La Vista

By Kate Robak
Calender Editor

Due to measure BB construction and the reduction of spots for students in the district parking lot, student and staff parking has been reduced, and students are, in some cases, forced to walk blocks to find parking. Instead of further reducing spots for students to park in, the district and administration need to create more parking options for student drivers.

The new restriction limiting spots in the district parking lot will make parking for school even more limited at Costa. Before construction, students used part of the district office lot for parking. However, after construction began, students had to use more of the district lot. Finally, on Feb. 1, Costa administration in coordination with district staff, stopped allowing students to park in the majority of the district lot.

With these changes, students were forced to park on the streets, which comes with many regulations. Often times, this caused students to be tardy to class after searching for parking for excessive amounts of time.

The rule restricting student parking in the district lot can be seen as beneficial to the district staff, but it does create a bigger problem for students. Because there are so many more students than district staff, students should be allowed to share more of the lot with the district. Also, since the decrease in parking spaces has mostly affected students, they should be seen as a priority and should be given preference for available parking.

According to the MBUSD website, the district office has 42 employees. There are 86 spots in the lot. Clearly, students do have the space to park beyond what they are currently allowed, and more spaces in the district lot should be open to students.
While it may be difficult to make student parking more available without physically creating new spots, opening up more spots in the district lot or temporarily changing public parking rules would help ease the issue. These steps will help for the rest of the current school year, but further measures need to be taken.

This parking problem will not be solved in the short term. Until new parking lots are built specifically for students, this issue will persist. But Costa’s administration should still work to incentivize carpooling to lessen the total number of cars to solve the problem for the future. Incentives could include giving carpoolers preferred parking in the school lot. Additionally, parking passes for carpoolers could be given at a lower cost or given out before single driver permits. Not only would this be environmentally friendly, but it would also cut down on traffic around the school and reduce the number of parking spots actually needed by students, effectively addressing the issue.

The new restrictions on student parking in the district lot, while allowing staff their necessary parking spaces, are more harmful than they’ve been made out to be. Costa needs to address this issue.

By Kate Robak
Calendar Editor

Every year at Mira Costa, new teachers take positions and fill the campus with their fresh ideas and teaching styles to excite their students. This year, Costa welcomes a new French language teacher on campus, Robert Lettimore.

Before school was in session, a panel including the Foreign Language Department chairs, the vice principals, and Principal Dr. Ben Dale, selected Lettimore as the new French teacher.

“Mr. Lettimore was selected because he impressed us in the interview,” Dale said. “His command of the French language and culture made him stand out.”

This year will be Lettimore’s second year teaching. Prior to teaching at Mira Costa, Lettimore taught in Texas at Moise and Melina High School. Lettimore moved to California from Texas after his wife was relocated. Lettimore received his college degree in French at the University of Northern Texas.

“The school I used to be teaching at was like a jail,” Lettimore said. “There were four walls with a quad. Costa is in a much nicer neighborhood and a socially different experience. At Costa, students are focused on which Ivy League they are going to get into. At my old school they were focused on getting into college.”

Lettimore came to Mira Costa this year to replace Marie-France Sam, who left Costa to teach French at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Sam had a part-time teaching position at Mira Costa and was offered a full-time job in the growing French program at Peninsula High School.

“My students at Mira Costa were and are still special to me,” Sam said. “They are bright, kind and driven. Over the past four years, I have had a wonderful time in all of my classes. There was not a day when my students and I did not laugh and have fun.”

This year, Lettimore teaches three levels of French language, including AP French, French 5-6, and French 1-2.

“So far I have had a very good experience with my French students and a good start at Costa,” Lettimore said. “My students like to be challenged and want to learn more.”

According to students, Lettimore’s teaching style is engaging an innovative. He utilizes activities including dialogues and various speaking exercises.

“Mr. Lettimore really spices up the daily lessons with interesting dialogues and fun facts,” sophomore Sabrina Callender-Clewett said.

By Kate Robak
Staff Writer

Mira Costa’s People Attaining Complete Equality group held an optional assembly on Feb. 7 for Costa classes.

The assembly, called “What’s the Definition of You?,” focused on the teenage search for identity and place in the world.

“The assembly was about finding out who you are and accepting your true self,” PACE member senior Lauren LeBlanc said.

Chris Stretch, a former drug addict and current psychologist in training, spoke to the students about the pressure he put on himself to become successful and how his superficial desires prevented him from being content.

“I set this idea, if I get here, then I’ll be happy,” Stretch said.

Stretch encouraged students to make good academic and social choices in life by telling detailed personal stories.

“The assembly was really inspirational,” freshman Kelsey Chaykowski said. “It made me rethink my plans for the future and how I view myself.”

At the end of the assembly, students participated in a demonstration by standing behind two lines of tape on each side of the room. Then a list of statements was read, and students stepped forward for each statement that pertained to them.

“We wanted to make students aware of who they are and to accept themselves,” senior PACE member Sara Kimberly said.

PACE members hoped that the presentation helped students cope with the stress of high school and their lives in the future.

“This assembly will be a big help for students’ future,” PACE advisor Dr. Rocky Wilson said.