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The Student Newspaper of Oxford Academy

The Gamut

The Gamut

The Gamut

Jimena Beltran

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer

Jimena Beltran is approaching her senior year with a smile on her face and is ready to continue pursuing her passion in journalism as a second-year writer. Despite not having many connections within Gamut, Jimena decided to take a leap of faith and join after seeing GamSlam in action, as she has always had a strong love for poetry. She feels that although Senior year is daunting, she has made her schedule flexible enough to relax and cherish time with her friends. When she’s not working on a new issue for the Gamut, Jimena dabbles in songwriting and playing her ukulele, believing that music has impacted her life immensely. Although Jimena is focused on being a driven and studious Oxford student, she is a lovergirl at heart. Her favorite movies include Soul, Teen Beach Two, and Flipped. To further prove her interest in the romantic genre, her favorite book is The Rosie Project, which is about unexpectedly finding love. With her warm and welcoming energy, Jimena is always open to having a friendly conversation with her peers, contributing to the family-like environment she loves about Oxford Academy.

All content by Jimena Beltran
CELEBRATING TOGETHER: An Oxford family enjoys cultural foods from the posada.

OA’s posada lights up the holiday season

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer December 12, 2024

Celebrating a classic Mexican Christmas tradition, the OA family center hosted a posada on Dec. 5, inviting students, families, and staff to partake in the festivities in the MPR.  “Our school is very diverse and I think it's really important to showcase the various cultures we have here,” Family...

BLAST TO THE PAST: Season 5 of “Phineas and Ferb” will capture nostalgia in its older audience, though new viewers may not see the charm.

Phineas and Ferb revival might miss the mark

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer November 21, 2024

The beloved Disney cartoon “Phineas and Ferb” following the spontaneous lives of two brothers and their mysterious pet platypus will return to the TV screen for a new season in 2025, nearly a decade after its finale in 2015. However, with a completely new audience to consider and a roughly a 95%...

Kamala Harris catches Gen Z’s attention with social media trends

“Kamala HQ” sacrifices decorum for entertainment

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer October 29, 2024

With a new age comes a new form of marketing, and though candidates before Vice President Kamala Harris have made a prominent online presence for themselves, none pushed the boundaries like Harris, as she continues to toe the line between professionalism and mainstream appeal. A notable portion of the...

Newsom approves bill: With social media usage on the rise, preventing kids from forming addictions becomes high priority. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons)

Governor Newsom passes anti-social media bill

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer October 28, 2024

Governor Gavin Newson signed SB 976, the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, sponsored by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, on Sept. 20, created to shield children from the potentially addicting algorithms found in various social networking platforms.  Most social media algorithms...

CAMP OUT: The long line to pay for AP exams resembled the queue for a sold-out concert. Today was the last day to pay for the tests.

Students brave long lines to pay for AP exams

Audrey Lee and Jimena Beltran October 18, 2024

With the last day of Spirit Week coinciding with the deadline for AP payments, students made the front of Mr. Barnett’s office their new home. Not unlike camping out in front of a sold-out concert, a variety of traffic cones, rappers, and basketball stars clustered in front of the ASB technician's...

Disneyland Moves Backwards: Following alterations to the Disability Access Service pass on June 18, many users with disabilities are left without accommodations and given a subpar experience.

Disability Access Pass changes stifle Disney’s magic

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer September 26, 2024

Disney goers are left suffering from the now limited reach of the Disability Access Service (DAS) pass due to new policy changes since June 18. The pass once included mobility, mental, and physical impairments but now restricts the pass to certain developmental disabilities. Disneyland takes steps backward...

Striving for Success: Congressman Lou Correa shares words of wisdom with Oxford students during a promotional visit for the Young Congressional Leaders Program.

U.S. Rep. Lou Correa visits Oxford, promotes Young Congressional Leaders Program

Jimena Beltran and Celine Park September 19, 2024

United States Representative Jose Luis “Lou” Correa (D - CA46) conducted a meet and greet at Oxford Academy on Aug. 30, to promote his Young Congressional Leaders program and share his insights and advice with students. He spoke to an intimate audience of about 30 students in the MPR. Rep. Correa’s...

Illustrated by Vanessa Marin-Ixlan

Teaching world languages needs a new approach

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer May 7, 2024

Learning world languages should not be a one-time experience exclusive to high school students. Absorbing and truly becoming fluent in a language takes years of practice, and the American approach to teaching foreign languages in public education must be improved to meet this expectation.   When...

CEO discovers what could be Earhart’s lost aircraft

CEO discovers what could be Earhart’s lost aircraft

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer March 18, 2024

The appearance of Amelia Earhart’s lost plane from her attempted 1937 flight around the globe is suggested in newly released results from an expedition in Nov. 2023. Earhart’s sudden disappearance during her voyage, became one of the biggest mysteries in aviation history after she never arrived at...


Ready for a challenge: Junior Gabriel Chaparro goes for the shot as a Wildcat attempts to block him.

Patriots face off against Whitney at HOCO games

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer February 1, 2024

On Jan 12. Oxford’s JV and varsity athletes entered the court and field for the 2024 HOCO games, prepared to face off against Oxford’s rival school, Whitney. With a total of six games played by all levels of boys and girls basketball as well as varsity boys soccer, it was an eventful night with...

Artists abuse creative freedom with religion

Artists abuse creative freedom with religion

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer February 1, 2024

A dark trend has emerged in the music industry: Religion is deemed an “aesthetic” and has lost its spiritual foundation in return for offensive mockery. Artists following the trend are increasingly exploiting the concept of religion to build their own brand without considering the massive disrespect...

Unique schedules to follow for finals week

Unique schedules to follow for finals week

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer December 14, 2023

Finals week can seem like a soul-sucking, anxiety-inducing time for some, but by following a schedule that exemplifies strengths and fits your lifestyle, making it through to the holidays can be a breeze! Pomodoro Pursuivant  For those who love to plan every minute of their day, the popular Pomodoro...

Oxford Forestry Team members Lynn Jun, Marissa Lee, Adeline Vo, Stephanie Barajas, and Victoria Tran placed 2nd in the recent Forestry Challenge. The team worked in the San Bernardino National Forest to support Upper Big Bear Mountain Club in doing post-fire treatment assessment.

OA Forestry Team places second in San Bernardino

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer November 16, 2023

After months of preparation, Oxford’s Forestry Team participated in the first annual forestry challenge of the school year on Nov. 8th through the 11th in San Bernardino. A great milestone for the group, Oxford placed second in high schools overall. Throughout the four day event, students participated...

Freshman choir practicing "We Dance" in the choir room for the OA Singers' upcoming musical, "Once on This Island" (Photo by Victor Do)

Choir takes the stage with “Once On This Island”

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer October 30, 2023

 “Once on This Island'', Oxford’s third-ever complete musical performance, is coming to fruition on Nov. 3rd and 4th as a pleasant change of pace from the previous fragmented show format, which encompassed songs from a variety of musicals. Embracing the challenges, the OA singers are ready to bring...

Writers strike persists, demanding accountability

Writers strike persists, demanding accountability

Jimena Beltran, Senior Staff Writer September 28, 2023

Starting May 2nd, the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA), a labor union representing writers in film and media, went on strike to establish better wages, residuals, and job security for screenwriters. Writers are a pillar in the industry, but their pay has been depleting while streaming companies’ profits...

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Jimena Beltran