• 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
Max Katz

Max Katz, Staff Writer

Max is a senior at San Juan Hills, starting his second year writing for The Express. This year he is ready to serve as the political editor. Outside of newspaper Max enjoys mountain biking, playing guitar and is looking forward to studying economics in college. He also is co-president of debate club here at San Juan Hills and is the captain of the Cross Country and Track teams. Contrary to popular belief Max is not a communist.

All content by Max Katz
In the final week of April the United States Census Bureau finally released congressional configuration numbers. The map above shows which states gained and lost seats in the House of Representatives. It is apparent from the map that the southern and western United States are gaining population while the midwest and northeast are both losing population.

Congressional Realignment Released For Next Decade, California Down a Seat

Max Katz, Politics Editor
May 3, 2021
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series was definitely favored top heavy. There was a clear decline in quality after the first 5-6 books. Graphic by Max Katz.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Tier List

Max Katz, Politics Editor
April 19, 2021

E-Bike Experiences are Important

Max Katz, Politics Editor
March 29, 2021
On Tuesday March 9th Katrina Foley became the first Democratic woman elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She will represent supervisorial district two, which inclues coastal cities of northern Orange County such as Hunnington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and parts of Santa Ana.

Katrina Foley Wins OC Supervisor Special Election

Max Katz, Politics Editor
March 15, 2021
FBI agents raided the home of Russel Taylor early in the morning of January 27th following Taylor’s involvement in protests outside the Capitol during the January 6th riots. Pictured below FBI agents confiscate technology equipment from Taylor’s home and load it into a vehicle.

Homes in the Community Raided for Suspected Capitol Involvement

Sandhya Ganesan and Max Katz
February 15, 2021
Thousands of protestors across the state of California attended “Curfew Breakers” rallies in response to the 10 pm curfew announced by Governor Gavin Newsom. Protestors at this event near the San Clemente burned masks, signaling not only a frustration with public health regulations, but also a denial of the seriousness of the worsening pandemic.

Masks Up in Flames

Max Katz, Politics Editor
January 19, 2021

Mountain Biking Should Be a CIF Sport

Max Katz, Politics Editor
January 18, 2021
Thousands of protestors across the state of California attended “Curfew Breakers” rallies in response to the 10 pm curfew announced by Governor Gavin Newsom. Protestors at this event near the San Clemente burned masks, signaling not only a frustration with public health regulations, but also a denial of the seriousness of the worsening pandemic.

Masks Up in Flames

Max Katz, Politics Editor
December 14, 2020

[Video] Digesting The Roughrider Meal

Max Katz, Politics Editor
December 1, 2020

Democrats Have Every Right to Pack the Courts

Max Katz, Politics Editor
November 3, 2020
Pamela Braunstein poses with her campaign sign at a campaign event in Ladera Ranch this past weekend. She is running to represent Trustee Area Two on the CUSD Board of Trustees, which includes Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Las Flores, and parts of San Juan Capistrano. The seat is currently held by Trustee president, Jim Reardon, but Braunstein is hopeful that she can win.

Pamela Braunstein Hopes to Bring A New Voice to School Board

Max Katz, Politics Editor
October 19, 2020
Bright colors dominate social media feeds with their own political implications. Even specific fonts used on Instagram posts are charged with partisan energy, turning the internet into a divided political warzone.

Liberal Privilege: An Indirect Attack on the First Amendment

Max Katz, Politics Editor
September 20, 2020
This year’s Democrat and Republican nominating conventions took on a mostly virtual platform, including speeches delivered from all over the country. Overall network viewership of both 2020 national conventions dropped 28% from 2016, though this does not take into account online streaming, which has grown in popularity over the past 4 years.

2020 Nominating Conventions Display a Partisan Divide

Max Katz and Jaden Hiraga
August 31, 2020
Comfortable Sleep and Home, a furniture store, informs their customers that they are a nonessential business and therefore will be temporarily closed. Across Ladera Ranch and San Juan Hills, businesses complied with governor Gavin Newsom's order and closed their stores for the time being.

Government Stimulus Package Has Underwhelming Effect During Desperate Times

Max Katz, Staff Writer
April 17, 2020
Joe Scgounztos (12) recieves the baton from Hayden Parker (10) to run his leg of the 4x1600 meter relay at the Griffin Relays Invatational. Despite track season being cut short this year, Joe was able to have his biggest accomplishment this past January at the Irvine Half Marathon.

