The Oracle May 2020

NON-PROFIT ORG

Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306

Gaming During Shelterin-Place

U.S. Postage

PA I D

Permit #44 Palo Alto, Calif.

PG. 14 LIFESTYLE

District IMposes Educational Changes Due To COVID-19

Nikki Suzani and Jessica Zang managing editor and Forum Editor

Sanchez said. Colleges have currently said that they are accepting credit/no credit grading systems during the pandemic and will adjust accordingly.

Austin is also working on budget changes in anticipation for next year. Recently, the parcel tax, which is a property tax to fund California K-12 schools, was taken off of the voting ballot due to the financial impacts of the pandemic. According to a Palo Alto Online article on May 11, PAUSD has lost around three million dollars due to this pandemic. During the May 12 school board meeting, Chief Business Officer Carolyn Chow presented

To ensure the safety of students while also dealing with trade-offs in the education experience during COVID-19, schools worldwide have been forced to enact changes to ensure the safety of their students. In the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), some of the changes that the administration has made include budget cuts, a transition to a credit/no credit grading system, new structures for classes in the fall semester and standardized testing accommodations.

One of the major changes to the spring semester “Everyone around the country is dealing with this has been a shift to a credit/no-credit grading system. crisis. There's no way to have virtual classes be PAUSD was one of the first school districts in the country equivalent to in-person learning opportunities.” to transition—other districts have since followed. Ac—Superintendent Don Austin cording to Superintendent Don Austin, the decision was made due to a lack of ability for teachers to transition quickly into online learning without sacrificing grading efficiency and accuracy. “Everyone around the proposed planned budget cuts. While not directly mencountry is dealing with this crisis,” he said. “There’s no tioned, the proposal garnering the most public reaction way to have virtual classes be equivalent to in-person was a reduction of release periods for all Instructional learning opportunities.”

Supervisors and the stipends they received.

For students, one concern about the system was This decision was met with some backlash from the the lack of transparency in transition. “I think it was a community, especially Visual and Performing Arts good solution, but there were definitely better ways to (VAPA) instructional leads who are faced with dropapproach it,” junior Tiffany Chen said. “They could have pinng from one release period and a stipend to no release first asked for student and parent input.” periods and a stipend. According to Instructional Lead Some parents were also skeptical of the decision. for VAPA at Palo Alto High School Brittney Kerby, VAPA During the April 21 board meeting, parent Sudeshna instructional leads are necessary for the mental health Raha voiced concerns over equity for students who of students. “The proposed reduction of the VAPA [Inhave worked hard to excel in their classes, yet due to the structional Lead] to only a stipend position will diminish credit/no-credit system, are unable to receive recogni- our vibrant arts program and impact the student experition. “I feel what has been done with credit/no credit ence,” she said. “Time and responsibility that is required is inequitable to students taking honors and Advanced to support our specialized programs and advocate for Placement classes,” she said. “They are putting in the our passionate students cannot be accomplished under work and they have been putting in the work, but they a stipend reduction.” don't have anything to show for it in their weighted GPA.” According to Student Activities Director Lisa Hall, Still, many see the importance of credit/no credit there may be many potential changes awaiting students grading in the time of a crisis. “It’s a less stressful in the coming fall, and the administration is considering alternative for quarantine, because not everyone can smaller class sizes. “Given what we know right now, I put their full effort into school right now,” junior Lila

Santa Clara County announces the closure of all schools in a press conference.

suspect that student life at Gunn is going to be pretty different,” Hall said. “Right now they are looking at models that reduce class sizes so we can manage groups that may be in close contact.”

Furthermore, one of the major PAUSD initiatives going into the next school year is the alignment of the bell schedules. Gunn Principal Kathleen Laurence is heading the committee in charge of determining the education changes for next year and creating a modified bell schedule; at the May 12 board meeting, district officials presented a potential schedule with A/B schedules. This aligned bell schedule will allow teachers who work at both Gunn and Palo Alto High school to move seamlessly between classes and allow staff to work more collaboratively in the district—the A/B schedules will also try to ensure that transmission of COVID-19 is reduced. The schedule is still in draft phase and will be finalized.

Finally, changes to standardized testing will affect upperclassmen and underclassmen alike. In March, the College Board, a nonprofit organization in charge of such testing, announced that AP tests would be moving online, be reduced to 45 minutes in length and consist of solely free-response questions; additionally, only units that students were expected to learn by March will be tested.

According to AP Computer Science teacher Joshua Paley, students must consider how these changes will affect them in the long run. “The question you should be asking is whether, from a student’s perspective, AP tests this year are worth it,” he said. “Given that it’s a $150 investment for something like $4000 in college credit, it’s important to consider whether colleges will consider it—whether you’re getting a return on your investment.”

Chen expressed concerns over how much shorter AP tests are. “It’s kind of stressful that AP scores will depend solely on how you respond to one or two [Free Response Questions],” she said. “It’s definitely not representative of a student's knowledge about the subject.”

Ultimately, Austin understands the crisis that everyone is going through and believes that PAUSD will adjust as time goes on. “I’m looking forward to getting back to some normal as soon as possible,” he said.

Recommend Online Learning Experiences (ROLEs), mandatory assignments that contribute towards credit, begin.

PAUSD sw itches to a credit/no-credit system.

Photo by Mia Knezevic Graphics by Sophie Fan

Phase 2 of PAUSD’s stay-at-home learning plan begins with the implementation of Flexible Learning Options (FLOs).

College Board announced the new 2020 AP Exam schedule. The 45-minute free-response only tests span from May 11 to May 22.

College Board releases SAT update stating there will be an added September testing date to make up for cancelled dates.

2

News

Student-led groups provide community with COVID-19 relief Jessica Wang Forum Editor

In the weeks following school closures on March 13, many students have begun group initiatives to bolster the Bay Area community during the global pandemic.

From 3D printing face shields to simply displaying signs of support, students have sought a variety of ways to connect with hospitals, neighbors and vulnerable residents.

Gunn Cares Following the announcement of school closures on March 13, junior Thomas Li recovered from the astonishment and found the need to act. “I knew that I wanted to do something meaningful,” he said.

Along with junior Joshua Yang (Yang is also the Editorin-Chief of The Oracle), Li founded the Facebook group “Gunn Cares” to help the elderly by running errands.

Within the first week, more than 200 students signed up.

They volunteered all kinds of services: walking dogs, buying groceries, babysitting—anything to prevent the elderly from venturing outside. Others simply extended words of solace amid the chaos. “Some people are just offering a voice, or a friend to talk to during this time,” Li said. “It can get pretty lonely, especially for elderly people.”

With time, the Facebook group grew in membership and publicity. Recognition and praise from the Parent Teacher Student Association and the Palo Alto Unified School District contributed to an influx of parent volunteers. “It was really heartwarming to see that [our group] was making a difference and that people were applauding these efforts,” Li said.

Gradually, Gunn Cares adopted another role as a plaform to publicize outreach projects and initiatives. Other

organizations came forth, posting news on how they were supporting the community and attracting volunteers via the Facebook group. Many were preexisting associations that had redirected their efforts toward a new purpose in light of the pandemic; among them was the teen-founded, teen-run makerspace MakeX Palo Alto.

MakeX Palo Alto Founded in 2013, MakeX Palo Alto typically meets weekly to design and build projects at a workshop open to the public. However, once the novel coronavirus hit, the decision to join an international movement and 3D print personal protective gear was straightforward. “We have the combination of actual physical machines and this network that we can tap into,” MakeX president senior Yonatan Maor said. “It was kind of like the stars aligned. We had the perfect ability to do it, and there was no excuse not to.”

In what Maor described as an “aggressive marketing campaign,” the organization reached out to the network of potential 3D printer owners via email, social media and personal connections. Innovators of all ages, from middle schoolers to Gunn alumni, responded to the call to action.

“We’re not just one makerspace; we’re an entire community of people printing these parts,” Maor said. “Instead of having just our four 3D printers running in parallel, we have hundreds of 3D printers all around the Bay Area.”

MakeX is currently producing up to 600 face shields every three days. With about 560 contributors across the Bay Area, their movement has produced more than 31,000 face shields. “This is what we do,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re a community of nerds. We’re really good at getting together and doing this kind of stuff: 3D printing, designing, debugging. A lot of people have come

Courtesy of Inés Garcia

out to work towards this common goal.”

Essential Heroes Campaign In another area of the community, several close friends banded together to begin the Essential Heroes Campaign.

According to member sophomore Inés Garcia, the Essential Heroes Campaign supports all essential workers.

Recently, the group donated 100 masks to farmers in Fresno and the neighboring Ravenswood School District.

“We really strive to help people who aren’t really being seen,” Garcia said. “When we think of essential workers, we typically think of doctors and nurses, but nobody really thinks of these people, like the farmers.”

The group has also put up signs around Palo Alto to publicly appreciate essential workers. In an ongoing project, they hope to cater food for hospitals by partnering with struggling local food vendors like taco trucks. “It’s a great way for them to get revenue and for doctors and nurses to get a bite to eat,” Garcia said.

The overwhelming amount of support has been inspiring for Garcia. “Currently, we’ve raised over $2,000 to help pay for [the 3D printing material] and continue providing for these underserved communities,” she said. “We have people reaching out through social media; we have people connected with [Youth Community Service]. It’s amazing.

Everybody’s driven, and everybody really cares.”

According to Li, the motivation is simple. “There are a lot of people outside who are really impacted by this, and we’re in a position where we can help them out,” he said.

“To the extent that we can do that while protecting them, I think it’s important that we reach out to the community and maintain this positive mindset.”

Courtesy of Yonatan Maor

Left: Members of the Essential Heroes Campaign deliver masks to workers Right: On the MakeX site, face shields are 3D printed to help combat COVID-19.

