Read about reflections and tips for the upcoming school year.
PAGE 3
FEATURES
Students and teachers share their travels from the summer break.
PAGE 6-7
Henry M. Gunn High School
THEOraclE
New administration, food services building slated to open in January
With interior wall finishes, ducts, ceilings, lighting, exterior stucco, glazing, and landscaping installations progressing during the summer, phase one of Gunn’s construction project is projected to be completed in January, with the A- and B-buildings fully in use. The construction crew will move towards the final stages that include department approvals. Starting in January 2025 and finishing in fall 2025, phase two — which is to convert the culinary classrooms in the K-building into two Science Labs — will start after the full completion of phase one and finish in fall 2025. This construction plan that began in the fall of 2022 included a major modernization of the administration office, cafeteria and exterior and interior dining halls. The A-building will house administration facilities, a nurse’s office, a multi-purpose room for teacher meetings and additional eating areas. The B-building will feature a Design Studio and classrooms and a kitchen for Culinary Arts.
With the new administration office’s “courtyard-like entrance”, Senior Construction Manager Mohammed Sedqi explains that its
location was most suitable for parents’ and visitors’ way finding and staffs’ supervision.
“The best architecture is when you don’t need a sign saying ‘admin is there’. You want to just arrive at the parking lot and clearly know where it is,” he said. “The entrance is facing the parking lot, so it’s this new face to the school entrance that helps promote the sense of place at the school.”
The renovation work includes adding 8,000 square feet to the existing 12,000 square feet of building. During the process, the crew tackled challenges with remodeling an existing building, such as the absence of utilities lines underground and older, incorrect spokes. Sedqi also said that potential setbacks in regulatory food space checkpoints will not be a major problem, ensuring a timely debut.
PAUSD Facilities & Construction Director Eric Holm describes that many tasks, including installations of electrical wiring, landscaping and planters, were allocated to start between the end of school and start of summer school to prevent disruption during the school year. The construction team planned to repave the streets and repaint the main exit when summer school ended on July 19.
“We try to have the least amount of
disturbance to students, so we use the summer to work outside of the fences of the building construction site,” he said. “So to connect the entire power of the buildings, we had to shut down the entire campus for three days.”
“We try to have the least amount of disturbance to students, so we use the summer to work outside of the fences of the building construction site.”
PAUSD Facilities & Construction Director Eric Holm
Sedqi expresses a similar sentiment.
“Because of the first winter storm that hit us hard, we had a challenging period with a mud pit in construction for months,” he said.
“Otherwise, summer is when we make a lot of progress without things that hit a delay like interrupting school activity.”
Construction update—p.2
School namesake Henry M. Gunn left lasting impact on Bay Area education
Brian Xiao Oracle Alumni
Many of Palo Alto’s well-known landmarks and locations bear recognizable names. Hoover Tower, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, and Hewlett-Packard Garage ring a bell for most. Gunn High School’s namesake, however, is perhaps less well-known. Henry Martin Gunn was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 7, 1898, and moved to Oregon at the
age of 12. He attended the University of Oregon and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there, serving in the Navy during World War I in the midst of his studies. He then attended graduate school at Stanford, completing a master’s degree in education before moving back to Oregon to become a principal in the Portland school system. While taking nighttime university courses there, he met his wife Thelma Eiler, an art teacher at the time. As his reputation grew, Gunn moved into
the superintendent position for the Eugene School District and then transitioned to the university level, teaching education at the University of Southern California before becoming president of Western Oregon University. After three years there, PAUSD hired him as superintendent in 1950. Gunn’s foremost priority for students in the district was to improve their standardized testing performance.