Joe Scgounztos Sets Half-Marathon Record Before High School Running Career Ends

Max Katz, Staff Writer
March 16, 2020
Trump's 52 Guardian Angels

Trump’s 52 Guardian Angels

Max Katz, Staff Writer
February 28, 2020
During dance production’s performance, advanced dancer, senior Jordyn Apostolache (12) dances with Max Miller (12). Every year at the Winter Pep Rally, dancers pick a partner to dance with for a song, even though he may not be involved in dance.

Grammy Winter Formal Pep Rally Photos

Max Katz, Staff Writer
January 29, 2020
Those born in the years 1995 through 2010, known as Generation Z, have taken on their financial futures with a new mindset than previous generations. Influenced by the internet and the intense connectivity of the modern day, financial success has a new meaning to Generation Z.

In the Digital Age, Generation Z Changes The Economy For The Better

Max Katz, Staff Writer
January 18, 2020
This chart demonstrates how Capistrano Unified School District has had the lowest tax levy for school facilities improvements bonds through 2018. CUSD officials believe this trend can be turned around with the help of the new facilities improvement bonds that will be up for vote in the California primary elections in March

Facilities Improvement Bond Measures Approved for March 2020 Primary Ballot

Max Katz, Staff Writer
December 13, 2019

Schoolloop is Essential to Student Success

Max Katz, Staff Writer
November 3, 2019
Kayden Kadri (11) and Sohum Joshi (11), presidents, of the Indian Appreciation Club, pose with their poster promoting the Indian Appreciation Club’s first meeting. The club was created just this year in hopes to appreciate Indian culture.

Indian Appreciation Club Attracts Many Students

Max Katz, Staff Writer
November 3, 2019
Taylor Hilton (11) and Isabelle Cota (10) hold their pumpkin after dropping it from the top of the upper quad for their physics class. “It’s a project where we try to protect a pumpkin from cracking by dropping it off a roof in a structure made from almost everything-- except packing peanuts,” said Cota. Hilton and Cota had been working on their projects for a couple of weeks.

[Photo] Stallion Life October 30

Ella Villar, Managing Editor
October 30, 2019
Representatives from many colleges set up booths at Capistrano Valley High School on October 7th, providing information on classes, programs, and admissions to students. College fairs can often be a valuable way for students to make early contact with colleges that they wish to attend and prove their interest to that college.

[Photo] Stallion Life October 18

Eva Smedeby, Staff Writer
October 18, 2019
Representatives from many colleges set up booths at Capistrano Valley High School on October 7th, providing information on classes, programs, and admissions to students. College fairs can often be a valuable way for students to make early contact with colleges that they wish to attend and prove their interest to that college.

Nicole Hernandez (12) can be described as musically diverse. She plays the guitar, piano, ukulele, and sings in the choir. Even more exceptionally, Hernandez has helped produce an extended play record. She produced two of the six songs on her the EP, using her keyboard to add unique and interesting sounds to her music.

[Photo] Nicole Hernandez

October 20, 2019
Thai Nguyen (10) has worked with Nicole Hernandez to produce her EP. The commercial music class that offered on campus has allowed Nugyen to meet and connect with many other musicians like Hernandez. Inspired by artists such as Billie Eilish and Alicia Keys, Nguyen hopes to work in the music industry after high school and feels she has been given a great start from the music program on campus.

[Photo] Thai Nguyen

October 20, 2019
Jeremey Mitaux (11) is involved with music in many different ways as a guitarist, drummer, and most notably, a bassist for the band “White Collar”. He also writes music and lyrics to his own songs as an individual and has expressed interest in continuing his musical production after high school.

[Photo] Jeremey Mitaux

October 20, 2019
Sam Cowan (12) works as a musician by filling in for bands that need an extra instrument playing guitar, drums, or even keyboard. Cowan has described music as his passion and a career that seems natural to him. He has already created original music and hopes that it will be released sometime in the near future.

[Photo] Talented Students Explore the Music Industry

October 20, 2019
SAT prep books claim to improve test scores, but the reality of improvement of scores relies on the money people invest in SAT classes and tutors. These are just a few of the many books that students use to prepare for the SAT and other standardized tests.

Standardized Tests Hurt Low Income Applicants

Max Katz, Staff Writer
October 6, 2019
With the incoming class of 2023, SJHHS expands in size. Class sizes and hallways become more crowded as we all make room for new students.

Class of 2023 is Largest in School History

Max Katz, Staff Writer
September 11, 2019
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