believes that the mood and vibe of Homecoming asks help connect people throughout campus and make memories for those involved.
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Hanbo Xu ('25), in his formal attire, enjoys a glass of apple cider, one of the many refreshments available during the pre-prom reception in front of the Alf Museum. “The cider was extremely extravagant, lavish, and rich, while the food looked very appetizing,” Hanbo said. “Holding these delicate cups made me feel like Gatsby. The toppings on the cupcakes glistened in the sun, as mouthwatering flavors invited a tsunami of joy in my brain.”
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As Webb students depart from campus to enjoy the rest of the holiday season, it provides the perfect time to look back and see how Webb decorated their spaces to celebrate this festive season. This year, the Price Dining Hall is displaying a gorgeous, 20-foot Christmas tree, beautifully lit and decorated. Lighting up the Christmas trees with various colorful ornaments, Webb’s community service afternoon activity contributed greatly to the setup and assembling of the artificial tree. “It was very fun to set up the tree and bring holiday cheer!” Frannie Hinch (‘25) said. For many others, decorating the campus for community service has been rewarding to see the joy they bring to students, faculty, and staff.
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Students sit around the fireplace, roasting marshmallows and apples on sticks before the party begins. The party was at the Upper Dorms this year, decorated with Christmas lights. “I hope the party brings the community together, as well as dorm spirit and everything because it's towards the end of the year," said Arthur Lu (‘24), a dorm prefect. “Many people are getting tired. We want to raise the holiday spirit for the last week of school finals.”
Webbies have a blast at the Holiday Party
In the evening sun, students gathered at the museum steps in a chaotic mass. Some students took photos. Others waited for friends. And yet more continuously readjusted their clothing. But most attendees were wondering where the buses were. “It’s already 5:15,” said Ryan Ho (25’). “I thought the bus would be here by now.”
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Jaeho Lee (‘28) receives a notification. He goes to a secluded place, opens his phone, and starts deciphering the fourth clue. Having successfully made it to the first three checkpoints, he is now tasked with figuring out the rest of the riddles leading him to the remaining checkpoints. But the clues will only get harder and harder to crack. “Decode the clues or tag as many as possible!” said Kenny (‘25). Soon, the zombies will swarm the checkpoints––Jaeho must think of something quick.
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The numbered phone stand used for Reboot November in South Hutch dorm was an efficient system that helped keep track of participating students. The stand, numbered from 1 to 30, allowed students to place their phones in designated slots, making it easy for dorm prefects to monitor participation. “It’s a simple and effective way to stay organized, even though I didn’t participate, I noticed how the system made it easy for everyone to keep track and to make sure no one missed out on their rewards,” said Jarra Jallow (’25). This process helped maintain order and ensured everyone’s phone was accounted for during the challenge.
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Emily Shao (‘26) is sitting at her desk, surrounded by stacks of articles and open browser tabs, deep in research mode as she sifts through scattered details of the P. Diddy case. With limited reliable sources and countless rumors swirling online, information is difficult to find and even harder to verify. “It's like a reminder that we often don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, even with public figures we think we know,” Emily said. The search for truth feels like peeling back layers of a story far more complicated than any headline could convey.
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A large variety of candies is spilling out of a pumpkin trick-or-treat bucket. As Halloween comes to an end, students count their candies and pick out the ones they like to save while arguing over which one is ultimately the best. “Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because I love candies and watching movies,” said Tychelle Moore Cul-pepper (’27). Students have had a fruitful Halloween this year and continue to look forward to next year’s celebration.
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On their website, Victoria's Secret claims to "represent all women," an effort seen in their runway shows and campaigns. However, many, including Lucy Troendle (‘26), feel this doesn’t reflect true inclusivity. "I don’t feel represented at all by Victoria’s Secret,” Lucy said.
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About the Contributors
Kaylynn Chang
Kaylynn Chang, Editor-In-Chief
An avid bookworm, journalist, and sushi lover, head day student prefect Kaylynn Chang (‘23) comes back to the Webb Canyon Chronicle for one last year as Editor- In- Chief! If you want someone to cook you a heartwarming meal, give you the best book recommendations, or help you with homework, Kaylynn is the right person for you. Equipped with a loud whistle, she manages to successfully get her voice heard through creative writing and independent journalism, as well as helping others achieve the same by leading affinity groups. She wants to continue using her talent and passion for justice for a career in law or politics after her Webb experience is over. When she’s not learning through everyone else’s life stories and memoirs, Kaylynn enjoys working out, cooking Korean food, and listening to her favorite songs by Cigarettes After Sex. From baking delicious snacks to giving you the most genuine advice, Kaylynn has the perfect recipe for looking after others and giving back to the community. As Editor-in- Chief, she hopes to make the WCC an accessible resource for all students and aspiring journalists to learn and share news about Webb.  Favorite Song: “Sunsetz" by Cigarettes after Sex 
Taya Sibichenkova
Taya Sibichenkova, Chief Editor of News
Taya Sibichenkova’s (‘24) kindness and commitment to bettering the world through medicinal and environmental studies shines throughout every aspect of her life. From dedicating her summer to researching population health alongside graduate scientists, to sharing her passion for nature as a children’s science camp counselor, to creating an independent research proposal on drug repurposing at the Claremont Colleges, Taya’s interest in health is boundless. Partly driven by her selfless, caring personality and ability to think outside the box, Taya knows the importance of a holistic approach to medicine and a health As Chief Editor of News, she is ready to recognize and spread awareness of the issues our world faces, such as her article on the timeline of the Ukraine-Russia war. Yet Taya’s leadership is not just limited to news and science. For two years now, she has served as a welcoming admissions ambassador. When Taya isn’t busy being a real-life superhero, she enjoys brewing kombucha, knitting, watching sci-fi movies, and playing the guitar. This year, Taya is excited to bring her interests in health sciences and environmental justice to the newsroom and beyond.       Song: Heat Above – Greta Van Fleet