The story of San Juan as told by its students

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Sofia Bello

Sofia Bello, Photo and Managing Editor

Sofia is a junior at San Juan Hills High School and is returning for her third year here on The Express. She has a strong passion for reading, baking, and could listen to music all day. She loves the color pink, watching sunsets, and spending time with her best friend. She is also part of the National Honors Society and CSF. She cannot wait for another fun year being the Photo and Managing Editor with the rest of the Staff. 

All content by Sofia Bello
As the senior class wins Clash of the Classes for another year, Mrs. Magaña and Carson De Filipo (12) hold the trophy, commemorating the exciting win. Winning Clash of the Classes is an honor because it recognizes the classes school spirit and camaraderie.

[Photo] Stallion Roundup 3/25-4/12

Celeste Cariker, Claire Stafford
April 12, 2024
Winning Clash of The Classes Kennedy Canizales (12) and Makenna Reiter (12) are full of enthusiasm as they point to the champion cup that the seniors have won for another year.

Class of 2024 Wins the Clash

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
April 12, 2024
Graduating class of 2022 celebrate their victory at Clash of the Classes. Each grade level competed in a week of challenges to impress judges with their school spirit and gain the most points for their class.

[Photo] Prepping for Clash of the Classes: A Guide

Claire Stafford, Co-Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2024
CTE courses are a way for students to become engaged in their passions and desires for future careers. The College and Career center in the library offers lots of guidance for these pathways.

Building Careers In And After School

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
February 11, 2024
Ella, Lisa Gnielinski (12), and Prince Topher, William Meshkin (12), meet once again at the royal banquet and dance together. Prince Topher tells Ella about how he wants to truly help the people who have gotten their land taken away. They share a magical moment in love, right before Ella runs from the banquet at midnight, leaving one of her slippers at the palace.

Cinderella: Happily Ever After On Stage

Sofia Bello and Gabriella Bello
February 6, 2024
Teachers gather in the upper quad on Wednesday wearing red in support of the CUEA negotiations team. The teachers are seeking a share of the 8.22% cost of living adjustment (COLA) they must bargain for with the Capistrano Unified School District. CUEA stands for Capistrano Unified Education Association.

Stallion Roundup 1/15 -1/26

Sofia Bello and Celeste Cariker
January 26, 2024
Captivating the audience with her astonishing acrobatic routine, senior Spree Hazen dances to a solo entitled “Endangered Species.” Hazen danced on behalf of the SJHHS advanced program, and her dance was choreographed by Sasha Dee-Dayoan.

Dance Program Performs Fusion Show

Sofia Bello and Maureen Pike
December 1, 2023
Mrs. White, Viola Whittaker (11), and Wadsworth, Liam Herd (10), team up to search the ballroom for clues on the murders.

Clue: Murder Becomes the Game

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
November 11, 2023
Because of new funding provided by Prop 28, more students like Talyn Hardy (12) have an opportunity to take ceramics classes. After only starting ceramics this year, Hardy has already had many opportunities to express herself creatively. “I just like that you can make things that are tangible,” said Hardy.

Prop 28 Brings Art Funding

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
September 22, 2023
Walking out of the restroom, sophomore Ava De Filippo, holds anew bathroom pass. San Juan Hills introduced a new type of bathroom pass this school year and mixed reviews followed its arrival.

[Photo] Bathroom Passes Arrive to Mixed Emotions

Maureen Pike, News Editor
September 22, 2023
On the way to prom, the mock drunk driver, Gavin Blackwell (12) collides with another car causing a serious crash. Laying on the hood of the car, Taylor Doanes (11) lifeless body was covered with stage blood after being ejected through the passenger seat windshield.

Photo Gallery Remembering Every 15 Minutes

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
May 9, 2023
Clash-11

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Clash -10

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Clash - 8

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Clash -9

[Photo]

Senior Showcase is an annual dance performance, featuring only the seniors of the SJHHS dance program. Pictured, intermediate dancer Ella Winger performs a solo to the song “Paint it Black,” which she choreographed herself.

Seniors Showcase Their Dance Skills

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
March 7, 2023
Lisa Gnielinski (11) plays Gertrude the one-feather bird (center), she leads the cast of “Seussical” downstage as they all sing, “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think”. Nathaniel Chin (12) plays the Cat in the Hat (Left).

