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Student Council Opens Its Doors
At student council meetings, attendees are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts on school issues and propose initiatives for change. Before this year, attendance was limited to selected representatives, chosen by teachers or from extracurricular classes like Speech and Debate. Now, any student can participate by...
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Cracks in the Walls
In an effort to bring students closer together, the school planned day-long workshops designed to strengthen the community from Sept. 3 to through 5 called Breaking Down...
Recent Articles
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BARTggu Controversy
By Lauren Law Nov. 12, 2025 A crisp white and blue circular emblem marks the iconic logo of the Bay Area as it flashes before commuters’ eyes on the side of a sleek, silver train speeding through San Francisco. The bold letters spell out the acronym of Bay Area Rapid Transit: BART. Yet trains are not the only location where this logo can be spotted—recently, the logo has also been seen on canvas tote bags, baseball caps and water bottles displayed behind the gla
Nov 123 min read
Caught Red-Handed
To improve safety on the roads, San José is installing new red-light cameras at selected intersections that have been labeled as the most dangerous. Titled Vision Zero, this initiative...
Nov 43 min read
Philz Coffee’s Bittersweet Sale
On the corner of 24th and Folsom Streets of San Francisco during the 1970s, one man started a tiny supermarket selling the nation’s cheapest milk and beer...
Sep 233 min read
VTA Strike
On March 10, hundreds of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employees walked off the job, launching a 17-day strike that deeply impacted the region’s public transit system.
May 243 min read
Frosted San Fransisco Fun
The sweet scent of sugar floats over San Francisco’s grassy hills where over 1,000 people have gathered, wielding cakes of every shape and size. As the hours pass, the slices disappear one by one until all that is left are crumbs and memories. This is not an average bake sale.
May 223 min read
Cracks in the Walls
By Ariel Lee Nov. 12, 2025 Eleanor Wang Art In an effort to bring students closer together, the school planned day-long workshops designed to strengthen the community from Sept. 3 through 5, called Breaking Down the Walls. However, despite its positive goals, low participation levels and scheduling challenges ultimately led to the program’s cancellation. Breaking Down the Walls is a school-based initiative run by Ignite2Unite that focuses on building empathy, un
Nov 124 min read
The Price of the Party
By Amie Ahn Nov. 12, 2025 Eleanor Wang Art Beneath illuminated jellyfish decor glowing in dreamy hues of blue and green, students stream into the cafeteria, greeted by pounding music and excited cheers. Outside, cameras flash as friends crowd together and pose at photobooths, while others sip on Mermaid Fizz drinks and bite into Krabby Patty sliders. This scene brings to life a Homecoming under the sea—but of course, with a price. Homecoming, a classic high scho
Nov 123 min read
Virgin
With this volume marking my third year writing for the music column, I was faced with a decision: continue reviewing music or...
Sep 252 min read
Hooked on the Feed
By Ariel Lee Sept. 24, 2025 In recent years, a new “disease” has been spreading across the internet: brainrot. Its...
Sep 252 min read
Alterations to AP Testing Accommodations
Each May, hundreds of students line up in front of classrooms, cafeterias and gymnasiums to take the exams they have been preparing for the entire school year...
Sep 233 min read
Campus Goes Phone-Free
The Phone-Free School Act, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 23, 2024 required all school districts, charters and county offices of education to implement some policy that limits or prohibits smartphone usage during the school day by July 1, 2026. SJUSD decided to enact a complete prohibition in and out of the classroom for the 2025-2026 school year; phones must be kept off and...
Nov 125 min read
TAs in the Classroom
By Sarah Perez Sept. 24, 2025 In a quiet corner of the classroom, a diligent student performs a series of tasks,...
Sep 253 min read
New TA Policy
By Srihita Madiraju Sept. 24, 2025 Catherine Nguyen Art In previous years, upperclassmen had the opportunity to become a teacher's assistant (TA). Selected by their teachers during course selection, TAs provide teachers with various forms of assistance depending on their unique teaching styles, with tasks ranging from collecting homework to reviewing classwork submissions. This year, the school adjusted its TA policies to better align with state education code, disrup
Sep 253 min read
Assassinating senior safety
Stalking high schoolers and blocking incoming traffic are typically not activities one would deem school-appropriate. Given this, it was no surprise that this year’s senior assassin game sparked administrative intervention...