Updates on frequently asked questions about COVID-19 changes

—Compiled by Annika Bereny

Graphics by Sophie Fan

3

News

THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Joshua Yang Managing Editors Madison Nguyen Nikki Suzani News Julianna Chang Catherine Chu Forum Jessica Wang Jessica Zang Features Dori Filppu Mia Knezevic Centerfold Annika Bereny Katie Shih Sports Calvin Cai Devon Lee Lifestyle Haley Pflasterer Arjun Shah Online Genna Bishop Photo Editor Mia Knezevic Graphics Editor Sophie Fan

Monday, May 18, 2020

District provides resources remotely for disadvantaged, Special Education students Mia Knezevic Features Editor

gate the online learning platform without inperson support. Special Education department Instructional Lead Teri Lee emphasized the department’s efforts to try to replicate in-person interactions online. “Students have case managers who are working with them via Schoology messages, Zoom sessions, all of those things,” she said. “We also have virtual academic support classrooms that are available with teachers and instructional aides for students with their assignments that way. Then, to receive additional services, [such as] speech and language therapy or physical therapy or occupational therapy, they’re receiving those services through tele-

dents supposed to get their homework done?”

DiBrienza said. “Some have younger siblings that they’re taking care of.”

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Another factor that the district accounts for is schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District the economic impact on students of being away (PAUSD) have been closed since March 13 to from school. “Some of our families really rely on protect the health and safety of students and the school district for food, mental health serstaff. While every student has been impacted by vices, for different services beyond academics, adjusting to online learning, the students who and those are harder to fulfill,” DiBrienza said. have previously relied on the district for supThe district has also been working to provide port and additional resources have been espereduced or free lunches to those students who cially impacted. PAUSD is working to provide qualify. “The district now is delivering, I beresources such as free or reduced lunch, online lieve, over 100 meals a day to people’s houses, aides, therapy services and technology to those because some families need the school lunch in need. However, there have been cerbut they don’t have a car, or the parent is tain limitations. at work, or they don’t live anywhere close In the initial response period to the “There are some kids that are worried about where enough to a school that they can walk,” virus, families contacted the district their next meal is going to come from, and that are DiBrienza said. Privacy laws have become with a variety of concerns. School Board worried about a parent who's an essential worker or an obstacle in connecting with and acMember Jennifer DiBrienza highlighted sick. Other kids are just bored and frustrated, miss- commodating every family, however. “If ing their friends. They're all valid worries, but they're the emotional responses from families. you qualify for free or reduced lunch, not very different.”

“We have heard from parents of students —School Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza every district employee gets to know who saying, ‘We want more stuff, we want to that list is. So the principal doesn’t even just be as normal as possible. We want know who in her school qualifies for free to feel like we’re in school all day,’ and or reduced lunch,” DiBrienza said. phone service as well.” other families that have reached out and said, Some students also lack the technology to However, PAUSD Secondary Education ‘Please don’t do quite so much, we’re just trying join Zoom meetings with teachers and classProgram Specialist Jacqueline Selfridge cited to stay afloat here,’” DiBrienza said. At the April mates. The district immediately responded to the lack of physical interactions as an obstacle 21 school board meeting, DiBrienza mentioned provide the appropriate technology. “The first for students. “Having that face-to-face conher own student’s reaction to the lockdown. thing [we did] as soon as we shut down was [to tact for students is really important, being “My kid had anxiety before, and their anxiety ask] who can access Schoology and technology able to work one-on-one or even in a small is sky-high now and they can’t engage in work from home,” DiBrienza said. “We’ve given out group in-person with teachers,” she said. at all,” she said. In order to communicate with somewhere between 2,500 to 3,000 devices to “It’s really hard to do online.” families and ensure that they are receiving the PAUSD students.”

While making decisions about the structure support they need, DiBrienza pointed to the At the end of the day, the district recognizes of online learning during this time, the district district’s newly-established resources page. “We that a vast variety of situations exist, and tries accounts for the impact on every family, such let people know, ‘Hey, if you’re struggling emoto accomodate all situations before making any as living conditions or responsibilities family tionally here’s somewhere you can go,’” she said. decisions about education. “There are some members must juggle. “Some students are havFor students in the Special Education dekids that are worried about where their next ing to even work outside of the home to help partment, it can be especially difficult to navimeal is going to come from, and that are wortheir families right now, so they’re going to ried about a parent who’s an essential worker or work with their parents, and that is really sick,” DiBrienza said. “Other kids are just bored challenging, because then when are the stuand frustrated, missing their friends. They’re all valid worries, but they’re very different.”

Staff Business/Circulation Sophia Stern Copy Editor Kate Mallery Graphics Artists Sarah Chang Ella Koehler Clair Koo

INBOX

Reporters Angela Wong Adviser Kristy Blackburn The Oracle is a student publication and open forum published by and for the students of Henry M. Gunn High School. In a time when journalism at all levels has increasingly come under scrutiny and attack, the staff of The Oracle is committed to promoting students’ rights and delivering high quality, trustworthy and unbiased reporting.

To that end, we will correct any significant error; corrections should be submitted to oraclegunn@gmail.com.

The unsigned editorials that appear in this publication represent the majority opinion of the editorial staff.

The Oracle strongly encourages and prints signed Letters to the Editor and Comments. Comments are generally shorter responses, while Letters are longer pieces of writing.

Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one.

“The Oracle can, at times, feel out-of-touch

—Mar. 6, 2020—

with the student body. Take the article on mental health, which claims that the SELF program ‘reaches all students’ because it ‘can help all students on the mental health spectrum’ and because it ‘is mandatory.’ Many students would agree that SELF program is an honest step in the right direction, but it cannot be said that the class ‘reaches all students’; a student being inside the classroom does not mean that the class is ‘reaching them.’ The underlying issue here is that The Oracle is not resonating with the student populace, as the words written on the page do not match the reality that most students experience.”

Sophie Fan

Letters and Comments may be edited to meet space requirements and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Letters to the Editor, Comments and ideas for coverage may be sent to oraclegunn@gmail.com or posted on our Facebook page. These letters need not be from current students.

“I’d like to see more personal stories about issues going on

around campus that are prevalent to the student body. Opin ion pieces and fun columns, for example.”

—Bella Chang (12)

The Oracle won eighth place in Best of Show at the 2019 —Scott Hwang (10) National Scholastic Press Association Conference on Nov. 21-24.

4

Forum

Students should recognize guidelines, consequences of COVID-19 pandemic son infecting 3.5 people, every four people would infect 14, who would collectively infect 49 and so on. Even those who do not experience symptoms pose a danger to those around them. It is essential that students comply with the shelterin-place orders and refrain from venturing into any public places where the virus can be easily spread and contracted.

Whether they are sick or not, the many precautions that students can take, such as wearing a face covering and Julianna Chang and Mia Knezevic washing their hands, are meant to protect the community as a whole rather than the individual. While some public protestors and state officials argue that the economic imFor months, the world has been at a standstill. Millions pact is far too great, protecting vulnerable members of soare becoming infected with the coronavirus in one of the ciety is the only moral and ethical approach to take. most severe pandemics in history. While the death rate Many, however, still view the shelter-in-place order as a has been fairly low, the novelty and infectiousness has punishment like no other. Students have been prohibited provoked a cautious government response entailing social from the normal daily activities that were once taken for distancing, the closure of public areas and laws requiring granted, such as seeing their friends at school and sports everyone to remain indoors. For students, these restricpractice. Seniors have also been stripped of many of the tions have meant no school, sports or extracurriculars. In highly-anticipated and defining moments of the tradiresponse, many have complained about missing the most tional high school experience—the paper toss important events of the second semester, such as on the quad, senior prom, college t-shirt Central Coast Section playoffs, prom and graduaday, graduation and more. Although tion. However, the effects of the pandemic are Whether they are students’ feelings of infuriation and more important than any complaints about disappointment are valid, they must sick or not, the many missing school, events and friends. Exrealize that staying home is not an precautions that students treme precautions aim to reduce severity order meant to punish them. The can take, such as wearing a of the cases in the interest of community effects of the pandemic are much and global health. face covering and washing more important than missing out Since it began to spread throughout the their hands, are meant to on daily activities. Resistance to Bay Area in February, the virus has resultprotect the community as the stay-at-home orders will only ed in over 2,000 cases in the Santa Clara prolong restrictions, and coma whole rather than County alone, according to the Santa Clara plaints about them will not change the individual.

County Emergency Operations Center, and the outcome. Students should instead that number is steadily increasing. However, it recognize and appreciate why they are at is easy to lose sight of the meaning behind the stahome—to protect the safety of the most vultistics. Although they appear to just be numbers, each nerable in society and to prevent any further represents a person that has been infected, a life that has spread of the virus—and attempt to show support been lost and a family that has been plagued. Regardless and empathy for those affected, while making of whether the virus has immediate local impact, students the best of the situation. must learn to be considerate and respectful of the lives afAs California begins to reopen its public fected and lost in both their community and throughout facilities, it is still necessary to comply with the world. Continuing to live life by not abiding by the the measures in place until they have measures in place and refusing to take the virus seriously been lifted, as they were put in place is not only a disservice to the safety of others, but it is also for a reason. Although certain busidisrespectful to those that have lost family and friends. For nesses are slowly opening for curbthe students who are privileged enough to be living in a side pickup only, that does not mean safe and healthy household, the act of protesting against that students can return to old ways and shelter-in-place orders can only be described as selfish. It hang out with friends. It is essential to reopen does not take into account the families that have been seslowly to not disturb the progress made so far. verely impacted by the outbreak—medically, economically Failure to shelter in place will result in a second and emotionally—or the families who have the potential to surge of the virus, endangering more lives and debe in grave danger because of the outbreak, such as those laying further reopening. living with a family member in the highest-risk category.