Sylvie Nguyen News Editor
Jennifer Li
THEO RACLE
780 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8238
www.gunnoracle.com
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Kaylee Cheng
Ma naging Editors
Anne Dong
Charlotte Qian
News
Roy Lao
Sylvie Nguyen
Forum
Gwen Domine
Yu-Ming Liu
Features
Claire Jittipun
Vanisha Vig
Ya-An Xue
In-Depth
Eanam Maor
Fenton Zarlengo
Lifestyle
Violet Tivol
Yael Gottesman
Online
Vanisha Vig
Ya-An Xue
Social Media
Zoe Leontis
Ya-An Xue
Ellie Yuan
Photo Editor
Naomi Wang
Graphics Editor
Sarah Xie
Staff
Business/Circulation
Sylvie Nguyen
Oracle-SEC Liaison
Gwen Domine
Graphics Artists
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Elise Hu
Jesse Li
Jennifer Li
Chaewon Lee
Sarah Xie
Photographers
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Naomi Wang
Adviser
Kristy Blackburn
Gunn — p. 1
He cited the fact that PAUSD students performed well above the national average in reading, writing and arithmetic as one of his proudest achievements as superintendent. Gunn also placed special emphasis on “gifted” students, creating a new program specifically to enrich those who weren’t challenged by the general education curriculum. He experimented with new educational approaches at every level, collaborating with Stanford University to bring new curricula and teaching methods to high schoolers while introducing algebra and geometry to elementary students. At the heart of his philosophy was individuality — he encouraged teachers, students, and individual schools to take their own approaches to learning, communicating amongst themselves to find novel approaches while still covering the same basic skills.
As superintendent, Gunn still remained involved in the local community: He was president of the local Rotary Club, held a position on the YMCA board of directors, and was on the executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America. Gunn also led a group of superintendent advocates to establish a local junior college district, and successfully founded the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in 1957.
In 1964, Henry M. Gunn High School, Palo Alto’s third high school at the time, welcomed its inaugural student body. Through naming the school after Gunn, district leaders hoped to pay tribute to his service to PAUSD over his 12-year tenure. Unlike the majority of Palo Alto’s schools
and public buildings, however, the school was named after him while he was still living.
Henry M. Gunn’s career path Henry M. Gunn dedicated educational career to improving local opportunities
After leaving PAUSD in 1961, Gunn became a professor of school administration at San Jose State University and then moved to the California State Department of Education, but remained close with the district. He was the principal speaker at the school’s first graduation ceremony in 1968, and received a distinguished citizen award from the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.
Gunn passed away in 1988 at the age of 90 of a stroke, leaving behind a solidified legacy at PAUSD and the Palo Alto community. Former
(Gunn) experimented with new educational approaches at every level, collaborating with Stanford University to bring new curricula and teaching methods to high schoolers while introducing algebra and geometry to elementary school students.
district principal Dr. Winfield Christiansen noted that his greatest gift, one that went beyond education and schooling, was “to make people believe in themselves.”
New administrative office, food service buildings pioneer
innovative technologies, sustainable materials
Construction update — p. 1
Holm explains that unexpected changes and additions from the original plan range from environmental concern to improved technology.
“An example is that the contractor’s access to get things would end up damaging the trees because the building was too close, so we’ve made some modifications there,” he said.
“We’ve also changed as a district. Gunn is one of our test cases for a new security system and camera system inside, so that all the doors are Access Reader on this building, and you won’t need any keys to get into the building.”
For future projects, Gunn may consider cross-laminated timber, a material built from sustainably harvested big wood lumber, as used in rebuilding Herbert Hoover Elementary School in March of 2024.
“The cool thing about mass timber, which is cross laminated timber, is it being the new zero carbon footprint technology,” Sedqi said. “It’s a really good direction, and if that
is successful, that might be a prototype for future projects.”
For Sedqi, whose role in construction stemmed from a childhood of building Legos, he finds it rewarding to be able to connect with students and teachers, like food services and CTE Instructional Lead and culinary science teacher Cindy Peters, to execute campus facilities or that elevate each part of the community.
“I’m proud of the culinary classroom and kitchen because I have had a lot of meetings with Cindy. If you’ve been to her class, she’s been there for roughly 20 to 30 years and
it’s outdated. So I like when she’s on site and says, ‘I’m happy about this. I want to teach here.’” he said. “It’s for her and for all the students. You’re gonna get some place that is like cooking in a place that looks like a five star restaurant. It feels really good.”
While construction is continual with interior design efforts such as installing flooring, ceiling lights and kitchen equipment; painting the walls; and putting in attack panels, Assistant Principal of Facilities Dr. Mycal Hixon points out that the administration is focused on finding ways to better students’ environments and fulfill their needs.
“It allows us to continue to support students in the best, most efficient and safest way possible,” he said. “It finally allows for a cafeteria dining space during rainy day weather and is air conditioned for students to have lunch. That definitely means a lot for Gunn, while meeting all the measures and safety disciplines as best as administration can.”