May 213 min read
Student Driving Safety
By Andrew Duval April 3, 2025 Whether on the roads or in the parking lots, students regularly face a variety of driving-related...
Apr 143 min read
Student Council Opens Its Doors
At student council meetings, attendees are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts on school issues and propose initiatives for change. Before this year, attendance was limited to selected representatives, chosen by teachers or from extracurricular organizations such as Speech and Debate. Now...
Nov 123 min read
Colorful expressions of Charger creativity
Saturated with color and bursting with motion, Freshman Bayleigh Toth’s edits—10 to 20 second clips of characters synchronized to music—have enthralled almost 30,000 followers. What began as a personal hobby has become a success for Toth. Her most viral video...
Nov 123 min read
New Staff Members
By Dylan Xie Sept. 24, 2025 Frida Castro-Lavenant, Social Studies Department Entering her first official year as a teacher, this has been a dream come-true moment for Castro-Lavenant. Prior to this position, she was a student teacher at Fremont High School and a substitute at Leland for a year and a half. Castro-Lavenant had already familiarized herself with the faculty during the previous summers. As an instructional assistant, she collaborated with Trevor H
Sep 252 min read
Gutierrez Teacher Feature
On the first day of each school year, Roberto Gutierrez, Foreign Language Department, introduces himself with the fun fact that he held the Olympic torch at 13 years old. While at first it may seem like this event is at most a slice of trivia, in truth, it represents a common theme throughout his life: seeking inspiration from the best of the best to improve himself.
Apr 102 min read
Jaw Club's impact in Cambodia
While many students spent their ski break relaxing at home, members of the Journey Around the World (JAW) club traded their typical routines for an immersive teaching experience in Cambodia.
Apr 103 min read
Military Marred By Politics
By Ayush Deshpande Nov. 12, 2025 Nakshatra Arun Art On Sept. 30, over 800 generals and admirals, constituting the most important of America's military leadership, left their posts from around the world to gather in an auditorium at Marine Base Quantico. However, the speech that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave was far from the crucial address the officers had flown thousands of miles to hear. Masquerading as a call to defend the nation, Hegseth furthered hi
Nov 123 min read
Academic Appeasement Undermines Freedom
By Winston Chu Nov. 12, 2025 Leona Hung Art Halfway through a university lecture at Texas A&M, a student silently takes out her phone. As the professor projects a gender unicorn graphic to discuss gender identity, expression and sexuality, the student makes her move—pressing record, she exclaims, “I am not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching, because according to our president, there are only two genders.” After a brief back-and-forth, the professor asks
Nov 123 min read
Success or Sanity
By Srihita Madiraju Nov. 12, 2025 Kira Yoshioka-Gutierrez Art The clock reads two-thirty in the morning. A half finished practice test, an unopened Quizlet and an unrevised essay glare through the computer screen beside drained energy drink cans. The following week, just like any other, brings multiple AP assessments, project due dates, college application deadlines, extracurricular commitments and sports practices while running on excess amounts of caffeine and a
Nov 124 min read
Revolution Z
By James Yu Nov. 12, 2025 Emma Wang Art Fire doesn’t discriminate. It ravages everything in its path: good or bad; rich or poor. It’s fitting then that for better or worse—and I’d say worse—revolutionaries in Nepal have employed fire’s wrath as a weapon against the country’s deeply embedded inequality. On Sept. 8th, protests led by the youth in Nepal, which for decades has been dominated by the same three corrupt political parties, toppled the political establi
Nov 123 min read
Spilling the Tea or My ID?
First dates can trigger a landslide of emotions, from nervousness to hope to the itching fear that...
Sep 243 min read
Ws in the Chat
The school alarm blares at the University of Akron in Ohio, signaling the start of the day. Hundreds of students rise from their slumber to prepare for class, but they do not pack their backpacks with traditional supplies such as pencils or textbooks; instead, they fill their backpacks with...