While students themselves may not be affected by the –Chang, a sophomore, is a News Editor virus, COVID-19 spreads quickly and easily, making it so and Knezevic, a sophomore, is a Photo and that one person could pose a threat to the safety of many Features Editor. others. According to the Wall Street Journal, each person can infect between 1.5 to 3.5 people. At a rate of each per-

5

Forum

Monday, May 18, 2020

Global crisis calls for respect, cooperation within community

Jessica Wang

Graphics by Sophie Fan Statistics courtesy of LiveScience and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statistics reflect information available at the time of press.

Back in February, when my dad flew to visit my grandmother in Taiwan, she asked him to bring toilet paper. At the time, the request seemed hilarious and absurd: a spark of amusement in the midst of my everyday life. Unbeknown to all of us, our stores would run empty of the same bathroom staple a month later.

By now, we haven’t physically attended school in two months. What began as bewildering is now our strange, new lifestyle; the novelty of the situation has worn off. The end date of the shelter-in-place order was mid-April, then early May. Now that we’ve passed both dates, the deadline has eluded us once more. It might be tempting to let our thoughts drift along the lines of “How much longer…?” But now is not the time to throw in the towel. Now, more than ever, we must remain steadfast.

My dad works at the hospital every week. When he comes home, he doesn’t touch anything; he doesn’t embrace me. Instead, he heads straight to the shower to thoroughly cleanse himself. Each time he leaves, he’s placing everyone in the household at risk, especially those with vulnerable immune systems, and decontaminating is all he can do to mitigate it. It’s not a choice we all made; it’s just something we have to live with.

I’ve watched his life become a whirlwind of emergency meetings, inventory numbers and safety protocols. I’ve watched him adjust to the new circumstances: reading guidelines and attending conferences that detail the latest developments. At work, I know he is joining a fight against a rapidly spreading, infectious disease: an invisible foe that brings waves of victims to hospitals each day.

Seeing this, I can’t fathom how anyone could downplay the pandemic, calling the virus “fake” or shrugging off Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Carelessly hanging out without taking precautions with masks and social distancing undoes everything essential workers are doing to protect us. Sure, these are extraordinary times, but it’s not an early summer break. It’s a national emergency.

My family’s not from China, but I’m used to people assuming I’m Chinese. Regardless, my Asian heritage is something I’m proud of. Yet, during this pandemic, Asian Americans are taking the brunt of the blame as scapegoats and carriers of the so-called “China virus.” Appearances have become incriminating; this is the ugly underbelly of a people who let their actions speak for their negative emotions.

One day during the shelter in place, someone looked at my dad and made judgements based on his appearance. This person saw him not as a brilliant individual, not as someone’s dad and not as an essential worker saving lives, but as someone inferior. And for some reason, this person saw my dad as someone who deserved to be spat upon.

He was biking home from a day of work at the hospital.

He came home and told us bleakly. He said no more on the subject, gave no elaboration, but I could feel the humiliation: the shock on my mom’s face, the uncomfortable silence, the way the news sank in. Every time my dad passed by that spot, he would shudder and think of the moment when someone’s cruelty made him feel less than human.

It’s not fun to be spat upon, much less beaten up, verbally abused or victimized. I struggled to find rationale for such a hateful action. Just because someone looks Asian American doesn’t mean he or she is contagious. I, for one, have never been to China. Plus, at this point, the virus is as much the America virus as it is the China virus.

The fact is, there’s no reasoning with racism. There’s no logic behind the misdirected hate. That doesn’t stop my parents from worrying that it’s not safe to travel nationally or attend college in another state. What do you do when your country becomes a hostile place?

The first time I wore a mask, I faced unexpected doubt. I worried that wearing a mask would generalize me as one of the crowd, one of the many victimized. To an outsider, do all Asian Americans look the same?

When I looked into the mirror, would I still see a unique human being, or just Asian eyes and black hair? It seemed like somehow, putting on a mask would erase part of my individuality. I felt cognizant that it would make me a target.

Then I realized: even so, it’s not a matter of personal opinion, much less vanity. It’s not like opting out of wearing a bike helmet because it ruins your hair. It’s a matter of safety. It’s to protect the elderly couple next door, or the neighbors that might have underlying health conditions and risks. With this knowledge, I donned the mask to protect everyone I might encounter in the outside world.

We’re better off safe than sorry. Each individual can contribute by following CDC guidelines. I understand that social distancing is hard. However, at the end of the day, it’s crucial to put personal preferences aside so we can get through this. The stricter we are now, the sooner it’s over.

This is our gift to the essential workers.

–Wang, a sophomore, is a Forum Editor.

6

Forum

New credit/no-credit system helps take student focus off grades during crisis classes transitioning to credit/no-credit, many students may be less motivated to do their best, and more students will fall back to doing minimal work. As a result, the quality of education received will take a substantial hit.

Beyond that, many courses are prerequisites to others; when students don’t understand the material very well this year, they Catherine Chu will likely have more difficulties understanding more intricate and complex material the following In the midst of the global pandemic, classes have transiyear. In particular, the math tioned from letter grades to a credit/no-credit system. The lanes are designed to build key impact of this decision is that a students’ off of one another, and spring semester performance will not be the quality of uncalculated in their overall grade point derstanding that average (GPA). At Gunn, a student’s While online learning a student will performance is evaluated in three be motivated to and credit/no-credit are ways: Credit-Proficient and Creditobtain during Developing, which indicate that a not perfect, students are this time w ill student understands the material also less strained and be significantly or is developing an understanding lower, making it worried about taking tests of the material, and No-Credit, difficult for them in which is given when the student and understanding the more advanced math either did not demonstrate their classes in future years. complex material understanding of the material at all Additionally, parents have raised virtually. or did not complete the assignment concerns about the superintendent’s lack altogether. Since its implementation, of transparency regarding the transition. As there have been many concerns surroundthe transition to credit/no-credit was a unilateral ing student motivation and work ethic. On decision that was never voted on by the school board, top of that, there have also been many complaints from there were many criticisms centered around the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) process and decision, parents who criticize the lack of transparency in the execution of the system.

Despite all these concerns, this system decreases the extraneous stress students receive from letter grades, which, given the severity of COVID-19, should be the first priority.

Across the wide spectrum of incentives for students to learn, a significant portion is driven by the letter grade. With the fundamental change in the grading system, disincentivization of hard work among students remains one of the primary concerns. One trait of the credit/no-credit system is that it does not differentiate between students that have a high level of understanding of the material a nd st udent s that only obtain a sur face-level understanding. With

citing a lack of student and parent input on the real-world implications of the policy.

While all these concerns are well-warranted, one must also recognize the extraordinary character of the current situation.

While online learning and credit/ no-credit are not perfect, students are also less strained and less worried about taking tests and understanding complex material v irtually, given that direct instruction from teachers is much harder now. Teachers are doing their best for their students during this time, but it’s important to acknowledge that learning will just not be the same. Transitioning to credit/ no-credit will alleviate parts of the stress many students get while studying immensely for difficult courses during a normal school year. Furthermore, many Gunn students will still be working hard to study for the modified Advanced Placement (AP) tests, ensuring that they still learn from home. Beyond that, the credit/no-credit system has been implemented throughout the country, which demonstrates that the vast majority of schools have already seen past the potential flaws of the system.

While the transition could have been smoother, Gunn has already handled this situation well by prioritizing the mental health of its students, allowing them to focus on their family, friends and other pressing issues rather than achieving a high letter grade.

In the end, there are still many students that will continue to work hard despite only being able to receive a “credit-proficient mark,” and, with AP tests still happening virtually, there are additional incentives to study and prepare for the following years.

Overall, while there are many deficits associated with the credit/no-credit system such as the disincentivization of hard work and the lower quality of education students will receive, the extremity of the situation that we are experiencing makes it so that the transition will likely decrease stress for students and staff during this difficult time.

Gunn has already handled this situation well by prioritizing the mental health of its students, allowing them to focus on their family, friends and other pressing issues rather than achieving a high letter grade.

—Chu, a sophomore, is a News Editor.

Sophie Fan

TEACHER FACES IN THE CROWD What are your thoughts on the credit/no-credit system?

“The credit/no-credit system allows students who are struggling with personal loss, mental health issues or family complications to bear a much lesser burden and still receive credit.”

“[Credit/no-credit] changes the learning mindset. Who really wants to learn versus who wants to look good on paper?”

“I believe that the credit/no-credit option gives all students a better opportunity to academically navigate this difficult period, regardless of what one’s individual circumstances are.”

“The main challenges of the credit/no-credit system are reconciling the district-mandated rubric with my usual grading practices and making the new system transparent to students.”

—Jeanette Tucker, Living Skills teacher

­­—Diane Gleason, math teacher

—David Bisbee, social studies teacher

—Terence Kitada, English teacher —Compiled by Kate Mallery

7

Features

Monday, May 18, 2020

Local Restaurants offering Takeout

Jing Jing Szechuwan and Hunan Gourmet have been serving the community delicious and authentic Mandarin cuisine for nearly four decades.

Located on Emerson Street, the restaurant has become one of the most beloved eateries in Palo Alto.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most non-essential businesses have been forced to shut down.

Luckily, Jing Jing is still open for business, offering both takeout and delivery.

Unfortunately, like other local businesses, Jing Jing has been heavily impacted by the shelter-inplace order. Manager Betty Tsai attributes much of the restaurant’s previous success to in-house dining—a main source of revenue. “It has been difficult to stay open because we lost business from dining,” Tsai said.

Another consequence of the lockdown is the struggle for companies to support their employees.

“One of the hardest things we’ve had to do is tell our staff to not come in to work,” Tsai said.

However, knowing the effects of sheltering in place on many of its employees, the restaurant has also made efforts to accommodate them. “Instead of completely closing down like some restaurants, we kept it open to support a lot of the workers since they also have families,” Delivery Driver and Website Designer Ethan Huang said. “We also gave them some extra hours so they could get extra money in.”