Gunn graduates from the University of Oregon Gunn becomes PAUSD superintendent
Gunn leads the establishment of FoothillDe Anza Community College District
Henry M. Gunn High School is first opened to the public
Left: A construction worker walks around the path surrounding the exterior of the newly renovated buildings. Center: A fence encloses the construction zone around the administration and food services building. Right: Construction workers discuss their progress with the interior of the food services building and culinary arts classrooms.
Sylvie Nguyen
Naomi Wang Naomi Wang
Gunn is one of our test cases for a new security system and camera system.
Holm
Staffers offer advice for new school year
Dear Class of 2028,
I’m sure many of you are feeling a whirlwind of emotions — nervousness, excitement and everything in between. Picture high school as a captivating novel with ninth grade as your first chapter. Like every great story, high school will introduce you to diverse characters, unexpected plots and opportunities for change and growth. As many of you start your own story, it may seem daunting because of the uncertainty of change. But, as someone who has already written two chapters of their high school journey, here is some insight that might help you navigate the ups and downs of freshman year.
Firstly, freshman year is a time for discovery. In a new environment with fresh faces, it can feel overwhelming to tackle it at once. Take it step by step: Participate in your classes by asking questions and go to office hours to build relationships with your teachers. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Outside of the classroom, try not to close yourself off by limiting your social circle to the same people you’ve known from middle school. A simple way to become more involved is to join clubs or participate in a sport. It’s important to build strong bonds within the Gunn community that can support you through your high school journey.
Although it may be nerve wracking to hear, the beginning of high school is key to building a strong academic foundation. Creating strong study or organizational skills is crucial. Whether that is creating a todo list or using a planner, having all your activities in front of you is an effective way to manage your time and reduces stress, which may occur if you don’t stay organized.
With school activities piling up, don’t forget to maintain a healthy balance. Explore your interests outside of school by immersing yourself into something new or pursuing your passions. Having a balanced life can contribute to a healthy mentality, especially in a new environment. Focus on who you are as a person and identify your goals that you want to accomplish.
High school is a new place that may seem scary at first, but I have no doubt that that false image will slowly change as you adapt. With an exciting time ahead of you, I am confident that you will blossom here, and I cannot wait to see it!
Sincerely,
Yael Gottesman
Dear Class of 2026,
Congratulations on completing half of your high school journey. By now, you probably already have preconceived notions about how junior year is going to be “the worst year of your K-12 career.” Junior year is undeniably hard, but it’s also worth mentioning that junior year can also be full of fantastically fun times. As official upperclassmen, you have access to a whole array of advantages. After all, you already know the ropes of key high school events: Homecoming Week, school dances, SEC events… the list goes on. You also serve as an example for underclassmen, so make sure you put in your 110% and show school spirit.
The biggest tip for surviving junior year is to talk with your peers, hear their stories, and build personal connections. Oftentimes, the people in your classes will understand the stress because everyone is in the same boat. Take advantage of your shared hardships to build closer connections — it may just help you feel less overwhelmed and less alone.
In addition to building connections, it is important to keep track of your tasks and develop a system of effective time management. You will undoubtedly receive mountains of work and have quizzes at least every other week. To ensure that you adequately prepare for them, it might be worth considering investing in a good system to track your tasks. Whether it is Google Calendar, a planner or a spreadsheet, visualizing your list of tasks will show you exactly how much work that needs to completed.
Junior year can feel scary but remember that it is still a time for exploration and learning. You don’t need to have your entire life figured out in junior year, but setting yourself up to succeed will make navigating your third year of high school much easier. Don’t be afraid to take risks and push yourself to strive for the best version of yourself.
There are so many ways to also make junior year manageable and meaningful. So please remember to make time for yourself, build connections with those around you and smile — you’re doing great!
Sincerely,
Charlotte Qian
Dear Class of 2027,
Although the start of sophomore year is much calmer than the bustling new environment and nervousness that comes with freshman year, it still remains full of surprises and excitement.
One of the most important aspects of sophomore year is to not be afraid of pursuing challenges and new experiences. Now that you are familiar with the environment you are spending your time in, it is much easier to focus on your interests. This can look like joining a club related to your favorite hobby or taking a harder class in a subject you’re interested in. This sentiment not only applies to your academics, but your social life as well — try to continue to meet new people outside of the ones you know well from freshman year. By taking advantage of the things you’ve learned from freshman year, you can start to understand what you want and don’t want to spend your free time on.
However, this can be difficult with the heavier course load that most people take on during their sophomore year. Although it is important to stay on top of your work, it is also crucial to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Even when you have a big exam coming up, it is okay to relax a little on the weekends to hang out with friends. Set up a good system for yourself to destress and stick to it.