Nov 123 min read
"Happy Gilmore 2”
As an avid fan of Adam Sandler and an occasional golf player, on the day “Happy Gilmore 2” came out on Netflix, I sat down before my TV with legs kicked back...
Sep 282 min read
From Pick-Me to Poser
Matcha lattes in reusable jars; a copy of “Pride and Prejudice” he has never actually finished, wire headphones for the “sound quality”...
Sep 233 min read
Catastrophic Chats With Chatbots
The user’s screen lights up with a flood of messages being sent back and forth in succession. First come the casual questions...
Sep 233 min read
Blastin’ Senior Assassin
By Chelsea Lu & Niru Shivakumar May 21, 2025 Before receiving diplomas and throwing caps into the air, seniors are...
May 232 min read
Japan’s “Iron Lady”
On Oct. 4, Japan’s dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chose hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its new leader. Backed by the ruling coalition, she was set to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a parliamentary vote on Oct. 15. Takaichi was elected as Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21 in a historic yet divisive victory. Takaichi’s political journey began...
Nov 123 min read
From Goodall to Global Hope
Within the steep mountainous ranges and lush tropical forests of Gombe, Tanzania, a woman with her binoculars, sketchbook and compass sits quietly in observation on a log against layers of fallen leaves and twigs. In front of young Jane Goodall...
Nov 124 min read
Plastic Pollution Persists Post Geneva
By Melvin Najarian Sept. 24, 2025 As more and more microplastics make up our food, bloodstream and brain, plastic...
Sep 253 min read
Serbia Protests
By Isabella Zhu Sept. 24, 2025 What began as a peaceful march devolved into disorder as...
Sep 253 min read
The astonishing antmen
The operation was supposed to be flawless. Located in Kenya, four men of varying nationalities, ready with their expensive cargo to go through airport security, ready to smuggle across the border. Once they boarded their plane, they would be gone.
May 213 min read
AI CRISPRfication of Genes
The era of lengthy, trial-and-error laboratory work in gene editing is ending. Researchers are forging a transformative partnership between artificial intelligence (AI) and CRISPR-Cas9, accelerating the speed and precision with which scientists can modify DNA. This alliance promises to...
Nov 124 min read
Dangers…out-of-this-world
By James Tong Sept. 24, 2025 The stars glimmer in the night sky above a crackling campfire in the forest. Above...
Sep 253 min read
ST: To H-1B, or not to H-1B
By Michael Im Feb. 12, 2025 Immigration, whether it be legal or illegal, has been a major point of polarization in American...
Feb 144 min read
Fading Like The Dead: Ghost Forests
By Ariel Lee and Shiny Xu Dec. 11, 2024 A haunting graveyard of leafless trees and bare trunks protrude from the earth of...
Dec 11, 20242 min read
Born Twice: The Future of Ferrets
By Amie Anh Dec. 11, 2024 A small, fuzzy wide-eyed gray creature with a twitching nose—a cloned black-footed ferret named...
Dec 11, 20242 min read
Streameast Shutdown
It is the World Cup Final—every four years, billions across the world tune in to watch a nation be crowned the world’s best. Even those without streaming subscriptions are able to tune in on the game through free but illegal websites, notably Streameast. However, due to the sting operation in Egypt...
Nov 123 min read
Surf’s Up in Maui
With its pristine waters, Maui is a haven for surfers chasing the perfect wave. Now, the island’s infamous coastline will serve as a center stage as Hawaii prepares to make surfing history. Hawaii plans to host the first Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) surfing championship at Ho‘okipa Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore on May 1-2, 2026. The championship will feature...
Nov 123 min read
Chinese Robolympics
By Ayush Deshpande and Srihita Madiraju Sept. 24, 2025 Beijing’s Ice Arena erupted with cheers from the crowd, the audience...
Sep 253 min read
PE Policy Pivot
Students wipe the sweat off their face, sunburned and wishing for the class to be over. For hundreds of student athletes across the district, this scene was a distant past. Previously, students had the option to complete two seasons of school sports to earn five physical education..
Sep 253 min read
Chargers Charge Home with CCS Championship Title
ByTeresa Sun Feb. 12, 2025 With the game tied late into the fourth quarter, the crowds were tense as the two teams huddled and...
Feb 144 min read
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