Providing its services to customers while adhering to social distancing guidelines has been a challenge for the restaurant. However, they have managed to keep their employees and customers safe. “We all followed the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines, and we make our employees wear masks and gloves when they are preparing the foods,” Huang said. “Whenever our employees want to go out they have to use hand sanitizer which is at the front and we also give them reusable masks.”

Jing Jing has not only continued to provide for the community, but has also introduced a new way for customers to support healthcare workers.

“We are promoting a love and support package designed for the customer to purchase meal boxes and we’ll let you deliver those boxes to the hospital,” Tsai said. “This time has been very tough for the people that are working on the front line, so we are encouraging the customers to purchase these meal boxes so we can support the workers in the hospital.”

As the deadline of the stay-at-home orders approaches, a new challenge emerges for Jing Jing.

“After everything is back to normal, we’ll probably have more competition because most restaurants might open up again,” said Huang. “We’ll have to have an agenda switch because right now we’re takeout oriented and not dine-in, so we’ll have to adjust and have to invite our employees back.”

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many local businesses to close due to the social distancing guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Philz Coffee, a coffee shop popular among Gunn students with two locations in Palo Alto, has made adjustments to meet social distancing guidelines.

“It’s been changing gradually,” barista David Virin said. “But right now, we are at the point where the customers don’t go inside at all.” Instead, according to Virin, customers wait outside and receive their drinks from a table at the door. Workers and customers are separated by a curtain, and customers are encouraged to keep their distance from each other while waiting for their drinks. Markers have also been put on the sidewalk so customers can properly distance themselves. “The people in line have to be at least six feet away from each other,” Virin said. “If there is a big group of people gathering outside we’ll try to tell them not to do it, or go home.”

Most Philz locations have also stopped all in person ordering. Customers must preorder their drinks on the Philz mobile app. “It’s only going to be mobile for at least a few months, but maybe in July or August [in person ordering will be available]” Virin said. “It depends on what the government says.”

Precautions have been taken to keep workers safe. “Everyone is wearing gloves and masks inside the building, “We also sanitize everything and wipe down the tables,” he said.

The new restrictions have posed some challenges. “Wearing face masks is not comfortable,” Virin said. “Talking to customers who are also wearing a face mask is kind of hard. If they’re wearing a face mask too, you can’t hear each other.”

While the pandemic hasn’t impacted Virin financially, some of his coworkers have been affected due to smaller staffs. “Some people aren’t working anymore and they can only apply for unemployment,” he said.

Philz has been open for over a month and has gradually started to extend their hours. Currently, they are open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. “It’s definitely been harder [to generate business] because for a while a lot of people didn’t even know we were open,” Virin said. “But it’s been getting better because people are finding out that we are actually open.”

—Written by Devon Lee

—Written by Sophia Stern

Almost every town has that one ice cream parlor that’s been around for generations, becoming a staple in the community. For Palo Alto, that’s Rick’s Ice Cream.

Rick’s Ice Cream, located on Middlefield Road, has been serving a variety of flavors for over 64 years. Over time, the small business has expanded its products and services from freshly baked cookies to homemade fudge, eventually catering to small birthday parties and even sizable corporate events.

Small food businesses during this pandemic are heavily impacted, and sadly, Rick’s is no exception.

When walking into Rick’s, you’ll see big plastic sheets in place that separate the employees from the customers with only two openings. One is a square big enough for the employees to give the ice cream to the customer, and the other is a keypad for customers to complete their payment. There’s a table near the door to the right where Rick’s put the orders for the delivery services to pick up.

Akansha Khosla, otherwise known to her employees as Kiki, is the manager of Rick’s Ice Cream and believes that it is immensely important to take these precautions to protect their employees from exposure. “People come in without any coverings.

We don’t feel safe if the employees don’t feel safe, so we added a plastic sheet to cover everything so that we’re on the one side of the barrier and customers on the other side,” she said. In addition to the safety of their employees, Khosla is worried about the business staying afloat while customers stay at home.

Junior Kate Williams worked at Rick’s up until the shelter-in-place orders and is worried about the future of the shop. “I can definitely see it is hurting us,” she said. “I know my boss set up a GoFundMe because it’s a mom-and-pop local business, and we rely so heavily on walk-in customers.”

During a typical year, now is when most ice cream stores would be getting more business due to the increase in warmer weather. “This is pretty much the peak of our year, in terms of sales,” Kiki said. “Winters are the slowest time of the year for us, so coming out of spring is when we start getting some profits and replenishing the funds in our account.”Unfortunately, due to the effects of COVID-19, the time for replenishing their accounts is going to be delayed.

Many food businesses have continued supporting themselves by relying on and working with delivery services, such as Ubereats and DoorDash. Rick’s is found on both of these apps, but unfortunately, working with them is not as easy as it sounds. “It’s ice cream, and a lot of times, the drivers do not care to take it professionally,” Kiki said. “On hot days, they’re supposed to have insulated bags, but they don’t care to bring them.”

Even if things return to normal, the damage of these past months will continue to have an impact on everyone. “We have to acknowledge that things are going to be different, not just during this pandemic, but shortly after the rest of the year,” Kiki said.

—Written by Haley Pflasterer

Clair Koo

8

Cente

Looking on the Brigh

Environme

Community & Neighborhood Our current shelter-in-place order, which has infiltrated seemingly every aspect of our lives, is undoubtedly a source of stress that has caused much financial and mental anguish.

This does not necessarily mean that we’re alone: in fact, now more than ever, the local Palo Alto community has come together to show support for our essential workers and to spread hope and love to everyone affected. Economic and emotional support, of course, is a unified effort, and there are a myriad of ways that you can show resilience and empathy amid these unprecedented times.

Checking in with neighbors and loved ones is a great way to help out your community.

This can be done in quite a few ways: try calling or texting your relatives to make sure they’re staying safe and have someone to talk to, especially during these dreary times indoors.

They may not outwardly show it, but friends could also be going through a rough time, so take a few minutes out of your day to let them know you’re thinking of them.

Additionally, there are many people in our community who are especially vulnerable to the virus—pregnant women and the elderly, for example—so consider asking if they need help, whether it be taking their dog on their daily walks or shopping for groceries while following the necassary safety precautions, of course.

While there are many ways to become more involved, it can be difficult to know where to start. Consider joining Gunn Cares: a Facebook group of like-minded students, alumni and local community members who share safe and generous ways to help out those who may also be going through a difficult time amid the shelter-in-place. This includes tutoring students who need help in understanding their online school work or studying for their upcoming standardized tests, writing inspirational notes and letters to front-line workers

The COVID-19 pandemic is undou faced thus far. Already, substantial da As a result of the virus, shelter-in-p received quite a negative reaction, the linings has been improvements to the As many have been forced to stay in much easier to see: advancements to of the major contributors to this is tr the use of vehicles has declined.

According to the British Broadcast cording to a new study by the World H imposed, particulate matter (PM2.5) According to Carbonbrief.org, since lo by 25%. By reducing levels of transpo duced their carbon footprint in the pa

or senior citizens and donating to raise money to support essential workers.

Certain businesses have also contributed to bringing the local community tog offering free goods to essential workers and citizens. Starbucks, for one, had offe coffee to health care workers and police officers for months. Krispy Kreme has offered a free dozen donuts to anyone who works in the medical sector. Lastly space, a meditation service, is offering a free subscription and full access to its l of meditations for everyone who needs a moment of relaxation and mindfulne these difficult times.

Lately, there have also been various community-wide acts of appreciation for the e workers that risk their lives for the safety of ours each and every day they step outsid homes. In late April, for instance, public safety officers from across Silicon Valley “clapping zones” to cheer for the doctors and health care workers at Stanford an Packard Children’s Hospitals. In fact, various “clapping zones” and gratuitous, tory drive-by parades have become increasingly common amid the shelter-in-plac If you’re still wondering how to contribute, remember that every act of kindness, and small, is important. If you’d rather stay safe indoors and not have direct cont others, consider making a few signs of appreciation for essential workers and com members that you can place in your front yard or by your door. For the last several we’ve shown collective resilience in the face of fear, panic and danger. Let’s contin ing the courage within ourselves, even in the bleakest and loneliest of times, to virus together—six feet at a time. ­—Written by Angel

The risks of going outs spreading the virus to oth portantly, risking your lif past few months, has upen between the rich and the enough to work from hom and learning from within sacrificing their lives for t In the early days of the sharing one common duty not only the many hospita celebrated—it’s also the gr working outside of their h and goes, the appreciation increasing daily through a Just a few months ago, ery services and gas statio

New Hobbies To Explore

If you’re finding yourself having extra time throughout the day and want to experiment with creating a tasty treat, baking is something you may want to try.

You can start easy with a chewy batch of chocolate chip cookies, or challenge yourself with yeasted bread. There is such a large variety of goods you can create; just remember to clean up after yourself when you finish!

If you’re bored waiting for a batch of homemade banana bread to bake, you can take up another hobby in the meantime: drawing. Despite what some might believe, you don’t have to be artistically talented to draw. Whether it’s a quick five-minute sketch or a Picasso done with a pencil, drawing is a great way to occupy your time. If you lack inspiration, feel free to scroll through your Instagram explore page or Pinterest, and you’ll no doubt find something to draw in no time.

Som more edente is the w beginn to find stream all the challen the diff your b no lon your p

erfold

Monday, May 18, 2020

ht Side of a Pandemic

9

ent

ubtedly one of the most catastrophic events that our society has amage has been inflicted to our nation’s economy and culture. place orders have been issued across the globe. While they have ere are some positive takeaways of the virus: one of the few silver e environment. nside, the negative effects of our industrial society have become technology often come at the expense of the environment. One ransportation; however, levels of air pollution have dropped as

t Corporation, pollution in New York has decreased by 40%. AcHealth Organization, in major cities where lockdowns have been ) levels, an indicator of air quality, have dropped significantly. ockdowns were enforced in China, CO2 emissions have dropped ortation, electricity and industrial activities, countries have reast few months. On a global scale, this equates to a reduction of

5.5% since 2019, the largest drop of any year.