Staying organized is also crucial to a smoother transition into the school year. More work often means a schedule that is much harder to keep up with, and anything from a simple to-do list to a monthly planner can help ensure that you not only stay on top of things. However, don’t overwork yourself. Again, balance is key.
Achieving all of this is easiest when you have a good support system around you. Building new relationships and nurturing old ones can help support and guide you through the highs and lows of sophomore year. I find that having understanding people around you can help motivate you through any rough patches, whether it be academically or socially.
Most importantly, take care of yourself as you work through an inevitably harder year of high school. It does not matter as much your results as the process it took you to get there. Enjoy your sophomore year — it only happens once!
Sincerely, Anne Dong
Dear Class of 2025,
Congratulations on making it to senior year! This final year is full of many firsts: becoming a legal adult, getting to participate in the senior festivities you’ve watched since freshman year, applying to college and so on. Closing one chapter and opening another is always exciting — I’m confident that your class will take full advantage of all the senior year experiences.
First things first: Take care of yourself, since parts of the upcoming year can be exhausting. Although self-care can look like stepping away from a few commitments, it can also mean honing in on an activity or subject. Focus on the areas of your life in which you find the most personal fulfillment. It’s your last chance to make a mark on Gunn as a student, so make the most of it.
Regarding college applications, I used my prep as a set time to work on my essays, which forced me to make consistent progress. I’d also recommend wrapping your applications up before Homecoming Week, since schoolwork starts picking up around then.
Even if you do everything “right,” some anxiety and stress is inevitable — after all, applications require immense effort. Although I found the entire college process to be emotionally and physically taxing at times, it also helped me understand the factors that shape my self-worth, examine the strategies I use to deal with stress and realize other insights about myself that I hadn’t yet in high school.
All that said, no one goes into senior year with a foolproof gameplan, so don’t beat yourself up if something goes wrong. After all, you’re only a high-school senior once, and like the cast of “High School Musical” put it, you’re all in this together. Do your best to find humanity amid chaos and immerse yourself in the moment. It’s natural to feel frustrated, jealous and a whole host of other ugly emotions. While easier said than done, celebrate each other’s successes and support each other through tough setbacks. Laugh with each other about the supplemental college essays in which you forgot to switch out the name of one school for another or schools you accidentally applied to as a physiology major instead of a physics one. Prioritize these final moments of connection with your peers and teachers, and always make room for spontaneity. You got this.
Sincerely,
Chris Lee
First Week of School Issue
materials that cater to any subject and interest. Whether you’re treasure hunting for a classic novel, the latest research or just looking for a quiet place to study, the library is where you’ll want to be.
Sea for yourself:
N-building
Built like a robust sand fortress, the N-building is a two-story stronghold that hosts most of Gunn’s English, math and computer science classes. The grand steps leading up to the second-floor classrooms are used by many as a meeting location, lunch spot and a place where students can be seen scampering to their next class.
Spangenberg
The Spangenberg building and its theater encompasses all of Gunn’s orchestra, band and choir classes, as well as most of the performances and assemblies. Just like a conch shell that holds the sounds of the ocean, you may hear the harrowing melodies of Dvořák or even the recognizable tunes of John Williams.
N-Building
Spangenberg
The Village
Titan Gym
yourself: Explore Gunn’s campus
Wellness Center
While the nearest beach to relax at is unfortunately a half-hour drive away, a stop at Gunn’s wellness center can offer the same destressing effect as watching the ebb and flow of languid ocean waves. Come here when you need a spot to take a quick break from the inevitable pressures of school — or just for a quick snack.
The Village
The V-buildings, or “The Village,” is a set of classrooms that host classes such as yoga, economics and anatomy. Here, you will also find the Tech Office, so be sure to pick a computer up. Much like a hidden beach cove, it’s a bit farther from the main hub of campus, but the more peaceful learning environment is certainly worth the extra steps.
a bustling beach boardwalk. Whether it be volley ball, badminton or basketball, you can always come here to cheer for your fellow Titans during exciting games.
Titan Gym
—Compiled by Roy Lao
Graphics by Sarah Xie
Wellness Center
Library
First Week of School Issue
Students, staff explore diverse cultures,
Senior Matthew Tsien in Taiwan
Senior Matthew Tsien gazed down from 1285 feet above the ground, taking in the mosaic of skyscrapers and winding roads rimmed by gentle mountain peaks dotted
During this one-week family trip in June, Tsien’s main pursuit was visiting Taipei 101, a popular architectural tourist attraction. He and his family took a 37-second elevator ride up to the observation deck on the 89th floor of the skyscraper.
