Mr. Shindler, Advisor
Mr. Shindler is the proud first-year Spotlight teacher and advisor. As an English teacher, he is always focusing on the fundamentals of proper writing, making sure to fulfill the promise he makes to all his students that he “will make them a better writer.” Mr. Shindler enjoys cooking, barbecuing and smoking various foods, along with other various outdoor activities, such as fishing, camping, hunting, and traveling. He is extremely adventurous, and loves to have new cultural experiences, living by the philosophy, “if other cultures do it, why not try it?”
Ella Fortine, Assistant Editor
Ella Fortine is a senior and a Spotlight Editor in her second year on the staff. She covers current political events, a passion of hers that has inspired her career aspirations. She also enjoys writing about new music and taking pop albums way too seriously. She is hoping to have a career in journalism, law, or both, should the stars align. Beyond Spotlight, Ella writes poetry, sings in a band, and competes on Mock Trial.
Lyle Weems, Assistant Editor
Lyle Weems, is a Senior and a second-year on Spotlight. As an editor in the club with a focus on world news and Riverside projects, she aspires to discuss topics that can improve the well-being of students and increase awareness on universal events and issues. Lyle is dedicated to the swim team and numerous clubs, and in her free time she can be found driving to thrifting spots. Lyle has interests in Art History and the Natural Sciences, but will ultimately go where the wind takes her.
Kathryn Burke, Assistant Editor
Kathryn Burke is a Senior on the Spotlight Staff serving as an Editor. This is Kathryn’s second year in the club, and has found much enjoyment in writing pieces revolving around Poly’s events. On campus she is an enthusiastic member of Link Crew, Video Crew, Red Cross, and Peer Educators. In her free time she likes to journal, play guitar, and take pictures with her friends. After high school she hopes to major in biochemistry to pursue a career in medicine.
Allurabella Chandler, Staff Writer
Allurabella Chandler is a Senior, excited for her third year in Poly’s Spotlight Staff as a Staff Writer. She enjoys partaking in her many extracurricular activities inside and outside of school, such as running hurdles and doing high jump in track and field, singing with Poly’s choir, Chamber Singers, and working with her teammates in Mock Trial. She is very passionate about sports and is hoping to showcase that through her writing in this upcoming year. She is hoping to major in Psychology and continue pursuing Track and Field in college.
Simranpreet Kaur, Staff Writer
Simranpreet Kaur is a Senior in her third year of Poly Spotlight. She writes opinion pieces and informational articles about current events on campus and our community. She enjoys posting submissions of written and video articles. She looks forward to attending school events and providing insight on the happenings of Poly. Simran enjoys watching video essays, reading books, and going to the movies with friends. Her future goals are to enjoy Senior year and make the most of her remaining time, whether that be thriving academically or showing her support at events.
Jacob Flores, Staff Writer
Jacob Flores is a Junior, participating in his second year of The Spotlight staff. Jacob is very excited to work on a variety of articles, including music, movies, and school events. In his free time he loves to listen to music, watch movies, and play Fortnite non-stop. After high school Jacob would like to focus on getting a degree in engineering, and pursue a job in Walt Disney Imagineering.
Melissa Nunez, Staff Writer
Melissa Nunez Martinez is a Junior, joining her first year on the Poly Spotlight as a Staff Writer. As a Staffer, Melissa hopes to engage more with the student body to produce student focused media. She intends on voicing more student opinion with Spotlight. With her free time Melissa enjoys tending to her garden and spending time with the people close to her. Melissa loves science, so after high school she plans on attending a four year university and studying biochemistry or agricultural business.
Quinlan Gunty, Staff Writer
Quinlan Gunty is a Senior joining her first year of Spotlight as a staff member. She’s looking forward to writing about local community-building events, creative topics, and photography. She believes artistic expression is a crucial part of building Riverside’s community, striving to highlight it in future articles. In general, she takes an interest in art, music, and history. She strives to apply these interests into her future career. Creating art has always been a part of her life and finds it important to continue pursuing it into adulthood.
Anabelle McKay, Staff Writer
Anabelle McKay is a Junior beginning her first year at Poly and on The Spotlight staff. She hopes to write both opinion and reporting pieces on politics and pop culture. Anabelle enjoys cooking, baking, and playing the cello, as well as being an avid reader of every genre from biographies to fantasy. She wants to earn a degree in journalism or psychology and hopes to someday live in a city on the Eastern Seaboard.
Nate Firetag, Staff Writer
Nate Firetag, a Junior, is excited for his first year on the Spotlight team. He will work as a Staff Writer and hopes to write social commentary on global issues. Beyond Spotlight, Nate enjoys writing screenplays. He has written three full-length scripts and would like to get them published one day. He is also a passionate member of Poly’s Mock Trial team. He participates in Amnesty International and Political Debate club. In the future, Nate would like to receive his PhD in history and become a professor, archivist, or curator.
Catherine Pope, Staff Writer
Catherine Pope, a Junior, is joining her first year on Spotlight as a Staff Writer. Her hobbies include reading, baking, and traveling. Her preferred books to read are fantasy and dystopian, especially on a rainy day. Her favorite places to travel are ones where she can spend time exploring nature. After high school, Catherine plans to go into pre-med and major in chemistry or neuroscience before going to medical school and becoming an anesthesiologist.