“Seussical” in Photos

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
February 5, 2023
The trio Seema Kulkarni (11), Julianna Paquette (10) and Viola Whittaker (10) decorate the materials for the stage.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Behind The Scenes of Tech Week

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
December 6, 2022
Onlookers watch as Marie Curie, portrayed by Allison Piwonka (11), discusses the benefits of the newly discovered element, radium in a press release. The radiation emitted by radium was not known to be dangerous at the time, and many believed that ingesting radium would benefit ones health.

Radium Girls: A Deadly Case

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
October 20, 2022
The San Juan Hills Marching Band, rests during football home game against Santa Margarita Catholic High School.

Marching Band Continues to Bring the Fun to Friday Night Lights

Sofia Bello, Photo Editor
October 19, 2022
The Homecoming hosts and ASB crew kick off the Pep Rally by testing each classs school spirit with the traditional Rollercoaster.

[Photo] Homecoming 2022 in Photos

Sydney Wolfe
October 2, 2022
SJHHS School Counselors visit 10th grade history classes to educate students on the importance of Suicide Prevention month.

Students and Teachers Come Together to Spread Awareness Regarding Suicide Prevention Month

Sofia Bello, Sydney Hogancamp, Avery Koenig, and Domenica Peloso
September 27, 2022
SJHHS boasts a clean campus with signature school colors: blue and gold.

Plans for Campus Improvements

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
April 24, 2022
The San Juan Hills Sinfonia Orchestra play for the Festival. Overall, Festival is not a competition, but an opportunity for each group to receive feedback on how they can improve in the future through judge feedback.

Instrumental Music’s Festival Explained

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
April 2, 2022
Nine Girls, a murder mystery involving nine sorority girls in their private cabin, first opened February 23 and ran until February 26, then showed again the following week from March 2 through March 5. The show followed Mary, a women who killed her ex-boyfriend’s fiancee by accident, and then later murdered her sorority sister and attempted to murder her best friend in the pursuit of not getting caught.

Nine Girls

Sofia Bello and Cooper Aitken
March 28, 2022
The opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing. Traditionally, the ceremony consists of a parade with all of the nations participating in the game and the lighting of the Olympic torch.

US Takes Home 25 Medals In Winter Olympics

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
March 13, 2022
Students work inside their classroom, all wearing their district-mandated masks. After March 11, these students will have the option to wear these masks in class. While the decision to keep wearing masks has been a source of stress for many, others will be very excited to take off their masks in classrooms for the first time in two years.

[Photo] Newsom Lifts Mask Mandate for K-12 Schools

March 13, 2022

Hold the Right People Accountable

Sofia Bello and Gabby Laurente
February 17, 2022
The team smiles for a photo after their victory against Yucaipa who was ranked #1 in the division at the time.

Girls Water Polo: CIF Final

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
February 8, 2022
The final day of spirit week meant that it had the biggest event, which ASB accomplished by hosting a “treat table” and giving out churros for every student who wrote a good deed they did, placing it on the Kindness wall. By the end of the day, the wall was covered in hundreds of post-its of all the kind acts of students. It was a great close to a day dedicated to kindness and acceptance.

[Photo] Winter Spirit Week in Photos

Alyssa Morrone, Entertainment Editor
February 3, 2022
Weston Port (9) hopes to keep up his hard work and love for the game, for many more years to come.

Freshman on Varsity Receives Five College Offers

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
November 7, 2021

Beach Officials, Declares Huntington Beach Oil Spill a State of Emergency

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
October 14, 2021

Kicking Off Club Rush for 2021-22

Sofia Bello and Alyssa Morrone
September 30, 2021
The High Tide Roller Derby team, with members Danielle Flint, Kaitlin Naccarato, Chelsea Skoien, and Thara Foster poses for a photo at one of their events.

Teachers on Campus Form the High Tide Roller Derby Team

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
September 30, 2021
2021 Teacher of the Year, Jaime Gonzales records her Back to School night message using Zoom. The presentations were virtual again this year because of Covid-19 concerns. In CUSD messages were recorded, while in other districts like Poway Unified live Zooms are planned.

SJHHS Hosts Virtual Back To School Night For A Second Year

Sofia Bello, Staff Writer
September 5, 2021
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