“It was really cool to see the city from (so high up),” he said. “The weather was really bad — it would just start raining randomly — but when we went, the view was good.”
Tsien last visited Taiwan when he was five, so he didn’t remember much about the country. However,
Math teacher Rachel Congress in Greece
Math teacher Rachel Congress let the beautiful architecture and gentle waves of Greece wash away the stress of teaching.
This two-week trip with her husband fulfilled a long-time bucket list item, and with restaurant recommendations from retired Gunn math teacher Chris Karas — who now lives in Greece — one highlight of the couple’s vacation was tasting a varied spread of the traditional cuisine.
“The food was actually one of the reasons I wanted to go,” Congress said. “We went to these tiny little restaurants that aren’t really well known and off the beaten path where somebody’s grandma would be cooking in the kitchen making homemade recipes.”
For Congress, a highlight was Greece’s balance of modern and historical life. Famous ruins such as the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library and Lyceum displayed glimpses of ancient Greece and the history of philosophy and mathematics.
“Everything is so close to each other so you can just walk a few blocks and stumble on to a historical site,” she said. “The history is just so integrated — you can
having not been in such a long time allowed him to explore the city anew.
“This was basically my first time (in Taiwan),” he said. “My parents like traveling and they planned everything out, so I didn’t really know what we were doing until it happened.”
The street markets lined with food stalls and crowded with locals turned out to be the perfect place for Tsien to experience the country’s vibrant culture.
“We could barely walk through (the alleys), but the food was good,” he said. “I had some really good steak.”
For Tsien, this trip was more than just tourism. He also used this opportunity to connect with the Taiwanese half of his identity by meeting with relatives he rarely sees and visiting the apartment complex his father grew up in.
“(My dad) told me it used to be the tallest building in the city, but now it’s just a massage parlor,” he said. “It was interesting to see because it’s different from where I grew up.”
see it’s getting absorbed into the newer construction.”
Other than exploring the mainland, Congress spent a week on a cruise ship to visit the nearby islands such as Santorini and Mykonos. Not only was it a more cost effective method of travel, there were many on-board activities such as karaoke and trivia contests to keep the couple occupied in their spare time.
“The nice thing about the vacation and the cruise was that it required less planning on our side than we’ve done for trips before,” she said. “Just being able to walk around and decide what you want to do without pre-planning or making a schedule is really nice. It felt really luxurious and it definitely felt like it lowered my stress level a lot.”
Junior Alisa Sonehara in Japan
Junior Alisa Sonehara spent her summer immersed in many different cultures, traveling to Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Although she has visited Korea and Japan every summer for the past three years, Japan remains her favorite country to visit. While she doesn’t participate in many tourist attractions, she finds value in the quality time she spent with family during her stay.
“Most of the time, I just stay with my grandma and help her clean the house,” Sonehara said.
“At the end of the day, even if I don’t do anything super touristy, being surrounded by the culture, the good food and being with my family is the most important for
A normal day for Sonehara in Japan consisted of spending time at her grandma’s
house, exploring the Machida area located in Tokyo, window shopping for things to bring back to the United States and occasionally training for track and field.
During her trip in Japan, Sonehara and her family also visited Hakone, a hot springs village west of Tokyo. This was her first experience with hot springs, which is a wellknown cultural practice for Japanese people.
“Hot springs are a very Japanese-oriented culturalist kind of thing, but (it) was really fun,” Sonehara said. “Hakone is really famous for their hot springs and luxury hotels.”
Another reason Sonehara keeps Japan close to her heart is because of the unique fashion she sees there. Clothing is a special aspect of her life and she admires the wide array of personalized styles amongst Japanese people.
“For me, clothing is a big way to express myself,” Sonehara said. “So being surrounded by people who dress nice and who are trying to show who they are through fashion is really amazing to me. That’s definitely a value that I always bring back with me to the states.”
—Written by Ya-An Xue
—Written by Ya-An Xue
—Written by Claire Jittipun
Photo courtesy of Matthew Tsien
Photo courtesy of Rachel Congress
First Week of School Issue
reset for school year with summer travel
Biology teacher Joshua Little in Italy
Biology teacher Joshua Little had a busier summer than most, with two and a half weeks of travel to Europe, lab work at San Jose State University and passing exams in order to become a personal trainer.