Another indication of the impact on the environment is wildlife resurgence. From the start, humans have been one of the most ­­­damning culprits in encroaching on animal habitats and forcing them to live in small environments. In the absence of humans, animals have begun to take advantage of our desolate cities and empty roads: everything from dolphins in Venice to goats roaming the streets of Wales. It seems as if wildlife has regained a bit of hope for their future.

However, in order to properly assess the effects of the COVID-19, one must examine both the positive and negative impacts. Although air pollution and carbon emissions have dropped significantly, it is not an indicator of environmental health or long term recovery. Because society will at some point return to its normal ways of operating, the kinds of environmental strides that are being made right now cannot be sustained forever.

It is important to recognize the negative impacts that our society has on the environment, and the ways that it can change. If anything, this pandemic is an indication that in order to achieve environmental strides, we must reconsider how we operate when society reopens to the new normal. ­—Written by Devon Lee

gether by ered free likewise y, Headlibraries ess amid

essential de of their y formed nd Lucile celebrace order. , both big tact with mmunity months, nue findfight the

la Wong

Essential Workers

side during this time are many: increased chances of both catching and her high-risk groups, endangering your family and friends and, most imfe. The virus, having caused an unprecedented number of deaths in the nded our lives in more ways than one. What used to be an economic divide poor is now represented by the gap between those who are privileged me and those who are not. Although most Americans are now working n the safety of their own homes, there are still people out there who are the greater good. e virus, the brave and selfless front-line workers were generalized into y: health care. But as the days passed, students have realized that it is al workers that risk their lives for the sake of others who deserve to be rocery store workers, the delivery services and the people that continue homes to provide for others. As each new day in shelter-in-place comes n for health care and essential workers spreads throughout the world, acts of service and widespread praise. we too often viewed the grocery baggers and store clerks, the food delivon workers as dispensable, failing to appreciate the work that they put in

me may be finding themselves a little stressed out during these unpreced times: a way to combat that stress wondrous practice of yoga. If you’re a ner, an excellent way to start would be d a relaxing yogi on YouTube or another ming service. This way, you can learn e basic poses before you move to more nging positions. While attempting all fferent poses, remember to focus on breathing. Before you know it, you will nger need the help of a yogi to continue practice.

daily. We were unable to see the value of their roles and the effect that they have on our economy.

Now, as only those who can afford to work from home are safely protected inside, the community has begun to appreciate the work that was once taken for granted. Every day, essential workers leave their families and their homes to provide for the community during this unprecedented time; they have become the foundation of our economy. We also now realize that they are the protectors of our health—without them, our lives during this pandemic would not only be noticeably more difficult, but we’d be constantly at risk as well.

In light of the pandemic, Gunn students have shown their admiration through acts of service.

Many student-run organizations, such as the Essential Heroes Campaign, aim to share their support and praise by placing signs around town, thanking the essential workers for giving back. Furthermore, communities throughout the world show widespread praise daily through coordinated cheers and community togetherness.

Although COVID-19 has negatively impacted our community in more ways than one, it has brought about increased appreciation for the essential workers who continue to selflessly provide the necessities during this difficult time. The community must continue to come together and support those who help us survive. ­—Written by Julianna Chang

As summer approaches, the normal California heat is finally making its way to the Bay Area. The beautiful weather is a great excuse to turn off the TV, get off social media and take a step outside. A walk around the block or two is a great way to get some exercise and breathe in the newly less-polluted fresh air. Also, during these times, it is now socially acceptable to cross the street when you see a neighbor coming your way, even if that may be something you would typically do without social distancing guidelines.

Now is also a great time to pick up a book and read. Diving into a book is a great way to let what is going on around you evaporate and have what is inside become your primary focus. Reading is an activity one can partake in within almost any environment.

You can make a picnic in your front yard and settle into a new chapter while taking a sip of your favorite ice drink, or you can read before going to bed to help you sleep better.

Reading is a fantastic and healthy hobby to start, and I have millions of English teachers to back me up on that. ­— Compiled by Haley Pflasterer Graphics by Ella Koehler and Claire Koo

10

Features

Students, teachers highlight changes to their daily routines amidst the shelter-in-place order Senior Skylar Fong Due to the lengthy shelter-in-place order, many students are unable to carry on with their typical daily routines. However, senior Skyler Fong has been able to make the most of his day, despite staying at home for the majority of time. Continuing fitness activities, balancing school and sleep have helped Fong fill up the hours of the day. “My typical day is to wake up at noon, go on a hike, study for the Advanced Placement Tests, do some homework, make some Tik Toks and shoot some hoops,” he said.

Fong has been sheltering with his parents and older brother. However, life without a public environment, such as school, has taken a toll on his well-being. “I miss seeing people I’m not close with but still interact with at school,” he said. Fong misses the day-to-day contact with dozens of other students he’d receive during school. However, he still maintains contact with his closest friends. “I still manage to talk to my friends pretty often on calls and Messenger,” Fong said.

So far, there have been many positive aspects of quarantine for Fong.

“I have more free time now and have been sleeping more, so I think I have been growing,” he said. “Also, I have more time to just do what I want so I can get a lot done in a day.”

Social distancing is a sacrifice that most people have made for the sake of the community. To adhere to these guidelines, Fong has been able to replace in-person hangouts with group video calls instead. “I feel like social distancing is effective, but it’s hard being isolated for such a long time,” he said. “Though Google Hangouts is making it easier.” Staying at home all day can be tough, but finding the right schedule and taking advantage of the free time, as Fong has, can help with the boredom.

—Written by Calvin Cai

Engineering Teacher Kristina Granlund Moyer Students are not alone in their struggle to adapt to shelter-in-place life.

Engineering teacher Kristina Granlund Moyer has adjusted to a new routine during these difficult times.

Granlund’s daily schedule differs greatly now than from when we were still at school: teaching now involves a lot more technology. “I tend to wake up at seven, brush my teeth, pull on some clothes and, boom, I’m on the computer,” she said.

She also noted that there is a lot of maintenance work needed to help students keep up with the material. Since she is not physically with students to make sure they turn in work, the only communication available to her is email. “[In the morning] I’m also checking to see who’s turning in work and sending nag emails,” she said.

According to Granlund, it’s difficult to understand how students are feeling.

“Unless you’re having a one-on-one conversation, it’s really hard to how people are doing, whereas when you’re in the classroom and they walk you can just say ‘Oh, are you doing okay today?’” she said.

On a more positive note, Granlund says, in some ways, getting to have small Zoom meetings is helpful when it comes to seeing how students are progressing. “With groups that I’m doing one-on-one or one-on-two, I can actually see how each group is doing,” she said. “In a classroom of thirty students, I can only catch a little bit of what people are doing.”

Granlund realizes that this may be a hard time for students. Her advice to students on how to feel less stressed in the future would be to keep in contact with teachers and keep checking Schoology. “Stay up to date with your assignments,” she said.

—Written by Katie Shih

P

Physics Teacher Laurie Pennington Physics teacher and Science Department Supervisor Laurie Pennington has noticed a dramatic shift in her day-to-day life in the wake of the shelter-in-place order. Like many teachers, she’s had to adjust to teaching from home, and to the newly implemented credit system.

During this time, many have struggled to maintain healthy activity levels.

Pennington has noticed that she has been less active recently. “I can say that, by the end of the day, I have less than 1,000 steps on my fitbit, while on a normal teaching day, I would have about 8,000,” she said. According to Pennington, her usual activity has been replaced by her computer. “I tend to not get out of my chair the whole day,” she said. “I am also staring at a computer screen the whole day, which is difficult for my eyes, especially since I am old.”

However, Pennington worries more for the well-being of her students. “I have a lot of students who need help one-on-one and have a hard time doing work unless a teacher is with them,’’ she said. Pennington acknowledges the difficulty of reaching out to students who may need more personalized help. “It’s really difficult to get to those students and convince them to come and do one-on-one in Zoom,” she said. “I feel not depressed, but disheartened that there are some students who are having trouble working from home.’’

With the new change in academic standards, many teachers have had to adjust their course material and expectations for student assignments. Pennington is mindful that students may not be able to replicate the same kind of work at home than in a school environment. “The main thing that I am looking for is students interacting with the curriculum,” she said. “Once they show that they have kind of interacted with it and understood a little bit of what’s going on, we move on.”

Pennington hopes that students are able to practice self-care and time management in the absence of the structure that school provides. “Give yourself a little bit of a break,” she said. “You don’t have to be a perfectionist at this time, just try to have a little understanding of what’s going on and do your best to plan a schedule.”

—Written by Arjun Shah

Senior Charlotte Macrae The shelter-in-place orders in response to COVID-19 have altered the daily lives of many. Online school has given students the chance to completely rewrite their schedules, especially for senior Charlotte Macrae.

Due to the fact that the senior class missed out on a significant part of their last year of high school, Macrae often stays up late FaceTiming her friends who will soon leave for college. According to Macrae, at around 10 a.m, she has breakfast with her older sisters before a 10:45 a.m. tutoring session via Zoom call. For her, these Zoom meetings provide a sense of stability in her daily routine. “[The Zoom meetings] create a nice feeling of routine during this craziness,” she said.

Then, she usually completes the assigned Required Online Learning Experiences outside, while spending time with her family. According to Macrae, she prefers to do her work outside due to the sunny weather Palo Alto has been receiving. Prior to sheltering in place, her family purchased a Peloton bike, which Macrae now rides daily for about an hour and half in addition to Chloe Ting circuit workouts and other YouTube tutorials. Running has also made its way into Macrae’s daily exercise, as it has become a fun way to stay active while also allowing her to track fitness progress.