Gabrio Miranda, Staff Writer
Gabrio F. Miranda is a first year in the Spotlight Staff. He is a senior, recently transferred from Ramona High School. He loves politics (geopolitics, specifically) and pop culture, so expect to see pop-ups from him in those categories. In the future he wants to be a graphic designer first, and a writer second (he still loves both). His hobbies range from digital art, miniature painting (Warhammer), and video games. His dream college is CBU (lance up!).
Arturo Alba, Staff Writer
Arturo Alba is a Junior, joining his first year on the Poly Spotlight staff as a Staff Writer. Arturo loves to write community and club articles, interviewing people on what is happening in the community, and what clubs are being engaged in. In his free time, he loves to play video games, watch movies, and binge anime. After high school, he would love to pursue a major in Computer Science and a career in video game design, and hopefully help make a future SEGA game.
Sialea Martinez, Staff Writer
Sialea Martinez is a Junior joining The Spotlight staff for her first year. Although new to journalism, she is excited to write diverse articles on all topics throughout the school year. On campus, Sialea is currently participating in her second year of Mock Trial and remains an active member of various student clubs. Outside of school, she enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, and thrifting for unique clothes. In the future, she hopes to apply her journalism skills to pursue a career in either law or science.
Alayna Arias, Staff Writer
Alayna Arias is a Senior and one of the new students joining The Spotlight staff. She is one of the many of the Staff Writers. Alayna enjoys writing about conspiracy theories, music, fashion history, and community events. Alayna spends her free time listening to music, playing with her dog and making crafts. She looks forward to talking to the community and making relationships with everyone she meets. After high school she would like to travel the world and try to make a difference.
Zander Hix, Staff Writer
Zander Hix is joining the Spotlight staff his Senior year. Interested in both domestic and international politics as co-president of the Political Debate club, Zander likes writing political pieces aimed at covering topics not typically touched on by the national media. If he’s not discussing the political and economic state of the world, Zander is probably drinking coffee, hanging out with friends, or watching reality television. Zander hopes to major in International Relations and Statistics at a nearby school.
Lyra Stoyas, Staff Writer
Lyra Stoyas is a junior going into her first year on the Poly Spotlight staff as a writer.
She enjoys working on opinion pieces and news articles featuring current events. In her free time she likes to read and spend time outside: going hiking, camping, and spending time on the lake paddleboarding. After high school she wants to fly out to Scotland to attend the University of Edinburgh for a career in wildlife conservati
Haley Garrett, Staff Writer
Haley Garrett is a sophomore, joining the Spotlight staff this year as a writer. She finds interest in writing about sports and all other fun things. She is an active Poly athlete playing golf, water polo, and swim. In her spare time she enjoys sitting down and reading. After high school, she would like to go to a four-year college, pursuing a job as a teacher in science or math.
Camilla Torres, Staff Writer
Camilla Torres is a sophomore joining the Poly Spotlight for her first year on staff. With a love for news and opinion writing, she’s especially drawn to stories about political issues and natural disasters. Camilla can be found reading classic novels, cruising on her bike, or watching her favorite rom-coms — 27 Dresses and The Wedding Planner. Looking ahead, she hopes to earn a PhD in engineering and one day landing her dream job as an aerospace engineer at NASA.
Rowen Sullivan, Staff Writer
Rowen Sullivan is a Junior, entering her first year on the Spotlight staff. As a multiple sport athlete, Rowen loves to cover various sports, like Water Polo and Basketball. She hopes to bring a nuanced perspective to political pieces by examining and addressing the pros and cons of any argument. After swim and Mock Trial practice, Rowen spends her time enjoying any and all types of art: reading books, playing piano, watching movies, art museums, baking, and music. Rowen is planning to major in psychology, where she hopes to eventually run a private practice.
Genevieve Rios-Zamora, Staff Writer
Genevieve Rios-Zamora is a senior in her first year as a Poly Spotlight staff member. She prefers to write a balance between exciting pop culture moments and controversial social and political issues. Outside of the staff, Genevieve is part of Poly’s show choir. In her free time, she enjoys baking, drawing, writing, and has taken a recent interest in sewing. Some of her other interests include j-fashion, history, anime, and horror. After graduation, Genevieve hopes to attend the University of Manchester to study either philosophy or politics.
Zoey Jackson, Staff Writer
Zoey Jackson is a first year staff writer, and a junior. Though she doesn’t have much experience with newspapers, she loves to write controversial and informative essays. She loves spring, dogs, and hanging out with her friends. At school, she is in various community service clubs and an AP student. She is very excited to start her first year to get all the new scoop! After high school she is planning on going to San Diego to major in Biology to hopefully become a wildlife biologist.
Josephine Grey, Staff Writer
Josephine is a senior going into her first year with the Spotlight Team. As a staffer, she enjoys writing about student lifestyle and engagement, keeping up with what’s happening around campus. She spends her free time sewing, volunteering, and hopefully catching up on all the homework she procrastinates on. Jo hopes to major in Psychology, first attending community college before transferring to a four-year university. Eventually, she hopes to become a clinical psychologist.