Among the European countries on Little’s itinerary — including Germany, Switzerland and Italy — one particularly significant stop was Italy. The trip celebrated Little’s tenth anniversary with his partner, fulfilling architectural and tourist dreams.
For Little, other than hiking Pinterest-esque mountains and exploring small towns, the vacation was a chance to bring all the things he’s learned to life.
“It was cool to see all the things that you learned about in school and in documentaries,” he said.
Even though the two and a half weeks of travel didn’t cultivate an overwhelming desire to be back at home in the way that many tourists become homesick, he still missed the uniformity of life in California and the comfort of an everyday
Junior Summer Evans in South Korea
Junior Summer Evans spent a memorable 20 days in Asia, along with her close friend and fellow junior Hannah Casale. Around a week of this time was spent in South Korea.
One notable spot they visited was the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a strip of land in between North and South Korea, which is considered incredibly dangerous, yet still remains a popular attraction.
“We went to the DMZ to learn more about the history of North and South Korea,” Evans said.
The food was a highlight of the trip for Evans and Casale. They enjoyed a popular Asian treat, mochi, four times over the course of a week.
“When we were in Seoul, we stayed in this market area, and in the morning, we’d wake up and go to this mochi place (where) there’d be (a) grandma making mochi,” Evans said.
Another notable cuisine in Asia is Korean Barbeque, which Evans and Casale also enjoyed multiple times throughout their stay.
“There were a lot of Korean Barbeque places, where people would come and have the meat grilled right in
front of you, and that was a cool experience,” Evans said.
While accompanied by Casale’s mother, Evans and Casale spent a lot of their time traveling nearby on their own.
“Hannah and I would do our own shopping, and go explore different places while her mom was at the temples.”
Although the trip was a successful 20 days of learning about new cultures, trying unique foods, and venturing through unfamiliar cities, Evans did not always appreciate the bustle of urban Asia. Not all trips have to be filled with people, as Evans understood in hindsight.
“I think if I went back, I’d probably want to see more of the suburbs, not main cities, because where both of the places we went, there were a lot of tourists.”
—Written by Gwen Domine
regimen.
“You’re just not sleeping in your own bed, and you’re in another country that speaks a different language,” he said. “Even though you know most people speak English, it’s just a different vibe.”
While all of the landmarks and tourist attractions are important parts of vacation, sometimes it’s about the journey to get there — including the flight.
“Seeing all the sights of Europe was really nice, but I think flying first class for the very first time was fun,” said Little.
Fulfillment stems from hitting your goals, something Little knows all too well from this summer. Instead of kicking back and watching the summer float away, he knew exactly what to accomplish.
“People were like, ‘Aren’t you supposed to relax?’” Little said. “I’m like, ‘I can’t relax.’ I have to take advantage of all the opportunities.”
—Written
Math teacher Marcus Jamison travels worldwide
From the beaches of the Philippines, to the mountains of China and back to his parents’ home in the United States, math teacher Marcus Jamison has seen it all. During his leave of absence for the past two years, Jamison found solace from the constant work agenda as a global explorer. His time off was structured in six-month sessions. Four months were spent traveling abroad to Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. A month was spent in the United States and another was spent with his parents. Whether it was scuba diving in tropical waters or taking on yoga-training sessions, Jamison’s trips varied from solo adventures to joint trips with his roommates or parents.
Along the way, Jamison fully embraced the natural high of spontaneous travel decisions.
“The only times I prepared (for travel) were from January 2024 to July 2024, but (the itinerary) got messed up,” he said. “I learned to go with the flow and be truly free enough to allow things to happen. It was a new sense of adventure for me.”
From his two-year travel saga, Jamison was on
his way to master the art of carry-on packing. He has brought back souvenirs that reflect a deep interest in international history, such as Nepal’s Tibetan singing bowls and Bhutan’s prayer flags.
Jamison’s commitment to learning about other countries extends to involving himself with the people, becoming some of his most memorable times. For example, in festivals with locals, Jamison celebrated Mongolia’s independence from China, Russia and Mongol leader Genghis Khan.
“It was so much fun and a wonderful blend of past culture and modern age,” he said.
Coming into the school year, Jamison knows his passions for culture and travel will be brought to his classroom.
