• Cambria Graff Named Teacher of the Year at SJHHS: one of the most recognized performing arts teachers in all of Orange County
  • Pajama Drive Happening Now: Donate a pair of new pajamas, infant through adult, between now and December 13. Drop off in the front office or ASB.
  • Trading Post Has New Merch, Visit During Lunch
  • Senior Portrait Deadline Dec. 9: Schedule Through South Coast Photographic
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
Isabella Mahar

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer

Isabella is a senior, who is very excited to start her third year on The Express. This year she is the Opinion Editor and is covering clubs. She hopes to study political science and journalism in college and work in one or both of those fields in the future. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, reading, baking and listening to music.  She is very excited to deliver reporting on everything that is happening both at SJHHS and around the country this year.

All content by Isabella Mahar
This image shows singer-songwriter at the iHeartRadio music awards in 2019. This was following the release of her album "Lover" the first album she owned the masters to.

Taylor Swift is Redefining the Music Industry for Artist’s Rights

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
May 10, 2021
The class of 2019 graduates from SJHHS on June 6. Students who received a 4.0 or above are seated at the front in white robes, while the rest are behind them in blue. Seniors this year hopefully will get an in-person graduation with some changes to make it safe for everyone.

Graduation for the Class of 2021

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
April 12, 2021
This art piece shows the important relationship between women and birth control. Birth control provides women with reproductive freedom that is one step to closer equality.

Birth Control Should Be Accessible To All

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
March 25, 2021
This image depicts trophies that are often a physical representation of attendance achievements. These create an exclusive nature around perfect attendance, causing a toxic school culture going into high school and beyond.

Attendance Shouldn’t Be High Stakes

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
March 16, 2021
This image shows the Academic Decathlon team following their scrimmage in November 2020. The team then went on to compete in the Orange County competition, doing so well in it that they were invited to state.

Academic Decathlon Headed to State

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
March 2, 2021
Brenda Galvan gives a speech over zoom as a reporter for the Global Youth about steps one can take to combat hate.

Galvan Shows Path to Activism, Advocacy

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
February 26, 2021
Passive Activism Not Enough To Combat Individual's Biases

Passive Activism Not Enough To Combat Individual’s Biases

Ella Villar and Isabella Mahar
February 26, 2021
The winter musical, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder", was scheduled to be an outside production with masks and social distancing, but the latest weather and changes in restrictions caused the show to be postponed. The show was rescheduled during the first week of tech week right before opening day. The show was planned to be performed in the outside amphitheater including lights, sound, and a "pit orchestra"

[Photo] Theater Department Faces Multiple Setbacks From Pandemic

February 15, 2021
This image shows Wonder Woman in a promotion for the first film of the Wonder Woman franchise. In the second movie, the villain opposite of her falls into many stereotypes female villains are subject to today.

Female Villains Need the Same Depth As Male Counterparts

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
February 9, 2021
This image shows a happy baby in their crib. Kids, as well as parents, would do well by having a parent at home with them. Especially during the pandemic, where daycares and schools are closed, a parent home would help with their development.

Why Stay-At-Home Parents Should Be Paid

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
February 2, 2021
This image from San Francisco Pride shows many of those severely affected by the impact of the policies of the Trump Administration, such as queer people and BIPOC people.

Let People Celebrate this Election Because It was a Lot

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
November 21, 2020
English teacher and queer alliance advisor creates the LGBTQ+ care packages with several titles surrounding different aspects of queer experiences.

LGBTQ+ Book Care Package’s from the Queer Book Library

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
November 21, 2020
This graphic details the electoral college results from the 2016 election. The 2020 election is similar to the 2016 one in that neither times the results were clear by election night.

Election Day is Here and Everyone Needs to Relax

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
November 3, 2020
Its super easy to make your pronouns visible, to be an ally. Put your pronouns in your bio or include them when you introduce yourself.

Making Pronouns Visible is an Important Part of Allyship

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
September 24, 2020
For many students, they prepare for the SAT and ACT by using test prep books, such as this one, filled with tips and tricks on how to get a few extra points. However, lots can't afford them leaving them with less preparation than more affluent peers and one of the reasons why these students tend to do poorer on standardized tests.

Standardized Testing is Optional and That’s the Best Thing That Could Happen

Isabella Mahar, Opinion Editor
September 6, 2020
Over the course of the pandemic, thousands of small businesses have occurred damage due to less people going out. About 38.6 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the beginning of the pandemic.

Why Everyone Needs To Be Supporting Small Businesses

Isabella Mahar, Feature Editor
April 16, 2020
Chromebooks are helpful tools, which allow students to be able to complete distance learning much more easily. They were distributed over the course of two days; however, with heavy traffic on the first day it caused many problems such as long lines and not enough chromebooks.

Chromebook Distribution Faces Complications

Isabella Mahar, Feature Editor
April 16, 2020
For many students, these challenging times are bringing feelings of stress and sadness or increased anxiety and depression. However, there are many ways to help manage these difficult feelings through self-care.

COVID-19’s Negative Effect on Mental Health

Isabella Mahar, Feature Editor
April 1, 2020
The SJHHS Academic Decathlon team stands on the stage at the Orange County Academic Decathlon Awards Ceremony for winning First Place in their division during the Overall Team Awards section of the ceremony. In addition to this, the team also won 25 individual medals and fourth place in their division for Super Quiz.