While there has been much negativity flowing around due to the current policies, Macrae prefers to focus on the positive aspects of the shelter-in-place order.

At the moment, Macrae has just finished the seventh book she has read during quarantine, and will begin her eighth. “This quarantine has been nice in some ways because it has given me time to read again which used to be my favorite thing in the world,” she said. “They have been keeping me very entertained and provided a great sense of escapism.” ­­—Written by Kate Mallery

Graphics by Sophie Fan Photos courtesy of Skylar Fong, Kristina Granlund, Charlotte Macrae, Laurie Pennington

11

Features

Monday, May 18, 2020

Departing teachers reflect on time teaching After spending three years teaching English, Paulette Sato plans on taking a leave of absence for the upcoming school year, during which time she will move to Southern California. “I will be moving down to Pasadena for a year to help out with family, teach more yoga and possibly teach English part-time,” she said.

Sato will look back fondly on some of her memorable moments at Gunn, especially the many projects her students have created in class. Her favorite memories are rooted in reenactments of Shakespeare scenes, like those from “Hamlet” and “Macbeth,” that students put on. “The acting skits from ‘Hamlet,’ ‘Macbeth,’ and the creative projects students did were hilarious and also very impressive,” she said. A few she specifically remembers include scenes from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and a student’s spoken English Teacher Paulette Sato word poem.

Even though her leave of absence will be short lived, Sato will miss both students and staff, as well as helping those in her classes grow both as writers and creatives. When asked about her favorite parts of teaching, Sato emphasized the student experience. “Connecting with the students, helping them realize their potential, how creative they are, and how amazing they can be,” she said.

Lastly, Sato noted how much this position has affected her life. “I have learned a lot at Gunn,” Sato said. “I have met some wonderful students and have made some meaningful connections with staff members.”

—Written by Annika Bereny

After 27 years working in the Palo Alto Unified School District, Japanese teacher Yukie Hikida is retiring.

Hikida didn’t always know that she wanted to be a Japanese teacher; however, the lack of Language Teacher Yukie Hikida diversity in her children’s public schools spurred her to look into teaching. “When I volunteered in my sons’ preschools and elementary schools, I realized there wasn’t enough diversity at public schools,” she said. Hikida also wanted her children to take ownership of their culture. “I tried to raise my boys to be bilingual, but my older son didn’t like me speaking Japanese in front of his friends,” she said. “I really wanted my sons to be proud of their mom’s heritage, so I decided to become a Japanese teacher at a public school.’’

Though Hikida’s departure from Gunn is nearing, she still cherishes all of the memories that she had teaching. She recounts one with her students that she is particularly fond of.

“While I was teaching a class, a student called me ‘Mom’ when he needed my attention for his question,” she said. “He meant ‘Sensei’. Everyone in the class was surprised and looked at me for my reaction. I said, ‘Yes?’ Then we all laughed. Unconsciously, he felt very close to me as if I was his mom.’’

Despite all of the memories she has from teaching, Hikida looks forward to her retirement; she plans to spend more time pursuing her hobbies. “I love arts, painting and ceramics especially,” she said. “I would like to focus on making more art.”

Yet even as she says goodbye to Gunn, Hikada will always be appreciative of the students and staff that made her time here special. “When I started teaching, I thought I wanted to teach Japanese language and culture to teenagers in the [United States],” she said. “I felt like I’ve spent 27 years at a great American high school and I am graduating to face a new world.’’

—Written by Arjun Shah

After teaching at Gunn for nearly ten years, physics teacher Alec MacLean announced his retirement plans. Having worked for almost 30 years in a variety of different industries, MacLean reflects on the differences between the many experiences he’s had in different professions.

“The real gratitude and appreciation from students is just so rewarding, and it’s unlike anything else,” he said.

The personal connections with staff and students shaped his time on campus. When he switched careers to teaching, these relationships shaped his purpose–to help the students. “I don’t teach because I like Science Teacher Alec MacLean physics, I teach because I love my students,” MacLean said.

Foremost, MacLean emphasizes his respect for the Gunn community. “I’ve had a lot of different careers, but I have never worked with such a uniformly high caliber, high-quality group, whether it be the teachers, students, custodial staff, special ed staff or others,” he said. According to MacLean, working with a community full of highly-motivated staff contributed to his memorable time teaching.

MacLean has worked with both engineers who have all been very gung-ho about science and students who don’t choose the advanced science lanes. He hopes his students can depart with an understanding of science.

“I hope my students can walk away saying, ‘I can do science and I don’t completely hate it,’” he said. Once his students achieve this, MacLean believes he can walk away feeling accomplished. MacLean also stresses that the ability to learn the essence of patience will help students beyond his class and school, and in their futures.

M a c L e a n plans to spend lots of his time with his family after the shelter-in-place order is over. Additionally, MacLean hopes to spend more time playing his musical instruments and building on his hobbies, such as wood sculpting. “I’d love to have more time to [play instruments and build], and I really want to move someplace where I can have more dogs,” he said.

—Written by Catherine Chu Ella Koehler

12

Sports

Shelter in Place brings student a new appreciation for exercise

Six shelter-in-place exercises to do to stay in shape Lunges

Angela Wong It’s true, folks: the shelter-in-place order is among us, and there are only so many Netflix shows to bingewatch, sugar cookies to bake and Schoology updates to peruse. Luckily for us, though, spring is also upon us, and with it brings warm weather, cool breezes and excellent opportunities to exercise. While I hadn’t ever previously considered leaving the dreamy wonderland that you may call a bed for the sake of so-called “physical activity,” I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood on a sunny afternoon on a whim. Now, most of my whims either end in pain-stricken tragedy or in immediate success. Luckily for me, it was the latter.

This walk-on-a-whim has also led me to a certain conclusion that, given our current circumstances, regularly incorporating exercise into my daily schedule inspires me to be more productive at home, allows me to maintain my physical health and—most importantly—reminds me to stay calm during these unprecedented times. Despite these benefits, students may find it difficult to exercise amid the pandemic. After all, many fitness centers, playgrounds and parking lots to trails are currently closed, so those who regularly depend on these sites for exercise need to find another source. However, the sedentary behavior that I and many others are exhibiting can have negative effects on our health, well-being and quality of life. With COVID-19 as a major source of stress, physical activity can help you remain calm and protect your health.

After all, a recent study conducted by Evidation Health, a health and measurement company that tracks everyday behaviors through an app, showed that 49% of the roughly 160,000 participants reported increased anxiety during recent shelter-in-place orders. With anxiety up in every state, it has become incredibly crucial to maintain a sense of physical activity while staying safe. For reference, the American Heart Association recommends at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, per week.

And that’s exactly what I did. My week consisted of a combination of jogging, walking and biking, sometimes alone with my headphones plugged in and other times with my mask-donning family. Yes, even under our county’s restrictions, we’re still allowed to step out of our homes and take advantage of the warm weather. Be sure, though, to limit your contact with others. If you don’t own a mask, consider covering your nose and mouth with a cloth or another type of breathable fabric. Additionally, try your best to stay at least six feet away from your fellow exercise-doers and even cross the street and walk down a different sidewalk to help avoid such close contact, if possible.

If you’d still like to exercise but want to do so in the safety of your own home, do not fret! There are still many physical activities you can do inside. If you don’t have any exercise machines, try yoga, dancing, planks, squats, or, if you’d like to try something that no one has ever done before, pushups and situps.

So, consider taking some time out of your day to head outdoors for what feels like the first time in forever. We’re facing difficult times, but there are a myriad of outlets—exercise, for example—that can help make your days feel a bit less bleak. Simply grab your mask, a comfortable pair and shoes and remember that we’re all in this together... six feet apart!

—Wong, a junior, is a reporter.

CHeck out the Oracle’s Playlist at this QR Code

1. Drive knees high as fast as possible (one by one)

1. Place feet hipwidth apart 2. Drop your left foot into a low lunge, extending your right knee to 90 degrees

1. Stand with feet further than shoulder-width 2. Send hips down to a squat position, pause and then stand up

Time: 30 seconds

Repetitions: 20

High Knees

Planks Rotation

1. Start in pushup postion and place forearms on the floor 2. Normal plank position 3. Right side plank 4. Left side plank 5. Spider plank Time: 30 seconds per plank

Time: 30 seconds

Russian Twists

Air Squat

1. Sit upright with feet off the floor and 2. Move your arms side to side to target obliques

1. Begin in plank position 2. Drive knees toward chest and alternate legs

Repetitions: 30

Time: 30 seconds

Mountain Climbers

Photos courtesy of Calvin Cai Compiled by Catherine Chu

Recruited athletes affected by coronavirus pandemic As COVID-19 sweeps the nation, most aspects of life are forced to be held on pause. This holds especially true for athletes as competitions, practices and training are deemed unsafe given the circumstances. Yet the impact on athletes goes beyond not playing on the field, swimming in the pool or dribbling on the court. Many aspiring high school athletes hope to play their sport at the collegiate level, yet as all else is paused, so is the recruitment process.

As a competitive soccer player, junior Summer Steadman shared how her recruiment process has been impacted. “Showcases are great opportunities to play in front of coaches that are recruiting you,” Steadman said. “But all spring showcases have been canceled, as well as campus visits. I’ve noticed that the overall timeline of the recruitment process has greatly lengthened.”

Steadman also noted the importance of staying fit during time off the field, reflecting on how being able to train together as a team always improved performance in games. “Because practice and league games have stopped, the responsibility to improve as a player now rests on us as individuals,” Steadman said.

“Independent growth is really being stressed at the moment.”

Yet Steadman remains unwavering and optimistic. “I can’t wait to get back together with my team and start training again,” Steadman said. “We’re going to pick up where we left off. My team has taught me selflessness and sacrifice, and we are a family.”