“These trips mean freedom and knowledge,” he said. “I find a lot of pride that 99% of my students feel confident that I’ve been in a space that they are familiar with. I hope our common knowledge of culture allows for their sense of belonging.”
Graphics by Elise Hu and Sarah Xie
by Gwen Domine
—Written by Sylvie Nguyen
Photo courtesy of Joshua Little
Photo by Sylvie Nguyen
ACROSS
1. Begin 6. Impulse
10. T, in morse code
14. Diamond flaw?
15. You can skip it
16. E, in the NATO alphabet
17. School supply needed for math class
19. Henhouse
20. Did not remain silent
21. Be worthy of
23. Debate
25. Paper used in English class
26. “Baby” singer’s nickname, with “the”
29. Pirate’s pet
32. Biological catalyst
35. Real hoot
36. Cellular energy
39. School supply used to hold handouts
42. Pioneering programmer Lovelace
43. “What’s in a __?”: Juliet
44. Iroquois tribe
45. Bear witness
47. Like crayons
48. Paper used in math class
51. “The Book __”: Markus Zusak novel
54. __ fission or __ fusion
57. Pertaining to the Five Pillars
61. West coast gas brand
62. School supply used to hold writing instruments
64. Toasty
65. Sneak a look
66. Party game “Never have __”
67. Marble piece
68. __ vera
69. German steel city
1. Brief moments
2. “The Parent __”
3. “The Good Dinosaur” dinosaur
4. Clean Bandit song featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie
5. More accurate
6. Finish
7. __ chocolate or __ dog
8. Apple’s MP3 player
9. “A __ technicality!”
10. Trickery
11. Squirrel’s prize
12. What push may come to
13. Wished
18. Schlep
22. Add to the schedule
24. Heartfelt
26. B, in Greek
27. How many shows air
28. University founder Cornell
30. Fix, as in a boxing match
31. “__ Cop”
33. Crème de __
34. The “E” of QED
36. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit
37. Speaking conference held at Gunn in February
38. Say grace, e.g.
40. “__ Mine”: Beatles song
41. Freshmen on campus
45. Poise
46. “Blurred Lines” singer Robin
48. Chews like a beaver
49. Opposite of urban
50. Capital of Ghana
52. “Woe __”: 1996 grammar book
53. “Love Me Like You Do” and “Burn” singer Goulding
55. Dad, in Korean
“Gotcha”
“The
Finished with the Back-toSchool Crossword?
Humor: How to Begin the school year with memorable first impressions
Have you heard the saying, “If you come on time, you’re already too late”? Well it’s true — nothing says “dedicated student” more than arriving to school at the crack of dawn.
And don’t just leave when the bell rings. Stick around after class. Way after class. Help your teacher pack their bag, walk them to their car, and maybe even offer to follow them home to help with lesson planning. Boundaries? Never heard of them. Better yet, save yourself the hassle by just setting up tent outside their classroom door. Make yourself the first and last thing your teachers see every single day.
It’s that time of year to start picking out our outfits again. But even though your jeans and white T-shirt somewhere in a pile on the floor are calling your name, think bigger — think business professional every single day, rain or shine. Wear your best suit and tie or evening dress, maybe even bring a briefcase.
For extra points, coordinate your outfits with your teachers’ favorite fashions and colors — stalk their social media, if necessary. Remember, it’s all about the first impression, and nothing says “I’m here to learn” like looking ready for a corporate takeover.
Engagement is key, but you don’t want to blend in with the rest. Raise your hand at every possible moment, even to answer rhetorical questions.
If you don’t know the answer — make an educated guess! If the teacher asks for the definition of “mitosis,” you respond with, “I believe mitosis is the process by which teachers inspire greatness in students, wouldn’t you agree?”
If they ask for silence, raise your hand to ask why silence is important. If they make a joke, laugh uproariously. Participation is about presence, and you want yours to be felt.
Forget the cliché of an apple on the desk. Go big or go home. Bring an entire cornucopia of fruit. Better yet, bring exotic fruits that no one’s ever brought before. Starfruit, dragon fruit, maybe even a durian for that unforgettable scent. Make sure to include a detailed note about the nutritional benefits of each fruit and how they can improve brain function. After all, if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then an entire basket of fruit a day is sure to get you an A+. Extra credit for slipping in a fruit pun like, “I hope this basket helps you have a grape day!”
—Compiled by Kaylee Cheng
—Crossword by Violet Tivol