Academic Decathlon Aces Division

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
March 2, 2020
The Hawaiian Band shows their dynamic lineup during the song “Leave It All To Me” from iCarly. Vivian Landa (11) sings, Jeremy Yu (11) plays his guitar, Ethan Chambers (11) shakes hands with security guard Sebastian Miletich as the band nears the finale of their performance.

Hawaiian Band; The Show’s Not Over

Eva Smedeby and Isabella Mahar
February 18, 2020
Dressember club members Corinne Hunnicut (12), Riley Goodfellow (12), Shayla Mauerman (12), Bella Mincer (12), and Ellie Rene (12) talk at a Dressember event to kick start the month. They wore dresses everyday in December to raise money and awareness for human trafficking. There was a dress swap and all participants had breakfast together. The club raised over $7,000 in 2019.

Dressember Club Raises Thousands for Victims of Human Trafficking

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
January 21, 2020
Holland Rollap (12) gazes up as she performs the lead in this years drama, She Kills Monsters. Her character, Agnes, is the sister to Tilly, played by Olivia Roselli (11). Tilly and her girlfriend Lillith, played by Holiday Jones (10), share a kiss onstage, one of the first cases of LGBTQ+ representation in the Stallion Theater Company’s history. The show discusses themes like personal journeys, discoverence, and acceptance towards others and whom they love.

She Kills Monsters Brings Needed LGBTQ+ Representation

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
November 11, 2019
Drama students, Olivia Roselli(11), Madeline Halliburton(12), Grant Halliburton(11) and Lily Shaw(11), practice their lines before callbacks for She Kills Monsters.

‘She Kills Monsters’ Play Incorporates Puppets

Rylan Weber and Isabella Mahar
September 10, 2019
California representative, Mike Levin, looks out to the crowd as he answers questions. Some questions were asked by teenagers since the town hall was meant for students in high school.

SOC4Change Holds Student-Led Town Hall with Representative Mike Levin

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
May 30, 2019
Sophomore, Brooke Scanlon competes in the limbo event for the sophomore class in Clash of the Classes Spirit Week on March 19 during break, as a crowd gathers to watch.

[Photo] Juniors Win Clash of Classes

Riley Goodfellow, Co Editor-In-Chief
March 26, 2019
Excess Water Causes Facilities Problems

Excess Water Causes Facilities Problems

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
March 14, 2019
Students, teachers, supporters, and pets all gathered in the Badlands on February 23rd to raise awareness for suicide.

Walk for Wellness Raises Awareness For Suicide Prevention

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
February 25, 2019
Sophomore Presley Nicholson performs as the protagonist Clarissa in Jo March's story. She is escaping the antagonist, Braxton, and takes a moment to sing about her struggle.

[Photo] Little Women Slideshow

Makayla Walders and Sandhya Ganesan
February 21, 2019
JD Flannel Donuts & Coffee, which opened on January 15, is full of fresh and delicious donuts, such as the Cinnamon Crumble donut, the February 12 special, and the Blueberry Lemon donut.

Donut Miss Out On JD Flannel Donuts & Coffee

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
February 18, 2019
Five Seniors signed their National Letters of Intent on February 6 during tutorial. Cade Albright will be playing Football at Brigham Young University, and his teammate Carson Lewis will also be playing Football at the University of San Diego. Angelica Gonzalez will be playing Softball at Iowa State University, and her teammate, Phoebe Popplewell will be playing Softball at Ottawa University. Joshua Rauterkus signs his Letter of Intent to play Baseball at Whittier College.

Athletes Sign Their National Letter of Intent

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
February 14, 2019
NO MORE JO-KING AROUND: Jo March, played by Lila Holley (12), is confronted with impending adulthood and being criticized for her immaturity by her Aunt March, played by Hanna Berkompas (12). The show itself centers around Jo and her quest for identity and her defiance of societal norms.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has the Right to Speak Her Mind

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has the Right to Speak Her Mind

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
January 17, 2019
Photo by Riley Goodfellow.

Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” Rocks The World

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
January 17, 2019
Jimmy Wale (11) conducts a presentation to the virtual enterprise class during second period on Thursday, November 29.

Virtual Enterprise Class Promotes New Investment Company

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
December 13, 2018
Ashlynn Matthews (11), poses with the prosthetic hand she 3D printed for amputees in third world countries.

Giving a Helping Hand

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
December 2, 2018
Freshman, Kaia Wolfe, plays on the SJHHS varsity tennis team and never lacks determination. She is a main factor as to why the team won league and she continues to impress as they advance to the second round of CIF.

[Photo] Kaia Wolfe Aces Freshman Year

November 12, 2018
Macey Leonard and Jade Hernandez, presidents of the Play 4 the Cure club, aim to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Their club meets in room E06 on the second Tuesday of every month.

Club Rush 2018 Exemplifies Student Diversity

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
October 25, 2018
The SJHHS varsity boys’ cross country begins the Orange County Championship in the cold rain. The team starts in a desperate sprint to take an early lead. With victory ahead, the boys are determined to win.

Cross Country Goes the Extra Mile

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
October 25, 2018
A representative from Vanderbilt University came to SJHHS last week to discuss admission, financial aid, and different programs.

Colleges From Across The Country Visit SJHHS

Isabella Mahar, Staff Writer
October 11, 2018
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