Even for the athletes who have already committed to their college program, the impact of Covid-19 is still extensive. Senior Jonathan Affeld will be attending Stanford University next year for men’s swimming. By committing this fall, Affeld explained that the virus is not impacting college prep, but it is hard for him to work out and remain in shape. “All the pools are closed, so I have to workout in other ways,” Affeld said. “Practicing on land is not a direct replacement for the workout I would get in the water.”

Sarah Chang

As a senior, Affeld is also disappointed to have missed his last season. “I really would’ve liked to have made another run at the [Central Coast Section championship] CCS and create more memories with my teammates,” Affeld said. “I also would have liked to leave more high school records.”

Despite an unfulfilling senior year, Affeld looks forward to attending Stanford and has great ambition. “I’m keeping my eye on making Olympic Trials next year,” Affeld said. “I’m just going to continue training and get recognized on an International scale.” He expresses his sympathy with this season having come to a close so early, yet remains hopeful. “Sure, this isn’t ideal, but it’s one bad year preceding many good to come,” Affeld said.

—Written by Dori Filppu

Sports

Monday, May 18, 2020

13

2020 NFL draft happens virtually, sets precedent for future events

Sarah Chang

The annual National Football League (NFL) draft took place April 23 to 25, despite the circumstances caused by COVID-19. However, teams and prospects were forced to stay home, resulting in a virtual format.

Every year, NFL teams get the chance to select the best and brightest athletes in college football. There are seven rounds, in which each team has one pick to select the player of their choice.

This year’s NFL draft was the second professional draft held virtually, following the Women’s National Basketball Association draft the week prior. Despite the event prompting concerns regarding call security and connection issues, the draft ran through surprisingly smoothly for such an unprecedented situation.

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted former Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow with the first pick, who just had one of the most successful football seasons from a college player in history.

The local San Francisco 49ers, after a triumphant season and a Super Bowl appearance, had two valuable first round picks. With these picks, they selected Javon Kinlaw, a defensive tackle from University of South Carolina with the tenth pick, and traded up from the 31st pick to 25th to select Brandon Aiyuk, a wide receiver from Arizona State University. Kinlaw will greatly boost the 49ers already top tier defensive line, replacing Deforest Buckner who was traded away several months ago. Aiyuk will join the young but talented receiving corps that recently lost Emmanuel Sanders; he will star alongside Deebo Samuel, one of the top rookie wide receivers from last season.

The 49ers already have one of the most talented teams in the NFL, and added more weapons to their teams through the draft.

Despite the concerns due to COVID-19, the NFL draft was able avoid any hitches, and set a precedent of future events that may happen online. In the coming months, fans hope to see the return of live sports, with or without restrictions.

—Written by Calvin Cai

High school, professional athletes deal with hiatus amid COVID-19 concerns Sports serve as a major cultural cornerstone for Americans, whether as a form of entertainment, social activity or exercise. Since the United States announced its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 21, numerous sports events have been cancelled or postponed, ranging from school and club events to nationwide college and professional sports. These sudden changes have brought on frustration, disappointment and anger to many across the nation.

The tide of cancellations and postponements began in school institutions, as California middle and high schools cancelled on-campus practices in late February and early March. Sophomore Sadhya Aananth plays lacrosse, a spring sport, and experienced cancellations early on in her season. “We only played two games before all of the spring sports were cancelled,” she said. “Usually we play about 16 so the majority of our season was cancelled.”

These cancellations meant forgoing a chance to win tournaments, leaving teams unable to prove their worth. “Not having sports is definitely upsetting,” Aananth said. “We worked super hard to get ready for the season and we didn’t even have that much time to actually play.”

Conditioning at home or exercising in the neighborhood is one of the limited ways for students to maintain their athleticism while being stuck at home. Sophomore Aubrey Cantrell, a swimmer, exercises often to keep up her athleticism. “During my past time I have been consistently exercising,” she said. “The only reason I go outside is to run or bike. [Otherwise, I try] doing sets that my coach sent out, yoga and online workout videos.”

Sports cancellations don’t only mean losing exercise and chances to get better; athletes also face loneliness from being away from their tight-knit teams. “Being without my team has been really weird,” Aananth said. “I used to see them and workout with them everyday so it is definitely a change to not see them for so long.”

However, coaches and teams have made an initiative to keep in touch during this time, whether to provide personal updates or means to practice at home. “Such a big drop in time together was a bit of a shock to our systems,” Cantrell said. “My club team usually uses Zoom twice a week for an hour and also has personal check-ins every other week with the coaches.”

Zooming out from school wide cancellations, the first professional sports league to be cancelled was the National Basketball Association on March 12. Directly following it, the National Collegiate Athletic Association abandoned all spring and winter sports plans while Major League Baseball and National Hockey League made major changes to their spring plans. These disruptions not only influence athletes itching to perform; as sports have become a major form of American entertainment and culture, many viewers will lack coverage of their favorite sports, stuck watching reruns of old events.

On an international level, the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020 has been postponed until June 2021 due to fears of top international athletes contracting COVID-19, as well as putting audience members and staff at risk. As the Summer Olympics congregate together thousands of people every four years for the ultimate sports extravaganza, this postponement ensures the safety of many and proves to be a wise choice. However, for athletes who are reaching their later years, 2020 may have been their last chance to compete.

Such a major disruption in sports may mean large setbacks for athletes and sports fans, but that doesn’t stop dedicated athletes from continuing to work hard. “I’ve been trying to go on runs with my dog every morning to stay in shape!” Aananth said. “I’ve also been doing some YouTube workouts and playing wallball to make sure I’m still exercising.”

—Written by Jessica Zang Graphics by Sarah Chang

14

Lifestyle

Shelter in place introduces new interests for students

Photos courtesy of Kristy Blackburn, Mia Knezevic, Liza Kolbasov and Angela Wong To view more #daysathome photos, follow The Oracle's Instagram, @gunnoracle.

With the closure of school extended to the end of the school year, students may find themselves with a lot of extra time on their hands. For some, this is a time to catch up on sleep or spend time with family; for others, it’s a time to explore new interests or dig up long-forgotten ones. Many students may find new interests in activities such as reading, baking or discovering a new video game.

No matter what it is, sheltering in place is the perfect time to try something new.

Despite having to complete Required Online Learning Experiences, there’s still much more time on our hands. While stuck inside, instead of sleeping the entire day away, this is a chance to try something that you didn't have the time to experiment

with beforehand. These interests may not just be explored during the period we are stuck at home–hobbies you pick up now may stay with you for many years. In the future, you may be glad that you used this time to explore new interests.

Though COVID-19 has completely altered society for the time being, there can be many positives in this time of chaos. So, no matter if it’s a new recipe you’ve always wanted to try or the movie you’ve been wanting to watch with your family, there’s no better time than now to fulfill your desires. ­—Written by Katie Shih

Gaming

Amidst the sheltering in place and practice of social distancing, it has become increasingly difficult to avoid constant boredom. Gaming can serve as a fun and safe way to not only fill up the hours at home, but also fulfill the need for human interaction.

Gaming is at an all time peak. With a myriad of games across many platforms and applications, gaming offers relaxing and enjoyable entertainment. Social distancing has caused trouble for friends trying to stay connected; online games allow friends to collaborate and interact in a way that one cannot with texting and calling. In times like these, gaming allows many to stay connected when they are feeling lonely. ­—Written by Arjun Shah

Clair Koo

League of legends

Anagrams

Wii Sports

In sophomore year, I promised myself that I would give it up. Yet here I am, only a year later, launching the Riot Games app to play what is the most addicting game in the world: League of Legends.

League of Legends, colloquially known as League, is a multiplayer online battle arena game that allows players to select one of over a hundred champions with unique abilities and, in its standard game mode, work in teams of five to dismantle the opposing team’s nexus.

The game is known to be addicting, especially for high schoolers procrastinating on their Required Online Learning Experiences. With game times of anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, each game is a time commitment —but the happiness that comes from destroying your opponents is worth it.

One of the reasons why League is my “quarantine game” is due to the fun vibes it has, allowing you to hop on a call with four other friends and work together to accomplish your goals. Sure, it’s known for being toxic (friends certainly get upset when you steal their kills!), but getting to chill and play with your friends makes it very worth it. Plus, the game doesn’t require a fancy gaming setup —it can even be run on a Mac! For anyone looking for a game: I’d recommend never downloading League of Legends. I promise that you’ll never be able to give it up.

Compelling, competitive and extremely addicting, Anagrams is the perfect video game to indulge in during the shelter in place. To those with iPhones, it’s accessible on the Game Pigeon feature within iMessage, requiring no additional download. Plus, you can play the game with any one else who has an iPhone, helping you stay in contact with other gamers.

The game itself is quite straightforward. Players are given six random letters and have 60 seconds to create as many words as possible. The words must be at least three letters, and different point values are given to each word based on their complexity and length. For example, a six letter word scores 2,000 points, while a three letter word may only score 100.

The 60 second time limit also creates a sense of urgency in the game. Players are forced to work quickly to outcompete their component.

Additionally, as each round consists of only so many seconds, it’s often played dozens of times– once the clock starts ticking, no one wants to stop.

Anagrams is the essential game that everyone should be playing during shelter in place. It targets all audiences, from elite gamers to novel beginners. It is dependent on quick thinking, yet not to a tedious extent; likewise, speed is a factor, yet not the determinate. Everyone should play Anagrams, and see for themselves just how universal the game really is.

Many teenagers these days are taking up new hobbies while sheltering in place, and to no surprise, gaming is one of the most popular. But video games don’t have to be violent, and you don’t need to be guns-a-blazing to have fun. For a relaxing alternative with little to no violence, try Wii Sports Resort, an enjoyable blast from the past.

Wii Sports Resort is a collection of 12 different sports ranging from sword fighting to wakeboarding. Whether you want to have a dogfight with a friend or take on a competitive game of bowling with 100 pins, there’s something for everyone.

The game mainly takes place on Wuhu Island, but for a entertaining game of golf you may be flown out to Wedge Island. Wii Sports allows you to play as your Mii, an avatar that you can design to see yourself play each offered game. Throughout the island, there are certain places to play each sport, which can be explored in the game Island Flyover in which you pilot a plane searching for unique landmarks across the archipelago.

Wii Sports Resort is a classic and nostalgic game from almost every kid's childhood. The game lets you combine fun with a nice amount of exercise to get the best possible video game experience. If you ever need a calm break while staying at home, hop on the Wii and check this game out.

—Written by Nikki Suzani

­—Written by Dori Filppu

­—Written by Annika Bereny

15

Lifestyle

Monday, May 18, 2020

COOKING APPETIZER:

Between completing our Required Online Learning Experiences and scrolling through TikTok, there’s not much else to fill up our days besides utter boredom. Many have turned to watching cooking videos from Bon Appétit (BA), and some have even bravely attempted to replicate a few dishes. While I am definitely not as equipped as Andy from BA, I tried out a few new recipes to share with you: an appetizer inspired by my mother, a main course from BA kitchen and, a dessert from TikTok. Regardless of whether you have mad skills in the kitchen or you can’t seem to stop burning your mac n’ cheese, now is the perfect time to try out a new recipe.

MAIN COURSE:

DESSERT:

Claire Koo

With the closure of many Chinese restaurants, my cravings for a crunchy, smooth egg roll ha dramatically increased, so I decided to make them on my own.

Since I am a vegetarian, I made veggie egg rolls, but chopped pork or ground beef could also be added. To start, I combined shredded carrots and cabbage, shiitake mushrooms and boiled glass noodles into a pan with some salt and pepper and lightly sautéed them.

After they were well mixed together, I rolled a good chunk of the filling into rice paper, and made about 15 of them. Then, they went straight into the fryer, and really, I just eyeballed to see when they looked golden brown and crispy.

Recently, my love and affection for kale has greatly increased. I have been searching for a healthy-ish pasta dish for a while now, and so I decided to combine some of my favorites: kale, pesto and whole wheat pasta.

I was scrolling through the Bon Appétit website when I came across this recipe, and it only took about 15 minutes to prepare. Plus, all the ingredients you need can be found within your kitchen, for the most part: kale, pistachios (or any kind of nut, really), your favorite pasta, oil, garlic, butter, parmesan, salt and pepper. Find the recipe under the name, “Kale Pesto with Whole Wheat Pasta,” for a life changing experience.

FASHION

With students stuck at home for at least a few more weeks, it’s essential that we keep ourselves entertained and sane; working out is one of the easiest ways to do so. Although it might be difficult to force yourself to exercise when a plethora of junk food and Netflix lie in the next room, it’s important to stay active. No matter what exercise you plan to do, whether it’s practicing a sport or the Chloe Ting 2 Week Shred, the outfit you choose matters. In these photos, you can see my carefully chosen outfit for the last day of my workout program. On top, I have on an old volleyball practice shirt, which is my favorite workout item because of the dark lightweight material. I paired it with white Lululemon shorts and Nike tennis shoes to complete the look.

The number of desserts and food videos from TikTok I have saved is outrageous, but I have found one that is pretty healthy, pretty filling and, overall, pretty good.

The dessert consists of two ingredients: a banana and some peanut butter. Split the banana in half, hotdog style, and smear the peanut butter on the flat side like you’re making a peanut butter sandwich. You’ll get the perfect ratio of nuttiness, sweet and banana to keep you filled up until breakfast the next morning. Not a fan of peanut butter? Slice up an apple and the banana, sprinkle some cinnamon on top, and then you’re good to go.

—Written by Madison Nguyen

From sweats to trendy outfits, shelter-in-place fashion fits are definitely a big deal right now. Some are taking this time to put emphasis on their style in a way they couldn’t during school. Others are taking a different route, wearing items that are more in their comfort zone. On social media platforms, people around the world are finding ways to share their looks during this pandemic. Getting ready for the day, just like during school, helps many feel more motivated to stay active or and get work done. On the other hand, many find that comfort is key in this time of chaos. Nevertheless, it seems that everyone has found their perfect stay-at-home outfit.

—Written by Genna Bishop

—Written by Julianna Chang

Due to California's stay-at-home orders, traveling outside the house is a rare event. But, one of those unique events, when stepping outside or looking out a window, is seeing a plethora of Palo Altans strolling through the neighborhood streets. Walks not only allow us to stay active and get the blood moving in our bodies, but they also provide the opportunity to breathe in the fresh air. Though, when stepping out of the house, it’s essential to be fully clothed.

The first item is simple but also crucial: the T-shirt. A cute old camp T-shirt or one you have gotten for free works excellently. Next, you have bottoms. The weather has increasingly warmed up, so the best option is your most comfortable pair of running shorts. They can either match perfectly with your old camp T-shirt or clash­—whatever works for you. Then, we have shoes. A simple everyday shoe, such as a tennis shoe or sandal, works perfectly for walks. To finish off the outfit is the newly required face mask. ­ —Written by Haley Pflasterer

While we are confined to the comfort of our homes, it’s easy to remain in pajamas and lounge around, looping through hours of YouTube or TikTok while fostering the bad habit of unproductivity. However, I have found that forcing myself to get out of bed, get dressed and put on a light layer of makeup not only makes me feel better, but increases productivity by allowing myself to get schoolwork done more efficiently; getting ready like I would for school helps recreate the school setting which encourages me to do schoolwork inside of laying in bed.

On a hot day, I would wear a dress, skirt or shorts matched with a nice T-shirt. On a cooler one, I put on jeans or other pants paired with a long-sleeved shirt or sweater. To finish the look, I accompany it with jewelry and a belt. If you’re struggling to get everything done, try swapping sweatpants for jeans–it will make a difference.

—Written by Mia Knezevic­­

Photo illustrations by Julianna Chang, Mia Knezevic, Claire Koo and Haley Pflasterer

16

Lifestyle

Video chatting soars in popularity Digital etiquette and technical difficulties dominate our new social lives. We strive to glimpse our friends’ faces or our teacher’s new pet through tiny windows on our screens. Video calls, it seems, have provided the perfect remedy for our social isolation.

In reality, video call services have been around for a while. Remember FaceTime?

Developed by Apple, the app has been a constant fixture of devices since 2010. It faced little competition­­—that is, until Zoom came into the picture.

Zoom, an app released by Eric Yuan in 2011 yet seems to have existed only since

yesterday, has suddenly transformed into the latest trend. Gallery view is a miracle, and teachers now delight in the power to mute students. Still, news of troublemakers hacking into meetings has raised doubts surrounding the security of Zoom.

Thus, we face a new dilemma: are Zoom's modern services superior, or is the familiar FaceTime app more reliable? ­—Written by Jessica Wang

Zoom

FaceTime

Due to the physical constraints of the shelter-in-place order, the demand for a platform that can allow users to communicate is at an all time high. As a result, Zoom, an American communications technology company, has become a contender for the top premiere video messaging service.

One of the best features that Zoom offers is its ability to host meetings of up to 100 people. This has made Zoom the optimal choice for large companies and schools to host online meetings.

Unlike FaceTime, Zoom is primarily used on laptop or desktop computers, which has allowed the platform to become much more userfriendly than its counterparts. For the average user, Zoom provides a much simpler and sleeker layout than its competitors, allowing anyone to start using the service with little to no effort at all. The simplicity of Zoom allows it to be useful for many different groups of people, but at the same time provide personalized features that boost the users' experience.

If you’re looking for a video messaging platform that offers the highest quality services, unparalleled user accessibility and large group-oriented features, Zoom is the best choice.

The recent pandemic has everyone staying at home practicing social distancing. Many are feeling sad and lonely because they are not able to see their friends everyday anymore. Some may even miss school. Although this is a sad time, people are still finding ways to keep in touch.

The most common way is through video call apps such as FaceTime, Zoom and Skype. One, however, is the best of them all: FaceTime. FaceTime is the original video calling method that has been used since 2013. It's super easy; all you need is any Apple device. You don’t even need to download anything. Other platforms such as Zoom and Skype all require you to download the app, then make an account. With FaceTime, there's no need for that, meaning there is no extra hassle. FaceTime has features like filters, stickers and the ability to do group calls. Unlike other video chatting services, FaceTime allows users to connect in a way that is casual and fun.

No matter which new video chatting services pop up, FaceTime proves that its simple, original design can connect people effectively.

VS.

­—Written by Genna Bishop

­—Written by Devon Lee

Do's and Don'ts of Video Chatting DON'T

DON'T

DON'T

DON'T

DON'T

DO NOT leave your microphone unmuted during large group calls!

We’re all better off without distracting background noise of family chatter, clattering dishes or the babbling TV.

DO NOT stage your video call with a window or light source behind you.

Friends don’t want to converse with a black silhouette; they want to see your smiling face!

DO NOT choose an unflattering or unthoughtful angle of your camera. It can be off-putting to say hello to just the top of someone’s head.

DO NOT forget to maximize your Wifi connection. Multiple video calls can a place strain on Wifi, and we all feel bad for that person with a frozen visual and glitching audio.

Finally, DO NOT be that silent observer with no visual or audio the entire time. Chatting to a bunch of mute grey squares can be as lonely as it is awkward.

DO

DO

DO

DO

DO

Please DO try your best to take the time to find a quiet location.

DO position yourself such that light illuminates you from the front.

Rather, DO frame yourself with a nice head-andshoulders view.

DO coordinate video calls within your household and find that sweet spot with the best WiFi connection!

DO call in with video.

Just seeing your face can make someone's day.

—Compiled by Jessica Wang ­Graphics by Clair Koo